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HEY, IT'S, UM, 1 35 ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 14TH, 2023.I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
[PRESENTATIONS]
RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, OR A PROCLAMATION TO THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, THE HISTORIC LULAC COUNCIL 60 TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY'S.COUNCIL MEMBERS, TODAY'S BITTERSWEET FOR ME.
UH, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE, UH, 60TH ANNIVERSARY WHEN JOHN F PRESIDENT, JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND BACK WHEN IT WAS, WE WERE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
I HAD GONE TO THE, UH, TO THE RICE HOTEL WHERE THEY WERE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND WHEN I WENT THERE, I WAS AS A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL.
SO I WAS IN THE RUNOFF, UM, NOVEMBER 21, UH, YOU KNOW, OF NINE OF, UH, 2013.
AND HERE I AM TODAY, 10 YEARS LATER, PRESENTING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY PROCLAMATION, JUST, UH, A MONTH AND TWO WEEKS, I GUESS, BEFORE WE LEAVE OFFICE.
SO IT, IT'S BITTERSWEET TO BE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, TO LULAC COUNCIL 60, WHICH I AM A MEMBER OF AS WELL.
UM, WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 1963, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY MADE A HISTORIC APPEARANCE AT THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS COUNCIL 60 GALA IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AN EVENT OF LASTING SIGNIFICANCE.
THIS PRESIDENTIAL VISIT IS VIEWED BY MANY HISTORIANS AS THE CATALYST FOR LATINO POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT IN OUR NATION.
AND WHEREAS THE PRESIDENT WAS ONLY TENTATIVELY EXPECTED TO STOP BY BRIEFLY, BOTH HE AND HIS WIFE, FIRST LADY JACQUELINE KENNEDY, ADDRESSED A GUESS.
EVERYONE LISTENED IN AWE AS FIRST LADY.
KENNEDY GAVE HER REMARKS IN SPANISH AND CAPTIVATED AN AUDIENCE OF MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHT ACTIVISTS TO IGNITE A JUBILANT RESPONSE.
AND WHEREAS THE VISIT HAD AN EVERLASTING IMPACT WITH HISTORIANS VIEWING THE EVENT AS THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LATINOS AS A VOTING BLOCK, IT WAS A FINAL GIFT TO THE NATION HE SERVED AS THE HISTORIC MEETING TOOK PLACE, ONLY HOURS BEFORE PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S DEATH.
AND WHEREAS IN COMMEMORATION OF THIS HISTORICAL OCCASION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS VISIT.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES ITS PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE TO LULAC COUNCIL 60 AND TO THE NATION.
THE KENNEDY'S APPEARANCE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORY.
SO THEREFORE, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023 AS THE HISTORIC LULAC COUNCIL 60 LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I'M A 37 YEAR MEMBER OF ULA COUNCIL 60.
I'M CONSIDERED THE OLDEST TENURED MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, SO OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS THE DEAN OF COUNCIL 60.
I WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD WHEN PRESIDENT KENNEDY PASSED AWAY, BUT I WAS FORTUNATE TO CHAIR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF J K'S VISIT HERE AND COMMEMORATE THAT EVENT HERE AT THE RICE HOTEL ON THAT EXACT DAY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST.
UM, I STILL RECALL SOME OF THE STORIES THAT THAT OLDER MEMBERS HAVE TOLD ME, THE SENIOR MEMBERS WHO
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HAVE NOW PASSED ON, BUT THEY TOLD ME THE STORY ABOUT HOW THEY GOT THE PRESIDENT IN HERE, AND IT WAS JUST GREAT LISTENING TO THEM.I WAS IN ALL EARS LISTENING TO THEIR STORIES.
BUT, UH, I ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR, AND IT WAS INDEED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, AN EXPERIENCE PUTTING THAT 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER.
UH, WE'VE LOST A LOT OF MEMBERS SINCE THEN, BUT, UH, THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID AND PUT IN THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
AND, UM, WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO COME TO VISIT LULAC COUNCIL 60.
BASICALLY, WE RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST, UH, PRESIDENTIAL VISIT VIA SITTING PRESIDENT TO A LATIN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS.
SO WE'RE TRULY PROUD OF, OF THAT HONOR AND DISTINCTION.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL AND I, UH, ACCEPTANCE ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL 60.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ADDRESS.
UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
THIS IS TRULY AWESOME IN THE WAY THAT THIS IS THE 60TH FOR 60, UH, IN, UH, LAS LAS AMERICAS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THIS IS A REAL CAPSTONE FOR YOUR CAREER.
UH, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL YOU, THIS MAY BE THE LAST TIME THAT I GET TO ADDRESS YOU AT THE, AT THE PODIUM.
CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER DAY, MAYOR TO DO THIS.
AND I'M APPRECIATING, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.
WE'RE CELEBRATING A, A SON OF MASSACHUSETTS LIKE JOHN F. KENNEDY, WHERE I WAS BORN, LET ME SAY.
AND, UH, AS MUCH AS THE KENNEDYS HAVE MEANT TO THE GREAT STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS AND OUR COUNTRY, IT IS MEANT SO MUCH TO THIS LULAC CHAPTER, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ABSOLUTELY CENTRAL TO, UH, THE POLITICAL CULTURE OF OUR CITY AND THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR CITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS IMPORTANT DAY.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROTE, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
THIS IS REALLY EXCITING FOR LULAC 60.
AND I SEE MY FRIEND ALISON BELL BACK THERE FROM THE HERITAGE SOCIETY, IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THERE, THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL EXHIBIT GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO COMMEMORATE THIS 60TH ANNIVERSARY.
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING FROM SOME OF THE CHILDREN WHO DANCED AT THE, AT THE EVENT, THEIR DRESSES TO THE, THE KENNEDY SCHEDULE FOR THAT ENTIRE DAY.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS THE NEXT DAY.
UM, AND, AND TO, THEY HAVE ON A, ON A AUTHENTIC MID-CENTURY TV, UM, MRS. KENNEDY GIVING THAT SPEECH IN JUST FLAWLESS SPANISH, WHICH I THINK JUST, JUST WAS A BIG SURPRISE AND BIG, UM, MEANT SO MUCH TO EVERYONE.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, THE FIRST TIME A PRESIDENT HAD GREETED A LA A LATIN AMERICAN GROUP, SO IT HAD SUCH SIGNIFICANCE, SUCH SADNESS THAT THE NEXT DAY, WHAT HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY, BUT EVEN PUTS, IT, PUTS A HIGHLIGHT ON IT EVEN MORE.
THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE LAST ACTS HE DID AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO, UM, I REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GET OVER TO THE EXHIBIT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE HAVING A THING ON, UM, ON TUESDAY EVENING, UM, THERE TOO.
BUT THE EXHIBIT IS REALLY FASCINATING.
THEY HAVE A COLLECTED A LOT OF THINGS FROM THAT SPECIFIC DATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT WHO WERE THERE AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, JUST EVERYTHING YOU'D WANNA SEE.
IT'S, IT'S FASCINATING AND IT'S A GREAT EXHIBIT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
YOU WANNA HAVE THE LAST WORD HERE? TH THANK YOU.
THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR MENTIONING THAT.
YES, I WANT TO THANK THANK ALICE ALLISON BELL AND THE HERITAGE SOCIETY FOR HAVING THE EXHIBIT AT AT, AT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN STATED, I INVITE EVERYONE TO PLEASE GO TO THE HERITAGE SOCIETY TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL EXHIBIT.
UH, AND I ALSO, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR TURNER ONE MORE TIME, UH, IN REGARDS TO, UH, PLACING THE, UH, HISTORIC CLUBHOUSE, THE CLUBHOUSE 60, WHICH IS IN MIDTOWN, IN, IN, INTO A TOUR.
SO THAT WAY, HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, UH, THERE WILL BE SOME MORE REVENUE, UH, TO BE USED FOR THE UPKEEP OF, OF THE BUILDING, UH, AFTER, AFTER THESE YEARS.
IT HAS GONE INTO SOMEWHAT DISREPAIR, BUT IT'S, UH, BEING RENOVATED AS WE SPEAK.
UH, AND I WANNA THANK MAYOR TURNER AGAIN FOR PLACING, UH, THE, THE OLD CLUBHOUSE 60 INTO THE TOURS.
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UH, AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER, UH, WAY OF, UH, GETTING SOME REVENUE IN THE FUTURE.THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
TO CELEBRATE, IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER CAMP VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, INVITING US TO THE PODIUM.
UH, TODAY IS IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER, 2023.
SO, COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS PROCLAMATION AS I PRESENT IT TO OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MS. CAROL HADDOCK, UH, TO YOUR STAFF THAT'S HERE, TO ANYONE THAT MIGHT BE ONLINE WITH MAYOR TURNER.
LET ME READ FROM THAT PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS THE CITY CELEBRATES THE NINTH ANNUAL US WATER ALLIANCE, IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER, A NATIONAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT BRINGS TOGETHER DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS TO HIGHLIGHT HOW WATER IS ESSENTIAL, INVALUABLE, AND IN NEED OF INVESTMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S WATER SYSTEM SPANS FOUR COUNTY AREAS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX WATER SYSTEMS IN THE NATION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY COVERS A 670 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING AND MAINTAINING OVER 7,000 MILES OF DRINKING WATER PIPELINES, 6,100 MILES OF SEWER PIPELINES, 3,900 MILES OF STORM WATER DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES 170 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR.
AND WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS CURRENTLY EMPLOYS OVER 4,000 DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS, INCLUDING DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS, FACILITY OPERATORS, AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
AND WHEREAS CITY RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSERVE WATER ON AN ONGOING BASIS BY REDUCING OUTDOOR IRRIGATION, REPAIRING INDOOR AND OUTDOOR WATER LEAKS, AND INSTALLING WATER EFFICIENT PRODUCTS, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON INVITES HOUSTONIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S LOCAL, IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER EVENTS SUCH AS THE WALK FOR WATER, THE FALL RAIN BARREL SALE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO AND VIDEO CONTEST.
SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 19TH, 2023, AS IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER, 2023 IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, A NATIONWIDE DAY TO COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF WATER.
CONGRATS NATION CAROL, AND TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME AWARDS TODAY AND WE DO HAVE A FEW AWARDS TO GIVE OUT.
LET'S LET THE DIRECTOR SPEAK TO THAT.
SO, UH, SINCE 2019, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE US WATER ALLIANCE TO JOIN WATER UTILITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO CELEBRATE IMAGINE DAY WITHOUT WATER.
IT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE VALUE OF WATER AND HELPS PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT LIFE WOULD BE WITHOUT IT.
UH, THIS YEAR WE ACTUALLY CELEBRATED BY HOSTING A PHOTO AND VIDEO CONTEST VIA INSTAGRAM.
THE CONTEST WAS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND WE ASKED PARTICIPANTS TO SUBMIT PHOTOS AND VIDEOS HIGHLIGHTING WATER'S BEAUTY IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.
UH, THEY ENGAGED A WIDE VARIETY OF PARTICIPANTS, YOUNG ADULTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, ARTISTS, WATER ENTHUSIASTS, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT ART POSSESSES THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER TO ENGAGE PEOPLE ON CRI CRITICAL ISSUES IN A WAY THAT TRANSCENDS TRADITIONAL COMMUNICATION METHOD METHODS.
AND, YOU KNOW, FROM AN ENGINEER, THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, SAYING A LOT.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT WE CAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE ALL DAY LONG, BUT THE, THE ART REALLY BRINGS IT TO LIFE.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, BY HARNESSING THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF ART, WE AS ASPIRE TO INSPIRE HOUSTONIANS TO BECOME ADVOCATES FOR RESPONSIBLE WATER
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MANAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP.UH, THE WINNERS WERE SELECTED BY A PANEL OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS STAFF WHO SCORED THE ENTRIES BASED ON THEIR ORIGINALITY, EFFORT, AND ALIGNMENT WITH A THEME.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP OUR WINNERS, UM, AND WE'RE GONNA CALL 'EM ALL UP SO THAT WE CAN THEN TAKE PICTURES.
BUT WE DO HAVE OUR, OUR, UM, AND MAYOR, I'LL ASK IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING OUT THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, CERTIFICATES AND I WILL CALL THEM ALL UP IN ORDER, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE PICTURES HERE AT THE END.
SO WE DO HAVE MEMBERS FROM BOTH THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY CATEGORY.
WOULD ALL THE STUDENTS COME FORWARD? IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE.
SO THIRD PLACE IS AWARDED TO FAISAL ED FOR HIS VIDEO DEPICTING THE LIFECYCLE OF A FROG, STARTING AS A TADPOLE IN THE WATER'S.
SECOND PLACE IS AWARDED TO LUIS.
CONGRATULATIONS, PENYA FOR, UH, VIDEO SHOWING ALL THE WAYS WATER IS USED IN OUR DAILY LIVES, STARTING WITH THE MO THE MOMENT WE WAKE UP.
LUIS, UM, FIRST PLACE IS AWARDED TO ALYSSA DAVIS FOR HER STYLIZED VIDEO FEATURING MEMORABLE MOMENTS WITH THE NATURAL WATER FEATURES.
HERE COMES ALYSSA AND I WILL SAY EACH OF THESE ACTUALLY INCLUDES A MONETARY, UM, PRIZE AS PART OF THE, UH, THE AWARDS FOR THIS.
SO FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, THIRD PLACE IS AWARDED TO ERICA DOMAS.
HERE'S ERICA FOR HER SCENIC PHOTOGRAPH FEATURING THE NATURAL WATERWAYS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SECOND PLACE IS AWARDED TO AMY ROLLINSON FOR HER PHOTOGRAPH OF A FOOTBALL PLAYER QUENCHING THEIR THIRST WITH WATER.
AND FIRST PLACE IS AWARDED TO SHELBY JOHNSTON FOR HER PHOTOGRAPH OF RAINWATER REFLECTING OFF THE CONCRETE UNDER A DOG'S FEET.
UM, SHE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY DUE TO HER WORK SCHEDULE, BUT SHE WILL DEFINITELY BE RECEIVING HER CERTIFICATE.
SO MAYOR, THAT'S ALL, THAT'S FIVE OF OUR SIX AWARD WINNERS.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, EVERYONE, AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS.
WE, WE DO HAVE A COMMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CIS BEFORE, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.
UM, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU, CAROL, ON THIS INITIATIVE, AND, AND I LOVED WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HARNESSING THE POWER OF ART TO, TO REACH PEOPLE, TO COMMUNICATE WITH, WITH PEOPLE, AND TO, TO SHARE IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND, AND BRINGING THESE ARTISTS IN TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
THAT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT THAT, THAT TOTALLY WORKS, REACHING PEOPLE ON, ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF LEVEL BESIDES WORDS.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS TODAY.
I DO WANT TO, TO SHARE, UH, FOR YOUR FUTURE YEARS THIS YEAR, THE AWARD PRI THE AWARDS RANGED IN PRICE FROM A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARD TO A $500 GIFT CARD FOR FIRST PRICE.
SO THERE'S, UM, SO NOT, NOT ONLY IS ART THE, THE, THE WONDERFUL THING, BUT, UH, THERE IS A INCENTIVE FOR, UH, PARTICIPATION NEXT YEAR.
SO WATCH OUT FOR US A YEAR FROM NOW AND, UH, BE SURE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND COME JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO LASHANDA ANTOINETTE SHANI MURRELL HARRIS TO CELEBRATE HER DEDICATION TO MUSIC EDUCATION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR LASHONDA, UH, SHAWNEE MORELL HARRIS TO COME FORWARD.
HOW ABOUT THAT? ALL RIGHT, THAT'S NOT IN HERE, BUT I'M JUST, THAT'S A LITTLE SIDEBAR AND RAISED IN HOUSTON.
SHE IS A TALENTED MUSICIAN AND PERFORMER.
FROM THE EARLY AGE OF THREE, SHE DISPLAYED A PASSION FOR MUSIC, SINGING, AND PLAYING INSTRUMENTS.
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AFTER GRADUATING FROM SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, SHAWNEE OBTAINED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT FROM GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY.HER TIME AT GRAMBLING STATE ALLOWED HER TO SHOWCASE HER SHOWMANSHIP ON PERCUSSION AS A MEMBER OF THE RENOWNED GRAMBLING STATE WORLD FAME TIGER MARCHING BAND, IN WHICH SHE IS THE FIRST FEMALE QUAD QUINETTE PLAYER.
AND WITHIN THE BAND, SHAWNEE HELD THE HIGHEST RANKED POSITION OF MASTER DRILL SERGEANT AND GAINED RECOGNITION THROUGH HER APPEARANCE ON THE HIT BET SHOW SEASON OF THE TIGER.
SHE APPEARED ON 106 AND PARK BET AWARDS AND TELEVISION SHOWS.
SHAWNEE'S TALENTS HAVE TAKEN HER TO VARIOUS CORNERS OF THE GLOBE, AND SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING OVER 12 MUSIC PROGRAMS. THROUGH HER PARTNERSHIP WITH MICROSOFT, WITHIN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, SHE ACTIVELY SUPPORTS STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND ORGANIZING COMMUNITY EVENTS.
SHAWNEE CONTINUES TO MAKE HER MARK IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY THRILLING AUDIENCES WITH HER DYNAMIC PERFORMANCES CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF MUSIC EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS AND COMMENDS, LASHONDA AND TRINETTE, SHAWNA MORELL HARRIS FOR HER SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
SO THEREFORE, I, THE BESTA TURNER MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023 AS SHONDA AND TRINETTE AND TRINETTE HAW RELL HARRIS DAY
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR NOW YOU COULD SING IF YOU'RE LYING.
OH, LOOK, I,
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS, THIS HONOR.
AND MAYOR HINES, I SEE YOU SUNNYSIDE.
I EVEN HAVE MY STUDENTS HERE FROM HISD, FROM WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, AND TO MY PARENTS, ALL THREE OF THEM.
SO GOD THAT HE SAW FIT TO BLESS ME WITH THREE PARENTS.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE MY PARENTS FOR INSTILLING EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE INSTILLED IN, IN ME.
UM, MY FATHER, YES, THE MAYOR, UH, MAYOR HARRIS, JAMES HARRIS.
HE IS ALSO THE FORMER CHIEF POLICE IN JONESBORO, LOUISIANA FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW.
UM, MY DAD, FREDERICK COATS, HE IS OVER ALL OF SECURITY AND SAFETY AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND MY MOM, SHE'S AN ENTREPRENEUR, UH, SHE'S A COSMETOLOGIST AND NOW I'M A COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTOR.
SO I GET MY ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FROM MY MOM.
SO THEY INSTILLED IN ME SO MANY THINGS.
AND I LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF THE WORLD FAME TIGER MARCHING BAND, IN WHICH MY LITTLE BROTHER IS THERE NOW AS A FRESHMAN IN THE BAND.
SO IT'S HIS TIME TO SHINE, YOU KNOW,
SO, UM, AND WORKING WITHIN HISD STILL TODAY, UM, EVEN WHEN I'M TOURING, I'M STILL WORKING, UH, WITH HISD, UH, WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AS WELL AS I JUST MET YOU AT THE, UH, SUNRISE CENTER, UH, WITH THE WEST ORANGE, UH, YMCA.
SO, UM, I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR MY STUDENTS AND I ALSO INSTILL IN THEM THAT THEY CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST STRENGTH.
SO, THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
WHY DON'T YOU GET THE OH, OH, I'M SORRY.
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WE THANK HER, UH, FOR WHAT SHE'S DOING.SHE NAMED TWO, UH, BELOVED INSTITUTIONS IN DISTRICT D WORTHY, THE PRIDE OF SUNNYSIDE AND CERTAINLY THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND SO I'M VERY, VERY HONORED AND PRIVILEGED AND CERTAINLY TO HAVE THE MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE TO JOIN US IS ALSO A PLEASURE AS WELL AS HER FAMILY WHERE SHE HAS A MAYOR IN HER FAMILY TOO.
BUT CERTAINLY I THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO SUPPORT HER AND YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD SHE DIDN'T SEEM, YOU KNOW, I THINK I CAN CARRY A TUNE AND I'M NOT TRYING TO COMPARE MYSELF TO, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER PRO COUNCIL MEMBER PERSON THANK YOU, UH, FROM BET.
SO I'M GONNA SPARE Y'ALL MY, MY TUNE.
BUT IF THE SPIRIT HITS YOU, LET IT DONE.
ALRIGHT,
ANYWAY, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR.
UH, UH, SECRETARY, OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION FOR TODAY.
UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED.
AND RECOGNITION OF THEIR ONGOING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND COLLEAGUES, UH, THE HOUSTON, TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS IS NO STRANGER TO CIVIC WORK IN THE CITY.
AND TO MANY OF YOU, THEY'RE NO STRANGERS TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
I AM JOINED TODAY WITH, UH, THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT, LORRAINE WINSLOW.
UM, AND SO WHEN THE CITY HAS CALLED UPON, UH, MANY ORGANIZATIONS, BUT PARTICULARLY THE HOUSTON, TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS, WHEN IT WAS A COVID RESPONSE, WE WERE THERE, UH, WHEN IT WAS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, SCHOLARSHIPS, MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY, YOU NAME IT, OUR FINGERPRINTS HAVE BEEN ON IT.
AND TODAY WE'RE GONNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
UM, THE EFFORTS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR TURNER HAS SPEARHEADED, UM, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT ALSO NATIONALLY, UH, WHEREAS THE LINKS INCORPORATED IS AN INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT CORPORATION ESTABLISHED IN 1946.
AND WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 77TH YEAR, UH, NATIONALLY.
AND, UM, WE'RE UNDER THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF ETHEL ISAAC WILLIAMS. THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED WAS ORGANIZED IN 1951 BY DR.
THELMA PATTON LAW, WHO INVITED 13 OTHER CIVIC CONSCIOUS FRIENDS, THELMA BELL, VERA CODWELL, ADELAIDE FORD, JIMMY P GRAY, GOLDIE HORS RA, HOWARD GARRETT LANIER, LYNETTE PEACOCK, ANN ROBINSON, MARTHA DAVID ROBINSON, ALAMEDA STEWART, DORIS WESLEY, AND ANNE WRIGHT TO COMPRISE THE CHARTER MEMBERSHIP.
AND WHEREAS FOR THE PAST 72 YEARS, THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED HAS WORKED TO ENHANCE, PROMOTE, AND ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL,
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CIVIC, AND THE INTERCULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.IT HAS MADE GENEROUS DONATIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE RIVERSIDE GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE YWCA, THE Y-M-C-A-N-A-A-C-P, THE URBAN LEAGUE, THE UNITED FRONT, THE MARCH OF DIMES, ELIZA JOHNSON CENTER FOR THE AGING, TSU SICKLE CELL DISEASE, UH, THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION CENTER, THE JULIUS C HESTER HOUSE, AND MORE TO COME.
WHEREAS THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED IS COMMITTED TO LEADING THE WAY TO ENSURE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL BY HOSTING ANNUAL WORK WORKSHOPS AND RECEPTIONS FOR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARS AT PROVIDING MENTORSHIP TO STUDENTS PURSUING DEGREES AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THROUGH ITS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.
THE CHAPTER HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $750,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS AND APPRECIATES THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED FOR ITS COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE.
THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE LINKS AND ONGOING EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCACY, ELIMINATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO AND THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND UNWAVERING AID TO THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, MR. MAYOR.
SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023 AS THE LINKS INCORPORATED THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND AS YOU LISTEN TO OUR CHAPTER, MEMBER COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS SHARE ABOUT THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER LINKS AND THE LINKS INCORPORATED, WE ARE HERE FOCUSING TODAY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
BUT FOR THE LINKS INCORPORATED, WE HAVE FIVE TENANTS THAT WE FUNCTION UNDER HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, NATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICES, INTERNATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICES, THE ARTS AND SERVICES TO YOUTH.
AND WE HAVE ENCOMPASSED HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE ERADICATION OF, AND EDUCATION ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNDER ALL FIVE OF OUR TENANTS.
OUR CHAPTER IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HAVING A FOOTPRINT AND, AND HAVING AN IMPACT AND SAVING THE LIVES THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE GOTTEN CAUGHT IN SUCH AN UGLY STAGE IN LIFE THAT'S CALLED HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
WE ARE SO EXCITED THAT YOU RECOGNIZE US TODAY THAT YOU SEE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION HERE, AND WE THANK MAYOR TURNER.
HE HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED US, WHETHER AS, AS COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS SAID, WHETHER IT WAS COVID-19, THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT MAYOR TURNER.
HE WAS THE MAYOR AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
HE WAS HERE FOR HURRICANE HARVEY.
HE WAS HERE THROUGH COVID-19, HE WAS HERE FOR THE WINTER STORM.
THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED GREAT FEATS HAD WE NOT HAD A MAYOR LIKE MAYOR TURNER.
SO WE WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS SHOWN US.
AND WE WERE HERE NOVEMBER 27TH, 2018, WHERE YOU RECOGNIZED US FOR OUR EFFORTS AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND SO WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE SINCE THAT TIME, THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER LINKS, WE HAVE WON NATIONAL AWARDS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS WELL AS AREA AWARDS.
