* 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]
          [00:00:08]
FOR A PROCLAMATION COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. 
          I AM PLEASED TO OFFER THIS PROCLAMATION TO DIRECTOR MARGARET WALLACE BROWN FOR HER, UM, 37 YEARS WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          THAT IS AN AMAZING, WHEREAS MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN HER 37 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT. 
          AND WE COMMEND HER LEGACY AND CELEBRATE HER RETIREMENT. 
          AND WHEREAS SHE HAS DIRECTED THE CITY'S REGIONAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING EFFORTS, LAND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, AND OVERSAW THE CITY'S GEOGRAPHIC MAPPING RESOURCES. 
          AND WHEREAS MARGARET HAS LED THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND PLANNING AND COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS, INCLUDING COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND THE RECENT APPROVAL OF THE LIVABLE PLACES AMENDMENTS, WHICH UPDATED THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT CODE AND WILL HAVE A POSITIVE AND LONG LASTING EFFECT ON HOW OUR CITY GROWS AND DEVELOPS FOR YEARS TO COME. 
          AND WHEREAS SHE PROVED LEADERSHIP TO THE CREATION OF HOUSTON'S FIRST GENERAL PLAN PLAN, HOUSTON WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN LEADING THE CITY'S PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORT IN THE AND RELATED REDISTRICTING EFFORTS, AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS CITY LIMIT CHANGES AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES AS THE HEAD OF THE PUBLIC POLICY DIVISION. 
          AND WHEREAS MARGARET HAS HELD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, AND PARTICIPATED IN PROJECTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT IN HOUSTON AND ON THE PLANNING PROFESSION ON A NATIONAL SCALE. 
          AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GRATEFUL FOR THE IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY SUCH A DEPENDABLE AND TALENTED DIRECTOR AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO MARGARET WALLACE BROWN. 
          MAYOR, MS. BROWN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. 
          I PUT A VERY HIGH PREMIUM ON PUBLIC SERVICE, AND CERTAINLY YOUR RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. 
          AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, WE THANK YOU. 
          AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024, IS MARGARET WALLACE BROWN DAY. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          UM, VICE MAYOR ROTTEN. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          VICE MAYOR, PRO TEMP PECK. 
          UM, THANK YOU ALL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, VICE, THANK YOU. 
          UM, THANK YOU ALL. 
          AND SO PUBLIC SERVICE IS, UM, A GIFT TO HOUSTONIANS THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE JOYS OF MY LIFE TO BE WORKING FOR HOUSTONIANS FOR 37 YEARS. 
          UM, PARTICULARLY WITH THE PLANNING TEAM. 
          SO MANY OF THEM BEHIND ME. 
          I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEIR, UH, WORK, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE'VE BUILT WITH MANY OF YOU AT COUNCIL. 
          YOU KNOW, MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE HOW HARD THIS WORK CAN BE. 
          AND I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE WORKED, UM, THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AS MUCH AS WE HAVE TOGETHER. 
          AND, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS AWARD, FOR THIS HONOR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM AND MARGARET, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          37 YEARS. 
          I MEAN, WE WERE JUST SAYING, NOBODY DOES THAT ANYMORE. 
          THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE GIFT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU SPENT YOUR CAREER HERE AND DID SO MUCH FOR THIS CITY. 
          YOU ARE ALWAYS SUPER RESPONSIVE. 
          YOU WERE ALWAYS GREAT ABOUT TALKING ME THROUGH ALL THE ISSUES THROUGH THE YEARS. 
          UM, REALLY JUST SO PROUD OF YOU AND, AND, AND YOU ALWAYS BRAGGED ABOUT NASA AND YOUR DAD. 
          AND I LOVE THAT WHOLE STORY TOO. 
          AND, AND JUST, YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST A GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR POSITIVE ENERGY. 
          AND I WALKED OVER, I WAS GOING TO GET AN ICED TEA EARLIER, AND THE WHOLE LIKE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS WALKING WITH ME AND, AND JUST, THEY, THEY ARE JUST, THEY, THEY REALLY DID JUST LOVE YOU, LOVE WORKING WITH YOU. 
          SO THANKS FOR, FOR YOUR GIVING US THE GIFT OF YOUR CAREER. 
          UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          I'M MANY GRATEFUL HOUSTONIANS. 
          THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 37 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY. 
          WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE GIVEN, UH, AND WE 
          [00:05:01]
LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THE FUTURE. 
          AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THIS NEXT SEASON OF YOUR LIFE. 
          BEST WISHES TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ONE MORE. 
          ONE MORE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. 
          SORRY I'M LATE TO THE GAME. 
          UH, DIRECTOR, FIRST OFF, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR DIRECTOR. 
          YOU HAVE BEEN, UH, INCREDIBLE IN TERMS OF YOUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF US AROUND THE HORSESHOE. 
          UH, EVEN WHEN WE DIDN'T SEE EYE TO EYE, UH, YOU NEVER, EVER DID YOU ALWAYS PUT IN THE TIME TO WORK WITH US, TO HEAR FROM US, UH, TO FIND THAT COMPROMISE, TO EXPLAIN THINGS IN THE NUANCE. 
          BUT I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY, NOT ONLY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
          AND, UH, YOUR LOVE OF THIS CITY IN ALL THAT YOU DO HAS ALWAYS, UH, SHINED THROUGH. 
          SO WE LOVE YOU AND WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE WOMEN OF US MARINE CORPS TO CELEBRATE THEIR 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN MARINE CORPS RESERVE CHATTER. 
          BASED ON THAT, I'M DOING, THIS IS TRUE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UH, TODAY WE'VE GOT, WE'RE SURROUNDED HERE BY A WONDERFUL GROUP OF LADIES, OUR, UH, WOMEN MARINE CORPS, SOME, UH, MEMBERS OF THE, UH, CORPS AND SOME OF THEM I'VE KNOWN FOR THE OVER THE YEARS, SO PROUD OF THEM ALL. 
          GLAD TO SEE THEM AND WANTED TO BRING A PROCLAMATION TODAY, UM, FOR THE WOMEN MARINE CORPS RESERVES, WHEREAS THE WOMEN MARINE CORPS WAS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT ON JULY 30TH, 1942. 
          HOWEVER, THE FORMATION OF THE WOMEN MARINE RESERVES WAS DELAYED UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH, 1943, MAKING IT THE LAST SERVICE BRANCH TO ACCEPT WOMEN INTO ITS RANKS. 
          BY THE END OF WORLD WAR II, MORE THAN 23,000 OFFICER AND ENLISTED FEMALE MARINE RESERVISTS WERE PERFORMING MORE THAN 200 MILITARY ASSIGNMENTS. 
          ALTHOUGH MANY WOMEN MARINE RESERVISTS SERVED IN CLERICAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, THEY ALSO FILLED BILLETS AS PARACHUTE RIGGERS, MECHANICS, RADIO OPERATORS, MAP MAKERS, MOTOR TRANSPORT SUPPORT, AND WELDERS. 
          AND WHEREAS BY JUNE, 1944, WOMEN MARINE RESERVISTS MADE UP 85% OF THE ENLISTED PERSONNEL ON DUTY AT HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS COURT, AND ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF THE PERSONNEL MANNING ALL MAJOR POSTS AND STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAWAII. 
          DURING THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR, ALL AVAILABLE MA MALE MARINES WERE BATTLING THE JAPANESE IN THE PACIFIC. 
          AND IN THEIR ABSENCE, WOMEN MARINE RESERVIST REPRESENTED OVER HALF THE PERSONNEL OF MARINE COURT BASIS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, THEREBY FREEING A MAN TO FIGHT AND WHAT A JOB. 
          AND WHEREAS FOLLOWING THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN IN 
          [00:10:01]
1945, THE WOMEN MARINE COURT RESERVE WAS DE DEMOBILIZED. 
          THE DEMOBILIZATION PLAN CALLED FOR MANDATORY RESIGNATION OR DISCHARGE OF ALL RESERVE MEMBERS BY SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1946. 
          HOWEVER, ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, CONGRESS SIGNED THE WOMEN ARMED SERVICE INTEGRATION ACT OF 1948 THERE THEREBY ALLOWING WOMEN TO BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF THE NATION'S ARMED FORCES. 
          AS A RESULT, MANY WOMEN MARINE RESERVISTS RETURN TO SERVICE AS REGULAR ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. 
          AND WHEREAS ON THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN MARINE CORPS RESERVE, WE HONOR ALL WOMEN MARINES WHO HAVE BRAVELY SERVED, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT IN THE MARINE CORPS. 
          DURING THIS OBSERVATION, WE ENCOURAGE ALL TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE INVALUABLE SERVICE AND SELFLESS, SELFLESS CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN MARINES TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CORE. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          AND THANK YOU TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. 
          I WISH WE HAD TIME TO RECOGNIZE YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND HEAR YOUR STORY, BUT WE DO HONOR YOU TODAY FOR HELPING US MAKE OUR COUNTRY SAFE, AND IT IS GREAT, AS WE ALL KNOW IT IS. 
          THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024 AS WOMEN MARINE CORPS RESERVES DATE. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CARTER AND, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER FROM HONORING US ON THIS DAY. 
          UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, SO, AND I OFTEN TELL THE, TELL EVERYBODY, THERE WAS ONCE A TIME WHEN WOMEN COULDN'T PLAY IN THE SANDBOX WITH OTHER MARINES. 
          UM, SO WE WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO BE IN THE MARINE CORPS FOR TWO YEARS. 
          AND THEN IN 1948 WHEN THEY SAID WOMEN CAN ACTUALLY JOIN AND STAY, UH, HERE WE CAME. 
          AND SO WE'VE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE. 
          AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. 
          WOMEN MARINES, UH, I SERVED LONG, LONG, LONG TIME AGO IN THE NINETIES, AND WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR GENERATIONS OF WOMEN MARINES RIGHT HERE, INCLUDING OUR VERY OWN SERGEANT TORRES. 
          UM, SO WE THANK YOU ALL FOR HONORING US TODAY, AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR MALE COUNTERPARTS, OUR MALE MARINES BACK HERE, AND WE ALL THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HONORING US ON THIS DAY. 
          THANK YOU, . 
          WE GOT OUT HERE. 
          YES, CITY 
          [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. 
          OUR CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR THE, UH, PRAYER AT THIS TIME. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          LET US PRAY. 
          DEAR GOD, WE COME TO YOU TODAY WITH HEARTS OF GRATITUDE. 
          WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS GORGEOUS FEBRUARY DAY. 
          WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE MANY THOUGHTFUL HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE COME TO TALK TO US TODAY. 
          AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO KEEP OUR CITY UP AND RUNNING EACH AND EVERY DAY. 
          PLEASE GUIDE US IN OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS, 
          [00:15:01]
AND DEEDS, AND HELP US MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR CITY. 
          AMEN. 
          PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. 
          I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. 
          COUNCILMAN JACKSON. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL CASTILLO. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. 
          HERE. 
          CONSTABLE RAMIREZ. 
          HERE. 
          CONSTABLE DAVIS. 
          HERE. 
          CONSTABLE CARTER. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE. 
          AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. 
          HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 15TH AND 16TH AND 22ND AND 23RD. 
          CASTEX TATUM MOVE THOMAS. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE IN SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES NOW. 
          MEMBERS, I 
          [PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
WILL REMIND THE, UH, PUBLIC AND EACH OF US THAT THERE'S A LONG LIST OF WITNESSES TODAY. 
          SO THE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK WILL BE ALLOWED. 
          UH, OBVIOUSLY WITH A LITTLE TIME TO FINISH UP YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN GIVE YOU TIME, BUT I NEED TO REMIND THEM THAT AS A WHOLE GROUP, THEY ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE, SO THEY WILL BE GIVING UP THEIR COLLEAGUES TIME. 
          UM, NOW FOR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I HAVE TWO PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. 
          I'LL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST, UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD CARL JOHAR AS THE FIRST SPEAKER TODAY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, UH, TO SHARE INFORMATION ON REAL ABILITIES. 
          I SECOND THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, FOR MY SECOND ONE, THIS IS THE FUN ONE. 
          UH, I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD HOWARD WATSON BEHIND MARI LUCAS, THEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY STACEY FAIRCHILD, MEDI REYES AND MATTHEW HARTZEL. 
          SECONDS. 
          SO SHE'S GOT THAT MOVED AND YEAH. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          SECONDED. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED AYES HAVE IT. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          COUNCIL, MAYOR FLICKINGER, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MARTY LANGTON TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLIAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE RAY HUNT TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON-AGENDA LIST. 
          I SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? AYE. 
          THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          AYE. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I MOVE TO SUSPENDED ROOTS TO ADD KATHY BLUFORD DANIELS, UM, BEHIND KRISTA STONEHAM UNDER THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          OPPOSED? NAY. 
          AYE. 
          HAVE IT? MOTION CARRIES. 
          MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL ONE MORE. 
          EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          I DON'T HAVE THAT. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. 
          EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I MOVED TO TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE. 
          KIRK, CRAIG AND PETER ECK ECHOS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA. 
          SECOND BEHIND WHOEVER THEY'RE BEHIND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          TO FOLLOW, TO FOLLOW MARTY LANGTON. 
          WE GOT IT. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NA. 
          I HAVE MOTION CARRIES. 
          I'LL GET IT FROM, I'LL GET MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. 
          KRISTA STONEHAM. 
          CARL JOAR. 
          WE PUT CARL JOSART AT THE TOP. 
          OH, CARL, I THOUGHT HE WORKED. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR MEYER AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 
          MY NAME IS CHRIS STONEHAM AND I'M HERE TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE MYSELF AND THE ORGANIZATION. 
          I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON LAND BANK. 
          AND YOU DO HAVE A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF WHAT WE DO, WHY WE DO IT, AND HOW WE SERVE HOUSTON. 
          SO WE STARTED OFF AS A CITY OF HOUSTON PROGRAM CALLED LAURA, WHICH WAS CREATED TO HELP REVITALIZE VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTY TAX, UM, PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          AND THEN BECAME A PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN 2019 WHEN WE BRANCHED OFF AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION. 
          NOW WE ARE THE ONLY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ENTITY IN HOUSTON THAT IS BOTH 
          [00:20:01]
GOVERNMENTAL AND 5 0 1 C3. 
          WE ARE ALSO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXPERT AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE AND IMPLEMENTER BY LEADING BROWNFIELD'S REDEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. 
          I CAME TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF BEING A PART OF AN ADDITIONAL EXTENDED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON UPON APPROVAL OF THE FIFTH WARD RELOCATION PROGRAM. 
          UM, WE ALSO ARE A STRONG PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY AND I'M ALSO A PROUD RESIDENT OF FIFTH WARD. 
          THIS PROGRAM IS PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL TO ME IN BEING ABLE TO SERVE HOUSTON. 
          THE ONLY CITY WITHOUT ZONING AND NEEDS MORE PROTECTIVE RIGHTS FOR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, DID, DO YOU NEED MORE TIME? OH, NO, THAT WAS YOU. 
          GOOD. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT CAR. 
          JOE SHARP THERE. 
          IT'S THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE REPRESENTING ALEXANDER JFS THAT'S BEEN PROUDLY SERVING THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOR OVER 111 YEARS. 
          AND TODAY WE'RE HERE TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR REAL ABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL, WHICH IS BEEN OUR GIFT TO THE CITY FOR OVER A DECADE. 
          UM, IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SHINE A LIGHT ON ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE ABILITIES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH FILM ARTS, MOVIES, UM, AND MUSIC. 
          UM, WE ARE, THIS FESTIVAL IS OFFERED IN 12 CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. 
          AND I HAVE TO SAY, HOUSTON, UH, HOLDS THE CROWN ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR THE MOST DIVERSE, UM, AND VIBRANT FESTIVAL. 
          AND THAT'S DUE IN A LARGE PART TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UH, AND TIR MEMORIAL HERMANN, OUR OTHER PARTNER. 
          UH, WE ARE THE ONLY FESTIVAL IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS HAD THE, THE SUPPORT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF EACH OF OUR MAYORS AND OUR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          WE'RE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE, UM, TO OUR, YOUR PARTNERSHIP HAS EXPIRES AS WELL. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR CARL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU'LL OPEN UP YOUR PACKETS. 
          THERE'S INFORMATION QR CODES FOR YOU TO SHARE OUT WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES. 
          IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A FILM FESTIVAL. 
          IT'S A MUSIC CELEBRATION. 
          IT'S, UH, CONVERSATIONS AND DIALOGUE AROUND, UH, WORKING IN, UH, IN YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENTS, HOW TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. 
          AND CARL, YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE TEAM BEHIND YOU, UM, THAT PUTS ALL OF THIS TOGETHER. 
          BUT THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE I WANTED TO JUST THANK ON A PERSONAL NOTE. 
          UM, OF COURSE, DIRECTOR PONCE, UH, IS AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER, MAYOR THROUGH YOUR OFFICE AND ALL OF THIS WORK. 
          UH, BUT I WANNA GIVE US, THERE'S SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, AND THAT'S JEFFREY FEINSTEIN. 
          UM, JEFFREY, I, WE GREW UP KNOWING EACH OTHER. 
          UM, YOUR STORY IS ONE, JUST WAVE YOUR HAND SO EVERYONE SEES YOU . 
          UM, IT IS ONE OF EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE, BUT ALSO THE GIFT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          SO I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY RECOGNIZE YOU AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE, NOT JUST YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOUR FRIENDS AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TAKEN SOMETHING IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND BEEN ABLE TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. 
          UH, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF THIS YEAR'S CHAIRS. 
          UH, WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU AND CARL, PLEASE, PLEASE RELAY OUR APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE THAT PUTS THIS TOGETHER. 
          BUT AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ASKED, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          UH, PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD. 
          IF YOU CAN ATTEND ONE OF THEM YOURSELF, PLEASE DO SO. 
          IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL MONTH LONG EVENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HOLD ON, HOLD ON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU CARL AND JEFFREY AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THIS IS, IF YOU GUYS DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE, GO TO SOMETHING AT REAL ABILITIES. 
          THIS IS SOMETHING I LEARNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO. 
          AND EVERY YEAR IT IS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. 
          IT'S, THEY'RE GREAT MOVIES, GREAT MUSIC, GREAT ART, THE WHOLE THING'S INCREDIBLE. 
          IT'S SO WELL DONE. 
          AND I JUST LOVE THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. 
          SO PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO IT. 
          THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE SPONSORS THIS YEAR. 
          UH, IT'S, IT'S AN, IT'S AN OUTSTANDING EVENT. 
          WE JUST DID THE PRESS CONFERENCE AT LUNCHTIME AND THERE WAS A, A BEAUTIFUL FILM CALLED MY DISABILITY ROADMAP THAT THEY SHOWED A LITTLE 20 MINUTE FILM REALLY TAKING YOU INSIDE THE LIFE OF SOMEBODY WITH CEREBRAL PALSY AND WHAT THEY DEAL WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          UH, IT WAS, IT'S A GREAT STORY. 
          AND, AND, AND I LOVE THAT HOUSTON HAS THE BEST REAL ABILITIES, UH, FILM FESTIVAL. 
          SO EVERYBODY GO. 
          THANKS SO MUCH. 
          THAT'S AWESOME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          NEXT, KATHY BLUFORD DANIELS. 
          [00:25:09]
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. 
          WILL YOU STEP OVER TO THE OTHER MIC? THE OTHER MIC? YES, PLEASE. 
          OKAY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
          CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR AND ALL THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY FIRST. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ASHA JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN PLUMBER, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING ENGAGED AND COMING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          YOU KNOW THAT, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT FIFTH WARD SITUATION. 
          I'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND WITH IT AND TALKING ABOUT IT SINCE 2011, MAYOR. 
          AND YES, THE BENCHMARK IS 2014, BUT WHEN I WAS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT IN 2014, THAT'S WHEN WE HAD UP COME DOWN AND WE LIVED MY MOTHER LIVES. 
          WE LIVE A BLOCK FROM THE PLUME, FROM THE CRISO. 
          SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PLUME, THE PLUME IS NOT JUST THOSE 41 PROPERTIES, THOSE WERE PROPERTIES THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY UP. 
          AND IF THAT'S THE CULPRIT. 
          AND, AND THEY SAY THAT WE'VE GOT 41, AND MY MATH TELLS ME THOUGH, I WENT TO WHEATLEY, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A HUNDRED FIFTY ONE, SIX HUNDRED ONE. 
          BUT REGARDLESS, I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RELOCATION PLANS. 
          AND THE REASON WHY THAT WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE COULDN'T LIVE ANYWHERE BUT FIFTH WARD, CASHMERE GARDEN, STEADY, STEADY GAS, THIRD WARD, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, ACRES, HOMES, ET CETERA. 
          SO NOW WE LIVE HERE AND WE'VE GOT ALL OF THIS GENTRIFICATION THAT'S COMING IN, AND SO PEOPLE ARE READY TO TRY TO AVOID THIS. 
          MOVE US OUT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          YES, THANK YOU. 
          DANIEL. 
          GO RIGHT AHEAD. 
          YOU CAN HAVE SOME OF MY MINUTES, PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND, UM, IT'S EVERY DAY FOR A LOT OF US. 
          AGAIN, THEY TIE THAT IN TO THE FACT THAT WE COULD NOT LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE BUT IN THESE COMMUNITIES. 
          AND SO NOW WE FEEL LIKE WE SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN POISONS. 
          THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE BEEN POISONED FOR ANY NUMBER OF YEARS. 
          SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO RELOCATE THAT HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY OR COULD NOT AFFORD TO RELOCATE. 
          SO THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO MOVE VIA PHASE 1, 2, 3, 15, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY DON'T WANNA MOVE, THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE. 
          LET'S CONTINUE ON WITH THAT AS EARMARKED AND LET US CONTINUE THE OVERSIGHT AND WORK OUT THE DETAILS AND, AND, AND POLICE HOW THAT MONEY'S GOING TO BE SPENT. 
          THERE ARE THOSE OF US, LIKE I SAID, THAT HAVE BEEN THE GROUND ON THE GROUND FROM THE VERY, VERY ONSET. 
          MAYOR, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU DROVE OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A FEW HOURS. 
          I WISH YOU HAD STOPPED BY MY HOUSE. 
          I'D HAVE GAVE YOU SOME SOUP OR SOME CHILI, BUT I'M RIGHT THERE WITHIN VIEW. 
          UM, AGAIN, LET ME, I'M TRY, TRY TO MAKE SOME NOTES RAPIDLY OVER HERE. 
          PLEASE JUST CONTINUE WITH THE RELOCATION, UH, PLANS AND LET US WORK OUT THE DETAILS. 
          LET US POLICE IT, OVERSEE IT, AND OF COURSE WE'VE GOT ALL OF YOU TO ASK THE PERTINENT QUESTIONS AND OVERSIGHT AS WELL. 
          BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THOSE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT MOVE, ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT OPTION TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          SO WITH THAT, I SAY THANK YOU. 
          ARE YOU ON TIME? COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU TRUSTEE DANIELS FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, UM, IN THE FIFTH WARD AREA AND THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          UM, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE, UM, SHOULD MOVE FORWARD. 
          I THINK CHRISTOPHER COMING AND EXPLAINING, YOU KNOW, THE LAND, LAND BANK ROLE, UM, THAT WAS A MISSING PIECE. 
          YOU KNOW, I SAY THAT WE GOT ALL THE PLAYERS, BUT LAND BANK WAS STILL ON THE BENCH. 
          AND SO IN ORDER FOR US TO REALLY PLAY THE GAME, WE NEED EVERYBODY IN THE GAME. 
          AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO TAKE THE TIME AND, AND, AND, AND SPEAKING WITH THE RESIDENTS. 
          BUT, UM, KATHY, THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING PARTNERING WITH YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, VELVA TATUM TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAY HUNT. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS BEVA TATU. 
          AFTERNOON. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          SPEAKING OF THE MIC, PLEASE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS VEVA TATUM. 
          I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          OKAY. 
          I AM HERE ABOUT THE CANCER CLUSTER AS WELL. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR, FOR RELOCATION. 
          MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF, UH, CONTAMINATION IN THE AREA WAS AROUND 1990 JENSEN DRIVE, TESCO CLINTON DRIVE, THE VINEGAR PLANT, THE GULLY UNDER THE TRAIN TRESTLE. 
          AND 41 13 HARE, WHERE I NOW LIVE. 
          UH, I JUST HAPPENED TO BE AT MY MOTHER'S HOUSE THE DAY THAT THE EPA CAME BY. 
          UH, AND SHE GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO DIG AROUND HER PROPERTY. 
          THEY TESTED THE YARD AND IT WAS DETERMINED THIS PROPERTY WAS CONTAMINATED. 
          DOCUMENTATION WAS LEFT WITH MY MOTHER WRITTEN LETTER AND VOWS OF LIQUID AND DIRT. 
          TO MY KNOWLEDGE, PROOF OF THIS REMAIN 
          [00:30:01]
WITH ONE OF MY SIBLINGS. 
          WE WERE THE ELST FAMILY. 
          THREE BOYS, THREE GIRLS. 
          ONE BROTHER PASSED IN 2019 OF COLON CANCER. 
          UH, ONE BROTHER IS NOW IN TREATMENT FOR PROSTATE CANCER. 
          MY DAD DIED OF PROSTATE CANCER IN, UM, I WANNA SAY 19. 
          UH, WHATEVER I, I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT THANK YOU. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. 
          I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE TIME. 
          I KNOW YOU, YOU GOT ANY MORE IN THE LETTER, BUT NO, I WAS JUST ABOUT FINISHED. 
          NO, I NEED TO RELOCATE IN ADDITION TO THE CANCER CLUSTER. 
          THE REASON MY PIECE HAS BEEN DISTURBED BY THE DEVELOPERS AROUND ME STEALING, TYING INTO MY ELECTRICITY, WATER, AND SO FORTH. 
          HARASSMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT YOU ABOUT FACILITATING YOUR RELOCATION. 
          NEXT RAY HUNT. 
          MY NAME IS RAY HUNT. 
          I REPRESENT THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS, UNION, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          LEMME SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON. 
          UM, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. 
          I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SECTION OF HOUSTON AVENUE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AVENUE AND LUBBOCK. 
          OUR BUSINESS IS ON LUBBOCK. 
          THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION ARE BLOCKED FROM THAT INTERSECTION. 
          I SEE IT EVERY DAY. 
          I USE BOTH OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS EVERY DAY. 
          AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THERE. 
          I WATCHED IT FOR OVER AN HOUR TODAY OUT THERE, STANDING THERE, SEEING WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE. 
          AND I BELIEVE THERE COULD BE SOME MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THAT, THAT WILL STILL LEAVE SOME OF THIS STUFF IN PLACE, BUT WOULD ALLOW ACCESS FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR, AND OUR CADETS TO ACCESS THE HOUSTON POLICE, UH, SUPPLY BUILDING, WHICH THEY CAN'T DO NOW IF THEY'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH, WOULD ALLOW THE CHURCH TO HAVE THEIR EXIT THEY HAD BEFORE AT THE TRINITY CHURCH WOULD ALLOW THE ENTRANCE TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND WOULD, UH, MAKE FOR EASIER TURNS THERE FOR BIG VEHICLES. 
          AND I WON'T STEAL THE THUNDER OF MY, MY COLLEAGUE MARTY LANGTON, WHO'S GONNA TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE RESPONSE, THAT THAT CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THERE AT THIS TIME. 
          BUT I BELIEVE THAT SOME CHANGES IN THAT SECTION TO THESE IMPROVEMENTS COULD MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYBODY, MAKE IT SAFER FOR EVERYBODY, AND IMPROVE THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED. 
          WE WERE NOT CONSULTED ON THIS. 
          I'VE TALKED TO THE PRIEST AT THE CHURCH, AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
          I HAVE TALKED TO A, A FORMER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ASH, WHO WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE AS WELL. 
          AND I JUST THINK THAT WITH WORKING WITH, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME OPPORT. 
          GOOD TIME. 
          COUNCIL CASTILLO, UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          DO YOU NEED ANY MORE TIME, RAY? YEAH. 
          MAINLY THE, THE, THE BIG PROBLEMS ON THOSE TWO INTERSECTIONS ARE THE, IT'S ABOUT FIVE BY EIGHT SECTIONS OF CONCRETE THAT HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN TO PREVENT, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO WALK THROUGH THERE. 
          BUT IT PREVENTS BIG VEHICLES FROM BEING ABLE TO TURN. 
          IF YOU GO OVER THERE RIGHT NOW AND LOOK AT THOSE ESPANADE, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S TIRE TRACKS ALL THROUGH 'EM WHERE THEY COULD NOT, COULD NOT GO THROUGH THERE. 
          AND I KNOW THAT WAS PROBABLY PUT UP BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS PROBABLY INJURED THERE. 
          AND THAT HOUR THAT I SAT THERE TODAY, AND I VIDEOTAPED MULTIPLE PEOPLE, THE REASON WHY THEY WERE PROBABLY INJURED IS THEY'RE NOT CROSSING AT A CROSSWALK. 
          THEY'RE CROSSING RIGHT ACROSS FROM KANE AND GOING DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET BECAUSE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PROVIDES LOTS OF SERVICES TO HOMELESS PEOPLE. 
          SO THEY CROSS BACK AND FORTH THERE, PAINT SOME LINES THERE. 
          SO THERE'S A CROSSWALK THERE. 
          WE DON'T NEED TO DO WHAT WE DID THERE AND STILL ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME THROUGH THERE. 
          WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING INJURED WHO DON'T FOLLOW THE LIGHTS AND DON'T FOLLOW THE TRA TRAFFIC SIGNALS. 
          WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING DOWN HERE AND, AND MAKING COMMENTS. 
          YOU, YOU SAID YOU'RE A BLOCK AWAY FROM THIS AND YOU DEAL WITH IT EVERY DAY. 
          AND YOU WERE OUT THERE OBSERVING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS ON, ON HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK. 
          UM, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT APPROACH TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, UM, AND WITH A LITTLE MORE TIME, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS COULD BE STUDIED. 
          UM, BUT I, I THINK YOU ADDED A LOT OF VALUE TO THE, TO THE CONVERSATION AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING DOWN HERE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          COUNCILMAN CARTER. 
          COUNCILMAN CARTER. 
          JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS FOR BEING HERE, RAY. 
          UH, QUICK QUESTION AND, AND MAYBE, UH, YOUR COUNTERPART WITH, UH, HFD WILL ANSWER THIS, BUT, UM, IT APPEARS THAT RESPONSE TIMES ARE SLOWED BY THIS NEW WORK OUT THERE. 
          IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? DEFINITELY WOULD BE. 
          FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS, OUR, OUR POLICE CARS CAN STILL MAKE THE TURN PRETTY EASILY. 
          I DID, HOWEVER, SEE ONE OF OUR SOLO UNITS WAS A MOTORCYCLE UNIT NEARLY HIT ONE OF THE ONES THAT I'M ASKING TO BE REMOVED. 
          THE FOUR, FOUR BY EIGHT OR SO, UH, CONCRETE BARRIERS THERE JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT USED TO THOSE BEING THERE. 
          AND I TALKED TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAID, AT NIGHTTIME, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IT. 
          IF YOU GO OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE PAINTED CURB THAT'S YELLOW IS MAINLY BLACK FROM TIRE MARKS THAT HAVE ALREADY HIT THOSE, THOSE FOUR, FOUR PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED IN PLACE THAT I BELIEVE COULD BE REMOVED AND MAKE THINGS A LOT SMOOTHER OUT THERE. 
          COUNCIL MAYOR ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU RAY. 
          UM, I, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT ABOUT HOUSTON AVENUE TODAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, GEORGE AND I WENT TO MASS AT ST. 
          JOSEPH'S ON, UH, AT 10 15 ON SUNDAY, SO I COULD KIND OF SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON DOWN THERE. 
          AND I AGREE WITH YOU, THERE WERE TONS OF PEOPLE PARKING AT NAP AND WALKING, NOT, I'M LIKE, WAIT, THERE, THERE'S THE CROSSWALK 
          [00:35:01]
PEOPLE, PEOPLE DART ACROSS THERE, NOT AT THE CROSSWALK. 
          AND I, WE, I WITNESSED THAT MYSELF. 
          HAPPENED ALL DAY TODAY. 
          THANK YOU, RAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT. 
          MATTHEW NIXON, THE THREE MINUTES. 
          HE'S TOP OF THE THREE MINUTES. 
          MARTY. 
          HE'S TOP OF THE THREE. 
          OH, YOU WANNA DO 'EM OUT OF ORDER? NO, I DON'T THINK WE'RE BREAKING TOO MANY LAWS. 
          IF YOU GO AHEAD. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR MOVING THAT UP. 
          I THINK WHEN IT WENT TO THE ONE MINUTE, EVERYTHING GOT KIND OF MOVED AROUND. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR, UH, ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. 
          UH, I'M HERE JUST LIKE, UH, RAY HUNT IS TO ADDRESS THE HOUSTON, UH, AVENUE PROJECT. 
          AND, AND AS IT RELATES TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HFT VEHICLES, UM, IT, I THINK WAS PROBABLY A WELL CONCEIVED IDEA IN THOUGHT. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THAT IT WAS DONE DOES NOT ALLOW, UH, OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES THAT ARE VERY HEAVY AND VERY LONG TO MAKE THE TURNS NECESSARY. 
          THEY CAN'T MAKE THEM OFF OF HOUSTON AVENUE ONTO OUR, EXCUSE ME, ON WASHINGTON, UH, ONTO HOUSTON. 
          THEY CAN'T MAKE THE TURNS WITH THE ESPLANADE. 
          AND MUCH LIKE OUR COUNTERPARTS HAVE SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE TIRE MARKS FROM WHERE THEY'RE HITTING. 
          AND THIS IS THE WAY I DRIVE TO MY OFFICE EVERY DAY. 
          AND I'VE PERSONALLY WITNESSED ALMOST FIVE WRECKS, UM, BECAUSE OF THE MERGING AND THE CONFUSION AND PEOPLE HITTING, UH, THE CONCRETE BARRIERS. 
          SO FOR US, IT IS A ISSUE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND LIFE SAFETY. 
          UM, WE ARE HAPPY AND WE OPEN UP, UH, ANY OF, UH, OUR ORGANIZATION'S CAPABILITIES TO HELP FIND A BETTER SOLUTION, UH, SO THAT WE CAN DO AWAY WITH WHAT WE HAVE FORWARD. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          WE WERE DAVIS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, MARTY QUESTION I JUST WANTED TO ASK, AND I PROMISE IT BE THE SAME QUESTION TOWARD, UH, RAY, BEFORE ANY OF THESE CONSTRUCTION CHANGES ARE DONE, IS THERE, IS THERE A MATTER BY WHICH YOU'RE NOTIFIED THROUGH THE, MAYBE IT'S THE QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR AS WELL. 
          IS THERE, IS THAT SOME WAY THAT THE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WHOEVER PUTS ALL THIS TOGETHER, THAT THEY NOTIFY THE FIRST RESPONDERS BEFORE THIS PROJECT IS EVEN DONE? IS THERE, WELL, I THINK YOUR, YOUR QUESTION IS COMPLETELY ON POINT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED, UH, AT LENGTH AS WELL. 
          AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT IT HAPPENED AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROJECT. 
          IN, IN OTHER PROJECTS SUCH AS LIKE THE 11TH STREET, UH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MOBILITY, YOU'VE GOTTA ENSURE THAT THE APPARATUS CAN A, FIT DOWN THERE, B, RESPOND TO PEOPLE, UH, WHEN RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES. 
          AND IF WE DON'T TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, UH, THESE ARE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD. 
          BUT NOW WE'RE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF THE MOST CRITICAL ASSET, WHICH IS THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES. 
          AND SO, UH, I KNOW THAT I HAVE, UH, COMMITTED TO, TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE WANNA BE A PART OF THIS. 
          UH, BUT I THINK THEY NEEDED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS DESIGN SO THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS, BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET OUR VEHICLES DOWN THE ROADWAY TO THE CALLS. 
          BECAUSE, UH, THOSE THAT TRAVEL DOWN HOUSTON AVENUE KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT CAUGHT BY THE TRAIN, UM, IT GETS STACKED UP PRETTY QUICK AND IT ALREADY MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR OUR APPARATUS TO RESPOND DOWN HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          AND THIS JUST EXACERBATES, UH, THE ISSUE. 
          MAYOR, IF I MAY, I JUST WANT TO ADD IN RESPECT TO THAT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE, BE FRIENDLY TO THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO THAT ACCESS, UH, TO WHATEVER THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MOVE UP AND DOWN THE STREET, WHETHER IT'S BIKES OR WHATEVER. 
          BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL IN, IN YOUR OFFICE WOULD MAKE SURE AND ASSURE THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE GETS HURT, THEY'RE GONNA CALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS ANYWAY. 
          SO WE DON'T WANT TO TRY TO INTERRUPT THE PROCESS OF ASSISTING ANYBODY, BUT WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO STOP POLICE OR FIRE, UH, ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY BY SOME ROAD CONSTRUCTION. 
          SO I REALLY WOULD HOPE WE TAKE A SERIOUS, UH, APPROACH TO THIS IN THE FUTURE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD QUESTION. 
          NOT ONLY FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT METRO AS WELL. 
          THE FIRST DAY IT WAS OPEN, A METRO BUS WAS ON HIGH CENTER THERE. 
          UH, SO WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RIDERSHIP. 
          NUMBER TWO, THEY HAD TO GET A WRECKER TO LIFT IT OFF AND, UH, QUITE A, QUITE A BAD SCENE. 
          UH, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE TOLD BY THE STAKEHOLDERS, NO ONE WOULD LISTEN TO THEM. 
          BUT FOR CERTAIN WE NEED TO INSIST THAT METRO FIRE AND POLICE ARE CONSULTED. 
          I WOULD SUGGEST ON MOST PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IF THEY'D HAVE BEEN CONSULTED. 
          NOT TO MENTION THE CHURCH, IT'S BEEN THERE A HUNDRED YEARS. 
          THE, UH, CHURCH ACROSS STREET, UH, MR. HUNT AND HPOU 
          [00:40:02]
PEOPLE CROSS THAT ROUTINELY TO GO TO MUNICIPAL COURTS. 
          I'LL HAVE AS MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS AS ANYONE WOULD LIKE, BUT WHAT STARTED OUT AS PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK, WHICH I STRONGLY SUPPORT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND I WORKED AT THE BLOSSOM WESTCOTT CROSSWALK FOR MONTHS. 
          UH, IT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT PUSHED ME INTO THE MAYOR'S RACE. 
          BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS, WHAT WAS A NEEDED PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK BECAME ROAD D ROAD REDESIGN. 
          AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION TODAY. 
          I COMMITTED TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS PEDESTRIANS OF HOUSTON. 
          THEY BROUGHT THIS TO ME. 
          THE, UH, TRINITY CHURCH HAD IT ON THEIR DIGITAL BILLBOARD FOR WEEKS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS. 
          I AM JUST DISAPPOINTED THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD TO BRING THIS FORWARD. 
          I MEAN, I DIDN'T GO LOOKING FOR THIS. 
          IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. 
          IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. 
          IT'S A MOBILITY ISSUE, IT'S A PEDESTRIAN ISSUE, AND WE WILL FIX IT AND START OVER WITH A SAFE CROSSWALK WHERE IT'S BADLY NEEDED. 
          BUT, UH, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S BEEN POLITICIZED. 
          I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, IT'S BEEN POLITICIZED. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE, UH, CRITICS, THEY'VE BEEN CRITICS OF MINE FOR MONTHS. 
          AND THAT'S FINE. 
          I ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY. 
          I'VE NEVER FELT MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT AN ISSUE PROBABLY IN MY CAREER. 
          IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. 
          IT'S A PROCESS ISSUE, IT'S A COUNCIL ISSUE. 
          AND I RESPECT THE SENIOR MEMBER DISTRICT CONCEPT. 
          I'VE BEEN ONE MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE, BUT ALSO I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON THAT IT BE DONE RIGHT, CORRECTLY AND SAFE. 
          SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION. 
          UH, I'LL SAY AGAIN, UH, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT THIS LAST WEEKEND. 
          CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND I WERE TALKING SATURDAY NIGHT. 
          I LEFT MY DINNER AND FAMILY TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION. 
          I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE REPRESENTING THE CHURCH, THE MOBILITY ISSUES, METRO POLICE FIRE, THE NIGHT I WAS SWORN IN AND DID THE RIDE ALONG WITH THE CHIEF HPD BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. 
          I DIDN'T MAKE THIS ISSUE UP, IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME. 
          AND, UM, I'M GONNA RESPOND. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU MARTY FOR BEING HERE AND OFFERING YOUR REMARKS. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS, UH, CAME OUT FRIDAY ABOUT, UH, THE WORK ORDER TO REMOVE THE, THE MEDIANS, UM, I, YOU KNOW, QUICKLY GOT TO WORK KNOWING THAT THIS WAS GONNA START ON MONDAY. 
          AND SO I WENT OUT AND MET WITH SOME FIREFIGHTERS, UH, WENT OUT TO STATION SIX TO SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPACTS THEY'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT. 
          AND THEY SHARED SIMILAR FEEDBACK ABOUT DIFFICULTY MAKING THE TURN OR TRYING TO FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE, UH, BECAUSE OF IT. 
          SO ARE THERE SPECIFIC MODIFICATIONS YOU WOULD SUGGEST, OR DO YOU THINK THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO GO AWAY? TOTALLY. 
          NO, I THINK, I MEAN, LISTEN, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. 
          I, I BELIEVE, I THINK WHAT, UH, WHAT THE MAYOR SAID IN, IN EARNEST IS WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS TO HELP. 
          WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS, UM, I THINK WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE ON A PLOT DESIGN DON'T END UP ACTUALLY BEING FUNCTIONAL AS A PRACTICAL MATTER. 
          AND WE WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THAT. 
          AND SO IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, UH, TO LOOK AT THAT FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE AND SAY, WELL, IF WE JUST MOVE THIS, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS BASICALLY EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REDUCED. 
          SO THERE WAS A POINT WHERE YOU HAD THE MIDDLE MEDIAN MM-HMM . 
          WHERE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT TRYING TO GET DOWN HOUSTON AVENUE IS VERY DIFFICULT. 
          UM, THEY AT LEAST HAVE THAT, UH, AS AN OPTION, UH, TO RESPOND BECAUSE THAT GETS THEM ONTO ALLEN PARKWAY ONTO 45 OR TO GO DOWNTOWN. 
          AND SO THAT'S THE MOST CRITICAL NATURE IS IF IT'S BOXED IN THERE, UM, THERE'S NO ACCESS AND WE CAN'T EVEN COUNTER FLOWING IS NOT GONNA DO ANY GOOD. 
          SO IT JUST CREATES SOMETHING TO WHERE WE CAN'T HAVE A WORKAROUND ON IT. 
          SO I THINK STARTING OVER AND LOOKING AT IT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING FOR SAFETY, UH, THAT WE GET THE DESIGN OF THE FIRE TRUCKS SO THAT THEY CAN RESPOND AND WE'RE HERE FOR THAT AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST ANY WAY WE CAN. 
          WELL, I, I TOTALLY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO CONSULT WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ON THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND, AND IT NEEDS TO BE IN A, IN A VERY INTENTIONAL WAY. 
          YOU KNOW, I'VE ASKED FOR COMMUNICATIONS ON IF THAT HAPPENED. 
          UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT, BUT IT WASN'T REALLY FOLLOWED UP ON. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK ANY PROJECT LIKE THIS MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT SITTING DOWN WITH OUR FIRE, OUR AMBULANCE, AND OUR POLICE, AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT GONNA LY IMPACT YOUR RESPONSE TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TIMES. 
          UM, AND I THINK WE CAN DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. 
          WE CAN PREDICT OUR PEDESTRIANS AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT FIRST RESPONDERS CAN, UH, CAN, YOU KNOW, DO THE JOB THEY NEED TO DO. 
          YEAH, AND I, AND I, I 
          [00:45:01]
DON'T KNOW IF I'M OUT OF TIME, MAYOR, BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE CRITICAL COMPONENT IS WHEN WE'RE DESIGNING THESE THINGS IS WE'VE GOTTA KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT AS THE NUMBER ONE. 
          AND IT COULD BE THE BEST LAID DESIGN IN THE WORLD, BUT IF IT, IT'S GONNA IMPACT WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, THAT'S GONNA AFFECT EVERYBODY. 
          AND THE SAME THING. 
          AND JUST AS A NOTE, UH, WE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS IT RELATED TO THE 11TH STREET. 
          I MEAN, I WORKED WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THEY CAME TO US AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY WAS, IF YOU COME WITH A CONCERN, WE'RE GONNA FIND ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP YOU LET THOSE CONCERNS BE VOICED. 
          BUT WHEN TWO PLUS TWO DOESN'T EQUAL FOUR ON AN EQUATION AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO, TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM, UH, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AND NOT IN THIS INSTANCE, BUT IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR THE CITIZENS, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS. 
          AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BRING FIRETRUCK OUT THERE, GET VIDEOS AND SHOW THAT WHAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE HAS HAPPENED AND WE WORK BACKWARDS. 
          SO WE WANNA PREVENT THAT. 
          UH, WE WANNA BE GOOD, UH, STEWARDS AND, AND GOOD PARTNERS, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. 
          UH, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES HAVE, UH, A PRIORITY IN THESE DESIGNS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER INGER. 
          ER, THANKS FOR COMING OUT MARTY. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          UM, TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON MR. HUNT'S COMMENTS, I WAS COMPLETELY UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS AND WENT OVER THERE TODAY TO GO CHECK IT OUT. 
          AND THERE APPEARED TO BE, WHAT WAS A HOMELESS GENTLEMAN DRAGGING HIS CAR TO BELONGINGS ACROSS THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, NOT AT THE CROSSWALK. 
          SO I THINK THE CROSSWALK IS PROBABLY THE BIG ISSUE. 
          I DIDN'T PUT IT TOGETHER THAT HE WAS COMING OUTTA THE CHURCH, BUT AFTER HE MENTIONED IT, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON, THAT HE'D GOTTEN SOME KIND OF SERVICES OVER THERE AND WAS NOW TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET BACK TO THE OTHER SIDE. 
          YEAH, NO DOUBT. 
          IT IS A VERY, UH, YOU KNOW, WELL TRAVELED AREA. 
          IT'S A VERY HISTORIC OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, BUT AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THOROUGHFARE GETTING TO DOWNTOWN 45 ALLEN PARKWAY AND FOR OUR UNITS. 
          AND WE'VE SEEN THE SAME, I'VE SPENT MANY A TIME TALKING WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS OUT THERE AS WELL. 
          WAS THAT WITH ONE OF 'EM YESTERDAY? UH, ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT AND, AND THEY HAVE THE SAME, UH, ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS, PEOPLE JUST WALKING STRAIGHT ACROSS. 
          UH, AND WHAT IT'S DONE IS JUST KIND OF REDUCE AND MAKE EVERYTHING SMALLER, WHICH CLEARLY DOES NOT WORK FOR MERCY RESPONSE VEHICLES, BUT ALSO IT DIDN'T FIT WHAT THE INTENDED, UH, I THINK DESIGN WAS AND WE'RE BEING HONEST ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW. 
          AND, AND I THINK THAT'S A CREDIT TO EVERYBODY THAT'S ACKNOWLEDGING WE WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO DO IT RIGHT. 
          WE JUST DON'T WANT TO, WE JUST DON'T WANNA DO IT TO DO IT. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN KIR MARTY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          AND I ACTUALLY, I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION AS, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER AS IT RELATES TO, RIGHT? RAY JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH THIS INTERSECTION AND I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE DEPARTMENT AS THEY LOOK AT THIS. 
          UM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT EVERYONE'S OPEN TO MODIFYING THAT IT'S NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OR THE OTHER. 
          AND THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO IMPROVE SAFETY. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS A VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION. 
          UM, I DID MAYOR, THERE'S BEEN ALREADY, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA GET INTO 11TH STREET 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SPEAKERS HERE ON THAT. 
          UM, BUT I DID WANNA SAY AS IT RELATES TO 11TH STREET, 'CAUSE MARTY, I COULDN'T HEAR EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. 
          UM, HFD AND HPD WERE CONSULTED ON THAT. 
          UM, THERE, THERE'S STILL SOME CHALLENGES AND I RECOGNIZE THAT TOO. 
          BUT I, AGAIN, DISTINCT FROM WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE ISSUE AT HAND. 
          ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND METRO WERE CONSULTED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT AND THERE WERE TWEAKS THAT WERE EVEN MADE, UM, AS A RESULT OF THAT. 
          SO I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD WAS CLEAR ON THAT. 
          I KNOW WE'RE GONNA GET INTO IT, BUT, AND I APPRECIATE AGAIN, YOU COMING. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND, AND TO, TO, TO DOVETAIL ON THAT, NOT IN A, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, DIVISIVE TYPE WAY, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR. 
          'CAUSE I THINK IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE IT, UH, I INTIMATELY STUDIED THAT PROJECT. 
          WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEY DIDN'T CONTACT, UH, THE RIGHT PEOPLE. 
          THEY CONTACTED PEOPLE WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA ABOUT PLANNING OR ABOUT PERMITTING. 
          I'VE GOT THE EMAILS, UM, I ADDRESSED THAT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, AND IT CAME FROM A SEPARATE THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR WHO WAS TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT, WHO WAS ASKING A SINGULAR QUESTION. 
          AND BY THE TIME THIS ALL ROLLED OUT AND GOING THROUGH IT IN ORDER TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, UM, THAT'S WHAT MY FOCUS, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOUR, YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF IT WAS, UH, THAT NOBODY WAS CONTACTED, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE, THE EMAILS AND THE THINGS THAT THAT WERE GOING ON DIDN'T ADDRESS THE VERY CORE CONCERN. 
          AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BE HELPFUL IN SAYING, HOW DO WE STREAMLINE THAT CONTEXT SO EVERYBODY IS AWARE AND, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT. 
          AND I AGREE, I COMPLETELY RECOGNIZE RIGHT MAYOR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PROCESSES, UM, AND HOW WE AS A DEPART, AS OUR DEPARTMENTS REACH OUT TO DEPARTMENTS TO GET THEIR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS. 
          BUT IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS SOME OF THESE CROSSINGS ARE, WHERE FAMILIES, EVERY SINGLE DAY AND CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY CANNOT SAFELY CROSS THE STREET AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO DIE. 
          AND IT IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE HAVING TO RESPOND TO THOSE AS WELL. 
          SO IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THIS, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING 
          [00:50:01]
ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AT THE TABLE. 
          BUT THIS IS ALSO ABOUT SAFETY. 
          OH, BE VERY CLEAR. 
          OUR, OUR, OUR JOB NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS LIFE SAFETY, IS TO SAVE LIVES. 
          AND SO THAT IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. 
          WE ARE SAYING, UH, YOU GOTTA BE ABLE TO GET THERE IN ORDER TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. 
          WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY, UH, THAT WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING BETTER AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING IT. 
          AND I HAVE MADE MYSELF CLEAR, BUT I WOULD COMMENT THAT WE NEED TO ALLOW THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE MY INTENT TO ALLOW THEM TO GO OUT, REVIEW IT, MAYBE EVEN AFTER THE FACT. 
          MAYBE TAKE AN APPARATUS TO THESE LOCATIONS AND, AND HAVE A SHOW AND TELL AS TO THE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THESE SITES. 
          UH, I HAVE REASON BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE UNDER STRONG INFLUENCE IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS TO GO WITH THE, UH, ORIGINAL PLAN. 
          IN FACT, IF YOU WANNA GO TO HOUSTON AVENUE AND TALK TO THEIR ENGINEER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT PROJECT, THEY'VE TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT LISTENED TO BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR PUBLIC WORKS. 
          THEY TOLD 'EM IT WAS GONNA BE UNWORKABLE AND DANGER AND THEY WENT FORWARD. 
          THAT'S THE REASON I RAN FOR OFFICE TO CHANGE THAT PROCESS. 
          AND THE PUBLIC WILL GET THE LAST SAY, UH, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WILL CERTAINLY BE AT THE TABLE. 
          BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT WE'RE SPENDING TIME THAT ALL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF WE'D HAVE HAD TRANSPARENCY, INDEPENDENCE, AND, UH, LISTENED TO THE STAKEHOLDERS. 
          YOU KNOW, JANIE REYES IS A PRETTY INDEPENDENT SOURCE, AN ICON IN THE HEIGHTS, WOODLAND HEIGHTS. 
          SHE TEXTED ME THIS MORNING, SAID, THANK YOU. 
          PEOPLE ARE FINALLY SOMEONE AT CITIES LISTENING TO US, THE CHURCH, THEY'VE BEEN PRAYING ABOUT THIS FOR SINCE IT WAS IMPLEMENTED, UH, TO THE CHURCH HAS LEARNED. 
          THEY ALREADY KNEW, BUT THEY'RE SHARING WITH ALL THOSE PRAYING WORKS AND ELECTIONS MATTER. 
          SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMMENTING. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU COUNSEL. 
          MATTHEW NIXON. 
          MATTHEW NIXON, MARIKA MOORE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DEVON WEIBEL. 
          OH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. 
          I'M MONICA MOORE FROM DISTRICT H. 
          THAT'S ALSO WHERE I WORK. 
          AND YES, I DO COMMUTE IN THAT HOUSTON AVENUE EVERY SINGLE DAY THIS MORNING I WAS THERE. 
          I'M THERE EVERY AFTERNOON AND I LOVE THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. 
          ACTUALLY. 
          I LIKE THEM SO MUCH THAT I SWEAR THEY HAVE PROBABLY SAVED MY LIFE ALREADY. 
          I'M ALL FOR IT. 
          UH, THE THING WITH ME ON MY BICYCLE IS THAT I HAVE NO PROTECTION. 
          WHEN YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR, MAYOR, YOU HAVE THE PROTECTION OF THE MIDDLE FRAME OF YOUR CAR. 
          I HAVE THE PROTECTION OF A BETTER ROAD DESIGN. 
          SO WHEN WE PUT THE SAFETY ADD-ONS IN THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL. 
          THEY HELP ME TO GET TO WORK SO I CAN PAY MY TAXES AND WE CAN DO BETTER ROAD DESIGN. 
          SO COULD YOU PLEASE HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE DOUBTING THAT THIS SORT OF PROTECTION WOULD BE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE MOST DANGEROUS SCHOOL ZONE? YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          DEVON WEIBEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSE SUE CASCO. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UH, MY NAME IS DEVIN WEEL AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF KNAPP CHEVROLET. 
          UH, BOBBY AND ROBBIE KNAPP. 
          REGRETTABLY COULD NOT BE HERE, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES WERE HEARD AT THE COUNCIL. 
          UH, FIRST TO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW MAYOR, MAYOR WITTMEYER, AS WELL AS THE OTHER NEW MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH US THIS EARLY IN YOUR TERM. 
          UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, ONE OF YOUR AGENDA ITEMS WAS, WAS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AND WE HAVE THE ULTIMATE RESPECT THAT YOU'RE ENTERING OFFICE AND IMMEDIATELY GETTING THINGS DONE. 
          UM, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT OF THE REMOVAL OF THE MEDIA AND ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          UH, WE BELIEVE THE SPIRIT OF THE WORK WAS WELL INTENTIONED, BUT THE EXECUTION FAILED AND HAD AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE SAFETY OF THE CORRIDOR. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR TAKING ACTION. 
          COUNCILOR AND CASTILLO, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING HERE. 
          DEVIN, YOU KNOW, I HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH 
          [00:55:01]
MR. NAP THIS MORNING, UM, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER, WENT OVER TO THE CHURCH AND VISITED WITH PASTOR DORN. 
          AND, UH, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE QUICK, UH, RESPONSE ON GETTING TOGETHER AND SHARING THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS. 
          UH, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU KNOW, IF THE, IF THE, IF THE LEFT TURN ONTO HOUSTON FROM YOUR, UH, DEALERSHIP IS OPENED UP, WOULD THAT ALLEVIATE YOUR ISSUES WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS? WELL, I MEAN, IT DEFINITELY WOULD, WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES. 
          I MEAN, I'M, I'M, I'M THERE DAILY. 
          I SEE IT CONSTANTLY. 
          I SEE MORE, UH, HARM THAT'S COME FROM, AND AS FAR AS THE HIGH CENTERING, AS FAR AS THE ACCIDENTS, AS FAR AS THE THING, AS FAR AS THE BACKUP OF THE TRAFFIC DAILY, UM, THEN I COULD, I COULD EVER IMAGINE, UM, POSITIVES THAT WOULD'VE COME FROM IT. 
          SO, UH, WE JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT, THAT DEFINITELY WOULD HELP. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. 
          APPRECIATE IT. 
          HAVE A GOOD ONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT JOSE SUE CASCO. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UH, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS JOSE SUE. 
          I'M A LOCAL HOUSTONIAN RESIDENT. 
          THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE AT, UH, CITY COUNCIL AND I JUST CAME HERE TO KIND OF ADVOCATE FOR SAFE HOUSTON AVENUE INTERSECTION SAFE 11TH STREET. 
          ALSO TO KIND OF ADVOCATE FOR THE MONTROSE TOUR REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. 
          'CAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'LL BE DISCUSSED TODAY. 
          UM, I THINK THIS PLAN DESERVES YOUR FULL SUPPORT WHEN IT'S UNDERGOING REVIEW BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WANNA WALK ACROSS MONTROSE BOULEVARD BUT CAN'T BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I WAS DRIVING ACROSS MONTROSE DURING THE RECENT HOUSTON MARATHON, THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS MONTROSE BECAUSE THE CITY HAD MADE IT MORE PEDESTRIAN SAFE FOR A BRIEF WINDOW OF TIME. 
          BUT, UH, NOWADAYS MONTROSE IS ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK. 
          AND SO BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN WOULD REALLY IMPROVE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS. 
          AND ALSO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          I WAS JUST GONNA SAY IT. 
          YOU GO AHEAD AND FINISH. 
          YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, IT ALSO KEEPS THE NUMBER OF TREES REMOVED TO A MINIMUM, SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          BE SAFE. 
          NEXT. 
          ANTHONY SCHMICK THREE, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL SCALY. 
          HI. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          UM, I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP THE SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          UM, WHEN EVERYONE HERE TOOK THESE CHAIRS, UH, WE SWORE A DUTY TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS IN THIS CITY TO PROTECT PEOPLE, TO PRIORITIZE PEOPLE, NOT CARS, NOT METAL PEOPLE. 
          THIS IS YOUR JOB. 
          THIS IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB, IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE. 
          NOW, IF YOU NEED TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS, SURE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROTECTIONS DIDN'T COME FAST ENOUGH FOR JAMES MCGIFF. 
          HE WOULD BE HERE ADVOCATING FOR HOUSTON AVENUE TODAY, BUT HE CAN'T 'CAUSE HE'S DEAD. 
          'CAUSE THOSE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATIONS WERE NOT INSTALLED SOON ENOUGH. 
          I ASK YOU, DON'T LET ANOTHER JAMES MIDKIFF DIE, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY. 
          IF YOU DO NOT PRIORITIZE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS CITY, YOUR LEGACY WILL BE DEATH. 
          AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WHAT THE MAYOR WANTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          MICHAEL SKELLY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          I HAVE TWO MINUTES. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? ONE. 
          OH, OKAY. 
          HI, MY NAME IS GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS MICHAEL SKELLY. 
          AND, UH, FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS OR SO, I'VE BEEN STARTING AND BUILDING CLEAN ENERGY COMPANIES RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. 
          AND TODAY I RUN A COMPANY CALLED GRID UNITED, WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE ON MAIN STREET WORKING TO DEVELOP NEW ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          AND ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS IN OUR WORLD, IN THE CLEAN ENERGY WORLD IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON CONTINUES ITS ROLE AS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD? AND THE ANSWER ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO THE COMPETITION FOR TALENT AND THE CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE IS, Y'ALL KNOW THEY CAN LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT THEY WANT AND TO WIN. 
          WE GOTTA COMPETE WITH DENVER, MINNEAPOLIS TO SAY NOTHING OF LOTS OF OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD AND THE WORKFORCE THAT WE NEED TO RECRUIT FOR HOUSTON. 
          THEY WANT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. 
          AND TWO THIRDS YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          UM, SO THE WORKFORCE THAT, THAT WE TRY TO RECRUIT, 
          [01:00:01]
UH, THEY'RE, THEY WANT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE TRAPPED IN THEIR CARS. 
          THEY WANT ALTERNATIVES IN TERMS OF HOW THEY GET AROUND. 
          TWO THIRDS OF OUR PEOPLE EITHER TAKE THE BUS OR BIKE OR WALK TO WORK, AND THEY WANT A SAFE CITY TO GET AROUND IT. 
          NOW WE'VE MADE SOME FANTASTIC PROGRESS IN HOUSTON OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS WITH BAYOU GREENWAYS. 
          UH, AND FROM THERE WE STARTED TO BUILD SAFER STREET INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          UH, BUT WE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO. 
          AND UNFORTUNATELY, HOUSTON IS A DEADLY PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR MOTORISTS, BUT ALSO FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ALIKE. 
          AND WE, WE CANNOT LET UP IN OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE CITY. 
          AND I'M, I'M REMINDED A LITTLE BIT OF THE QUOTE THAT YVETTE KHA FAMOUSLY SAID. 
          THEY ASKED HER WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF HOUSTON AND SHE SAID, I THINK I'M GONNA LIKE IT WHENEVER THEY GET FINISHED. 
          SO AS WE GO ABOUT FINISHING BUILDING THIS GREAT CITY, LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CITY WITH A PUBLIC REALM OF STREETS AND PARKS THAT'S, THAT ARE SAFE FOR, FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN KAMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, MICHAEL, I JUST HAD ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION. 
          YOU, YOU TOUCHED ON SOMETHING. 
          I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF, IN THE NITTY GRITTY ABOUT PROJECTS PEOPLE LIKE OR DON'T LIKE. 
          BUT YOU, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS, SPECIFICALLY TO RECRUITMENT, BRINGING JOB FORCE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          AND THERE'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THIS. 
          UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE YEAH. 
          THAT SAYING THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS A RACE FOR TALENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP IN HOUSTON AND THAT WANT TO WORK IN THE, IN THE FASTEST GROWING IN INDUSTRIES IN HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, THEY CARE ABOUT THIS STUFF. 
          THEY CARE ABOUT SAFE STREETS. 
          AND SO WE ALL NEED TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALEXANDER SPIKE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALANDRA TORRES. 
          HELLO EVERYONE. 
          MY NAME IS ALEXANDER SPIKE. 
          I'M A HOMEOWNER IN RES AND I COMMUTE TO MIDTOWN. 
          I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A JOB WHERE I CAN GET AWAY AT 2:00 PM ON A TUESDAY, BUT MY FRIEND'S NEIGHBOR, GIA, EVELYN DAISY, ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE, UH, AND, AND COULD NOT MAKE, UH, MAKE IT TO THIS MEETING. 
          THESE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS ROOM, HOWEVER, DO IMPACT THEIR LIVES. 
          I CAME TO GIVE A COMMENT ON HOUSTON AND MONTROSE MAYOR. 
          YES. 
          LAST TUESDAY. 
          UM, THOUGH WE VISIT HOUSTON AVENUE TO SEE HOW DANGEROUS IT IS ON SUNDAY, I JOINED 50 OF MY NEIGHBORS AND VISITED THE AVENUE. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO COMFORTABLY WALK, UH, ACROSS THE AVENUE AND WE NOTED TRAFFIC WAS MUCH CLOSER TO THE SPEED LIMIT. 
          I DON'T WALK AS MUCH AS I DRIVE. 
          IT'S A BIG CITY AFTER ALL, BUT I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT'S MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE ON THAN BEFORE ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          THE PROJECT IS ABOUT SAFETY. 
          AS A KID, I'D WALK TO LA NEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN CARNEGIE HIGH ACROSS MONTROSE AT ANY POINT. 
          AND AT ANY POINT IT WAS CHALLENGING. 
          WE HAVE TO BUILD FOR WHAT WE WANT MORE OF, AND I WANT BETTER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF MONTROSE. 
          THE PROJECT, OF COURSE, IS A SAFETY PROJECT FIRST AND DELAY IS DANGEROUS. 
          JUST THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A CAR WRECK RESULTING IN SEVERAL PEOPLE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. 
          I'LL FINISH THIS PARAGRAPH. 
          HOW ABOUT THAT? UH, THERE WAS A CAR WRECK RESULTING IN SEVERAL PEOPLE IN CRITICAL POSITION. 
          THE SIDEWALKS IS STILL SCATTER, SCATTERED WITH ELECTRICAL BOX REMAINS. 
          EVERY WEEK WE DELAY CONSTRUCTION. 
          WE TAKE THE RISK OF ANOTHER CRASH AND MORE PEOPLE GETTING HURT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT ALANDRA TORRES. 
          UH, CAN I START? YEAH. 
          OKAY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          MY NAME IS ALANDRA. 
          I'M A RESIDENT OF MONTROSE, AND I WANNA FIRST SAY THAT I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIANS AND THEIR FREEDOM, AND I CALL FOR CEASE FIRE. 
          UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO EXPRESS MY DISILLUSIONMENT WITH MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S. 
          COMMITMENT TO RIPPING OUT THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          85 PEDESTRIANS AND 15 CYCLISTS, UM, HAVE DIED ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY IN 2023. 
          NOT ONLY ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS BRINGING US CLOSER TO REACHING VISION ZERO, BUT RIPPING THEM OUT WILL CAUSE THREE TIMES THE INITIAL AMOUNT SPENT ON THE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          IT'S AN AWFUL MONEY SINK AND SETS A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT THAT LOUD CLICKS CAN WASTE CITY MONEY. 
          UM, ALSO WITH MONTROSE BOULEVARD, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, WE NEED YOU TO BE BOLD AND BRAVE AND VOCAL ABOUT MOVING THE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FORWARD. 
          CONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY BEEN DELAYED, AND THE TOUR HAS SPENT OVER $300,000 EXTRA ON REDUNDANT TRAFFIC STUDIES. 
          ITS HOUSTON AVENUE AT RISK TODAY, AND IT COULD BE MONTROSE BOULEVARD TOMORROW. 
          SO WE NEED YOU TO BE VOCAL LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAS BEEN, UM, WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PEDESTRIANS FAMILIES, FOLKS AT DISABILITIES. 
          UM, THAT'S WHAT THESE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS HAVE TO OFFER. 
          UM, SPECIFICALLY ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD, 154 NEW TREES ARE GONNA BE PLANTED. 
          YES, TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          NEXT, 
          [01:05:01]
DANNY HARRYS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARY JONES. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. 
          I'M A MONTROSE RESIDENT. 
          I WANNA SPEAK AGAINST THE TERRACE PROJECT FOR MONTROSE. 
          UM, MY WIFE AND I ARE LONGTIME MONTROSE RESIDENTS. 
          WE MOVED THERE BEFORE THE TREES WERE PLANTED, AND THEY'RE NOT GREAT, BUT THERE ARE OFF TO A, A GOOD START. 
          UM, WHEN TERMS OF ENDOWMENT WAS FILMED IN HOUSTON, THEY USED, UH, NORTH BOULEVARD FOR THE EXTERIORS, UM, FOR THE RIVER OAKS BECAUSE OF IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SPREAD OF LIVE OAKS. 
          THE SIDEWALKS IN MONTROSE. 
          MONTROSE IS THE MOST WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE OF THE MOST WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY. 
          AND THE SIDEWALKS ARE IN BAD SHAPE, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE TREES, BUT IT DOES NEED THE TREES THAT NEED TO BE PULLED. 
          WHY NOT SPEND SOME OF THE TURS LARGEST FIXING THE SIDEWALKS FOR EVERYONE? THE SIDEWALKS ON WEST GRAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED FROM MONTROSE TO DUN LAVY IN THREE MONTHS WITHOUT A LOT OF TRAFFIC HASSLES. 
          THERE'S NO PEDESTRIAN CONGESTION BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS ARE ONLY EIGHT, AREN'T EIGHT FEET WIDE IF TOWN HAS EXPIRED, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK. 
          PARDON? LET ME ASK SOMETHING. 
          HAS IT BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE THAT THE TURS WOULD LISTEN TO YOU AND OTHERS THAT FEEL LIKE YOU DO? NO. 
          AND, UH, AND I HATE TO COMPLAIN BECAUSE, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, CAYMAN AND HELPED, AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN HELPED US WITH ANOTHER MATTER OF A NUISANCE BUSINESS THAT WAS PROPOSED ON WEST GRAY. 
          BUT, UM, THE FEELING IS THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT. 
          AND THEY, THEY SAY THEY ARE. 
          WE'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL MEETINGS. 
          SOME HAVE BEEN CANCELED, BUT, UM, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE A BOONDOGGLE. 
          IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE SAME PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN GETTING PAID AND DOING THE ENGINEERING FOR THE PROJECT. 
          AND DRAINAGE IS, I HAVEN'T HEARD DRAINAGE MENTIONED TODAY, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG PART OF THE PROJECT. 
          AND THERE WAS AN EIGHT FOOT STORM DRAIN PUT DOWN TAFT TO A, A BUFFALO BIO ABOUT 20, 25 YEARS AGO. 
          AND THE, THE TRAFFIC, THE TRAFFIC ON, UH, TAFT WAS DISRUPTED, BUT IT WASN'T DESTROYED. 
          AND THE CHILDREN THAT, UH, THAT GO TO WHARTON, UH, DUAL ACADEMY IN THE OTHER MONTESSORI SCHOOL OVER THERE ACROSS MONTROSE, THEY DON'T WALK DOWN MONTROSE TURNING THAT PART OF MONTROSE INTO A, UM, A BOARDWALK AND A BOY ISN'T REALLY GONNA HELP ANYTHING IN MY, IN MY OPINION. 
          AND, UH, SURE THERE COULD BE WORK ON CROSSWALKS, BUT I DON'T THINK CONCRETE WILL HELP. 
          AND I DON'T THINK RIPPING UP THAT PART OF MONTROSE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE, UH, SLOW EVERY DAY. 
          THERE ARE REALLY LARGE, UH, RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BEING COMPLETED AROUND THERE, AND IT'S GONNA GET WORSE. 
          AND ALSO, UM, IT'S A COMMON ROUTE FOR EMERGENCY TRAFFIC TO THE MEDICAL CENTER FROM, UH, THE HEIGHTS AND FROM I 10 EVEN. 
          AND, UH, DECREASING THE SIZE OF THE LANES ONLY MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUTTA THE WAY EMERGENCY VEHICLES, IN MY OPINION. 
          WHAT IF WE, UH, MADE CERTAIN THERE'S A TOWN HALL MEETING TO GET THE, UH, PUBLIC'S OPINION ON? THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. 
          NONE OF US ARE AGAINST CHILDREN. 
          WHY DON'T, WHY DON'T WE COUNT ON THAT BEFORE WE DESTROY THE 40 TREES? AND I'VE HEARD THAT THEY'RE SICK AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA DIE DURING, IN CONSTRUCTION. 
          THEY ONLY HAVE A LOT. 
          THEY LOOK EXPECTANCY OF 20 MORE YEARS. 
          WHY DON'T WE LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT? THAT'S ALL WE ASK. 
          UH, AND WE'RE NOT ANTI CHILDREN OR ANTI BICYCLE OR ANTI DRAINAGE OR ANYTHING ELSE. 
          IT'S JUST THE TREES. 
          WE GOT A GOOD START. 
          AND IT'S REALLY A CITY OF TREES IN A WAY. 
          I MEAN, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. 
          THEY OWN, THEY'RE OWNED BY HOUSTONIANS. 
          YEAH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN HAS A QUESTION. 
          SIR, ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW MANY MEETINGS THE MONTROSE TURNED HA HAD IN PUBLIC MEETINGS, CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS, GOING TO EVERY SINGLE CIVIC CLUB AND THE TOWN HALLS IN WHICH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED? I, I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY I DON'T. 
          OKAY. 
          BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE ONLY HEARD ABOUT THE PROJECT IN, UH, AROUND OCTOBER, AND COULDN'T BELIEVE AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS SO INVOLVED IN, IN, IN A WAY CRAZY, BECAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE WITH ALL THIS TALENT CAN'T GET TOGETHER AND PUT SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT RIPPING UP ALL THOSE TREES. 
          YEAH. 
          ARE YOU AWARE THAT THE, UH, ONE, I, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP DRAINAGE. 
          SO FOR ME, DRAINAGE AND MITIGATION FROM FLOODING IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF, OF COURSE, ESPECIALLY IN HOUSTON OF, UM, ARE YOU AWARE THAT IT'S SOME OF THESE PUBLIC TOWN HALLS THAT THE TS HELD, UM, THAT RESIDENTS ACTUALLY WENT SEGMENT BY SEGMENT AND PROVIDED THEIR FEEDBACK AT EVERY SINGLE INTERSECTION AND THEY INCORPORATED THAT INTO THEIR DESIGNS? WELL, I, I'VE BEEN THERE A COUPLE OF THOSE MEETINGS AND, UH, AND MS ONE THAT WAS CANCELED AND NO, I, I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT, BUT THE DRAINAGE, A AN EIGHT FOOT STORM PIPE WAS PUT DOWN TAF WITHOUT RIPPING THE HELL OUTTA TAF. 
          AND IT'S ONLY A TWO LANE ROAD. 
          RIGHT. 
          AND THESE ARE GONNA BE 10 FOOT BY 10 FOOT CULVERTS. 
          BUT MY, 
          [01:10:01]
MY QUESTION IS, I THINK ALREADY RESIDENTIAL IT STALLED BY A, A DIGGER THAT GOES THAT FAR INTO THE GROUND. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          AND AGAIN, THE, THERE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC. 
          I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF IT, AND I'M WELL OPEN TO ANY AND ALL FEEDBACK AS MAYOR, HOW WE REACH MORE PEOPLE. 
          BUT WHEN THE TOURS OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS HAS PUBLIC MEETING, AFTER PUBLIC MEETING TOWN HALL, AFTER TOWN HALL, LITERALLY ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO GO BLOCK BY BLOCK, PUTTING POST-ITS ON THE DESIGN TO SAY, HEY, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS AT THIS CORNER. 
          WE WOULD LIKE THIS. 
          THAT'S HOW THE DESIGN ENDED UP THE WAY THAT IT DID, BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE PROVIDED THAT INPUT IN INCLUDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES. 
          UM, SO I, I WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK AND I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO WORK ON OTHER ISSUES TOGETHER. 
          YEAH, I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. 
          I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WE PUT OUT, WHEN THE T IS OUR MEETING, WE DO ALL OF THIS, AND WE EVEN ASK THE TS TO GO TO EVERY SINGLE CIVIC CLUB IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IN ADDITION TO THEIR MEETINGS. 
          SO I, I JUST, MAYORS, WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC MEETINGS. 
          I, I WELCOME ANY AND ALL OPPORTUNITY FOR DIALOGUE, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR HOW MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT HAS ALSO TAKEN PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FLOOD MITIGATION FOR ALL OF HOUSTON. 
          MAY I SAY ONE THING, EVEN THOUGH WE, I CAME LATE TO THIS, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE SIMILARLY ALIGNED TO THIS CAUSE AND, AND THEY ARE MORE INFORMED THAN I IN THIS REGARD, MORE MEETINGS, BUT IT'S JUST, IT JUST SEEMS RIGHT. 
          I HEAR, AND YOU'RE VERY INFORMED. 
          I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE NOT INFORMED BY ANY MEANS, BUT THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, MARY JONES TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN BRANCH JR. 
          HELLO, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          SORRY. 
          UM, MY NAME IS MARY JONES. 
          I'M WITH M SUITE CONSTRUCTION. 
          I BEGAN WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, REPAIRING THE WATER MAIN LINES. 
          IN OCTOBER, I RECEIVED ONE PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR OCTOBER AND NO PAYMENT SINCE. 
          UM, MY COMPANY CONTINUED TO WORK THROUGH NOVEMBER. 
          ON DECEMBER 1ST, WE WERE PULLED AN ECSTASY WORK WITH NO EXPLANATION. 
          AT THAT POINT, WE HAD PERFORMED OVER 50 JOBS WITH BILLABLE SERVICES AND EXPENSES, WELL OVER $200,000 FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          I STAYED CONNECTED WITH THE TEAM ASSIGNED TO ME, BUT NO ONE WOULD ANSWER EMAILS NOR RETURN CALLS. 
          THIS IS WHEN THE NIGHTMARE BEGAN. 
          I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO GET INFORMATION SO I CAN INSTRUCT MY GUYS WAS A HUGE BLOW BECAUSE SOME OF THE GUYS WERE PULLED FROM PREVIOUS OBLIGATIONS TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS, AND NOW WE WERE SIDELINED AND HOLIDAYS WERE FAST APPROACHING. 
          AS OF TODAY, I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAY FOR SERVICES PERFORMED. 
          I'M A MINORITY WOMAN ON SMALL BUSINESS, AND I FEAR THAT THIS WILL TAKE MY NAME IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. 
          I FINALLY RECEIVED A MESSAGE BACK FROM ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS. 
          I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
          THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          ROBIN CURTIS AND I COMPLIED. 
          YOU GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILOR POLLARD, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, ROBIN CURTIS. 
          I SPOKE WITH HER BRIEFLY. 
          SHE INSTRUCTED ME WHAT INFORMATION TO SUBMIT. 
          I COMPLIED. 
          AND THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO WITH NO RESPONSE. 
          AND, UM, I'M JUST ASKING THAT PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED IMMEDIATELY THAT I CAN PAY MY SUBS AND BEGIN TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THAT THIS IS DONE. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR PROTE TATUM. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, I WANTED TO JUST ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND, UH, YOUR OFFICE, HAVE WE HAD ANY MOVEMENT ON PAYMENT TO THESE VENDORS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING AND ASKING ABOUT THEIR PAYMENTS? UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THE, UM, VENDORS THAT HELPED US WITH THE WATER REPAIRS THAT WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE ISSUE. 
          UM, HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR PAYMENTS? SURE. 
          IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, UH, PAYMENTS FOR THESE VENDORS, THESE SUBCONTRACTORS, I I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU. 
          YEAH. 
          IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PAYMENTS FOR THESE SUBCONTRACTORS ARE BEING HANDLED BY HPW, THEY'RE INVESTIGATING. 
          UM, UH, IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A NUMBER OF THE INVOICES, AND I CAN'T SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THIS WOMAN'S COMPANY, BUT A NUMBER OF VOICES THAT WE RECEIVED DON'T ACTUALLY SHOW WHAT WORK WAS DONE. 
          SO HPW IS WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW. 
          I WILL SAY THAT FOR ANY SUBCONTRACTORS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PAID, UH, IF THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED INVOICES THAT ACTUALLY OUTLINED THAT THE WORK WAS DONE AND IMPROPERLY, THEY SHOULD SUBMIT THAT. 
          BUT HPW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS WORKING THROUGH THAT TO TRY TO GET THEM PAID, BUT THEY'VE GOTTA VERIFY THAT THE WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE. 
          AND IT'S ALL BEING HANDLED BY HPW, NOT BILL LEGAL. 
          HAVE YOUR INVOICES BEEN SUBMITTED? YES. 
          UM, ALL THE INVOICES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED WITH BACKUP AS REQUESTED BY THE HP W2. 
          I GUESS MY, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS IF WE ARE HIRING CONTRACTORS TO DO WORK, AND WE HAVE A CITY OF HOUSTON INSPECTOR ON SITE THAT IS INSPECTING AND CHECKING OFF ON THE WORK, NOW WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GONNA GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO GO AND 
          [01:15:01]
INSPECT AND CHECK OFF THE WORK. 
          I'M CONFUSED AS WHY WE HAVE AN INTERNAL INSPECTOR WHO HAS CHECKED OFF THE WORK, AND NOW WE'RE SAYING THAT THAT CHECKOFF IS NOT VALID. 
          SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THESE ARE SUBCONTRACTS, SO WE DON'T HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. 
          WE DON'T NO, NO, NO. 
          I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SUBCONTRACTOR. 
          I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON INSPECTOR THAT CHECKS OFF THE WORK THAT THE SUBCONTRACTOR DOES. 
          SO THAT IS A, A A A A GREAT QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT PROBABLY BEST FOR HPW. 
          I CAN'T ADDRESS THAT DIRECTLY AS I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS. 
          SO MAYOR, I GUESS MY CONCERN IS, I MEAN, WE, WE, WEEK AFTER WEEK, WE HAVE THESE CONTRACTORS COMING SAYING THAT THEY'RE WAITING FOR PAYMENT. 
          AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AN OIG INVESTIGATION, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE NOT INVOLVED, THEY ARE SUFFERING AND NOT ABLE TO PAY THEIR STAFF AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY EMPLOY. 
          AND, UM, SOMETHING PROBABLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN AS THEIR DEBTS ARE, ARE NOW ACCRUING. 
          I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS REVIEWING THEM ONE BY ONE, AND THAT'S THE, UH, THE GRAY AREA OR THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. 
          NOW, CERTAINLY WE CAN CHECK ON IT, BUT IT'S HARD FOR US TO INTERVENE IF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS THESE VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. 
          NOW, CERTAINLY IF SOMEONE'S NOT INVOLVED AT ALL, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S A CASE TO BE MADE THERE, BUT I'M NOT, I HAVEN'T SEEN A REPORT THAT DISTINGUISHES THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, CERTIFIED AND THE ONES THAT ARE NOT. 
          SO, UH, NOT TO TAKE PUT WORDS IN THE ATTORNEY, UH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE, UM, CITY ATTORNEY'S REPRESENTATIVE, BUT IT WAS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT HAD A HOLD ON THESE. 
          AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THAT INVESTIGATION WILL BE COMPLETED SOONER THAN LATER. 
          BUT IT WAS SOME PRETTY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AND, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE PROCEED GOING FORWARD. 
          SO WE'LL CHECK, WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU. 
          I HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE IT, IT SEEMS SO UNFAIR FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT INVOLVED TO HAVE TO SUFFER FOR THE WRONGDOINGS OF PEOPLE THAT, UM, THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH. 
          SO, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE, UM, OIG OFFICE TO GET THAT LIST OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION SO THESE CONTRACTORS THAT WERE NOT INVOLVED CAN RECEIVE THEIR PAYMENT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          HAVE YOU BEEN TALKED TO, I DON'T GUESS YOU MIND ME ASKING YOU IN PUBLIC. 
          HAVE YOU BEEN TALKED TO BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL? YES, SIR. 
          I DID. 
          MISS ROBIN CURTIS, I SPOKE WITH HER ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. 
          SHE ASKED ME, UM, HOW WE DID BILLING AND TO SUBMIT A COPY TO HER. 
          AND I SENT MY CERTIFICATION, PAPERWORK, COPY OF THE CONTRACT. 
          THAT'S WHAT ISSUED TO ME. 
          AND AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE HPW TEAM REQUESTED WE TURN IN AND REQUEST PAYMENT. 
          OKAY. 
          VERY WELL. 
          SO YOU'RE DOING YOUR PART. 
          WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT THIS AFTERNOON. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. 
          UM, SORRY THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND NOT SURE, UH, MUCH ABOUT THE, UH, OIG INVESTIGATION, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS WE'RE A $6 BILLION SERVICES CORPORATION. 
          WHAT WE DO IS WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE CITY, AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO USE VENDORS TO HELP, UM, PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. 
          WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE IS AN ENTITY THAT IS KNOWN FOR PUTTING OUT WORK, HAVING PEOPLE DO THE WORK, AND THEN WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM ON TIME. 
          SO I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, BUT WHAT CAN'T BE A MOVING PART IS COMMUNICATION. 
          THERE SHOULD NOT BE A SINGLE VENDOR WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND Y OR WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          SO IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PAID YET, AND THEY'RE FRUSTRATED, THEY SHOULDN'T BE COMING TO US ASKING US, Y IT SHOULD BE LAID OUT TO THEM TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF X, Y, Z. 
          NOW, THEY MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT, BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S POSITION. 
          AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. 
          IF THAT, IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN THERE'S NO REASON FOR YOU TO BE HERE. 
          BUT SINCE YOU'RE HERE ASKING WHY, THEN THERE'S SOME MISCOMMUNICATION THAT'S HAPPENING. 
          AND I KNOW IF I WAS A VENDOR AND I DID WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M NOT GETTING PAID, I WOULD BE HIGHLY UPSET. 
          SO I ENCOURAGE, UH, EVERYONE INVOLVED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE COMMUNICATING AS ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS WITH THESE FOLKS WHO ARE WAITING TO HEAR WHEN ARE THEY GONNA GET PAID? BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE ON THE HOOK AND THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA GET SUED ON YES. 
          ON YOUR SIDE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE WORK THAT YOU PERFORMED AND PROMISED, AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY. 
          YES, I'M GETTING BILLED LATE FEES. 
          THEY, UH, WANT TO DO LIEN SIGN LIENS. 
          AND SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT TIME, TIME IS MONEY. 
          AND IF WE'RE A $6 BILLION SERVICES CORPORATION, THAT IF WE'RE NOT GONNA BE PAYING SOMEONE ON TIME, THERE NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED REASONS WHY. 
          AND WELL COMMUNICATED. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT WE ARE 
          [01:20:01]
ALREADY KNOWN AS AN ENTITY THAT, THAT CAN'T GET PEOPLE PAID. 
          I HAVE CONTRACTORS AND I'M SURE WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT IT IN HER SCREENINGS. 
          UH, WELL, LET'S CHANGE THAT. 
          THERE'S MANY, MANY, LET'S CHANGE THAT THEN. 
          WELL, THAT'S, WELL, SOME OF IT'S BEEN HERE LONGER THAN A OBVIOUSLY MONTH. 
          IT'S NOT BEING DONE BECAUSE SHE'S HERE TODAY. 
          WELL, IT'S ALSO SHE'S HAD CONTACT WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
          LET'S FOLLOW UP AND GET THE REST OF THE STORY. 
          DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO EXPEDITE HER CLAIM. 
          BUT, UH, I WAS JUST RESPONDING YOU SAYING WE DON'T WANNA BE KNOWN AS ENTITY. 
          IT DOESN'T PAY YOUR BILLS. 
          WE ARE IT. 
          AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT. 
          AND THAT'S A COMMON THEME. 
          AND I CAN NAME SOME PROMINENT BUSINESSES THAT JUST WON'T DO BUSINESS OF WITH CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          WE'RE GONNA TACKLE YOUR PROBLEM THERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SHOULD I CONTINUE JUST CONTACTING, UM, ROBIN OR MY OFFICE? SHOULD I, OKAY. 
          'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF I SHOULD TALK TO THE H PT. 
          CYNTHIA, CYNTHIA, BECAUSE NEVER CYNTHIA. 
          WILL YOU GET, UH, MS. WILSON, WILL YOU GET, UH, OUR WITNESS WITH THE, WITH THE RIGHT CONTACT? WE WILL GET YOU A CURRENT STATUS REPORT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SIR. 
          AND IF YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING CORRECT AS YOU STATE, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CORRECT, YOU OUGHT TO BE RECEIVING YOUR FUNDS. 
          IF THERE'S MORE QUESTIONS, UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE SOME BAD PLAYERS, AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO MIX. 
          BEING MIXED UP WITH THOSE BROAD BRUSH ALLEGATIONS AND BEING HERE TODAY MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          SO, MS. WILSON, I TALKED TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          JOHN BRANCH JR. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU. 
          AND, UM, THE PURPOSE OF MY BEING HERE TODAY IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE. 
          ONE, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION, AND THEN ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE WHO HAVE WON THEIR SEATS AS WELL. 
          UM, LAST YEAR I WAS A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL MYSELF, AND THAT WAS MY FIRST EVER TIME RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. 
          AND, UM, I LEARNED A LOT FROM EVERYONE HERE ON THIS PANEL. 
          UM, LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS, SPOKE TO, UH, UH, SPOKE TO PEOPLE WHO I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SPEAK TO BEFORE. 
          AND THEN OVERALL, JUST THE WARMTH OF, OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICIAL. 
          I'M HONORED TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE. 
          I WAS HONORED TO, TO SPEAK TO A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HERE. 
          AND I KNOW MY FIRST HIT PIECE CAME, I WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO RELAX, OTHER BAD STUFF, CAME, TOLD TO RELAX, GOOD STUFF CAME, TOLD TO RELAX, BASICALLY STAY EVEN KEEL AT ALL TIMES. 
          AND THEN SEEING HOW YOU ALL OPERATE. 
          AS I FOLLOW YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, I CONSTANTLY SEE YOU GUYS RELAXED, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE BIG PLAY IS, AND THEN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE JOB IS. 
          HEY, I'M TRYING  ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA. 
          YOU DON'T FOLLOW ME. 
          . 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          JOHN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TODAY. 
          IT'S, UH, IT'S A LOT TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE AND TO, UM, WANT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. 
          AND REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE BEHIND THIS DESK OR NOT, UH, YOU'RE DOING JUST THAT. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          OH, LER DAVIS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE TELL THE BROTHER JOHN, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND CONGRATULATING THE, THE MAYOR AND ALL OF THE CANDIDATES. 
          AND WE'VE KNOWN YOU AND I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          JUST, UH, APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS, FOR ALL OF US KNOW, UH, THAT WE LOVE OUR CITY AND WE WANT TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN IN ORDER TO HELP IT. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND GIVING YOUR CONGRATS. 
          WE APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. 
          YOU ARE WELCOME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, JULIO PERRO. 
          JULIO PERRO. 
          NICOLE YEN IS SHOCK KA. 
          HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS YOUR CONSTITUENT. 
          I STILL CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DON'T CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE, EVEN IF IT ISN'T PERSONAL FOR YOU. 
          LIKE ME AND THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE. 
          WE STILL LIVE HERE AND WE DO NOT FEEL ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED BY OUR REVIEWS. 
          I BELIEVE DEEP DOWN, REGARDLESS ON YOUR STANCE, YOU ALL KNOW THAT NOT CALLING A CEASEFIRE IS RIDICULOUS AT THIS POINT BY THE SHEER BRUTALITY AND DEATH TOLL ALONE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK THEY'RE DOING THEIR DARN BEST TO NOT KILL CIVILIANS. 
          PERSONALLY, I'VE LOST 10 FAMILY MEMBERS, AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL, UM, I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL DO NOT HAVE MAJOR INFLUENCE OVER US FOREIGN POLICY, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S A 12-YEAR-OLD ON TIKTOK WHO HAS MORE 
          [01:25:01]
INFLUENCE THAN ALL OF US . 
          UM, YOU COULD STILL CALL A CEASEFIRE SIMILAR TO CITIES LIKE CHICAGO OR SAN FRANCISCO. 
          AS OF RECENTLY, A CALL FOR CEASEFIRE IN HOUSTON WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST PALESTINIAN POPULATIONS IN AMERICA. 
          UM, TO ME, THIS IS HOME. 
          WE DON'T HAVE A HOME TO GO BACK TO. 
          SO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CAMERON HALL. 
          HOWDY. 
          MY NAME IS CAMERON HALL, AND I'M HERE TO REQUEST THE CITY COUNCIL TO RELEASE A JOINT STATEMENT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, AND TO AMEND THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT POLICY TO REMOVE THE ABILITY TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS. 
          WHAT'S TRULY ASTONISHING ABOUT THE CONFLICT AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS IS THAT THE PUBLIC IS ABLE TO SEE THIS GENOCIDE BEING COMMITTED IN REAL TIME. 
          FROM THE VIEW OF THE OPPRESSED, WE SEE THE POSTS AND LIVE STREAMS FROM PALESTINIANS LIKE BISAN AND OTHER JOURNALISTS THAT SHOW THE INDISCRIMINATE DEVASTATION ISRAEL IS CAUSING. 
          WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THE MEDIA LIE ABOUT EVENTS WE SAW LIVE FOOTAGE OF. 
          WE SEE THEM PEDDLING THE NARRATIVE OF A COUNTRY TRYING TO JUSTIFY GENOCIDE. 
          IT IS TIME TO STOP DOING WHAT IS EASY AND TO BEGIN TO LEARN THE HARD TRUTH. 
          WATCH FOOTAGE COMING FROM PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS. 
          READ THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY SOUTH AFRICA IN THE ICJ AND LEARN ABOUT THE CREATION OF ISRAEL AND ITS BRUTAL COLONIZATION. 
          AND ASK YOURSELF, DO YOU ARE NOT POWERLESS IN THIS CONFLICT? YOU MUST HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY HUMANITY REGARDLESS OF THE SELF-SACRIFICE. 
          RELEASE A JOINT STATEMENT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. 
          AMEND THE FINANCIAL POLICY TO REMOVE THE ABILITY TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, KEVIN JOHNSON. 
          KEVIN JOHNSON IS NOT PRESIDENT. 
          KIRK CRAIG TO BE FOLLOWED BY PETER OLS. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UH, I AM MY NAME'S KIRK CRAIG, AND I'M THE CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF AGAPE DEVELOPMENT AT AGAPE HOMES. 
          WE ARE DEVELOPING 80 HOMES AS A PART OF THE AFFORDABLE HOME DEVELOPMENT GRANT. 
          UM, AND I'M FROM DISTRICT DA RESIDENT AND WORKING THERE, AND WE APPRECIATE BEING AWARDED THIS, THIS GRANT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, JUST COMING BACK TO REPORT TO YOU AS WELL FOR THAT. 
          AND, UH, ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, SO IT WAS 80 HOMES THAT WE WERE TO DEVELOP THERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING 10 GARAGE APARTMENTS, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO INCREASE THE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          OVER 70% OF OUR HOMES ARE GONNA BE AFFORDABLE. 
          THAT MEANS BELOW 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. 
          AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEFINE WHAT AFFORDABLE IS. 
          AND I'M HERE TO GIVE A RESULTS, UPDATE SOME GOOD NEWS. 
          UM, WE HAVE BUILT AND SOLD 14 HOMES ALREADY IN THAT WE HAVE 12 HOMES THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. 
          13 MORE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND FIVE STARTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS MONTH. 
          THE STATISTICS OF OUR BUYERS, I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          YOU CAN GO AHEAD. 
          UH, THE, THE AFFORDABILITY, OUR AVERAGE A MI AREA MEDIAN INCOME FOR OUR BUYER IS 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. 
          THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME THAT AFFORDS OUR HOME AND PURCHASED IS $47,419 AND ALL, BUT TWO OF THEM ARE, HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          SO WE ARE HELPING NEIGHBORS STAY IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND SO WE WELCOME THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ARE JUST GRATEFUL AND WANTED TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO EVERYBODY WHO'S NEW HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT PETER ECHO. 
          GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UH, AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS PETER ECKLES. 
          I'M THE DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PLANNING FOR LINK HOUSTON. 
          WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR A ROBUST AND EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK SO ALL PEOPLE CAN REACH OPPORTUNITY. 
          AND I'M HERE TO IMPLORE YOU ALL TO REAFFIRM THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ENDING SERIOUS, UH, DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES ON OUR ROADWAYS BY THE YEAR 2030, THE CITY'S VISION ZERO PROGRAM, AND TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTING THE SORTS OF PROJECTS THAT ARE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THAT GOAL. 
          SINCE THE CITY OF HOUSTON FIRST COMMITTED DIVISION ZERO IN 2019, WE'VE SEEN A HOST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING THE NEEDLE ON ENDING OUR TRAFFIC SAFETY CRISIS LIKE ON 11TH STREET, WHICH IS CONSISTENTLY REDUCING SPEEDING IN THE HEIGHTS LIKE ON HILLCROFT, WHICH IS MAKING IT SAFER TO CROSS ONE OF THE BUSIEST STREETS IN GULFTON. 
          AND JUST RECENTLY ON HOUSTON AVE, BEFORE THE RECENT REBUILD CROSSING HOUSTON AVE REQUIRED WALKING 70 FEET WITHOUT PROTECTION. 
          IF YOU WALK AT A RATE OF TWO FEET PER SECOND, LIKE MANY WHO USE A CANE OR A WALKER, THAT WOULD TAKE YOU 35 SECONDS. 
          UM, AND OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, HOUSTON AVE HAS HAD A CRASH RATE THAT IS THREE TIMES 
          [01:30:01]
THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE FOR SIMILAR STREETS. 
          PROJECT INTRODUCED SAFETY COUNTERMEASURES, UM, LIKE MEDIANS AND PEDESTRIAN REFUGE THAT ARE PROVEN TO REDUCE CRASHES AND PREVENT DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURY. 
          HOUSTON IS MAKING PROGRESS AND IS POISED TO MAKE EVEN MORE UPCOMING PROJECTS LIKE PATTERSON STREET WILL CREATE A SORELY NEEDED CROSSING ISLAND AT WASHINGTON AVE. 
          PARKER ROAD WILL SLOW SPEEDS ON A STREET WHERE DRIVERS HAVE REPEATEDLY CRASHED INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES. 
          THESE ARE COMMON SENSE DATA-DRIVEN PROJECTS THAT WILL SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND SAVE THE CITY MONEY BY REDUCING THE BURDEN ON EMERGENCY SERVICES. 
          I IMPLORE YOU TO COMMIT TO ENDING TRAFFIC DEATHS ON OUR HER ROADS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, DR. 
          VERONICA JA JABRE. 
          WALTER VIDAL. 
          WALTER VIDAL, WILLIE, LARRY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. 
          UM, MY NAME IS WILLIE LARRY. 
          I'M OWNER OF A W AND D CONSTRUCTION. 
          I'M A MINORITY BUSINESS OWNER. 
          UM, I CURRENTLY, I WAS CURRENTLY WORKING ON FOUR PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY OF HOUSTON PROJECTS WITH RAY TECH CONSTRUCTION. 
          UM, DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECTS, I TOOK ON QUITE A BIT OF RESPONSIBILITY FINANCIALLY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECTS. 
          WE STARTED THE PROJECTS. 
          THERE WAS NO CITY INSPECTOR ON THE JOB FOR MAYBE 60 DAYS. 
          I BELIEVE IT WAS OUTSOURCED TO A SECOND ENGINEERING FIRM. 
          AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE MINORITY PROGRAM. 
          UM, DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT WORK STARTED, AND I WAS REQUESTING THAT WD WATERING ON THE SHAFT. 
          THAT WAS DONE. 
          I WAS CURRENTLY DOING THE CONTRACTOR. 
          THEY DENIED IT. 
          I GOT GEOTECHNICAL REPORTS FROM GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS THAT SAID IT NEEDED DEWATERING. 
          THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T, UH, COMPLY, SO WE LOST THE SHAFT AND THE COURSE OF LOSING THE SHAFT, THEY MADE ME FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. 
          WHEN I STARTED THESE PROJECTS, I HAD OVER $200,000 IN MY SAVINGS ACCOUNT AS THE COURSE AS THE JOB WENT ON, I LOST $80,000 IN THE BEGINNING OF THE JOB. 
          YOUR TIME HAD TO GO AHEAD. 
          GO AHEAD AND KEEP TALKING. 
          I LOST $80,000 IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, WORKING ON FOUR PROJECTS WITH RAY TECH. 
          THEY, THEY STARTED DOING CHANGE ORDERS ON THE PROJECTS. 
          I WOULD CHANGE ORDER ONE PRO ON ONE PROJECT, WHICH WAS THE GREEN RIVER. 
          THEY HAD ME GO DO A RECOVERY SHAFT ON ANOTHER PROJECT. 
          I WENT TO DO THE RECOVERY SHAFT ON A, ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROJECT. 
          I RECOVERED THE, UM, MINING MACHINE THAT WAS CROOKED. 
          THEY PAID ME FOR ONLY 14 DAYS, AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PAY ME DAILY AT A DAILY RATE. 
          THEY ONLY PAID ME FOR 14 DAYS. 
          MY GUYS WORKED 16, WENT TO THE NEXT JOB. 
          I WENT BACK AFTER THE HOLIDAYS AND WE STARTED WORKING AGAIN. 
          AND I STARTED ASKING ABOUT MY MONEY. 
          MY DAUGHTER, WHICH GRADUATED FROM U OF H, SHE BECAME AN EMPLOYEE OF RAY TECH. 
          AND WHEN I TOLD 'EM, I STARTED ASKING ABOUT MY MONEY. 
          THEY THREATENED MY DAUGHTER'S JOB. 
          SO I KIND OF BACKED OFF, CONTINUED ON. 
          I, I KEPT ON WORKING WITH RAY TECH AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT, THAT THAT SERIES OF JOBS, MY FINANCES STARTED STRUGGLING. 
          SO I TOOK OUT A LOAN WITH A, A GROUP CALLED THE AVANZA GROUP. 
          I TOOK OUT A, A BASICALLY A LOAN TO, TO TRY TO COVER MY FINANCIAL COSTS FOR MY LABOR AND EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL BECAUSE I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAME THINGS THESE GCS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. 
          I HAVE TO PAY, UM, WAGE SCALES. 
          I HAVE TO PAY FOR EQUIPMENT, I HAVE TO PAY SAME INSURANCE BONDS, ET CETERA. 
          DURING THE COURSE OF ALL THIS, UM, THE OWNER OR VP OF TEX STARTED PAYING ME SLOWER. 
          HIS GUY EMAILED ME, WHICH WHO I WAS DEALING WITH, THE PROJECT MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD PAY ME WEEKLY. 
          THEY STARTED PAYING ME SLOWER AND SLOWER. 
          NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I'M UPSIDE DOWN. 
          I TRIED TO REFINANCE THE LOAN I GOT, AND WHEN I TRIED TO REFINANCE THE LOAN, THE COMPANY THAT I WAS REFINANCING WITH TOLD ME TO STOP PAYING THEM. 
          SO I JUST STOPPED PAYING THEM. 
          AND THEN THE COURSE OF ME STOPPED PAYING THEM. 
          THEY FILED THE UCC, UH, LIEN AGAINST ME. 
          WHEN THEY FILED THE UCC LIEN, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. 
          SO I WENT TO RAY TECH AND ASKED THEM FOR MY MONEY, AND THEY KIND OF GOT UPSET WITH ME ABOUT ME ASKING ABOUT MY MONEY. 
          THESE ARE CITY OF HOUSTON PROJECTS THAT I'M WORKING ON, AND THE COURSE OF THIS, I GO TO THE OBO. 
          I ASKED THE OBO TO STEP IN AND TRY TO HELP ME. 
          THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD DO. 
          THINGS WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH. 
          WE CAME TO A DECISION THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE A MEDIATION IN THE BE I CAN'T TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MEDIATION BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL. 
          HOWEVER, I CAN TELL YOU BEFORE I WENT TO THE MEDIATION, I FELT A BIAS WITH THE MEDIATION OFFICER. 
          WHEN I WALKED IN, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS SAT DOWN. 
          THEY CAME IN, THEY SAID, D ME, MY NAME. 
          I TOLD THEM, THEY WALKED OFF. 
          WHEN A REPRESENTATIVE OF UPPER MANAGEMENT OF RAY TECH WALKED IN, THEY GREETED HIM WITH A HANDSHAKE AND TALKED TO 'EM AS IF THEY WERE FRIENDS. 
          MADE ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. 
          YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY BIAS WHEN YOU'RE DOING MEDIATION. 
          [01:35:01]
THAT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S UNPROFESSIONAL. 
          THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS WE WENT TO MEDIATION. 
          WE CAME TO AN IMPASSE. 
          I TRIED, TRIED, TRIED AGAIN TO GET MY MONEY. 
          AND AT THIS POINT I KIND OF RAN OUTTA MONEY. 
          I WORK A NINE TO FIVE. 
          I'M A SINGLE FATHER, SO I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BE PAYING ON MY BUSINESS. 
          IN THE COURSE OF ALL THIS, I MISSED THE BONDING REQUIREMENTS OF SOME OF THE JOBS. 
          BUT IF YOU'LL SEE ON THAT, THE PAPERWORK THAT I GAVE YOU, THAT'S TAGGED EK ADMITS TO MOST OF THE MONEY THAT THEY OWE ME. 
          THEY ADMIT TO IT. 
          AND THAT WHERE IT'S TAGGED AT, IT'S AN EMAIL FROM THE VP OF RAY TECH WHERE HE SAYS, HE OWES ME MONEY ON THESE JOBS THAT I WORKED ON, ON THESE CITIES PROJECTS IN QUESTION. 
          THE ONLY MONEY THAT'S IN QUESTION IS THE SHAFT THAT I DUG, WHICH THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT BASED ON THEIR, THEIR, THEIR REPORTS, IT DIDN'T NEED DEWATERING. 
          SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE THAT PAPERWORK. 
          I COULDN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PRINTING IT BECAUSE IT BECAME VERY EXPENSIVE. 
          SO I DIDN'T GET TO PRINT OUT ALL THE, UH, DEWATERING AND BORING LOGS FOR YOU ALL, BUT SOME OF YOU DON'T. 
          BUT IN THOSE, IN THOSE, IN THOSE LOGS, IT SHOWS THAT COMPARABLE SHAFTS AND, AND FIVE MINUTE INTERVALS, IF YOU DIG FOR 17 MINUTES, YOU GET EIGHT FOOT AHEAD OF WATER. 
          SO THAT MEANS THAT AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DIGGING, YOU HAVE 20 FOOT OF WATER IN THE SHAFT. 
          SO THE SAME THING APPLIES TO THAT SHAFT, TO THE SHAFT THAT THEY DEWATER. 
          ALSO, ON OTHER SHAFTS THAT I WAS WORKING ON, THEY HAD DEWATERING ON THEM. 
          THE MACHINE WOULD BE BROKEN DOWN. 
          IT WOULD BE DOWN FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS. 
          YOU CAN, YOU CAN WRAP UP AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. 
          OKAY. 
          IT WOULD BE DOWN FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS. 
          AND WHEN WE COME BACK FROM THE WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SHAFT WOULD BE FULL OF WATER. 
          THE GENERAL, THE GC HELPED ME LIABLE WHEN DEWATERING WASN'T EVEN PART OF MY CONTRACT. 
          AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY GAVE ME A CONEX WHEN I WAS UNDER THE JOB. 
          I PUT ALL KIND OF TOOLS THAT I BOUGHT WITH THE MONEY THAT I EARNED FROM MY OWN SAVINGS, MY OWN 401K. 
          THEY TOOK MY TOOLS, THEY USED MY TOOLS. 
          THERE'S ALSO PAPERWORK IN THERE. 
          IT SHOWS THAT THEY AGREED THAT THEY TOOK THEM, THEY TOOK MY TOOLS AND THEY ONLY PAID ME FOR WHAT THEY WANTED TO PAY ME FOR. 
          AND THEN AFTER ALL THAT, AFTER THEY RAN ME OUTTA BUSINESS, THEY HIRED MY GUYS, THEY HIRED EMPLOYEES THAT I HAD WORKING FOR ME TO COME WORK FOR THEM. 
          HAVE YOU, SO I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO JUST GIMME MY MONEY AND LET ME MOVE ON. 
          THAT'S OWE TO ME. 
          HAVE YOU CONSULTED AN ATTORNEY? I CAN'T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, MA'AM. 
          SO I CAME TO YOU BECAUSE THIS JOB IS OWNER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          THAT'S WHY I CAME TO Y'ALL. 
          I JUST WANT THE MONEY THAT'S OWE TO ME. 
          I I'M JUST THINKING OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN YOU AND RAY TECH. 
          IT, IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A LEGAL ISSUE WITH RAY TECH. 
          THE ONLY LEGAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS THE SHAFT IN QUESTION. 
          THAT WASN'T BACKFILLED. 
          THAT'S THE ONLY LEGAL ISSUE WE HAVE. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          I EVEN DID A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AT THE BACK OF THE PACK, THE BACK OF THE PACKET. 
          I DID A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH AVANZA GROUP FOR THEM TO TAKE $29,000 OF THE MONEY THAT'S SOLD TO ME. 
          I GOT IT FROM RAY TECH. 
          WE DON'T NEED TO LITIGATE IT HERE. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          I WAS JUST SEEING IF YOU'D HAD ANY LITIGATION WITH RAY TECH. 
          NO, SIR. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          UH, PASTOR DAVIS, COUNCIL DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, MR. LARRY, I, I WAS JUST FANNING THROUGH YOUR PAPERWORK HERE. 
          IS THERE A, YOU WERE THE SUBCONTRACTOR? YES, SIR. 
          GOT IT. 
          OKAY. 
          I'M A MINORITY CONTRACTOR. 
          GOOD. 
          SO THERE, THERE WAS ONE HERE, LIKE FOR $305,000 THAT YOU SIGNED ON WITH ONE OF THE FORMS THAT YOU SIGNED ON. 
          I JUST WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION. 
          IT SAID SHIPPED THE RATE TAG? YES, SIR. 
          THEY, WE DID SEVERAL CHANGE ORDERS ON, ON GREEN RIVER PROJECT. 
          MM-HMM . 
          BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY OF WORK I WAS DOING. 
          SO I STARTED SETTING MANHOLES. 
          AND IN THE COURSE OF ME SETTING MANHOLES, RAY TECH CALLED ME AND THEY TOLD ME, THIS IS THE COMPANY WE WANT YOU TO BUY THE PIPE FROM. 
          OKAY. 
          WHEN I, WHEN I DID THAT, I, I, I WENT, I STILL USED THE COMPANY THAT THEY, THEY GOT THE PRICE FROM AND I GOT A PO DONE ON THE SECOND JOB. 
          I HAVE A RESPONSE. 
          I HAVE, I HAVE THE, THE OPPORTUNITY AS A MINORITY CONTRACTOR TO SHOP THE PRICE. 
          WHEN THEY FOUND OUT I SHOPPED THE PRICE ON THE SECOND JOB AND WAS MAKING MORE MONEY OFF THE MATERIAL, THAT'S WHEN THEY GOT UPSET. 
          AND THEY, THEY STARTED NOT PAYING ME. 
          HE TOLD ME DON'T, HE TOLD ME I SHOULDN'T BE SHOPPING PRICES. 
          SO DID YOU PAY THIS, THIS AMOUNT OUTTA YOUR, WAS THIS CHARGED TO YOU? YES, SIR. 
          IT WAS CHARGED TO ME. 
          THE, RECENTLY THEY OWED $70,000 TO THAT VENDOR. 
          THEY JUST PAID THAT MONEY FRIDAY WHEN THEY FOUND OUT I WAS COMING TO CITY COUNCIL, THEY JUST PAID THAT 70,000. 
          THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON 10 MONTHS. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THIS AIN'T JUST STARTED YESTERDAY. 
          SO THE 300 AND SUB TOTAL 305,560, IS THAT AMOUNT STILL OUTSTANDING? NO, SIR. 
          THEY, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEY DEFAULTED ME ON JUNE 19TH ON THE HOLIDAY. 
          THEY WAITED TILL THE HOLIDAY WHEN NOBODY WAS AT WORK. 
          THEY SENT ME A DEFAULT LETTER, JUNETEENTH FOR ALL THE PROJECTS, THE OBO. 
          I WENT TO 'EM, I EXPLAINED TO 'EM WHAT WAS GOING ON. 
          THEY LOOKED AT THE INVOICES. 
          RAY TECH EVEN AGREED THAT THEY OWED ME MONEY ON SEVERAL OF THEIR PROJECTS. 
          THE OBO DIDN'T FORCE THEM TO PAY ME THAT MONEY. 
          THEY MADE IT AN IMPASSE AND THEY MADE IT AN ISSUE BECAUSE I WAS, I WANTED MY MONEY BACK FOR THE CHEF THAT FAILED. 
          [01:40:01]
OKAY. 
          SO MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS. 
          SO AS, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, HOW MUCH MONEY IS OWED TO YOU? IS ROUND JUST ESTIMATE? ROUND IT OFF RIGHT NOW? YEAH. 
          BASED ON THEIR, BASED ON THEIR NUMBERS AND WITH ME DOING THE SETTLEMENT FOR, WITH, WITH THE ADVISOR GROUP TO, AND THEN TO HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN, THEY OWE ME ABOUT $46,000. 
          BASED ON THAT NUMBER, BASED ON MY NUMBER, THEY OWE ME ABOUT 118. 
          OKAY. 
          BUT THE, WHAT THEY SAID THAT THEY OWE ME, THAT I KNOW THAT I DID ON CITY PROJECTS MM-HMM . 
          THAT THEY HAVE RECORD OF AND THEY APPROVE THOSE INVOICES IS RIGHT AROUND $50,000 AFTER THEY PAID THE 29,000. 
          GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, MAYOR PRO TEM, ICK, TATUM, MR. LARRY, I I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS. 
          UM, MY QUESTION IS, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU GONE TO MEDIATION? 'CAUSE YOU SAID YOU WENT TO MEDIATION A COUPLE TIMES. 
          WE WENT, WENT TO MEDIATION, UH, TWICE THE, THE, UH, MAYBE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN WE WENT TO, WE WENT TO MEDIATION TWICE. 
          THE FIRST TIME WE WENT TO MEDIATION. 
          I WAS VERY, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. 
          OKAY. 
          LIKE I SAID, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS BIAS BETWEEN THE MEDIATOR AND THE GC. 
          IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIGHT. 
          RELATIONSHIP. 
          AND THE SECOND TIME YOU WENT TO MEDIATION, THE SECOND TIME I WROTE A EMAIL AND THE DIRECTOR HAD THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SIT IN DURING THAT COURSE, DURING THE COURSE OF THAT MEDIA PORTION OF THE MEDIATION, IT WAS A LOT MORE, IT WAS A LOT MORE SUBTLE. 
          SHE WAS A LOT MORE, SHE WAS A LOT MORE, A LOT MORE PROFESSIONAL ON BOTH SIDES. 
          AND LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T DISCUSS WHAT WAS SAID IN THE MEDIATION. 
          I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WENT ON PRIOR TO THIS THAT MADE BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. 
          SO THERE NO RESOLUTION FROM THE MEDIATION. 
          THERE'S, THERE'S NO RESOLUTION FROM THE MEDIATION? NO, MA'AM. 
          EVEN AFTER THEY CAME, WE CAME TO AN IMPASSE. 
          EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING HAD HAPPENED, I WENT TO THE AVANZA GROUP AND I WORKED OUT A DEAL WITH THEIR ATTORNEYS TO HAVE THEM TAKE SOME OF THE PORTION OF MY MONEY. 
          BECAUSE WHEN THEY FILED A UCC LIEN, THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ALL YOUR RECEIVABLES UNTIL THEY GET, THEY SATISFIED THE AMOUNT THAT SOLD TO THEM. 
          SO SOMEONE HAS A LIEN ON YOUR RECEIVABLES? YES, MA'AM. 
          THEY DO. 
          AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE I BORROWED THE MONEY. 
          BECAUSE WHEN I LOST THAT SHAFT, I LOST $80,000. 
          EK REFUSED TO PAY ME ON THAT JOB. 
          THEY REFUSE TO PAY ME FOR THAT WORK. 
          WHEN I STARTED ASKING HIM ABOUT THAT MONEY, THAT'S WHEN HE THREATENED MY DAUGHTER'S JOB. 
          MY DAUGHTER WORKS FOR THAT COMPANY RIGHT NOW, STILL TODAY. 
          I PAID FOR HER TO GO TO SCHOOL. 
          NO, I UNDERSTAND. 
          IT IS, IT IS VERY COMPLICATED. 
          AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES HERE AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN DECIPHER ALL THAT HAS GONE ON. 
          IT IS BEEN TERRIBLE. 
          AND AT THIS POINT, IT'S TO THE POINT NOW, WHY I CAN'T EVEN REDO MY CERTIFICATION FOR THE OBO BECAUSE I CAN'T FILE MY TAXES FOR THE 23 YEAR. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHERE I STAND ALSO, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. 
          I HAVEN'T BEEN PAID. 
          RIGHT. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          MOST OF MY VENDORS, MOST OF MY VENDORS ARE STARTING TO FILE AGAINST ME. 
          BUT THE PIPE THAT THAT, THAT IT PAID FOR FRIDAY, THEY, THEY DIDN'T LET THAT, THEY DIDN'T LET THAT DEFAULT BECAUSE THAT WAS STORED MATERIAL ON THE JOB THAT THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE USING, THEY'VE ALREADY USED THAT MATERIAL ON THE PROJECT. 
          WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN GOING TO MEDIATION AGAIN WITH A A A? YES, MA'AM. 
          I, I'VE ALREADY SENT THE ME BEFORE I CAME HERE. 
          I EVEN CALLED RAY TECH AND HE, THEY BLOCKED MY PHONE. 
          I TOLD HIM, I SAID, LOOK, I'LL JUST TAKE WHAT YOU SAY YOU OWE ME BECAUSE I'VE MADE A DEAL WITH THE AVANZA GROUP SO I CAN MOVE ON. 
          THEY, THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING THE PHONE. 
          'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY, HE DOESN'T WANNA PAY ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT I HAD ON THE A LEAF PROJECT. 
          I HAD BIG JACK MACHINES, JACKING UNITS, EVERYTHING I'M TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT I WAS PAYING FOR OUTTA MY POCKETS TO RENT WHEN THEY DEFAULTED ME, I LOST ALL THAT MONEY. 
          BUT THESE ARE CITY OF HOUSTON JOBS. 
          Y'ALL ARE THE OWNER. 
          SO THAT'S WHY I CAME TO Y'ALL FOR MY MONEY. 
          NO, I, I RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE THE OWNER, HOWEVER, WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY PLAY THE PART. 
          NO, MA'AM. 
          NO, I, I UNDERSTAND. 
          I UNDERSTAND BETWEEN, I UNDERSTAND BETWEEN YOU AND RAY TECH. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          UM, BUT I, THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF AND, AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU MAY HAVE SOME OTHER SUGGESTIONS IS, IS, UM, YOU KNOW, AN ADDITIONAL MEDIATION BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T, CAN'T GET AN ATTORNEY, AT SOME POINT, SOMEBODY HAS TO MEDIATE, UH, BOTH SIDES. 
          I AGREE. 
          AND WE CAN'T DO THAT HERE BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE WHAT YOU'VE SUBMITTED TO US, AND WE WEREN'T THERE. 
          WE DIDN'T SEE THE WORK. 
          WE DON'T KNOW THE INTRICACIES OF THE DISPUTE. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          BUT IN, IN, IN THOSE, AND THE PAPERWORK YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, MOST OF THOSE EMAILS ARE FROM RAY TECH. 
          RIGHT. 
          THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY OWE ME THIS MONEY. 
          THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY TOOK MY TOOLS AND, AND I'M SAYING THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT ACCUSATIONS THAT I'M MAKING THIS, THIS IS THE EVIDENCE IN FRONT OF YOU. 
          SO, SO WE, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION AROUND THE, AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE. 
          I DO THINK THAT MAYBE IF, IF MAYOR, IF WE CAN MAYBE SET UP ANOTHER MEDIATION WITH THE, UH, UH, AGREED UPON MEDIATOR. 
          UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A YEAR. 
          WE'RE TALKING ALMOST A YEAR NOW. 
          YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT I WAS GONNA ASK YOU HOW LONG YOU BEEN DOING, GOING THROUGH THIS A YEAR? YES, SIR. 
          10 MONTHS. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, AND BEFORE YOU SPENT THE KIND OF MONEY YOU DID ON TRYING TO RESOLVE IT, DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT GETTING LEGAL REPRESENTATION? YES, SIR. 
          HOWEVER, DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT, 
          [01:45:01]
I STILL HAVE A DUE DILIGENCE IN THE CONTRACT TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE JOB. 
          SO I HAVE TO STILL PAY PAYROLL. 
          I STILL HAVE TO PAY INSURANCE. 
          I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND. 
          UNDERSTAND THE DEAL COMPANY, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. 
          BUT, BUT MY HANDS ARE TIED AS A SMALL BUSINESS. 
          I DON'T HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES AS A GC. 
          YEAH, UNDERSTAND. 
          I'M NOT, I DON'T HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. 
          I UNDERSTAND THE SAME LINE OF CREDIT, THE SAME, THE SAME, THE SAME. 
          NO, NO. 
          WE KNOW OFTEN IT'S NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. 
          BUT WHEN YOU SAW YOU WERE GONNA HAVE A DISPUTE WITH RAY TECH, DID YOU CONSIDER GETTING REPRESENTATION, I ASSUME? YES. 
          YES, SIR. 
          I DID CONSIDER IT. 
          I REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT LAW FIRMS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME. 
          SURE. 
          AND MOST OF THEM SAID THEY, THEY NEEDED A RETAINER THAT I DIDN'T HAVE. 
          OKAY. 
          WE CAN, WE CAN ESTABLISH MEDIATIONS. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN P*****K. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I KNOW THIS IS FRUSTRATING AND I'M, I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THIS. 
          MM-HMM . 
          A COUPLE THINGS. 
          I THINK THE, THE MAYOR IN THE, IN THE MAYOR PRO TIM ARE CORRECT. 
          THIS, UH, THIS NEEDS TO BE TRIED IN LITIGATION. 
          HONESTLY, IT'S, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, UM, THE PRIME AND, AND YOU AS THE SUB. 
          AND THIS, THIS IS YOUR, THIS IS YOUR EVIDENCE RIGHT HERE. 
          BUT IT ONLY CAN BE TRIED IN FRONT OF A, IN FRONT OF A JUDGE. 
          RIGHT. 
          UH, I THINK THIS IS JUST A, ANOTHER COMMON EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALLY LOOK AT THE MWB PROGRAM. 
          UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOME POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT PROTECT THE SUBS AS WELL. 
          BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T GET INVOLVED WITH THE SUBS. 
          WE ONLY HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH THE, WITH THE PRIME. 
          BUT WE HAVE TO START TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE SUBCONTRACTORS A LOT OF TIMES GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AND THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RECOURSE. 
          AND SO, UH, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. 
          BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AND I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU STRAIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL NEED TO FIND A WAY TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY ON BECAUSE THE, UM, THE, THE CONTRACT IS BETWEEN YOU AND, AND RAY TECH. 
          AND IF YOU HAVE EMAILS HERE THAT STATE THAT THEY OWE YOU MONEY, LET THAT BE, UH, YOUR SOURCE GOING FORWARD TO TRY TO, UH, GET IT BACK THROUGH LITIGATION. 
          BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THAT ROUTE. 
          I KNOW THAT'S NOT, NOT WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO HEAR, BUT THAT IS THE TRUTH. 
          YES, SIR. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          GOD BLESS YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN THOMAS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          THANK YOU MUCH, SIR. 
          CAN YOU CLARIFY WHICH, UH, PROJECT IN ALE DID YOU, WERE YOU A PART OF? I WAS, UH, THE ABATEMENT, THE LIFT STATION ABATEMENT BOONE MA'AM, ON BOONE. 
          UH, I BEG YOUR PARDON ON. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          ON BOONE. 
          ON BOONE. 
          GOT IT. 
          THANK YOU MUCH. 
          UH, EXCUSE ME, SIR. 
          YES. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HAS A COMMENT QUESTION. 
          THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION TO I GUESS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          DO WE TRACK ISSUES WITH PRIMES TO SEE IF THIS IS KIND OF A REPEAT? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DISPUTE BETWEEN TWO PARTIES. 
          NONE OF US HERE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT AND CAN DECIDE ANYTHING. 
          BUT IF WE'VE GOT A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH A SPECIFIC CRIME, I WOULD THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS AT THAT TIME. 
          SURE. 
          WELL, OBVIOUSLY THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED THAT OVO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN RECOMMENDED MEDIATION. 
          HE JUST GOT A REAL SOLID LEGAL DISPUTE WITH THE, UM, I'M SITTING HERE LOOKING OR THINKING OUT LOUD. 
          RAY TECH DOES A LOT OF CITY WORK. 
          THEY NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED, SIT DOWN WITH THIS GENTLEMAN AND WORK OUT A RESOLUTION. 
          NOW THERE'S ALWAYS TWO SIDES OF A LEGAL DISPUTE. 
          SO I THINK RAY TECH HAS SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. 
          SO, UH, IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO MEDIATE IT OR RESOLVE IT. 
          UH, BUT THE PARTIES OF THE DISPUTE WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE CITY, CERTAINLY THEY'RE THE, I AGREE THE PRIME IS A SIGNIFICANT CITY CONTRACTOR. 
