Nov 28, 2023 Council Meeting (November 28, 2023 &amp; November 29, 2023)

WIFE, A MOTHER, A FOOD ENTHUSIAST, A PASSIONATE TRAVELER EMBODYING A BALANCED AND MULTIFACETED LIFE.

FOR THE, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO ME, IAN LENE MACKLEMORE TO RECOGNIZE THE HISTORIC APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS HOUSTON CHAPTER.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

COME JOIN ME FROM THE MAYOR AT THE PODIUM.

HOW YOU DOING? HELLO, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.

UH, IT IS MY ABSOLUTE DISTINCT HONOR AND PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY AT THE PODIUM WITH MEL VALINE MACKLEMORE, UH, A I A, IF I MAY SAY, MAYOR .

MEL VALINE IS A FRIEND WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR NOT VERY LONG, BUT I AM EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH FOR HER AMBITION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE.

AND IT IS FOR THOSE REASONS THAT I WILL READ FROM THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION THERE.

WHEREAS MEL MACKLEMORE, A I A HAS DEMONSTRATED UNPARALLELED EXPERTISE AS AN ARCHITECT FOR OVER 14 YEARS, LEADING AN ARRAY OF DIVERSE PROJECTS ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS.

IN EXEMPLIFYING HER COMMITMENT TO ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE, SHE HAS BLAZED A TRAIL AS ONE OF THE INAUGURAL 500 LICENSED BLACK WOMEN ARCHITECTS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE 16TH IN TEXAS, MARKING HER SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO DIVERSIFYING THE PROFESSION.

AND WHEREAS HER EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, INCLUDING A BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE AND A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GOKU, AND HER ONGOING PURSUIT OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE AT RICE UNIVERSITY GO OWLS SHOWCASE HER DEDICATION TO CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.

AND WHEREAS IN HER CAPACITY AS A SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT MOODY NOLAN MELLY, MACKLEMORE ASSUMES A LEADERSHIP ROLE, NOTABLY IN HIGHER EDUCATION PROJECTS, AND SERVES AS THE DESIGN LEADER FOR THE TEXAS STUDIO, ILLUSTRATING HER, UH, PROFICIENCY AND INFLUENCE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

AND WHEREAS MEL VALINE MACKLEMORE'S COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY IN ARCHITECTURE IS EVIDENT THROUGH HER CO-FOUNDING OF THE WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE AT A I A HOUSTON'S CHAPTER, WHICH HAS CATALYZED EQUITY CENTERED COMMITTEES THROUGHOUT TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS HER ADVOCACY EXTENDS BEYOND PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES DEMONSTRATED BY HER INVOLVEMENT IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN HOUSTON, HER DEDICATION TO SOCIAL JUSTICE IS EVIDENT THROUGH HER PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE CREATION OF THE WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT 1850 TO THE FUTURE, SHOWCASING WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT IN ARCHITECTURE.

THIS EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO INCREASING WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE HOUSTON ARCHITECTURAL COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS MEL VALINE MACKLEMORE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSION WERE RECOGNIZED IN 2022 BY THE ARCHITECT'S NEWSPAPER SHOWCASING HER ENDURING IMPACT AND INFLUENCE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, HER LEADERSHIP EXTENDS TO ROLES AT LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS, INCLUDING SERVING AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OF A I A HOUSTON'S EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN PARLIAMENTARIAN FOR THE NATIONAL, UM, UH, ORGANIZATION FOR MINORITY ARCHITECTS IN THE HOUSTON CHAPTER.

AND AS A MEMBER OF N CARBS, THAT'S THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURAL REGISTRATION BOARDS CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

AND WHEREAS MEL VALINE MACKLEMORE'S EXEMPLARY DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGH VARIOUS PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS, INCLUDING THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS 2022 CAUDILL EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, HOUSTON'S NOMAS AMBASSADOR AWARD, AND A I A HOUSTON'S 2023.

THIS YEAR, MAYOR BEN BREWER'S YOUNG ARCHITECT AWARD WELL DECORATED HERE, AND JUST TO SHOW THAT SHE'S KEEPING IT REAL, UM, BEYOND HER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.

UH, MELLY MACKLEMORE TREASURES HER ROLE AS A

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AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES MEL VALINE, MACKLEMORE AS AN EXEMPLARY FIGURE IN THE ARCHITECTURAL FIELD, EMBODYING, DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP IN A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, INSPIRING GENERATIONS TO COME.

MAYOR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND VERY IMPRESSIVE.

AND SO, UH, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM THIS DAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023.

THAT'S MELINE MACKLEMORE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I'LL BE BRIEF.

UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT IS AN HONOR TO RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION TODAY, ESPECIALLY FROM YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, UM, WHO IS ALSO AN ARCHITECT AND LOCAL ADVOCATE FOR OUR ARCHITECTURE COMMUNITY AS WELL, FROM YOU MAYOR TURNER, WHO I'VE, UM, ADMIRED OVER THE YEARS.

AND I ALSO, UM, UH, APPRECIATE THE AWARENESS YOU ALL HAVE MADE FOR OUR PROFESSION.

UM, AS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, THIS MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

UM, MY JOURNEY INTO THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE STARTED OUT QUITE UNINTENTIONALLY, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO AS I ENTERED THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.

BUT MY INITIAL PASSION FOR ARCHITECTURE WAS ROOTED IN HOW UNLIMITED AND UNIQUE EVERYONE'S APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING WAS.

I LOVED HOW NO TWO PEOPLE COULD SOLVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND EVERYONE'S INDIVIDUAL BACKGROUND AND STORY MATTERED, AND HOW THEY APPROACH SOLUTIONS.

AND OVER THE YEARS, UM, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT, UM, MY PASSION GREW EVEN MORE THROUGH CO COLLABORATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NOTHING I'VE ACHIEVED OVER MY CAREER HAS BEEN ALONE.

UM, THROUGH MY VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH AMAZING INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO A I A HOUSTON AND ITS BOARD, AND, UM, ITS BOARD LEADERSHIP AND EVP RUSTY WHO WELCOMED ME TO THE BOARD FIVE YEARS AGO AND ALLOWED ME TO GROW AND CONTRIBUTE.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I'VE FOUND MUCH JOY ENGAGING WITH COMMITTEES SUCH AS WE A, THE WOMEN OF COLOR STEERING COMMITTEE, LEAH AND THE JEDI COLLABORATIVE.

I'VE ALSO LOVED HOW MUCH MY CHAPTER HAS ENCOURAGED COLLABORATION WITH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS TO MY PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND COLLAB AND, AND CAREER HOUSTON SONOMA.

I'M PROUD THAT DURING MY TIME AS PRESIDENT, OUR BOARD WILL TRULY LOOK LIKE A CROSS SECTION OF THIS CITY IN WHICH WE LIVE.

I'M THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND, WHO'S ALSO AN ARCHITECT, WHO'S HUMORED ME AS I'VE DONE THESE THINGS OVER TIME, MY TWO SONS, UM, AGES FIVE AND TWO, UH, OMAR AND KYLEN, WHO HAVE WATCHED MAMA GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND DO OTHER CRAZY THINGS THAT SHE THOUGHT WERE NECESSARY SO THAT SHE COULD CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT AN ARCHITECT LOOKS LIKE.

UM, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M KIND OF IN THERE.

THANK SPECIAL THANKS TO MY MOODY NOLAN FAMILY FOR BEING HERE AND SUPPORT TODAY.

A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO LINDSAY WILLIAMS FOR HER AMAZING, JUST RELENTLESSNESS OF MAKING SURE THAT THIS WAS CELEBRATED EVEN MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE.

AND JUST, UM, THANKFUL TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO WERE ABLE TO JOIN ME TODAY.

THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD'VE NEVER IMAGINED CONSIDERING I ACCIDENTALLY GOT INTO ARCHITECTURE.

PERFECT.

CONGRAT.

THANK YOU, MISS MACKLEMORE.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, AND THE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER IS THE, THE PROUD WIFE OF AN ARCHITECT, MR. TIM CISNEROS, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLA CISNEROS.

YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRATION AND, UM, UM, YOU ARE, YOU ARE A TRAILBLAZER AND A LEADER.

AND, UM, AND, AND, YES, I I AM MARRIED TO AN ARCHITECT, AND ACTUALLY I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE FROM RICE.

I, UM, I, I ACCIDENTALLY BECAME A COUNCIL MEMBER.

ACTUALLY AN ARCHITECT, SO I, I RELATE TO THAT STORY.

BUT, BUT AS I HEARD YOU SPEAK AND YOU WERE YOUR, UM, YOUR DRIVE AND YOUR CREATIVITY, UM, YOUR PASSION FOR, UM, PROBLEM SOLVING AND, UM, COLLABORATIONS AND, UM, UH, CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF, OF, UM, UH, EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY MAKES ME THINK THAT YOU MIGHT SURPRISE YOURSELF AND, AND BE A REALLY AMAZING COUNCIL MEMBER SOMEDAY.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE IN YOUR BRAIN RIGHT NOW, BUT, BUT WHO KNOWS? I MEAN, YOU'RE STILL, YOU'VE STILL GOT A LIFE, A LOT OF LIFE IN YOU.

I SAID, YOU'RE A YOUNG PERSON AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF ENERGY.

SO, SO KEEP THINKING, KEEP STRETCH, AND KEEP BREAKING BARRIERS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

CONGRATULATIONS.

FOR HAVING THIS PROCLAMATION PRESENTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIMM, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.

MAYOR.

THANK YOU

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UH, MS. MACKLEMORE, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON THIS NEW POSITION.

UH, YOUR RESUME IS EXTRAORDINARY, THE THINGS THAT I HAVE JUST HEARD ABOUT YOU, AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

CONGRATULATIONS, MS. MACKLEMORE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH.

EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY SOME OF THESE, UH, MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURES, AND I THINK ABOUT THAT, SOMEBODY HAD TO THINK THIS THING UP IN THEIR HEAD, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO PUT IT ON PAPER OR IN A COMPUTER, BUT YEARS AGO IT WAS ON PAPER AND, AND, UH, I, I REMEMBER, UH, ONE CONSTRUCTION SITE, THEY, THEY HAD A WHOLE, WHOLE UNIT OR BUILDING JUST COMPLETELY FULL OF NOTHING BUT THAT STACKS AND STACKS OF, OF PAPER.

I, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT STUFF IN YOUR MIND.

UH, AND I KNOW IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME WAY YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT.

THEY SAY IT'S ONE BITE AT A TIME, BUT, BUT ALL OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER, THE WEIGHT, THE BEARING WALLS, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK OUT AND SEE THE SKYSCRAPERS AROUND US, AND THERE WAS AN ARCHITECT THAT DREAMED ALL THAT UP.

SO, THANK YOU, UM, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS TO, UH, MS. MACKLEMORE, AND I'M SO PROUD THAT I'M HERE TO SEE IT TODAY.

GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.

MAYOR, PRO CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR THE ARCHITECTURE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE, FOR THE FIELD.

AND MS. MACKLEMORE, DID I HEAR, DID I HEAR IT SAY THAT THERE WAS JUST 500 AFRICAN AMERICAN, WE'RE JUST OVER 500.

I MEAN, THAT IS SUCH A LOW NUMBER.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO ADVANCE, UM, ADVANCE THE PROFESSION WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

I WAS ALMOST SHOCKED THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT NUMBER.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THERE'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF FUTURE BLACK WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE THAT ARE SITTING OVER THERE.

GREAT.

SO HOPEFULLY WE KEEP CONTRIBUTING TO THAT.

KEEP BUILDING THAT NUMBER UP.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO, MISS, MISS MACKLEMORE, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU, .

UH, I GUESS IT WAS ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DWIGHT BOYKINS AND I MADE A TRIP UP TO NEW YORK, UH, TO SEE THE ELEVATION, UH, TO THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS OF OUR DEAR FRIEND, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.

AND THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING OCCASION.

UM, MY WIFE OF 40 YEARS, HER FATHER, UH, IS AN ARCHITECT.

HE RAN THE A I A OUTTA WASHINGTON DC SO I'VE BEEN INFLUENCED BY ARCHITECTS MY WHOLE LIFE.

I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION FOR YOU AS AN ARCHITECT.

IF YOU WENT INTO MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S STUDY AT HIS HOME IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AND IF YOU WENT INTO DAVID ROBINSON'S OFFICE, YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY ARE EXTREME PACK RATS.

OH, THEY KEEP EVERY BIT OF PAPER THAT THEY'VE EVER HAD.

SO, ON COUNCIL MEMBERS, ROBINSON'S OFFICE, THEY'RE PROBABLY FOUR FEET OF PAPER, UH, THAT JUST SIT THERE.

SO ARE ALL ARCHITECTS, PACK RATS? NOT ALL , BUT WE DO HESITATE IN THROWING THINGS AWAY.

SO, OH, CONGRATULATIONS.

UH, HELL OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

GOD BLESS.

I I TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT, BY THE WAY.

NO, YOU DON'T.

WE'RE VERY ORGANIZED.

YOU RESEMBLE THAT.

DAVID, THAT WAS A GREAT MEMORY.

WE WERE AT, UH, ST.

PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, PATRICK NEW YORK, UM, AND MARY, IT WAS YOU THAT ENCOURAGED US, UM, TO JOIN ME FOR THAT DAY.

I WANT TO SALUTE MEL LANE FOR HER GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

YOU WILL BE GETTING A FELLOWSHIP AWARD, UH, SOMEDAY.

AND MAYOR, THIS MEDAL, UH, THAT YOU'RE HOLDING IS THE ONE THAT I'VE GOT.

UM, SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE RUSTY BEYOND VNU, MY DEAR FRIEND WHO MAY BE HERE FOR THE LAST TIME WHILE I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR INCREDIBLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR A I A HOUSTON, SO MANY FRIENDS.

BUT, UH, AS TODAY'S HONOREE HAS POINTED OUT, LINDSEY WILLIAMS MAYOR, WHO'S WORKED AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IS HERE.

UH, THANK YOU LINDSEY, FOR ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY.

AND, UH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BREAK BARRIERS AND, UH, CONTINUE TO HOLD UP THIS, UH, GREAT PROFESSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THIS PICTURE.

DO YOU HAVE THE FAMILY?

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REMEMBER MICHAEL KUBOSH FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, COMPLETE COMMUNITY, CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE MINI-GRANT AWARDS AND THE PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED.

UM, I HAVE SOMEBODY'S PHONE COM COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, MAYOR I, I'D NEVER HEARD OF COMPLETE, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES UNTIL YOU BROUGHT IT UP.

COMPLETE COMMUNITY, UH, CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DAY COMMUNITY, UH, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, INCOME AND FAMILY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT, ALL COMBINED TO BE POWERFUL INFLUENCES ON HEALTH.

COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING IS A WAY TO ASSIST PEOPLE TO ACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING NEEDED SKILLS IN CORE AREAS.

THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDING PROVIDED FUNDING FOR SERVICES, ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG HIGH RISK AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND CAPACITY BUILDING OUTREACH, STRATEGIC STRATEGIES.

STRATEGICS, LLC RECEIVED FUNDING TO CREATE THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WHICH OFFERED HOUSTON RESIDENTS 12 HOURS OF TRAINING TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING, RESIDENTS COULD APPEAR, COULD APPLY FOR A MINI GRANT OF UP TO $1,500 TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PROJECT ADDRESSING A HEALTH CONCERN.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE PROJECT TRAINED OVER 100 COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND FUNDED 53 MINI GRANTS, REPRESENTING 48 DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

THE PROJECTS TARGETED ONE OF, UH, ARE MORE, UH, ONE OR MORE OF THE MAYOR'S 10 COMPLETE COMMUNITIES OR SURROUNDING AREAS.

THESE PROJECTS, HAVING PLANNED, WERE PLANNED, DEVELOPED, AND IMPLEMENTED BY COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.

THEY RANGE FROM EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND FOOD ACCESS, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ISSUES, ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION, AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TO JUST NAME A FEW PROJECTS, ADDRESS ISSUES AFFECTING SCHOOL AGE, CHILDREN, PREGNANT, AND NEW MOTHERS, OLDER ADULTS, SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS, BLACK MEN AND HOMELESS FAMILIES.

THESE PROJECTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LED THEM ARE AN, AN IMPORTANT LEGACY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT TRULY DEMONSTRATES THAT WITH SOME TRAINING AND SUPPORT ALONG WITH THEIR TARGET TALENTS, PASSION AND COMMITMENT, INDIVIDUALS CAN TRULY CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE.

MAYOR, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023 AS COMPLETE COMMUNITY, CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND LOOK WHO WE HAVE.

LOOK WHO WE HAVE HERE TODAY.

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I, I'M PROUD TO, TO, TO PRESENT, UH, MY FRIEND RO JEAN CALVERT.

IF IT WEREN'T FOR ME, YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE.

HE BEAT ME IN OUR RACE.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SUCH GOOD BUDDIES.

I AM VERY PROUD TO BE HERE.

I'M REPRESENT.

I'M JUST THE SPOKESPERSON.

I'M REPRESENTING ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO YOU WILL SOON SEE MANY OF THEM REPRESENTING EXACTLY WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KASH DESCRIBED CITIZENS WHO ARE PASSIONATE, WHO HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING, A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT, A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE WORLD AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.

UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PUBLISH, AND I THINK WE, EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY.

WE CALL IT SEEDS OF CHANGE.

THEY REPRESENT THE MANY PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE, COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY WITH A MINI GRANT OF UP TO $1,500.

AND THESE WERE FUNDS THAT THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT WERE ABLE TO GET FROM THE, UH, HEALTH EQUITY FUNDING.

AND WE HAVE PUT IT TO HOPEFULLY GOOD USE.

THIS IS AS WE SET A LEGACY THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE, BECAUSE THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHO I HOPE YOU'LL GET TO SEE IN A MINUTE WHEN WE ALL COME UP, UM, HAVE DONE PROJECTS THAT REPRESENT HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC CHANGE, UM, ADDRESSING FOOD AND AND NUTRITION EDUCATION.

UH, I THINK IT SAID EDUCATION OF YOUTH AND, AND, UH, YOUNG, YOUNG CHILDREN.

AND ALSO FAMILY SUPPORT, WHICH COVERS A BROAD SPECTRUM.

SO I WANNA JUST RECOGNIZE SOME OF YOU AROUND THE TABLE BECAUSE WITHOUT YOUR HELP, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS.

ONE OF OUR SESSIONS WAS HOW TO MAKE CHANGE IN TALKING TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON.

I THINK A LOT OF YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, I KNOW YOU JOINED US.

SOME OF YOU WERE UNABLE TO GET, BUT DON'T WORRY, WE'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME.

BUT WITH YOUR ADVICE, GUIDANCE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT, THEY FELT VERY, VERY EMPOWERED.

I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE SUCH GREAT WORK SUPPORTING US TO DO THIS.

YOUR, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAS THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES UNIVERSITY.

WE PARTNERED WITH THEM SO THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER.

AND ALSO MY STAFF WHO ARE HERE, THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STAFF WHO PROVIDED THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING, MENTORING AND SUPPORT, AND ALSO OUTREACH STRATEGIST STAFF WHO HELPED US ALONG THE WAY.

SO, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SEEDS OF CHANGE.

I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THESE BLOSSOM AND GROW AND THRIVE.

APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

COUNCILMAN KVA FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

MS. CALVERT, MAY MY MINI GRANT, PLEASE, RECIPIENT, PLEASE COME UP AND TAKE A QUICK MS. CALVERT, WHILE THEY'RE COMING UP HERE, WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.

OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON.

AND THANK YOU, UM, EVERYONE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

I WANT TO THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, JUST FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND, UM, FOR LEADING, UM, THIS WHOLE EFFORT, I WAS READING A BOOK AND I SAW, UM, I WAS READING A SEEDS OF CHANGE BOOK, AND I SAW QUITE A FEW OF DISTRICT B UM, LEADERS IN THIS.

I SEE MS. GRANT OVER THERE AT FOUR FOUR.

SHE WAS, UM, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACRES HOMES, REST, LAWN, CEMETERY BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT MS. GRANT.

WE GOT MR. DAVID SMITH, UM, JENSEN JUBILEE, SENIOR ENGAGEMENT.

I KNOW WE GOT CEDRIC, UM, PASTOR CEDRIC FRANCIS MEET THE STREET OUTREACH.

UM, DR. MCCULLOUGH AND JOTA STEVENSON Q LEARNING ACADEMY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK A LOT OF THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND JUST FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMITMENT FOR JUST MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS MOVING FORWARD AND WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED AND, AND, AND THIS WHOLE, UM, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, THAT'S HOW WE MOVE OUR COMMUNITIES FORWARD.

AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, LEADERS EAGER AND EXCITED ABOUT, UM, JUST TAKING ON THE TASK OF, OF, OF, OF MOVING PROJECTS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THIS MAYOR IS YOUR, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SIGNATURE, UH, ACHIEVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS HAS TRANSFORMED HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS REGIME.

YOU'VE BEEN AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR FOR GATHERING ALL THESE GREAT PROJECTS, IDENTIFYING THESE GREAT LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU.

UH, IT IS, UH, I THINK THE LEGACY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE, UH, AMONG THE MANY MAYOR TURNER THAT YOU DESERVE FOR THIS.

SO, UM, GLAD TO SEE YOU'VE GOT A BASKETBALL THERE.

I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA SHOW SOME HOOPS LATER, THE PROJECT.

UM, CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND, UH, WELL DONE REGIME.

COUNCIL MEMBER IN YOUR OFFICE AS WELL.

YOUR STAFF.

DIANA HAS BEEN GREAT.

YES, THANKS AGAIN.

COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH AND UH, MS. KRICK, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND THANKS TO ALL THE FINE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE WITH US HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

GOD BLESS.

ALRIGHT, WELL TAKE A QUICK PICTURE.

LEX FRIED, TERRY MORALES, DIANE LUTHER, UH, ROBERTO TREVINO, TROY TAYLOR, UH, AND CHRIS HOLLANDS.

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OH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

GO DANGEROUS.

COULD HAVE BEEN.

CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES MARIAL, VESTA TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HOUSTON METRO IN CELEBRATION OF THE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

UH, MAYOR PROAM AND, AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

UH, I HAVE THE, UM, AS I BEGIN TO WRAP UP, UH, MY, UH, TWO TERMS. I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR METRO, UH, FOR THEIR, UH, OUTSTANDING WORK OVER THE YEARS.

AND SO, UH, TODAY WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING, UH, THE CEO PRESIDENT TOM LAMPERT HERE.

AND THEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SANJAY RAHM, IS PRESIDENT.

AND, AND IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS,

[00:30:01]

AND SO LET, IF I CAN ASK, UH, TOM LAMPERT AND, UH, SANJAY AND THE BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD COME.

LES, IF YOU CAN NAVIGATE YOUR BUS, UM, AROUND, I'M GOOD.

I'M GOOD.

WHEN HE WAS THE POLICE CHIEF AT METRO, AND I WAS NOT EVEN A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AT THIS TIME, WOULD END UP ON THIS DAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, WHERE HE HAS SERVED METRO FOR 45 YEARS AND HE AND I WOULD BE EXITING, SO TO SPEAK, ON DECEMBER 31ST OF, OF 2023.

ALL RIGHT.

THOMAS C LAMPERT HAS SPENT HIS ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.

HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE ROSE TO THE RANK OF SENIOR POLICE OFFICER AND RECEIVED THAT DEPARTMENT'S LIFESAVING AWARD GIVEN AND RECOGNITION OF THOSE WHO PERFORMED SELFLESS ACTS TO SAVE ANOTHER.

LAMBER JOINED THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY IN 1979 DURING HIS FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION.

AND SINCE THEN, HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ADVOCATE FOR TRANSIT RIDERS, AS WELL AS A VALUED REGIONAL PARTNER, SUPPORTING EVERYTHING FROM EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS TO MAJOR INITIATIVES.

FOLLOWING THE CREATION OF THE METROS POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1982, LAMPERT BECAME METRO'S FIRST POLICE CHIEF, HAVING ALSO SERVED AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.

AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT LAMPERT ASSUMED THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT AND CEO IN 2013 AND WILL BE RETIRING DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.

AS METRO'S LONGEST SERVING PRESIDENT AND CEO DURING LAMBERT'S TENURE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO, HE HAS LED A TEAM OF MORE THAN 4,000 WORKING EACH DAY TO DELIVER SAFE, CLEAN, RELIABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE AUTHORITIES 1300 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA.

UNDER LAMPERT'S LEADERSHIP, METRO EXPANDED LIGHT RAIL SERVICE, LUNCHING THE GREEN AND PURPLE LINES.

IN 2015, THAT SAME YEAR, THE AGENCY REDESIGNED ITS ENTIRE LOCAL BUS NETWORK, THE NEW BUS NETWORK, IMPROVING TRANSIT OPTIONS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

THE REIMAGINED SERVICE BECAME A TEMPLATE FOR TRANSIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE GLOBE ON LAMBERS WATCH METRO EXPANDED METRO LIFT, THE AGENCY'S PARATRANSIT SERVICE FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ENHANCE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITH RIDER TOOLS, UTILIZING DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND HELP TO INTRODUCE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND TECHNOLOGY TO THE REGION.

LAMPERT HAS ALSO BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE AGENCY'S COORDINATION AND SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDED DURING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS LIKE HURRICANE HARVEY AND WINTER STORM URI, AS WELL AS SERVICES PROVIDED TO GET HEALTHCARE AND OTHER FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES TO WORK.

DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC LAMPERT, WHO WAS NAMED AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OUTSTANDING MANAGER IN 20, IN 2018, IS CURRENT CURRENTLY OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A $7.5 BILLION VOTER APPROVED PLAN, WHICH WILL BRING 500 MILES OF TRAVEL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE REGION, INCLUDING NEW METRO RAPID BUS, UH, RAPID TRANSIT SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS TO HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTES AND UPGRADES TO 9,000 BUS STOPS TO ENSURE THEY MEET OR EXCEED A DA STANDARDS.

UH, LAMBERT'S VISIONARY LEADERSHIP HAS RESULTED IN METRO'S RECEIVING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION'S OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AWARD IN 2015 AND 2020, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FINANCING.

ON NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023, THOMAS C LAMPERT WILL BE HONORED FOR HIS WORK AND TIMELESS COMMITMENT TO METRO AND TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN FOUR AND A HALF DECADES.

THAT'S 45 YEARS.

THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THOMAS C LAMPERT ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES ON ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

WHO WOULD'VE KNOWN THAT MY NEIGHBOR GOING BACK TO 1983 IN NORTHWEST PARK

[00:35:01]

IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR, TOM, THAT WE ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE SERVICE TO SAY THE LEAST.

UH, THIS IS NOT THE SAME CITY OR REGION OF 30 YEARS AGO, AND WHERE 30 YEARS AGO WE WERE BUST AND CAR CENTRIC.

TODAY WE DO SPEAK IN TERMS OF MULTIMODAL FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND A LOT OF THE TRANSFORMATION HAS TAKEN PLACE ON YOUR WATCH.

AND SO I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE METRO SERVICE REGION TO SAY THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THIS DAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023, AS TO C LAMPERT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR SOME OUTSTANDING SERVICE.

PLEASE, MR. MAYOR, IF I DON'T GET MY FAMILY UP HERE, I'M GONNA BE IN TROUBLE SINCE THEY ALL SHOWED UP SOON.

I KNOW CINDY IS HERE.

YEAH, THE WHOLE FAMILY.

SO, WHILE THEY'RE COMMIT, LET ME, LET ME BEGIN.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

UH, YOU HIT THE HIGH NOTE.

UH, WE ARE NOW A MULTIMODAL CITY.

IT'S LOOKING AT ALL OPPORTUNITIES OF MOVING PEOPLE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY IN THIS GROWING REGION.

THE OPPORTUNITY OF GIVING TRAVEL CHOICES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AND I'VE BEEN BLESSED BY WORKING WITH OVER 4,000 VERY PASSIONATE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL THE THINGS WE'VE COLLECTIVELY DONE.

UH, WE'VE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH A GREAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SO I WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR PUTTING THOSE BOARD MEMBERS IN PLACE THAT GAVE US THE FREEDOM AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND TO EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU.

UH, YOU'VE KEPT US INFORMED, YOU'VE KEPT US ADVISED, YOU TOLD US WHEN WE WERE DOING THINGS OUTSTANDINGLY, YOU TOLD US WHEN WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND THEN TO MY WIFE, CINDY, AND OUR ENTIRE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING THAT MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN HURRICANES HIT, I WAS NEVER AT HOME BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS HERE SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY.

AND YOU DON'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR FAMILY SUPPORT.

SO I WANT TO THANK THEM.

BUT MR. MAYOR, TO YOU AND THE COUNCIL, MR. CHAIRMAN, TO YOU AND ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES AT METRO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

VERY PROUD AND VERY HUMBLED TO BE HONORED IN THIS FASHION.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q, BUT, UH, UH, CINDY, WE KNOW HOW BIG OF A JOB YOU PLAY IN THIS WHOLE THING, , UH, WHILE HE GETS THE FUN AND THE ACCOLADES, IT'S REALLY, UH, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING.

AND THANKS FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY FOR ALL THESE YEARS AS WELL.

THE CITY, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU AND YOUR FAM YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.

COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.

OH, UP FIRST, TOM, UH, I MEAN, THE BOTTOM LINE, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS WE CAN ALL SAY, BUT THANK YOU.

UH, TRULY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE GIVEN.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK A LOT OF THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH WHEN YOU RECOGNIZED, UH, YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND YOUR FAMILY AND CALLED THEM UP BECAUSE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO, I KNOW ISN'T POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM.

UM, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A TRUE PARTNER HERE AT THE CITY, UM, USHERING IN A TRANSFORMATION THROUGH METRO AND THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED, UM, NOT JUST TO THE CITY, BUT TO THE REGION AS A WHOLE, UM, AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT METRO HAS TAKEN ON.

UM, MAYOR WITH YOUR HELP, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOUR HELP, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

SO REALLY, TOM, WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.

UM, BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.

THANK YOU TOM LAMBERT.

YOU'VE BEEN OUTSTANDING 45 YEARS.

THAT IS SO LONG TO STAY AT METRO.

CONGRATULATIONS ON JUST A STELLAR CAREER.

THANKS FOR BEING SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND YOU'RE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING IT.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE GREAT AT TALKING ABOUT IT.

I LOVE WATCHING YOU AT TPC AND AT OTHER PLACES WHERE YOU'RE REALLY JUST, YOU JUST KNOW YOUR FACTS AND YOU KNOW THEIR STORY, AND YOU KNOW THE NEED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

AND YOU SO ELOQUENTLY EXPRESS THAT TO PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HEAR IT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONGTIME SERVICE TO OUR REGION, TO

[00:40:01]

WHO DO WE HAVE HERE? YOU HAVE DAUGHTERS AND SONS HERE, I, LET ME INTRODUCE, I HAVE MY SON, JARED, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, RACHEL, MY GRANDSON CHARLES, MY DAUGHTER TANYA, MY SON-IN-LAW, GREG, MY GRANDDAUGHTERS, ELLA, KATIE, AND MCKENNA.

WELL, WONDERFUL.

AND WHAT A TRIBUTE TO YOU THAT THEY ALL CAME THAT'S SO NICE.

I THINK THEY WANTED TO GET OUTTA SCHOOL TODAY, IS WHAT IT WAS.

I DON'T BLAME THEM.

THANK YOU, CHIEF, AND THANK YOU, SANJAY.

UM, YOU'RE A BLESSED MAN.

YOU HAVE A GREAT FAMILY.

AND, UH, I CAN TELL THE, THE YOUNG GRANDSON HAS THAT TOM LAMBERT HAIRCUT.