WE HAVE SET THE STANDARD FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE LINKS INCORPORATED, WHERE THERE ARE 300 CHAPTERS AND 17,000 WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HERE TODAY WITHOUT, AND I'M GONNA ASK MY CHAPTER MEMBERS TO COME UP.
AND THEN WE'LL TURN AROUND AND, AND HAVE A PICTURE WITH EVERYONE.
HONEST TO MAYOR SVETA TURNER HOUSTON, TEXAS CHAPTER OF LINKS INCORPORATED.
YOU ARE OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHAMPION.
SO WE ARE GIVING YOU A HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHAMPION CHAMPION AWARD TODAY.
AND, UH, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE, JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UM, IS A VERY HARD TOPIC.
AND, AND MAYOR TURNER REALLY LEVERAGED HIS POSITION,
[00:35:01]
UM, NOT ONLY TO RAISE THIS ISSUE IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO NATIONALLY WITH HIS WORK WITH THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, OTHER CITIES STARTED TO ADOPT THIS AS A PRIORITY BECAUSE OF HIS WORK.UM, SO THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHAPTER, UM, RIGHT ALONGSIDE WITH YOUR VISION SAID THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO.
UM, SO I WANNA SAY MAYBE FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, UH, WE MADE THE TURN TO INCORPORATE THIS IN OUR WORK.
SO WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UM, NOT JUST TO THE HOUSTON CHAPTER, BUT TO LINKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, OUR MAYOR, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM IS A MEMBER OF THE MISSOURI, UH, CITY TEXAS CHAPTER.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER IS A MEMBER OF THE FORT BEND, TEXAS CHAPTER.
UH, AND MARY BENTON IS A MEMBER OF THE GULF COAST APOLLO CHAPTER.
SO LINKS ARE ALL THROUGHOUT THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CITY, AND I'M SURE THERE'S A COLLECTIVE, UM, UH, THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US TO YOU.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME JUST, UM, UH, SAY TO COUNCILMAN TIFFANY THOMAS, THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON, UH, TEXAS LINK CHAPTER.
UM, AND IT HAS BEEN A TOTAL EFFORT.
OKAY? I CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT TO MEN MENO PATEL DAVIS, WHO LEADS THE EFFORT FOR THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION AND THEN TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
'CAUSE IT HAS BEEN A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.
UM, BUT YOUR WORK HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THE CITY DOES WITHOUT PARTNERS LIKE THE LINKS, WE SIMPLY WOULDN'T BE MAKING THE, UM, GAINS HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT WE, THAT WE ARE MAKING.
AND WE ARE NOT DONE UNTIL THERE'S ZERO PERSON RIGHT.
ENGAGED IN THIS UGLY, UH, THEME CALLED HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
SO, UM, THE PROCLAMATION WAS BEING PRESENTED TO THE LINKS
SO, SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND SO FOR PHOTO INSTRUCTIONS, UH, WE, WE CAN TAKE IT, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ARE WE DOING THE QUEUE? QUEUE? THANK THANK YOU.
BECAUSE I WAS ABOUT TO GET READY, BUT I WAS WORKING, YOU KNOW, SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UM, WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME THAT GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE.
AND THE LINKS, BY FAR IS ONE OF THE MOST VALUE ADDED PARTNERS THAT WE CAN HAVE IN THE CITY.
UM, IT IS EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE DEDICATED SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR GREAT CITY.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABBAT.
THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, I'M GONNA START OUT WITH WHO RUNS THE WORLD.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU, YOU ALL ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AND YOU WEAR SO MANY HATS.
CERTAINLY I SEE OUR REGION OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STEPHANIE NELLY'S PAGE, UH, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
AND JUST SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE DIVINE NINE.
I SEE MY FORMER BALUT SHERI'S STORY OF THE ALPHA KAPPA OMEGA CHAPTER OF THE AKAS.
AND CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE ALL OF WHAT WE DO BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK.
OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE STELLAR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, FOR ALWAYS BRINGING FORTH THOSE THAT ARE WELL DESERVING OF THESE ACCOLADES.
AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IT'S ALWAYS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE OUR SISTERS IN THE ROOM.
UM, YOU KNOW, SEX TRAFFICKING IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS VERY QUIETLY AND, UM, IN VERY PRIVATE SPACES.
AND YOU'RE, YOU ALLOWING, YOU AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE THAT THE CITY HAS NOT ONLY, UM, GUIDED, BUT YOU AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE AND BRING IT TO COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN'T TOUCH.
IS REALLY, IS REALLY, UM, APPRECIATED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD DO IT BY OURSELVES.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOU CHOOSING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANNA FOCUS ON, UH, TO ELIMINATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND NATIONWIDE.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN GIVE THE INSTRUCTIONS NOW, NOW CAN, CAN I INSTRUC? OKAY.
SO CAN WE GO INSIDE THE HORSESHOE, GET, CAN WE GET THEM FROM HERE AND THEN, UM, AND WE CAN GET IT FROM HERE.
AND THEN, UM, AFTER OUR CHAPTER PHOTO, I WOULD LIKE THE VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER TO JOIN US FOR AND IF MARY BENTON'S IN THE ROOM AS WELL.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:42:25]
ALL RIGHT.LET'S PROCEED FOR THE SECOND, UH, HALF OF THE MEETING.
NOW THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN CHABA FOR THE INVOCATION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK PASTOR NALEN SAMUEL TO COME FORWARD.
HE IS A NATIVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS OF ST.
UH, RIGHT ABOUT NOW, AS A TEENAGER, HE MIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK BECAME HIS HOME.
HE IS A GRADUATE OF ATLANTIC UNION COLLEGE AND ANDREWS UNIVERSITY, AND HE HAS SERVED AS THE PASTOR WITH THE GREATER NEW YORK CONFERENCE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, AND HAS BEEN PRIVILEGED TO PASTOR CHURCHES IN BRONX AND LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.
IN MARCH OF 2021, PASTOR SAMUEL ACCEPTED A CALL TO THE SOUTHWEST REGION CONFERENCE TO PASTOR THE WORLD HARVEST, SDA CHURCH, THE WHO HE SHARES HIS LIFE IN MINISTRY WITH HIS WIFE FOR 20 YEARS.
RHONDA AND THEIR TWO SONS, ZACHARY AND JEREMY AND HIS GREATEST JOY IS FOUND IN HELPING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE A LIFE-CHANGING ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HIM, UH, AT A JOB FAIR WHERE HE WAS SO VERY ENGAGED, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE IN NEED OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND SO, CERTAINLY I THANK YOU PASTOR PUBLICLY, AND PLEASE, UH, LIFT US UP IN PRAYER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOR, UH, TO BE ABLE TO INVOKE THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE.
ETERNAL GOD AND SOVEREIGN OF ALL CREATION, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TODAY TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THIS GREAT CITY.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE ALL POWERFUL GOD.
WE ASK IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY THAT TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AS THEY CONDUCT THE BUSINESS AND THE ORDER OF THE DAY.
WE PRAY, GOD, THAT YOUR GRACE, YOUR WISDOM, YOUR UNDERSTANDING, YOUR LOVE, YOUR COMPASSION WILL BE THEIRS.
AND WE PRAY NOT ONLY FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, FATHER, BUT WE PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY, UH, BE WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN VARIOUS PLACES AND IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS OF LIFE.
SO GOD, THAT THE BUSINESS AND OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN HERE TODAY WOULD BRING INTO THEIR LIVES JOY AND PEACE AND HAPPINESS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
AGAIN, WE ASK THAT YOU'LL BE IN THIS PLACE.
MAY YOU BE GLORIFIED, AND MAY YOUR NAME BE MAGNIFIED.
[00:45:01]
AMEN.I PLEDGE JESUS FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
SECRETARY, IF YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER.CONSTABLE MARTIN WILL BE ABSENT.
CONSTABLE HUFFMAN WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCILMAN KNOX WILL BE ASKING CONSTABLE ROBINSON.
WE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES.
AND SECOND TO DELAY THE MINUTES DISCUSSION.
ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE GRANTED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR PROCEDURE MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE LORRAINE TIMORE AND LAURA GOMEZ TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN GALLOS.
I WANNA SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE FRANCISCO RO UH, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST TWO NAMES THAT WERE MENTIONED ON THE SECOND.
ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER SHA SHABAZZ.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD THE MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, SANDRA MASSEY HINES TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
MOTION IS GRANTED UNDER ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PROCEED TO CALL THE SPEAKER'S LIST.AND IF YOU GET BEHIND ONE OF THOSE MICS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SARAH MONTGOMERY AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO STAND ALONGSIDE THE TENANTS LIVING AT REDFORD AND COBBLE SAN LUCAS APARTMENTS IN THEIR FIGHT FOR SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW TISHA, A BRILLIANT ORGANIZER AND LOVING GRANDMOTHER WHO KNOWS PRECISELY HOW TO CARE FOR HER GRANDCHILD WHENEVER HE FEELS ILL.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF ORGANIZING WITH JOHNNY, A FUNNY AND BRAVE MOTHER OF HER.
EQUALLY FUNNY AND BRAVE 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, JULIE.
I'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE MAJESTA, A STRONG MOTHER OF TWO WHOSE 8-YEAR-OLD SON SHELDON BRAVELY LOOKED AFTER HIS YOUNG SISTER DURING EVICTION COURT JUST LAST MONTH.
AND FINALLY, MS. LORRAINE, A POWERHOUSE, A FORCE, A RELENTLESS ADVOCATE FOR HERSELF AND FOR HER NEIGHBORS WHO IS HERE WITH HER SON JULIAN, STANDING WITH US TODAY.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, THESE FOUR AMAZING WOMEN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND HUNDREDS OF THEIR NEIGHBORS FACED VIOLENT EVICTION FOLLOWING THE FORECLOSURE OF THESE TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
HOWEVER, THESE FOUR TENANTS, LIKE MANY OTHERS, HAVE BEEN SUFFERING LONG BEFORE THESE EVICTIONS.
DUE TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COVID-19 RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM AND OTHER HOUSING PROGRAMS COORDINATED THROUGH THE WAY HOME HOUSING NETWORK, THIS NETWORK HAS BEEN PRAISED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HAILED AS A MODEL OF SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING THE HOMELESS.
BUT TENANTS FROM CABO AND REDFORD HOUSING ORGANIZERS LIKE MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS ON THESE PROGRAMS KNOWN, KNOW THAT THIS IS ONLY A STORY.
THESE TENANTS KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THEIR HOME BY APARTMENT STAFF.
THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED GUN VIOLENCE.
THEY LIVE IN UNINHABITABLE CONDITIONS ONLY TO BE IGNORED BY CASEWORKERS WHEN THEY'VE REQUESTED TO RELOCATE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.
THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A SUCCESSFUL HOUSING PROGRAM TO ME.
EVEN AFTER MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, THESE TENANTS ARE STILL FACING HOMELESSNESS.
THEY'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THESE PROGRAMS CAN DO FOR THEM UNTIL THOSE FAMILIES ARE LIVING ON THE STREET AS WE SPEAK.
MAJESTA, NAISHA, LORRAINE AND JOHNNY ANTICIPATE THE MOMENT WHEN CONSTABLES COME KNOCKING AT THEIR DOOR TO REMOVE THEM AND THEIR BELONGINGS.
WHAT KIND OF HOUSING PROGRAM WAITS TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, MOTHERS, CHILDREN, TODDLERS, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED UNTIL THEY'RE PUSHED TO THE BRINK OF DEATH BY LIVING ON THE STREETS IN THE WINTER.
AGAIN, THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A SUCCESSFUL HOUSING PROGRAM TO ME.
THESE TENANTS HAVE HAD DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY'RE
[00:50:01]
NOW FACING.THERE IS NOTHING THAT JUSTIFIES PROMISING SOMEONE HOUSING AND THEN HOUSING THEM IN THE WORST CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE.
THERE IS NOTHING THESE WOMEN DID TO DESERVE FACING IMMINENT HOMELESSNESS AFTER RELYING ON A PROGRAM TO PREVENT THEM FROM JUST THAT.
NOTHING OTHER THAN BE POOR IN TODAY'S OUTRAGEOUSLY UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKET.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A TRAGEDY TO WATCH THEM FIGHT SO HARD AND FOR SO LONG JUST TO BE HEARD.
THESE FAMILIES, THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THEIR RIGHT TO BE HOUSED MATTERS.
I HOPE THAT YOU LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES TODAY AND THAT THIS COMPELS YOU TO DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING TO KEEP THESE FAMILIES OFF THE STREET.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, PACKETS OF A LETTER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, EVIDENCE OF THEIR HOUSING CONDITIONS.
NEXT SPEAKER, FREDERICK MIMS. FRED, PLEASE, PLEASE.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH A FAMOUS QUOTE FROM APRIL 13TH, 1970 BY COMMANDER LAVELLE HOUSTON.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM AND I SAY YES TO THAT BECAUSE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SHOW EVIDENCE AT COURT THAT YOUR RENT HAS BEEN PAID THROUGH RENT RELIEF AND STILL BE EVICTED.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN THE COURT ISN'T FOR THE HOMELESS, IS TELLING THE MENTAL, THE DISABLED AND VETERANS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE STREETS TO GET HOUSING.
IF WE DON'T STAND UP FOR HOUSTONIANS.
I'M TIRED OF POINTING A FINGER, LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO BLAME.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AS A NATURAL DISASTER.
I'M LOOKING AT THE COVID-19 AS A NATURAL DISASTER RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM THAT HAD WENT ON.
THESE PEOPLE WERE PUT IN PLACES AND FORGOT ABOUT KNOWINGLY.
THAT THE PLACE DID NOT KEEP UP WITH THEIR REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS SAFETY AND KNOWLEDGE OF OWNER EMBEZZLEMENT.
AND TO TELL US AND TO TELL THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO GO BEHIND 2200 OTHER PEOPLE IS NOT RIGHT.
WE HAVE A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
YOU ARE OUR HELP TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM.
WE NEED SOMEBODY TO OPEN UP THE DOOR TO THE COALITION OF THE HOMELESS.
IT'S SOME TYPE OF FUNDS, SOME TYPE OF GRANTS, EMERGENCY.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HUNDRED OF US WRONGFULLY EVICTED.
IT'S ONLY A FEW OF US NOW STANDING.
YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT HOUSTONIANS CANNOT HELP THE FEW THAT NEED HELP.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY EVICTED, NOT ON OUR COURT.
I STAYED ON PROPERTY EIGHT YEARS, PAID MY, PAID MY RENT FOR FIVE.
WHEN RENT RELIEF CAME, IT HELPED, BUT THEN IT WAS STOLEN.
BECAUSE FEDERAL OR CITY FUNDING WAS SENT AND NOT APPROPRIATED, IT WAS NOT WATCHED.
IT WAS JUST GIVEN LOOSELY, I FEEL TO WHERE THE OWNER DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO, WHICH WOULD FILL HIS POCKETS AND LEAVE HOUSTONIANS OUT IN THE COLD WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THIS OWNER OR OWNER RAN TO ANOTHER COUNTRY WHERE WE CANNOT EXTRADITE HIM.
WE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME THING.
WE ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. RENT RELIEF, RAPID REHOUSING, SECTION EIGHT.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT US AND THANK YOU YOU VERY MUCH.
WE DON'T, WE DON'T ALLOW CLAPPING DURING THIS TIME.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY STAND, YOU CAN, UM, WAVE YOUR HANDS, BUT WE DON'T ALLOW CLAPPING.
UM, OF THOSE FOUR WOMEN THAT I HELP HAS, HAS COME IN AND STATED I AM ONE OF THOSE FOUR WOMEN.
I WENT THROUGH A PROCESS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM THAT INITIALLY IS NOT WHAT I SIGN UP FOR, BUT IN ORDER TO GET OFF OF THE STREETS, I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WOULD BE FASTER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HOUSING THAT I NEEDED.
UM, REALLY, I WANNA KNOW, WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE FOR HOUSTON TO HEAR US? WHY IS IT MADE MANDATORY FOR THOSE THAT ARE MADE THAT ARE IN NEED TO, TO HELP? UH, EXCUSE ME.
WHY IS IT THAT IT IS MADE MANDATORY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP
[00:55:01]
TO HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES, ABIDE BY THEM, GO BY DIFFERENT CRITERIA OR WHATEVER.AND THOSE THAT ARE WE GETTING THE HELP FROM ARE NOT MADE TO FOLLOW THOSE SAME RULES.
I APPLIED FOR THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM.
INITIALLY I SIGNED UP FOR AND, UH, THINKING THAT I'M SIGNING UP FOR HOUSING, I WAS PLACED IN THIS, IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
AND RIGHT NOW, HONESTLY, WE ARE BEING GIVEN THE RUNAROUND.
WE ARE HAVING TO GO AND RESEARCH AND DO THIS AND GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHO IT IS THAT WE NEED TO TALK TO.
WE SPEAKING FROM, WE, WE WENT AND PROTESTED AT THE HOUSE IN AUTHORITY.
WE TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AT THE COALITION.
THEY SENT THE REPRESENTATIVE OUT.
WE SHOWED HIM OUR, SHOWED HIM OUR LIVING SITUATION, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, ONLY FOR HIM TO TELL US THAT THE COALITION REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR US.
I'VE GONE BACK TO GET BACK ON THE WAITING LIST TO, TO GET BACK ON ON HOUSING OR WHATEVER.
BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD IS IN ORDER FOR US TO, TO, TO GET THE HELP THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET IN THE FIRST PLACE, THAT WE NEEDED TO GO BACK AND GET BACK ON THE LIST AND SIGN BACK UP.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO BE HOMELESS FIRST IN ORDER TO GET BACK IN THE HOUSING SITUATION.
AND TO ME, I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THE, I MEAN, WHO'S MAKING THESE RULES UP? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE BECAUSE THE WHOLE PROGRAM IS SET UP AND ORGANIZED IN ORDER TO GET THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON OFF OF THE STREETS.
AND SO WHAT SENSE DOES IT MAKE IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE TO BE HOMELESS ONCE AGAIN, GETTING BACK OUT ON THE STREETS IN ORDER TO GET BACK IN THE SAME SITUATION.
THESE PEOPLE, HE BASICALLY, AND HE, NO, I'M NOT EVEN GONNA SAY BASICALLY, THIS MAN FROM THE COALITION TOLD US THAT THEY WERE MADE AWARE.
THEY KNEW THAT THE, THE MONIES WERE BEING, THE FUNDING WAS BEING STOLEN.
THEY KNEW THAT THE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WE WERE GOING THROUGH, WE WERE LIVING IN BAD IN IN BAD SITUATIONS.
THEY KNEW ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND SO THEY SAID HOUSING STOPPED PAYING.
SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO IF WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? I HAVE A GRANDBABY NOW.
I'M BUSTING MY TAIL TRYING TO SHOW MY CHILDREN THAT IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, GOOD THINGS FALL.
BUT IF YOU, IF YOU TEACHING THEM THAT AND THINGS ARE NOT BEING SHOWN THAT WAY, THEN WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUR KIDS WHENEVER THEY GO AND ASK FOR HELP? AND IT'S DONE DIFFERENTLY.
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR OVER THE PAST SIX AND A HALF YEARS.
ON ACCOUNT OF FLEEING MY ABUSER.
I'M A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I, IN 2021, I APPLIED FOR HOUSING AT THE BEACON.
I WAS SLEEPING IN MY VAN AND MY CHILDREN WERE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.
I HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED, HARASSED AS WELL AS MY CHILDREN.
MY NEIGHBOR WAS SHOT AT WHILE ME AND MY GRANDCHILD WERE RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN OUR PLACE.
I HAD ASKED MY NAVIGATOR IF WE CAN BE MOVED.
I AND MY CHILDREN FEARED FOR OUR LIVES.
I WAS TOLD NO, IT WASN'T POSSIBLE.
I LOST MY HOUSING DUE TO THE INABILITY TO LOOK FOR WORK.
I'M DISABLED WITH HERNIATED DIS.
THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR HOUSING, SPOKE WITH THE COALITION FOR BARRIER FREE LIVING, AND, AND WAS TOLD MY NAVIGATOR SHOULD HAVE TRANSFERRED ME OVER TO DISABILITY HOUSING.
I HAVE SEEN AND MET A FEW PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT UNITS FROM PEOPLE THAT WERE IN HOUSING.
TAKE THESE PEOPLE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS. WHEN I'M STUCK IN AN INHABITABLE AND VERY UNSAFE UNIT WITH MANAGEMENT, THAT IS VERY, VERY UNPROFESSIONAL.
THE NAVIGATORS GET PAID TO HELP THOSE IN NEED WITH STRUGGLES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, ET CETERA.
SINGLE PARENTS AS MYSELF, YOU WHO SIT IN THOSE SEATS HAVE THE ABILITY TO STOP THE NEGLECT IN HOUSING PROGRAMS, CASE MANAGEMENT TO CLIENT AND AS WELL AS THE MANAGEMENT AND USING NEGLECTING REPAIRS AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US AND GETTING THE GRANTS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE MONEY.
[01:00:01]
ALMOST TWO YEARS HERE, WE ARE BEING STRONG, ARMED, TREATED, INHUMANE, AND AT TIMES HOPELESS.BUT NO MATTER WHAT WILL CONTINUE, I WILL NEVER GIVE UP AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE AND TO HOPE AND HELP THAT OTHER FAMILIES, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH, WHAT MY CHILDREN HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WHAT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU EVER EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING THROUGH.
SO, UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK OUT TO YOU GUYS TO PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP AT LEAST PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU GIVE THE GRANTS FOR, TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN OTHER PEOPLE MISUSE IT.
HERE I AM STILL TRYING TO GET HELP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP.
UH, I, MY QUESTION ACTUALLY IS, UM, TO YOU, BECAUSE I I, WE, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME WITH THESE SAME CONCERNS OVER AND OVER AND I WANTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INSPECTING WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S HEART WRENCHING, UH, TO ALL OF US WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COME OVER AND OVER WITH THE SAME STORY THAT, UM, THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE STREET BEFORE THEY CAN GET HELP.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEED TO, UM, DO SOMETHING EITHER WITH OUR PROCESS OR, UM, REALLY EVALUATE HOW WE ARE OFFERING THE ASSISTANCE.
UM, IT, I KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME PEOPLE COME BEFORE IT.
HAVE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO CHECK AND SEE THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE EVICTED, UM, CAN BE HOUSED.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, UH, THEY'RE MENTIONED AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.
UM, I NEED TO CHECK BACK BECAUSE ALL, EVERYTHING IS NOT LINING UP.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A DISCONNECT HERE SOMEWHERE.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA FERRET THAT OUT, OKAY? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER.
SOME OF THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS YEAH, THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE OFFER ADMINISTRATIVE DOLLARS TO.
UM, PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THEY ARE GOING TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND NOT RECEIVING THE SERVICES.
AND, UM, AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT I, YOU KNOW, I GOT A CALL FROM A, A RESIDENT THAT, UM, PUT IN AN APPLICATION AND, AND DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES.
AND WE HAD TO FOLLOW UP AND FOLLOW UP AND FOLLOW UP.
UM, SO I, I, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE FRUSTRATION OF OF, OF THESE FOLKS THAT CONTINUE TO COME AND ASK US FOR HELP.
IF WE CAN BE VIGILANT ON MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW UP WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND IF THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, THEN WE SHOULD NOT BE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE HELP TO, UM, FUND, FUND THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'LL HAVE A, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE, UM, UH, I DO AGREE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE STREETS TO BE SUBJECT TO HOUSING IN THE PROCESS OF RIGHT NOW OF DECOMMISSIONING ONE OF OUR LARGEST ENCAMPMENTS RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, THERE'S A DISCONNECT SOMEWHERE IN THIS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU ALL, I'VE BEEN LISTENING CAREFULLY, SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP AND HAVE THOSE, AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
BUT SOMETHING, SOMETHING, IT IS NOT NINE UP.
SO, UH, WE'LL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATION IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
I'LL REPORT BACK TO Y'ALL NEXT WEEK.
YOU KNOW, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, I THINK EVERY WEEK I WAS ASKING FOR A MORATORIUM.
AND SO I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ALL ARE.
UH, IT, IT IS JUST HEART WRENCHING TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE AT A POINT THAT, THAT YOU MAY BECOME HOMELESS.
AND SO I KNOW THE MAYOR WILL DO WHATEVER HE CAN.
WE DO MAKE REFERRALS TO AGENCIES, AS THEY ALREADY SAID, TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE I, I JUST THINK THAT YOU MUST HAVE A STABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT.
SOME OF YOU MAY EVEN HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE, ARE IN SCHOOL AND HOW WELL ARE THEY ABLE TO DO WITHOUT A, A SUBSTANTIAL ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.
AND SO, JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WITH YOU.
I ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AT A FUNERAL.
I SAT NEXT TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S WIFE AND I SAID, COULD YOU MAYBE HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING EVICTED? AND, YOU KNOW, AND I GUESS I DON'T KNOW HOW APPROPRIATE THAT WAS AT THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES YOU TAKE OPPORTUNITIES
AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO, TO GET A MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS.
