* 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.
          [PRESENTATIONS]
          [00:00:05]
          COUNCIL WILL, UH, COME TO ORDER. 
          PLEASE, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MIKE NICHOLS IN HONOR OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME. 
          HI, MIKE . 
          OH, COME JOIN. 
          I AM GONNA WAIT FOR THE MAYOR TO COME DOWN AND, UH, I'M GONNA TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS ONE WITHOUT, UH, TEARING UP TOO MUCH. 
          BUT, UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW COLLEAGUES, MIKE NICHOLS. 
          UM, FOR ME, THIS IS VERY PERSONAL. 
          I'LL GET TO MIKE'S LEADERSHIP WITH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS IN JUST A MOMENT. 
          UH, BUT MIKE, TO SO MANY OF IS KNOWN, NOT JUST FOR YOUR LOVE MIKE, AND YOUR GENEROSITY AND YOUR HEART, BUT YOUR INTEGRITY, UM, AND YOUR CALIBER OF SPIRIT IN HELPING AND SERVING WHEREVER YOU CAN. 
          YOU'RE THE ULTIMATE FAMILY MAN. 
          AND BY THAT I MEAN HE SURROUNDS HIM HIMSELF WITH VERY STRONG WOMEN. 
          UH, HIS WIFE, MARSHA, HIS KIDS, ALL OF THEM ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, NOT JUST LOCALLY, BUT I WOULD BE AS BOLD TO SAY AS GLOBALLY. 
          AND THAT IN PART IS BECAUSE OF YOU AND MARSHA. 
          UM, AND WHAT YOU ARE COMMITTED TO IN THIS WORLD, YOU ALWAYS, ALWAYS GIVE BACK. 
          UH, IN ADDITION TO HEADING UP THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, UH, MIKE WAS FORMALLY THE INTERIM. 
          CEO AT THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST, AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIRST MET. 
          UH, AND YOU ALSO SERVE WITH YOUR CONGREGATION AT BETH ISRAEL AND A JC AMONG MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS. 
          SO THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP ALONG WITH THE BOARD, UH, AT THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, MAYOR UNDER YOU, MARK EICHENBAUM, AND I WILL SAY THE LEGACY FROM ANISE PARKER AND MAYOR TURNER. 
          AND AGAIN, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU ARE CARRYING THAT LEGACY FORWARD AND CHAMPIONING IT IN A NEW AND BOLD WAY THAN EVER IMAGINED. 
          UM, WHETHER IT'S THE CANVAS, THE HOMELESS COUNT THAT WE DID LAST WEEK, I WAS JUST TALKING TO STAFF ABOUT THAT. 
          BUT DURING THE LAST DECADE HERE IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE MOVED OVER 25,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE DIRECTLY INTO HOUSING. 
          AND I WILL SAY AT THE OUTSET, HOUSING FIRST MODELS WORK. 
          THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THOSE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS, OVER 85%, HAVE REMAINED HOUSED OVER TWO YEARS. 
          WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY OVER A DECADE AGO, FOR EXAMPLE, HOMELESS VETERANS, UH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE CATEGORIES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRACKS WAITED OVER 720 DAYS AND HAD TO NAVIGATE 76 BUREAUCRATIC STEPS TO GET FROM THE STREET INTO PERMANENT HOUSING WITH SUPPORT FROM SOCIAL SERVICE COUNSELORS. 
          TODAY, THAT STREAMLINED PROCESS MEANS THE WAIT FOR HOUSING IS 32 DAYS. 
          SO A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEEMED HOMELESS HERE IN THE HOUSTON REGION HAS BEEN CUT BY 63% SINCE 2011. 
          AND EVEN BY MORE MODERN MODEST METRICS, UH, FROM THE A 2020 FEDERAL REPORT, HOUSTON DID MORE THAN TWICE AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AT REDUCING HOMELESSNESS OVER THE PREVIOUS DECADE. 
          AND I SAY THIS, UH, WITH ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD, THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT MIKE NICHOLS, THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND THE WAY HOME, WHICH IS HOUSTON'S REGIONAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE, HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND IS COORDINATED BY THE COALITION, UH, SERVES THOUSANDS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, ABOUT 3,200 PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS. 
          AND THAT'S ACROSS HARRIS, FORT BEND AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES. 
          AND WE ARE AGAIN, TACKLING THAT HEAD ON WITH HOUSING FIRST MODELS. 
          AND MIKE, YOU CAME IN, UH, YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR. 
          AND LIKE MANY OF US IN OUR FIRST TERMS, THE PANDEMIC HIT. 
          UH, I KNOW THAT THE, WITH THE COUNTY'S HELP AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE COMMITTED $57 MILLION TO THE COMMUNITY COVID HOUSING PROGRAM TO HOUSE 5,000 PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS AND MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. 
          OUR REPUTATION AS A LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS, UH, IS INDICATIVE BY THE FACT THAT MAYORS AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE ACTUALLY COMING TO HOUSTON TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE 
          [00:05:01]
ARE DOING. 
          MIKE, YOU ONCE SAID, UH, AND I THINK YOU DID A PIECE, UH, ABOUT WHY HOUSTON IS SO GREAT. 
          YOU DID A PERSONAL, I THINK IT WAS LIKE AN OP-ED AND WHAT YOU, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON THAT MAKES US SO GREAT. 
          YOU SAID, WE HAVE EACH OTHER, WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE, WE HAVE GREAT FRIENDS, BUT MIKE, YOU'RE THE EPITOME OF THAT. 
          SO FOR ALL YOU DO, UH, YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE NOT RETIRING, YOU'RE REWIRING. 
          I LIKE THAT. 
          'CAUSE THERE'S NO WAY, UH, THAT YOU GO OFF QUIETLY, UH, ANYWHERE. 
          BUT I CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          AND WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION. 
          CAN I, CAN I SAY IT WORK IF YOU WANT TO BEFOREHAND? YES, SIR. 
          YEAH. 
          BEFORE WE DO THE, UH, PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS AND EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE APPRECIATES, UH, YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE MEMBERS. 
          IF YOU GOOGLE PUBLIC SERVANT, THERE'S A PICTURE OF MIKE THERE BECAUSE HE HAS SUCH A HISTORY OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND MOST FOLKS DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU SERVED A LITTLE TIME IN THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE MM-HMM . 
          UM, SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS GO THROUGH AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. 
          I MET YOU FIRST WHEN YOU WERE WORKING ON PENSION MATTERS. 
          YES, SIR. 
          FOR BILL WHITE. 
          YOU'RE SUCH A UNIFIER, AND YOU DEMONSTRATED THAT BY BRINGING US TOGETHER FOR PENSION REFORM. 
          BUT OF COURSE, YOU'RE WELL KNOWN AND RECOGNIZED PROPERLY FOR YOUR HOMELESS COALITION. 
          AGAIN, UNITING PEOPLE. 
          THE MODEL THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS THE MODEL THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY USE ON OTHER, UH, COMMON GROUND. 
          SO I'M EXCITED, UM, FORTUNATE TO BE MAYOR, TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCLAMATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PAYMAN, UH, YOU'RE REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. 
          SO, AND, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP YOUR PHONE ON THAT. 
          I, I'VE GOT, I NEED YOU TO KEEP YOUR PHONE ON 'CAUSE WE WILL BE CALLING YOU AND CERTAINLY TO YOUR FAMILY. 
          MARSHA. 
          I'M CERTAIN SHE'S NOT HERE, SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT, UH, IS, WE ALL KNOW THE FAMILY PLACES THEM IN A VERY CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOUR FAMILY, YOUR WIFE, WHO'S GOT HER OWN PUBLIC SERVICE INITIATIVE. 
          SO THANK YOU AND I'M EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE. 
          AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PUBLIC SERVICE LEFT IN YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, I'LL READ THIS PROCLAMATION THEN, MIKE, WITH YOUR COMMENTS. 
          IF YOU WANNA INVITE, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU THAT WE'D LOVE TO KNOW AND, UH, HEAR THEIR, HEAR WHO THEY ARE, WHEREAS IT IS WITH DEEP APPRECIATION THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RETIREMENT OF MICHAEL C. NICHOLS. 
          AFTER FIVE YEARS OF LEADERSHIP AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, MIKE WAS ASKED TO TAKE THE HELM OF THE COALITION AT A TIME WHEN THE ORGANIZATION FACED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. 
          HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE ORGANIZATION BACK ON TRACK FINANCIALLY AND REPAIR CRUCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNERS AND FUNDERS. 
          MIKE FOUND OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE CRISIS OF THE PANDEMIC AND HELPED DEVISE AND IMPLEMENT A STRATEGY TO USE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF DOLLARS TO PLACE RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS INTO HOUSING WITH SUPPORT SERVICES DURING HIS TENURE AT THE COALITION, THE PARTNERS OF THE WAY HOME HOUSE, MORE THAN 14,000 PEOPLE, THEREBY REESTABLISHING HOUSTON'S REPUTATION AS A LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS IS DEMONSTRATED BY NOTABLY TWO NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLES AND COUNTLESS VISITS FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. 
          MIKE AND HIS WIFE MARSHA, MOVED TO HOUSTON IN 1981, RAISED FOUR CHILDREN HERE AND CONSIDER THEMSELVES, AND WE ALL KNOW OUR TRUE HOUSTONIANS AND COMMITTED TEXANS. 
          FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CAREER AT CISCO AND G SUPPLY MIKE NICHOL, MIKE NICHOLS FIRST CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT TO SERVE AS INTERIM CEO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, WHERE HE HELPED ADVANCE THE BAYOU GREENWAYS INITIATIVE TO BUILD, HIKE, AND BIKE TRAILS ALONG HOUSTON'S UNDERUTILIZED AND UNDERAPPRECIATED WATERWAYS. 
          MIKE HAS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH HIS CAREER THAT GOVERNMENT CAN INDEED BE A FORCE FOR PROGRESS AND FOR GOOD. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS AND CELEBRATES THE INCREDIBLE AND OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF MICHAEL C. NICHOLS AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. 
          AND AS A HOUSTON CITIZEN, WE APPLAUD HIM AS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN ALTRUISM AND WHO NEVER STOPS WORKING TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER. 
          THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 30TH, 2024, IS MICHAEL C. NICHOLS STATE. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          IF I, IF I CAN SAY JUST A FEW WORDS, UM, FIRST I HAVE, FIRST I HAVE SOME THANK 
          [00:10:01]
YOUS. 
          UM, THIS IS A JOB THAT REALLY, UM, IS A JOB THAT SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE BUILT COLLABORATION. 
          UM, I AM NOT THE EXPERT ON HOMELESSNESS AT ALL. 
          UM, BUT IF YOU BUILD THE RIGHT TEAM, GREAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN. 
          AND SO FIRST I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR CHAIRMAN, TROY TAYLOR, CHRIS THOMAS, AND, AND, UH, REDDICK EDWARDS, ANYBODY ELSE, UM, WHO ARE HERE, KIND OF RAISE THEIR HANDS, UH, WITHOUT A GREAT BOARD. 
          UH, 5 0 1 C THREES DON'T WORK. 
          UM, SECOND, THE STAFF AT THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS WHO ARE HERE, UM, MARK MEYER CABRON, UH, SUSAN, KATHY, CATHERINE, AND A NEW MEMBER MEGAN, UH, REPRESENT THE, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE HERE. 
          I JUST WANNA SAY MY REPLACEMENT. 
          KELLY YOUNG IS AN OUTSTANDING WOMAN, STRONG, THOUGHTFUL, AND EXPERT IN HOMELESSNESS, AND THAT'S A REALLY GREAT THING. 
          UH, THIS IS NOT JUST THE COALITION AND THE BOARD, THOUGH, UM, THE FOLKS SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE HERE, THE CITY COUNCIL AND, AND THE MAYORS HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE, UM, POLITICAL WILL. 
          WHEN WE TALK TO OTHER CITIES AND ANCHORAGE AND, AND NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES AND CHICAGO, UM, DENVER POLITICAL WILL IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN THIS AREA. 
          AND THE CITY COUNCIL DONE GREAT JOB ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH THE MAYOR. 
          UH, SECOND, UM, Y'ALL HAVE GREAT PEOPLE HERE IN THE DEPARTMENTS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. 
          THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, UM, ANDY ENSS AREA, UM, THERE'S NOBODY WHO'S BEEN A BETTER FRIEND AND PARTNER THAN MARK EICHENBAUM, WHO'S THE LIAISON TO THE MAYOR ON HOMELESSNESS. 
          UM, THESE ARE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK TOGETHER. 
          AND THEN ABBY, ME, UH, COUNCILWOMAN CA AND MENTIONED THAT THE WORK WITH THE COUNTY. 
          I DO THINK, I DO THINK HOMELESSNESS IS A GREAT MODEL FOR THIS COUNTY, CITY COLLABORATION, LEARNING HOW TO FUND TOGETHER, LEARNING HOW TO PARTNER. 
          IT TAKES HUGE AMOUNTS OF WORK. 
          UM, IT'S A VERY, VERY COMPLEX, BUT IT'S SO, SO IMPORTANT. 
          UH, THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, AN IMPORTANT PARTNER THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT. 
          AND THEN THERE ARE THE STAFFS OF THE HUNDRED NONPROFITS WHO DO, WHO ARE THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO REALLY DO THE WORK DAY IN, DAY OUT. 
          I'M JUST A REPRESENTATIVE SPOKESMAN FOR THESE GROUPS. 
          SO I'M EXCITED FOR A COUPLE REASONS. 
          FIRST, AS COUNCILMAN CAME AND SAID, HOW MANY FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ARE HOUSED? AND TONIGHT, TONIGHT THERE ARE ABOUT 9,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMERLY HOMELESS, WHO ARE HOUSED WITH A LOCK AND A KEY AND AN AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND SUBSIDY FOR THE RENT. 
          AND THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL. 
          85% OF THOSE TO 90% ARE SUCCESSFUL TO, TO STAY OUT OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. 
          SECOND, I'M PROUD, AND THIS IS, AGAIN, I JUST BEEN THE BENEFICIARY OF IT, OF HOUSTON BEING THE NATIONAL MODEL FOR THIS. 
          AND AGAIN, FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE COMING TO SEE US, LOOK AT US, LEARN FROM US, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL. 
          AND I KEEP SAYING THE SAME THING. 
          IT'S THE PEOPLE, IT'S THE COLLABORATION. 
          UM, I LAUGHED BECAUSE I THINK OF ALL THE WORK I DID, I GOT MORE COMPLIMENTS THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES SAID SOMETHING NICE ABOUT HOUSTON. 
          UM, SO WE, WE'LL TAKE THAT, BUT THAT'S THE LEAST IMPORTANT. 
          UM, THIRDLY, UM, COUNCILWOMAN CAME AND MENTIONED THE WORKS ON THE PARKS BOARD, AND THAT'S WHERE I BEGAN THINKING ABOUT THIS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHEN PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY CAN WORK WITH PUBLIC FUNDS TO DO PUBLIC GOOD. 
          AND THAT'S UNIQUE IN HOUSTON TOO, AND WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME, BUT IT'S UNIQUE IN HOUSTON, AND I HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THAT. 
          AND FINALLY, FOURTH, UM, I DO BELIEVE IN GOOD GOVERNMENT. 
          UM, I WAS RAISED IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, AND I SAW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN BAD GOVERNMENT PREVAILED BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES DIDN'T WORK TOGETHER. 
          AND, UM, HOUSTON IS NOT THAT. 
          WE ARE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT WITH THE BEST EXAMPLE OF SPENDING MONEY WISELY. 
          AND I SEE GREAT THINGS FOR HOUSTON, GREAT THINGS FOR THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, AND I'M JUST INDEBTED TO BE HERE TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS. 
          DO YOU WANNA, WE, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q UH, MIKE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          UH, YOU DEFINITELY, UH, DESERVE THIS RECOGNITION TODAY. 
          TROY, GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          THE ENTIRE BOARD COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THANK, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. 
          UH, IT HAS BEEN, UM, A LABOR OF LOVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          ALL OF US ARE REALLY WORKING TOWARDS, UH, ERADICATING 
          [00:15:01]
HOMELESSNESS. 
          UM, MOST PEOPLE ARE ONE OR TWO PAYCHECKS AWAY FROM POTENTIALLY BEING HOMELESS. 
          THAT'S GOOD. 
          AND SO THIS WORK IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN IS IN THE QUEUE AND SHE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU TOO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, MIKE NICHOLS. 
          IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU. 
          IT'S ALL BEEN SAID. 
          YOU DID A REMARKABLE JOB. 
          UH, TREATING HOMELESS. 
          THE HOMELESS ISSUE AS A SYSTEM, LIKE THE COALITION LEADS HAS REALLY BEEN SUCH A SUCCESS STORY. 
          UM, ONE THAT WE'LL KEEP GOING, UM, BUT I REALLY GOT TO KNOW MIKE, YOU GUYS ON, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ANYBODY REMEMBERS THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE. 
          UM, HE CHAIRED THIS GROUP UNDER, UH, DENISE PARKERS WHEN DENISE PARKER WAS MAYOR. 
          AND WE SAT IN THAT, UH, THAT SIX 11 WALKER RUMOR AND, AND HAMMERED DOWN ALL THE ISSUES FROM PENSIONS TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. 
          HE IS WELL VERSED IN THE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT THE CITY FACES, AND MANY OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT, UM, MIKE, HAVE, HAVE BEEN DONE AND MANY WERE STILL WORKING ON. 
          BUT THAT WAS REALLY GOOD WORK AND, AND, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR LONG SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. 
          I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA BRING UP WHEN YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAD PROBLEMS WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE. 
          WE SAT AND VISITED IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO. 
          AND, AND IT WAS, IT'S, IT WAS A GREAT MEETING. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          WELL, MIKE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN SAT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TABLE AND HAD SOME REALLY HARD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO GET THINGS CLEANED UP AND TAKEN CARE OF, AND HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR YOU AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY. 
          AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT, BUT I'M JUST GONNA WARN YOU, SOMETIMES RETIREMENT DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG. 
           COUNCILWOMAN CARTER, I, SHE MENTIONED TODAY THAT I WAS IN A MEETING. 
          I SAID ONE DAY, I HOPE WE SIT ACROSS FROM THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT A JOB WE'RE DOING IN HOUSTON ON HOMELESSNESS. 
          AND EVEN TODAY, EVEN TODAY, I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO CONTINUE. 
          THE WORK IS NOT DONE. 
          UM, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT WORK. 
          AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAIN THING, JUST TO CONTINUE. 
          SO ONE DAY, THAT'S WHAT STILL WILL HAPPEN. 
          COUNCILWOMAN CARTER, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET SOME PICTURES. 
          I LOVE YOU. 
          CHAIR 
          [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR THE INVITATION. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. 
          MAY WE PLEASE BOW OUR HEADS FOR A WORD OF PRAYER. 
          FATHER GOD, FIRST I WANNA START BY JUST SAYING THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR WAKING US UP TO SEE ANOTHER DAY. 
          THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A REASONABLE PORTION OF HEALTH AND STRENGTH. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE RECEIVED AND THE BLESSINGS THAT WE WILL RECEIVE TODAY. 
          FATHER GOD, I ASK YOU TO BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD, FROM GAZA TO SUDAN, FROM ISRAEL TO UKRAINE. 
          BRING CALM, BRING LOVE, BRING UNDERSTANDING. 
          AND HERE IN HOUSTON, LORD, FROM SUNNYSIDE TO WEST CHASE, FROM THE EAST END TO SHARPSTOWN, FROM MEMORIAL TO ACRES HOMES, FROM RIVER OAKS TO INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. 
          WE ASK YOU THAT YOU BRING LOVE, BRING COMPASSION FOR OTHERS, BRING A UNITY THAT MAKES US STRONGER TOGETHER. 
          WE GLORIFY YOU, LORD, IN ALL WE DO. 
          AND I KNOW PRAYER IS STILL THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL THAT WE HAVE. 
          [00:20:01]
AND I BELIEVE IN PRAYER AS I BELIEVE IN YOU. 
          AND SO I ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER THIS MEETING AND HAVE US GOVERN WITH YOUR WILL AND MIND WITH RESPECT TO ALL FAITHS AND RELIGIONS. 
          BUT IN JESUS'S NAME I PRAY, AMEN. 
          AMEN. 
          AMEN. 
          WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE PANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC INDIVISIBLE. 
          NEXT, UH, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE 
          [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
ROLL, MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL JACKSON HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHABA. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT. 
          CONSTABLE PLUMMER AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. 
          HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF, UH, ONE SECOND PLEASE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? WAIT, WE DON'T KNOW MOTION YET. 
          I DUNNO. 
          MADAM, WE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. 
          MOVE TO DELAY. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION IS MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ANY OPPOSED? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES. 
          OKAY. 
          PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. 
          UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZED CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I HAVE TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS. 
          I'LL READ THE FIRST ONE. 
          UH, FIRST, UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE J IN THIS ORDER. 
          JASON, BOTH MARK FAIRCHILD, STACEY FAIRCHILD, MEDI RES, AND KEVIN STRICKLAND. 
          AFTER JANICE CHRIST IN THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA ON A SECOND, I'M GROUPING DISTRICT C ON SPECIFIC ISSUES TOGETHER. 
          DO YOU NEED ME TO REPEAT IT? MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, I HAVE A SECOND MOTION. 
          YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD LINDSEY ALDRIDGE TO THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST TO SPEAK AFTER KEVIN STRICKLAND. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          NEXT CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I MOVE TO, UM, SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE DOUG SMITH TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. 
          MOTION MADE AND SECOND. 
          ALL OPPOSED? ALL IN FAVOR. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN IS ANY OKAY. 
          THOMAS. 
          ONE MOTION I MOVE TO ADD TOMMY TAMMY ALVAREZ UNDER POSO. 
          AMI FOR THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA. 
          MEMBERS NEED A SECOND. 
          NEED A SECOND MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          JACKSON HAS ONE. 
          COUNCILMAN JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE HUEY WILSON AND FRED WOODS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA FOR THREE MINUTES. 
          THREE MINUTES FOR THREE MINUTES AFFIDAVIT. 
          DOUG SMITH. 
          THANK YES. 
          AFTER DOUG SMITH, HUEY WILSON AND HUEY GERMAN WILSON. 
          YEAH. 
          AND, UM, FRED WOODS. 
          SECOND. 
          SECOND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          MADAM 
          [PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER JOANNE CR TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICARDO RODRIGUEZ. 
          I GO AFTER THE THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO SPEAKING, UH, TO THIS ISSUE. 
          WAS THAT POSSIBLE? AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. 
          THANK YOU, . 
          SO WE NEED 
          [00:25:01]
A MOTION TO MOVE HER. 
          WE NEED A SECOND. 
          SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION. 
          I MOVE WHAT SHE SAID. 
          MOVE TO ACCEPT THE REQUEST. 
          THAT SECOND. 
          WHAT? SHE SAID SECOND. 
          SO SHE'S GONNA GO SECOND AFTER. 
          OKAY. 
          WE HAVE A SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          AYE. 
          HAVE IT. 
          RICARDO RODRIGUEZ. 
          BE FOLLOWED BY JACK NIAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ESTEEMED, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER WHOSE PARCEL WAS INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL PETITION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 21, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE SETTING A MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR PORTIONS OF RIVERSIDE TERRACE SUBDIVISIONS. 
          MY NAME IS RICO RODRIGUEZ. 
          I'M A PROFESSIONAL CIVIL ENGINEER WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE CITY'S CHAPTER 42 CODE OF ORDINANCES. 
          THIS MATTER WAS CONSIDERED AT A PLANNING, PUBLIC PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC MEETING ON AUGUST 24TH. 
          THE PROPERTY OWNER'S TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS PRESENTED EVIDENCE WHY HIS PROPERTY DID NOT MEET THE CITY CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION IN THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE RESTRICTION AND REQUESTED REMOVAL FROM THE PROPOSED RESTRICTION. 
          THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT THE PROPERTY SHOULD BE REMOVED AND VOTED TO RECOMMEND REMOVAL OF THE PARCEL FROM THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY. 
          I'M HERE TO COMMEND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AND TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THEIR UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION. 
          TO REMOVE THE PARCEL FROM THE AREA, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ACCEPT THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS AMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NO SPEAKERS. 
          NEXT, JACK, JACK NIAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID MEDINA, ESTEEM MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY WITH OVER 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORK AT THE LAW FIRM OF CHAMBERLAIN, HER LUKA, AND I'M BE HEARING APPEARING ON BEHALF OF STELLAR MANAGEMENT, LLC, THE OWNER OF 46 28 ROSA DRIVE, LOCATED IN THE 4,600 BLOCK OF ROSA DRIVE. 
          UM, MR. MCCREE, THE PRINCIPAL OF STELLAR MANAGEMENT, LLC IS HERE AND LIKE TO SPEAK. 
          UH, CHIEF JUSTICE DAVID MEDINA CANNOT BE HERE. 
          AND I'D ASK HER MOTION THAT, UH, MR. MERE CAN, UH, SPEAK, UH, DURING MR. MEDINA'S TIME, ONE FOR DAVID MEDINA. 
          IS THERE A MOTION? WHAT IS HE ASKING TO DO? SPEAK IN PLACE OF DAVID MEDINA. 
          WHO WAS IT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK IN PLACE OF? UM, VICTOR MCCREE. 
          HE'S THE PRINCIPAL OF STELLAR MANAGEMENT. 
          LLC VICTOR MCCREE INSTEAD OF MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, WITH RESPECT TO AGENDA ITEM 21, THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PORTIONS OF RIVERSIDE TERRACE SUBDIVISIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE AREA. 
          WE REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE AND ADOPT THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF A MODIFIED BOUNDARY, WHICH REMOVES THE 4,600 BLOCK OF ROSEN'S DRIVE FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BOUNDARY. 
          AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S AUGUST 24TH MEETING, ALL INTERESTED PERSONS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR CASE PRESENT THEIR ARGUMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. 
          AND AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOUND THAT THE 4,600 BLOCK LOCATED ON THE FRINGE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON CALHOUN BOULEVARD STICKS, STICKS OUT FROM THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          IT IS A MULTI-TENANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THE OTHER PROPERTIES LOCATED ON THE CALHOUN BOULEVARD AND ITS INCLUSION, BUT VIOLATE ORDINANCE SECTION 42 DASH 2 0 4. 
          UM, TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT OPPOSING, UH, WHAT THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED WE ARE FOR IT AND WE ASK THAT THE COUNCIL FOLLOW IT. 
          UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, OH, HERE COMES MARK VICTOR MCC, VICTOR MCCREE. 
          HOLD ON A SECOND AFTERNOON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, I'M THE OWNER OF THE, UH, PROPERTY THAT WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE MINIMUM LAW RESTRICTION, UM, UH, THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION PASSED. 
          UH, AND I'M OKAY WITH, UH, UH, RESPONDING AFTER MS. CRAWL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. 
          I THINK THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY BE THE BEST ORDER, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE COUNCIL. 
          [00:30:01]
I GUESS I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SPEAK AFTER MS. CRAWL IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. 
          HE WANTS TO SPEAK AFTER. 
          WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND OKAY. 
          AND DO IT NOW. 
          ALRIGHT, SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 21, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE SETTING A MINIMUM WATCH, EXCUSE ME, TRY TO SPEAK INTO THAT MICRO. 
          OKAY. 
          SORRY, I, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF VOICE PROBLEM TODAY. 
          OKAY. 
          I'M HERE TO SPEAK REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 21, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE SETTING A MINIMUM LOT SIZE AREA PROPORTIONS OF RIVERSIDE TERRA SUBDIVISION. 
          I'M THE OWNER OF THE STELLAR MANAGEMENT LLC, WHICH OWNS 46 28 ROSENE, WHICH WAS REMOVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION FROM THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY. 
          I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO URGE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS AMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. 
          THIS PROPERTY, AS MR. GERIAN POINTED OUT, IS MULTI-UNIT AND MULTI-TENANT. 
          WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST AN AVERAGE OF FIVE TENANTS AT A TIME OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. 
          AND THE PROPERTY IS OPERATED FOR THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME UNDER THE BUSINESS NAME OF STELLA VICTORIA. 
          COMPLETE WITH OUTDOOR SIGNAGE. 
          OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS THAT MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY, THERE HAS BEEN A CAR LEASING COMPANY, A FOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, AND PACKAGING PLANT, NURSERY AND SALES, A LOCKSMITH, CARPENTRY AND HANDYMAN BUSINESS. 
          AND MY FATHER'S ART STUDIO, WHO HIMSELF PRODUCED OVER 130 PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES. 
          THERE'S CURRENTLY A FURNITURE SHOP TENANT IN THE THIRD STRUCTURE. 
          MY NEIGHBOR ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH IS MOSTLY AN EMPTY ONE ACRE FIELD AND OPERATES AND HE OPERATES AT LEAST THREE RENTAL UNITS. 
          AND HIS ADJACENT NEIGHBOR IS A FOUR STORY SELF-STORAGE BUSINESS THAT IS SO CLOSE THAT IT SIGN ILLUMINATES MY PROPERTY AT NIGHT. 
          UH, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY FLOODING TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE AREA, NOT EVEN DURING HARVEY OR ANY OTHER HURRICANE. 
          IT'S RATHER HIGH. 
          THERE'S NO NO ISSUES THERE. 
          I THEREFORE URGE THE COUNSEL TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION AND TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS AMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITHOUT ANY CHANGES. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND CROW, I'M SORRY MA'AM. 
          ONE AT A TIME PLEASE. 
          JUST HERE TO SUPPORT. 
          I DON'T BLAME YOU, BUT  ONE AT A TIME. 
          MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL MEMBERS, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE, UH, TIME THAT WAS TAKEN BEFORE THE THREE SPEAKERS. 
          IT WAS ACCEPTED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THOSE PROPERTIES WOULD BE EXEMPTED. 
          THERE'S NO QUESTION HERE TO, WE AREN'T ASKING THEM TO COME BACK IN. 
          THEY HAVE HAD THEIR SAY. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. 
          SO GIVEN THAT I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 21 ON THIS WEEK'S AGENDA, APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PORTIONS OF RIVERSIDE TERRACE SUBDIVISIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE AREA. 
          PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, WE CONSIDERED THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR WEST MCGREGOR. 
          I WAS CAUTIONED THAT INCLUDING SO MANY PROPERTIES, 272 IN THE APPLICATION WOULD REQUIRE MORE WORK. 
          BUT BELIEVING THAT EVERYONE'S TIME IS VALUABLE, WE DECIDED TO RECRUIT A TEAM AND PRESS ON. 
          ONCE THE APPLICATION WAS ACCEPTED AND THE LETTERS WERE SENT, THE REAL WORK BEGAN. 
          WE SOON LEARNED THAT OWNERS DID NOT RECEIVE OR COULD NOT FIND THEIR LETTERS FROM THE CITY. 
          SO WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR TO LET THEM KNOW HOW TO REQUEST A PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSE FORM. 
          THANKS TO THE TEAM'S PERSISTENCE, WE WERE ABLE TO EXCEED THE REQUIRED 55% APPROVAL OF THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE. 
          AND IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, WE RECEIVED THE APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. 
          WE ARE HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW HOW STRONGLY WE SUPPORT IMPLEMENTING A MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAINTAIN EXISTING HERITAGE OF THIS AREA, AREA FOR OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS. 
          AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY REASONS FOR PROTECTING THE WEST MCGREGOR PORTION OF RIVERSIDE TERRACE. 
          THIS COMMUNITY SOUTH OF BRA BAYOU BETWEEN SCOTT STREET AND MCGREGOR PARK WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 1930S AND FORTIES. 
          IT IS DEED RESTRICTED AND UM, TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON LOTS LARGER THAN THE MAJORITY OF CITY LOTS IN HOUSTON. 
          AS A RESULT, THE LOTS HAVE BECOME VALUABLE TO DEVELOPERS AND INVEST INVESTORS TO REPLANT TO SMALLER LOTS WITH TOWN HOMES. 
          BECAUSE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CREATED IN THE 19 HUNDREDS, ADDITIONAL HOMESTEADS WOULD PUT A STRAIN ON THE EXISTING FACILITIES SUCH AS SEWER AND DRAINAGE. 
          WITH THE PROXIMITY OF THE PROPERTIES TO BRACE BAYOU 
          [00:35:01]
AND THE FLOODING THAT WE EXPERIENCED WITH HURRICANE HARVEY, WE BELIEVED THAT ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENT, IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE WOULD FURTHER IMPACT DRAINAGE DURING FLOODING EVENTS. 
          IT IS BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO APPLY FOR MINIMUM LOT SIZE, NOT ONLY TO PROTECT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND MITIGATE FUTURE FLOODING. 
          YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THEY COME UP. 
          COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU, COUNSEL. 
          HOLD ON, MS. GROVE. 
          UH, YOU CAN HAVE SOME OF MY TIME. 
          I DO HAVE A COMMENT AFTER YOU COMPLETE IT. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          UM, SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE PROPERTY AT 53 26 CALHOUN, WHICH WAS REPLANTED BY THE CITY INTO 17 LOTS. 
          UH, WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF THIS REPLANTING. 
          OUR FIRST INDICATION OF THIS REPLANT WAS THE REMOVAL OF ALL TREES ON THAT LOT. 
          THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE DESIGNATION IS THEREFORE THE ONLY OPTION TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM OVERDEVELOPMENT OF THIS KIND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. 
          YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN REALLY, REALLY ADAMANT ABOUT MINIMUM LOCK SIZES AND DEED RESTRICTIONS. 
          ARE YOU SAYING NOW THAT YOU AGREE WITH THEM REMOVING THOSE PROPERTIES? UM, IT IS AN AREA THAT WAS QUESTIONED AS SOON AS WE INCLUDED THEM, WE INCLUDED THEM TO GET THAT BLOCK FACE. 
          AND, AND I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED. 
          IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THEM, WE LOST ANOTHER PROPERTY. 
          WE AGREED THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO FIGHT THAT BECAUSE WE HAD 270 OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE WANTED TO PROTECT. 
          OKAY. 
          'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO, I WAS PREPARED TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PETITION, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT NOW YOU WANT IT AS IT IS PRESENTED. 
          WE'D RATHER HAVE THE COUNCIL JUST MAKE A DECISION ON THE OTHER LOTS. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT THERE NERI TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROSINA COWRA. 
          HELLO. 
          UM, I'M ONE OF THE NURSES REPRESENTING HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOR PALESTINE'S HOUSTON CHAPTER, A COLLECTIVE OF OVER 200 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          IN OUR LINE OF WORK, WE'RE TAUGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE FROM. 
          IT'S WITH THE SPIRIT THAT WE URGE THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE A STATEMENT CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. 
          AS HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WE NOT, WE CANNOT STAND IDLY BY AS OUR OFFICIALS ENDORSE AND FUND ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS, ESPECIALLY WHILE OUR OWN PEOPLE RIGHT HERE AT HOME ARE STRUGGLING. 
          IT'S DISHEARTENING THAT WHILE WE AS A CITY AND AS HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING THE PANDEMIC NOW HESITATE TO CONDEMN THE DETENTION AND KILLINGS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND PEOPLE IN GAZA, A COUNCIL THAT GENUINELY STANDS WITH HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND PATIENTS MUST CALL FOR AN END TO ISRAEL'S VIOLENCE. 
          OUR CITY'S VOICE CAN ADD WEIGHT TO THESE CALLS. 
          THE ENTIRE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION WILL REMEMBER YOUR SILENCE. 
          I WANT TO END WITH THE LAST WORDS OF DR. 
          HAMAM ALO, A RENOWNED PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGIST IN GAZA WHO SAID THIS JUST DAYS BEFORE BEING TRAGICALLY MURDERED BY AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE. 
          IF I GO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY PATIENTS? THANK YOU. 
          SINA CARRA BE FOLLOWED BY MARIO VIAL AFTERNOON. 
          I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE CITIZENS EXPECT THEIR CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP. 
          UM, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE CITIZENS EXPECT THEIR CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AS HIGHER UPS WHO HAVE THE POWER TO ENACT ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS AND USE ITS GOVERNMENTAL POWER FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. 
          I'M WONDERING WHY HOUSTON HAS NOT JOINED MANY OTHER CITIES IN A GAZA CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. 
          THERE IS NOT ONE REASON THAT COULD JUSTIFY THE WAR CRIMES OUR GOVERNMENT IS PAYING TO HAVE CARRIED OUT. 
          AND FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR YOUR REPRESENTATION, ASKING FOR YOUR HUMANITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MARIO VIEL. 
          MARIO VIEL IS NOT PRESENT. 
          DOUG SMITH TO BE FOLLOWED BY HUEY WILSON. 
          PLEASE MOVE FOR THE NEW MEMBERS OF THIS HORSESHOE. 
          MY NAME IS DOUG 
          [00:40:01]
SMITH AND BECAUSE I REGULARLY ATTEND MEETINGS AT CITY HALL, SOME PEOPLE HAVE CALLED ME A WATCHDOG. 
          I HAVE AN MBA DEGREE AND I ALSO HAVE RUN THE DESIGNATION AS A CERTIFIED GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER, WHICH IS LIKE A CPA FOR GOVERNMENT FINANCE PROFESSIONALS. 
          IT MEANS I UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND HOPEFULLY MY EXPERIENCE CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND A PROCESS THAT AT TIMES CAN BE VERY OPAQUE. 
          WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE CITY AND THE CHRONICLE, I URGE YOU TO DO SO WITH A CRITICAL EYE BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WHAT THEY PRINT IS INCORRECT. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A REVENUE CAP. 
          DURING THE EIGHT YEARS OF THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, THE TWO MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUE, PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES INCREASED BY NEARLY $500 MILLION. 
          THE CITY HAS A PROPERTY TAX RATE CAP AND I STRESS RATE CAP. 
          AND EVEN WITH THAT CAP, PROPERTY TAXES ARE BUDGETED TO INCREASE $89 MILLION IN THE CURRENT BUDGET. 
          WHEN YOU'RE REVIEWING DEPARTMENT BUDGETS, PLEASE DON'T SAY WE NEED TO SPEND MORE MONEY BECAUSE OF INCREASED POPULATION, THERE'S BEEN NO INCREASE IN THE CITY'S POPULATION DURING THE SEVEN BUDGETS PRESENTED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. 
          FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I ATTENDED NEARLY EVERY ONE OF THE 24 DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARINGS, AND I ALSO REGULARLY ATTEND COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS. 