LOOK, HE'S READY TO GO.

SO I, TO MAKE ONE OTHER FINAL COMMENT, IF I MAY TOO.

I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK THE CITY STAFF.

WE'VE HAD AN OUTSTANDING WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND WE COULD NOT DO THE THINGS WE DO AT METRO WITHOUT THAT COOPERATION, WITHOUT THAT COLLABORATION.

SO THAT'S ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, 'CAUSE WE TOUCH EVERYBODY AT THE CITY.

SO I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AT THE CITY FOR WORKING WITH US.

RECOGNIZES, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR THE INVOCATION.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS WITH SOME COMMENTS.

TH THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM TO TOM AGAIN.

I TOO WANT TO JUST CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE WITH METRO AND HOPE YOU GET TO ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.

UH, I, I KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU AS A COUNCIL MEMBER THESE PAST 10 YEARS.

AND PRIOR TO THAT, AS A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF MY CIVIC CLUB.

UH, SO YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

YOU ALWAYS HAD YOUR DOOR OPEN, YOU WERE ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND TRY TO RESOLVE WHATEVER THE ISSUE MAY BE.

UH, SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR, FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AND I WISH YOU THE BEST.

FIRST I TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S GET THE FAMILY MEMBERS FIRST.

ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS COME TOGETHER.

COMMUNITY SESSION CHAIR

[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

LOOK INWARD AND UPWARD, HOWEVER THAT MAY BE, THAT YOU DO.

UH, TODAY I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, TAMMY ADAMO MASA.

SHE'S A FORMER PROSECUTOR, UM, BUT STILL A BRILLIANT LADY LAWYER.

SHE'S A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT GA PARISHIONER OF ST.

MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME HER TO THE PODIUM.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

IF YOU GO RIGHT BEHIND THAT ONE.

YEAH, RIGHT THERE.

THIS ONE, THE ONE WITH THE RED LIGHT.

UM, I AM A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN.

I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO KNOW NEARLY EVERY PART OF THE CITY.

I GREW UP IN THE SOUTH.

I HAD IN ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

I HAD FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON THE EAST SIDE.

I WENT TO SCHOOL ON THE WEST SIDE AND IN THE GALLERIA AREA.

I'VE WORKED IN THE NORTH AND IN DOWNTOWN.

UM, AND SO I, I AM BLESSED TO KNOW, UM, THAT HOUSTON IS A BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLEX CITY.

SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, MAKING HOUSTON WHAT IT IS TODAY AND WHAT IT WILL BE TOMORROW.

UM, NOW I WOULD LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND

[00:45:01]

UM, I WILL SAY, UH, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

UH, GRACIOUS GOD, AS WE GATHER HERE IN CITY HALL, WE SEEK YOUR DIVINE PRESENCE TO ILLUMINATE THESE PROCEEDINGS, WE LIFT UP OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THE WEIGHT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR ROLES IN GUIDING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU GRANT THEM THE CLARITY TO SEE THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE ISSUES BEFORE THEM, THE ATTENTIVE EARS TO HEAR THE VOICES OF THEIR COLLEAGUES AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

THE COURAGE TO PURSUE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE STRENGTH TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY.

BLESS THEIR PURPOSE, LORD, MAY THEY BE A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SELFLESSNESS, INSPIRING OTHERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY.

LET YOUR LIGHT GUIDE THEM, LORD GOD.

POUR OUT YOUR HOPE UPON THE HEARTS OF OUR MEMBERS, REMINDING THEM THAT THIS CITY IS A SPACE TO BE VALUED.

NOT FOR WHAT CAN BE TAKEN, BUT FOR WHAT CAN BE GIVEN AND GROWN WITHIN IT AS THEY WORK TIRELESSLY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SURROUND THEM WITH YOUR PROTECTION AND GRANT THEM MOMENTS OF REST AND REJUVENATION.

BLESS THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES WHO SHARE IN THIS SACRIFICE OF THEIR SERVICE.

MAY YOUR HAND BE UPON EACH COUNCIL MEMBER IN THEIR PURSUIT OF CREATING A POSITIVE CITY.

LET YOUR LOVE BE THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THEY BUILD THEIR LEGACY.

GOD BLESS THIS COUNCIL, ITS MEMBERS AND ITS PURPOSE.

IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

PEACE.

SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER.

SO THE PLEDGE TO THE REPUBLIC WE WISH IT NATION GOD IN.

THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH.

AND MADAM

[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]

COUNCIL MEMBER PECK.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

COUNCILMAN MARTIN, PRESENT, COUNCILMAN THOMAS.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN.

PRESENT.

COUNCILOR EVAN SHAVAR WILL BE ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT.

COUNCIL OX WILL BE ABSENT.

COUNCILMAN ROBINSON HERE.

COUNCILMAN KOSH.

LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL RULES.

COUNCIL PALM WILL BE, BE ABSENT.

CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JULY 18TH AND 19TH.

SO MOVED.

ROBINSON SECOND ALCORN.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT MINUTES.

ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE.

AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED.

UH, SEE WE HAVE A LONG

[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]

UH, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL READ THE APPLICABLE SECTION OF RULE NUMBER EIGHT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION A OF THE TOTAL, IF THE TOTAL OF THE TIMES REQUESTED BY SPEAKERS AT ANY COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEETING IS GREATER THAN 150 MINUTES, THE MAYOR SHALL SO ANNOUNCE AND EACH SPEAKER'S TIME SHALL BE ONE MINUTE.

FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION ARE INVOKED, THE QUESTION TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL BE LIMITED TO A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF ONE MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER NOT WITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS, THIS RULE.

AND RULE 10 TO THE CONTRARY.

AND TO SUMMARIZE, THIS MEANS THAT EACH PUBLIC SPEAKER, REGARDLESS OF THE MINUTES YOU SIGNED UP FOR, UH, WILL ONLY GET ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.

ONLY ONE MINUTE.

AND THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL WILL ONLY GET ONE MINUTE COLLECTIVELY.

YOU KNOW, NOT A MINUTE EACH, BUT ONE MINUTE TOTAL.

UH, UH, TO RESPOND, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE A, UH, COMBINED 169 MINUTES, UH, OF SPEAKERS, UH, TODAY, UH, LET ME FIRST RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.

I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD RANDY BAXLEY TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST.

ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR NONE.

MOTION IS GRANTED.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

MAYOR, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ARIAN WRIGHT TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA SPEAKERS.

SECOND.

ROBINSON, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

SECOND.

ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NONE.

MOTION IS GRANTED.

THANK PROCEDURE.

MOTION.

I MOTION SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE RAY JONES AT THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE.

NONE.

AGENDA SECOND ROBINSON.

I FOLLOWED BY YEAH.

FOLLOWING YOUR YEAH.

YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

UM, SECOND.

BEEN SECOND.

ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE.

AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER POLLETT FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

UM, AN ATTENDEE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ACCIDENTALLY PLACED HIS PHONE, UH, DOWN AT THE SECURITY DESK AND SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY TOOK IT.

UH, I, I MAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO, UH, MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE AUDIENCE THAT WE HAVE,

[00:50:01]

AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR PROPER PHONE, UH, PLEASE CHECK AND GIVE IT TO RENEE.

RAISE YOUR HAND, RENEE.

AND SO WE CAN GET THAT BACK TO THE, UH, ATTENDEE AND THE AUDIENCE THAT, UM, NO LONGER HAS HIS PHONE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, WE'RE GONNA START, UH, LET ME JUST ASK PEOPLE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF TODAY, OF THE, OF THE TIME CONSTRAINT AND ALSO OF THE DECORUM OF THE, OF THE UH, CHAMBER.

UM, SO MADAM SECRETARY, YOU WILL PROCEED TO CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING.

RANDY BAXLEY IS HERE.

WHERE IS HE? GOT IT.

OH, HE WAS AT, THAT WAS AN YES SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.

THANK YOU ALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE ARCHITECTS AND THE PLANNING AND ALL THOSE MILES OF DEVELOP IN THOSE OFFICES.

WE ALSO HAD A THING CALLED COMPLETE COMMUNITIES CREATED BY AN ATTORNEY WHO CREATED OTHER MILES OF PAPER AND IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY SINCE WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE THAT THE NEAREST NORTH SIDE HAS GOTTEN A LOT DONE FROM THIS PLAN, BUT WE HAVE MORE TO GO AND I, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO ITEM 10 BEING, UH, FULLY FUNDED AND PASSED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH RANDY.

SHAZA BRANCH IS HERE.

HI, MY NAME IS SHAZA BRANCH.

I AM ASKING, I AM ASKING THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT MEET WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE REGARDING THE TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCE.

TOGETHER WE CAN ESTABLISH THE DETAILS ON WHEN AND WHERE NEW SIGNS WILL BE INSTALLED, HOW THE ROADS WILL BE MAINTAINED, THE FINE AMOUNTS ARE INCREASED, AND HOW THIS NEW ROUTE WILL BE ENFORCED.

WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR THE CITY TO PLACE A MORE, MORE RANDOM, MORE RETIRE, WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW THAT WORD ON PERMITS FOR ANY NEW TRUCK ROUTES OR PIT STATIONS IN OUR AREA UNTIL HEALTH STUDY IS DONE ON THE AXA ROUTE, WE'LL HAVE ON RESIDENTS NEARBY.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

VICKI MARTIN.

VICKI MARTIN IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA RIDLEY.

GOOD MORNING.

I TR GOOD AFTERNOON.

I TRUST EVERYONE HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 11 REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCE THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS AND IS IS ANTICIPATING ON PRESENTING TO THE CITY TO BE APPROVED.

UH, I RESIDE IN THE EAST HOUSTON SET OF GAS AREA OF NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND WE ALREADY ARE INUNDATED WITH TRUCKS.

WE CAME DOWN HERE FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JULY EXCEPT JULY 4TH TO SPEAK ABOUT THE KNOW THROUGH TRUCKS AND TRUCK YARD PARKING.

SO WHAT WE, I WOULD ASK WOULD BE THAT WE SIT AT THE TABLE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN REGARDS TO THE CRITERIA FOR THE TRUCK ROUTE BECAUSE THE CITY GAS AREA IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA AS IDENTIFIED.

THERE'S NO ZONING, THERE'S NO DE RESTRICTION, BUT CLAREMONT PLACE IS RIGHT AFTER STATE OF GAS AND IT IS DE RESTRICTED.

AND THIS TRUCK ROUTE, A POOL TRUCK ROUTE IS SUPPOSED TO COME FROM LAY ROAD TO LITTLE YORK.

THERE ARE NO BUSINESSES OR DESIGNATIONS THAT WOULD WARRANT TRUCKS TRAVELING DOWN NORTHWAY SIDE FROM LAY ROAD TO LITTLE YORK.

THERE IS NO ORIGIN THAT THEY WOULD HAVE.

OUR STREETS ARE INTACT.

WE WISH FOR THEM TO STAY INTACT.

PATRICIA RIDLEY JACKSON.

ONE I'M AFTER THIS WITNESS.

HEART PROBLEMS. AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS A OLD NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN IT 60 YEARS.

MY NAME IS PATRICIA RIDLEY.

I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRUCK AUDIENCE.

THEY'RE COMING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

THEY'RE WAKING ME UP AT TWO AND THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

18 WHEELERS ARE TURNING IN MY YARD ON THE CURVE, CRACKING THE CURVES.

WHEN THE KIDS ARE GETTING OUTTA SCHOOL, THEY HAVE TO JUMP IN MY YARD BECAUSE THE TRUCKS ARE ARDING THE SIDEWALKS.

I CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT.

I HAVE RETIRED.

I AM 71 YEARS OF AGE.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY RETIREMENT.

I CAN'T ENJOY WITH THE TRUCKS.

THEN THEY HAVE BUILT A SERVICE STATION IN THE BACK WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A TRUCK REPAIRMAN.

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I HOPE IT DOESN'T GO FORWARD BECAUSE I NEED TO REST.

I HAVE

[00:55:01]

60 YEARS.

I THANK GOD THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS WHEN YOU SIT AT THE TABLE BECAUSE IT'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT.

WELL, I'M SORRY, ONE SECOND.

COUNCILMAN JACKSON.

AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR COMING IN TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS AND THANK YOU MS. MARTIN.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HERE SPEAKING ON THE, UM, TRUCK REROUTING ORDINANCE.

AND SO I KNOW THE VOTE TOMORROW IS BASICALLY TO GIVE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT THE GREEN LIGHT TO GO AHEAD AND DRAFT THE ORDINANCE.

RIGHT? AND SO MY QUESTION TO YOU GUYS IS WHAT ARE YOU, YOU YOU WANT US TO HOLD OFF ON GIVING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT APPROVAL TO DRAFT IT? BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE HAVE NOT BEEN DRAFTED YET AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.

THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE.

UM, I'VE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM A COMMUNITY ABOUT 18 WHEELERS, UM, COMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT DISTRICT B PLEASANTVILLE CITY GAS.

NOW THE CITY GAS IS BASICALLY, UM, IT'S GONNA BE WHERE THE PILOT STARTS.

UM, BUT NOTHING IS ACTUALLY RIDDEN IN STONE.

AND SO I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS ARE ASKING US TO DO? I'M ASKING YOU TO STOP THE 18 WHEELERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

I'M ASKING YOU AT LEAST IF THEY DO STOP 'EM FROM TWO O'CLOCK, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

LIKE I SAID, I HAVE RETIRED FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

I WORKED FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT.

FOR 40 YEARS.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE TRUCKING.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND, AND I AGREE WITH YOU AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS TO STOP IT BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE LIKE RAISED YOUR VOICE.

YOU LET THE CITY KNOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU WANNA CHANGE.

AND, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE ARE, WE'RE, WE HEARD YOU, THE COMMUNITY, THE THE MAYOR HEARD YOU PLANNING DEPARTMENT, MY OFFICE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND SO NOTHING IS WRITTEN OUT YET.

THE COMMUNITY WILL BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

UM, AND UM, YEAH.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN TO VOICE YOUR CONCERN AND STAY INVOLVED.

THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE YOU'RE INVOLVED AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT.

CAROLYN RIVERA.

CAROLYN RIVERA TO BE BROUGHT BY JOTA STEVENSON.

EXCUSE ME IF I START CRYING.

I WANT TO THANK ASHA COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

AND I AGREE WITH HER EXACTLY WHAT SHE IS REQUESTING IS WHAT WE WANT.

AND THE REASON WHY I AM ABOUT TO CRY IS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS COME GETTING READY TO COME HERE, I WAS GOING DOWN NORTH WHITE SIDE AND ALL THESE 18 WHEEL OF FUMES WAS SO STRONG.

I PUT A MASK ON, I LOOKED ON THE SIDE OF ME AND THERE WAS A BABY WALKING WITH HIS MAMA AND HELEN, ALL OF THESE FUMES.

WE NEED HELP.

WE HAVE A BIG APARTMENT COMPLEX, PROBABLY 500 PEOPLE.

THEN WE HAVE A SENIOR CITIZEN RIGHT ON NORTHWEST SIDE IN LAY ROAD.

WE NEED HELP 'CAUSE YOU'RE KILLING US.

LITERALLY, IT WAS SO THICK I HAD TO PUT MY MASK ON AND I LOOK OVER THERE AND SEE THAT BABY WALKING WITH HIS MAMA.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE HELP.

WE NEED IT AND WE NEED IT NOW.

THE, THE TEAM HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND MET WITH, UM, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE FAMILIES WHO WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS FUND.

JOETTA STEVENSON, YOUR HONOR, STEVENSON IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDRA EDWARDS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE, UM, I GOT WORD ABOUT THE, UH, THE THREE ORDINANCES REGARDING THE CANCER CLUSTER RELOCATION, MAYBE ABOUT ONE O'CLOCK OR 1230 YESTERDAY.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA, BUT AFTER I READ THEM, I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN BECAUSE WHEN I REACHED OUT TO MEMBERS OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH I'M THE PRESIDENT OF IN FIFTH WARD, THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED AND I REALLY COULD NOT ARTICULATE, UH, OR EXPLAIN THOSE PARTICULAR ORDINANCES.

SO MR. MAYOR, WHAT I NEED YOU FOR YOU TO KNOW IS THAT I KNOW THAT YOU HAD ANNOUNCED THAT STRIKE TEAM, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT STRIKE TEAM HAS NOT ACTUALLY COME INTO THE, MY COMMUNITY AND ACTUALLY TOLD PEOPLE OR EXPLAINED TO PEOPLE, UH, SOME OF THE BASIC DETAILS THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED WITH THOSE ORDINANCES.

FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW $100,000 IS ALLOCATED TO THE, UH, CLT AND I REALIZE THAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

IS THERE ANY PART OF THAT MONEY THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED, NOT JUST CLT OR THAT, THAT OTHER GROUP FOR SEVEN 50? COULD ANY PART OF THAT MONEY BE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? NO.

NO MA'AM.

MS. UH, MS. STEVENS, IT'S ALL FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT IMPACTED AREA AND

[01:00:01]

SO, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, YOU FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT, UH, TO STEVE COSTELLO, UH, TO ANYONE WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU OR ANYONE ELSE MAY HAVE.

OKAY? RIGHT.

BUT FEEL, IN FACT, I'LL HAVE SPEAKER STELLA TO REACH OUT TO YOU.

OKAY? THANK YOU.

'CAUSE I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET.

I'LL, I'LL HAVE, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT HE REACH OUT TO YOU, IF NOT TODAY, TOMORROW AT THE LATEST.

BUT I'LL TRY TO ASK HIM TO REACH OUT TO YOU TODAY.

WALTER WALTER MALLET.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMAN COUNCIL.

MARY STRATER.

MARY STRADA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES JOSEPH.

MS. RADER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

LADIES, COUNCILMAN, MY NAME IS MARY STR AND I'M A RESIDENT OF FIFTH WARD, TEXAS.

I'M A BLOCK CAPTAIN.

SO FOOT, FEET, BOOTS TO THE STREET.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING, UM, AFTER THE MONIES WERE ALLOCATED AT FIRST, HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE NUMBER THAT IS ON THE, UH, ORDINANCES? WE NEED TO SEE A BREAKDOWN BECAUSE WE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE ALSO NEED AN UNDERSTANDING ON LAND TRUST AND LAND BANK BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.

Y'ALL CAN TELL US ANYTHING.

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN OUR, UH, COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT LIVES.

OUR RESIDENT LIVES HERE, RIGHT? IN THIS MATTER.

NEXT SPEAKER, RAY JONES.

RAY JONES.

RAY JONES IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICK COOPER, ALSO WITH MASS CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS RAY RC JONES.

I'M BETTER KNOWN IN THE POLITICAL ARENA AS RSC.

THE R STANDS FOR RAY DISEASE STANDS FOR CROCKETT AS ED CROCKETT.

MOST OF YOU ALL KNOW HER.

AND SHE AND I WAS A TEAM.

I HAVE, I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

ONE OF THEM WAS SOLID WASTE.

I HAVE HAD A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF THE PAST SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTOR OVER THE 50 YEARS.

BUT THIS ONE I DO NOT HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP AT ALL.

IN THE PAST, CONTRACTS HAS BEEN PUT ON THE GENERAL AND BID AND BIDDED.

THIS DIRECTOR GIVES CONTRACTS TO HIS FRIENDS AND I CAN PROVE THAT IF I HAVE TO.

MY BUSINESS HAVE BEEN A TWO-TIME AFRICAN AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENT PINNACLE AWARD FINALIST.

DONE OUT OF STATE WITH FLORIDA AND IT'S DONE WITH A COMPANY CALLED DRC WHO HAS NO RECOGNITION FOR US AS A HIGH HOUSTON OWNER.

OKAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THE LAST THING IS THAT PROVERBS 22 AND 13 SAYS THAT A GOOD MAN GIVE A INHERIT TO HIS CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.

THAT'S MY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. JONES, THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING IN.

AND SO WHAT IS IT? I'M GONNA GIVE YOU LIKE 30, I CAN GIVE 30 SECONDS FOR YOU TO WRAP UP.

WHAT YOU TRYING TO SAY? UH, WELL, WELL THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BEING TREATED FAIR AS A-N-W-B-E, WHICH MEANS NOTHING.

WE'RE NOT BEING PRINTED AS A MINORITY CONTRACT, WHICH MEANS NOTHING.

WE UP IMPOSE TO INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN'T USE.

AND THE SPEAKER THAT COMES BEHIND ME IS GONNA BE MORE DETAIL THAN THAT.

WE NOW ARE HAVING TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR EQUIPMENT THAT'S BEEN SITTING UP IN TWO OR THREE YEARS.

I ONCE SERVED AS A CONSULTANT FOR MAYOR LEAFY BROWN IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.

MY JOB WAS TO GO OUT AND IDENTIFY ALL EQUIPMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS OR IN THE COUNTY AS TO WHY WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO OUT OF STATE TO GET WORKERS TODAY.

MOST OF THE WORK ARE

[01:05:01]

WE ARE VERY, WE DON'T HAVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT SPEAKER, NICK COOPER.

NICK COOPER IS HERE.

MY JEWISH GRANDFATHERS WORKED THEIR WAY UP FROM POVERTY.

ONE BECAME A FEDERAL JUDGE AND THE OTHER A SURGEON.

BUT IT WAS MY JEWISH GRANDMOTHERS WHO HAD THE TIME TO TEACH ME ABOUT EVERYTHING AT THE FAMILY PASSOVER EVERY YEAR AND IN EVERY SYNAGOGUE, THE HOLOCAUST LOOMED OVER OUR PEOPLE.

NEVER AGAIN, NEVER FORGET WE HAD A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP THE NEXT GENOCIDE FROM HAPPENING BEFORE IT EVEN STARTED.

WELL, WE FAILED.

ISRAEL HAS MET ALL THE CRITERIA UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR COMMITTING GENOCIDE AND GAZA.

THOSE WHO TAKE ACTION TO STOP GENOCIDE ARE NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.

IN FACT, THEY'RE UPHOLDING WHAT I THINK OF AS THE DEEPEST JEWISH VALUES.

PEOPLE CAN BE BOTH ANTI-ZIONIST AND ANTI-SEMITIC LIKE K KU KLUX KLAN MEMBERS.

BUT PALESTINE SOY DARE SOLIDARITY GROUPS ARE NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.

I'VE WORKED WITH DOZENS OF THEM OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES AND I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED EVEN ONE INCIDENT OF ANTISEMITISM.

ANSIA AJI ANSIA A ACI IS HERE.

IT'S INTERESTING.

OUR PLEDGE SAYS, FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

WHAT DOES LIBERTY AND JUSTICE MEAN TO YOU? EXACTLY.

THE IDEA OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK FOR DECADES, ESPECIALLY IN PALESTINE.

SO DOES IT ONLY APPLY TO AMERICANS HERE AND WHICH AMERICANS DOES IT APPLY TO? IF YOU DON'T KNOW ALREADY, LET ME REMIND YOU.

ISRAEL IS OCCUPIED PALESTINE.

NOBODY QUESTIONS THAT ISRAEL HAD 300 WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO EXCHANGE FOR REDUCTED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 7TH.

THERE IS NO FOOD, THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER.

THERE IS NO SANITATION.

THERE IS NO MEDICATION, THERE IS NO GAS.

THEY INTENTIONALLY BOMBED ALL THE HOSPITALS AND DESTROYED MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE ARE 1.5 NATIVE PALESTINIANS AND OVER 20,000 INNOCENT CIVILIANS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED AND AFFECTED.

WHAT I'M ASKING IS, YOU DEMAND THE SUPPORT FOR SANCTIONS ON ISRAEL UNTIL IT COMPLIES WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PUTS AN END TO APARTHEID REGIMEN.

THE BOMBS AND WEAPONS ISRAEL USES ON PALESTINIANS ARE FUNDED BY OUR TAXPAYER MONEY.

I DEMAND YOU TO SUPPORT HR 2 5 9 0, WHICH CALLS FOR AN END TO US FUNDING OF ISRAEL'S OPPRESSION OF PALESTINIANS.

I HOPE THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR THE FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND SAFETY OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND TO HELP US.

NEXT SPEAKER, GEORGE PITO.

GEORGE PITO, YOU FILED BY CHRISTINA BERG.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

EVERY, THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON.

ALRIGHT.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.

CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YEAH.

SO, UH, MY CONCERN IS JENSEN PARK AND SORRY IF MY VOICE BREAKS, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT, UM, I'M JUST REQUESTING, YOU KNOW, SOME RESPONSIVENESS, TRANSPARENCY AND VISIBILITY.

UH, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS PROJECT HAS LAGGED FOR A LONG TIME.

UM, I REACHED OUT TO MARK EICHENBAUM, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROJECT, HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RESPONSE FOR OVER A MONTH.

AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY'S GETTING FORGOTTEN ONCE AGAIN.

UM, SO THAT'S THE FIRST ISSUE I HAVE.

THE SECOND ISSUE, IS THERE A WAY TO BE MORE UPDATED ON ANY PROGRESS? UM, AGAIN, THERE SHOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENCY, ESPECIALLY AT THIS, UH, LEVEL OF THE GOVERNMENT.

I FEEL LIKE IN THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND I THINK MY LAST REQUEST IS, I FEEL LIKE THE SAME WAY.

I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ACCOUNTING OR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FINANCE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN I SHOULD BE SPEARHEADING AN ACCOUNTING PROJECT OR A FINANCE PROJECT.

AND THAT SAME WAY, I DON'T THINK MARK IKEN BUMP SHOULD BE, UH, SPEARHEADING THIS INITIATIVE.

IT SHOULD BE SOMEBODY LIKE JENNIFER OLSTON OR SOMEBODY FROM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OR PARKS AND RECREATION.

BUT THAT'S YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

IF I'M NOT, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I, I THINK WE ARE GETTING READY TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON JENSEN PARK.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT IS ON MY CALENDAR.

AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, IS THERE ANY ETA ON THAT? AND I WILL ACTUALLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

UM, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

I HADN'T RECEIVED THE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE.

AND, UM, MS. JOETTA STEVENS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IS INVOLVED.

UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

UM, 'CAUSE THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, TOOK MY COATTAIL TO FOLLOW UP WITH MARK TO FIND OUT WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE HOMESTEAD.

BUT ON THIS ONE, IT'S NOT BEING HANDLED BY MARK.

I CAN BUY HIM.

IT'S ON MY CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

THIS ONE IS BEING HANDLED BY MY PARKS AND I BELIEVE THAT

[01:10:01]

THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER.

MY NAME'S CHRISTINA ROTENBERG.

THANK YOU MS. JOANA STEVENSON.

APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CHRISTINA BERG.

CHRISTINA IS HERE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C AND I'M STAFF AT BY HOUSTON NINE DAYS AGO.

SO ON SUNDAY, THE 19TH CITY OF HOUSTON HELD A HEARTFELT EVENT RIGHT HERE ON THE STEPS FOR THE WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

AND AT THAT EVENT, WE RECOGNIZED THE OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND 200 PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN KILLED THIS YEAR ON HOUSTON STREET.

SO IT'S 82 PEOPLE IN CARS, 59 PEDESTRIANS, 27 MOTORCYCLISTS, AND 17 BICYCLISTS.

YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THE CITY'S VISION.

ZERO COMMITMENT TO ELIMINATE TRAFFIC DEATHS.

AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE NOWHERE CLOSE TO REACHING THAT GOAL.

IN FACT, OUR STREETS ARE BECOMING LESS SAFE, NOT SAFER AS WAS PROMISED TO THE CITY.

IT WAS A REALLY IMPRESSIVE EVENT.

WE HAD 36 ORGAN, 36 ORGANIZATIONS IN ATTENDANCE.

OVER 200 BICYCLISTS CAME TO SHOW SOLIDARITY FOR VISION ZERO.

AND THIS IS A GROUP.

WE ARE CONSTITUENTLY, WE CARE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL ON ACTUALLY MAKING VISION ZERO A REALITY.

SO WE'LL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED STREET SAFETY.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE NO CLAPPING DURING THIS SESSION.

ALRIGHT.

RIFER ASTHMA ER IS HERE.

WHICH SPEAKER? I MEAN, WHICH MICROPHONE? EITHER ONE.

MAYOR TURNER.

I WOULD LIKE TO USE MY TIME TO ADDRESS YOU DIRECTLY TODAY, YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT, I VOLUNTEERED ON YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR YOUR REELECTION.

SINCE THEN, SIR, I'VE GRADUATED COLLEGE AND LAW SCHOOL AND I'M NOW A PROUD PALESTINIAN ATTORNEY LIVING IN YOUR CITY.

AS AN ATTORNEY, I SWORE AN OATH TO UPHOLD JUSTICE ON THE LAW.

YOU TWO SWORE AN OATH, AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU ABIDE BY THAT OATH AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.

THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS RESIDE IN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS AND THOUSANDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEED YOU TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.

LIKE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DONE ALREADY.

MY FAMILY ALONE HAS LOST SEVERAL DOZENS OF EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND EVERY DAY I WAKE UP NOT KNOWING IF MY REMAINING DISPLACED AUNT, UNCLE, AND COUSINS HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT.

GENERATIONAL HOMES AND LAND THAT HAVE PASSED ON THROUGH MY FAMILY ARE NOW DESTROYED AND UNLIVABLE.

MY FATHER AND HIS BROTHERS ARE ALL PROUD PALESTINIAN AMERICANS WITH THRIVING FAMILY BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND THEY'RE ASHAMED AND SICK AT THE THOUGHT THAT THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO FUND THE MURDERS OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

SIR, TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO REIGNITE THE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND END MY TIME WITH A QUOTE FROM THE QURAN, WHICH SAYS, AND WHOEVER SAVES A LIFE, IT IS AS THOUGH THEY HAVE SAVED ALL THE LIVES OF MANKIND.

AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU HELP SAVE LIVES TODAY, AND IN MY EYES TO SAVE ALL OF MANKIND.

THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER, SAIF KA SAE KAIN.

SAE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY PERVIS.

IN 1959, A YOUNG LAW STUDENT STOOD IN THIS CHAMBER AND POINTED OUT THE THREE WORDS WRITTEN ON THE DOORWAY ABOVE THE DOORWAYS, JUSTICE, EQUALITY, AND FREEDOM.

HIS NAME WAS MR. EL DREW STERNS, AND HE WENT ON TO BECOME A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, UH, IN HERE IN HOUSTON.

AND THE MOVEMENT FOR PALESTINE IS TODAY'S CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

IT IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE.

THE FOLKS IN PALESTINE LIVE UNDER OCCUPATION.

THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE.

THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR DESTINIES, AND THEY'RE NOW SUFFERING A GENOCIDE.

UM, AND OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE SUPPORTING IT.

I KNOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS MADE, ISSUED STATEMENTS IN THE PAST.

I KNOW MAYOR TURNER HAS ISSUED STATEMENTS, UH, REGARDING UKRAINE, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE CAN ADD OUR VOICE TO THE CHORUS FOR THIS CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE OF THE DAY.

UM, ALL OF THE FOLKS HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, WE REPRESENT A GENERATION OF AMERICANS THAT ARE WAKING UP TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, IN THE WORLD THAT'S BEING FUNDED BY OUR TAX MONEY.

UH, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA GO ANYWHERE.

WE'RE GONNA BE HERE.

WE'RE GONNA RAISE THIS ISSUE, AND WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO HEAR US, UH, AND, AND TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY THIS TIME, UNLIKE IN 1959.

THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED.

KNOW TOO WELL THAT OUR FREEDOM IS INCOMPLETE.

NEXT SPEAKER, PERVIS AGU.

PERVIS AGU PERVIS PERVIS.

NEXT SPEAKER, MADHA KHAN.

MADIA KHAN MADE.

KHAN IS HERE.

WE FOLLOW, FOLLOWED BY SHANGANA SMI.