BUT CERTAINLY WHATEVER WE CAN DO, UH, WE WILL CERTAINLY, UH, BE THERE FOR YOU.
AND, AND THIS MAYOR IS SO SUPER SENSITIVE
[01:05:01]
TO THAT AND HE HAS ALWAYS COME FORWARD WITH SOMETHING TO HELP THE PEOPLE.SO THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
I'LL GIVE A REPORT TO EVERYBODY NEXT WEEK.
YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE ONLY WAY I GOT ON THE PROGRAM IS BECAUSE I HAD TO GO TO LESTER HALT ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS BECAUSE I WAS A VICTIM OF DO, OF DISCRIMINATION AT THE BEACON.
SO THERE'S NO WAY THAT I CAN GO BACK TO THE BEACON AND STAND IN LINE NUMBER TWO.
UM, THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM.
WE ARE ALL UNDERNEATH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.
AND THERE'RE THINGS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLIED WITH IT.
HAVE NOT EVEN US AS BEING, UH, TENNIS ON THIS PROGRAM.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE BOARD.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, BE AT MEETINGS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE PUSHED OUTTA OUR UNITS AND PUSHED INTO THESE COURTS WITH JUDGES WHO ARE NOT BIASED, WHO NEED TO BE SANCTIONED.
AND THERE'S NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT.
THEY EVEN HELP THE PEOPLE TO EVICT US.
IS THIS THE DEED RIGHT HERE? RIGHT HERE? CAN YOU GIVE THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE? I, I WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS TRUST OF DEED THAT THEY'RE PUTTING US OUT WITH THERE.
THERE'S NO LEASE, BUT WE ARE AN EVICTION COURT AND THE JUDGE IS READY TO VACATE.
AND SHE'S TEACHING THESE PEOPLE HOW TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
AS WE LEAVE OUT OUR UNITS TODAY, THE CONSTABLE IS KNOCKING ON OUR HOUSES.
THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING RIGHT? AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS, FIRST OF ALL, SOMEONE MISSED A, SOMEBODY MISSED A STEP.
BECAUSE WHEN WE BRING THESE ISSUES TO YOU AND THERE'S MONEY EMBEZZLEMENT, AND THERE'S, UH, MONEY, MONEY BEING TAKEN OUT OF OUR, OUT OF OUR ACCOUNTS, AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO, TO STOP IT, TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT, WHERE IS THE INVESTIGATION STARTED? WHERE HAS ANYONE STARTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS? EMBEZZLEMENT, WHERE'S THE POLICE INVOLVED IN THIS? BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, THERE SHOULD BE AT, THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE SOME TYPE OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE FBI FOR THIS EMBEZZLEMENT.
IF I EMBEZZLE MONEY, I'M GOING TO JAIL.
SO IF YOU ALL SIT UP HERE ON THESE SEATS AND WE TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT CRIMINALLY NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT NO.
AND THE JUDGE SITS UP THERE AND SHE, I CAN'T SEE.
SHE'S TELLING ME THIS IS A PURE COPY.
YOU ALL SEE IT, RIGHT? IT'S A COPY.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I BEAT THE CASE IS THAT I WASN'T SERVED.
SO THEY THREW THE EVICTION OUT.
I ASKED MY SON WHEN WE LEFT OUT THE COURT TO GO BACK AND GET THE DEED.
THE ONE THAT SHE SHOWING ME EVERY PAGE, 27 PAGES SAYS UNOFFICIAL.
SO EVERYONE THAT GOT PUT OUT OF HERE GOT PUT OFF THE PROPERTY ON AN UNOFFICIAL TITLE, UH, TITLE OF TRUST DEED.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE CRIMINALLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WE, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE PUT OUR VOUCHER IN OUR HAND IMMEDIATELY.
WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE COALITION.
NEXT SPEAKER, MR. DEED THAT HE HAS, IF HE HAS IT FOR YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS FRANCISCO TERO.
[01:10:01]
MRS. NETS.MS. ALCORN, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THANK YOU MR. TURNER FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO, UH, MR. ROBERT GALLEGOS AND TO MS. ALCORN AND TO, AND TO MRS. CIRO'S AND TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE.
AND TO, UH, MR. GALLEGOS OFFICE BECAUSE WE, MR. GALLEGOS AND I, WE CREATED A, AN ORGANIZATION CALLED DISTRICT ID CONTAMINATION UNIT.
WE PICK UP GLITTER AND I MADE IT FUN.
I'M, WE, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE UP WHEN WE DO.
WE'RE DOING WATERWAYS, WE'RE DOING ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
BUT EVERY TIME THAT WE ORGANIZED SOMETHING, MR. GALLEGOS IS ALWAYS THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA, I'M GONNA MISS YOU IN THAT AREA,
BUT JOAQUIN IS THERE AND, AND I BELIEVE IN THAT GUY 'CAUSE HE'S BEEN WITH US IN THE TRENCHES, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND I'M, WE'RE REALLY, REALLY GREAT FOR OUR FAMILIES, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS.
AND IT'S JUST NOT VOLUNTEERS FROM HOUSTON.
WE GET VOLUNTEERS THAT COME FROM ALL OVER, UH, THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE GOT CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT COME FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS SO THAT THEY CAN COME AND SEE WHAT PROBLEMS COME FROM THEIR WATERWAYS AS WELL.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF DOCUMENTING OF LITTER, UH, AND WE'RE BECOMING VERY PROACTIVE IN PICKING IT UP.
AND WE HAVE NO TIME TO COMPLAIN.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TIME TO, WE ONLY HAVE TIME TO KICK INTO HIGH GEAR AND TO BE, AND TO BE, UH, UH, AS A, AS A SERVICE.
WE TAKE NO MONEY FROM COUNTY, FROM GOVERNMENT, FROM THEM.
AND WHAT I'M THANKING YOU, SIR, FOR IS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP BECAUSE THIS STARTED UNDER YOUR COMMAND, SIR.
AND MR. GALL AND MS. AND MS. UH, CISNEROS AND MS. ALCORN, YOU GUYS WERE THERE.
AND I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY PROUD TO, UH, BE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE CREATED WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE.
AND YOU GUYS ARE BEING SOME AWESOME LEADERS.
AND, AND I, AND AND THIS GOES FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IN HERE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS PULLED TOGETHER AND THROUGH TOUGH TIMES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH IN THIS CITY, LIKE IT GOT MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PANDEMIC, ANY KIND OF THE, THE, UH, THE BIG WATER BREAK THAT WE HAD, UH, WITH THE PEOPLE HERE WITH, WITH THE WATER, YOU KNOW, AND APPRECIATING WATER.
OH, AND JF KENNEDY SAID THAT'S NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY COULD DO FOR YOU.
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY? I'VE NEVER SERVED OUR MILITARY FORCES, BUT THIS IS THE WAY THAT I GIVE BACK TO MY COUNTRY RIGHT HERE.
SO IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING, CLEANING THE WATERWAYS, WE'VE TEAMED UP WITH BUFFALO BAYOU KAYAKS, WE DO, UH, KAYAK CLEANING ONCE A MONTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH.
AND BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP ALSO TAKES US INTO THE SHIP CHANNEL SO THAT WE COULD DO A LOT OF CLEANING IN THERE.
AND LIKE I SAID, I ASK NOTHING OF THE CITY.
ALL I ASK IS, ALL I SAY IS THANK YOU.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BORROW Y'ALL'S TRUCK SO Y'ALL CAN MOVE ALL THIS STUFF WHEN WE PICK IT UP.
AND THE, AND THE LANDFILLS AND EVERYTHING AND ALL THAT.
THA YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I'VE GOT.
FRANCISCO, MY COUNCILMAN MC GUY GOES.
UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND EVERYTHING THAT YOUR VOLUNTEERS DO.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU REACHED OUT TO ME QUITE SOME TIME AGO AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR VISION.
WE WANT TO GIVE BACK TO OUR CITY.
UH, AND, AND, AND Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING AN, AN AWESOME JOB OUT THERE.
UH, NOT JUST FOR THE EAST END, BUT FOR THE CITY.
IT'S, IT'S REFERRED TO AS DISTRICT I, BUT YOU GO ALL OVER THE CITY.
UH, SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR, FOR OUR CITY.
AND THE LAST DAY EVENT THAT, UH, I HAD ATTENDED ON THAT SATURDAY MORNING, NOT TOO LONG AGO, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THERE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM GALVESTON, UH, THAT CAME OUT TO HELP.
UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, LIKE YOU STATED IT, IT'S TRASH THAT'S JUST COMING DOWN THE BUFFALO BAYOU, FOR EXAMPLE.
UH, AND, AND THEN GETS OUT INTO THE BAY, OUT INTO GALVESTON.
SO HE WAS HERE 'CAUSE HE JUST WANTED TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S, WHAT'S COMING THEIR DIRECTION.
UH, AND I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP AS WELL, UH, FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE, UH, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TWO BOATS, VACUUM BOATS THAT PICK UP THE TRASH, UH, IN, IN THE BAYOU.
UH, AND I ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE AS WELL, UH, GOING OUT INTO THE SHIP SHADOW.
UH, AND IT, IT IS EYE-OPENING, UH, TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC, UH, THAT'S JUST FLOATING ON, ON, ON OUR BAYOU COMING FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.
UH, AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, OF COURSE IT ENDS UP OUT IN GALVESTON BAY.
UH, SO, BUT, BUT, BUT, UH, AGAIN, Y'ALL ARE OUT THERE.
UH, Y'ALL DO THE, UH, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT WORK OUT THERE.
UH, AND IT'S ALL VOLUNTEERING, LIKE YOU SAID.
Y'ALL AREN'T GETTING ANY RESOURCES FROM, FROM ANY GOVERNMENT, ANY ENTITY.
UH, IT'S JUST BECAUSE Y'ALL CARE ABOUT OUR CITY AND YOU, YOU CARE ABOUT THE EARTH.
I, I WANTED TO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, A TRUE SERVANT LEADERSHIP, AND,
[01:15:01]
UM, YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO ORGANIZING OTHERS TO JOIN YOU, UM, AND TO LEAD OTHERS TO, TO, TO JOIN YOU IN, UM, IN CLEANING UP OUR CITY.THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UM, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION.
I'M GLAD WE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET.
AND WHAT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THE VOLUNTEERS DO IS SIMPLY AMAZING.
SO APPRECIATE YOUR CITIZENSHIP AND YOUR LOVE FOR THE CITY.
I HAVE NOTHING ELSE BETTER TO DO.
ANYWAY, SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME TO THE SHIP CHANNEL WITH US SOME TIME, CALL ME.
I BROUGHT THIS WHOLE BOOK TO READ, BUT I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.
I JUST REALLY WANTED TO COME BACK AND SAY THANKS.
I'VE DEMANDED A LOT OF, NOT ONLY THE MAYOR, BUT IF EACH OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOU ALL HAVE COME THROUGH.
DAVID, I KEEP WANTING TO GET TO YOU.
I HAVEN'T YET, BUT I KEEP WORKING.
SALLY AND, UH, DR. CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, I LIKE ALMOST EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE ASKED YOU, MAYOR, WHEN THE HOMELESS ADVISED ME THEY WANTED TO TALK TO YOU, BUT COULDN'T MAKE IT TO TALK TO YOU DIRECTLY AND ASK YOU, WOULD YOU GET THE WOMEN OFF THE STREET? WOULD YOU GET THE HOMELESS OFF THE STREET? SOON AFTER THAT YOU DID THAT.
AND I JUST REALLY WANNA COME BACK AND SAY, THANK YOU.
THE POOR MAN AND THE OPPRESSOR HAVE THIS IN COMMON.
THE LORD GIVE LIGHT TO THE EYES OF BOTH.
THANK YOU TO WALTER HAMBRICK AND HIM.
I HAVE CALLED HIM FEARLESSLY AND HE ANSWERS, INITIALLY I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THAT LAST TIME YOU TALKED TO HIM,
YOU HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.
ANSWERING MY CALLS AND BEING BEATEN UP TOO.
AND ON BEHALF OF THOSE PERSONS THAT I NAMED WHEN I CAME HERE, THAT WAS ON THE STREET IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, MS. ZENA IN THE WHEELCHAIR SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING THAT LADY A PLACE.
MR. WOODY, LAYING ON THE SIDEWALK, UH, LOOKING LIKE A MOVIE STAR WITH HIS GLASSES ON.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T HELP THEMSELVES.
UH, THE BIG GUY THAT WAS A, UH, WORKED IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, A CHEMICAL ENGINEER.
THANK YOU FOR GETTING THESE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.
AND I HEARD WHAT WAS SAID HERE AND I SYMPATHIZE WITH SOME OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING 'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH SOME OF THAT TOO, MARY.
AND THEY'RE TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.
BUT I'M NOT GETTING INTO THAT.
I CAME TODAY AND I SIMPLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO MIKE NICHOLAS, THANK YOU TO, UH, MIKE.
AND TO EVERYBODY YOU ASSIGNED TO HELP ME.
THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THROUGH AND HAVING THEM CALL ME.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE HOMELESS.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE POOR.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING THE CRIES OF THE RIGHTEOUS APPEALING TO YOU TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND THE SIGHT OF GOD.
I'M JUST GONNA SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYOR HINES, YOU, YOU DO CALL, BUT YOU ARE CERTAINLY A WOMAN OF GOD.
AND ANYTIME YOU CALL, I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO TRY TO RESPOND ME OR MY STAFF BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SAME HEART, THE HEART TO HELP THE PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHY VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN TURN YOU DOWN BECAUSE EVERYBODY UP HERE HAS THAT SAME HEART.
AND SO I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.
YOU DO BECAUSE ACTUALLY, EVEN THOUGH YOU CALL, YOU MAY CALL, YOU DO A LOT AND YOU HELP ME A LOT BY TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT DEED THAT WE BOTH DEARLY LOVE.
[01:20:01]
TO BE A BLESSING TO PEOPLE.AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE, UH, WHO IS YOUR, WHO'S THE PRINCE CHARMAN
SO YOU'RE FEELING GOOD TODAY, HUH? THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR TURNER.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE BRIEFLY.
MY NAME IS KARINA VELAZQUEZ AND I WORK FOR MS. VENITA JONES AS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE.
THIS YEAR I'M HONORED TO STILL HOLD THE TITLE AS A CMC COORDINATOR FOR CITY COUNCIL.
THIS YEAR GOAL WAS TO RAISE 3000.
OUR GOAL WAS 3,667 WITH 31 CENTS MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN SELECTED THE VILLAGE LEARNING CENTER AS A NONPROFIT CHARITY.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY A OCC TEAM FOR HELPING ME WITH EVERYTHING THEY DID.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY COMMITTEE TEAM FOR HELPING ME WITH THE EVENTS THIS YEAR.
THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES ARE KATHERINE RAMPER FROM A LARGE ONE, SHIRLEY KING FROM A LARGE THREE SHEENA CHARLES FROM A LARGE ONE.
INGRAM MENTIONED FROM DISTRICT D, KATHERINE REESE FROM DISTRICT F, JASMINE PEREZ FROM DISTRICT E, CARISSA BANDA FROM DISTRICT H.
OFFICER LISA GREEN, PAOLO NINO FROM IT DEPARTMENT FOR TAKING PICTURES AND VIDEOS FOR EACH OF OUR CMC EVENT.
ARLENE SCOTT FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PEG FOR DONATING THE TAMALES FOR OUR CMC EVENT.
MA IS, UH, EXPANDING ITS FRANCHISE AND RECENTLY OPENED A NEW LOCATION.
IF YOU LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THEIR NEW RESTAURANT.
LOCATED AT 47 11 NORTHWEST LOOP FOUR 10 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 7 8 2 2 9.
ELLIO BAKERIES OPENING A NEW LOCATION.
THEIR NEW SITE WILL BE AT 67 0 4 SOUTH TEXAS HIGHWAY SIX, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 8 3 NEAR HIGHWAY SIX IN BEIER.
IF YOU'RE A FAN OF PIZZA, DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT HOMES LIKES PIZZA.
LOCATED AT 37 0 1 TRAVIS STREET.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND MADE THEIR FRANCHISES CONTINUE TO GROW.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT TO ALL THE LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO DONATED TO THE CITY COUNCILS THIS YEAR.
MA SEAFOOD STORE NUMBER SIX FOR DONATING IN THE AMOUNT OF $250 NDA, STORE NUMBER 1445 WAYSIDE ALLOCATION FOR DONATING 70 BREAKFAST TACOS BAKERY STORE NUMBER THREE FOR DONATING 50 DIFFERENT PIECES OF PAN, NOTHING BUT BUN CAKES.
STONE NUMBER 1 0 7 FOR DONATING 24 S CHICK-FIL-A, STORE NUMBER 0 2 9 5 6 FOR DONATING 70 CHICKEN BISCUITS KRISPY KREME, STORE NUMBER 3 9 1 PARENT LOCATION FOR DONATING FOUR DOZEN DONUTS, POLAR BOWLING ALLEY.
LOCATED AT 49 19 SOUTH MAIN STREET.
STARBUCKS, STORE NUMBER 62 78 FROM THE TUNNEL LOCATION FOR JOINING.
77 TRAVELERS COFFEES AND 18 BANANA BRITS.
STORE NUMBER ONE FOR DONATING SIX DONUTS AND TWO DOZEN KEACHES.
KENDRA SCARFF, STORE NUMBER 26 51 16.
HIGHEST LOCATION FOR GIFT FOR A GIFT PACK EVENT ON OCTOBER 31ST AND A TWO DAY ONLINE GIFT PACK EVENT THAT ENDED ON NOVEMBER 1ST.
KENDRA SCARFF, STORE NUMBER 26 50 34.
PAY BOOK AREA FOR DONATING TWO ITEMS, A SET OF EARRINGS AND NECKLACE FOR SILENT AUCTION WE HAD DURING A BOWLING EVENT.
STORE NUMBER TWO FOR THE GIFT CARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $50 HEB FOR THE A GIFT CARD IN THE AMOUNT OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
SAM'S CLUB STORE NUMBER 47 69 LOCATED AT 53 10 RISE AVENUE FOR THE $200 AND WORTH THE SUPPLIES.
WALMART STORE NUMBER 10 40, LOCATED AT 59 YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAD A LOT OF SPONSORS AND I KNOW THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO FIND THOSE SPONSORS, SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR GOING AFTER IT.
MAYOR, I HAD THE BIGGEST BLAST THIS YEAR AT ONE OF THE CMC EVENTS.
MY FAVORITE GAME AS A CHILD AT THE FALL CARNIVAL WHERE YOU BRING A CAKE AND YOU DO THE MUSICAL CHAIRS.
AND I MEAN, I WAS SO EXCITED FOR THIS AND I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE HOW FUN IT WAS.
I MEAN, IT WAS, PEOPLE WERE REALLY INTO IT.
AND WE RAISED SOME MONEY AND WE HAD SOME FUN.
AND I THINK WITH COVID AND PEOPLE BEING IN AND OUT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME CAMARADERIE AND, AND, UM, ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR.
AND THAT WAS SUCH A, AND I DON'T, I STILL OWE YOU $5 FOR THAT POP POP THE BALLOON THING.
BUT, UM, BUT YOU JUST DID AN AMAZING JOB AND I'M GLAD WE, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS CHARITY IS TO THE, TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE SOME MONEY AND, AND JUST THANKS FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND, AND ALL OF THOSE, THOSE SPONSORS AND GIFT GIVERS THAT YOU GOT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE STAFF THAT WORKED ON IT WITH YOU.
I DID NOT WIN MUSICAL CHAIRS, BY THE WAY.
[01:25:01]
SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY DAY THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON AND SHE DEFINITELY WALKED THE FLOOR AND LET US KNOW, UM, WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND DID YOU HAVE ANY MORE SPONSORS THAT YOU WANTED TO? YES, I HAVE A FEW MORE.
SAM'S CLUB STORE NUMBER 47 69 LOCATED AT 53 10 RICE AVENUE FOR DONATING $200 IN SUPPLIES.
WALMART STORE NUMBER 10 40, LOCATED AT 15 9 5 5 F FM 5 29 ROAD FOR DONATING THIS SUPPLIES FOR A HOT DOG AND NACHO DAY HERLING HATCHES AVENUE, UH, ACTS THROWING LOCATED AT 12 3 4 4 GULF FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR DONATING TWO GIFT CARDS IN AMOUNT OF $50 FOR A SILENT AUCTION WE HAD DURING A BOWLING EVENT ON OCTOBER 17, HOME SLICE PIZZA MIDTOWN AREA, LOCATED AT 37 0 0 1 TRAVIS STREET FOR DONATING SWAG BOX FOR A SILENT AUCTION.
WE, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU.
THE ONE THAT I'M GONNA GIVE CREDIT TO IS, UH, MS. RENITA JONES.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT CAME OUT WITH THE MUSICAL CHAIR, SO SHE, IT WAS HER IDEA.
AND ALL AUDIENCE YOU, IF YOU BRING YEAH.
I'M HALIMA SHEIK AND, UH, MAKE ME SO MUCH NERVOUS WHEN I HAVE LIKE, JUST THREE MINUTES TO GETTING HELP FOR MY PARENTS AND MY, UM, FOR MY FAMILY.
ALL DEPENDED ON THIS LIKE MEETING.
SO BASICALLY I, UM, I'M CITIZEN OF UNITED STATES AND I APPLIED FOR MY PARENTS, UH, AND MY BROTHER ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
AND THEY ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS.
UM, MY PARENTS ARE FROM AFGHANISTAN.
THEY LIVE, UM, FROM AFGHANISTAN, UM, 43 YEARS AGO, UM, DURING WAR TO THE IRAN.
AND THEY LIVE IN IRAN 40 FOR 43 YEARS.
AND, UM, THEIR FACES WITH SO MUCH, UH, UNFAIR AND INJUSTICE STUFF AND TOO MUCH BULLYING.
I, AND IN SCHOOL MY TEACHER, UM, SHE GIVE LIKE, YOU KNOW, HER SON STICK, GO, HAD LIKE A FUNNY REFUGEE, LIKE ALL OF THIS THING HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL.
SO I APPLIED FOR MY PARENTS AND MY BROTHER, YOUNGER BROTHER WHO'S JUST 14 YEARS OLD, TO BRING THEM HERE TO, TO HAVE LIKE BETTER LIFE.
UH, WE RECEIVED A HUMANITARIAN PROGRAM.
UH, IF THEY MOVE TO THE THIRD COUNTRY, WHICH IS LIKE, NOT IRAN, NOT AFGHANISTAN, THIRD COUNTRY, THEY WILL, UM, UM, CONTINUE THE PROCESS.
THEY LEAVE THE IRAN, UM, IN TWO MONTHS AGO, UM, FOR THE LIKE, UM, CONTINUE THE PROCESS TO IRAQ.
UH, NOW THEY'RE LIVING IN IRAQ, BUT IRAQ IS, UM, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NO PASSPORT, NOTHING.
TALIBAN NOT ISSUING ANY PASSPORT TO AFGHANI PEOPLE.
THEY DON'T HAVE PASSPORT TO GO ANOTHER COUNTRY.
AND UM, MY PARENTS, THEY, UM, APPROVED FROM UM, VISA CENTER.
THEY'RE, UM, VISA APPLICATION.
THEY PROOF, BUT NOT MY BROTHER, UH, WHO'S JUST 14 YEARS OLD NOW.
THEY'RE LIVING IN IRAQ WITH, UM, NO, UM, ANY, UM, NO SHELTER.
THEY ARE NOT, UM, PROVIDE ANY, LIKE, NO, THEY CANNOT BE IN A HOTEL OR NOT ANY OTHER HOUSE.
JUST THEY HAVE VERY SIMPLE, UM, VERY, UM, I CAN SHARE YOU THE PICTURES.
LIKE NOW THEY LIVE IN THIS, IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NO PAPERWORK AND UM, NO ANY SERVICES, THEY CANNOT, UM, HAVE ANY SERVICES.
THEY CANNOT ANY MEDICAL, MEDICAL, UM, MEDICAL, UH, IF THEY GOT SICK, THEY CANNOT GO TO THE LIKE DOCTOR OR ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY DON'T, NOT INSURANCE EVEN THEY DON'T, THEY CANNOT GO, UH, YEAH, EXACTLY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PAPERWORK IN IRAQ AT ANY TIME THEY CAN, THE POLICE CAN CATCH THEM AND THEN SEND IT BACK TO AFGHANISTAN, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY IN DANGEROUS, LIKE, KNOW, DANGER LIFE FOR MY PARENTS BECAUSE WE ARE FROM HAZARA.
AND THAT'S, UH, THAT'S MY BIGGEST, BIGGEST LIKE, YOU KNOW, HUMBLE REQUEST.
PLEASE HELP ME, MY PARENTS TO NOT SEPARATE FROM MY, MY MOM AND DAD FROM MY YOUNGER BROTHER WHO'S JUST 14 YEARS OLD IN IRAQ.
THAT'S MY BIGGEST ECONOMIC REQUEST FROM YOU.
IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, THAT YOU CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN LIZZIE FLETCHER, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, YES.