          MOST OF THE TIME I'M THE ONLY PRIVATE CITIZEN THAT ATTENDS THESE MEETINGS. 
          WHEN I FIRST STARTED ATTENDING, I WAS ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES THAT WERE PRESENTED. 
          MAYOR TURNER CIRCULATED A MEMO TO DEPARTMENT TO COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DIRECTING THAT AFTER DEPARTMENT HEADS ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY SHOULD, IN HIS WORDS, BE ALLOWED TO GO RETURN TO THEIR WORK. 
          I FELT THIS WAS DIRECTED ME SQUIRRELLY SINCE IT MAY, HE MAY NOT HAVE LIKED THE QUESTIONS I WAS ASKING, EVEN THOUGH I ALWAYS DID SO IN A NON-CONFRONTATIONAL MANNER. 
          IT WAS AS IF TO SAY ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS ARE NOT PART OF A DEPARTMENT HEAD'S WORK. 
          IF YOU COULD CHANGE THIS AND GIVE CITIZENS WHO MAKE THE EFFORT TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS, THE ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, I THINK IT WOULD HELP IN FULFILLING YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISE OF INCREASING TRANSPARENCY. 
          I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER REQUEST. 
          CURRENTLY, THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL SITS IN THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          SINCE THIS DEPARTMENT IS THE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AND IT INVESTIGATES OTHER ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENTS, IT IS LIKE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING YOURSELF. 
          I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER MOVING THAT OFFICE TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, WHICH ALREADY CONDUCTS OPERATIONAL AUDITS. 
          I THINK THIS WOULD MOVE TO HELP FULFILL ANOTHER OF YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO IMPROVE ETHICS AT THE CITY. 
          FINALLY, THE MAYOR SEEMED TO BE ON A TEAR DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF HIS TERM, APPOINTING MEMBERS TO TOUR MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARDS, COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND EVEN ENGAGING ATTORNEYS ON A AS NEEDED BASIS. 
          THIS MEANS ALL OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS WILL REFLECT THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION VIEWS RATHER THAN YOURS. 
          AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO SEE IF YOU AGREE WITH THOSE APPOINTMENTS. 
          IF NOT, I THINK YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE OPTION TO REPLACE THEM. 
          SIMILAR TO WHEN MAYOR TURNER REPLACE MEMBERS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD AND FINISH. 
          I'M ALMOST DONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, SIMILAR TO WHEN MAYOR TURNER REPLACED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHEN A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AROSE REGARDING PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION DESIGNATIONS, WHICH BY THE WAY, AFTER THE MEETING THERE LAST WEEK AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, I WOULD URGE YOU TO CONSIDER REPLACING ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE THEY TOOK ANOTHER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS OFF OF THE PROPERTY TAX RULES. 
          IN ANY CASE, I APPRECIATE BEING HERE TODAY. 
          THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HUEY WILSON. 
          WE FOLLOWED BY FRED WOODS. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          I'M HUEY GERMAN WILSON, PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 48 TRINITY HOUSTON GARDENS. 
          AND, UH, MY FIRST TIME BEFORE YOU MAYOR. 
          SO WELCOME TO THE HORSESHOE AND TO THE ALL NEW, ALL THE NEW MEMBERS. 
          UH, I'M HERE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, UH, THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE MY, UH, OTHER CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS CAME BEFORE YOU LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS WARMING CENTERS. 
          AND I FELT COMPELLED TO COME BACK THIS WEEK TO BRING UP THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY DO WE NEED WARMING CENTERS AND COOLING, THAT OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS BE MORE OF A A RESILIENCE CENTER. 
          WE WORKED VERY HARD OVER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE THAT CASHIER GARDENS WAS, WAS A WARMING CENTER AND A RESILIENCE CENTER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE USED IT AS DURING HARVEY. 
          AND WE FOUND THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS ACROSS THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT BEING FULLY UTILIZED BECAUSE THEY'VE NOT BEEN RETROFITTED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. 
          UM, I BRING THAT UP ALSO 
          [00:45:01]
BECAUSE THERE ARE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT THERE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOTTED TO COME INTO COMMUNITIES THAT LOOK LIKE OURS. 
          I'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH VARIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, MY COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON, UM, PROBABLY SALLY ELKHORN, THAT VARIOUS THINGS COULD BE COVERED UNDER THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS. 
          AND WE WANT TO KNOW OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS WANT TO KNOW, NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF THE CITY HAS MADE, UH, OR WILL YOU MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THOSE FUNDS WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES IN MIND AND WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES AT THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN GO AFTER THOSE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS EPA FUNDS. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF ONE ORGANIZATION THAT'S NOT WORKING ON AN EPA CHANGE GRANT OR SOME OF THAT FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE THINGS ESTABLISHED IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND IN THAT TRILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IS $60 BILLION IN JUSTICE, 40 MONEY. 
          SO THIS MONEY WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR US TO GET MONEY DELIBERATELY INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, WITH, UM, SORRY. 
          UH, OUR DRAINAGE ISSUES COULD BE ADDRESSED EQUITABLY BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PULL FROM THE CITY FUNDS IF THE CITY GOES AFTER THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THERE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR MUNICIPALITIES, LOCAL, STATE, AND, AND LOCAL STATE AND, AND COUNTY. 
          YOU GUYS CAN GO AFTER THAT MONEY. 
          WE CANNOT. 
          WE'RE ALL GOING AFTER THE FUNDING THAT WE CAN, WHICH AMOUNTS TO PENNIES WHEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CAN GO AFTER THOSE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE IMMEDIATE CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SO WE'RE ASKING THE CITY, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY'S COME AND ASKED THIS QUESTION YET. 
          I FELT COMPELLED TO ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING FAVORLY. 
          THIS MONEY IS NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER. 
          I THINK WE'RE AT THE TAIL END OF THIS YEAR, MAYBE INTO NEXT YEAR, THOSE FUNDS ROLLING OUT. 
          AND I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE A VERY HARD LOOK AT WHAT COULD HAPPEN. 
          YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU ALL. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EXCUSE ME, MA'AM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          MS. WILSON, HOW ARE YOU? I'M FINE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, CAN YOU SPECIFY? I'M SORRY. 
          CAN YOU SPECIFY PARTICULARLY WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD ASK AS IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO OKAY. 
          THERE ARE EPA FUNDS OUT THERE THAT HELPED US TO RE TO DO, UH, A NUMBER OF, OF ACTIVITIES. 
          WE WERE AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HAD TO TALK ABOUT THE CANCER CLUSTERS. 
          SOME OF THOSE EPA FUNDS COULD BE BETTER UTILIZED WITH US, WITH THE CITY GOING AFTER THOSE FUNDS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          IN OUR, IN OUR, IN OUR, UM, MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. 
          WE'VE GOT SOLAR PANELS ON THE CASHIER GARDENS MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, BUT NO BATTERY PACK YET. 
          AND, AND SHELL WAS VERY GENEROUS AND GAVE THAT $500,000. 
          BUT IF WE CAN GET A, IF THE CITY CAN GET A EPA GRANT OR ONE OF THE OTHER GRANTS, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS FUNDING TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS FUNDING, AND THE CITY IS MORE IN A BETTER POSITION TO GO AFTER THOSE FUNDS TO COMPLIMENT THE FUNDS THAT WE AS THE SMALL GROUPS ARE ALREADY GOING AFTER. 
          SO THAT IS MY REQUEST, IS THAT THE CITY TAKE A REALLY HARD LOOK AT WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO WORK, TO WORK WITH US SO THAT YOU CAN GO AFTER THE FUNDING AND WE CAN GO AFTER FUNDING TO COMPLIMENT THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, SORRY, YOU EARLIER YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT RECOVERY OR THE USING THE MULTIPURPOSE IN THE RIGHT. 
          YES. 
          SO A FUN FACT, YOU MAY ALREADY BE AWARE, BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, SO REMEMBER 21 AND WE HAD THE FREEZE, UM, WHERE THE HUD SECRETARY VISITED HOUSTON IN 20 FEBRUARY OF 2022. 
          YES. 
          UM, AND AS YOU RECALL, WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE FEDERAL ALLOCATION FOR FLOODING, WHICH SHE DID DO WAS, UH, DIRECT $30 MILLION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          IN RESPONSE TO WINTER STORM URI, OUR CONGRESSIONAL TEAM WENT BACK TO THE HUD SECRETARY AND INCREASED IT TO 50 MILLION. 
          UM, THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD BE COMING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN 2024. 
          WITHIN THOSE, WITHIN THAT CALL THAT RFP, UM, ARE, UM, IS AND WHAT THEY'VE SLATED ARE EXTRA GENERATORS TO, TO SPEAK TO THAT POINT, UM, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, PUBLIC FACILITIES WE HAVE IN THE CITY ARE FULLY FUNDED BECAUSE WINTER STORY YURI EXPOSED. 
          RIGHT. 
          THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          SO THOSE DOLLARS, UM, SHOULD BE HITTING THE CITY. 
          UM, IT'S ALREADY BEEN, THEY'VE ALREADY ANTICIPATED USING THAT. 
          AND I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME OTHER LINE ITEMS THAT MAY SPEAK TO SOME OF YOUR IMMEDIATE REQUESTS, BUT KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THE QUEUE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU HUEY HUEY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, QUITE A FEW CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GOING AFTER FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP, UM, MOVE SOME OF THE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT B. 
          AND SO I, LOOK, I APPRECIATE 
          [00:50:01]
YOUR PARTNERSHIP. 
          I APPRECIATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE. 
          UM, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR MONEY, AND SO ONE DAY WE WILL GET IT. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, FRED WOODS. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          UM, IN SHORT, WE NEED AN ORDINANCE FOR TRAIL RIDES. 
          UM, OR AT LEAST WE NEED TO TREAT THEM LIKE PARADES. 
          UH, MY COMMUNITY WAS VICTIM OF THE INFAMOUS LADAY, UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND. 
          AN ANNUAL EVENT MEANT TO BE A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION THAT INSTEAD OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHAOS AND AN INCREASED RISK OF HARM TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          A TRAIL RIDE SHOULD CONSIST OF HORSES AND WAGONS. 
          THIS EVENT HAD MORE ATVS AND CARS THEY TOOK OVER A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE IMPEDING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND WHAT COULDN'T GET THROUGH. 
          SPILLED OVER INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, FURTHER TERRORIZING THE COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. 
          WE NEED AN ORDINANCE. 
          BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT FOR FURTHER ALLOWING THIS UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY TO CONTINUE IN THEIR PARKING LOTS. 
          WELL INTO THE NIGHT, EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS POLICE VEHICLES WERE DISPATCHED. 
          THERE ARE BETTER USES OF OUR OFFICER'S TIME THAN CROWD CONTROL. 
          WE NEED AN ORDINANCE. 
          THE NAMESAKE FOR THE EVENT SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND IF NOT BANNED AT A MINIMUM REQUIRED TO SEEK A PERMIT FOR ANY FUTURE EVENTS. 
          I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS EVENT WOULD NOT BE IN ITS SIXTH YEAR OF EXISTENCE WITH ITS DISGRACEFUL HISTORY THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST HOUSTON. 
          IF THIS WAS HAPPENING IN MORE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS, I REQUEST AGAIN THAT TRAIL RIDES EITHER BE PERMITTED LIKE PARADES OR AN ORDINANCE ISSUED TO DO AS SUCH. 
          UH, MAYOR AGAIN, WE NEED AN ORDINANCE. 
          WHAT I PASSED AROUND IS, UH, A POST FROM THE NAMESAKE AND THE ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT THAT WAS POSTED ON INSTAGRAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH IS WHAT THEY PRIMARILY USE IN OCTOBER. 
          SO WE COULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS. 
          THIS IS THE SIXTH YEAR. 
          IT, IT'S TORN UP. 
          FIFTH WARD, FINNEGAN PARK. 
          IT TORE UP TRINITY GARDENS. 
          IT MAINLY IS IN THE NORTHEAST AREA, BUT DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY WON'T MOVE ONCE WE RUN THEM OUT TO ANY OF YOUR OTHER SINGLE LETTER DISTRICTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU MR. WOODS FOR YOU BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION, UM, LAST NIGHT. 
          AND MAYOR LADAY HAS BEEN A HEADACHE. 
          IT'S BEEN, I I MEAN, THIS PARTY THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR IS BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL. 
          AND, UM, THEY JUST COME AND TEAR UP THE NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND NORMALLY IT'S IN FIFTH WARD. 
          UM, CHIEF FENNER AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN MONITORING, UM, THIS PARTICULAR EVENT. 
          AND IN FACT, THEY MADE A PLAN, IF THEY CATCH THEM, THEY WAS GONNA START COMPENSATING THEIR A H ATVS. 
          UM, BUT THEY MOVED. 
          SO, I MEAN, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE EVENT HAPPENED. 
          AND SO, UM, I'M, I GUESS WE GOTTA COME UP WITH A WAY TO MONITOR IT. 
          BUT THIS HAS TO STOP. 
          IT'S HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND IT'S COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND, UH, AND, AND DAMAGE TO OUR PROPERTIES. 
          AND SO, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, A BETTER SOLUTION TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. 
          YEAH. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND, UM, MR. WOODS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, MAYOR, I'M GONNA PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MAY BE NEW TO THE HORSESHOE. 
          IN TERMS OF RECENTLY, UM, LAST TERM ON COUNCIL, WE DID PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRED ENTITIES THAT WANTED TO HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, BLOCK PARTIES. 
          'CAUSE WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH POP-UP BLOCK PARTIES WITH NO SECURITY PLANS. 
          IT WAS A, UH, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK, NOT JUST FROM TRAFFIC, BUT FOR A HOST OF REASONS, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. 
          AND HPD WAS HAVING TO COME IN AND FIRE AT THE LAST MINUTE TO DO TRAFFIC MITIGATION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND THE RESOURCES ALONE THAT THAT TAKES UP. 
          BUT THE IMPACT ON RESIDENTS. 
          SO AN ORDINANCE WAS PASSED THAT, UM, REQUIRES AN ENTITY TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND A REVIEW FOR SAFETY. 
          IF THEY DO NOT GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THEY CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY 
          [00:55:01]
FINED. 
          SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES WHERE, UM, WE SHOULD FOLLOW THIS THROUGH TO THE END AND MAKE SURE THAT, UH, AND I DEFER TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER ON THIS. 
          BUT AGAIN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, MR. WOODS, WE, WE HAVE STARTED THAT WORK. 
          WE HAVE BEEN ACTING ON THAT WORK. 
          AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO SEE IF THERE'S AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, RETROACTIVELY. 
          UH, BECAUSE THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. 
          IT'S NOT FAIR TO RESIDENTS, IT'S NOT FAIR TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY IF THIS IS, IF THIS IS HAPPENING, UM, WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION. 
          UH, AND FOLLOWING THE RULES, IT'S ABOUT FOLLOWING THE RULES TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. 
          MAY, MAY I ADD THAT? UM, IS, DOES THAT ORDINANCE, OR IS THERE ANYTHING ON THE BOOKS TO COVER HORSES THAT ARE BEING RIDDEN ON ESPLANADES OR ON CITY STREETS HAVING MANURE BAGS? I DON'T BELIEVE SO. 
          UH, AND I WANT TO, I, I'M, THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW. 
          I'M GONNA USE THE LAWYER ANSWER AND SAY, I'M NOT COMPETEN. 
          THAT WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION. 
          THAT WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION. 
          AND I WANNA RESPECT THE CULTURE IN HOUSTON, RIGHT? WHERE I KNOW PEOPLE DO HAVE HORSES AND I WANT, BUT I DEFER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THAT. 
          BUT LET'S AT LEAST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, UM, FOR ENFORCEMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN ALCO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU MR. WOODS FOR COMING. 
          UH, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WE WORKED ON THIS, UM, LAST YEAR WHEN WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THESE TRAIL TRAIL RIDES WITH ATVS. 
          AND BASICALLY WE MET WITH SPECIAL EVENTS AND REMEMBER THAT IT LIKE DOESN'T FIT UNDER THE PARADE. 
          IT DOESN'T FIT UNDER THE STREET FUNCTION AS DEFINED IN CHAPTER 25. 
          UH, BUT THERE WAS SOME PERHAPS WILLINGNESS TO LOOK AT, UH, A CHANGE TO CHAPTER 25, UM, WHICH WOULD, YOU KNOW, WHICH WOULD DEFINE TRAIL RIDE AND, AND HAVE SOME CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRAFFIC CONTROL AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          SO I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND ANY OTHERS WHO WANNA TAKE THAT ON BECAUSE IT, IT, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING. 
          AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT TURNING IN TO BE THE, THE EVENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE. 
          SO, UM, HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND, AND OTHERS ON, ON GETTING SOME RESOLUTION HERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND DON'T FORGET THE BUSINESS OWNERS, BECAUSE BIG CITY FOODS, UH, UH, JAY'S DISCOUNT LIQUOR, THEY ALLOWED THEM, UH, TO CONGREGATE UNLAWFULLY, UH, AND ASSEMBLE AND, AND CONTINUE. 
          WELL, AFTER THE POLICE CAME OUT ONTO THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. 
          SORRY. 
          GOT A NOTE FROM DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN. 
          SO, FURTHER RECORD, NO, IT DOES NOT. 
          THE ORDINANCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DID NOT COVER, UM, HORSES OR MANURE OR OTHER THINGS. 
          COUNCIL PROTE, MAYOR PROTE STATE. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND MR. WOOD, YOU, YOU BRING UP A A GOOD POINT WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE BUSINESS OWNERS COUNCIL. 
          YOU MAY REMEMBER WHEN WE DID THE DONATION BOX ORDINANCE, WE INCLUDED THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT TO ALLOW A DONATION BOX TO BE ON THE PROPERTY. 
          IF WE DO SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH THE, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS HAVING TO ALLOW A PARADE TO BE, OR A FESTIVAL TO BE ON THEIR PROPERTY, THEN WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY. 
          UM, SO IF WE WANNA LOOK AT A WAY TO MAYBE CHANGE THE ORDINANCE, I THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH DONATION BOXES COULD BE SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT WE CAN DO HERE WHERE WE WE HAVE SOMEBODY TO GO TO FOR ENFORCEMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. 
          COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MR. WOOD FOR COMING. 
          I GUESS WHAT I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION, AND, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR ADDRESS IT FORMALLY. 
          ARE YOU SAYING THAT THESE, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE GATHERING ON PARKING LOTS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND THEY'RE, UM, ORGANIZING THEMSELVES THERE, AND FROM THERE THEY'RE LEADING, GOING INTO THE PARADE? THERE IS NO PARADE. 
          OH, OKAY. 
          THERE IS, THERE IS NO, THERE IS TAKING OVER, TAKING OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ESPLANADE, THE BUSINESS PARKING LOTS, LARGELY IT'S AN ISSUE OF ENFORCEMENT. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND THERE'S PLENTY OF LAWS AND CITY ORDINANCES THAT COULD BE ENFORCED. 
          UH, BUT I THINK IT'S AN ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. 
          WE CAN TALK TO CHIEF FINNER. 
          I'M CERTAINLY, HE'S AWARE OF IT. 
          MOST OF US HAVE READ ABOUT IT, HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S A, UH, RESOURCE ALLOCATION. 
          AND BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT GETS OUTTA CONTROL. 
          AND THEN IT'S A JUDGMENT CALL. 
          DO YOU MOVE IN WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CREATE A WORSE SCENE OR OBVIOUSLY, I THINK YOU NEED A DETERRENT. 
          ONCE, ONCE I, I DON'T KNOW THE SIZE OF, OF YOUR GATHERING, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DRINKING ON ATVS, SOME HORSES, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE. 
          IT'S JUST A WILD PARTY THAT YOU NEED TO PREVENT IN THE FIRST PLACE. 
          WELL, I THINK 
          [01:00:01]
'CAUSE THEY COULD, THEY COULD MOVE IN AND ISSUE TICKETS AND, UH, ALL TYPE OF, OF, UH, DISTURBING THE PIECE RIGHT ON DOWN TO MISCHIEF AND ON AND ON. 
          BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY LOCATION. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON SCOTT, UH, ON MLK EVENING, MARTIN LUTHER. 
          K MM-HMM . 
          IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIZED PARTY. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UH, NORMALLY FOLKS COOPERATE WHEN IT'S 10 O'CLOCK AND TIME TO GO HOME. 
          THEY GO HOME. 
          NOW YOUR SITUATION'S GETTING OUTTA CONTROL. 
          BUT WE'RE, WE'LL TALK TO CHIEF FINNER. 
          I THINK WE'LL LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE, BUT ALSO IT'S THE DETERRENCE. 
          JUST DON'T ALLOW THAT TO BE THE SETTING FOR A PARADE OR A WILD PARTY. 
          MAYOR. 
          SIX YEARS. 
          I HOPE THERE'S NOT A SEVENTH OR THAT IT'S DIFFERENT. 
          UH, COME NEXT YEAR. 
          IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SIX YEARS. 
          THIS WAS THE SIXTH ONE PER THE FLYER THAT I, I, I PROVIDED. 
          WHERE DO MOST OF THE FOLKS COME FROM? ARE THEY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THEY COME FROM A DISTANCE? I DOUBT THAT THEY ARE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          YOU DO NOT BE THERE. 
          THERE MAY BE, THERE MAY BE SOME, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S ON THAT FLYER, I BELIEVE IS FROM THE FIFTH WARD AREA. 
          UH, BUT A AS, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY MOVE AROUND PRIMARILY IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. 
          MM-HMM . 
          I HATE TO, UH, MAYBE I SHOULD KNOW, BUT I DON'T RECOGNIZE THE OCCASION. 
          WHAT IS THAT SOMEONE THEY'RE HONORING OR NO, NO, NO. 
          THAT'S THE YOUNG LADY IN THE PICTURE. 
          THAT'S FROM HER INSTAGRAM PAGE. 
          YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE, BUT TO GOOGLE IT. 
          LAFA, WHO'S LA THAT'S THAT LADY. 
          THAT'S HER LAST NAME. 
          MY, SHE JUST THROWING HER PARTY. 
          SO SHE THROWING HER PARTY. 
          THAT'S HOW IT STARTED. 
          RIGHT. 
          SOME PEOPLE GO TO RESTAURANTS, SOME PEOPLE HAVE INTIMATE GA INTIMATE GATHERINGS. 
          SO MAYBE WE NEED TO GET LA DOWN HERE. 
          YES, PLEASE. 
          MAYBE I'LL HAVE LA DAY HERE AT CITY HALL. 
          WE'LL DO HER PROBATION. 
          MAYBE SHE'LL BE HAPPY. 
          NO, THANKS FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. 
          WE COLLECTIVELY WILL GET ON TOP OF THIS TALKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT TRY TO BE VERY PREVENTIVE. 
          BUT IF LAFE IS A PROBLEM, MAYBE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION WITH HER WOULD GO A LONG WAYS. 
          MAYOR, DO YOU SEE THAT MR. REVEREND DAVIS? YOU, YOU'RE KIND OF OUR COUNSELOR AND OUR UNIFIER, UH, YOU WANNA GET AHOLD OF MISS LAFA? I'LL DO IT. 
          I'LL DO IT. 
          I'LL BRING MY WATER AND BATTER THE ONE OF YOUR SERVICES IN THE YEAH, I'LL BRING MY WATER AND OIL. 
          I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE GENERALLY DO THAT IN THE CHURCH. 
          YOU KNOW, WE LAY HANDS ON PEOPLE. 
           A SMALL PARTY. 
          I, I, I'M, I KNOW THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A LOT OF, UH, OF THINGS ON THEIR, UH, SHOULDERS AS IS. 
          BUT I'M THINKING THAT THESE, THE POSSIBILITY OF A COLLABORATION WITH, UH, HPD AND SOME OF OUR LOCAL, UM, CONSTABLES PATROLLING AND, UH, HAVE A TASK FORCE, UH, TO CURTAIL SOME OF THIS STUFF MAY BE ANOTHER WAY TO GO IN ORDER TO, UH, TO BREAK A LOT OF THIS STUFF UP. 
          AND, AND LORD KNOWS, I HATE TO BRING IT UP, BUT IT, IT REMINDS ME THIS DISTURBANCE. 
          SHORT TERM RENTALS, WE PROBABLY NEED TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE, UH, THEY'RE THROWING PRETTY GOOD SIZE PARTIES IN DISTURBING NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          SO WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB BRINGING THIS TO ATTENTION. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WAS MENTIONING THAT IT SAYS NO ATVS AND VERY SMALL PRINT AT THE BOTTOM. 
          AND YET, YEAH. 
          AND THEN THEY GOT A PICTURE ONE. 
          IT'S, THAT'S TWO OF THEM. 
          YES. 
          YEAH. 
          YEAH. 
          WELL BE SAFE AND WE'LL, UH, WE GOT TIME TO GO TO WORK ON THIS. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          PASO AMI. 
          PASO AMI. 
          TAMMY ALVAREZ. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS TAMMY RODRIGUEZ. 
          I AM HERE TODAY WEARING MY HAT. 
          I WEAR SEVERAL, BUT TODAY I'M HERE AS TAMMY RODRIGUEZ, UM, RESIDENT OF CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, ESPECIALLY AFTER I JUST PAID MY TAXES. 
          SO, UM, I COMMEND YOU MAYOR FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, COLLABORATING WITH HARRIS COUNTY. 
          'CAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE ARE IN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. 
          UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANTED TO KIND OF ADDRESS THE NEW, UH, COUNCIL AND, UH, WELCOME YOU TO THE HORSESHOE AND WANTED TO BRING SOME THINGS TO YOUR ATTENTION GOING FORWARD. 
          IF IN CASE ANYBODY ASKS FOR MONEY, UM, WE HAVE A COMPLETE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH ENTAILS 10 NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          ONE BEING GOLFED IN, UH, 
          [01:05:01]
WHEN AND SINCE THE, SINCE THE ACTUAL COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WAS INITIATED IN, UM, AT THE VERY BEGINNING, I THINK THERE WAS LIKE $11 MILLION THAT WAS INITIALLY AIDED AND SENT, UH, TO THESE COMMUNITIES. 
          WELL, GULFTON NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING. 
          SO I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO, UH, SHOW YOU THE LITTLE PACKAGE THAT YOU HAVE. 
          YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT MAPS. 
          THERE'S A GULFTON DISTRICT, THERE'S A GULFTON SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MAP, AND THERE IS A THIRD ONE THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE ACTUAL BOUNDARIES WERE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE SHARPSTOWN AND SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. 
          THAT WAS AFTER THEY DID THAT. 
          SO IT'S NO LONGER GOLFED IN IT'S GOLFED IN SHARPSTOWN. 
          BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THERE, THERE'S A MAP THAT'S ACTUALLY FROM THE, UH, THE, THE, UM, ONES FOR THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. 
          I JUST WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION. 
          WHEN, UH, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, TIFFANY THOMAS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD CAME IN, THERE WAS MONEY ASKED FOR TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE ONE THAT HAS, UH, WHERE IT HAS TWO LITTLE DOTS AND IT KIND OF LIKE FADED, BUT THEY'RE KIND OF PINKISH ORANGE. 
          AND IT'S ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF GULFTON AND ENG GULFTON. 
          THAT MONEY WAS GIVEN TO TWO PROPERTIES FOR TAX CREDIT, AND THEY'RE NOT INSIDE OF GULFTON. 
          GULFTON SERVE HAS 64 APARTMENT COMMUNITIES. 
          WE HAVE OVER 80,000 RESIDENTS. 
          I'VE BEEN IN THE APARTMENT INDUSTRY FOR 35 YEARS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CENSUS IS USUALLY THREE, THREE PER APARTMENT. 
          NO REALITY IS FIVE. 
          SO IF YOU, YOU BRING THAT TO CASE, WE HAVE 64 APARTMENT COMPLEXES ON ONE STREET ALONE IN GULFTON. 
          WE HAVE 17,000 RESIDENTS AND WE HAVE SIX APARTMENT COMMUNITIES. 
          SO THAT, THAT, THAT WILL TELL YOU WHENEVER SOMEBODY COMES TO YOU AND ASKS YOU FOR MONEY TO BUILD ANYTHING IN THE GULF, IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE COMPLETELY LEFT OUT, GULFTON. 
          THAT'S HOW I SEE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. 
          SO I'M ASKING THAT GOING FORWARD, IF ANYBODY ASK YOU FOR ANY MONEY FOR GOLFING, THAT'D BE INSIDE THE BOUNDARY LINES BECAUSE THOSE TAX CREDIT PROPERTIES ARE NOT, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          SHE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          DID COUNCILOR'S GENEROUS ENOUGH TO LET YOU HAVE MORE TIME? OKAY. 
          SO, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, THESE TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE TAX CREDIT, WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN THERE. 
          MY FIGHT FOR ACTIVISM STARTED IN 20 2001 WHEN I WAS APPOINTED THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT FOR 14 YEARS. 
          UH, AFTER I WAS TOLD MY PEOPLE DID NOT DESERVE ANYTHING FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARK ELLIS AND MY PEOPLE AT THAT TIME, I WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS. 
          SO I CAME TO LIVE IN MAGNOLIA, DENVER HARBOR AND THEN CAME TO SOUTHWEST. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW WHO MY PEOPLE WERE, BUT I EMBRACED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AS BEING MY PEOPLE. 
          SO NO, I WASN'T GONNA LET THAT RIDE. 
          SO THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. 
          SO AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT WANT THE RESIDENTS OF GULFTON TO BE UTILIZED TO GET GRANT MONEY TO GET MONEY AND IT NOT SERVICE THOSE IMMEDIATE RESIDENTS. 
          SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE, IF YOU LOOK AT MY LITTLE MAP, THOSE TWO PROPERTIES ARE SERVICING AND THEY CATER TO DISCOVERY AGREEMENT ON A BLOCK AWAY. 
          THAT IS BURNETT BAYLON PARK. 
          THEY'RE ON THEIR WEBSITE. 
          SO THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN AND APPROVED TO THE CITY AND WAS NOT GIVEN BACK. 
          ASK ME HOW MANY RESIDENTS LIVE IN THAT TAX CREDIT? ONE, ONE RESIDENT FROM GULFTON. 
          SO I AM ASKING YOU IF YOU'RE GONNA GIVE THAT DANGLING CARROT AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO HAVE A TAX CREDIT. 
          THERE'S PLENTY OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT HAVE EXTRA BUILDINGS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEND THE MONEY TO A LOCAL OWNER AND HAVE THEM REHAB A BUILDING INSIDE THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHICH WILL CAUSE A CHILD A CHAIN OF REACTION. 
          THEY'LL PROBABLY GET CAPITAL MONEY IN ORDER TO RE RENOVATE THOSE PROPERTIES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. 
          AND BASICALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. 
          WE ARE A COMPLETE COMMUNITY, AND I WAS TOLD BY OUR MAYOR THAT HOUSTON IS A COMPLETE COMMUNITY, SO WE SHOULD NOT IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES AS THAT. 
          BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU, HAVING OUR DEPARTMENTS, AND I APPLAUD YOU, MAYOR, BECAUSE NOW THAT YOU RUFFLED THE FEATHERS AND CHANGED THE DIRECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENTS, A LOT OF THEM HAVE BECOME COMPLACENT. 
          THEY ARE NOT, THEY'RE USED TO BEING IN THAT POSITION. 
          SO IT, IT TRICKLES DOWN. 
          THE MORE DEPARTMENTS YOU MAKE, THE MORE PEOPLE YOU PUT IN THERE. 
          BUT THERE'S NOBODY, THERE'S A LOT OF CHIEFS AND NO INDIANS. 
          SO I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY, I WAS INSPECTED BY A TEAM OF PEOPLE IN THE APARTMENT INDUSTRY. 
          I DON'T SEE THAT ANYMORE, AND WE DO NOT HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. 
          SO WHEN THAT CAME THROUGH, THESE TWO APARTMENT 
          [01:10:01]
CONFLICTS CAME THROUGH. 
          IT WAS IN 2020, THE YEAR OF OUR PANDEMIC, AND IT WAS TOO LATE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND TIFFANY TO STOP IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          NEXT, JANICE CHRIST, JANICE CHRIST IS NOT PRESENT. 
          JASON VO, MARK FAIRCHILD BE FOLLOWED BY STACEY FAIRCHILD. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, MY NAME IS MARK FAIRCHILD. 
          I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE RICE MILITARY CIVIC CLUB, AND I WANNA LAY OUT A TIMELINE FOR YOU OF THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY AND ASK YOU FOR HELP IN SOLVING A PROBLEM. 
          UH, IN OCTOBER OF OCTOBER 23RD, UH, I REPORTED SOME CONSTRUCTION OCCURRING AT EIGHT 17 DURHAM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FUEGO SALOON, WHICH WAS AN, WHICH WAS THE ENCLOSURE OF AN OUTDOOR PATIO. 
          AND I ASKED IF THE APPROPRIATE PERMITS HAD BEEN PULLED. 
          ON OCTOBER 27TH, THE BUILDING INSPECTOR CONFIRMED THE WORK BEING DONE AT FUEGOS WAS BEING DONE WITHOUT A PERMIT AND A RED TOP RED TAG AND STOP WORK ORDER WAS ISSUED. 
          UH, A FOLLOW UP WAS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 7TH. 
          THE FOLLOW-UP FOUND WORK CONTINUING WITHOUT A PERMIT ON NOVER, NOVEMBER 10TH, FUEGOS OPENS TO THE PUBLIC, UH, DESPITE HAVING NO VALID CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND UNPERMITTED CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS, I'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH PERMITTING AND PUBLIC WORKS ON THE STATUS OF THEIR CO. 
          ON JANUARY 25TH, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ACKNOWLEDGING BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS TWO ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS AT THIS LOCATION. 
          ONE FOR UNPERMITTED CONSTRUCTION AND THE SECOND FOR NO VALID CO. 
          SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER, BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS ISSUED 17 CITATIONS FOR NO, UH, SEAT, NO VALID CO IN THE UNT AND THE UNPERMITTED CONSTRUCTION. 
          MEANWHILE, IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR FUEGOS. 
          THIS BRINGS ME, UH, TO THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY. 
          FROM MY LAYMAN'S POINT OF VIEW, THESE BUILDING STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ARE THERE TO ACT AS A CIRCUIT BREAKER, TO MAKE SURE CONSTRUCTION NOT UP TO CITY CODE DOES NOT CREATE A SITUATION WITH A SAFETY OF ITS OCCUPANTS ARE PUT AT RISK. 
          ACCORDING TO THE PERMITTING CENTER'S WEBSITE, A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE A COMMERCIAL BUILDING OR AN INDIVIDUAL LEASED SPACE WITHIN A COMMERCIAL BUILDING MAY BE OCCUPIED. 
          SO HOW IS IT THEN THAT A BUILDING ADMITTEDLY NOT CERTIFIED BY THE CITY TO BE OCCUPIED, IS OCCUPIED DAILY, PUTTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ITS OCCUPANTS AT RISK AND ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTS, INCLUDING FOUR SMALL CHILDREN LIVING JUST 20 FEET AWAY. 
          WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING CODES AND REGULATIONS IF THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENFORCEMENT? WOULD CHICK-FIL-A BE ABLE TO BUILD A, OR CONSTRUCT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT AND OPERATE WITHOUT A CO? WOULD HINZ OR GRAYSTAR BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT A MID-RISE OR A HIGH RISE AND BE ABLE TO OFFER OCCUPANCY TO ITS TENANTS WITHOUT A CO? SO WHY DOES FUEGOS GET TREATED WITH KID GLOVES? WHY DOES FUEGOS WHO WAS TOLD TO STOP CONSTRUCTION AND OBTAIN THE PROPER PERMITS, GET TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS WITH UN PERMITTED CONSTRUCTION AND NO VALID CO AS A CITY, WE CAN DO BETTER? A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ISSUED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD BE THE GOLD STANDARD. 
          IT SHOULD CERTIFY A BUILDING AS COMPLIANT WITH ALL, ALL LOCAL BUILDING CODES AND REGULATIONS, AND THAT THE BUILDING IS IN A CONDITION SUITABLE FOR OCCUPANCY. 
          ANY BUILDING SUCH AS FUEGOS NOT POSSESSING A VALID CO SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 
          MAYOR, I'VE, YOU'VE SAID GREAT CITIES SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS. I'M HERE TODAY ASKING THIS BODY TO MAKE SURE FUEGOS DOES NOT OPEN ITS DOORS AGAIN UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE CITY CODES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, MARK, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU. 
          UM, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MY OFFICE. 
          WE'VE BEEN CORRESPONDING MAYOR WITH PUBLIC WORKS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET THE COUNTS ON HOW MANY CITATIONS AND WE'RE KEEPING TRACK. 
          UM, AND THIS ISN'T THE ONLY BAR THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, AND I DISCLAIM NOT ALL BARS ARE BAD, NOT, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS IS GOOD FOR THE CITY. 
          IT'S AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, BUT THOSE ARE THE GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERS, NOT THE ONES THAT ARE BLATANTLY VIOLATING THE LAW. 
          WE HAVE INSTANCE AFTER INSTANCE OF THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE, UH, AND OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL. 
          UH, MAYOR, WE HAVE POURED IN MY OFFICE ALONE, PAYS, UH, OVER $50,000 A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL OVERTIME JUST FOR PATROLS IN THE AREA, GOING TO THE LOUD NOISE UNIT, FUNDING LOUD NOISE METERS, UPWARDS OF $10,000 WORKING FOR YEARS ON THE SOUND ORDINANCE. 
          BUT THERE'S CERTAIN ESTABLISHMENTS THAT CONTINUE TO, UH, SPIT IN THE FACE OF THE LAW AND THE RULES, AND THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS. 
          UH, WE HAVE FUEGOS RIGHT NOW, UH, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD 
          [01:15:01]
HEART NIGHTCLUB, WHICH WE'RE CHALLENGING AT TABC. 
          WE'VE HAD THE STANDARD AND NOW THE STANDARD 2.0 THAT JUST CHANGES ITS NAME AND THEN CONTINUES TO OPERATE. 
          UM, ALL OF THESE THINGS. 
          AND AGAIN, MARK, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING VERY CONCISE. 
          I'M OPENING IT UP EVEN BROADER, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY. 