WE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUSNESS AS ADVOCATES FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND FREEDOM CONTINUE TO ALLOW PALESTINIANS TO BE DEHUMANIZED.

WE CANNOT ALLOW THE COMPLETE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS TAKING PLACE AND NORMALIZE CIVILIANS BEING MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.

NELSON MANDELA SAID, WE

[01:15:01]

WITHOUT THE FREEDOM OF THE PALESTINIANS, PEACE CANNOT BE ACH ACHIEVED BY CARPET BOMBING, OCCUPYING LANDS, DISMISSING RIGHTS FALSELY IMPRISONING AND DESTROYING AND BURNING WHOLE CITIES TO THE GROUND.

PEACE CANNOT BE ACHIEVED UNTIL JUSTICE IS SERVED.

MARY TURNER, YOU SUPPORTED ISRAEL AND PUT UP BLUE LIGHTS WITHOUT NEEDING ANY EVIDENCE OR PROOF.

WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH MOUNDS OF EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES AND THE GENOCIDE AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS.

AND YET YOU HAVE STAYED SILENT AS A REPRESENTATIVES.

YOU HAVE FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FIGHT FOR THE PALESTINIANS AND THE JUSTICE AND PEACE THAT THEY DESERVE.

WHAT, WHEN FACED WITH A THREAT LIKE A SCHOOL SHOOTER, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO BOMB THE ENTIRE SCHOOL KILLING OUR INNOCENT CHILDREN AND FACULTY? NO.

SO WHY DO WE FIND THIS APPROACH ACCEPTABLE AT THE HANDS OF ISRAEL WITH THE CHILDREN IN PALESTINE? YOU FAILING TO ENDORSE A CEASEFIRE IN S THAT YOU ARE CAN TOLERATE THE BOMBING OF 8,000 INNOCENT CHILDREN.

AS A CONSTITUENT, I MUST EMPHASIZE THE IMPACT OF YOUR DECISION ON OUR COMMUNITY'S TRUST.

IF OUR COUNCIL CONTINUES TO ENDORSE THESE ACTIONS THAT LEAD TO COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT AND THE BOMBING OF INNOCENT CHILDREN, I, ALONG WITH FELLOW CONSTITUENTS, WILL BE FORCED TO RECONSIDERED OUR SUPPORT AT THE POLLS.

SEATTLE HAS ALREADY SET A POWERFUL PRECEDENT BY CALLING FOR A LASTING CEASEFIRE.

HOUSTON HAS THAT HONOR AND THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME, TO BE KNOWN AS A CITY.

THE THAT IS AGAINST TYRANNY.

THE OCCUPATION MAY HAVE PERSISTED, BUT SO HAS THE CALL FOR FREEDOM.

WE MUST ANSWER THAT CALL IN.

SO SOLIDARITY AND CALL FOR CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE.

NEXT SPEAKER, JOE JENNINGS.

JOE JENNINGS, JOE IS COMING.

I'M JOE JENNINGS WITH, UH, LAROCHE ORGANIZATION IN THE SCHILLER INSTITUTE.

I WANNA PUT INTO YOUR HANDS, UH, PROGRAM FOR A DURABLE PEACE FOR PEACE IN, IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL.

BASED ON WHAT MR. LAUCH CONCEIVED OF AS THE OASIS PLAN FOR DESALINATING WATER AND BRINGING BOUNTY TO THE WHOLE REGION, HE PRESENTED THIS BOTH TO THE ARAB LEADERSHIP AND TO THE ABBA IBAN ISRAELI LEADER BACK IN 1975.

VERY FAVORABLY RECEIVED.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE OSLO ACCORDS, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE IMF WITHHELD FUNDS AND YAK RABIN, THE PEACEMAKER WAS GUNNED DOWN BY A FANATIC.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT TO LIFE TODAY, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ROLE OF CHINA, THE BRICKS, NATIONS, AND THE, UH, NEW SILK ROAD.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? THE US STATE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU OPEN UP THE, UH, PAMPHLET, MIKE POMPEO WENT OVER THERE AND SAID, NO DEALS WITH CHINA.

AND WE HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS IN HOUSTON.

WHEN LAUDABLY MAYOR TURNER BROUGHT A DELEGATION TO CHINA, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND WAS STOMPED ON BY THE SAME FBI.

MIKE DALE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THANK YOU VERY SPEAKER.

MY NEXT TESTIMONY IS WRITTEN IN THERE.

THANKS, KATIE MEZA, KATIE MER.

KATIE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAY BATH.

J MY NAME IS KATIE MEZA.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT H AND I'M HERE TODAY TO CALL ON CITY COUNCIL TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON BY JOINING OTHER AMERICAN MUNICIPALITIES IN PASSING A RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE, A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.

EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN THROUGH IN RECENT YEARS, I'M SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT YET LOST THEIR FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

LOSE IT NOW.

WATCHING THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS IN REAL TIME.

WHILE MOST AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS DENY THE FACTS, TWO THIRDS OF AMERICANS SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE.

YET, NOT ONLY HAS CONGRESS NOT PASSED A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, THEY'VE CENSOR ENSURED THEIR ONLY PALESTINIAN COLLEAGUE.

CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS HAVE REPORTED BEING OVERWHELMED BY CALLS AND EMAILS, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, YET BEING TOLD TO IGNORE THEM.

THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS HAVE PROTESTED AT THE ISRAELI CONSULATE CITY HALL AND IN AUSTIN, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED APPROPRIATE PRESS COVERAGE.

HOUSTONIANS ARE SCREAMING THAT WE DO NOT WANT A GENOCIDE IN OUR NAME WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.

A CITY COUNCIL CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION GOES BEYOND TAKING A POLITICAL STANCE.

IT WOULD SHOW THAT YOU TRULY REPRESENT US AND WILL NOT TURN A BLIND EYE WHEN OUR VOICES ARE IGNORED.

NEXT SPEAKER, RAY BABB.

JEFFREY RAY BABB.

JEFFREY RAY BAB.

NEXT SPEAKER, JOEL DEJE.

[01:20:01]

MY NAME IS JOEL DEON AND I RAN FOR CONGRESS AS AN INDEPENDENT LAST YEAR IN THE 38 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ON THE THEME, NUCLEAR POWER, NOT NUCLEAR WAR.

AND I STRONGLY URGE A HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.

HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HAVE TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF NETANYAHU WHOSE MINISTER HAS CALLED FOR DROPPING A NUCLEAR BOMB ON GAZA? HAVEN'T WE HAD ENOUGH KILLING? WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED WATER PROJECTS.

WE NEED ISRAELI SCIENTISTS WORKING WITH PALESTINIAN ENGINEERS TO DEVELOP THE WATER RESOURCES, USE THE MEDITERRANEAN BILL CANAL BETWEEN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE DEAD SEA, AND THE DEAD SEA, AND THE RED SEA THAT WILL LEAD TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SECURE PEACE.

IF WE DON'T DO THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REGIONAL WAR, WHICH COULD LEAD TO WORLD WARI.

CLAUDIA OBED, PLEASE.

NO, NO CLAPPING, NO CLAPPING IS ALLOWED, PLEASE.

CLAUDIA ABBE.

UH, CLAUDIA IS HERE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CLAUDIA.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PALESTINE IS NOT WAR.

IT IS A GENOCIDE AND IS NOT NEW.

I AM A FIRST GENERATION, MY FAMILY, BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS FROM BOTH SIDES WERE KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND ROBBED OF THEIR BUSINESSES AND BANK ACCOUNTS IN 1948.

JUST LIKE MY FAMILY, MANY ARABS, ESPECIALLY PALESTINIANS, CAME HERE DUE TO DISPLACEMENT OF THE SAME GENOCIDE THAT WE'RE WATCHING TODAY.

THEY ATTENDED COLLEGES HERE, OWN BUSINESSES, SHARE THEIR CULTURE AND FOOD WITH THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.

YET WE TURN A BLIND EYE.

WE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOUSTON OUR HOME.

BUT HOW CAN WE BE PROUD WHEN OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY GOES TO FUNDING A GENOCIDE OF OUR PEOPLE? HOW CAN WE BE PROUD WHEN GREG ABBOTT TAKES AN OVERNIGHT TRIP TO ISRAEL IN THE MIDDLE OF A SPECIAL SESSION HE CALLED SO HE COULD EXPRESS HIS SUPPORT FOR THE APARTHEID STATE.

HOW CAN WE BE PROUD WHEN FUNDING IS SENT TO ISRAEL? WILTS, THERE ARE HOMELESS ON OUR STREETS AND LACK OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

HOW CAN WE BE PROUD WHEN MONEY IS BEING SPENT ABROAD? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

COUNCILMAN THOMAS? I'M SORRY, ONE SECOND.

ONE SECOND, MA'AM, COME BACK.

COUNCILMAN THOMAS.

THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS.

UM, I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, I HAVEN'T BEEN SILENT ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

AND SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THE HORSESHOE AND ENCOURAGED MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.

I REPRESENT.

NO CLAPPING, NO CLAPPING, NO CLAPPING, NO CLAPPING NECESSARY.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

NO.

NO CLAPPING NECESSARY.

NO CLAPPING IS ALLOWED NOW.

SO I REPRESENT DISTRICT F1 OF THE MOST DIVERSE IN THE CITY.

UM, PROBABLY THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF PALESTINIANS AND MUSLIM HOUSTONIANS IN THE CITY, I WOULD ARGUE.

UM, AND SO, UM, I AGREE.

CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE GASH BECAUSE WE, WE MUST CALL FOR LIBERATION FOR ALL PEOPLE.

UM, AND, UM, I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT THAT WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ASKING ME ABOUT STUDENT LOANS, UM, YET MY DOLLARS ARE GOING TO FUND WAR ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND SO I I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

UM, UM, WE HAVE VERY LIMITED, UH, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO ADDRESS WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT, UM, YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY IS DULY NOTED AND IT'S NECESSARY.

AND, UM, DON'T KEEP YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS.

MILLIONS MORE FACED DISPLACEMENT, POSSESSION, AND SUFFERING.

I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

NEXT SPEAKER, ANUSHA SADIK.

ANUSHA SADIK IS HERE.

THE STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE AND PALESTINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.

IMPLORE THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO PUSH FORTH THE RESOLUTION FOR SFAR AND GAZA.

CIVILIAN DEATHS IN GAZA CONTINUE TO RISE AT A STAGGERING RATE.

MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE, MOSTLY CIVILIANS ARE KILLED.

MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE CASUALTIES IN GAZA ARE CHILDREN, AND COUNTLESS BODIES ARE TRAPPED BENEATH THE RUBBLE.

PALESTINIAN CHILDREN ARE THE ONLY CHILDREN IN THE WORLD TO BE TRIED IN MILITARY COURTS AND FACE BRUTAL INTERROGATION AND TORTURE UPON ARREST.

LOOK BEHIND YOU.

THESE ARE YOUR VOTERS.

THESE ARE YOUR BLOCK WALKERS.

AND WE WILL REMEMBER, COME NOVEMBER, WE, THE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON STUN.

STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE HAVE SEVERAL DEMANDS.

ONE, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.

TWO, THE ADVOCATE FOR HUMANITARIAN AID IN GAZA, THE

[01:25:01]

WEST BANK, ALL OF OCCUPIED PALESTINE.

THREE, THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL PUT FORTH THE RESOLUTION AND CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF ALL PALESTINIAN PRISONERS.

AND FOUR AND END TO ALL MILITARY AID TO THE SETTLER, COLONIAL, APARTHEID STATE TO ISRAEL.

FROM THE RIVER TO TENNESSEE PALESTINE WILL BE FREE.

FADI AMMA JWE IS HERE.

PART OF MY TAXES GO TO KILL MY OWN FAMILY IN PALESTINE TO DEPRIVE THEM OF WATER AND MEDICINE AND ELECTRICITY.

SO FAR, CLOSE TO A HUNDRED MEMBERS OF MY EXTENDED FAMILY HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ISRAEL'S WAR ON GAZA.

DID YOU KNOW THAT CORPSES TRAPPED UNDER THE RUBBLE IN GAZA HAVE TO BE GUARDED FROM STARVING DOGS MORE THAN THE NUMBERS OF THE DEAD? WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE NUMBERS OF THE LIVING.

THE RESTORATION OF NORMAL LIFE TO PALESTINIANS AND GAZA WILL TAKE YEARS.

WE SHOULD NOT DELAY THIS PROCESS ONE MINUTE LONGER.

AS A PHYSICIAN, I SERVED AT THE VA HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON FOR EIGHT.

I SERVED AS A HUMANITARIAN WITH DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE OF WAR.

THE WAR IN GAZA HAS TARGETED HOSPITALS, THE LIFELINE OF ANY MODERN SOCIETY.

ALL THE MAJOR HOSPITALS IN GAZA ARE NOW INOPERABLE.

IMAGINE IF A DISASTER BEFALLS HOUSTON AND THE MEDICAL CENTER IS, IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL.

PLEASE PASS A RESOLUTION FOR A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE.

NOW, IT IS A COMMON DECENCY, INDEPENDENT OF POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND MANEUVERING.

IT IS YOUR COMMON DECENCY AND OUR CITY'S COMMON DECENCY AT STAKE.

NEXT SPEAKER, JANICE TAYLOR.

NEXT SPEAKER CARRIE'S VANILLA AND CARRIE'S VANILLA.

MAN, MAN.

JANICE TAYLOR IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID RIVAS.

I LIVE AT 54 0 6 MCCULLOCH CIRCLE 7 7 0 5 6.

I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO 54 0 4 MCCULLOCH CIRCLE.

AND THIS PROPERTY WAS CITED BY THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION, ENCLOSING THEIR PATIO WITHOUT A PERMIT.

I AM OPPOSED TO THIS CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORS DID NOT FOLLOW THE BUILDING PERMIT GUIDELINES.

I'M OPPOSED TO SIGNING A CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AFTER THE FACT.

I AM OPPOSED TO A WALL OF WINDOWS FACING MY PATIO THAT ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR EMERGENCY ESCAPE.

THIS CONSTRUCTION HAS IMPACTED ME IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

SINCE THE CITATION, I HAVE HAD TO CALL THE POLICE TO CONTROL THE HARASSMENT.

THE WALL OF WINDOWS HAD, HAS PREVENTED ME FROM ENJOYING, UH, SITTING ON MY PATIO.

THE NEIGHBORS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST ME THAT WAS DISMISSED.

THEY HAVE DENIED SERVICE CONTRACT CONTRACTORS ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY.

UH, THEY CANNOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE UTILITY EASEMENT FOR THESE REASONS IS WHY I AM URGING THE COUNSEL, CITY ATTORNEY, AND THE DEPARTMENT.

YES, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

I HAVE COPIES, PICTURES IF YOU NEED THEM.

NEXT SPEAKER, DAVID REVIS DAVIS.

DAVID RIVAS.

NEXT SPEAKER MARIAN SCOTT.

MARIAN SCOTT.

NEXT SPEAKER RUBEN GARCIA.

RUBEN GARCIA.

RUBEN GARCIA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVE JOHNSON.

THE REASON FOR ME BEING HERE TODAY IS TO DISCUSS AN ERRONEOUS WATER BILL.

WE RECEIVED THIS PAST JANUARY, 2023 AND THE AMOUNT OF $11,393 AND 28 CENTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,032,000 GALLONS OF WATER, UH, FOR OUR WAREHOUSE FACILITY LOCATED AT 58 0 5 BERRY BROOK DRIVE.

WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN WE RECEIVED THIS INVOICE AND EXPLAINED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN AN, THERE HAD BEEN AN ERROR IN THE BILL AND WE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY WATER LEAKAGE THROUGHOUT OUR FACILITY IN QUESTION, NOR HAD, THIS IS NOT E NOT THIS IS A WAREHOUSE FACILITY, NOT A MANUFACTURING FACILITY.

WE REQUESTED THAT SOMEONE FROM THE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT COME OUT AND MEET WITH US AT THIS PROPERTY TO SEE FIRSTHAND THAT A LEAK HAD NOT OCCURRED.

THE LINE IN QUESTION IS AN EIGHT INCH FIRE LINE.

THAT'S, THAT PROVIDES OUR, UH, MONITORED FIRE SUR UH, SUPPRESSION, UH, SYSTEM.

ON OCTOBER THE FIFTH, 2023.

I ATTENDED AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING WHERE I ONCE AGAIN EXPLAINED THAT THIS ALLEGED LEAK OR USAGE DID NOT OCCUR.

I PROVIDED THREE LETTERS FROM THREE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS NEIGHBORS AFFIRMING THAT THE ALLEGED WATER LEAK DID NOT OCCUR AS WELL.

THE RESULTS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING DID NOT YIELD YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

UM, COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS.

THANK YOU MR. GARCIA FOR COMING HERE.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MY OFFICE REGARDING THIS.

NOW, HOW MANY GALLONS ARE THEY CLAIMING YOU USED? A MILLION? 32,000.

[01:30:01]

A MILLION.

32,000.

AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES YOU SAY YOU HAVE IN YOUR WAREHOUSE? TWO TO THREE.

MAYOR, I, I, I MEAN, I, I'VE GOT A COPY OF A BILL HERE DATED FROM JANUARY 11TH, 2023.

THE PREVIOUS BILL WAS $151 AND 64 CENTS.

BUT YET HE GETS A BILL FOR $11,533 AND 88 CENTS.

HE GETS A LETTER FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DATED ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2023, SAYING, BASED ON, ON THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED DURING THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING, AND AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION, THE INCLUDES DETERMINATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE HEARING EXAMINER STATING THAT ANY BALANCES REMAINING ON THE CO ACCOUNT ARE DUE.

I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT INFORMATION DID THEY INVESTIGATE? I MEAN, I, I, THEY BASICALLY CAME AND TESTED THE METER ON OCTOBER 23RD.

THE DAY BEFORE I WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BEFORE THE SAME BODY.

I GOT A CALL FROM THE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT ASKING ME TO SUSPEND MY PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT HERE.

THAT THEY WANTED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE FROM THE CITY HAD SET FOOT ON OUR PROPERTY.

THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THAT THEY COULDN'T TELL WHERE A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER HAD EVER ENTERED ANY PART OF OUR PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IT WOULD'VE, IT WOULD'VE DONE.

I MEAN, AND MAYOR, THE, THE, THE, THIS IS SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC WORKS TO BE SENDING A LETTER SAYING THAT THEY, THEY DID AN INVESTIGATION.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY LIKE HE, MR. GARCIA STATED IT, IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER.

2000 WOULD CAUSE A BUNCH OF DAMAGE.

WELL, I HAVE A NOTE THAT'S SAYING IT'S UNDER, IT IS UNDER REVIEW AND I'M ALSO TAKING A LOOK AT IT.

SO LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

WE HAVE BEEN, UH, OUR CASE HAS BEEN BEFORE THE WATER BOARD ALREADY.

I AM, I'M TAKING I'M, THEY TURNED IT DOWN AS WELL.

I'M, I'M TAKING A LOOK AT IT.

MAYOR SAYS HE'S GONNA LOOK AT IT PERSONALLY.

UH, NEXT SPEAKER, DAVE JOHNSON.

DAVE JOHNSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY LINDA JOHNSON.

I'D LIKE TO GREET EVERYONE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

I COME ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE CITY AUDIENCE.

UH, 20 23, 2, 3 2.

IT DEALS WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT OF THE INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THIS BODY HAD MOVED FORWARD ON SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER AGREED TO AND YET TO AGREE TO.

AND I UNDERSTAND IN ONE MORE MONTH, UH, IT'LL BECOME LAW.

AND I CAN'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE MISS TANYA DEBO, UH, MARTY PAGE.

I ASKED THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THEY CAN TELL ME.

SO MR. ROMAN MCALLEN SAID IT WAS THE MAYOR THAT WANTED THIS THING TO COME FORWARD.

UH, I CALLED MS. UH, MS. PARDON ME.

TRY I GET THIS NOTES TOGETHER.

I CALLED MS, UH, MS. MARGARET GREEN.

SHE NEVER RETURNED MY CALL.

SHE RETURNED MY CALL AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

I CALLED HER BACK.

NO ANSWERS.

I ASKED HER ON YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

LEMME JUST SAY, I AM QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.

IT IS, I AM FAMILIAR WITH THIS ITEM.

IT IS ABOUT PRESERVING, UH, THE PERSONALITY, UM, AND THE HISTORIC NATURE OF INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

AND SO IT'S ABOUT CREATING A CONSERVATION DISTRICT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN, UM, INDEPENDENT HIKES.

AND SO THAT IT IS NOT GENTRIFIED.

THAT'S THE REASON FOR IT.

AND IF YOU DON'T PROTECT INDEPENDENT HIKES, IT WILL END UP BEING LIKE FOURTH WARD.

OKAY? SO IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT INDEPENDENT HIKES IS NOT GENTRIFIED.

WELL, THAT WOULD BE TRUE IF IT'S TWO YEARS AGO.

BUT AS OF TODAY, THERE'S MORE THREE STORY HOMES OUT THERE THAN SINGLE STORY HOMES.

NO, I, I'M, THIS THING HAVE ALREADY COME TO PASS.

I MOVED THROUGHOUT.

AND ONE MORE PROBLEM, MAYOR.

WELL, YOU, THE TIME IS LIMITED.

THE TIME IS LIMITED.

AND I, I'M BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU OTHERWISE.

BUT I DO WANT YOU AND OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT YES, A LOT OF GENTRIFICATION HAS ALREADY OCCURRED IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, BUT IF YOU DON'T MOVE TO PROTECT WHAT'S REMAINING, IT WILL ALL BE GONE.

TO FIND OUT THE MINUTES AND WHO PUT ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN ORDER.

I AGREE.

SO THAT'S THE, LISTEN, WE HAVE BEEN CIRCLED REDLINED.

I, I UNDERSTAND.

AND THIS TON'S TAKEN AGAINST US, BUT THE HOMES ARE ALREADY BUILT.

WELL, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO YEAH, YOU GO AND SEE.

IT'S, IT'S AWESOME.

I'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

I'M, I'M FROM INDEPENDENT HIKES AS WELL.

I'M A RESIDENCE AND I WOULD LIKE

[01:35:01]

WE REQUESTED THE MINUTES AND THE PERSONNEL FROM OUR LOCAL SUPPOSED LEADERS, BUT WE WASN'T, UH, WE WASN'T INFORMED.

SO WE ARE HERE TO REQUEST AND WE WANT TO THANK THE ONES THAT, UH, STOOD TO SEE US AS HUMANS.

WE WANT TO THANK THEM.

BEG HOFFMAN.

MARTIN KNOX.

WE WANT, WE WANT TO BE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGED AS A COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST A FEW PEOPLE REPRESENTING US.

SO WE WANT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME OUT TO INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS SINCE I REPRESENTED INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS FOR SOME 20 SOMETHING YEARS.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME MISINFORMATION OUT HERE THAT'S GOING.

I WILL COME TO INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS MYSELF OKAY.

AND VISIT WITH PEOPLE OUT IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS BECAUSE IF WE DON'T TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS WILL BE NO MORE.

OKAY? SO I DON'T KNOW WHO'S PUTTING OUT MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, BUT THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND THE PERSONALITY OF INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY THIS MEASURE IS PUT FORTH.

AND SO I WILL PERSONALLY COME OUT AND VISIT WITH THE PEOPLE IN INDEPENDENT HOUSE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME MISINFORMATION THAT'S BEEN DISSEMINATED.

WE'VE BEEN STANDING WITH YOU FROM THE BEGINNING.

WE LIKE, I UNDERSTAND.

ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER.

DEISHA MCKINNEY.

DEISHA MCKINNEY AND DEIA MCKINNEY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS MCKINNEY.

I'M PASTOR DEIA MCKINNEY AND I'M HERE TO STOP THE CONSERVATIVE OF, OF INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

MY GRANDFATHER AND FATHER MIGRATED FROM HONDURAS AND ACQUIRED MANY PROPERTIES IN THE INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS AND HELP PEOPLE BECOME FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS.

I HAVE SINCE JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED THE DEED TO THE PROPERTY IN THE, UM, INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS AND LIVE THERE.

IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.

THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, SECRET MEETINGS, UNSOLICITED VOTES, GHOST SPOKESPERSON.

WHENEVER WE ASK WHO THEY ARE OR WHO THEY ARE, WE DON'T GET AN ANSWER.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING FOR THE COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE MEETINGS THAT I'VE BEEN IN, THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY DO NOT WANT THIS, THESE DESIRE REGULATIONS BECAUSE WE WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUR HOMES AND BRING IT TO ITS BEAUTIFICATION INSIDE AND OUT ON OUR OWN TIMELINE.

BECAUSE THE CONSERVATORY MIGHT CAUSE OTHER FINANCIAL BURDENS TO MANY WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AND PROVE THEIR PROPERTIES.

IT WAS NEVER OUR DESIRE TO DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY IF IT LOOK LIKE IT LOOKS LIKE A DI DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LINES AND THE WAY THAT INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS HAS BEEN SEPARATED.

SO WE SAY NO TO THE TAKE HOME AS IT DESCRIBED, BUT WHO, WHERE ARE YOU ALL GETTING THIS INFO? BUT I LISTEN TO YOU.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND BASICALLY RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

AND IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING THE IDENTITY OF, OF INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

MR. MAYOR, WHEN THEY COME TO MEET WITH US, WE'RE NOT GETTING DEFINITIVE ANSWERS.

WHEN YOU SAY THEY, WHO ARE THEY? THE CONSERVATORY, WHOEVER'S REPRESENTING THE CONSERVATORY.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MEETINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY SAID VOTES HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND IT IS A LOT OF, UH, MISINFORMATION GOING ON.

BUT LEMME JUST, BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE VOTE THAT'S BEEN TAKEN PLACE, AND THAT'S TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER VOTE.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN WELL, THAT'S WHY.

AND THEN WE CAN'T GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER OF WHO IS SPARKING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

ME.

AND THAT'S WHY WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME AND SPEAK WITH US.

WELL, I WILL COME YES, SIR.

SINCE I LIVE NEXT DOOR.

TO INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

SO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT YOU ALL DO NOT FIGHT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HURT.

I, I'M JUST SAYING BE VERY CAREFUL.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET INFORMATION.

AND AGAIN, IT'S IN SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO COME OUT AND VISIT WITH PEOPLE IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

PLEASE DO, MR. MAYOR, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED OPENLY AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANSWERS.

WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN BRUSHED UNDER THE TABLE ABOUT A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT BRUSHED UNDER THE TABLE BY WHOM? IF YOU'RE BRUSHED UNDER THE TABLE BY ANYONE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, Y'ALL NEED TO TELL ME WHO THEY ARE AND WE WILL, MR. MAYOR.

BUT I WILL COME OUT MYSELF.

AND ADDRESS WHATEVER QUESTIONS Y'ALL MAY HAVE.

[01:40:01]

CHRIS MCKINNEY.

CHRIS MCKINNEY AND ALEX, UH, MR. MAYOR.

SURE.

UH, I'M HERE FOR, TO SPEAK ABOUT INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS CONSERVANCY AS WELL.

SURE.

WHAT, WHAT I TRULY BELIEVE IN BEING IN THE MEETINGS IS I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT IS.

TRULY, MAJORITY OF US DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT IT WILL TRULY DO.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE FRONTLINE THAT ARE SPEAKING TO US, SUCH AS MCALLEN, IT COMES FROM THE CITY AND OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING OUR QUESTION.

THEY'RE COMING WITH A, WITH A, WITH A ATTITUDE OF BELLIGERENCE AND BIAS AS IF THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

UH, AND IT, AND IT SCARES US, QUITE FRANKLY, WITH PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TELLING US WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

AND THEY'RE NOT GIVING US ANY RULES AS WELL AS THE BIG PICTURE.

JUST TO ANSWER YOUR BIG PICTURE, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE, 90% OF US DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

THEY'LL HAVE SECRET MEETINGS.

THE FIRST MEETING MCAL MCALLEN CAME TO HAVE WITH US IN SEPTEMBER.

SIR, THEY HAD EIGHT CHAIRS OUT.

'CAUSE THEY DID NOT EXPECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHOW UP.

APOSTLE, UH, JOHNSON DID PUT OUT FLIES AND TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT THE MEETING.

IT WAS HUNDREDS OF US THAT SHOWED UP AND EVERYONE IN THE ROOM WAS AGAINST IT, MR. MAYOR.

SO WHAT IT IS, IS I'M POSITIVE YOU'RE MORE EDUCATED ABOUT A CONSERVANCY THAN I AM.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WITH THE PEOPLE THAT'S REPRESENTING YOU AND THE CITY ABOUT IT, WE DON'T TRUST IT.

WE THINK IT'S A COOL, WE THINK THEY'RE COMING TO STEAL OUR LAND.

WE THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IT LIKE THE NATIVE AMERICAN.

WE THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IT LIKE THIS USED TO BE MEXICO.

THAT'S HOW WE FEEL.

WELL, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME, THEY ME COME OUT.

LET ME BRING ALL THE PEOPLE OUT.

LET ME TELL YOU THE GROUP WHO WOULD CERTAINLY DON'T WANT A CONSERVANCY, AND THOSE ARE DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO TAKE THAT PROPERTY AND CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

THEY DON'T WANT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

THEY DO NOT WANT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF IT.

I UNDERSTAND AT ALL.

WE SIT ON THREE LOTS, MY, MY WIFE AND I, AND WE DON'T SEE ANY BENEFIT.

I, IN SAYING, NOW I GOT, THE STATE COULD TELL US WHAT COLOR OUR HOUSE IS.

WELL, LET ME AND TICKET US FOR THINGS THAT WE CAN'T TICKET DOOR.

NOW THAT, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT, IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.

THAT WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING, NO ONE ANSWERS.

I GOT YOU.

WHAT IS A BENEFIT? CAN WE NAME ONE BENEFIT RIGHT NOW FOR, FOR ME TO MAINTAIN THE IDENTITY OF INDEPENDENT? THAT'S THE ANSWER WE GET.

WHAT IF I WANNA CHANGE MY SHOTGUN HOUSE INTO A THREE STORY HOUSE? IT'S MY LAND.

WHAT IF I WANNA DO IT? WHAT IF I WANNA DO, WHY DO WE HAVE TO, WHY, WHY DOES HE GET TO HAVE A THREE STORY HOUSE NEXT DOOR AND I GOTTA HAVE A SHOTGUN? HOLD ON.

I'M JUST, I'M I'M RIGHT HERE.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, WELL, LEMME JUST SAY, WHY DON'T I HAVE TO SAY TO DO MY LAND THAT I WANT? LEMME LET ME TALK, LEMME TALK.

GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT FOURTH WARD.

TAKE A LOOK AT FOURTH WARD.

WHICH IS WHERE BOOKER T WASHINGTON CAME FROM.

BOOKER T WASHINGTON CAME FROM FOURTH WARD.

ALL OF THOSE CHURCHES THAT USED TO BE IN FOURTH WARD, TAKE A LOOK AT FOURTH WARD NOW, WHICH IS NOW REFERRED TO AS MIDTOWN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT.

NOW, IF PEOPLE, NOW LEMME JUST SAY THIS.

IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH FREEMAN'S TOWN THAT THEN WE REFER TO AS FOURTH WARD, NOW I'M BECOMING MIDTOWN.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT, OKAY, FINE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY CALL IT.

I WANT MY RIGHTS.

WELL, YOU, I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT, THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT YOUR RIGHTS, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND THE PERSONALITY OF HISTORIC NAME.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, IF THAT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU, WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? I DON'T CARE WHY PEOPLE MOVE NEXT DOOR TO ME.

I THAT'S NOT GENTRIFICATION.

I DON'T THAT, THAT'S THE CONSERVANCY NOT GONNA STOP ANY OTHER RACE FROM PURCHASING LAND NEXT TO ME.