          HE NEEDS TO SIT DOWN AND THEY NEED TO RESOLVE OR NARROW THEIR DIFFERENCES, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT HERE TODAY. 
          AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A LEGITIMATE LEGAL DISAGREEMENT. 
          YES, YES, YES, MR. MAYOR. 
          I AGREE. 
          THE ONLY THING THAT I, I DON'T AGREE WITH, AND I THINK CO COUNCILMAN FLE, UH, FLINGER IS, UM, MR. FRED IS TRYING TO SAY IS, IS THAT BACK IN THE DAY WHEN MY DAD STARTED THIS PROGRAM, WHEN HE WORKED THIS PROGRAM, I'M A SECOND GENERATIONAL MID, UH, MINORITY CONTRACTOR. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON USED TO HAVE INSPECTORS ON THE JOB. 
          THEY USED TO HAVE INSPECTORS THAT WOULD COME EVERY DAY. 
          THEY WOULD TAKE NOTES, THEY WOULD UPDATE, UPLOAD THE DATA. 
          YOU WOULD SEE THIS IN REAL TIME. 
          NOW ON THESE PROJECTS, THESE THIRD PARTY ENGINEERING FIRMS, THEY DON'T COME OUT THERE IN, IN, IN THAT PAPERWORK. 
          THE REASON WHY I CAME TO THE CITY IS BECAUSE I'VE ASKED NUMEROUS TIMES, WHERE ARE THE DAILY REPORTS FOR THIS PROJECT? AND THEY HAVE NONE. 
          SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LEGAL ISSUE WITH EASTER WITH RAY TECH, THE CITY IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WHO, WHO, WHO'S KEEPING THE REPORTS? WHO HAS THE INFORMATION? COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          NOT EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON, ON THIS MATTER AT ALL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, I, TO COUNCIL MEMBER FULLER'S POINT, I THINK, UH, COMPLAINTS, 
          [01:50:02]
UH, SHOULD BE PART OF THE BACKUP WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING REPEAT VENDORS. 
          CORRECT. 
          UM, WE'VE, WE'VE NOTICED MAYOR, UH, IN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES THAT, UH, UH, THE BACKUP, UH, ON SOME PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEMS DID NOT INCLUDE, INCLUDE THINGS LIKE COMPLAINTS, UH, FROM, FROM PEOPLE, UH, MADE AGAINST, UH, VENDORS. 
          AND SO I, IN THE FUTURE, UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD, UH, BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CONSIDERING AGENDA ITEMS. I, UH, THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          YES, SIR. 
          NO. 
          OKAY. 
          DAVID PHILLIPS, WE FOLLOW BY VO DOW. 
          JUST ONE PERSON I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE. 
          MY NAME IS DAVID PHILLIPS, THE MICROPHONE. 
          DAVID PHILLIPS, DISTINGUISHED MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. 
          I'M AN ATTORNEY HERE IN HOUSTON. 
          I'M PRACTICING LAW SINCE 1986. 
          UM, I'M HERE WITH MY CLIENTS, MR. ANNABELL MARCADO, WHO IS A SUBCONTRACTOR ON THE, UH, KEYWOOD WATERWORKS ALONG WITH MISS, UH, HILLIARD, WHO HAS A PRIME CONTRACTOR. 
          I'VE, I'VE PREPARED INFORMATION SHEETS FOR BOTH OF THESE, UH, PARTIES FOR YOU TO LOOK AT, TO SUMMARIZE THE ISSUES INVOLVED. 
          THE BOTTOM LINE IS FOR BOTH OF THESE, NEITHER OF THESE, UH, BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PERFORMED WORK AT THE, THE KEYWAY WATERWORKS FROM AUGUST THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2023. 
          THEY DID ALL THE WORK THAT WAS ASKED OF THEM. 
          ALL WELL DONE, ALL CHECKED OFF BY INSPECTORS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          ALL INVOICES HAD BEEN SUBMITTED, NOT ONCE, TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES. 
          AND I WANNA SAY THIS, WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN 20 ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A LAWYER, I'M, AND I'M ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THE JOB YOU DO BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON PUBLIC COUNSELS. 
          I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESOLVING A MATTER AND GETTING PEOPLE PAID AND MAKING DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE GOODBYES AND THE BAD GUYS. 
          AND I KNOW THE COST OF LITIGATION AND THE PROBLEM FOR THE SUBCONTRACTOR, IT'S NOT THE ONLY REMEDY THAT THEY HAVE. 
          THE SUBCONTRACTOR CAN GOES AGAINST THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          BUT THE, THE TIME LIMITS ARE EXTREMELY CO YOUR TIME EXPIRE. 
          TWO HOURS. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          YES. 
          I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THE FIND THE WAY TO GET THROUGH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M HERE TO HELP AND MY FOLKS NEED SOME HELP. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, TRAYVON DOW. 
          TRAYVON DOW, STEVEN ORAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY THERESA ORTIZ. 
          WHAT'S GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME'S STEVEN MIRANDA AND I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RAY TECH CONSTRUCTION. 
          I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH MR. LARRY AND HIS COMPANY A WD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES. 
          IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT MR. LARRY FELT THE NEED TO COME DOWN HERE AND BURDEN YOU WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT SINCE HE DID, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO ADDRESS HIS STATEMENTS AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. 
          RAY TECH RECEIVED A UCC ONE LIEN NOTICE OVER THE SUMMER STATING THAT MR. LARRY AND HIS COMPANY HAD ASSIGNED ITS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES TO WHAT IS KNOWN AS A MERCHANT LENDER OR A FACTORING COMPANY CALLED THE AVANZA GROUP. 
          IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, MR. LARRY RECEIVED A CASH LOAN. 
          HE HAS NOT DENIED THIS. 
          THE UCC ONE NOTICE WENT ON TO STATE THAT MR. LARRY AND A WD HAD DEFAULTED ON THAT LOAN. 
          AND AS SUCH, THE AVANZA GROUP WAS ENTITLED TO ALL OF A AND W D'S ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES FROM RAY TECH THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO SATISFY WHAT MR. LARRY OWED. 
          WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE AVANZA GROUP. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          NO, GO AHEAD. 
          CONTINUE PLEASE. 
          WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE AVANZA GROUP AND ITS COUNSEL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IN ORDER TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. 
          AS I'VE EXPRESSED TO MR. LARRY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT RAY EK DID. 
          THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE DID ON HIS OWN. 
          I'VE TOLD MR. LARRY WE'RE HAPPY TO PAY HIM THE AMOUNTS HE'S OWED ONCE HE GETS HIS ISSUE WITH THE AVANZA GROUP CLEARED UP AND HE HAS TO PROVIDE A RELEASE AS IT STANDS. 
          IF WE PAID HIM, WE MAY RUN AFOUL OF CERTAIN STATUTES RELATED TO THE UC ONE FILING AND MAY BE SUB SUBJECT TO PAYING THE AVANZA GROUP AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOW PUT US ON NOTICE THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THOSE FUNDS. 
          AS OF THIS DATE, EC HAS RECEIVED NO AGREEMENT OF RELEASE FROM A WMD OR THE AVANZA GROUP RELATED TO THE UCC ONE FILING. 
          RAY HAS NOT, HAS NOT FAILED TO PAY. 
          MR. LARRY RAY HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO WITHHOLD THE REMAINING FUNDS UNTIL THIS ISSUE GETS WORKED OUT BETWEEN MR. LARRY AND THE AVANZA GROUP. 
          SOME OF THE AMOUNTS OWED TO MR. LARRY ARE CONSTITUTE RETAINAGE FUNDS. 
          THESE FUNDS ARE ROUTINELY HELD BY THE OWNER UNTIL THE PROJECT IS FINISHED. 
          IN 
          [01:55:01]
THIS CASE, RETAINAGE FUNDS ARE NOT DUE TO A WMD UNTIL EK RECEIVES THE SAME FROM THE OWNER, WHICH EK HAS NOT. 
          I REGRET TO HAVE COME DOWN HERE AND EXPLAINED ALL OF THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          NO, NO PROBLEM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAST COUNCIL PRO TIM CAST TATUM. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, MR. RHONDA, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CON CONFUSED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE INDUSTRY I'M IN. 
          I I WANNA UNDERSTAND IF MR. LARRY HAS ARRANGEMENT WITH AVANZA GROUP. 
          THAT'S HIS ARRANGEMENT WITH AVANZA GROUP. 
          AND THEN MR. LARRY HAS AN ARRANGEMENT WITH RAY TECH. 
          THAT'S HIS ARRANGEMENT WITH RAY TECH. 
          SO IF RAY TECH AGREES AND HE'S SAYING THAT RAY TECH OWES HIM MONEY, CAN YOU PAY HIM MONEY SO HE CAN TAKE CARE OF HIS ARRANGEMENT WITH AVANZA GROUP? HIS ARRANGEMENT WITH AVANZA GROUP, SINCE THEY FILED IT WITH THE STATE, HAS TO BE APPROVED BY MR. LARRY. 
          AGREED UPON MR. LARRY AND THE AVANZA GROUP HAVE TO AGREE ON IT THEN AND PROVIDE A FINAL RELEASE, THEN WE CAN PAY HIM. 
          WE CAN'T PAY ANYONE UNTIL THEY PROVIDE THE RELEASE. 
          SO THE STATE LAW REQUIRES YES, MA'AM. 
          HIM TO GET A RELEASE BEFORE YOU CAN PAY HIM? YES MA'AM. 
          UH, SOUNDS LOGICAL. 
          SO IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR Y'ALL TO GO TO MEDIATION? OF COURSE. 
          BECAUSE TO ME IT SEEMS COMPLICATED AND I KNOW YOU'VE MEDIATED TWICE, BUT YOU'VE GOTTEN TO AN IMPASSE. 
          IF HE CAN'T LITIGATE, I MEAN, I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE'S A RESOLUTION IN HERE SOMEWHERE, UM, SO THAT HE CAN GET THE MONEY HE'S OWED AND THAT RAY TECH CAN CONTINUE TO DO WORK, UM, AS, AS NEEDED AND AS YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE. 
          UM, THERE HAS TO BE A RESOLUTION IN HERE AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN LITIGATE IT HERE AT THE COUNCIL TABLE. 
          UM, YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? I THINK THE MEDIATION HINGES ON HIS AGREEMENT WITH HIS MERCHANT LENDER AND THEM RELEASING THEIR LIENS ON HIS COMPANY SO WE CAN PAY HIM. 
          SO IT'S KIND OF A TWO PART SITUATION. 
          WE HAVE ONE WITH HIS MERCHANT LENDER THAT HAS TO PROVIDE THE RELEASE AND THEN AGREEING TO WHAT IS OWED TO HIM WITH THE MEDIATOR. 
          RIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, ME. 
          THANK YOU MUCH. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          JUST TO CLARIFY, UM, IN THE NOTES, I THINK THIS WAS AN AUGUST 9TH EMAIL, IT STATES, 'CAUSE YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGING A BALANCE OF MONIES THAT ARE BEING WITHHELD. 
          UM, BUT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE A $90,000 BALANCE, UM, WHICH INCLUDES THE RETAINER AND FOR THE GREEN RIVER PROJECT. 
          AND THEN FOR THE ALE PROJECT, THERE'S A COMBINED BALANCE OF 32. 
          WHICH AMOUNT ARE YOU WITHHOLDING? BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS ALSO AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT YOU ALREADY CURED THE $90,000 BALANCE RECENTLY. 
          NO. 
          NO, WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T PAID THAT. 
          ARE YOU WITHHOLDING BOTH BALANCES? YES, MA'AM. 
          OKAY. 
          SINCE, SINCE WE RECEIVED THE LIEN OVER THE SUMMER, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PAY ANYTHING. 
          SURE. 
          OKAY. 
          SO ONCE, SO YOUR POSITION IS ONCE THAT'S RESOLVED WITH HIM AND THE OTHER VENDOR, THEN YOU CAN RELEASE THE MONIES FOR HERE? YES, MA'AM. 
          CORRECT. 
          AND IN ADDITION, I THINK ALSO IN THE NOTES IT SPOKE TO, UM, UM, FAULTY WORK, UM, WAS THAT A PART OF THE CONVERSATION EARLIER IN TERMS OF WIPE DOLLARS WERE BEING WITHHELD BECAUSE WORK HAD TO BE REDONE OR WORK WAS FAULTY? YES, MA'AM. 
          AND WAS THERE A CURE PUT IN PLACE FOR HIM TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES? HE TRIED TO CURE IT AND THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. 
          OKAY. 
          AND THEN CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE INSPECTION PROCESS AT YOUR PROJECTS? WHICH PART? HAVING IN INSPECT INSPECTORS ON SITE, WORKING WITH INSPECTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MEETING THE CITY REQUIREMENTS. 
          TYPICALLY OUR CITY AND INSPECTOR IS THERE DAILY IF THERE'S WORK GOING ON OR IF WE'RE PERFORMING PAY ITEMS. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          TO THERESA ORTIZ, MICHELLE WOODS, DAVID, KEVIN, JUDY HARDIN, JOE TODO TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELISE KIRK. 
          HELLO. 
          WILL YOU STEP UP WITH MIC? YES, OF COURSE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, HELLO, NEW MAYOR. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          TOTAL THE NEW STAFF. 
          MY NAME'S JOEY RADO. 
          UM, I AM A SMALL 
          [02:00:01]
TIME LANDLORD, UH, OWNS A 51 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX, UH, AT CROSS TIMBERS. 
          AND, UM, FULTON OWNED THE PROPERTY FOR FIVE YEARS HAVING, UM, WHAT I'M CALLING A HOMELESS PREDATOR PROBLEM. 
          NOT ALL HOMELESS, BUT THE HOMELESS PREDATORS WHO CONSISTENTLY COME ONTO MY PROPERTY. 
          THIS IS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. 
          UM, THEY GATHER ALONG THE FULTON INTERSECTION THERE AND THEY COME ONTO MY PROPERTY. 
          THEY HARASS, TERRORIZE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY TENANTS. 
          THEY LOOK FOR OPEN APARTMENTS. 
          THEY KICKED THROUGH OPEN DOORS, GOT PICTURES OF THAT. 
          I'VE GOT THIS GUY CALLED CORNROW THIEF WHO COMES AROUND AND, UM, GO, LOOKS THROUGH WINDOWS AND STEALS STUFF. 
          MY TOOLS, I'M SICK OF IT, . 
          UM, I'VE CALLED THE POLICE SEVERAL TIMES. 
          UH, THEY TELL ME TO CALL WHEN, UM, THEY'RE THERE. 
          I DO THAT. 
          THEY STILL SHOW UP LATE. 
          NOT THEIR FAULT. 
          I'VE TALKED TO, UH, I KNOW MY TIME'S OUT ALREADY, BUT, UH, I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO NICK, WHOEVER NICK IS, GOOD GUY, AND SERGEANT HERNDON TWO OR THREE TIMES. 
          UH, ONCE I WANT YOU GUYS TO DO SOMETHING, I'M NOT GONNA ASK ANYMORE. 
          I'M DEMANDING IT. 
          I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND I EXPECT YOU GUYS, THE TAXES THAT I PAY ON THAT PROPERTY, THAT YOU COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION. 
          I MEAN, I CAN SOLVE IT, I CAN FIGURE IT OUT HOW TO DO IT IF YOU GUYS CAN'T. 
          UH, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE PAID FOR IT. 
          . 
          UM, ANYWAYS, THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY REQUEST AGAIN. 
          AND I HEARD YOU'RE BIG ON CRIME OR YOU WANNA REDUCE THE CRIME. 
          I, I HOPE THAT, THAT THAT HAPPENS. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I'LL CHECK IT OUT. 
          ALRIGHT, THANKS SIR. 
          CASTILLO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. 
          UM, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST TIME HERE AND THAT YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR A LONG TIME. 
          YES, SIR. 
          UM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MYSELF AND MY OFFICER COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU WORK THROUGH THIS ISSUE AND, AND GET IT RESOLVED. 
          UM, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF ISSUES ALONG THE CORRIDOR THERE THAT WE HAVE, UH, BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH HPD ABOUT AND GETTING SOME ENCAMPMENTS CLEARED OUT. 
          UM, AND WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN BRING SOMETHING TOGETHER, UH, THAT CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN A MORE LONG-TERM WAY, NOT JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, AD HOC AND THEN IT POPS BACK UP AGAIN. 
          AND SO I HAVE, UH, MY DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES HERE, UH, HE'S GONNA VISIT WITH YOU, TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND WE WANT YOU TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS, UM, SO WE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR SPECIFIC ISSUES. 
          OKAY. 
          AND HOPEFULLY IN THERE THERE'LL BE SOME, I THINK WE NEED TO PUT SOME CONSEQUENCES ON THESE FOLKS BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, GIVING ME THE FINGER, BASICALLY  AND IT'S A CAT AND MOUSE GAME. 
          THEY LEAVE THE PROPERTY. 
          ALRIGHT, THANKS. 
          THANKS FOR BEING HERE. 
          THANK NEXT. 
          ELISE KIRK. 
          HELLO. 
          HOW ARE YOU? SO I WAS HERE EXACTLY A MONTH AGO AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, ME BEING A PRIME AND HAVING AN EPO CONTRACT. 
          UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH MR. POLLARD, HE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          TALKED TO MR. DAVIS, BEEN VERY HELPFUL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT AN EXACT DATE OF WHEN YOU GUYS PLAN ON PAYING. 
          UM, AT THIS POINT, THE CONTRACTORS HAVE DECIDED TO GO OUT AND PULL UP ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. 
          UM, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO PULL UP ALL OF THE CONCRETE THAT THEY'VE DONE AND CANCEL ALL OF THE REPAIRS THAT THEY'VE DONE. 
          AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR IDEA, BUT I KIND OF FEEL LIKE IT'S ONLY FAIR BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE NOT PAID US AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO HOLD PAYMENT WHEN WE'VE DONE THE WORK AND WE HAD TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT WE'VE DONE THE WORK AND WE STILL HAVEN'T BEEN PAID. 
          SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY ONLY QUESTION NOW IS CAN YOU GUYS JUST GIVE A ROUNDABOUT DATE OF WHEN YOU PLAN TO PAY YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED? GO AHEAD. 
          GO AHEAD TO FINISH. 
          IF YOU GUYS CAN GIVE A ROUNDABOUT DATE WHEN YOU PLAN TO EVEN RELEASE PAYMENT TO THE CONTRACTORS AND OR CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF, I DON'T KNOW, UM, EMAIL TO THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE CAN GIVE TO THE VENDORS THAT WE OWE? OH, I'M SORRY. 
          THAT WE OWE MONEY TO, UM, THAT WAY WE ARE NOT GETTING LIENS PUT ON OUR PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OR BEING SUED BY OUR SUBS. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          MS. KIRK, YOU WERE HERE, WERE YOU HERE WEEK BEFORE, TWO WEEKS AGO? THREE WEEKS, EXACTLY. 
          TODAY. 
          YEAH. 
          AND YOUR ITEM WAS YOUR, YOUR REQUEST WAS ON THE AGENDA? IT WAS. 
          AND DID WE NOT, UM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT IT WAS APPROVED, UM, IN THAT, UM, IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, THE NEXT DAY AFTER, WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF YOUR REQUEST? SO I WAS OWED 1.4 MILLION. 
          HOW MUCH? 
          [02:05:01]
1.4 MILLION IS WHAT MY COMPANY IS OWED CURRENTLY. 
          OKAY. 
          YOU WERE THE PRIME? YES, I AM. 
          OKAY. 
          HAVE, AND, AND I THINK EARLIER THE MAYOR WAS ASKING A FEW OTHERS, WERE YOU NOTIFIED BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE? UM, NOT DIRECTLY. 
          SO THE CITY WOULD JUST SEND AN EMAIL SAYING TO CONTACT MS. ROBIN, BUT THIS WAS AFTER NUMEROUS EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS TO THEM. 
          THEY COMPLETELY IGNORED US. 
          I MEAN, ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THIS POINT WE DID CONTACT MS. CURTIS AND SHE JUST SAID THAT IT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION AND THAT'S IT. 
          AND I PROVIDED THOSE EMAILS. 
          OKAY. 
          SO IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD, YOU, YOU SAID THAT YOU HAD VENDORS THAT YOU OWED. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. 
          HOW MANY? UM, FOUR. 
          SO, UM, EARTH ENGINEERING, WHICH WAS SET UP BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON DIRECTLY, UM, ALONG WITH SEVERAL CONCRETE COMPANIES ALSO SET UP BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON DIRECTLY FOR THIS PARTICULAR EPO AND THEN VNS CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS MY SET. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU ARE WELCOME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, PRISCILLA HATCHETT. 
          HELLO. 
          HELLO, MAYOR. 
          I HAVE A, UM, FOLDER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO YOU. 
          AND IN THIS, UH, LEMME SEE. 
          FIRST I SAID, MAY I SUGGEST THAT YOU CONSIDER NOT DOING BUSINESS WITH RAY TECH. 
          THAT WAS NOT PART OF WHAT I'M HERE FOR. 
          WHAT IS IN THIS FOLDER IS DATA GATHERED FROM HPD NEWS RELEASE AND, UH, DATA OBTAINED FROM THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE. 
          I HAVE LOOKED UP EACH CASE OF JANUARY, 2023. 
          I HAVE LISTED ALL THE HOMICIDE CASES. 
          I SEARCHED H HP D'S NEW NEWS RELEASE TO SEE IF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE HOMICIDES HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. 
          MANY CASES I COULD NOT FIND, ONE CASE HAS CHARGED, UM, DESMOND GREEN WITH MURDER, BUT THE VICTIM IS NOT FOUND IN THE MORGUE AT ALL. 
          THERE'S ANOTHER HOMICIDE VICTIM THAT IS TO APPEAR IN COURT TODAY AND THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY, UM, RESET THE CASE TO THE 13TH. 
          UH, ALL OF THIS IS PART OF YOUR BACKLOG. 
          UM, PROBLEM. 
          EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BLAME EVERYBODY, BUT THE, MA'AM, MAY I SPEAK A LITTLE MORE? YEAH, YEAH, GO AHEAD. 
          OKAY. 
          THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER HELD A MEETING ON JANUARY 12TH, AND IN THIS MEETING, THE DIRECTOR SAID THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS TURNOVER AND RECRUITMENT. 
          HE SAID THAT THE BACKLOG EXISTS BECAUSE OF DATA. 
          THAT'S WHERE EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING. 
          ONE MORE THING HE SAID IS A THOUSAND OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS ARE LOST WITH PEOPLE SITTING IN THE COURT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE FORENSIC SCIENCE, HE STATED THAT MANY THINGS. 
          HE ALSO STATED THAT MANY THINGS THEY HANDLE OR OUTSOURCE, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE, UH, HPD OUTSOURCE THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, IT CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMAN. 
          UH, I SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, IF IT'S SO DIFFICULT, I, I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE THIS TO YOU TO SHOW YOU WHAT I'VE DONE AS FAR AS DATA. 
          IT'S NOT AS DIFFICULT AS THE DIRECTOR SEEMS TO MAKE IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          COUNCIL MA'AM. 
          COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? MA'AM. 
          MS. HATCH? MA'AM, I'M SORRY. 
          HERE'S A QUESTION OR COMMENT. 
          YES, YES, MS. ETT, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS. 
          UM, THE CRIME LAB AND THE BACKLOG THERE IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AND MY STAFF AND I HAVE MET WITH, UH, DR. STOUT, AND WE ARE STUDYING THAT ISSUE. 
          IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT AN EASY FIX. 
          AND, UM, THE PROBLEMS WE'RE FACING WITH OUR CRIME LAB ARE, I'M FINDING, ARE PRETTY COMMON ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          BUT, UM, REST ASSURED, I KNOW IT'S ON, UH, MAYOR, MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S, UH, AGENDA, IF YOU WILL. 
          AND WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME, UH, WAYS TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEMS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          NEXT, JACQUELINE CARPENTER, WHERE ARE YOU? 
          [02:10:04]
UM, MANY YEARS AGO, AN ISRAELI SOLDIER SPOKE AT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 
          HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE REFUSENIK COMMUNITY, UH, JEWISH SOLDIERS WHO REFUSED TO SERVE IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, THE WEST BANK GAZA TRIP, BECAUSE THEY HAVE WITNESSED, UH, HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPENING AGAINST PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS. 
          UH, TODAY WE'RE NOTICING WE'RE WATCHING 25,000 PLUS PEOPLE DEAD. 
          THIS HORROR HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE BEFORE 1948. 
          UH, ISRAELIS ARE DYING. 
          PALESTINIANS ARE DYING. 
          THIS IS, WHATEVER WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING. 
          IT'S HORRIFYING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. 
          IT'S HORRIFYING THAT ALL OF OUR MONEY IS HELPING PAY FOR THIS. 
          SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER WHAT YOU CAN DO TO, TO STOP THIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, ELIZABETH JENNINGS. 
          UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, I ALSO AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A RESOLUTION FOR CEASEFIRE, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE THIRD LARGEST CITY OF THE UNITED STATES, CHICAGO, WHERE THERE WAS, UH, THAT'S THE LARGEST POPULATION OF PALESTINIANS. 
          HOUSTON IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY, I BELIEVE, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A VERY LARGE PA, PALESTINIAN POPULATION HERE. 
          SO, SINCE, UH, JANUARY 26TH WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULED THAT ISRAEL IS CHARGED WITH, WITH, UH, UH, GENOCIDE, THAT, UH, THE ORDER WAS GIVEN TO THEM TO STOP THE GENOCIDE IN THAT THIRD STATES, LIKE THE UNITED STATES MUST THEREFORE ALSO ACT INDEPENDENTLY AND IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT GENOCIDE BY ISRAEL. 
          ON THE SAME DAY, ISRAEL ISSUED, UH, THAT THEY HAD SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT THE, UM, UN HUMANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATION UN RA, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING HUMANITARIAN FOOD. 
          UH, MAY I HAVE A YES MA'AM, GO AHEAD. 
          ANOTHER MINUTE. 
          OKAY. 
          YEAH. 
          SO, SO THIS IS A, THIS IS, THIS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT WHEN, WHEN THEY WERE CHANTING GENOCIDE, JOE HAS TO GO, UH, WE NEED, WE NEED MORE LEGISLATORS, COUNCILMEN, MAYORS, CONGRESSMEN, ORDINARY CITIZENS, LE LEADERS OF THE, OF ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITIES TO STAND UP AND SAY, JOE BIDEN, YOU ARE GONNA BE INDICTED AS A CO-CONSPIRATOR OF GENOCIDE UNDER A NEW NUREMBERG TRIBUNAL. 
          UH, VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, ANY QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM. 
          WE'RE FINE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          PTH FREELAND. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU EACH TO RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF LESSER MAGISTRATE. 
          I SEE. 
          NOT A HAND RAISED, BUT THIS PRINCIPLE ANIMATED THE FOUNDERS, UH, WHEN THEY DRAFTED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
          AND WHAT IT MEANS SIMPLY IS THIS, THAT WHEN ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT VIOLATES ITS OFFICE THROUGH CRIMINAL OR TYRANNICAL ACTIONS, IT BECOMES INCUMBENT ON THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN TO HOLD IT TO ACCOUNT AND TO OPPOSE IT. 
          IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY, IT'S A DUTY. 
          THIS PRINCIPLE STILL ANIMATES OUR POLITICAL STRUCTURE, AND IT MAKES YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INACTION OR THE MALE ACTION OF THOSE WHO ARE ABOVE YOU ON THE POLITICAL CHAIN. 
          IT'S TYRANNICAL BECAUSE THE POLL AFTER POLL SHOWS THAT THE UNITED STATES CITIZENRY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS GENOCIDE, AND THEY WANT A CEASEFIRE. 
          MAY I HAVE A, UH, UH, AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE, PLEASE. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, AND I, UH, IT IS, IT IS CRIMINAL BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES IS SIGNATORY TO THE GENOCIDE CONVENTION, WHICH MEANS THAT ANYTHING THAT IT DOES IN SUPPORT OF THIS GENOCIDE IS A VIOLATION 
          [02:15:01]
OF ITS OWN, UH, TREATY OBLIGATIONS, WHICH ARE THE LAW OF THE LAND, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER LAW. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          SO WE, WE UNDERSTAND. 
          OKAY. 
          SO IT BECOMES INCUMBENT ON YOU. 
          PLEASE TAKE DOWN THAT JUSTICE SIGN IF YOU DELAY THIS ANY FARTHER, BECAUSE JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, JOEL DEJE. 
          UH, MY NAME IS JOEL DEJA. 
          AND ON NOVEMBER 28TH OF LAST YEAR, I SPOKE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PREVIOUS MAYOR URGING THEM TO SUPPORT A CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. 
          NOTHING WAS DONE. 
          WE ARE NOW APPROACHING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DEAD WOUNDED AND MISSING IN GAZA. 
          OUT OF A POPULATION OF 2.3 MILLION, THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR PASSED THE RESOLUTION. 
          CALLING FORCES CEASE FIRE. 
          SOUTH AFRICA HAS PROVEN THAT ISRAEL IS WILLFULLY COMMITTING GENOCIDE AND GAZA. 
          WHAT IS THE RESPONSE OF OUR PRESIDENT, OUR GENOCIDE LIST IN CHIEF GENOCIDE, JOE BIDEN HAS WORKED WITH NETANYAHU TO CUT OFF ASSISTANCE TO THE REMAINING POPULATION BY CUTTING OFF THE UN AGENCY THAT HELPS THE REMAINING POPULATION. 
          IT'S TIME THAT WE STOP COMMITTING GENOCIDE BY BACKING THAT NAZI NETANYAHU, AND WE PROMOTE PEACE IN DEVELOPMENT INSTEAD OF GENOCIDE. 
          BUT THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, JACOB RUSSELL. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS TODAY. 
          UH, I'M DR. JACOB RUSSELL AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY PARTNER, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHOIR. 
          AND SHE PRACTICES MOST WEEKS AT TRINITY DOWNTOWN ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          SHE LOVES THE NEW MEDIANS ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          THEY MAKE HER FEEL VERY SAFE GOING TO AND FROM PRACTICE EACH WEEK. 
          NOW I'M A RESEARCH MATHEMATICIAN AT RICE UNIVERSITY, AND I DON'T THINK FEELINGS ARE HOW WE SHOULD MAKING DECISION. 
          WE SHOULD BE USING DATA. 
          AND I PULL THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF ASSOCIATION DATA AND IT SHOWS THAT BEFORE THE MEDIANS WERE INSTALLED, THE CRASH RATE ON THOSE TWO BLOCKS OF HOUSTON AVENUE WAS THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE FOR ROWS THE SAME CONFIGURATION. 
          THE STATE DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT ADDING MEDIANS TO ROADS REDUCES CRASHES BY ABOUT 50%. 
          THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AGREE ADDING MEDIANS REDUCES CRASHES BY ABOUT 40% ACCORDING TO THEM, AND REDUCES PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES BY ABOUT 75%. 
          THE ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS SUPPORTS THE ADDITION OF MEDIANS ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          NOW, I WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOU WHAT THE DATA SAYS ABOUT MEDIANS, SPECIFICALLY ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          I KNOW ALL ROADS ARE DIFFERENT, BUT THE PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN IN THE GROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BE COLLECTION OF ANY SUCH USEFUL INFORMATION. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD AND FINISH. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. MR. BRAIER. 
          UM, THE CITY HAS NOT ANNOUNCED A THOUGHTFUL AND CAREFUL REEVALUATION AND MODIFICATION OF THIS PROJECT. 
          THEY'RE GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD ON PAYING $400,000 TO COMPLETE, RIP IT OUT AND RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS UNSAFE ROAD CONFIGURATION. 
          I WOULD LIKE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT MY, UH, PROFESSOR, UH, SORRY, PROFESSOR, UH, DISTRICT MEMBER H COUNCIL MEMBER IN, IN PAUSING THE PROJECT SO WE CAN DO A CAREFUL AND THOROUGH EVALUATION OF WHAT'S NEEDED TO BE DONE THERE AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE BEST KNOWN ROAD SAFETY DESIGNS. 
          THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU CASTILLO. 
          MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          JACOB, I APPRECIATE, UM, YOU TAKING THE TIME TO, TO BRING DATA AND SHOW, UH, SOME FACTS AND, AND NUMBERS. 
          YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL, WHICH IS WHY I DID ASK FOR MORE TIME SO WE CAN GATHER THAT AND, AND MAKE A GREAT DECISION THAT THAT CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY AND THE, THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE FOLKS THAT UTILIZE THE ROADS AND THE MEDIANS, UH, AND THE PEDESTRIANS. 
          SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND SHARING THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU NEXT PAUL HERRERA. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          MY NAME IS PAUL HERRERA. 
          I'M A RESIDENT OF THE HEIGHTS AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP AT LAST MEETING. 
          FIRST IS THE PET WALSH BIKEWAY. 
          THIS, I'M AN AVID BIKE RIDER. 
          I RIDE IT ALL OVER THE CITY. 
          THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT. 
          WHAT IT DOES IS IT CONNECTS EXISTING BIKE TRAILS WITH QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREETS 
          [02:20:01]
WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND 1,000,600 $55,000 ON A MILE AND A HALF OF PROTECTED BIKE LANES ON 11TH STREET OR PUTTING IN BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALKS ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          SECONDLY, ABOUT THE HOUSTON PROJECT, HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT. 
          THIS ISN'T THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF SOME BAD DESIGN THAT THE CITY HAD TO COME IN AND FIX. 
          THERE WERE THE FLOATING BUS STOPS AT HEIGHTS AND 11TH STREET, WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND TAKES CREDIT FOR GETTING RID OF AT A COST OF $600,000. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          WHAT I THINK THIS POINTS TO IS A NEED FOR MORE OVERSIGHT FROM THE CITY ON AND LISTENING TO ALL POINTS OF VIEW, NOT JUST SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS LIKE MARK HOUSTON. 
          AND THIS APPLIES TO ALL PROJECTS, CITY PROJECTS, TOURS, PROJECTS, AND DISTRICT PROJECTS. 
          SO THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO COME IN AFTER THE FACTS AND FIX IT. 
          AS FAR AS LISTENING TO PEOPLE, THERE WERE 3000, THERE WAS A PETITION FOR OF 3000 PEOPLE FOR AGAINST THE BIKE LANES ON 11TH STREET. 
          THEY WERE IGNORED. 
          THERE WERE 7,000 SIGNATURES ON THE MONTROSE OPPOSING THE MONTROSE PROJECT. 
          THEY WERE IGNORED PUTTING IN A 10 FOOT SHARED USED BIKE PATH ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          IT'S GONNA BE DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND IT'S NOT NECESSARY. 
          AND IT RESULTS IN THE REMOVAL AND DAMAGING OF HISTORIC TREES. 
          REMOVAL OF HISTORIC TREES ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN FIX AFTER THE FACT. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT ALL BINS. 
          I JUST WANT BE, WHEN REVEREND DO GOES. 
          PAUL BINS. 
          DAVID CHEK. 
          HOWDY, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME SPEAK. 
          UM, I'M HERE TODAY, UH, TO SPEAK ABOUT THE, UH, THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT. 
          I TOOK TIME OFF OF WORK TO DO THIS 'CAUSE I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, UH, WITH THIS, WITH THIS WHOLE THING, THAT WE SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO ACTUALLY THINK THROUGH A SOLUTION AND NOT JUST IMMEDIATELY RIP IT UP. 
          I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. 
          I THINK A LOT SOME MONEY WAS DEFINITELY SPENT TO MAKE IT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD PAUSE BEFORE WE SPEND A WHOLE BUNCH MORE MONEY TO JUST COMPLETELY REMOVE IT. 
          I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROAD USERS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO PREVENT, YOU KNOW, TRAGEDIES, NOT JUST LOOK AT WAYS TO LIKE BETTER AND FASTER RESPOND TO THOSE TYPES OF TRAGEDIES. 
          UM, I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS REQUIRES LIKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH AND LOOKING AT THAT, THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE PICTURE AND MAKING SURE THAT, UM, WE COME TO A SOLUTION THAT, UH, IS HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE. 
          UM, AND I, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, ROWS LIKE THESE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY MEDIANS, IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A RACETRACK. 
          IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, A SUPER HIGHWAY THERE. 
          IT'S, IT'S A CITY STREET. 
          AND I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, HAVING, WELL, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINED AND WELL DESIGNED, UH, MEDIANS ARE IMPORTANT AND THAT, YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALK TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE, YOU KNOW, MODIFICATIONS AS NEEDED, BUT THAT WE DO SO IN LIKE A, UM, A MEASURED A MEASURED WAY. 
          COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, DAVID FOR BEING HERE AND TAKING TIME OFF OF WORK TO COME AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US. 
          UM, I DO AGREE WITH YOU AND THAT, UH, SOME TIME TO STUDY A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION, UH, WOULD YIELD A BETTER PROJECT AND, AND POTENTIALLY SAVE THE CITY SOME MONEY ON TEARING THE WHOLE THING UP AND THEN STUDYING IT AND THEN PUTTING SOMETHING ELSE BACK IN ITS PLACE. 
          UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND SHARING THAT. 
          YEP. 
          THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, LANCE GILLUM. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. 
          MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS LANCE GILLIAM, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H AND I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON A BROADER PROCESS ISSUE RELATED TO THE HOUSTON AVENUE AND SIMILAR SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS 
          [02:25:01]
SUCH AS 11TH STREET AND THE UPCOMING NORTH MAINE PROJECT, ALL OF WHICH ARE ROADS ON WHICH I REGULARLY COMMUTE. 
          I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT NO PROJECT COMES EASY, AND EVERY PROJECT HAS AN ORIGIN STORY, ONE THAT IS OFTEN DEEPLY PERSONAL TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND IS OFTEN COMMUNICATED FIRST TO THOSE COMMUNITIES. 
          DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, NOT ONLY DO THE DISTRICT CMS LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY, THEY REPRESENT, THEY RECEIVE AND CATALOG HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, NOT JUST BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS. 
          AND AS OF FRIDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING USON AVENUE, I KNOW THE MANY RESIDENTS ARE NOW NERVOUS THAT HARD ONE PROJECTS COULD BE SUMMARILY CANCELED OR REMOVED WITHOUT THE DECISION TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN THAT DECISION WHEN THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO A PROJECT. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          WHEN THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO A PROJECT, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED DELIBERATIVELY, UH, AND COLLABORATIVELY AND COOPERATION WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. 
          UH, WE OFTEN HEAR THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS ARE NOT HEARD WHEN THERE'S OPPOSITION OR CONCERNS ABOUT A PROJECT. 
          AND MY ONLY REQUEST IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE THE SAME CONSIDERATION TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CASTILLO. 
          COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU, LANCE FOR BEING HERE AND, UH, SHARING YOUR COMMENTS. 
          UH, I THINK YOU MADE SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS ABOUT, UM, THE SPEED OF AT WHICH THIS IS MOVING AND THE, THE PROCESS. 
          AND I DO THINK WE NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO, TO SIFT THROUGH WHAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS. 
          I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF 'EM, UM, SO THAT I CAN DO MY JOB AND GET THAT INFORMATION TO THEM, UM, AND PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENCY HERE. 
          IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO, UH, HELPING FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHY THESE CHANGES ARE COMING SO QUICKLY. 
          UM, AND SO I THANK YOU FOR BEING DOWN HERE AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, REVEREND MICHAEL DORN. 
          HE'S, HE'S GOOD MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. 
          I'M THE SENIOR PASTOR AT TRINITY DOWNTOWN, A CONGREGATION OF OVER A THOUSAND MEMBERS. 
          I'M REPRESENTING ALL OF THEM AS I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. 
          UH, THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE CITY TO WORSHIP AT TRINITY. 
          AND, UH, UH, MANY OF THEM VOTED FOR ALL OF YOU. 
          AND, UH, I, AMONGST THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT OUR CITY IS WE GIVE OUT, UH, LAST YEAR 13,500 SAC LUNCHES TO ANYONE WHO COMES TO OUR DOOR IN NEED OF FOOD. 
          WE LOVE HOUSTON. 
          WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS FOR CARING FOR PEOPLE. 
          GOD CALLS US TO THAT. 
          AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL WHO CALL THIS CITY HOME. 
          IT MAY SOUND STRANGE FOR ME THEN TO SAY I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S DECISION TO REMOVE THE MEDIANS AND CURBS THAT WERE INSTALLED THIS PAST DECEMBER. 
          WHEN I ANNOUNCED THE MAYOR'S PLANS TO OUR CONGREGATION, THEY ERUPTED IN APPLAUSE. 
          UM, I HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COME AND SPEAK TO ME TO SAY THAT THOSE MEDIANS HAVE CAUSED, UH, NOT ONLY HEADACHES, BUT MANY MORE SAFETY CONCERNS, UH, SADLY. 
          UM, THE, THE, UH, SAFETY ISSUES THAT BOTH THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPRESSED TO YOU TODAY, WE HAD ALREADY SHARED WITH THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND THIS PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, UM, WE HAD EXPRESSED THOSE CONCERNS. 
          WE EVEN ASKED IF THE PROPER, UH, APPROVALS HAD BEEN GARNERED, UM, AND OUR CONCERNS WERE IGNORED. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THAT, THAT THESE CHANGES, PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS FOR A PREACHER TO ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE AND GET THE TURMOIL WOUND UP FROM THAT. 
          ALL RIGHT? SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, THAT, THAT LATITUDE, UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO, UH, UH, TO THIS, WHEN THIS WAS FIRST APPROACHED TO US, AND WE HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT IT, OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES WERE IGNORED. 
          AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD ASKED WAS A DETAILED STRAT TRAFFIC STUDY TO BE DONE. 
          NO ONE IN THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL H OFFICE OR IN THE ADMINISTRATION WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY IN DETAIL HOW ANY OF THE TRAFFIC INCIDENCES THAT HAD OCCURRED ON HOUSTON AVENUE WERE BEING CORRECTED WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES. 
          WE STILL HAVE NOT SEEN THAT DATA, JUST LITTLE DOTS ON THE PLATE PAGE TO SAY, WELL, THERE WERE SO MANY OF THIS. 
          THAT'S NOT THE DATA THAT SAYS THAT THESE ISSUES WERE ADDRESSED. 
          I APPLAUD THE MAYOR FOR LISTENING TO THE BROADER CONSTITUENCY AND FOR CLEARING THE SLATE AND STARTING 
          [02:30:01]
OVER ON THIS PROJECT AND DOING IT RIGHT TO BLESS EVERYBODY. 
          IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES THAT, UH, THAT ARE HERE. 
          MY OFFICE LOOKS OUT AT THE CORNER OF WASHINGTON AND HOUSTON. 
          I LOOK AT HOUSTON AVENUE EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY, AND I WALK ACROSS THOSE INTERSECTIONS. 
          UM, UH, WE CALLED AN AMBULANCE A FEW WEEKS AGO TO HELP OUT A HOMELESS PERSON THAT WAS IN MEDICAL DISTRESS. 
          I WATCHED THE AMBULANCE BECAUSE THE AMBULANCE EITHER COMES FROM THE WEST OR FROM THE NORTH TO OUR PLACE. 
          THE AMBULANCE CAME, TURNED ONTO HOUSTON AVENUE, AND OUR SECURITY GUARD LITERALLY LOOKED AT THE DRIVER WHO WAS LOOKING BACK AT HIM. 
          THEY'RE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER GOING, I CAN'T GET TO YOU. 
          HE THEN TOOK A COUPLE MORE MINUTES BEFORE HE ACTUALLY GOT TO, UH, WHERE THE HOMELESS PERSON WAS AT OUR MAIN ENTRANCE. 
          UM, I NOW HAVE CONCERN FOR OUR THOUSAND MEMBERS. 
          AND IF THERE IS A TRUE MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THOSE TWO MINUTES WOULD'VE MEANT A LIFE. 
          UM, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, I WAS REMINDED THIS MORNING BY ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS. 
          IT WAS ALMOST KILLED IN OUR PARKING LOT BECAUSE FRUSTRATED DRIVERS ARE NOW AVOIDING THE INTERSECTION AND DRIVING THROUGH OUR PARKING LOT. 
          WE TALK ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. 
          I'VE GOTTA WORRY NOW ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY THAT IS IN MY PARKING LOT. 
          UM, THE MEDIANS THAT WERE INSTALLED ACTUALLY ARE ENCOURAGING JAYWALKING BECAUSE NOW THERE'S A PLACE FOR THEM TO WALK WITHOUT HAVING TO USE THE THE, UH, UH, THE, THE, UH, CROSSWALKS. 
          WE HAVE HISTORICALLY ALWAYS HAD STREET PARKING ON SUNDAY MORNINGS. 
          OUR MEMBERS ARE NOW AFRAID TO PARK ON HOUSTON AVENUE BECAUSE IT'S NARROWED DOWN TO TWO LANES. 
          THE DRIVER'S AFRAID TO OPEN HIS DOOR WITHOUT HAVING IT TAKEN OFF WITH THE WAY THE HOUSTON AVENUE USED TO BE. 
          THERE WAS ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND THAT. 
          UM, I'VE GOT MEMBERS WHO ARE NOW REPORTING CAR DAMAGE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE THE, UH, THE, THE CURBS, UH, AND THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE TURNS. 
          UM, UH, THE, THE, WE WERE PROMISED U-TURN SO THAT PEOPLE COULD COME BACK AND, AND ENTER OUR PROPERTY. 
          UH, AND AT OUR MAIN ENTRANCE. 
          UM, IT NOW, FOR OTHER THAN A COMPACT VEHICLE REQUIRES A MULTI-POINT TURN AND CROSS TRAFFIC TO GET BACK TO OUR MAIN ENTRANCE. 
          AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THAT, UH, UH, WE CAN'T GET STRETCH LIMOS, HEARSES AND CHARTER BUSES WHO ARE BRINGING LARGER GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO OUR CHURCH. 
          THEY CAN'T DO IT. 
          UM, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT THAT, THAT WE'RE NOTICING. 
          SOME OF THE HEADACHES ARE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, UM, WHICH BACKS ALL THE WAY UP ONTO 45, OR ALL THE WAY BACK TO EQUIPMENT, DEPENDING UPON THE, THE DAY. 
          UM, ANOTHER HEADACHE WAS THE MARATHON. 
          WE LOVE HAVING THE MARATHON. 
          WE'RE AT MILE ONE. 
          WE LOVE IT. 
          AND, UH, THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT OUR MEMBERS WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO CHURCH. 
          WE HAVE, IT TAKES ABOUT 50 VOLUNTEERS WHO COME EARLY. 
          THEY COULD NOT GET TO OUR CHURCH BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE TRAFFIC COMING OFF OF 45 AND REROUTING THEM BACK OUT OF THERE. 
          THE MEDIANS PROHIBITED IT. 
          I I TALKED WITH A VERY FRUSTRATED POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET OUR MEMBERS TO THE CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND STILL, UH, TO ROUTE TRAFFIC. 
          UM, I, UH, AS FAR AS THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE CHAOS THAT IS NOW IN PLACE AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, BECAUSE NOW MOST OF THE CHORUS MEMBERS HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE INTERSECTION TO THEN GO. 
          MANY OF THEM GO SOUTH. 
          I SING IN THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY CHORUS. 
          THIS IS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT WE DONATE OUR FACILITIES TO EVERY TUESDAY. 
          AND MANY OF THE CHORUS MEMBERS HAVE COME AND SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT ACTUALLY IS NOW TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE OUR CHURCH WHEN THERE'S NO TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. 
          WE'VE, THIS IS, UH, EVEN POTENTIALLY PUTTING A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON US BECAUSE NOW WE'RE HAVING TO TALK ABOUT HIRING AN OFFICER WITH, WITH A FOUR HOUR MINIMUM TO CONTROL THE, THE, THE LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION TO ALLOW THE COURSE MEMBERS TO LEAVE. 
          IT WENT FROM A COUPLE MINUTES FOR THEIR DEPARTURE TO 15 MINUTES. 
          AND I HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO VOLUNTEERS. 
          UM, I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HOW IT HAS HURT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE FRONTAGE ON HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          AND, UH, I, SO I LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND, AND MAYOR, I, I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE TAKING THIS INITIATIVE. 
          AND WHILE I, UH, HAD A CHANCE TO MEET, MEET THIS MORNING WITH OUR NEW DISTRICT H COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST FOR TIME, I, I REALLY THINK THAT TIME IS TO ACT NOW. 
          THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND THIS IS CAUSING GREAT TROUBLE FOR EVERYONE. 
          AND I'M TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO US IF THERE'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OUR POLICE AND FIRE CANNOT DO THEIR JOB. 
          THANK YOU, PASTOR. 
          AND I, IT'S SAD 
          [02:35:01]
THAT IT'S GOTTEN TO THIS POINT. 
          IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR, UH, OBVIOUSLY SINCE THE DAY THEY OPENED IT WITH THE METRO BUS, WHICH YOU SENT ME A PICTURE OF. 
          SO TELL YOUR MEMBERS THAT I'VE LISTENED, IT'S GONNA BE CORRECTED. 
          WE'LL DO PROTECTIVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, BUT WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU BACK YOUR PROPERTY, WHICH HAS BEEN A VERY STRONG CHURCH FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS. 
          AND IT'S NOT ONLY YOU, BUT IT'S OTHER INSTITUTIONS THERE. 
          IT'S TRAVELERS, IT'S FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          SO TELL YOUR CONGREGATION THAT PRAYER WORKS AND ELECTIONS MATTER. 
          I CERTAINLY WILL, SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. 
          I ENJOYED, UH, THE TIME WITH YOU THIS MORNING. 
          LIKEWISE. 
          AND APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME SO QUICKLY TO GET TOGETHER AND MEET. 
          UM, AND YOU KNOW, LIKE WE DISCUSSED, UM, YOU BROUGHT UP A NUMBER OF, OF GOOD POINTS AND, AND SAFETY ISSUES THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THERE. 
          AND I SAW YOUR OFFICE AND THE VIEW IT HAS. 
          UM, AND I'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND THOSE, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING WHAT DATA WAS USED AT THE ONSET OF THIS PROJECT FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND TRAFFIC COUNTS. 
          AND I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT, YOU KNOW? UM, AND SO WHEN I ASK FOR MORE TIME, IT'S SO THAT IF THERE IS ISSUES WITH THIS PROJECT AND IT IS THAT DIRE AND THAT SEVERE THAT IT'S GOTTA GET REMOVED, YOU KNOW, STARTING YESTERDAY. 
          UM, I WANNA KNOW THAT SO I CAN GO OUT THERE AND, AND TELL MY CONSTITUENTS THAT. 
          AND, UM, UNFORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT YET. 
          UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST JUST KNOW THAT WITH WHATEVER COMES FROM THIS, IF THERE IS FUTURE PROJECT OR IMPROVEMENT AT THE INTERSECTION, UM, WE'LL BE TALKING SOME MORE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS SITUATION HAPPEN AGAIN. 
          WHERE THE CITY'S GONNA PUT SOMETHING IN THAT'S ULTIMATELY GONNA GET TAKEN OUT RIGHT AWAY. 
          YEAH. 
          WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT IT WAS A GLIMMER OF HOPE TODAY THAT MAYBE WE HAVE SOMEONE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT WILL BE LISTENING AND, UH, BUT I, I REALLY DO THINK WITH AS, AS MESSED UP AS THAT WHOLE STREET IS NOW, I, I THINK IT'S BEST TO JUST CLEAR THE SLATE AND START FROM SCRATCH AND THEN REALLY DO IT RIGHT. 
          UM, I I, IT SADDENED ME THAT TO SEE THAT THE WAY THOSE TAX DOLLARS WERE USED IN, IN IGNORING, UM, UH, THE, THE, THE ISSUES THAT WERE BEING PRE PRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO SEE THAT EVERY DAY. 
          THANK YOU SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT AND DAIRY BERRY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS ANN BERRY AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT 11TH STREET AND THE HEIGHTS PRIMARILY, BUT REFERENCING HOUSTON AVENUE, BLOT STREET, MONTROSE BOULEVARD, NORTH MAIN STREET, SHEPHERD AND DURHAM. 
          I'M PART OF A LOOSE COALITION OF CONSTITUENTS THAT HAS NO 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION BEHIND US AND NO FULL-TIME PAID PR PEOPLE LIKE JOE CAT AND BY HOUSTON.ORG. 
          TO PROMOTE OUR INTERESTS, I WANT THE CURB PROTECTED BIKE LANES ON 11TH STREET, GONE. 
          I WANT THE BARRICADED CROSSWALK ON STU WOOD GONE AND ASK THAT CHANGES BE MADE TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BIKE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
          I LIVED NEAR 11TH AND STU WOOD STREETS AND, AND HAVE WAS NEARLY RUN OVER CROSSING 10TH STREET WITH MY SMALL DOG AT 5:00 PM LAST WEEK. 
          I HAD LOOKED BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL NOW AND SAW NO ONE COMING. 
          WE GOT TO THE CENTER OF THE STREET WHEN I WAS STARTLED TO SEE A LARGE BLACK SUV NEARLY ON TOP OF ME. 
          TRAFFIC BACKS UP ON 11TH AND STU WOOD. 
          MOTION TO EXTEND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND. 
          ANY DISCUSSION ITEM PASSES. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          TRAFFIC BACKS UP ON 11TH AND STU WOODS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. 
          DANGEROUS AND FAST CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC ROUTINELY DIVERTS TO BEVERLY AND 10TH STREETS. 
          THIS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME CROSSING 11TH STREET BEFORE THE ROAD DIET BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARKED CARS, NO VISUAL CLUTTER, AND THE LINE OF SIGHT WAS BETTER. 
          CYCLISTS CAN RIDE THROUGH THE HEIGHTS WITHOUT GETTING ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE IN MYRIAD WAYS. 
          A PEDESTRIAN BEACON AT ONE SPECIFIC INTERSECTION WAS REQUESTED, BUT WE GOT CURB PROTECTED BIKE LANES INSTEAD THAT ARE OVER-DESIGNED WITH REBAR AND CAST CONCRETE TO ENSURE THAT THEY WOULD BE PERMANENT. 
          BUT LOCAL CONSTITUENTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN DECISION MAKING. 
          ONLY THOSE CHERRY PICKED BIKE ADVOCATES ON THE BIKE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
          CERTAIN CITY EMPLOYEES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD INPUT TO RAILROAD THIS NOTE THAT NO MONEY WAS SPENT ON IMPROVED SIDEWALKS, 
          [02:40:01]
WHICH ARE INADEQUATE BY MODERN STANDARDS. 
          THE CITY SAID IT WOULD MONITOR TRAFFIC ON THE INTERIOR STREETS AND PLACE SAFETY MEASURES TO STOP CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC AND SPEEDING IF NEEDED. 
          THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE EVEN SO. 
          NO MEASUREMENTS WERE TAKEN BEFORE THE ROAD DIET WAS IMPLEMENTED. 
          SO HOW WOULD ANYONE KNOW IF THINGS GOT BETTER OR WORSE? THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LISTENING. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, JERRY GOSS. 
          SVIA BLA. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          CITY COUNCIL MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          I'M ALSO LIVE ON 10 AND A HALF STREET RIGHT NEXT TO 11TH. 
          I'VE BEEN A BUSINESS OWNER THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. 
          I WOULD LIKE EVERYTHING TO BE REPLACED THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE. 
          THIS IS MORE TRAFFIC. 
          IT'S LIKE ANNE SAID, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE CROSSING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RUSHING TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO 'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA GO DOWN 11TH STREET 'CAUSE TRAFFIC IS TERRIBLE. 
          IT, IT'S BACKED UP ALL THE WAY AND ALL ONLY THING WE REALLY NEEDED ON 11TH STREET WAS A CROSSING AT NICHOLSON SO THAT PEOPLE FROM THAT AREA COULD GET TO THE BIKE LANES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. 
          I MEAN, WE'VE GOT SUCH BEAUTIFUL BIKEWAYS IN THE CITY TO TAKE UP A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FROM 45 TO, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH GOING TO I 10. 
          DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. 
          IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, WHEN IT, WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, GO AHEAD, FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND CALLED ABBY CAYMAN'S OFFICE, THEY RETURNED MY CALL, I WENT, CAME HERE, SPOKE TO CITY COUNCIL AND WE WEREN'T GIVEN ANY NOTICES THAT IT WAS EVEN GONNA HAPPEN. 
          AND I, AT THAT TIME, I HAD PROBABLY EIGHT LOTS ON 11TH STREET AND I HAD GOTTEN NO NOTICE. 
          THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MEETINGS WAS ON NEXTDOOR. 
          IF I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON A NEXTDOOR APP, I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANY KIND OF, ANY KIND OF INFORMATION. 
          SO ONCE I FOUND OUT, I LET EVERYBODY THAT I KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. 
          AND THEN WE STARTED HAVING OUR OWN MEETINGS. 
          WE HAD ONE AT BUCHANAN'S, ONE AT BERRY HILL, AND IT, IT WAS ON DEAF DEAF EARS. 
          'CAUSE MAYOR, MAYOR TURNER WENT TO 11TH STREET, BUT IT DIDN'T, IT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD. 
          AND NOW WE'VE GOT ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING ACCIDENTS ON 11TH STREET. 
          I'VE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCY VEHICLES. 
          UNABLE TO GET THROUGH SOMETIMES 'CAUSE IT'S SO BACKED UP, ESPECIALLY AROUND FOUR OR FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. 
          IT JUST IS, IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD PROJECT. 
          IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN DOWN OR REEVALUATED. 
          I THINK WE, I THINK THE CROSSING AT OF NICHOLSON HAS HELPED BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO STOP AND LET THOSE PEOPLE COME THROUGH. 
          I THINK THAT STOP SIGN SHOULD STAY THERE. 
          BUT EVERYTHING ELSE NOW, JUST LIKE THE FLOATING BIKE, THE FLOATING BUS LANE, THAT, THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. 
          ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE CROSSWALK ON YALE, WHICH CONNECTS WITH NICHOLSON AND YOU PUSH A BUTTON AND IT TURNS RED AND PEDESTRIAN ON CAN CROSS. 
          WHAT IF WE DID THAT ON 11TH STREET AS WELL? WELL, YOU KNOW, UH, WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT WASN'T, THAT THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD. 
          AND YOU KNOW, SO WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO HAVE THE BIKE LANE. 
          SO WE WENT FROM FOUR LANES TO TWO LANES AND PEOPLE GO DOWN THAT ROAD. 
          I'VE BEEN THERE OVER 20 YEARS. 
          MY BUSINESS IS ON 11TH STREET. 
          SO I CAN SEE TRAFFIC, I CAN SEE THE ACCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND PEOPLE JUST MOVING OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO, YOU KNOW, DO THEIR PAPERWORK OR WHATEVER. 
          NO POLICE EVER COME, BUT IT'S JUST NOT, UM, IT, IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL. 
          COUNCILOR CARTER, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BRINGING THIS AGAIN TO, UH, COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR'S ATTENTION. 
          UM, I HAVE SOME, UH, FAMILY FRIENDS WHO HAPPEN TO OWN A, A BUSINESS THERE, C AND D HARDWARE. 
          YES. 
          AND IF YOU GO AND, AND YOU KNOW, TALK TO SEVERAL BUSINESS OWNERS, WHICH I HAVE, UH, THOSE 
          [02:45:01]
CURBS, NOT UNLIKE WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ON HOUSTON AVENUE THAT HAVE, THAT WERE PUT UP FOR THE BIKE LANES, THE DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLES, THE LACK OF ACCESS FOR HPD AND HFD, UM, THE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE, ARE VERY, HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT WITH RESPECT TO, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND DISTRICT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES. 
          I I, I WAS OVER THERE THE OTHER DAY AND STOPPED AT ONE OF THOSE CROSSWALKS WHERE EVERYBODY SHOULD YOU STOP, SHOULD YOU GO? AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE HONKING AND LARING THROUGH AND IT'S, IT'S, I EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO AVOID IT. 
          I, I WOULD AGREE THAT THAT'S A, A MAJOR THOROUGH AFFAIR, AS YOU SAY, REALLY FROM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY TO 45. 
          AND IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A PROBLEM. 
          THE BUSINESS OWNERS I THINK HAVE TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT HIT. 
          PEOPLE AVOID IT. 
          BUT ALSO TOO, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE, THE MAINTENANCE, UH, PLAN IN PLACE FOR KEEPING THOSE BIKE PATHS CLEAN. 
          YEAH. 
          THAT DOESN'T EXIST. 
          THERE'S NO PLAN THAT DOESN'T EXIST THAT HAS BEEN EXECUTED. 
          MAYBE THERE'S A PLAN, BUT THE TRASH, THE GRAVEL AND ALL, UM, WOULD BE A HAZARD FOR A BIKE RIDER AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACK UP. 
          BUT I THINK IT CERTAINLY WARRANTS SOME FURTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF TAKE A, TAKE A, A DOUBLE CHECK, REEVALUATE AT LEAST TO GO, GO BACK AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON OVER THERE. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A TERRIFIC COMMUNITY PARTNER. 
          OUR BUSINESSES ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY. 
          UH, MY DAD'S A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND ACTUALLY I, MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THE HEIGHTS FOR THREE GENERATIONS. 
          UM, SO I'M, I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. 
          AND A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES, NOT JUST ON 11TH, BUT ON 19TH STREET, HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER A CENTURY. 
          RIGHT. 
          UM, MAYOR, THERE IS A, UH, BECAUSE BUSINESSES BEING BROUGHT UP, UM, OVER THE PAST, I BELIEVE YEAR A STUDY WAS DONE MONITORING THE BUSINESSES, MONITORING THE MONITORING, THE TRAFFIC MONITORING COLLISIONS, ALL OF THAT. 
          THAT REPORT IS COMPLETED. 
          I HAVE YET TO SEE IT. 
          UM, I BELIEVE IT'S WITH PLANNING DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY, BUT ALL OF THIS IS BEING STUDIED AND THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT ALL OF THIS. 