          WE HAVE A PROBLEM, MAYOR, YOU TALKED ABOUT ENFORCEMENT EARLIER AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW LEGAL IS NOW DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN WHEN WE GO AND ISSUE CITATIONS. 
          WE HAVE ONE EXAMPLE IN SHEPHERD PARK WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IS BLATANTLY BUILDING AN ENTIRE APARTMENT COMPLEX ILLEGALLY WITH A LEGAL FILL. 
          I'VE RAISED IT AT COUNSEL, EVEN LAST YEAR, WE BROUGHT THEM TO MUNICIPAL COURT FOR A JURY TRIAL ON FRIDAY. 
          IT'S THE SAME OWNER THAT'S OPERATING THE AIRBNBS ON BANKS AND IN THE HEIGHTS WITH THE PARTY HOUSES THAT ARE AGAIN, A HUGE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. 
          THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL IS BUILDING ILLEGALLY, DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR TRIAL. 
          WE'VE ISSUED CITATION AFTER CITATION, AND THEY CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND DO JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL. 
          AND SO HERE WE HAVE AGAIN, AND I'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU, MARK, I APOLOGIZE, IT'S JUST THIS IS A BROADER ISSUE. 
          WHAT CAN WE DO? AND MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION FOR LEGAL, WHEN WE HAVE AT LEAST 1517 CITATIONS ISSUED FOR NO VALID CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. 
          AND I ASSURE YOU, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY BAR SLASH NIGHTCLUB IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH INVALID CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY. 
          WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE OR WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO, UH, TO REIGN THIS ACTIVITY IN? I AM, I'M ASKING THE QUESTION, MAYOR, OF WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE LOOK AT? AND AGAIN, RANDY, SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. 
          IT'S A, IT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR CITY LEGAL, BUT WE JUST KEEP SEEING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. 
          WELL, FIRST OF ALL, , I'VE BEEN HERE A MONTH. 
          SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS A LOT LONGER THAN I HAVE. 
          SO, UH, AND ALL DUE RESPECT, OBVIOUSLY THE PERMITTING SYSTEM IS BROKEN. 
          UH, IT'S AMAZING. 
          MOST OF THE TIME WE HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE CAN'T GET A PERMIT IN THIS INSTANCE, THEY GOT A PERMIT THAT THEY DON'T DESERVE. 
          SO I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO ALL AGREE THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. 
          UH, WE NEED TO CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. 
          IT STARTS AT THE TOP. 
          AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT AT THE HORSE SHIP. 
          I'M TALKING ABOUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE OUR DEPARTMENTS DO A BETTER JOB INSPECTIONS, REFUSE THE PERMITS. 
          WE WERE JUST TALKING MARTY AND I ABOUT ONCE THEY START THE CONSTRUCTION, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR OPTIONS? I UNDERSTAND THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE A RECORD OF ONCE YOU CONSTRUCTION BLOCKING IT. 
          WE GOT A HOUSING PROJECT GOING UP ABOUT TWO THIRDS FINISHED. 
          UH, WE'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO LEGAL ABOUT HOW WE COULD GO BLOCK THE COMPLETION OF THAT HOUSING PROJECT. 
          SO IT'S A DILEMMA. 
          IT COMES FROM BETTER ENFORCEMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION AND HAVING SOME, UH, PROACTIVE PEOPLE IN CHARGE. 
          AND SO I, I'LL WORK WITH YOU. 
          I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I'M AS FRUSTRATED, UH, MARK AND STACY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY REPS ARE, DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT A CITY GOVERNMENT. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND MAYOR, IT'S NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT AT ALL. 
          IT'S MORE A OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT. 
          RHETORICAL QUESTION OF HOW CAN WE BE MORE AGGRESSIVE? I MEAN, I'M READY TO GO OUT THERE. 
          I MEAN, WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ILLEGAL BUILDING OR EVEN ILLEGAL TEARING DOWN WITHOUT PERMITS, UM, WE HAVE TO DO MORE. 
          YOU, IT'S A LEGAL, THAT BECOMES A LEGAL MATTER, OBVIOUSLY. 
          UH, PROPERTY RIGHTS AND LAWSUITS, AND I WISH ARTURO IS HERE. 
          UH, WE'VE ACTUALLY EXPLORED WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THE HOUSING GOING UP ON MIDDLE STREET. 
          RIGHT? AND ONCE IT GETS OUT OF THE GROUND, IT'S PRETTY DARN AND HARD TO STOP IT. 
          BUT WE SHOULDN'T GIVE UP. 
          UM, IT'S, IT'S, UH, I JUST THINK IT'S A, IT'S PARTLY AN OUT A RESOURCE ALLOCATION. 
          YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE BAR. 
          BUT, UH, HOW IN THE WORLD DOES SOMEBODY JUST KEEP OPERATING AFTER THEY GET A HANDFUL OF CITATIONS? SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WHERE THEY TAKE THAT MORE SERIOUS. 
          AND I APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR AND I, MAYBE I HAVE MORE OF A, EXCUSE ME. 
          MAYBE EVEN A GREATER FINANCIAL, UH, LIABILITY THERE. 
          TICKETS OBVIOUSLY ARE NOT, CITATIONS ARE NOT DETERRENT. 
          SO, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'LL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 
          I APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR AND MARK. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND MARY, I DO WANNA THANK, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENTS FOR CONTINUING TO GO OUT AND, AND, AND CITE. 
          UM, I, I DON'T WANNA POINT THE FINGER AT THEN, IT'S JUST IN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, NOR IT JUST, WE KEEP HAVING THIS ISSUE AND WE'RE GOING IN CIRCLES. 
          AND MARK, I CAN, I KNOW HOW FRUSTRATED YOU AND RESIDENTS ARE, SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU, MARK. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          SORRY, MARK. 
          COUNCILMAN ALCORN. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, MARK, THANK YOU. 
          SURE. 
          UM, FOR 
          [01:20:01]
YOUR CONTINUED DILIGENCE ON IT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME AS SHE'S ADMITTED. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GIVEN THE CITATIONS. 
          THEY DON'T HAVE A VALID CO THEY'RE NOT THE THE ONLY BAR, UH, OR TROUBLESOME CLUB THAT DOESN'T HAVE A CO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN OPERATE WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE OF OPER OF, OF, UM, OCCUPANCY. 
          THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS THE, THE ABILITY TO SHUT A BUSINESS DOWN TO WALK IN THERE AND SAY, YOU DON'T HAVE A VALID CO SHUT IT DOWN FOR TONIGHT. 
          NOW, SOMETIMES THEY'LL GATHER BACK UP AND THERE MIGHT BE A WHOLE LOT OF LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT. 
          BUT IT SEEMS SIMPLE TO ME. 
          YOU DON'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. 
          WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THIS PLACE IS SAFE. 
          WE'RE GETTING COM COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          SHUT IT DOWN. 
          SHUT IT DOWN. 
          I, I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, NOR CAYMAN . 
          Y'ALL DIDN'T MIND PUTTING ME ON THE SPOT A MOMENT AGO. 
          WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WHEN YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS? WHAT, AND WHAT DID THE DEPARTMENTS TELL YOU? THAT'S, THAT'S A QUESTION. 
          THE DEPARTMENTS SAY PUBLIC WORKS AND PERMITTING. 
          SAY THEY GO OUT AND THEY CITE, BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL THEY'RE ABLE TO DO. 
          UM, THE FIRE MARSHAL. 
          FIRE MARSHAL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE NOT, I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER TO THAT. 
          SURE. 
          WELL, WE'LL PUT A GROUP TOGETHER TO WORK ON THIS. 
          A WORKING GROUP. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THE, THE, THE ALARMING THING IS, IS THAT SOMEONE'S ISSUE AND CITATIONS AND IT, THEY JUST ARE NOT RESPECTED AND THEY'RE NOT PUNITIVE ENOUGH. 
          I WOULD ALSO, AND LORD KNOWS, Y'ALL CAN TURN IT BACK ON ME, WHAT ABOUT THE TABC? UH, THEY OUGHT TO BE INVOLVED, AND THAT MIGHT BE THE RECOURSE TO GET THE TABC INVOLVED AND HAVE STRICT ENFORCEMENTS TO THE POINT THAT, UM, THE OPERATORS WOULD WANT TO DO IT. 
          RIGHT. 
          GOOD OPERATORS WANNA FOLLOW THE LAW. 
          'CAUSE THEY MAKE ENOUGH MONEY DOING IT. 
          RIGHT. 
          IT'S THE OUTLAWS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. RIGHT. 
          AND I KNOW IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS BEEN OUT THERE AT LEAST ON ONE OR TWO OCCASIONS, MOTION TO EXTEND. 
          THAT'S, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, WE GOT SOME WORK TO DO. 
          YEP. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          YEAH, NEXT. 
          THANK YOU, FAIRCHILD. 
          TO FOLLOW ON WHAT MY HUSBAND SAID, UH, WE DO HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO, UM, YOU KNOW, PUT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES IN PLACE SO THAT WE DON'T END UP HERE AND RESIDENTS AREN'T, UM, DEALING WITH A LOWER QUALITY OF LIFE AS THESE ESTABLISHMENTS CONTINUE TO, UH, MAKE MONEY AT OUR EXPENSE. 
          SO, UM, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? I FEEL LIKE I'M OKAY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. 
          UH, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22, WHICH IS WASHINGTON AVENUE COALITION MEMORIAL PARK. 
          I WELCOME ALL OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I ALSO WELCOME BACK ALL OF THOSE AND CONGRATULATE THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALSO WELCOME BACK. 
          UM, ALL OF THOSE THAT WERE REELECTED. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN, IN WHATEVER CAPACITY YOU NEED ME, UM, AND OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. 
          AND ALSO, I WANNA CONGRATULATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ON HER ELECTION TO THE HAC CHAIR. 
          WE, THAT WAS INCREDIBLE NEWS, FANTASTIC NEWS FOR US. 
          AND, UH, I'VE, I'M GONNA LEAN ON YOU, UH, PARTICULARLY FOR WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT HERE TODAY. 
          BUT BEFORE I GET INTO THAT, ONE MORE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, DISTRICT C OFFICE, AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR, UH, HELPING THE WEST END NEIGHBORHOOD GET THE FOUR-WAY STOP AT PATTERSON AND KOHLER. 
          UH, I THINK INITIALLY THAT ASK CAME IN AT ABOUT 2017. 
          WE GOT IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THERE WERE VEHICLE CRASHES OCCURRING AT THAT INTERSECTION. 
          UM, SOME OF THOSE VEHICLES WOULD END UP IN THE PARK. 
          UH, THERE'S A PLAYGROUND RIGHT NEXT TO PATTERSON, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. 
          BUT, UH, TO, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT TODAY THAT SINCE THE FOUR-WAY STOP HAS GONE IN, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN NO VEHICLE CRASHES TO DATE. 
          SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. 
          VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS. 
          AND THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO, AT LEAST THE AREA IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PATTERSON STREET BIKEWAY. 
          BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP FOR THREE DIFFERENT THINGS. 
          AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANSPORTATION, UM, THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR IN THE INNER KATY CORRIDOR. 
          UM, I HAVE A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, OR AT LEAST I THINK I DO WITH TEXDOT AND METRO, UM, AND AT THE HARRIS COUNTY, YOU KNOW, FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. 
          BUT, UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GONNA BE THOUGHTFUL AS THESE PROJECTS BEGIN. 
          THEY BEGIN IN THE YEAR AT HEIGHTS AND 45, THEY'RE GONNA WORK LONGITUDINALLY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. 
          UM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SHUT THE FREEWAY DOWN ALL THE WAY, BUT THERE WILL BE A BOTTLENECK, WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE, UM, A LOT OF, UH, TRAFFIC ISSUES. 
          SO WE ARE ASKING FOR, UH, NUMBER ONE, A DETOUR PLAN FOR ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION. 
          [01:25:01]
MAYOR, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THIS AREA, BOTH SIDES OF I 10 INSIDE THE LOOP, UH, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND, BIKE AROUND AND DRIVE. 
          UM, I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          YOU CAN CONTINUE. 
          WE'RE LOOKING FOR A DETOUR PLAN FOR ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BICYCLES, PEDESTRIANS, AND VEHICLES. 
          I THINK THE TRUCK PLAN, THE NEW TRUCK PLAN WILL HELP DETER THAT. 
          BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY START, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE AT 99 IN BELTWAY, UH, TO DETER THOSE HAULING VEHICLES THAT AREN'T, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON ISN'T THEIR DESTINATION TO MAYBE FORCE THEM OUTSIDE THE CITY. 
          SECONDLY, A COMMUNICATION PLAN. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPECTING A DECADE OF CONSTRUCTION, AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO BE, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS. 
          AND WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE COLOR BLOCKS ON THE PRESENTATION WITH YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, DATES AND WHATNOT, HOW IT PLAYS OUT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE AND ON FOOT AND ON A BICYCLE IS VERY DIFFERENT, UH, THAN, YOU KNOW, JUST THESE COLOR BLOCKS THAT WE SEE IN PRESENTATIONS. 
          SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DETAILED COMMUNICATION PLAN AS A PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATOR. 
          I, UM, YOU KNOW, AM USED TO, UH, WORKING UP THESE PLANS. 
          I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANYBODY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INFORMED AS THINGS HAPPEN AND OCCUR, CHANGE, WHATEVER. 
          UM, ALONG I 10, THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY HAS, UH, HAS TO DO WITH THE ASK IS METRO. 
          THE BRT THAT IS EXPECTED, WHICH IS A SEPARATE PROJECT, IT'S EXPECTED TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF I 10. 
          I HAVE HEARD FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS FROM MY OWN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE DON'T EVEN WANT IT. 
          IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FOR US. 
          SO OUR ASK IS TO COMBINE THAT PROJECT, HAVE THE BRT PUT ON THE MANAGED LANES, WHICH WILL BE, UH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY TXDOT IN THE CENTER OF THE FREEWAY. 
          SO HAVE THE BRT USE THE MANAGED LANES INSTEAD OF CONSTRUCTING ADDITIONAL CONCRETE AND FURTHER DISRUPTION TO THE COMMUNITIES. 
          SO, UM, AND I KNOW THAT I'M, I'M SURE THAT TXDOT AND METRO ARE THOUGHTFUL, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO BE. 
          AND AGAIN, AS THIS, AS WE GO ABOUT OUR LIVE WORK AND PLAY, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS PUT ON PAPER BEFORE US SOMETIMES DOESN'T TRANSLATE, OR A LOT OF TIMES IT DOESN'T TRANSLATE INTO, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR DAILY LIVES. 
          SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. 
          MAYOR, UH, COUNCILOR CAMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          STACY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT IN THE AREA. 
          SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU AND OTHERS THAT ARE SPEAKING TODAY FOR Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST IN WORKING WITH MY OFFICE, BUT WITH ALL OF THE ENTITIES YOU'RE MENTIONING, RIGHT? MM-HMM . 
          UM, AND I, I KNOW WE HAVE TO KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THE INNER KATIE PROPOSALS. 
          MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU IS, I KNOW THAT TDOT HELD SOME PUBLIC MEETINGS RECENTLY. 
          WERE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEEDBACK IN THOSE MEETINGS? HOW DID THOSE GO? THEY WENT GREAT. 
          UH, TDOT WAS VERY RECEPTIVE TO LISTENING TO US. 
          THEIR RESPONSE TO US WAS PUT 'EM IN THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK OR IN THE FORM, AND WE WILL INCORPORATE IT INTO THE DESIGN AS BEST WE CAN. 
          SO THAT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING TO ME. 
          UM, SO I LOOK, YOU KNOW, FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO THE THEM AGAIN ON FE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS FEBRUARY 8TH, UM, TO FURTHER THAT DISCUSSION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND I APPRECIATE MAYOR, THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM DID AN AMAZING JOB GETTING THE FOUR WAY STOP UP. 
          UM, IT KOHLER AND WE SO APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING THOSE CRASHES REDUCED. 
          UM, I, I APPRECIATE YOU THOUGH BRINGING UP PATTERSON BECAUSE THIS CORRIDOR PROJECT, UH, MAYOR, YOU MAY NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT OR NOT, OR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. 
          I BELIEVE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION THIS SPRING. 
          AND I, I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY. 
          UM, MAYOR, IT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL TO GET A, A STATUS UPDATE ON THAT. 
          I KNOW AT OUR LAST SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, YOU ALL HAD ASKED ME THAT. 
          UM, SO I, I'LL DO MY BEST TO, YOU KNOW MM-HMM . 
          GET AN ANSWER BACK ON THAT. 
          BUT MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT IF I MAY. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCILOR CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR STACEY, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND ALL OF THE WORK YOU AND YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, DO FOR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22. 
          I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS, UH, AROUND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A DETOUR PLAN, THINKING ABOUT A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. 
          UM, THESE ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS, BUT THEY CAN GET LOST IN THE GRAND SCALE OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. 
          AND SO 
          [01:30:01]
I WANNA WORK WITH YOU ON, UH, SEEING THOSE THROUGH AND, AND GETTING THOSE DEVELOPED. 
          SO PLEASE INCLUDE MY OFFICE IN, IN ANY PLANNING, OR IF WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, UH, GETTING THOSE MEETINGS PUT TOGETHER, LET ME KNOW BECAUSE, UH, WE CAN'T LET THOSE CRITICAL COMPONENTS, UH, NOT BE THOUGHT OUT AND NOT BE, UH, PUT TOGETHER. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND WE CAN EXTEND THAT TO 45 AS WELL. 
          . 
          YES, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, DISTRICT H STANDS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY BOTH I 45 AND I 10. 
          YES. 
          AND SO WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE COMPONENTS ARE, ARE THERE. 
          YES. 
          SO, THANK YOU. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, STACY. 
          MEDI RAY. 
          THESE LIGHTS ARE SO HARSH. 
          MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO PAUSE. 
          I THOUGHT WE HAD MORE POWER. 
          THIS PEOPLE. 
          HELLO, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, FIRST OFF, I WANTED TO THANK YOU EACH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND WISH YOU A PRODUCTIVE TERM. 
          UH, MY NAME IS MEDI RES, A LOCAL PARENT AND ADVOCATE FOR KIDS WALKING THE SCHOOL. 
          I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING A NEW INITIATIVE CALLED WALK AND ROLL HOUSTON. 
          OUR AIM IS TO HELP HOUSTONIANS WALK AND ROLL SAFELY AROUND HU AROUND HOUSTON. 
          I'VE BEEN A PHYSICIAN AND MOST RECENTLY SUPPORT ENTERPRISE ANALYTICS ACROSS MY HEALTH SYSTEM TO IMPROVE OUTPATIENT OUTCOMES AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES WITH THAT LENS. 
          HOUSTON HAS A MASSIVE PROBLEM. 
          WALKING, ROLLING, AND BIKING IS PERILOUS. 
          WE HAD AT LEAST 90 PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES LAST YEAR, AND 14 BIKERS IN HOUSTON ACCORDING TO STATEWIDE DATA. 
          ODDLY ENOUGH, MUCH OF OUR HIGH INJURY NETWORK IS CONTAINED IN AND AROUND HISD SCHOOL ZONES AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THE WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, OUR CENTRAL HUB TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
          OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE PUT IN THE WORK WE'VE WORKED WITH AND PUSH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THESE AREAS THAT WOULD MAKE IT SAFER FOR DRIVERS, WALKERS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, THE ELDERLY BIKERS TO GET IN AND AROUND TOWN. 
          AND NOTABLY FOR KIDS LIKE MY OWN, MY SIX AND 9-YEAR-OLD TO WALK TO SCHOOL. 
          ONE PRIMARY EXAMPLE OF OUR WORK IS THE RECENT FUNDING AWARDED FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL IN THE NORTH MONTROSE AREA. 
          THIS WAS FEATURED IN TODAY'S AXIOS HOUSTON ARTICLE. 
          NORTH MONTROSE IS ONE OF THE MOST POP POPULATE POPULATION DENSE AREAS IN THE CITY AND STATE, AND IS ALSO A MAJOR PART OF THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK. 
          RECALL WITHIN THE HIN 58% OF TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR ON 9% OF STREETS. 
          THE SAFE ROUTES HA GRANT WILL HELP SUPPORT KIDS WALKING TO THREE HISD SCHOOLS ADDRESS HI HIN WOES, AND WILL BE ENTIRELY FUNDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM. 
          THIS IS A WIN-WIN WIN FOR OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR CITIZENS, AND OUR RESOURCES. 
          WE THINK WE HAVE A MODEL OF SUCCESS HERE. 
          THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE BELIEVE YOU AND CITY COUNCIL CAN RALLY BEHIND. 
          WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE LESSONS WITH YOU, CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. 
          WALK AND ROLL HOUSTON. 
          A SECOND EXAMPLE OF OUR IMPORTANT WORK IS THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WHICH WILL ESTABLISH A MAJOR DRAINAGE TRUNK LINE TO BUFFALO BAYOU, IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND ROLL, ROLL ABILITY FOR RESIDENTS BRINGING IMPROVE, UM, BRING IT UP TO A DA STANDARDS, AND ALLOW KIDS FROM SIX HISD SCHOOLS TO SAFELY TRAVERSE MONTS, IMPROVE MULTI MOBILITY WITH METRO BOOST WHILE PRESERVING TRAFFIC THROUGHPUT AND OVERALL BEAUTY OF THE CORRIDOR. 
          THESE SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS SERVE A GREAT PURPOSE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS, AND WE SUPPORT ALL PROJECTS THAT EQUATE TO A WIN-WIN FOR HOUSTONIANS. 
          WE'VE HEARD THAT PROJECTS LIKE HOUSTON AVENUE THAT PROVIDE TRAFFIC CALMING, UH, LIKE HOODED LEFT TURNS ARE BEING REMOVED AND THE PAINT HASN'T EVEN TRIED DRIED ON THESE SORT OF PROJECTS. 
          WE NEED, WE NEED YOU, OUR CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT PROJECTS LIKE THIS THAT'LL HELP ESTONIANS SAFELY TRAVERSE THE CITY. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          YOU, I MEAN, YOU DID GREAT. 
          THAT WAS RIGHT AT THE BUZZER. 
          UM, MEDI, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT DUNNO. 
          MEDI HAS BEEN, UM, AN INCREDIBLE ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH LITTLE CHILDREN. 
          UM, YOU PERSONALLY INVITED ME OUT, UM, TO WALK WHARTON WITH MY OWN LITTLE BOY. 
          YEAH. 
          UM, TO SEE HOW HARD IT WAS TO WALK TO SCHOOL FOR THESE FAMILIES IN NORTH MONTROSE. 
          AND THANKS TO THE WORK THAT WE ARE ALL DOING COLLABORATIVELY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOURS AND AT HA, UM, THOSE DOLLARS ARE COMING IN FOR THE SAFE CROSSINGS PROGRAMS. AND THESE GRANTS, AND I I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, THAT WE'RE ALSO PUTTING IN DISTRICT FUNDS FOR THE CROSSINGS, UM, ARE GOING TO NOT JUST HELP AT WHARTON, BUT CARNEGIE VANGUARD AND GREGORY LINCOLN ALL IN THAT SAME AREA. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UM, BECAUSE LIVES ARE BEING SAVED, UM, AND I, ESPECIALLY LITTLE CHILDREN. 
          SO THANK 
          [01:35:01]
YOU AGAIN, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR BRAVERY BRINGING YOUR KID OUT DURING THAT WALKTHROUGH. 
          SO THANK YOU, SIR. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          KEVIN STRICKLAND, WE FOLLOWED BY LINDSAY ALDRIDGE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. 
          WELCOME TO THE NEW FACES. 
          SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. 
          UH, ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS ON PROP A. 
          WE LOVE DEMOCRACY AND AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TO EXERCISE OUR DEMOCRACY. 
          UH, MR. MAYOR, I APPRECIATED SOME WORDS YOU HAD AT YOUR INAUGURATION EVENT AT GEORGE R. BROWN ON THE SECOND. 
          UM, YOU TOLD, UM, THE CROWD THAT YOU WOULD NOT TOLERATE HARASSMENT AND BULLYING AND CITY GOVERNMENT. 
          I APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ENGAGE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, THE SOMETIMES THAT'S FORGOTTEN. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR REMINDING PEOPLE ABOUT THAT. 
          UM, I AM ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT WALK AND ROLL. 
          HOUSTON MEDI AND I ARE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH THIS. 
          I DON'T KNOW OF AN ORGANIZATION IN HOUSTON THAT'S SORT OF ENCOMPASSING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF ADVOCACY. 
          WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT CAN BE IMPACTFUL. 
          UM, ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE J JORDAN ARTICLE. 
          'CAUSE IT REALLY TALKS ABOUT HOW THAT 8.5 MILLION FOR SAFE ROUTES MONTROSE IS GONNA BE SPENT, GONNA MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO SCHOOL. 
          UH, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BIKE THERE. 
          UH, I BIKED HERE, BY THE WAY, THIS TODAY, IT WAS A LOVELY AFTERNOON FOR THAT, UH, MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          MADDIE AND I WERE THERE LAST NIGHT FOR THREE HOURS. 
          IT'S A FOUR HOUR, UH, FOUR YEAR PROJECT. 
          THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE AT A HUNDRED PERCENT DESIGN. 
          THIS IS AMAZING. 
          IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE HELPED, UM, COORDINATE. 
          IT IS SUCH A BETTER PROJECT THAN WHEN IT BEGAN. 
          UM, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ALSO FOR THAT PROJECT TO BE INCLUSIVE OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, UM, ESPECIALLY THE DISABLED COMMUNITY. 
          UH, AND THESE PROJECTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE DISABLED COMMUNITY IS LEFT OUT OF THE DISCUSSION SO OFTEN. 
          UM, NEXT, ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS THE PAT WALSH BIKEWAY. 
          UM, I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEFORE THE, UM, YOUR OFFICE, UM, MAYOR, UM, COUPLE OF THINGS TO GET IN THE WEEDS. 
          IT'S NOT A STREET RENAMING EXERCISE. 
          IT'S SIMPLY AN EXERCISE TO RENAME TO NAME A BIKE WAVE. 
          THERE'S NO CONSTRUCTION. 
          WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR SIGNAGE. 
          WE'RE HAPPY TO FUNDRAISE FOR SIGNAGE. 
          WE WOULD LOVE AN, SO MY ASK IS WE WOULD LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU, TO TALK FURTHER ABOUT THAT PROJECT. 
          COULD BE A BIG WIN, UH, FOR US. 
          AND THEN LASTLY, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER GONE UNDER THREE MINUTES LIKE THIS. 
          SO, UM, LASTLY, UM, WE ARE HEARING THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL. 
          THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT WAS, UM, A SERIES OF, UH, TRAFFIC CALMING, UH, JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED. 
          AND WE'RE HEARING THAT IT MAY BE ALREADY REMOVED, AND THAT'S A CONCERN. 
          IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO GET THESE SORT OF TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECTS FUNDED AND THEN DONE. 
          THAT ONE WAS TURNED AROUND PRETTY FAST. 
          UM, SO WE'RE HOPING THAT'S NOT THE CASE. 
          THAT'S IT FOR MY TIME TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. 
          UH, YOU MENTIONED A, A PROJECT THAT IS A DISTRICT H SERVICE FUND PROJECT, WHICH IS THE, THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT. 
          UM, I ALSO HAVE NOT HEARD, UH, ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. 
          SO I WANTED TO SEE IF THAT IS IN FACT THE CASE. 
          ARE WE CONSIDERING UNDOING A PROJECT THAT'S THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT? UM, I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY THE TRENDY CHURCH, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH METRO, WHO HAD A BUS THAT WENT UP ON IT AND HIGH CENTERED. 
          UH, THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER GOT BOGGED DOWN ON  YESTERDAY. 
          THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSTON PROJECT. 
          SO I THINK IT'S BEING REVIEWED. 
          IN FACT, QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS BEING REVIEWED. 
          IT'S DANGEROUS. 
          UH, THE POLICE HAVE TOLD ME. 
          SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT BEING A SERVICE FUND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT SERVICE FUND PROJECT SURE. 
          DOES THAT, IF THAT PROJECT GOES AWAY, DOES THAT MONEY COME BACK INTO MY SERVICE FUND BUDGET? NO, I HAVEN'T. 
          I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN DETERMINED YET. 
          I, I DON'T BELIEVE SO, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW. 
          ALL I'VE DONE IS ASK PUBLIC WORKS TO REVIEW IT. 
          UH, THERE'S CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT THE DANGER. 
          IF YOU GO OVER THERE, I'D BE GLAD FOR EVERYBODY TO GET UP AND WALK OVER THERE. 
          RIGHT NOW, UH, THE, 
          [01:40:01]
UH, 18 WHEELER BOGG DOWN THE METRO BUS BO DOWN THE CHURCH SAYS THEIR PARKING LOT. 
          I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS. 
          THE TRINITY CHURCH SAYS THEY CAN'T USE THEIR PARKING LOT. 
          I WON'T EVEN MENTION THAT. 
          CHEVROLET. 
          I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THE FATHER, THE PRIEST THAT CALLED ME YESTERDAY. 
          THERE'S SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DESIGN WORK. 
          CAN IT BE IMPROVED? YOU'D HOPE SO, IN TERMS OF THE FINANCING GOING BACK TO YOUR FUND, I, UH, HAVEN'T CROSSED THAT PATH YET, BUT YOU CAN GO LOOK. 
          I WOULD JUST ASK ANYONE TO GO TAKE A, TAKE A VIEW OF IT. 
          UH, YOU'RE RIGHT. 
          IT WILL SLOW YOU DOWN UNLESS YOU GET STUCK IN THE ESPLANADE BECAUSE YOU TRIED TO TURN LEFT. 
          OKAY. 
          I APPRECIATE THE, UH, INFORMATION I HAD THE DESIGN. 
          I ASSUME NO ONE HERE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DESIGN, BUT SOMEONE HAS REALLY MADE IT A HAZARD. 
          AND I COULD TELL YOU THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT AS WELL. 
          SO IT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING. 
          I'LL GET YOU REFUNDED, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE. 
          OKAY. 
          GOT THAT. 
          THEY, THEY TALKED ABOUT IT IN OPEN CHURCH SERVICE SUNDAY. 
          THAT'S WHEN I STARTED GETTING CALLS. 
          THE PASTOR ATTORNEY, I'VE GOT HIS NAME ON MY PHONE. 
          AND WHEN THE PREACHER AT THE CORNER OF HOUSTON AVENUE AND WASHINGTON IS SPENDING PART OF HIS CHURCH SERVICE ABOUT THE MONTROSE SYMPHONY SINGERS OR CONTACTING HIM ABOUT FINDING A NEW LOCATION, WE GOT A PROBLEM. 
          AND I JUST HAVE A RECORD OF RESPONDING TO PEOPLE THAT BRING THOSE KIND OF ISSUES TO ME. 
          SO WE'RE REVIEWING IT. 
          MAYOR, MY ASK WOULD BE TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS. 
          SURE. 
          I OF COURSE, OF COURSE. 
          GIVEN THAT THIS IS A SERVICE FUND PROJECT AND THAT IS ONE OF THE VITAL TOOLS WE HAVE TO DELIVER FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          IF A PROJECT THAT IS DONE, WHICH WAS NOT MY PROJECT, TO BE CLEAR. 
          NO, I'M VERY FAMILIAR. 
          YOU AND I BOTH INHERITED THIS. 
          YEP. 
          SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT. 
          I'M AWARE THAT REVIEW, THAT'S FOR SURE. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO, TO OUR ATTENTION. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          UM, AND I'M ONLY CHIMING IN BECAUSE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THESE ARE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS THAT WERE BEING SPENT. 
          AND SO I THINK, AGAIN, I MAYOR AS YOU GET SETTLED, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO GIVE YOU TIME, UM, TO WORK THROUGH, TO GET BROUGHT UP TO SPEED ON THINGS AND, AND WORK THROUGH THAT. 
          I KNOW THAT THE CHRONICLE, I THINK TODAY OR YESTERDAY HAD SAID THAT, UM, THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE OR REPORTED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE, UM, PROJECTS THAT WERE BEING REVIEWED BEFORE MOVING TO THE NEXT PHASES OF THOSE PROJECTS. 
          AND, UM, I, I WOULD ASK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDED PROJECTS, BUT ALSO JUST PROJECTS IN OUR DISTRICT. 
          'CAUSE I KNOW, UH, STACY HAD JUST MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT THE PATTERSON, UM, PATHWAY, WHICH IS A SAFETY PROJECT, UH, IF WE CAN ALL BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED ON WHAT MAY BE THE STATUS OR DELAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          AND THEN AGAIN, WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDED PROJECTS, UM, THAT THERE BE US BEING BROUGHT INTO THE FOLD SO THAT WE CAN, UH, MAKE SURE THAT OUR FUNDS ARE BEING MANAGED AS, AS WE NEED TO MANAGE THEM FOR THE DISTRICT RESPECTFULLY. 
          SURE. 
          THERE'S NO QUESTION WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. 
          AND I RESPECT THE, UH, I PERSONALLY SPEAK IT FOR MYSELF, RESPECT THE DISTRICT AND THE SERVICE FUNDS. 
          I DO THINK WE NEED TO COLLABORATE WITH EVERYONE THAT'S A STAKEHOLDER THAT USES THESE PROJECTS. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GET UP LAST FRIDAY, START HEARING FROM THE PRIEST AND THE EPIS, UH, LUTHERAN MINISTER. 
          THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM. 
          AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HEAR AND SEE THE SAME THING I HEAR AND SEE, I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, GO BY AND SEE FOR YOURSELF AND SEE WHAT THE PUBLIC IS SPEAKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF REIMBURSEMENT OR, UH, SPENDING MONEY. 
          THAT'S A CONSIDERATION. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, I GOT A PICTURE ON MY PHONE OF A METRO BUS THAT'S SITTING THERE HIGH CENTER BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. 
          AND, UH, THEN AN 18 WHEELER WENT THROUGH IT YESTERDAY. 
          SO IN ALL DUE RESPECT, WE JUST GOTTA DO THINGS RIGHT. 
          IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR, UH, WELL, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S CITYWIDE PROJECT OR OR DISTRICT WIDE. 
          THEY GOTTA MAKE SENSE OR, OR THE PUBLIC WILL, UH, GET OUR ATTENTION. 
          SO COUNCILMAN PECK ON MY LEFT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADVOCATE THAT IF THIS PROJECT DOESN'T GO FORWARD FOR THAT MONEY TO GO BACK TO DISTRICT HI THINK THAT ANYTIME WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROJECT THAT, 
          [01:45:01]
YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING ON AND IT DOESN'T GO FORWARD, UM, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF POLICY IN PLACE FOR THAT MONEY TO GO BACK TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE FOR, IF IT'S COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, THAT MONEY IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, UM, WHO ARE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          AND I'M SURE THAT MONEY COULD BE USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE IN DISTRICT H IF IT DOESN'T GO FORWARD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WELL, THE SAD NEWS IS IT DID GO FORWARD. 
          IT'S SITTING OVER THERE IN CONCRETE. 
          THE QUESTION IS, IF IT'S REDESIGNED, UH, I GUESS I COULD SUGGEST WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR THAT. 
          UH, BUT I, I THINK THIS ALL BE WORKED OUT AND, AND FOR THE COMMON GOOD, BUT IT'S HARD TO PUT MONEY BACK IN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT. 
          BUT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO GET THE SPECIAL FUND TO HELP REDESIGN. 
          IT MAY, MAYBE WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY HERE. 
          BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY DONE BY YOUR PREDECESSOR. 
          I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS CORRECT IN THE QUEUE AGAIN. 
          YES, SIR. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. 
          MAYOR WAS, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND IF THERE ARE CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS OR WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS, UH, TO LOOK AT THIS, UM, BECAUSE I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THESE PROJECTS NEED TO HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY INPUT AND, YOU KNOW, IF COMMUNITY INPUT IS DONE, YOU'RE GONNA GET A PROJECT THAT WILL, UH, NOT, UH, RECEIVE SO MUCH, UH, PUSHBACK IF IT'S DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE SAFETY GOALS, BUT ALSO MEETS THE GOALS OF, OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, AS IT'S DONE. 
          UM, BUT BEING A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION IS IMPORTANT. 
          SURE. 
          AND SO, UH, TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT AND, AND AS Y'ALL GO THROUGH THIS, UH, HELPS US BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER. 
          YOU GOT IT. 
          THANKS. 
          THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR TEAM. 
          CAN I, CAN I ADD JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS REALLY QUICK? SURE. 
          MR. MAYOR? SURE. 
          UH, A BICYCLIST WAS KILLED ON HOUSTON AVENUE IN NOVEMBER. 
          UH, DRIVERS RUN INTO ALL SORTS OF STUFF. 
          THEY RUN INTO HOUSES, TELEPHONE POLES, UM, STOP SIGNS. 
          THERE'S A COFFEE HOUSE ON THE EAST END WHERE DRIVERS HAVE RUN INTO IT TWICE. 
          UH, THE HOUSES AT MISS SHOW AND WHITE OAK, WHICH WAS PART OF A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, HAVE BEEN HIT 13 TIMES. 
          UM, SO NO, WE'RE, WE'RE IN CONCURRENCE WITH YOU. 
          WE, THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE'S DANGERS OUT THERE AND, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT THEM, ADDRESS 'EM. 
          BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OUTCOME. 
          AND, AND I WOULD HOPE IN THIS INSTANCE SOMEBODY WOULD'VE USED A BETTER DESIGN WORK THAN JUST GOING OUT THERE AND POURING SOME BIG OLD LANDING PLACES. 
          I MEAN, METRO'S THE ONE YOU, WE ALWAYS WANT OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION. 
          METRO OUGHT TO CERTAINLY BE ONE. 
          WELL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THAT OPTION IF IT'S SITTING OVER THERE ON HIGH CENTER ON THE NEW ESPLANADE OR AN 18 WHEELER, I MEAN, AND THE BIKE EXPOSURE. 
          SO I JUST THINK I WAS ADDRESSING YOUR QUESTION. 
          HAS THERE BEEN DISCUSSION? YES. 
          MY PHONE AFTER SUNDAY SERVICE, UH, THEY'RE PRAYING ABOUT IT. 
          LITERALLY. 
          OKAY. 
          SO MAYBE WE'LL SEE IF THEIR PRAYERS GET ANSWERED. 
          , I, I DO SUPPORT THE POWER OF PRAYER. 
          OKAY. 
          , WE, THEY ALSO HAVE A POWERFUL MARQUEE. 
          WE SAW THE MESSAGES ON THEIR MARQUEE. 