[01:30:01]
SHE WOULD BE THE BEST PERSON ON THAT CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL TO ASSIST MM-HMMSO IF YOU'LL STAY IN CONTACT WITH CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER'S OFFICE, UM, MY NOTE SAYS THAT THEY ARE NOW ASSISTING, UH, WITH THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, UH, AND THE, UH, IN, UH, TALKS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT MM-HMM
UH, UH, FROM THE, UM, WHEN THEY MOVED TO THE IRAQ AND MY LAWYER CONTACTED THE EMBASSY OF, UM, AMERICAN EMBASSY IN IRAQ, BUT EMBASSY LIKE THEY DENIED AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE THIS, UH, CASE.
AND, UH, NOW THEY CANNOT GO ANY OTHER PLACE THAN LIKE IRAQ.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN IGNORE.
WELL, I, I WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH, UH, UH, WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN, THEIR OFFICE MM-HMM
UM, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BEST PLACE TO GET THE HELP RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST, UH, HOPING FOR MY BROTHER WHO'S JUST 14 YEARS OLD TO HAVE LIKE BETTER LIFE AND LIKE KNOW A FAIR PLACE.
I ALWAYS HAVE TO CORRECT EVERYBODY.
IT'S KEVIN, BUT I THOUGHT I I DON'T LIKE DAVID CAVIN.
HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL? HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? YES, DOING FINE.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS SURPRISED WITH THE MARY PRO TEMP WAS WAS MS. DENISE PARKER WITH THE ST.
JOSEPH HOUSE CLUBHOUSE, UH, CLUBHOUSE.
I HAD AN IDEA THAT WHAT I WANTED TO BRING UP ABOUT MAYBE CONGESTION IN THE FREEWAY HIGHWAYS, I INTERSTATE, UM, RFID READERS THAT WE COULD READ FOR A SMALL PERCENTAGE, HALF THE PRICE OF A, UM, A NORMAL, UH, EASY TAG WOULD COST, UM, AND CHARGE TO PRODUCE MORE REVENUE AND CONGESTION ON THOSE FREEWAYS AND HIGHWAYS.
KINDA LIKE THE NEW ENGLAND OR RATHER ENGLAND VERSION OF HOW THEY DEAL WITH TOLL SYSTEMS THERE TOO.
SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I WOULD SAY MAYBE EVERY 25 MILES HAVE A, UH, YOU KNOW, ON AND OFF WHERE PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING AT THAT POINT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY GET ON AND OFF, BRING MORE REVENUE, UM, IF THEY DO GO FURTHER THAN THAT AND UM, EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, CLEAR UP A LOT OF CONGESTION ON THE FREEWAYS AND HIGHWAYS AND KINDA GET MORE PEOPLE OUT IN THE OPEN ROAD, YOU KNOW, LITTLE SCENIC ROUTES AND IT, BUT IT'S AN EXCLUSION OF ACCIDENTS, UH, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BRING ON, UH, YOU KNOW, A EASIER FREE FREEWAY DRIVING EXPERIENCE.
I KNOW I DO TOLL WAYS MYSELF, SO I WOULDN'T, AND I LIKE, I LIKE PAYING FOR MY COST OF LIVING, SO I DON'T MIND GOING ON THE FREEWAY IF I GET A CAR AGAIN AND DRIVING AND PAYING THE TOLL MYSELF WAS, I KNOW EASY TAG.
MAYBE THEY'LL WORK WITH, UM, UM, UP ROAD BECAUSE THEY USUALLY GO ALL OVER AMERICA, UH, DO ALL THE TAG SYSTEM SO THEY CAN GO DRIVE, PEOPLE CAN DRIVE ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO WITH THE UP ROAD.
BUT, UM, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF MY IDEA I GUESS FOR THAT IDEA.
I FELT MAYBE, UH, INTERESTED IN THAT.
AND, UH, UH, I APPRECIATE Y'ALLS TIME.
THANK YOU MAYOR DAVID, THANK YOU FOR COMING AGAIN.
APPRECIATE YOUR GOOD IDEAS AND WE CAN ALWAYS USE 'EM AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT I THINK I'D ALSO LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR, UH, REALLY POSITIVE THINKING TO HARRIS COUNTY AND THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY.
IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING IN TRANSPORTATION AND I GET TO SHARE SOME OF THAT BUSINESS WITH THE COMMITTEE HERE AT THE CITY, BUT, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR GOOD IDEAS AND KEEP 'EM COMING.
AND I HOPE TO SEE MAYOR, UH, SORRY MAYOR SYLVETA TURNER, UH, MAYBE A, A CONGRESSMAN OR GOVERNOR ONE DAY, YOU KNOW,
HAVE THE REST OF Y'ALL GO WITH THEM.
WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH DAVE.
SORRY I WASN'T LEARNED EVERYBODY'S NAME BY NOW.
MARY TAYLOR, MARY NEXT SPEAKER.
KELVIN WILLIAMS. KEVIN WILLIAMS. KEVIN IS HERE.
I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, UH, IN THE INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS WHERE I RESIDE AT.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN FIFTH WARD.
IT SEEMED LIKE WE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME COMING ENEMY, UH, THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND, UH, THEY, UH, HAD ME LOCKED UP.
AND I'M ASKING YOU MAYOR, TO COME TO MY COURT DATE AND HELP ME TELL THESE FOLKS THAT THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY UP UNDER THE CITY OF HOUSTON CHARTER.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING.
AS YOU CAN SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS
[01:35:01]
IN COURT AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH A 5 0 1 C3.THE DEAL IS THEY ARE OPERATING UP UNDER, LIKE THEY, THEY SENT THE HPD WHAT HPD GOT TO DO WITH PROPERTY AND I HAVE A WARRANT.
I GO TO COURT ON THE 28TH AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOU AS A WITNESS TO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THE DEAL IS I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS AS LONG AS YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE AND AS MUCH AS YOU LOOK AT ME AND PROBABLY DON'T CARE AND DON'T KNOW, BUT HERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO ACTUALLY BE A BOY BECAUSE YOU GOT FIFTH WARD WITH THE CREOLE.
EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON THAT'S AFFECTING US IS BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO ACTUALLY BE IN THESE POSITIONS.
AND THE DEAL IS, WHEN I CAME BEFORE I ASKED YOU ALL TO CHECK THE PEOPLE QUALIFICATIONS THAT Y'ALL WORKING WITH TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE NONPROFITS, THAT THEY ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL AND BEING AS THOUGH YOU ARE THE ONE WHO PUT ON THE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU DIRECT AND PUT THEM THERE.
YOU DO THE HIRING AND FIRING AS FAR AS WHAT I UNDERSTAND AND WHAT I SEE IN THE NEWS WITH EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY BEEN DOING.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PART OF IT, YOU HAVE A PART OF IT.
IS THEY A PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR ANY OF YOU ALL THAT CLAIM THAT Y'ALL KNOW HOW PAPERWORK GO LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK, LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS AND THE DEAL IS THIS COURT SYSTEM LIKE THE LADY WAS SAYING, BUT YOU GOTTA REMEMBER SHE WAS BLIND.
SO IF SHE COULD SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, SURELY YOU ALL COULD SEE AND THE DEAL IS YOUR REFUSAL TO ACTUALLY BE PART OF IT IS FOR Y'ALL TO ANSWER TO YOUR GUARD.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BECAUSE I'M A MAN AND I'M STANDING FOR MY PROPERTY AND THE DEAL IS 100 EAST 45TH STREET IS NOT THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WANT TO DRAG IT OUT AND TAKE ME THROUGH COURT.
AND I'M IN THE COURT OF APPEALS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I HAVE LEGITIMATE PAPERWORK, TITLE COMPANY AND EVERYTHING CORRECT.
AS YOU SAY, THEY DO DIRTY PAPERWORK, THEY FORGING, IT'S A LOT OF FRAUDULENT STUFF IS GOING ON AND YOU ALL REFUSE TO LOOK AT IT JUST LIKE YOU REFUSING TO ACTUALLY REALLY LOOK AT THE SITUATION AND PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY SUFFERING AND IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT THEY DON'T CARE.
THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO DISMANTLE THAT BOARD.
THAT'S ACTUALLY CAUSING OUR PROBLEM FOR THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY STEALING MONEY AND BEING GREEDY AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THE SAME THING THEY GONNA DO WITH THE CRISO PEOPLE.
YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED IN FRONT TOMORROW.
HMM? IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE.
IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE YOU MAYOR TURNER AND BOARDS.
AND I DECIDED TO BRING PICTURES BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
CAN I PASS 'EM AROUND AND OKAY, GO TAKE THEM PLEASE START WITH THE FRONT AND THEN GO TO THE BACK.
I'M, UH, CALL, I'M COMING AGAIN ON THE SIDEWALK ISSUE ON MY PROPERTY.
NOW I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AGAIN SINCE I'VE LAST SEEN YOU WITH NO RESULTS.
UM, I BOUGHT PICTURES AND I BOUGHT A SURVEY FROM COBALT SURVEY SURVEY US AND ON THE LANYARD AND I WANTED TO GIVE THIS TO YOU, MAYOR TURNER.
ON THE LANYARD THAT THEY HAVE HERE.
IT SAYS THAT MY PROPERTY IS A HUNDRED 0.7 FEET BY 85 FEET, BUT ON THE PICTURE HERE WHERE THEY SAID MY PROPERTY LINE IS WHERE THEY PUT THE SIDEWALK, IT SAYS 65 INSTEAD OF 85.
SO THEY HAVE A ACTUAL RENDERING OF A DRAWING THAT THEY DID AND THEY PUT THE SIDEWALK 20 FEET INTO MY PROPERTY.
JUST I WAS FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING FINDING THIS BECAUSE I HAD TO, I HAVE SITE DISABILITY
[01:40:01]
AND I HAD TO GET THIS BLOWN UP TO THIS SIZE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IN THE WORLD COULD HAVE HAPPENED.I'M SHOWING YOU PICTURES WHERE OF THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
SIMILARLY DONE BY THE GLOW PEOPLE, THE GLOW HOUSING PEOPLE.
UH, THEY PUT HER SIDEWALK IN THE CORRECT SPOT, BUT THEY PUT MY SIDEWALK IN THE WRONG PLACE ON MY PROPERTY INTO MY PROPERTY.
THE SIDEWALK WOULD'VE BEEN A STRAIGHT SHOT ALL THE WAY ACROSS.
INITIALLY MY BUILDER SAID THAT THEY DUG IT, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY DUG IT INTO THE GROUND, THEY WERE PUTTING IT IN THE CORRECT SPOT.
CITY PLANNING CAME OUT AND TOLD THEM TO PUT IT, TO MOVE IT UP CLOSER THAT IT BELONGED CLOSER BECAUSE ON HERE IT SAYS 65 FEET RATHER THAN 85 FEET.
SO THE PROPERTY LINE WAS INCORRECT.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE SIDEWALK SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED CLOSER TO THE STREET? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THAT THE SIDEWALK SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO THE STREET? THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM.
IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE PICTURES, YOU SEE THE JOG IN THE SIDEWALK.
YOU SHOULD SEE THE EDGE OF MY PROPERTY WITH A PICTURE OF A PINK HOUSE.
SO THAT'S HER, THE OLD PROPERTY BEFORE THEY PUT HER PROPERTY THERE, MY HOUSE WAS BUILT BEFORE HERS MAYBE SIX MONTHS BEFORE, BUT SIX MONTHS LATER THEY PUT HERS IN.
WE BOTH HAVE A CORNER, SHE HAS TWO LANE, I HAVE BLUEGRASS.
THERE'S ONLY THE TWO HOUSES THERE.
AND WHEN WAS THIS DONE? I MOVED IN, UH, FEBRUARY 23RD.
I BELIEVE I, I BELIEVE I'M CORRECT, FEBRUARY 23RD.
SHE JUST MOVED IN ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
SO YOU'RE SAYING FEBRUARY 23RD OF THIS YEAR.
AND THEN THIS IS AFTER YOUR HOME WAS REBUILT OR REDONE? IT WAS REBUILT MM-HMM
AND THEN THE CITY CAME AND PLACED A SIDEWALK.
THE CITY, THE CITY CAME AND SAID, THIS IS WHERE TOLD THE BUILDER THAT THE SIDEWALK COULDN'T GO WHERE HE INITIALLY PLACED IT, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN IN LINE DIRECTLY WITH HER SIDEWALK.
THERE'S ONLY THE TWO HOUSES ON THIS BLOCK.
SO OUR SIDEWALKS WOULD HAVE MET.
BUT INSTEAD IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY HAD TO DO A JOG IN THE SIDEWALK TO MAKE A MEET.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE, UM, THEY HAD 'EM HAD MY BUILDER, THEY SAID, WE ARE NOT GONNA APPROVE THIS IF YOU DON'T PUT THIS SIDEWALK OVER HERE BECAUSE THE, BECAUSE THE COBALT HAS SAID THAT THE SIDEWALK BELONGED AT THE 65, THE 65 FEET BAR.
THEY'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS MY PROPERTY LINE AT THE 65 FEET AND IT SAYS IT ON HERE, 65 FEET.
BUT IF YOU LOOK DOWN HERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S, IT'S A HUNDRED BY 85 FEET.
SO THEY SIMPLY MADE A MISTAKE.
OKAY, LET ME HAVE 'EM TAKE AND LET US TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND IF WE MADE THE MISTAKE, THEN WE NEED TO CORRECT IT.
YOU WANT ME TO BRING IT TO YOU? DLO BUILT THE HOME, BUT THE, BUT THE CITY IS THE ONE WHO INSTRUCTED WHERE THE SIDEWALK SHOULD HAVE BURIED.
WHERE TO PUT THE THANK YOU SITTING PLANNING.
ALRIGHT THEN LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
YOU'LL SEE MY OLD FENCE THERE ON THE PICTURES.
YOU'LL SEE MY OLD FENCE THERE AND YOU'LL SEE WHERE THE BUILDER HAD THE INITIAL SIDEWALK DRAWN INTO THE GROUND ALREADY.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE JOG WHERE HER PROPERTY STARTED.
OKAY, WELL LET'S LOOK OUT AT ALL THE RECORDS AND SEE AND, UM, UH, IF WE WERE WRONG, WE WERE WRONG AND UH, THEN WE NEED TO CORRECT IT.
BUT, UH, LET'S, LET US TAKE A, LET US TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING THE TO OUR ATTENTION COURSE.
IF PLANNING AND HAVE PLANNING TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING ME TODAY.
UM, I HAVE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, SO I'LL GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AT THE TIME OF ME WRITING THIS, UH, TO THE CITY COUNCIL, 11,240
[01:45:01]
PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES, I'M SORRY, ISRAELI DEPE DEFENSE FORCES INCLUDING 4,630 CHILDREN.SOME OF YOU MAY BE THINKING, WHY IS THIS BEING BROUGHT UP? WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH HOUSTON? HOUSTON IS A CULTURAL MELTING POT WITH MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT CULTURES, INCLUDING PALESTINIANS.
MAINSTREAM MEDIA HAS FOCUSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THE LOSS OF LIGHT AS THE RESULT OF THE EVENTS THAT UNFOLDED ON OCTOBER 7TH.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS WHAT HAPPENED FOLLOWING THESE EVENTS.
IDF HAS BEEN INDISCRIMINATELY BOMBING PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS UNDER THE GUISE OF COUNTER-TERRORISM.
ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE, FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMAN AFFAIRS, 45% OF GAZA'S HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
51% OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, AND TWO THIRDS OF ALL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ARE NON-OPERATIONAL.
AND ALL 13 HOSPITALS IN NORTHERN GAZA HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO EVACUATE.
THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO NUCLEAR BOMBS HAVE BEEN DROPPED ON GAZA BY THE IDF.
THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER, NO FOOD, NO FUEL, NO MEDICATION, NO MEDICAL SUPPLIES LEADING TO A NEAR COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE IN GAZA.
AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER, I FIND THIS ABYSMAL AND A STAIN ON HUMAN HISTORY.
FAR-RIGHT, POLITICIAN AND ISRAELI MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY, BEN VEER, HAS GIVEN ARMS TO ISRAELI SETTLERS AMONG INCREASED VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK.
BEN VERE, WHO HAD A POSTER OF BENJAMIN GOLDSTEIN HANGING IN HIS LIVING ROOM, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CAVE OF PATRIARCH'S MASSACRE IN WHICH HE VIOLENTLY GUNNED DOWN 29 MUSLIMS IN THEIR PLACE OF WORSHIP, ARMED THESE SETTLERS, KNOWING VERY WELL IT WOULD ESCALATE TENSIONS IN THIS RE REGION.
THE UNITED STATES HAS A STRONG FOOTHOLD IN ISRAEL AND HAS SENT THEM OVER $300 BILLION OF OUR TAXES ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION SINCE 1951.
THIS IS MONEY WE COULD BE SPENDING ON OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIAL ISSUES.
ACCORDING TO THE NON-PROFIT GLOBAL GIVING, IT WOULD COST US 45 BILLION TO END HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND WE HAVE SENT THEM $300 BILLION.
BUT INSTEAD, WE ARE SENDING MONEY TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO COMMIT GENOCIDE AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED INNUMERABLE WAR CRIMES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE.
AND SO FAR, ONLY 24 OF OUR 535 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE VOTED FOR A CEASEFIRE.
OUR SILENCE IS KILLING PEOPLE.
I SPEAK FOR MANY HOUSTONIANS WHO FEEL THIS WAY AND URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND DEMAND THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS VOTE FOR A CEASEFIRE.
I'LL BE HERE EVERY WEEK UNTIL THE CITY, CITY COUNCIL PUBLICLY SUPPORTS A CEASEFIRE.
AND I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ARE FREE FROM THE OPPRESSIVE OCCUPATION UPHELD BY THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES.
NONE OF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS, UM, THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPRESSION, YOUR VIEW.
I KNOW THAT MY REPRESENTATIVE AL GREEN, HAS SUPPORTED A CEASEFIRE AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR THAT.
I KNOW HE IS NOT HERE, BUT I FEEL VERY PROUD OF THAT FACT.
BUT, AND I THINK IT'S DESPICABLE THAT WE ARE ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU GUYS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE POWER TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, HOUSTON IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC CITY.
IT HAS A LOT OF POWER, A LOT OF INFLUENCE, AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROTESTED OUTSIDE OF THIS CITY HALL ASKING YOU ALL TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT OUR STATE CAPITOL ASKING FOR A CEASEFIRE, AND NOBODY IS LISTENING TO US.
SO HOW MANY MORE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO DIE? OKAY, ONE SECOND.
YOU WANT TO GET INTO THAT? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, I'M, I'M AGAINST WAR PERIOD AND, AND THE KILLING AND THE TAKING OF HUMAN LIVES, BUT WE ARE VERY, VERY LIMITED IN WEIGHING IN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE REGARDING THAT.
AND SO, UM, I'M, I'M AGAINST WAR PERIOD AND KILLING PEOPLE AND TO SEE THOSE PICTURES OF, UH, THE COUNTLESS LIVES THAT WERE LOST IS JUST HEARTBREAKING.
BUT DO NOT THINK THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT HAVING A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, THAT WE HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR WHAT'S
[01:50:01]
GOING ON.AND SO CERTAINLY, I I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, TO, TO SPEAK ABOUT IT BECAUSE HOPEFULLY SOMEONE OR OR, OR A HIGHER POWER CAN, CAN INTERVENE TO MAYBE STOP ALL OF THIS DISCORD IN THE WORLD PERIOD AND IN THE CITIES, UH, WHERE WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY, UH, DEALING WITH A WAR EFFORT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES IN A MEANINGLESS WAY.
AND SO CERTAINLY YOU HAVE MY SYMPATHIES REGARDING WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING FORWARD, THE PEOPLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH OF PALESTINE, UM, DON'T NEED OUR SYMPATHIES AND PRAYERS.
THEY NEED OUR LEADERS TO STEP FORWARD AND DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THE ISRAELI FORCES ARE BACKED BY OUR TAX DOLLARS AND OTHER CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY.
I CAN THINK OF A CITY IN CALIFORNIA, THEIR MAYOR HAS COME FORWARD SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE.
SO THERE IS SOMETHING YOU GUYS CAN DO.
YOU CAN MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT AND YOUR SILENCE AND THE SILENCE OF EVERY OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN THIS COUNTRY IS ALLOWING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN TO DIE AND WILL CONTINUE DYING.
NEXT SPEAKER, THE NEXT SPEAKER.
I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU GUYS TODAY ON BEHALF OF MANY PEOPLE TO ASK WHAT YOU ARE DOING ON A DAILY BASIS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIANS.
I WOULD GENUINELY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING DAILY.
ARE YOU DEMANDING A CEASEFIRE? ARE YOU HAVING MEETINGS DAILY TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP STOP THIS GENOCIDAL WAR? BECAUSE OUR TAX DOLLARS AS AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE GOING TO THIS WAR.
AND I AM, I'M JUST GENUINELY CURIOUS TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU GUYS ARE, EVEN, IF YOU GUYS EVEN CARE, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT $14.3 BILLION JUST WENT TO ISRAEL, $3.8 BILLION A YEAR GOES TO THESE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE COMING HERE WEEK AFTER WEEK.
OUR MONEY CAN GO TO THESE PEOPLE.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF, IF YOU GUYS ARE EVEN TRYING SOMETHING DAILY, BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE SUFFERING, WE ARE NOT LIVING COMFORTABLY.
THESE PEOPLE ARE LIVING LUXURIOUSLY WITH FREE HEALTHCARE AND WHATEVER SO THAT THEY CAN RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN STAY AND HELP US COLONIZE MORE LAND IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
AND WE DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE WE HAVE TO KILL OR WHAT CULTURES WE HAVE TO CLEANSE OR WHAT NATURE WE HAVE TO DESTROY AS LONG AS WE CAN IMPERIALIZE AND COLONIZE THE LAND, AND THAT IS AMERICA AND THAT IS SICK.
AND I AM SICK OF AMERICA'S REGIME.
AND IF YOU DO NOT FEEL THE SAME WAY AND IF YOU ARE NOT HURTING THE WAY THAT WE ARE HURTING, THEN WE WILL WORK TO GET YOU OUT OF THESE SEATS AND TO GET OTHER PEOPLE IN WHO CARE ABOUT HUMAN LIVES.
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HEART AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SOUL, AND YOU KNOW THAT AND EYELASH, WHEN CHILDREN ARE HAVING THEIR LIMBS AMPUTATED WITH NO ANESTHESIA, THERE'S NO STERILE SUPPLIES, AND THESE MOTHERS ARE HAVING THEIR BELLIES CUT AND THE FETUSES PULLED OUT OF THEM AND THEY ARE DEAD AND THE DOCTORS ARE WITNESSING EVERYTHING AND THEY ARE EXHAUSTED.
THEY'RE RUNNING ON NO SLEEP, NO FOOD BECAUSE YOU ARE STARVING.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOUR VIEW, BUT WE, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
THE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE STARVING THESE PEOPLE.
OKAY? THEY'RE MURDERING THE JOURNALISTS WHO ARE BRINGING US THIS INFORMATION.
I AM WATCHING MOTHERS AND FATHERS POINT TO SCRAPS OF FLESH TO IDENTIFY THE REMAINS OF THEIR CHILDREN.
LITERALLY THEY'RE PICKING UP PIECES.
I'M, I, I SEE FRAGMENTS OF SKULL WITH FLESH AND HAIR STILL ON THEM AND THEY'RE PICKING THEM UP AND THEY'RE PUTTING THEM IN BAGS SO THEY CAN BURY THEIR CHILDREN.
AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO THESE PEOPLE.
YOU ARE ZIONISTS AND YOU ARE LIARS AND YOU ARE HYPOCRITE.
WAIT MINUTE, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
WHO YOU, THIS IS, THIS IS A MESSAGE TO YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOUR VIEW.
THIS IS A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD.
IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE SIMPLY IN YOURSELVES THEN I APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU SHOULD BE WORKING EVERY DAY WITH EACH TIME YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
[01:55:01]
NEXT SPEAKER, DON HALL.NEXT SPEAKER MARTY WILLIAMS. MARTY MARTY WILLIAMS. MARTY WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER ILI MONTOYA RIVAS, ELENA MONTOYA.
THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH FOR BEING PRESENT AND THANKS FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR EXPRESSING THE ABUSE TODAY.
[RECESS]
WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM MR. CHAMBER.I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK.
NOVEMBER 14TH AND 15TH, 2023 ITEM ONE, EXCUSE ME, PUBLIC HEARING 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 TWO PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FOURTH AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 18 C DIFF HOUSTON, TEXAS FIFTH WARD.
ZONE THREE, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SECOND AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 23 C DIFF HOUSTON, TEXAS HARRISBURG ZONE.
FULL PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX FOR GENERAL PURPOSES PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH HOUSTON ROCKLAND ROAD AND KILO STREET.
FIVE PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX A 17.07 ACRE TRACK FOR GENERAL PURPOSES.
PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER INTERSECTION OF FORT B TOLL ROAD AND ARD ROAD SIX PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX PROPERTY LOCATED AT 35 0 1 ANDERSON ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 5 3 7 PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX THE RIGHT OF WAY PORTION OF NORTH PARK DRIVE BETWEEN THE CITY LIMIT PORTIONS AT LOOP 4 94 IN THE KINGWOOD AREA.
