* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] COUNCIL WILL [PRESENTATIONS] COME TO ORDER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR A PROCLAMATION AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. POLICE. IF I COULD HAVE YOUR PAST PRESIDENTS WOULD BE AMAZING, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. IT IS MY, UM, IT'S MY HONOR TO, UH, TO WELCOME THE NATIONAL, THE, THE PA, THE PRESIDENT AND PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. UM, AND EVERYONE KNOWS THIS FAMILIAR FACE SHERELL IS, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER, WHERE WHEREAS THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO PROGRESS INCLUSIVITY AND EXCELLENCE IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, AND WAS ESTABLISHED WITH A NOBLE MISSION TO CREATE DYNAMIC NETWORK OF LEADERS ACROSS PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND ACADEMIC SECTORS, EMPOWERING THEM TO EXCEL AND POSITIVELY IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE. WHEREAS THE NFB PA HAS BECOME THE LEADING AND MOST FORWARD THINKING ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION, DEDICATED TO FOSTERING MINORITY LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, AND RENOWNED FOR ITS INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. WHEREAS THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE NFB PA SINCE THE INCEPTION ON JUNE THE SIXTH, 1986, HAS GROWN TO BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST, MOST DYNAMICALLY EVOLVING AND CONSISTENTLY AWARD-WINNING CHAPTERS WITHIN THE N-F-B-P-A, REFLECTING THE SPIRIT AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE CHAPTER HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO CITIZENS OF HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS, PARTNERING WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO VOLUNTEER TIME, TALENT, AND RESOURCE TO LOCAL CHARITIES, AND THEREBY MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHERE THE CORE AIMS OF THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SCHOLARSHIP, AND SERVICE, FOCUSING ON CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN PUBLIC ADMINIS ADMINISTRATION, SUPPORTING ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS AND ENGAGING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, THEREFORE, I, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER DAY IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU LADIES. LET, LEMME JUST SAY, UM, I'M CERTAIN ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS JOIN ME IN THANKING YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. MAYBE YOU'RE NEVER BEEN ON THE BALLOT TO BE ELECTED, BUT WE CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT KEEPS OUR TEAM GOING FORWARD AND YOUR INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS, OBVIOUSLY THEY COULD NOT MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU. SO THANK YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR BRINGING THIS RECOGNITION TO THE FOREFRONT. SO THANK YOU LADIES, AND LET'S GO TO WORK. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL. MM-HMM . I'M GONNA LET CHARLES, YES, CHARLES CAN CHOOSE. SURE. UM, SO GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. IT, I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AGAIN. UM, SO MY NAME IS RELL DUNCAN, AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE 16TH PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL FORM OF BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER. SO I STAND HERE WITH THE MEN'S PRIDE AND GRATITUDE IS WE RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION FROM HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D HAVE TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER FOR PRESENTING THIS HONOR. AND, AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD WHO'S NOT HERE AT THIS MOMENT, UM, FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR JANUARY GENERAL BODY MEETING AND OUR CEREMONY. UM, EACH OF YOUR SUPPORT, ALONG WITH YOUR WONDERFUL TEAM, HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVANCING OUR MISSION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR ROLE IN LEADING OUR CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, AND I'M PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, WHO'S ALSO NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AT THIS MOMENT. UNDER WHOSE GUIDANCE I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS CHIEF OF STAFF, A ROLE THAT HAS [00:05:01] ENRICHED, ENRICHED MY UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. OUR ORGANIZATION STARTED IN 1986 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR FOUNDERS, MAJOR BROCK, MARY ANN DONATO, AND THE LATE GREAT YVETTE SHAWA. A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GOES OUT TO OUR FORMER PRESIDENT, SOME WHO ARE HERE TODAY, WHOSE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP HAS SHAPED OUR CHAPTER. I WOULD NOT BE HERE AND ABLE TO STAND HERE IN FRONT OF YOU IF IT WAS NOT FOR MAJOR BROCK MARYANNE DONATO, YVETTE SHAWA, JOYCE BETHANY, NAOMI SMITH, LENO WALKER, KEITH BYNUM, BONITA CADE, TONY M LEWIS, GINA NELLYS, MICHAEL MOORE, NICOLE FLANNERY, MELINDA, ALFRED, CHARLENE AMBROSE, AND OUR IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT AND GREATEST CHEERLEADER, BRANDON DENTON . WE'RE ALSO HONORED TO HAVE MS. MARSHA COUNTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL FORUM OF BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS WITH US. SHE AND HER PRESENCE SIGNIFIES THE STRENGTH AND UNITY OF OUR MISSION ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. SHE FLEW IN THIS MORNING FROM DC. THIS OCCASION IS MANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND GUESTS FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND I HOPE IT IS NOT THEIR LAST. THIS MOMENT SYMBOLIZES OUR COMMIT TO BRIDGING GAPS WITHIN PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION ACROSS ALL LEVELS IN SECTORS. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER A NETWORK THAT ENHANCES INTER ORGANI ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONS, EXTENDING BEYOND HOUSTON AND ENCOMPASSING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS IN ACADEMIA, NONPROFIT, AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY. OUR CHAPTER IS A MOSAIC OF TALENTED INDIVIDUALS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN CITIES, INCLUDING PEARLAND, MISSOURI CITY, SUGARLAND, BEAUMONT, BEL AIR, AND PORT AUTHOR. AND I WOULD LIKE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION. AS WE LOOK FORWARD, OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON EXPANDING OUR CHAPTER, ENRICHING OUR PROGRAMMING AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, AND EMPLOYEE. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN N-F-B-P-A AS WE ELEVATE OUR ORGANIZATION TO NEW HEIGHTS. AND EVERYONE IS ALSO WELCOME TO JOIN US AS WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR EMERGE CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR HONORING US AND FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR COLLECTIVE ACHIEVEMENTS. GOOD AFTERNOON. OH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M MARSHA CONNOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. I REPRESENT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS OVER 26 MEMBERS, 22,600 MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'RE IN OVER 350 JURISDICTIONS, AND I HAVE 41 CHAPTERS. AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT WE SUPPORT, WE ARE THE WIN BENEATH YOUR WINGS. MOST OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES. YOU SEE THE ONES WHO DO THE WORK ON A DAILY BASIS THROUGH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE PUBLIC SECTOR AS AN HONORABLE CAREER. SO, ON BEHALF OF MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR PREMIER CHAPTERS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HERE WITH OUR BOARD AND MEMBERS OF N-F-B-P-A IN OCTOBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY. THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS SO CRUCIAL TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER VIN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM CERTAINLY. UH, THIS IS A STELLAR ORGANIZATION AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME MEN INVOLVED IN HERE. HEARD THE NAME KEEP VINU, BUT WHO RUNS THE WORLD . OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S JUST KEEP IT REAL. ALL RIGHT. BUT AT ANY RATE, I JUST WANT TO CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE MY FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, AMMA, AKA, WHO'S IN THE BACK, AND MY DEAR, DEAR FRIEND AND SISTER TONY MIDDLETON. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW YOURE FOR, YOU KNOW, DOING THE STELLAR WORK THAT YOU WERE DOING HERE IN COUNCIL AND DECIDED THAT YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE YOUR SHOW ON THE ROAD. BUT AT ANY RATE, I, I CERTAINLY HEARD THE NAME OF YVETTE JAGUAR, WHO WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL WOMAN AND CERTAINLY MISSED BY SO MANY. AND SO JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE [00:10:01] THE GREAT WORK YOU'RE DOING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO LEAD, LETTING EVERYONE ACHIEVE DREAMS HOUSTON, TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF MAKING AN IMPACT ON COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PRO TAB. IF I COULD HAVE DEJAN HAWTHORNE COME FORWARD. HOW ARE YOU HAVING US? THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE BOARD MEMBERS STEP FORWARD AS WELL. MAYOR, TODAY I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO LEAD, LET EVERYONE ACHIEVE DREAMS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN HELPING HOUSTON'S UNDERSERVED YOUTH FOR 20 YEARS NOW. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEJAN HAWTHORNE. SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE HERE, HERE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON, MAYOR, THIS YEAR LEAD WILL CHANGE THE LIFE TRAJECTORY OF 450 STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN ZIP CODES WITH HIGH CRIME RATES AND LOW GRADUATION RATES. LEAD HOUSTON WILL GO INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND DO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, TALK ABOUT RESPECT, COMMUNICATION, HOW TO DEAL WITH ANGER, TEACH THEM FINANCIAL LITERACY, TAKE THEM TO MUSEUMS, HAVE THEM MEET WITH ENTREPRENEURS, PUT ON COLLEGE AND CAREER FOR FAIRS FOR THEM, AND OFFER THEM SUMMER CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WYOMING FROM ITS BEGINNINGS IN 2004, WHEN TWO ADULTS CHAPERONED 16 MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS TO TODAY WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE, HUNDREDS OF OUR PRECIOUS YOUTH LEAD HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS. MAYOR, PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING LEAD HOUSTON AND THANKING THEM FOR SERVING HOUSTON'S YOUTH FOR 20 YEARS NOW. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, AND I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER ASSOCIATES OF YOURS THAT ARE PROBABLY OUT IN THE FIELD WORKING RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR CHANGING LIVES. AND THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT YOU'VE ACQUIRED AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WENT OVER YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND YOUR PURPOSE, AND THANK YOU. AND I WOULD ADD TO IT. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024 IS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY LETTING EVERYONE ACHIEVE DREAMS TODAY IN HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE, I, I WOULD BE GLAD TO YIELD TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE'RE SO HONORED TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE LEAD, LETTING EVERYONE ACHIEVE DREAMS AND 20 YEARS OF INSPIRING YOUTH. LEAD PREPARES YOUTH FOR SUCCESS BY PROVIDING LIFE SKILLS AND EXPOSURE TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES. WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT A ZIP CODE SHOULD NOT DETERMINE A CHILD'S FUTURE. WE'RE SO HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR STAFF, AND AMAZING VOLUNTEERS WHO ALLOW OUR WORK TO THRIVE. WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT A GOOD MENTOR AND GUIDE HELP CHANGE OUR TRAJECTORY AND CHANGE OUR PATH. AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND EXPAND AND CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. IF WE COULD JUST, AS THE TEAM COMES UP, OUR VOLUNTEERS WILL PLEASE COME. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR BOARD, MILTON MORRIS, STEVEN NORTO, AMAKA, AKA ADAM LYONS, [00:15:01] AND WE ALSO HAVE SARAH CLEAR HERE WITH US. WILL OUR FAITHFUL VOLUNTEERS PLEASE JOIN. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBERS CAME IN AND EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE NAACP HOUSTON, SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW, BUFFALO SOLDIERS MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY, IN HONOR OF THEIR WORK TOWARDS HONORING THE SOLDIERS OF THE 24TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. I'M GONNA TRY TO RECOGNIZE AS MANY AS PE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, BUT THIS IS A VERY, VERY HISTORIC, UM, DAY THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY. UH, FIRST I WANNA RECOGNIZE WE HAVE WITH US NAACP HOUSTON, UH, THE WORK ORCHESTRATED BY NAACP HOUSTON WITH THE HELP OF DR. CLYDE LEMON AND OTHERS. THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS, UH, NAACP HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS CLEMENCY EFFORT FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS, SINCE 1918. UH, IN 2016, UH, HOUSTON NAACP'S, ARMED FORCES AND VETERAN OF AFFAIRS CHAIR, CLYDE LEMON, INITIALLY COLLABORATED WITH HCC PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR ANGELA HOLDER, WHO'S A DESCENDANT OF CORPORAL JESSE MOORE, ONE OF THE 13 SOLDIERS THAT WERE HUNG, UM, TO WORK ON PARDONS FOR THOSE SOLDIERS THAT WERE EXECUTED. UH, WITH ME, I HAVE RICHARD YOUNG CHAIR OF OUR VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF BISHOP DIXON WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT IN YET. I KNOW HE'S ON HIS WAY, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF NAACP MEMBERS BEHIND US AS WELL. AT THE END, WE'LL BRING THEM ALL UP. UH, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW. THIS IS THE LEGAL INSTITUTION HERE IN HOUSTON WHOSE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT DROVE THE FORMAL LEGAL APPLICATION FOR THIS. AND ANTHONY CAVENDER, UH, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE, GREAT TO HAVE YOU. ANTHONY INTRODUCED CLYDE TO PROFESSOR DREW BRENNER BECK AND JEFFREY KORN AT THE LAW SCHOOL TO SUBMIT A CLEMENCY PETITION TO HAVE THE CONVICTIONS OF ALL 110 SOLDIERS OVERTURNED. UM, SO PRESIDENT AND DEAN MICHAEL BERRY, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US. AND I KNOW WE HAVE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, UH, FROM THE LAW SCHOOL THAT HELPED ON THIS EFFORT. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US THE MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY. UH, THEIR STAFF, THEIR BOARD, THEIR MEMBERS CONTINUED TO BE ENGAGED. UH, THE STORY OF OUR SOLDIERS AT CAMP LOGAN TOOK PLACE IN DISTRICT C IN MEMORIAL PARK, AND THEY HOLD EVENTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND CONTINUE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TO MEMORIALIZE THE LEGACY OF OUR BUFFALO SOLDIERS. AND OF COURSE, UM, I WANNA, I'M GONNA DEFER IN A MINUTE AFTER MY REMARKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, BUT IN HER DISTRICT, THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS MUSEUM. AND WE HAVE OUR CEO, UH, DESMOND BERTRAN PITTS HERE. UH, IN THE AUDIENCE WE HAVE FROM THE URBAN LEAGUE, UH, JUDSON ROBINSON AND OTHER MEMBERS, HE'S OH, GREAT, HE'S STANDING WITH US. UM, WE ALSO HAVE MAYOR FROM YOUR OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, DEBO. UM, LASANDRA IS ALSO HERE. I BELIEVE. UH, WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, JUST AVERAGE RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE ON THIS. AND I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE MY REMARKS, MAYOR, IF I MAY, IF ANYBODY IS A PAST OR CURRENT MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? WE HAVE. SO I AM HUMBLED TO BE SURROUNDED BY SO MANY WHO HAVE TIRELESSLY WORKED FOR YEARS TO ADVANCE THIS CRITICAL CAUSE. UH, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE IT'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A TIME WHEN MANY ARE TRYING TO SHIELD OR IGNORE THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. UH, IT IS PAINFUL HISTORY THAT IS [00:20:01] FULL OF TEARS, BUT IT IS OUR AMERICAN HISTORY. IN NINETEEN SEVENTEEN, A HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN SOLDIERS FROM THE ALL BLACK 24TH INFANTRY THIRD BATTALION WERE TRIED BY AN ALL WHITE COURT MARSHAL. BOARD 110 WERE CONVICTED AND NOT GIVEN A RIGHT TO APPEAL. 13 WERE HUNG IN SECRET. THERE WAS ONE SINGLE DEFENSE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING ALL 110 OFFICERS. NONE OF THE WHITE OFFICERS WERE CHARGED AND CONVICTED. NONE OF THE WHITE CITIZENS WERE CHARGED OR CONVICTED OF ANYTHING. THIS WAS NOT ONLY THE LARGEST MURDER TRIAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY, IT WAS THE LARGEST COURT MARTIAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY. IN NO CASE THIS LARGE OR WITH THIS MANY DEATH PENALTIES HAS EVER BEEN COMPLETELY OVERTURNED BY THE ARMY ON REVIEW UNTIL NOW. SO, AS I MENTIONED, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT C, WHICH INCLUDES MEMORIAL PARK AND CAMP LOGAN, I FEEL A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT ARE IMPERATIVE TO PRESERVING THIS HISTORY AND HONOR MORE THAN A CENTURY'S WORTH OF EFFORTS TO RIGHT THIS WRONG, I GREW UP A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD ON MEMORIAL, AND AS A CHILD, I NEVER KNEW WHY IT WAS CALLED MEMORIAL PARK OR THE STORY OF THE 24TH INFANTRY. AND WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS DO KNOW. AND I'M CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE CONSERVANCY IN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT TO FUND A PERMANENT MEMORIAL TO THESE BRAVE MEN. AS I SAID, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIERS OUR LIBRARIES HOLD, THEY ARE NATION'S TIER. AND WE CANNOT MAKE A BETTER FUTURE IF WE CANNOT LEARN FROM OUR PAST AS WE COLLECTIVELY WORK TO RID OUR COUNTRY OF SYSTEMIC EMBEDDED RACISM AND CONTINUE TO HAVE CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M STANDING ALONGSIDE SO MANY PARTNERS IN THIS WORK, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, MY SISTER, CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THANKS TO THEIR WORK ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2023, THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, THE HONORABLE CHRISTINE MOUT, GRANTED CLEMENCY TO THESE MEN, REINFORCING THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND EFFORTS LIKE THIS OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. AND THE HISTORY OF THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, I'M GONNA SAY THIS VERY CLEARLY, CANNOT BE ERASED. AND IT IS DAYS LIKE TODAY THAT WE GET TO AMPLIFY THAT. SO I AM GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO, WHO CONTINUES TO PLAY A PART AS WE HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED. AND BEFORE WE READ THE PROCLAMATION, I'M GOING TO YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS WORK ALONGSIDE SO MANY OTHERS. AND THEN MAYOR, WE WILL ALSO, OF COURSE, YIELD TO YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THIS IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO STAND HERE. I'M ALSO THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BRANCH OF THE NAACP. SO I STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS THAT ARE HERE TO COMMEMORATE THIS OCCASION. AND CERTAINLY I'M BEEN GIVEN THIS CHARGE TO READ THIS INFORMATION SO THAT, YOU KNOW, I TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME WHEN I COME. SO Y'ALL JUST PACK A LUNCH, BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE THIS AS QUICKLY AS I CAN. MAYOR , UH, IN THE SUMMER OF 1918, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS, NAACP AND OTHERS REQUESTED CLEMENCY FOR THE FIVE SOLDIERS THAT WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH DURING THE WASHINGTON TRIAL. IN 1918, THE NAAC PET P MET WITH P PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON. DURING THE SPRING OF 1918 AND SUMMER OF 1918, PRESIDENT WILSON ORDERED A REVIEW OF THE THREE COURT MARSHALS FROM 1919 TO 1924. THE NAACP CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE WORK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE STATUS OF THE MEN, AND TO PRESSURE PRESIDENT WILSON TO PARDON THEM. PRESIDENT WILSON GRANTED CLEMENCY TO 10 SOLDIERS FROM THE TILLMAN TRIAL. IN 1921, THE NAACP RETAINED TWO ATTORNEYS, JAMES H, GUY OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, AND JAMES A. COBB OF WASHINGTON, DC TO WORK ON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE 24TH REGIMEN. ALSO, DURING THE MARCH 14TH, 1921, 19 NAACP BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, THE NAACP PASSED A RESOLUTION TO URGE ALL BRANCHES TO GATHER SIGNATURES ON A PETITION TO REQUEST PRESIDENT WARREN G HARDING TO COMMUTE THE SENTENCE OF THE SOLDIERS. BY 1921, NONE OF THE 23 SENT TO FORT LEAVENWORTH FOR LESS THAN 10 YEARS REMAINED IN PRISON. 15 SOLDIERS WERE RETURNED TO ACTIVE DUTY. OF THE ORIGINAL 68, SENTENCED TO PRISON FROM THE THIRD BATTALION. 63 WERE STILL IN PRISON. THE NAACP PETITION DRIVE RESULTED IN APPROXIMATELY 50,000 SIGNATURES FROM 35 STATES BEING PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT HARDING [00:25:01] ON SEPTEMBER THE 28TH, 1921. PRESIDENT HARDING DID NOT RELEASE ANY OF THE 63 MEN FROM PRISON DURING 1921. BETWEEN 1921 AND 19 23, 5 MEN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS WERE RELEASED FROM PRISON. THE NAACP IN 1921 SOUGHT HELP FROM CONGRESS. REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL R. ANTHONY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION NOVEMBER 16TH, 1921, SEEKING INFORMATION ON THE SOLDIERS, SPECIFICALLY IF THE EVIDENCE FOR THE 19 THAT WERE HANGED AND THE 63 GIVEN LIFE SENTENCES SHOWED DIRECT PARTICIPATION. ON DECEMBER THE FIFTH, 1922, PRESIDENT HARDING REDUCED THE SENTENCES OF SIX SOLDIERS. IN SEPTEMBER, 1923, THE NAACP HELD ITS NATIONAL CONVENTION IN KANSAS CITY. DURING THE CONVENTION OF DELEGATION OF NAACP, MEMBERS MET WITH THE FORT L WHA WARDEN TO DISCUSS CLEMENCY FOR THE SOLDIERS. DURING THE NAACP BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ON OCTOBER 8TH, 1923, IT WAS DECIDED TO INCREASE THE EFFORT, OBTAIN MORE SIGNATURES ON A PETITION TO SEEK CLEMENCY FOR THE SOLDIERS. IN FEBRUARY, 1924, NAACP LEADER JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MET WITH PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE AND PRESENTED 124,000 SIGNATURES ON A PETITION TO SEEK CLEMENCY FOR THE SOLDIERS. THE WAR DEPARTMENT PAROLED 19 SOLDIERS AND REDUCED THE SENTENCE OF EIGHT OTHERS. IN 1924, THE WAR DEPARTMENT PAROLED EIGHT OTHER SOLDIERS. IN 1925, IN 19 27, 19, SOLDIERS WERE PAROLED. THE LAST PRISONER TO BE PAROLED LEFT FORT LEAVENWORTH ON APRIL 5TH, 1938, OTHERS DIED IN PRISON. SO YOU SEE THIS WAS A LONG, LONG JOURNEY. AND SO THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT DAY. AND, UH, I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ, UH, PAINTING A CORRECT PORTRAYAL OF HISTORY. EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED URBAN LEAGUE NAACP, EVERYONE THAT STOOD UP AGAINST, HEY, WHY WE'RE ABOUT TO PASS THIS HISTORICAL PROCLAMATION. I THINK MEMBERS, WE PASS A LOT OF PROCLAMATIONS IN THIS HALL. THERE'LL BE FUTURE PROCLAMATIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A MORE MEANINGFUL ONE FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DARK DAYS OF OUR HISTORY AND TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE HATE. WE'LL CERTAINLY STAND FOR EQUAL JUSTICE. WE'LL TRY TO RIGHT WRONGS, CERTAINLY IN REGARDS TO THIS RECORD. SO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, EVAN SHABAZZ, EVERYONE HERE, ANYONE THAT CAN HEAR OUR VOICE. LET'S SPREAD THE WORD THAT THIS PROCLAMATION IS BEING PASSED. HOPEFULLY IT'LL UNIFY OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'LL BE PROPER RECOGNITION IN THE PARK, AND YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD HEAR THE STORY OF, UH, AMERICA, HOUSTON, TEXAS. BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY CELEBRATE THIS DAY. AND I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING, I HOPE WE HAVE MORE DAYS LIKE THIS. 'CAUSE THERE'S STILL STORIES, OTHER STORIES OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN WALKING DISTANCE UP HERE. SO THANK YOU. AND IT'S MY HONOR, THEREFORE, WE'RE GONNA, YOU WANNA READ THE PROCLAMATION? YEAH, GO FOR IT. FOR IT. OKAY. YOU WANT ME TO READ SOME MORE? OKAY. OKAY. WHERE IS DURING WORLD WAR I, THE THIRD BATTALION, 24TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, ALONGSIDE 350,000 BLACK SOLDIERS, VALIANTLY SERVED IN SEGREGATED UNITS SACRIFICING FOR FREEDOM, AND NOT YET REALIZED BY OUR BLACK AMERICANS. AND WHEREAS STATIONED IN THE HOUSTON REGION TO GUARD CAMP LOGAN, OCCUPYING LAND NOW KNOWN AS MEMORIAL PARK, THESE SOLDIERS ENDURED RELENTLESS, RELENTLESS RACIST HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE FROM WHITE RESIDENTS, HOUSTON POLICE AND FELLOW MILITARY PERSONNEL UNDER THE OPPRESSIVE JIM CROW SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS TENSIONS CULMINATED IN THE CAMP LOGAN RIOT ON AUGUST 23RD, 1917, SPARKED BY THE MISTREATMENT OF A BLACK SOLDIER AND A SUBSEQUENT VIOLENT CONFRONTATION RESULTING IN THE TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE. THE SUBSEQUENT COURT MARTIAL OF 118 SOLDIERS CONDUCTED BY ALL WHITE PANELS WITHOUT ADEQUATE LEGAL REPRESENTATION LED TO CONVICTIONS AND HARSH SENTENCES, INCLUDING DEATH FOR MANY AND A GRAVE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE, RECOGNIZING THE INJUSTICE, THE HOUSTON NAACP, ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS AFFAIR COMMITTEE IN COLLABORATION WITH SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE [00:30:01] OF LAW, HOUSTON, UH, HU PROFESSORS DREW BRENNER BECK, JEFFREY KORN, AND CATHERINE GREEN, BURNETT S UH, SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW STUDENTS AND COUNTLESS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, TIRELESSLY PURSUED CLEMENCY FOR THE WRONGFUL CONVICTED SOLDIERS. ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2023, THE HONORABLE CHRISTINE WORMER, SECRETARY OF THE ARMY GRANTED CLEMENCY TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS, AFFIRMING THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO RECTIFY PAST LONGS. LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SACRIFICES AND INJUSTICES ENDURED BY THE SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD BATTALION, 24TH INFANTRY REGIMEN. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS THEIR MEMORY AND LEGACY AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WE STRIVE FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024. ACTUALLY FEBRUARY 20TH. IT'S THE THIRD BATTALION, 24TH INFANTRY REGIMENT DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. SO, UM, FOR NAACP SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW, DO EACH OF YOU WANNA COME UP AND, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS AND RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT ARE WITH ALSO FOR MEMORIAL PARK AND BUFFALO SOLDIERS, AND THEN WE'LL GET OUR PICTURE. AND BUFFALO SOLDIERS AND THE NAACP ARE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND SO CERTAINLY, I MEAN THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AND, AND CERTAINLY WANNA RECOGNIZE DR. JAMES DIXON, WHO WILL BE HERE. WHO'S THE PRESIDENT? UH, BERTRAND PIT. WHO, WHERE'D HE GO? OH, THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL COME UP AND SEE YOU. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OP OPPORTUNITY TODAY. TO ADDRESS YOU, I AM THE PRESIDENT AND DEAN OF SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HOUSTON. AND I STAND HERE TO HONOR THOSE FACULTY MEMBERS, STAFF MEMBERS, AND STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS EFFORT. IN CONJUNCTION WITH SO MANY, I SPECIFICALLY WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE DEAN KATHY BURNETT AND A GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL WHO WAS A STUDENT WHO HELPED RESEARCH SO MUCH OF THIS ASHLEY MIKA, WHO ARE HERE TODAY. AS WELL AS THIS PROCESS HAS GONE ON, WE'VE BEEN ASKED MANY TIMES, WHY DOES IT MATTER? THIS WAS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. YES, IT WAS A MISCARRIAGE, BUT WHY DO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TODAY? WE ARE A SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, AND WE ARE A SCHOOL OF LAW. AND WHAT WE RECOGNIZE AT SOUTH TEXAS IS WHAT WE TOLERATE. WE TEACH. IF WE ACCEPT THIS AS OKAY, AS A NORMATIVE TRUTH, THEN THAT WILL INFLUENCE WHAT WE DO TOMORROW IN THE LAW. WE LOOK TO THE PAST FOR PRECEDENT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THE NEXT CASE, WITH THE NEXT SITUATION, WITH THIS INJUSTICE STANDING, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO COLOR HOW FUTURE GENERATIONS BOTH LOOK AT OUR PAST AND HOW THEY APPROACH OUR FUTURE. BY RECTIFYING THIS WRONG, WE SAY, NUMBER ONE, THIS CANNOT STAND. AND NUMBER TWO, WE TELL THOSE WHO COME AFTER US THAT WE MUST DO BETTER. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RICH YOUNG. I'M THE, UH, CURRENT CHAIR OF THE ARMED FORCES AND, UH, VETERANS SERVICES OR VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. UM, AND REALLY, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO SAY IS IN HIS ABSENCE, UH, WE ACCEPT THIS OBVIOUSLY IN ON BEHALF OF THE N-A-A-C-P LEADERSHIP, UH, THE EXECUTIVE OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE GENERAL BODY. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE PERSON THAT REALLY SHOULD BE HERE, UH, MR. CLYDE LEMON IS NOT HERE. UH, VERY HUMBLE MAN. DOESN'T, DOESN'T REALLY LIKE ACCOLADES, BUT HE PUT A LOT OF WORK AND TIME INTO THIS EFFORT. AND I, I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN I WORKED WITH HIM ON THE, UH, ON THE COMMITTEE IN 2016, WHICH WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT CAMP LOGAN. AND SO IT WAS AN EDUCATIONAL, UH, ADVENTURE FOR ME AS WELL. AND SO I THINK THAT I WOULD JUST WANNA CELEBRATE THIS MAN FOR THE, FOR THE TIME THAT HE SPENT AND FOR THE TIME HE SPENT EDUCATING ALL OF US AS A COMMUNITY. SO, MY HATS OFF TO THIS MAN, AND, UM, JUST WANT, THAT'S ALL I WANNA SAY, RIGHT? GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM, UH, DESMOND BERTRAND PITTS. I'M THE CEO OF THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS NATIONAL MUSEUM. ALTHOUGH I CANNOT STATE CLAIM TO BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS, OUR FOUNDER, CAPTAIN PAUL MATTHEWS, AND ALSO MENTIONED TODAY, UH, PROFESSOR ANGELA HOLDER, WHO IS A BOARD MEMBER AND HAS HA AND HAS BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME, HAVE PLAYED [00:35:01] A PIVOTAL ROLE IN MAKING NOVEMBER 13TH, UH, HAPPEN. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THAT EVENT OCCURRED AT THE BUFFALO SOLDIER NATIONAL MUSEUM. UM, SO THAT IS A HUGE THING THAT I'M TAKING WITH ME AND MY LEADERSHIP, IS THAT WE WERE A PART OF HISTORY, WE'RE A PART OF THAT MOMENT. UM, I THINK THE CHARGE NOW FOR US IS NOT TO LET THIS BE THE LAST TIME WE TALK ABOUT IT. IT'S HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY AND CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. AND THAT'S WHY PLACES LIKE THE BUFFALO SOLDIER NATIONAL MUSEUM EXISTS TODAY. SO THAT WE CONTINUE, UH, TO SHARE THESE STORIES. UH, AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. AND I'M, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY. GOOD MORNING, CLARK. THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCILMAN BUR CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. UM, I, MY NAME IS KALINDA CAMPBELL. I'M A BOARD MEMBER AND A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY. AND MPC IS HONORED TO HELP TELL THE STORIES OF THE 24TH ENTRY INFANTRY REGIMENT AND CELEBRATE ALONGSIDE ALL OF THESE OTHER PARTNERS THAT YOU SEE HERE WITH US TODAY. UM, UNFORTUNATELY OUR CEO SHELLY ARNOLD WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT. SHE IS SICK TODAY, BUT SHE WILL BE TRAVELING, HOPEFULLY ON THURSDAY TO SAN ANTONIO FOR A CEREMONY WITH THE US ARMY TO CHANGE THE HEADSTONES OF THE SOLDIERS WHO ARE BURIED THERE TO PROPERLY MEMORIALIZE THEM. UM, THIS IS NOT, AS YOU MAY HEAR, THIS IS NOT A MEMORIAL PARK STORY, AS WE ALWAYS SAY OFTEN. UM, AND THIS IS A HOUSTON STORY, AND WE HOPE TO FUTURELY, AS WE'VE SAID, HONOR THE, UM, 24TH REGIMEN IN OUR NEW MEMORIAL GROVES SECTION OF THE PARK. THAT'S A HUNDRED ACRES. THERE'LL BE OPENING SHORTLY, AND WE EXPECT THIS PROJECT TO GARNER POSITIVE NATIONAL ATTENTION AND TOURISM FOR HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, AND TO THE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, UH, THE BARS AS OF COURSE CAYMAN, AND TO ALL OF YOU AND TO ALL OF THESE DISTINGUISHED PERSONS ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON N-A-A-C-P, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO, WHO DIED A SHAMEFUL DEATH. UH, BUT TO DIGNIFY THEM POSTHUMOUSLY, UH, IS AN HONORABLE THING. UH, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE AS IT'S BEEN SAID, THAT WE DO KEEP HISTORY ALIVE. UH, I STAND IN A BIT OF A DIFFERENT PLACE. OUR CHURCH WAS AT 53 0 9 FAGAN STREET OFF OF WASHINGTON AVENUE WHEN I GREW UP AND, UH, ACROSS THE STREET FROM HER GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE. I KNEW ABOUT CAMP LOGAN AS A CHILD, UH, AND I WOULD HEAR THE ELDERS TALK ABOUT CAMP LOGAN. WHEN WE SAID MEMORIAL PARK, THEY SAID, CAMP LOGAN. WE WOULD SAY, WE'RE GOING TO MEMORIAL PARK TO SWIM. THEY SAID, THAT'S CAMP LOGAN. AND THEY HAD A DIFFERENT MEMORY OF IT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE TRAGEDY. AND MAYOR, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S SO MANY OF THESE STORIES THAT WE CAN'T TELL 'EM ALL. BUT IT IS WISE FOR US TO SAY TODAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO REPEAT HISTORY TO, IN TERMS OF HOW WE TEACH IT, TO KEEP SAYING IT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW HISTORY, IT'S AS IF YOU WERE BORN YESTERDAY. IF YOU WERE BORN YESTERDAY, THEN ANY LEADER CAN LEAD YOU TO ANY PLACE. THAT'S A STATEMENT BY HOWARD ZEN. I SAY TO US TODAY, EVEN THIS WEEK OF OUR NACP FREEDOM FUND GALA, OUR THEME IS STILL FIGHTING FOR WHAT WE'VE ALREADY FOUGHT FOR. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO KNOW THAT IT'S UP TO US TO RIGHT THE WRONGS OF THE PAST AND TO GUIDE THIS COMMUNITY FORWARD SO THAT WE DIGNIFY EVERY LIFE AND HUMANIZE EVERY LIFE. BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, IT'S UP TO US TO REWRITE HISTORY SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE CAME LEADERS LIKE US WHO MADE THE DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. ON BEHALF OF THE NACP, WE APPRECIATE THE HONOR THAT THESE MEN HAVE DESERVED FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS. UM, WITH WITH THAT, IF ANYBODY THAT IS HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME FORWARD, WE'RE GONNA DO A LARGE PICTURE OF, IT'S CALLED THE NAME OF NICHOLAS S OUR, OUR PRESENT DEPUTY AFFAIRS CHAIR. MR. PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBER, BEFORE WE DO THE PHOTO, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE. CAN YOU STAND BY? YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? GO AHEAD, MAYOR. COUNCIL, I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UM, WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. UM, I'M YOUNG, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY AM I YOUNG, I'M NOT FROM HOUSTON. I'M FROM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. SO COMING HERE AND LEARNING ABOUT CAMP LOGAN AND LEARNING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE, IT REMIND ME A LOT OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED BACK HOME IN THE CAROLINAS. SO, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO, UH, COMMEMORATE SUCH AN ADV EVENT AS THIS. AND I HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE, THAT WE CAN ALL CONTINUE TO WORK [00:40:01] TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I'M GONNA TAKE A A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO MAKE A SHAMELESS PLUG. THE NAACP FREEDOM FUND GALA IS FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 PM AND THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THAT WITH A TABLE. CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO THE NAACP HOUSTON BRANCH. YOU CAN GO ONLINE. WE CERTAINLY WOULD WELCOME IT. IT'S OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER THAT HELPS TO FUND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BRANCH. SO IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, CERTAINLY, UH, SUPPORT THAT WORTHY, WORTHY ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU. WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO WE'RE GONNA COME IN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN. BEFORE WE DO A PHOTO, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN IN THE QUEUE. HOLD ON A SECOND. SORRY. UM, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THEY HAD THE MOVIE THE 24TH, UM, THEY HELD IN MEMORIAL PARK. THAT WAS REALLY MY INTRODUCTION. I KNEW LOOSELY ABOUT THE STORY, BUT WHEN I WATCHED THAT MOVIE, OH MY GOSH. I MEAN, WHAT AN INJUSTICE IT WAS. I CRIED THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. IT WAS, AND THEN I GOT REALLY INTO IT, AND I STARTED DIGGING INTO THE HISTORY OF IT. THEN, UM, LAST YEAR IN AUGUST, MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY DID THE SIXTH, UH, AUDIO TAPES AROUND THE PARK. AND, YOU KNOW, I RUN THE PARK, YOU KNOW, THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK. SO IT'S IN MY BRAIN NOW ALL THE TIME WHEN I RUN PAST THAT. AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR MEMORIAL GROVES. BUT IN THOSE AUDIOS, AND AT THAT EVENT, I GOT TO MEET DESCENDANTS. SO WHEN YOU SAID SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW, IT MATTERED. IT MATTERED SO MUCH TO THOSE DESCENDANTS THAT THIS CLEMENCY THING HAPPENED. IT MATTERED SO MUCH TALKING TO GREAT UNCLES AND, YOU KNOW, GREAT, GREAT NE NEPHEWS AND NIECES AND PEOPLE RELATED TO THAT, HAD GROWN UP WITH THESE STORIES, GROWN UP SAYING THAT THEIR PARENTS REALLY NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT. IT WAS SO PAINFUL. UM, JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK ON THIS. UM, AND, AND FOR REALLY JUST, UH, KEEPING THIS ON THE FOREFRONT AND NEVER, EVER GIVING UP ON THIS BECAUSE, UH, WHAT A GREAT THING. AND I LOVE THAT THEY'RE GONNA CHANGE THE HEADSTONES AND THE WHOLE THING. WHAT DIGNITY. UM, ANYWAY, THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THIS IS OUR SPELMAN SISTER RIGHT HERE. JUST AN FYI THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE. AND NOW TIME FOR THE PHOTO [00:49:05] PROBLEM, BECAUSE I [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] THOUGHT THEY CHAIR RECOGNIZES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR THE INVOCATION. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME HERE TODAY IN THANKING YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR HERE AT CITY HALL HOUSTON'S FINEST. AND LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU, UM, CONTINUE TO SAY GRACE OVER THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR CITY, AND MOST OF ALL, LORD, THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY AT HOME AND ABROAD, OUR MILITARY, OUR ARMED FORCES. IT'S IN YOUR HOLY SON'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. THANK YOU. IF EVERYONE WILL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, PLEASE. [00:50:03] I AM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SEC HERE. IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MC CAMAN. PRESENT COUNCIL EVAN SHABA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCIL CASTEX WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE RAMIREZ. HERE. CONSTABLE DAVIS WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE CARTER PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 6TH. A RAMIREZ SECOND. MOTION MADE. SECOND. THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] UH, TO OUR FRIENDS THAT ARE APPEARING TODAY, WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS BECAUSE WE HAVE 150 MINUTES WORTH. THE RULE REQUIRES US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE. EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR TWO OR THREE, I'LL DO MY BEST TO LET YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENTS, BUT WE NEED YOU TO WORK WITH US AND TRY TO KEEP YOUR TESTIMONY SHORT. UH, ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD STEPHEN ARONDA TO THE NON AGENDA LIST TO FOLLOW WILLIE LEARY. VERY GOOD. NEXT SECOND. BEG BOARD. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, IS THERE OPPOSITION CHAIR IS NONE. PLUMMER. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE WILLIAM WHITE ON THE TOP OF THE NON AGENDA. ONE MINUTE PREVIOUS LIST. BACK SECONDS. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. EVAN SHABBAS, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD MARIA AGUILAR TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. I KNOW THEY'RE ALL ONE MINUTE. AND ALSO, UH, BRO GRIS, UH, TO THE TOP OF THE NON AGENDA. THREE MINUTE LIST. THANK YOU. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. AND CARTER. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JA JA. JACOB CLEMENTE UP TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE, RIGHT UNDER WILLIAM WHITE. I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. AND IT LOOKS LIKE JACKSON HAS SOMETHING. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JOSEPH BOLLARD TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NONE. AGENDA THIS TWO MINUTES. SECOND. HEAR. MOTION. SECOND. MOTION I SECOND. MOTION. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. ALEX PIKE. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND MR. MAYOR. MY NAME IS ALEX SPIKE AND I'M HERE WITH THE HEALTHY PORT COMMUNITY COALITION. I WANNA COMMENT ON THE OPEN SPOT ON THE PORT OF HOUSTON BOARD. THE HOUSTON PORT BOARD POSITION SHOULD BE FILLED BY A COMMUNITY, BY A COMMUNITY LEADER, A MEMBER OF THE WIDER COMMUNITY WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT PART OF A THRIVING PORT AND INDUSTRY IS COMMUNITY BACKING. IN STAKEHOLDERSHIP, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PORT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD ON AIR QUALITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS. THAT COMMUNITY LEADER CAN SHOW FEDERAL FUNDERS THAT THE PORT IS SERIOUS ABOUT COMMUNITY. STAKEHOLDERSHIP. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO CRUCIAL LOGISTICS. BOTTLENECKS, INCLUDING THE PORTS ENTIRE INDUSTRIES, WILL BE MATERIALIZING OVER THE COURSE OF JUST A FEW YEARS, INCLUDING CARBON CAPTURE AND HYDROGEN FUEL. THESE FUNDS WANT TO BE SPENT IN HOUSTON, BUT THEY HAVE SPECIAL CONDITIONS ON INCLUDING THE PARTICIPATION OF COMMUNITY AND PLANNING AND CO-BENEFITS. A COMMUNITY COMMUNITY LEADER ON THE BOARD SHOWS THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT BUILDING A WHOLE PORT EFFORT TO KEEP OUR INDUSTRY COMPETITIVE POLLUTION, LIGHT, AND NOT LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND. THIS IS A GENUINELY WORLD HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY, AND OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THIS DECISION. THE HOUSTON REGION HAS BEEN IN NON ATTAINMENT FOR DECADES. WE CAN CHANGE THIS. THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THIS, BUT ONE OF THE LARGEST IS THE INDUSTRY ALONG THE PORT OF HOUSTON. THE SUPER HEAVY SHIPS AND FREIGHT TRUCKING ARE JUST SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS DILEMMA. THERE ARE VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR, FOR FAMILIES THAT LIVE ALL ALONG THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL. AGAIN, WE HAVE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO WRITE. HISTORIC, WRONG FORWARD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT DOMINIC MAZO. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. PRESIDENT. UH, JUST A SECOND. NO, NO, HE SAID NO. NEXT. [00:55:02] COME ON, SIR. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN . CAN SOMEBODY HAND THESE OUT FOR ME PLEASE? OKAY. WE'RE ALL, NO, DON'T KNOW. I AM A, I'M FAMILY MAZAK. I I AM ARAN GURU. I DICTATE METRO TO THIS MEETING TODAY ON THE 56TH AND THE BREAD LINE. MY CONCERN IS, YOU MAYOR, YOU GOT FIVE PEOPLE TO PUT ON THE METRO BOARD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE TIMED OUT AND, BUT THE WAY THIS WAS DONE FOR THE CHAIR, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. I'M NOT JUST SOME CLARIFICATION. WHEN THE, WHEN I SAW IT ON THE AGENDA, THE, THE LETTER, IT SAID POSITION TWO, BUT NEVER, YOU NEVER PUT ON THERE. IT WAS POSITION TWO SHARE. AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY. THE MORE CLARITY YOU HAVE, LESS ANGER'S GONNA BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. SECOND OF ALL, THE PERSON, THE WOMAN THAT YOU'RE CHOOSING, IS SHE TRANSIT ORIENTED OR WILL SHE WANT TO LEARN HOW TO USE TRANSIT? YOU HAVE TO, OR A JOB LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE TO BE LIKE, SCULLY, THE PILOT. YOU GOTTA KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING OR LEARN HOW TO DO IT. AND UH, ALSO TOO, ON THE, ON YOUR LETTER, YOU GAVE A BIO TO THE LE TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I THINK A LITTLE BIO ON THE, THE AGENDA WOULD'VE BEEN GOOD FOR US, SO WE WOULD KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, LETICIA GUTIERREZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. MY NAME IS LETICIA GUTIERREZ AND I'M WITH AREA ALLIANCE HOUSTON. I'M THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR THE ORGANIZATION. TOGETHER WE ARE WITH, UH, THE HEALTHY PORTS COMMUNITY COALITION THAT MAKES UP SEVEN OTHER MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATIONS THAT LIVE IN AND AROUND THE PORT. UM, AND I MYSELF ALSO LIVE NEAR THE PORT. UM, I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS WORK MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE, UM, MY CHILDREN AND I LIVE, LIVE NEAR THE PORT. I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN THE EAST END, UM, AND HAVE HAD A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES HAPPENED IN MY COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO HEALTH, NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. AND SO WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS ASKING, UM, WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, IN IN OPPOSITION OF WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THIS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE AT A SEAT AT THE TABLE. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING IN THE PAST IS TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS, UM, THOSE THAT ARE LIVING AND WORKING AROUND THE PORT. AND SO WE AS A COLLECTIVE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MEET WITH NOT JUST YOURSELF, BUT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. I KNOW THAT MY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER, , COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, REPRESENTATIVE KAMAN, UH, LETITIA, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT AIR ALLIANCE DOES. AND IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE MY TIME, I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE QUICK MENTION THAT OUR, UM, OWN COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ HAS GONE ON FIELD TRIPS, UH, TO THE WEST COAST TO SEE HOW OTHER PORTS ARE CONDUCTING. UM, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO MITIGATE A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PORT IS A HUGE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR NOT JUST OUR CITY, BUT THE REGION, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BACKS OF OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH. AND SO WE'RE ASKING THAT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE AT, HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND TRY TO APPOINT A COMMUNITY PERSON. UM, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S UNHEARD OF. IT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST. WE'VE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SIT ON PORT COMMISSIONERS. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAPPEN AND AS IT PERTAINS TO BUSINESS, BUT IT SHOULD ALSO TRANSLATE AS IT PERTAINS TO HEALTH OUTCOMES. I'M NOT A SCIENTIST, BUT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE GONNA COME UP HERE WILL TALK TO THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT IT MEANS, UM, WHAT OUR PORT MEANS TO OUR REGION AND WHAT, IT'S A LOT OF THE SCIENCE THAT'S POINTING TO WHY WE'RE LABELED THE DIRTIEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PROUD OF. AND I KNOW YOU YOURSELF HAVE BEEN OUT THERE PHYSICALLY ALSO CLEANING UP PHYSICALLY WITH SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN WHICH WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE. SO WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THIS AND WE KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO DO, RIGHT. SO WE'RE JUST ASKING TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS. MARTINEZ, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU LETICIA FOR BEING HERE. AND I AGREE, I THINK, UH, THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME VOICE AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY, UH, SPECIFICALLY SOMEBODY THAT LIVES WITHIN THE PORT COMMUNITY. UM, AND I THINK FOR ME AS WELL, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE BOARD, UH, THE COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION STILL ALSO LOOKS, UH, DIVERSE AS WELL. UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT CONTINUALLY LEAN ON ME AND MY OFFICE. UH, WE DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS POSITION IS TAKEN, UH, NOT LIGHTLY, RIGHT? AND THAT WE, UH, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EVERYBODY'S, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, [01:00:01] UH, OF COURSE THE TRANSPORTATION THAT HAPPENS IN AND IN AND OUT OF, UH, THE EAST END AND THE, YOU KNOW, CLINT PARK, FIFTH WARD AREA AS WELL. PLEASANTVILLE. AND SO, UH, KNOW THAT, UH, YOU HAVE MY EAR AND, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU ALL AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST WANTED TO JUST THANK YOU, LETICIA, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE, THE ORGANIZATION, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THANK YOU, UM, ESPECIALLY ON THE HEALTH DISPARITIES PIECE. SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE THIS THING OUT. AND REGARDLESS OF WHO'S IN THAT POSITION, UM, YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ME ON THIS HORSESHOE AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THEY HEAR EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED THEM TO HEAR, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CONSISTENTLY DISENFRANCHISED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT BECKY SMITH TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE VALDEZ. ONE OF THESE SOUNDS PRETTY SCRATCHY BACK THERE. UM, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BECKY SMITH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE, THE PORT HOUSTON, UH, UM, APPOINTMENT. I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT AND ALSO AS THE TEXAS DIRECTOR FOR CLEAN WATER ACTION, WHO'S HAD A PRESENCE IN THE STATE SINCE 1984 AND US WIDE SINCE 1972. UH, I'M HERE AS A FRIEND OF THE COALITION, UH, WHOM YOU'VE HEARD FROM ALREADY THE HEALTHY PORTS COMMUNITY COALITION TO SAY, UM, AT LEAST FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AS A COMMUNITY GROUP, WE'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL TIME GRANTED FOR THE USUAL PROCESS FOR THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT, UM, IN ORDER TO JUST PROTECT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND TO HAVE SOME GREATER COMMUNITY INPUT. AND SPECIFICALLY, WE KNOW THAT HOUSTON HAS LOST OUT ON CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS, UM, AND THAT THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THROUGH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS IS GIVING OUT A LOT OF MONEY. WE'VE MISSED SOME OF THAT MONEY AT PORT HOUSTON BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE IS CRITICAL, AND WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE ANY DOLLARS ON THE TABLE. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS CONSIDERED IN OUR COMMUNITY INPUT AND VOICE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AS WELL. AND THANKS AGAIN. I HA I DO HAVE A LETTER, UM, THAT I CAN LEAVE A COPY OF WITH SOME SPECIFIC PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS. UM, BUT WE ASK THAT THIS JUST BE AN INTRODUCTION, NOT, NOT A STAND IN. EXCUSE ME. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. BECKY. UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE A RESIDENT, DISTRICT C SO I DID WANNA GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS OF MY TIME, BUT JUST SO I'M CLEAR, UM, ONE, WHAT ORGANIZATION ARE YOU WITH? I COULDN'T HEAR YOU AT THE BEGINNING. CLEAN WATER ACTION. CLEAN WATER ACTION. AND YOUR REQUEST IS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, WE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU CAN DO A WEEK DELAY. YOU'RE HOPING FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT. I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL ASK IS. YES. A A DELAY ON THE TIMING. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU. NEXT, STEPHANIE VALDEZ. HE FOLLOWED BY RITA ROBLES. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. MY NAME'S STEPHANIE VALDEZ. I AM THE WATER JUSTICE ORGANIZER WITH SEER, THE COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND RECIPIENT. AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS A CRUCIAL DEC DECISION REGARDING THE PORT OF HOUSTON. UM, THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE COMMISSIONER AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE WELLBEING OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE TO APPROACH THIS DECISION WITH CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, INCLUSIVITY, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AT PLAY. THE ROLE OF COMMISSIONER FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON IS NOT MERELY ADMINISTRATIVE. IT HOLDS SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS DECISION DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RECITING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PORT WHO HAVE LONG BORNE THE BURNS OF THIS INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS. THIS INCLUSIVE APPROACH NOT ONLY FOSTERS TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNT ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT ALSO ENSURES THAT THE SELECTED COMMISSIONER IS EQUIPPED WITH DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIVERSE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF OUR COMMUNITY. BUT MOST IMPORTANT EMPATHY TO CONCLUDE, I URGE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO PRIORITIZE AN INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENCY ELECTION FOR THE PROCESS FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, RITA ROBLES. RITA ROBLES IS NOT PRESENT. IRANI AARON DE TREVINO BE FOLLOWED BY RACHEL JORDAN. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UM, , THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO MY NAME'S ANDINO. I AM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER BASED OUTTA SOUTHEAST HOUSTON. I'M A MEMBER OF THE HEALTHY PORT COMMUNITIES COALITION AS WELL AS PUBLIC CITIZEN. AND TODAY I WANNA TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT, UM, ONE, [01:05:01] THE POSITION OF THE PORT COMMISSIONER, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS THAT COULD COME FROM PROJECT 11, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST PROJECT GO UNDERGOING RIGHT NOW AT THE PORT. UM, ALONG WITH IT INVOLVES EVERYBODY, RIGHT? THE EPA, UH, THE ARMY CORPS. AND SO, SO OUR COALITION HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. UM, UNDER PROJECT 11, THE PORT OF HOUSTON WILL DUMP OVER 20 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF TOXIC DREDGE BOILS INTO PLEASANTVILLE CLINTON AND GALENA PARK NEIGHBORHOODS. BASED ON TESTING DONE BY THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, WE KNOW THAT THE DREDGE BOILS CONTAINED DIOXINS, PCBS AND OTHER TOXINS WITH AN ELEVATED CANCER RISK OF UP TO 285 TIMES THE EPAS ACCEPTABLE CANCER RISK. EPA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, DR. NANCE, HAS HELPED US TO ORGANIZE SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ARMY CORPS AND THE EPA. AND SO WE JUST HAS TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AS, AS A BIG CONCERN OF THE COMMUNITY. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ MAYOR, SHE CAN HAVE MY TIME. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND SO, UH, THE DUMPING OF THESE 28 MILLION CBAN YARDS OF TOXIC, TOXIC DR. SPOILS RIGHT NEXT TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, MEANING SOME OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN, IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. SOME OF THEM RANKING IN THE 99.9 PERCENTILE OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THAT MEANS THEY'RE ONLY BETTER THAN 0.1% OF THE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. AND TO BE HONEST, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO BETTER HERE IN HOUSTON THAN HAVING COMMUNITIES THAT RANK THAT LOW. AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT THIS POSITION ON THE COMMISSIONER'S BOARD ON THE PORT, UM, IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HELP US ACHIEVE THAT GOAL OF MORE BALANCED, UM, EQUITY AND, AND, UH, THRIVING COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, RACHEL JORDAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA CABRERA. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RACHEL JORDAN. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TEXAS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE. OUR ORGANIZATION COMMUNICATES REGULARLY WITH THOUSANDS OF LOCAL CONSTITUENTS, AND WE ARE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE HEALTHY PORT COMMUNITIES COALITION. WITH REGARD TO THE OPEN SEAT ON THE PORT COMMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROCESS. THIS IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING THE PORT IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS. IT IS NO SECRET THAT THE PORT ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY IMPACT THE HEALTH OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, SO IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO ALLOW FOR MORE TIME FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE POTENTIAL NOMINEES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT COME FROM COMMUNITY AND THEIR REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES. THE CANDIDATE THAT FILLS THIS OPEN SEAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT DECISIONS THAT WILL DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY AFFECT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS PROCESS HAS SLOWED DOWN FOR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND TO ALLOW HPCC TO POTENTIALLY PROVIDE NOMINATIONS OR AT LEAST PROVIDE HPCC, THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT AND GET TO KNOW THE PROPOSED CANDIDATES FOR THIS SEAT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? YES. UM, MA'AM, JUST QUICK QUESTION PLEASE. QUICK QUESTION. UM, SO THERE'S A TIMELINE TO THIS, UH, NOMINATION, I BELIEVE. UM, AND IF WE CAN, SOMEONE THAT CAN SPEAK TO IT BRIEFLY AND THEN, UH, UM, BUT FIRST IF YOU CAN FINISH UP. OH, I WAS, SO WHAT, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE TO THIS NOMINATION? MAYOR, I HAVE IT FOR YOU, MAYOR. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. VOTE NEXT. THE, THE ISSUE IS IF WE HAVEN'T DONE IT 45 DAYS AND THE CLOCK STARTED RUNNING, UH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, UH, THE COUNTY, WE'D WAIVE OUR RIGHT TO APPOINTMENT, IT WOULD GO TO THE COUNTY. WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT FOR SURE. UM, THAT'S THE REASON, THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE DELIBERATING AND BEING VERY OPEN TODAY ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION. AND I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL, IT'S ACTUALLY A COUNCIL APPOINTMENT, RIGHT. UM, AND, AND JUST AS A, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AS WELL, UM, USUALLY MAYOR, UH, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO DEFINITELY TAKE COMMUNITY INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE WITHIN THE, THE PORT COMMUNITY. AND SO SURE. UM, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY UNDERSTANDING THE TIMELINE THAT WE'RE ON. JUST WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO HEAR SOME MORE DIALOGUE ABOUT, UH, WHO FOLKS WHO YOU MIGHT THINK MIGHT BE OF INTEREST OR NAMES THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND AS WELL. UM, I KNOW THAT H-H-P-C-C DOES HAVE A FEW NAMES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING. I DON'T HAVE THEM PERSONALLY, UM, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING SINCE THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE OPEN SEAT. UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, ADDRESSING THE QUESTION ABOUT DEADLINE. MY, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM READING THE STATUTE IS THAT [01:10:01] THE CITY HAS 45 DAYS TO APPOINT SOMEONE FROM THE DATE, UH, THE LAST, UM, HOLDER THAT POSITION'S TERM EXPIRED, WHICH WOULD PUT IT AT MARCH 17TH. SO THE CITY HAS UNTIL MARCH 17TH. YEAH. TO APPOINT SOMEONE. IF THE CITY FAILS TO APPOINT SOMEONE BY MARCH 17TH, THEN IT FALLS TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, WHICH HAS ANOTHER 45 DAYS. IF THEY FAIL TO APPOINT SOMEONE AT THE END OF THAT PERIOD, THEN IT FALLS TO THE GOVERNOR. AND WHEN I SAY CITY, MEANING CITY COUNCIL, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE, THE STATUTE SAYS. SOUNDS ACCURATE TO ME. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, PATRICIA RERO. NO, I'LL JUST LET HIM COME. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M PAT GONNA APPROACH, SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M PATRICIA CABRERA, DIRECTOR OF EAST EASTERN COMMUNITIES, AND TODAY I'M JOINING TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MAGNOLIA DIVAS, MS. FRANCISCO NIA, AND MS. CYNTHIA GIRE, WHO HAVE ASKED ME TO ME TO READ A BRIEF STATEMENT FROM THE GROUP FOUNDER GLORIA FUENTES. DEAR MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND ESTEEM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MAGNOLIA DIVAS ARE A GROUP OF RETIRED EDUCATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS OF MAGNOLIA PARK, WHO CURRENTLY INVEST OUR TIME AND RESOURCES TO MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD A PROMISING ONE FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, LOVED ONES. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG DISPLEASURE CONCERNING THE MOVE OF THE GREYHOUND BUS TERMINAL TO MAGNOLIA PARK. WE HAVE BEEN REASSURED BY THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND GREYHOUND REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS A PRIORITY, BUT THIS MOVE CREATES AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN FOR A SO-CALLED BENEFIT THAT WE DID NOT ASK FOR AND FRANKLY, DO NOT NEED. WE'RE DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE LEARNED FROM THE GREYHOUND REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE PREVIOUS MAYOR IN HIS OFFICE KNEW OF THIS MOVE AND DID NOTHING TO INCLUDE US OR COMMUNICATE WITH US. WE ARE PLEADING WITH YOU NOT TO FORGET ABOUT US. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU CAN FINISH, AND THE FAMILIES OF MAGNOLIA PARK, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WILL NOT GET BETTER, IT WILL GET WORSE, AND WE DESERVE MUCH MORE. PLEASE HELP US COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT WILL BOTH IMPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEST SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY RESPECTFULLY. GLORIA FUENTES, FOUNDER OF MAGNOLIA DIVAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, PATRICIA, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. AND TO THE MAGNOLIA DIVAS, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP. I KNOW SOMETIMES THIS ISN'T THE, YOU KNOW, MOST COMFORTABLE, UH, SPACE TO COME AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF FOLKS, BUT, UH, YOU BEING HERE, UH, JUST SHOWS THAT Y'ALL ARE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY MAGNO, MAGNOLIA PARK. UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. UH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR, OUR BEST, PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRST AND FOREMOST. UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE. UH, JUST QUICK UPDATES. UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE HAD, UH, UH, SOME PROGRESS WITH THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE THAT WE WERE SITTING WITH, UH, THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. UH, WE PLAN ON HAVING A MEETING WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, UH, TO FINALIZE WHAT THAT, UH, THOSE BOUNDARIES ARE AND ESSENTIALLY HAVE ANOTHER TOOL, UH, TOOLKIT, YOU KNOW, A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR, FOR, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ADDITION TO WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE, WITH PRECINCT SIX, WITH AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THAT, THAT CITY ORDINANCE AS WELL. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'VE SAT DOWN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ENFORCING WHATEVER ORDINANCES WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS, BUT ALSO HAVING THEM LOOK AT, UH, WHAT OTHER, WHAT OTHER ORDINANCES COULD BE, UH, EITHER UPDATED OR, OR PUT UP, PUT SOMETHING WITH A BIT MORE TEETH TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE ADDRESS THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. THAT, THAT, UH, HAS HAPPENED TO SOME EXTENT. UH, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST KNOW THAT, UH, WE ARE HERE, WE'RE LISTENING. UH, MY OFFICE IS LISTENING, AND THE MAYOR'S BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. HE'S SENT OUT, UH, CHIEF NER, UM, YOU KNOW, AT, AT ONE OF THE LAST, UH, PIT MEETINGS IN THE EAST END. UH, AND OF COURSE, HE'S HAD SEVERAL STAFF THAT HAVE ATTENDED AS WELL OVER THE LAST, UH, FEW, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEETINGS. SO KNOW THAT, UH, WE'RE HERE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THE SAFETY OF YOUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY IS, UH, IS, UH, PRIORITIZED. THANK YOU. NEXT. EDUARDO DURAN. EDUARDO DURAN. IT'S NOT PRESENT. IAN JOHNSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH BALLARD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. I'M REQUESTING SOME OF MY PTO OFF FROM WORK TODAY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE RECENT REVERSAL OF HOUSTON AVENUE, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL TO REVERT OTHER SUCH PROJECTS, SETS A CHILLING PRECEDENT [01:15:01] TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. ANYONE WHO LIVES HERE, ANYONE WHO VISITS POTENTIAL FUTURE WORLD CUP PATRONS, THAT THE CAR IS THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO NAVIGATE OUR STREETS. THE CITY HOPES TO ELIMINATE TRAFFIC FATALITIES BY THE YEAR 2030. AND WITH THESE DECISIONS DECLARES THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS TO STREETS LIKE HOUSTON AVENUE 11TH NORTH MAINE WERE SIMPLY FAILED EXPERIMENTS TO GET US TO THAT GOAL, THAT WE NEED TO JUST GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND WITH A LITTLE MORE TIME AND TAXPAYER MONEY. WE'LL GET THERE SOON. I'D LIKE TO ASK THEN, WHAT IS THE PLAN, IF NOT THIS, IF NOT A MEDIAN, IF NOT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES, IF NOT BETTER FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF A CAR AND IMPROVED CROSSINGS. THEN WHAT? WHEN PEOPLE LIKE MY FAMILY COME TO VISIT AND EXPLORE THE CITY, AND THEY'RE TOLD THAT WE HAD 284 ROADWAY FATALITIES LAST YEAR, HOW WOULD THEY SUGGEST WE FIX THIS? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD AND ARE YOU THROUGH? THAT WAS MY COMMENT. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT, JOSEPH BALLARD. GREGORY EK. MY NAME IS GREG MEEK AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT CAMPUS SAFETY. UM, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE A YOUNG BOY WAS SNATCHED ON HIS WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL IN EAST HU IN, UH, EAST HOUSTON. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EYEWITNESSES, BUT, UM, THERE WERE NO CAMERAS ACQUITTED TO CRIME STOPPERS. SO IMAGINE IF THERE WAS A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT COULD INTERVIEW THE EYEWITNESSES AND CREATED A SKETCH. I OWN THAT PROGRAM. IT'S CALLED FACES AND I SELL IT TO, UM, ALL OVER THE WORLD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SCHOOLS. UH, I'VE OFFERED TO DONATE FACES TO LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, AND I'M, I'M DOING THAT TODAY TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BETTER YET, AND THIS IS MUCH BIGGER DEAL, DEAL, I'VE PARTNERED WITH THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE NFL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TO PUT ON CAMPUS SAFETY EVENTS ALL OVER THE CITY. WE'VE ALREADY DONE IT. AND ALVIN ISD, WE DID MONTGOMERY COUNTY, ISD, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD NOT WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY IN YOUR SCHOOLS. WITH THE FREE SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT ALSO HAS OTHER EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS, IT HAS A GAIN THAT HAS BEEN VALIDATED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AS ENHANCING CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS. IT IS USED IN OUR DEPARTMENTS. YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'M ALMOST DONE. IT IS USED IN OUR DEPARTMENTS AS A FOUNDATION FOR PORTRAIT ART. IT'S USED IN STATEWIDE COMPETITIONS IN MICHIGAN AND GEORGIA AS A SKILLS USA CRIME SOLVING COMPETITION. AS A SIDE NOTE, MY WIFE AND I USE FACES TO SOLVE OUR OWN ROBBERY. TO SKETCH. PUT THE GUY AWAY FOR 15 YEARS. WHO'S WITH ME? OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT, MOHAMED ARI. MY NAME IS MOHAMED SDI, MEMBER OF AFGHAN COMMUNITY, UH, BASED IN HOUSTON. UH, IT'S MY HONOR TO BE, UH, HERE AS A AFGHAN NEWCOMER, UH, AS A NEWCOMER TO HOUSTON. WE ARE EAGER TO INTEGRATE INTO OUR NEW HOME AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO ITS, UH, DIVERSE TAPESTRY. HOWEVER, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE JOURNEY MAY COME, UH, WITH THE CHALLENGE. THEREFORE, WE KINDLY REQUEST YOU, UH, YOUR ATTENTION TO AFGHAN ASAI PENDING, UH, SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN NEWCOMERS BY FOSTERING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT AND POSITIVE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, OUR COMMUNITY. WE WORK, UH, TO TOGETHER TO ENSURE A SMALL TRANSITION AND BUILD A STRONG, A STRONGER, MORE COHESIVE. HOUSTON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OPPORTUNITY TO INCORPORATE WHICH, UH, UH, YOU FOR, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND WELCOME TO HOUSTON. DID YOU WORK WITH AN AGENCY WHEN YOU WERE SEEKING, UM, ASYLUM OR IMMIGRATING HERE? YES. WHICH, WHICH ORGANIZATION WAS THAT? UH, THE ORGANIZATION IS, UH, INTERFAITH MINISTRIES. AND I KNOW THAT INTERFAITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES AS WELL. YEAH. SO I KNOW INTERFAITH, I HAD WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM ON THIS VERY ISSUE. MAYOR, AS MANY, UM, PARTNERS IN AFGHANISTAN WERE SEEKING ASYLUM AND FACED WITH HORRORS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE SAFELY HERE. UM, THE, HAVE THEY BEEN PROVIDING THOSE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OR WHAT OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THAT WE CAN TAKE BACK AS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THEM? YEAH, BUT, [01:20:01] UH, THE MOST OF OUR MEMBER OF COMMUNITY THEY'RE FACING, UH, CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY LIKE, UH, THEIR ASYLUM IS STILL IMPENDING, BECAME LIKE TWO YEARS BEFORE. AND STILL THEY'RE PENDING, RIGHT? THEY'RE OVERLOOKING JUST FOR ATTENTION, BUT, SO IT'S THEIR, THEIR LEGAL STATUS THAT'S PENDING. YES. AND THAT'S MAKING THINGS THAT ARE VERY HARD. MAYOR, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, UM, A SPECIFIC OFFICE THAT ALSO SUPPORTS AND ASSISTS, UM, THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO, UM, IMMIGRATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A SERVICE THAT CAN BE PROVIDED. UM, BUT I, I ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO INTERFAITH MINISTRIES. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM JUST TO SHARE THAT YOU CAME BEFORE US RAISING CONCERNS. UH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT, UH, WHAT SPECIFIC SPECIFICALLY YOU WERE ADVOCATING ON RIGHT NOW FOR THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. TAYLOR HICKS. TAYLOR HICKS. SAMUEL SMITH BE FOLLOWED BY EMMANUEL NUNES AFTERNOON MA'AM. COUNCIL, STEP OVER OF EITHER MIC. HUH? STEP RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MIC. CISCO. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I WANT, I WANT BE, UH, SHORT WITH THIS, UH, A LITTLE HISTORY. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON AND THE POISONS DISCOVERED IN FIFTH WARD TOOK THEIR TOLL ON ME. AS AN EX-OFFENDER, I WOULD LIKE TO STAY THAT WAY. I'M HERE SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT. YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I WOULD BE PLEASED TO BE EMPLOYED WORKING TO MAINTAIN THE FOUNDINGS HERE. THE ONES OUTSIDE. UH, MY, MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER IS ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER. THE INFORMATION IS HERE. GIVE IT THAT GENTLEMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FIRST, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HAS THE MIC. THIS IS SMITH. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. UM, I RUN A PROGRAM. I'M THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT B. UM, WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT YOU TO OUR BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE. IN FACT, WE HAVE A JOB FAIR THAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK, UM, AND WE ARE LIKE REALLY FOCUSED ON SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES. UM, WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME OUT, UM, OR EVEN CONNECT WITH OUR, MY CONSTITUENT SERVICE REPS. SHE CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE, UM, THE PROGRAM. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT EMMANUEL NUNES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADAM RENT. HELLO, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS EMMANUEL NUNEZ AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZERS OF LAST YEAR'S INAUGURAL. I LOVE 11TH NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVAL. WE PARTNERED WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PUT ON A MOVING FESTIVAL THAT STRETCHED 1.3 MILES FROM SHEPHERD DRIVE TO CEDARWOOD STREET, ATTRACTING AN ESTIMATED 2,500 ATTENDEES. PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED 27 MUSICAL ACTS, ARTISAN MARKETS, AND ENJOYED A HISTORIC HOME TOUR BY THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION. BUT PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, FESTIVAL GOERS EXPERIENCED THE MORE THAN 80 LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT STRADDLED 11TH STREET, INCLUDING DINING FROM CASUAL TO FINE BOUTIQUE SHOPS, LOCAL PLANT NURSERIES, ART GALLERIES, AND BEAUTY AND HEALTH SALONS. OUR VISION FOR 11TH STREET AS ANOTHER VIBRANT MAIN STREET IN THE HEIGHTS IS WHAT MOTIVATED US TO FORM OUR GROUP, AIMED AT BRINGING VITALITY, ART, MUSIC, AND MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDRAISING, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILOR KAMAN MANUEL, YOU CAN TAKE SOME OF MY TIME, BUT I, I HAVE WANTED A FEW SECONDS TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS RIGHT AT THE END. SURE. I JUST WANTED TO, UH, BRING UP THAT WE RAISED OVER TWO THOU $28,000 THAT BENEFITED LOCAL MUSICIANS SECURITY COSTS BY THE PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE, UH, PATROL PROGRAM. AND WE INGESTED IT ALL BACK INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, INCLUDING DONATION TO FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE AND MELROY PARKS. I ALSO WANT INVITE THE COUNCIL FOR NEXT YEAR'S EVENT THIS YEAR IN DECEMBER TO [01:25:01] JOIN US TO, UH, CELEBRATE 11TH STREET AND LEARN WHY I LOVE 11TH STREET SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EMMANUEL. UM, REALLY QUICKLY, YOU SAID A FEW NUMBERS, BUT I DIDN'T CATCH THEM. I WENT TO THE FESTIVAL. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE INVITATION. HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED AND JOINED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD? UH, WE HAD 2,500 ATTENDEES COME. COME. SO 2,500 RESIDENTS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ATTENDED THE IHEART 11TH STREET FESTIVAL. HOW MANY BUSINESSES PARTICIPATED? WE HAD SEVERAL DOZEN BUSINESSES AROUND 27 BUS, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES PARTICIPATED. AND, UM, THE PROCEEDS OF THAT, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT AGAIN 'CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT THAT WAS GOING ON THERE, BUT I BELIEVE YOU SAID THEY BENEFITED. AND I'M DOING A SHAMELESS PLUG BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS RAISING MONEY FOR SOME OF OUR PARKS. SO I WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AS WELL. UH, WHAT WERE THE, THE PARKS THAT RESIDENTS WERE RAISING MONEY FOR? LAWRENCE PARK AND MILROY PARK. SO FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE PARK AND MILROY PARK, THESE ARE, UH, RESIDENT DRIVEN EFFORTS THAT, AND THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH, UH, THOSE ALONG THE 11TH STREET CORRIDOR AND OTHERS TO BRING EVEN MORE INVESTMENT, UM, INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO EMMANUEL THA IT WAS A LOT OF WORK FOR A FIRST EVENT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR, UH, BASED ON THE STAGES, THE LIVE MUSIC, ALL THE RESTAURANTS THAT PARTICIPATED, BUT, UH, TO EVERYONE INVOLVED, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE ORGANIZERS, UH, I THOUGHT IT WAS A TERRIFIC EVENT AND HOPE EVEN MORE PEOPLE, INCLUDING COLLEAGUES, WILL JOIN NEXT TIME. YES. I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN US FOR THE SECOND LINE AS WELL. MM-HMM . NEXT. THANK YOU. GOOD. ADAM, RENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH SABER. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MR. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING ME COME. I AM MADAM RENZ. I LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT C, SO LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS, WORK IN MONTROSE. UH, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEEN GOING ON ON AVENUES LIKE 11TH STREET AND WHAT'S PLANTED MONTROSE. IT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S LIVED IN THE HEIGHTS FOR OVER 15 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE PATH DAILY, BOTH FOR GETTING TO WORK. IF I RIDE MY BIKE, WALKING THE DOG, TAKING KIDS OUT IN STROLLERS, IT IS A GAME CHANGER. IT MAKES ME FEEL NOT ONLY SAFE, BUT JUST HAPPY TO SEE THE BOULEVARD GETTING USED A MANUAL AND THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE JUST PLUGGED DO A GREAT JOB ON HELPING TO HIGHLIGHT THESE BUSINESSES. AND IT IS TRULY WONDERFUL ON OUR PRETTY WEATHER NIGHTS AND EVEN OUR NON PRETTY WEATHER NIGHTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW MUCH ACTIVITY IS HAPPENING IN THE HEIGHTS, ESPECIALLY AROUND 11TH. UM, ONE OTHER PIECE IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO GET OUT OF WORK TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT I JUST THINK THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT CITY WORKS IS DOING TO MAKE OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM HAPPENING, IT'S PART OF THE REASON WE ACTUALLY WROTE, UH, WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST. I WORK FOR PATTERN ENERGY, ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, RENEWABLE AND TRANSMISSION DEVELOPERS IN THE COUNTRY. UH, YOU HAD ONE OF OUR COMPETITORS YEAH. HAS EXPIRED COUNCILOR CAMAN. ADAM, YOU MENTIONED IT'S HARD TO GET OFF OF WORK, SO THIS MAY BE YOUR ONE TIME YOU GET TO COME DOWN SO YOU CAN TAKE SOME OF MY TIME. BINGO. AND I THINK ONE OF OUR COMPETITORS GOT TO, UH, COME THE OTHER WEEK, MICHAEL SKELLY AND TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S A HUGE RECRUITMENT TOOL. I HAD BEEN PUSHING FOR US TO EXPAND OUR OFFICES IN HOUSTON. WE DID IN MONTROSE AND THE MONTROSE COLLECTIVE. AND ONE OF THE HUGE DRIVERS OF THAT WAS MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION, BUSES, WALKING BIKES, AND LIKE EVS. SO JUST KNOWING THAT THE DECISIONS THE COUNCIL MAKES AND THE MAYOR MAKES HELP INFORM WHERE WE GO ON THE PRIVATE BUSINESS SIDE. BUT THANK YOU GUYS. ADAM, REALLY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT 11TH STREET, YOU'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT MONTROSE. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE MONTROSE PROPOSAL? SAME THING. THE MONTROSE PROPOSAL, I THINK HELPS TO CRITICALLY SLOW DOWN A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC AROUND WESTHEIMER AND HELPED TO GIVE US SOME THINGS LIKE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE GREAT ON ALL FRONTS AND ALLOW FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE BIKE RIDING OR JUST WANTING TO BE OUT AND LIKE PATIO CAFES TO HAVE A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE. IT TRULY IS ONE OF THE GEMS OF THIS CITY. AND I DO THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE MONTROSE AREA A LITTLE BIT SLOWER AND SAFER IS BETTER FOR ALL. THANK YOU ALL. NEXT SARAH SABER, BE FILED BY MARIA AGUILAR. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, MY NAME IS SARAH SABER AND I AM A CO-OWNER OF THREE DOG BAKERY AT THE CORNER OF 11TH AND STU WOOD. AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ON 11TH WERE GOING IN WHILE WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF OUR BUILD OUT. AND I WILL HONESTLY TELL YOU I WAS TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT IT WAS GOING TO DO TO THE STREET THAT WE HAD NOT YET OPENED ON. HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR A YEAR NOW AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I LOVE IT. I CAN SEE THE AMOUNT OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED. THEY ARE SLOWER. THEY CAN SEE THE STOREFRONTS ON 11TH AND KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE THE DESIGNATED LEFT TURN LANE IS A GAME CHANGER FOR SOMEONE WHO IS CHRONICALLY LATE AND NEEDS TO HAVE [01:30:01] AN ARROW AND NOT BE SCARED TO JUMP OUT IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC ANYMORE. SO I CAME HESITANT AND HAVE TO SAY IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL AS A BUSINESS OWNER. THAT'S IT. UH, COUNCILOR MC CAMAN. UH, THANK YOU. AND MAYOR, THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING QUESTIONS IS SOME OF THESE FOLKS DON'T GET TO COME. SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M GETTING TO REALLY HEAR FROM THEM. UH, SARAH, YOU'RE BAKERY. WE LOVE IT. UH, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU 'CAUSE YOU ALSO HAD DURING THE 11TH STREET FESTIVAL, UM, PUPPIES THAT PEOPLE COULD FOSTER AND ADOPT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, NOT JUST TO HELP THE DOGS THAT WE OWN, BUT DOGS THAT ARE IN NEED OF GOOD HOMES. AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, UH, CHECK OUT THREE DOG BAKERY. SHAMELESS PLUG. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. NEXT MARIA AGUILAR. YES. FROM EARLIER. BE FOLLOWED BY BRO GRIT. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MARIA AGUILAR. I AM A RESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY A AND ALSO IN CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT D AND A HOMEOWNER IN SOUTH MEADOWS PLACE SUBDIVISION. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONTINUED CONCERNS WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING OR LITTER. AS THIS DESCRIBED, OUR DITCHES NOT DRAINING AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS ON MAUA ROAD. IN THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE SUBMITTED NUMEROUS TICKETS. WE'VE TAKEN OFF FROM WORK TO MEET WITH VARIOUS DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND STAFF. WE'VE TAKEN A FEW ON RIDE ALONGS, UH, TO SHOW THEM THE CONDITIONS. WE CONTINUE TO WAIT ON A PERMANENT SOLUTION AND ACTIONED WITH CLEANUP MACAU ROAD FROM AIRPORT TO THE CITY LIMITS. JUST OFF BELTWAY AID IS A TWO LANE UNDIVIDED ROADWAY WITH ROADSIDE DITCHES AND NO SIDEWALK. THE GROWTH IN THIS AREA HAS CAUSED HIGHER TRAFFIC EXCEEDING THE DEMAND OF THE EXISTING ROADWAY. THIS IS AS SUBSCRIBED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE CURRENT ROADWAY LACKS SUFFICIENT AND SAFE TRAVELING FOR MOTORIST. WE HAVE BEEN LEFT TO COMMUTE ON A ROAD THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED AS UNREPAIRABLE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT BRO GRIS MICAH FIN THREE, FOLLOWED BY JEFF . HELLO, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL MAYOR WHITMEYER. I'M MICAH ERON, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C. I'M HERE TOVO VOICE, MY SUPPORT FOR THE 11TH STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO 11TH STREET, INCLUDING THE IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE, HAVE MADE THE STREET SAFER FOR ALL USERS. THIS IS A CRITICAL ACHIEVEMENT. EACH YEAR, HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS, CYCLISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS FALL PREY TO CRASHES RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES. THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE ZERO. A SINGLE AVOIDABLE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY IS A TRAGEDY. HUNDREDS IS UNCONSCIONABLE. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL PREVENT COLLISIONS. THEY DO SO WHILE CREATING A MORE VIBRANT AND LIVABLE STREET THAT MANY HOUSTONIANS, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE ENJOYING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JEFF BOUTTE BE FOLLOWED BY MATT TETLOW. HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS JEFF BOUTTE. I'M RESIDENT OF HOUSTON, AND WE'RE HERE FOR TWO REASONS TODAY. UH, NUMBER ONE, INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR LOCAL CHAPTER OF STRONG TOWNS, UM, AND PREVIEW SOME OF THE WAYS WE HOPE TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY THIS YEAR AND SECOND TO ALSO VOICE, UH, SUPPORT FOR THE 11TH STREET BIKE LANE. SO, UH, AS I SAID, I'M ONE OF THE LOCAL LEADERS FOR OUR HOUSTON STRONG TOWNS CHAPTER. UM, IT'S A NATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT SEEKS TO REPLACE AMERICA'S SPRAWLING SUBURBAN STYLE DEVELOPMENT WITH ONE THAT IS FINANCIALLY STRONG AND RESILIENT. ONE OF OUR CHAPTERS GOALS THIS YEAR IS TO COME BEFORE YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SHARE WHAT WE THINK ARE SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF HOUSTON'S BIGGEST PROBLEMS, SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, DANGEROUSLY DESIGNED STREETS, LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND SO MUCH WASTED PARKING SPACE IN PARKING LOTS. UM, SO IT CAN BE PROVEN THAT URBAN WALKABLE DEVELOPMENTS GENERATE MORE TAX REVENUE PER ACRE THAN SUBURBAN STYLE DEVELOPMENTS. AND WE HOPE TO DO OUR OWN LITTLE STUDY OF THE 11TH STREET CASE TO PROVE HOW THAT, UH, HOW THAT'S HAPPENING ON 11TH STREET AND WHAT THE TAX REVENUE IS NOW AND WHAT IT COULD BE IN THE FUTURE IF THAT DEVELOPMENT TREND KEEPS HAPPENING. UM, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CHECK OUT THE NATIONAL WEBSITE FOR STRONG TOWNS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY STAND FOR. FIRE TIME HAS EXPIRED OUR LOCAL HOUSTON CHAPTER AS WELL. THANKS SO MUCH. [01:35:01] THANK YOU, JEFF. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. MATT TETLOW TO BE FOLLOWED BY OTIS MILES. YEAH, HI, UH, MATT TETLOW. I'M A RESIDENT OF PATTERSON STREET IN WEST END DISTRICT C UM, GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL. AND, UH, MR. NEVERMIND. UM, ANYWAY, I WANT HERE TO TALK ABOUT TWO QUICK POINTS. UM, THE FIRST ONE IS REALLY ABOUT SAFE STREETS AND IN PARTICULAR THE PATTERSON BIKEWAY, WHICH IS AN APPROVED PROJECT. UM, OH, PERFECT. UM, IT'S AN APPROVED PROJECT AND GIVEN THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE BEING REVISITED, I JUST WANTED TO RESTATE FROM OUR RECENT CIVIC CLUB MEETING THAT THERE'S OVERWHELMING SUPPORT WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS GOING FORWARD. UH, MY, UH, YOU KNOW, MY COMMUTE ACROSS PAT WASHINGTON AVENUE PATTERSON IS SOMETHING I DO ON BIKE AND BUS AND WOULD POTENTIALLY SAVE MY LIFE IF THESE IMPROVEMENTS WERE TO GO FORWARD. SO I REALLY SUPPORT THAT. SECOND QUICK POINT AROUND VISION ZERO, JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT A COUNTRY LIKE THE NETHERLANDS, WHICH HAS FOUR TIMES THE POPULATION OF HOUSTON HAS ONE FOURTH, THE NUMBER OF ROADWAY FATALITIES. WE DON'T HAVE TO SECOND GUESS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THERE. THEY'VE ALREADY SHOWN US THE WAY. AND I SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE TRAFFIC ALGORITHM WEIGHS THAT MAPS DATA FROM HUNDREDS OF, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF DRIVERS FOUND THAT THE BEST STREETS FOR DRIVERS YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MATT. IF YOU JUST WANTED TO WRAP UP, UM, THAT ONE SENTENCE, BUT I HAD A QUE I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU REAL QUICK. SURE. I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT MY MOTHER, WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE WITH US, UH, HERE IN HOUSTON AS MY WIFE AND I LOOK TO START A FAMILY, IS TERRIFIED OF MOVING HERE BECAUSE OF HOW FAST AND DANGEROUS OUR STREETS ARE. AND WHEN THE WAYS THE ALGORITHM DID AN ANALYSIS OF 38 COUNTRIES OF WHICH IS THE BEST FOR DRIVERS. THE ANSWER IT SPAT OUT WAS THE NETHERLANDS, THE SAFE, CALM, LOW STRESS STREETS ARE THE ONES THAT MY MOTHER WOULD'VE DRIVE ON. THANK YOU. MATT. I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR'S NOT PRESENT, BUT I KNOW HIS STAFF IS LISTENING. SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, CAPTURE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SAID. YOU ARE ONE OF THE CIVIC LEADERS FOR WHICH CIVIC NEIGHBORHOOD, WEST END CIVIC CLUB. AND REGARDING THE PATTERSON BIKE PATH THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR HOW LONG, OR IT LEAST THREE YEARS, TALKING ABOUT A PRE COVID AND APPROVED FOR I THINK THREE YEARS. AND RE AS IT RELATES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEM SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MODEL, BUT AS IT RELATES TO THE WEST END, BASED ON YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY, YOUR ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE CIVIC CLUB, WHERE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT? AT OUR MOST RECENT CIVIC CLUB MEETING, I THINK ABOUT 15 OR SO PEOPLE PRESENT UNANIMOUS, ALL 15 OUTTA 15. IT'S WANT THIS PROJECT TO GO FORWARD. AND IT'S BEEN ON OUR AGENDA FOR TOPICS FOR THREE PLUS YEARS ASKING WHEN ARE WE FINALLY GONNA GET IT FROM PUBLIC WORKS? AND EVEN FOR THE MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT IN THIS CIVIC CLUB, HAVE YOU ENGAGED WITH THOSE RESIDENTS? FOR EXAMPLE, WE DID THE POPUPS DURING COVID, THINGS LIKE THAT. HOW DID RESIDENTS RECEIVE IT? THEY, I'LL, I'LL JUST GIVE A QUICK ANECDOTE. THEY WERE THRILLED TO SEE WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND HELPED US GET A FOUR-WAY STOP IN HOW MUCH BETTER IT MADE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SAFER FROM THE WEEK AFTER WEEK ACCIDENTS WE EXPERIENCED. AND WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THERE'S ACTUALLY A WHOLE SUITE OF THESE THAT ARE PLANNING TO COME. THIS WAS JUST AN EARLY, YOU KNOW, UH, RENDITION OF THIS. PEOPLE ARE THRILLED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT OTIS MILES. WE FOLLOWED BY DAVID C THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL THE MEMBERS. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF, I BEEN TRYING TO GET A PERMIT, FIND OUT ABOUT A PERMIT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY ARE BUILDING HOUSES WITH WITHOUT PERMITS. THEY WILL NOT LET ME HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT'S A, THAT I COULD NOT GET THE, I I COULDN'T, I, THEY SAID I, I COULD NOT HAVE THE PERMIT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A COPYRIGHTED DEAL. I WANTED TO GET THE, UH, PRINTS BECAUSE THEY DONE BUILD A HOUSE IN MY AREA. IT VIOLATE MY DEED RESTRICTION AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE. THE CITY COMES OUT, I CALLED 3 1 1. THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMIT. I TALKED TO JESSE WHO GOES OUT AND DO PERMITS. THEY SAID THEY HAD, AND THEN SHEILA CALLS ME AFTER I TALKED TO 3 1 1 AND TELL ME THEY DO HAVE A PERMIT. I REQUESTED TO OPEN RECORDS LAW TO GIVE ME THE FIFTH. I DID THAT ON THE 12TH. I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT YET. TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. MILES, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH UP WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY. YEAH. WHAT HAPPENED IS EVERY TIME I CALL SOMEONE ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS I GET THE BLUEPRINT OF IT AND WHERE THE CITY APPROVED IT. SO, SO THEY WILL NOT GIVE IT TO ME OVER PERMIT. SO YOU'RE [01:40:01] TRYING TO GET WHOEVER'S BUILDING THE HOUSE, YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A COPY OF THEIR PERMIT. I'M TRYING TO GET A COPY FROM THE CITY WHERE THEY APPROVED IT. RIGHT. A COPY OF THE BLUEPRINTS THAT THEY COMMIT TO THE CITY. MM-HMM . THEY WON'T GET TELL ABOUT A COPYRIGHT. OKAY. THAT THEY CAN'T GIVE ME, I HAD TO GO TO THE PERSON WHO, WHO DRAW IT UP. I DON'T EVEN, I KNOW WHO DRAW IT UP IF I CAN'T GET THE SO 'CAUSE SOMEONE IS BUILDING HOUSES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT A PERMIT. THEY, THAT I KNOW OF. THAT YOU KNOW OF, BUT IT ING MY DEED RESTRICTION THAT THE ONE THEY DONE TOW DOWN AND BILLED IT VIOLATED MY DEED RESTRICTION. OKAY. THAT'S THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING. OKAY. AND NOW THEY DONE TOW DOWN ANOTHER HOUSE, GOING UP WITH IT AND I CAME OUT, SEE WHAT'S BEEN, GOT A PERMIT TO DO IT BECAUSE THE CITY WOULD NOT GIVE IT TO ME. OKAY. SO FRED IS FROM, MY OFFICE IS OVER THERE, SO GET WITH FRED AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO JUST TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN REGARDS TO SOMEONE BUILDING HOUSES WITHIN, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, UM, WHERE PEOPLE ARE BUILDING HOUSES WITHOUT PERMITS AND THERE'S DE RESTRICTIONS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO GET WITH FRED AND THEN WE'LL FIGURE OUT. BUT I WANTED TO KNOW, DO THE CITY STILL HAVE A DEED? ATTRITION ENFORCEMENT, MR. MILES, DO YOU HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW WITH THE PERMITTING CENTER? I KNOW, NO. I, I, I HAVE A MEETING TO PICK UP THE MATERIAL, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T GIVE ME A COPY OF THE BLUEPRINT BECAUSE OF THE COPYRIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHO DONE IT. AND HE TOLD ME TO GET WITH THE PERSON WHO DID THE BLUEPRINT. WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE PERMITTING CENTER. YEAH. UH, MY NOTES SHOW THAT YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW? I HAVE A MEETING AT 11 O'CLOCK TO PICK 'EM UP. OKAY, WELL LET ME SEE IF THEY'LL SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU TOMORROW AT 11. OKAY. BUT, BUT DO WE, OKAY. AND THEN JUST FOLLOW UP WITH OUR OFFICE. OKAY. OKAY. DO WE STILL HAVE A DE FISHERMAN ENFORCEMENT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WE HAVE A DE RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THEY DON'T ENFORCE 'CAUSE I CALLED THE LINE MS. JACKSON, THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET A LAWYER. YOU HAVE TO GET A LAWYER. 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD DON'T ENFORCED. RIGHT. BECAUSE I HAVE SOME COPIES THAT THE CITY HAD GAVE ME FOR THE DEED RESTRICTION. GO THROUGH ATTORNEY HERE. SO I HAVE A COPY OF IT. SO YOU HAVE RENEE RIGHT THERE AND YOU HAVE FRED. SO I'LL MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AFTER YOUR MEETING TOMORROW, JUST TO MAKE SURE. HUH? MS. JACKSON, I'LL LEAVE YOU A COPY OF WHERE I APPLIED FOR THE, UH, IN, IN THE OPEN RECORDS LAW FOR, TO GET THAT. OKAY. GIVE IT FRED. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MR. UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, SIR. NEXT. DAVID KANIA COLBERT, VICTORIA MALONE, AMA SIMS, MARTY WILLIAMS, SEAN MURPHY. HI MAYOR. UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT ELECTION AND, UH, TO, UH, LETITIA AND, AND ABBY KAMIN. UH, FRIENDS, UH, UH, I I I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SAY I LIVE, WORK AND PLAY DOWNTOWN. I, UH, BIKE ALMOST EVERYWHERE. I WALK ALMOST EVERYWHERE I RIDE THE CAR BIKE. COURSE, YOU KNOW, BY LAST, THAT'S, THAT'S MY LAST OPTION. UM, I LOVE RIDING MY BIKE. IT'S, IT, IT GIVES ME A LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT. UM, AND I WORK FOR A BIG DEVELOPER IN TOWN WHO, UH, PUTS, YOU KNOW, STRATEGICALLY, YOU KNOW, ARE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS ON WIDE SIDEWALKS AND BIKE, UH, PATHS BECAUSE OF THE INTRINSIC VALUE THAT'S THERE. UM, I WAS DISMAYED TO SEE, AND I VOTED FOR YOU, AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU PULLED UP HOUSTON AVENUE LIKE YOU DID WITHOUT, UH, UH, A AN IMPROVEMENT IN MIND. UM, I CHALLENGE YOU TO WALK OR BIKE THAT YOURSELF. I CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU TO, YOU WILL SEE YOU, YOU WILL RISK YOUR LIFE. UM, EVERY TIME I RIDE MY BIKE THERE TO THE GYM EVERY DAY, I, I I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER THAT, UH, AND I HAVE TOLD MY FAMILY, IF I DIE, IT'S GONNA BE ON HOUSTON AVENUE. UM, THIS IS NOT RIGHT. UH, IF YOU DO ANYTHING THERE, PLEASE MAKE IT BETTER. NOT WORSE. LIKE GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, IS MEL BUENO? I COULD DIE THERE. ALRIGHT. UM, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO, WHO, UH, BY HOUSTON, UH, UH, I WENT OUT THERE WITH THEM AND, AND PROTESTED. UH, SO I, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME. YEAH, TOM HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILOR KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR SEAN, I JUST, YOU MENTIONED, UH, THE COMPANY, WORKFORCE SKANSKA, UM, HUGE INVESTMENT THAT SKANSKA AS A BUSINESS IS MAKING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT C. UH, THAT OFFICE IS GOING TO BE [01:45:01] LOCATED IN THE HEART OF MONTROSE, RIGHT ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. UM, I HAD SOME NOTES HERE. I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSTON AVENUE TODAY, UH, NOT IN DISTRICT C I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA STAY AWAY FROM THAT ONE FOR A SECOND. BUT AS IT RELATES TO MONTROSE BOULEVARD FROM SKANSKA'S POSITION, OR YOUR POSITION AT SKANSKA, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS RELATED TO THE MONTROSE CORRIDOR PROJECT AND PROPOSAL? YEAH, I WON'T SPEAK, UH, ON BEHALF OF SKANSKA JUST, JUST RIGHT NOW. UH, BUT EXCEPT TO SAY THAT, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY, UH, REASONS WHY SKANSKA INVESTED THERE. IT IS A DESTINATION ULTIMATELY WHEN WESTHEIMER IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE, AND WHEN MONTROSE ITSELF IS REDONE, UH, THAT'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE THING FOR, UH, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AND, AND, UH, HIGH DENSITY IS THE WAY TO GO. SO, SO THE RE AGAIN, THE RE UH, VISION, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE PROPOSED FOR MONTROSE WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SKANSKA ACTUALLY CONSIDERED. UM, ABSOLUTELY. WHEN YOU WERE LOOKING AT LOCATIONS IN PROPERTY AND MOVING TO HOUSTON, THE WALKABILITY IS, IS KEY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENTS, UH, TO THIS SCALE LIKE THIS. ABSOLUTELY. WE, WE LIKE TO, TO INVEST IN HIGH, UH, DENSE DENSITY AREAS WITH BUILT-IN AMENITY BASES WITH WIDE SIDEWALKS, WITH BIKE LANES, WITH BUS ROUTES, NOT JUST FOR THE CAR. RIGHT. SO, ABSOLUTELY A HUNDRED PERCENT THAT AREA SHOULD BE A WALKABLE DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IVANA MOORE PAL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO SPEAK. UM, I AM, UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CHRIST, THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH ON MAIN STREET ON NORTH MAIN STREET. FATHER JULIAN ASKED ME TO COME AND EXPRESS HIS CONCERN AND THE CONCERN OF ALL OUR PARISHIONERS THAT COME TO THIS CHURCH. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 3000 VEHICLES GOING IN AND OUT OF OUR PARKING LOT ON MAIN STREET. UH, DURING THE WEEKENDS. WE HAVE MORNING MASSES AND AFTERNOON MASSES DURING THE WEEK. AND MANY OF OUR PARISHIONERS ARE NON-SPEAKING, UH, CITIZENS, NON NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING CITIZENS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN AS WELL FOR THE WELLBEING OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR JOBS. THEY HAVE TO GO UP AND DOWN MAIN STREET AND, UM, THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT TAKE THEIR LANDSCAPING MATERIALS. UM, OTHER TYPE OF VEHICLES. A LOT OF OUR, IT'S A WORKING CLASS, PRIMARY, UH, PARISH. YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU CAN FINISH. AND, UM, SO WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE IN THIS AREA. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE HEIGHTS. I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER ON STUDEWOOD STREET. AND, UM, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET IN AND OUT OF MY BUSINESS. SOMETIMES I'VE BEEN UP TO 20 MINUTES WAITING IN MY CAR TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE CASE OF A CHURCH IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY. ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN OR, YOU KNOW, BIG CONCERNS FOR ALL OF US. WE'RE ALSO VERY HUMANIST AND WE ARE ALSO DELIGHTED TO LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN ENJOY THE AMENITIES OF THIS LITTLE TOWN WITHIN A TOWN WHICH IS BIKE RIDING, WHICH IS SAFETY, WHICH IS MOTHERS, UH, WITH THEIR STROLLERS, PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS AND CHILDREN PLAYING. SO IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE, UH, PERHAPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR, YOU KNOW, UH, PROPOSITIONS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PROPOSITIONS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONCILIATE EVERYBODY, BOTH THE YOUNGER CROWD THAT'S COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WISHES TO BIKE RIDE AS WELL AS WORKING CLASS AND AS WELL AS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I COULD SPEAK FOR HOURS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I WAS GONNA MAKE A COMMENT. UH, I'M SORRY, MA'AM. MA'AM, COULD YOU COME BACK? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DO YOU KNOW IF THE CHURCH PARTICIPATED IN ANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL ON, ON NORTH MAINE? WELL, THEY WERE INFORMED OF IT. THEY RECEIVED A LITTLE PAPER THIS BIG, UM, FATHER GAVE IT TO ME. HE ASKED SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH COUNCIL TO PLEASE ATTEND ON HIS BEHALF. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PARISHIONERS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, UH, FUNERALS, ET CETERA. AND SO HE SAID, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU ALL TO GO AND PLEASE INFORM US OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? WELL, WHEN WE ASSISTED THESE MEETINGS, UH, WHERE I WAS HAPPY TO MEET YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN, [01:50:01] UM, WE WERE BEING INFORMED OF WHAT HAD BEEN DECIDED. THEY WERE NOT ASKING US OUR OPINION. THEY WERE NOT ASKING THE OPINION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT SEEMED TO BE A DECISION MADE IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. SO WE ARE CONCERNED NOW OF WHAT'S, THAT'S NOT HOW I REMEMBER THOSE MEETINGS. YOU KNOW, THEY DID ALLOW FEEDBACK TO BE GIVEN ON DESIGN PROPOSALS WITH STICKY NOTES, AND THERE WERE NOTES TAKEN BY THE PLANNING STAFF. BUT WHAT I, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I WILL REACH OUT AND GET A MEETING WITH THE CHURCH TO GO OVER WHAT THOSE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS ARE THAT Y'ALL HAVE. UH, 'CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE IDEAS AND THAT YOU HAVE SOLUTIONS OR PROPOSED SOLUTIONS FOR WHAT YOU THINK COULD WORK AND HOW THAT ALIGNS WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROJECT. SO, UM, WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO GET A MEETING AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE, THERE ARE TWO BIG CHURCHES ON THAT STREET, AND THERE'S SEVERAL BUSINESSES THAT I THINK WOULD APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. OH, AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. UH, FOR THE OTHER, I KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU GET AWAY, LET ME THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BEING SINCERE. AND ALL YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS SOME INPUT. IT'S NOT A LOT FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT TO, TO ALLOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S JUST AMAZING. DO YOU BELONG TO A GROUP? DID YOU GET ANY ENCOURAGEMENT BY A COUNCIL MEMBER TO COME HERE? YOU'RE JUST HERE AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN ASKING FOR INPUT. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. I APPLAUD YOU AND, AND, UH, GO FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PETE RODRIGUEZ, EM, JESSICA CAMPOS. ARTIE MCGREW, STANLEY JONES. JULIE TOBY BE FOLLOWED BY ANN TOBY, TOBY NOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE. UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID ON HOUSTON AVENUE WITH REMOVING THE, WHATEVER YOU CALL THE BARRIERS THAT WERE PUT IN THE STREET. I GO BY THERE EVERY DAY TO GO TO WORK. AND IN ADDITION TO PROBLEMS WITH BUSINESSES ACCESSING THEIR DRIVEWAYS MEMORIAL BACKED UP AS I WAS LEAVING DOWNTOWN, IT CREATED GRIDLOCK ACROSS MEMORIAL. MEMORIAL CROSSES HOUSTON. UM, I ALSO WANNA LAUD YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HOUSTON PARKS, KEEPING THEM FREE AND ACCESSIBLE. UH, I'M AGAINST ALL THIS PRIVATIZATION AND NAMING RIGHTS. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE MONTROSE LIVE OAKS, HOWEVER, AND TO REQUEST THAT YOU INTERVENE TO LEAD TEARS TO REASSESS THE SITUATION BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE TO SAVE THE TREES. WE DON'T OPPOSE A PLAN TO IMPROVE THINGS LIKE THE SIDEWALKS AND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE OR THE DRAINAGE, BUT WE REQUEST THAT IT BE A BETTER PLAN. BE ENGINEERED WITH THE CITY'S GUIDANCE. WE HOPE TO INCORPORATE MOST OF THE ESTABLISHED TREES AND THE BENEFITS THEY PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE WILDLIFE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YOU CAN CONTINUE. THANK YOU. THE SO-CALLED REPLACEMENTS. CYPRUS OAKS TREES ARE SPARSE. THEY DON'T PROVIDE MUCH SHADE. YOUNG OAKS WILL TAKE A GENERATION TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT TREE CANOPY. MONTROSE BOULEVARD IS NOT 11TH STREET. IT'S A THROUGH STREET. A REASONABLE PLAN WOULD BE TO CHANGE THE WIDTH OF THE SIDEWALKS TO SIX FEET AND RESTRICT IT TO PEDESTRIAN AND WHEELCHAIR TRAFFIC. BECAUSE SHARED USE PR ISN'T SAFE FOR CYCLISTS AND SCOOTERS, UH, USING IT WITH PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS OR PEDESTRIANS, UM, STREET LANES WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE NARROWED. THE MEDIAN WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REDUCED BY SEVERAL FEET ON EACH SIDE, AND THE TREES WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ENDANGERED. UM, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A CLEAR RESPONSE FROM THE CHEERS BOARD AS TO WHETHER HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS REVIEWED THE PLANS TO NARROWING THE STREETS AND APPROVED IT, AND WONDER IF THE NEWLY APPOINTED METRO CHAIR WOULD WANT TO REVIEW THE PLAN AS WELL. UM, PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN TO SAVE THE 300 60-YEAR-OLD POST OAKS ON THE WEST SIDE OF MONTROSE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CENTER POINT CAN'T BURY THE LINES AS LONG AS EVERYTHING'S BEING DUG UP FOR DRAINAGE. UM, AND THEN ALSO AS FAR AS THE HAZARDS OF TRAFFIC ON MONTROSE CROSSWALKS WORK IT STRICT, UM, ENFORCEMENT OF SPEED LIMIT WORKS WITH THE MANY MAMMOTH APARTMENTS AND HIGH RISES ALL AROUND THERE. I THINK TRAFFIC DIET IS IMPOSSIBLE [01:55:01] UNLESS YOU MANDATE THE USE OF CARS. AND I THINK CALMING TRAFFIC IS A DREAM. UH, REDUCED LANES FOR VEHICLES ONLY CAUSE FRUSTRATED DRIVERS TO SEE ALTERNATIVE LANES THROUGH SIDE STREETS. WE HAVE PARALLEL STREETS WITH SEPARATE BIKE LANES ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY ON W AND COMMONWEALTH, WHICH ARE RARELY USED. AND I PASS THIS ONCE A DAY ALSO. AND I, I'VE MAYBE SEEN 15 BICYCLISTS IN THE TWO YEARS THEY'VE BEEN UP. AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CHEERS IS SO INTRANSIENT. UM, AFTER SO MANY LEGITIMATE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THIS PLAN, WE'RE NOT AGAINST A PLAN. WE'RE AGAINST A PLAN AS IT IS AND THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REVISED TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU JULIE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE ALL BEEN VERY PATIENT. UM, ONE QUESTION. YOU TALKED ABOUT BEARING THE UTILITY LINES AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF THE TREES, RIGHT, THAT ARE IN THAT V SHAPE BECAUSE OF HOW CENTER POINT HAS EVEN CUT THEM. THAT NOT RAGGING ON CENTER POINT, IT'S JUST THE FACT OF THE MATTER. ARE YOU AWARE THOUGH, THAT EVEN WITH THE BEARING OF THE UTILITY LINES OR WITH THE FLOOD MITIGATION THAT HAS TO GO IN THAT TREE ROOTS CAN BE DAMAGED? YES. THAT'S WHY WE'D LIKE THE LINES TO BE BURIED WHERE THERE ARE NO TREES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STREET. I UNDERSTAND, BUT RE REGARD EVEN REMOVING, EVEN GOING IN WITH THE DRAINAGE. WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER THING. DOING A LOT OF THOSE, DOING A LOT OF THOSE REPAIRS, THAT THERE ARE RISKS IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS TO TREE ROOTS. WE UNDERSTAND IT IS WHAT'S APPROVED NOW. ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WATER CAN GO IN THE FIRST TWO PLANS WHERE THEY WANTED MORE DRAINAGE TO BE, TO GO INTO THE BIO IS NOT ADMI, IS NOT ALLOWABLE BY WHOEVER APPROVES THOSE THINGS. AND THEY HAD TO GO WITH THE THIRD PLAN. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I GET. I UNDERSTAND THERE, THERE'S CODE AND REGULATIONS AND PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH MONTROSE BOULEVARD ITSELF IS A LOT OF THOSE SIDEWALKS THEMSELVES ARE OUT OF CODE. UM, THEY DO NEED TO BE THAT ARE NOT, YOU'RE RIGHT. AADA A ACCESSIBLE, BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE 10 FOOT WIDE. RIGHT. WE HEAR COMPLAINTS AT THE SAME TIME. SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR FEEDBACK. UM, FOR EXAMPLE, ON W UM, OR EVEN 11TH STREET, AND I, I LOVE WHAT'S BEEN DONE TO 11TH STREET, NOT BECAUSE THE BIKE LANES, BUT BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FOR CROSSINGS, FOR PEDESTRIANS, FOR SLOWING TRAFFIC DOWN. UM, THAT THE, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT A BIKE LANE ON A ROAD. CORRECT. I DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU MEAN ONE THAT'S, THAT'S BEING SHARED ON, THAT'S BEING SHARED ON A ROAD VERSUS UP CLOSER TO A SIDEWALK. I FIND THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE PRETTY COGNIZANT OF, YOU KNOW, BEING SURE THAT BICYCLISTS IS SAFE, SAFE. I THINK ALL THESE, A LOT OF THESE DEATHS ARE INVOLVE ALL THE BARS IN THE AREA AND DRUNK DRIVING. I THINK A LOT OF THESE TRAFFIC DEATHS ARE NOT, WELL, A LOT, A LOT OF THE DEATHS OCCUR BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PROTECTED BIKE LANE. RIGHT. AND A DRIVER MAY NOT BE PAYING ATTENTION OR IT'S A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. BUT I'M, I'M JUST ASKING FOR FEEDBACK, NOT A BACK AND FORTH. I'M NOT ARGUING. I REALLY WANT YOUR FEEDBACK BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR IS PEOPLE DON'T WANT A BIKE LANE ON A STREET NECESSARILY. IT'S MUCH MORE SAFER ON A, UH, AGAIN, SHARED USE PATH THAT'S UP, UM, OUT OF THE WAY OF WHERE THE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IS. WELL, IT'S SAFER IN ONE RESPECT, BUT MAY NOT BE SAFER FOR THE PEOPLE TRYING TO WALK BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING UP BEHIND YOU ON A SCOOTER OR BIKE. SOME PEOPLE WEAR HEARING AIDS, CAN'T HEAR SOMEONE DINGING THE LITTLE BELL. UM, IT'S NOT SAFE FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE INPUT. THANK YOU. NEXT. ANN TOBY, BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE MCCANN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S ANN TOBY AND I'M HERE, UH, TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR SAVE THE MONTROSE LIVE OAKS AND THEIR EFFORTS. UH, ALONG WITH, TO ASK FOR A REEVALUATION OF THE, UM, TIERS 27 MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT. UH, YOU'VE HEARD THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, UM, YOU'VE HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN YEARS OF OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR INFORMED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. YOU'VE HEARD THAT MONTROSE HAS A TERRIBLE FLOODING PROBLEM AND DELAYING THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON, UH, DESPERATELY NEEDED DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. AND THAT'S ALSO NOT TRUE. UM, YOU'VE HEARD THAT NONE OF THE TREES THAT ARE COMING DOWN ARE HEALTHY. AGAIN, SIMPLY FALSE. AND YOU'VE HEARD THAT, UM, THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE SAFETY FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OVERALL TRAFFIC ON MONTROSE EVIDENCE SHOWS OTHERWISE. UH, TERRY HERSHEY, UH, IN 1967 WAS A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND WHO BECAME AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, WHO WAS ABLE TO STOP A PROJECT ON BUFFALO BIO THAT, UH, WAS DESTROYING ITS NATURAL BANKS AND VEGETATION. YES. TIME HAD EXPIRED. UH, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WAS DOING TO CA TO CHANNELIZE THE BIO AND CONCRETE [02:00:01] COUNCILMAN YOU SAY COUNCILMAN CAYMAN HAS THE FLOOR. ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE FOR THIS? YOUR LIGHT'S ON? I, I'M SORRY. I I DO. YEAH. I WEAR HEARING AID. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID, WHAT WAS SAID. A LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS GONNA ALLOW THE COUNCIL PERSON TO HAVE THE FLOOR. SO YOU, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE. KEEP GOING. COUPLE OF MINUTES. YES MA'AM. YOU CAN KEEP GOING. UM, SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CHANNELIZATION OF BUFFALO BIO WITH CONCRETE SIDES. AT THE TIME, IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR FLOOD MITIGATION. BUT WHAT IT DID IS IT LED TO THE 1972 PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT, WHICH REQUIRES THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES NOTIFY THE PUBLIC ABOUT PROJECTS WHICH COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MECHANISMS WE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE IN PLACE FOR THIS. WHEN IT COMES TO TIERS GROUP THAT WOULD REQUIRE TRANSPARENTLY TRANSPARENCY AND TIMELY NOTIFICATIONS, UH, THOROUGH AND, AND ACCURATE INFORMATION BEFORE THE PROJECTS ARE APPROVED. UM, IT'S, I I DO KNOW THAT, THAT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED WITH THIS PROJECT. AND THAT HAS LED TO SOME CONFUSION. I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE, UH, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, TIERS GROUPS ARE SEEKING AND ALLOCATING FUNDS. UM, THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS AND DETERMINING, UH, COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE WITH ISSUES ON FLOODING AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND URBAN GREEN SPACE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THEY'RE MAKING A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY MAKE SENSE WITHOUT THOUGHTFUL AND INFORMED CONSIDERATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS. SO YOU ALL WILL GET COPIES OF A REPORT, UH, SAVE, UM, SAVE MONTROSE, LIVE OAKS PUT TOGETHER THAT HAS BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, IT HAS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION THAT WILL KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND WHY WE, WE FEEL LIKE WE WEREN'T GIVEN INFORMATION AS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SERVING ON LAURS? MA'AM, MA'AM? HAS ANYBODY EVER SUGGESTED MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO SERVE ON THE TURS FOR AN OVERVIEW OPPORTUNITY? MAYOR WHITMEYER, I'M HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I HAVE SEVERE HEARING LOSS, SO, UM, NO, I'LL GET WITH YOU LATER. I'LL GET WITH YOU. I'M SORRY, MY STAFF'S GOT YOUR CONTACT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MIKE MCCANN. MY NAME IS MIKE MCCANN. UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US TIME TO SPEAK ON THE MONTROSE PROJECT. UH, THAT REPORT THAT SHE REFERRED TO HAS BEEN PASSED OUT. I NOTICED THERE WERE SOME LEFT OVER DO A LOTTERY ON THAT. AND THEY'RE VERY VALUABLE ACCORDING TO THE PRODUCER OF THOSE. UM, THE SAVE THE MONTROSE LIVE OAKS GROUP HAS PREPARED THIS REPORT, AN EXTENSIVE REPORT IN RESPONSE TO STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE CHALLENGING THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION BEING SHARED BY ITS MEMBERS AT RECENT COUNCIL MEETINGS. UH, I COMMEND THE READING OF IT TO FURTHER EVERYONE'S UNDERSTANDING OF A VERY COMPLEX PROJECT AND IT'S ACCOMPANYING ISSUES. THE REPORT DOCUMENTS THE GROUP'S CON CONCERNS AND RESPONSES TO THE TIER CLAIMS RELATED TO THE MONTROSE PROJECT, AND THEN IS FOLLOWED BY DETAILED BACKUP. GO AHEAD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, BACKUP EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT OUR INFORMATION IS ACCURATE AND OUR POSITIONS OPPOSING THIS PROJECT ARE LOGICAL, UH, REASONABLE AND BASED ON FACTS. UM, MARIJUANA, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING MORE TIME TO HAVE A LOOK AT THIS PROJECT. WE DEPEND HEAVILY ON YOU AND OTHER, THE OTHER ELECTED MEMBERS FOR OVERSIGHT ON THESE TYPES OF THINGS. YES, THE REMOVAL OF THE LIVE OAKS IS AN OBVIOUS ISSUE FOR OUR CONCERN , BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. THIS REPORT WILL TELL YOU WHERE TO LOOK. WE NEED A BETTER PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT, RODNEY UNDERWOOD TO BE FOLLOWED BY FRON AHMED [02:05:08] MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M, UH, HERE TO INTRODUCE UPLIFT DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITIES TO WORK WITH SAFETY AND CLEAN UP SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE GOING KNOW HOW WE CAN CLOSELY WORK WITH YOU AND PROVIDING YOUR SERVICES 'CAUSE I'VE LED A LOT OF ADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE ABOUT HERE AT HOUSTON. WE WANNA BE THERE TO WORK WITH YOU ANY WAY WE CAN. AND WE WANNA BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE LIST OF CONTRACTORS THAT CAN DO ANYTHING FROM, UH, LOT CLEANUP TO, UH, ASSISTED LIVING ASSISTANCE. AND, UH, THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO GET ON THE LIST AND WORK, WHICH CLOSE WITH THIS, UH, ORGANIZATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT PRAN AHMAD. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS IS FARRAN ON JANUARY 26TH OF THIS YEAR, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULE FOR AN IMMEDIATE ACTION TO STOP GENOCIDE IN GAZA, WHICH IS ONE FIFTH OF THE SIDES OF OUR OWN CITY. HOUSTON, WHILE HAVING THE SAME POPULATION AS OUR CITY YET HAS HAD MORE THAN THREE TIMES THAT TONNAGE OF BOMBING THAN WHAT WAS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA IN WORLD WAR II. PALESTINIANS HAVE THE BACKING OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS WE WITNESS A LIVE GENOCIDE. AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR CITY TO CHOOSE THE BRUTALITY IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THE HOLOCAUST AND THE APARTHEID OF SOUTH AFRICA WAS SIMILAR, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE TIDES IN THE PUBLIC OPINION TO TURN THEN HISTORY RECORDED. ITS CHAMPIONS AND CRIMINALS. MAYOR, HOW MANY MORE DEATHS WILL IT TAKE FOR OUR CITY TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY? I'M SURE MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE CHILDREN. WHAT IF BY CHANCE, YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN GREW AS PALESTINIANS? WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT OTHER COUNTRIES AND CITIES TO DO FOR YOU? WOULD YOU EXPECT THEM TO BE ENJOYING SUPER BOWL, FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE YOUR CHILD IS BEING ATTACKED IN A DECLARED SAFE ZONE WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SHELTERED? I URGE THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ADVOCATE FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, AND I APPLAUD THOSE WHO HAVE DONE SO ALREADY TO JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR PEACE. MAY I PLEASE REQUEST THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED. SHABA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU. AT YOUR REQUEST. I'LL GIVE YOU MY ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MERE FEW STATISTICS AND I FRANKLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE WAITING FOR SO LONG IN GAZA. THE HEALTH MINISTRY HAS RECORDED THE DEBT TOLL TO BE 29,000. NOW, SINCE THE START OF WAR, TWO THIRDS OF WHICH ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, MORE THAN 69,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN INJURED, FLOODING THE HOSPITALS, MANY OF WHICH ARE PARTIALLY FUNCTIONING. THESE ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS. THESE ARE HUMAN LIVES. THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. ED USE OF PARAMEDICS BEING ATTACKED, CHILDREN HAVING SNIPER BULLETS IN THEIR HEADS. THIS IS NOT SELF-DEFENSE. THINK OF YOUR OWN PARENTS, SIBLINGS, CHILDREN IN AN ATTEMPT TO HUMANIZE THEM ALL. COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR PEACE AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR FUTURE WHERE JUSTICE AND HUMAN DIGNITY ARE UPHELD FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT, RABBI SCOTT HAUSMAN WISE ERICA, WINTER NORI LEADER, TARAN BARANOWSKI, NICOLE GIBSON. GAIL JOHNSON. REBECCA CAMERON, WILLIE LARRY, STEVE ARONDA. AUSTIN POOLEY. WE FILED A BY FAHA SADIK. THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAYOR WHITMAR HAD SAID SOMETHING IN LAST WEEK'S SESSION THAT I THOUGHT WAS, UH, TIMELY ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. SO AT A TIME WHEN INFLATION IS PUTTING A HIGH BURDEN ON HOUSTON'S WALLETS, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR EVERY WHICH WAY TO REDUCE COSTS. ONE OF THOSE IS BY ADOPTING MARKET-BASED PARKING. SO WE WENT THROUGH THE CHAPTER 42 AMENDMENT PROCESS LAST YEAR. MARKET-BASED PARKING [02:10:01] WAS PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. IT WAS PUNTED OFF TO THE NEXT COUNCIL. THIS IS THE NEXT COUNCIL. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE SOME OF THESE PARKING MINIMUMS. SOME OF THE GOVERNMENT MANDATED MINIMUMS ON LAND USE HERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA. WE'RE SUBSIDIZING PARKING. WE'RE REQUIRING MORE PARKING. THAT IS, THAT IS NECESSARY FOR BUSINESSES AND HOMES. SO I'D LIKE THE COUNCIL TO, UH, TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. WE'VE SEEN OTHER CITY COUNCILS, MINNEAPOLIS CITY OF AUSTIN, JUST RECENTLY ADOPT SOME REFORMS TO THESE TOWN HAS EXPIRED. IT'S OUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT BAHAR SADIQUE LU. LUCIA MURANO. MORENO MORENO. MORENO MORENO. THAT'S RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. . THE WORLD IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO LIVE, NOT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EVIL, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT GREYHOUND. I LIVE BETWEEN 71ST AND 72ND ON SHERMAN, ABOUT THREE BLOCKS FROM THE GREYHOUND. THERE ARE THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CLOSE BY THE GREYHOUND STATION. ISN'T THAT A GREAT WAY TO WELCOME A SEX OFFENDER? TO FREEDOM IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE ACCESS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS? THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES, BUT AS A RETIRED TEACHER, MY CONCERN ARE THE CHILDREN AND OF COURSE, MY GANG. THE SENIORS WHO ARE EASY PREY. I NO LONGER COME OUT ONCE IT'S DARK BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN. EAST END IS A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH SO MUCH BEAUTY, CULTURE, AND HISTORY. PLEASE HELP US KEEP THE ABILITY TO ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S, UH, LAST WEEK I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE A LADY DEFECATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE I'M TRYING TO GO DOWN THE STREET TO MY HOUSE. OKAY, TWO 30 WHEN STUDENTS ARE COMING OUT. COUNCIL MARTINEZ, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE MY TIME. TWO 30 WHEN MY STU THE STUDENTS ARE COMING OUTTA SCHOOL. LIKE I SAID, THERE'S THREE ELEMENTARIES THAT'S NOT RIGHT ON MANY LEVELS, JUST LIKE WESTVIEW OR ANYBODY ELSE IN RIVER OAKS. I THINK THAT OUR PEOPLE DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS TO BE SAFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. AND I'LL JUST FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. FIRST, THANK YOU FOR COMING AGAIN, UH, TO SPEAK OF ON GREYHOUND. UH, BUT MAYOR, I REALLY WOULD, UM, LOVE TO START HAVING CONVERSATIONS AT A STATE LEVEL AS WELL. UH, SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT REENTRY. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, WE HAD A, A MEETING WHERE TDCJ WAS AT, AT THE, AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY DON'T RELEASE FOLKS TO HOMELESSNESS. I WANNA BELIEVE THAT. UH, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO A, YOU KNOW, NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, START HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STATE REPS, STATE SENATORS. UM, BUT THEN TO THAT POINT AS WELL IS, UM, BECAUSE, UH, OF THE, THE CHALLENGES THAT SOME OF THE SENIORS ARE SPEAKING TO, UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED THOSE SCHOOLS IN THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AS WELL. SO I REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP, UH, HELP US GET, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME SENSE OF COMFORT, RIGHT, FOR THE RESIDENTS. UH, BUT BACK TO TDCJ, YOUR SUPPORT WITH STATE HOUSE. UH, STATE STATE, UH, YOU KNOW, STATE CENTERED AS WELL, UH, TO REALLY FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE BE COMPASSIONATE ABOUT REENTRY? UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN ENSURE SAFETY IS, IS UTMOST UH, IMPORTANCE AS WELL. SOMEONE GAVE US SOME DATA ON THE RELEASE AND ON UH, THE ONES GETTING ON OFF AND WHATEVER. SO I CAN SEND THAT TO YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SURE. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALREADY REQUIRED TO BE PAROLED BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY WERE SENTENCED. IF THEY'RE ON ROUTE TO THEIR HOMETOWN OR WHERE THEY WERE SENTENCED, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GET OFF THE BUS. THERE'S PAROLE OFFICERS THERE TO ENFORCE THAT RULE. UH, I KNOW THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ANXIETY OF THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE BEFORE SOME OF US GOT HERE THAT THERE WERE PERMITS AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS GIVEN TO RELOCATE IT ESSENTIALLY IN A RESIDENTIAL [02:15:01] COMMUNITY. SO IT WAS A MISTAKE. I'M SORRY. WHAT WE CAN DO NOW IS TO ENFORCE THE RULES. I'LL WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE ENTIRE GROUP OF US TO MONITOR IT. IF YOU SEE ANY INCREASE AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A GREAT CONSTABLE AND CONSTABLE TINO, HPD WILL PLAY A ROLE. THE PAROLE BOARD WILL PLAY A ROLE. WE WILL FOCUS ON YOUR CORRECT CONCERNS. I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, WE JUST HEARD THAT NIGHT AT. YOU WANNA COME DOWN FRONT. YES. IT IS A SHAME SOMEBODY WASN'T TALKING TO YOU BEFORE IT WAS RELOCATED, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE ANSWER FOR THE SINS OF OTHERS. TRUE. UH, THERE IS ANOTHER, I HEARD YESTERDAY AT THE HPD MEETING IN MAGNOLIA EASTON THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING OPENING ANOTHER BUS STATION. I HAVE NO PROBLEM. I'M NOT FIGHTING IMMIGRATION. THAT'S NOT MY JOB. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S WELCOME, BUT THEY'RE OPENING ANOTHER ONE. SO THAT MEANS MORE TRAFFIC INTO THE EAST END. AND AS IT IS, THEY HAVE, UH, WHAT DO YOU CALL 'EM, TENTS AND STUFF. ON ONE SIDE, THERE'S PEOPLE ALL OVER WITH, UH, THEIR BAGGAGE. THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THEFTS FROM PEOPLE GETTING OFF AND ON FROM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I, I DON'T EXPECT TWO SECURITY GUARDS TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM, UH, GREYHOUND, THAT THEY'RE, THAT'S HAPPENING. UH, THERE'S BEEN WINDOWS BROKEN. MY NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE SENIORS, SHE'S LIVED THERE 20 YEARS ON MY STREET. THEY BROKE THEIR CAR, CAR WINDOW. HER CAR'S OLDER THAN MINE, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD NOTHING IN IT. THEY JUST BROKE IT. MY OTHER NEIGHBOR CROSSED THE STREET, THE SAME THING. ANOTHER NEIGHBOR. THEY STOLE ALL HIS TOOLS FROM HIS, AND THAT'S HOW HE, THEY MAKE A LIVING. SO, OKAY. WE APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE US. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT COUNCIL EVER. COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND IN, UH, ALL HONESTY, THERE WERE NO TEARS SHED WHEN THEY LEFT MIDTOWN. UM, CERTAINLY THERE NEEDS TO BE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION WITH GREYHOUND, UH, BECAUSE IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO HAVE ADEQUATE POLICE PRESENCE, UH, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SAFELY MOVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT CERTAINLY THERE WERE NO TEAR SHED. BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, BUS SERVICE IN AN AREA. AND SO, UH, CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RESOLUTION, BUT IT'S, IT'S A MORE OF A SOCIOLOGICAL ONE, I BELIEVE, UH, THAN ONE THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED, UH, FULLY. BUT CERTAINLY POLICE ENGAGEMENT COULD PROBABLY MORE POLICE ENGAGEMENT COULD PROBABLY HELP, UH, MS. MORENO AND HER FAMILY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT, LEE MATTHEWS. I'M LEE MATTHEWS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE WHO PASSED AWAY MARCH THE 24TH OF 22. IN 2001, SHE WAS CRIPPLED BY A DOCTOR AT HERMAN HOSPITAL WHEN HE BOXED A 30 MINUTE OPERATION, WHICH ENDED HER 25 YEAR WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. SHE HAD THE HIGHEST DECLARATIONS OF ANY CITY EMPLOYEE. SHE HAD THE CHIEF'S AWARD, THE MAYOR'S AWARD, AND THE CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD ALSO HAD 15 ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SAVING OFFICER'S LIVES. WHEN THEY CRIPPLED HER, THEY HAD TO TAKE THE MUSCLE OUT OF HER THIGH TO HELP BUILD HER A NEW ANKLE. THE, HE DISINTEGRATED THE FOURTH SURGERY BEFORE OF THE 700 HE DID ON HER, GOT A BLOOD CLOT. THEY HAD TO RUSH HER INTO THE, OR THE DGU ANESTHESIOLOGISTS THOUGHT HE HAD TIME TO GO TO LUNCH. HE DIDN'T SHOW UP. THEY TIED MY WIFE DOWN TO AN OPERATING TABLE AND CUT HER OPEN FOR FIVE HOURS WHILE SHE WAS WIDE AWAKE. AT THE END OF THE SURGERY, THEY GAVE HER MEDICINE TO CAUSE AMNESIA SO SHE WOULDN'T REMEMBER SCREAMING BUDDY BIRD WHILE IT CARVED ON HER. SHE NEVER RECOVERED. SHE OD'ED THREE TIMES ON HER MEDICATION. LUCKILY I WAS WITH THE CITY AT THE TIME. I GOT INJURED ON A JOB AND HAD TO RETIRE IN 2004. I STAYED HOME AND TOOK CARE OF HER EVERY DAY. I BOUGHT HER MEDICINE, MADE, COOKED ALL THE MEALS, TOOK HER [02:20:01] HER FOOD IN HER BED, CARRIED HER FROM BED TO THE BATHROOM, BACK AND FORTH TO THE WALK-IN BATHTUB AND WHATEVER I HAD TO DO FOR YEARS, SHE GOT TO WHERE SHE WAS SO PARANOID. HER BRAIN WAS SO BAD OFF THAT SHE STARTED SEEING PEOPLE. IT WASN'T THERE HEARING PEOPLE. IT WASN'T THERE. I FINALLY PUT CAMERAS AROUND THE OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. THEY MADE IT WORSE 'CAUSE THEN SHE COULD SEE IT. SHE SEE PEOPLE ON THE CAMERAS. IT WASN'T THERE. FINALLY, ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, SHE COME TO ME AND SAYS, I WANT A DIVORCE. AND I SAID, WHY? SHE SAID, YOU'RE CHEATING ON ME. I SAID, BABE, I'VE BEEN WITH YOU FOR OVER 20 YEARS. WHY WOULD I CHEAT ON YOU? I'M RIGHT HERE WITH YOU EVERY DAY. ALL I DO IS GO TAKE AND GET YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS. GO BUY GROCERIES, COOK MEALS. OKAY? WE GET THE PICTURE. OKAY. WHAT I'M SAYING IS I LET HER HAVE THE DIVORCE TO KEEP HER FROM MENTALLY HAVING THE PROBLEMS. WE REMARRIED LATER. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. YEARS LATER, AND I TRIED TO FILE FOR HER, FOR HER PENSION. THEY DECLINED ME. 'CAUSE THEY SAID, YOU GOTTA BE MARRIED FROM THE TIME YOU RETIRE. THE TIME YOU DIE. THEY'RE NOT GIVEN INTO FACT. MY WIFE'S MENTAL CONDITION WAS HORRIBLE. SHE COULD NOT HELP. WHAT SHE DID, CANNOT HOLD HER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WAY SHE WAS. SHE DIDN'T DO IT. AND I JUST THINK I OWE HER $120,000 IN DOCTOR BILLS AND OTHER BILLS THAT WAS BUILT UP WHILE SHE WAS ALIVE THAT I CAN'T PAY FOR HER. OKAY. WELL, THE HOUSTON POLICE RETIREMENT BOARD WOULD BE THE, THE FOLKS THAT CAN HELP YOU WORK THROUGH THAT RED TAPE AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YES, SIR. UH, OFFICE WAS IN, UH, COMMUNICATION WITH MR. RUIZ. I BELIEVE YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH HIM. HE WAS ASKING YOU TO SEND HIM A COPY OF THE DENIAL LETTER SO THEY CAN TRY AND FIGURE OUT I GOT THE PAPERWORK HERE. OKAY. IF YOU KNOW WHAT AND, UH, I'LL PICK IT UP FROM YOU AND WE'LL GET IT OVER TO HIM. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE MAYOR. Y'ALL LISTENING TO ME. MY WIFE WAS MY HERO. WELL, THANK YOU. AND, UH, WHAT CAN I SAY? YOU'RE SERVING OR WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HEARING NEXT. LAURA STEEL. LAURA STEEL. WILLIAM WHITE. GOOD AFTERNOON. WILLIAM WHITE, DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS HOUSTON CHAPTER. LAST WEEK I CAME AND TOLD Y'ALL THAT 28,000 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN GAZA. THIS WEEK I'M HERE TO REPORT THAT AN ADDITIONAL 29,000 OR UP TO 29,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, INCLUDING 12,000 CHILDREN. MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU ARE OUR CITY'S LEADER. YOU HAVE THE MORAL IMPERATIVE TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. NONE OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE AUDIENCE WITH HIGH UP ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE YOU DO. NONE OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE AUDIENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES LIKE YOU DO. MAYOR, I'D LOVE TO COME UP HERE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE TEARS AND MONTROSE. I'D LOVE TO COME UP HERE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE POTHOLES I GREW UP WITH ON KIRKWOOD. I'D LOVE TO COME UP TO HERE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY DAY IN AND DAY OUT, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER HOUSTONIAN AS SEAS FIRING GAZA IS BAR ZERO FOR OUR PARTICIPATION POLITICALLY. WE NEED YOU ALL CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR THE OVER QUARTER OF A MILLION MUSLIMS IN THIS CITY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAYOR, WILL YOU TODAY CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. TAKE A CLEMENT NEXT YEAR, ALL THE WAY NEXT YEAR. ALL THE WAY NEXT YEAR. ALL THE WAY. AND SEE TEXANS, TEXANS ALL THE WAY. WHERE, WHERE WE'RE TEXANS AND WHERE WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT. WE'RE HOUSTON TEXANS. AND SO I'M PLAYING THIS BECAUSE I WAS, YOU KNOW WHAT, UH, COMING ON BOOGIE. OH, OH, WHEN YOU WENT TO COLLEGE IN THE SEVENTIES, YOUR, YOUR TIME'S RUNNING. YOU KNOW IT. UH OH. OKAY. UM, WELL, UM, OKAY. UM, WHY IS HE HERE? DR. SHABA LEFT, BUT I'M GONNA SAY, I'M TRYING TO FIND A JOB. IT'S GETTING TROUBLE HER EVERY DAY. BUT, HEY, I GOT A JOB. YOU KNOW WHERE I GOT A JOB? I'M GONNA HAVE TO BEHAVE MYSELF, BUT I HAVE A JOB AT NRG PARK. A SM GLOBAL. YEAH. AND, AND ANYWAY, BISHOP [02:25:01] DIXON ASKED ME TO SAY THIS ABOUT THE, UM, AND CAN I CONTINUE ABOUT THAT? ABOUT CAMP PLUGIN? YOU GET 30 SECONDS. OKAY. CAMP PLUGIN. UM, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT, UM, PREVIOUSLY, BUT NOW I KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. I DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT PREVIOUSLY. I KNEW A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOW A LOT NOW I KNOW, KNOW A LOT MORE. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT. MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SAME THING. FIRST RESPONDERS AND METRO ARE NOT SIGNING OFF OR HAVEN'T SIGNED OFF ON PROJECTS IN THE PAST. WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW AND THANK GOODNESS THAT WE HAVE THAI HELP. AND IS, UM, TWICE SINCE THEY'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, THEY'VE HAD TO COME AND REPLACE A SIGN FOR, UM, ME SHOW AND WHITE OAK. ONE OF THE SIGNS THAT'S GOTTEN KNOCKED DOWN. I BELIEVE THAT I'VE SHARED PICTURES WITH Y'ALL. UM, ON 11TH STREET, THERE ARE 36 OF THE LOLLIPOPS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE MISSING AND TWO OF THE BIG TALL SIGNS ON THE PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS ON STUY WOOD. THERE ARE MULTIPLE TALL SIGNS MISSING, BUT WHAT'S REALLY CONCERNING ME IS THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN FIX. WHAT'S CONCERNING ME IS WHAT'S GOING TO GET READY TO HAPPEN ON MONTROSE RIGHT NOW. I WENT TO THE TEARS MEETING LAST NIGHT. JOE WEBB, WHO IS THE HEAD CHAIR OF, I ASKED HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS SIGNED OFF ON THIS PROJECT. HE TURNED IT OVER TO GAGE ENGINEERING, WHO WAS SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, REFUSED TO ANSWER AND SAID, I DON'T KNOW, GAGE. I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN AT GAGE, I WAS SITTING BEHIND THE COUNTER WITH, AND HE CANNOT, I PLEASE. YEAH, TIME HAS EXPERIENCE. SURE, THANK YOU. HE PASSED IT ON TO SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WAS ONE OF THE OTHER ENGINEERS THAT WORKED WITH GAGE. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T GIVE HIS NAME, BUT HE HAS A RED BEARD. TURNED IT OVER TO HIM. IT SAID, HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS SIGNED OFF ON IT. HE SAID HPD SIGNED OFF AND METRO SIGNED OFF. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SIGN OFF YET. AT THE END OF THE MEETING, I WENT BACK, MET WITH LISA HUNT, ASKED LISA HUNT, WHO'S ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, ARE Y'ALL GONNA MAKE SURE THAT FIRST RESPONDERS ALL SIGN OFF? THE HP SIGNS OFF ON THIS? SHE SAYS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I SAID, WELL, WHO WOULD HAVE AN IDEA? SHE DIRECTS ME TO JOE WEBB. I GO TO JOE WEBB AND HE'S TALKING TO ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER NAMED ALLISON. ALLISON AND JOE WEBB WERE THERE AT THE TIME. I ASKED JOE WEBB HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS SIGNED OFF ON THIS, AND HE SAYS, I HAVE IT THAT FROM THE HIGH UPS THAT IT WILL BE DONE. I SAID, WELL, HAS IT BEEN DONE YET? HE SAYS, ON THE 60%, NOW THEY, THEY'RE AT A HUNDRED PERCENT ON THE 60% HPD AND METRO HAVE SIGNED OFF. AND I SAID, WELL, I SPOKE TO THE HEAD OF SECUR OF, UM, SECURITY FOR METRO SANTIAGO, AND HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T SIGN OFF. AND HE SAYS, WELL, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH UPS, WHO'S HIGHER UP. I ASKED HIM, WHO'S HIGHER UP THEN THE HEAD OF, AND HE SAID, METRO IS OUR PARTNER. WE WILL GET THE SIGNATURES. I LOOKED AT ALLISON AND SAID, ALLISON, ARE YOU GONNA GUARANTEE ME THAT FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GONNA SIGN OFF ON THIS PROJECT BEFORE WE END UP WITH A BIG PROBLEM? AGAIN, SHE SHOOK HER HEAD, SHE LOOKED MORTIFIED BY THE WAY THAT IT WAS AT THE 60% RATE. JOE WEBB KNEW THAT IT WAS AT THE 60% RATE. WHEN I ASKED HIM WERE THINGS SIGNED OFF? AND HE SAYS, I DON'T KNOW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK GAGE. GAGE AT FIRST TRIED TO BYPASS IT BY SAYING, I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S PASSED OFF TO THE CITY. AND SO THEY KEPT PUSHING. OKAY. IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. THANK ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD JOB. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT AND BERRY, I'M SORRY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, JAMES WAS RIDING AN E-BIKE BETWEEN TWO LANE AND HEIGHTS BOULEVARD WHEN A CAR PULLED OUT INTO THE BIKE LANE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, JAMES COULD NOT STOP, SO HE TURNED HIS WHEEL AND HIT THE CONCRETE CURB. HE ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF 11TH STREET TRAVEL LANE. HIS TIBIA HIT THE CURB AND FRACTURED HIS KNEE WAS ALSO INJURED. JAMES HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO HIT THE CURB AND IT WAS ALL DUE TO A CURB BREAK. A CYCLIST IN THE CURB PROTECTED OR ARMADILLO BIKE LANES CANNOT EASILY GO AROUND. ANOTHER USER STEERING INTO THE CURB WILL IMMEDIATELY THROW A CYCLIST DOWN INTO THE ADJACENT TRAFFIC LANE. PAUL BA CYCLING ENTHUSIAST WHO CANNOT BE HERE TODAY DESCRIBES THE HIGHLY DISCONTINUOUS BIKE LANE BROKEN UP BY MANY DRIVEWAYS. IT'S THE ONE VARIABLE THAT DISTINGUISHES A BIKE LANE IN A RURAL SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE ARE HARDLY ANY BREAKS IN THE BIKE LANE VERSUS A VERY ACTIVE [02:30:01] URBAN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT'S PRACTICALLY A VIDEO GAME EXPECTING RUNNERS, YOU CAN GO AHEAD. THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. EXPECTING RUNNERS WALKERS, SMALL CHILDREN, BABY STROLLERS, WHEELCHAIRS, AND CYCLISTS TO SHARE THE SAME SPACE. IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. WE SHOULD DO BETTER. ARE PEDESTRIANS ALLOWED TO USE THE BIKE LANES? WE HAVE PICTURES OF WOMEN PUSHING BABY STROLLERS, TODDLERS ON PUSH BIKES. THAT IS BIKES WITH NO PEDALS IN THE BIKE LANE AND RUNNERS IN THE SO-CALLED CURB PROTECTED BIKE LANES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CYCLIST ENCOUNTERS A PEDESTRIAN, A WHEELCHAIR, A SLOWER CYCLIST IN THE BIKE LANE OR A MOTOR VEHICLE? WHAT ABOUT SPEEDIER E-BIKES? WHO DOESN'T LIKE BIKES? SAVE THE PLANET, RIDE A BIKE. WE LOVE BIKES IN THE HEIGHTS, BUT CURB PROTECTED BIKE LANES SUCH AS THOSE ON 11TH STREET SHOULD BE VIEWED CRITICALLY. DO THEY WORK? DO THEY REALLY WORK AS INTENDED BICYCLES OR VEHICLES MIXING? SLOW MOVING BI BICYCLES AND SPEEDIER MOTOR VEHICLES CREATES TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. THE TWO SHOULD BE SEPARATED. BICYCLES OR VEHICLES MIXING SLOWER MOVING PEDESTRIANS WITH SPEEDIER BICYCLES CREATES PROBLEMS TOO, AND THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATED. YOU SHOULD POLL THE, THE, UM, CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS WHO USE THE TRAILS TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY CONFLICTS, AND I BET YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE'S QUITE A FEW. THANK YOU. NEXT SINA, CARA. MY NAME IS SINA AND I RESIDE IN DISTRICT B. MY REP IS COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON AND I'M HERE TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT THE END TO THE KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN GAZA. A MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND A MAJORITY OF HOUSTONIANS SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE. I'M YOUR CONSTITUENT AND I SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE. ALSO, OUR CITY'S INVESTMENT POLICY DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF BONDS ISSUED BY ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OR ENTITY. T EXCEPT FOR ISRAEL. ISRAEL BONDS ARE DIRECT, UNRESTRICTED, LOW INTEREST LOANS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL TO BE USED AT ITS DISCRETION. BON BOND INVESTMENTS PROVIDE ISRAEL WITH THE CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY NEEDED TO CONTINUE ITS GOVERNMENTAL POLICY OF APARTHEID AND GENOCIDE. THE MONEY FROM BOND PURCHASES FEEDS INTO ISRAEL'S GENERAL FUND. THE MONEY IS FUNGIBLE, MEANING IT CAN BE USED AS THE GOVERNMENT PLEASES. BOND PURCHASES ARE THUS INEVITABLY TIED TO THE ISRAEL'S CRIMES OF OCCUPATION AND ETHNIC CLEANSING. I HAVE A LY OPPOSED CONTINUED INVESTMENT INTO A FOREIGN ENTITY THAT CONTINUES TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES AND VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW. IF YOU DO NOT, AT THE VERY LEAST, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAY I JUST COMPLETE THIS? PLEASE FINISH. I MEAN, THANK YOU. COMPLETE YOUR STATEMENT. THANK YOU. IF YOU DO NOT AT THE VERY LEAST, SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY YOU SUPPORT THE CONTINUED SLAUGHTER OF PALESTINIAN CIVIL CIVILIANS AND A POPULATION THAT IS HALF CHILDREN. IF YOU DO SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN A PUBLIC STATEMENT IS GOING TO BE MADE. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILMAN JACKSON NEXT? NO, WE'RE FINE. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER SYLVIA BLAIR. SYLVIA BLAIR ANN RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT EVERY WEEK AS WE BECOME THE CITY COUNCIL TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE. I KNOW THAT YOU RECEIVED YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND IF YOU, YOU'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC AND FOR THE BRAIN ANEURYSM FOUNDATION, WHICH HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME BECAUSE THAT IS HOW I LOST MY MOM WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER. I LOST MY PARENTS YOUNG. I LOST MY HOME. I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO GO WITHOUT FOOD FOR DAYS TO HAVE NO ONE TO SUPPORT ME. THIS IS WHY I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING. AND COMING EVERY WEEK TO ASK MY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO CALL FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. THEY'RE CURRENTLY OVER 25,000 CHILDREN IN GAZA WHO'VE LOST THEIR PARENTS. THEY HAVE NO ONE TO CARE FOR THEM, NO FOOD TO EAT, NO SHELTER, NO WATER, NO WARM CLOTHES. DURING WINTER, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES AND FACE THE SAME THREAT OF BECOMING AN ORPHAN. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A SMALL PART OF THE PUZZLE THAT GIVES A, GETS A MEAL IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN IN GAZA AND BEYOND THAT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LIFE, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS GIVEN BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES. I URGE YOU TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS. I AM ASKING YOU TO JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE AND ISSUE YOUR STATEMENT TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I'LL, I WAS GONNA LET YOU FINISH YOUR, YOUR STATEMENT. THAT WAS IT. I WAS JUST ASKING YOU FOR A PLEASE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE LIKE YOUR COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING THAT. PAUL HERRERA, [02:35:04] I'M A 75-YEAR-OLD BIKE RIDER AND CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME OF THE EARLIER SPEAKERS HAD TO SAY, HOUSTON IS A VERY FRIENDLY BICYCLING CITY. LONG BEFORE THESE PROTECTED BIKE LANES WERE PUT IN, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF MILES OF TRAILS ALONG THE BAYOU AND OLD, UH, RAILROAD RIGHTS AWAY. AND AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST THERE WERE BIKE ROUTE LAID OUT AROUND THE CITY. THERE WAS EVEN A MAP THAT THE CITY HANDED OUT WITH THESE BIKE ROUTE. THEY, SOME OF 'EM HAD PAINTED BIKE LANES, BUT MOST OF 'EM WERE JUST ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS. SO IN SUMMARY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO GET AROUND THE CITY WITHOUT PROTECTED BIKE LANES OR SHARED USE BIKE PATHS ON MAJOR STREETS. NOW, ONE ARGUMENT THE ANTI-CAR GROUP WILL MAKE IS THAT THESE AREN'T ABOUT BIKE LANES. IT'S ABOUT SLOWING TRAFFIC BY REDUCING LANES OR NARROWING LANES, BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO SLOW TRAFFIC WITHOUT COMPROMISING EMERGENCY VEHICLE RESPONSE TIME. ANOTHER ARGUMENT, THE GO AHEAD. ANOTHER ARGUMENT THE ANTI BIKE GROUPS MAKE IS THAT BY RIDING MORE BIKES, WE'RE GO, IT'S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT I DOUBT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON ARE GOING TO GIVE UP THEIR CARS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMERS HERE IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, NANCY RIGGS HIGGS. HELLO AGAIN, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL. UM, I HAVE A HANDOUT FOR YOU SO YOU CAN READ THE DETAILED WORDS. I DON'T HAVE TO SAY EVERY WORD. I'M HERE WITH SOME GOOD NEWS. THE TEXAS HISTORIC TREE COALITION LAST FRIDAY DETERMINED THAT THE THREE 160 YEAR OLD POST OAKS THAT ARE JUST ADJACENT TO AND IN FRONT OF THE MAGNOLIA CEMETERY ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD JUST SOUTH OF ALLEN PARKWAY, ARE DECLARED HISTORIC. AND EVEN BETTER THAN THAT, WE DID SOME, UM, DIGGING AND FOUND OUT THAT THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE FIRST HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED TREES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. MM-HMM . WE WOULD, TWO MORE THINGS I WANNA SAY ABOUT THE POST OAK TREES. I DID A LITTLE JUST, UM, GENERIC RESEARCH. THE TEXAS POST OAK QUORA ST. ALSO KNOWN SIMPLY AS POST OAK IS A HARDWOOD TREE. AIR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. NATIVE TO SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, PARTICULARLY TEXAS, IT IS A SLOW GROWING DROUGHT RESISTANT TREE THAT IS DIFFICULT TO TRANSPLANT AND DOES BETTER ON SITES WHERE IT IS ALREADY GROWING. IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF TEXANS IN GENERAL. POST OAKS CAN LIVE 300 TO 400 YEARS, MEANING THESE TREES HAVE ONLY LIVED HALF OF THEIR LIFE SO FAR. UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER. LASTLY, WE ARE ASKING IF WE COULD, UH, GO THROUGH WHATEVER MOTIONS WE NEED TO GO TO, TO HAVE A PERMANENT CONCRETE MARKER THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE PLACED AT THE TREES WITH THE PROPER VARIANCE AND FROM THE CITY. WHO, WHO DO I SPEAK TO ABOUT THAT? UH, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. NO, I SAID THAT'S, THAT'S TERRIFIC NEWS AND I THAT I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH Y'ALL ON THAT AND AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. ONE THING I DID WANNA POINT OUT JUST FACTUALLY IN THE RECORD, UM, IT, I BELIEVE THIS IS CORRECT AS IT RELATES TO THE CEMETERY, SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU FOUND THAT INFORMATION. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE CEMETERY ITSELF THAT REQUESTED THAT THOSE TREES BE REMOVED FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE ENTERING AND EXITING, UM, THAT SPECIFIC PROPERTY. SO ONE, I BELIEVE SOME OF THE LIMBS WERE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADSTONES, BUT REGARDLESS WHAT, UM, THE CEMETERY HAD SUBMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY WAS THESE ARE, UM, BLOCKING THE VIEW OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY COMING ONTO THE PROPERTY. SO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THIS INFORMATION ALLOWS US TO GO BACK AND SAY, HEY GUYS, THESE ARE REALLY SPECIAL. UM, LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK AROUND THIS. SO I JUST APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. AND THE TREES ARE ON THE, THE CITY SIDE OF THE WALL, BUT ALSO, AS I SAID TO THE LADY THAT CAME TO THE TURS MEETING LAST NIGHT, THE CEMETERY LADY, IT IS, UM, VERY EASY TO PUT ONE OF THOSE BIG DISC, OH, YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AT A BLIND SPOT [02:40:01] RIGHT HERE ON THE WALL LOOKING THAT WAY. IT'S LIKE, I HEAR YOU. I THINK WHY HAVEN'T THEY ALREADY DONE THAT? THAT IF THEY'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC COMING IN AND OUTTA THEIR CEMETERY, THAT IS HISTORIC ITSELF. SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOING IN, I HEAR YOU, AND SOME OF THE THINGS, RIGHT, LIKE THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE WHERE AGAIN, I THINK THE TURS TO THEIR DEFENSE WHEN THEY GET PUBLIC INPUT. AND SO WHEN A CEMETERY IS SAYING, HEY, WE WANT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED YOUR HELP ON THE CITY SIDE, THIS IS OUR ASK OF YOU, AND THEY TRY TO INCORPORATE THAT PUBLIC INPUT FEEDBACK, UM, I THINK THAT'S A REFLECTION OF WHAT THE TURS IN GOOD FAITH IS TRYING TO DO. I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S SAYING THAT, UM, YOU POINTING OUT HOW HISTORIC THOSE TWO TREES ARE, UM, IS IT IS ANY LESS NOT, YOU KNOW, TILTS IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE BRINGING THAT AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND, UH, IF Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, WHEN ALL THE DUST HAS SETTLED AND WE HAVE A RESOLUTION MAYOR AS IT RELATES TO MONTROSE AND HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, LET'S LOOK AT HOW WE CAN COMMEMORATE THAT. THANK YOU, ABBY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IF I COULD QUICKLY, ONE MORE THING. WHEN YOU REFERENCED EARLIER ABOUT THE, UM, THE SIDE TREE SIDE, LIVE OAK TREES, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PUTTING IN THOSE HUGE CULVERTS ALL OVER MY AREA, NOT IMMEDIATELY ON MY STREET, BUT, UM, ALL THE STREETS SOUTH OF WHERE I LIVE AND NONE OF THE LIVE OAKS ROOTS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED ALONG ANY OF THOSE RESIDENTIAL STREETS. I, I UNDERSTAND AND Y'ALL, THE AREA OF MONTROSE, I HAVE TO SAY, HAS GONE THROUGH SO MUCH DRAINAGE, UH, THE HEADACHES, THE CONSTRUCTION ON SIDE STREETS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR TREES ARE LOOKING STRONGER ALL THE TIME. NEXT MANY RAYS. HEY MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, UH, TWO QUICK NEWS ITEMS. WE HAVE A HEAVY GAS LEAK ON HOUSTON AVENUE RIGHT NOW. IF QUARANTINED OFF THE AREA, UM, WE'VE GOTTA ASK OURSELVES WHAT DOES GOOD LOOK LIKE? WE'VE HAD HEAVY FLOODING IN THE AREA OVER THE WEEKEND, NOW GAS LEAK. SO INDEPENDENT OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HOUSTON AVENUE, I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT. WE DO AN EFFECTIVE JOB OF, OF HANDLING THAT SITUATION. SECOND NEWS ITEM, ONE OF THOSE THREE TREES THAT ARE JUST SPOKEN ABOUT HAS GREATER THAN 50% TRUNK ROT IN THE, IN THE TRUNK OF THE TREE. URBAN FORESTRY CAME OUT MONDAY, THEY CALLED FOR AN EMERGENCY FE OF ONE OF THOSE TREES. SO AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE TREES, UM, IS LEANING OVER TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH 35,000 CARS GOING THROUGH IT. IT'S JUST DANGEROUS. WE'VE GOTTA GET RID OF IT. SO LET ME GET TO THE POINT HERE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTH MONTROSE CIVIC ASSOCIATION BOARD AND NEAR TOWN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD. I'M HERE AS A NOR NORTH MONTROSE PARENT THAT HAD TO TAKE OFF FROM WORK TO BE HERE. I BECAME CIVICALLY ENGAGED BECAUSE WHEN I WALKED MY KIDS AND NEIGHBOR'S KIDS UP TO HALF A DOZEN ANY GIVEN DAY CARS WERE GOING REALLY FAST. GO AHEAD, WE'RE GOING REALLY FAST IN THE SCHOOL ZONE. NO ONE WOULD STOP FOR LITTLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE CROSSWALK OF SCHOOL ZONES. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE SCHOOL THAT MY KIDS ATTEND. WHARTON ELEMENTARY. SO 20 22, 20 23 CAMPUS DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT BY HISD ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMPLIANCE. WHARTON HAS 135 KIDS THAT ARE ZONED AND ATTEND, UM, ATTEND THAT SCHOOL. QUARTER MILE EAST IS GREGORY LINCOLN. 315 KIDS ARE ZONED IN AT 10. WE'VE GOT 450 KIDS THAT ARE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM MONTROSE. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT. WE'VE GOT CARS RIPPING AND ROARING AT SPEEDS IN THE SCHOOL ZONE AND IGNORING CROSSWALKS. WE'VE GOTTEN HPD OUT TWICE. WE'VE GOTTEN THE CONSTABLES OFFICE OUT ONCE. THIS IS SIX WEEKS OF TICKETING CAMPAIGNS AND WE STILL SEE THE BEHAVIOR. IT HASN'T CHANGED ONE BIT. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS EARNED US A FEDERAL GRANT, SAFER ROUTES GRANT TO HELP MAKE IT SAFER TO WALK TO SCHOOL. THEY AGREE THAT OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE NEEDS CORRECTION. THIS BURDEN OF SAFETY SHOULDN'T FALL ON PARENTS TO ACTIVATE OUR POLICE AND CONSTABLES. WE KNOW POLICE AND CONSTABLES ARE INSANELY BUSY. WE NEED SOLUTIONS THAT ARE MORE DURABLE AND IT STARTS WITH DESIGNING SOLUTIONS THAT REP REPRESENT ALL PEOPLE. FOUR 50 KIDS ARE ZONED AND ATTENDING TWO OF THE SIX HISC SCHOOLS ALONG MONTROSE, EXCLUDING DRIVERS FROM CARNEGIE VANGUARD WHOSE PT AND PRESIDENT SAID. 16 YEAR OLDS DON'T REALLY DRIVE THAT WELL, AS IT TURNS OUT, UM, GETTING IN THEIR OWN CARDS AND IN THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER KIDS ZONED BUT NOT ATTENDING THESE SCHOOLS. THESE SCHOOLS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK NORTHEAST, SOUTH AND WEST, UH, WHERE WE EXPERIENCED 58% OF CRASHES LEADING TO, UM, UH, LEADING TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH ON 9% OF STREETS. I WOULD WELCOME ANYONE HERE TO FIND AN AREA WITH GREATER HIC PRESENCE AND MORE CONFLICT WITH CARS. IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE IT, TELL ME RIGHT NOW, IF IT EXISTS, TELL ME RIGHT NOW. OKAY, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. THANKS SO MUCH. SO, KNOWING THAT THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS AREA FOR DRIVERS AND WALKERS, I [02:45:01] AGAIN WANT TO INVITE YOU, MAYOR AGAIN, WANNA INVITE YOU FOR A STROLL TO MY KID'S SCHOOL. THE WALK TRAIN LEAVES SHARP AT 8:00 AM SHOES OR NO SHOES. UM, MY OFFER TO BUY YOU, YOUR STAFF, AND ANY OTHER CITY COUNSELOR COFFEE STILL STANDS. WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH THE MIDBLOCK CROSSINGS ALONG MONTROSE. WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH TRAFFIC CALMING ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. CARS ARE GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR IN A 35 MILE PER HOUR ZONE, 20 MILE PER HOUR SPEED ZONE FOR THE SCHOOL ZONES. STILL 45 MILES PER HOUR. LET'S GRAB A COFFEE AND FEEL THE WORLD FROM OUR KIDS' PERSPECTIVES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS SO MUCH. THANKS FOR THE TIME, NICK. HELEN ZKO, UH, HELLO MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. UM, I'M ALSO WITH, UM, STATE OF MONTROSE LIVE OAKS, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO A FANTASTIC JOB ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND STILL KEEP THE TREES, BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY IS THE DRAINAGE. AND SO LAST WEEK I SHOWED YOU GUYS THESE TWO MAPS OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER, WHERE IT ESSENTIALLY LOOKS THE SAME. I CAN SEE THAT ANYWAY. AND SO TODAY I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY READ TO YOU FROM THE MONTROSE DRAINAGE STUDY, WHICH WAS DONE BY GAGE ENGINEERING, UM, DATED, DATED FEBRUARY, 2021. SO IT, AND I'M QUOTING, I'M ACTUALLY READING FROM THE STUDY, THREE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION CONCEPTS WERE DEVELOPED TO HELP REDUCE PONDING IN THE MONTROSE AREA. THESE THREE ALTERNATIVES ALL HAVE THE SAME PIPE CONFIGURATION. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RESTRICTION ON THE OUTFALL PIPES. ALTERNATIVE ONE WILL PROVIDE NO RESTRICTION AND ALLOW FULL CONVEYANCE OF THE FLOW TO BUFFALO BAYOU. ALTERNATIVE TWO WOULD PROVIDE SOME RESTRICTION AND SURFACE DETENTION. AND ALTERNATIVE THREE WOULD RESTRICT FLOWS COMING FROM THE SYSTEM DOWN TO THE EXISTING DISCHARGE. THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF ALL THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS WITH DRAINAGE COMPONENTS IS $104 MILLION. THE RECOMMENDED APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE MOST BENEFIT IS ALTERNATIVE ONE, WHICH DOES NOT RESTRICT THE OUTFLOW AND PROVIDES FULL CONVEYANCE OF STORMWATER TO BUFFALO BAYOU GAUGE ENGINEERING APPROACH. HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL, UH, WITH THIS OPTION AND SUBMITTED A VARIANCE REQUEST FOR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL TO ALLOW INCREASED DISCHARGE TO BUFFALO BIO FROM THE MONTROSE AREA. HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL RESPONDED IN LATE 2020 AND DENIED THE VARIANCE REQUEST. GAE RECOMMENDS THAT IN THE SHORT AND NEAR TERM ALTERNATIVE THREE SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED WITH A RESTRICTOR AT THE BUFFALO BIO OUTFALL LOCATIONS TO MAINTAIN EXISTING CONDITIONS DISCHARGE. IN THE FUTURE, IF HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DOES ALLOW INCREASED DISCHARGES INTO THE DOWNSTREAM PORTIONS OF BUFFALO BIO, THE RESTRICTORS, THE RESTRICTORS CAN THEN BE REMOVED. SO THIS IS, UH, WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SUBMITTED IN THEIR, IN THEIR VARIANCE REQUESTS TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL. AND I'M QUOTING AGAIN, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOCUS ON INCREASING CONVEYANCE TO THE PROJECT OUTFALL AT BUFFALO BAYOU. THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE AN APPROXIMATE A HUNDRED YEAR LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO MAINTAIN DISCHARGE RATES TO BUFFALO BAYOU. THE PROPOSED TRUNK LINES WILL REQUIRE RESTRICTION GREATLY DIMINISHING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INVESTMENT AND REDUCING THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO APPROXIMATELY A FIVE YEAR EVENT, A FIVE YEAR EVENT, NOT A 100 YEAR EVENT AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED, BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CANNOT ALLOW ALL THAT WATER TO FLOW INTO BUFFALO BY AND FLOOD OTHER PEOPLE. SO, UM, THIS IS WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT, UM, DETENTION MITIGATION. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT TO FULLY MITIGATE ONSITE FLOWS MORE THAN A HUNDRED ACRE FEET OF VOLUME WOULD BE REQUIRED. IN PHASE ONE, WHICH IS, UM, ALLEN PARKWAY TO WEST CLAY, IT'S ONLY FIVE ACRE FEET, FIVE VERSUS A HUNDRED. AND THE ENTIRE MONTROSE BOULEVARD GOING FROM ALLEN PARKWAY TO 59 IS 25, WHICH IS 25% OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY REQUIRED. OKAY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WRAP UP. UM, YEAH, JUST QUICKLY. SO ORIGINALLY THIS PLAN THAT THEY BASED ALL THIS INFORMATION ON ACTUALLY INCLUDED TWO 10 BY 10 FOOT CONCRETE BOX CULVERTS, WHICH THEY'VE NOW REDUCED TO ONE. AND I JUST WANNA SHOW YOU ONE MORE MAP REAL QUICK. THIS IS HARVEY. THIS IS ALSO FROM [02:50:01] THEIR REPORT. THIS IS THE FLOODING THAT MONTROSE EXPERIENCED IN HARVEY. WE ALL SAW THE IMAGES ON, ON TV WHERE PEOPLE WERE WADING THROUGH WATER UP TO THEIR WAIST. THIS, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER HERE IS, IS OVER FIVE INCHES. THAT WOULD BE THIS AREA. THE REST OF THIS IN IS IN THE, YOU KNOW, TWO TO THREE INCH RANGE AT MOST, JUST SO WE HAVE AN IDEA. AND SO I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS I'M, I'M NOT AGAINST IMPROVING MONTROSE BOULEVARD, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, THAT WE'RE NOT INVESTING $104 MILLION FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT EVENTUALLY AND NOT ACTUALLY GETTING WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GETTING. IF WE'RE ONLY GETTING FIVE YEARS, FIVE YEAR FLOOD AND WE THINK WE'RE GETTING A HUNDRED YEAR, THIS IS A PROBLEM . AND I JUST THINK, UM, YOU GUYS SHOULD TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT JUSTIN MCMURDY. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANKS FOR SITTING THROUGH . YOU'RE WELCOME. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PERHAPS, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE FACILITY DESIGNS REGARDING PROTECTED BIKE LANES. UM, SOMEONE SHOULD MENTION THAT THE ARMADILLOS, AS THEY'RE CALLED AND OR CONCRETE FLOATING CURBS ALONG SUCH BIKEWAYS ARE IN FACT MORE HAZARDOUS THAN PROTECTIVE TO BICYCLISTS USING THEM BECAUSE ANY CYCLIST WHO STEERS INTO ONE FOR WHATEVER REASON WILL IMMEDIATELY BE THROWN DOWN INTO THE ADJACENT TRAFFIC LANE. WHEREAS THE SIDESWIPE CRASHES THAT SUCH OBSTACLES OSTENSIBLY PREVENT ARE ACTUALLY RELATIVELY RARE. MOST ON STREET BIKE CRASHES THAT CAUSE INJURY ARE IN FACT SOLO INCIDENTS THAT HAVE NO INVOLVEMENT WITH CARS AT ALL. AND OF THOSE THAT DO INVOLVE A MOTOR VEHICLE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY HAPPEN AT CROSSINGS AND INTERSECTIONS WHERE THERE IS NO FLOATING CURB. EVEN ALONG A SO-CALLED PROTECTED BIKE WAY, THE ONLY BIKEWAYS THAT DESERVE TO BE CALLED PROTECTED ARE THOSE THAT ARE DISTANT FROM AND HAVE NO CROSSINGS OR INTERSECTIONS WITH MOTOR TRAFFIC. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. FINISH YOUR COMMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY. I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, UM, SUCH FACILITIES AS THOSE INSTALLED IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO ALONG 11TH STREET AND WA DRIVE, WHICH FEATURE THOSE FLOATING CURBS UNFORTUNATELY PROVIDE ONLY A FALSE ILLUSION OF SAFETY, I WOULD DISCOURAGE THEIR CONTINUED USE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ANYTHING ELSE? MEMBERS HAVE NOT, [RECESS] WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE O'CLOCK CHAMBER. I AM ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK FEBRUARY 20TH AND 21ST, 2024. ITEM ONE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONNECTION BRIDGES FOR THE GREENWAY AT BRA BIO CONNECTING INTO A PARCEL IN BRAEBURN GLEN SUBDIVISION AND CROSS TO THE SOUTH SIDE WITH THE NEW BRIDGE NEXT TO HIGHWAY 59. ITEM TWO, PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 40 OF THE CO CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES TO EXTEND PROVISIONS OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE TO THE RIVERSIDE TERRACE AREA. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ELIZABETH GONZALEZ BROCK TO POSITION TWO OF THE BOARD OF THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,197,056 AND 65 CENTS AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE GONZALEZ GROUP LP ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,209,409 AND 47 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH D SEVEN ROOFING AND METAL LLC. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY SEVEN THOUSAND FORTY NINE CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE RAY TECH CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES INC. ITEM SEVEN G-P-I-T-X-H-G-M-I-V INC. DBA STERLING MCCALL CHEVROLET FOR GM CAR AND TRUCK OAM REPLACEMENT PARTS AND REPAIR SERVICES. ITEM EIGHT, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H, CHASTAIN FORD FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F-150 XLT FOUR BY FOUR HYBRID TRUCKS. ITEM NINE, CARDWELL COUNTRY CHEVROLET [02:55:01] FOR PURCHASE OF CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HALF TON CREW CAB FOUR BY TWO PICKUP TRUCKS. ITEM 10 SEALS FORD FOR PURCHASE OF A ROBOT VAN. VEHICLE. ITEM 11, CUSTOM SIGNALS INC FOR PURCHASE OF SMART RADAR SPEED TRAILERS. ITEM 12 MB COMPANIES INC. FOR PURCHASE OF A PAVEMENT MARKING TRUCK. ITEM 13, DATA MINER INC. FOR PURCHASE OF DATA MINER FIRST ALERT PLATFORM LICENSES. ITEM 14 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE ONE MILE THREE THREE YEAR RULE EACH LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR SUCH DEVELOPMENTS. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE SUBMITTING CITY CITY'S MASTER CLASSIFICATION PLAN TO ADD NINE NEW JOBS, AMEND ONE, PAY GRADE AND AMEND ONE JOB TITLE ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS BUDGET IN 2023. ANNUAL ACTION PLAN ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT CON UH, BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NEW HOPE HOUSING INC. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING TASK ORDER CONTRACTS WITH OLIVIER INC. ACOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. AND SOS CONSULTING ENGINEERS LLC ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TD INDUSTRIES INC. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPRO AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 0 1 4 9 FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL INC. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HDR ENGINEERING INC. ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GOWIN GARRETT INC. THROUGH IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR CORPORATE PURCHASING WITH HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE SIX TO 600 TO 900 BLOCKS OF KAISER STREET BETWEEN MISHAW STREET AND MAS STREET. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE DOING SOMETHING WITH $3,244,762 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO CSI CONSOLIDATED L-L-C-D-B-A AIMS COMPANIES ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,540,148 AND 28 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AND $14,051,919 AND 0 CENTS OUT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANT FUNDED AND AWARDING CONTRACTORS SPRINT SAND AND CLAY LLC ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,400,000 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COROLLA ENGINEERS INC. ITEM 27, MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITION TWO OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 28, SELECT NOMINATION FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO POSITION TWO OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON HARRIS AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 29, CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATION TO POSITION TWO OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 30 IS CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF TWO FORD F TWO 50 THREEQUARTER TON TRUCKS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THIS IS ITEM NINE ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 14TH, ITEM 31, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F 3 51 TON UTILITY FUEL TRUCKS AND FORD F TWO 50. TROUBLESHOOTING RESPONSE UNIT TRUCKS. TAG BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCMA. THIS IS ITEM 10 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 14TH, ITEM 32. CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASED OF ONE HIGH ROOF CARGO VAN TAG BY CONS, MEMBER MCMA. THIS IS ITEM 11 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 14TH. ITEM 33, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHAST TANK FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F 3 54 BY FOUR DUALLY TRUCK. IT WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THIS WAS ITEM 12 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 14TH. ITEM 34, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H CHAST TANK FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F 4 51 TIME, FOUR BY FOUR CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK. THIS WAS TAB BY COUNCILMAN MCMA. THIS WAS ITEM 13 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 14TH. ITEM 35 SEALS FORD FOR PURCHASE OF 4 4 3 50 TRANSIT. 15 PASSENGER VANS TAB BY COUNCILMAN MCMA. THIS IS ITEM 14 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 14TH, ITEM 36 SEALS BEFORE FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F-150 POLICE, POLICE PURSUIT VEHICLES TAB COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THIS IS ITEM 15 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 14TH. ITEM 37, CARDWELL COUNTRY CHEVROLET FOR PURCHASE OF CHEVROLET MALIBU. LS SEDANS TAB. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMER, THIS IS ITEM 16 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 14TH, ITEM 38. ROB ME INDUSTRIES FOR PURCHASE OF SILICA SAND FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. TAB COUNCIL MEMBER KAMER. THIS IS ITEM 22 [03:00:01] ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 14TH, ITEM 39, RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAB. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND RAMIREZ. THIS IS ITEM 23 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 14TH. ITEM 40 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND RAMIREZ. THIS IS ITEM 24 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 14TH. ITEM 41 IS THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTIES, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE TWO MILES SAME YEAR RULE. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS THOMAS AND RAMIREZ. THIS IS ITEM 25 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 14TH. ITEM 42 IS A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTIES, EACH OF WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, THAN WITHIN A CENSUS TRACK THAT HAS A POVERTY RATE ABOVE 40% FOR INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS ALSO TAKEN BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND RAMIREZ. THIS IS ITEM 26TH ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 14TH, 2024. ITEM 43, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACTOR, BAYSIDE PRINTING COMPANY, INC. FOR PRE-PRESS PRINTING. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD RAMIREZ AND CARTER. THIS WAS ITEM 30 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 14TH, 2024. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF FEBRUARY 21ST, 2024. STATE TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR FORMER CITY SECRETARY, MS. ANNA RUSSELL. SHE ALWAYS SAID DRIVE SAFE, DRIVE FRIENDLY, AND HAVE A NICE DAY. IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FAN FABULOUS DAY. THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY. YOU'RE WELCOME. MY NUMBER ONE FAN. YEAH, [RECONVENE] FACULTY EVERY, EVERYONE ATTENTION. LET'S GO TO WORK. UH, CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A HOUSTONIAN. IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE, UH, IN CITY HALL. A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS [MAYOR'S REPORT] I'D LIKE TO MENTION. FIRST, UH, FRIDAY MORNING, WE'LL KICK OFF AT 1130 TO GO. TEXAN DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE PUBLIC'S INVITED, UH, GOOD BARBECUE ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL, WHICH WILL BE FREE. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT KICKOFF WITH SATURDAY'S PARADE. IT'S GREAT PART OF OUR HERITAGE. I'M ALWAYS WONDERING WHAT DOES THE REST OF THE WORLD THINK WHEN THEY SEE OUR RODEO PARADE? I CAN'T IMAGINE THE OTHER LARGE CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, LA, AND CHICAGO THAT HAVE NOTHING SIMILAR AND PROBABLY WONDER WHERE DID THE HORSES AND COWBOYS COME FROM. WE KNOW THEIR HOUSTONIANS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF TRAIL RIDERS. SO LET'S, UH, LET'S ENJOY THIS OCCASION FRIDAY, SATURDAY. AND THEN FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, I, UM, ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT TOMORROW I WILL BE AT THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT'S GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR CADET CLASS 2023. I MENTIONED THIS ONE BECAUSE WE ALL WANNA SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. I'M TOLD THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS THAT A MAYOR WILL ATTEND A FIRE CADET CLASS. WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF IMPROVING OUR RESPONSE TIME FOR ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO EXCITED THAT, UM, GONNA BE 31 MEN AND WOMEN SWORN IN AS FIREFIGHTERS TOMORROW, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO BUILD THE SIZE OF OUR DEPARTMENT. I WILL BRING BEFORE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE A BENEFITS PACKAGE, WHICH I THINK WILL BE WORTHY OF OUR SUPPORT TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR FIREFIGHTERS. THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE STATIONS PROTECTING US AS WE SIT HERE AND MEET. UH, THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION WITH THE, UH, JOY OF THE RODEO PARADE AND THEN THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF ATTENDING A CADET CLASS GRADUATION. THERE ARE A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE IN OUR ATTENDANCE TODAY, PEOPLE THAT HELP MAKE, UH, HOUSTON A GREAT CITY. IT IS IN HARRIS COUNTY, OUR GREAT COUNTY. I COULD GO THROUGH A LONG LIST. UH, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH TO WATCH OTHER PEOPLE FORGET SOMEONE. SO HERE WE GO. CERTAINLY, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY BEING MY HIGHEST PRIORITY ALONG WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE LIST. GARBAGE PICKUP, WATER BILLS. THERE'S SO MUCH ON OUR PLATE, BUT WE HAVE TO PAUSE. AND THANK OUR SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ. ED. THANK [03:05:01] YOU SHERIFF. WE LOOK, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN HPD AND HARRIS COUNTY, OUR CONSTABLES AND OUR OTHER, UH, COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS AND OTHER AGENCIES. AND SPEAKING OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE EXPERIENCE AT CITY HALL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA. THANK YOU. AND OF COURSE, I DESCRIBE HER, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT DEMONSTRATING HER COMMITMENT TO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN A VERY SHORT TIME, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS, SHE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TOM RAMSEY AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AT THE CITY. SO THANK Y'ALL. IT'S GONNA REALLY BE REWARDING FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND INCLUDING HOUSTON RESIDENTS, WHICH MAKE UP A HUGE SHARE OF HARRIS COUNTY TO SHOW WHAT COLLABORATION CAN GET ACCOMPLISHED. NOW, SPEAKING OF COLLABORATION, HALF OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY DELEGATION IS HERE FROM THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH WE NEED THEIR SUPPORT. , I COULD GO IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER, BUT BECAUSE WE DO NEED THE STATE'S FINANCES AND RESOURCES, ARMANDO WALLY'S BEEN ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL SESSIONS. REPRESENTATIVE WALLY IS HELPING US REBUILD SOME OF OUR PARKS IN THE INNER CITY. AND, UH, ARMANDO, WE REALLY, I'VE WATCHED YOU, UH, GROW AND BECOME SO IMPORTANT IN AUSTIN AS ONE OF THE FIVE CONFEREES THAT THE ULTIMATE BUDGET IS WRITTEN BY. SO THANK YOU. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND OF COURSE, YOUR PARTNER AND OUR FRIEND, UH, REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ WITH HER SENIORITY. THANK YOU. MARIANNE PEREZ. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINE MORALES, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. YOUR FAMILY HAS SUCH A HISTORY. ADRIAN TOMA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WENDY CLINTON AT THE PORT AND, AND, AND, AND WHAT WE'RE FIXING TO DO WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF ELIZABETH BROCK IS SUCH A TRAILBLAZING OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MAKE CITY HALL AND OUR INSTITUTIONS, OUR PORT, OUR METRO, AND ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS AS DIVERSE AS POSSIBLE. UH, LAURA, REAL THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE WAY AT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER. AND LIKE I SAID, I COULD GO ON AND ON. I'M CERTAIN IF THERE'S ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT I'VE LEFT OUT, GIVE ME A GIMME A SHOUT OUT WHO'S WAVING THEIR FINGER. GENE. WOO. GENE WU. WHERE IS GENE? GENE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE BACK? COME ON DOWN FRONT. THIS IS NOT A BAPTIST OPERATION. COME ON DOWN. BE UP FRONT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, GENE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPRESENTATION. A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT WORKS HARD. SO WITH THAT SAID, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL UP ITEM NUMBER THREE. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. PREMIER IS MOVES SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. MOTION CARRIES. YOU WANNA CALL HER UP? YOU CAN CALL HER UP. UH, ELIZABETH BROCK, YOU WANNA COME DOWN FRONT? AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, . AND IF I COULD USE THIS MOMENT FOR EDITORIAL COMMENT, THE APPOINTMENT AS CHAIR OF METRO WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I DO AS MAYOR. CERTAINLY IN THIS FIRST TWO MONTHS, ALL APPOINTMENTS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THE CHAIR OF METRO IS GONNA HAVE SUCH A DYNAMIC IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF EVERY HOUSTONIAN IN THE SERVICE AREA. OUR ADJOINING NEIGHBORS, YOU WORKED IN MY OFFICE, YOU GOT EXPERIENCE YOU LEARNED FROM MY OFFICE AT CONSTITUENTS OR WHO WE WORK FOR. AND, UH, I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE CONFIDENT IN A DECISION THAN I, THAN I HAVE IN MAKING USE THE CHAIRPERSON OVER AT METRO. YOU, IT, IT, IT WAS, IT, IT WAS BASED, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE LEAST OF US. AND TO MAKE THIS CITY GREATER THAN WE, THAN IT IS AS WE SIT HERE TODAY. WE HAVE TO HAVE MOBILITY. WE HAVE TO HAVE OPTIONS [03:10:01] FOR TRANSPORTATION AND, AND ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT THAT WE HEAR WEEKLY. IN POP-OFF. YOU'RE GONNA REPRESENT EVERYONE. YOU'RE GONNA MAKE OUR MOBILITY, ONE OF OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES. IT'S GONNA BE, UH, PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ALL THE QUALITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN A LEADER. AND FOR CERTAIN, WE ALL WANNA CELEBRATE YOU BEING A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. YOU, YOU, YOU, I, I COULD GO, YOU'RE SPENDING YEARS WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG, LIVING WITH GRANDPARENTS IN MEXICO. I COULD GO, I, I COULD GO ON AND ON. I'M, I'M JUST PROUD. I'M PROUD THAT YOU THAT, UM, OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP, BUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND PEOPLE SKILLS AND A VISION FOR YOUR YOUNG FAMILY. AND YOU'RE GONNA DO ONE HECK OF A JOB FOR ALL OF US. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE OVER AT HOUSTON. FIRST, YOUR, UH, YOUR BUSINESS SENSE AND, UH, TO BE A LATINA, UH, REPRESENTATIVE. IT IS JUST MAKING SO MANY PEOPLE PROUD. YOU'RE GONNA BE A ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG HISPANIC YOUNG LADIES AND YOUNG MEN ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. SO, UH, WE'RE A PHONE CALL AWAY IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, BUT, UH, TODAY IS YOUR DAY. AND, UH, I'M SO PROUD, UH, FOR YOU TO, TO BRING YOUR FAMILY UP. I KNOW WE ALL KNOW WHAT A REAL SACRIFICE THIS IS AND WHAT DO I DO? HOW DO I GET THE VOTE DONE? ANDY? UH, CERTAINLY YOU AND I ARE FAMILY FRIENDS, AND I'VE WATCHED YOUR YOUNG FAMILY GROW AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO BALANCE, UH, THE BUSINESS AND, AND CIVIC DUTIES OF YOU AND ELIZABETH FOR, FOR MANY YEARS. AND I THINK THE THE BEST IS YET TO COME. SO WE, WE WANNA WELCOME YOU INTO THE MIX BECAUSE HER SUCCESS WILL BE SO DEPENDENT ON US BEING ABLE TO BALANCE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE. WE ALL GO THROUGH IT AND YOU'RE NO STRANGER TO IT. BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND, UH, ELIZABETH, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OR, UH, FOLKS YOU'D LIKE TO BRING UP BEFORE WE, WE CALL THIS VOTE. I WISH I WAS STANDING OUT THERE. QUITE FRANKLY, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M PRETTY, I'M PRETTY EXCITED. THIS IS ALMOST THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW A FAMILY MEMBER TO, UH, BE A PUBLIC SERVANT. AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, FOLKS, EVERYONE HERE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT. WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT, YOU'RE A PUBLIC SERVANT. AND SOMEDAY WE'RE GONNA BE JUDGED WHAT WE DID WITH OUR PUBLIC SERVICE. SO LET'S ALL LEAVE HERE FIRED UP TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HOUSTONIANS AND MAKE THIS A GREATER CITY THAN WE EXPERIENCE TODAY. OUR BEST YEARS ARE IN FRONT OF US. UH, COUNCIL, SHE WAS GONNA INTRODUCE, WELL, I'M GONNA CALL IT COUNCIL MEMBER FIRST. OKAY. UH, THOMAS, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. YOU SHOULD DO KNOW HOW TO PACK A HOUSE OUT . UM, I WONDER HOW THOSE, THE AFTER PARTY'S GONNA BE. SO I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH YOU, UM, PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT. UM, BUT, UM, AS MAYOR WHITMEYER MENTIONED, THIS IS A, A VERY SIGNIFICANT APPOINTMENT, UM, NOT JUST FOR YOU PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY, BUT ALSO FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR REGION. SO, PARTICULARLY FOR ME AND MY INTEREST WITH METRO, I HAVE A METRO STORY. I WROTE THE 1 32 HARWIN EXPRESS, UM, TO GET TO THE 63 GESNER TO GO TO WORK, UH, TO TAKE IT TO THE WHEELER STATION, RIGHT? FOR MY JOBS. AND SO I'M DEEPLY CONNECTED TO, UM, THE WORK OF METRO. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE U UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR. THERE'S A DEEP EXPANSION ON THE WEST SIDE THAT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM MOBILITY. UM, CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE WE RECEIVE AND, AND RECEIVE THE FEDERAL MATCH AND YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR VISION AROUND THAT, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR ME. SO I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME IF I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT, AND I, UM, FEEL LIKE THE WORD EXCITEMENT WASN'T EXACTLY THE RIGHT FIT. UH, I FEEL COMMITTED AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT MY COMMITMENT TO METRO. AND SO AS PART OF THAT, WE WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT EVERYTHING, UH, AS IT RELATES TO METRO. SO, UH, I'M COMING INTO THIS WITH A FRESH SET OF EYES AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON WHAT IS BEST FOR METRO MOVING FORWARD. WELL, I JUST WANNA BE ON RECORD. I SUPPORT THE UNIVER. I NEED IT ON THE WEST SIDE. JUST WANNA BE ON RECORD. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, ELIZABETH, I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL. UH, YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. UH, IT IS GONNA BE [03:15:01] A, A GREAT ASSET TO, TO BEING ON METRO. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS MENTIONED, RIGHT, PUBLIC TRANSIT, UH, HAVING OPTIONS ARE IMPORTANT. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO LEANING ON YOU, UH, YOUR EXPERIENCE. ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN EVOLVE HOUSTON, WHICH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, AIR. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK AS WELL. UH, KNOW THAT, UH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THE TABLE AND THEN ADD IT, BEING A LATINA IS JUST AN EXTRA RIGHT. A BIG EXTRA. UM, AND SO THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE LEANING ON YOU AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS, THIS, UH, THIS TASK. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A PAID, UH, YOU KNOW, JOB. SO, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING IS GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF GREAT HELP FOR FAMILIES. AND I AM ALSO A METRO WRITER, UH, 36 AND THE 40. SO, UM, SO GROWING UP, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AS WELL FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY LARGE FAMILIES LIKE MYSELF. NOT, NOT, NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT I GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF 12. AND SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE, WE REALLY DEPENDED ON PUBLIC TRANSIT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, GOOD MORNING, SOON TO BE, UH, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN. AND I CANNOT WAIT TO, UM, SAY THAT, ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE LED IN SO MANY SPACES. YOU AND I KNOW EACH OTHER BASED ON OUR MUTUAL COMMITMENT, UM, TO WOMEN AND FAMILIES AND EQUITY. AND TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, NOT ONLY THROUGH THAT LENS, BUT FROM THE LENS OF A HOUSTONIAN. AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT BECAUSE OF YOUR FAMILY, TO THANK YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HUSBAND, BUT ALSO YOUR CHILDREN. BECAUSE MANY, MANY, MANY NIGHTS, UH, YOU ARE AT WORK NOT THERE. AND THERE ARE MANY OF IN THE AUDIENCE THAT KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE. THERE ARE MANY OF US ARE ON THE HORSESHOE THAT KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE. BUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU. UH, I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE BOARD OF METRO, MANY OF THEM ARE SITTING BEHIND YOU HERE TO SUPPORT TODAY. UH, AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE TRANSFORMATION THAT WE ARE SEEING, THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, FOR ACCESS FOR ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND MOVING TOWARDS A CLEANER AND GREENER FUTURE, UH, FROM THE ELECTRIFICATION OF OUR FLEET TO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT METRO IS DOING TO LEAD THE WAY, AS IN, IN THE NATION. UH, I THANK YOU AND ADD MY SUPPORT AND VOICE TO THAT. I ALSO, MAYOR, THERE WERE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT YOU RECOGNIZED. UH, I DID WANNA ALSO SAY FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, INCLUDING LENORA, I SEE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE SIGNS IN THE AUDIENCE. THERE'S A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS RALLYING BEHIND YOU, BUT ALSO BEHIND METRO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING ALL FORMS OF TRANSIT INTO OUR ROADS. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF HOUSTON, IS BRINGING IT INTO THE NEXT GENERATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO AGAIN, UH, I'M SO EXCITED TO TAKE THIS VOTE. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT BECAUSE IT IS SERVICE, IT'S PUBLIC SERVICE. AND, UH, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE BETTER. I DID FINALLY, UH, WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU AS CHAIRS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE, INCLUDING CHAIR, UH, RAM BODRON, BECAUSE HE DID A TERRIFIC JOB AS WELL. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS, NO RODEO, PUN INTENDED, , UH, BUT JUST CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR BOARD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEANS THE WORLD THANK COUNCIL MEMBER. AND IF YOU'RE GONNA START REACHING OUT IN THE CROWD AND RECOGNIZING PEOPLE, GIVES ME ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. UH, CERTAINLY FORMER MEMBER CIE SIGNS, WE, WE WELCOME. THANK YOU, GRACIE. BUT, BUT AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO PUBLIC SAFETY, A REAL TRAILBLAZER THAT HAS SUCH A DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND, AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME. CHIEF CANTU, STAND UP AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY, GREAT, GREAT. AND, AND LENORE, YOU MAKE SO MUCH HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, . NOW, WHERE ARE WE? CASTILLO COUNT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, ELIZABETH. YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF, OF WORKING WITH YOU IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, AND I KNOW THE SKILLSET AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU BRING WILL BE SUCH A, A FANTASTIC FIT FOR METRO. UH, AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORIC NATURE OF, OF THIS APPOINTMENT, IT WILL BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS AND, AND I, AND THAT I JUST DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT MOMENT IN ALL OF THIS BECAUSE, UM, YOU'RE GONNA SEE LATINAS AND, AND WOMEN LOOK AT THIS MOMENT AND, AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR METRO. UH, AND I HOPE THAT IT INSPIRES THEM TO, TO GET INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND, AND MAKE AN IMPACT IN, IN [03:20:01] THEIR COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE WE DO NEED MORE OF THAT. UM, AND, AND THAT TAKES NOTHING AWAY FROM YOUR IMMENSE QUALIFICATIONS. UH, YOU ARE SUCH A GREAT CHOICE FOR THIS APPOINTMENT, AND, AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SUPPORT YOU AND ALL THE WORK THAT, THAT YOU WANT TO DO TO MAKE OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT, UH, BETTER AND, AND SAFER AND MORE EQUITABLE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THIS. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR, THIS IS A GREAT APPOINTMENT, ELIZABETH. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SUPPORT YOUR, UM, CHAIRMANSHIP. UH, WE HAD A GREAT TALK YESTERDAY AND WE TALKED ABOUT MY NO CAR FRIDAY. I RIDE THE 82 WESTHEIMER ON FRIDAYS. I LOVE THAT BUS. REALLY NEED TO PROMOTE MORE CHOICE RIDERSHIP OF METRO. NOT ONLY DO SO MANY PEOPLE DEPEND ON METRO TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, BUT IT'S ALSO A, WE WANNA MAKE IT A GREAT CHOICE TO TAKE SOME MORE CARS OFF THE ROAD. SO, UM, ALSO WHAT I LEARNED BY RIDING THE BUS ON FRIDAYS IS THE WAY TO GET TO THE BUS IS OFTEN FILLED WITH TREACHERY. UM, YOUR COMMITMENT TO SIDEWALKS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET TO THE SHELTERS, UM, SAFELY IS IMPORTANT. ALSO, YOUR COMMITMENT TO, UH, MORE CNG BUSES WAS IMPORTANT TO ME. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO AND WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO VOTE IN. THANK YOU, PLUMMER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SO, SO PROUD OF YOU AND SO WELL DESERVED. UM, I REALLY ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION YESTERDAY AND AS YOU KNOW, UM, JUST THE INEQUITIES OF MOBILITY, UM, AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, YOUR SUPPORT ON HAVING THAT CONVERSATION YESTERDAY. UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES MINORITY COMMUNITIES JUST CAN'T GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. AND, UH, MANY OF THEM ONLY HAVE ONE CAR AND A HOUSEHOLD. AND, UH, AND WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO AND ARE IN, IN THE WAY IN WHICH YOU'RE GONNA SUPPORT THE CITY IS REALLY GONNA BE CRITICAL WITH HOW WE, UM, SUPPORT AND ALLOW, UM, OUR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MEMBERS. UH, ELIZABETH, BEFORE I YELL TO YOU, I WANT TO, UM, URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR CONCERNS. AND I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE AN OPEN DOOR AND YOU'LL STAY IN CONTACT WITH 'EM. CERTAINLY, I HOPE YOU STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE MAYOR BE BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU'RE BEING GIVEN A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY, AND I'M EXPECTING SAFER, CLEANER BUSES, MOBILITY OPTIONS. I CAN RECALL YEARS AGO WHEN THEY ESTABLISHED THE FOOD BANK, UH, THERE WAS NOT TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE. SO I HAD TO GET INVOLVED AND STRUGGLE WITH METRO TO GET 'EM TO CHANGE A LINE SO PEOPLE COULD LITERALLY RIDE THE BUS TO EITHER GET FOOD AT THE FOOD BANK OR THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE OFTEN PROBATIONERS DOING THEIR, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE. THEY COULD NOT GET TO THE FOOD BANK OUT OFF OF I 10. SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF COMMON SENSE APPROACHES, BUT CERTAINLY THE, THE EQUITY OF OUR BUS SERVICE, UH, DON'T JUST FOCUS ON WESTHEIMER OR WASHINGTON. LET'S GET OUT ON ANTOINE AND LITTLE YORK AND MAGNOLIA. AND I COULD GO AROUND THE COMMUNITY THAT FEELS LIKE, UH, THEY'RE OFTEN UNDERSERVED AND NO ONE'S LISTENING TO THEM. AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THE TABLE. SO LET'S ALL REMEMBER, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND I WILL YIELD TO YOU. I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE TO SPEND A COUPLE MINUTES ON YOUR DIRECTION OF EVOLVE HOUSTON. THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY GOT MY ATTENTION A FEW YEARS AGO WITH, WOW, WHAT A NEW CONCEPT THAT YOU ARE DRIVING. UH, AND IT'S BEEN A SUCCESS. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, CERTAINLY AS COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO MENTIONED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, THE EQUITY OF PUBLIC, UH, TRANSPORTATION. SO LET ME YELL TO YOU AND, UM, I HOPE YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO ENJOY THIS MOMENT BECAUSE, UH, I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE A LONG TIME, BEEN IN CEREMONIES, BUT THIS ONE IS UP NEAR THE TOP FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THE, IN THE, THE POTENTIAL FOR YOU TO MAKE METRO A A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY. 'CAUSE WE HAVE UNIQUE CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE, OUR DIVERSITY, OUR, OUR, OUR INSTITUTIONS. YOU KNOW, HOW MANY FOLKS NEED TO GET TO THE MED CENTER, BEN TODD, LBJ, AND ARE STRUGGLING TO DO SO. 'CAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE SERVICES. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. SO FOR STARTERS, YOU, UH, ASKED ME TO BRING UP MY FAMILY. UH, JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW MY FAMILY'S HERE. UM, AND I, I WOULD BRING YOU OVER HERE AS WELL. [03:25:01] SO, UM, I, I JUST WANNA TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU HAD FAITH IN ME WHEN I WAS, UH, A YOUNG INTERN. UH, YOU'VE HAD, UH, FAITH IN ME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND YOUR CONTINUED FAITH IN ME THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS BOARD APPOINTMENT IS REALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME. UM, I AM HONORED TO BE THE FIRST HISPANIC FEMALE TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE. IT IS, UM, I, I, I KNEW THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT, BUT TO SEE THE OVERWHELMING, UH, SUPPORT AND, UM, THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE RECEIVED IS JUST AMAZING. SO HAVING OUR COMMUNITY UNITED, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BRINGING TEARS TO PEOPLE'S EYES. THIS IS THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON. WE'RE LISTENING TO GO OUT AHEAD. UH, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, YOU, UH, WANT ME TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EVOLVE, UH, EVOLVE HOUSTON, UH, AT, AT, UH, IN MY DAY JOB AT CENTERPOINT, I WAS TAPPED ON THE SHOULDER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ELECTRIFICATION AND, UM, WHAT, WHAT IS IT THAT WE COULD DO IN ORDER TO HELP ADVANCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS? UM, AND SO I, I BASICALLY SENT OUT AN INVITATION TO, UH, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHO'S ALL INTERESTED IN HAVING, YOU KNOW, A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, UM, MORE ELECTRIFICATION, UH, SENT OUT ABOUT A HUNDRED INVITATIONS TO DIVERSE, UM, UM, BUSINESS SECTORS. AND, UH, GOT A HUNDRED PERCENT RESPONSE. EVERYBODY WANTED MORE, UH, AND WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE, JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW. AND SO, AFTER, UH, MUCH OUTREACH, WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO FORM A NONPROFIT, UH, 5 0 1 C3, EVOLVE HOUSTON DEDICATED TO IMPROVING AIR QUALITY THROUGH, UH, ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN. WE, UM, HAD, DURING, DURING COVID, UH, EVEN DURING COVID, WE SAW A TRANSFORMATION AT THE, UM, THE AUTO SHOW. THE FIRST YEAR WE, UH, ESTABLISHED EVOLVE HOUSTON. WE DIDN'T HAVE, UH, ANY ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT THE CAR SHOW. AND, UH, NOW THE GOAL IS TO HAVE 50% OF THE PEOPLE, UH, OF THE VEHICLES BE ELECTRI, UH, ELECTRIFIED. UH, WE, WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD SEE A BIG TRANSFORMATION WHEN WE STARTED SEEING COMMERCIALS. UM, AND, AND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO US WAS THAT WE SEND A SIGNAL TO THE MARKET THAT HOUSTON ISN'T JUST OIL AND GAS, THAT HOUSTON ALSO CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL. AND SO, UH, THROUGH EVOLVE HOUSTON, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROMOTE ELECTRIFICATION, BE ABLE TO PROMOTE OUR ENVIRONMENT. UM, AND SO IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO BY THE BUSINESS SECTOR AS WELL, BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT, NOT JUST, UM, THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE, UH, BUSINESSES WANNA RELOCATE TO A PLACE WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENT IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL. SO IT'S, IT'S ALSO A COMMITMENT ON THE BUSINESS SIDE. SO HAVING THAT BUSINESS BACKING WITH THE NONPROFIT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. NOW, AS IT RELATES TO METRO, UM, I DO, UH, I DID APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS YESTERDAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, UM, AND, AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT. UM, I, YOU KNOW, WE, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND I TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BUS SHELTERS. AND I REMEMBER WHEN I HAD TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, WHAT IT FELT LIKE AS I TOOK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR FIVE YEARS GOING TO SCHOOL, UH, WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO STAND OUT IN THE RAIN, WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO STAND OUT IN THE HEAT. AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, METRO IS NOT ONLY, UH, THERE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT METRO IS THERE TO BE THE KIND OF BUS SERVICE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO RIDE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANNA RIDE THE BUS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING SURE THAT IT IS EASY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU, WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, THE APPS BEING IMPORTANT AND EASY TO USE, UH, TODAY. UH, PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEIR TIME AND TIME IS IMPORTANT. AND SO IF THINGS ARE EASY, PEOPLE WILL, UH, WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE THINGS. SO WE WANT METRO TO BE NOT ONLY A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THOSE THAT HAVE TO TAKE IT, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE IT. WE WANNA BE THE METRO THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE. AND SO, WHILE WE APPRECIATE, UH, METRO NEXT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WHAT'S GOING ON [03:30:01] WITH METRO NEXT, WE DO WANNA FOCUS ON METRO NOW AND MAKING SURE THAT METRO NOW IS, IS THE KIND OF METRO THAT WE WANNA, WE WANT TO RIDE. I LIKE THE WAY IT SOUNDS. VERY GOOD. , ANYTHING ELSE? WELL, AGAIN, I WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO ALL THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE THAT'S HERE. IT, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, UM, THAT IS IMPORTANT AS NOT ONLY, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT, UH, REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY. AND I DO WANNA TAKE A, A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO SAY GO COOKS. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. ELIZABETH, YOU CAN GO HOME. ARE Y'ALL GONNA VOTE? I'M SORRY. WE DID IT. HEY, WE ACTUALLY VOTED . OH, Y'ALL ALREADY VOTED. OKAY. WE'LL DO IT AGAIN IF, IF YOU WANT. BUT , BUT NO, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE IT. YEAH. LET'S, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL. I THINK I'VE GOT SOME MEMBERS THAT, INCLUDING THE, THE MAYOR DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY WERE VOTING EARLIER. UH, WE VOTED WHEN WE BROUGHT YOU UP. SO, MADAM SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLE PLEASE, MAYOR. AND THIS IS ON THE APPOINTMENT OF ELIZABETH BROCK. IS CHAIRPERSON OF METRO MAYOR SHOW THE MAYOR VOTING YES. YES. DR. JACKSON. YES. DR. MCCAIN. YES. MAYOR? YES. YES. YES. DR. MCC CASTILLO. YES. MARTINEZ? YES. DR. MCC POLLARD? YES. DR. CASTEX. OH, RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCIL DAVIS. YES. COUNCIL MCC? YES. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. YES. UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU MEMBERS. UNANIMOUS. [03:36:52] ELIZABETH. ELIZABETH, TAKE YOUR FRIENDS OUTSIDE. OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED. THERE'S OLD GERARD. IT'S GONNA BE THE LANGUAGE. JESSICA AHMAD, WOULD Y'ALL SHUT THE DOORS? [2.  PUBLIC HEARING on the proposed amendment of Article XVI, Chapter 40 of the City's Code of Ordinances to extend provisions of the Civility Ordinance to the Riverside Terrace area ] OKAY. THE MAYOR BRINGS UP, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, WE WILL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL OUT ITEM NUMBER TWO? ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 40 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES HPD AND WHOEVER'S REPRESENTING, UH, THIS ISSUE, COMMANDER WYNN AND SERGEANT SIGN. WOULD Y'ALL GO AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD? COUNCIL MAYOR, I'M, UH, COMMANDER SONNY WYNN OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION, AND WITH ME IS, UH, SERGEANT MATT SIMON. UH, HE WORKS IN CHIEF SATELLITE'S OFFICE. HE IS ONE OF OUR SERGEANT MATTER EXPERTS ON, UM, ALL THINGS RELATED TO CIVILITY, ORDINANCES, AND ALSO, UH, DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE TEAM, DRT ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY. SO HE, HERE'S A BACKUP FOR ME IN CASE, UH, THERE'S ANY, UH, QUESTIONS. UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK, UH, [03:40:01] CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, UH, THIS COUNCIL AND THIS MAYOR BEING A PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, PRIORITY AS, AS, AS THEIR PRIORITY. SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE WORKING WITH EVERYONE. UM, SO BEFORE YOU IS A SHORT PRESENTATION, UM, FOR THE PROPOSED RIVERSIDE CIVILIAN ZONE, UH, WHICH INCLUDES THE RIVERSIDE CRIME REPORT. UM, WITHIN THIS PRESENTATION, HPD HAS PROVIDED, UH, BACKGROUND INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT CIVILITY ZONE IS AND THE ORIGINAL, UH, GOAL OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. AND ADDITIONALLY, UM, THAT'S ACTUALLY ON PAGE TWO, THREE, AND FOUR OF THE PRESENTATION. WAIT SECOND, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE NOISE. MARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE CONTROL? . THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, SIR. SO, SO AGAIN, UM, WITHIN THE PRESENTATION, HPD PROVIDED BACKGROUND INFORMATION REGARDING, UH, THE, UH, WHAT A CIVILITY ZONE IS, AND, AND THE ORIGINAL GOAL OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, PAGE TWO THROUGH AND FOUR OF THE PRESENTATION. UM, ADDITIONALLY, UM, WE ELABORATE UPON THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF CURRENT CIVILITY, UH, ZONES IN HOUSTON. THAT'S ON PAGE FIVE. UM, NEXT IN THE PRESENTATION, WE DESCRIBE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT, HPD, UM, IN THIS ASSIGNMENT AND THE METHODOLOGY WE USE TO CREATE THIS REPORT. THAT'S ON PAGE SEVEN AND EIGHT. UM, THEN THE CRIMES WITH CORRELATION TO CIVILITY VIOLATIONS ARE DETAILED, UM, ALONG WITH THE CALL FOR SERVICE THAT WE RECEIVE BY OUR DEPARTMENT. THAT'S ON PAGE NINE AND 10. AND LASTLY, UH, WE PROVIDED A UNIFORM CRIME REPORT FOR THE AREA IN QUESTION, UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FBI STANDARDS OF REPORTING, THAT'S ON PAGE 11. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK IT'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE. WHAT IMPACT DOES DESIGNATING AN AREA AS A CIVILITY ZONE HAVE? I MEAN, IN MY WORLD, ALL OF HOUSTON OUGHT TO BE A CIVILITY ZONE. SO WHEN YOU FOCUS AND, AND YOU MIGHT REFERENCE THE EXISTING ZONES, WHAT IMPACT, WHAT'S THE NATURE ARE THE REASON WE WANT TO DO THIS? AND I, UH, I WILL. UM, SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, UH, AND I DON'T GET YOU OFF YOUR SCRIPT, BUT THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE IN MY WORLD IS, SIR, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? I'M GONNA, DID YOU REFER TO BOOTS ON THE GROUND? WHO'S DONE THIS JOB FOR A LONG TIME? OKAY. UH, GONNA, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MATTHEW SIMON. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, IN THE EYES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHEN A ZONE IS DETERMINED TO BE A CIVILITY ZONE, PRIMARILY THE OFFENSE OF SITTING OR LYING ON THE SIDEWALK BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 AM AND 11:00 PM BECOMES AN ILLEGAL ACT. SO THAT'S YOUR PRIORITY IN A CIVILITY ZONE, IS TO PROHIBIT SLEEPING ON A SIDEWALK, NOT SLEEPING ON A SIDEWALK CITY LINE, OR PLACING PERSONAL ITEMS ON THE SIDEWALK. SO CURRENTLY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU, EVEN IF WE PASS THIS, YOU, YOU, YOU WILL STILL ALLOW NIGHTTIME SLEEPING, BUT NO DAYTIME. CORRECT? THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN, THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 PM TO 7:00 AM IS NOT AN OFFENSE TO SIT OR LIE ON SIDEWALK. SO IF YOU SLEEP ON THE SIDEWALK ALL NIGHT, YOU GOTTA GET UP THE NEXT MORNING AND MOVE. RIGHT? WELL, YOU'D HAVE TO GET UP AND EXERCISE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK THAT OR MOVE OR WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO DO. AND HPD ENFORCES THAT. RIGHT? AND THE CIVILITY ZONES, IF A ZONE IS PASSED IS A CIVILITY ORDINANCE. CORRECT. ENFORCE IT. IT'S PRIMARILY DEALING WITH SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK, WHICH I KNOW IS ON THE LIST, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE INCLUSIVE OR MORE BROADER THAN THIS. BUT IT'S REALLY NOT. HUH? IT'S PRIMARILY JUST SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK. IT'S NOT DEALING WITH GRAFFITI OR ALL THE OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. YOU'RE, YOU'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK. THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, IT'S SITTING, LYING OR PLACING PERSONAL ITEMS ON THE SIDEWALK IF AN INDIVIDUAL ELECTS TO LAY DOWN. AND THE REASON YOU CAN NOT ENFORCE IT TONIGHT IS 'CAUSE THERE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO KIND OF CAMP OR SLEEP WHERE THEY WANT. THERE'S BEEN LITIGATION IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES CONCERNING THE HOURS. HOW ENFORCE THAT. LET'S TELL ME A REAL, PUT A FACE ON IT, WHICH IS I LIKE TO DO. SO YOU GOT SOMEBODY THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW TO SLEEP ON THE SIDEWALK IN RIVER CREST. DOES HPD GO AWAY, COME UP IN THE MORNING, TELL 'EM TO MOVE ON? I MEAN, HOW, TELL ME A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE. SO AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE, SHOULD THE COMMUNITY CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND STATE, [03:45:01] I OBSERVE SOMEONE SITTING, LYING ON THE SIDEWALK. SIMILAR TO DOWNTOWN OFFICERS WILL RESPOND RENDER AID IF ANYBODY NEEDS AID, IF THEY NEED SOCIAL SERVICES, THAT WILL BE, WOULD THAT BE A 9 1 1 CALL? CORRECT. IT'D BE 9 1 1 NON-EMERGENCY. 