          YEAH, I SAW IT TOO. 
          I SAW THAT LONG BEFORE I WAS SWORN IN. 
          THE DIGITAL MARQUEE WILL TALK ABOUT, UH, THE PROJECT. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, MY, I BELIEVE OUR JOB IS TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE YEAH. 
          AND THEN RESPOND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          PARTNER. 
          NEXT. 
          LINDSAY ALDRIDGE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. 
          MY NAME IS LINDSAY ALDRICH WALSH. 
          MY HUSBAND, PAT WALSH, WAS THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT UNTIL HIS DEATH FROM GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 2018. 
          HE WAS 45, I WAS 37, AND OUR BABY JULIAN WAS 15 MONTHS OLD. 
          I'M HERE TO REQUEST TO YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE PAT WALSH BIKEWAY. 
          UNDER PAT'S LEADERSHIP, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ADOPTED NOT ONLY ITS FIRST GENERAL PLAN, BUT ALSO ADOPTED THE HOUSTON BIKE PLAN. 
          BOTH OF THESE INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN CRITICAL TO HOUSTON'S REPUTATION AS A CITY WHERE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION EXISTS. 
          THE PAT WALSH BIKEWAY IS A UNIQUE WAY, NOT ONLY TO HONOR PAT'S MEMORY, BUT TO CON CONTINUE HIS LEGACY OF PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION IN HOUSTON. 
          THE BIKEWAY ITSELF IS A SIMPLE CONCEPT. 
          THE COMMUNITY HAS GENERATED THIS PROJECT. 
          IT IS AN EIGHT MILE PATH FROM NORTH TO SOUTH OF HOUSTON, FROM THE HEIGHTS AND NRG, IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CONNECTIONS LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW. 
          THEY RUN AROUND BAYOU EAST TO WEST TO DOWNTOWN. 
          BUT IF YOU IMAGINE HEIGHTS TO ENERGY, IT'S UNCHARTED TERRITORY. 
          IT GOES MAINLY THROUGH DISTRICT C. 
          AND THIS PATHWAY DOES NOT INVOLVE THE CREATION OF NEW BIKE BIKEWAYS ITSELF. 
          IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE ELIMINATION OF ANY DRIVING LANES. 
          THERE'S 
          [01:50:01]
NO TREES EVEN INVOLVED IN THIS, UM, OR ANY OF OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          IT IS INSTEAD IDENTIFY THE IDENTIFICATION OF A PATHWAY THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, EVEN ON THE BIKE PLAN ITSELF. 
          AND IT GIVES A NAME TO IT. 
          AS WE KNOW THERE'S A POWER IN A NAME, IT GOES, WE'RE GONNA GO FROM HERE ON THIS BIKE WAY, AND I'D LIKE IT TO BE NAMED AFTER MY HUSBAND GIVES. 
          IT'S A CRITICAL ORDER. 
          WHY IS, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BIKEWAY THAT CONNECTS A PLACE, ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER? IT PROVIDES A LOT OF SAFETY FOR RIDERS. 
          IF PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GET FROM A TO B USING WAYFINDING, THEY KNOW TO GO DOWN. 
          WOODHEAD WOODHEAD RIGHT NOW IS A LOVELY STREET, THE CORNER OF WESTHEIMER. 
          AND WOODHEAD HAS A NEW BICYCLE TRAFFIC STOP SITE. 
          WE DON'T SEE THAT A LOT IN HOUSTON. 
          THERE'S A STOPLIGHT FOR THE BIKES. 
          IT'S IN FRONT OF LUMIER MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE PAT WENT TO SCHOOL, WHERE MY, OUR SON WILL GO TO SCHOOL. 
          AND IT IDENTIFIES THAT. 
          SO BIKERS KNOW WHERE TO GO. 
          IMPORTANTLY, IT ALSO TELLS DRIVERS WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT WANNA GO OR THEY KNOW THEY CAN GO TO A VI BRACELET BICYCLISTS. 
          SO INCREASED SAFETY NOT ONLY FOR THE BICYCLISTS THEMSELVES, BUT ENSURES THAT DRIVERS KNOW WHERE THE BICYCLISTS ARE GOING TO BE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM AS MUCH. 
          UM, AND SO AGAIN, BY USING ALREADY EXISTING BIKEWAYS, THE CITY, CITY ESTABLISHES THIS CRITICAL THOROUGHFARE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS OR ANY SPENDING AT CAPITAL INVESTMENT OR CHANGES TO THE EXISTING STREETS. 
          AGAIN, IT'S JUST PUTTING A NAME ON SOMETHING THAT ALL EXISTS. 
          UM, THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE UNDER THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTED THIS PROPOSAL, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, INCLUDING THE MONTROSE, TURS AND, UH, WINDLOW PLACE, WHICH IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AS IT GOES THROUGH. 
          AND I'M HAPPY TO GET YOU THOSE LETTERS. 
          UM, PAT LOVED HOUSTON. 
          YOU CAN HAVE SOME MY TIME. 
          YOU HAVE TIME THAT EXPIRED. 
          THE NECKLACE I'M WEARING TODAY WAS A VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT FROM HIM IS THE SKYLINE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON . 
          I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS. 
          IF HE WAS A BAD GIFT GIVER OR HE REALLY LOVED THE CITY THAT MUCH. 
          JULIAN AND I WOULD LOVE FOR PAT'S UNREALIZED VISION FOR THE CITY TO BE MADE PERMANENT. 
          I WOULD LOVE FOR JULIAN TO BE ABLE TO RIDE HIS BIKE, BOTH TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND A BIKEWAY NAME FOR MY DAD. 
          AND WHEN PEOPLE ASKED, ARE YOU RELATED TO THIS PERSON? YOU SAY, YEAH, THAT WAS MY DAD. 
          I DIDN'T KNOW HIM, BUT THIS IS WHAT HE DID FOR THE CITY. 
          JULIAN, I ALSO WANNA THANK THE CITY FOR ITS SUPPORT WHILE PAT WAS DYING AFTER HE DIED. 
          AND TODAY ON THIS PROJECT. 
          THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, LINDSEY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          UH, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, UH, THE, THE WOUND NEVER HEALS. 
          UM, BUT, AND YOU SAID SOMETHING, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THIS. 
          YOU SAID WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST PUTTING A NAME, BUT IT'S NOT ANY NAME. 
          IT'S PAT'S NAME. 
          NO. 
          AND I KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MEANS TO YOUR FAMILY, BUT IT ALSO MEANS SOMETHING TO THE CITY AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT PAT MADE IN THE LEGACY THAT CARRIES THROUGH TODAY. 
          SO I, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, I SAY PUBLICLY AND ON THE RECORD, THAT IT'S NOT JUST A NAME, IT'S PAT'S NAME. 
          AND, UH, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT GIFT AND GIVING US THAT. 
          UH, I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY STANDS BEHIND YOU. 
          OUR OFFICE STANDS BEHIND YOU AND YOUR SON. 
          HOW OLD IS HE NOW? SIX. 
          SIX. 
          SIX. 
          WAIT. 
          SIX AND A HALF. 
          SIX AND A HALF. 
          VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION. 
          UH, SO OUR, OUR LOVE TO HIM. 
          I KNOW HE'S THRIVING AND YOU'RE DOING AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB, UM, AS A MOTHER. 
          UH, BUT YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT YOU. 
          AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH IN COMING. 
          'CAUSE IT, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU LINDSAY FOR COMING. 
          AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED WITH PAT, HE WAS JUST A GREAT GUY. 
          I MEAN, GIVING YOU THE SKYLINE NECKLACE FOR  FOR VALENTINE'S KIND OF SAYS IT ALL. 
          UM, SO I CERTAINLY SUPPORT NAMING THIS, THIS BIKE WAY. 
          AND I THANK YOU FOR OUTLINING WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME A, A, A BIKE WAY. 
          UH, I THINK THAT WAS REALLY, UM, INSTRUCTIVE. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          AND MY BEST TO YOU AND JULIAN, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          UM, I SUPPORT THIS WHENEVER THIS GETS TO CITY COUNCIL. 
          WHAT A SWEET WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR HUSBAND. 
          I MET HIM IN A CROWD. 
          UM, THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE WAS HOSTING STATE OF THE CITY AND HE WAS A PANELIST. 
          AND I REMEMBER HIM TALKING ABOUT THE CITY ADOPTING A PLAN. 
          AND THAT WAS LIKE THE BIG GOAL AT THE TIME. 
          AND I REMEMBER THAT WAS SUCH A DISTINCT CONVERSATION. 
          SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THAT HAPPENED. 
          UM, AND WE HAVE THAT IN HIS MEMORY. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AND THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX, STATE FAIR MOTION PRO TEAM. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADD REGINA RECTOR TO SPEAK NEXT. 
          THOMAS SECOND, UH, VOTE ON THE MOTION. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          OPPOSED NOTE? AYE. 
          [01:55:03]
MS. RECTOR. 
          REGINA RECTOR, UM, MY LIFE IS IN DANGER. 
          I'M TRYING TO GET AT LEAST THREE THINGS OUT THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          THIS STARTED WITH AN ASSAULT IN TULSA, ALLEGED ASSAULT BY THREE TULSA POLICE OFFICERS. 
          IT'S GONE TO, UM, AT LEAST 35 COUNTS OF POLICE HARASSMENT, ALLEGED POLICE HARASSMENT EVEN IN HOUSTON. 
          SO IN HOUSTON IT'S ABOUT 35. 
          AND AT THIS POINT, UH, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TELL YOU IS, UM, UH, A DEVICE WAS PUT IN MY BODY. 
          IT ALLEGEDLY USES ME FOR SEX TRAFFICKING OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
          UM, AND I'M HOMELESS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE, THE INITIAL, UH, HARASSMENT. 
          PLEASE PROTECT ME FROM THE POLICE. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND RHONDA, MS. SALTER, WILL YOU ASSIST WITH THIS, UH, RESIDENT? THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          THIS LADY'S GONNA VISIT WITH YOU. 
          IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SPEAK TO DISTRICT F? LET, THANK YOU. 
          IS THIS POSSIBLE? YES MA'AM. 
          MAYOR, WOULD YOU ALLOW ME? YES MA'AM. 
          YES MA, IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO, YOU CAN SPEAK WITH MS. RHONDA AND THEN MY CHIEF OF STAFF WILL, UM, COME OUT THERE. 
          HE'S TALKED TO YOU EARLIER TODAY. 
          AND THEN I'LL COME OUT AFTERWARDS. 
          CAN I WRAP UP THE MEETING AND YOU'LL BE WITH MS. RHONDA? I'LL WAIT. 
          MAY I WAIT OUT THERE WITH, SO YOU COME WITH MS. RHONDA PLEASE SO THEY CAN GET STARTED ON SOME RESOURCES. 
          OKAY. 
          I'LL BE OUT THERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          DO I HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE ROOM? JUST CALL THIS LADY RIGHT HERE. 
          MS. RHONDA WILL HELP YOU. 
          MM-HMM . 
          I HAVE TO, RIGHT? YES MA'AM. 
          TO GET TO HELP YOU. 
          WE WANT TO GIVE YOU RIGHT OVER HERE. 
          SIR, I'M SCARED, MA'AM, I'M SCARED WE'RE NOT GOING. 
          WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE FOR YOU. 
          SO TALK TO MS. RHONDA AND WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE. 
          THIS LADY RIGHT HERE, PLEASE SAY NEXT. 
          MICHELLE EIGEN BAR. 
          THE DOCUMENT THAT I'M PASSING OUT SPEAKS ABOUT THE ILLEGAL CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS HAPPENING BEHIND THE TERRACE WATCH LIST TODAY. 
          SO I CAME HERE REGARDING POLICE HARASSMENT SIX MONTHS AGO. 
          EVENTS THAT UNFORTUNATELY CONTINUE TO OCCUR TO THIS DAY. 
          AND WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME WAS THE REASON WHY I WAS BEING ARBITRARILY INVESTIGATED ALONG WITH THE AGGRESSIVE MEASURES THAT THEY WERE TAKING TO DO. 
          SO THIS LED ME TO FINDING THE DEEP CORRUPTION HAPPENING BEHIND THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST TODAY. 
          SO THERE'S THREE COMPONENTS TO THE TERRACE WATCH LIST. 
          THERE'S THE NO-FLY LIST, THE SELECTEE LIST AND THE KST FILE, WHICH NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF. 
          AND WITHIN THE KST FILE, THERE'S THREE SUBCATEGORIES. 
          ONE OF THEM BEING A SILENT HIT LIST FOR NON INVESTIGATIVE SUBJECTS. 
          A LIST THAT'S BEEN KNOWN TO CATCH MANY UNSUSPECTING INNOCENT AMERICAN CIVILIANS THAT INCLUDING WHISTLEBLOWERS JOURNALISTS, AND NOW DOWN TO STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITIES, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A WHISTLEBLOWER, A JOURNALIST, A NEWS REPORTER, WOULD PURPORT A NEXUS TO TERRORISM AS THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT FOR INCLUSION INTO THIS SUBSET. 
          UM, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS LIST IS NOT ONLY ILLEGAL, BUT IT'S BEING USED FOR PURPOSES THAT GO DIRECTLY AGAINST THE HSPD SIX EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE PRECEDENT IN 2003 THAT STATED THAT THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED IN A MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND APPLICABLE LAWS. 
          THAT'S WHAT WAS STATED IN THE, IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IN 2003. 
          UM, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ONLY GAVE THEM A SCREENING TOOL FOR KNOWN AND SUSPECTED TERRORIST, NOT THE AUTHORIZATION TO DEVIATE FROM THAT AND CREATE A SILENT HIT LIST FOR NON INVESTIGATIVE SUBJECTS TO WHICH ALL FORMS OF INVASIVE SURVEILLANCE INFILTRATION AND STING OPERATIONS ARE UTILIZED AGAINST THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAVE ENLISTED INTO THE SUBSET. 
          UM, AND IT'S OFTEN THROUGH A METHOD CALLED GANG SOCKING. 
          AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND THAT, BUT IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE OPERATIONS THAT WERE UTILIZED WITHIN THE AZI SECRET POLICE. 
          AND I DO HAVE DOCUMENTS, UM, DID THEY PASS OUT THE WHISTLE? YEAH. 
          SO, UM, I PASSED OUT DOCUMENTS FROM THE FORMER HEAD OF FBI THAT WHISTLE BLOWED ABOUT THE REALITIES OF THAT ILLEGAL CLANDESTINE OPERATION THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED AGAINST THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAVE 
          [02:00:01]
ENLISTED INTO THE SUBSET. 
          UM, AND ONE MAY ARGUE THOUGH BY THE USE OF THESE PROCEDURES THAT INSTEAD OF PREVENTING TERRORISM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY ELICITING IT, SUBJECTING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO ALL FORMS OF ABUSIVE SURVEILLANCE HARASSMENT CAMPAIGNS THAT ALONG WITH UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT, OFTEN INDUCING THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO THEY HAVE ENLISTED TO ACTUALLY COMMITTING CRIMES INSTEAD OF PREVENTING THEM. 
          AND THAT IS THE REALITY NOW FOR THE 400,000 PEOPLE THAT THE FBI HAS ON THE WATCH LIST TODAY, AS MOST OF THEM ARE LISTED AS NON INVESTIGATIVE SUBJECTS. 
          THESE ARE, THESE ARE OFTEN TIMES INNOCENT AMERICAN CIVILIANS WHO OFTENTIMES HAVE NO RELATION TO TERRORISM AT ALL OR EVEN A CRIMINAL PAST AS THAT WAS REVEALED IN THE MOST RECENT DOJ AUTO REPORT THAT FOUND THAT 99 POINT 71% OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAVE ON THE WATCH LIST TODAY HAVE NO RELATION TO TERRORISM. 
          ALL WITH ONLY POINT 29% OF ITS RECORDS ACTUALLY BELONGING TO KNOWN INSPECTED TERRORISTS. 
          AND THAT'S FOR THE 400,000 PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE WATCH LIST TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          MM-HMM . 
          ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION. 
          WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          I DID PASS OUT THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE FORMER HEAD OF FBI THAT WHISTLE BLOWED AND TALKED ABOUT THE REALITIES OF THAT CLIN DOES SIGN OPERATION. 
          THAT'S ILLEGAL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          BE SAFE. 
          BE SAFE. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          BYE-BYE. 
          LOIS MYERS, THIS ONE. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          I FEEL THAT WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH ALL OF YOU FOR SERVING. 
          UM, IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB. 
          I AM HERE OUT OF FRUSTRATION BECAUSE TWO THINGS REAL QUICK. 
          ONE IS THE DRAINAGE ISSUE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THE OTHER IS MY STANCE ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE CAUSED CRIME. 
          UM, NUMBER ONE, UM, THE DRAINAGE ISSUE. 
          I'M A FLOOD VICTIM OF THREE TIMES SINCE OH NINE CAUSED BY THE, UH, TIER 17 SLASH CITY OF HOUSTON DEVELOPERS AND OVERNIGHT, HUNDREDS OF HOMES NORTH AND SOUTH OF I 10 BORDERING THE TOURIST TERRITORY FLOODED BY MANMADE FLOODING 'CAUSE THERE WERE NO DETENTION PONDS, WHICH THEY PROMISED TO PUT IN AND EGREGIOUSLY FLOOD ENGINEERING STUDIES THAT THEY USED. 
          WE FOUGHT BACK HARD, WE CAME DOWN HERE. 
          IT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS AND THE NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION. 
          WE WENT TO ALL THESE MEETINGS AND FINALLY WE GOT THE, UM, TOUR 17 AND THE CITY TO DO A $20 MILLION CIP PROJECT THAT THEY'RE STILL FINISHING. 
          BUT HERE'S MY POINT. 
          IN THE MEANTIME, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL OF THESE GREAT BIG HOMES ARE BEING BUILT OVER 55% OF THE LAND THAT USED. 
          WE, WE HAVE LITTLE HOUSES ON SMALL LOTS THAT WERE BUILT IN THE SIXTIES. 
          AND SO WHAT IS THE, AFTER HARVEY PW WAS GOING TO, UM, REVAMPED THE, UH, COMMERCIAL DRAINAGE LAWS AND BUILDING LAWS, WHICH THEY DID. 
          BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL IF THEY HAVEN'T MADE THE NEW LAWS? I HAVE BEEN ASKING SINCE NOVEMBER TO HAVE A CITY INSPECTOR TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT THESE HOMES. 
          BUILT TWO HOUSES AWAY FROM ME. 
          I HAVE YET TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME OUT AND I'VE CONTACT, THIS IS A CHAIN OF EMAILS FOR YOU MAYOR, WHERE NOBODY HAS COME OUT TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT ARE THESE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR LAWS? AND IF NOT, WHY NOT? OKAY. 
          SO I WOULD OFFER, UH, DR. 
          EDMUND RUSSO, WHO I WORKED WITH TO WRITE UP THE SUBMISSION ON HIS PLAN ON HOW TO GET THE FLOODING IN HOUSTON FIXED. 
          HE IS THEIR TOP ENGINEER DOWN IN GALVESTON. 
          HE'S NOW IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI WORKING ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 
          HE WAS PUT IN CHARGE TO FIX THE, UH, LEVEES IN AFTER KATRINA. 
          THIS IS A BRILLIANT ENGINEER AND HE HAS A PLAN TO FIX HOUSTON. 
          SO I WORKED WITH HIM FOR A MONTH IN OH 18, WROTE UP HIS PLAN, SUBMITTED IT ON THEIR WEBSITE. 
          THE ARMY CORPS WEBSITE. 
          WENT TO THE CITY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY IN DC TO BE PICKED OUT. 
          HE, HE DIDN'T PICK IT TO BE PRESENTED TO THE, UM, CONGRESS WHO WOULD APPROPRIATE AND HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, DR. RUSSO 'CAUSE THEY SAID IT, IT'S BEEN PRESENTED BEFORE. 
          NO, HE SAID IT HASN'T. 
          SO THAT'S MY PART IN THE DRAINAGE SO THAT WE WON'T GET FLOODED AGAIN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          I, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE LAWS FOR CURRENT RESIDENTIAL DRAIN, UH, AND BUILDING AND DRAINAGE OUTSIDE SIX 10 LOOP. 
          AND CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE COME FROM THE CITY INSPECTOR TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT THIS AND I'VE GOT NO PLACE WITH IT. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HAS A QUESTION. 
          [02:05:01]
CONGRESS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          HI LOUIS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. 
          UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED OVER, UM, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT FLOOD MITIGATION IMPROVEMENTS IN AND AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT OF COURSE THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO. 
          UM, SO WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AROUND YOUR HOUSE. 
          I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS AT LEAST LOOKED AT THE PLANS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLANS FOLLOWED THE ORDINANCES IN PLACE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK PUBLIC WORKS TO GO AND INVESTIGATE IT AND MADE MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT ACCORDING TO PLANS. 
          SO WE'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU TO WORK ON THAT. 
          AS FAR AS THE ORDINANCE CHANGES, THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES OVER THE YEARS AS FAR AS FLOOD MITIGATION. 
          THE PROBLEM IS A LOT OF THE AREA, UM, AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT ACTUALLY IN THE FLOODPLAIN EVEN THOUGH IT FLOODS. 
          AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IS, AS YOU KNOW, IN SPRING BRANCH, A LOT OF THE AREAS THAT FLOOD ARE NOT ACTUALLY IN THE FLOODPLAIN. 
          THAT MIGHT CHANGE AFTER THE NEW MAPS COME OUT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN ADDRESSING FLOOD MITIGATION AS A WHOLE IN SPRING BRANCH THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER AREAS LIKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MIGHT NOT QUALIFY. 
          SO WE'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU. 
          WELL, MY PROPERTY IS AT 78 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL AND THE HIGHEST IN HOUSTON IS 90 FEET. 
          WE SHOULDN'T BE FLOODING AND IT'S MANMADE AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE. 
          BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, HAVE THERE BEEN MADE NEW DRAIN, UH, RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AND DRAINAGE LAWS OUTSIDE SIX 10 LOOP? AND WHERE ARE THEY? COULD THEY BE POSTED ON THE, ARE THEY NEW? HAVE THEY BEEN CHANGED SINCE HARVEY? CAN WE POST THEM ON THE CITY WEBSITE WHERE WE CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE? UH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CHANGED, THEY NEED TO BE BECAUSE 80% OF THE FLOODING WAS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN HARVEY HARVEY, 80%. 
          SO WE'VE GOT THESE OLD NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE THAT BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THESE LITTLE HOUSES. 
          AND NOW WE'RE GETTING THESE GREAT BIG HOUSES. 
          WHERE'S THE DRAINAGE? WE'RE GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, TURN 17 TOOK TO A STEP FORWARD. 
          NOW WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE RESIDENTS, IT'S GOING TWO STEPS BACKWARDS. 
          WE'RE GONNA BE FLOODING ALL OVER HOUSTON IF THIS ISN'T, UH, GOTTEN IN CONTROL. 
          THANKS LIZ. 
          WE'LL GET WITH YOU TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THE ORDINANCES AND THE INFORMATION HERE. 
          HERE'S MY CHAIN OF EMAILS. 
          OF ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE BEEN CONTACTING TO PLEASE HAVE A CITY INSPECTOR COME OUT AND TALK WITH THESE MAMMOTH HOUSES RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ME. 
          WHERE'S THE DRAINAGE? THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW. 
          WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE THIS COPY, SIR? YES MA'AM. 
          RENEE CAN MAKE COPY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MY HOME WAS INVADED TWICE IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. 
          I WAS AT THE HOUSE. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          POLICE ARE WONDERFUL. 
          I APPRECIATE YOUR PUTTING MORE ON THE STREETS, BUT THE BORDER'S GOTTA BE CLOSED OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING HERE. 
          AND I COULD GIVE YOU OTHER INSTANCES WHERE MY FAMILY KNOWS PEOPLE. 
          THEY'VE BEEN SAVAGELY, KNIFED TO DEATH, THE WHOLE FAMILY BY ILLEGAL MS. 13 DAY, WE'VE GOT TO CLOSE THE BORDER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, BE SAFE. 
          NEXT. 
          AMAYA BROWN. 
          OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS AMAYA, A SECOND YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT. 
          TODAY I AM HERE TO PLEAD WITH THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF OUR HOUSTON REPRESENTATIVES TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. 
          I WANT TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TOWARDS YOU WHO HAVE DONE SO ALREADY, BUT NOW I URGENTLY IMPLORE THE REST OF YOU TO DO THE SAME. 
          WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT AN OVERSEAS ISSUE? WILL? THE REALITY IS THAT OUR AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS FUEL THIS TRAGEDY WITHOUT THEM. 
          OVER 30,000 INNOCENT PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS, INCLUDING OVER 20,000 WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED ON OUR DIME WITHOUT THEM, ALMOST 2 MILLION GAZEN CITIZENS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN VIOLENTLY DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES. 
          AS A MEDICAL STUDENT, I AM DEEPLY DISTURBED WITH THE REALITY THAT THANKS TO OUR FUNDING, EVERY OPERATIONAL HOSPITAL IN GAZA HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OBLITERATED, LEAVING CITIZENS WITHOUT VITAL MEDICAL CARE. 
          WOMEN CURRENTLY FACE THE INDIGNITY OF LACKING MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AND ARE CONTRACTING LIFE THREATENING INFECTIONS AS A RESULT OF BEING FORCED TO MAKE SANITARY PADS. 
          OUT OF TENT SCRAPS. 
          STARVING CITIZENS ARE RESORTING TO EATING, LEAVES ARE SIFTING THROUGH ANIMAL FEED TO MAKE FLOUR. 
          THERE ARE CHILDREN DYING FROM CARDIAC ARREST DUE TO THE CONSTANT FEAR OF THE BOMBINGS, WHILE OTHERS FACE THE GRIM REALITY OF FREEZING TO DEATH THIS WINTER, THANKS TO OUR TAX DOLLARS. 
          REFLECTING ON HISTORY, I OFTEN WONDERED HOW SLAVERY AND THE HOLOCAUST PERSISTED FOR SO LONG. 
          BUT NOW I UNDERSTAND SO VERY 
          [02:10:01]
CLEARLY. 
          IT IS THROUGH THE SILENCE AND COMPLICITY OF SOCIETY. 
          SO I WANNA POSE THIS QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU SITTING BEFORE ME TODAY. 
          HOW MANY MORE PALESTINIANS HAVE TO DIE BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO USE YOUR PRIVILEGE, POWER, AND INFLUENCE? TO PUT A STOP TO THIS, HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE BURIED UNDER THE RUBBLE, BLOWN TO PIECES AND DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO TAKE A STAND? CHANGE CAN BEGIN HERE AT HOME WITH THE RESOUNDING CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. 
          I PLEAD WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO MAKE THE CHOICE FOR JUSTICE, TRUTH, AND HUMANITY. 
          ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT WHEN THE EVENTS IN GAZA BECOME A CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY TEXTBOOKS ONE DAY, THOSE WHO REMAIN SILENT WILL REGRET NOT STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. 
          WHEN YOU HAVE TO ONE DAY LOOK INTO THE FACES OF YOUR KIDS AND YOUR GRANDKIDS AND TELL THEM YOU REMAIN SILENT AND DID NOTHING, AND THE FACE OF A MASS MURDER THAT YOU HAD THE POWER TO HELP STOP, YOU'LL BE FULL OF SHAME. 
          AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF NONSTOP BOMBINGS AND SENSELESS SLAUGHTER, THERE ARE ONLY TWO OPTIONS LEFT. 
          STAND ON THE SIDE OF JUSTICE OR BE COMPLICIT IN A GENOCIDE FOREVER CARRYING THE BLOOD OF THE PALESTINIANS ON YOUR HANDS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, AMAYA. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. 
          NEXT SPEAKER TAMINA ZEKI TAMINA. 
          NEXT SPEAKER STEVEN. 
          KEVIN STEVEN CAVEN. 
          NEXT SPEAKER LILY GRANDVILLE. 
          LILY GRANDVILLE. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS LI. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          SORRY ABOUT THAT. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS LILY GRANDVILLE. 
          I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO KEEP FROM BEING HOMELESS. 
          TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. 
          I AM A STUDENT IN SCHOOL. 
          I AM DISABLED AND LIKE A SONG USED TO SAY, SORRY, I DON'T LOOK LIKE WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH. 
          UM, I'VE BEEN STAYING AT THE REGENCY LOFT. 
          I POURED IT INTO HOUSTON BY WAY OF HOUSING. 
          I SUBMITTED MY PAPERWORK AND DOCUMENTS TO HOUSING JUNE THE 2020 THIRD AT 6, 6, 7, JUNE 23RD. 
          I CONTINUED TO HAVE A CONSISTENTLY FLOW OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOUSTON FOR HOUSING PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM NOT ONLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR LAWS, THEIR BYLAWS THAT I'M DOING WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO. 
          EIGHT MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND THEY HAVE NOT PAID MY HOUSE, MY RENT EIGHT MONTHS. 
          I HEARD SOMEONE SPEAKING EARLIER ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. 
          I HEARD SOMEONE SPEAKING EARLIER ABOUT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PLANS AND THINGS IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS. 
          I ALSO EMAILED THE HOUSTON HOUSING DEPARTMENT NUMEROUS OF TIMES, ALSO ALLOWED THE DIVISION OF HUD TO STEP IN TO KIND OF ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER. 
          AND WE ARE STILL AT A STAGNATED STANCE. 
          THEN THEY TELL ME THAT, MS. GRANDVILLE, YOUR VOUCHER IS COUNSEL. 
          I ASK THEM, WHAT MERITS ARE YOU COUNSELING MY VOUCHER ON? DIDN'T GIVE A REASON. 
          HOWEVER, I STAND BEFORE THE HOUSTON COUNCIL ASKING THAT YOU GUYS WILL MAKE LEADERSHIP MORE ACCOUNTABLE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHERE THEY'RE HELPING CITIZENS. 
          NOT ALL OF US. 
          'CAUSE WE LOOK A CERTAIN WAY. 
          GOT IT. 
          LIKE THAT. 
          AND IT'S SAD THAT PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO PUT PEOPLE IN A CATEGORY AND I ASKED THEM NICELY, HEY, YOU GOT EMAILS? YOU GOT UH, MY DOCUMENTS, YOU GOT MY, MY, UM, REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS SNAP BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY, DISABILITY, DISABILITY, PAPERWORK. 
          AND HERE YOU ARE, EIGHT MONTHS LATER, I'M LOOKING FOR PROGRAMS TO TRY TO FUND ME TO GET MY RENT PAID WHEN I'M ALREADY HAVING A VOUCHER THAT I SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSTON FOR HOUSING APARTMENT MS. MS. GRANVILLE. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UH, WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED THEY EMAILED IT TO YOU ABOUT ONE 30 TODAY. 
          UH, THEY EMAILED ME A COPY, ASKING ME A VOUCHER. 
          THEY ASKED ME TO SIGN WHAT ALL DUE RESPECT, MAYOR. 
          I SUBMITTED THAT DOCUMENT BACK TO THEM AND I ASKED THEM, NOW THAT I SUBMITTED THIS V DOCUMENT, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? BECAUSE MY RENT HAS BEEN PAID SINCE JUNE. 
          THEY'VE HAD DOCUMENTS SINCE JUNE THE 23RD, JULY AND AUGUST. 
          SO I'M KIND OF CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THIS POINT. 
          OUR, OUR NOTE SAYS YOU NEED TO SIGN, SIGN THE APPLICATION AND RETURN IT. 
          I, I HAD A DOCUMENT THAT I SIGNED IT. 
          I ALREADY RETURNED IT. 
          I HAD AN EMAIL THAT I SHOWED. 
          I KNOW, BUT, BUT, BUT THEY'RE ASKING TODAY. 
          SO I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE HISTORY. 
          BUT THE HOUSING, WELL, I HAVE, IF, IF I MAY, I'M, AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE. 
          LET ME GIVE THIS THAT THEY CAN PASS IT OUT AND YOU CAN JUST KIND OF SEE HOW ABOUT YES, MA'AM. 
          RENEE CAN TALK TO HER. 
          [02:15:03]
WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE VISIT WITH YOU. 
          LIKE RIGHT NOW? YES, SIR. 
          RENEE. 
          OKAY. 
          THIS GENTLEMAN WILL, WILL GET YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED. 
          BUT I, I SUBMITTED THE DOCUMENTS THEY SENT AT ONE AT ONE O'CLOCK. 
          I SUBMITTED THOSE BACK SIGNED SEAL AND DELIVERED TO YOU. 
          YEAH. 
          I, I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND, BUT I'M JUST SHOWING THE NOTICES THAT THEY EMAILED IT TO YOU TODAY. 
          YES. 
          THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY THAT'S WORKED FOR MS. WILSON'S NAME. 
          SHE GAVE ME THE PAPERWORK AND I SUBMITTED TO HER THAT, THAT GENTLEMAN'S GONNA GET YOU THROUGH THE RED TAPE. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THANKS. 
          NEXT HAS ZERO RA BMA. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS RA. 
          I AM A SEVENTH GRADER AND I AM ONE OF OVER 65,000 NIGERIAN AMERICANS OF GREATER HOUSTON, THE LARGEST NIGERIAN COMMUNITY IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES. 
          I FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING HERE TODAY BECAUSE COUNCILWOMAN TIFFANY THOMAS SAID, DIVERSITY MEANS ACKNOWLEDGING ISSUES FROM FAR AWAY COMMUNITIES. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. 
          TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE NIGERIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE OF MEIN IN DISTRICT J, WHERE THOUSANDS OF NIGERIAN AMERICAN MUSLIMS WORSHIP. 
          AND IF THERE'S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MY NIGERIAN COMMUNITY IS THAT WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE. 
          FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, OUR FRIDAY SPEECHES, OUR DISCUSSION CIRCLES AND OUR COMMUNITY GATHERINGS HAVE BEEN ALL IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE. 
          NO OTHERS, NO OTHER ISSUES MATTER. 
          WHILE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN PALESTINE ARE BEING DISPLACED, STARVED, AND KILLED, THERE'S ONE VERSE FROM THE RN THAT TALKS ABOUT DIVERSITY, THAT THE NIGERIANS OF MY COMMUNITY STAND BY. 
          AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECITE IT TO YOU TODAY IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ALLOW A, IN ENGLISH, THIS MEANS ALL PEOPLE. 
          WE CREATED YOU FROM A MALE AND A FEMALE, AND MADE YOU RACIST AND TRIBE THAT YOU MAY KNOW ONE ANOTHER. 
          THE BEST AMONG YOU IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS THE MOST RIGHTEOUS, RARELY GOD IS ALL KNOWING OMNISCIENT. 
          WHAT THIS VERSE MEANS TO ME IS THAT WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND THAT ALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL, BUT THE BEST OF THEM ARE THE ONES WHO DO GOOD DEEDS AND HELP OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE IN NEED. 
          I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, THAT YOU REPRESENT ALL OF US IN HOUSTON. 
          WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF DIFFERENT RACES AND BACKGROUNDS. 
          I ASK YOU, ALL OF YOU, WILL YOU FAIRLY REPRESENT YOUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE AS IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT NRA HEER. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS NRA AND I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE. 
          I AM A PART OF THE SECOND LARGEST PAKISTANI COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. 
          THAT IS WHY I HAVE WORN MY TRADITIONAL CLOTHING. 
          IT IS CALLED . 
          I'VE WARN IT TO REPRESENT THE PAKISTANI COMMUNITY. 
          WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IS THAT MY COMMUNITY STANDS WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN PALESTINE. 
          OUR FAITH TEACHES US THAT IF YOU SEE INJUSTICE, STOP IT WITH YOUR HAND. 
          IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO, THEN STOP IT WITH YOUR MOUTH. 
          AND IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, HATE IT IN YOUR HEART. 
          AND THAT IS THE LOWEST LEVEL OF FAITH. 
          TODAY, I'LL USE MY VOICE TO SPEAK UP FOR THE SILENCED PEOPLE. 
          IN ZA 
          [02:20:01]
COUNCILWOMAN PLUMBER IS WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON HAS CLEAN AIR AND REMOVING CANCEROUS CHEMICALS AWAY FROM THE HOUSTONIANS. 
          SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT I THANK HER FOR PROTECTING THE PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, JUST LIKE WE DESERVE CLEAN AIR AND WATER. 
          SO DO THE PEOPLE OF ZA. 
          SADLY, THE CHILDREN OF RDA HAVE HAD PHOSPHORUS BOMBS RAIN DOWN A POWDERY WHITE SUBSTANCE AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          IT CAUSES BURNS THAT PENETRATE DOWN TO THE BONE AND IS SLOW TO HEAL. 
          WHEN KIDS INHALE IT, IT DAMAGES THEIR ORGANS AND CAN CAUSE A PAINFUL DEATH. 
          NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE EXPOSED TO THIS CHEMICAL THAT IS JUST CRUEL. 
          COUNCILWOMAN PLUMBER AND THOMAS HAVE DONE THEIR PART TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS AND HAVE LENDED THEIR VOICES TO THE PEOPLE OF RDA. 
          THEY ARE TRUE LEADERS, AND I RESPECT THEM FOR THEIR STRONG LEADERSHIP. 
          SO TODAY, I USE MY VOICE TO DEMAND THE REST OF HUI HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. 
          JOIN THESE TWO POWERFUL WOMEN AND STAND WITH THE PAKISTANI COMMUNITY IN CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT HAR BID. 
          DEAR CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS HARON BMAS AND I'M A FOURTH GRADER. 
          I'M A NIGERIAN AMERICAN, AND THAT'S WHY I WEAR MY UBA AND MY PANTS, WHICH IS CALLED KOTA AND MY FILA HAT TO SHOW YOU TODAY. 
          IN MY FREE TIME, I PLAY SOCCER ALL DAY AND EVERY DAY THEY NEED. 
          BUT TODAY I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE KIDS IN ZA. 
          THEY NEED MY HELP AND YOUR HELP. 
          I LEARNED A VERSE FROM THE KORAN THAT TELLS ME THAT THE KIDS IN ZA ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 
          OUR AND MY AND MY SISTER WILL TRANSLATE IT. 
          MY BROTHER JUST RECITED THE FOLLOWING FROM THE RN, I SEEK REFUGE IN GOD FROM SATAN. 
          IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL, THE BELIEVERS, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE, ARE PROTECTORS OF ONE ANOTHER. 