I, I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET.

THEY LIVE NEXT DOOR TO ME.

THEN I DON'T CARE THEN THAT'S YOUR RIGHT.

BUT I WILL COME OUT TO INDEPENDENT HIKES AND TALK TO PEOPLE ON INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.

BUT THAT IS YOUR YES SIR.

THANK, THANK YOU, MR. THAT IS YOUR, YES SIR.

BRENDA RODRIGUEZ, HONORABLE BEARS TURNER, AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M ALSO FROM INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, AND YOU ALL HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS.

I NEED, WHEN YOU DO COME OUT, I DEFINITELY WANNA MEET WITH YOU AND GO OVER SOME THINGS THERE BECAUSE, UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CITY IN TEXAS ESTABLISHED OVER A CENTURY AGO.

AND A LOT OF THE HOMES BEING BUILT THAT DON'T REFLECT THE HISTORIC LOOK OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS.

AND YOU WERE SAYING THAT THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL PROTECT INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED, PROTECTED THE LEGACY FOR OUR KIDS, GRANDKIDS, AND ON AND ON AND ON.

SO I'M JUST GONNA WAIT FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND SO WE CAN HAVE THIS HERE TALK AND NOT TAKE UP ANY MORE TIME.

AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO

[01:45:01]

ADDRESS THIS HERE ISSUE.

MAYOR TURNER.

ONE ON ONE ADDED NOTE.

YOU, YOU PEOPLE ALLOW INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS TO CHANGE AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE BOOKER T BE ON AT RISK.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN BOOKER T WAS IN FOURTH WARD.

SO IT'S A LOT HERE AT STAKE.

BUT I, IN THE END, I LEAVE IT UP TO THE PEOPLE IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

BUT, UH, IT'S MORE THAN JUST ONE PERSON OR ONE HOMEOWNER.

OKAY? OKAY.

YOU ALLOW, YOU ALLOW THAT AREA TO CHANGE MM-HMM .

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN TIME BOOKER T WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL IS GONNA BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED ALONG WITH THE OTHER FEEDER SCHOOLS.

LIKE BORIS AND OTHERS IN THAT AREA.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT, PREVENT FROM HAPPENING.

BUT I, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME OUT AND, AND, OKAY.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. TURNER.

YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

NEXT SPEAKER, PERU SHAW.

PERU SHAW.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.

AS YOU MAY REALIZE, OUR ECONOMY RELIES ON PARENTS BEING ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN A SAFE, LOVING, AND AFFORDABLE PLACE.

HOWEVER, UH, RECENT SURVEY, UH, THE SEPTEMBER, UM, SHOWS THAT 44 40 4% OF DAYCARES IN THE STATE SAY THEY WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS UNLESS WE RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

FAMILIES, UM, ARE CLEARLY FEELING THE URGENCY TO KEEP DAYCARES FINANCIALLY VIABLE.

IN NOVEMBER, PROPOSITION TWO, WHICH ALLOWED FOR A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN SUPPORT OF PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DAYCARES, WAS APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IN HARRIS COUNTY, 65% OF VOTERS APPROVED THIS MEASURE.

AND, UH, THIS WOULD EXEMPT PROPERTY TAXES FOR DAYCARE CENTERS, SPECIFICALLY WHO SERVE LOW INCOME SUBSIDY FAMILIES AND ARE MEETING THE HIGHEST STATE STANDARDS OF CARE KNOWN AS TEXAS RISING RISING STARS.

I, MYSELF, AM THE PROUD OWNER OF SUCH A CENTER IN HOUSTON AND, UH, HARRIS COUNTY.

BUT OF COURSE, IN ORDER FOR THIS RESCUE PLAN TO WORK, YOU HAVE TO PASS THIS EXEMPTION FOR OUR CITY.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND FAMILIES AND ADVANCE A HUNDRED PERCENT EXEMPTION ON THE ADVIL PROPERTY TAX FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDCARE FACILITIES.

NEXT SPEAKER YANG JING YANG JING IS HERE.

HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS Y JEAN AND, UH, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT A FIXED HOUSE, ABOUT A HARVEY PROGRAM.

I'M ASKING FOR THE HELP WITH DISABILITY AND ELDERLY.

YOU HAVE SO MANY PROGRAMS LISTED AROUND HERE.

I CALLED SO MANY TIMES.

EITHER THEY KICKED ME AROUND TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT OR THEY, THEY JUST DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE OR WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW, I'M 67 YEARS OLD, DISABLED SINCE, SINCE MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO.

I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS RIGHT HERE.

I HAD TWO SPINAL SURGERIES ALREADY IN MAY.

I HAD TO BUSTED THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PIPE.

SO SOMEBODY COME IN, FIX IT, AND I PAID $450 AND THE, THE CEILING WAS WIDE OPEN.

RIGHT NOW, I JUST WANT HELP FOR THE ELDERLY, FOR THE DISABLED PERSON.

SEE WHEN I CAN GET HELP, THAT'S ALL I WANT.

I EVEN HAD SOMEBODY CALLED ME BACK, LEFT A MESSAGE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THIS? DO YOU, ME, OFFICER HAS, HAS, UH, THE, THE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR THE DISABILITY PEOPLE.

HOW MUCH I HAVE TO DO, YOU HAVE SO MANY PLACES TO CALL, BUT YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING.

BUT IS THIS, WAS THIS A HOME DAMAGED BY HURRICANE HARVEY? I'M SORRY, WAS YOUR HOME? YEAH, I'M, I'M IT WAS DAMAGED BY HURRICANE HARVEY.

I, I'M VICTIM OF HARVEY.

EVER SINCE HARVEY.

I NEVER RECOVER FROM THE ECONOMY.

WELL, AND WE STILL HAVE THINGS THAT AREN'T REPAIRED AND THAT AREN'T FIXED.

IF IT WAS THAT, OKAY, LET ME, LET ME FINISH.

IT'S NOT ABOUT HARVEY, IT'S ABOUT ELDERLY.

AND, UH, I'M JUST ASKING WHAT YOUR, WAS YOUR HOME DAMAGE? YEAH.

NEVER BEEN FLOODED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS UNTIL THEY OPEN THE LEVEE.

WELL, IF I HAVE CONTACTED FEMA AND THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, IF YOU'LL SEE RENEE, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.

I JUST HOPE SOMEBODY GET IT DOWN.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY.

UM, I UNDERSTAND YOUR STRUGGLES.

WE FLOODED IN HURRICANE HARVEY AS

[01:50:01]

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT DOES, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AND ENERGY.

AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THIS MANY YEARS LATER, WE ARE STILL EXHAUSTED BY THE WHOLE ENTIRE PROCESS.

SO, UM, MY OFFICE, WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO YOU.

UM, THE NUMBER ON HERE, IS THAT THE, IS THAT THE BEST NUMBER TO CONTACT YOU ON? YES.

THE MESSAGE.

SO WHEN I CALL BACK, SOMEBODY HAS TO ANSWER OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST GET KICKED ALONG ALL OVER.

I'M EXHAUSTED.

IF ALSO AFTER THIS, I COULD DEAL WITH MONEY.

SO TREASURY DEPARTMENT, DEDUCTIBLE, IMMEDIATE INCOME EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

AND I LIVE IN A CONDOMINIUM.

YOU KNOW HOW HOA IS AND IF I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEE, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE MY HOUSE OVER THERE.

I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY 30 YEARS OLD.

OKAY? I RAISED, WORKED VERY HARD FOR MY AMERICAN DREAM, AND OVERNIGHT MY AMERICAN DREAM BECOME A NIGHTMARE.

AND PEOPLE TOLD ME, BECAUSE YOU HAVE, YOU ARE ASIAN.

THAT'S WHY YOU NOT A, YOU ARE NOT ON THE PRIORITY STUFF.

I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I DO HAVE ON THE ASIAN NAME 'CAUSE I'M ASIAN.

I WORKED REAL HARD.

I WAS, I'M NOT A ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT.

I CAME HERE ON THE STUDENT, OKAY? I WORKED EXTREMELY HARD.

MY SON PAID OFF MY HOUSE AND EVERYTHING.

I THOUGHT I CAN JUST REST.

FOR THE REST OF YOU KNOW, MY LIFE.

I ONLY WANT ONE NICE CHAIR AND NICE TV AND A NICE BED.

THAT'S ALL FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

NOW, WHEN THIS IS GONNA BE FINISHED, I UNDERSTAND.

I WISH I HAD THE MONEY TO, I'LL NEVER BE ON THE WELFARE SYSTEM BEFORE HARVEY.

OKAY? AFTER HARVEY, THE GOVERNMENT PUT ME ON WELFARE.

SHAME ON YOU, SHAME ON THE GOVERNMENT.

WE'LL REACH OUT TO YOU AND, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

GIVE A MESSAGE.

I HAVE A MESSAGE THROUGH MY PHONE IF YOU WANT TO HEAR.

HER NAME IS INGRID FROM, UH, I DON'T KNOW.

I GOT THOSE NUMBER FROM WHATEVER, RENEE, IF YOU, IF YOU'LL GET, IF YOU'LL GET WITH MS. YOUNG, IF YOU'LL GET WITH YOU ORDER LIST OF THE NUMBERS, IF YOU'LL GET WITH, I'M EXHAUSTED IF YOU'LL GET WITH, WITH RENEE.

NEXT SPEAKER, ELIZABETH LU, STYLE E GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M A RESIDENT OF THE GLEN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT H AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL CONDITIONS THAT EXIST IN AND AROUND THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH MAINE, WHERE IT CROSSES NORTH STREET AND GLEN PARK STREET THAT CHANGES NAMES WHEN IT CROSSES WHEN LARGE EVENTS TAKE PLACE.

AT WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL, AS WELL AS PARKING AND ACCESS ISSUES ARE SMALL DEAD END NEIGHBORHOOD FACES.

THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF 31 0 1 NORTH MAINE IS BLOCKED BY PARKED CARS.

WHEN THE SEPTEMBER 8TH SHOW LET OUT THRONGS OF DEPARTING CONCERT GOERS WERE FORCED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON NORTH MAIN AT 11:00 PM OBVIOUSLY THIS IS DANGEROUS AND OCCURS AT A TIME WHEN THE ALREADY NARROW SIDEWALKS ON NORTH MAIN HANDLE MORE FOOT TRAFFIC THAN EVER TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY.

THE TENANTS OF THIS PROPERTY WERE CHARGING PEOPLE $20 OF VEHICLE TO PARK ON THE SIDEWALK, WHICH OF COURSE IS FOR PEDESTRIANS, NEVERMIND CITY OR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNER AT 3002 NORTH MAINE HAS CREATED HEAD END PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF GLEN PARK STREET RIGHT OF WAY FOR HIS CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC AT 29 14 NORTH MAINE.

ALL OF THESE SPACES ARE 100% IN THE CITY'S 60 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY.

PLEASE SEE THE VIDEO AND STILL HE CHARGES UP TO $40 PER VEHICLE PER EVENT, WHICH IS LITERALLY COLLECTING HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSAND.

I HAVE THREE MINUTES.

CISNEROS COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.

ONE MINUTE.

IT'S ONE MINUTE.

TODAY I CALLED BEFORE A MEETING AND ASKED IF I WAS THREE MINUTES, AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS, IT'S FOR EVERYBODY TODAY.

COUNCIL CISNEROS, IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S ONE MINUTE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY, I WOULD'VE RESCHEDULED IF I HAD KNOWN THAT.

UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

BETH, I, UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU.

WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD, JUSTIN AND SHERRY, AND YES, IT'S JUST ONE MINUTE TODAY, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU.

OKAY? IT'S AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.

IT'S SIM IT COULD BE ENFORCED IF THE CITY CHOSE TO ENFORCE IT.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, ONE CLEAN HOUSTON ANNOUNCED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, NOT A SINGLE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAIR BIDDING, UM, FOR ALL VENDORS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

I COPIED A COUPLE OF YOU TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROCUREMENT METHODOLOGY WAS.

UM, ALL I'VE SEEN IS EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDER AFTER EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDER ISSUED TO ONE SINGLE VENDOR AND UP TO $3 MILLION

[01:55:02]

REPORTED FRIEND TO THE DIRECTOR.

FAST FORWARD, RECENT, ITBL 3 2 8 8 7, UH, BID, UM, OPEN FOR ONCALL COLLECTION FOR DISTRICT INA.

HOWEVER, THE STRUCTURE OF THE BID INVITATION DOES NOT ALLOW FOR FAIR COMPETITION.

UM, NO TONNAGE REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS.

UM, I DON'T THINK IT, UM, FACILITATES THE FAIR COMPETITION INTENDED IN THE CONTRACT.

UM, THE, IT GIVES AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO JUST THE VENDOR THAT HAD THE CONTRACT THE PREVIOUS YEAR, REPORTED FRIEND TO THE DIRECTOR.

UM, ALSO IT REQUIRES THAT CONTRACTORS ASSUME THE DISPOSAL FEE WHICH LIMITS SMALL BUSINESSES.

YOUR TOM HAS EXPIRED.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

MS. DIXON, YOU CAN HAVE MY MINUTE.

UM, FURTHER, UM, THIS LIMITS SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING FOR US TO USE OUR RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE CITY.

IT'S ANOTHER THING TO INCUR COSTS FOR THE CITY.

UM, I THINK, I HOPE THAT THIS, UM, COUNCIL WILL WORK WITH THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO INSTALL NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP THAT IS LOYAL TO THE CITY LEADERSHIP THAT THINKS LOCALLY AND DOESN'T GO TO TAMPA FOR CONTRACTORS.

WHEN THERE ARE CONTRACTORS RIGHT HERE, LEADERSHIP THAT ACTS STRATEGICALLY WITH FORESIGHT, UM, LEADERSHIP THAT'S UNCOMPROMISED AND LEADERSHIP THAT HAS INTEGRITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER ACO.

THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

CAN YOU TELL ME SPECIFICALLY WHAT MEASURE, WHAT WAS IN PLACE THAT YOU THINK IS UNFAIR ABOUT THE THIS PROCUREMENT? UM, WELL, THE PROCUREMENT CALLS FOR ON-CALL SERVICE FOR, UM, THE ENTIRE YEAR FROM EIGHT TO FIVE.

IT DOESN'T SPECIFY EXPECTED TONNAGE REQUIREMENTS.

SO IT'S HARD FOR, UM, SOMEONE WITHOUT THAT KNOWLEDGE TO ESTIMATE WHAT, UM, IS REQUIRED, WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT'S REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PUT A PROPER BID.

ALSO, YOU'RE ASKING US TO PAY FOR, UM, THE DUMP FEES WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF TONNAGE REQUIREMENT THERE IS.

SO THE, THE VENDOR THAT HAD THE CONTRACT LAST YEAR WILL BE PRIVY TO THIS KIND OF INFORMATION.

GOT IT, GOT IT.

BUT NO ONE ELSE IS.

I I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH SOLID WASTE, SO NOW I KNOW WHAT TO ASK.

ALSO, THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT SPECIFIED.

THE, THE SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED IS NOT SPECIFIED.

THE DIRECTOR IN THE PAST HAS ASKED FOR GRAPPLE TRUCKS, SELF-LOADING GRAPPLE TRUCKS, BUT, UM, HE'S KIND OF DONE A 180 ON IT AND NOW IS ALLOWING FOR TRAILERS TO TAKE PART IN, UM, IN, UM, THE PICKUP ACTIVITIES.

STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS, NEXT SPEAKER.

CARMEN ESTRELLA.

CARMEN.

CARMEN IS HERE.

IF KICKBACKS WERE INVOLVED, THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.

MY NAME IS CARMEN TREANA.

I'M A RETIRED FLIGHT ATTENDANT AS OF 2020, A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND I BECAME AN ACTIVIST IN THE EARLY NINETIES.

I WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR PLAYERS AND, UH, GETTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AMIGOS COME TO FRUITION.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NORTH MAINE.

THE CLINIC SERVES ABOUT A HUNDRED TO 150 PATIENTS A DAY.

I HAVE LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL SINCE 2006.

YOU CAN SAY I'M AN AUTHORITY ON THAT SECTION OF NORTH MAIN STREET.

THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS CONTRADICTING ITSELF.

THERE USED TO, UH, BE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS IN THAT CURVE AND WHEN MY SON AND I HEARD A LOUD SCREECH AND A THUMP, WE WOULD GRAB OUR CELL PHONES AND RUSH OUTSIDE TO SEE IF WE COULD HELP.

I CALLED THE CITY TO FIX A DANGLING LIGHT, UH, CAUTION LIGHT ABOVE THAT CURB AND IT TOOK, TOOK 'EM ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO REPAIR IT.

I CALLED THE CITY AGAIN AND TOLD 'EM THEY NEEDED TO PUT SPEED BUMPS.

THEY SAID NO.

IT WAS A MAIN THOROUGH AFFAIR AND THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES WOULD HAVE TO THE TIME EXPIRE.

I DID A THREE MINUTE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF SPEAK AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS SESSION.

I INDICATED TO EVERYONE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF, YOU'LL SEE ME AGAIN.

THAT'S ALRIGHT.

NEXT SPEAKER WILL REACH, WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I WILL ACCEPT, BUT BEING RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL, I WILL NEVER ACCEPT FROM ANYBODY.

THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA DO TODAY.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO YOUR VIEWS, BUT ONE THING I'M BIG ON IS BEING RESPECTFUL.

I'M VERY BIG ON THAT.

MARIKA

[02:00:01]

MOORE.

MARIKA MOORE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SCOTTY JOSEPH.

RIGHT BEHIND ONE OF THOSE MICS RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC.

MY NAME IS MONICA MOORE.

I COME FROM DISTRICT AGE AND TODAY I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HEAR THE STORY ON THE EVENING OF THE WORLD.

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, 19TH OF NOVEMBER, JAMES KYIV IS RIDING HIS WELL LIT BICYCLE ON FIRST WARD.

JAMES AS AN ACTIVE PART OF HOUSTON, CYCLING SCENE WAS NO STRANGER TO ANY CONDITION.

SINCE HE MOVED TO HOUSTON FROM COLLEGE STATION FROM 2015, HE HAS ORGANIZED OVER 94 BIKE RIDES CONNECTING HOUSTONIANS TO THE CULTURE COMMUNITY AT THE ACTIVITIES HOUSTON HAS TO OFFER.

TRAGEDY HIT TOO CLOSE.

THAT SUNDAY WHEN JAMES WAS ON HIS BIKE ON HOUSTON AVENUE, A DRIVER CRASHED INTO HIM WITH SUCH A FORCE THAT IT MADE JAMES'S BODY FLY THROUGH THE AIR.

AS THE MOTORIST RAN OFF THE SCENE OF HOUSTON AVENUE AND WINTER STREET, JAMES WAS RUSHED.

JAMES PASSED AWAY ON THANKSGIVING MORNING.

AND IF I MAY ADD A REQUEST, PLEASE SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF BUILDING SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE INTO OUR ROADS TO SAVE MORE LIVES.

NEXT SPEAKER, SCOTTY JOSEPH.

SCOTTY JOSEPH GOT IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CARL GILL.

KYLES, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

COUNCILMAN POLLARD.

FROM THIS MORNING ON NOVEMBER 19TH, HOUSTON MARKED THE WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROADS, TRAFFIC VICTIMS HONORING THOSE LAW, THOSE WHO'VE LOST THEIR LIFE OR HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY CRASHES.

AN EVENT CO-HOSTED BY, BY HOUSTON AND THE HOUSTON GHOST BIKE MEMORIAL PROJECT FEATURED A MEMORIAL RIDE, A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, AND A RECEPTION.

SPEAKERS EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY, HIGHLIGHTING THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF TO PREVENT FUTURE TRAGEDIES.

THE RECENT BIKE FATALITY ON NOVEMBER 19TH THAT SHE SPOKE ABOUT, UH, EXCUSE ME, BIKE.

HOUSTON HAS URGED DRIVERS TO BE MORE AWARE OF CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SHOUT OUT THE CYCLING COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, UH, HOUSTON, UH, IN HOUSTON, BAYOU CITY RIDERS BIKE, HOUSTON, LUMINOUS NIGHT CRAWLERS, CREW, MOB, MOMO BIKES, UH, RATCHET RIDERS, AND SCOTTY'S BIKES.

NEXT SPEAKER, KARA GILL.

KYLES, KARA GILL KYLES IS HERE.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO, UM, ASK THE, UH, THE CITY TO PUT INTO THIS, UH, I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.

THIS, UH, THIS TARGETING, THE STALKING THAT MY, MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH.

MY MOM PASSED AWAY FEW YEARS BACK FROM ME.

MY SISTER PASSED AWAY FROM ME.

MY GRANDMOTHER AND I GOT UNC.

I GOT TWO UNCLES RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT DOING GOOD RIGHT NOW.

ONE WON'T EAT AND ONE IS TAKING CHEMO AND I'M ASKING CITY TO PUT IT INTO IT.

I HAVE ALL MY PERSONAL THINGS BEEN STOLEN FROM ME, A TRUST FUND THAT'S BEEN STOLEN.

I HAVE DRIVER LICENSE THAT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED.

I HAVE A MAIL THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN GETTING ME AND MY MOM'S MAIL THAT WE HAVE ME GETTING AT THE HOUSE.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IT IN.

PUT IT INTO ALL THIS, SIR, PUT IT INTO ALL THIS HERE.

PUT AN END TO ALL THIS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR TODAY.

NEXT SPEAKER, Y DE JOHNSON.

Y DE JOHNSON Y YONDEL.

BESIDES, WHAT DO WE GET BACK FROM THIS ORGANIZATION? SECURITY.

MARIO HUMANA.

MARIO HUMANA IS HERE.

HELLO.

UH, BEFORE UH, I START, I WANNA SAY THAT, UH, I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS CASE.

UH, ALSO, I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE JUST A SPEECH.

I WANT US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I'M HERE TODAY TO PROTEST AGAINST THE SO-CALLED GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

THE REASON WHY I AM HERE IS BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON GAVE THE CONSENT TO THIS ORGANIZATION TO, TO BE CREATED.

WE PAY OUR, UH, PROPERTY TAXES TO HARRIS COUNTY AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY ASSESSMENT TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT THEY WOULD NOT ELECT TO APPROVE.

NOWADAYS, BUSINESS ARE GOING THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF KEEPING OUT MORE OF OUR MONEY, OF WORKING MONEY.

[02:05:01]

THEY SAY THE, THEY ONLY HAVE TWO TO THREE PATROL OFFICERS FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

DISTRICT IS THIS BIG AND WE ONLY HAVE THREE PATROL OFFICERS.

UH, FOR TIMES THEY ONLY WORK TILL SIX O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING.

THE REST OF IT THE NIGHT, YEAH.

TIME HAD ON OUR OWN.

UH, THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WILL LIKE TO, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THIS AND, UH, I'LL PROBABLY GO COME TO YOUR OFFICE AND YOURS BECAUSE THIS HAS TO DO WITH, UH, DISTRICT H.

DID WE MISS MARIAN WRIGHT? SHE WAS CALLED EARLIER.

UM, I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A MEMBER OF RICE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE.

AS A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT C AND AS A SCHOLAR OF PALESTINIAN HISTORY, I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT A CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND TO SUPPORT THE CALL FOR AN END TO THE XI KAZA.

WE HAVE WATCHED IN HORROR AS ISRAEL HAS BOMBED HOSPITALS, RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS, REFUGEE CAMPS, AND SCHOOLS.

OVER 11,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED.

ALMOST 70% OF WHICH ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND 1.6 MILLION PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.

THESE ARE ALL CLEARLY ACTS OF GENOCIDE IN A CAMPAIGN THAT HAS BEEN UNFOLDING FOR OVER 50 DAYS IN FRONT OF OUR EYES.

THE CURRENT GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN OF OUR PRESENT COMES FROM A LONG HISTORY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING, VIOLENCE, AND APARTHEID THAT HAS BEEN INFLICTED UPON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BY THE ISRAELI STATES AND ITS ANTECEDENTS WITH DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

WE MUST UNDERSTAND THIS CURRENT GENOCIDE AS PART OF THE HISTORY OF ISRAELI ISRAELI COLONIAL AGGRESSION TOWARDS THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

AND WE MUST REC RECOGNIZE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS, HAS BEEN NOT JUST A BACKER, BUT A PARTNER IN THIS HISTORY.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS SUPPORTED ISRAEL'S GENOCIDAL AGGRESSION.

ITALIAN HAS EXPIRED.

NEXT SPEAKER LIZ MISA.

COLTON LIZ MIS COTON.

LIZ.

LIZ IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARK RODRIGUEZ.

HELLO.

TWO YEARS AGO THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE PAPERWORK WHERE THE WRONG ADDRESS AND NAME WAS PLACED ON THE PAPERWORK.

I WAS TOLD NOT TO COME TO THE HEARING AND TOLD THAT THE PEOPLE WHOSE NAME AND ADDRESS WERE ON THE PAPERWORK WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMING.

IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD HAD ROOF REPAIRS AND THE HEARING WAS NEVER RESCHEDULED.

I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT WITH THE CITY.

I HAVE RECEIVED OVER 20 OFFERS ON MY HOUSE AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING THE HOUSE.

THE BUYER IS WELL AWARE THAT THE HOUSE NEEDS ROOF REPLACEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I'M IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING MY BELONGINGS.

I'M A DISABLED VETERAN.

I HAVE A SPINAL CORD INJURY IN MY NECK.

IT IS THE WORST SPINAL CORD INJURY.

THE VA HOSPITAL IS SEEN OF SOMEONE WHO CAN STILL WALK, BUT SOMETIMES I CAN'T MOVE MY FINGERS.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED? YES.

UM, UM, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH YOU, BUT THE NUMBER THEY HAVE IS TO YOUR NEIGHBOR.

AND SO THEY ARE, UM, THEY'RE PREPARED TO INITIATE THE HOME REPAIR FOR YOU.

IF YOU, IF, IF YOU'LL GET WITH, UH, IT IS ELLIE.

IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH RENEE, I THINK HE CAN HELP YOU.

I, I TRIED CALLING SOMEONE, I, I I DON'T THINK THEY RETURN THE PHONE CALL.

BUT RENEE, RENEE CAN ASSIST YOU.

TIME 'CAUSE THE MOVING'S BEEN GOING SLOWER THAN I THOUGHT.

THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

ALL ALL I NEED IS MORE

[02:10:01]

NEXT SPEAKER, MARK RODRIGUEZ.

MARK RODRIGUEZ.

MARK BE FOLLOWED BY BRENDAN TRAINOR.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AGAIN.

I'M BRINGING SOMETHING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

MY NAME'S MARK RODRIGUEZ.

I'M, I OWN TWO BUSINESSES, A SECOND WARD, ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF OAKLAND FULLERTON CIVIC ASSOCIATION, ALSO PRESIDENT OF NEFA EARLY START SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL ZONE LIGHTS, PUBLIC WORKS AS ITS POLICY.

WHY THEY CAN'T GIVE US 15 MINUTES WHILE THE CROSSING GUARD IS CROSSING KIDS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

THEY TURN THE SCHOOL ZONE LIGHTS 45 MINUTES BEFORE SCHOOL EVEN STARTS, BUT THEY SHUT IT 15 MINUTES AFTER THE SCHOOL ENDS.

HOW MANY PARENTS DO YOU THINK WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR ELEMENTARY KIDS SCHOOLS 45 MINUTES EARLY VERSUS RUNNING A LITTLE LATE? I MEAN, MAYOR, I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU COULD HELP US CHANGE THIS POLICY.

IT WOULD REALLY HELP THE COMMUNITY.

IT WOULD HELP THE CROSSING GUARD, THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THERE'S 600 KIDS, WHICH WE BOTH SCHOOLS.

HOW DO THEY EXPECT 'EM TO MAKE IT THERE WITHIN 15 MINUTES? THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL AND OTHER VENTURES Y'ALL TAKE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO.

UM, AND, AND MARK MAKES SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, TO WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND ADVOCATE, BUT, BUT WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S, IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S ONLY, IT'S A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

AND, AND I KNOW IN THE PAST YEARS IT IT WASN'T THAT WAY.

I, MY SECRETARY WAS A, WAS A SCHOOL SECRETARY FOR 17 YEARS AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY.

SO I, I THINK THAT, THAT THIS WOULD BE WORTH LOOKING AT IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN, IN THIS, IN THE, THE FLASHING LIGHTS SCHEDULE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S MY SAME NOTE.

I NOTICED THAT, UM, THE SCHOOL ZONE TIMES CANNOT BE ALTERED ON AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BASIS.

THAT'S PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, CODE.

I MEAN IT'S ONLY 15 MINUTES.

YEAH, I THEY HAVE THE CROSSING GUARD OUT THERE, MAYOR.

I UNDERSTAND.

I'M JUST, I'M JUST SAYING THE STATE DID THAT BASED ON TEXAS LAW.

THEY CANNOT BE ALL BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BASIS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M BEING TOLD.

CAN YOU LOOK INTO IT, MAYOR? SURELY.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER.

BRENDAN TRAINOR.

BRENDAN, HELLO.

TWO WEEKS AGO I BROUGHT SOME ALARMING STATISTICS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WERE MET WITH INDIFFERENCE OR DISDAIN.

SINCE THEN, ROUGHLY 9,000 MORE PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED WITH THE NUMBER OF MURDERS SURPASSING 20,000, INCLUDING OVER 8,000 CHILDREN.

THE POPULATION OF THE GAZA STRIP IS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF HOUSTON.

NOW IMAGINE IF 20,000 HOUSTONIANS WERE MURDERED AND 75% OF THE HOUSTONIAN POPULATION WAS FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME.

IMAGINE IF TCH HAD BEEN DESTROYED AND CHILDREN COULD NO LONGER RECEIVE TREATMENT.

GOINS DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE LIVING IT.

WE HAVE A MAYOR THAT BLINDLY SUPPORTS ISRAEL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, WHO HAS SPREAD MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE WAR BY RETREATING A CLAIM THAT THE BOMBING OF A HOSPITAL IN GAZA WAS A RESULT OF A MISFIRED HAMAS ROCKET, WHICH HAS BEEN DEBUNKED BY SEVERAL INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS.

THE SAME COUNCIL MEMBER HAS SHOWN JUSTIFIABLY CONCERN FOR THE HOSTAGES TAKEN ON OCTOBER 7TH, BUT HAS NEVER ONE MENTIONED THE 1,310 PALESTINIAN HOSTAGES THAT WERE BEING HELD IN ISRAELI PRISONS WITHOUT CHARGES OR TRIAL BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH.

THERE WERE MUTILATED DEAD BODIES.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE GENOCIDE.

THANK YOU VERY.

AND THE LACK OF CONCERN IS A DISGRACED OUR DEMOCRACY.

NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH EL.

NEXT SPEAKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY RONALD LAWRENCE.

HELLO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

TODAY I WILL BE TELLING YOU A FEW LIES THAT ISRAEL HAS TOLD THE WORLD IN ORDER TO GARNER PUBLIC SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT.

LIE NUMBER ONE, THE MOST INFAMOUS ONE.

THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE 40 BEHEADED BABIES.

THERE WERE ZERO BEHEADED BABIES.

OUR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, GOT ON NATIONAL NEWS AND TOLD AMERICA THAT HE SAW THESE IMAGES.

THAT WAS A COMPLETE LIE.

THERE ARE BEHEADED BABIES, BUT THEY ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THESE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DECAPITATED BY THE FORCE OF THE BOMBS THAT WERE DROPPED BY ISRAEL.

THEY ALSO SAID THAT THERE WERE CHILDREN KEPT IN CAGES, THAT THEIR EYES WERE GOUGED, THERE WERE RAPED WOMEN, THERE WERE TORTURED CAPTIVES,

[02:15:01]

AS A MATTER OF FACT, ISRAEL EXHUMED A GRAVE OF 120 PALESTINIANS JUST A WEEK AGO.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE PALESTINIANS.