EIGHT PUBLIC HEARING ANNEXING TERRITORY FOR LIMITED PURPOSES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
MUD 2 95 2 85 9 PUBLIC HEARING APPROVING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY MUD NUMBER 2 85 10 REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD.
11 REQUESTS FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CHANDRA JACOBS TO POSITION FIVE A TO THE TO THE AIRPORT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT 12 REQUESTS FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.
REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 25, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HIRING CLARK FORT BEND.
REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HIRING CLARK FORT BEND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM 15, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 26, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SUNNYSIDE ZONE.
ITEM 16, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2024 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THE LAKE LIVINGSTON PROJECT OPERATED BY THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY.
ITEM 17, RECOMMENDATION FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF PAVEMENT OF 2023.
MEMBERSHIP DUES TO THE WATER RESEARCH FOUNDATION.
ITEM 18 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $850,000 AND NO CENTS FOR THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CRYOGENIC OXYGEN PLANT AT THE 69TH STREET WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FROM AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC.
ITEM 19 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS OF SCHOOL.
FLASHING BEACONS FOR HOUSTON, EXCUSE ME, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER TO ECON LIGHT SYSTEMS INC.
ITEM 20 YOU VANGUARD TRUCK CENTER OF HOUSTON LLC 676,000 9 74 AND NO SENSE NER TRUCK SALES INC 9 73 1 0 7 AND NO SENSE HOUSTON FREIGHTLINER INC.
1 MILLION 4 59 7 0 6 AND OH CENTS.
AND INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS OF HOUSTON DBA RIDGE TRUCK CENTERS 314,524 AND 46 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF GRAPPLE TRUCKS THROUGH THE CORPORATE PURCHASING PROGRAMS WITH THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM, HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL AND SO SOURCE WELL FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
ITEM 21 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING SECTIONS THREE DASH TWO AND THREE DASH THREE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON TEXAS RELATING TO THE LOCATION OF ALCOHOL PREMISES.
ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON'S CAPITAL INVESTING AND DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OF ADULTS INC.
ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT
[02:00:01]
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES INC.ITEM 24 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 1 55 IS SUBMITTED TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE RETAIL GAS RATES OF CENTER POINT ENERGY IN TEXAS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SUSPENDING FOR 90 DAYS THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF NEW RATES MAINTAINING CURRENT RATES IN EFFECT.
ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE ORDER.
ADDENDUM FOR ELECTRIC ECO-FRIENDLY AND ON DEMAND SHARED RIDE SERVICES WITHIN MULTIPLE HOUSTON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING MEMO, MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN CEDAR OF HOUSTON AND UNITED AIRLINES INC.
AT GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT SLASH HOUSTON.
ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $650,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR THE PLANNED UPGRADE OF THE EMERGENCY CARD RECORDING SYSTEM FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $450,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR THE PLANNED PURCHASED AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADE AND SUPPORT OF THE HOUSTON TELE TELEVISION NETWORK.
REFRESHED FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $1,340,500 AND OH CENTS.
ITEM CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR THE PLANNED NETWORK REPLACING PROJECT FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $104,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONSOLIDATED EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION FUND FOR PLANNED PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DIAMOND MCCARTHY LLP ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND LEONA.
PEACE ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,323,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF FIRE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICE AT THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
VAL YANKEE TRAINING FACILITY ITEM 35 ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT OR STAFFING AND CONSULTING LLC ITEM 36 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 10 19 HAS AMENDED TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONE BROWN STERLING BUILDERS INC.
TWO HCG MANAGEMENT L-L-C-D-B-A HONESTY CONSTRUCTION GROUP.
THREE CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF GALVESTON, HOUSTON AND FOUR MEDICAL RESPIRATORY INSTRUMENTS INC.
DBA AVIANA HEALTHCARE MEDICAL SOLUTIONS 37 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING IN THE LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMONG AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, LAMAR, TERRY ZONE AND ST.
ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZED INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 18, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FIFTH WARD ZONE AND THE FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
WE AUTHORIZE ANY LOCAL AGREEMENT AMONG CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 20, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, SOUTHWEST HOUSTON ZONE AND SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ITEM 40 ORDINANCE ENLARGING THE BOUNDARIES OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER SEVEN, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
OLD SPANISH TRAIL, ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE 41 ORDINANCE APPROVING NINTH AMENDED RE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER SEVEN, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, OLD SPANISH TRAIL, ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE ITEM 42, ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FOURTH AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 18, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FIFTH WARD ZONE ITEM 43, ORDINANCE APPROVING.
SECOND AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 23, CITY OF FUSION, TEXAS HARRISBURG ZONE ITEM 44 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FUSION AND WM.
RECYCLE AMERICA LLC ITEM 46 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 11.567 ACRES OF LAND TOKY GULLY COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT ITEM 47 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,239,679 AND 80 80 CENTS OUTTA DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AND VALONE TAX APPROPRIATING $2,722,928 AND NO CENTS OUTTA CONTR CONTRIBUTION FOR A CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE GRAND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
AND 48 ORDINANCE ALTERING AND ESTABLISHING PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN ZONES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
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ITEM 49, ORDINANCE ALTERING MAXIMUM PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN SCHOOL ZONES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.ITEM 50 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,717,542 AND 85 CENTS, EXCUSE ME, OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FIRM, EXCUSE ME.
AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND A COMM TECHNICAL SERVICE SERVICES INC.
ITEM 51, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 9 44.
PAST SECOND READING NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023.
ORDINANCE GRANTED TO JETWAY SERVICES, LP THIRD AND FINAL READING.
ITEM 52, ORDINANCE 20 23 9 45, PAST SECOND READING NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023.
ORDINANCE GRANTING TO NORTH STAR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC.
THIS IS THIRD AND FINAL READING.
ITEM 53 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE THIRD AMENDED PROJECT PLAN, REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 24, CITY OF HOUSTON, GREATER TEXAS GREATER HOUSTON ZONE.
SUGGESTED HEARING DATE 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6TH, 54.
SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE FIFTH AMENDMENT AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ST.
9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, SIX ITEM 55.
SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCE PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 22, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SUGGEST A HEARING DATE 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2023.
ITEM 56, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 22 779 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GEOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON.
THIS WAS ITEM 31 ON AGENDA OF NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023 AND ITEM 57 ORDERS APPROVED.
WE GET AUTHORIZING SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT TO THE HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE CONCESSION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND BSL GOLF CORP.
THIS WAS DELAYED BY MOTION 20 23 7 62 ON NOVEMBER THE 8 20 23.
THIS WAS ITEM 61 ON AGENDA OF NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023.
I'D LIKE TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES OFF TO OUR FORMER, UH, CITY SECRETARY EMPLOYEE KIM YOUNG PAYNE, WHO PASSED AWAY ON YESTERDAY.
FOR THOSE WHO KNEW HER, SHE WAS A 30 YEAR, UH, EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
UM, WE WILL GET BACK WITH YOU WITH THE, UH, ANY FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, BUT WITH THAT WE WANT TO STAY CONDOLENCE TO HER FAMILY.
BUT THAT COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE SESSION OF NOVEMBER THE 15TH, 2023.
STATE TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON.
DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY.
AND OUR HARRIS WILL BE WITH MS. KIM.
[RECONVENE]
GOOD MORNING.IT IS, UH, 9 0 5 ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
UH, I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE FROM THE ZOO, UH, WILL BE HERE WITH A, A LIZ, UH, FOR THE LOSING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TO KISS THE LIZ.
SO, UM, UM, SO, UM, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR.
GOOD MORNING TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WORK FOR MS. VENITA JONES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY WE HAVE A FABULOUS HOUSTON ZOO WITH US.
UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, FOR THE BLUE PEN KISSES, THE CRITTER.
THE HOUSTON ZOO HAS BROUGHT A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL AND IT'S CALLED A CHALA.
I AM GOING TO DRAW THE NAME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND
[02:10:01]
THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I DRAW WILL HAVE TO COME TOWARDS US.I NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT HERE.
SO WHAT I SUPPOSED TO DO? OH, NO
SO YOU HIT IT ON THIS SIDE AND THEN THAT'S IT.
AND I'M AND THEN I'M GONNA, AND THEN WHY YOU CALL MY NAME THOUGH? BECAUSE THAT WAS THE LEAST AMOUNT.
OH, I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT MONEY.
WELL, CAN YOU, CAN YOU HOLD THEM UP AGAIN? I'M SORRY.
CAN YOU GET THEM TO HOLD IT? HOLD, OH, CAN YOU HOLD THIS? CAN YOU HOLD IT JUST A LITTLE BIT? THE, THE, JUST THE, OH YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S HIM.
CAN YOU SAY HIS NAME AGAIN PLEASE? AND THE NAME OF, UH, HIS NAME IS COSMO AND HE'S A CHUCK WALLA.
UM, HE'S FOUND ON ISLAND IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA.
HE ONLY ABOUT 25 YEARS, SO HE'S AT HIS PRIME RIGHT NOW.
UM, THESE ARE REALLY COOL LIZARDS.
THEY'RE BELONGING TO THE IGUANA FAMILY AND THEY ARE THE LARGEST, UH, CHUCK WALLA OUT OF THE FIVE SPECIES OF CHUCK WALLA.
UH, AND HIS FAVORITE FOOD ITEM IS BLUEBERRIES.
AND IN A WHILE THEY'LL EAT ANY VEGETATION AND FRUIT THAT THEY FIND CACTI.
WELL, HE'S A AND HE'S SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE.
WELL, HE'S A, HE'S A HANDSOME LOOKING, UM, SPECIAL.
I THINK HE APPRECIATE THE KISS.
ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HAS GOTTEN US STARTED TODAY AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, AND NOW SEE, UM, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA TURN TO THE APPOINTMENTS.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER CI, WE'RE GONNA TURN TO THE APPOINTMENTS MA'AM.
AND SO MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL CALL UP ITEMS 10 THROUGH 15, 15 ITEMS 10 THROUGH 15.
JUST NEED A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON.
AND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS 10 THROUGH 15.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED.
AND NOW IF, UH, ON ITEM 10, UH, 10 IF YOU ARE HERE, UH, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
UM, ITEM 10 IS THE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD.
POSITION ONE IS JACQUELINE UH, WI WILEY.
POSITION TWO IS JAMES, UH, CAMPBELL.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
UH, POSITION THREE IS ROBIN, IS THAT GLACE? POSITION FOUR IS RANDOLPH WILLIAM RANDY MCKINNEY.
THE SECOND FIVE IS NIKKI P HILL.
I THIRD EIGHT IS ALAN W ECKER.
ECKER NINE IS TRACY SAVOY JACK 10 IS JEANNIE A YANG.
11 IS NORMA SANS MENDOZA 12 IS RAMO.
UH, TIM CISNEROS 13 IS JOSEPH A MINERO 14 IS THOMAS.
B DE BASS, UH, 15 IS HALL L ROACH, JR 16 IS SED MILES 17 IS JESSICA.
19 IS MARIAN MITCHELL MEYERS 20 IS CATHERINE CAMPBELL.
[02:15:01]
SISSY HERE AS WELL.I KNOW I READ OFF A LOT OF NAMES, UH, SO THAT WE'LL KNOW WHO'S STANDING BEFORE US.
IF YOU'LL JUST RESTATE YOUR NAME, UH, FOR US.
I AM ACTUALLY CLAUDIA DI VASCO, THE INCOMING MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER.
AND VERY EXCITED TO BE STEPPING INTO THE LEADERSHIP ROLE FOLLOWING SISSY AND HER WONDERFUL WORK.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
I'M JENNY YANG, BOARD MEMBER TRACY SAVOY, JACK JESSICA OLMO, AND DAVID T. ANDERSON, II DAVID.
I'M JUNE DERICK, JUNE AND SISSY, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AS WELL.
I'VE BEEN MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR 15 YEARS AND I AM RETIRING AT THE END OF DECEMBER, BUT I'M PASSING THE TORCH TO A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL SUCCESSOR.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR WITH ALL OF YOU, BUT ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU MEET CLAUDIA AND WORKING WITH THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS.
AND WHO ARE YOU PASSING AT THE BATON TO? SISSY.
WELL LOOK, LEMME JUST NUMBER ONE, ALRIGHT, SISSY, LEMME THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE.
I MEAN, JUST INCREDIBLE, UH, OUTDOORS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, AND YOU'VE DONE YOUR JOB WELL, EXTREMELY WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, SO YOU'LL BE WRAPPING UP AT THE END OF THE YEAR, UH, I'LL END OF THE YEAR, UM, WORKING WITH CLAUDIA NOW TO HELP WITH THE TRANSITION.
UH, WE'LL BE GOING TOGETHER TO NEW YORK TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, UH, TO INTRODUCE HER TO FOLKS THERE.
BUT I'M GONNA STAY INVOLVED WITH THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, UM, TO MAKE SURE PROJECTS GET DONE AND THAT THE MONEY CONTINUES TO BE RAISED, SO STILL WILL BE INVOLVED, JUST NOT ON THE DAY TO DAY AND THE PROGRAMMING END OF IT.
AND, AND WELL, AND MILLER OUTDOOR IS 100 YEARS OLD, 100 YEARS.
WE JUST HAD OUR LAST PERFORMANCE OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON.
TOMORROW NIGHT IS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY GALA.
AND OUR SPECIAL GUEST IS THE INCREDIBLE RITA MORENO, WHO IS GOING TO SHARE STORIES OF HER 80 PLUS YEARS CAREER.
UH, SHE IS QUITE A FIREBALL, 91 YEARS OLD.
WE SHOULD ALL BE IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE AT THAT AGE.
SO YEAH, SHARP AS ATTACK, AND REALLY FUNNY.
YEAH, WELL, LOOK, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE, SO LET ME TURN TO THEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE AND, AND THOSE WHO WANTED TO COME, I KNOW THERE WERE, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO I, I GOT A, UM, A, A MESSAGE FROM, UH, DR. JOHN EDWARDS APOLOGIZING THAT HE'S NOT BE ABLE TO COME.
UM, TIM CISNEROS IS NOT ABLE TO COME.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS, BUT I KNOW, I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU REALLY, REALLY WELL AND JUST HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR, FOR YOU.
UM, AND, UH, AND MILLER, I WILL HAVE TO TELL YOU IS, IS JUST ABOUT MY FAVORITE THING IN HOUSTON.
I LOVE THE RODEO TOO, BUT MILLER IS ALL YEAR LONG, SO I LIKE THAT BETTER.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT YOU FOLLOWING TO SEE WHO, WHO'S DONE JUST A, YOU KNOW, A REALLY STELLAR JOB, YOU KNOW, LEADING THIS ORGANIZATION AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SUCH A PLACE FOR, FOR ALL OF HOUSTON AND FAMILIES TO GO AND TO BE TOGETHER AND ENJOY, YOU KNOW, THE ARTS, THE PERFORMING ARTS.
SO, UM, SO JUST SO HAPPY TO TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY.
BEST WISHES TO THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS.
AND THANK YOU SISSY FOR YOUR 15 YEARS.
AND A HUNDRED YEARS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
UM, MY DEAR, DEAR FRIEND JUDE DEDRICK, HAVE TO GIVE HER A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE PLACES CAN HONOR JUNE DERICK, BUT SHE WAS HONORED BY WOMEN IN SPORTS AND EVENTS LAST NIGHT.
AND, UM, IN ADDITION TO MILLER AND A THOUSAND OTHER BOARDS, SHE DOES, UM, SHE'S THE HEAD OF THE HOST COMMITTEE FOR THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHA, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, HOOK 'EM HORNS.
WE'RE, UH, HOLDING OUT FOR A LONGHORN APPEARANCE PERHAPS.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR MILLER MILLER'S SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE.
CLAUDIA, WE'RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY AND, UM, GLAD YOU'RE STAYING INVOLVED IN THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP WITH THAT.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.
UH, TO BE CLEAR, MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER IS INDUSTRY D THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND I HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME, UH, BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND, AND GREET THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO ENJOY THESE FREE PERFORMANCES.
AND I'VE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO PLEASE DONATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET BETTER IN TERMS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF THE COST, WHICH IS ZERO, RIGHT?
[02:20:01]
BUT CERTAINLY, CLAUDIA, I MET YOU THE OTHER NIGHT.I, I AM, I SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU HAVE SOME HUGE
SISSY HAS BEEN MAGNIFICENT, AND I LIKE HOW SHE DRESSES TOO
AND SO I'M GONNA SORELY MISS HER.
UH, BUT I'M GLAD THAT SHE'S GOING TO STICK AROUND.
BUT I WANNA WELCOME EACH OF YOU, UH, YOU ALL, UM, ARE, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA REALLY HELP THIS, UH, KEEP MOVING.
I'LL COME SING ONE NIGHT FOR YOU, AND, UH, THAT MAY END ALL OF YOUR PERFORMANCES
I HOPE THAT YOU BREAK A LEG, RIGHT? AND THAT YOU WILL DO.
UH, AND I'M ALREADY ENCOURAGED THAT YOU WILL DO SO.
UM, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES.
I THINK THEY'VE PUT IT WELL, SISSY, WE'RE, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE, FOR YOUR TIME LEADING THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.
AND IT MAY BE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, BUT THIS IS A CITYWIDE ISSUE.
SO, AS AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, LET ME THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR BEING A SIGNATURE, UH, INSTITUTION WITHIN OUR GREAT CITY.
AND CLAUDIA, YOU'VE GOT SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL.
UH, BOARD MEMBERS, THE COUNCIL IS HERE, OBVIOUSLY WITH MAYOR TURNER'S LEADERSHIP.
YOU GUYS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE, GREAT APPOINTMENTS, GREAT BOARD TO WORK WITH OUR NEW DIRECTOR.
AND, UH, UH, THE COUNCIL IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS 'CAUSE YOU PROVIDE SUCH AN IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HAVE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.
SO HERE'S TO THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS SISSY.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I KNOW RAN INTO YOU JUST THE OTHER NIGHT AND CROSSED THE STREET.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THAT'S GONNA BE GOOD THINGS FOR YOU.
THANK AND YOUR WELL DESERVED TIME OFF.
THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, LES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND TO SERVE OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
UH, AND CLAUDIA, CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, AND SI SISSY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR 15 YEARS.
UH, WE'RE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION, AND IT SHOWS THAT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, UH, AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER, AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE STAYING ON IN REGARDS TO THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
UH, YOU WERE THERE WHEN THEY DID THE RECENT RENOVATIONS, WHICH ARE GREAT.
UH, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW RENOVATIONS THAT ARE COMING AS WELL.
UH, SO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE GALA TOMORROW NIGHT, UH, TO HEAR FROM RITA MORENO AND SHARE HER, UH, EXPERIENCES ON WEST SIDE STORY.
SO, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TOO.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER, CONGRATULATIONS.
SI THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
AND I'M GONNA ADD ON TO JUNE'S, UH, TOUCH, YOU DID THE TET, UM, EVENT
UM, JUST THE ARTS, JUST THANK YOU ALL TO ALL OF THE, THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY OF YOUR TIME, UM, AND EFFORTS.
IT REALLY IS A GYM FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, THE ARTS HAS SAVED US DURING COVID.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SONG AND MUSIC AND DANCE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE TO SURVIVE.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT.
LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO NO QUESTION ABOUT YOUR ABILITY.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, LET ME THANK YOU ALL FOR EXCELLENT DIVERS, UH, PROGRAMMING OVER AT MILL DOOR.
UM, JUNE, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW,
UH, DAVE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.
UM, BUT LOOK, UM, MILL OUTDOOR IS AN INSTITUTION IN THIS CITY THAT QUITE, THAT PRETTY MUCH RIVALS, YOU KNOW, WELL ANY PLACE, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, EVEN NEW YORK.
SO, UM, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE, UH, AND THOSE WHO HAVE REALLY INVESTED IN MIDDLE OUTDOORS.
SO, UH, I'M SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES THAT ITS FUTURE WOULD BE BRIGHTER THAN ITS PAST.
AND THAT'S SAYING A WHOLE LOT BECAUSE ITS PAST HAS BEEN STELLAR.
SO, UM, THE CHARGE NOW IS TO TAKE IT EVEN HIGHER AND HIGHER AND HIGHER.
UH, IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND YOU HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF SKIN IN THE GAME, AND YOU, YOU'RE NOT PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND CISSY, YOU AND I, WE'RE NOT GONNA RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'RE JUST GONNA TAKE ANOTHER SEAT, BUT STILL PARTICIPATE, UH, IN WHAT TAKES PLACE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[02:25:01]
IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.UH, THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT OF, UH, CHANDRA JACOBS TO POSITION FIVE A TO THE AIRPORT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
UH, CHANDRA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
JUST GIVE US A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ON YOURSELF.
MY NAME IS CHANDRA JACOBS, I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEGREE FROM PRAIRIE VIEW, A AND M.
EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS AND JUST BRING MY EXPERTISE AND BE A PART OF CITY HOUSTON COMMITTEES.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE AIRPORT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, TO SERVE, TO STEP UP AND, UH, AND, UH, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO US AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, OKAY? MM-HMM
UM, AND THEN ON ITEM 12, NOW THIS IS ON THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.
UM, AGAIN, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
UH, ROBERT M FASH, WHO WAS A PANEL CHAIR, ELIZABETH, UH, NUNEZ, PATRICIA CABRERA.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OFFICER BOARD, ALEXANDER JOHNSON.
UH, I KNOW ALEXANDER RE REPLACED THE, UH, THE TERM OF, OF STEVEN I, AND NOW STANDING IN HIS OWN RIGHT.
SO, UM, UM, REVEREND JOHNSON LOOK EXCITED ABOUT WORKING, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU.
HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR FLASH POINTS.
UM, BUT IF BY CHANCE WE DO, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THOSE ARE THE BOARD FULLY CAPABLE OF, UH, DOING, UH, COMING UP WITH THE BEST RESOLUTION, UH, FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, SAY HELLO AGAIN TO US AS MORNING.
IT'S DELIGHT TO BE BACK WITH YOU THIS WEEK.
UH, ALEXANDER JOHNSON, AGAIN, I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE PASTOR AT WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND I JUST WANT TO EXTEND, UH, THANKS ON BEHALF OF BOB, FRED, ELIZABETH, AND PATRICIA FOR REAPPOINTING.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, ENSURE THAT THERE'S TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO REPEAT, UH, THERE IS NOT A BETTER PERSON TO LEAD THAT PARTICULAR BOARD.
I MEAN, HE'S SUCH A STELLAR LEADER AT WILLER AVENUE CHURCH, WHICH IS MY CHURCH.
UH, AND SO I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PERSONALLY SEE HIM, HIS GROWTH AND ALL THAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE.
AND THAT'S GONNA REALLY, REALLY HELP THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY, UH, WITH YOUR WORK ETHIC AND HOW DILIGENT YOU ARE ABOUT BEING FAIR AND JUST, AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
LEADERSHIP IS REFLECTIVE OF THE FRATERNITY FOR WHICH HE'S IS A MEMBER OF, YOU KNOW, SO TO MY ALPHA BROTHER, ALL THE VERY BEST.
ALEXANDER
IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
UH, POSITION ONE IS TIBA ROSE.
THREE IS GEORGE ANDERSON, FIVE IS HOMER CLARK, AND SEVEN IS HORACE ALLISON.
AND STATE YOUR NAME AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
MY NAME IS T BAR ROSE, AND I AM THE, UM, PERSON THAT DESIRES TO BE ON THE BOARD FOR TURS 25.
AND NOW YOU'RE ON IT,
YOU KNOW, YOU ASKED FOR IT AND NOW YOU HAVE IT,
SO, UM, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
UM, I KNOW KAREN CLARK IS AND VICE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ACK TATUMS DISTRICT, UH, SHE'S NOT HERE THIS MORNING 'CAUSE SHE'S, UH, UH, VERY ACTIVE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THEIR CONFERENCES MEETING IN ATLANTA.
UH, BUT ON BEHALF OF VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND ALL OF US WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
AND WE KNOW YOU'RE FULLY CAPABLE.
AND, AND TIBA, I JUST WANTED TO WELCOME YOU TO, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, UH, AS OUR GUEST HERE TODAY WITH YOUR APPOINTMENT.
AND MAYOR, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE DISTINCTION TIBA IS MAKING.
HE'S GOT THREE OTHERS, UM, ON OUR AGENDA TODAY WITH THREE APPOINTS.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING TO, UH, PROVIDE YOUR SERVICE FOR THIS REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, BOARD.
UH, HIRAM CLARK IS A CRITICAL AREA FOR OUR CITY.
UH, AS MAYOR SAID, THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM IS YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, AS YOU KNOW, BUT SERVING WITH GEORGE ANDERSON AND HOMER CLARK AND HORACE ALLISON, YOU'RE GONNA BE IN GREAT COMPANY.
SO, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP, GOOD LUCK AND
[02:30:01]
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.AND, UH, GOD BLESS YOU FOR, FOR PROVIDING HELP.
