* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] TUESDAY, [PRESENTATIONS] DECEMBER 12TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SPECIAL TURNER. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ORDER. ALL THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SISSY SIEGEL TO CELEBRATE HER RETIREMENT FOR ME LAW. AND DOROTHY, ER GOT IT. AM I SUPPOSED READ THIS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I AM SO EXCITED EVERYBODY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO SISSY SIEGEL DAVIS FOR ALL HER WONDERFUL WORK AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER. SO I'LL JUST GET RIGHT INTO IT. WHEREAS SISSY SIEGEL DAVIS, A NATIVE OF WEST VIRGINIA, JUST LIKE ME, A NATIVE OF WEST VIRGINIA, WHO RELOCATED IN 1953 AND GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, JUST LIKE ME IN 1972, HAS EXHIBITED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE PERFORMING AND CULTURAL ARTS. AND WHEREAS OVER THE PAST 14 YEARS, SISSY HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AT THE MILLER TO OUTDOOR THEATER BY OVERSEEING GRANT PROGRAMS FOR HOUSTON'S PERFORMING ARTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, EFFECTIVELY MANAGING DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, AND FOSTERING COLLABORATION WITH THE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD. AND WHEREAS THE MILLER, THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER, STANDS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HOUSTON'S IDENTITY FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, EVOKING CHERISHED MEMORIES OF SUMMER EVENINGS ON THE HILL, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE CITY'S UNIQUE CULTURAL FABRIC. AS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, SISSY HAS CURATED A SERIES OF MORE THAN 120 ARTISTICALLY DIVERSE PERFORMANCES ANNUALLY IN HERMAN PARK, OFFERING THEM FREE OF CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC. UNDER HER GUIDANCE, THIS SERIES HAS BURGEONED INTO THE LARGEST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND NATIONWIDE. AND WHEREAS SISSY'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE ARTS DATES BACK TO 1972, INTERTWINING WITH THE FABRIC OF HER LIFE FROM JOYFULLY LEADING CHILDREN UP AND DOWN THE FAMED MILLER HILL AS A CAMP COUNSELOR SINGING THE HILLS ARE ALIVE, I WONDER WITH SOUND OF MUSIC TO HER TWO DECADE TENURE WITH THEATER UNDER THE STARS, AND FINALLY, AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MILLER, AND WHEREAS SISSY'S SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS EXTEND BEYOND HER ROLE AS EVIDENCED BY HER SENIOR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM AND HER POSITION ON THE BOARD OF TEXANS FOR THE ARTS, HER IMPACT IS FURTHER RECOGNIZED BY HOUSTON WOMEN'S MAGAZINE, WHICH HONORED HER AS ONE OF HOUSTON'S 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2012. AND BY THE THEATER UNDER THE STAR'S LEADING LADIES IN 2022, WHICH BESTOWED UPON HER THE SHIRLEY STEIN OUTSTANDING CHAMPION IN THE ARTS AND EDUCATION AWARD AND WAREHOUSE FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. SISSY'S UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO HOUSTON'S PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY HAS INDELIBLY SHAPED THE CITY'S ARTISTIC LANDSCAPE. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS SISSY SIEGEL DAVIS FOR HER WORK AND COMMITMENT TO THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER AND TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES ON ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS. AND SO THEREFORE, RISE. SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED DECEMBER 12TH, 2023. SISSY SEGEL DAVIS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THIS IS WONDERFUL. UM, AND, AND THERE WAS ONE, ONE MORE HONOR THAT WAS BESTOWED UPON ME JUST, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. I'M ALSO A 2024 HOUSTON TREASURE. SO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I'M GOING TO BE A CALENDAR GIRL IN THE SOCIAL BOOK. AH, SO, BUT THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONORED FOR DOING WHAT YOU LOVE. IT'S JUST ICING ON TOP OF THE CAKE. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR, SALLY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UM, ALL OF YOU. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU. UM, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE ARTS BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER, AND IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT MILLER THEATER WELCOMES EVERYONE AS OFTEN AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. AND MAYOR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CICI. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q. WE'LL START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR TEM AND SISSY. UM, YOU ARE RIGHT. YOUR DEPARTURE IS A BIG DEAL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND, AND THERE HAVE BEEN A, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND ANOTHER ONE TODAY, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING YOUR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY MAKING THE, THE, THE ARTS, THE PERFORMING ARTS TO HOUSTONIANS IN SUCH A, UM, A DEMOCRATIC WAY. YOU KNOW, IT'S FREE, IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE. THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THERE. AND, UM, YOU'VE, YOU'VE, UM, YOU'VE REALLY LED THE CHARGE AND, AND, UM, ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT, AND YOUR BIG HEART, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR HOUSTON AND THE ARTS. THANK YOU, SISSY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM. MARTHA CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. PRO TEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE THAT, UM, DESERVED TO BE CELEBRATED TODAY, SISSY. UH, THE MEMORIES THAT WE ALL HAVE AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER ARE INCREDIBLE. AND YOU HAVE JUST DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THE PROGRAMMING AND THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HOUSTONIANS CAN REALLY ENJOY. UM, THE CONCERTS ARE EXTRAORDINARY. THE ENTERTAINMENT THERE JUST [00:05:01] IS, UM, SO STELLAR. AND A LOT OF THAT IS LED BY THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THAT ROLE. AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU IN THAT SPACE. UM, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE ARTS, AND IT DOES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE MAKING SPACE FOR IT. UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT WHILE YOU ARE TAKING YOUR POTTERY CLASS AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE TO DO AND WE'LL DO IN THIS NEXT SEASON OF LIFE, WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THIS NEXT PHASE OF YOUR LIFE AND KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR HOUSTON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SISSY. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT YOU MAKE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME. YOU MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL WELCOME, ESPECIALLY US AND OUR FAMILIES, WHICH MEAN A LOT TO US. UH, MY FAVORITE MOMENT AT MILLER WAS THE NIGHT THAT OUR FAMILY WENT OUT TO SEE ONE OF THE GUYS I WATCHED ON TV. I WAS A HUGE 24 FAN. OH, YEAH. AND I LOVE KEITH KETHER SUTHERLAND, AND HE WAS OUT THERE WITH HIS, WITH HIS BAND. AND, UM, HE'S A GREAT ACTOR. HE IS REALLY NOT A GOOD SINGER. , YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. BUT YOU, YOU GOT US BACKSTAGE AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET CHAINS, SMOKING KE FOR SOUTHERLAND , AND, UH, IT WAS A KICK, AND YOU ALWAYS MADE US FEEL SPECIAL. SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU FOR TREATING US THAT WAY AND GODSPEED, AND I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT SUCCESS IN YOUR RETIREMENT. AND THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EXCELLENT. GOT IT? GOT IT. CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO CALL, UH, JOHN BREEDING UP. HE THINKS HE'S HERE TO DO THE INVOCATION TODAY, BUT HE'S, HE'S NOT. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, JOHN BREEDING IN HIS CAPACITIES AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE UPTOWN HOUSTON DISTRICT, AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS SET THE STANDARDS IN CREATING THE ARCHETYPE FOR SUCCESSFUL MIXED USE URBAN CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. WITH THE VISION AND SUPPORT OF THE BOARDS HE SERVES, MR. BREEDING HAS LED EFFORTS IN PLANNING, FUNDING, MANAGEMENT, AND GOVERNANCE TO TURN UPTOWN HOUSTON, 500 ACRES LOCATED IN THE HEART OF HOUSTON, INTO ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ICONIC DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON BEHALF OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN WHICH MR. BREEDING HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL INCLUDE THE CREATION OF FUNDING AND ORGANIZATIONAL MECHANISMS THAT, THAT RESULTED IN UPTOWN HOUSTON AS THE FIRST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND AS A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, HE HAS PROVIDED REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH, UM, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION METRO, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, AND OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES. THE FUNDING AND EXECUTION OF A 235 MILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ON POST OAK BOULEVARD TO ACCOMMODATE ITS USE AS A TRANSIT CORRIDOR. THE NEGOTIATION AND ACQUISITION OF THE WATER WALL PARK, THE EXPANSION OF THE UPTOWN TURS BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE MEMORIAL PARK, THE ACQUISITION OF FEDERAL FUNDING OF 62 MILLION FOR THE EXECUTION OF A 1 9 2 0.5 MILLION UPTOWN MOBILITY PROJECT. BEFORE JOINING UPTOWN HOUSTON DISTRICT IN 1986, MR. BREEDING HELD POSITIONS AS VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND PLANNING AT RICE CENTER METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. HE CURRENTLY HOLDS BOARD POSITIONS AT THE HOUSTON ACHIEVEMENT PLACE, KSBJ 89.3, TRE INC. AND THE GREATER HOUSTON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. MR. BREEDING HAS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND A MASTER'S OF URBAN REGIONAL PLANNING FROM TEXAS A M UNIVERSITY. AND UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP OF TOWN, HOUSTON HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST MIXED USE DISTRICTS WITH 28 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICES, 7 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL, AND DOZENS OF HOTELS. SO TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU, WHEREAS JOHN BREEDING'S [00:10:01] UNPARALLELED DEDICATION AND UNWAVERING LEADERSHIP HAS SPANNED OVER 37 YEARS, WE PROUDLY ACCLAIM HIS PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE UPTOWN HOUSTON AS THE BEACON OF VISION AND INNOVATION. JOHN BREEDING ALONGSIDE THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND A STEADFAST TEAM, CHAMPIONED A TRANSFORMATIVE ERA IN PRINTING UPTOWN'S LANDSCAPE WITH A LEGACY OF UNPARALLELED DISTINCTION. AND WHEREAS HIS STEWARDSHIP, INSTRUMENTAL AND FOSTERING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AMONG GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, COMMUNITY ENTITIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROPELLED UPTOWN'S EVOLUTION, THE FRUITION OF GROUNDBREAKING ENDEAVORS SUCH AS THE ICONIC STREETSCAPE, THE REVITALIZATION OF MEMORIAL PARK, THE VISIONARY RECONSTRUCTION OF POST OAK BOULEVARD, AND THE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTION OF OVER 265 MILLION TO HOUSTON'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO BREEDING'S VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. AND WHEREAS THE INDELIBLE MARK LEFT BY THESE PROJECT RESONATES WITH UNCOMMON BEAUTY, EMBRACING A GRACIOUS CHARACTER AND AN UNWAVERING DYNAMIC SPIRIT, FORGING AN URBAN SIN THAT TRANSCENDS THE ORDINARY JOHN BREEDINGS IN DURING LEGACY SHALL CONTINUE TO BESTOW AND MEASURABLE BENEFITS UPON HOUSTONIANS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND WHEREAS WITH PROFOUND GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS BREEDINGS UNPARALLELED CONTRIBUTIONS TO WHICH HAVE SHAPED UPTOWN HOUSTON AND TO ENDURING SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT. THANK YOU. AND JOHN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKABLE CAREER AND, UM, YOUR, UH, YEARS OF DEDICATION, UH, TO THE CITY, NOT JUST TO THAT PARTICULAR REGION, BUT TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE. AND THEN THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION WITH THE ADMINIS WITH SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THIS DATE DECEMBER 12TH, 2023, AS JOHN BREEDING DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK, NOW, HIS STAFF IS HERE AS WELL. SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP HERE AND JOIN US. AND THEN JOHN, IF YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS TO, TO SAY, THERE'S A CONSPIRACY ABOUT HERE. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER. UH, MARIANNE, I, I, I WANT, I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE DEDICATED YOUR LIFE TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, AND, UH, IT'S A GREAT HONOR AND A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. BY THE WAY, I'VE GOT A SHORT LITTLE PRAYER I COULD DO IF WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MOMENTS. ACTUALLY, DAVE IS ALREADY ASKED ME IF I'D DO A LITTLE FOR HIM SPECIAL, SO, BUT I DO, I, I, I, I GO BACK AND I, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, THE MAYOR, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, WHO HAS GIVEN SO MUCH THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND AS ELECTED OFFICIAL HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT IS JUST A REAL HONOR TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO JOIN WITH YOU TO DO THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. A FRIEND OF MINE ASKED ME, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET CREDIT FOR? AND I SAID, WE'VE ALL BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE. NONE OF US GET TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, BUT WE ALL MAKE A SMALL DIFFERENCE. AND SO I THANK YOU AND I THANK THE CITY STAFF. UH, EACH OF THEM KNOW THEIR NAMES, AND I THANK THEM FOR HELPING MAKE THINGS POSSIBLE. AND I HAVE TO ALSO THANK MY STAFF WHO NOT UP HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S BACK IN THE OFFICE, BUT, UH, I'M AWARE OF THAT. AND THERE'S A REAL SPECIAL LADY THAT'S WITH MY WIFE, PAM, WHO IS, UH, WHO'S A LOT OF MY WORLD. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M VERY HONORED BY THIS MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND MAYOR FOR THIS RECOGNITION. JOHN, I JUST WANNA, UH, CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU'VE MADE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, I BELIEVE YOU ARE A TRUE VISIONARY. I RECALL BEING IN YOUR OFFICE KIND OF OVERLOOKING, UH, THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN, UH, GALLERIA AREA AND KIND OF HEARING THE HISTORY AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHERE IT HAS BEEN AND WHERE IT IS GOING. AND, UH, NO DOUBT THAT THAT AREA HAS TRANSFORMED A LOT THROUGH THE, YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE GIVEN AND YOUR IMPACT TO THE CITY. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. UH, CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND MAYOR TURNER FOR TODAY. UM, I DON'T HAVE MUCH INTERACTION WITH THE UPTOWN TURS BECAUSE OF MY DISTRICT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR LIST OF COMPLIMENT, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS, UM, THE MAYOR'S SINGLE FAMILY HOME INITIATIVE, UM, WHICH IS REALLY, UH, MODELED FOR THE CITY ON WHAT WE CAN DO IN LEVERAGING TURS ASSETS AND BONDING THAT, UH, THAT DEFINITELY IS A PART OF MAYOR TURNER'S [00:15:01] LEGACY. BUT, UM, UPTOWN TURS ALSO HAS A, A PLACE IN THAT, UH, OUR TURS OFTEN RECEIVE MUCH CRITICISM, BUT, UM, AND WHEN I MET WITH THE CRI CRITICISM, I REFLECT BACK TO THEM THE $120 MILLION BOND THAT'S CREATING AFFORDABILITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS ALL THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION, YOUR STAFF THAT CONTINUE TO STAND UP, UH, THAT SUPPORT IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE CITY FOR THIS LONG TIME. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS PROUD AND HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT PROGRAM. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UH, JOHN, I JUST WANNA SAY MY CONGRATULATIONS, MY GRATITUDE, MY THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF. UM, I THINK WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAS JUST SAID IS IMPORTANT AS VICE CHAIR OF HOUSING. I WANNA SAY THAT'S TRUE. AS THE ARCHITECT ON COUNCIL, I WANNA SAY, YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, KNOWING WHEN TO HIRE GOOD PEOPLE FOR GOOD DESIGN IN THIS CITY, AND YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE WITH GREAT JUDGMENT, TASTE, AND, UH, EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANNA SAY, YOU'VE ALSO STOOD UP WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN HARD FIGHTS TO MAKE. AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT COURAGEOUSLY. YOU'VE DONE IT WITH GREAT COMMITMENTS AND, UH, FEARLESSLY. AND I WANNA THANK YOUR WIFE. I WANNA THANK YOUR TEAM, AND I WANNA THANK YOU, JOHN. YOU'VE DONE OUTSTANDING WORK AND GOD BLESS YOU, AND MAY YOU ENJOY WHATEVER YOU RETIRE TO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR PER TIM AND JOHN, I KNOW WE HAD A FEW MINUTES OUTSIDE, BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU, UH, NOT ONLY FOR THE PROCLAMATION, BUT MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER, UM, WITH OUR UPTOWN TOURS. AND, UH, SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP. I APPRECIATE IT. BUT JOHN, TO YOU AND THE ENTIRE BOARD, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY AROUND MEMORIAL PARK IN DISTRICT C. UM, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, THIS PARK GROW AND COME ALIVE EVEN FURTHER, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU ALL, UM, AND THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AS WELL. SO, AGAIN, MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION, UH, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND SETTING UP, UM, FOR OUR NEXT TERM, THE SUCCESSES THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE. THANK YOU. I HAVE TO SAY THAT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE MAYOR COULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE, BUT IT HAS BEEN A REAL JOY TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD MEMORIAL PARK'S ENHANCEMENT AND REALLY RESTORATION. THANK YOU. SO I KNOW A DIFFERENT SIDE OF JOHN BREEDING. SO JOHN AND I GREW UP TOGETHER. CAN I INTERRUPT, SIR? CAN I, JOHN AND I GREW UP TOGETHER ON THE SOCCER FIELD, SO WE WATCHED HIS THREE KIDS, TAYLOR, WES, AND JC GROW UP. MATTER OF FACT, JC AND MY SON MICHAEL PLAYED SOCCER TOGETHER, AND WES COACHED MY SON DAVID ON HIS SOCCER TEAM. SO WE ATTENDED MANY SOCCER GAMES, WATCHING JOHN YELL AT REFEREES, DOING ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO, YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAD A, A, A GREAT TIME, AND IT WAS FUN GROWING UP TOGETHER ON THE SOCCER FIELDS. WE WERE JUST TALKING, EVERYBODY CAME AFTER WE WERE TALKING AND SAID, I HOPE YOU DIDN'T BLOW THE SURPRISE. AND I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, I JUST MET, UM, REVEREND DORN AND HE WAS DOING THE INVOCATION. THEN I TALKED TO JOHN AND HE WAS DOING THE INVOCATION , SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH IT, BUT, UM, I HOPE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF, AND I DIDN'T LET OUT THE SURPRISE, BUT, UM, IT WAS A JOY GROWING UP WITH YOU ON THE SOCCER FIELD, WATCHING YOUR KIDS, PAM, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, LOOK FORWARD TO RETIREMENT. HE'S GONNA DRIVE YOU NUTS. . I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO, BUT, UH, JOHN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE A GREAT LEADER, BUT YOU'RE A BETTER MAN. AND I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED YOU, ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO YOU, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS A GREAT PERSON TO BE WITH. SO I ENJOYED THOSE YEARS. I'D LOVE TO DO 'EM ALL OVER AGAIN IF THE GOOD LORD GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. WATCHING GRANDKIDS OR SOMETHING. ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU THAT HIS LOVELY WIFE LORI'S THE SWEETEST PERSON IN THE WORLD, BUT IF SOMEBODY ATTACKS HER SON ON A SOCCER FIELD, SHE CAN BECOME VERY AGGRESSIVE. AND I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STAND IN FRONT OF THAT LOVELY SWEET LADY TO KEEP HER FROM BEING THROWN OUT OF THE GAME. SO TELL HER HELLO AND WILL DO. DON'T MESS WITH MAMA BEAR. . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU A GOOD DISCOUNT. YES, [00:20:40] MR. TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO OPI OTTA AND RECOGNITION OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND PAINTING THAT BEAUTIFUL PICTURE. I'M DOING FINE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE. THANK YOU. B YOU GOTTA BRING IT TO ME FIRST. WELL, THIS IS A TALENTED INDIVIDUAL RIGHT HERE, AS WE ALL KNOW. VERY, VERY TALENTED. UM, I CAN'T, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU, OH, ME, HAVE YOU DONE THE, UM, THE ARTWORK FOR THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY? UM, SINCE THE HOUSTON SPORTS AWARD STARTED? SO THAT'S SIX YEARS. SIX YEARS NOW. SEVEN. SEVEN YEARS. SO THAT'S 20, 24 PAINTINGS NOW. 20. YEAH. IT SUPPOSED TO BE PICKED UP, GOING UPSTAIRS TO GET IT. SO IT'S, I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. GOOD. . WE'RE AD-LIBBING. WE'RE AD-LIBBING. ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET ME JUST, UH, FOR THE WORK DONE FOR THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, UH, THE LAST PAINTING THAT WAS DONE OF GEORGE TRULY, WHICH IS, UM, VERY, VERY, VERY SPECIAL, THANK YOU, UM, FOR REALLY REPRESENTING THE TALENT THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR CITY. UH, NO ONE IS BETTER, BETTER THAN OB AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, IT'S VERY, YOUR WORK IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. RECOGNIZE, UH, AND WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS SPECIAL MOMENT, UH, TO HONOR, TO HONOR YOU. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, SO JUST AS SOON, UH, AS MY STAFF IS REMINDED THAT I'M STILL HERE, AND, UM, , I GETTING AN AWARD AT OUR SHOW, OH, JAN, JANICE, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP THIS WAY, BECAUSE JANICE, YOU ALL ABUSED, HAVE CALLED ON MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES. I HAVE. WHY DON'T YOU COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS WHILE THEY FIND THE PROCLAMATION FOR ME? SO, UM, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR OPIE. WHEN WE STARTED THE HOUSTON SPORTS AWARDS SEVEN YEARS AGO. HE WAS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING. HE CREATED THE TROPHY, HE'S HELPED US ON THE WALK OF FAME, CREATING THAT HALL OF FAME DOWNTOWN, UH, THE FOUNTAIN, ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL TILE WORK IS HIS WORK. AND WE LOVE YOU, OPPI. YOU'RE JUST AWESOME. AND THE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE OUR, ONE OF OUR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS THIS YEAR ON JANUARY 30TH. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. JANICE . SO YOU'LL HAVE THE PAINTING, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE TROPHY I DESIGNED, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE RING THAT I DESIGNED. SO YOU GOT A LOT OF STUFF. SO THREE ALL DESIGNED BY YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT, SO MAYOR AS, AS WE AD LIB, SO OPIE, UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH ROBINSON, GALLEGO, MARTIN KNOX CISNEROS, WE'RE ALL LEAVING DO IS TODAY THE PRESENTATION OF OUR RING, UH, ARE OUR PICTURE. I DRAW PICTURES AND OTHER PEOPLE DO STUFF WITH THEM. . ALRIGHT, WE ARE SET. LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. DELAINE. UM, OPIOID STYLE IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, AND I DIDN'T UNDERSCORE THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S FROM THE EAST COAST OR THE WEST COAST OF ABOVE NORTH, BUT A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND A WORLD RENOWNED ARTIST. UM, OBIE WAS PROUD TO BE A MOM TO SELECT FEW AS AN HISD VANGUARD GRADUATE. HE IS LICENSED BY MLB AND HAS COMMISSIONED THE OFFICIAL PAINTING FOR THE WORLD SERIES FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS, INCLUDING BOTH PAINTINGS FOR THE HOUSTON ASTROS IN 2017 AND 2022. THESE PAINTINGS ARE INCREDIBLE IN BOTH SCOPE AND SIZE, AND ARE ACTUALLY MORE [00:25:01] LIKE MURALS. THE ORIGINALS HANG IN MINUTE MAID PARK FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS TO VIEW ANNUALLY. OPI IS ALSO SANCTIONED BY THE NBA, THE NFL AND THE NHL AND HAS COMMISSIONED THOUSANDS OF WORK FOR NOT ONLY PROFESSIONAL TEAMS, BUT FOR ATHLETES, MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, ELECTORAL OFFICIALS, AND UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS. HE WAS NAMED THE OFFICIAL ARTIST OF THE NCAA 75 70 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF MARCH MADNESS, AND CREATED A 33 BY 25 PAINTING FEATURING ALL 75 OF THOSE CHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS PAINTING HANGS IN THE NCAA HALL OF FAME IN KANSAS CITY. OP IS THE OFFICIAL ARTIST FOR THE TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME AND THE HOUSTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME, WHERE HE HAS PAINTED 21 OF HOUSTON'S GREATEST, UH, SPORTS LEGENDS, INCLUDING HAKEEM LAJUAN, GEORGE FOREMAN, AND MARY LOU REDDEN. JUSTIN NAMED A FEW OF THEM. THESE AMAZING EIGHT PIECES ARE MORE THAN JUST ART. THEY TELL THE STORY OF THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSTON SPORTS LANDSCAPE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE ATHLETES THEMSELVES. OPI ALSO DESIGNED THE TROPHY FOR THE HOUSTON SPORTS AWARD THAT HAS BEEN TOUTED AS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND COVETED AWARDS TO RECEIVE, PERHAPS HIS CREAM. UH, HIS CHRISTINE CHAPEL IS THE MOSAIC FOUNTAIN HE DID AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME AT GREEN STREET CENTER, THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. I THINK I DID A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. YOU, YOU DID. YOU YOU DID. YEAH. YEAH. YOU PUT IN A COUPLE OF TILES. YEAH. YES, SIR. I DID THAT. AND OPIE DESIGNED AND PLACED THE FACES OF 12 HOUSTON SPORTS HALL OF FAMERS AROUND THE FOUNTAIN USING MORE THAN, YEAH, THIS IS WHAT I REMEMBER, MORE THAN 600,000 TOWELS. HE ALSO PAID HIS, HIS TALENTS FORWARD BY ENLISTING THE HELP OF MORE THAN A DOZEN UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ART STUDENTS, UH, TO HELP HIM ON THE PROJECT AND LEARN FROM THEM. I STILL CAN RECALL SOME OF THOSE FACES, UH, EVEN AT THIS VERY MOMENT. OPEN, RECEIVED HIS MASTER'S DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE THIS LEGACY WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS. IT'S PERHAPS WHAT HE MOST IS MOST PROUD OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS OPI ART ACT ON HIS OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THIS DAY, DECEMBER 12TH, 2023. AND SO BE HONEST THAT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, SO WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, IT, IT'S FUNNY THAT WITH THE TWO PEOPLE THAT PRECEDED ME, HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN, IN BIG WAYS, AND I DO THINGS IN SMALLER WAYS, , UM, I, THE, THE JOY THAT, THAT SISSY MENTIONED ABOUT THE ARTS AND WHAT IT BRINGS TO PEOPLE. UH, I, MY JOB FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS HAS KIND OF BEEN TO BE SANTA CLAUS. WHEN I SHOW UP AT YOUR DOOR, YOU'RE HAPPY TO SEE ME BECAUSE CHANCES ARE I HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE CAR READY TO BE DELIVERED. AND THE PAINTINGS THAT I DO, I TRY VERY MUCH TO INFUSE WITH PERSONAL MESSAGES TO PEOPLE. EVEN THE HALL OF FAME PAINTINGS ALL HAVE SPECIAL MESSAGES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THAT PERSON. I GET TO KNOW THAT PERSON. I READ ABOUT THAT PERSON, OR I TALK TO THAT PERSON FOR SOME, SOME AMOUNT OF TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, AND I'LL BE SHORT, UM, CALVIN MURPHY'S PAINTING, CALVIN AND I TALKED FOR A FEW HOURS ONE NIGHT, AND HE HAD MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES HOW HE WAS THE SMALLEST NBA HALL OF FAMER, THREE OR FOUR TIMES HE MENTIONED THAT. SO HIS PAINTING IS EIGHT FOOT ONE INCHES . SO HE HAS THE TALLEST HOUSTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME PAINTING BY ONE INCH. UM, AND IT'S LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HOPEFULLY I CAN DO IN MY WORK TO BRING JOY TO PEOPLE, TO NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS, BUT THE, THE ASTROS PAINTINGS AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS TO LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE. UM, AND, AND IN THAT WAY, UM, THE, THE WORK I'VE DONE OVER THE LAST 33 YEARS HAS BEEN VERY FULFILLING. THE HOUSTON ASPECT OF IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD, UM, BEING A JONES GRADUATE AND NOW WORKING ON A MURAL OVER AT CARNEGIE HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE KIDS OVER THERE. UM, WE'RE [00:30:01] GONNA GET STARTED ON THAT HERE PRETTY SOON. UM, IS A JOY AND IT'S AN HONOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER, FOR RECOGNIZING ME. IT'S, IT'S, UH, UM, UH, IT'S REALLY HUMBLING AND HONOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, OB. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, OPIE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THIS IS, UH, I, I SAW THE PICTURE. I, I, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW YOU CAN CAPTURE A PERSON'S IMAGE ON CANVAS LIKE THAT. I, YOU'RE, IT'S A GOD-GIVEN TALENTS. ALL I CAN SEE. THANK YOU. ALL I WAS EVER ABLE TO DO WAS STICK MEN AND STICK WOMEN, YOU KNOW? WELL, THAT'S OKAY. I NEED HELP CALCULATING A TIP. SO, , UH, AND, AND THE OTHER PERSON I'D LIKE TO THANK IS MY WIFE. SHE'S HERE. I MEAN, I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FROM KIND OF ALL ASPECTS OF MY LIFE, WHICH I GREATLY APPRECIATE. UM, SWEETIE, STAND UP. UM, MY WIFE WEARS MANY, MANY HATS SO THAT I CAN JUST WEAR ONE REWIND. . YEAH, , BECAUSE I'M NOT GOOD AT ANYTHING. BUT WHAT I DO, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU REVEAL THE PICTURE OF THE ASTROS, UH, OF THE WINNING, THE, THE WORLD SERIES OF THE ASTROS, IT WAS JUST AWESOME. THANK YOU. YOU COULD SEE EVERYBODY'S PICTURE IN THERE, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY PROBABLY WERE NOT IN, IN THE PICTURE. YOU PUT 'EM IN THE PICTURE. I DID. AND I, AND I, I JUST FOUND THAT VERY AMAZING. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TALENT BEING USED RIGHT HERE AMONG US. THANK YOU. BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. TURN AROUND. YEAH, COMMENT. SPECIAL NEWS. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] ALRIGHT, LET'S GET STARTED. FOR THE, UM, AFTERNOON SESSION, UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX FOR THE INVOCATION. MIKE, I WAS GETTING ALL READY FOR THAT, AND I GOT DISTRACTED. THERE YOU GO. SORRY. UH, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, UH, REVEREND MICHAEL P DORN, UM, WHO HAS SERVED AS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF TRINITY DOWNTOWN RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, ACTUALLY FROM WHERE WE ARE SITTING, THE CHURCH IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HOUSTON AND WASHINGTON AVENUE NEXT DOOR TO THE FORMER HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE I USED TO WORK A LONG TIME AGO. UHHUH ORIGINALLY EDUCATED IN ENGINEERING AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT. PASTOR DORN RECEIVED HIS MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE FROM CONCORDIA LUTHERAN SEMINARY IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI IN 1991. PASTOR DORN IS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS, UH, THE OFFICIAL CHORAL UNIT OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. HIS WIFE VELOIS, SERVES AS AN ELEMENTARY SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER WITH HISD AND IS THE HEAD OF SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENT AT HER SCHOOL. MICHAEL AND VELOIS ARE PROUD TO CALL HOUSTON HOME AND ENJOY BEING A PART OF ITS VIBRANT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU PASTOR JORDAN FOR JOINING US. AND THE STAGE OF THE MICROPHONE IS YOURS. WELL, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. AND, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE REGULARLY PRAY FOR ALL OF YOU AT OUR CHURCH. UH, WE KNOW YOUR WORK IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT, AND TASKING, WE'RE PROUD TO BE YOUR NEIGHBORS. WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU ALL IN THE COMMUNITY. [00:35:01] AND WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY WITH ME? HEAVENLY FATHER, AS OUR CITY, CITY COUNCIL BEGINS ITS WORK TODAY, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THESE WILLING REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO'VE BEEN ELECTED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS FOR ALL OF OUR HOUSTON CITIZENS. GRANT THEM MEETS WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND INSIGHT AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR TASKS, AS THEY LISTEN TO THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD LEAD THEM TO DO WHAT IS BEST, AND THAT BLESSES YOUR PEOPLE. WE GIVE THANKS FOR MAYOR TURNER AND HIS YEARS OF SERVICE AND ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THE TRANSITION OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE NEXT MAYOR. WE ALSO LIFT UP TO YOU, OUR CITY WORKERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOSE TASKS ARE DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS. OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS, PROTECT AND WATCH OVER THEM. WE TOO PRAY FOR PEACE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND AN END TO WAR, LORD, HOW EASY IT IS TO OVERLOOK YOUR BLESSINGS TO US, INCLUDING THIS WONDERFUL CITY IN WHICH WE LIVE. HELP US TO REMEMBER ALL OF YOUR GIFTS IN THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, ESPECIALLY THE GIFT OF YOUR SON, JESUS, OUR SAVIOR, IN WHOSE NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE ARE PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE, THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IS PASSED ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. DON'T STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. I GUESS THAT, UH, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SEE, UM, IF YOU'RE PREPARED FOR THE ROLL CALL, MADAM SECRETARY, MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCILMAN PECK WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN EVAN CHAVAR. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN KAUFMAN? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONSTABLE KNOX. HERE. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KASH. HERE. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JULY 25TH AND 26. CASTEX TATUM. MOVE SECOND, ROBINSON. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR. NOW MOTION IS GRANTED. OKAY. TODAY, AGAIN, THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS WE HAVE SIGNED TO SPEAK. AND WHEN THAT NUMBER EXCEEDS 150 MINUTES, UH, THERE'S A SPECIAL RULE THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO INVOKE. SO, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL, UH, READ THAT RULE NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION A, IF THE TOTAL OF THE TIMES REQUESTED BY SPEAKERS AT ANY COUNCIL MEETING IS GREATER THAN 150 MINUTES, THE MAYOR SHALL SO ANNOUNCE AND EACH SPEAKER'S TIME SHALL BE ONE MINUTE. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION ARE INVOKED, THE QUESTION TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL BE LIMITED TO A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF ONE MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS RULE. AND RULE 10 TO THE CONTRARY. OKAY, SO LET ME, LET ME KIND OF REITERATE, SO WE'LL ALL BE CLEAR. UM, BECAUSE OF THE LONG NUMBER, THE LIST OF SPEAKERS, AND THE TIME EXCEEDS 150 MINUTES, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR, THREE MINUTES, TWO MINUTES, UH, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE, ONE MINUTE. AND THAT TIME CAN ONLY BE EXTENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COLLECTIVELY, YOU ALL HAVE ONE MINUTE. OKAY. GET STARTED IN ONE. AND SO, UH, LET ME ALSO SAY, UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE AND PEOPLE WILL BE SPEAKING ON A HOST OF DIFFERENT SUBJECTS TODAY. UH, AGAIN, LET ME REMIND PEOPLE, UH, TO BE RESPECTFUL, UM, OF EVERYONE PRESENT. UM, UH, PLEASE DO THAT. LET ME ASK YOU ALSO TO BEAR UNDER THE QUORUM OF THE CHAMBER. UH, THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL. AND IF YOU HAVE SIGNS, UH, PLEASE DO NOT, UH, BLOCK PEOPLE BEHIND YOU, UH, WITH YOUR SIGNS. SO LET ME ASK YOU TO DO THAT, UH, AND THEN I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING AS WE GO FORWARD. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE SPEAKERS. UH, MR. ROBBIE KNAPP, FATHER VICTOR PEREZ, JACKSON, NATO, AND REVEREND MICHAEL DORN TO THE TOP OF THE NON-AG AGENDA SPEAKERS LIST. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. IS THERE SECOND? SECOND. BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTIONS? CHAIR? NONE. THE MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UH, MEMBER KASH FOR PROCEED FOR MOTION. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND, UH, MOVE JACK CHRISTIE, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TAMARA BELL AND PONCHO CLAUSE TO BE [00:40:01] AT THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA. FOLLOW. I DON'T WANT HIM TO FOLLOW HIM. BE ON TOP FIRST SINCE HE, SINCE HE'S PUT HIS THERE. EVERYBODY'S ONLY GONNA GET ONE MINUTE. AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, DR. CHRISTIE'S GONNA BE SPEAKING ABOUT, UH, SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE AGENDA. OKAY. SO YOU'RE GOING TO FILE A COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX? MM-HMM . NO. I WANT TO BE, UH, AT THE FIRST SPEAKER TO BE DR. J. DR. CHRISTIE. I'M FINE WITH THAT. MAYOR HAS AGENDA ITEM. OKAY. ANY, IT'S BEEN MOVED. SECONDED. ANY OBJECTIONS? CHAIR NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. DO CHAIR RECOGNIZE THIS COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE, UM, RABBI ESTES. TO FOLLOW ELIZABETH JENNINGS. JUST FOR, UM, OKAY. HOLD ON. COUNCIL, LEMME GO BACK. BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, KUBOSH A SECOND. WAS THERE A SECOND ON COUNCIL MEMBER KASH MOTION? I'LL SECOND. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ELIZABETH JENNINGS BEFORE, UH, RABBI ESTES. THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE SWITCHING SPOTS. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. SECOND. BEEN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, SHERRY? NONE. AND THEN ONE LAST NOTE. BEAR IN MIND DURING THIS SESSION, UH, THERE IS NO CLAPPING. IF YOU AGREE WITH SOMEONE, YOU CAN CERTAINLY RAISE YOUR HAND. UH, THAT'S PERMITTED. YOU CAN STAND, THAT'S PERMITTED. THE ONLY THING THAT I ASK, BE MINDFUL OF THOSE WHO ARE, WHO ARE SITTING, UH, BEHIND YOU. AND PLEASE, UH, TRY NOT TO BLOCK THEIR, THEIR VIEW. HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, I THINK WE'RE READY TO PROCEED. UH, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, DR. MARY EVANS SES, PONCHO CLUB. DR. MARY EVANS SES, THE PRESIDENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN, UH, UNIVERSITY IS HERE. DR. SES, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALSO, MS. MAYOR, UM, THESE ARE GOOD TIMES. I'M MARY EVAN SES. I'M THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR TEXAS SOUTHERN AND THE CITY OF DALLAS. FOR 37 YEARS, WE'VE HAD AN AVIATION PROGRAM THAT SOME OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT, BUT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THAT PROGRAM HAS TAKEN ON A NEW FORM. AND IN JUNE OF 2018, WE REINTRODUCED OUR PILOT CONCENTRATION. I THINK YOU WOULD BE EXCITED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE 157 STUDENTS IN OUR AVIATION PROGRAM. IT'S GROWN DRAMATICALLY. THOSE STUDENTS COME FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY, THERE ARE WOMEN, ALMOST AS MANY WOMEN IN THIS PROGRAM AS THERE ARE MEN. WE OWN EIGHT A AIRCRAFT AND WE LEASE ONE OTHER. RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THOSE AIRCRAFT ARE SITTING OUT OUTSIDE WHERE THEY'RE SUBJECT TO BE DAMAGED BY HAIL, WIND, AND WATER. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY ARE PASSING THE TEST, BECOMING PILOT AND PILOT INSTRUCTIONS SCORING 95 97 ON THEIR CERTIFICATIONS. AND RECENTLY, WE ARE PROUD TO SAY OUR PROGRAM IS ONE OF 44 IN THE WORLD THAT HAS BECOME ABBY ACCREDITED. LEMME GIVE YOU MY MINUTE. OKAY. SO WE HAVE SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH WEST AIRLINES. AND WITH UNITED, THEY ARE GIVING US A FLOW THROUGH FOR OUR STUDENTS. TO DATE, WE HAVE FOUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HIRED AS PILOTS WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINE AND PARTICIPATE AND ANTICIPATE BECOMING PILOTS WITH UNITED AIRLINES. WE ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING A FACILITY, UH, THAT'S OFFERING 22,000 SQUARE FEET OF HANGAR SPACE, 72,000 SQUARE FEET ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AND A $10,000 10,000 GALLON FOOT FUEL TANK. THIS AGREEMENT IS FOR FIVE YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW. WE HOPE YOU VOTE YES ON THIS. AND I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, OUR CHIEF ECONOMIC OFFICER, ANDY EKEN, HOUSTON AIRPORT DIRECTOR, MARIO DIAZ, TERRANCE FONTAINE, WHO IS OUR LEADER OF THE PROGRAM, AND, UH, LILIANO RAMBO. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN WONDERFUL, BUT NOT AS WONDERFUL AS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THIS PROGRAM WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU COME FROM IN THE WORLD OF WHATEVER YOUR ZIP CODE IS, YOU CAN FLY. THANK YOU, DR. SIZE. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, LET ME THANK YOU. UH, TERRANCE ELIANA, UH, THE WHOLE TEAM, UH, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IT SETS THE STAGE FOR TEXAS SOUTHERN AVIATION PROGRAM, [00:45:01] UH, TO BE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY, UH, WHICH, WHICH WILL DRAW PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD. SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE. IT'S GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW. UM, I KNOW MANY OF US ARE EXCITED FOR, WE ARE EXCITED 'CAUSE IT'S A PLUS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. LET ME YIELD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND MY VOICE IS KINDA RASPY STILL. I TOO, BUT, UH, DRSS, I CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THIS PROGRAM IS SO EXCITING. I, I USED TO WORK IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY MYSELF, AND SO CERTAINLY I KNOW THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE, AND I'M, THEY'RE JUST PHENOMENAL. AND THIS PROGRAM HAS CERTAINLY SOARED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. TERENCE FONTAIN. I TOLD HIM, ONCE YOU ARE A PILOT, I SAID, OH MY GOODNESS, YOU HAVE GONE UP A NOTCH , BECAUSE THAT IS PHENOMENAL TO HAVE, UH, BLACK PILOTS AND CERTAINLY, UH, HE'S, HIS LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN STELLAR AS WELL AS YOURS. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR PROAM MARTIN? YES, THANK YOU MAYOR AND, AND DR. SIZE, AND DR. TERRANCE FONTAINE. AND, AND MS. RAMBO. THIS IS A, A FANTASTIC PROGRAM. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, NOT ONLY HAVE AVIATION AND TEACHING FACILITIES OUT IN SPACEPORT ELLINGTON AIRFIELD, BUT AS WE LEARNED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN WE AT THE AIRPORT TALKING TO UNITED, UH, SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN AVIATION, MOTION TO EXTEND. SECOND. SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NO. GRANTED, THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN AVIATION IS A WORKFORCE THAT IS GETTING TO AN AGE WHERE THERE'S MANDATORY RETIREMENT AND THERE'S NO FUNNEL OF YOUNG FOLKS COMING UP THAT CAN TAKE OVER AERONAUTICS AND AVIATION IN THE FUTURE. THIS GOES TO SUPPORT IT. SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. DR. FONTAINE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DEAR FRIEND, RUNS A GREAT PRACTICE OUT THERE. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND TRANSPIRES OVER THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS A GREAT THING. IT'S THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE ALWAYS SAY, WHILE WE'RE THE OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, THE FUTURE LIVES IN AERONAUTICS AND AVIATION, AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND REALLY QUICKLY, DR. SIZE, JUST WANTED TO THANK, SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, AT TSU, UH, FOR COMING FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM AS WELL AS DR. FTA LEON AS YOU AS WELL. UM, AND THEN PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR THE, THE, THE KIND WORDS THAT YOU BESTOWED UPON ME, UH, WITH THE PASSING OF MY MOM. UH, IT MEANT A LOT TO RECEIVE YOUR CARD AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU GOING FORWARD. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU DR. SIZE. IN JANUARY. I LOOK F FORWARD TO SIGNING UP, UH, FOR YOUR AVIATION PROGRAM. , I WENT UP. IT'S SAFE. YOU'LL ENJOY YOURSELF . SO THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ALL DAY. THANK YOU YOU AND THANK ALL OF YOU ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU DR. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. DAN KRUEGER. DAN KRUEGER. DAN KRUEGER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DR. JACK CHRISTIE. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANKS FOR THE MINUTE TO HELP YOU. IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT. IF IT IS BROKE, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN FIXED ALREADY? I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS AND DESERVES FROM THE CITY. I DON'T BELIEVE ITEM 75 WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS. AND EVEN WITH ITEM 74 FROM LAST WEEK, THE TWO TOGETHER WILL BE BUT A BANDAID. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE GREATER ACTION. I'D SUGGEST YOU NOT ACCEPT ANY MORE EXCUSES IF THE CONTRACTOR, THE CITY'S ENGAGED, CANNOT PERFORM TO RAPIDLY IMPROVE THE TIMELINESS AND ACCURACY OF UTILITY BILLS AND WHAT THE CITY NEEDS IS A DIFFERENT CONTRACTOR OR A DIFFERENT CONTRACT. MAYOR IT WORK FOR POTHOLES. WHY NOT FOR UTILITY BILLING? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, DR. JACK CHRISTIE. DR. JACK CHRISTIE. SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY TOMORROW. BELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. I, UH, WANT TO PREFACE MY COMPLIMENTS TO PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, SERVANTS HERE TODAY. BUT BEFORE, PLEASE VOTE FOR THE NINE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WATER BILLS TOMORROW. IT'S GONNA MAKE 500 PEOPLE VERY HAPPY AND SOLVE A PROBLEM AND FUTURE PROBLEMS, UH, BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, BY THE MAYOR, AND, UH, A BLONDE NAMED AMY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY BY CHRISTMAS TIME. SO PLEASE VOTE IN AFFIRMATIVE. I'D LIKE TO THANK PUBLIC SERVANTS, THE NEW NEWLY ELECTED, THE NEWBIES, AND THE REELECTED. [00:50:01] YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT CHALLENGES AHEAD OF YOU, BUT THE VETERANS EACH IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, HAVE DONE PHENOMENAL THINGS FOR THIS CITY. UM, SERVED EIGHT YEARS CARLOS CISNEROS. WE PRIVATELY VOTED HER THE, THE, THE KINDEST AND, UH, MIS CONGENIALITY AND THE HOMECOMING QUEEN OF CITY COUNCIL. HOLD ON, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. YOUR TIME HAS EXPERIENCE. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOYED SERVING WITH YOU FOR SIX YEARS. IT, IT WAS, UH, IT WAS A REAL BLESSING TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND, UH, OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT FLUORIDE ANYMORE AND, UH, NEED TO HEAR IT . BUT ANYWAY, UH, WHAT WAS YOUR, WAS YOU GONNA SAY ABOUT, UH, YES. WELL, MR. CISNEROS E EACH ONE THAT'S RETIRING HAS A PHENOMENAL RECORD. AND WHEN YOU GO TO, TO, UH, ROBERT GALLEGOS, THAT'S ONE OF THE KINDEST PEOPLE THAT'S EVER SERVED EIGHT YEARS ON THE, ON THE, UH, HE'S, HE'S A LEADER OF SPECIAL CAUSES TOO. UH, DAVE MARTIN, EH, UM, . ANYBODY THAT CAN GET THE POWER TO RAISE AND LOWER THE LEVELS OF A LAKE AND THEN WALK ON THAT WATER, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD POLITICIAN. DONE A GREAT JOB, DAVE, FOR, FOR THE EIGHT YEARS THERE. UM, MIKE KNOX, HE'S THE GO-TO PERSON FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. I ALWAYS FELT SAFER WHEN HE WAS AROUND. HE ALWAYS TOLD THE TRUTH AND HE, UM, I THINK COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. JACK, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. YOU CAN HAVE MY MINUTE. THANK YOU. UM, YOU NEED TO READ HIS BOOK ON GANGS. MIKE KNOX ALWAYS TOLD THE TRUTH AND HE WAS, UH, GOOD AT THAT. DAVID ROBINSON, I THINK HE'S SERVED, UH, 10 OR 20 YEARS. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT THE EXTRA YEARS ON HIS, BUT, UM, HE'S THE FRIENDLIEST, VOTED THE FRIENDLIEST OF THE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR, UH, WIFE IS LUCKY TO HAVE YOU TOO, MICHAEL KUBOSH. I JUST WISH THAT YOU'D STOPPED THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS EARLIER BECAUSE I HAD TO PAY MY DAUGHTER'S TICKET. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT ANYBODY THAT'S HAD THAT MANY FOSTER CHILDREN HAS A HEART OF GOLD. I APPRECIATE YOU BUDDY. CHRIS BROWN DID A, UH, A GREAT JOB WARNING US OF INSTABILITY AND EVERY TIME HE WOULD TELL YOU TO BALANCE YOUR CHECKBOOK, WE THANK CHRIS BROWN, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER STARTED THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THE BAIL MOST TO EXTENT COUNCILMAN GUY. HE GOES, THANK YOU MAYOR. WELL FIRST OF ALL, COUNCIL MEMBER CHRISTIE, FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS VERY ENJOYABLE. I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU FOR FOUR YEARS HERE ON CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND RECENTLY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. SO, UH, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR STILL REMAINING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY EVEN AFTER YOU'VE LEFT CITY COUNCIL. UH, AND YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. SOON AS I, SOON AS I SERVE ALL MY TIME IN JAIL, I'LL BE BACK. SO, UM, OKAY. I STARTED WITH MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. THE FIRST TRIP WE TOOK WAS TO MEXICO CITY. IN HIS SPEECH TO THE BUSINESS PEOPLE IN MEXICO CITY. HE SAID, WE ARE HERE TO BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, NOT WALLS, STANDING OVATION FROM THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO. WE NEED TO STAY BEST FRIENDS WITH THEM. WE WENT OVER NINE COUNTRIES TOGETHER. WE WENT TO INDIA AND INVITED THE VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA TO BRING PRESIDENT MODI HERE, 50,000 PEOPLE IN UH, NRG STADIUM AND WE SHOULD STAY GREAT FRIENDS WITH THE PEOPLE OF INDIA. HE TOOK A $20 BILLION LAWSUIT AND BROUGHT IT DOWN TO $2 BILLION. AND FORTUNATELY JACK, THIS WILL DO IT, SIR. SO THIS WILL, THIS WILL DO IT. THIS IS IT. THE TIME HAS, OKAY, FINE. WELL YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS. THANKS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THANKS JACK. AND SAVING THE CITY FROM BANKRUPTCY WAS ONE OF THE BIG ONES. THANKS JACK. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TOO. THANK YOU JACK. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER TOMORROW, BELL, TOMORROW BE, IT'S JUST HIS FINAL. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I HOPE THAT I AM, UH, NOT ECHOING EVERYONE ELSE, BUT I DID COME TO THANK A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE FOR WHO WITHOUT THE CITY WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, CHOOSING TO SERVE IT'S TIME YOU WILL NEVER GET BACK. AND THE FACT THAT YOU WANNA DO IT FOR THE CITY MAKES ME APPLAUD [00:55:01] YOU AS I DO IT. AND TRY TO ASSIST YOU ALL IN ANY WAY I CAN. BEHIND YOU ALL. IF YOU NOTICE THERE'S A WHITE BAG. THAT BAG CONTAINS TWO DOZEN CELEBRITY CUPCAKES. AND THAT IS FOR YOU ALL TO ENJOY. UH, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD APPRECIATES Y'ALL ENDURING SUPPORT AND WE WILL CONTINUE. FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL COMING BACK, HEY, CONGRATULATIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO TAKE THAT BOAT AND GO OUT FISHING, I HOPE YOU GET A BIG CATCH. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANKS YAMAR. ALRIGHT, NO CLAPPING NEXT. NO CLAPPING NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER. ELLIS PANCHO, C CLAUS, RES PANCHO C PUNCH YOUR CLAW. YOU GONNA PUNCH YOUR FOR THAT . FORGIVE MY EYE. I HAD A CATARACT OPERATION YESTERDAY. UM, I WORE MY PONCHO CLAW SUIT TODAY TO GRAB YOUR ATTENTION. I'VE BEEN RIDING THE METRO FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS. MY CONCERN ARE OF A DANGEROUS PRACTICE ON THE METRO RAIL, EVEN THOUGH THE RAIL ITSELF IS VERY RELIABLE AND CLEAN. AND YES, I'M GONNA GO BEFORE THE METRO BOARD WITH MY CONCERNS, BUT THERE'S A PART OF THIS DANGEROUS PUZZLE THAT CONCERNS THE CITY FIRST. THE METRO DOES NOT CHARGE. I RODE FOR FIVE MONTHS BEFORE BEING ASKED BY A FAIR INSPECTOR FOR A TICKET BECAUSE OF THIS PRACTICE OF NOT CHARGING THE HOMELESS MANY WITH MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, DRUG OR VIOLENT BEHAVIORS, CAMP OUT ON THE METRO AND HARASS SENIOR CITIZENS, MOM WITH CHILDREN, ET CETERA. I'VE EVEN EXITED THE METRO A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE MY STOP BECAUSE I FELT ENDANGERED. I'VE SEEN A MAN PULL OUT A MACHETE AND PEOPLE SCATTERED. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE SPREAD OUT BLANKETS IN THE BACK OF THE METRO ARE OWLS. I'VE SEEN A PIT BULL RO ROAMING UP AND DOWN THE OWLS UNATTENDED. I HAVE A VIDEO THAT I MADE AND I POSTED ON MY MONTHS RIGHT IN METRO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO VIEW IT. IT'S POSTED ON 10 OF MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES TODAY UNDER PONCHO CLAUSE. THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT. ONE SEC. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. THANK YOU RICHARD FOR BEING HERE AND, AND USING YOUR CELEBRITY TO BRING, UM, IMPORTANT ATTENTION TO THIS. DO YOU WANNA JUST FINISH UP REAL SUPER QUICK? THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT IT CLOSED THE ONLY DOWNTOWN COOLING STATION IN THE SUMMER. SO THE HOMELESS ARE FORCED TO RIDE IN A COOL AIR CONDITIONED METRO RAIL. THE ONES WITH SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS COULD DIE IF THEY DIDN'T. THERE ARE SOLUTIONS, I BELIEVE, INCLUDING RENTING OUT DOWNTOWN CHURCH HALLS, COMMUNITY HALLS LIKE THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS OR LULAC OR EVEN PUTTING UP EMERGENCY TENTS IN CITY PARKS. LIKE WE PUT UP EMERGENCIES LIKE HURRICANES, COVID, AND IMMIGRATION HOUSING FOR THIS RECORD BREAKING HEAT. IT IS TRULY AN EMERGENCY. I DEDICATED MY LIFE ADVOCATING FOR THE POOR. SO IT PAINS ME TO GET THE HOMELESS PUSHED OUT OF THE COOLING STATIONS THEY HAVE. BUT MY CONCERN FOR SENIORS AND MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN IS GREATER. THAT'S WHY I WAITED UNTIL THIS TIME OF YEAR TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT THE HOMELESS TO GET PUSHED OUT DURING THE SUMMER. RECORD BREAKING HEAT WITHOUT A COOLING STATION. SO NOW WE HAVE FIVE MONTHS TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. I HOPE THIS CAN BE DONE. I MYSELF PASS OUT COLD BOTTLES OF WATER DAILY WITH HELP NUMBERS WHICH HAVE BEEN PASSED OUT TO YOU. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR CARLOS CIS ROBERT GALLEGOS, COUNCIL MEMBER KJA FOR YOUR HELP. COUNCILMAN GGO. THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARD , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE ALL THESE YEARS. UH, NOT JUST HERE IN THIS, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE NOW, UH, DOING THIS DOWN IN THE VALLEY. UH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. 'CAUSE YOU BROUGHT A LOT OF BIG SMILES, UH, TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED KIDS, UH, THAT MANY OF 'EM MAY NOT HAVE HAD A PRESENT, UH, DURING CHRISTMAS. UH, SO YOU'RE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHRISTMAS, UH, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED KIDS HAVE A CHRISTMAS. UH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND IT'S BEEN A JOY WORKING WITH YOU WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE ON COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBBIE KNAPP. ROBBIE KNAPP. ROBBIE KNAPP IS HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YES SIR. MY NAME'S ROBBIE KNAPP. I REPRESENT KNAPP CHEVROLET AND FAMILY, EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS AT A LOCATION ON THE CORNER OF HOUSTON, WASHINGTON AVENUE THAT'S OPERATED SINCE DECEMBER 6TH, 1941. I'M A FOURTH GENERATION MEMBER OF MY FAMILY TO BE IN THE BUSINESS AND WE PLAN TO BE IN A LOT LONGER. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TODAY IN REVIEW OF THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT. IT'S A MEDIAN PROJECT WRITTEN AS A SAFETY PROJECT, BUT IT HAS NE NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES DOWN THE CORRIDOR. I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS ABOUT WANTING INPUT ON THE PROJECT 'CAUSE OF THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON MY STORE, BUT IT FELT DUPLICITOUS A YEAR LATER WHEN I WAS PRESENTED WITH THE FINAL REPORT THAT HAD NO CHANGES, NO CONSIDERATIONS MADE, AND TOOK NO INPUT. I QUESTIONED WHY IT HAPPENED. I OFFERED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IF IT WAS NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT, AND I WAS [01:00:01] TOLD IT'S ABOUT THE GREATER GOOD, NOT ABOUT MONEY. THE GREATER GOOD OF CUTTING OFF CUSTOMERS IN MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT, CUTTING OFF AN ENTRANCE TO A CHURCH AND EXIT TO ANOTHER CHURCH, ACCESS TO A BRAND NEW RESTAURANT IS A PROBLEM. I NEED Y'ALL SUPPORT TO INTERVENE IN THE PROJECT. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN KASH. I, I'M JUST NOW REALLY LEARNING ABOUT THIS 'CAUSE IT'S NOT AN AGENDA ITEM. I, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A, UH, IT WAS PUT FORTH BY THE, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AS A, UH, PART OF HER, UH, FUNDS THAT SHE HAS CALLED DISCRETIONARY DI DISTRICT COUNCIL FUNDS. NOW I'M AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER. I DON'T HAVE THOSE FUNDS, BUT I VOTED FOR EVERY DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER IN THIS CHAMBER TO HAVE THOSE FUNDS DURING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE. IN FACT, I WAS THE ONLY AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT VOTED WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THAT FUND. I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO WHERE THAT ANYTHING THAT'S SPENT OVER THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 IN THEIR DISCRETIONARY FUNDS SHOULD COME TO COUNCIL. SO THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF IT BECAUSE I STARTED GETTING CALLS ABOUT THIS AND I DON'T SEE IT ON THE AGENDA. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS AT. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING. YOU'VE SHINED A LIGHT IN THE AREA THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF. APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. I, I DO WANNA JUST POINT OUT THAT, THAT YOUR BUILDING REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON HOUSTON AVENUE AND TO ALL TRAFFIC ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, UH, VIA SEVERAL OTHER ACCESS POINTS THAT ALREADY EXIST AROUND THE PROPERTY. AND IT IS ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. NEXT SPEAKER. VICTOR PEREZ. VICTOR PEREZ. VIC. VICTOR HERE. VICTOR'S COMING. OH, HERE WE GO. MM-HMM . HI, MY NAME IS FATHER VICTOR PEREZ. I'M A PASTOR OF ST. JOSEPH FACING, UH, CANE STREET AND SIXTH WARD, JUST AROUND THE CORNER AS WELL. UM, WE'RE ADJACENT TO HOUSTON AVENUE. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY NEIGHBORS ON HOUSTON AVENUE. UH, TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY PARISH. TRINITY LUTHERAN FACES FACES HOUSTON AVENUE'S MOST IS ALMOST A HOUSTON LANDMARK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DRIVE ON 45 PAST DOWNTOWN. WHILE THE NEW MEETING IS OF SOME INCONVENIENCE TO MY PARISH WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN FROM CANE STREET DIRECTLY ONTO HOUSTON AVENUE NORTH, IT WILL AFFECT OUR FUNERAL PROCESSIONS. BUT THIS NEW MEETING AFFECTS TRINITY MUCH MORE AND MAKES THEIR MAIN DRIVEWAY LESS ACCESSIBLE IF ONE IS TRAVELING SOUTH ON HOUSTON AVENUE. WE PASTORS ARE TRYING TO SERVE OUR CHURCHES THE BEST WE CAN. TRINITY AND MY CHURCH, ST. JOSEPH HAVE BEEN ON HOUSTON AVENUE SINCE THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS AND WE TEAM UP TO SERVE THE HOMELESS. I ASK THAT THE COUNCIL LISTEN TO, UH, PASTOR MICHAEL DORN, THE OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS SUCH AS ROBBIE KNAPP AND, UM, WHOSE SERVICE BAY WILL BE HARDER TO ACCESS. AND THE NEW RESTAURANT TUMBLE 22 AND EMPLOYEE POLICE SUPPLY STORE. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN CIRO. UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING. FATHER, I DID WANNA JUST ADD SOME OTHER, UM, UH, COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE IN AN EMAIL. UM, EARLIER. IT SAYS, I SEE THE VALUE OF THE CHANGES AND AGREE IT MIGHT BE SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND PRETTIER, BUT RIGHT NOW THE MAIN PEDESTRIANS ARE PEOPLE GOING TO COURT IN OUR UNHOUSED BROTHERS AND SISTERS. RIGHT NOW I SEE HOUSTON AVENUE AND ITS WIDENESS AS A NATURAL BARRIER BETWEEN DOWNTOWN WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND SIXTH LORD AND ITS MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES. THANK YOU FOR, FOR EXPANDING ON WHAT, WHAT YOUR OTHER CONCERNS ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, JACKSON MENTO. JACKSON IS HERE. HI. HI. MY NAME IS JACKSON AS SAMANTHA. I'M THE MANAGING PARTNER AT TBO 22 ON HOUSTON AVENUE. IT'S A BRAND NEW RESTAURANT. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THIS IS SO COOL. I NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, . SO SECOND OF ALL, I UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY AND YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING FOR THAT. UH, YOU KNOW, AND I ALL FOR IT. BUT WE JUST NEED TO PLAN A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND THEN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING THAT WE, WE WILL WORK GREAT. UH, YOU KNOW, I'M A NEW RESTAURANT THREE MONTHS MY PEOPLE ARE JUST HIRED. AND THEN DECEMBER, IT'S NOT THE MONTH. SOME SOMEBODY IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS TO LOSE MONEY, BUT THEY HAVE FAMILIES. THEY HAVE CHRIS, THEY, THEY HAVE MY, UH, PRESENT AND THEY HAVE EVERYTHING ELSE. UM, MY SALES ARE DOWN 40% TO 50%. WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? I'M GONNA CUT PEOPLE. PEOPLE NOT GONNA MAKE MONEY. PEOPLE NOT, YOU KNOW, TAKING AN HOUR FOR EMPLOYEES JUST TO DRIVE TO WORK. THEY TAKING AN HOUR TO WORK. OKAY? AND THEN THAT'S THE OTHER THING. UM, YOU KNOW, [01:05:01] ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU. I LOVE YOUR RESTAURANT. HOLD ON SECOND, IF Y'ALL CAN MONITOR, IF WE GET, IF WE GET TOO FULL, PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT ON THE OUTSIDE UNTIL, UNTIL THERE ARE MORE SEATS AVAILABLE. 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO GET TOO, TOO CROWDED IN HERE. OKAY? COUNCILMAN CISNEROS, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN TO THE RESTAURANT, UH, I DUNNO, SIX, EIGHT TIMES ALREADY. WE ARE BIG FANCY BOUGHT A T-SHIRT ALREADY , IT'S OUR FAVORITE PLACE. I TALK IT UP ALL THE TIME. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE GO AND WE'VE WALKED AND WE'VE DRIVEN THERE, WE GO AROUND BEHIND BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT SAFE TO CROSS OVER. UM, I THINK YOUR CONCERN PRIMARILY IS THE CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC. AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAD ASSURED ME THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD BE DONE, UH, BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND IT'S NOT. IT'S DRAGGING. AND, AND, UM, I GOT SOME CONCESSIONS THIS MORNING FROM THEM THAT THEY ARE DOING SOME THINGS TO SPEED IT UP. THEY'LL BE AN HPD OFFICER THERE TO HELP TRAFFIC MOVE IT MORE QUICKLY. UM, THE CONTRACTOR HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ON SITE SO THAT THEY WILL BE, UM, AND THEIR SCHEDULES HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO WORK FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM FOR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. REALLY TRYING TO PICK IT UP BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT. I, AND I'M WITH YOU ON THE, ON THE, YEAH. ON THAT. OKAY. THEY, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'LL GET DONE ON THE, ON THE 31ST. THEY'RE GONNA TAKE EVERYTHING OUT AND THEY'RE GONNA CLEAN IT UP BECAUSE IT WAS THE MARATHON. THEY'LL COME BACK ON THE 15TH. SO NOW IT'S A MONTH AND A HALF OF A CONSTRUCTION. YEAH. YEAH. THAT WAS USED TO THAT MOTION TO EXTEND YESTERDAY. WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, UM, THANK YOU, SIR, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. ALRIGHT. COOL. THANKS, . THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, REVEREND MICHAEL. DAWN. REVEREND MICHAEL DAWN IS HERE. THANK YOU. I'M HERE TODAY TO BEG YOU TO STOP THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT. IT'S JUST BEGUN. THERE'S STILL TIME TO STOP IT. WHILE WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MODIFICATIONS TO LUBBOCK AND THE HOUSTON INTER, UH, HOUSTON INTERSECTION, THIS WELL-INTENTIONED PROJECT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS IS ACTUALLY CAUSING ADDITIONAL SAFETY ISSUES. IT, IN ADDITION, IT CUTS OFF ACCESS TO OUR MAIN ENTRANCE, WHICH WE'VE HAD FOR OVER A CENTURY. THIS HURTZ NAP CHEVROLET ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC, TUMBLE 22, AND POLICE SUPPLY. THIS PROJECT IS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES. TO DATE, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THIS REDESIGN IMPROVES SAFETY. I STAND HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BEFORE YOU, MAYOR TURNER, PLEASE GIVE THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRACTING WORKER THERE TO SUSPEND THE WORK, RESTORE THE PREMISES, AND CLOSE THE WORK ORDER. WE'D ACTUALLY LIKE IT, IF YOU WOULD, TAKE THE TIME, SLOW DOWN, SPEND THE MONEY, DO IT RIGHT, SO THAT IT BLESSES EVERYONE, ADDRESSES THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND SUPPORTS THE BUSINESSES THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. . OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER EZ. UM, THANK YOU PASTOR DORN, AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION THIS MORNING, UH, THIS AFTERNOON. UM, I DO WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT UP ALL THE SIGNS TO CALL MY OFFICE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT, WHAT, LET ME KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK. THAT WE HAD ONE PERSON WHO LIVED OUTSIDE WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. THE OTHER, THERE WERE SIX TOTAL. THERE WERE THREE THAT, THAT, THAT, UM, THANKED ME AND ASKED TO DO MORE. AND THERE WAS, UM, THERE WERE TWO THAT WERE CONCERNED ABOUT CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC. YOU KNOW, THE LOTS CHANGED. AND A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, WHEN THE CHURCH WAS PLACED THERE, THE POPULATION OF HOUSTON IS NO LONGER 50,000, 60,000. IT'S MUCH BIGGER PLACE. AND WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO, TO CHANGE HOW WE MOVE AROUND THE CITY. SO THIS IS REALLY ABOUT, IT'S, IT'S, UM, SURPRISING TO ME THAT A CHURCH WOULDN'T WANT SAFE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THE CHURCH FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND YOU. THE OLD SIXTH WARD, THE, THE, UM, THE FIRST WARD. THE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING ME TO, TO BE ABLE TO CROSS SAFELY ACROSS THE STREET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH. ACTUALLY, MAY I RESPOND? SURE. THANK YOU. UH, WE'RE ALL ABOUT SAFETY. WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIMECLOCK HAS EXPIRED. THE TIME CLOCK HAS EXPIRED MOTION. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS ON THIS, BUT, UH, WE ARE NOT, WE ARE GONNA, WE ARE NOT GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER, BRUCE NICHOLS. BRUCE NICHOLS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH CHATTER. WHERE ARE WE? HELLO EVERYBODY. I WANT ALSO WANT TO THANK, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE THAT YOU GIVE YOUR TIME. I KNOW YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF A PAY, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. UM, I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MAYOR TURNER. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY ALL THESE YEARS. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN DISAGREEMENTS OVER DETAILS AND SPEED OF PROGRESS, NONE CAN DOUBT YOUR [01:10:01] COMMITMENT, HARD WORK AND LOVE FOR THIS CITY. YOU'VE BEEN A STRONG LEADER AND A SKILLED SPOKESMAN FOR HOUSTON. YOU'VE ENERGETICALLY LED US THROUGH STORMS, PANDEMIC BUDGET SQUEEZES OTHER CHALLENGES, MORE PARTICULAR TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. YOUR SWAT TEAM REGRADED DRAINAGE DITCHES, AND YOU APPROVED FIVE YEAR BUDGETS FOR TOUR 17 THAT WILL FINANCE EXPANDED STORM WATER DETENTION AND IMPROVED STORM SEWERS. YOUR RECENT REAPPOINTMENT OF OUR TOUR 17 BOARD ADVANCES THESE GOALS NOW, AS YOU HEAD TOWARD A WELL-DESERVED REST OR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE PILOTING, MAYBE WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE EXTENSION OF THE LIFE OF TOUR 17 SO THAT THE CITY AND ITS PARTNERS CAN CONTINUE AIR TIME FIRE NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, UM, FOR OUR DISTRICT AND COLLABORATION. I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME. THANKS BRUCE. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. SO YOU CAN FINISH BRUCE, HUH? YOU CAN FINISH. OH, OH. JUST SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MITIGATE FLOODING. BUT AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR EIGHT YEARS OF HARD WORK IN DIFFICULT TIMES. THANKS BRUCE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH CHATTER. SARAH CHATTER, PLEASE. ALL ABOUT JACQUELINE SEMPER. OKAY. UM, DEAR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE, ONE SECOND. PLEASE BEAR IN MIND IF THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU, DO NOT BLOCK THEM WITH YOUR SIGNS. SO LOWER YOUR SIGNS SO YOU'RE NOT BLOCKING PEOPLE BEHIND YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. DEAR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, I'M A MOM OF THREE BOYS. EVERY MORNING I OPEN INSTAGRAM WITH FEAR OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE NIGHT IN GAZA. EVERY DAY, THE CARNAGE GETS WORSE, AND I SEE CHILDREN WHO LOOK LIKE MY CHILDREN, BRUTALLY SLAUGHTERED UNDER RUBBLE, INTESTINES FALLING OUT. THE ONES WHO LIVE ARE MAIMED ARMS AND LEGS, AMPUTATED WITHOUT ANESTHESIA, MAGGOTS GROWING IN WOUNDS. THEY ARE STARVING AND THIRSTY. THIS IS A GENOCIDE BEING PAID FOR WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. UM, I IMPLORE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO BEAR WITNESS TO THESE IMAGES. SEE THEM FOR YOURSELVES FROM JOURNALISTS ON THE GROUND LIKE MOAZ. I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU WOULD WANT, UH, TO, NOT TO SCREAM FOR A CEASEFIRE. AFTER SEEING THE DELIBERATE BOMBING OF REFUGEE CAMPS, SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND HOSPITALS, THE ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANNA WIPE OUT GAZA. LISTEN TO THEM. PLEASE DECLARE A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION IN THIS DIVERSE CITY WHERE MOST OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT AN END TO THIS GENOCIDE AND A PATH TOWARDS PEACE. THE HOSTAGES NEEDS TO COME HOME ON BOTH SIDES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET ME, UH, LET ME SAY THIS ONE LAST TIME. THERE IS NO CLAPPING IN HERE. NOT DURING THIS SESSION. THERE IS NO CLAPPING. SO IF YOU AGREE WITH SOMEONE, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND. YOU CAN EVEN STAND UP. BUT CLAPPING IS NOT ALLOWED. OKAY. SO PLEASE LET ME ASK YOU TO ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THE, OF THE, OF THE CHAMBER. ALRIGHT. UM, NEXT SPEAKER, JACQUELINE SIMPER. JACQUELINE SEPER TO BE FOLLOWED BY SONYA JAMIL. JACQUELINE IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE SIMPER. I'M THE OWNER OF CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HOUSTON AND WASHINGTON AVENUE. WE'VE BEEN SERVING LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS IN THE HOUSTON AREA FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF THE PROPOSED PLAN TO ADD MEDIAS. AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE MY STORE IS LOCATED, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF, THE EMPLOYEES, AND OUR CUSTOMERS. THESE MEDIANS WOULD BE PLACED IN FRONT OF OUR DRIVEWAYS BY BLOCKING ACCESS TO OUR ENTRANCES. WE WOULD BE FORCED TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND MAKE A U-TURN TO COME BACK AROUND. THIS IS A BUSY INTERSECTION AND CREATING CONFUSING ROUTES AND FORCING U-TURNS WILL ONLY INCREASE THE LEVEL OF DANGER FOR MOTORISTS, CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS. I SEE AND EXPERIENCE THIS INTERSECTION ALMOST EVERY DAY. CROSSWALKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PE FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS SAFELY. THE CYCLIST WENT DESIGNATED BIKE PATHS DOWN HOUSTON AVENUE. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD NOT APPEASE THEM. DRIVERS WOULD SUFFER CONGESTED TRAFFIC AND POTENTIALLY MORE ACCIDENTS. AND COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND, AND MY OFFICE HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH YOU TOO. UM, BUT IT'S, UH, YOUR, YOUR ADDRESS OF YOUR BUSINESS IS ACTUALLY ON WASHINGTON, CORRECT? YES. IT'S, AND YOU HAVE ACCESS, UM, FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS AND YOUR STAFF GOING TO AND FROM THE WASHINGTON ADDRESS? UH, YES. WE'RE AT HOUSTON. WASHINGTON, THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE MEDIANS ON HOUSTON AVENUE, YOU STILL HAVE, WILL HAVE, UM, UH, ACCESS FOR, UH, VEHICLES, UM, UH, GOING SOUTH ON, ON HOUSTON AVENUES. UM, BUT, BUT, UM, [01:15:01] IT'S, SO YOU ARE, YOU'RE NOT REALLY CUT OFF. SO YOU, YOU'VE GOT THE, THE PRIMARY ADDRESS. THE PRIMARY ENTRY IS ON OFF OF WASHINGTON. WE CONCERNED. SO THE CONSTRUCTION ISSUES, I AM WITH YOU ON THAT. WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM TO MOVE FASTER AND, AND, UM, PUBLIC WORKS IS TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO THAT. WE'LL SEE IN TOUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. SANAYA JAMIL, UM, SANAYA JAMIL. IS SHE PRESENT? I NEVER THOUGHT I'D LIVE IN A TIME WHERE SAYING ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED WOULD BE CONTROVERSIAL. BUT HERE WE ARE. IN 2023, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 17,000 DEATHS IN GAZA, WHICH INCLUDE OVER 7,000 CHILDREN IN TWO MONTHS. TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, IRAQ LOST THREE K CHILDREN IN 14 YEARS. YEMEN, 3,707 YEARS. UKRAINE 520 AND 21 MONTHS, ISRAEL 1 39 AND 20 YEARS. DO YOU SEE THE SHEER CONTRAST? THESE CHILDREN ARE MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS. IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WE HAVE SEEN A FATHER CARRY THE PIECES OF HIS CHILDREN IN PLASTIC BAGS. WE HAVE SEEN A SURGEON PERFORM AN AMPUTATION ON HIS OWN CHILD WITHOUT ANESTHESIA AND STILL SEE HIS CHILD DIE BEFORE HIS EYES. AND WE HAVE EVEN SEEN A SNIPER TARGET AND SHOOT AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY IN THE WEST BANK WHERE THE HAMAS DOES NOT OPERATE. NO CHILD DESERVES THIS. NOT IN ISRAEL, NOT IN GAZA, NOT ANYWHERE. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THE DEAD OF CHILDREN. IT'S CALLED COLLATERAL DAMAGE. CEASES FIRE NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO, UH, NO CHANTING. I AGREE WITH YOU ALL CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROTECTED. WE DO NOT. I AGREE WITH YOU. ALL CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROTECTED. THANK YOU. SO WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ON THAT. OKAY. SO THERE IS NO DISAGREEMENT HERE, SO LEMME BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. OKAY? THANK YOU. WE ARE ASKING FOR ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, JACKIE CARPENTER. JACKIE CARPENTER. JACKIE CARPENTER. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ANTISEMITISM. I'M READING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW IN A BOOK. IT'S CALLED THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF PALESTINE. IT'S WRITTEN BY ELON PAPPY, A ISRAELI JEWISH SCHOLAR. IT TALKS ABOUT THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE ARAB PEOPLE IN 1947 AND 1948. UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IN 2023 VIOLENCE IS STILL. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ANSWER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AMERICA WOULD BE GIVING WEAPONS TO, TO, UH, BB NETS AND YAHOO. I'M FOR THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE. I DON'T WANNA SEE ANYBODY WHO WAS KIDNAPPED, WHO'S IN A TUNNEL IN GAZA HURT. I DON'T WANNA SEE ANY PALESTINIAN CHILD DIE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAD MANY OPTIONS THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN BESIDES KILLING MORE THAN 17,000 PEOPLE. MY MOM'S OF ARAB HERITAGE, YOUR TIME HAS TRIED AND SHE TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST. THANK, SHE TOLD ME IT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, VA FRAGER. VA FRAGER, BOTH IF YOU GET RIGHT BEHIND THE MIC. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. I'M ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND ALSO TO THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. AS PASTOR DORN SAID, WE VERY KNOW THAT YOUR WORK IS NOT EASY. SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND AS WE COME CLOSER TO YOUR TERM, MAYOR, I PARTICULARLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT I'M APPRECIATIVE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. AND SO I'M HERE TO ALSO THANK YOU FOR THAT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE EAST END SECOND WARD, MAGNOLIA PARK IN MANCHESTER. AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR VISION FOR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ABOUT EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY. SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WHEN I LEARNED RECENTLY THAT IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS INFORMED BY GREYHOUND OF THEIR MOVE, UH, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE OPERATIONS TO THE EAST END. AND THIS IS A PRETTY BIG CHANGE FOR US IN THE EAST END. BUT FROM THERE, WE DID NOT GET WORD ABOUT THAT. NOT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NOT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS [01:20:01] FOR OUR AREA. AND AS I RECALL ABOUT COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, AGAIN, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE. ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THAT IS TO STRENGTHEN THAT BOND BETWEEN THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES. BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE NOT IN LINE WITH THAT. SOMEBODY I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, IF YOU CAN HELP US GET A MEETING WITH, WITH, WITH GREYHOUND LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. COUNCILMAN GANGS. EXCUSE ME. THANK, THANK YOU BOULEVARD FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND, UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TWO MEETINGS LAST WEEK. AND, UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING, SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, TRYING TO ADDRESS IT. BUT, UH, YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME. SO, UH, MAYOR, JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, GREYHOUND DID INFORM THE OFFICE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN JUNE, AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT INFORMED ABOUT THAT. THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP WITH US TO INFORM US OR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR OUR AREA. JUST LIKE TO ASK MAYOR, YOUR REMAINING TIME, IF YOU CAN HELP GET US A MEETING, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF GREYHOUND, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE. LET ME ASSIST ON THAT. BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THEY WERE MOVING TO THE EAST END. OKAY. UH, OKAY, SIR, THAT COULD BE, AGAIN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT WAS JUST THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YEAH. ALRIGHT, LET'S WORK ON THAT. OKAY, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL WORK ON IT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. WELL, OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, DEY RIOS. DEY RIOS. JAZZY IS HERE. THREE FOR BE FOLLOWED BY EMMA GARCIA. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M DR. DESI RIOS, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE EAST END. AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, THE GREYHOUND MOVE TO MAGNOLIA PARK. UM, AND JUST TO SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UH, THE GREYHOUND OPERATIONS ARE, HAVE MOVED TO MAGNOLIA PARK. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER STATION. UM, AND SO THE COMMUNITY, UM, IS CONCERNED THAT THEY WERE NOT ADVISED, UM, AND THAT THIS WILL CHANGE THE COMMUNITY IN NEGATIVE WAYS, INCLUDING THE INCREASE OF CRIME AND TRAFFIC. UH, SPEAKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE HEAR, UM, THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE ZONING LAWS. UM, WHICH IS DISCOURAGING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO VOTE FOR THEIR LEADERS TO BE TOLD THAT THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WE CAN THAT CAN BE DONE. UM, AND SO I ASK THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS HOW THE NO ZONING LAWS AFFECT PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES IN NEGATIVE WAYS. YOU COUNCILMAN GGO. THANK YOU, MS. THANK YOU MS. RUTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND, AND JUST, JUST SO THE PUBLIC CAN KNOW, LAST WEEK WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS. YES. UH, I KNOW CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, UH, HAD A, UH, VIRTUAL MEETING WITH ALL THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. YES. WITH THE REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF GREYHOUND AND WITH THREE OF HER EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING A REAL ESTATE PERSON. UH, AND THEN THE, UH, THE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP HAD TWO VIRTUAL MEETINGS. UH, AND THEN I HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING WITH CONSTABLE VINNO, WITH, UH, COMMANDER, UH, COLEMAN, UH, WITH, UH, TOM LAMBERT, THE PRESIDENT OF METRO, AND WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF METRO, UH, COUN, UM, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ADAM HERNANDEZ. UH, AND WE ALL DISCUSSED ON WHAT WE CAN DO IN REGARDS TO SAFETY ISSUES. UH, SO I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS. UH, AND WE'RE HAVING A MEETING TOMORROW IN REGARDS TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS ALONG HARRISBURG AND THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO FIGURE OUT A CIVILITY ORDINANCE, UH, POSSIBLY OR, OR, OR DOING AN AFFIDAVIT OF NO TRESPASSING FOR THE BUSINESSES. SO, UH, THE COMMANDER'S AWARE OF IT, AND WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING TOGETHER. I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS. YES, THANK YOU. WE ARE AWARE OF THAT. UM, I THINK THE CONCERN IS THAT WITH THE NO ZONING LAWS, THAT THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENS IN BROWN AND BLACK COMMUNITIES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, EDWARD GARCIA. EDWARD GARCIA. EDWARD GARCIA. TO WE FOUND ABOUT PATRICIA CARRA. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SAME ISSUE AS MY COLLEAGUE, UH, UH, DR. DESI NOT, AND, UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE NEAR THE NEW FACILITIES, AND THEY'RE CONCERNED, UH, ABOUT THE HONKING THAT'S GOING ON THERE BY THE, UH, BUSES DAY AND NIGHT. UH, THEY, THEY HAVE SOME, UH, VARIOUS OTHER ISSUES. UH, THERE, THERE IS A HOUSE THAT BACKS THAT, THAT THE BUS BACK UP RIGHT INTO THEIR, THEIR FENCE LINE. UH, SO THAT'S ALSO A CONCERN. AND I'D JUST ALSO JUST LIKE TO ASK THAT, UH, THE NEW, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS. AND ALSO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING IN TO CONSIDER THAT, UH, EVERY HUMAN BEING AND EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVES THE SAME TYPE OF RESPECT AND, AND CONSIDERATION. UH, NO MATTER WHAT, UH, [01:25:01] YOU KNOW, RELIGIOUS, UH, ETHNIC, UH, SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND, YOU COME FROM THAT EVERY PERSON DESERVES THAT, THAT CONSIDERATION. AND WE DO DESERVE THAT CONSIDERATION TO, TO, FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL GOES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LAST WEEK WE WERE INFORMED BY GREYHOUND THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT MOVING ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO. THEY WERE LOOKING AT MOVING. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE, BUT THEY WERE LOOKING AT MOVING. UH, AND THEN WHAT REALLY SURPRISED US THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT JUNE OR JULY OF LAST YEAR IS WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY WERE MOVING TO THE EAST END. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DIDN'T TELL ANYONE IN THE EAST END. THEY DIDN'T TELL ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY DIDN'T INTEND THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THEY DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY. UH, BUT YET THEY WERE FOCUSING ON MIDTOWN. THEY LET PEOPLE KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, IN MIDTOWN THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE MOVING, BUT THEY DIDN'T LET US KNOW THAT THEY WERE MOVING TO THE EAST END. UH, SO THAT'S VERY CONCERNING, THAT GREYHOUND DID NOT, DID NOT LET US KNOW. UH, AND WE FOUND OUT A DAY BEFORE THEY WERE MOVING INTO THE EAST END. AND LET ME, AND LEMME REITERATE. AND, AND NEITHER DID THEY SEEK ANY PERMIT, THEY DIDN'T NEED ANY PERMIT FROM US. SO NO PERMIT WAS ASKED FOR, NO PERMIT WAS ISSUED. MM-HMM . THEY SIMPLY MOVED TO THE LOCATION THAT THEY ALREADY OCCUPIED. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, I JUST ASK ALL NEW ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS TO, TO DO THINGS, UH, CREATE, UH, WHATEVER PROPOSALS, LAWS THAT NEED TO BE, UH, MADE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TIME, TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PATRICIA CABRERA. PATRICIA CABRERO. PATRICIA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ZARA ALI. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, I'M SPEAKING TODAY, UH, FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE EAST END COMMUNITIES, A COLLABORATIVE THAT INCLUDES 12 NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS, FAMILY, STUDENTS, AND RESIDENTS LIVING AND WORKING IN MAGNOLIA PARK. AND OUR CONCERN IS THE MOVE OF THE GRACE HOUND STATION FROM MIDTOWN TO THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD OF MAGNOLIA PARK. WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE COUNCILMAN'S IMMEDIATE FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND PLAN MEASURES. AND WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY THE EFFORTS OF OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO UNRAVEL THIS SITUATION. BUT ALL OF THIS SEEMS A LONELY AND DAUNTING TASK. THE SELLING OF DOWNTOWN GREYHOUND TERMINALS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW OTHER CITIES HAVE RESPONDED TO THESE OFTEN SECRET MOVES. IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY ATTORNEY ARE FILING LAWSUITS AND FIGHTING THE MOVE ANY WAY THEY CAN. IN THE COURSE OF THEIR HEARINGS, THERE WAS A SHOOTING AND KILLING THAT CONFIRMED THEIR FEARS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MADE MAGNOLIA PARK SUCH A DESIRABLE LOCATION, BUT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN ANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE ARE OTHER SUITABLE LOCATIONS. THE EMPTY NORTHWEST MALL, THE TIDWELL TRANSIT CENTER. NO NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD BE SEEN AS INCONSEQUENTIAL. TRY IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK COUNCIL COUNCILOR MEGOS. PATRICIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETINGS LAST WEEK. AND AGAIN, WE'RE DRAWING OUR BEST TO TRY TO ADDRESS IT, UH, IN REGARDS TO GREYHOUND. SO THANK YOU. AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. ONE SECOND. PATRICIA, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING. I ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TOO. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. ZARA ALI. ZARA ALI. HELLO. I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS AND YOU GUYS CAN PROBABLY ALL GUESS. I'M HERE FOR A CEASEFIRE. I, I HAVE A BUNCH OF STATISTICS WRITTEN DOWN. YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANNA HEAR THEM. YOU'RE PROBABLY BORED TO DEATH AT THIS POINT. I GET IT. I REALLY JUST WANNA HEAR FROM YOU GUYS. I WANNA KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE. DO WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION? DO WE NEED TO HELP EDUCATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN PALESTINE? WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING MURDERED? WE'RE NOT HERE SUPPORTING TERRORISTS. WE'RE NOT HERE SUPPORTING HAMAS. WE'RE JUST HERE TRYING TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SPEAK. I SHOULD BE AT HOME PLAYING WITH MY SON, PICKING MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. BUT I'M HERE ASKING YOU GUYS WHO ARE CLEARLY MORE EDUCATED THAN ME, AND JUST AT A POINT IN YOUR CAREERS WHERE YOU CAN PROBABLY HELP OUT, GET OUR VOICES ACROSS. AND I JUST WANNA KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY IS THERE SUCH A HALT ON THIS CEASEFIRE? DO WE HAVE TO COME EVERY TUESDAY? DO I HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL? DO I HAVE TO DRAG MY SON HERE? JUST BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA SEE MORE CHILDREN LIKE HIM BEING MURDERED AND BURIED UNDER THE RUBBLE. I JUST, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. COUNCILMAN GGO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY HEART IS HEAVY TO SEE THIS CHILD THERE THAT YOU HAVE, [01:30:01] AND FOR US TO JUST SIT HERE AND NOT SAY A WORD. BUT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO SAY THAT THEY DON'T SUPPORT HAMAS. AND YOU SAID IT, YOU SAID IT. 'CAUSE HAMAS HAD NO RIGHT TO GO INTO ISRAEL AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. THAT WAS TERRORISM. BUT I SAT HERE UNTIL SOMEONE WOULD SAY THAT THEY DON'T SUPPORT HAMAS. AND YOU SAID IT. AND, AND, AND, AND I WILL NOT SIT HERE AND NOT SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE OUR GOD IS NOT HAPPY. OUR GOD IS NOT HAPPY THAT 17,000 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED. SO I DO NOT SUPPORT THAT EITHER. I'M, I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU SAID, I MEAN THAT YOU SPOKE BACK TO ME, AND I DO WANNA BE VERY CLEAR. I SAID, I DON'T SUPPORT TERRORISM AND I DON'T SUPPORT TERRORISM IN THE NAME OF WHATEVER, WHETHER IT'S HAMAS, I ASSIST OR ANYTHING. BUT I DON'T SUPPORT WHAT ISRAEL IS DOING EITHER, WHICH IS A FORM OF TERROR. AND YOU, I THINK EVERYONE CAN AGREE IN ISRAEL IS A REAL TERRORIST IN THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET ME ALSO, UH, FOR EVERYONE'S EDIFICATION NOTE, WHEN IT COMES TO RESOLUTIONS, WE DON'T DO RESOLUTIONS. THE ONLY RESOLUTIONS WE DO ARE PERTAINING TO LIKE CITY CONTRACTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT ON, BUT ON CAUSES OR WHATEVER THE ISSUE MAY BE. HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, WE DO NOT DO RESOLUTIONS. WE DON'T DO THEM. SO PEOPLE CAN ASK FOR A RESOLUTION TO END A CEASEFIRE, A RESOLUTION TO DO THIS OR THAT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOUSTON, WE DO NOT DO. WE JUST DON'T DO THEM. NOW PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL VIEWS. UH, THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT, BUT IN TERMS OF RESOLUTIONS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT DO. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. ELIZABETH JENNINGS. ELIZABETH JENNINGS TO BE FOLLOWED BY RABBI ESTES. YES, I'M ELIZABETH JENNINGS. AND, UH, I AM TALKING ABOUT THE CEASEFIRE. BUT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT MOST OF US WHO ARE GOING TO BE GOING HOME, MOST OF US WERE GOING TO BE GOING HOME SOON TO CELEBRATE THEIR CHRISTMAS VACATION. UM, AND, AND TAKE A BREAK FROM ALL THE DAY TO DAY LIFE AND STRESS. UM, ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU WERE TO SIMPLY PASS A, A, A CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, WE COULD THEN GO TO YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS AND SAY, THESE PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED TO, TO THIS CLASS OF MORALITY. NO TERRORISM. NO, UH, NO. NO. UH, HOLDING A WHOLE NATION HOSTAGE AND OCCUPIED, IT HAS TO END. AND, UH, THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL VOTED ON THIS. AND ONCE AGAIN, 13 NATIONS VOTED, VOTED FOR CEASEFIRE YOUR TIME AS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RABBI ESTES, JUST , RABBI ESTES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROY . GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, RABBI GIDEON ESTES. I'M THE RABBI OF CONGREGATION OR ME IN WEST HOUSTON. I LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY. I'D FIRST LIKE TO START BY THANKING THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR ITS SUPPORT OF JEWISH CITIZENRY IN THE WAKE OF THE POGROM PERPETRATED HAMMAS ON OCTOBER 7TH. I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE WAR IN GAZA IS NOT A GENOCIDE. IF A COUNTRY WERE TRYING TO COMMIT GENOCIDE, IT WOULD NOT GIVE ITS CIVILIANS A MINUTE. THIS IS THE LAST TIME. OKAY. THIS IS MY LAST TIME. NOW WE, I DON'T CARE WHO SPEAKS FROM THIS PODIUM. THERE ARE SOME WHO GONNA DISAGREE, BUT THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SPEAK FROM THIS PODIUM. WE HAVE RESPECTED EVERYONE WHO'S SPOKEN HERE. EVERY SPEAKER DESERVES TO BE RESPECTED, SO WE'RE NOT HAVING THE BOOING. OKAY. WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT. OKAY. OKAY. RABBI, I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT WARREN GAZA IS NOT GENOCIDE. IF A COUNTRY WERE TRYING TO COMMIT GENOCIDE WOULD NOT WARN CIVILIANS OF THEIR INTENTIONS. FURTHERMORE, ISRAEL HAS NOT DECIDED TO DESTROY GAZA. RATHER, IT'S TO ROOT OUT HAMAS. WHAT? ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT TIME THE CHAMBER WILL BE CLEARED. OKAY. ONE MORE TIME AND THE CHAMBER WILL BE CLEARED. OKAY. [01:35:01] FURTHERMORE, THE CHARGES GENOCIDE AGAINST ISRAEL HAS LED TO AN UPTICK IN JEWS FEELING UNSAFE HERE IN HOUSTON. I KNOW OF CONGREGANTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE SCARED TO LIGHT THEIR HANUK OR THE MANNOS IN THEIR WINDOWS WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WEARING A KIPPAH OR A MAGEN. THE STAR OF DAVID NECKLACE AROUND THEIR NECKS. THERE SEEMS TO BE COLLECTIVE BLAME AGAINST JEWS FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA. THIS IS NOT TRUE. IT MUST BE CLEARLY CLOUDY OUT AS FALSE. I LOVE THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE BEAUTIFUL RY THAT MAKES UP OUR CITY. AND THAT IS WHY I'M STANDING HERE TODAY. I'M THANKFUL OF OUR CITY'S RICH HISTORY AND WITH ISRAEL SOLIDARITY. THANK YOU. THANKS. THE TIME HAS EXPIRED CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAD, WAS ALLOCATED A MINUTE, GIVEN THE INTERRUPTIONS AT HER TIME. WE HAVE TO PAUSE THE TIME. YES. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. ROY BECK. ROY BACKGROUND ROY. NEXT SPEAKER RABBI SCOTT HOUSEMAN WISE RABBI SCOTT AND WISE THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR TIME. ON BEHALF OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE WON YOUR REELECTIONS. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE DONE YOUR, UH, SERVICE FOR THIS CITY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'VE COME HERE TODAY WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, NOT TO CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES OR TO SUPPORT ISRAEL IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, WHICH WE, OF COURSE, BACK WHOLEHEARTEDLY. BUT RATHER TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT HAS RESULTED FROM THIS CONFLICT THAT IS AFFLICTING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND UNFORTUNATELY HERE IN HOUSTON. AND THAT IS ANTISEMITISM. WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN HOUSTON, NOT ONLY OUR ON OUR DIVERSITY, BUT ALSO OUR TOLERANCE. AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SEEN SOME TERRIBLE INCIDENTS THAT ARE SHOWING US SIGNS. WE NEED TO BE EVEN MORE CAREFUL. MOST RECENTLY, WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE RESTAURANT IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. SEVERAL RESTAURANTS HAVE HAD THEIR BUSINESSES THREATENED BY AN ONLINE CAMPAIGN OF NEGATIVE REVIEWS AND ANTISEMITIC FLYERS SPREAD THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I DISTRIBUTE A PICTURE? YOU CAN TURN, HAND IT TO RENEE. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. ASAP CHY. ASOP. CHY IS HERE. THANK YOU. COUNSEL. YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT SOME OF THE RECENT INCIDENTS HERE IN HOUSTON, AND YOU KNOW THAT WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING, WE MUST SAY SOMETHING. TRYING TO WHITEWASH INCIDENTS OF ANTISEMITISM OR PUT THEM IN CONTEXT IS UNACCEPTABLE BOTH MORALLY AND PRACTICALLY. TODAY. THESE HATEFUL PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST JEWS TOMORROW. THEY WILL DO IT AGAINST ANOTHER GROUP IN THIS CITY, AND THAT IS NOT WHO WE ARE AS HOUSTONIANS. SO WHAT CAN WE DO? WE CAN MEET, WE CAN GIVE YOU TOOLS, WE CAN HELP YOU LEARN ABOUT WHAT ANTISEMITISM LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING IT EVERY DAY, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SYLVESTER TURNER. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AS MY MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ANA SMI SH NAS, CNA. NEXT SPEAKER ALICIA F. OKAY. OKAY. SANJANA IS HERE. HELLO COUNCILMAN. MR. KAY GOES. DID YOU KNOW THAT ARABS ARE ALSO CITES? THERE ARE 1.7 MILLION IN GAZA, SO BOMBING THEM IS PRETTY ANTISEMITIC IF YOU ASK ME. BUT WHAT DO I KNOW? I'M A FEMINIST THAT'S HAVING DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING THE LOGIC THAT WOMEN IN GAZA DON'T HAVE RIGHTS. SO THAT'S WHAT ISRAEL KILLED. 4,000 OF THEM SINCE OCTOBER 7TH. THEY'LL SAY THEY'RE BEING USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN IDF IS USING THEM AS TARGET PRACTICE. SO THEN 21,000 INNOCENT PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE NAME OF SELF-DEFENSE FOR 150 SOMETHING HOSTAGES. THEY KEEP SAYING, BRING THEM HOME, BUT DON'T STOP BOMBING. DON'T GIVE THEM A SAFE CORRIDOR. FUNNY ENOUGH, THERE WAS A HOSTAGE THAT CAME ON CAMERA THAT SAID, I WASN'T SCARED OF HAMAS. I WAS SCARED IDF WAS GOING TO KILL ME. ALL FOR TUNNELS UNDER HOSPITALS. AND NOW 68 OF THEM HAVE BEEN BOMBED FOR WHAT? 15 GUNS. THERE ARE HOUSTON FAMILIES WITH MORE GUNS THAN THAT. TRY IT. WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE FOR CEASEFIRE, A TINY BLUE DOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOUSTON IS A DEMOCRATIC NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. ALICIA FACO. NEXT SPEAKER. [01:40:02] NEXT SPEAKER. ALICIA FEAL. ALICIA. ALICIA. NEXT SPEAKER. PRISCILLA RAMIREZ. I'M HERE. PRISCILLA RAMIREZ IS HERE. WE FILED BY JEFF HEDGER. SORRY, I HAD A SPEECH PREPARED, BUT, UH, MY SON LOST IT. SO . UM, I JUST KINDA WANTED TO RESPOND TO A FEW THINGS AND AD LIB A LITTLE. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE THE PEOPLE HERE WHO CALLED SOME OF US IN SO MANY WORDS, ANTISEMITES, THAT WERE NOT, UM, A LOT OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE JEWISH. MY GRANDFATHER LIBERATED CONCENTRATION CAMPS. AND I I'M NOT A HATE FILLED PERSON. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE SUPPORTING PALESTINE. SORRY. A LITTLE OUTTA BREATH. CHASING BABY. SECOND THING, MY, MY HUSBAND WAS A SPECIAL FORCES MEDIC. HE WAS A GREEN BERET. UM, HE RETRIEVED HOSTAGES. HE WAS INVOLVED IN VERY SENSITIVE MISSIONS, UM, IN MANY DIFFERENT THEATERS. UM, AND HE'S BEEN WATCHING ALL OF THIS UNFOLD. AND IF THE IDF, IF ISRAEL WANTED TO GO GET THOSE HOSTAGES THEY COULD HAVE, INSTEAD THEY HAVE DECIDED TO INDISCRIMINATELY BOMB GAZA. THAT IS NOT HOW A COUNTRY RETRIEVES HOSTAGES. I KNOW THAT BECAUSE MY HUSBAND KNOWS THAT. I CAN'T OBVIOUSLY SAY WHAT HE HAS DONE, BUT HE WAS SPECIAL FORCES. SO WE KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. SO THAT IS WHY I'M CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, BECAUSE THOSE HOSTAGES DESERVE TO BE ALIVE. AND THE HOSTAGES ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOUR TIME HAS ITS TIME, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE NATION OF GAZA DESERVES VERY MUCH DESERVE TO BE ALIVE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JEFF HAER. JEFF JEFF HAZER AND JEFF HEISER. JEFF NEXT SPEAKER ALIYAH KAJA. ALIYAH. ALIA IS HERE. HI, MY NAME IS ALIA. WE'RE AT DAY 66 OF THE GENOCIDE AND GAZA. THAT'S 66 DAYS OF THE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF CIVILIANS. HOSPITAL SCHOOLS. NOWHERE IN GAZA SAFE AND 90% OF GAZA'S ARE DISPLACED. AT THIS POINT, WE'VE SEEN ONLY ONE PERSON IN THIS ROOM HAVE THE MORAL BACKBONE TO CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALLED FOR ONE. YOU MAY NOT DO RESOLUTIONS, BUT YOU HAVE THE FULL ABILITY TO RELEASE A STATEMENT. OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THAT AND MORE. I WANNA SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU DIRECTLY. YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF SIGNIFICANT ARAB AND MUSLIM POPULATIONS. YOUR SEAT IS NOT SECURED. YOU MUST TAKE THE VOICES OF YOUR CONSISTENCY INTO ACCOUNT AND THE PEOPLE STAND FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE. YOU SEE US, YOU HEAR US, AND YOU CANNOT IGNORE US. WE'LL BE BACK EVERY WEEK TO DEMAND THAT YOU ALL TAKE A STANCE FOR PERMANENT CEASEFIRE WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST AND TAKE TO THE STREETS, AND WE WILL STOP OUR DONATIONS TO ERASES. WE WON'T VOTE NEXT ELECTIONS BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE'S LIVES OF VALUE. AND FRANKLY, WE FIND THIS IN ACTION TO BE MORALLY DESPICABLE. CHANGE ALWAYS HAS TO BE DEMANDED. THIS IS TRUE NOW. AND THIS WAS TRUE IN THE 1980S WHEN PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS TO END APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA. AND THE 1960S WHEN ANTI-WAR PROTESTS WALKED THE WORLD IN SUPPORTED FOR THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE'S A HISTORICAL BASIS FOR TAKING THE STAND AND YOU SHOULD BE ON THE RIGHT. YES, EXPIRED. NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH ABDI. SARAH MOON. MY NAME IS SARAH WITH THE PALESTINIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT. I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AS A PROUD PALESTINIAN WHO IS DISGUSTED AND OUTRAGED BY THE LACK OF ACTION FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RESPONSE TO AN ONGOING GENOCIDE. TODAY MARKS DAY 66, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF ISRAELI'S LATEST GENOCIDAL BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. AS OF TODAY, OVER 20,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN MOR MURDERED AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI STATE FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES USING OUR PA TAX. PAYING DOLLARS. MAYOR. SO TURNER IN THE WAKE OF GENOCIDE, YOU HAVE OPENLY VOICED YOUR SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, BUT HAVE REMAINED UNDENIABLY SILENT. AS THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS ARE BEING MURDERED AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI STATE, YOU HAVE CONDEMNED TERRORISM BUT REFUSE TO UTTER A SINGLE CONDEMNATION TO THE TERRORIST ENTITY THAT IS THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDERS OF OVER 20,000 INNOCENT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. WE, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, HAVE MADE OUR VOICES AS CLEAR AS THEY CAN BE THROUGH WEEKS OF SHOWING UP TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, PROVIDING TESTIMONIES, CONTACTING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, COUNTLESS DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE CITY HALL AND THE ISRAELI CONSULATE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. NEXT SPEAKER. BASSAN. ALZA. BASSAN. ELI ELIJAH. QUIET NOW. QUIET NOW. NOW QUIET. NOW QUIET. NOW. QUIET NOW. QUIET [01:45:01] NOW. QUIET NOW. HELLO. STAND BEHIND THE MIC. THE MIC. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE DONE THIS. . HELLO. I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THAT DISABLED PEOPLE CAN ONLY HAVE UP TO $2,000, 3000. IF THEY ARE MARRIED IN THE ASSETS OR THEY LOSE THEIR SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS BECAUSE DUE TO EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AND INABILITY TO KEEP CONSTANT EMPLOYMENT DUE TO THEIR DISABILITY, I AMONG MANY OTHERS, HAVE DISABLED LOVED ONES. BUT INSTEAD OF HELPING THE DISABLED HERE IN HOUSTON, OUR MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS THE MASS DISABLING OF CHILDREN IN GAZA. DO YOU KNOW THAT SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, 900 CHILDREN? THAT'S RIGHT. CHILDREN HAVE HAD LIMBS AMPUTATED DUE TO INJURIES FROM ISRAELI BOMBARDMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THE LEGAL USE OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS. SOME OF THEM WITHOUT ANESTHESIA, MOST OF THE CHILDREN DIE FROM THE PAIN. THERE ARE BABIES WHO BEFORE THEY'VE EVEN TAKEN THEIR FIRST STEPS, HAVE HAD THEIR LEGS BLASTED FROM THEIR TINY BODIES. INSTEAD OF WISHING FOR NEW TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS, THEY WISH FOR THEIR HANDS BACK. WHAT I GATHER FROM YOUR SILENCE IS THAT YOU SEE NO PROBLEM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WITH THE MAIMING AND DISFIGUREMENT OF CHILDREN. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CEASE FIRE NOW. NEXT SPEAKER. DANA SALA. DANA SALON. DANA. DANA. NEXT SPEAKER ASHLEY CLOTH. ASHLEY CLOTHE, ASHLEY CLOTHE. AND I DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. DO YOU HEAR THE CHANCE OUTSIDE? HOW CAN YOU CHOOSE TO JUST IGNORE YOUR CONSTITUENTS IF YOU AREN'T ANGRY WITH ME OVER THIS GENOCIDE? ARE YOU HAPPY? ARE YOU HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS? IF YOU SUPPORT THIS GENOCIDE SO MUCH, DO YOU HOLD PRIDE IN THE DEATHS OF MEN, WOMEN, AND BABIES? WOULD YOU GO AS FAR AS TO MURDER THESE INNOCENT CHILDREN, WOMEN AND MEN YOURSELF? COULD YOU, COULD YOU STARE DOWN A SNIPER SCOPE AND AIM IT AT A CHILD AND PULL THE TRIGGER YOURSELF? COULD YOU DEPLOY A BOMB ON A HOSPITAL AND CHEER IN, CELEBRATION YOURSELF? COULD YOU TORTURE A HUMAN AND HOLD PRIDE IN IT YOURSELF? IF YOU ARE DISTURBED BY THE TRUTH OF THE PEOPLE OF GAZA'S EVERYDAY LIFE, THEN WE'RE FINALLY GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE. MAYOR TURNER, YOU SAY YOU STAND WITH ALL CHILDREN, BUT WHERE DO YOUR ACTIONS SUPPORT THAT? YOU MUST CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE. YOU CAN'T DO RESOLUTIONS. THEN STAND UP WITH ME AND SAY, PALESTINIANS DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED. BESIDES COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS, DOES ANYBODY SUPPORT A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE? WE WILL STAND WITH YOU IF YOU REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS. FIRE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. AND LEMME JUST BE VERY CLEAR. PALESTINIANS CHILDREN, INNOCENT CHILDREN, CIVILIANS SHOULD BE PROTECTED. NOBODY WE. NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER, SETH USMAN. SETH USMAN. MIKE, MY NAME IS SETH USMAN. I'M A JEWISH ESTONIAN CALLING ON OUR CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN OAKLAND, SEATTLE, DETROIT, AND OTHERS. ISSUING A CALL DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, OVER 18,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED. OVER 10,000 OF THEM CHILDREN. AND THE UN IS WARNED THAT HALF OF GAZA'S POPULATION IS STARVING. OVER 55 SCHOLARS OF THE HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE, AND MASS VIOLENCE HAVE WARNED OF THE DANGER OF THE DANGER OF GENOCIDE AND GAZA. I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO DISREGARD EVERY PIECE OF TESTIMONY THAT ATTEMPTS TO JUSTIFY GENOCIDE. GENOCIDE IS UNJUSTIFIABLE. THIS COUNCIL SHOULD INSTEAD NOTE THAT THE US IS NOT MERELY COMPLICIT WITH THE CARNAGE. IT IS RESPONSIBLE. THE ISRAELI ARMY'S, AIRPLANES, BOMBS, AND ILLEGAL WEAPONS OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS ARE MADE AS A RESULT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS. MONEY FOR THE HOUSES, HOSPITALS, AND SCHOOLS THAT HOUSTON NEEDS SHOULD NOT GO TO DESTROYING THEM. AND THE FOUNDATIONS FOR HUMAN LIFE. AND GAZA. AS A DESCENDANT OF JEWS WHO DID NOT SURVIVE THE HOLOCAUST, I URGE YOU TO ACT WITH THE FIERCE URGENCY THAT NEVER AGAIN MEANS NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE. NEXT SPEAKER, SETTE MONETTE. MAY GOD'S PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON ALL OF THOSE WHO UPHOLD JUSTICE. I WAS RAISED IN YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA, THE BIRTHPLACE AND BATTLEGROUNDS FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHERE WE WON THE INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN AND COLONIALISM AND VICTORY FROM OUR OPPRESSORS LAWS WERE WRITTEN BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE WITH GOD GIVEN INALIENABLE RIGHTS FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR ALL. BUT AFTER THE WAR WAS WON, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DON'T REALIZE, THAT THE BATTLE WAS FAR FROM OVER. THE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS COUNTRY WERE DISCRIMINATED, DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. IT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE AND CONTINUES TO BE THAT WAY. BUT NOTHING COMES [01:50:01] WITHOUT CONFRONTING AND SPEAKING UP AGAINST INJUSTICE. THE US WAS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE U UN SECURITY COUNCIL THAT VOTED AGAINST A RESOLUTION FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THE ONLY COUNTRY. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU TO BE OUR CHAMPIONS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU NOW TO AMORTIZE YOUR STANCE IN HISTORY. IF YOU CANNOT PASS A RESOLUTION YOUR TIME, DO SOMETHING TO HELP US. PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FA FINE. FA IS HERE. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HERE TODAY HAVE AND WILL SPEAK TO THE HORRIFIC CONDITIONS IN . THEY WILL SPEAK TO THE SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, MOSS AND HOSPITALS BOMBED BY ISRAEL, AS WELL AS THE 20,000 PALESTINIANS WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED. UH, WHILE WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT MURDERED PALESTINIANS, I ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF RESPECT, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS. SO I WILL SPEAK TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO SPEAK TRUTH, TO POWER. WHAT IT MEANS TO DEMAND A CEASE FIRE. NOT JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE BROAD CONSENSUS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT BECAUSE IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNCIL IS A HISTORY OF PEOPLE STANDING HERE TODAY WHO CHOOSE JUSTICE OVER OPPRESSION AND DEMAND THAT OUR CITY REFLECT THIS CALL. WE ARE THE STUDENTS OF FORMER COUNCILWOMAN ADA EDWARDS FOUGHT UNRELENTINGLY FOR AN END TO SOUTH AFRICAN APARTHEID. AND WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF THIS COUNCIL CALLING AND ISSUING A STATEMENT FOR A CEASEFIRE IS THE POLITICAL AND MORAL BACKBONE OF ITS MEMBERS. NOT A BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS, BUT YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE COMMITMENTS TO FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS THE BIGGEST THANK VERY MUCH COUNCIL CITY, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. Y'ALL HAVE SEEN. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THE CHOICE. LISTEN, MUCH HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH PRE PALESTINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. SANTA ANI. SANTA ANI. MAYOR TURNER. YOU SAID CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T DO RESOLUTIONS, BUT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DOES DO PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND THE PALESTINIAN LIVES LOST IN THIS GENOCIDE HAVE APPARENTLY NOT WARRANTED ONE FROM YOU IN MARCH OF 2022. YOU SAID IN HOUSTON, WE STAND FOR FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR RESIDENTS. YOU CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE VIOLENCE AND TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN EUROPE. WHY DOES TODAY'S MASSACRE NOT EVEN WARRANT A STATEMENT BY YOU IN THIS FASHION? A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU MENTIONED FREETOWN, AKA FOURTH WARD IN MIDTOWN. THE HISTORY AND SANCTITY OF THE CITY IS VESTED IN THE LIBERATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. AND AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, YOU HOLD A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINIANS WHEN THE ONLY FOREIGN BOND HELD IN OUR CITY'S INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO WAS FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL. THAT IS THE SAME GOVERNMENT THAT HAS VIOLATED 62 STATUES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. YOU ARE NOT INNOCENT IN ALL THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. DIANE NICHOLS. DIANE NICHOLS. DIANE NICHOLS. NEXT SPEAKER SIMONE JOHNSON BROWN. SIMONE JOHNSON. BROWN SIMONE IS HERE. BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH BALLARD. MM-HMM . UM, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO, UM, BRING ATTENTION TO THESE WATER BILLS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, MY WATER BILL WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CREDITED, I STILL FEEL THAT I NEED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE MOST HORRIFIC AND HORRENDOUS DISRESPECTFUL WAY THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE SPEAKS TO THE PUBLIC. WHEN WE CALL THE WAY THEY ARE DISMISSIVE. WHEN WE PRESENT FACTS, WHEN I TELL THEM I HAVE PICTURES OF METERS BEING CHANGED, WHEN THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T. WHEN I CALL AND I SAY, THE BILL HAS GONE BACK TO NORMAL SINCE YOU DID THIS ON THE SIXTH, THEY TELL ME, NO IT HASN'T. YET. WHEN THEY DID RESOLVE IT AND CREDIT MY ACCOUNT BACK, IT WAS STILL CONDESCENDING. AND THE EMAIL THAT THEY SENT TO ME BY QUOTING FACTS AND PERCENTAGES ON HOW EFFECTIVE THE EQUIPMENT IS. BUT YET, IF I LOG INTO MY ACCOUNT TODAY, EVERYTHING STILL READS ZERO. NO USAGE. NOTHING IS BEING YOUR ACCOUNT. YOUR HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANKS. JOSEPH BALLARD. JOHNSON BROWN. HOW YOU DOING? FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY, UH, MAYOR, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID FOR ALVIN BIRD. IT WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS. UH, I WANNA TALK ABOUT MY WATER BILL. SAME AS SHE SAYS. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS VERY [01:55:01] DISRESPECTFUL. UH, THE THING, IT'S FUNNY, LAST YEAR MY BILL WAS CHEAPER THAN THIS YEAR. MY BILL WAS $756. I LEAVE THE HOUSE AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, DON'T COME BACK TILL 11. MY WIFE LEAVE AT SIX. PROBABLY DON'T COME HOME TILL 12. NO WAY IN THE WORLD. I USE 32,000 GALLON OF WATER. I HAD THREE INSPECTORS COME OUT, SAID, MAN, YOUR THING IS BROKE. IT'S BEEN BROKE. I SAID, HOW THEY READ MY METER, HOW THEY READ MY METER. WE ESTIMATING IT. ESTIMATING. REALLY? SO ALL THIS HERE HAS BEEN ESTIMATED YES, SIR. THAT I'VE BEEN PAYING. YES SIR. AND THEN THE HOTTEST MONTH OF LAST YEAR IN SEPTEMBER, I GOT ZERO. WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT, WHAT'S THAT ESTIMATE? WHAT'S A MEASURE ON THE AGENDA TO FIX ALL OF THAT? THAT'S A MEASURE ON THE AGENDA TO FIX ALL OF THAT. I THINK THEY MESSED UP WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY PUT THOSE METERS IN THOSE THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO, TO READING METERS. GIVE PEOPLE JOBS SO THEY CAN READ 'EM. RIGHT. AND THAT'S THE PLAN. SO THAT'S THE PLAN. AND YOU WERE SAYING, I I I HEARD YOU SAY THAT THEY WAS GOING BACK THREE MONTHS. IT'S NOT ENOUGH. I GOT A WHOLE YEAR THAT I PAID MONEY. YOU WHAT ABOUT WHERE, WHERE THAT MONEY GO. JUST TAKE IT. YEAH. WELL THAT'S, THAT'S FOR HIGH BILLS. THAT'S WHEN IT'S, THAT'S FOR HIGH BILLS. BUT SO ESTIMATE, IT'S NOT A HIGH BILL. NO. THERE'S A MEASURE ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW TO ADDRESS YOUR SITUATION. IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, I'M, I'M GONNA SAY THIS FOR ALL CITY COUNCILS. IF YOU DON'T DO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS TIME IS RIGHT HERE. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING ELECTED. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I'M IN THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW WHAT'S GOING, GOING IN THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE CALLS ME AND TELL ME. I RELAY IT TO MY COUNCIL PERSON. I I TALK TO HER ALL THE TIME. BUT IF YOU DON'T DO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE COMMUNITY PEOPLE THAT PUT YOU HERE, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE HARD TIME GETTING ELECTED. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THEN WHEN YOU GET ELECTED, YOU WANNA DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO. BUT THIS YEAR, THIS THIS GONNA BE THE LAST YEAR. YOU DID A LOT. YOU DID. YOU DID. YOU DID MAYOR. YOU DID A HELL OF A LOT. YEAH. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ABOUT THE WATER BILL. AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW THAT'S GONNA ADDRESS IT. UM, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH WATER BILLS IN MY OFFICE WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOU TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW. WELL, I HOPE YOU TAG IT. SHOULD I HOPE TO TAG IT AGAIN SO UNTIL THEY GET ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT WE NEED NO, WE NEED TO GET YOUR ADDRESS NOW. SO WE NEED TO LIKE, GET IT PASSED TOMORROW SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR ISSUE ADDRESSED. THAT SOUND LIKE A OLD TRICK THAT I I DON'T, I DON'T GO TO THAT ONE. THAT THAT SAME THING HAPPENED THIS YEAR WHEN I HAD TO PAY 700. LAST YEAR MY BILL WAS 7,000. OH WOW. I HAD TAKE A FIGHT, RING THE BILL, AND THEN THEY, THEY JUST, THEY JUST CAME OUT. LOOK HERE, THEY JUST CAME OUT LAST MONTH TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND PUT FIBER IN THE GROUND. YOU NOT HOW MANY METERS THEY BUSTED. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE WORKING ON IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. PLEASE TAG IT. NO NEXT SPEAKER. DR. NIRA QUINN. DR. NIRA QUINN IS HERE. I'M HERE. I DO HAVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING. I'M DR. NIRA QUINN. I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. MULTIFAMILY HOUSING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR HOUSTONIANS. LISTEN, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL STATISTICS, FOR EVERY 100 FAMILIES, THERE ARE ONLY 33 UNITS AVAILABLE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. FOR EVERY 100 FAMILIES, THERE ARE ONLY 25 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS AVAILABLE. HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION. I AM PROPOSING THE BUILDING OF SIX UNIT AND 10 UNIT MULTIFAMILY HOMES IN DATA-BASED AREAS THAT ARE LESS DESIRABLE, THAT PROVIDE SUPPORTS THAT ALSO IMPACT WELLNESS, SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH FOR EVERY SIX, MULTI SIX UNIT MULTIFAMILY AND 10 UNIT MULTIFAMILY IN THAT COMMUNITY. THERE WILL ALSO BE A MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER THAT IS LICENSED AT THE MASTER'S LEVEL ON SITE. THERE WILL ALSO BE ACCESSIBILITY TO A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, A NURSE PRACTITIONER, AND ON SITE. THERE WILL ALSO BE MONTHLY YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. PLEASE CONSIDER MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. JANELLE JEFFERSON. JANELLE JEFFERSON. MS. JEFFERSON. JANELLE JEFFERSON. NEXT SPEAKER PATRICK. SWEET. PATRICK. SWEET. [02:00:01] NEXT SPEAKER. CHRISTOPHER YANCY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. YANCY. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCILWOMAN, MR. POLLIER, CHAIR COUNCILMAN POLLARD. UM, CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR ELECT JOHN WHITMEYER AND MY SALUTATIONS TO, UH, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, THE TRAILBLAZER. UM, COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS, MY FELLOW BEARCAT. I DO MISS YOU. YOU LOOK GORGEOUS EVEN IN YOUR ABSENCE. AND I PLAN TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH YOU. I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU. UH, I DO WANT TO CALL TO LIGHT, UH, ONE ISSUE THAT WAS JUST HIGHLIGHTED. UH, OWEN, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX. ALSO NOT HERE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION. I RESIDE IN DISTRICT G, UH, WHICH SPANS FROM RIVER OAKS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO KIRKWOOD. I BELIEVE. UH, I AM A RENTER, UH, RIVER OAKS, WHICH IS KNOWN FOR KEEPING THE LEGEND MUHAMMAD ALI OUT OF, UM, HOUSING THERE. UM, SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 14, 14, 21, 25 OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOUR PROBATIONARY EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORST DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TERMINATED. EFFECTIVE CLOSE OF THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. Y WILL SOMEONE PLEASE BE SO KIND. YIELD COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. APPROACH HIM. SIR, YOU CAN HAVE MY MINUTE. YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TERMINATED, EFFECTIVE CLOSE OF BUSINESS NOVEMBER 17TH, 2023 DUE TO FAILURE TO PROVIDE SATISFACTORY SERVICE. YOU WERE HIRED SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023 AS A CUSTOMER REP ONE, AND HAVE HAD CONTINU CONTINUOUS BEHAVIOR AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES THROUGHOUT YOUR PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT. AND MOST RECENTLY, ON NOVEMBER 7TH, YOU ABRUPTLY LEFT A CUSTOMER ON THE PHONE AND TOOK AN UNSCHEDULED BREAK AND WRONG AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 8TH, YOU DEMONSTRATED UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR IN THE OFFICE BY BLASTING MUSIC AND SHOUTING. I HIGHLY DOUBT IT. I'M NOT GOING TO JAIL FOR NOBODY, MY LAST NAME AND MY FAMILY I STAND ON. I WOULD NOT COME DOWN TO THE CITY OF ALL PLACES AND MAKE A FOOL OUTTA MYSELF. NO SIR. NO MA'AM. OKAY, SO WHAT I DID OBSERVE WAS THAT WE'VE EVEN, WE'VE ENTERED INTO AN ERA OF WHERE BULLYING HAS BECOME ACCEPTED IN POLITICS IN THIS WORLD. HOUSTON HAS ENTERED DISORGANIZED CHICAGO STYLE POLITICS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, SPEAKING TODAY. I'LL GIVE YOU THE REST OF MY TIME TO FINISH. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS ORGANIZED BULLYING TYPE OF STYLE OF POLITICS AND, UM, WORKING WORKMANSHIP THAT'S GOING ON, IT'S NO WONDER WHY WE HAVE ENTERED THIS ERA OF QUIET, QUITTING. UH, IT'S NO LONGER THIS DAY AND AGE WHERE WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO GOING INTO A 20 YEAR CAREER WITH, LET'S SAY THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR, UH, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. THOSE THAT CAN, THEY ARE DOING SO SIMPLY BY BEING BULLIED, BY TURNING A BLIND EYE, BY GOING ALONG WITH THE TOXICITY. THE LACK OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IS AT ALL TIME HIGHS FOR A REASON. I CAN RECALL A SPECIFIC COMMENT. HEY, YOU MIGHT WANNA TONE IT DOWN. UH, WATCH HOW YOU DRESS. YOU DON'T WANT BE OUT IT FROM A COWORKER. THAT SHOULD NOT OCCUR SIMPLY BECAUSE A YOUNG MAN IS DRESSING UP TO FEEL GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE. THANK YOU. HE'S DEPRESSED ON THE INSIDE. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT SPEAKER SEMINAR. DOEL FOSTER. YEAH. AND I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR. IS HE GONNA COME BACK OUT? NO, MA'AM. HE HAS A PRESS CONFERENCE AT FOUR O'CLOCK. COME UP IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME. COME. OKAY. I DUNNO IF YOU WERE AWARE OF MY SITUATION, BUT I KNOW THE LADY SITTING NEXT. OH, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. YEAH. I'M, I I NEVER, I ALWAYS SEE YOU HERE, BUT I KNEW YOU NEXT IN LINE WHEN THE MAYOR LEAVES OFF, BUT I NEVER EVER SPOKE WITH YOU. I HAD WITH THE LADY SITTING RIGHT THERE WITH YOU AND THE OTHER GUY, HE'S NOT HERE. HE WEAR A COWBOY HAT. HE SIT RIGHT THERE. MIKE, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE. BUT ANYWAY, I, I TOOK A WHOLE DAY OFF TO SEE HIM AND HE'S AN ATTORNEY AND MOST ATTORNEYS KNOW WHEN A PERSON, WELL READ WHAT THAT STANDS FOR. SO LOOK LIKE I GOT DEFEATED BECAUSE HE'S NOT OUT HERE AND I STILL WANT, WELL, I'M, I'M GONNA STILL COME BACK BEFORE HE GET OUTTA OUR OFFICE. [02:05:02] 'CAUSE IF, IF SOMEBODY ASKS YOU TO STAND IN FRONT OF A, A BUS, WOULD YOU DO THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER, MR. MARTIN, DAVE MARTIN. THAT'S YOUR NAME, RIGHT? RIGHT. AND IT'S YOUR, IT'S YOUR TIME, MA'AM. YEAH, IT'S MY TIME. I'M ACTUALLY, AM I CALLING YOUR NAME RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. YOU DID. YOU TIME IS EXPIRED. CAN I HAVE, CAN I FINISH MY LITTLE CONVERSATION RIGHT? PLEASE, MA'AM. I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS OF MY TIME. 30 SECONDS. THAT'S FINE. YES, MA'AM. WELL, ANYWAY, WOULD YOU STAND IF I SAID TELL YOU TO STAND IN FRONT OF A BUS? WOULD YOU DO THAT? NO, MA'AM. CONTINUE. THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THAT YOU CAN, UH, AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN REFUSE A DIRECT ORDER. RIGHT. WHEN A PERSON PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT JEOPARDY, THAT WAS WHAT DONE TO ME. I WAS SUPPOSED TO STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY NET BUSY STREET DIRECTING TRAFFIC WITH NO CONES TO DIRECT THE TRAFFIC ON THEIR OWN. IF, IF THE SET WAS SET UP, THEY WOULDN'T NEED ME. BUT I STOOD ON THE GROUND, THE NEUTRAL GROUND AND THANK YOU. I SAVED MY LIFE BY THAT. THANK YOU. I WOULD ADVISE. BUT I, I WOULD ADVISE YOU THAT YOU, UM, SINCE YOU KNOW, MR. COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KNOX HAS TAKE IT UP WITH COUNCIL MIKE OX OFFICE. I DON'T KNOW HIM. HE, THE MAN PUT ME BACK ON THE SCHEDULE BECAUSE SOMEBODY LITERALLY TOOK THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT PUTTING ME ON THERE LAST TIME I CAME. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND I WAS ON IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, GUY FOX. GUY F AFTERNOON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY PROPONENTS OF ISRAEL THAT BEING QUEER AND IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE IS LIKE BEING A CHICKEN IN SUPPORT OF KSE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I WOULD BE BEHEADED AND DRAGGED THROUGH THE STREETS IN GAZA. IF YOU ARE PRO-PALESTINIAN AND OR MUSLIM AND WOULD CAUSE ME ANY HARM. PLEASE SAY SOMETHING CRAZY THAT NO ONE HERE WOULD CAUSE ME HARM FOR MY SEXUALITY. THERE IS, HOWEVER, PASTOR DYLAN OZ OF STEADFAST BAPTIST CHURCH IN TEXAS GIVING SERMONS SAYING THAT, AND I QUOTE, HOMOSEXUALS SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH TREASON ROUNDUP AND SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. MJ KHAN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GREATER HOUSTON, SAID THAT THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. AFTER THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTINGS AND INTERN. I STAND WITH THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO ELIMINATE THIS HARMFUL RHETORIC THAT'S BEING PERPETUATED BY ISRAEL AND ITS ALLIES THAT MUSLIM AND ARAB PEOPLE ARE VIOLENT HOMOPHOBES. WHEN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY OTHERS HAS SHOWN DIFFERENTLY, I EMPLOY ROBERT GALLEGOS AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN TO DISMANTLE THIS NARRATIVE BY ISSUING A STATEMENT OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR CEASEFIRE AND GAZA. YOUR TIME HAS RACE, PALESTINIANS AND MUSLIMS. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MR. FOX. YOU DO EXIST. AND NOW THAN THANK YOU. SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I ACT LIKE Y'ALL CAN'T HEAR FATIMA HAWK. FATIMA HAWK HERE. YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON. SORRY. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME. I'M SUPER NERVOUS. NO PROBLEM. UM, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CALIFORNIA AS AN AMERICAN MUSLIM. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR MY IDENTITY AS AN AMERICAN MUSLIM. I'M ALMOST 40 NOW. GREW UP BELIEVING IN THE PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, A DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. BEING TAUGHT THAT YOU HAVE TO RESPECT EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS. THAT YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THAT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. I HEARD SO MANY POLITICIANS GROWING UP, CALLING US TERRORISTS, CALLING DEBT TO OUR COMMUNITIES. DEPORTATION OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITIES DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. IT'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AMERICA. NINE 11 HAPPENED. I WAS BRUTALLY ATTACKED. I HAD GLASS BOTTLES THROWN ON MY BACK. I HAD THE HEADSCARF RIPPED OFF MY HEAD WITH RACIAL SLURS OF ALL KINDS. WE BLAMED OURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY. WE SAID WE NEED TO DO INTERFAITH. WE NEED TO BECOME SOCIALLY ACTIVE. WE NEED TO BECOME POLITICALLY ENGAGED. I'VE DONE ALL OF THAT. YOU CAN EVEN CHECK THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES. I'M FEATURED THERE. BUT DESPITE THAT, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. MS. HALL. CAN I HAVE MORE TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. YOU HAVE A MINUTE OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. UM, BUT TODAY I FEEL BACK TO SQUARE ONE. AS A MUSLIM AMERICAN IN MY SOCIETY, JUST VOICING MY CONCERNS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE. MY NEIGHBORS HAVE REMOVED ME AS FRIENDS. THEY DON'T SAY HI ANYMORE ON THE STREETS. I ASK FOR REPRESENTATION OF MY VOICE WITH MY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, I DON'T HEAR MY VOICE. OUR VOICES ARE NOT BEING HEARD. BUT NOW THERE'S MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO SILENCE US. WE ARE SCARED TO SPEAK UP. WHEN AN INCIDENT AT BEL AIR HIGH HAPPENS WHERE CHILDREN ARE CALLING FOR RAPE OF PALESTINIAN WOMEN, OUR [02:10:01] COMMUNITY DOESN'T COME FORWARD TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE WE'RE SCARED OF THE REPERCUSSIONS. PLEASE, I FEEL DEFEATED AND I DON'T WANNA FEEL DEFEATED. I ASK FOR YOUR TIME, FOR YOUR HELP TO PROTECT MY THREE GIRLS WHO ARE GROWING UP AS MUSLIM AMERICANS IN HOUSTON. HELP THEM STAY STRONG IN THEIR IDENTITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JUST THE WAY IN WHICH YOU, YOU EXPLAINED THAT. I THINK IT'S, UM, COMING FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD MAYBE DO. UM, CLEARLY I'M ASKING FOR A CEASEFIRE, UM, AND I'VE GONE ON RECORD SAYING THAT. PLEASE, . UM, THANK YOU. YOU DO HAVE A GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT OBVIOUSLY AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE LIMITED LOCALLY. BUT THE THINGS WE CAN DO AND THE THINGS I'VE TRIED TO DO IS, UM, WORK WITH HISD TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED. THANK YOU. MOTION TO EXTEND ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED MOTION GRANTED. ENGAGE WITH OUR CONGRESSWOMEN AND MEN TO ENSURE THAT THEY ALSO ASK FOR CEASEFIRE. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT AS COUNCIL TO, TO PUT A RESOLUTION FORWARD AS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, BUT THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH THAT WE CAN WORK WITH AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE AND TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO MORE UNNECESSARY KILLING. AND IF WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO ON OUR END TO HELP SUPPORT YOU IN THOSE INITIATIVES IS WHAT'S THE BEST FORM OF COMMUNICATION. YEAH. I'M YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, LETITIA PLUMMER. UM, SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BEST WAY TO GET ENGAGED WITH ME. I'M GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ORGANIZE US AND KIND OF COME TOGETHER IN A VERY HOLISTIC, SAFE, UM, YOU KNOW, PEACEFUL WAY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ASTHMA ABU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH A COMPLICATED ISSUE, WE USUALLY DEFER TO SPECIALISTS AND EXPERTS FOR AN ANSWER. THE UNITED NATIONS AND MSTY INTERNATIONAL DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AMONG MANY OTHERS, HAVE ALL CALLED FOR CEASEFIRE AND TO THE ENTITY ONGOING GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE. THESE ARE ENTITIES THAT HAVE DETERMINED THAT THIS ALLEGEDLY COMPLICATED ISSUE IS IN FACT A GENOCIDE. CAN ANY OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT SPOKEN OUT FOR CEASEFIRE THINK WHO THINKS THEY ARE MORE QUALIFIED THAN THESE ENTITIES I'VE LISTED? RAISE YOUR HAND. I'M NOT EITHER. SO CAN ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS NOT CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE OR MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT CALLING FOR ONE, PROVIDE ME WITH A REASON AS TO WHY YOU STILL REFUSE TO DO SO? NO. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN AMERICANS RESIDING AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THIS CITY. I AM ONE OF THEM. MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED. THEY ARE DISPLACED IN THE GAZA STRIP. AND I'M ASKING YOU AS MY ELECTED OFFICIALS, AS MY COUNSEL, TO SIMPLY PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT YOU CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE. IT SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICATED TO SAY STOP KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE. NOBODY'S ASKING YOU TO HAVE A PHD ON THE CONFLICT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MS. ABU. NEXT SPEAKER. DESMOND WALEY. CALLAWAY. DESMOND WATLEY. CALLAWAY IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. YOU YOU GOT IT NOW. SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MAYOR TURNER. I WANTED TO SIMPLY THANK PUBLICLY A FEW MONTHS AGO, UH, IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT D UH, DIRECTOR TE ASHA FRANCIS DID SOMETHING FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO CUTTING A LOT. THE LOT HAD GOTTEN SO OVERGROWN OVER THE YEARS THAT THE BAMBOO HAD STARTED TO PUSH IN AN OLD LADY'S FENCE. AND ALTHOUGH WE WENT THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS, WE EVEN SUBMITTED THE SR NUMBER. UM, THE, THE WORKERS WERE COMING AND CUTTING HALF THE LOT. THEY WERE NOT CUTTING THE BAMBOO. I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, THANK, UH, SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR WOOD WOODFORK. YES. UH, MARK WILFORK. YES. WHO ACTUALLY GOT A, UH, STREET REPAVED, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS KIND OF OUT OF HIS PURVIEW. THIS WAS A FOLLOW UP TO, UM, A CLEANUP THAT DISTRICT D AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DID. AND HE ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THE STREET REPAVED BY THE SOLID WASTE DUMP SITE, UH, UM, FACILITY IN SUNNYSIDE. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THOSE INDIVIDUALS PUBLICLY AND THEN ACTUALLY GIVE THE NAMES OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MICHAEL WILSON, DINA MANN, MANAGER, SECTION CHIEF. CAN I, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'LL, I'LL SECTION CHIEF LARRY KEYS SECTION CHIEF CHRISTOPHER BELL, UH, THE CREW. ALONZO, CHRISTOPHER CHANEY. BRIAN MONICA, DEREK, CHAD, VINCENT. RONNIE. I APOLOGIZE. IT'S TAKING ME SO LONG. NO PROBLEM. BUT I'M GONNA RUN BACK TO WORK. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE PEOPLE THANK THE CITY EMPLOYEES FOR WHAT THEY DO. GOD BLESS. YES. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, KEN FREELAND. KEN FREELAND, [02:15:01] MR. FREELAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY GENEVA COLBERT. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, YES SIR. I WAS HOPING TO ADDRESS MYSELF TO MAYOR TURNER, BUT HE HAS ABSENTED HIMSELF SCHEDULING HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AT A TIME WHEN HE REALLY OUGHT TO BE HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE CITIZENRY OF HOUSTON HAS TO SAY. HE CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT THE COUNCIL DOES. THEY DO NOT MAKE STATEMENTS. I'M SURE THE COUNCIL OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN COULD ALL HAVE SAID THE SAME IF THEY WANTED TO, BUT THEY DIDN'T. THEIR COUNCIL STOOD ON PRINCIPLE AND HUMANITARIAN CONCERN, AND EVEN IF THEY HAD ANY KIND OF SILLY RULE THAT SAYS THAT THEY COULDN'T DO IT, THEY DID IT. ANYWAY, I COMMEND YOU COUNCILWOMAN FOR YOUR POSITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. FREELAND. NEXT SPEAKER. GENEVA. COLBERT. GENEVA, COLBERT. NEXT SPEAKER EDUARDO DURAN DORAN. EDUARDO DURAN IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. HI THERE. ALL RIGHT. SO, UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE STOP SIGN ON VALLEY FORGE AND FOUNTAIN VIEW. UH, PEOPLE KEEP ON, UH, RUNNING THE STOP SIGN, GOING MAYBE 30, 40 MILES AN HOUR, UH, SPECIFICALLY ON THURSDAY, YOU KNOW, PARTY TIME, SIX O'CLOCK, SEVEN O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK, NINE O'CLOCK, UH, AT NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. AND, UH, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE, UH, A KID AND HIS, HIS, HIS MOTHER, UH, WERE TIPPED BY A GUY GOING 40 MILES AN HOUR, THEN RAN, THEN, UH, DID A 180 AND, AND HIT AND FLEW ONTO THE STOP SIGN. SO, UH, IF ANYBODY CAN GO AHEAD AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, GET SOME POLICE OFFICERS TO GO AHEAD AND SURVEILLANCE THAT STOP SIGN AT VALLEY FORGE AND, UM, AND, UH, FOUNTAIN VIEW. FOUNTAIN VIEW, RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. UH, I GUESS, UH, ONE THING I'VE GOTTA SAY, SINCE ALL THIS IS OVER HERE, UH, YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY SAVING A FEW HOSTAGES BY MAKING AN ENTIRE COUNTRY PAY FOR IT. SCREEN RECORD. THANK YOU. SCREEN RECORD YOUR TIME IN FRONT OF IT, IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL ON HT HTV. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN. ALSO, I'LL BE HERE NEXT WEEK TO GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS SATANISM SINCE THAT'S BECOMING ALSO A BIG PROBLEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. SIR, I, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'LL, I'LL PUT IN A REQUEST FOR THAT INTERSECTION. UM, FOR HPD TO THERE. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A REQUEST AND THAT HPD INFORMED US THAT TRAFFIC UNION PATROL IS AT THE INTERSECTION LOOKING FOR VIOLATIONS. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. SO WE SHOULD HAVE THAT COVERED, SO THANK YOU. BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. NEXT SPEAKER, ALEXANDER REER. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M, I'M HERE BECAUSE I, WE NEED TO FIGHT GENOCIDE. OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE MY, MY COMRADES AND PALESTINE, I TOO AM A VICTIM OF GENOCIDE BECAUSE AS A MEMBER OF THE L-G-B-T-Q, THE RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS CONTROLLING OUR STATE, THEY WANNA ERASE MY EXISTENCE. MY WIFE IS A DRAG QUEEN AND A TRANS SEX WORKER, AND SHE JUST GOT FIRED FROM TEACHING KINDERGARTEN IN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS IS RAN BY ACTUAL NAZIS. AND WE NEED TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AND THE STRUGGLE FOR A FREE PALESTINE. IT'S SYNONYMOUS WITH FIGHTING THE PATRIARCHY, TRANS LIBERATION, AND THE RIGHT OF THE RIGHTS OF SEX WORKERS TO PRACTICE THEIR PROFESSION WHEREVER AND WHENEVER THEY LIKE WITH WHOEVER THEY LIKE. YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, MY WIFE AND I, WE FEEL SAFER MOVING TO THE GAZA STRIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY THROW THE BEST ROOFTOP PARTIES FOR PEOPLE LIKE US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AQUANET REED. AQUANET REED. NEXT SPEAKER, DAVID, KEVIN, DAVID, KEVIN. NEXT SPEAKER MADEA KAHN. SHE'S HERE AFTERNOON, MS. KAHN, EDWARD POLLARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEUTRAL STATEMENT, BUT BEING NEUTRAL TWO MONTHS INTO A GENOCIDE ISN'T INAPPROPRIATE. I THINK YOU MIGHT NEED MORE INFORMATION. SO LET ME EDUCATE YOU. DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY, THEY REFERRED GAZA AS AN OPEN [02:20:01] AIR PRISON? IT'S BECAUSE IN 1948, ISRAEL PUSHED 2.2 MILLION NATIVE PALESTINIANS INTO A SMALL STRIP OF LAND THAT IS ABOUT 25 MILES LONG, BLOCKING THEM IN BY LAND, AIR, AND SEA. THIS DOES NOT, THIS DID NOT START ON OCTOBER 7TH. ISRAEL HAS BLOCKADED GAZA FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. THEY CONTROL WHAT COMES IN AND WHAT GOES OUT. FOOD, WATER, ELECTRICITY, AID, CELL SURFACE FLOW OF MONEY AND POPULATION KEEPING. GAZA CIVILIANS A HUNDRED PERCENT RELIANT ON ISRAEL. THEY ONLY ALLOW JUST ENOUGH FOOD AND WATER RIGHT ABOVE THE WHO STARVATION LIMIT SO THAT IT ISN'T CONSIDERED A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE WITHOUT ITS PERMISSION. 95% GET DENIED. I'VE SEEN YOU WATCH WHAT I'VE BEEN POSTING. I HOPE YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF A HEART TO CONDEMN THE HEINOUS ACTIONS TAKEN BY ISRAEL. ISRAEL. HAVING THE RIGHT TO EXIST IS NOT AN INDEFINITE GREEN LIGHT TO VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES AND COMMIT WAR. COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD. THANK YOU, MA'AM FOR YOUR, UH, STATEMENT AND FOR COMING FORWARD TODAY. UM, YES, YOU ARE RIGHT. I DID PUT OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I PUT OUT WAS GENUINE AND ACTUALLY FROM THE HEART. UM, I DO HAVE A HEAVY HEART WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THE LIVES LOST, THE THINGS THAT I SEE ONLINE, UM, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE WITH MY FRIENDS. UM, BEING A FAITH BELIEVER, I KNOW THAT IN TIMES THAT ARE DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING AND THAT I CANNOT CONTROL, I DO TURN TO GOD. I DO PUT UP PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED, WHO ARE IMPACTED. AND MY STATEMENT SPOKE TO THAT. SOME OF THE RESPONSES I RECEIVED WERE, YOUR PRAYERS AREN'T ENOUGH. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR PRAYERS. I WOULD SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT PRAYER STILL WORKS. PRAYER IS PROBABLY THE MOST POWERFUL THING THAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE. SO I WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE MYSELF. I WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO MY PART IN ENSURING THAT FROM MY STANCE THAT IT IS KNOWN THAT I WANT PEACE FOR ALL. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY I SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU, MS. KAHN. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SPEAKER ANUSHA SADIK. I HAD LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL, YOU RELEASED A STATEMENT ON UKRAINE AND YOU RELEASED A STATEMENT ON ISRAEL. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU SAW IT. KEEP YOUR HAND UP IF THEY RELEASE A STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY OF PALESTINE. SO SILENCE. INTERESTING. THE PERSON WHO WAS ATTACKED FOR WEARING A PALESTINIAN FLAG. CAN YOU STAND UP? THE HATE IS REAL AND IT IS IN HOUSTON. LASTLY, REPRESENTATIVE POLLARD, WE APPRECIATE YOU. PRAYERS ARE GREAT. ACTION IS BETTER. THIS IS YOUR EDUCATION. WE AREN'T ALLOWED TO APPLAUD, BUT ALL MY COMRADES IN THE ROOM, I'D LIKE YOU TO STAND IN SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER FOR RELEASING A STATEMENT FOR A CEASEFIRE RIGHT AFTER SHE WON HER ELECTION. HER FIRST ACTION WAS WON IN SOLIDARITY, WE SEE YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU. I'D LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY OF ONE OF MY COMRADES WHO IS NOT COMFORTABLE SPEAKING UP HERE. MY NAME IS DINA AND I'M A REGISTERED NURSE HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. PROUDLY SERVING MY COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. AND UP TO NOW MY FAMILY RESIDED IN ELPA REFUGEE CAMP IN GAZA, THE PLACE WHERE WE CALLED HOME SINCE 1948 WHEN THERE WERE FORCEFULLY BE EXPELLED FROM THEIR NATIVE VILLAGE JUST MILES AWAY, ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY BOMBARDED AREAS OF GZA DURING THIS ONSLAUGHT. AND SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, I'VE LOST AND CONFIRMED 1 26 MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. YOUR HAS WILL YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU, MR. SHADI. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ED, COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER, PLUMBER. I CAN GIVE YOU MY TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. 126 MEMBERS OF MY EXTENDED FAMILY IN GAZA. AND THERE MORE, SOME ARE MISSING, SOME ARE UNDER RUBBLE. THEIR BODIES ARE UNABLE TO BE FOUND. THESE 126 PEOPLE WERE NOT FIGHTERS. THEY WEREN'T HUMAN SHIELDS. THEY WERE JUST PEOPLE TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIFE MUCH LIKE YOU. AND I IMAGINE RIGHT NOW, 126 MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY UNABLE TO BE FOUND UNDER A REVEL. MANY OF THEM WERE CHILDREN. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN ORPHANED. THEY WERE BORN UNDER BRUTAL OCCUPATION AND SIEGE AND DIED UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. AS A PERSON WHO HAS DEDICATED THEIR LIFE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS, I'M DISHEARTENED TO SEE THAT OUR LEADERS ARE NOT SERVING US. YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO OUR CRIES FOR ACTION. WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN SILENT ON THE ISSUE OF AN ONGOING GENOCIDE, YOU CAN HEAR US INSIDE. YOU CAN HEAR US OUTSIDE AS A HUMAN. I'M ASKING FOR YOU, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO SOMETHING TO END THIS GENOCIDE AND THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS UNFOLDING BEFORE OUR EYES. AND MY LAST ASK OF YOU IS IF YOU'D LIKE TO RELEASE A STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WOULD HELP THEM. OH, I DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO RAISE YOUR HAND. IF YOU WOULD HELP ANY MEMBER ON THIS COUNCIL WRITE A STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR PEOPLE, YOU HAVE OPTIONS. I TRULY RECOMMEND YOU USE THEM. THANK YOU, MS. SHADIQ. NEXT SPEAKER, NICK COOPER. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. IN THE NAME OF MY FOUR JEWISH GRANDPARENTS AND MY BAND MATE BI, WHO'S IN GAZA RIGHT NOW. I CONDEMN [02:25:01] HAMAS ATROCITIES AGAINST ISRAELI CIVILIANS ON OCTOBER 7TH AND THE NUMERICALLY FAR GREATER ISRAELI ATROCITIES AGAINST PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS SINCE 1948. I STAND HERE IN THE TRADITION OF MY JEWISH POLISH FOREFATHER, RAPHAEL LEMPKIN, WHO DEFINED GENOCIDE FOR THE WORLD. I STAND HERE IN THE TRADITION OF MY FOREFATHERS WHO CREATED THE GENOCIDE CONVENTION AFTER THE NUREMBERG TRIALS AND GOT COUNTRIES ALL ACROSS THE WORLD TO SIGN IT, INCLUDING ISRAEL AND THE US. THE RULES ARE SIMPLE AND Y'ALL COULD READ THE ENTIRE GENOCIDE CONVENTION IN UNDER 10 MINUTES. ISRAEL IS DEFINITELY IN VIOLATION OF THE GENOCIDE CONVENTION, WHICH OBLIGES GOVERNMENT, AND Y'ALL ARE A GOVERNMENT TO DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE, TO TAKE ACTIONS TO PREVENT AND STOP A GENOCIDE. ISRAEL TURNED OFF, THE WATER BEGAN FLATTENING THE MAJORITY OF ALL BUILDINGS OPENLY CALLED FOR EPIDEMICS TO HELP THIN THE POPULATION, ALL OF US HAVE TO STEP UP AND TAKE EVERY MEASURE POSSIBLE TO STOP A GENOCIDE. GENOCIDE MEETS ALL HANDS ON DECK. THANK YOU, MR. COOPER. ANY QUESTIONS? NO SIR. NEXT SPEAKER DANIELLE ALVAREZ. DANIELLE ALVAREZ IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY I ADVOCATE FOR A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. IT'S CRUCIAL FOR OUR CITY TO UPHOLD THE VALUES OF JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND GLOBAL SOLIDARITY. THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE DEMANDS OUR TIME AND ATTENTION. YOU SAID YOU DON'T PASS RESOLUTIONS FOR ISSUES LIKE THIS, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T, IT'S BECAUSE YOU WON'T DRAW INSPIRATION FROM YOUR STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE ON MARCH 1ST, 2022. JUST AS WE EXPRESS SOLIDARITY, THEN WE MUST EXPLAIN THE SAME PRINCIPLES TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. NOW TAKING A STAND FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ALIGNS WITH OUR CITY'S PRINCIPLES OF INCLUSIVITY AND EQUALITY. BY ENDORSING A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT, WE AFFIRM OUR DEDICATION TO JUSTICE IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, LANGUAGE, POLITICAL OPINION, BIRTH OR OTHER STATUS. IT SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY STANDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OUR WORDS CAN HAVE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. LET OUR CITY BE A BEACON OF HOPE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COLLECTIVE PURSUIT OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE IN A BETTER WORLD FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. ALVAREZ. NEXT SPEAKER. CLAUDIA OBE. CLAUDIA OBE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOTCHA. WE WE'RE GOOD? NO, EITHER ONE. YES, EITHER ONE IS FINE. JUST PICK. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I'M A FIRST GENERATION PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN, BORN IN HOUSTON AND I'M CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. I'M ALSO A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR WHO TAUGHT IN HISD FOR SEVEN YEARS AND I'VE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION POLICY AND LEADERSHIP. I RECENTLY LEFT MY JOB AT HISD BECAUSE I COULDN'T STAND WITH THE TEA TAKEOVER AND THE RACIST AND OPPRESSIVE POLICIES BEING SUPPORTED BY A SUPERINTENDENT THAT WASN'T EVEN ELECTED. THIS PAST COUPLE YEARS I HAD PALESTINIAN STUDENTS AND I'M SAD THAT I CAN'T BE THERE WITH THEM. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN MY OWN CITY AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THEY FEEL. MS. PLUMMER, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP FOR OUR PEOPLE. YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH HISD TO PROTECT OUR PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, BUT THE CURRICULUM THAT RELE WAS RELEASED BY THE TEA SEEMS BIASED TO ME. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT OUT INTO HISD ARE GONNA BE NON-BIASED AND SHARE, UH, FACTUAL INFORMATION SO THAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN CRITICAL THINKING, MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. I'M BY THANK YOU MS. OBE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERTO JI TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVE JOHNSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY. I AM NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING ANYMORE. I'M TIRED OF COMING HERE TO SAY THE SAME THING, SO I'M JUST GONNA LET THE PEOPLE CHANT FOR A FULL MINUTE. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO. OUR PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING IT. I'M NOT EVEN PALESTINIAN. I ALSO TAUGHT ALL THE PRIVILEGED KIDS FOR MANY YEARS HERE IN TEXAS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OUR KIDS CANNOT GROW UP LIKE THIS. REPEAT WHAT? HEY, HEY, HO, HO. THE OCCUPATION HAS GOT TO GO CEASE FIRE NOW. PROTECT THE LIFE OF PALESTINIANS. WE DON'T WANT MORE VIOLENCE. WE JUST WANT EVERYTHING TO STOP. AND Y'ALL HAVE THE OPTION TO TELL YOUR COLLEAGUES TO DO SO. YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE SAYING. YOU JUST NEED TO TELL YOUR COLLEAGUES WHAT WE BELIEVE. [02:30:02] THAT IS IT. THANK YOU. WAS THAT A MINUTE? YES SIR. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T HEAR A BOW. AH, THERE WE GO. . THANK YOU. DAVE JOHNSON. MR. JOHNSON, DAVE JOHNSON. NEXT SPEAKER, PERAL LATIF. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LISTENING TO US. MY NAME IS ALIF. I'M A PHYSICIAN WORKING IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TELL YOU HOW MY PATIENTS ARE FEELING THESE DAYS. MOST OF THEM ARE WORKING MORE THAN ONE JOB TO MAKE ENDS MEET IN THE FACE OF RECORD. HIGH INFLATION HOUSING IS UNAFFORDABLE. COLLEGE INSTITUTION IS UNJUSTIFIABLY HIGH, AND HEALTHCARE HAS TURNED INTO A JOKE. ALL THESE PROBLEMS WERE ALREADY HURTING US, BUT NOW WHEN WE WATCH OUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS BEING USED TO MERCILESSLY, SLAUGHTER, INNOCENT CHILDREN AND CIVILIANS, IT HURTS WAY, WAY MORE. WATCHING THE GENOCIDE UNFOLD BEFORE OUR EYES EVERY DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS TRAUMATIZING FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD. BUT IT IS ESPECIALLY, IT'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PAIN WHICH MOST HUMANE AMERICANS ARE FEELING. 'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT THOSE MISSILES ARE ACTUALLY SPONSORED BY OUR MONEY. A MOTHER IS PAID TO KILL OTHER MOM'S KIDS. I CAN'T GO TO SLEEP FOR THE LAST, SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, PLEASE GOD FOR A CEASE FIRE. THANK YOU, MS. LATIF. NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH EL TO BE FOLLOWED BY SID KHAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI GUYS. WE ARE ALL PALESTINIAN. YOU TRIED TO ERASE A NATION BY KILLING THE PEOPLE. YOU TOOK THE NAME OF THEIR LAND OFF OF THE WORLD MAP AND YOU BANNED THEIR FLAGS IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES. THAT IS ETHNIC CLEANSING. YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM AS IF THESE PEOPLE NEVER EXISTED. THEY HAVE A CULTURE, THEY HAVE A DIALECT, THEY HAVE CLOTHES, THEY HAVE FOOD. WE TALKED ABOUT MEDICINE LAST WEEK. THESE PEOPLE INVENTED THE GAUZE, OKAY, IN RAZA PALESTINE. THINK ABOUT THE IRONY THERE. OKAY? YOU SHOVE 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE WITH YOUR ARMS. YOU SHOVED THEM. YOU TAKE THREE YEAR OLDS TO MILITARY COURT. YOU ARE SO OFFENDED BY A 3-YEAR-OLD THROWING A PEBBLE AT YOU. YOU LITERALLY TAKE THREE YEAR OLDS TO MILITARY COURT, YET YOU DROP CONCRETE BUILDINGS ON BABIES. YOU STARTED THIS WHOLE THING BY LYING TO THE WORLD. YOU DECEIVED THE WORLD. YOU SAID THESE PEOPLE, 40 BABIES. YOU LIED TO US. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL SO INFURIATED. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL COMING. YOU LIED TO MANKIND, TO THE WORLD, TO HUMANITY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CIDRA KHAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY HANNAH BERG. GOOD AFTERNOON, A BADLY BURNED TODDLER SCREAMING FOR THE MOTHER HE DOESN'T KNOW IS DEAD. AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY WHOSE BRAIN IS EXPOSED AS BOMBING DAMAGED HIS SKULL. A TEENAGE GIRL, HER EYES SURGICALLY REMOVED BECAUSE EVERY BONE IN HER FACE IS SMASHED. A THREE YEAR, THREE-YEAR-OLD DOUBLE AMPUTEE WHO SEVERED LIMBS ARE LAID OUT IN A PINK BOX BESIDE HIM. AND IN THE BACKGROUND IS A STENCH OF ROTTING FLESH AS MAGGOTS CREEP OUT OF UNTREATED WOUNDS. THIS IS THE DAILY REALITY AT THE EUROPEAN HOSPITAL AND CON EUNICE DESCRIBED BY THE RED CROSS. LAST WEEK, A DOCTOR STOOD IN FRONT OF YOU AND JUSTIFIED THE WAR CRIME OF TARGETING HOSPITALS WITH BASELESS ACCUSATIONS. YOU ALL PRAISED HIM FOR GOING TO COLLEGE. WHAT ABOUT GAZA'S DOCTORS WHO ARE ARRESTED OR KILLED FOR LEAVING THEIR WOUNDED PATIENTS BEHIND THE 286 HEALTHCARE WORKERS KILLED, OR HOW ISRAEL BLEW UP THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND THE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF GAZA USING PLANTED EXPLOSIVES. ISRAELI SOLDIERS RAIDED ALFA HOSPITAL AND ARRESTED MEDICAL STAFF FOR REFUSING TO ABANDON THEIR PATIENTS. AND DESPITE RECOVERING NO EVIDENCE THAT THE HOSPITAL SERVED AS A, AS A COMMAND CENTER EXTENDED THEIR DETENTION BY 45 ADDITIONAL DAYS. AND THE HOSPITAL DIRECTOR IS STILL UNDER ARREST BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT. IS ANYONE GOING TO YIELD THEIR TIME TO ME? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD. YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. WHEN HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE KILLED FOR PROVIDING AID TO VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE, WHERE IS YOUR PRAISE FOR THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR WORK IS YOUR PRAISE ONLY RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO TREAT PATIENTS THAT YOU SEE AS HUMAN BEINGS? 16,000 PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS AT A MINIMUM HAVE BEEN KILLED. THAT DOES NOT COUNT THE BODIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED FROM UNDER THE RUBBLE. THE DOCTORS AROUND THE WORLD, DOCTORS [02:35:01] WITHOUT BORDERS, UN HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. EVERYONE IS SAYING THE SAME THING. THIS IS A GENOCIDE. ANYONE, ANYONE WHO DOES NOT CALL, THANK YOU. THE END OF THE GENOCIDE IS COMPLICIT. THANK YOU. UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, HANNAH BERG, TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. THEY NEED MORE TIME. SPEAK ABOUT PALESTINE. I'M A DISTRICT I CONSTITUENT AND MEMBER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE. AND I'M HERE TO CALL ON MORE OF YOU TO JOIN DR. PLUMMER IN DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE PERMANENCY FIRE JUDAISM TEACHES US THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF THE DIVINE, OUR LIVES EQUALLY PRECIOUS. AND TO ABANDON THIS PRINCIPLE IS A LOSS OF HUMANITY. THAT'S WHY WE REFUSE TO BE COMPLICIT OR SILENT. THAT'S WHY THE ONLY SIDE TO TAKE HERE IS THAT IF PREVENTING FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE. SO PLEASE TAKE THAT SANDS KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT IN OPPOSITION TO JEWISH SAFETY. WE ARE ALL LESS SAFE WHEN ANY ENTITY IS ABLE TO DISPLACE NEARLY 2 MILLION AND KILL MORE THAN 18,000 PEOPLE, HALF OF THEM CHILDREN, AND DESTROY ALL LIFE SUSTAINING CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE WHENEVER THOSE PEOPLE'S EXISTENCE ARE INCONVENIENCE TO THE GOALS OF EMPIRE. AS A QUEER JEW, I'M NOT SAFE. WHEN THE IDF SOLDIER PLACES A RAINBOW FLAG ON TOP OF THE RUBBLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE QUEER PALESTINIANS USED TO LIVE AS A US RESIDENT. I'M NOT SAFE WHEN MY REPRESENTATIVES ARE SO BUSY REDEFINING ANTISEMITISM IN ORDER TO SHIELD ISRAEL FROM ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THEY IGNORE THE REAL THREAT OF WHITE NATIONALISM THAT WE FACE AT HOME. PLEASE CALL FOR CEASE FIRE NOW. THANK YOU, MS. HANNAH. NEXT SPEAKER, JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB CLEMENT BEST FOR LIES . THANK YOU SIR. OKAY, THIS IS FOR THE WE REELECTED OFFICIALS. PUT IT BY THE SPEAKER. I'M BACK IN THE SOUTH AGAIN. . WELL, HAVE ANY OF Y'ALL EVER BEEN TO PALESTINE? WHY HAVEN'T THIS DAMN, DAMN F*****G S****Y CONDITIONS COME ON, JACOB. JACOB. SO THEY NEED HELP. SO, HEY, THEY, THEY, THEY LISTEN TO THESE PALESTINIAN SUPPORTERS. THEY NEED SOMEONE TO WRITE A LETTER TO LIKE A CONGRESSPERSON SO THEY, THEY CAN BE HEARD. UH, OFFICIALLY. THANK YOU JACOB. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. ALL RIGHT, RESET UNTIL [RECESS] TOMORROW AT NIGHT. 13 2023. ITEM ONE IS A REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ANN BURNETT STERN TO POSITION SIX OF THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN PARK CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE. NUMBER NINE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, SOUTH POST OAK ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM THREE IS A REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE SOUTH POST OAK REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER THREE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE ZONE. ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, FORMERLY MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 24, GREATER HOUSTON ZONE. ITEM SEVEN, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE GREATER HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM EIGHT, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE WASHINGTON AVENUE CORRIDOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR APPROVAL TO RENAME RIVER OAKS PARK TO PUMPKIN PARK. ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024 BUDGET FOR HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION. ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2024 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THE TRINITY RIVER WATER CONVEYANCE PROJECT OPERATED BY THE COASTAL WATER [02:40:01] AUTHORITY. ITEM 12, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $580,680 18 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM TAX AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES. LTD ITEM 13. RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR WIND FERN ROAD, CLAY ROAD TO WINGFOOT ROAD ON CONTRACT WITH MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES LTD ITEM 14, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF SUPERDUTY TRUCKS. ITEM 15 IS AN AMEND MOTION. UH, 2020 DASH 1 75 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY DEVICES AWARDED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SOTS LLC ITEM 16 SEALS B FORD INC. FOR PURCHASE OF HYBRID FORD MAVERICK CREW CABS XLT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. ITEM 17 AMEND MOTION 2020 DASH 64 TO EXTEND CONTRACT TERM AND INCREASE THE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF SODIUM HYPO CHLORIDE CHEMICALS. ITEM 18 IS RESOLUTION. CONFIRM AND NO OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF LANDING ON ORAL ITEM 19 RESOLUTION APPOINTING GRACE RODRIGUEZ TO SERVE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 11, CHAPTER TWO OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO THE CREATION OF THE HOUSTON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ADVISORY BOARD. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 39 DASH 62 OF THE HU OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON TEXAS ESTABLISHING A FEE FOR THE LEASING MANAGEMENT OF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE AND RECYCLABLES FOR RESIDENTIAL UNITS. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING DELEGATED AUTHORITY PERTAINING TO AIRPORT SYSTEM INFERIOR LIEN REVENUE BONDS. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR JOINT RUNOFF ELECTION SERVICES. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING LAND USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EPSON BUILDERS LP, A TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 2022 DASH 360 6 BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,500,000 OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROVING IN AUTHORIZING DESIGN BILL CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FLINT CO LLC FLINT CO LLC ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED AND LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE AND $4,240,850 OUT OF AIRPORTS RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND AWARD AND CON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT. THE FMG CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $150 MILLION OUT OF AIRPORT SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED 2011 CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNITED AIRLINES INC. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 5 MILLION FUND $158,000 OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION, CONSOLIDATED FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT WITH TIMES CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,652,000 OUT OF POLICE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND $9,577,390 OUT OF COMBINED OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR THE DESIGN BILL CONTRACT WITH EPSON BUILDERS LP. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE D APPROPRIATING $265,900 OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUNDS OUT OF OWNERS CONTINGENCY MATERIAL TESTING, INSPECTION SERVICES AND IT SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING $265,900 OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FOR TASK ORDER AND JOB ORDER CONTRACTING PROGRAM FOR THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. ITEM 35, ORDINANCE DE APPROPRIATING $84,334 OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUNDS OUT OF PROFESSIONAL, UH, ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH KIRKSEY ARCHITECTS INC. DBA KIRKSEY ARCHITECTURE APPROPRIATING $84,334 OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR TASK ORDER AND JOB ORDER CONTRACT AND [02:45:01] PROGRAM FOR THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. ITEM 36 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING 36 AGREEMENTS FOR PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND OR MUSICIANS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOLE PROPRIETORSHIPS. ALEX NAVARRO MUSIC, ANTHONY C CHAD WEEL CAMPER HOUSTON ENSEMBLE. OPERATED BY CHARLES WEEL CAMPER DEVISE STRINGS. LLC OPERATED, OPERATED BY SHELLY MATTHEWS. EDDIE OC INE, OPERATED BY EDWARD HIN, THE GERLING MUTT DUO. OPERATED BY INGRID ELIZABETH CAPARELLI, GERLING, JEROME ALI KIARA MICHELLE AND COMPANY ENTERTAINMENT OPERATED BY CARIA KIARA, MICHELLE NEWTON, MARK P. SIMON RHYTHMIC PRODUCTIONS OPERATED BY MARLON SIMON. SINCERELY YOURS, MUSIC OPERATED BY MELVIN JOHNSON. PAUL ENGLISH MUSIC, RANKIN PETERS MUSIC. BOB CHADWICK TRIO OPERATED BY ROBERT CHADWICK AND TONY HENRY MUSIC, NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS APOLLO CHAMBER PLAYERS A RS, LYRICA HOUSTON, AXIOM QUARTET INC. AND TRIO ORION'S CORPORATIONS BLONDE VIOLIN PRODUCTIONS. LLC ENTERTAINMENT CONNECT, LLC CARTE BLANCHE MUSIC LLC MERCURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, INC. RO FLAMINGO, LLC MUSICA AND PARTNERSHIP MYSTERY LOVES COMPANY FOR THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2018 DASH 8 91 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH BAYSIDE PRINTING INC. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TD SNOW REMOVAL CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS AS TOP DOG SERVICES. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO IN FOR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING AGREEMENT WITH APPROPRIATING APPROPRIATION BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON LAND BANK. ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING QUALIFIED HOTEL PROJECT AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND 4 0 1 FRANKLIN STREET, LTD ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $150,000 OUT OF PARTS AND RECREATION, DEDICATION, FUND, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BUFFALO BIO PARTNERSHIP ITEM 44 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BUFFALO BIO PARTNERSHIP ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING TRANSFER OF $5 MILLION OUT OF GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE TO TO PARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND APPROPRIATING $5 MILLION OUT OF PARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FROM MCGREGOR PARK PROJECT ITEM 46 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT REQUIRED MATERIALS INCLUDING AN APPLICATION AND BUDGET TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. ITEM 47 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF OLD SPANISH TRAIL ALAMEDA CORRIDORS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER SEVEN, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, OLD SPANISH TRAIL, ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE ITEM 48 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND CONCESSION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD ITEM 49 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO BIO GREENWAYS 2020. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND HOUSTON PARK PARKS BOARD INC. ITEM 50 ORDINANCE APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF $5 MILLION OUT OF GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE TO PARKS SPECIAL FUND FOR SHARPSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT ITEM 51 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 800 BLOCK OF WOODLAND STREET. ITEM 52 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 900 BLOCK OF HORNE STREET. ITEM 53 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 4,400 BLOCK OF NORTH ROSENE DRIVE. ITEM 54 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 500 TO 700 BLOCK OF CANADIAN STREET. ITEM 55 ORDINANCE ESTABL IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 41 TO 4,200 BLOCK OF WOODLEY STREET. ITEM 56 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 800 AND 900 BLOCKS OF HIGHLAND STREET. ITEM 57 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 6.875 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 64, ITEM 58 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE CREATION OF HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 84 ITEM 59 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 0.9115 ACRES OF LAND TO NORTH HAMPTON MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT ITEM 60 ORDINANCE [02:50:01] APPROPRIATING $455,684 25 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 61 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,807,291 55 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM TAX APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 62 ORDINANCE MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS RELATED TO USE BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS OF APPROXIMATELY 31,838 SQUARE FEET OF LAND OUTTA BLACK HAWK PARK. ITEM 63 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $22,600,000 OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AWARD AND CONTRACT TO JFT CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 64 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,966,330 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE $8,483,000 OUT OF REIMBURSEMENT OF EQUIPMENT PROJECTS FUND AND $3,678,507 OUT OF STATE HPW GRANT FUNDED DEDICATED DRAINAGE AWARDING CONTRACT TO MAIN LANE INDUSTRY'S LTD ITEM 65 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $12,642,301 19 CENTS OUT OF STREET AND TRAFFIC CONTROL AND STORM DRAINAGE DD SRFA AND $5,314,000 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION AWARD AND CONTRACT TO MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES, LTD ITEM 66. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 10 73 GRANTING TO AAA FLEXIBLE PIPE CLEANING COMPANY, INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. ITEM 67 ORDINANCE GRANTING AMERICAN SANITATION SERVICES INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. ITEM 68 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC ITEM 69 ORDINANCE GRANTING A GRANTING TO A PLUS GREEN LANE WASTE CORPORATION. ITEM 70 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO CZ CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 71 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SKULL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LLC ITEM 72 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO L-L-C-D-B-A 1-800-GOT-JUNK ITEM 73 REVIEW ON THE RECORD AND MAKE DETERMINATION RELATIVE TO THE APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF THE SIGN ADMINISTRATION ON DENIAL OF AN OFF-PREMISE SIGN AT NINE 50 AND A HALF THREAD NEEDLE STREET FILED BY CHRISTOPHER W ROTHFELD ON BEHALF OF SINAI LTD. ITEM 74 IS A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT AND UPTODATE 2023 MASTER PLAN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. AND THIS WAS ITEM 14 ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2023. AGENDA ITEM 75 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 47 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO WATER BILL RELIEF TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH. AND THIS WAS ITEM 31 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 6TH, 2023. ITEM 76, ORDINANCE AMENDING REVENUE AGREEMENTS WITH SSP AMERICA. I-A-H-I-T-R-P-L-L-C, PARODIES, LAGGARD AT IAH 2021 LLC. LATRELL GALLEY, LLLP AND AREAS HOUSTON, AREAS H-O-U-J-V-L-L-C FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND RETAIL CONCESSIONS AT GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, HOUSTON AND WILLIAM P. HOBBY AIRPORT TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS GALLEGOS AND KUBOSH. THIS WAS ITEM 34 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 6TH, 2023. ITEM 77, ORDINANCE APPROVED IN OR AWARD AND CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WINGO SERVICE COMPANY, INC. ITEM 78, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF HOUSTON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION APPROVING THE, I'M SORRY, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OSH AND THIS WAS ITEM 72 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 6TH, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF DECEMBER 12 AND 13, UH, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON DANIELS. ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY. THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY AND HAVE A BLESSED AND FACT TABLET DAY. THANK YOU. [02:55:20] I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE ITEM. ITEM 79, WHICH WAS A SUPPLEMENT ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,070,505 23 CENTS OUTTA PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE BUFFALO BIO PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY. MINUTES AFTER NINE ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, 2023. [RECONVENE] I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETINGS HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL DAUGHTER. WE ARE GONNA START OFF WITH THE [MISCELLANEOUS] APPOINTMENTS AND I, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU WILL CALL THEM ONE THROUGH EIGHT AND 19 AND 19. ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT NEED A MOTION AND ITEM RE THE ITEM 19 JUST NEEDS A VOTE. CASTEX STATE MOVE SECOND ROBINSON. OKAY, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHY DON'T WE TAKE ONE THROUGH EIGHT FIRST. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AND ON ONE THROUGH EIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON ONE, ON NUMBER ONE IF YOU ARE HERE. UH, WELL ALL THESE, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, ONE IS DEALING WITH THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN PARK CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THAT'S ANN BENNETT. STERN. IS ANN HERE? OKAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ANN. UH, TWO IS TO THE SOUTH POST OAK ZONE. UM, THAT'S, UH, TWO AND THREE. TWO AND THREE, UH, DEALING WITH THE SOUTH POST OAK ZONE. IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, CAROL, UH, GUESS CAROL IS HERE. PAUL JEFFERSON, UH, TANDON, UH, ATKINSON WEAVER AND GEORGE JOHNSON. OKAY. AND THIS IS ALSO TO THE SOUTH POST OF REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. CAROL, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR. AND, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, UH, TO WORKING WELL. THOSE WHO WILL BE RETURNING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, SIR. MOVING FORWARD, COUNSEL FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, VICE MAYOR TIM, CAST TATUM. CAROL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT IN FORTS NINE. UM, WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PROJECTS COMING UP IN DISTRICT A. WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, THE, THE HOUSING, UH, DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF THE OTHER BIG PROJECTS THAT ARE, ARE HAPPENING. THE RESIDENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND WE KNOW HOW VALUABLE THESE TURS ARE. UM, AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE GOOD PEOPLE SERVING ON THESE BOARDS, MAKING GREAT DECISIONS AND OVERSEEING THE DOLLARS, UM, AND REALLY TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT, UM, THE MEMBERS OF TURS NINE HAVE BEEN DOING. UM, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE, UM, EACH OF THESE REAPPOINTMENTS AND CONTINUING TO TRANSFORM DISTRICT K. SO THANK YOU AND EACH OF YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. CAROL, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR OFFERING YOURSELF AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU DO A TREMENDOUS JOB IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AND WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. CAROL, UH, IT JUST WANTED TO ADD MY APPRECIATION. UH, WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT ONLY RECENTLY, BUT, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO, UH, AN OUTSTANDING JOB SERVING ON THE TOURS. OUR TOURS ARE SO CRITICAL FOR OUR INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOOD MITIGATION, UH, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I ALSO WANNA ADD, UH, JUST A FANTASTIC PERSON COMES FROM A LEGACY FAMILY DOING GREAT WORK, UH, KEEPING UP THE NAME OF HER FAMILY. AND CERTAINLY, UH, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I ALSO WANNA SAY TOLAND ATKINSON, WE WEAVER, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S NOT HERE, IS A LONG TIME FRIEND OF MINE. I'M JUST VERY EXCITED FOR WHAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO DO ON THAT BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, CAROL, AND TO TANIN, WHO, WHO IS, UH, SERVING ON THIS BOARD. UH, YOUR COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO, UM, YOUR PREVIOUS ROLE WITH THE CHAMBER, BUT ALSO TO THIS BOARD. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY, THANKS CAROL. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. SEE YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, AND THEN ON FOUR AND FIVE, THEY GO TOGETHER AND THIS IS CHURCH NUMBER THREE. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, KIRBY, [03:00:01] LOU, UH, CURTIS FLOWERS. MICHELLE SABINO. KEITH EDWARD HAM, REGINA GARCIA, UH, WILLIAM TAYLOR II JAMES HARRISON II AND BARRY MANDEL. CURTIS, GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD MORNING. WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CONTINUUM, CONTINUING TO, UH, PROVIDE YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THE CITY. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT, AND THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WE GO FORWARD. POLL, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLACK. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CURTIS, I ECHO, UH, THE SAME THOUGHTS AND SENTIMENTS AS THE MAYOR. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANKS, CURTIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SURE. UM, NOW ON C POSITION SIX AND SEVEN, UH, THIS IS UR NUMBER 24, AND IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, SAMANTHA KILO, SOPHIE NETTE, ELER, MICHAEL LOWES, CONRAD, JOE YORMAN KENNEDY, SHERIFF, SHERIFF AT LEAL PRICE. AND OLGA YAMO RODRIGUEZ. OLGA LEAL PRICE. OH, IS THAT SHERIFF AT, DID I GET THE RIGHT? YES. LEAL PRICE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS CHURCH, CHURCH 24, AS WELL AS THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. UM, AND, AND AGAIN, THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. AS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND THANK YOU FOR JUST STEPPING UP AND SAYING YES. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR AND MR. LAWAL PRICE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, SHE HAS BEEN SUCH A TREMENDOUS PARTNER TO US IN DISTRICT D WITH HER WORK AT, AT UNITY BANK. AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH YOU, AND WE KNOW THAT GREAT THINGS ARE GONNA COME OUT OF WHATEVER YOU TOUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND SEE, THAT WAS EIGHT, AND THEN ON EIGHT, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE, UH, STAND AND COME FORWARD. THIS IS TO THE WASHINGTON AVENUE CORRIDOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, SIX. POSITION SIX IS JULIE MABERRY, AND SEVEN IS JANICE GOLDSMITH. CHUCKER. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IS THIS JANICE? YES, ON JANICE. JANICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE WASHINGTON AVENUE CORRIDOR, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S TAKING PLACE ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE. I'M SURE YOU'RE FULLY, FULLY AWARE, , AND SO THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD, THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD. UH, LET ME YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JANICE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION, UM, FOR THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR, RIGHT FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, A COMMERCIAL PERSPECTIVE, AND A NEIGHBORHOOD PERSPECTIVE. UH, BEYOND THAT, THOUGH, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE LEGACY THAT YOU'RE CARRYING ON. UM, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THREE BROTHERS BAKERY, UH, WHICH IS A STAPLE AROUND THE CITY, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BEST FOOD IN TOWN. BUT I REALLY JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALL THAT YOU DO, INCLUDING THROUGH, UH, THE GREATER HOUSTON RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND IN OUR RESTAURANT COMMUNITY. SO, UH, YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK, YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU HONOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND VICE MEMBER JIM CATECH TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR JANICE. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, THREE BROTHERS IN DISTRICT A IS, UH, ONE, ONE OF THE BEST. ABSOLUTELY. UM, AND WE, WE, WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE, I MEAN, YOU ARE A MODEL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THE SBA KNOWS IT. THE, THE, THE PRESIDENT KNOWS IT. EVERYONE THAT HAS, UH, READ ABOUT, UH, THE, THE, THE TRIALS THAT THE, THE BAKERY AND THE BUSINESS HAS GONE THROUGH, AND THE TRIUMPHS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, MADE HAPPEN, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH THAT BUSINESS IS EXEMPLARY. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU USING YOUR SKILLS AND TALENTS TO CONTINUE TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON BETTER. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU HONOR. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, MADAM [19.  RESOLUTION appointing GRACE RODRIGUEZ to serve as the representative of the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT ] SECRETARY, IF YOU'RE NOT CALLED, ITEM 19, ITEM 19 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. UH, WE ON ITEM 19, ON ITEM 19, DISCUSSION ON 19, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON 19. AND IF, UM, UM, THIS IS, UH, GRACIE [03:05:01] RODRIGUEZ, UH, TO SERVICE THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. UH, THERE SHE IS. GRACE, LET ME THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT POSITION, AN IMPORTANT BOARD, AND, UH, UH, CITY LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD. OKAY? SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, HAVING SAID THAT, [MAYOR'S REPORT] LET ME, UH, UH, SOME COMMENTS WITH REGARDS TO, UH, THIS MORNING. UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, THIS IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THIS IS A HEALTH, UH, KIND OF NOTE THIS, UM, MANY PEOPLE, AND THIS IS FROM DR. PER, ARE NOW MAKING, UH, FUN PLANS TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAY GATHERINGS AND THE NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES. UH, DR. DAVE DAVID PER A CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GETTING A, UH, I THINK THAT'S A NORAXX COVID-19 SHOT TODAY. UM, HE ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT OTHERS DO THE SAME. I KNOW I GOT MY MODERNA SHOT ON SATURDAY, SO COVID IS STILL AROUND, SO YOU MAY WANT TO GOVERN YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY AND ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME. HE ALSO RECOMMENDS A FLU SHOT, AND I'VE GOTTEN MY FLU SHOT ALREADY, UH, FOR EVERY SIX MONTHS. UH, AND THEN A RESPIRATORY, UH, ESSENTIAL VIRUS RSV SHOT FOR INFANTS AND PEOPLE AGE 60 AND OLDER. UH, SO PLEASE, HE SAID PEOPLE WITH HEALTH INSURANCE CAN VISIT THEIR DOCTOR OR NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACY TO GET THE SHOTS. AND EVEN MANY GROCERY STORES ALSO OFFER THE VACCINES. SO PEOPLE WITHOUT INSURANCE OR ENROLLED IN A HEALTH PLAN THAT DOESN'T COVER THEIR SHOTS CAN GET THE SHOTS FROM THEIR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO PEOPLE CAN STILL CALL THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 4 2 2 0 4 MORE INFORMATION. SO PLEASE, UM, BEAR THAT IN MIND. UH, YESTERDAY WE HAD A FINE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH, UH, UH, THE FLEET DEPARTMENT, UH, GARY GOCO, AS WELL AS WITH, UH, FIRE POLICE, SOLID WASTE TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH, UH, EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION PURCHASES THAT WE'VE MADE, UH, SINCE 2016. GOING FORWARD, UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, UH, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SPENT MORE THAN 500 AND $531 MILLION, UH, JUST ALLOCATED TO REPLACE, UH, VEHICLES, THE FLEET IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE HAVE PLACED WELL OVER, UH, 60, 65% OF THE ENTIRE FLEET, UM, IN UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. AND THAT'S INCLUDING, UM, UM, FIRE NEW VEHICLES, UH, POLICE SOLID WASTE. IN FACT, WE DISPLAYED SOME OF SOLID WASTE EQUIPMENT AND YESTERDAY AS LONG, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, FIRE. UM, AND IF YOU, AS YOU ALL CAN RECALL, UH, WHEN WE STARTED, UH, WE HAD TWO HAZMAT, AND THEN AFTER THE WATSON EXPLOSION, UH, WE'VE ADDED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. AND, UH, THOSE VEHICLES COST OVER A A MILLION DOLLARS. UH, THEY HAD THAT, UH, EQUIPMENT ON DISPLAY YESTERDAY. SO THE CITY NOW HAS THREE HAZMAT, UH, UNITS, AND WE DISPLAYED THE NUMBER OF, UH, UM, SOLID WASTE VEHICLES. UH, I WANNA THINK THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY, I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE DOZEN THAT HAVE COME IN AND ANOTHER 31 OR 50 SOMETHING, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER BEFORE ME THAT WILL BE COMING IN, UH, BEFORE THE CALENDAR YEAR, UH, IS OUT. SO, UM, OVERALL, UH, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS PROVIDED FOR THE DELIVERY OF MORE THAN 8,500 VEHICLES, UH, WHEN TOTALING THE NUMBER OF DELIVERED VEHICLES, THE VEHICLES PENDING DELIVERY, AND THE VEHICLES PROCUREMENT. SO, IF Y'ALL CAN RECALL, WHEN WE CAME IN, THERE WERE A LOT OF, UH, COMPLAINTS ABOUT, UH, EQUIPMENT FAILING, STOPPING, BURNING UP, YOU NAME IT. UH, BUT YOU HADN'T HEARD, UH, MUCH OF THAT AT ALL, UH, RECENTLY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE, UH, A WELL OVER A MAJORITY OF THE FLEET, UH, HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED. UH, I DO WANNA MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT JANE SHEEP, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, HR DIRECTOR, HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE 2024 HR HOUSTON PRESIDENT. AND, UM, HR HOUSTON IS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. AND IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS. SO JANE WILL BE TAKING OVER THAT ORGANIZATION. SO KUDOS TO, TO JANE CHEEKS. UH, UH, IN, IN A NEW POSITION, UH, TONIGHT, A RAPPER AND BUSINESSMAN, BUM BEAT WILL HOST THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF [03:10:01] HIP HOP MUSIC AT THE DELUXE THEATER. THAT'S TONIGHT. UH, THE PROGRAM WILL EXAMINE THE MUSIC AND ITS IMPACT WORLDWIDE, AND THE MUSIC ORIGINATED IN THE BRONX, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF TALENTED MUSICIANS RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH BOMB B AT THE HIP HOP CELEBRATION TONIGHT AT THE DELUXE THEATER. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, THE NFL ANNOUNCES IS 2023 INSPIRED CHANGE, CHANGE MAKERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. NOW, FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE NFL AND ITS CLUB YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED ITS LIST OF 2023 INSPIRED CHANGE, CHANGE MAKERS, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT IDENTIFY AS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES. UH, WELL, I'M HONORED HOUSTON TEXANS AND NOMINATED YOURS TRULY. UM, WELL JUST NOW READING THIS, WELL, LET ME JUST TAKE IT ALL IN. AND OF COURSE, THEY WANT ME TO, TO PLAY IN THE TEXANS GAME ON DECEMBER THE 24TH. COURT QUARTERBACK, , QUARTERBACK, QUARTERBACK, QUARTERBACK, LINEBACKER. OH, I'M SORRY, I MISREAD THAT. THEY JUST WANT ME TO SHOW UP , I MIS I MISREAD IT. I THOUGHT THEY WERE INVITING ME TO PLAY, BUT THEY JUST WANT ME TO SHOW UP ON DECEMBER THE 24TH. SO, AND LET ME THANK THE, UH, THE HOUSTON TEXANS. AND THEN ON A SATURDAY NOTE, THE HOUSTON PHILANTHROPIST, CATHERINE MCGOVERN, WHO ALL OF US KNOW, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 90. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN VERY, VERY GENEROUS TO THIS CITY, TO THE HOUSTON ZOO, FOR EXAMPLE. UM, BUT, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE JOHN P MCGOVERN FOUNDATION. SHE DIED THIS MONTH. SHE WAS 90. SHE LEAVES AN AMAZING LEGACY AS THE BENEFACTOR OF THE SOUTH MAIN ALLIANCE AND THE HOUSTON MUSEUM DISTRICT, AND HAS MADE TRANSFORMATIVE GIFTS TO MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND CAUSES THAT MAKE OUR AREA OF THE HEART OF HOUSTON. SO LET'S KEEP HER FAMILY IN MIND. AND TODAY, WE'LL, WE WILL ADJOURN A MEMORY OF CATHERINE MCGOVERN. OKAY, NOW PLEASE REMIND ME MM-HMM . UM, AND THEN, UH, JUST AS I WANTED TO SAY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE, UH, WHAT I CALL THE LAST BIG AGENDA. OKAY. UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THINGS THAT, UH, UM, UM, MAY BE TAGGED AND CARRIED OVER TO NEXT WEEK. BUT, UH, THIS WILL, I DO NOT ANTICIPATE, UH, ANY, A LOT OF NEW STUFF. IF, IF IT IS ONE BEING WHAT I CALL ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE, I WOULD THINK, CONTROVERSIAL, SO TO SPEAK, OR CONTENTIOUS. UH, SO FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE DATE. OKAY. UM, BECAUSE, UH, NEXT WEEK WAS INTENDED, IT IS INTENDED TO BE MORE OF A CELEBRATE CEREMONIAL CEREMONY. CELEBRATION. YEAH. IN FACT, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE DAY. SO I BROUGHT THIS BOTTLE OF WINE, BUT THEY TOLD ME NOT TO , YOU WANT CHAMPAGNE, YOU WANT MIMOSAS NEXT TO YOU MIMOSAS. BUT, UM, BUT THIS IS THE LAST BIG, LAST BIG AGENDA FOR TODAY. I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU FACTOR IN ALL OF THE ITEMS, ALL OF THEM ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, AND LET'S ASSUME THAT EVERY ITEM, UH, PASSED ON THE AGENDA WHERE WE ARE EXPENDING DOLLARS, UH, THAT THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE WILL LEAVE AND PASS ON, UH, TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION WILL BE AT LEAST $417 MILLION. THAT'S IF EVERY ITEM, EVERY EXPENDITURE WAS MADE, UH, IN THIS AGENDA TODAY, THAT POSITION. AND, AND, UH, AND THAT'S ABOVE WHAT WE BUDGETED WHEN WE PASSED THE BUDGET. 'CAUSE IF YOU CAN RECALL, WHEN WE PASSED THE BUDGET, WE SAID IT WAS GONNA BE LIKE 4 0 2, UH, MILLION. UH, BUT IF EVERYTHING ON THIS AGENDA PASSES TODAY OR NEXT WEEK, WHENEVER IT GOES, UM, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE AT LEAST $417 MILLION, UH, FOR THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. AND, UH, THE NET POSITION OF THE CITY, UH, WILL BE $7.6 BILLION UM, AND IF YOU CAN RECALL, IN 2016, WHEN I CAME IN, THE NET POSITION OF THE CITY WAS NEGATIVE 95 MILLION. SO WE'VE GONE FROM A NEGATIVE 95 MILLION TO $7.6 BILLION IN TERMS OF THE NET, THE NET POSITION OF THE CITY. SO FEEL REAL GOOD ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE ITEMS WITH COST ON HERE, BUT TO GIVE YOU, JUST SO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, UH, UM, WE SAID THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN, IF NOT GO HIGHER, AND WE ARE LEAVING A HIGHER FUND BALANCE THAN EVEN WHEN WE BUDGETED. SO I WANT TO NOTE THAT, I THINK THAT COVERS IT FOR, FOR ME. AND, UH, [CONSENT AGENDA] NOW WE WILL MOVE TO THE, UH, CONSENT, [03:15:01] UH, AGENDA. MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13 NEED A MOTION CAST SECTION A MOVE. SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY. ITEM 15 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS 14, 16, AND 17. NEED A MOTION CAST MOVE. SECOND. ROBINSON, IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED ON 14, 16 AND 17. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANTED UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEM 18. JUST NEEDS A VOTE. WELL. ITEM 18, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED, GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS 20, 21, 24, 31, 40, 48 AND 49 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEM 36 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 20, 21, 24, 31, 30, I'M SORRY, 20 TIME 20, 21, 24, 31, 40, 48 AND 49 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEM 36 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED AND GRANTED. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. LEMME MAKE SURE I CAN GET MY STUFF TOGETHER. DID WE GO OVER THE ONES THAT WERE SQUARED OR JUST THE ONES THAT WERE NOT IN? WE PROBABLY DIDN'T DO, I PROBABLY DIDN'T DO THE ONES THAT WERE SQUARE. YEAH, WHY DON'T WE MAKE SURE, LEMME GO BACK, LET, LET ME GO BACK. ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 23, 25, 29, 33, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45 AND 50. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 23, 25, 29, 33, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, AND 50. SO YOU DID, YOU DID NOT CALL 40. YOU DID. SO 40 IS NOT, 40 IS NOT IN, OH, 40 IS NOT IN, I'M SORRY. GIVE US A NOT IN AT END. THE NUMBER'S NOT IN ARE 20, 21, 24, 31, 40, 48 AND 49. VOTING ON THE BALANCE. AND WE ARE VOTING ON THE BALANCE AND WE'RE VOTING ON THE BALANCE. OH, UH, THE REMAINDER I SHOULD SAY. OKAY. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I REMOVED A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. HOLD ON. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. NOT A LOT. SHE'S OUT. SO I WILL NOT END PERSON. IT'S ON JURY DUTY. WHOLE PAGE. HANG ON. WHOLE PAGE. OKAY. THIS RIGHT HERE? YEAH, SHE'S ON. OKAY. ALRIGHT. YOU DO DENIED ENDS AGAIN. NO, THAT'S FROM THE TOP. NOW LET'S GO FROM THE TOP. WE'RE GOING TO THE REMOVED ITEMS. YES. OKAY. ITEMS MOVE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] CONSIDERATION. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TITLE, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM NINE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN ON ITEM NINE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS ITEM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. THIS IS THE, UH, RENAMING OF RIVER OAKS PARK TO PUMPKIN PARK. AND EVEN BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, I NEVER KNEW IT WAS CALLED RIVER OAKS PARK. THE COMMUNITY ALWAYS CALLED IT PUMPKIN PARK. AND SO WE HAVE SOME FIERCE LADIES, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE IF YOU TWO WOULD LIKE TO STAND, WHO'VE KIND OF LED THE CHARGE [03:20:01] ON THIS. UM, AND THEY ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY TOOK SURVEYS. THERE WAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. UM, PART OF THIS PARK RENOVATION COMES THIS NAME CHANGE. AND, UM, WE'VE ALSO, WE'RE REDOING THE TENNIS COURTS, UM, WITH PART OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS. AND, UM, EVEN IF YOU GO TO GOOGLE AND YOU GOOGLE PUMPKIN PARK, IT TAKES YOU TO RIVER OAKS PARK. UM, SO EVEN GOOGLE KNOWS THAT'S WHAT THE PARK IS SUPPOSED TO BE CALLED. SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE NAME CHANGE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK LADIES. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. UM, ANY OTHER CAYMAN? OH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. I'M SORRY. OH, I, I TOO, JUST WANTED TO ECHO MY APPRECIATION TO THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. UM, WE SHARE THE BOUNDARY ALONG WESTHEIMER, SO A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ALSO USE IT. I GREW UP KNOWING IT AS PUMPKIN PARK. ALL THE BIRTHDAY PARTIES THAT WERE THERE, THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THE CENTER. IT WAS ALWAYS PUMPKIN PARK. SO THE RENOVATIONS ARE EXCITING. A LOT OF SCHOOLS TO USE THOSE TENNIS COURTS, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. SO YOUR FUNDS, UM, ARE, ARE REALLY GOING TO A GREAT USE, NOT JUST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT FOR OUR SCHOOLS. AND YEAH, HAD NO IDEA UNTIL I CAME ONTO COUNCIL THAT IT WAS NOT FORMALLY CALLED PUMPKIN PARK COUNCIL MEMBER OUTGOING. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE AND ALL THE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING INTO THIS PARK. MAYOR, THERE IS, UM, A LOT OF WORK THAT'S GONNA BE DONE ON THAT AT THAT COMMUNITY CENTER. AND THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR HER INFUSION OF FUNDS. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS, THIS IS CALLED PUMPKIN PUMPKIN PARK. IT SAYS THERE'S THIS GREAT PUMPKIN IN IT. IT'S THIS PUMPKIN CARRIAGE THAT'S BEEN THERE FOREVER. AND THEN IT GOT SENT OFF TO BE TOTALLY RENOVATED. AND WE FOUND, THEY FOUND SOME COMPANY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE THAT RENOVATED THAT PUMPKIN. AND, UH, MY KIDS HAD PLAYED ON IN THAT PUMPKIN. IT'S CINDERELLA'S PUMPKIN AND IT HAS A LITTLE THING. SO IT'S THE PUMPKIN PARK AND, AND IT'S A GREAT PARK, BUT JUST REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD WORK OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC PRI I MEAN, PRIVATE INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING INTO THIS CITY PARK. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND WE'RE ALL REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, THIS CHANGE THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE NEEDED, BUT WE NEED IT. . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NINE? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED AND GRANTED ON ITEM NINE AND THAT I, I DID WANT TO SAY, UM, I FORGOT IN THE MAYOR REPORT, UH, TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WILL BE RETURNING THE NEXT YEAR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLETT. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN, UH, VICE MEMBER TIM. MARTHA CASTEK. TATUM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. TIFFANY THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCO. COUNCIL MEMBER PAT PACK. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. SO ALL OF YOU WILL BE RETURNING, UH, NEXT YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. UH, THAT'S A SOLID NUMBER. I'M SAYING 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. KEEP THAT FROM BALANCE. 10 10 WILL BE OF YOU, WILL BE RETURNING. SO ALL VETERANS. OH, WOW. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO, UM, BATTLE. YEAH. TO, TO, YOU'VE BEEN BATTLE TESTED. YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH IT FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. COUNCIL. HEY. YEAH. YOU. NO COUNCIL HERE. SO, UM, UH, SO I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY, VERY BEST. AND IT IS BEEN AN ENJOY, UH, A TOTAL JOY, UH, IN WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. SO ALL THE BEST. AND THEN TO THOSE WHO WILL BE, UM, UH, RETIRING AND MOVING ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU ALL. AND DAVE MARTIN, OH, I'M STAYING , MAY MAY APPROACH HIM. DAVE MARTIN, UH, THANK YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, UH, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT. UM, FOR ALL OF US. AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS. YEAH. AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS FROM, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM. 10, 11, 11 FOR COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. 10. 10 DAVID ROBINSON. NOT QUITE 10 YEARS YET, MAYOR. IT'S, UH, I THINK WE'RE TWO WEEKS SHORT OF 10 YEARS OKAY. IN KUBA. 10 YEARS. 10 YEARS. SO, UM, UM, SO VETERANS, LOT OF EXPERIENCE EACH AND ONE. SO A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE. AND MY HAIR'S TURNED GREAT, BY THE WAY. YEAH. BUT AT LEAST YOU STILL GOT SOME YEAH. . WELL, Y'ALL, IT'S NOT TURNING GRAY, TURNING LOOSE. WELL, HEY, MINE'S GONE. UM, SO THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH. AND, UM, APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION. SO I WANTED TO, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, OF COURSE, WE HAVE AN EVENT TODAY, UM, AT NOON, [03:25:01] I THINK 1130. 1130 NOON. SO HOPEFULLY Y'ALL, UM, ALL OF Y'ALL WILL BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE IT, UH, TODAY. UH, BUT THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. ONE ITEM 10, DISCUSSION ON 10. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED. MAYOR PRO, VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM CAST. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY THAT ON, ON YESTERDAY, I HAD MY BRIEFING WITH HOUSTON FIRST. UM, IT WAS A, A PLEASANT MEETING. UH, WE REALLY DID, UH, HONE IN ON HOW WELL HOUSTON'S VISITOR ECONOMY IS, UM, GOING. AND WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PLANS FOR HOUSTON FIRST AND ALL THAT, UM, IS HAPPENING IN OUR, UM, CONVENTION CENTER AREA WITH THE GEORGE R. BROWN. AND, UM, THERE'S A GREAT VISION THERE. WE'VE GOT SOME VISIONARY PEOPLE ON THAT TEAM. UH, OUR COUNCIL LIAISON WITH, UM, TRACY PRINCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN JUST THE, THE WONDERFUL COMMUNICATOR THAT SHE IS. AND THEN, UM, FRANK AND JONATHAN, THAT WHOLE TEAM HAS JUST, UM, REALLY KEPT US ABREAST OF WHAT'S TO COME. UM, BUT I WAS MOST, UH, PLEASED WITH HOW STRONG OUR VISITOR ECONOMY IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY, UM, THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, UM, FOR OUR BUDGET WITH, UH, OUR, OUR TAX REVENUE. OUR HOT TAXES IS VERY STRONG. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO, UM, UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS IN THE ARTS, UH, NEXT YEAR. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON, UH, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HOUSTON. PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO HOUSTON. UM, OUR LIST OF CONVENTIONS, UH, IS STEADILY GROWING, UM, AND GETTING BIGGER. HENCE THE NEED FOR THE EXPANSION AND MAKING AND THE REORGANIZATION OF GEORGE R. BROWN SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE CONVENTIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY. I MEAN, IT, IT WAS ALL EXCITING. SO, UM, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR VISITOR ECONOMY AND REALLY, UM, ADVOCATING ALL OF US ARE FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO HOUSTON, SPEND THEIR MONEY IN HOUSTON, AND ENJOY OUR GREAT CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY I APPROACH HIM, MARTIN? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS I, UH, HAVE 18 DAYS LEFT TO SERVE ON THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE CHAIRMAN, MR. DAVID MINTZBERG, CEO, MR. MICHAEL HECKMAN, THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, MS. TRACY PRINCE, AND OUR CFO MR. FRANK WILSON. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU FOR MY ALMOST 11 YEARS, 10 YEARS ON HOUSTON FIRST BOARD, WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. UM, Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND WE LOOK FOR BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS COMING WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER ON THE SOUTH PART AND MAKING SURE THAT WE NEVER GIVE AWAY AN ANCHOR HOTEL AGAIN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I, I TOO, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MICHAEL AND TO DAVID AND TO TRACY. UH, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND PLEASURE WORKING WITH Y'ALL THESE PAST 10 YEARS IN REGARDS TO HOUSTON. FIRST, UH, PROUD TO HAVE HOUSTON FIRST IN DISTRICT. I, UH, I KNOW WITH THE REDISTRICTING, WE'RE LOSING, UH, TWO OR THREE VENUES, I BELIEVE, UH, OUT OUT OF DISTRICT I GOING INTO H. BUT, UH, IT'LL BE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, TWO DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW THAT, UH, WILL, WILL BE REPRESENTING HOUSTON FIRST. SO AGAIN, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE, UH, SERVING AND, AND, AND REPRESENTING HOUSTON FIRST AND HAVING Y'ALL IN DISTRICT DIE. AND Y'ALL BEEN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, UH, WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. SO, THANK YOU. YEAH. DIDN'T REALIZE THAT, UH, ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE, ARE RETIRING. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD SOME COMMENTS FOR THE GENTLEMAN WHO ARE HERE FOR TRACY. I DON'T SEE YOU OUT THERE. OH, YOU'RE BEHIND THE CAMERA THERE. YOU'RE, UM, AND FRANK FOR YOU THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE, UH, LIKE THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, I HAD A BRIEFING YESTERDAY. I WANT TO THANK, UH, MICHAEL HECKMAN. WANT TO THANK TRACY FOR, UH, BRINGING ME UP TO SPEED ON THINGS, MAYOR, SINCE YOU GAVE YOUR STATE OF THE CITY THIS YEAR. AND NOT ONLY DID YOU BRING US UP TO SPEED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY, YOU ALSO UNVEILED A LOT ABOUT THE VISIONARY, UH, LOOK FORWARD THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU, UH, COLLEAGUES, FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT THE MAYOR JUST MENTIONED WHO ARE RETURNING. UH, THIS IS A BRAVE NEW WORLD. AND OVER THE NEXT DECADE AND A HALF OR SO, UM, THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN IS GONNA BE FURTHER TRANSFORMED IN WAYS THAT MY IMAGINE IS TESTED. UH, AND THAT'S IN A REALLY EXCITING WAY, MAYOR, YOUR VISION, I THINK IS PROVIDED FOR SOME REAL BROAD THINKING. AND, UH, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW FLUSH WE ARE. AGAIN, FRANK, KUDOS TO YOU WITH, UH, AND, AND MR. MINTZBERG FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP LEADERSHIP AND, UH, EXCELLENT, UH, OVERSIGHT OF THE BOARD. UH, WE'RE IN AN EXCELLENT POSITION, UNIQUE AMONGST CONVENTION CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [03:30:01] AND HAVING RETURNED FROM A CONVENTION THAT JUST HOSTED 70,000 PEOPLE INTERNATIONALLY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NOBODY BETTER POSITIONED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAN THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, MAYOR. SO, KUDOS TO YOU, AND THANKS TO HOUSTON FIRST. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY, UH, FOR BEING PRESENT. THANK YOU ALL. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE. TAX 23 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE 23 2 BOX TAGS? UM, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. SECRETARY, 2021. OKAY, 23 IS BEING TAGGED, UM, BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO AND COUNCIL MEMBER KU THREE. ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 25, DISCUSSION ON 25, DISCUSSION ON 25 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANTED ON 25. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. IS HE A VOTE? WE ON ITEM 29, DISCUSSION ON 29, DISCUSSION ON 29, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED AND GRANTED ON 29, UH, UH, COUNCIL MAYOR PROAM MARTIN. YES, MAYOR, I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DR. TERRANCE FONTAIN, WHO HEADS UP THIS PROGRAM, THE AVIATION PROGRAM AT TSU. UH, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT IT. GREAT DEAL YESTERDAY. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, DR. FONTAIN. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND I TOO. I TOO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS, UH, THIS, UH, THIS ITEM HERE, THE PASSAGE OF IT. WE HEARD FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN YESTERDAY, UH, TO COURSE DR. TERRANCE FONTAIN AND OTHERS WE'RE HERE ON YESTERDAY. UH, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST REALLY EMPHASIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ITEM. MM-HMM . UH, THE AVIATION PROGRAM AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, UH, WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT TON FIELD, THE BUILD OUT THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE, UH, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE PROGRAM, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ATTRACTING STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND PROB AND EVEN BEYOND. UM, AND REALLY WITH THIS INVESTMENT BEING MADE IN THE AVIATION PROGRAM AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, I MEAN, IT STANDS, UH, READY TO BE LIKE THE AVIATION SCHOOL, UH, IN THE, IN THE UNITED STATES. SO, UH, TO TERENCE FONTAINE, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. UH, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MARIO DIAZ AT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT OVER THE AIRPORT SYSTEM FOR HIS, FOR HIS WORK, HIS EFFORTS, UH, ANDY, UH, WHO'S PARTICIPATED, UH, IN THIS EFFORT, BUT A, A TRUE COLLABORATION. SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT THIS JUST TO PASS, UH, BECAUSE IT IS AN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM THAT'S TAKEN PLACE, UH, THAT'S ON THIS AGENDA. SO, UH, KUDOS TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING, FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN. I, I CAN'T WAIT, UH, TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS DOWN, DOWN THE ROAD. YES, MA'AM. UH, UM, VICE MAYOR TEM CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, CONGRATULATE EVERYONE THAT'S PLAYED A PART IN THIS. UM, UH, DIRECTOR DIAZ, UH, IN OUR BRIEFING THIS WEEK, UH, REALLY, UH, EXPLAINED HOW THIS CAME ABOUT. AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THE PRESIDENT OF TSU WAS HERE ON YESTERDAY AND, UM, TERRENCE FONTAINE IS HERE TODAY. UM, THIS IS, IS A GREAT PROJECT FOR HOUSTON. UM, I KNOW THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS WAS HOPING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UM, FROM THE LEGISLATURE. AND I HOPE THAT THE INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORTH WILL HELP TO AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, GETTING THAT FUNDING FROM THE STATE FOR THIS PROGRAM. UM, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AVIATION WITH THE SHORTAGE OF, OF PILOTS, UM, THIS IS A, THIS IS A PIPELINE. UM, MANY OF THE, UM, AIRLINES HAVE HIRED PILOTS, UM, THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. UM, AND THIS IS, UM, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ACCOMMODATING 16 AIRCRAFT AND ABOUT 7,200 SQUARE FEET OF TEACHING SPACE, TRAINING ROOMS A RAMP, THE PARKING AND FUELING FACILITIES. UM, WE REALLY ARE EXPANDING THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH SPACEPORT AND ALL THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS IS A WONDERFUL COMPLIMENT, AND I JUST REALLY WANNA, UM, SAY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HELP, UH, TEXAS SOUTHERN AS THEY ARE ADVOCATING AT THE STATE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING, BECAUSE THE CITY IS PUTTING OUR MONEY, UM, IN THIS PROGRAM AND PARTNERING WITH TSU. AND I HOPE THAT OUR STATE LEGISLATORS KNOW [03:35:01] HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR OUR CITY, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND WITH, UM, NASA AND SPACEPORT. AND, UM, AS TECHNOLOGY, UH, CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, THIS IS SO VERY IMPORTANT. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, THE GROUNDBREAKING, UH, DIRECTOR DIAZ SAID THAT HE, HE DEFINITELY WANTS TO PLAN A GROUNDBREAKING, UM, FOR THE, THE NEW HANGAR. UM, THIS IS A $5.5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT I THINK WE WILL ALL BE PROUD OF. AND WE'LL SEE THE FRUITS OF THIS LABOR AS WE GET MORE PILOTS INTO, UM, THESE AIRPORTS. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TOO, JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME COMMENTARY TO THIS. UH, AND, AND REALLY THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP BECAUSE SINCE, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I, I CONSISTENTLY SEEN AN INVESTMENT IN A PRIORITY IN TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND AT ONE POINT IN TIME, UM, IT SEEMED AS IF THE CITY WAS ALWAYS HAVING, OR TEXAS SOUTHERN WAS ALWAYS HAVING TO GO TO THE STATE LEVEL TO DO ANYTHING. AND IT WAS ALWAYS HARD TO GET THINGS DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL, UH, FOR TEXAS SOUTHERN. UM, BUT NOW THE CITY IS DOING ITS PART TO SHOW THAT OUR INVESTMENT AND OUR PRIORITY IN THE UNIVERSITY, UH, AND TO LIKE THE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, HOPEFULLY IT CAN AMPLIFY WHAT, HOW WE VALUE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. BUT THE FACT THAT WE CONSISTENTLY SEE, UH, PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE UNIVERSITY ON OUR COUNCIL AGENDA, AND THIS BODY HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE UNIVERSITY, A LOT OF THAT CREDIT GOES TO YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS ITEM. UH, TERRENCE FONTAIN, DR. SESS, AND EVERYONE ELSE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. IT'S A BIG, IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR THE CITY. AND, UH, I THINK ALL OF OUR UNIVERSITIES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO HAVE LIKE SOME SIGNATURE INITIATIVE THAT'S ASSOCIATED TO YOUR UNIVERSITY. YOU KNOW, RICE HAS THIS SIGNATURE INITIATIVE, U OF H HAS THIS SIGNATURE INITIATIVE. NOW, TEXAS SOUTHERN HAS A SIGNATURE INITIATIVE, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE PHARMACY PROGRAM. BUT THE AVIATION PROGRAM, UH, IS REALLY, UM, ONE THAT, UM, I THINK WILL, UM, PRODUCE DIVIDENDS FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED MORE PALLETS, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD, FORWARD TO MY AFTERLIFE, AND, UM, AND I CAN SEE MYSELF FLYING, UM, . THINK THERE'S AGE LIMIT. IS THERE AGE LIMIT? ? WELL, I CAN WATCH 'EM. GOOD. I CAN WATCH 'EM FLY. I CAN, THEY'LL, OKAY. SO REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TERRANCE AND EVERYBODY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 33. DISCUSSION ON 33. WE'RE ON 33. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON 33. OKAY, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON ON 33, PLEASE NOTE THAT I'M GOING TO STEP OUT AND RECUSE MYSELF. OH, OKAY. ON ITEM, UH, ON ITEM 33. DISCUSSION ON 33. DISCUSSION ON 33 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 33. COUNCILMAN CAMAN ON 33. YOU CAN TELL COUNCILMAN ROBINSON, HE CAN COME BACK IN NOW. OKAY. HE STILL, HE'S NOT IN TIME OUT. THANK YOU. NOW HE'S FINDING TIME OUT. IT WAS A SHORT TIME OUT FOR HIM. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN ON 33. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I THINK THIS IS THE LAST, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED ITEM THAT I'M GONNA BE SPEAKING ON THIS TERM. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY THE PAST FOUR YEARS. UM, DESPITE ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE FACED, THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE, UM, AND THE CLEAR THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE CAN POINT TO THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON THIS ITEM. UM, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE RENOVATIONS OF, UH, WHAT WAS CURRENTLY, OR A FORMER, UM, EVIDENCE LOCATION THAT'S GOING TO BE CONVERTED AND MODIFIED AND IMPROVED, UM, TO ACCOMMODATE 300 PERSONNEL IN AN ADDITIONAL PARKING GARAGE, UM, FOR THOSE PERSONNEL AND FOR THE PERMITTING CENTER. SO, UH, WHILE WE'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARDS IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR OWN CITY FACILITIES, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS, UM, A SOLUTION AS IT RELATES TO EVIDENCE, UM, CONSOLIDATION. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS A BIG TICKET ITEM THAT WE DO NEED TO KEEP WORKING ON. BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS BECAUSE IT IS A BIG RENOVATION AND IT IS, AND IT'S, UH, THIS WILL BE DONE, I THINK, IN THAT GREENS POINT AREA. SO THIS IS, THIS IS A MAJOR DEAL FOR THEM ON THAT NORTH, THAT NORTHEAST SIDE. SO, UM, LET ME THANK EVERYONE FROM HELPING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. UM, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME [03:40:01] WAITING. SO, UM, THAT'S ON ITEM 33. AND NOW WE TURN, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 37. WE, ON ITEM TAG, ITEM 37 IS BEING TAGGED BY PACK. I'LL, I'LL JOIN THAT TAG. ALSO. OSH AND, AND MARTIN. MARTIN KNOX AND MARTIN. OH, THIS IS, THIS IS ABOUT THE MUSIC . ALRIGHT, LET US PAUSE AND HAVE A MOMENT OF, I HAD TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS AND SEE WHAT THIS WAS. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, WHO ALL TAGGED THIS? UH HUH. CAN YOU LIST IT? WHO TAGGED IT? IT'S THE, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO TAGGED IT. OUR COUNCIL MEMBER. WHITE MUSIC. THE COUNCIL MEMBER. PAT, TAKE MORDEN. KNOX. AND KUBOSH. AND KASH. OKAY. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE SINGING. ALL RIGHT. IF BY CHANCE Y'ALL CHANGE Y MINDS, Y'ALL JUST SIT, SHE'LL LET YOU KNOW. JUST LET ME KNOW. SEND ME A, UH, A NOTE. ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM. WE'RE GONNA GET SOMETHING TO DO NEXT WEEK. . ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. IS HE A VOTE? WE ON ITEM 38, DISCUSSION ON 38 ACCOUNTS MEMBER KOSH MAYOR. WHEN, WHEN WE ENTERED THESE CONTRACTS LIKE THIS ONE, UH, AND, AND WE, THEY SIGN A CONTRACT AND THEN THERE'S AN INCREASE. UH, EVERY TIME I'VE EVER SIGNED A CONTRACT TO DO SOMETHING, I HAD TO STICK WITH MY PRICE. IS IS THERE A REASON THAT'S JUSTIFIED? WHY? WHY THEIR RATE'S GOING UP, WHY WE HAVE TO PAY 'EM MORE. IT WAS $6 MILLION AND NOW THEY'RE WANTING AN ADDITIONAL 300 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS. WELL, IT IS A, IT IS A PRINTING CONTRACT. 90 DAY EXTENSION. UH, WELL, THERE'S A 90 DAY EXTENSION AND WE ARE ADDING, ADDING DOLLARS TO IT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KUBOSH. UM, IT'S EXTRA WORK. IT'S MORE WORK. MM-HMM . A LOT OF PRINTING. WELL WORK MORE MONEY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO. YES. I ASKED ABOUT THIS TOO. THIS, THIS CONTRACT EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER OF 23. THERE WAS ALREADY THERE AND THERE WAS A 90 DAY EXTENSION OPTION. SO THIS IS, UM, 90 DAYS MORE. I ASKED ABOUT THE AMOUNT, BASICALLY WHAT'S THIS GOING TOWARDS? THEY SAY A LOT OF PRINTING ASSOCIATED WITH NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL OF THAT PLUS OTHER THINGS. THEN, UM, THERE'S ALREADY A, AN INVITATION TO BID THAT WAS ISSUED FOR A NEW CONTRACT AND A VENDOR HAS BEEN SELECTED. AND THAT CONTRACT WILL COME IN JANUARY OF 24. SO THIS IS JUST A STOP GAP. AND, AND MAYBE WE DON'T EVEN SPEND THIS FULL AMOUNT. THIS TAKES US TO FEBRUARY 27TH. YEAH, WELL, WE'LL BE GETTING A NEW CONTRACT IN JANUARY. I MEAN, YOU WON'T KOSH, BUT WE'LL BE GETTING A NEW CONTRACT IN JANUARY OF 24. COUNCILMAN POLL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, WHY, WHY IS THIS COMING BACK TO COUNCIL? WE, THE ADMINISTRATION COULDN'T JUST ON ITS OWN APPROVE THIS, INCREASE THIS. NO, WE LIKE TRANSPARENCY. OH, SO GOOD SERVICES. HE IS ON A ROLL TODAY. SO IN ORDER FOR US TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT, UH, THAT COUNCIL INITIALLY, UH, EXECUTED IN 2018 AND NEED TO COME BACK TO THIS BODY JUST FOR THAT APPROVAL. YEAH, I KNOW. I THINK HE WOULD'VE BEEN MAD AT ME IF I HAD JUST DONE IT ON MY OWN. SO 50,000. I TRUST YOU ALL. SO WE JUST LIKE TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU MA'AM. OKAY. SIMPLE AS THAT. IT'S MY PARTING GIFT. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 38? IN FAVOR POST GRANTED ON 38 OPPOSED. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ONE SECOND. ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 39. DISCUSSION ON 39. DISCUSSION ON 39 IN, IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED UNDER THAT I LOVE THE, I LOVE THE TOP DOG SERVICES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SNOW REMOVAL. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM, ITEM 41 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOT. ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 42, DISCUSSION OF 42. COUNCIL MEMBER SNE [03:45:01] SNE TAG. I'M SORRY. TAG. I'LL, I'LL OPEN FOR DISCUSSION THOUGH. OKAY. COUNCILMAN MR. CI ON 42. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SAY I, I'M A VERY STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROJECT. I ESTABLISHING, UM, THE HOUSTON FIRST CONVENTION CENTER AT THE POST, THE FORMER BARBARA JORDAN POST OFFICE FACILITY. UM, THIS WILL HELP CREATE, UM, AN ENGINE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE NORTHERN DOWNTOWN THAT WILL PARALLEL, UM, HOW DISCOVERY GREEN HAS REVITALIZED THE, THE SOUTH PART OF DOWNTOWN. SO THERE ARE MANY, UM, BENEFITS TO THE CITY, NOT THE LEAST TO MENTION THAT. UM, IT'S AT ZERO COST TO THE CITY. UM, UM, IT WILL BECAUSE IT'S, IT WILL BE A, UM, THE, THE, THE HOTEL WILL BE A, A BOUTIQUE CONVENTION CENTER SPACE AND, AND WILL ALLOW US TO BE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT SMALLER CONVENTIONS. UM, THERE'LL BE SMALLER CONVENTION OPPORTUNITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, CANNOT BE CAPTURED AT THE GRB. SO, UM, AND THE, AS PART OF THIS, THE, THE LITTLE HOTEL BOUTIQUE, THAT HOTEL WILL BE THERE, THOUGH, I DON'T KNOW THE, THE WHO THE COMPANY IS. THEY ARE, THEY'VE GOT THEIR EYES ON AN INTERNATIONALLY WELL-RECOGNIZED BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH A FOCUS ON THE CREATIVES. SO IT'S A, IT'S A MARKET THAT WE CAN REALLY, I THINK, ENTICE TO COME TO HOUSTON. AND, UM, JUST ONCE AGAIN, JUST TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE IS NO IMPACT TO THE FISCAL BUDGET OR NO ADDITIONAL SPENDING AUTHORITY. THANK YOU. YES. AND LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT THERE IS NO COST TO THE CITY. UH, PRIMARILY WHAT'S BEEN DONE IS THAT THE STATE CONTROL OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS IS THIS ISSUED. THEY RULING THAT THE DEVELOPER, UM, CONFIRMED THAT THE HOTEL WILL QUALIFY AS A QUALIFIED HOTEL PROJECT. AND SO THEY WILL GET A STATE REBATE, UM, BUT NOTHING FROM THE CITY. SO THIS WILL QUALIFY THEM TO GET THE STATE REBATES FROM THE CITY AND THEN IN, AND THEN THEY WILL BE BUILDING A, A HOTEL OVER THERE AND ONE OF THE, THE FLOORS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR VARIOUS SPACES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, OVERALL, IT'S A WIN. IT'S A WIN FOR THE, IT'S A WIN FOR THE CITY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST, I HAD POSED A QUESTION PREVIOUSLY ON THIS ITEM. I THINK IT'S TERRIFIC. UM, BUT SINCE I, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT, UM, ANY PROJECT THAT THE CITY IS INVOLVED IN, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT, THERE'S NO COST TO THE CITY, BUT AS THEIR IMPROVEMENTS TO A BUILDING THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE RESILIENCY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND POTENTIALLY GSI, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE INCORPORATED INTO THOSE RENOVATIONS. SO I JUST WANNA KEEP THAT AT THE FOREFRONT. THE POST ABSOLUTELY IS A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE, UM, WITH ITS GREEN ROOFS AND ALL OF THAT. BUT AS THIS COMES ONLINE, MAKING SURE THAT, UM, WE HAVE AN EYE ON THAT AS WELL, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY. AND I ASKED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ON THIS 'CAUSE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, IT'S NOT IN A PROJECT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, IN HOUSTON FIRST, UH, WROTE A LETTER TO ME, UH, SUPPORTING, UH, THIS PROJECT AND ASKING FOR THIS PROJECT. 'CAUSE THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT MY INITIATIVE. UH, BASICALLY WHAT IS CENTRALLY SAYING, UM, THEY WENT TO AUSTIN, GOT THE STATE TEXAS COMP CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE THE RULING THAT IF THEY GET APPROVAL FROM THE CITY, IT WILL THEN QUALIFY AS A HOTEL PROJECT AND THEY WILL BE ENTITLED TO THE STATE REBATE. UH, SO, UM, I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. VICE MAYOR PRO CASH TAX TABLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I, MY QUESTION WAS, SO DOES EVERY HOTEL THAT BUILDS IN HOUSTON HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE STATE AND ASK FOR THIS TYPE OF REBATE? IF THEY, YEAH, THEY CAN GO IN AND SEEK TO GET IT. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO JOIN THE TAG. OKAY. I'M, I'M JOINING AS WELL. THIS ITEM IS BEING TAGGED BY PECK, UH, KNOX. TATUM CASH STACK TATUM. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ONE SECOND. WE ARE ON ITEM 43. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS ON 43. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO THIS, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S HAPPENING IN, UM, IN SECOND WARD, AND IT WILL ESTABLISH A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH BANK TRAILS ALONG BUFFALO BAYOU AT JENSEN DRIVE. UM, I WANT TO THANK THE, WHAT A GOOD PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, ON OTHER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, BUILDING THESE TRAILS WITH, UM, THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP. THIS AUTHORIZES A SALE USING, UM, SOME PARKS AND RECREATION, DEDICATION, FUND MONEY TO PURCHASE A, A SMALL PIECE OF LAND THAT WILL LET US CONNECT THE TRAILS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 43? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? [03:50:01] OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 43. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. YOU ON ITEM 45, COUNCILMAN GALL? PSALM 45. THANK YOU, MAYOR FIR. FIRST OF ALL, UM, HERE IN THE, UM, ITEM, IT STATES THAT THERE'S A $27 MILLION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY AN ANGEL DONOR. UH, ARE WE ABLE TO KNOW WHO THAT ANGEL DONOR IS? UM, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT $27 MILLION, WHERE, WHERE ACTUALLY IS THAT COMING FROM? UH, THE ANGEL DONOR , WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS COMING FROM, IS COMING FROM AN ANGEL DONOR AND, UH, UH, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, UH, AT THE TIME OF THEIR CHOOSING MM-HMM . UM, THEY WILL, THEY WILL ANNOUNCE IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THE ANGEL DONOR'S GONNA BE ANYONE THAT WOULD OFFEND YOU AT ALL. OKAY. CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? YES. , HOW MANY THOUSAND TIMES? I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I, ONCE YOU HEAR WHO THE ANGEL DONOR IS, I DON'T THINK THAT PERSON OR ENTITY IS GOING TO OFFEND YOU AT ALL. I THINK OKAY. I BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER NOW FOR EIGHT YEARS AND I THINK THAT YOU WILL BE FULLY OKAY. RIGHT. WITH THE ANGEL DONOR. WELL, OKAY, I'LL I'LL TRUST YOU ON THAT, MARI, AS WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS, RIGHT? . BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ME. NO, NO. I, NO, I, I I I JUST WANTED, I JUST WANNA STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, I TAKE PRIDE THAT, UH, IN MY 10 YEARS WE HAVE ACQUIRED OR RESTORED OVER 350 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE WITHIN DISTRICT. I, RIGHT. AND, AND, AND, AND THAT'S WITH PARTNERSHIPS, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WITH THE 50 50 PARKS. RIGHT. AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT. BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT, I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION MASON PARK. I KNOW MASON PARK HAS BEEN IN A, A PARK, A REGIONAL PARK IN THE EAST END THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED, NEGLECTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD GO TO MASON PARK. THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED. IT'S CHANGED BECAUSE I PLACED DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO GET FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF MASON PARK TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF MESA PARK TO GO OVER BRAISE BY YOU PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK ON A THREE FOOT SIDEWALK THAT WAS BROKEN ON 75TH STREET. THAT BRIDGE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE FLOOD CONTROL AND THEY'VE ADDED A FIVE FOOT SIDEWALK. BUT AS PRESIDENT OF MY, AS PRESIDENT OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, I APPLIED FOR A T GRANT BECAUSE JOE TURNER, THE DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE DOING TWO PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES ON MY IN MARLIN. AND I CALLED HIM AND I ASKED HIM, WHY ARE THEY GETTING PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES? AND WE'D BEEN ASKING FOR ONE IN THE EAST END. AND HE TOLD ME, WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER, THEY'RE APPLYING FOR TDOT GRANTS. I SAID, HOW DO YOU DO THIS? SO I GOT CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENTS, I'VE GOT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THAT TIME TO, TO SEND LETTERS OF, OF, UH, OF, OF SUPPORT. IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT WHEN MY FIRST YEAR AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I, WE FOUND OUT THAT, UH, TEXT OUT APPROVED THE GRANT AND WE GOT A BEAUTIFUL PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE. I WANNA THANK THE KINDER FOUNDATION FOR ALSO ADDING MONIES TO THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WITH MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS. WE PAID FOR 10 FOOT SIDEWALKS AROUND MASON PARK WITH MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS. WE PAID FOR LIGHTING AT THE GAZEBO WHERE IT WAS PITCH DARK, WHERE PEOPLE COULDN'T EVEN ENJOY THE, THE, THE GAZEBO. WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A CLUBHOUSE AND A GYM THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, AND IT'S BEEN CLOSED EVER SINCE. AND I'M BEING TOLD BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, IT WILL OPEN POSSIBLY IN THE MIDDLE OR THE END OF 2025. KIDS CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE GYM. THE CIVIC CLUB CAN'T EVEN MEET AT THE CLUB HOUSE WHERE THEY USED TO MEET. THEY'RE MEETING OUTSIDE AT THE GAZEBO. THESE ARE THINGS. AND, AND, AND I SEE THAT LIN IS GETTING 54 MILLION, WHICH IS GREAT. IT'S GREAT. IT IS GREAT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S ANOTHER PART THAT'S GONNA BE IMPROVED. DON'T FORGET ABOUT MASON. YES. DON'T FORGET ABOUT MASON PARK. IT, IT IS A PARK AGAIN, BEFORE I PUT MONIES OF DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, OH, LET ME NOT FORGET, WHEN I PRESENTED THE, OH, WE DID A MASTER PLAN THAT WAS ABOUT $80,000 OUTTA MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR A MASTER PLAN. THERE WAS NEVER A MASTER PLAN AT MASON PARK. I PRESENTED THAT TO YOU, MAYOR, AND YOU SAID, GREAT. I I I, I, I, I THINK THIS IS GREAT, BUT WE'RE GONNA NEED PARTNERS. SO I WENT OUT, GOT THE YMCA, THEY CAME IN, THEY DID SOME IMPROVEMENTS [03:55:01] AROUND THE SWIMMING POOL. THE POOL WAS DAMAGED. THEY PUT SOME MONEY INTO THE POOL. THEY BOUGHT NEW FURNITURE AT THE POOL. THEY BOUGHT NEW, UH, UH, SEATING FOR THE, FOR THE LIFEGUARDS AT THE POOL. THEY DID A LITTLE, UH, A LITTLE OFFICE, SATELLITE OFFICE. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDING EXTENSION. PLEASE. MOTION, I TELL YOU, WE GONNA PUT YOU RIGHT BACK. WE GONNA PUT YOU IN THE BACK IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILOR GGO. BUT LET ME JUST RESPOND DIRECTLY TO YOU. UM, I HEAR YOU. AND I THINK, I THINK IF YOU AND I HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, I THINK WE WOULD, WE WOULD, WE WOULD GET IT DONE. UH, THERE'S NO QUESTION. THERE'S NEED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN OUT, UH, AT MASON PARK, SO I DON'T JUST I AGREE WITH YOU. UH, AND I JUST, WE, IF WE HAD MORE TIME, AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE VETERANS WHO ARE AROUND THE TABLE AND, AND, UH, THE, IN THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION, I HOPE THAT THEY WILL EXERCISE, UH, SENSITIVITY, UH, TO THAT AS WELL. AND, AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M MAKING MY COMMENTS AGAIN. I HAVE TWO WEEKS, I'VE, I'VE TRIED FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS TO DO SOMETHING THAT THERE AT MASON PARK, BUT THOSE THAT ARE COMING IN AFTER ME, I'M LETTING THEM KNOW MASON PARK NEEDS ATTENTION. I AGREE. KIDS THAT PLAY AT MASON PARK NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO AND PLAY AT THE, AT, AT, AT THE GYM THERE AT MASON PARK. THAT'S BEEN CLOSED AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED BY HURRICANE HARVEY. AND TO FIND OUT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE REPAIRED IN THE MIDDLE OR END OF 2025. OKAY. I I, I HEAR YOU. WE HEAR YOU. I, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE THE 50 50 PARKS. I FISH. I APPRECIATE THE KINDER FOUNDATION. 'CAUSE THEY AGAIN GAVE FUNDING, UH, TO THE, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THERE AT MASON PARK. WE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO TWO SIDES OF THE PARK INSTEAD OF TRAVELING OVER A THREE FOOT SIDEWALK. SO, AGAIN, I'M JUST LETTING THOSE KNOW THAT ARE, THAT ARE COMING. I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL ALSO WORK WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN REGARDS TO REDOING MASON PARK. IT'S FINE. IT, IT'S WAY OVERDUE. AND I THINK I, I THINK I HAVE PERMISSION, UH, TO ANNOUNCE THE, THE ANGEL, UH, ANGEL, UH, DONOR. AND THE ANGEL DONOR IS THE KINDER FOUNDATION. I MEAN, THEY, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE INVESTED A GREAT DEAL, UH, IN MEMORIAL PARK, DISCOVERY, GREEN BUFFALO BAYOU PARK. AND NOW THEY'RE DOING, AND NOW THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING HERE AT, UH, MCGREGOR PARK. AND SO, WHICH IS MAKING IT POSSIBLE, I MEAN, THIS IS A $54 MILLION, UH, RENOVATION. THE PARKS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY, VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING THIS. AND IT'S, IT HAS TAKE AND IT HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME. LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST SAY THIS. IS, THIS WAS NOT AN OVERNIGHT DEAL COUNCIL. REMEMBER, UM, THIS, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. SO IT IS TAKEN YEARS FOR, FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE, UM, AND LEMME JUST SAY, AND THE ANGEL DONOR HAS STEPPED UP WAY BEFORE JUST WAITING ON EVERYBODY ELSE TO COME ABOARD. UM, I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. BUT IT'S NOT JUST, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU GOT THE BUFFALO BAYOU EAST WAS TAKING PLACE ON IN THAT, AND THAT'S A $311 MILLION PROJECT. MASON PARKINSON IS IN NEED. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, OF, OF LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN NEED OF SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. SO I HEAR YOU. I, I GOT I'M WITH YOU ON, ON ALL OF THAT. UH, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE KENDALL FOUNDATION FOR STEPPING UP AGAIN, OF THE 54 MILLION. THEY'RE PROVIDING 27 MILLION OF THAT 54, UH, FOR SUBSTANTIAL, SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, TO THE MCGREGOR PARK. NOW, LET ME YELL, COUNCILMAN MELVIN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I ACTUALLY GREW UP, UH, PLAYING AND GOING TO THE SWIMMING POOL AT MCGREGOR PARK. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE UPGRADES TO THE ZENA GARRISON TENNIS CENTER, THE BASEBALL FIELD, HISTORIC CENTER RENOVATION, THE SWIMMING POOL, THE NEW AMPHITHEATER, COMMUNITY PLAZA PLAYGROUNDS, UH, EVENT, LAWN YOUTH MULTIPURPOSE FIELD, AND RECONFIGURED PARKING IS SO VERY WELCOME. UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST GREW UP WATCHING THE YOUNG PEOPLE PLAY IN THE PARK, UH, AT THE, AT THE, AT THE, UH, BASKETBALL COURT. AND SO, AND ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO A PICKLEBALL COURT THERE. AND SO, JUST VERY, VERY THANKFUL THAT, UH, THIS IS COMING INTO FRUITION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. OH, . THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UM, I JUST WANTED TO JOIN THE CHORUS IN, UH, HIGHLIGHTING HOW HISTORICAL THIS IS, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I DON'T LIKE TO PUT IT THIS WAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW. ANOTHER WAY IT'S A STEAL. UM, WE'RE PUTTING IN, UH, $5 MILLION, UM, OUT OF A, I BELIEVE, OVER $50 MILLION COMPLETE. [04:00:01] ANDY'S SAYING 54, 50 $4 MILLION, UM, REIMAGINATION OF A PARK, UH, THAT HIS, AS THE MAYOR SAID, BEEN IN THE WORKS, UH, FOR YEARS. SO, I, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ITEM, UH, ESPECIALLY FROM A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PERSPECTIVE OF, AS A CITY, WE'RE PUTTING IN 5 MILLION AND WE'RE GETTING A $54 MILLION PLUS RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT. UM, AND MAYOR, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE WHO THE ANGEL DONOR IS. UM, SO I SEE GUY IN THE AUDIENCE, UM, GUY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, THE ENTIRE TEAM'S WORK, BUT ESPECIALLY TO THE KINDERS FOR THEIR, UM, UNPARALLELED GENEROSITY AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY'RE MAKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK, UM, FIRST OF ALL, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. YOU HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY THE CHAMPION OF DISTRICT I AND A CHAMPION OF MASON PARK, WE HAVE BEEN THERE WITH YOU, BUT WE ALSO KNOW YOU AS THE CHAIR OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE. AND THAT HAS HAD, UH, FOR ALL OF OUR YEARS TOGETHER ON THIS COUNCIL PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND, UH, WITH, UH, THINGS LIKE THE PARKS MASTER PLAN, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO. AND MAYOR TURNER CERTAINLY KNOWS THAT THAT REPLIES TO ALL PARKS ACROSS THE CITY. SO I THINK THIS IS AN ITEM TO BE CELEBRATED, NOT ONLY FOR THE GREAT GENEROSITY AND PHILANTHROPY OF THE KINDER FAMILY WHO'VE BEEN SUCH INCREDIBLE FRIENDS TO THIS CITY, BUT IN WHAT IT WILL DO FOR YOUR LEGACY AT MASON PARK, SPECIFICALLY IN MCGREGOR PARK. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. UH, THIS IS THE COMING TO FRUITION OF PLANS THAT WERE LAID SO LONG AGO BY A VISION THAT IS SO WELL ESTABLISHED AND, UH, EMBODIED IN THE SPIRIT OF THE COMMUNITY. AS DR. EVAN SHABAZZ SAID, THIS IS THE POOL SHE SWIM AT. THESE ARE THE, THE TENNIS COURTS THAT ZENA GARRISON PLAYED AT PRIOR TO GETTING TO WIMBLEDON. RIGHT? THIS IS WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY COMES TOGETHER TO REPRESENT THE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS. YEAH, WE OWE SOMETHING STILL TO MASON PARK. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SINCE THE, THAT KINDERS ARE OUT OF THE CLOSET, EVERYBODY , YOU KNOW, NICE TIGHTLY KEPT CLOSET THERE. BUT, UM, OUR FRIENDS, NANCY AND, UH, BILL KINDER ARE, UH, RICH, RICH, EXCUSE ME, RICH KINDER ARE, YOU KNOW, DESERVING OF APPROPRIATE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HERE, UH, FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO OUR CITY. AND, UH, WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S DONE AT MCGREGOR PARK. AND, UM, FOR THAT, UM, I THINK WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE TOGETHER. UH, AND IN DUE COURSE, I'M, I'M CONFIDENT THEY'RE GONNA BE BRINGING IT TO MASON, BUT THAT'S FOR THEM TO DECIDE. WELL, I'VE NEVER HEARD THEM DESCRIBED AS BEING OUT OF THE CLOSET, UM, . BUT, UH, I SHALL SEND THEM, I SHALL SEND THEM A NOTE AND TELL 'EM . THANKS MAYOR . BUT I LOVE THE EXPRESSION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN ALL MY COMMENTS, I DID NOT THANK THE ANGEL DONOR. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY KNOW THE, HOW, HOW MUCH WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT IN DISTRICT D. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GAGGLES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND DON'T LET MY COMMENTS BE MISUNDERSTOOD. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE KINDER FOUNDATION. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE PARTNERS THAT ARE THERE OUT THERE WITH THE PARKS BOARD, UH, HELPING TO IMPROVE OUR GREEN SPACES. UH, SO AGAIN, UH, WE, WE, WE CELEBRATED THIS PAST, UH, UH, SATURDAY AND AGAIN, WITH DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, BUT WITH THE HELP OF THE PARKS BOARD AND WITH THE KINDER FOUNDATION, UH, FOR A DOG PARK, UH, LONDALE DOG PARK IN THE EAST END. UH, SO AGAIN, I, I, UH, DON'T, DON'T MISUNDERSTAND OR I'M MISINTERPRET MY COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO, I'M NOT AFTER THE PARTNERS. I'M JUST ASKING FOR MASON PARK TO BE IMPROVED AS WELL. GOTCHA. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 45? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 45? UM, AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE. I DO. SO LET ME THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, NUMBER ONE. UH, NUMBER TWO, LET ME THANK ALL OF THE, THE, UH, PARTNERS ON THIS EFFORT. UH, UM, THE ANGEL DONORS, THE KINDERS, THE KINDER FOUNDATION. UM, SO LET ME, LET ME THANK THEM FOR, FOR, AGAIN, SHOWING THEIR GENEROSITY. UM, NO ONE HAS TO DO ANYTHING. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS. THEY CAN DO SO MANY OTHER THINGS. SO SIMPLY WANT TO THANK THEM FOR STEPPING UP. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY STEPPED, THEY, THEY WERE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE. MM-HMM . AND THAT'S, AND I THINK THAT'S THE POINT THAT SHOULD BE NOTED. THEY WERE AT THE FRONT OF THE [04:05:01] LINE. MM-HMM. AND THEN, UM, EVERYONE ELSE FOLLOWED THEREAFTER, BUT THEY WERE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE. UH, CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK BETH AND THE PARK BOARD, UH, APPRECIATE THAT. AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN MONEY, UH, THAT'S BEEN ASKED FOR BY THE PARKS BOARD. UM, AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT DONORS, UH, IN THAT, UH, BUT THEY'VE COME UP WITH A SUBSTANTIAL, UH, AMOUNT. SO VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE. AND THEN WANNA THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, BECAUSE, UH, BETH AND I WERE JUST TALKING ON SATURDAY WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER ABOUT THE COLLABORATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE ON THESE PARKS AND THESE GREEN SPACES. AND IT DOES REQUIRE COLLABORATION. AND I THINK IN LARGE PART, UH, THE CITY HAS DONE WELL IN PARTNERING WITH ITS PARTNERS TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN. SO THIS WILL BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT FOR MCGREGOR PARK, UH, WHICH ALL OF US BENEFIT WHETHER YOU LIVE RIGHT IN THAT AREA OR NOT. I'M, I'M WAY ON THE, ON THE NORTH SIDE. UH, BUT WE ALL WILL BENEFIT BECAUSE THOSE ON THE NORTH SIDE HAVE TRAVELED TO THE SOUTH SIDE, WENT TO PLAY AT THE TENNIS COURTS, FOR EXAMPLE. I'VE PLAYED OVER THERE, UM, AND BEAT PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHO, WHO HAD THE FACILITIES AND I DIDN'T. BUT, YOU KNOW, TALENT IS TALENT WHEREVER IT IS. UM, SO IT'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT. AND I WANT US TO THANK YOU. AND IT IS ABOUT LEVERAGING THE CITY'S MONEY. SO COUNCILMAN CAME YOUR RIGHT, FOR THE 5 MILLION THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GIVEN, UH, THE INVESTMENT IS 54 MILLION. AND THAT'S HUGE. AND THEN THAT WILL BE ANOTHER ITEM AGAIN, WHERE WE ARE LEVERAGING, WHETHER IT'S WITH THE PARTNERS, WITH THE COUNTY, YOU NAME IT, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH, UH, FOR MAKING, WE DO STILL NEED YOUR 48 40. OKAY. COUNCILMAN KAMAN? NO, MAYOR, YOU SAID IT. I JUST, WHEN I WAS LOOKING IN THE AUDIENCE, I SAW GUY, BUT PEOPLE WERE COVERING, I COULDN'T SEE BETH. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT AN EXCLAMATION MARK, UH, BESIDE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS BOARD. 'CAUSE THEY HAVE STEPPED UP, UM, IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS. UH, ESPECIALLY, AT LEAST WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, IN OUR DISTRICT. AND BETH IS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, SO I HAD TO MAKE SURE TO GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT. AND OH, I, I DON'T WANNA LEAVE OUT THE TURS, UH, THE TURS IN THE AREA AS WELL. SO LET ME THANK THE TURS. I, I PUT AWAY, UH, MY APOLOGY, UH, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE TURS, UH, AND THAT IS THAT TUR SEVEN SEVEN WITHOUT CHURCH SEVEN, UH, NITA AND THE WHOLE GROUP WITHOUT CHURCH SEVEN. AND THAT'S, THAT'S A MEASURE COMING UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT SINCE I WAS MENTIONING TO THE PARTNERS I CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT CHURCH SEVEN BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITHOUT CHURCH SEVEN. AND THEN I CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, UH, UH, BECAUSE 4 MILLION OF THAT IS OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY GRANT THAT'S POURING INTO THIS, INTO THIS 46 OR 40. AND THAT'S COMING UP. THAT WAS 46 THAT WE PASSED OUT EARLIER. SO TO DETER, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND TO ALL OF THE PARTNERS. AND IF I LEFT OUT ANYBODY, MY APOLOGY, UM, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IT HAS TAKEN EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR, UH, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND I KNOW TEXAS CHILDREN CONTRIBUTED UNDER THE PARKS BOARD, SO REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM. ALRIGHT, I THINK WE'RE NOW GOING TO ITEM 48. YEAH. 48 AND 48 POINT OF ORDER. MAYOR GREGGOR. YES. DID, DID WE VOTE ON THE MCGREGOR PARK OR, OR WAS THIS ABOUT MASON PARK? WE JUST VOTED ON, ON 45, WHICH IS MCGREGOR PARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, I THINK THESE WERE NOT IN, SO IF YOU WANT TO DO 48 AND 49, 48 AND 49, WERE NOT IN. SO MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL GO TO 48 AND 49 AFTER THAT. ITEM 48 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE TAG. 48 IS IN. YES, 48 IS IN, YOU'RE TAGGING. 48 . I JUST WANTED TO SEE THOSE EVIL EYES ONE MORE TIME. . ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ON THE FOUR ON 48. THAT WAS GOOD. YOU GOT ME ON THAT ONE. UH, THAT WAS 48. DISCUSSION ON 48. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED. NOW THE NEXT 1, 49, ITEM 49 IS AN, OR DOES THIS NEED TO VOTE? WE ON 49. DISCUSSION ON 49. DISCUSSION ON 49. IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED, GRANTED ON 49. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM THE RECORD. OKAY. NEXT ITEM. NO, JUST JOKING. ITEM 50 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ARE ON ITEM. WE'RE ON ITEM 50. DISCUSSION ON 50. DISCUSSION. COUNCILMAN POLL 50. WE ARE ON 50. TAG. TAG. NO DISCUSSION. ABOUT MASON PARK. GIVE Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE A HARD GROUP TODAY. BETTER AGREEMENT TO MOVE THE MONEY TO MASON PARK. . YEAH. SECOND Y Y'ALL HEART GROUP. Y'ALL A HARD GROUP TODAY. [04:10:01] UM, DISCUSSION ON 50. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED. AGAIN, LET ME ON THIS ITEM. UH, LET ME THANK, UH, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BARONI, UH, FOR THEIR COMMITMENT FROM THE, FROM THE COUNTY AND HER COMMITMENT SPECIFICALLY FROM MY PRECINCT. UH, FIVE MEAN SHE'S MATCHING THE CITY'S FIVE MEAN ON THAT. UM, AND THEN I THINK THE TURS IS ALSO STEPPING UP. SO THE TURS COMMISSIONER, LESLIE BRIANNE, UH, THE CITY. AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT WILL COME FROM THE OUTSIDE PARTNERS AND NOT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO AGAIN, THIS WILL BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, INVESTMENT IN THE SHARPSTOWN AREA. 'CAUSE IT WILL TRULY BE TRANSFORMATIONAL AND EVERYBODY IN THAT SECTOR, UH, WILL BENEFIT AS WELL. SO, UH, UM, COUNCILMAN POLLARD, LET ME THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. AND THEN THE, UH, THE GROUP THAT CAME AND MET AND DISCUSSED IT AND, UH, AND IT HAS COME, UH, WITH THE SUPPORT OF, UH, WITH THE BOARD CITY COUNCIL, UH, IT IS COMING TO FRUITION. SO, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM. UM, THE SHARPSTOWN GOLF COURSE, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER AROUND IT HASN'T BEEN RENOVATED IN DECADES, FOREVER. AND, UM, THAT'S ONE OF OUR CITY GOLF COURSES. IT IS A REVENUE GENERATING GOLF COURSE. UH, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THERE, BUT FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THIS WILL BE A STATE OF THE ART 37,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY TO REPLACE THE EXISTING COMMUNITY CENTER AT THE ORIGINAL LOCATION. UH, IT WILL BE A TWO STORY BUILDING, WHICH WILL INCORPORATE 23001ST 23,000 SQUARE FOOT FIRST FLOOR PLAN WITH A RESTAURANT AND A BAR WITH A OUTDOOR DINING AREA, INCLUDING A FULL COMMERCIAL KITCHEN CATERING AREA. THE FIRST FLOOR WILL HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, A TWO STORY GRAND LOBBY CORRIDOR WITH A BANQUET HALL AND OUTDOOR EVENT SPACE. THE SECOND FLOOR PLAN, THE SECOND FLOOR FLOOR PLAN IS FOR A 14,000 SQUARE FOOT, UM, AREA THAT WILL HAVE A GOLF CLUB LOUNGE, A BAR, SIX GOLF SIMULATOR STATIONS, AS WELL AS FITNESS ROOMS AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT. UM, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NOT ONLY THE CITY BUT THE COUNTY WITH COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S OFFICE TURNS 20, BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ANDY ICKEN, UH, TO WALTER HAMRICK TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, PAUL, FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT INTO THIS PROJECT. UH, AS THE MAYOR STATED, THIS WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL. I ALWAYS TOLD DISTRICT JI WANT TO BRING AMENITIES TO THE AREA THAT CAN COMPETE WITH THE SUBURBS AND THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE OUT IN OTHER, UM, AREAS OF, UM, HARRIS COUNTY. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS COUNCIL MEMBER MONNOX. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PARK WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, ON HOW IT WAS IN DIRE DEED OF A FACELIFT. AND SO THIS IS, UH, THAT COMING FULL CIRCLE. SO THANK YOU ALL. AND SO, I MEAN, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, THE TERRORS, UH, THE COUNTY AND A PART OF THIS PROJECT ALSO IS THE COMMUNITY GRANT COMING FROM, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN. AL GREEN. SO HE'S CONTRIBUTING $2 MILLION AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT. SO, UH, IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S THE, ALL THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER, UH, TO MAKE, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. UM, MAYOR, I PRO TIM. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, OUR COLLEAGUE, ED PILOT, WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS NOW. AND ALSO TO PAUL, PAUL YOUNG, GREAT CHIEFS OF STAFF THAT KEEPS US ON OUR TOES AND MAKE SURE HE HAS SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT. SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ED. IT'S A GREAT COMPLIMENT TO THE GOLF COURSE THAT YOU HAVE OUT THERE. SO, UM, EVERY TIME I SEE ONE OF THESE ITEMS, I ALWAYS RE REITERATE THAT YOU ARE THE MAYOR'S LITTLE BROTHER. 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GET ALL OF THE DOLLARS THESE DAYS. SO ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS AND, UH, GOOD NEWS TO ALL THE FOLKS IN SHARPSTOWN THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR ME. SO THANK YOU . IT JUST HIT ME . UM, AND YOU TOOK MY THOUGHT AWAY. UM, . OKAY. AND THEN AGAIN, LET ME REITERATE THAT WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP TO THIS POINT MM-HMM . THAT THE FUND BALANCE CONTINUES TO BE AT FOUR 17. SO I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT. MM-HMM . ALRIGHT. NEXT [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM, ITEM 73 IS A MOTION TO REVIEW ON A RECORD TO MAKE DETERMINATION RELATIVE TO THE APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF THE SIGNED ADMINISTRATION. OKAY. WE'RE ON ITEM 73. UM, AND THIS IS A MOTION, AND LEMME JUST SAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, BASED ONLY ON YOUR REVIEW OF THE RECORD IS, UH, THE, WHERE THE MOTION IS. IS [04:15:01] THERE EITHER A MOTION TO UPHOLD THE DECISION OF THE GENERAL APPEALS BOARD OR IS THERE A MOTION TO DENY THEIR DECISION? AND THEN LET ME REFER, LET ME DEFER, UH, TO, UH, ART TO MICHELLE FOR, JUST FOR THE FURTHER CONTEXT. UM, THIS WAS AN APPEAL THAT COUNCIL ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED BACK IN MARCH. IT'S A SIGN, I THINK OFF OF I 10 NEAR THE SHEPHERD AREA. THEY HAD GOTTEN A RELOCATION, UH, EXTENSION FOR A 10 YEAR PERMIT. THEY SOUGHT TO EXTEND IT. IT WAS DENIED. THE SIGN CODE DOES NOT ALLOW VARIANCES. UM, THEY HAVE FILED A, A SUIT AGAINST THE CITY. ONE OF THE CLAIMS THAT THEY'RE MAKING IS THAT THE RECORD BEFORE COUNCIL DID NOT INCLUDE THEIR WRITTEN EXCEPTIONS. WE THOUGHT IT BETTER TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE BY, UH, HAVING COUNSEL REVISIT THE RECORD. HAS THE WRITTEN, UH, EXCEPTIONS IN IT ALONG WITH THE CITY'S REBUTTAL. AND I THINK THAT WILL ELIMINATE THAT CLAIM IN THE LAWSUIT. THAT'S THE PURPOSE FOR REVISITING THIS WITH COUNCIL. OKAY. AND THE, AND A, AND A YES VOTE SIMPLY AFFIRMS YES. IF, IF YOU, UH, THE, A MOTION TO UPHOLD THE DECISION OF THE, UH, UM, GENERAL APPEALS BOARD, UH, AFFECTS THE SAME ACTION THAT WAS DONE IN MARCH. COUNCILMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS A QUESTION IF I MAY DIRECT IT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. ABSOLUTELY. SURE. SO, OUR FUNCTION HERE ISN'T TO DISCOVER THE FACTS OR MAKE A FINDING OF FACTS. IT'S BASICALLY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SIGNED ADMINISTRATION FOLLOWED THEIR OWN PROCEDURES CORRECTLY. IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S, IT'S LIMITED TO THE RECORD, AND THERE ARE NO VARIANCES PERMITTED UNDER THE SIGN CODE. SO WHETHER WE AGREE ON THE FACTS OR NOT, WE, WE CAN'T VOTE ON THAT. WE HAVE TO JUST VOTE ON WHETHER THEY FOLLOWED THEIR PROCEDURE, ESSENTIALLY. YES. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? AND WE'RE ASSUMING THE MOTION IS MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS BROUGHT FORTH ON THE AGENDA TO UP ROBINSON TO UPHOLD. TO UPHOLD. YES. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? OPPOSED. GRANTED. SHOW COUNCILMAN KOSH VOTING. NO. THE ITEM POLL? NO. THE MOTION SHOW. COUNCILMAN POLL VOTING? NO, THE MOTION PASSES. ALRIGHT. [MATTERS HELD] NEXT ITEM. I WANT HAVE ITEM 74 IS A MOTION. WE JUST NEED A VOTE. WE NINE OF 74. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON 74. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA THANK, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE EXTENSIVE WORK THEY HAVE DONE ON THE PARKS MASTER PLAN. UM, IF YOU'VE READ THROUGH IT, IF YOU'VE SEEN THE PRESENTATIONS, A LOT OF THOUGHT, A LOT OF EFFORT HAS GONE INTO THIS. UM, BEFORE YOU, UH, AND, AND MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS. YES. UM, IS A, AN AMENDMENT, UM, TO THE MASTER PLAN TO ADD IN A FOOTNOTE, UM, TO THE PLAN SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO WEST GREEN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. HOW THE PARK SECTORS ARE SCALED AND RANKED IN NEED IS BASED ON A, UM, FORMULA, IF YOU WILL, THAT PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON CERTAIN FACTORS INCLUDING DENSITY, POPULATION AND OTHER THINGS. IT DID NOT, HOWEVER, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, UM, SPECIFIC CENTERS THAT ARE THE SOLE PROVIDER OF SERVICES FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. AND THAT'S WHAT WEST GRAIN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER DOES. IT IS THE HUB FOR THE ENTIRE REGION FOR DISABILITY SERVICES, UM, FOR OUR CITY AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE NEEDS, UM, OF THE CENTER ARE DIRE. UH, BUT ALSO THAT HOW THE RANKINGS ARE DONE DOES NOT NECESSARILY RECOGNIZE THE, THE UNIQUE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED HERE. SO THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE RANKING. UM, IT DOES NOTHING BUT MAKE SURE THAT IN WRITING, AS A CITY, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROVIDING DISABILITY SERVICES AT WEST GRAY, AND THAT THERE ARE, UM, CRITICAL NEEDS, INCLUDING THE EXPANSION THAT IS NEEDED. SO, UH, MAY, I'D LIKE TO READ THE AMENDMENT FOR THE RECORD IF, IF I MAY. YEAH. SO I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 74 AS FOLLOWS. THE METROPOLITAN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, ALSO KNOWN AS WEST GRAY ADAPTIVE RECREATION CENTER, SERVES THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE ENTIRE REGION, ANNUALLY THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SPORT, RECREATION, ADVOCACY, AND IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO HEALTH AND SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES. THEREFORE, WHILE THIS LOCATION IS LISTED UNDER THE STANDARD SECTOR RANKING SYSTEM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE UNIQUE AND REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS COMMUNITY CENTER. THE BUILDING ITSELF HAS CRITICAL STRUCTURAL NEEDS IN AN EXPANSION OF THE CENTER. AND TO MEET DEMAND FOR DISABILITY SERVICES IS THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE, OBJECTIVE OF THE NEAR FUTURE. THE CENTER'S REIMAGINED PROJECT KICKED OFF IN JUNE 23 AND INCLUDED EXPLORATORY MEETINGS WITH ELECTED LEADERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS TO EXPAND THE FACILITY SERVICES AND ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS. TO DATE TWO PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETINGS HAVE ALSO BEEN HOSTED THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, [04:20:01] AS WELL AS A PAPER AND ONLINE SURVEY AND ONLINE SURVEY SEEKING INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, AND DISABILITY LEADERS. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FUNDING ATTACHED TO THIS PROJECT, AND THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED TO BE ADDED TO THE CIP AS A PRIORITY ITEM. AND PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS EXPLORED FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. SO AGAIN, THERE IS NO, UM, FISCAL NOTE ATTACHED TO THIS. IT'S SIMPLY RECOGNIZING THAT AS A DISABILITY SERVICES PROVIDER FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, UM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OPTIONS FOR HOW TO, UH, MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY. AND THIS WOULD BE ADDED, UH, AS A, AS A SIMILAR, LIKE A FOOTNOTE TO THE, UH, PARKS RECREATION APARTMENT ADOPTION OF THE 2023 MASTER PLAN. YES, SIR. OKAY. IN THE MASTER PLAN, IT'S A SECOND TO THE AMENDMENT. IT'S IN WRITING. OH, IT'S IN WRITING. WE DON'T IN WRITING. IT'S IN WRITING. WE DON'T, YEAH, IT'S A TABLE AMENDMENT. WE DON'T NEED IT. OKAY. THE DISCUSSION. SO THE DISCUSSION IS, IS ON THE AMENDMENT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO ON THE AMENDMENT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON THE AMENDMENT. NO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. OH, THAT'S MARK. YEAH, HER AMENDMENT. OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I, I JUST WANNA JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON, ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER MICHAEL, WHO'S, UH, INTELLECTUALLY AND DEVELOPMENTAL WITH INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. UM, I, I'VE GONE TO WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND, UM, ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ESPECIALLY, UH, AND TO SEE THE, THE MEN'S RESTROOM, THE MEN'S RESTROOM, IT, IT'S IN BAD SHAPE, MAYOR. AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEY HAVE TO GO INTO A RESTROOM LIKE THAT. TH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN REGARDS TO HOPEFULLY A TOTAL RENOVATION OF, OF, OF THE, UH, WEST GRADE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. SO, I, I AGREE WITH THE COUNCIL CAMAN, AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT IS THE PLAN. UM, THE WEST GRADE MULTI SERVICE CENTER THAT WAS SYNDICATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN IS THE HUB FOR PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IN THE REGION. PEOPLE COME FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO THE WEST GRADE MULTI SERVICE CENTER. THAT'S WHERE THE, UM, UH, UH, MANY OF THE EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE. UH, IT DOES NEED TO BE TOTALLY RENOVATED. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, ON THAT, UM, FOR NOW QUITE SOME TIME. BUT, UH, IT IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF BEING RENOVATED. WE PUT SOME ESTIMATED COSTS ON IT TO DO THAT. UH, SO THIS IS BY INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT WITHIN THE MASTER PLAN. IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S ANOTHER POINT OF EMPHASIS. UH, BUT, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR REGION, UH, THEY ARE QUITE DESERVING OF SPACE, UH, THAT, UM, HOW CAN I RESPECT THEM, PROVIDE THEM THE DIGNITY THAT THEY NEED AND THE SPACE THAT THEY NEED TO EXERCISE THEIR FULL GIFTS AND THEIR TALENTS. UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON BEEN THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY AND THE WORLD. WE SAY WE ARE DIVERSE, AND WE SAY, I'M TALKING ABOUT BEING INCLUSIVE, BUT IT SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE. AND THAT'S INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. NOW, THE REALITY IS WE HAVE SOME FINE SPORTS FACILITIES IN OUR CITY, BUT, UH, FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THEY, THEY'RE HAVING TO WORK OUT AT, UH, AT WEST GRAY. AND THEN WEST GRAY IS ALSO USED AS A, AS A VOTING LOCATION AS WELL. SO, UM, I, I, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, UH, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, UM, WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN THAT. IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY, UM, UPGRADED, RENOVATED, REBUILT ON THE SAME SPOT, ON THE SAME SPOT, BUT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY UPGRADED. SO, UM, AGAIN, I WISH, I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, UH, BECAUSE, UM, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH DIRECTOR PONZI AND HIS TEAM AND, UH, HAVING MEETINGS. BUT ON THIS WATCH, THE TIME RUNS OUT. BUT HOPEFULLY, UH, THINGS MOVE FORWARD. UM, PEOPLE WILL GET IT DONE. UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. MAYOR. THANKS. I THINK, YEAH, THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE. AND YOU SAID THAT THIS REALLY IS PART OF THE PLAN TO DO WHAT I THINK THE AMENDMENTS BROUGHT FORWARD. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, AS SHE BROUGHT THE AMENDMENT AROUND, SAID IMPLICITLY THAT SHE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION MAKES ALL KINDS OF SENSE. AND YOUR POINT IS, WE JUST, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY DOLLARS, BUT IT'S POINT OF EMPHASIS. IT'S A POINT OF EMPHASIS. SO I'M, I CONCUR AND IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. SO THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN MCCAIN AND MAYOR, I WAS GONNA SAY THIS AT THE END OF THE, UM, AFTER WE VOTED, BUT I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE YOUR COMMITMENT. UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS TOGETHER. UM, DIRECTOR PONTS HAS, UH, BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS. [04:25:01] AND I, I, I KNOW HE STEPPED OUT, BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM. 'CAUSE HE STARTED TO GET INVOLVED WHEN WE, WHEN HE, UH, WHEN WE HAD TEAMS COMING BEFORE US THAT PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETICS, COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS, UH, THROUGH WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, UM, OUR ATHLETES THERE DON'T EVEN HAVE A TRACK THAT THEY CAN TRAIN ON RIGHT NOW. UH, AND THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MANY NEEDS, RIGHT? THAT WE ARE NOT, UH, MEETING. THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, YOU HAVE BEEN, UM, INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE AND UPLIFTING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. UM, SO I, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE PARTNERSHIP, AND OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WITH YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, UM, EXCUSE ME. YOUR SUPPORT HAS ALSO MEANT A LOT. SO JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE. UH, DAVE, YOU MISSED IT, BUT I DID THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP ON THIS PROJECT. SHE BROUGHT YOUR NAME UP. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, SO, UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTED ON THE AMENDMENT NOW THE, UH, DISCUSSION IS ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR YOUR AMENDMENT. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, REPORT. THIS IS REALLY GOOD WORK. AND AS AN AT LARGE MEMBER, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD TO READ THROUGH IT TO GET KIND OF A CITYWIDE VIEW OF WHERE WE ARE. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE WORK DONE BETH, UH, WIDE, I SEE YOU OUT THERE. I KNOW THE PARKS BOARD HAD A BIG HAND IN THIS, AND ON OUR H PART STAFF. I MEAN, THIS IS A REPORT, UH, THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT. UM, TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, REALLY GETS INTO THE WEEDS OF WHAT AMENITIES ARE NEEDED AT EACH PARK, HOW MUCH THOSE AMENITIES COST, WHAT THE, WHAT THE KIND OF VULNERABILITY OF THE AREA IS. UM, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PARK EQUITY. IT GOES THROUGH THE PARK SECTOR MONEY, UM, THAT WE OFTEN HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT. IT'S, IT'S A TRUE ROADMAP FOR, FOR WHERE WE NEED TO BE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN, IN PARKS. AND, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT PARKS GUY, THANKS AGAIN TO THE KINDERS FOR THE 27 MILLION MAYOR. AS I TOLD YOU THIS WEEKEND, THE 50 50 PARK INITIATIVE IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY. IT'S REALLY TRANSFORMING. I MEAN, FREEWAY MANOR THIS WEEKEND, THE, THE, THE TWO PARKS LAST WEEK, UH, REALLY TRANSFORMED THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT JUST, I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK, UM, THANK THE PARKS BOARD AND THANK HARD FOR A REALLY, REALLY GOOD, UH, UPDATE TO THIS MASTER PLAN. UH, LOT OF GREAT DETAIL AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS AND, AND I'M REALLY EAGER TO PASS IT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL. UM, OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 74 AS AMENDED IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON 74? THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 75 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON, WE ON ITEM 75, COUNCILMAN ON 75. MAYOR, WE LEARNED A LOT LAST WEEK WHEN THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND THE, UH, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT CAME BEFORE US. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY TROUBLED ME WAS THAT THEY SAID THAT 20% OF THE PEOPLE THAT CALL HAVE TO WAIT, UH, OVER FIVE MINUTES, UH, ON THE PHONE. THAT'S A LONG TIME TO WAIT. AND, UH, I'M, I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT, UH, UH, AND, AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL LEAVING HERE SOON, PRETTY WELL. I SAY US, UM, I'M LEAVING, UH, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING IT, UH, MORE, UH, CUSTOMER FRIENDLY WHEN PEOPLE CALL, UH, TO ABOUT THEIR WATER BILL. AND, AND THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE, UH, FOR MOST OF US THAT HAVE SERVED OVER THE YEARS HERE IN COUNCIL, IS THAT, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S SUCH A DIFFICULTY IN TRYING TO REPORT THESE THINGS AND TO GET, UH, BACK, BUT I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT, THAT THERE'S AN INITIATIVE TAKEN IN THIS ORDINANCE AND I, I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT. I WAS NEVER OPPOSING IT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 75? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED, GRANTED ON 75, THANK YOU, OFFICER. VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 76. I'M SORRY. HOLD, I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. UM, AND SO, UH, RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT IMMEDIATELY TO SEE THESE CHANGES NOW THAT THIS ITEM HAS PASSED. THAT WONDERFUL. GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, IT WILL START TAKING PLACE. AND THEN, UM, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN, LET'S SAY, UNDER BILLED, INSTEAD OF LOOKING BACK 12 MONTHS, 24 MONTHS, WE ONLY LOOK BACK THREE. BUT IF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN OVER BILLED, WE LOOK BACK 24 MONTHS. SO IF SOMEBODY, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS, UH, UH, FELT LIKE THEY WERE OVER BILL EIGHT MONTHS AGO, WE CAN LOOK BACK AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT. OR IF THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE OVER BILLED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, WE CAN GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. UH, [04:30:01] UH, PEOPLE NOW, UM, CAN GET UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT CREDIT. AND IF THERE'S A PRIVATE LEAK AND THEY MAKE THE CORRECTIONS, LET'S SAY WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEY GET A HUNDRED PERCENT CREDIT. IF THEY DO IT IN THE SECOND BILLING CYCLE, THEY GET A 75% CREDIT. THEY DO IT IN THE THIRD, THEY GET A 50% CREDIT. UM, AND SO, AND, AND, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE TOLD, UH, WELL, THE ORDINANCE ONLY ALLOWS $2,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S BEEN TOTALLY REVISED AT ALL. SO THERE ARE NONSPECIFIC CHANGES, UM, THAT WILL ADDRESS, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK, THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF THOSE COMPLAINTS OUT THERE. AND THAT SHOULD HELP ALSO TO REDUCE THE CAUSE WHEN PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS ARE BEING ARE BEING ADDRESSED. IT SHOULD ALSO HELP MATTERS ON APPEAL BECAUSE THE ORDINANCES HAVE BEEN REVISED. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, AS WE CONTINUE TO DEPLOY THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE THE NECESSITY FOR TO ESTIMATE THESE BILLS, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S CREATING A HUGE, UH, VOLUME OF THE COMPLAINTS WHERE WE ARE ESTIMATING AND MISSING THE POINT. SO LET ME THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR WORK ON AT WHATEVER LEVEL, WHATEVER YOU DID, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF CONTRIBUTING, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. BUT YEAH, THEY, UH, IT TAKES EFFECT NOW IMMEDIATELY. UM, AND, UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE A, UH, DECREASE IN, UH, COMPLAINTS, UH, TO THE, TO THE CITY. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCILMAN TOMAN, YOU'RE DOWN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE RETROACTIVE NATURE OF THIS, AND I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT, UM, VERY RARELY AT COUNCIL DO WE SEE ITEMS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO GO BACK, UM, TO REMEDY A SITUATION. THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE FOR, UM, OUR RESIDENTS FOR CITY OF HOUSTON CUSTOMERS, UH, IT'S NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THIS AND, UM, SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. UH, SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ABILITY FOR US TO GO BACK, UH, TO REMEDY AND ASSIST RESIDENTS THAT PREVIOUSLY WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO. AND, UH, THANK THE ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL FOR, UM, THESE IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF DISTRICT C RESIDENTS, UM, THAT ARE GONNA BE VERY HAPPY TO, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. AND LEMME THANK AND LEMME THANK PUBLIC WORKS AND DIRECTOR CAROL HADDOCK AND HER TEAM, UH, FOR ALSO WORKING ON THIS MATTER AS WELL, AND BRINGING, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD, UH, IN THIS, IN THIS SENSE, UH, LET ME THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR PUTTING FORTH YOUR, UH, AMENDMENT, UH, CODIFYING, UH, WHAT PUBLIC WORKS HAVE BEEN DOING. BUT ALL OF THAT IS NOW A PART OF, UH, THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE PASSED. SO I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY HELP CUSTOMERS OUT THERE. AND AGAIN, WE ARE NOT IN THE BUS BUSINESS OF CHARGING PEOPLE FOR MORE WATER THAN THEY USE. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE DO. UM, SO THAT WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS. WE SIMPLY WANT TO CHARGE PEOPLE FOR THEIR ACTUAL USAGE AND, AND NOT, UH, ANYTHING MORE MAYOR AND PRETEND MARTIN. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND THIS IS A GREAT ORDINANCE THAT POSITIVELY AFFECTS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. AND AS BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK, THIS DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. SO WE HAVE 10, 10 COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING AROUND THIS BODY COME JANUARY. ONE, I'D LOVE TO SEE PUBLIC WORKS, COME UP WITH A MASTER PLAN WITH COST INITIATIVES AS HOW WE FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS WILL CONTINUE AND WE WILL STILL PAY WATER BILLS, AND WE'LL STILL GO BACK IN ARREARS AND COMPENSATE THE FOLKS FOR THAT. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. SO I WOULD ASK PUBLIC SERVICE BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, TO GIVE US A MASTER PLAN WITH COST ALLOCATIONS AS TO HOW MUCH MONEY IT'LL TAKE US TO FIX THE WATER METER PROBLEMS AND TO FIX ALL THE SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE CAUSING US TO GO BACK AND DO THIS TYPE OF WORK. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT BEFORE I EXIT. AND I'M SURE THE 10 COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO BRING THIS UP UNTIL WE DO HAVE A FIX. SO THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. K TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED THAT WE, UH, ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON IT LAST WEEK. WE HAD A LENGTHY DISCUSSION AND, UH, OF WHY, UM, THIS ORDINANCE CHANGES WERE IMPORTANT FOR HOUSTONIANS. BUT I STILL WANT TO, UM, REITERATE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING WITH THE VENDORS, UM, FOR THESE PARTS. I STILL FEEL LIKE THE GENESIS OF A LOT OF THIS, UM, WATER BILL ISSUES, UM, MAY LIE IN THE PARTS OF THE WATER METERS. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD A SHORTAGE OF CHIPS, UM, DURING COV AND THERE, YOU KNOW, I, [04:35:01] I JUST STILL FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE IF WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH THE VENDORS THAT MAY HAVE ADDED TO THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR WATER BILL ISSUES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANKS VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 76 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 76 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 77 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 77. UH, DISCUSSION ON 77. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED ON 77. ITEM 78 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE TAG. WE ON ITEM 78. 78 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. NEXT ITEM. THESE ITEMS WERE NOT IN. THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. OH, I'M SORRY. LEMME GO TO 79. 79. [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] ITEM 79 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 79. COUNCIL MEMBER GALL ON 79. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED ABOUT, ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT. THIS IS, UH, THIS ITEM ON THE, ON, ON THE AGENDA. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BACK UNDER THE PARKER ADMINISTRATION, THAT THE, WHEN I WENT IN, TOURED THE, UH, JULIA IEN BUILDING, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SPACE WAS RUNNING OUT IN REGARDS TO THE HISPANIC ARCHIVES. SO REACHING OUT TO MAYOR PARKER, SHE PLACED FUNDING ON THE CIP FOR AN HISPANIC ARCHIVE CENTER. AND THEN WORKING WITH YOU, MAYOR TURNER, YOU'VE ALSO INCREASED THE FUNDING IN THE CIP FOR AN HISPANIC ARCHIVE CENTER. SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW. AND I'M, AND, AND, AND, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY AND GLAD TO KNOW THAT WE'RE VOTING ON THIS BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE HERE. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I HAD ASKED DIRECTOR LAWSON SEVERAL TIMES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN REGARDING THE, UM, 'CAUSE I WAS UNDER, UH, I, I, I HAD FOUND OUT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A LOCATION FOR THE HISPANIC ARCHIVE CENTER. AND I REACHED OUT OVER THREE YEARS AGO ASKING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS, BEING THE ONLY LATINO ON CITY COUNCIL. AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PREMATURE. THEY WERE, THEY WERE LOOKING AT THIS SITE. THEY, THEY WERE LOOKING AT THREE OTHER SITES. I ASKED WHAT THE OTHER THREE SITES WERE, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO LET ME KNOW THAT INFORMATION. SO THEN I STRESSED AGAIN TO LET ME KNOW, KEEP ME UPDATED. AND HERE WE ARE VOTING ON THIS LOCATION. AGAIN, I'M APPRECIATIVE AND I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE VOTING ON THIS. BUT AGAIN, I REACHED OUT TO DR. LAWSON A FEW MONTHS AGO ASKING HER TO CALL ME, AND SHE NEVER DID UNTIL I BROUGHT IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. THREE WEEKS LATER, WE HAD OUR, WE HAD A VIRTUAL MEETING AND SHE JUST SAT THERE NOT SAYING A WORD. HER TWO DEPUTIES WERE DOING THE TALKING. AND I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT, THAT THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY INPUT AS TO WHERE THIS WOULD BE LOCATED. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DAVID RES IN THE AUDIENCE. HE'S A LULAC NATIONAL HISTORIAN. HE REACHED OUT TO ME SOME TIME AGO REGARDING LULAC ARCHIVES. AND IF I WAS INCLUDED DR. LAWSON IN THE CONVERSATIONS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE LOST OUT ON MAYBE A HUNDRED BOXES OF LULAC ARCHIVES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THAT, UH, LULAC HAS WORKED OUT WITH ART PUBLICO IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON FOR 100 BOXES OF NATIONAL LULAC ARCHIVES. I'M HOPING IT'S NOT TOO LATE WHEN WE DO BUILD THE HISPANIC ARCHIVE CENTER, THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE ARCHIVES PLACED IN THE HOUSTON ARCHIVE CENTER WHERE THEY SHOULD, THEY SHOULD BE BELONG. SO AGAIN, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK MAYOR PARKER FOR PLACING THE MONIES IN THE CIP. I'M EXCITED THAT WE [04:40:01] ARE VOTING ON THIS. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT DR. LAWSON, AGAIN DID NOT INCLUDE ME IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. AND WE ALSO, UM, DAVID CONTRERAS LULAC, NATIONAL HISTORIAN, HAS A COMMITTEE OF LATINO AND LATINAS THAT WANNA BE INCLUDED IN THE DESIGN AND THE BUILD OUT OF THE HISPANIC ARCHIVE CENTER. SO I'M HOPING THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL APPROVE THAT COMMITTEE SO WE CAN HAVE PARTICIPATION IN THE DESIGN AND THE BUILD OUT OF OUR HISPANIC ARCHIVE CENTER. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR DOING THIS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS ON THE AGENDA. AND AGAIN, I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. AND WE CERTAINLY WANTED IT ON THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU LEFT AND BEFORE I LEFT, UH, COUNCILMAN SNE LEFT AND EVERYBODY ELSE. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 79? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTED ON 79? NEXT ITEM THAT WE'RE NOT, NOT IN, THAT ARE IN. YES, THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT IN. THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION. PLEASE MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON, PLEASE TURN TO ITEM 15 ON ITEM 15. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEM 15. WE ON ITEM 15, DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 15, ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE TAG. CAN I AT LEAST ASK WHY? WELL, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT, UH, CONNECTED TO THE OTHER ONE THAT I TAGGED. I'D LIKE SEVENTIES 6 76, I BELIEVE IT WAS. ARE THEY THE SAME BOARD? NO, THIS IS NOT THE SAME BOARD. THIS IS THE, THIS IS A BOARD THAT'S WITHIN THE ADVISING, THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YEAH. I'LL REMOVE MY TAG BALL, ASK YOU A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. SURE, SURE. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING. OKAY. THE REASON I TAG THIS IS I DIDN'T WANT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE, UH, THE LGC THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING IN THE PROPER ORDER. AND IT WAS MY, I THOUGHT THAT THIS BOARD WAS GONNA BE THE SAME BOARD. NO. OKAY. SO THEN THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES. THAT'S CORRECT. THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS IN BASICALLY AD HOC, NOT CONNECTED TO THE CITY AS A PARTNERSHIP. THIS IS, THIS IS COMMUNITY. THESE ARE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. OKAY. IN THAT CASE, I'LL REMOVE MY TAG. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE ON ITEM 20, DISCUSSION ON ITEM 20. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. I OPPOSE GRANT ON 20. THANKS. COUNCILMAN KNOX. ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE TAG. THAT ONE THOUGH, 21 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNIGHT. I'LL JOIN THE TAG TOO. I'M SORRY. I'LL JOIN THE TAG. OKAY. UH, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, PAT. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? AND ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ONE SECOND. TURNING TO ITEM 40 AFTER 40. OBJECTION ON ITEM 40. DISCUSSION ON 40 IN FAVOR. I OPPOSE GRANT ON ITEM 40. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON 40. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WAS, I WAS WRONG. THIS IS GONNA BE THE LAST, UH, ITEM I COMMENT ON UNRELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, UNTIL NEXT, UNTIL NEXT TERM FOR THIS TERM, UH, I, I WANTED TO REALLY RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS. 'CAUSE MAYOR, YOU, UM, HAVE CHAMPIONED THE EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY. UM, YOU AND I COMING IN WITH THE PANDEMIC, UM, REALLY GOT TO WORK ON A LOT OF THIS. AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, MEEL PATEL DAVIS, UH, BUT OVER THUS FAR WITH HOSPITAL BASED CASE MANAGERS. AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR THE PUBLIC IN HOSPITALS, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOMEBODY, UM, WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM OR SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR DOMESTIC ABUSE, UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY A HOSPITAL BASED CASE MANAGER THAT CAN WORK AND IDENTIFY THAT AND THEN CHANNEL THEM INTO SERVICES. UH, THUS FAR, I BELIEVE OVER 340 SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. UM, AGAIN, MANY OF WHO ARE, UM, UNSTABLE EITHER PHYSICALLY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOLLOWING SUCH A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. AND THE ABILITY FOR US AS A CITY TO STEP IN TO HELP GET THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, THE HOUSING THEY NEED, UM, THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, UH, IS A WIN FOR EVERYONE IN OUR CITY. SO, AGAIN, I JUST, I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS, UM, BECAUSE THE WORK THAT THE CITY IS DOING AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. OKAY. UH, THAT COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I, I HAD A QUESTION, MAAM. OKAY. VICE MAAM. PROAM, COUNCIL TATUM, UH, I, I [04:45:01] GUESS ITEM 31 DIDN'T COME IN. I KNOW LAST WEEK, UM, THE CONTROLLER SAID HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A MEETING ON YESTERDAY, UM, WITH THE LEGAL TEAM AND THE PARTIES THAT BE, UM, TO CONSIDER CERTIFYING THIS ISSUE. DID THAT MEETING TAKE PLACE? DO YOU KNOW IF THAT MEETING TOOK PLACE? DID WE HAVE ANY MOVEMENT ON THIS? UH, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A MEETING WITH, UH, THE COMP CONTROL AND MEMBERS OF THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND SOME OTHER FOLK. BUT, UH, URA, YOU, YOU WANNA COMMENT ON THAT? YES. I, I BELIEVE THE MEETING WAS ON MONDAY. IT INVOLVED THE, UH, THE CONTROLLER UNITED, UH, BOND COUNCIL, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, UH, BOND COUNSEL WORKING WITH THE AIRPORT, UH, REVISED, UH, AN AFFIDAVIT SUBMITTED IT TO HIM, AND WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF THAT'S GONNA BE SUFFICIENT. SO WE SUBMITTED AN AFFIDAVIT TO THE CONTROLLER, TO THE CON THE CONTROLLER HAD HAD PREVIOUSLY. UH, I UNDERSTOOD HIM TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE HE HAD HAD NOT TI WHAT HIS POSITION WAS. HE HAD NOT TIME TO, DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REVIEW IT. HE WAS EXPLORING WHETHER HE COULD RELY ON, ON AN AFFIDAVIT FROM AIRPORT FOR SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIONS. WE HAD PROVIDED ONE EARLIER, UH, AT THAT MEETING, UH, IT WAS REVISED BASED ON THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO HIM, AND WE'RE AWAITING HIS RESPONSE TO SEE IF THAT'S GONNA BE SUFFICIENT. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY IS ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS 150 MILLION. THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CONTROLLER. AND CERTAINLY HIS ROLE AS COMP CONTROLLER IS, IS TO CERTIFY WHETHER THE AMOUNT, THE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE AND THE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE. UH, SO THE COMPTROLLER IS ACTING OUTSIDE OF HIS AUTHORITY. I'VE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT EVERYONE'S BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH THE CONTROLLER, BUT THE CONTROLLER SIMPLY DOES NOT WANT THIS PROJECT TO BE FINALIZED ON THIS MAYOR'S WATCH. THAT IS QUITE CLEAR, AND THAT IS WHY HE'S HOLDING UP THE ITEM. SO, YOU KNOW. WELL, MAYOR, I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION FOR, UM, THE ATTORNEY THEN. DID WE HAVE TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT WHEN WE DID SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IN AUGUST? UM, WE FINANCED 470 MILLION FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. DID WE HAVE TO PROVIDE AN AFFIDAVIT? NO. THE, UH, UH, AN AFFIDAVIT, THE COMPTROLLER, HAD HE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO, THE, THE AFFIDAVIT IS OUTSIDE ANY REQUIREMENT. IT WAS JUST AN ATTEMPT TO, TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THIS. DID WE HAVE TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY WHEN WE DID THAT ONE FOR SOUTHWEST? UH, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THE FEASIBILITY, DID WE MEET WITH GHP? I DON'T BELIEVE SO. OKAY. THE FEASIBILITY STUDY IS, UH, WHAT WE DO AS PART OF THE MASTER BOND ORDINANCE. UH, AND IT'S ONLY THROUGH THAT THAT WE DO FEASIBILITY STUDIES. I GUESS I'M JUST A LITTLE F UH, CONFUSED BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE POWER OF OUR VISITOR ECONOMY, AND WE HAVE A COMPANY LIKE UNITED WHO SEES HOW HEALTHY OUR ECONOMY IS AND IS WANTING TO INVEST $2.5 BILLION IN HOUSTON. UM, AND THE ONUS OF THAT FINANCING IS ON UNITED. AND I'M JUST AT A LOSS AS TO WHY THE CONTROLLER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CERTIFY THIS. UM, AND IT JUST SEEMS THAT THE TIMING IS QUESTIONABLE. UM, AND IT, AND IT SEEMS REALLY PERSONAL, AND I THINK THAT IT'S DOING A DISSERVICE FOR, UM, UNITED, IT'S DOING A DISSERVICE FOR THIS COUNCIL. IT'S DOING A DISSERVICE FOR HOUSTONIANS. UM, AND I, AND I WISH THAT THE CONTROLLER WOULD CERTIFY, UM, THIS PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND UNITED. CAN WE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST MODERNIZING A TERMINAL. WE ARE 90 TO 95% REPLACING AN EXISTING TERMINAL, UM, AT THE AIRPORT, WHICH IS GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY. WE ALL TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO BRING MONEY INTO THE CITY, AND THIS IS ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S ECONOMY. I I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HOLD UP. WELL, I CAN BE A LOT MORE BLUNT, BUT I CHOOSE, UH, NOT TO BE HOLIDAY SEASON. IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON. BUT YOU, BUT HE'S NOT BEING CALLED OUT LIKE HE SHOULD BE CALLED OUT. HE IS ABUSING AND IS OUTSIDE OF HIS AUTHORITY, BUT WE DON'T CALL HIM OUT. IN FACT, PEOPLE GIVE HIM THE, THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT HE'S OPERATING WITHIN HIS AUTHORITY. AND PEOPLE COME ASK ME, MAYOR, [04:50:01] HERE'S THE MONEY THERE. OKAY? UM, SO AT SOME POINT, YOU JUST HAVE TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS. OKAY? AND HE, HE INTIMATE INTIMATED THAT EVENTUALLY THIS DEAL IS GOING TO HAPPEN. JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN ON THIS ADMINISTRATION'S MARCH. AND WHO KNOWS, HE MAY BE A PART OF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. YOU KNOW, TIME WILL TELL. OKAY. HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, LET ME RE REGAIN MY POSITIVITY, JOY TO THE WORLD. WELL, IN FACT, WE COULD HAVE THAT BEING, UH, SUNG AT THE AIRPORT. , . THERE'S NO HARMONY IN THAT AIR. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL PICK NEXT WEEK. WE, WE'LL PICK THAT UP NEXT WEEK. ALRIGHT. UM, UM, A-A-R-A-A-R-P IS HERE. THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION IF, IF YOU ARE HERE, BEFORE WE GO TO THE POPUP, IF THE MEMBERS OF A A RP, IF YOU, YOU'LL COME FORWARD. AND I THINK IT'S RUTH, LINDA MARTINEZ, DEXTER HANDY, JENNIFER, UH, RY, PAULA JOHNSON, JUANITA SOTO, UH, EDDIE OWEN, AND CHANDRA WHITE CHANDRA. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. UM, I'M ASSUMING THAT WAS OKAY FOR ME TO START. UH, I'M JOINED HERE BY MY COLLEAGUE, UH, ROSA. LINDA MARTINEZ, WHO'S THE MANAGER FOR THE HOUSTON AND AUSTIN AREA. UM, I'M GONNA DO A RP FIRST. JEN, UH, JENNIFER RY, WHO'S MY COLLEAGUE HERE IN THE HOUSTON OFFICE. AND JUANITA SOTO FROM OUR NATIONAL OFFICE NOW. AND, UH, EDDIE ORUM, UH, WHO IS OUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A A RP TEXAS. AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE PAULA JOHNSON, WHO YOU KNOW VERY WELL, WHO'S BEEN, UH, VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AROUND AGE FRIENDLY, LIVABLE COMMUNITIES. AND THEN WE HAVE DEXTER HANDY, WHO'S BEEN LEADING A LOT OF WALK AUDITS FOR US. HE IS WITH THE CTC COALITION, ALSO THE HOUSTON COMPLETE STREETS. AND HE IS NOW AN OFFICIAL A A RP VOLUNTEER. SO, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU, UH, FOR HAVING US NOT LIKE TO, UH, PRESENT YOU WITH THIS AWARD. IT'S BASICALLY THANKING YOU FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. UH, YOU TURNED A PROJECT, UH, ONE OF OUR NATIONAL PROJECTS, UM, AGE-FRIENDLY, LIVABLE COMMUNITY INTO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. I REMEMBER THAT DATE VERY WELL. AUGUST 27TH, 2019. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. ALONG WITH A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER THINGS FROM VISION ZERO CLIMATE, UH, ACTION, UH, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION, LIVABLE COMMUNITIES, AND WALKABLE PLACES. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE. YOU AIN'T OLD. YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE. YOU AIN'T OLD ENOUGH. ME, ON THE OTHER HAND, I GOT MY A A RP CARD. I GOT MY A A P CARD. GIVE YOU FREE MEMBERSHIP. OKAY. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA START [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] ON THE POP-OFF TODAY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, I'LL PASS. OH, YOU PASSED. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. SO I'M NOT GONNA PASS 'CAUSE THE, I DON'T GET TO, UH, GIVE MY THANK YOUS TO EVERYONE NEXT WEEK. UH, SO MAYOR, AS WE TALK ABOUT ENDING ON A POSITIVE NOTE, UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. UH, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABAZZ, UH, EARLY ON, WE WORKED TOGETHER, UH, TO ELIMINATE CONTRACTS WITH TDCJ, UH, THAT WERE DOING UNPAID PRISON LABOR, UH, SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE PROHIBITED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UH, WE'VE WORKED ON STREETS TOGETHER, OUR PARKS TOGETHER. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, YOUR COMMITMENT, UM, TO OUR YOUTH, TO OUR CHILDREN, TO OUR FAMILIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, IS INSPIRING. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO CARRY THAT TORCH FOR YOU. SINCE SHE'S LEAVING, I'M GONNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO VICE MAYOR PRO TEM CASS X TATUM, [04:55:01] UH, THANKING HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP, WORKING WITH ME ON CAMERA POLICIES, UH, LIGHTING ORDINANCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE FOR SAFETY. UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, OR EXCUSE ME, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, YOU AND I, UH, AGREE ON MORE THAN WE DISAGREE. AND WHILE OUR BATTLES ARE, UM, NOTABLE, UH, YOU WERE THE ONE THAT SUPPORTED ME WITH OUR, MY TAX DISPARITY STUDY. AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, COME FORWARD THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON, UH, INCLUDING WES GRAY. SO, UH, FOR ALL OF IT, I JUST SAY THANK YOU. UH, THE, THE LOVE IS REAL. AND, UH, I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, ESPECIALLY A LOT OF THINGS, BUT ESPECIALLY I STALLED TRAINS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS MY DISTRICT. BUT YOU HAVE BEEN THE VOICE ON THIS. UH, AND, UH, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF THAT TRANSFORMATION IN LARGE PART IS THANKS TO YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE, UM, AS VICE CHAIR, UH, UNDER YOU AS CHAIR OF QUALITY OF LIFE. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, YOUR LEADERSHIP AT TPC, UH, AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE GURU ON MANY THINGS, BUT ESPECIALLY WORKING TOGETHER AT TPC, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT I NOT ONLY RESPECT, BUT HAVE REALLY ENJOYED. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP THERE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR DISTRICT, BUT IN HOUSING, YOU ARE THE HOUSING, KNOW IT ALL. UH, ANY QUESTION I'VE EVER HAD, UM, YOU'VE BEEN ON TOP OF. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT AND WORKING WITH OUR STAFF ON THAT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, NOT JUST MY OFFICE NEIGHBOR, BUT THE WORK WE DID, UH, ALSO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, UH, WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN, IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS, UH, WITH MAYOR, THE WATSON PLAN EXPLOSION, UH, MY CHANGING THE ORDINANCES WHERE WE COULD TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS FURTHER, UM, ESPECIALLY FOCUSING ON HAZMAT. BUT, UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT JUST MENTION, OH, HOLY COW, THE SOUND ORDINANCE , AND THAT TOOK YEARS. BUT AGAIN, THAT I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, THROUGH THE COMMITTEE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, UM, MANY THINGS WE HAVE WORKED ON, BUT EVEN GETTING DITCH MAINTENANCE GOING, UH, YOU'VE ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR YOUR DISTRICT AND BEEN A HUGE PROPONENT, UM, THROUGH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP. UH, MAYOR, THERE'S A HOST OF THINGS I COULD LIST OFF THAT I'VE ACCOMPLISHED. UH, WHETHER IT'S PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AND PREGNANCY WELLNESS LEAVE, GUN LOCK AND GUN SAFETY INITIATIVES, AND GUN FIREARM INJURY, UM, INITIATIVES. THE EXPANSION OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES OUR CITY PROVIDES. THE TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS THAT WE WORKED ON WITHIN HPD AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. UM, MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND FLOOD PROTECTION. YOU KNOW, WE SAY, UH, SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS IN SIX YEARS. AND WHETHER IT'S A FLOOD, A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE FREEZE, UH, POLICE REFORMS, ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE MET, UH, AND YOU HAVE MET HEAD ON. UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS TERM HAS BEEN DEFINED BY OUR DISASTERS, UH, BUT THE RESPONSE AND THE RESILIENCY, UH, SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE NOTED. BUT WHAT I THINK STANDS OUT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP IS THE FACT THAT DESPITE ALL OF THAT AND WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN THOSE RESPONSES, UH, TO MEET THE CHALLENGES, IT'S WHAT WE DID. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, UH, THE TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS, THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, THE EXPANSION OF OUR GREEN SPACES, THE LAND BRIDGE, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, PGA GOLF TOURNAMENT AT MEMORIAL PARK. UH, THE INCENTIVES WE'RE CREATING FOR GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY, EXPANDING RECYCLING SERVICES. I COULD GO ON AND ON. UH, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR AND PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THE WAY IN WHICH I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO. UH, I FORGOT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. UH, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE BLAST SITTING NEXT TO YOU. I'M ALMOST DONE. AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE MY STAFF, UM, WHO IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. UH, SO THANK YOU TO MY DISTRICT C TEAM. I WANNA THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. UH, BUT ABOVE ALL, I WANNA THANK OUR DISTRICT C RESIDENTS 'CAUSE THEY ARE, UH, THE BEST THERE IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. TOMORROW I WANNA HIGHLIGHT AN EVENT THAT IS HAPPENING AT THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE. THEY'RE HAVING THEIR ANNUAL CHAMPAGNE AND RIBS, UH, FUNDRAISER. AND, [05:00:01] UM, THE MUSEUM IS LOCATED AT 4 8 0 7 CAROLINE. IT IS IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, DISTRICT D AND, UH, THE CHAMPAGNE AND RIBS IS A TIME SET TO SET ASIDE AND INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE. WHILE RAISING THE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR SUPPORTING THEIR MISSION AND VISION, MAYOR, THEY DO AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB OF REALLY HIGHLIGHTING, UH, AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AROUND THE CITY. IT'S A WELCOMING EVENT FOR ALL IN AN EDUCATIONAL EVENT FOR ALL, BUT ALSO A REALLY GOOD TIME. SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO ONLINE. I PUT, UH, SOME INFORMATION ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS FOR YOU TO PURCHASE TICKETS. IT IS A FUNDRAISER. WE DO WANNA RAISE FUNDS BECAUSE THEY USE THOSE DOLLARS FOR ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR WEEK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. UH, SHABASH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ON YESTERDAY WE HAD THE TURNAROUND HOUSTON JOB FAIR IN SUNNYSIDE. AND, UH, IT WAS A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS. IT'S A LANDMARK EVENT AS THE LAST JOB FAIR OF, OF YOURS, MAYOR TURNER, YOUR, YOUR FINAL TERM. THIS SIGNATURE INITIATIVE, UH, IS COMING FULL CIRCLE IN SUNNYSIDE WHERE IT BEGAN. AND IT WAS JUST NOT A SUCCESS IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT, BUT IT ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. AND WITNESSING OVER 40 EMPLOYERS COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, PARTICULARLY TO THOSE FACING UNEMPLOYMENT OR UNDEREMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES WAS TRULY HEARTENING. AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JESSE RUBIO FOR HIS OUTSTANDING COLLABORATION WITH MY OFFICE. HIS EFFORTS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS EVENT A RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY, UH, THE EMANCIPATION AVENUE MAIN STREET PROGRAM. I WAS DELIGHTED TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION. UH, THIS EVENT FOCUSED ON EQUITABLE REVITALIZATION FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROVIDED A PLATFORM TO DISCUSS CRITICAL ISSUES LIKE LOTS TO LOVE AND THREE 40 FUNDING. IT WAS AN ENGAGING AND INSIGHTFUL SESSION, AND I EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE EMANCIPATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND KEN ROGERS FOR THE INVITATION, UH, THIRD WARD CUNY HOMES CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPLEMENTATION GRANT. PROJECT EVENT. IT WAS MY HONOR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD WARD COMMUN CUNY HOMES CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPLEMENTATION GRANT PROJECT EVENT AT THE EL DORADO BALLROOM. THIS EVENT WAS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS SECURING A $50 MILLION GRANT AIMED AT ENHANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS, AND SUPPORTED SERVICES IN THE THIRD WARD. THE COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT AND VALUABLE INPUT AT THIS EVENT WAS TRULY INSPIRING. UH, WE'LL HAVE AN UPCOMING EVENT ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER THE 16TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT THE 35 AT 35 17 RE ROAD, WHICH IS WHY THE JOHNSON LIBRARY, UH, IT'S GONNA BE A HOLIDAY FOOD FIXINGS. UH, AND WE ARE ALWAYS EXCITED TO HOST THIS. IT WAS LAST YEAR THAT I THINK WE IMPLEMENTED IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEB, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE ORGANIZATIONS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING FESTIVE JOY TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS AND CHILDREN. THIS EVENT EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF GIVING AND UNITY, WHICH IS IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT D. AND, UH, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY GOOD. ALSO, I WANT TO, AGAIN, HIGHLIGHT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAREER WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM, UH, WHICH WILL PROVIDE LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS. THIS FREE TRAINING STARTS ON JANUARY THE 16TH WITH A WEEKLY STIP STIPEND, AND PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE TO GET MORE INFORMATION. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREERS, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE CHANGE THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES. AND MAYOR, I'M GONNA JUST SIGN OFF FOR THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION IN CERTAIN GRATITUDE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE MY SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, TWO DAYS AGO, THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT ISSUED A MEDIA RELEASE WITH SOME UPDATES REGARDING VISION ZERO, AND I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. SO, AS YOU KNOW, IN AUGUST OF 2019, THE MAYOR SIGNED THE VISION ZERO EXECUTIVE ORDER, COMMITTING TWO END TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES ON HOUSTON STREETS. PEOPLE DESERVE TO BE SAFE ON OUR STREETS, WHETHER THEY'RE DRIVING, WALKING, BIKING, USING A WHEELCHAIR OR RIDING TRANSIT. UM, SO I, I WANT TO READ SOME FROM THE MEDIA RELEASE AND POINT OUT THAT IN, UM, IN THAT, PEDESTRIANS REPRESENTED 36% OF TRAFFIC DEATHS AND 16% OF SERIOUS INJURIES. AND, AND THAT EVERY INTERSECTION THAT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED UNDER VISION ZERO HAS SHOWN, UM, IMPROVED SAFETY METRICS ALONG SEGMENTS OF ROADWAYS THAT HAVE HAD VISION ZERO [05:05:01] ALIGNED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT REDUCE CONFLICT BETWEEN ROAD USERS AND OR SUPPORT SAFE VEHICLE SPEEDS. THE ANNUAL NUMBER OF CRASHES WITH INJURIES HAS DECREASED BY 26%, AND ALL ANNUAL CRASHES ON THOSE CORRIDORS HAVE DECREASED BY 19%. NO ONE USING A PROTECTED BIKE LANE WAS KILLED. MY OWN COMMITMENT TO VISION ZERO AND THE GOAL OF ENSURING TRAFFIC SAFETY FOR HOUSTONIANS IS EVIDENT IN HOW I HAVE PRIORITIZED FUNDING AND SAFETY PROJECTS ADVANCED OVER MY EIGHT, MY LAST EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE. I HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, UM, IN ROAD SAFETY PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ALL ROAD USERS. I HAVE ALSO INVESTED HEAVILY IN SAFETY PROJECTS THAT ARE NOW FULLY FUNDED, BUT YET TO COME. UNFORTUNATELY, I WON'T BE HERE TO SEE THAT, BUT, BUT THEY ARE COMING. I WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY SAY WHAT SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE. THERE ARE 12 SPEED CUSHION PROJECTS COMING. THERE ARE FIVE INTERSECTION SAFETY PROJECTS AROUND MOODY PARK THAT ARE COMING. THERE ARE SEVEN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT INTERSECTIONS ON HOUSTON AVENUE. A MAJOR ONE THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE AND HOUSTON AVENUE, AND THERE WILL BE SIX MORE SMALLER ONES ON, UM, FURTHER NORTH ON HOUSTON AVENUE, UM, NORTH OF I 10. UM, AND ALSO THERE ARE TWO SIGNIFICANT BIKEWAY PROJECTS THAT HAVE TAKEN A LONG TIME TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO COME, BUT THEY WILL BE CONSTRUCTED NEXT YEAR AS WELL. MY INVESTMENT IN THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT, THAT WE, WE DON'T SEE YET, BUT ARE COMING, HAS BEEN, UM, $1.7 MILLION FOR THE, FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. UM, BUT IT, IT'S, IT GETS BETTER THAN THAT BECAUSE, UM, REGARDING THE BIKE WAYS, UM, ON PARKER ROAD, FOR INSTANCE, I PUT IN $240,000. AND THE CITY HAS, UM, LEVERAGED THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, THROUGH GRANTS AND, UM, AND, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THAT A, A $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS PROJECT. THE BIKEWAYS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON NORTH MAINE, THAT, THAT BEGIN AT BOUNDARY AND HEAD NORTH TO AIRLINE, I INVESTED $235,000. THE CITY HAS LEVERAGED THAT MONEY AND IS, AND THAT, UM, THAT WILL NOW BE A $1.5 MILLION PROJECT. UM, THE INVESTMENT THAT I'VE MADE IN SUPPORT OF VISION ZERO FOR WORK THAT IS YET TO BE CONSTRUCTED NEXT YEAR IS $4.2 MILLION. IT'S FUNDED WORK THAT WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2024. I REGRET THAT I WON'T BE HERE WHEN THE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED, BUT I'M SO PLEASED THAT THEY, THAT THEY ARE HAPPENING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOW, THANK YOU, UH, VERY MUCH THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WORK AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. SO THANK YOU. WELL DONE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GGO. THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, FIR, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START OFF BY, UM, THANKING, UH, UH, THE PARKS BOARD AND, AND THE KINDER FOUNDATION IN REGARDS TO MAKING IT POSSIBLE. UM, UH, I DID, LIKE I STATED EARLIER, UH, PUT SOME DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS INTO A DOG PARK, UH, IN THE EAST END, THE LAWNDALE DOG PARK. UH, WE HAD GROUNDBREAKING THIS PAST SATURDAY. UM, IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT THEY WILL START CONSTRUCTION, UH, IN, IN, IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. UH, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA THANK ALL THE PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. I WANNA THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS, UH, UH, THAT CAME OUT WITH THEIR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS. UH, IT, IT, IT WAS A GREAT DAY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, AND THE WEATHER DID COOPERATE THAT MORNING. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. UH, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE REELECTED. UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL BE COMING HERE, UH, UH, COMING JANUARY. UM, UH, AND I ALSO, OF COURSE WANT TO THANK, UH, OR CONGRATULATE, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR, UH, HIS ELECTION AS WELL. UM, BEING BEFORE BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER, I WAS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND, UH, I WILL CONTINUE BEING A COMMUNITY LEADER AFTER I LEAVE OFFICE. SO THEY WILL BE SEEING ME. SO, UH, IN REGARDS TO PROJECTS OR THINGS THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY, UH, IN THE STANDING IN DISTRICT EYE. SO THANK YOU. THEY WILL SEE YOU AND HEAR YOU . COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I KNOW THAT'S TRUE. UM, I JUST, UH, WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES WHO'VE, UH, BEEN REELECTED. UH, IT'S GREAT NEWS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ALL THOSE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OF COURSE TO YOUR SUCCESSOR MAYOR. UM, UH, MAY MR. WHITMEYER DO EXCELLENT THINGS FOR THIS CITY. I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC AND, UH, MAYOR, I'M PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH YOU. PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH ANISE PARKER, BUT THESE LAST YEARS HAVE REALLY BEEN EXTRAORDINARY IN THINKING ABOUT, UH, THOSE, I THINK FAMOUS [05:10:01] SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS THAT YOU SERVED UNDER. THANK GOD THERE WASN'T ANOTHER, AN EIGHTH THIS YEAR. WE'VE GOT A FEW WEEKS LEFT, SO GOD WILLING, AND THE CREEK DON'T RISE. WE'VE GOT, UH, 16 MORE DAYS OR SO FOR THAT TO BEAR OUT. UM, I KNOW YOU'VE SAID IT THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK RIGHT UP TILL, UH, DECEMBER 31ST AT 11:59 PM AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT, MAYOR, YOU AND COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE SEEN THAT. UH, WE HAD A TTI COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR YESTERDAY THAT GOT NOT CANCELED, BUT POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT WEEK. WE'VE GOT THREE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, AND WE'RE GONNA BE SEEING IT ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THAT'S THE 20TH OF DECEMBER AT 2:00 PM AFTER WE GAVEL OUT. UH, NEXT WEEK IT WILL BE AN UPDATE AND YEAR END REPORT FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. SO THERE'S A LOT TO COVER IN THAT ONE ITEM ALONE. WE'RE GONNA BE HEARING A FEDERAL UPDATE, UH, FROM YOUR OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND RELATIONS WITH BILL KELLY AND HIS TEAM REPORTING. AND FINALLY, WE'VE JUST HEARD FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, THEY WILL BE PRESENTING ON MAP NEXT, THE FLOOD RISK MAPPING TOOL. UH, THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET FOR ALL OF US THROUGHOUT THE REGION. UH, AND THEN FINALLY, I THINK WITH, UM, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR HER NICE REMARKS ABOUT TPC, UH, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, BEYOND MY OWN STAFF, BEYOND YOUR STAFF, I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT TO THE GREAT SUPPORT THAT I'VE HAD, UH, THESE LAST FEW YEARS, SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THE CHAIR OF YOUR TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE SINCE THE LATE GREAT LARRY GREEN PASSED AWAY. UM, BUT TO YOUR STAFF IN PARTICULAR IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN PUBLIC WORKS BY NAME, I'D LIKE TO SINGLE OUT, UH, CATHERINE SUMMERLAND, DAVID WARDLOW, VERONICA DAVIS, DAVID FIELDS, FABIO CAPPI, INCREDIBLE WORK, AND OF COURSE, DIRECTOR CAROL HADDOCK. UM, THOSE FOLKS, UH, SPECIFICALLY HAVE BEEN GREAT HELP TO MY TEAM, MY STAFF, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, DIANA, UM, KAIDO, AND, UH, FOR ALL OF THAT. UM, THANK YOU. FINAL NOTE, MAYOR. THIS FRIDAY AFTER OUR LAST TPC MEETING OF THE YEAR, THERE WILL BE A, UH, BAY HEP SPONSORED, UH, SOUTHEAST TEXAS TRANSPORTATION UPDATE. IT'S TITLED RURAL VERSUS URBAN, AND THAT'S WITH BAY TRAN BAY HEP AND THE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE PORT HOUSTON. UH, THERE'S A PANELIST, UH, THERE'S A PANEL DISCUSSION THAT I'M A PART OF WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER JUSTIN BECKENDORF, WHO'S MY SUCCESSOR AS THE CHAIR OF TPC, OR WE PRESUME HE WILL BE WITH THE SLATE OF OFFICERS COMING FORWARD AS, AS WELL AS YOUR CHAIR, UH, SANJAY RAHM. UM, AND THAT PANEL WILL BE MODERATED BY PARA ANN'S MAYOR KEVIN COLE. SO I THINK IT'S GONNA BE EXCITING. NICE WAY TO WRAP IT UP. AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP GOING, MAYOR, RIGHT UP TO THAT LAST MOMENT. SO THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. I DON'T LIKE CHANGE, SO I'M NOT GONNA NECESSARILY SHARE WHAT I WANNA SHARE. SO I'M JUST GONNA GO INTO MY POP-OFF COMMENTS. OKAY. UM, I DO WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE, UH, BRAISE BAYOU RIBBON CUTTING ON SATURDAY. UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF HELD IT DOWN FOR ME, AND THANK YOU FOR SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BARBARA QUATRO. SHE WAS, UH, SHOCKED AND SURPRISED. UM, UH, SHE WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DATE 'CAUSE SHE WAS COMMITTED TO PLANTING HER TREES. SHE WAS LIKE, I GOTTA PLANT MY TREES. AND SO SHE WASN'T NECESSARILY, UH, FOCUSED ON THE RIBBON CUTTING, BUT SHE DEFINITELY WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT AND, AND WE APPRECIATE HER EFFORTS, YOUR EFFORTS, THE PARKS BOARD, UM, AND EVERYONE THAT JOINED. UM, WE ARE EXCITED AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY TEAM THAT IS, UH, WORKING ON A, A, A BIKE RIDE TO, UH, UM, EXPERIENCE THOSE TRAILS. SO WE'RE DOING THAT. AND THEN I WANNA BRING BACK TO YOUR ATTENTION, AND I KNOW YOU SAID WE'RE GONNA WORK UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, SO WE GONNA WORK . UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS RIDING DOWNTOWN PARK, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS MONTHS AGO. UH, AND, UH, IT'S TURNED INTO, UH, A STREET MARKET ON TOWN PARK. YEAH, YOU MENTIONED THAT. UH, WE HAVE EXPENDED DOLLARS TO WEST SIDE AND MIDWEST, HPD. WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD DO. UM, THE VIDEO THAT MY CHIEF, UH, SHARED, I MEAN, THEY'RE SELLING MATTRESSES, TOOLS, FOOD. IT IS, IT IS. THERE'S NOTHING I LIKE, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. UH, THE APARTMENT OWNER IS FRUSTRATED. UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, IS FRUSTRATED. WE'VE HAD INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS. I WANNA SHARE THOSE VIDEOS WITH YOU SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT IS, WHAT'S HAPPENING. UM, AND THEY'RE TAKING UP A, A, A SMALL BLOCK. HOWEVER, IT'S IMPACTING TRAFFIC, DRAINAGE, TRASH, NOISE, ALL OF THE ABOVE. AND, UM, [05:15:01] SO I DO WANT YOUR ATTENTION ON THAT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GATHERING MY THOUGHTS, UM, AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING. UM, SO I CAN GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS AND THEN ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. UH, WE HAVE DONE A LOT OVER THIS LAST FOUR YEARS. UH, I THOUGHT THE WINTER FREEZE WAS GONNA TAKE ME OUT, UH, NOT HAVING WATER, YOU KNOW, BUSTED PIPES IN, THEN SERVING OTHER PEOPLE IN THE MIDST OF YOUR OWN, UH, YOUR OWN ISSUES. BUT EVERY TIME THAT THE CITY WAS MET WITH THE CHALLENGE, WE STEPPED UP. AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I THINK THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO SEE, UM, THE SEEDS THAT YOU'VE INVESTED LONG BEFORE, LONG AFTER YOU'RE GONE. WE'LL, WE WILL BE ABLE TO REAP THAT. SO, UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND THANK YOU FOR, I'M GONNA MISS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS SAYING, IF I'M ASKING THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO CALL ME, I'M GONNA MISS IT. I'M GONNA MISS IT. NOBODY GOES OFF LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. UM, BUT I'M, UH, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SERVICE AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANKS, COUNCILMAN. MAYOR ALCO, REAL QUICK. UM, WE PASSED THOSE WATER REFORMS TODAY, MAYOR. WE'RE EXCITED. UM, YOU KNOW, OUR WATER BILL AT OUR HOUSE DOUBLED IN SEPTEMBER. SO I HAD GEORGE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE. I'M LIKE, SAY YOUR LAST NAME REAL QUICK. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS WHO WE ARE ANYWAY, AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT FOR SURE. BUT I WANNA READ TO YOU, I SAID, MAKE SURE, DOCUMENT WHAT ALL HAPPENS. SO HE SAID, AFTER GOING THROUGH THE PROMPTS, I WAS CONNECTED TO AN AGENT VERY QUICKLY. AGENT'S NAME WAS DANIELLE, VERY NICE AND INFORMATIVE. ASKED ABOUT LEAKS IN THE HOUSE, TOILETS, RUNNING HOSES LEFT ON SINK STRIPPING, GAVE ME ALL THE METER READS, ELECTRONIC READS, NOT ESTIMATES FOR OUR METER FROM JUNE TO NOVEMBER. LOOKS LIKE THE METER GETS RID OF THE 17TH. SHE OFFERED TO SEND A TECHNICIAN TO TEST THE METER AND SHE OFFERED FINANCIAL SUPPORT PACKAGE THAT INCLUDED PUTTING THE ACCOUNT ON HOLD, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. SHE, HE JUST GOES ON TO SAY HOW NICE SHE WAS, HOW QUICK IT WAS, UM, HOW SOLUTIONS WERE OFFERED. AND SO I'VE BEEN ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CULTURE OF CU CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAD A MEETING WITH THE NEW HEAD OF, OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WATER BILLING. AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOPEFULLY THE SERVICE THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET WHEN THEY CALL THE WATER DEPARTMENT. MOST PEOPLE'S INTERACTIONS WITH THE CITY ARE JUST WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT. I MEAN, THEY DON'T REALLY MESS WITH MUCH ELSE. I MEAN, I MEAN, WE, WE KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE THAT MESS WITH THE OTHER STUFF, BUT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, IT'S THE WATER. IT'S THEIR WATER BILL OR MAYBE THE TRASH. BUT, SO, UM, KUDOS TO WHOEVER, TO DANIELLE OUT THERE IN WATER BILLING. THANKS FOR BEING SO NICE. AND ANOTHER THING THAT WE REPORTED LAST WEEK, ONE OF MY STAFFERS REPORTED A LIGHT OUT, LIKE WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO LUNCH, BY THE TIME SHE CAME BACK FROM LUNCH, THE LIGHT WAS FIXED. SO WE'RE GETTING STUFF DONE HERE AT CITY HALL. SO THANKS TO ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING SO HARD ON THESE ISSUES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. SO, SO VERY, VERY MUCH. AND WE STAND, ADJOURN. ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF CATHERINE. CATHERINE MCGOVERN. MCGOVERN MCGOVERN. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.