HOWEVER, UH, ISRAEL HOLDS THE LARGEST SKIN BANK IN THE WORLD, SO WE CAN USE OUR IMAGINATION.

THEY ALSO HAVE, UM, THEY ALSO HARVEST ORGANS AND A LOT OF THE FAMILIES HAVE RECEIVED BODIES BACK OF THEIR LOVED ONES THAT WERE CUT OPEN WITH ORGANS MISSING.

AND NO EXPLANATION YOUR TIME EXPIRED.

NEXT SPEAKER, RONALD LAWRENCE.

THE CITY COUNCIL IN ATLANTA, THANK YOU VERY, THEY'VE RELEASED TO SUPPORT FOR HIS EXPIRE AND SO DID DETROIT AND SO DID SEATTLE.

AND WE WANT HOUSTON TO DO THE SAME THING, HAS EXPIRED.

THAT WAS GRUESOME.

HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? I THINK IT'S A HUGE BLESSING THAT WE CAN COME HERE AND GET HELP FROM Y'ALL, SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

UM, JUST WANNA SAY THAT PUBLIC WORK STILL HASN'T DONE ANYTHING AND UH, WE'RE GOING ON LIKE THREE MONTHS NOW.

SO WE THEY DID NOT GO OUT THERE.

NOPE.

YOU'RE SAYING THEY DIDN'T DID NOT GO OUT.

NOPE.

NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

SA IS SA HERE.

IT WAS, IT WAS SAUL'S RECOMMENDATION THAT WE CONTACT THE HANDICAP DEPARTMENT AND MAKE THEM PAY FOR THIS.

AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA.

'CAUSE I THINK THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS.

SAW DID THEY DID PUBLIC WORKS GO OUT AND DID NOT GO OUT.

THEY DID.

THEY DID GO OUT.

AND WHY DON'T YOU COME ON? 'CAUSE I'M, I DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH THIS MORE ANYMORE.

WE GOT THREE MEETINGS.

WHAT'S HE SAY? KIND SHAKING.

YEAH, PLEASE.

YOU WON'T HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE YOU CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL.

COFFEE L BAY COFFEE BAY.

COFFEE BAY.

LY MONTOYA RES LY MONTOYA RES LY.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR TURNER.

I'M SORRY THEY DIDN'T COME THE OTHER WEEK.

I WASN'T FEELING GOOD.

UM, I, UM, PRINTED SOME PAPERWORK IN REGARDS TO THE EVICTION FROM A LONG TIME AGO.

I DON'T THINK I OWE THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE WENT TO TRIAL AND BASICALLY IT IS ALL IN PAPERWORK IN REGARDS TO THE AIRPORT SYSTEM.

THAT'S MY TOPIC.

I WALK AWAY FROM THAT JOB BECAUSE BASICALLY THEY STOLE FROM ME AND THE HP D DIDN'T WANNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

UM, I DECIDED TO WITHDRAW MY CASE WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.

I'M CURRENTLY WORKING AND I DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO COLLECT A HUNDRED DOLLARS A WEEK BECAUSE BASICALLY IT IS, IS JUST PENN.

I'M USED TO MAKE MORE MONEY FOR MY EXPENSES, SO I'M WILLING TO, UM, WHAT IS IT CALLED TO ACCEPT ANY OFFERS AROUND THE, UH, HOUSTON REGION FOR EMPLOYMENT.

BUT, UH, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PUT IN WRITING IN A WAY.

UM, LEGAL SHIELD, UH, ROSA CAN REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND I WILL NOT SIGN ANYTHING UNTIL I KNOW, UH, IT'S A LEGIT, UH, OFFER.

UH, BECAUSE THERE'S MANY SCHEMES HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THANK YOU, ELY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.

I THINK, YEAH, HE JUST LEFT.

SPEAKER? WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM LIVE FROM THE ANNA ROSA COUNCIL CHAMBER.

UM, WOULD THAT BE IN THE LAST

[RECESS]

I'M ABOUT TO READ A DESCRIPTION OR A CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, NOVEMBER 28TH AND 29TH.

2023, EXCUSE ME.

ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCOME AND REINVESTMENT.

ZONE NUMBER 23, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HARRISBURG ZONE.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRISBURG DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF THE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2024 AND 2025.

ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM

[02:20:01]

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE MILITARY LEAD PAY DIFFERENTIAL FOR EMPLOYEES.

CALL TO ACTIVE DUTY STATUS DURING A TIME OF WAR OR A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,072,010 AND 4 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH VORTEX TURNKEY SOLUTIONS.

LLC.

ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY BY MOTION TO DEPOSIT THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD OF SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT.

AND PAY OUR COST IN CONNECTION WITH THE EMORY DOMAIN STYLE PROCEEDING STYLE.

CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS AIL NEZ AT ALL.

COSTS NUMBER OH 5 0 1 9 FOR ACQUISITION AND PARCELS A Y 20 0 5 6 AND TCY 2304 FOR THE ANTOINE DRIVE PAVING AND DRAINAGE PROJECT.

ITEM SEVEN, COBURN SUPPLY COMPANY, INC.

FOR PURCHASE OF REPAIR CLAMPS.

ITEM EIGHT, ABACUS QUALITY SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.

FOR PURCHASE OF FLOW METERS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.

ITEM NINE, RESOLUTION, IMPROVING AND ADOPTING THE INVESTMENT POLICY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ITEM 10, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF HOUSTON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL CORPORATION.

ITEM 11, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 33 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

ITEM 12 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING THE CITY'S MASTER CLASSIFICATION PLAN.

CITY OF HOUSTON.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 1998.

8 34 IS MOSTLY RECENTLY AMENDED BY CITY OF HOUSTON.

ORDINANCE 20 23 5 31 TO ADD 15 NEW JOB CLASSIFICATIONS AND AMEND FIVE PAY GRADES.

ITEM 13 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION PRECINCTS AND DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE HELD DECEMBER 9TH, 2023.

ITEM 14, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A REVISION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GUIDELINES.

ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND AVENUE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES.

ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR THE FEMA FY 2022.

ASSISTANCE OF FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM.

ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PURCHASE ORDER ADDENDUM FOR ELECTRIC ECO-FRIENDLY AND ON DEMAND SHARED RIDE SERVICES WITHIN MULTIPLE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES.

ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ELLA AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.

ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT WITH STRUCTURED TONE.

SOUTHWEST LLC ITEM 21.

ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO 2005 137 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPRO AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP.

ITEM 23, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE AS AMENDED TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO EXTEND CONTRACT TERM TO ANOTHER LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

ITEM 24, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AND AWARDING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SPAY AND NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INC.

ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AWARDING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON PETSET.

ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ARCADE US INC.

ITEM 27, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 14 534 APPRO AN AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC.

ITEM 28, ORDINANCE, AWARD AND CONTRACT AND UNIVERSAL PROTECTION SERVICE.

LP DBA, ALLIED UNIVERSAL SECURITY SERVICES.

ITEM 29, ORDINANCE, AWARD AND CONTRACT TO COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH TO PROVIDE CREDIBLE MESSENGER SERVICES.

ITEM 20, ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS TENANT AND BRAISE OAKS TOWERS, LTD ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.

ITEM 32, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND CITY OF HOUSTON AND FAMILY SERVICE CENTER OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.

ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A FORM FOR FORGIVABLE LOAN AGREEMENT.

FIRST LIEN DEED OF TRUST, SECOND LIEN DEED OF TRUST AND PROMISSORY NOTE ITEM 34, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $200,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF THE PARKS CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND $1,010 AND NO CENTS, $10,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF THE PARK AND RECREATION, DEDICATION, FUND, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING IN THE LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND GOV GATE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

ITEM 35, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

[02:25:01]

AGRICULTURE IN SUPPORT OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT'S COM, COMPOSTING AND FOOD WASTE REDUCTION GRANT PILOT PROJECT ITEM 36 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 700 BLOCK OF RIDGE STREET BETWEEN WATSON AND REAGAN STREET.

ITEM 37 ORDINANCE MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS RELATED TO THE USE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,940 SQUARE FEET OF LAND OUT OF BIO GREENWAY PARK.

ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASING SALES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS SELLER AND HOUSTON LAND BANK PURCHASER.

ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASING SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS SELLER AND HOUSTON LAND BANK PURCHASER FOR THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 14,632 SQUARE FEET OF LAND AT THE CORNER OF DONVILLE WAY AND HEREFORD DRIVE.

ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED 302,386,000 NO CENTS OUT OF FEDERAL STATE LOCAL PASS THROUGH FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASING SELLER AGREEMENT BETWEEN ELIZABETH LG SELLER AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 297,360,000 NO CENTS OUT OF FEDERAL STATE, FEDERAL PASS THROUGH FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION.

ITEM 42, ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS OF A 16,596 SQUARE FOOT PERMANENT ACCESS EASEMENT OF 18,237 SQUARE FOOT WATERLINE EASEMENT AND A 16,635 SQUARE FOOT TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT ALL PARCELS BEING SITUATED IN THE ROBERT WILSON SURVEY.

ABSTRACT 90 ABSTRACT NUMBER 88 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS FROM HC TWO I 10 EAST MEDICAL CENTER BOULEVARD, LLC APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HC TWO I, UH, ONE 10 EAST MEDICAL CENTER BOULEVARD, LLC ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $150 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORT SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED 2011 CONSTRUCTION FUND.

A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FUSION AND UNITED AIRLINES INC.

ITEM 44 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND KCI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND P DAWSON CONSULTING ENGINEERS LLC ITEM 46.

ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $770,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND GUNDA CORPORATION LLC ITEM 47.

ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 942,795,000 NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT LOAN TAX AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

D-B-A-I-M-S ENGINEERS INC.

ITEM 48 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,260,000, $260,044 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM.

CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO CSI CONSOLIDATED L-L-C-D-B-A AIMS COMPANIES ITEM 49, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACTOR CSI CONSOLIDATED L-L-C-D-B-A AIMS COMPANIES FOR SEWER STOPPAGE CLEANING AND TELEVISION INSPECTION.

EIGHT ENDED THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ITEM 50, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OR OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION OF LANDING ON ORUM LP.

ITEM 51 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ANY LOCAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 20, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, SOUTHWEST HOUSTON ZONE, AND SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

THIS WAS TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.

THIS WAS ITEM 39 ON AGENDA OF DEC OF NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023.

THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF NOVEMBER 29TH, 2023.

I'D LIKE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOTHER.

SHE'LL BE NINE.

SHE IS 91 ON TODAY.

THANK THE LORD.

IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY OF 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.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YA.

YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

[RECONVENE]

9 0 8 ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2023.

I'M MAYOR, PROFESSOR TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER ONE AND TWO FIRST.

UH, YES, WE

[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]

HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS I WANT, LET'S DO THE APPOINTMENTS FIRST.

UH, SO MADAM

[02:30:01]

SECRETARY OF YOU'LL CALL ITEMS ONE AND TWO.

FIRST ITEMS ONE AND TWO, NEED A MOTION MOVE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, CALL A SECOND, THEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS ONE AND TWO, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED, UH, IF YOU ARE HERE, IF YOU ARE STANDING, COME FORWARD, UH, TO THE, TO THE PODIUM.

UM, ONE AND TWO ARE THE, PRETTY MUCH THE NAMES OF THE SAME.

THIS IS THE HARRISBURG ZONE, UH, NUMBER 23.

UM, POSITION ONE IS JAMES K CARDONA.

TWO IS RICKY CARDENA, THREE IS VERONICA SUAREZ.

FOUR IS GIL OF RAMIREZ.

FIVE IS ELLA GONZALEZ.

SIX IS BETH LEE, AND SEVEN IS LOUIS BOLIVAR FRAGA.

UM, UH, THESE INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS WILL ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRISBURG REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

UH, GOOD MORNING TO EACH OTHER OF YOU, I KNOW I CALLED YOUR NAMES, BUT IF YOU'LL JUST, UH, UH, IDENTIFY YOURSELVES AND TELL US BRIEFLY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELVES.

OH, SURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

VERONICA JUAREZ.

I'M FROM THE EAST END ORIGINALLY.

UM, I INVEST IN TECH COMPANIES.

I'M STARTING A VC FIRM THAT WILL INVEST IN COMPANIES FOUNDED BY LATINO FOUNDERS.

I'M BETH LEE.

I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

BEEN AN EAST END RESIDENT FOR THE LAST SEVEN OR SO, AND I WORK IN AN INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANY BASED HERE IN HOUSTON.

HELLO, MY NAME IS RICKY CARDENAS.

I'M IN DISTRICT H.

UM, I WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

I SERVE ON SECOND WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 63 BOARD, AND I'M FROM THE INITIAL CLASS, THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES UNIVERSITY.

ALL THREE ARE NEW APPOINTMENTS.

WELL, THANKS AND ALL AND ALL THREE ARE NEW APPOINTMENTS, UH, TO BOTH THE, TO HARRISBURG 23 AS WELL AS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

SO LOOK, LET ME, NUMBER ONE, LET ME THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.

UM, IT DOES TAKE, IT DOES TAKE TIME AND, AND THESE ARE VOLUNTEER, UM, POSITIONS.

SO I'LL APPRECIATION TO YOU.

NUMBER TWO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHER, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO HARRISBURG, THAT AREA, WHICH IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT, CRITICAL.

SO, UH, SO THANK YOU AND, UH, AND APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.

LEMME RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SROS FIRST.

WELL, GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU.

UM, ALL THREE OF YOU ARE ARE NEW TO THIS AND I, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE STEPPING UP IN LEADERSHIP ROLES LIKE THIS.

UM, VERONICA AND BETH, I HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO GET TO KNOW YOU, BUT I KNOW RICKY CARDINALS REALLY WELL, AND HE'S, I'M SO, I'M SO PLEASED THAT YOU ARE, ARE PART OF THIS.

NOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, UM, I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU SAID YOU WENT THROUGH THE FIRST LEADERSHIP CLASS TO THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UM, AND IT, I I HAVE JUST REALLY SEEN YOU STEP UP IN BIG WAYS, YOU KNOW, TO BE A, A, A LEADER IN, UM, IN THE EAST END.

SO THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

MY GALLEGOS.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, UM, UH, THE IN, IN THE HARRISBURG TOUR.

UH, GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THE HARRISBURG TOUR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR, FOR, FOR APPROVING THAT THE EXPANSION OF THE HARRISBURG TOUR.

UH, DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF THE HARRISBURG TOURS, UH, WE WERE AWARDED THE, THE, UH, THE RAISE GRANT FROM ONE OF THE FIRST INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, GRANTS FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

UH, AND, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE REDOING TELEPHONE ROAD.

I KNOW THE, THE, THE HARRISBURG TURS IS LOOKING AT DOING FROM, UH, LAWNDALE TO LOCKWOOD.

AND THE, AND THE RACE GRANT IS FROM, UH, LAWNDALE TO SIX 10.

UH, SO WHEN ALL THAT IS COMPLETED, UH, TELEPHONE'S GONNA LOOK REALLY, REALLY NICE.

SO, UH, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

UH, AND ALSO I UNDERSTAND THAT Y'ALL ARE NOW, WE APPROVED LAST WEEK IN REGARDS TO A INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP, UH, WHERE THE HARRISBURG CHURCH WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL ON THE EAST SECTOR OF, UH, OF BUFFALO BAYOU ONCE THEY START WITH THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL.

SO, EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

Y'ALL ARE COMING IN IN THE RIGHT TIME.

UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, UH, SERVING THE EAST AND EAST, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MAYOR AL COEN.

THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANKS FOR SERVING.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, BETH, GLAD YOU'RE JOINING THIS.

AND THIS AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND CISNEROS JUST SAID, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT AREA AND A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW, AND SO IT'S A GREAT TIME TO STEP IN.

ALSO, WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT JAMES CARDONA, MY GOOD FRIEND WHO'S NOT, NOT PICTURED HERE TODAY, BUT, UH, GLAD FOR HIS CONTINUED SERVICE.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

UH, AND I, I THINK ALSO, UM, UH, ASHA FRANCIS, WHO, UH, PROVIDES THE LEADERSHIP TO THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY, UH, IS ALSO HERE.

SO I KNOW SHE'S, UM, UH, SMILING AT THE FACT THAT ONE OF OUR GRADUATES FROM THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY IS NOW SERVING ON THIS BOARD.

[02:35:01]

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU ALL.

ALRIGHT, UH,

[MAYOR'S REPORT]

A FEW COMMENTS, UH, FROM ME THIS MORNING.

UM, ON SATURDAY, THE ANNUAL RELIANT LIGHTS, MAYOR'S, HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR RETURNS WITH FIREWORKS TREE LIGHTING AND PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING AMERICAN IDOL, STARR, AND GRAMMY NOMINEE, UH, JORDAN SPARKS.

UH, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN US FROM SIX TO SIX.

IT SAYS TO EIGHT, BUT GENERALLY IT GOES FROM ABOUT SIX TO ABOUT 7 15, 7 30, AND CELEBRATE THE MOST FESTIVE, FESTIVE, AND WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

UH, THE EVENT, WE'LL ALSO SEE PERFORMANCES FROM MARIACHI PRODIGY, EDUARDO TREVINO, HOUSTON'S CHILDREN, CHORUS, UH, THE KINDER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND VISUAL ARTS THEATER DEPARTMENT'S, DANCE OF ASIAN AMERICA, THE EIGHT UNDER THE STARS, SEGUN BARRIO, CHILDREN'S CHORUS, AND ERNEST WALK, THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY BAND, UH, FOR THE FINALE, UH, THE TREE LIGHTING WILL TAKE PLACE AND THE HALLELUJAH COURSE WILL BE AT TIME WITH FIREWORKS.

UH, SO HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WILL, UM, COOPERATE WITH US.

UH, THAT WILL BE THIS COMING SATURDAY, UH, NIGHT.

HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US.

WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE LUNCH OF THE CITY'S NEW ONLINE VENDOR PORTAL AND E-PROCUREMENT SYSTEM.

BIDS WITH HU WITH H.ORG.

UH, BID WITH HOUSTON.

BID WITH HOUSTON.ORG IS THE CITY'S NEW AND IMPROVED ONLINE VENDOR PORTAL, PROVIDING VENDOR FOCUS RESOURCES AND HELPS US, HELPS TO OUR VALUED VENDOR COMMUNITY.

UM, SO HERE VENDORS WILL BE, WILL BE ABLE TO VIEW AND RESPOND TO ALL SOLICITATIONS REGISTER AS A VENDOR AND ACCESS TRAINING AND OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED.

UM, UH, THE CITY SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AND THE TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY ARE HOLDING A COMMUNITY CLEANUP AS PART OF THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON INITIATIVE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER THE SECOND.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER.

THE TIME IS FROM 8:00 AM TO 2:00 PM BEGINNING AT 7 0 3 7 CAPITAL STREET.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THOMAS MUNOZ.

UH, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND E AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.

HE HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, FEMA, THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.

MUNOZ AND THE OTHER APPOINTEES WILL ADVISE FEMA ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, DEANNE CHRISWELL ON ALL ASPECTS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING PREPAREDNESS, PROTECTION, RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND MITIGATION FOR DISASTERS AND NATIONAL EMERGENCIES.

UH, HOUSTON IS A LEADING VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE, RECOVERY AND MITIGATION.

AND CHIEF M MUNOZ'S INPUT TO FEMA DIRECTOR, UH, DEAN AND CHRISWELL WILL BE UNIQUE AND VALUABLE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND QUITE FRANKLY, TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER THE SECOND, UH, THE HOUSTON DYNAMO, WE'LL PLAY IN THE MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE, UH, FINAL FOLLOWING SUNDAYS, ONE ZIP, ONE ZIP WIN OVER SPORTING KANSAS CITY.

UH, THE DYNAMO WILL FACE THE LOS ANGELES, UH, FC, UH, WHILE THE GAME IS OUT OF TOWN, YOU CAN JOIN THE OFFICIAL WATCH PARTY AT PITCH 25, UH, 20 AT PITCH 25, LOCATED AT 2120 WALKER ON SATURDAY.

AND THE KICKOFF IS 8:30 PM CENTRAL.

SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE THE FANS ALL RECEIVE FULL AT THE SHELL DYNAMO STADIUM.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DYNAMO.

UH, I'VE GOTTEN SOME TEXTS AND SOME CALLS FROM PEOPLE IN REFERENCE TO THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION CLOSING, UH, IN AND RELOCATING, UH, BASED ON THE NEWS REPORT TO THE EAST END.

UH, THAT'S NEWS TO ME.

AND I KNEW THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT CLOSING OR SELLING.

UM, BUT IN TERMS OF THEIR LOCATION, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NEW.

WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS THAT, UH, NO PERMITS, UH, HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND NO POINT PERMITS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED.

SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO ASSURE PEOPLE OF THAT THE ADDRESS, UM, SORRY, THEY, THEY DO HAVE A SMALL LOCATION, UH, IN THE HARRISBURG AREA ALREADY.

BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, ANY PERMITS BEING REQUESTED OR ISSUED, THAT HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE.

SO, UM, FIND OUT ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING WHEN THINGS WERE TAX.

AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE FOLLOWING

[02:40:01]

UP ON THAT AND WE'LL, AND WE'LL ADVISE AS, AS MORE INFORMATION IS OBTAINED.

UM, LET ME, LET ME MAY JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.

UM, UM, WITH REFERENCE TO, UM, THIS ADMINISTRATION, SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, UH, CRITICISMS LODGED BY, UH, SENATOR JOHN WHITMEYER.

AND I WANT TO RESPOND IF YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, ATTACK THIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND ONE OF THE CRITICISM WAS THAT THERE IS NO DIVERSITY WITH REGARDS TO, I GUESS, MY TOP LEADERS AT THE CITY.

THAT WAS A DOG WHISTLE.

BECAUSE, UH, LET ME JUST SAY TO YOU, WITH RESPECT TO ASIANS WHO ARE IN TOP POSITIONS HERE AT THIS CITY, UH, AS YOU KNOW, I, I APPOINTED SANJAY ROM AS CHAIR OF METRO FIRST ASIAN.

THAT'S MY APPOINTMENT.

UH, I ALSO APPOINTED OUR, UH, OUR COMMUNIST, THE FIRST WOMAN CHAIR OF METRO.

THAT WAS MY KAREEM THAT WAS MY APPOINTMENT.

UM, PRIYA ZACHARIA, UH, CHAIR, MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.

ASIAN FIRST MY APPOINTMENT AND DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

I MAY SAY, IF YOU ALL CAN RECALL, RE EMO EMO THE FIRST ASIAN WOMAN TO CHAIR FINANCE DIRECTOR.

DIRECTOR.

THAT WAS MY APPOINTMENT.

UH, MINA PATEL, DAVIS CHAIRS, UH, UM, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND IT'S BEEN HERE FOR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS.

WITH RESPECT TO HISPANICS, IF YOU ALL CAN RECALL, UM, CHIEF OFFICER WAS THE HEAD OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF PENA HEADED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT WAS HISTORIC.

MY APPOINTMENTS, UM, CHIEF P CONTINUES TO BE FIRE CHIEF MARIO DIAZ HAS THE AIRPORTS.

OKAY? OKAY.

UH, TINA PIUS IS OVER A RA OLIVIA LEE IS OVER BOARD AND COMMISSION.

IN FACT, EVERY PERSON WHO'S BEEN OVER BOARDS AND COMMISSION AS A DIRECTOR HAVE BEEN YOUNG AND WOMEN.

SUSAN CHRISTIAN HAD SPECIAL EVENTS.

UM, MARTY, MY RIGHT HAND, MY SIDEKICK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

IF YOU CAN RECALL, TANYA RIVERAS WAS THE PRESS SECRETARY BEFORE SHE MOVED ON.

THESE HAVE BEEN MY APPOINTS AND THE ENESS OF CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, WHITE MALE, OLD, OLD ONE, STEVE COSTELLO, CHIEF RECOVERY OFFICER, WHITE MALE PUBLIC WORKS IN A HUNDRED AND SOME 80 SOME YEARS OF THIS CITY, HAS NEVER HAD A WOMAN TO CHAIR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

4,000 EMPLOYEES.

CAROL HADDOCK IS THE FIRST WOMAN ANGLO MY APPOINTMENT.

LISA KENT OVER IT.

THESE ARE WHITE FEMALES.

CHRIS SEN HAS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF TRADE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, WHITE MALE.

THESE ALL MY APPOINTMENTS.

TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO DIVERSITY IN THE TOP LEVELS OF CITY HALL IS A BLATANT MISREPRESENTATION.

HE OWES ME AN APOLOGY.

QUITE FRANKLY, HE OWES THE CITY OF HOUSTON AN APOLOGY.

AND LEMME JUST ADD, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EVEN SAY IT.

THE MEDIA, Y'ALL KNOW WHO'S WHO AT THE CITY.

YOU ALL KNOW THAT.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SAY IT WHEN I GET ARTURO MICHELLE, THE CITY ATTORNEY.

SEE, UH, THE HEAD OF THE LIBRARY TO IMPLY THAT THERE IS NO DIVERSITY AND THERE'S ONLY ONE LOOK.

MARIO? YEAH.

MARIO DIAZ OVER THE AIRPORT.

IT SPEAKS IN KEY MAJOR POSITIONS.

YOU TELL ME WHEN THERE'S BEEN MORE DIVERSITY AT THIS CITY.

SO TO IMPLY, I GUESS BECAUSE YOU SEE MAYBE CHIEF NER BLACK AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR KENNY ALLEN AT PARKS AND REC, AND BEFORE KENNY ALLEN, THERE WERE TWO WHITE MALES.

TWO, OKAY? OR YOU

[02:45:01]

THAT'S A DOG WHISTLE.

I'VE LIVED 69 YEARS.

I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE SINNING A DOG WHISTLE, THIS CITY DESERVES BETTER.

IT DESERVES BETTER.

AND I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT SLIDE.

IT DESERVES BETTER.

AND THEN TO TALK ABOUT CONFLICTS, MY GOD, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT CONFLICTS? I'VE BEEN A LAWYER AT A MAJOR LAW FIRM.

I'VE BEEN A PARTNER IN ANOTHER 32.

I WORKED FOR MY MONEY.

I'VE BEEN TO THE COURTHOUSE.

I'VE TRIED CASES, I'VE HAD CLIENTS.

I'VE CONSULTED.

I'VE WORKED IN WRITTEN BRIEFS.

I GOT PAID FOR WHAT I DID.

NOT JUST SIT IN AN OFFICE AND THEN WAIT FOR FOLK TO COME TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE SENATE AND THE MEDIA KNOWS THIS TOO.

SO WHEN WE START TALKING, LOOKING AT FOLK, ARE YOU, DO PEOPLE JUST LOOK AT ME JUST BECAUSE I'M SITTING IN THIS CHAIR AND THE WAY I LOOK, AND WE DON'T LOOK AT OTHER FOLK AND THEIR CONFLICTS.

WE DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR KNOWN CONFLICTS.

IS IT JUST PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT GET EVALUATED? YES.

JUST ME.

I'M I, NUMBER ONE, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT I KNOW I CAN'T DO IT.

SO YOU'RE GONNA LET OTHER PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CONFLICTS AND HE'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 50 YEARS AND NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HIS CONFLICTS.

WHERE IS THE EQUITY IN COVERAGE? AND LEMME JUST SAY, ALL OF MY LIFE, MY PARENTS TOLD ME, YOU HAVE TO DOT EVERY I YOU HAVE TO CROSS EVERY T YOU HAVE TO STAY CLEARLY WITHIN THE LINES.

YOU HAVE TO RUN FASTER, WORK HARDER AND BE BETTER.

THAT'S ALL MY LIFE.

MY PARENTS SAID THAT TO ME.

BUT OTHER FOLK CAN OPERATE IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD WITH THEIR OWN CONFLICTS.

AND IT'S OKAY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP, CHRONICLE WROTE ABOUT IT THIS MORNING.

AND THEN LASTLY, WHAT I'M GONNA SAY, WHEN I RAN EVERY FACET OF MY LIFE, THE MEDIA TALKED ABOUT IT.

WHEN I DID, WHEN I GOT A A, A TICKET FOR NOT HAVING AN INSPECTION STICKER, THE MEDIA WROTE ABOUT IT.

EVERY FACET, EVERYTHING WAS COVERED BY THE MEDIA.

HERE'S, SOMEBODY'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 50 YEARS AND HE GETS SURPASSED BECAUSE HE, IT'S, I GUESS IT'S ALL RIGHT, BUT DOG WILKER WHISTLES.

I KNOW A DOG WHISTLE.

NOW I'M NOT ON THE BALLOT NEITHER TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE ON THE BALLOT, BUT I AM GOING TO DEFEND MY RECORD HERE AT CITY HALL.

NOW I'M GOING TO DO THAT.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, AFTER EIGHT YEARS, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT BY MYSELF.

THE MEDIA KNOWS I SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO SAY IT.

WHY DO I HAVE TO SAY IT? WHEN I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 80 YEARS AND THE MEDIA AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE SEEN THE PEOPLE I HAVE APPOINTED ALMOST ON EVERY BOARD AND COMMISSION, WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S DIVERSITY.

YOU, YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THEM ON EVERY BOARD, COMMISSION, TOURS, MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THERE'S DIVERSITY BECAUSE THAT'S A REFLECTION OF THE CITY.

SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT, I'M THROUGH WITH IT.

OH, AND THEN LEMME JUST TALK ABOUT PAPA'S SINCE HE BROUGHT THAT UP TOO.

SO YOU WANT US TO JUST GIVE A CONTRACT BECAUSE YOU LIKE THAT PERSON WHEN THEY DIDN'T SCORE, AND WHEN IT'S GONE THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, THEN THE JUDGE VALIDATED WHAT THE CITY DID.

SO WHAT'S YOUR PLAN? UNDO EVERYTHING AND JUST GIVE STUFF AWAY WHEN YOU GET HERE.

WELL, MAYBE TO THE EXTENT HE GET HERE, MAYBE HE WILL BE ABLE TO BE ALLOWED TO DO IT BECAUSE

[02:50:01]

BUT MAYBE HE, IF HE GETS HERE, MAYBE HE'LL BE ALLOWED TO DO IT AND IT WILL BE OKAY.

YESTERDAY AT THE GEORGIA BROWN, WE HAD A, UM, MALE SUMMIT.

WE HAD ABOUT THREE TO 400 YOUNG GUYS AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW, TELL 'EM YOU CAN BE ALL THAT YOUR TALENT WILL ALLOW YOU TO BE.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO REMIND THEM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT.

LIFE IS NOT FAIR AND DON'T EXPECT IN SO MANY WAYS TO BE TREATED FAIRLY.

THAT'S A DIFFICULT LESSON TO TELL YOUNG FOLK.

BUT IT'S ONE THEY NEED TO HEAR.

DON'T NECESSARILY BE EXPECTED TO BE TREATED FAIRLY, BUT YOU STILL, AS MY MAMA WOULD SAY, YOU STILL HAVE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

AND IN MANY CASES YOU HAVE TO SMILE WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE SMILING.

AND YOU HAVE TO LAUGH WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE LAUGHING.

BECAUSE IF YOU COME ACROSS AS AN ANGRY PERSON, THEN THAT'S THE CLIP THAT WILL BE SHOWN.

SO YOU HAVE TO SMILE AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE SMILING.

AND OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE TO LET THINGS GO BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ALL OF THAT.

I'VE LEARNED THAT I'M 69 YEARS OLD.

I'VE LEARNED THAT.

BUT THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME, ESPECIALLY COMING UP AT THE LAST PART OF MY TOURNAMENT MAYOR FOR EIGHT YEARS.