          SO IT'S NOT, UM, I, I'M ASKING RESPECTFULLY WHETHER OR NOT, UM, I CAN SEE THAT REPORT. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT YET, BUT THERE IS A LITERALLY A STUDY THAT WAS DONE MONITORING REVENUES FROM ALL OF THE BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF IT AND ALL OF THE ABOVE THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED. 
          SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT REPORT. 
          I BELIEVE IT IS COMPLETE. 
          UM, SO I JUST WANNA RAISE THAT BECAUSE ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE ASKING YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THAT'S WHAT WAS BEING LOOKED AT. 
          WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE NOT ASKING ME CAN YOU SEE SOMETHING? 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M FULLY TRANSPARENT. 
          IN FACT, I WISH WE HAD IT IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DATA. 
          IT'LL SPEAK FOR ITSELF. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE FULL ACCESS TO ANY RECORD, QUITE FRANKLY, AS, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC. 
          I KNOW THREE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE GONE OUT, OUT BUSINESS AND I DON'T WHAT TRAFFIC COUNT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          I MEAN, YOU, AND FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST MAKE THE RECORD CLEAR. 
          I'M NOT FOCUSED ON 11TH STREET TODAY. 
          WE'VE GOT A HAZARD THAT WE COULD WALK TO RIGHT OVER HERE ON HOUSTON THAT IS IN MY JUDGMENT, AN URGENT MATTER BASED ON THE TESTIMONY. 
          BUT WHETHER IT'S 11TH OR ANY LOCATION, IF THERE'S DATA, YOU NEED TO SEE IT. 
          I THINK YOU NEED CURRENT DATA. 
          THE SITES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SOME PERIOD OF TIME OUGHT TO BE PUT A TRAFFIC COUNT ON IT. 
          SEE WHERE NOW YOU COULD GO BACK. 
          I THINK THE RED LIGHT ON THE NICHOLSON 11TH WOULD BE A GREAT MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSING. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WASN'T DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE, EXCEPT IN MY JUDGMENT THERE WAS AN AGENDA TO DO THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION. 
          SO YES, I AGREE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT, THERE WAS A, THERE'S A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY TODAY IN CITY GOVERNMENT THAN THERE WAS WHEN THESE PROJECTS WERE DESIGNED. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT REPORT IN MY OFFICE. 
          DON'T KNOW WHY, WHY YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY HAD IT. 
          WHAT WERE YOU, DID YOU ASK FOR IT BEFORE WHEN I WASN'T SITTING HERE? MM-HMM. 
          I HAVE, I I I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA AIR OUT. 
          DID YOU ASK HER BEFORE? BEFORE I WAS HERE? IT WASN'T COMPLETED YET. 
          OH WELL DID YOU SEE THE INCOMPLETE COPY? I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING. 
          AND WHEN I'VE ASKED RECENTLY, I'LL HELP YOU. 
          I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. 
          I'LL HELP YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. 
          I WILL HELP YOU AND I HOPE IT'S COMPLETED AND I THINK IT'S SHOULD BE REVISITED AND REVISED ACROSS HOUSTON. 
          LET THE PUBLIC HAVE THE VIEW OF THEIR BUSINESS, OF THEIR GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY. 
          I'M SURPRIS THE MEDIA HADN'T ASKED FOR IT, BUT I GUESS THEY'RE BUSY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I DO KNOW THE DONUT SHOP THERE AT THE SHEPHERD AND 11TH IS UH, BARELY HOLDING ON. 
          YEAH, THEY'RE, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH CUT THE TRAFFIC OUT OF THEIR SERVICE AREA. 
          YEAH. 
          AND THE CERAMIC SHOP ACROSS THE STREET WENT, HAD BEEN THERE 60, 70 YEARS AND IT WENT OUTTA BUSINESS. 
          WE GONNA GET YOU ANDY'S OUTTA BUSINESS. 
          WE'RE GONNA GET THE DATA FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND WE'LL SHARE IT WITH 
          [02:50:01]
EVERYONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, YOU VERY MUCH. 
          ALRIGHT, BE SAFE. 
          LANA SATLER. 
          HELLO. 
          I'VE BEEN A HEIGHTS RESIDENT FOR 22 YEARS AND LIVE IN THE 1100 BLOCK OF ASHLAND. 
          THE INTERSECTION OF ASHLAND 11 HAS SUFFERED WITH FLOODING ISSUES FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. 
          WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE SOLID CONCRETE BIKE CURBS, IT BECOMES IMPASSABLE DURING SOME OF OUR HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. NOT HURRICANES, NOT TROPICAL STORMS, NOT JUST OPPRESSIONS BUT REGULAR HEAVY TEXAS GUSHERS. 
          I ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS ON THE PROPOSED BIKE LANE IN THE BEGINNING. 
          AT EACH OF THESE MEETINGS, I BROUGHT UP THE EXISTING FLOODING ISSUE AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED DAVID FIELDS IF THE BARRIERS WOULD HAVE DRAINAGE HOLES BECAUSE IF NOT, OUR FLOODING ISSUE WOULD BECOME MUCH, MUCH WORSE. 
          MR. FIELDS LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND SAID THEY WOULD, SADLY, WE LEARNED THAT WAS A FALSE STATEMENT. 
          THE PROJECT WAS AT A POINT WHERE HE KNEW THAT THE BARRIERS WOULD BE SOLID CONCRETE CURBS WITH NO WAY FOR THE WATER TO EVENLY DISTRIBUTE ACROSS THE ROAD. 
          THE PICTURES YOU SEE ARE OF ASHLEY AND 11TH AFTER THE FIRST MAJOR THUNDERSTORM, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SOLID CURB BIKE LANE INSTALLATION. 
          IT WAS WORSE I'VE SEEN AT THAT INTERSECTION SINCE HARVEY 2017 AND AMELDA 2019. 
          GO AHEAD PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU SIR. 
          FOR MANY OF US, THE ONLY ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS TO OUR GARAGES IS THE TURN IN 11TH, WHICH NOW GOES UNDERWATER. 
          GIVEN THE SOLID CONCRETE CURVES ARE ESSENTIALLY ACTING AS DAMS OR IN ROMAN TIMES THEY'D BE MORE LIKE AN AQUEDUCT. 
          GETTING IN AND OUT IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE DURING THE HEAVIER RAINS. 
          SO PERHAPS THE CITY COULD COME OUT WITH CONCRETE SAWS AND MANUALLY CREATE THE DRAINAGE HOLES NEEDED OR REPLACE THE SAME BARRIERS THAT WERE USED WITH THE BARRIERS THAT WERE USED EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY, CITY THAT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE DRAINAGE HOLES ALREADY INCORPORATED. 
          OR PERHAPS THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN UP PERMANENTLY, A PEDESTRIAN LIGHT INSTALLED AT 11TH AND NICHOLSON TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE TRYING TO CROSS AT THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. 
          BECAUSE AS CARS STILL ARE NOT STOPPING, THERE'S NO NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL. 
          WE SIMPLY NEED TO RETURN TO THE 2015 MOBILITY PLAN, LEAVING 11TH STREET AS A FOUR LANE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, ADDING A PEDESTRIAN LIGHT AT NICHOLSON AND IMPLEMENTING THE 2015 PLAN FOR 20TH STREET, WHICH INCORPORATES A PROTECTED SHARED USE PATH. 
          IN SUMMARY, THE SOLID CONCRETE BARRIERS AT MINIMUM MUST BE REMOVED OR REPLACED WITH THE BARRIERS THAT ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE DRAINAGE OR TOTALLY REMOVED. 
          AND IN EITHER INSTANCE, WE NEED A PEDESTRIAN LIGHT AT NICHOLSON AND 11TH. 
          I WANNA THANK EVERYONE SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO US. 
          THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365, AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ON A DAILY BASIS, NOT JUST AS A CASUAL COMMUTER GOING DOWN THE STREET IN A BIKE LANE. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN HAS, UH, THANK YOU MS. SADLER. 
          UM, I DID, YOU HAD SAID THAT THIS WAS A, I I'M JUST, I WANT A ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM YOU 'CAUSE FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE A TOP PRIORITY. 
          YES. 
          THIS WAS A PRE-EXISTING, IRRESPECTIVE OF 11TH STREET, THIS AREA FLOODED, IS THAT CORRECT? IT DID HAVE SOME FLOODING ISSUES, BUT NOT LIKE THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          BECAUSE THEY ACT AS A DAM SO THE WATER BACKS UP NOT ONLY IT, IT CAN'T DISTRIBUTE, IT BACKS UP, GOES OVER THE CAR. 
          I MEAN, IT'S A MESS. 
          I I HEAR YOU. 
          I JUST, SO WE WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON IDENTIFYING FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE WORK WITH MY OFFICE, UM, 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THIS GETS ON OUR DISTRICT LISTS. 
          SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC DRAINAGE PROJECTS. 
          SO WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF DITCH REHABS INSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU BROUGHT UP 20TH STREET MAYOR. 
          WE'RE WORKING ON A REALLY GREAT OVERLAY REHAB, NOT BIKE LANES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 
          JUST 20TH STREET DOESN'T PASS THE HOT COFFEE TEST. 
          RIGHT. 
          UM, SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. 
          BUT IF YOU COULD PLEASE WORK WITH MY OFFICE. 
          I KNOW WE TRIED TO CALL YOU EARLIER. 
          UM, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THE DATA SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS INTO THE SYSTEM FOR ASSESSMENT. 
          I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT. 
          YEAH. 
          THE MESSAGE THAT WAS LEFT BY YOUR OFFICE WAS, UM, THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I KNEW HOW TO GET HERE. 
          YEAH. 
          I, THEY DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT NEEDING ADDITIONAL DATA. 
          NO, I KNOW. 
          'CAUSE WE, UM, WE, WE DIDN'T HAVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE GONNA SPEAK ON. 
          WE CONTACT EVERY RESIDENT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO GET HERE, HOW THEY CAN FIND PARKING. 
          'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE NEW, ET CETERA. 
          SO WE DO THAT AS A COURTESY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT MORE MARE LUCAS. 
          [02:55:07]
HI. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO OUR COMMUNITY VOICES. 
          I'M MARI BIRD LUCAS AND I LIVE ON PATTERSON STREET IN WEST END. 
          I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF WEST END CIVIC CLUB WITH HOWARD WATSON, OUR PRESIDENT OF WEST END CIVIC CLUB. 
          WE ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR COMMUNITY'S ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE PATTERSON BIKEWAY. 
          WE ARE WALKERS AND CYCLISTS, MOMS AND DADS AND BABIES AND STROLLERS, DOG WALKERS, BUS RIDERS, AND YES, EVEN DRIVERS. 
          WE LIVE IN A DENSELY POPULATED URBAN AREA AND RELY ON SAFE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK AND PLAY. 
          OUR WEST END COMMUNITY HAD ROBUST DISCUSSIONS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY'S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND INCLUDING OUR WONDERFUL COUNCIL MEMBER AND, UM, AT LARGE AS WELL. 
          MAY I CONTINUE? GO AHEAD. 
          WE WELCOME THE PATTERSON BIKEWAY PROJECT AS PRESENTED IN THE LATEST JANUARY, 2021 STAKEHOLDER MEETING. 
          THE PROJECT WAS BID OUT IN SPRING 2023 AND WE HOPE IT WILL GET, UM, GOING ON CONSTRUCTION VERY SOON. 
          WE WELCOME THE PATTERSON BIKEWAY PROJECT BECAUSE NOT ONLY WILL IT PROVIDE A SAFER CONNECTION FOR CYCLISTS BETWEEN BUFFALO BIO AND WHITE OAK BIO AND BEYOND, BUT IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE BONUS OF ENHANCED SAFETY FEATURES FOR ALL OF US WHO LIVE AND TRAVEL WITHIN OUR WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST CONSTRUCTION OF PATTERSON BIKEWAY BEGIN WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE, UH, THE PATTERSON BIKEWAY. 
          IT WAS ALREADY ON ITS WAY WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE. 
          IT'S BEEN YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
          IT'S A, UM, WE GOT THE STOP SIGN IN. 
          THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING THE DEPARTMENT FOR EARLIER, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED. 
          THIS IS IN RICE MILITARY RIGHT BY US. 
          UM, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VERY, I WOULD SAY NON-CONTROVERSIAL PROJECTS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS, IS CLAMORING FOR. 
          IT'S SET TO, UH, IT WAS SET TO GO INTO CONSTRUCTION WITH, UH, SHOVELS IN THE GROUND, I MEAN THIS QUARTER OR VERY EARLY IN THE SECOND QUARTER. 
          UM, AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THE CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS IN THE AREA WHERE THEY'RE ASKING WHEN IS THIS GONNA START? SO, UH, MARI, I WANNA THANK YOU BECAUSE IT'S SO HELPFUL WHEN OUR CIVIC CLUB LEADERS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, ARE ALSO EXPRESSING, UH, THEIR DESIRES AND WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          UH, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA LIFT UP Y'ALL'S VOICES IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR AND, UH, WORKING TO GET SOME ANSWERS ON WHEN, WHEN WE'LL SEE PROGRESS BEING MADE ON IT. 
          THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT HOWARD WATSON. 
          MORE. 
          WE GOT GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          HOWARD WATSON, THE PRESIDENT OF THE WEST END CIVIC CLUB. 
          UH, PIGGYBACK ON WHAT, UH, MA THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS SAID. 
          WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, THE PATTERSON, UH, BIKEWAY FOR YEARS WE'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATION, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME IT COME UP, THEY PUT IT BACK AND PUT IT BACK. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. 
          BUT WE REALIZED THAT IT HAD BEEN MANY DELAYS AND WE UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT HAS WAS BIDDED BACK IN 23 AND BEFORE THAT IT WAS, UH, ON THE, ON THE, UH, AGENDA. 
          BUT WE, WE'VE NEVER GOT ANY FURTHER BUT ONLY BIP SERVICE. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, UH, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING, UH, FORWARD WITH THAT COUNCIL. 
          MAYOR KAMAN, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I JUST, HOWARD WANTED, WANTED TO THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE CIVIC CLUB. 
          YOU ARE SO ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          ANYTIME THERE'S A CAR ACCIDENT, Y'ALL ARE TEXTING ME WITH THOSE PICTURES. 
          UM, SO I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE IN THIS, IN COMING IN, UH, TAKING THE TIME TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          NEXT, THANK YOU SHA I'M SORRY, COUNCILOR SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU HOWARD. 
          JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TO ENGAGE US. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, STACEY FAIRCHILD, THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, 
          [03:00:01]
UH, THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT AND ALSO THE WASHINGTON AVENUE CORRIDOR, OF WHICH I AM THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT OF. 
          UM, I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ALL OF THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE PROJECTS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY. 
          UM, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE HOUSTON AVENUE CHANGE ON SATURDAY AND IT HAS RUN MY LIFE FOR THE PAST 72 HOURS AND MORE. 
          SO I ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET TO EAT DINNER THIS WEEKEND. 
          UH, MAYOR, I ACTUALLY WAS ON THE PHONE TALKING TO PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. 
          IT WASN'T UNTIL MONDAY THAT, UM, I BEGAN TO, YOU KNOW, GET A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. 
          AND I'M, I'M LEARNING EVEN MORE TODAY. 
          SO I AM MAINLY HERE TO JUST ASK THAT WHENEVER THERE ARE PROJECTS OR CHANGES OR ACTIVITY THAT IS OCCURRING IN, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. 
          THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THIS CORRIDOR THAT AS A COURTESY, THAT AT, AT A MINIMUM, THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IS INFORMED. 
          AND ACTUALLY I WOULD PREFER THAT WE BE AT THE DECISION MAKING TABLE, OR AT LEAST ALLOWED TO GIVE INPUT, POSSIBLY EVEN HOLD A TOWN HALL OF SOME SORT OR HAVE, YOU KNOW, TURN OUR, OUR, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, WHICH IS MONTHLY, UM, INTO, YOU KNOW, A FORUM WHEREBY WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN AVOID ALL OF THIS THROUGH COMMUNICATION. 
          UH, GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU HAVE SAID, TRANSPARENCY. 
          AND WE CAN BE BETTER IF WE DO ALL OF THIS TOGETHER. 
          SO, UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THOUGH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION. 
          THIS AREA, UM, IS UNIQUELY SITUATED WHERE THERE ARE MANY DESTINATION SPOTS. 
          WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME FROM ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO THE, UH, THE BAYOU, UH, TO MEMORIAL PARK, MKT TRAIL, MKT MARKET. 
          UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO UPTOWN, DOWNTOWN MIDTOWN, MONTROSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE GREATER HEIGHTS, UH, LAZY BROOK, TIMBER GROVE. 
          SO WE ARE UNIQUELY SITUATED THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE. 
          UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THESE DESTINATION SPOTS THAT WE CAN BIKE AND WALK TO SOME OF THEM, IF NOT ALL OF THEM, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW HOW ACTIVE YOU ARE. 
          BUT THIS IS COMING FROM A CAR DRIVER. 
          I HAVE TWO SUVS. 
          I HAVE TWO BICYCLES THAT HAVE FLAT TIRES AND THEY HAVE HAD FLAT TIRES SINCE THE PANDEMIC. 
          SO I AM NOT SOMEONE WHO IS AN ACTIVIST THAT IS GOING TO GO OUT. 
          YOU KNOW AND SAY, HEY, MARK FAIRCHILD, LET'S GO OUT, UH, TODAY ON OUR BICYCLES TO WHITE OAK BAYOU OR TO THE MKT MARKETPLACE. 
          I'M GONNA GET IN MY CAR. 
          VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. 
          SO WITH THAT SAID, MAYOR, I DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY HERE, UM, TO REPRESENT ALL OF THE VOICES IN THIS CORRIDOR. 
          AND WE HAVE SINCE, AT A MINIMUM, SINCE 2010, THERE HAS BEEN ACTIVE CONVERSATION AND A REQUEST CONSISTENTLY TO HAVE PEDESTRIAN, UM, SAFETY MEASURES PUT IN ALONG THE CORRIDOR, WHICH IS WHY WE DID THE WALK AUDITS. 
          THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF HOURS THAT WERE SPENT THIS SUMMER AND LED BY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22 IN CONJUNCTION WITH A A RP, THE CITY AND OTHERS TO GET GRANTS TO DO THIS WALK AUDIT, COLLECTING STREET INTERSECTION IN SIDEWALK DATA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE. 
          SO I JUST, AND YOU KNOW, THE BLOSSOM WESTCOTT, UM, CROSSING IS, IS A GREAT, UM, EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WANT IN THE CORRIDOR, THE NEW IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROUNDABOUT. 
          AND I DO AGREE WITH THE MODIFICATIONS, UM, THAT RAY AND MARTY ARE PUTTING FORWARD. 
          BUT I WOULD ALSO REQUEST THAT ANYTIME THAT WE HAVE, UH, ACTIVITY GOING ON IN A PARTICULAR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, PRESIDENT OR LEADERSHIP IS CONTACTED SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE WORD OUT AND THERE'S NO POLITICIZING, AND THAT THE, THE MESSAGING IS, UH, CLEAR AND THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BRING OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE TO THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL VOICES ARE COUNTED. 
          THANK YOU, STACEY. 
          THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. 
          CASTILLO COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU STACEY FOR BEING HERE AND, AND OFFERING THOSE COMMENTS. 
          YOU KNOW, SOUNDS LIKE YOU AND I HAD REALLY SIMILAR WEEKENDS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND THROW ME IN THERE TOO. 
           AND, AND THE MAYOR . 
          HEY, I'VE ONLY, I'VE ONLY HAD A MAR A PIECE OF MARDI GRAS CAKE AND 
          [03:05:01]
A COFFEE TODAY. 
          SO  WELL, UM, YOU KNOW, I DID ASK FOR A DELAY HERE SO THAT THAT INFORMATION COULD BE FOUND AND COMMUNICATED TO CONSTITUENTS AND PRIMARILY SO THAT, THAT I COULD HOLD A TOWN HALL BECAUSE MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, UH, BEING REMOVED SO QUICKLY. 
          AND SO I'M SURE YOU'RE GETTING SIMILAR QUESTIONS. 
          UM, AND THE LACK OF INFORMATION HERE HAS GOTTA BE A LITTLE FRUSTRATING. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SPEED THAT THIS IS MOVING, UM, THE LACK OF INFORMATION, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHY YOU'RE HERE AND WHY YOU'RE OFFERING THOSE COMMENTS. 
          AND, UH, I'VE COMMITTED TO BEING IN GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION WITH MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          YOU KNOW, WE HAD A BIMONTHLY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WE STARTED LAST MONTH, AND, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT. 
          AND SO, UH, WE'LL DO THE BEST, YOU KNOW, ON MY END TO, TO, TO CONTINUE THAT. 
          UM, BUT I DO HOPE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, PROJECTS LIKE THIS, DO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY, DO HAVE MORE INFORMATION, BECAUSE THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AROUND THIS AND THE SPEED AT WHICH IS MOVING, IT'S, IT'S CONCERNING. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION IS THE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA ARE LOOKING FOR SAFE PASSAGE ACROSS I 10 BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, IF THEY LIVE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF I 10, THEY WANT TO GO TO BUFFALO BAYOU AND THEY WANNA GET THERE SAFELY AND VICE VERSA, GOING UP TO WHITE OAK BAYOU, ALSO GETTING INTO MEMORIAL PARK, UPTOWN AND DOWNTOWN. 
          SO, UM, WE'LL, DEFINITELY, I'M SORRY, I SAY WE'LL DEFINITELY WORK WITH 'EM. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THEN ONE OTHER THING. 
          I DID HEAR, UH, OR AS I WAS LISTENING TO THE PASTOR OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, UM, WE ALSO HAVE A LUTHERAN CHURCH IN RICE MILITARY AT EIGHT 16 ROY, THAT HAS SOME VERY URGENT, UH, IT, WELL, IT, IT SHOULD BE VERY URGENT, UM, FOR YOU TO LOOK AT IN YOUR OFFICE. 
          WE HAVE HAD A SHOOTING IN THE 5,100 BLOCK OF ROWS AS A RESULT OF THE BAR ACTIVITY, UH, WHICH IS TWO BLOCKS SOUTH OF WASHINGTON. 
          IN ADDITION TO BREAK-INS, THERE ARE CARS THAT REGULARLY END UP FACED OR, UH, HEAD FIRST IN THE DITCH. 
          THERE ARE BEATINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THIS AREA RIGHT AT THE CHURCH. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS HAPPENS ON SUNDAY. 
          SUNDAY, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. 
          STACEY IS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, YOU KNOW THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN. 
          UH, CAYMAN. 
          SORRY, I JUST, STACEY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          I DID JUST WANNA SPOTLIGHT THE WORK YOU ALL DID ON THE WALK AUDIT WITH THE A RP. 
          I MEAN, MAYOR, IT WAS SO HOT OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, PEOPLE WERE LIKE PASSING OUT. 
          MY HUSBAND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL, MAYOR, I WASN'T GETTING NAME NAMES. 
          UM, BUT LIKE, THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR IS FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. 
          SO I KNOW WE'RE ASSESSING EVERYTHING AND WHAT'S BEEN DONE, BUT AS WE LOOK AHEAD, STACEY, I WANNA RECOMMIT TO YOU THAT THE WASHINGTON AVENUE CORRIDOR IS A TOP PRIORITY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SO MANY PEDESTRIANS THERE. 
          AND EVEN AT NIGHTTIME, EVEN THE BAR PATRONS, EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE SAFE. 
          AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW. 
          SO THANK YOU JUST FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THERE. 
          AND LASTLY, MAYOR, GO AHEAD. 
          NO, I WAS JUST GONNA COMMENT. 
          I DON'T ANNOUNCE EVERYTHING I DO, BUT SUNDAY NIGHT I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NOISE. 
          YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE NAME OF THE BAR. 
          I DON'T, BUT IT'S THE ONE THAT GOES, WHERE WAS IT? WHERE IS IT? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WASHINGTON? THE ONE YOU, THE ONE YOU OWN. 
          WELL, I MEAN, THERE I WELL, WAS THERE A PARTICULAR BAR OR ARE YOU TALKING YEAH, THE ONE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE STREET WITH THEIR NOISE. 
          SO DON'T WORRY, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST. 
          WE'RE LISTENING TO YOU. 
          WE'RE RESPONDING. 
          AND, UH, GET EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND GET THE, UH, LEGITIMATE BAR OWNERS TO COOPERATE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND GET THE OTHERS OUT OF BUSINESS. 
          UM, WE LISTENED TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AT EIGHT 17 DURHAM, WHEN I WAS UP HAVING CONVERSATIONS TO AT 2 24 ON SUNDAY MORNING, I GOT IT. 
          THERE WAS A BRUTAL BEATING OF A YOUNG MAN LAID OUT ON THE SIDEWALK FROM THIS BAR THAT DOES NOT HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. 
          THAT'S URGENT. 
          UH, AS YOU WELL KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          NEXT. 
          MAYOR, HE RICE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M A DAD WITH A 6-YEAR-OLD AND A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL JUST TRYING TO WALK HIS LITTLE DAUGHTERS TO SCHOOL. 
          WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE TRAFFIC STUDIES, DRAINAGE STUDIES, WALK STUDIES, AND MORE IN OUR AREA. 
          AND WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS AREA FOR FOUR YEARS, WHICH IS MONTROSE, 
          [03:10:01]
MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          HERE'S THE DATA. 
          THE AREA REPEATEDLY FLOODS THAT HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. 
          CARS ON AVERAGE GO 45 MILES PER HOUR AND A 20 MILE PER HOUR SCHOOL ZONE. 
          WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE KIDS IN THE AREA? IT MEANS BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. 
          THREE HIC SCHOOLS, UH, LINE NORTH MONTROSE, THAT'S 2100 KIDS THERE. 
          THEY'LL BE AFFECTED BY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT LOOK AT SAFETY LIKE THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. 
          THESE SCHOOLS ARE SURROUNDED BY THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK. 
          WE HAVE ENGAGED FOR THREE YEARS NOW, ALONG WITH 75 FAMILIES FROM OUR SCHOOL. 
          WE'VE ENGAGED MOPD, WE'VE ENGAGED PUBLIC WORKS CITY COUNCIL, HISD AND MORE. 
          WE'VE BEEN TO NEARLY EVERY TIERS MEETING ON THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. 
          WE'VE DONE THAT FOR FOUR YEARS NOW. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THE SEPARATE SAFE ROUTES PROJECT AND HELP MATURE PROJECTS LIKE THESE TO, TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS. 
          MAYOR, PARENTS ARE TIRED OF PLAYING FROGGER. 
          WE'RE JUST SICK OF IT. 
          KIDS UNDER TWO MILES CAN'T BUS. 
          IT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN. 
          HENCE, THEY HAVE TO WALK. 
          WE'VE ENGAGED THE STATE AND FED, AND THEY AGREE WITH US ON THIS. 
          THEY'VE EVEN OFFERED FUNDING THE TREES THAT ALIGN THE DORN MANTRAS. 
          WE AGREE, THE ONES THAT ARE MATURE AND HEALTHY, THEY SHOULD STAY. 
          BUT THERE ARE THREE SETS OF ARBORISTS THAT SAID THERE ARE TREES IN DECLINE, SEVERE DECLINE, WHETHER IT'S SUBTERRANEAN, TOURAN, OR AERIAL VIEWS. 
          AND THEY HAVE A ROBUST PLAN TO REPLACE AND REPLENISH THE AREA WITH 137 TREES. 
          LAST WEEK YOU INVITED US TO HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          75 OF US TOOK YOU UP ON THAT, THAT OFFER. 
          RESPECTFULLY, I REALLY LOVE YOUR HANDS ON SUGGESTION. 
          I LOVE THE ENGAGEMENT THAT CITY COUNCILOR CASTILLO IS DOING WITH THE GOOD PASTURE. 
          THAT'S FANTASTIC. 
          TO GET HANDS ON THIS PROJECT ON MONTE BOULEVARD, I'M GONNA SEND A SIMILAR WARM WELCOME. 
          I RESPECTFULLY SAY THIS, COME WITH ME AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS. 
          LET'S DO A WALK. 
          LET'S LOOK AT MONTROSE BOULEVARD TOGETHER. 
          I'LL BUY YOU COFFEE. 
          ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO COME, LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, NICK. 
          OH, COUNCILMAN CA I JUST HAVE TO THANK ALL MY, MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPANTS. 
          UH, MEDI, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ALONG MONTROSE. 
          HOW MANY TOURS, MEETINGS DID YOU ATTEND, UM, RELATED TO THIS EFFORT? I KNOW YOU SAID IT WAS OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS PLUS. 
          YEAH, ROUGHLY 40. 
          SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. 
          ROUGHLY 40 MEETINGS. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          A ADDITIONALLY, LET ME ADD TO THIS 40 MEETING. 
          I, I VOLUNTEERED MY TIME TO THE NORTH MONT CIVIC ASSOCIATION. 
          I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT ASSOCIATION. 
          I DO IT BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF THE AREA AND IT REFLECTS THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAT HAS AFFECTED THE MOST NORTH MONTROSE. 
          WE ALL SAY TOGETHER, THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY, IS SAFETY. 
          JUST LIKE YOU SAY, SAFETY IS AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST. 
          I'VE ALSO, UM, I'M A SECRETARY FOR THE NEAR TOWN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THAT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH COVERS THE WHOLE AREA, IS REFLECTING THE NEEDS THAT ME, THE RESIDENT, AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING, WE NEED THIS TO BECOME SAFE. 
          IT'S NOT SAFE RIGHT NOW. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANKS SO MUCH, MATTHEW HARTVILLE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL, THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. 
          UM, I CAME BECAUSE I WAS ALARMED THAT TRAFFIC MITIGATION EFFORTS WERE BEING SUMMARILY REMOVED. 
          BUT I'VE GOTTA TELL YOU, I'M HEARTENED BY HEARING THE DISCUSSION OVER THESE HOURS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, OF OPEN AND THOUGHTFUL AND INCLUSIVE CONVERSATION AND, AND CONCERN STUDY ABOUT IT. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR THAT MUCH. 
          UM, I HAVE LIVED IN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS SINCE 1987, RAISED THREE DAUGHTERS THERE, SPENT 20 YEARS ON THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION BOARD. 
          UM, AND, UH, I, I I CAN ADDRESS, UM, A COUPLE OF THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION ISSUES. 
          NUMBER ONE, SPEED BUMPS BACK IN THE DAY, I WAS VIOLENTLY OPPOSED. 
          I DID NOT WANT THEM, THEY CALLED THEM SPEED CUSHIONS. 
          I THOUGHT WE WERE, WE DID DOING DOUBLE SPEAK FROM ORWELL. 
          UM, THEY TURNED OUT TO BE OKAY. 
          THEY TURNED OUT TO WORK. 
          UM, THE, UH, TRAFFIC MITIGATION EFFORTS ON 11TH STREET. 
          UH, LET ME TELL YOU, THEY WENT THROUGH A THREE YEAR LONG PROCESS. 
          I WENT TO THREE SEPARATE MEETINGS AT HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL OVER THREE YEARS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH, UM, 11TH STREET. 
          WHAT, WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN WITH IT. 
          AND I FOUGHT IT. 
          I'M HERE TO SAY IT WORKS. 
          I, I FOUGHT THEM BOTH 
          [03:15:01]
AND I'M HERE TO SAY THEY WORK. 
          UM, I AM, I'M A, I'M A DRIVER. 
          I TRAVEL 11TH STREET DAILY. 
          I'M AN AVID BICYCLIST. 
          USED TO DO 2000 MILES A YEAR, A YEAR IN HOUSTON AND AROUND IT. 
          UM, AND I RIDE MY BIKE AND I DRIVE ON, ON 11TH STREET. 
          AND C AND D ALWAYS HAS A CROWD. 
          I CAN ASSURE YOU WHEN I GO IN, AS I HAVE BEEN SINCE 1987. 
          UM, BUT IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT IT'S DONE, I DON'T KNOW IF THE DATA'S GONNA SHOW THIS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU 11TH STREET HAS SLOWED DOWN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE FOUR LANES, WHEN YOU JUST HAVE THE TWO, YOU HAVE NO RACING. 
          AND LET ME TELL YOU, THERE WAS RACING FOR THE FIRST 30 YEARS OF MY LIFETIME IN WOODLAND HEIGHTS. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR THAT MUCH BEING DONE. 
          AND I, I TRUST THAT ANY CHANGES, ANY MODIFICATIONS WILL BE FULLY VETTED BEFORE ANY TEAR OUT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN CASTELLA. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND, AND SHARING YOUR COMMENTS. 
          IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU AND, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN CAMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MATT. 
          REALLY QUICKLY, YOU HAD SAID YOU WERE INITIALLY OPPOSED TO 11TH STREET. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? I WAS. 
          AND YOU, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR TUNE, THAT'S WHY I JUST, I PERKED UP A LITTLE BIT. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? VERY MUCH SO. 
          UM, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WORKS FOR THE CITY, AND SHE WAS AT ALL THE MEETINGS AND I REPEATEDLY TOLD HER, DON'T USE ME AS A BICYCLIST TO SOLVE YOUR TRAFFIC PROBLEM. 
          DON'T I, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, HOW TRAFFIC SLOWS DOWN. 
          IT WASN'T ME, IT WASN'T THE BIKE LANES. 
          BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BIKE LANES, THEY NEED A CURB WITHOUT A DOUBT. 
          AND PEOPLE CAN DRIVE AROUND THEM WITHIN THEIR BIG SUVS. 
          I MEAN, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR. 
          WOODLAND HEIGHTS AND THE HEIGHTS BECAME A VERY CHII NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THESE 30 SOME YEARS I'VE LIVED THERE. 
          UM, CAREFUL DRIVING AVOIDS THOSE THINGS REAL EASILY. 
          UM, BUT IT WASN'T THE BIKES THAT SLOWED IT DOWN. 
          IT WAS TWO LANES, NOT FOUR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, STEVEN HERZ LOCK. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          I'M STEVEN HERZOG, NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, AND I'M A A HUNDRED PERCENT VOLUNTEER FOR THE TENNIS COMMUNITY. 
          AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL THE TENNIS NONPROFITS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND RECENTLY HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY CITY EMPLOYEES AND CONCERNED PARENTS. 
          SO I DECIDED TO SPEAK TO THE, THE COUNCIL. 
          UH, THE LAST TIME IN MARCH OF 2020, STEVE WRIGHT, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS, ASKED ME TO COME HERE AND RECOMMEND THAT THE MEMORIAL CONSERVANCY VOTE TO KEEP THE CITY THE, UH, MEMORIAL PARK TENNIS CENTER UNDER THE CITY. 
          BECAUSE JIM CRANE AND THE, AND THE GOLF FOUNDATION WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE 10 COURTS SO THAT THEY COULD SEE THEIR GOLF BALLS LAND THE PROS, GOLF BALLS LAND. 
          SO THEY MOVED THE 10 COURTS, THEY FUNDED, YOU KNOW, THEIR WHOLE PROJECT WAS $34 MILLION. 
          AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRESS RELEASE THAT WAS, UH, DATED OCTOBER 28TH, THEY FUNDED, I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M PUZZLED BY THE, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. 
          I MEAN, I GOT, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK HERE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY'S CALLING ME. 
          AND THEY HAD A CONFERENCE CALL AT NINE O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. 
          KENNETH ALLEN'S ON IT. 
          EMILY SHAFER, UH, THE COUNCILMAN'S OFFICE SET IT UP, BETH WHITE. 
          UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT. 
          WELL, MEMORIAL PARK TENNIS CENTER WAS FUNDED BY THE GOLF FOUNDATION. 
          THEY GOT $4 MILLION. 
          THE, IF YOU GO THERE, THE, THE BATHROOMS, THE LOCKER ROOMS, NOTHING HAS BEEN SPENT. 
          THEY HAVE $850,000. 
          ASK KENNETH ALLEN, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM. 
          HE HAS $850,000 FOR, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. 
          AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE THERE. 
          NOT ONLY THAT, THE HOUSTON TENNIS ASSOCIATION, WHICH I'M AN ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER, MADE A DEAL WITH THE HOUSTON, UH, H PART THAT IF THEY SPENT $160,000 TO RESURFACE ALL THE COURTS AT LEGAL CLAIRE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST TENNIS CENTER IN THE COUNTRY, THAT THEY WOULD RESURFACE HOMER FORD TENNIS COURTS. 
          WE'LL, LOOK AT THE PHOTOS. 
          HOMER FORD IS UNPLAYABLE. 
          IT'S UNSAFE. 
          THEY CAN'T USE THE COURTS FOR THE USCA MATCHES. 
          LEE LE CLARE STILL HAS A SECURITY ISSUE. 
          THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CAMERAS OUT THERE. 
          LITTLE KIDS ARE LIKE SCARED TO GO. 
          I HAD 
          [03:20:01]
A PARENT CONTACT ME THAT HAD TO GO AND, AND, UH, SEE THE EMAILS AT REQUEST. 
          THE EMAILS THAT A PARENT JUST SENT TO KENNETH ALLEN AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE ABOUT ALL THE LIGHTS OUT. 
          THEY DID REACT. 
          AND THEY, THEY GOT THE LIGHTS OUT THERE. 
          UH, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT DARK, BUT LOOK AT THE BATHROOM. 
          I I I, THERE'S PHOTOS THERE. 
          I MEAN, IT'S DISCUSSING THESE, IT'S NOT A SAFE SITUATION FOR THESE KIDS. 
          AND NOT ONLY, UH, NOT ONLY ABOUT THAT, THE DEAL THAT THAT, UH, KENNETH ALLEN SAID THAT NOW THAT, UH, THAT THE MCGREGOR PARK MASTER PLAN AND THE KENNER WERE BEHIND THAT THEY DON'T WANNA SPEND THE MONEY TO RESURFACE THE COURTS AT HOMER FORD. 
          BUT THEY MADE A DEAL WITH THE HCA, I MEAN, HCA RESURFACED COURTS IN THE SPRING LAST YEAR, ALMOST A YEAR AGO. 
          AND THE COURTS ARE SITTING THERE H SOME, SORRY. 
          NO. 
          UH, FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO GET YOU TO COMMENT ON, DO YOU FEEL INTIMIDATED WHEN YOU SIGN UP AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND COUNCIL OFFICES AND OTHERS CALL YOU? I UNDERSTAND THEY DO IT TO FURNISH INFORMATION. 
          WE'VE GOT A PRINTOUT OF WHAT YOUR CONCERNS WERE, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME, AFTER BEING HERE A MONTH AND A WEEK, I'VE HEARD FROM MORE THAN ONE PERSON THAT SIGNED UP. 
          AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OR STAFF CALL 'EM AND TRY TO TALK THEM OUT OF IT. 
          CAN WE RESOLVE THIS WITHOUT YOU COMING FOR COUNSEL, WHICH IS CERTAINLY YOUR RIGHT. 
          MM-HMM . 
          CAN YOU JUST TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE ONCE CITY GOVERNMENT FOUND OUT YOU WANTED TO COME DOWN AND COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING? IT HAPPENED THE SAME THE OTHER TIME. 
          I, I CAME HERE, I HAD TO SPEAK IN, IN, UH, I THINK I SPOKE ONE OTHER TIME IN BETWEEN THE MARCH OF 2020, WHICH WAS THE LAST MEETING BEFORE COVID HIT. 
          AND THEN I HAD TO COME BACK AND I, AND I BROUGHT PHOTOS OF BATHROOMS THAT WERE COVERED UP AT HOMER FORD. 
          BUT YES, I MEAN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY, I I SENT AN EMAIL. 
          I CAN SHOW YOU AN EMAIL. 
          I SENT NO RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL AT ALL. 
          AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M ON A PHONE CALL THAT WAS ARRANGED YESTERDAY FOR TODAY. 
          I MEAN, I WORK, YOU KNOW, I GOT IT. 
          BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT A CITIZEN. 
          THE INTIMIDATION SIGNS UP ON MY, AND I I, IT SEEMS TO ME, RIGHT, A NEWCOMER THAT PEOPLE IN CITY GOVERNMENT, RIGHT. 
          TRY TO TALK YOU OUT OF IT. 
          'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO COME DOWN HERE. 
          I, I MEAN, I EASILY COULD SEE THAT HAPPENING. 
          I, I, I CAN'T BE INTIMIDATED. 
          SO I, THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. 
          BUT I, I JUST AM PUZZLED BY THEY HAVE $850,000 AND THEY WON'T SPEND IT. 
          AND THEY SAID THEY DID. 
          LOOK AT THE PRESS RELEASE, IT SAID IT WAS REMODELED. 
          NOTHING WAS REMODELED. 
          WELL, THAT LEADS ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION. 
          DO YOU HAVE A POSITION ON PRIVATIZING CITY PARKS? I, I WOULD. 
          THAT'S THAT A, A PART OWNED BY ALL HOUSTON, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF WHATEVER IS OUTSOURCED. 
          AND THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS GIVE THE NAMING AND RIGHTS TO CHEVRON, WHICH IS FINE IF YOU'RE GONNA GIVE NAMING AND RIGHTS OUT. 
          BUT IF IT WAS GOOD FOR A OUTSOURCE OPERATION, WHY WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HAVE NAMING RIGHTS? QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK EITHER ENTITY OUGHT TO DO IT. 
          I JUST WONDER, DO YOU HAVE A POSITION ON OUTSOURCING AND THEN CHARGING PEOPLE TO USE CITY ASSETS? I'M OPTIMISTIC NOW THAT YOU'RE MAYOR, BECAUSE I'M ALSO WORKING WITH ED EMMETT. 
          HE JUST STARTED A NONPROFIT, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, TO SUPPORT THE PARKS WE'RE MEETING NEXT WEEK. 
          I MEAN, THESE ARE SMART PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY'S PUZZLED. 
          I HELPED RAISE $1.3 MILLION THAT'S SITTING AT THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IN ONE OF THEIR ACCOUNTS. 
          I MEAN, PRIVATIZE DO, YOU'RE SMART, WAY SMARTER THAN ME. 
          SO I THINK YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THE ANSWER. 
          AND I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN LEASING THE TENNIS FACILITIES AND THEY'VE MET WITH THE PARKS DIRECTOR AND NOTHING'S HAPPENED. 
          ZERO. 
          YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. 
          THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME. 
          I, AND ANOTHER THING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT VOTE TO RAISE THE TENNIS COURTS, WHICH REALLY SHOULD BE PICKLEBALL COURTS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE CRAZE. 
          I MEAN, DO YOU REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD GO THERE AND SPEND MONEY? YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS. 
          IT'S LIKE THREE OR $4 AN HOUR OR A COURT, NOT AN HOUR A COURT. 
          NO, I KNOW THE PARKS ARE BECOMING UNAFFORDABLE 'CAUSE WE'VE LOST THE CITY AND HOUSTONIANS HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THEM. 
          IF I TOLD YOU WHAT'S FIXING TO BE PROPOSED TO CHARGE TO TAKE PICTURES IN MEMORIAL PARK, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME. 
          OUR, OUR WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. 
          COUNCILMAN ALCORN. 
          COUNCILMAN ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU MR. HERZO FOR COMING. 
          I SAW YOUR 
          [03:25:01]
BROTHER BRUCE HERE EARLIER. 
          HE HAD TO GO. 
          UM, I, I DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUTS WITH THE GOLF ASSOCIATIONS OR JIM CRANE. 
          I'M PRETTY SURE THAT, UM, MY, MY COLLEAGUE HERE KNOWS THAT. 
          BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE COMING TO, UM, SOUND THE ALARM ON THE STATE OF OUR TENNIS CENTERS. 
          I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE LAST YEAR AT A PROFESSIONAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT HERE IN TOWN, SITTING IN A BOX WITH ZENA GARRISON. 
          AND MAN, AS SOON AS I MET HER, SHE TALKED MY EAR OFF ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THESE THREE TENNIS CENTERS. 
          THEY ARE WOEFULLY IN DISREPAIR. 
          THEY ARE THE WAY THEY ARE WHEN THEY WERE FIRST PUT IN, IN, INTO THE CITY. 
          AND SO THANKS FOR FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. 
          UM, I'VE OFF, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN IS, MAYOR, BUT IF THERE IS A A UPCOMING BOND ELECTION, WE CERTAINLY WANNA SEE THESE, THESE TENNIS CENTERS IN THIS NEXT BOND ELECTION. 
          THESE ARE, I I AGREE. 
          PICKLEBALL ISS LIKE A HUGE THING NOW. 
          UH, AND I DO THINK, I THINK WHAT HE WAS SAYING, MAYOR, IS WE DON'T CHARGE ENOUGH FOR OUR COURTS. 
          UM, RIGHT. 
          AND, AND, AND I DO THINK THERE IS A WAY TO GENERATE SOME REVENUE PEOPLE WOULD PAY TO GO PLAY PICKLEBALL, PLAY, UM, TENNIS AT, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS. 
          I MEAN, IT'D HAVE TO BE WHEREVER IT IS. 
          YOU KNOW, YOU'D HAVE TO DO A, A, THE FEE SCHEDULE. 
          BUT, BUT I'M ALL IN ON, ON, UH, GIVING SOME ATTENTION TO THESE TENNIS CENTERS. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WAITING. 
          YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE COMING TO SUCH A VIBRANT, UH, PUBLIC SESSION TODAY, . 
          WELL, I'M, I'M VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH ZENA LORI MCNEIL. 
          I GREW UP PLAYING WITH RICHIE VANDENBERG. 
          MY BROTHER PLAYED COMPETITIVELY. 
          I MEAN, I'M HERE TO HELP. 
          I MEAN, I'LL VOLUNTEER TO BE THE GO-BETWEEN, BETWEEN THE, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS, I WAS A GO-BETWEEN BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE HDA TO TRY AND BROKER A DEAL TO GET THOSE COURTS DONE. 
          THE HDA GAVE $160,000. 
          THEY RESURFACED THE COURTS. 
          AND NOW THE CITY, KENNETH ALLEN IS SAYING, OH NO, UH, WE'RE GETTING BIDS, BUT NOT, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. 
          AND THAT WE'RE GONNA SPEND THE MONEY. 
          WELL, UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER. 
          SO THANKS FOR COMING OUT AND POINTING THIS OUT. 
          UH, THAT, THAT $34 MILLION YOU'RE SPEAKING OF WAS RAISED IN MY OFFICE, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS DEAL. 
          SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, WITHOUT GOING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, THE DEAL THAT WAS BROKERED BETWEEN THE CONSERVANCY AND, AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION, UM, HAS MONEY GOING TO THE CONSERVANCY, MONEY GOING TO THE CITY. 
          AND YOU'RE RIGHT, CONTROL HAS BEEN LOST IN A LOT OF WAYS OF THESE PARKS. 
          I WAS JUST OVER VISITING WITH JIM ON FRIDAY AND HE'LL BE CALLING YOU ABOUT SOME PARK ISSUES. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, THE $850,000 THAT WAS SET ASIDE TO REMODEL THE PRO SHOP, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY IN 2020, MAYBE THE EXCUSE IS COVID, BUT COVID IS DONE AND IT'S TIME TO GET MOVING. 
          SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND POINTING IT OUT BECAUSE THIS IS GOOD INFORMATION. 
          UM, WHERE 2024 AND IT'S, IT'S TIME TO GET THE PROJECTS MOVING. 
          AND YOU'RE RIGHT, MCGREGOR PARK IS, IS RUNNING DOWN THE PATH AND IT'S TIME TO READDRESS AND CLOSE THE LOOP ON THAT. 
          I MEAN, I WAS VERY THANKFUL THAT THEY, THAT HE NEEDED 10 COURTS TO GIVE THE MONEY AND THEN THE MONEY IS SITTING THERE. 
          AS OF TODAY, I HAD A CONVERSATION THAT HE'S NOW WANTING MORE MONEY TO RESER TO, TO REMODEL. 
          ZENA SAYS, JUST REDO THE PLACE. 
          DO REDO THE BATHROOMS. I WENT IN AND ONE OF THE, THE MEN'S BATHROOM IS, HAS A BIG BOARD IN THERE, AND THERE'S A HUGE AREA OF LOCKER ROOMS. I MEAN, IT'S SO WEIRD. 
          IT IS 50 YEARS OLD. 
          WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. 
          YES, MR. DAVIS, PASTOR, UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU MR. ZARK FOR COMING DOWN REGARD REGARDING THE TENNIS COURTS. 
          UH, GOLF, I PLAY AT TENNIS, I PLAY, AND I WANT TO AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. 
          WE REALLY DO NEED TO, UM, ENHANCE THIS. 
          IF THE MONEY'S BEEN SET ASIDE, THEN, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS IT? WHAT HAPPENED TO IT AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IT? WE NEED TO EXERCISE AS MANY THINGS AS POSSIBLE TO HELP WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, AND INTRODUCING THESE THINGS TO THEM, GOLFERS ONE AND OTHERS PARKS AND, AND THOSE EXERCISE. 
          BUT WE DO NEED TO, FOR MANY YEARS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE, WE WOULD GO OUT AND PLAY. 
          MANY OF THE PASTORS WOULD PLAY TENNIS. 
          SO I, I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO, UM, JOIN IN WITH, UH, ALL OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS, UM, WITH COUNCILMAN ALCORN TOO, UM, TO HELP TO REITERATE THIS, THESE, THESE TENDER COURT AND REPAIR THEM WELL, AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          ZENA JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, WAS CORRESPONDING WITH ME SAYING, YOU KNOW, SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SPORTS. 
          SHE WANTS THOSE PROGRAMS DEVELOPED. 
          SHE NEEDS HELP. 
          AND IT'S NOT JUST TENNIS. 
          IT'S ALL THE SPORTS. 
          AND, AND FORGET ABOUT JUST THE THREE PUBLIC 
          [03:30:01]
TENNIS CENTERS THAT HAVE ALL THE COURT, ALL THE, UM, TENNIS TOURNAMENTS. 
          YOU HAVE 30 PARKS. 
          IT'S, IT TOOK SEVEN YEARS TO DO THIS TENNIS RESEARCH PROJECT THAT I STILL HAVE NOT SEEN A FINAL COPY. 
          I ASKED KENNETH ALLEN THIS MORNING, EMAIL ME THE FINAL COPY. 
          I'VE NEVER SEEN IT. 
          IT'S A, I GAVE YOU THE DRAFT, HOPEFULLY YOU GOT THE DRAFT. 
          I'VE NEVER SEEN THE FINAL COPY. 
          HE SAID SOME THINGS CHANGE, WHATEVER, BUT THAT'S SUPPORTED ALL 30 PARKS FOR ALL THE DISTRICTS. 
          SO ANYWAY, I, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT WORK TO DO. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER SPEAKERS, SO I FEEL THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BEEN WAITING, SO, SO NO, YOU'RE DOING FINE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME. 
          NEXT, JONATHAN HOROWITZ. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MY NAME IS JONATHAN HOROWITZ AND FORTUNATELY, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY BIG PROBLEMS AND I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING. 
          SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, GIVING ME A FEW MOMENTS TO TALK. 
          JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE UP ONE OH OH, I'LL MAKE SOMETHING. 
          I'LL DO MY BEST. 
          THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. 
          UM, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEWLY FORMED HOUSTON HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE, UM, WHICH MANY OF YOU KNOW IS SORT OF THE REBIRTH AND REINCARNATION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. 
          AND AS SUCH, WE ARE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT REPRESENTS AND ADVOCATES FOR AND PROMOTES EVERYTHING RELATED TO HOSPITALITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          SO THAT INCLUDES RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND BREWERIES AND HOTELS AND VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS AND MUSEUMS AND THEATERS, AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE HOUSTON SO FANTASTIC AND GIVE US SUCH A WONDERFUL AND ROBUST HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. 
          SO, UM, AS SUCH, I'M HERE FOR TWO REASONS TODAY VERY QUICKLY. 
          ONE IS, UH, TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UH, THOSE THAT I HAVEN'T MET YET. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO IN THE FUTURE. 
          AND TO THE MAYOR. 
          UH, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          YOU KNOW, YOU PARTICIPATED IN OUR MAYORAL FORUM, UH, BACK IN OCTOBER, WHICH WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATED. 
          AND THE SECOND THING IS TO CORDIALLY INVITE EVERYBODY TO OUR NEXT UPCOMING EVENT, WHICH IS ON FEBRUARY 19TH AT TSU, WHERE WE'LL GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO MIX AND MINGLE WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN HOUSTON. 
          AND ALSO TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? YEP. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          SORRY, MAYOR. 
          UM, JONATHAN, FOR TIME'S SAKE, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE LAST CONSTITUENT 'CAUSE WE STILL HAVE LIKE PAGES OF DISTRICT C CONSTITUENTS TO SPEAK. 
          SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY TO ALL DISTRICT C SPEAKERS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          BUT JONATHAN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, UH, EVEN FOR THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND YOUR FORMAL ROLE. 
          UH, YOU ARE ONE OF THE STATE'S LEADERS WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. 
          UH, SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PARTNERSHIPS. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, ENGAGING ALL OF US, AND, UH, BEST WISHES AND ALL THAT YOU'RE OUT TO ACCOMPLISH. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AND, UH, WE REALLY VALUE THE COMMITMENT AND THE PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE FROM CITY COUNCIL. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          NEXT BUS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR STAYING TO HEAR US. 
          UH, MR. MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          YOUR GOOD WORK IS ALREADY BEING FELT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          UH, MY NAME IS MICHELLE BOUCHARD AND I LIVE IN MONT ON MARCONI STREET. 
          I CAN LOOK OUT MY WINDOW AND I CAN SEE THE INTERSECTION. 
          HELLO, COUNCILWOMAN. 
          HELLO, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          UH, I CAN SEE THE INTERSECTION OF WEST DALLAS AND MONTROSE BOULEVARD, AND ALTHOUGH I ADVOCATE FOR THE TREES AS A DAUGHTER OF A FORESTER, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT AN EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO THE TUR PROJECT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF MONTROSE AVENUE. 
          AND THAT IS TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON THE BOULEVARD AND THE PROLIFERATION OF A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE SMALL STREETS LIKE MINE PARALLEL TO THE BOULEVARD FROM BOTH THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDES. 
          THIS PLAN IN PHASE ONE WILL PERMANENTLY SHUT OFF WEST CLAY TO ALL THE TRAFFIC CROSSING OVER MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          AND IN THE SECOND PHASE, IT'S GONNA CUT OFF SIX OTHER STREETS AS WELL. 
          I ASK THE TEARS FOR TRAFFIC ANALYSIS REGARDING WHETHER THIS PLAN WOULD SEND MORE TRAFFIC THROUGH THE SMALL STREETS LIKE MINE. 
          MARCONI, MAY I PLEASE GO AHEAD. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THESE ARE VERY SMALL STREETS WHICH ONLY ALLOWED PARKING ON ONE SIDE. 
          THE TIER FOLKS HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY DONE AN ANALYSIS, BUT THEY AGREED TO DO SO. 
          AND THEIR CONSULTANT PRESENTED THAT ANALYSIS AT THE LAST TIER MEETING AND CONCLUDED THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE MORE TRAFFIC DOWN IN OUR NARROW STREETS AND WILL HAVE BETTER FLOW ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          BUT THAT ANALYSIS WAS FLAWED FOR TWO REASONS THAT CONSULTANT FAILED TO CONSIDER TWO IMPORTANT CRITICAL FACTORS. 
          ONE, 
          [03:35:01]
THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT WILL TRAVEL UP AND DOWN MONTRE BOULEVARD DUE TO THE ISMAILI CENTER, ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS WHEN THEY'RE EXPECTING UP TO 1500 PEOPLE FOR PRAYER SERVICES. 
          THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE CENTER IS ON MONTROSE BETWEEN WEST DALLAS AND THE ALLEN PARKWAY, AND THERE IS NO ENTRANCE ON THE ALLEN PARKWAY. 
          AND TWO, THE ENORMOUS INCREASE IN TRAFFIC THAT WILL OCCUR ON WEST DALLAS AND WEST CLAY. 
          DUE TO THE CREATION OF THE HARLOW DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE FOUR FANTASTIC NEW RESTAURANTS THERE, WE ARE ALREADY FEELING ON MARCONI THE INCREASE AT NIGHTS AND THE WEEKENDS FROM THAT RESTAURANT TRAFFIC. 
          WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS WHEN YOU COUPLE THE TRAFFIC FROM THIS MELEE CENTER WITH THE HARLOW DISTRICT TRAFFIC? WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN TO THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST AND WEST CLAY WHEN THEY REALIZE THEY CANNOT TURN NORTH ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD, THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO CUT THROUGH VAN BUREN THROUGH MY STREET AND THROUGH THE OTHER LITTLE STREETS. 
          I HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO READ THE 400 PAGE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS DONE BY THE ISMAILY CENTER. 
          I URGE ALL OF YOU WHO OVERSEE THE APPROVAL OF THE TIERS PROJECT TO DO THE SAME. 
          I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE HARLOW DISTRICT DEVELOPERS WERE REQUIRED TO DO A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AS WELL. 
          BUT IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF APPROVING THET PROPOSAL, I WOULD READ THAT ANALYSIS AS WELL. 
          ADVOCATES FOR THE CHURCH PLAN CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT THESE CLOSURES ARE INTENDED TO ALLOW WHARTON DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY STUDENTS AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO CROSS AT WEST CLAY, TO WHARTON AND ACROSS MONTROSE. 
          HOW MANY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OTHERS ACTUALLY CROSS THAT INTERSECTION EVERY DAY THAT SCHOOL SERVES 420 GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS IN A, AT A MAGNET SCHOOL? HOW MANY OF THOSE KIDS LIVE IN THE DISTRICT AND ACTUALLY WALK THERE? AND HOW MANY PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE CROSS THAT INTERSECTION EVERY DAY I LIVED THERE AND I'M NOT SEEING IT. 
          AND WOULDN'T A STOPLIGHT OR A CROSSING GUARD BE MORE ECONOMIC THAN SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SHUT OFF THAT CROSS STREET? FIND OUT HOW MUCH THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE PROJECT IS COSTING PER CAPITA PER PERSON. 
          WHERE IS THE OVERSIGHT HERE? THE TEARS BOARD DID THIS IN AN ANALYSIS IN A VACUUM, AND I'M HERE TO IMPLORE THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WHOMEVER ELSE HAS THE POWER OF OVERSIGHT TO LOOK HARD AT THE CURRENT PLAN, AND THEN HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE THOUSANDS OF US LIVING THERE OFF MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE YOUR NEXT HELEN'S UNCLE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHNNA HITCHCOCK. 
          HELLO, MAYOR. 
          CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. 
          I AM I ALSO LIVE IN THE MONTROSE NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST LIKE MY NEIGHBOR AND, UM, RESIDENTS HAVE BANDED TOGETHER. 
          WE'VE PUT OUT A PETITION AND IT WAS SIGNED BY 7,200 PEOPLE. 
          AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED IT ARE ALSO FACULTY AND STUDENTS FROM A AND M UNIVERSITY. 
          THE TREES ARE BEAUTIFUL. 
          THEY BEAUTIFY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY CLEAN THE AIR, THEY PROVIDE OXYGEN. 
          MOST OF THE TREES ALONG MONTROSE BOULEVARD WERE PLANTED IN THE SIXTIES, THE SEVENTIES, THE EIGHTIES, AND THE NINETIES. 
          AND THEY HAVE GROWN INTO BEAUTIFUL, MATURE TREES. 
          YES, SOME OF THEM STRUGGLE, BUT THEY HAVE SURVIVED HURRICANES, DROUGHTS, FLOODS, AND EVERYTHING THAT HOUSTON WEATHER HAS THROWN AT THEM OVER THE YEARS. 
          AND THEY'RE STILL THERE. 
          UH, THEY'RE A LITTLE WORSE FOR WEAR. 
          AFTER THIS PAST SUMMER OF EXTREME DROUGHT, UH, THERE ARE ALSO 200 AND 60-YEAR-OLD HERITAGE OAKS IN PHASE ONE OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDEVELOPMENT. 
          AND, UH, FINALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THAT THESE MATURE TREES PROVIDE SHADE. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, SO THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF SHADE. 
          LAST YEAR'S MEETING, A NEIGHBOR SHARED SOME STATISTICS. 
          SHE FOUND THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY A 30 DEGREE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PAVEMENT IN THE SHADE AND THE PAVEMENT IN THE HOT BLAZING SUN. 
          THEY PLAN TO REPLACE THESE BEAUTIFUL OLD OAK TREES WITH LITTLE THREE AND A HALF INCH STICK TREES THAT JUST WON'T PROVIDE THE SAME SHADE. 
          SO WHILE YOU WANT TO MAKE IT MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, WHAT PEDESTRIAN WANTS TO WALK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT? UM, SO WE BELIEVE THERE ARE, UH, THERE ARE WAYS THAT THESE TREES CAN BE SAVED USING PERMEABLE SURFACES. 
          A GROUP OF CONCERNED RESIDENTS HAS HIRED A HIGHLY CREDENTIALED ARBORIST. 
          TEARS IS ACTUALLY ONLY USING AN URBAN 
          [03:40:01]
FORESTER WITHOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LATEST IN ARBOREAL SCIENCE THAT THIS ARBORIST HAS. 
          AND HE HAS STRATEGIES FROM PERMEABLE PAVERS TO ROOT BRIDGING AND ALSO OTHER STRATEGIES THAT I'M NOT COMPETENT TO EXPLAIN . 
          UM, SO LISTENING TODAY, I'M ALSO HEARING ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING REVERSED AFTER THE FACT. 
          AND I JUST WANNA SAY, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN WITH THE MONTROSE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. 
          I WANTED TO JUST SPEAK ABOUT TREESE TODAY, BUT AFTER LISTENING TO ALL THIS, I NEED TO BRING UP A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC. 
          UM, I HAVE A PICTURE HERE, AND IF YOU GUYS CAN SEE IT, BUT IT SHOWS, UH, THEIR PLANS FOR THE CROSSWALK. 
          SO ESSENTIALLY YOU HAVE TO CROSS HERE TO THIS LITTLE ISLAND WHERE YOU STAND ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD WHILE THE CARS ARE WHIZZING PAST YOU. 