          TODAY I CAME HERE TO BE A HELPER AND PROTECTOR FOR THE KIDS IN ZA BECAUSE THE CHILDREN IN ZA CAN'T PLAY SOCCER ANYMORE. 
          THEY HAVE NO SHOES OR CLEATS, NOR JERSEYS OR SOCCER BALLS. 
          IT IS ALL UNDER THE RUBBLE. 
          THEIR SOCCER FIELDS ARE NOT SAFE. 
          MANY OF THEIR COACHES AND TEAMMATES HAVE PASSED AWAY. 
          I KNOW YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, WHY SHOULD I CARE? BECAUSE I'M A NIGERIAN AMERICAN. 
          AFTER ALL, I'M A NIGERIAN AMERICAN WHO LIVES ALL THE, IN THE UNITED STATES AND HOUSTON. 
          BUT IT IS HARD FOR ME TO ENJOY PLAYING SOCCER WHEN THE KIDS AND ZA CANNOT. 
          THEY ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN MY RELIGION. 
          WE BELIEVE THAT IF ANY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE IN PAIN, THEN WE ARE ALL IN PAIN UNTIL THEY FEEL BETTER. 
          THAT IS WHY I CAME HERE TODAY TO, TO, UM, URGE YOU TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE SO THE KIDS IN THE WORLD THAT CAN PLAY SOCCER AGAIN, JUST LIKE ME. 
          THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT. 
          BROOKE HOTEZ. 
          BROOKE ES IS NOT PRESENT. 
          FREDERICK GLENN. 
          FREDERICK GLENN IS NOT PRESENT. 
          ALI ABDUL GNY. 
          ALI ABDUL GNY IS NOT PRESENT. 
          RA ANI OSCAR ARIANA 
          [02:25:04]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARCUS ADAMS. . 
          GOOD. 
          UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. 
          THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE SEEN YOU, UH, IN PERSON. 
          UH, WE USUALLY ONLY SEE YOUR FACES ON THE, THE LEAFLETS WHEN DURING ELECTION TIME. 
          , I'M A 40-YEAR-OLD. 
          UH, I'M SORRY. 
          I I'VE BEEN AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A RESIDENT FOR 40 YEARS. 
          MAGNOLIA. 
          I'VE LIVED IN MAGNOLIA FOR 40 YEARS, AND I HAVE INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          FOR MANY YEARS, WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MASON PARK, HOUSTON. 
          THE PARK IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PARKS IN HOUSTON. 
          AND AT THE MOMENT, IT, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S, UH, THE ONE THAT GIVES THE MOST HEARTACHE GRAND BECAUSE I FEEL ASHAMED THAT SUCH A LARGE PARK IS NOT BEING TREATED CORRECTLY. 
          I'VE SPOKEN TO EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT E AND I VOLUNTEERED FOR THEM, BUT THEY ALL SAY THE SAME. 
          AND WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR, UH, THEY WOULD RESPOND. 
          AND WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR A MILLION DOLLARS TO FALL FROM THE SKY. 
          BUT WE DON'T NEED A MILLION DOLLARS TO FIX THE PARK. 
          BUT WE ALL REALLY NEED TO DO IS START TO WORK EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED. 
          WE HAVE THE MATERIALS FOR, FOR, TO FIX MASON PARK. 
          AND BETWEEN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE THE MATERIALS THAT WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT THE PART, BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE IT. 
          SO TODAY'S THE DAY THAT I'VE DECIDED TO COME IN AND ASK FOR A SOLUTION. 
          I BROUGHT SOME PHOTOGRAPHS AND I BROUGHT, I BROUGHT THE PHOTOS TO SHOW TO EVERYBODY. 
          UM, IF THEY DON'T BRING SORROW, LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS, WHEN THE CHILDREN COME OUTTA PLAY, THEY GET LOST BECAUSE THERE, THERE ARE HOLES EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE PARK. 
          THE COMMUNITY CENTER HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR FIVE YEARS AND EVERYBODY KEEPS EXPLAINING THE SAME, THAT THERE'S NO MONEY. 
          SO, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. 
          ONLY WHEN THERE'S MONEY IS THERE, IS THERE TIME TO CORRECT THINGS? BUT I'M GONNA ASK A FAVOR. 
          OF ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, HE'S ASKING THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S A COUNCIL MEMBER COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOUR FACES AND GET TO KNOW YOU. 
          I HAVE FAMILY ALL ACROSS THE CITY, AND WE ASKED THEM, WHO'S YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER? AND THEY RESPONDED, WE DON'T KNOW. 
          HE SAYS THAT IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET OUR SHOES DIRTY AND TO WALK THE NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE, 
          [02:30:01]
AND SO THAT WE COULD BE ASHAMED WHEN, WHEN WE DO NOTHING. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CHAIR MARTINEZ. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. 
          SO, UH, JUST, UH, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT TRANSLATION THERE, BUT THANK YOU MARTA. 
          UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO ALSO ECHO A LITTLE BIT OF THE FRUSTRATIONS. 
          SO POST COVID, THIS COMMUNITY CENTER WAS SHUT DOWN. 
          IT HAD ROOF ISSUES, AND WE HAD THE FREEZE THAT EVEN MORE SO EXAGGERATED THOSE ISSUES. 
          UM, THE COMMUNITY CENTER HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR FIVE YEARS. 
          WE, IT IS IN THE CIP, UH, AND IT IS, UH, IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW. 
          UH, MY ASK FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS HOW CAN WE HELP EXPEDITE THIS? WE DID TRY AND SEARCH FOR DOLLARS AT THE STATE LEVEL, UH, THE LAST LEGI LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PARK DOLLARS, UH, THROUGH TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE. 
          SO YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT, UM, NOT ONLY IN ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT THERE IS A MASTER PLAN THAT WE, WE DID, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS FOR IN 2017. 
          UH, WE DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE. 
          UH, I KNOW MCGREGOR JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED ABOUT $32 MILLION. 
          UH, WE'D LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS, UH, COME INTO, UH, DISTRICT I AND SPECIFICALLY THE, THE MASON PARK, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARK. 
          UM, IT'S, UH, FOUR DIFFERENT PHASES. 
          UH, SO WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SEE SOME OF THAT COME TO FRUITION. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          MARCUS ADAMS. MARCUS ADAMS IS NOT PRESENT. 
          RACHEL PALMER HOOPER. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UM, MY NAME IS RACHEL HOOPER AND I'M A PARTNER AT BAKER HOSTETLER. 
          I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT I, BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT DISTRICT H AND SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE I REPRESENT. 
          UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON USED FEDERAL DOLLARS FROM THE SALE OF CLAYTON HOMES TO PURCHASE CONTAMINATED LAND IN DISTRICT H IN VIOLATION OF HUD RULES. 
          THIS LANDLOCKED CONTAMINATED LAND SHARES A FENCE WITH AN ACTIVE LEAD SMELTING PLANT AND A SUPERFUND SITE, AND IS ADJACENT TO A SEVERELY CONTAMINATED NON-REM REMEDIATED TRASH INCINERATOR OWNED BY THE CITY. 
          THE STATE OF TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER ISSUED VIOLATIONS TO THE CITY AND ITS PARTNER IN RRP FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTIFICATION OF ASH UNCOVERED DURING CONSTRUCTION AND FAILURE TO ENSURE THE PREVENTION OF AN IMMINENT THREAT OF DISCHARGE OF INDUSTRIAL SOLID WASTE. 
          THE STATE OF TEXAS RAISED SKEPTICISM THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONTAMINATED PROPERTY WAS ACCURATE. 
          AND SO, 
          [02:35:01]
TO BE CLEAR, WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS TO PUSH THE PROJECT THROUGH WITH THE NECESSARY PERMITS. 
          THE CITY AND NRP SAID THAT THERE WAS NO CONTAMINATION WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH THERE'S ASH, SO IT, IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S A TOXIC AREA. 
          UM, THE CITY AND NRP SAID A VALID STUDY WAS DONE, A TRAFFIC STUDY WAS DONE, AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE. 
          AND THERE'S AN ADJACENT RADIO TOWER THAT THEY SAID WAS 300 FEET TALL. 
          THE TRUTH IS THE RADIO TOWER IS 300 METERS TALL, WHICH IS ALMOST A THOUSAND FEET. 
          THAT'S THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS HIGH. 
          THE CITY UNFORTUNATELY IGNORED THESE FACTS AND RUSH TO BUILD THIS DANGEROUS PROJECT. 
          AND IN A FEW YEARS, THOSE ARE THE WORDS THAT YOU COULD HEAR IN A COURTROOM IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE. 
          CITIZEN ACTIVISTS HAVE WARNED THE CITY ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED. 
          AND I AM HERE TODAY TO JUST LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEFORE THERE'S ANOTHER CANCER CLUSTER, BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST, BEFORE FAMILIES ARE CHANGED FOREVER. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU RACHEL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, YOU BROUGHT SOME INFORMATION THAT, UH, WAS NEW TO ME TO HERE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT ON THE TOWER, HOW WAS IT FOUND OUT THAT THE DISCREPANCY IN THE HEIGHT WAS THERE? SURE. 
          IT'S ON THE INTERNET. 
          SO, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOWER, UM, ON THE INTERNET, UH, THE FCC, THERE'S A REPORT THAT SAYS HOW HIGH THE TOWER IS. 
          SO THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE COMPLETED BY THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND BY NRP, SAY 300 FEET, BUT IT SAYS 300 METERS ONLINE. 
          AND THAT, AND THAT WAS YOUR GROUP THAT FOUND THAT OUT, OR DID Y'ALL? YES. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE, UH, HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS THAT I'M STILL WORKING THROUGH WITH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, UH, AND FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT. 
          SO WE ARE GATHERING A FAX AND INFORMATION, WHICH I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S QUITE A BIT ON THIS TO, UH, SIFT THROUGH. 
          SO I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU COMING HERE TO SHARE THIS, UH, BECAUSE THESE THINGS DO NEED TO BE DISCUSSED, UH, OUT IN THE OPEN. 
          UM, AND I WOULD ALSO INVITE, UH, MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, TY KAKOA, WHO'S RIGHT BACK THERE TO VISIT WITH YOU, TO GET, UH, TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHARED BECAUSE YOU DID MENTION, UH, SOME THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD YET. 
          AND SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIM VISIT WITH YOU TO, TO GET MORE INFORMATION. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          YEP. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MS. SUPER FOR COMING. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          UM, THANK YOU. 
          ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS, WAS APPROVED THROUGH HOUSTON HOUSING? UM, AND, AND IF I CORRECTLY HEAR YOU RIGHT, THIS PROJECT IS, UM, STILL IN COMPLETION OR IT HAS NOT BEEN FULLY COMPLETED, BUT IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETION? NO. 
          SO IT'S 38.5% FUNDED. 
          IT IS A HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY PROJECT WITH NRP MM-HMM . 
          AND SO IT IS NOT COMPLETE. 
          AND, UM, RESPECTFULLY, ISSUES WERE BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST. 
          UM, AND THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALARM BELLS. 
          UH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WEREN'T. 
          OKAY. 
          SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE, YOUR, THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT WHAT HAD BEEN DONE IN TERMS OF THE SOIL AND THE INVESTIGATION OF THAT ALL THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN AS CONTAMINATED? WELL, THE TCEQ ISSUED FOUR VIOLATIONS IN SEPTEMBER 23. 
          AND THEY SAID, WHOA, H-H-A-N-R-P-U UNCOVERED ASH AND FAILED TO TELL US YOU UNCOVERED ASH AND FAILED TO, UM, TAKE A SAMPLE. 
          YOU HAVE NOT REMEDIATED THIS AREA. 
          AND SO, UM, THE STATE BOND AUTHORITY THEN ISSUED A LETTER SAYING, WHOA, UH, THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN YOUR BOND APPLICATION. 
          AND SO PROVE TO US THAT WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR BOND APPLICATION WAS TRUE. 
          AND THAT RESPONSE FROM THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IS DUE ON FEBRUARY 2ND. 
          [02:40:02]
SO, SO LAST QUESTION FOR YOU. 
          SO WHO ARE YOU REPRESENTING IN REGARDS? I REPRESENT A FEW STAKEHOLDERS IN THE EAST END AREA AND, UM, HAVE BEEN TO MULTIPLE, UM, COMMUNITY MEETINGS. 
          AND SO I I REALLY FEEL LIKE I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY YEARS. 
          MM-HMM . 
          I FEEL LIKE I UNDERSTAND FROM THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COSTELLO THAT WHATEVER GROUP THAT YOU ARE FORMULATING, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS. 
          UH, I'D LIKE TO BE, UH, INFORMED AND HAPPY TO, UH, INCLUDE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN PUBLIC HEALTH. 
          UM, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE ABOUT, UH, CURRENT CANCER CLUSTERS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. 
          AND SO I ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANNA SEE ANOTHER ONE, UH, POP UP ESPECIALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION. 
          AND SO, UM, YES, I WILL WILL HAPPILY INCLUDE YOU MEMBER THOMAS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          QUESTION, UH, I'M CURIOUS. 
          SO, UH, WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE THE FAMILIES OF CLAYTON HOMES GO? I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO HAVE CLEAN HOUSING. 
          I WOULD BE HAPPY FOR THEM TO GO, ME AS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WOULD BE HAPPY FOR THEM TO BE MY NEIGHBOR IN DISTRICT. 
          I, BUT IT'S NOT OKAY FOR THEM TO LIVE ON, BE FORCED TO LIVE ON DIRTY LAND TOXIC WASTE. 
          SURE. 
          THAT'S WHAT I DON'T WANT. 
          WOULD YOU EXTEND THAT SAME, UM, POSITION TO 600 MIDDLE WHERE THEY HAVE HALF A MILLION DOLLAR HOMES? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE ON DIRTY LAND AS WELL? I DO NOT KNOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT'S TWO BLOCKS OVER DIFFERENT. 
          IF YOU DUNNO, YOU OKAY. 
          BUT I, BUT LET ME, IF YOU DON'T MIND. 
          WELL, IT'S MY TIME, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET, I WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION. 
          SURE. 
          AND THEN ARE YOU AWARE, UM, BY FEDERAL REGULATION THAT BECAUSE OF THE 45 EXPANSION, THAT THEY CAN ONLY BE RELOCATED ONE TO TWO MILES? SO WE DON'T DISPLACE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITIES OF THEIR CHOICE? SURE. 
          AND THAT, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. 
          WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE ACKNOWLEDGING OR ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT IF THIS, THESE WEREN'T INDIVIDUALS FROM CLAYTON HOMES OR PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT MOVING TO 800 MIDDLE, UM, THAT WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION? I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. 
          IF INDIVIDUALS FROM A PUBLIC HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD WERE NOT BEING RELOCATED TO A NOW NEWLY REVITALIZED AREA, WHICH AT ONCE, UH, DIDN'T HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT, DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPERTY INCREASE OF THE PROPERTY VALUE, WOULD WE BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION? WOULD YOU BE AS CONCERNED IF, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS IN CLAYTON HOMES STILL LIVED A ONE MILE ACROSS IN THOSE PROJECTS, UH, BREATHING SIMILAR AIR? WOULD YOU BE RAISING THE FLAG FOR THOSE FAMILIES IF THEY LIVED IN DIRTY? IN FACT, THEY DID AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY LIVE IN HORRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND I WOULD BE AGAINST THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          I JUST WANT TO ASK. 
          YEAH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE CITY HAS ANY LIABILITY IN THIS ISSUE IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A CANCER CLUSTER FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS FROM NOW? YES. 
          IT'S THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          IT'S THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT'S, UM, THE ENTITY THAT'S HANDLING THE CONSTRUCTION AND FINANCING? NO, IT, IT IS, IT'S, UH, MOSTLY FEDERAL FUNDING ADMINISTERED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ARIEL BRINKLEY. 
          ARIEL BRINKLEY IS NOT PRESENT. 
          PASTOR JAMES WILLIAMS? NO. 
          PASTORS. 
          LET ME GET OFF TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROSALYN WILLIAMS. UH, COULD MY MOTHER, UH, GO FIRST? IS IS ALL RIGHT. 
          IF ROSALYN WILLIAMS GO FIRST THEN FIRST, SECOND MOTION MADE IS OPPOSITION CHAIR ROSALYN WILLIAMS. GOOD DAY MAYOR. 
          CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM HERE CONCERNING, UM, OUR PROPERTY AT, UH, 3 27 WAL HALL STREET. 
          AND, UM, THAT IS IN DISTRICT H OF INDEPENDENT HIKES. 
          [02:45:01]
WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE A TENANT THAT IS REFUSING TO LEAVE THE, WHAT WE CALL A WHOLE OVER TENANT. 
          AND THE TENANT HAS BEEN THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE. 
          UM, I HAVE WENT DOWN TO SHEPHERD SUBSTATION. 
          I'VE MADE OUT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TENANT. 
          UH, THEY TOLD ME, WELL, WHEN THE TENANT DOES SOMETHING TO CALL US, I CALL SOMETIME THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS. 
          AND THEN SOMETIMES THEY DON'T RESPOND. 
          AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID A CRIMINAL ISSUE AND WE'RE ASKING THE U THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GO AHEAD ON AND ASK THESE INDIVIDUALS TO LEAVE. 
          WE HAVE NO TRESPASSING SIGN, BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO LEAVE. 
          AND AT, AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE. 
          BECAUSE WHEN WE CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OUT, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WELL MA'AM, UM, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WE CAN DO. 
          WE'VE EVEN WENT TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE HAD A CONSTABLE TO COME OUT, PAID THIS INDIVIDUAL, PUT NEW LOCKS ON THE PLACE SO THEY COULDN'T COME IN. 
          THEY CALLED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID, WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO LOCK THEM OUT. 
          HCA HAVE OUR TITLE TO SHOW THAT WE ARE THE LEGAL OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY, BUT THESE INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO IGNORE WHAT WE SAY, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE WHO'S GONNA STAND BY US. 
          IF ANYONE COME ON ANY OF YOUR PROPERTIES OR BUSINESS THAT YOU OWN AND THINK THAT THEY CAN, UM, CONTINUES TO LIVE THERE, YOU WOULD BE UPSET. 
          THEY DON'T LIVE THERE WITH THEIR TENANTS. 
          AND WE JUST WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THIS END UP BEING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AT ALL. 
          AND, UM, ALL I CAN SAY IS I PRAY THAT SOMEONE HERE WILL UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT AND HELP US, YOU KNOW, RESOLVE THIS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM. 
          AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY RIGHT NOW. 
          YOU CAN, UH, LET, UM, PASTOR WILLIAMS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING BECAUSE I GOTTA GO RUN TO THE CAR FOR THE PARKING. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HIS QUESTION. 
          YES, CASTILE. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND IF, IF YOU HAVE TO RUN AND PASTOR WILLIAMS IS GONNA SPEAK, I CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH, WITH HIM AFTERWARDS. 
          YEAH. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          'CAUSE WE DID HAVE SCENARIOS AT ONE TIME AND, UM, WELL THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT TOO WELL. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NO, THANK YOU PASTOR JAMES WILLIAMS. I JUST CHECKED THE TIME FOR THREE MINUTES. 
          I JUST WANTED TO THANK MY MOTHER FOR, UH, SPEAKING. 
          UH, YES, JUST WANTED TO THANK MY MOTHER FOR SPEAKING. 
          SHE, UH, UH, TOUCHED ON A FEW THINGS I'LL TOUCH ON, UH, A FEW MORE THINGS. 
          UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF YOU WASN'T ELECTED THE LAST TIME THAT I SPOKE TO CITY COUNCIL. 
          SO THIS ISN'T MAINLY FOR YOU, IT'S JUST MAINLY TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE SITUATION. 
          UH, OUR CHURCH, WHICH IS A CHURCH PROPERTY, IT'S LOCATED IN 3 27 WALTA, UH, HOUSTON, TEXAS INSIDE OF INDEPENDENT TYPES, UH, DISTRICT AGE. 
          UH, THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO YOU. 
          THREE MAJOR THINGS. 
          NUMBER ONE, UH, HOUSE BILL 17 HAS BEEN PASSED. 
          HOUSE BILL 17, UH, STATES THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN BE REMOVED FOR OFFICE FROM GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR GROSS CARELESSNESS. 
          AND WHAT THIS MEAN IS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS RULES OR LAWS CAN CAUSE FOR YOU TO BE REMOVED, CAN CAUSE FOR OFFICERS TO BE TERMINATED. 
          WE HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO LOCK OUT THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR CHURCH PROPERTY, WHICH ARE TENANTS THAT DO NOT BELONG. 
          THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMES OUT THERE, CLAIM THAT BY GROSS NEGLIGENCE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE STATE OF TEXAS LAW. 
          BUT THE LAW NOW DICTATES, DOESN'T REQUIRE ATTORNEY. 
          ANY INDIVIDUAL CAN FILE A COMPLAINT THAT WILL MOVE THROUGH. 
          COURT CAN BE REMOVED FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF THE OFFICER'S, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, 
          [02:50:01]
OR BY, I'M GONNA ASSUME BY YOUR DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S ONE THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE NEW YEAR. 
          THE SECOND THING THAT HAS CHANGED, UM, THE OFFICERS CAME OUT TO THE PROPERTY, UH, IN A LIE AND STATED THAT THESE, UH, TENANTS ARE CLAIMING OWNER OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY'RE SUING OUR CHURCH. 
          THESE TENANTS ARE NOT EVEN NO LONGER SUING OUR CHURCH. 
          THAT'S THE SECOND THING THAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME I'VE SPOKE TO SOME OF YOU. 
          UH, THE THIRD THING THAT HAS CHANGED, WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR. 
          MAYOR, THIS IS, UH, MAINLY FOR YOU, MAINLY FOR THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BECOME AWARE OF THE SITUATION BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE, I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO CLAIM THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITUATION. 
          UH, THE FOURTH THING THAT HAS CHANGED, UH, OUR CHURCH WILL NOT FILE EVICTION FOR THESE TENANTS BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS LAW DICTATES THAT THEY CAN BE LOCKED OUTTA PROPERTY THAT THEY DON'T LEGALLY OWN OR HAVE NO CLAIM TO. 
          THEY WILL BE LOCKED OUT, BUT THE ONLY THING THAT WILL CHANGE IT WILL BE MULTIPLE LOCKOUTS. 
          AND NOT ONLY WILL IT BE MULTIPLE LOCKOUTS, EVERY CONSERVATIVE GROUP TRIED SOME LIBERAL GROUPS. 
          BUT SINCE THE CITY OF HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBERS AND BOARD OF MAINLY DEMOCRATIC, THEY DON'T WISH TO STAND UP. 
          BUT EVERY CONSERVATIVE GROUP, BIG, SMALL, EVERY CONSERVATIVE MEDIA OUTLET, BIG, SMALL IN BETWEEN, WILL DEFINITELY FIND SOME INTEREST IN LIBERAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, LIBERAL CITY COUNSEL MEMBERS, AND THEY HAVE FOUND SOME INTEREST IN YOU CHOOSING TO NEGLECT THE LAW. 
          THOSE INDIVIDUAL WILL ALSO BE PRESENT DURING THE LOCKOUT. 
          THEY'LL BE PRESENT WITH THEIR PHONE POSTING, THE INSTAGRAM OR SOCIAL MEDIA, THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF THE OFFICERS. 
          COUNCILOR CASTILLO, YOUR HONOR. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, PASTOR, MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTORS HERE AND, AND CAN VISIT WITH YOU TO SEE IF WE'RE ABLE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE TO SEE IF THE OFFICERS WILL FOLLOW THE LAW THIS TIME. 
          WELL, HE'S, HE'S GONNA GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM YOU AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW WE CAN HELP. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          PASTOR WILLIAMS, UM, PASTOR WILLIAMS. SIR, I'M, I'M VERY, UH, SYMPATHETIC TO YOUR PLIGHT. 
          THIS IS A SITUATION THAT OCCURS ALL OVER THE CITY FROM TIME TO TIME IN, IN EVERY DISTRICT. 
          AND, UM, ARE THE OFFICERS KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE LAW WHEN THEY COME OUT TO THOSE WELL, OR IS IT JUST IN HOURS WHERE THEY'RE PRETENDING SQUATTERS TAKING OVER HOMES THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN? UH, SQUATTERS ARE DEFINED BY TEXAS LAW ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT RESIDE THERE. 
          NONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS RESIDE AT OUR CHURCH'S PROPERTY. 
          ALRIGHT, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. 
          SO AGAIN, GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE SINCE HOUSE BILL 17. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. 
          HAVE YOU EVER APPROACHED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PROSECUTE ONE OF THESE CASES? EVERY TIME THE CITY OF HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS COME OUT THERE, THEY CLAIM UNDER THE GUISE OF THE LIBERAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY OKAY. 
          WITH SOME CONSERVATIVE GROUP AND SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT I RECENTLY SPOKE TO HAVE TAKEN SOME INTEREST IN THAT. 
          ALRIGHT, MY QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU APPROACHED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY? IN OTHER WORDS, NOT JUST TAKING WHAT THE OFFICERS SAY, BUT ACTUALLY TALKING TO SOMEONE WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PROSECUTE THE CASE. 
          EACH DISTRICT ATTORNEY, EVERY TIME THE POLICE OFFICERS COME OUT THERE, THEY SAY THAT THEY'VE CALLED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DEPARTMENT AND THIS IS BY THEIR DIRECTION. 
          SO HAVE I SPOKEN TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE MYSELF? THEY HAVE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM ME. 
          HAVE I KNOW HOW TO HAVE A OPEN SESSION BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE OPEN SECTIONS, UH, AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET A PERSONAL MEETING. 
          MAYBE SOME OF YOU KNOW HOW I CAN GET A PERSONAL MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. 
          YES, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED IN THAT. 
          I WOULD SUGGEST CALLING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND REQUESTING A MEETING WITH SOMEONE THERE, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, POLICE OFFICERS WILL NOT ACT ON A CASE IF THEY KNOW THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL NOT PURSUE CHARGES BECAUSE THEY'RE, WHY IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY REFUSING TO PROSECUTE STATE TEXAS LAW? CAN YOU LET ME FINISH? YES, SIR. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD. 
          UM, OFFICERS WON'T PURSUE CHARGES IF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WON'T PROSECUTE. 
          SO MY ADVICE TO YOU IS GET A MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR SOMEONE ON HER STAFF AND SEE IF YOU CAN CONVINCE THEM TO PROSECUTE. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, WILL DO. 
          AND LIKE I SAID, REACH OUT TO EVERY CONSERVATIVE GROUP THERE IS PROUDLY REACH OUT, PROUDLY ACCEPT THEIR HELP. 
          WE'LL DO THE LOCKOUT OVER AND OVER. 
          HOPEFULLY THEY'RE RECORDED AND SHARED TO SOCIAL MEDIA SO THEY CAN SEE HOW LIBERAL THE CITY OF COUNCIL IS, HOW LIBERAL THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS AS WELL. 
          AND AGAIN, DAVIS NEGLIGENCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE. 
          DAVIS HAS A QUESTION. 
          [02:55:01]
YES. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, PASTOR, I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK YOU AND THEN A STATEMENT IN CLOSING. 
          FIRST OF ALL, HAVE THESE, THE INDIVIDUALS YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, WERE THEY EVER LEGAL TENANTS IN THIS FACILITY IN YOUR FACILITY DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, THESE INDIVIDUALS NEEDED A PLACE, UH, FOR THEM TO CONDUCT THEIR SERVICE. 
          WE GAVE THEM A PLACE FREE OF CHARGE FOR 18 MONTHS TO CONDUCT THEIR SERVICE. 
          OKAY. 
          WAS THAT IN WRITING? WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE? THAT WAS IN WRITING? YES. 
          WAS WRITING SHOWED TO POLICE OFFICERS EVERY TIME THEIR LEASE OF NO RENT SHOWED TO THE POLICE OFFICERS EVERY TIME THEY CAME OUT TO THE PROPERTY, AS WELL AS THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS, UH, OF HARRIS COUNTY IN WHICH THEY ACT LIKE THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS DOES NOT EXIST IN OUR CASE. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, LET ME JUST ADD ON TO WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ SAID IN REGARDS TO CONTACTING THE DA TO MAKING SURE THIS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER THE LOOK INTO IT, BUT I LIKE TO MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT IN ALL RESPECT, THAT WE, THIS IS A NEW MAYOR, NEW ADMINISTRATION, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE AROUND THIS TABLE WOULD PUT ANY EMPHASIS ON WHAT PARTY YOU ARE IN, WHETHER YOU ARE A LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE THE, UH, APPROACH. 
          I'M JUST MAKING A STATEMENT REGARDING THAT BECAUSE, UM, I THINK ALL OF US ARE CONCERNED, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE ARE POSSIBILITY PLACES IN THIS CITY WHERE THERE WERE SOME CON UH, LIBERAL PEOPLE HAVE GOT THE SAME INCIDENT MAY HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM. 
          I DON'T THINK IT REALLY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A LIBERAL, LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE PERSPECTIVE. 
          YES. 
          NO, I'M JUST SAYING THAT THOSE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS TYPICALLY HAVE THE GREATEST INTEREST IN INDIVIDUALS WHO REFUSE TO FOLLOW THE LAW, WHETHER IT'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR CITY COUNCIL. 
          WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T. 
          OR POLICE OFFICERS. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, I DON'T KNOW. 
          I DON'T HAVE THE FACTS OF THAT. 
          I MEAN, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD EVEN ARGUE AGAINST. 
          BUT, BUT, BUT I WOULD DISAGREE WITH. 
          WELL, I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING AND MY POWER TO PROTECT OUR CHURCH AND PROTECT DIANA. 
          OKAY. 
          AND WHETHER IT'S MAKING FRIENDS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEM TO STAND UP TO SHARE OUR STORY, OUR PLIGHT OF WITH OUR CHURCH, WITH THEIR FRIENDS, WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS. 
          I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER. 
          OKAY. 
          I WOULD FOLLOW TO THE EIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SIR. 
          KARINA BLESSED BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH SMITH. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WITH MEYER COUNCILMAN AND WOMEN. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO ASK YOU TO JUST BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR SO LONG AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING PUBLIC SERVANTS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING ELECTED OFFICIALS. 
          AGAIN, MY NAME IS KARINA UNI BLESSED AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF FOND CIVIC CLUB. 
          OUR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MAIN CAMPUS. 
          WE'RE ALSO BORDERED BY I 45. 
          BEAUTIFUL RAISED BAY AT THE BACK UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ERP CAMPUS. 
          SO HOPEFULLY YOU'RE, UH, ORIENTED TO WHERE WE ARE. 
          I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR HELP FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND PER FIVE, NOT JUST MINE. 
          THIS IS A TWO DISTRICT PROJECT PER FIVE THAT I'M COMING HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT. 
          IT IS A VERY CONFUSING PROJECT, UH, TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE OUR OFFICIALS WERE NOT, UH, THEY WERE NOT ENGAGED. 
          NEITHER WAS THE PUBLIC IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          STILL DO NOT KNOW MANY OF OUR CIVIC CLUBS SURROUND US. 
          DO NOT KNOW OF THE EXISTENCE OF THIS PROJECT. 
          THE PROJECTS ALSO KNOWN AS ALVIN HIGHWAY. 
          IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS SH 35. 
          THIS IS A 3.1 MILE LONG HIGHWAY PROJECT, WHICH WILL EXTEND IT TO BE EIGHT TO 10 LANES WIDE. 
          AND IT IS ONLY TWO MILES AWAY FROM THE NEXT CONNECTOR. 
          SO I'M TALKING ABOUT A PROJECT THAT'S GONNA GO FROM 45 TO SIX 10 SOUTH, JUST TWO MILES DOWN FROM ANOTHER GREATER CONNECTOR FOR THE SAME 45 AND SIX 10 SOUTH. 
          THIS IS NOT A NEEDED PROJECT. 
          THE DATA JUSTIFYING THIS PROJECT IS DECADES OLD. 
          THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WERE NOT PROPERLY INFORMED AS PREVIOUS STATED. 
          AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTLY REPORTED OR MITIGATED LIKE ITS MANY NAMES. 
          THE CONS. 
          THIS PROJECT IS EXTREMELY CONFUSING. 
          LEMME STATE THAT AGAIN. 
          THE CONSTRUCTION ON THIS PROJECT HAS STARTED EVEN THOUGH HG HAD VOTED TO POSTPONE MOST OF ITS BUILDING UNTIL 2026 AS, UH, 
          [03:00:01]
COUNCILWOMAN ACORN IS, UH, FULLY AWARE. 
          SO HERE'S THE ASK. 
          I AM HERE TO INVITE MY COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN AND ALL OF THAT AT LARGE TO ATTEND A STAKEHOLDER MEETING. 
          THE MEETING WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED HIGHWAY. 
          WE BELIEVE THAT YOUR PRESENCE AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS MEETING WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A WELL-ROUNDED DISCUSSION. 
          WE NEED TO FIND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THE MEETING WILL BE HAD AT MY HOME TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH AT 7:00 PM AND I'LL GET WITH YOUR STAFF TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          CAN I HAVE WHAT BIT? UM, MARTINEZ? YES. 
          UH, IF YOU WANT TO FINISH UP. 
          OKAY. 
          THE RECENTLY PASSED PROPOSITION A AND B DEMONSTRATED THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON WANT FAIR REPRESENTATION. 
          YOUR ATTENDANCE WILL DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO UNDERSTANDING CONCERNS OF OUR COMMUNITY, HOUSTON FOR HOUSTONIANS, HELP US PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          I ALSO WANT TO THANK A QUICK MOMENT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMAN JOAQUIN IN QUICKLY ADDRESSING THE GREYHOUND ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU FOR REPLYING SO FAST AND FOR PUTTING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDER MEETING THAT INCLUDED THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY LISTENED TO US. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          DEFINITELY. 
          UH, CARINA, IF YOU CAN JUST HOLD OFF 'CAUSE I'M SURE THAT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONVERSATION, BUT JUST BRIEFLY, UH, UH, KNOW THAT, UH, THE MAYOR PEARLAND HAS SIGNED ON TO A LETTER WITH, UH, H UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND COUNCIL, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS TO HALT THE PROJECT. 
          THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT REASON WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED IN HGAC. 
          UM, AND, AND AS A ALTERNATE FOR THE TPC, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUE TO TAKE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER, UH, COMMENTS, ENGAGEMENT, UH, SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          MAYOR DAVIS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          MA'AM, JUST A SECOND. 
          YES, THERE'S UPSTATE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I'M, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA BECAUSE, UH, MY, UH, CHURCH THAT I PASTORED FOR 20 YEARS IS RIGHT THERE OFF OF BEEKMAN. 
          WAS ON BEEKMAN? YES. 
          AND, UH, MLK. 
          MM-HMM. 
          AND, UH, DURING THE PROJECT SOME 20 YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER WHEN TDOT, WHEN THIS PLAN WAS ROLLED OUT LONG AGO BEFORE MANY OF THESE COUNCIL PEOPLE WERE HERE AT THE TIME. 
          SO THIS IS A VERY LONG PROJECT, AS YOU STATED, UH, TO BE WAS ON THE BOOKS. 
          SO, MAY I ASK THE MEETING THAT YOU SAID WAS GOING ON? I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR THE DAY. 
          YES. 
          SO IT'S GOING TO BE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH AT 7:00 PM AND I WILL SEND THE FLYER INVITATION TO ALL OF THE COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN. 
          GOOD. 
          WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME. 
          YES. 
          IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD. 
          I WOULD, YEAH. 
          I LIVE THREE HOUSES DOWN FROM 45 AND IT WILL BE CASE IN POINT. 
          YES. 
          I, I WOULD CERTAINLY BE INTERESTED IN THAT. 
          THAT'S, THANK YOU. 
          AN AREA I, UH, PART WAS BORN IN AND RAISED IN AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN. 
          SO I, I'M PRETTY GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILOR MARTINEZ AGAIN. 
          COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, JUST BRIEFLY, I THINK WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH YOU ON A FEBRUARY 12TH MEETING AS WELL, OR IS THAT NOT GONNA HAPPEN ANYMORE? SO WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE TO THE 20 SO THAT WE CAN TALK TO MORE STAKEHOLDERS. 
          OKAY. 
          BUT WE CAN GET TOGETHER AGAIN. 
          WE REALLY WANT TO ENSURE THE COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN CAN ATTEND. 
          SO IF Y'ALL WANNA COORDINATE YEAH, WE WOULD BE HONORED. 
          I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO INVITE ALL THE AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANYBODY THAT HAS AN INTEREST AS WELL. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT. 
          SARAH SMITH. 
          SARAH SMITH IS NOT PRESENT. 
          JULIA MCNEIL, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS JULIA HOGAN MCNEIL. 
          10 YEARS AGO I WAS ONCE BLIND AND PARALYZED FROM MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. 
          I DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE, SO I HAD TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. 
          I CHANGED THE WAY I EAT, I CHANGED THE WAY I WOULD, UH, DRINK AND EAT MY FOOD. 
          AND I WENT TO A PLANT-BASED DIET AND AS A RESULT, I WAS COMPLETELY HEALED WITHOUT MEDICATION OR SEEING A DOCTOR. 
          SINCE THEN, I HAVE MADE IT MY COMMITMENT TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE FOOD DESERT AREAS TO RECEIVE HEALTHY NUTRITIONAL FOOD AND DRINK. 
          AS A BUSINESS OWNER, IT HAS BEEN QUITE CHALLENGING, UH, FOR ME TO HOLD LOCATIONS DUE TO RISING RENT SINCE COV AND OTHER, UH, THINGS I HAVE BEEN, UH, I AM A CERTIFIED BUSINESS OWNER. 
          I'VE DONE MANY CATERINGS HERE. 
          I WAS THE ONLY CATERER HERE, UH, WHO PROVIDED FOOD FOR MEGAN STALLION A FEW YEARS 
          [03:05:01]
AGO. 
          SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE HOUSTON AREA. 
          WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS, I LIVE IN SUNNYSIDE. 
          I WAS REARED IN SUNNYSIDE. 
          HARRIS COUNTY HOLDS SOME OF THE LARGEST FOOD DISTRICT FOOD DESERT, UH, AREAS. 
          I AM ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE ON HOW I CAN ASSIST CITIZENS IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA, CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS ON HOW TO RECEIVE HEALTHY FOOD AND DRINK, UH, THROUGH MY COMPANY. 
          I AM CERTIFIED AND I AM NOW ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HOLDS THE CERTIFICATION TO RECEIVE FOOD STAMPS AND EBT CARDS FOR CITIZENS IN THE FOOD DISTRICT FOR OUR MOBILE FOOD BUSINESS. 
