* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] UM, [PRESENTATIONS] IT'S 1 32 ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SVE ATTORNEY, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX FOR A PROCLAMATION TO ZACH CANINE, MC CANINE, KINE. OH, MM-HMM . CANINES. . WE JUST CALL 'EM DOGS IF YOU WANT TO. RIGHT. CANINE COMPANIONS, CELEBRATING NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH. THAT'S MY, MY, MY FAULT. MY BAD. ALL RIGHT. TODAY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE, PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING SAMANTHA MARTINEZ RIGHT HERE. UH, SHE'S PRESIDENT OF THE GULF COAST VOLUNTEER CHAPTER FOR CANINE COMPANIONS. MS. MARTINEZ HELPS LEAD AN AMAZING GROUP OF PUPPY RAISERS. THAT'S A JOB I WANT WHEN I RETIRES PUPPY RAISING. THAT'D BE GREAT. COME ON. . UM, SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN. UH, SHE BEGAN VOLUNTEERING IN 2019 AND WAS, UH, MATCHED WITH FACILITY DOG DEXTER. SAMANTHA HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND THE INVALUABLE IMPACT SERVICE DOGS HAVE ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES. SHE'S NOW A PROUD PUPPY RAISER AND CURRENTLY CO RAISING HER SECOND PUPPY, KINSLEY, WHO YOU CAN'T SEE RIGHT NOW, BUT IS SITTING HERE, VERY NICE AND CALM AND COLLECTED AND VERY GOOD RIGHT NOW. AND, UH, SHE'S ALSO HERE WITH, UH, FELLOW PUPPY RAISERS, MARY, UH, WHO'S RAISING HER FOURTH PUPPY, AND HELA, UH, NAMED HELENA AND MICHELLE WITH THE SERV WITH HER SERVICE DOG, PAM. UM, ANYWAY, I HAVE THE HONOR TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 23RD, UH, 2023 IS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH IN OUR GREAT CITY. SO ONWARD AND UPWARD TODAY. UH, SEE, WHEREAS WE BELIEVE IN THE JOYFUL, TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE HUMAN CANINE BOND AND INCLUSIVITY OF ALL CITIZENS. WHEREAS IN THE UNITED STATES, 64 MILLION ADULTS AND CHILDREN HAVE A DISABILITY, AND ONLY 16,000 SERVICE DOGS FROM ACCREDITED TRAINING PROGRAMS EXIST NATIONWIDE, AND THE NEED IS GROWING. WHEREAS CANAN CANINE COMPANIONS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENHANCES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING EXPERTLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO ENSURE QUALITY PARTNERSHIPS. WHEREAS CANINE COMPANIONS AND THEIR SERVICE DOGS EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LEAD LIFE WITH GREATER INDEPENDENCE, BY PROVIDING BEST IN CLASS TRAINING, ONGOING FOLLOW-UP SERVICES, AND DEEPLY COMMITTED COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER, 2023 AS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE TASK TRAINED SERVICE DOGS AND BE RESPECTFUL OF THE RIGHTS AFFORDED TO THE ADULTS, CHILDREN AND VETERANS WHO LEAD MORE INDEPENDENT LIVES BECAUSE OF THEIR ASSISTANCE. CONGRATULATIONS, IT'S SO NICE TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE. AS WAS PROCLAIMED, WE ARE PART OF CANINE COMPANIONS, WHICH IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PLACES TASK TRAINED SERVICE DOGS WITH ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES. SO I HAVE THE UNIQUE POSITION OF SEEING BOTH THE GRADUATE SIDE AND THE PUPPY RAISER SIDE. I SEE THE IMPACT THAT SERVICE DOGS HAVE EVERY DAY. AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, I SEE THE TEARS, FRUSTRATIONS, CELEBRATIONS AND HAPPINESS WHEN OUR FUTURE SERVICE DOGS BLOSSOM FROM EIGHT WEEK OLD LITTLE PUPPIES WHO DON'T SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT AND HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM INTO 18 MONTH OLD, JUST SOPHISTICATED DOGS THAT ARE READY FOR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. SO I'M HERE WITH MY FUTURE SERVICE DOG, KINSLEY. SHE TURNS INTO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN I'M SO OVERJOYED TO HAVE FELLOW PUPPY RAISER MARY WITH ME, WHO'S ON HER FOURTH PUPPY, HELENA, WHO TURNS IN NEXT YEAR. AND THEN MICHELLE, UH, WHO HAS HER SERVICE DOG. PAM IS ALSO HERE WITH US TODAY, AND SHE IS, UM, ON OUR BOARD, WHICH IS AN HONOR TO HAVE HER HERE AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE NO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q SO COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, I'LL LEAVE YOU THE LAST WORDS. ALRIGHT, WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY HOW, WHAT A GREAT SERVICE THAT THESE ANIMALS PROVIDE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HOUSTON. I WAS A DOG OWNER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. MY FAVORITE DOG WAS A DALMATIAN. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH DALMATIANS IS THEY'RE STRONG-WILLED BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY SMART. SO HE WOULD SIT, BUT I HAD TO EXPLAIN WHY HE SHOULD SIT . AND, AND SO ONCE HE UNDERSTOOD THE REASON, THEN HE WOULD SIT. BUT, UH, BUT THESE GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, UH, CREATING, UH, PETS THAT ARE GONNA, NOT JUST PETS, BUT SERVICE ANIMALS THAT ARE GOING TO GO FAR AND ABOVE THE AVERAGE PET AND PROVIDE ACTUAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE. SO I'M SO PROUD TO BE HERE WITH THEM TODAY. ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO. LET'S GET A PICTURE HERE. [00:06:36] THIS COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO GERARD, VANDERBILT, JARED, AND THE JARED VANDERBILT FOUNDATION TO RECOGNIZE THE JARED VANDERBILT FOUNDATION. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT CORRECTLY, BEING A KENTUCKY WILDCAT FAN THAT I AM SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL TODAY, I AM SUPER EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO JARED VANDERBILT. UH, PARTLY BECAUSE JARED AND JACOB PAUL WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOGETHER AT PARKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN DISTRICT A AND I VIVIDLY REMEMBER WHEN JARED WAS IN THE SIXTH GRADE AND I WENT TO THE GYM AT JOHNSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I SAW HIM DRIBBLE ACROSS THE COURT AND DO A LAYUP. AND I TURNED TO HIS MOTHER, WHO'S MY CHURCH MEMBER, GWEN VANDERBILT. AND I SAID, THAT BOY IS GOING TO THE PROS. AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIS ATHLETICISM AND THE WAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SIXTH GRADER GO FROM COURT TO COURT FROM ONE END OF THE COURT TO THE OTHER AND DO A LAYUP THE WAY I SAW JERRY DO A LAYUP. AND I SAID, THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT HIS ATHLETICISM AND HIS ABILITY. AND SO, UH, AS WE FOLLOWED HIS CAREER UNTIL TODAY, I'M SO PROUD OF NOT ONLY HIS JOURNEY THROUGH HIS BASKETBALL CAREER, BUT HIS HEART FOR SERVICE. AND SO HE'S HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF HIS PHILANTHROPY AND THE GREAT WORK THAT HE IS DOING IN DISTRICT K. UM, JARED HAS, UH, BEEN A FORCE NOT ONLY ON THE BASKETBALL COURT, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY. HE HAS REPEATEDLY EXEMPLIFIED ITS MISSION AND MAKING CHANCES A REALITY TO MANY UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND HIS RESOURCES. HE'S ACCOMPANIED TODAY BY HIS PARENTS, UH, GWENDOLYN AND ROBERT VANDERBILT. HIS SISTER ANNE, HIS SPORTS AGENT ERICA RUIZ AND HIS PHOTOGRAPHER ANAR, REPRESENTING THE JARED VANDERBILT FOUNDATION ARE HIS MOTHER GWEN'S SISTER AND HIS BROTHER JAMAL VANDERBILT, THE CEO OF THE FOUNDATION. SO HIS PROCLAMATION READS, JERRY VANDERBILT WAS BORN ON APRIL 3RD, 1999 AND RAISED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HE'S THE SON OF GWENDOLYN AND ROBERT VANDERBILT. HIS PARENTS AND FIVE OTHER SIBLINGS ALL PLAYED SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. JERRY GREW UP IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON WHERE HE BEGAN PLAYING BASKETBALL AT FOUR YEARS OLD AT THE MARION PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. JARED'S PASSION FOR THE GAME FUELED HIM THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. HE PLAYED FOR VICTORY PREP ACADEMY AND WON A GOLD MEDAL WITH THE 2015 USAU 16 NATIONAL TEAM. AT THE 2015 FIBA AMERICANS UNDER 16 CHAMPIONSHIP, HE SCORED 19 POINTS IN 19 MINUTES AT THE 2017 NIKE HOOP SUMMIT. ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2016, JARED COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILDCATS. ON JUNE 21ST, 2018, JARED WAS DRAFTED BY THE ORLANDO MAGIC AS THE 41ST OVERALL PICK IN THE 2018 NBA DRAFT. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED TO THE DENVER NUGGETS. ON JULY 11TH, 2018, JARED SIGNED WITH THE DENVER NUGGETS. JARED MADE HIS NBA DEBUT ON JANUARY 25TH, 2019 [00:10:01] IN A 132 TO 95 WIN OVER THE PHOENIX SUNS, PLAYING FOUR MINUTES AND SCORING ONE POINT WITH THREE REBOUNDS AND ASSIST IN ONE. STILL. ON NOVEMBER 20TH, JARED WAS ASSIGNED TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY VIPERS. ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2020, JARED WAS TRADED TO THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES. JARED SCORED A CAREER HIGH 16 POINTS ALONG WITH 11 REBOUNDS IN A WIN AGAINST THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS. ON JANUARY 23RD, 2021. ON JULY 6TH, 2022, JARED WAS TRADED TO THE UTAH JAZZ. JARED IS GOING INTO HIS SIXTH YEAR IN THE NBA AS A POWER FORWARD FOR THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS. HE MADE HIS LAKERS DEBUT RECORDING 12 POINTS, EIGHT REBOUNDS AND FOUR ASSISTS IN A 109 TO 103 WIN OVER THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS IN 2022, JARED FOUNDED THE JARED VANDERBILT FOUNDATION WITH A MISSION TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY BY INCREASING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC AWARENESS TO LOCAL MINORITIES THROUGH PHILANTHROPY. HIS FOUNDATION PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK TO ENHANCE YOU SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. JARED HAS HOSTED BASKETBALL CAMPS, BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS, TOY DRIVES, AND PROVIDED FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BOOKS, GROCERIES, FREE PHYSICALS AND HAIRCUTS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS JARED VANDERBILT AND THE JARED VANDERBILT FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUING TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO DISTRICT K COMMUNITIES AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. ALRIGHT, I THOUGHT I REMEMBER JARED PLAYING OVER THERE WITH VICTORY PREP VICTORY. YES, SIR. ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN. YEAH. NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HE'S PLAYING WHERE HE IS. . LOOK, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023. THAT'S JARED VANDERBILT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU. UM, UH, I'M TRULY HONORED. YOU KNOW, THIS MEANS A LOT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. UM, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING BACK AND ME BEING IN THIS POSITION, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS SUPER SPECIAL FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. UM, I GREW UP IN THIS CITY BORN AND RAISED, SO BEING ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND, YOU KNOW, SHOW THE YOUTH AND SHOW THE COMMUNITY, UM, WHAT A SERVANT LEADER LOOKS LIKE AND BEING ABLE JUST TO GIVE BACK. AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A SUPER EXTREME HONOR FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU SYLVESTER AND MS. MARTHA TATUM FOR HONORING ME AND, UM, ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL. SO, THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU MAN. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q JARED, UH, I READ THROUGH YOUR BIO AND IT SHOULD READ PERSEVERANCE. THEN WHEN YOU AT KENTUCKY, YOU GOT INJURED, AND THEN YOU'VE SPENT SOME TIME IN THE DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE, AND THEN YOU FINALLY CAME INTO YOURSELF. AND, UH, LOOKS LIKE, UH, THE THE FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT FOR YOU. AND I KNOW THAT YOUR MOM PLAYED BASKETBALL AT XAVIER IN NEW ORLEANS. ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEN IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD WAS THE CHANCELLOR XAVIER, OR DR. NORMAN FRANCIS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT NAME RINGS A BELL. UH, HIS DAUGHTER AND MY SISTER, UH, PLAYED BALL TOGETHER WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE. AND DR. FRANCIS IS A STALWART IN NEW ORLEANS, AS WE ALL KNOW. SPEAKING OF NEW ORLEANS , TIFFANY D. THOMAS , THIS YES MA'AM, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, VICE MAYOR AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY. AND YOU THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR SUCCESS WITH THE CITY. UM, OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, UH, THE CITY LOVES AND BIRTH OUT SO MUCH GREAT TALENT. UH, WE CELEBRATED GREAT, GREAT TALENT THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH BEYONCE, RIGHT? AND TO SHOW HOW AND THE CITY LOVED HER BACK. AND MY HOPE IS THAT THE CITY LOVES YOU BACK JUST IN THE SAME WAY AS YOU CONTINUE TO ASCEND AND GROW AND, UH, FROM THE ROOT OF YOUR PARENTS. AND Y'ALL SHOULD BE HONORED, UH, AND PROUD OF YOUR SON AND YOUR DAUGHTER AND YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE, UH, OFFERED BACK TO THE CITY. SO I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE YOU, UH, FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND VICE, MAY I APPROACH HIM? I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORDS. YOU, YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE HIM ONE-ON-ONE OR WHAT? NO, NO, NOT EVEN WHEN HE WAS IN THE SIXTH GRADE . LEMME STAY IN MY LANE. BUT AGAIN, JARED, WE ARE SO EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU. I KNOW, KNOW THAT YOUR MOTHER HAS SHARED WITH US WHEN HE WAS PLAYING BASKETBALL AT MARION PARK, HE DID AN ART PROJECT THAT SAID ONE DAY I WANT TO PLAY IN THE NBA. AND [00:15:01] THEY STILL HAVE THAT, UM, ART PROJECT AND, AND SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE HE VISUALIZED HIS DREAM AND HE WORKED HARD FOR IT. AND TODAY HE STANDS BEFORE US AS A MEMBER OF THE LAKERS, UH, BASKETBALL TEAM AND ONE OF THE MOST CARING AND COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS WE'LL EVER MEET. SO, DEREK, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, YOU, AND WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE DO THIS PICTURE, LEMME JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE THE, UM, UH, THE MAYOR'S OF BASKETBALL, UM, UH, THE MAYOR AGAINST THE COUNCIL MAYOR, IT'S THE MAYOR. IT'S, IT'S THE MAYOR'S TEAM AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL TEAM . HE'S GONNA BE ON OUR TEAM. . WE HAD A HOMEBOY . I KNOW YOU DONE MADE IT TO THE LAKERS, BUT IT IS NOTHING UNTIL YOU GET TO THE MAYOR'S TEAM. AIN'T OFFICIAL YET. NO. SO, UH, AND WE'LL FLY YOU BACK AND SEND YOU BACK, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, THEY HAVE NEVER WON AGAINST THE MAYORS TEAM. YOU KNOW, ALRIGHT, BACK. COME ON, LET'S TAKE THIS. COME ON. CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT TO CELEBRATE HR PROFESSIONAL DAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, AND THIS IS ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, WHO IS, UH, RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND TODAY. HR PROFESSIONALS DAY ALLOWS US TO RECOGNIZE A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE THE REAL BACKBONE OF THE CITY. CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD NOT BE THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITHOUT OUR WONDERFUL HR EMPLOYEES. I'M SO PROUD TO REPRESENT A CITY THAT TAKES GOOD CARE OF ITS EMPLOYEES. HUGE THANK YOU TO THE INCOMPARABLE. I ADDED THAT TO THE TALKING POINTS DIRECTOR CHEEKS FOR THE AMAZING JOB SHE'S DONE WITH THE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO OUR JOBS AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. WITHOUT YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE ABLE, NONE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND OPERATE AT THIS SAME CAPACITY. YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE ABSOLUTELY STELLAR. AND THIS PROCLAMATION READS, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED BY CITY COUNCIL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE IN 1968 AND LATER AS THE DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL IN 1982, HR WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER ITS CURRENT NAME IN 1996. SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS TRANSITIONED AND EVOLVED TO STAFF AND SUPPORT A WORKFORCE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING VITAL PROGRAM SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR HOUSTONIANS IN AN EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE, INCLUDING A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS. HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS DAY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2001 TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WORKING IN HR DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS A DAY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HR TEAM MEMBERS WHO PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN ENSURING THE SUCCESSES OF ORGANIZATIONS BY SOURCING, SUPPORTING, AND DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL. IN RECENT YEARS, THE CITY'S HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT HAS FOCUSED ON MOVING DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS FROM BEING TRANSACTIONAL TO BEING TRANSFORMATIVE. THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY A STRONG COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, ANALYTICS, TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPONSIVENESS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, WE CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT EACH OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S HR PROFESSIONALS MAKE EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY HAS A SKILLED AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY SOUND COMPENSATION PRACTICES, A STRONG BENEFITS PROGRAM, A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, OPPORTUNITIES [00:20:01] FOR LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, SOUND FISCAL PRACTICES, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. THE CITY OF HOUSTON THANKS THEM FOR THEIR STELLAR SERVICE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND SO PROUD OF HR, WHAT YOU ALL DO, UH, EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR 22,000 EMPLOYEES. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 AS HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU TO, UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IN HER AB IN HER ABSENCE. I HOPE SHE FEELS BETTER. THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SECONDLY, LET ME SAY THANK YOU HR. THANK YOU HR, UH, THIS REALLY MEANS SO MUCH TO US AND, UH, WE COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS LAST SEVEN YEARS WITHOUT HAVING THE LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF MAYOR TURNER AND CHIEF OF STAFF MARETTE HUNTER. I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US OVER THE YEARS. AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW IS THE BEST IS YET TO COME TO GOD BE THE GLORY. ALL RIGHT, DIRECTOR CHEEKS, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY, ESPECIALLY THE DELIVERY OF OUR PAYCHECKS ON THE FIRST AND THE 15TH. . YES SIR. YES SIR. SO WE THANK YOU. YES, SIR. YES SIR. YES SIR. GET IN HERE THE TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARD WINNERS TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. UH, MAYOR PRO CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. AND, UH, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS THERE WILL BE, UH, A COUPLE, AT LEAST A COUPLE OF, OF, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGING AS PART OF HISPANIC CERS MOP. UH, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE AWARD WINNERS. THERE WILL BE TWO TODAY. AND, UM, AND LET ME ASK, UH, FIRST THAT WE HAVE IS, UM, GERALDINA AND ANO WISE. OKAY. AND LEMME JUST SAY GERALDINA AND, AND ANO WISE IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 MAYOR'S HISPANIC CHARACTERS ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD. A LONGTIME HOUSTONIAN GERALDINA CONSIDERS HERSELF AND ACCIDENTAL IMMIGRANT HAVING BEEN SEPARATED FROM A FAMILY IN EL SALVADOR DUE TO THE CIVIL WAR, A TRIPLE MAJOR AT RICE UNIVERSITY IN ARCHITECTURE, ART, AND ART HISTORY. UH, SHE WORKED ON LARGE SCALE PROJECTS WITH SOME OF THE BEST ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS IN THE COUNTRY. AFTER 25 YEARS OF OPERATING HER OWN ENVIRONMENTAL FORWARD DESIGN FIRM SOUGHT THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BY RETURNING TO HER ART. SHE BEGAN HER ART EDUCATION AT THE AGE OF 10, OWNED THE RAVINES OF THE SAN SALVADOR VOLCANO, UH, UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF VIOLETA BONITA, A PROTEGE OF THE, OF THE MURALIST, DIEGO RIVERA. SHE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIST USING HER ART TO CREATE EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLANET. GERALDINA HAS DEVELOPED STRONG TIES TO HOUSTON'S UNIVERSITIES WITH ONGOING ENGAGEMENTS. SHE ENROLLED AS A STUDENT AT GLASSELL SCHOOL OF THE MHAH, UH, AND PRINT, UH, PRINTMAKING AT RICE UNIVERSITY, BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, WHICH INCLUDED BEING A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LATIN AMERICAN, UH, WOMEN ARTS OF HOUSTON [00:25:01] AND INTERNATIONALLY EXHIBITING ARTIST GERALDINA PREMIERED HER MODULAR WOMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CONCEPT IN PARIS IN 2022. AND SINCE THEN REPRESENTED EL SALVADOR AT THE UNESCO LATIN AMERICAN WEEK AT THE UNESCO HEADQUARTER IN PARIS. SHE HAS BEEN INVITED TO EXHIBIT IN LISBON IN 2024, AND IS PLANNING ON TAKING HER MODULAR WOMAN CONCEPT TO COP IN 2029. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. GERALDINA IS A CULTURAL AMBASSADOR OF HOUSTON AND IS PROUD TO REPRESENT THE PAN. LATIN IS THAT LATINA LATINIDAD LATINA DAD OF OUR CITY. NOT ONLY DOES SHE SERVE ON MANY NONPROFIT BOARDS IN HOUSTON, BUT SHE IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ADVOCATES FOR LATINO MUSEUM OF CULTURAL AND VISUAL ARTS. HOUSTON, A VERY AVID MEMBER, I MIGHT ADD, A SENIOR FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM. HER LEADERSHIP IS FULLY AT WORK, UH, AT THE ADVOCATES FOR A LATINO MUSEUM OF CULTURAL AND VISUAL ARTS HOUSTON, WHERE SHE AIMS TO GAIN THE TRUST OF LATINOS IN THE REGION TO CREATE A MOVEMENT TO BUILD A NATIONAL HOME FOR THE US LATINO CULTURE. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS, GERALDINA AND ANA WISE FOR INSPIRING AND NURTURING GENERATIONS OF LATINO ARTISTS AND SERVING AS AN IMPORTANT ROLE MODEL AND LEADER FOR THE ENTIRE LATINO COMMUNITY. AND I MIGHT ADD AND GOES EVEN BEYOND THAT. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY HONORED GERALDINA AND ANO WISE WITH THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC CARRIAGES, ARTS AND COMMUNITY AWARD AND PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, SHEINA IN WISE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT IS A TRUE HONOR TO STAND HERE. AND THIS AWARD IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT TO ME BECAUSE NONE OF MY ACTIVISM, ADVOCACY OF THE ARTS WOULD BE HAPPENING WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE VISION OF CITY COUNCIL. IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER CITO WHO FIRST SAID, LET'S DO THIS. 2020 HAD CLOSED THE CITY. MANY THINGS WERE AT WORK AGAINST HUMANITY, AND YET WE THOUGHT, HOW DO WE FIND HOPE? ART IS A SAFE PLACE TO FIND HOPE. ART AND CULTURE ARE SUPER IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIND A REPRESENTATION. POLITICS REALLY DOES NOT COME INTO THIS, AND THAT MEANS THAT THIS IS TRULY FOR ALL. THEN COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS CAME ABOUT AND SAID, OH, I CAN DO THIS TOO, BECAUSE THE MAYOR IS BEHIND THIS. THE MAYOR IS BEHIND GRABBING HOUSTON AS THE POTENTIAL HUB FOR UNDERSTANDING OF US LATINOS. IT'S NOT BEEN TAKEN. WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR HOMEWORK. NO CITY, NOT NEW YORK, NOT LA, NOT MIAMI. THEY DON'T HAVE IT. WE CAN HAVE IT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC HOUSTON OF THE FUTURE TO BE SO PERTINENT TO UNDERSTANDING THE US LATINOS GIVEN OUR STATISTICAL DATA ON, UH, ON THE US AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, MAYOR TURNER, BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THIS AND IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US, EVERY ONE OF US. SO YOU HEARD HERE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE, WE'RE, UM, HARVESTING IS TRUST. WE HAVE TO TRUST EACH OTHER. IN ORDER TO DO THAT. WE HAVE TO TRUST THAT THIS IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL, NOT JUST ABOUT LATINOS. WE DO NOT WANT THIS AS A GROUP THING BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT. IT'S REALLY OUR GIFT OF, WHEN I SAY MAYOR PARKER, NOT MAYOR , MAYOR TURNER, I'M SORRY, AND I'VE SAID IT TO YOU BEFORE. WE BRING THE PARTY TO THIS CITY, THE PARTY HAS BEEN MISSING. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T THANK, UH, THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE IN THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD. UH, THEY ARE, THEY'RE IN THE KNOW, THEY HAVE THE PULSE ON THE PEOPLE. THEY HAVE THE PULSE ON HOUSTON, AND THEY'RE SO VALUABLE TO THE MAYOR, I'M SURE. SO THANK YOU ROLAND FOR, UH, FOR, FOR THINKING OF ME FOR THIS INCREDIBLE AWARD. AND THE NORA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF AHMA AND OF ME AS AN ARTIST AS WELL. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE, WE IN HOUSTON CAN UNITE OVER ART AND CULTURE AS SOMETHING THAT IS THE PARTY FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, AND THANK YOU LENORE, AND THANK YOU ROLAND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. THANK, THANK YOU GERALDINA. SO, [00:30:01] UH, FOR SUCH A WELL DESERVED FOR THE, UH, MAYOR'S HISPANIC ARTS AND THE COMMUNITY AWARD. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT YOU REACHED OUT TO ME SOME TIME AGO IN REGARDS TO HAVING A VIRTUAL MEETING, UH, TO DISCUSS THE, THE VISION AND THE FUTURE OF AN HISPANIC CULTURAL ARTS AND MUSEUM. UH, AND, UH, IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETING. UH, WE WENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY SUPPORTED IT AS WELL. AND, UH, MAYOR, I'M SURE YOU RECALL WHEN WE HAD THAT, UH, BEAUTIFUL EVENING AT THE BOTANIC GARDEN, UH, WHERE IT WAS ANNOUNCED. UH, EVERYONE WAS EXCITED, UH, AND NOW HERE TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEING RECOGNIZED AND AGAIN, SO WELL DESERVED. UH, AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE TOUR YOU GAVE ME OF YOUR, UH, ART GALLERY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. UH, SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. TURN RIGHT AROUND IT. THE NEXT AWARD RECIPIENT WILL BE DR. CRUZ CASTANO. DR. CRUZ CASTANO IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD. DR. CASTANO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CAREER AND APPLIED TECHNOLOGY DIVISION AT LONE STAR COLLEGE. SHE OVERSEES ALL FACETS FROM STUDENT SUCCESS SUPPORT, DUAL CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANT FUNDING, EMPLOYER AND SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS, AND WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND ENROLLMENT EVENTS. PRIOR TO THIS ROLE, SHE SERVED AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MARV FINGER FAMILY FOUNDATION. HER RESPONSIBILITIES THERE WERE WIDE RANGING AND IT ENTAILED MANAGING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED TUITION, TEXTBOOKS, UNIFORMS, AND EQUIPMENT TO UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS IN NEED WHO WERE PURSUING CREDIT WORKFORCE PROGRAMS AT THREE LARGE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN HOUSTON. DR. CASTANO'S NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INCLUDING STARTING THE FIRST HOUSTON I-H-D-H-C-C TEACHER EDUCATION DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM IN 2012, ESTABLISHING MONTHLY FOOD, UH, SECURITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK IN 2019, AND SECURING A MILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENT WITH HOUSTON METHODIST FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND HEALTH SCIENCE PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS IN 2021. SHE'S ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN HER COMMUNITY BY VOLUNTEERING FOR SEVERAL NONPROFITS. SHE IS A SOCIAL HOST AND MENTOR THROUGH KIDS LIVES, MA LIVES MATTER INTERNATIONAL, A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN HOUSTON AND INTERNATIONALLY. SHE ALSO SERVES ON THE ADVISORY BOARD. DR. CASTANO IS DEDICATED TO OUR STUDENT SCHOLARS AND TO ENHANCING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSTON STUDENTS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON SALUTE AND COMMENDS DR. CRUZ CASTANO FOR HER OUTSTANDING EFFORTS AS AN EDUCATOR AND COMMUNITY ENTHUSIAST. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY HONOR DR. CRUZ CASTANO WITH THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE HEALTHCARE AWARD AND PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 AS DR. CRUZ CASTANO DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE HISPANIC, UH, MAYOR'S BOARD COMMITTEE. [00:35:01] UM, THIS IS TRULY, TRULY AN HONOR. WHEN I THINK BACK AND I LOOK BACK, UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST A SMALL GIRL FROM SOUTH TEXAS WHO, UM, CAME FROM A LOW INCOME FAMILY. MY PARENTS DIDN'T GET TO EVEN, UH, ATTEND HIGH SCHOOL. MY MOM BARELY TURNED NINTH GRADE, WENT TO NINTH GRADE. UM, MY MOM BECAME A WIDOW AND HAD TO WORK TWO JOBS. AND WHEN I SAW HER WORKING AT A TOMATO FACTORY, I REALIZED AT THAT POINT THAT THAT WAS NOT FOR ME. AND I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD SINCE THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ANYWHERE I GO, CONTINUE TO RECEIVE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WISH I HAD. I HAD TO WORK THREE JOBS TO PUT MYSELF THROUGH COLLEGE, AND IT TOOK ME WAY MORE THAN FOUR YEARS TO FINISH. BUT AS OF THIS YEAR, MARKS MY 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN EDUCATION. I ALSO AM 1% OF THE LATINAS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS EARNED A DOCTORATE AS OF THIS YEAR, AND FROM A TIER ONE UNIVERSITY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 2,500 IN THE WHOLE NATION, AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER. AND SO THAT IS THE WORK THAT I DO. THIS MONTH HAS BEEN, UH, REMARKABLE TO SAY, UM, IN THE SENSE THAT I WENT TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA AND I SAT IN THE PRESIDENT'S HISPANIC, UM, INITIATIVES THAT HE HAS GOING ON, AND I SAT WITH ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE BOARD, AND I SPENT THE DAY LISTENING TO WHAT INITIATIVES THEY HAVE FOR HISPANICS. LATER ON, UH, THAT SAME WEEK, I WENT TO THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUNCIL, UH, FOR HISPANICS. AND I PRESENTED THERE ON THE WORK THAT I'M DOING HERE, UM, IN HOUSTON. AND SO WE ARE DOING GREAT WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WITH, UM, OUR COLLEGE, WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND WITH EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS AND NONPROFITS. AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO REPLICATE SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS. BUT THAT IS MY PRIORITY MOVING FORWARD, IS ASIDE FROM MY FAMILY THAT'S HERE TO SUPPORT ME, MY SON, MY DAUGHTER, AND MY, AND MY SISTER, IS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS AND ADULT LEARNERS, ANYBODY WHO NEEDS TO RESKILL UPSKILL, WHO WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO THROUGH GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS OR EMPLOYER FUNDING. SO THAT WAY EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE AN OPTION TO GO DESPITE THEIR RACE, DESPITE THEIR ZIP CODE AND DESPITE THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN NEVIN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. UH, THANK YOU DR. CRUZ CASTANO. THAT WAS VERY GOOD. MAYOR, YOU GOT THAT OUT . BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, I WAS THE FORMER, UH, BOARD CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR, UH, TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS BEFORE I BECAME A COUNCIL MEMBER. COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE JEWELS AND PEOPLE REALLY DON'T REALIZE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S THERE. IT CAN BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON TO OTHER ACADEMIC PURSUITS, OR CERTAINLY YOU CAN BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR THROUGH A TRADE FOR SEVERAL THINGS THAT I CANNOT DO MYSELF. AND SO I COMMEND YOU AND THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SO MUCH, UH, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO REALLY CATCH THAT VISION OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS PHENOMENAL. BUT I ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, A PERSON THAT'S STANDING THERE WITH YOU, UH, MENORAH. SO PULLMAN, WHO JUST IS JUST AN AWESOME LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I REMEMBER THE WONDERFUL TIMES THAT I STOOD WITH HER AND HER HUSBAND, AND HE WOULD SHARE HIS STORY ABOUT HIM ALSO BEING A GRADUATE OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. SO I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THOSE. WERE VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART STORIES. AND THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, FAMILY, CERTAINLY FOR STANDING AND MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, DR. CASTANO. UH, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO RECEIVE THE HISPANIC HERITAGE EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD. UH, THIS RESUME IS OUTSTANDING. UH, AS YOU KNOW, HISD IS 62% HISPANIC. UH, THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF 'EM ARE, THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENT BODY IS ALSO HISPANIC. UH, SO ROLE MODELS ARE NEEDED. UH, AND, UH, A QUARTER OF THE HISPANIC POPULATION, UH, IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18. UH, SO DEFINITELY, UH, ROLE MODELS ARE NEEDED AND YOU'RE AN OUTSTANDING ROLE MODEL FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU CAN GET RIGHT IN THE CENTER [00:41:40] AS WE TURN NOW TO THE SECOND PART OF TODAY'S SESSION. MADAM SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE INVOCATION. I'M SORRY, BEFORE THE CALL IN THE ROLE, UH, CHAIR [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR THE INVITATION. ALRIGHT, LET US BOW OUR HEADS. PLEASE. GOD, BEFORE WE ASK YOU FOR ANYTHING, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU FOR WAKING US UP THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE THAT REPORTED TO WORK HEALTHY. THANK YOU FOR EVERY PARENT THAT DROPPED THEIR CHILD OFF AT SCHOOL KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD RETURN TO THEM SAFELY. GOD, IN THIS MOMENT, I ASK FOR YOU TO ENDOW THOSE THAT YOU'VE APPOINTED TO LEAD THIS CITY WITH GRACE AND WITH CONFIDENCE AND WITH WISDOM. AND I ASK THAT YOU HEAL OUR LAND, PROVIDE OUR CITY WITH RAIN. I ASK THAT YOU HEAL OUR MINDS AND PROVIDE US WITH C CLARITY. AND I ASK LASTLY, THAT YOU HEAL OUR BODIES, THAT NOTHING THAT WE ATTAIN TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS WORLD WILL BE DONE IF OUR BODIES ARE WEAK. RESTORE OUR SOUL. IN YOUR NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES I PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. IF YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE, PLEDGE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN JUSTICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, MADAM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLL, MAYOR TURNER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PICK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TAG HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. OKAY, THANK YOU. WE HAVE A [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL RULES. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD READ THE APPLICABLE SECTION OF RULE EIGHT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION A. IF THE TOTAL OF THE TIMES REQUESTED BY SPEAKERS AT ANY COUNCIL MEETING IS GREATER THAN 150 MINUTES, THE MAYOR SHALL SO ANNOUNCE AND EACH SPEAKER'S TIME SHALL BE ONE MINUTE. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTIONS ARE INVOKED, THE QUESTION TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL BE LIMITED TO CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF ONE MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER NOT WITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS RULE. AND RULE 10 TO THE CONTRARY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO SUMMARIZE THIS MEETING, EACH, EACH PUBLIC SPEAKER, REGARDLESS OF THE OF THE MINUTES YOU SIGNED UP FOR, WILL ONLY [00:45:01] GET ONE MINUTE, ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. AND THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL WILL ONLY GET ONE MINUTE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU, IF YOU GIVE YOUR MINUTE, IT WOULD BE THE REMAINING OF YOUR MINUTE. SO IT COULD BE 20 SECONDS, COULD BE 10 SECONDS. COULD BE ONE SECOND. UH, ALRIGHT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TIM MARTIN FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. YES, MAYOR, A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE AMY BERTRAND AND TROY ALLEN TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. AND TO MOVE SONNY GARZA TO THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST BEHIND CHAIR MARTY STEIN THOMAS SECOND, THEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NONE. MOTION GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER APPOINTMENT FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. I'LL SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE TOMORROW. BELL AND MICHAEL BERGER AT THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST BELOW SUNNY GARZA. SECOND. OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTIONS BEEN SECOND IN ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE IN THAT MOTION IS GRANTED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING NONE. ALRIGHT. NO, I DO, I DO HAVE A VICE MAYOR PRO. I'M CASH TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MEGAN RUIZ, UH, TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE, UH, AGENDA. I SECOND THE TWO MINUTE TWO MINUTE AGENDA. YEAH. YES. TWO MINUTE. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. AND ANY OBJECTION. CHAIR. NONE. AND THAT MOTION IS GRANTED. ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? CHAIR HEARING, HEARING? HERES NONE. SEIZE NONE. OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CAN, YOU CAN PROCEED TO CALL THE SPEAKER'S LIST. AMY BERTRAN. AMY BERTRAN. AMY BERTRAN IS, SHE'S COMING HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY TROY ALLEN. WHERE'S AMY? MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M JUST GONNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. WE THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE, UH, WITH CHAPTER 42 AND MOVING AHEAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AMY. NEXT SPEAKER IS TROY. TROY, ALLEN. TROY, ALLEN. TROY. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LETTING US HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE PLENTY OF TIMES TO TALK ABOUT CHAPTER 42 THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK, UM, THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALSO ALL THE CITY STAFF FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. UM, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY CITIZENS, BUT ALSO TO THE BUILDING INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS' HARD WORK ON THIS. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE ALL IN A GOOD PLACE. WE'RE IN GREAT. A GREAT PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. OH, THANK YOU MAYOR. APPRECIATE THAT. I'M SORRY I MISSED IT. ARE YOU IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED ON THIS CHAPTER 42? THE I AM IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT THAT WILL BE PROPOSED TO CHAPTER 42. YES SIR. YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, BUT OPPOSED TO THE WHOLE THING, WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THE ENTIRE THING WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS PROPOSED TO CHAPTER 42. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IN FAVOR AS AMENDED. YES. YEAH, . GOOD QUESTION. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. MORGAN STEIN. MARTY STEIN IS HERE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MORNING. GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT ONE OF THE MICROPHONES. OH, SORRY. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANNA SAY I WON'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME. I'M HERE ON ITEMS 46 AND 47. UM, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF AGENDA ITEMS IN MY DAY AS YOU HAVE. AND I THINK THIS HONESTLY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU WILL VOTE ON IN YOUR TIME AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. UM, THESE CHANGES ARE THE RESULTS OF THREE YEARS OF WORK THROUGH PLANNING DEPARTMENTS, STAFF, ALSO PUBLIC WORKS, SOLID WASTE FIRE, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED. UM, A HERCULEAN EFFORT BY THE LIVABLE PLACES COMMITTEE, UH, CHAIRED BY SUNNY GARZA, WHO'S A PLANNING COMMISSIONER, WHO'S ABOUT TO SPEAK. UM, ASIDE FROM THE STAFF AND THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROCESS, I WANNA THANK THE LEADERSHIP [00:50:01] OF GHBA. THEY, UM, ARE GREAT CITIZENS. THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THE BIG PICTURE AND COLLABORATED WITH US ON THIS. WE'VE COME UP WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A COMPROMISE. IT'S NOT PERFECT FOR EITHER OF US, BUT IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE. WE CAN LIVE WITH IT AND GO FORWARD. AND THIS PACKAGE OF CHANGES WILL IMPROVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY. HOUSTON, YOUR TIME HAVE EXPIRED. SORRY. MORNING. I WANNA, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND, AND YOUR TEAM AND EVERYONE AFFILIATED WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU ALL, UM, I MEAN THIS IS A MAJOR ITEM AND YOU ALL HAVE WORKED VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY HARD ON THIS. UM, AND IT IS A MAJOR PLUS, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO LET ME GIVE A LOT OF KUDOS TO YOU AND, AND TO, TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS AND, UM, TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. UM, AND THEN TO THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION FOR EVERYBODY TO SEEK TO FINALLY WIN-WIN INSTEAD OF A WIN-LOSE. AND SO THAT'S MAJOR. UH, SO REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SAN GARZA, FOLLOWED BY TOMORROW. BILL, I'M IN GARZA. GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. SUNNY GARZA, CO-CHAIR OF THE LIBERAL PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE. IN AN EFFORT TO BE BRIEF, THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE SEEN OUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATIONS CHANGE, BE TWEAKED AND REVISED TO ANSWER THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY'S MANY STAKEHOLDERS. I'VE OFTEN SAID TO THE DIRECTOR THAT I'D BE HAPPY WITH NINE OUT OF 10 OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. AND I THINK WITH THE COMPROMISES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO YOU TODAY. WE ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THAT. SO I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY, AND I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE US THIS, UH, YES VOTE. THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANKS. SO COUNCILMAN MIGOS. HEY SONI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I KNOW YOU'RE AN EAST END RESIDENT, UH, IN, IN EASTWOOD. UH, SO WITH THIS COMPROMISE, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT, UH, UH, THE EAST END AND IN IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO EASTWOOD IN, UH, TRYING TO HAVE MORE, UH, YOU KNOW, HOUSING OPTIONS? WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THIS OFFERS, THESE AMENDMENTS OFFER MORE PROTECTION FOR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND WE FOUND A COMPROMISE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. AGAIN, WE WERE PUSHING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE HARDER, BUT BY PULLING BACK A LITTLE BIT, I THINK WE'VE MADE MOST PEOPLE HAPPY. AS WE SAY, WHEN YOU WALK AWAY FROM THE TABLE AT A COMPROMISE, NO ONE'S HAPPY. AND SO I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'RE GONNA END UP WITH. I THINK IT PROTECTS CHILDREN, PEDESTRIANS, ESPECIALLY AROUND SCHOOLS. AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. THANKS HONEY. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK, THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. NO, I'VE ALREADY, OH, YOU'RE, THANK YOU. UH, NEXT SPEAKER. I HAD HANDOUTS FOR, UM, COUNCIL IF THEY CAN COME AND GET 'EM. UH, I NOTICED THAT WHEN THEY WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO THE TABLE AND CAME TO AGREEMENT, THEY MENTIONED THE BUILDERS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ONCE AGAIN, THE CITIZENS WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION. WHO WILL BE MOSTLY IMPACTED BY THIS? I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS FROM DAY ONE, BUT THE IRON IRONIC THING I DISCOVERED WAS THAT THE DEVELOPERS HAD A PROBLEM. AND THE CITIZENS THOUGH WERE NOT THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY SHOULD EVER BE GIVEN AWAY FOR THE PROFIT OF OTHERS. I HEARD THEM TALK ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS. THEY MAY NOT DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY'RE SUFFICIENT. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE BECAUSE JUST 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. OTHER PEOPLE WALK ON OTHER STREETS AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. AND THESE COMPOUNDS THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT THEY'RE CALLING THE COURTYARD, IT'S GONNA BE CABRINI GREENS BECAUSE WHEN YOU SIFY A LOT THAT MUCH AND YOU DON'T PUT IN THE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW DO YOU THINK WHAT THE IMPACT IS GONNA HAVE ON THE HOUSE NEXT TO IT? THEY WILL FLOOD JUST LIKE THEY DID IN THE HEIGHTS. ONE BY ONE, THEY WILL BE GONE. THIS IS NOT READY. THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. YOU ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WILL BE GONE AND Y'ALL BE HERE. MARTY WAS RIGHT. I AGREE WITH HER. THIS IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU ALL WILL EVER GET TO VOTE FOR. DON'T SCREW THE CITIZENS. DO NOT DO IT. THIS IS NOT READY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A LONG ASS MINUTE. CAN I GET I PASSED OUT? WHO CAN I GET? NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHAEL DISH BURGER. MICHAEL DISH BURGER. I GET TO FOLLOW THAT. THANKS. TAMARA . HI, MY NAME IS MIKE BERGER. ALL YOU GUYS KNOW ME. I'M OWNER OF SAND CASTLE HOMES. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATEST AND BUILDER ASSOCIATION, AND I ALSO WAS A MEMBER OF THE LI LIVABLE PLACES COMMITTEE FOR THREE YEARS. OKAY. WE'RE IN THE FINAL HOME STRETCH OF CHAPTER 42 CHANGES. I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND PLAIN DIRECTOR FOR ALLOWING SOME AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE FINAL PACKAGE. I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT BOTH SIDES GO AWAY FROM THE TABLE A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY. IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE. I THINK THAT'S WHERE BOTH OF US ARE. WE'RE NOT SUPER HAPPY. THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT SUPER HAPPY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A COMPROMISE. THAT'S WHAT THINGS ARE ABOUT. UM, WE DID THE ALLEYWAY THING GOT RESOLVED, THAT'S GREAT. WE GOT FRONT, WE CAN STILL DO SOME FRONT LITTERS, NOT IN ALL PARTS OF HOUSTON, BUT WE'RE STILL STILL ABLE TO [00:55:01] DO THAT TYPE OF HOUSING. AND AS A BUILDER IN AN ORGANIZATION, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO KEEP THE COST OF BUILDING DOWN AND TRYING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES. THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD PARTS IN THERE LIKE THE MU THE ADUS COURT OPTIONS THAT CAN HELP IN THAT, UH, SITUATION. THANKS AGAIN TO COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO MYSELF AND THE REST OF OUR GROUP. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK MIKE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. SORRY, MIKE. YES. UH, REALLY QUICKLY 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU BUILD IN THE HEIGHTS A LOT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'D ADVOCATED FOR WAS, UM, THE CHANGE THAT WAS MADE, WHICH MAYOR I APPRECIATE RELATED TO ALLEYWAYS. UH, I JUST SO IT'S CLEAR ON THE RECORD, YOU BELIEVE THAT WHAT WAS CHANGED WILL HELP IMPROVE NOT ONLY FOR BUILDERS, BUT FOR RESIDENTS AS IT RELATES TO ALLEYWAY MAINTENANCE. I, I, YES. I THINK THE, UH, COMPROMISE IS, UH, I IS GREAT ON THE ALLEYWAYS. IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL USE ALLEYWAYS THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OR HOAS. IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY GOOD THING. YES. THANK YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. SAE HIR. SAE HIR. SAE IS HERE. HELLO, MAYOR TURNER. UH, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS SAE, NO BAIER. I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. UM, I'M A REALTOR, A BUSINESS OWNER, AND ALSO SERVE ON THE HOUSTON, THE HER GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY GROUP. AS A ACCREDITED BUYERS REPRESENTATIVE AND ALSO, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIALIST, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HELPING MANY BUYERS, UH, GET HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND IN OUR CURRENT ENVIRONMENT IN HOUSTON WHERE AFFORDABILITY IS NOT SO HIGH, NOT SO GOOD, UM, WE'RE STILL ABLE TO GET PEOPLE APPROVED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE GO TO LOOK FOR HOUSING, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND MUCH INVENTORY AND AFFORDABILITY FOR MY BUYERS, WHICH IS THE REASON WE ARE AS A, WE ARE SUPPORTING CHANGE FOR CHAPTER 42. ALONG WITH THAT, WE ARE, UH, CHAPTER 42 ADVOCATES AND SAFEGUARDS, GREEN SPACES, WHICH BRINGS CHARACTER TO CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. AND LET ME THANK HAR 'CAUSE HAR HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE, THANK YOU, OF FILE 42 EVEN BEEN IN THIS ORIGINAL STATE, SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, MR. TURNER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. PEGGY PENTECOST. UH, PEGGY PENTECOST. PEGGY IS HERE. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HAVING US HERE TODAY. I AM PEGGY PENTECOST. I'M A REALTOR WITH THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE REVISIONS FOR CHAPTER 42. FIRST OF ALL, I SELL REAL ESTATE IN DISTRICT C AND LIVE IN DISTRICT C. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE AFFORDED GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF HAVING THE RIGHT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT AND HAVING EYES ON THE STREET, HAVING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT REALLY KEEPS IN MIND THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE, THE MOVABILITY, THE WALKABILITY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. I BELIEVE THAT THESE REVISIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT KIND OF ATMOSPHERE. AND WHEN PEOPLE COME TO HOUSTON AND THEY GO THROUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THESE CULVERTS, THEY'RE HORRIFIED. THEY DON'T WANNA LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE THAT WHERE THEY CAN'T WALK. THEY DON'T WANT THEIR FAMILIES TO BE THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PEGGY. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, MEGAN ROYCE, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL DEER, DEGER. LIZZIE. MEGAN, THE MOTION. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS MEGAN ROY AND I'M THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WITH THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK. AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 26. THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK IS A UNIQUE NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND EXPERTISE TO EMPOWER, EMPOWER COMMUNITIES. THE TOOL LENDING PROGRAM IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO. OUR WAREHOUSE HAS ABOUT 300 DIFFERENT TYPES OF ITEMS RANGING FROM WHAT YOU WOULD CONVENTIONALLY THINK OF AS TOOLS TO BIGGER TICKET ITEMS LIKE AC UNITS AND GENERATORS. SINCE 2014, WE'VE SHARED MORE THAN 455,000 TOOLS IN SUPPORT OF 24,000 PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY MORE THAN 760 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS, SAVING OUR PARTNERS MORE THAN $12.6 MILLION IN RESOURCE EXPENSES. SINCE OPENING, WE'VE SUPPORTED MORE THAN 7,350 DISASTER RECOVERY PROJECTS ACROSS 206 ORGANIZATIONS. AS ANYONE KNOWS, MUCKING AND GUTTING A FLOOD AT HOME THE DAY AFTER AN EVENT VERSUS WEEKS AFTER CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MINOR REPAIR VERSUS EXTENSIVE MOLD [01:00:01] REMEDIATION, AND IN SOME CASES, SYSTEMS REPLACEMENTS. WE FORMALIZED A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES THIS DELAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, I WAS GONNA JUST SAY THANK YOU, BUT IF YOU WANNA TAKE LIKE 10 SECONDS OF MY TIME AND THEN I'LL RESPOND. OH, THANK YOU. UH, WE FORMALIZED A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM LAST YEAR, UH, STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, PECK AND THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING TO DISTRICTS B, C, D, AND G. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. OH, THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, UH, MY APPRECIATION TO THE TOOL BANK, JUST 'CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, SO THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING. THESE ARE CONTRACTS THAT DISTRICTS FUND FOR PREPAREDNESS, UM, TO STAGE AHEAD OF ANY STORM, ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT NEEDS THAT VOLUNTEERS MAY NEED TO GO INTO HOMES TO MUCK GENERATORS, UH, YOU NAME IT. SO WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR DISTRICTS, BUT IT'S THE TOOL BANK THAT'S PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, AHEAD OF ANY, IDEALLY ANY DISASTER. WINTER STORM, WE COULDN'T, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS COMING RIGHT. BUT WITH STORMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE TOOL BANK. OUR, OUR MOST SINCERE APPRECIATION FROM DISTRICT C. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MOTION TO EXTEND. ANY OBJECTIONS OR MOTION STAND HERE. NONE. GRANT, COUNCILMAN P. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP. YOU KNOW, WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AS WELL, UM, KIND OF PUTTING ALL THIS PLAN INTO PLACE AND I THINK WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION, SHOULD THERE BE ANOTHER DISASTER, BUT I REALLY HOPE WE'LL NEVER HAVE TO EXECUTE THIS PLAN. . FINGERS CROSSED. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MICHAEL DEGER. LILY MICHAEL IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS MICHAEL DIETRA LII. I'M ITALIAN AND THAT'S A VERY ITALIAN LAST NAME. YES, MA'AM. UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT CA REALTOR WITH NINO PROPERTIES, A MEMBER OF HAR, AN ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY AFTER REVIEWING PUBLIC INPUT COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS LAST WEEK, UH, REGARDING THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER 42, IT'S EVIDENT THAT THERE ARE SOME IMPERFECTIONS IN COMPROMISE. SEEMS TO HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. HOWEVER, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE WORK OF LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE THERE'S A GLARING NEED FOR NEW INNOVATING HOUSING IN OUR CITY. THE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT PUBLISHED IN 2021, TITLED MY HOME IS HERE, HIGHLIGHTED THAT OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, MORE THAN 200,000 HOMES ARE NEEDED FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING LESS THAN $75,000 ANNUALLY. THIS, TO ME, SCREAMS MORE THAT MORE TYPES OF PRODUCTS ARE NEEDED. AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER 42 ALLOW FOR THAT. I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF NEW CONSTRUCTION INFILL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY IS LARGELY HOMOGENOUS AND LACKS ALTERNATIVES AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN. AND THIS HAS BECOME OUR BAROMETER FOR WHAT'S AFFORDABLE, WHICH IS WHY I SUPPORT CHAPTER 42 BEING PASSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MICHAEL. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MATTHEW KAUFMAN, FOLLOWED BY NEIL EHEART. MATTHEW KAUFMAN. MATTHEW MATTHEW. NEXT SPEAKER NEIL EHEART. NEIL EHEART IS HERE. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL AND MAYOR TURNER. UH, MY NAME IS NEIL EARHART. I LIVE IN DISTRICT C AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE LIVABLE PLACES PROPOSAL. UM, THE LIVABLE PLACES PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW MORE HOUSING WITH BETTER WALKABILITY. IT WILL HELP TO REMEDY THREE MAJOR ISSUES, COST OF LIVING, HOMELESSNESS, AND CRIME. WHEN WE BUILD MORE HOUSING, IT DECREASES THE COST TO BUYER RENT. BUILDING MORE HOUSING NEAR AMENITIES ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DRIVE LESS. THOSE FACTORS MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE TO LIVE IN HOUSTON AND WILL KEEP PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS. WHEN COMMUNITIES ARE STABLE, IT LESSENS THE MOTIVATION FOR CRIME. WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT WALKING, IT LESSENS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CRIME. I LIVE IN A NARROW HOUSE ON A NARROW LOT WITH A SHARED DRIVEWAY IN THE BACK. THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT THAT LIVABLE PLACES IS TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE. IT'S NICE BECAUSE MY FRONT YARD HAS ROOM FOR TREES AND AN UNOBSTRUCTED SIDEWALK, AND THE BACK ALLEY IS A MORE PRIVATE SPACE THAT I SHARE WITH MY IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, UH, NEIL, YOU WRAPPED IT UP. I, I FIGURED YOU MAY RUN OVER, SO I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU 10 SECONDS, BUT I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT, UM, AND YOUR ADVOCACY AS A RESIDENT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, KYLE PCO. UM, HERE. THANK [01:05:01] YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME'S KYLE PENTECOST. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE. I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS CHANGE AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOU VOTING FOR IT. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, ERNESTINE LLOYD. ERNESTINE LLOYD ERNESTINE IS HERE. GET RIGHT BEHIND THE MIC. THANK YOU. OKAY. THIS ONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. AM MAYOR TURNER AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I AM ERNESTINE LLOYD AND I COME TO TALK ABOUT THE RELOCATION FUNDS THAT, UH, WERE ON THE AGENDA LAST WEEK. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR HELPING FIFTH WARD IN, IN SUCH A WAY YOU HAVE SHOWN THROUGH, THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IS SOME COMPASSION. AND ALSO THANKS TO LETICIA PLUMMER FOR A TAGGING THE ITEM SO WE COULD DISCUSS IT FURTHER AND WE COULD ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. 'CAUSE THERE'S SOME CONFUSION. UH, WE NEED SOME CLARITY. OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PROMISED THINGS BEFORE, BUT, UH, THEY DIDN'T HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MISS, UH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. NO, NO. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. SORRY. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? NOT YET. THANK YOU. MAYOR, CAN I GIVE HER TWO, ABOUT 10 SECONDS OF MY TIME TO FINISH UP YOUR COMMENTS? UH, YES. OKAY. YES. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TWO MINUTES WERE. I SHOULD HAVE GOT THREE, UH, MAYOR, THIS FUND THAT, UM, WE AGREEING UPON SHOULD HAVE SOME PLACE THAT WE CAN PUT IT, THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE. AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO PROTECT, UH, THE MONEY AND OUR COMMUNITY. IT WOULD HELP US TO ENSURE WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND, UM, AND ALSO SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS ON HOW TO, TO, UH, SPEND IT. SO MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR US. WE ASK THAT YOU DO THIS ONE LAST THING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN KAREN, EVAN SHA. THANK YOU. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK IN WITH HER AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SAY WHAT YOU NEEDED TO SAY. YOU ALL WALK FROM A MIGHTY LONG WAY, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, YOU CAN CERTAINLY HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO, YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU . IT WAS THERE FOR YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JAMES ALAMAS, FOLLOWED BY GEORGE FREE. JAMES ALAMAS IS HERE. THIS ONE RIGHT HERE? YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JAMES LAMA AND I'M A VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBER OF HOUSTON BIKE SHARE. THE NONPROFIT OPERATOR OF THE PRIMARILY CITY OWNED HOUSTON B CYCLE SYSTEM. I'M JOINED TODAY BY MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF WHO DESERVE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS, EFFORTS OVER THE LAST YEAR TO KEEP HOUSTON ROLAND IN THE FACE OF RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, UNCERTAINTY, RECORD, HEAT, AND MORE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THEM. WE'RE HERE TO ASK, WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE MAYOR'S FUNDING PROPOSAL TODAY. 160 STATIONS SERVE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, B-C-D-E-G-H-I, AND K, ALL FOUR COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS, FIVE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, PLUS THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, NINE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, AND 14 T AND SEVERAL OF THOSE ENTITIES HAVE STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE FUNDING ALONG WITH THE CITY. WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR THAT METRO HAS COMMITTED $10 MILLION TO LAUNCH A BIKE SHARE SYSTEM THAT MAY ULTIMATELY REPLACE THE CITIES. WE BELIEVE METRO'S SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE NETWORK AND RIDERSHIP UNTIL [01:10:01] STATION SITES AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS CAN BE TRANSITIONED OVER TO THEM. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN IN. UH, JAMES, I JUST WANNA LET YOU FINISH WITH LIKE 10 OR 15 SECONDS. THANK YOU. SURE. YEAH. AND SO BASED ON THEIR PLAN, THAT COULD TAKE FIVE YEARS OR MORE TO REACH THE SCALE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AT, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. GREAT. WELL, I'M, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. I'VE HAD COUNTLESS, UH, RESIDENTS REACH OUT ABOUT THE DISTRICT C ONES THAT HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, PUT ON HOLD. SO WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP GETTING THESE UP AND RUNNING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. YES. TH TH THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE, UH, DR. DELL INGRAM AND ADD JUSTIN KBB TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST, UH, BEHIND GEORGE FRAY ON THE THREE MINUTES SECOND, THEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION SERIES? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, GEORGE FRAY. GEORGE FRAY. GEORGE GEORGE FRAY. NEXT SPEAKER. DALE INGRAM. DALE INGRAM. HELLO. UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE, UM, WELL FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UM, I'M DR. DALE INGRAM AND, UM, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN MCKINNEY VILLAGES JUST HERE IN EAST END, EDO AREA FOR 17 YEARS IN THE SAME HOUSE. AND RECENTLY WE EXPERIENCED A CLUB BEING PLACED RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THIS CLUB HAS REALLY, UM, TAKEN A TOLL ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE IT'S BEEN OPEN. UM, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED PUBLIC INTOXICATION, UM, PUBLIC URINATION, UH, TRASH, ALL OVER THE, UM, STREET RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR, OUR RESIDENT. UH, WE'VE EXPERIENCED, UM, JUST LOUD MUSIC FROM THE CLUB. THE CLUB ITSELF, I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS, UH, SOUNDPROOFED. SO THE, UH, THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE CALLS TO THE POLICE TO COME OUT TO TURN THE MUSIC DOWN. THERE'S BEEN TRAFFIC CLUSTERS THAT HAVE COVERED, THAT HAVE CROSSED, UH, WHERE WE EACH TRY TO COME INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH WE CAN'T ENTER BECAUSE OF THE LONG VALET LINES. UM, THEY'VE PLACED A HUGE LIGHT RIGHT ABOVE, UM, OUR HOMES WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE JUST FLASHING RIGHT ABOVE OUR OKAY. OUR, UH, AREA. BUT THANK YOU THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. DR. INGRAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN HERE. I KNOW YOU, UH, REACHED OUT TO ME LAST WEEK. YES. UH, I DID SPEAK TO, UH, COMMANDER JOHNSON ON FRIDAY FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION. OKAY. UH, SHE WAS VERY HELPFUL AND SHE DID SAY THAT, UH, SHE'LL TRY TO GET MORE PETROS, UH, TO GO BY THERE. UH, I KNOW YOU STATED THAT THIS, UH, CLUB, UH, UM, IS IT NO TO CLUB? NO TO, NO TO, YES. THEY'RE FROM PHILADELPHIA. UH, THAT THEY OPEN AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. THEY CLOSE AT TWO O'CLOCK, BUT THAT THEY HAVE A FOOD TRUCK OUT THERE. THEY'VE HAD A FOOD TRUCK. YES. UH, SO, SO PEOPLE ARE JUST HANGING OUT TILL 4, 4 30 IN THE MORNING. YEP. UH, TALKING LOUD. UH, JUST CHOKING AROUND. THEY'RE NOT SENDING ANYONE HOME. YEAH. YEAH. AND, AND, AND THE CARS ARE RACING, UH, UP AND DOWN THE STREET. SO, SO, UH, UH, COMMANDER JOHNSON DID SAY TO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, PLEASE CONTINUE CALLING THE NON, UH, EMERGENCY NUMBER, UH, AT SOUTH CENTRAL SO THAT WAY THEY CAN KEEP TABS AND RECORDS ON THIS. YES. UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GOING TO THE SOUTH CENTRAL TACO WITH A COP THIS MORNING. YEAH. UH, I KNOW I SPOKE THERE WITH, UH, SERGEANT DEAN, UH, AND OFFICER MCCOY, SO THEY'RE AWARE OF IT AS WELL. UH, AND, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE LIGHTING, I KNOW YOU MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND. I, I, I, I KNOW THAT YOU, THERE IS NO, I'M SORRY, BUT THERE IS NO EXTENSION. WE ONLY, WE ON ONE MINUTE. WE ONLY THE ONE MINUTE TIME, KIM. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN KIBBLE, FOLLOWED BY RICHARD MAZA. JUSTIN, HEY, UM, I'M JUSTIN KIBBY. I LIVE IN THE SAME, UH, AREA AS DELL. UM, I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 2015. UM, THE MOST PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH NO TO IS THE SOUND. SO NOT ONLY IS IT FROM 10 TO 2:00 AM WHERE THIS BUMPING SOUND IS COMING THROUGH. WE'RE TRYING TO GO TO SLEEP, TRYING TO GET TO WORK, TRYING TO STUDY, GO TO SCHOOL, ALL THAT STUFF. AND, UM, YEAH, IT'S GOING ON TILL 2:00 AM AND THEN EVEN THEN YOU'VE GOT CARS, LIKE YOU SAID, RACING UP AND DOWN THE STREET, TURNING THEIR MUSIC LOUD. UM, THE RESPONSE TIME FROM THE OFFICERS IS USUALLY LIKE 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. SO SOMETIMES YOU GET THE, GET THEM TO GET THE SOUND AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T. UM, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT, THAT, THAT WE HAVE. I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION Y'ALL ARE GIVING IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GGO. UH, JUSTIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UH, AGAIN, LIKE I WAS TRYING TO FINISH MY, UH, UH, WHAT [01:15:01] I WAS GOING TO SAY TO DR. INGRAM IS, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE LIVES NEXT DOOR TO THE BAR. UH, SO SHE, UM, UNFORTUNATELY SHE SENT ME PHOTOS, UH, AND IT'S AT NIGHTTIME, BUT YET IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DAYTIME, UH, WITH THE SPOTLIGHTS HITTING HER PATIO IN THE BACK. I MEAN, IT'S RIDICULOUS. RIGHT? AND THEN TO DEAL WITH THE MUSIC AS WELL. AND THEN THE, THE, THE FOOD TRUCK OUTSIDE WHERE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE TILL 4, 4 30 IN THE MORNING. UH, I KNOW THAT WE, UH, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, AND THE REGULATION NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS, UH, WE PUT A LITTLE MORE TEETH ON OUR SILENT ORDINANCE. SO I'LL BE WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN TO SEE, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO ALSO ON THAT END. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. I'M SORRY. THANK, THANK YOU, SIR FOR COMING. AND THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, WE, WE DID, UM, WE DID WORK AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. WE PUT SOME CHANGES IN EFFECT THAT ARE TO STRENGTHEN THE NOISE ORDINANCE. UM, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME PROGRESS AGAINST SOME PROBLEM BARS. WE'LL ADD THIS ONE TO THE LIST THAT WE TRACK. IT'S ALL ABOUT DATA. IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN, WHEN THEY, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THROUGH AND TO CALL THE KEEP CALLING. 