          AND THEN ONCE THE LIGHT TURNS RED, YOU CROSS HERE ACROSS MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN EVEN STAND ON THIS LITTLE TRIANGULAR ISLAND HERE WAITING TO CROSS? AND IF YOU DON'T STAND ON THE ISLAND, THEN THE CARS HERE ARE TRAVELING ALONG MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          WILL YOU STOP? THERE'S ONLY A STOP SIGN HERE, AND THERE'S A LIGHT HERE. 
          IT'S JUST THE, I FEEL LIKE THIS REALLY NEEDS MORE, NEEDS TO BE REVISITED. 
          IT DOESN'T SEEM SAFER FOR, FOR PEDESTRIANS. 
          IT ACTUALLY SEEMS MORE DANGEROUS. 
          NOW I HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE. 
          SORRY. 
          UM, AND THIS ONE HAS TO DO WITH VEHICLE ACCESS. 
          IF YOU'RE, LET'S SAY, ON THIS STREET DRIVING DOWN BEAU MAR, YOU CAN'T GO ACROSS MONTROSE BOULEVARD ANYMORE. 
          THEY MAKE YOU TURN RIGHT, GO AROUND, MAKE A U-TURN AND GO BACK AROUND TO GET TO HERE. 
          IT'S ESSENTIALLY AN ELONGATED ROUNDABOUT. 
          AND AGAIN, I THINK ONCE IMPLEMENTED, I, I WORRY THAT THIS IS ANOTHER PROJECT WHERE YOU'LL BE RIPPING IT OUT. 
          SO LET'S TAKE THE EXTRA TIME AND STUDY THIS FURTHER AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ACTUALLY WANT TO DO. 
          VERY GOOD POINTS. 
          THAT'S ALL. 
          NO SPEAKERS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          PLEASE STAY INVOLVED. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT JOHNNA HITCHCOCK. 
          HI. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL. 
          UH, MY, UH, FRIEND, MICHELLE'S GONNA PASS AROUND SOME POINTS. 
          I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, BUT I HAVE NINE POINTS ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER THAT I HOPE MANY OF YOU'LL TAKE THE TIME TO READ. 
          WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS CORRECT SOME OF THE FALSE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. 
          THERE WERE NOT LOTS OF OPEN MEETINGS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WELL PUBLICIZED TO THE PUBLIC. 
          BUT EVEN IF THERE WERE, EVEN IF IT WAS TRUE THERE, THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY TREES WERE GONNA BE LOST AS PART OF THIS PROJECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2023. 
          THAT WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT THE TREE IMPACT WAS INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE TEARS. 
          SO ANYBODY WHO CAME TO CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS, LIKE MY MOTHER, HER CIVIC CLUB, DID STAND UP AND TALK ABOUT THE MONTROSE PROJECT. 
          AND THEY SHOWED THE, THE RENDERINGS THAT THE TEARS HAD, THAT SHOWS 20 OH SHOWS, 40 FOOT TREES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE, OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD, LEADING EVERYBODY TO BELIEVE THAT THE TREES WERE ALL GONNA BE SAVED. 
          IT WASN'T UNTIL SEPTEMBER 18TH THAT IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THEY INTEND TO TAKE OUT EVERY SINGLE TREE ON THE SIDE OF MONTROSE. 
          YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          SO, SO THE COMMUNICATION WAS LACKING AND IT WAS FALSE. 
          IT HAD A LOT OF MISREPRESENTATION TO BE TAKING OUT MATURE TREES THAT, AND PUTTING TINY TREES IN PLACE THAT ARE GONNA TAKE 30 TO 50 YEARS. 
          WE HAVE AN ANIMATION THAT THAT SHOWS THAT BASED ON CURRENT ARBOREAL SCIENCE DATA, IT'LL TAKE 30 TO 50 YEARS. 
          JUST TO GET BACK TO THE SHADE CANOPY THAT WE HAVE TODAY. 
          YOU CAN GO LOOK AT THE TIERS, UH, OWN ANIMATION, WHICH BY THE WAY, IS FULL OF FALSE DATA AND NOT BASED ON THEIR CAD DRAWINGS. 
          BUT THE ONE THING THAT IS TRUE IS THEY SHOW HOW MUCH CONCRETE AND HOW MUCH HEAT IS GONNA BE RADIATING ACROSS MONTROSE BOULEVARD, INCLUDING AT ALL THE BUS STOPS THAT WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY SHADE AS THEY DO TODAY. 
          WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THAT DOES TO OUR BUS STOPS. 
          FINALLY, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THE RAMPANT CRONYISM AND THE, YOU SCRATCH MY BACK, I'LL SCRATCH YOUR BACK. 
          THAT'S GOING ON IN THESE TIER BOARDS, PARTICULARLY MONTROSE. 
          THE TWO ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS, THEY ARE DONORS TO BUY HOUSTON. 
          THE ATTORNEY FOR THE TIER IS ON THE BOARD TO BUY HOUSTON. 
          I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY WHO GRID UNITED IS. 
          YEP. 
          THEY GOT SOMEBODY ON THE TIER BOARD. 
          IT IS OUTLANDISH WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          MS. CAYMAN HERSELF TOLD ME IN A PHONE CALL IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT THIS UP TO HER, THAT SHE IS LIMITED IN HOW MUCH SHE CAN OPPOSE THE TIER BECAUSE THEY HAVE BUDGETS BIGGER AND MORE 
          [03:45:02]
FLEXIBLE THAN WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE HERE IN THE CITY. 
          AND FOR THESE TIER BOARDS TO BE CONTROLLING 25% OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND PUTTING IN BIKE CENTRIC POSH PROMENADES, WHEN WE HAVE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE NO SIDEWALKS AND HAVE NO SERVICES, IT'S INEQUITABLE AND IT'S UNJUST. 
          AND I URGE YOU TO TURN DOWN THIS PROJECT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY REVIEW AND ONLY DO WHAT'S NECESSARY. 
          YES, WE NEED SIDEWALKS. 
          YES, WE NEED ACCESSIBILITY, BUT WE DON'T NEED 10 FOOT SHARED USE BIKE PATH ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          IT'S JUST OUTLANDISH. 
          WOW. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          WOULD YOU BELIEVE PERHAPS SOME OF IT'S BEING DRIVEN BY THE CONSULTANTS? I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN? WOULD YOU BELIEVE SOME OF IT'S BEING DRIVEN? THE PROPOSAL? OF COURSE, IT'S OF COURSE IT'S BY THE CONSULTANT. 
          WELL, YES. 
          AND WE ARE, WE ARE NOT A 5 0 3 C SOMEBODY MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, RIGHT? WE ARE JUST REGULAR OLD PEOPLE WHO BAND BANDED TOGETHER. 
          WE HAVE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, WE ARE ACROSS THE AISLE. 
          WE JUST HAVE REGULAR, WE DON'T HAVE A TAXPAYER FUNDED PR FIRM TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST ALL OF THIS NONSENSE THEY'RE PUTTING OUT IN THE MEDIA. 
          THEY, THEY PUT OUT THINGS. 
          MS. CAYMAN ACTUALLY FORWARDED IT HERSELF TO HER CONSTITUENTS THAT SAID, NO HEALTHY, NO HEALTHY LIVE OAK WILL BE REMOVED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. 
          AND IT WENT ALL OVER THE MEDIA. 
          IT WENT OUT EVERYWHERE. 
          AND THEN THE NEXT MEETING, THE TEARS ADDED IN THE MEDIANS. 
          LIKE THEY FOOTNOTE LIKE, OH, WE, WE LEFT THAT OUT BEFORE. 
          SO NO HEALTHY LIVE OAKS IN THE MEDIANS WILL BE REMOVED. 
          NOW MEANWHILE, IN THE MEDIANS, THEY'RE GONNA TAKE 10 FEET OFF OF THE MEDIANS AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE SIX FEET TOTAL OFF THE LANES. 
          SO WE'RE GOING TO, MONTROSE BOULEVARD IS GONNA DO THIS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE HUGE CONCRETE LADEN SHARED PATHS. 
          AND THEY, THEY, IT'S A ROAD DIET PROJECT. 
          THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, I, WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL THAT'S GONNA BE TERRIBLE, WE'RE GONNA, HOW WILL THE AMBULANCES, THE LANES ARE GONNA BE BASICALLY ALMOST A, JUST A SLIGHTLY BIT WIDER THAN THE FIRE TRUCKS. 
          AND IT'S LIKE, WELL THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE THEY'LL GO SLOWER. 
          AND THEY, AND, AND AIR ALLIANCE SHAME ON THEM SAYS, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE, THE CARBON PROBLEM OF CUTTING DOWN ALL THOSE TREES, THAT'LL BE MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE NUMBER OF HOUSTONIANS WHO WILL GIVE UP THEIR CARS AND BIKE. 
          BECAUSE THERE'S NOW BETTER BIKE PATHS. 
          I MEAN, I'M A CYCLIST. 
          I USED TO CYCLE ALL THE TIME IN EUROPE WHERE  IT, THE WEATHER WAS NICER AND YOU COULD DO IT. 
          AND THE CITY WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. 
          BUT HOUSTON IS NOT, HOUSTONIANS ARE NOT GONNA GIVE UP THEIR CARS BECAUSE OF A BI A BETTER BIKE PATH. 
          WE NEED TO HAVE MULTIMODAL RATIONAL PLANNING. 
          AND WE DO NOT HAVE IT WITH THIS PROJECT. 
          SO I URGE COUNSEL TO AT LEAST PUT IT ON HOLD TILL WE CAN HAVE THIS TOWN HALL AND WE CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? YES. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          'CAUSE YOU SAID SEVERAL THINGS, INCLUDING WHAT I SAID, AND WHAT I SAID IS THERE'S NO COUNCIL VOTE. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          NO, THAT'S NOT ALL YOU SAID. 
          YOU WELL, WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THAT IS MY TIME. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND THE MISINFORMATION THAT CONTINUES TO COME OUT, SAY MAYOR, AS IT RELATES TO THE PROJECT AND THE RESIDENTS FEEDBACK IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          JOHN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOUR FEEDBACK ISN'T VALUABLE, BUT WHEN YOU SAY THAT WIDER SIDEWALKS ARE BECAUSE OF A CONSULTING FIRM VERSUS HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS COMING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUTTING POST-ITS ON A MAP AND SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT. 
          AND THEN THE TURS SAYING, OKAY, WE HEAR YOU. 
          LET US INCORPORATE THE PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS. 
          THAT IS WHAT A TS IS SUPPOSED TO DO. 
          THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT AND INCORPORATE IT IN. 
          AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID. 
          AND I ALSO, LOOK, I HAVE MAYOR, AND YOU KNOW THIS, I HAVE NOW STOPPED CERTAIN PROJECTS BECAUSE OF TREES. 
          I AM TREE CENTRIC. 
          WE NEED AS MANY TREES AS WE CAN GET. 
          BUT WE ARE MISSING THE POINT WHEN IT COMES TO MONTROSE AND THE CRITICAL FLOOD MITIGATION RELIEF FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          I REFUSE TO ALLOW OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO CONTINUE TO FLOOD AND BE AT RISK OF FLOODING. 
          AND THAT INCLUDES IN MONTROSE. 
          SO AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT TO THIS MIX, RIGHT? THERE'S THE TREE CANOPY THAT WE LOVE AND WE CHERISH. 
          THERE'S THE FACT THAT FAMILIES NEED TO WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL AND THEY DO WALK TO SCHOOL. 
          AND I'M DON'T WANNA SEE ANY MORE PE PARENT, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS ATTACKING PARENTS THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND VICE VERSA. 
          WE SHOULD ALL BE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS THE BEST PROJECT POSSIBLE. 
          BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO IT THAN WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE. 
          AND THAT INCLUDES FLOODING. 
          YEAH. 
          SO THE, THE DRAINAGE CAN GO IN WITHOUT TAKING DOWN THE TREES. 
          WE'VE DONE IT ALL OVER HOUSTON, RIGHT? AND BY THE WAY, ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM CLAY IS A FULLY TRAFFIC LIGHT. 
          I TAUGHT MY CHILD TO USE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN HE CROSSED MONTROSE, NOT TRY TO CROSS WHERE THERE'S NO LIGHT. 
          THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO CALL JAYWALKING BACK WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          AND ONE, ONE BLOCK UP. 
          THOSE PEOPLE CAN CROSS AND GO RIGHT TO 
          [03:50:01]
THE FRONT DOOR OF THEIR SCHOOL. 
          IT'S NOT EVEN OUT OF THEIR WAY. 
          THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON MOTIVATING SOME OF THESE DESIGN DECISIONS. 
          AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S NOT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T MAKE SENSE. 
          THEY'RE NOT RATIONAL. 
          MAYOR, I HAVE THE 7,200 SIGNATURES AS WELL AS ABOUT 300 OR 400 COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE PETITION BY PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE PROJECT UNTIL OUR GROUP FORMED IN SEPTEMBER. 
          AND I'D LIKE TO PASS THAT TO YOU. 
          WELL, I THINK YOU NEED TO STAY ACTIVE AND MAYBE GROW YOUR GROUP. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE'S COUNTER INTEREST. 
          UH, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. 
          I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          I, I DO THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE ADVOCATING IT FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE ARE NO LONGER EMPLOYED. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S LISTEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          GOOD, GOOD. 
          KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. 
          GOOD JOB. 
          SIMON NEWTON BE FOLLOWED BY GREG LAGRAND. 
          TAKE THAT ONE WITH ME. 
          LEARNED THAT, LEARNED THIS TRICK AT CHURCH. 
          UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          I TOOK LEAVE FROM WORK TODAY TO BE HERE, SOMETHING THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE FOR MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS. 
          UH, AND FRIENDS. 
          MY NAME IS SIMON NEWTON, WITH MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG BOYS. 
          I'M A HOMEOWNER IN MONTROSE. 
          JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS OFF MONTROSE BOULEVARD. 
          I UNDERSTAND FROM LAST WEEK'S TOURS 27 MEETING THAT THE A HUNDRED PERCENT DESIGN FOR THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD SEGMENT ONE PROJECT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CITY FOR CONSIDERATION. 
          MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT APPROVED AND STARTED. 
          THE PROJECT HAS ITS ROOTS FOUR YEARS AGO IN A DRAINAGE STUDY, UM, FOLLOWED BY LIVABLE CENTER STUDY AND A SAFETY STUDY. 
          OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I'VE ATTENDED TOURIST MEETINGS, SEEING THE TOURIST PRESENT DRAFT PLANS, HOLD OPEN HOUSES, RESPOND TO FEEDBACK, MAKE CHANGES TO PLANS. 
          THE COMMUNITY WAS DEFINITELY ENGAGED IN THOSE TIME. 
          THE TURS HAS GOT DONE A GOOD JOB CAREFULLY BALANCING SEVERAL COMPETING PRIORITIES. 
          THIS PROJECT IS A BALANCE, UH, OF MANY ISSUES. 
          ONE OF THEM BEING FLOODING. 
          MY STREET FLOODS. 
          UH, I'VE SUBMITTED REPORTS ABOUT THIS TO 3 1 1. 
          AND THEY ADVISE IT'S NOT A SURFACE ISSUE, IT'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD. 
          EVERYONE ELSE IS. 
          SURE. 
          , I DRIVE MONTROSE BOULEVARD DAILY. 
          THIS PROJECT IS NEEDED TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND, AND, UH, CRASHES ARE DOCUMENTED BY THE STATE IN THEIR HIGH INJURY NETWORK DESIGNATION. 
          YES, WE WILL LOSE SOME TREE SHADE IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT OVER TIME, UH, THE 130 SOME NEW TREES REPLACING 57 THAT WILL BE REMOVED WILL PROVIDE MORE SHADE. 
          IT'LL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT IT'LL BE A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND WE WANT IT. 
          THE PROJECT IS ENDORSED BY THE NEAR TOWN ASSOCIATION. 
          BASICALLY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD TREES FOR HOUSTON AMONG OTHERS. 
          I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. 
          THAT'S ALL. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOUR NEXT GREG LAGRAND, ROBERT CHOATE BE FOLLOWED BY DAPHNE SCARBOROUGH. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          I HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU ABOUT THE LIGHT AT 11TH AND NICHOLSON. 
          I SUGGESTED THAT TO IAN HAVLICEK, THE ENGINEER AND FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATION. 
          HE SAID IT VIOLATES THE STATE TRAFFIC CODE, SOMETHING ABOUT PROXIMITY OF STOP SIGNS OR SOMETHING. 
          AND I JUST SIMPLY SAID TO HIM, I HAVE ONE WORD FOR YOU, VARIANCE. 
          AND HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS FROM PLANET NAZAR. 
          SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED THERE. 
          SO WE HAD TO GO OUT AND GET $1.4 MILLION TO MAKE 11TH STREET A FOSTER CLOCK WITH PLASTIC POLES. 
          AND AS OTHER PEOPLE SAID, CONCRETE MEDIANS AND THE DESTROYING SMALL BUSINESSES. 
          I AGREE. 
          ONE PART OF 11TH IS PRETTY NICE. 
          IF IT COULD BE ALL LIKE THE 600 BLOCK, IT'D BE GREAT. 
          BUT IT ISN'T. 
          YOU TAKE IT FURTHER, YOU KNOW, PA UH, WEST OF HIGH SCHOOL BOULEVARD AND IT'S A MESS AND IT, IT, IT NEEDS TO BE REVISED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, I REALLY CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          PASTOR MICHAEL DORN, WHO YOU HEARD EARLIER, IS MY PASTOR. 
          I'M A, I AM A MEMBER OF THAT CHURCH. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          YEAH, GO AHEAD. 
          OH, MY PARKING METER'S EXPIRED. 
          I HATE TO GET A TICKET, BUT, UH, BUT THANK YOU. 
          YEAH. 
          FREE. 
          UM, OVER THE COURSE OF 11 YEARS, WE HAD TWO CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL THAT USED TO BE AT THAT SITE. 
          WE DROVE THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION, EITHER MY WIFE OR I, NO LESS THAN LITERALLY 500 TIMES A YEAR BETWEEN SCHOOL, CHURCH ATTENDANCE, CHURCH MEETINGS, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, WHAT HAVE YOU. 
          NEVER SAW AN ACCIDENT AT THAT INTERSECTION. 
          WE HAD SCHOOL ON TWO SIDES OF THE STREET. 
          WE USED TO CROSS WHOLE CLASSES OF, OF KIDS ACROSS 
          [03:55:01]
WASHINGTON AVENUE, ABOUT 150 FEET EAST OF HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          WE ACTUALLY CAME TO THE CITY AND SAID, GEE, WE'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING HERE. 
          UH, WE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING A A, A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, BUT BECAUSE THE MA MAJOR THOROUGHFARE TO DOWNTOWN COULDN'T DO IT, ASKED FOR A LIGHT. 
          BASICALLY THE CITY'S ATTITUDE AT THAT TIME WAS TEACH THE KIDS HOW TO RUN. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I SUPPORT THAT. 
          ALL THESE OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE COME IN HERE AND SAID, OH MY GOSH, IT'S SO HARD TO CROSS THIS STREET. 
          WELL, YOU KNOW SOMETHING. 
          WHY'D YOU BUY A HOUSE THERE? AND LIKE I SAY, TEACH YOUR KIDS TO RUN AND TO OBEY THE LAW. 
          UH, I SUPPORT AND ENDORSE THE COMMENTS MADE BY PASTOR MICHAEL DORN AND BERRY AND JOANNA HIT, UH, HANCOCK WHO JUST CAME UP THE REFERENCE. 
          THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE REFERENCES TO THE TRAGIC DEATH OF THIS JAMES INDIVIDUAL ON, ON, UH, HOUSTON AVENUE. 
          THAT'S A DESPICABLE RED HERRING. 
          THAT DEATH OCCURRED ABOUT THREE BLOCKS NORTH OF WHERE ALL THE WORK WAS DONE. 
          THE WORK THAT'S SITTING THERE NOW WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED THAT DEATH. 
          I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW ATTITUDE HERE ON COUNCIL. 
          I'VE WATCHED EVERY MEETING, ALMOST EVERY MEETING AND AS GREAT DISCUSSION, GREAT INPUT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. 
          AND I'M SORRY MS. CAYMAN IS OUT OF THIS MEETING BECAUSE I WANNA TELL HER THIS IS NOT HER TIME. 
          THIS IS PUBLIC SESSION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT. 
          I LOST MY PLACE. 
          HELLO, DAPHNE SCARBOROUGH. 
          THAT'S ME. 
          YES. 
          UH, AND IT'S SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          SO, AND COUNCIL, IT'S NICE TO SEE NEW FACES. 
          SO TODAY YOU'VE HAD SUCH AN INTERESTING AFTERNOON. 
          I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT WHERE ALL THIS COMES FROM, FROM THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND THE TURS. 
          AND I HAVE HANDOUTS FOR YOU BECAUSE THE LAW HAS CHANGED IN THE LEGISLATURE. 
          AND ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2019, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED HOUSE BILL 3 0 4, WHICH, UH, STATE REP DENNIS PAUL. 
          SO GALLANTLY FOLLOWED AND GOT IT DONE THROUGH THREE SESSIONS. 
          SO RIGHT NOW THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS, AND THEY WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO JOIN TO FORM WITH JUST 25 SIGNATURES ON A PETITION. 
          SO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          OH, THANK YOU. 
          SO ANYWAY, WHEN YOU READ THE BILL, YOU'LL SEE WHAT THE BILL HAS ENTAILED. 
          IT DEALS WITH THE BONDS THAT THESE SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND THE TOURS WANT TO PUT OUT BECAUSE EVEN ON THE MONTROSE PROJECT, FOR THE MONTROSE TURNERS, YOU'RE TALKING $54 MILLION, WHICH THEY WILL BE BONDING OUT BASED UPON THE, THE SALES, I MEAN THE, UH, PROPERTY TAX THAT THEY'LL BE GETTING FROM PEOPLE. 
          AND OF COURSE THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS ARE ALSO, UM, FUNDED. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE UNDERSTAND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          GINA WALLY. 
          GINA WILEY. 
          ARE YOU HERE? NEXT SPEAKER. 
          NATALIE ROGERS. 
          NATALIE ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO PERDU. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TODAY. 
          I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND MY NEIGHBORS WITH CONCERNS OF EIGHT 800 MIDDLE STREET. 
          WE LIVE ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM THE PROJECT. 
          MY HUSBAND IS THE PRESIDENT OF ONE OF THE HOAS. 
          SO MY COMMENTS ARE NOT JUST MINE TODAY, SINCE MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS WERE WENT, WERE UNABLE TO LEAVE WORK TO TALK TO YOU THE MIDDLE OF A WORKDAY. 
          BACK IN 2018, MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR HOME AND MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORS BOUGHT BEFORE THEN. 
          NOBODY TOLD US HOW MUCH CONTAMINATION EXISTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY CLAIMS THEY MADE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES. 
          HOWEVER WE'VE LEARNED, THEY FILED FALSE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WITH HUD. 
          MOST RECENTLY WE'VE LEARNED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CONCEALED THE FACT THAT THEY WERE USING 13 MILLION FEDERAL HOUSING DOLLARS TO PURCHASE THE TWO. 
          ASHLEY AND PHILS, OUR QUESTION IS, WHY DID THEY USE THE 13 MILLION SOME? WHY DIDN'T THEY USE THE 13 MILLION SOMEPLACE 
          [04:00:01]
THE TIME HAS EXPIRED? CAN I CONTINUE? COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, SHE CAN HAVE MY TIME. 
          YES. 
          OUR QUESTION IS WHY DIDN'T THEY USE THE 13 MILLION SOMEPLACE ELSE IN THE SECOND WARD TO BUILD SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING? SINCE THEN, THE CITY HAS ADMITTED ON THE INTERNET, THE ASH CREATED BY THE CITY CONTAINS LEAD UP TO NINE TIMES ALLOWABLE CONTACT LIMITS AND HAS DIOXINS AND OTHER CANCER CAUSING TOXINS IN IT. 
          THOSE OF US IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK TO OUR CHILDREN, OUR CELL, OURSELVES, AND OUR PETS THAT WE WALK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          AND HOW MUCH OF THAT POISON IS GETTING TRACKED INTO OUR HOME? NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE WORKERS WORKING ON THIS, THIS PROJECT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHO OFTEN DON'T HAVE PROTECTIVE GEAR ON. 
          ANOTHER CONCERN IN QUESTION WE ALL HAVE IS WHY WOULD THE CITY ALLOW OR FORCE RIGHT NOW 400 LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THEIR KIDS TO MOVE INTO THIS DEVELOPMENT BEFORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS COMPLETELY CLEANED UP? THIS CAN'T BE LEGAL AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T TRUST THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY TO CLEAN UP THE POISON. 
          WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE STOP THIS PROJECT NOW. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          ANTONIO PADUA. 
          ANTONIO ALLEGATION. 
          GO AHEAD SIR. 
          ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          I LIVE TWO BLOCKS WEST OF THE 800 MIDDLE STREET PROJECT. 
          I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS AND I'M ALSO A HOUSING DEVELOPER IN THE AREA. 
          WE, UM, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN RACING CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND SAFETY OF THIS PROJECT SINCE 2019. 
          AND AFTER YEARS OF KEEPING THEIR PLAN SECRET, WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THEIR $100 MILLION SOLUTION TO FIX TRAFFIC WAS TO PUT A BUILDING TO BLOCK THE ONLY EXISTING CITY OF HOUSTON RIGHT OF WAY THAT CONNECTS THIS PROPERTY EAST TO VELASCO STREET. 
          THIS WAS, UH, IN VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 42 INTER INTERSECTION SPACING REQUIREMENTS. 
          THIS HAS FORCED ALL THE TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAS ALREADY CAUSED TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. 
          CAN I, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YEAH, HE CAN HAVE FINISH YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU SOME OF MY TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO ADDITIONALLY, THE, UM, THE, THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER SUBMITTED TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT HAVE FALSE ASSUMPTIONS IN ORDER TO GET THEIR PLAN APPROVED. 
          LASTLY, THE DEVELOPER PLANNED THE BUILDING WITHIN THE RADIO TOWER COLLAPSED ZONE BY MISREPRESENTING ITS HEIGHT BY 700 FEET. 
          IN CONCLUSION, THE CITY ISSUED A BUILDING PERMITS FOR THIS PROJECT BASED ON FALSE REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY THE DEVELOPER. 
          AND WE ARE ASKING THAT THE CITY RED TAG IT UNTIL THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED. 
          AND I'M SORRY YOU GUYS HAVE INHERITED THIS MESS, BUT WE ARE HOPEFUL THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT WAS PAM LEWIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAROLYN RIVERA. 
          GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          I'M PAM LEWIS. 
          I'M THE BOARD CHAIR OF COMPASSIONATE HOUSTON, AND I'M HERE WITH TWO COLLEAGUES, MARLON MURDOCH AND RAYMOND STUBBLEFIELD TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR A ONE DAY LONG HOUSTON WIDE KINDNESS INITIATIVE ON FEBRUARY THE 17TH, COMPASSIONATE HOUSTON IS A 12-YEAR-OLD NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO CULTIVATING THE COMPASSIONATE CULTURE OF GREATER HOUSTON. 
          WE ARE AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OF ABOUT 30 ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS AND INDIVIDUALS, ALL OF WHOM ARE COMMITTED TO THE VALUES OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION. 
          WE WERE ACTUALLY FOUNDED WITH, AS A PARTNER OF THE CITY IN 2011. 
          AS EACH OF YOU WELL KNOW, HOUSTON IS A CARING CITY. 
          AT ITS VERY CORE, THE BIG HEART, WHICH IS ONE OF YOUR TIME, HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE BIG HEART, YOU'RE SPREADING ALL THIS COMPASSION. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          I'M FOR, SHOW ME FOR IT. 
          THE BIG HEART IS ONE OF HOUSTON'S BEST 
          [04:05:01]
NICKNAMES, AND IT WAS DEVELOPED AS A TRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S ENORMOUS PHILANTHROPY AND WARM, WELCOMING NATURE. 
          WE'RE LIVING NOW THOUGH IN CHALLENGING TIMES AND MANY OF OUR OWN CITIZENS, MANY OF US, LIKE MUCH OF HUMANITY, FEEL ANXIOUS, OVERWHELMED. 
          AND ACCORDING TO THE US SURGEON GENERAL, 50% OF US ARE LONELY. 
          MANY OF US HAVE BEEN SEEKING PROVEN INITIATIVES TO HELP AMPLIFY RESILIENCE, POSITIVITY, AND CONNECTION AS ANTIDOTES TO THOSE STATES. 
          KINDNESS IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN, CAPABLE OF STRENGTHENING BONDS OF COMMUNITY WHILE IMPROVING INDIVIDUAL WELLBEING. 
          WILL YOU HELP COMPASSIONATE HOUSTON CELEBRATE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY ON FEBRUARY THE 17TH? VERY GOOD. 
          PARDON? I SAID VERY GOOD. 
          WONDERFUL. 
          I HOPE YOU WILL. 
          AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, THAT IS A DAY THAT ANNUALLY ON FEBRUARY THE 17TH ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO SPREAD KINDNESS AND CARE AND STRENGTHEN THE BONDS THAT TIE US TOGETHER. 
          MY COLLEAGUE RAYMOND HAS PROVIDED OUR DIGITAL THREE PAGE FLYER THROUGH YOUR STAFF MAILBOXES. 
          AND THE FLYER HAS MANY PRACTICAL INITIATIVES OKAY. 
          FOR YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT CON THAT KINDNESS IS VERY CONTAGIOUS. 
          AND IF YOU'LL HELP US BY USING OUR HASHTAGS, WE CAN SHOW THAT THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS THAT CAN RIPPLE ACROSS HOUSTON. 
          AND REALLY, WE, WE BELIEVE THAT IF ANY OF YOU DO LARGE PROJECTS AND WOULD NOTIFY US A FEW DAYS EARLY, WE COULD REALLY HELP HIGHLIGHT EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE YOU. 
          NEXT CAROLYN RIVERA TO BE FOLLOWED BY HANZA BRANCH. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M CAROLYN RIVERA FROM DISTRICT B. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR FOR LISTENING TO RESIDENTS AND ADDRESSING NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          EQUALLY, I AM HERE ABOUT CITY GAS, EAST HOUSTON, TRUCK ROUTE PILOT. 
          I LIVE IN CITY GAS, WHICH IS TWO SQUARE MILES WITH OVER 8,000 RESIDENTS WHOSE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 20 YEARS BELOW AVERAGE. 
          THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS ARE NARROW, MANY ARE BUYING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND MAKING IT A TRUCKING BUSINESS, HAVING A DEVASTATED EFFECT ON OUR HEALTH, SOIL AND AIR. 
          LAST YEAR, TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED DUE TO 18 WHEELER TRUCK ACCIDENTS. 
          DIESEL FUEL FUMES HAS MANY CANCER CAUSING SUBSTANCE. 
          IT IT IRRITATES THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM CAUSING NAUSEA AND HEADACHE IF TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          . 
          IS ANYTHING IN PLACE FOR AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? WHAT'S THE CITY'S PROMISE TO US? IF THE PILOT MAKES THINGS WORK, HUMAN LIVES ARE AT STAKE. 
          WE'VE MET WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND HAVE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS PLAYING ALONG WITH THE TRUCK PILOT. 
          WE ARE ASKING FOR A MORATORIUM BECAUSE HEALTH AND SAFETY IS BEING COMPROMISED WITH ALL OF THESE 18 WHEELERS, HUNDREDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TWO AND A HALF SQUARE MILES, OVER 8,000 PEOPLE. 
          AND I INVITE ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          WHOOP MA'AM. 
          MS. CAROLYN, MA'AM. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          MS. RIVIERA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING IN. 
          UM, I KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A FEW, A COUPLE OF THE SPEAKERS IS TALKING ABOUT THE TRUCK. 
          YES. 
          REROUTING ORDINANCE. 
          UM, WHICH MAYOR, WHEN I CAME IN THE OFFICE, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS OF THE RESIDENCE IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF TOWN WAS THE TRUCKS COMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND SO, UM, I KNOW THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH YOU GUYS AND THEY, THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND CITY GAS, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE PILOT LOCATION. 
          YES. 
          UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE IN CITY GAS ON FRIDAY TO TALK WITH THE LEADERS AND DO A WALKTHROUGH ON THIS PARTICULAR PLAN. 
          SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. 
          WE WANT THE TRUCKS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          I SEE A LOT OF RED, THE RED IS MEANING THAT THE TRUCKS 
          [04:10:01]
WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THESE AREAS. 
          AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY ASKS FOR TO KEEP THE TRUCKS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND THIS IS WHAT THIS PLAN, UM, IS ALL ABOUT. 
          BUT WE NEED YOUR INPUT, WHAT IS GOOD, WHAT IS NOT WORKING, AND UM, JUST AGAIN, WORK CLOSELY WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. 
          AND I WILL, UM, YES, CONTINUE TO. 
          YES. 
          IT'S VERY SAD FOR ME AND THE RESIDENTS WHO'VE BEEN THERE. 
          I'VE BEEN THERE 45 YEARS, HAD GARDENS, BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN MY YARD. 
          I CANNOT BECAUSE TRUCKS ARE DRIVING THROUGH. 
          YEAH. 
          AND WHO I CAN NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD BE IN HELL IN THOSE DIESEL FUMES. 
          EXACTLY. 
          SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN YOUR, THE CITY, THE COMM CONSTITUENTS COMPLAINT. 
          IT'S THE TRUCKS. 
          SO WE ARE WORKING ON IT, YOU KNOW, SO JUST, YOU KNOW, STOP 'EM FROM COMING, WORKING OFF THAT MARCH. 
          STOP 'EM FROM COMING IN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SZA BRANCH. 
          HELLO EVERYBODY. 
          MY NAME IS SZA BRANCH AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. 
          I LIVE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS POLLUTED BY TRUCK TRAFFIC THAT IS THREATENING OUR LIVES AND HEALTH. 
          DECADES OF RESEARCH SHOWED THE LOW INCOME AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE CONSISTENTLY TARGETED FOR THE PLACEMENT OF TOXIC FACILITIES SUCH AS CHEMICAL PLANTS OR REFINERIES. 
          THE HAZARDOUS WASTE LANDFILLS, THE HIGHEST CONS, CONCENTRATIONS OF SMOG IN THE HOUSTON AREA. 
          WERE WERE FOUND NEAR LATINO, BLACK AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. 
          MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DIVIDED TO MAKE WAY FOR HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION HUBS. 
          BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF GOVERNMENT PROTECTION. 
          WE SUFFER FROM BREATHING AND HEART PROBLEMS, CANCER, REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES, AND EVEN DEATH IN HOUSTON. 
          BLACK CHILDREN ARE MORE THAN, ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP ASTHMA THAN WHITE CHILDREN. 
          THERE ARE SEVERAL CANCER CLUSTERS AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN HOUSTON, WHICH HAVE BEEN LINKED TO EMISSIONS BY THE RAILROAD INDUSTRIAL. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          UH, MA'AM, YOU WANT TO WRAP IT UP WITH ANOTHER COMMENT? YEAH. 
          IT SAYS, IT SAYS THE, THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE A RECORD OF CARING ABOUT US AND IS NOT ASKING US TO TRUST A NEW PROGRAM THAT COULD FIRST BE TESTED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS HEALTHIER AND SAFER TO BEGIN WITH. 
          THE PORTION OF THE ROUTE ON TIDWELL SERVES NO REAL NEED. 
          WE HAVE SEEN BOTH UNINTENDED AND INTENDED IMPACTS OF POLICIES THAT HURT OUR HEALTH. 
          WHAT CAN WE DO IF THE TRUCK ROUTE MAKES POLLUTION AND ASTHMA WORSE? WE ARE WORRIED THAT THIS TRUCK ROUTE IS NOTHING MORE THAN WENDELL DRESSING. 
          WE NEED A FULL MEMBER MORE. 
          YES. 
          ON NEW TRUCKING AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. 
          WE NEED A PROMISE THAT IF THE TRUCK POLLUTION GETS WORSE, THE CITY WILL STOP THE PROGRAM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, COURTNEY REBELS. 
          UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          WELL, GOOD EVENING YOU GUYS. 
          UM, AND WELCOME MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL THE NEW COUNCIL PERSONS. 
          I TOO AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE TRUCK ROUTE. 
          UM, SO AS IT, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE A TRUCK ROUTE THAT WILL RESTRICT HOW TRUCKS MOVE. 
          WE ARE JUST NOT EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE. 
          OKAY. 
          IT IS, IT IS WELL INTENTIONED, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN THOROUGH THOUGHT. 
          SO SOME OF THESE RED LINES. 
          SO FIRST OFF, WE'RE, WE'RE A COMMUNITY. 
          WE'RE, WE'RE A CITY THAT HAS NO ZONING. 
          SO WE ARE INUNDATED WITH TRUCK COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES THAT ALLOW FOR TRUCKS TO COME THROUGH ALREADY. 
          SO WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THEIR BUSINESS. 
          WHAT WE DO NOT WANT IS TO HAVE THROUGH TRUCKS IN PLACES THAT CURRENTLY REQUIRE NO THROUGH TRUCKS. 
          THE PLACE ON TIDWELL THAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT BETWEEN JOHN ROSTON AND MESA IS ACTUALLY WHERE I LIVE, WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING ROBIN'S LANDING. 
          THAT'S ONLY TWO LANES THAT WILL MAKE THAT STREET A THROUGH A LOCAL THROUGH TRUCK ROUTE. 
          AND WE DON'T WANT THAT. 
          THERE IS NO, THERE IS NO BUSINESS FOR THEM TO DO IN THAT AREA. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING GO AHEAD AND FINISH. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY, WHAT WHAT WE ACTUALLY FEEL WILL HAPPEN IS THAT IT WILL, IT WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY ROUTE TRUCKS TO THIS AREA BECAUSE WE'RE ESTABLISHING A TRUCK ROUTE. 
          SO THAT MEANS TRUCK, THE, THE TRUCKS WILL BE RESTRICTED FROM RIDING IN OTHER PLACES. 
          SO WE KNOW THIS WILL BRING MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THIS IS ALSO EVERY MAJOR STREET OF MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          IT'S NOT JUST CGAT, THIS IS THE CGAT EAST HOUSTON AREA. 
          IT'S THE ENTIRE AREA. 
          SO WE ARE ASKING 
          [04:15:01]
FOR A MORATORIUM, BUT NOT JUST A MORATORIUM. 
          WE WANNA SEE A MORATORIUM UNTIL A HEALTH STUDY IS DONE. 
          THERE'S ALREADY GONNA BE A TRAFFIC STUDY DONE, BUT WE FEEL IT'S INCOMPLETE. 
          IF IT ONLY STUDIES WAYSIDE, THEN IT HAS DONE AN INCOMPLETE JOB AND IT WILL NOT TELL THE COMPLETE STORY OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES FACE EVERY DAY. 
          THE ONLY STREET THAT WILL SEE SOME REPRIEVE IS EAST HOUSTON. 
          RIGHT. 
          AND THAT'S THE MOST INUNDATED WITH TRUCKS. 
          SO WE WON'T EVEN GET THE TYPE OF REPRIEVE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HOPING FOR. 
          DOCK ROAD, WHICH IS MS. RIVERA STREET. 
          IT'S ALL RED, BUT GUESS WHAT, THERE'S A GOLD STAR MEDALS AT THE END OF HER, AT THE END OF HER STREET. 
          SO YOU CAN RESTRICT THE TRUCKS FROM COMING THROUGH THERE. 
          SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A HEALTH STUDY DONE IN SET OF GAS. 
          OUR AIR MONITOR THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY THE TCEQ HAS IT, IT TRIGGERED RE-REGULATION. 
          WE WILL BE HAVING, THEY WILL BE DOING A, THEY DID A SPECIATION OF THE AIR MONITOR AND WE WILL BE GETTING THOSE RESULTS BACK IN MARCH. 
          SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU AT LEAST WAIT UNTIL WE'VE HAD TIME TO TALK TO HGA AND THE TCEQ AND SEE WHAT THOSE RESULTS SAY. 
          AND IT'S GONNA SAY THAT THE TWO, THE PM 2.5 IS COMING FROM THESE DIESEL TRUCKS. 
          AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE REPRIEVE FROM THAT AND NOT A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL GIVE THEM FREE REIGN TO MOVE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK COUNCIL JACKSON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU COURTNEY FOR JUST YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WORKING ON EVERYTHING, PARTS, TRUCKING, JUST EVERYTHING. 
          SO, 'CAUSE WE HAVE THOSE ISSUES. 
          WE GOT ALL THE ISSUES. 
          YEAH. 
          AND I APPRECIATE YOU. 
          AND SO, UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO PLANNING AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE WILL GET THAT TO THEM. 
          OKAY? YES MA'AM. 
          AND THAT'S A MEETING. 
          THAT'S A MEETING AND COUNCIL PERSON. 
          JACKSON, CAN YOU TELL THE PEOPLE IN YOUR OFFICE TO STOP TELLING ME THAT THIS IS COMING REGARDLESS, TO STOP TELLING ME THAT I'M LOOKING FOR AN EASY WAY OUT. 
          IT IS HARD TO WORK WITH MY COUNCIL PERSON'S OFFICE WHEN MARY AND PJ ARE TELLING ME THAT I'M NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING. 
          MAYBE THEY SHOULD BRING MY COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY TO YOU AND YOU CAN HELP ME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT Y YALDA. 
          IGHT. 
          GREAT PRONUNCIATION. 
          THANK YOU . 
          I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE, UM, I THINK WHAT'S CALLED, UM, HAPPY HOUR MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UM, I APPRECIATE THIS ONE MINUTE. 
          I'M RECEIVING TODAY THIS TIKTOK, IF YOU WILL. 
          I'M ASKING THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS EXAMINE HOW THEY SERVE AND ADVOCATE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. 
          I'D LIKE TO HONOR, UH, JUDSON W ROBINSON SENIOR, THE FIRST BLACK HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, SERVING ON THIS, THIS COUNCIL, THIS VERY COUNCIL, UH, HE WAS THE FOUNDER OF PLEASANTVILLE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. 
          ALONGSIDE JEWISH AMERICAN ALLIES AND DEVELOPERS, MR. ROBINSON WAS AN ADVOCATE PROMOTING THE VOTE THAT SECURED HIS SPOT ON THIS VERY COUNCIL. 
          TODAY THERE ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE THOMAS AND POLLARD CARRYING ON THAT LEGACY OF AFFORDABLE AND, AND FAIR HOUSING SO THAT OUR NEIGHBORS NOT ONLY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, SURVIVE, BUT ALSO HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE, WHERE HOUSING AND COMMERCE ARE INTERTWINED. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS THOMAS AND PLUMMER FOR TAKING STEPS TO PROMOTE PEACE AND PRESERVE HUMANITY IN OUR CITY, UM, AND SOCIETY AT LARGE. 
          I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY ALONGSIDE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLU THOMAS POER. 
          I'VE SEEN THEM LITERALLY ROLL THEIR SLEEVES UP AND, UH, HAS EXPIRED GIVING, UM, THEIR CONSTITUENTS MUCH NEEDED PRODUCE BOXES DURING, UM, OUR HORRIBLE PANDEMIC. 
          I ASK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PROTECT FUTURE HOUSTONIANS. 
          THE, THE HOUSTONIANS THAT I SEE IN DISTRICT J WHO HAVE SCARS AND WOUNDS OF WAR FROM SHRAPNEL AND, UM, CHEMICAL BURNS. 
          THIS COUNCIL IN THE EIGHTIES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR KATHY WHITMEYER, DIVESTED CITY PENSION INVESTMENTS FROM COMPANIES JUST DOING BUSINESS IN APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA. 
          THERE ARE 33 DAYS UNTIL RAMADAN. 
          SO PLEASE SAVE THE DATE FOR SOME INTERESTING CON CONVERSATIONS AT DINNERS. 
          AND IF DOLLARS. 
          AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MUSLIM TRADITION, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A DAD JOKE ABOUT SAVING THE DATE AND HOW WE BREAK OUR FAST. 
          UM, AGAIN, I ASK THAT EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PERSONALLY CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE, UM, IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE IN THE FAIR TREATMENT OF ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF ISRAEL, WE MUST COUNTERACT RISING ISLAMOPHOBIA AND VIOLENT ACTS. 
          ADVOCATE FOR THE SAFETY OF PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS, NOT JUST IN THOSE OCCUPIED STATES, BUT FOR OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. 
          VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SIMONE ADAMS BE FOLLOWED BY DARL HARPER. 
          GOOD EVENING ALL OF Y'ALL. 
          UM, MY NAME IS SIMONE ADAMS AND I PROVIDED YOU ALL WITH PICTURES. 
          I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE CROSSING AT WHITE OAK AND MISHAW, WHICH IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE 11TH STREET PROJECT. 
          IT'S THE VERY TAIL END OF THE PROJECT WHERE THE BIKE LANE ENDS AND CONNECTS TO THE PARK. 
          [04:20:01]
SO, UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IS A COMPROMISE THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE, THERE'S FOUR PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STREET. 
          SHAW, THE TWO CROSSING, THE TWO CONCRETE BARRIERS IN THE MIDDLE HAVE PREVENTED US FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE A LEFT TURN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ANYMORE. 
          SO WE INSTEAD HAVE TO TAKE A LEFT ELSEWHERE OR GO ALL THE WAY AROUND, WHICH CAUSES EVERYONE TO HAVE TO CRISSCROSS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          UM, I FEEL LIKE THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM IN THIS DESIGN FOR THOSE TWO MIDDLE SECTIONS TO BE REMOVED AND THE OTHER PEOPLE TO STILL CROSS SAFELY AS WELL AS STAND ON THE PEDESTRIAN ISLAND SAFELY. 
          AND THE OTHER PICTURE I PROVIDED WAS JUST FOR FUN TO SHOW YOU THAT THE SIGNS ARE NOT ONLY VISUAL CLUTTER, BUT CLUT CLUTTER. 
          YOUR TIME EXPIRED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD. 
          DID YOU FINISH? YES. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT DARRELL HARPER SAYEED NVI, ALL PRAISED DUE TO GOD, THE MASTER OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 
          LET US HEED THE TIMELESS WISDOM OF PROVERBS FOR IT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO OUR HEARTS IN THESE MOMENTS OF CRISIS. 
          TO SHOW PARTIALITY IN JUDGING IS NOT GOOD. 
          WHOEVER SAYS TO THE GUILTY YOU ARE INNOCENT WILL BE CURSED BY PEOPLES AND DENOUNCED BY NATIONS. 
          66% OF THE VOTERS AGREE FOR CEASEFIRE WHILE US GOVERNMENT CALLED NOT FOR CEASEFIRE AT THE UNITED NATIONS, WHAT ISRAELI MINISTERS ARE DOING, AND I'LL QUOTE ONE OF THE PROVERBS 24 15, DO NOT LURK LIKE A THIEF NEAR THE HOUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS. 
          DO NOT PLUNDER THEIR DWELLING PLACE FOR THOSE FOR THOUGH THE RIGHTEOUS FALL. 
          SEVEN TIMES THEY RISE AGAIN WHILE HIS ISRAELI MINISTER'S CALL FOR RESETTLEMENT IN GAZA. 
          YOU CAN LOOK UP AT PAGE NUMBER FOUR AND FIVE. 
          IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, GIVE HIM FOOD TO EAT. 
          IF HE'S THIRSTY, GIVE HIM WATER TO DRINK. 
          PROVERB 25, 21, WHILE THE DEFENSE MINISTER CALLED FOR NO ELECTRICITY, FOOD, WATER, OR GAS COMPLETE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          AND I HAVE A THANK YOU. 
          THE WORDS OF WISDOM THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT BE SURE OF THIS, THE WICKED WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL FIND FREEDOM. 
          THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NEVER BE UPROOTED. 
          FINDING REF, UH, REFUGE EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, WHILE THE WICKED WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE LAND. 
          WHEN THE CALAMITY COMES, THE WICKED ARE BROUGHT DOWN. 
          BUT EVEN IN DEBT, THE RIGHTEOUS SEEK REFUGE IN GOD. 
          AND YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OR WATCHED PALESTINIANS CALLING WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE DIE, THEY CALL HUSBAND ALLAH, WHICH IS GOD IS SUFFICIENT FOR US. 
          THAT IS HOW YOU SEEK REFUGE IN THE TIME OF DEATH. 
          FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR YOU TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, AND YOU WOULD ASK WHY. 
          AND THAT'S PROVERB 24 11. 
          RESCUE THOSE BEING LED AWAY TO DEATH. 
          HOLD BACK THOSE STAGGERING TOWARDS SLAUGHTER. 
          ONE OUT OF THREE US ADULT CITIZENS. 
          ON THE LAST PAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE DATA AGREE THAT ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE AGAINST PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS. 
          THESE ARE US ADULT CITIZENS. 
          ONE OUT OF THREE AGREE TO THAT. 
          AND THEN THE PROVERB CONTINUES IF YOU SAY, BUT WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. 
          DOES NOT GOD WHO WEIGHS THE HEART PERCEIVE IT, BUT DOES NOT GOD WHO GUARDS YOUR LIFE KNOWS IT WILL HE NOT REPAY EVERYONE? AND EVERYONE MEANS ALL OF US ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, ACCORDING TO WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. 
          AND I HOPE IT'S THE LAST YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO TRY TO WRAP IT. 
          SURE. 
          THIS IS THE LAST, UM, THE LAST IS LET US BE THE INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE IN THIS TURAL TIME. 
          AND LET US STAND ON THE SIDE OF JUSTICE. 
          WE HAVE RIGHT HERE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, FREEDOM, COMPASSION THAT US CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE, THE SAKE OF ALL HUMANITY. 
          FREE PALESTINE. 
          VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, JEREMY HARPER, FATIMA NASSER, WATA HASSAN, 
          [04:25:09]
MR. ASTRO, JACOB CLEMENTE . 
          I I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT AND SIMPLE FOR YOU. 
          PLEASE, ALL OF Y'ALL, I'D LIKE TO, OFFICIALS STILL REMAINING HERE, AUTOGRAPH THESE TWO SHIRTS FOR ME BECAUSE THEY'RE THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS AND I, THEY'LL BE MORE VALUABLE TO ME IF Y'ALL AUTOGRAPH THEM. 
          UM, AND UM, WELL, IT WAS GOOD SEEING YOU AND YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS BECAUSE YOU, YOU WERE THE, UM, UM, PRESIDENT OF THAT ASTROS EXPLANATION. 
          WELL, YOU KNOW, YOUR ORANGE JACKET LOOKS GOOD ON YOU. 
          WELL, THANKS. 
          AND I ALWAYS WEAR THE RING. 
          WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THIS. 
          WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE ASTRO? HUH? WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ASTRO? HER . 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THREE TIME'S UP. 
          HERE'S THE SHIRT. 
          GOOD JOB. 
          THE NG PARK IS EXCELLENT. 
          THEY HAVE A GREAT, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY SUPPOSED INCUMBENT CORPORATION. 
          BUT, UM, CAN YOU PASS THESE? THE YEAH, WE'LL HOLD ON TO IT FOR YOU ALL AUTO. 
          Y'ALL AUTOMOBILE PLEASE. 
          HEY, TO ME, Y'ALL ARE CELEBRITIES. 
          YEAH, Y'ALL ARE. 
          WE FEEL LIKE 'EM TODAY, THAT'S FOR SURE. 
          GUESS WHO, GUESS WHO RESIGNED WITH THE ASTROS THIS AFTERNOON? TUVI. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          I HATE, I HATE TO BE LETTING THE ANNOUNCEMENT GET OUT, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS TO BE CELEBRATING. 
          TUVI. 
          FIVE MORE YEARS. 
          OH, FOR A SMALL AMOUNT. 
          HE'S GOING BE BETTER THAN CRAIG. 
          GIO PROBABLY. 
          LISTEN, WE GOTTA FINISH UP HERE. 
          OKAY. 
          WAIT, I WANT THE SECOND SONG BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE FARMER JOHN AND I GO, OH, FARMER AND JAKE HAD A FAVORITE BASEBALL TEAM. 
          E-A-E-A-O. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU . 
          BE SAFE. 
          ERNEST KELTON. 
          ILI MONTOYA. 
          REVIS. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UH, MAYOR MEYER SICA CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THIS AFTERNOON I WANNA, UH, TANK, UM, EMS WHO RESPONDED TO A CRASH ACCIDENT THAT HAD A ME ROAD ON BELTWAY EIGHT. 
          UH, WHO ASSISTED ME, UH, WHEN, UH, VEHICLE, UH, HIT ME ON TWO OTHER VEHICLES. 
          HIT ME ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. 
          UH, I WANNA SAY THAT I BELIEVE DOMESTIC TOURISM IS A, UM, A THING THAT IS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY. 
          I, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN ALMA 41 TENNIS, UH, THAT IVO WAS NEVER HAPPINESS. 
          UH, WHATEVER, UM, MS. JASMINE J PANETTA DID TO, UH, SHE'S, UH, AN ACTIVE, UH, MILITARY TRIED TO DO, UH, TO HER, ME THAT DAY, UM, GOT, UH, THE PERMIT ME FOR THE, FOR ME TO DIE THAT DAY. 
          UM, WHATEVER ANDREW D OF THE GRAPH, OR JESUS, I, ROSA, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED IS, IS REAL. 
          I WANNA THANK MR. UH, EDWARD POLLER, WHO REPRESENT ME, UH, WHO SENT ME TO A CHIROPRACTOR. 
          MY GOD BLESS YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU, YOU HAVE DONE. 
          AND I, UH, I THINK THAT YOU'RE STILL, UH, CITY COUNCIL FOR OUR VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT BAYAN RAJI. 
          HELLO. 
          THE UNITED STATES PORTRAYS ITSELF AS THE EPITOME OF FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND LIBERTY FOR ALL. 
          IN REALITY, THE UNITED STATES WAS BUILT ON THE BACK OF KIDNAPPED AND ENSLAVED AFRICANS. 
          THIS COUNTRY WAS SO FIRMLY GRIPPED BY THE IDEA THAT WHITE PEOPLE COULD OWN CONTROL AND TERRORIZE THE BODIES OF BLACK PEOPLE, THAT IT TOOK THOUSANDS OF DEATHS IN A CIVIL WAR BEFORE SLAVERY WAS ENDED ON PAPER. 
          WE ALSO KNOW THAT AFTER SLAVERY, SLAVERY WAS DEEMED ILLEGAL. 
          BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY CONTINUED AND TO THIS DAY CONTINUE TO BE TREATED SEPARATELY AND NOT EQUAL. 
          WHITE PEOPLE WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO ENSHRINE AND GLAMORIZE THE LIVES OF OUR RACIST FOUNDING FATHERS AND MAKE UP FAIRYTALE STORIES OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THIS COUNTRY. 
          TODAY WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE REPERCUSSIONS OF SLAVERY AND RACIAL SUBJUGATION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN 
          [04:30:01]
THIS COUNTRY SINCE ITS INCEPTION. 
          SO I KNOW IT IS FOOLISH OF ME TO THINK THAT I CAN STAND IN FRONT OF MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM CONTINUE TO NORMALIZE WITH WHITE SUPREMACISTS LIKE OUR GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT, TO CONSIDER CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. 
          FOOLISH OF ME TO ASK YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          OKAY, SINCE EVERYONE ELSE FINISHED, I WILL GO AHEAD. 
          TOO FOOLISH OF ME TO ASK THAT YOU PLACE VALUE ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND GAZA. 
          BUT HERE I STAND AND I IMPLORE YOU OUT OF YOUR GOODWILL, YOUR MOR YOUR MORAL CONSCIENCE TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND AN END TO THE GENOCIDE OF MY PEOPLE CALL FOR AN END TO THE ETHNIC CLEANSING AND OCCUPATION OF MY PEOPLE. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOUR WORDS WON'T STOP THE GENOCIDE, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, THERE WILL BE DOCUMENTATION THAT WHEN INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WERE BEING MURDERED WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AT THE HANDS OF ONE OF THE MOST WELL-EQUIPPED MILITARIES IN THE WORLD, HOUSTON, TEXAS, LAWMAKERS SAID, NOT IN OUR NAME, NOT WITH OUR DOLLARS. 
          NOT ANYMORE ENOUGH. 
          AND CEASEFIRE NOW. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, TAMMY RODRIGUEZ. 
          MARIAN WRIGHT. 
          BOY, I BET Y'ALL ARE ALL RIGHT NOW SAYING, DID WE SET A BAD PRECEDENCE LETTING EVERYONE ELSE TALK AS LONG AS THEY WANTED TO? BUT IT'S LATE AND I'M NOT GONNA KEEP Y'ALL THAT LONG. 
          MAYOR WHITMEYER, I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ACTUALLY LISTENING TO EVERYBODY. 
          SO LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING. 
          WE WANNA KNOW WHY THESE PROJECTS HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WHY THE FIRST RESPONDERS AREN'T SIGNING OFF ON THEM. 
          LET'S START BACK IN 2021. 
          THIS IS WHEN THIS PROJECT WE HAD CROSSING ISLANDS GOING IN ON SOMONT. 
          THEY INSTALLED STREET THREE CROSSING ISLANDS. 
          THE THREE CROSSING ISLANDS THAT THEY INSTALLED LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE FIRST PAGE. 
          THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. 
          JUST THESE BIG CONCRETE THINGS THAT THEY PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. 
          I CAME TO COUNCIL, I RAISED MANY CONCERNS ABOUT 'EM. 
          I'M LIKE, THIS CAN'T POSSIBLY BE SAFE. 
          THIS CAN'T POSSIBLY BE RIGHT. 
          DID Y'ALL TALK TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS? THESE THINGS GOT HIT SO MANY TIMES THAT THEY HAD TO DO FOUR DIFFERENT, FOUR DIFFERENT RE REMEDIATIONS WHERE THEY PUT UP SIGNS AND THEN THEY PUT UP BULLETS, THEY DID ALL KINDS OF STUFF AND FINALLY PEOPLE AREN'T HITTING 'EM AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO. 
          WHEN I ASKED IAN HELD A CHECK ABOUT THIS, AND I SAID, WHAT? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED? YES, I KNOW EVERYONE'S TIME'S EXPIRED. 
          . 
          UM, SO I SAID, IAN, WHAT'S GOING ON? DO WE JUST PUT ANYTHING WE WANT IN THE STREET? WELL, IAN HELD THE CHECKS, SAID PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES. 
          THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS DOING AS WE PLEASE. 
          THEY MUST BE READY TO STAND BY THEIR DECISIONS. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCES IN ROADWAY DESIGN. 
          NOT ALL OF THE DETAILS ARE COVERED IN STANDARDS. 
          THAT'S WHERE ENGINE ENGINEERING JUDGMENT IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          SO THEN I SENT THIS PICTURE TO HIM WITH THE CAPTION THAT SAID, THIS MEETS DESIGN STANDARDS. 
          ARE YOU COMFORTABLE STANDING BEHIND THESE ISLANDS? ARE YOU COMFORTABLE? DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE. 
          GUESS WHAT? AFTER THEY WERE HIT A BAZILLION TIMES, AND I DON'T HAVE THE PICTURES FROM WHEN THEY WERE HIT, BUT THEY WERE HIT SO MANY TIMES. 
          THE CITY DECIDED TO PUT UP THESE SIGNS TWO DAYS AFTER THEY PUT UP THE SIGNS. 
          WHERE WHERE IS THIS CROSSWALK CROWD? THESE, THERE'RE THREE OF THEM. 
          THEY'RE ON MONT IN BETWEEN, UM, OH YEAH, I KNOW THEY'RE THREE OF 'EM. 
          OKAY. 
          IN, UH, C CAPE. 
          YEAH. 
          MM-HMM . 
          I KNOW WHERE THEY'RE, YEP. 
          OKAY. 
          FINALLY THEY WENT AHEAD. 
          THEY PUT BULLETS ON. 
          THEY HAVE 'EM, THEY LIT UP LIKE CHRISTMAS TREES. 
          NOW, BECAUSE I SENT THIS TO DAVID FIELDS AND, UM, WHEN I CALLED DAVID FIELDS TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT, NOW DAVID FIELDS KNOWS ME PERSONALLY AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? OR HE DID KNOW ME PER, WELL, I GUESS HE STILL KNOWS ME PERSONALLY. 
          ANYWAY, HE SAID, MARIAN, THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY INSTALLED. 
          CALL 3 1 1. 
          SO I SENT HIM A PICTURE OF IT. 
          I SAID, DAVID, PEOPLE ARE GONNA DIE. 
          WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. 
          SO THEN THEY CAME AND THEY PUT BARRELS AROUND THEM. 
          SO BARRELS WERE THE ANSWER UNTIL THEY THEN, IF YOU DRIVE BY, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE NOW. 
          SO NOW THEY, THEY'RE LIT UP LIKE CHRISTMAS TREES. 
          AT LEAST PEOPLE SEE 'EM. 
          SO WE LET THAT GO. 
          OKAY? UM, WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS, I GOT MR. RUI LOPEZ, WHO IS, WAS THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF. 
          HE IS NOW IN NEW BRONZEVILLE. 
          I'M NOT SAYING HIS LAST NAME, RYAN, RIGHT? BREWERY IS HIS FIRST NAME. 
          UM, BUT HE'S THE FIRE CHIEF NOW IN NEW BRONZEVILLE. 
          HE WAS THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF. 
          AND I ASKED HIM, I'M LIKE, DID YOU COME OUT? DID YOU LOOK AT THIS? AND HE'S LIKE, NO. 
          HE MET ME OUT THERE ON SITE. 
          OKAY? HE CAME OUT AND HE LOOKED AT HIM AND HE SAID, NOPE, DIDN'T RUN BY OUR OFFICE. 
          WE NEVER SIGNED OFF ON THIS. 
          I'M LIKE, YOU DIDN'T SIGN OFF ON IT, WHY NOT? WELL, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S BIG. 
          WE DON'T SIGN OFF ON EVERYTHING. 
          SOMETIMES THINGS GET PAST US. 
          IT'S THE BEST PRACTICE. 
          WE SHOULD DO IT, BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS 
          [04:35:01]
DO IT. 