I'VE HELD A WHOLE LOT IN, BUT THESE SORT OF ATTACKS COMING AT THE END, I WON'T LET GO.

I WON'T DO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEBODY COMING AFTER ME.

AND COLLECTIVELY WE'VE WORKED HARD TO MOVE THIS CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND TO HOLD THIS CITY TOGETHER.

AND YOU CAN BE, YOU CAN RUN, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE DOG WHISTLES IN ORDER TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE.

AND WE NEED TO CALL IT WHEN WE SEE IT, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT MAY BE ON THIS SIDE TODAY, BUT IT'LL HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE DOWN THE ROAD.

SO WE HAVE TO CALL IT OUT WHEN WE SEE IT.

OKAY, NOW THAT I'VE VENTILATED, I FEEL MUCH, MUCH BETTER.

OKAY, SO LET ME, LET ME PASS THESE PAPERS ON TO, TO MARTY, MY DIVERSE PARTNER, , HISPANIC AND FEMALE AND YEAH, HISPANIC AND FEMALE.

OKAY, WE GONNA TAKE A SELFIE, UH, AFTER THIS OVER SO , SO I CAN SEND IT TO HIM.

ALRIGHT, LET'S GO.

LET'S, LET'S GO.

LET'S

[CONSENT AGENDA]

PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU ALL FOR INDULGING ME.

OKAY, NEXT.

UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA, I'M UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.

ITEMS ONE AND TWO WERE ALREADY DONE.

THREE AND FOUR HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON.

SECOND BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND ON NINE AND FIVE.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE.

ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON SECOND.

BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM SIX.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEM SEVEN AND EIGHT.

NEED A MOTION MOVE ROBINSON SECOND, MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM SEVEN AND EIGHT.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY.

ITEM 10 HAS BEEN REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

ITEM NINE, JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM NINE.

32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 44, AND 45.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS 31 AND 43 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.

ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 11, 18, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 35, I MEAN, I'M SORRY,

[02:55:01]

THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 11, 18, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32 THROUGH 35, 37, AND 38, 40, 44 AND 45.

NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE.

DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTED, BUT CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR, UH, MAYOR PERAM MARTIN.

YES, MAYOR, THANK YOU.

ITEM 22 IS PASSED ON CONSENT, IT'S MONEY TO THE BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP.

AND I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CEO OF THAT ORGANIZATION WITH US HERE TODAY.

MR. BRIAN FRIEDMAN.

AND BRIAN, IF YOU'D STAND UP, THEY ARE A GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MACHINE.

UH, A LOT OF THE THINGS RELATED TO SPACEPORT.

WE HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING IN NEXT WEEK FOR AXIOM.

UH, WE HAD ONE FOR INTUITIVE MACHINES ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.

UH, OR THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS ARE DIRECT RESULT OF THE HARD WORK BY THE BAY AREA, HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP.

AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRIAN AND ALL THE FOLKS THERE, WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE MOVING FORWARD.

SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE, BRIAN, AND LOOK FORWARD TO OTHER GREAT THINGS TO HAPPEN IN AND AROUND THE BAY AREA, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR US IN AND AROUND THE SPACEPORT.

SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ROBINSON.

MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND THANK BRIAN FOR THE GOOD WORK, THE HARD WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING DOWN IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA.

THE WORK AT ELLINGTON FIELD IS AMAZING.

AND MAYOR, JUST, UH, I KNOW WE'RE KNOWN AS A CITY OF MANY THINGS.

I WANNA, UH, POINT OUT THAT IN A RECENT TTI COMMITTEE WE WERE REFERRED TO AS THE AEROSPACE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND I HADN'T HEARD THAT ONE YET.

SO, AEROSPACE, CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, BRIAN, TAKE IT BACK TO BEHE.

AND, UH, MAY, MAY YOU LIVE INTO THAT EVEN MORE THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.

AND HE'S DOING SO GREAT SINCE BOB MITCHELL RETIRED.

SO WE'RE, UH, GLAD TO SUPPORT YOU AND, UM, USE THIS MONEY WISELY.

THANK YOU, BRIAN.

AND THEN I, I WILL TAKE THIS MOMENT TO SAY, UM, UM, MAY I APPROACH TIM UNDER, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE LAST HOW MANY YEARS? 10, 10, 11, 11 YEARS, UM, SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE, POSITIVE CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THAT AREA UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP OUT.

UH, I WANT TO GIVE YOU YOUR PROPS.

UH, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS, UH, CHANGES, TRANSFORMATION TAKING PLACE IN THAT AREA.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON THAT AREA.

SO THANK YOU, SIR.

SO CONGRATS TO THE, AND, AND I LOOK DIFFERENT THAN YOU AND I'M OF A DIFFERENT, UH, POLITICAL AFFILIATION THAN YOU ARE.

SO, UH, AS AN OLD WHITE MAN, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, .

AND I APPOINTED YOU AS MAYOR OF PRO TIM.

GREATEST MOVE YOU EVER MADE.

OH MY GOD.

SMART.

IT SHOWS YOU HOW SMART YOU ARE.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

CONGRATS.

COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN AFTER.

ALL RIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION.

MOVE ROBINSON ON THE SECOND, LAUGHING ON ITEM THREE.

UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON ITEM THREE.

UH, TAG FRIENDLY.

OKAY, COUNCILMAN, UH, CAMAN TAGS.

ITEM THREE.

NEXT ITEM.

ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION.

MOVE ROBINSON ON THE SECOND, MOVE IN SECOND.

AND ITEM FOUR, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE.

OH, HUFFMAN.

OH, I'M SORRY.

HOLD ON.

UM, I JUST THINK THIS IS SUCH A GOOD THING THAT, UM, WE ARE DOING THIS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL THAT ARE A PART OF THE CITY.

AND IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHICH, UM, CITY, DEPARTMENT OR CITY EMPLOYEES, WHICH ONES UTILIZE THIS THE MOST.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM WHILE THEY'RE, UM, WHILE THEY'RE NEEDED AND THEIR MILITARY SERVICES NEEDED.

AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

GOOD.

OKAY, ITEM 10 IS A RESOLUTION.

JUST NEED A VOTE.

ITEM 10 IS BEING TAGGED BY, UH, THOMAS AND, UH, JACKSON.

PECK AND PECK.

JACKSON AND THOMAS.

YES MA'AM.

SAY AGAIN THE TAGS, PLEASE.

THOMAS, UH, JACKSON AND PAC ON ITEM 10.

ITEM 11 IS AN ORDER.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

RULE ITEM 11.

DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRAND ON ITEM 11.

I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.

COUNCIL, ARE WE ON ON 11? YEAH.

COUNCILMAN KAMAN.

AND THE ROUTE ITSELF IS NOT, UM, WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON TODAY.

NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I, I KNOW THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ABOUT TO SPEAK AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

UM, AND THANK MAYOR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT.

THIS IS ON THE, UM, CITYWIDE TRUCK ROUTE PLAN

[03:00:01]

WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS FOR THAT.

BUT THE IMPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT C, UM, I KNOW AGAIN IN OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS, UM, TO SAY, UH, THAT RELIEF IS ON ITS WAY.

THE PROCESS IS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH.

BUT, UH, WE WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THIS.

WE APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT AND A BIG THANKS AGAIN TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

YES, YES.

AND THIS ITEM, WE'LL DEAL WITH, UH, TRUCKS ON LOCAL STREETS.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

AND I ECHO MY COLLEAGUE.

THIS IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

UM, AS WE SAW YESTERDAY, WE HAD QUITE A FEW RESIDENTS COME IN.

THEY WAS CONFUSED THINKING THE, THE ORDINANCE HAS ALREADY BEEN DRAFTED, THE PLAN HAS BEEN DRAFTED, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN DRAFTED.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE, UM, COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE COMMUNITY IS PART OF THIS PROCESS.

I KNOW, UM, UM, EAST HOUSTON CITY GAS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE THE PILOT AT THE BEGINNING WHEN WE FIRST KICKED THIS OFF.

SO, UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADMINISTRATION, UM, MOVING THIS FORWARD AND JUST LISTENING TO THE CONSTITUENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.

I, UM, MET, MET WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND, UM, BEING THAT I'M LEAVING IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS OR SO, I JUST WANNA GO ON RECORD AGAIN.

FOUR WEEKS, WELL, FOUR WEEKS.

THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION.

IN ONE DAY.

IN ONE DAY, SINCE I'LL BE LEAVING IN FOUR WEEKS, I, I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD AGAIN.

UH, 'CAUSE I WILL BE A COMMUNITY LEADER OUT THERE.

AND I WILL BE SAYING THAT I MENTIONED THIS MANY TIMES, .

UH, SO THE, THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS, TO TRY TO KEEP TRUCKS OUTTA NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IN, IN, IN DISTRICT DIAL, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.

I THINK WITH THIS, UH, WE, WE HAVE 18 WHEELERS GOING DOWN TELEPHONE ROAD.

WE HAVE 18 WHEELERS GOING OUT ON BROADWAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, THE, UH, THE GULF GATE TOURS, UH, YOU KNOW, SPENT MONIES IN, IN, IN, IN AND DOING THE, THE, UM, THE LANDSCAPING AND WHAT HAVE YOU ON BROADWAY, WELL, YOU HAVE 18 WHEELERS GOING DOWN BROADWAY, AND THEY'RE TEARING UP WHAT THE CITY SPENT.

UH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE POSSIBLY THE GREEN LINE AND THE PURPLE LINE COMING DOWN TELEPHONE ROAD, GOING TO THE HOBBY AIRPORT.

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT ME METRO IS CLAIMING RIGHT NOW.

SO WE DON'T NEED 18 WHEELERS NEXT TO A LIGHT RAIL LINE WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN A TRUCK.

SO THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY OF REROUTING IT ON AIRPORT BOULEVARD.

AND I SPECIFICALLY HAVE STATED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, IF WE DO THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN OVERPASS AND GO OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS THERE AT MACAU, AND THEN GO ONTO THE PROPOSED SPUR FIVE, WHICH TDOT'S GONNA BE BUILDING, AND THAT WILL TAKE THE TRUCKS ONTO SIX 10 AND GO AROUND THE CITY TO THE PORT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU KNOW, I, I'VE MENTIONED IT, I MENTIONED IT, I'VE MENTIONED IT.

I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE LISTENING.

UH, SO I'M GOING ON RECORD.

SO WHEN THIS MOVES FORWARD, TRUST ME, I WILL BE OUT THERE AND I WILL BE BRINGING IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

ONCE AGAIN.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON.

JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT TO EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS IN DISTRICT.

I, WE DID HAVE THIS PRESENTATION TO TT I EARLIER THIS MONTH, MAYOR, AND, UH, WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION.

SO CREDIT IS DUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UM, MU SHANE FANG PRESENTED DAVID FIELDS, UH, SO WISE IN, IN THE WAYS, WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PRESENTATION THAT'S POSTED ON THE TTI WEBSITE.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS A PRIMER ON THE ORDINANCE, UH, IT'S VISUALLY COMPELLING, HELPFUL, AND I THINK, AS YOU SAID, MAYOR, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE BINDING DOCUMENT.

THIS IS THE ORDINANCE AND THE FRAMEWORK FOR US TO, UH, REALLY THINK ABOUT THE PLANS FOR ALL OF OUR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT'S ALL.

AND LEMME THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK THUS FAR.

I, I WOULD LOVE FOR IT FOR THIS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT, UH, DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

BUT, UH, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT START AND IT'S ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF, UH, OF MANY PEOPLE IN, IN, UH, IN, IN VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU, OFFICER, VERY MUCH.

LOOK FORWARD TO, TO THE WORK CONTINUING.

UH, NEXT ITEM.

ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE.

YOU NEED THE VOTE.

WE ON ITEM 18, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ON 18.

UH, MAY I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS ITEM? OKAY.

SO, UM, THESE, THESE CARS DON'T HAVE DRIVERS, CORRECT? THEY DO HAVE DRIVERS.

THEY DO HAVE DRIVERS.

'CAUSE I WAS CONCERNED NO, THEY HAVE DRIVERS.

AND I WAS LIKE, I JUST WOULD HATE FOR A CAR RIDING DOWN THIS NET WITH NO DRIVER.

NO, THEY GOT DRIVERS.

I WAS NERVOUS.

I SAID THAT CAR MAY COME UP MISSING.

NO, THEY DO HAVE DRIVERS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OH, EVAN SHABBAT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.

ALL RIGHT.

THESE ARE NOT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.

[03:05:01]

AND JUST TO REASSURE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THE RIDE PROGRAM IN THIRD WARD.

UM, I WAS IN PARTNERSHIP AND THEY ARE ALL MANNED, OKAY? THEY ARE ALL MANNED BY DRIVERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN THIRD WARD, UH, FOR PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET TO THE GROCERY STORE AND TO THE DOCTOR AND VARIOUS AREAS.

AND SO YOU, IT'S GONNA BE AN EXCITING THING FOR YOU.

OKAY? ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU COUNCIL.

OKAY, MAN.

YEAH, NO, AND I, I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE 'CAUSE IN COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHAW IN YOUR DISTRICT, I ALSO HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

UM, AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, THESE ARE FREE RIDES FOR CRITICAL SERVICES.

SO THE CITY IS NOW PROVIDING AND EXPANDING THE PROGRAM IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A HIGHER THRESHOLD OF NEED, UH, FOR FREE RIDES FOR CRITICAL SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.

UH, AND IT HAS BEEN TO COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ'S, POINT, A SMASHING SUCCESS AND COUNCIL MEMBER.

THOMAS, I HEAR YOU ON THE NERVOUSNESS.

I ACTUALLY GOT NERVOUS 'CAUSE THE, UH, GREAT COMPANY, I'M NOT BASHING THEM, BUT THERE'S, THEY ALSO PROVIDE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, AND THAT'S BEEN A HOT BUTTON ISSUE.

SO I WAS LIKE, HANG ON, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? BUT AGAIN, THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE FREE RIDES THE CITY IS PROVIDING FOR RESIDENTS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET CRITICAL SERVICES AND ACCESS THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE.

AND LEMME JUST SAY, AND, AND THEN I'M, I'M GONNA TURN TO YOU, COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS IN THIRD WARD, DISTRICT D UM, WE DECIDED TO EXPAND IT BECAUSE PEOPLE, I MEAN, PEOPLE WHO WERE HAVING PROBLEMS KIND OF GETTING TO THE STORE, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THIS WAS A CRITICAL SERVICE, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS.

SURE.

THEY LOVE IT.

SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS, UH, PUT MORE MONEY IN IT, IT TO EXPAND IT TO OTHER AREAS IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

CASEY BROWN, UH, IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM WHO'S HERE, UH, YOU KNOW, STAND UP CASEY AND JUST WAVE AT EM.

SO IF YOU, IF YOU WANT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UH, CASEY BROWN WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT PERSON, BUT SENIORS LOVE THE PROGRAM.

UH, AND THAT HAS WORKED EXTREMELY WELL.

THANKS, CASEY.

COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.

THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, AND, AND, AND I GUESS I'LL, I'LL BE MEETING WITH CASEY BROWN TO GET MORE QUES UH, ANSWERS.

BUT, UH, ONE, ONE ISSUE, ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, UH, IS THIS BESIDES METRO LIFT, FOR EXAMPLE? YEAH, THIS IS IN, SO THE SENIORS THAT USE METRO LIFT CAN STILL CALL THIS SERVICE AS WELL, OR USE BOTH? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND, UM, TO USE THIS SERVICE, WHAT DO THEY DO? DIAL, UH, 3 1 1 OR, I GOTTA GET THE NUMBER, BUT, OKAY.

SO HOW DO THEY ACCESS, WELL, I'M SORRY, JUST THIS ONE.

THERE WE GO.

IT'S THROUGH AN APP.

YOU DOWNLOAD AN APP, YOU REQUEST A RIDE, TELLS YOU WHO YOUR DRIVER IS, AND WHEN THEY'LL BE THERE, THEY PICK YOU UP AND TAKE YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION.

SO IT'S ONLY THROUGH A NAP BECAUSE A LOT OF SENIORS WON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

WE ACTUALLY STARTED IT IN A, UH, SENIOR FACILITY IN THIRD WARD, SO THEY GET SOME ASSISTANCE THROUGH THAT.

WE GET QUITE A FEW OF THOSE, UH, THOSE, UH, RESIDENTS USING THE SERVICE AS WELL.

THEY, THEY WILL WORK WITH THAT, WITH THE GROUP, WITH THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS TO HELP THEM TO, TO DOWNLOAD THAT APP COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND THEN IT'S JUST AS EASY CONTACTED THEM AND, AND THEY'RE THERE.

SO, SO, SO IT'D BE OKAY FOR THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO OUR SENIOR, UH, GROUPS, UH, APARTMENTS IN OUR DISTRICTS TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS SERVICE? ABSOLUTELY, YES.

OR ARE WE GONNA OVERWHELM Y'ALL? WE DO THAT.

NO, ABSOLUTELY.

REACH OUT.

IS IT OKAY TO REACH OUT TO SENIOR GROUPS AND SENIOR APARTMENTS IN OUR DISTRICTS? YES, SIR.

WITHIN THE DISTRICTS THAT THE SERVICE IS IN TODAY YEAH.

IS WHERE THEY'LL RECEIVE, YEAH.

OH, COUNCILOR, MR. JUST COMMENT.

NO, COUNCIL, HOLD ON A SECOND.

CAN YOU CLARIFY? SO, UH, TO TODAY, THE VOTE IS TO AUTHORIZE EXPANDING TO THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS OF COMPLETE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? RIGHT.

SO I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THIS SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN F YES.

IT'S COMING YOUR WAY.

BECAUSE THEY ARE SOMETIMES TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGED AND NOW THEY CAN GO TO A MAJOR GROCERY STORE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH PRICES THAT MAY EXIST IN SOME OF THE OTHER STORES.

NOW, COUNCILOR MU SHIBA, THANK YOU.

AND JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION, I KNOW THE ONE THAT WE HAVE, IT'S NOT JUST FOR SENIORS, IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP TO THE STUDENTS AT TEXAS SOUTHERN AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL.

AND SO THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT, IS THAT IT SERVES ALL OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M, I'M, I'M EXCITED.

YOU ALL ARE GONNA LOVE IT.

AND AS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND SAID, UH, THE CONSTITUENTS REALLY, REALLY LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY

[03:10:01]

AND SO, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR EXPANDING IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ITEM 1818? ONE MORE, I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

ONE MORE.

SO THIS IS, WE'RE THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL CAR CORRECT? CONDITION? WHO? A CAR? CAR MICRO? YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S THROUGH THE MICRO-GRANT PROGRAM.

TWO.

IT'S TWO.

WHY DON'T YOU COME? YEAH, YEAH.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS FOR TWO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES.

TWO, THERE'S TWO VEHICLES IN THIRD WARD.

TODAY WE'RE GONNA TAKE TWO MORE VEHICLES, UH, INTO DISTRICT H, UH, AND OPEN UP ANOTHER SERVICE AREA WITHIN ONE OF THE CURRENT COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.

AND OUR GOAL WILL BE TO GROW IT FROM THERE INTO THE OTHER COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.

SO THIS TAKES US INTO, JUDGE, LET'S STAY, EXPAND.

CORRECT.

THEY'RE JUST TAKING IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.

ROBINSON.

COUNCILMAN ROBINSON.

MAYOR, I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION BECAUSE WE'RE REFERRING TO DISTRICTS AND IT'S COMMUNITY COMPLETE, COMMUNITY BASED.

YEAH, I KNOW, BUT WHEN WE SAY H WHICH ARE THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SECOND WARD.

SECOND WARD.

WELL, AND SO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN IT WOULD BE COMING TO THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT, I THINK I HEAR YOU SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCCESS IN OTHER PLACES AND THE GROWTH OF THE PROGRAMS. SO TBD? THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT, BUT WE ARE PROVIDED FUNDING FOR IT TO EXPAND IN OTHER AREAS.

THE FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED.

YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF RAMPING UP.

GUARANTEES THAT THIS MONEY WE'RE, WE'RE ALLOCATING IS GOING TO HOUSTON RESIDENTS? I'M AFRAID IT'S GONNA BE PASADENA RESIDENTS.

THAT'S ALRIGHT.

ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON 18 IN FAVOR? I? OPPOSED GRANTED ON 18, ITEM 24, UM, 23.

I NEED 23, 2 3 ON ITEM.

WHAT'S THAT? I'M SORRY.

ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 23.

ITEM 23.

DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSE GRANTED.

ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 24.

COUNCILMAN GGO ON 24.

MAYOR F FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THIS IS GREAT NEWS TO KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE MONIES OUT THERE FOR THE SPAY AND NEUTERING.

SO, SO, SO I I I REALLY SUPPORT THAT.

MY, MY, MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT I, I REACHED OUT TO, UH, BARRIO DOGS AND BARRIO DOGS HAS BEEN HERE AND, AND BEEN DOING GREAT WORK IN REGARDS TO SPAY AND NEUTERING.

UH, THEY WEREN'T AWARE ABOUT, THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF THIS.

UH, AND I REACHED OUT TO STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT DIVISION AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT SPD IS ABLE TO REACH VENDORS THAT ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE I-N-I-G-P CODES FOR THE SERVICE OF THE CITY AS, AS ACQUIRING, UH, AND TO BE A REGISTERED VENDOR AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, SNAP BASICALLY DID QUITE A FEW OR DID THE MOST SPAY AND ENTERING LAST YEAR.

AND THEN, UH, THE SECOND IN LINE WAS BARRIO DOGS.

AND THEN YOU HAD BARK, BUT YOU HAD BARRIO DOGS.

THEY DIDN'T REACH OUT TO BARRIO DOGS.

SO I GIVE $10,000 EVERY YEAR TO BARRIO DOGS FOR MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR SPAY AND NEUTERING.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.

IT IS NOT JUST SPAY AND NEUTERING.

THEY DO WELLNESS AS WELL FOR THE DOG IF THE DOG IS IN NEED OF WELLNESS.

UM, BUT YET NOW THEY'RE AT THE MERCY OF WHOEVER'S GETTING THIS MONEY TO APPLY TO THEM TO ASK CAN WE GET SOME OF THAT MONEY? BUT YET THEY WERE SECOND IN LINE TO DO SPAY AND NEUTERING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THEY DID, I THINK, UH, CHECK IN WITH THEM LAST YESTERDAY.

LAST YEAR WAS WHAT THEY DID.

I THINK THEY TOLD ME 1200 SPAIN AND USUALLY THEY DO SEVEN TO 800 A YEAR.

LAST YEAR THEY DID 1200.

AND THAT'S MOSTLY JUST IN THE EAST END.

UH, BACK, BACK WHEN BACK, UH, WHEN I WAS WORKING ON BRINGING EMANCIPET TO HOUSTON.

OUT OF 11 COUNCIL DISTRICTS, WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH, WITH STRAY DOGS JUST ROAMING THE STREETS.

FIVE DISTRICTS OUT OF 11.

THAT'S YOU, YOU'LL FIND QUITE A FEW DOGS JUST ROAMING THE STREETS.

AND BARRIO DOGS DOES A GREAT JOB IN REGARDS TO THE EAST END FOR SPAY AND TERING, BUT YET THEY'RE NOT ON HERE.

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO ASK FOR SOME OF THIS MONEY.

SNAP I UNDERSTAND HAS TWO CLINICS.

ONE, UM, I BELIEVE OUT IN OFFICE SHEPHERD SOMEWHERE, THEIR SECOND ONE'S IN PASADENA.

WHAT

[03:15:01]

UM, I KNOW IT'S THE, THE, UM, REQUEST OF THE SOLICITATION WAS PUBLISHED MM-HMM .

UM, AND THEN I KNOW THEY REACHED OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE, UH, ON THE OBO DATABASE.

UM, BUT I THINK THERE, THERE, I THINK THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS IT.

I MEAN, SPAY AND NOODLING IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.

OH, NO, NO, TRUST ME, I'M NOT ARGUING THAT POINT.

I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL WAYS TO YEAH, I'M NOT ARGUING THAT POINT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE BARRIO DOGS ARE GONNA GET THEIR GOOD FAIR SHARE BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING THE WORK, UH, AND AND I GIVE THEM $10,000 EVERY YEAR TO HELP THEM.

UH, THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY DID 1200 SPAYING NEUTERING LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S JUST IN THE EAST END.

RIGHT? WELL, LET'S, LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.

LET'S JUST, LET'S KEEP TALKING AND, UH, I'M SURE THESE ENTITIES WILL, WILL NEED, UM, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

STAFF'S GETTING OBJECTIVE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GETTING 700 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT THEY HAVE TWO CLINICS.

I UNDERSTAND.

ONE'S IN PASADENA, ONE'S IN OUT BY SHEPHERD SOMEWHERE.

UH, WHAT, WHAT GUARANTEES DO WE HAVE KNOWING THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE PASADENA RESIDENTS TAKING THEIR DOGS TO GET SPAYED AND NEUTERED OUT OF THE 700,000 THAT WE'RE APPROVING TODAY? OKAY.

ALRIGHT, WELL LET'S, LET'S KEEP TALKING ON IT.

ALRIGHT.

I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND LET'S, LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.

BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS NEED HERE.

UH, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS.

UM, AND I, I DO SEE IN THE LITERATURE IT SAYS THAT 79 PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS DOWNLOADED THIS, THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT FROM THIS, UM, FROM SPDS, UM, E BIDDING WEBSITE.

SO IF THERE'S STILL, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE WAYS TO, TO REACH OTHER POTENTIAL BIDDERS, BUT THERE 79 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS DID SEE IT AND DOWNLOADED IT.

SO, UM, I'M, I'M REALLY DELIGHTED TO SEE, UM, UM, HOUSTON PET SET ON HERE IS GETTING THE LION'S SHARE OF THE FUNDING.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THEY'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

SNAP IS A BIG IMPORTANT PARTNER FOR US TOO.

BUT, BUT HOUSTON PETSET HAS STEPPED UP IN REALLY BIG WAYS, UM, WITH, IN DISTRICT H, YOU KNOW, FOR THE, THE LOVE YOUR PET MONTH, THEY, THEY WERE IN EASTEX JENSEN WITH A MOBILE UNIT, UM, FOUR DAYS A WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY OFFERING FREE SPAY NEUTER, YOU KNOW, TWO COMMUNITY PEOPLE WHO SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, UM, GO FAR TO GET THAT SERVICE.

I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVING DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN A, IN A MOBILE KIND OF WAY IS REALLY A, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ADDED, UM, WAY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

IT'S A HUGE ISSUE.

I MEAN, WE'VE ALL BEEN HEARING IN THE NEWS LATELY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT SOME VICIOUS DOG ATTACKS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THERE, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT, BUT WHERE, WHERE IT DOES EXIST, IT IS A HUGE, HUGE PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM.

SO I, I AM WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE BOTH OF THESE, UM, AGENDA ITEMS IN, AND I'M ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTING THEM.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGO SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO EVEN GET BETTER, LET'S DO IT.

BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

AND I JUST WANTED TO ALSO THROW OUT THAT, UM, THAT MY STAFF YESTERDAY POINTED OUT TO ME THAT, UM, THAT IN THE EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, THAT, UM, WE'VE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR 6,000 SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES IN DISTRICT AGE OVER EIGHT YEARS.

THINK ABOUT ALL THE UNWANTED BIRTHS THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, AND IT IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM.

SO IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP, UM, FOCUSED ON IT.

UH, COUNCILMAN P*****K.

SO THE, THE, THE DIALOGUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE ON IF WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY, ARE WE, IS THE MONEY BEING SPENT TO WHERE OUR RESIDENTS CAN GET THE SERVICES IN A PROMPT FASHION? IF NOT, THEN I THINK WE'RE JUST CONTINUING TO SPEND MONEY, UH, WITHOUT GETTING THE BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

UM, I, I TOO THINK THIS IS, COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE MORE VENDORS OUT THERE TO DO THE SPAY A NEUTER, UH, SERVICES.

MY, MY ISSUE IS AS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGO SAYS, WE, WE SPEND OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS RIGHT NOW TO HAVE THESE SPAY A NEUTER VOUCHERS, UH, BE PROVIDED TO OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO EVEN HAVE, UH, OPENINGS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES DONE.

SO MY, MY QUESTION IS REALLY IS WHEN WE'RE PROVIDING ALL THIS MONEY TO THESE ADDITIONAL VENDORS, IS IT GOING TO BE TO WHERE WHEN WE GIVE OUR VOUCHERS OUT WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, A FEW WEEKS, THERE'S APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE RESIDENTS? BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE HEARING AS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS IS, HEY, YOU'RE GIVING US THESE VOUCHERS AND WE CAN'T EVEN USE THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO APPOINTMENTS.

AND THEN WE'RE USING OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING.

AND NOW WE'RE SPENDING THIS MONEY FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, VENDORS.

[03:20:01]

AND SO THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THESE SERVICES AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL OPEN UP THE AVAILABILITY SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS JUST TO GET AN OPENING.

WELL, WE TRIED TO, UM, THERE ARE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLEXITIES TO IT.

UM, WHEN WE ARE NOT SPENDING, PEOPLE SAY WE'RE NOT SPENDING, WHEN WE DO SPEND, NOW, PEOPLE ARE SAYING, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SPENDING.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WHEN WE SPEND IT GIVES THE CAPACITY.

SO IF, IF, IF THESE TWO VENDORS CAN DO IT, GREAT, BUT IF WE HAVE TO OPEN IT UP TO 20 VENDORS, I, I DON'T CARE WHO DOES THE SERVICE, IT'S JUST WE NEED THE, THE AVAILABILITY THERE.

PART OF THE PROCUREMENT WAS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

IF YOU DON'T PROVIDE THE SERVICE, YOU DON'T GET PAID.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN.

THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLOS.

UM, BECAUSE WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL RECENTLY, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT IT.

UM, OUR CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, GREENFIELD, HAD EMAILED ALL OF US, UH, WITH A NEW PORTAL THAT'S BEEN LAUNCHED.

AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, YOU'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ON THIS ISSUE OF HOW WE EXPAND, UM, AND BRING MORE VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS TO THE CITY.

SO THERE IS A NEW PORTAL NOW WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING.

UM, IT'S CALLED BIZ WITH HOUSTON, BIZ, WITH HO U.ORG.

UM, SO IT'S, UH, KIND OF THAT ONE STOP SHOP, BUT THEY ARE KIND OF CREATING THE, AND LAUNCHING THIS NEW EFFORT TO EXPAND SERVICE, UH, THEIR REACH TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL, UH, VENDORS, SUPPLIERS, PROVIDERS, ET CETERA.

SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE FOR THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THOSE THAT YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, SHARE THAT INFORMATION SO THAT THEY CAN GET TRAINED UP.

I'M SURE THEY ALREADY ARE, BUT I'M JUST PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT INTO THE PUBLIC SPACE, UH, SINCE OUR CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER ASKED US TO, TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT IT.

AND, AND JUST WANT TO ADD TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S COMMENTS.

AND, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT WE'RE TALKING TO BARRIO DOGS.

IS THAT W THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH EMANCIPATE, AND EMANCIPATE IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT THREE CLINICS NOW PROVIDING LOW COST FOR, OR FREE SPAY AND NEUTERING IF, IF, IF IT'S NEEDED.

UM, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE LIMITED NUMBER OF VETS.

UH, BARK HAS A LIMITED NUMBER OF VETS.

UH, SO BAR DOGS HAD TO GO TO THE GULF GATE ANIMAL CLINIC, WHICH IS A PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, UH, UH, VETERINARIAN, UH, NOT PRIVATE, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY, UH, DON'T, DON'T, THEY DON'T OFFER DISCOUNTS.

SO THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THEY MIGHT GET A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCOUNT, BUT NOTHING LIKE BARK OR EMANCIPET WOULD'VE DONE.