          I'M ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE ON LOCATIONS, FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR MYSELF, UH, AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO HELP GET OUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE PROVIDE. 
          AND WHAT WE ARE NOW DOING IS WE'VE CREATED A JUICE POWDER FROM SCRATCH WITH MY OWN RECIPE TO HAVE FOR CITIZENS WITHIN THE FOOD DISTRICT. 
          SO THAT MEANS IN CASE OF A NATURAL DISASTER, WHICH WOULD BE DIFFERENT FOR US, NATURAL DISASTERS FOR PEOPLE WITHIN THE FOOD DESERT ARE WITHOUT LIGHTS, ELECTRICITY, RUNNING WATER. 
          BUT IF I'M ABLE TO PROVIDE A JUICE POWDER AND A BOTTLE OF WATER FOR THEM, THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF NUTRITION TO HELP THEM CARRY ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 
          AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN WE EAT BETTER, WE DO BETTER. 
          I'M ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ASSIST CITIZENS IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA TO EAT AND LIVE BETTER. 
          I DID SEND SOMETHING TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SHABAZZ'S OFFICE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, STATS THAT ARE GOING ON WITHIN THE FOOD DESERT AREA. 
          AND I AM SEEKING HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO GET PROPER NUTRITION OUT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          MAYOR PRO TEMP KA TATUM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. 
          I WAS GOING TO SAY IF YOU WANTED TO LEAVE YOUR, UH, CONTACT INFORMATION OR IF YOU HAD A FLYER, I WOULD DEFINITELY SHARE THAT WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          UH, I KNOW SHE HAD ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT THAT SHE HAD TO GO TO, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL CONNECT. 
          UM, I HEARD YOU SAY YOU, YOU SENT SOMETHING TO HER, BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA LEAVE, I'M, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          OKAY. 
          I EMAILED IT TO HER EARLIER TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          NEXT. 
          KELLY, AL BYRON KELLY COULD NOT MAKE IT. 
          SO I'LL BE SPEAKING IN HER PLACE. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          NAME. 
          WHAT'S YOUR NAME MA'AM? MARYAM. 
          WHAT IS IT? WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MIRIAM. 
          MIRIAM WHAT? GEM. 
          G-H-A-N-E-M. 
          SO WE NEED A MOTION TO, TO ALLOW, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ALLOW MIRIAM GEM TO REPLACE KELLY ALBERT. 
          SECOND. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? ALL THE NO A HAVE IT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNSEL. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY QUOTING JAMES BALDWIN. 
          THE CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS OURS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ALL OVER THE GLOBE. 
          AND I'M BEGINNING TO SUSPECT THAT WHOEVER IS INCAPABLE OF RECOGNIZING THIS MAY BE INCAPABLE OF MORALITY. 
          LAST WEEK I SAW A CHILD IN GAZA TAKE HIS LAST BREATH THE OTHER DAY, HE BLED ON THE FLOOR OF A HOSPITAL 'CAUSE THERE ARE NO LONGER BEDS FOR HIM TO LAY ON. 
          HE STRUGGLED TO SAY A FINAL PRAYER TO HIS GOD BEFORE IT WAS CUT SHORT BY HIS OWN. 
          CHOKING HIS EYES. 
          GO DIMM. 
          UNABLE TO CRY OUT HIS LAST WORD. 
          THIS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN IN GAZA, IT HAPPENS HERE TOO. 
          IT HAPPENS ON OUR BORDER WHERE CHILDREN ARE LEFT TO DROWN WHILE THEY TRY TO CLING TO BARBED WIRE. 
          I WONDER WHY MY TAXES GO TO CAUSING THESE HARROWING FINAL BREATHS OF CHILDREN INSTEAD OF PREVENTING THEM, INSTEAD OF HELPING OUR OWN CITIZENS WITH HOUSELESSNESS. 
          EDUCATION, FOOD AVAILABILITY. 
          ONE CHILD DEAD IS TOO MANY. 
          ONE PERSON DEAD IS TOO MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS. 
          IF YOU CONDEMN THIS VIOLENT, TRAGIC DEATHS OF, IF YOU CONDEMNED THE VIOLENT, TRAGIC WITH THESE CHILDREN OF OURS, EVERY ONE OF THEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. 
          ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN TOO. 
          EVERY ONE OF THEM, EVERY CHILD ON THIS PLANET, I IMPLORE YOU TO MAKE A STATEMENT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND TO AMEND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT POLICY TO REMOVE THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAEL AS THEY'RE VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW. 
          AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE DEATH TOWEL OF THE CHILDREN IN GAZA, WHICH HAS SURPASSED 12,000. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, TERRY NATION. 
          [03:10:02]
TERRY NATION IS NOT PRESENT. 
          STEVE WILLIAMS IS NOT PRESENT. 
          TALIA TALIA BEI IS NOT PRESENT IN SHARA DARE JOSEPH. 
          NIA, WE FOLLOWED BY AMANDA HUNT. 
          HELLO. 
          HELLO RODNEY. 
          AND I HOPE THIS IS JOHN MEYER AND, AND I'M PROUD OF HIM TO BE A MAYOR. 
          NOW I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU THAT THE SYSTEM WE HAVE RIGHT HERE AND IN TEXAS, THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING MORE AND MORE. 
          AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT AND DO SOMETHING ALREADY. 
          I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE CHEMISTRY THAT ALL OVER THE PLACE, ALL OVER THE P PLACES THAT WE ARE LIVING. 
          AND WE NEED TO CONTROL THAT. 
          AND THE ONLY WAY IS TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, GO AHEAD AND CONTROL THESE FACTORIES AROUND US FROM GALVESTON TILL HERE WE HAVE FACTORY. 
          AND YOU HAVE TO CONTROL THAT. 
          THEN DON'T LET IT TO GO AHEAD AND BLOW THE ALL THESE CHEMICALS. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          YES. 
          YES, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          NEXT, AMANDA HUNT. 
          BAYAN RAJI. 
          ERNEST CALTON. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. 
          MY NAME IS ERNEST KEL. 
          I'M A 67-YEAR-OLD SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 
          I HAVE RESTORED RIGHT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO VOTE FOR Y'ALL. 
          I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN LET DOWN. 
          I WAS HERE OVER A MONTH AGO WHEN LAST WEEK, UH, MAYOR TURNER IN OFFICE, AND HE SUGGESTED THROUGH MR. NICK S THAT I GO THROUGH HOUSING. 
          AND I WAS PLACED IN STAR HOPE WHERE I CONTRACTED THE CORONAVIRUS WITH WHICH MY MEDICAL RECORD WILL REFLECT. 
          I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. 
          I LIKE TO DIE. 
          I'M BEGGING Y'ALL HERE TODAY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT MY SITUATION. 
          I WAS INCARCERATED FOR 30 YEARS IN THE TEXAS PRO, UH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 
          AND I'VE BEEN OUT SINCE 2021, TRYING TO BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN OF THE SOCIETY. 
          BUT I NEED Y'ALL SUPPORT. 
          I NEED Y'ALL HELP. 
          DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THIS, PLEASE. 
          I'M I I SHOULDN'T BE IN THE STREET. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT THEODORE CARRERO. 
          UM, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR JANUARY 9TH. 
          I HAD, UH, SIGNED UP FOR THREE MINUTES. 
          I ONLY GOT ONE. 
          I WANTED TO APPRECIATE THE PRAYER BY THE COUNCILMAN THAT LEFT AND, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT AREN'T HERE. 
          UH, I I HAD SOMETHING THAT WAS TYPED UP AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS DOING IT YESTERDAY AT THE LIBRARY. 
          TICK TOOK A LOT OF NOTES TODAY. 
          UM, I THINK, UH, IT'S A LOT ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW AND, AND WHAT YOU KNOW, AND, AND I, I THINK, UH, THE MAYOR'S CANDIDACY, UH, WAS, UH, PERTAINING ABOUT CRIME AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, WHICH I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. 
          AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S AN ACTUAL DERIVATIVE. 
          UM, SO I BELIEVE MR. NICHOLS THAT WAS PROCLAIMED TODAY MENTIONED GREAT PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 
          PARTNERSHIPS HUGE AMOUNTS OF WORK, WHICH IS WHY EVERYBODY TOOK OATH HERE TODAY. 
          I ALSO KNOW A COUPLE OF PROCLAIMED PEOPLE, UH, MAY 27TH IN MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX. 
          ROBERT G LUBELL, THE LATE LAWRENCE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          OKAY. 
          CAN I GET 30 SECONDS? 30 SECONDS MAYOR, 
          [03:15:01]
30 SECONDS. 
          DO YOU WANNA GIVE HIM 30 MORE SECOND? SURE. 
          GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE THE STATEMENT I GOT. 
          I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY THAT'S TAKEN OATH CITY COUNCIL TO HELP THE MAYOR WITH THE CRIME AND THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, UH, ON AT LEAST THE BUSES AND IN THE STREETS. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY WITH THE, UM, THE NOTION OF, UH, HOMELESSNESS. 
          WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I GUESS I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          KELVIN WILLIAMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTE. 
          MY NAME IS KELVIN WILLIAMS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          AGAIN, I WENT TO COURT YESTERDAY. 
          THEY DISMISSED THAT CASE ON THAT TRESPASSING WARRANT THAT THE HOUSTON HOUSE AUTHORITY HAD PUT ON ME THAT HPD TOOK ME TO JAIL BEHIND AND THEY TO MY BUILDING DOWN. 
          AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF A CIVIL MATTER. 
          HOW YOU CAN SOLVE ALL THIS PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. 
          MAYOR, ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS PUT ME IN CHARGE OF THE HOUSTON HOUSE AUTHORITY, THE BOARD, AND I GUARANTEE YOU I'LL PULL OUT ALL THE SNAKES THAT'S IN THERE BECAUSE WE GOT TOO MANY ISSUES GOING ON IN THE CITY. 
          AND AS FAR AS WE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT'S HOMESTEAD AND THE WAY THEY HANG OUT AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THEM ARE PEOPLE. 
          SO YOU WANT TO TALK TO THEM, TALK TO ME AND I'LL TELL THEM HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING IT. 
          BUT Y'ALL GOTTA REMEMBER, Y'ALL DON'T DO NO HELPING THE COMMUNITY. 
          THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT'S OUT THERE ACTUALLY FEEDING AND HELPING THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. 
          IT'S REGULAR PEOPLE THAT'S DOING THIS HERE. 
          AND BECAUSE I AIN'T GOT NO SUIT ON OR NOTHING LIKE THAT, I'M QUALIFIED TO DO WHAT I DO AND I'M GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY COMMUNITY. 
          MAYOR, CALL ME IN FOR A MEETING. 
          I'LL GIVE YOU THE SCOOP. 
          YOU'LL HEAR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO HEAR. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT. 
          JACOB CLEMENTI. 
          HI. 
          THE HOOKS. 
          I'M GOING TO GET, UH, YOU KNOW WHAT? AND SO THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO GET. 
          UH, YOU'RE USING YOUR MINUTE, JACOB. 
          I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT, UH, WELL THIS THANKS. 
          LISTEN MEETING LEE REALLY DOES LISTEN SOME MORE. 
          THIS WORK ACTUALLY, I HAD THIS SILHOUETTE PLAYING THE 1957 SONG, GET A JOB. 
          OH, UM, UH, UH, I'M TRYING TO SHUT IT OFF THERE. 
          UH, AND THEN WHEN I'M GETTING NJA, HOPEFULLY WITH THE RODEO, IS HE THE RODEO BOW TIE THAT I HAVE ON. 
          AND I LET MAYOR WHITMEYER HAVE A, A A A FLYER AND CAMPAIGN FLYER THAT HE AUTOGRAPHED FOR ME BEFORE BACK IN, UM, SEPTEMBER. 
          AND NOW THAT HE'S ELECTED AND CAN SAY, THANK YOU FOR VOTING FOR ME. 
          BLESS. 
          YEAH. 
          TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          RENEE HAS IT. 
          THANK YOU JACOB. 
          YEAH. 
          AND THIS IS THE BEST. 
          I'M GOING GET A FRIEND, . 
          LET ME, LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED SOME HELP. 
          REMEMBER, SHE WAS 1957. 
          GET A JOB. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HERNIA LATIF. 
          GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS PER, I'M A PHYSICIAN HERE AND I PRACTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          UM, THE PERCENTAGE OF UNINSURED ADULTS IN HOUSTON FROM THE AGES OF 18 TO 64 IS AT 24.7% AS MEASURED IN 2021. 
          THERE'S ALSO A WIDE DISPARITY IN THIS NUMBER WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT VIA GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS. 
          THE RATE OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS IS ONLY AT 5% IN AFFLUENT, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE HUNTER CREEK VILLAGE, BUT IT IS AT 50% IN THE CITY OF ALDEAN. 
          UM, THE POPULATION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON METRO AREA IS AT 7.3 MILLION, WHICH BRINGS US TO 1.8 MILLION HOUSTONIANS WITHOUT HEALTHCARE. 
          YET WE CONTINUE TO FUNNEL OUR TAX DOLLARS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO FIGHT THEIR WARS. 
          WHILE THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT PASS A RESOLUTION TO ASK FOR A CEASE FIRE, EXCEPT FOR THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO CONGRESS AND SENATE ON OUR BEHALF AND PRESSURE THEM TO ASK FOR AN TO THIS VIOLENCE. 
          THANK YOU, SARAH SAYEED. 
          [03:20:08]
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS SARAH. 
          I'D LIKE TO, I WAS GONNA TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I'D LIKE TO USE THE REST OF MY TIME TO, FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE EL AGA FAMILY LOCAL TO HOUSTON, WHO LOST 120 MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          EDUARDO DURAN, ANDREW PATTERSON. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT I WANT TO DO IS LAST WEEK WHEN I SHOWED UP, I GOT CUT OFF. 
          BUT ONLY ONE MINUTE. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THREE MINUTES AND I ONLY PUT ME DOWN FOR ONE. 
          SO MAY I HAVE THREE MINUTES. 
          PLEASE DO THE BEST YOU CAN. 
          OKAY. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          DO THE BEST YOU CAN. 
          TRY TO GET WITHIN A MINUTE, BUT WE WILL. 
          OH, . 
          YES, MAYOR. 
          IT'S LATE. 
          LOOK WHAT TIME IT IS. 
          ALRIGHT, LISTEN GUYS. 
          UM, I HEARD A COUNCIL MEMBER HERE ASKING ABOUT IS THERE ANY EXPOSURE TO THE CITY? WELL, THAT APPARENTLY YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY. 
          AND GOOD LUCK IN ANYBODY TRYING TO TILT THAT. 
          UH, WINDMILL, WE HAVE THINGS HERE GOING ON THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO ADDRESS AND YOU DEARLY HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL. 
          BUT THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S TOO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION AS TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. 
          RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I'M TIRED. 
          I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF YOU, BUT I AM CLEARLY TIRED OF GETTING OUT THERE STUCK IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF SOME CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON. 
          FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CONSTRUCTION DONE AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TILL FOUR, FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. 
          SO TRAFFIC AND FLOW DURING THE DAY. 
          DO YOU REALIZE WE HAVE 3.5 MILLION CARS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IF WE JUST SAVED ONE GALLON OF GAS, ONE GALLON OF GAS, BECAUSE THE LESS CONGESTION, THAT'S $10.5 MILLION ADDED TO THE REVENUE HERE. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BACK TO THE CITIZENS, NOT COUNTING THE FACT THAT THE TIME WE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          HOW ABOUT 30 SECONDS MORE? OH, I'LL TELL YOU MAYOR, UM, MY LIST IS HERE AND THAT'S NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING GOOD. 
          I'M HERE TO TRY TO SERVE AND TRY TO HELP, UH, THE CITIZENS AND TRY TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM IN HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND SO FORTH. 
          UH, YOU GOT TEARS AND YOU GOT THE CITIES VARIOUS DOING DIFFERENT THINGS IN CONSTRUCTION, UH, PLUMBING AND, AND UH, THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE SAYING WE WANT THIS TO BE DONE THIS PARTICULAR WAY BECAUSE IT'S GONNA SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. 
          OKAY? THESE PIPES ARE NOT GONNA BREAK, OR THE FREQUENCY IS NOT GONNA BREAK. 
          THERE'S GONNA BE LESS WATER, BUT YOU LOSE $1 MILLION I THINK LAST YEAR IN REVENUE, THE LOSS OF WATER. 
          OKAY? HEY, WE'RE ALL ON BOARD, I PROMISE. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT, WELL WE WE'RE ON BOARD, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT TIER IS NOT, THE OTHER ENTITIES ARE NOT, AND THE THING IS, IF THERE WAS A SIGN THERE ON THE CONSTRUCTION SAYING IT'S GONNA BE BY PROJECT J RIGHT HERE AND YOU HAVE THE NAME OF SOMETHING OR WHATEVER IT IS, THEN THERE WOULD BE SOME COMMUNICATION. 
          I CALL THE CITY AND THEY GO TO ME. 
          WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T DO THAT. 
          WE DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS. 
          OKAY? THANK YOU. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU. 
          OKAY, WELL I APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR, AND I WISH I COULD HELP YOU, BUT I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, I WON'T COME BACK. 
          I HERE AND WAIT ONE MINUTE. 
          I WANT MY THREE MINUTES NEXT TIME. 
          THAT'S THE DEAL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WELL, THANK YOU SIR. 
          BE SAFE. 
          DEREK MOTEN IS NOT PRESENT. 
          MARIAN WRIGHT. 
          AYE. 
          UM, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE STILL. 
          I KNOW IT'S BEEN LONG. 
          UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I WAS GONNA SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON HOUSTON AVENUE, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT PUBLIC CO HAS DESIGNED SOMETHING OR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OR WHOEVER IT IS THAT DESIGNS THAT'S HAD TO COME OUT. 
          WE NEED SOME CHANGES. 
          WE NEED WHOEVER IT IS THAT'S PUTTING IN PROJECTS AND TAKING 'EM OUT. 
          WE 
          [03:25:01]
NEED 'EM DESIGNED CORRECTLY TO START WITH. 
          I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT PLEASE, AND AS FAR AS Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY'S GONNA GO, THERE ARE TAX DOLLARS, I'M PAYING FOR IT AND EVERYONE ELSE HERE IS PAYING FOR IT. 
          SO WHERE IT GOES AS FAR AS PARKS, WE TALKED ABOUT PARKS EARLIER. 
          THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN UP HERE TALKING ABOUT NOT HAVING MONEY FOR THEIR PARK. 
          I ASKED SOMEONE FROM, UM, THE HEAD OF PARKS AND RECREATIONS AT A MEETING THAT ABBY CAYMAN HAD LAST WEEKEND, HOW IS THE MONEY ALLOCATED? AND HE SAID IT'S ALLOCATED BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY'S COME OUT AND REQUEST IT. 
          IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY PARKS, THIS IS WHAT HAS TO BE DONE, AND WE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          IT'S NOT THERE FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT CAN COME OUT ANYWAY, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. 
          AND ONE MORE THING REAL QUICK, PLEASE. 
          JUST ONE MORE AND I'LL BE REAL QUICK. 
          YEAH, GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          COUNCIL HAS A QUESTION. 
          MS WI WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE MY MINUTES. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          IT'LL BE REALLY QUICK. 
          WHEN YOU'RE APPOINTING PEOPLE WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYONE'S NAME IN FRONT OF YOU THAT ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR THE POSITIONS. 
          PLEASE. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          AND THINK ABOUT REPLACING PEOPLE THAT HAS BEEN SERVING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          BE SAFE. 
          OKAY, THAT IT? BYE EVERYONE. 
          GOODNIGHT AND THANK YOU MARIA COSTELLO TOO. 
          AND, UM, I MEAN A LOT OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN HELPING, SO THANK YOU AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK THIS. 
          COMPLETE THE LIST OF SPEAKERS MEMBERS. 
          [RECESS]
WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM THANK Y'ALL. 
          PURCHASE OF 10 PARATECH MAXI FORCE AIR LIFTING BAG KITS. 
          ITEM SIX SEALS B TOYOTA FOR PURCHASE OF HYBRID TOYOTA RAV4 AND HYBRID TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. 
          ITEM SEVEN FACILITY SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC. 
          FOR PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT LED LIGHTS AND FIXTURES. 
          ITEM EIGHT APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,626,361 88 CENTS FOR HELICOPTER INSPECTION AND REPAIR SERVICES. 
          ITEM NINE, WILLIAMS SCOTSMAN, INC. 
          FOR RENTAL OF A MODULAR BUILDING. 
          ITEM 10 SCM CONSULTANTS, INC. 
          FOR PURCHASE OF MAGNETIC VALVE LOCATORS. 
          ITEM 11,  PACIFIC COMPANY, $1,250,000 IN TOTAL LLC $1,250,000 FOR PURCHASE OF TRASH AND RECYCLING CARTS. 
          ITEM 12, APPROVE OF SPENDING AUTHOR APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $18,873,530 67 CENTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. 
          ITEM 13 ORDINANCE DENYING THE APPLICATION OF CENTER POINT ENERGY, HOUSTON ELECTRIC LLC FOR APPROVAL TO AMEND THIS DISTRIBUTION COST RECOVERY FACTOR. 
          ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIFTH AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. 
          ITEM 15, ORDINANCE OF AUTHORIZING LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FAIRWOOD AT FURMAN LLC. 
          ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $38,597,138 OUTTA THE AIRPORT'S IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JBT AEROTECH CORPORATION. 
          ITEM 17, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2019 DASH 4 86 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AS PRA LLC ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TRACKS ANALYTICS LLC ITEM 19. 
          ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021 DASH 4 99 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND DALE MARKETING. 
          LP ITEM 20 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE, OFFICE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT FOR THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER PROGRAM, TRUANCY PREVENTION INITIATIVE. 
          ITEM 21 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PORTIONS OF RIVERSIDE TERRACE SUBDIVISIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS IS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE AREA PURSUANT TO CHAPTER CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. 
          ITEM 22 ORDINANCE. 
          FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF TWO PORTIONS OF A THREE FOOT WIDE SANITARY, SANITARY IN STORE STORM SEWER EASEMENT BEING OUT OF A PART OF LOTS, 1, 2, 9, AND 10 IN BLOCK EIGHT AND IN BLOCK 13 IN PALMER 
          [03:30:01]
PLACE. 
          LOCATED IN THE SAM SAMUEL M. WILLIAMS SURVEY. 
          HU SAMUEL M. WILLIAMS SURVEY, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ABANDONING SAID PORTIONS OF THE EASEMENT TO WEST GREEN, BLUE WILLOW, LTD ITEM 23 ORDINANCE. 
          FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF LEONA STREET FROM SIMS STREET EAST TO ITS TERMINUS. 
          LOCATED IN THE SAMUEL M. HARRIS SURVEY, ABSTRACT 3 27 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ABANDONING THE EASEMENT TO LBK PROPERTIES. 
          LLC ITEM 24 ORDINANCE. 
          FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF PARSON STREET FROM BOWIE STREET TO DALIA STREET WITHIN THE HARRISBURG EDITION. 
          LOCATED IN THE JR HARRIS SURVEY, ABSTRACT 27 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ABANDONING SAID STREET EASEMENT TO HOUSTON GATEWAY ACADEMY, INC. 
          ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SELL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS SELLER AND ADVANTA EXPRESS, LLC PURCHASER ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY GROUNDWATER REDUCTION PLAN PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 89. 
          ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING GROUND GROUNDWATER REDUCTION PLAN. 
          WHOLESALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WATERS EDGE MASTER HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 
          ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR ADMINISTERING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
          ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,035,000 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AND $435,000 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM TAX APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ING GARZA, PLLC ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING AND $44,100 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. 
          CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND LAWRENCE SMITHA AND ASSOCIATES. 
          LLC ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,550,000 OUT OF METRO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F WARDEN CONTRACT TO DCE CONSTRUCTION INC. 
          ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $7,515,994 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM WARDEN CONTRACT TO GRAVA LLC. 
          THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF JANUARY 30, 31, 20 24. 
          STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON DANIEL, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED AND HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTA DAY. 
          THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY. 
          I LIKE THAT. 
          I LIKE THAT  ALSO, PLEASE COME TO ORDER. 
          [RECONVENE]
FIRST ITEM 
          [ADMIN REPORT]
OF ON TODAY'S GENERAL WILL BE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROLLER. 
          CHRIS HOLLINS AND CHAIR RECOGNIZES DIRECTOR MELISSA DKI OF FINANCE AND I WILL EMPHASIZE SHE'S NOT AN INTERIM DIRECTOR. 
          SHE IS OUR DIRECTOR. 
          CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. 
          GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED DECEMBER 31ST, 2023 IN THE GENERAL FUND. 
          THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 382.4 MILLION FOR FY 2024. 
          THIS IS $46 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTED. 
          THE, THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. 
          THE DIFFERENCE IS DUE TO A $46 MILLION DIFFERENCE, UH, IN REVENUE PROJECTIONS BETWEEN US AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. 
          BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $195.1 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO IN RESERVE. 
          OUR REVENUE PROJECTION INCREASED BY 13.8 MILLION FROM THE NOVEMBER, 2023 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AS FOLLOWS, CHARGES FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY 6.3 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AMBULANCE FEE COLLECTIONS AND DIGITAL NETWORK CHARGES. 
          SALES OF CAPITAL ASSETS INCREASED BY $7.5 MILLION, 
          [03:35:01]
PRIMARILY DUE TO TWO LAND SALE TRANSACTIONS TOTALING 7.4 MILLION. 
          YOU CAN EXPECT THE REVISED SET OF REVENUE PROJECTIONS FROM MY OFFICE ALONG WITH THE NEXT MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. 
          IT'S CLEAR THAT SALES TAX REVENUES ARE OUTPACING OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS AND WE'RE AWAITING DECEMBER HOLIDAY SALES TAX FIGURES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR NEW PROJECTIONS. 
          SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THOSE PROJECTIONS WITH YOU NEXT MONTH. 
          EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES INCREASE BY 1.4 MILLION FROM THE NOVEMBER, 2023 REPORT, UH, DUE TO TWO THINGS. 
          FIRST, AN INCREASE OF $0.8 MILLION IN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE DIVISIONS. 
          AND SECOND, AN INCREASE OF $0.6 MILLION IN FIRE FOR AMBULANCE FEE, BILLING AND COLLECTION SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESCUE PROGRAM. 
          MOVING OVER TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, YOU MIGHT, EXCUSE ME, I I COULD LET YOU FINISH, BUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY THERE. 
          UH, SO IN FACT IT WAS ACTUALLY TRANSFERRED TO YOUR DEPARTMENT ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE I WAS SWORN IN ON SUNDAY NIGHT. 
          SO FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, WE RECEIVED ONE FTE, UH, TO, TO, TO DO INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
          COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD CALL AN OUTREACH PROGRAM. 
          UH, THIS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN MY DESCRIPTION, YOU KNOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND SHARING MORE INFORMATION WITH HOUSTONIANS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO DOES, UH, THAT JOB. 
          SURE. 
          WELL, WE'RE ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY, BUT THIS IS A NEW POSITION. 
          THIS IS A NEW POSITION, YOU KNOW, ONE FTE IN, IN, UH, IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
          MAYOR THREE DAYS BEFORE YOU AND I WERE SWORN IN. 
          CORRECT. 
          OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. 
          THANK YOU, SIR FOR YOUR TRANSPARENCY, . 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          UH, MOVING OVER TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THE, IN, IN THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND, NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $5.1 MILLION. 
          THIS INCREASE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER INTEREST INCOME. 
          TOTAL TRANSFERS FROM THE REVENUE FUND TO THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT FUND INCREASED BY $5.1 MILLION. 
          AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST INCOME FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. 
          TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $46.3 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED WATER AND SEWER REVENUE. 
          TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES DECREASED BY $41.1 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO CONTRACT DELAYS. 
          DELAYS IN FILLING VACANT POSITIONS AND LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED SPENDING ON REPAIRS. 
          NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $20.8 MILLION. 
          THIS INCREASE IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER IMPACT FEES AND INTEREST INCOME. 
          TOTAL TRANSFERS DECREASED BY $16.9 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED DEBT SERVICE TRANSFER AND SWAP PAYMENTS IN THE STORMWATER FUND. 
          TOTAL EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY TWO POINT, UH, ZERO MILLION DOLLARS, PRIMARILY DUE TO DELAYS IN FILLING VACANT POSITIONS FOR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND. 
          AT VALOR. 
          NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $0.5 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST INCOME FOR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE IN STREET RENEWAL FUNDS. 
          DRAINAGE CHARGE NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $3.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST INCOME. 
          AND FOR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE IN STREET RENEWAL FUND, METRO ETAL TOTAL TOTAL EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $3.2 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED SPENDING ON PERSONNEL COSTS. 
          THERE ARE NO PROJECTION CHANGES FOR THE CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING FUND FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. 
          THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE. 
          AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2023, THE RATIO OF UNHEDGED VARIABLE RATE DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF OUTSTANDING DEBT WAS WELL BELOW THAT 20% THRESHOLD. 
          MOVING ON TO THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT. 
          AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2023, THE CITY HAD $5.45 BILLION INVESTED IN OUR GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL. 
          THE CHARACTER OF THIS POOL IS THAT OF A SHORT TERM BOND FUND THAT HOLDS INVESTMENTS OF VERY HIGH CREDIT QUALITY. 
          FITCH RATINGS REVIEWED THIS POOL AND ASSIGNED THE POOL ITS HIGHEST RATING. 
          AAA, OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY IS TO MATCH ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR A TIME PERIOD OF ONE YEAR INTO THE FUTURE AND TO EXERCISE DISCRETION FOR THE BALANCE OF REMAINING FUNDS. 
          INVESTMENTS ARE $382 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCES IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM AND PROCEEDS OF BOND DEALS FROM AVIATION. 
          AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2023, THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL WAS YIELDING 3.3810000000000002%, WHICH 
          [03:40:01]
IS UP FROM THE 2.806% YIELD IN THE PRIOR QUARTER. 
          THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. 
          IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL, WE HAVE TWO SMALL INVESTMENT POOLS THAT TOTAL ABOUT $16 MILLION. 
          THOSE POOLS EXIST TO COMPLY WITH TAX REQUIREMENTS, UH, OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          AND LASTLY, MOVING TO THE SWAP REPORT ALONG WITH OUR INVESTMENT REPORT, WE HAVE INCLUDED WITH THIS MOFA, THE QUARTERLY SWAP REPORT AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY'S SWAP POLICY. 
          THE WRITTEN SWAP REPORT INCLUDED IN THE MOFA OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF OUR TWO SWAP POSITIONS. 
          THE CITY HAD A NET PAID FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2023 FROM ITS SWAPS OF $4.871 MILLION. 
          FAIR VALUE FOR BOTH SWAPS AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2023 WAS NEGATIVE $91 MILLION, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 21 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR QUARTER WHEN IT WAS NEGATIVE, UH, $70 MILLION. 
          THE CITY SWAPS ARE FAIRLY COMPLEX. 
          IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE ABOUT THIS REPORT. 
          AND MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO CONCLUDE WITH A BRIEF MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. 
          FIRST TO, AGAIN, PUBLICLY CONGRATULATE, CONGRATULATE DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI ON HER CONFIRMATION AS THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE THANK YOU, DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI AND I BOTH AGREE THAT THE CITY FACES SERIOUS FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND OF COURSE, WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. 
          SECOND, UH, DURING MY LAST MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, I INDICATED THAT MY OFFICE WOULD BE HOSTING AN ORIENTATION, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER CITY STAKEHOLDERS TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE AND THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE. 
          I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THAT BRIEFING WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 14TH, UH, AFTER CITY COUNCIL MEETING. 
          UH, AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AND INTERESTED ADMINISTRATION STAFF ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. 
          UH, WE'RE GONNA IN, UH, SEND A FORMAL INVITATION TO YOUR OFFICES LATER TODAY. 
          UH, AND FINALLY, UM, I WANT TO, UH, CONTINUE TO EXTEND MY PERSONAL AND MY OFFICES, UH, SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO WILL JONES, UH, ON THE PASSING OF HIS FATHER. 
          UH, MR. WILLIAM BILL JONES SR. 
          WAS A DECORATED ATHLETE. 
          HE WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT, INCLUDING MORE THAN A DECADE AS A SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, AND HE WAS THE UNDISPUTED BEST HUNTER ACROSS SIX COUNTIES. 
          AND SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT WILL DURING THIS TIME OF LOSS AND OF REMEMBRANCE, AND WE CONTINUE TO CHERISH THE MEMORY OF BILL JONES. 
          THANK YOU CONTROLLER AND OUR CONDOLENCES TO JONES FAMILY. 
          YOU OUGHT TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND I'M CERTAIN THE FAMILY IS TO MR. CONTROLLER. 
          YOU DO KNOW FEBRUARY 14TH IS VALENTINE'S DAY , AND IT'S GONNA BE A VERY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FOR US AS CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          UM, MELISSA VALKI, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, AND THIS IS THE SIX PLUS SIX FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2023. 
          THE FISCAL 2024 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON SIX MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND SIX MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. 
          OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS $16 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND $14.1 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. 
          UH, AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED, THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH'S PROJECTIONS ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO $7.6 MILLION INCREASE IN SALE OF CAPITAL ASSETS TO REFLECT OR REFLECT HIGHER THAN BUDGETED LAND SALES, AND ALSO $6.5 MILLION INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES THAT ARE RELATED TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AMBULANCE FEES, UH, BASED ON, UH, A HIGHER NUMBER OF TRANSPORTS. 
          AND, UM, JUST TO NOTE ABOUT THE SALES TAX, ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T, UH, MADE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SALES TAX IN THIS REPORT, I KNOW THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THAT FOR NEXT MONTH'S REPORT. 
          UM, JUST IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR PROJECTIONS, THE BUT IN ORDER TO MEET THE BUDGETED AMOUNT OF THE 600, UH, SORRY, 866 MILLION, THE REMAINING MONTHS NEED TO COME IN ABOUT 5.7% BELOW THE PRIOR YEAR, UH, WHICH IS STILL VERY CONSERVATIVE. 
          UM, GIVEN THAT SO FAR, YEAR TO DATE, WE'RE AVERAGING ALMOST 2% ABOVE THE PRIOR YEAR COLLECTIONS. 
          SO WE STILL FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE IN OUR ESTIMATE AND WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT AS WELL. 
          UM, IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS, THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS ARE NOW $55.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND $1.4 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. 
          AND THE VARIANCE IS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING, THE 822 THOU THOUSAND DOLLARS INCREASE TO THE CONTROLLER'S BUDGET AND THE $599,000 INCREASE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH REFLECTS THE BILLING AND COLLECTION FEES THAT ARE RELATED TO THOSE AMBULANCE REVENUES THAT I MENTIONED. 
          UH, THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASE FOR, UM, THE EMERGENCY 
          [03:45:01]
RESPONSE RESCUE PROGRAM. 
          UH, SO ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 428.4 MILLION, WHICH IS $12.6 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH, AND IS 17.2% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT. 
          UM, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR HOW THAT COMPARES TO OUR 7.5% TARGET, IT'S $241 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF 7.5%. 
          SO MOVING ON TO THE, UH, ENTERPRISE AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDS, UM, FOR THE AVIATION ENTERPRISE FUND, THE NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 5.1 MILLION, UH, DUE TO THE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST ON POOLED INVESTMENTS. 
          AND LIKE THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED IN HIS INVESTMENT REPORT, UH, THE INVESTMENT, UH, RATE THAT WE'RE EARNING IN THAT POOL IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, UH, DUE TO THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES MARKET WIDE. 
          UM, AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT REFLECTED IN A LOT, LOT OF HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST EARNINGS THROUGHOUT THE FUNDS. 
          UM, SO, UH, MOVING TO THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, THE OPERATING REVENUES INCREASE BY 46.3 MILLION DUE TO AN INCREASE IN WATER AND SEWER SALES EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 41 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN CONSTRUCTION SITE WORK SERVICES, REFUSE DISPOSAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND PERSONNEL SAVINGS. 
          UH, THE NON-OPERATING REVENUES FOR THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM INCREASE BY 20.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED IMPACT FEES. 
          AND AGAIN, INTEREST ON FOLD INVESTMENTS AND OPERATING TRANSFERS DECREASED BY ABOUT 17 MILLION DUE TO DEBT SERVICE TRANSFER AND SWAP PAYMENTS. 
          UM, SO MOVING ON TO THE SPECIAL FUNDS, THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND, THE D-D-S-R-F, UH, AGAIN, THOSE REVENUES ARE INCREASED DUE TO THE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST EARNINGS. 
          UM, FOCUSING ON THE D-D-S-R-F METRO AND STORMWATER FUNDS. 
          THE INCREASE OR, UH, EXPENDITURES ARE ACTUALLY DECREASED DUE TO PERSONNEL SAVINGS. 
          AND ON THE SPECIAL FUNDS, THE HEALTH BENEFITS FUND REVENUES INCREASED, UM, BY $2.3 MILLION, AGAIN, DUE TO THOSE INTEREST EARNINGS. 
          UH, ALSO COUPLED WITH CIGNA PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE REVENUE FOR THE AUTO DEALER SPECIAL FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.1 MILLION DUE TO THE, UM, HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED REVENUE FOR TOWING FEES ON BUILDING INSPECTION FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 2 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED PERMIT AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, UH, WHICH IS PARTIALLY OFFSET BY EXPENDITURE, UM, EXPENDITURE DECREASE OF 612,000 DUE TO DELAYS IN VEHICLE PURCHASES. 
          UM, SO TYPICALLY IN THE QUARTERLY REPORT I'LL ALSO GIVE A SNAPSHOT OF THE HOUSTON ECONOMY, UM, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE METRICS THAT WE FOLLOW AND TRACK GO INTO OUR, UH, SALES TAX PROJECTIONS AND OUR MODELING THAT WE DO. 
          UH, SO THE MAIN DRIVER OF THE SALES TAX REVENUE FOR THE CITY THAT WE FOCUS ON IS THE EMPLOYMENT. 
          UH, SO LOOKING AT THE DATA FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, THE PRELIMINARY NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT FOR THE HOUSTON WOODLAND SUGARLAND MSA WAS ABOUT 3.4 MILLION IN NOVEMBER OF 23, WHICH IS UP APPROXIMATELY 0.4% COMPARED TO THE PRIOR MONTH. 