          THIS WAS IN 20 OCTOBER OF 2021. 
          AT THAT POINT, I WENT AHEAD AND I GOT IN TOUCH WITH DAVID FIELDS AND YOU CAN SEE THE NEXT TWO PAGES THAT WE HAVE HERE. 
          AND VERONICA DAVIS EVENTUALLY GOES AHEAD AND SAYS, AND SAYS THAT SHE WILL MAKE SURE, AND LET'S READ THIS SINCE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. 
          UM, MS. DAVIS AND MR. FIELDS BOTH ASSURED ME THAT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, ALL PROJECTS GOING FORWARD. 
          UM, HOLD ON. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          THAT WAS WHERE, WHERE, WHERE DO YOU LIVE? WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE AT WOODLAND HEIGHTS. 
          ON WHERE? I DON'T WANNA SAY MY STREET. 
          THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS CLOSE TO 11TH STREET. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, UM, ANYWAY, THEY PROMISED ME THAT THEY WOULD START RUNNING THESE BY THE FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I TRUSTED THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY DO THAT. 
          11TH STREET COMES UP, RIGHT? SO THEN WHEN THE 11TH STREET PROJECT COMES UP, I INQUIRE, HAS THIS BEEN RUN BY THE FIRST RESPONDERS? THESE ARE THE TWO LETTERS FROM THE FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          OKAY? THE FIRST ONE IS FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND IT SAYS THAT THE BIKE LANES COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON RESPONSE TIMES DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. 
          HOWEVER, THE CENTER TURN LANES, THE CENTER TURN LANES, WHICH THEY DELETED FROM A MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT WOULD HELP WITH THAT. 
          THE LETTER FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MARTY LANGTON WAS HERE. 
          MARTY LANGTON ALSO BROUGHT A FIRETRUCK OUT TO TRY AND TURN RIGHT. 
          SO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT. 
          BUT, UM, CHIEF LORENZO, UM, THIS IS FROM JUSTIN WELLS AND JUSTIN WELLS WAS ACTUALLY OUTTA TOWN HALL THAT AMY PECK HAD. 
          AND WE ASKED IN FRONT OF AMY, I BELIEVE YOU WERE THERE. 
          UM, WE ASKED JUSTIN AND WE ASKED SAMUEL PENA, AM I SAYING HIS LAST NAME? CORRECT? I ALWAYS SAY IT WRONG. 
          PENA PENA. 
          UM, WAS THERE, WE ASKED, ARE THESE TRAFFIC ISLANDS, I MEAN, RE ROAD DIETS IMPACTING RESPONSE TIME? YES, THEY ARE. 
          IT SAYS IT RIGHT HERE IN THE LETTER THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY USE FOR JUSTIFICATION. 
          OKAY, SO WE GO AHEAD. 
          WE GET THE 11TH STREET PROJECT THEN DONE. 
          RIGHT? THERE'S SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. 
          THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO ANY OF OUR CONCERNS. 
          IT WAS JUST RUBBER STAMPED. 
          LET'S GO. 
          UM, WE NEVER HAD A VOICE. 
          I'D LIKE TO ALSO JUST FOR FUN, FLIP TO THIS PAGE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. 
          THIS WAS WHAT DAVID THI SAID WAS JUSTIFICATION THAT THE ISLANDS WERE WORKING. 
          THIS IS A JUSTIFICATION THAT HE USED. 
          OKAY, LISTEN, WE, WE GET THE PICTURE. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. 
          AND SO MY POINT IS, I URGE YOU TO BE STAY INVOLVED. 
          MY POINT IS, IS IF WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, WE HAVEN'T ROOTED OUT THE PROBLEM. 
          THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE PES THAT ARE SIGNING OFF ON THESE PROJECTS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DESIGNING THESE PROJECTS, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO GET TO. 
          WE HAVEN'T STOPPED YET. 
          AND PUBLIC WORKS NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. 
          AND SO DOES THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE PES THEIR LICENSE CAN BE PULLED. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK DOING THIS. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          I SAID WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. 
          I KNOW WE DO. 
          AND I APPRECIATE YOU STAY, STAY INVOLVED. 
          I APPRECIATE YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HAVE A GOOD DAY. 
          SANNA AL SHAW BE FOLLOWED BY ANDREW PATTERSON. 
          REAL QUICK BEFORE I START I DID. 
          JUST KIDDING. 
          UM, I DID TAKE A HOLD OFF OF WORK FOR THIS AND I GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THE WAY HERE, SO I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF I HAD MY THREE MINUTES THAT I ORIGINALLY REQUESTED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU SAY WHAT YOU DID. 
          WHAT? I'M SORRY IF THREE MINUTES IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU. 
          UM, I SAID I GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THE WAY HERE AND MISSED WORK AND EVERYTHING JUST FOR THREE. 
          OKAY. 
          MY THREE MINUTES. 
          WELL, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME EXPLAINING THAT. 
          JUST GO AHEAD AND OKAY. 
          TRY TO BE REASONABLE THOUGH, 'CAUSE IT'S LATE ON ALL OF US. 
          IT WON'T BE FIVE MINUTES. 
          I CAN SHOW YOU THAT COMPROMISE WITH US. 
          GIVE US FIVE MINUTES. 
          GIVE US ABOUT HALF THAT TIME. 
          I SAY IT WON'T BE FIVE MINUTES. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          IT WON'T BE I WANNA GO HOME TOO. 
          I LIVE 45 MINUTES AWAY. 
          GO, GO FOR IT. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS ROANNA SHAR. 
          I'M AN EGYPTIAN AMERICAN. 
          I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSTON AREA FOR OVER 15 YEARS NOW. 
          UM, I'M A SINGLE MOM AND I WORK FULL TIME, SO BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT VERY CONVENIENT FOR ME TO BE HERE. 
          AND, UM, AS FAR AS I WAS HERE LAST MONTH, UH, BUT CAT WANTS OTHERS HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY SINGLE TUESDAY REQUESTING THE SAME EXACT THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. 
          BUT OUR DEMANDS AND PLEAS HAVE FELL ON DEAF EARS EXCEPT DEAF EARS, EXCEPT FOR I THINK TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          UM, FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING A GENOCIDE PRACTICALLY BE LIVE STREAMED. 
          I'VE SEEN COUNTLESS IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK JUST LIKE ME AND MY FAMILY WITH THE SAME NAMES AS US BEING SLAUGHTERED. 
          IT'S ASTONISHING TO ME THAT SOMETHING THAT'S POSITIVE, IT'S CALLING FOR PEACE, AND AN END TO CENSUS KILLING IS MET WITH SUCH RESISTANCE. 
          WE JUST ARE ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE. 
          WHEN HAS THAT EVER BEEN SO CONTROVERSIAL? UM, MANY OTHER AMERICAN CITIES HAVE NOW DONE THIS. 
          AND, UM, BESIDES THE FACT THAT HOUSTON HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO PASS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, WE ALSO MUST ATONE FOR THE FACT THAT HOUSTON HAS A LONG HISTORY OF INVESTING MILLIONS OF 
          [04:40:01]
DOLLARS INTO ISRAEL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT ISRAEL HAS BEEN COMMITTING WAR CRIMES AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FOR SEVERAL DECADES NOW. 
          SO REGARDLESS OF THE CONFLICTING AND UNCLEAR DETAILS OF HOUSTON'S CURRENT INVESTMENTS, ONE THING IS CLEAR IS THAT HOUSTON HAS HELPED FUND UNSPEAKABLE BRUTALITIES AND CRIMES UPON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. 
          WHILE KEEPING ALL THAT IN MIND, THE MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF ISRAELI WAR CRIMES, INCLUDING GENOCIDE, THE MOST RECENT EVEN ICJ WEIGHED IN ON HOW COME ON NOVEMBER 29TH OF LAST YEAR AFTER A GENOCIDE HAD ALREADY STARTED, THAT HOUSTON APPROVED AN INVESTMENT RESOLUTION THAT EXPLICITLY DOES NOT PERMIT THE PURCHASE OF ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS EXCEPT ISRAEL. 
          WHY DO WE GIVE ISRAEL THE EXCEPTION? WHY DO WE GIVE IT THE PASS ON TOP OF THAT WHEN WE KNOW THEY'RE COMMITTING WAR CRIMES? WHY ARE WE ALLOWING HOUSTON TO EVEN HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF INVESTING IN A COUNTRY THAT'S COMMITTING WAR CRIMES? OKAY, KIND OF CUT IT SHORT. 
          ABOUT 30 MORE SECONDS, I'LL BE DONE. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, YOU ALL CAN EASILY AMEND THIS, THIS INVESTMENT POLICY, REMOVE ANY AUTHORIZATION TO FURTHER INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS. 
          THAT'S A REALLY QUICK AND EASY FIX. 
          IT'S JUST TO AMEND A RESOLUTION. 
          WE SHOULDN'T BE INVESTING IN ANY FOREIGN ENTITIES AT THIS POINT. 
          TO WRAP THIS UP, I'M NOT JUST ASKING YOU FOR YOU GUYS TO DO YOUR JOB AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, I'M ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR JOB AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE ALL HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO STAND UP AGAINST FOR WHAT? TO STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE. 
          IF YOU THINK THE GENOCIDE IN ISRAEL, IT'S JUST ANOTHER PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 
          I CAN CONFIRM THAT'S NOT TRUE. 
          LET ME BE THE ONE TO TELL YOU AN ONGOING GENOCIDE. 
          LEFT UNCHECKED IS A GENOCIDE THAT IS NORMALIZED. 
          WHEN WE NORMALIZE SOMETHING SO EVIL, WE GIVE IT TO THE ROOM TO SPREAD LIKE THE DISEASE. 
          IT IS. 
          SO DO NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN THAT DISEASE COMES INTO YOUR DOORSTEP IN ONE VARIANCE OR ANOTHER. 
          NOW I JUST HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK. 
          UM, I'M DONE WITH THAT PART. 
          UM, WHAT IS HOLDING BACK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM, UM, COMING FORWARD WITH A JOINT CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AND ALSO AMENDING THAT LATEST INVESTMENT POLICY? IS THERE INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS NEED? LIKE, I WANT THERE TO BE, YOU KNOW, PROGRESS WITH THIS. 
          I DON'T WANT US TO COME HERE AND SAY THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. 
          WHAT, WHAT IS HOLDING US? THANK YOU PUTTING ALL THAT BACK. 
          YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. 
          YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. 
          BUT I WANNA, BUT WHAT IS HOLDING Y ALL BACK? WE ASK THE QUESTIONS, NOT YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          HOW, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU THEN? YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND, UH, STAY ACTIVE. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, ANYONE WHO HASN'T CALLED FOR CEASEFIRE, EMPLOYEE, EMPLOYEE YOU TO DIG DEEP AND ASK YOURSELF WHY THAT'S JUST CALLING FOR PEACE. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, ANDREW PATTERSON. 
          JUST A REMINDER, 24 MALIK ECHE. 
          THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. 
          MM. 
          RECESS TILL TOMORROW MORNING. 
          YES, WE 
          [RECESS]
RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING. 
          JANINE SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BLACK AND VEATCH CORPORATION. 
          ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $787,500 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM TAX AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND INFRA TECH ENGINEERS AND INNOVATORS. 
          LLC ITEM 14 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 40 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES TO EXTEND PROVISIONS OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE TO THE RIVERSIDE TERRACE TERRACE AREA. 
          ITEM 15 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN APPROVING AGREEMENT WITH APPROPRIATION BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON LAND BANK. 
          THIS WAS DELAYED BY MOTION. 
          2024 DASH 30 ON THE JANUARY 10 24 AGENDA. 
          THIS WAS ITEM 34. 
          I MO UH, ITEM 16, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $18,873,530 67 CENTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. 
          THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND WAS ITEM 12 ON THE AGENDA OF JANUARY 31ST, 2024. 
          THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF FEBRUARY 6TH AND SEVEN, 2024. 
          STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL'S SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON, DANIEL ALWAYS TREAT 
          [04:45:01]
EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. 
          THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED AND INFANT DAY. 
          THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MY NOW NUMBER ONE FAN . 
          [RECONVENE]
FIRST I'D SAY WE'RE GOING TO DELAY THE PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL THE END OF THE AGENDA. 
          UH, SO WE'LL HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO, TO HAVE A GOOD HEARING. 
          [MAYOR'S REPORT]
UM, FIRST I GUESS THIS MORNING IS THE MAYOR'S REPORT ON THE FIFTH WARD CANCER CLUSTER. 
          LITTLE BACKGROUND, UH, I THINK IT WAS JANUARY 10TH WHERE I HAD, UH, ASKED FOR 30 DAYS TO REVIEW THE, UH, PROPOSAL. 
          THERE WAS SOME HEALTHY DISCUSSION, BUT, UH, I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THOSE 30 DAYS LITTLE BACKGROUND. 
          AND MY DECISION MAKING WAS, UH, I WAS SWORN IN ON DECEMBER 31ST. 
          I GUESS WE WERE ALL SWORN, SWORN IN OFFICIALLY AND PUBLIC ON THE SECOND. 
          THE NEXT WEEK, THE DAY BEFORE THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING, I WAS BRIEFED BY GLORIA MARINO AND STEVE COSTELLO, WHO HAD BEEN ASSIGNED THIS PROJECT. 
          AND, UH, THEY WERE DESCRIBING THE, THE, THE CHALLENGES I HAD OBSERVED FROM A DISTANCE, THIS SERIOUS MATTER, CERTAINLY AS A STATE SENATOR, IT'S GOTTEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE PRESS, BUT WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE, UM, ACTION OF THE CITY IN THAT BRIEFING. 
          I WAS SHOWN WHAT WAS PASSED IN DECEMBER AND THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION BY THIS COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR OF $5 MILLION TO RELOCATE RESIDENTS THAT CHOSE, THAT WERE VOLUNTEERING TO BE RE RELOCATED. 
          I WAS TOLD IN THAT BRIEFING THAT 10 FAMILIES HAD AGREED TO BE, AND I'VE LEARNED THAT THAT WAS AS OF LAST SUMMER. 
          UH, 10 FAMILIES, ONE FAMILY HAD ALREADY RELOCATED AND TWO FAMILIES HAD IMMIGRATION ISSUES THAT WERE RENTERS, UH, $10,000 IF A RENTER WANTED TO RELOCATE. 
          AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LAND BANK, THE LAND TRUST UP TO $250,000 ON A NEW HOME IF THEY CHOSE TO RELOCATE. 
          I WAS ASKED QUESTIONS, THERE WERE NOT GOOD ANSWERS, AND ONE QUESTION AND ANSWER WOULD LEAD TO ANOTHER. 
          SO I ASKED Y'ALL, UH, FOR MORE TIME. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          I HOPE Y'ALL APPRECIATE THE TRANSPARENCY, UH, THAT THIS EXPERIENCE GIVES US. 
          I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A SHOUT OUT, BUT I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS THE WAY IT'LL BE DONE AS LONG AS I'M MAYOR. 
          YOU HAVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANS, THE TRANSPARENCY, AND HAVE AS MUCH INPUT AND KNOWLEDGE OF A PROJECT OBJECT AS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS. 
          UH, TO SEE FOR MYSELF, I TOOK TWO SATURDAYS AGO, CYNTHIA WILSON, A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR AND DIANE ANO TWO FIFTH WARD. 
          I'D ACTUALLY BEEN IN ACRES HOME THAT MORNING FOR A FUNERAL, TOOK TIME IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MORNING IN ACRES HOME. 
          AND THEN WE, I PUT MY JEANS ON AND WENT DRIVING MYSELF IN FIFTH WARD. 
          AND THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THE REDEVELOPMENT. 
          IT'S STRIKING TO SEE, UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE CITY'S PROVIDING AT A TIME THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RELOCATE INDIVIDUALS. 
          UM, OVERLAYS OF MOST OF THE STREETS. 
          UM, METRO IMPROVING BUS LOCATIONS, REALLY A REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS, A AREA SITTING ON TOP OF THE CANCER CLUSTER. 
          UH, I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING, I WAS FLAGGED DOWN AT A COUPLE OF STOP SIGNS BY RESIDENTS THAT SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TO MOVE. 
          THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A LAND PLAY OR GENTRIFICATION, LARGELY BY DEVELOPERS. 
          I COULD SEE WHERE THEY WOULD DRAW THAT CONCLUSION. 
          NEW HOMES, CONDOS IN AN AREA THAT THE CITY WAS EMPHASIZING A RELOCATION DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE WAS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE CANCER CLUSTER. 
          UM, SO WE TOLD 'EM WE WOULD DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM. 
          I WANNA APPLAUD COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR HAVING A TOWN HALL MEETING. 
          I THINK, UM, WE CAN ALL SAY THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION THERE BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTION. 
          OBVIOUSLY, UH, DR. 
          PLUMER, COUNCIL 
          [04:50:01]
MEMBER PLUMER IS CERTAINLY HEADED UP RESEARCH, MEDICAL ADVICE ALL THE WAY TO WASHINGTON. 
          AND I COULD GIVE YOU A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH. 
          OBVIOUSLY, I I JUST MENTIONED COMMUNITY RESIDENCE. 
          THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS IN MY OFFICE TWO DAYS AGO DISCUSSING HIS LAWSUIT, WHICH IS ON HOLD UNTIL THE EPA DOES ITS FINAL RESEARCH TO EPA REGIONAL DIRECTOR. 
          DR. 
          NANCE AND I WERE IN CONVERSATION FRIDAY. 
          THE GLO SHOCKINGLY ALREADY HAS BUILT THREE HOMES IN THE CANCER CLUSTER AND HAS 18, PLANNED 18 THAT HAVE BEEN PERMITTED. 
          WE'VE ENCOURAGED AND THEY'VE AGREED TO PUT A PAUSE ON THAT. 
          WE'VE VISITED WITH THE, THE UNION PACIFIC FOLKS. 
          THEY KNOW, I BELIEVE IF A CAUSATION IS DETERMINED, THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND COME FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO CLEAN UP THEIR CAUSATION CANCER CLUSTER. 
          THE FAMILY HOUSTON IS PREPARED TO ASSIST US IN RELOCATION AND FACILITATE THAT. 
          UM, THE LAND BANK, THE LAND TRUST, I COULD GO AND OWN ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, BUT THE CHALLENGE IS GONNA BE TO HAVE ONE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY WITH. 
          AND IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE UNION PACIFIC IS DOING A STUDY. 
          THE EPA SAYS THEIRS MIGHT TAKE STILL UP TO 18 MONTHS, BUT I DON'T THINK THE CITY CAN WAIT. 
          I WILL EMPHASIZE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THE CITY CAN OWN THIS BY THEMSELVES. 
          IT'S MUCH TO MASSIVE AND UNDERTAKING. 
          AND THERE SHOULD BE AS IS THE COUNTY, UH, INVOLVED, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UNION PACIFIC, AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. 
          SO IN CONCLUSION, AND, AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO, BECAUSE I I JUST THINK INFORMATION IS POWER. 
          I KNOW IT IS. 
          I'M GONNA ASK STEVEN, DAVID, CYNTHIA, IF Y'ALL WILL SHOW THE REDEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA, WHICH WE'VE ASKED THE CITY NOT TO ISSUE ANY PERMIT. 
          THE LAST CITY PERMIT WAS IN JANUARY. 
          FOLKS, THE CITY VOTED IN DECEMBER WITH A RELOCATION PLAN PLACING $5 MILLION IN THE RELOCATION AT THE SAME TIME THEY WERE REDEVELOPING THE AREA AND ISSUING PERMITS. 
          THE LAST ONE, MAYOR PROTE CAST TATUM, WAS IN JANUARY. 
          THEY'VE BEEN ISSUING PERMITS UP TO 88 SINCE 23. 
          SO THIS AIN'T THE WAY TO DO THINGS THE WAY WE INHERITED IT COME JANUARY. 
          AND I HOPE THIS CAN BECOME A MODEL OF CONSENSUS BUILDING COLLABORATION AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. 
          WE'VE GOT SOME EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE COUNCIL MEMBERS AROUND THIS SHOE THAT WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING. 
          AND IF WE COME TOGETHER WITH THE INFORMATION, UM, CERTAINLY WE WILL. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I THROUGH ALL MY WORK, I KEPT THINKING ABOUT YOUR COMMENT WHEN WE WERE ABOUT TO VOTE, IS PERCEPTION IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          I TOTALLY AGREE. 
          AND THAT'S THE REASON I THINK WHEN WE GET THROUGH WITH THIS, WE'RE GONNA VOTE IT OUT AND, AND HAVE 2 MILLION OF THE FIVE DEDICATED TO FACILITATE WITH THE LAND BANK AND HOUSTON FAMILIES TO WORK WITH THESE FAMILIES TO RELOCATE 'EM. 
          SO I HOPE MAYBE THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF, OF HOW NOT TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN MAYBE HOW WE'VE LEARNED AND WE CAN GO FORWARD AND DO IT RIGHT AND GET, REGAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE. 
          UH, STEVEN, IF, IF Y'ALL WILL GO AHEAD AND JUST DEMONSTRATE WHERE THE REDEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE RELATIVE TO SITTING RIGHT ON TOP OF THE CANCER CLUSTER. 
          YES SIR. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR AND GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, ONE OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE WANTED TO, TO MAKE DURING THIS ONE MONTH PERIOD WAS TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, UH, MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS, UH, MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THE WAYS WITH WHICH THEY'RE ALL COORDINATING IN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO LEARN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE C COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SEEING, LOOKING OUT. 
          AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THEM. 
          AND WHAT I'M GONNA SHOW YOU ON THIS MAP IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE SPEAK UP A LITTLE. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE SAYING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. 
          AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS TO PUT EVERYTHING ON A MAP SO YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH WORK IS BEING DONE AND WHY IT IS THAT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A UNIFIED VOICE. 
          SO THE FIRST THING THAT I'M GONNA SHOW YOU IS I'M GONNA ORIENT YOU TO THE MAP. 
          UH, THE PINK ZONE OR PURPLE ZONE IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING WHAT COLLOQUIALLY IS CALLED THE THE CREOSOTE CLUSTER OR THE CREOSOTE PLUME. 
          UM, 
          [04:55:01]
THAT IS ZONE ONE ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IF YOU'VE HEARD FROM THEM AS WELL. 
          ZONES TWO AND ZONES THREE, WHICH ARE THE BLUE AND THE GREEN ZONE RESPECTIVELY ARE WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THE DIOXIN PLUME. 
          UM, YOU'VE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED, UH, WITH PREVIOUS BRIEFINGS, IT SORT OF BELABORED THE POINT OF THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE OUT THERE. 
          SUFFICE IT TO SAY, I THINK Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE ALL DANGEROUS. 
          SO WHAT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT TESTING IS BEING DONE. 
          WE KNOW THAT THE EPA THROUGH UP IS DOING TESTING. 
          CITY OF HOUSTON HAS DONE TESTING, THE GLO IS DOING TESTING. 
          AND SO THERE'S A BUNCH OF SITES OUT THERE THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT HAS BEEN TESTED. 
          AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO BRING UP ARE ALL OF THE SITES THAT HAVE RECEIVED TESTING RECENTLY. 
          AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          THESE ARE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH HOLES ARE BEING DRILLED INTO THE GROUND, LOOKING FOR VAPOR. 
          THERE'S SOIL SAMPLES BEING TESTED. 
          WE'VE ACTUALLY GONE INSIDE HOMES AND TAKEN DUST SAMPLES TO TEST FOR DIOXIN TO SEE IF THERE'S A CARCINOGEN WITHIN PEOPLE'S HOMES. 
          SO FROM THE MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE, THERE HAS BEEN A TON OF TESTING BEING DONE. 
          WHAT WE ALSO WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW WAS THAT THERE IS ALSO A TON OF CITY WORK, WHICH IS CREATING COGNITIVE DISSONANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          WHAT WE HEARD, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER PUT THIS VERY SUCCINCTLY, IS THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE, THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A LAND GRAB. 
          THEY FEEL LIKE WE ARE DOING A BUNCH OF THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY, IMPROVING THAT COMMUNITY AND SAYING AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S A CANCER CLUSTER, YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO CANCER, WE NEED TO RELOCATE YOU. 
          AND SO WHEN WE BEGAN TO PULL ALL OF THIS INFORMATION INTO A MAP, IT BECAME QUITE STARK. 
          AND WHAT WE SAW, WE WANTED TO START WITH WHAT ACTIVE PERMITS ARE OUT THERE, AND THESE ARE THE PERMITS THAT YOU'VE SUBMITTED FOR THAT PERMIT. 
          UM, IT IS GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN YET DECLINED OR ISSUED. 
          IT'S STILL IN THAT PIPELINE. 
          WE SAW THAT THERE ARE 71 ACTIVE PERMITS, AND IF YOU LOOK, THERE ARE FIVE PARCELS WITHIN THE CREOSOTE PLUME. 
          THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS AREA THAT HAVE FIVE PARCELS THAT HAVE ACTIVE PERMITS. 
          AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WAS, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO SORT OF PULL IN HERE, I'LL GO TO THIS ONE REAL QUICK. 
          THIS PERMIT IN PARTICULAR IS A, UH, IS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT WITH A TAX GARAGE. 
          AND IT WAS PULLED OCTOBER 2ND, 2023 FROM A COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE. 
          WE STARTED SPEAKING TO THEM ABOUT THE CANCER PLUMING JANUARY OF 2019. 
          AND BETWEEN JANUARY OF 2019 AND DECEMBER OF 2023, UM, WE SAW QUITE A BIT OF ACTIVITY WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          AND SO THIS IS AN ACTIVE PERMIT. 
          WHAT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ALSO BRING UP AND UNDERSTAND IS WHAT PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THAT NOT DECLINED, BUT ISSUED. 
          WE SAW THAT THERE WERE 88 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY AS WELL. 
          AND SO THESE ARE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. 
          UM, BUT AS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS CUTTING SLOW DOWN. 
          OH, SORRY. 
          CITY PERMITS. 
          CITY PERMITS 88 HAVE BEEN GRANTED FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES. 
          YES, SIR. 
          SINCE WHEN? BETWEEN 2019 AND DECEMBER OF 2023. 
          OKAY. 
          MULTI-SERVICE, MULTI-FAMILY. 
          AND, AND FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS, COUNCIL. 
          YEAH. 
          NEW OR OR REMODELED NEW HOUSES OR REMODELED NEW, NEW HOMES. 
          ALL NEW. 
          SO THESE ARE NEW, THESE ARE NEW HOMES. 
          AND I'LL JUST, AND AND, AND THEN THE MULTIFAMILIES. 
          YES SIR. 
          THERE ARE 17 MULTIFAMILY, UH, PERMITS THAT WERE ISSUED FOR MULTIFAMILY STRUCTURES AS WELL. 
          OKAY. 
          AND AND EVEN BEFORE YOU DID THAT, I SAW A GRAPH THAT SHOWED WHERE THE CITY HAD OVERLAID THE STREETS, WHICH I'LL THROW THAT UP AS WELL. 
          YOU'RE GONNA GET THAT, YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT IN A MOMENT. 
          YES, SIR. 
          OKAY. 
          BECAUSE THE NEW PERMITS, THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PLUS THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT REALLY IS LEADING TO CYNICISM BY THE PUBLIC. 
          YES, SIR. 
          AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT, OH, SLOW DOWN. 
          UH, MAYOR PROM CAST. 
          BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD, I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE SINGLE FAMILY PERMITS. 
          YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S 88, I'M LOOKING AT THE MAP. 
          SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IN THE PINK AREA WHERE WE ARE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT THE 5 MILLION AND WHAT WE ARE TARGETED ON? ARE WE LOOKING AT THE BLUE AND THE GREEN? SO ARE THOSE 88 PERMITS IN THE PINK AREA? SO THOSE ARE 88 PERMITS WITHIN THE ZONES THAT WERE DEFINED AS THE CANCER CLUSTER FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THAT IS THE PINK, PINK, THE BLUE PINK AREA. 
          AND THE GREEN IS WHERE WE ARE DISCUSSING THE RELOCATION. 
          SO AND THE, THE, THE, THE TROUBLE THAT IS CORRECT. 
          THAT'S OUR IDENTIFIED AREA. 
          WHAT'S THE PERMITTING IN THAT PINK AREA? IN THE PINK AREA, WE SEE FIVE ACTIVE PARCELS WITH PERMITS, EXCUSE ME, FIVE PARCELS WITH ACTIVE PERMITS. 
          AND WE SAW TWO STRUCTURES THAT WERE NEW BUILDS AND THOSE ARE SINGLE FAMILY STRUCTURES. 
          AND OF COURSE, DR. 
          NANCE AND OTHERS WILL TELL YOU THE CLUSTER COULD AND, AND IS MOVING. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          IS WHY WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE YEAH. 
          IN FACT, DESCRIBE THE OTHER COLORS ON YOUR GRAPH THAT YES, SIR. 
          SO AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, THE AREA WE'RE TRYING TO RELOCATE FOLKS FROM IS THE PINK. 
          WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BLUE AND THE GREEN? THE BLUE AND THE GREEN ARE AREAS WHERE THERE IS SUSPECTED DIOXIN. 
          AND TO THAT POINT, WE HAVE BEGUN TESTING WITH THEM. 
          [05:00:01]
THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID TESTING ON SITES, AND I WILL PULL THOSE UP. 
          THEY'RE MORE ON THE EAST SIDE, UM, EXCUSE ME, THE WEST SIDE OF THIS AREA. 
          BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THOSE DOTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING, IF THEY'RE ORANGE, THEY ARE BELOW THE TOXIC TOXICITY THRESHOLD. 
          AND IF THEY ARE READ, THEY ARE ABOVE. 
          SO WE ARE FINDING DIOXIN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH DIOXIN BECOMES THE REQUIREMENT OF REMEDIATION. 
          NOW, IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH EPA, WHAT THEY SAID IS THAT THESE ARE, WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU DID THESE TESTING. 
          THEY ARE REFERENCES FOR US. 
          WE ARE STILL GOING TO DO OUR OWN TESTING. 
          AND WHAT THEY'VE COMMITTED TO US WAS THAT HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT SIX TO NINE MONTHS THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SAY AFFIRMATIVELY WHERE AND WHERE NOT. 
          THEY BELIEVE THAT THESE SITES ARE TOXIC UNTIL THAT POINT. 
          UM, WHAT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IS, EXCUSE ME, STEVE, UH, YES SIR. 
          COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, WHO WHEN I WAS GIVEN SHOUT OUTS AND THANK YOU WAGO, YOU WENT OUT THERE ON YOUR OWN AS WELL. 
          AND I APPLAUD THAT. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR STEVEN, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZONES TWO AND ZONES, ZONES TWO AND THREE? SO IT WAS A DESIGNATION DONE BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PREVIOUSLY, AND IT WAS ABOUT THE EXPECTATION OF WHERE WE WOULD FIND DIOXIN. 
          AND TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS AN EXPECTATION, THERE IS A STUDY BEING DONE BY THE EPA IN CONCURRENCE WITH THE SOIL TESTING THAT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING A FLOOD TESTING. 
          SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE OF DIOXIN WITHIN THE UPRR SITE DURING HURRICANE HARVEY. 
          SOIL GOT LIFTED BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING AND MOVED AND DISPERSED OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND SO THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE UPRR SITE, THE LESS INSTANCE OF DIOXIN WE'RE GOING TO SEE. 
          NOW, THIS IS NOT ME SPEAKING AS A MEDICAL EXPERT BECAUSE I'M ABSOLUTELY NOT. 
          THIS HAS BEEN US AGGREGATING INFORMATION FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 
          SO IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT THAT, I'M ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO REF GO FIND THAT ANSWER FOR YOU. 
          AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, CREOSOTE AND DIOXIN, BUT ARE THERE OTHER CHEMICALS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OPERATION THAT, UH, COULD ALSO CAUSE HIGHER RATES OF DISEASE? THERE VERY WELL COULD BE. 
          AND SO C CREOSOTE IS, UH, A SLURRY AND IT'S A MIXTURE OF CHEMICALS. 
          AND SO WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IS THAT THE VAPOR TESTING AND THE SOIL TESTING IS NOT TESTING FOR ONE OR TWO CHEMICALS. 
          THEY'RE TESTING FOR 500 WITH EACH SOIL PLUG THAT THEY PULL, WITH EACH VAPOR TEST THAT THEY DO. 
          SO WHEN WE GET RESULTS BACK FROM THE EPA OVER THE NEXT, LET'S JUST CALL IT A YEAR, IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO, IF WHEN THEY COME BACK, WE'RE GONNA BE SEEING A FULL PROFILE OF WHAT WAS TESTED, WHAT WE TESTED FOR AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS FOR DIOXIN. 
          UM, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO TEST FOR. 
          UM, BUT WE, THE EXPECTATION OF THE EPPA IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A FULL PROFILE OF THE, OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. 
          AND A, I THINK A POINT OF DISTINCTION AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, THIS IS, I I THINK A GREAT QUESTION IS THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST DOING TESTING WITHIN THIS DISTINCT COMMUNITY. 
          THEY'RE ACTUALLY ZOOMING OUT AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CORRIDOR OF SOUTH OF SIX 10, EAST OF THE EAST TEXT FREEWAY AND A LITTLE BIT, UH, NORTH OF I 10, THEY'RE TAKING 22 SAMPLES ACROSS THAT COMMUNITY TO LOOK FOR A BASELINE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE CHEMICALS AS WELL. 
          UM, AND SO THAT IS WHY IT'S EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FACTOR IN WHAT THE EPA IS DOING AND WHAT TESTING THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING TO US TESTING RESULTS. 
          SO GOING BACK INTO THIS, I'LL TURN OFF THE, UH, I'LL TURN OFF THE DIOXIN TESTING. 
          SO TO YOUR, TO YOUR QUESTION, MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, THERE ARE 88 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT, UH, RESIDENTIAL PERMITS WITHIN THE LARGER COMMUNITY WITHIN THE, THE BLUE, THE PINK AND THE, THE GREEN. 
          WITHIN THE PINK WE ARE SEEING, UM, WITHIN THE PINK AREA, WHICH IS THE CREOSOTE PLUME. 
          WE ARE SEEING, WE SAW TWO STRUCTURES. 
          AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY TRIED TO EMPHASIZE IS THE TRUST BUT VERIFY MODEL. 
          SOMETIMES WE GET IT WRONG ON THE PERMITTING. 
          AND SO WE ACTUALLY ADDED A COMPONENT TO THIS WHERE WE WERE ALLOWED, WE GAVE OURSELVES THE ABILITY TO GO TO A STREET VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS. 
          AND SO WHAT WE CAN SEE IS, SURE ENOUGH, THERE IS A STRUCTURE GOING IN. 
          NOW, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND DISTINCTIVE HERE, UM, AND THIS IS WHERE SOMETIMES PERMITTING DOESN'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT, THEY APPLIED FOR A SINGLE FAMILY PERMIT. 
          BUT IF Y'ALL CAN SEE THIS IS CLEARLY A DUPLEX. 
          THERE ARE TWO FRONT DOORS. 
          AND SO WHAT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DISTINC IS THAT WE ARE COUNTING ONE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT. 
          THERE ARE TWO FAMILIES LIVING THERE. 
          AND SO IT ADDS TO THE POTENTIAL COST OF BEING ABLE TO AMELIORATE THIS CONCERN WITH THE COMMITMENTS THAT WERE MADE OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. 
          AND SO WITH THOSE, WHAT WE DECIDED TO ALSO LOOK FOR WAS THE MULTI-FAMILY PERMIT BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          AND WE SAW THAT THERE ARE, THERE WERE THREE MULTIFAMILY STRUCTURES. 
          NOW WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT THAT SAME PARCEL I JUST SHOWED YOU, WHERE THERE'S A SINGLE FAMILY PERMIT THAT WAS ISSUED, THERE IS ALSO A MULTIFAMILY PERMIT THAT WAS ISSUED. 
          SO AT SOME POINT, WHAT THE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE IS, IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL PERMIT? THERE'S A VERY LARGE LOT HERE. 
          ARE THERE, WE GONNA SEE TWO MORE STRUCTURES GO UP. 
          THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO THE POINT WE, THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROCESS. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, AND THIS IS ME BELABORING THE POINT THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER 
          [05:05:01]
BROUGHT UP EARLIER. 
          WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND BOTH THE ROAD OVERLAYS AND WE SAW 8.6 LANE MILES OF OVERLAY CREATED WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          UM, AND I WILL PULL THAT UP RIGHT NOW. 
          SO THE BLUE LINES ARE EFFECTIVELY THE, THE OVERLAYS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. 
          AND SO WE SEE WITHIN THE CREOSOTE PLUME FULLY NEW ROADS AND THEN THEY EXTEND FURTHER OUT INTO THE DIOXIN AREAS. 
          AND THEN WE ALSO WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CYNTHIA AND DIANA AND MAYOR WHITMEYER WHEN THEY WERE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY SAW WAS THAT THERE WERE BRAND NEW METRO BUS STOPS BEING BUILT, REBUILT. 
          UM, THEY ARE NOT NEW STOPS FOR THE LINE, BUT THEY'RE COMPLETELY REBUILDING THE STRUCTURE ITSELF. 
          AND SO WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO BRING THOSE IN, UH, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO BRING THOSE IN. 
          AND WHAT WE SEE IS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THEY SAW THREE BRAND NEW BUS STOP REBUILDS. 
          AND THE PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAD, I MEAN, THE, AS WE WERE BEGINNING TO FORMULATE OUR OWN SET OF QUESTIONS AND BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE RESIDENTS, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, REMOVING THE CANCER CLUSTER FROM UNDERNEATH IT, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT REBUILD. 
          IT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING. 
          WE LIKE TO SEE THESE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IN 2019, WE SAID THAT THE LAND IS KILLING YOU TO THESE FOLKS. 
          AND HOLD, HOLD OFF STEVEN. 
          UH, SIR COUNCILMAN CARTER, JUST, UH, SORRY. 
          YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED THIS. 
          I'M JUST IN AWE OF, OF YOUR INFORMATION HERE. 
          UM, ON, ON THE CANCER POINT ITSELF. 
          SO IN 2019, THE CITY GOES OUT AND SAYS, THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE. 
          WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE AND WE NEED TO SEE ABOUT RELOCATING. 
          AND THEN WE IMMEDIATELY START PERMITTING. 
          AND, AND, AND WHAT YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, THE, THE MULTIFAMILY, WHICH IS REALLY A, WAS PERMITTED AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, REALLY MULTI, WHAT'S THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ON THAT? DO YOU HAVE A DATE? I DO. 
          THIS IS WHERE I LOVE MY MAP. 
          UH, SO WHAT WE SAW IS THAT THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE WITH ATTACHED WAS ISSUED ON AUGUST 8TH, 2023. 
          2023. 
          YES. 
          LAST YEAR. 
          LAST AUGUST. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND I THINK WHAT KIND OF STANDS OUT TO ME IS THESE MILL AND OVERLAYS. 
          THERE'S CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT ALLOW FOR THIS TYPE OF, UH, UH, CONSTRUCTION HAPPEN. 
          CAN YOU LET US KNOW IF IT WAS PART OF THE MAYOR STREET REHABILITATION INITIATIVE? OR WAS IT A, YOU KNOW, HOW DID THESE ACTUAL, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS HAPPEN? SO IT'S WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR FOOTPRINT, SO I CAN ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT. 
          UM, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR FOOTPRINT WAS WITHIN MAYOR TURNER'S PREVIOUS, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM. 
          UM, SO I CAN ASSUME THAT THAT WOULD, IT FELL WITHIN THOSE SORT OF SET OF PRIORITIES. 
          AND THIS IS, AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO DO WAS JUST LEARN, RIGHT? THE EXPECTATION HERE WASN'T TO, UM, MAKE A DECISION OR MAKE A CHOICE, BUT TO LEARN. 
          AND WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY IS WE HEARD WE DON'T TRUST YOU, AND HERE'S THE REASONS WHY. 
          AND THIS MAP, I THINK, VERY SUCCINCTLY SHOWS THAT WE WERE TALKING CHARITABLY, WE WERE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH OURSELVES. 
          AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON, ON THAT, UM, AND WITHIN THAT COMPLETE COMMUNITY, WHAT OTHER STREETS HAVE BEEN REHABBED OR, SO WE'VE OVERLAID WHAT WAS IN A BUFFER OF THIS FOOTPRINT. 
          I CAN ABSOLUTELY CREATE A MAP WHERE WE LAYER THAT IN. 
          BUT AGAIN, 8.6 LANE MILES WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. 
          OKAY. 
          YOU'RE JUST ABOUT TO OVERLOAD US WITH INFORMATION. 
          UH, MS. WILSON, YOU WERE WITH ME. 
          YOUR BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION AND RUNNING MAJOR INSTITUTIONS, UH, YOU WON'T SHED ANY LIGHT ON THE, UH, COMMENTS OF THE PUBLIC WE VISITED WITH. 
          THEY WERE, THEY WERE KIND OF DISMAYED AND LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. 
          'CAUSE THEY TRULY BELIEVE THE HALF A DOZEN OR SO I SPOKE TO TRULY BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WITH THE DEVELOPERS. 
          THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, SIGNS FOR CUSTOM HOMES ON THE LOTS. 
          AND, UH, I GUESS YOU GOT TO SEE MY SHOCK WHEN I SAW THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE, BECAUSE I'D SPENT MY MORNING IN ACRES HOME, AND IT WAS THE FIFTH WARD CLUSTERS ZONE, LOOKED LIKE A, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, PRETTY PROSPER. 
          I DON'T WANNA USE THE WORD PROSPEROUS. 
          THEY HAVE CHALLENGES. 
          CERTAINLY ILLEGAL DUMPING WAS PRESENT. 
          STRAY DOGS WERE PRESENT, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. 
          BUT IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PEOPLE BELIEVE CHURCHES, A PASTOR WE TALKED TO, THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ACTIVE, UH, UM, MOTEL IN THE AREA. 
          ANYWAY, I'LL YIELD TO YOU TO JUST EXPRESS THE SENTIMENT OF THE PUBLIC THAT YOU AND I HAD CONTACT WITH. 
          YES, SIR. 
          WE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY, 
          [05:10:01]
AND THEY, IT VARIED IN TERMS OF THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE, THE OLE PLUME, OF WHERE THEY LIVED, WHAT THEY'D BEEN OFFERED. 
          I THINK THERE WERE FAMILIES WHO HAD MEMBERS WHO, WHO LIVED IN THE OLE P PLUME, AND THEY HAD EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE, UM, CANCER, UH, DEATHS IN THEIR FAMILIES. 
          BUT THERE WERE ALL, BUT EVEN THOSE PEOPLE WERE CONFUSED ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT WAS BEING GIVEN. 
          UM, THEY FELT THAT, YES, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. 
          YES, I HAVE HAD THIS HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN MY FAMILY, BUT THE CITY IS BUILDING, ACTIVELY BUILDING NEW HOMES RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE PASSED AWAY. 
          UM, IT'S A LOT OF CONFUSION. 
          UH, A LACK OF TRUST THAT WAS A RESULT OF THIS CONFUSION. 
          AND WHAT YOU SEE IN THE COMMUNITY IS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. 
          THEY DID NOT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE RUNNING FROM THESE, UH, TOXIC WASTE THAT'S IN THEIR, THE LAND, IN THE LAND THAT THEY LIVE ON. 
          AND THEY WERE BASICALLY CONFUSED. 
          YOU WOULD HEAR THEM SPEAK TO, YES, I KNOW THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY COMMUNITY. 
          YES, I KNOW THIS IS PREVALENT. 
          YES, I KNOW IT'S IN THE DIRT THAT I, THAT I, THAT SURROUNDS ME. 
          BUT THERE ARE NEW BUILDINGS RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND DOWN THE STREET, AND THERE ARE NEW ROADS AND THERE'S SO MUCH IMPROVEMENT. 
          I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND. 
          AND FOR ME, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE WANTS TO TAKE MY LAND, CLEAN IT UP, AND THEN REDEVELOP IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANY QUESTIONS, MEMBERS? IF NOT, I'VE GOT A RECOMMENDATION. 
          ONE, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP. 
          UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK FOR FAMILIES AND SUPPORT THEM THAT WANNA VOLUNTARILY MOVE. 
          I THINK WE NEED TO HALT ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. 
          UH, WHEN I TALKED TO DR. 
          NANCE WITH EPA, SHE WAS MUCH MORE ENCOURAGED THAT UNION PACIFIC WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE COST THAN I HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE. 
          SO OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL. 
          THEY HAVE TO ASSIST THE CLEANUP OF THE MESS THAT THEY CREATED. 
          UH, WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM. 
          BUT, UM, THE EPA IS CERTAINLY DILIGENTLY SEEING THAT IF, IF, IF THEY'RE THE CAUSE THEY WILL FUND THE CLEANUP. 
          SO I THINK, UH, OUR PROPOSAL THAT WAS PASSED IN, UH, DECEMBER OF THE 5 MILLION, WHICH WE HELD UP A MONTH AGO, 2 MILLION OF THAT TO, UH, CONTRACT WITH LAND BANK HOUSTON FAMILIES, THAT MONEY WILL BE SET ASIDE. 
          ALTHOUGH I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THE PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL HOUSTONIANS THAT WERE USING THEIR MONEY WISELY. 
          UH, IF YOU ONLY HAD A HALF A DOZEN FAMILIES, THAT WOULD, UH, BE A PRETTY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. 
          NOW, IT DOES EMPHASIZE HOW SERIOUS WE TAKE THIS. 
          AND I THINK THE VOTE TODAY, WHICH I'M GONNA RECOMMEND, IS A STATEMENT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS COMMITTED TO FIFTH WARD ADDRESSING THE CANCER CLUSTER ISSUE, ENVIRONMENTAL EQUALITY, AND TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MAKE, UH, THIS A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT. 
          I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, STEVE WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHO I'VE MET WITH SEVERAL TIMES, VERY PASSIONATE, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT GETTING THIS COMPLETED. 
          AND, UH, WE'LL CON STAY IN CONTACT WITH HIM AGAINST, AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, YOUR DISTRICT. 
          I KNOW WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY WHILE WE'RE DISCUSSING RELOCATION, BUT, UM, I DO THINK BEING IN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, BEING INCLUDED IN THAT COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE GETTING IMPROVEMENTS AND OVERLAY AND BUS STOPS THAT HAVE LED TO PART OF THE CONFUSION. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, FOR YOU TO GO OUT ABOUT YOUR SECOND WEEK ON THE JOB SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT. 
          AND AS I LOOK AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, I KNOW ALL OF US SHARE THE CONCERN. 
          IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT. 
          AND I HOPE THIS MODEL OF BRINGING US TOGETHER TO BE, UH, SUCCESSFUL IN WITH TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMATION WILL GO A LONG WAYS. 
          WITH THAT SAID, I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, I HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, IF I MAY. 
          SURE. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 
          [05:15:02]
STOPPING AND OR PUTTING A HOLD ON, PERMITTING, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN THIS CASE. 
          UM, AND I, I, FIRST MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND HOW YOU'RE COMMUNICATING THIS DATA AND THIS INFORMATION AND LAYING IT OUT FOR US. 
          AND WE HAVE A GREAT PACKET AS WELL THAT LAYS, LAYS OUT EVEN MORE DETAILS. 
          UM, CITY ATTORNEY, WHAT LEGAL AUTHORITY DOES THE CITY HAVE TO ACTUALLY HOLD PERMITS? SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE HAD INSTANCES IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WHERE, UH, THE COMMUNITY HASN'T WANT SOMETHING BUILT. 
          AND BECAUSE OF STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO ISSUE THOSE PERMITS, UH, THERE, EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO FLOODING, WHICH IS ANOTHER CONCERN. 
          NOW, THIS IS OF COURSE, ANOTHER LEVEL, UM, WHERE LITERALLY PEOPLE ARE DYING. 
          SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT'S THE LEGAL AUTHORITY WE FALL BACK ON TO ACTUALLY HOLD THESE PERMITS? UH, THE BAR YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS THE VESTED RIGHT STATUTES IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. 
          HOWEVER, IN THIS INSTANCE, I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE TESTING AND THE DOCUMENTED CONCERN WE HAVE THE PAUSE TO WHICH THE MAYOR REFERS, MEANS WE'RE GONNA TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT ANYONE PUSHING AN APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT, AND WE WOULD REACH OUT TO THE EPA BECAUSE EPA HAS BROAD REMEDIAL POWERS THAT, UM, WOULD PROBABLY TRUMP STATE LAW IN THIS INSTANCE. 
          SO WHEN WE REFER TO A PAUSE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          BUT IT'S BASED ON THE, THE EXTENT OF THE DOCUMENTATION TO DATE. 
          AND THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTINUING. 
          SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE EPA THAT PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE CERTAIN STEPS WEREN'T THERE, IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY MEET THE THRESHOLD FOR OUR ABILITY TO PUT THAT PAUSE, BUT NOW WE'RE HERE AND WE CAN START DOING THAT. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S MY OPINION. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THEN, UM, RELATED TO THE EPA MAYOR, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND NONPROFITS HAVE SENT UP A NOTICE TO THE EPA FOR NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE UNION PACIFIC UNDER THE FEDERAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION RECOVERY ACT. 
          UH, THAT LAW THEN GIVES THE EPA THE AUTHORITY, UH, TO TAKE THAT OVER, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING. 
          BUT I WANNA CONFIRM CITY ATTORNEY THAT PRECLUDES THE CITY OR THE COUNTY ITSELF FROM TAKING FURTHER ACTION, UH, LITIGATION WISE. 
          IT'S EPA THAT'S NOW TAKING THAT OVER, BUT IT DOES NOT PRECLUDE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS FROM SEEKING, UM, THROUGH THE COURT'S CIVIL REMEDIES. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THAT, THAT'S RIGHT. 
          IT'S, UH, THE, THE, UM, THE RESOURCE RE RECOVERY AND RESTORATION ACT THAT WE'RE OPERATING UNDER HAS A KEY TAM PROVISION, WHICH ALLOWS A PRIVATE PARTY TO STEP IN THE SHOES OF THE GOVERNMENT IF THE GOVERNMENT STEPS IN THAT PRIVATE PARTY HAS TO STEP OUT, BUT THE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE A SEPARATE, A DIFFERENT CAUSE OF ACTION, NOT UNDER THAT STATUTE. 
          OKAY. 
          AND THE, UM, EPA, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT TESTING, AND I HEARD, UH, YOU STEVEN SAY THAT THE, EXCUSE ME, DEPUTY CHIEF, UM, THAT THE CITY WAS GONNA CONTINUE TESTING. 
          IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE OF THE EPAS INVOLVEMENT THAT THE EPA HAS ASSUMED OVERSIGHT OF TESTING AND THAT THEY ARE THE ONES, UM, THAT WILL BE OVERSEEING UPS TESTING. 
          AND EVEN THOUGH WITH THAT TESTING, RIGHT, WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT UP INDEPENDENTLY TESTING AND JUST SENDING RESULTS. 
          BUT EPA HAS THE ABILITY TO DO SOME OF THEIR TESTING ON THEIR OWN. 
          DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE CITY'S GOING TO FALL UNDER THAT? OR ARE WE STILL DOING OUR OWN INDEPENDENT TESTING? SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONDUCTED THAT TESTING LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO. 
          UH, AND I'M REFERRING TO THE DIOXIN SOIL TESTING AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE DUST WIPES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. 
          YOU ARE CORRECT. 
          UH, WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR IS THE EPA, UH, TO CONDUCT, TO FINALIZE THE TESTING THAT THEY'RE DOING UNDER UPS OR UP IS DOING UNDER THE EPA SUPERVISION. 
          UM, WHICH THAT TESTING IS OCCURRING UNDER THE SUPERFUND AUTHORITY AS AUTHORIZED THROUGH THE TCEQ. 
          AND SO, UM, THE EXPECTATION, UH, RIGHT NOW WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IS GETTING, UH, ACCESS TO THE SITES TO DO THAT TESTING. 
          THEY NEED, ROUGHLY, WHAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO IS THEIR, UH, SAMPLE SIZE IS GONNA BE ROUGHLY 350, UH, PARCELS. 
          THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ABOUT 149, MEANING THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DISTRUST. 
          THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT SAY, I DON'T WANT YOU ON MY LAND. 
          AND SO THAT IS GOING TO BE AN EFFORT THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. 
          THE FASTER THAT THE, THOSE RESIDENTS CAN GET THAT ACCESS, THE QUICKER THAT THE TESTING CAN BE COMPLETED. 
          WHICH IS WHY WHEN THE EPA FINALIZES THOSE RESULTS IS STILL AN UNKNOWN. 
          GREAT. 
          AND I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT. 
          'CAUSE FOR ME, RIGHT, WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF THE DISTRUST IN THE COMMUNITY MAYOR, AND I'M, I'M GONNA DEFER OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND OF COURSE, YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND HOW WE GET THAT TRUST. 
          'CAUSE I'M, HE, WHAT YOU'RE 
          [05:20:01]
SAYING IS WE HAVE TO, WE CAN'T JUST GO ON TO SOMEONE'S PROPERTY RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS. 
          WE BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS AND, UH, BUT WE NEED THEM TO ALLOW EPA AND UP TO COME ON THEIR LAND TO TAKE THAT TESTING. 
          SO HOW DO WE BUILD THAT TRUST AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THOSE SAMPLES? 'CAUSE IT CAN TAKE BEYOND A YEAR, I'M, I'M BEING TOLD, 12 TO 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE TESTING AT THIS POINT THROUGH THE EPA, UM, PROCESS. 
          UH, SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO, MAYOR, I STAND IN FULL SUPPORT OF HOW WE BUILD THAT TRUST TO GET THOSE PERMISSIONS TO DO THAT TESTING. 
          UM, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS. 
          I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. 
          I DID SEE, UM, THE LIST IN HERE OF WHO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH. 
          UM, SO I DO WANNA JUST RECOGNIZE AND THANK ALL OF THE PARTNERS FOR COMING TOGETHER. 
          I DIDN'T SEE, UM, IN TERMS OF WHO OUR PARTNERS ARE, THE COUNTY LISTED ON HERE. 
          UH, I DO WANNA THANK THOUGH, AND I, I'M SURE THIS WAS JUST AN OVERSIGHT. 
          I KNOW THAT, UM, COUNTY ATTORNEY MENIFEE HAS BEEN VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THIS AND VOCAL AND ACTIVE IN WORKING WITH THE CITY. 
          HE WAS IN OUR OFFICE FRIDAY, AND IT'S ON MY CLOSING REMARKS TO THANK HIM. 
          UH, IT'S BEEN VERY PROACTIVE. 
          UH, HIS LAWSUIT IS, IS ON WHOLE, PENDING THE EPA, UH, FINDINGS. 
          SO, UH, YOU DID MENTION THE RESIDENTS COULD TAKE CIVIL ACTION ON THERE ARE TRIAL LAWYERS THAT, UH, ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND THAT COULD BE ALSO PART OF THE, UH, CONFUSION. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          BUT WHAT WE CAN DO, AS YOU SAID, SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE, KEEP EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE, INCLUDING UNION PACIFIC AND FOR CERTAIN THE FAMILIES. 
          BUT I THINK IF THE ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL WILL ALL REITERATE HOW COMMITTED WE ARE, WE'RE MAKING THIS VOTE TODAY TO, TO MAKE A STATEMENT, UH, PART OF THE WORK OF NETWORKING COULD BE CONDUCTED BY CERTAINLY THE FAMILY HOUSTON, UH, WHICH WE'LL FUND IN A MOMENT. 
          AND, UM, THE LAND BANK. 
          SO WE, I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND, AND, UH, AND I THINK WE ALL STILL HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. 
          I STILL THINK CLEANING UP THE AREA, UH, WILL BE THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND SO DID DR. 
          NANCE WITH THE EPA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          I, I APOLOGIZE. 
          THOMAS WAS AHEAD. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. 
          UM, HOW APROPOS THAT THIS IS A BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS. 
          UM, SO I'M GONNA PUT ON MY FACULTY HAT AND, UM, JUST GIVE SOME HISTORY AROUND MISTRUST. 
          SO THE MISTRUST BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, UM, AND BLACK FOLKS DID NOT START WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION OR THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          WITH THAT, WE CAN POINT TO SPECIAL ORDER 15, WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, UH, WITH THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE 40 ACRES AND THE LOANED MULE, RIGHT? THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO THEN OFFER FREE SLAVES LAND. 
          AND THE FREEMAN'S BUREAU, UH, RETRACTED ON THAT, THAT SPECIAL ORDER WAS THEN RESCINDED. 
          UM, AND SO THERE IS A HISTORY OF MISTRUST WITH BLACK AMERICANS AND LAND OWNERSHIP. 
          BUT I ALSO ASK MY STUDENTS THIS QUESTION, HOW MUCH DOES A CITY NEED TO INVEST IN A NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE THEY HITS A TIPPING POINT? AND IT STARTS TO REVITALIZE. 
          SO WE HAVE TO MARRY THE TWO OF INVESTING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, FOR DECADES, HAS BEEN DI DIVESTED. 
          AND THEN I ALSO WANNA TEASE OUT, ONCE WE GET TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR HOUSING, THERE'S AN INCENTIVE FOR DEVELOPERS TO COME IN FOR MULTI-FAMILY WHEN THERE'S EXTERNAL DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING THAT'S A PART OF THEIR POINT SYSTEM. 
          SO I THINK AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, UM, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TWO MARRY. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION OR THIS YEAR OR THE NEXT FIVE OR EIGHT YEARS WILL REALLY BRIDGE THE GAP IN TERMS OF MISTRUST. 
          WE HAVE TO BE RIGOROUS AND DILIGENT AND CONSISTENT. 
          UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A HISTORY. 
          IT'S DOCUMENTED. 
          WE KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. 
          THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE WOULD'VE BEEN IMMINENT DOMAIN. 
          AND IF WE WOULD'VE IMMINENT DOMAIN, THESE BLACK PEOPLE'S LAND, RIGHT? THE CITY WOULD'VE SPLIT IN FOURS. 
          SO THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC. 
          UM, AND SO IT, I I APPRECIATE THE ONE VOICE, THE ONE SOUND, THE ONE BAND, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THAT. 
          UM, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE ARE DEPENDENT ON THIS. 
          UM, SOME PEOPLE WANNA STAY BECAUSE THEY FINALLY SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          THEY FINALLY GET THE OVERLAY, THEY FINALLY GET THE BUS STOP, THEY FINALLY GET THE ACCESS. 
          THEY SEE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND THEY'RE SAYING YES, FINALLY. 
          RIGHT? THEY'RE FINALLY GETTING THE REBOARD REBUILD. 
          SO AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS, I'M GLAD THIS IS COMING TO A VOTE. 
          I JUST WANTED TO PAINT THE PICTURE THAT IT DIDN'T START YESTERDAY, RIGHT? AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT B IS ALSO HAPPENING IN DISTRICT F IN PINEY POINT, AND IT'S ALSO HAPPENING IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S A MODEL ON HOW WE TREAT RELOCATION, UM, AND HOW WE, UM, INVEST IN NEIGHBORHOODS AT THE SAME TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          THERE'S A QUIZ NEXT MORNING. 
          ? YES. 
          UH, THANK YOU MAYORS. 
          SO, 
          [05:25:01]
UH, I KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION HAS, UH, PUT A PAUSE ON PERMITTING. 
          AND, UH, BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT, DOING THAT 11 DAYS TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WHEN REALLY, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO. 
          BUT I'M CURIOUS, HOW LONG CAN WE HAVE A PAUSE ON PERMITTING? UM, CAN IT BE INDEFINITE OR DO WE HAVE TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION TO PROHIBIT FUTURE PERMITTING IN THIS AREA IF WE THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE? UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN. 
          IT'S STILL BEING EVALUATED AS TO WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH A MORATORIUM OR NOT. 
          BUT I THINK THIS PAUSE IS SOMEWHAT UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE POWER OF EPA AND THE CONTAMINANTS THERE. 
          SO I THINK HOW LONG WE CAN DO IT IS, IS A LITTLE FLUID RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT VARIOUS OTHER OPTIONS. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, UH, MY LAST COMMENT, MAYOR, WOULD BE IN WITH REGARD TO UNION PACIFIC. 
          I'VE MENTIONED UNION PACIFIC A COUPLE TIMES IN MY REMARKS RECENTLY, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THAT THEY MET WITH MYSELF AND MY STAFF LAST WEEK. 
          I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. 
          TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNION PACIFIC. 
          I UNDERSTAND THE MATTER IS IN LITIGATION, THEY'RE BEING SUED, SO, UH, QUITE SURPRISING THEY WERE WILLING TO VISIT WITH US. 
          BUT, UH, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT AND, UM, HOPE THAT GOING FORWARD, UH, THEY WILL PLAY A FINANCIAL ROLE IN THIS, UH, TO HELP US OUT. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR JUST, YOU KNOW, CREATING A PATHWAY FORWARD. 
          YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS, UM, FOR QUITE SOME TIME, A COUPLE OF DECADES, YOU KNOW, UM, FOLKS HAVE BEEN, UM, DEALING WITH THE CANCER CLUSTER. 
          AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE FINALLY GOT A PATHWAY FORWARD. 
          UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, TAKING MY SUGGESTIONS ON, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT IN THE AREA HAVE A, UM, COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS NEEDED. 
          UM, AND OF COURSE, UM, BRINGING IN MORE PARTNERS, WHICH IS NEEDED AS WELL. 
          SO I'M JUST EXCITED THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, UM, AND TAKING CARE OF THE RESIDENTS IN FIFTH WARD AND CASHIER GARDEN. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR PROTO, MAYOR PRO KA STADIUM. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I'M, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE ALL OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION, BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT, UM, AS WE ARE DISCUSSING THE PATH FORWARD IS IF RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BEING A LAND GRAB, THERE'S DISTRUST. 
          UM, THERE IS A HISTORY, UM, AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, SO ELOQUENTLY POINTED OUT OF THE DISTRUST OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LAND OWNERSHIP. 
