* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. IT IS 1:40 PM [PRESENTATIONS] ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 2023. I'M MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. WE HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS. THE FIRST, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TWO CORONADO COR TO RECOGNIZE HIS ORGANIZATION'S WORK AND PROVIDING VALUABLE RESOURCES AND EMPOWERMENT TO LIFT OUR COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER, THOMAS MARTHA. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE, IF I CAN SHOOT THESE CHAIRS OUT, THE VICE MAYOR, UM, MAY YOU RAISE THE, UH, PODIUM PLEASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. WE'RE ALL THE WAY HIGH . UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SO GOOD AFTERNOON COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE IN THE CHAMBERS AND THOSE WATCHING ONLINE. UM, I AM EXCITED AND HONORED TO, UH, PRESENT TO YOU NOT SOMEONE WHO'S NOT JUST A, A COMMUNITY MEMBER, BUT SOMEONE I CALL FRIEND. UM, AS I ALWAYS, UH, SHARE IN THE CHAMBERS, WE'RE ALWAYS ASKING INDIVIDUALS TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE UP THE MANTLE AND JOIN WITH US IN GOOD WORK. SO, ALL OF YOU CAN RECALL IN JANUARY WHEN WE OPENED THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN ALE, BUT CORONADO WAS THERE BEFORE. IT WAS WHAT WE KNOW TODAY FOR YEARS, AND I WOULD SAY DECADES, HE'S BEEN OFFERING ESL COURSES AT THE OLD QUILLIAN AT NO COST TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM, HE HAS BEEN, UM, NOT JUST A, A COMMITTED VOICE AND A COMMITTED LEADER, BUT SOMEONE THAT INDIVIDUALS TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M SO HONORED TO THAT WE GET TO HONOR HIM TODAY, WHEREAS CORONADO CONTRERAS IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE SALVADORIAN, AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON, LAFA ION SALVADOR. AMERICANA DE HOUSTON. YEAH, I GOT IT. PRACTICING UHHUH. I'VE BEEN PRACTICING A COMMUNITY ADULT EDUCATION ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN A EAF. IN DISTRICT F. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS FREE CLASSES IN AIR CONDITIONING, REPAIR, COMPUTING FOR BEGINNERS ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CITIZENSHIP AND SPANISH FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS. WHEREAS CORONADO IS RENOWNED IN THE LITERARY, IN THE LITERARY WORLD, AND ALSO KNOWN AS CONTRERAS AND TOBAR. HE IS THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE WEEKLY, THE HISPANIC POST NEWSPAPER EL SALVADOR ON HOUSTON AND LAS AMERICA MAGAZINE OF HOUSTON. FURTHERMORE, HE HAS SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR AND HOST OF HOUSTON'S INAUGURAL SPANISH LANGUAGE SUNDAY RADIO NEWSCAST. AND WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2023, HOUSTON WILL COMMEMORATE THE SALVADORIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DAY DURING WHICH CORONADO WILL PRESENT HIS 14TH BOOK TITLED, CONVERSING WITH MY SON OR, YEAH, TO BE PUBLISHED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THIS BOOK EXPLORES THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF PARENTING, INCLUDING TIME, PATIENCE, KNOWLEDGE THAT EVERY PARENT MUST PROVIDE TO FOSTER THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS CORONADO HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS ACCOLADES OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING THE 2004 NATIONAL HISPANIC VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AWARD IN WASHINGTON DC FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC PUBLICATIONS, THE 2011 HISPANIC VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AWARD FROM THE MILLENNIUM PRESS OF HOUSTON AND THE 2016 SALVADORIAN CULTURE FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR HIS NOVEL PRAYING FOR ANARCHY. WHEREAS CORONADO ADVOCATES FOR MORE COMPASSIONATE, INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, PROMOTING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, RESPECT FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH HIS BOOKS ENCOMPASSING POETRY, FICTION AND TEXTBOOKS, HE HAS CRAFTED A DISTINCTIVE AND CONTEMPORARY REALIST, REALIST AND HUMANISTIC STYLE. CORONADO IS NOT ONLY AN ACADEMIC, A WRITER AND A JOURNALIST, BUT ALSO A DEDICATED LEADER. FOR OVER TWO DECADES, HE HAS VOLUNTEERED IN THE ALE IN HOUSTON COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATING UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING THE COM HOUSTON COMMUNITY MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN. THEREFORE, I MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN ON BEHALF OF SYLVETA TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 31ST, 2023 AS CORONADO A CONTE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I FEEL SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE TODAY. AS ONE OF OUR GREATEST PRESIDENT SAY, ONCE, DON'T ASK YOUR COUNTRY WHAT YOU CAN DO. DON'T ASK WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT [00:05:01] WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY. AND EDUCATION IS THE BEST THING WE CAN GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S A TREASURE THAT NOBODY WILL STEAL FROM YOU. RIGHT. SO LET'S CONTINUE WITH THIS JOB. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR AS SYLVESTER TURNER, MS T THOMAS, UH, OUR DISTRICT F REPRESENTATIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE, I LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO MY WIFE MM-HMM . MY BOSS BECAUSE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, I WILL NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN THIS TASK. THIS COULD BE REALLY AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. GOD BLESS HOUSTON. GOD BLESS AMERICA. GOD BLESS EL SALVADOR. THAT'S RIGHT. INTRODUCE YOUR GUEST. MR. CONTRERAS, DID YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY THAT'S WITH YOU TODAY? UH, UH YES. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY WIFE, LUCY. YOU, SHE'S ALWAYS WITH ME. OKAY. WE'VE BEEN MARRIED ALMOST 35 YEARS. VERY NICE. AND ALSO I LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY, UH, STUDENTS, UH, MS. ROYAL, MS MS FLO, AND ONE OF MY GREATEST FRIENDS AND GREAT SUPPORT SUPPORTER. ALSO, UH, LAWYER GARY ROTH, AND DENISE, HER, UH, SECRETARY ASSISTANT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. THANKS TO YOU FOR THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION AND THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR PRO TERM. THANK YOU, SIR. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. HANG ON ONE SECOND, MR. CONTRERA. WE DO, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME COMMENTS. SO, MR. CONTRARE, UH, GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO THIS WORK ALONE. WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO GIVE OF YOUR TIME AND YOUR TALENTS TO HELP OTHERS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES IN OUR GREAT CITY. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON CHAIR, UH, SENIOR CONTR, SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT IN THE SALVADORIAN. AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF HOUSTON WAS FOUNDED, UH, IN JANUARY, 2003 FREE. UM, IT WAS, UH, WITH THE, UH, PURPOSE TO, UH, EDUCATE TO HELP THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE ESTABLISHED, UH, FREE ENGLISH CLASSES, FREE CITIZENSHIP CLASSES. AND AS TODAY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, TO, UH, GRADUATE MORE THAN 2,500, UH, ENGLISH SPEAKING STUDENTS, 1600 NEW CITIZENS, NEW US CITIZENS. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ALSO, UH, IN GRADUATING MORE THAN 500 NEW AIR CONDITIONED REPAIR TECHNICIANS, PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING A LOT, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO THE CITY WITH THEIR JOBS. SOME OF THEM NOW ARE, UH, UH, SELF PROPRIETORSHIPS. THEY ARE CONTRACTORS, AND THEY ARE DOING GREAT. I FEEL SO GOOD WHEN I SEE THESE PEOPLE COMING BACK AND SAYING, THANKS, YOU KNOW, BUT I ALWAYS REMIND THEM THAT WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE GREAT LEADERSHIP, LIKE THE LEADERSHIP OF MISS, UH, TIFFANY, UH, THOMAS, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR YOU. YOU'RE SO RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE, YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY AN OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL. UH, WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE WORKFORCE, THE CONVERSATION WITH YOUR SON [00:10:07] ROBINSON. AND I LIKE ALSO TO SAY THANKS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THERE AND GRADUATE THERE AS A SOCIOLOGY WITH A MAJOR IN SOCIOLOGY, AND ALSO WITH A MINOR IN SPANISH ENGLISH, UH, PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATIONS. SO I KNOW, UH, THE MAYOR WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR SWEATSHIRT. YOUR SWEATSHIRT IS REPRESENTING . HE, YEAH. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THANKS FOR THE, FOR THIS. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. TAKE YOUR TAGS OFF AIR PRO TIM MARTIN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MUNICIPAL COURTS TO CELEBRATE MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK EXCUSE. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE IN INCLUDING OUR FAVORITE JUDGE TO COME ON UP FRONT TO THE PODIUM. COME ON, EVERYBODY. THIS IS A MUNICIPAL COURT'S PRESENTATION. I JUST LEFT THE JUDGE, WHAT, 10 MINUTES AGO. 10 MINUTES AGO, WE HAD THE, UH, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CADET CLASS, AND JUDGE SWORE 'EM ALL INTO THAT. SO, WHICH IS ALWAYS A GREAT THING, WHEREAS MUNICIPAL COURTS PROVIDES THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON WITH A LOCAL FORUM WHERE QUESTIONS CAN, CONCERNING LAW AND FACT CAN BE RESOLVED REGARDING ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF STATE LAW AND MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES. WHEREAS BECAUSE CITIZENS MUNICIPAL COURTS MORE OFTEN THAN OTHER TYPES OF COURTS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN INFLUENCE IN THE PUBLIC'S OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE TEXAS JUDICIAL SYSTEM. WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO JUDGES, MUNICIPAL COURTS ARE STAFFED BY CLERKS, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, PROSECUTORS, JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS, BAILIFFS AND WARRANT OFFICERS. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS BY PARTICIPATING IN JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THEIR STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. WHEREAS FROM NOVEMBER 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2023, MUNICIPAL COURTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR CONTINUING TO PRESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AREA RESIDENTS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE'S MUNICIPAL COURTS AND ENCOURAGES ALL AND THANKING THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE. THEREFORE, OUR I MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN, ON BEHALF OF SYLVETA TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 6TH THROUGH 10TH AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. JUDGE, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO INTRODUCE, I HAVE MY EXECUTIVE TEAM HERE WITH ME, BUT I ALSO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS, OUR MUNICIPAL COURT, UH, WEEK COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, AND THEY'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO GET EVERYTHING DONE FOR JURY DAY, FOR EMPLOYEE DAY, AND THEY JUST MAKE MY JOB EASY. MY EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF MUNICIPAL COURT, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I HAVE BEEN TO WORK AND TO SERVE WITH THEM, UH, WORKING ALONGSIDE OF SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE I THINK, IN THE NATION. OF COURSE, WE ARE THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY, SO I CAN'T CLAIM THAT JUST YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S WATCHING BACK AT THE COURTS, AND TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S STANDING WITH ME, UM, FOR JUST DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB EVERY DAY. THANK YOU, JUDGE MARSHALL. AND WE'RE SO GLAD THAT YOU DIDN'T COME ALONG AND THAT YOU BROUGHT YOUR EXECUTIVE TEAM AND, UH, MEMBERS OF MUNICIPAL COURTS. WE APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO. AND WE KNOW THAT SOME DAYS IT'S NOT EASY, AND SOME DAYS I, I, I CAN IMAGINE THAT, UM, THEY'RE TOUGHER THAN OTHERS. UM, BUT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM CITY COUNCIL THAT WE APPRECIATE [00:15:01] EVERY, UM, DAY THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS AND ALL WHO GO THROUGH THE COURTS, UM, AND THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING, UH, JUST TREATMENT AND TREATMENT WITH DIGNITY, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE REPRESENTED BY SUCH A STELLAR GROUP. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE. THANK YOU. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CAYMAN HAD A PRAYER AND PLEDGE TODAY, AND, UH, SHE IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY. SO IN HER ABSENCE, I WILL PROVIDE THE PRAYER. SO IF I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR WISDOM, AND YOUR SUPPORT. AS WE BEGIN, BEGIN THIS MEETING TODAY. HELP US ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. ALLOW US TO GROW CLOSER AS A GROUP AND NURTURE THE BONDS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN. MAY THIS MEETING SERVE AS A STEPPING STONE TOWARDS PROGRESS AND GROWTH, BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS COLLECTIVE BODY. WE TRUST IN YOUR DIVINE GUIDANCE, YOUR DIVINE WISDOM TO GUARD AND DIRECT US THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING AND BEYOND, AND YOUR LOVING AND GUIDING HANDS. WE PLACE THIS MEETING PLACING OUR FAITH IN YOU TO GUIDE US AND BLESS OUR ENDEAVORS. WE PRAY ALL OF THIS IN YOUR HOLY AND PRECIOUS NAME. AMEN. PLEASE STAND PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR. ALL RIGHT, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] NEXT, WE'LL HAVE ROLL CALL. MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHABA, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS AL AND SIGGE BUSINESS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLER OUT ON PERSONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TAG HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KOOSH. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION REGARDING THE MINUTES. WE WILL NOT BE ADOPTING MINUTES TODAY, SO WE WILL NOT ADOPT THE MINUTES TODAY. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS BEFORE WE START IN PUBLIC SESSION? SEEING NONE, WE, WE FOR TIME. I'VE GOT ONE HERE COMING IN, IN, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. LATE. CAN WE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON? THANK YOU, MAYOR PERAM. UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, FILE A MOTION TO ADD FOR THREE AMENDMENT NON AGENDA. MS. AYA, NAOMI VALENTINE, THOMAS. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED TO THREE MINUTES. NON AGENDA. MS. VALENTINE? THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? NO. THANK YOU. SEEING NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER MARK TEMPLE? [00:20:01] WHERE? GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. TEMPLE. GOOD AFTERNOON. YOU OKAY? YES, SIR. GOT IT. NOW IT'S ON. YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU, SIR. ERICA? MY NAME'S MARK TEMPLE AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF A GROWING NUMBER OF KINGWOOD RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE THE CITY IS UPHOLDING ITS RESPONSIBILITY AND LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE THE REQUISITE CITY SERVICES THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR. WHEN KINGWOOD WAS ORIGINALLY ANNEXED MAYOR BOB LANIER SAW THE ADDITION AS AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ESTIMATING THAT THE CITY WOULD NET NEARLY $4 MILLION A YEAR FROM KINGWOOD TAXPAYERS. NOW THAT THAT TIME HAS PASSED, I THINK I SEE WHAT HE MEANT, WHICH IS THE CITY COULD GAIN MORE TAX REVENUE WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICES. CITY GOVERNMENT IS NOT A PLACE WHERE THIS GETS SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. MENTALITY SHOULD BE TOLERATED. THE APPLICABLE LAW PROVIDES THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUST PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF KINGWOOD THAT WERE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THOSE PROVIDED BEFORE THE ANNEXATION. FURTHER, ACCORDING TO THE HOUSE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION REPORT OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATED JANUARY 13TH, 1997, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROMISED TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE KINGWOOD AREA. THAT SIMPLY HASN'T HAPPENED, AND MORE RECENTLY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS FALLEN DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE FAILING IN THIS AREA. THANK YOU, SIR. I'LL GIVE YOU, UM, 30 SECONDS TO COMPLETE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE BRIDGE ON WESTLAKE, HOUSTON PARKWAY BETWEEN KINGWOOD AND TCA HAS EFFECTIVELY BECOME A DUMPING GROUND. WHEN I'VE REPEATEDLY REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICER, SIR TO FIND OUT ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, I HAVE NOT BEEN RESPONDED TO BY YOU, AND THE RESPONSE I HAVE GOTTEN HAVE BEEN DELAYED FROM YOUR STAFF. I CALLED AND EMAILED REPEATEDLY, AND THESE ARE THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. OTHER SERVICES THAT THE CITY HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THAT ARE NOT PERFORMING INCLUDE ADEQUATE MAIN MAINTENANCE OF THE, UH, COMMON AREAS. AND IN PARTICULAR, WHAT'S HAPPENED AT THE JUNCTION OF 4 94 IN KINGWOOD DRIVE THAT'S BEEN BLAMED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT IF THE CITY WERE PERFORMING ITS JOB AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGING THAT SERVICE, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE GONE ON AS LONG AS IT HAS. THANK YOU. JUST REGARDING THE, UH, LAKE HOUSTON BRIDGE, I KNOW THAT THEY STARTED PICKING UP DEBRIS YESTERDAY. YES. FINALLY. AND THEY WILL BE FINISHED WITH THAT WHEN I WAS ON THE AGENDA BY THE END OF THE WEEK. SO RIGHT WHEN I WAS ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING, I GOT A CALL FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT. AND THEN I GOT A CALL, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM YOUR OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AFTER STARTING THAT PROCESS SIX WEEKS AGO. SO I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE TO BE ON THE AGENDA IN ORDER TO GET A RESPONSE. AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT TOOK PLACE. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. BARBARA A. SMITH. GOOD AFTERNOON. HAPPY HALLOWEEN. TO YOU AS WELL. WHICH ONE? THIS ONE. OH, PERFECT. SO MY NAME'S BARBARA MSMITH. I LIVE AT 1130 BANKS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, IN DISTRICT C. AND YOU'RE BEING GIVEN, UM, SOME PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WERE TAKEN AT 1 1 1 6 BANKS IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. THIS IS MY FIFTH TIME TO COME AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL, AND WE ARE WORKING. AND AT FIRST I WANNA THANK SALLY ALCORN AND HER AMAZING STAFF AND ABBY CAYMAN'S OFFICE FOR THEIR HELP AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BUT WHAT WE NEED IS SOME RESOLUTION. AND, UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CHAPTER 28, WHICH EXISTS. UM, I DON'T EXPECT, UM, THE CITY TO SAY WE'LL REGULATE SHORT TERM RENTAL, BUT WHAT I DO HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL SEE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. SO WHEN I LEAVE MY HOME TO WALK TO OUR ONLY CITY PARK, I NOT ONLY SEE THIS, BUT THE AMOUNT OF THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES TO TALK ABOUT 1116 BANKS, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAYMAN AND ALCORN HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THIS SUBJECT. SO, UM, I'LL CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU, BARBARA, FOR ONCE AGAIN ADVOCATING FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, WE DID HAVE A, UH, PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND MEMBERS FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS SITUATION. AND THE LAST THING THAT I REMEMBER FROM THAT MEETING WAS THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT. THIS LOOKS, THE CI APPEARS TO BE A HOTEL. AND SO THAT WAS WHAT THEY WERE GOING BACK TO LOOK AT. IF WE COULD MAKE THIS PART OF THIS FOLLOW, IF IT IS DEFINED AS A HOTEL, IT WOULD BE AGAINST, I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET ANY OF THE CRITERIA THAT YOU NEED FOR A HOTEL. SO THAT'S WHERE IT STANDS STILL. I'M JUST, UH, RANDY ZAMORA, A CEO OVER THERE. SO I KNOW EVERYBODY WILL BE LOOKING [00:25:01] FOR AN UPDATE FROM LEGAL ON THAT. UM, I AGREE THAT THERE DOES NEED TO BE RESOLUTION, AND THIS IS NOT, THIS IS THE ONE, 'CAUSE BARBARA'S ABLE TO COME DOWN HERE AT TWO O'CLOCK ON A TUESDAY, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROPERTIES LIKE THIS THAT ARE, UM, FUNCTIONING AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS, APARTMENT COMPLEXES, AND THEY BASICALLY ARE ACTING LIKE THEY'RE HOTELS AND THERE'S NO MANAGEMENT ON SITE, AND THERE'S NO, UH, THERE'S OUT OF TOWN OWNERS OR, OR NEG OR OWNERS THAT HAVE PASSED OFF THE, THE RENTING THE RENTALS TO OTHER PEOPLE. UM, JUST BARBARA, UM, DO YOU THINK THINGS, I, I KNOW WE'VE SENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT OVER, WE'VE HAD POLICE OVER, WE'VE HAD ALL, EVERY WHICH WAY WE COULD GET IT. DO YOU THINK THINGS ARE THE SAME, BETTER, WORSE? I, I THINK THEY'RE WORSE. OKAY. AND THE REASON I THINK THEY'RE WORSE IS, AND I KNOW I'M ON CAMERA, I KNOW I'M ON PUBLIC RECORD, THIS IS WHY I'M SCARED. MM-HMM . AND THIS IS WHY I AM HIDING BEHIND YOU ALL. I'M CONVINCED THERE'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I DON'T KNOW IF THESE WOMEN ARE BEING HELD AGAINST THEIR, WELL, WHY DON'T THEY HAVE CLOTHES ON? UM, I DRIVE BY IT. I, I GO TO MY PARK. I, YOU KNOW, OP, THIS IS WHERE I LIVE. SO THERE'S A LOT WE SEE. I'M VERY UNEDUCATED, UNTRAINED EYE. UM, WE ARE NOT, WE'RE NOT PROFESSIONALS. WELL, I THANK YOU. AND WE TELL PEOPLE EVERY DAY, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, AND YOU'RE SAYING SOMETHING, IT'S DANGEROUS FOR ME. YOU'RE SAYING SOMETHING RE REPEATEDLY. SO I, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING. THANK YOU. WELL, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, AND WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. I KNOW YOU HAVE MUCH BIGGER FISH TO FRY, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. YEAH, HOLD ON. JUST BARBARA, I JUST WANT TO WEIGH IN HERE TOO, BARBARA, YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS AND IT'S NOT, THIS IS JUST SO NOT RIGHT. AND FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR OFFICE TO UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THIS. WE HEAR ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU ALL HAVE MET AND IT'S GETTING WORSE, COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANNA KNOW WHERE THE ACTION IS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT RIGHT. AND I HEAR IT FROM BARBARA'S NEIGHBORS, AND I KNOW IT BECAUSE I LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO IT THAT THIS IS NOT, THIS CANNOT GO ON AND WE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND IT IS NOT HPD ALONE. WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER CONSTABLES WITH THE SHERIFF. I MEAN, WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON HERE. AND AT THE RISK OF, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA TARGET MYSELF. YEAH. OKAY. SO LET'S TAKE THIS ON AS A CITY AND LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. I, I WOULD LIKE A REPORT CITY ATTORNEY. CAN WE, CAN WE PLEASE SEND SOMETHING AROUND TO COUNSEL TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE IS ACTION OR NOT? YEAH. I CAN GET SOMETHING TO YOU. SURE. OKAY. BECAUSE WHERE WE'RE, I, LITERALLY, WE, IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, BARBARA, LAST YEAR I WAS IN YOUR FRONT YARD AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON DOWN THE STREET. AND THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. SO I, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT, NOT GOOD. THANK YOU, BARBARA. THANK YOU ALL. AND THANK YOU, MS. BARBARA. NEXT SPEAKER PHILLIP MOUNT. PHILLIP MOUNT MR. MOUNT, NEXT SPEAKER PETER NATAL. PETER NATAL. PETER NATAL. NEXT SPEAKER. PATRICIA RUSO. PATRICIA RUSSO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. RUSSO. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE BEGINNING BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, I'VE BEEN CHARGED BASE WATER AND BASE SEWAGE FOR A VACANT LOT THAT HAS NO WATER SERVICE, NO ACCESS TO WATER, AND A DISCONNECTED SEWER. I HAD TO CALL THREE TIMES TO THE CITY TO FIND OUT WHY I WAS BEING MADE THOSE CHARGES. SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE WATER SERVICE OR SEWER SERVICE. AFTER THEY, THE THIRD CALL, I WAS TOLD THAT, UH, IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAD A METER ON THE PROPERTY. SO I HAD TO GO AND FIND OUT WHO, HOW CAN I GET THE METER REMOVED? THAT WAS ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS FOR NOT HAVING THE CHARGES. AND I WAS QUOTED A AMOUNT OF $1,050. SO I WAS EITHER TO PAY THESE CHARGES OR PAY TO HAVE THE MEDIA REMOVED. SO I, I, EVEN THOUGH THE MEDIA WAS THE REASON I WAS GETTING THE CHARGES, I WANTED TO KNOW THE REASONING WHY WAS I BEING CHARGED FOR BASEWATER IN BAY SEWER. AND I DID NOT HAVE THOSE SERVICES. I'VE WRITTEN TO, UH, VARIOUS DIVISIONS IN THE CITY, UH, 15 DIFFERENT TIMES. AND OF, OF THOSE 15 TIMES NOT, I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. SO AFTER A WHILE, I DECIDED I NEEDED TO GO OUTSIDE FOR SOME HELP. SO I CONTACTED, UH, KPRC TO AMY DAVIS, AND SHE LINKED ME TO HER WEBSITE WHERE, UH, THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON, ANOTHER WATER CUSTOMER. THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I DID A VACANT LOT, BUT BEING CHARGED FOR BASE [00:30:01] WATER AND BASE SEWER. AND I'VE INCLUDED THAT PERSON'S REPORT ON MY, ON MY HANDOUT. SO WHAT I'M ASKING TODAY IS THAT AS WAS DONE IN THE CASE OF THAT PERSON, THOSE CHARGES WERE STOPPED AND THEY HAD THEIR MONEY REFUNDED. I'M ASKING THAT FOR MYSELF. I WANT THE CHARGES TO STOP AND FOR MY MONEY TO BE REFUNDED ON THE BACK. YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT THAT I'VE PAID TO THE, AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU. WE ALL HAVE A CASE, UH, FOR EACH ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD TODAY. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE YOURS IS ACCURATE. ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE SERVICE ADDRESS OF 20 32, 20 32 20? CORRECT. OKAY. SO THE INFORMATION, WE ALSO HAVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE HERE, UH, SAL AND JUDY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. SAL AND JUDY WILL ESCORT YOU DOWNSTAIRS TO THE BASEMENT WHERE WE HAVE, UH, DEPLOYMENT FOR RESOURCES SO WE CAN LOOK UP EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE WITH COMPUTERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT MM-HMM . UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO HAVE A FUNCTIONING REMOTE READ DEVICE. UM, THE USAGE WAS ZERO GALLONS, WHICH IS CONFUSING TO ME LOOKING THROUGH THE NOTES LAST NIGHT. AND THE ACCOUNT HAS A CURRENT BALANCE OF $25 AND 58 CENTS. SO I'LL GLADLY SWAP, SWAP YOUR WATER BILL WITH MINE. SO YOUR ISSUE IS RELATED TO AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE IS 25 58. OH NO, THAT'S, THAT'S DUE IN, IN, IN NOVEMBER. I'M, MY ISSUE IS THAT I'M BEING CHARGED FOR WATER SERVICE AND I DON'T HAVE ANY WATER SERVICE. OKAY. IT'S A VACANT LOT. CORRECT. AND I'M, I'M BEING CHARGED FOR SEWER SERVICE AND THE SEWERS GET DISCONNECTED. A HOUSE WAS ON THAT LOT THAT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 2015. AND UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2021, I ONLY PAID A DRAINAGE FEE. AND THEN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, I STARTED BEING CHARGED FOR A BASE WATER IN FACE SEWER. RIGHT. OKAY. SO, UH, SAL OR JUDY, UM, PLEASE, UM, TAKE MRS. RUSSO AND, UH, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. UH, WE HAVE AN OFFICE SET UP IN THE BASEMENT TO HANDLE EACH AND EVERY COMPLAINT TODAY. OKAY. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EVERYONE. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. RUSSO PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTHA CASTEX VICES. ME OR PRO TEM? MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM, THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, OR MAYBE SOMEONE FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT. IF SOMEONE HAS A WATER METER ON A VACANT LOT, WHAT WOULD H HOW ARE THEY RECEIVING A BILL FOR, UM, BASE WATER AND BASE SEWER? I GUESS I'M, I'M CONFUSED THAT A VACANT LOT WITH NO HOUSE WOULD GET A BILL FOR WAIT BASE WATER AND BASE SEWER. IS IT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A METER ON THE CORRECT LOT? CORRECT. CORRECT. YEAH, CORRECT SIR. SO ONCE THE METER IS REMOVED, YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED FOR BASE WATER AND BASE SEWER. WAS THERE ANY COMMUNICATION WHEN WE SWITCHED OVER SERVICES THAT SAID IF YOU HAVE A WATER METER ON A VACANT LOT, YOU WILL BE CHARGED BASE WATER AND BASE SEWER. BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S PRETTY, IT IS NOT FAIR IF SOMEONE HAS A VACANT LOT AND THEY HAVE NO NOTICE THAT THEY WILL BE CHARGED BASE WATER AND SEWER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WATER METER THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED BEFORE. YEAH. SO YEAH, THERE IS A BASE CHARGE IF YOU HAVE A WATER METER THAT IS, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING. YOU CAN SPEAK YEAH. TO A BASE CHARGE IF YOU DO HAVE A WATER METER. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE NOTICE ISSUE THAT, THAT'D HAVE TO BE A WATER DEPARTMENT QUESTION. IS ANYONE HERE FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT? YES, THEY WILL ESCORT 'EM DOWNSTAIRS. BUT THE INFORMATION WE HAVE WAS THAT THE ACCOUNT HOLDER WAS ADVISED OF THE OPTIONS TO EITHER REMOVE THE WATER METER CHANGE TO AN IRRIGATION METER OR LEAVE THAT METER IN PLACE. SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO TODAY IS GET THIS RESOLVED DOWNSTAIRS WITH ONE OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS. YES, I WAS ADVISED, BUT AFTER THE FACT SURE. NOT BEFORE. AND THE CUSTOMER THAT, THAT GOT THEIR CHARGES STOPPED, I WANNA KNOW WHY DID THEY GET THEIR CHARGES STOPPED AND, AND, UH, REFUNDED. I AGREE WITH YOU AND I THINK IF SOMEONE ELSE GOT THEIR CHARGES STOPPED THAT WE SHOULD ALSO STOP YOUR CHARGES. YES. SO IF WHOMEVER IS REPRESENTING THE WATER DEPARTMENT COULD ALSO CIRCULATE, UM, THE FINDINGS, UM, FOR THE CONSTITUENT THAT'S SPEAKING AT THE MICROPHONE NOW TO THE COUNCIL, TO, TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LET US KNOW HOW THIS WAS RESOLVED. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO MAY I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, OKAY, SO WE HAVE THE SAL YOU HAVE HER. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LARRY KEAN. AMY DAVIS. NO, MR. KILLIAN. MR. KILLIAN. MR. KILLEN'S, COME GOOD AFTERNOON. YES, SIR. GRANDPAS ARE CLOSING. CAN YOU CHECK THE LIGHTS? I DON'T KNOW. I LIKE THINK YOU'LL [00:35:01] HAVE COPIES OF MY, UH, COMMENTS. MY NAME'S LARRY KILLIAN, A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON AND I HAVE A SINGLE WATER METER SINCE MULTIPLE METERS COST TOO MUCH. I AM DISPUTING MY AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WATER BILL FOR HAVING OVERCHARGED ME $79 AND 50 CENTS FOR UNEARNED RESIDENTIAL CONSUMPTION. SEWER CHARGE. SUCH CHARGE FOR SERVICES NOT PERFORMED AS CONTRARY TO TEXAS WATER CODE AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WERE EXCEPTIONAL HEAT DOME BLACK SWAN MONTHS IN HOUSTON AND WATER CONSUMERS USING MORE WATER ON THEIR YARDS, INCLUDING TREES, ESPECIALLY SINCE DISTRESS TREES SHED THEIR LIMBS. A SAFETY HAZARD DURING THE HEAT DOME, I USED AN EXTRA 7,000 GALLONS DRAINED ONTO THE YARD AND NOT INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE CITY CHARGED ME A RESIDENTIAL CONSUMPTION SEWER CHARGE FOR THIS EXTRA YARD WATER AS IF IT HAD DRAINED INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM. THIS REFUND REQUEST IS NOT UNLIKE THE CITY CODE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE ELIMINATION OF SEWER CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH SWIMMING POOL. PHILLIPS FILLING UP A SWIMMING POOL OR WATCHING OR WATERING ONE'S YARD. DURING EXTRAORDINARY HEAT DOME EVENTS OR EQUIVALENT RECOGNITION THAT WATER DOES NOT DRAIN INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM. ASSUMING 500,000 RESIDENTIAL WATER CUSTOMERS IN HOUSTON, IF THEIR WATER BILLS WERE OVERCHARGED A HUNDRED DOLLARS DURING THIS HEAT DOME EVENT, THE CITY WOULD'VE POCKETED IN EXCESS OF $50 MILLION OF UNEARNED SEWER SERVICE FEES. THE CITY'S WATER AND SEWER FUND HAS A SURPLUS OF $2.5 BILLION. REFUNDING. THE UNEARNED SEWER SEA FEES DOES NOT HARM THIS FUND NOR THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS COUNCIL COULD TAKE A NATIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITION AND VOLUNTEER THE UNPRECEDENTED ACTION OF ISSUING A POLICY THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUMMER 2023 EXTREME HEAT DOME CIRCUMSTANCE AND STRESS ON TREES AND CONSUMER POCKET BOOKS, ALL CITY WATER RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS WILL BE GIVEN A ONE-TIME CREDIT ON THEIR WATER BILLS. AND I DID SUBMIT A VERY COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL REPORT TO THIS, TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY, THE MAYOR. SO ALL THIS IS SPELLED OUT IN IN GREAT DETAIL. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AND, UM, I KNOW SAL JUST WENT DOWN. I'LL ASK JULIE TO COME UP BOARD AND WE'LL TAKE YOU DOWNSTAIRS. BUT BEFORE MR. KILLIAN, JUST A QUICK QUESTION, MAKE SURE I HAVE THE DETAILS CORRECT. UH, THE METER WAS INSPECTED AND IT SHOWED NO VISIBLE LEAKS AND THE CONSTANT FLOW OF WATER THROUGH THE METER, WHICH SHOWS THAT IT'S GETTING FROM THE CITY INTO YOUR HOUSE. CORRECT. AND THE ACCOUNT CURRENTLY HAS A ZERO BALANCE, I'M ASSUMING IT'S A ZERO BALANCE BECAUSE YOU PAID YOUR GOT IT. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. UM, SO JULIE, RAISE YOUR HAND, VICE MAYOR. AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE THOUGH YEAH. UM, BEFORE YOU GO WITH JULIE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM. MR. KILLIAN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. A SPECIFIC REFUND FOR, IT'S THE $79 FOR $79 AND 50 CENTS. OKAY. IF YOU GO THROUGH MY DETAILED CALCULATION, IT SHOWS HOW THAT WAS CHARGED FOR THE SEWAGE COMPONENT OF THE WATER THAT WENT ON MY YARD, NOT INTO THE SEWER. THE $79 WAS FOR A SEWER CHARGE. THE WATER DIDN'T GO INTO THE SEWER, IT WENT ONTO MY YARD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING FOR THE WATER I USED, BUT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM FOR PAYING FOR WATER THAT WENT ONTO MY YARD THAT'S INCURRING A SEWER CHARGE. THAT WATER DIDN'T GO IN THE SEWER. SO THE CITY DID NOT HAVE PROVIDE A SEWER SERVICE FOR THAT WATER, THAT YARD WATER DURING THE HEAT. SO HOW DID HEAT, HOW DID THE WATER, I, I'M, I'M CONFUSED. YEAH. SO I WANT, I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME. OKAY. OH. 'CAUSE I, IF WE OWE YOU A REFUND, I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU GET A REFUND. RIGHT. RIGHT. SO HOW DO WE DETERMINE SEWER WATER GOING INTO YOUR YARD AND NOT IN THE SEWER? HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? EXCELLENT QUESTION. I AM A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER. I HAVE DESIGNED WASTEWATER TREATMENTS, DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL PATHS. SO I HAVE SOME FAMILIARITY WITH ALL THIS. MOST RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON HAVE ONE WATER METER, CORRECT? YES. YES. YOU CAN INSTALL ANOTHER WATER METER AND IRRIGATION METER. IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. YES. IN THE THOUSANDS. WHY, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? WELL, IF YOU'RE A BIG YARD, MANY ACRES, YOU'D WANNA WA MEASURE THE WATER THAT GOES ON YOUR YARD THROUGH A SEPARATE METER. YOU DON'T ATTRACT THE SEWER CHARGE. RIGHT. ANY WATER THAT GOES THROUGH THE METER THAT GOES INTO THE HOUSE IS, IS CHARGED SEWER CHARGE. 'CAUSE IT'S ASSUME WHAT GOES IN THE HOUSE, GOES IN THE SEWER, WHICH IS A CORRECT ASSUMPTION. YOUR ENGINEERS, ME AS AN ENGINEER, WHEN YOU DO THESE CALCULATIONS, YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. 'CAUSE WITH ONE METER, YOU GOTTA MAKE A GUESS. WELL, HOW MUCH OF WATER IS BEING USED AS GOING INTO THE SEWER? HOW MUCH IS GOING INTO THE YARD? YOU HAVE TO GUESS THAT. SO IN YOUR UNIT CHARGE YOU MAKE ON THE BASE AND THE, UH, SEWER AND WATER CONSUMPTION, THERE ARE, THERE ARE GUEST STATISTICS THAT SAID, OKAY, WE THINK THIS MUCH IS [00:40:01] GOING THE SEWER, THIS MUCH IS GOING INTO, INTO THE, INTO THE, UH, UNDER THE YARD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT DURING THIS SPECIAL TWO MONTHS SUPER HEAT DON MONTH, WHERE PEOPLE USED EXTRAORDINARY MORE WATER THAN YOU'D NORMALLY FIND IN THESE STATISTICS, THAT WATER WENT ON THE YARD. THAT IS EXTRA WATER THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT'S IN THE NORMAL STATISTICS. OKAY, I GOT YOU NOW. OKAY, SO, SO BASED ON YOUR PREVIOUS WATER USAGE ABSOLUTELY. FOR SEWER, YES. THESE TWO MONTHS, YOU HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY HIGH AMOUNT OF SEWER USAGE YES. AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER MONTHS OF THE YEAR. YES. GOT IT. OKAY. THAT MEANS I'D BE HAVING TO USE A TOILET IN THE BATHROOM THREE TIMES MORE THAN NORMAL. SO, SO THAT FEE I DIDN'T TRADITIONALLY SHOULDN'T VARY VERY MUCH. CORRECT. BECAUSE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE. CORRECT. SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE FLUSHING THE TOILET. SAME NUMBER. OKAY, GOT YOU. IT'S JUST DURING THIS SPECIAL HEAT DOME PERIOD. I GOT IT. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE YEAR. I, AS AN ENGINEER, I GET IT. OKAY. THINK YOU GET IT. SO I'M, BUT MY REPORT GOES IN MIND NUMBING DETAIL WITH ALL THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AND CALCULATIONS. HOW, HOW, HOW, HOW, HOW, HOW I COME UP WITH ALL THESE CALCULATIONS. AND YOUR ENGINEERS WILL LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, I'M BIASED ON THIS. YEP. HE'S RIGHT. . RIGHT. SO I GUESS FOR ME IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF LOOKING AT, UM, EVERYBODY'S WATER BILL. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. TO SEE, UH, AND IF THIS IS THE CASE FOR EVERYBODY, I WOULD WONDER WHERE THE CITY WOULD GET THE MONEY TO GIVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON A, A REBATE THAT HAS THAT. BUT YOU GET, YOU'RE GETTING BACK WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY CHARGED THAT WASN'T EARNED. YOU'RE NOT OUT ANY MONEY. OKAY. I HEAR, HEAR YOU. THAT KITTY HAS GOT EXTRA MONEY AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE 'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T PROVIDE THE SERVICE. OKAY, I HEAR YOU. SO THERE NO OPERATING OR CAPITAL EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WITH THAT INCOME. SO IT'S FREE MONEY. I HEAR YOU. THANK YOU MR. KILLIAN. SO JULIE, THANK YOU. JULIE WILL HANDLE YOUR CASE AND, UM, HOPE WE'LL BE, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME RESOLUTION TO THIS. I THINK WHAT HE'S SUGGESTING IS A CITY ORDINANCE TO ADOPT SOME OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS. SO TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI. I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE THE MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, SANDRA MASSEY HINES TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST NON AGENDA. THANK YOU. SECOND ROBINSON. MOTION. AND A SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE IT. MOTION. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED MOTION GRANTED. MS. SANDRA MOSSY HINES. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. SANDRA MOSSY HINES. YES, MASSEY. SORRY, MS. DAVIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND IT'S MASSEY LIKE LASSIE, THE DOG. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND MAY GOD BLESS AND YOUR ENDEAVOR ZONE TODAY I AM STILL HAVING QUESTIONS THAT I NEED ANSWERED FROM POLICE PURSUIT, AND I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE CHIEF, UH, PERSONALLY REGARDING THEM. AND I WAS WONDERING HOW DID WE GO FROM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH CALL RACES, RACES OF CITIZENS TO THE POLICE PURSUITS? I REALIZED THAT THE SMALL CHANGES THAT THE CHIEF MADE, UH, ARE TOO LATE FOR SOME FAMILIES. BUT IT, THE CHANGE IN THE CONDUCT OF HOW THE POLICE PURSUE FLEEING CARS MAY BENEFIT MANY OTHERS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE HUMAN LIFE, TO ME IS IRREPLACEABLE. SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ARE, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE STATISTICS ON WHO WERE TARGETED MOSTLY BY POLICE IN THESE PURSUITS, IN THESE COMMUNITIES. WERE THEY BLACKS? WERE THEY WHITES THAT WASN'T BROUGHT UP? HOW MUCH DID THE CITY SPEND ON THE DEATHS AND LIABILITIES FROM THESE POLICE CHASES? I DON'T TOTALLY BELIEVE ALL OF THE RECORDED STATS THAT WERE GIVEN BY THE CHIEF. AND WHAT WAS THE HIGHEST SPEEDS RECORDED BY BOTH OFFICERS AND THE CITIZENS IN THE CHASE. IT STATED THAT THE OFFICERS CAN NO LONGER CHASE IF THE, THE DRIVER, IF THE SUSPECT IS A CLASS C OFFENSE, THEFT MINOR OR OTHER NONVIOLENT, UH, ISSUE. BUT IN ORDER TO CHASE THE ORDER OFFICER WOULD NEED SUPERVISORS [00:45:01] TO APPROVE LIKE A LIEUTENANT OR ASSISTANT CHIEF. AND WHEN WILL HE NEED THOSE? WHEN WILL HE CALL THEM? WHEN WILL THAT BE REQUESTED? UH, IT'S ALSO SAID THAT HIS REASONABLE BELIEF THAT THE SUSPECT, IF HE FLEES, WOULD GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHASE. UH, I HEARD THE CHIEF SAY IN ONE OF THE MEETINGS HERE THAT THOSE OFFICERS, ADRENALINE IS RAGING WHEN THEY'RE IN THOSE PURSUITS. AND I KNOW IT'S SPLIT SECOND MOMENTS THAT THEY HAVE A, HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. I'M NOT CLEAR ON THAT. I'M NOT CLEAR ON THAT. WHAT, HOW, HOW WOULD HE GOVERN IF HE'S GONNA CHASE OR NOT? DOES HE CALL THOSE SUPERVISORS BEFORE HE THINK OF DOING ANYTHING IN ORDER TO PURSUE? UH, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I THINK NEED TO HAPPEN IS POLICE NEED TO ENGAGE MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT SINCE THE CHIEF CAME TO MAKE THE UM, CHANGES HERE AT CITY HALL, THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ON THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN SPOKEN TO. AND I DID ASK HIS OFFICE THE THANK YOU. I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS TO WRAP IT UP AND THEN, UM, WE'LL ANSWER. WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. SO GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR COMMENTS. OKAY. I HAD PUT IN CALLS FOR THE CHIEF. I ASKED HIS STAFF, HOW DO YOU GET TO TALK TO HIM? DO YOU MAKE APPOINTMENTS? DO YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS TO TALK? YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME HERE TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS IF I COULD GET 'EM ANSWERED DIRECTLY FROM THE HORSE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR HINES. UH, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP AND ENGAGEMENT IN SUNNYSIDE AND WHEREVER YOU ACTUALLY TREAD. BUT AT ANY RATE, UH, I KNOW THAT THAT PRIMARILY THE HIGH SPEED, UH, PURSUIT START IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY. THAT'S STATISTICALLY BEEN PROVED. BUT CERTAINLY, UH, IF YOU WILL GET WITH INGRAM, YOU KNOW, I WAS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THIS, AND THIS IS HOW WE GOT TO WHERE THERE WERE SOME CHANGES. UH, WE CERTAINLY VETTED IT IN COM IN COMMITTEE, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I I CERTAINLY WAS APPALLED TO SEE THAT SOME OF THESE, UH, PURSUITS I THINK COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. BUT CERTAINLY, UH, INGRAM IS, I THINK I BELIEVE IS HERE. AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL PROVIDE THOSE ANSWERS TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, NOT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RUN, BUT CERTAINLY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE THEIR SAFETY IN MIND. AND SO, I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, IF YOU'VE WRAPPED UP, I THINK YOU DID, BUT I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU COMING. THIS IS A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PRESSING AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING. WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL THE ANSWERS AND THAT THOSE ANSWERS WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO THE REMAINDER OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR PART IN TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN TOO. I KNOW IT WAS MORE THAN ONE OR TWO PEOPLE THAT JOINED IN TO HELP WITH THAT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MAYOR HINES FOR COMING TO CITY HALL AND TALKING ABOUT THIS AND BEING ON TOP OF THIS. AND I AGREE AND CERTAINLY WILLING TO BACK UP, UM, MY, UM, YOUR DISTRICT D COUNCIL MEMBER AND REQUESTING THAT INFORMATION. I THINK THOSE WERE ALL GOOD QUESTIONS AND THE PUBLIC DESERVES AN ANSWERS. THANK SO THANKS FOR COMING AND THANK YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR OFFICE. I WAS HERE WHEN THE CHIEF WAS MAKING THOSE CHANGES, SO THANK YOU. YES. AND MAYOR, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, WE CHANGED THE NEW POLICY. WE PUT IMPLEMENTED A NEW CHASE POLICY. AND ACCORDING TO THE POLICY, UH, SUSPECTS, UH, OFFICERS THAT PURSUE SUSPECTS AT THEIR DISCRETION. SO YOUR QUESTION WAS, WHO DECIDES IT'S AT THE OFFICER'S DISCRETION WEIGHING THE NECESSITY OF AN ARREST AGAINST POTENTIAL RISKS TO OFFICERS IN PUBLIC, WHILE ALSO PLACING LIMITATION ON PURSUITS FOR CERTAIN NINE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS? SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT'S UP TO THE OFFICER WHO IS REACTING IN SPLIT SECOND TO MAKE A DECISION, HOPEFULLY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEMSELVES AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. I'M HOPING THAT MODERATION AND INTEGRITY PLAYS A PART IN THE FUTURE. YES, MA'AM. BECAUSE AGAIN, I HEARD THE ADRENALINE AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF MEN FOLLOW THAT ADRENALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, MA'AM. GOD BLESS. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. AMY DAVIS. I'M SORRY. HOLD ON. COUNCIL MEMBER MARY ANN HUFFMAN, BEFORE WE GET TO MS. DAVIS, AND I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WHEN WE, WE SAID WHO DECIDES, UM, YOU KNOW, [00:50:01] WHEN TO PURSUE OR WHO DECIDES, UM, IT'S, THEY TARGET THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT DON'T STOP. RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN, UM, BECAUSE IF THESE PEOPLE JUST STOP, THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER BEHIND BEHIND THEM WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON, IF THEY WOULD STOP, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY FEAR POLICE IN THE FIRST PLACE WHETHER THEY DID SOMETHING OR NOT. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM AND THE REASON THEY FLEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AMY DAVIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I CAME HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN WE STARTED INVESTIGATING THE INCREASING COMPLAINTS OF INACCURATE AND INFLATED WATER BILLS. AND WHILE I APPRECIATE HAVING PUBLIC WORKS WATER DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES HERE TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS ONE-ON-ONE, I'M SURE THEY APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S SAD THAT IT TAKES THAT TO GET THEM HELP PEOPLE TAKING OFF WORK FROM THEIR JOBS COMING UP HERE AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OF CALLING THE CITY. UM, WE CAME TODAY BECAUSE THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS STILL TREATING THESE AS ISOLATED ANOMALIES. I HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT 500 COMPLAINTS FROM DIFFERENT WATER CUSTOMERS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. WE'VE HELPED RECOVER ABOUT $78,000 FOR CUSTOMERS WHO WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO PAY THESE BILLS. THAT IN THE END THEY DID NOT OWE. I KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT FIX A PROBLEM UNTIL YOU ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. THIS IS A, A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A ONE-OFF. THIS IS NOT, OH, GO WITH SAL AND JULIE AND THEY'LL FIX YOUR PROBLEM. THIS IS A CITYWIDE PROBLEM. PROBLEMS WITH OUTDATED EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE NOW PUTTING IN, BUT WE'RE WAY OFF SCHEDULE. IT WAS A FIVE YEAR PROGRAM WHERE EIGHT YEARS IN, THEY'VE ONLY REPLACED 71,000 OF THE REMOTE READING SENSORS. THEY HAVE 450,000 TO REPLACE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU VOTED FOR THE FIVE YEAR WATER RATE INCREASE IN 2021. I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE HERE DID, EXCEPT AMY PECK, MIKE KNOX, MIKE KOSH DID NOT. UH, WHEN THAT PASSED, WE WERE TOLD THE CITIZENS AND THE COUNCIL WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER RATES OF THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WOULD INCREASE BY ABOUT 78% BY THE END OF THOSE FIVE YEARS OF RATE INCREASES. WE ARE TWO YEARS IN AND WATER RATES HAVE INCREASED BY ABOUT 96%. 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN FEBRUARY OF 21 COST A HOUSTON WATER CUSTOMER $112. THE SAME 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN APRIL OF 23 AFTER TWO RATE INCREASES, COST WATER CUSTOMERS $220 AND 12 CENTS. AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU'RE ASKING CUSTOMERS, NO FORCING CUSTOMERS TO PAY ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT MORE FOR THEIR WATER, THERE'S NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY IN BILLING, THERE'S NO ANSWERS FOR PEOPLE ABOUT HOW I COULD HAVE USED, NOT ME PERSONALLY, 326,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN ONE MONTH. IT'S A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TELLING CUSTOMERS, YOU MUST HAVE A LEAK. THEN WHEN THEY PROVE THEY DON'T HAVE A A LEAK, THIS WATER DEPARTMENT ACTS AS IF THEY'RE DOING THEM A FAVOR, GIVING THEM A ONE-TIME BILL ADJUSTMENT. BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS THE NEXT MONTH OR THREE MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN, THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY IS NOT INVESTIGATING WHAT IS CAUSING THESE SPIKED USAGES AND WATER. IT'S NOT AN ANOMALY. WE'RE SEEING MORE OF IT AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS REFUSING TO ADMIT THAT IT'S EVEN HAPPENING. WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND TO FIX THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING TIME EXPIRED. MM-HMM . COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. UH, THANKS FOR JOINING US. UH, IT'S NOT AN ANOMALY. IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT. UM, I KNOW, UM, MY COLLEAGUES IN DISTRICT OFFICES AND ALSO AT LARGE WERE INUNDATED WITH WATER BILL, WATER BILL REQUESTS. MY STAFF HAS MASTERED THE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS. WE HAVE HAD TO SIT ON CALLS WITH THE RESIDENTS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT SENIOR CITIZENS ARE CLEAR OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO RESOLVE. SO THAT'S, THAT'S THAT. AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HORSESHOE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT I WANNA SPEAK TO YOUR $78,000 RECOVERED. HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT? BECAUSE I'M STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO GET A $2,200 RECOVERED, UM, FOR A A 90-YEAR-OLD WOMAN. UM, YEAH. UH, AND, AND SO THAT'S BEEN HARD TO GET, UH, ONCE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, ONCE THEY IDENTIFY, HEY, WE'VE PAID WAY MORE THAN MY NORMAL $80 BILL MM-HMM . UM, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE TO FIND A PATHWAY TO GET THAT REFUND. HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO SECURE $78,000 IN, IN, IN FRANCE? [00:55:01] IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. AND THAT 78,000, I'M SURE IS A LOW NUMBER. THAT'S ONLY FOR 16 CUSTOMERS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HELP. $78,000 FOR 16 CUSTOMERS. IT TAKES ON AVERAGE, WHEN I SEND THIS REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE, THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT REQUIRES CUSTOMERS PUT THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER DOWN. I SEND THAT TO CAROL HADDOCK, AARON JONES, KAITLYN OVER AT KAITLYN BURNS OVER AT, UH, THE WATER DEPARTMENT. IT TAKES THEM AT LEAST SIX WEEKS AFTER I SEND IT. AND THIS IS AFTER THE CUSTOMERS HAVE EXHAUSTED, HAVE BEEN GOING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF CASES WHERE THEY COME BACK TO ME AND SAY, OH, THIS WAS AN OVERSIGHT. THIS PERSON WAS ELIGIBLE FOR AN ADJUSTMENT. WE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO 'EM. NOW WE'RE GIVING IT TO THEM. SO, I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS. DO WE TELL EVERYONE, YOU JUST GOTTA COME TO COUNCIL. YOU GOTTA TAKE OFF WORK AND MISS OUT ON MONEY BECAUSE THEN THE WATER DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE SOMEBODY AVAILABLE HERE. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T REALLY SEEM FAIR AND IT DOESN'T REALLY SEEM LIKE THE WAY THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. RIGHT. IF YOU CAN'T GET A REFUND FOR A 90-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO'S CLEARLY PAYING MORE THAN WHAT SHE SHOULD. SO WAS YOUR, WAS YOUR PLEASE, PLEASE. WE HAVE, UM, A CITY COUNCIL RULE WAY BEFORE OUR TIME THAT IF YOU APPRECIATE WHAT MS. DAVIS IS SAYING, YOU WOULD KINDLY DO THIS AND RESERVE YOUR CLAPPING. SO DO THIS. THANK YOU. SO HAS THE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, WAS THAT PERTAINED TO A LEAK ADJUSTMENT CREDIT FOR A 16 HOMES OR EXACTLY. THEY WERE ALL DIFFERENT. THERE WAS A, UM, ONE STORY, AND THE REASON THAT I SAY THAT, I KNOW IT'S WAY, WAY LESS. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY SAW THE STORY. IN JANUARY, THERE WERE 58 DIFFERENT WATER ACCOUNTS THAT THE CITY WAS READING THE METERS INCORRECTLY. THESE WERE BRAND NEW METERS. THEY PUT IN, IN BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENTS OVER IN OAK FOREST AREA. I WANNA SAY MAYBE TIMBER GROVE. UM, AND THE HOMEOWNERS HAD COMPLAINED FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER. NO, I USED 6,000 GALLONS OF WATER, NOT 60,000 GOING THROUGH THE RUNAROUND WITH ALL THESE. AND FINALLY, ONE OF THE HOMEOWNERS WAS AN ENGINEER AND SENT ME ALL THE PROOF, THE SAME PROOF THAT HE HAD SENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, EXPLAINING HOW HE KNEW THAT THEY WERE READING THE METERS INCORRECTLY. AND FINALLY WHEN IT CAME FROM ME, THE CITY SAID, YOU'RE RIGHT. WE'RE ADJUSTING THESE. AND I THINK I GAVE THEM LIKE 12 CUSTOMERS. THEY SAID ALL TOTAL, THERE WERE 58 CUSTOMERS WHO HAD THOSE METERS WITH THE NEW READOUTS. AND SO WE'RE SORT OF TRUSTING THAT THEY GOT BACK TO THE OTHER CUSTOMERS. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME HOW MUCH MORE THOSE PEOPLE WERE BILLED OR, OR HOW MANY, HOW MUCH IN CREDITS THEY GAVE THOSE PEOPLE. SURE. BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARY ANNE HUFFMAN, THE, UH, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND ACCOUNT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. IT IS A STATE REQUIREMENT THAT THEY GIVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND ACCOUNT NUMBER. CAN I TELL YOU THAT'S INCORRECT. SO AARON JONES WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHEN I, WHEN I SENT EACH, WHEN I SENT EACH OF YOUR OFFICES THE REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND SAID, SEE WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO FILL OUT. AARON SAID, WE REALIZE THIS IS A VIOLATION AND WE'RE GONNA TALK WITH LEGAL ABOUT CHANGING THAT UP. THE STATE SAYS THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT A REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE. IT DOES NOT SAY THAT THEY HAVE TO ASK FOR THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND THEIR TEXAS DRIVER'S LICENSE. WE NEED MOTION TO EXTEND MOTION TO EXTEND, TO EXTEND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED MOTION. GRANTED, I'LL ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO OPINE ON THAT, THAT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH. I CAN GET THE ANSWER, BUT CAN YOU CHECK, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. CAN YOU CHECK AND SEE IF THAT IS CORRECT? 'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO GIVE OUT, UM, YEAH, I'LL INFORMATION. I'LL FIND OUT. COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MS. DAVIS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN ON TOP OF FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, AND I TOO HAD A EXTREMELY LARGE WATER BILL MM-HMM . UM, THEY DID THE INVESTIGATION. THERE WAS NO LEAK. AND EVENTUALLY THE CITY JUST CAME BACK AND SAID, WELL, IT'S JUST AN EXTREMELY LARGE BILL. THAT WAS THE EXPLANATION. YOU KNOW, NO OTHER BUSINESS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE LIKE THIS. IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS OPERATED LIKE THIS, THEY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS. THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS A JOKE. YOU KNOW, WE PLEASE, PLEASE, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL. AND IT'S RIDICULOUS WHEN YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL IS LESS THAN YOUR WATER BILL COMING IN. AND, UM, IN 2021, I WASN'T HERE. SO I, I DIDN'T VOTE TO RAISE THE WATER INCREASES. BUT, UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THE DISTRICT THAT ARE IN FIXED INCOMES THAT, UH, LITERALLY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR WATER BILL. UM, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND WE, WE NEED TO DO IT NOW. SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY COUNCIL MEMBER AT SITTING AT HERE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT HAS NOT HAVE DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS WITH PUBLIC WORKS. WE ALL FEEL THAT. BUT I WOULD REFRAIN FROM CALLING THEM A JOKE. THEY [01:00:01] HAVE SOME CHALLENGES. WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT. THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBLE AS ELECTIVE BODY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS WELL. I'LL SHOW YOU ONE THING THAT OUR OFFICE HAVE DONE. UH, WE PUT TOGETHER AN INFOGRAPHIC SO THAT WE GO TO EVERY COMMUNITY MEETING. WE GO TO EVERY PERSON THAT INQUIRES ABOUT A EXPENSIVE BILL, AND WE SEND THIS OUT, IT'S A CHECKPOINT. AND WHAT WE THEN DO IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE THEM GIVE US THE SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER, AND THEN WE TRACK IT AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT. AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S, OTHER THAN, UH, A FRIEND OF MINE, MR. JAN EDELMAN, UH, WE ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON FROM MY DISTRICT THAT HAS COMPLAINTS ABOUT WATER BILLS. SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE PROCESS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE HAS WORKED VERY WELL. AND WE'LL HEAR WHAT JAN HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT. BUT, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM. MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM. MS. DAVIDS, THANK YOU FOR COMING, UH, TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, RAISING THE AWARENESS ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK THAT ALL OF THE, UM, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, UM, EXPERIENCED WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED. WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING SEVERAL CALLS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, AND THE AT LARGES AND THE, AND THE ALARS ABOUT, UM, OUR, ABOUT CONSTITUENT WATER BILLS. AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS. UM, BUT IT IS VERY, UH, ALARMING WHEN RESIDENTS CALL AND SAY, MY WATER BILL IS TYPICALLY $35, AND NOW MY WATER BILL IS $500, OR I RECEIVED A $2,000 WATER BILL AND I KNOW I DON'T HAVE A LEAK. AND WE HAVE A PERSON DEDICATED IN OUR OFFICE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH WATER BILLS BECAUSE THEY CAN, UM, GET, GET SOMEONE ON THE LINE AND TRY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP RESIDENTS TO TODAY. I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE, UM, WATER DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT WITH HELPING OUR OFFICE TO TRY TO, UM, RESOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES. THERE ARE WAY MORE PEOPLE IN THE CITY THAN IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT. MM-HMM . SO I DON'T WANT TO, UM, DISCREDIT THAT THEY ARE WORKING. HOWEVER, THERE STILL IS AN ISSUE. AND I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS WE USED TO BE ABLE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY READ THE WATER METERS. SO AS A CUSTOMER, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE HOW MUCH WATER YOU ARE USING. AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT CAPABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO READ THEIR WATER BILLS IN REAL TIME. AND SO THEY'RE WATER METERS IN REAL TIME. AND SO THERE SEEMS TO BE, UM, SOME DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AMOUNT OF WATER PEOPLE HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN USING AND, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH THE NEW METERS. SO I THINK THERE'S A MYRIAD OF INVESTIGATIONS OR ANSWERS THAT WE NEED TO GET FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, IN REFERENCE TO THE WATER BILLS. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING BECAUSE, UM, WE ARE SOUNDING AN ALARM THAT NEEDS TO BE SOUNDED, AND WE DO NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN HOW WE ARE RESPONDING. AND I MEAN, WATER IS A PRECIOUS COMMODITY. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MM-HMM . UM, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ONLY PAYING FOR WHAT THEY'RE USING. RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE BEEN SOUNDING THIS ALARM FOR MANY, MANY, MANY MONTHS. COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICE MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. UM, I THINK THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE NEED TO ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IS THE FACT THAT YOU'LL GET A, YOUR, YOUR WATER WILL BE TURNED OFF. MM-HMM . THAT'S, THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, I'M BEING PROBLEM. YEAH. THAT, THAT ARE THE CALLS I'M GETTING. RIGHT. AND THEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING OFF PEOPLE'S WATER. YEAH. BUT WE'RE NOT. I KNOW, BUT THEY'RE GETTING NOTICES SAYING THAT THEIR WATER WILL BE TURNED OFF AT A CERTAIN DATE. AND IF THEY DON'T TRACK THAT, AND IF IT DOESN'T GO INTO UNDER, UM, TO BE EVALUATED TO SEE YOU, THE FEAR LEVEL THERE IS, IS THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE A, I THINK THE WATER DEPARTMENT, AS THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE ISSUES, I THINK THE TERMINATION NOTICES ARE TERRIFYING. SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. I MEAN, INTERNALLY, OBVIOUSLY. BUT THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS, WE'VE KNOWN THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING THE INFORMATION FORWARD TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND, AND, AND SOUNDING THE ALARM. WE ARE ALL INUNDATED. WE ARE ALL INUNDATED WITH THESE CALLS, SO I AGREE. NOT, NOT ONE-OFFS THAT SOMEBODY CAN HELP YOU WITH. I PUT OUT A NEWSLETTER LAST WEEK KIND OF BREAKING DOWN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE GIVEN AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS KIND OF THE, THE REASON MM-HMM . THIS IS, THIS IS IT. WE, WE HAVE 99.2% OF OUR 500,000 WATER CUSTOMERS. THE BILLS ARE CORRECT. THAT'S A JOKE. BUT I GOT THAT SAME NUMBER. SO THAT, SO THAT'S, SO YOU, YOU PUT THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT'S THE INFORMATION WE'RE GETTING. SO I HAVE TO KNOW [01:05:01] THAT I'M GETTING GOOD INFORMATION. NOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVE 500 IF YOU DO THE MATH, THAT'S 4,000. 4,000 INCORRECT BILLS. UM, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND THAT THERE'S PROBABLY MORE MM-HMM . UM, AS FAR AS THE RATES GO, THE, THE WIDER INCREASE THE BILL INCREASES WERE PART OF THE CONSENT DECREE. $2 BILLION OVER 15 YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE TOLD CUSTOMERS. THERE'S ALSO THE ANNUAL INCREASE EVERY APRIL, THE KICKER, THE, THE CPI, THE INFLATIONARY THING, THAT'S USUALLY AROUND 1% THAT THIS YEAR WAS EIGHT OR 9%. RIGHT. SO YOU COUPLE THOSE TWO INCREASES AND THERE'S A, THERE, IT'S A, IT'S A BIG BURDEN ON PEOPLE. MM-HMM . IT'S A BIG BURDEN. AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AS A BODY, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WHEN WE PASSED THAT, THAT YEAR KICKER THAT WE WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A YEAR WHERE IT WOULD BE THAT INFLATION THAT BIG 'CAUSE INFLATION HAD BEEN SO LOW FOR, FOR SO LONG. YEAH. SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT. SO THE OTHER THING YOU'RE BRINGING UP IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO, FOR PEOPLE TO GET RESOLUTION. AND, AND THAT'S SOPHISTICATED PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLING AND, YOU KNOW, DOING, HAVE THE TIME AND, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF SENIORS THAT DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR, OR DON'T, CANNOT DEVOTE THAT MUCH OF THEIR EMOTIONAL ENERGY ON GETTING THROUGH TO SOMEBODY AND THEN WALKING THROUGH ALL THE STEPS. AND SO, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM AND, AND PUBLIC WORKS, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO RETHINK HOW IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE NEED CASE MANAGERS. MM-HMM . AND, AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM TO DEAL WITH THE 4,000 PEOPLE. WE DON'T, BUT SOME KIND OF SYSTEM TO BETTER, BETTER, YOU KNOW, HANDHOLD PEOPLE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. MM-HMM . AND, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. I MEAN THAT THE CUSTOMERS KING AND, AND WE ARE CHARGING THE CUSTOMER AND WE HAVE TO TREAT THE CUSTOMERS AS, AS KING. SO, APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING THIS UP. WE'RE ALL FRUSTRATED AND IT'S, IT IS TIME FOR ACTION. I THINK WE'VE KIND OF HIT A TIPPING POINT AT MOTION TO EXTEND WATER DEPARTMENT MOVE. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED. SO, UH, JUST TO HAVE A QUESTION HERE FOR YOU MM-HMM . OF THE, THE 500 OR SO THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT CONTACT YOU, UH, HOW ARE YOU SOLICITING THOSE? I MEAN, ARE PEOPLE JUST HEARING ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS AND GENERALLY PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS AND THEN CALLING AND SAYING, OH, THEY'LL SEE THAT WE HELP SOMEBODY AND THEN 30, 40 MORE PEOPLE. SO ON AVERAGE, I'M GETTING ABOUT 12 TO 15 EMAILS EVERY WEEK FROM PEOPLE WITH BILLS IN THE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. OKAY. MEMBER YEAH. YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE DOING, UM, YEAH, YOU'RE DOING ALL WORK AND I KNOW THAT I'M GETTING SOME OF THE SAME EMAILS YOU GUYS ARE. RIGHT. UM, THE, I I WANTED TO MAKE TWO POINTS IF I CAN, THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I, I'VE ASKED PUBLIC WORKS, UM, OFFICIALLY IF THEY COULD TELL ME HOW MANY WATER ACCOUNTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ARE ONLY BEING CHARGED FOR BASE CHARGES. I'VE INTERVIEWED MANY SENIOR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE WHO PAY BETWEEN 35 AND $50 A MONTH. AND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS PAID FOR FIVE PLUS YEARS, THEY THINK THAT'S FOR THEIR WATER. AND THEN WHEN THE CITY GOES OUT AND REPLACES THEIR REMOTE READING SENSOR AND GETS AN ACTUAL READ, THE CITY SENDS THEM A BILL FOR WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY USING. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING SHOCKED PAYING 35 TO $50 THE LAST FIVE TO 10 YEARS. AND THEN ONE COUPLE GOT A BILL FOR $2,119 WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHAT THIS ADJUSTMENT WAS FOR. WELL, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD PAID FOR NO WATER USAGE OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS AND THEY WERE BACK BILLING THAT FAR. THE BILLS ARE OUTDATED. THERE'S NO WAY TO PUT AN EXPLANATION ON A BILL THAT COULD HAVE TOLD THOSE PEOPLE, THIS IS WHY YOU'RE BEING CHARGED THIS. UM, THE SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT THE CITY IS USING IS OUTDATED. I'M TOLD THEY'RE UPDATING THAT. UM, WHEN I DON'T KNOW. UM, BUT I'D, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, I MEAN, THE CITY HAS PROB PROBABLY LOST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CUSTOMERS THAT WEREN'T PAYING FOR USAGE. BUT THEN IS IT FAIR THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE, THEY WERE PAYING THEIR BILLS AS THEY WERE SENT AND THEN NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE NOT ONLY PAYING YOUR USAGE, YOU'RE PAYING 2023 RATES, WHICH ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT MORE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE. I JUST DUNNO HOW FAMILIES CAN ADJUST FOR THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLINE, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. CERTAINLY I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS, HAS HAD WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS. THIS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. AND, AND, AND IN GOING BACK SO FAR, I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN REGARDS TO HOW FAR BACK YOU CAN GO AND CHARGE PEOPLE. BECAUSE TO GET AN INSURMOUNTABLE BILL. AND THE FEAR THAT GOES WITH THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, INCOMPREHENSIBLE. AND CERTAINLY, UH, I KNOW THAT WE DID PASS A, UH, AN ORDINANCE THAT WHEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL COMES, MONEY COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE WILL BE SOME RELIEF ON THESE WATER BILLS. I WAS HAPPY TO INTRODUCE THAT AMENDMENT AND MY COLLEAGUES APPROVED IT UNANIMOUSLY. SO THERE IS SOME HELP ON THE WAY, BUT WHEN IT'S COMING, I [01:10:01] DO NOT KNOW. AND MAYBE WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT 'CAUSE THAT IS A PROBLEM. BUT CERTAINLY, UM, I, I DO ALSO THINK THAT MAYBE WE COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT WHERE PEOPLE COULD PAY WHAT THEIR NORMAL BILL IS AND MAYBE HAVE A MORATORIUM ON, UH, YOU KNOW, CUTTING OFF THE WATER OR PUTTING PEOPLE IN FEAR THAT THEIR WATER'S GONNA BE CUT OFF. THOSE ARE SOME DISCUSSIONS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED WATER. AND SO AS A BODY, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN PROVIDE WHATEVER RELIEF WE CAN IN THE MEANTIME UNTIL THE SYSTEM IS WORKED OUT. MM-HMM . AND I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN GO, SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND, AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T BILL YOU FOR THIS. THAT'S REALLY YOUR JOB TO BILL. AND SO NOW THAT YOU HAVE COME UP WITH THIS INSURMOUNTABLE BILL, I'M EXPECTED TO PAY IT. SO I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DISCUSSION AROUND THAT AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT HERE. IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T JUST COME TO OUR ATTENTION, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO AS A BODY. THANK YOU. MOTION. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTS MOTION GRANTED. UM, SO MS. DAVIS, THERE WERE NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUES. UH, ATTORNEY ZAMORA, DID YOU GET ANY INFORMATION ON THIS SOCIAL SECURITY? YEAH, DID, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, THE TEXAS UTILITY CODE SAYS THAT, UH, A GOVERNMENTAL UTILITY CAN'T DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF AN ACCOUNT HOLDER. SO I COULDN'T WALK IN THERE AND SAY, I WANNA KNOW THE INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR ADDRESS THAT ISN'T MINE. AND SO, WHAT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES IS TO VERIFY THAT THE PERSON THEY'RE SPEAKING TO, WE GET CALLS ON THE PHONE. WE GET EMAILS FROM INDIVIDUALS TO VERIFY THAT THEY'RE SPEAKING TO SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY THE ACCOUNT HOLDER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GIVE THE INFORMATION TO ANYBODY ELSE. THEY ASK FOR EITHER A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR A DRIVER'S LICENSE. OTHERWISE, YOU CAN'T REALLY VERIFY THAT YOU ARE GIVING THE INFORMATION TO THE ACTUAL ACCOUNT HOLDER, WHICH YOU ARE PROHIBITED TO DO. YOU'VE GOT IT. YOU, YOU CAN'T DISCLOSE IT TO ANYBODY ELSE OTHER THAN THE ACCOUNT HOLDER. OKAY. THIS IS CORRECT. UM, THE, THE UTILITY CODE SAYS THEY CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME OR ANYBODY ELSE. CORRECT. WITHOUT CONSENT. IT DOESN'T SAY THAT IT HAS TO BE VERIFIED BY SOCIAL OR DRIVER'S LICENSE, BUT THE CITY PUBLIC WORK SAYS THAT THEIR SYSTEM WON'T LET THEM LOOK UP A CUSTOMER WITH JUST THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THEIR SOCIAL. SO PEOPLE HAVE TO WRITE DOWN THERE. IT'S, AND IT'S THEIR SOCIAL AND THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT THEY NOW REQUIRE. SURE. THANK YOU. SO I'LL ASK YOU A QUESTION. SO THIS IS, I HAVE, ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE LITERALLY TWO MONTHS LEFT TO FIGURE THIS OUT 'CAUSE WE EXIT STAGE. LEFT NUMBER OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE HERE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. SO YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS FOR GOD, IT SEEMS LIKE 18 MONTHS MINIMUM. DO YOU THINK THAT WE, WE HAD A TOUGH SUMMER. CITY OF HOUSTON HAD A TOUGH SUMMER WITH OUR PIPES EXPLODING AND LEAKS AND EVERYWHERE WE WENT. SO AS WE SIT HERE TODAY ON THE 31ST OF OCTOBER, DO YOU THINK THIS PROBLEM IS STILL CONTINUING ALONG A LEVEL THAT, UH, OR IS IT, IS IT GETTING HIGHER OR THE GETTING A LITTLE BIT LOWER? OR WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? I'M BEING, YOU WOULD ALL KNOW TOO WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS, BUT I'M HEARING FROM MORE WATER CUSTOMERS WITH MORE ISSUES EACH MONTH RATHER THAN LESS. SO WHEN WE STARTED THE SERIES, YES, I'VE BEEN DOING 'EM FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS, BUT WHEN WE STARTED DOING A WEEK AT A TIME LAST NOVEMBER, THE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN ESCALATED INCREASING SINCE THEN, NOT GOING DOWN. OKAY. THANK YOU. NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CAROLYN MILLER. CAROLYN MILLER. MS. MILLER. CAROLYN MILLER. NEXT SPEAKER ELLIE SIBO. IT'S HARD TO HEAR THE NAMES THAT YOU'RE CALLING. YES, I USUALLY CALL 'EM AFTER LE SEABOLD. MS. SEABOLD, WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO. THANK YOU. UM, SO I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT WATER AS WELL. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'M ONE OF THOSE CONSTITUENTS WHO'VE HAD MASSIVELY OVERESTIMATED BILLS. UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT I HAVE A REFUND, I EXPECT IT'S OVER $2,000. UM, THE, IT IS NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE TO HAVE CONSUMED THE AMOUNT THAT THE CITY SAID THAT WE WERE CONSUMING. YOU WOULD'VE HAD TO RUN A HUNDRED GALLONS AN HOUR, TWO PEOPLE IN A HOUSE. IT'S, IT WAS, IT WAS INSANE. SO I HAD THEM ASSESS THE METER, PULL THE METER AT MY EXPENSE COST TO ALSO PAID FOR A THIRD PARTY LEAK TEST, WHICH IS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE CITY TEST TO THE METER FOUND IT TO BE FAULTY. IT FAILED THE TESTS, ALSO FOUND THE COMMUNICATION DEVICES, FAILED THE TESTS, UM, AND THEN REFUSED TO REFUND ME. WENT TO A HEARING AND SAID THAT YES, IT'S WRONG, BUT WE THINK IT'S WRONG IN YOUR FAVOR. AND I'M SORRY IF IT'S BROKEN, IT'S BROKEN. YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE HOW IT'S BROKEN. UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, , THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITY BOARD OF ASSESSORS THERE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE CALLED. I FEEL [01:15:01] LIKE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FAIR TO THE CITIZENRY. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE LISTENING TO THIS TODAY, LESS THAN 10% OF THOSE ASSESSMENT HEARINGS HAVE BEEN AWARDED IN THE FAVOR OF THE RESIDENTS, LESS THAN 10%. SO I, I'M JUST SAYING NOT ONLY ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT AMY WAS JUST SPEAKING ABOUT, THERE'S PROBLEMS IN THE RESOLUTION. MINE WAS NEVER RESOLVED. I GAVE UP STILL BEING OWED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THINGS THAT WERE ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE OCCURRED. DID EVERYTHING WE COULD DO FROM PULLING THE METER, REPLACING THE METER, PUTTING IN NEW METERS PAID FOR, ALL OF THAT NEVER RESOLVED. SO THE INFORMATION WE HAVE IS THAT THIS BEGAN IN APRIL OF 22. SO MATCHES MS. DAVIS IS 18 MONTHS, LITERALLY, UH, WE HAVE A CASE NUMBER THAT WAS CREATED. AND ACCORDING TO PUBLIC WORKS, IT WAS FOUND TO BE BILLED CORRECTLY. AN ADMINISTRATIVE WAS HEARING WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. AND PART OF THE REVIEW WAS INSPECTING THE METER REPORTED ON A PRIVATE LEAK. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR STORY MATCHES THE INFORMATION I HAVE. SO WHAT I'LL ASK IS, SAL SAL, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WOULD GET WITH, UM, MRS. SEABOLD AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BECAUSE, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE MATCHES WHAT HER STORY IS. SO BOTTOM LINE IS THE TECHNICIAN THAT INSPECTED THE METER REPORTED THAT IT WAS A PRIVATE LEAK, BUT THE CONSUMER SAYS IT WAS NOT A PRIVATE LEAK, IT WAS A CITY OF HOUSTON LEAK. SO WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. YEAH. AND AGAIN, I HAVE A THIRD PARTY REPORT TO THAT. YES. AND SINCE I GAVE UP THE METER, THE NEW METER THAT WAS INSTALLED IS RUNNING AT EXACTLY WHAT I PREDICTED FROM STATISTICAL CONSUMPTION PATTERNS EXACTLY THE SAME EVERY MONTH SINCE, WHICH IS LESS THAN A FIFTH OF WHAT I WAS BEING BILLED FOR SURE. AND THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION TO WORK WITH, SELL ON. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH, SURE. YOU CAN'T DISPUTE THEM. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT SPEAKER RAMEL GLENN RAMEL. GLENN. MR. GLENN. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON, SIR. UM, BASICALLY MY NAME IS WOLF GLENN AND RAMEL IS NOT HERE TODAY. MM-HMM . UM, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE, UH, THAT AMY WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. UH, GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. UH, AS OF JUNE OF 2023, THE BILL WE HAD WAS $113 59 CENTS. THEN IT JUMPED IN THE MONTH OF JULY TO 61,000 GALLONS OF WATER. WENT FROM $113 TO $1,792. FROM THAT POINT, IT WENT FROM AUGUST TO 38,000 GALLONS OF WATER. AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER, JUST RECENTLY, IT WENT TO 48,000 GALLONS OF WATER. SO THE SAME PROBLEM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS WHAT WE HAVE NOW HERE. UM, THE WATER COMPANY HAS INSTRUCTED ME THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP PAYING THE $113 THAT WE NORMALLY PAY. THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO SEND OUT SOMEONE TO DO A, A WATER UM, TEST, BUT, UH, WE HAVE YET TO SEE NO ONE TO COME OUT. NO ONE HAS COME OUT YET. SO THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE CONCURS WITH WHAT YOU SAID, THAT, UM, 61,000 GALLONS TO 39,000 TO 48 TO 15, WHICH RESULTED IN A $4,500 WATER BILL. UH, PUBLIC WORKS INVESTIGATED AND VISUALLY DID A CONFIRMATION OF THE METER READINGS. UH, IT SHOWED THAT THE USAGE RAINING FROM 1500 TO 1800 GALLONS PER DAY FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. UM, AND THEN YOU WERE INFORMED TO CHECK ABOUT A PRIVATE LEAK. HAVE YOU CHECKED ON THE PRIVATE LEAK SIDE? THAT WE HAVE NOT CHECKED ON YET. OKAY. BUT I NEED TO DO THAT. OKAY. NOW YOU ARE ENTITLED TO HIGH BILL RELIEF, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU BACK THE, THE TOTALITY OF THE MONEY. IS JULIE BACK YET? OKAY. OKAY. YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES BECAUSE HE'S SPEAKING ON BEHALF. GOT IT. OKAY. SO WE'LL GET SOMEBODY ASSIGNED AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. OKAY. COURT ORDER. MAYOR PRO TEM? YES. UM, UH, JUST ON THE RECORD, I KNOW I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, ABOUT THE $2,000 BILL. UM, PUBLIC WORKS WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT, BUT IT TOOK A SERIES OF MONTHS IN ORDER TO DO THAT. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I UPDATE THAT ON THE RECORD. THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS ONGOING, IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND THE 90-YEAR-OLD DID RECEIVE HER, UH, REFUND BACK. THANK YOU. SO JUST TO MAKE SURE AS A POINT OF ORDER, YOU ARE WILFRED OR YOU RAMEL? I'M WILFRED. YOU'RE WILFRED. SO THIS IS MR. WILFRED GLENN, [01:20:01] NOT RAMEL GLENN. SO HE WAS THREE BEHIND, UM, IL. SOME MOTION TO MOVE MR. WILFRED GLEN TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA SINCE WE ALREADY DID IT. MOTION TO MOTION TO MOVE MR. ROME SECOND WIL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? THANK YOU. SO JUST TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD REFLECTS THAT, SO MR. RUIZ WILL HANDLE THIS WITH YOU. I I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. OH, I'M SORRY. MR. VICE MAYOR APPROACH. MR. GLENN, WHAT, WHAT IS YOUR ASK TODAY? WHAT IS MY, YOUR ASK WHAT I'M ASKING? MM-HMM . UH, I'M ASKING THAT SOMEONE COME OUT AND DO SOMETHING TO OUR YARD. WE HAVEN'T WATERED OUR YARD IN THREE MONTHS. AND, UH, WE ACTUALLY TURNED OFF A, UM, A, A TOILET IN OUR HOUSE TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE A LEAK. AND, UH, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THE LAST BILL I RECEIVED WAS A BILL IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. AND IT SAID 48,000 GALLONS. UH, THIS IS CRAZY. THIS IS NOT EVEN RIGHT. IT SAID THAT YOU WERE USING 48,000 GALLONS AND YOU TURNED THE WATER OFF. I TURNED THE WATER OFF AND IT SAID I WAS USING 48,000 GALLONS OF WATER. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY. AND I HAVE A BILL HERE THAT SAYS I OWE 4,000 THROUGH $430 AND 46 CENTS. HOW DID, HOW DID YOU TURN THE WATER OFF? UM, I HAVE A DID YOU TURN IT OFF AT THE METER? NO, NO. I, I DIDN'T TURN IT. I HAVE A, A LITTLE SYSTEM THAT GOES FROM THE, FROM THE HOUSE TO THE METER. THE GUY WHO FIXES THE PUMP. SO I CAN TURN IT OFF THERE OR I CAN TURN IT OFF IN THE HOUSE WITH THE, UH, THE TURN THE KNOB AT THE, AT THE, UH, AT THE, AT THE TOILET ITSELF AND TURN IT TO THE RIGHT AND IT'S OFF COMPLETELY. SO WHICH ONE DID YOU TURN THE ONE AT? THE ONE IN THE HOUSE. THE ONE INSIDE THE HOUSE. OKAY. SO THAT'S THAT THE CITY IS CLAIMING THAT THE LEAK IS NOT ON THE CITY SIDE. IT'S ON YOUR SIDE. IF YOU TURN IT ON AT THE HOUSE, THERE COULD BE A LEAK FROM WHERE THE CITY VALVE IS TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE, WHICH IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. SO LET'S MAKE SURE JULIE IS BACK. JULIE, LET'S, UH, LET'S EXAMINE THIS AND SEE EXACTLY WHERE WE CAN GO WITH THIS. BUT THAT'S, THE CITY IS SAYING THAT THEY EXAMINE YOUR METER MM-HMM . AND THE CITY SIDE, IT WAS ACCURATE. SO THERE WAS A PROBLEM THEY ASCERTAIN ON YOUR SIDE. AND WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU TURN IT OFF AT THE HOUSE, YES. THAT STILL LEAVES THE POTENTIAL, NOT SAYING THIS IS TOTALLY ACCURATE MM-HMM . FROM AT THE CITY, AT THE METER IN YOUR YARD UNTIL IT GETS TO THE HOUSE, THERE COULD BE A LEAK. SO IT COMES MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BUT I'M NO PLUMBER. I KNOW. OH, I WISH I WAS A REAL PLUMBER. I HOPE COULD FIX ALL THESE PROBLEMS. UM, BUT MAYOR PERIM CAN, WE WE'RE ASKING OUR RESIDENTS TO GO AND GET A PRIVATE PERSON TO GO CHECK FOR THE LEAKS. RIGHT. AND THEN THEY FIND OUT THAT THERE'S NO LEAK AND THEN THEY SOLD ARE OUT THOSE COSTS. BUT HE DID NOT ASK NO, NO. A PRIVATE NO, NO. I'M SAYING THE PERSON BEFORE DID. RIGHT? AND, AND, AND THERE WAS NO LEAK. IS THERE ANY WAY, WHILE WE'RE WORKING ALL THIS THROUGH, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN MAYBE DO A REFUND FOR THAT AS WELL? BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING TO GET A PRIVATE PERSON TO COME OUT TO EVALUATE AND THEN THERE'S NO FAULT. IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, IT'S OUR PROBLEM, BUT THEN THEY'RE STILL OUT, POSSIBLY HUN, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. SO JUST WANNA ADD THAT TO THE RECORD AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS COMPLETE INSANITY, THEN MAYBE THAT'S AN OPTION TWO. GOT IT. THAT'S ABOVE MY PAY GRADE. OH, I KNOW MY TOO , BUT YES. BUT, UH, THE FIRST, OUR FIRST CHECKPOINT IS HAVING YOU CHECK INSIDE SINKS, TOILETS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND THEN CHECK YOUR YARD FOR ANY VISIBLE WATER. AND THEN AT THAT TIME, IF YOU SEE NONE OF THE ABOVE, YOU CONTACT US AT 3 1 1. AND WHAT OUR OFFICE DOES IS JUMPS IN SIMULTANEOUSLY AND RUNS TWO PARALLELS WITH YOU AND WITH PUBLIC WORKS. SO WHAT THEY DID WAS PUBLIC WORKS, WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE METER FROM THE STREET TO THE CITY'S POINT, AND SAW THAT IT WORKED FINE. AND THEN THEIR ASSERTION WAS THAT YOU PROBABLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT FROM THAT METER INTO YOUR HOUSE, WHICH IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE CAN HELP WITH JULIE. AND, UH, AND WE WILL, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. OKAY. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD LUCK. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. YES, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. PAMELA BARKER. MS. BARKER. PAMELA BARKER. PARKER. PARKER. OKAY. WE HAD YOU DOWN AS BARKER WITH A B MS. BARK PARKER WITH THE P HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO GET IT ALL IN. FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE BEING OVERLY KIND TODAY. SO GO AHEAD. I WANNA START WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. I ALSO CONTACTED AMY DAVIS'. SHE SAID TO PULL MY RECORDS, UH, SHE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION. I REFUSE TO GIVE HER MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. WHO WOULD [01:25:01] IDENTITY THEFT. DO YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER? NO. LAST FOUR DIGITS SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT. I'M ALSO GONNA GO BACK TO LARRY KILLIAN THAT SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE SEWER RATE. YES. HADN'T EVEN OCCURRED TO ME. I'VE NOW REVIEWED MY LAST SEVEN BILLS. I HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE WITH MY BILLS. I REALLY WISH THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. NOW, I'M NOT SURE IF MY BILLS HAVE BEEN ACCURATE OR NOT. THEY HAVE GONE UP EXTREMELY IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. WELL, ACTUALLY IN THE LAST THREE WERE THE MOST EXTREME. THREE OR FOUR. THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF THE OUTRAGEOUS WATER INCREASE RATE THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR. I'M NOT USING A WHOLE LOT MORE WATER THAN I DID PRIOR TO THAT, AND I DIDN'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF HANDS RAISED THAT SAID THEY VOTED FOR THAT. HOW DID IT PASS IF ONLY FOUR PEOPLE VOTED FOR IT? IT PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL. THIS BODY HERE. OKAY. AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS SAME CITY COUNCIL HAS VOTED FOR ANOTHER LIKE 3.5% INCREASE NEXT YEAR. I'M NOT SURE ON THE EXACT INCREASE, BUT YES. SO HOW CAN WE JUSTIFY THAT AFTER THIS INSANE INCREASE, WHICH REALLY AMOUNTED TO LIKE 16% LAST YEAR, WHEN YOU DO THE COMBINATION OF THE, WHAT WAS IT? 8.2% THAT WE GOT BASED ON INFLATION, RIGHT? AND THEN ANOTHER 1% BASED ON THE POPULATION INCREASE. AND THEN WE HAD THE OTHER RATE INCREASE IN 2021, 16%. DOES ANYBODY THINK THAT'S REASONABLE IN A YEAR? NO. ANYBODY'S SALARY GO UP THAT MUCH BECAUSE OF YOU COURSE I WANT YOUR JOB. OKAY? BUT THAT'S NOT EVEN WHY I CAME HERE. I CAME HERE FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN RAISED YET, AND I HAVE MY LAST SEVEN WATER BILLS HERE, WHICH I BROUGHT FOR ABBY, WHICH IS MY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY. I HAVE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON WATER DEPARTMENT CANNOT BILL ME ON A 30 DAY CYCLE. THESE BILLS RANGE FROM 26 DAYS TO 35 DAYS. YOU CAN'T BUDGET AROUND THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE OUR BILLS, OUR RATES, OUR WATER IS BILLED AT A THOUSAND GALLONS AND THEN GOES UP EXPONENTIALLY. SO EVERY DAY THAT YOU BILL ME OVER 30 DAYS, I'M NOT ONLY GETTING ROBBED IN MY OPINION, 'CAUSE YOU'RE BILLING ME AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN I WOULD'VE BEEN IF THAT SIX DAYS HAD ROLLED INTO THE NEXT 30 DAY CYCLE. LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE. BUT I CAN'T BUDGET FOR THAT. I'M, I'M LOOKING AT MY WATER BILL AND THINKING, OKAY, MY NEXT WATER BILL'S GONNA BE IN 30 DAYS. AND SO THIS IS HOW MUCH I'M ALLOTTING TO PAY FOR WATER. MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED MOTION GRANTED, GO AHEAD. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF MY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT BECAUSE IF YOU GET ON THE WEBSITE, YOU GET A MAIN NUMBER, RIGHT? THERE'S NO, YOU CAN'T LIKE GO THROUGH SOME SORT OF HIERARCHY LIST THAT TELLS YOU I WOULD, I HATE TO INTERRUPT, BUT I WOULD GO SPECIFICALLY TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER AND LET THE COUNCIL MEMBER RUN THE TRACK. TWO EVER ONCE HAS RESPONDED TO A SINGLE EMAIL THAT I HAVE SENT TO HER OFFICE. SO, BECAUSE WHAT WHAT WE HAVE IS THAT, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN LOOK UP, WE CAN'T LOOK UP BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNDER THE NAME OF PAMELA BAKER. MM. PARKER PARKER PARKER MY FAULT. AND, UM, THEY CAN'T SHOW ANY INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM UNDER THAT NAME WHEN YOU CALLED AND DID GIVE THE SOCIAL SECURITY. THAT'S WHY WE'VE SORT OF REACHED A LITTLE BIT OF A DEAD END ON THIS. SO, WELL, AMY COULDN'T GET THE INFORMATION, BUT I HAVE MY OWN SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. AND I WOULDN'T GIVE MY SOCIAL SECURITY IN INFORMATION EITHER. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW AN, AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY MY COUNSEL MEMBER DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU CONTACT HER OFFICE. SHE WON'T BE MY COUNCIL MEMBER NEXT YEAR. BUT FRANKLY, I DIDN'T THINK THE LINEUP ON THAT ELECTION LOOKED ANY BETTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, SO WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS 30 MINUTE, THIS 30 DAY CYCLE? WHY AM I BEING BILLED? YOU KNOW, WELL, MR. RUIZ, RAISE YOUR HAND MR. RUIZ. AND WHAT I'D ALSO ASK IS THAT EVERYONE THAT WE SEND TO EITHER SAL OR JULIE, UH, WE HAVE A NICE WRITTEN REPORT. PROBABLY TOOK SOMEONE A LONG TIME TO PUT TOGETHER. WE WOULD LIKE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER SITTING AT THIS HORSESHOE, WE WOULD LIKE A WRITTEN REPORT FOR EVERY CASE THAT WE ARE SENDING TO SAL AND JULIE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FOLLOW BACK UP WITH THE CONSTITUENT. IF IN THIS CASE, I WOULD DIRECT IT TO ABBY CAYMAN AND MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THE FINDINGS BACK TO YOU. I CAN'T CONTROL ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT. JULIE, I UNDERSTAND. ONE, ONE LAST THING. YES, MA'AM. I DON'T HAVE A REPORT. I DIDN'T WRITE THIS UP. I'VE WRITTEN NOTES ON THESE WATER BILLS THAT I, THAT HAS MY ACCOUNT NUMBER AND INFORMATION ON IT. I DON'T WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO HAVE THAT TOO. THE ONLY ONE THAT'LL HAVE IT IS MS. JULIE STANDING OVER THERE AND SHE'LL HELP YOU WITH THIS. OKAY. THANK [01:30:01] YOU. AND JULIE, I MADE A COMMENT THAT WE WANT WRITTEN REPORTS ON EVERY CASE THAT WE SEND TO YOU AND SAL AND, UH, Y'ALL DID A NICE JOB PREPARING FOR THIS MEETING, UH, WITH INFORMATION THAT GOES INTO EXTENSIVE DETAIL. WE'D LOVE THE SAME THING SO THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN FOLLOW BACK UP WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM. AND, AND TO MS. HU, MS. PARKER, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO REMIND YOU THAT IF ANYONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEIR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE, OUR SYSTEM ALSO HAS THE FIVE AT LARGES WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION. WE GET A LOT OF EMAIL ABOUT THIS IN PARTICULAR, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I, BECAUSE WE CHAIR, UH, THE TTI COMMITTEE WHERE WE'VE HOSTED VARIOUS THINGS. I'M, UH, I WISH I WAS, COULD BE PROUDER, BUT I'M NOT. TODAY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD ON OUR FORUM ABOUT WATER. AND IT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME, THE LACK OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE PILE UP THAT WE'VE HAD. AND MS. DAVIS, AGAIN, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN YET TODAY TO YOU, BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO COUNCIL. AND WE'VE HEARD IN ANECDOTALLY, SOME SOLUTIONS PROPOSED TODAY, BUT THERE IS NOTHING SHORT OF, UH, FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE CITY TO, UH, ADDRESS THE SITUATION. AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT COUNCIL, UH, CONTACTING A COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE WAS EVEN AN OPTION. OKAY? YEAH, YOU HAVE. THANK YOU. AND, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN. WHEREVER YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU HAVE A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. AND WHEREVER I LIVE, I HAVE A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. AND WHERE THE OTHER, AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ALL HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE. AND THAT'S USUALLY THE PERSON I KNOW AS A, AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER. IF I'M GOING TO HELP SOMEBODY ANYWHERE IN THE CITY, I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THAT DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER THEIR BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THEY KNOW THAT DISTRICT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE CITY, BUT THOSE OF US WHO SERVE AT LARGE, INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THE CONTROLLER WHO'S LESS FOCUSED ON, UH, CONSTITUENT ISSUES THAN WE ARE. MM-HMM . BUT HEARS ABOUT THINGS AS WELL. WE ARE HERE TO HELP. AND THOSE OF US, WE SERVE ON THE COMMITTEES, WE CHAIR COMMITTEES, WE ARE THERE WITH YOU IN THE CASE. I'M, I'M A PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, WHICH IS WHY I CHAIR THE TTI COMMITTEE, TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. OKAY? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND THIS IS, UH, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A HORRIBLE YEAR IN THE 18 MONTHS THAT MS. DAVIS HAS BEEN COVERING THIS STORY. THIS HAS BEEN EPIC, YOU KNOW MM-HMM . LIKE 10 YEARS AGO IN 2011 AND 12, THE LAST TIME WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, HE HAS SERVED SEVEN AND THREE QUARTERS YEARS, AND HE'S SERVED WITH SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS. MM-HMM . NOT COUNTING THE SOCIAL UNREST THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH GEORGE FLOYD AND OTHERS, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER ABOUT, UH, THE DROUGHT OR ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND IT IS, UM, IT'S A REAL, IT'S A REAL ISSUE. MOTION TO EXTEND, MOTION TO EXTEND CAST STATE, A MOVE TO EXTEND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED MOTION. GRANTED, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME. OKAY. I JUST WANNA RESPOND TO THAT. YES MA'AM. FOR A SECOND, MA'AM, BECAUSE IT MADE ME THINK THAT AMY BROUGHT UP SOMETHING ELSE. UM, IT'S NOT JUST YOU HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF. SURE. YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE, DRIVE YOUR, YOU KNOW, DRIVE YOURSELF DOWN HERE. YOU HAVE TO PAY PARKING. THE LONGER THIS GOES, THE MORE I'M GONNA GET TO PAY FOR THAT WHEN I LEAVE. ALL BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT WE HIRED TO DO THIS JOB COULD NOT GET BACK TO ME. AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE EMAILED THAT OFFICE ABOUT AND NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE TO. SO I DON'T KNOW WE ELECT THEM, BUT SOMETIMES WE ARE LESS. I, I PERSONALLY, SOMETIMES FEEL I'M AT THE BALLOT AND I AM ELECTING THE LESSER OF THE EVILS. WHAT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW DURING THE ELECTION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, DOES MATTER FOR ALL OF US. WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU DO VOTE. WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU COME DOWN HERE AND YOU TELL US AND REMIND US OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. WHAT WE DO IS HARD WORK, I ASSURE YOU. BUT WE ALSO ARE HERE TO HELP YOU. AND THAT IS OUR JOB. SO THANKS AGAIN, APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING TO ME. THANK YOU. REALLY DO. THANK YOU. AND AS I, I TELL ALL OF MY CONSTITUENTS, YOU HAVE SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT REPRESENT YOU, YOUR DISTRICT, AND YOUR FIVE AT LARGE. AND THE ONES THAT SERVE AT LARGE THAT GO TO OUR MEETINGS CAN VERIFY THAT. AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN GETTING THINGS DONE AND TAKING ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANY OF THIS. SO IF YOU DON'T GET IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, LOOK 'EM UP ON THE WEBSITE, GET THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS, GET THEIR PHONE NUMBER, CALL 'EM. AND I'VE WORKED WITH CC, I'VE WORKED WITH ALL OF 'EM, AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB. OKAY? SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER. ANN STONE. ANN STONE. GOOD AFTERNOON MS. STONE. [01:35:08] GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M GONNA MAKE THIS REAL QUICK. IF YOU DON'T MIND, PULL MIC DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT. CAN YOU HEAR, YOU KNOW, PERFECT. I USED TO BE SIX TWO. I WAS SIX FOUR. I USED TO BE SIX UNTIL I, I GOT THESE WATER BILLS. I WAS SIX, I WAS SIX FOUR AND I HAD A FULL HEAD OF HAIR BEFORE AMY DAVIS CAME ON TV 18 MONTHS AGO. GOD BLESS AMY. SO I'M COMING TO YOU AS OF TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 1ST. I WILL HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR EIGHT MONTHS. SO FAR I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY WITH THE ISSUE I'M HAVING. I HAVE TWO WATER METERS. I HAVE A RESIDENTIAL AND I HAVE AN IRRIGATION. AND BY DOING THAT TO EXPLAIN THAT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT AWARE, WHEN YOU HAVE AN IRRIGATION, THE ONLY THING THAT I AM OBLIGATED TO PAY IS THE BASE CHARGE. I DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY OF THE CLEANING. I DO THAT ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO I WANNA COMMEND WHO'S EVER GIVING CUSTOMER SERVICE, UM, THEIR SCRIPTS, THEY'RE VERY GOOD BECAUSE FOR THE EIGHT MONTHS THAT I'VE TALKED TO SOMEBODY ONCE A MONTH TO PUT MY ACCOUNT ON HOLD, I'VE GOTTEN THE SAME STORY TO EVERYBODY DIFFERENTLY. SPEAKING TO ME EVERY WINTER I TURN OFF MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM. THERE'S NO REASON TO PAY FOR WATER WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. SO AS OF MARCH OF 2023, I TURNED OFF MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM. WHEN I STARTED GETTING BILLS FOR THAT, I WAS USING 60,000 GALLONS AND THEN 8,000 GALLONS AND $3,000 BILLS AND $2,000 PILLS. I TOOK THE TIME WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE RIGAMAROLE. I CAN TELL YOU I'VE TALKED TO CARLA, JASMINE LASHANDA, I HAVE DATES AND TIMES OF WHAT I'VE SHARED WITH THEM. AGAIN, THEIR SCRIPT IS, LET ME PUT YOU ON HOLD. LET ME GO CHECK AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND COME BACK. EVERYONE HAS SAID, WELL, NOBODY TURNED IN THE REQUEST. NOBODY DID THIS, NOBODY DID THAT. I SAID, MY METER THAT I'M ABLE TO GO OUT AND READ IS AT 1502. HOW DO YOU KEEP GIVING ME 60,000 GALLONS IN COMING BACK THIS LAST MONTH, I GOT SOMETHING THAT I HAD NEVER GOTTEN BEFORE AND THAT WAS AN ESTIMATE OF 4,000 GALLONS. SO I'VE GONE FROM 60,000 GALLONS TO 8,000 GALLONS TO 10,000 GALLONS. REMEMBER, MY METER IS OFF. IT IS STILL AT 1502. I HAVE EVERY BILL THAT I, AND EVERY PERSON THAT I HAVE TALKED TO AND THEY HAVE SAID, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. WE SEE THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT MOVING ANY WATER NOW. IN JULY, I FINALLY GOT A NEW WATER METER. SO THERE I WENT. THEY WENT BACKWARDS. HOW DO YOU GO BACKWARDS? I'M AT 1502, THEY'VE GOT ME AT 14 SOMETHING, THEN I'M BACK UP TO 1600. THEN I'M BACK DOWN. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE TAKEN TO TALK TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THAT I FINALLY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MOVE, EXTEND. MS. STONE. YES SIR. GO AHEAD. I'LL GIVE YOU MY TIME. THANK YOU. MY TIME. THANK YOU. I WAS ABLE TO GET A PRICE ADJUSTMENT AGAIN. WHY AM I GETTING A PRICE ADJUSTMENT FOR SOMETHING THAT I HAVEN'T USED? SO MY BILL'S GONE FROM $3,000 DOWN TO AS OF I GOT A LETTER YESTERDAY FROM THE CITY THAT SAYS, WE'RE GONNA CREDIT YOU $778 AND 5 CENTS. THAT STILL LEAVES ME A BALANCE OF $829 AND 17 CENTS. AGAIN, I'M AT ZERO. I'VE GOT A 1502 AND THEY'RE BILLING ME FOR THINGS I DON'T HAVE, MY COUNCILWOMAN IS NOT HERE. NO, I HAVE NOT CONTACTED HER. WASN'T EI WAS TOLD TO JUST BY FRIENDS OF MINE. MM-HMM . AND I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T DONE THAT. ALL I'M ASKING FOR YOU'RE GONNA SAY WHAT YOU'RE ASK, ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS ZERO OUT THAT 8 29 THAT YOU'RE HOLDING ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR. THERE ARE, THERE ARE STATISTICS IN EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE WITH CANCELED CHECKS. I'VE BEEN PAYING THE BASE CHARGE EVERY MONTH. I HAVE NOT PAID THE $800, THE $3,000 BECAUSE MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD EVERY MONTH. SO EVERY MONTH ON THE 19TH OF THE MONTH, I'VE GOTTA SIT AND WAIT FOR AN HOUR AND TALK TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THEM TO PUT ANOTHER [01:40:01] HOLD ON AND SAY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THAT'S ALL. I'M MY ASK ZERO OUT. I'D LIKE TO TURN MY SPRINKLER SYSTEM BACK ON BECAUSE THE MONEY I'M GETTING READY TO SPEND TO REDO THE YARD AND THE LANDSCAPING AND I'M HAPPY TO DO IT IF WE CAN GET THIS RESOLVED. SURE. VICE MAYOR PROAM. MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM, THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY AND I APOLOGIZE THAT, THAT THIS IS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, BUT I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, DID YOU, UH, YOU SAID YOUR WATER METER WAS AT 15 0 2 0 2. THAT'S WHAT IT READS. AND HOW LONG DID IT READ? 1502 SINCE MARCH 1ST WHEN I TURNED IT OFF. AND WOULD YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT METER READING FOR THOSE MONTHS WITH THE TIME STAMP? YOU KNOW, YOU WERE GONNA ASK ME THAT AND I DID NOT TAKE A PICTURE. I HAVE EVERY BILL. I AM, I MADE YOU A COPY IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT. SO ON THE BILL, DOES IT SAY 1502? NO MA'AM. THE READING 1502. NO. NO. I WAS CURIOUS TO SEE IF YOUR, YOUR METER READ 1502 EVERY MONTH AND THAT WE HAD A BILLION ERROR. YEAH, READ IT. HOW DO WE READ IT? THE LAST TIME IT WAS READ AT 1502 WAS THIS LAST MONTH WHEN THEY FINALLY PROBABLY SENT SOMEBODY OUT. I GOT THE NEW METER IN JULY. WELL THAT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING FROM MARCH 1ST TO JULY. SO WHEN DID SOMEBODY GO READ YOUR METER? UH, THIS LAST BILL THAT I GOT AND IT SAYS 15 0 2 11 1. DOES IT SAY 15? OH AND THEY SAID IT'S 1502. THAT, THAT SHOULD BE EASY TO CLEAR UP. I, I THOUGHT SO. SO MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTAND, IN MARCH OF 23 TO JULY OF 23, YOU SHUT YOUR SYSTEM OFF AND THERE WAS NO OFF ACTIVITY. IT'S STILL OFF. IT IS STILL OFF. AND IT READ 1502. YES SIR. I TURNED IT OFF INTO 1502 AND TODAY IT READS 1502. YES SIR. BUT YET YOU'RE GETTING BILLED THROUGH THE IRRIGATION METER FOR WATER USAGE. OH, 60,000 GALLONS. 8,000 GALLONS. PICK ONE. OKAY SAL, CAN YOU HELP US OUT? IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EASY FIX. SO SAL WILL COME AND HELP YOU WITH THIS. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. YES MA'AM. THANKS. THANK YOU MS. STONE. NEXT SPEAKER. NITA SUN AGNIS. S-U-N-D-T STUNT. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. I BROUGHT THIS ALONG. I SAW YOU WALKING IN WITH THAT. I WAS WONDERING WHERE WE WERE GONNA SEE THAT ONE. NOTHING LIKE SEEING THINGS. YES MA'AM. I LIVE IN MY OWN HOUSE. I HAVE TWO METERS, THE IRRIGATION METER AND THE INSIDE HOUSE. INSIDE HOUSE. I AVERAGE ONE TO 2000 EVERY MONTH EXCEPT IN JANUARY WHERE I HAVE A HOUSE FULL OF GUESTS OVER CHRISTMAS. I WAS SHOCKED IN SEPTEMBER, SUPPOSEDLY I USED 12,000 GALLONS IN MY HOUSE. THERE IS NO WAY ONE PERSON CAN USE 12,000 GALLONS. I'VE HAD MY PLUMBER OUT, NO LEAKS ANY PLACE, NO RUNNING TOILETS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. IT HAPPENED ALSO IN MAY OF LAST YEAR. I COMPLAINED BITTERLY BUT DID NOT GET ANYWHERE WITH THE CITY. THEY SAID THAT'S WHERE THE METER READ. UH, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WHEN THAT HAPPENS. UM, THE ONLY OUTSIDE WATER THAT'S ALSO ON THE HOUSE ISN'T MY, MY DRIVEWAY AND I ONLY USE THAT WATER WHEN I'M WASHING MY CAR. I DON'T DO THAT EVERY DAY. AS FAR AS THE INSIDE, UH, I MEAN THE IRRIGATION METER, I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH COMPLAINT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO WONDER WHY I AM STILL USING AS MUCH OR MORE WATER THAN I USED TO BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN TO WATERING TWICE A WEEK ON DESIGNATED TIMES. I ABIDE BY THAT AND THE WATER PRESSURE IS HALF OF WHAT IT USED TO BE. SO HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY USE THE SAME AMOUNT OF FOR 15 MINUTES WITH THE WATER PRESSURE BEING HALF OF WHAT IT WAS? UM, I HAVE A QUESTION TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A PUBLIC OFFICE THAT ISN'T OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU CANNOT SPEAK TO ANYBODY. YOU CANNOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THERE CALLING. YOU NEED A MASTER'S DEGREE. PRESS ONE, PRESS TWO, YOU GET TO TWO AND THEN YOU PRESS FOUR AND ON AND ON IT GOES. ALSO, WHY IS THIS NOT ADVERTISED ON THE BILL? THAT YOU CAN HAVE A SEPARATE METER FOR IRRIGATION AND [01:45:01] YOU PAY LESS THAN HALF FOR THAT WATER THAN WHAT YOU NORMALLY DO BECAUSE THE SEW CHARGE FOR THE HOUSE WATER IS SO HIGH. MY NEIGHBOR DIED AUGUST 1ST. MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE IN CHARGE. MY DAUGHTER HAD POWER OF ATTORNEY. SHE IS THE EXECUTOR AND THE WILL, IT WILL NOT NEED PROBATE BECAUSE PROBATE, EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF. UH, SHE CALLED THE WATER DEPARTMENT. SHE HAS SENT THEM COPIES OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY. THE WILL, SHE'S A LAWYER IN NEW YORK CITY. UH, THEY WILL NOT EVEN TALK TO HER. THE WATER BILL, THERE WAS NO WATER RUNNING IN THE HOUSE. THERE'S NOBODY LIVING THERE. THE WATER BILL $1,500. THEN MY OTHER NEIGHBOR, UH, RODIKA DAY UNFORTUNATELY IS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. UH, HER WATER CONSUMPTION HAS BEEN THE LOWS. IN 30 YEARS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. DO I GET 30 SECONDS? MOTION TO MOTION TO EXTEND. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. MOTION IN FAVOR OPPOSED. MOTION. AYE. HER HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM FOUR TO ONE SINCE FEBRUARY 22. AND YET HER WATER BILL IS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER. SHE HAS NO WATER GOING ON THE BACKYARD BECAUSE OF A LUNG DISEASE. SHE HAS ASTROTURF NO WATER THERE. SHE HAS A VERY SMALL FRONT YARD AND THE WATER PEEL KEEPS GOING UP AND UP. AND I WOULD LIKE IF I MAY, TO LEAVE HER PAPERWORK HERE WITH CITY COUNCIL, UM, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN READING THAT. UM, AND THAT'S ALL. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I DO HOPE WE'RE GONNA SEE CHANGES BECAUSE IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THANKS MAYOR. AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHOCK WHEN YOU GET A $500 WATER BILL AND YOU SAID WHAT HAPPENED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND JUST TO MAKE SURE OUR INFORMATION IS CORRECT AND SAL IS BACK. SO WE'LL TURN YOU OVER TO SAL. BUT THE IRRIGATION METER IN YOUR YARD HAD ISSUES AS WELL AS THE DOMESTIC METER GOING TO THE HOUSE, CORRECT? IRRIGATION AND THE HOUSE METER BOTH HAD ISSUES. THEY THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE METERS? YES. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1 2 7 2 2, I WON'T SAY THE STREET NAME, CORRECT? YES, THAT'S ME. AND THEN YOUR PROBLEM WITH YOUR DAUGHTER HELPING THE DECEASED NEIGHBOR, THAT'S A SEPARATE ADDRESS. THAT IS, YEAH. OKAY. THE TWO METERS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. UH, THAT ADDRESS IS 12 7 1 8. GOT IT. YOU DON'T, DON'T GIVE US A STREET. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AL, MY HAPPY NEWS IS THEY SURPRISED ME WITH A NEW METER YESTERDAY MORNING. OKAY. SO I'LL THROW IT TO JULIE. JULIE OVER HERE WILL HELP YOU WITH IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JULIE AND SAL, JUST CURIOUS, WE'RE SENDING A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE. ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS? WHAT ONE? WHAT'S THAT? I SAID ONE DOWNSTAIRS. ALL ONE UPSTAIRS. SO HOW IS THIS WORKING? ARE ARE WE GETTING ANY TYPE OF THE MIC, IF YOU DON'T MIND. YES, THEY ARE. COME TO THE MIC PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. HATE TO PUT, BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT. I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 18 MONTHS AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE SENDING PEOPLE DOWN THERE. HOPEFULLY WE'RE GETTING, UM, THEM LEAVING WITH SMILES ON THEIR FACE. GARCIA, UH, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. YES, WE'RE BRINGING, BRINGING DOWN, UH, CUSTOMERS. SO FAR MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE ASSISTED TO SOME LEVEL. UH, THE ONES THAT I'VE WALKED OUT WITH HAVE APPRECIATED HAVING THE ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION. UH, SOME OF THE CONCERN HAS BEEN, AS YOU'VE HEARD, UH, THEY AREN'T ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON AT, AT THE LOCATION THERE AT CAS. UM, THEY'D APPRECIATED. BE ABLE, BEING ABLE TO MEET WITH SOMEONE ONE-ON-ONE, UM, EXPRESSED, NOT ABLE TO GET THROUGH PHONE CALLS, THAT TYPE OF THING. UH, I THINK THIS WILL MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON THESE, ON THESE ONES. UH, I CAN'T SPEAK TO ALL OF THEM OBVIOUSLY. SURE. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. WE'LL CONTINUE TO, WE'LL WE'LL KEEP BRINGING 'EM DOWN. YES MA'AM. SIR, MA'AM, THANK YOU. WE'LL CONTINUE DOWN THE PASS AND, AND THANK YOU. AND SAL, NEXT SPEAKER. JAN ALDERMAN. GOOD TO SEE YOU JAN. GOOD TO SEE YOU DAVE. YES SIR. UH, I'VE GOT COPIES FOR EACH OF YOU. SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO PICK THIS UP? YES, RENEE. THANK YOU. UH, MY NAME IS JAN OTTOMAN. I'M FROM KINGWOOD. UM, I'M HERE ON THIS PROBLEM, FEEL LIKE I'M BEATING A DEAD HORSE, BUT I'M GOING TO BEAT IT A LITTLE BIT . SURE. UH, ACTUALLY THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH WATER METER RES IN THE LAST YEAR, UH, LAST YEAR IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON ATTACHMENT ONE IN YOUR HANDOUT, UH, FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 27TH THROUGH OCTOBER THE 25TH. UH, MY WATER CONSUMPTION, ACCORDING TO THIS BILL WAS 29,000 GALLONS. [01:50:02] UH, MY WIFE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, UH, 19 DAYS DURING THAT TIME. SO THERE'S NO WAY WE USE THAT WATER THROUGH, I WOULDN'T HOME. AND AS A, AS A SIDE NOTE, MY WIFE PASSED AWAY LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THAT BILL. SO ANYHOW, I TRIED TO CONTACT THE CITY. I DID EVERYTHING I COULD, RAN INTO THE SAME PROBLEM AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY ELSE. FINALLY CONTACTED AMY AND UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME RELIEF. I THINK MY BILL ORIGINALLY WAS $698. I THINK I GOT A 520 SMALL DOLLAR ADJUSTMENT. SO I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING WELL. IF YOU LOOK AT ATTACHMENT TWO, WHICH PICKS UP WITH USAGE AFTER THAT 29,000 GALLONS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE WATER LEVEL DROPPED OFF SUBSTANTIALLY. AND I ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS JUST ME IN A, IN A 3,600 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE BY MYSELF. AND I GUARANTEE YOU, I DID NOT WATER THE YARD LIKE MY WIFE DID. MM-HMM . BUT THIS LAST MONTH I GET THIS BILL SHOWING THAT I'VE HAD 53,000 GALLONS OF WATER AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT'S 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT THAT WENT WAS USED THE PREVIOUS MONTH. AND THAT WOULD FILL UP MY SWIMMING POOL THREE TIMES. NO WAY. THERE'S NO LEAK. I'VE CHECKED, I'VE TURNED THE WATER OFF THE METER DOES NOT MOVE. SO I KNOW THERE'S NO LEAK. SO I FINALLY GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE CITY. THEY, UH, I ASKED HIM, IS IT, ARE THESE ESTIMATES OR ACTUAL READINGS? AND THEY SAID EITHER DON'T KNOW OR WON'T TELL ME. SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THESE ARE REAL MEDIA READINGS OR NOT, EXCEPT I DID GO OUT AND CONFIRM THAT MEDIA READING ON THIS LAST BILL IS CORRECT. I MEAN, IT SHOWED 2332. SO I, ANYHOW, THEY, I MADE A REQUEST. THEY SENT US A PERSON OUT. I ACTUALLY MET HER WHEN SHE WAS OUT WORKING ON THE BILL OR WORKING ON THE METER. AND I ASKED HER, I SAID, UH, HAVE YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND? AND SHE SAID, WELL I THINK, YOU KNOW, I FOUND A LOOSE WIRE OF SOME KIND AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS ACTUALLY REPLACING THE METER. BUT I FOUND OUT ACTUALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE THIS AFTERNOON, THAT I NOW QUALIFY FOR MOTION ORDINANCE, MOTION DAMAGED MOTION TO EXTEND, ALTHOUGH PAPER PROPOSED MOTION GREEN, GO AHEAD. BECAUSE THE REGISTER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED AND THERE WAS AN INABILITY TO TEST THE METER FOR ACCURACY. SO THE HELL, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE METER'S ACCURATE OR NOT. SO, UH, I'VE GOT THIS $1,598 OR WHATEVER WATER BILL, I HAVEN'T PAID IT. IT WAS DUE OCTOBER THE 25TH. I WAS TOLD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY IT RIGHT NOW UNTIL THIS WAS RESOLVED. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I, I QUALIFY FOR THIS ADJUSTMENT, BUT I, HELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ADJUSTMENT'S GONNA BE AND I'VE GOT PERFECT CREDIT AND I DON'T WANT TO GET ANYTHING BANGED UP AGAINST ME BECAUSE I'M NOT PAYING THIS $1,598 WATER BILL. UH, AND I REALLY EMPATHIZE. I, AS I, AS I KIND OF PUT HERE AND I, I KNOW IT'S BEEN SAID, I WANNA READ THAT LAST PARAGRAPH. I JUST WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THERE'S STILL ONGOING BILLING ISSUES WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON WATER DEPARTMENT AND THEY'RE CREATING A LOT OF HARDSHIPS AND FRUSTRATIONS. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, I'M NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEMS ARE ISSUES WITH THE METERS THEMSELVES OR ADMINISTRATION ISSUES OR A COMBINATION THE TWO. BUT THE ONGOING PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. I MEAN, A CITY THIS SIZE SHOULD NOT HAVE WATER DEPARTMENT THIS INEPT. YES. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. OKAY. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. SO, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP BEFORE WE START THIS, JAN AND I GO BACK MANY YEARS. I KNEW HIS LOVELY WIFE KAREN AND I, UH, COACHED HIS DAUGHTER LAUREN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WHO'S A SWEETHEART. UH, SHE WAS THE SAME AGE AS MY SON MICHAEL. SO, UH, GREAT FAMILY, HONEST, ETHICAL, RETIRED FROM EXXON AS A SON THAT'S, UH, WITH HFD. UM, I KNOW THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CORRECTIONS COMING. WE DISCOVERED THAT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF UM, MINUTES AND UH, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE'LL TAKE THIS OVER OURSELVES AND MAKE SURE WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITY, BUT I DON'T NEED TO TURN IT OVER TO SALLY. DULY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO US AND WE'LL HANDLE IT. SO I'M SORRY YOU WENT THROUGH THIS, UH, AND WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT AND I'LL, [01:55:01] I THINK YOU HAVE MY CELL NUMBER. I KNOW I HAVE YOURS, SO WE'LL BE IN COMMUNICATION. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL FOR LISTENING. RIGHT. MAYOR PRO, TIM, MARTHA CASTEK. TATUM ON MY QUESTION IS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY OR SOMEONE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT, I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT, UM, THE CREDIT CONCERN THAT HE BROUGHT UP IS, UM, WE ARE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO REPORT CREDIT ON SOMEONE'S CREDIT IF THEY DON'T PAY AFTER 30 DAYS, NOT WHEN THEY ARE IN AN APPEAL PROCESS. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. CORRECT. YEAH. SO IF SOMEONE'S APPEALING THEIR BILL, THAT DOES NOT GET REPORT, CORRECT? THAT'S NOT DO ANYTHING. THAT IS CORRECT. SO IF THEY ARE UNDER AN INVESTIGATION THAT DOES NOT GET REPORTED TO THEIR CREDIT ONLY IF IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND THEY HAVE NOT PAID WITHIN 30, AFTER 30 DAYS. THAT CORRECT? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YES. SO ONCE IT GOES TO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW, THEN WE SHUT DOWN ANYTHING AND WE DON'T SHUT OFF WATER, WE DON'T DO ANYTHING. WE JUST START REVIEWING THE CASE. THAT'S CORRECT. SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. I I JUST WANNA SAY ONE THING SIR. I DID GO OUT AND READ THE METER ON THE 24TH, WHICH WAS AFTER 21 DAYS AND I HAD 2000 GALLONS USED. SO I WENT FROM 53,000 GALLONS FOR 23 DAYS NOW 2000 GALLONS. SO IT'S, IT'S, YEAH. SELECT A CRAP SHOOT. YEP. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANKS MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, MR. EDELMAN, LET ME JUST SAY WE'RE REALLY SORRY FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH AND, AND YOU'RE WEARING IT ON YOUR HEART. I THINK YOUR FINAL PARAGRAPH, AS HE SAID, SAYS IT ALL IN TERMS OF CREATING HARDSHIPS AND, UH, FRUSTRATION FOR THOSE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND OBVIOUSLY NONE OF THIS IS INTENDED, BUT IT, IT IS JUST ABSOLUTELY TANGIBLE HOW THIS IS REMINDING YOU OF YOUR LOSS. AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE PRAYING FOR YOU AND WE'RE SO SORRY FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR AND, AND I'M, I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS AND I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AS WELL. UM, FOR CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE CREDIT, UM, IF SOMETHING'S REPORTED TO THE CREDIT BUREAU, DO, DO OUR RESIDENTS GET A WORK, THEY GET A LETTER SAYING THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE REPORTED TO THEIR CREDIT OR IS THAT SOMEWHERE IN SMALL PRINT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BILL? SURE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT TO OUR LIST OF THINGS TO LOOK AT, PLEASE. SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JAN. WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER CALL CASTO II AND WAITING ON YOURS. YOURS WAS A UNIQUE CASE. I WILL SAY YOU HAD, AS I REVIEWED THESE LAST NIGHT, THERE WERE TWO UNIQUE ONES AND YOURS WAS ONE. YES SIR. YES SIR. WELL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND SPEAK BEFORE YOU, SIR. YES SIR. AND ANOTHER THING YOU, YOU MENTIONED SHUT DOWN, THAT'S A BIG WORD. SENT SOME CHILLS THROUGH MY BODY, BUT IT'S OKAY 'CAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND IT'S NICE TO SEE SOME FRIENDLY FACES AND SMILES AND THAT WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE SAME PURPOSES. PURPOSE, MINOR RESOLUTION. UH, NOW I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS IF YOU GUYS WOULD, AND AT THE END OF IT, I'M GONNA PROVIDE THE REFERENCES FOR THE STATEMENTS THAT I MAKE. I'LL LET YOU GET THOSE HANDOUTS. I COULD HAVE BEEN HERE WITH AND WITH MY KIDS, YOU KNOW, TAKING 'EM TRICK OR TREATING, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREATER CAUSE. THIS IS A, THIS IS BIGGER THAN MYSELF. EVERYBODY GOT A COPY? OKAY, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. NOW CARL CASTELLANO II. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M HERE TO DISPUTE A $7,500 WATER BILL. NOW WHEN I SAY $7,500 TO SOME, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS TO OTHERS, IT MAYBE IT SOUNDS LIKE $7,500. BUT TO ANYONE THAT HAS THEIR MONEY TAKEN ON FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND, WITHDRAWN BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WITHDRAWN FROM MY HARDWORKING MONEY. I LOOKED AT MY BANK ACCOUNT ON JUNE 16TH. THE MONEY WAS GONE OUTTA MY ACCOUNT. NO RHYME, NO REASON. ALL I KNEW THAT WAS ON MAY 15TH, I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, AND THIS FRONTLINE SUPERVISOR OUTTA RESPECT, I WON'T SAY HER NAME, SHE SAID, MR. CASTELLANO, ALL YOU CAN DO IS WAIT. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE. SO I WAITED 45 DAYS. AFTER 45 DAYS, JUNE 16TH, I LOOKED AT MY ACCOUNT AND IT WAS IN THE NEGATIVE $7,500. NOW LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S THE HEIGHT OF THE SUMMER. I GOT TWO KIDS, MY BOY COMES UP TO ME, DAD, IT'S FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND, LET'S CELEBRATE NO SON. DAD, WHY DON'T WE GO SOMEWHERE ON VACATION? NO, SON. WE'RE IN THE NEGATIVE 7,500. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR KIDS WHEN THEY ASK YOU, LET'S DO SOMETHING. IT'S THE HEIGHT OF THE SUMMER, DAD. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FUN. YOU TELL THEM [02:00:01] TO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS. YOU TELL THEM THAT YOU WILL EXPLAIN IT TO 'EM WHEN YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T SHOW THE KIDS FEAR. YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T CRY IN FRONT OF THEM. YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG. AND THAT'S WHAT A FATHER DOES. SO I DID EVERYTHING I COULD. I PUT TOGETHER THIS PACKET, SPEND HOURS, DAYS INVESTIGATED. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE. AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE IF I DON'T FIGHT FOR MY HARD-EARNED MONEY, THEN NO ONE ELSE IS. I HAVE A SMALL VOICE, BUT THE COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON HAS A BIGGER VOICE. AND I JUST REALIZED THAT AND I'M VERY HAPPY FOR THAT. SO WITH GOING BACK TO THE BILL, THE SUPERVISOR, ALL SHE TOLD ME WAS, MR. CASTELLANO, YOU GOT A SMART METER, SMART METERS DON'T LIE. AND I SAID, WAIT A SECOND, WHEN DID I GET A SMART METER? SHE WOULDN'T TELL ME. THE INFORMATION I HAD WAS, THERE WAS A WORK ORDER FOR A METER READ ERROR PLACED. THEY WOULDN'T GIMME THE NUMBER. WHY ARE YOU WITHHOLDING THIS INFORMATION FROM ME? IS THAT FAIR? ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS A WORK ORDER NUMBER. DIDN'T GIVE IT TO ME. SO MISS, MISS THE SUPERVISOR OF ACCOUNTS AND BILLING, THE ONLY THING SHE CAN SAY IS YOUR METER DOESN'T LIE. WE'RE GONNA CHECK IT WHEN WE DETERMINE THAT THE METER MOTION TO EXTEND. THANK YOU. WHEN WE DETERMINE THAT THIS METER, WAIT, HOLD ON, HOLD ONE SECOND. SECOND ROBINSON SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHEN WE DETERMINE THAT TIME, THIS METER IS UP AND RUNNING, THE SMART METER, MIND YOU THAT THEY INSTALLED ON JUNE 6TH, THAT BILL IS YOURS TO PAY. NO QUESTION. ONE SIDED. END OF STORY. I THOUGHT THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE SUPERVISOR OF ACCOUNTS BILLING TELLS YOU YOU CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. BUT YOU CAN MEET A FIELD SUPERVISOR, YOU CAN MEET A FIELD WORKER THAT IS A METER READ EXPERT AND WHAT THEY WILL DO IS DETERMINE YOUR SMART METER THAT WAS INSTALLED ON JUNE 6TH IS NOW WORKING NOW THEY INSTALLED THE SMART METER. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF A BROKEN METER. IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE NUMBERS, YOU GOT 500, YOU GOT 600, YOU GOT FIVE 60. I HIGHLIGHTED IT IN BLUE FOR FEBRUARY. NOW THAT TELLS ME THAT MY METERS GOING ERRATIC. AND WHERE DO YOU SEE ON, ON THE FIRST PAGE? NEGATIVE 196,000 GALLONS. NOW, LEMME TELL YOU WHAT, A METER IS LIKE AN ODOMETER IN A CAR. IT ROLLS FORWARDS. IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, AND THERE'S A 15 TO 20 YEAR LIFESPAN ON METERS. OKAY? SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT MY METER IS 22 YEARS OLD. IT WAS INSTALLED IN 2001, ACCORDING TO THE CITY RECORDS. SO WITH THAT SAID, THE BROKEN METER WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE ON JUNE 6TH. IT'S CLEAR AS DAY. IT'S SIMPLE, LET'S MOVE FORWARD. BUT NO, THE, UH, CHIEF OFFICER OF ACCOUNTS AND BILLING CALLED ME, MY CASE MANAGER, I DON'T WANNA GIVE HIS NAME FOR PROTECTION, DID NOT CALL ME BACK. I CALLED HIM AFTER 78 DAYS OF THE INVESTIGATION. NOW, I PUT ON THERE, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE PAGES ON JUNE 23RD, THEY STARTED THE REAL INVESTIGATION. THE REASON THE MONEY WAS DEDUCTED FROM MY ACCOUNT BECAUSE THE FIRST PERSON NEVER EVEN STARTED AN INVESTIGATION. SO THIS IS THE WHOLE PROBLEM. WE HAVE A LACK OF, OF PEOPLE DOING WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO. THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES. I DID EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. AND MY BILL GOES FROM NEGATIVE, FROM THE BILL WAS 89,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN ONE MONTH, AND THE MONTH BEFORE NEGATIVE 196,000 GALLONS. AND THAT IS JUST UNHEARD OF. HOW COULD I USE 130,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN ONE MONTH, 30 DAYS IN MAY? THAT'S THE AMOUNT TO FILL SEVEN SWIMMING POOLS. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THAT'S QUITE IMPOSSIBLE. NOW, AFTER THE NEW METER WAS INSTALLED IN JUNE, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE METER READS ARE NOW IN SEQUENCE 0 4 8 12. SO THAT TELLS ME THE NEW METERS WORKING. BUT NO ONE EVER TALKED TO ME. ALL THEY DID WAS CALL ME AND SAY, YOUR CASE IS CLOSED. NOT ONE WORD WITH THE THE CASE MANAGER. SO IT HURTS. I'M NEVER GONNA GET THAT FAMILY TIME BACK. I'M NEVER GONNA GET TO, TO SPEND THO THOSE PRECIOUS MOMENTS WITH MY KIDS. BUT I WANNA JUST SAY, LET'S JUST MOVE FORWARD. I HAVE A VISION FOR THE MOVING FORWARD. IF WE COME TOGETHER AS, AS HOUSTONIANS, WE CAN CREATE AN ORGANIZATION, THE HOUSTON INITIATIVE FOR CONSUMERS. NOW, IT'S A MOUTHFUL. I HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION IN THREE MINUTES, IT'S UNREAL. BUT IF WE COME TOGETHER AND THE CONSUMERS CAN GET TOGETHER AND, AND WORK FOR CONSUMERS, IF WE BUILD A FUND THAT WOULD BE FOR CONSUMERS, BY CONSUMERS, WE'LL WORK IN COALITION WITH THE, THE, THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THE CITY. YES. AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE, TO MAKE THANK YOU. HOUSTON. LIVE UP TO THE NAME. THANK YOU. I'LL THROW THIS ONE. THE GREATER HOUSTON. I'LL THROW THIS ONE OVER TO SAL. OKAY. THANK YOU. SAL WILL HELP YOU. I APOLOGIZE WHEN I READ THIS, I WAS AS CONFUSED AS YOU WERE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE, MOST OF THESE ARE, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH LOOK AT IT AND FOLLOW LOT THE LOGIC BEHIND IT. THIS ONE WAS, UH, AS I MENTIONED WHEN YOU WERE WALKING UP WITH YES SIR, A LOT DIFFERENT. SO IT'S ALL THERE. IT'S THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS IS THERE, AND ALL THE NAMES, DATES, TIMES, I'M JUST UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE RIGHT NOW. YEP. UH, IT'S, IT'S HARD. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING HARD FOR, FOR US. APPRECIATE YOUR, AND GETTING THINGS. APPRECIATE YOUR SPIRIT. YES, SIR. SO THANK YOU SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. LE WILLIAMS. LE WILLIAMS. L WILLIAMS. E-L-L-E-L-E. WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. PAUL RIVERA. VERA PAUL RIVERA. GOOD AFTERNOON. [02:05:01] FIRSTLY, THE PERSON I CAME WITH TOOK MY BILLS OUT. UH, THEY HAD TO GO. I'VE BEEN IN MY HOUSE FOR 12 YEARS. MY WATER BILL JUST WENT UP A YEAR AGO. AND BEFORE THEN, IT WAS ONLY $42 A MONTH FOR 10, 11 YEARS. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED GETTING BILL FOR 4,000, 6,000. NOW I GOT A BILL FOR $13,000. I CALL THE WATER COMPANY UP AND THEY JUST GIMME THE RUNAROUND, PUT ME ON HOLD, THEN THEY HANG UP ON ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. SO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THE, YOU SAID THE INFORMATION, SOMEBODY TOOK THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAD? YEAH. THAT I HAD WITH ME. UH, THEY HAD TO LEAVE. I THINK WE CAN LOOK IT UP BY YOUR ADDRESS AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JULIE. JULIE WILL HELP YOU WITH THIS. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET YOU SOME RESOLUTION. SO MS. JULIE'S OVER AT THE DOOR RIGHT THERE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. YES SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. COLEMAN MASON. COLEMAN MASON. COLEMAN MASON. NEXT SPEAKER. RON SJO. RON SJO. SAGE JOE. NEXT SPEAKER. SUSIE ROBERTS. SUSIE ROBERTS. SUSIE ROBERTS. NEXT SPEAKER. CATHERINE MCGEE. CATHERINE MCGEE. CATHERINE MCGEE. NEXT SPEAKER. CHERYL FISK. CHERYL FISK. NEXT SPEAKER. CHRISTINA KENT. YES. YES MA'AM. MS. KENT. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, WELL, I THINK MY ISSUES TRUMP A LOT OF THE ONES THAT I'VE HEARD. UM, IT STARTED A YEAR AGO LAST APRIL, AND I GUESS I'VE BEEN KIND OF NAIVE. I KEPT THINKING THAT THIS WAS A BUSINESS AND THAT, UM, IT WOULD OPERATE AS A BUSINESS. AND, UM, I'VE BEEN TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED. IT STARTED OFF WITH, UM, MY BEING BILLED FOR 16,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN MAY AND 20,000 IN APRIL OF 2022. NOW, I DO HAVE A SWIMMING POOL, BUT I HAVE A GUY THAT TAKES CARE OF MY POOL AND IT DOESN'T LEAK. AND I'M A FORMER LIFEGUARD THAT WORKED HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE THAT WAY. AND I WATCHED THIS STUFF. I HAVE LIVED IN THAT HOME SINCE 1996 WHEN MY LATE HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT IT. WE RAISED OUR DAUGHTER THERE. I LIVE ALONE THERE. NOW, I REQUESTED IMMEDIATELY THAT MY METER BE READ BECAUSE I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS RIDICULOUS BILL OF $875. WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT DID NOT REOCCUR, UM, THAT YOU SAID, OH, WELL THAT COSTS MONEY TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME OUT AND READ YOUR METER AND CHECK YOUR METER TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT. AND I SAID, WELL, I WILL PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR IT. IT'S CHEAPER FOR ME IN THE LONG RUN TO PAY DIRECTLY THAN TO KEEP HAVING THESE RIDICULOUS OVERAGES. IN TERMS OF THE WATER BILL. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. THE WATER BILL WAS NORMAL FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO MONTHS. AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER, I GOT A BILL, UM, LOOKING AT IT FOR AUGUST, FOR $6,000 FOR 220,000 GALLONS. UM, I READ THAT INCORRECTLY. ACTUALLY. IT WAS AN AUGUST 16TH BILLING DATE, BUT BY THE TIME I GET IT IN THE MAIL, I DON'T HAVE IT DEDUCTED FROM MY ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY. SO THEN I HAD A SEPTEMBER, UH, BILL OF $7,367 FOR 264,000 GALLONS. AND THEN ANOTHER FOUR AND A HALF GRAND APPRO FOR 168,000 GALLONS. NOW YOU GOTTA KNOW THAT, UM, MY POOL IS JUST ABOUT 20,000 GALLONS. SO IF I LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, WAIT A SECOND, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 10 TIMES THE CONTENTS OF MY SWIMMING POOL BEING DISPERSED ON MY PROPERTY IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE REFILLED. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN THINK OF WHERE THAT WATER WOULD [02:10:01] GO. BUT THERE'S NEVER ANY WATER ON MY PROPERTY. IT'S NOT THAT BIG A PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT'S A LOT IN BRIAR CROFT. MOTION TO EXTEND. SECOND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. SO, UM, THE TOTAL USAGE IS 650,000 GALLONS. UM, I'VE ASKED AND ASKED AND ASKED, AND THEY'VE QUOTE UNQUOTE, RUN IT UP THE FLAG POLE, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO PAY MONEY, UH, TO SHOW MY GOOD INTENT, UH, TO SHOW MY EARNESTNESS. AND I'VE WRITTEN A CHECK FOR $2,000 AND FOR $1,000, MY BILL NORMALLY IS MAX, ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS. SO THEY FINALLY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO SEND SOMEBODY OUT TO LOOK AT THE METER. WELL, WE COULDN'T FIND THE METER BECAUSE I'D CUT OFF MY SPRINKLER SYSTEM TO AVOID WATER USAGE. AND SO THEREFORE, MY GRASS HAD DRIED UP AND THERE WAS EROSION OF DIRT THAT COVERED THE METER. THERE WAS A VERY NICE LADY WHO GOT ON GOOGLE EARTH TO HELP ME, BUT ULTIMATELY IT WAS FOUND. I HIRED SOME GUYS TO FIND IT. ALTHOUGH THE CITY SAYS THEY FOUND IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT GOT FOUND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS AT THIS POINT. I KNOW THAT SOMEBODY HAS FINALLY BEEN ASSIGNED TO IT. I DID DISCOVER AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, I THINK IT WAS, UH, LATE JULY THAT I HAD TO FILE SOMETHING ONLINE. NOW, THIS IS AFTER MAKING TWO TO THREE PHONE CALLS A MONTH FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. SO I FILED THAT APPEAL ONLINE. I WAS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR A BAKER RIPLEY LOAN, AND I DON'T QUALIFY FOR THAT. UM, BUT THE BAD NEWS IS THAT I HAD AN $18,000 BILL. I, IT'S BEEN REDUCED BY APPROXIMATELY $3,000, GIVEN THAT SOME OF THAT WOULD BE SEWAGE. AND I'M STILL SADDLED WITH A HUGE BILL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. YES. SO, MS. KENT, I'LL TURN YOU OVER TO SAL. BUT THERE'S SOME, UM, DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ON FILE. IT SAID THAT YOU REPORTED THAT YOU HAD A LEAK BUT MADE NO REPAIRS TO THE PLUMBING AND THE USAGE FOR AUGUST, SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. NO, SIR. THAT, THAT WAS INCORRECT. THAT WAS BY SOMEBODY WHO WAS VERY ORY WHEN THEY SPOKE TO ME. THERE WAS A LEAK IN MY PLUMBING DURING THE FREEZE OF 2021. OKAY, GOT IT. THAT IS THE ONLY THING. I HAVE NOT HAD A LEAK. NO, SIR. OKAY. AND I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT HER AT THE TIME BECAUSE SHE THEN ACCUSED ME OF LYING. YES. SO I'LL TURN YOU OVER TO SAL RIGHT IN THE BACK AND, UH, SAL WILL, UH, HELP YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. SO IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE THAT ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS CONCERN AND HAVE IT OVER MY HEAD FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. WAIT, HOLD ON ONE SECOND MA'AM. MS. KENT. MS. KENT. MS. KENT, COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. THIS IS, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE, UM, GETTING BILLS LIKE THIS AND THEN SOMEONE TELLING ME TO TAKE OUT A LOAN, UM, TO COVER MY $18,000 DOLLARS WATER BILL. THIS IS ME LISTENING TO THESE PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SAY THIS IS RIDICULOUS. AND I'M ONE PERSON IN THIS HOUSE, ONE PERSON USING ALL OF THAT. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. I'M SORRY. WE'LL FIX IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MS. KENT. NEXT SPEAKER. ERIC INGRAM. MR. INGRAM. ERIC INGRAM. NEXT SPEAKER. LARRY DAMEL. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO. UH, MY NAME IS LARRY DAMEL. UH, I'M RETIRED AFTER WORKING 36 YEARS FOR THE OUTSTANDING HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. UH, SEEMS LIKE YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, SITTING HOURS HEARING THIS, THIS, UH, ALRIGHT. UM, THIS PRESENTATION, I THINK RE HAS REQUIRES SOME UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHAT DOES 130,000 GALLONS OF WATER LOOK LIKE. WE'VE HEARD THAT [02:15:01] NUMBER MENTIONED BEFORE. THE GENTLEMAN HERE'S A TANK, A TANK THAT IS 61 FEET, 61 FEET IN DIAMETER, SEVEN FEET TALL, CARRIES 130 GALLONS. HERE'S A TANK TRUCK CARRYING 5,000 GALLONS. IT WOULD TAKE 26 OF THESE, 26 OF THESE TANK TRUCKS TO EQUAL 130,000 GALLONS. AND SOMETHING I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH, IT WOULD TAKE 260 FIRE DEPARTMENT PUMPERS CARRYING 500 GALLONS EACH EQUALED THIS 130,000 GALLONS. THIS IS THE NUMBER, 130,000 GALLONS THAT THE, UH, WATER DEPARTMENT SENT ME AN EMAIL SAYING THAT, UH, THIS HAD BEEN LEAKED AND THAT, UH, YOUR NEW PAYMENT AMOUNT DUE, $3,972 AND YOUR NEW PAYMENT OCTOBER 25TH. AS SOON AS I GOT THIS EMAIL FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT, UH, WENT, UH, OPENED MY, UH, MY CITY OF HOUSTON WATER ACCOUNT AND I TURNED OFF AUTOMATIC PAY. 'CAUSE I, I COULD SEE NO, NO JUSTIFICATION REASONABLE FOR THAT. SO I TURNED OFF, UH, AUTOMATIC PAY FEATURE THAT GAVE THE WATER DEPARTMENT PERMISSION TO CHARGE MY FEES TO MY VISA ACCOUNT. I ALSO FOLLOWED THE EMAILS OF ADVICE AND CALLED THE WATER DEPARTMENT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. ON OCTOBER 23RD, I SPOKE TO A NICE LADY NAMED PATRICIA. SHE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND AND EMPATHIZE WITH THE THOUGHT OF RECEIVING A $4,000 WATER BILL FOR 130,000 GALLONS OF WATER AFTER RECEIVING ASSURANCE FROM PATRICIA THAT MY WATER ACCOUNT WOULD BE PLACED ON HOLD BEGINNING OCTOBER 23RD AND WOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR THE ALLEGED 130,000 GALLONS. THE, UH, WATER DEPARTMENT, TWO DAYS LATER ON OCTOBER 25TH, CHARGED MY VISA ACCOUNT $3,972 FOR WATER AND $91 FOR A CONVENIENCE FEE. THIS ALL AFTER THEY ALREADY TOLD ME, PATRICIA TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ON HOLD. THIS TRANSACTION WAS MADE. ALTHOUGH I TURNED OFF THE AUTOMATIC PAY THAT CAN BE SEEN ON MY ACCOUNT'S WEBSITE, THE CITY'S ACT TO CHARGE MY VISA ACCOUNT ON OCTOBER 5TH OCCURRED AFTER PATRICIA ASSURED. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. GO, GO AHEAD AND I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE SECONDS TO WRAP UP. 'CAUSE YOUR INFORMATION MATCHES EXACTLY WHAT INFORMATION I HAVE. OKAY. UM, WELL, SINCE THEN, I'VE, UH, OFFICIALLY REQUESTED THAT THE METER BE TESTED WITH MY, WITH ME PRESENT. YES. UH, CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF WATER PASSED THROUGH THE METER IN A FEW DAYS, UH, REQUIRED THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. UM, THE, UH, WATER, DEPA WATER PAYMENTS FOR JUNE AND JULY WERE $49. IT JUMPED UP, UH, IN AUGUST TO 80, I THINK $87. SO I LOOKED FOR A PROBLEM. I FOUND A LEAK RIGHT WHERE THE PIPE JOINS THE HOUSE. IT WAS A SMALL LEAK. I FIXED THAT LEAK ON SEPTEMBER 8TH. THEN AFTER THAT, THAT'S WHEN I RECEIVED THIS BILL FOR, UH, 4,000, ALMOST $4,000. THAT WAS THE OCTOBER 23 BILL, CORRECT? THE OCTOBER 23 BILL? YES. YES, YES. SO YOU FIXED THE, FIXED THE LEAK. SEPTEMBER 8TH, SEPTEMBER AND THE OCTOBER. SO THE LEAK HAD TO, OH, THE, THE DISCHARGE THEY'RE COMING UP WITH HAD TO OCCUR BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1ST AND SEPTEMBER 7TH. THOSE DAYS, UM, THERE, THERE IS NO SIGN AT AND AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, THERE'S NO SIGN OF 130,000 GALLONS OF WATER. UM, AND THE CITY, THE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT ONLY WANTS TO RELY ON THIS READING AND SAY, REALLY? THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO GO ON. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO GO ON. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR POT. TIM, DID, DID YOU FINISH YOUR COMMENTS? WELL, YES, MA'AM. I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, YESTERDAY AFTER I CALLED THE CITY SECRETARY AND RE REQUESTED THE, UH, TIME TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU. AND LATER THAT SAME DAY, I GOT A CALL FROM, UH, THE DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, MS. UH, ENG, MS. INGRAM MITCHELL. AND, UH, SHE ASKED ME MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WATER BILL AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE. UM, AFTER MR. MITCHUM CALLED, I GOT ANOTHER CALL FROM THE, THE WATER DEPARTMENT'S COLLECTION MANAGER, MR. STEVEN UDRA, UH, WHO OFFERED [02:20:01] AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND A METER TEST IN MY PRESENCE. AND THIS, THIS IS PROGRESS, UH, BUT, UH, I STILL FEEL THEY ARE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE TO CLAIM THAT, UH, 130,000. RIGHT. AND I WORKED WITH WATER ALL MY FOR 36 YEARS. AND YOU JUST CAN'T, YOU JUST CAN'T UNLOAD THIS. AND I HEARD OTHER PEOPLE COME UP HERE TALKING ABOUT VOLUMES OF WATER THAT CAN'T BE EXPLAINED. WHERE, WHERE DID IT GO? SO I, I HAVEN'T WORKED WITH WATER ALL MY LIFE, BUT I KNOW IF MY USAGE WAS 2000 TO 4,000, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT TO 130,000, I'D HAVE A BIG OLD MESSY YARD SITTING IN FRONT OF ME. THIS DEFIES COMMON SENSE AND LOGIC. THERE'S NO WAY THAT 130,000 GALLONS OF WATER CAN BE NOT NOTICEABLE IN ANY YARD OR ANY HOUSE. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU. UH, INGRAM IS RIGHT THERE IN THE CORNER OVER THERE. AND, UH, I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE SOME MOVEMENT, BUT I, WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT YOU WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COLLECT THAT MONEY AND THEN IT, BOOM, THEY TOOK IT OUT OF YOUR ACCOUNT. RIGHT. THAT, NOW THAT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE FRAUD. I, I WON'T CALL IT THAT. I WON'T, I WON'T LABEL IT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD, IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME THAT YOU TRUSTED, UH, THE PERSON THAT YOU SPOKE WITH. AND NOW I'M SURE NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU GETTING ANY OF THAT BACK. UH, IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU OWED THE BILL AND NOW WE TOOK IT. UM, AND SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. WELL, FORTUNATELY, THEY, UH, ANOTHER LADY WITH THE, UH, WATER DEPARTMENT, UM, MS. CDA LOPEZ, UM, SHE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD GO TO VISA. UH, THAT SHE, SHE SAID ONLY, SHE SAID IT WAS WRONG FOR THE CITY, THE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE, TO TRY AND TAKE THE MONEY. OKAY. AND SHE SAID, GO TO VISA AND STOP IT THERE. UH, BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE DID NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO STOP IT. YES. SO, SO, SO DID YOU TAKE THAT ACTION? YES, MA'AM, I DID. OKAY. UH, VISA, UH, HAS, UH, STOPPED IT AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? YOU DISPUTED THE CHARGE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO HOPEFULLY THAT WORKS OUT. SO, UH, MS. JULIUS CAME BACK. SO JULIE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS GENTLEMAN, HIS NORMAL USAGE IS TWO TO 4,000 A MONTH, AND HE GOT, UH, USAGE OF 130,000 WITH NO VISIBLE NOTICE OF WATER ANYWHERE, WHICH TO ME DEFIES LOGIC. CORRECT. I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE 2000 GALLONS YOU'RE USING AND YOU GO TO ONE 30 AND THERE'S A LEAK THAT HE NOTICED AT THE CONNECTION FROM THE PIPE TO HIS HOUSE ON HIS LAND, 130,000 GALLONS WOULD FLOOD ANYBODY'S HOUSE, YARD, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. SO THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A, THIS IS A DIFFERENT ONE. SO MS. JULIE CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS. OKAY. SO BACKING UP A LITTLE. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, SIR. GOD BLESS. NEXT SPEAKER. S ANA. S ANA. YES, SIR. I HAVE THE COPY FOR YOU. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND PICKING ONE OF THE MICS TOO. OH, SO WE GET A CLEAR, THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I'M SORRY ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE, BUT I TRIED. NO PROBLEM. TAKE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. UM, UM, MY NAME IS ANA. I'M A HAVE A SMALL RENTAL HOUSE AT THE 6 0 1 9 SALMON STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 3 3. I USE THIS SUPPLEMENT SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME TO HELP AND, UH, BECAUSE I HAVE AN ARTISTIC KIDS AND MY WIFE IS ONLY ONE WHO'S WORKING AND I USED IT AS TO HELP THE FAMILY. AND, UH, THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN RIGHT NOW'S ON JANUARY, UH, 2023, THIS YEAR I HAVE A TENANT JUST MOVED INTO THE PROPERTY, WHICH AGREED TO PAY FOR ALL THE UTILITY BILLS. A MONTH LATER WITH IS OF FEBRUARY, I RECEIVED A VOIDED BILL FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR $44 AND 48 CENTS. I SAY, THAT'S OKAY. I PAY FOR IT. AT THIS POINT, I REALIZED THE TENANT, UH, FORGET TO TAKE THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND PAY FOR THE VOTER USE. UH, I ADVISED THE TENANT TO CHECK THE VOTER BILL TO HER ACCOUNT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE LOSING THE VOTER SERVICE FOR HOME. AND THEN I CALLED THE CITY OF HOUSTON RIGHT [02:25:01] AWAY TO TURN UP THE WATER SERVICE FOR THE PROPERTY SO THAT THE TENANT CAN TAKE CARE OF THE WATER BILL UNDER ITS WHAT USE AFTER I CALL IN, I NEVER RECEIVED ANY WATER BILL SENT TO MY PRIMARY HOME ADDRESS ANYMORE. I SAID, OH, IT'S OKAY. IT'S ALL DONE. I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE WAY, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TENANT TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. BUT LATER ON, SIX MONTHS LATER, THE TENANT MOVED OUT FROM THE PROPERTY. I CALLED THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SWITCH THE WATER, UH, SERVICE BACK TO MY NAME. AND AFTER THE WATER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMED THAT I'M THE OWNER, SHE PUT ME ON HOLD FOR A WHILE. UH, SHE CAME BACK AND SHE TOLD ME I OWE $6,314 AND 2 CENTS BECAUSE AN AWARD BILL IS UNDER MY NAME. AND I ASKED HER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CALL THAT, UH, I ASKED THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO TURN OFF THE SERVICE FOR THE PROPERTY ON FEBRUARY. SHE SAID, THAT'S NOT GUARANTEE. AND UH, SHE ASKED ME TO SPEAK WITH, UH, HER SUPERVISOR, UH, WHEN HER SUPERVISOR WAS ON THE PHONE. AND HE SAID I WAS, UH, HE SAID, I SAW THE REQUEST THAT, UH, YOU CALL IN ON FEBRUARY THIS YEAR TO TURN OFF THE SERVICE, BUT YOU ARE THE OWNER OF, UH, THE PROPERTY. YOU HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. HE SAID, IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD BE VERY UPSET. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING TODAY AND WE'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. UH, IN 48 HOURS, CALL BACK, UH, LATER, NEXT DAY THE WATER COMPANY TURN OFF THE WATER SERVICE FOR THE PROPERTY. AND, UH, TWO DAYS LATER I CALL BACK TO FOLLOW UP AND TO BILL AND UH, TO BILL. CORRECT. TOLD ME THE WHAT COMPANY? GET SOME CREDIT TO ME. THIS I OWE. NOW IT'S DOWN TO 4,300. OKAY. SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE THE OWNER AND MS. MONICA IS THE ONE WHO RENTS FROM YOU. CORRECT. RIGHT. YEAH. AND YOUR CONVERSATION WITH HER, HAVE SHE WATER USAGE OR ANYTHING? 'CAUSE I HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER TO CHANGE THE, UH, WATER BILL. AND, UM, SHE SAY THAT THEN CLL DO IT, YOU KNOW, BUT THEN, UH, I SEE THE BILL COME TO ME AND I HOLD THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT I SAY, HEY, I CAN TURN UP THE SERVICE BECAUSE SHE DON'T CHANGE IT. YOU KNOW? MM-HMM . YEAH. AND THEN SEE MR. NEVER CHIN, NEVER, NEVER DO THAT. AND THEN THEY SURPRISE ME. I DON'T SEE ANY BILL COME TO ME THAT, AT LEAST THAT MAKE ME AWARE OF IT. WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW? I THOUGHT EVERYTHING'S DONE. SURE. AFTER I CALL. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. SO LET'S, UM, LET'S LET SALLY OR JULIE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, UM, AND SEE EXACTLY WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. EXCUSE ME. UM, SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE STARTING TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT, SO YOU MAY HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PATIENT WITH US. SO, AND RENEE WILL POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO THANK YOU. SO RIGHT HERE. YES. HE'LL HELP YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. DOLORES GATES. MS. GATES. DOLORES GATES. NEXT SPEAKER. SABRINA RAMBO. SABRINA RAMBO AFTERNOON. SO WE ONLY ALLOW ONE AT A TIME, BUT IF IT'S YEAH, YOU CAN STAY BACK THERE. NO, NO. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M ONLY SUPPOSED TO SPEAK FOR HER. SHE HAD A STATEMENT THAT WAS TYPED BY HER DAUGHTER. OKAY. SHE MOTHER. ARE YOU IN? SHE PROBABLY, SHE CAN'T READ THE STATE. GOTCHA. GO RIGHT AHEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. UM, AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, SIR, JUST YEAH. MY NAME IS, MY NAME IS KEVIN MCDONALD. GO RIGHT TO THAT. THERE YOU GO. PERFECT. MY NAME IS KEVIN MCDONALD. YES, SIR. AND THIS IS, UH, MR. RABO. UM, SHE, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. SHE HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON IN SOUTH PARK FOR 55 YEARS. AND SHE'S BEEN AT HER CURRENT RESIDENCE FOR 22 YEARS. UM, SHE LIVES AT OUR HOUSE BY HERSELF WITH HER TWO GRANDCHILDREN. AND HER WATER HAS BEEN SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND HAS HAD TO BORROW MONEY FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AND ALSO NON-PROFITS JUST TO PAY HER BILL. LOOKING AT THE BILL USAGE, MS. RAMBO, UH, WAS, IT SHOWS ON HER BILL. SHE'S, SHE'S USING 30,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH. AND IN SOME CASES HER LOWEST BILLS, $400 AND SOMETIMES OVER $1,800. IN THE MONTH OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR, THE BILL WAS $4,100. UM, SEVEN. IT WAS PAID BY A, BY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. AND THEN THE SAME MONTH SHE WAS BILLED $741. THEN IN AUGUST, SHE [02:30:01] WAS BILLED $853. UH, I HAD PAID OUT OF MY POCKET AS HER SON-IN-LAW TO HAVE PLUMBER COME OUT AND LOOK AT HER PROPERTY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING LEAKING. WE'VE EVEN REPLACED, UH, TOILETS BECAUSE AMY DAVIS' SHOW SAID THAT, CHECK THE TOILET AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE'VE DONE THAT. AND SO FAR WE'VE BEEN TOLD AGAIN, THIS MONTH, NOW SHE OWES $1,800. HER WATER BILL WILL BE SHUT OFF AND SHE WILL BE, HAVE NO WATER. AGAIN. I, I JUST DON'T HAVE, I LOVE HER VERY MUCH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE, SHE'S ON SOCIAL SECURITY. SHE'S A LIMIT FUNDS TO QT TO PAY THESE ENORMOUS BILLS. UH, LAST YEAR, UH, I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT IT AFTER SOME OTHER PEOPLE SPOKE. UM, MY MOTHER WAS DIED FROM DEMENTIA, BUT MS. RAMBO CAME TO HELP MY MOTHER, UH, MYSELF, MY WIFE, DURING THAT TIME BACK IN NOVEMBER, UH, MY MOM PASSED AWAY ON THE 19TH OF NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, MS. RAMBLE LIVED WITH ME IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. MY WIFE HAD SURGERY, KNEE SURGERY REPLACEMENT. SO SHE WASN'T ABLE TO WALK. SHE LIVED AT MY HOME IN PEARLAND. AND THEN WE HAD FOUR PEOPLE THERE, AND IT WAS $86. AND LOOKING ON HER BILL, IT SAID THAT SHE USED 12,000 GALLONS OF WATER AND SHE WASN'T EVEN THERE IN THE HOME. SO WE JUST, WE NEED SOME HELP WITH BEING ABLE TO HAVE A, A MORATORIUM ON THESE THINGS. AND SO SOMEBODY CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU, YOUR, ONE OF YOUR LONGEST RESIDENTS IS NOT GONNA HAVE ANY WATER OR NOWHERE TO, SHE CAN'T LIVE THERE. SHE CAN'T HAVE WATER. THANK YOU, SIR. AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY LOOK AT THIS. UM, WAS THERE, WHEN THE LEAK, THERE WAS A LEAK THAT WAS DETECTED ACCORDING TO OUR INFORMATION, UM, AND THE FLOW OF WATER WAS ABOUT TWO GALLONS PER MINUTE. DOES MS. RAMBO HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF SOMEONE COMING OUT THERE ON THE PLUMBING SIDE TAKING A LOOK AT IT? UM, I, I, I PAID FOR A PLUMBER TO GO OUT THERE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS AT, AT, AT ALL THAT, AT THAT MAGNITUDE. OKAY. WHATSOEVER. UM, SHE HAD A, A TOILET THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, NOT ALWAYS GOING DOWN, BUT WE, WE REPLACED THEM AND IT'S STILL GOING ON. I PAID, I HAVE RECEIPTS SHOWING THAT I BROUGHT THE TOILETS, YOU KNOW, FROM, FROM LOWE'S. AND THEY'RE STILL GOING. IT'S STILL GOING. THE WATER METER WAS, UH, LOCKED. SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY CAME AND PUT A LOCK ON IT. SO YOU CAN'T GET IN THERE TO LOOK AT IT ANYMORE TO EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE, WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE. SO, UM, BUT HER GLAND IS DRY. IN FACT, IT'S JUST ALL DIRT IN THE FRONT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THERE'S NO GRASS WHATSOEVER. SO WE OKAY. RENEE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY FALL IN THE QUEUE, BUT THIS ONE IS A, UH, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT, CAN SHE GET A, CAN SHE GET A, UH, A MORATORIUM OR SOMETHING? 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, HER BILLS DUE THIS MONTH. SHE DOESN'T PAY. SHE NEEDS TO FILE AN APPEAL. YEAH, BECAUSE WE, WE DON'T NEED TO BE TURNING HER WATER OFF. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. WE NEED TO GET HER VICE APPEAL. TIM, MARK THE CASTEX. TATU. THANK YOU. UM, CAN YOU HELP HER FILE AN APPEAL SO THAT THEY WON'T TURN HER WATER OFF OFF? RIGHT. SHE NEEDS TO GET AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW SO THAT THEY WON'T TURN THE WATER OFF. AND WHILE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO HELP HER, UM, THEY WON'T TURN THE WATER OFF. SO MAKE SURE SHE GETS IN AN, AN APPEAL. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE 1800 TO PAY AGAIN. SURE. IT'S 400 A MONTH. YEAH. JUST TO PAIR OF WATER BILL. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. ACTUALLY, INGRAM IS HERE IN THE BACK. I THINK YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH HER. SHE CAN ASSIST WITH THAT APPEAL. I DO AGREE. IT NEEDS TO BE A MORATORIUM. THIS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. UH, AND WE WILL DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM THESE SEATS TO SEE IF THIS, BECAUSE HOUSTON, WE GOT A PROBLEM AND THIS NEEDS TO CERTAINLY BE ADDRESSED, BUT INGRAM IS RIGHT THERE AND SHE CAN HELP TO, TO FILE THAT APPEAL. SO IS THIS A, IS THIS COUNCIL D RESIDENT? DO YOU KNOW? YES. OKAY, GOOD. THANK YOU. YES. YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT D. OKAY. THE, YOU KNOW, SHE COUNCIL MEMBER, SO ABSOLUTELY IN TOUCH WITH HER. I NEVER KNEW IT WAS COUNCIL. GREAT. AND, AND SHE RE REPRESENTS MY OFFICE RIGHT THERE THAT YOU SPOKE WITH. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP TODAY. THANK YOU. AND LET US KNOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BRA JACKSON. PRESENT RELIEF IS IN SIGHT. I'M APPARENTLY THE NEXT TO LAST WATER COMPLAINANT, UM, TO THIS HONORABLE COUNSEL. YES, YOU ARE. THANK YOU. . YEAH. UM, THERE'S PROBABLY, UH, ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND OUT THERE SOMEWHERE THAT JUST DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE TODAY. I THINK THE COUNCIL IS AWAKENING TO THE FACT THAT THIS CITY [02:35:01] HAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HEAR THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSIONS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT. BUT THEN YOU HEAR FROM THE CITY CITIZENS WHO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND THEY FIND THEY'RE ABUSIVE. THEY'RE, THEY'RE ANGRY. THEY TREAT US AS IF WE, WE WERE ANTAGONISTIC TO THEM. THEY'RE THERE TO SERVE US. AND THEY DON'T ACT LIKE IT, THEY ACT LIKE A MONARCH WHO CANNOT BE QUESTIONED. I, I, I'M HERE 'CAUSE MY WATER BILL WENT FROM AN AVERAGE OF 10,000 GALLONS A MONTH OVER THE LAST YEAR TO A SEPTEMBER BILL SAYING I USED 110,000 GALLONS AND OWED $3,349 IN CHANGE. THAT WAS A, A END OF SEPTEMBER BILL. I GOT ANOTHER ONE WITHIN TWO WEEKS ADDING ONTO THAT. BUT SAYING, OH, IT'S ESTIMATED. WELL, WHY CAN'T WE ESTIMATE WHAT WE OWE? YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO REALIZE IS THAT ONE OF ITS DUTIES IS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A FAIR PRICE FOR WATER. AND WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IS A MONOPOLY. THE WATER DEPARTMENT'S A MONOPOLY. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T PAY 'EM, THEY'LL CUT YOUR WATER OFF. I HAVE PROTESTED EVERY WAY. I KNOW HELL. AND I'M IN TOUCH WITH COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE ASSISTING ME. I HEARD EARLIER THAT THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIVE. THEY'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO ME. I'VE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE THAT THERE'S AN ABEYANCE ON PAYING. AND SO WHEN I GOT THIS MOST RECENT BILL, I PAID THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT, AND THEN I PAID AN AMOUNT, WHICH WAS MY ESTIMATE OF WHAT I'VE U WOULD'VE USED IN SEPTEMBER, UH, TO REDUCE WHAT THE ARGUMENT AB IS ABOUT TO $2,750. BUT HEY, WE'RE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, WE RETIRED. THAT'S NOT A, A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. SO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH A MONOPOLY AND YOU ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT FOR US. IF I WERE THE CEO OF A CORPORATION AND I RECEIVED THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN MY COMPANY, I WOULD CALL THAT DEPARTMENT'S EXECUTIVES. AND HOWEVER MANY NEEDED IN FRONT OF ME AND SAY, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED A LITTLE MORE. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF MY TIME. UM, THE ATTITUDE THOUGH WE GET FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS THAT THEY'RE ANTAGONISTIC. THEY DON'T BELIEVE US. THEY CALL US LIARS. THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING AND THEY DON'T. THE COMMUNICATION IS HORRIBLY DIFFICULT. I'VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW FOR 50 YEARS AND I THINK I'M FAIRLY INTELLIGENT, BUT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FILING A COMPLAINT ISN'T EASY AND THEY WON'T TALK TO YOU ON THE PHONE. AND THAT OTHER SPEAKER WAS RIGHT. THE DEPARTMENT'S CLOSED. YOU CAN'T EVEN GO THERE. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE IN A BUNKER BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM THAT THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH. THE RESPONSIVENESS IS ZIP. SO TO CONCLUDE, I THINK WHAT THE VOTERS ARE SAYING IS LIKE A BIBLICAL VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS. THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM HERE, AND I THINK THE COUNCIL IS AWAKENING TO IT. AND I, I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO YOUR TAKING ACTION. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE HOLD A SPECIAL SESSION, GET THE WATER DEPARTMENT UP HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, GET THEM ON THE CARPET, AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU HEARD TODAY, AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY THINK THE PROBLEM IS. NUMBER ONE, I HOPE THEY'RE HEARING, AND I THINK THEY ARE, BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN TEXT MESSAGES AND REPLIES, BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING. UM, WE'RE, WE'VE DEFINITELY HEARD THE COMMON THEMES TODAY. I GUARANTEE YOU THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS, IS HEARING THIS INFORMATION. I I CUSTOMER SERVICE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I MEAN THAT, THAT IS IMPERATIVE. I MEAN, YOU ARE THE CUSTOMERS. YOU, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE CUSTOMERS. AND CUSTOMER SERVICE OBVIOUSLY HAS TO IMPROVE TO THE EXTENT OUR ORDINANCE LIMITS WHAT CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN DO, THAT'S ON US. AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT ORDINANCE BECAUSE I OFTEN GET THAT WHEN I, WHEN I TALK TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT, I OFTEN GET, THIS IS ALL THE ORDINANCE WILL ALLOW ME TO DO. SO TO THE [02:40:01] EXTENT THIS BODY CAN LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE TO SEE HOW CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN IMPROVE, UM, THAT'S ON US. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING THIS, UH, ALL OF, ALL OF THE SPEAKERS. UM, WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN GETTING LOTS OF CALLS, BUT IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE AND IMPACT. IT MADE A BIG IMPACT, UM, SHOWING UP HERE TODAY TO, TO WALK THROUGH THESE ISSUES. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU SIR FOR COMING. YOU KNOW, WE ALL USE WATER. AND SO I SAY THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD, GO, I, IT IS YOUR BILL THIS WEEK. IT COULD BE MY BILL NEXT WEEK. THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED. AND I, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL AS ALL OF US HAVE, BUT THIS HAS TO, TO CHANGE AND, AND TO HAVE THIS NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY AND CERTAINLY OTHERS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO COME TODAY IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. BUT WE DIDN'T JUST WAKE UP TO IT. IT IS JUST THAT WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T AWAKENED TO THE SOLUTION YET. AND, BUT THERE CERTAINLY HAS TO BE ONE BECAUSE THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU FOR COMING. APPRECIATE IT. ONE FINAL COMMENT. YES, SIR. IF I WERE YOU, I'D ASK THE WATER DEPARTMENT, GIVE US SOME LANGUAGE FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO REALLY BE RESPONSIVE. THAT WOULD NOT LIMIT YOU. BUT LET'S, LET'S HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT YOU SUGGESTED, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT YOU BOUND WHERE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR CONSUMERS. THANK YOU. AND, AND WE EACH HAVE, UM, I HAVE ABOUT A 30 PAGE REPORT FOR EVERY PERSON WHO CAME IN WITH THE WATER ISSUE GIVES ME DETAILED INFORMATION. I WANT THAT SAME DETAILED INFORMATION BASED UPON YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE SENDING YOU TO SEE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WANNA LOOK AT. AND ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF TT I YES, SIR. TAKE THIS UP AT A COMMITTEE MEETING AND LET'S GET BACK INTO A DISCUSSION WRAPPED AROUND, OKAY. WE HEARD YOU, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT? AND THAT'S THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT YOU CAN ASK OF YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND I KNOW THAT IN MY CASE, WE TAKE ON EVERY WATER COMPLAINT INDIVIDUALLY IN OUR OFFICE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS. WE DON'T LET PUBLIC WORKS DO IT. WE TAKE IT OVER AND WE WORK IN COMBINATION. I WOULD INVITE EVERYONE WHO CAME IN FRONT OF US TODAY TO CONTACT YOUR SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOUR AT LARGEST, AND MAKE SURE THEY DO THE SAME THING. AND THERE'S MORE INFORMATION TO COME. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHAT I, WHAT I HOPE HAPPENS NEXT IS I GET SOME SORT OF COMMUNICATION SURE. FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT SAYING YOUR, YOUR BILLS ON HOLD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THIS UNTIL WE WORK OUT THE TRUTH. SURE. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE OUR LAST WATER SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. MADAM SECRETARY. SLADE STAR. SLADE STAR. ALL RIGHT. MR. JACKSON, YOU WERE THE LAST, THERE IS ONE MORE. SHE'S ADDED. YOU GUYS ADDED HER TO THE BEGINNING. ADDED. OKAY. I WILL CALL NAOMI VALENTINE. MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. MOTION SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD NAOMI SECOND, THOMAS SECOND, ALTHOUGH FAVOR OPPOSED. WELCOME, MS. VALENTINE. THANK, JUST TO CORRECT, MY NAME IS NAYA NAOMI VALENTINE. SO, I'M SORRY, MY NA MY NAME IS AYA NAOMI VALENTINE. SO MY FIRST NAME IS NAYA. MY MIDDLE NAME IS NAOMI, IS MY MIDDLE NAME. MY GRANDMOTHER. GOT IT. NAOMI, YES, MA'AM. YES MA'AM. GO AHEAD. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UM, I'M A RESIDENT, UH, AT 38 22 PALM STREET IN HOUSTON, TEXAS THIRD WARD, UH, DISTRICT D UM, HARDWORKING, UM, PROFESSIONAL AND FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WORKED ESSENTIAL, WE WERE THE HIDDEN ESSENTIAL WORKERS. WE WORKED THROUGH THAT PANDEMIC TO GET THAT FOOD SUPPLY. IMAGINE, UM, A SITUATION WHERE YOU COULDN'T GET TO FOOD ACCESS. RIGHT. UM, I WORKED 12 HOURS, UM, AT NIGHT. SO I'M ONE OF THE HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT WORK TO COME TO DO THIS. UM, WORK FOR 12 HOURS, SLEEP FOR EIGHT, THAT'S 20. I GOT FOUR HOURS THAT I REALLY HAVE TIME TO DO EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO DO. UM, MY WATER BILL, I'M A SINGLE PERSON LIVING AT HOME. MY WATER BILL IS ABOUT 400, UM, GALLONS. I MEAN, IT REALLY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S MAJOR. MY WATER BILL IS NORMALLY $40. IMAGINE WAKING UP AND HAVING A WATER BILL THAT HAD $9,700, $40 TO 900, ALMOST $10,000. [02:45:02] UM, AND I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING NOT TO BE EMOTIONAL BECAUSE IT REALLY, IT REALLY WAS SHOCKING. RIGHT? AND, UM, YOU WORKING SO HARD AND THEN IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST ALL KIND OF JUST GOES INTO SHAMBLES. UM, OF COURSE I CALLED THE WATER COMPANY TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE. I HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING. THE, THE INTER THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT IS DURING THE WINTER STORM, I PUT A LEAK ALERT ON MY, UM, ACCOUNT. RIGHT? THEY OFFERED ON THE WEBSITE, YOU, YOU SIGN UP FOR IT. YOU EXPECT TO BE ALERTED IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF LEAK. 'CAUSE I DID HAVE A SITUATION AT MY HOUSE DURING THE WINTER STORM. UM, NO LEAK ALERT, NO EMAIL, NO INFORMATION. BUT WHEN THEY WANT THAT MONEY, THEY CAN FIND YOU. THEY CAN GIVE YOU A CERTIFIED LETTER. THEY CAN THREATEN YOU TO TELL YOU THEY'RE GONNA TURN YOUR WATER OFF, BUT THEY CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN YOUR WATER HAS AN ISSUE IN YOUR HOUSE. SO I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT I DID NOT HAVE A SITUATION IN MY HOUSE. I HAD A, A TOILET IN THE BACK ROOM THAT HAD, DID HAVE A LEAK. I HAD TO GO AND CALL EVERYBODY I COULD TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOMEONE TO COME AND, AND, AND FIX IT RIGHT AWAY, TURNING WATER OFF, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. UM, THE ISSUE THAT I ALSO HAVE IS DIDN'T GET A LEAK ALERT. UM, AND THEY SKIPPED A BILLING CYCLE. SO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS KNEW THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN MY HOUSE. HAD I GOTTEN THE BILL TIMELY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS IT MORE TIMELY. IT WENT ON FOR A WHOLE NOTHER CYCLE. I DIDN'T GET THE BILL, UM, UNTIL AUGUST 10TH. AND IT WAS GIVEN AS A LINE ITEM AS ADJUSTMENT. SO IT WAS ALLOWED TO GO ON BECAUSE I WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THE SITUATION. UM, I'VE GONE THROUGH THE BILLS, THE APPEAL PROCESS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MOTION TO EXTEND SECOND APPROVE. I, I I, I'VE GONE THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS, REVIEW BOARD, ADMIN HEARINGS, ALL OF THAT. MM-HMM . I'VE WRITTEN TO, UH, MS. SHABAZZ, I'VE WRITTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE. UM, AND IT JUST KIND OF MAKES ME KIND OF SICK BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT PROBABLY, PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN ADDRESSED HAD IT BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. AND WHAT I SHARED WAS, YOU KNOW, UM, AS A CONSUMER, I FEEL LIKE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS BEAR SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LET US KNOW WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING. BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN MY CASE. UM, AND SO, YES, I FEEL LIKE FOR MYSELF THAT THERE AT LEAST SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME CONSIDERATION ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY SKIPPED THAT BILLING CYCLE. IT'S NOT, THERE'S NO BILL THAT HAS WHAT HAPPENED IN JULY OF 2022, UM, UNTIL I GOT THE BILL IN AUGUST. UM, BUT SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG IN THE PRACTICES AND THE BILLING PROCESSES AND THE WAY THEY COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONSUMERS. UM, AND THE, AND THE BUSINESS PRACTICES IN GENERAL. UM, I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO PAY IT DOWN, UM, UM, SCRAPING UP SAVINGS, GETTING LOANS. AND I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT THE, MY WATER BILL IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER BILL RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO PAY DOWN THE BILL. AND OH, BY THE WAY, DURING THE APPEAL PROCESS, I HAVE LATE FEES NOW. SO IT WENT UP TO 11,000. OKAY. UM, AND, AND TO YOUR POINT, MS. PLUMMER, IT IS TERRIFYING IN THE HOTTEST SUMMER TO GET THREATENING NOTIFICATIONS THAT THEY'RE GONNA CUT OFF YOUR WATER IF YOU DON'T PAY. IT FEELS LIKE A SHAKEDOWN FOR ME. AND I'M TELLING YOU, $40 IS WHAT MY WATER BILL IS. I DON'T EVEN USE THAT MUCH WATER. BUT I NOW, I'M REALLY IN ARREARS TRYING TO GET THIS SITUATION TO PAY OFF THIS BILL. UM, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. NOW, I THINK I HEARD THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CUT PEOPLE'S WATER OFF. IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? 'CAUSE THIS IS FRIGHTENING. I MEAN, SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN. AGAIN, A MORATORIUM, SOMETHING WORKED THIS OUT, THIS FOR A PERSON'S BILL TO CHANGE TREMENDOUSLY LIKE THAT IS JUST DEVASTATING. AND SO I I THINK YOU SAID YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THE APPEAL? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND, AND NOTHING CAME OF THAT. WILL YOU GET ALLOWED? SO THE ISSUE IS THAT IT WAS A SITUATION THAT HAPPENED IN MY HOUSE. SO IT'S A PRIVATE LEAK. RIGHT. BUT NO ONE HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY SKIPPED A BILLING CYCLE. THEY DID NOT ALERT ME. NO ONE, OF COURSE, THEY DON'T WANNA TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT PART THAT MADE THE SITUATION GO FARTHER AND LONGER THAN IT NEEDED TO. THAT THAT'S THE POINT. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT BACK UP. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. IF THERE'S A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO ADVISE PEOPLE, WHY DID THAT NOT WORK? BECAUSE THAT COULD HAVE PERHAPS GIVEN YOU AN OPPORTUNITY, AS YOU SAID, TO BE ABLE TO ABATE THE ISSUE AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FACED WITH THAT INSURMOUNTABLE BILL THE NEXT MONTH. SO I'D, I'D LIKE AN EXPLANATION OF THAT AS WELL AS TO WHY SOMETHING IS PUT THERE SOMEWHAT AS A FAIL. SAVE DID NOT WORK. AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT DIDN'T WORK. WHEN I CALLED THE, UH, CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID, OH, THAT DOESN'T WORK. WELL, WHY DO YOU OFFER IT? YOU KNOW? UM, [02:50:01] AND THEN JUST TO GO EVEN FURTHER, EVEN DURING THE PILL PROCESS, I WAS, UM, TOLD THROUGH, UM, ONE OF THE REVIEWS THAT THEY DID COME OUT TO MY, UH, HOME AND THEY DID CHANGE A METER. AND I'M LIKE, WELL, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW? SO THERE IS A SITUATION THAT'S REALLY CONCERNING. JUST EVEN THE VOLUME OF WATER FROM THE TOILET LEAK IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN SHOWED THE VOLUME OF A, A TANKER AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SOMETHING IS OFF WITH THAT BECAUSE I DON'T STILL UNDERSTAND HOW A TOILET COULD BE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I DO NOT HAVE A POOL. SO DID THEY TELL YOU WHY THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THE, WHY THEY CHANGED THE METER? NO, OF COURSE NOT. THAT'S LIKE ME. INTERESTING. PROAM, MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM. THANK YOU, UH, NAYA FOR COMING. MY QUESTION WAS, I, I WANNA UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU SAID THAT THEY SKIPPED A BILLING CYCLE. YES MA'AM. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO YOU DIDN'T GET A BILL? SO I GOT A BILL FOR, YES, I DID. I GOT A BILL FOR JUNE. I PAID MY BILLS ELECTRONICALLY. I WORK OVERNIGHT, SO I KIND OF LOG IN, PAY MY BILLS. UM, WHEN I GO TO PULL MY BILLS, THERE IS NO JULY, THERE IS NO JULY STATEMENT. IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE AUGUST, UM, THE STATEMENT FOR AUGUST. UM, AND IT ADDS UNDER THE ADJUSTMENT OF LINE ITEM THAT SHOWS WHAT WAS OWED FROM THE PREVIOUS, UM, AT, FOR THE 9,700. SO APPARENTLY THEY KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS, WAS AN ISSUE, BUT NEVER, NEVER, YOU KNOW, NEVER INFORMED ME OF IT. SO, OKAY. I, AND, AND YOU MADE CONTACT WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND I, I KNOW SHE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT, RIGHT. UM, TO TRY TO GET SOME RESOLUTION FOR YOU. UM, WE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THESE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING. UM, OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH A NUM, A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED HIGH WATER BILLS. UM, THERE, THERE DEFINITELY IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT THAT WE NEED TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND SO THAT WE CAN, UM, MAKE RIGHT FOR CITIZENS IN, IN HOUSTON. UM, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND WE WILL TRY TO HELP TO GET THIS RESOLVED FOR YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. SLATE STAR. NEXT SPEAKER. EARL BROWNLOW. NEXT SPEAKER WILL HILL. I'M SORRY. SORRY. MR. BARLOW BROWN. MR. BROWNLOW, CORRECT? YES. GOT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. YES, SIR. UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEMP AS WISE COUNSEL SAYS AROUND HIM. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY, UH, COME ANOTHER DAY FOR MY PRESENTATION AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT. I SEE THERE'S MULTIPLE SITUATIONS YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO I WOULD LIKE TO RESCHEDULE AND COME ANOTHER DAY. SO IT'S VERY KIND TO YOU. BUT WHAT, YEAH, YOU'RE HERE. LET US KNOW. WE'LL, ALRIGHT. I'M GLAD TO HELP YOU. I, I SAW VETERANS AFFAIRS ON HERE. VETERAN YOUTH PROGRAM, WHICH YOU TREAT ME. CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE. THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUTH PROGRAMS. JUST A LITTLE BIT. AS I SAID, I RESPECTFULLY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY. YES, SIR. MY NAME IS EARL BROWN. I'M A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE CO-CHAIR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE HOUSTON URBAN LEAGUE. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'VE RECOGNIZED THE SELF-ESTEEM OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLES AT AN ALL TIME LOW. AND THE DESIGN CHAOS IN OUR COUNTRY DOESN'T HELP, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY SOCIAL CONCERNS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I PRESENT TO YOU AMERICAN WE STAND VETERAN YOUTH PROJECT. NO ONE CAN MAKE IT IN LIFE WITHOUT POSSESSING THE ABILITY TO PAY ATTENTION AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. SO WHO BETTER TO TEACH THIS TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAN A VETERAN? WHAT AMERICAN WE STAND VETERAN YOUTH PROJECT WOULD DO IS PROVIDE NCCR INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, WHICH IS NATIONAL CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. THEY, IN RETURN, WOULD COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND BE ALLOWED, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, FIVE YEAR CERTIFICATION IN PLUMBING, AC UH, BUILDING MASONRY, ET CETERA. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AMERICAN WEAND VETERAN YOUTH PROJECT IS A NON-PROFIT, IS THE NON-PROFIT TO THE AMERICAN WE STAND MOVEMENT, WHICH WILL NOT GO INTO TODAY. IS DESIGNED TO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A, UH, BUFFALO SOLDIER, NO ONE LEFT BEHIND PROJECT. WE WILL SELECT A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS A FELON AND GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY CAN DO BETTER FOR THEMSELVES. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TWO OF THE MOST [02:55:01] VALUABLE RESOURCES, OUR VETERANS AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND UTILIZE A STRUCTURE TO HELP UNITE THE C COMMUNITY BY BUILDING BRIDGES REGARDING SOCIAL CONCERNS AND STRENGTHENING OUR, THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY. OUR GOALS IS TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT. UH, TECH, UH, CHECK. WELL, I GOT A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THERE. THIS WHOLE WATER DEAL IS YES, SIR. MY MIND. TAKE YOUR TIME MORE. I CAN'T, THAT'S WHY I, ANYWAY, HOW YOU THINK WE FEEL . YES, EXACTLY. THAT'S WHY I, WE WE'LL RETRIEVE, ACHIEVE OUR GOALS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS ON EACH PROJECT. WE WILL HAVE A WEEK DEDICATED TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEK. THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT HAD INVOLVEMENT WITH LAW LAW ENFORCEMENT UNLESS THEY WAS IN TROUBLE. WE WILL HAVE A VETERAN'S WEEK, FATHER AND SON OR DAUGHTER WEEK, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. WEEK, WEEK, COMMUNITY WEEK, VENDOR WEEK, COLLEGE WEEK. AND FIREFIGHTERS, UH, FIREFIGHTERS. WE ALSO, UM, OH, I'VE ALSO CONTACTED MANY OF THE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. I'LL GIVE YOU A 30 SECONDS WRAP UP. RESTAURANTS IN THE COMMUNITY. I WENT DOWN, I MEET 'EM. YES, SIR. AND, AND SPOKEN WITH EVERY RESTAURANT OWNER. THEY ARE WILLING TO FUND THIS BY SUPPORTING A YOUNG PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO GO THROUGH THE PROJECT. UH, I JUST, UH, SO MR. BROWNLOW, YOUR ASK OF US WOULD, WOULD, WOULD, WOULD YOU LIKE THIS BODY TO BE INVOLVED IN? WELL, WHAT I'M ASKING FROM THE, THIS, THIS BODY IS JUST A, UH, I DO NOT NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT. I JUST ENDORSEMENT THAT IT WOULD POSSIBLY BE GOOD FOR THE CITY. SURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE END OF A CYCLE IN THIS, IN THIS, UH, AT THE CITY COUNCIL. AND I PLAN TO COME BACK AND BE MORE PREPARED AT ANOTHER TIME. BUT BASICALLY WHAT I WANT TO DO IS HAVE EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BETTER AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO MAKE A DECISION IF IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE CITY OR NOT. ABSOLUTELY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. UH, MR. BRADLEY, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. I KNOW, UH, UH, AS AN ARCHITECT AND SOMEBODY WHO WORKS WITH THE CRAFTS, NOT ONLY WITH A LOT OF VETERANS, UH, LET ME SAY WE ARE HEARING YOU TODAY. WE DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK. I KNOW I, THIS PAST WEEK, UH, WENT OUT TO PASADENA TO SOMEBODY WITH A CARPENTER'S UNION, UH, WHO CAME BEFORE US AND JUST SAID, I NEED, WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO COME LOOK AT THE FACILITY? AND, UH, IN THEIR CASE, FOR ME, IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP. SO THERE'S A LOT OF US WHO ARE LOOKING TO SUPPORT YOU. DON'T FORGET THAT. DON'T BE A STRANGER. COME ON BACK WHEN WE'VE GOT, UH, UH, BANDWIDTH. AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR MATERIALS, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE OPEN EARS AND HOPING TO HELP. I APPRECIATE IT. AND I'VE BEEN, UH, IN CONSTRUCTION FOR OVER 25 YEARS, SO I KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY JUST NEED SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. ABSOLUTE. ABSOLUTELY. AND SO THAT'S MY, MY OBJECTIVE. YEP. MY FIRST JOB WAS IN CONSTRUCTION AND I KNOW IT TOOK ME, IT'S TAKEN ME A LOT OF GREAT PLACES. COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. ALSO, KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL US INFORMATION TOO. YES. OR, UM, ALL OF OUR ADDRESSES, EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE, ARE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO DO THAT. THAT WAY WE CAN READ THE INFORMATION BEFORE YOU COME. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH, UH, MR. POLLARD'S, UH, ASSISTANT MR. ALEXANDER, AND I GAVE HIM INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE HERE. GREAT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE GOT IT TO YOU, BUT I WILL BE MORE PREPARED THE NEXT TIME. NO, YOU'RE YOU'RE VERY PREPARED. YOU'RE FINE. , YOU'RE, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN. THANK YOU MR. BRANDO. THANK YOU MR. BARLOW. AND GOOD LUCK. COME BACK AND SEE US NEXT SPEAKER WILL HILL. MR. HILL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I KNOW Y'ALL TIRED OF LOOKING AT ME. I'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES. SEVERAL TIMES. I TALKED TO VEST TURNER LAST TIME I WAS HERE. I, AND I TOLD HIM I WAS GONNA FLY TO WASHINGTON DC AND I WAS GONNA TAKE THE ISSUES UP, UH, ABOUT HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT CITY. UH, UNITED STATES IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. WHAT I HAD, ONE OF THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES, 'CAUSE I WINDED UP OPENING UP A BUSINESS, UH, CALLED UH, CLIFF HILL WAS PLUMBING. UM, AND, UM, UM, SOMEHOW THE ATTORNEY GENERALS GOT ALL MIXED UP INTO MY BUSINESS AND THEY USED MY SISTER. AND, UM, THIS IS WHAT I GOT FROM THE, UM, FROM THE, UM, UNITED STATES. AND IT READS, IT SAYS ON SEPTEMBER THE, UM, 23RD I CONTACTED. I MEAN, UH, THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING [03:00:01] THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS VALUE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH, UH, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE AMER AND THE, AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OUTREACH. OUR COUNTRY FACES MANY CHALLENGES AND MESSAGES LIKE YOURS. HELP US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW, HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN SERVE AMERICAN FAMILIES. UH, WE TAKE CAREFUL NOTE OF THE SUGGESTIONS, THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS AND STORIES WE RECEIVE. AND WE ARE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE YOU ARE SERVICE AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. SINCERELY, THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE. OKAY. I SPOKE WITH, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN SEVERAL TIMES AND I TOLD HIM THEY TURNED MY HEAT EXHAUSTION INTO A SEXUAL ISSUE AND I TOOK IT TO FEDERAL COURT AND THEY GAVE ME THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS AND TOLD ME TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE. AND WHEN I WENT TO THE POST OFFICE, THE BLACK FEMALES THAT WAS THERE TOLD ME, YOU CAN'T HOW YOU GET THESE. AND I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THEY GAVE THEM TO ME. NOW I KNOW IT'S A CRUCIAL SITUATION, BUT IT'S A SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED WITH SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND WITH MAYOR RUSSELL TURNER. OKAY. I WENT TO WORK FOR A RS AND THAT'S HOW IT ALL CAME UNDO AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICE. I OWNED MY OWN COMPANY. I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THERE, BUT I KNEW IT WAS TIED UP IN A CONSPIRACY CASE. SO WHAT DID I DO? I TALKED TO, UM, TO PASTOR TURNER ABOUT TWO, ABOUT THE, THE ABOUT THREE, FOUR WEEKS AGO. AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO TO WASHINGTON YET, JUST HOLD UP. SO I HELD UP ON HIS WORD. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT IT HAS DESTROYED MY FAMILY, DESTROYED MY BUSINESS, AND THE STUDY GOES ON AND ON THE TURN, I NEVER WOULD'VE PROBABLY HAD THE KIDS I HAVE. BUT WHEN I WAS MARRIED TO MY WIFE, MY SISTER HAD PLAYED PART IN THAT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERALS. NOW, IT MIGHT SEEM OBSOLETE TO YOU, BUT YOU CAN TIE THINGS TOGETHER. I'M A MASTER PLUMBER. I KNOW IF YOU GOT A LEAK YOU CAN JUST CATCH IT AT THE METER. SO I KNOW THAT ALL THIS COMES FROM A SOURCE, YOU SEE. SO THAT'S WHY I WOUND UP GOING TO, UH, FEDERAL COURT AND THEY FILED A HOMICIDE AND HPD ON ME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU. CAN YOUR ADDRESS ME ON ANYTHING? CAN'T SAY NOTHING. I MEAN, YOU SAID YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR. I'M AND THE MAYOR. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR. I GO TO HPD ALL THE TIME. OKAY. YOU KNOW, BUT LIKE I SAY, THEY FILE A HOMICIDE AND I HAVE A PLUMBING COMPANY. RIGHT. I HAVE TO CHANGE MY NAME SEVERAL TIMES. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, AND OR UM, LIKE I SAY, I KNOW MY SISTER EUGENE WAS INVOLVED AND POSSIBLY SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY WAS INVOLVED AND I TRIED TO GET IT CLEARED UP. THAT'S ALL. I'VE BEEN AN ORDAINED MINISTER SINCE I WAS 17. THEY MESSED WITH MY MINISTRY. TOTALLY. YES. SO I LIKE TO GET IT RESOLVED. UH, WOULD YOU TAKE AN ADDRESS DOWN AND SAY, OH, UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, IF YOU WANNA GET IN CONTACT WITH ME, UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, THANK AND UM, AND JUST LET ME KNOW. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. IT DESTROY MY BUSINESS, MA'AM. YES SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. TRAVIS OWERS. TRAVIS STOWERS AFTERNOON. HOWDY. I'VE BEEN COMING HERE ABOUT 12 YEARS ASKING FOR HELP. I'M GLAD YOU GUYS SEE HOW THE, UH, WATER DEPARTMENT IS. 'CAUSE I HAVE TO DEAL WITH A RA TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. I OWN PET CABS. THEY'RE LITTLE TRICYCLES THAT GIVE PEOPLE RIDE AROUND THE STATE OR, OR ANYWHERE REALLY AROUND THE CITY. I WAS ASKED HERE TO START UP A COMPANY BECAUSE SUPER BOWL 20 PLUS YEARS AGO, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 21 YEARS, IS AN OBSCURE BUSINESS TO RUN. I DO NOT LIKE BEING ON PEOPLE'S RADAR. MY SUCCESS IS TO ALWAYS SEE OUT THE RADAR WHEN I'M UP HERE ASKING FOR HELP. I AM ASKING TO BE ON YOUR RADAR. THIS IS EVERYTHING. AND ANYTHING THAT GOES AGAINST MY SUCCESS. SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT, WHEN I SEND A RA TRANSPORTATION EMAILS AND THEY GHOST ME, AND THEY DON'T CALL, AND THEY JUST SAY, GO TO CITY COUNCIL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE MY FATHER, THIS IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM. SHOULD IT BE, THIS IS WHO YOU GUYS HAVE DELEGATED TO DEAL WITH ME. WHEN YOU DO NOT GET THE RESPONSE, WHEN YOU GO INTO THEIR OFFICE AND YOU GET MOCKED, MADE FUN OF, AND THEY TAKE YOUR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR AND DO NOTHING TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS PER LAW, PER ORDINANCE. OR [03:05:01] I WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY, I WAS ASKED BY MR. EDWARD POLLARD TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND I'VE SENT THESE SOLUTIONS. WHAT I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THEN I READ OUR OWN ORDINANCE WHERE IT SAYS, POLICE MADE TOW VEHICLES THAT DO NOT HAVE LICENSES. WHAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY ARE A BUNCH OF UNLICENSED PEDICABS THAT CONTINUOUSLY WORK IN A SMALL AREA AND THEY JUST GET TICKETS. JUST TICKETS, AND THEY CAN CONTINUE TO WORK. THEY MAKE ENOUGH MONEY IN ONE NIGHT WHERE THEY COULD PAY FOR INSURANCE. THEY COULD PAY FOR THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ENABLED THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND OPERATE LIKE THIS, WHICH HAS PUT ME IN A POSITION OF GOING OUT OF BUSINESS, WHICH MY SON LIVES HERE. ALL MY FRIENDS LIVE HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE HERE, BUT I HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS ON HOW I CAN MAKE A LIVING. I DO NOT WANT TO BE HERE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I SHOULD BE PICKING UP MY SON FROM SCHOOL, DRESSING HIM UP IN A HALLOWEEN COSTUME AND GOING OUT AND HAVING A HALLOWEEN WITH HIM TONIGHT. AND I AM HERE. THIS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. THIS IS HOW I MAKE A LIVING. THIS IS HOW PEOPLE UNDERNEATH ME THAT WORK FOR ME, THAT WORK WITH ME, MAKE A LIVING. IT IS UNFAIR TO ANY STAKEHOLDER WHO HAS TRIED TO DO THIS BUSINESS THE CORRECT WAY. YOU KNOW, I GREW UP, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. VICE MAYOR PROAM, MARTHA CASTEX STADIUM, THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE'VE, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME, UM, BEFORE US WITH THE SAME ISSUE OF THE PETTY CABS AND NOT HAVING INSURANCE AND NOT BEING PERMITTED. SO WHEN YOU TALKED TO A RA, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE? NOTHING. GHOST. SO ARE YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT GHOSTING MEANS? ARE YOU ASKING US TO JUST VERIFY THAT EVERY PETTY CAB COMPANY IS PERMITTED AND THEY HAVE INSURANCE SO THAT THERE'S LESS PEOPLE OUT PICKING UP PEOPLE SO THAT YOUR BUSINESS COULD HAVE MORE BUSINESS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ILLEGALLY OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMIT? WHAT AM I ASKING FOR? MM-HMM . UH, PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY TO WORK WITHOUT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, WHICH I HAVE TO PAY FOR. I HAVE, RIGHT. I HAVE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES HERE AND I PAY MY RENT EVEN THROUGH COVID. RIGHT. I'VE SET UP MY BUSINESSES. I GET THAT. I, I I GOT, I I MEAN ANYBODY WHO OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS THROUGH COVID AND SURVIVED, RIGHT? ANYBODY WHO'S OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON THAT SURVIVED FOR 20 YEARS. I DID. RIGHT? NO, I PAID MY BILLS. I I I HAVE A QUESTION. I SPENT LIFE SAVINGS. I WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I WANT TO SIT DOWN. I NEED LAWYERS AND I NEED THE A RA TRANSPORTATION. 'CAUSE I'M NOW LOOKING AT A, A, A ORDINANCE THAT STATES MY PERMITS ARE GOOD FOR FIVE YEARS. EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO PAY, EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO PAY MY, EVERY YEAR THEY SAY MY PERMITS I GOTTA REPAY. THAT'S A HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS. I GOT TAKEN FROM, I GOT YOUR POINT. I'M GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION. SO THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS ISSUE COME UP, UM, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE AROUND THE ASTROS, UM, GAME, AND HPD WAS ACTUALLY OUT AT MINUTE MAID LOOKING AT THE PETTY CABS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAD PERMITS. ARE, ARE WE STILL REQUIRING, OR IS ANYONE MONITORING THE PETTY CABS AT EVENTS? IS THAT PART OF THE DAILY RESPONSIBILITY OF HPD WHEN THEY ARE PATROLLING? ARE THEY LOOKING AT PETTY CABS? SO I CAN'T ADDRESS WHETHER OR NOT JUDY IS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT PETTY CABS. UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, A SPECIFIC PETTY CAB TASK FORCE, BUT THEY DO. I KNOW THEY DO HAVE OFFICERS OUT AT THESE EVENTS. UM, THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE CONCENTRATING ON SECURITY AT THESE EVENTS, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME BEFORE US WITH THIS ISSUE. AND IT'S NOT FAIR FOR A BUSINESS OWNER TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND OTHERS TO NOT FOLLOW THE RULES. UH, MAYOR PRO TIMM MARTIN, IF WE COULD MAYBE POSSIBLY BRING THIS UP IN, UH, TTI, UH, I THINK THAT WE REALLY SHOULD GIVE SOME DIRECTIONS TO A RA AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH HPD ABOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN THEY'RE PATROLLING. JUST KIND OF MAKING SURE THAT THE PETTY CABS THAT ARE AT THESE EVENTS ARE LEGITIMATE AND THEY HAVE INSURANCE AND THE PERMITS THEY CONTINUOUSLY TRY TO DO TO DO THIS. AND ALL THEY DO IS WRITE TRAFFIC TICKETS AND CONTINUOUSLY TO LET THESE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE LEARNED JUST TO CONTINUE TO WORK. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IF WE TAKE IT UP IN COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE THAT ISSUE AND SOMEONE HAS THREE TICKETS, [03:10:01] I MEAN, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE WHERE IF YOU ARE A REPEATED VI VIOLATOR OF THE RULE, THERE SHOULD BE SOME LEVEL OF CONSEQUENCE. IT IS ALREADY IN OUR ORDINANCE. IT IS SECTION 4 6 11 4. AND WHAT DOES IT SAY? IT SAYS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY REMOVE ANY VEHICLE FROM A PUBLIC STREET OR PUBLIC PLACE WHEN PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED AS A VEHICLE FOR HIRE WITHOUT THE REQUIRED PERMIT, CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATE, DECAL, OR OTHER AUTH AUTHORIZATION. SO THEN ENFORCEMENT IS, IS OUR ISSUE. YES. OKAY. I I DO THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS IT IN, UM, TTI JUST BECAUSE, UH, WE SHOULD ALL KIND OF, WHEN PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY. AND I THINK THAT HPD WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A BETTER, UM, PICTURE OF IT AS OPPOSED TO WHAT I THINK THE, THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU. MAYOR PROAM AND VICE MAYOR PROAM. UM, MR. STOVER HAS, UH, BEEN HERE BEFORE US BEFORE. UM, HE'S SHOWING INCREDIBLE PATIENCE TODAY. THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE LONG LIST OF FOLKS WHO'VE SPOKEN BEFORE HIM. UM, HE HAS BEEN REACHED BY MY STAFF, AND I KNOW WE'VE TRIED SOMEWHAT REPEATEDLY THIS SUMMER, BUT FOR REASONS THAT HE MENTIONED, HE'S, HE, HE DOES EXIST SOMEWHAT UNDER THE RADAR, BUT HE DOES PAY HIS BILLS AND HE DOES EXIST AND HE'S A SURVIVOR AND WE WANT TO HELP HIM, WHICH IS WHY MY TEAM HAS NOW SUCCESSFULLY REACHED OUT. AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FOLLOW UP, TRAVIS. I KNOW, THANKS. WHAT'S, WHAT'S BEEN SUGGESTED IS THAT THE ISSUE COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE I CHAIR AND MAYBE YOU AND I HUDDLE UP BEFORE WE DO THAT TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK OUT A SOLUTION. 'CAUSE IT, IT'S TRICKY. YOU AND I KNOW IT IS. UM, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE IT'S SPECIALIZED. YEAH. AND I SEEMED LIKE THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S RUN A LARGE FLEET OF PECA FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE IN AMERICA, MAYBE EVEN THE WORLD RIGHT. OCEAN. TO EXTEND MY IDEAS, MY IDEAS ARE JUST TRASHED AND THROWN AWAY. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES NOT LISTEN TO ME OR WANT TO HEAR MY IDEAS. YOU GUYS JUST GO MAKE DECISIONS OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THEIR A RA MAKES DECISIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IT ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS. LET'S BE, I THINK WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE OBSERVING, AND I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE THE EXPERT HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO GET EVENTS LIKE THE ASTROS IN A WORLD SERIES OR A CONFERENCE FINAL, AND THEN WE DO GET WEEKLY FOOTBALL GAMES AND WE SEE THE PETTY CALVES OUT THERE, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SORT OF A, THERE'S A FRENZY WHEN WE GET THE BIG EVENTS, AND THAT'S HARD ENOUGH TO POLICE AS IT IS. BUT LET'S, LET'S FOLLOW UP, MAKE SURE WE GET TOGETHER AND WE CAN TALK THROUGH SOME SCENARIOS. I APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTION, VICE MAYOR PROTO. SO JUST A, A QUESTION, UM, WHAT PERCENT OF THE PETTY CABS OUT THERE ARE UNPERMITTED WOULD YOU GIVE? THEY'RE, I GO OUT THERE AND I COUNT ABOUT FOR EVERY ONE LEGAL PETTY CAB THERE'S THREE ILLEGAL OR UNLICENSED. LET'S USE, USE THE WORD UNLICENSED. SORRY. OKAY. I MEAN, IF YOU PUT IN SOME SIGNIFICANT, AND IS THE PERMIT EASILY IDENTIFIABLE ON THE PETTY CAB? IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE, IT IS NOT EASILY IDENTIFIED. WHERE IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE? IT'S, WELL, WHAT COLOR IS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WHAT COLOR OF THIS YEAR? IT'S LIKE LIGHT BLUE. MY FAVORITE COLOR, LIGHT BLUE. UH, BUT IT'S LIKE UNDERNEATH THE RIDER'S LEGS AND IT IS NOT VISIBLE. I'VE WORKED IN MULTIPLE MARKETS AND MULTIPLE SUPER BOWLS AND MULTIPLE, THIS IS MY FIRST WORLD SERIES GAMES I NEVER HAD PETTY CABS AT. RIGHT. IN TEXAS. AH, UH, DAMN ASTROS. UH, THE, UH, BUT YEAH, WE PUT FLAGS AT LIKE BIG EVENTS. THERE'S IDEAS. YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK TO ME. NOBODY WANTS TO ANSWER ANYTHING. WELL, I NOBODY WANTS TO TALK TO YOU. WE'VE JUST, UM, ENCOURAGED THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO CHAIRS TT I RIGHT TO HUDDLE WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT DTI STANDS FOR. KEITH TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. GOTCHA. SO HE'S, HE'S GONNA REACH OUT TO YOU AND WE DO WANNA HEAR FROM YOU. WE'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS. I MEAN, THE, THE MANY TIMES WE ALWAYS SAY THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM HAVE THE SOLUTIONS. SO, UM, WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT FOR ME TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK. SURE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. OVER AND OVER. NEXT SPEAKER DEWINE DECOSTA. DEWAN DECOSTA. NEXT SPEAKER, MARY AND SCOTT. MARION SCOTT. NEXT SPEAKER. RAINY MOSS. RAINY. GOOD AFTERNOON. OH, . THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING GENOCIDE AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE SINCE BRITAIN GAVE AWAY THE PALESTINIAN LAND IN 1948. MORE THAN 5.6 MILLION PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN MADE INTO REFUGEES SINCE 1948. BORDERS HAVE BEEN AGREED ON [03:15:01] AND DRAWN UP BY WESTERN POWERS MANY TIMES, BUT ISRAEL HAS NEVER STOPPED EXPANDING BEYOND THESE BORDERS. AND THE WESTERN POWERS HAVE NEVER STOPPED SUPPORTING IT. AS OF 2022, THERE WERE 279 ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS. SETTLEMENTS WITH 700,000 ISRAELI LIVING ON THEM. THE EXISTENCE OF THE ISRAELI STATES STATE IS VIOLENCE. IT IS APARTHEID. AND TO BE AN ANTI-ZIONIST IS NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH BEING ANTISEMITIC. JUDAISM IS A FAITH. ZIONISM IS A COLONIAL PROJECT. ISRAEL ACTIVELY BOMBS CIVILIAN HOMES, SCHOOL HOSPITAL TO TAKE OVER THEIR TERRITORY AND BUILD ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS. MOST OF THE VICTIMS OF THESE ATROCITIES HAVE BEEN CHILDREN AND WOMEN. ISRAEL IS ALSO CURRENTLY USING CHEMICAL WEAPONS, WHITE PHOSPHORUS ON DENSELY RESIDENTIAL AREAS, WHICH IS DEEMED AS A WAR CRIME. UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, ISRAEL IS ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT THESE HORRENDOUS CRIMES BECAUSE OF THE BILLIONS OF FUNDING. 3.3 BILLIONS IN ONLY 2002 ON THE BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. AND THE MASSES ARE BEING MISLED BY OUR MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT ISRAEL, WHO CLAIM WHO DEEMS PALESTINIANS AND MUSLIMS AS LESS THAN, AND PAINTS HAMAS AS A GREATER THREAT. TELL ME IF YOUR HOME WAS STOLEN, BLOODLINES AND GENERATIONS EXTERMINATED, AND A LITTLE LIFE THAT HAS BEEN LEFT IS CONSTANTLY THREATENED, WOULD YOU NOT FIGHT BACK? WE WERE PUSHED TO FOCUS ON HAMAS, WHO HAS BEEN DEEMED AS A TERRORIST FOR THEIR RETALIATION. YOU KNOW, WHO ELSE WAS DEEMED AS A TERRORIST UNTIL 2008? NELSON MANDELA MANDELA WAS IN PRISON FOR 30 YEARS WHILE THE WEST AND UNITED STATES DID NOTHING. HE TOO BOMBED GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. HE TOO WAS FIGHTING FOR LIBERATION FOR AFRICANS UNDER RHODESIAS APARTHEID GOVERNMENT. REMEMBER, YOU DON'T GET TO CRITICIZE THE TABLE MANNERS OF A STARVING PERSON. AND THIS ISN'T A CONSPIRACY THEORY, IT IS HISTORY. I STAND WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE, AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JEWS AND MUSLIMS AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH US IMPERIALISM AND THE MONEYMAKING BUSINESS OF WAR, WHICH BENEFITS POLITICIAN, POLITICIANS. AND THE 1%. I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHOUT THE BIAS OF THE WEST. THIS IS A MATTER OF HUMANITY AT THE DEMAND THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CUT TIE WITH ISRAEL, WITH THE ISRAELI STATE AND THE MIKI LELAND KIBBUTZ INTERNSHIP BE TERMINATED. I ASK THAT YOU ALL STAND FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. DEMAND A CEASEFIRE AND PUT AN END TO ISRAELI OCCUPATION, POWER PUT TO THE PEOPLE AND THE GENOCIDE AND ABOLISH US IMPERIALISM WORLDWIDE. NEXT SPEAKER. ANYONE HAS TO SAY ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO THAT NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU FOR COMING. SHAME ON YOU BROTHER. CHRIS X AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M NEW TO THIS, SO Y'ALL BEAR WITH ME. IT'S MY FIRST TIME NOW. I'M HOPING IT'S MY LAST TIME. . THANK YOU. OKAY, HERE'S WHAT WE GOT HERE. UH, ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER THE 20TH, YOU HAD A INSPECTOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WAS IDENTIFIED AS MR. TAMIKA GRAVE. SHE VISIT A RESIDENT AT 22 5 KING STREET, 82-YEAR-OLD LADY. Y'ALL ALL SAW ON NEWS. THAT LADY HAPPENED TO BE MY MOM'S. AND, UH, AND, BUT HERE'S THE CRAZY PART. I WAS THERE WHEN THAT INSPECTOR WHOM IDENTIFIED HERSELF AS MR. MICKO GRAVES WITH DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD, ASSISTANT CHIEF INSPECTOR THAT, AND SHE CAME OUT ON OCTOBER 20, SHE STOOD AT THE EDGE OF THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE RECORDED DEVICE. NEVER CAME. WELL, TO SEE THE STRUCTURE UP CLOSE, THERE WAS A VEHICLE, CONFRONTED THE STRUCTURE AND NEVER TALKED TO THE HOMEOWNER, ANYBODY. AND I APPROACHED HER, ASKED HER WHAT WAS GOING ON. SHE SAID, WELL, THAT STRUCTURE GOT COME DOWN AT FOUR, EIGHT HOURS. THEN SHE GOT IN HER VEHICLE, SHE DROVE OFF, DIDN'T LEAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION, DIDN'T SAY WHO YOU NEED TO CALL. DIDN'T SAY YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH JUST LEFT. SO THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME I REACHED OUT TO A, UH, PROFESSIONAL, A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF MR. AHMAR DRBO WITH PERPETUAL DEVELOPMENT, WHO'S A PROFESSIONAL REGARDING BUILDING STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION DEMOLITION. HE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, BROTHER X, TRUE ENOUGH, TRUCTURE IS DETERIORATED, BUT IT'S NOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S AN EMERGENCY WHERE IT GOTTA COME DOWN TO $40. AND IT IS NOT BURNED, AS YOU STATED. IT'S ALSO, IT'S NOT VACANT. OKAY? IT'S NOT VACANT. IT'S NOT BURNED. IT IS NOT THE EMERGENCY SHE CLAIMING TO BE. SO, OKAY, NO PROBLEM. LET'S TIME TO FAST FORWARD. I CALLED COUNCILWOMAN TASHA JACKSON'S OFFICE ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH. I SPOKE TO THE GENTLEMAN WHOM IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS, UH, PHILIP, I'M SORRY, PHILIP JONES GO BY PJ. NO PROBLEM. TOLD HIM WHAT'S GOING ON, HE SAID, AND I SAID, HEY, ALL THIS RESIDENTS ASKING [03:20:01] FOR AN EXTENSION BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE, SOMEONE'S GONNA COME DO THE WORK SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 27TH. HE SAID, OKAY, WELL, NO PROBLEM. WE'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I ALSO REACHED OUT TO COUNCILWOMAN SALLY ALCORN'S OFFICE. I SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO HAD IDENTIFIED HIMSELF, I THINK IT'S KATHY KAILYN SOMETHING, EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO HER. SHE SAID, OKAY, NO PROBLEM. WE'LL CALL OVER THERE. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAY, WELL, YEAH, WE TALKED TO 'EM. THEY DON'T SEE NO REASON WHY THERE SHOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE, UH, WITH EXTENSION. BUT THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH THAT COMES TO WOMAN ALCON'S OFFICE, SHE ALSO GAVE ME A NUMBER TO CALL MYSELF, WHICH I DID DO. I SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHOM IDENTIFIED THEMSELF AS FROM MISS, UH, PARKER, DEENA PARKER. AND SHE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, BROTHER CHRIS, IT'S ALL YOU GUYS ASKING JUST FOR A 30 DAY EXTENSION. YOU ALREADY HAVE SOMEBODY'S COME AND DO THE WORK. WE DON'T SEE WHY THAT SHOULD BE A PROBLEM. I SAID, OKAY, NO PROBLEM. SO THEY LEMME BELIEVE EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ALSO, WHEN I SPOKE TO THE GENTLEMAN AT COUNCIL WOMAN TASHA JACKSON'S OFFICE, HE SAID, WELL, IF THEY TALKING ABOUT DEMOLISHING DESTRUCTION, $48, HELL, IT TAKES LONGER THAN $48 TO THEM MAKE A PERMIT. SO, OKAY, MONDAY COONE, OCTOBER 23RD. WOW, I DIDN'T GET TO THE GOOD PART YET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA, JACKSON JACKSON, THANK YOU. UM, MR. CHRIS X, GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR STATEMENT. OKAY. AND, AND, AND I'M GONNA SAY THIS JUST KIND OF FAST FORWARD, . OKAY. SO ANYWAY, I ALSO WAS TOLD, WELL, TASHA JACKSON IS NOT YOUR COUNCIL PERSON. YOU BELONG TO DISTRICT H. I SAID, WELL, I HEARD TASHA JACKSON COME ON THE RADIO AND SAY IT'LL HELP ANYBODY NO MATTER WHAT DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN. I KNOW I LIVE IN DISTRICT, I KNOW MY ABCS DIDN'T KNOW MY COUNCIL PERSONS CALLED CIRO, WHO'S NEVER BEEN THERE. BUT I ALSO SAY THIS, I SAW A SITUATION WHERE COUNCILWOMAN, CAROLYN SHABA LEFT DISTRICT D TO GO SEE ABOUT A SITUATION THAT WAS GOING ON DISTRICT B JUST IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. AND SHE GOT THERE. SHE DIDN'T SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT MY DISTRICT. SHE WENT TO HELP BECAUSE SHE KNOWS SHE COULD. AND SHE DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO YOU HAVE THESE PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT MY DISTRICT. WELL, MY TAX DOLLARS DON'T JUST STAY IN DISTRICT H, MY TEXTILE GO TO ALL THE DISTRICT. BUT MY POINT IS THIS, WHEN THE, I WON'T SAY THIS. ON OCTOBER 25TH WEDNESDAY, THAT SAME INSPECTOR CAME TO THE RESIDENCE WITH THE POLICE OFFICER AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO BULLDOZE THE PROPERTY. SAY, HEY, WE GOT A WARRANT HERE TO SEE IF THE PROPERTY SAY, HUH. AND WE LOOK AT THIS WARRANT, IT WAS SIGNED OFF BY THE JUDGE. IT ALSO HELD THE CITY ATTORNEY. BUT IT'S DATED OCTOBER 25TH. SIGNED AT 7:57 PM 7:57 PM THEY CAME THAT MORNING. THEY DIDN'T COME THAT NIGHT. THEN YOU LOOK THROUGH HERE, THE POLICE GOT HIS BIGGEST DAY. HE RECEIVED HIS HANDS AT 8:27 AM AND HE DELIVERED TO THE RESIDENT AT 8:31 AM HE STATED HE LEFT AT THE DOOR, UNTRUE. AND YOU LOOKED THROUGH IT. ANYWAY. SO MY POINT IS, WHEN YOU GO OUT TO DEMOLISH THESE SENIOR SISTERS, BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO A NEIGHBOR, MINE, MS. WILLIAMS HELPED BE MY MOM. SHE WASN'T GIVEN DUE PROCESS. WHY WAS THE DUE PROCESS? 'CAUSE IT WAS OUR VERY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT THE STRUCTURE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT TO, AND AND YOU HAD THE DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. STANDING THERE LAUGHING YOUR TIME. STANDING THERE LAUGHING. I'M SORRY. ANYBODY SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU BROTHER X. THANK YOU. OH, JUST THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, LEXI LAME. NEXT SPEAKER. LEXI LAME. LEXI LA LAMERE. NEXT SPEAKER. PETE RODRIGUEZ. II. PETE RODRIGUEZ. I THIRD. NEXT SPEAKER. SANDRA FRANCIS. SANDRA FRANCIS. NEXT SPEAKER RANDALL CALLEN. RANDALL CALLEN. NEXT SPEAKER. ELLIE JEHA. ELLIE JI. NEXT SPEAKER MONICA JOHNSON. AND MS. JOHNSON. HELLO. HELLO . OKAY, SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY DRAKE THIS YEAR THAT I'M HIS WIFE, I'M HIS GIRLFRIEND, AND UM, I'M HIS GIRL OR WHATEVER. THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME. CITY HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. AND I'M MONICA JOHNSON, BY THE WAY. NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS. OKAY. SO THE THING IS THAT HE TOLD ME, ASKED ME WHAT MY, MY BANK ACCOUNT, BECAUSE I'M WORKING ON MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. I HAVE ONE MORE SEMESTER TO GO AND I GRADUATE IN MAY OF NEXT YEAR FROM LONE STAR COLLEGE. AND I GOT ACCEPTED TO ATTEND RICES UNIVERSITY FOR MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT. AND HE ASKED ME WHAT WAS MY BANK ACCOUNT WHEN I WAS RECEIVING MY GOAL OF SCHOLAR, MY GLOBAL SCHOLARS MONEY. AND THEY ONLY PAID LITTLE AMOUNT. LIKE IN COLLEGE IT'S ONLY LIKE $3,000 OR WHATEVER. [03:25:01] SO IN COLLEGE FOR MY GLOBAL SCHOLARS CLASS, WHICH IS NOT MY A PLUS CLASSES, MY GPA WENT FROM 4.0 TO NOW IT'S INSTEAD A THREE BECAUSE THE ARRB, DRAKE GRAHAM, THE CANADIAN RAPPER, HE IS TRYING TO TAKE MY DEGREE AND I DON'T WANT HIM TO, I MEAN WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, RHETORIC OR WHATEVER, BUT I WANT HIM TO KNOW THAT I NEED MY DEGREE. LIKE HE TAKE MY INFORMATION AND HE TOOK MY MONEY AND MY BANK ACCOUNT, HE TOLD ME HE WAS GONNA DEPOSIT MY MILLION DOLLARS TO GIMME MY BILLION DOLLARS FROM CANADA. BUT I ALSO WANT MY MONEY FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIKE MY $1 BILLION. SO I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU GUYS CAN START WITH TELLING DRAKE TO GIMME MY MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS WITH HIM A MONTH AGO AT THE CONCERT, UM, HE HAD ME CONNECTED TO THE HPD IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I CAN FEEL MY HEART NOW OR WHATEVER, LIKE WHEN I, WHEN CERTAIN OCCASIONS OCCUR, LIKE THEY'LL PUT ME ON THE MONITOR OR WHATEVER. BUT THE THING IS, IS THAT LIKE I'M, I'M NOT WORKING IN CITY OF HOUSTON FOR FREE. LIKE I'M NOT A A PERSON THAT'S OUT HERE THAT'S ON IMPOSSIBLE OR WHATEVER. I LIVE MY LIFE TO HAVE POSSIBLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OCCASIONALLY LIKE ASAP OR WHATEVER. BUT THE THING IS, IS THAT UM, I DON'T WANT DRAKE TO TAKE MY LIFE FROM ME OR LIKE FEEL LIKE THAT SINCE HE TOLD ME THOSE THINGS, I COULD BE KILLED FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'LL TELL ME LITTLE CRAZY THINGS TO DO AND I'LL DO IT TO WORK WITH HIM OR WHATEVER TO GET HIM TO SEND ME MY MILLION DOLLARS THAT HE SAID THAT HE WAS GONNA SEND TO MY BANK ACCOUNT. BUT I NEED TO FOR THIS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT TO BE VERIFIED BECAUSE I SEND THE TO THE ACCOUNT WHEN HE TALKS ON ME FOR UM, CHAMPAGNE POPPY ACCOUNT INSTEAD OF THE DRAKE GRAHAM BECAUSE I KNOW THE DRAKE GRAHAM ACCOUNT. ONE OF FOUR WAS IS WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE. BUT HE HAVEN'T TALKED TO ME SINCE I MOVED IN WITH MY SISTER. HE ALWAYS TELL ME LIKE MONICA IS UP TO YOU, YOU CAN HAVE THE MONICA FAME OR WHATEVER. BUT I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT AND THE HOUSTON ASTROS LOST THE GAME. WE DIDN'T GO TO THE WORLD SERIES BECAUSE DRAKE HAVEN'T TALKED TO ME RECENTLY. I TOLD HIM I WANT MY MONEY AND THEY HIRED ALL THOSE NEW PLAYERS TO WORK ON THE HOUSTON ROCKETS. SO BECAUSE I TOLD HIM I WANTED A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON ROCKETS LIKE I DID WITH STEPH CURRY AND TO GO TO STATE WARRIORS AND I DID IT LAST YEAR. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO DO YOU GUYS HAVE THE INFORMATION TO VERIFY ACCOUNT TO GET DRAKE TO ANSWER ME ON INSTAGRAM WITH CHAMPAGNE POPPY? UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T. SO SO WHAT DO I DO? I THINK YOU SHOULD GET IN CONTACT WITH DRAKE. I DID THE DRAKE GRAHAM 1 0 4. I HAVE. OKAY, SO THE THING IS, IS THAT I GOT HIRED TODAY WHERE I DID MY INTERVIEW AND THE MAN SAID MOST LIKELY HE'LL HIRE ME TO WORK WITH NEWBORN, UM, TODDLERS AND INFANTS. YES MA'AM. AT A DAYCARE CALLED LAUGH AND DISCOVER RE UM, LEARNING CENTER IN ACRES HOME. SO I WOULD LIKE TO WORK THERE, BUT I DON'T WANNA BE INTERFERED WITH D DRAKE, YOU OKAY? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD LUCK MS. MONICA. THANK YOU. SO GOOD LUCK. YES MA'AM. TO ME, OKAY? YES MA'AM. THANK YOU MA'AM. YES, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. SHAY SHARP. SHAY SHARP. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. I'M SORRY I DON'T LOOK PROFESSIONAL. Y'ALL, YOU GUYS KNOW MY S YES MA'AM. UM, THE FIRST THING I WANNA ADDRESS WHEN I CAME IN IS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AN OFFICER OF SECURITY, THEY SAID, OH, THEY DIDN'T KILL HER YET. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY REFERRING THAT THESE DEATH THREATS TO HPD LIKE, BUT IT REALLY NEEDS TO STOP. I'VE BEEN GETTING DEATH THREATS. UM, I WAS BANNED FROM THE LAW LIBRARY FOR MAKING REPORTS ABOUT MY SITUATION, BUT THEY COVERED IT UP AND SAID I WAS LOOKING AT PORN. BUT I WAS ACTUALLY INBOXING A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND IN THE HPO LIBRARIES. THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT MY ABDUCTED KIDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND TOLD ME IF I KEPT SPEAKING UP TO COUNCIL, THEY'RE GONNA KEEP MAKING UP STUFF ABOUT ME. NOW THAT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND I'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE CITY, CITY WORKERS. SORRY, NOT ALL OF YOU GUYS. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT'S ACTUALLY WORKING IN THE OFFICES I'M TALKING ABOUT UNDER. BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION AND STOP CLOUT CHASING OFF OF ME. 'CAUSE I AM A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER THAT'S KIND OF, EXCUSE ME, SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER IS ACTUALLY DISRESPECTFUL. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU MS. SHAY, WE SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENTE. I DON'T SEE JACOB. HE'S GONE FOR THE DAY ONE. JACOB IS HERE. OH MY BAD. JACOB WEARING A DIFFERENT HAT TODAY. SEND US ON A HIGH NOTE. IT'S HALLOWEEN TIME SO YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW. I GOTTA GET HOME AND GIVE OUT CANDY. THE ONLY THING COMING BETWEEN ME AND GIVING OUT CANDY IS YOU TIME. SO TRICK OR TREAT. THANK YOU. [03:30:02] ALL RIGHT, JACOB MEANS BEATS YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU JACOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, I KNOW. HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU. DAVID. HOW COULD YOU LET THE BOSTON UGGS BE THE ASTROS? THANKS FOR THE CANDY JAKE. ALL? YES. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. ALL RIGHT. UH, I'M, I'LL FINISH. OH, WELL YOU HEARD IT. I I I COULD HAVE PLAYED MONSTER MASH FOR Y'ALL OR MICHAEL JE XS THRILLER. , YOU'RE GOING BUNK ME ON THE HEAD. HUH? I'M GONNA BON YOU. YOU'RE GONNA GIMME ANOTHER HEAD INJURY. I'D NEVER DO THAT TO YOU JACOB, BUT ALL RIGHT. HEY GUYS, I VOTED FOR HIM TO BE CONTROLLER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JACOB. WELL, A JOURNAL AND THAT GOOD NEWS, . GOOD SEEING YOU. HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE. I GET THE REST MEETING [RECESS] IS A RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW AT NINE. ALRIGHT, OF THE BIO GREENWAYS HAULED ACCESS LAND ITEM TWO REQUEST FROM THE MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM THREE, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO APPROVE THE 2023 CITY OF HOUSTON REPETITIVE LOSS AREA ANALYSIS REPORT. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,381,367 93 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH JFT CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECT HU FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,266,989 47 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB LLC DOING BUSINESS AS IPR SOUTH CENTRAL. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWED AND REAPPROVED BY THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE ON REQUEST FROM SONG YANG HONG AND XO WHO MEN OF UNITED HOME INVESTMENT LLC. ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECT HU FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE. ON REQUEST FROM BIANCA JEROME OF KIMLEY HORN ON BEHALF OF MI DEERWOOD, SOUTH PROPERTY OWNER LLC ITEM EIGHT, AMEND MOTION NUMBER 2023 DASH 5 93 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM $2,345,840 TO $2,810,901 43 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF MICROSOFT UNIFIED SUPPORT SERVICES SUPPORTING MICROSOFT PRODUCTS FROM MICROSOFT CORPORATION. ITEM NINE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $339,078 13 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF GOV QA SOFTWARE RENEWAL AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. ITEM 10 NOR SYSTEMS LLC FOR PURCHASE OF JPRO. PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE. ITEM 11 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF EMLI AND MESA GARDENS. ITEM 12 RESOLUTION EXPRESSING NO OBJECTION TO AN APPLICATION FOR NON-COMPETITIVE 4% FEDERAL TAX CREDITS FOR THE ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION OF WELLINGTON PARK. ITEM 13 RESOLUTION ADOPTING CITY OF HOUSTON HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. ITEM 14, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND AMENDING CERTAIN GENERAL OBLIGATION COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAMS INCLUDING SERIES G, SERIES H DASH TWO AND SERIES J. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 16 DASH NINE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE TO RENAME THE LOCAL TRUANCY PREVENTION AND DIVERSION FUND. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN A VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION ON A HISTORICAL SITE LOCATED AT 8 31 ARLINGTON STREET. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN A VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION OF A HISTORICAL SITE LOCATED AT 32 29 GROVELAND LANE. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING PROVIDING FOR AN A VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION ON A HISTORICAL SITE LOCATED AT 1121 KEY STREET. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING [03:35:01] AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS INTERFAITH HOUSING CORPORATION. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE TO AMEND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY. HARVEY SUBRECIPIENT, AGREEMENT NUMBER 21 DASH 1 34 DASH ZERO DASH C 7 88 WITH THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT REQUIRED MATERIALS INCLUDING TWO APPLICATIONS AND BUDGETS TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR THE CONTINUED ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S REENTRY SERVICES FROM TDCJ PROGRAM. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE GRANT FUNDS AS AWARDED AND TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT AND EXPEND ALL SUBSEQUENT AWARDS TO EXTEND THE BUDGET FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM. GRANT ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECT THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A THREE YEAR GRANT AWARD FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE CONTINUED ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S COMPREHENSIVE OPIOID STIMULANT AND SUBSTANCE USE SITE-BASED PROGRAM. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND SANDRA L ORTS TO SETTLE A LAWSUIT. ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $520,000 OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR PLANNED PUBLIC PRINTING KIOSK, NEW DIGI DIGITALIZATION LAB EQUIPMENT, PUBLIC FACING COMPUTERS AND RADIO FREQUENCY ID TECHNOLOGY ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING TWO TASK ORDER CONTRACTS WITH I OM TECHNICAL SERVICES INC. AND OLIVIER INC. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE ALLOCATING $751,766 40 CENTS OUT OF MISCELLANEOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS ACQUISITION CP SERIES E FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO B AND D CONTRACTORS INC. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $600,000 OUT OF PARK SPECIAL FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND OR A CONDEMNATION OF LAND AND OTHER INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY AND PAYMENT OF THE COST OF SUCH PURCHASES AND OR CONDEMNATIONS WITH ASSOCIATED COSTS FOR APPRAISAL FEES, SERVICES FEES, TITLE POLICIES AND SERVICES EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH RECORDING FEES, COURT COSTS AND EXPERT WITNESS FEES FOR AND IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE H-P-A-R-D JENSEN PARK PROJECT ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $78,000 OUT OF PARTS SPECIAL FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN J GUPTA SELLER AND CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. PURCHASER FOR PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY 4,500 SQUARE FEET OF LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED AT 29 27 JENSEN DRIVE. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $599,000 OUT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND OR CONDEMN CONDEMNATION OF LAND AND OTHER INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY AND PAYMENT OF THE COST OF SUCH PURCHASES AND OR CONDEMNATIONS WITH ASSOCIATED COSTS FOR APPRAISAL FEES, SERVICE FEES, TITLE POLICIES AND SERVICES, EXPENSES, EXPENSES, EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH RECORDING FEES, COURT COSTS AND EXPERT WITNESS FEES AND IN CONNECTIONS WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BLESS YOU, HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, NORTH REGIONAL LIBRARY, BLESS YOU. ITEM 33, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2018 DASH 10 32 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONE ALPHA ICARE ASSOCIATES. PLLC TWO CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, INTRAIN INC. DBA SAN TITO HEALTH, HOME DELIVERY INCONTINENCE SUPPLIES COMPANY, MERCK MEDICAL SUPPLY, HOUSTON PRECISE DENTAL CARE PLLC, MONARCH ENDEAVORS. L-L-C-D-B-A. SYNERGY OF NORTHWEST HOUSTON, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON. MPJ AUDIO AUDIOLOGY CONSULTING LLC, INTERFAITH CARE PARTNERS, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS. BAKER RIPLEY, DENSMORE MEDICAL SYSTEMS LLC EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER VISITING HEARING AID EXPRESS HEIGHT HEARING AIDS LLC MONTROSE [03:40:02] COUNSELING CENTER, PERRY LEE HOME HEALTH, SYNERGY, BEACON HILL INVESTMENT CORPORATION, SYNERGY KATIE HOUSEHOLD IN COMB CARE LLC AND SYNERGY CONROE MARSHALL INITIATIVES INC FOR AGENT AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE OF PROVEN AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CS DISCO INC. TO PROVIDE ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY SOFTWARE AND SERVICES FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY TO ELECTRONICALLY SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR SUB-RECIPIENT GRANT ASSISTANCE AND EXECUTING AND ACCEPT SUB-RECIPIENT GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR RELATING TO FFY 2023 PORT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTH, I'M SORRY, AUTH ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY TO ELECTRONICALLY SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR SUB-RECIPIENT GRANT ASSISTANCE AND EXECUTE AND ACCEPT SUB-RECIPIENT GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR RELATING TO THE FY 23 3 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY TO ELECTRONICALLY SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR THE FY 2023 REGIONAL CATASTROPHIC PREPAREDNESS GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND 10 YEAR SEGMENT OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR THE WEST CHASE THREE 80 PROGRAM. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE LAKE HOUSTON TO REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 10, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS LAKE HOUSTON ZONE. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF HIRA CLARK FORT BEND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 25, CITY OF HOUSTON. HI CLARK FORT BEND ZONE ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZED AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AMONG CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 23, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS HARRISBURG ZONE AND HARRISBURG REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A JOINT ELECTRONIC APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE FROM THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO FUND THE FY 2023 EDWARD BARN MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF WILLOW WATER HOLE GREENWAY BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE. ITEM 44 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT TO THE HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE CONCESSIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND BSL GOLF COURT. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZED AND TERMINATION OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF BERNARD BAYLIN PARK BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. ITEM 46 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 800 BLOCK OF COLUMBIA STREET BETWEEN EAST NINTH AND EAST EIGHTH STREET. ITEM 47 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1100 BLOCK OF EUCLID STREET BETWEEN NORTH HILL BOULEVARD AND CEDARWOOD STREET. ITEM 48 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 800 BLOCK OF MERRILL STREET BETWEEN JULIAN STREET AND WATSON STREET. ITEM 49 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WEST AND WEST, THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 800 BLOCK OF COLUMBIA STREET BETWEEN EAST NINTH AND EAST EIGHTH STREET. ITEM 50 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 40.6 17 ACRES OF LAND TO DALE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 51 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 4.1537 ACRES OF LAND TO IN CONCHO RIO UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 52 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 17.857 ACRES OF LAND TO HELFORD CITY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 53 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE CO PARTICIPANTS OF THE HELFORD CITY MUD REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. ITEM 54 ORDINANCE APPROPRI AND $2,221,949 FROM THE CONTRIBUTION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PUBLIC HIGHWAY AT GRADE CROSSING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY FOR NORTH PARK DRIVE, WESTBOUND AND EASTBOUND ACCESS. ITEM 55 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,673,179 25 CENTS OUT OF THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AURAURA GROUP INC. FOR SOUTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT IMPROVEMENTS. ITEM 56, ORDINANCE [03:45:01] AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 6 7 4 TO CHANGE THE FUNDING SOURCE FROM DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOR TAX TO METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SES HORIZON CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC. ITEM 57 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $525,000 OUT OF THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES. CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LAWRENCE SMITHA AND ASSOCIATES. LLC ITEM 58. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $7,193,445 33 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND, AVIL ALARM TAX AND $2,505,303 10 CENTS OUT OF THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO TOTAL CONTRACTING. LIMITED ITEM 59 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO JET WASTE SERVICES LP, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 60 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO NORTH STAR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC. THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 61 IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE FOURTH AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 18. UH, SUGGESTED HEARING DATE IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023 AT 9:00 AM ITEM 62 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE SECOND AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCE PLANS FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 23, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS HARRISBURG ZONE. THE SUGGESTED HEARING DATE IS 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023. ITEM 63 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE NINTH AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER SEVEN, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, OLD SPANISH TRAIL, ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE. AND THE SUGGESTED HEARING DATE IS 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 15TH, 2023. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF OCTOBER 31ST AND NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON DANIELS ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FUN DAY. 9:05 AM [RECONVENE] ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023. I'M MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER LIKE TO WELCOME BECK, OUR DEAR FRIEND, COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE IN THE ORDER TODAY. WE'LL TAKE ITEM NUMBER TWO UP FIRST, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENTS OR THE REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF HOUSTON FIRST. AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOLLOWED BY THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER ONE, THEN THE MAYOR'S REPORT AND THEN THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM WILL FOLLOW. SO ONCE AGAIN WE [CONSENT AGENDA] WILL TAKE ITEM NUMBER TWO UPFRONT. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU PLEASE CALL ITEM NUMBER TWO. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND ROBINSON. ITEM NUMBER TWO, ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER TWO? ITEM NUMBER TWO, SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? ITEM TWO PASSES. SO WE JUST REAPPOINTED A NUMBER OF FOLKS TO THE HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO IF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY BOARD MEMBERS, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? WE HAVE IN POSITION FIVE, MR. RYAN MARTIN, POSITION SIX, MS. ELIZABETH GONZALEZ, BROCK, POSITION SEVEN, MS. SOPHIA ANGI AND POSITION EIGHT. MR. J ZEIDMAN. I DO KNOW THAT SOPHIA IS IN AN ELEVATOR PROBABLY HEADING UP, WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR ANY MINUTE NOW. WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR RIGHT NOW. THERE SHE IS. SO SOPHIA THE QUEEN, STEP FORWARD. YOU HAVE JUST BEEN REAPPOINTED TO THE HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITHOUT ANY FANFARE. THAT'S, THANK YOU. PARDON? I HAVE A DAY JOB AND I WAS FINISHING DOING A ZOOM HEARING. AM I SINCERE? STEP A LITTLE BIT CLOSER. YES. AND, UM, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE. HOW MANY YEARS NOW? 2016, I BELIEVE IS THE LAST TIME I APPEARED BEFORE YOU. AND I HAVE THE HONOR AND DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AS, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS AND FORMERLY COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON AS THE EX OFFICIOS FOR THIS BOARD. IT'S A PHENOMENAL BOARD FILLED WITH [03:50:01] PHENOMENAL PEOPLE AND YOU'RE JUST ONE OF THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ANOTHER NUMBER OF YEARS WORKING WITH YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. WHAT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. YES, SVIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR ACCEPTING TO SERVE ONCE AGAIN. UM, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND, AND ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU ON, ON THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD, UH, AND ALSO IN OTHER EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE, THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN. AND THAT'S REALLY GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I'M HONORED AND I TO BE AN AMBASSADOR AND AN AFIC OF HOUSTON, AS OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS ARE AS WELL GUYS. GENDER NEUTRAL. PARDON MY DELAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN SOPHIA, AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO RYAN MARTIN, ELIZABETH GONZALEZ, BROCK, SOPHIA AND JAY ZEIDMAN AND ALL THE FOLKS AT HOUSTON FIRST. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO [REPORT FROM CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY including but not limited to, a revenue, expenditure and encumbrance report for the General Fund, all special revenue funds and all enterprise funds, and a report on the status of bond funds and a Quarterly Investment Report by the City Controller ] NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. AND CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES CONTROLLER CHRIS BROWN AND DIRECTOR WILLIAM JONES. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH AND THE GENERAL FUND, THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 392.1 MILLION FOR FY 24. THIS IS 45.8 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 206.8 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% IN RESERVES. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION INCREASED BY 2 MILLION FROM THE AUGUST, 2023 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES INCREASED BY 2 MILLION. EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES INCREASED BY 30 MILLION FROM THE AUGUST, 2023 REPORT, AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING, A $600,000 INCREASE DUE TO THE PURCHASE OF HEAVY RESCUE VEHICLES FOR FIRE. A 679,000 INCREASE IN LIBRARY PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE FREEMAN TOWNS VISITORS CENTER. A 5.5 MILLION INCREASE IN PARKS EXPENDITURES FOR THE MAYOR. LOVES OUR PARKS COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE. A $500,000 INCREASE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S EXPENDITURES FOR OPERATIONS OF HOUSTON B CYCLE, A 2.1 MILLION INCREASE IN POLICE FOR THE IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEM, A 6.6 MILLION INCREASE IN SOLID WASTE DUE TO ILLEGAL DUMPING, TEMPORARY PERSONNEL SERVICES AND THE PURCHASE OF A VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM AND A TRUCK SCALE REPLACEMENT. ALSO, A $14 MILLION INCREASE IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT DUE TO FUNDING FOR THE SIDEWALK PROGRAM. RENOVATIONS FOR THE BETHUNE EMPOWERMENT CENTER IN JONES HALL, REPAIR OF DECORATIVE LIGHTS ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESILIENCE HUB. MOVING ON TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, THE OPERATING EXPENSES INCREASED 61.7 MILLION AND THAT WAS DUE TO HIGHER EMERGENCY REPAIR COSTS ON WATER MAIN BREAKS AND WASTEWATER FACILITY MAINTENANCE. WE ARE PROJECTING NO CHANGES FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET AMOUNTS IN THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING FUND, THE STORMWATER FUND OR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND. MOVING ON TO COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS, ALL OF OUR VARIABLE RATE IS BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD. SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL MOVE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. I'LL MOVE ON TO THE, UH, QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE CITY HAD 5.54 BILLION INVESTED IN OUR GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL. FITCH RATED THIS THE HIGHEST CREDIT QUALITY AT AAA. THE INVESTMENTS ARE 447 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS DUE TO THE COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCE IN GENERAL FUND AVIATION IN THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL WAS YIELDING 2.806%, WHICH IS UP FROM THE 2.5 TO 2% YIELD IN THE PRIOR QUARTER. MOVING ON TO OUR SWAP REPORT, UM, THE CITY HAD A NET PAID FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, SEPTEMBER 30TH FROM ITS TWO SWAPS OF 2.5 MILLION. THE FAIR VALUE FOR BOTH SWAPS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH WAS NEGATIVE 70 MILLION AND THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 52 MILLION LESS THAN THE PRIOR QUARTER OF NEGATIVE 122 MILLION. SO BOTH, UH, OF THOSE CITY SWAPS ARE, ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, IF I, IF YOU WILL ALLOW, I WOULD, UH, LIKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AS TODAY IS MY DAUGHTER'S NINTH BIRTHDAY, SO I WANNA SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILANA. UH, BUT IN WAKING UP AND THINKING ABOUT HER, UM, I'M THINKING ABOUT HER LIVING IN HOUSTON AT MY AGE IN 40 YEARS AND WHAT WILL OUR CITY BE LIKE? UH, SO I WAS COMPELLED TO PUT SOME NOTES DOWN IF YOU'LL ENTERTAIN THIS. UH, JUST TO DIS FURTHER DISCUSS, AND I KNOW WE'LL DO THIS, UH, IN A MINUTE, UH, OUR DISCUSSION FROM YESTERDAY'S BFA. SO JUST [03:55:01] TO RECAP, WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE GHP WHITE PAPER OUTLINING THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OR FISCAL CLIFF. AS I MENTIONED, UH, WE WERE IN A VERY SIMILAR POSITION EIGHT YEARS AGO WITH A PENSION UNFUNDED LIABILITY. UH, THE PARTNERSHIP RELEASED A SIMILAR WHITE PAPER ON THE UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY. AND THANKS IN PART TO THAT REPORT, THE DISCUSSION AT CITY HALL, UH, ESSENTIALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS THE PLAN TO BRIDGE THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE REST IS HISTORY. WE ADDRESSED THAT PROBLEM. SO FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND LOOKING AT THE PROJECTED STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO BRIDGE THAT STRUCTURAL DEFICIT? AGAIN, IT CANNOT BE MORE FEDERAL MONEY OR ONE-TIME FINANCING SOURCES, SALE OF ASSETS OR TRANSFERS FROM OTHER FUNDS. WE MUST REDUCE RECURRING EXPENDITURES OR INCREASE RECURRING REVENUE. UH, AND THE KEY IS RECURRING. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. SO WHAT'S THE PLAN? JUST QUICKLY, MY OFFICE HAS PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF OUTLINE, AND THIS IS ONLY NUMBERS, THIS IS NOTHING ABOUT HOW WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS. BUT IF WE HAD TO CUT 200 MILLION OUT OF OUR BUDGET, I BELIEVE 20% OF THAT WE CAN DO BY CUTTING ACTUAL EXPENDITURES. THE BALANCE OF THAT 160 MILLION WILL HAVE TO BASICALLY TAKE OUT OF PERSONNEL. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT'S 2,400 EMPLOYEES AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE WERE IN 2020 BEFORE WE RECEIVED ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY. NOW THE NUMBERS GO UP FROM THERE, 300 MILLION, 400 MILLION. I'M NOT GONNA SCARE YOU 'CAUSE IT'S MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT INCREASES IN POTENTIAL REDUCTION OF PERSONNEL. UM, BUT AS YOU CAN TELL IT'S IT, IT'S INCREASING. SO, YOU KNOW, I I JUST REALLY, I I THINK THAT, UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME YESTERDAY ARGUING ABOUT THE REPORT. UM, I LIKEN THAT TO WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT THE SPEED AT WHICH THE CAR IS HEADING TOWARDS THE CLIFF. THE ISSUE IS WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS THE CLIFF. UM, W WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE START TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS GROWING PROBLEM. I THINK, UH, IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK 'CAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. SO I, I APPRECIATE THAT AND HOPEFULLY MY DAUGHTER, UH, SEES THIS WHEN SHE'S 40 SOMETHING YEARS OLD AND SHE SAYS, THANK GOD, COUNCIL ACTED AND WE ADDRESS THIS. AND HOUSTON'S THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN THE COUNTRY. UH, GO HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. AND, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAIR. NOW RECOGNIZES, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL JONES. UH, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE THREE PLUS NINE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023. FISCAL YEAR 2024. PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON THREE MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS. UM, UH, YEAH, BASED ON THREE MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS AND ACTUAL RESULTS AND NOT, WELL, THREE MONTHS OF ACTUALS AND NINE MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS. PARDON ME. IN THE GENERAL FUND, OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 1.9 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET. UM, IN THE PRIOR MONTH. THE VARIANCE FROM PRIOR MONTHS PROJECTION IS DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CHARITY CARE PROGRAM REIMBURSEMENT. OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 30.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET IN THE PRIOR MONTH. THE ADVANCE FROM PRIOR MONTH'S PROJECTION IS PRIMARILY DUE TO 14.1 MILLION. INCREASE IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT TO REFLECT FUNDING FOR THE SIDEWALK PROGRAM. RENOVATIONS FOR THE BETHUNE EMPOWERMENT CENTER. JONES HALL REPAIR DECORATIVE FLIGHTS ON SOUTHWEST, SOUTHWEST FREEWAY AND RESILIENCE HUB IMPLEMENTATION 6.6 MILLION INCREASE IN SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT DUE TO CITYWIDE ILLEGAL DUMPING PROGRAM. HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TEMPORARY PERSONNEL SERVICES, RUBICON VEHICLE TRACKING SERVICES AND TRUCK SCALE REPLACEMENT PURCHASE, UH, 5.5 MILLION INCREASE IN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT MAYORS LOVE OUR PARKS COMPLETE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. THERE'S 2.1 MILLION INCREASE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEM. 679,000 INCREASE IN HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT THE NEW FRIEDMANS TOWN VISITOR CENTER. 602,000 INCREASE IN FIRE DEPARTMENT, PRIMARILY DUE TO, UH, C-B-R-N-E, DETECTION, UH, DETECTION, SPECIALIZED VEHICLE PURCHASE, AND 500,000 INCREASE IN PLANNING DEPARTMENTS TO REFLECT THE HOUSTON BICYCLE, UH, BICYCLE TRANSITION PROGRAM, WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 437.9 MILLION, WHICH IS 28.3 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTHS AND 17.7% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THE FUND BALANCE OF 252.5 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. I AGREE WITH THE CONTROLLER ON THE ENTERPRISE FUND. SO I'LL MOVE ON TO THE SPECIAL FUNDS. UH, WE HAVE THE, THE NEW FUND, THE HOUSTON OPIOID ABATEMENT FUND. THIS IS, UH, CREATED REFLECTION CREATION OF THE HOUSTON OPIOID ABATEMENT FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 2.2 MILLION FROM A STATEWIDE OPIOID SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE TEXAS OPIOID ABATEMENT TRUST COMPANY. AS STATED IN THE ORDINANCE, EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY 2.2 MILLION FOR ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PERTAINING TO THE OPIOID CRISIS. UM, AND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURES INCREASE BY 684,000 DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES FOR PLAN REVIEW AS A RESULT OF [04:00:01] HIGHER PERMIT ACTIVITY. AND WE DID DISCUSS A QUITE A BIT YESTERDAY ON THE HOUSTON ECONOMY. I'M GONNA GO THROUGH ALL THAT YESTERDAY. UM, BUT I, I WILL ALSO, AS A CONTROLLER STATED, WE DID HAVE QUITE A, YOU KNOW, LIVELY DISCUSSION YESTERDAY ON NOT ONLY THE GHP BUT ALSO THE SALES TAX. UM, AND WHILE YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE, WE DO HAVE A, A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE. THIS IS SOMETHING I PRESENTED EVERY YEAR. UH, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR MAY, UM, UH, FIVE YEAR FORECAST, WHEN I OVER GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET, IF YOU LOOK IN THERE, IT'S ONLINE NOW WE, WE SHOW THAT THERE'S A STRUCTURAL BALANCE. WE ALSO SHOW SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE REQUIRE TO ADDRESS. 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY ONLY TWO THINGS. YOU'RE EITHER GONNA INCREASE REVENUE OR YOU'RE GONNA CUT EXPENSES. UM, SO WHILE I APPRECIATE GHP FOR, YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUT THE REPORT, IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE HAD THEY WORKED WITH US HERE IN THE CITY, UM, SO THAT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SO MANY FACTUAL INACCURACIES IN THE REPORT. UM, AND WHILE MAYBE THE TONE OF THE REPORT IS MEANT TO SAY WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE, I DO THINK FACTS MATTER AS GOVERNMENT, UH, FINANCE OFFICIALS AND, AND GHP, THE INFORMATION WE PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC, THEY ARE GOING TO CONSUME THAT AND BELIEVE THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO WHILE YES, THE TONE WAS MEANT TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE A A STRUCTURAL BALANCE, GOT THAT, WE HAVE THAT, BUT YOU CANNOT SKIP OVER FACTS TO GET TO THAT POINT. FACTS THAT ARE EXTREMELY MISLEADING. AND SO, LIKE I SAID, I, I DON'T, I NOT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH GHP AND, AND ESPECIALLY ON CORRECTING SOME OF THOSE ERRORS, BUT THERE, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A TIME THAT WE HAVEN'T STATED THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE. UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE I TAKE ISSUES, WHERE WE OVEREXAGGERATE SOME OF THAT. UM, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE PUBLIC, THEY RELY ON US TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. AND WHEN WE OVEREXAGGERATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS, IT TENDS TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE, YOU KNOW, GIVE OUT THE WRONG IDEA TO THE CITIZEN. THEY, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE, ALL THE IN INTRICACIES OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE, RIGHT? SO IT, IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING OUT FACTS. UM, THE TONE IS THE TONE, BUT FACTS DETERMINE THAT TONE, TONE. SO THAT, THAT'S WHERE I TOOK ISSUE WITH THE GHP REPORT. UM, AND AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, THIS CONTROLLER, THE NEXT CONTROLLER, UM, UM, THIS ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION TO, TO ADDRESS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE THAT WE DO HAVE. UM, I, I'VE, I WAS HERE AS CONTROLLER MENTIONED BACK IN 2011 AND 12, WHERE WE, WE DID LAY OFF, UH, WHAT WE DID. WE CLOSED PARKS, WE, WE CLOSED LIBRARIES. UM, SO I MEAN, THE REALITY IS POLICE AND FIRE ARE OUR LARGEST GENERAL FUND EXPENSE. AND IF WE CAN'T CUT, UH, POLICE AND FIRE, WE ARE CLOSING, WE'RE CLOSING LIBRARIES. AND THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF IT. AND SO, LIKE I SAID, TWO OPTIONS. YOU INCREASE YOUR REVENUE OR YOU'RE GONNA CUT YOUR EXPENSES. SO I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE CONTROLLER THAT WE DO HAVE A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE. UM, BUT I ALSO DO AGREE THAT THIS BUDGET WAS THE STRONGEST BUDGET THAT WE'VE EVER PUT FORWARD. TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME, THE FUND BALANCE IS THE STRONGEST FUND BALANCE WE'VE EVER HAD, AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE. UM, AND, AND WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. SO I, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THERE IS WORK TO DO AND THAT'S NEVER BEEN, UM, SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING, LIKE I SAID, WITH WHOEVER I NEED TO WORK WITH, UH, TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO WORK IN MY DEPARTMENT, WHO, WHOEVER COMES IN, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A A, A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BUDGET. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE OPTIONS ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO. UM, SO, UH, UH, LET'S, LET'S PUT IN THE WORK. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU CONTROLLER BROWN AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR WILL JONES. BEFORE WE GET TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, TODAY AT E 8:50 AM EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CHIEF OF STAFF SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RESPONSE BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO GHP STATE OF THE CITY FINANCES A DEEP DIVE INTO FISCAL ISSUES FACING THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT IS THIS REPORT THAT THEY SENT OUT. UH, THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE WAS SENT TO EVERYONE AT 8:50 AM AND I INVITE EVERYONE TO READ IT. PART OF IT WAS CONTRARY TO THE SETTING THE STAGE DOCUMENT BY GHP, WHICH STATES THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP IS COMMITTED TO WORKING ALONGSIDE CITY LEADERS, COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON COMPLEX CHALLENGING ISSUES FACING OUR CITY IN THE FUTURE. THE CITY'S RESPONSE WAS GHP DID NOT REACH OUT TO ANYONE IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DESPITE UTILIZING AND REFERENCING OUR DATA, I THINK THE ONLY ONE THEY REACHED OUT TO CORRECT ME, IF I'M WRONG, IS CONTROLLER BROWN. AND WHILE THEY HAVE PRIVATELY ACKNOWLEDGED TO THE MAYOR THAT THERE ARE SOME FACTUAL ERRORS IN THE REPORT AND WILL BE MAKING CORRECTIONS, I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE MEDIA YESTERDAY [04:05:01] THAT STATE THAT THE GHP STANDS BY THIS REPORT. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT YOU NEED TO READ FOR YOURSELF IN THE REPORT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD READ ABOUT, THAT WE'LL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES. AND ALSO THE MEDIA WILL GET A RESPONSE DIRECTED FROM MAYOR TURNER REGARDING THE STATE OF THE CITY'S FINANCES PROPOSAL PRESENTATION BY THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP. UM, WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI, UH, THANK YOU CONTROLLER BROWN FOR YOUR REPORT. AND DIRECTOR JONES AND I, YOU KNOW, UH, WE ARE IN, UH, THE SEASON OF, UH, STORYTELLING, I LIKE TO CALL IT. AND SO, UH, DIRECTOR JONES, UM, I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THAT, UM, UH, YOUR WORK AND YOUR LEADERSHIP LEADING THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, UM, HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY VALUABLE FOR THE COUNCIL BODY. UM, I DO AGREE THAT THIS IS THE STRONGEST BUDGET THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT FORWARD, THAT WE'VE PASSED. AND I WOULD PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY STAND 10 TOES DOWN WITH ANY FINANCIAL DOCUMENT THAT YOU PRESENT. UM, BECAUSE I KNOW THE INTEGRITY THAT YOU LEAD YOUR DEPARTMENT WITH AND ALSO YOUR TEAM THAT STANDS BEFORE THIS, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. GOVERNMENT FINANCE IS NOT EASY IF THERE'S NUANCE AROUND THAT. UM, AND MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT THE LARGEST, UM, EXPENSE WE HAVE IS PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, AND THE HIGHEST DEMAND WE HAVE IN INVESTMENT IS PUBLIC SAFETY. SO, UM, I JUST WANNA, UH, UH, PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS DO TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED AS A, AS A SERVICE TO THE CITY. AND THEN TO UNDERSCORE YOUR POINT ABOUT CLOSING PARK AND LIBRARIES, THOSE ARE THE ESSENTIAL QUALITY OF LIFE HEARTBEATS WE HAVE IN THE CITY. AND SO, UM, TO DO THAT, WE WILL TURN INTO GOTHAM CITY, RIGHT? AND SO, TO YOUR POINT, CONTROLLER BROWN, ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER BEING NINE YEARS OLD, AND THEN WHEN SHE TURNS 40, LIKE, WHAT WOULD THE CITY BE? BUT IF WE DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS, IT WOULD BE GOTHAM CITY, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT, WHAT THAT LIKENS TO. SO I WANT TO, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING FORTH EVERY MONTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER, ED POLLARD, VICE CHAIR, ED POLLARD, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIMM, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, I, I CHECKED OUT THAT REPORT AS WELL. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS, THIS IS THE BIG CITY FOR THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA. THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE ISSUES. AS YOU MENTIONED IN 2011, THERE WERE ISSUES 2015, THERE ARE ISSUES 2019 WITH COVID. THERE ARE ISSUES. THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE ISSUES THAT WE AS A BODY AND SUBSEQUENT BODIES WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT. UH, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, WE FIND OURSELVES HERE WITH THE LARGEST FUND BALANCE, PROBABLY IN THE CITY'S HISTORY. AND SO WHEN THE GHP COMES OUT WITH THE REPORT, ALTHOUGH MAYBE WELL INTENTIONED, UM, WHAT WE CARE ABOUT IS SOLUTIONS NOT, YOU KNOW, POINTING OUT, UH, WHAT WE ALL KNOW TO BELIEVE THAT IN THE FEW YEARS TO COME, THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME CHALLENGES. WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS? DON'T TELL US, UH, THINGS THAT WILL BE POLARIZING OR YOU'RE JUST DOING FOR CLICKS OR FOR MEDIA, BUT WHERE ARE THE SOLUTIONS? PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT CRIME. IF THAT'S OUR LARGEST EXPENSE AND WE WANT TO DO MORE, THAT'S GOING TO BE BE EVEN MORE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE CITY'S BUDGET, THEN HOW ARE WE GONNA FUND THE OTHER SERVICES? RIGHT? SO ALL OF US IN BUSINESS UNDERSTAND THAT YOU EITHER INCREASE REVENUE OR YOU MAKE CUTS. THAT'S PRETTY SIMPLE, RIGHT? BUT WHAT ARE THE DETAILED SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN DO COLLECTIVELY, IF WE KNOW THAT THIS IS LOOMING, THAT CAN MAYBE CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY? AND SO, WITHOUT THE GHP REACHING OUT TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OR ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I KNOW OF, ALL THEY'RE DOING IS JUST GRANDSTANDING ON SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY KNOW. BRING US SOLUTIONS. DON'T BRING US A WHITE PAPER. BRING US CONVERSATION AND DIALOGUE. BE LEADERS OF THE CITY BY WORKING WITH THE LEADERS OF THE CITY. AND SO, UH, I WANNA REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE LARGEST FUND BALANCE IN THE CITY'S HISTORY. LET'S USE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOPEFULLY HELP US PROPEL INTO WHATEVER THE NEXT STRATEGY WILL BE, TO ENSURE THAT THE REOCCURRING EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS AND THAT WE'LL, UH, HAVE EVEN IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE IN A GOOD PLACE FINANCIALLY IN THE YEARS TO COME. SO I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. I THINK HAVING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES IS, UH, A GREAT WAY FOR US TO, UM, BE ABLE TO SEE ALL ANGLES AND FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO KNOW THAT, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, YOU KNOW, WE VALUE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. WE TRUST [04:10:01] THE STATS AND THE, AND THE DATA THAT YOU PRESENT. AND, UH, I KNOW COLLECTIVELY WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE REGARDLESS OF WHO'S SITTING IN THAT MIDDLE CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, PRETTY COMMON FOR THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO DISAGREE ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE THING. BUT I JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, DIRECTOR JONES, UM, THE, THIS STRONG BUDGET THAT WE'VE PASSED THAT HAS RESULTED IN THIS LARGEST, THE LARGEST, UH, FUND BALANCE. A A LOT OF THAT WAS BASED ON ONE TIME MONEY, RIGHT? FEDERAL MONEY. YEAH. THAT, THAT PLAYED A PART FOR SURE. SO THE FACT REMAINS THAT MONEY WON'T BE THERE NEXT TIME, UH, PROBABLY UNLESS THERE'S ANOTHER BIG DEAL EMERGENCY THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. SO THE CONTROLLER'S NOT INCORRECT. AND GHP IS NOT INCORRECT. WE'RE ARGUING, AS THE CONTROLLER SAID A WHILE AGO, WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT HOW FAST THE CAR IS HEADING OFF THE CLIFF. YOU AGREE THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET. AND FOR OUR LISTENERS OUT HERE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT IS BASICALLY WE SPEND MORE MONEY THAN WE BRING IN, IS THAT FAIRLY ACCURATE? ESSENTIALLY? SO YOU DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT? I I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT. YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST OFFENDED BY THE AMOUNT. UH, NO. UM, UH, IT'S THE, THE INACCURACIES AS TO HOW YOU GET THERE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INACCURACIES ASIDE, THE FACT REMAINS THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET. INACCURACIES ASIDE, WHEN WE ARE PRESENTING FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, YOU CANNOT SAY, INACCURACIES ASIDE, HERE'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW DO I EVEN KNOW? YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU CAN'T EVEN GET THE FACTS RIGHT? YEAH. WELL, IT'S NOT GS THE FACTS. IT'S NOT G P'S, UH, BUSINESS TO, TO RUN THE CITY. IT'S OUR BUSINESS TO RUN THE CITY . YEAH. SO, UM, I, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS DISCUSSION'S INTERESTING IN EVERYTHING. AND THANKFULLY, I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE NEXT YEAR, SO I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT, UH, EXCEPT FOR I'LL BE THE TAXPAYER PAYING FOR IT, UH, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. BUT I JUST WANT US TO BE CLEAR THAT, THAT REGARDLESS OF THE DEGREE, HIGH OR LOW, WE, WE STILL HAVE A CONTINUING STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE FOREVER WITH A STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET. AT SOME POINT, YOU'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF MONEY. AND, AND IF, IF YOU DON'T GET A, A GRIP ON IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, THAT JUST EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM. AND WHILE IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THIS GREAT FUND BALANCE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT FOR THE NEXT, THE NEXT, UH, CITY COUNCIL AND THE NEXT MAYOR ARE GONNA REALLY ENJOY HAVING THAT EXTRA MONEY. THE FACT THAT THE MATTER REMAINS IF WE DO NOT DO DEAL, SOME DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OVERSPENDING AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING THE REVENUE, AT SOME POINT, WE WERE GONNA RUN OUT OF THAT MONEY AGAIN. WE'RE GONNA BE BACK WHERE WE STARTED. SO I, I THINK THIS DISCUSSION'S GOOD. UH, I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE, UH, NEXT COUNCIL TO, TO DEAL WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. AND CHRIS BROWN, YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AS A CONTROLLER. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THESE ISSUES UP. UH, AS YOU AND I KNOW WE, WE KIND OF AGREE ON THIS ISSUE A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, THE POINT BEING, UM, THANK YOU BOTH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE. I JUST THINK THAT, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A DIFFICULT PROBLEM AND THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON NEED TO KNOW THAT IT IS THERE. AND WE BOTH AGREE, OR WE ALL OF US AGREE, WE HAVE A STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET. WE NEED TO FIX THAT. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT. CORRECT? CORRECT. THANK YOU. SO BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER, THE CITY OF HOUSTON BY ORDINANCE, DOES PASS A BALANCE BUDGET. WE DO NOT PASS A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I'VE TALKED TO A MILLION PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T, DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T PASS A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. IT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACCRUAL FOR OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS, IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF IT. CORPORATE AMERICA, ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, USED AN ITEM CALLED OFF BALANCE SHEET ACCOUNTING. THAT'S WHERE EXXON, CHEVRON AND ALL THOSE ENTITIES KEPT THE RETIREMENT PAY THAT THEY WERE OBLIGATED TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES. SO THEREFORE, THEY PASSED A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. BUT OFF BALANCE SHEET ITEMS INCLUDED THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON MEANS THAT YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE IN THAT BUDGET THE MONEY FOR THE PENSION OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE OUTSTANDING. AND THAT IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF WHAT WE ARGUE ABOUT VERSUS STRUCTURALLY BALANCED OR BALANCED BUDGET. AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HEAR OUT THERE ABOUT STRUCTURALLY BALANCED AND, AND BALANCED. SO I'LL COME BACK TO THAT, BUT CONTROLLER GROUND, IF WE PASSED A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET, HOW MUCH MORE MONEY DO WE NEED? WELL, I THINK, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT TODAY AND YOU LOOK AT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MOST RECENT REPORT, [04:15:01] UH, WE KNOW WE USED $160 MILLION OF COVID MONEY TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET. AND ACCORDING TO MY PROJECTIONS, WE'RE, UM, ABOUT 80 MILLION OVER, OVER BUDGET. UH, SO, UH, LET'S JUST SAY 200 MILLION TO KEEP IT ROUND NUMBERS. UM, SO, SO HEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM. WE TALK ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE. AND, AND THAT IS GREAT. WHEN, WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A FUND BALANCE AND WE HAD BUDGET CHALLENGES AND, AND KUDOS TO, UH, MAYOR TURNER AND THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, FOR LEAVING A LARGE FUND BALANCE. BUT IF YOU HAVE A TWO OR $300 MILLION, YOU KNOW, WE'RE YET TO RESOLVE OUR ISSUE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, COME TO A RESOLUTION WITH THAT. WHAT IS THAT GONNA COST US? THERE'S OTHER EXPENDITURES THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING, AND WE KNOW THE FEDERAL MONEY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S EXPIRING. SO IF WE HAVE A $200 MILLION FUND BALANCE OVER THE 7.5%, BUT WE HAVE NEXT YEAR, UH, A RESOLUTION WITH FIRE AND, AND OTHER EXPENDITURES, AND WE HAVE A $300 MILLION IMBALANCE THAT ONLY BUYS US, YOU KNOW, EIGHT MONTHS. UH, SO, YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WE HAVE TO START THE DISCUSSION OF WHAT LIBRARIES ARE WE SHUTTING DOWN? WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND, AND, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN THAT QUICKLY. WE HAVE TIME. BUT WE, WE HAD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, A PFM REPORT. WE HAD, UH, 57 ITEMS THAT WERE GONNA IN TOTAL INCREASE REVENUE AND REDUCE EXPENDITURES BY $300 MILLION. THAT WAS AUTHORED IN 2017. HAD WE HAD IMPLEMENTED ALL OF THOSE 57 ITEMS. AND DIRECTOR JONES, I APPRECIATE HIS WORK. HE'S DONE GREAT WORK. HE'S RIGHT. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO DIFFICULT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL TO MARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS TO ADVANCE HUMANITY. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, THE, THE CHALLENGE IS IF WE, IF WE DON'T DO THIS, UH, WE'RE STUCK NOW HERE TRYING TO CUT $300 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET IN, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE YEARS. AND THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. SO I THINK THE FIRST THING, GOING BACK TO THE PENSION, UH, REFORM, THE FIRST THING IS WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM. AND I, I, UM, I LIKE THE DISCUSSION TODAY THAT WE'RE ADMITTING THERE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, AND NOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IS THAT AND WHAT'S THE PLAN TO BRIDGE THAT GAP? BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S COMING. SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE ACT NOW, IT'S GONNA BE EASIER IF WE WAIT, YOU KNOW, A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, IT'S GONNA BE ALL THAT MORE DIFFICULT. SO YOU REFERENCED THE PFM REPORT. WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE COST SAVING INITIATIVE RECOMMENDED BY PFM? WELL, I BELIEVE THAT'S, UH, HAS TO DO WITH FIRE. IT'S AN ELIMINATION OF 600 FIREFIGHTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MM-HMM . LET ME REPEAT MYSELF. THE NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PFM REPORT WAS THE ELIMINATION OF 600 FIREFIGHTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHAT WAS THE NUMBER TWO RECOMMENDATION? UH, THE NUMBER TWO RECOMMENDATION, I BELIEVE, HAD TO DO WITH MONETIZING CITY ASSETS. NO, IT WAS MOVING FROM A DEFINED CONTRA BENEFIT PLAN TO A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN. SO I REFERENCED CORPORATE AMERICA 30 YEARS AGO. THEY DIDN'T LIKE, THEY GOT SHAREHOLDER PUSHBACK ON OFF BALANCE SHEET ACCOUNTING. AND WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY CREATED DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS THAT IS ALL OVER CORPORATE AMERICA. THE ONLY PLACE YOU SEE DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS ARE IN GOVERNMENT FOR THE MOST PART. SOME OF THEM STILL HAVE IT, BUT THAT WAS A REACTION BY CORPORATE AMERICA. 'CAUSE I SPENT 40 YEARS IN THAT WORLD. THE REACTION TO OFF BALANCE SHEET ACCOUNTING AND PFM REPORT STATED, NUMBER ONE, RECOMMENDATION, ELIMINATE 600 FIREFIGHTERS. NUMBER TWO, MOVE FROM A DEFINED BENEFIT TO A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION. DAVE MARTIN'S OPINION, THE EMPLOYEES WE HAVE ON BOARD NOW SHOULD RECEIVE EVERY PENNY. WE PROMISED THEM IN A DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN. BUT MAYBE THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO START AT SOME POINT IN TIME. LET'S PICK JANUARY 1ST, 2024, AND IMPLEMENT A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEREFORE, YOU LIVE UP TO YOUR OBLIGATION AND PROMISES TO THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE ON BOARD TODAY, AND DON'T CHANGE THEIR PLAN. BUT MOVING FORWARD TO CONTROLLER BROWN'S POINT, YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM LIABILITY THAT LIES IN PENSIONS. AND I WILL SAY THAT THIS WASN'T IN 16, IT WASN'T THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP THAT LED THIS CHARGE. IT WAS THE MAN THAT SAT IN THIS SEAT AND IS SITTING IN THIS SEAT EACH AND EVERY WEEK. IT WAS MAYOR SYLVETA TURNER THAT WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT WENT, THEN WENT TO GHP AND SAID, I NEED YOUR HELP FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. BUT THAT WAS MAYOR TURNER'S INITIATIVE, NOT G P'S INITIATIVE. SO I'LL STOP FOR A MINUTE, BUT I PROMISE YOU I'LL BE BACK. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE FOR THOSE WORDS. UM, I, I [04:20:01] THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, UM, BECAUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE DEPEND A LOT ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE GIVEN, UM, FROM BOTH, BOTH OF THESE OFFICES THAT, UM, PRESENT TO US EVERY MONTH. WE GET THE SUMMARIES, WE GET THE INFORMATION, WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION IN OUR, OUR, UM, COMMITTEE MEETINGS. UM, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS. UM, THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS WE GET THESE SOUND BITES, AND THEN PEOPLE JUST RUN WITH THESE SOUND BITES. SO I AGREE WITH YOU, UM, DIRECTOR JONES, THAT THE FACTS DO MATTER BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE CORRECT SOUND BITES BECAUSE THEN ALL YOU HEAR ARE THE SOUND BITES WITHOUT THE BACKUP INFORMATION. AND SO MY CONCERN IS THAT IF GHP IS GOING TO OPINE ON THE FINANCES OF THE CITY, IS THAT THEY COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT SO THAT THE DATA AND THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT TO HOUSTONIANS, AND ALSO THE DATA THAT, THAT WE USE TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS IS, UM, COMPREHENSIVE, CONSISTENT, AND CONSISTENT. UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES. AND I, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE DONE EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD, UM, FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY. UM, BUT I DO THINK IT IS ALSO PRUDENT FOR US TO, UM, LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE THAT IS WORKING AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. I MEAN, I THINK IT IS A GOOD SOUNDBITE FOR US TO SAY THAT WE HAVE THE LARGEST FUND BALANCE THAT THE CITY HAS EVER HAD, UM, IN THE CITY'S HISTORY, WHETHER IT WAS FROM FEDERAL DOLLARS OR NOT. THE FACT IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN WE HAVE BEEN, THAT DOES NOT NEGATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU BOTH HAVE DONE. UM, THANKS FOR, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD AT THE FUTURE AND MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON ACCURATE DATA. UM, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE ALL GROUPS WHO ARE OPINING ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCES TO COLLABORATE, MAKE SURE WE HAVE, UM, THE FACTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE ALL MAKE DECISIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND, AND REALLY APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION AND BOTH OF YOUR PERSPECTIVES. UM, WE DID, WE HAVE DONE SOME IMPORTANT WORK FROM THE PFM REPORT THAT I THINK HAS LED US MORE TOWARDS A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET, OF COURSE, PENSION REFORM, UM, THE OPEP REFORM, THE OPEP TRUST, UH, THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OF CITY FACILITIES, WHICH WE'VE BEEN PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO. WE NEED TO DO MORE. 'CAUSE THAT THAT ALWAYS TAKES MORE FROM THE TOP. UM, I, I JUST LIKE TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING. UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE PFM RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT, UM, CONTROLLER BROWN, TO YOUR POINT OF BEING ABLE TO FIND 20 MILLION, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE, WE LOOK, I MEAN, AND I THINK THAT COUNCIL HAS TO BE REALLY SERIOUS WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET AT LOOKING AT THOSE PERFORMANCE METRICS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE THE METRICS THAT THE, THAT THE PUBLIC CARES ABOUT. AND IF WE'RE NOT MEETING 'EM, IF WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR, OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES OR, OR, OR OUR GOALS OR THE OUTCOMES WE WANT, WE'RE, WE WILL HAVE TO ELIMINATE SOMETHING OR WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO FIND THAT. ANYTHING WE CAN ACTUALLY CUT IN THE BUDGET. SO JUST A PLUG FOR OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING. THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG PROCESS. AND MAYOR TRUCK PROAM, YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE A LONG TIME. WE ALWAYS HAVE, WE ALWAYS HAVE A BIGGER, I MEAN, NOT IN 2011 WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE CUTS, BUT FOR IN RECENT, THE RECENT DECADE, WE ALWAYS HAVE A MUCH BIGGER FUND BALANCE THAN PROJECTED AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PEOPLE CUT TO THE, TO LIKE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. WE ALWAYS THINK THE FUND BALANCE IS GONNA BE THIS. AND WE ALWAYS COME IN WAY AHEAD BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T HIRE, PEOPLE, DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WAY WE CUT IT BACK. SO I, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PROPONENT FOR KIND OF A MORE REALISTIC PICTURE WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT IT AND YOU'RE THINKING, OKAY, THIS IS GONNA BE THE FUN BALANCE AT THE END. AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE MUCH, YOU ACT REALLY CONSERVATIVE, CONSERVATIVE DURING THE YEAR, WHICH IS FINE, BUT IT, IT KIND OF SKEWS WHAT, WHAT WE LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING, UM, A QUESTION ON THEM ON THE MO FOR THE $14.1 MILLION. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, THAT'S FINE. UM, THE SIDEWALK PROGRAM, BETHUNE, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, CAN I JUST WANNA BREAK DOWN OF THAT? AND IF YOU'VE GOT IT RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO GET IT RIGHT NOW. YEAH, WE DO HAVE IT. UM, I PROBABLY CAN GIVE IT TO YOU ITEMIZED, UH, BUT LET ME SEE IF I YEAH, YEAH, I CAN GIVE IT TO YOU ITEM. OKAY, THAT'S FINE. JUST, JUST, JUST, YEAH. BUT FIVE, 5 MILLION OF THAT IS SIDEWALKS, RIGHT? OKAY. SO 5 MILLION IN THE SIDEWALK CATEGORY. BUT THANKS TO YOU BOTH, AND I AGREE BOTH OF THE PERSPECTIVES ARE GOOD. WE DO NEED TO CONSTANTLY [04:25:01] BE FOCUSING ON BRINGING, UH, EXPENDITURES IN LINE WITH REVENUES. AND THAT'S ALSO GONNA BE INCR ABOUT INCREASING REVENUES TOO. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CUTS. SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SOMEHOW INCREASE REVENUES COMING IN TO, TO MEET THE GROW. EVERYBODY WANTS A LOT FROM THE CITY. EVERYBODY WANTS A WHOLE LOT FROM THE CITY IN SERVICES, AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. SO, UM, IT'S A, IT'S GONNA BE A COMBINATION OF CUTS AND, AND REVENUES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I'LL HAVE MY COMMENTS, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, UM, WE RECEIVED A FEW TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE MAYOR HIMSELF AND, UH, HIS COMMENT WAS HE WILL SPEAK TO THE CONTROLLER'S COMMENTS WHEN HE RETURNS ON NOVEMBER 8TH. UM, SO THAT WILL BE, UM, AT THAT TIME WE'LL PICK THIS UP. MY LAST COMMENT WOULD BE THIS, WITHIN THE REPORT THAT GHP SENT, IT STATES FROM 2017 TO 2023, THE OPERATING BUDGET DEFICIT WAS BETWEEN A HUNDRED AND $200 MILLION. REMEMBER THOSE FIGURES? A HUNDRED AND $200 MILLION WITH THE SHORTFALL FILLED BY A SERIES OF ONE TIME REVENUE SOURCES, INCLUDING ASSET SALES. SO I REMEMBER ASSET SALES IN 20 13, 12 BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION TOOK OVER. WE DID THAT QUITE A BIT. WE, BEING CITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR JONES, OTHER THAN I THINK 2017, THERE WAS A $12 MILLION ASSET SALES. WERE THERE ANY OTHER ASSET SALES BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO FILL GAPS? NO, NOT, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. AND I DID MISSPEAK YESTERDAY WHEN I SAID THERE WERE NO LAND SALES. SO WE HAVE THE ONE IN SEVEN. THERE WAS ONE IN 2017. YEAH. AND IT WAS $12 MILLION, $12 MILLION FOR ONE ASSET SALE, BUT YET A SERIES, A SERIES ACCORDING TO THE GHP. MY SECOND THING WILL BE WHEN WE DID THE SALES TAX PROJECTIONS, WE HAD A GREAT YEAR LAST YEAR. SO ALL THE INDICATIONS CAME IN FROM METRO. THEY WERE, THEY WERE TELLING US THEY WERE GONNA BE 11% DECREASE IN SALES TAX. DR. BILL GILMER, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, 11% CONTROLLER, CHRIS BROWN, 11% DIRECTOR WILL JONES, 3%. THIS IS A REVISED REPORT FROM OUR CONSULTANT, DR. BILL GILMER, WHO HAS CHANGED HIS PROJECTIONS ON SALES TAX REVENUE FROM NEGATIVE 11 TO 0.2, WHICH IS FLAT 11 POINTS. SO 11% NEGATIVE TO FLAT. THE CLOSEST ONE IN PROJECTION WAS DIRECTOR WILL JONES FOR THIS YEAR. WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE GHP REPORT, WHICH I'VE MARKED UP, CONTROLLER BROWN USES 11%. DR. GILMER SAYS, LET'S TAKE THAT DOWN TO FLAT. WHEN YOU DO THAT, WHAT ARE THE SAVINGS THAT WE GET OR THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE WE GET FROM SALES TAX? A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BASED ON INACCURATE PROJECTIONS. WE'RE STILL STICKING WITH OUR CONSERVATIVE NEGATIVE THREE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DIRECTOR JONES. SO MY QUESTION IS, CONTROLLER BROWN, DO YOU STICK BY YOUR NEGATIVE 11%? BECAUSE DR. GILMER HAS REDUCED HIS, AND I THINK YOU QUOTED DR. GILMER WHEN YOU GAVE THESE, WELL, AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT THE SPEED OF THE CAR HEADING TOWARDS THE CLIFFS. NO, WE'RE, WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT INACCURACIES OF A REPORT. SECOND, YOU'RE, YOU'RE MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING BECAUSE YOU'RE USING A REPORT THAT WE HAVE NOW, THE BUDGET AND THE ESTIMATES WERE DONE BACK IN APRIL. SO WE HAD AT THAT TIME THE INFORMATION FROM AN ECONOMIST THAT, AND SO THE CREDIT OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FOLLOWED IN LOCKSTEP THROUGH C-O-V-I-D-I WILL RIGHTLY ADMIT, MY SALES TAX PROJECTIONS WERE WRONG. BILL GILMER WAS SPOT ON, AND DIRECTOR JONES AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOLLOWED THOSE TO A T. SO, YOU KNOW, MY THING WAS, IF WE KNEW THERE WAS A REPORT, WHICH I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS REPORT, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET, IT WAS NOT SHARED WITH ME. I DON'T THINK IT WAS SHARED WITH COUNCIL OR ANYBODY ELSE. SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN 11% DOWN SALES TAX AS SOMEONE WHO HAS TO CERTIFY THE AVAILABILITY FUNDS, AND YOU JUST MADE YOUR OWN ARGUMENT, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR DIFFERENCE. SO IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR REDUCTION IN SALES TAX, I WOULD THINK, AND AS THIS BODY, YOU WOULD, NUMBER ONE, WANNA KNOW ABOUT THAT, A HUNDRED MILLION'S, A LOT OF MONEY. NUMBER TWO, WE SHOULD HAVE BUILT A BUDGET BASED ON THAT. BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, IF THE BUDGET WAS BASED ON THAT NUMBER THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME FROM THE TOP ECONOMIST IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT YOU GUYS HAVE FOLLOWED FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND HE HAS BEEN SPOT ON, WE'D HAVE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS LESS IN FUND BALANCE. ACTUALLY BACK THEN, WE WOULD ONLY HAVE ABOUT $60 MILLION LESS OR MORE IN FUND BALANCE. SO, YOU KNOW, LOOK, MY POINT IS WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS IN THE REPORT, IT STANDS, THIS, AND, AND WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS, IT'S, IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY. I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, 20 YEARS, EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE WERE ARGUING ABOUT HOW BIG IS THE UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY. SOME PEOPLE SAID 5 BILLION, [04:30:01] SOME PEOPLE SAID 10 BILLION. WHEN WE DID THE REFORM WITH THE NEW DISCOUNT RATES, IT ENDED UP BEING 8.2 BILLION, SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE. SO WE WILL PROBABLY GO BACK AND FORTH ON SALES TAX, WE'LL GO BACK AND FORTH ON PROPERTY TAX, BUT THE FACTS REMAIN THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET. IF WE DON'T AGRE ADDRESS IT, WE AGREE, WE'VE ALWAYS AGREED. SO WHAT IS THE PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT? BECAUSE 200 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE IS PROBABLY GONNA GET THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION MAYBE THROUGH CHRISTMAS, AND THEN THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE CUTS. I'M TRYING TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO BE HERE. I'M NOT RUNNING FOR ANYTHING. I'LL BE A PRIVATE CITIZEN IN 2024. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT DOING THIS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GIN UP VOTES OR LIGHT. NO ONE EVEN, QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT EVEN CLICK ANYTHING I PUT OUT BECAUSE NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION TO THIS KIND OF THING. BUT THEY SHOULD BECAUSE THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE GONNA AFFECT THIS CITY, I BELIEVE, FOR THE NEXT YEARS AND DECADES. AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING RIGHT NOW ARE GOING TO HAVE A MASSIVE IMPACT ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE. SO DIRECTOR JONES, WHAT PERCENT OF SALES TAX DID YOU BUILD THIS BUDGET ON? UH, WITH A NEGATIVE 3%. NEGATIVE THREE. SO I'M NOT A FINANCIAL GENIUS, BUT WHAT IS CLOSER TO NEGATIVE THREE? NEGATIVE 11 OR FLAT? I, I WOULD SAY FLAT. THANK YOU. SO YOUR ARGUMENT IS MOOT. MY LAST THING IS GOING TO BE, WHEN WE BUILT THIS BUDGET, WE HAD 22 DEPARTMENTS THAT WE ANALYZED. THEY TOTALED $2.157 BILLION DOLLARS, TWO DEPARTMENTS, FIRE AND POLICE ACCOUNT FOR $1.6 BILLION, 74.39%. SO YOU TALK ABOUT CUTS. WCD, WHAT WOULD CONTROLLER DO? WHAT WOULD YOU CUT WHEN THE BUDGET IS BUILT ON 74% OF OUR EXPENDITURES AND POLICE AND FIRE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CUT? WELCOME TO THE DISCUSSION, MAYOR. PER WHAT ARE YOU GONNA CUT? GIMME A SOLUTION. I HAVE MY POINTS. I'LL TELL YOU MINE, I TOLD YOU, WE, WE CAN PROBABLY CUT 40 MILLION OUT OF THAT BUDGET, BUT THE REMAINDER, YOU HAVE TO CUT EXPENDITURES. SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LAY OFF PEOPLE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FURLOUGH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHUT LIBRARIES, PARKS. I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A LOT OF REALLY TOUGH THINGS, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IF YOU'VE GOT TO CUT 10% OUTTA THE BUDGET, DOING 3%, 3%, AND 4% IS A LOT EASIER THAN CUTTING 10% ALL AT ONCE. SO I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING HERE. YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING YES, THERE IS A PROBLEM. I'M SAYING LET'S START DEALING WITH IT NOW RATHER THAN SAY EVERYTHING'S GREAT AND IT'S GONNA BE FINE. I AGREE. I JUST ASKED FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE WE CAN'T CUT POLICE BY STATE LAW NOW. RIGHT. AND, AND, AND AS YOU KNOW, THE CONTROLLER, IF IF YOU TOOK 3% FROM FIRE, IT'S 48 MILLION. IF YOU TOOK 5% FROM FIRE, IT'S 80 MILLION. YEAH. LAST YEAR WE TOOK 2.7 DECREASE ON THE EXPENSE SIDE. SO MY QUESTION AND LOVE TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION, WHAT WOULD YOU CUT? WE, WE HAVE SOME IDEAS. AGAIN, THE CONTROLLER IS NOT HISTORICALLY THE POLICY MAKING ARM, AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE NEED THE DISCUSSION. I WOULD INVITE YOU TO QUIT MAKING COMMENTS THEN, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION, DON'T MAKE THE COMMENTS. MY FATHER ALWAYS SAID, YOU CAN ARGUE, BUT GIMME YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. HERE'S MY RECOMMENDATION. JANUARY 1ST, MOVE TO DEFINE CONTRIBUTION PLAN FOR ALL NEW EMPLOYEES MOVING FORWARD. AGAIN, THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR LONG-TERM DEBT LIABILITY. AND IT'S AN IDEA WORTH DISCUSSING. RIGHT. OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED SECOND, SECOND SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023. MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED. AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE DISAGREE THAT MUCH ON THIS. I THINK WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS. SO WE'LL NOW MOVE BACK TO THE AGENDA AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY WILL BE GLAD WHEN MAYOR TURNER COMES BACK NEXT WEEK. SO WE'LL MOVE TO [1.  9:00 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING for approval to use 1,940 square feet (0.0445 acres) of the BAYOU GREENWAYS - HALL ACCESS LAND for the FWSD#23 Tunnel and 14,110 square feet for temporary construction staging area within the park - DISTRICT B - JACKSON ] PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NUMBER ONE, MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ITEM NUMBER ONE? ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPROVAL TO USE 1,940 SQUARE FEET OF THE BIO GREENWAYS HALL ACCESS LAND ITEM NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC HEARING. ALL THOSE WE JUST NEED, WE JUST NEED THE HEARING. NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY SINGER SECOND, UH, WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE GENTLEMAN TO YOUR RIGHT IS, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND WORKS FINE. SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU. SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS. [04:35:01] GOOD MORNING, PROTE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL PARCEL BY 15. SIR, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST SLIDING OVER LITTLE. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PARCEL BY 15 0 71 OF HAL BAYOU PARK WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY THROUGH ENT DO OF PART THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING, MAINTAINING, AND OPERATING A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AS SHOWN BY THE FINANCIAL FINAL JUDGMENT DATED AUGUST 21ST, 2017, AND RECORDED UNDER FILE NUMBER RP 2 2 1 6 4 6 9 85 AND CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 50,109 SQUARE FEET LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF WILL OAK STREET AND SEEKER STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 2 8. THE PARK IS IN CITY CONSOLE. DISTRICT B JECTION IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PARK. AMENITIES INCLUDE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS. PROJECT FWSD NUMBER 23, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS INVOLVES THE ABUNDANCE OF EXISTING 48 INCH SHALLOWS SILVER LINE WITH THREE BARREL SIPHON LINES, THE REMOVAL OF EXISTING SIPHON INLET AND OUTLET, AND THE INSTALLATION OF PROPOSED 60 INCH UNDERGROUND WASTEWATER LINE BY MICRO TUNNELLING. THE PROJECT WILL EXTEND THROUGH A PORTION UP BIO GREEN GREENWAYS PARK LOCATED SOUTH OF WILL. OAK STREET AT HALS BAYOU. AS PART OF THE PROJECT. HOUSTON PUBLIC FORCE WILL REQUIRE THE USE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,940 SQUARE FEET, DESCRIBED AS PARCEL DY 22 0 29 FOR VARIABLE WITH LINE UTILITY CORRIDOR AND 14,110 SQUARE FEET FOR A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION STAGING AREA, SECTION 26.001. AND AFTER TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE CODE PROVIDES THAT A CITY MAY NOT APPROVE ANY PROGRAM OR PROJECT FOR THE USE ARE TAKING OF LAND DESIGNATED AS PARKLAND UNLESS AFTER PUBLIC HEARING IT'S GOVERNOR GOVERNING BODY DETERMINES THAT NUMBER ONE, THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF ARE TAKING OF THE PARKLAND. AND SECOND, THE PROGRAM. OUR PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARKLAND. THE CITY WILL BE REQUESTED TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE MAKING THESE FINDINGS. INSTALLING THE PROPOSED 60 INCH WASTEWATER LINE IN THE SAME LOCATION AS EXISTING WASTEWATER LINE WOULD REQUIRE AN EXTENDED SHUTDOWN OF THE EXISTING 48 INCH WASTEWATER LINE. DUE TO THE CONFLICT OF THE PROPOSED MANHOLE LOCATION. THE PROPOSED 16TH INCH WASTEWATER LINE CANNOT BE ROUTED AROUND THE PARK SINCE THE CLOSEST ROAD TO THE SIPHON THAT CROSSES PARK SITE IS ROAD, NEAR NORTHWAY SIDE ROAD, WHICH IS THREE THOU APPROXIMATELY 3000 FEET WEST AND APPROXIMATELY 1,700 FEET NORTH OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. AT SUCH A LONG DISTANCE, A GRAVE T ALIGNMENT WOULD NOT BE A FEASIBLE, UH, PROPOSAL. THEREFORE, THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF A PORTION OF PARK FOR THE PROJECT. HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND PARTS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT HAS A MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE PARK. THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE AN UNDERGROUND TUNNELING CROSSING METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION. MINIMAL SITE CLEARING WILL BE NEEDED TO ACCESS DESIGNATED CONSTRUCTION AREA. EXCAVATION WILL OCCUR WHERE THE TUNNELING SHAFT BE CONSTRUCTED. SITE RESTORATION WORK INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF DISTRICT PORTION OF THE SIDEWALK, SORTING OF UNPAVED AREAS, INSTALLATION OF ONE EXCESS GATE, TWO STEEL PARK BENCHES, ONE PET WASTE DISPOSAL STATION, THE REMOVAL OF TWO DEAD TREES AND PLANTING OF THREE NEW TREES IN THE AREA SOUTH OF HIKE AND BIKE. TRAIL IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE PLACED WITH THE, WITH THE SAME QUALITY OR BETTER. THEREFORE, THE PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARKLAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICE MAYOR PROAM. MARTHA TEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI. CAN, CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE TIMEFRAME THAT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE? IS THE FIRST QUESTION AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS JUST KIND OF A SUMMARY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE'RE PUTTING IN, UM, AN A 60 [04:40:01] INCH WASTE WASTEWATER LINE. IT'S GONNA BE UNDERGROUND, BUT THEN THE PARK WILL BE RESTORED FOR THE USE BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE DONE IS UNDERGROUND. YES. THE ANSWER TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION AT TIME, IT'LL TAKE APPROXIMATELY FIVE, SEVEN MONTHS FROM THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT. AND WE ARE GOING TO ADVERTISE THE PROJECT, UH, PROJECT AFTER THE, UH, ACCEPTANCE OF, UH, WILL BE BID THE PROJECT AFTER THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE, THIS DENIES. SO THERE'LL BE SEVEN MONTHS OF INTERRUPTION KIND OF WHILE WE ARE DIGGING. YES. IT'LL BE SEVEN MONTHS INTERRUPTION FOR THE PROJECT. AND THEN ONCE THE, THE SECOND QUESTION, WATER LINE IS IN. SO ONE, ONE LINE IS INSTALLED, IT'LL BE RESTORED AND PARK WILL BE REUSABLE WITH A BEAUTIFUL TREE PLANTATION BETTER THAN BEFORE. A BETTER, BETTER FACILITIES THAN BEFORE AND MAYBE BETTER OR EQUAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK, THANK YOU. THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SO YOU NO ONE IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE A HEARING? SO MOVED. ROBINSON. SECOND IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANKS. NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE MAYOR'S [MAYOR'S REPORT] REPORT. HAPPY FIRST. NOVEMBER, DAY OF NOVEMBER, EVERYONE. I HOPE EVERYONE WAS RECOVERING FROM A LONG NIGHT OF TRICK OR TREATING. WE HAD, UH, I KNOW WE HAD A BUNCH OF KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT WAS FUN TO SEE, UH, A LOT OF GOOD KIDS AND, UH, A LOT OF GOOD CANDY BEING CONSUMED SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO EAT THE LEFTOVER CANDY. SOME, SOME OF YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT TO DO IT. YOUR LEFTOVER PUMPKINS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THE RETURN OF THE PUMPKIN COMPOSTING DROP OFF EVENT FOR THE THIRD YEAR. SALLY ALCORN. THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPOSE OF ALL THEIR HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS FOR COMPOSTING WHILE DELIVERING WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL. FEEL FREE TO DROP OFF YOUR RETIRED JACKAL. LANS WHOLE PUMPKINS, PUMPKIN SEEDS AND GUTS DROP OFF IS AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. RE, UH, RE REUSE WAREHOUSE AT 9 0 0 3 NORTH MAINE. ONCE AGAIN, THE CITY OF HOUSTON REUSE WAREHOUSE AT 9 0 0 3 NORTH MAINE. STARTING TODAY, NOVEMBER 1ST THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH. WEEKDAYS FROM 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AGAIN STARTING TODAY THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY THE EIGHTH FROM 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM SATURDAY HOURS ARE 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AND THE SITE CENTER IS CLOSED ON SUNDAY. YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN AND AMY PECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS TO ATTEND THE NEWEST HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CADETS AT THEIR GRADUATION CEREMONY. CADET CLASS 2 2 60 INCLUDES 64 MEN AND WOMEN WHO TOOK THE OATH TO SERVE AND PROTECT US. THEY ANSWERED THE CALL TO KEEP HOUSTON SAFE, AND FOR THAT WE THANK THEM VERY MUCH. THE CEREMONY WAS SPECIAL BECAUSE IT MEANS 2,392 CADETS HAVE JOINED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT RANK SINCE MAYOR TURNER TOOK OFFICE 2,392 NEW CADETS SINCE MAYOR TURNER TOOK OFFICE. BY THE END OF THE MAYOR'S TWO TERMS, MORE THAN 2,500 CADETS WILL HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HPDS ACADEMY. AS A REMINDER, HPD IS ALWAYS RECRUITING AND WE OFFER A $10,000 INCENTIVE THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL A FEW MONTHS AGO REGARDING UPCOMING VETERANS DAY. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS INVITES EVERYONE TO COMMEMORATE VETERANS DAY AT THE CITY'S ANNUAL CEREMONY AND AMERICAN HEROES PARADE, BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. THE CELEBRATION WILL INCLUDE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS ALONG WITH LOCAL VETERAN ORG ORGANIZATIONS, ROTC, JUNIOR ORGANIZATIONS OF ROTC, AS WELL AS VARIOUS VANS FROM AROUND THE CITY. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SPECIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE HUNDRED AND FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGN-IN OF THE WORLD WAR I ARMISTICE SIGNING AT THE END OF THE FIRST WORLD. I FIRST WORLD WAR. HOUSTON IS PROUD TO BE THE HOME OF OVER 300,000 VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND HAS THE SECOND LARGEST POPULATION OF VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY. SO LET'S BE THERE ON NOVEMBER 11TH TO SHOW OUR VETERANS OUR APPRECIATION. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS WILL PRODUCE THE HOUSTON SALUTES AMERICA'S HEROES VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION, ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT OF SEVERAL SPONSORS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HOUSTON DYNAMO. THE TEAM WON ITS FIRST PLAYOFF GAME ON SUNDAY. THE FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS IS A BEST OF THREE SERIES. AFTER WINNING THE FIRST MATCH ON HOME TURF, THE DYNAMO HEAD TO SALT LAKE CITY FOR A MATCH NUMBER TWO ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH. [04:45:01] IF THEY WIN ON MONDAY, THE DI DYNAMO WILL ADVANCE TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS. BUT IF MATCH THREE IS NEEDED, THE TEAM WILL PLAY HOME ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH TO DETERMINE THE WINNER. IT'S GONNA BE AN EXCITING MATCHUP, SO MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE GAME OR YOU GO TO THE OFFICIAL WATCH PARTY THAT THE CITY IS HAVING. MEMORIAL PARK RUNNING COMPLEX WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH WITH A RIBBON CUTTING AND CELEBRATION. THE EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AND WILL TAKE PLACE AT 75 75 NORTH PICNIC LANE. ONCE AGAIN, 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT 75 75 NORTH PICNIC LANE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PARK BY THE KINDER LAND BRIDGE. THE RUNNING COMPLEX WILL INCLUDE THE 400 METER ROY CULLEN TIMING TRACK ALONG WITH A VIEW AND DECK EVENT, SPACE AND TRAILS. JUST ANOTHER REMINDER THAT EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. VOTERS WILL DECIDE RACES FOR CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR AND CONTROLLER, ALONG WITH TWO PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS. HARRIS COUNTY IS ASKING ITS VOTERS TO APPROVE A $2.5 BILLION BOND PACKAGE FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM, AND THE STATE HAS 14 PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT AS WELL. EARLY VOTING ENDS THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD. AN ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH. THAT CONCLUDES THE MAYOR'S REPORT. AND MADAM SECRETARY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THE AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM THREE HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE SET WORK NEEDED. MOTION FOR ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE, CASTEX TATUM MOVE, SECOND ROBINSON MOTION, AND THE SECOND ON FOUR AND FIVE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. CARRIE, ORDER PRO. TIM, ARE WE INCLUDING OUR COLLEAGUES THAT ARE NOT IN? I'M SORRY, WHAT? ON THE RECORD. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. THE RECORD. WE HAD A QUORUM. SO MOTION CARRIES. WELL, I KNOW THAT THE MOTION CARRIES, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT, I KNOW THAT IT CARRIES, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT THE RECORD WILL REFLECT, REFLECT FOR THAT. THEY'RE OUT OF THE CHAMBER. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU. OKAY, BACK TO WORK. NEXT ITEM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ABEY CAYMAN. IT, IT WAS DURING POPOFF. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. OKAY. UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY ITEM SIX AND SEVEN. NEED A MOTION CAST. TATUM MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. MOTION IS SECOND IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. SIX AND SEVEN. UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIZ CATEGORY ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 10. NEED A MOTION? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON EIGHT THROUGH 10? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEMS CARRY UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13. JUST NEED A VOTE. VOTE ON ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSE. ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13. CARRY COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON. UM, THANK YOU. UM, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT NUMBER 11. UM, THE RESOLUTION FOR, UM, THE PROJECT ON MESA DRIVE. TEN ONE NINE NINE MESA DRIVE. I SEE WE GOT MR. ABNER ALLIANCE, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE. AND I WANTED TO JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW THE COMMUNITY WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD. UM, I'VE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, BELIEVED THAT COMMUNITY SHOULD LEAD DEVELOPERS AND DEVELOPMENTS NOT DEVELOPERS. AND SO THIS WAS A, UM, PROJECT THAT COMMUNITY DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO, UM, SEE IN THEY NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEY BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND SO IT JUST, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT MOVING FORWARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UNDER THE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ORDINANCES, CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEMS 2023. 2020. 2020 WAS ADDED. ITEM 20 23, 25, 27, 7. I MEAN, I'M SORRY, 37, 41, 43, 44, 45, AND 55. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 20, 23, 25, 37, 41, 43, 44, 45, AND 55. JUST NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE BALANCE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? ITEMS CARRIED. [04:50:09] COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. MY APOLOGIES. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. UM, WE, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE JUST PASSED ITEM, UH, 38. AND, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE JIM MURPHY AND IRMA SANCHEZ WITH THE WEST CHASE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. IF YOU PLEASE STAND, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE JIM MURPHY MURPHY AND OUR NEWEST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WEST CHASE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, IRMA SANCHEZ. UM, AS WAS BRIEFED IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UH, THE BENEFIT OF THE THREE 80 AGREEMENT, AS YOU ALL WITNESSED, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, UH, THE JEALOUSY FROM VICE JEALOUSY, MAYOR FROM TIM, AND DISTRICT A . YES. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT ITEM. AND I'M SURE THE RESIDENTS IN WEST CHASE WILL BENEFIT, UH, FOR, UH, MANY YEARS, UH, BEYOND, UH, THE 10 YEAR AGREEMENT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND, UM, REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY AND MS. SANCHEZ, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. REPRESENTATIVE MURPHY, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS WITH, UH, WITH WESTCHASE. UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME AS I EXIT STAGE LEFT IN TWO MONTHS. UH, JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU'VE CARRIED FOR US IN AUSTIN AND YOUR CONTINUED GOOD WORK. SO THANK YOU. AND MS. SANCHEZ LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. GOD BLESS. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX STATE A MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY TOUCH THIS ON THIS ITEM. I'M, I'M SUPPORTING IT AND I APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK. UM, WITH OVER 36,000 HOMES IN DISTRICT C, THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PROPERTIES WITH REPETITIVE LOSS. UM, I FOUND SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT, UM, SOMETHING THAT I FELT I NEEDED TO END TO EMPHASIZE, UH, THAT ALL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ARE AT RISK FOR FLOODING. MM-HMM . UM, WHAT THIS DID WAS PROVIDE A SET OF POSSIBLE MITIGATION ALTERNATIVES, NOT RISK ASSESSMENTS, BECAUSE LITERALLY EVERY HOME IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS AT RISK OF FLOODING. AND I RAISE THAT BECAUSE AS PART OF THIS AND THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT IS CRITICAL, UM, PART OF THE COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS OF, UH, INCENTIVES WHEN IT COMES TO RATES FOR FLOOD INSURANCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY HOMEOWNER, REGARDLESS OF YOU'RE IN A CURRENT FLOOD PLAIN. AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE WAITING ON THE MAPS, UM, OF HAVING FLOOD INSURANCE. BUT ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, UM, IS WE'RE SEEING ON THE WEST COAST INSURANCE COMPANIES REFUSING TO PROVIDE INSURANCE IN AREAS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN WILDFIRES, UM, ON THE EAST COAST AND IN FLORIDA BECAUSE OF CONSISTENT STORMS REFUSING TO PROVIDE INSURANCE COVERAGE. AND MY CONCERN IS, UH, THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS PATTERN WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOT COVERING RESIDENTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT AS A CITY. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. UH, SO I RAISED THIS ONE TO ONE, ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE. TWO, TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT, UM, FOR THEIR WORK. AND WE DO HAVE A, A STRONG NUMBER OF HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR HOME ELEVATION GRANTS. IT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO SEE MORE HOMES APPLYING FOR THIS. BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A, UM, A CHALLENGE MOVING FORWARD AS CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO EXACERBATE THE ISSUE OF ACTUAL INSURANCE COVERAGE AND WHO QUALIFIES. SO WANTING TO RAISE THAT, UM, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON DISTRICT C RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND, UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IS RIGHT, THE MOST REPETITIVE LOSS, I THINK THE, UH, PRESENTATION, UH, THAT WAS DELIVERED EARLIER LAST MONTH, THAT, UH, THE TTI COMMITTEE ALSO POINTED OUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REPETITIVE LOSS AND SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS. UH, FOR A NOTE FOR OUR, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, MARYANNE HUFFMAN, OF COURSE, DISTRICT G HAS SOME OF THE WORST FLOODING IN TOWN. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE INFORMATION, THERE IS NOT A DISTRICT IN THE CITY THAT DIDN'T GET TOUCHED. TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UM, I THINK THIS WAS A REAL EYE-OPENER FOR THE CITY AND SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS TO ALL OF OUR VULNERABILITY AND, UH, DEFINITELY COMMIT THIS, UH, REPORT NOT ONLY TO US AS A COUNCIL OF GOVERNING THE CITY, UM, BUT TO CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL RISKS THAT ARE OUT THERE. SO, UM, WANT TO THANK, UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND, UH, FOR ALL THOSE AT LAN THAT, UM, BROUGHT US SOME EXCELLENT RESEARCH AND, UH, UH, CONTRACT. WELL, WELL SERVED. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE? [04:55:01] SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM THREE CARRIES. ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 20 COMES TO MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN? YEAH, VERY QUICKLY, UM, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE RISK OF FLOODING. WE JUST HAD A REPORT, UH, AND A LIVELY DEBATE ABOUT THE, UM, OUR BUDGET AND WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY AS A CITY. AND HERE WE HAVE THE REMOVAL BY GLO AT THE STATE LEVEL OF $30 MILLION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR SPECIFICALLY HARVEY RECOVERY FUNDING BACK IN 2017. SO I, I WANTED TO AGAIN POINT THIS OUT AS WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR BUDGET. UH, HERE WE HAVE $30 MILLION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SPECIFICALLY FOR HARVEY. FLOOD MITIGATION BEING TAKEN AWAY, UH, THAT THE CITY WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 20. CARRIES. ITEM 23 IS IN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 23 SAYING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 23, CARRIES. ITEM 25 IS IN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 25, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ITEM ON THE OPIOID CRISIS. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE, THE FUND BEING SET UP IN, IN THE FINANCIAL REPORT AND THE MOER. UM, I'M SURE WE ALL KNOW SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS OVER OVERDOSE FROM OPIOIDS. DEATHS HAVE INCREASED OVER 50% IN HARRIS COUNTY IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. I PERSONALLY HAVE THREE GOOD FRIENDS WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD TO OPIOID OPIOIDS. UM, THERE WAS A SEGMENT LAST WEEK ON GREAT DAY HOUSTON, DEBORAH DUNCAN WITH, UM, A COUPLE OF THESE PARENTS AND AMONG OTHERS, UM, TALKING ABOUT THIS CRISIS. THIS IS A CRUEL, CRUEL ADDICTION. AND WHAT I WANNA STRESS HERE AND HOW WE LOOK AT HOW WE'RE USING THIS MONEY IS, AND, AND TREATMENT IS IMPORTANT OF COURSE, BUT IT'S PREVENTION. I MEAN, YOU, THIS IS SUCH A CRUEL ADDICTION THAT ONCE SOMEBODY'S HOOKED, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET 'EM BACK. IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD. I HAVE PERSONALLY TALKED TO THESE PARENTS. THE STRUGGLE GOES ON AND, AND ULTIMATELY A LOT OF TIMES IT'S LOST. SO PREVENTION IS THE KEY. IT'S GETTING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO I WAS GLAD TO SEE THIS K THROUGH 12. IT'S GETTING INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE TO STOP IT. YOU HAVE TO NOT TAKE THE FIRST PILL. UM, SO I AM HOPEFUL AND WE'RE ASKING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IF THIS MONEY CAN BE SPENT WITH, UM, NONPROFITS OR IF WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN HOUSE. THERE'S ALREADY SOME REALLY GOOD PROGRAMS THAT I'M LEARNING ABOUT THAT, UM, OTHERS DO WELL. UM, AS FAR AS GETTING STORIES TOLD, USING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH TREATMENT OR, OR HAVE SURVIVED AND GOING IN AND TALKING TO THE KIDS. I HOPE WE CAN USE SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WAY. UM, TRYING TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON IT. OF COURSE, I'LL SUPPORT IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE, WE'VE ONLY, UM, GOT PLANS FOR ABOUT $44,000 OF THE 500 OR SO THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE'RE DOING EACH YEAR. SO JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AND WANNA BE KEPT ABREAST ON WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE DOING. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS MONEY IS USED EFFECTIVELY, UM, TO GET AFTER THIS PRO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, ANY ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 25? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 25, CARRIES. ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION ON 37 CAYMAN COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, AFTER, AFTER THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ITEM NUMBER 37. AGAIN, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. ITEM 37 CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UM, WE JUST PASSED SEVERAL IMPORTANT, UH, GRANT APPLICATION, UM, SUBMISSIONS, UH, FOR HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. UH, WE ALSO JUST PASSED, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT AWARD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S REENTRY PROGRAM. UM, AND I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THAT BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE EMPHASIZE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S A HOLISTIC APPROACH. I'VE BEEN TO SOME OF THOSE REENTRY GRADUATIONS THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS DO, AND IT'S, THEY'RE REALLY EXTRAORDINARY. THEIR ENTIRE FAMILIES ARE THERE. UM, SO I COMMEND THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ON THAT. UM, SPECIFICALLY ON ITEM 37, WE HAD AN OEM, UH, GRANT, UH, RELATED TO, [05:00:01] UH, HOMELAND SECURITY FOR CATASTROPHIC PREPAREDNESS. SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND WE HAVE OUR OEM TEAM, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE WE ALSO JUST PASSED, UH, A REALLY IMPORTANT ITEM RELATED TO OUR HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING. AND, UM, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, BECAUSE THIS CAME TO COMMITTEE, UM, WHAT THE OEM OFFICE DID, THEY HAD 10 COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UH, AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. UM, AND OVER 600 PEOPLE ATTENDED THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO WHAT THESE PLANS LOOK LIKE. SO I APPRECIATE THE MODEL THAT Y'ALL HAVE ADOPTED, UM, AND THE EFFORT AND TIME TAKEN TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED, BUT ALSO, UH, CRAFTING THAT RESPONSE TO MEET RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. SO THANK YOU ALL AND THE ENTIRE OEM TEAM, UM, FOR THE WORK YOU DO. WE ALSO HAD GRANTS FOR, UM, PORT OF HOUSTON FOR SECURITY, UM, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. SO AGAIN, JUST WANTING TO SPOTLIGHT THE, UH, VERY WELL-ROUNDED EFFORTS THAT WE'RE SEEING COMING FORWARD ON THIS. THANK YOU. NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE WILL PROCEED WITH THE NEXT ITEM. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 41, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UM, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIS INTER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ONCE AGAIN THE KINDER FOUNDATION FOR THE, UH, $75 MILLION CONTRIBUTION, UH, TO THE EAST SECTOR OF BUFFALO BAYOU. UH, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP, CITY OF HOUSTON, THE COUNTY, AND THE HARRISBURG TOURS, UH, TO MAINTAIN, UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE EAST SECTOR OF BUFFALO BAYOU, UH, FOR THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS ALONG THE EAST SECTOR OF BUFFALO BAYOU, UH, GOING INTO THE EAST END FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. UH, SO APPRECIATE Y'ALL SUPPORT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER IN THIS INTERLOCAL PAST YESTERDAY, UH, AT HARRIS COUNTY. SO, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, YOU'VE BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DILIGENCE WITH MOVING THIS FORWARD, AND CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 41? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 41, CARRIES. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 43, DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM AFTER THE ITEM 43. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. ITEM 43 PASSES. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. MARTHA CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT OF THIS. UM, IT'S JUST AN AMENDMENT FOR THE BRAY OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UM, TO TAKE ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS. UM, ADDING ON, UH, FLOWERS FOR A LADY, WHICH IS, UH, A SCULPTURE THAT THE ARTIST ROSE TORO, UM, CURATED FOR US AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE. UM, IN HONOR OF, UH, KATHLEEN OSBY. UH, SHE'S HERE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY, SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HER. UH, THIS SCULPTURE IS IN HONOR OF THE GREAT WORK THAT SHE, SHE HAS DONE ACROSS THE CITY WITH SPARK PARKS. UM, AND IT WILL STAND FOR A LONG TIME, UM, LIKE THE LEGACY OF HER MOTHER AND, UM, THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE ALL DONE TO BEAUTIFY, UH, THE PARK SPACES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THE BRA OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WILL TAKE ON THE, THE MAINTENANCE OF, OF THIS SCULPTURE. UM, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND KATHLEEN, UH, YET AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED WORK THAT YOU DO, UH, WITH SPARK PARKS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A PLACE THAT THEY CAN MAKE MEMORIES AND ENJOY OUTDOORS. AND THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN FOR BEING HERE. HE WAS ALSO AT THE, AT THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS PLAYED A TREMENDOUS, UM, EFFORT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS GREAT WORK FOR HOUSTONIANS. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM. AND, AND I, YOU KNOW, WAS SICK TO MISS, HAVE TO MISS THAT RIBBON CUTTING. I HAD A CONFLICT, BUT I DID GET OUT TO THE MUSIC FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. UM, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL, THIS TRIBUTE. I JUST LOVED IT. IT'S, IT'S SUCH A GREAT, THE WILLOW WATERHOLE IS SUCH A TREASURE. IT'S REALLY GREAT. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. I TRIED TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. AND, UH, THAT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT ADDED THING. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD WE ARE, UM, OF YOU AND HAVING THIS TRIBUTE TO YOU AND, AND ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS KATHLEEN, AND THANK YOU, UH, [05:05:01] MARTHA AND DIRECTOR. WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. YEAH. UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM. I TOO WANTED TO THANK YOU. UM, AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND ESPECIALLY KATHLEEN, UM, I, I LOVE THE IDEA OF PAYING TRIBUTE WHILE, UM, THAT PERSON IS STILL HERE WITH US, AND, UH, BEING ABLE TO APPRECIATE THAT. AND I, WHAT YOU AND THE, AND ENTIRE TEAM HAS DONE AROUND WILLOW WATERHOLE, UM, IS EXCEPTIONAL. UH, THE ONE THING I DID WANNA ALSO SPOTLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, UH, TRIBUTE TO KATHLEEN BEING SPECIFICALLY HERE, IS YOUR TIES TO WILL A WATERHOLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, SO TO HAVE THAT THERE I THINK IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE CHERRY ON TOP. UH, SO FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, THANK YOU. BUT THAT THIS TRIBUTE VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM CAN BE IN YOUR DISTRICT, I THINK IS ALL THE MORE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM, AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PROAM. UH, THANK YOU KATHLEEN. UM, MY 10 YEARS ON CITY COUNCIL, I JUST WANNA PERSONALLY SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, UH, TO IMPROVE, UH, PLAYGROUNDS, UH, AT SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT. I, UH, SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO YOUR STAFF. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL IN MY BACK COUNCIL MEMBER LARRY GREEN HITTING ME. HE AND I USED TO HAVE SOME PRETTY LIVELY DISCUSSIONS ON WILLOW WATERHOLE. I'D CALL IT SOMETHING, AND THEN HE'D JUMP ME AND COME BACK AND CALL IT A DIFFERENT THING. BUT WE ALWAYS HAD GREAT DISCUSSIONS AND, UH, WE ALL MISS LARRY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO LARRY AND ALSO TO, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, MARTHA CASTEX STATE, AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF THAT DO A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT. SO, THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 40 FOURS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE TAG ROBINSON TAG. EVAN SHABAZZ ITEM HAS BEEN TAGGED. NUMBER 44 BY DAVID ROBINSON. AND CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, THIS ITEM IS REGARDING BURNETT BAYLAND PARK, WHICH IS IN THE GULFTON AREA, UH, THE MOST, UM, DENSELY POPULATED DIVERSE AREA OF OUR CITY. IT IS THE ONLY GREEN SPACE, UM, IN THAT AREA, 31 ACRES. UM, IT HAS BEEN A COUNTY OWNED PARK THAT HAS BEEN CITY MAINTAINED, AND THIS WILL BE, UH, CONVERTING IT BACK TO BEING COUNTY MAINTAINED. AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN AND YOUR STAFF FOR BEING OPEN-MINDED AND RECEPTIVE TO THIS REQUEST. UH, THE COUNTY HAS STEPPED UP WANTING TO, UH, TAKE ON THE MAINTENANCE AND AS A CITY, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD, UH, LOOK AT THOSE COST SAVING EFFORTS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO AND THEN HAVE MORE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ON, ON ITEMS SUCH AS THIS. SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT. I THINK IT WILL BE IN A BENEFIT OF THE, OF THE COUNTY, THE CITY, AND THE RESIDENTS OF THAT AREA. SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 45? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 45 PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, ITEM 55 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. NO. ITEM 55, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KNOX. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI, THIS IS A PROBLEM ISSUE HERE. WE'VE GOT A, UH, WITH THE MBE SUBCONTRACTOR CITAS, UH, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THIS GROUP. UH, CITAS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FROM OUR OBO PROGRAM. UM, ACTUALLY CITAS WASN'T KIT WAS KIT, UH, THE, UH, I GUESS THE OWNER, UM, WAS CHARGED WITH BRIBERY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IN RATE, THEIR BOARD REMAINS THE SAME. THEIR TAXES OR THEIR TAX ID NUMBER REMAINS THE SAME. THEY ARE THE SAME COMPANY WITH A DIFFERENT NAME. UH, AND THEY'VE BEEN ON THIS CONTRACT AND, AND I ASKED THE QUESTION, WELL, HOW ARE WE DOING THIS? IF THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK FOR THE CITY ANYMORE, HOW ARE THEY DOING THIS? AND THE ANSWER WAS, WELL, THEY'RE ON A PRE-EXISTING CONTRACT, WHICH AGAIN, I I GET THAT. BUT THE THING IS, THESE PEOPLE DO BAD WORK. UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT GOOD, GOOD ACTORS IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO SUSPEND THEM FROM DOING THIS, AND FOR SOME REASON THERE'S A GAP IN OUR, OUR PROCESS WHERE WE CAN'T GO BACK AND REMOVE PEOPLE FROM EXISTING CONTRACTS. SO I'M GONNA RELUCTANTLY VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE FOR LEGAL REASONS, WE CAN'T NOT VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY A PREEXISTING CONTRACT. BUT I, I WANNA BRING THAT UP FOR THE COUNCIL THAT'S GONNA BE HERE NEXT, NEXT YEAR. UM, WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE DEAL WITH BAD ACTOR CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO IS REMOVE THEM FROM THEIR EXISTING CONTRACTS. IF THEY'RE A BAD ACTOR IN THE IN FUTURE CONTRACTS, THEY, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN A BAD [05:10:01] ACTOR IN PREVIOUS CONTRACTS, UH, THEY JUST NEED TO GO. WE, WE NEED GOOD QUALITY PEOPLE SO THE TAXPAYERS GET THEIR VALUE, UH, FROM THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING. SO I'M GONNA HOLD MY NOSE AND VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE, UH, WE HAVE TO, BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP TO EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY THOSE OF YOU'RE GONNA REMAIN NEXT YEAR CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YES, THANK YOU. AND, UM, YOUR COMMENTS SOUND EXACTLY LIKE MINES FOR THIS PAST WEEK. I KNOW WHAT THOSE GUYS ARE ABOUT. I KNOW THAT THEY REORGANIZED, BUT THE FAMILY IS STILL INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIZATION. AND FOR MY NEXT TWO MONTHS, I WILL VOTE NO ON EVERY CONTRACT THAT COMES WITH ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH KIT ENGINEERING COUNCIL MEMBER ABBEY CAYMAN. NO, AND I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THE ISSUE. UM, THE, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A FIRST AMENDMENT TO A PREVIOUS CONTRACT, I UNDERSTAND LEGALLY WE HAVE TO, BUT WHAT CAUSED US TO HAVE TO MODIFY TO BEGIN WITH, WAS IT AN INCREASED EXPENDITURE FROM AN EXPECT CORRECT. OKAY. ADDED MORE MONEY TO AN EXISTING CONTRACT. 'CAUSE WE QUESTIONED, SOUNDS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX AND I BOTH QUESTIONED IT. IT WAS AN EXISTING CONTRACT THAT WAS DONE BEFORE THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT, I'LL CALL IT THAT. AND, UM, THIS IS A, JUST AN ADDITION TO THAT EXISTING AGREEMENT, JUST ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND, UH, OKAY. SO IT'S NOT, THEIR PERCENTAGE IS ACTUALLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE, BUT I'LL AGAIN, ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX'S COMMENTS MOVING FORWARD, WATCH OUT FOR THIS COMPANY AND DO SOME HOMEWORK AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. MY COMMENTS. GREAT. SO IT'S NOT EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF WORK? NO. OKAY. IT'S JUST ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? AND THEY, AND THEY ARE PRECLUDED FROM DOING ANY ADDITIONAL WORK, CORRECT? CORRECT. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ITEM NUMBER 55. AGAIN, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? SHOWING POLLARD? NO SHOWING POLLARD AND MARTIN WITH A NO. ITEM 55 PASSES. ITEM [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] 61. GO AHEAD. MY, MY APOLOGIES. MS. PAT, ITEM 61, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE. THIS IS TO SET, WE'LL DO 61, 62 AND THEN 63. IT'S SETTING THREE SEPARATE TOURS, PUBLIC MEETINGS. ITEM 61. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 61 OF SETTING THE HEARING DATE? CASTEX MOVE CASTEX TA MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 15TH, 2023. SECOND ROBINSON MOTION. AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 61, CARRIES ITEM 62, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE CAST MOVE TO SET THE SUGGESTED HEARING DATE AS 9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 15TH, 2023. SECOND ROBINSON MOTION. AND SECOND ON ITEM 62. DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM 62 CARRIES AND 63 CASTEX STATE A MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 15TH, 2023. AND A SECOND. SECOND ROBINSON MOTION. AND SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 63 I. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE. ITEM 63 PASSES AND WE [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] WILL START TODAY'S POPOFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. AND BEFORE WE DO THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH IS HAVING HIS SURGERY. YEAH, I THINK IT WAS TODAY. SO KEEP HIM IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. UH, MICHAEL, WE'RE, WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU. SORRY, MAYOR. PRETEND THAT'S ALL RIGHT. MY, MY, UH, THOUGHTS EXACTLY IN THE WAY OF, UH, TODAY BEING ALL SAINTS TODAY, THOSE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE SAINTS. I KNOW, UH, WE'RE KEEPING MANY IN OUR MIND, UH, DE LOS MUTOS IN THE SAME REGARD. BUT AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT, UH, THOSE GREAT, UM, AMERICANS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE, WE OBVIOUSLY ARE KEEPING THOSE, UH, IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN OUR PRAYERS IN, UH, IN ISRAEL, IN PALESTINE. AND IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO PRAY FOR THOSE AMERICANS WHO ARE STILL BEING HELD HOSTAGE. UH, THERE'S A GROUP OF, UM, LEADERS WHO WE ARE WORKING WITH AT, UH, THE PLACE OF WORSHIP WHERE I ATTEND PALMER MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE CRITICAL MINISTRY THAT'S CALLED JERUSALEM PEACE BUILDERS, UH, THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR OVER A DECADE, WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOUTH, UM, OF CHRISTIAN JEWISH, AND MUSLIM FAITH. AND IN THIS REGARD, WE HAVE, UM, ONGOING MISSIONS THAT ARE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF GAZA. AND WHERE TODAY, AS MANY AS 600 OR CLOSE TO A THOUSAND AMERICANS ARE BEING HELD. WE WANNA PRAY FOR THEM. AND BEYOND THIS BODY, WE WANT TO EXTEND, UM, REAL [05:15:01] ENCOURAGEMENT TO OUR STATE DEPARTMENT AND OF COURSE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN TO THINK ABOUT RECOVERING THOSE AMERICANS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, UM, BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. I'D LIKE TO RAISE PRAYERS TO A PERSONAL FRIEND, UM, FATHER NICHOLAS PORTER AND DANA CURTIN, WHO REPRESENT JERUSALEM PEACE BUILDERS ABROAD, WHO HAVE MADE IT OUT OF JERUSALEM AND ARE NOW, UH, ADVOCATING FOR THOSE WHO ARE, UM, WITHIN STILL, UH, IN, IN TERROR IN THE MIDST OF BOMBING. AND, UM, IT IS AN APPEAL THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEND UP TO ALL OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO WORK, TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO BRING THESE AMERICANS HOME. UM, ONE SUCH AMERICAN WHO IS IN OUR PRAYERS IS SUELA TARA. UM, AND SHE HAS US PASSPORT, 65 27, 33 9 26. SUELA IS THE DOCTOR AT THE ALI ARAB HOSPITAL, UM, WHO HAS BEEN COMPARED TO MOTHER THERESA FOR HER GOOD WORK IN THAT PART OF, UH, THE MIDDLE EAST. AND, UH, SHE IS TRAPPED INSIDE WITH HER FAMILY. AND WE ARE HOPING IN PARTICULAR, THAT SHE CAN BE BROUGHT HOME, UH, I BELIEVE, UM, AS SHE WALKS THE EARTH AS A SAINT AMONG US. AND ON THIS ALL SAINTS DAY, WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO'VE GONE BEFORE THAT, THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS TODAY, AND THOSE WHO WE WILL AWAIT IN GLORY. AMEN. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS PASS, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY C ALCOTT. WELL, HE TOOK MY POP OFF. IT WAS ABOUT THE PO PUMPKIN COMPOSTING PROGRAM. DROP OFF YOUR PUMPKINS AT THE REUSE CENTER NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 8TH, THEN WE'RE GONNA BE EXPANDING COMPOSTING EFFORTS. WE'RE GETTING SOME GRANT MONEY, I'M CONFIDENT. UM, SO MORE TO COME. AWESOME JOB COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN BATTLING A FIRE IN DISTRICT A AT LY AND HOLLISTER SINCE THIS WEEKEND. UM, AND THERE'S BEEN, UM, SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS FIRE AND JUST WANTED TO CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS. UM, WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO MY OFFICE ABOUT WHY HAVE THEY NOT PUT THIS FIRE OUT YET. AND, UM, SO THIS IS A WILD LAND URBAN INTERFACE FIRE THAT CAN'T BE PUT OUT JUST WITH WATER. UM, THEY DID PUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER ON IT, BUT THAT JUST KIND OF TAKES CARE OF THE TOP LAYER OF THE PILES. IT'S BASICALLY ACRES OF LAND, UM, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN TAKING DOWN TREES, UM, IN THE GREEN SPACE FOR DEVELOPMENT. AND SO, UM, SO THAT'S WHY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT YET PUT IT OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY HAVE CONTAINED IT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE FIRE, IT'S NOT GOING TO GO OUT WITH TRADITIONAL MEANS LIKE A REGULAR HOUSE FIRE, FOR EXAMPLE. UM, ALSO THERE HAVE BEEN MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WAS THIS, UH, PERMITTED. UM, AND THIS WAS NOT A PRE-PLANNED FIRE. THIS WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT WERE THEY JUST SETTING IT ON FIRE TO GET RID OF ALL OF THE TREES AND THE, UM, DEBRIS THERE. THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING PLANNED. IT WAS NOT PERMITTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE ORIGINS ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. SO WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP, THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY AGREED TO IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE LEFT, UM, HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF TREES ON THIS PROPERTY FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS JUST SITTING THERE IN A DROUGHT. I QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHAT DID WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN WITH ALL OF THOSE TREES SITTING THERE FOR ALL OF THESE MONTHS? AND DO EXPECT SOMEONE TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL, FOR ALL OF THE RESOURCES. AND, YOU KNOW, SMOKE HAS BEEN GETTING IN PEOPLE'S HOMES. THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RIGHT THERE. SO SOMEONE DEFINITELY DOES NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE INVESTIGATION AS TO HOW THIS ALL BEGAN. AND I DO WANNA THANK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE ALL WEEKEND CONTAINING THIS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON. THANK YOU. UM, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE, UM, ORDINANCES THAT WE PASSED, UM, EARLIER. UM, ITEM NUMBER 39, WELL, ACTUALLY 29 WAS A ORDINANCE WHERE WE ALLOCATED $751,000, UM, TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SPLASH PAD AND A PLAY CLIMBER AT THE HARBOR TAYLOR PARK. UM, THIS IS ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO HARBOR TAYLOR PARK ALREADY THIS YEAR, BUT THIS IS ADDITIONAL. SO I WANT TO THANK, UM, THE MAYOR FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST HIS COMMITMENT, CONTINUED COMMITMENT, UM, TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARKS, UM, HAVE EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED. UM, THE OTHER ITEM NUMBER 30, UM, IS A ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $600,000 OUT OF THE PARK SPECIAL FUND FOR CONSTRUCTION OF JENSEN PARK, WHICH IS A, UM, GONNA BE A NEW PARK IN DISTRICT B. SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT, UM, 27,648 SQUARE FOOT OF LAND. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS NEEDING MORE GREEN SPACE PLACES FOR OUR KIDS TO PLAY. UM, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND JUST MAKING SURE, UM, THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAVE [05:20:01] THE PARKS, HAVE THE SPACE THAT, THAT WE NEED, UM, TO THRIVE. UM, LASTLY, UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MS. SONYA RIVER RIVERA IN THE OFFICE, AND SHE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH, UM, THE PROJECT IN, UH, MESA GARDENS IN GREEN, UM, IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT. SO, JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST YOUR WORK ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. YOU THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ABEY CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, FEW QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. FIRST, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS AS ALWAYS. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. UM, AND, AND STAND BY WHAT YOU SAID. UH, THE, WE HAD, WE, UH, MAYOR PERAM, YOU DISCUSSED, UH, THE RIBBON CUTTING THAT'S GONNA BE TAKING PLACE AT MEMORIAL PARK FOR THE RUNNING COMPLEX, WHICH WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT. I DID WANNA ALSO SHOUT OUT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT. UM, WE HAD THE SECOND ANNUAL, UM, A PP, THE PROFESSIONAL PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT MEMORIAL PARK THIS PAST WEEKEND. UH, WE ARE SO EXCITED. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. HAVE TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT, NOT ONLY TO THE DIRECTOR, BUT TOM ANGELO, UM, AND OTHERS, UH, BUT ALSO OUR RESIDENTS. SO, UH, TERRY AND MICHAEL ARE TWO OF OUR, UH, DISTRICT C RESIDENTS WHO RUN THE LOCAL PICKLEBALL ORGANIZATIONS. AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT BROUGHT THIS TO US. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR IT AND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND ARE TRAVELING TO HOUSTON, UH, FOR THE TOURNAMENT. THAT'S ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR HOUSTON, FOR TOURISM, UM, AMONG OTHER THINGS. AND JUST SPOTLIGHTING OUR GREAT CITIES. SO THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THAT EVENT SUCH A SUCCESS. UH, WE ALSO HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP NOVEMBER 18TH, WE'LL BE OUR DISTRICT C ELECTRONIC RECYCLING DROP OFF. UM, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH, UH, SOLID WASTE AND IN THE HEIGHTS, UM, ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH. SO WE WANNA THANK THEM. UH, AGAIN, IT'S NOVEMBER 18TH, OUR ELECTRONIC RECYCLING DRIVE, UH, THAT WE'RE SPONSORING. UH, SO WE'LL BE HELPING GET THE WORD OUT, BUT ANYONE LISTENING, PLEASE ALSO HELP SHARE THAT OUT. UH, AND LASTLY, WE HAVE MORE SIDEWALKS COMING TO DISTRICT C, UM, ALONG AVONDALE WEST DALLAS AND BRAZE HEATHER. SO WE'VE RECEIVED OUR NOTICE TO PROCEEDS ON THOSE AND ARE EXCITED THAT, UH, MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTO. UH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR, UH, WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, UH, WITH THE TRANSITION OF MY MOTHER RECENTLY. UM, YOU ALL'S SUPPORT HAS DEFINITELY HELPED ME THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME. UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR COMING TO THE HOME, GOING CELEBRATION, UH, SEEING YOU THERE DEFINITELY GAVE ME STRENGTH. AND, UH, MY FAITH, AS I STATED BEFORE, HAS DEFINITELY BEEN STRENGTHENED AND, UM, KNOW THAT SHE'S IN A BETTER PLACE. BUT YOU ALL'S, UH, THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, CALLS, TEXTS, UH, HAVE GONE A LONG WAY. UH, CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND CHECK ON ME, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, FIRST I WANT, UH, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ALPHA MERIT EDUCATION FOUNDATION, UH, WITH THEIR FIRST ANNUAL COMMUNITY FALL FESTIVAL THAT WAS IN EMANCIPATION PARK THIS SUNDAY. I WANT TO THANK, UM, CERTAINLY MY CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO I THINK IS THE NUMBER ONE ALPHA. UM, BUT CERTAINLY THE ENTIRE GROUP OF WONDERFUL MEN DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR WHO ALSO IS AN ALPHA WHO CAME, UH, TO THE, UH, CELEBRATION. I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL. THEY WERE THERE IN FULL FORCE, UH, THE BRANCH SMITH BRANCH LIBRARY STAFF, AND CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT. AND THEN THE LISTERS, THEY HAD THEIR STEM PROGRAM THAT THEY, UH, WERE ENGAGING IN WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS FANTASTIC. ON MONDAY, THE HPD SOUTHEAST HAD A TRICK TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT, AND THAT WAS LED BY COMMANDER COLLINS, MICHAEL COLLINS, AND THE SOUTHEAST DIVISION. AND THE COMMUNITY ALWAYS HAS A GREAT TIME WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO COME AND DRIVE BY AND, AND, AND GET THE, THE TREATS. ALSO ON, UH, LAST NIGHT, THE SOUTH CENTRAL SPOOKTACULAR FEST WAS LED BY COMMANDER CAROL, LETTER JOHNSON, AND CERTAINLY, UM, THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE THERE, THAT'S ALWAYS A WONDERFUL EVENT AS WELL. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ANNOUNCE THAT ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER THE SECOND FROM SIX TO 7:30 PM AT THE ST. JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH, 34 0 7 BELFORT AVENUE, THERE WILL BE A SUNNYSIDE SOLAR FARM PROJECT COMMUNITY UPDATE MEETING. UH, THE [05:25:01] CITY OF HOUSTON AND PROJECT DEVELOPER WILL PRESENT THE ANIMAL WILDLIFE CONTROL PLAN AND UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. THERE'S A GREAT CONCERN AS TO WHERE THE WILDLIFE AND RODENTS ARE GOING TO GO, UH, WHEN THEY DISRUPT THEIR, UM, HABITAT AT THIS TIME. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL AS, AS THE, UH, THAT THEY DON'T MIGRATE TO THE HOMES IN THE AREA. UH, ALSO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO ANNOUNCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAREER WORKING WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH, UM, WHICH IS A FREE TRAINING, WHICH STARTS JANUARY THE 16TH. THERE WILL BE A WEEKLY STIPEND PAID AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE THAT WILL BE AT THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN CONTACT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR IS BERTINA CARTER. SO REACH OUT SO THAT YOU CAN ENGAGE AND BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THESE GREAT JOBS AND LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS THAT WILL BE OFFERED. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, UH, MY COMMENTS, I'LL RESERVE MY COMMENTS. I THINK I'VE SPOKE ENOUGH TODAY. SO I'LL HAVE, UH, I'LL RESERVE MY COMMENTS FROM NOVEMBER 8TH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, HIP HIP PARADE. MELVIN HOPKINS IS BACK, UH, . Y'ALL ALL KNOW HE'S BEEN OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YEP. UH, HE HAD, UH, KNEE SURGERY, BUT HE IS BACK. OUR EYES AND EARS IN THE DISTRICT BACK ON THE GROUND. SO WELCOME BACK, MELVIN HOPKINS. UM, ALSO WANT TO TELL EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR THE PARTICIPATION IN THE OPPOSING PINK YOGA EXPERIENCE. UM, IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE, UM, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MITZI HENDERSON OF NA, MITZI YOGA AND LINDSEY LEVINGSTON OF SURVIVE. HER, UM, WE CAN NEVER, UH, STOP ENCOURAGING AND AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE OF EARLY DETECTION. WE HAD A, A WONDERFUL TIME. UH, LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN SOON. UH, WANT TO LET THE RESIDENTS IN BRIARGATE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT NEW SIDEWALKS ARE ON THE WAY. UM, THEY HAVE ASKED FOR SIDEWALKS, A DA RAMPS. UM, SO ALONG CRUISE DRIVE, LOGAN ROCK ROAD TO RIDGE ROCK ROAD AND RIDGE ROCK ROAD TO VILLA REAL DRIVE, THERE'LL BE, UM, SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT I THINK RESIDENTS WILL BE PLEASED WITH. UH, WANT TO, UM, THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOR WORKING WITH US TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS. CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN DECEMBER THE FOURTH AND EXPECT IT TO BE COMPLETED, UM, BY THE END OF JANUARY OF 2024. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR SENIORS AND RESIDENTS THAT MAY HAVE SOME, UM, CHALLENGES. AND FINALLY, WANT TO THANK ANGELA RIME FOR HER ADVOCACY FOR, UH, THE FRIENDS OF MARION PARK. THE PARK IS GETTING A FACELIFT. I KNOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OUT THERE, POWER WASHING THE EQUIPMENT AND PAINTING THE EQUIPMENT. UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESIDENTS GETTING TO ENJOY, UM, IMPROVEMENTS, UM, HAPPENING OUT AT MARION PARK. AND, UM, IF YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING OUR DISTRICT A NEWSLETTER, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US AT THE DISTRICT A OFFICE. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON OUR DISTRIBUTION LIST SO YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUST ANOTHER REMINDER, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. UH, EARLY VOTING ENDS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER THE THIRD, AND ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE SEVENTH. GET YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT. UM, IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING, YOU CAN GO TO HARRIS VOTES.COM. AND IF YOU ARE IN FORT BEND COUNTY, YOU CAN GO TO FORT BEND VOTES.ORG. MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE HOLDING A FREE MICROCHIPPING AND SPAY AND NEUTER EVENT IN CLEAR LAKE ON SATURDAY. SO BRING YOUR DOGS, CATS, AND ANIMALS OVER THERE ON SATURDAY IN CLEAR LAKE AT THE RECYCLING CENTER. I BELIEVE I WILL CLARIFY. COUNCIL MEMBER ASHA JACKSON. OH, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS DISAPPEARED AND THEN YOU CAME BACK. SORRY. . THANK, THANK YOU. MAY APPROACH HIM F FIRST OF ALL, UH, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT, UH, YESTERDAY I JOINED COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX AND MAYOR PRO TEM AT HBD CADETS CLASS, UH, TWO 60. UH, I WANNA CONGRATULATE ALL THE, UH, MEN AND WOMEN THAT GRADUATED, UH, YESTERDAY AT THE CADET CLASS. UH, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, TO SERVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, ALSO I WANT TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO A PEN PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW FOR DI LOS MUTOS PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10:10 AM IN THE LEGACY ROOM. UH, THIS IS GONNA BE THE THIRD ANNUAL DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL AND PARADE, UH, IT'S A CELEBRATION OF, OF A PERSON'S LIFE. UH, IT'S A, IT'S BEEN A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION IN, IN, [05:30:01] IN SEVERAL, IT'S INCLUDING MEXICO AND SEVERAL OTHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, BUT NOT ALL LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. UH, AND IT GOES BACK ABOUT 3000 YEARS. UH, IT'S A, IT'S A MIXTURE OF INDIGENOUS RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION RITUALS ALONG WITH CATHOLICISM THAT WAS BROUGHT BY THE SPANISH CON. UM, AND AGAIN, THE, UH, FESTIVAL BE THIS SATURDAY AT SAM HOUSTON PARK. THE FESTIVAL STARTS AT TWO O'CLOCK. IT'S A LOT OF FUN. UH, PEOPLE ARE DRESSED, UH, IN THEIR KATRINA OUTFITS, UH, AND, AND, AND THEIR FACES ARE PAINTED. UH, AND EVERYBODY HAS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD TIME. AND IT'S GONNA, THEN THE EVENING PARADE STARTS AT SIX 30, UH, THERE AT SAM HOUSTON PARK IN BAGBY STREET, UH, TO BRING THE FAMILY. UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THEY REALLY WOULD ENJOY. AND AGAIN, THE NEWS CONFERENCE, OR THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS TOMORROW, UH, FOR DI LOS MUTOS, UH, AT 10:00 AM IN THE LEGACY ROOM. AND I TOO WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, UH, ELECTION EARLY VOTING CONTINUES TILL FRIDAY. UH, AND ELECTION DAY IS ON TUESDAY. AND YOU CAN VOTE AT ANY VOTING LOCATION ON TUESDAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON. THANK YOU. UM, I FORGOT TO, UM, ANNOUNCE, UM, RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN, THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, SOME RACIAL INCIDENTS IN PLEASANTVILLE, PLEASANTVILLE, UM, THAT ARE VERY CONCERNING. AND SO ON SATURDAY WE'LL BE HAVING A PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING, UM, WITH HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA COME OUT AND TALK TO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND, AND ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO BASICALLY BRIDGE THIS GAP, UM, THIS RACIAL GAP. BUT THEN ALSO, UM, OUTLINE WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND THE CONCERNS WITHIN THE RESIDENCE. SO, UM, THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT 11:00 AM AT JUSTIN ROBINSON, UM, SENIOR CENT CENTER AT 1422, UM, LED WICK STREET. UM, SO IF YOU INTERESTED AND WANT MORE, WANT MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. THANKS. THANK YOU. AND, UH, THE SPAY AND NEUTERING EVENT IN MICROCHIP IN CLEAR LAKE IS AT ELLINGTON RECYCLE CENTER FROM 8:00 AM TO 10:00 AM 8:00 AM TO 10:00 AM WE HAVE 150 FREE MICROCHIPS AND 75 FREE SURGERY APPOINTMENTS WHILE AVAILABLE. SO, UH, GET IN LINE AND GET READY. NO OTHER COMMENTS. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. AND EVERYONE HAVE A WHOLLY ALL SAINTS STAY. * 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.