AND I MIGHT ADD YOU, YOU'RE ALSO SERVING THIS GROUP AS WE'LL, ALSO BE SERVING ON THE HAR CLARKE FORD BEING REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AS WELL.
UH, THIS IS ANOTHER PERSON WHO'S A VERY HIGH CALIBER, UH, WHO, UH, JUST DOES TREMENDOUS THINGS.
I, I THINK, DID YOU GO TO JACK YATES? YES.
JUST HAPPENED TO BE A JY FOR LIFE.
UH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THE ALPHAS, I TALK ABOUT JACK YATES.
ANYWAY, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, UH, FOR OFFERING YOUR SERVICE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT MY DISTRICT, CERTAINLY WE ALL, UH, TAKE PRIDE IN, IN WHOEVER SERVES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THEN, UH, THE TWO, THE DIRECTORS, UH, TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 26, UH, WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE SUNNYSIDE ZONE.
UH, POSITION ONE IS ZENA ROBINSON.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
POSITION TWO IS MARCUS BRIGANS.
THREE IS AC JAMES JEFFERSON JR.
FOUR IS RODNEY JONES, FIVE IS LIRO WEST JR.
AND SEVEN IS JAMES EDWARD NASH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THEM ON THE SUNNY SIDE ZONE, UH, TERRACE.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, AND ONE LAST THING, MAYOR, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE TVA'S WIFE, UH, COURTNEY JOHNSON ROSE IS SITTING BACK THERE AS WELL.
SHE'S A, A WONDERFUL, UH, REAL ESTATE BROKER AND JUST PROVIDES A TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THE CITY AS WELL.
AND COURTNEY IS ALSO THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL RELATIVE.
UH, SO SHE'S A NATIONAL LEADER AS WELL.
SO, COURTNEY, THANK YOU, UH, FOR WHAT YOU DO, APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UM, I THINK THAT TAKES CARE OF THE APPOINTMENTS FOR THIS MORNING.
[1.
PUBLIC HEARING for the Ninth Amended Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan for Reinvestment Zone Number Seven, City of Houston, Texas (Old Spanish Trail/Almeda Corridors Zone)
]NEXT WE ARE GOING TO TURN TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.UM, AND MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL ITEM NUMBER ONE.
ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING 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.
OKAY, AND ANDREW, YOU'RE HERE TO PRESENT IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR FULL NAME AND THEN PROCEED.
I'M ANDREW BUSKER IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER SEVEN AND THE OST ALAMEDA CORRIDOR'S REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APPROVED THE NINTH AMENDMENT TO THE OST ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE'S PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN, AND FORWARDED THE AMENDED PLAN TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS THREE 11.0033 11.007, AND THREE 11.011 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE.
A MUNICIPALITY MUST HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO A PROJECT PLAN INCLUDES CHANGES THAT INCREASE THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS STATED IN A PROJECT PLAN, OR REDUCES OR ENLARGES THE BOUNDARIES OF A ZONE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY IS REGARDING THE PROPOSED NINTH AMENDMENT TO THE OST ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN.
NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NOVEMBER 3RD, 2023 EDITION OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
PURSUANT TO TEXAS TAX CODE SECTION THREE 11.007, THE CITY MAY ENLARGE THE BOUNDARIES OF AN EXISTING REINVESTMENT ZONE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON COMPOSITION.
FIRST, NOT MORE THAN 30% OF THE PROPERTY IN THE ENLARGED ZONE, EXCLUDING PROPERTY THAT IS PUBLICLY OWNED IS USED FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
AND SECOND, THE TOTAL APPRAISED VALUE OF TAXABLE REAL PROPERTY IN THE ENLARGED ZONE AND IN EXISTING REINVESTMENT ZONES DOES NOT EXCEED 25% OF THE TOTAL APPRAISED VALUE OF TAXABLE REAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY AND IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS CREATED BY THE CITY.
IN BRIEF, THE AMENDED PLAN PROPOSES AN ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 9.14 ACRES INTO THE OST EDA CORRIDOR ZONE.
THE GENERAL AREA IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, GENERALLY BOUNDED BY THE WILLIAM A. LAWSON INSTITUTE ON THE NORTH SCOTT STREET ON THE EAST SOUTHMORE BOULEVARD.
AND WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE ENTIRE PARCEL ADDRESSED AS 37 10 SOUTHMORE BOULEVARD ON THE SOUTH, AND THE PARCEL ADDRESSED AS 37 11 SOUTHMORE BOULEVARD ON THE WEST.
THE RIGHT OF WAY INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSED ANNEXATION IS THE ENTIRETY OF GRANTWOOD STREET.
THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION WOULD ENABLE THE OST ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE AND THE AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE WILLIAM A LAWSUIT, UH, SORRY.
THE WILLIAM A. LAWSON INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY PLANS TO EXTEND ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS BY ANOTHER 69 UNITS ON PARCELS ADJACENT TO ITS EXISTING HOUSING.
AND THE ORGANIZATION WILL APPLY FOR TEXAS
[02:35:01]
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDITS TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION.THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE T POLICIES PASSED BY THIS BODY THROUGH ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 7 26.
IN CLOSING, CITY STAFF HAS WORKED WITH OSD ALTA CORRIDOR'S AUTHORITY ON THE PROPOSED NINTH AMENDED PLAN AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE NINTH AMENDED PLAN IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
UM, ALWAYS HAPPY TO SUPPORT, UM, WILLER AVENUE, THE, THE WALLOP.
I SEE MS. CHERYL LAWSON BACK THERE AND, AND WHO WAS THAT BACK THERE? WELL, GOOD MORNING.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WERE GOING TO BE AROUND 'CAUSE ANYTHING GOOD.
BUT, SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR THIS, UM, SUPPORT.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS TO, TO DAVID SCO? MOVE CLOSE THE HEARING, ROBINSON.
ONE SPEAKER, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE, UH, THE, UM, CHERYL LAWSON.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
I'M CHERYL LAWSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WILLIAM A. LAWSON INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY WALLET, A NONPROFIT IN THE THIRD WARD COMMUNITY.
SINCE 1996, IT WAS CREATED TO CARRY ON THE LEGACY OF OUR FOUNDER, REVEREND WILLIAM BILL LAWSON, MY 95-YEAR-OLD FATHER.
TODAY I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY ON SCOTT STREET, NEAR NORTH MCGREGOR WAY, THE WALLOP SENIOR RESIDENCE.
THIS PROPERTY OPENED IN 2005 AND HAS SERVED NEARLY 300 INDEPENDENT ELDERS.
IN OUR 18 YEARS OF OPERATION, WE WOULD'VE SERVED MORE, BUT WHEN OUR TENANTS COME, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T LEAVE.
THEY LIKE THE SECURITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY LIKE THE FACILITY AND THE SPACIOUS ONE BEDROOM AND TWO BEDROOM UNITS WE PROVIDE.
AND THEY LIKE THE AFFORDABLE RENTS OF $750 FOR A ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATHROOM, AND $950 FOR A TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM.
IF ONLY WE HAD MORE ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS FOR SENIORS, WE COULD INCREASE OUR CAPACITY AND HELP MORE FAMILIES WHO NEED HIGH QUALITY HOUSING.
THANKS TO THE MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WALLOP HAS BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL VACANT LOTS ON THE STREET BEHIND OUR FACILITY CALLED GRANTWOOD.
THIS LAND WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR EXISTING FACILITY AND GROW MORE ONE BEDROOM UNITS TO SERVE.
CURRENTLY WE'RE PLANNING TO ADD MORE THAN 60 APARTMENTS, WHICH WILL SERVE SENIORS AGE 62 AND ABOVE.
IN ADDITION TO THE LAND GRANT, WHILE IT WILL NEED TO COMPETE FOR TD EIGHT CA FUNDING, ALONG WITH SCORES OF OTHER PROJECTS STATEWIDE, WITHOUT BEING IN A TOURS, OUR APPLICATION FOR T-D-H-C-A FUNDING WILL HAVE NO CHANCE OF SUCCESS.
THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THEIR RECOMMENDED REVISION OF THE TOURS NUMBER SEVEN MAP, WHICH WILL ALLOW WALLOP TO COMPETE FOR THIS IMPORTANT T-D-H-C-A FUNDING.
TODAY, WALLOP IS REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL OF THE TOUR SEVEN EXPANSION, SO THAT WALLOP SENIOR RESIDENTS CAN GROW AND SERVE MORE ELDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, I PERSONALLY KNOW HOW WELL RUN THE APARTMENTS ARE.
I HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIVE THERE AND SHE'S RIGHT THEN NOBODY EVER WANTS TO LEAVE.
AND THE WAITING LIST IS TREMENDOUS.
AND SO I KNOW THE NEEDS OF THE SENIORS.
CERTAINLY THOSE ONE BEDROOMS ARE GONNA OFFER A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO LIVE IN A SAFE, CAN I SAY SAFE ENVIRONMENT, CLEAN AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
AND AGAIN, I DIDN'T CALL YOUR NAME THEOLA PETWAY, BUT I, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL THAT YOU DO, UH, FOR DISTRICT D AS WELL.
UM, SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, MS. LAWSON, AND FOR ALL YOUR DIRECTION ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF TOWN.
AND OBVIOUSLY WITH YOUR FATHER'S, UH, LEADERSHIP AND SPIRIT.
UH, WE ARE SO BLESSED IN THIS CITY, SO PLEASE GIVE HIM OUR GREAT GRATITUDE AND THANK YOU.
AND, UH, UH, WITH THAT MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE HEARING.
UM, THERE'S A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND THE OBJECTION CHAIR IS NONE, AND THIS HEARING IS CLOSED.
[2.
PUBLIC HEARING for the Fourth Amended Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan for Reinvestment Zone Number Eighteen, City of Houston, Texas (Fifth Ward Zone)
]SECRETARY, IF YOU ARE CALLED THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, ITEM TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FOURTH AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 18, CITY HOUSTON FOOT, FIFTH WARD ZONE.IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR FULL NAME AND YOU CAN PROCEED.
GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS JENNIFER.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
[02:40:01]
MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY IS REGARDING THE PROPOSED FOURTH AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 18, THE FIFTH WARD ZONE.
ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FIFTH WARD ZONE AND THE FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ADOPTED AMENDMENTS TO THE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR THE FIFTH WARD ZONE AND TRANSMITTED THE AMENDED PLAN TO THE CITY FOR CONSIDERATION BY CITY COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS THREE 11.0 3, 3 11 0.007, AND THREE 11.011 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE.
THE CITY MUST HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE APPROVING THE AMENDED PLAN BECAUSE IT CHANGES THE PERCENTAGE OF TAX INCREMENT TO BE CONTRIBUTED BY A TAXING UNIT, INCREASES THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST IN THE PLAN, AND EXTENDS THE TERM OF THE FIFTH WARD.
NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NOVEMBER 3RD, 2023 ADDITION OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
THE AMENDED PLAN PROVIDES FOR A THREE YEAR LIFE EXTENSION OF THE FIFTH WARD ZONE FROM DECEMBER 31ST, 2049 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2052 TO COINCIDE WITH THE TERM OF THE DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND CONCESSION AGREEMENT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BUFFALO BAYOU EAST AGREEMENT EXECUTED BETWEEN THE CITY, HARRIS COUNTY AND BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP RELATING TO THE BUFFALO BAYOU EAST AND PROVIDING FOR FINANCING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO PARKS, TRAILS, STREETS, AND PUBLIC FACILITIES TO BE CONSTRUCTED PARTLY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FIFTH WARD ZONE.
THE CITY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE FIFTH WARD ZONE AT 100% THROUGH TAX YEAR 2020 TAX YEAR 2050.
THEREAFTER, PARTICIPATION WILL BE 10% FOR TAX SHARES 2051 AND 2052.
THE AMENDED PLAN PROVIDES FOR AN ADDITIONAL 116 ACRES ANNEX TO THE FIFTH WARD ZONE IN DECEMBER, 2022, PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 20 22 0 4 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A PLANNED HARRIS COUNTY DETENTION PROJECT.
AND AN INCREASE TO THE PROJECT COST SCHEDULE TO INCLUDE BUFFALO BAYOU EAST MAINTENANCE COSTS AND TO REFLECT INCREASED PROJECT COSTS THAT ACCUMULATED IN THE PREVIOUS PART, C AND D PLANS.
THE AMENDED PLAN ALSO INCLUDES THE PARTICIPATION OF HARRIS COUNTY IN THE FIFTH WARD ZONE AS A FUNDING PARTNER FOR THE BUFFALO BAYOU EAST AGREEMENT.
ENC CLOSING CITY STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THE AUTHORITY ON THE PROPOSED AMENDED PLAN AND A RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE AMENDED PLAN IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ANY ANY QUESTIONS TO MS. KERLEY? IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FOR, UH, UH, ON OR, UH, AGAINST THIS ITEM? HEARING SEEING NONE? MOTION, UM, MOVE CLOSE THE HEARING.
ROBINSON, CAN I GO SECOND? I MOVE AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
UH, NOW WE TURN TO MADAM SECRETARY
[3.
PUBLIC HEARING for the Second Amended Project Plan and Reinvestment Zone Financing Plan for Reinvestment Zone Number Twenty-Three, City of Houston, Texas (Harrisburg Zone)
]OF UH, UH, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE.NUMBER THREE, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SECOND AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 23, CITY PEACE IN TEXAS, HARRISBURG ZONE.
MY NAME IS BRANDON WALLEN WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY IS REGARDING THE PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 23, THE HARRISBURG ZONE.
ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2023, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRISBURG ZONE AND THE HARRISBURG REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ADOPTED AMENDMENTS TO THE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN FOR HARRISBURG ZONE AND TRANSMITTED A PROPOSED SECOND AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN TO THE CITY FOR CONSIDERATION BY CITY COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3 11 0 3 3 11 0 0 7, AND THREE 11.0 11 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE.
THE CITY MUST HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE APPROVING THE AMENDED PLAN BECAUSE IT CHANGES THE PERCENTAGE OF TAX INCREMENT TO BE CONTRIBUTED BY A TAXING UNIT, INCREASES THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS AND EXTENDS THE TERM OF THE HARRISBURG ZONE.
NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN NOV IN THE NOVEMBER 3RD, 2023
[02:45:01]
EDITION OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE.THE AMENDED PLAN PROVIDES FOR A 12 YEAR LIFE EXTENSION OF THE HARRISBURG ZONE FROM DECEMBER 31ST, 2040 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2052 TO COINCIDE WITH THE TERM OF THE DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND CONCESSION AGREEMENT.
THE BUFFALO BAYOU EAST AGREEMENT EXECUTED BETWEEN THE CITY, HARRIS COUNTY AND BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP RELATING TO BUFFALO BAYOU EAST AND PROVIDING FOR FINANCING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO PARKS, TRAILS, STREETS, AND PUBLIC FACILITIES TO BE CONSTRUCTED PARTLY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE HARRISBURG ZONE.
THE CITY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE HARRISBURG ZONE AT A HUNDRED PERCENT THROUGH TAX YEAR 2040.
THEREFORE THEREAFTER, PARTICIPATION WILL BE 10% FOR TAX YEARS 2041 THROUGH 2052.
THE AMENDED PLAN INCLUDES BOUNTY CHANGES FOR THE TO THE HARRISBURG ZONE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 14TH, 2020, PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 1 0 0 7 AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2002 DASH 1 0 0 8.
THE AMENDED PLAN ALSO INCLUDES PARTICIPATION BY HARRIS COUNTY THAT WILL ALLOW FOR MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED IN THE AREA OF BUFFALO BAYOU IN COLLABORATION WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERS.
IN CLOSING, CITY STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THE AUTHORITY ON THE AMENDED PLAN AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE AMENDED PLAN IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE, UH, TO SPEAK? OH, I'M SORRY.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP.
OF COURSE, I WANT TO THANK THE KINDER FOUNDATION FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO, FOR, FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE EAST SECTOR, UH, BUT TO, UH, EXPAND FIFTH WARD ZONE AS WELL AS THE HARRISBURG ZONE, SO THAT WAY THEY AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY SO THAT WAY THEY CAN HELP MAINTAIN, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE, THE NEW, UH, HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS THAT WE, THAT WILL BE BUILT, UH, FOR THE EAST SECTOR.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR, FOR DOING THIS.
UH, UH, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO, UH, UH, TO SEE THE, UH, THE EAST SECTOR, UH, BE BUILT OUT ON THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM FOR ON OR AGAINST HEARING? SEEING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE? MOVE CLOSE THE HEARING.
ROBINSON GALL SECOND, THEN MOVE AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
THANKS TO THE TWO OF YOU, MADAM
[4.
PUBLIC HEARING requesting that the City annex for general purposes property that is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of N. Houston Rosslyn Road and Killough Street - DISTRICT B - JACKSON
]SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL HEARING NUMBER FOUR.PUBLIC HEARING, REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH HOUSTON, ROSALYN ROAD AND KELLO STREET.
YOU'RE NOW RECOGNIZED AS NICOLE, BRO.
MY NAME IS NICOLE BROSSARD FROM THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UM, ITEM FOUR IS THE FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF THE DEVON ENERGY TRACT.
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED A PETITION FROM DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY, LP REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX FOR GENERAL PURPOSES PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH HOUSTON, ROSLYN ROAD AND KELO STREET.
THE DEVELOPMENT CONSISTS OF 23.3 ACRES OF LAND OWNED ENTIRELY BY THE PETITIONERS.
THE REASON FOR THIS GENERAL PURPOSE ANNEXATION IS SO THAT THE PARCEL CAN AVAIL WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FROM HARRIS COUNTY MUD NUMBER 360 6, WHICH IS AN IN-CITY UTILITY DISTRICT.
THE PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE IS A 284 960 SQUARE FOOT INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE AND OFFICE BUILDING.
THE ANNEXATION PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ANY QUESTION TO MS. BROUSSARD? IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON, ON, UH, FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? HEARING SEEN NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THIS HEARING? MOVE CLOSE THE HEARING ROBINSON SECOND.
I STILL THINKING ABOUT HARRISBURG.
I SEE
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? CHAIR NINE.
[5.
PUBLIC HEARING requesting that the City annex a 17.07-acre tract for general purposes property that is located at the southwest intersection of Fort Bend Toll Road and McHard Road - DISTRICT K - CASTEX-TATUM
]SECRETARY, IF YOU CALL HEARING NUMBER FIVE, ITEM FIVE PUBLIC HEARING, REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX A 17.07 ACRE TRACK FOR GENERAL PURPOSES.PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST INTERSECTION OF FORT BEND TOLL ROAD AND MCCORD ROAD.
BEAR WITH MS. BROOKE BOUCHARD.
UH, THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR THE LAH HOUSTON ONE LLC
[02:50:01]
ANNEXATION FOR FULL PURPOSES INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A PETITION FROM LAH HOUSTON ONE LLC, REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX FOR GENERAL PURPOSES PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST INTERSECTION OF FORT BEN TOLL ROAD AND ARD ROAD.
THE REASON FOR THIS GENERAL PURPOSE ANNEXATION IS SO THAT THE PARCEL CAN AVAIL WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FROM THE CITY.
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SITE INCLUDES A HOTEL, TWO FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, A FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT, AND A GAS STATION WITH A CAR WASH.
THE ANNEXATION PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK FOR AGAINST OR ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? HEARING, SAYING NONE.
MOVE CLOSE THE HEARING ROBINSON A SECOND.
MOVE A SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
[6.
PUBLIC HEARING requesting that the City annex property located at 3501 Anderson Road, Houston Texas 77053 - DISTRICT K - CASTEX-TATUM
]SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL HEARING NUMBER SIX.ITEM SIX, PUBLIC HEARING REQUEST THAT THE CITY ANNEX PROPERTY LOCATED AT 35 0 1 ANDERSON ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 5 3 HERE WITH MS. BROSSARD.
UH, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE TECH PRO PROPERTIES LLC ANNEXATION FOR FULL PURPOSES INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED A PETITION FROM TECH PRO PROPERTIES LLC REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX FOR GENERAL PURPOSES PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY OF ANDERSON ROAD TO THE WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF ALAMEDA AND ANDERSON ROAD.
THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION CONSISTS OF 8.893 ACRES OF LAND ON ENTIRELY BY THE PETITIONERS AND THE OH 0.967 ACRE TRACKED ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY OF ANDERSON ROAD.
THE REASON FOR THIS GENERAL PURPOSE ANNEXATION IS SO THAT THE PARCEL CAN AVAIL WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FROM THE CITY.
THE PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE IS 78 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH AREAS FOR DRAINAGE AND DETENTION.
THE ANNEXATION PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FOR AGAINST? SO ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, HEARING SEEN NONE, IS THERE MOTION TO CLOSE? MOVE CLOSE THE HEARING.
ROBINSON HERE GOES SECOND THERE.
MOVE AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
[7.
PUBLIC HEARING requesting that the City annex the right-of-way portion of North Park Drive between the city limit portions at Loop-494 and the Kingwood Area - DISTRICT E - MARTIN
]SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL HEARING NUMBER SEVEN.ITEM SEVEN PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ANNEX THE RIGHT OF WAY PORTION OF NORTH PARK DRIVE BETWEEN THE CITY LIMIT PORTIONS AT LOOP 4 94 AND THE KINGWOOD AREA HERE WITH MS. PSAD.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR THE FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF A PORTION OF NORTH PARK DRIVE.
UM, AND THIS PORTION OF NORTH PARK DRIVE IS LOCATED ENTIRELY WITHIN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
IT CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 14.29 ACRES OF ROAD RIGHT OF WAY INTO THE CITY.
THE CITY IS THE OWNER OF THE ANNEXATION AREA BY VIRTUE OF A RIGHT OF WAY DEED FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY DATED MAY 23RD, 2023.
THE ANNEXATION AREA IS LOCATED EAST OF LOOP 4 94 BETWEEN ANDERSON ROAD AND THE KINGWOOD AREA ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE CITY.
THE EAST BOUNDARY OF THE ANNEXATION AREA IS ADJACENT TO THE CITY'S FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
THE LENGTH OF THE ANNEXATION AREA IS APPROXIMATELY 1.09 MILES.
THE BENEFIT OF THIS ANNEXATION IS THAT IT WILL PROVIDE A SECOND MAJOR THOROUGHFARE CONNECTION TO THE KINGWOOD AREA IN DISTRICT E TO ITS NORTH PORTION DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CITY WITHOUT A CHANGE IN JURISDICTION AND THUS AVOIDING CONFUSION.
AND IT STANDARDIZES THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES TO THE AREA.
THE ANNEXATION PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK FOR AGAINST ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? HEARING SAYING NONE.
ROBINSON GALL SECOND, THEN MOVE A SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
[8.
PUBLIC HEARING Annexing Territory for Limited Purposes in Harris County MUD No. 285
][9.
PUBLIC HEARING Approving Strategic Partnership Agreement with Harris County MUD No. 285
]MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL HEARING NUMBER EIGHT.ITEM EIGHT, PUBLIC HEARING ANNEX AND TERRITORY FOR LIMITED PURPOSES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS EIGHT AND NINE.
SO BELL CALL NUMBER NINE AS WELL.
SINCE JANUARY, 2001, THE CITY HAS APPROVED 388 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS OR SPAS WITH FOUR HUNDRED, TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS GENERATING APPROXIMATELY FIVE $857 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
AS OF JUNE, 2023, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT $79.1 MILLION OF THAT AMOUNT WAS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2021.
THE REVENUE FROM SBAS NOW REPRESENTS 8.9% OF THE SALES TAX COLLECTION FOR THE CITY.
THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 8TH.
FOLLOWING THIS PUBLIC HEARING, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE SEEKING COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR THE SPAS AND LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATIONS ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2023.
IF APPROVED TAX COLLECTIONS WILL BEGIN ON APRIL 1ST, 2024.
THE PROPOSED SPA AND LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION FOR DECEMBER 23 IS AS FOLLOWS FOR THE FOLLOWING, DISTRICT CITY WILL AMEND THE EXISTING SPA AND ANNEX ADDITIONAL TERRITORY FOR LIMITED PURPOSES.
[02:55:01]
2 85.FOR THIS DISTRICT, THE CITY WILL LEVY A 1% SALES TAX, WHICH WILL DIVIDE EVENLY WITH THE DISTRICT.
THERE ARE, AT PRESENT, NO RESIDENTS IN THE AREA TO BE ANNEXED FOR LIMITED PURPOSES.
ALSO FOR THE DISTRICT, THERE IS NO TERRITORY OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEX STATIONS.
HENCE, THE CITY IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANY SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 43 0 7 5 1D OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
NOTICES OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 20TH AND 27TH TO 2023 AND CONTAINED THE STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARINGS, THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF THE HEARINGS, AND THE LOCATION WHERE COPIES OF THE PROPOSED S PS MAY BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO THE HEARINGS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WISH TO, UM, SPEAK ON PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER EIGHT AND PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER NINE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE BOTH OF THESE HEARINGS? MOVE CLOSE.
BOTH HEARINGS EIGHT AND NINE ROBINSON.
AND SECOND TO CLOSE BOTH OF THESE HEARINGS.