          UH, AND COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, IT'S UP 2.3%. 
          UH, AS FAR THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF DEC OF NOVEMBER, IT WAS 3.8%, UM, COMPARED TO THE PRIOR MONTH OF 4.1%, AND COMPARED TO NOVEMBER OF 22, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS ABOUT 4%. 
          SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DOWN ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT, UH, FOR ENERGY. 
          I KNOW WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE PRICE OF OIL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS. 
          SO THE AVERAGE, UH, PRICE OF OIL, UM, AS OF DECEMBER WAS 70 POINT, UH, $71 AND 90 CENTS PER BARREL, WHICH IS ABOUT 7.5% LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTHS AVERAGE. 
          AND COMPARING THAT TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, THE PRICE HAS DECREASED ABOUT 5.9%. 
          UM, IN TERMS OF THE RIG COUNT, UH, THE RIG COUNT IS ABOUT 501 FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, UH, WHICH IS ABOUT 0.6% HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH. 
          UH, IN TERMS OF HOME SALES, UH, THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER SHOWS THE TOTAL SINGLE FAMILY HOME SALES OF 6,103, WHICH IS ABOUT 6.2% LOWER THAN THE, UH, SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. 
          UM, AND THE MEDIAN PRICE REMAINED UNCHANGED AT ABOUT 330,000 IN TERMS OF SINGLE, UH, FAMILY HOME INVENTORY. 
          IT REACHED A 3.3 MONTH, UM, SUPPLY IN DECEMBER, WHICH HAS INCREASED, UM, FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. 
          AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          WHAT A GOOD THOROUGH REPORT. 
          AND THANK EACH OF YOU, UH, IS THERE, OH, COUNCILOR ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          THANKS FOR THE REPORT. 
          A COUPLE QUESTIONS. 
          SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME. 
          UM, IN THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, UM, INCREASED REVENUE BY 46.3 MILLION, BUT, UH, DECREASED EXPENDITURES BY 41 MILLION. 
          SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TAKING IN A LOT MORE MONEY IN THE WATER SEWER SYSTEM 
          [03:50:01]
AND WE'RE SPENDING LESS IN THE WATER SEWER SYSTEM. 
          I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S DUE TO CONTRACT DELAYS, PERSONNEL SAVINGS, DELAYS ON REPAIRS OR WHATEVER, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION TO LEND SOME COLOR AROUND KIND OF THAT, THAT DISCREPANCY AND, AND WHY, WHY ARE WE WAY UNDERESTIMATING, UM, THE, THE WATER SEWER REVENUES? I GUESS ON YOUR FIRST QUESTION PERTAINING TO THE EXPENDITURE, DECREASE THE, THE EXPENDITURE DECREASE. 
          RIGHT. 
          SO I WOULD SAY THAT FOR THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY ON THE CONSTRUCTION DELAYS, THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM FUNDS A LOT OF THEIR CONSTRUCTION WORK WITH DEBT FINANCING. 
          RIGHT. 
          AND ALSO A PORTION PAY OF YOU GO PAY AS YOU GO FINANCING. 
          SO IT'S NOT THAT THE WORK NEEDS, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T NEED TO BE DONE. 
          IT'S MORE OF A TIMING DELAY THAT IT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT HAPPEN IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. 
          OKAY. 
          AND AS FAR AS UNDERESTIMATING OR OUR, OUR REVENUES IN THE WATER SEWER SYSTEM IS THAT MM-HMM . 
          UM, I MEAN, WE, WE SEEM TO BE COMING IN AHEAD, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME ON. 
          RIGHT. 
          WHICH CONCERNS ME. 
          'CAUSE PEOPLE'S WATER BILLS ARE HIGH AND ARE WE, YOU KNOW, IS THAT, IS THAT THE REASON OR WE HAVE RIGHT. 
          I DON'T HIGHER THAN EXPECTED WATER BILLS OR I DON'T WANNA GET AHEAD OF THE MAYOR ON THAT. 
          I KNOW HE MIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          NOT GETTING AHEAD OF THE MAYOR, JUST, JUST POINTING IT OUT. 
          UM, ALSO MOVING FROM THERE ON THE LAND SALES, REMIND ME WHAT THE TWO LAND SALES WERE MM-HMM . 
          YEAH. 
          SO, UM, ONE OF THE PROPERTIES WAS FOR DELANO STREET, WHICH WE SOLD TO HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH WAS PERTAINING TO THEIR RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL REVITALIZATION PROJECT. 
          OKAY, GOT IT. 
          AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WAS A LAND SALE FOR A STRIP OF LAND IN FRONT OF FIRE STATION 45 TO TDOT. 
          OKAY. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND, UM, CONTROLLER ARE, UH, THE, SO ONE PERSON FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
          AND THEN DID YOU HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL HIRES FOR PERFORMANCE AUDITS? UH, THAT'S CORRECT. 
          UH, WE WERE APPROVED, UH, SEVEN FTES THERE. 
          UH, WE HAVEN'T MADE THOSE HIRES YET, BUT, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR AUDIT DEPARTMENT, UH, BEFORE THIS CHANGE CONSISTED OF EIGHT PEOPLE, UH, WHICH BY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE IS LOWER THAN THE AUDIT DEPARTMENTS OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. 
          AND FRANKLY, FOR A CITY, YOU KNOW, WITH A BUDGET THIS SIZE, UH, IT'S EMBARRASSING AND IT'S, IT'S DRAMATICALLY UNDER RESOURCING THAT FUNCTION THAT CAN BE SAVING US MONEY AND IDENTIFYING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING A TIME WHEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES ON THE HORIZON. 
          SO, UH, I'M GLAD THAT THAT'S TAKEN PLACE. 
          UM, WE ARE GONNA BE FILLING THOSE, UH, THOSE SLOTS AGGRESSIVELY, BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF TALENT TO COME IN AND DO THIS VERY IMPORTANT JOB, UH, AND THEN DELIVER VALUE FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK HAS, HAS ADVOCATED FOR. 
          UM, FINALLY ON PAGE 13, THE ARPA, UM, LOCAL RECOVERY FUND. 
          UH, IS THERE ANYTHING TO HIGHLIGHT ON, I KNOW I BROUGHT IT UP LAST WEEK AND I KNOW MELISSA, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU'RE REALLY GOING THROUGH AND MM-HMM . 
          KIND OF SCRUBBING, UM, WHAT'S, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ARPA? IS THERE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL YOU CAN TELL US ON, ON WHAT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS HOW, UH, HOW MUCH WE WILL HAVE MM-HMM . 
          UM, SO, SO LIKE WE TALKED, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DATE FOR THE OBLIGATION OF THE ARPA FUNDS, THEY HAVE TO BE OBLIGATED BY THE END OF DECEMBER OF 24 AND SPENT BY DECEMBER OF 26. 
          SO WE'RE GOING, UM, DOING A DEEP DIVE WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. 
          SOME COMMUNICATION HAS GONE OUT LAST WEEK. 
          WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS TO SCRUB THROUGH ALL THOSE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY WHERE THERE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, PERSONNEL COSTS. 
          UM, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT DID CHANGE THEIR GUIDELINES ON SOME THINGS. 
          AND SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT, UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE DEADLINES. 
          AND IF NOT, THEN WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TO, UM, RECYCLE THOSE FUNDS FOR SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE CAN GET DONE BY THE DEADLINE. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PROTE? YES. 
          TATUM, NO ASSISTANT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          MAYOR, UM, CONTROLLER, MY QUESTION ALSO WAS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE AUDITS AS WELL. 
          SO WITH THE ADDITIONAL HIRES, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY MORE AUDITS EVERY YEAR YOUR OFFICE WILL BE ABLE TO DO? I, I DON'T HAVE THAT, SORRY. 
          I DON'T HAVE THAT PROJECTION, UH, YET. 
          OBVIOUSLY, AS WE LOOK TO BUILD THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, UH, AUDIT PLAN, WE'LL BE INCORPORATING THOSE, THOSE, UH, THOSE RESOURCES. 
          UM, BUT AS WE LOOK TO, YOU KNOW, GETTING THOSE HIRED IN THE NEAR TERM, UH, THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST SOME IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES. 
          AND IN ADDITION TO KIND OF OUR INDEPENDENT VIEW, WE'VE ALSO OFFERED SUPPORT TO THE ADMINISTRATION IF THERE IS A NEED OR A REQUEST TO SUPPORT SOME OF THEIR KIND OF EARLY DIGGING AROUND IN SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS WHERE THE NEED EXISTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED IN THE PAST 
          [03:55:01]
ABOUT, UM, THE NEED TO AUDIT EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM HERE AT THE CITY AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN THROUGH A SUNSET REVIEW PROGRAM. 
          UM, AND DO, BUT THAT'S GOOD NEWS THAT WE'RE HIRING MORE PEOPLE AND BEEFING UP THAT DEPARTMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANKS, YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN CARTER. 
          COUNCILOR CARTER, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. 
          I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THE REPORT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT TO CLARIFY, YOUR, YOUR, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT'S A POSITION FOR, FOR YOUR OFFICE? YES. 
          THERE'S ONE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON, ON THE, UH, CONTROLLER SIDE ON THE, ON THE BUDGET. 
          SO IT WAS THIS, THIS IS A NEW, NEW POSITION, NEWLY CREATED. 
          UM, IS THAT SOMEONE THAT WAS CURRENTLY, LIKE, WAS IT OPENED UP FOR APP OR JUST A, SOMEBODY JUST SLOTTED IN THERE. 
          CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT POSITION? I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON ON THAT ONE. 
          SURE. 
          UM, THE, THE HIRE HAS BEEN MADE AND, UM, IT'S, UH, WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, AN EXECUTIVE HIRE. 
          AND SO THERE WAS A SORT OF A FAST TRACKED, UH, HIRING PROCESS. 
          AND SO THAT PERSON'S ALREADY IN PLACE AND, AND, AND DOING GREAT WORK. 
          AND, AND IS THAT SOMEONE THAT CAME IN INTERNALLY FROM, UH, CAN YOU, CAN YOU TELL US WHO IT IS? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH, WITH THAT. 
          UH, JOANNE RAY, UH, SHE'S, UH, SOMEONE WHO IN YEARS PAST, UH, HAD DONE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK, UH, IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO WE CAN REACH OUT AND, AND CONNECT WITH HER TO, TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOUR OFFICE WILL ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          WELL, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME,  WELL, WE, WE REACH OUT TO YOU, BUT, BUT SHE'S OPEN, UH, FOR YEAH, HER EMAILS IN THE SYSTEM AND YOU CAN REACH OUT TO HER AS WELL. 
          PERFECT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, GO. 
          UH, COUNCILOR PECK, UH, WE WILL, WE WILL BE DOING AUDITS AND NOT ONLY OBVIOUSLY THE CONTROLLER HAS RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WE PLAN TO DO A THOROUGH AUDIT TO ESTABLISH THE CONDITION OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE FOUND WHEN WE GOT THERE. 
          THAT'S GREAT. 
          YEAH. 
          SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE AND I BELIEVE JANICE WEAVER COMMITTEE OUTREACH AND THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS JOIN YOUR OFFICE. 
          THAT'S NOT THE POSITION SHE TOOK. 
          UH, NO, SHE'S, UH, SHE'S MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRANSPARENCY. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? NOT FOR ME. 
          APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU. 
          IS THERE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORTS? SO MOVED. 
          SECOND MOTION IS MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? AYE. 
          HAVE IT. 
          MOTION. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK Y'ALL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MEMBERS. 
          [MAYOR'S REPORT]
UH, I WOULD ASK YOU TO JOIN ME TO, UH, THANK TWO FIREFIGHTERS, OUR HEROES. 
          THAT SUN SATURDAY NIGHT ACTUALLY MADE A CALL AND, UH, HAD A VERY SCARY ENCOUNTER WITH, UH, A PATIENT. 
          A RESIDENT WAS HAVING A SEIZURE. 
          APPARENTLY WHEN HE CAME TO, HE WAS A LITTLE DELUSIONARY AND PULLED A PISTOL ON FIREFIGHTER COREY GRANT AND ANDREW HOBERG. 
          UM, THEY, UM, JUMPED OFF A SECOND STORY APARTMENT, UM, LOCATION, AND, UH, ONE BROKE IT'S COLLAR, BARN COLLAR BONE. 
          AND, UH, WE'RE VERY LUCKY AND I APPRECIATE THE FIRE CHIEF NOTIFYING ME. 
          UM, I JOINED THE, THE FIREFIGHTERS PROFESSIONAL UNION AND, UM, THANK THE FAMILIES AND THE TWO FIREFIGHTERS. 
          I THINK IT JUST GOES A LONG WAY SHOWING THAT THE DANGERS THEY FACE ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEY WERE VERY, VERY LUCKY THAT THEY, UH, SURVIVED THAT ENCOUNTER. 
          THEY HEARD THE PISTOL BEING COCKED AS THE GENTLEMAN WAS GETTING SOME CLOTHING TO, TO BE TRANSFERRED TO, UH, MEMORIAL HERMAN. 
          SO KEEP THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. 
          ALSO, UH, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS. 
          I'VE GOT A BRIEFING THIS MORNING FROM CHIEF NER THAT HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT STARTED A SAFETY ROADWAYS INITIATIVE LAST NIGHT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY. 
          THEY ARRESTED TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH WARRANTS FOR THEIR ARREST. 
          THIS IS TO ADDRESS THE SPEEDING DRIVERS, AGGRESSIVE AND UNSAFE DRIVING. 
          IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, WHICH I CERTAINLY HAVE ENCOURAGED, UH, INCLUDING THE DPS CONSTABLES. 
          AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF MORE COLLABORATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER. 
          SO, UH, THANK YOU CHIEF FINNER AND THE LEADERSHIP AND THE MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT WERE INVOLVED. 
          AND THEY'LL BE DOING THIS ACROSS OUR ROADS AND FREEWAYS. 
          ANYTHING 
          [04:00:01]
ELSE? UH, NO. 
          WE'LL GET STARTED ON THE AGENDA. 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. 
          ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION. 
          CASTEX STATE A, MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? AYE. 
          HAVE IT UNDER THE ACCEPTABLE CATEGORY. 
          ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION CAST T MOVED I THE SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          AYE. 
          HAVE IT UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. 
          ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. 
          CASTEX. 
          T MOVED. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION IS MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED AYES HAVE IT UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. 
          CATEGORY ITEM 6, 7, 11, AND 12 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 6, 7, 11, AND 12. 
          NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 5, 8, 9, AND 10 CAST T. 
          MOVE ON A SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND ON FAVOR. 
          AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? AYE. 
          HAVE UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS MOVED. 
          [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 15, 17, 20, 26, 27, 28, AND 32. 
          THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 15, 17, 20, 26, 27, 28 AND 32. 
          NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? JUST NEED TO VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR. 
          AYES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? AYE. 
          HAVE IT? MOTION CARRIES. 
          I REMOVE SECOND CONSIDERATION. 
          ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION CAST. 
          STATE, MOVE TO SECOND. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AS SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW, I'LL ALWAYS SPOTLIGHT, UM, A GREAT PURCHASE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR TRANSITION TO, UM, HYBRID VEHICLES, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UH, SAVING THE CITY MONEY AND MOVING TOWARDS OUR GOAL, UM, IN THE CITY'S, UH, CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. 
          SO I WANNA THANK, UH, IN THIS CASE HPD. 
          UH, WE HAVE AN ORDER FOR HYBRID, UH, VEHICLES. 
          AGAIN, IT ALSO HELPS WITH FUEL EFFICIENCY, UH, AND COST SAVINGS. 
          UH, AND WANNA THANK, UH, I SEE RAY IN THE AUDIENCE, SO WANNA GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT. 
          I KNOW, UH, WE HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST AND I THINK IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
          SO, UH, THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR WORKING ON THIS ONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ITEM SIX. 
          NEED VOTE ON ITEM SIX. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, VOTE ON ITEM SIX. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION. 
          CASTEX T MOVE, THOMAS. 
          SECOND. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, TWO SESSIONS AGO WE TALKED ABOUT WITH CONTRACTS, THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPANDING, UH, THE WARRANTY PERIOD. 
          UH, THIS IS A CONTRACT, UH, FOR ADDITIONAL LIGHTING FIXTURES AT OUR PARKS. 
          VERY IMPORTANT, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          UH, WE JUST HAD A SITUATION, LOVE PARK WAS JUST REINVESTED IN WITH, UH, MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT, INCLUDING NEW LIGHTS, AND THE LIGHTS BROKE, UM, IN LESS THAN A YEAR. 
          SO THOSE ARE BEING REPLACED. 
          AND I WANNA THANK PARKS AND GSD, BUT AGAIN, AS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT US HAVING TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THAT COST, UH, WHEN THEY JUST WENT OUT, JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT AND SPOTLIGHTING THAT. 
          UM, AND APPRECIATE, I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THOSE LIGHTS ARE BEING REPAIRED, UM, AS ARE OTHERS IN THIS PACKAGE. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, TO ADD ON TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEVERAL, UH, LITTLE LEAGUES THAT ARE WAITING FOR BALL FIELDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. 
          UH, WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES THAT IN GROUND UP PARK SPECIFICALLY FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF ALREADY. 
          UH, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING. 
          'CAUSE ASIDE FROM THAT, DOW PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR 50 50 PARKS, IS BEING SEEN, UH, ADDRESSED WITH THIS. 
          SO, UM, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. 
          UH, THESE ARE AT OUR PARKS. 
          WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS ARE SAFE AS WELL. 
          SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING. 
          I'VE BEEN, I'M GONNA CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE WE'RE REPLACING OTHER BALL FIELD LIGHTS AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM SEVEN? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM 11 NEEDS A MOTION. 
          CASTEX TATUM, MOVE I A SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. 
          OH, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS A BIT AS WELL. 
          UH, WITHIN THIS, UH, ITEM, THERE'S ABOUT 17,000 NEW CUSTOMERS THAT ARE 
          [04:05:01]
BEING ADDED ON, UH, TO SOLID, SOLID WASTE WITH, WITH THESE, UH, REFUSE CARDS. 
          UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO ADD MORE REFUSE CARDS, MORE UNITS, UH, OUR ROUTES ARE GETTING DELAYED. 
          UH, AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO START KIND OF LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN REPROGRAM SOLID WASTE AS WELL TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON ITEM 11? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES. 
          ITEM 12 NEEDS A MOTION. 
          HAS TATUM MOVE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED? CAN WE GET NO, SHE'S, WE LET'S MAKE THE MOTION FIRST. 
          OH, SORRY. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, MOTION MADE AND SECOND. 
          THOMAS SECOND. 
          OKAY. 
          AND THEN NOW TAG ALCORN TAGS. 
          CAN YOU ASK HER TO REMOVE HER TAG FOR DISCUSSION? ABSOLUTELY, YES. 
          AND, AND THEN I WAS ASKED BY MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER TO MAYOR PROTE CAS STADIUM. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, I DID WANT TO JUST KIND OF TAKE SOME TIME THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM BECAUSE THIS CAME THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. 
          UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, UM, HAS, UH, BEEN PUSHING FOR, UM, MWBE PARTICIPATION IN THE CO-OPS. 
          UM, AND I KNOW SHE WANTS TO TAG IT SO SHE CAN BE HERE WHEN WE VOTE ON IT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS PRUDENT THAT WE RECOGNIZE, UM, DIRECTOR GREENFIELD AND DIRECTOR MURRAY, UM, FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID WHEN THIS CAME THROUGH. 
          UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCLUDING, UM, MWBE'S IN CO-OPS. 
          UM, BUT NOT ONLY WERE WE LOOKING TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE CO-OPS, BUT, UM, MY PUSH WAS HOW CAN THEY BECOME PART OF THE CO-OP. 
          UM, SO INSTEAD OF JUST BEING A PORTION OF THE CONTRACT, HOW CAN YOU COMPETE SO THAT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CO-OP AND NOT ONLY SELL YOUR PRODUCT IN HOUSTON, BUT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. 
          AND SO THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A TRACK TO, UM, HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES PARTICIPATE IN THE CO-OP, UM, AND ALSO, UM, HAVE A PORTION OF THE MWBE, UH, PARTICIPATION. 
          AND SO I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE BOTH OF THEM FOR TAKING THAT FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND MEETING WITH THOSE STAKEHOLDERS. 
          BECAUSE IF THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TO, UM, MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, AND THEY DID JUST THAT, UH, AND SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE VERY SURPRISED NOW THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS AND NOT ONLY SELL THEIR PRODUCTS IN HOUSTON, BUT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE. 
          UM, AND, AND BE A PRIME AS OPPOSED TO JUST BEING A SUB. 
          SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S GREAT WORK. 
          I KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WILL WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, SOME OF HER ASK ON NEXT WEEK. 
          BUT I THINK THE BIG PUSH IS NOW THAT THESE, UM, BUSINESS OWNERS CAN BE PART OF THE CO-OP AS OPPOSED TO JUST MAINTAINING A, A PORTION OF THE MWBE PARTICIPATION. 
          THIS IS BUILDING CAPACITY. 
          UM, THESE BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, MAKE UP A BIG PORTION OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC FIBER. 
          UM, AND NOW WE, WE HAVE A ROUTE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO, TO BUILD CAPACITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          SO GREAT WORK TO, UM, DIRECT A GREENFIELD AND DIRECTOR MURRAY AND OBO FOR LISTENING TO THE STAKEHOLDERS, LISTENING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND MAKING IT A WIN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          VERY WELL SAID. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, ITEM HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          NEXT ITEM PLEASE. 
          ITEM 15 ISN'T ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY AYES HAVE IT. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          AYES HAVE IT. 
          ITEM PASSES. 
          ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? AND AY, ITEM PASSES. 
          ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          ITEM PASSES. 
          ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, I WANT, THIS IS THE 2016 FEMA HOME ELEVATION GRANT PACKAGE. 
          AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND HOW CRITICAL IT IS. 
          UH, AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH FEMA PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE YEAR, SAY FOR ONE, SINCE 2015, UH, IN DISTRICT C, ALTHOUGH FLOODING IMPACTS THE ENTIRE CITY 
          [04:10:01]
AND THIS PACKAGE ALONE, OVER HALF OF THE HOMES BEING ELEVATED ARE IN DISTRICT C. 
          SO I WANTED TO FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK THE DEPARTMENT MAYOR FOR THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING TO KEEP RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHILE PROTECTING THEM FROM FLOODING. 
          AND THE BENEFIT OF THIS ISN'T JUST FOR THOSE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS. 
          UM, IT IS A ECONOMIC STABILIZER FOR OUR CITY WHEN THOSE PROPERTIES ARE NO LONGER A BURDEN, UM, ON TAXPAYERS THEMSELVES. 
          UH, SO I I THINK THIS PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK. 
          AND I'M CALLING ON EVERYONE. 
          WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR NEXT ROUND OF PACKAGES FROM THIS YEAR'S. 
          APPLICANTS COMING TO COUNCIL SOON. 
          UH, BUT EVEN MORE HOUSES NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS. 
          FEMA HAS, UM, WIDENED WHO CAN QUALIFY. 
          OF COURSE YOU DO NEED HOME INSUR, FLOOD INSURANCE. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          SO WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FLOOD INSURANCE. 
          UH, BUT WE ARE NOT OUTTA THE WOODS WHEN IT COMES TO FLOODING. 
          UH, ALL OF US KNOW THIS. 
          UH, I DON'T WANNA SAY WE'VE BEEN LUCKY THE PAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD A FREEZE, WE'VE HAD DROUGHT, BUT THE NEXT STORM IS ON THE HORIZON. 
          AND WE HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING. 
          WE CAN'T BECOME COMPLACENT WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING. 
          SO I'M, I'M ELEVATING THIS AS A CALL TO CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO REMIND FOLKS WE HAVE GREAT WORK GOING IN AND INVESTMENTS, BUT SO MUCH MORE IS NEEDED TO KEEP HOUSTON SAFE FROM FLOODING. 
          AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOOLS, MAYOR. 
          SO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS. 
          UH, WE HAVE ONE HOME IN THIS PACKAGE IN DISTRICT C THAT IS ALMOST COMPLETED. 
          ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. 
          THANK. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT ITEM. 
          WE JUST NEED THE VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          ITEM PASSES. 
          ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          MAYOR PROTE TATUM. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I, I NEED EVERYONE TO RAISE YOUR HANDS. 
          CLAP AND BE EXCITED. 
          WE ARE MOVING ON TO PHASE TWO OF THE WESTVIEW WAY CIP PROJECT. 
          UH, AND I'M VERY EXCITED, UM, TO AMPLIFY THIS FOR THE RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON. 
          UM, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PHASE TWO OF THIS CIP PROJECT FOR A WHILE. 
          WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF, UM, SETBACKS, BUT IT IS HERE NOW. 
          AND I THINK RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND HOUSTON WILL BE EXCITED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, THE PROJECT IN IN SIGHT. 
          UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT NEW SIGNALIZE INTERSECTIONS, UM, AT FRAN ROAD, HILLCROFT STREET, BLUE RIDGE ROAD AND CHIMNEY ROCK ROAD. 
          UH, WE ARE ALSO GETTING NEW SIDEWALKS ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET WITH A DA RAMPS AND DRIVEWAYS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. 
          SO IT'S A GREAT, UM, PART TO, UM, FA FINISH THE WEST FUKE WAY. 
          UM, STREET THAT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A WHILE. 
          THERE'LL BE, UM, NEW REPLACEMENT OF THE BB INLETS AT THE INTERSECTION OF WEST FUQUA AND BLUE RIDGE. 
          UH, RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THIS PROJECT ON ENGAGE HOUSTON. 
          IT'S A PROJECT THAT WILL LAST FOR ABOUT 230 DAYS, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          JUST NEED THE VOTE. 
          UH, ALL IN FAVOR CI. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NO. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NOW YOU JUST HAD A PRETTY GOOD POP OFF RIGHT THERE. 
          ,  MAYOR PRO TEM 
          [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
CAS STADIUM. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I DID WANNA JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
          UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND DISTRICT A WANNA GIVE A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SOUTH HOUSTON CONCERNED CITIZENS COALITION? THEY HELD THEIR NINTH ANNUAL AWARDS BANK WITH THIS PAST SATURDAY. 
          IT WAS A SOLD OUT EVENT, UM, CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, REALLY THANKFUL TO, UM, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HPD, THE HI CLARK STOREFRONT ASSOCIATION AND SEVERAL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND, AND THEIR PRESENCE. 
          ALSO KESWICK PLACE RAMBLEWOOD RESIDENTS. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A WORK AUTHORIZATION TO REMOVE AND REPLACE SOME STORM SEWER OUTFALLS. 
          UM, THAT'S HAPPENING SOON. 
          AND THAT WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED AROUND THE SUMMER OF 2024. 
          UH, WE ARE ENCOURAGING BUSINESS OWNERS TO GET CONNECTED WITH OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS AT THE HI CLARK REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NETWORKING RECEPTION. 
          AND THAT'S HAPPENING ON TOMORROW, FEBRUARY THE FIRST AT 6:00 PM AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER AT 1 4 0 8 3 SOUTH MAINE. 
          AND THEY CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE HI CLARK FORT BEND.COM WEBSITE. 
          UH, LAST FRIDAY, UH, WE CELEBRATE IT. 
          FORT BEND, HOUSTON PINNACLE, SENIOR CENTER FACILITIES 
          [04:15:01]
PROGRAM MANAGER, SONYA SANTI. 
          AND IF YOU HAVE EVER MET SONYA SANTI, YOU KNOW WHAT A DYNAMIC FORCE. 
          SHE HAS BEEN AT THE PINNACLE CENTER IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON. 
          SHE HAS DEDICATED 22 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE, UH, TO THAT CENTER IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          SO WE WISH HER A VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT, UM, FILLED WITH JOY AND NEW ADVENTURES AS SHE MOVES ON TO THIS NEXT SEASON IN HER LIFE. 
          AND THEN, JUST A REMINDER, THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS MARCH THE FIFTH. 
          EARLY VOTING IS FEBRUARY 20TH THROUGH MARCH 1ST. 
          IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY THE FIFTH. 
          AND YOU CAN VISIT HARRIS VOTES.COM OR FORT BEND VOTES UH.GOV. 
          AND FINALLY, ATE, UH, OFFICE IS WELCOMING OUR UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CHIP INTERN, UH, TO OUR OFFICE. 
          SHE IS A JUNIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR AND MINORING IN DATA SCIENCE. 
          SHE'LL BE WORKING ON SOME SPECIAL PROJECTS AS WELL AS ASSISTING OUR CONS, CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTORS WITH CONSTITUENT MATTERS. 
          SO WE'RE VERY HA HAPPY TO HAVE, UH, MICAH AS OUR SPRING INTERN IN OUR OFFICE IN DISTRICT A KEEP UP WITH DISTRICT A SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER. 
          Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. 
          VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. 
          UH, NOW VICE MAYOR PRO TEM BECK. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, FIRST I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT AUDITING. 
          I GUESS AUDITING ISN'T A VERY EXCITING TOPIC, BUT IT IS TO ME. 
          IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE SAID FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS. 
          I THINK THAT WE'LL FIND A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES, BUT ALSO AREAS THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF REFOCUS ON. 
          SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND THEN ALSO SOME GOOD NEWS FOR DISTRICT A. 
          WE HAVE OUR, UM, CAMPBELL TRIANGLE ESPLANADE. 
          IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A NAME, BUT IT'S ON, UM, CAMPBELL ROAD WHERE IT'S JUST THIS, UM, TRIANGULAR ESPLANADE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, IS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN ITS CITY PROPERTY. 
          AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET THAT PROPERTY MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
          UM, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS AGREED TO TAKE OVER THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT AREA AND THAT AGREEMENT IS BEING FINALIZED RIGHT NOW. 
          AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          IT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY TO LEVERAGE OUR FUNDS TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. 
          SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. 
          AND IT'LL FINALLY GET MOWED ON TIME. 
          SO I KNOW THAT THE CONSTITUENTS IN THAT AREA WILL BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT AS WELL. 
          ALSO THE, UH, CIVIC HOUSTON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, THE CHIP PROGRAM OUT OF THE HOBBY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 
          UH, WANNA WELCOME BRADEN DODSON, WHO WILL BE WORKING IN OUR OFFICE THIS SPRING. 
          UH, HE'S A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR AS WELL, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON WORKING TOO, SO THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          NOT HERE. 
          ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, YESTERDAY WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, THE BAR ON THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR. 
          AND I, I DID HAVE A FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF PENA ABOUT WHAT THE FIRE MARSHAL CAN DO. 
          THEY, THEY GO IN, IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. 
          LET'S SAY IF A, A PLACE HAS A VALID CO IF THEY'RE OVER CAPACITY, THEY CAN CLEAR IT OUT AND THEN JUST LET BACK IN THE PEOPLE THAT CAPACITY ALLOWS OR THAT THEY GET THERE AND THEY SEE THAT, UM, THAT PART OF IT DOESN'T HAVE LIKE A DECK, DOESN'T HAVE A CO THEY CAN GO IN, TALK TO THE OWNER, TRY TO GET SOME PEOPLE OFF THE DECK. 
          IT'S NOT AS CLEAR CUT IN ALL THESE CASES. 
          THEY CAN ISSUE A CITATION. 
          THEY USUALLY DON'T. 
          THEY TRY TO WORK WITH THE OWNER, TRY TO GET THAT CLEARED, CLEARED OUT. 
          UM, THEN THEY CAN GO IN IF THEY HAVE AN OLD CO LIKE THEY USED TO BE A BEAUTY SHOP AND NOW THEY'RE A BAR, BUT THEY HAVE THE, THE, THE CO FOR LIKE THEY'RE A BEAUTY SHOP. 
          THEY CLEAR THE BAR AND THEN THEY JUST LET 49 PEOPLE IN. 
          'CAUSE THAT'S THE SOME MAGIC NUMBER THAT THEY CAN LET IN. 
          OR THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CO AT ALL. 
          ALL THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE'S NO CAPACITY. 
          IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CO THERE'S NO CAPACITY. 
          ALL YOU CAN DO IS JUST GIVE A FINE FROM 500 TO $2,000. 
          SO THAT'S IT. 
          THERE'S NO SHUTTING DOWN. 
          I MISSPOKE. 
          I DIDN'T MEAN SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS, I MEANT LIKE CLEAR IT OUT. 
          BUT WHAT OTHER CITIES DO, MAYOR, IS THEY WORK AND WE WOULDN'T BE LIKE SEEKING OUT BARS. 
          YOU KNOW, WE WANNA BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY, BUT IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT BARS IN THIS SITUATION, WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT CHIEF PENA WAS TALKING ABOUT IS POSSIBLY GOING IN WITH POLICE, WITH THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL AND SAYING, HEY, YOU GUYS DON'T EVEN HAVE YOUR ACT TOGETHER. 
          YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR CO YOU KNOW, DON'T COME AT NIGHT. 
          LIKE, GO DURING THE DAY AND SAY LIKE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT THE POWER OR SOMETHING. 
          OTHER CITIES DO IT. 
          WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT THE POWER OR SOMETHING UNTIL YOU GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT. 
          SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. 
          SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO PURSUE. 
          AGAIN, WE WANNA BE, WE LIKE OUR GOOD BARS, WE WANNA HAVE A GREAT NIGHTLIFE HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT THE ONES THAT GET COMPLAINED ABOUT ALL THE TIME, WE NEED A HAMMER. 
          AND I THOUGHT THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ONE. 
          CUT THE POWER. 
          NOBODY'S GOOD. 
          THE DJ'S CLOSED DOWN. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE. 
          OH WAIT, I HAVE ONE MORE EXCITING PIECE OF NEWS FOR EVERYBODY. 
          UM, SHE'S NOT GONNA SAY IT, BUT OUR VICE MAYOR PRO TEM GETTING MARRIED THIS WEEKEND. 
          SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. 
          [04:20:02]
BEST WISHES. 
          COUNCILOR CARTER CARTER. 
          COUNCILMAN CARTER. 
          SO I HAVE EXCITING NEWS FOR YOU ALL. 
          I'LL BE TOURING, UH, BARK THIS AFTERNOON. 
          SO IF YOU FIND A PUPPY OR KITTEN, UH, AT YOUR OFFICE DOOR, NO, IT'S A GIFT FROM THAT LARGE THREE. 
          UM, UH, JUST HAVE TO REITERATE, UH, THE, UH, PIT COUNT. 
          LAST WEEK WE DID PARTICIPATE IN THAT RAIN, SLEET, SNOW OR HAIL. 
          AND IT, IT WAS AN INTERESTING, UM, INTERESTING VISIT OF COURSE AS ALWAYS AND HAD A GREAT MEETING MONDAY WITH THE COALITION AND TALKED TO, UH, TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT OUGHT TO PARTNER WITH HPD AND AND HFD BECAUSE CERTAINLY HPD AND HFD GETS THE CALLS ON THE HOMELESS AND WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH WHERE THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE LOCATED AND TO TRY TO SEE, UH, SEE IF WE CAN PIN THAT COUNTDOWN A LITTLE TIGHTER. 
          AND LASTLY, IF YOU TOURED, WHICH I KNOW OR IF YOU ATTENDED, WHICH I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU DID THE JFK EXHIBIT OVER AT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY THAT LULAC BROUGHT IN, WHAT A GREAT EXHIBIT. 
          YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, THE HERITAGE SOCIETY NEXT, JUST RIGHT NEXT DOOR IS ONE OF THOSE LITTLE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN HOUSTON. 
          SO I THINK WE CAN DO A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT. 
          THEY'VE GOT A RODEO EXHIBIT COMING THE 27TH THROUGH THE FIFTH I THINK. 
          SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I AM ELATED TO EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY ELECTED LEADERSHIP OFFICERS OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 76 SOUTH ACRES CRESTMONT AND NUMBER 77 MINTEX. 
          THE STAKEHOLDER MEETING ON JANUARY THE 25TH MARKED A SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY'S JOURNEY TOWARDS ENHANCED COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP. 
          THIS IS A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION OF DISTRICT DEED'S COMMITMENT TO PROACTIVE C COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. 
          AND REGARDING THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, PLEASE NOTE THAT IT WAS RESCHEDULED FROM JANUARY THE 29TH, UH, FOR THE, AND IT'S GONNA BE THE SECOND WEEK IN FEBRUARY. 
          AND THIS MEETING IS AN INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. 
          AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE'S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. 
          ALSO ON TOMORROW BROADWAY COMES TO SUNNYSIDE, THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH A PRE, WITH A, UH, PERFORMANCE OF AIN'T MISBEHAVING FROM NOON TO 3:00 PM AND THERE WILL BE AN AWARD GIVEN TO GRAMMY NOMINEE 2024 GRAMMY NOMINEE JEWEL BROWN, WHO IS A MUSICAL LEGEND. 
          AND SO WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. 
          THAT'S GONNA BE A GREAT EVENT. 
          IT'S AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, UH, AGAIN STARTING AT NOON. 
          AND THAT'S 44 10 REED ROAD. 
          I WANT TO REFLECT ON THE RECENT TPC MEETING, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY PROFOUND RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATION SHOWN BY MY COUNCIL. 
          COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO CAYMAN, AND, UH, MARTINEZ. 
          ALONGSIDE THE HARDWORKING TEAMS OF THE HPW STAFF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND COUNCIL STAFF MEMBER KATHLEEN SHELTON, THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WE FACED, WE COL, THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND STEADFAST RESOLVE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVANCING OUR CITY'S INTERESTS. 
          WORKING WITH SUCH DEDICATED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS IS NOT ONLY A PRIVILEGE FOR ME, BUT ALSO A CONSTANT REMINDER OF OUR SHARED GOAL TO SERVE AND UPLIFT THE GREAT VOTERS OF OUR CITY WHO DID SPEAK THEIR PASSION AND ADVOCACY FOR COMMENDABLE AND, UH, ARE COMMENDABLE AND PLAY A VERY VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          I ALSO WANT TO, UH, COMMEND THE, UM, OUR SUPPORT FOR THE SIX WEEK FOOD WASTE DROP OFF PROGRAM. 
          CAN YOU PARK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE MAYBE? NO, IT'S NOT MUCH FOOD COMING OUTTA THERE, REALLY, BUT AT ANY RATE, THAT'S GONNA BE A GREAT EVENT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UH, CERTAINLY MAYOR, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ALAMEDA AND FURMAN ROAD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT, UH, WHICH IS GONNA BE VERY VITAL FOR THE, UH, DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE, UH, THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE. 