          UM, I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IF I AM A PROPERTY OWNER AND I DECIDE THAT I WANNA MOVE DURING THIS VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, IS THERE GOING TO BE A COVENANT ON MY PROPERTY THAT WE ARE SAYING IS UNLIKELY THAT THE CREO SOAP PLUME CAN BE REMEDIATED IN THIS LIFETIME? RIGHT? IS THERE GOING TO BE A COVENANT ON MY PROPERTY NOW THAT NO OTHER PERSON CAN COME AND GRAB THAT LAND AND BUILD A DUPLEX? BECAUSE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO WITH FLOODING, WHEN THERE IS A BUYOUT, THERE IS A COVENANT PLACED ON THAT LAND SO THAT ANOTHER HOME CANNOT BE PUT ON THAT PROPERTY. 
          WE'RE SAYING HERE THAT THE KOREA SO PLUME WILL PROBABLY NOT BE REMEDIATED IN THIS LIFETIME. 
          IF I TAKE A BUYOUT, WILL THERE BE A COVENANT ON MY LAND SO THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NEW BUS STOPS, NEW STREET OVERLAYS AND OTHER THINGS FOR, UM, PEOPLE THAT MAY BE AROUND THE PLUME OR THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE PLUME, UM, TO ACCESS, WILL THERE BE A COVENANT ON MY PROPERTY THAT I MOVED AWAY FROM VOLUNTARILY THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT SOMEONE ELSE AND PUT ANOTHER FAMILY IN DANGER? I THINK THAT IS AN OUTSTANDING UNANSWERED QUESTION. 
          THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER BROUGHT UP WHEN WE FIRST SPOKE ABOUT THIS. 
          AND I MEAN, TO, TO THAT POINT OF SPEAKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SPEAKING WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE HAVE, WE, IT WAS MADE EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAR. 
          THEIR LAND IS THEIR LEGACY. 
          AND BEING ABLE TO RESPECT THAT AND TREAT THAT WITH THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY THAT THEY DESERVE AND HAVE EARNED, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT THING TO DO. 
          AND TO BEGIN TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, AND THIS IS TO MAYOR WHITTIER'S POINT ABOUT FAMILY HOUSTON, WE NEED TO, TO STOP BROAD BRUSH STROKING THIS COMMUNITY AND SAYING, THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE, THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE, THIS IS WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE. 
          AND GAIN THAT INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND ARE, DO THEY HAVE CREDIT WORTHINESS? DO THEY HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT? WHAT HEALTH CONDITION ARE THEY IN? ARE, HAVE THEY BEEN SCREENED FOR CANCER RECENTLY LIVING IN A CANCER PLUM? AND WE CAN'T ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND TO BEGIN TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. 
          ALL OF THE ONES, ESPECIALLY THE ONE THAT YOU, YOU BROUGHT, WHICH IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY COMPLICATED ONE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE BASICS, THE FUNDAMENTALS. 
          [05:30:01]
AND SO THE PATH FORWARD, WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE EPA IS TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE AGENCY OR ENGAGE WITH THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT NOT AS A SINGLE AGENCY ON AN ISLAND, BUT AS A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE VIEWED ANY LACK OF PASSION OR CONCERN ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AMONG THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO'VE ENGAGED. 
          I THINK WHAT WE'VE WITNESSED IS A LACK OF COORDINATION. 
          RIGHT? AND, AND I DO, UM, WITH THAT, WITH THAT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, WANT TO SAY, UM, THAT I AM HAPPY THAT WE HAVE THIS $5 MILLION. 
          WE'VE ALLOCATED THIS $5 MILLION, WE'VE VOTED FOR THIS $5 MILLION, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE 2 MILLION, UM, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BUILDING AND MOVING FORWARD. 
          UM, BECAUSE FOR SO LONG THE PEOPLE HAVE CRIED OUT TO GOVERNMENT TO HEAR US ABOUT THIS CANCER CLUSTER, AND WE DID SOMETHING THAT HAS LED TO SOMETHING BIGGER MM-HMM . 
          AND SO I DO NOT WANT TO, UH, BELITTLE WHAT WE'VE DONE IN ANY WAY BECAUSE, BUT FOR THAT FIRST STEP, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BIGGER SOLUTION. 
          UM, AND I'D SAY IT ALL THE TIME, WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON OUR BEST, BUT WE'RE LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE IN FIFTH WARD. 
          UM, WE ARE HONORING THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED OF CANCER. 
          UM, WE, WE ALL AGREE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE, UM, AND THE WAY WE MOVE FORWARD NOW WILL BE A, A LEGACY FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE WE ARE LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE AND WE'VE ALL VOWED TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND HEAR THEIR CRIES. 
          UM, AND WE ARE MAKING SOMETHING HAPPEN. 
          SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT IF A FAMILY DECIDES TO MOVE, THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW THEIR PROPERTY TO BECOME AVAILABLE TO ANOTHER FAMILY TO SUFFER THE SAME CONCERNS THAT, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE. 
          SO WHILE WE ARE MAKING OUR PLANS, IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LAND IF I TAKE THE VOLUNTARY BUYOUT? YES, MA'AM. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          PLUMMER. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          UM, REALLY, REALLY WELL DONE. 
          I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND, AND MAYBE THIS GOES TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER, IF THAT'S OKAY. 
          UM, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE HOW LONG LEGALLY WE CAN HAVE A PAUSE. 
          WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A REALTOR THAT IS SELLING PROPERTY IN TERMS OF SOME LEVEL OF DISCLOSURE TO THE BUYER? DO YOU, ARE YOU AWARE? IS THERE ANYTHING? UH, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ANY REQUIREMENT UNDER STATE LAW. 
          UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE COULD IMPOSE IT OURSELVES, ALTHOUGH WE CAN DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE CITY'S DOING AND, AND THE DANGERS THAT WE KNOW OF. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THE OTHER QUESTION IS, AS WE KNOW IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DIOXIN IS A BYPRODUCT OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES. 
          AND SO, BECAUSE HOUSTON HAS SO MANY INDUSTRIAL AREAS, WE'LL FIND OXEN IN A LOT OF PLACES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          IT'S ALMOST LIKE A NATURAL, UM, CONTAMINANT THAT WE SEE. 
          SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, ARE FULLY, YOU KNOW, UM, TRANSPARENT TO OUR COMMUNITY IS LET THEM KNOW WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE AVERAGE LEVELS OF DIOXIN AND KNOW WHAT ARE TOXIC LEVELS OF DIOXIN. 
          I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE SAY THAT WORD AND EVERYONE JUST COMPLETELY FREAKS OUT. 
          AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT PIECE AS WELL. 
          SO, UM, IN THAT COMMUNICATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS, LET YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW, UM, THAT AS WELL, UH, THERE ARE MULTIPLE LAW FIRMS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS. 
          AND THOSE LAW FIRMS, I'M NOT GONNA NAME THEM, ALTHOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, THEY ARE INSTRUCTING THE RESIDENTS NOT TO ALLOW TESTING ON THEIR PROPERTY. 
          AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO, UM, I THINK THAT AS WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED BEFORE, FAMILY HOUSTON IS GONNA KIND OF LEAD THIS, WHICH I THINK IS BRILLIANT TO HAVE ONE VOICE IN THIS CONVERSATION. 
          UM, BUT WE, I WOULD, I WOULD ASK THAT FAMILY HOUSTON, ENGAGE WITH ALL THE LAW FIRMS THAT HAVE SOME TYPE OF, UM, INVOLVEMENT WITH THE, WITH THEIR CLIENTS, UH, TO ALLOW EPA TO GO IN AND, AND FULLY TEST THESE PROPERTIES. 
          UM, AND MY LAST COMMENT IS, UM, KIND OF GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT VICE MAYOR, I MEAN, MAYOR PROTI, UM, MENTIONED, UM, IN ADDITION TO WHAT SHE'S SAYING, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PUT IN SOME FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL. 
          SO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW HINGES ON THE EPAS RESULTS. 
          IF THE EPA COMES BACK AND SAYS, THIS IS TOXIC PROPERTY, THIS IS TRULY A CANCER CLUSTER, EVERYONE IS ILL, THEN WE MAKE OUR DECISION AND WE, AND WE HIT GO. 
          UM, IF WE FIND OUT, IF FOR SOME REASON WE FIND OUT THERE'S NOT A CURRENT EXPOSURE, I WOULD BURY ELOQUENTLY BEG THAT THESE FOLKS GET THEIR PROPERTY BACK, EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANNA LIVE THERE, THAT THEY HAVE FIRST RIGHTS REFUSAL BEFORE ANYONE GETS TO COME GET IT. 
          AGAIN, THIS IS OUR LEGACY. 
          UM, THIS IS WHAT BLACK PEOPLE, THIS IS, THIS IS THE ONLY THING WE HAVE. 
          WE DON'T HAVE 4 0 1 KS, WE DON'T HAVE BIG DEEP POCKETS. 
          WE DON'T HAVE LOTS OF, YOU KNOW, UM, SAVINGS 
          [05:35:01]
ACCOUNTS. 
          WE HAVE OUR LAND. 
          AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO WITH THAT LAND LATER, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPERATIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THAT FAMILY, AND THIS IS BIG MAMA'S HOUSE, RIGHT? THAT FAMILY GETS THEIR LAND BACK SO THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANNA DO WITH IT AFTERWARDS. 
          AND SO, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF POINTS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, I BROUGHT THOSE UP AND, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. 
          YEAH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY, VERY GOOD POINTS. 
          AND THAT'S REASON I BELIEVE RE UH, THE CLEANUP IS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT ULTIMATELY THAN A RELOCATION, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE VERY RELUCTANT FOR ALL THE REASONS WE'VE STATED. 
          CERTAINLY TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR EQUITY EVEN IF THEY'VE RELOCATED. 
          SO, UH, THAT'S MY HUSBAND, SENATOR, UH, SENATOR H UH, , COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, WHEN THESE 71 PERMITS WERE ISSUED SINCE 2019, WAS THE CITY REQUIRED TO ADVISE, UM, THE PEOPLE PULLING THE PERMITS THAT TESTING WAS IN PROGRESS? OR EVEN IF, EVEN IF IT WASN'T REQUIRED, DID THE CITY ADVISE THAT TESTING WAS IN PROGRESS? UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CITY DID. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND STEVEN, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE INFORMATION. 
          YOU MENTIONED, UH, ADDITIONAL TESTING AND YOU MENTIONED ALSO, UH, PLUME MOVEMENT. 
          UM, ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR EITHER THE CITY OR UNION PACIFIC TO DO ADDITIONAL TESTING? EAST OF ZONE THREE? UH, YOU KNOW, MORE TOWARDS THE DENVER HARBOR AREA, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO ZONE THREE, WHERE THEY ALL, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE CLUSTER AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SEEING RATES OF CANCER? I, I THINK THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
          UM, WHAT I KNOW, UH, IS THAT THE EPA, I THINK THAT THERE'S A MORE DETAILED RESPONSE THAT I CAN GET YOU, UM, FROM THOSE GROUPS. 
          BUT I COULD TELL YOU THAT THE EPA HAS, UH, REQUIRED, UM, UP TO DO BACKGROUND TESTING IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL INCLUDE GOING INTO DENVER HARBOR AND DOING SOIL SAMPLES. 
          THEY'VE ALREADY GOT SITE ACCESS BECAUSE THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY'RE GOING ON ARE CITY OF HOUSTON OWNED AND HARRIS COUNTY OWNED PROPERTIES. 
          UM, SO THEY'RE GOING TO DO THOSE, THAT BACKGROUND TESTING. 
          ANYWAYS, UM, THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CREOSOTE PLUME MONITORING AND THEN VAPOR TESTING AND THEN SOIL TESTING. 
          SO THE PLUME MONITORING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE GREATER PART OF A DECADE, AND THEY DRILLED 360 ISH WATER WELLS THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY. 
          AND THEY HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN AT VARIOUS DEPTHS, 10 FEET, ZERO TO FIVE FEET, 10 FEET, 20, 30 FEET. 
          AND THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING WHERE THE CREOSOTE HAS BEEN GOING. 
          AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD WAS THAT GENERALLY THEY BELIEVE THAT THE CREOSOTE PLUME HAS STOPPED GROWING OUTWARD. 
          I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A MORE DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THAT, AND I THINK IT WOULD MOST LIKELY COME. 
          AND WE'VE ASKED THAT THE EPA ADDRESS IT WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH ALL OF THEIR TESTING, SO WE CAN GET A COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING OUT. 
          UM, WITH REGARD TO THE VAPOR TESTING AND THE SOIL TESTING THAT IS ONGOING RIGHT NOW, UM, THE SITE ACCESS IS AN ISSUE. 
          UH, PEOPLE ARE VERY SKEPTICAL OF LETTING UP OR WHATEVER COMPANY UP IS HIRED ONTO THEIR PROPERTY TO TEST. 
          AND THAT IS, AGAIN, THAT SORT OF SINGLE VOICE AND ARM WRAPPING AROUND OUR ARMS AROUND THAT COMMUNITY TO GET THAT AT LEAST ENOUGH TRUST TO LET THEM ON THEIR PROPERTY, UM, FOR THAT TESTING. 
          'CAUSE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT. 
          NEXT STEP IS EPA TO TELL US YES OR NO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND, AND DR. 
          NANCE, UH, EPA DIRECTOR MENTIONED DENVER HARBOR BEING A CONCERN. 
          SO THEY'LL GO ACROSS IN THE IN HARBOR COUNCIL DAVIS, UH, PASTOR DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, LET ME, I, I, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MAKE SOME POINTS AND THEN ASK, ASK THIS QUESTION AS I ATTENDED THE MEETING THAT WAS, UH, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY A, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, WITH BRINGING THE PANEL TOGETHER, WHICH INCLUDED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EPA, UH, AND, UM, THE ATTORNEY, COUNTY ATTORNEY. 
          AND FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, I SAID IN OUR LAST MEETING A MONTH AGO WHEN THIS WAS POSTPONED FOR 30 DAYS, THAT THIS IS A CRUCIAL AND CRITICAL SITUATION. 
          AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COLLABORATION AROUND THE TABLE HERE, AS MANY OF US IN THE CITY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER PLACE, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN A NATIONAL ISSUE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN DISCUSSED ON THE BASIS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS COMMUNITY. 
          NOW, I BELIEVE ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE ARE GREAT, SMART, INTELLIGENT, AND MAY I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR FIRST THE PAUSING, BECAUSE I COULD, I THINK IT'S PRETTY RELEVANT THAT WE CAN HEAR 
          [05:40:02]
THAT THAT WAS A POINT WHERE THAT WAS THE CART PUT IN FRONT OF THE HORSE. 
          IT RELATES TO THIS MATTER, AND YOU CANNOT PUT A BANDAID ON A, ON A SHOTGUN WOUND. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. 
          I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT TODAY, PEOPLE TALKING AND SPECIFICALLY AND VERY IMPORTANT ON, BY THE WAY, MAYBE COMMUNITIES ARE VIEWED. 
          I HEARD, UH, WHEN IT WAS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THEY FEEL DISTRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT. 
          WELL, AGAIN, I WANT TO, I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA PLAY IT DOWN, BUT I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO OVERLOOK THE FACT THE ACTION THAT YOU'VE TAKEN MAYOR IS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITUATION, THE, EVEN THE PERMITTING THE PROPERTY. 
          SO WHAT I LIKE TO SEE IS IF THIS HOLE IS GONNA BE DONE. 
          'CAUSE SEE, PERSONALLY I BELIEVE THAT THE, THE PROCESS SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A VERY AGGRESSIVE APPROACH FROM THE START ONCE THIS WAS A RECOGNIZED OF THE CONDITIONS I MET WITH UP, THEY PURCHASED, THEY, THEY UP PURCHASED SOUTHERN PACIFIC BACK IN 1996 AND THEY PURCHASED THE CONTAMINATION. 
          IT, IT WENT ALONG WITH THE PURCHASE. 
          SO THIS IS A LONG ONGOING THING. 
          AND I ALSO BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION AT THE MEETING THAT WE WERE THERE, THOUGH SOME OF THE COUNCILMEN WAS THERE. 
          I ASKED EPA, HOW LONG IS THIS TESTING PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START GETTING THE RESULTS BACK? AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE ARE GONNA WAIT FOR UP. 
          THEIR TESTING IS BEING DONE. 
          'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT EVERYBODY IN THERE AT THE SAME TIME. 
          WELL, NOW THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE BECAUSE IN MOST CASES WE GENERALLY KNOW EPA TAKES THE LEAD ON ANY CONTAMINATION PERSPECTIVE. 
          SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT'S GOING, BUT I WOULD SAY THEY EXPLAINED TO ME UP, EXPLAINED THAT THEY WENT DOWN IN ONE AREA OF THAT CONTAMINATED AREA AND THEY BUILT BRICK WALLS IN ORDER TO STOP THE, THE MOVEMENT OF THE CRESO. 
          RIGHT? SO, SO AGAIN, I THINK THAT ABSENCE OF A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOT TO RELY ON, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE ACTION THAT THE MAYOR'S TAKEN IN REGARDS TO THIS COMMUNITY, THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE GET A REAL ROBUST APPROACH TO WHAT UP IS DOING ALONG WITH EPA. 
          BECAUSE TRUTH FOR THE MATTER WAS, I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A LEVEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SUIT FILE, A A LARGE SUIT FILE BECAUSE WE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WANNA MOVE, PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO MOVE. 
          AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO GET RESOLVED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. 
          BUT MAY I WANNA APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING THE ACTION. 
          'CAUSE YOU PROVIDED US WITH A LOT MORE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THIS AREA, THE EVEN PERMITTING OF, OF A SINGLE MULTI, AND THEN DISCOVERING THAT IT WAS A MULTIFAMILY, ALL OF THESE TYPE OF ERRONEOUS THINGS ARE GOING ON AND IT, AND IT SENDS A BAD MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY. 
          SO MY PRAYER IS THAT THE COUNCIL, THAT ALL OF US WOULD TAKE ALL OF THIS SERIOUS, 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE QUESTIONS, I'M SURE THAT'S GONNA BE ASKED FROM THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND I THINK IT WOULD, THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO HEAR IT. 
          WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA SELL THEIR PROPERTY, WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA STAY IN THE PROPERTY, WE SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY. 
          THIS IS A SHOTGUN WOUND AND NOT A BANDAID WOUND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHIVA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I WANNA COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR HER RECOMMENDATION, BUT I'D LIKE TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THAT AND SEE IF THERE COULD ALSO BE A CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THEM TO BUY BACK. 
          BECAUSE IF THEY ALLOW THEM TO BUY IT BACK AND THEY GIVE THEM A PHENOMENAL COST, THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE PRICED OUT. 
          SO JUST ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION TO PIGGYBACK ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          VERY WELL. 
          COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT TO YOU, UM, COUNCILMAN BYRD DAVIS, UM, THERE, THE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WELL AWARE. 
          SO THE MOONSHOT PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FOCUSED ON HOUSTON AND FLINT, MICHIGAN. 
          AND SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF IT. 
          UM, I WAS THERE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO ADVOCATING FOR HOUSTON. 
          UM, THEY'RE VERY ENGAGED. 
          IT'S ANOTHER NONPROFIT, THE NATIONAL MINORITY OF ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY IN M-N-M-F-Q. 
          UM, THEY'RE ALSO ENGAGED TOO. 
          SO THIS IS, THIS HAS GOTTEN TO DC YES. 
          AND THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND, UM, AND THE HELP, THE HELP IS HOPEFULLY ON THE WAY. 
          BUT, BUT TO YOUR POINT, YOU'RE RIGHT. 
          I MEAN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DEFINITELY ENGAGED AND, AND THIS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FUNDS ENVIRONMENTAL 
          [05:45:01]
JUSTICE CONCERNS AROUND THE, AROUND THE COUNTRY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I I, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS, IF IT, IT REALLY, IT, IT, IT, IT TENDS TO PUT A, A LOOK ON HOUSTON MM-HMM . 
          AND WE ALL LOVE OUR CITY. 
          AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, WE SHOW OURSELVES DOING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, YOU ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT DENVER HARBOR. 
          UM, UM, THE EPA ACTUALLY SET UP AN ADVISORY GROUP, AND DENVER, DENVER HARBOR WAS PART OF THIS ADVISORY GROUP. 
          THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY PICKED WHO THEY WANTED TO REPRESENT ON THIS PARTICULAR BOARD. 
          AND THAT WAY THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, IS ON THE FOREFRONT. 
          THEY'RE GETTING INFORMATION IN REAL TIME. 
          AND SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNEW THAT THAT WAS HAPPENING. 
          AND THEN ALSO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS A COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP AS WELL. 
          AND SO THIS IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GETTING THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED. 
          AND SO, UM, YEAH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THE EPA EMPHASIZED TO ME THAT THEY'D BE WORKING WITH THE ADVISORY GROUP THAT HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY THE COMMUNITY. 
          SO THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, THINGS GOING FORWARD. 
          LET ME JUST SAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE ILLS, HISTORICAL ILLS IN AMERICA. 
          I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA FIX 'EM THIS MORNING, BUT IF WE CAN DO OUR PART, CERTAINLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, RESTORING TRUST ON THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS. 
          AND, AND DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THIS MAYOR'S ABILITY TO RESTORE TRUST, UH, PRETTY, PRETTY LONG RECORD OF BEING IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          UM, SO I HOPE Y'ALL APPRECIATE THIS MODEL. 
          I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THIS. 
          I DON'T THINK, UH, THAT YOU CAN JUST HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE OR EVERYBODY GOES TO FIFTH WARD WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE EPA AND SAY, WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING AND THEN PASS SOMETHING IN THE CLOSING DAYS THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A PLAN, WHICH LED TO EVEN MORE CONFUSION AND DISTRUST. 
          SO WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MOVE, UH, OR ACCEPT A MOTION TO TAKE ITEM 15 OUT OF ORDER. 
          AND STEVEN, AND, AND, UH, CYNTHIA, THANK YOU'ALL FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK, AND WE GOT MORE WORK TO DO. 
          SO 
          [MATTERS HELD]
IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO TAKE 15 OUTTA ORDER, WE'LL GO FORWARD. 
          MAYOR, I MOTION TO TAKE ITEM 15 OUTTA ORDER AS SHABAZZ. 
          SO SECOND MOTION IS MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          PLEASE CALL UP ITEM 15. 
          ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          OH, HOLD ON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. 
          UM, GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS ITEM IS BACK ON THE AGENDA AFTER THE 30 DAYS. 
          I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR DILIGENCE. 
          I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF THIS DISTRICT FOR YOUR CONSISTENT DILIGENCE AND WORK ON THIS. 
          AND EVERYBODY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL HAS, UH, FOCUSED ON THIS ITEM AND PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND ATTENTION ON IT. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WE JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, RIGHT? AND, AND GOVERNMENT IS HARD TO GET MONEY, AND WE HAVE SOME, AND WHEN A LOT OF OTHER ENTITIES ARE NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE, WE ARE. 
          AND SO I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ITEM IS ONE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MONEY TO DO SOMETHING. 
          AND THERE ARE GONNA BE QUESTIONS FROM THE PAST THAT AREN'T ANSWERED. 
          THERE ARE QUESTIONS TODAY THAT STILL AREN'T ANSWERED, BUT THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ELECTED TO FIGURE IT OUT. 
          AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THAT MESSAGE AND HAVE PRESENCE IN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          SO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS ON A DAILY BASIS CAN HAVE SOME COMFORT THAT WHATEVER DECISION THEY MAKE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. 
          AND SO I THINK THIS ITEM GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS DOING THAT. 
          UM, IF 30 DAYS IS NEEDED FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN DOING SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S WELCOME. 
          I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE VISION AND, AND COURAGE TO EVEN PUT FORTH THIS TYPE OF ITEM IN THE PAST THAT WE CAN EVEN DISCUSS TODAY. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORT IN LOOKING AT IT. 
          BUT I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE LAST DAY THAT WE PUT THIS TYPE OF ATTENTION ON IT, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF FIFTH WARD THAT ARE INSIDE THAT CANCER CLUSTER ARE GONNA DEPEND ON THIS TYPE OF ATTENTION IN THE DAYS AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YEAH, WELL SAID. 
          AND, AND, UH, THE FIFTH WARD RESIDENTS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. 
          THERE ARE STUDIES BEING CONDUCTED AND THERE'S NETWORKING AND ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, IN PLAY AS, AS WE VOTE ON THIS THIS MORNING. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. 
          UM, JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          NEED A VOTE, SECRETARY? ALL IN THE JURY. 
          CALL IT. 
          OKAY. 
          YEAH, WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR OF, UH, ITEM 15. 
          AYE. 
          NAY. 
          [05:50:01]
AYES HAVE IT RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU MEMBERS, MA'AM. 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEMS TWO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 3, 4, 5, AND SIX CAST. 
          MOVE I SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND IN FAVOR. 
          AYE. 
          THOSE OPPOSED? AYE. 
          HAVE UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS 10, 12, AND 13 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. 
          SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 7, 8, 9, AND 11. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. 
          NEXT, TAYLOR. 
          MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR. 
          NINE, TWO. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          ITEM TWO. 
          TWO. 
          CASTEX. 
          TATU. 
          MOVE THE SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM. 
          'CAUSE, UH, RESIDENTS, OUR OFFICE, UH, AND DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY. 
          UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE WOW ROUNDABOUT, UH, FOR SOME TIME. 
          MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY ENGAGED ON THIS. 
          AND, UH, WE HAD SOME DAMAGE TO, UH, BOTH THE CAMP LOGAN AND WOODCREST SIGNS. 
          WOW. 
          IS WHERE LITERALLY FOUR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS ALL COME TOGETHER. 
          AND, UH, A DRUNK DRIVER PLOWED INTO ONE OF THE SIGNS. 
          AND BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT TECHNICALITIES, IT HAS TAKEN A VERY LONG TIME TO GET, UM, THOSE REPAIRS GOING. 
          SO I REALLY WANTED TO THANK MICHELLE WALPERT, WHO HAS, UH, BEEN ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF THIS EFFORT, BUT ALSO, UM, ONE OF THE PRESIDENTS OF OUR CIVIC CLUB, JIM SIMMONS. 
          UH, WE, UH, EXCUSE ME. 
          UH, WE HAVE OVER $13,000 FROM THE PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICT ACTUALLY GOING TO REPAIR THESE SIGNS AND THE BEAUTIFICATION. 
          UH, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THIS ON. 
          SO I WANNA THANK THE ADVISORY BOARD AND PARK HOUSTON FOR GETTING THIS GOING. 
          UH, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA KEEP AT IT WITH BOTH SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND BEAUTIFICATION. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM 10 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          ITEM PASSES. 
          ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE EPA TODAY AND THIS PROJECT, UM, IS PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, COMPLYING WITH THE CONSENT DECREE. 
          AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE COUNCIL HAS HAD AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH, UM, BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE. 
          AND SO, UH, WE, I'D LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT AT SOME POINT. 
          SURE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT'S ALL. 
          JUST A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          ITEM PASSES. 
          ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. 
          [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS]
ITEM 14 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING. 
          CASTEX CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST. 
          SECOND. 
          ALL OPPOSED? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM F. 
          ITEM 16. 
          ITEM 16 IS A, IS A IS A MOTION. 
          WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          OH, AFTER THE VOTE. 
          AFTER THE VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. 
          ITEM PASSES. 
          NOW. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUM. 
          NOW. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMER. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING WITH OUR PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          UM, THIS IS REALLY AN EXAMPLE, UM, OF MAKING SURE THE MINORITY BUSINESSES ARE ENGAGED, UM, IN THIS PROCESS. 
          SO THIS IS A CO-OP, AND I'VE BEEN KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THESE A LOT. 
          UM, IT'S AN ALLOTMENT OF MONEY WHERE ONE COMPANY OR ONE ENTITY, UH, GETS TO USE THOSE RESOURCES TO, UM, GET ANY SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED. 
          UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE THOUGH, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY'VE BEEN LISTENING, UM, TO A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND REALLY, UM, ALLOWING A CARVE OUT OF MINORITY ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS. 
          AND SO, UM, I'M HOPING AS WE'RE SEEING ALL THESE CO-OPS COMING FORWARD, THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING, IT'S REALLY, UH, IMPORTANT 
          [05:55:01]
FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES, MID-SIZE BUSINESSES TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, PROTI, CAST, SUSTAIN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER ON LAST WEEK, WE DID THANK, UM, UH, DIRECTOR MURRAY AND, UH, GREENFIELD FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. 
          UM, THANK YOU FOR PUSHING FOR THAT CARVE OUT OF MWBE PARTICIPATION IN THE CO-OPS. 
          UM, BUT, AND WE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THAT WE ALSO HAVE A ROUTE FOR, UM, BUSINESS OWNERS, THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO PARTICIPATE, UM, AND BECOME PRIMES ON THESE CO-OPS. 
          AND I THINK THAT WE ARE BUILDING CAPACITY FOR OUR, OUR, UM, MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES. 
          AND HOUSTON IS LEADING ON THAT. 
          AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE PROUD OF, THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO EXPAND THEIR, UM, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. 
          AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, ANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER THAT IS THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BUILD CAPACITY IS TO PARTICIPATE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OBO OFFICE. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST OF OFFERINGS THAT THEY HAVE, UM, FOR HOUSTONIANS, IT'S VAST. 
          UM, AND IF BUSINESS OWNERS ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND, WE HAVE A ROUTE TO DO THAT. 
          UM, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT, SPREADING THE WORD AND LETTING THESE BUSINESS OWNERS IN HOUSTON KNOW THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MADAM 
          [1.  9:00 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING regarding Competitive 9% Housing Tax Credit Applications for the development of certain properties as affordable rental housing within the City of Houston, Texas, within 2 miles of a project constructed within the City of Houston in the same year, and within the City of Houston’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
]
SECRETARY, PLEASE RETURN TO ITEM ONE. 
          ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING A COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS. 
          CHAIR RECOGNIZES DEPUTY DIRECTOR DIRK SELLERS AND DIVISION MANAGER RYAN BIBBS IN THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR PRESENTATION, GENTLEMEN. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. 
          GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS MORNING WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT. 
          SO, JUST BRIEFLY, WHAT ARE TAX CREDITS? UM, THEY WERE CREATED THROUGH THE TAX REFORM ACT OF 1986, UH, WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS. 
          THEY'RE ADMINISTERED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND THEY CREATE PRIVATE EQUITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          SO ON OUR NEXT SLIDE, I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY BE NEW TO HOUSING TAX CREDITS, MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THEM BEFORE, AND IT CAN SEEM COMPLICATED. 
          SO WE INCLUDED THIS SLIDE IN YOUR PACKET, SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOME FREE TIME, YOU CAN REVIEW IT, MAYBE GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, UH, LOGISTICALLY HOW THIS WORKS. 
          SO THE 9% ALLOCATION OR THE TAX CREDIT PROCESS IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. 
          UM, THERE'S 17 POINTS THAT ARE A PART OF THAT COMPETITION RELATED TO RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UM, AND INCLUSIVENESS. 
          UH, APPLICANTS THAT ARE IN THE E-T-J-E-T-J, HALF OF THEIR POINTS COME FROM THE CITY. 
          SO WE HAVE A ROLE RELATED TO THOSE HALF THE POINTS COME FROM THE COUNTY, AND THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GET RESOLUTIONS FROM BOTH ENTITIES. 
          SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF TAX CREDITS. 
          THERE'S A 9% AND A 4%. 
          TODAY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE NINE PERCENTS. 
          WE JUST WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE FOUR PERCENTS BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE MAY COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND ASK FOR RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OR PUBLIC HEARINGS RELATED TO THOSE ITEMS. BUT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE NINE PERCENTS TODAY. 
          SO T-D-H-C-A ISSUES WHAT'S CALLED, WHAT'S CALLED A QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN. 
          AND WITHIN IT, THEY OUTLINE THE SCORING POINTS AND THE CRITERIA, CRITERIA THEY'RE GONNA USE WHEN REVIEWING THESE DEALS WHEN THEY COME FORWARD. 
          WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AT 17, 17 POINTS. 
          BUT WHAT WE DID WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS, OTHER SCORING ITEMS WITHIN IT RELATED TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. 
          WE GET THIS QUESTION QUITE A BIT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FROM OTHERS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO THESE PROJECTS. 
          WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU, THERE IS OTHER SCORING ITEMS RELATED TO IT. 
          YOU, YOU MIGHT GO BACK TO THAT LAST SLIDE AND LET ME EMPHASIZE SOMETHING. 
          OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HAVING THIS HEARING IS IT'S REQUIRED TO GET THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, UH, MEMBERS. 
          YOU'LL NOTICE IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, POINTS IF YOU CAN GET YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO WRITE A LETTER, UM, A LOT OF PRESSURE COMES ON THEM TO DO THOSE LETTERS. 
          UM, AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE. 
          TERRY HODGE, A STATE REP IN DALLAS, UH, ENDED UP IN JAIL SWAPPING SOME RENTAL BENEFITS FOR HER LETTER. 
          UH, AS STATE SENATOR, I HAD THE SENATE TAKEN OUT 
          [06:00:01]
OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE, UH, THE DEVELOPER WOULD MAKE A PROPOSAL IN THE FOUR ENDS OF YOUR DISTRICT. 
          YOU KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT IT, BUT THEY WERE SO IN NEED OF YOUR LETTER THAT THEY WOULD PRESSURE YOU HIRE, UH, FOLKS THAT THEY THOUGHT COULD TALK TO YOU, IT WAS BEING ABUSED. 
          SO AFTER A COUPLE OF SESSIONS TRYING, I GOT THE STATE SENATE OUT OF THE PROCESS OF WRITING THESE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. 
          I STILL THINK, QUITE FRANKLY, THE STATE REP, BECAUSE I REPRESENT BAYTOWN AS A NORTH SIDE, HOUSTON STATE SENATOR, I WAS NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPOSAL IN THE FAR REACHES OF BAYTOWN WITHOUT GOING OVER THERE, TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING THE MERITS OR LACK OF. 
          SO IT'S, UM, IT'S A PRETTY ABUSIVE PRO PROCESS. 
          STATE SENATORS NO LONGER ARE IN THE POINT PLAN, UH, STATE REPS ARE, WHICH I THINK IS STILL AN AREA OF CONCERN. 
          AND CERTAINLY AS WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND APPROVAL HERE, I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT OF BOARD, BOARD AND ALWAYS MINDFUL OF HOW THE HOUSING, UH, DEPARTMENT MADE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP THE INFLUENCE, UH, PEDDLING OUT OF THE PROCESS AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT'S BASED ON THE MERITS AND MAKE SENSE FOR THE GIVEN COMMUNITY THAT, UH, THESE ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSING. 
          WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, AND INCLUSION OF ALL OF HOUSTON AND NOT LET FOLKS, UH, PRESSURE US OR THE ADMINIS OR THE DEPARTMENT TO PLACE THEM IN, UH, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE READILY RECEIVING THEM INSTEAD OF WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. 
          WITH THAT SAID, A LITTLE HISTORY OF WHY I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THIS PROCESS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU CAN CONTINUE. 
          OKAY. 
          SO NEXT STEP WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE SCHEDULE. 
          IT'S VERY AGGRESSIVE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AT THIS MOMENT. 
          SO DECEMBER 1ST, THE GOVERNOR APPROVED THE 2024, UH, QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN THAT I DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. 
          UM, WE OPENED UP OUR WINDOW FOR APPLICATIONS FOR RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT ON DECEMBER THE FIFTH, AND THEN ON JANUARY 5TH, BOTH THE PRE-APP WAS DUE TO T-G-H-C-A FOR THEIR PROJECTS. 
          AND, AND WE CLOSED OUR APPLICATIONS, UH, WINDOW FOR, FOR RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT. 
          THE PUBLIC HEARING IS, IS ON HERE FOR TODAY, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO GO TO COUNCIL NEXT WEEK ON THE 14TH. 
          THE FULL APPLICATION IS DUE TO T-D-H-C-A BY MARCH 1ST, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT MUST BE A COMPONENT OF THAT AT THAT TIME. 
          I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT AFTER THAT SUBMISSION ON MARCH 1ST, T-D-H-C-A SCORES THESE AND THEY TAKE THIS PROCESS FORWARD, THEY'RE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING WHO'S GONNA RECEIVE THE TAX CREDITS. 
          USUALLY AROUND THE LAST WEEK OF JULY IS WHEN THAT ANNOUNCEMENT COMES. 
          JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, LAST YEAR, T-D-H-C-A AWARDED TAX CREDITS TO SEVEN DEALS IN OUR REGION. 
          AND NOT ALL SEVEN OF THOSE DEALS WERE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF HOUSTON. 
          THERE WERE 20 ON THE LIST AT THAT TIME. 
          SO EVEN WITH ALL OF OUR RESOLUTIONS MOVING FORWARD, THAT'S STILL NO GUARANTEE THAT ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL ULTIMATELY GET, UH, UH, TAX CREDITS FROM UH, THE STATES. 
          SO NEXT UP, RYAN IS GONNA TAKE US THROUGH OUR RESOLUTION GUIDELINES AND THEN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. 
          MAYOR PER TIM, AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UH, NEXT UP WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT OUR, UH, GUIDELINES HERE. 
          IF YOU FLIP YOUR PAGE OVER TO THE, UH, PRIORITIES, THESE ARE OUR PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE, UH, THAT ARE IN OUR GUIDELINES AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. 
          WE'RE GONNA BE, UM, SUPPORTING DEALS THAT ARE, UM, REHABILITATION DEALS, RECONSTRUCTION, UH, IN THE COMPLETE, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, TRANSIT ORIENTED, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, ONSITE QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMINGS, A LIST HERE OF OUR, OUR PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING. 
          NEXT PAGE IS, UM, OUR SCORING CRITERIA AND, UH, MINIMUM OF 10 POINTS TO, TO QUALIFY. 
          AND YOU CAN EARN UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 27 POINTS AND BELOW LIST ALL OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WE SUPPORT AS, AS WE REVIEW FOR, FOR OUR SCORING. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          HERE IS THE NEXT TWO SLIDES WE'LL DISCUSS OUR, UH, EQUITABLE DIS DIS DISTRIBUTION POLICY HERE IS, UH, A WAY THAT WE'VE TRIED TO, UH, MAKE THE, THE PLAYING FIELD. 
          EVEN IN THE PAST WE'VE SEEN A, SEEN A NUMBER OF, UH, UH, RESOLUTIONS. 
          UM, WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR 
          [06:05:01]
RESOLUTIONS IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS AND NOT AS, NOT AS MANY IN OTHER DISTRICTS. 
          THIS IS OUR WAY OF TRYING TO EVEN OUT THE PLAYING FIELD HERE. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT COUNCIL DISTRICT'S A, B, D, H, AND K WE'RE RECOMMENDING ONLY RECEIVE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          AND THE NEXT BULLET POINT THERE, YOU'LL SEE CE, FG, I AND J WE'RE ONLY RECOMMENDING ONE EXTRA, UM, UM, SUPPORT APPLICATION IN EACH DISTRICT EQUAL TO EQUALING TO THREE IN EACH, IN THAT SECOND BULLET THERE. 
          THE EXCEPTION IS IF IT'S A REHABILITATION PROJECT OR A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT THAT DOES NOT APPLY TOWARDS THE CAP OF EACH DISTRICT. 
          NEXT SLIDE HERE IS, IS, UM, IF THERE, WITHIN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT, IF THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT ARE VERY COMPETITIVE, THIS IS OUR WAY OF TRYING TO PRIORITIZE WHICH ONES WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH. 
          UH, RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          GENERAL POPULATION, AGE RESTRICT, AGE RESTRICTED SENIORS, UH, LOOKING AT OUR HCD SCORE AND POVERTY RATE AND ONSITE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. 
          OUR NEXT SLIDE, OUR NEXT SLIDE HERE IS A CHART TO, UM, DISPLAY ALL OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND THE TOTAL APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED. 
          WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 30, 34 APPLICATIONS. 
          AND, UH, TOTAL RE, UH, RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING WILL BE 19, AND ONE OF THOSE BEING AN ETJ. 
          THIS NEXT SECTION HERE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE ACTUAL, UH, APPLICATIONS. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          UH, SO THE, THIS, THIS PAGE AND THE NEXT PAGE WILL COMPRISE, UH, ALL 19 RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          SO YOU'LL SEE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR B, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL, DISTRICT, D, E, AND FI THINK YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE NEXT SLIDE HERE. 
          SO THAT, THAT SECOND, THE NEXT SLIDE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REST OF FHIJ AND K AND THE, UH, ETJ. 
          NEXT SLIDE IS A MAP THAT WE HAVE, UH, PUT TOGETHER THAT HAS ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED. 
          AND THERE'S AN OVERLAY OF, UH, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND THE ACTUAL, ACTUAL BORDERS OF EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          THIS NEXT SLIDE IS, THE NEXT TWO SLIDES IS GOING TO DISCUSS, UH, IF THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED DEALS IN A, UH, AREA THAT IS LESS, WITH IT, LESS THAN TWO MILES OF, OF ONE ANOTHER, UM, WE CAN SUPPLY A WAIVER TO, TO THOSE PROJECTS TO MOVE THOSE PROJECTS FORWARD FOR A, UH, REQUEST, UM, RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. 
          AND THEN NEXT SLIDE. 
          NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 
          YOU'LL SEE THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE WITHIN TWO MILES OF ONE ANOTHER, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING, UH, UM, A SUPPORT. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          THIS SLIDE AND THIS SLIDE DISCUSSES, UH, IF THERE ARE APPLICATIONS ABOVE 40% POVERTY, UM, WE'RE, WE ARE, WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPLY A, A WAIVER FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS. 
          THOSE APPLICATIONS WILL, WILL, WILL USE THAT WAIVER TO PUT INTO THE APPLICATION FOR THE, UH, THE TAX CREDITS. 
          BUT IF YOUR PROJECT IS ABOVE 40% POVERTY AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING IT, THAT DEVELOPER OR OUR PROJECT WILL NEED A, A WAIVER FROM THE, FROM THIS BODY. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          THAT NEXT SLIDE, UH, DISPLAYS THE TWO PROJECTS THAT WILL REQUIRE A, UH, 40% POVERTY RESOLUTION. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          THAT COMPLETES OUR PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS AS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I, I WANTED TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT. 
          UM, WE LOOK AT THIS EVERY YEAR, AND, UH, ONE OF THE MAIN ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF A CITY IS THE ABILITY TO AFFORD HOMES. 
          AND WE KNOW THROUGHOUT THIS NATION 
          [06:10:01]
RIGHT NOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT FAMILIES ARE FACING. 
          UM, IN DISTRICT C. 
          EVEN IF YOU LOOK IN MONTROSE, UH, RENTERS IN MONTROSE ARE THE ONE, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING DISPLACED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD A HOME. 
          SO, AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          UH, AND THAT'S WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DESERVE TO STAY IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND TO BUILD A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM. 
          I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. 
          UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT KNOW, I WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT, UM, WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE TO ADD FOR SOME OF THOSE POINTS, UH, THE FACT THAT WE NOW ALSO GIVE POINTS FOR A ACCESS TO RECYCLING OR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TRADITIONAL BUILDING TO INCORPORATE WHAT WE AS A CITY BELIEVE AND WHAT WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. 
          UH, SO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT AND CONTINUING THAT WORK AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, THESE PARK COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THEM. 
          UH, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL. 
          I'M, I'M SAD THAT WE DON'T SEE ANY APPLICATIONS IN DISTRICT C THIS TIME. 
          UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUE IS SKYROCKETING, RIGHT? SO CAN THESE NON-PROFIT PARTNERS EVEN AFFORD TO COME INTO DISTRICT C EVEN WITH THESE TAX CREDITS? SO WHATEVER I CAN BE DOING TO HELP, BECAUSE WE NEED MORE IN DISTRICT C AND I WELCOME THAT. 
          UH, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A TERRIFIC EXPERIENCE WITH THAT. 
          I JUST WANTED TO BE ON THE RECORD OF DISTRICT C. 
          WE NEED MORE, WE WELCOME MORE. 
          AND, UH, I'M AGAIN DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY APPLICANTS IN THIS. 
          UH, I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, ROUND OF THIS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THIS NEW TERM WITH NEW COLLEAGUES THAT MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH THE HISTORY HERE IN HOUSTON. 
          UH, MAYOR, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS COMING FORWARD AS A PACKAGE, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE CERTAIN DISTRICTS THAT MAY NOT LIKE A CERTAIN PROJECT OR THAT RESIDENTS MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT. 
          ONE. 
          COULD YOU GO THROUGH THE HISTORY OF LITIGATION AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS COME TOGETHER AS A PACKAGE? NOT CHERRY PICKING NECESSARILY, UH, ONE PROJECT OVER ANOTHER. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN ANY MUNICIPALITY, PARTICULARLY A LARGE ONE, IS OFTEN VIEWED IN TERMS OF WHERE IT'S GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED. 
          AND SO IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO LOOK AT IT AS A WHOLE AND DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY SORT OF CLAIM WITH REGARD TO DISCRIMINATION OR OTHER REASONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. 
          SO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AS THE MAYOR HAS DONE, GIVES A CLEARER PICTURE. 
          AND WHAT HAPPENED? SO IN THE PAST IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE HAVE ACTUALLY PULLED OUT A RECOMMENDATION AND VOTED NO ON IT. 
          UH, WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT SITUATION? AND WAS THE CITY FOUND LIABLE OR WERE, WERE THERE FINDINGS OF DISCRIMINATION? YEAH. 
          UH, THERE WAS AT LEAST A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH. 
          IT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT AND KIND OF CASTS A, UH, ASPERSIONS ON WHAT THE CITY'S DOING. 
          OKAY. 
          AND IS THERE STILL FEDERAL O OVERSIGHT UNDER THAT PROCESS? YES. 
          I MEAN, THERE, THERE ARE VARIOUS AVENUES TO MAKE COMPLAINTS WITH THE, THE, THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING. 
          AND SO THEY DO GET INVOLVED AS, AND THE STATE HAS A SIMILAR POWERS COUNCIL. 
          THOMAS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          UM, I WANNA TAKE CREDIT FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAVING AN EFFICIENT MEETING. 
          UH, Y'ALL MOVE THROUGH THIS REALLY QUICKLY, SO THAT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD. 
          SO, UM, CAN I GO BY SLIDE TO, UM, TEASE OUT MY QUESTIONS? CAN I START WITH SLIDE NINE? UM, PARTICULARLY, UM, ONE, CAN YOU MENTION THE APPEAL PROCESS AND THEN ON RECORD WHAT THE DEADLINE IS AND HOW MANY PROJECTS DO WE HAVE IN THE APPEAL THAT ARE SEEKING AN APPEAL TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS? UM, WE, UH, WE HAD OUR, UH, DEADLINE FOR OUR APPEALS WAS LAST WEEK. 
          AND, UM, WE RECEIVED A COUPLE OF OF APPEALS AND WE'RE RESPONDING TO THOSE, UM, AS, AS AS WE SPEAK. 
          OKAY. 
          SO BETWEEN THE HEARING AND THE SCHEDULED VOTE ON THE 14TH, THERE, THERE, THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MAY CHANGE, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THESE MAY SHUFFLE A BIT? CORRECT. 
          OKAY, GOOD. 
          ALSO, JUST THE PRIORITY ITEMS, AGAIN, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE LAST TERM, WE REALLY FOCUSED ON REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE DILAPIDATED BUILDING, UH, DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR, UH, DISTRICTS ARE ADDRESSED. 
          UM, I REALLY LIKE THE PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING. 
          ARE THERE ANY CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS Y'ALL ARE HAVING TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE THIS? AS WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY AND NEEDING MORE DOORS, NEEDING MORE UNITS, THAT'S HOW WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A NATIONAL MODEL. 
          UM, BUT WE ONLY HAVE ONE THAT'S RECOMMENDED, UM, IN THE, IN THE 20 
          [06:15:01]
OR THE 17 MM-HMM . 
          UM, WHAT EXTERNAL CONVERSATIONS ARE ARE BEING HAD WITH THE DEVELOP REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT THESE AS A PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING? YES. 
          WE, WE ARE, UH, AS WE TALK, UH, EVERY YEAR AS, AS WE PUT OUT A, UH, NEW, UH, NOTICE OF FUNDS AVAILABLE, UM, WE, WE PRIORITIZE, UH, THIS TYPE OF DI UM, THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS. 
          AND, UM, EV EVERY YEAR WHEN WE, UH, UH, TALK WITH DEVELOPERS, WE'LL PUT TOGETHER A, A PANEL AND A SEMINAR AT OUR OFFICE AND DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR ON EACH DEAL. 
          SURE. 
          I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE, A THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION LARGELY JUST IN TERMS OF MAKING THE CONNECTION TO MULTIFAMILY UNITS AND THEN OUR, UM, UNHOUSED SITUATION IN THE CITY. 
          LASTLY, I WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE TWO MILE AND THE 40% WAIVER. 
          UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, FOR THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT UNDOING CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY AND HAVING A MORE, HAVING MORE OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE CHOICE. 
          I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO SHARE THE EXTERNAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING MM-HMM. 
          THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE 40% AND THE TWO MILE WAVE. 
          MM-HMM. 
          SO IT MAKES SENSE. 
          MM-HMM. 
          MM-HMM . 
          RIGHT? EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE CONTEXT TO IT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          EARLIER THIS MORNING, WE HEARD ABOUT METRO STOPS, OVERLAYS, STREET IMPROVEMENTS. 
          SO I THINK WHEN WE ARE, UH, PRESENTING THESE ITEMS, WE HAVE TO ALSO COLOR IN THE LINES TO SAY THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGH TURS, OR IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A D 17, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS MM-HMM . 
          RIGHT? UH, JUST TO PAINT THE PI PICTURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS, NOT JUST TRANSIT, NOT JUST GOOD SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO RAPID TRANSIT WITH METRO, ET CETERA, DO.DOT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, UM, AS WE DO THIS, UM, SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE THE CONNECTION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS. 
          GREAT POINT. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MAYOR PROTE. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS HOW MANY OF THESE, UM, PROPERTIES HAVE PRE-K PROGRAMS IN? AND I KNOW THAT WE WERE REALLY LOOKING, UM, FORWARD TO HAVING SOME PRE-K PROGRAMS. ONE, ONLY ONE. 
          ONE HAS A PRE-K PROGRAM. 
          RIGHT. 
          UH, WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. 
          UM, THE LAST TWO CYCLES AGO, WE DID THE PRE-K PROGRAM AT EDISON. 
          UM, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. 
          SOME OF THOSE, UH, KIDS WHO WERE IN THE PRE-K PROGRAM WENT TO KINDERGARTEN LAST YEAR, AND THEY WENT THERE READING. 
          SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE PRE-K PROGRAMS IN, IN THESE, IN THESE COMPLEXES. 
          THE SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS BROUGHT UP. 
          I'M REALLY LOOKING FOR REHABS IN DISTRICT K. 
          WE'VE GOT OVER 20,000 DOORS OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES. 
          WE HAVE SOME OLDER TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS THAT ARE IN DISREPAIR. 
          AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US REALLY INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO COME IN, MAYBE TEAR DOWN HALF OF THAT COMPLEX AND REHAB THE OTHER HALF BECAUSE THOSE RESIDENTS DESERVE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. 
          THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. 
          UM, INSTEAD OF UTILIZING ALL OF OUR RAW LAND, WE'VE GOT LAND THAT CAN REALLY BE MADE BETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS. 
          AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US DO SOME BETTER INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO REHAB THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR, IN OUR, UM, DISTRICTS. 
          UM, THE THIRD THING IS, WE TALKED, UM, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ABOUT, WE, WE HAD A GRAPH THAT SHOWED WHERE THESE, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE IN EVERY DISTRICT MM-HMM . 
          UM, AND WE REALLY HONED IN ON EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO THESE PROPERTIES WERE GOING INTO B, DK, AND MAYBE H UH, AND NOW I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT, UM, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE MARKET RATE OF RENT, UM, THAT ARE WORKING, FOLKS THAT NEED SOMEWHERE TO LIVE HAVE OPTIONS TO LIVE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT ALL WORK IN B, D, K, AND H. 
          RIGHT. 
          UM, THEY MAY WORK IN E OR C OR OR A MM-HMM . 
          AND THEY HAVE OPTIONS OF PLACES TO LIVE. 
          IS THERE A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS SO THAT WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON NOT CREATING CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? I KNOW WE HAD A GRAPH BEFORE THAT SHOWED THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM AND WE NEEDED TO DISPERSE THE MM-HMM . 
          THE PROPERTIES. 
          DO WE HAVE A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS? WE, WE CAN PUT ONE TOGETHER, IT WOULDN'T TAKE VERY LONG. 
          WE HAVE ALL THE DATA. 
          SO WE CAN DO THAT BY COUNCIL DISTRICT, UH, JUST AS WE HAD THAT MAP WITH ALL THESE IN IT, WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, WHATEVER TIMEFRAME YOU WANT AND GO BACK AND LOOK AT NOT ONLY WHAT WE'VE INVESTED IN DIRECTLY 'CAUSE WE DID MORE THAN 30 DEALS UNDER OUR DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT TAX CREDIT 
          [06:20:01]
RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE APPROVED THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T FUND, THAT WE DID A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD. 
          I THINK THAT GRAPH WOULD BE VERY INFORMATIVE FOR EVERYONE. 
          SO WE CAN SEE HOW WE'VE PROGRESSED FROM JUST CREATING, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, UH, TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND NOW THAT THEY ARE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY, THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          AND THEN MY MY LAST COMMENT IS, UM, WE HAVE A PROPERTY IN DISTRICT K THAT EVERY YEAR DEVELOPERS ARE INTERESTED IN, UH, ON RICEVILLE SCHOOL ROAD. 
          UH, LAST NIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCON AND I WERE AT A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, AND THE RESIDENTS WANTED TO KNOW, HOW DO WE INFORM DEVELOPERS THAT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ON YOUR RADAR? BECAUSE IT IS THERE, IT'S FLOOD PRONE. 
          IT IS. 
          WE, AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT, UM, THE INTEREST IN THIS PROPERTY EVERY YEAR. 
          AND WE WANT TO CREATE SOME DOCUMENT OR SOME SPACE WHERE WE CAN SAY, PLEASE DON'T LOOK AT THIS LOT. 
          THIS LOT IS A, IS IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE OF THE TWO LANE ROAD EMERGENCY VEHICLES CANNOT TURN. 
          UM, IN, WE'VE GOT THE, THE JUSTIFICATION FROM PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, FOLKS THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD ROAD AND IT'S A OPEN DITCH ROAD. 
          AND THEN THAT LOT IS A SWAMP. 
          I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S FLOOD PRONE AND PEOPLE ARE VERY TRIGGERED BY THE FACT THAT WATER USED TO BE IN THEIR STREET. 
          NOW IT'S IN THEIR YARD, NOW IT'S CLOSE TO THEIR DOOR. 
          UM, AND IF WE PUT SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, IMPERVIOUS COVER THERE, WE'RE GONNA BE CREATING A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR THEM. 
          UM, WE'VE TALKED WITH, UM, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PRELIMINARY ABOUT MAKE, TAKING THIS LAND AND CREATING ADDITIONAL DETENTION SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT FLOWS DOWNSTREAM INTO WESTBURY THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THE REPETITIVE FLOODING IN THOSE AREAS. 
          HOW DO WE LET, HOW DO WE MARK A PROPERTY TO IDENTIFY THIS IS NOT A GOOD LOCATION? SO WE DON'T HAVE TO, RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE TO GET IN UP IN ARMS EVERY YEAR MM-HMM . 
          DURING THIS SEASON. 
          FROM OUR DEPARTMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT. 
          BUT THROUGH OUR GUIDELINE PROCESS, WE CAN SAY WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR AND HOW WE WOULD SCORE AGAINST THINGS THAT WE AREN'T LOOKING FOR. 
          SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING IN A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLANE, WE'RE NOT REALLY GONNA GIVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TOWARDS IT. 
          YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO A LOT OF MITIGATION WORK TO EVEN GET IT CONSIDERED. 
          SO WE'RE MORE ABOUT WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SCORE AND GET OUT OF OUR PRIORITIES? HOW DO WE SCORE IT, UH, THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN INDIVIDUAL LOT THAT'S OWNED BY SOMEBODY, UH, THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM EITHER SOME OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT OR ENTITY, OR THROUGH SOME OTHER MECHANISM. 
          OKAY. 
          I'D, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF JUST MAYBE TALK THROUGH THAT JUST TO SEE IF WE NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ELSE ABOUT KIND OF FLAGGING PROPERTIES LIKE THAT. 
          BUT IT'S, IT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE EVERY YEAR AT, AT TAX CREDIT TIME, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO THE LETTERS. 
          DO YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING EVERY YEAR. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. 
          I I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE DILIGENCE THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS FOR HOUSTONIANS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE GIVE RESOLUTIONS TO DON'T END UP MAKING. 
          I'M CURIOUS, IN KIND OF LOOKING BACK A FEW YEARS, IF YOU, I KNOW YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE IT HERE, BUT LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY DID WE GIVE RESOLUTIONS TO, AND HOW MANY OF THAT GROUP ACTUALLY ENDED UP MAKING? WE CAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY PULL THAT TOGETHER. 
          AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS HERE TODAY, THEY'RE SPEAKING AND SOME OF THOSE DEVELOPERS HAVE FACED THAT, SO THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION AFTERWARDS. 
          I MEAN, IS IT USUALLY LIKE HALF OR MORE THAN HALF OR? SO A LOT OF IT'S THE LIMITATION ON HOW MUCH FUNDING THEY HAVE AVAILABLE. 
          RIGHT. 
          TO AWARD LAST YEAR THAT I THINK THEY AWARDED 15.8 MILLION AND THAT'S WHAT WENT ACROSS THAT SEVEN, THOSE SEVEN DEALS. 
          SO THERE WAS A LIMITATION THERE. 
          UM, I OKAY. 
          THAT, THAT'S A BIG, BIG PIECE OF IT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILMAN AL. 
          UH, MARTINEZ. 
          MARTINEZ. 
          UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          UH, DEFINITELY WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DONNA WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE. 
          UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO VISIT WITH TWO NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY. 
          UH, WE SAT DOWN WITH BAYOU OAKS LAST WEEK WHO, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO INVITE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. 
          'CAUSE YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH IT'S IMPACTING MAYBE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT AND, AND OPEN WITH THE NEIGHBORING, UH, UH, COMMUNITIES AS WELL. 
          SO, UH, THANK OVERBROOK, THANK GARDEN VILLAS, UH, ANDOVER, SALVIE FAIRLINE, WHERE THE ACTUAL PROJECT WILL BE IN. 
          AND THEN OF COURSE, TROPICANA VILLAGE. 
          UM, MY GOAL IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A GREAT PROJECT, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TAM, UH, CASADA MENTIONED, UH, PRE-K THREE, PRE-K FOUR, UH, WE HAVE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY 
          [06:25:01]
BEING IN CONSTRUCTION, UH, OST LOFTS. 
          UM, AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS THE, THE PRE-K THREE, PRE-K FOUR. 
          UM, AND AS A, UH, FATHER OF MANY KIDS, AS Y'ALL KNOW, UM, I HAVE A 3-YEAR-OLD. 
          AND, AND, YOU KNOW, EARLY EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, KIDS CAN BE READING RIGHT WHEN THEY GO INTO SCHOOL. 
          AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. 
          UM, JUST WANTED TO ALSO, UH, JUST MAKE EVERYONE AWARE WHEN WE START WORKING AND COLLABORATING WITH, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          UH, I WAS ABLE TO HAVE, UH, REPRESENTING JONES JOLANDA JONES, UH, DO A SITE VISIT WITH ME AT EDISON LOFT, WHICH IS GREAT. 
          WE ENJOYED THE VISIT. 
          UM, AND SHE'S FULLY SUPPORTIVE. 
          WE'LL BE WRITING LETTER SUPPORT. 
          SO, UM, AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, DEFINITELY STAY ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITY. 
          UM, I KNOW WE'LL EVENTUALLY BRING, BRING IT TO THE, TO THE, UH, COUNCIL AGENDA. 
          BUT, UH, DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS AROUND THE HORSE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WILL STILL BE GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, LAST NIGHT I WAS AT, UH, ANDOVERS FAIR LINE AND WHEN, AS BEST AS I CAN, UH, TO, TO EXPLAIN THIS DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOPEFULLY, UH, HAVING A GREAT PROJECT COMING INTO THE HOBBY AIRPORT, WHERE WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY BEFORE DEVELOPMENT STARTS GOING THERE. 
          UH, I GREW UP IN THE EAST END, UH, AND CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE EAST END ANYMORE. 
          UM, AND SO, UH, FOR ME IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS THINGS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUTSIDE OF THE LOOP, WE, UH, WE, WE DO OUR BEST TO BE VERY, UH, INTENTIONAL ABOUT, UH, IDENTIFYING THAT AFFORDABILITY, WHETHER IT'S MULTIFAMILY, SENIOR HOUSING, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING. 
          UM, AND THEN THE LAST POINT, UM, JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT REHABS AS WELL. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS, WE'VE TALKED, UH, EXTENSIVELY ABOUT, UH, SLUMLORD APARTMENT OWNERS, OWNERS AND, UM, DISTRICT I HAS THREE THAT WE'VE BEEN KEEPING OUR EYE ON. 
          UM, UH, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER WE COULD, UH, WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES, UH, WOULD BE HELPFUL. 
          UH, FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING IN THOSE PROPERTIES, THEY'RE IT'S MARKET RATE AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING MARKET RATE, UH, SERVICES. 
          SO, UM, REALLY WOULD LIKE TO TARGET SOME OF THOSE, UH, SLUM OR DEPARTMENT OWNERS, UH, IN THE NORTHEAST, IN THE HOBBY AREA AS WELL. 
          SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PET. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, YESTERDAY WHEN WE MET ABOUT THIS, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE PRIORITY OF DOING THE FAMILY UNITS, UM, APARTMENT UNITS INSTEAD OF THE SENIOR FAMILY, UM, UNITS. 
          AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS, AGAIN, MY CONCERN WITH THAT, BECAUSE EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT. 
          AND IN DISTRICT A, WE HAVE SO MANY, UM, OPEN AVAILABLE, AFFORDABLE APARTMENT UNITS, AND WE HAVE NEARLY NO SENIOR UNITS AVAILABLE. 
          AND SO IT'S, IT'S A NEED IN DISTRICT A THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M ASKING APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR OTHER TYPES OF HOUSING THAT WANT TO CATER TO SENIORS TO COME INTO DISTRICT A BECAUSE WE HAVE SO FEW OF THOSE UNITS. 
          SO I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A SCORING SYSTEM THAT HAS TO BE USED CITYWIDE, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT CAN BE TAILORED PER THE NEEDS OF EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THE NEEDS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, JUST DON'T FIT WITH DISTRICT A. 
          EVEN WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING ATTS, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVING PRIORITY TO THOSE TUR 17 WAS CREATED BECAUSE OF FLOODING CONCERNS AND FIXING THOSE FLOODING CONCERNS. 
          AND SO WHEN WE'RE ADDING UNITS INTO AN AREA THAT FLOODS, THAT DOESN'T WORK IN DISTRICT A EITHER. 
          SO JUST WANTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SCORING SYSTEM TO HAVE IT FIT FOR EACH OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          WE DO AN UPDATE TO THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND WE BRING IT TO TYPICALLY BRING IT TO HOUSING COMMITTEE FOR A REVIEW BEFORE WE PUBLISH IT. 
          SO WE WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK Y'ALL HAVE TAKING NOTES ON THESE THINGS AS WE THINK THROUGH NEXT YEAR'S, UH, GUIDELINES. 
          SHOULD COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, WELL LAID OUT PRESENTATION. 
          I KNOW A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS. 
          UM, I KNOW YOU'VE LISTED DEVELOPMENT, NAME AND ADDRESS AND SO FORTH IN THE, IN THE PRESENTATION, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D ASKED FOR, UM, IS NAME OF A DEVELOP, NAME OF THE DEVELOPERS FOR EACH PROJECT, AND A LIST OF PRINCIPLES WITHIN THOSE COMPANIES. 
          AND, UM, UH, LATE LAST NIGHT, WE DID GET A LIST OF DEVELOPERS. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          IT'S NICE TO KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT. 
          I KNOW THAT TIGHT LINE TIMELINES ARE VERY TIGHT, AND SO I FULLY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UM, CAN, CAN WE, UM, MAKE THIS LIST OF DEVELOPERS PUBLIC SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS, UM, THE COMPANIES THAT ARE, UM, SEEKING, UH, APPROVAL AS WELL AS, UH, THE PRINCIPLES WITHIN THOSE COMPANIES? CAN WE DO THAT BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEEK? WE'LL WORK ON IT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET IT UP ON OUR WEBSITE TO ACCOMPANY WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE THERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND WE'LL BE SURE TO HAVE THAT, THAT THAT LIST YOU HAVE UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE PRINCIPLES AS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
          I, I WOULD THINK WE WOULD ALL BENEFIT FROM GETTING THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          YES, SIR. 
          SOUNDS GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          [06:30:02]
EVERY YEAR I LOOK AT THIS LIST AND, AND KIND OF SCRUTINIZE OVER, UM, WHAT PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS ARE COMING INTO TODAY, WHERE THEY ARE, WHO THEY ARE. 
          UM, THIS, THIS YEAR WAS ONE OF THE FIRST YEARS I, I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT. 
          UM, THE FINAL LIST THAT I SAW, ONE, UH, WAS A REHAB, WHICH FOR DISTRICT J IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          'CAUSE 85% OF MY RESIDENTS LIVE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES. 
          AND MANY OF THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, UH, NEED IMPROVEMENTS. 
          SO WHENEVER WE CAN GET A REHAB THAT'S BIG, BUT THE, THE, THE NEXT TWO I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE ON BINET BETWEEN US 59 AND BELTWAY EIGHT, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE, ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLED AREAS OF OUR CITY FOR SOME TIME. 
          AND WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND ENERGY INTO TRANSFORMING THAT AREA FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT AND FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE NOW DEVELOPERS LOOK AT THAT AREA AS ATTRACTIVE, I THINK IS A TESTAMENT TO ALL THAT WORK. 
          AND TO SEE TWO OF THEM, UM, WHICH WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WAIVER PROCESS, I THINK, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY BOTH CAN GET, UM, APPROVED, UM, ON THIS LIST, I THINK IS A, IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE CITY. 
          UM, BECAUSE BINET TRACK HAS GOTTEN THE WRONG REPUTATION, WELL, HAS HAD A BAD REPUTATION FOR A LONG TIME, BUT BASED ON A LOT OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE PUT FORTH OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, UH, THE AREA HAS TRANSFORMED. 
          AND NOW WHEN YOU SEE DEVELOPMENT WANT TO COME INTO THE AREA, THAT'S THE SIGN THAT THE AREA IS TRANSFORMING. 
          IT'S, IT IS ONE THING JUST TO CLEAN IT UP AND KEEP IT MOVING, BUT IT'S WHEN YOU HAVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT OF IT, THE HOUSING STANDPOINT OF IT, THAT'S WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SEE THE REAL TRANSFORMATION. 
          SO GLAD TO SEE THIS AND HOPEFULLY, UM, AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEY SEE IT THE SAME WAY AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          VERY WELL. 
          THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, YOU'LL STEP BACK. 
          WE'LL, UM, THE PUBLIC TESTIFY FIRST. 
          UH, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD, SECRETARY. 
          YES, PLEASE. 
          THE FIRST SPEAKER. 
          SAMPSON BABY, BABY. 
          I'M WITH THE ITEX GROUP. 
          UM, TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UM, THE HOUSING STAFF, UM, ALONG WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CONSIDERING, UH, THE RETREAT AT ESTHER FOR A SUPPORT RESOLUTION. 
          UH, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S OFFICE, ALONG WITH THE AKER HOMES COMMUNITY. 
          AND, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPOSED SENIOR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A BENEFIT FOR THOSE SENIORS, UH, IN ACRES HOMES. 
          AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE, UH, THAT COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT KIM PARKER. 
          HE WAS WITH GOOD MORNING MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          I'M KIM PARKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH PALLADIUM USA. 
          WE ARE PART OF THE PALLADIUM GROUP, WHICH IS A GLOBAL FAMILY OWNED REAL ESTATE CONGLOMERATE WITH ASSETS IN SIX COUNTRIES AND 150 YEARS IN BUSINESS. 
          I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING I DON'T LOOK A YEAR OVER A HUNDRED. 
          WE'RE PLEASED AND PROUD TO BE WORKING ON 1 0 1. 
          ONE TWO BISSONNET. 
          LIVING IN DISTRICT J BISSONNET LIVING WILL BE 110 UNIT FOUR STORY DEVELOPMENT WITH ELEVATORS, INTERIOR CORRIDORS, AND ROBUST AMENITIES FOR OUR SOUTHWEST HOUSTON FAMILIES. 
          PALLADIUM WILL MANAGE ATE LIVING THROUGH OUR IN-HOUSE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. 
          WE WILL OWN IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME. 
          SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY IS OUR UTMOST PRIORITY THROUGH OUR COURTESY OFFICER PROGRAM AND OUR FLOCK LICENSE PLATE READERS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR YOUR SUGGESTION. 
          THE PLACEMENT OF LIGHTING, LANDSCAPING AND OUR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, WE DESIGN OUR COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT CRIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS, HAPPENS. 
          THIS WILL BE A $30 MILLION INVESTMENT IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT ONLY READY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, BUT THAT EMBRACES IT. 
          I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR RESOLUTION ON FEBRUARY 14TH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OH, HOLD ON. 
          HOLD ON. 
          MA'AM. 
          MA'AM, MA'AM, WE HAVE QUESTIONS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          ALTHOUGH THIS IS, UH, NOT MY DISTRICT, THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          I EXIT 
          [06:35:01]
BINET IN THE BELTWAY ON MY WAY HOME EVERY DAY. 
          AND ANYONE, UM, INTERESTED IN NEW DEVELOPMENT THERE, UH, DESERVES KUDOS. 
          SIMILAR TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLS POINT, UM, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE FAMILIES AT BOONE ELEMENTARY AND ALI MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          UM, I'M THINKING OF THE $28 MILLION BIS NET PROJECT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WOULD ALSO THEN SUPPORT, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT WITH SAFER STREETS, UH, LARGER, UH, STRONGER INTERSECTIONS. 
          SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR, UH, PIONEERING, UH, WHAT WAS, YOU KNOW, ONCE AN AREA THAT WAS, UM, BEYOND FORGOTTEN. 
          IT WAS NEGLECTED. 
          AND SO, UH, THIS IS THE START OF A NEW DAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING FORWARD, GIVING YOUR, YOUR TESTIMONY. 
          UH, UM, THE ENGAGEMENT IS WHAT IMPRESSED ME THE MOST. 
          I APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH MY OFFICE, YOU ALL, UH, LAYING OUT YOUR VISION, WHY YOU, UH, FELT THAT THE AREA WAS ATTRACTIVE, BUT ALSO LISTENING TO SOME OF OUR, UM, ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT WE WOULD WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER. 
          AND SO BRINGING THE, UM, THE FLOCK CAMERAS, UM, AS A PART OF, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IS A CRITICAL PIECE TO KEEPING THE AREA SAFE AND JUST A FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES THAT YOUR DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING TO THE AREA, I THINK WILL BE AN ADDED BENEFIT. 
          SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NICKS STUART SPOON MOORE. 
          HELLO, MY NAME IS STUART SPOON MOORE. 
          I AM, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY MUD NUMBER 36. 
          I'M HERE IN THAT CAPACITY. 
          I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THE 14 PROPERTIES THAT HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IS LOOKING TO PURCHASE THAT WOULD REMOVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE TAX ROLLS OF, OF TAXING AUTHORITIES. 
          UH, AT ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES IS 3,400 LORETTA ROAD, UM, KNOWN AS THE CARD OF APARTMENTS. 
          THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IS TRYING TO USE A LEGAL LOOPHOLE TO MAKE THIS PROPERTY 100% TAX EXEMPT. 
          MAKING THIS PROPERTY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL DROP THE RENTS ON ONLY A PORTION OF THE UNITS. 
          IN ADDITION, THE RENT RATES WILL DROP LITTLE OR NOT AT ALL ON THE UNITS THAT ARE IN THE AFFORDABLE CATEGORY. 
          THE BENEFITS CREATING THESE BENEFITS CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE MINIMAL. 
          THE BENEFITS TO THE LANDOWNER ARE ENORMOUS, AND YET THIS DEAL WILL REMOVE THE PROPERTY FROM THE TAX ROLLS. 
          IT IS ASSESSED AT $25 MILLION. 
          THAT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXES BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM MY MUD DISTRICT. 
          FURTHER NOTE THAT THIS PROPERTY IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS, THEREFORE WILL BE REMOVED FROM MY TAX ROLLS, NOT YOURS. 
          IN A VERY LITERAL WAY, THIS IS A CHANGE IN TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. 
          IT IS AN ABUSE OF THE ETJ BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH THE HOUSTON AUTHORITY. 
          NO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS, OR EVEN THE RESIDENTS OF THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX CAN VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO RUN AND APPOINT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          THE STATE OF TEXAS STOPPED THIS SCHEME LAST YEAR BY CHANGING THE LAW, BUT NOW THEY'RE TRYING A NEW WAY TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING. 
          WE ARE NOT A LARGE DISTRICT, BUT WE ARE ESSENTIAL. 
          THIS PROPERTY REPRESENTS MORE THAN 10% OF MY ENTIRE TAX BASE. 
          FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF AN OUTSIDE ENTITY SAY, I DON'T KNOW, THIS STATE OF LOUISIANA DID SOMETHING TO ELIMINATE 10% OF THE TAX BASE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? HOW WOULD IT IMPACT THE FINANCES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON? I'M PRETTY SURE IT WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE IF THIS TRANSACTION OCCURS. 
          MY MUD WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          THIRD PART NEXT. 
          OH, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. 
          SIR, SIR, SIR, HERE'S A QUESTION. 
          COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          MR. SMORE, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THE, UH, RESIDENTS WATER BILLS WILL INCREASE IF, UH, IF THAT WAS ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH? AND, AND, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, NOT HOUSTON, 
          [06:40:01]
UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 
          CORRECT. 
          IT'S HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          SO HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH, UH, RESIDENTS WATER BILLS WILL, WILL INCREASE? WE DO NOT HAVE A CHANGE IN THE RATE ORDER AT AT THE PRESENT TIME. 
          WE DO NOT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE LONG TERM EFFECT ON RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN YOUR MUD? THE WELL LOSING 10% OF THE TAX BASE WILL CAUSE A TAX INCREASE TO ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN MY MUD. 
          AND HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT HOW MUCH THAT WILL BE? THIS HAS BEEN SO SOON THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THE MATH ON THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          NEXT, CHERYL LAWSON, STEP OVER TO THE MIC. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. 
          I AM CHERYL LAWSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WILLIAM A. LAWSON INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY WALLET, A NONPROFIT IN THE THIRD WARD COMMUNITY. 
          IT WAS CREATED TO CARRY ON THE LEGACY OF OUR FOUNDER, REVEREND WILLIAM BILL LAWSON, MY 95-YEAR-OLD FATHER. 
          TODAY I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY ON SCOTT STREET, NEAR NORTH MCGREGOR WAY, THE WALLOP SENIOR RESIDENCE. 
          THE NONPROFIT I LEAD PROVIDES ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CHILDREN AND SENIORS. 
          FOUNDED IN THE HISTORIC THIRD WARD. 
          IT REFLECTS THE IDEALS OF OUR FOUNDER RECOGNIZED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO EQUALITY, ESPECIALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. 
          BILL LAWSON BEGAN HIS LOCAL CAREER IN 1955 AS A PROFESSOR AND CHAPLAIN AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY PRIOR TO BECOMING THE FOUNDING PASTOR OF WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. 
          CURRENTLY, THE CHURCH HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 18,000 MEMBERS, AND IT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ASSET. 
          IN THE THIRD WARD, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT OUR PROJECT CONSISTING OF 102 UNITS FOR SENIORS. 
          THE AFFORDABLE PROPERTY, WHILE STILL IN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, WILL CONSIST OF THREE SEPARATE BUILDINGS ON THREE VACANT SITES OWNED BY WALLOP AND WILL INCLUDE A FULLY FURNISHED CLUBHOUSE, FITNESS CENTER, BUSINESS CENTER, AND STAFF OFFICES. 
          TWO OF THE SITES ARE TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT OF THE EXISTING WALLOP SENIOR RESIDENTS, AND ONE SITE IS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND AND ACROSS THE STREET. 
          IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT EACH SITE WILL HOUSE ONE BUILDING OF APPROXIMATELY 34 UNITS SERVING SENIORS 62 AND OVER WITH ONE BUILDING, HOUSING OUR OFFICES AND COMMUNITY SPACES. 
          CURRENTLY WE PROJECT TO HAVE 91 BEDROOM, ONE BATH, AND 12 TWO BEDROOM TWO BATH UNITS. 
          WE'RE EXPECTING ALL THE UNITS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR RESIDENTS EARNING 60% A MI. 
          THE WALLOP SENIOR RESIDENCE HAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000 POTENTIAL CLIENTS AGE 55 TO 84, AND THE SENIOR POPULATION IN TEXAS IS RISING AT A RATE OF 14%. 
          CURRENTLY, OUR MARKET MEETS THE NEED FOR HIGH AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUT NOT FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS. 
          AND FOR THAT REASON, WE KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE MORE SPACES FOR SENIORS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN EXPENSIVE HOUSING. 
          I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO REQUEST A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT OUR APPLICATION FOR THE 9% T-D-H-C-A TAX CREDIT PRO PROGRAM. 
          OUR PROJECTS SCORED WELL AND IS HIGHLY RATED AMONG ELDERLY PROJECTS. 
          DURING THE PRE-OP PHASE. 
          WE ARE EXCITED TO SUBMIT OUR FULL APPLICATION AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING A HUNDRED MORE SENIOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          ALMOST ONE, UH, QUESTION ABOUT DEVELOPERS. 
          RON, WHO'S YOUR DEVELOPER? UM, WELL, WE ARE OUR OWN DEVELOPER. 
          WE'RE PARTNERING WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA NATIONAL SERVICES AND, UH, WALLOP HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 25 YEARS. 
          WE ARE DOING OUR OWN DEVELOPMENT. 
          OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABBAT? THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU, CHERYL. 
          OF COURSE, I'M PROUD TO BE ONE OF THOSE 18,000 MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, I CAN ATTEST TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND AFFORDABILITY THAT YOU HAVE AFFORDED OUR SENIORS. 
          AND THE LAWS IN NAME AND WALLOP IS CONSISTENT WITH CARE AND QUALITY, AND THE WAIT LIST IS ALWAYS BURSTING, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY TRYING TO GET INTO THOSE SPACES. 
          AND SO I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOR CERTAINLY BRINGING THIS FORWARD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [06:45:05]
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          YEAH. 
          STILL MORNING. 
          UH, CHERYL, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT, UH, YOU'RE CARRYING ON AND CERTAINLY WITH, WITH DR. LAWSON NEW AND THIS OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE AS ONE OF OUR FIRST MAJOR SENIOR CITIZEN FACILITIES DONE IN THAT, IN THAT COMMUNITY AND, UH, HATS, IT'S OFF TO YOU. 
          AND WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE CONTINUATION OF THE EXPANSION TO SEE IT TO THAT SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE THAT, UH, THAT EQUAL, YOU KNOW, THAT RIGHT IN PLAN OF LIFESTYLE, UH, WALLOP IS A HISTORICAL, UH, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN ALL AREAS, PARTICULARLY WITH CHILDREN. 
          AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE OF THE, OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN TERMS OF KIDS. 
          AND SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND THE WALLOP ORGANIZATION AND HOPEFULLY THAT, UH, YOU WILL CONTINUE DOING THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          GOD BLESS YOU. 
          COUNCILOR BALLARD. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND I TOO, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, ONE FOR THE, THE TREMENDOUS PRESENTATION. 
          HONESTLY, YOU LAID IT OUT VERY WELL AND GAVE ALL THE, UM, THE HIGHLIGHTS I THINK THAT WERE NECESSARY. 
          BUT, UM, ALL OF THE WORK THAT WALLOP HAS DONE OVER THE YEARS, UM, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF OF BEING AT THE SCHOOL AND SPEAKING TO THE STUDENTS. 
          SO NOT ONLY JUST HOUSING, BUT EDUCATION, ALL THE COMMUNITY IMPACT THAT YOU ALL DO IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT JEVON HARRIS. 
          JOY, HORT BROWN. 
          OKAY. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          I'M JOY HOACH BROWN. 
          I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEW HOPE HOUSING HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 
          WE'RE A 31 YEAR NONPROFIT DEVELOPER OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. 
          WE ARE IN FACT THE LEADING PROVIDER OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. 
          AND WE THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER ON BEHALF OF THE DEVELOPER COMMUNITY FOR WHAT YOU DID WORKING WITH THE SENATE WHEN YOU WERE, WHEN YOU WERE THERE. 
          IT WAS A TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN BEING ABLE TO HAVE A SUSTAINED AND ROBUST DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR STATE. 
          AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, 50% OF HOUSTONIANS RENT THE PLACE THAT THEY LIVE. 
          AND OF THAT 50%, FULLY HALF OF THOSE CITIZENS PAY MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME IN RENT. 
          SO I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IT WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, EVERY FOURTH AUTOMOBILE I SEE HAS A CITIZEN WHO IS RENT BURDENED. 
          AND THAT'S WRONG. 
          AND WHAT NEW HOPE HOUSING DOES IS WE DEVELOP DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLUS SERVICES. 
          AND THOSE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP RESIDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL. 
          AND I'M VERY EXCITED BY MY MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON JUST YESTERDAY AND HER BE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, THAT'S THE ACTUAL NAME OF THAT WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT WE LEARNED ABOUT YESTERDAY, THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE WITH HER TO OFFER A KIND OF HOUSING THAT WILL HELP LIFT PEOPLE IN HER COMMUNITY. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE DO. 
          WE DEVELOP A BROAD RANGE OF HOUSING FROM CHRONIC HOMELESS HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO THE CHRONIC HOMELESS, TO HOUSING LIKE WE'RE PROPOSING IN COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TARSA JACKSON'S DISTRICT THAT WILL HELP RESOLVE AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM THE KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO PUT AN INTO HERE IN OUR CITY. 
          I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU AND MOST PARTICULARLY TO CONGRATULATE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEW TO THE COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU JOY. 
          AND I CAN ATTEST COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS SO IMPORTANT AND JOY HAS PROVIDED SUCH A WONDERFUL, UH, BUILDING AND COMMUNITY FOR US IN DISTRICT D ON REED ROAD. 
          AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT PL SPREADING THE JOY, JOY, OH, MUCH TO THOSE THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY IN NEED OF THE SUPPORT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOY. 
          AND CERTAINLY IN IN COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABAZZ DISTRICT, WE HAVE ALSO A, AS A PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT OF BEZOS ACADEMY, TUITION FREE 
          [06:50:01]
PRESCHOOL THAT OPERATES BY LOTTERY. 
          AND SO IT'S ABLE TO SERVE THE ENTIRE SUNNYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          AND WE ALSO HAVE THANK YOU FOR BEING AT THE OPENING OF OUR POCKET PARK AND POCKET PRAIRIE, ALSO ON THAT SAME SITE AND A PART OF RESILIENT HOUSTON MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU JOY. 
          UM, IT WAS A JOY TO MEET WITH YOU ON, UM, YESTERDAY AND YOUR TEAM AND JUST TO LEARN ABOUT, UM, YOUR PROJECT AND THE, UM, AND WHAT IT BRINGS TO OUR DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, UM, SPECIFICALLY ACRE HOMES, WHO IS DEALING WITH QUITE A FEW, UM, WHAT PROJECTS THAT FOLKS REALLY CAN'T AFFORD. 
          AND SO YOUR PROJECT IS TRUE, I WAS SHOCKED, IS TRULY, UM, AFFORDABLE AND NOT JUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT UM, WE BRING WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO COMMUNITIES THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT. 
          AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU, UM, ON MY BE SUCCESSFUL AS WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO JOBS AND HOUSING AND, UM, IT JUST IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS. 
          SO, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP. 
          THANKS. 
          WELL, AND I WAS THRILLED TO HEAR YOU SAY THERE'S MORE LAND IN ACRES HOMES, CAN'T YOU DO MORE? MM-HMM . 
          AND I WAS ALSO THRILLED TO HEAR SO MANY OF YOU AROUND THIS HORSESHOE TALK ABOUT, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT ABOUT MY DISTRICT? IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. 
          AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE IN EVERY DISTRICT, ALL ACROSS THE CITY. 
          IT'S A NATIONAL CRISIS, AND IT'S BEGINNING TO RECEIVE THE ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, JOY, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE GROUNDBREAKING TOMORROW. 
          OH, THANK . 
          UM, IT'S A SENIOR HOUSING FACILITY, AND I THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT, UH, SENIOR HOUSING IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED IN EVERY COMMUNITY. 
          UH, I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GONNA CATCH UP, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT, UH, THIS PROJECT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT Y'ALL CONTINUE TO DO, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT BEING FOCUSED, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH SENIORS. 
          AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. 
          UM, IT'LL BE, BY THE WAY, IT'LL BE IN THE, UH, EAST DOWNTOWN AREA, UPPER THIRD WARD, UH, AREA OF HOUSTON. 
          UH, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE TO SEE WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU ON ENNIS, ANY AND ALL OF YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WAY THE EAST END HAS WRAPPED ITS ARMS AROUND NEW HOPE HOUSING FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN A PRESENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CUSID. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND JOY, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          AND IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING PROJECTS ACROSS HOUSTON. 
          UH, Y'ALL HAVE HAD SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT, UH, IN DISTRICT H WITH YOUR, UH, CANAL HARRISBURG, UH, DEVELOPMENTS. 
          AND, UH, THE, THE CITY'S GONNA BENEFIT FROM, FROM NEW HOPE BRANCHING OUT AND EXPANDING. 
          AND, UH, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, THIS IS THE END OF THE SPEAKER'S LIST. 
          ANYONE ELSE PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? FIVE. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. 
          UH, MY NAME'S CHAD BAKER. 
          I'M WITH AMEX'S HOUSING. 
          WE ARE PRESENTING THE, UM, FORUM PARK, UM, FAMILY VILLAS. 
          UM, AND WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH COUNCILMAN POLLARD AND HIS STAFF, AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM AND THEIR GUIDANCE FOR THIS PROCESS. 
          WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BRING NEW CONSTRUCTION TO THE AREA. 
          UM, AND, UH, I DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT THIS MEETING UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT, SO I DIDN'T, WASN'T ABLE TO PREPARE A LOT OF REMARKS, BUT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT, THAT WE HAVE THERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. 
          UH, IF ANYONE KNOWS, FORUM PARK, UH, KNOWS THAT IT IS IN, UH, NEED OF A LOT OF, UH, LOVE AND ATTENTION. 
          AND, UM, OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH BETTY BEST ELEMENTARY. 
          UM, IN THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION, THEY DID THE 50 50 PARKS PLAN, WHICH IMPROVED, UH, FORUM PARK, UH, WHICH IS THE ONLY GREEN SPACE REALLY, FOR THAT COMMUNITY. 
          AND THEN WHEN I SAW YOUR APPLICATION TO BE IN FARM PARK FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR MULTIFAMILY, UH, I KNEW WE WERE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
          SO IT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED. 
          UH, IT'S AN AREA THAT IS ON THE COME UP AND I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE THRIVING. 
          AND SO GLAD TO SEE, UH, YOUR APPLICATION AND, UH, I HOPE FOR SUCCESS. 
          YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          WE APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          NEXT. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL. 
          I'M MICHAEL FOGLE WITH TRINITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UM, AND I DID SIGN UP, SO I APOLOGIZE. 
          UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT ANYWAYS, UH, I JUST, I'M 
          [06:55:01]
HERE TO GIVE JUST A QUICK SUMMARY UPDATE ON OUR PROPOSED, UH, DASHWOOD TRAILS DEVELOPMENT IN ALE, WHICH IS ON THE CURRENT LIFT LIST FOR RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          SO I'M NOT HERE TO HERE TO GRIPE ABOUT ANYTHING. 
          UM, BUT ANYWAYS, THAT'S IN DISTRICT F WITHIN THE ALE WESTWOOD COMPLETE COMMUNITY. 
          SO I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND HER OFFICE, UH, FOR REALLY TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH US INITIALLY. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, AS IS EMPHASIZED ON AN ONGOING BASIS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF KIND OF BACK AND FORTH, WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR. 
          UM, THIS LOCAL ENGAGEMENT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. 
          AND SO WE'VE ALSO MET WITH AND RECEIVED POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 25, OR THE LEADERSHIP RATHER, OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 25. 
          AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING THAT WITH A PRESENTATION TO THEIR LARGER GROUP LATER THIS MONTH. 
          UM, AND I'M ALSO HAPPY TO REPORT WE'VE MET WITH A LEAF ISD INCLUDING SUPERINTENDENT DR. MAYS AND HIS STAFF WHO HAVE VERY ENTHUSIASTICALLY EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          THERE IS A NEED FOR ENROLLMENT, UH, IN A EAF AND, UM, THEY, THEY'RE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE LOCATION, WHICH WE'LL GET INTO IN, IN, IN A MINUTE. 
          BUT THE LOCATION IS IN JUST A QUARTER MILE OF ALL OF A EAF SCHOOLS IN THE, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES, THE NINTH GRADE CAMPUS, UM, JUST ALL RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. 
          UM, AND IT'S ON DASHWOOD LANE, SO I THINK YOU DO GET SOME SCHOOL TRAFFIC COOLING UP THERE, BUT AS FAR AS STUDENTS WALKING, IT'S EVEN IN, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN SEPTEMBER IT'S A LITTLE TOASTY, BUT FOR, FOR KIDS THEY'LL BE FINE, YOU KNOW, WALKING A FEW MINUTES. 
          UM, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO POINT OUT THAT IT'S NOT DIRECTLY ON BE AIR BOULEVARD. 
          IT'S, IT'S A GREAT LOCATION. 
          SO, UM, THAT KIND OF SEGUES, SEGUES US INTO THE LOCATION, UM, WHICH IS, AND SO THIS IS KIND OF NORTHWEST OF KIRKWOOD AND BE AIR BOULEVARD, AND I'M JUST, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS WHENEVER I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT. 
          I CAN'T STOP AUGUST ABOUT THE LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE ALIA COMMUNITY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WHICH AS Y'ALL KNOW, WAS COMPLETED JUST LAST YEAR FOR $60 MILLION. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S QUITE AN INVESTMENT BY THE CITY AND, UM, A 20 YEAR EFFORT BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO GET THAT DONE. 
          UM, AND SO THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN TO FOLLOW UP ON A CITY INVESTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORTS BY OFFERING, YOU KNOW, HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ITS PROXIMITY. 
          AND IT'S NOT JUST, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AND THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE, IT'S, IT, IT HAS OTHER MERITS THAT STAND ON THEIR OWN. 
          IT'S WITHIN VERY, VERY CLOSE WALKING DISTANCE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PHARMACIES, A GROCERY STORE AND MULTIPLE SHOPPING CENTERS, UH, IN ADDITION TO A POST OFFICE. 
          AND THEN SOME EVEN, YOU KNOW, MUCH LARGER AREAS WITHIN A MILE. 
          BUT WHEN I SAY WALKING DISTANCE, I MEAN ACTUAL WALKING DISTANCE, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WALKING DISTANCE. 
          UM, SO THAT'S, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT KIND OF JUST FOCUSING ON THE LOCATION AND THE LOCAL ENGAGEMENT, BUT HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT OTHER SPECIFICS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING THIS MORNING AND SHARING YOUR COMMENTS. 
          UH, THIS IS A FANTASTIC LOCATION. 
          YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MY COAST OFFICE IS RIGHT THERE, AND FOR, UM, RESIDENTS THAT ARE UNAWARE, IT'S THE ROUNDABOUT RIGHT BEHIND THE ALE POST OFFICE, UH, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE NINTH GRADE CENTER. 
          AND SO IT'S A GREAT LOCATION, COMMUNITY CENTER, METRO BUS NUMBER TWO, THE BEL AIR, UM, THAT RAPID ROUTE. 
          AND SO IT, I'M GLAD THAT IT WAS SCORED, AND THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN, UH, THAT COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY IN THAT AREA. 
          I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING, IF WE ARE NOT INSERTING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION, THAT WE MAY, UH, LIMIT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE, RIGHT? UM, SO THE AFFORDABILITY AND INSERTING AND LOOKING AT HOW WE TAKE, UM, THIS PARCEL OF LAND AND CREATE UNITS, UH, FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, THEY CAN BE ABLE TO WALK. 
          I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S THE PERFECT LOCATION. 
          UH, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT AND EXCITED TO SUPPORT IT NEXT WEEK. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? ATE TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING ON THE SECOND MOTION MADE, SECONDED TO CLOSE THE HEARING. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          VERY GOOD MEMBERS. 
          LET'S 
          [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
NOW CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO. 
          TIM PECK. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR FOR PAPA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I WANNA THANK TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH PUBLIC WORKS WASTEWATER OPERATIONS, WHO CAME OUT TO DISTRICT A LAST WEEK. 
          WE HAD TWO ISSUES GOING ON IN DISTRICT A. 
          THE FIRST WAS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT, UM, IF IT WAS A CITY ISSUE OR A PRIVATE ISSUE. 
          UM, BRIAN CAMPBELL AND ALAN WARREN CAME OUT, AND NOT ONLY DID THEY JUST LOOK AT IT, BUT THEY TOOK THE TIME TO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE. 
          I WAS THERE AS WELL. 
          AND THEY REALLY EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND THEY WERE JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT. 
          AND THEN THEY WENT TO ANOTHER LOCATION IN DISTRICT A OFF OF TWO 90 WHERE THE WASTEWATER WAS 
          [07:00:01]
RUNNING THROUGH ONE OF THE BUILDINGS. 
          AND SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND FOR COMING OUT AND, UM, THEIR DILIGENCE IN EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID THAT DAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MARTINEZ. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, FIRST JUST WANT TO, UH, CONTINUE TO, UH, LET THE REST OF THE, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. 
          AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, FROM THE DISTRICT EYE OFFICE IS WE'RE VISITING BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, SPECIFICALLY FOOD 'CAUSE I JUST LOVE FOOD. 
          UH, SO FEBRUARY 16TH WE'RE VISITING THE FRENCH FRY HOUSE, WHICH IS OFF OF WAYSIDE, SOUTH WAYSIDE. 
          UM, AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, AS WE CELEBRATE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ACCOMPLISHMENT WITHIN, WITHIN OUR, OUR COMMUNITY, AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, JUST KNOW THAT, UM, AS A LATINO, I STAND IN SOLIDARITY, SOLIDARITY WITH US. 
          WELL, UM, ALSO, OF COURSE, UH, YOU KNOW, LUNAR NEW YEAR IS THIS SATURDAY, IT'S THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON. 
          UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A COUPLE OF, UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL VILLAGES WITHIN, WITHIN DISTRICT. 
          I MIGHT MIGHT NOT BE KNOWN, UH, BUT WE, UH, WERE ABLE TO GO OUT, UH, TO ONE OF THE, UH, VILLAGES TO GO AND, AND GIVE OUT SOME GIFTS, UH, THIS PAST TWO WEEKEND AGO, ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY, OR A WEEKEND AGO. 
          AND SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY WITHIN DISTRICT, I KNOW THAT WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING YOU. 
          WE, WE SEE YOU AND WE'RE READY TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU. 
          UM, DISTRICT I IS ALSO GOING TO HOST, UH, AN OPEN HOUSE AND RESOURCE FAIR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY THE 24TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM. 
          UH, WE'RE BRINGING IN SEVERAL CITY DEPARTMENTS, SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS, NONPROFITS, AND MAKING SURE THAT DISTRICT I RESIDENTS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, DIFFERENT RESOURCES, UH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE NEEDING TO ENSURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPROVING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 
          UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, I ATTENDED THE, UH, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EAST SIDE TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, ALONG 45 OFF OF WOODRIDGE. 
          UH, THERE'S ABOUT TO BE SOME REDEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING, AND, UH, THE CONVERSATION THERE WAS WHAT IS IT THAT WE SHOULD BE HOUSING OUT OF THAT, THAT, UH, THAT FACILITY? AND, UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT STEM IS BEING LOOKED AT. 
          UH, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE BEEN REALLY PUSHING IS, UH, SKILLED LABOR, UH, BRINGING IN THE UNIONS. 
          UM, 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT, YOU KNOW, MY, MY PLUMBER, UH, WHEN I CALLED HIM, HE, YOU KNOW, HEY, I NEED AN ISSUE WITH MY WATER HEATER. 
          HE IS LIKE, HEY, I'M RETIRED . 
          AND SO THOSE SKILLED LABORS ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, FOCUS THAT WE SHOULD BE, UH, VERY, VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT ENSURING THAT COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO, TO EDUCATION AS WELL. 
          AND SO, UM, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH, UH, THE HCC TRUSTEES, UH, ENSURING THAT, UH, OUR COMMUNITIES, UH, RECEIVING THESE TYPE OF, UH, UH, SKILLED, SKILLED LABOR, UH, SKILLS AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I THINK LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE, YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAD REACHED OUT ABOUT, UM, COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND WANTED US TO PUT TOGETHER A LIST TO SUBMIT OVER TO YOU ON THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON AS A COUNCIL DISTRICT OFFICE. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED IN THE MEMO, UH, WAS ILLEGAL STREET VENDORS. 
          AND THAT IS A, THAT IS A ISSUE THAT IS, IS STARTING TO REALLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST HOUSTON. 
          I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S DISTRICT, UM, IS DEALING WITH IT AS WELL, BUT IN LIKE THE, A LEAF WESTWOOD AREA, THE GULFTON WEST PARK AREA, AND THE BRAEBURN AREA OF DISTRICT J, THERE'S JUST BEEN MORE POPUPS OF ILLEGAL STREET VENDORS. 
          THOSE WHO ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE STREETS POPPING UP TENTS OR TABLES, AND THEY'RE SELLING VARIOUS ITEMS. AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE PROPER WAY TO GET A PERMIT AND TO SELL ITEMS IN A APPROPRIATE MANNER. 
          ALSO, WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, SELLING OR LEASING OUT LIKE A CORNER OF THEIR PARKING LOT ON THE WEEKENDS TO DO THIS. 
          UM, BUT IT BRINGS DOWN THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE AESTHETICS OF THE AREA. 
          UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE DON'T GET IN FRONT OF, YOU'LL START TO SEE IT POPPING UP ON MORE AND MORE STREETS. 
          SO THAT'S THE PRIORITY THAT I PUT IN THE MEMO THAT I'M HOPING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION ON, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EASILY PUT TOGETHER A STRATEGY WITH HPD, UH, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS. 
          AND I DO WANNA PUT IT AT THE FOREFRONT. 
          SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON IT. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, THEY'RE DOING IT ON THE SIDEWALK. 
          CERTAINLY I SAW THE CLIP OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THE COMMUNITY PROBABLY DOESN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, THAT LARGELY THEY'RE DESPERATE TRYING TO MAKE INCOME AS BEST THEY CAN. 
          SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME EDUCATION, SOME, SOME PATIENCE AND, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS MAYBE. 
          I SAW COUNCILOR THOMAS SAID SHE WAS GONNA TRY TO SEE IF WE COULD FIND A DESIGNATED AREA, MAYBE A GREEN SPACE THAT WOULD BE MORE ACCEPTABLE. 
          BUT, UH, I'VE SEEN IT, YOU TURN OFF A HILLCROFT RIGHT THERE, UM, BETWEEN APARTMENTS AND IT, IT'S, UH, REALLY KINDA EXCITING. 
          UH, BUT FOR THE HARDSHIP 
          [07:05:01]
IT PLACES ON TRAFFIC AND HOME AND PROPERTY OWNERS. 
          BUT THE NATIVE FOOD AND CLOTHING IS SOMETHING, UH, I ACTUALLY WANNA SHOW MY GRANDKIDS, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT. 
          SO WE'LL ALL WORK TOGETHER ON THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND, AND THEY ARE, SO MANY OF 'EM ARE DESPERATE. 
          THIS IS THEIR ONLY INCOME, SO WE'VE GOTTA BE CONSIDERATE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          I'LL PASS. 
          GOOD FOR YOU. 
          . 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHAVA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I WANT TO EXPRESS TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY OFFICIALS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIORITIZING THE LONG AWAITED IMPROVEMENTS TO EDGEWOOD PARK. 
          THIS PARK IS A VITAL COMMUNITY ASSET OFFERING A SPACE FOR RECREATION, RELAXATION, AND CONNECTION. 
          IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE SEEK FURTHER INVESTMENT, BE IT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE. 
          TO ENHANCE THIS CHERISH COMMUNITY, JEWEL AND THE RESIDENTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVE A PARK THAT MIRRORS THEIR SPIRIT AND DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND DISTRICT DI WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ON LAST WEEK, I, UH, ATTENDED A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY AT 67 52 PEERLESS AND EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO SPENCER HUCK, UH, FOR THE INVITATION TO THIS GROUNDBREAKING, UH, THIS MILESTONE EVENT UNDERSCORES THE CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN DISTRICT D AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME BEAUTIFUL, UM, HOUSING THAT IS GOING TO BE PROVIDED THROUGH HIS EFFORTS. 
          ALSO, ON, UM, THIS SUNDAY THERE WILL BE A, UM, GROUND, A OPENING CEREMONY FOR A NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BOUTIQUE, AND IT'S CALLED THE EXOTIC POP, WHICH IS GOING TO BE SUNDAY FROM TWO TO FOUR. 
          IT'S LOCATED AT 54 10 ALAMEDA ROAD AND JOIN US FOR A GRAND OPENING. 
          IT'S NON-ALCOHOLIC, UH, OF THE EXOTIC POP HOUSTON FLAGSHIP STORE. 
          UM, SO THAT SHOULD BE A GREAT EVENT. 
          JUST, IT'S GONNA BE BEFORE SUPER BOWL. 
          SO AFTER THAT YOU CAN GO PARTAKE OF WHATEVER OTHER BEVERAGE YOU MAY CHOOSE. 
          BUT THIS IS NON-ALCOHOLIC. 
          OKAY? ALRIGHT, UM, THIS WAY, WHICH IS A HOUSTON GROUP SHOW, WILL HAVE ITS EXHIBITION, WHICH IS GOING ON NOW THROUGH MARCH THE 24TH. 
          IT'S AT THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, HOUSTON 52 16 MONTROSE. 
          THE ADMISSION IS FREE. 
          AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT C H.ORG. 
          AND THEN, UM, ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY THE 10TH, THERE WILL BE AN IMPORTANT SHREDDING EVENT. 
          IF YOU KNOW HOW, UH, STEALING IDENTITIES IS A BIG BUSINESS FOR SOME CRIMINALS IN THE AREA, IT WOULD BE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UTILIZE THESE SHREDDING EVENTS. 
          UH, THIS ONE WILL BE FROM NINE TO NOON ON SATURDAY, AND IT'S AT PALM CENTER, WHICH IS 5,400 GRIGGS ROAD. 
          IT'S A FREE DRIVE THROUGH EVENT. 
          SO PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. 
          AND THAT IS, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. 
          LAST FRIDAY, THE DISTRICT H OFFICE PARTICIPATED IN A SERVICE PROJECT AT STEW PARK AS PART OF THE GREEN VALENTINE EFFORT. 
          AND WE PLANTED A FEW TREES ALONG WITH VOLUNTEERS AND TREES FOR HOUSTON. 
          AND THIS WAS OUR MONTHLY SERVICE PROJECT. 
          UM, AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO GET OUT AND GET ACTIVE AND, AND GIVE BACK TO ONE OF OUR PARKS. 
          AND IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST DAY FOR OUR UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CHIP INTERN JOSLYN MONTE SOTO. 
          SHE CAME OUT AND GOT RIGHT TO WORK, HELPING US PLANT TREES, UH, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HER IN THE OFFICE. 
          SHE IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT AND SHE HAS BEEN, UH, HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING. 
          WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR LOVE YOUR PET EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. 
          THERE ARE SOME EVENTS THAT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT ARE COMING UP TOMORROW AND FRIDAY. 
          WE'VE PARTNERED WITH BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY TO DO PET FOOD KIT GIVEAWAYS AT 9 0 1 PINE MOUNT DRIVE, BOTH DAYS FROM EIGHT 30 TO NINE UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST. 
          FEEL FREE TO DRIVE BY IF YOU ARE IN NEED. 
          ALSO, ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE NINTH, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH BELL VISTA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ON EAST 36TH STREET AND THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY FOR A PET FOOD PANTRY FROM 9:00 AM TO 11:00 AM WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. 
          AND ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH WITH THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY. 
          AGAIN, WE ARE HOSTING A VACCINE CLINIC FROM NINE TO ONE AT MOODY PARK. 
          AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND, UH, THAT ONE YOU DO NEED TO REGISTER 
          [07:10:01]
FOR. 
          YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO THAT@HOUSTONTX.GOV SLASH LOVE YOUR PET. 
          UM, AND THEN EVERY FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY, WE ARE SPONSORING PET WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS AT BARK. 
          SO YOU CAN CALL BARK, GET AN APPOINTMENT, UH, GET A PET WELLNESS EXAM, WHICH WILL INCLUDE MICROCHIP VACCINES, UM, AND REGISTRATION SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT H OFFICE. 
          UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY WE HAD OUR FIRST TOWN HALL A SERIES. 
          WE'RE GONNA DO A SERIES OF 10 OF THESE. 
          UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ, MARTINEZ, AND ALCORN FOR BEING PRESENT AT THE TOWN HALL. 
          UM, DESPITE THE WEATHER, WE STILL HAD ABOUT 45 PEOPLE THERE, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF, UH, CITY RESOURCES AND, AND DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, UH, LIKE TDOT, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE RELEVANT PROJECTS NEARBY. 
          AND SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THESE. 
          UH, OUR NEXT ONE IS SATURDAY AT MECCA, UH, AT 2:00 PM AND IT'LL BE AFTER THE PARADE, SO, UH, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET TO THE PARADE AND THEN GET TO THE TOWN HALL. 
          UM, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE AND, UH, CONNECT WITH ME AND MY STAFF AND CITY RESOURCES. 
          AND FINALLY, YOU KNOW, I WANNA, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE THAT SPOKE UP AND PARTICIPATED AND REACHED OUT, UH, AROUND THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT. 
          YOU KNOW, UM, THE ENGAGEMENT IS, IS VITAL TO OUR ABILITY TO DO OUR WORK. 
          AND, UH, I APPRECIATE CONSTITUENTS REACHING OUT. 
          I APPRECIATE CONSTITUENTS COMING TO SPEAK. 
          UH, IT HELPS, UH, US MAKE BETTER DECISIONS AND, AND, AND DO AND BE A BETTER CITY COUNCIL. 
          SO I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY ENGAGED AROUND WHATEVER YOUR PRO YOUR, UH, PASSIONS ARE WITH CITY GOVERNMENT AND REACH OUT AND CONNECT WITH US. 
          THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, JUST, UH, NOT MUCH ON OUR END. 
          WE ARE JUST, UH, GRATEFUL TO AT VISIT THE 6,000 TELEPHONE ROAD, UH, SENIOR CITIZEN FACILITY. 
          AND, UH, THEY EXPRESSED SOME, UH, IN, UH, SOME CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE IN REGARD TO THEIR FACILITY. 
          AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT, UH, UPON OURSELVES TO REALLY PAY VERY, VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS TO ALL OF THOSE IN THE SENIOR CITIZEN FACILITIES, UH, THAT WE DEFINITELY PARTNER WITH, UH, NOT ONLY JUST IN MINISTRY, BUT EVEN AS NOW AS COUNCIL. 
          UH, ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE BLACK HISTORY, UH, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE ON SATURDAY. 
          UH, WHICH I WILL BE THERE AT THE BREAKFAST AND, UH, DO MY DUE DILIGENCE THERE. 
          I'M ALSO, UH, WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT OUR FIRST, UH, AT LARGE TOWN HALL MEETING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF OUR CITY. 
          WE WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT. 
          UH, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT IN EVERY, UH, UH, AREA OF OUR CITY, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST. 
          AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT OUT TO A BLAST. 
          UH, WE INVITE EVERYBODY OUT, BUT THAT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME UP TO CITY HALL. 
          SO WE WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT AND WE'LL ROLL IT OUT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, I AM SO THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE, UH, AND I KNOW YOU'LL ALL JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY. 
          LAST NIGHT, THEY WON THE OPEN SPACE AWARD FOR THE, UH, KINDER LAND BRIDGE IN THE CIAN, MELVIN WOLF PRAIRIE. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP WON THE MOONSHOT AWARD FOR BUFFALO BAYOU EAST. 
          UH, THESE ARE REALLY BIG AWARDS, AND IT'S NOT JUST PUBLIC ENTRIES, IT'S ALSO PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL ENTRIES THAT GO THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. 
          AND NOW BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS, UH, I BELIEVE QUALIFY FOR THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD, AND THEY ALSO NOW GO ON TO NATIONAL, UH, CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR ALL OF THESE AWARDS. 
          SO, A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS. 
          AND MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PUT SOMETHING OUT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, UH, JUST TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF, UH, THESE PUBLIC SPACES. 
          AGAIN, THE EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC SPACES THAT ARE REALLY, UM, COMING INTO THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT. 
          AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE WITH THAT ALL OF THE DONORS THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE, ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, ANDY IKIN AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE GREEN SPACES, THESE NATIONAL TREASURES, UH, FOR OUR CITY. 
          SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU TO URBAN LAND INSTITUTE FOR A GREAT EVENT. 
          UH, I WANTED TO, I HAD A FEW DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
          THERE'S A SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, UH, TO A SIDEWALK RAMPS AND A STOP SIGN RELOCATION AT WESTHEIMER AND DRISCOLL THAT'S GOING TO START, UH, AROUND FEBRUARY 12TH. 
          SO RESIDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT. 
          UH, THERE'S A TEXT IN PERSON MEETING 
          [07:15:02]
THE, UH, THURSDAY THE EIGHTH, THIS THURSDAY THE EIGHTH FROM FIVE TO SEVEN ON THE INNER KATY CORRIDOR, UH, PROJECT, ENCOURAGING ALL RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY ALONG THAT CORRIDOR, TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH TDOT. 
          AND YOU CAN GO TO T DOT.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION THERE. 
          UH, AND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE ELLA GROVE WOOD SAFETY PROPOSAL THAT MY DISTRICT HAD OFFERED TO FUND, UH, IN FRONT OF SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY. 
          THAT PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, PERIOD IS GOING TO CLOSE THIS SUNDAY, SO PLEASE GET YOUR INPUT IN FOR THAT SO WE CAN SEE REALLY HOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          UH, LASTLY, A VERY, VERY HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON, UH, TO ALL THOSE CELEBRATING. 
          I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE BEEN ATTENDING SOME OF THOSE CELEBRATIONS ALREADY, BUT IT'S, I KNOW IT'S A BIG YEAR WHEN IT'S THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON. 
          AND FOR ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND EVEN, UH, FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN, UH, VERY HAPPY MARDI GRAS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, JUST ONE QUICK UPDATE FOR RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B. 
          OUR, UM, REGULAR SCHEDULED DISTRICT B BRIEFING, UM, THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SATURDAY HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO THE MLK PARADE. 
          UM, BUT WE WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK, I MEAN NEXT MONTH ON THE WHAT DATE I HAVE HERE THE SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. 
          AND WE WILL HAVE SOLID WASTE, UM, PRESENT THAT WILL, UM, GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON. 
          AND SO ENCOURAGE RE RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, THE BUZZ. 
          UM, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. 
          THANKS. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? YES, MAYOR, A COUPLE THINGS. 
          UH, FIRST OF ALL, LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE THIS WEEKEND. 
          UH, DELAYED FROM LAST MONTH, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS GET GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO OBSERVE, UH, HIS LIFE AS WELL AS CELEBRATE, UH, BLACK HISTORY, UH, MONTH. 
          UH, SO WEATHER PERMITTING, OF COURSE. 
          HOPEFULLY IT GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH. 
          UM, AND SECOND MAYOR, UM, I'M GONNA LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I'LL BE MEETING ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO TOMORROW WITH, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE, FROM THE LIBRARY. 
          AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT WILL BE, UM, HOW THE, UH, HISPANIC ARCHIVES AND, AND THE RELATED COLLECTION HAS BEEN TREATED. 
          UH, A LARGE NUMBER OF US FEEL IT HASN'T, UH, BEEN, UH, TREATED APPROPRIATELY THAT IT'S BEEN NEGLECTED. 
          SO, UH, EAGER TO EXPRESS OUR VIEWS TO, UH, LIBRARY, UH, REPRESENTATIVES. 
          AND ON A RELATED NOTE, UH, AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND I WILL BE MEETING, UM, OUT AT THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED HISPANIC ARCHIVES, UH, BUILDING ON NAVIGATION WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BUFFALO BIO PARTNERSHIP ON FRIDAY. 
          UM, TO GET THE SCOOP ON THAT, THAT WAS PUSHED THROUGH, THAT SITE SELECTION WAS PUSHED THROUGH, UH, LATE IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. 
          AND, UM, THE FEELING REGARDING THAT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES IS THAT THERE WASN'T, UH, ANY, UM, INPUT OBTAINED FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. 
          AND SO, MAYOR, I SENSE THAT, UH, THERE'S A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. 
          WE APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO REPORTING ON IT AT A LATER TIME. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          THANK YOU MUCH. 
          IT'S A GREAT DAY IN DISTRICT F UH, HERE'S SOME BLACK HISTORY FACTS THAT WE ALL SHOULD KNOW. 
          DID YOU KNOW ON MARCH 18TH, 2008 THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS RECOGNIZED A ONE ACRE PATCH AT REN ROAD IN ELDRIDGE IN ALE, AND WHERE THE OLD PRAIRIE GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WAS HELD? UH, MANY PEOPLE ARE, ARE NOT AWARE THAT ALE ONCE HAD A GROWING BUSTLING AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION. 
          THAT LOCATION ALSO SERVED AS A SCHOOLHOUSE THAT WAS BUILT OCTOBER, 1920 AT THAT LOCATION. 
          THE FIRST GRAVE FROM 1940 IS THE WIFE OF MELISSA OTLEY, THE WIFE OF DAVID LEY, THE FIRST BLACK ED EDUCATOR IN ALE AND THE NAMESAKE OF LEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALE, ISD ALRIGHT, ONTO SOME BUSINESS. 
          SO I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT SHERMAN GISELLE WITH FOX 26, UM, FOR COVERING THE TOWN PARK STREET VENDORS. 
          UH, WE HAVE DEDICATED, PRIOR TO THIS, UM, AREA BEING, UH, TRANSFERRED TO DISTRICT J DEDICATED CLOSE TO $10,000 IN OVERTIME FOR WEST SIDE AND, AND MIDWEST HPD TO ASSIST US WITH EDUCATION. 
          UH, THEY HAVE, UM, UH, ISSUED OVER A HUNDRED CITATIONS. 
          THEY'VE DONE MULTIPLE, UH, SITE VISITS AROUND EDUCATION. 
          UM, AND MAYOR MEYER, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. 
          LIKE THIS IS THEIR ECONOMY. 
          THIS IS HOW THEY PAY THEIR BILLS, RIGHT? SO THERE'S A RESPONSIBLE WAY FOR US TO DO THIS WHILE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          THAT STREET NEEDS INVESTMENT ON STREET LIGHTING OPEN, UH, CURB AND GUTTER DITCHES. 
          UH, THE SIDEWALKS NEED TO BE EXPANDED. 
          UM, THERE'S, THERE'S CHILDREN CROSSING THE STREET. 
          SO MORE 
          [07:20:01]
TO THAT, UH, THAT SHOULD COME. 
          I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT THAT I HAD A GREAT TIME WITH MY SOROS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA, THE SORORITY INCORPORATED, CELEBRATING OUR 37TH ANNUAL GREATER HOUSTON AREA CHAPTER FOUNDER'S DAY AT THE GEORGIA BROWN. 
          SHOUT OUT TO GEORGIA BROWN AND THE HOUSTON FIRST TEAM FOR AN EXQUISITE EXPERIENCE. 
          OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS COLETTE SMITH, THE NFL'S FIRST FEMALE COACH. 
          UM, I WAS WITH THE INDONESIAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS NETWORK LAST WEEK, UH, JUST SHARING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT, UH, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND GETTING INVOLVED IN CITY BUSINESS. 
          AND I WAS BLESSED TREMENDOUSLY. 
          WE ARE THE CULTURAL CURRENCY OF THE CITY, AND WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES, MOM AND POP BUSINESSES THAT ARE PRODUCING PRODUCTS THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. 
          SO THERE'S MORE TO COME WITH THIS GROUP, UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO PLUGGING THEM IN WITH OBO AND THEIR PROGRAMS. ALSO TO JOIN WITH MY COLLEAGUES. 
          HAPPY LUNA NEW YEAR. 
          IF JANUARY 1ST WAS A ROUGH START FOR YOU, YOU GET TO DO IT AGAIN WITH THE YEAR OF THE DRAGONS ON FEBRUARY 10TH, UM, I WILL BE AT SHALIN TEMPLE AND THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER. 
          AND THEN ON THE 17TH I'LL BE AT . 
          HOPEFULLY I'LL SEE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. 
          AND THEN ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, WE'RE AT HONG KONG. 
          HONG KONG CITY MALL. 
          SO ON THE WEST SIDE, WE ROCKING AND ROLLING WITH THE LUNA NEW YEAR. 
          AND I WILL HAVE A NEW OUTFIT EACH TIME YOU SEE ME, UM, UM, TO CELEBRATE. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, OKAY, I'M COMING. 
          READY, I PUTS IT ON. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          AND SO THEN ALSO WE'RE CONTINUING OUR ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY, UH, PROGRAM, LOVING ON YOUR SENIORS WITH SCHLUMBERGER AND THEIR BLACK EMPLOYEE NETWORK. 
          ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17TH, WE'LL BE IN PINEY POINT, A REMNANT OF A FREEDMAN'S TOWN PASSING OUT OUR BASKETS. 
          AND SO, UH, WE ARE ROCKING AND ROLLING ON THE WEST SIDE. 
          UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, ANY PARTNERSHIPS AND, AND UPDATED, UH, INFORMATION THAT, UH, SHOULD COME OUTTA DISTRICT F SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AS WE PROVIDE UPDATES ON OUR NOTICES TO PROCEED. 
          IMPERIALS RECEIVING A SERIES OF CONCRETE PANELS. 
          THIS IS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 23 STREET REHAB PROGRAM. 
          IT'S EXTENSIVE. 
          BE PATIENT WITH US DURING CONSTRUCTION. 
          IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 2. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PROM CASTER TATUM. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I WANT TO, UM, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR AND JAZZ ENSEMBLE FOR THEIR STELLAR PERFORMANCE BEFORE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT THE TEXAS STATE CAPITOL LAST WEEK, UM, IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. 
          CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS. 
          AND THEN WANT TO ALSO ANNOUNCE THAT QUAIL RUN COMMUNITY IN FORT BEND. 
          HOUSTON IS HOSTING A COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT DIALOGUE EVENT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY THE 10TH FROM 11 TO ONE AT THE QUAIL RUN COMMUNITY CENTER. 
          1 6 7 4 8 QUAIL PARK DRIVE IN MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS. 
          COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH THE OFFICERS FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND FORT BEND COUNTY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND THEN THE DISTRICT A OFFICE IS ALSO WELCOMING TWO NEW MEMBERS OF OUR HOT TEAM, UH, MICHAEL FIELDS AND DARVIN GABLE, UH, OUR HOT TEAM CANVASES DISTRICT A ADDRESSING BANDIT SIGNS, ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND OTHER TASKS THAT KEEP OUR CLEAN STATE OF MIND IN DISTRICT K. 
          SO LOOK FOR SOME MORE HOT TEAM UPDATES COMING SOON IN OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER. 
          NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS IN OCTOBER, UH, HOWEVER, IT'S NOT TOO LATE, TOO EARLY TO START GETTING READY. 
          UM, REGISTRATION PORTAL IS OPEN. 
          UH, SO IF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN OCTOBER, UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND COMMUNITIES ANNUALLY. 
          IT'S NOT TOO EARLY, SALLY. 
          GET GET REGISTERED,  GET REGISTERED, UH, AND YOU CAN VISIT THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, UH, WEBSITE FOR REGISTRATION. 
          AND THEN WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE MLK PARADE IS THIS WEEKEND. 
          WE ARE DEFINITELY WATCHING THE WEATHER. 
          UH, THE CEREMONY STARTS AT 9:40 AM AND OUR GRAND MARSHALL THIS YEAR IS, UM, BEN CRUMP, ADRIAN GARCIA, AND PASTOR WALTER AUGUST. 
          UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, CELEBRATING WITH THEM. 
          AND THE PARADE WILL START AT 10:00 AM ON SATURDAY. 
          IF YOU'RE NOT RECEIVING OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER, WE HOPE YOU'LL SIGN UP BECAUSE WE WORK HARD ON THAT NEWSLETTER. 
          AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT K. 
          UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COLLEAGUES. 
          WE NEED TO COME BACK AROUND TO YOU. 
          I'M, I'M SORRY, . 
          THIS IS BREAKING NEWS. 
          , UM, THIS MEET, THERE WILL BE A MEETING TONIGHT AT GOOD HOPE, UH, CHURCH, BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, CONCERNING THE IMPACT OF THE I 45 PROJECT. 
          IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT IT IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, NORTH MCGREGOR FEEDER AND 2 88 WILL BE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN AND 
          [07:25:01]
IN LINE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR SPEAKS OF IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY, WE WANT THE NEIGHBORS TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE OR WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS IS DONE. 
          AND I THINK, UH, TAMAR BELL AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR CONVENING THIS MEETING. 
          BUT IT'S TONIGHT, UH, FROM SIX 30 TO EIGHT O'CLOCK, AGAIN AT GOOD HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          WE'RE BACK. 
          YEAH. 
          VERY QUICKLY, I WANTED TO FLAG FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ, UH, MARTINEZ AND CASTILLO. 
          FIRST OFF, THANK YOU ALL FOR LEADING THE WAY ON ADDRESSING THE ISSUES RELATED TO THE ARCHIVES. 
          IT IS SO IMPORTANT AS YOU DO. 
          I RECENTLY TOURED, UM, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY IN FRIEDMAN'S TOWN. 
          AND THE ARCHIVES THERE ARE LITERALLY ONE OF A KIND IN THE NATION, PERHAPS THE WORLD, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF HISTORY. 
          AND IN THE ARCHIVE BUILDING ITSELF, THERE'S NO PROTECTION, UM, LIKE SPECIALIZED SPRINKLERS FOR FIRE, UM, THAT WOULDN'T, THAT WOULD PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ARCHIVES. 
          SO AS YOU'RE DISCUSSING THE BUILDING FACILITIES, I FLAG FOR YOU IN THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES, THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT JUST TRADITIONAL SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, BUT HOW DO YOU PROTECT THOSE PRECIOUS PIECES OF HISTORY, UM, THAT IN OFTENTIMES ARE DONATED RIGHT TO THE CITY. 
          UH, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT. 
          I RAISED THAT AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BUT ALSO FOR YOU ALL. 
          AND WE STAND UNITED IN SUPPORTING YOU ALL WITH THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THE BUILDING ITSELF CAN PROTECT THOSE DOCUMENTS, UM, SHOULD FIRE DAMAGE OR THOSE SPRINKLERS GO OFF. 
          REALLY IMPORTANT. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          GREAT MEETING TODAY. 
          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.