ANY OBJECTIONS, HARRIS? HONOR AND MOTIONS GRANTED.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THIS MORNING.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
THIS SATURDAY, THE CITY WILL PARTNER WITH HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS, UH, THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE AND THE HOUSTON POLICE FOR A GUN BUYBACK.IT BEGINS AT 8:00 AM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER THE 18TH AT THE WEST CHASE PARK AND RIDE, UH, 11,050 HARWIN DRIVE.
THAT'S THE WEST CHASE PARK AND RIDE.
STARTING AT 8:00 AM YOU CAN EXCHANGE YOUR GUN FOR A GIFT CARD.
AND WITH THE HOLIDAYS APPROACHING, IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE GUNS THAT YOU DON'T WANT.
THIS IS NOT A, UM, THIS IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO, UH, VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO RELINQUISH THEIR GUNS.
SO AGAIN, GUN BUYBACK WILL BE THIS COMING SATURDAY AND NOVEMBER THE 18TH AT THE WEST CHASE PARK AND RIDE, UH, 11,050 HARING DRIVE, STARTING AT 8:00 AM IT IS BEGINNING TO LOOK ALIKE LIKE THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
AND HOUSTON FIRST AND DOWNTOWN, UH, HOUSTON ARE HOSTING THE CITY LIGHTS DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MAGIC PRESENTED BY SHELL ENERGY AT HOUSTON THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER THE 17TH AT 5:30 PM NOW, THIS EVENT WILL BRING MORE SPECTACULAR LIGHTS AND THE EVENING FESTIVITIES WILL ALSO INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC, HOLIDAY CRAFT, UM, UM, ENTERTAINMENT, UH, AERIALS PERFORMANCE BALLOON ARTISTS, UH, STILT WALKERS AND HOUSTON BELOVED ART CARS, VISITORS AND RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AT DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY VILLAGES THROUGH SUNDAY, DECEMBER THE 31ST.
SO, UM, THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS WILL KICK OFF THIS COMING FRIDAY AT FIVE 30, UH, PM AT THE AVENUE STATE AMERICAS, UM, THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE IS NEXT WEEK.
IT WILL BE THE 74TH ANNUAL, UH, HEB THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.
UH, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS, UH, RUDY T AND CALL MURPHY WILL BE CO.
GRAND MARSHALLS, UH, THE FORMER GREATS WITH THE HOUSTON ROCKETS.
THIS EVENT BEGINS AT 9:00 AM ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD AT SMITH AND LAMAR STREET.
UH, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, A ONCE IN A GENERATION INVESTMENT IN AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, IT HAS HELPED COUNTLESS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH BREAKING, GROUNDBREAKING AND CUTTING RIBBONS ON PROJECTS TO REBUILD OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES, DELIVER CLEAN AND SAFE WATER, CLEAN UP LEGACY POLLUTION, EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET, AND BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON APPLIED FOR AND WAS AWARDED A SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL GRANT IN 2022, UH, WITH A TOTAL FEDERAL REQUEST OF $28.79 MILLION.
THE BINET CORRIDOR SAFE STREETS PROJECT WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE CITY OF HOUSTON VISION ZERO MISSION BY PROVIDING RESOURCES TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CORRIDORS, UH, ACROSS THE CITY AND IN FACT, ACROSS THE STATE.
SECONDLY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON S ALSO APPLIED FOR AND WAS AWARDED A RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION GRANT WITH A FEDERAL FUNDING REQUEST OF $36.9 MILLION.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY RAIL OR PATHWAY RAIL GRADE CROSSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT FOCUS ON THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY OF PEOPLE AND GOODS.
SO CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND ALL OF THOSE CONGRESS FOR MAKING, UH, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AVAILABLE.
AND HOUSTON HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A RECIPIENT OF THOSE OF THOSE DOLLARS.
UH, OUR CITY SPORTS TEAMS HAVE BEEN ON A ROLL, UM, NUMBER ONE THROUGH THE TEXANS.
UH, UM, WELL, NO ONE THOUGHT THE TEXANS
[03:00:01]
WOULD BE CINCINNATI, BUT THEY DID AND THEY DID ON THEIR OWN, HER HOME TURF.SO I WANNA CONGRATULATE THE TEAM AND COACH, UH, RYAN ECCO AND THE MICHAEL RYAN AND QUARTERBACK CJ STROUD.
UM, UM, YOU KNOW, DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.
SO THE TEXANS PLAY AT HOME THIS SUNDAY AGAINST ARIZONA CARDINALS AND STROUD, UH, IS ASKING FANS TO PACK THE NRG STADIUM, UH, AND BRING THE ENERGY IN.
I KNOW, I KNOW HOUSTONIANS WELL.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HOUSTON DYNAMO.
THE TEAM WILL HOST, UH, SPORTING KANSAS CITY, UH, IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE, SEMI-FINAL ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH WITH A 6:00 PM KICKOFF.
SO TEXANS ARE PLAYING WELL, THE DYNAMOS ARE PLAYING WELL.
THE HOUSTON ROCKETS ARE SIX AND OLD.
UH, WELL, THEY WON THE LAST SIX.
LAST SIX AND WON THE LAST SIX.
SO THINGS ARE GOING WELL AS WE HEAD INTO THE THANKSGIVING SEASON.
I DON'T THINK WE MEET NEXT WEDNESDAY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, DON'T SHOW UP NEXT WEDNESDAY.
UH, I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT, BUT FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT HERE, THEY MAY SHOW UP NEXT WEDNESDAY.
SO WE ARE GONNA LET THEM SHOW UP NEXT WEDNESDAY TIME.
SO, UM, BUT ENJOY YOUR, ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
THAT DOES IT FOR, FOR ME, MADAM
[CONSENT AGENDA]
SECRETARY, BACK TO THE AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID CATEGORY.
SEPARATE CONSIDERATION NEEDED.
OKAY, MOVE AND SECONDED ON ITEMS 18 AND 20.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSE AND GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEM 26 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEM 44 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED.SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 21, 23, 27, 28, 31, 32, 35, 39, 40 AND 41.
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 21, 23, 27, 28, 31, 32, 35, 39, 40 AND 41.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING AGREEMENT.
UM, MOVE AND SECOND ON ITEM 19.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN ON 19.
UM, I KNOW THAT THIS ITEM IS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS FOR SCHOOL FLASHING BEACONS, WHICH, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE ALWAYS WANT KIDS TO BE SAFE WHENEVER THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL.
AND RECENTLY, ACTUALLY FOR THE LAST YEAR, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TRYING TO GET A FLASHING BEACON NEAR A SCHOOL IN DISTRICT G, JUST RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY.
UM, PUBLIC WORKS HAD APPROVED IT.
IT WAS ON MY LIST OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE GONNA HAPPEN.
I'M PAYING FOR IT WITH MY COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
AND THEN I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY SAID THAT, THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER GOING FORWARD ON THAT PROJECT.
AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SCHOOL SAFETY IS SO IMPORTANT AND THIS STOP SIGN, PEOPLE RUN IT ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THE STOP SIGN THAT IT DOESN'T REGISTER WITH PEOPLE, BUT IT'S A BIG AREA WHERE THE KIDS CROSS AND GO TO SCHOOL.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH MY COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, I'D REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS, UM, FLASHING BEACON, UM, APPROVED.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST, DON'T YOU JUST SEND IT TO ME, MAYOR.
ROBINSON, MAYBE I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE HAS GOT THE BEST INTEREST OF HER DISTRICT IN MIND.
WE WANT TO HELP THE, UH, TTI COMMITTEE JUST HELD A, AN AGENDA ITEM RECENTLY THAT TALKED ABOUT WHEN SIGNAGE AND BEACONS ARE NEWLY APPROPRIATE.
MAYOR, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME RECENT LEGISLATION PASSED IN AUSTIN THAT RELATES TO WHERE WE CAN AND CANNOT DO THINGS.
SO THERE COULD BE SOME TERRITORY THERE.
BUT UNDERSTANDING YOUR INTEREST IN GETTING IT, MAYOR, I'D ENCOURAGE OUR, UH, OBVIOUS, UH, DISCRETION WITH THINKING ABOUT THAT SPECIAL INSTANCE.
YEAH, JUST SEND ME, SEND ME THE LOCATION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 19? DISCUSSION
[03:05:02]
IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 19.WE ON ITEM 21, COUNCIL MEMBER GUY ANGOS ON 21.
UH, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE, UH, PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT ZONE.
UH, CURRENTLY THE, UH, THE ZONE IS, UM, ON THE NORTH SIDE COMMERCE AVENUE.
ON THE EAST SIDE IS LOUISIANA STREET, WEST SIDE SAN JACINTO STREET.
AND ON THE SOUTH IS DALLAS STREET.
UH, THIS IS GONNA EXPAND IT TO, UH, I 10 ON, UH, THE NORTH I 45 ON THE EAST.
I 69 ON, UH, OR EXCUSE ME, I 45 ON THE WEST, I 69 ON THE EAST.
AND, UH, THE PIERCE ELEVATED ON THE SOUTH.
UM, I JUST WANNA READ A LETTER FROM, UH, CHRISTOPHER LARSON, UH, PRESIDENT, CEO OF THE CENTRAL HOUSTON.
UH, HE CAME AND SPOKE AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
UH, THIS IS EXCITING IN DUE TO THE FACT THAT, UH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE MORE SPACE ON MAIN STREET, UH, TO SEVEN BLOCKS.
UH, AND THAT THAT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL, UH, INITIATIVE THAT WE STARTED TO HELP, UH, THE RESTAURANTS AND CLUBS THERE ON MAIN STREET.
UH, THE LETTER STATES THAT WE HAVE, UH, OR EXCUSE ME.
FIRST, WE COMMEND CITY STAFF FOR THINKING CRE CREATIVELY ABOUT ADDRESSING LIMITATIONS THAT IMPEDE THE DOWNTOWN AREA'S ABILITY TO REALIZE ITS POTENTIAL AS A VIBRANT MIXED USE PLACE.
EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC DOWNTOWN STRUGGLED AS A LOCATION FOR ACTIVE GROUND FLOOR BUSINESSES, THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF 55 GROUND FLOOR TENANTS, MOST OF WHICH WERE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT BROUGHT LIFE TO OUR STREETS AND PROVIDED OUR RESIDENTS WORKERS AND VISITORS WITH ACCESS TO FOOD CULTURE, SERVICES AND ENTERTAINMENT.
UH, WE HAVE WORKED TO BUILD BACK OUR STOREFRONT ECONOMY.
THIS EXPANSION WILL PROVIDE GREATER EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY WITHIN DOWNTOWN SUPPORT, JOB CREATION, AND EVENTS AND CRITICAL COMMUNITY GO FOR DRIVING VIBRANCY.
THE EXPANSION ALLOWS FOR GREATER INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY TO HELP BACKFILL OUR VACANT STOREFRONTS.
ONES OCCUPIED WITH THE NEXT WAVE OF ENTERPRISE PRICING ENTREPRENEURS.
THOSE STOREFRONTS WILL HELP DRIVE A GREATER UTILIZATION OF THE SIDEWALKS IN DOWNTOWN.
THIS ISSUE IS CRITICAL TO DOWNTOWN AS EMPTY SIDEWALKS MAKE PEOPLE FEEL VULNERABLE AND ALONE.
THIS CAUSES MISPERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY IN DOWNTOWN CONTRARY TO WHAT THE DATA SUGGESTS.
AND THOSE MISPERCEPTIONS FOSTER A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF CONSUMER BEHAVIORS AND PUBLIC OPINIONS.
PUT SIMPLY VIBRANCY IS THE CURE FOR NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THE PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT ZONE EXPANSION IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, SO AGAIN, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I DO SUPPORT IT REPRESENTING MOST OF DOWNTOWN, AND I'M ASKING FOR Y'ALL'S SUPPORT AS WELL.
UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 21? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 21? THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MGOS.
UH, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE.
WE ON, WE ON ITEM 23, COUNCIL MEMBER ALQUAN ON ITEM 23.
UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S ABSENCE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON HER BEHALF, UH, ON WHAM, SHE HAS CERTAINLY WORKED A LOT WITH, UH, WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANT MINISTRIES.
I KNOW ALL, ALL OF US HAVE AT LA AT LARGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UM, REALLY SU DO SUCH GREAT WORK.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION LATELY ABOUT THE AGENCIES THAT WE HIRE FOR THE RAPID REHOUSING.
UM, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS ONE AS BEING ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS REALLY PROVIDING GREAT SERVICE.
WHAM DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB AND THEY'RE VERY, THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE.
SO, UH, UM, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM AND, AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 23? DISCUSSION ON 23 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 23? AND BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT ONE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PASSED AND THAT'S ON ITEM 25.
IF YOU NOTICE, THAT'S A SUSPENSION OF THE, THE RATES OF CENTER 0.4 90 DAYS.
WHILE WE UNDERGO THAT REVIEW, THAT'S A 14% RATE INCREASE THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING, BUT WE ARE SUSPENDING THAT RATE INCREASE FOR 90 DAYS AS WE, AS WE REVIEW THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALREADY PASSED.
UH, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE.
IS THAT 26? NO, THAT'S NOT, THAT IS, OH, 26 9.
UM, SOMETHING THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME ABOUT THIS, MOU, UM, IS THE ATTITUDE OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS HERE.
UM, IN THE MEMO FROM THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR DIAZ TO THE CONTROLLER, UM, HE BASICALLY SAID IT'S NOT TAXES, IT'S ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
AND A LOT OF IT'S PAID BY NON HOUSTONIANS.
AND I JUST DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
[03:10:01]
THOUGHT PROCESS HERE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE SAYING, LET'S JUST TAKE ALL THE SALES TAX MONEY THAT'S PAID BY NON HOUSTONIANS AND SPEND IT HOWEVER WE WANT BECAUSE IT'S OKAY.SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON PAID IT.
AND I MEAN, WE, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT.
YOU COULD CALL IT FEE AND ASSESSMENT ATTACKS.
IT'S MONEY PAID BY SOMEONE WITH AN EXPECTATION THAT WE ARE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THIS MONEY.
SO, UM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS VOTE, I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT THIS IS A BAD WAY TO SPEND THIS MONEY, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE NEED SOME KIND OF ATTITUDE CHANGE HERE.
THAT THIS MONEY IS MONEY PAID BY PEOPLE.
IT'S A FEE, IT'S WHETHER IT'S A TAX OR NOT, IT'S MONEY THAT IS PAID TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO IT'S NOT FREE MONEY HERE.
I I THINK THEY WERE SIMPLY BEING RES, UH, THAT WERE RESPONDING TO, UH, STATEMENTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY MADE.
UH, SO WHETHER IT'S PROPERTY TAXES, UH, WHETHER IT'S SALES TAX, WHETHER IT'S PASSENGERS PAYING THE FEES, UH, I THINK THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO, UM, BE MORE SPEAKING TO A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE.
UH, BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS THAT LIKE ON ALL AIRPORT MATTERS, ENTERPRISE MATTERS.
UH, THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRPORTS PRETTY MUCH COME FROM THE PASSENGERS THEMSELVES.
THOSE, UH, WHETHER THEY LIVE IN THE CITY, MOST OF THEM COMING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSING THROUGH.
THE DOLLARS THAT WE GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE DOLLARS ORIGINATED LOCALLY.
SO WE SAVE FEDERAL DOLLARS, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A MACHINE.
SO THE DOLLARS COME UP LOCALLY.
UM, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR MANNER, WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER IS THAT UNITED HAS ABOUT, UH, SEVEN HUBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM SAN FRANCISCO, UH, TO NEW JERSEY, UH, DC CHICAGO, DENVER.
NOW DENVER IS A MAJOR HUB FOR UNITED MM-HMM
THE FACT THAT UNITED, UH, IS, IS, UH, SEEKING TO REBUILD TERMINAL B, AND I MEAN, TERMINAL B IN ITS ENTIRETY IS A MAJOR DEAL, OKAY? IT'S A MAJOR DEAL.
UM, THE TOTAL COST OF THAT PROJECT, OF THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT THREE MIL.
OUR PORTION COLLECTIVELY IS ABOUT 600 AND LET'S SAY 48 MIL.
OKAY? UM, AND IT'S BEEN DONE IN SEGMENTS.
THE FIRST PIECE, UH, THAT WE WERE SEEKING, IT'S LIKE 150 MIL.
ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE, OKAY? IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE DOLLARS ARE THERE, THE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE.
AND THE, AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THE TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION OF TERMINAL B, THEY ARE ELECTING TO DO, TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON, NOT IN NEW JERSEY, NOT IN DENVER, NOT IN SAN FRANCISCO.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, NOT WHERE THEY'RE PRINCIPALLY LOCATED IN CHICAGO.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF OUR AIRPORT ON SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JOB CREATION, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER 3,500 JOBS BEING CREATED RIGHT HERE, OKAY? AND THEY ARE SHOULDERING MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE COST OF THIS PROJECT AND CAPPING IN THE NEXT AGREEMENT, THEY ARE CAPPING THAT AMOUNT, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE COST CREEP.
WHERE TODAY YOU'RE LOOKING AT LET'S SAY, UH, 2 BILLION OR 3 BILLION IN THE AGREEMENT THAT'S BEING PUT FORTH.
IT'S BEING CAPPED, BUT OUR PORTION, OUR PORTION, UH, COLLECTIVELY IS ABOUT 648 MIL FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, AND I KNOW BOB PROBABLY DONE MIND TALKING ABOUT BOB HARVEY AND I HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WITH GREEN HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND FULLY 100% SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BEING GENERATED BY ONE OF THE LEADING AIRPORTS AROUND THE GLOBE.
SO DO WE WANT 'EM TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE? IT'S HOUSTON.
SO, BUT I DO, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER P TO YOUR QUESTION.
I THINK WE, WE GET LOST IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER IT'S, UH, PROPERTY TAXES OR SALES TAXES OR FEES COMING FROM CUSTOMERS.
IF IT'S COMING OUTTA YOUR POCKET, IT'S COMING OUTTA YOUR POCKET.
I I'M WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT AND I DON'T WANT TO GET IN BECAUSE IF IT'S OUTTA YOUR POCKET, IT'S OUTTA YOUR POCKET, OKAY? BUT THE POINT IS THAT THE FACT THAT TERMINAL BA MAJOR TERMINAL, AND IF ANYBODY'S GOING TO THE AIRPORT, TERMINAL B
[03:15:01]
NEEDS A LOT, A LOT, A LOT, A LOT OF WORK.IT NEEDS SOME LOVE AND A WHOLE LOT OF IT.
AND THE FACT THAT UNITED IS WILLING TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CARRYING THE BULK OF THE LOAD IS HUGE FOR US.
NOW, THE COUNTERPART IS, AND WE HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, IF YOU CAN RECALL NOT TOO LONG AGO, THAT WAS A $450 MILLION PACKET CALLED AVI.
OKAY? SAME SORT OF SAME SORT OF, UH, MATRIX, SO TO SPEAK.
BUT, UM, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE, UM, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE, NUMBER ONE, WE ARE PARTNERS IN THIS ARRANGEMENT.
WE ARE PARTNERS IN THIS ARRANGEMENT.
AND IT IS, IM, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE UNITEDS OF THE WORLD THAT WE WANT THEM TO DO BUSINESS IN OUR CITY AND MAKE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR AIRPORTS.
AND THEY HAVE MADE HUGE INVESTMENTS, OKAY? THEY HAVE MADE HUGE INVESTMENTS.
AND I'D BE VERY CANDID, I'D SAY TO YOU, UNITED LOOK, IN HOUSTON, YOU HAVE ROOM FOR GROWTH IN CHICAGO, THEY KINDA LANDLOCKED.
AND WHO KNOWS, ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, THEIR PRINCIPAL HEADQUARTERS COULD BE COMING TO HOUSTON.
OKAY? BUT YOU HAVE TO BE A WILLING, COOPERATIVE PARTNER WITH THEM.
OTHERWISE, IF PEOPLE SEE, WELL, WE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING IN YOUR CITY, AND YOU ALL OPPOSING ROADBLOCKS, WE CAN TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE, AND BUSINESSES HAVE THE RIGHT, GLOBAL BUSINESSES HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.
OKAY? NOW YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DEBT IS, IS ONE THAT YOU CAN SUSTAIN.
AND FROM ALL OF THE, THE FINANCIAL PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE VISITED WITH, ALL OF THEM ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS A DEBT THAT THE CITY ON OUR END, CAN, UH, SUSTAIN.
AND ON UNITED'S END, THEY CAN SUSTAIN IT AT A MULTIPLE LEVEL.
AND THEN LASTLY, I'LL BE THROUGH WITH THIS.
THIS IS NOW WHERE THIS MEASURE COMES BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND IT'S, IT'LL BE COMING.
THERE ARE BITS AND PIECES OF THIS THAT WILL BE COMING FROM CITY COUNCIL OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE VOTING ON THIS AND YOU ARE DONE.
AND I WAS SIMPLY HOPING IN THE INTEREST OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND ITS FUTURE, THAT WE BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM AND THAT WE SEND THE MESSAGE TO UNITED, UH, THAT IN THIS CITY, WE WELCOME THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR COLLABORATION.
UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE REDOING IN, UH, MAJOR TERMINAL AND YOU'RE CREATING JOBS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSTONIANS IN OUR CITY.
AND THEN MIND YOU, THEY'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN OUR CITY.
14 TO 15,000 JOBS IN OUR CITY, OR WITH UNITED.
SO STILL WITH PECK, I'M STILL WITH YOU.
COUNCILMAN PECK, STILL WITH YOU? OKAY.
ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
AND I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.
AND AGREE, IT'S GREAT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THE CITY.
I DO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND THE TONE OF THE, I AGREE OF THE, UM, OF THE MEMO.
UM, THESE ARE, THESE ARE, WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF ALL THE MONEY, RIGHT? DEPENDING ON, NOT DEPEND, DOESN'T DEPEND ON, I MEAN, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT COMES FROM.
UM, I, UH, IT'S A, I APPRECIATE THE SCRUTINY THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO THIS.
THIS IS A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY AND APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM DARREN HALL ON SEVERAL MATTERS.
UM, EVEN THE 600 MILLION THAT WE ARE PAYING KIND OF COMES FROM UNITED IN THE FORM OF RENT AND FEES AND BACK.
UM, I SEND EVERYBODY I KNOW BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON AT I TRIPP TO B TO GET AN UBER OR GET, HAVE 'EM PICK ME UP.
I DON'T WANNA SEND PEOPLE TO B AND THEN THEY'RE TRAPPED THERE.
SO I ASKED A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC PLAN, UM, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT I GET THE MOST COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIRPORT, RIGHT? THE ONLY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIRPORT.
AND I DON'T WANT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT APPROVED THE LAST TRAFFIC PLAN TO BE APPROVED.
THIS ONE, I'VE BEEN ASSURED THERE'S GONNA BE MODELING AND, UH, GREAT RIGOR GIVEN TO THE TRAFFIC DURING CONSTRUCTION PLAN, RIGHT? UM, BUT I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, LIKE I SAID, THE SCRUTINY OF THIS.
YOU GOTTA READ THROUGH ALL OF IT.
UM, UNDERSTANDING THE INS AND OUTS OF HOW THESE BONDS WORK IS IMPORTANT.
BUT, UM, ALL IN ALL, I'M SATISFIED THAT THIS IS, THIS IS A GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY.
[03:20:01]
YOU MAYOR.I, I WASN'T HERE LAST WEEK TO HEAR ALL THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, BUT, UH, IT'S, I GUESS BECAUSE IT'S ON THE AGENDA, THE, UH, CONTROLLER HAS DECIDED TO APPROVE OR, OR CERTIFY THE MONEY.
IS THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE COLLABORATIVE ON THIS ITEM.
THERE'S NO MONEY IN THIS ITEM, IT'S JUST THE RESOLUTION.
UM, IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, YOU ARE GOING TO COME.
THAT WILL, THE ITEM WILL COME BACK, UH, WITH THE AMOUNT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY NOVEMBER 29TH IT WILL COME.
YOU, YOU'LL SEE ANOTHER ITEM WITH THE MONEY IN IT.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR 'CAUSE I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CONTROLLER WAS HESITANT TO SIGN OFF ON THIS.
AND I, I'M SEEING IT ON THE AGENDA.
I THOUGHT MAYBE HE HAD ALREADY DONE THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, KOSH MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED BOB HARVEY'S NAME AND MAYBE MANY PEOPLE LISTENING DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS AND WHAT HIS RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN WITH THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY.
WOULD YOU MIND GIVING US SOME BACKGROUND ON HIM? THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
AND, UM, BOB AND I HAVE SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
IN FACT, HE'S CALLED THE COMPTROLLER ON THIS ITEM AND FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.
I THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS CITY.
HE'S STILL THE PRESIDENT FOR NOW.
WAS WAS HE ALSO THE, THE HEAD OF, UH, CON, UH, UH, CONTINENTAL? NO.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ROBINSON? COUNCILMAN ROBINSON MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, MAKE A COMMENT OR TWO ABOUT THE FACILITY ITSELF.
'CAUSE I THINK, UH, YOU'VE CHARACTERIZED THE FINANCIAL DEAL REALLY NICELY.