          AND, UM, I WANT TO, I CAN TALK TO YOU AND OUR ONE-ON-ONE ABOUT THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT AT ALAMEDA AND FURMAN ROAD. 
          I ALSO WANT TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, STEVEN JAMES. 
          UM, I'M SURE HE'S UP THERE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD, BUT I CERTAINLY WANT HIM TO KNOW TO TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES FOR HIS BIRTHDAY AND, UH, CELEBRATE. 
          BUT CERTAINLY, I, UM, JUST, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL WEEK. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO THE REMAINING PART OF THIS YEAR, AND IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR. 
          THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. 
          THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          OH, AND CONGRATULATIONS. 
          I'VE NEVER SEEN A SMILE THAT BIG. 
          THAT IS WONDERFUL. 
          BUT CERTAINLY, 
          [04:25:01]
UM, I, I, I WISH YOU WELL AND CERTAINLY, UH, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. 
          Y'ALL COULD GO , UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          TOMORROW IS THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY, WHICH IN DISTRICT H MEANS IS THE START OF LOVE YOUR PET MONTH, AND THAT IS A SERIES OF ANIMAL CONTROL AND RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP EVENTS AND INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO IN THE OFFICE. 
          UM, THIS IS GONNA INCLUDE WELLNESS PROGRAMS, PET PANTRIES, UH, SPAY NEUTER SERVICES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PETSET, UH, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER EVENTS. 
          I WILL ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO BE, UH, UP TO DATE ON DATES, TIMES, AND LOCATIONS. 
          UM, WE ARE ALSO SPONSORING EVERY FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY, BARK WELLNESS VISITS FOR DISTRICT H RESIDENTS. 
          YOU CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT BARK, TAKE YOUR, UH, PET IN, THEY WILL RECEIVE VACCINES. 
          THEY WILL RECEIVE, UH, DEWORMING MEDICATION, MICROCHIPPING REGISTRATION, UH, PROVIDED THROUGH THE DISTRICT H OFFICE. 
          AND SO I WILL ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REACH OUT TO BARK AND GET YOUR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED, BECAUSE THOSE START TOMORROW OR FRIDAY, I WILL SAY. 
          UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS INITIATIVE IS, IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES, UM, IN THIS DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE CITY. 
          UH, WE ACTUALLY RECENTLY, UNFORTUNATELY HAD A, A SEVERE DOG ATTACK IN DENVER HARBOR. 
          UM, AND I WISH THE VICTIM A FULL AND SPEEDY RECOVERY, BUT IT, IT UNDERSCORES THE REASON WHY THIS INITIATIVE WAS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE ON. 
          UH, SO WE CAN BUILD ON THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE YEARS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE, UH, FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE FUTURE. 
          UM, WE'RE ALSO COMING UP ON TAX SEASON AND, UH, IF DISTRICT H RESIDENTS ARE IN NEED OF TAX ASSISTANCE, UH, BAKER RIPLEY IS OFFERING TAX SERVICES, UH, FREE OF CHARGE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EARNING, UH, LESS THAN $58,000 ANNUALLY. 
          UH, TWO LOCATIONS IN DISTRICT H WILL OFFER THESE SERVICES, THE RIPLEY HOUSE ON NAVIGATION, AND THE WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. 
          YOU CAN REACH OUT TO BAKER RIPLEY, UH, OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE, BAKER RIPLEY.ORG TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION. 
          AND, UH, THIS SATURDAY KICKS OFF OUR SERIES OF TOWN HALLS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. 
          UH, WE WILL BE VISITING NUMEROUS LOCATIONS AND HIGHLIGHTING, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, UH, KEEP, UH, UP TO DATE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE, UH, SOME CHANGES WITH WEATHER GOING ON ON SATURDAY THAT MAY IMPACT OUR LOCATION. 
          SO JUST KNOW OUR FIRST ONE WILL BE SATURDAY THE, FOR FEBRUARY THE THIRD AT NINE 30. 
          UM, AND, UH, YOU CAN FOLLOW US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON, UH, ANY POTENTIAL UPDATES TO THE LOCATION. 
          AND FINALLY, I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, FOLKS FROM THE TEAM AS I HAVE BEEN DOING, AND HIGHLIGHT EMILY HAYNES, WHO YOU MAY KNOW. 
          SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT H OFFICE FOR TWO YEARS NOW, AND SHE, UH, GRACIOUSLY STAYED ON FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY TO FULLY TRANSITION, UH, PROJECTS, INITIATIVES, AND, UH, HAS BEEN JUST THE BEST HELP. 
          UH, SHE'S BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE AND HAS DONE, UH, EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THE TEAM IS FULLY, UH, ONBOARDED AND AWARE. 
          AND, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE HER, UH, FULL COMMITMENT TO THE DISTRICT AND TO THE OFFICE AND, AND HER WILLINGNESS TO, TO STAY ON FOR A MONTH TO DO THAT. 
          AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          UM, SHE'S A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H'S, NEAR NORTH SIDE, ALONG WITH HER SPOUSE, TWO KIDS AND TWO DOGS. 
          UM, IN HER FREE TIME, SHE LOVES TO BIKE AROUND HOUSTON WITH HER 9-YEAR-OLD DISCUSSING LITERATURE WITH HER BOOK CLUB AND EATING OUT AT ALL THE FANTASTIC DISTRICT H RESTAURANTS. 
          WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. 
          HAPPY TO SHOW ANY OF Y'ALL SOME GOOD ONES IF YOU WANT. 
          UM, AND FINALLY, UH, TO VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU ALL. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, WE'RE IN, UH, DAVIS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WANT TO, UH, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, TO THE, UM, SOUTH HOUSTON CONCERNED CITIZENS COALITION, UH, IN DISTRICT K, UH, TO, UH, I MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, TATUM FOR, UH, THE INVITE. 
          AND IT WAS, UM, WELL ATTENDED AND IT WAS CERTAINLY GOOD TO SEE THE HISTORICAL CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT'S BEEN DONE IN SOUTH HOUSTON, UH, THE MANY YEARS LIVED IN GLEN 
          [04:30:01]
IRIS, UH, AND, UH, THERE ON WEATHERING HEIGHTS TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT AND TO SEE THE CHANGES THAT, UM, HAS TRANSPIRED WITH SOUTH POST OAK, WHICH HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS OVER THE YEARS. 
          AND COMMEND, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BRO, TIM, UH, TATUM FOR HER ACTIONS, AND CERTAINLY FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND BE PROUD OF SEEING A COMMUNITY BEING DEVELOPED AND IN A POSITIVE WAY. 
          ALSO, I WANT TO COMMEND ALSO THE COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON TAR JACKSON AND, UH, DISTRICT B. 
          UM, WE WERE IN ATTENDANCE WITH THEM ON THE OTHER NIGHT IN HER MEETING. 
          AND, UH, I THINK SHE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB IN GATHERING ALL OF THE CITIZENS AND CONCERNING THE, UM, CANCER CLUSTER. 
          AND, UM, I THINK SHE DID A MARVELOUS JOB AND TRYING TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON. 
          AND, UM, AND, UM, AND HER GOING FORWARD, UH, I HOPE TO, UM, SUPPORT HER, YOU KNOW, IN THE EFFORT IN DOING WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. 
          AND IT IS CERTAINLY ONE THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO DEAL WITH. 
          UH, BUT WE WANNA MAKE PEOPLE WHOLE, THE BEST POSSIBILITY WE CAN. 
          BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO STREAMLINE ANY ISSUES THAT MAY OCCUR IN RESOLVING THAT PROBLEM. 
          AND, UM, AND ALSO, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO ASK THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR THEIR PRAYERS FOR ANNETTE DOER, MY CHIEF OF STAFF WHO LOST HER BROTHER, AND SHE HAD TO FLY TO CINCINNATI, OHIO ON YESTERDAY. 
          AND, UH, SO WHEN WE ASKED THAT YOU WOULD KEEP HER IN PRAYER, AND THAT SHE HAVE A SAFE, UM, RETURN BACK TO HOUSTON, UH, AND CERTAINLY TO KEEP ALL OF HER FAMILY, HER BROTHER WHO PASSED AWAY, UH, WITH SIX CHILDREN, 49 YEARS OLD OF CANCER WITH SIX CHILDREN. 
          AND THAT HAS GOT TO BE VERY, UM, UH, TRAUMATIC SITUATION. 
          SO LET'S KEEP, I WOULD ASK TO KEEP, AND THAT DWYER, UH, FAMILY IN PRAYER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. 
          YEAH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO THANK THE CITY IN LOWERING LAKE HOUSTON, UH, HERE THAT, UH, REALLY MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. 
          WE, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAD ONE HOME THAT FLOODED, UH, OVER IN HUFFMAN. 
          UH, SO THAT LOWERING OF THE LAKE ABSOLUTELY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WOULD'VE BEEN FLOODED OTHERWISE. 
          SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, I ATTENDED THE QUASAR AWARDS, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALCORN AND CAYMAN AND RAMIREZ. 
          UH, THEY HONORED, UH, WILL HARRIS, WHO RUNS NASA, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY PUT ON BY BAY HEP AND, UH, THE BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP REALLY HAS GOT A LOT GOING ON. 
          UH, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE CLEAR LAKE AREA. 
          HOUSTON OBVIOUSLY BENEFITS AND THAT INCREASED BUSINESS AND INCREASED SALES TAX REVENUE. 
          UH, SO IT WAS A REALLY NICE EVENT, AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY THAT, THAT WAS ABLE TO COME OUT. 
          UH, THE NEXT DAY, SALLY AND I GOT TO PLANT TREES OVER IN WILSON PARK FOR ARBOR DAY. 
          UH, IT WAS A LITTLE COLD AND A LITTLE WET, BUT, UH, WE DID THE BEST OF IT. 
          AND, UH, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, 50 YEARS AGO, I USED TO ACTUALLY GO SWIMMING AT THAT PARK, UH, WITH OUR FAMILY. 
          SO IT'S, IT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME. 
          UM, IN KINGWOOD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING THIS WEEKEND, SO YOU GOT YOUR ELECTRONICS. 
          NEED TO GET 'EM RECYCLED, BRING 'EM ON OUT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. 
          UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, WE HAD A GREAT COMMUNITY MEETING. 
          UH, AS A DISTRICT PROJECT, WE'RE LOOKING AGAIN AND FOCUSING ON SAFE CROSSINGS, ESPECIALLY AROUND SCHOOLS AND THE RESIDENTS BROUGHT TO US IN THE LAZY BROOK TIMBER GROVE AREA. 
          UM, A IMPORTANT CROSSING IN FRONT OF SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY, RIGHT AT ELLA AND GROVE WOODS. 
          SO I WANNA THANK, UM, PUBLIC WORKS AS SPECIFICALLY IAN ALI, VAL CHRIS, UH, AMONG OTHER STAFF, UH, OUR CITY PARK TOURS, UH, COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S OFFICE, AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, UH, WHO ATTENDED OUR COMMUNITY MEETING TO KINDA LAY OUT THE PROPOSAL. 
          UH, AND I WANNA REMIND RESIDENTS THAT ALL OF THE MATERIALS ARE UPLOADED TO THE DISTRICT C WEBPAGE, AND WE'RE ASKING RESIDENTS TO GO TO ENGAGE HOUSTON.ORG AND EMAIL PUBLIC WORKS WITH YOUR FEEDBACK AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. 
          SO THAT, UH, FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITY WILL BE OPEN THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH. 
          SO PLEASE, PLEASE GET YOUR, UM, YAYS OR NAYS IN ON THAT. 
          UH, MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED, AND I'VE SPOKEN, I, I MEAN, IT EVEN CAME UP YESTERDAY AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO KNOWS ABOUT THIS, UM, IN SHEPHERD FOREST, THE ILLEGAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S TAKING PLACE. 
          UH, LITERALLY SOMEBODY BUILDING AN ILLEGAL LEGAL APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH A LEGAL FILL, NO PERMITS WHATSOEVER. 
          I WANNA THANK CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE, UM, AND HIS TEAM, UH, FOR DOING A FULL COURT COURT PRESS ON IT ON THIS LAST FRIDAY. 
          [04:35:01]
UM, THERE WAS A MUNICIPAL COURT HEARING, IT WAS SET FOR A JURY TRIAL, UH, THE GUY NOHOW. 
          AND, AND THIS IS THE SAME OWNER OF THE AIRBNBS THAT WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH BOTH ON BANK STREET AND THE HEIGHT. 
          IT IS THE SAME BAD ACTOR. 
          SO AGAIN, THIS ISN'T ABOUT BUSINESS GENERALLY, THIS ISN'T ABOUT DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY. 
          THIS IS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT REFUSE TO PLAY BY THE RULES THAT ARE THERE FOR SAFETY AND PUTTING EVERY OTHER BUSINESS AT A DISADVANTAGE AND PUTTING OUR NEIGHBORS AT RISK. 
          SO AGAIN, ARTURO, THANK YOU TO YOUR AND YOUR TEAM. 
          THERE IS A WARRANT OUT NOW BECAUSE HE KNOW SHOWED, UM, BUT WE NEED MORE. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT'S WORKING ON THIS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
          UM, AND WE WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT. 
          AND THEN ALSO IN SHEPHERD FOREST, I BELIEVE I SEE PAUL IN THE AUDIENCE. 
          SO I WANNA THANK CENTERPOINT, UM, FOR COMING AND HAVING A GREAT AND PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THEY WERE ALSO IN GARDEN OAKS, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS. 
          SO, UH, PAUL, PLEASE PASS ALONG OUR APPRECIATION FOR THAT LEVEL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
          LASTLY, ON A HIGH NOTE, UM, I WANNA THANK, UH, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR ALLEN, PAM FOOT, WHO'S OVER NOW. 
          OUR LOVE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER HAS JUST BROUGHT SO MUCH ENERGY. 
          UH, WE PARTNERED WITH THE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION LAST WEEKEND, UH, FOR A COMMUNITY EVENT. 
          HPD CENTRAL PATROL WAS THERE AS WELL, JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE PARK, WHAT MORE IMPROVEMENTS WE WANNA SEE. 
          MAYOR, ONE OF THE THINGS BROUGHT UP, UM, AS WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR PLAYGROUNDS AND OUR PARKS, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS THEMSELVES, UM, ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. 
          AND I DON'T FAULT THE CITY AT ALL. 
          UH, WE'VE HAD DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR DECADES IN THESE PARKS. 
          SOME HAVE NOT HAD LOVE IN, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE SIXTIES, SINCE THE FIFTIES. 
          SO, AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ASKED WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD PUT FORWARD A BOND, UH, TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. 
          AND I PROMISE THAT I WOULD RAISE THAT, UM, TO THE COUNCIL AS A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATER INVESTMENT. 
          BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION, AND MS. FOOTE AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU. 
          HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL ACTUALLY MADE DECORATIONS FOR THE EVENT. 
          THE HIGH SCHOOL USES THE GYM, UH, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          EVERYONE USES THIS GYM IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, AND WE LOVE, LOVE PARK. 
          UH, I ALSO WANNA CLOSE, UH, TOMORROW IS THE START OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. 
          AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I KNOW WE WILL ALL IN OUR OFFICES, BE RECOGNIZING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. 
          UH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF ALL COMING TOGETHER TO LIFT UP THE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR AMERICAN HISTORY AND WORLD HISTORY, UH, BLACK HISTORY IS INTEGRAL TO THAT. 
          SO, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, ON MONDAY I ORGANIZED A MEETING AT THE FIFTH WARD MULTI SERVICE CENTER, UM, TO ATTEMPT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE CREST CONTAMINATION IN FIFTH WARD. 
          UM, I WANNA THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, AND, UM, WILLIE DAVIS AND RAMIREZ FOR SHOWING UP IN PERSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND PLUMMER FOR SENDING STAFF. 
          REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE. 
          OUR MEETING WAS A SUCCESS. 
          UM, WE HEARD FROM A, A HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY, CHRISTIAN MEN MENEFEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR STEVEN WILLIAMS AND EPA REPRESENTATIVE CASEY LUCKETT. 
          MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS ON WHAT THEY NEED TO FEEL SAFE AND HEALTHY IN THEIR HOMES. 
          UM, WHILE MANY RESIDENTS ARE NOT READY TO LOCATE, RELOCATE, OR WANT TO RELOCATE, THERE ARE SOME THAT WANT TO RELOCATE. 
          AND I'M MORE CONFIDENT NOW THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOLUNTARY RELOCATION PROJECT STARTED BY, UM, PREVIOUS MAYOR TURNER. 
          UM, OUR PRIMARY OBLIGATION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IS TO ENSURE OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE SAFE. 
          FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, THE RESIDENTS IN 50, IN 50 WARD HAS BEEN FAILED. 
          UM, THE VOLUNTARY, UM, RELOCATION PLAN CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT NINE RESIDENTS WHO ARE READY TO MOVE OUT. 
          CITY OFFICIALS WENT TO THEIR HOMES WITH THIS PLAN, AND THEY ACCEPTED IT. 
          WE OWE IT TO THEM TO KEEP OUR WORD. 
          UM, I TALKED TO ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO IS READY TO MOVE, AND HE HAS SEVERAL RELATIVES WHO HAVE DIED OF CANCER AND IS CURRENTLY BATTLING AN ILLNESS. 
          HIS HISSELF, HE WANTS TO MOVE BECAUSE HE FEELS HIS HOME IS MAKING HIM SICK. 
          AND SO HE SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE AS WELL AS OTHER RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO RELOCATE. 
          AND SO I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO SAVE LIVES AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER FOR THE RESIDENTS. 
          UM, IN FIFTH WARD, ALSO, EPA IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING TESTING. 
          AND SO I'M ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO ALLOW EPA ON THEIR SITE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE TESTING SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A CLEAR PLAN ON HOW TO REMEDIATE THE AREA. 
          SO, THANK YOU. 
          YOU SAID WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN, MEANING WE DON'T HAVE ONE NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CLEANUP. 
          A CLEANUP, YEAH. 
          YEAH. 
          AND WE, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GET UNION 
          [04:40:01]
PACIFIC AND EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT INVOLVED. 
          IN FACT, I WAS ON THE PHONE THIS MORNING WITH TECQ TO GET THEIR STATUS REPORT. 
          I WANNA APPLAUD YOUR HEARING. 
          I SPENT FOUR HOURS IN FIFTH WARD SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITHOUT MY SECURITY DETAIL. 
          IF YOU WON'T TELL ANYBODY, , TO REALLY HAVE A HANDS ON CONVERSATION, AND THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. 
          UH, FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IS, IS AS YOU TRAVEL, THE CITY'S DOING A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA THAT THEY'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO RELOCATE FROM THE PAVED STREETS. 
          METRO BUS LINES ARE BEING IMPROVED. 
          THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, BOARDING LOCATIONS. 
          A LOT OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY CONSTRUCTION. 
          THE LAND OFFICE HAS ALREADY BUILT THREE HOMES. 
          THEY HAVE 18 PLANNED. 
          WE'VE ASKED THEM TO PAUSE THAT. 
          SO THERE'S A LOT OF STEEL, UH, AS YOU PROBABLY DISCOVERED IN THE MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE, A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. 
          SO I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK NEXT WEEK WHEN I, UH, COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE, THE ISSUE BACK. 
          I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A STRONG STATEMENT, BUT WE CERTAINLY NEED SOME PARTNERS IF WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF, OF HEALTHCARE AND, AND SAFE, UH, ENVIRONMENT EQUALITY, INCLUSION. 
          BECAUSE, UH, AS YOU CAN APPRECIATE MORE THAN SOME MEMBERS, I WAS IN ACRES HOME SATURDAY MORNING FOR A FUNERAL. 
          SO I TRAVELED AN AKER HOME WAS WITH THE NEIGHBORS, UH, DIANE SHEPHERD'S SON PASSED. 
          WE HAD A GREAT CELEBRATION, BUT I ALSO GOT AN OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, TO SEE THE CONDITIONS INKER HOME. 
          UH, WE LEFT AKER HOME ABOUT ONE, WENT TO FIFTH WARD, ABOUT ONE 30. 
          AND QUITE FRANKLY, COUNCIL MEMBER FIFTH WARD WAS IN BETTER SHAPE IN THE CANCER CLUSTER LOCATION THAN WHAT I EXPERIENCED IN ACRE'S HOME. 
          SO THERE'S PART OF THE MISINFORMATION AS WE'RE IMPROVING FIFTH WARD, IF THAT'S OUR CHOICE AS PART OF THE RELOCATION. 
          UM, IT'S STRIKING THE IMPROVEMENTS IN FIFTH WARD AS WE'RE TRYING TO CONVINCE FOLKS TO MAKE GOOD JUDGMENT, BETTER CONDITIONS THAN I SAW IN AKER'S HOMES. 
          SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I'M GONNA EMPHASIZE AGAIN, WHEN I REALLY COME WITH A REPORT, WE MUST HAVE PARTNERS AT, AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, AND CERTAINLY UNION PACIFIC HAS TO BE AT THE TABLE AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, RIGHT? AND, AND WHAT INFORMED MY DECISION IS THAT THE RESIDENTS FEEL THAT SOME RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE. 
          YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, SURE. 
          YOU KNOW, IT'S, THEY'RE THERE. 
          AND SO THEY WANT A CHOICE. 
          IF A PERSON DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE AREA, THEY DO NOT. 
          NOBODY IS PUSHING THEM TO LEAVE THE AREA. 
          AND SO, MY THING, WE ALL SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE, CHOICE TO GO RIGHT OR LEFT, STAND UP, SIT DOWN. 
          AND SO THE RE SOME RESIDENTS WANT A CHOICE. 
          AND SO THAT'S WHAT, UM, I'M PUSHING, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE A CHOICE. 
          IF THEY WANNA SAY, SAY, I'M NOT SAYING I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, IS JUST SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HOMEOWNERS FEEL LIKE THEIR PROPERTY'S GONNA BE WORTH MORE NEXT YEAR, RIGHT. 
          THAN IT IS THIS YEAR. 
          AND THEY TRULY BELIEVE AND MAY BE CORRECT, THAT IT'S AN ECONOMIC PLAY, AND CERTAINLY GENTRIFICATION IS TAKING PLACE. 
          SO, UH, IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, I INHERITED, BUT I'M GONNA WORK WITH EVERYONE, UH, HAVE A, A WORKABLE PLAN, RIGHT? AND, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST NEXT WEEK WE NOT ONLY GIVE A REPORT, WE MAKE A STRONG STATEMENT. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON FINDS THE CONDITIONS UNACCEPTABLE. 
          UH, THERE'S 5 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED. 
          UH, NOW THERE'S GONNA BE A VOTE WHETHER YOU TAKE 2 MILLION OF THAT FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND FACILITATION OF THE RELOCATION. 
          SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE, I'VE SEEN THE LIST OF 10 FAMILIES THAT HAVE AGREED TO MOVE, RIGHT? WHICH WAS ARRIVED AT LAST SUMMER. 
          A COUPLE OF 'EM, WE CAN'T LOCATE. 
          ONE HAS ALREADY MOVED OUTTA THE AREA, BUT THAT'D BE ABOUT $200,000 A HOME OF THOSE 10 TO HELP 'EM RELOCATE INTO ABOUT A $250,000 HOME. 
          THAT'S WAS PART OF THE PROPOSAL. 
          SO AT SOME POINT, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE, UM, VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING, AGAIN, GET EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AT THE TABLE. 
          I'M MEETING WITH THE EPA ON FRIDAY TO SEE WHY THEY'RE DRAGGING THEIR FEET WITH THEIR PROPOSED 18 MONTH STUDY. 
          UH, AND WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT. 
          AND I JUST, QUITE FRANKLY, I DIDN'T, WHEN, WHEN I ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION THREE WEEKS AGO, I HAD NO IDEA, UH, WHERE THIS WAS TAKING ME. 
          BUT I WANNA APPLAUD EVERYONE. 
          UM, I THINK COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ ACTUALLY SAW HIM ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE YOUR MEETING, REALLY ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES 
          [04:45:01]
AND GET INVOLVED. 
          THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO CRITICAL THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS OUGHT TO BE FULLY BRIEFED ON IT. 
          AND, UH, WE MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS. 
          BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR, UH, AND MAYOR, I ALSO HAVE SOME SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS THAT I, I WANNA SHARE WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          JUST GIVE A HISTORY TIMELINE OF, UM, THE CANCER CLUSTER AND, YOU KNOW, THE TEST THAT WAS DONE, AND SO THAT FOLKS CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER IN FIFTH WARD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY. 
          'CAUSE I WAS VERY, UM, ENERGIZED TO SAY THE LEAST. 
          WHEN I LEFT SATURDAY AFTERNOON AFTER SPINNING CONCEALABLE TIMES, UH, PEOPLE WERE FLAGGING ME DOWN. 
          UH, LIKE I SAID, DON'T TELL MY SECURITY, BUT, BUT THEY WERE FLAGGING ME DOWN. 
          THEY, THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT. 
          YEAH. 
          BUT THERE WAS VERY MIXED MESSAGING AND A LOT OF CONFUSION. 
          SO, BUT, AND LET ME JUST, UM, POINT OUT THAT, I MEAN, AGAIN, THERE'S RES THEY WANT TO STAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO IF SURE THEY DO, THEY WANNA STAY, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A CLEANUP PLAN. 
          I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO GET FINISH THE TESTING, AND THE TESTING IS GONNA TAKE SOME TIME. 
          SURE. 
          I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE STILL IN PHASE ONE OF THE TESTING. 
          AND SO, UM, AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL SPREAD THIN, BUT THIS IS, UH, ENOUGH OF A PRIORITY. 
          I WOULD, I WOULD URGE ANY OF THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO VISIT THE COMMUNITY. 
          IT'S VERY ENLIGHTENING THAT LIBERTY ROAD OBVIOUSLY DIVIDES THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CREOLE. 
          SO PLANT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, CONDOS ARE BEING BUILT, METRO'S IMPROVING THE BUS STOP STRUCTURE. 
          THE CITY'S DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB OF PAVING MOST OF THE STREETS, WHICH I FOUND KIND OF INTERESTING. 
          THERE'S A MOTEL OPERATING. 
          SO ANYWAY, YES. 
          AND IT'S A LOT. 
          UM, AND OF COURSE, I KNOW FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU GUYS PUT A FREEZE ON PERMITTING, RIGHT? WHERE NO PERMITS WILL BE ISSUED. 
          IT'S A PAUSE. 
          I A UNDERSTAND PAUSE. 
          YEAH. 
          UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH COUNT WITH, UH, LEGAL. 
          WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY, HOW YOU CAN FREEZE IT. 
          BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S A PAUSE DUE TO SOME TECHNICALITIES AND LEGAL ISSUES. 
          BUT THE, THE STRIKING THING IS THE LAND COMMISSION HAS BUILT THREE HOMES, AND THEY WANT, THEY GOT PLANS FOR 18, THEY NEED TO HOLD OFF. 
          AND, UH, WE GOTTA GET UNION PACIFIC AT THE TABLE AND DISCUSS CAUSATION AND THE ULTIMATE PLAN AND THE EPA, CERTAINLY. 
          BUT ONE THING, SO WE KEEP SAYING WE NEED TO GET UP AT THE TABLE, BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND UP ARE, THEY'RE HAVING MEETINGS WEEKLY TO DISCUSS THIS WHOLE, THE ISSUE IN FIFTH FORWARD. 
          SO, I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE MEETING, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY GOTTA QUIT TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND COME UP WITH A PLAN. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, SO WE NEED TO GET OUR, OUR REPRESENT. 
          WE NEED TO REPORT. 
          AND, AND, UM, IT'S ANOTHER THING. 
          IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ALL HOUSTONIANS. 
          I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST MAKE IT A FIFTH WARD ISSUE. 
          IT'S A CITYWIDE ISSUE. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. 
          UH, HUFFMAN COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          LAST WEEK AT COUNCIL, WE, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE ENGAGED HOUSTON WEBSITE, WHICH IS THE WEBSITE THAT A LOT OF THE CONSTITUENTS GO TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UPDATED ABOUT DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOING ON AROUND THE CITY, UM, AND HOW THERE HAD BEEN A LAG IN, UH, UPDATING OF THAT. 
          UH, WELL, THE, THE WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED, SO I THANK YOU MAYOR FOR PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THAT. 
          ALSO, DURING THE ARCTIC BLAST, WE, DISTRICT G HAD AN EVENT, UH, THE COFFEE MEMBER, UH, COFFEE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE COPS. 
          IT HAS BEEN MOVED BECAUSE IT WAS CANCELED THAT DAY TO FEBRUARY 20TH. 
          SO COFFEE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE COPS, HPD WILL BE THERE AT PECAN CREEK GRILL OFF OF ELDRIDGE. 
          SO COME SEE US ON THE 20TH. 
          ALSO, THIS SUNDAY WILL BE CELEBRATING MARDI GRAS WITH THE FLEETWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD MARDI GRAS, MARDI GRAS PARADE. 
          UM, THAT'LL BE AT THREE O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, UH, SARAH JONES WITH MY OFFICE. 
          SHE IS, UH, LEAVING AND JOINING SENATOR CORNYN'S OFFICE. 
          SHE'S GOING TO BE ONE OF HIS REGIONAL DIRECTORS. 
          AND SO JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, SARAH, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND GOOD LUCK. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, I WANNA SAY, UH, KUDOS TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR THAT MEETING ON MONDAY NIGHT REGARDING THE UNION PACIFIC CSO AXON CANCER CLUSTER. 
          AND TO YOUR POINT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JACKSON, UNION PACIFIC, UH, IS, HAS BEEN INVOLVED, UH, NEEDS TO REMAIN INVOLVED AND NEEDS TO DO MORE THAN MEET, AS THE MAYOR HAS SUGGESTED. 
          THEY NEED TO, UH, ENGAGE FINANCIALLY AS WELL TO COVER, COVER THE COSTS OF, UH, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE OUT THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          [04:50:01]
UH, SO KUDOS TO YOU, THOUGH, A VERY GOOD MEETING, VERY INFORMATIVE, UM, NUMBER OF THE RESIDENTS WERE THERE. 
          HOPEFULLY, UH, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED. 
          I KNOW MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED. 
          A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO US, AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. 
          I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT WE MET EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH A DELEGATION FROM THE STATE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, VERY IMPRESSIVE GROUP THAT SHARED INSIGHTS INTO WHY, UH, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAD TO BE PULLED BACK FROM THE CITY BECAUSE BENCHMARKS WEREN'T MET, DEADLINES WEREN'T MET. 
          IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, DISASTER RECOVERY FUND, UH, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S ANOTHER 50 OR $60 MILLION THAT MAY BE LEFT AVAILABLE. 
          MAYOR, I KNOW YOUR OFFICE WORKING THROUGH, UH, OUR HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THOSE, THOSE FUNDS ARE, ARE WELL SPENT. 
          AND MAYOR, I KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR, UM, HOUSING DEPARTMENT YET, BUT, UM, THEY DID SHARE SOME INSIGHTS ON ONTO WHY, UM, THAT MONEY HAD TO BE PULLED BACK. 
          I HOPE WE WILL LISTEN TO THEM AND TAKE THEIR VIEWS INTO ACCOUNT, UH, SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. 
          I ALSO WANNA SAY, WE, WE HAD A, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PIT COUNT LAST WEEK, UH, WHERE WE, UH, HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH, UH, SOME FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. 
          UH, WONDERFUL PROGRAM. 
          WE, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT EFFORT AND IMPROVE ON THE PROGRESS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, UH, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, UM, GOING FORWARD, UH, THIS WEEKEND, LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTEND THE DISTRICT H TOWN HALL, CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR VIA ARCO SATURDAY MORNING, UH, WEATHER PERMITTING. 
          AND AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO SAID, THAT MAY BE MOVED, UH, IF, UH, IF IT RAINS. 
          AND FINALLY THIS WEEKEND, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE, UH, ATTENDING THE DENVER HARBOR CARES LAIA, UH, FUNDRAISER SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT TWO. 
          THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE AT THE POTO BAKERY AND RESTAURANT AT THE CORNER OF CREST AND MARKET. 
          DENVER HARBOR CARES IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO INCREASE, UH, UH, CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN THAT AREA. 
          AND SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE DOING. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          IT'S ALWAYS A, A GREAT TIME TO BE A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT F. 
          I WANNA FIRST SHOUT OUT MIDWEST HPDA PORTION OF MY COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO ADDRESS PARTICULAR ISSUES AROUND QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH WE CAN ALWAYS CONNECT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          AND AFTER A VERY LONG TIME, COUNTLESS HOURS, UH, AND INVESTIGATIONS, WE HAVE OFFICIALLY SHUT DOWN CAFE  ON RICHMOND. 
          SO FOR THOSE ENTANGLE, WILD WESTMONT AND CARVER CREST, PLEASE LET THE OFFICERS KNOW AT MIDWEST HPD, UH, TELL THEM THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. 
          AND WE JUST ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE IN REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE AND DIRECTLY COMMUNICATING WITH THE MIDWEST DRT TEAM. 
          THEY ARE ONE OF ONE. 
          I ALSO HAD A VERY MEANINGFUL MEETING LAST WEEK WITH TZO AS IT RELATES TO THE $30 MILLION, UM, INVESTMENT OF HOUSING INVENTORY DUE TO THE 45 EXPANSION. 
          THERE'S MORE DETAILS AS IT RELATES TO THAT. 
          UM, THEY SHARED, UM, UPDATES IN TERMS OF, UH, THE $30 MILLION, UM, CALL FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT ALSO THE RELOCATION PROGRAM. 
          I WANNA ENCOURAGE, UH, RESIDENTS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON THE NEWSLETTER. 
          THE, UH, DETAILED NOTES WILL BE PROVI PROVIDED FOR THAT. 
          I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE HARRIS HEALTHCARE FOR HOMELESS MOBILE C CLINIC HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THAT RIBBON CUTTING WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, MARTINEZ AND POLLARD. 
          AND WHAT WE REALIZED IS THAT WE, WE NEED THIS TYPE OF RESOURCE ON THE WEST SIDE, UM, AS OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION IS NO LONGER CENTERED DOWNTOWN, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS AND EXPANDING OUR RELATIONSHIP FROM THE CITY AND WITH THE, UH, COUNTY AGENCY. 
          UM, AS WE CONCLUDE JANUARY, WHICH IS HUMAN TRAFFIC AWARENESS MONTH, I WANNA SHOUT OUT METRO. 
          UM, UM, AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP. 
          I'M SHOWING YOU A BUS CARD THAT'S IN EVERY METRO BUS THAT'S HIGHLIGHTING, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF ERADICATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
          UH, METRO, THEY'RE TRAINING THEIR, UH, BUS OPERATORS AND WE'RE KEEPING AWARE AND PUTTING IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE DANGERS AROUND THAT. 
          WE HAVE CONTACT INFORMATION. 
          IT'S A PARTNERSHIP, UM, IN DISTRICT F UH, CITYWIDE, AND ALSO WITH THE HOUSTON, TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS. 
          THESE ARE SOME OF THE FACES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
          UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE THEIR, EXCUSE ME, THEY'RE PUBLIC, UH, PARTNERSHIP AROUND THAT. 
          AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL GET AROUND IN THE CITY. 
          LAST NIGHT, UM, I WAS ABLE TO JOIN CRIME STOPPERS IN THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, UM, FOR A DISCUSSION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
          UM, AND SO THEY WERE, UH, SHARING RESOURCES WITH VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS AND JUST REALLY MAKING THE CONNECTION. 
          IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IN THE CITY. 
          WE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT 
          [04:55:01]
THEY HAVE A ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AS ALL. 
          UH, LASTLY, I DO WANNA, UM, I GOT TWO MORE POINTS. 
          I DO WANNA CONGRATULATE THE HOUSTON CHAPTER, BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS, ESPECIALLY MY FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF THAT'S NOW CURRENTLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT, UM, ALONG WITH A HOST OF OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AT CITY HALL AND IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          I WANNA SEND MY RE MY REGARDS AND MY REGRETS, UH, TO THE BOONE FAMILY. 
          UM, WE LOST MARY A. BOONE. 
          SHE'S A RETIRED EDUCATOR. 
          SHE WAS A LEAF PROUD. 
          UH, SHE RAISED THREE CHILDREN IN THE ALI ISD SCHOOL SYSTEM, JASMINE BOONE, JAMAL BOONE, AND JERRY BOONE. 
          THEIR, HER SERVICES WILL BE ON THIS SATURDAY. 
          SHE LOST HER VERY BRIEF BATTLE WITH COLORECTAL CANCER. 
          SO, UM, UM, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UM, HAVE YOUR CHECK WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE, DO VERY BEST WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE. 
          AND I JUST WANNA SEND, UM, PRAYERS IN REGARDS TO THEM. 
          UH, LASTLY, AS IT RELATES TO, UH, THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, I ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH THEM YESTERDAY MORNING. 
          AND SO, UM, I CHOSE TO HAVE AN ELEVATED CONVERSATION, UM, MORE SO ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE THE NEXT DISASTER, HOW DO WE PREPARE TO MAKE SURE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS, OH, UM, UH, HOMEOWNERS ONCE THEIR HOME IS RECONSTRUCTED, THAT IT FITS THE FOOTPRINT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, WHEN HOMEOWNERS PURCHASE A THREE BEDROOM AND TWO BATH, THAT WE CAN RESTORE THEM BACK TO A THREE BEDROOM, TWO, TWO BATH AND KEEP THEIR EQUITY, UM, AND THEIR GENERATIONAL WEALTH. 
          SO THERE'S SOME GUIDANCE THAT THEY'LL BE PROVIDING. 
          AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE HOAS AND CIVIC CLUBS THAT IF YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS, UM, UM, ARE DELAY, UM, ARE, UH, LIMITED AND DO NOT MEET CURRENT CITY STATUS, TO PLEASE, UH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU UPDATE THAT, THAT. 
          AND I ALSO WANT TO, UM, CALL ON THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT AGAIN, UM, TO WORK WITH MY OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN OFFER, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, OUR HOAS TO HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, UH, LEGAL SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE, UH, MEETING OUR CITY GUIDELINES SUCH AS MINIMUM SETBACKS, UM, DETENTION, WHAT HAVE YOU. 
          SO THAT SHOULD BE COMING SOON. 
          UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU MUCH. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          GREAT JOB. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, WE STAND ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.