'CAUSE IT TAKES THE DATA TO GET AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING SO WE CAN GET THIS, THIS PROCESS SHORTENED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. RICHARD ZAINO. RICHARD ZAINO IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW, I'M RICHARD MAZANO WITH MAZANO CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT. UM, TODAY, I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN, GIVE A SPEECH ABOUT CONSTRUCTION, MARKETABILITY, OR THE HOME BUILDING BUSINESS. MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN WORKING WITH THE GHBA ON THE CHAPTER 42 CHANGES FOR NEARLY A YEAR. THIS HAS BECOME A SECOND OR EVEN THIRD JOB FOR ME. OVER THE PAST WEEK, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FEVEROUSLY WITH PLANNING TO PUT TOGETHER AN AMENDMENT THAT BOTH SIDES CAN COMPROMISE ON. AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE REACHED THAT GOAL. I DON'T THINK EITHER SIDE LIKES ALL THE COMPROMISES, HOWEVER, FOR THE MOST PART, WE'RE EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS IN THE CITY AND PRESERVING A VERY POPULAR OPTION, UH, AS WELL. NEXT, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY ONE OF YOU UP THERE, ESPECIALLY MAYOR TURNER FOR, UM, GIVING US THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL, GENUINELY ENGAGE WITH US, AND ACTUALLY LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE WE AS HOPEFULLY INDUSTRY EXPERTS, UM, ARE TRYING TO BRING TO THE TABLE, UM, AND WORK THROUGH ALL OF OUR CONCERNS. IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE GETTING TO KNOW EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BECOMING MORE CIVICALLY MINDED LOCALLY IN THE FUTURE. YOUR TIME. PAM. THANKS RICHARD. THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS RICHARD. NEXT SPEAKER, DAN KRUGER. DAN KRUGER IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND I'M HERE. I SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS ITEM 49 AND I WILL IN A MINUTE. MAYOR HOUSTON MAY BE PROUD OF BUILDING LAKES, HOUSTON, LIVINGSTON, AND CONROE OVER HALF A CENTURY AGO. OUR CITY SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT THE GOOD LORD HAS FILLED OUR LAKES EVER SINCE GIVING US PLENTIFUL FRESH WATER. WHAT HOUSTON YET NEEDS IS A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE WATER UTILITY. WASTE DOESN'T HELP SUSTAINABILITY OR RESILIENCE OR KEEP OUR RATES LOWER. THE NEW CONTRACT THAT SGRA RATIFIED IS BUILT UPON WASTEFUL USE OF HOUSTON'S WATER AND WASTEFUL USE OF HOUSTON'S UTILITY FEES TO THE AUTHORITIES ADVANTAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO OUR CITY. I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. I FORWARDED THE FULL EXTENT OF MY PREPARED REMARKS TO EACH MEMBER. THANK YOU. UM, MAY I APPROACH HIM, MARTIN? SO, MR. KRUEGER, UNFORTUNATELY I GET ONE MINUTE 'CAUSE I HAVE PROBABLY 40 MINUTES OF QUESTION 'CAUSE I'M RIGHT NOW IN THE BACK TALKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WHICH WAS IN PLACE WHEN YOU WERE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. IT WAS A 1955 CONTRACT REVISED IN 1968 FOR A DAM THAT WAS NEVER BUILT IN 1968. I THINK THE PROTOCOLS AND THE OPERATING PROCEDURES AND THE DAM DON'T MAKE SENSE TODAY. AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE ON AUGUST 27TH, 2017, I GOT OUTTA MY BED AND STEPPED IN WATER, WATER THAT THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY SENT MY WAY. AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING EVER SINCE THAT DAY TO NEVER FLOOD AGAIN. SO TO ME IT'S PERSONAL AND TO THE 10,000 PEOPLE THAT FLOODED IN MY AREA, IT'S PERSONAL. AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHILE THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY USES $2 MILLION OF MY TAX DOLLARS TO, FOR LEGAL FEES TO FIGHT THE VERY PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT, I FIND APPALLING. SO I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE THREE MONTHS LEFT ON THIS BODY [01:20:01] TO MAKE SURE THAT I UPHOLD, UH, WHAT I TOLD THESE PEOPLE I WOULD DO ON AUGUST 27TH, 2017. AND THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THEY NEVER FLOOD AGAIN. THANKS VERY MUCH AND THE TIME EXPIRED. UH, DAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I TALKED MONTHS AGO AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I PULLED THAT CONTRACT AND HAD IT, UM, SENT IT BACK FOR IT TO BE SCRUBBED AND, UM, THEY'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT IT AND WE'LL DISCUSS IT, UM, WHEN IT COMES UP. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, I CAN CERTAINLY RESPOND, BUT OBVIOUSLY, UNFORTUNATELY YOU CONTROL ALL THE TIME, MAYOR. YEAH. AND SO I WON'T, AND THANKS. I'LL, DAN I'LL MEET YOU OUTSIDE BECAUSE THIS HITS ME WHERE IT HURTS. ALRIGHT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. JAMIL HASSAN, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT REIL. HASSAN IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JAMIL HASSAN AND I'M INVESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE THIRD WARD AREA. I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TO SHOW MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CHANGES IN CHAPTER 42. UM, FAMILIES, STUDENTS, EVERYBODY THAT'S LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALSO HAS CREATED A LARGE NUMBER OF HOMELESSNESS. ONE BEACON OF HOPE, UH, ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN THE HOUSE, UH, HOUSTON HOUSING FIRST APPROACH, WHICH HAS EARNED NATIONAL ANNUAL KNOW RECOGNITION. SO, IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE THE URGE TO CONSIDER THE APPROVE THE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR CHAPTER 42. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, SCOTT SNODGRASS. SCOTT GRAS SCOTT IS HERE. WHAT UP COUNSEL? MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY IN WHICH WE'RE ALL THANKFUL TO LIVE, WORK, LEARN, AND PLAY. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT E, UH, AND HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF AGENDA ITEM 46 AND 47. UH, OR SORRY, YEAH. AGENDA ITEM 46 AND 47 RELATED TO THE LIVABLE PLACES INITIATIVE. UM, HOUSTON IS FINALLY FEELING THE PRESSURE OF INCREASING HOUSING COSTS THAT WE HAVE AVOIDED FOR SO MANY YEARS DUE TO THE LACK OF GEOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTED IN TO BUILD HIGHWAYS FOR OUR CITY. UH, AND NOW WE'VE REACHED THE OUTER LIMITS OF THE SPRAWL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND SERVE OUR CITY. I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR PRINCIPAL PLANNER SAVITA BONDI, UH, PLANNING DIRECTOR MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, THE LIVABLE ACT, LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE, AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THIS. I SUPPORT THE SMALLER LOTS, UH, AND THE DIFFERENT FORMATS OF HOUSING. I HAVE YET TO SEE THE MYTHICAL AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN TOSSED AROUND A BUNCH TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE. BUT I WILL SPEAK STRONGLY TO THE FACT THAT, UH, REDUCED CURB CUTS MAKE FOR A MUCH SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL PEOPLE, UH, AND THAT THEY ALSO PROVIDE A MORE PLEASANT FRONT TO THE HOME. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, MIKE SOLOMON. MIKE SOLOMON. MIKE SOLOMON. NEXT SPEAKER AMBER BURTON. AMBER, AMBER IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS AMBER BURTON ALFRED, AND I AM HRS, OR THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND ADVOCACY. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS HRS SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 42 AND OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE ON THIS. AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT ON THIS ISSUE, WE HAVE WORKED AND COLLABORATED WITH OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT NONE OF US LIKED THOSE Y SHAPED DRIVEWAYS THAT WERE ON THERE AT FIRST. SO MY MEMBERS TRULY THANK YOU FOR GETTING RID OF THOSE. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, WE DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SUPPORTING OUR INITIATIVES. THINGS THAT WE SUPPORTED HAR WAS JUST AS MORE THAN SELLING HOMES, THAT WE ALSO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY, IMPROVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCREASING DENSITY FOR ALL, AND ALSO PRESERVING OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO SAY, ONCE AGAIN, HAR DOES SUPPORT THESE REVISIONS AS WELL AS THE COMPROMISE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BILL BALDWIN AND AMY BERTRAND AND TROY ALLEN, YOUR TIME HAS THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. AND AMY, LET ME THANK, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, PERSONALLY, UH, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR, UH, PARTICIPATION. AND OF COURSE, BILL BALDWIN, UH, WHO I'VE TALKED TO, UH, DAY AND NIGHT AND , YOU KNOW, BUT, UM, HR SUPPORT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL ON THE CHANGES TO 42 FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AND I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT. SO, UH, YOU ALL REPRESENT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF REALTORS. SO YOUR SUPPORT, UH, WADE VERY HEAVILY IN GETTING US HERE. SO THANK YOU. THANK HR BILL. [01:25:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER, AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM. HOLD ON. AMBER, AMBER, UM, VICE MAYOR TIM CAST. OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, FOLLOWED BY VICE MAYOR PROAM. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AMBER, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU. AND TO H HR R, BUT MORE SO, I MEAN, YOU ALL INTERACT WITH OUR RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT C ALL THE TIME. YES. YOU KNOW, WHAT IS MARKETABLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, UM, HOME BUYERS AND RENTERS ARE LOOKING FOR. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS, UH, AS AMENDED WILL PROVIDE BETTER MARKETABILITY AND ATTRACT MORE, UM, FOLKS INTO THE CITY? MOST DEFINITELY. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS TODAY THAT ARE HERE THAT ARE FROM YOUR DISTRICT AS WELL, AS WELL AS OUR CEO. BOB HILL IS ALSO ONE OF YOUR, ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AS YOU KNOW. BUT YES, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT WILL PROVIDE A GREATER NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL. GETTING RID OF ALL THE CURB CUTS, THE DRIVEWAYS, NOT HAVING Y SHAPED SHARED DRIVEWAYS. AND, UM, THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED AMY. AMY BERTRAND ACTUALLY SPOKE TO OUR, OUR COMMITTEES BACK IN APRIL TO GO OVER THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR MEMBERS HAD THE MOST EDUCATED INFORMATION ON BOTH SIDES. SO, AND BILL BALDWIN WAS VERY GOOD. MAYOR TURNER, HE DID NOT EVEN LET ON THAT HE WAS WORKING ON THIS WHILE AMY WAS THERE. HE MADE SURE SHE WAS ABLE TO PRESENT HER CASE. OH, AGAIN, THANK YOU. MM-HMM . ANY OBJECTION? ANY OBJECTION. FACTS, MEMBER, AMBER, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY. I WANTED TO JUST TAKE THIS TIME, UM, AS YOU ARE, UH, LEADING THIS, UH, GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED REALTORS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE REALTORS WHO ARE TAKING TIME FROM THEIR WORK, UM, SERVING THEIR CLIENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH AS A CITY FOR OUR HOUSING STOCK. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND TO ALL OF THE REALTORS WHO ARE REPRESENTED TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE, UM, OF HAVING YOUR VOICES HEARD. UM, WE HEAR YOU. WE APPRECIATE WORKING ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU. AND AGAIN, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICE MAYOR PROTE. I APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCILMAN EVANS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I ALMOST MISSED YOU. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO. ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND CERTAINLY I AM A REAL ESTATE BROKER MYSELF, SO I APPRECIATE THE INPUT FROM OTHER BROKERS AND OR, OR REALISTS AS WE ARE CALLED. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY AND, UH, WE'LL SEE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TOMORROW WITH THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. BYE-BYE. IS THAT IT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. NEXT SPEAKER, BLAKE, FRAN. FRAN BLAKE, UH, FREENEY BLAKE IS HERE. COUNCIL AND MAYOR. I'M BLAKE FREENEY. I'M JUST A CITIZEN. I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR 12 YEARS. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON BEHALF OF THE INITIATIVE FOR 42, CHAPTER 42 IN SUPPORT OF IT. I ECHO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, JUST THAT IT'S GONNA PROVIDE SOME, UH, GOOD AESTHETICS, WALKABILITY, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, INCREASED HOUSING AVAILABILITY, LONG-TERM COMMUNITY RESILIENCY, AND INCREASED STREET SAFETY. BUT I ALSO WANNA SPEAK BRIEFLY IN SUPPORT OF THE NARROW LOT DRIVEWAY RESTRICTIONS. SPECIFICALLY. I THINK IT'S GONNA, THAT THAT RESTRICTION WOULD RESULT IN MORE BEAUTIFUL STREET DESIGNS BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE DRIVEWAYS BREAKING UP THE FLOW OF THE STREET. YOU'D HAVE INCREASED GREENERY, YARDS, PATIOS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STREETSCAPE. UM, IT WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS TO MAKE CREATIVE USE OF THE NEW BUILDING STYLES MADE AVAILABLE BY THIS INITIATIVE. SO YOU CAN'T JUST DRAG AND DROP THE SAME BLUEPRINT, UH, EVERYWHERE. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO START ENGAGING, EXCUSE ME, WITH THE, WITH WHAT THE, UM, INITIATIVE IS ASKING FOR. AND ALSO IT'LL INCREASE SAFETY FOR SIDEWALK USERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. PAUL BEN. PAUL. PAUL IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE TODAY. I HAD TO CONDENSE WHAT I HAD TO SAY INTO A MINUTE, SO IT'S GONNA BE QUITE SHORT AND PUNCHY. BUT ESSENTIALLY, MY NAME IS PAUL BENS. I DO NOT SUPPORT THE CHANGE IN CHAPTER 42, AND I HAVE NOT SUPPORTED THEM FOR MONTHS. THE MAIN DRIVER IN MY OPINION, IS IF THIS IS FOR AFFORDABILITY, MANY OF THESE CHANGES WILL ACTUALLY DECREASE AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE TARGETING PEOPLE'S HOMES FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. ANYTIME YOU MIX A COMMERCIAL INTEREST WITH HOUSING, IT DRIVES UP THE PRICE, INCLUDING THE PROPERTY TAXES, ONE HOUSE, 500 HOUSE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD, BASICALLY, IN SHORT, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE MATH, BUT $177 [01:30:01] A MONTH IS WHAT THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE. THAT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THE AREAS OF COLOR, WHICH ARE NOT NECESSARILY DEED RESTRICTED OR THERE'S A, THERE'S A HIGH CORRELATION OF THAT. IT FLOWS INTO ALL NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL. THANK YOU. THANKS PAUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. J BRADLEY. JAY BRADLEY. JAY JAY IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS JAY BRADLEY. I'M A PROUD NATIVE OF US, WONDERFUL CITY, AND ALSO SECOND TERM BOARD MEMBER OF, UH, HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, TEXAS REALTORS AND NEWLY ELECTED TRUSTEE FOR THE TEXAS REAL ESTATE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. UM, AT HAR, OUR ORGANIZATION IS DEEPLY WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF HOUSTON SUPPORTING ITS GROWTH, EVOLUTION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ITS PEOPLE. UM, BEING RAISED IN HOUSTON AND HAVING SERVED ITS RESIDENTS FOR OVER TWO DECADES IN MY REAL ESTATE CAREER. THIS ISN'T JUST BUSINESS FOR ME, IT'S PERSONAL. THE MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS WHO SERVE CLIENTS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA SUPPORT SMART DEVELOPMENT, FIRST NA SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE, UH, FUTURE FOR ALL HOUSTON RESIDENTS. THANK YOU TO THE GHBA PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OTHERS, FOR THEIR LABORED EFFORTS IN THIS, UH, CHAPTER 42 AMENDMENTS. UM, TO CONCLUDE OUR, TO CONCLUDE, OUR BELIEF IN CHAPTER 42 IS UNWAVERING. WE ARE AT A, WE AT HAR, UM, EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE TO YOU, OUR CITY'S LEADERS, FOR RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR CHANGE. WE ARE READY HAND IN HAND TO ASSIST IN REALIZING THESE VISIONS, UM, TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANKS, SHANE. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, COLLIE RAPIER. COLLEEN RAPIER. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KYLIE RAPIER. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S DISTRICT. I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO, UM, EXPRESS MY SUPPORT AND H HR I SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 42. JUST TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN SAYING, IT WILL CREATE BETTER COMMUNITIES, MORE SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO SIDEWALKS, AS WELL AS MORE GREEN SPACE, AND MAKING IT MORE LIVABLE AND BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, KYLIE, UM, EXCUSE ME, KYLIE, I WANTED TO THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU, UM, ARE ALSO WITH HAR, BUT YOU ARE VERY INVOLVED WITH YOUR CIVIC CLUB, UM, FROM A RESIDENTS PERSPECTIVE IN DISTRICT C. 'CAUSE I'VE HEARD, I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD FROM A TON OF RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT C ON THIS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS AS A RESIDENT LIVING IN THE DISTRICT? YES. I THINK IT KEEPS THE INTEGRITY OF SOME OF THESE DE RESTRICTED COMMUNITIES. UM, IT'S NOT JUST TEARING DOWN THESE HOMES. I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES AND BUILDING UP MULTIPLES WITH NO FRONT DOORS, FACING, UM, THE STREETS, THINGS LIKE THAT MAKES IT LESS OF A COMMUNITY, LESS OF A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD AS IF YOU GO THROUGH VERY MANY STREETS. AND DISTRICT C, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE COHESIVE, MORE WALKABLE, AND AGAIN, MORE FRIENDLY, FAMILY FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOODS. GREAT. AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, AUTUMN OSBORNE. AUTUMN IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER. AND COUNCILMAN. I'M AUTUMN OSBORNE. I'M ALSO A PART OF HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS AS WELL AS A REAL ESTATE BROKER. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. I TOO SHARE SOME OF THE SAME PASSIONS AND, UM, COMMITMENTS AS JAY, AS WELL AS KYLIE. UM, YESTERDAY I WAS AT BLOT IN JACKSON AND I JUST MADE IT A POINT TO LOOK AT, UM, DIFFERENT, UH, PROPERTIES AND PARKING. AND I AM A SUPPORTER OF CHAPTER 42. BUT WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE SIDEWALKS WHERE I PLAYED AS A LITTLE GIRL, BUT WE ALSO REALLY, REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE PARKING. UM, AS A REAL ESTATE BROKER, WHEN I'M SHOWING CLIENTS WHO WANNA COME TO MONTROSE, MIDTOWN, ET CETERA, THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW MANY VEHICLES THEY CAN PARK. AND YESTERDAY, I MEAN, TO HAVE A BMW MERCEDES AND DIFFERENT VEHICLES OUT ON THE STREET BECAUSE THERE IS NO PARKING. UM, WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO LEAN IN AND TAKE A CLOSE, CLOSE LOOK. AGAIN, KUDOS FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND HAVE DONE. AND MAYOR TURNER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF INDEPENDENCE TIMES YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, MY ALMA MATER. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. MATTHEW CAMP. MATTHEW CAMP MATTHEW. MATTHEW. NEXT SPEAKER. TYRONE MCDANIEL. TYRONE MCDANIEL. TYRONE. NEXT SPEAKER ZELL DE KING KANE. ZELDA. KANE ZELDA IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS [01:35:01] ZELDA KANE AND I'M A BROKER. I'M A, I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER. I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND I'M A CITIZEN OF THE HOUSTON OF HOUSTON AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. UM, TODAY I'M HERE TO EXPRESS HR SUPPORT AND MY SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 42. UM, WE FEEL THAT, UH, BECAUSE I SELL HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE PRO PROPOSED REVISIONS WILL PRESERVE AND PROTECT. I WAS RECENTLY OUT IN THE ACRE HOME COMMUNITY SHOWING PROPERTIES. AND AS I'M SHOWING THESE NEW HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT THERE, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR US, IT'S REALTORS TO PARK. THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THE CLIENTS THAT WE'RE BRINGING INTO PARK TO SEE THE HOMES IN ORDER TO GET IN TO SEE THOSE HOMES. AND SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT OR HAVE THE BUILDERS CONSIDER THAT WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING THOSE HOMES UP IN THE COMMUNITIES. UM, UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THE LACK OF HOUSING INVENTORY, ALSO, UH, FOR THOSE WHO, UH, IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, SITUATION, THEY'RE VERY, VERY FEW HOMES THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PURCHASE. I TEACH THE TEXAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIALIST CLASS TO REALTORS. I ALSO OFFER HOME BUYING CLASSES AND CREDIT, UH, CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT I'M PREPARING PEOPLE TO PURCHASE HOMES. BUT THE PEOPLE I'M PREPARING CAN'T BUY THE HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT. YOUR TIME HAVE EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. MARY STRONGER. MARY STRONGER HERE. MARY, NOT HERE. THEN. MARY. MARY, NOT HERE. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. JOE AGA STEVENSON. JOANNA STEVENSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL. UH, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT THE HISTORIC FIFTH WARD. AND I SAY THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART BECAUSE FOR DECADES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD POLITICIANS THAT HAVE IGNORED US. AND FINALLY, HERE YOU ARE. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'VE DECIDED TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CANCER CLUSTER IN THE HISTORIC FIFTH WARD. UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, COUNCILWOMAN LETICIA PLUMMER FOR THINKING ABOUT US AND GIVING US THE TIME TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE ALL, THAT WE HAVE. UH, I AM A MEMBER OF THE CAB, WHICH, UH, IS THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD. AND WE MEET, WE'VE MET ABOUT FOUR TIMES, I WOULD SAY, WITH THE, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND WE'VE LISTENED TO EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE PRESENTED. AND, UH, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN SHARED AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE, WE'VE TIME HAVE EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU JOAN, AS ALWAYS. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU CAN HAVE SOME OF MY TIME, BUT I HAVE TO COMMEND THAT CREW YOU HAVE BACK THERE. THEY, THEY WALKED THAT WALK AND THEY CAME TO SUPPORT YOU. AND SO I WANT TO COMMEND THEM AS WELL SO YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I, I WANNA LET ME GO AHEAD AND SPEED UP TO WHAT I, MY ASK ARE, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW IN THE BEGINNING THAT WE TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, BUT I HAVE TO ASK OF YOU, WE NEED TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY THE DETAILS OF WHAT'S BEEN DONE. WE APPRECIATE THE FUNDING BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONLY ENTITY THAT HAS ACTUALLY STEPPED UP WITH SOME MEANINGFUL MONEY TO HELP, UM, REMOVE OR RELOCATE SOME PEOPLE. BUT WE DO NEED QUITE A FEW COMMUN COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO EXPLAIN SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE SOME OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT WE KNOW, BUT PEOPLE REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. MY SECOND ASK IS THAT, UM, IS THAT WE, WE NEED A-A-C-B-A, A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT. WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON THAT AND TO PROTECT OUR FUNDS BECAUSE YOU ARE ONLY GONNA BE HERE TIME. AND WE WANNA BE PROTECTED AGAINST THE, THE NEXT MAYOR THAT SHOWS UP. LEMME JUST SAY I APPRECIATE THAT AND I AM MORE THAN, UM, UH, WILLING FOR COUNCILMAN P EMPLOYMENT TO REFER THIS MATTER BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. SHE CAN REFER IT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN IT WILL COME BACK. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SANDRA EDWARDS. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR TURNER, 'CAUSE YOU STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE. AND I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I WANNA [01:40:01] THANK DR. WILLIAMS AND DR. HOPKINS. AND I WANNA THANK YOU DR. PLUMER, FOR LISTENING AND FOR COMING OUT TRYING TO GET US SOME UNDERSTANDING WITH US. FOR US. AND I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU THE ONLY ONE STEPPED UP TO HELP US. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. BUT WE DID NEED THAT WEEK TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND GET SOME UNDERSTANDING, BECAUSE I'M ONE OF 'EM THAT'S AFFECTED AS EVERYONE KNOW. BUT I WANNA JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTED THROUGH ALL THIS. I MEAN, IT'S A LOT THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING ON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO HELP. AND WE APPRECIATE. WE DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO THINK WE ARE UNGRATEFUL, BUT WE NEEDED THAT TIME. AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO DO THE FUNDING FOR US. AND PLEASE KEEP IT ON THE TABLE OR DO WHATEVER Y'ALL HAVE TO DO BECAUSE WE DO NEED THIS HELP. WE, WE DO NEED THIS. AND I NEED ONE MORE MEETING, PLEASE. UM, I WILL, I WILL BE VERY HONEST AND TELL YOU THAT, UM, I I, I'M NOT NECESSARILY FEELING FEELING IT, IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO CREATE CONFUSION. I KNOW. THAT'S WHY, WHY, LETTING YOU KNOW. BUT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS CONFUSION IS COMING FROM. 'CAUSE IT WAS ONLY INTENDED TO SET UP A FUND TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH OPTIONS. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. WELL, I, I DON'T KNOW WHO CREATED THE CONFUSION. WELL, SEE, YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE BEEN DIVERSE SO LONG, NO HELP. BUT THEN SOMEBODY FINALLY CAME. WE, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO JUST TRUST IT. IT WAS LIKE, UH, ARE THEY REALLY GONNA DO THIS? WHAT THEY GONNA DO? HOW ARE WE GONNA DO IT? SO WE NEEDED THAT TIME TO CONVINCE THEM THAT Y'ALL WERE ON OUR SIDE. WE NEEDED TO LET THEM KNOW. I MEAN, WE HAD A LOT OF DOUBTS. Y'ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN OUR, BEEN DIVERSE FOR SO LONG. UNDERSTAND ME. IT'S NOT FORCING ANYONE. IT WAS A VOLUNTARY DEAL. YEAH. THE ONLY, THE ONLY THING THAT WE WERE DOING WAS CREATING A FUND AND PUTTING SOME MONEY IN IT FOR PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTARILY CHOSE, NOT FORCED, BUT VOLUNTARILY CHOSE. AND FOR SOME REASON, THE GOOD DEED IS BEING VIEWED. SO I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO FORCE ANYBODY TO ACCEPT. WE UNDERSTAND. WE UNDERSTAND. WE WERE JUST LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THEY JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND. AND WE NEEDED TO EXPLAIN IT TO 'EM. SO YOUR TIME EXPIRED. I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANKS VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. SHE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHEILA BMY. NEXT SPEAKER. WHO IS THE NEXT SPEAKER? SHEILA BMY. SHE'S COMING. YES MA'AM. MY NAME IS SHEILA. YES MA'AM. AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HAVING US HERE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR DOING ALL WHAT YOU HAVE DID. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. WE REALLY DO. WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME FOR IT, THAT'S ALL. AND IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO OR IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, I UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW, I REALLY DO. BUT WE REALLY NEED THAT TIME. WE REALLY DO. I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL. GOD BLESS ALL Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. PEACE . PEACE BMY. PEACE. PEACE HERE. PEACE. IS HERE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UH, MAYOR TYLER. YES SIR. UH, MY NAME IS, UH, FE SPIN. UH, I'M FROM NEW ORLEANS AND I'M NATIVE OF HOUSTON, 1973. I MET YOU THEN. UH, MY CONCERN HERE TODAY IS, UH, LET'S GET BACK TO, IF WE CAN GET BACK TO SOME FOOT PATROL IN, UH, FIFTH WATER, IT'LL BE NICE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN. 'CAUSE WE GOT A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE THERE. I EXPERIENCE THAT EVERY DAY RIDING MY BIKE. UH, WE, I HAVE, [01:45:01] UH, WORKED WITH, UH, THE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS AND I LOVE IT. AND SOME OF ALL CITY COUNCILS THAT I MET WHEN THE MEETING IS, UH, I'M ONLY HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO, TO SEE IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH WARD. UH, I LOVE FIFTH WARD. UH, IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I MOVED INTO AND I'M BEGINNING TO MEET A LOT OF YOUNG, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND TALK ABOUT. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. DOLORES MCGREGOR. DOLORES MCGREGOR. DOLORES, RONALD FORD. ONE SECOND. I THINK DOLORES IS COMING. DOLORES DOLORES IS HERE. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UH, TURNER. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD TO SEE YOU ONCE AGAIN. AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY. BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT MYSELF. I'M THINKING ABOUT MY NEIGHBORS, MY FELLOW SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN FIFTH WARD. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WITHOUT. AND NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE TO IMPROVE A PART OF FIFTH WARD. AND THAT IS DEALING WITH THE CRI SO POISONING THAT MOST OF THE PLUMES IS UNDERNEATH THESE PEOPLE HOMES. SO WHAT WE NEED, IF YOU DON'T MIND, 'CAUSE I LOVE THE SERVICE THAT YOU DID FOR THESE LAST YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN OFFERED, AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT'S SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW, IS TO INFORM AND EDUCATE MAYOR, ATTORNEY. THAT'S WHAT'S ALWAYS BEEN WRONG WITH THE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY. THEY COME IN THERE, THEY INFORM ME, I MEAN, INFORM US YOUR TIME HAVE EXPIRED. BUT THEY NEVER, THEY NEVER GIMME EXTENSION KNOW, EDUCATE US. SO IF YOU COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, FIND IT IN YOUR HEART BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M 75 YEARS OLD, SO I'M A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OLD AND I'VE BEEN IN FIELD WALL ALL MY ENTIRE LIFE. IF WE COULD JUST GIVE LIKE ONE, ONE WEEK TO INFORM OUR COMMUNITY, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. 'CAUSE IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US. WE, SORRY TO SEE YOU GO. AND IT MAY NEVER BE ANOTHER MIRROR LIKE YOU BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW IT IS TO LIVE IN A LOW INCOME AREA. AND THESE IS THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BAND TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT, EVERY LAST ONE OF US HERE ON THIS PLANET. SO IF YOU COULD JUST ONE, ONE WEEK, THAT'S ALL WE NEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL SMITH. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, MS. MAGRUDER AND, UM, UH, WE CERTAINLY CAN CAN DO THAT. UM, WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT. I MEAN THE, SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE ON THE SAME PAGE. UM, THE INTENT OF THIS FUND WAS TO PROVIDE SOME SEED MONEY IN THIS FUND. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND WHAT I ASKED THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO WAS PUT $5 MILLION IN THERE AND YES SIR. THAT SEED MONEY. YES. OKAY. FOR A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. 'CAUSE WHAT I FOUND, AND I THINK WHAT I WAS HEARING IS THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE, THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE STUCK AND DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS, UH, TO DO ANYTHING BUT STAY WHERE THEY WERE, EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO MOVE OR RELOCATE CLOSE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. SO THIS WAS, WE WERE SIMPLY CREATING THIS FUND OF $5 MILLION IN HOPES THAT DOWN THE STRETCH, THE REAL FUNDING SHOULD COME FROM UP. YES. THAT'S WHERE THE REAL FUNDING SHOULD COME FROM. BUT IT WAS ALSO A PART OF, UH, PUTTING PRESSURE ON UP AND HOPING THAT EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD JOIN IN, UH, AND EVENTUALLY THE COUNTY IF THEY SO DESIRED. BECAUSE THE TOTAL COST, IF YOU WERE TO MOVE FOR, IF EVERYBODY OUT IN THAT AREA OH, IN THAT CANCER CLUSTER YES, SIR. DECIDED TO RELOCATE. REALLY THE ACTUAL COST WOULD BE MORE LIKE 30 TO $35 MILLION. YES, SIR. AND SO THIS WAS JUST AN INITIAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTARILY ELECTED TO [01:50:01] RELOCATE. AND THEN WE WOULD WORK THROUGH THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. BUT WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA WAS JUST TO CREATE THE FUND. THE DETAILS WOULD BE WORKED OUT AFTER THE FACT. THIS IS JUST FOR ASKING THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL TO PUT MONEY IN THE FUND. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT WAS MY MOVE TO PUT THE MONEY IN THE FUND WHILE I AM HERE AS MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT MAYOR IS GONNA DO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT MAYOR IS GONNA DO, BUT I'M HERE RIGHT NOW. AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT WAS, UH, DISHEARTENING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR PEOPLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND PEOPLE DYING FROM CANCER. AND IT SIMPLY FOR ME IS I IMMORAL FOR THE CITY TO JUST SIT BY AND JUST WATCH PEOPLE GET DIAGNOSED AND DIE AND DO NOTHING OTHER THAN TALK. OKAY. YES, SIR. SO THIS WAS, UM, THE POINT OF JUST CREATING A FUND, PUTTING SOME MONEY IN THE FUND AND IT WOULD GO AS FAR AS IT COULD GO. YES. BUT THE HOPE IS AS WE COLLECTIVELY FIGHT AGAINST UP, 'CAUSE UP HERE IS THE ONE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. YES. AND UP SHOULD BE THE ENTITY STEPPING UP FOR A MUCH BIGGER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. BUT THE CITY SHOULD AT LEAST DO WHAT IT CAN DO. YES. TO HELP AS MANY AS IT CAN. THAT'S THE, THAT THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT. I MEAN THAT, AND AS YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE NEED TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT IS A LOW COME COMMUNITY. WE NEVER HAD A GOOD EDUCATION. YOU GO TO THEM SCHOOLS IN FIFTH WARD AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU CAME OUT, IT JUST LIKE KICKED OUT SAYING THAT'S THE FRONT DOOR AND YOU MAY NOT EVEN, UH, HAVE A THIRD GRADE EDUCATION. RIGHT. SO WHAT I'M SAYING, THE ONE WEEK TO, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLES, THEY DON'T COMPREHEND. THEY CAN READ VERY WELL, BUT THEY CAN'T COMPREHEND THE WORDS THAT THEY READING. I UNDERSTAND. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE TRULY INFORM THEM BECAUSE I'M, I'M TELLING YOU, MARY, SOMEBODY CAME AND TOLD ME THAT, UH, I WAS GOING TO GET TWO, $300,000 FOR MY PLAN. I I WOULD EVEN ASK NO QUESTION. I'D JUST BE, UH, SO VERY HAPPY TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, TO ME IT WOULD SEEM LIKE GREAT NEWS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE UNDERLINING BECAUSE I WANT INFORMED PROPERLY AND BY MY EDUCATION. I GOT YOU. I WOULDN'T, UH, UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND. JUST SO I APPRECIATE YES. BUT, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO, TO BE VERY CLEAR, THIS WAS JUST THE FIRST STEP. YES, SIR. THE FIRST STEP IS JUST FOR THE CITY TO CREATE THE FUND AND PUT SOME MONEY IN THE FUND. AND THAT'S ALL WE WERE DOING. YES, SIR. AND WE NOT TRYING TO PLAY THE BLAME GAME. RIGHT. AND LIKE I SAY, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL LADY, UH, YOU KNOW, LATISHA PLUM. I APPRECIATE COUNCIL LADY BECAUSE SHE REPRESENT OUR AREA, MS. TOIA JACKSON. AND MOST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT SIT WITH YOU. SO THANK YOUR TIME HAVE EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER. MS. MCGRUDER. COUNCIL, ONE SECOND. MS. MAG. MS. MCGRUDER. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. MR. MAGDA. HEY, RIGHT HERE. I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HEY AND, UM, SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. YOU'VE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES. YOU KNOW, I MET YOU ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO AND YOU KNOW, FROM MY WORK OVER THE YEARS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAVE BEEN PRIORITY. UM, IT'S MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY IS AT THE TABLE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN MY MOTTO. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY MOTTO SINCE 20 SOME YEARS ORGANIZING. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU, YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW, EVEN AFTER GETTING YOUR HOME REBUILT, UM, AFTER HURRICANE IKE, YOU STILL STAYED IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOUGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND YOU TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, I LEARNED FROM YOU EVERY DAY. I MEAN, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE. YOU, I MEAN, YOU'RE INVOLVED. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND JUST KNOW YOU HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAVE YOUR BACK. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. AS WELL AS MS. LATA , SHE GAVE MY MUSTARD SEED PROGRAM A CHRISTMAS PARTY. AND I DEAL WITH KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF ONE TO 12. RIGHT. SO, SO IF YOU EVER WANTED TO HAVE ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN COME TO THE MUSTARD SEED PROGRAM, YOU ARE WELCOME MA'AM. VICE MA'AM PROAM CAST TAYLOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. UM, MAYOR, I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU. IF IT, TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY IN [01:55:01] CREATING THIS FUND BECAUSE WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS FOR SOME ACTION. NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THIS FUND WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. UM, I'M READY TO VOTE TO PUT THE MONEY THERE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, UM, CREA ASSAULT AND THE PROBLEM WITH UP, AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON THIS. AND IF WE MOVE ON THIS, IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FIRST STEP IS TO GET THE MONEY IN THE FUND. RIGHT? THERE SHOULD BE NO DELAY IN GETTING THE MONEY IN THE FUND. WE NEED TO VOTE TO GET THE MONEY IN THE FUND. AND THEN FROM THEN, WOULD IT NOT BE PRUDENT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS KNOW HOW THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT AND PUT THE PROGRAM IN PLACE, THE FIRST STEP OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AND THE FIRST STEP THAT THE RESIDENTS SHOULD WANT IS TO HAVE THE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR YOU. YES. AND IN ORDER FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE, WE HAVE TO VOTE TO HAVE THE MONEY ALLOCATED TO YOU. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET THIS MONEY TO YOU. YES. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO VOTE TO MAKE THAT TAKE PLACE. AND THEN THERE IS PLENTY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EDUCATE EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT HAS A QUESTION. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HAS BEEN A, A, A STAUNCH ADVOCATE AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS, UM, FOR YEARS. YES. AND WE ARE AT A POINT NOW WHERE IT'S ON THE TABLE. LET, LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN. LET'S NOT WAIT. UM, THE PEOPLE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH, LET'S USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PFL. I WANNA TELL YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT'S SPOKEN TODAY. THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS IS TO MAKE SURE ALL OF YOU ARE WHOLE. THAT'S THE WHOLE PLAN. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING UP HERE AND, UM, EXPRESSING YOUR SENTIMENTS ON HOW THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN. AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF FIFTH WARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LOVE ALL YOU ALL. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER IS RONALD FORD. RONALD FORD. RONALD FORD. NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER IS LATONYA PAYNE. LATONYA PAYNE IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LATONYA PAYNE. I AM THE PARENT OF CORINTHIAN GILES THAT LOST HIS LIFE TO LEUKEMIA AT 13 YEARS OLD. MM-HMM. AND I STAND HERE WITH SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I PREW WROTE DOWN, BUT NOW I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. UM, THANK YOU ALL, UM, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. UM, JUST HEARING, UH, THE NEED OF URGENCY FOR WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED. WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO LOSE OUR CHILDREN AND OTHERS BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. SO I JUST THANK LETICIA A PLUMBER FOR ALWAYS ASKING OUR, ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS AND KEEPING US IN THE LOOP AND WHAT IS GOING ON. AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR TIME IS UP, THAT UM, YOU DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALONG WITH YOURSELF AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. WELL, CERTAINLY WAS PREPARED TO DO IT LAST WEEK. I WAS PREPARED TO DO IT LAST WEEK. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. BUT I I BUT MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU. AND IN LARGE PART IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU, YOUR SON AND OTHERS, UM, THAT WE WANTED TO, UH, THAT I WANTED TO SET UP THIS FUND AND PUT THE MONEY IN IT. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. LATONYA, I JUST WANNA TELL YOU MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. I ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, SERIOUSLY, I KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS ALL THE TIME. OKAY? THANK YOU. MAY I TELL MARTIN? YES MA'AM. MS. PAIN, MA'AM? MS. PAIN NUMBER ONE, MY SYMPATHIES AND PRAYERS. I KNOW THAT'S HAD TO BE THE MOST PAINFUL THING THAT ANYONE COULD EVER EXPERIENCE. I SIT IN MEETINGS WITH THIS GENTLEMAN TO MY RIGHT FOUR DAYS A WEEK. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MONTHS. WE HAD IT ON THE AGENDA LAST WEEK. SO YOUR FIRST COMMENTS TO ME WERE URGENCY. THIS HAS BEEN URGENT FOR A LONG TIME. WE TRIED TO GET IT DONE LAST WEEK. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M WITNESSING [02:00:01] HERE, BUT IT'S CONFUSING TO ME BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MONTHS AND WE TRIED TO ATTACK IT LAST WEEK AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO AND WE WERE READY TO DO IT. SO I'M SIT HERE BEWILDERED AND CONFUSED AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER CLEO JOHNSON. CLEO. CLEO JOHNSON. CLEO. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I'M CLEO GLENN JOHNSON MCLAUGHLIN. AND I THINK ALL OF Y'ALL RECEIVED SOMETHING FROM ME, PRIMARILY BECAUSE I NEEDED THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUYOUT. I SAID I NEEDED YOUR HELP. AND THAT'S BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TEND TO BELIEVE THAT I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON EVERYWHERE. AS THE PRESIDENT OF BLACK UNITED FUND OF TEXAS FOR 36 YEARS, IT MEANS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY A LONG TIME AND MANY, AND WEARING MANY DIFFERENT HATS. SO I GET ASKED ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, I WASN'T INFORMED ENOUGH ABOUT THE BUYOUT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE CORRECT INFORMATION TO INTELLIGENTLY ADDRESS IT SO THAT PEOPLE WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE. AND IT'S OBVIOUS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME, IS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION, MISINFORMATION, PROBABLY SOME THINGS COULD BE MISLEADING DEPENDING ON WHO'S GIVING THE INFORMATION. UH, YES. UM, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, MAYOR, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE AND FOR THIS DAY. THANKS. COUNCILMAN PLUM? YES. I'D LIKE TO GIVE MS. CLEO SOME MORE TIME IF YOU NEED MY TIME. UH, WHAT I WAS JUST SIMPLY GONNA SAY IS THAT WE NEED THE FUND AND, YOU KNOW, AS PRESIDENT BLANK, UNITED FUND OF TEXAS, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED THAT THE PEOPLE ARE, ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE UNDERSERVED CONDITIONS. AND FIFTH WARD FOLK ALL TRY TO STICK TOGETHER. BUT WE WANNA THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND I KNOW YOU WANNA STAY A LITTLE LONGER. AND IF I COULD, I COULD KEEP YOU. BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VICE. LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST SAY THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA HAVE EXPERIENCED WAY TOO MUCH PAIN. I AGREE. OKAY. AND THERE'S A LOT OF MISTRUST AND DISTRUST. THERE'S NO REASON TO CAUSE ANY MORE PAIN OR DISTRUST. UH, WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY. WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY. WE ARE HERE TO HELP. AND THE ONLY ENTITIES THAT GAIN FROM CONFUSION IN THIS MATTER, RIGHT, ARE PEOPLE LIKE UP AND OTHERS. SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU CLEM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. YOU DO KNOW A WHOLE LOT . I MEAN THAT STUFF, THAT'S REALITY. BUT, UM, BUT UH, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT, UM, THE MISINFORMATION OR THE WHATEVER, WHATEVER'S BEEN SAID AND DONE, UH, IT'S ONLY CREATING MORE DISTRUST, MORE CONFUSION AND MORE PAIN AND FRUSTRATION. AND THAT SHOULDN'T THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE CASE. WELL, I THINK WE CAN GET IT STRAIGHT, MAYOR. I THINK IT CAN BE FIXED. THANKS. OUR VICE MAYOR TIM, CAST TAYLOR, HOW ARE YOU MS. JOHNSON? I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE. YES. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CLEAR ON WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON. THE VOTE IS TO PUT $5 MILLION IN A FUND. IT DOES NOT DETERMINE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WHO'S GOING TO DO WHAT IT IS TO PUT THE $5 MILLION IN THE FUND. THAT SHOULD BE OUR FIRST STEP AND WE SHOULD HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO HAVE THIS FUND OF MONEY. I AGREE. SO NOW THERE CAN BE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING FOR THE RESIDENTS IN FIFTH WARD. RIGHT? SO FIRST THINGS FIRST IS TO GET THIS MONEY IN THAT FUND. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT I KNOW, UM, LISTEN TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE SUCH A TRUSTED VOICE. WE NEED ALLIES LIKE YOU, UM, TO RESTORE PEOPLE'S FAITH IN GOVERNMENT. AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE IS PUT $5 MILLION IN A FUND SO THAT WE CAN HELP THE PEOPLE OF FIFTH WARD. NOTHING ELSE? YES MA'AM. I UNDERSTAND VERY WELL. THANK YOU. I'M CLEAR NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANKS BILL. NEXT SPEAKER. PATRICK MCVAY. PATRICK MCVAY. PATRICK. PATRICK. I DON'T SEE PATRICK. NEXT SPEAKER. LUCINA SAMPSON. LUCINA SAMPSON IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. YEAH. RIGHT BEHIND THEIR MIND OVER HERE. I WILL NOT TALK VERY LOUDLY BECAUSE I HAVE SOME HEALTH ISSUES. THIS ISSUES IS CREATED [02:05:01] BY THIS COMPLAINT, WHICH I AM COME TODAY. I COME TO MAYOR TURNER. GOOD AFTERNOON ALL LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I COME TODAY ASK FOR YOUR HELP AND ASSISTANCE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO BE DISCRIMINATE. AND I WILL ASK, PLEASE KINDLY REMOVE A LIEN FROM MY PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IT'S PREJUDICE. CONTRACTOR, ENTER ON MY LAND WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. IGNORE SIGN. NO RE PASSING. COME ON. SO-CALLED HEARING. BUT THIS WAS PROSECUTING ACT AND LIE UNDER OATH. HE DIDN'T SEE THE SIGN. HE ENTER IN AND OUT IN MY LAND, MA. FEW TIMES, THREE TIMES AND DO THE JOB. NO RESPONSE. MEAN DO NOT ENTER. YOU CANNOT BE THERE AND YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY ACTIVITIES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IF YOU GIVE WITH RHONDA, RHONDA IS RIGHT THERE. SHE CAN ASSIST YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER GAYHEART, FOLLOWED BY ON HAIL CORTEZ GAY. HAR GAY. HAR GAY. NEXT SPEAKER, ANGELIL CORTEZ. AND AN ANGEL OR ANGEL CORTEZ. THEY LEFT. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. JACKIE JOHNSON. JACKIE JOHNSON. JACKIE JOHNSON IS HERE. IT, IT'S UH, JACKIE JOHNSON FOR THE RECORD. HEY, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME HERE. MAYOR, I DIDN'T GET TO SEE YOU OVER THANKSGIVING DINNER. I MISSED YOU, BUT I DID GET A PICTURE OF SHEILA JACKSON LEE. SHE TOOK HER TIME OUT TO FOR A LITTLE OLD ME. BUT ANYWAY, Y'ALL CAN FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK GROUPS. UH, HEIGHTS EXTRA XTRA. OKAY. SO ANYWAY, HOW WAS Y'ALL'S WEEKEND? MINE WAS NOT TOO WELL. OKAY, SO I'M DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET. I LOVE MAIN STREET. OKAY. BUT THERE ARE A FEW BARS THERE THAT WOULD NOT LET ME IN BECAUSE I'M TRANSGENDER. I DO BELIEVE, UM, IT'S, IT'S HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN IN THIS TOWN, UNFORTUNATELY. AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT, UH, CONSTABLE CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED SPEECH. AND ALSO WALKING AROUND DOWNTOWN THE UM, SOME RELIGIOUS GROUPS WERE HECKLING ME. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWN. AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY. YOUR TIME. HAVE EXPERIE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SEAN SPOONER. SEAN BONNER IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT IS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING HERE FOR ME. UM, TO FINALLY GET MY CHANCE TO SPEAK TO YOU. I REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND CAME TO YOUR OFFICE HERE, UM, BACK IN JANUARY. AND, UM, I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE THINGS, THE EGREGIOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME THROUGH A HIV, UM, HOUSING PROGRAM WITH HAFH AIDS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON, WHO HAS CURRENTLY CHANGED THEIR NAME, UM, TO ALLIES WITH HOPE AFTER EGREGIOUS THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO MYSELF AND MY PARTNER. NOT ONLY THEM, MY COMMUNITY. UM, IF YOU JUST GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME, UM, I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM SINCE 2020, IS A HOUSING PROGRAM. I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM SINCE JUNE, JULY OF 2020 AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR MOVED IN AND FEBRUARY OF 20 OF 22 AND BEGIN HARASSING ME AND THEN MAKING IES OF STRESS ABOUT BURNING THE APARTMENT DOWN AND THEN ULTIMATELY BURNING THAT APARTMENT DOWN. BUT NOT BEFORE. I WOULD, NOT BEFORE I WOULD GO TO THE PROPERTY MA TO THE, TO, TO THE MAN, TO THE, TO MANAGEMENT ON PROPERTY. AND NOT ONLY TO MANAGEMENT ON PROPERTY, BUT TO THE COORDINATOR. YOUR TIME. HAVE THEY EXPIRED? THANK YOU. I'M BUT ALSO TO THE COORDINATOR AND ALSO TO, TO THE CPO ONE AND ALSO ATTEND A 13 PETITION. ONE, ONE SECOND. I'M I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEY ARE EVICTING YOU FOR WHAT REASON? WHAT IS THE REASON? AFTER MY APARTMENT BURNED, THEY BEGAN HARASSING ME AND TO EVICT ME AND TO, AND TO DISCRIMINATE ME, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ME THROUGH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT. I REACHED OUT LAST WEEK AND I SPOKE TO, UM, YOLANDA JEFFRIES, WHO GREATLY ENCOURAGED ME TO COME TO THIS MEETING TODAY. RIGHT. I WAS GONNA, BUT, AND, UM, BUT THEY, UM, BUT THEY EVICTING YOU FOR WHAT REASON? THEY'RE, BECAUSE THEY'RE DISCRIMINATING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ME TO COVER UP, TO COVER UP THIS, TO COVER UP THE 13 NAME PETITION FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE THAT I GAVE TO THE CPO OF AIDS FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON. UM, FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE OF 13 NAME PETITION OUT OF 17 RESIDENTS. OKAY, I GOT [02:10:01] YOU. LET ME JUST ASK SPENT, HOLD ON. I SPENT FIVE DAYS, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. I WAS ATTACKED. HOLD ON. BY THE SAME PERSON TRYING TO KILL ME AND TAKE MY LIFE. OKAY. I GOT YOU. I SPENT FIVE DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. I, I I BECAME HOMELESS FOR SIX MONTHS. I GOT YOU. I I BECAME HOMELESS FOR SIX MONTHS. I GOT YOU. I I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU. I GOT YOU. I UNDERSTAND YOU. IN A HOTEL. I, I LOSING, I THING I, ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH YOU. UH, WHERE DID, WHERE DID RHONDA GO? DUR RHONDA, STEP OUT. SHE'S WITH THAT OTHER, UH, OKAY. THE OTHER PERSON. OKAY. AND HOW LONG WERE YOU IN THE, HOW LONG, HOW LONG DID YOU LIVE IN THE, UH, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX? HOW LONG WERE YOU THERE? I WAS, I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE JUNE, BETWEEN JUNE, JULY OF 2020. AND WHEN AND WHEN DID THEY ATTEMPT YOU TO EVICT YOU? UM, I, I, I RETURNED TO MY HOME ON SEPTEMBER THE 11TH AND THAT NIGHT TO, WITH AN EVICTION, A 20, EXCUSE ME, 70, UM, TWO HOUR EVICTION IN 2020 OR 20 OF THIS YEAR IN 2023. OKAY. I GOTCHA. I GOTCHA. UM, THEY WERE, THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COVER UP. I GOTCHA. I I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DETAILS RIGHT HERE. SO LET ME ASK YOU TO GET WITH RHONDA RIGHT THERE. OKAY. LET HER GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW UP. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH BY THE WAY. I WENT TO THE SAME DRESSER AND I HAD MISSED YOU AFTER I LEFT MS. JEFFRIES ON LAST TUESDAY, THEN I WENT TO, UM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. THANK YOU. GIVE GIVE WITH RHONDA. GIVE HER RHONDA. OKAY. NEXT. SPEAKER. ADE KLE. A KLE AND, UH, TI PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME AGAIN. ADE KUNLE. UH, FORMER, UH, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE 2019. HOW ARE YOU EVERYBODY? UH, WE ARE THREE. AND AT LEAST AMBASSADOR CHICOS THERE WILL BE HERE. AND OBESE. WE SUPPOSED TO BE THREE. WELL, I THINK THE POLICE. OKAY. THE ONLY PROBLEM, WE CAN ONLY ALLOW ONE AT A TIME. AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THE OKAY. LEMME JUST ASK, IS THERE, SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S, ANY OBJECTION TO SUSPENDING THE RULES. RIGHT. MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. RIGHT. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE GRANTED. OKAY, GO AHEAD. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE GOOD NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUSPEND THE RULE ON OUR BEHALF. OKAY. AMBASSADOR CHI, BE FORMER NIGERIA AMBASSADOR TO, TO LIBERIA. UH, WE HAVE A MESSAGE FROM NIGERIA FOR THE TRIP THAT YOU TOOK IN JULY. THE AMBASSADOR, HONORABLE QUE W HAD SOME INFORMATION AND WHEN REPRESENTED TO YOU, AND I GUESS, UH, THEY PUT IT IN THE WRONG SLOT. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WENT TO NIGERIA, THE COUNCILMAN THOMAS AS A RO AND, UH, MAYOR . THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND I'M GONNA GIVE AMBASSADOR ONE MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT THE NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE COMING. I, I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU ONE MORE MINUTE. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. AMBASSADOR. UM, THANK YOU AND BU MAYOR AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, LET ME JUST PLACE IT ON RECORD THAT, UH, THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON AND THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE HOUSTON NIGERIAN HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND A VERY HEARTWARMING VIDEO THAT YOU PUT OUT FOR FORTHCOMING INDEPENDENCE. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO SAY A VERY BIG THANK YOU FOR THAT. MAYOR TURN. AS YOUR TENURE COMES, UH, DRAWS NEAR THE END OF YOUR TENURE, THAT IS DRAWS NEAR, IT IS OUR HOPE AND DESIRE THAT THE FRATERNAL BOND THAT HAPPILY EXISTS BETWEEN YOU AND THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON WILL CONTINUE. AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO ADD THAT I'M TRYING TO PARAPHRASE WHAT I HAD WRITTEN. I'M GOING TO GIVE HER THE FULL COPY OF WHAT I'VE WRITTEN OUR EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IS GOING TO BE LOW KEY, BUT, UH, WE'RE GOING TO STILL CELEBRATE IN OUR USUAL MANNER TO BRING OUT, UH, THE COLORFUL CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF OUR PEOPLE, UM, ON THAT DAY, AS YOU HAVE INDICATED IN THE MESSAGE THAT YOU SENT OUT. WITH THAT SAID, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO JOIN US AND TO, UH, ENJOY OUR USUAL DELIC CASES AND WHAT HAVE YOU THAT WE'LL HAVE ON MAFA. THANK YOU. VERY, THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. IT WAS AN ENJOYABLE TRIP, UH, TO NIGERIA BY ALL OF US. YES. AND, UM, WE WERE WARMLY GREETED AND, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING NEXT. I HAVE OB OB HERE WHO IS THE RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL. THAT'S A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD THAT WASN'T ALREADY SAID. I JUST WANNA THANK, UM, YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IN STRENGTHENING BONDS WITH [02:15:01] THE NIGERIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. I WANNA THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE, NOT JUST IN, YOU KNOW, UM, ENJOYING THE NIGERIAN AMERICAN CULTURE, EATING THE FOOD, GOING TO EVENTS, BUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO MAKE THIS SUCH A GREAT HOME FOR NIGERIAN AMERICANS. AS Y'ALL KNOW, HOUSTON HAS MORE NIGERIAN AMERICANS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF YOU, MAYOR TURNER AND ALL OF YOU AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO IN MAKING STRONG BONDS BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. YES, INDEED. WE HAVE SOME PRE, SOME PRESENTATION FOR YOU, AND THERE'S SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT WENT TO NIGERIA YOUR TIME. YES. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CHEYENNE SMITH. CHEYENNE IS HERE. IT'S OKAY. MM-HMM . UM, MY NAME IS CHEYENNE. I'M A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT AND I SAVED MOST OF MY MONEY TO BE CLOSE TO MY SCHOOL AND MY APARTMENT. I MOVED UNTIL 86 OH, ON BROADWAY ON AUGUST 2ND, AND WAS TOLD AND SHOW A DISPLAY THAT DID NOT LOOK OR HAVE THE FEATURES OF MY APARTMENT. UM, AFTER INFORMING THE AAU AND PUTTING IN SEVERAL WORK ORDERS OF CEILING LEAKS AND COCKROACHES, THAT STARTED TO APPEAR SHORTLY AFTER MOVING IN ALMOST A MONTH OF LIVING THERE. MICE DROPPINGS AND MICE STARTED TO APPEAR AROUND MY HOME AFTER I FORMED THE LEASING OFFICE AGAIN TO PUT IN A WORK ORDER FOR PEST CONTROL. THEY WERE VERY NEGLIGENT TO THE PROBLEM, SO I HAD TO INVOLVE THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I HAD BEEN SLEEPING IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE MICE INFESTATION. I HAD TO THROW AWAY MY PERSONAL PROPERTY. THIS IS AN EXTREME HEALTH HAZARD BECAUSE I HAVE TWO LITTLE BROTHERS WHO ARE DISABLED AND THEY COME OVER EVERY WEEKEND. WE JUST DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS MICE BITE OR DROPPINGS INSIDE OF THE NOODLE PACKETS WHERE THEY EAT, AND SIX SPA, UH, LET ME CONNECT WITH YOU TO, UH, WALTER HAMRICK. UH, AND I, I'M, I CONNECTED WITH WALTER HAMBRICK AND, AND HE WILL FOLLOW UP, AND RHONDA HAS STEPPED OUT, UH, TEMPORARILY. UH, BUT, UM, WHEN RHONDA COMES BACK MM-HMM . UH, PLEASE GIVE WITH RHONDA SOLDER. OKAY. THANK. AND THEN WE'LL CONNECT YOU WITH, UH, A PERSON, UH, WHO WORKS ON THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES FOR ME. WALTER HAMBRICK. OKAY. OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SORRY. OKAY. OH, ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN PLUM? YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I WANNA ASK YOU, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX? IT'S, UM, 86 0 1 BROADWAY APARTMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. KEVIN WILLIAMS. KEVIN WILLIAMS. KEVIN WILLIAMS. [02:20:02] KEVIN. NEXT SPEAKER. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER. WALTER. NEXT SPEAKER. DOUG SMITH. DOUG SMITH. I DON'T SEE DOUG. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. SAMANTHA KIBBLE MOODY. SAMANTHA MOODY. YES, MA'AM. HOW Y'ALL DOING? MY NAME'S SAMANTHA K. MOODY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APARTMENTS, REDFORD APARTMENTS. 1300 REDFORD. IF I CAN GET JUST A MOMENT OF Y'ALL TIME TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE OVER THERE. I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BY MAINTENANCE. I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF BEING NOT THOUGHT ABOUT THROUGH THE HOUSING COALITION, THE HOMELESS COALITION. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FAILED ME AND MY FRIEND AND OTHER PEOPLES THAT AT THE REFERENCE APARTMENTS, THE SLUM LORDS THAT ARE OVER THERE, INDIGO MANAGEMENT, THESE PEOPLE ARE HORRIBLE. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SECURITY COMPANY AND THEY ARE USING THESE SECURITY COMPANY TO BULLY AND PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES. THESE PEOPLE CANNOT READ AND WRITE. THEY DON'T HAVE NO MEDICAL, THEY DON'T HAVE NO HELP WITH MEDICAL. A LOT OF THE HOUSING PROGRAMS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YES, MA'AM. BUT, UH, A LOT OF THE HOUSING PROGRAMS, THE THIRD ENTITY PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE, LIKE THE BEACON AND STUFF LIKE THAT MM-HMM . HAVE FAILED US, SIR. MM-HMM. THEY LITERALLY FAILED US. MM-HMM. THEY PROMISED US THE SUBSTANTIAL LIVING AND MM-HMM . HELP TO BETTER OURSELF. WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN NONE OF THAT. MM-HMM . THE PEOPLE DON'T WANT COME OVER THERE TO THE REFERENCE BECAUSE OF THE KILLINGS. THAT MEANS THE SAME THING. UM, UH, WALTER HAMBRICK IS THE PERSON THAT, UH, I WOULD ASK YOU TO TALK TO. YES, SIR. OKAY. SO IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND, GET TAKING A SEAT AND WHEN RHONDA COMES BACK. YES, SIR. AND I LIKE TO MS. ISHA AND MS. GLASSCOCK, UH, THOSE PEOPLE GETS THE ONES WHO KIND OF HELPED ME. SO I JUST WANT TO SEND A SHOUT OUT TO MISS SYDNEY. OKAY. AND ALL THE REST OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU CAN VISIT, YOU CAN VISIT WITH WALTER WALTER'S. RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. LAKEISHA MILES, FOLLOWED BY ERIC THOMPSON. LAKEISHA MILES. AND IN CORRECTION. MY NAME IS NAISHA MILES. UM, I'M A RECIPIENT OF RAPID REHOUSING. UM, LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF GETTING ASSISTANCE AS FAR AS HOUSING IS CONCERNED, THEY THINK OF, UM, PEOPLE THAT ARE UNEDUCATED. I HAVE EDUCATION. I WENT TO SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY. UM, I FELL ON HARD TIMES AND I MEAN, JUST LIKE OTHER PEOPLE, I, UM, I BEGAN HAVING, UH, MENTAL DISABILITIES WHERE, UM, I GUESS I JUST RAN OUTTA GAS. UM, THE PEOPLE, THIS PROGRAM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INTENDED TO BE ABLE TO BE A HELP. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY OF THE HELP FROM CASE MANAGEMENT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP. I NEVER KNEW WHO MY CASEWORKERS WERE. THE PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY FAILING PEOPLE. THEY'RE CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED. UM, AND THEY'RE NOT DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AS FAR AS HELPING PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FIND JOBS, HELPING PEOPLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR DISABILITY LOOKED AT OR WHATEVER. HEALTH PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT BEING DONE AT ALL. AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. WHICH, AND WHICH PROGRAM IS THAT? RAPID REHOUSING. I WENT THROUGH, UM, THROUGH CATHOLIC CHA WELL, I WAS SENT DOWN TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, UM, WHERE THEY, THEY TOLD ME THEIR EXPLANATION WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER, UM, UH, PEOPLE WORKING. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH, UH, PEOPLE WORKING. AND WHEN I WENT TO THE COALITION AND ASKED ABOUT IT, I WAS TOLD THAT THAT'S BASICALLY, THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM. WE, WE BROUGHT FORTH THE, THE FUNDING AND IT'S NOT OUR FAULT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO TAKE AND BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REQUIRED TO DO FOR US. AND THE FRONT, MY, WITH THE APARTMENTS AT THE REDFORD, MAN, I'VE SEEN, I'VE, I'VE WITNESSED A DEAD BODY FALLING OUTTA THE APARTMENT. YEAH. I'VE WITNESSED PEOPLE BEING DRAGGED OUTTA THEIR APARTMENTS AND, AND IT'S HORRIBLE. IT IS. IT'S HORRIBLE. AND IT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT FAIR. AND I'M REALLY ASKING FOR, FOR HELP BECAUSE WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. UM, WE WEREN'T EVEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO, TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE AMENITIES THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED AND WAS JUST TOLD, THAT'S NOT OUR FAULT. WE PROVIDED MONEY. [02:25:01] THAT'S IT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS? YES, SIR. WORKING WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOR RAPID REHOUSING. I WENT MYSELF, I DID THE, THE FOOTWORK. MM-HMM . I'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT I NEEDED TO DO THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE FOR ME. I WENT AND I FOUND THE COALITION BUILDING AND I WAS BASICALLY TOLD, I UNDERSTAND. IT'S NOT OUR FAULT, WALTER. IF YOU GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO PASS, I MEAN, GET MIKE MARK. I CAN BOMB TO WORK WITH HIM. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ERIC TOMPKINS. ERIC TOMPKINS. ERIC. NEXT SPEAKER. JOHN V JARA. JOHN, MR. JARA. JA. JAHAN. V. JWA. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH. BE EDWARDS. SARAH, BE EDWARDS. SARAH BE EDWARDS IS HERE. I CAN BEGIN. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UM, MY LAST MEETING WITH Y'ALL. I DID ACCOMPLISH, UM, SOME THINGS WITH THE, UM, VOUCHER AND IT'S STILL BEING ONGOING AND I'M STILL DEALING WITH THE HOUSTON HOUSING WITH MY FIRST PACKET. SO I'VE BEEN PLACED. SO I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M, UH, ADDRESSING SOME ISSUES TODAY WITH MY IDENTIFY WITH MY DRIVER'S LICENSE AND, UM, IDENTIFICATION AND MY GUN LICENSE. UM, AND, UH, CPS, UM, SOME PAPERWORK HAS BEEN DONE. ALSO FINDING SLANDER IN MY NAME AND, UH, WITH THE ID AND DRIVER'S LICENSE. I KNOW IT WAS CLOSED A COUPLE OF DAYS FOR INVESTIGATION AND SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SOME IDS AND DRIVER'S LICENSE. AND I HOPE MINE WAS ONE OF THEM. SO WE CAN SEE. 'CAUSE MY NAME BEEN USED WITH DRIVER'S LICENSE, PURCHASING CARS, BODY , MOTOR VEHICLE BIRTH CERTIFICATES, REARRANGED. I GOT PROOF OF THAT TODAY. UH, WITH MY NAME CHANGED ON MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE. ON MY SON'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE. UH, HE IS MY SON. THAT'S A VIOLATION OF THE CODE. MY NAME SHARON, DON'T BELONG ON MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH MY SON IS SARAH. UH, UH, THE INSPECTION FOR VEHICLE. 'CAUSE I'M GETTING READY TO REDO MY DRIVER'S LICENSE. I'M THE ONE, I'M THE LADY THAT WALKED INTO THE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LY MONTOYA. REVIS. YOU MONTOYA. OH, OKAY. MS. RIVAS. UH, HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR TURNER. UH, RIS, UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, WHAT IS IT CALLED? NO PARENTAL RIDES, BUT GRANDPARENT RIDES. I WAS IN CONROE. MY, UH, DAUGHTER, UH, MISS, UH, LEANNA, ALEX GARRA, MOVING IN TOWN WITH ETHAN GARROW. UM, THEY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER, I GUESS, IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE, UH, ETHAN'S, THAT WAS A PLAYER FOR THE ASTROS. THEY INVITED ME, THEY UNINVITED ME. POLICE GOT INVOLVED. SO, UH, I'M FIGHTING FOR, UH, THE RIDES JUST TO SEE MY GRANDDAUGHTER. AND MY DAUGHTER IS, UH, BASICALLY PREGNANT AGAIN WITH MY SECOND, UH, GRANDSON. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT FOR THE MILITARY. AS I SPOKE TO DEN WHEN HE WAS, UH, LEAVING CITY HALL, THAT MILITARY, OR, UH, AN EX HOUSTON EXTRA PLAYER. DO THIS TO LADIES BECAUSE I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE. UH, AND ALL MY RIGHTS WILL HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU, YOUR GRANDMOTHER? YES. IT WILL BE THE SECOND GRAND BABY, BUT THEY DON'T LET ME SEE THE FIRST GRAND BABY. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS, UH, GOING ON WITH THE NEW CAMPAIGN WITH MEYER AND YOU, STEVE TROOPER OR WHATEVER IS HAPPENING. I DON'T WANNA GET INVOLVED. I SIMPLY WANNA, UH, MATCH. THIS IS DOWN IN CONROE? YES, IT WAS IN CONROE. OH, OKAY. AND I CALLED THE SHERIFFS. SO I DROVE UP THERE. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN AUSTIN FOR PRIME AMERICA. I WENT TO PRIME AMERICA. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT FOR GRANDMAS TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS BY A MILITARY. I TOLD HIM, YOU'RE JUST A KID. YOU'RE GONNA CROSS SOMEBODY IN THE RUNWAY AND THEY'RE GONNA PUT YOU DOWN, MEANING THEY'RE GONNA KILL YOU, VICKI, ACTING LIKE THAT. AND, AND, AND I DON'T THINK I MADE A DEATH THREAT. I SIMPLY TOLD HIM, BEHAVE LIKE A REAL MAN. AND IF YOU'RE NOT A REAL MAN, THEN GO BACK TO REPORT TO THE MILITARY. DO'S SOMETHING. I, I DON'T THINK I'M BEING, UH, A BAD MOTHER, UH, MOTHER-IN-LAW. I'M JUST TELLING HIM, RESPECT ME. I'M THE MOTHER. AND JUST BECAUSE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I'M MEXICAN. I SHOW UP WITH MY US PASSPORT TO THE DOOR AND MY LICENSE TO CARRY. OKAY. AND IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, IT SPREAD SOME POISON IN, UH, AN PILE, SIR. OKAY. I, WE GONNA HAVE TO PICK THIS UP AGAIN NEXT WEEK. THEY SAID THAT WITH VENMO. I HAVE TO GET BACK WITH HIM. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME. BECAUSE ETHAN IS IN, IN MILITARY. ALRIGHT, WE'LL BE, BE VERY CAREFUL [02:30:01] OUT THERE. OKAY. SO, OKAY. YES SIR. THANK ME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JEFFREY BOUTTE. JEFFREY BOUTTE. HE'S HERE. HI. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE AGAIN, UH, TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CHAPTER 42 AMENDMENTS AS THEY WERE PROPOSED BY PLANNING COMMISSION. AND I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME AMENDMENTS OR SOME COMPROMISES, AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT TOO. BUT I WANNA ALSO ADDRESS THE MAIN OBJECTION BY THE BUILDERS, WHICH IS THAT, UM, THIS IS THE MOST POPULAR AND EASIEST AISLE OF HOME TO BUILD IN HOUSTON. BUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST POPULAR AND EASIEST DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE BEST OR IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. UM, SPLITTING A LOT, SPLITTING A 50 FOOT LOT INTO TWO, BUILDING A DRIVEWAY, DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET IS THE EXPEDIENT SOLUTION. BUT IT MAKES OUR CITY LESS SAFE AND, UM, LESS ATTRACTIVE. UM, AS COUNCIL, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND THE DUTY TO BUILD A BETTER CITY AND TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE OUR STREETS AS SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL AS POSSIBLE. AND I WOULD ALSO ASK, IF YOU ARE ENTERTAINING AN AMENDMENT, UM, TO THE RESTRICTED AREA, WHY NOT INCREASE IT TO A HALF MILE OR TO A MILE? I MEAN, I WALKED A HALF A MILE TO SCHOOL. 1400 FEET IS NOT VERY FAR. AND ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN WHO MAY BE BIKING, YOU CAN BIKE MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT. SO I WOULD ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE PACKAGES AS IT IS FULLY, UM, BUT ALSO ASK YOU TO INCREASE THAT, UH, THAT RESTRICTED AREA IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MARIAN WRIGHT. MARIAN WRIGHT. MARIAN WRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER, BRIDGET JENSEN. BRIDGET JENSEN. BRIDGET. BRIDGET. NEXT SPEAKER. TINA WILCHER. TINA WILCHER HERE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, MAYOR OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TINA WILCHER AND I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER ASSOCIATE AT CENTURY 21 EXCLUSIVE, A REAL ESTATE INSTRUCTOR AND A PAC TRUSTEE, AND ALSO A MEMBER OF HRS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADVISORY GROUP. I'M ALSO A SUPPORTER OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND HOME OWNERSHIP. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS AND THE MANY MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE ROOM, AND SOME OF THEM HAD TO LEAVE. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HAS A CODE OF ETHICS, AND THAT CODE OF ETHICS BEGINS WITH THE PREAMBLE THAT SAYS, UNDER ALL IS THE LAND. SO WITH THAT BEING, SO WE AS REALTORS, THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM OF OWNING A PIECE OF LAND IS GIVEN TO US ALL. WE READ IN THE DAILY PAPER HOW HOUSING IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR RENTERS, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE LOOKING TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS. AND PASSING THE CHAPTER TWO REVISIONS, THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP BECOMES MORE OF A REALITY WHEN AFFORDABLE OPTIONS EXIST. AJ'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTED TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY GOOD FOR BUSINESS, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'LL NEED YOU ANOTHER MINUTE. THANK YOU. WE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES. WE HEARD FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDING ASSOCIATION. WE HEARD FROM LIVABLE PLACES AS WELL AS OTHER INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. AND I THINK THAT WITH THE PROPOSED REVISIONS, THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS WILL NOT ONLY INCREASE DENSITY, BUT IT WILL HELP TO CREATE MORE HOUSING INVENTORY THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR A AVERAGE HOUSTONIAN, SUCH AS MY CHILDREN, MY GRANDKIDS IN THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE SEEK YOUR SUPPORT IN APPROVING THE CHAPTER TWO REVISIONS. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF HCR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JERMAINE CHAPMAN ROSE, TMA CHAPMAN ROSE IS HERE. HELLO EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M TREMAINE CHAPMAN ROSE. I'M A BROKER OWNER. I'M A PART OF A COUPLE COMMITTEES WITH HAR, UM, UH, AND AS WELL AS TEXAS. AND ALSO I'M A MEMBER OF CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS. AH, UM, I WANTED TO DISCUSS, UM, SOME STATS RIGHT NOW ON THE MARKET AS OF LAST NIGHT. THERE'S 1500 NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AVAILABLE ON THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION. MLS 785 OF THOSE ARE CONTEMPORARY HOMES. UM, 45 OF THOSE ARE THE, UM, THE PROPERTIES THAT THE, UH, CHAPTER 42 WANTS. UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY 25 NEW HOME COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW THAT ARE BUILDING HOMES WITH THE GARAGE IN THE REAR AND THE GREEN SPACE THAN THE FRONT. UM, SO WE CAN SEE THAT THE BUILDERS ARE MAKING AN INITIATIVE FOR YEARS TO DO THIS. AND, UM, MS. SHABAZZ'S DISTRICT, THERE'S A COMMUNITY CALLED CITY PARK AND IT WAS BUILT BY KAY IAN, UM, IN 2020. AND THEY HAVE THE, THE SETUP THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. I'M PART ON MY SECOND DESK CITY SECRETARY. I MEAN, UM, COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ. [02:35:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. DID YOU FINISH YOUR COMMENTS? UM, YEAH, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE PROTOTYPE OR WHAT A, A COMMUNITY CAN LOOK LIKE, THAT'S A, A CITY PARK IS A GOOD COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT. THANK YOU MAYOR. MORE THAN WELCOME, . ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHURCH. HOLD ON. I'M SORRY. CHURCH MEMBER COME. , VICE TREMAINE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. I APPRECIATE THE PHONE CALLS AND THE DEDICATED, UM, SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE TO HAR AND TO THE CITY. MM-HMM . UM, IT IS, IT IS A JOY TO WORK ALONGSIDE, UM, DEDICATED FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO. OH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. I'M GONNA TELL PASTOR YOU DID WELL. YES. . YES. LOVE MY PASTOR. . TAKE CARE. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENT. HI GUYS. HEY, JACOB THERE. HELLO. JACOB. GO ASTROS, GO VOTE ONE, VOTE ONE. YEAH. YEP. OF COURSE. WE'RE GOING TO SWEEP THE, THE MARINERS LIKE THE, UM, KANSAS CITY ROYALS. WELL, US, BUT HEY, NONETHELESS, I WANT TO SAY THIS. IF Y'ALL WANT HELP WITH REAL ESTATE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE TWO BUSINESS ENTITIES TO TALK TO. DOMINIC VARNER OF HUGHES WATERS, ANDEE, AND, UM, UH, ROY VARNER OF AMCAP AGAINST DANA. OTHER STUFF, STUFF. NOW, AS JACKIE WAS SAYING THAT HE MET, UH, THIS WOMAN, UH, RUNNING FOR MAYOR. WELL, I, I, I HAVE ONLY GOT AN EXPOSURE TO THREE MAYORAL CANDIDATES, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE, UH, JOHN WHITMEYER, UH, LEE KAPLAN. AND, UM, THE BEST OF ALL WAS, UM, ROBERT GALLEGOS. HE, BUT HE'S NOT HERE. HE, WE SHOULD HEAR THAT HE WAS THE BEST EXPOSURE TO ME. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO TALK YOUR EARS OUT. SO, UH, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JACOB. WE'LL PASS THAT ON TO HIM. THANK YOU, JACOB. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. OH, ASK HIM ABOUT, UM, UM, GARCIA, WHO WE EDITED FOR, UH, HE ENDORSED , NOT HIM. WELL, WE, I'M GONNA LET LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU, JACOB. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF [RECESS] SPEAKERS. OKAY, THANK YOU. WE STAY IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT NIGHT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK SEPTEMBER 26 AND 27. 2023, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE MAYOR'S BIRTHDAY ON TODAY. ITEM ONE, PUBLIC HEARING RELATING TO THE PROPOSED 2023 TAX RATE OF 0.5 1 9 1 9 0 100 OF VALUE. ITEM TWO ORDINANCE PROVIDED FOR THE ASSESSMENT LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AVALOR TAXES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR THE YEAR 2023. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, THE COUNCIL OF DR. MOTION IN CON IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 26 0 5 B OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE. THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM TWO ABOVE ITEM TH ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JOANIE E BAIRD TO POSITION EIGHT OF THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 30TH, 2025. ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DARRELL E SCOTT TO POSITION 12 AS A FULL-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AS MUNICIPAL COURT ASSOCIATE JUDGES. ITEM SEVEN, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JAY KENT FREEMAN AS CHAIR TO THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY. ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2023 MAJOR THIRD FAIR AND FREEWAY PLAN MTF AND AUTHORIZED PUBLICATION OF THE 2023 MTF IN MAP FORM ITEM NINE GOV CONNECTIONS INC. TO PURCHASE NEW ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD AND ADOBE ACROBAT PRO LICENSES, AS WELL AS RENEW EXISTING LICENSES THROUGH THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR CORPORATE PURCHASING WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL PURCHASING CORPORATE BUYBOARD FOR THE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. ITEM 10, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. A PURCHASE OF M 500 IN-CAR VIDEO SYSTEMS THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES CORPORATE PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSTON FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. ITEM 11, INDUSTRIAL TX CORP. TO REPAIR THE AERATION BASIN CONCRETE ITEM 12, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF HYBRID MAVERICK TRUCKS. ITEM 13 VECTOR CONTROLS LLC FOR PURCHASE OF PRESSURE TRANSMITTERS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORK, EXCUSE [02:40:01] ME. ITEM 14, RESOLUTION, IMPROVING THE CREATION OF GREATER HOUSTON CITY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 15 RESOLUTION, IMPROVING THE CREATION OF MEDICAL CENTER AREA REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AND REFUNDING BONDS IN ONE OR MORE SERIES. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION PRECINCTS AND DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON GENERAL AND ESPECIALLY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023. ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPOINTING, PRESIDING AND ALTERNATE ALTERNATE JUDGES FOR THE EARLY VOTING BALLOT BOARD, CENTRAL COUNTY STATION AND VOTING PRECINCTS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON GENERAL ELECTION AND ESPECIALLY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE DIRECTING DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO ENACT THE PLAN AND POLICY TO EFFECTUATE A NEW ROADSIDE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN AWARD OF 1,122,988 IN NO SENSE IN STATE OF TEXAS HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERIES PROGRAM FUNDS AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN AWARD OF $369,328 AND NO CENTS IN STATE OF TEXAS HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERVICES PROGRAM FUNDS AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $154,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND AND $25,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT FOR THE HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO PMG PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC ITEM 24 ORDINANCE DE APPROPRIATING $30,000 IN NO CENTS ADDED MISCELLANEOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS ACQUISITIONS TP SERIES E FUND PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 97 TO CONTRACT WITH HOUSING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DBA ILO CONSTRUCTION FOR CITY HALL BASEMENT RE RESTORATION PROJECT AND APPROPRIATING THE EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH RAYDALE RAZER ARCHITECTS INC. FOR THE SAME PROJECT. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPRO APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 1 4 8 0 7 BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NA ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY TWO BANK ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,680,000 IN NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR FFY 2024, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. BUDGET ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,800,000 IN NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR A REPLACEMENT OF BODY ARMOR VESTS AND RIFLE PLATE REPLACEMENT ITEM 29 ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON. BIKE SHARE. ITEM 30, ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 400 BLOCK OF WEST 23RD STREET BETWEEN ASHTON STREET AND NICHOLSON STREET. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROVING THE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 28, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE RELATING TO PHYSICAL AFFAIRS AND MEMORIAL CITY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 17. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE RELATING TO PHYSICAL AFFAIRS OF UPPER KIRBY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 19, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. UPPER KIRBY ZONE ITEM 34 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF HARDY NEAR NORTHSIDE. REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 21 CD HOUSTON IN TEXAS, HARDY NEAR NORTHSIDE ZONE ITEM 35 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF LELAND WOODS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 22 CD TEXAS LELAND WOODS ZONE ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, I'M SORRY, CITY OF HILLSHIRE VILLAGE AND CITY OF HOUSTON FOR WORD ROAD SAFETY PROJECT ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT TO CONTRIBUTE RIGHT OF AWAY FUNDS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 38 ON THIS FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRED THE CONTINUED USE OF CHACO STREET FROM SAWER STREET WEST TO NALE STREET AND NALE STREET FROM THE NORTH PROPERTY LINE OF LOT 12 NORTH, MORE OR LESS 82 FEET TO THE NORTH PROPERTY LINE OF LOT ONE ABANDONING THE EASEMENTS TO MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND DRC EMERGENCY SERVICES. LLC ITEM 41 ORDINANCE [02:45:01] APPROPRIATING $1,663,941 AND 30 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CON CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND K-O-K-U-K-U-O AND ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,649,783 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HALF ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,704,480 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACTOR SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES INC. ITEM 44 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION OF MISSING AID DEPARTMENT'S LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 2023. ITEM 45 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN UNDERGROUND WATERLINE TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 0.3447 ACRES FROM THE EXISTING TRAILER PARK. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6TH AT NINE O'CLOCK DECEMBER 6TH, 2023 MATTERS HELD. ITEM 46 WAS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 42 OF CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 40, UH, CHAPTER 26 OF DAKOTA OF ORDINANCES. THIS ITEMS ARE ONLY BE CONSIDERED AT PASSAGE. ITEM 46 ABOVE. THIS WAS TAB BY COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THESE WERE ITEMS NINE AND 10 ON THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023. ITEM 48 IS AN ORDINANCE CREATED IN THE FIFTH WARD VOLUNTEER RELOCATION FUND. IT WAS TAB BY COUNCILMAN PLUM. THIS IS ITEM 15 ON AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ITEM 49 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING 2023 CONTRACT BY IN BETWEEN SANDY CENTER RIVER AUTHORITY TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN MS. MARTIN AND ROBINSON. THIS WAS ITEM 26 ON AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2023. STATE TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAY TURNER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JARVIS JOHNSON. NOW STATE REP. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EVERYBODY. BORN IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM SECRETARY. YOU ARE WELCOME. MY NUMBER ONE FAN AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAUGHTER ALYSSA. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DAUGHTER TOO. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHENEVER YOUR BIRTHDAY IS. [RECONVENE] OKAY, GOOD MORNING. IT'S 9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH. UH, 2023. I'M HERE PROFESS TURNER. AND I'M CALLING, UH, THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER. IT'S THE FIRST ITEM TODAY WILL RELATE TO THE TAX RATE FOR THE CITY. UH, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS FOR, FOR THIS, THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDINANCE AND A MOTION. UM, CAN I PLEASE GET A MOTION TO TAKE ITEMS NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING. CASTEX TAYLOR MOVED SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED AND GRANTED. UM, [1.  9:00 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING relating to the Proposed 2023 Tax Rate of $0.519190/$100 of value ] UH, MADAM SECRETARY REVIEW CALL ITEM NUMBER ONE. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO THE PROPOSED 2023 TAX RATE. I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL THE, IF YOU'LL CALL THAT SPEAKER DOUG SMITH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY THE TAX RATE YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE TODAY, THERE IS A VERY COMPLICATED CALCULATION CALLED THE TRUTH AND TAXATION THAT OUTLINES ALL OF THE NUMBERS THAT MAKE UP THAT CALCULATION. I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE IN THE CITY THAT SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THERE, THEY WOULD SHARE THAT CALCULATION CALCULATION WITH ME AS SOON AS IT WAS MADE PUBLIC. THANKS TO JESSICA BEAMER, DISTRICT E CHIEF OF STAFF. I RECEIVED IT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ABOUT 4:00 PM AND LEARNED IT WAS ACTUALLY POSTED ONLINE ON AUGUST 29TH, NEARLY A MONTH AGO. SO THE SOURCE I HAD COMMUNICATED WITH WASTED A MONTH OF MY TIME, GIVEN HOW COMPLICATED THE CALCULATION IS AS A CITIZEN WITH LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AND NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE, I COULD NOT WRAP MY MIND AROUND THE COMPLEX DETAILS IN SUCH SHORT NOTICE BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING. SO I MUST TRUST THE CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE 6.9% IN THE 2024 BUDGET. AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS [02:50:01] POSSIBLE GIVEN THE 2019 STATE LAW. THAT LIMITED INCREASE IS TO 3.5%. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE THE SAME CONCERN AND RECEIVED AN EXPLANATION, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOU. NOW THAT I FINALLY HAVE THE TRUTH IN TAXATION CALCULATIONS AT A TIME WHEN MY MIND IS CLEARER AND I CAN FOCUS ON IT, I WILL ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF I DISCOVER SOMETHING I THINK YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF, I RETURN TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. THERE ARE TWO THINGS I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, PLEASE DO NOT SAY THE CITY HAS A REVENUE CAP. IF THE CURRENT BUDGET SHOWS AN $86 MILLION INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES, THAT IS NOT A CAP. AND THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER CITY REVENUE SOURCES THAT ARE NOT CAPPED. WHAT IS CAPPED IS THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BASED ON POPULATION AND INFLATION. FINALLY, A PERSONAL FRUSTRATION FOR ME, DO NOT SAY YOU ARE REDUCING TAXES AGAIN TODAY FOR THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW. YOU'RE REDUCING THE TAX RATES AND BECAUSE OF THE APPRAISAL INCREASES, MANY CITIZENS WILL SEE A TAX INCREASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, IS IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKER WISHES TO TESTIFY, UH, ON THE TAX RATE? ANY OTHER SPEAKER? IT IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO CLOSE THE HEARING. SECOND ROBINSON, I BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? THE CHAIR IS NONE. AND THAT MOTION IS GRANTED. UM, [2.  ORDINANCE providing for the assessment, levying and collection of ad valorem taxes for the City of Houston, Texas for the Year 2023 ] NOW MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL RECALL ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. UM, ITEM NUMBER TWO, UM, THE CITY, LEMME JUST SAY THE CITY HAS, UH, LOWERED, UH, THE TAX RATE NINE OUT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS, UH, SINCE WE HIT THE REVENUE CAP IN 20 IN FISCAL YEAR 2015. SO WE HAVE LOWERED THE TAX RATE NINE OUT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF POINT OF 0.5 1 9 1 9 0 PER 100% OF VALUATION IS LOWER THAN THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 0.5 3 3 6 4 0 0 PER $100 OF VALUATION BY 1.40 CENTS OR ABOUT 2.7% LOWER THAN THE CURRENT RATE. THAT'S 2.7% LOWER THAN THE CURRENT RATE. THE PRO PRO PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5 1 9 1 9 0 PER 100% EVALUATION IS THE RATE NEEDED TO COLLECT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OF $1.38 BILLION, WHICH WAS SET AT THE PROPOSITION ONE LIMITATION. ANY REDUCTION IN THIS RATE WILL REQUIRE REDUCTION OF THE BUDGET. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS THAT WE ARE LOWERING THE TAX RATE, UH, TO COLLECT, UM, WHAT WE HAVE PUT FORTH IN OUR FISCAL 20 20 24 BUDGET AND NOT ANYMORE IF THE TAX RATE REMAINED FLAT, IF WE WERE NOT LOWERING THE TAX RATE, IF THE TAX RATE REMAINED FLAT, THE CITY COULD HAVE COLLECTED AN ADDITIONAL $38.2 MILLION. OUR OWN LOCAL PROP PROP ONE PLUS THE H CAP HAS COST $1.9 BILLION IN REVENUE SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND $400.7 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 24 ALONE. SO I WANT TO UNDER, I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT WE HAVE LOWERED THE TAX RATE NINE OUT OF 10 TIMES, AND IT STARTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2015. SINCE THEN, IF WE HAD NOT LOWERED THE TAX RATE AT ALL, THE CITY WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN AN ADDITIONAL $1.9 BILLION. UH, AND IN FISCAL YEAR 24, UH, WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS REDUCING REVENUE THAT WE WOULD'VE RECEIVED IF THE TAX RATE HAD REMAINED FLAT. UH, $400.7 MILLION. THE PROPOSED RATE IS BELOW, UH, THE STATE'S 3.5% VARIABLE RATE AND LOWERING THE RATE TO THE NO NEW TAX RATE WILL RESULT IN A DECREASE TO THE BUDGETED REVENUE OF 91.40 CENTS. SO IF WE WIN WITH A NO TAX RATE, OKAY, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND REDUCE OUR BUDGET BY $91.4 MILLION. WE HIT THE CAP IN FISCAL YEAR 2015. THE TAX RATE PRIOR TO THAT YEAR WAS 0.0 0.6 3 8 7 5 0. AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS, SO I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THIS. THE TAX RATE IN 2015 WAS 0.6 3 8 7 5 0. [02:55:03] THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS 0.5 1 9 1 9 0. SO IN 20, IN 20 IN FISCAL YEAR 2015, THE CITY'S TAX RATE WAS 0.6 3 8 7 5 0. THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON TODAY IS 0.5 1 9 1 9 0. THAT IS 12 CENTS LOWER OR 18.7% LOWER THAN THE RATE PRIOR TO HITTING THE CAP. SO THIS RATE THAT'S COMING BEFORE YOU IS 18.7% LOWER THAN THE TAX RATE IN 20 FISCAL YEAR 2015. NOW, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE SINCE 2015 THEY'VE BEEN ADDED MORE COSTS, MORE EXPENSES, MORE NEEDS, MORE PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE CITY, UH, QUITE A BIT MORE. SO THAT IS WHAT THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY. AND SO, UH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MAYOR, YOU HAD JUST SAID ONE NUMBER THAT I DIDN'T CATCH RELATED TO 38.2 MILLION, UM, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MADE NOTE OF WHAT THAT WAS REFERENCING. SAY IT AGAIN, I'M SORRY. YEAH, I APOLOGIZE. YOU HAD SAID ONE NUMBER, UM, AT THE BEGINNING RELATED TO 38.2 MILLION AND I DIDN'T CATCH WHAT THAT WAS REFERENCING SPECIFICALLY. YEAH, IF THE TAX RATE REMAINS FLAT, THE CITY COULD HAVE COLLECTED AN ADDITIONAL $38.2 MILLION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'VE BEEN DOING SOME MORE RESEARCH ON THIS AND I'M CONS, I'M, I GET CONFUSED. I'M SURE THE PUBLIC GETS CONFUSED AS WELL. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAX RATE AND TAX, UH, REVENUE. AND, UM, I'M JUST REVIEWING THIS MORNING, I'VE JUST BEEN REVIEWING A STATE LAW ON THAT. IT SAYS THAT, UH, REDUCING THE AMOUNT, THE, THE AMOUNT THAT THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WHICH IS ACTUAL MONEY THAT WE GET COLLECTED, MAY INCREASE OVER YEAR FOR YEAR FROM 8% TO 3.5%. SO IT'S BEEN REDUCED FROM 8% TO 3.5% REQUIRING VOTER VOTER APPROVAL FOR AN ADOPTED TAX RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE FIVE, THE 3.5% CAP. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ON THAT. UM, ALSO, UM, SO OUR, OUR REVENUE IS INCREASING BY 5% THIS YEAR. THE ACTUAL REVENUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM THE TAX RATE THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED WILL INCREASE OUR REVENUE RIGHT BY 5%. BUT THE STATE LAW SAYS THAT WE CAN'T INCREASE REVENUE BY MORE THAN 3.5%. THAT'S CORRECT. SO HOW OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO CALL AN ELECTION. THAT'S CORRECT. SO HOW ARE WE DOING THIS? AND THE PROPOSED RATE IS BELOW THE STATE'S 3.5%. I'M SORRY, THE PROPOSED RATE IS BELOW. YES, BUT THE, BUT IT SAYS ABOUT REVENUE THAT IF YOU INCREASE YOUR REVENUE, NOT YOUR TAX RATE, IT SAYS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE COLLECTED, UH, HAS TO BE, UH, 3.5% IS WHAT I, HOW I'M READING THIS, RIGHT? BUT THE CALCULATION, THE CALCULATION ITSELF, HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO LOOK AT IT, WHAT WE, WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS. SO THE PROPOSED RATE IS BELOW THAT 3.5% THAT THE STATE AUTHORIZES WELL, OKAY. UM, SO I'M STILL CONFUSED BECAUSE WE'RE IN OUR, IN OUR, UH, DOCUMENT, OUR RCA, IT SAYS THE PROPOSED RATE IS EXPECTED INCREASE THE CITY'S VALOREM TAX REVENUE FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IN THE AMOUNT GREATER THAN 5%, MORE THAN THE ADVIL 11 PROPERTY TAX REVENUES COLLECTED DURING THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR. THUS PURSUANT TO SECTION 44, 2 5 CITY'S ORDINANCES, THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED BY THE TAX RATE MUST BE APPROVED BY TWO THIRDS OF FULL OF THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. SO WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE REVENUE BASED ON THIS NEW TAX RATE BY MORE THAN 5% OVER LAST YEAR, IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND. AND IF THAT'S TRUE, IT SAYS HERE THAT WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE FROM 8% TO 3.5% TOTAL, UH, FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. AND IF WE, IF WE'RE GONNA EXCEED THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION FOR THAT. RIGHT. AND WE DO NOT MEET THAT, THAT THRESHOLD WILLING WHERE AN ELECTION IS REQUIRED, WE ARE STILL OPERATING BELOW THE STATE'S METHODOLOGY, WHICH WOULD TRIGGER AN ELECTION. WE ARE BELOW THAT 3.5%. OKAY. SO OUR REVENUE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE STATE IS BELOW, IS BELOW 3.5%. THAT IS CORRECT. [03:00:01] WE HAVE YET TO TRIGGER THAT, THAT, THAT THAT THRESHOLD. OKAY. SO THE 5% ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT THIS YEAR FALLS UNDER THE 3% FOR THE STATE, THE 3.5% OF THE STATE? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, MY SECOND ISSUE, OTHERWISE, OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION. YES. AND MY SECOND ISSUE, AS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING, IT'S THE WAY I I, WE GOT A, I GOT AN ANSWER FROM A CITY ATTORNEY AND I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, BUT HIS WAS NOT, HIS ANSWER CONFUSED ME MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. SO, UH, AT ANY RATE, I I'M NOT GONNA GO OVER THAT. WE'VE ALREADY HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. MAYOR I, MARTIN? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS ALWAYS A, A SOMEWHAT CONFUSED AND ARGUMENT THAT WE MAKE UP HERE, BUT I THINK MR. SMITH SAID IT APPROPRIATELY. THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX THAT YOU WILL PAY IN THE YEAR 2023, WHICH IS DUE, UH, THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR WILL BE HIGHER THAN IT WAS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S TAX RATE HAS BEEN LOWERED NON OUT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS TO A TUNE OF ALMOST 20%. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE A FUNCTION OF TWO VARIABLES. TAX RATE, MULTIPLY TIMES APPRAISAL VALUE. AND I'LL SHARE THIS EVERY YEAR WITH EVERYONE. THE APPRAISAL VALUE FROM MY HOUSE HAS ALMOST INCREASED 80% SINCE THE LAST 10 YEARS SINCE WE LOWERED THE TAX RATE. THUS, IF YOUR APPRAISAL GOES UP ACCORDINGLY, YOU'LL PAY MORE IN TAXES. THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES US TO LOWER OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE, YET THEY DON'T PUT IN ANY CAP TO KEEP THE APPRAISAL VALUES IN CHECK. THAT SHOULD BE A MANDATE. IF YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, LOOK AT IT FROM THE APPRAISAL VARIABLE STANDPOINT AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE FOLKS IN AUSTIN PROTECT YOU ON THE APPRAISAL SIDE, BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE LOWERING IT 20%, THEY'RE RAISING IT 80%, THUS YOU'RE GONNA PAY MORE IN TAX DOLLARS. AND EVERY YEAR I MAKE THIS STATEMENT, HERE'S MY TAX BILL FOR LAST YEAR. I'M GLAD TO SHARE IT WITH ANYONE. I PAY 56% OF MY TOTAL TAX BILL TO MY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE I SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR 11 YEARS. YET NO ONE SHOWS UP FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS. SO IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR WALLET, IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE AND YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, SHOW UP FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS AND MAKE SURE THEY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, 56% OF MY TOTAL TAX BILL GOES TO MY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 21% GOES TO HARRIS COUNTY, 19% GOES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YET IN MY DAYS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD IN MY DAYS ON CITY COUNCIL OR EQUAL, I'LL HAVE ABOUT 11 YEARS ON EACH. I NEVER HEARD ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT SALES TAX IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE 56% OF MY DOLLARS GO. BUT EVERY DAY I HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT TAXES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU IS LOOK AT YOUR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS. IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND THE INCREASE IN DOLLARS THAT WE'RE PAYING AND THE VALUE OF THOSE DOLLARS VOTE. MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS IN THE FUTURE. AND I'LL BE SHARED, BE GLAD TO SHARE MY PROPERTY TAX WITH ANYBODY BECAUSE, UM, IT'S AN EASY EQUATION. IT'S RATE TIMES VALUE. THEY CAN, STATE OF TEXAS CONTROLS THE RATE, BUT THEY DO NOTHING ON THE VALUATION SIDE. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IN MY OPINION. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. ANYONE ELSE ON ITEM NUMBER TWO? ANYONE ELSE ON ITEM NUMBER TWO? UH, IN FAVOR OPPOSED SHOW HUFFMAN AND VOTING? NO, WE NEED ONE MORE. WE HAVE FOUR POINT OF ORDER. MAYOR, WHAT WAS THE VOTE? I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM POLL THAT HE'S IN TRAFFIC AND IS ON HIS WAY. WE STAND IN RECESS FOR 10 MINUTES. [03:05:02] WE'RE STAND IN RECESS FOR 10 MINUTES. ALRIGHT, WE'RE BACK ON THE ITEM. WE'RE BACK ON THE ITEM. VICE MAYOR TE THANK UM, VICE MAYOR PRO CASH DICTATOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, CLARIFY THAT THE LOWERING OF THE TAX RATE, UM, IS A REQUIREMENT. UH, WHAT, WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO WE HAVE? I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THE OPPOSITION. THE ONLY THING IS TO LOWER IT EVEN MORE, YOU CAN EITHER LOWER IT EVEN MORE OR YOU COULD VOTE TO INCREASE IT. UM, BUT IF YOU LOWER IT EVEN MORE, IF YOU GO TO THE NO NEW RATE, UH, THEN THAT WILL BE A REDUCTION, AN ADDITIONAL REDUCTION OF 91.4 MILLION, WHICH MEANS SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE BUDGET. DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, DID ANYBODY TALK TO YOU ABOUT AN AMENDMENT OR A CHANGE OR IS THERE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? NO. NO. SO, SO, ALRIGHT. OKAY. LET'S PREPARE TO VOTE. ALRIGHT. AGAIN, WE ARE VOTING ON ITEM TWO. THAT IS THE LOWERING OF THE TAX RATE ROLL CALL. WE CERTAINLY DO A ROLL CALL. THAT'S FINE. ROLL CALL HAS BEEN ASKED FOR ROLL CALL GRANTED. MAYOR TURNER, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER GOES. I'M SORRY. OKAY. PROCEED. MAYOR TURNER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. MEMBER KAMAN. YES. COUNCIL EVAN CHABA? YES. COUNCIL MARTIN? I VOTE YES TO LOWER THE TAX RATE. NONE OUT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? YES. COUNCIL HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. COUNCIL. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILMAN KNOX? NO. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KOSH? NO. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? YES. COUNCILOR ALCORN? YES. I VOTE OF 12 TO FOUR DI PASSES. 12 FOUR. THANK YOU SIR. VERY MUCH. WE NEED TO DO NUMBER THREE AND NOW CHAIR [3.  RECOMMENDATION from Director or Finance that Council adopt a motion in conformance with the requirements of Section 26.05(b) of the Texas Tax Code This item should only be considered after passage of Item 2 above ] RECORD. MAD SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL UP ITEM NUMBER THREE. ITEM NUMBER THREE. JUST NEED A MOTION. A MOVE. SECOND, ROBINSON, I'M SORRY, WE, WE, I THINK THERE'S A SCRIPT THAT WE HAVE TO READ. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND MAYOR PRO. MAYOR PROAM, IF YOU'LL READ THE SCRIPT FOR THE MOTION FOR NUMBER THREE. SORRY, I THOUGHT GAVE IT TO YOU. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.5 1 9 1 9 0, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 7.14% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. SECOND, THEN MOVED. AND IT, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANT, I'M SORRY. NO SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN KNOX KNOX KUBOSH AND IMPACT VOTING NOTE. [03:10:08] ALRIGHT, UH, [CONSENT AGENDA] AND NOW MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL MOVE TO CALL UP ITEMS. UH, FOUR THROUGH SEVEN ITEMS. FOUR THROUGH SEVEN. JUST NEED A MOTION CAST A MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON THEN MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON ITEM FOUR, UH, THIS IS, UH, UH, THE APPOINTMENT OF JOANIE BEAR. JOANIE EBERT, UH, TO THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS JOANI, IF YOU ARE HERE, IF YOU'LL PLEASE STAND, IF JOANIE, IF YOU'RE STANDING AND COME FORWARD. I THINK WE, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. UH, JOANIE, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, FOR GRACIOUSLY AGREEING TO SERVE ON THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER BOARD. I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT, LOT OF TIME, UM, BUT HIGHLY, HIGHLY IMPORTANT, UH, ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY END AND GETTING THE RIGHT, RIGHT RESULTS, UH, GETTING THE TESTING AND DONE ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL. UM, BUT, UM, AND YOU CERTAINLY, UH, ARE HIGHLY CAPABLE AND READY AND WILLING TO SERVE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. IF YOU'LL JUST SAY HELLO AND KIND OF INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO EVERYBODY HERE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS, UH, RECOGNITION. I BROUGHT MY FAMILY. WHY DO I GIVE AMPED OVER THAT? BUT I, THEY DON'T GET TO BE WITH ME VERY OFTEN. SO I HAVE MY GRANDDAUGHTER, HALLADAY FR, WHO'S PLEASE ASK THEM TO FROM CHICAGO STAND, MY SON-IN-LAW, ROCKY FR MY DAUGHTER JOEL FR. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. THIS IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AND, UH, HELP OUR CITY DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, MS. BAIRD, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALSO DR. STOUT IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL. UM, SO FOR EVERYTHING THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER DOES, WE APPRECIATE THAT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IS CRITICAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IT IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO BRING YOUR FAMILY TO COUNCIL. TODAY. I HAVE MY LITTLE SISTER IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL, SO I'M VERY HAPPY THAT YOUR FAMILY COULD JOIN US FROM ALL OVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, JOHN. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. BYE-BYE EVERYBODY. MM-HMM . UH, THE NEXT, UH, AND THEN ITEM, UH, NUMBER FIVE. UH, THIS IS, UH, THE APPOINTMENT. THEY'RE BOTH JUDGES, IF YOU DO WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO FIVE AND SIX. UH, THESE ARE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES THAT ARE BEING APPOINTED OR REAPPOINTED. UH, FIVE IS DARRELL E SCOTT TO POSITION 12 AS A FULL-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. I, I KNOW, UH, JUDGE MARSHALL IS HERE. UH, IS JUDGE MARSHALL. YEAH. OKAY. SO IF YOU JUST STAND AND, AND COME FORWARD. UH, DAR LEE SCOTT, JUDGE SCOTT HERE. JUDGE SCOTT WORKED THE JPC TILL FIVE O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, MAYOR, AND I DO BELIEVE HE IS PROBABLY STILL ASLEEP. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. YEAH, THAT'S OKAY. AND THEN, UH, IN ITEM NUMBER SIX, UH, THIS IS THE MUNICIPAL COURT ASSOCIATE JUDGES, UH, FOR A TWO YEAR TERM. UH, JUDGE WALTER SCHROEDER, IF YOU SCH, PLEASE STAND. UH, ERIC C IS THAT LEY, BLEY BLEY, IF YOU ALL TO COME FORWARD. UH, EDDIE A CALDERON JR. BETH, A WING, UH, THERESA IS THAT WAYNE? HUNG, HUNG THERESA HUNG, UH, ROBERT D ROSENBERG, UH, TURRO. DD DEION JR. BERTHA, ALICIA MAHA, LYDIA D JOHNSON, AND RONNIE M MOST. AND I ALSO HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE SCOTT WITH ME HERE TODAY. OKAY. AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OR CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU. UM, UM, MOST OF THESE ARE REAPPOINTMENTS UNTIL THE MUNICIPAL COURT. SO, UH, THANK YOU. AND, UH, AND I KNOW SINCE 2017, UH, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN WORKING UNDER SOME CHALLENGING CONDITIONS. UH, UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH FEMA, UH, ON THE DOLLARS THAT WILL BE NEEDED NOW TO REBUILD, UH, THE MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE. SO THAT IS A, THAT'S A BIG, BIG PLUS. BUT I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUMA MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, [03:15:01] UH, YEARS AGO, UH, APPOINTING, UH, JUDGE MARSHALL TO BE OUR PRESIDING JUDGE. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE, UH, BEST THINGS YOU EVER DONE HERE IN HOUSTON, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. AND, UH, SHE'S, UH, AN EXCELLENT, UH, JURIST AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. THANK YOU. UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE MANY OF YOU THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR 29 YEARS SINCE I CAME, UH, STARTED GOING TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT, UH, BETH WING. GOOD TO SEE YOU, EDDIE CALDERONE. UH, JUDGE ROSENBERG, IT'S STILL GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. AND, UH, SOME OF YOU I'VE KNOWN A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. UH, GOD BLESS YOU. AND, UH, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, JUDGE MARSHALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. IT MUST BE PUBLIC SAFETY DAY TODAY FOR APPOINTMENTS. UM, BUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE RUN AND CHAMPIONED AND THAT ALL OF YOU PARTICIPATE IN ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE IN THE CITY. UM, YOUR DIVERSION PROGRAMS, YOUR AMNESTY PROGRAMS, TEEN COURT, THE LIST GOES ON ALL IN THE BACKGROUND OF A MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING THAT HAS YET TO BE, UH, RECOVERED SINCE HARVEY. RIGHT. AND THE CHALLENGES THAT COME ALONG WITH THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON AND COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH. I MAY HAVE YOU BEAT WITH KNOWING SOME OF THEM. RONNIE, UH, I HAS KNOWN ME AND OUR FAMILY SINCE I WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE GIRL. HE USED TO TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS. SO IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL AND THANK YOU . COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I TOO WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE JUDGE MARSHALL, UH, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WILLING TO SERVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, UH, A SHOUT OUT TO MY LAW PROFESSOR, LYDIA JOHNSON, UH, WHO IS, UH, ALSO, UM, GONNA BE A PART OF THE CREW, BUT I WANT TO, UH, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, YOU, MS. JOHNSON, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW AND RUNNING THAT LEGAL CLINIC. AND, UH, A LOT OF MY LEGAL FOUNDATION, UH, IS ON THAT. SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND, UH, GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU'LL JUST, IF YOU'LL JUST GIVE US YOUR NAMES, UH, AS WE GO JUST ON THIS END. MARY KAY. PLEASURE. THANK YOU WALTER SCHROEDER. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU. BEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EDDIE CAL. THANK YOU. TERESA HUANG. THANK YOU. RONNIE MO. THANK YOU. LYDIA JOHNSON. BOB ROSEBERG. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, MARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN IN CLOSING, UH, JUDGE MARSHALL, LET ME CONGRATULATE YOU. UH, YOUR DAUGHTER IS ALSO A LAWYER AND UH, THE OTHER DAY I THINK SHE WAS SWORN IN AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE IN TEXAS CITY, THE PORT AND IN THE PORT. SO, UM, FOLLOWING UP A MOUTH'S FOOTSTEP. SO CONGRATULATE YOU AND I KNOW YOU'RE A PROUD MOM. I THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND POSITION SEVEN, UH, POSITION SEVEN IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF J KEN FREEMAN AS CHAIR OF THE HARRIS, UH, COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY. AND, UH, KENNY, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD. OH, THERE, IT'S, THANK YOU, UH, KENNY FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY. A LOT'S BEEN, UH, DONE OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS, UH, AND SPORTS IS, UH, CENTRAL OF COURSE TO THIS CITY, QUITE FRANKLY. IT'S, UH, IT'S ONE OF THE UNIFYING ELEMENTS OF THIS CITY. SO A LOT'S HAPPENING WITH THE, WITH THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP OF IT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, KENNY, IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO GET TO, UH, REAPPOINT AND CAST THIS VOTE. UH, MY WHAT, UH, INCREDIBLE TENURE THUS FAR YOU HAVE HAD, UM, SERVING IN THIS POSITION. SO FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR COUNTY, FOR OUR REGION, AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO. MAYOR PRO. TIM MARTIN. YES, MR. KENNY FRIEDMAN. AND MR. CHAIR, IT WAS A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR FOR ME TO SERVE UNDER YOUR WATCH AND TUTELAGE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AS I SERVED ON THE SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD. IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE AT THAT TIME AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THE TRANSITION HAS BEEN ASTRONOMICAL. THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE UNDER YOUR WATCH, BUT FOR ME IT'S THE SPORTING EVENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT, WHETHER IT'S THE TABLE TENNIS, THE WEIGHTLIFTING, FINAL FOUR IN BASKETBALL THAT WE JUST HAD THE FINAL TWO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THAT WE'LL HAVE IN JANUARY IN THE WORLD CUP THAT WE HAVE UPCOMING. UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY IN THE SPORTS [03:20:01] WORLD AND OUR ATTRACTION THAT WE HAVE FOR THESE MAJOR SPORT AND EVENTS. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR GREAT TEAM THAT YOU HAVE ON THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. SO THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY, MANY, MANY MORE YEARS OF YOU LEADING THE HELM AT THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER. AND WE LOVED HAVING YOU ON THE BOARD. WE MISS YOU. UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE SET OUT TO DO WAS TO BECOME THE PREEMINENT SPORTS CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO BEING THAT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM YOU, KENNY? JUST TO SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT. I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND, UH, EVERYBODY ON THE SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD IS WORKING VERY HARD TO, UH, PULL OFF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN JANUARY WITHOUT A HITCH. WE HOPE IT'LL BE THE BIGGEST AND BEST EVER. AND, UH, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN SAID, WE HAVE THE WORLD CUP COMING IN 2026 AND AS I TELL EVERYBODY THAT'S THE SUPER BOWL ON STEROIDS IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE, WE'LL HAVE A, A MONTH OF A ENTIRELY FULL CITY, UH, WITH PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN. SO IT'LL BE GREAT FOR EVERYBODY. THANKS. THANKS. THANKS, KEN. LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MAYOR. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, THANKS. ALRIGHT, JUST A FEW. COMM ROBINSON. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. MAYOR, BEFORE WE PASS OVER THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM EIGHT, I DO WANT TO JUST THANK, UH, UH, MARTY STEIN, THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR HOUSTON. WE, THIS IS THE ITEM THAT WE PASSED WITH THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN. I JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO THIS MAYOR, WE'VE HAD, UH, AN ITEM BEFORE US FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW. OKAY, THANKS VERY MUCH. WE HADN'T, WE HADN'T DONE IT YET. OH, I THOUGHT WE DID. FOUR THROUGH EIGHT. VERY GOOD. OH, FOUR THROUGH FOUR THROUGH SIX. ALRIGHT. VERY GOOD. FOUR THROUGH SEVEN. WE DID FOUR THROUGH SEVEN. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. TONIGHT IS A, IS IS A BIG NIGHT FOR THE HOUSTON DYNAMO. UM, THE TEAM WILL MAKE ITS FIRST APPEARANCE AND A TOURNAMENT FINAL SINCE 2018. AND, UH, SO, UH, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE, OF THE MAJORITY ON THE TED SIEGEL, UH, GENERAL MANAGER, PAT OLSTAD AND HEAD COACH BEN OLSEN. SO, UH, HOUSTON ADVANCES THE FINAL AFTER DEFEATING THE REAL, UH, SALT LAKE THREE TO ONE IN EXTRA TIME. AND SO TONIGHT, UH, THE TEAM WILL FACE, UM, THE GLOBAL ICON, LEONNE, MESSI, UM, AND WHOMEVER ELSE THEY PLAYING. I DON'T REALLY KNOW. MESSI, UM, WHO'S HE? I DON'T KNOW WHO MESSI IS, BUT HE, HE'S ABOUT TO MEET THE DYNAMOS TONIGHT, SO HE'LL BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT AFTER TONIGHT. UM, SO WISH THE DI WISH, WISH THE DYNAMO. WELL, UM, OF COURSE THE STATE OF THE CITY IS THE, AND THEY PROVIDED THE SWAG. OH YEAH. AND THEY PROVIDED THE SWAG AND ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU HAVE TODAY. SO THANKS TO THE DYNAMOS DYNAMO, UM, STATE OF THE CITY IS TODAY, UH, AT LUNCHTIME. SO I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU ALL THERE TODAY. UH, THE BARBARA BUSH, UH, STATUE UNVEILING, THAT'S TOMORROW AT 11:00 AM UH, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION. THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL OFFICIALLY REVEAL A STATUE OF FORMER FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH AT THE BARBARA BUSH LITERACY PLAZA AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, UM, TRAVEL, HOUSTON TRAVEL FEST. THE FIRST EVENT EVER, HOUSTON TRAVEL FEST BEGINS FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE TRAVEL AND TOURISM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON AND MEXICO. UH, SO THAT WILL BE THIS COMING FRIDAY. AND THEN TEXAS SOUTHERN HOMECOMING WILL BE THIS COMING SATURDAY MORNING, UH, IN WHICH, IN THEM, WELL, THEY WILL FACE THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA LIONS ON SATURDAY. UH, AND THEN THEIR HOMECOMING DAY PARADE WILL BE ON SATURDAY MORNING, STARTING AT 9:00 AM UH, SO THAT IS THIS COMING SATURDAY. UH, HAVING SAID THAT, UH, UH, OH, LET ME JUST SAY, UH, COUNCILMAN MCCULL IS NOT HERE. UH, HER MOM PASSED LAST NIGHT AT, UH, AT 10:30 PM UH, IN NEW ORLEANS SURROUNDED BY ALL OF HER CHILDREN. SO THEY WERE ALL ABLE TO BE THERE TO BE WITH HER. AND SO WE WANTED TO EXTEND OUR PRAYERS, CONDOLENCES, UH, TO COUNCILMAN MCC CIS AND HER AND HER FAMILY. OKAY. ALRIGHT, THEN, UM, OH, I'M SORRY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN CAMAN FOR APPOINTED PERSON AND PR PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO VERY QUICKLY INTRODUCE MY LITTLE SISTER, JENNY CAYMAN. UH, IT'S HER FIRST TIME COMING TO COUNCIL. SHE'S IN FROM NEW YORK. USUALLY, UH, SHE DOESN'T GET TO TUNE INTO COUNCIL BECAUSE SHE IS, UH, A NATIONAL PRODUCER, UH, THAT I BRAG ABOUT OFTEN. UH, SO JEN, IT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO HAVE YOU HERE, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, AND AS WE TALK, STAND UP. FAMILY IS EVERYTHING, AND THERE'S NOT A SINGLE DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T SPEAK TO MY LITTLE SISTER, OR THAT SHE'S NOT, UH, [03:25:01] THE STRENGTH BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT I DO. SO IT MEANS A LOT THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY. LITTLE MOUSE. WELCOME, WELCOME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. GOOD TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UH, MADAM SECRETARY, BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MS. ALANIS CATEGORY. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION MOVE. ROBINSON. SECOND BEEN MOVED AND SECOND ON ITEM MADE DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED. AND AGAIN, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON, YOU WANNA GO BACK TO? YEAH. THANKS, MAYOR. JUST, UH, OUTTA SEQUENCE A BIT THERE, BUT MARTY, YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THE COMMISSION AND I, THIS IS ALSO TO THANK THE, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT YOU WORK WITH. SO MUCH WORK GOES BEHIND THIS. THERE'S SO MANY MEETINGS. UH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL THOSE ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE, THE GROWTH OF THE CITY INCLUDED, UM, IN VISIBLE LIVABLE CENTERS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT HERE, UM, LIVABLE PLACES AND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK, UH, THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNNOTICED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM SECRETARY. UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIZ CATEGORY, SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ITEMS 10 AND 11 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEMS 10 AND 12 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEMS NINE, 11, AND 13. NEED A MOTION CAST T MOVE. SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON 9 11 13. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 22 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 17, 18, 19, 23, 26, 29, 33, 35, 42. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 17, 18, 19, 23, 26, 29, 33, 35, AND 42. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE, MA'AM? PRO CHAIRMAN? YES. I THOUGHT, OH, I'M, I SKIPPED THE RESOLUTIONS. I'M SORRY. I SKIPPED THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY, RESOLUTION CATEGORY ITEM 14 AND 15. JUST NEED A VOTE. OKAY. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION ON 14 AND 15. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANT. I NOW WE'RE WITH MARK. YES. MAYOR, I, I WANTED TO, UH, SQUARE ITEM 32, PLEASE. I FORGOT TO DO THAT IN MY PRE-MEETING. ITEM 32. OKAY. ITEM 32 HAS BEEN SQUARED. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, MA'AM, SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL GO OVER THOSE NUMBERS ONE MORE TIME. TWO MORE. OKAY. ITEM RULE, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. R 17, 18, 19, 23, 26, 29, 32, 33, 35, AND 42. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 17, 18, 19, 23, 26, 29, 32, 33, 35, AND 42. OKAY. IS THAT FOURTH ONE? OKAY, JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED? GRANTED, I MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION. HAS SEX T MOVE SECOND ROBINSON. AND MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM 10. MOVED TO SECOND ON ITEM 10. DISCUSSION ON 10. DISCUSSION ON 10 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM 10. ITEM 12 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TATUM MOVED. SECOND. ROBINSON THEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM 12. DISCUSSION ON 12. DISCUSSION ON 12 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 12. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 17, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON 17. THANK YOU. MARY JUST HAD ONE QUICK POINT OF INFORMATION. UH, SOME OF THE, FOR EXAMPLE IN DISTRICT C, ONE OF THE LARGEST POLLING LOCATIONS IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE LIST CURRENTLY. UH, THAT MAY, I BELIEVE BE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT YET AN AGREEMENT WITH THAT FACILITY THAT IS CITY PROPERTY. SO IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO AMEND LATER ON? I JUST WANNA CONFIRM THAT. DESIGNATED YES, THE ANSWER'S YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 17? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSE GRANTED ON 17. ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE [03:30:01] ON, ON ITEM 18. COUNCILMAN CAMAN? NO, NO, THAT'S FROM THE COURT ON 18. DISCUSSION ON 18. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSE GRANTED ON 18. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE, ON ITEM 19, I DO WANT EMPHASIZE ON ITEM 19. THIS IS THE REESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROADSIDE DITCHES, WHERE PREVIOUSLY THE OWNERS WAS ON THE, UM, HOMEOWNER, THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND NOW THE CITY IS, UH, TAKING BACK THAT RESPONSIBILITY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PACK ON ITEM ON ITEM 19. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND I APPLAUD THE ORDINANCE AND THINK IT'S DEFINITELY THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE. UM, I STARTED A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN DISTRICT A, UM, MAINTAINING ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON THIS AND ALLOCATED $100,000 OF DISTRICT A'S COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN DISTRICT A TO MAINTAIN THE DITCHES. UM, AND THEN OUR PROGRAM WAS PAUSED BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THIS PROGRAM WOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL THE ROADSIDE DITCHES IN DISTRICT A, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT REALLY MOST OF THE MONEY IS ONLY BEING SPENT IN ONE AREA OF TOWN THAT IS NOT DISTRICT A. SO, UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT AREA HAS THE MOST OPEN DITCHES AND HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. UM, BUT DISTRICT A HAS SIMILAR AREAS, UM, WHERE PEOPLE ARE FLOODING BECAUSE OF THE DITCHES. AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THIS PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED WITH ANY KIND OF EQUITY OR USING ANY KIND OF, UM, DATA TO LOOK AT WHAT AREAS ARE FLOODING. BECAUSE IF WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT DATA, I THINK DISTRICT A WOULD BE ON THE IMMEDIATE LIST OF DITCHES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE. UM, I'M, SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE ITEM. I THINK THE ORDINANCE IS GOOD. UM, DEFINITELY THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THIS LIST ARE NEEDED AND I SUPPORT THAT. UM, I'M JUST ASKING FOR IT TO BE REEVALUATED AS FAR AS THE IMPLEMENTATION. AT THE VERY LEAST, I'D LIKE MY PROGRAM WITH THE SERVICE FUNDS TO RESUME. IF THIS PROGRAM ISN'T GOING TO PROTECT DISTRICT A FROM FLOODING, THEN I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT FROM MY OFFICE INSTEAD. UM, ALSO AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED, IT WAS SAID THAT ANY DITCH THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM ALREADY IN THE QUEUE TO BE EVALUATED WOULD CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED BEFORE THIS GOES INTO EFFECT. AND SO THE DISTRICT A TEAM AND I WENT THROUGH ALL OF DISTRICT A, WE DROVE AROUND DISTRICT A, WE LOOKED AT PREVIOUS 3 0 1 REPORTS. WE LOOKED AT PREVIOUS EMAILS TO OUR OFFICE AND PUT INTO 3 0 1 EVERY SINGLE ROADSIDE DITCH IN OUR DISTRICT THAT WE COULD THINK OF THAT, UM, WE'VE SEEN A PROBLEM WITH BEFORE. AND SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR THOSE DITCHES TO BE EVALUATED AS PROMISED AT THAT COMMITTEE MEETING. LET ME, UH, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UM, WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. UM, WHAT WE ARE DOING BY VIRTUE OF THIS ITEM IS THAT WE ARE REVERSING, UM, THE POLICY THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE THAT THEY REVERSED YEARS, YEARS AGO AND PUT THE OWNERS ON THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAINTAIN. SO THE EFFECT OF THIS IS TO REVERSE THE POLICY. AND THEN I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS AS THE POLICY IS, UM, FURTHER DEFINED. LEMME PUT IT THAT WAY. UH, SO, UM, THEY'RE RECEPTIVE. WE KNOW I TALKED WITH THEM THIS MORNING. SO LET ME ENCOURAGE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO CONTINUE. OKAY. AND, UH, THE ITEM, THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE IS NOT RESTRICTING IT, UH, JUST TO ONE AREA, SO TO SPEAK. UM, THE WHOLE EMPHASIS IS TO REVERSE THE POLICY. THAT'S CORRECT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON GETTING THIS DITCH MAINTENANCE REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM. UM, KICKSTARTED, IT'S A, A GAME CHANGER FOR THE RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT B, IT MEANS A LOT, UM, TO THE RESIDENTS. AND DISTRICT B, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, DITCHES, OPEN DITCHES, AND, UM, WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF FLOODING THAT'S, I KNOW THE WHOLE CITY DOES. BUT, UM, WE'VE BEEN HIT REALLY HARD. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS WORKED AND THE ADVOCACY, THEY PUSHED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UM, DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WAS REVERSED. AND THIS, YOU KNOW, REESTABLISHMENT WAS IMPLEMENTED. AND SO JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, SEEING FLOOD MITIGATION HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. AND, UM, YEAH. SO THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL WILL RECALL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND I HAD SUBMITTED A BUDGET AMENDMENT, UM, I THINK TWO CYCLES AGO, UH, TO ALLOW FOR DISTRICT SERVICE DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON FLOOD MITIGATION, SPECIFICALLY TO CREATE DISTRICT DITCH TEAMS. JUST LIKE SOME DISTRICTS HAVE DISTRICT HOT TEAMS, UM, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT THIS ITEM IS FOR FLOOD MITIGATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT C THAT HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF OPEN DITCHES, UH, IN THE ENTIRE CITY. MAYOR, I THINK, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE FOCUSING ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S THE FIRST BITE AT THE APPLE. UH, [03:35:01] MY UNDERSTANDING THOUGH IS WITH THIS POLICY, IT'S GOING TO ENABLE THE CITY TO EXPAND UPON THAT PROGRAM SO THAT AT ONE POINT, UM, OUR DISTRICT SERVICE DOLLARS DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO GO TOWARDS THIS. UH, BUT IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY AS A WHOLE ABSORBS THE COST OF. AND THEN OUR DISTRICT DOLLARS CAN GO TOWARDS ADDITIONAL PROJECTS. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THIS IS THE FIRST BITE OF A MUCH BIGGER APPLE, BUT THE HEART OF THIS IS THE REVERSE IN POLICY, UM, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO GET GOING ON. IN FACT, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, IN LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION, AND I'M SENDING A TEXT TO DIRECTOR HADDOCK AND RESPONSES, WE ARE DOING ALL CITYWIDE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS, AND THEN WE WILL SET UP A FIVE YEAR CYCLE. PERFECT. SO AGAIN, TO REITERATE, FOR DISTRICT C RESIDENTS, UM, WITHIN THE NET, WE ARE DOING AN EVALUATION. AGAIN, IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME FOR THE CITY TO EVALUATE ALL THE DI OPEN DITCHES IN THE CITY. UM, BUT THAT WORK IS UNDERGOING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AND THEN MAINTENANCE WILL BE BEGIN WITHIN A FIVE YEAR CYCLE. UH, I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT THIS REVERSAL AND POLICY IS. UH, IT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MANY AROUND THE HORSESHOE, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, AND MYSELF INCLUDED, ABOUT, UH, THE NEED TO REVERSE THE POLICY ON SIDEWALKS. UH, THIS IS THAT FIRST STEP. I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS. BUT FOR DISTRICT C, UM, I WANNA SAY THAT RELIEF AND HELP IS ON THE WAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MAG GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, APPRECIATE YOU, UH, HOLD ONE SEC. DOING THIS, THIS NEW, UH, PROGRAM HERE. UM, I KNOW THAT IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF MY DISTRICT, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPEN DITCHES AS WELL, UH, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND ENACTING A PLAN AND POLICY. AND, AND YOU JUST MENTIONED IT, A FIVE YEAR CYCLE. UH, SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE GOING OUT, LET'S SAY ON, ON, ON ON A STREET WHERE THERE'S OPEN DITCHES EVERY FIVE YEARS TO MAKE SURE IF IT NEEDS TO BE DREDGED OR IF THE CULVERTS NEED TO BE REPLACED? OR IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? YES, THEY, IN TERMS OF THE DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. OKAY. THEY ARE ASSUMING THAT RESPONSIBILITY. YES. SO, SO THE HOMEOWNER, AGAIN, JUST TO SO EVERYONE CAN BE CLEAR, THE HOMEOWNER'S GONNA STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CUTTING THE GRASS IN THE DITCH? YES. YES. OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO ALSO ASK IN REGARDS TO THE PLAN AND POLICY, 'CAUSE I'M RUNNING THAT, RUNNING INTO THAT ISSUE RIGHT NOW AT CLINTON PARK IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF MY DISTRICT. YOU, YOU HAVE, THERE'S DITCHES, UH, YOU HAVE LONG GRASS, AND I KID YOU NOT, THE GRASS COULD BE WEEDS BASICALLY ARE ABOUT FOUR FEET TALL IN THE DITCH. UH, YOU HAVE ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THE DITCH. UH, SO I'M BEING TOLD, WELL, IF, IF THIS HAPPENS, YOU NEED TO GO TO SOLID WASTE. IF THIS HAPPENS, YOU NEED TO GO TO PUBLIC WORKS. IF THIS HAPPENS, YOU NEED TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF, OF, OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN REGARDS TO DEALING WITH THE DITCH. UH, SO IF WE COULD HAVE A POLICY OF CODE ENFORCEMENT WHERE IT'S ONE DEPARTMENT THAT A CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER NEEDS TO CALL, IT'D BE A LOT EASIER THAN US HAVING TO CALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. I AGREE. THEY ALL STILL NEED TO OPERATE VERY COLLABORATIVELY MM-HMM . UM, AND NOT, UH, AS A SEPARATE SILO TO ONE ANOTHER. MM-HMM . UM, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WORK THAT, THAT OUT. SO IT'S SEAMLESS. RIGHT. AND THAT, THAT THE HOMEOWNER, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS NOT GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. SO I AGREE WITH YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 1919? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 19? ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUSTINE VOTE, WE ON ITEM 23. OBJECT. ALRIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON ON 23. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND DIRECTOR WILLIAMS FOR, UM, INVESTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. UM, THIS IS ANOTHER PARK ADDED TO OUR LIST OF UPGRADES. UM, VE PARK AND FIFTH WARD HAS BEEN IN DIRE NEED OF ATTENTION. AND WITH THIS FUNDING, UM, WE'LL GET NEW, UH, A NEW PLAYGROUND. UM, WE'LL GET NEW, UM, CONCRETE WALKS, BENCHES, UM, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, UNDERGROUND DETENTION. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, THE IMPROVEMENTS AND BREAKING GROUND ON THIS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA GO ON RECORD TO SAY THAT DISTRICT B GETS A LOT. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT Y'ALL GET A LOT, HUH? OKAY, GOOD. I JUST WANNA LET REMIND YOU, Y'ALL GETTING A LOT. . A LOT. A LOT. ALRIGHT. UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 23? THREE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 23? ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ITEM 26, HONOR 26TH. DISCUSSION. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ON 26 AFTER PLEASE. AFTER. OKAY. DISCUSSION [03:40:01] ON 26. DISCUSSION ON 26TH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN? NO. AFTER. ALSO AFTER. OKAY. IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 26. COUNCILMAN THOMAS ON 26. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, AND COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. UM, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PECK MENTIONED YESTERDAY, UM, UM, ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOOL BANK, BUT AS YOU KNOW, AS HOUSTON EXPERIENCES, UH, DISASTERS, UH, BIG AND SMALL FLOODS AND FREEZES THAT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE GET TO DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIP, UH, WITH THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK, BUT, UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY, PREPARE CONSTITUENTS FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. UM, AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE OTHER DISTRICTS ALSO MODEL, UM, A, A SIMILAR RECOVERY PATH IN THEIR DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MAYOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AS WE MENTIONED YESTERDAY, DISTRICT C UH, IS ALLOCATING OVER $30,000, UM, AS PART OF THIS, UH, COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT SHOULD THE NEED ARISE, SHOULD A STORM COME, UM, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE READY AND PREPARED, UH, WITH THE TOOLS THAT NEEDS TO GO IN QUICKLY, UM, TO ASSIST RESIDENTS IN HOMES, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MUCKING, POWER GENERATION, UH, THE LIST GOES ON. SO, AGAIN, APPRECIATIVE THAT THE DEPARTMENT, UM, HAS BROUGHT EVERYONE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN SEE MORE DISTRICTS BEING COVERED. AND MY APPRECIATION TO THE TOOL BANK, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE GONNA BE STANDING THESE EFFORTS UP, UH, WITH THE TOOLS THAT WILL NOW HAVE AVAILABLE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, DISTRICT B IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH, UM, THE HOUSTON, UM, TOOL BANK. IN FACT, WE ALLOCATED $50,000, UM, TO BUY SUPPLIES LIKE GENERATORS AND TARPS AND TRAILERS AND JUST THINGS THAT WE NEED IF A STORM HAPPENS. SO, UH, MY FOLLOWED SUIT OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE, UM, SUGGESTION. AND, UM, WE JUMPED ON BOARD AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOOL BANK. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, PAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOOL BANK AND EXCITED THAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING THAT AS WELL. UM, AND LIKE I SAID YESTERDAY, I HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE THE PLAN, BUT IT IS THERE IN PLACE SHOULD WE NEED IT. AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE HELPING US WITH THIS MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES AND THE NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. UM, WE'RE TRYING TO COVER ALL OF DISTRICT A IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER, AND THEY'VE REALLY STEPPED UP TO HELP US IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA FOLLOW THAT CAB. WE CERTAINLY, UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND VISIT THE TOOL BANK AND IT WAS JUST PHENOMENAL. UH, THEY WERE, UH, CONSTRUCTING, UH, TABLES, PICNIC TABLES THAT DAY. BUT CERTAINLY I SAW ALL MY COLLEAGUES BOXES AND THINGS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, SUPPLIES, SO THAT WE'LL ALL BE PREPARED. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND VISIT, YOU REALLY SHOULD DO THAT. IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SU TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT WE HAVE PUT IN OURSELVES, UH, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM 26, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU SEE THE VOTE? WE ON ITEM 29, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOCK ON 29. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ON THIS ITEM HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE. SO B CYCLE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNTIL METRO TAKES OVER THE WHOLE THING? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING? YES. WE'RE PROVIDING TRANSITION FUNDING. METRO IS IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP THIS BCYCLE PROGRAM. OKAY. SO WE'RE GONNA SPEND $500,000 OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND TO KEEP BCYCLE FLOATING UNTIL METRO CAN TAKE OVER. YES, WE ARE, WE ARE APPROPRIATING $500 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND. 500,000, 500,000. SO THAT THE END USER PEOPLE WHO ARE USING BCYCLE, THE CUSTOMERS HOUSTONIANS AND OUR VISITORS, THAT THEY, UH, DON'T LOSE THE BENEFIT OF THE SERVICE. THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAIN IMPETUS BEHIND THIS, IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO USE THE SERVICE AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO, TO LOSE THE BENEFIT OF THE SERVICE. SO WE ARE STANDING UP ON PROVIDING TRANSITIONARY FUNDING FOR THE 60 STATIONS, UH, THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING, UH, THAT WILL TAKE THEM INTO THE FIRST PART OF NEXT YEAR, UH, TO ALLOW METRO THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO STAND UP ITS OWN OPERATION. SO IT'S TEMPORARY, IT'S TRANSITION FUNDING. OKAY. SO IN SHORT, WE'RE GOING TO PAY $500,000 TO A BUSINESS IN HOUSTON THAT HAS REDUCED ITS, UH, OPERATING NETWORK, UM, WHO HAS, UH, DOWNSIZED THE NETWORK. THERE'S ELIMINATING POSITIONS AND, UH, IN ORDER TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE, THEY'VE INCREASED THEIR [03:45:01] USER FEES AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO, TO FLOAT THEM THROUGH THE REST OF THIS TRANSITION. UM, NO, I I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE IT THAT WAY. I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING, UH, THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO CONTINUE THESE 60 STATIONS AND WE'LL WORK OUT THE TERMS. AND I WILL ASSIGN THIS TO, UH, MARGARET WALLACE BROWN OF, UH, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, UH, TO NEGOTIATE WITH CY ON THE BEST WAY TO STAND, TO, TO STAND UP THESE ADDIT, THESE 60 STATIONS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST, UM, AS METRO WORKS TO STAND UP ITS OWN PROGRAM. WELL, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR POSITION ON THAT, BUT IN MY VIEW, IT APPARENTLY WE'RE INVESTING IN A FAILING CORPORATION. SO I'M GONNA VOTE NOW ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MEEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I WENT TO THE METRO BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK AND SPOKE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING THAT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING THAT THEY HAD IN SUPPORT OF, UH, METRO'S, UH, PLAN TO, UH, EVENTUALLY, UH, PROVIDE A BIKE SHARE PROGRAM. UH, MY CONCERN IS THAT, UH, BIKE USING BIKE SHARE, OF COURSE HAD 150 STATIONS THAT WERE IN OPERATION. UH, NOW THEY'RE COMING, WE'RE COMING DOWN TO 60. I UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T REALLY COME BACK WITH 150. UH, BUT THEN IT STATES HERE THAT METRO, UM, OPERATIONS IN 2024, WE WILL HAVE 20 BIKE STATIONS. DO YOU KNOW, MAYOR, IF THEY'RE PLANNING TO INCREASE THAT, I'M ASSUMING IN THE FUTURE SUBSTANTIALLY THEY'RE RAMPING UP. OKAY, GREAT. 'CAUSE I KNOW BACK UNDER THE PARKER ADMINISTRATION, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION HERE AND IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER IN REGARDS TO DOCKLESS BIKE COMPANIES THAT WERE, IN MY OPINION, THREATENING TO COME TO HOUSTON . UH, BECAUSE IF YOU GO TO OTHER CITIES AND YOU SEE THESE DOCKLESS BIKES JUST LAYING ON THE SIDEWALKS, RIGHT? THANK YOU. UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON IS A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN. UH, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE, WE, WE FOUGHT AGAINST THE DOCKLESS BIKES, OTHERWISE WE WOULD'VE HAD ALL THESE BIKES. I AGREE. JUST HANGING OUT. UH, DALLAS, UH, UH, HAS A DOCKLESS BIKES THAT THEY FIND IN THE RIVER THERE IN DALLAS THAT PEOPLE JUST GO AND JUST THROW 'EM IN THE RIVER. UH, SO I MEAN, WE, WE NEED SOMETHING, WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT OUR, OUR HOUSTONIANS, OUR VISITORS, UH, I KNOW LOS ANGELES METRO BIKE SHARE ON THEIR WEBSITE. SOMEONE CAN GO ONTO THEIR WEBSITE, REGISTER THEIR TRANSIT CARD, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO RIDE THE METRO BIKES IN, IN, IN, IN LA AS WELL AS USING THAT TRANSIT CAR CARD, UH, FOR, UH, GOING ON TO, UH, THEIR, THEIR METRO BUSES AND THEIR METRO TRAINS. UH, SO I'M HOPING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HOUSTON METRO, UH, WILL LOOK AT DOING AS WELL TO MAKE IT EASIER, UH, FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS BIKE SHARE PROGRAM. UH, BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS, WHEN I SPOKE LAST WEEK AT THE METRO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UH, AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE STARTING, SO I WAS ASKING IF THEY COULD FOCUS, OF COURSE, IN DOWNTOWN DUE, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE IN DOWNTOWN AND YOU HAVE VISITORS AND THEY COME TO DOWNTOWN, SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SOME BIKE STATIONS HERE IN DOWNTOWN. AND THEN ALSO, UH, AT, UH, ALONG THE, UM, TRANSIT STOPS THAT TAKE YOU TO THE BAYOU GREENWAYS TO MEMORIAL PARK, TO HERMAN PARK, TO BUFFALO BAYOU PARK. UH, SO THAT WAY INDIVIDUALS CAN ACTUALLY TAKE METRO BUS, THE METRO FUTURE, BRT, THE METRO RAIL LINE, HAVE CONNECTIONS TO ACTUALLY GO AND ENJOY A DAY IN THE BAYOU GREENWAYS MEMORIAL PARK, HERMAN PARK, AND BUFFALO BAYOU PARK. UH, SO, UH, THEY WERE OPEN TO THE IDEA, AND I'M HOPING HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL BE DOING. BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS, MAYOR. I KNOW THAT, THAT, THAT THAT WAS BEEN VERY SHAMEFUL IF, IF WE WOULD'VE LOST THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THERE'S TWO THINGS I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE OF WITH THIS. ITEM ONE, UM, THERE'S THE BRIDGE FUNDING, UH, WHICH I'LL SPEAK TO IN A MOMENT, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THIS THAT ALLOWS SOME OF US THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BIKE STATIONS IN OUR DISTRICTS TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE THAT PAYMENT OVER TO, UM, B CYCLE. IT HAD BEEN A LONGSTANDING ITEM. SO, UH, I BELIEVE FOR DISTRICT I AND DISTRICT C THROUGH THIS CONTRACT, WE CAN FINALLY GET THOSE DOLLARS OVER. UH, MAYOR, MY MY HOPE WITH THIS, I WAS NOT, UM, I APPRECIATE METRO STEPPING IN AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A, UH, VASTLY LARGER NETWORK ONCE THEY GET UP AND RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME. THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THIS, UM, ARE CONCERNING TO ME. AND I WANNA THANK, UH, JENNIFER OSLAN AND ANDY AND YOUR TEAM FOR REALLY STEPPING IN TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HAD. BECAUSE AGAIN, [03:50:01] YOU TALK ABOUT THE END USER, AND THOSE ARE OUR RESIDENTS. AND IN DISTRICT CI WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM, UM, BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY THAT ARE DESPERATE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BIKES AGAIN. SO WHILE IT'S NOT IDEAL THAT THIS CITY IS HAVING TO PUT SOME OF THIS MONEY FORWARD, THE POINT IS THAT RESIDENTS NEED ACCESS TO THESE BIKES. UH, THE ONE, UH, THING I WOULD ASK MAYOR IS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE DISTRICT C HAS ALLOCATED A LOCATION, UM, IN GREATER MEYERLAND ALONG THE TRAIL. THAT'S WHAT THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ACCESS TO THAT OPERATION. BUT THE OTHER LOCATION THAT WE'RE HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS STUDENTS AT RICE UNIVERSITY, THEY HAVE MULTIPLE STATIONS ON THEIR CAMPUS, ALL I BELIEVE, BUT ONE, IF NOT ALL OF THEM, ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. THOSE STUDENTS RELY ON THOSE BIKES TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. UH, SO I, I JUST WANNA PUT, I WANNA VOCALLY SAY, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF, WHILE I DON'T HAVE THE LIST, AND NO ONE COULD CONFIRM FOR ME, WHICH ONES WILL BE STOOD UP WITH THIS FUNDING, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THIS AND MY REQUEST, THAT AT LEAST SOME ON RICE UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS BE OPENED WITH THIS FUNDING. THANK YOU. YES, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S AS ASSERTION ABOUT THIS ITEM. MY POSITION IS THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF BCYCLE IS IN GRAVE JEOPARDY. THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT. WHILE THE DEMAND FOR BIKES IS GONNA INCREASE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, NOBODY LIKES RIDING BIKES IN THE SUMMERTIME, AT LEAST I DON'T. UM, THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE PICKING UP. THIS ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO ACCESS THE BIKE VIA CREDIT CARDS AND PAY FOR IT. IT ALSO ALLOWS 'EM TO RETURN 'EM TO THE DOCKING STATIONS. SO WE HAVE 150 STATIONS WE STARTED WITH BECAUSE OF THEIR FINANCIAL STABILITY, WE'RE DOWN THE 60, AND THIS IS A STOP GAP THAT GETS US TO JULY 1ST, 2024 WHEN METRO WILL TAKE IT OVER. SO I'M GONNA ASK EVERYBODY ENVISION THIS. THE DOCKING STATIONS ARE DEFUNCT. NOBODY CAN ACCESS BIKES. PEOPLE ARE GONNA WALK UP AND GRAB THE BIKES. THEY'RE GONNA RIDE 'EM ALL OVER THE CITY. THEY'RE GONNA DISPOSE 'EM ANYWHERE. AS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGO SAID, THANK GOD WE'RE NOT AUSTIN, WHERE THEY LEAVING SCOOTERS AND BIKES ALL OVER THE CITY. WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE FOLKS BRING 'EM BACK TO THE DOCKING STATIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT ACCESSED ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES. THIS IS A STOP GAP THAT GETS US TO WHERE WE NEED, AND METRO TAKES IT OVER. IT'S THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF A COMPANY WHO MAY NOT BE HERE IN A MONTH FROM NOW. AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT HERE, PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE COMPLAINING ABOUT, ABOUT BIKES ALL OVER THE CITY THAT ARE LAYING AROUND. AND IT'S THEN GONNA BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK 'EM UP. SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STOP GAP. WHILE WE DON'T LIKE SPENDING, IT'S ACTUALLY $540,000 OF WHICH SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER, CDSF. AND WHILE WE DON'T LIKE SPENDING MONEY ON THESE TYPES OF THINGS, WE ALSO DON'T LIKE BIKES LITTERING ALL OVER OUR CITY, WHICH THIS WILL BECOME IF WE DON'T MAKE THIS STOP GAP. AND THEN WE'LL HEAR A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. COUNCIL MEMBER, PAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO WHEN WE WERE JUST ALLOWING BCYCLE TO USE THE RIGHT OF WAYS TO OPERATE, I UNDERSTOOD WHY WE WERE CHARGING THE END USER A FEE FOR THIS. BUT IF WE'RE PUTTING IN $500,000 OF, YOU KNOW, THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED WHY WE'RE STILL GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO THEN ALSO CHARGE A FEE FOR PEOPLE TO USE THE BIKES. I MEAN, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IF THIS IS JUST FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE GOAL IS FOR PEOPLE TO USE THE BIKES, THIS MONEY SHOULD SUPPLEMENT THAT TO JUST ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THE BIKES. I MEAN, WE COULD BUY LIKE 5,000 BIKES FOR THAT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AND JUST LET PEOPLE USE THE BIKES. SO IF THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO LET PEOPLE RIDE BIKES FOR A, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY NEED IT FOR TRANSPORTATION. I'M JUST CONFUSED WHY WE'RE USING TAX DOLLARS TO SUPPLEMENT THIS AND THEN NOT ALLOWING THEM TO JUST USE THE BIKES, RIGHT? I THINK WE HAVE FACTORED IN WITH THE MONEY THAT THEY ARE BRINGING IN. AND THEN WE ARE, WE ARE SUPPLEMENTING WHAT IS NEEDED TO TRANSITION INTO NEXT YEAR UNTIL METRO CAN STAND UP AS ITS PROGRAM. UM, MY FOCUS IS ON THE END USE OF THE CUSTOMER, THE HOUSTONIAN, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VISITING OUR CITY. UH, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT THEY, THEY LIKE TO HAVE. NOW THERE MAY BE A, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T RIDE BIKES AND THAT'S FINE, BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WHO DO. AND IT IS A SERVICE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD OFFER. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE MODEL THAT WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IS FALLING FLAT. AND SO THE QUESTION IS, UH, UH, THIS PROVIDES THE NECESSARY, WHAT DO YOU USE? BRIDGE FUNDING? TRANSITION FUNDING FOR METRO TO STAND UP, UH, [03:55:01] WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER SYSTEM, MORE ROBUST. UH, BUT SO THAT THE END USER, THE HOUSTONIAN, THE PERSON OUT THERE DOESN'T LOSE OUT. BUT WE HAVE FACTORED IN THE DOLLARS THAT'S COMING IN, SUPPLEMENTING WHAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO, UH, UH, BUY ADDITIONAL TIME FOR METRO TO STAND UP. SO WE FACTOR THAT IN. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I SUPPORT THIS ITEM, ALTHOUGH, UH, DISTRICT F HAS NO, UH, BIKE SHARE FOOTPRINT ON THE WEST SIDE. UM, BUT I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN INSTRUCT METRO TO SHARE WITH US THEIR PLANS ON THE ACQUISITION AND THE EXPANSION. OKAY. UM, WHAT COMES TO MIND IMMEDIATELY IS THE BISSONNET PROJECT, THAT $25 MILLION FUNDING, AND IT WOULD BE VERY INNOVATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE FOR US TO THEN INSTALL THE BIKE SHARE ALONG THE BISSONNET TRACK THROUGH HILLCROFT, UM, TO EN ENCOURAGE THE BIKE SHARE PROGRAM WALKABILITY SIDEWALK, SINCE WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION ON THE FRONT END. ABSOLUTELY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I GUESS I, I'M A LITTLE LOST ON THIS ITEM. AS, AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY AS WELL. WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE END USER. IS THE END USER ACTUALLY USING THE BIKES? YES. YES. OH, THEY ARE. SO WHY, WHY IS THE COMPANY FAILING? YEAH, THE COST. WHY IS THE COST? IT MAY BE THE, IT MAY BE THE, THE MODEL THAT THEY HAVE SET UP. OKAY. IT MAY BE THE BUSINESS PLAN THAT THEY HAVE SET UP. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S WHY FROM MY POINT OF VIEW AND FROM THE CITY'S POINT OF VIEW, METRO WOULD BE THE BETTER ENTITY TO OPERATE THIS INITIATIVE, THIS PROGRAM. AND SO WE ARE NOT TRYING TO, UM, STAND UP THIS EXISTING MODEL, SO TO SPEAK. THE ONLY THING WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS PROVIDE BRIDGE FUNDING, STOP GAP FUNDING, TRANSITION FUNDING, UH, TO ENABLE METRO TO STAND UP THEIR PROGRAM. AND SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO UTILIZE THESE BANKS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO UTILIZE, UH, THESE BANKS, THAT THEY DON'T LOSE THE BENEFIT OF THE SERVICE. THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING. DO, DO WE KNOW WHAT BCYCLE, WHILE THEIR, WHILE THEIR, UH, STRATEGY FAILED, IF THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE BIKES, BUT THEY HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN DOCKING STATIONS, AND I CAN, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT. UH, THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SPEAK TO IS THAT CURRENTLY THERE ARE 60 STATIONS THAT ARE OPERATING, UH, THAT THERE ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE PUT IN MONEY, UH, THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, UM, BENEFIT FUND AND, UH, DISTRICT FUND. AND SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS SIMPLY, UH, STANDING UP THIS OPERATION, UH, UH, AND GIVING METRO TIME TO STAND UP THEIR OPERATION, WHICH I BELIEVE WILL BE MORE ROBUST. IT'LL COVER MUCH MORE GROUND, AND IT'LL BE A MUCH BETTER MODEL. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE DOING. I'M GONNA FOLLOW YOUR LEAD ON THIS ONE. ALRIGHT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COINCIDENTALLY, A COUPLE OF MY CONSTITUENTS DID EXPRESS SOME CONCERN TO ME ABOUT ENDING THE BIKE SHELL PROGRAM. SO THIS IS REALLY ON POINT. AND I ALSO WANT TO GO ON RECORD FOR GIVING A PRO BIKE, UH, MESSAGE TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I AM PRO BIKE, UH, . NO, YOU'RE NOT. I'LL CONCLUDE ON THAT COMMENT. WELL, NO, AND I WANNA THANK METRO AS WELL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GIVE US, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH NOT JUST BIKE CHEER, BUT INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT CERTAINLY I'M GONNA CLOSE OUT MY COMMENTS. UH, YES, I AM PRO BIKE. THANK YOU. I WANT, I TOO NEED A DRINK OF WATER. I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WHERE YOU URGED ME TO PUT THIS ITEM, UH, , WHERE YOU URGE ME TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ, EXCUSE ME, WHERE YOU URGED ME TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. YES. SO I WANT, I WANT, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS, AS I SAID LAST WEEK, THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT MOVE. UM, I DON'T, I, I KNOW METRO'S TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR PROGRAM AND WE'RE DOING THE STOCK THAT FUNDING, BUT I DON'T WANNA GIVE UP ON THE IDEA OF A CORPORATE SPONSOR FOR THESE AS MANY CITIES HAVE DONE. UM, YOU KNOW, I, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE, IF METRO'S TALKING TO PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DON'T, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL ON THAT AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THEY GREW REALLY FAST AND THE NUMBERS WEREN'T RIGHT. BUT I, I REALLY DON'T WANNA GIVE UP THE CITY OR METRO OR ANYBODY TO GIVE UP ON CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP. I KNOW WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS, [04:00:01] IT WAS ONE OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES I THINK STARTED, THEY FUNDED BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OR WHATEVER, FUNDED THE VERY FIRST ONES. UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF A NATURAL FIT WITH THE, BUT, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM. I THINK THERE'S ROOM, I MEAN, CITY BIKES IN NEW YORK, I MEAN, EVERYBODY RIDES A CITY BIKE. I MEAN, MEAN THERE'S A, THERE I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT EFFORT STILL, STILL AT PLAY. UH, I DON'T WANNA GIVE UP ON THAT. AND ALSO, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE CLOSED UP STATIONS. I KNOW IT'S A GRADUAL THING AND WE DON'T PROBABLY KNOW THE ANSWERS, BUT THE CLOSED DOWN STATIONS ARE KIND OF AN EYESORE AND THEY'RE KIND OF A SAD STATEMENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN RIGHT BY PROJECT ROW HOUSE, THERE'S BIG, YOU KNOW, BLACK TAPE AROUND IT IN SOME AREAS OF TOWN, AND IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE, WOW, THIS IS SAD. SO IS THERE A PLAN? I MEAN, IF IF THEY DON'T COME BACK ONLINE, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS? I MEAN, DO WE DIG THEM UP? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT'S THE STORY THAT'S A PART OF, THAT'S A PART OF MY CHARGE TO MARGARET WALLACE BROWN WITH PLANNING IS TO PUT FORTH, UM, THE NECESSARY PROCESS TO DECOMMISSION, UM, THESE STATIONS THAT ARE NOT YET, THAT ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A PART, THAT'S A PART OF IT. UM, 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK. OKAY. AND CAN YOU SPEAK AT ALL TO THE AND EFFORTS WITH, TO, TO GET CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP AND ALL AND, AND I'M PERSONALLY, I'M OPEN TO ALL OF THAT. OKAY. UM, I THINK THIS PROVIDES SOME, UM, SOME BRIDGE FUNDING FOR WHETHER IT'S THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR OTHERS WHO MAY WANT TO COME IN AND HAVE SOME GOOD IDEAS. OKAY, GREAT. UH, YOU KNOW, METRO WILL HAVE THIS SYSTEM. UH, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, IF, IF, IF THEY'RE MEMBERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO WANT TO JOIN IN SPONSOR, COME UP WITH GOOD IDEAS, BETTER BUSINESS MODEL, THEN UH, ALL THE MORE, THE BETTER. SO, SO WILL THERE BE LIKE TWO SYSTEMS FOR A WHILE, THE METRO SYSTEM AND, AND THIS THIS SYSTEM? OR ARE, ARE WE TRYING TO MERGE 'EM? OR, WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IS, IS JUST PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE ARE 60 STATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING. RIGHT. IT'S TO PROVIDE THE TRANSITIONARY FI TRANSITION FUNDING TO GET US INTO NEXT YEAR. OKAY. UH, AND THEN WHATEVER HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UH, METRO IS CERTAINLY IS ONE OPTION, BUT THERE COULD BE OTHERS AS WELL. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CERTAINLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, KOSH MAYOR, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE BIKE SHERIFF HOUSTON COULD TELL US EXACTLY WHO'S USING THESE BIKES AND WHERE THEY LIVE. IN OTHER WORDS, I, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT NECESSARILY ANYBODY'S NAME, BUT WE, IT'D BE GOOD TO KNOW, ARE THESE HOUSTONIANS USING THE BIKES PRIMARILY? ARE THESE VISITORS FROM OTHER CITIES? YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW THAT AND, AND WHO ARE WE PROVIDING THIS SERVICE FOR? SOME, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, THE MODEL FAILED. E EITHER WE, THEY'RE NOT CHARGING ENOUGH OR, OR THIS, OR, OR THERE'S SOME PROBLEM HERE IF IT FAILED. SO I, I JUST BELIEVE THAT, UH, PUTTING OUR MONEY INTO A FAILED SYSTEM, AND I UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID ABOUT HAVING TO GO PICK UP THESE BIKES. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER, UH, I REMEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER LASSETER HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH, WITH, UH, WITH GROCERY BASKETS IN HIS DISTRICT AND, AND PICKING THEM UP, HAVING SHOPPING CART SHOPPING CARTS. AND SO, UM, I, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW I CAN SUPPORT IT. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANTED TO, UM, JUST ALSO BRING UP THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AS WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM. I, I REMEMBER RECENTLY EVOLV, UM, PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING, RIGHT? FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING WE HAVE, I KNOW TS 25 IS USING THE, UH, $10,000 THAT THEY RECEIVED IN GRANT FUNDING FOR, UM, MERGING WITH WHAT METRO WILL DO FOR, UM, B CYCLE. SO THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, GROUPS TO PARTICIPATE TO KEEP THESE, UM, B CYCLES OR ELECTRIC BIKES. UM, WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO MOVE TO IN, IN OUR DISTRICT IS TO PUT ONLINE SOME ELECTRIC BIKES THAT PEOPLE CAN, CAN UTILIZE AS WELL. SO I, I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THERE ARE SOME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE PURSUING TO KEEP THIS GOING. THANKS. UM, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. MAYOR, VERY BRIEFLY. I THINK THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF GOOD POINTS MADE AROUND THE HORSESHOE TODAY. AND IF IN WORKING WITH, [04:05:01] UH, DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN, IF YOU COULD ENCOURAGE HER TO SHARE WITH US SOME OF THOSE DEMOGRAPHIC NUMBERS. I'D LOVE TO SEE A MAP, YOU KNOW, OF THE 60, WHERE THE 20 ARE THAT WE'RE KEEPING, YOU KNOW, TO I THINK, UH, VICE CHAIR OF THE TTI COMMITTEE TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S POINT, IF WE CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING BE DOING TO DECOMMISSION THESE WITHOUT HAVING AN UNSIGHTLY MESS AROUND TOWN, ABSOLUTELY. IT'D BE BE REALLY HELPFUL. AND SOME OF OUR NEWSLETTERS CAN HELP SUPPORT THE TRANSITION. LAST POINT, THE, UH, HOUSTON CHRONICLE DID HAVE A REALLY GOOD ARTICLE FROM SOME OF THE, UH, LEADERS OF, UM, THE BIKE SHARE PROGRAM, JAMES YAMA IN PARTICULAR, WHO, WHO TALKED ABOUT, UH, HOW SAD IT WAS FOR THEM TO SEE IT FAIL AND SOME OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO HELP TRANSITION THIS. SO I THINK THERE'S GOOD INTENTIONS. WE JUST NEED TO BET, GET BETTER ON THE MODEL OF DELIVERY. I GREAT. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, STATIONS THAT HAVE SHRINK WRAP AROUND THEM, AGAIN, THAT'S 150 STATIONS THAT THE B CYCLE HAS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, ONE ISSUE WAS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND MYSELF AND I GUESS SOME OTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT HERE NOW, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WERE PUSHING TO GET B CYCLES INTO OUR DISTRICT. WE WERE PUSHING, SO TO KEEP US HAPPY, THEY PUT 'EM IN OUR DISTRICTS. SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOING WAY OUT FROM, FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO, SO, UH, THAT'S, BUT IN REGARDS TO, IS IT A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM REGARDING RIDERSHIP? ACCORDING TO THE CHRONICLE, THERE'S WHAT WAS OVER 300,000 RIDERS LAST YEAR. OVER 300,000 RIDERS. SO IN REGARDS TO, IS IT SUCCESSFUL FOR RIDERS? YES. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, YOU, OF COURSE YOU HAD COVID THAT HIT, UH, AND, UH, WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DIDN'T RAISE THE RATES LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE. UH, BUT AGAIN, UH, IN REGARDS TO THESE STATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE, SHRINK WRAP, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BE PATIENT BECAUSE WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE LET THIS GROW WITH METRO, UH, 'CAUSE THERE'S NO SENSE REMOVING THEM. AND THEN METRO COMES BACK AND HAVING TO PUT A STATION HERE WHERE WE TOOK OUT A STATION. UH, SO WE NEED TO JUST BE PATIENT. UH, I KNOW LOS ANGELES METRO, AGAIN, HAS A SUCCESSFUL BIKE SHARE PROGRAM. AND I'M HOPING METRO HOUSTON, UH, IS, UH, GOING TO LOOK AT, UH, THE METRO LA UH, TO SEE HOW THEIR BIKE SHARE PROGRAM WORKS. UH, BUT IT IS A SUCCESS, A SU SUCCESSFUL, SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IN REGARDS TO RIDERSHIP. UH, SINCE THERE'S BEEN OVER, IT WAS REPORTED OVER 300 RIDERS LAST YEAR. THANKS. THANK YOU. THE LAST SPEAKER WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. WELL, THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CITY MAYOR IS THEY CAN'T START WITHOUT YOU. UM, , STATE OF THE CITY IS THAT THEY CAN'T START WITHOUT, I, I JUST WANTED TO RE-EMPHASIZE 'CAUSE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE OPINED, YOU KNOW, WELL, WHERE ARE THEY SUCCESSFUL AND WHERE ARE THEY NOT? AND I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHEREVER WE HAVE PUT THEM, AND AT LEAST IN DISTRICT C, THE STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO BUILD OUT FROM WHAT BCYCLE HAS DONE. AND THEN YOU PUT THE NEXT STATION A LITTLE FARTHER OUT INTO THE SUBURBS AND A LITTLE FARTHER OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, ALONG THE BRAISED BAYOU TRAIL. UM, BUT AGAIN, WITHOUT THIS FUNDING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ALMOST LIKE MAYOR STOPPING THE, THE BLEEDING BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE RESIDENTS THAT NEED ACCESS. AND IT'S THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE USING THIS AND ASKING FOR US TO DO THIS, ASKING FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME TYPE OF BIKE SHARE, UM, PROGRAM IS OPERATIONAL UNTIL METRO CAN COME IN AND STAND UP, UH, A LARGE OPERATION. SO AGAIN, I KNOW IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR METRO. I THINK THE URGENCY IS CLEAR. UH, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO CLEAR HOW NEEDED THIS IS IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING, BECAUSE RESIDENTS ARE USING THEM, OUR STUDENTS ARE USING THEM. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUITY IN MAKING SURE THEY'RE THROUGHOUT THE DIS UH, THE CITY, NOT JUST THE DISTRICT, IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. UH, PREPARE TO PREPARE TO VOTE IN FAVOR. OPPOSED HUFFMAN? NO, I'M SORRY. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN KNOX KUMAR AND PAC VOTING NO, THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE SEEN TO VOTE ON ITEM 32. DISCUSSION ON 32 TAG TO BEEN TAGGED BY 32 BY, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMPLE. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. IT'S NEED VOTE CAYMAN TAG. ALRIGHT, 33. BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 35. DISCUSSION ON ITEM 35 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL [04:10:01] MEMBER JACKSON. ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 42. DISCUSSION ON 42. DISCUSSION ON 42, COUNCILMAN KNOX ON 42. I'M GONNA MAKE MY USUAL OBJECTION TO THIS AS A, AS A INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE DRAINAGE FEE. I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 42? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? NO SHOULD. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. COUNCIL MEMBER KUBAN VOTING NO. ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 40, BE AT LARGE. NEXT ITEM. ITEM [NON CONSENT AGENDA - NUMBERING] 44 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE BINET DEPARTMENT'S LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. KAT, A MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE, UM, FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE FOURTH, 2023 AT 9:00 AM SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON THE HEARING DATE IN DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE. I'M 44. ITEM 44 IS A, I MEAN, 45 IS A SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR TR PARK CASTEX. TATU MOVED TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2023. SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU SEE THE VOTE ITEM 46, AND I BELIEVE THERE IS AN AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, WITH AN AMENDMENT ON 46. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS A, IS THE CIRCULATION OF A TABLE AMENDMENT. IT'S FOR AGENDA ITEM 46 OF THIS WEEK, WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION POINT WE'VE HAD FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THIS IS, UH, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD FROM DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN, A DISCUSSION THAT HAS ENDED WITH A PROPOSAL MAYOR. AND IN THIS FORM BEFORE YOU, I THINK THIS IS HERE TO, UH, AMEND, UH, ITEM NUMBER 46. AND, UH, PLEASE ALLOW THIS TO BE PRESENTED AS AS A MOTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, YOU'VE ALL HAVE THE WRITTEN, UH, UM, THE AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU, YOU HAD PLENTY OF DISCUSSION ON YESTERDAY, UH, FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS AND SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT, WHETHER IT WAS HOUSTON, UH, REALTORS WAS THE GREATEST BUILDER ASSOCIATION, UH, THAT'S BEEN WORKED OUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SO HOPE YOU WILL, UH, UH, FAVORABLY MOVE ON THE, ON THE AMENDMENT. I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD COMPROMISE BETWEEN ALL THE D THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS. COUNCIL MEMBER, THOMAS, AFTER THE WHOLE ITEM. OKAY. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? ON THE AMENDMENT IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANT ON THE AMENDMENT. NOW WE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? NO. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER MCMAN. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN ON THE, ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS. AS A LOT OF THE FOCUS AND THE TESTIMONY AROUND THIS HAS FALLEN IN DISTRICT C, UH, AND THIS IMPACTS A LOT OF DISTRICT C RESIDENTS, IT WILL ALSO BE IMPACTING CITYWIDE. UM, BUT I FIRST AND FOREMOST MAYOR WANNA THANK GROUPS LIKE THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, HAR AND OTHERS FOR COMING TO THE TABLE AND FOR OUR CIVIC CLUBS AND DISTRICT C WHO HAVE, UM, ENGAGED ON THIS VERY HEAVILY. UH, NOT ONLY FROM THE BEGINNING, BUT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHAPTER, UH, THAT THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS, BUT I PROMISED RESIDENTS I WOULD BRING UP, IS WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC REALM, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC REALM FOR WALKABILITY, FOR DRAINAGE, UH, FOR GREEN SPACES AND TREES. PART OF THE PUBLIC REALM IS ALSO OUR PUBLIC STREETS. AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN DISTRICT C IS THE CHALLENGE WITH ON-STREET PARKING WHEN YOU SEE INCREASED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD HAPPEN WHETHER OR NOT THIS MOVES THROUGH TODAY. AND SO I THINK THIS ADDS A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH I'LL ALSO MENTION. UM, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT STREETS AS A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WHEN WE HAVE INCREASED DEVELOPMENT AND WE HAVE SO MANY RESIDENTS PARKING ALONG THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY NARROW STREETS, TO THE POINT WHERE STREETS ARE TURNING ALMOST INTO ONE WAY OR WE DON'T YET HAVE SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE. SO FAMILIES ARE IN THE STREETS AND THEY'RE MORE SO IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE SO MANY CARS ARE LINING THE SIDES OF THE STREET. IT'S ALSO DETERIORATING OUR STREETS WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY CARS PARKING ON THEM. SO MY, UM, REQUEST, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT DOESN'T FALL TO PLANNING, SO IT WOULD NOT FALL WITHIN THE FOUR CORNERS OF THIS. UM, BUT MY, MY ASK AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE LOOK AT THIS WITH PUBLIC WORKS, UH, TO SEE WHAT RESOLUTIONS WE CAN GET. FOR EXAMPLE, [04:15:01] WHEN A STREET IS SO NARROW, CAN WE NOT HAVE, UM, LIMITS IN PLACE THAT LIMIT ON STREET PARKING, UH, FOR PURPOSES OF SAFETY? UH, SO I WOULD, I WOULD ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT C RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO REQUEST THAT WE LOOK AT THAT AND ADVOCATE FOR THAT. BUT I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT, UM, REACHED OUT TO US THAT I SPOKE WITH PERSONALLY, INCLUDING A MOTHER THAT'S GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE RIGHT NOW AND MONTROSE. AND SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE AND STAY IN THE HOME WHERE SHE'S RESIDED, I BELIEVE, FOR DECADES IF WE DIDN'T OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS SO THAT SHE CAN BUILD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, UH, NOT A COMPLEX, BUT AN APARTMENT ABOVE HER GARAGE AND RENT IT OUT FOR ADDITIONAL INCOME. AND THIS, UH, AS A PACKAGE IS GOING TO OVERWHELMINGLY HELP RESIDENTS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE IN NEED. SO I PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK DONE ON THIS FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, FROM OUR RESIDENTS. UH, I'M LOOKING AT LIKE A WHOLE ROW OF PEOPLE. AND EVEN THAT, THOSE THAT AREN'T HERE, THERE'S DOZENS OTHERS THAT HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AND MONTHS ON THIS. UM, BUT MAYOR, AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC STREETS. SO MY ASK IS, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS RIGHT NOW, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT, UM, HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY OF OUR STREETS, ESPECIALLY NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, CAN BE PROTECTED AS WELL. ALRIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN. I'M NOT IN POSITION TO SPEAK TO IT TODAY, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOTED AND, AND I'M SURE PUBLIC WORKS WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I, I LASTLY, DID WANNA ALSO, UM, RECOGNIZE THE, UM, ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. I KNOW WE HAVE THIS AMENDMENT IN THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR FRONT LOADING, UM, BUT, UH, HOMES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR. UM, BUT WE ALSO GOT SOME ADDITIONAL HEADWAY ON ALLEYWAYS, AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY YOU MAYOR, BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING IN DISTRICT C THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THAT LANGUAGE WILL GO A LONG WAY TO MAKING SURE THE CHALLENGES IN DISTRICT C UM, AREN'T FELT IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS BEYOND THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KBA. MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I HEARD TAMARA BELL COME, SHE SAYS THE CITIZENS, UH, THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE THE LOSERS. AND, UH, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT. YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOMETHING HERE THAT, THAT WE DON'T SEE? SHE FELT LIKE THIS IS PREMATURE. AND SO, UH, UH, THAT, THAT'S A CONCERN TO ME. YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ON THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT WE DO THAT MAY HAPPEN WHEN YOU PASS A, AN ORDINANCE OF BILL A LAW. SO JUST WANT TO CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS, YOU ARE STILL WAITING AFTER. OKAY, POLLARD, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE, UH, THAT THERE WAS A, A LETTER FROM, FROM THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, UH, UH, IN FRONT OF OUR DESK TODAY. AND IT JUST SHOWS COMPROMISE. AND I THINK THAT, UH, WHENEVER THERE ARE DIFFERING OPINIONS OR PERSPECTIVES, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE ALL VOICES HEARD. I WANT TO THANK YOU MAYOR AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING OPEN TO SOME OF THE INDUSTRY, UH, THOUGHTS. I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE INDUSTRY FOR BEING OPEN TO SOME OF THE, UH, THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE ADMINISTRATION. AND I THINK WHEN YOU CAN COME TOGETHER, YOU MAY NOT GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT, UH, BUT IT PUSHES THE BALL FORWARD. AND I THINK ANYTIME THAT THERE IS, UH, SO MUCH CONTROVERSY AND, AND, AND, AND THE PERSPECTIVES CAN'T BE FOUND TO HAVE A, UH, UH, A MIDDLE GROUND, THEN IT BECOMES BAD POLICY AND BAD BUSINESS. BUT WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF COMPROMISE AND HAVE EVERYONE'S VOICE HEARD, I THINK THAT TURNS INTO GOOD POLICY. SO, UH, GLAD TO SEE, UH, ALL THE HARD WORK FROM BOTH SIDES PAID OFF AND, UH, GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO THIS POINT. SO, THANK YOU MAYOR CONGRESS MEMBER EVAN SHA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M ALSO GLAD TO GET, UH, COMMENTS AND LETTERS FROM STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 67. I, I ALSO AM NOT CLEAR ON WHAT MS. BELL WAS SPEAKING OF, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN SHE SPEAKS, SHE TALKS SO FAST THAT A LOT OF TIMES I'M, I'M REALLY NOT ABLE TO GRASP. BUT CERTAINLY I HAVE A, A HIGH REGARD FOR HER AND RESPECT FOR HER POSITION. BUT, UH, I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE WORDS OF ASHLEY TURNER ABOUT PLANNING THE CITY FOR PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE AND NOT FOR MYSELF. AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUES. I THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT SITUATION. WE, WE LISTENED TO STAKEHOLDERS, WE LISTENED TO COMMUNITY, WE LISTENED, UM, AND, AND EVERYONE WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM AS WELL. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, DANNY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM 14, [04:20:01] SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER KASH 40, NO ITEM PASSES 46 AS AMENDED. LET ME JUST, UM, LEMME JUST, UM, UH, THANK A FEW PEOPLE, UH, MARTY, UH, STEIN, THANK YOU IN PLANNING, UH, TO MARGARET WALLACE BROWN AND HER ENTIRE TEAM. UH, LET ME THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT IN ON THIS ITEM, UH, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AND THIS WAS A, THIS WAS A DIFFICULT ITEM. IT'S VERY PART IMPORTANT, AND I THINK IT WILL MAKE A TRANSFORMATIONAL DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET TO THIS POINT. UH, I WANT TO THANK THE GREATEST HOUSTON BUILDERS, UM, BECAUSE, UH, UH, TROY AND, AND OTHERS CAME TO THE TABLE. THEY WERE VERY, OH, THAT'S TROY. TROY. LET ME, LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU. UM, 'CAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, I WILL SAY, UH, WITH YOUR INVOLVEMENT, IT HELPED TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. UH, AND SO I APPRECIATE IT. I MEAN, YOU ALL HAD YOUR, LOOKED AT IT FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW, UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU LOOKED AT IT FROM A, A OVERALL POINT OF VIEW AND, UM, Y'ALL CAME TO THE TABLE IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT, THAT HELPED TO MAKE THE BREAKTHROUGH. SO I CANNOT, I CANNOT THANK YOU AND GREAT HOUSTON BUILDERS ENOUGH TO HR, HAR, UH, AMY. OH, WES, WHERE'S AMY? BY WAY IS AMY HERE? NO. OH, PLEASE GIVE MY REGARDS TO AMY. OKAY. UH, AND THEN TO THE HOUSTON AREA REALTORS, LET ME THANK, LET ME THANK THEM, UH, FOR THEIR, FOR WEIGHING IN, FOR STEPPING IN. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, I DON'T WANNA LEAVE ANYBODY OUT, UH, IN THIS, IN THIS EFFORT. SO LET ME THANK YOU FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. LET ME THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR WEIGHING IN, UH, BECAUSE THERE WERE THINGS GOING EVERYWHERE. UH, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH, UH, THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND HOW YOU GET THERE AND DRIVEWAY FRONT LOADING AND, UH, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND, UH, HEAT ISLANDS AND YOU NAME IT. UH, THERE WERE JUST A LOT OF, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WRAPPED UP INTO CHAPTER 42. OKAY. BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PRODUCT THAT HAS PASSED OUT WILL SUBSTANTIALLY BENEFIT, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE. SO I WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. UM, AND IT'S JUST, IT IS, IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW I DON'T CARE HOW LONG I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROCESS, HOW YOU CAN START OFF BEING LIKE THIS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ALL COME TO THE TABLE. UH, AND THAT JUST MEANS THAT, UH, PEOPLE WERE LISTENING TO EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF, UH, COMING AT ODDS. AND IT WASN'T MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. SO, AGAIN, LET ME THANK ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND I THINK IN THE END, IT ALL BENEFITS. UH, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THERE WON'T, THERE WON'T HAVE TO BE ADJUSTMENTS AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S A PART OF THE PROCESS. UH, AND TOMORROW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM IN 24 AND 2025 AND 2026 , YOU KNOW, TOMORROW. AND BILL WILL BE HERE. OKAY? UH, SO, UM, THAT'S JUST A PART OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER, THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. AND, UM, WE SHARE, UH, SIMILAR SENTIMENTS AROUND THIS. AND, UM, I THINK, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, ONE COMPONENT THAT TO ME WAS LOST WAS THE MISSING MIDDLE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING. AND SO WHAT WE VOTED AND APPROVED TODAY ALLOWS US TO HAVE TRANSFORMATIONAL HOUSING ITEM, HOUSING OPTIONS FOR VARIOUS LIFESTYLES AND INCOME LEVELS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TO YOUR POINT OF ENVISIONING A CITY OF THE FUTURE, UM, BECAUSE EVERYONE'S NOT INTERESTED IN A TRADITIONAL THREE AND A HALF, TWO BED, TWO BATHROOM GARAGE HOME IN THE CITY. AND SO THIS ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. I WANT TO THANK YOUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR THE VERY RIGOROUS WORK. UM, AND, UH, TROY, UH, TROY CAME READY TO PLAY BALL. HE WAS PLAYING BALL. AND SO JUST ANYONE CAN TAKE A PAGE OUT OF HIS BOOK IF THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOME WORK DONE AT CITY HALL. I WANNA APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. UM, CO BRADFORD ONCE SAID, UH, THAT I NEVER FORGOT THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS DIFFICULT, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, 'CAUSE IT FORCES US TO BE DELIBERATE IN HOW WE OFFER RESOLUTION. AND I THINK TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. IT'S, IT WAS DIFFICULT. I WAS LIKE, OVER CHAPTER 42, LIKE ALL OF YOU. UM, UM, BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU DO THIS TYPE OF WORK, IT YIELDS THIS TYPE OF, UM, UM, RESULT. SO THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HEAR, UM, UH, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES FROM COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY. AND I THINK WE WILL, THIS IS A, A DEFINITELY A RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK, UM, UH, MARETTE, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, BECAUSE IT WAS TROY THAT HAD THAT INITIAL, UH, CONVERSATION DIRECTLY WITH HER. MM-HMM . AND SO LET ME THANK, UM, MARETTE, UH, FOR HEARING ENGAGEMENT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UH, ANDY, I DON'T WANNA LEAVE OUT ANDY IN THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE LIVABLE PLACES ACTION COMMITTEE. 'CAUSE SONNY GAR, [04:25:01] WHO CAME UP HERE YESTERDAY WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE. SO I DO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK. UH, BUT A LOT WENT INTO THIS AND THERE'S A LOT THAT'S IN IT, UH, AND IT WILL UNFOLD AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT, UH, BUT, UH, I DO WANT TO SAY AGAIN, UM, MARTY, UH, 'CAUSE I READ YOU A LETTER, UH, WHERE WE SPOKE ABOUT, WHERE YOU SPOKE ABOUT, UH, THE HEAT ISLANDS THAT ARE BEING CREATED AND THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THEM. AND, UH, AND THEN I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, TROY, BECAUSE TROY, YOU UNDERSTOOD THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. AND IN MANY OF THESE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, THERE ARE, THERE'S MORE ROOM TO DO MORE THINGS. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ONE MODEL. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET THERE. SO THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. SO I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH OF THE COLLABORATION. OKAY? THAT'S WHAT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, WHETHER THERE'S COLLABORATION, YOU CAN GET THERE, OKAY? MM-HMM . SO IT, IT, IT DOES REQUIRE COLLABORATION. AND I THINK THIS ITEM, UH, DEMONSTRATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COLLABORATION. UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UM, SO ANYWAY, THANKS. THAT'S AN, UH, COUNCILMAN PLUMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ON RECORD, THANK, THANK THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH TROY, GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS, HAR, AND ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES, REALLY, REALLY, UM, WORKING TOGETHER. AND THIS, I WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK ALL OF YOU. THANKS. AND BILL BALDWIN. THANK YOU, SIR, VERY, VERY MUCH. I WANNA LOVE HIM OUT. ALRIGHT, THEN NEXT ITEM, ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 47. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON ON 47. UH, MAYOR, I GUESS NOW LET ME HOLD OFF DISCUSSION ON 47, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRAND 47. ITEM 48 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 48, WE ARE 9 48. COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILMAN PLUM, 48. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND FIRST OF ALL, I'M DEFINITELY SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. UH, THIS IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. FIFTH WARD WAS ONCE A REALLY VIBRANT COMMUNITY. AND NOW, UM, WE ARE HAVING TO RELOCATE OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE, UM, IRRESPONSIBILITY AND IN CONSIDERATENESS OF, OF, UM, OF OUR NEIGHBORS. UH, WE, YESTERDAY WE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY, UM, THEY OBVIOUSLY EXPRESSED THEIR GRATITUDE FOR THE DELAY. UM, JUST SO WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND I WANT TO LET MY COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW WE HAVE THREE PAGES OF QUESTIONS AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY, UM, LOOKING FORWARD, UM, TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND WITH ALL THE DIRECTORS, A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JACKSON, AND ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES, UM, TO, TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS SMOOTHLY. UM, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE, THE, THE TAG WAS THERE WAS BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT RELATED TO EXPENDITURES REGARDING RELOCATION AND THE WORDS LIKE AUTHORIZED AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURES. THEREFORE, UM, FOR THE PURPOSES SET OUT HEREIN, UM, THAT MATERIAL MENTIONS A PLAN. AND THAT'S WHAT THE RE RESIDENTS WERE, WERE, UM, CONCERNED ABOUT YESTERDAY. UH, MAYOR, I WANNA ASK YOU A QUESTION. UM, I KNOW THIS IS A FUND THAT WE'RE CREATING, BUT TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ONCE WE VOTE ON THIS, UM, THIS ITEM, DO YOU THINK THERE ARE GONNA BE ANY, UM, DIRECT, UH, CONTRACTS OR ANYTHING AGREEMENTS MADE, FORMAL AGREEMENTS MADE BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SPEAK WITH TO THE 41 RESIDENCES IS DIRECTLY AFFECTING TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE? OKAY. I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. SO, SO THERE ARE SOME STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE, LIKE THE LAND BANK, THE LAND TRUST. TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, DO YOU THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, UM, ARE, ARE WE GOING TO, UH, MAKE ANY THIRD PARTY AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE ENTITIES PRIOR TO THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT? UM, THE ASSIGNMENT OF CASEWORKERS AND THINGS OF THAT SUCH? WELL, LEMME JUST SAY THE HOUSTON LAND BANK AND THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY TRUST, THEY JUST WORK WITH US. WE DON'T ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH THEM. UH, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SAY THIS, UH, SOME YEAR AGO, UM, MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, UH, I ASKED, UM, CITY LEGAL TO GET INVOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE FIFTH WARD CANCER CLUSTER. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. UH, BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO PUT THE WEIGHT OF THE CITY BEHIND, UH, THE PEOPLE IN FIFTH WARD, THIS CANCER CLUSTER WHO HAD BEEN FIGHTING THIS ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. UM, AND PEOPLE WERE CONSTANTLY BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND DYING FROM CANCER. [04:30:01] AND THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN, AND, AND OF COURSE, THE, UM, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, UM, ASKING UP UNION SPECIFIC TO STEP UP AND ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY UP CONTINUES TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO CAUSATION, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG OUT THERE. UM, BUT IT DOES NOT NEGATE THE FACT THAT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, UH, HAS FOUND A HIGHER CONCENTRATION WITH PEOPLE FROM CANCER, UM, THAN ANY OTHER PARTS IN THIS, IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND CHILDREN DYING FROM CANCER. THOSE ARE REALITIES. THOSE ARE FACTS. THOSE ARE THE FACTS. UH, AND SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUP, UH, CHALLENGE UP AND EPA HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED, UH, AND HAS ORDERED UP TO ENGAGE IN TESTING UNDER THEIR, UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION. UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO, UH, UH, UH, WAGE THIS LEGAL BATTLE WITH UP, UH, THE SITUATION FOR PEOPLE IN THAT, IN THIS AREA REMAINS SAFE. THE WORST THING YOU CAN, YOU, YOU CAN BE, UH, YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF, IS THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN A SITUATION THAT YOU VIEW AS VERY DANGEROUS AND TOXIC TO YOURSELF. AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO ANYTHING, BUT JUST SIT THERE. THAT'S THE WORST CONDITION YOU WOULD BE, THAT YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE LOVED ONES OR FAMILY MEMBERS OR CHILDREN THAT ARE DIAGNOSED AND DYING OF CANCER, AND YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE JUST STUCK WHILE YOU CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO GET THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS, OR IN THIS CASE, ASK UP TO STEP UP. AND SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT I DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER THE STRIKEFORCE TEAM MONTHS AGO, SEVERAL, I THINK YOU, YOU WERE THERE STANDING AND, UH, AND THEN DECIDED, UH, THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO THE EXTENT THAT WE FINANCIALLY CAN, TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH AN OPTION. CAN'T DO IT FOR EVERYBODY. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN SET UP THIS FUND THAT WILL ALLOW, UH, SOME PEOPLE AN OPTION IF THEY SO CHOOSE IS A VOLUNTARY OPTION. IT'S NOT FORCING ANYBODY OUT. IT'S A VOLUNTARY OPTION. AND I ASKED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND DIRECTOR, UH, COSTELLO AND OTHERS TO JOIN, AND WE WILL WORK OUT THE, UH, THE DETAILS OF THIS PLAN IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. BUT I WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR, UH, THAT THIS HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, NOT WANTING TO CREATE ANY CONFUSION OR UNNECESSARY CONFUSION AND NOT WANTING TO, UH, UH, COME OUT WITH THIS NOTION THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY, I MEAN, NOBODY HAS TO DO ANYTHING IF THEY SO DESIRE, BUT IT IS PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH AN OPTION IF THEY SO CHOOSE. THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE DOING TODAY, THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS CREATING THE FUND AND PUTTING MONEY IN THE FUND. THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING. THE REMAINING STEPS WILL BE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS CANCER CLUSTER. OKAY? AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO OUGHT TO BE UPSET BY WHAT WE ARE DOING IS LIKE UP, BECAUSE IT SHINES A LIGHT ON WHAT THEY ARE NOT DOING. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, AND VICE P TIM, YOU MAYBE TO SPEAK TO THIS, BUT I'VE BEEN ON TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES IN THE STATE THAT THIS IS BEING DONE BY THE CITY. OKAY? AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT THE CITY CAN BE PROUD OF IN PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH LIMITED MEANS WITH AN OPTION. AND WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING COLLECTIVELY IS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS THEY HAVE, BUT NOT IN A CON IN, IN A CONFUSING MANNER. SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I JUST REALLY WANT [04:35:01] TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE RESIDENTS MOSTLY IMPACTED BY THE CRISO CONTAMINATION OF CHOICE. UM, THIS IS A START. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT, WE HAVE A LOT OF FIGHTING TO DO TO GET TO HOLD UNION PACIFIC ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WITH THIS VOTE, WE'RE TAKING THE LEAD. UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT WITH, UM, TRUSTEE DANIELS. SHE CALLED ME THIS MORNING, CALLED ME LAST NIGHT, AND WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MOVING THIS VOTE FORWARD. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE'S BEEN FIGHTING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SHE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION IN 2014. AND SO, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND SHE'S EXCITED. UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. I HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND HIS TEAM JUST FOR CRAFTING A PROCESS THAT TAKES CARE OF THE RESIDENTS. YOU KNOW, THEY WENT DOOR TO DOOR CANVASSING, UM, FOLKS ARE GONNA BE ASSIGNED, UM, CASE WORKERS AND, YOU KNOW, ONGOING MEETINGS. HE GAVE THE COMMUNITY EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, AND I APPRECIATE HIM FOR THAT. AND JUST WORKING CLOSELY WITH MY OFFICE. AND SO, UM, THE PROCESS OF RELOCATING PEOPLE IS APART FROM THIS VOTE, UM, THIS IS JUST GETTING THE MONEY, GETTING THE FUNDS STARTED, YOU KNOW, A POT OF MONEY SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING REALLY INVOLVED, UM, THROUGH, THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, UH, IN MY APPRECIATION TO DIRECTOR WILLIAMS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THIS FOR, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. SO THEY'VE DONE A JOB. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. I KNOW I'VE SHARED THIS WITH YOU, UM, PRIVATELY, BUT I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THIS. AND AS YOU INTIMATED MOST LIKE THE, THE RESEARCH, THE LITERATURE DOESN'T SHOW AMERICAN MAYORS, UH, LEVERAGING OUR POWER AND POSITION TO ACTUALLY RESOLVE SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, OF THE DAMAGE THAT CITIES HAVE ALLOWED IN PREVIOUS DECADES. AND SO, UM, UM, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY, UM, HOPEFULLY SHOULD BE A MODEL TO OTHER AMERICAN CITIES AND OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE EASILY PASSIVELY SAID IT'S A PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUE, DEAL WITH UP, WE'LL FACILITATE IT. UM, BUT WE LEVERAGED OUR PLATFORM COUNCIL MEMBERS, BRINGING IN ACADEMICS, HAVING COMMUNITY MEETINGS, YOU LEVERAGING YOUR SEAT, UM, AND FINANCING NOT JUST THE TALKING POINTS, BUT THE MONEY WHERE THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ABLE TO RETAIN EQUITY IN THEIR HOME WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE TO GO, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT IMMINENT DOMAIN, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT GOING IN AND TAKING THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE THERE'S AN THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM WITH THE HOUSTON LAND BANK TO IDENTIFY IF IT'S NEW CONSTRUCTION OR AN EXISTING PROPERTY WHERE THEY CAN RETAIN THEIR EQUITY, STILL LIVE WITHIN THE CITY AND HAVE A IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE. AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT'S DOCUMENTED IN THE FUTURE WHEN THEY LOOK AT SOME RIGHT TURNS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THIS CITY AROUND QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS. AND I THINK IT STARTS RIGHT HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, AND WITH YOUR FOCUS AND COMMITMENT, MAYOR TURNER, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE. HONESTLY, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE. UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER CODIFYING THE PROCESS ONCE IT'S COMPLETED. ONCE WE'VE HAD THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE REALLY PUT SOMETHING SOLID IN PLACE SO THAT IN THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, THE COMMUNITY HAS THE SAME PROTECTIONS THAT YOU'VE CREATED FOR THEM. AND THAT COULD BE IN A FORM OF A CBA OR SOME CODIFIED PROCESS. UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE NOT WITH US ANYMORE AND SOMEONE ELSE IS, THEY TAKE THE SAME INITIATIVE AND FOCUS AND COMPASSION, UM, THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FOR OUR FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY. OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM AND DISCUSSION? PREPARE TO VOTE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED. ON, ON ITEM 48. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 49 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. UH, MAYOR PROAM ON ITEM 49. YES MA'AM. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS, WHICH BRINGS US TO WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH. SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, MS. UH, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] COUNCIL MEMBER , I'LL PASS. UH, MAYOR PROTO PASS, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TOWN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. FIRST, I WANT TO, UM, SAY THANKS TO DARREN HALL AND UNITED BECAUSE, UH, THEY SPONSORED 15 OF OUR STUDENTS, UM, WITH ROUND TRIP TICKETS TO ATTEND THE 52ND ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE IN CBC. UM, SO WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GOT, UM, SOME RECOGNITION FOR BEING WILLING TO DO SO. AND THEN ALSO WANT TO, UM, REMIND RESIDENTS THAT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE THIRD. IF YOU ARE PLANNING AN EVENT IN YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS TO PLEASE LET US KNOW IN THE DISTRICT A OFFICE. UM, WE DO HAVE TWO, UH, EVENTS [04:40:01] HAPPENING ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THAT ARE COMMUNITY ORIENTED AT THE FIVE CORNERS DISTRICT. WE WILL BE AT THE, UM, HAROLD PRESTON SOUTHWEST COMMAND STATION ON NATA FROM FOUR TO SIX. AND THEN THE BRAY OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WILL BE FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM IN THE FIESTA PARKING LOT ON FRAN ROAD. COME OUT FOR FOOD, FUN, DANCING, UM, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UH, THANKS SO MUCH AND HAVE A SUPER DAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAYOR TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU. UM, AND, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY IS MY MESSAGE, UH, BOTH TO MAYOR TURNER AS WELL AS TO MY DAUGHTER ALYSSA. IT'S THE LAST TIME I'M GONNA GET TO TELL HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THE SAME DAY AS MAYOR TURNER, UH, FROM THE DAIS. SO, UM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALYSSA. LONG MAY YOU RUN. AND WITH THAT, UH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, THE MAYOR'S LOVE OUR PARK FEST IN INDEPENDENT SITES. THAT'S, UH, THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH. THIS SATURDAY, WE CONTINUE WITH THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE AND UPGRADE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. SO MAKE SURE TO COME OUT AND BRING YOUR FAMILY AND ENJOY A FUN DAY AT THE PARK. THAT'S THIS SATURDAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. TIFFANY THOMAS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN PASS. COUNCIL MEMBER PAT PASS, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, THANK YOU REALLY QUICKLY. UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAYOR TURNER. UH, FEW QUICK DISTRICT UPDATES THERE. A WORK AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NEW CONCRETE SIDEWALKS, UM, IN SOUTHGATE FROM KIRBY TO MORNINGSIDE. UH, IT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 30 DAYS TO COMPLETE. UH, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE SIDEWALKS IN DISTRICT C. AND THEN I WANTED TO, UH, RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A CONSTITUENT SERVICES SPOTLIGHT. UM, OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, ARI DOES AN AMAZING JOB, UM, RESOLVING THE NEEDS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. UH, SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS FLAGGED A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC SIGNAGE ON HAZARD AND FAIRVIEW. UH, THRILLED TO SHARE THAT TDO INSTALLED 10 SIGNS, INCLUDING A FOUR-WAY STOP, A STOP AHEAD SYMBOL, STOP BARS, UH, AND MORE. THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT THAT'S GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT DAY-TO-DAY FOR RESIDENTS. JUST ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES OF WORK THAT, UM, OUR TEAM IS DOING. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE 3 1 1 AGENTS, UH, OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM IN PUBLIC WORKS AND TDO, UH, FOR THEIR RESPONSIVENESS TO THIS NEED. SO AGAIN, JUST A SPOTLIGHT FOR APPRECIATION AND ALSO A SPOTLIGHT TO MY LITTLE SISTER, JENNY, FOR SITTING THROUGH COUNSEL AND SPENDING TIME WITH ME. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS CHAVEZ. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROAM. UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT THEY, WE HAD EXCELLENT TURNAROUND, HOUSTON JOB FAIR AND DISTRICT D LAST THURSDAY. UH, THIS WAS A TESTAMENT TO THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF DISTRICT D AND THE CITY. AND MY GRATITUDE EXTENDS TO THE OBO OPPORTUNITY, OBO OFFICE AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN AMPLIFYING MIA TURNER'S JOB INITIATIVE. AND A MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO JESSE RUBIO FROM THE OBO OFFICE, UH, FOR HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION. ALSO, ON LAST NIGHT, WE CELEBRATED THE THREE YEAR JOURNEY OF THE THIRD WARD CUNY HOMES CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE PLANNING GRANT. IT WAS HEARTWARMING TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIAR FACES, FACES FOR MY COMMUNITY AND SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON STAFF, UH, PARTICULARLY SHANNON BUGS FOR HER INDISPENSABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EVENT SUCCESS. ALSO, ON TONIGHT THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC SAFETY DIALOGUE. DISTRICT D WE HAD TO CANCEL THE ONE ON MONDAY NIGHT BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER. AND I, I DO EXTEND MY SINCERE APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO WENT OUT, BUT I HAD TO ASSESS THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD AT A LAST MINUTE, UH, TIME AND WAS UNABLE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT. BUT HOPEFULLY I CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR THAT. GUESS. SAFETY IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN AND ISSUE. AND SO WE WILL HAVE A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION TONIGHT, UH, AT THE THIRD WARD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, UH, THAT WILL BE AT 6:00 PM 36 11 IN STREET. WE ARE CONSIDERING, UH, RESCHEDULING THE SUNNYSIDE, UH, AREA DIALOGUE AS WELL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT AREAS HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS HEARD. AND AGAIN, THAT'S TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM FROM 60 8:00 PM SO PLEASE COME OUT. CERTAINLY I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED THIS WEEKEND, UH, BECAUSE OF THE HOMECOMING OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. THEY HAVE A PLETHORA OF WONDERFUL EVENTS COMMEMORATING HOMECOMING. AND AGAIN, UM, I, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, I AM STILL VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BIKE LANE PLACEMENT IN, UH, THAT AREA. UM, BECAUSE EVEN AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK, A BUS STALLED AND THE CARS HAD TO DRIVE THROUGH THE BIKE LANES TO ACTUALLY NAVIGATE THROUGH THE AREA. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THOSE SPACES, UH, WITH [04:45:01] WIDER SIDEWALKS. BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN, UH, TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE LATER. BUT I, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, KNOW THAT I'M GONNA SEE SOME PICTURES AND NIGHTMARES, UH, THAT ARE GONNA TAKE PLACE THIS WEEKEND, WHICH IS WHAT, WHAT THE MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR ME WAS THE CHALLENGE TO THE STUDENTS AS WELL AS TO THE COMMUNITY. AND SO ANYWAY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. OF COURSE, I WISH I COULD CLONE MYSELF SO THAT I COULD MAKE EVERY ONE OF THEM, BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COME OUT AND ENGAGE IN FELLOWSHIP. AND I WILL MAKE EVERYONE THAT I POSSIBLY CAN WITHOUT A DRIVER. WELL, MAYBE I WILL GET A DRIVER ANYWAY. ONE OF MY STAFFERS. THEY ALL CAN DRIVE. ANYWAY, UM, I WANT TO ALSO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS FOR THE PASSING OF HER MOTHER, AND CERTAINLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAY OR ANYWAY, EVERYONE HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK. UH, THIS IS HALLOWEEN WEEKEND, ISN'T IT? NO, GIRL. OH GOD. I'M GOING ON TO GIRL. HELP ME OUT. WE ARE 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.