BUT, UM, I THINK WHAT UNITED HAS PLANNED TO DO TO THIS FACILITY IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE HEARD, UH, DIRECTOR DIAZ TALK ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.
AND FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL STANDPOINT, IT'S REALLY, UH, A SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE OF OUR FACILITY.
SO FOR THAT, FOR THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE THAT WILL BE HAD, IT WILL BE TAKING A COMPLETELY OUTDATED FACILITY.
IN FACT, ONE THAT I THINK I JUST HEARD OUR CHIEF, UH, DEVELOPMENT OFFICER REFER TO IT COLLOQUIALLY AS A, AS THE BANJO, NAMELY IN PLAN.
THESE THINGS LOOK LIKE A BANJO.
THEY'RE SORT OF RUSTIC AND, YOU KNOW, TWANG LIKE THAT IN A WAY THAT'S NOT UP TO DATE FROM A CONTEMPORARY SERVICE, UM, STANDPOINT.
AND THE STANDARD AND THE EXPECTATION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET, UH, TO OUR, TO OUR STAR TREK, UH, FIVE STAR RATING LIKE WE HAVE ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT OUR FACILITIES.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHERE WE'RE NEEDING TO GO.
UM, I THINK, UH, THERE'S SOME ASPECTS OF IT THAT I'M REALLY INTRIGUED ABOUT FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF.
BUT, UM, YOUR POINT IS JUST RIGHT, AND I, I JUST PASSED THROUGH DENVER, WE DON'T WANNA SEED ANY TERRITORY TO THEM.
LET'S CONTINUE ON THIS WORTHWHILE CRUSADE AND GET OUR, UH, GET OUR FACILITIES UPDATED AND LOOK AT IT FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE POINT OF VIEW.
FROM A TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE POINT OF VIEW.
YOU WANT WORLD CLASS FACILITIES.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU MAYORS WHERE UNITED HAS ITS HUBS, MAYORS ARE VERY COMPETITIVE, OKAY? AND THEY WANT, UM, THESE COMPANIES TO BE DOING MORE UNITED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE BUILDING, WELL, THEY HAVE THEIR HUBS.
OKAY, WELL, DO WE WANT TO STAND DOWN? 'CAUSE LEMME TELL YOU, THE COMPANY'S GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW.
THEY'RE GONNA MEET THEIR NEEDS.
IF THEY DON'T DO IT IN HOUSTON, THEY'RE GONNA GO.
THEY WILL GO WHERE, WHERE THEY CAN.
UM, I, UM, TWO TOO, WANTED TO, UM, JUST THANK YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND, UM, THE WHOLE PROCESS.
IT KIND OF THREW ME OFF WHEN, UM, I HEARD THAT IT WAS WASN'T TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE, UM, UM, FUND AND THEN OUT, UM, OF THE ENTER ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
BUT, UM, NOW THAT I UNDERSTAND, I WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BUT I AM INTERESTED AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IN JOBS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN RUNNING TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR A WHOLE YEAR AND, UM, UNITED HAS NOT LIKE REALLY ENGAGED WITH US.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO, I KNOW I HAVE A CONVERSATION, UM, SCHEDULED WITH YOU GUYS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, BUT I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY ABSOLUTELY ENGAGE THEM MORE IN THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO, UM, AND ANOTHER THING IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT THIS INFORMATION, UM, IS AVAILABLE SOONER.
UM, THE, I WENT BACK TO THE PRESENTATION, THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF IT, THE PRESENTATION FROM, UM, MAY.
AND SO IT ALSO HAD ME KIND OF LIKE, UM, FUMBLING THROUGH PAPERS TRYING TO FIND OUT LIKE WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF IT.
SO PROVIDING THAT A LITTLE BIT SOONER VERSUS, YOU KNOW, A WEEK, UH, TWO DAYS BEFORE, UM, IT'S ON THE AGENDA WOULD BE ALSO HELPFUL,
[03:25:01]
UM, TO ME.ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 27? 27 27, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED, GRANTED ON 27, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AND THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ITEM COMING TO YOU, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE ON ITEM 28, DISCUSSION ON 28.
OPPOSED, GRANTED, ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM, BUT, UM, THIS IS FOR THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THE CRM FOR OBO.
AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN, UM, WE WERE FIRST TALKING ABOUT INFOR MANY YEARS AGO THAT THE CRM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF INFOR, AND NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT A PIECE OF IT ANYMORE.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF SOLD IT TO EVERYONE WAS THAT COUNCIL WOULD GET THE CRM TOO TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENT CASES.
RIGHT NOW IN DISTRICT A, WE PAY FOR A SERVICE TO KEEP TRACK OF IT, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HOPE FOR IT TO BE IN THE CITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WORKED ON THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAD A GREAT SYSTEM THAT WAS CUSTOMIZED TO WHAT WE WERE DOING IN THE STATE, AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD ONE FOR THE CITY AS WELL FOR CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF INFOR.
SO NOW WE'RE SPENDING, UM, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HERE ON SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR.
SO, JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE GET THAT SERVICE THROUGH INFOR CITYWIDE.
OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 31? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSE GRANTED ON 31, ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE.
DISCUSSION ON 32, COUNCILMAN MINX ON 32.
I HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY A WHILE AGO ABOUT THIS, UH, ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND, UM, I HAD SOME QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE HAVING TO GET LEGAL HELP TO GET OUR VALUE OUT OF, AND IT WAS, UH, ARTFULLY EXPLAINED TO ME BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM.
I MEAN, WE'RE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE DEAL WITH BAD ACTORS ON STREET CONTRACTS, PUBLIC WORKS, CONTRACTORS, THINGS LIKE THIS.
UM, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO THIS ROUTE, UH, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK INTO EXPANDING THAT TO, UM, TO COVER THE WHOLE CITY.
UH, OFTEN WE HAVE A HAVE TO END UP PAYING SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T PERFORM BECAUSE IT'S IN THE CONTRACT.
WELL, WE NEED TO START GETTING THOSE CONTRACTS WRITTEN SO THAT IF THEY DON'T PERFORM, WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THE NEW COUNCIL CAN TAKE THAT ON NEXT YEAR.
AND, AND, UH, I, I CAN WATCH THAT HAPPEN FROM, UH, WHILE I'M EATING MY POPCORN AND DRINKING MY ICED TEA.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 32? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED BRANDON? 32.
ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE SUSTAIN TO VOTE.
WELL, ITEM 35, DISCUSSION ON 35.
DISCUSSION ON 35 IN FAVOR I OPPOSED, GRANTED ON 35.
AND I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IN DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC, UH, ABUSE.
SO THIS WAS, THIS IS AN, A SIGNIFICANT ADDED PIECE.
UM, WELL WE ARE SENDING THE NURSES, THE FORENSIC NURSES OUT ON, UH, ON THIS ITEM.
SO ONE SECOND, ONE SAFE, ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
JUST NEED A VOTE ITEM ITEM 39 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMERICA.
ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE YOU NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 40.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON ITEM 40.
ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE YOU NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 41, DISCUSSION ON 41.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 41.
[NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS]
ITEM 53 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE THIRD AMENDED PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FINANCING PLAN.MOVE ROBINSON GALL SECOND AND MOVE THEN SECOND TO SET THE HEARING DATE, UH, FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH AT 9:00 AM.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANT.
ITEM 54 IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT PLAN AND REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE.
[03:30:02]
UH, MOVE ROBINSON TO SET THE DATE FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2023.OKAY, GO SECOND, THEN MOVE AND SECOND.
SET THE HEARING DATE ANY DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANT.
ITEM 55 TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT PLANNING REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 20, MOVE ROBINSON TO SET THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AT 9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2023.
AND ON TO SET THE HEARING DATE.
ANY DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED GRANTED ON 55.
[MATTERS HELD]
IS AN ORDINANCE.THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX.CAN I MAKE YOUR FAMILY? CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY.
SO OFFICIALLY, I I TURN INTO AN OLD MAN TODAY.
I I I'M 65 YEARS OLD OR LIKE AS I LIKE TO REFER, IT'S 16 AND A QUARTER FOR THE FOURTH TIME.
UM, UH, AND THE CLOSER I GET TO 80, THE YOUNGER THAT LOOKS.
SO, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 30 OR 40 YEARS.
ALRIGHT, UM, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO, UH, UM, SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN, UM, ON BANKS.
NOT, NOT THE OTHER PROBLEM ON BANKS, BUT, UH, THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A VACANT DEMOLISHED LOT AT THE CORNER OF, I THINK IT'S BANKS AND HAZARD, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, LOOK AT IT REAL QUICK, BUT IT'S, IT'S, UM, THERE, THE PLANS ARE TO BUILD THIS RATHER LARGE DORMITORY.
IT WAS PERMITTED AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, WHICH GOES AGAINST THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
IT WAS WITH THE PLANS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, SAID SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.
WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE 10 PLUS UNRELATED PEOPLE THERE IN A, LIKE A DORMITORY SITUATION.
AND THERE ARE OVER, DEPENDING ON WHICH PLAN SET YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THERE'S OVER 10 BEDROOMS, UP TO 20 BATHROOMS. AN ORATORY DEFINITELY NOT IN THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEED RESTRICTIONS, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS NOT PURSUING ENFORCING BECAUSE OF A, UH, IT WASN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT DEED BACK IN THE TWENTIES WHEN THIS WAS DEED RESTRICTION TO A HUNDRED PERCENT SIGNATORIES.
THEY HAVE THE REASONS FROM LEGAL, AND WE'VE TALKED TO BYRON KING AT, AT PERMITTING, WE ARE TRYING TO GET THIS HELD.
I THINK THERE WAS A HOLD THAT WAS LIFTED AND THEY HAVE A VALID PERMIT TO GO AHEAD, BUT THEY'RE GOING AHEAD AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE WHEN IN FACT, EVERYTHING WE'VE LEARNED, EVERYTHING THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S LEARNED, THIS IS, MEETS THE DEFINITION OF A CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITY, WHICH COMES WITH ANOTHER SET OF RULES FOR PARKING, FOR BUILDING CODE, FOR ALL THAT.
SO, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN HOLD OFF ON THIS, UM, I DON'T WANT ANOTHER BIG, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ANGRY NEIGHBORS IF THERE'S ANY CONSTRUCTION STARTING ON THIS SITE.
UM, AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN AND I ARE JUST KIND OF IMPLORING A A HOLD OF SOME SORT UNTIL THIS CAN BE, UM, FIGURED OUT AND WE'RE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE THAT HAS MET WITH US, HAVE SENT, I KNOW THE AT LARGES HAVE PROBABLY GOTTEN EMAILS ABOUT IT.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE A THING.
AND BYRON AND THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.
IT'S THAT TRAP BECAUSE THEY HAVE A, WHEN THEY APPLIED FOR A PLAN, THEY, YOU KNOW, CHECKED THE BOX.
THEY SAID THEY WERE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.
THIS IS NOT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT, THAT IT'S THE SAME ORGANIZATION, IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME TYPE OF THING.
IT'S NOT A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, IT'S A CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITY.
AND THAT DOES NOT MEET THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CERTAINLY WILLING TO TAKE ON THAT ARGUMENT, BUT I HATE TO FORCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO A BUNCH OF EXPENSE IN FIGHTING SOMETHING I THINK THE CITY CAN, CAN, UM, CAN GET AHEAD OF.
YEAH, NO, I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP TO YOU AND RIGHT.
YEAH, THIS IS, THIS IS JUST, I, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT IT.
THE REASON I, I'M, I'M BRINGING IT UP AT POPOFF IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ABOUT TO HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAYS.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT TO BE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL BE GONE.
AND THAT'S SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE GO IN AND GET THEIR BUILDING STARTED AND EVERYBODY COMES BACK AND SAYS, OH GOSH, WHAT HAPPENED? SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE SENSE OF URGENCY HERE.
[03:35:03]
COUNCILMAN PLUM.COUNCILMAN JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, AZZ PASS.
UM, I HAD A GREAT TIME CELEBRATING THE FALL GALA WITH THE GREATER SUGAR VALLEY BLUE RIDGE AND REDWOOD CIVIC CLUB.
EVERYBODY WAS ALL SHARP AND WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR SOME WONDERFUL SENIORS.
ALSO, THE 31 31 GALLERY OPENING, I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE HONORABLE GARNER COLEMAN AND, UH, ALEX BRACY.
YOU NEED TO VISIT IT IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
IT'S ON THE CORNER OF EMANCIPATION IN ELGIN, AND YOU NEED TO GO AND SEE SOME OF THE GREAT ARTISTS THAT HAVE, UH, PROVIDED WORK FOR THAT, UH, GALLERY.
ALSO, UH, THERE WERE MANY OCCASIONS TO CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS.
I WAS VERY GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEM.
AND I WANNA, AGAIN, THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
UH, ALSO I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT TO THE MA OUTDOOR THEATER, AS I MENTIONED, FOR THEIR A HUNDRED YEARS OF MAGIC.
AND ALSO I WANT TO GIVE GRATITUDE TO THE GULF COAST FAMILY FOUNDATION WHO HAD A WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY OF THANKSGIVING, TURKEYS, AND HAMS ON THIS PAST SATURDAY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE WATER BILLS.
UM, AND I WANT TO, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE UPDATE FOR THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR APPROVING MY AMENDMENT, TO BRING RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS, UH, ONCE THAT MONEY COMES.
BUT CERTAINLY, I GOT A TEXT RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY FROM ONE OF MY CONS CONSTITUENTS WHO HAD A BIG WATER, UH, EVENT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME, AND THEY WERE, THEY HAD A $6,000 WATER BILL.
AND SO, AGAIN, MAYOR, UM, I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL CONCERNED, BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
AND I AM REQUESTING CERTAINLY THAT THERE'D BE A TASK FORCE OF SOMETHING THAT HAS TO, UH, ADDRESS THESE BILLS SPECIFICALLY.
AND I'VE ALSO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD DO SOME KIND OF MORATORIUM, UH, AND HAVE PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR HISTORICAL BILLS UNTIL THIS HAS WORKED OUT, BECAUSE THIS IS, UM, I'M SURE VERY STRESSFUL.
AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD GO ANY OF US.
THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY OF US.
BUT TO HAVE SUCH A PHENOMENAL BILL OVER YOUR HEAD, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE TO APPEAL, BUT I, I BELIEVE THAT THEY SOMEWHAT FEEL THAT THIS, THIS IS A GIANT AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN OVERCOME THAT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TAKE AN ACTIVE APPROACH, A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO HELPING PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR, THEIR HISTORICAL BILLS.
IN THE MEANTIME, UNTIL THIS IS ADDRESSED, BECAUSE I, I CAN'T IMAGINE RECEIVING A $6,000 WATER BILL THAT'S TRADITIONALLY BEEN THE LO THE LOWEST BILL THAT WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED.
UH, YOU KNOW, IN, IN COMPARISON TO OTHER UTILITY BILLS.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST MAYBE CONSIDER SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HELP PEOPLE WITH SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION, AND ALSO NORMALLY THEY WOULD, UH, THEY WOULD PLACE A HOLE ON THAT.
THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT BILL.
UM, I'M SORRY, MAYOR, NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT BILL.
A HOLE WOULD BE PLACED ON THAT ACCOUNT PENDING.
SO THERE IS A SOMEWHAT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, UH, NO MORATORIUM CERTAINLY, BUT, BUT THERE IS A HOLE.
THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD PLACE A HOLE ON THAT ACCOUNT PENDING THE REVIEW.
THEY ARE NOT, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT BILL.
WELL, I JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY AFRAID THAT THEY MAY COME HOME ONE DAY AND THEY CAN'T COOK, BATHE, FLUSH THE TOILET, ANY OF THOSE SUBSIDIES.
IF THEY, IF THEY NOTIFY, UH, THE WATER, I MEAN THE PUBLIC WORKS, A HOLE WOULD BE PLACED ON THAT ACCOUNT.
THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY IT PENDING A REVIEW OF THEIR ACCOUNT.
SO THEY DO NEED TO DO THE APPEAL PROCESS AND THEN FROM THAT POINT IT WILL BE ON HOLD.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW AS WELL.
BUT EVEN, BUT EVEN IF, BUT EVEN THEY, IF THEY NOTIFY PUBLIC WORKS, IF THEY GOT A $6,000 WATER BILL RIGHT, OKAY.
WHICH IS TOTALLY OUT OF THE NORM.
I WOULD EXPECT PUBLIC WORKS TO PLACE A HOLD ON THAT ACCOUNT OKAY.
'CAUSE I WANT THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THIS IS NOT, IT SHOULDN'T BE ADVERSARIAL.
AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR ACCOUNT, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY WERE PAYING, LET'S SAY THEY WERE PAYING $200, WHATEVER IT IS A MONTH, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET A BILL FOR 6,000, THE PRESUMPTION IS IS THAT THE FRAUD IS ON OUR SIDE, NOT ON THEIR SIDE.
JUST YOU MUST APPEAL ANYBODY THAT'S LISTENING AND BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION AND NOT JUST SAY, OH, I
[03:40:01]
GOT A HIGH WATER BILL, AND JUST STOP PAYING AND DON'T DO ANYTHING.SPEAK UP, NOTIFY AND I WOULD PLAY, I WOULD EXPECT, UH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS TO PLACE A HOLD AND REVIEW THAT, THAT ACCOUNT.
BUT DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO PAY IT.
THE BILLS, THE WATER'S NOT GONNA BE TERMINATED.
AND IF IT IS, THEN YOU NEED, YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW.
BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE TERMINATED.
AND PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD REVIEW THE ACCOUNT.
AND I KNOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY WILL HELP WITH THE, WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THAT WE HAVE, BUT THOSE WATER BILLS ARE JUST INSURMOUNTABLE.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
COUNCIL AND ALL OVER THE CITY KINDA, HUH? YEAH.
AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT ON THE WATER ISSUE, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU SAID IN THE MAYOR'S REPORT THAT, UM, THE HOUSTON IS GONNA BE THE RECIPIENT OF SOME OF THAT MONEY FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT JOBS ACT.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IS COMING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON? UH, ON THOSE TWO MATTERS? IT'S 36 PLUS 23.
ON THOSE TWO, IT IS AT LEAST 60.
AND THEN METRO HAS GOTTEN A GRANT OF LIKE $21 MILLION AS WELL.
UM, IN FACT, WHAT I'LL DO, I THINK THIS WILL BE HELPFUL.
I'LL HAVE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TO SEND ALL OF YOU ALL, ALL OF THE GRANTS AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND IN WHAT CATEGORIES, AND I'LL HAVE THAT SENT TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THEN, UM, ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL EXPERIENCING LEAKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, THIS MORNING WE WERE NOTIFIED OF ANOTHER PRETTY BIG LEAK THAT, UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT LATER.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN WE MIGHT CANVAS THE VOTE? IT IS GOING TO BE, IT'S NEXT WEEK.
YES, WE CAN GIVE YOU AN ANSWER ON THAT.
MONDAY, IS IT MONDAY? I WANT TO SAY MONDAY 11TH.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NEXT WEEK OR THE, WE'RE LOOKING AT MONDAY THE 20TH.
MONDAY IS THE 20TH IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE, THE HOLIDAY THINGS THAT ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN, UM, THIS SATURDAY, THERE WILL BE FIVE SIMULTANEOUS TECH CONNECT FAIRES ON, ON NOVEMBER 18TH FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM THEY WILL BE AT DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
THERE WILL BE TWO IN SECOND WARD, ONE IN EASTWOOD PARK, AND ONE IN SET OF GAS PARK, ONE IN MAGNOLIA AT AT HARTMAN PARK AND ONE IN SUNNYSIDE AT SUNNYSIDE PARK.
UM, THESE TECH CONNECT FAIRS, UM, ARE HAPPENING, UH, WITHIN THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, FAMILY FUN DAYS, AND THEY'RE FREE AND OPEN, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
SO TECH CONNECT FAIRS PROVIDE HANDS-ON HIGHLY INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE AND, AND PLAY WITH SOME COOL TECH DEVICES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
UM, FUTURE TECH CONNECT FAIRS THIS SPRING ARE BEING PLANNED, UH, ALSO ALONG THE, THE, WITH THE, THE PARKS FAMILY FUND DAYS IN JUNE, I MEAN, SORRY, IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, IN THE SUMMER, THE TECH CONNECT PROGRAM AND THE TECH CONNECT FAIRS ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN H PART'S FULL DAY SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.
SO, UM, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK 'EM OUT THIS WEEKEND AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOUR CHILD WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE EVEN MORE FULLY IN NEXT SUMMER.
UM, AND THERE ARE ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNS TO WORK AT THESE, UM, AT THE, YOU KNOW, AT THE, THE TECH CONNECT PROGRAM.
SO, UM, PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT.
UM, I JUST, UH, WANTED TO DOUBLE BACK WITH YOU AS WE SOMETIMES DO AT MY TIME ON, ON THE HORSESHOE, UM, TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WHEN YOU AND I MET EARLIER THIS SUMMER TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, I, I BROUGHT TO YOU SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE WAY OUT THERE AND, AND JUST, UH, HARD TO IMAGINE HOW IT COULD APPLY TO HOUSTON.
UM, AND YOU ENCOURAGED ME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THAT IT'S SOMETHING CALLED THE BORING COMPANY.
IT HAS TO DO NOT SO MUCH WITH, UM, SPACEX, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH, UM, TESLA, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH HIS DRILLING COMPANY.
AND I DID INTRODUCE THE TOPIC, UM, AS A POTENTIAL OF POTENTIAL INTEREST
[03:45:01]
TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.AND ACTUALLY THIS PAST FRIDAY WEEK AGO, WE HAD A FIELD TRIP OUT TO THE FACILITY IN BASTROP.
AND I WANTED TO MENTION IT TO YOU BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY FASCINATING.
WE DID, UH, IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, SIGN NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, AND NOT A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS WERE MADE BECAUSE WE WERE ON THE, ON THE SCENE THERE WITH SOME PROPRIETARY INFORMATION FOR HIS COMPANY.
BUT IT DOES SEEM MAYOR, LIKE IT HAS SOME AMAZING POTENTIAL APPLICATION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, NOT PRIMARILY WITH, UH, THAT AS A MODE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF VEHICLES.
UM, COINCIDENTALLY THE SIZE OF ABOUT, OF A TESLA, BUT MORE PERHAPS FOR US ABOUT POTENTIAL DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS AND MICRO TUNNELING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE LARGER DIAMETER DIAMETER TUNNELS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT.
SO I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS TO YOU.
WE HAVE OUR, UH, TPC MEETING THIS FRIDAY, UH, THE SECOND TO LAST OF THE YEAR.
YOU AND I, I KNOW WE'RE WRAPPING UP A LOT OF THINGS ON OUR PLATE.
SO MAYOR, I DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT WITHOUT LETTING YOU KNOW THAT, THAT I THINK, UH, COULD BEAR SOME REALLY INTERESTING FRUIT FOR US.
UH, WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM HARRIS COUNTY, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS WELL.
COUNT, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA WENT ALONG WITH US.
SO IT WAS REALLY WELL REPRESENTED.
COMMISSIONER FROM, UM, CHAMBERS COUNTY ACROSS GALVESTON BAY, WALLER COUNTY FROM UP ON THE KATY PRAIRIE.
SO WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD REPRESENTATION AND I WILL PROMISE TO KEEP YOU POSTED ABOUT THAT.
UM, BEYOND THAT, I JUST WANTED TO CELEBRATE, OF COURSE, OUR AGENDA DIRECTOR IS A HUGE SOCCER FAN.
SO I WANTED TO UNDERSCORE AGAIN, THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, THE HOUSTON DYNAMO, MAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE MAJOR, MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE, UM, MLS AND, UM, HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THEM.
DOLE HECTOR HERRERA, SHOUT OUT TO YOU FOR BEING SO AWESOME, THE GALVANIZING FORCE BEHIND OUR GREAT DYNAMO TEAM.
SO I'M IN AWE AND I'M EXCITED.
THANKS FOR MAYOR NEXT, UH, NEXT WEEK.
I WANNA WISH YOU AND ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
AND, AND JUST AS A POINT OF ORDER, YOU SOMETIMES CELEBRATE LIKE YOU WILL NO DOUBT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, HIS BIRTHDAY WITH A JELLY CAKE.
UM, DO YOU, JUST FOR REFERENCE, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TYPE OF PIE FOR THANKSGIVING? UM, YEAH, I'M A SWEET POTATO PIE PERSON.
BUT YOU GOT, GOT, YOU HAVE TO PUT PLENTY OF BUTTER IN IT.
IF THE BUTTER'S NOT IN AND I DON'T WANT IT.
HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, WE WILL RECON, WELL THE CANVAS MAY BE ON MONDAY.
ON MONDAY, AND THEN, UH, THE NEXT, UH, WE WON'T HAVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON, UH, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
UH, BUT WE WILL RECONVENE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 28TH AT ONE 30.
AND HOPEFULLY I'LL SEE YOU ALL AT THE, UH, THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.
MAYBE A LITTLE CHILLY IN THE MORNING, BUT HOPEFULLY NO RAIN.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY, AND ENJOY YOURSELVES.