BUT EMANCIPET HAS ALREADY TOWED, UH, UH, BARRIO DOGS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST BOOKED.

UH, AND THEY'RE EVEN SAYING THAT POSSIBLY NEXT YEAR ALREADY THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GONNA BE BOOKED.

UH, YOU CAN GO TO EMANCIPATE THERE ON WAYSIDE AND YOU'LL SEE A LINE OF PEOPLE WAITING IN THE MORNING TO, FOR SERVICES.

UH, SO, SO THAT, THAT, AND, AND AGAIN, I, I DON'T GET ME WRONG, I APPRECIATE THE MONEY.

, YOU'VE DONE A LOT IN REGARDS TO HE HELPING REPAY AND NEUTERING.

IT'S JUST THAT WE NEED TO, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE CLOSER.

UH, THE, THE, THE ISSUE IS THAT WE NEED MORE VETS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I I, I, I WAS HOPING WE COULD WORK PROGRAM WITH TEXAS TECH OR, UH, TEXAS A AND M, UH, A VETERINARIAN PROGRAM WHERE IF THE CITY CAN HOPEFULLY MAYBE PAY SOME OF THE STUDENT LOANS WITH GUARANTEES THAT THEY'LL COME AND WORK FOR FIVE YEARS, EIGHT YEARS, YOU KNOW, CONTRACT.

UH, AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRAIN.

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD BY BARK THAT EVEN IF THEY JUST GET OUT OF VETERINARIAN SCHOOL, THAT THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO MASS SPAY AND NEUTERING.

YOU KNOW, THEY START, THEY'RE STARTING OFF SLOW, TRYING TO LEARN.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO EXTEND IT TO AN EIGHT YEAR CONTRACT.

THE FIRST YEAR IT'S TRAINING.

AFTER THAT, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL, THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE ON TOP OF IT.

UH, BUT, BUT, BUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN LOOK AT, I THINK WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL.

UH, BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE'S A LACK OF VETERINARIANS AND EVERYBODY'S JUST GOING AND TRYING TO FIND SOME WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THERE'S A VET.

THANK YOU ALL.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 24 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 24? ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 25.

DISCUSSION ON 25.

[03:25:01]

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR.

OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 25.

ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE BILL ON ITEM 28.

ON ITEM 28.

COUNCILMAN CAYMAN ON 28.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM.

UH, IT'S A NEW, UH, CONTRACT FOR, UH, SECURITY PERSONNEL, NOT TSA, BUT SECURITY PERSONNEL, UM, AT OUR AIRPORTS.

AND, UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE IS STARTING, UM, I BELIEVE ABOVE 15.

THAT'S CORRECT.

$15.

SO I THINK IT STARTS AT 16 IN INCREASES FROM THERE.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, THIS CONTRACTOR IS, UM, PROVIDING THE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS THAT, UM, WE AS A CITY REQUIRE, UH, NOT NECESSARILY FOR ALL OF OUR SUBS, BUT FOR, UM, CITY EMPLOYEES.

SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND LIFT THAT UP, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AS WE FOCUS ON OUR AIRPORTS, RIGHT? UM, AND THE NEED FOR A LIVING WAGE.

UH, SO I, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR CONTRACTORS ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, UH, BECAUSE THAT CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT.

AND, UH, I, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT OUR AIRPORT WORKERS DO.

THAT'S ALL.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ITEM 28.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 28.

ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 29.

COUNCILMAN JACKSON ON 29.

UM, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.

IT'S AN ORDINANCE AWARDING, UM, A CONTRACT TO COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH TO PROVIDE COLLATERAL MESSENGER SERVICES.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE, UM, THIS CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS SINCE WE, YOU KNOW, THESE DOLLARS WAS APPROPRIATED.

AND SINCE THEN, WE ACTUALLY TRAINED DOZENS OF CREDIBLE MESSENGERS.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT.

AND SO FINALLY NOW THEY'RE GONNA GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN STAY OUTTA THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND JUST TO PARTNER WITH HPD AND, AND THE COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSING, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, THANK YOU.

I'M DIRECTOR WILLIAMS, WHO'VE BEEN A FIERCE ADVOCATE, UM, AND SUPPORTIVE OF, OF CREDIBLE MESSENGERS AND CARE VOLUNTEERS.

AND SO I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK CONTINUING.

DISTRICT B? YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 29? UH, IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 29, ITEM 31 HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

ITEM 31 IS IN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 31.

UH, COUNCILMAN PLUM, WHICH IS, WHICH IS IN, IT DID COME IN COUNCIL.

ITEM 31 IS IN, UH, COUNCILMAN PLUM ON 31.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

AND, UM, SO AS WE ARE MOVING INTO MORE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS WITH COMMUNITIES, I JUST WANTED TO JUST MAKE A, MAKE A MENTION OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UM, THERE ARE THREE ENTITIES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

WE'RE DEALING WITH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD THAT'S BEEN DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE DEALING WITH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD THAT IS STILL BEING DETERMINED BY THE EPA, AND WE'RE DEALING WITH OWNERS AND RENTERS.

SO THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT KIND OF TRANCHES OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

SO I'M REALLY, UM, ENCOURAGING OUR DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CROSS-REFERENCING THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS.

'CAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT WE'RE MEETING WITH CAB, OR WE'RE MEETING WITH CAG OR WE'RE MISSING SOME OF THE RESIDENTS.

SO, AND IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL BY ANY MEANS, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS AND CREATING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THEM.

BECAUSE CAB AND CAG MAY, SOME OF THEM MAY BE RESIDENTS, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE KIND OF BEING LEFT OUT.

AND, UH, THERE WERE SOME PROMISES THAT WE'LL HAVE MULTIPLE MEETINGS.

WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE THUS FAR.

SO I REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE, AS WE'RE MEET, GOING INTO THIS CONTRACTUAL SPACE, UM, THESE CASEWORKERS, UM, KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, AND I'M STILL ASKING THE DEPARTMENT TO PLEASE BRING THE LAND BANK AND LAND TRUST TO A COMMUNITY MEETING, UM, MAYBE IN A PANEL ARRANGEMENT OF SOME SORT TO REALLY ALLOW PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MAYOR TURNER, I MEAN, I CAN'T READ CONTRACTS SOMETIMES.

I MEAN, CONTRACTS ARE CHALLENGING.

AND WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY SELLING OR GIVING THEIR PROPERTY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND SO I'M STRONGLY CON, I'M OBVIOUSLY SUPPORTING THESE ITEMS. I'M DOING IT CAUTIOUSLY BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

UM, BUT, UM, BUT ENGAGEMENT IS GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

MEMBER PLUMMER, I AGREE WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER AS I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED AS TALKING TO SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS YESTERDAY, DUETTA, UM, WHICH THERE'S AN ADVISORY BOARD, HOWEVER, THE ADVISORY BOARD HAS NOT BEEN, THEY WASN'T, THEY HAVEN'T CONVENED AND THEY WAS NOT AWARE ABOUT THE, OF THESE ITEMS BEING ON THE AGENDA.

UM, AND THANK YOU.

UM, UM, COUNCIL

[03:30:01]

SO, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORTED, I THINK, UM, UM, UM, STEVEN COSTELLO HIS TEAM FOR MEETING WITH THEM ON YESTERDAY.

AND WE ARE DOING THIS.

I MEAN, THIS PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN, IT'S DIFFICULT, IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, UM, TOOK THE LEAD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, MOVE PEOPLE OUTTA HARM SWAY.

AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, INCLUDING ALL THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THIS ADVISORY BOARD, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE POINT PERSON TO MAKE SURE THE OTHER COMMUNITY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND THAT'LL CUT DOWN THE CONFUSION IF WE ARE MEETING WITH THE ADVISORY BOARD.

AND SO, UM, YEAH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.

UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON, I THINK THIS IS SUCH A RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, YOU KNOW, TO PROVIDE THIS FUNDING TO HELP, UM, AND THE RELOCATION OF THESE RESIDENTS THAT ARE LIVING CLOSE TO THE KOREA.

SO PLUME.

UM, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, THAT THAT GOOD INTENTIONS DON'T TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT FRUSTRATES AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE.

BUT, BUT, UM, BUT I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY WORTH THE, THE DETAILS THAT, THAT THEY'RE BRINGING UP RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, THAT THERE'S GOOD COMMUNICATION AND, AND, UM, THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE OPTIONS.

BUT, BUT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING.

THAT'S, THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THE POINTS WELL MADE BY EVERYONE.

UH, I WILL TELL YOU FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE STRUCTURE IN PLACE.

UH, UM, QUITE FRANKLY, BEFORE I LEAVE THE ENGAGEMENT, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS TO CONTINUE, AND THERE WILL BE MORE OF IT AS IT CONTINUES.

THIS IS LIKE THE SKELETON AND HAVING TO KEEP PLAYERS IN PLACE SO THAT, UM, UM, THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE HELP, UH, CAN GET THE HELP BASED ON THE LIMITED FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE.

UM, BUT I DON'T, WHAT THEY'RE NOT WANT TO DO, UH, IS FOR IT TO NOT, THE, THE, THE, THE, UM, SUPPORT SYSTEMS NOT BE IN PLACE.

AND THEN YOU GO INTO NEXT YEAR AND THEN IT'S DELAYED, DELAYED.

AND THAT ASK FOR THE FRUSTRATION.

SO IF WE CAN GET THE KEY PLA KEY OPERATIVE, SO TO SPEAK, LOCKDOWN, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS TO CONTINUE.

THAT HAS TO BE ONGOING.

AND, AND YOU DO HAVE TO TALK TO ALL THE PLAYERS OUT THERE, ALL THE PARTNERS, THE STAKEHOLDERS, BUT AT LEAST THEY KNOW THAT THE, I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THAT THIS, UM, SUPPORT SYSTEM IS, IS, IS, IS, IS, UH, IS IN PLACE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

UH, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, ONE LAST COMMENT, MAYOR.

AND, AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS TRUST.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE MAKING THE BEST DECISION ON THEIR BEHALF.

AND I THINK UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU'RE CREATING, UNDERSTANDING THAT IS REALLY GONNA BE KEY IN THIS.

AND I KNOW THAT WE WANNA GET IT DONE BEFORE YOU LEAVE, BUT WE GOTTA GET THIS RIGHT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED GRANTED ON ITEM, UM, 31.

NEXT ITEM, ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 32.

DISCUSSION ON 32.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 32.

ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE YOU NEED TO VOTE ON.

ITEM 33, DISCUSSION ON 33.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON 33.

ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE THIS NEED TO VOTE.

WE ON ITEM 34, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON 34.

RESOURCES DUE TO THE REVENUE CAP.

I, I JUST WANNA, UH, POINT OUT THAT, UH, TH THIS IS, UH, GREAT THAT WE WE'RE VOTING ON THIS.

UH, AND TH THIS IS THE, UH, PERFECT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A TOURS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I KNOW THAT, UH, YEARS AGO, THE GULF GATE TOURS HAD ALREADY PAID OFF THEIR OBLIGATION AT THE GULF GATE MALL.

UH, AND THERE WAS DISCUSS DISCUSSION TO DISBAND THE GULF GATE TOURS.

AND I KNOW THAT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER BOYKINS AND I, UH, WE, WE PUSHED TO, UH, NOT DISBAND THE GULF GATE TOURS AND ACTUALLY EXPAND, UH, THEIR COVERAGE.

AND, UH, BY DOING THAT, HERE WE ARE TODAY VOTING ON THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN PARKS THAT ARE IN DISTRICT D AS WELL AS DISTRICT.

UH, AND THE GULF GATE TOURS ALSO WAS INVOLVED IN IMPROVING, UH, PARK PLACE BOULEVARD, UH, THERE IN FRONT OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN.

UH, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE TOURS THEY TOOK THAT, THAT PROJECT ON.

UH, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY IT'S TURS IN MY OPINION, ARE SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CITY IS LIMITED, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH

[03:35:01]

UH, AND, BUT HERE, THE GULF GATE TURS IS STEPPING UP.

UH, THEY'RE PUTTING IN THREE, $3,115,000 AND PARTNERING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, TO IMPROVE SOME PARKS INDUSTRY, DOD, AS WELL AS DISTRICT I.

SO I DO SUPPORT THIS.

AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THE GULF GATE TOURS, LIKE THE HARRISBURG CHURCH EARLY THIS MORNING, UH, FOR DOING GREAT WORK OUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S ALL.

OKAY, UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 34 IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON ITEM 34, ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE YOU NEED TO VOTE ON.

ITEM 35, COUNCILMAN MAYOR CORN ON ITEM 35.

NOW EVERYBODY'S RECYCLING.

UM, I'VE BEEN WANTING TO TALK ABOUT THE DOGS AND WANTING TO TALK ABOUT THE TRUCKS, BUT I'M SAVING ALL MY ENERGY FOR THE COMPOSTING ITEM.

UM, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WE ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR ABOUT THIS GRANT IN FEBRUARY OF, OF NEXT YEAR.

UM, REALLY HAPPY THAT WE KIND OF PUSHED AND THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT APPLIED FOR THIS MONEY.

AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN SCRAMBLING AROUND EVER SINCE.

WE DID OUR FREE PILOT IN 21 TO FIND WAYS TO EXPAND COMPOSTING THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.

UM, WE DID OUR PUMPKIN THING LAST YEAR.

WE DID OUR PUMPKIN THING.

WE GOT 14,000 POUNDS WORTH OF PUMPKINS THIS YEAR.

UM, AND WE'VE DONE IT ALL ON THE CHEAP WITH SOLID WASTE.

BUT WE REALLY NEED SOME MONEY TO FURTHER EDUCATION EFFORTS ABOUT COMPOSTING, TO ADD MORE DROP WORK WITH PARTNERS TO ADD MORE DROP OFF LOCATIONS FOR COMPOSTING.

UH, 24% OF MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS ARE FOOD WASTE.

AND WHEN FOOD WASTE GETS TRAPPED DOWN THERE, THE BACTERIA CREATES METHANE GASES.

AND IT'S A HUGE GREENHOUSE GAS PROBLEM FROM, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF ROOM AT THE LANDFILL.

SECOND OF ALL, IT PRODU.

IT PRODUCES METHANE, EVEN IN THE RESPONSIBLE LANDFILLS.

LIKE WE USE THAT, THAT CAPTURE METHANE AND, AND, AND ARE ABLE TO CONVERT IT TO ENERGY.

THERE'S STILL LEAKAGE, THERE'S STILL METHANE.

IT'S AN EASY THING TO DO.

WE'RE WE HAVE, WE HAVE AN OBVIOUS TRASH PROBLEM IN THE CITY WITH RESOURCES, SOLID WASTE PROBLEM.

UH, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO LOOK AT IT, BUT ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS, IS TO HAVE LESS TRASH.

AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY RECYCLED, YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS AGO OR WHATEVER.

UM, I HOPE THAT COMPOSTING GETS TO THAT POINT WHERE WE'RE ALL DOING, GEORGE AND I DO IT.

I MEAN, WE PUT ALL OUR FOOD WASTE IN THE FREEZER ALL WEEK.

WE HAVE A COMPANY COME GET IT EVERY FRIDAY.

WE RECYCLE.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, OUR BIN, OUR GARBAGE BIN, WE DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH STUFF.

SO THINK OF THE HOW THAT LIGHTENS THE LOAD ON OUR SOLID WASTE EQUIPMENT, ON OUR SOLID WASTE WORKERS.

IT'S ONE MORE CATEGORY THAT A LOT OF CITIES, QUITE FRANKLY, ARE WAY FAR AHEAD OF US ON.

THEY DO, UH, THEY DO OPT-IN, UM, COMPOST, YOU KNOW, CURBSIDE PICKUP.

THEY HAVE SEVERAL DROP-OFF LOCATIONS.

SOME, SOME CITIES HAVE COMPOST PICKUP, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYBODY.

SO IT'S KIND OF THE CAMEL'S NOSE UNDER THE TENT.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT IT.

I THINK IT'S A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, ONE OF THE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP OUT IN TRASH.

AND I HOPE AFTER SAYING ALL THIS, WE REALLY GET THIS GRANT BECAUSE WE NEED IT, BECAUSE WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR STUFF LIKE THIS THAT'S SOLID WASTE RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'LL, WE WILL MATCH IT WITH SOME OF THE RECYCLING FEE.

UM, A HUNDRED THOUSAND OF IT WILL BE FROM OUR, OUR RECYCLING FEE FUND.

UM, BUT 400,000 FROM THE USDA AND, UM, JUST ANYWAY, HOPE WE GET IT.

AND REALLY GLAD THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING, MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT EFFORT.

I THINK IT'S A LONG-TERM, UH, WAY TO IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO HANDLE OUR SOLID WASTE.

THAT THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, UH, MAYOR UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND OF COURSE DIRECTOR WOLF, IS, UH, APPROACHING THE CHALLENGES THROUGH AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS NOT ONLY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR HOUSTONIANS.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

YEAH, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.

UM, YOU HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE CHAMPION ON COMPOSTING.

SO, UH, WHEN THIS CAME UP, I IMMEDIATELY, NOT ONLY THOUGHT OF YOU, BUT CELEBRATED THAT WE MAYOR ARE SEEING THIS MOVING FORWARD.

UH, AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE, MAYOR, YOUR SOLID WASTE TEAM, UM, DIRECTOR WILLOCK HAS COME IN, UM, HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

I CONTINUE TO SEE OUR SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY OUR TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP EMPLOYEES ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING FOLKS OUT THERE.

UH, SO OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO THEM, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, TO YOUR POINT, IT'S REALLY GOOD AND IMPORTANT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND I WANNA HIT HOME THE FACT THAT IT SAVES TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN THE LONG RUN BY EXTENDING THE LIFETIME, UM, OR LIFE CYCLE OF OUR LANDFILLS, WHICH WE ARE SEEING, UM, COME UP TO END OF LIFE WAY TOO FAST RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'RE, WE GOTTA REALLY FOCUS ON THAT.

AND I WANTED TO ALSO THANK DIRECTOR OCK, HIS TEAM, VERONICA, UM, BECAUSE I, AT THE SAME TIME AS COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCORN HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, REALLY CHAMPIONING THIS, HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING.

AND WITH OVER 50% OF RESIDENTS, UH, NOW LIVING IN MULTIFAMILY HOMES, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO RECYCLING.

AND THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR THAT, UM, IS GETTING GOING.

SO I ALSO WANTED TO JUST LIFT UP THE HOLISTIC APPROACH

[03:40:01]

THANK YOU ROBINSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON.

I WANT TO, UM, JUMP ON THIS BANDWAGON AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS, UM, AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT THAT WE'RE MAKING HERE.

IT'S, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY WELL CONSIDERED.

AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, YOUR FRIDAY IS MY TUESDAY.

WE'RE PUTTING OUT OUR, OUR, EXCUSE ME, OUR WEDNESDAY IT IS TODAY.

WE HAVE OUR BIN ON OUR FRONT PORCH MAYOR.

AND IT SORT OF SPEAKS, I KNOW I'VE TAKEN A PAGE OUT OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S PLAYBOOK ON THIS ONE.

'CAUSE UM, WHAT WE DO AT HOME REALLY MATTERS.

AND I THINK AS WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY WITH EVERYTHING FROM THE DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR PORTFOLIO INTO RENEWABLES, I MEAN, THIS IS A MESSAGE AGAIN THAT YOU HAVE LED, UH, AS THE GLOBAL CLIMATE MAYOR CHAIR.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO NOW, AND WE NEED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, BOTH WITH OUR OWN FACILITIES.

SO THAT'S THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CJ MESSIAH, I AM TALKING TO YOU.

UM, AND WHERE WE CAN DO THIS TO ENCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY HAVE RECYCLABLE WASTE AT LUNCH, AND WHERE WE CAN, UM, REALLY ENCOURAGE IT IN OUR CULTURES.

UM, SALLY AND I ARE AT LARGES AND I'M CHALLENGING ALL THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REQUIRE, UM, A ROBUST PROGRAM WITHIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR 11 DISTRICTS MAYOR.

AND IF THE APPLICATION IS NOT SO DEEP THAT IT HAS A MAP OF EACH OF THE 11 DISTRICTS, I WOULD AT LEAST SUGGEST THAT WE DISTRIBUTE, UH, THAT FRAMEWORK, THAT MAP, THAT APPLICATION.

UM, AND HEAVEN KNOWS WE, WE WANT TO GET THIS APPLICATION AND NEED THAT MONEY FOR THIS PILOT, BUT SHOULD WE NOT, WE NEED TO EMBRACE IT OURSELVES AND GET AFTER IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WHETHER IT'S IN OUR INDIVIDUAL HOMES, OUR INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS, EACH AND EVERY BUILDING, AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

THAT'S THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND I AM PREACHING TO THE CHOIR SERVICE.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ROS.

UM, THIS GRANT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT REALLY WILL ALLOW US TO DO THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD TO DO.

NOW, UM, JUST FOR CONTEXT, UM, SAN ANTONIO RIGHT NOW PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH A COMPOST BIN THAT IS PICKED UP ONCE A WEEK.

WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE UNLIKE SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAS A MONTHLY CHARGE TO RESIDENTS OF ABOUT $25 A MONTH, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

WE, AND THE, THE, THAT LACK OF, OF, UM, INCOME THAT WAY REALLY TIES OUR HANDS.

SO THAT MAKES, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS SO VALUABLE THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR GRANT MONEY THAT HELPS US MOVE FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOO.

LET ME JUST, LET ME JUST ECHO, UM, WHAT YOU AMPLIFY WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SAID.

IT IS VERY TRUE.

UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, AS THE CITY MOVES FORWARD, GO OVER THE NEXT, LET'S SAY FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY IMPORTANT AREA FOR THE CITY IN REDUCING WHAT IS PUT INTO THE LANDFILLS.

BECAUSE IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE PRESSED WITH THE, UM, UM, THE LANDFILLS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY USING.

THEY'RE RUNNING OUTTA SPACE.

ANY AND EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO REDIRECT THINGS FROM THE LANDFILL WILL BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

SO IN THE NEXT, THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY APPLICATION IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT LEMME TELL YOU, YOU HAVE TO REDIRECT THINGS FROM THE LANDFILL, OR THE CITY'S GONNA BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER LANDFILL BECAUSE IT TAKES ABOUT 10 YEARS TO GET IT IN OPERATIONS.

SO WHATEVER, WHATEVER THE CITY CAN DO TO REDIRECT ITEMS FROM THE LANDFILL, UH, WILL BUY US MORE TIME.

BUT IT WILL ALSO ADDRESS OUR, UM, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

UM, SO I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, THE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.

THAT'S A, I MEAN, THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE, BUT COMPOSTING, OVERALL RECYCLING, REDUCING WHAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILL, THAT SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY AS AS THE CITY MOVES FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.

ALRIGHT, UM, VOTE ON 35.

AND, UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 35 IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON 35.

NEXT ITEM, ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 37.

DISCUSSION ON 37.

DISCUSSION ON 37 IN FAVOR.

OPPOSED GRANTED ON 37.

ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE

[03:45:01]

ON ITEM 38.

DISCUSSION ON 38.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POSTS GRANTED ON 38.

ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

WE ON ITEM 40.

UH, TAG COUNCILMAN POLL, TAX ITEM 40.

NEXT ITEM, ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 44.

A DISCUSSION ON 44.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 44.

ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

WE ITEM 45, DISCUSSION ON 45.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 45.

45.

I'M SORRY, BACK UP.

COUNCILMAN KAMAN ON 45.

UH, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, 'CAUSE I SEE DIRECTOR PONSON, THE AUDIENCE, UH, FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT, UH, HIS OFFICE AND YOU ARE DOING.

UH, AND THIS DISABILITY ASSESSMENT PROCESS IS GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

UH, SO JUST, I SAW HIM IN THE AUDIENCE.

WANTED TO THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, UH, ON THIS ISSUE.

50 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION OF LANDING ON ORM LP.

UH, DID I SEE DIRECTOR? YES, DIRECTOR PONCY.

UM, YEAH, LET ME THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE WORK.

UM, ON 45, THE A DA SELF-EVALUATION AND TRANSITION PLAN.

AND THAT IS A, THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP AND, UM, MAKING OUR CITY EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE, UM, UH, FOR EVERYONE IN OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SO, UH, THANK YOU DIRECTOR PONZI FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS AREA.

[NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS]

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON, UH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER THE SIXTH AT 9:00 AM THOMAS IS SECOND AND MOVE THEN SECONDED.

THAT'S IT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON, ON 50, UH, IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? GRANTED ON THE MOTION SET.

NOVEMBER, UH, DECEMBER 6TH.

AND

[MATTERS HELD]

ITEM 51 IS IN ORDINANCE.

YOU NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 50 ON 51.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I'M 51.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ALQUAN, UH, TAGGED THIS ON MY BEHALF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING TO NLC.

UM, AND, UH, I KNOW WE HAD A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM.

AND JUST ON THE RECORD, TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC MY CONVERSATION WITH, UH, THIS TURS THAT WE ARE, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO ACCEPTING THE COST ESTIMATE, UH, TO FIX THE SIDEWALKS ON DAIRY ASHFORD AND BEL AIR, DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF THE BOUNDARIES THAT WE VOTED ON A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

SO I'M, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

UM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THIS TURS, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, PRIORITIES.

AND THEN ALSO WHAT'S I, WHAT I THINK IS, WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT WITH THIS TURS IS THAT THOSE BOUNDARIES ALSO EXPAND ALONG THE BINET, UH, UH, BOUNDARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAFE STREETS GRANT.

UM, SO THEY'LL HAVE SOME SUPPORT AROUND THAT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I SUPPORT THE ITEM.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 51? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 51, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

COMMUNITY CLEANUP, BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS, AND OUR ANNUAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT.

BEFORE WE, BEFORE I TURN TO THE FIRST PERSON ON THE AGENDA, LET ME, I'VE FORGOTTEN TO MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A RECIPIENT OF THE INAUGURAL GLOBAL JUST SERVE CITY AWARD, UH, PRESENTED BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.

DR.

PORTIA JACKSON, MANAGER OF OUR OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCEPTED THE AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AT THE LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023.

THE GLOBAL JUST SERVE CITY AWARD IS GIVEN TO CITIES THAT ENCOURAGE UNITY AND CITY VALUES BY SUPPORTING DIVERSE GROUPS IN SERVICE.

THE AWARD FORMERLY RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS FOR THEIR SERVICES COMMUNITY, AND FOR ACTIVELY POSTING COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES ON JUST SERVE A VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PLATFORM.

THE AWARD RECIPIENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT, THAT'S ASHA JACKSON.

IS SHE HERE? FRANCIS? OH, THAT'S DIRECTOR OF, UH, ASHA, UH, FRANCIS.

UH, YEAH.

SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH JUST SERVE ESTABLISHING 2021 TO CONNECT VOLUNTEERS TO A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.

COMMUNITY SERVICE EFFORTS CONDUCTED UNDER DISCONTINUING PARTNERSHIP HAVE INCLUDED HARVEY RECOVERY EFFORTS, THE HOUSTON TOGETHER VOLUNTEER HOUSTON RESOURCE FAIR, OUR ANNUAL NINE 11 DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE EVENTS,

[03:50:01]

UH, THIS AWARD GARNERS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

A REMARKABLE DISTINCTION.

HOUSTON IS ONE OF ONLY EIGHT CITIES WORLDWIDE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

HOUSTON IS ONE OF ONLY EIGHT CITIES WORLDWIDE BESTOWED DISHONOR.

SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANDY COOK, WHO IS HERE THIS MORNING.

IS ANDY HERE? ANDY, STAND UP.

I'VE KEPT YOU WAITING ALL THIS TIME.

UM, REPRESENTING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, JOINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DIRECTOR, ARCH FINANCES AND STAFF.

SO THANK YOU TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO ESTONIANS AND FOR THE HONOR.

AND I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE YOUNG VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR CITY OVER THE YEARS.

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

YOU ALL DON'T COME WITH FIVE OR 10.

UH, YOU ALL COME IN THE HUNDREDS.

AND SO I REALLY WANNA APPRECIATE, UH, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, OF LATTERDAY SAINTS, UH, FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND SERVICE.

AND THEN ASHA FRANCIS, UH, TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING WITH AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

LET ME THANK YOU, UH, TO RECEIVE AN AWARD WHERE WE ARE ONLY ONE OF EIGHT CITIES WORLDWIDE.

THAT IS INDEED A DISTINCT HONOR.

SO, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KEEP GOING DOWN.

WELL, WHY DON'T YOU ALL COME FORWARD? UH, MY APOLOGY FOR KEEPING YOU ALL WAITING.

AND LET ME, LET ME, LET, DO I NEED TO COME DOWN? YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING.

WE JUST WANNA TAKE A MINUTE AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALSO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR, UM, WORKING WITH US IN THIS EFFORT AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND SEEING SERVICE AS A SOLUTION TO HELP ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS IN THAT WAY, AND THANK YOU.

COULD YOU, WOULD YOU MIND INTRODUCING YOUR, UH, YOUR FELLOW? SURE.

I'M LADON STODDARD.

I'M WITH, UM, JUST SERVE WITH THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

I'M BASED IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

SO YOU WANNA, AND ANDY, GO AHEAD.

YES, AND I'M ANDY COOK.

I SERVE AS A COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS HERE FOR THE HOUSTON METRO AREA IN SOUTHWEST, SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

AND MY NAME IS TORI TREVINO, AND I AM THE JUST SERVE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOUSTON METRO AREA.

AND WE HAVE OUR MEDIA DIRECTOR FOR THE CHURCH HERE, MARY MERCADO, WHO IS COVERING, SHE ACTUALLY WORKS FOR A, B, C, BUT SHE'S ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS THAT COVERS OUR MEDIA FOR US.

ROMAN.

HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

ROMAN AGUIAR WITH THE, UH, VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ANDY AND THE, AND THE REST OF THE TEAM.

THEY ARE A JOY TO WORK WITH, UH, AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ALONGSIDE OF THEM.

THANK YOU ALL HONOR.

AND I AM TASHA FRANCIS, THE PROUD DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DISTINCTION, WHICH WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED BY THIS BANNER AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE A FEW WEEKS AGO.

MAYOR TURNER, WE'D LIKE TO, UH, EXTEND A REMEMBRANCE OF THIS AWARD.

AND IT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES.

AND IT'S A T-SHIRT.

WE ALSO HAVE THOSE FOR, UH, DIRECTOR FRANCIS AND HER, UM, DEPARTMENT AS A THANK YOU AND MAYOR TURNER.

HONESTLY, SAD THAT YOU CAN ONLY BE IN THIS OFFICE FOR EIGHT YEARS, BUT IT HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE EIGHT YEARS, AND WE HAVE SEEN AS A COMMUNITY THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD AND THE EXCEPTIONAL DIVERSITY THAT YOU HAVE.

AND SO THE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING WE FOUND VERY IRONIC BECAUSE, SIMPLY BECAUSE ONE OF THE CRITERIA FOR THIS JUST SERVE GLOBAL CITY AWARD IS THAT YOU HAVE A DIVERSE VOLUNTEER BASE MM-HMM.

AND A DIVERSE, UM, UH, COMMUNITY, WHICH WE DO.

AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE, UM, MANY INITIATIVES THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT FORTH IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION THAT STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS AND ENCOURAGE SELF-RELIANCE, WHICH IN TURN STRENGTHENS FAMILIES.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT MAYOR TURNER HAS BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL

[03:55:01]

IN BUILDING A STRONGER HOUSTON AND LEAVING IT A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US AND FOR OUR FAMILIES.

AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.

WE HAVE A SMALL LITTLE TOKEN YOU CAN OPEN LATER.

JUST OH, FOR ME, A BLACK AND GOLD GIFT IN TIME.

MY FRATERNITY COLORS.

THERE YOU GO.

AND IT'S JUST A THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS IN OFFICE AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE HAD ON ALL OF OUR LIVES.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

WELL LOOK, COME ON, LET'S TAKE SOMETHING.

NO MORE SPEECHES FROM ME, YOU KNOW, JUST, SORRY, JUST PEACE, LOVE, AND HAPPINESS.

BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A GROUP.

FIRST OF ALL, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PROTI.

AND I JUST AM SO EXCITED.

THIS IS SO GREAT.

SO, COLLEAGUES, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT UTAH AND VISIT JUSTER LIKE IN ITS REAL LIFE LIVING FORM.

AND, UM, AND THIS IS, I JUST, JUST AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.

MAYOR TURNER, THIS IS HUGE.

UM, IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THE, THE OPPORTUNITY THAT HOUSTON HAS TO REPRESENT, JUST SERVE.

UM, I JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD, AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING US IN HOUSTON.

AND CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR, COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.

UM, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL.

UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, WHEN WE WERE AT NLC TO STOP BY, UM, THE JEFF JUST SERVE, UM, AT THE EXPO.

AND THAT YOU, YOU ALL SPOTLIGHTED HOUSTON MAYOR, THEY HAD THAT BANNER UP, THEY HAD THE AWARD AND EVERYTHING, SPOTLIGHTING HOUSTON TO BRING ALONG OTHER CITIES.

UM, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT RECOGNITION.

AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY, UM, MY, MY HUSBAND'S FROM SALT LAKE, FAMILY'S FROM SALT LAKE WAS JUST OUT THERE.

UM, TEMPLE SQUARE I THINK IS ALL LIT UP NOW AND LOOKING BEAUTIFUL, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL CONNECT AS WELL IN THE FUTURE.

WELL, I TELL YOU, UM, WITH THAT, HAVING BEEN SAID, UH, UH, FROM DECEMBER 1ST TO THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, UM,

[04:00:02]

I DIDN'T MEAN TO LAUGH, JUST PEACE, LOVE AND HAPPINESS.

GONNA START OFF TODAY WITH, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO.

WE'RE

[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE ARE FINISHING OUT THE YEAR WITH $10 MILLION FOR SIDEWALK PROGRAMMING.

THAT, UM, COLLEAGUES, THAT'S OUR NORMAL $3.3 MILLION THAT WE DO ANNUALLY FOR OUR THREE PROGRAMS. IT'S THE EXTRA $1.8 MILLION THAT WAS TRANSFERRED FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR REPAIRS THAT WAS DONE DURING THE BUDGET TIME.

IT'S 5 MILLION MORE DOLLARS THAT WE DID RECENTLY IN THE BUDGET, TRUE UP THING FOR SIDEWALKS.

AND I THINK ALL THAT ADDS UP TO $10.1 MILLION, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, MAYOR AND TO THIS ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS, AND, AND THANK YOU TO VERONICA DAVIS AND TO ANGEL PONCE AND EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKED ON THIS SO MUCH.

WE'RE, WE'RE NOT LIKE, GIVING YOU A LOT OF EXTRA PEOPLE OR HELP, WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU MORE MONEY.

SO I KNOW IT'S A LOT MORE WORK, BUT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, UM, WE'LL BE BETTER OFF BECAUSE OF THIS FUNDING AND HOPE THERE'S MORE TO COME IN THE FUTURE.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER P THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, WE HAVE TWO EVENTS THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

THE FIRST, WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR HFDS OPERATION, STOCKING STUFF, OR TOY DRIVE.

THIS IS WHERE WE SORT ALL OF THE TOYS FOR THE EVENT.

UM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE JOIN US ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT AMEE BANK, 1801 MAIN STREET ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR.

AND THEN THE NEXT EVENT THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK AND THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY FOR A FOOD AND PET FOOD DISTRIBUTION.

THIS WILL BE ON DECEMBER 22ND AT 4:30 PM AT ST.

JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH IN CARDALE.

5 5 4 6 TEAGUE.

SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE, UM, CAN JOIN US FOR THAT EVENT.

AND IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE IN NEED FOR EITHER FOOD OR PET FOOD TO SEND THEM OUR WAY.

COUNCILMAN JACKSON.

UM, ON LAST WEEK, WE LOST A PIONEER, UM, OF OUR COMMUNITY, MR. VIN D BIRD.

UM, HE WENT ON TO BE WITH THE LORD AFTER, UM, A SUDDEN ILLNESS.

UM, MY HEART IS HEAVY, UM, KNOWING THAT VIN WOULD NO LONGER BE HERE TO CALL ME TO TELL ME YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO THINGS, BECAUSE HE WAS VERY EXPERIENCED WITHIN THE DISTRICT B OFFICE.

UM, ALVIN, A NATIVE VETERAN, WAS PROUD, PROUDLY FROM THE HISTORICAL FIFTH WARD.

HE WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.

BUT HE CARED AND ADVOCATE FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AND FOR THE CITY.

HE RAN TO REPRESENT DISTRICT B SEVERAL TIMES, AND FOR MANY YEARS WORKED FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN ADVOCATING FOR CONSTITUENTS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN AND ADMIRED ALVIN FOR A LONG TIME.

HIS LIFE STRUGGLES WITH ADDICTION, MADE HIM AN INSPIRATION ON OVERCOMING AND SUCCEEDED.

HE ALSO TURNED IT INTO AN INFINITE WELL OF COMPASSION FOR OTHERS.

I'LL NEVER FORGET HIS UNFLINCHING SUPPORT FOR BUILDING A NAVIGATION CENTER AND FIFTH WARD FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

A CENTER THAT HAS BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL FOR SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

HIS SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME.

ONE OF MY LAST INTERACTIONS WITH HIM WAS ORGANIZING A MEETING AT TUFFLEY PARK FOR THE FRENCH, UM, TOWN COMMUNITY.

SO, WHILE WE'RE SAD FOR OUR LOSS TODAY, AND WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE HIS LEGACY LIVES ON, AND EVERYONE HE TOUCHED, EVERY COMMUNITY HE IMPROVED, AND EVERY LIFE HE UPLIFTED, MY HOPE IS THAT WE NEVER FORGET ALVIN'S, UM, LEADERSHIP, HIS HEART, HIS COMPASSION, HIS ENERGY, HIS LOVE.

HE LEFT US AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.

AND THAT WILL BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE FOR A REMARKABLE MAN FOLLOWING HIS LEAD, CONTINUING HIS WORK.

IT'S WHAT I PLAN TO DO.

AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, ALVIN, YOU WILL BE DEEPLY MISSING.

I JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THE VIEWING AND SERVICES FOR ALVIN WILL BE THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER THE SECOND, 2023 AT PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH, LOCATED AT 28 0 1 CONTE STREET, STARTING AT 11:00 AM PLEASE CONTINUE TO PAY FOR HIS WIFE, SANDRA, AND THE REST OF HIS FRIEND, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS.

THANK YOU, YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND I THINK THE FUNERAL WILL BE AT 11, AND THE FUNERAL ITSELF WILL BE AT NOON.

UM, BUT, UH, I, I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, UM, VERY MUCH.

AND, UM, UH, KNOWN EVAN FOR A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME.

UM, BUT I WILL REMEMBER HIM WHEN WE HAD THE THREE HOUR MEETING ON THE, THE GOT NAVIGATION CENTER WHEN HE STOOD THERE AND FIERCELY ADVOCATED FOR IT.

AND SERVICING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

UM, AND BECAU IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION, UM, THE NAVIGATION CENTER IS THERE

[04:05:01]

UM, SO, BUT EVEN BEYOND THAT, UM, I MEAN, HE, UM, HE WAS A COMMUNITY SERVANT AND HE ENJOYED IT MM-HMM .

AND HE WORKED HERE AT CITY HALL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND, UH, SO, UH, WHAT WE CAN SAY IS THAT HE GAVE IT HIS BEST.

AND, UH, NOW REST IN PEACE.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING, UH, EVERYONE ON SATURDAY AT NOON.

SO THANK YOU.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

I SO APPRECIATE, AND I LOVE THE WORDS WELL OF COMPASSION, UM, WHICH I THINK NOT ONLY CAPTURES ALVIN, UM, BUT MAYOR, UM, YOUR DEAR FRIEND, OUR COMMUNITY'S DEAR FRIEND, UH, IN THE PASSING OF LARRY PAYNE, UM, THAT ALSO ANOTHER JUST GIANT, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY, I THINK SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT WHAT I WILL ALWAYS, UH, REMEMBER MOST IS HIS SMILE AND HIS WARMTH AND HIS HUGS.

UH, SO I, I WANTED TO ALSO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE, UH, LARRY FOR WHO HE WAS IN, IN THE GIANT THAT HE WAS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, I, I WANTED TO PIVOT TO SOME DISTRICT C MATTERS VERY QUICKLY.

UH, I HAVE A LOT OF THANK YOUS.

UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST EVER DISTRICT C UH, ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DRIVE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THE, UH, DIVERTING AND RECYCLING AWAY FROM OUR LANDFILLS, UM, ELECTRONICS IS ONE OF THOSE, ONE THAT RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ACCESS TO, UM, DISPOSING OF THE PROPER AND SAFE WAY.

UH, THIS, UH, A FEW WEEKENDS AGO, UH, WE PARTNERED, UH, WITH ALL SAINTS CHURCH, UH, IN DISTRICT C.

UM, PEDRO, UM, WHO'S A PARISHIONER BROUGHT THIS TO US.

AND LUPE, UH, PADILLA, WHO'S THE PASTORAL ASSISTANT, REALLY TOOK THE LEAD THROUGH THE CHURCH.

UM, THEY, THEY VOLUNTEERED, THEY BROUGHT THIS TO US.

UH, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN OVER 5,151 POUNDS OF ELECTRONICS WERE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILLS AND WILL BE RECYCLED, UM, THROUGH PARTNERS THAT THE CITY HAS.

AND THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE, AGAIN, MAYOR WITHOUT SOLID WASTE.

UM, I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK DESMOND ALLEN, WHO'S THE COMMUNITY COORDINATOR.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMEBODY SO ENERGETIC, UM, EAGER TO SERVE AND TO HELP, UH, IN WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE.

UH, SO REALLY WANNA THANK HIM.

AND THEN TWO SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES.

ONE'S A NEW EMPLOYEE, ANOTHER HAS WORKED, UH, AT THE CITY FOR DECADES.

TONY AND ALBERT, WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING.

AND OF COURSE, MY TEAM, ESPECIALLY AALIYAH, UM, FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID.

UH, WE HAVE TWO, UH, DIFFERENT MEETINGS COMING UP.

NOT THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING ON IN DISTRICT C, BUT WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON DISTRICT C.

AND I WANT RESIDENTS TO KNOW ABOUT, UM, THE FIRST RELATES TO, UM, THE ACTIVE STATUS OF THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

UM, SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVE BEEN ADAMANT THAT PRIOR TO ANY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IN MONTROSE COMING BACK, THAT THERE BE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND INPUT, UM, ON THAT.

AND WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT, UM, THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS READY TO PROCEED.

UH, AND AS A RESULT IN SPEAKING WITH THEM, THEY WILL, UM, BE HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING AND DISCUSSION ON DECEMBER 5TH AT THE MONTROSE CENTER FROM SIX TO 7:00 PM.

SO I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THAT, NOT ONLY TO GET YOUR QUESTIONS ASKED, UM, BUT ALSO PROVIDE INPUT.

AND THEN TXDOT IS HOSTING A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS RELATED TO, UM, THEN N-H-H-I-P, UM, AND THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS.

TWO OF THOSE SEGMENTS, SEGMENTS TWO AND SEGMENTS THREE, UH, WILL, UH, FOLLOW INTO DISTRICT C AND HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR DISTRICT.

SO THERE ARE IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSES, LIVE VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS, UM, A HOST OF ARRAY OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO PARTICIPATE.

WE WILL BE POSTING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, ONLINE, BUT REALLY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE, UM, IN THOSE TEXT MEETINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, I BELIEVE DECEMBER 6TH, UM, THROUGH DECEMBER 14TH.

UH, COUNCILMAN P*****K.

RESPECTED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK ALL THE WAY TO THE CORPORATE BOARD ROOMS, OUR OFFICE, AND MAYBE IT WAS PAUL, UH, GAVE MR. BIRD THE NICKNAME OF GODFATHER BECAUSE OF HIS, HIS WISDOM AND HOW HIGHLY REGARDED HE WAS.

I TOO, UH, WANT TO SPEAK ON THE PASSING OF TWO MAJOR POLITICAL LEADERS WITHIN OUR CITY, MR. ALVIN BIRD AND MR. LARRY PAYNE.

UM, ALVIN, HE SERVED THE CITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, AND HE ACTUALLY WAS THE INITIAL DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF IN MY OFFICE WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED.

AND HE WAS ALWAYS WELL

[04:10:01]

AND, UH, HE WAS AN INCREDIBLE MAN WHO MADE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY.

ALVIN.

HE OVERCAME A LOT OF HARDSHIPS IN HIS LIFE, UH, TO BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS IN MANY WAYS.

AND HE WAS TRULY A PERSON WHO HAD A PASSION FOR PEOPLE AND A PASSION FOR SERVICE.

AND SO, MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE AND HIS FAMILY, AND THANK THEM FOR SHARING HIM WITH US ALL THESE YEARS, AND ALSO MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MR. LARRY PAYNE.

UH, HE TOO SERVED IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, UH, THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS, UH, IN OUR CITY.

AND HE WAS ALWAYS VERY ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTIVE OF ME.

AND AS A YOUNG PERSON, UH, IN POLITICS HERE, UH, BOTH LARRY AND ALVIN HELPED REALLY NAVIGATE, UH, HELP ME NAVIGATE CITY HALL.

AND SO BOTH WILL TRULY BE MISSED AND, UH, I WILL KEEP THEIR ADVICE AND THEIR CARE WITH ME ALWAYS.

SO, MAYOR, I ASK THAT, UH, WE ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN THE MEMORY OF, OF MR. LARRY PAYNE AND MR. ALVIN BIRD.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

MR. S THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I WANTED TO, UM, TALK ABOUT, UH, THE 50 BY 50 PARK PROGRAM, BECAUSE TOMORROW WE'LL BE MARK THE SECOND, UM, 50 BY 50 PARK IN DENVER HARBOR.

AND SO, UM, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PARKS THIS IS, HOW MANY MORE THIS MONTH COMING MONTHS? THIS WILL BE, TOMORROW WE'LL HAVE TWO SCHEDULES.

IT WILL BE 16 AND 17, I THINK.

WELL, I'M JUST DELIGHTED THAT DENVER HARBOR IS GETTING THE, THE UPGRADES.

YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP THAT THE MAYORS LED WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND, AND THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO TOMORROW'S, UM, UH, RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY IS AT TWO O'CLOCK.

IT, IT, UM, WILL BE ACTUALLY AT THE, UM, THE, UH, THE TUTTLE LIBRARY, WHICH SITS INSIDE OF THE PARK.

WE MAY HAVE SOME INCLEMENT WEATHER TOMORROW, SO WE'LL BE INSIDE, BUT IT'LL BE A, A REALLY NICE EVENT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS COMING.

THEY'RE REPLACING AND, UM, OR HAVE REPLACED AND EXPANDED, UM, UH, THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

THERE ARE SHADE COVERS.

THERE'S AN UPGRADED BASKETBALL COURT, NEW EXERCISE STATIONS, NEW PARK FURNISHINGS.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, I HAVE CONTRIBUTED JUST UNDER $70,000 FROM MY COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR SOME, UM, SOME REALLY COOL UPGRADES TO THE SKATE PARK.

SO, UM, THAT'LL BE WONDERFUL TOO.

UM, AND BEFORE I, I SIGN OFF, I WANT TO JUST ON A, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THANK MY DAUGHTER JACQUELINE CISNEROS, WHO SAT THROUGH THIS WHOLE MEETING.

JACQUELINE, CAN YOU STAND UP? AND THANK YOU, JACQUELINE , APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

IT'S BEEN FUN LOOKING OUT AT YOU.

THAT MAY I APPROACH HIM, MARTIN? YEAH.

AND WE'RE, WE'RE RECOGNIZING TWO GREAT, UM, CITY LEADERS, ALVIN AND, AND LARRY.

AND IRONICALLY, UM, I CAN SEE HIM STANDING RIGHT BEHIND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.

'CAUSE WHEN I WAS ELECTED YEARS AGO, I SAT NEXT TO CO BRADFORD WHO SAT IN YOUR SEAT.

AND, UH, WHILE YOU HAD ALVIN, UH, CO HAD LARRY.

AND IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES, YOU CAN SEE HIM VIVIDLY.

AND, UH, TWO GREAT MEN, TWO GREAT LEADERS, AND TWO GOOD FRIENDS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE GOOD MEN AND THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE.

UH, SO WE'LL DEAR OR MISS THEM.

UM, ON ANOTHER SIDE, I'M LOSING MY PARTNER IN CRIME, JESSICA BEAMER, WHOSE LAST COUNCIL MEETING IS TODAY.

WOW.

OH, WOW.

BOULEVARD FROM TORRY PINES TO SEA LAKE DRIVE IS NEAR IN COMPLETION AND SHOULD BE DONE BY THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER.

SHE HAS SOME SURGERY COMING UP, AND THEN SHE'S PARACHUTING INTO A NEW OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE AS SHE TELLS ME, ONCE YOU WORK FOR THE BEST, THE REST IS ALL DOWNHILL, .

SO I'VE, UM, WE ALWAYS JOKE THAT, UH, UM, JESSICA AND I, WE, I'M JESSICA'S LONGEST STANDING RELATIONSHIP.

AND, UH, I WEAR THAT WITH PRIDE.

AND, UH, JESSICA'S BEEN A, A GOOD CONFIDANT, A GOOD FRIEND.

UM, I LOVE HER DEARLY.

SHE'S LIKE MY YOUNGER SISTER.

SOMETIMES SHE HAS TO BEAT ME UP.

OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO BEAT HER UP.

MM.

BUT WE'VE NEVER LOST RESPECT.

UH, WE DID IT WITH CLASS AND DIGNITY.

AND AS SHE MOVES TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, SHE'LL BE WILDLY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE SHE'S THE BEST.

SHE WORKS HARD.

SHE PUTS HER HEART AND SOUL INTO IT.

AND SHE'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PERSON AND A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL YOUNG LADY.

AND I WILL MISS HER DEARLY, DEARLY.

SO, ON A LIGHTER SIDE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE CLEAR LAKE ANCE AWARE THAT A PANEL REPLACEMENT PROJECT LONG EL DORADO

[04:15:01]

WEATHER PERMITTING.

THE PANEL REPLACEMENT PROJECT WILL CREATE A SMOOTHER RODDEN SURFACE FOR ALL COMMUTERS FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMPLETION ON THE NORTH SIDE.

UH, I SALUTE KEEP KINGWOOD GREEN, UH, THE RECIPIENT OF THE MAYOR'S AWARD FOR RECYCLING, AS WE HAVE ANOTHER MONTHLY RECYCLING EVENT THAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND AT 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM OR UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FULL.

AND THEY ALWAYS GET FULL RIGHT ABOUT NOON.

SO GET OUT THERE EARLY.

THE WEEKEND RECYCLING PROGRAM IN KINGWOOD NOW ACCEPTS ALL TYPES OF PLASTICS.

SO YOU CAN BRING ALL OF YOUR PLASTICS FOR RECYCLING AND BRING THEM TO THE WEEKEND RECYCLING EVENT AT THE KINGWOOD METRO PARK AND RIDE LOT.

SO, UM, JESSICA, I'LL MISS YOU AND, UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY TO MY DEAR WIFE OF 40 YEARS OF JULIE LANDRY MARTIN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHE BY COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN ROBINSON.

I THINK, UH, FIRST OF ALL, JB GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE TRULY BEEN AWESOME.

SO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, YOU DO HAVE A, AN INCREDIBLE CHIEF OF STAFF.

YOU HAVE FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.

AND, UH, JESSICA, YOU WILL BE MISSED FOR AT LEAST 32 DAYS, .

BUT BEYOND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, GOOD LUCK AND LET'S ALL STAY IN TOUCH FOR SOME OF US MAYOR WHO ARE GOING ON.

UM, JESSICA, FORTUNATELY IS STILL WITH US, BUT I SHARE SO MUCH THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID AROUND THE ORCHARD TODAY WITH ALVIN AND WITH LARRY TWO, DEAR FRIENDS MAYOR, AND JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY, UH, LONG MEMORIES I'VE GOT OF ALVIN LONG BEFORE I WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD STRUCTURE, GIVING ME ADVICE.

YOU KNOW, HE'D ALWAYS HAVE THE MOBILE PHONE, AND HE WOULD CALL IT REGULARLY WITH, UH, TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS AND THINGS THAT HAD TO BE DONE, LOOKING OUT FOR HIS NEIGHBORHOOD PASSIONATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR DISTRICT B, YOU KNOW, HE'S YOUR WORDS.

WERE GREAT FOR HIM TOO.

AND I'LL, I'LL BE THINKING OF ALVIN, UH, DIALING IT UP, AND I WILL BE DIALING HIM UP FOR SURE FOR LARRY MAYER.

I, I CAN'T, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

HE'S JUST SUCH A VISIONARY TOO.

I THINK THAT'S ONE WORD THAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN SAID AROUND THE HORSESHOE.

I'M, I'M THINKING ABOUT, UH, THE INITIATIVE HE BEGAN ABOUT COMPASSION, SOCIAL SERVICES, SOCIAL EQUITY, BUT THINKING AS A VISIONARY, LONG BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE, WAS ABOUT 2036, ABOUT THAT YEAR.

THAT IS NOT THAT FAR AHEAD NOW, BUT THINKING ABOUT THE BICENTENNIAL THAT WILL BE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOMETHING, HE WAS A PROPHET, YOU KNOW, AND IN A BIBLE STUDY I'M A PART OF, WE'RE READING ISAIAH RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK OF LARRY.

SO I KNOW HE'S, HE'S GOING HOME AND HE'S, HE'S ON THE MOUNTAINTOP.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

AND, UH, THOMAS.

UH, MONDAY THERE WAS A FIRE ON BEL AIR AND DERRY ASHFORD AT MR. STORAGE RIGHT ACROSS FROM ALE ELICK HIGH SCHOOL.

I ALSO JOINED WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

UH, UM, ALVIN WAS A FRIEND.

UM, UH, I, I MET ALVIN WHEN HE WAS CHIEF OF STAFF FOR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, NOW STATE REP JARVIS JOHNSON.

AND THEN HE WAS THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF FOR, UH, RICHARD N NEN, WHO REPRESENTED DISTRICT F.

AND SO ALVIN AND I WOULD SIT ON THE PHONE AND CACKLE AND ON THE PHONE AND TALKING.

UH, UH, IT WAS ALWAYS GOOD TIMES WITH ALVIN.

HE WAS REALLY AN OG AND I DEFINITELY AM GONNA MISS HIM.

AND MY, MY HEART GOES TO SANDRA, WHO LOVED HIM DEARLY.

UM, AND I KNOW SHE'S IN TRANSITION, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THEY SAID, UH, DEATH HAPPENS IN THREES.

IT'S SAD THAT IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WE ARE SENDING OUR, UM, REGRETS AND OUR, UM, HEARTFELT NOTES AND PRAYERS TO PEOPLE WHO, WHO WON'T BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE WITH US ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE YEAR.

UH, LARRY PAYNE WAS A, A FRIEND AS WELL.

I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR, UH, 20 YEARS.

AND YOU, UM, I EXPECT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE WITNESSED MY LIFE IN DIFFERENT STAGES TO BE WITH ME ALL OF MY LIFE.

UM, AND EVEN IN HIS OWN CHALLENGES OF HIS HEALTH, HE WAS ENVISIONING, UH, A BETTER HOUSTON AND CITY.

SO DEFINITELY GONNA GOING TO MISS HIM.

UM, AND THEN ALSO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, RONNIE BURRAN.

SHE, UM, THIS SISTER PASSED AWAY, UH, LOST HER BATTLE TO BREAST CANCER.

UM, SHE WAS IN HER FORTIES AND, UH, LEAVES BEHIND HER CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT LOVED HER.

SHE FIERCELY ADVOCATED FOR BLACK PEOPLE, FIERCELY ADVOCATED FOR THE LGBT FIERCELY, ADVOCATED FOR THE OPPRESSED, IS GOING TO LEAVE A VOID IN, IN THAT SPACE.

UM, SO, UM, PRAYING FOR MIRACLES FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

UM, BUT MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME DISTRICT F UH, RELATED ISSUES.

[04:20:01]

IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THREE TO FIVE INDIVIDUALS UNHOUSED.

THE, THE WEATHER DROPPED THE NIGHT BEFORE.

THEY NEEDED TO STAY WARM.

NO ONE WAS HURT.

UM, UH, FIRE STATION 76 AND WEST SIDE HPD TOOK CARE OF THAT.

UM, BUT I THINK IT RAISES A, A, A BIGGER ISSUE AS WE ENTER, UH, INTERMITTENT WEATHER, UM, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PLAN, THAT WE CAN GET THESE PEOPLE TO SHELTER, UH, WHENEVER THERE'S, YOU KNOW, RAIN AND WEATHER.

I DID SEND THIS INFORMATION TO, UH, MARK ON YOUR TEAM SO HE'S, UH, KEYED INTO AROUND THAT, UH, DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND MOST OF THE RESPONSE FROM RESIDENTS WAS, YOU KNOW, WE WISH THE FIRE WOULD'VE BURNED THE WHOLE THING DOWN 'CAUSE IT'S AN EYESORE, RIGHT? SO I THINK WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT REVITALIZATION, WOULD LOVE TO, UM, WHATEVER WE CAN DO IN THE, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE ANCHOR THAT, UH, REVITALIZE THAT CORNER, UM, TO DO SOME TYPE OF, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WITH, YOU KNOW, THE THREE 80 AGREEMENTS WE DO, BUT THERE HAS SOME, WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT CORNER DIRECTLY AROUND THE SCHOOL.

BUT I JUST REALLY WANNA, UM, HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE WORK OF, UH, THE FIRE FIRE TEAM AND, UH, THE HPD FOR WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO.

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC, UH, WE HAVE PRIORITIZED THE BISSETTE AND KIRKWOOD INTERSECTION TO CLEAN UP THAT ENCAMPMENT THAT IS ON THE, UH, UH, PRIORITY LIST, UH, OVER THE HOLIDAYS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEARS.

SO I WANNA APPRECIATE MARK AND MAYOR, UM, FOR PRIORITIZING THAT BISSONNET CORRIDOR.

AND THERE'S AN ONGOING WA MAJOR WATER LEAK AT SENATE IN BEL AIR.

I REPORTED IT MYSELF WALKING OUTTA WALGREENS WEEKS AGO.

AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

UM, UH, PUBLIC WORKS HAS CLEARLY BEEN OUT THERE 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN FLAGGED, BUT IT'S LITERALLY FLOODING THE STREET ON THIS MAJOR INTERSECTION.

SO I JUST WANNA PUBLIC WORKS.

IF THEY CAN PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THAT WORK ORDER, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL.

AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT THE HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY.

I TOURED THEIR, UH, SCHOOL YESTERDAY.

UH, THEIR SSLS GROUP IS HEADED TO AUSTIN TO LOBBY THEIR BILL ON FOOD INSECURITY.

AND I'LL LET THEM KNOW THAT, UH, YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLL, UH, CREATED A FOOD INSECURITY BOARD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE CITY.

SO, UM, SHOUT OUT TO THEM.

LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO SOME GOOD SUCCESS.

UM, THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER ON THAT.

AND, AND ANY FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE CAN DO ON THAT BEL AIR CORRIDOR WOULD BE GREAT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, KAMAN MAYOR.

UM, I FORGOT TO ALSO MENTION CITYWIDE EVERYONE.

UH, JUST A REMINDER TO PLEASE REMAIN WEATHER AWARE TOMORROW, OEM WILL BE MONITORING, BUT WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COMING INTO THE AREA FOR THE DAY.

UM, CHANCE FOR SOME REALLY ROUGH WEATHER.

UH, MARY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FLOODING, BUT POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED FLOODING.

UM, SO AGAIN, JUST FOR EVERYONE, UH, PLEASE, PLEASE REMAIN WEATHER AWARE TOMORROW.

ONE COULD HAVE HANDLED THAT BETTER AND COME FORTH WITH THE CONSENSUS, UH, THAT HE WAS ABLE TO, TO LEAD.

LEMME JUST SAY, UM, COUNCILMAN MR. ROS.

UH, WE MAY RESCHEDULE TOMORROW, UH, TO NEXT WEEK FOR THE PARK DEDICATION BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SCHEDULED, WE WILL PUT IT INSIDE, BUT, UH, I'LL JUST, JUST GETTING A TEXT SO WE, THAT MAY BE RESCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW, SO WE'LL LET PEOPLE KNOW PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS.

UM, I DO WANT TO, UM, REMIND YOU THE NEW YORK TIMES DID AN ARTICLE ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON LAST WEEK ON HOMELESSNESS.

PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

ANOTHER, ANOTHER ONE.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD ARTICLE, AND BASICALLY IT'S SAYING HOW HOUSTON IS WINNING WHEN OTHER CITIES ARE FALLING SHORT.

AND IT EVEN SAID THAT DALLAS, YOU KNOW, HAS MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT DOES TALK ABOUT THE 60% PLUS REDUCTION THAT WE'VE MADE.

UH, SO PLEASE PULL IT UP.

IT'S, UM, A VERY POSITIVE STORY ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

UM, AND US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS HAS PICKED IT UP AND PUT IT OUT.

SO DO PLEASE DO THAT.

UM, I DO.

UM, UM, AND WE WILL ADJOIN TODAY IN MEMORY OF, UM, OF ALVIN AND LARRY.

UM, I MADE MY COMMENTS ON ALVIN, UH, WITH RESPECT TO, TO LARRY.

YOU KNOW, UM, LARRY WAS JUST, UM, QUINTESSENTIAL LARRY, LARRY PAYNE.

I MEAN, HE, AS I'VE SAID, HE WAS THE FACILITATOR, HE WAS THE MENTOR, UM, HE WAS THE VISIONARY, UM, UM, EPITOME OF STRENGTH.

UM, AND HE DID BELIEVE IN PULLING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, I WILL SIMPLY JUST HIGHLIGHT VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE COULD HAVE CHAIRED THE, UH, TASK FORCE ON POLICE REFORM, 45 INDIVIDUALS DURING A VERY, UM, UM, TENSE TIME IN OUR CITY.

UM, BUT HE, NO

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UM, AND THE REALITY IS THAT HE WAS A TREMENDOUS, UM, MENTOR AND ROLE MODEL, UM, BECAUSE LARRY WORKED THROUGH, YOU KNOW, HE WAS NOT A COMPLAINER, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU DIDN'T, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN WHAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

I MEAN, HE, A LONG TIME.

YEAH, HE WAS VERY, HE WAS VERY FOCUSED, UH, VERY MUCH A SERVANT LEADER, BUT HE DID IT.

AND, AND HE HAD HIS OWN STYLE.

IN FACT, I NEVER SEEN LARRY GO UP AND I NEVER SEEN HIM DOWN.

HE WAS STEADY AS SHE GOES.

UH, AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE.

THE CITY'S BEEN FORTUNATE, UM, IN HAVING HIM, UH, FOR AS LONG AS GOD ALLOWED HIM TO STAY.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT BOTH OF ALVIN AND, UM, LARRY, UM, ALVIN'S END WAS MORE ABRUPT, SO TO SPEAK.

UH, LARRY, IN TERMS OF HIS TRANSITION, UM, WAS, WAS ALMOST AS IF, UM, UM, YOU RUN YOUR LAP MM-HMM .

AND YOU FINISH YOUR COURSE.