3 1, 1 CALL. NO, IT WON'T BE THREE ONE, IT'S GONNA BE A POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO WE GOT CITIZENS, MOST LIKELY MAYBE BUSINESSES WILL CALL 9 1 1 AND SAY, IN THIS CIVILITY ZONE, WE HAVE SOMEONE SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK. RIGHT. IN MY AND THEN WHAT DO Y'ALL DO? WE, WE RESPOND, FIELD OFFICERS RESPOND. YOU HOPE. WHAT WOULD BE THE RESPONSE TIME? OKAY, YOU UN I DIDN'T SWEAR YOU UNDER OATH, BUT , I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA SHOOT STRAIGHT WITH US. SO I CALL 9 1 1 AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. SOMEONE'S SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME? WE DO NOT HAVE AN AVERAGE IDEA. IT WOULD BE, SIR, DO NOT HAVE AN AVERAGE IDEA OF THE RESPONSE TIME. THAT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT. I ASSUME THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT A CODE ONE OR OTHER PRIORITY CALLS, DEPENDING, DEPENDENT UPON WHAT'S REPORTED IS IF THEY, THE COMMUNITY CALLS AND STATES, THIS INDIVIDUAL'S LYING ON THE SIDEWALK. I KNOW IF YOU'RE HAVING A SHOOT OUT ON THE SIDEWALK, YOU GET THERE QUICKER. I UNDERSTAND THAT IS VOMITING. BUT IF SOMEBODY'S JUST MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND SLEEPING MM-HMM . YOU'RE STILL GONNA PUT THAT IN THE CALL LIST. CORRECT. AND YOU CAN'T TELL US THIS MORNING THE, THE, THE LENGTH OF THAT RESPONSE? NO, SIR. MAY MAY, I, IT'D BE INTERESTING TO KNOW. UH, SO IT, IT'S NOT A, A HIGH PRIORITY CALL. NO, WE GOT, HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE, UH, THE DRT OFFICERS THAT ARE REGULARLY LOOKING FOR THOSE THINGS. SO WE DO HAVE A, A DIFFERENT UNIT THAT ACTUALLY FOCUSES ON ISSUES LIKE CIVILITY ZONES. SO WHEN, AND THIS IS MY AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, I DO HAVE, UH, NINE OFFICERS ASSIGNED AND A SERGEANT ASSIGNED TO FOR THE CITY? NO, YOU HAVE NINE FOR THE, NO, THIS IS FROM, FOR MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 10 SOUTH CENTRAL. THERE'S MULTIPLE DISTRICTS, OF COURSE, AND MULTIPLE DIVISIONS WHO HAVE DRT OFFICERS. SO IT WOULDN'T BE JUST A PATROL RESPONSE. OKAY. SO HOW, HOW WOULD THEY, EITHER ONE OF YOU APPROACH THAT INDIVIDUAL AND WHAT'S THE INSTRUCTIONS, WHAT'S THE DEGREE OF COOPERATION YOU NORMALLY GET? AND THEN WHAT DO YOU DO? I MEAN, I JUST THINK MEMBERS, I'M TRYING AS WE GO FORWARD ON OTHER ISSUES, CERTAINLY CANCER CLUSTER, AND I CAN NAME OTHERS. WE GOTTA GET A REAL LIFE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON BECAUSE SOUNDBITES AND PERCEPTION IS ONE THING. WE'RE FIXING TO CREATE A CIVILITY DISTRICT. IF WE APPROVE THIS NOW, WHAT'S THAT GONNA MEAN TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? AND I DON'T BELONG TO THE CLUB THAT YOU SAY, OH, IT'S GONNA MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. YOU'LL LIKE IT. LET'S DESCRIBE IT AND TELL US THE EXPERIENCE IN OTHER AREAS. SO HOW DO YOU HANDLE SOMEONE THAT JUST SAYS, NO, I'M NOT READY TO GET UP. YEAH. SO WHEN, EXCUSE ME. WHEN A CITIZEN CALLS AND WE RESPOND AS INDICATED, WE'LL GO AND RENDER AID. THE FIRST THING IS WHY IS A PERSON SITTING HERE LYING ON THE SIDEWALK? OBVIOUSLY WHAT, WHAT'S REPORTED TO US IS A FACTOR. WE'LL GO UP. HEY, HOW YOU DOING SIR? MA'AM, THIS IS A RADIO PATROL OFFICER, CORRECT. PATROL OFFICER, HIM OR THE OTHER CATEGORY. CORRECT. AN EXTRA JOB OFFICER. YEAH. GO UP AND APPROACH THE CITIZEN. HOW YOU DOING SIR? MA'AM, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU'RE UNA UNABLE TO SIT OR LIE ON THE SIDEWALK BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 AM AND 11:00 PM COMMON PROCEDURE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IF THERE ARE SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS, WE WILL FOLLOW THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. IF THERE ARE SIGNS OF, UM, UH, PHYSICAL DISTRESS, SUCH AS THEY NEED, UH, MEDICAL. YEAH, MEDICAL, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE INTOXICATED ON SOME SUBJECT, ON SOME SUB SUBSTANCE, THEY'LL BE RENDERED A SHOULD. WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT BLATANTLY SAYS, OFFICER, I'M WELL AWARE OF THE LAW OFFICER. I CHOOSE NOT TO ABIDE BY THE LAW OFFICER. I DON'T NEED ANY HELP. THEN THE ENFORCEMENT COMES INTO PLAY. HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY YOU'D HANDLE IT? IF I'M, UH, IN OTHER AREAS OF HOUSTON? I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, WHEN I START OUT, I THINK THE WHOLE CITY OUGHT TO BE CIVIL. SO WHY, WHY DO WE NEED TO GIVE YOU THIS DISTRICT DESIGNATION VERSUS MAYBE OAK FOREST THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS JUST DESIGNATION. BUT I WAKE UP ON, IN OAK FOREST AND SOMEBODY'S SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF ME. HOW IS THAT A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN THE ONE WE'RE FIXING TO CREATE? CORRECT. UM, STATE LAW CURRENTLY REQUIRES STATE LAW REQUIRES THE ENTIRE SIDEWALK TO BE BLOCKED. ENTIRE SIDEWALK IMPASSABLE. IT'S IN A PENAL CODE. UH, IT'S, UH, CORRECT. I I HAVE TO TRANSPORTATION CODE. ONE OF THE CODES. CORRECT. CURRENTLY, STATE LAW REQUIRES THE ENTIRETY OF THE SIDEWALK TO BE BLOCKED AND UNUSABLE OR IMPASSABLE [03:50:01] DISABILITY ORDINANCE IS BROADER. AND IT SAYS SITTING LINE OR PLACING PERSONAL ITEMS ON AMAZING. OKAY. UH, I, I HOPE OTHER MEMBERS ARE IN, IN THE BOARD'S LIGHTING UP THAT IT IS PEAKED SOME INTEREST IN THIS. I JUST THINK WE'RE GONNA SPEND TIME ON THIS AND I HOPE, UH, I I DON'T WANNA FOOL THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS SOME MAGIC WAND THAT'S GONNA REALLY CHANGE THE CONDUCT OF SOME PEOPLE. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN YOU, IF THAT PERSON DON'T WANNA COOPERATE WHAT THEY'RE HOMELESS, DO YOU JUST MAYBE TAKE 'EM TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER OR WHAT? CORRECT. MAYBE IF THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT DO YOU DO? MENTAL HEALTH. IT WAS, UH, THE AFOREMENTIONED TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. YOU DO WHAT WITH 'EM? THE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER. IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA FOR, UH, AN IMMEDIATE DETENTION TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION, IF THEY'RE HOMELESS, CORRECT. THEY ARE AFFORDED OPPORTUNITIES. THE NAVIGATION CENTER, THE DIVE DIVERSION CENTER, UH, THE PLACE THAT THEY'RE CHOOSING WHERE THEY'RE BEING ACCEPTED WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP. IF AN INDIVIDUAL CHOOSES NO DIVERSIONARY OPTION OR DOESN'T NEED IT, THEY'RE NOT IN, THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THEY'RE NOT IN MEDICAL AID. THEY'RE NOT IN PSYCHIATRIC DISTRESS, THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO A SHELTER, THEN IT REFER REVERTS BACK TO THE LAW. THEN WHAT DO YOU DO THEN? THEY ARE WARNED. WHAT WARNED, WARNED, WARRANTED, WARNED, WARNED, WARNED, WARNED, WARNED, WARNED. HMM. THEN WHAT WARNED THEN WHAT THEY'RE WARNED GIVEN TIME TO COMPLY. IF THEY ELECT NOT TO COMPLY, THEY'LL RECEIVE A CITATION. A TICKET. CORRECT. AND IF NONCOMPLIANCE, YES, THE OPPORTUNITY RISES FOR ARREST, YOU EVER TAKE 'EM TO JAIL? UH, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS ARRESTED, MORE THAN LIKELY THEY'LL BE TRANSPORTED TO DIVERSION CENTER. A DIVERSIONARY TACTIC, DIVERSION CENTER. 'CAUSE I'M NOT SO SURE WHAT THAT PROFILE THAT YOU GAVE US A TICKET WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT. AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING THE JAIL. I'M JUST SIMPLY SAYING, WHAT'S THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOU SHOWING UP? AND DO YOU REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM? UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I'M GONNA ASSUME MORE TIMES THAN NOT, IT'S MENTAL HEALTH. HOMELESS PERSON PROBABLY. WHAT DO THEY SAY? THEY'RE HUNGRY, OFFICER. I JUST WOULD NEED SOMETHING TO EAT. AGREE. FOOD IS AVAILABLE AT THOSE AFOREMENTIONED PLACES. THE NAVIGATION CENTER. DIVERSION CENTER, YEAH. OR IF, UH, WORST CASE SCENARIO, THEY'RE COMPLETELY MALNOURISHED. FOOD IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT OTHER MEDICAL FACILITIES. ONE LAST QUESTION. WHAT DOES OFFICERS THINK OF THIS? THE OFFICERS LOOK AT IT. GO, LEMME SPEAK ON THE OFFICER. OKAY. GO, GO AHEAD. HEADQUARTERS APPROVAL, MAYOR, UH, PROBABLY DEPENDS ON WHICH OFFICER IN THEIR TRAINING AND, AND TOLERANCE THAT DAY. SO, SO I DO WANT COUNSEL TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING TO PASS OR NOT PASS THIS ORDINANCE. NO, I GOT IT. OUR OUR JOB IS TO GIVE YOU THE REPORT AND THE CRIME REPORT AND IT'S BUILDING ORDINANCE THAT WAY. SO WE DON'T HAVE POSITION IN THIS. UH, I KNOW, BUT YOU'RE THE BEST RESOURCE WE GOT BECAUSE WHAT WE DO HERE IS GONNA INVOLVE YOU AND THE COMMUNITY. AND I'M, I QUITE FRANKLY, ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT IT. AND WE'RE GONNA RESPECT THE VOTE OF THE COUNCIL, BUT I JUST AM REALLY STRONG ON NOT LETTING SOMETHING BE PERCEIVED AS A CURE-ALL WHEN QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S PROBABLY HAS NO OPTIONS BUT SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK THAT, THAT NIGHT. BUT THEY GOTTA GET UP THE NEXT MORNING. AND THEN CAN THEY GO BACK THAT NIGHT AND SLEEP IN THE SAME SPOT? YES, SIR. OKAY. LET ME RECOGNIZE SOME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCIL, ARE THEY DONE WITH THE REPORT? OBVIOUSLY I INTERRUPTED THEIR REPORT. UH, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO FINISH BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. I, I YIELD MY TIME TO THE COMMUNITY TO, TO, TO SPEAK ON THIS. YEAH. I PROBABLY DID YOU A FAVOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. . . THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FOR, AND I SEE CHIEF YOU BEHIND IT AS WELL. UM, I JUST, I WANNA FIRST RECOGNIZE DRT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO DO. UM, YOU ALL ARE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, UM, WHETHER IT'S TO HOMELESSNESS, WHETHER IT'S, AS THE MAYOR BROUGHT UP, UH, GRAFFITI AND CLEANLINESS, THERE IS A LOT THAT DRT DOES OTHER THAN JUST ENFORCING THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. SO I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A STEP BACK TO RECOGNIZE THAT WITHOUT DRT, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT OUR RESIDENTS CALL US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET DONE. SO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FIRST AS IT RELATES TO THIS. ONE OF MY CONCERNS, AND I I, I KNOW THAT A NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS BY NEIGHBORHOOD PETITION, IS THAT CORRECT? SO, A NEIGHBORHOOD, I BELIEVE RIVERSIDE TERRACE HAS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THIS, SO I WOULD DEFER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THAT DISTRICT FOR FEEDBACK AS TO WHY THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD. BUT A FEW OF MY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I MAY 1ST, UM, IS THE CONCERN. THE CHRONICLE JUST CAME OUT WITH A REPORT [03:55:01] ABOUT, UH, CITATIONS AGAINST HOMELESSNESS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HOMELESS. AND THERE WAS A MAP THAT OVERLAID CERTAIN AREAS, UH, THAT WHERE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED MORE CITATIONS THAN OTHERS. SO MY FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE, AND I KNOW YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO TODAY, UH, DOES THAT CORRELATE WITH SOME OF THESE AREAS THAT, UM, ARE ALREADY INORDINANCE? SO ARE WE HEAVILY CITING SOMEBODY FOR THE WHAT SHOULD NOT BE A CRIME, BUT IS DEEMED A CRIME OF HOMELESSNESS? AND MY CONCERN WITH THAT IS, AGAIN, MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, UM, NO ONE'S BEING PROHIBITED FROM THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT AT NIGHT. WHEN WE MAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, HAVE SOMEBODY PASSED OUT FROM BEING DRUNK AT A BAR, RIGHT? OR VOMITING BECAUSE THEY'VE DRUNKEN TOO MUCH OR DOING OTHER UNNECESSARY THINGS ON SOMEBODY'S PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT SOMEBODY THAT MAY BE HOMELESS. IT JUST FEELS LIKE THIS IS ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, BUT IT'S ALSO PENALIZING HOMELESSNESS. SO I THINK MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE SEEING INCREASED CITATIONS IN THE AREAS WHERE THESE ARE BEING DES UH, DESIGNATED AS CIVILITY ORDINANCE ZONES? AND, AND Y'ALL MAY HAVE TO COME BACK TO US ON THAT, BUT YOU MAY WANNA RESPOND NOW. CORRECT. I, I UNDERSTAND REGARDING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN WHERE CITATIONS ARE WRITTEN IN CIVILITY ZONES, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO RESEARCH. THE PART OF THAT ARTICLE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WAS THE RESPONSE TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN REGARDS TO ENCAMPMENT AND HOW IT WAS REACTIVE IN NATURE. THAT, THAT'S A FAIR DISTINCTION. AND THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. AGAIN. MY, AND THAT'S, THAT'S TOTALLY FAIR. SO AGAIN, I'LL JUST REPHRASE, REFRAME AS IS THIS ORDINANCE REALLY CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE SLEEPING ON A STREET, UM, AGAIN, DURING DAYTIME HOURS. UH, WE HAVE ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OTHER TYPES OF BEHAVIOR IN NEIGHBORHOODS DURING DAYTIME HOURS THAT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY PENALIZING. SO I, I JUST WANNA BRING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. AND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT DRT, BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESS RESPONSE, Y'ALL DO A GOOD JOB. I LIKE TO TRY AND ALSO WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT. AND WE NEED MORE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, WE NEED MORE DIVERSION CENTER SPACE. WE NEED MORE OF ALL OF THAT TO GIVE YOU ALL THE RESOURCES YOU NEED. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY THE WHOLE CITY, INCLUDING THOSE THAT MAY NOT HAVE A VOICE IN THIS. BUT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DEFER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER, GIVEN THIS IS A RESIDENT DRIVEN PETITION THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD. THANK YOU. IS THE DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE TEAM LAW AND CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS? YES, SIR. THERE ARE POLICE OFFICERS. THEY'RE JUST ASSIGNED TO THAT UNIT AT EVERY DIVISION. THERE'S A, THERE'S A UNION. ARE Y'ALL COMPANIED BY MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS WHEN YOU GO? JUST SEEMS TO ME, MEMBERS, THIS IS REALLY A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. YES. WE WORK WITH THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM, WHICH IS ALSO POLICE OFFICERS, UH, UM, ON THESE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S, IT'S, UH, THEY ALL HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH DRT AND HOMELESS OUTREACH. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, MOST OF THE HOMELESS ARE, ARE KNOWN TO THE OFFICERS. SO THEY REGULARLY DEAL WITH THEM, UM, EVEN THOUGH THEY, THEY, THEY MOVE AND THEY TRANSIT TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. BUT MOST OF THE OFFICERS, DEAR TO OFFICERS HOMES, OUTREACH TEAM SURE. THEY KNOW THE, THE, UH, THE RESIDENCE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. UM, I JUST WANNA ADD COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND ASKED A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD HAVE, BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE POLARIZING A SITUATION INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING A PROBLEM. AND THE PROBLEM IS HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH. AND UNTIL WE CAN EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THOSE TWO ISSUES, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE RESIDENTS, UH, OF THIS AREA, WE'RE MOVING THEM FROM ONE ZONE TO ANOTHER, TO ANOTHER. AND SO WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH AND NOT POLARIZE A SITUATION, A COMMUNITY, A DOWNTOWN STREET, BUT REALLY GO DEEP AND ADDRESS THE SITUATION. UM, ALSO TO, IN, IN TRYING TO ENFORCE IT, ENFORCING ANYTHING, WE'RE TAKING YOU ALL OFF THE STREETS. CORRECT. AND, YOU KNOW, THESE AREN'T, YOU KNOW, UH, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET UNDER CONTROL, PER SE. MAYBE THEY LEAD TO THAT, THESE, THESE INSTANCES. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A, A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE HOMELESSNESS SITUATION AND THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM AS REGARDS TO HOW IT IMPACTS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, AND TO COUNCIL, MAYOR CARTER'S POINT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, MOVING PEOPLE AROUND FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER ISN'T WHAT WE WANNA DO HERE. BUT I DO HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR THIS AS WELL. UM, AND FROM THE [04:00:01] PERSPECTIVE OF LIKE THE MANAGE SPRING BRANCH MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO'S GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR THIS IS THAT A LOT OF TIMES NOW WHEN OUR OFFICERS ARE GOING TO SOME OF THE, UM, ENCAMPMENT SITES IN DISTRICT A, THERE'S NOT ALWAYS AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT THE OFFICERS CAN DO ANYTHING. AND SO THIS COULD BE ANOTHER TOOL TO ACTUALLY HELP THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, UM, GIVE THEM KIND OF A PUSH TO EITHER GO TO ONE OF THESE, YOU KNOW, THE NAVIGATION CENTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND WE'VE SEEN IN THE, UM, ENCAMPMENTS THAT WE'VE DECOMMISSIONED IN DISTRICT A THAT SOMETIMES THAT IS JUST THE PUSH THAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO ACTUALLY GET THE HELP THAT THEY SO NEEDED. SO I'M HOPEFUL LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS, UM, PANS OUT TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT JUST BE THE PUSH THAT PEOPLE NEED TO GET THAT ASSISTANCE. SO, UM, WE LOOK FORWARD, UM, IN DISTRICT A TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR THIS. AND THAT WAY WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH HPDA LITTLE MORE CLOSELY TO ACTUALLY HELP THE INDIVIDUALS. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW THE OFFICERS ADDRESSED THE ENCAMPMENT ISSUE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SEPARATE. APART FROM A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK. CORRECT. STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE. WE HAVE A STATUTORY, SO THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT THE ENCAMPMENTS AS WE KNOW THEM. CORRECT. AS COUNCIL MEMBER. PECK SAID IT CAN BE A, YOU, IT CAN BE A TOOL TOWARDS ENCAMPMENT. NO, I MEAN, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU, BUT IT'S SPECIFICALLY THE SIDEWALKS, RIGHT? IT'S SIDEWALKS, YES. IT'S NOT, THE ENCAMPMENTS IS A WHOLE PUBLIC, BUT IT'S THE SAME OFFICE ENC CAMPUS CAMPUS. RIGHT? THE SAME OFFICER. IT'S THE SAME OFFICER. NO, THAT'S THE WAY THEY'RE USING IT. NOT THE SAME OFFENSE. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GONNA CHARGE WITH OFFICERS, OFFICERS, OFFICER. OH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. YEAH. YEAH. UH, MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND YIELD TO COUNCILMAN BOSS. IT SITS IN HER. YEAH, I TIME I RESPECT THE, THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S DISTRICT. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT THAT PETITIONED? 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WE'LL GET IT. I'M JUST, I FORGOT. I TRYING TO LEARN TO PROCESS. I THINK. IS IT A LARGE NUMBER? DO YOU KNOW ARTURO? WHAT TRIGGERS IT? WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. LET, LET ME JUST MAKE A COMMENT AND THEN AS I'M LOOKING FOR THAT, FOR THAT DATA, BUT, YOU KNOW, ALL AREAS OF THE CITY DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALKS. LET'S BE CLEAR. UH, AND SO THIS IS A COMMUNITY, UH, INITIATIVE THAT I SUPPORT AND DATA SUPPORTS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THAT AREA. AND I JUST WANT TO, UH, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT AN EFFORT TO PENALIZE OR EXCLUDE, BUT RATHER TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING. AND THIS COMMUNITY, UH, HAS ENGAGED WITH HPD AND OTHER, UH, AND THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND THEY JUST WANNA REDUCE THE, THE, THE, THE, UH, NUISANCES, UH, WHILE ENSURING SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED, AGAIN, TO NAVIGATE THEM TO PLACES WHERE AND, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO PLACES WHERE THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES IF THEY CHOOSE TO. BUT CERTAINLY, UM, WE THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS WORTHY OF COUNCIL APPROVAL. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR NAVIGATION CENTER THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, DONE A GREAT DEAL TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES, BUT YET IF PEOPLE ARE NOT ENCOURAGED TO USE THEM, THEN IT'S JUST A BUILDING. AND SO CERTAINLY I DO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, UH, WITH THIS INITIATIVE AND DATA SUPPORTS THAT IT IS NEEDED IN THAT COMMUNITY. UM, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION HAS A LOT OF AMENITIES AND CERTAINLY THEY'RE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE MUSEUMS, THE HOSPITALS, AND, UH, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE BEING USED, UM, BY THE PUBLIC. AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS. AND I THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR, UM, FOR THE INITIATIVE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO LIFT YOURSELF UP, SELF UP BY YOUR OWN BOOTSTRAPS, SO TO SPEAK, AND PROVIDE, UH, SOLUTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. NO, THANK YOU. AND A GOOD JOB OF PUTTING A, A FACE ON IT. I JUST, UH, WANT ALL OF HOUSTON TO HAVE CIVILITY BECAUSE YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE GOTTEN MOTIVATED. I UNDERSTAND. IT TAKES A HUNDRED, JUST A HUNDRED TO TRIGGER THIS. ALSO, I WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PATCHWORK ACROSS HOUSTON. SOME WHO KNOW OF THIS PROGRAM GET TO USE IT. YOU GO OVER FURTHER INTO THIRD WARD, UH, MAYBE SUNNYSIDE'S NOT COVERED BY THIS PARTICULAR CIVIL CIVILITY, UH, DISTINCTION. SO IT'S JUST MY UNDERSTANDING OF POLICE RESOURCES. UH, THE, THE OUTCOMES, YOU KNOW, I WAS BY THE NAVIGATION CENTER ON A SATURDAY AT FOUR O'CLOCK A MONTH AGO, PULLED UP AND ASKED THE, UH, GENTLEMAN [04:05:01] RUNNING THE DESKS. HOW MANY FOLKS ARE HERE? BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY AFTERNOON, NO ONE. HE SAID, NORMALLY ON NICE WEEKEND DAY THEY LEAVE. AND OF COURSE, WE COME DOWN BY A MINUTE, MAID PARK. THERE THEY ARE. SO I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN WE HAVE THESE UNDERSTANDINGS THE WAY WE WANT IT TO WORK AND SHOULD WORK. AND OUR INTENT SOMETIME IS NOT FULFILLED. SO I, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND MY QUESTIONING AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FROM THE OFFICERS REALLY THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT FIND THEMSELVES SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALL. AND WE DON'T WANT TO, ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES MENTIONED WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET, AND THEN THEY RUN 'EM OVER INTO A, A DISTRICT THAT'S NOT COVERED. THAT WOULD BE A, THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN. AND, AND MAYOR, IT'S AN EFFORT AND RESOURCE. AND TWO IS 197 PEOPLE ASKED FOR THIS. SO, UH, WELL, IT WAS 201 SIGNATURES. I WANTED TO COME BACK AND, AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU AS WELL. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, NEXT WE HAVE MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND JUST SOME MORE CLARITY ON THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, RIGHT? SO IT'S, UH, YOU NEED TO CONTAIN SIGNATURES FROM PROPERTY OWNERS WHOSE PROPERTY REPRESENT 20% OF THE TOTAL AREA DE DESIGNATED. UH, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE A HUNDRED CITIZENS WHO OVER THE AGE OF 18 RESIDING WITHIN THE PROPOSED AREA. UM, AND THEN ONCE YOU START THAT SIGNATURE, YOU HAVE A SIX DAY, UH, CLOCK THAT STARTS THAT YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO BRING BEFORE COUNCIL. SO THIS WHOLE PROCESS, IT'S IMPORTANT. UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AT ALONG HARRISBURG, ALONG THE GREEN LINE, UH, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE GREYHOUND AREA, UM, THAT HAS JUST MOVED IN. GOOD EXAMPLE. AND, AND WHAT I'LL SAY, UM, I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO PUT A FACE TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS WELL. UM, YES, IT IS HOMELESSNESS. UM, IT IS FOLKS THAT, THAT NEED HELP AND SUPPORT, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL. DRT. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT PULLING OFFICERS OFF OF THE BEAT NECESSARILY WITH DRT. THEY, THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY EIGHT TO FIVE POLICE OFFICERS. UM, AND THEY HANDLE COMMUNITY SERVICE ISSUES. SO, NUISANCE ABATEMENT, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THEY ARE THE FIRST CONTACT WITH HOMELESSNESS, UH, UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS. UM, AND SO, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER PECK MENTIONED, RIGHT, WE, WE SOMETIMES NEED TO, UH, ENCOURAGE THEM, RIGHT? WE HAVE THE, UH, NAVIGATION CENTER, WE HAVE THE OTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK ANOTHER, SOME SOMEWHAT OF A SEMI NAVIGATION CENTER UP IN 90. UM, SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO PROVIDE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOUSING, HOUSING FOR HOMELESSNESS IS, IS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT. BUT THIS IS A TOOL, AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, UH, WE, WE HAD PUBLIC SPEAKERS. THIS IS A TOOL FOR HPD, UH, TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT PUSH, UH, DRT AND, AND THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM FOR HPD, THEY'RE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. UH, I'M, I'M SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE A BIG HEART, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, BUT THEN THEY'RE PUTTING THIS FACE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE MEETING WITH CONSISTENTLY TO BUILD TRUST TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, THERE'S A BETTER WAY OUT. RIGHT? UM, AND THEN AT THESE, UH, LOCATIONS LIKE THE NAVIGATION CENTER, HOUSING WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED, UM, A LITTLE BIT. AND WE SHOULD NOT FORGET REENTRY. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AGAIN, THAT IS, THAT IS A, A, A WAY WHERE FOLKS UNFORTUNATELY ARE GOING INTO HOMELESSNESS AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PROVIDING THE RIGHT SERVICES FOR THEM AS, UH, IN ADDITION TO, UM, YOU KNOW, US NOT HAVING THE RIGHT RESOURCES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY WOULD DEFER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IN THE EAST END TO, UH, HAVE OUR CIVILITY ORDERS, UH, GO THROUGH AS WELL. UM, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE WANNA, YOU KNOW, PUSH HOMELESS OUT TO ANOTHER AREA, BUT WE WANNA ENCOURAGE THEM, RIGHT? WE WANNA ENCOURAGE THEM TO, TO FIND THAT HELP THAT, THAT THE CITY IS, IS OFFERING AS WELL. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. SOME OF THOSE LEGISLATORS DO NOT CONCERN THEMSELVES ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COVERING TODAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONCEPT AND THE PURPOSE DOES NOT CREATE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES EITHER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THOSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, AND CERTAINLY HPD COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I, I JUST WITH THE CONCERN OF THE MAYOR AND OTHERS, UM, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO THEIR CONCERNS, BECAUSE AS I WAS LOOKING, GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION LIST UNDER THE, UH, UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND WHAT ALL THAT IT PROTECTS, BECAUSE THE TRUTH, MY, MY CONCERN IS NUMBER ONE, MANPOWER POLICE OFFICER. YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE NINE, IS THAT CORRECT? YOU HAVE NINE OFFICERS DESIGNATED FOR ONE AREA? UH, WELL, IT'S FOR MY WHOLE DISTRICT. FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE DISTRICT. WHOLE DISTRICT. IT'S MY WHOLE DIVISION. NINE, NINE, OKAY. NINE AND A SERGEANT. BUT THEY ALSO DO OTHER THINGS BESIDES JUST ENFORCING, YOU KNOW, CIVILIAN ZONE OR, OR OKAY. SO THAT'S COMMUNITY [04:10:01] SERVICE, UM, GROUP TOO. THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF AREA TO COVER. I MEAN, ON THE BASIS OF WITH NINE OFFICERS. THE OTHER CONCERN WAS THAT I HAD WAS THE CITATION SIDE OF IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND THE MAYOR WAS ASKING LIKE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS SITUATION IF SOMEONE'S LYING ON THE SIDEWALK? UM, AND POSSIBLY COULD GO TO JAIL. UM, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE, WE KNOW WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE, THEY GENERALLY PUSH A LOT OF BASKETS, UH, UP AND DOWN THE STREET, YOU KNOW, UP AND DOWN THE SIDEWALKS, WHICH IS A, WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE. UM, BUT ACCORDING TO THIS, IT SAYS SITTING, LYING, PLACING PERSONAL ITEMS ON THE SIDEWALK, RIGHT? WHICH IS FALLS UNDER THE ORDINANCE, UNDER THE PREAMBLE. YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE PREAMBLES, RIGHT? IN YOUR PRESENTATION, IT TALKS ABOUT PERSISTENT PATTERN OF SUCH IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY, TIMES CAUSES DISRUPTION ASSOCIATED WITH INCIDENTS OF CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT, IMPEDED, OR PEACEFUL ORDER. SO THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING. RIGHT. OKAY. SO, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE ON THE BASIS OF THAT IS, ARE YOU, AND THE ASK COMING FROM RIVERSIDE IS A LEGITIMATE ONE. 'CAUSE I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND THEY'RE LIKE, 30, 31% WAS DRUGS. I THINK ON ONE OF YOUR SHEET YOU WERE SHOWING IN THAT ONE PARTICULAR AREA. 'CAUSE ALL AREAS ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL AREAS ARE NOT GONNA HAVE THE SAME CONDITION. COUNCIL MEMBER SHIBA WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, EVERY AREA'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T MAKE A BROADER ISSUE IN REGARDS TO PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED. ED, YOU UNDERSTAND? FOR, FOR THAT. 'CAUSE IT COULD JUST BE PEOPLE STANDING IN THE SIDEWALK, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANNA RESPECT THE COMMUNITY. 'CAUSE IF THEY THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON, THAT THEY WANT IT DONE, THEY WANT IT CLARIFIED. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW IF, IF COUNT, IF, IF, WHAT WOULD BE THE OBJECTION TO IT BASED ON THAT. BUT I WANT TO KNOW, THERE ARE SOME OTHER AREAS THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH. UH, I DO WANT TO, UM, UH, REMIND YOU THAT, THAT OUR, OUR GOAL IS, IS THERE'S THREE, UH, PRONGS TO THIS. IT'S ALWAYS EDUCATION FIRST. MM-HMM . THEN WE TRY TO DETER IT. THEN ENFORCEMENT'S ALWAYS THE LAST OPTION. AND, AND MY OFFICERS KNOW THAT WE, WE WE'RE NOT OUT THERE JUST OVER ENFORCING, YOU KNOW, ORDINANCES. THE, THE GOAL IS EDUCATION DETERRENT. IT'S GET 'EM, HELP GET 'EM OUT OF THAT SITUATION. OKAY. AND ENFORCEMENT IS OUR LAST OPTION, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR LAST OPTION BECAUSE WITH THE HOMELESS AND WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO ARE ON DRUGS, ON THE SIDEWALK, ENFORCEMENT IS NOT GONNA FIX THE PROBLEM. RIGHT. AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE OUT THERE EVERY DAY IN THE STREETS. SURE, SURE. MY OFFICERS ARE, I'M NOT, I'M IN THE OFFICE MOSTLY, BUT, UM, THEY'RE OUT THERE AND THEY TELL ME, WE DON'T WANNA PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR, FOR THIS. SURE. WE WANT TO GET CATCH BIGGER, UH, CRIMINALS. SO I, I WANT TO ASSURE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THAT YEAH, THIS IS NOT ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A TOLL THAT THE COMEDIAN WANTS US TO HAVE. ABSOLUTELY. IF WE NEED TO USE IT, BECAUSE OUR OFFICERS HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH NOW, YOU KNOW, BUT I, I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WE CAN GET CAUGHT IN THE WOODS ON, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES OVERCOMPENSATING AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE COME BACK TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL ON. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. UH, BEFORE I CALL ON YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, POLLARD, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT USE OF YOUR A TV OFFICERS TO GO THROUGH THE THANK YOU. SO ANYWAY, I YIELD TO YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, COUPLE THINGS ON THIS, UM, ONE, THIS IS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVE AND, UM, I THINK WE HAVE ORDINANCES ON THE BOOKS BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES ACCESS TO TOOLS THAT THEY CAN USE TO BETTER THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND OTHERS ARE UTILIZING THAT TOOL AS THE, AS THE HPD OFFICERS MENTIONED. AT FIRST, IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION, UM, BUT IT ALSO IS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST DOING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WHENEVER THEY WANT, WHEREVER THEY WANT. THERE HAS TO BE SOME STRUCTURE, SOME SOME, UM, SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT'S APPROPRIATE AND WHAT'S NOT, RIGHT. AND FOR IT NOT TO JUST BE FROM A PENALIZATION STANDPOINT, BUT MAYBE A RESOURCES STANDPOINT OR A, UM, A, A SHELTER OR, OR A HOME STANDPOINT. BUT THERE HAS TO BE PROTOCOL IN PLACE TO WHERE, UH, RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE OPTIONS TO BE [04:15:01] ABLE TO KEEP THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND SECURE. SO THAT'S ONE THING. UM, CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, EVEN IF WE WANTED TO DO THIS AS A CITYWIDE ORDINANCE, THE REASON WHY WE CANNOT DO SO IS BECAUSE THERE'S CASE LAW THAT MENTIONS THAT ANYTHING CITYWIDE WOULD PROBABLY GET STRUCK DOWN. SO IT HAS TO BE MORE ON A, UH, INDIVIDUALIZED BASIS, UH, DUE TO PETITIONS OF PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES. IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. THE LOS ANGELES, MIAMI, DALLAS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO IT CITYWIDE AND THE COURTS HAVE ENJOYED ENJOINED. IT. THERE'S ALSO A US SUPREME COURT CASE THAT'S, THE COURT IS CONSIDERING A PUBLIC ENCAMPMENT SITUATION TOO. SO THE LAW IS, UH, DIS FAVORS CITYWIDE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THANK YOU. AND SO FOR MY PARTICULAR DISTRICT, UH, EVERY AREA DOESN'T HAVE THESE ISSUES, BUT SOME DO. AND PRIMARILY MORE FOR THE STREET VENDORS, RIGHT, WHO ARE OUT ON THE SIDEWALK. THEY HAVE THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS ON THE SIDEWALK, THEY'RE SELLING TO INDIVIDUALS, AND THERE AREN'T A LOT OF TOOLS THAT ARE THERE FOR HPD OR THE DRT OFFICERS TO ENFORCE. BUT IF THERE WERE, UM, A SPECIFIC ZONE THAT WAS A CIVILITY ZONE, THEN THIS COULD BE A WAY IN WHICH THEY CAN HAVE MORE TOOLS IN THEIR TOOLBOX TO START ENFORCING SOME OF THOSE RULES. SO I THINK WE, WE ALWAYS SHOULD LOOK AT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, AND I THINK THIS DISCUSSION IS, IS GOOD. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THESE, I THINK, AT COUNCIL, BUT, UH, WE DO WANT TO GIVE OUR HPD OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES AS MANY TOOLS AS POSSIBLE. AND IF WE PUT A ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS FOR THEM, THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS ALLOW THEM TO GO THROUGH WITH ALL THE PETITIONS AND THEN WE COME BACK AND SAY, NAH, WE DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE ALWAYS SHOULD SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR PETITION. NOW, IF WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT FOR, FOR THEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT ANYMORE, THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION. BUT IF YOUR COMMUNITY WANTS THIS AND THEY WENT OUT AND GOT ALL THOSE PETITIONS WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THEN I THINK THEY KNOW THEIR AREA BETTER THAN WE DO. AND WE SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW MY DISTRICT WILL START BRINGING MORE PETITIONS ON THIS AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. VERY GOOD. ARTURO. IT IS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE APPELLATE COURTS, ISN'T IT? THERE'S AN ACTIVE CASE ON THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE AGAINST R, RIGHT? YES. SLEEPING ENCAMPMENTS, ET CETERA. YES, SIR. THE DALLAS CASE IS WORKING IT THROUGH, SO THERE MAY BE SOME MORE CLARITY ABOUT IT, BE YOU CAN GET MORE DIRECTION FROM THE APPELLATE. ANOTHER ISSUE, WHEN YOU ISSUE THESE CITATIONS, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S NOT A, A MAJOR DETERRENT. 'CAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY FOR THE MOST PART. SO IF YOU EVER CHECK TO SEE HOW MANY OF 'EM FOLLOW UP ON THEIR CITATIONS, THEY GO TO, THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY. SO THEN THEY'VE GOT UP HERE IN COURT SOMEDAY. IT'D BE INTERESTING FOR YOU TO GET TO US. OKAY. THE REASON FOR CITATIONS IS A, IT'S ESCALATION IN ENFORCEMENT STATE LAW ALLOWS AN OFFICER, YEAH. FOR EXAMPLE, OF ENCAMPMENT TO IMMEDIATELY GO TO AN ARREST. WHAT'S THE COST OF THAT CITATION? UH, I DO NOT KNOW THE PRICE. I WOULD DEFER TO MUNICIPAL COURTS. AND THERE ARE MUNICIPAL, UH, JUDGE ELAINE MARSHALL HAS ESTABLISHED A, UH, INDIGENT COURT. SO IF WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BEEN CITED AND THEY'RE PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THEIR ONLY BURDEN IS FISCAL, THEY HAVE OTHER MEANS TO RESOLVE THEIR CITATION. NO, WE UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO DEESCALATE IT AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS, BUT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER CITATIONS IS ONE OPTION, AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT BECOMES OF THEM. IT'S, THAT'S UP TO THE DEFENDANT. YEAH, WE, WE KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY. IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? YEAH. AGAIN, THAT'S UP TO THE DEFENDANT IN COURTS, WHETHER COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THANK YOU, MAR AGAIN, FOR ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH DRTI WOULD, UM, STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET WITH THE DIVISION BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO. UM, AGAIN, THIS IS COMMUNITY BASED WORK, UM, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH THOSE IN NEED, NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL, UM, CALL FOR SERVICE THAT WE THINK OF. NORMALLY WHEN WE THINK OF CALLING 9 1 1, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY BASED OUTREACH, UM, THAT WE LOOK FOR IN COMMUNITY POLICING. SO I, I REALLY WANNA COMMEND YOU ALL AGAIN AND URGE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAMS TO MEET WITH YOU ALL TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. UM, AGAIN, I WOULD DEFER TO, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S, YOU KNOW, IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THEIR RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS. I THINK MAYOR, WHAT GOT ME WAS THE FACT THAT WE CALL IT A CIVILITY ORDINANCE. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M THINKING OF THAT, IT'S FOR ME ARE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PROTESTING ON A SIDEWALK AND BLOCKING IT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT ON A MAIN THOROUGHFARE. UM, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS WITH THAT. SO I GUESS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, IS, YOU KNOW, YES, THIS IS BEING WORKED ITS WAY UP THROUGH THE COURTS [04:20:01] AS A TOOL, UM, THAT SOME MUNICIPALITIES ARE USING, BUT THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE THIS IS CITY PROPERTY BECAUSE THESE ARE PUBLIC SPACES. WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS AROUND THAT SO THAT WE AREN'T IMPEDING, UM, THOSE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS? BUT THEN TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND THOMAS'S POINT, UH, WHEN I WAS LOOKING MORE INTO THIS ORDINANCE, IT MAY BE A PERFECT AVENUE WITH STREET VENDORS. SO I THINK WHAT KIND OF I GOT HUNG UP ON MAYOR WITH THIS IS, WE CALL IT A CIVILITY ORDINANCE WHEN THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT THIS IS. UM, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, FREE AND FLUID ACCESS TO, UM, PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY. UH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, UM, UNNECESSARILY PENALIZING OR CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS. AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT DRT DOES THAT. UM, SO THERE'S JUST A LOT TO GRAPPLE WITH HERE. BUT I DO WANNA, UH, LIFT UP AND EMPHASIZE THE POINTS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD THAT YOU MADE, THAT THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS THAT RELATE TO THIS AS WELL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH AS A CITY. BUT CITY ATTORNEY, IF WE COULD GET SOME GUIDANCE, UH, NOT NECESSARILY TODAY, BUT JUST ON WHAT THE, UH, CONSTITUTIONAL PARAMETERS ARE AROUND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY, UM, AND US IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON THEM OR THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY CREATING RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE SPACES THEMSELVES, WHICH MAY NOT BE PERMISSIBLE. THANK YOU. UH, SHE, SHE ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR COUNSEL PERSON, EVAN SHABAZ, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S A MODEL THAT WE WILL GO FORWARD WITH. UH, I JUST, I GUESS SHARING OFF WHAT REPRESENTATIVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE COUNCILMAN CAYMAN SAID TO GET CIVILITY ACROSS HOUSTON. I THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT MORE THAN JUST THE SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALKS. IT'S THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND I COULD GO ON AND OWN, BUT, UH, IT'S A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD TOOL. AND, AND THANK YOU. AND I HOPE, I HOPE Y'ALL APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE. I MEAN, I'VE WATCHED COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS, AND I THINK THIS HAS BROUGHT ABOUT MORE DIALOGUE AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAN PREVIOUS SESSIONS. SO I YIELD TO YOU COUNCIL PERSON. I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A, A FINAL COMMENT. YES, MA'AM. I, I WANNA SAY I RESPECT ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR WALK IN LIFE. UM, SOME PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO BE SOME SITUATIONAL, SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL, I ALWAYS SAY THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD GO, I, ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, I SPENT MY ENTIRE MORNING FEEDING THE HOMELESS. AND I DON'T SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, TO JUST PUT IT OUT THERE, BUT CERTAINLY IT WAS A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. AND SO IF, IF IT'S ILLEGAL, IT'S ON RECORD NOW. AND SO IT LOCKED ME UP, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T, DON'T, NOT REALLY. BUT, UM, I REALLY JUST WANNA LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT TO CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS. IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS, DO NOT KNOW ABOUT RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE OR HELP THEM IN THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. SO IT'S NOT TO CRIMINALIZE THEM BECAUSE AGAIN, THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD GO, I, AND I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN, I, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT D, MUST LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD. THEY DID IT IN A PETITION. AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO ABATE THE PROBLEM AND CERTAINLY TO HELP OTHERS TO NAVIGATE TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, CERTAINLY DEALING WITH HOMELESS ISSUE. AND, UH, I HOPE TO INTRODUCE THE COUNCIL TO THE, THE CONCEPT OF HAVEN FOR HOPE IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT IS SUCH A WRAPAROUND SERVICE, RESIDENTIAL FOR MEN, WOMEN, FAMILIES, PETS. WE GET RECOGNITION FOR OUR IMPROVING THE HOMELESS CONDITIONS IN HOUSTON, BUT WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WITH THAT SAID, COMMANDER WYNN, WE RESPECT YOU. CHIEF CANTU, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND SERGEANT SIMON, PLEASE BE SAFE AND TELL YOUR OFFICERS WE APPRECIATE THE JOB THEY'VE GOT AND GO FORWARD WITH THIS, WITH THIS ORDINANCE. THANK Y'ALL. NOW, UH, WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP. MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, SHARON EVANS BROOKS TO BE FOLLOWED BY PHYLLIS MOSS? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. UH, MY NAME IS SHARON EVANS BROOKS, OBVIOUSLY I AM A MEMBER OF THE RIVERSIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF THE RIVERSIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. [04:25:01] WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PETITION THAT YOU HAVE, UM, ALL BEEN EXPLORING THIS MORNING, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE BROAD EXPLORATION AND QUESTIONS REGARDING IT. THE REASON PRIMARILY THAT WE, UM, WERE WE BROUGHT TO THIS POINT IS WE SAW ITS SUCCESSES IN, I THINK THERE WERE LISTED NINE OTHER CIVILITY ORDINANCE ZONES IN THE CITY. AND AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, EVERY AREA OF THE CITY DOES NOT SUFFER UNDER THE SAME SORT OF CONDITIONS THAT OUR HISTORIC RIVERSIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM, WHICH IS A LOT OF THE SIDEWALK, UM, UH, GATHERING OF INDIVIDUALS THERE. IT COULD BE HOMELESSNESS. I, I PERSONALLY, UM, DO NOT WANT TO FRAME IT AS THAT, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A HOME, AN ATTACK ON HOMELESSNESS. THERE ARE DRUG ADDICTED INDIVIDUALS, THERE ARE METH HEADS THAT ARE LAID OUT ON THE SIDEWALK. I MEAN, IF YOU JUST WANNA WALK DOWN THE STREET IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE STREET. AND MAYOR, UM, WE DO NOT EXPECT IT TO BE A BROAD, UM, OVERREACHING SOLVING OF A PROBLEM. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS, COMMUNITIES WERE, UH, ENCOURAGED TO U USE THE TOOLS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS. AND, UM, UH, MICHELLE KNOWS THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT AND WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER. SO ME PERSONALLY, NOT UNDER THE NAME OF THE RIVERSIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, I JUST RARELY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ASK OR TO EVEN COMMENT ON WHEN DO THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LAW ABIDING HOMEOWNERS, WHEN, WHEN ARE WE BEING HEARD? IT SEEMS TO BE THAT WE DEFER QUITE OFTEN TO OUR FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, MAY HAVE SOME CHALLENGES IN LIFE. AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO, UH, PROMOTE BUSINESS, WHO ARE PRO TRYING TO PROMOTE WHOLESOME HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND WHOLESOME HEALTHY COMMUNITIES SEEM TO NOT BE HEARD AS OFTEN. AND SO IN THIS INSTANCE, WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR AND ALTHOUGH IT SAID THERE WERE A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING ODD SIGNATURES, WE HAD 400 SIGNATURES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED MORE THAN 25% OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE WANTING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. WELL SAID. AND, AND I WOULD BET YOU COULD GET MOST HOUSTONIANS TO SIGN IT. WELL, NO, NO, NO. WE KNOW IT'S NOT A, A CORRECTION TO, NO, I'M NOT. WE WANT POLICE OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO APPROACH THEM AND SAY AGAIN, OFFER SERVICES TO THEM. UM, BUT ADDITIONALLY, HEY, IT'S NOT PERMITTED. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. UH, EVAN SHAVA, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHAVA. THANK YOU SHARON. UH, ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU. NO RELATIONSHIP , I MEAN, NO RELATIONSHIP REALLY. SHE DOESN'T CLAIM ME. I, I'LL, I DO CLAIM YOU ANYWAY, UM, ANYWAY, THANK YOU. ALWAYS. UH, IF YOU LOOK IN THE DICTIONARY IN THE LEADERSHIP, YOU'LL SEE HER FACE. SHE IS JUST AN AWESOME LEADER. AND WE, I APPRECIATE YOU. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FINISHED YOUR COMMENTS. UH, I FINISH. I DID. YOU DID. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING. THANK YOU. NEXT, PHYLLIS MOSS, BE FOLLOWED BY BRADLEY SULLIVAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, I AM PHYLLIS MOSS AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF RIVERSIDE. I'VE BEEN THERE 33 YEARS. UM, AND THIS IS NOT EASY FOR ME, FOR ME TO STAND HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS REALLY TUGS AT MY HEART. HOMELESSNESS IS NOT BLACK OR WHITE, AND IT'S A DIFFICULT ISSUE. I'M A CHRISTIAN AND I HAVE HELPED THE HOMELESS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT OUR AREA HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY. AND AS DOWNTOWN GROWS WITH THE GROWTH OF THE ION, AS WELL AS THE MOVING OF THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION, OF COURSE THE HOMELESS POPULATION HAS MOVED OUT AND THEY'RE NOW IN RIVERSIDE TERRACE. AND IT'S STARTING TO AFFECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WE STRUGGLE TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYBODY. AND SO THERE ARE CERTAINLY DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TIED TO THIS HOMELESS ISSUE WE HAVE IN RIVERSIDE. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN CRIME SUCH AS THEFT, VIOLENCE. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE OBSERVING SOMEBODY PUBLICLY USING THE BATHROOM, IT'S JUST DEVASTATING. AND WHEN YOU'RE AT THE RED LIGHT AND THEY'RE KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR AND YOU'RE A FEMALE AND YOU'RE THERE BY YOURSELF, YOU'RE AFRAID. AND SO IT'S DIFFERENT FOR US NOW, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM HPD AND OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE THE ORDINANCE, WE KNOW THAT IT DOES HELP. DOES IT SOLVE THE PROBLEM? A HUNDRED PERCENT? NO, IT DOES NOT, BUT IT DOES GIVE US A LEG TO STAND ON, SOMEWHERE TO START. WE ARE SEEKING A SOLUTION FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WANDERING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALKS, MAKING [04:30:01] THEM UNSAFE TO PASS AND SAFELY WALK THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, BRADLEY SULLIVAN. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL BRADLEY SULLIVAN WITH FLORIDA OF THE STREETS EPISCOPAL CHURCH. I'M NOT SPEAKING AGAINST THE ISSUE, I DON'T LIVE IN RIVERSIDE TERRACE. I HAVE NO RIGHT REALLY TO SPEAK AGAINST IT, BUT TO THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ORDINANCE. AND WE'VE SEEN, UM, OVER AND OVER WHERE WE ARE FOLKS, THERE WAS KATRINA JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WAS A COUPLE WEEKS FROM GETTING HER ID BACK, GETTING HER BIRTH CERTIFICATE. AND IF SHE HAD BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN ONE PLACE, ALBEIT ON THE SIDEWALK, SHE COULD HAVE, SHE HAD, SHE HAD TO LEAVE, THEN THE CALL COMES. SHE CAN'T GET THAT. THE, WHEN THE POLICE COME, THEY'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE CHALLENGE IS SO MANY OF THE PLACES THAT THEY CAN GO ARE FULL AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OPTIONS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE, MR. MAYOR, YOUR, UM, MENTIONING HAVEN FOR HOPE IN SAN ANTONIO AND ENCOURAGE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN IN HOUSTON. HOUSTON'S DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN THE LAST MANY YEARS IN GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED AND WORKING ON HOMELESS. IT IS NOT SOLVED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS STILL. AND AS THESE ORDINANCES HAPPEN, THEY SIMPLY DO GET MOVED TO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEN OFTEN UNCOUNTED AND UNSEEN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS THAT WE SEE EVERY WEEK AND THEY NEED A PLACE TO GO. AND CURRENTLY THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A PLACE. THEY'RE TOLD YOU NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. THERE'S JUST NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. NEXT SAVA BLANDING TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. HEY, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SABA BLANDING AND I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF HOUSTON AND PARISHIONER AT TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN MIDTOWN. I FIRST WANNA SHARE A STATEMENT FROM MY RECTOR, THE REVEREND HANNAH ATKINS ROMERO. UM, I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE PASSING OF THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO SOLVE THE ROOT AND VERY HUMAN CAUSES OF THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEKING TO ADDRESS WITH THIS ORDINANCE. THIS ORDINANCE PUNISHES THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED AND DEHUMANIZES THEIR SITUATION. I PROPOSE WE FUND AS THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT IN WASHINGTON, DC DOES FULL-TIME TEAMS OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND COMMUNITY LIAISONS BETWEEN THE BUSINESSES, HOMEOWNERS, AND THOSE WHO LIVE AND INHABIT THE STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES. THIS WILL MEAN THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE KNOWN, THEIR INDIVIDUAL STORIES AND CONDITIONS ARE UNDERSTOOD, AND THAT INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND, AND RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE BUILT IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH REAL SOLUTIONS TO CONCRETE NEEDS. I KNOW THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN TODAY, BUT I HOLD IT UP AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO WORK TOWARDS AWAY FROM CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR NEIGHBORS. AND THEN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, I ALSO ASK THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HOUSTON RESIDENTS TO PUT OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS SOCIALLY AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. TO SHARE SOME STATISTICS, A CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HOMELESS STUDY INDICATING THAT THE REGION WAS SPENDING ABOUT TRIPLE ON POLICING, HOMELESS PEOPLE'S NONVIOLENT RULE BREAKING AS IT WOULD COST TO GET EACH HOMELESS PERSON A HOUSE OR A CASEWORK AND A CA AND A CASEWORKER. A 2017 RAND CORPORATION ANALYSIS OF THE HOUSING FOR HEALTH PROGRAM IN LA COUNTY CONCLUDED THAT THE COUNTY SAVED ABOUT 20% BY PUTTING PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RATHER THAN RELYING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. AND THEN FINALLY, BEFORE RECEIVING HOUSING, THEY AVERAGED NEARLY 62,500 IN PUBLIC COSTS ANNUALLY. HOUSING THEM COSTS LESS THAN 20,000 PER PERSON IN ANNUAL SAVINGS OF MORE THAN 42,000. I KNOW HOUSTON'S MADE EFFORTS TO HOUSE THE UNHOUSED. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER AND DO MORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HOLD MAYOR. COUNCIL MA'AM, MA'AM, CAN YOU COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER? THOMAS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS HERE. UM, DO YOU, ARE YOU A RESIDENT OF RIVERSIDE? I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF RIVERSIDE. I'M USED TO BE EASTON. I RECENTLY MOVED TO MIDTOWN, SO I NO, I UNDERSTAND. NO, THE MUSEUM DISTRICT IS NEXT STEPS. SURE. WHICH IS WHY I WAS AWARE OF THIS. RIGHT. SO, NO. SO, UM, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WHEN, UM, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS THEY MENTIONED ABOUT THE EDUCATION, THAT WHEN THEY MEET SOMEONE THAT'S UNHOUSED THEY IMMEDIATELY ASSESS FOR HOUSING? DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT ALREADY EXISTS? I THINK THE MOST EFFECTIVE YES OR NO? ARE YOU FAMILIAR THAT THAT ALREADY EXISTS? I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE HOT TEAMS, YES. OKAY. SO ONCE THEY ARE ASSESSED, 'CAUSE YOU'RE MENTIONING A MODEL OUTSIDE OF THIS, OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE INFORMED OF WHAT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THIS CITY. SO THEY [04:35:01] ARE, UM, HPD ASSESSES FOR HOUSING. UM, THEN THEY ARE PLACED INTO OUR COORDINATED CARE SYSTEM WITH, UH, VARIOUS NONPROFIT AGENCIES. THEY ARE ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER. AND WHEN HOUSING IS AVAILABLE, THEY ARE THEN PUT INTO THE QUEUE. SO, SO AGAIN, WHAT THEY MENTIONED, UM, WHAT'S ALREADY EXISTING IN OTHER CITIES ALREADY HAPPENS HERE. UM, SO THE, THE IDEA THAT THERE'S A NOT A SYSTEM IN PLACE IS INACCURATE. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE INFORMED AS YOU ADVOCATE FOR OUR UNHOUSED BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AND THEN I'M ALSO CURIOUS, THERE WAS A, A STATEMENT ABOUT AN ADDRESS. IS THE CHURCH WILLING TO ALLOW UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS TO USE YOUR ADDRESS FOR VOTING AND FOR CASE MANAGEMENT NEEDS? I'M, I'M NOT THE DIRECTOR AT THE CHURCH, SO I CAN'T OKAY. I THINK THAT'S A CONSIDERATION. 'CAUSE MANY OF OUR NONPROFITS, UM, LORD OF THE STREETS AND OTHERS THAT ARE IN THAT SYSTEM ALLOW THOSE WITHOUT, UM, A PHYSICAL LOCATION TO USE THEIR ADDRESS. SO THEY CAN RECEIVE IDENTIFICATION, THEY CAN RECEIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH CASE MANAGERS, VOTER REGISTRATION FOR, FOR, SO THAT'S JUST A CONSIDERATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PAINT A BETTER PICTURE FOR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. WELL, THANK YOU THAT TRINITY AND LORD OF THE STREETS DO WORK TOGETHER FOR THOSE THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. AND JUST AS A SOCIAL WORKER, I THINK IT BEHOOVES US TO STRUCTURE THINGS THAT ARE HOUSED IN SOCIAL SETTINGS LIKE HARRIS, UH, HARRIS HEALTH, THANK YOU. VERSUS HOUSING IT WITHIN THE HPD. I THINK IT'S MORE COST EFFECTIVE. OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT MAYOR. MAYOR. NO, NO, I'M SORRY MA'AM. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THANK YOU SABA FOR BEING HERE AND ALL. DO YOU, ARE YOU ALSO FAMILIAR WITH OUR MEDICAL CRISIS OUTREACH TEAMS THAT WE HAVE? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. YOU KNOW, I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF MCO T OKAY. I I JUST THINK WE NEED MORE OF IT. I, I AGREE. BUT WE DO HAVE THOSE, SO THOSE ARE ALL, WE HAVE 20 TEAMS, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE DO HAVE 20 TEAMS. AND SO THEY'RE ALSO A LARGE PART OF ASSISTING OUR, UM, OUR, OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY, UM, THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES JUST ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL. ABSOLUTELY. AND I ALSO THINK, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS TOO, THE ISSUE ISN'T CHRONICALLY UNHOUSED. WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FACING EVICTIONS AND HOUSING INSECURE. AND SO I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE AS A CITY TO HELP THE HOUSING INSECURE. SO WE HAVE FEWER UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, PERIOD. ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION, I, I KNOW, UM, UNDERSTANDS THAT ISSUE. AND, UM, THIS IS JUST AN ADDITIONAL PART OF THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU. NEXT, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA BE FILED BY SCOTT CLEMENTS. HEY, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. I WORK WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT. I'M AGAINST, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO HPD CIVILITY ORDINANCE. THIS ORDINANCE PROHIBITS SITTING, LAYING DOWN OR DISPOSING PERSONAL POSSESSIONS, WHICH ULTIMATELY TARGETS HOMELESSNESS, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED. JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS ALREADY AFFECTS HOMELESS PEOPLE, UH, IN MIDTOWN HAS EMBRACED THIS ORDINANCE AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO ACCESS MAGNIFICENT HOUSE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS HEALTHCARE FOR HOMELESS HOUSTON, ALL ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED SERVICE TO THE HOMELESS. THIS ORDINANCE, WHAT IT DOES IS ULTIMATELY PUSHES THEM AWAY FROM THE STRATEGIC AREAS WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED CAN RECEIVE THE HELP THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING OR IN DIRE, UH, NEED OF EXPANDING DISABILITY ORDINANCE INTO RIVERSIDE TERRACE. ONLY FURTHER CRIMINALIZES HOMELESSNESS AND DOES LITTLE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY. UH, A HO A HOUSING NOT HANDCUFFS REPORT NOTED THAT THIS ORDINANCE OFTEN ARE VAGUE ENOUGH FOR SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT AND FOR INCITATION AND RESULTS IN ARREST OF HOMELESS PEOPLE. THE RESULT FOUND THAT THE SIT LI BANDS HAD NO EFFECT ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, BUT INSTEAD COST THE PUBLIC TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THE LAW. CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS COST TAXPAYERS $83,000 A YEAR, AND THE HIGH COST IS TIED TO THE POLICING AND THE ARRESTING OF, OF HOMELESS PERSON. IN A COLORADO STUDY, IT COSTS $5 MILLION TO ENFORCE LAWS THAT CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS. IF WE WANT TO IMP PUB, IF WE WANT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS IS NOT THE SOLUTION. WHEN CITIES INVEST IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, THERE IS A DECREASE IN THE NEED FOR POLICE AND A SAVINGS FOR THE PUBLIC. AND A STUDY DONE BETWEEN 2012 THROUGH 2002, UH, 15 RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT PERMANENT HOUSING SAVED $6.5 MILLION AND LOWERED EMERGENCY, UH, ROOM VISITS BY 70%. OTHER RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THAT PEOPLE HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING, ARE LESS LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIMES OR FALL INTO RECIDIVIST RECIDIVISM. PLEASE DO NOT EXPAND THE CIVIL, THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES LIKE HOUSING TO HOMELESS PEOPLE INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE UNJUST LAW THAT CRIMINALIZES AND INCARCERATES INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO HOME [04:40:01] AFFORD A HOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. UH, CHRISTOPHER, THANK YOU CERTAINLY FOR COMING. BUT I WANNA REEMPHASIZE, THIS IS NOT TO CRIMINALIZE, THIS IS TO MAYBE NAVIGATE TO RESOURCES, NOT, OF COURSE THEY WILL GET CITATIONS, BUT I I DON'T THINK THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY GOING TO JUST SAY, OH, YOU'RE ASLEEP ON THE SIDEWALK. COME ON, GET IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. IS IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES NOT TO CRIMINALIZE. AND THEN WE ARE STUCK ON HOMELESSNESS AGAIN. UH, AS MS. EVANS BROOKS SAID, IT'S NOT JUST HOMELESS PEOPLE, IT'S PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BE ON DRUGS WHO ARE JUST LAYING OUT. UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY HAVE, UH, BEEN PARTAKING. AND SO CERTAINLY IT'S, IT MAY SEEM THAT WAY AND THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN, IN ALL HONESTY, IS PROBABLY GONNA BE THE PEOPLE THAT WE MOST ENGAGED WITH, WILL BE WITH, WILL BE HOMELESS PEOPLE. BUT THERE ARE, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH GREAT PAIN IN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GET RESOURCES. WE HAVE A NAVIGATION CENTER IN DISTRICT B THAT WE JUST WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD. AND AS THE MAYOR SAYS, HE VISITED, NOBODY WAS THERE. AND SO WE NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY DO NOT KNOW. THEY MAY NOT WANT TO BE HOMELESS AND THEY MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THEMSELVES OUT OF IT, BUT IT IS NOT DECRIMINALIZE ANYONE. THANK YOU. I I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN, YEAH. AND WE JUST HOPE, I MYSELF WOULD HOPE THAT THERE'S MORE INVESTMENT IN THESE TYPES OF SERVICES BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THESE REPORTS DO SUGGEST, AND WE HAVE SEEN HOW HPD REACTS IN OTHER, YOU KNOW, 10 OF SERVICES WHERE PEOPLE TRY TO TOVER, UH, PROVIDE SERVICES THAT THEY END UP CRIMINALIZING THEM. SO IT'S JUST, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, WE CAN EASILY TIE A SOCIAL WORKER TO DO THIS WORK. INSTEAD WE SEND POLICE OFFICERS. AND THE TOOL THAT POLICE OFFICERS USE IS CITATION AND ARREST. IT'S NOT TO PROVIDE, I KNOW, UNDERSTAND THEY'RE STARTING TO PROVIDE SERVICES, BUT FOR OFTENTIMES, FOR PREVIOUSLY, POLICE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN USED TO CITE AND ARREST PEOPLE, NOT TO REALLY UPHOLD, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVE 'EM A, A LEG TO STAND HIM. SO I UNDERSTAND WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH. RIGHT. BUT THIS IS AN EFFORT. I UNDERSTAND. AND SO CERTAINLY I JUST WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN REGARDS TO A LOT OF ISSUES OF, AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, CHARLENE JONES. SCOTT CLEMENTS. I'M SORRY, I SKIPPED ONE. I'M SORRY. HOLD ON, MA'AM. SCOTT CLEMENTS. WE FOLLOWED BY CHARLENE JONES. MORNING, SIR. CAN I GET A SHOW OF HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ON THE COUNCIL LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS A CIVILITY ORDINANCE ALREADY IN PLACE? NO, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT PROPER. JUST GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS AND LET'S GO FORWARD. WELL, I I LIVE IN RIVERSIDE TERRACE. I LIVE BEHIND THE GAS STATION THERE. THERE'S A GENTLEMAN THERE WHO SLEEPS ON THE SIDEWALK. AND IT'S NOT HIS PERSONAL POSSESSIONS, IT'S THE TRASH THAT HE LEAVES. HE, EVERYTHING HE EATS, HE GETS PEOPLE GIVE TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S BEGGING FOR EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING HE CONSUMES, HE LEAVES EVERYWHERE. AND IT'S, THE WHOLE PLACE IS TRASHED. THE SAME GENTLEMAN, UM, GOT INTO HOUSING, BUT HE GOT KICKED OUT 'CAUSE HE WENT TO JAIL. 'CAUSE HE STABBED SOMEBODY. NOW THE GUY'S BACK AND I HAVE TO WALK AROUND HIM. I'M AFRAID. I MEAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING, WE'RE FIXING TO PASS THIS 'CAUSE WE, WE, WE UNDERSTAND YOUR DILEMMA. I I THINK IT'S ALSO MORE FREQUENT ACROSS HOUSTON THAN WE PROBABLY DISCUSS. BUT THIS TOOL IS FIXING TO BE YOURS AND HPDS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DON'T WANNA CUT YOU OFF, BUT YOUR COUNCIL PERSON HAS BROUGHT IT FORWARD. WE SHARE YOUR CONCERN. I JUST STARTED OUT THIS MORNING WONDERING WHY WE DON'T MAKE ALL OF HOUSTON CIVIL. THAT WOULD BE OUR, CERTAINLY MY GOAL. SO YOU, I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW WE'RE ON TARGET TO GET THIS DONE THIS MORNING, NEXT WEEK. IT DIDN'T STICKS OUT THAT WAY. I'M JUST GETTING NERVOUS NEXT WEEK. YEAH, DIDN'T GO AHEAD TODAY. YOU, YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. , GO AHEAD. UH, THAT'S THE, YEAH. ALRIGHT. THAT'S ALL I SAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, COUNCIL AND, AND, AND THANK YOU SCOTT. ONE SECOND. YOU DO, YOU DO EVEN COUNCIL EVAN SHABA. I'M SORRY, MAY I DIDN'T WAKE YOU. NO, NO. YOU'RE NOT INTERRUPTING. THANK YOU. UH, YOU DO LIVE IN A VERY, UH, CONCERNING LOCATION AND CERTAINLY THAT AREA THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, MY HOT TEAM HAS GONE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO TRY TO CLEAN THAT UP. AND SO I DO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR. AND I THANK YOU FOR COMING TO, UH, EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS. THANK YOU. AND, AND [04:45:01] ALSO AFTER WE PASS THIS, YOU STILL NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GUY THAT STABBED, SOMEBODY WENT TO JAIL AND IS BACK OUT THERE. I'M NOT SURE HE'S GONNA APPRECIATE THIS AS MUCH AS HE SHOULD. SO BE CAUTIOUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEING HERE. WATCH YOUR BACK. YEAH. , CHARLENE JONES. MORNING. MY NAME IS CHARLENE JONES AND I'M A RESIDENT OF RIVERSIDE. MY CAR WAS JUST THE WINDOW SMASHED. WE HAVE PEOPLE WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET. WE, THEY NOT MY NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, TRANSIENTS WALKING. THEY BUST MY WINDOW OUT. THAT WAS $300 TO GET IT REPAIRED. AND RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER IS, I LIVE OUT RIGHT OFF OF SOUTHMORE. SO I SEE, UH, THEM EVERY DAY. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO, UH, CRIMINALIZE THEM. WE JUST WANT TO TRY TO START SOMEWHERE. AND IF DISABILITY, UH, ORDINANCE IS WHERE WE NEED TO START, THEN WE WANNA DO THAT. BUT I THINK COLLECTIVELY, IF WE ALL COME TOGETHER WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO THESE NAVIGATION CENTERS, WE NEED MORE OF THEM MORE. I APPRECIATE HPD COMING. THEY ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, COME TO OUR RESCUE WHEN WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH PEOPLE, UH, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S LIKE YOU SAY, GOING TO THE BATHROOM ON SOUTHMORE. YOU DON'T WANNA SEE THAT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. I MEAN, AND EVERYBODY'S NOT CRAZY. THAT'S HOMELESS. THEY HAVE LOTS OF SENSE, GOOD SENSE. SOME OF 'EM MORE THAN US, BUT THEY JUST MADE BAD DECISIONS AND CAUSED THEMSELVES TO BE OUT ON THE STREET. AND SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE IT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SEND 'EM OUTTA JAIL. THAT'S NOT OUR PURPOSE. WE JUST WANNA START SOMEWHERE AND GETTING SOME KIND OF ORDER AND FEELING SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S IT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. WHY MY LIFE? THIS IS ABOUT SLEEPING AND YOU KNOW, THEY CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT. NOW YOU KNOW THAT. SO I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT. EVERYTHING YOU DESCRIBED IS SERIOUS. THE CAR BREAK ENDS AT NIGHT AND ON AND ON AND ON. BUT THIS WILL ESSENTIALLY TELL 'EM, GET UP IN THE MORNING AND KEEP MOVING. MOVE SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT. GO TO THE NAVIGATION CENTERS THAT THEY GOT 'EM ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THEY IT. BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY DON'T IT. SOME, SOME FOLKS DON'T EVEN WANNA DO THAT. THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. THEY DON'T IT. AND THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE. EVERYTHING WE DO COULD BE CORRECT AND THEN THEY SAY, NO, I DON'T WANNA COOPERATE. BUT WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT? GET A CITATION, WHICH THEY IGNORE. SO ANYWAY, THIS IS A TOOL THAT THE OFFICERS AND STATE LAW ALLOWS. AND THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THE EFFORT AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, HAVE A GOOD DAY. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST FOR SPEAKER MOTION. MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. MOTION IS MADE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? NOPE. MOTION SHE CARRIES. NO. NO MA'AM. SECRETARY COUNCIL MEMBER. HOLD ON. MAYOR, WE HAD ANOTHER, WE HAD TWO SPEAKERS. OH, I'M SORRY. I, TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD ONE SPEAKER, UH, CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN. SURE. MOVE TO OPEN. DID WE THE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR. DO WE NEED TO, DO WE GO? I PULLED IT DOWN. GO AHEAD. I RESPECT THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S RIGHT. TO CALL SOMEBODY. I WANTED TO SPEAK. IS SHE HERE? YES, MA'AM. AND THEN CARTER HAS SOMEBODY AS WELL. YEAH, I GOT IT. THANK YOU. NO, ANYTIME. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. UM, GOOD MORNING. UM, I, YOU JUST SAID THAT WE'RE FIXING TO PASS THIS. SO EVERYTHING THAT I'M SAYING IS NEXT WEEK. THIS IS JUST TEEING IT UP. OKAY. SO, UM, THIS ISSUE IS NOT JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS TOO. AND BECAUSE I LIVE IN THIS SAME NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SCOTT AND, AND, AND THE LADY CHARLENE LIVE IN. WE, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THESE PEOPLE ON THE STREET ALL THE TIME. AND I KNOW I'VE ATTEMPTED TO HELP THEM IN THE PAST. AND, AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T GO WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE RESIDENTS HERE ALSO EXPECT THIS MODICUM OF SAFETY. SO, SO BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. AND THIS ORDINANCE CAN POTENTIALLY BE AN IMPETUS FOR THE POLICE TO HELP US GET THE HELP, NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, SO WE FEEL SAFE, BUT FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO FIND OTHER RESOURCES FROM WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH. I MEAN, IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION. WE'VE SAID THAT ALREADY. I THINK THESE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO OR WHAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM. OFTEN WHEN I TALK TO THEM, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND THEY SAY THAT THE, THAT NAVIGATING THE PROCESS IS JUST TOO DIFFICULT. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I THINK THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S GONNA HELP THAT PARTICULAR RIVER CREST NEIGHBORHOOD, OTHER COMMUNITIES, RIVERSIDE. I COULD, I COULD ASK ALL OF US TO GET UP AND WALK TO SOUTH MAINE IN, IN WEST GRAY RIGHT NOW. AND THERE'S GONNA BE INDIVIDUALS DO AN EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ADDRESSING IN THE RESIDENTIAL. SO THE RESIDENTIAL'S [04:50:01] A PRIORITY, BUT CENTRAL HOUSTON AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ALSO SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ENVIRONMENT. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I, I AGREE. AND, AND WE CITYWIDE. HMM. WE NEED TO DO IT CITYWIDE. I I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. I MEAN, WHEN WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY ON THE SIDEWALK, WE BASICALLY SAY WE DON'T RESPECT YOU ENOUGH TO HELP YOU. AND SO WHEN WE SEND PEOPLE TO HELP THEM, WE'RE SAYING, WE SEE YOU, WE SEE YOU AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE SEE YOU AS HUMANS, AND WE RESPECT YOU. AND I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT WE HAVE SOME SORT OF TOOL IN PLACE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE IF THEY ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, THEY WON'T HAVE TO SLEEP ON THE SIDEWALK. THEY WON'T HAVE TO BE ON THE OUTSKIRTS. WE, WE GET IT. AND, AND ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I HAD BREAKFAST WITH CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN YESTERDAY. HE'S GONNA BRING MAXINE WATERS. HE'S TRYING TO GET A BILLION DOLLARS 'CAUSE OF THE LA CRISIS WITH HOMELESS TO GET THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO SEND US SOME REAL MONEY FOR SHELTERS AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES. SO PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON AND OTHER VENUES, JURISDICTIONS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT. WE NEED RESOURCES. WE DO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, RESIDENTIAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THIS. BUT THIS IS OUR STEP THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE WITH RIVER CREST. GOOD. EXCUSE EVAN SHABAZZ. YOU'RE THROUGH, UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER? GOOD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I, I CERTAINLY DON'T DISAGREE WITH, WITH THE ORDINANCE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO CHALLENGE MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, AS, AS WE PASS THESE IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT PROCEDURES, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IN, IN TASKING HPD TO FURTHER ENFORCE THIS. THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO, TO BEEF UP THE FORCE. GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES, GIVE THEM THE VEHICLES, GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE KEY IN ADDRESSING THE SITUATION, WHETHER IT BE HOMELESSNESS, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH. BUT WE NEED TO PUT HPD, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING OUR CITY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MA'AM. MOVE TO CLOSE OVER HERE. DID YOU WANNA BRING SOMEBODY? DID YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO SPEAK? COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? NO, NO, NO. IT WAS SHABAZZ. I GUESS. ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ITEM ON ITEM TWO? IF NOT, UH, WE, WE HAVE THE MOTION ENDING PUBLIC TESTIMONY. ALL IN FAVOR? IYE. THOSE OPPOSED, MA'AM? MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. SECOND. YES, MADAM. SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL [CONSENT AGENDA] PROCEED WITH A CONSENT CALENDAR. AGENDA RATHER UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK. ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED OF MOTION ON ITEM FIVE AND SIX P. MOVES I SECOND. MOTION MADE. MOTION MADE. AND ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE APPROACHING AND TABULATION OF BS CATEGORY ITEMS. 9, 11, 12, AND 13 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED OF MOTION FOR ITEM SEVEN, EIGHT, AND 10. HECK MOVES ON A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WHERE ARE WE DUE? UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY, ITEM 14 HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 15 THROUGH 18, 20 AND 21. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 15 THROUGH 18, 20 AND 21. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER 20 BEEN REMOVED? YES, THOSE 20 AND 21 [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, AND 21. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, AND 21. NEED A VOTE ON ITEMS? 19 22, 23, 24, 25, AND 26. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? NO. MOTION CARRIES. I MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION [04:55:02] ON ITEM FOUR. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. FIRST OF ALL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM WAS FOR, UM, A $2.1 MILLION PROJECT AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S, UH, DISTRICT FOR THE DENVER HARBOR MULTIPURPOSE CENTER. AND IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE M-W-S-B-E GOALS THAT WERE APPROVED FOR THIS, UM, THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED TO HAVE A 19% MBE GOAL. UH, OBO STATED THAT, UH, THE STANDARD FOR MEETING THE M-W-S-B-E PARTICIPATION GOAL IS DEMONSTRATED, UH, WITH GOOD FAITH EFFORTS. BUT THE CONTRACTOR IN THIS PARTICULAR, UH, ITEM, UH, WAS RATED AS UNSATISFACTORY, UH, ON THIS PROJECT. I ASKED OBO TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT WAS THE ISSUE. AND WHAT I RECEIVED WAS THE GONZALEZ GROUP DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM AS THEY FELL BELOW THE GOALS BY UNDERUTILIZING LISTED GOLD CREDIT SUBCONTRACTORS ON THEIR CONTRACT. GOOD FAITH EFFORTS DOCUMENTATION WAS REQUESTED FROM THE GONZALES GROUP. DOCUMENTATION IDENTIFIED THAT SEVERAL OF THE SUBCONTRACTORS ADDED WERE OUTSIDE OF THE DEVIATION PROCESS AND WERE IMPROPERLY UTILIZED ACCORDING TO THEIR PARTICIPATION PLAN. SUBCONTRACTORS THAT WERE UTILIZED WERE EITHER UNCERTIFIED FIRMS OR FIRMS HAVING THE WRONG CERTIFICATION TYPE OR SOME SUBCONTRACTORS THAT WERE NOT UTILIZED ACCORDING TO THE SUB SUBMITTED PARTICIPATION PLAN. IN ADDITION, THE PROM PROVIDED SOME STATEMENTS IN THEIR GOOD FAITH EFFORTS REPORT, WHICH WERE REFUTED BY SUBCONTRACTORS WHEN THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE OFFICER REACHED OUT FOR A CONFIRMATION. LASTLY, THE DEVIATION PROCESS WAS NOT FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO OBO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AND THE CONTRACTOR'S REASONING FOR MANY OF THE CHANGES WAS THE PRICING WAS CHEAPER FOR THESE REASONS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS ON THIS PRIME CONTRACTOR WERE INADEQUATE IN REGARDS TO THE M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM. NOW, THIS WAS A $2.1 MILLION CONTRACT. UM, THIS IS ABOUT 400 MILLION, I MEAN 400,000 THAT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE MBE PORTION. AND LET ME REMIND PEOPLE, WHEN THIS, WHEN THIS PROGRAM FIRST STARTED OFF, IT WAS A MBE PROGRAM, THEN IT STARTED WITH THE M-W-B-M-W-B-E PROGRAM. NOW IT'S THE M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT? SO IT'S ALREADY BROADENING. I I REALLY ALWAYS LOOK AT THE MBE MOST CRITICAL AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND THEY WERE SHORTED ON THIS BY 9%. NOW THAT 9% MAY NOT BE MUCH TO MANY PEOPLE, BUT ON A $2.1 MILLION PROJECT, THAT'S GONNA BE SIGNIFICANT. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR SUBMITTED THEIR PLAN TO US AS COUNCIL SAYING WE ARE GONNA USE THESE PARTICULAR VENDORS. AND THEN ONCE THEY GET THE CONTRACT, THEN THEY GO AND PUT THEIR OWN SUBCONTRACT SUBCONTRACTORS ON, ON THE DEAL. SO AGAIN, AND I, AND I'LL REACH OUT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS, THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT PROVISIONS IN OUR ORIGINAL CONTRACTS THAT ARE ABLE TO HOLD THESE, UH, PRIME VENDORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE CHANGES ON THE BACKEND. 'CAUSE ALL WE'RE GONNA DO IS CONTINUE TO VOTE THESE OUT. THEY WILL GET THEIR MONEY. THOSE WHO RELIED ON THE CONTRACT ORIGINALLY ARE NOT GOING TO GET THEIRS. AND THEN IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL. SO I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT, UH, FOR THE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS AN UNSATISFACTORY AND WHY I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS. AND AS, UH, EXAMPLE, A CITY ATTORNEY, MICHELLE, ON THE TYPE OF THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN REVISING OUR POLICIES REGARDING THIS. SO THAT WE PUT OUR OWN, UH, WE PUT OUR OWN LANGUAGE IN OUR CONTRACTS THAT WILL PROTECT THE CITY AND PROTECT THE SUBCONTRACTORS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND I COMPLETELY CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND I, I JUST WANNA CHALLENGE THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. MAYOR WHITMAR, WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION NOW FOR ALMOST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. WE HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETHING. AND, UM, WHEN THESE, WHEN THESE CONTRACTORS OR, UM, PRIMES COME TO US, THEY'RE LISTING THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH MWBES TO GET THE, TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CONTRACT. AND THEN, THEN THEY'RE NOT UTILIZING. SO REALLY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LYING. AND IT'S, IT'S, WELL, IS IT, EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPT, IS IT MORE THEY'RE NOT USING MWB QUALIFIED MWB OR THEY'RE NOT USING M WBS THAT THEY LISTED ON THEIR BID? BECAUSE I WOULD BE CONCERNED IF IT'S, [05:00:01] WE'RE TRYING TO HANDPICK WHO THEY SHOULD USE. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT THE MWB PROGRAM TO BE STRONG, BUT I WAS LISTENING TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, LIKE THEY DEVIATE FROM WHAT THEIR PROPOSAL WAS IN CHANGING THE FACES AND, AND MAYBE STICKING TO THEIR VERSION OF THE CONCEPT AND CERTAINLY THE PROPOSAL. SO I'M JUST WONDERING, IS IT, WE'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY COME BEFORE US AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I, THIS, THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON MY WATCH, BUT I AM JOINING YOU AND SEEING THAT WE NEED A TRANSPARENT AND RELIABLE BID. AND IF IT'S JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE CHANGING ONE QUALIFIED PERSON, FOR ANOTHER QUALIFIED PERSON, THAT'S ONE STORY. OR IF THEY'RE GOING FROM WHAT WE PERCEIVED AS QUALIFIED WHEN THEY GOT TO WORK AND THEN GO TO UNQUALIFIED OR UNCERTIFIED PERSON, THAT'S EVEN A MORE SERIOUS VIOLATION. SO I'LL, I'LL JOIN ALL OF YOU WITH COMING UP WITH A, A STUDY GROUP OR JUST GET TOUGH. I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY THE BEGINNING PORTION OF IT'S THE CONTRACT THAT WE, THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PRIME. SURE. AND, AND IF THEY DON'T DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO, 'CAUSE SEE THESE COME UP AND THE PROJECT'S DONE, AND THEN WE GET IN TROUBLE FOR NOT PAYING THEM. SO WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE, IT HAS TO PASS. OTHERWISE WE'RE GONNA BE IN A LAWSUIT WITH THE COMPANY BECAUSE THAT'S OUR COMMITMENT. BUT WHEN IT GETS TO US IN FRONT OF US LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF AGAINST THE WALL. I UNDERSTAND. WELL, WE JUST NEED TO DRAW A LINE IN THE DIRT. SAY YOU EITHER DO IT THE RIGHT WAY OR YOU WON'T GET TO DO IT AND TALK TO, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR SOME ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST LEARNED OF THIS ABOUT A WEEK AGO, . SO COUNCIL MEMBER CUSTODY, I JOIN YOU. CUSTODY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I DO APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, AND ASKING THESE QUESTIONS AND MAKING THESE COMMENTS BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS PROCESS HERE IS, IS NOT WORKING. UM, AND YOUR, YOUR WORDS MAY ARE ENCOURAGING, UH, ABOUT GETTING IT RIGHT. UM, YOU KNOW, IF IF REQUIRING A GOOD FAITH EFFORT IS NOT GETTING IT DONE, THEN WE NEED TO REQUIRE MORE THAN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT. UM, AND WITH FOLKS THAT, THAT WE'RE AWARDING CONTRACTS TO, THAT ARE NOT ACTING IN GOOD FAITH, UM, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE MORE TEETH AROUND THIS TO, TO NOT ALLOW THEM TO EVEN GET AWARDED THE CONTRACT IF, IF THEY'RE SWITCHING OUT SUBS AND, AND NOT MEETING GOALS. SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO WHAT'S TO COME ON THIS AND, AND, UH, BEING A PART OF THE SOLUTION. UH, BECAUSE WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO DO BETTER WITH THIS AS, AS THE CITY WE SHARE YOUR CONCERN. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, I ALSO WANNA, UH, YOU KNOW, STAND WITH MY, MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. UM, YOU KNOW, GOOD FAITH EFFORT. WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AS WELL. UM, THERE'S WAYS THAT THESE CONTRACTORS ARE GETTING AROUND THIS. UM, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LEGALLY WE HAVE TO PAY THEM OUT NOW, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO REFER THIS BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, TO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME EXTENT. UM, VERY GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER. WELL, I WAS, I WAS WONDERING TO REFER THIS BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION IF WE COULD. IF WE DON'T, IF RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT LEGALLY BINDING TO PAY THEM OUT NOW, UM, BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND AND I WANT OTHER CONTRACTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LINE IS BEING DRAWN TODAY. UH, YEAH. COUNCILMAN POLLARD, I'M SORRY YOU DON'T MIND ME GOING OUT ORDER POINT OF INFORMATION. SO, UH, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING THE SAME. AND I, I, I SEE, I PROBABLY SEE YOUR SAME RATIONALE ON THIS. THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE WITH REFERRING IT BACK IS THEN WE DO PENALIZE THE OTHER SUBCONTRACTORS WHO DID DO SOME WORK AND ARE EXPECTING TO GET PAID AS WELL. I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON THIS. UH, BUT THERE, THERE ARE OTHER SUBCONTRACTORS AT NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN THAT WERE A PART OF THIS PROJECT. AND IF WE DELAY PAYING THE PRIME, UM, THEN WE DELAY PAYING THE SUBS AS WELL. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE COMING UP HERE, UH, ON TUESDAY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WAITING TO GET PAID. SO I THINK THE, THE REAL ISSUE IS FIXING IT FROM THE BEGINNING, FIX, FIXING IT FROM THE BEGINNING. AND I THINK WE, UH, REALLY NEED TO HAVE, UM, A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF A TIMELINE ON WHEN WE CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. AND I'LL WORK WITH, UH, LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON THAT AND TAKE THE LEAD, UM, FOR COUNSEL. BUT, UH, THAT WAS MY RATIONALE OF NOT REFERRING IT BACK. 'CAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING THE SAME. BUT THEN WE'RE GONNA GET EMAILS FROM SOME OF THE SUBS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T GET PAID [05:05:01] ON THIS. SO I, THAT'S JUST MY RATIONALE ON IT. WELL, WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. MEMBERS, YOU RAISE OBJECTIONS, LEGITIMATE CON OBJECTIONS. I WILL ALSO TAKE A MOMENT OF EDITORIAL COMMENT. THIS IS NOT NEW. SOME OF YOU, SOME, SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN HERE A LOT LONGER THAN SOME OF US, BUT WE'RE WILLING TO TACKLE IT. UH, DON'T WANNA DO HARDSHIP TO THOSE THAT NEED TO GET PAID. I'M LISTENING TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, MAKING PLENTY OF SENSE. UH, I THINK WE OUGHT TO VOTE UP AND DOWN AND, AND COMMIT TO REFORMS THAT MEAN SOMETHING AND PUT A DIVERSE GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TOGETHER TO GO FORWARD. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T, I GUESS YOU CAN SIT HERE AND CRITICIZE HOW BAD IT IS, BUT THEN YOU'RE GONNA KICK IT FORWARD. I MEAN, GETS A LITTLE CONFUSING. BUT, UM, IN DUE RESPECT, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ, UH, IT'S YOUR CALL. I RESPECT THE WILL OF THIS BODY AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF MEMBERS, BUT IF IT'S BAD, IT'S BAD. IF YOU WANT TO COMMIT TO FIXING IT GOING DOWN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD FOUR, EIGHT YEARS TO WORK ON THIS. I'VE HAD A MONTH, MAYBE TWO MONTHS ALMOST, BUT LET'S JUST COMMIT TO FIXING THE WHOLE MWB PROGRAM. I, I HAD SOMEONE APPROACH ME YESTERDAY THAT NATIVE AMERICANS ARE NOT COVERED. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A HEALTHY DISCUSSION TOO. GO AHEAD. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BEFORE. BUT I THINK THAT OUGHT TO BE A, A SERIOUS DISCUSSION. SO ANYWAY, Y'ALL WANNA VOTE ON IT? OKAY. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND COMMIT TO FIXING IT GOING FORWARD. UH, WELL, IT WON'T BE A QUICK FIX. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME, IT, IT, IT WON'T BE A QUICK FIX. UH, FOR SURE. UH, BUT DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO, YOU KNOW, DRAWING THE LINE NOW THOUGH, RIGHT? THAT WE NEED TO START FIXING THIS. UM, AND, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILLOR POLLARD, UH, YOU KNOW, OKAY, THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF NOT PAYING THEM. YOU DON'T GET THOSE SUBCONTRACTORS PAID OUT, UH, AT NO FAULT AT OF THEIR OWN. WE STILL HAVE COMMENT. UM, BUT WE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT, LOOK AT, UH, THEM IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, PUT 'EM ON A COMPLIANCE LIST, YOU KNOW, SUSPEND THEM FOR THREE YEARS, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. UH, BUT I, I THINK, I THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND VOTE WELL UP AND DOWN. NOW. I THINK THE CONTRACTORS ARE LISTENING TO US RIGHT NOW, UH, AND WE JUST NEED TO LET 'EM KNOW IT'S A NEW DAY. WE'RE GONNA GET TOGETHER AND, AND THEIR BIDS WILL MEAN SOMETHING AND THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE COMMITMENTS THAT WE'RE GONNA HOLD THEM TO IT. I UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO PAY FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE. SO THAT'S A FACTOR AS WE SIT HERE AND DISCUSS THIS. SO, UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES IN THEIR FRUSTRATION, BUT I DO WANNA CREDIT, UM, MAYOR PROTO CASTEX TATUM FOR, UM, WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY WITH OBO AND OTHERS ON THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME. UH, SHE HAS PUT IN A LOT OF WORK, AS HAS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND PLUMMER AND OTHERS. UM, BUT SINCE SHE IS, UH, NOT ABLE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HERSELF TODAY, I DO WANNA SAY THAT SHE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF THIS WORK, UM, ALREADY. AND THAT, UH, DIRECTOR MURRAY HAS ALSO BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON THIS AS IT RELATES. I HAD TWO QUESTIONS. MAYOR. UM, OR POINTS OF INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE GONZALEZ GROUP. UM, USUALLY IF SOMEBODY, UM, HAS VIOLATED THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, SO EGREGIOUSLY, THEY ARE PLACED ON A, A LIST WHERE THEY CAN NO LONGER EITHER DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OR AFTER, UM, TWO VIOLATIONS, WHATEVER THE STRIKES ARE. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THAT'S THE FORM WE SHOULD TAKE. IT SHOULD POTENTIALLY BE ONE STRIKE AND YOU'RE OUT. I DON'T KNOW. BUT HAVE THEY NOW BEEN PLACED ON THE LIST? UM, FOR THAT WARNING? I'LL CHECK ON. IT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU. OKAY. I JUST, AGAIN, WE DO HAVE A PROCEDURE IN PLACE THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS BEING FOLLOWED. UM, SECONDLY, ARE Y'ALL NOT ALLOWED TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND ASK THE DIRECTOR YOURSELF? I MEAN, YOU CAN, UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, WE, WE DO DO, AND I DO FREQUENTLY. THIS IS BEING DISCUSSED AT THE TABLE. I MEAN, YOU ASKING ME, I, I, I, I'LL GET THE INFORMATION FOR IT, BUT I WANNA REALLY URGE Y'ALL TO GET AS ACTIVE AS YOU CAN. AND IF, IF YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION THAT GOES TO A SPECIFIC DIRECTOR, I UNDERSTAND IN PREVIOUS YEARS, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT, OR AT LEAST HAVE THAT. THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. MAYOR, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS WITH DIRECTORS THAT WOULD HAVE START. AND, AND THAT'S WHY CREDIT DIRECTOR MURRAY, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THIS IS NOW BEING RAISED AS AN ISSUE AT THE TABLE. SURE. SO GIVEN I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION HANDY, I'M HAVING A POINT OF INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE. WELL, I'M GONNA DO THE DOES YOU CAN DO, I'M GONNA CALL THE DIRECTOR AND FIND OUT. I UNDERSTAND. BUT SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ALSO HAVE THAT INFORMATION. SO IF SOMEONE'S AVAILABLE, MY SECOND POINT OF INFORMATION IS TO, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY IS IT RELATES TO [05:10:01] CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONNA VOTE NO. AND I WANT TO VOTE NO. UH, WHEN SOMEBODY DOESN'T FOLLOW THE RULES AND THE, AND MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE AGREEMENT. BUT WHAT HAPPENS FROM A FIDUCIARY PERSPECTIVE, IF ALL OF US VOTE NO, IS IT RELATES TO THE LIABILITY OF THE CITY? WELL, WELL, THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO PAYMENT THE WAY OUR ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN. SO WE MAY FACE A LAWSUIT, BUT AT LEAST IN THE SHORT RUN, THERE'D BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE, WITH THE PRIME. SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR THE SECOND PART OF WHAT THE, IF, IF THE ITEM IS VOTED DOWN, THERE WOULD BE A LEGAL CLAIM THAT, UH, AS OUR ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, WITHHOLDING PAYMENT IS NOT A PROPER REMEDY. BUT THERE'D BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME BEFORE THEN, I WOULD SUSPECT. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO PAY. IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. LEGAL, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE US. IF THEY HAVE DONE THE WORK, WE WOULD HAVE THE LEGAL OP. THE REMEDY IS DIFFERENT THAN WITHHOLDING PAYMENT THE WAY OUR ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN. NO, I UNDERSTAND. THE REMEDY'S GOING TO GET WITH AND REDO THE, UM, THE TERMS, BUT BEFORE US NOW IS DO WE PAY 'EM OR NOT PAY 'EM? CORRECT? YEAH. AND WE, I AND, AND YOU DO HAVE SUBS THAT ARE DEPENDING ON THIS ONE, RIGHT? WE WOULD YOU DO HAVE SUBS THAT NEED TO GET PAID. THAT'S CORRECT. MAYOR, WE, WE COULD CHANGE, CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE IN THE FUTURE, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'D BE ENTITLED TO PAYMENT AND THE SUBS ARE ENTITLED TO PAYMENT. WELL, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE OUGHT TO COMMIT TO ADDRESSING IT GOING FORWARD, BUT I'LL VOTE FOR THOSE SUBS THAT NEED TO GET PAID AND HOPE THAT THE PRIME IS LISTENING TO US AND KNOW, KNOWS IT'S A NEW DAY AS WELL AS HIS COLLEAGUES. ANYWAY, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER MAY BE POINTLESS, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS FROM JUNE OF 2021. RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, SITTING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, THERE WERE PEOPLE HERE WHO PROBABLY HAD A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF WHAT THIS CONTRACTOR LOOKED LIKE BACK THEN. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND PAYING THEM, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE IS IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON THE FRONT END. CLEARLY. MAYBE THEY WERE STELLAR CONTRACTORS AND, AND, AND SCORED WELL ABOVE AND BEYOND. AND NOW IT'S JUST COMING BACK AROUND. BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, RIGHT? THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING OVER AND OVER. UM, YOU, YOU HAVE PEOPLE HERE EVERY WEEK THAT HAVEN'T BEEN PAID BY THE CITY. LIKE THIS IS THE SNOWBALL, RIGHT? THE AVALANCHE IS COMING, Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AT, IF WE'RE GOING TO, UH, IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE INFORMATION OUT THAT WE NEED TO, TO SCORE THIS AND SCORE THAT, WELL, WHAT DO WE DO? IGNORE IT. JUST IGNORE IT, VOTE ON IT, ACCEPT THE WORK, KEEP GOING. AND, AND THEN WHEN IT FALLS APART, WE GO, OH, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE SCORES AREN'T GOOD ANYMORE. I MEAN, I, IT'S, WE NEED TO ADDRESS AGAIN, QUICK, POLARIZING THE SITUATION AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. EXCELLENT POINT AT THIS START IN 2021, AND I WILL BE WILLING TO BET THAT CONTRACTOR'S DONE PREVIOUS WORK FOR THE CITY EVEN BEFORE THE 2021 PROPOSAL. UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, POINT OF INFORMATION. MAYOR. MAYOR, THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, MY, MY MY COMMENTS TO THIS IS THAT IF WE GONNA RESTRUCTURE THIS BASED UPON THE NWBE OR N-W-S-B-E, HOWEVER THE CONTRACTOR, CONTRACTOR GO FORWARD, IS THERE, IS THERE A PROCESS BY WHICH IF YOU WRITE THE CONTRACT, THAT, THAT THERE'S A PERIOD OF TIME WITHIN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTRACT THAT, THAT, THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? AND I'M ASSUME, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN ADDRESS THAT. IF THE CONTRACT REQUIRES IT, THEN THERE OUGHT TO BE A PROCESS BY WHICH THE CHECKS AND BALANCES OF THAT CONTRACT THAT THEY'RE MEETING, ALL THE OBLIGATIONS OUGHT TO BE APPEARED WITHIN. I'M HOPING THAT WHEN WE REDO THIS, THAT THAT'D BE A PROCESS, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE. BUT, BUT, BUT IT'S BEING STATED, THE CONTRACT WAS FROM 21, AND, AND WE SAW OVER THE PAST WEEKS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COME IN WHO WERE SUBCONTRACTORS, WHO WASN'T GETTING PAID FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER. SO I'M HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO WAS NOT HERE. YES, THOSE WHO CAN IDENTIFY, WE'VE BEEN HERE, THAT'S GOOD. BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING REGARDING N WBS AND MW SBS, WHICHEVER. BUT I'M HOPING THAT WE TAKE IT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. SO WHEN WE WRITING THESE CONTRACTS, BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN WRITE THE CONTRACT WITH MWBES IN IT AND THEN GET RID OF THE PEOPLE. BACK TO THE POINT, MARY, THAT [05:15:01] YOU SAID, ARE THEY DOING IT? YOU KNOW, IF THEY GOING TO BRING, PICK SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ONCE THIS IS RESTRUCTURED, THAT THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MAKES SURE THAT THOSE GUIDELINES ARE FOLLOWED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. I'M JUST, I'M JUST SUGGESTING WE NEED, IT NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE SOMETHING BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE GONNA HAVE A CONTINUATION OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. WELL, OBVIOUSLY THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT AND PROBABLY A WORKING GROUP TAKING THE ADVICE OF OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BEING CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT. MM-HMM . THE WHOLE CONCEPT. MM-HMM . SO WE HAVE TO, UH, BE ALERT TO WHAT'S BEING CHALLENGED IN THE FEDERAL COURT AND HOW IT IMPACT US. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I, MY POINT, I HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION OR INQUIRY. UH, I IS ANYONE FROM OBO IN THE AUDIENCE? SO I HAD ASKED SPECIFIC QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS, AND USUALLY THERE'S SOMEBODY FROM THE DEPARTMENT. SO IS ANYONE FROM OBO IN THE AUDIENCE THAT COULD, UH, SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? OKAY. DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE OBJECTION. IT, IT'S FINE. WE'LL GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. IT WON'T BE, IT WON'T BE COUNSEL, BUT, UH, WE NEED A MOTION. YEAH. WE STILL NEED A MOTION ON ITEM NOVEMBER 4TH. I VOTE ON THE MOTION. OR DO YOU? SO WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR. I MOVE. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED POLLARD. NO. THOMAS. NO. MARTINEZ. NO DAVIS. SNOW WHAT? HAVE A ROLL CALL OFFER A ROLL CALL. HAVE A ROLL CALL. NO. THE MADAM SECRETARY. MAYOR WHITMEYER? YES. COUNCILMAN PECK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? NO. COUNCILMAN CAMAN? YES. COUNCILOR EVAN CHABA? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCILOR THOMAS? NO. COUNCIL HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? NO. COUNCILOR POLLARD? NO. COUNCILOR CA UH, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCIL DAVIS? NO. COUNCILMAN CARTER? NO. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? NO. COUNCILOR ALCORN? YES. OKAY. WAIT A MINUTE. PASSES NINE, SEVEN. NO, NO. I HAVEN'T HIT THE GAVEL YET. , I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. AFTER ALL THIS DISCUSSION, VALID ISSUES RAISED PEOPLE THAT WERE ADVOCATING TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE ISSUE. WENT AHEAD AND DIDN'T VOTED NO. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR REPRESENTATION OF HOW WE ALL FEEL. SO I'M NOT GONNA HIT THE GAVEL. I'D LIKE TO, WHAT'S THE PROCESS TO CHANGE OUR VOTES IF WE CHOOSE? HOLD ON. SECOND MOTION TO RECONSIDER. I HAVE THE GAVEL. CAN I, I HAVEN'T RECORDED A VOTE. CAN WE CHANGE OUR VOTE? SURE, WE CAN. WERE YOU A YES OR NO? YII BELIEVE I WOULD ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WHETHER OR NOT THERE COULD BE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE FILE. NO, WE, WE HAVEN'T FINALIZED THE VOTE YET. NOW, YOU KNOW, VOTE A YES. WE HAD A ROLL CALL. IT'S STILL OPEN. AND I THINK ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I'D LIKE TO CHANGE MY VOTE, I'LL BE ALLOWED TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE BECAUSE I THINK TO MAKE SUCH AN ISSUE ON SUCH A SENSITIVE MATTER FALL IN THE LEAD OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THEN WE HAVE ROLL CALL AND YOU'RE TAKING A DIFFERENT POSITION. I JUST THINK IT, IT JUST SENDS SUCH MIXED MESSAGES. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT. WE ARE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO PAY THE BILL. THE IDEA THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO FULFILL OUR LEGAL OBLIGATION AMAZES ME IF I MAY. MAYOR, I'M BE RECOGNIZED. HOLD ON. [05:20:01] HE'S, AND NOW DAVE, THIS IS CUE HE DIDN'T. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. OKAY, MAYOR, IS IT, IS IT IS ARE YOU ASKING ON THE RECONSIDERATION OF THE VOTE BASED UPON US MOVING FORWARD WITH CORRECTING THE MATTER? HE DIDN'T CARE. I, OKAY, I'M GONNA CALL OUT THE RESULTS, BUT I THINK PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE OR CHANGE A VOTE BEFORE THE GAVEL COMES DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING A VOTE IN MY WORLD. AND I WILL LISTEN TO MY COLLEAGUES. IT'S NOT FINALIZED. I HIT THE GALA. SO IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE, I WOULD RESPECT THAT. I ASSUME WE GIVE EACH OTHER COLLEGIATE RESPECT LIKE THAT. I JUST THINK IF WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH A SENSITIVE ISSUE AND AGREE WHAT THE PLAN IS, IS TO WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE IT AND PEOPLE MAKE SUCH A OUTCRY FOR THE SUBS THAT NEED TO GET PAID AND THEN THEY VOTE THE OTHER WAY, I THINK WE OUGHT TO ALL BE ABLE TO WEIGH THAT BEFORE I HIT THE GAVEL. NOW, IF Y'ALL DON'T, SO IF Y'ALL DON'T BELIEVE IN FAIRNESS, WELL, NO, WHAT I, I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, MAYOR, THE ASK OF THAT IS NOW IN, IN RESPECT TO YOU, THE ASK OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED TO PAY THE SUBS. I GOT, I THINK THE POINT WAS WE JUST DISCUSSED THE ISSUE AROUND PEOPLE NOT GETTING PAID. CORRECT? BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PAY THE CONTRACTOR, THEN THE SUBS DON'T BE PAID. IS THAT RIGHT? AND I BROUGHT INTO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S FAIRNESS, RIGHT? IT'S LEGALLY THE THING TO DO AND I'M WILLING TO STAND BY MY VOTE. I JUST THINK AS WE WATCH THE COALITION THAT'S BUILT AND THE SENSITIVITY OF THE ISSUE THAT WE OUGHT TO RESPOND TO THAT. IF NOT, WHAT'S THE VOTE BELOW THOSE TERMS? I'LL CHANGE MY VOTE. VOTE IS 9 7 9 7,000. MADAM, MADAM PASSES NINE TO SEVEN. OKAY. OH, THAT IS DEBATABLE. I SAID IT'S DEBATABLE WHETHER IT'S PASSED, WHETHER I HIT THE GAVEL OR NOT. I UNDERSTAND. FINE. FINE. LET'S GO FORWARD. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION CALL. A SECOND. MOTION MADE AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. P MOVES. MOTION MADE. SECOND ON FAVOR. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. WE NEEDS A MOTION. HECK MOVES. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND ON FAVOR. AYES. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. OH, COUNCIL BOTH. DID YOU WANNA COMMENT? OH, OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM, UM, NUMBER 12 IS FOR THE, UM, PAVEMENT, MARKING TRUCKS AND OR A TRUCK. AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE SOME OF US HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR PROBABLY OVER TWO YEARS. WE HAVE OVER 400, UM, WORK ORDERS IN BACKLOG FOR STREET STRIPING. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS TRUCK. UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN PRIORITIZE, UM, SOME OF THE STREETS THAT ARE REALLY DANGEROUS. WE HAVE ONE STREET SHADOW DALE THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR TO GET STRIPED FOR PROBABLY A YEAR NOW. AND IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. SO, UM, HOPEFULLY WITH THIS 400, UM, STREETS THAT ARE BACKLOGGED, WE CAN PRIORITIZE SOME OF THOSE. AND THEN ONCE WE GET A HANDLE ON THAT AND SOME OF THE BACKLOG MOVE FORWARD, I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AS WELL. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T PAVE ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE REALLY DANGEROUS, SO WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE AS WELL. THANK YOU MAYOR. SENATOR HUFFMAN COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY. I'M KIND OF REVERTING BACK TO MY OLD GROUNDS. I TOO AM ALSO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UH, LANE MARKING TRUCK. IT'S BADLY NEEDED BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SO MUCH LANE CONFUSION. SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I ALSO WANNA BACKTRACK A LITTLE BIT JUST TO, UM, ITEM 11, WHICH WAS THE PURCHASE OF THE SPEED TRAILERS. AND THESE NEW SPEED TRAILERS ARE SO INCREDIBLE. NOT ONLY DO THEY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WHEN CARS DRIVE BY AND THEY FLASH THE SPEED, ONCE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE, UM, THEY JUST CONTINUE TO SPEED PAST THEM. BUT THESE NEW SPEED TRAILERS ACTUALLY COLLECT DATA, UM, FOR HPD AND OFFICERS TO USE TO SEE WHEN THE MOST SPEEDING IS HAPPENING GOING BY. THAT WAY, WHEN HPD DECIDES TO DEPLOY THEIR RESOURCES AND FOCUS IN A CERTAIN AREA, UM, THEY'RE USING THEIR RESOURCES WISELY. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, ITEMS 11 AND 12. VERY GOOD. ALCO COUNCILMAN ALCORN ON ITEM 12. JUST TO BACK UP, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK SAID, THIS IS SOMETHING [05:25:01] WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR. THIS IS OUR FIRST REAL TRUCK. THIS IS A BASIC CITY SERVICE TO STRIPE THE STREETS. AND THIS IS OUR FIRST REAL TRUCK. I MEAN, WE HAVE ATTACHMENTS THAT GO ON, OTHER THINGS THAT WE MOVE, GO AROUND TOWN, BUT RIGHT ON FOR THE TRUCK. THERE'S A . I MEAN, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SAN PHIL OUTSIDE SIX 10 FOREVER. SOMEBODY'S CRASHING. THERE IS NO, THERE ARE NO LINES. WE DID LIONS AVENUE, UM, DENVER HARBOR. I MEAN THAT WAS SO DANGEROUS. I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL OVER TOWN AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, GO FOR THE TRUCK MAN. THIS IS GREAT. WE COULD PROBABLY USE A FEW MORE. OKAY. YEAH. VERY GOOD. ITEM 13 IS A MOTION ON THE SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE. MS RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. YES. OH, EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE PUT AN AMENDMENT, UH, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD ON MY AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THOMAS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU WANT ME TO BE QUIET? YOU WANT ME TO BE QUIET? BE QUIET. I'LL BE QUIET. TAKE ME OUT THE QUEUE. I'LL BE QUIET. I WAS READY ON THE AMENDMENT. NO, SHE JUST SAID SHE'S NOT OFFERING. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 15 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST, I MEAN, IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. I HAVE IT. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. AYE. HAVE IT. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. I MEMBER RAMIREZ. I, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. I THINK I, YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS, BUT I WANNA POINT SOMETHING OUT. THIS IS $250,000 THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. UM, THIS PERTAINS TO A STORMWATER DETENTION AND MITIGATION SITE, UH, NEAR A NEW HOPE HOUSING PROJECT. INITIALLY THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM A NONPROFIT, AND THE CITY CONTRIBUTED IN KIND SERVICES INCLUDING DESIGN. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE FRONT END, WE DID NOT REQUIRE AN ENGINEERING STUDY TO DETERMINE THE BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT ON WATER DETENTION. UH, AND WE DID NOT REQUIRE TESTS TO, TO DETERMINE WHAT SORT OF WORK WOULD BENU NEED TO BE DONE ON THE SOIL. AND WHAT WE'VE COME TO FIND OUT IS THAT A LOT MORE WORK WAS NEEDED. UM, THE, UH, FUNDING PROVIDED DID NOT MEET, UH, WHAT WAS NECESSARY. AND, UH, THE CITY HAS PLEDGED TO PAY $250,000. SO MY THINKING WAS WE HAVE SO MANY NEEDS, YOU KNOW, $250,000 WOULD, WOULD ALMOST OUTFIT AN ENTIRE NEW AMBULANCE. AND WE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF AMBULANCES, FOR INSTANCE. THERE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER, UH, THINGS THAT $250,000 COULD BUY. UM, AND SO IN, IN THE FUTURE, I I HOPE WE'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE. I I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO, UH, THE A RA DEPARTMENT, WHICH, UH, WAS, WAS VERY HELPFUL IN PROVIDING THE INFORMATION. SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I'M GLAD YOU ARE GONNA SUPPORT THIS. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THIS IS AN AWARD-WINNING PROJECT, AN URBAN PRAIRIE. THIS WAS SOMETHING THE CITY ACTUALLY APPROACHED NEW HO HOUSING TO DO. IN ORDER TO FURTHER OUR RESILIENCE GOALS, THEY GOT A $400,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE. UM, THIS IS A CITY'S DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR RESILIENT HOUSTON. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING LATELY. THIS IS THE SITE OF, OF STAR OF HOPES FAMILY AND WOMEN SHELTER, 180 SINGLE WOMEN THERE, 150 FAMILIES. UM, ALSO NEW HOPE HOUSINGS 147 UNITS FOR FAMILIES. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AMENITY FOR THIS COMMUNITY. BEAUTIFUL. I THINK EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS, AS AN AMBULANCE IS NEEDED. PEOPLE NEED TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. HAVING AMENITIES LIKE THIS PARK AND THIS URBAN PRAIRIE TO PROTECT FROM FLOODING IS SUCH AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY SPEND IN MY BOOK. WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED THIS PROJECT AT HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL AS ONE OF THE, UH, PREMIER NATURAL PRESERVE PROJECTS, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE REGION. UM, I'M NOT DEBATING YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE, THEY DID RUN INTO COST OVERRUNS, AS HAS EVERY PROJECT THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE, THREE OR YEARS FOR SURE. AND THE CITY TO THIS POINT, EVEN THOUGH WE APPROACHED NEW HOOP AND HOPE HOUSING TO, TO [05:30:01] DO THIS PROJECT, WE PUT ZERO MONEY INTO THIS. THIS IS OUR FIRST ASK OF MONEY FOR THIS. THEY'VE PUT OVER $250,000 IN THIS NONPROFIT THAT IS KIND OF THE GOLD STANDARD FOR PERMANENT SORT OF HOUSING AROUND THE, AROUND THE CITY. AND I THINK THIS IS A, A VERY WISE SPEND, UM, FOR, FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND IF YOU'VE, I, I INVITE YOU TO GO OUT THERE, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR THE, THE RIBBON CUTTING AND GROUNDBREAKING AND MANY THINGS. AND IT IS, IT IS, IS A GORGEOUS PROJECT AND, AND SOMETHING I'M VERY WILLING TO PUT MYSELF BEHIND. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN, FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST NOT A BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT AGAIN. IT IS, IT IS TO INCREASE WATER STORAGE CAPACITY AND TO PREVENT A LOT OF THE RUNOFF, NOT JUST TO THAT, UH, PARTICULAR FACILITY, BUT THOSE THAT ARE, ARE DOWN FROM IT. AND SO CERTAINLY, I, I, I DO NOTE YOUR CONCERNS, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, BUT WE COULD SIT HERE ALL DAY AND SAY, WE COULD USE IT FOR THIS AND NOT FOR THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THIS IS ONE THAT SEVERE, THAT CAN REALLY IMPACT THE SAFETY OF THE, THE, NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT PARTICULAR, UH, LOCATION, BUT THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I DO THANK YOU FOR ULTIMATELY SUPPORTING IT. AND THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YEAH. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, NOT QUESTIONING THE MERITS OF THE PROJECT AT ALL, JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT, THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PAYING THIS MONEY AT ALL IF WE'D DONE THE, THE, UH, THE DUE DILIGENCE ON THE FRONT END. THAT'S ALL VERY GOOD. MEMBERS WE HAVE TO VOTE ON 17. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED ITEM PASSES. ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION COUNT. ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALCORN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. YEAH, I SAVED ALL MY SPEECHES FOR NOW. UM, THIS IS A PERMITTING ITEM, MAYOR. UM, ONE I'M GOING TO SUPPORT. WE HAVE 102 VACANCIES ACROSS THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER. WE HAVE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING PEOPLE TO STAY AND GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK THERE. AND WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS BACKLOG AS YOU KNOW, UM, OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LONG PEOPLE WAIT A LONG TIME FOR PERMITS. I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANNA TACKLE. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING UNTIL WE CAN GET PEOPLE, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE, I MEAN OUR, AGAIN, A BASIC SER CITY SERVICE IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR AND OBTAIN PERMITS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY IN HOUSE. AND THERE'S MANY REASONS FOR THAT. THE NUMBER ONE REASON I THINK IS, IS PAY. UM, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, WE HAVE TO GO, WE HAVE TO OUTSOURCE. WE HAVE TO GET, WE HAVE TO MOVE THESE ALONG. THIS WAS STARTED FOR FLOOD PAIN MANAGEMENT WITH MICHAEL BAKER. WE'RE NOW USING IT FOR TRAFFIC AND STORM AND OTHER AREAS. I HEAR MAINLY ABOUT PLANNING AND TRAFFIC AND STORM DELAYS. UM, SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS. UH, AND WE'VE GOTTA TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT HOW WE WANNA STRUCTURE PERMITTING BECAUSE THE, THE, IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT, UH, EVEN THOUGH SOME SERVICE, SOME AREAS ARE GETTING BETTER IN THEIR TIMELINES, THERE'S STILL AN AWFUL LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT. I AGREE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKING YOUR, ALTHOUGH I SUPPORT THE OUTSOURCING, THERE IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THINGS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS FOR 27 YEARS, WHERE SOMEONE WOULD OUTSOURCE SOMETHING TO OUR COMPANY. WE ALWAYS HAD A NON-COMPETE WHERE WE WOULDN'T HIRE THE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMPANY THAT WE ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH. UM, FROM WHAT I'M BEING TOLD, PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE SO MANY VACANCIES IS A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT HAVE GONE TO WORK FOR THE VENDOR. SO ESSENTIALLY WE ARE THE VENDORS RECRUITING SERVICE. WE NEED TO HAVE A NON-COMPETE WITH THEM WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYEES TO WHERE THEY DON'T HIRE OUR EMPLOYEES. HECK OF AN IDEA. THIS IS DEFINITELY A TEMPORARY FIX. THIS IS ONE MORE THING THAT WE NEED TO GATHER AROUND AND DO A BETTER JOB. 'CAUSE THIS IS NOT A LONG RANGE SOLUTION. BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SAID, IT'S IMPACTING OUR REVENUE. IT'S AFFECTING OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT BUSINESS HOME BUILDERS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER ISSUES. 'CAUSE THEY JUST CAN'T GET A PERMIT. AND, AND LET ME JUST, LET ME JUST EMPHASIZE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM THAT SOME OF US ARE TACKLING. SO, UH, WE KIND OF INHERITED IT. MAYOR, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. IN FACT, I [05:35:01] WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE DELAYS IN PERMITTING ARE CAUSING US REVENUE ISSUES. AND WE ALL TALK ABOUT WE NEED MORE MONEY. WELL, THESE REVENUE ISSUES FOR BOTH PROPERTY TAXES AND IF IT'S A BUSINESS, PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES. AND LET ME ALSO TELL YOU A CONCERN IN THIS FIELD WE'VE CREATED, WE, THE CITY WHICH WE NOW ARE SITTING HERE, HAVE CREATED AN INDUSTRY FOR PEOPLE THAT PROCESS PERMITS. YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT I'D SEEN THE LAST OF THAT DEALING WITH TABC AS IT RELATES TO STATE LICENSE, WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO GET YOU A-T-A-B-C LICENSE. THAT WAS WRONG. IT STILL EXISTS. SO NOW I'M LEARNING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IF YOU WANT A PERMIT AND IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, IF YOU'RE BIG ENOUGH, YOU GO HIRE SOMEBODY AND THEY CAN GET YOU A PERMIT. NOT RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG, WHICH IS AFFECTING OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES, WHICH MEANS ATTRACT FAMILIES. 'CAUSE THEY CAN FIND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE. WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE BACKLOG OF, OF PERMITS. AND THIS IS A, UM, SHORT TERM SOLUTION. WE NEED TO ALSO LOOK AT HUMAN RESOURCES. WHY DOES IT TAKE SIX MONTHS TO HIRE SOMEBODY? YOU KNOW, I CAN GO ON AND ON. MANY OF THESE ARE NOT NEW ISSUES. THEY'RE OLD ISSUES. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. PERMITTING IS A MAJOR OBSTACLE. SO WHEN THIS IDEA IS BROUGHT FORWARD, PLACED ON THE AGENDA, UH, IT'S IS ONE, IT'S ONE AVENUE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE FIX. AND, AND YOUR NON-COMPETE CLAUSE IS VERY APPROPRIATE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, YOU MAKE SEVERAL GOOD POINTS ON THE NON-COMPETE, BUT WE, WE ASK FOR SOME NUMBERS ON. AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST HERE. UM, ON THE MICHAEL, LET'S JUST TAKE A SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, UM, AT THE AVERAGE CITY OF HOUSTON HOURLY RATE SALARY PLUS FRINGE BENEFITS, $56 AND 82 CENTS. MICHAEL BAKKERS, $249. UM, IT'S GONNA BE HARD ON A NON-COMPETE. I MEAN, THIS IS WHY I LOOK AT COMPENSATION NOW. WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO TOTALLY COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UM, ON THAT LEVEL. BUT, UM, WE'VE GOT A, A REAL COMPENSATION AND I'VE BEEN ASKING MAYOR FOR THE COMPENSATION STUDY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HOLD UP IS ON IT, BUT, UH, WE'VE GOT A REAL ISSUE IN HOW, HOW DIS DISPARATE THOSE, THOSE NUMBERS ARE. NO UN UNDERSTOOD. ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT OUR VENDOR SHOULD BE RECRUITING THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES AND NOT USING OUR POOL. I WOULD NOT, AND NOT ONLY THAT, MY GUESS IS THEY'RE INTERACTING QUITE A BIT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. SO THEY'RE CHERRY PICKING THE ONES THEY WANT AS WELL. SO AGAIN, I'M ALL FOR THE OUTSIDE VENDOR. WE NEED TO, TO CLEAR UP THE BACKLOG ON THE PERMITS. JUST THAT OUR OUTSIDE VENDOR NEEDS TO HIRE THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES RATHER THAN HIRING OURS. I, I'M WITH YOU AND I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. AND, AND CHRIS BUTLER IN CHARGE OF PERMITTING HIS TEXT OVER HERE AND SAID THAT THIS VENDOR HAS NOT HIRED ANY, WE'RE NOT HAVING THE CITY EMPLOYEES TO GO WITH THIS VENDOR AS WE SIT HERE AND TALK RIGHT NOW. BUT WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL WITH NON-COMPETE. OKAY, SO WE JUST NEED A, NEED A VOTE? VOTE YEP. VOTE ON 20. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIED. ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. WHO WAS THAT? NAY. OKAY. CAYMAN AFTER YOU. SURE. . COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. I JUST MAYOR, JUST LIKE, UH, WE HAD SOME BIG FLOOD MITIGATION ITEMS. I WANTED TO JUST SPOTLIGHT. THIS IS JUST THE THIRD AMENDED CONTRACT, UM, TO FIX A TECHNICALITY, BUT IT DOES PERTAIN TO THE NORTH CANAL, UM, DIVERSION PROJECT, WHICH IS A MAJOR CITYWIDE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT, UM, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WANTING TO KEEP THAT AT THE FOREFRONT. ALL THE RULES FOR RULE 19. THANK YOU. JUST NEED THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION. CARRIE. OKAY. COUNCILMAN [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ALCORN FOR 27. ITEM 27. 22ND. THE CLARIFYING? YEP. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 27 TO SUSPEND RULE 19, SECTION TWO DASH TWO OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES. WE [05:40:01] NEED A SECOND. SECOND, SECOND. MOTION MADE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MOTION IS AMENDED. ENDED ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? HOLD. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS? YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. ALRIGHT, SO 27 JUST PASSED. IS THAT CORRECT? DISCUSSION? NO, JUST AMENDED. AMENDED LABOR AS AMENDED. CLARIFI RECEIVE THE NOMINATION AS AMENDED. WHAT, WHAT HAS BEEN AMENDED? I'M LOOKING AT 27. IT SAYS, MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS. JUROR, YOU WANNA EXPLAIN THAT THE AMENDMENT IS TO SUSPEND ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN RULE 19, WHICH IS THE, UH, COUNCIL APPOINTMENT BECAUSE IT CAN BE UP TO A THREE WEEK PROCESS AND BECAUSE OF THE, UH, SPRING BREAK, THAT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM. SO NEXT IS TO, UH, TO, UH, VOTE DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON 27 AS AMENDED TO DO THAT. THEN THAT WOULD STILL PERMIT, UH, UH, UH, THE CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER TWO ITEMS TO HAVE A, UM, TO, TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS AND TO ULTIMATELY VOTE ON 'EM. ALRIGHT, THAT'S FINE. OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO NOW JUST THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. NOW THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. IS THERE? MOTION. MOTION MADE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SECOND. SECOND. I JUST NEED A SECOND. ACT SECOND. THANK YOU. UH, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE MAIN ITEM EXACTLY? IS IT 27 OR 28? 27TH. 27TH. WE'RE STILL ON 27TH. 20. ALL RIGHT, AS AMENDED. MM-HMM . MOTION IS AMENDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. NOW WE'RE GOING 28. 28. NOW ITEM 28 TO SELECT NOMINATIONS. OKAY. ALCO. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. UM, I ENTHUSIASTICALLY NOMINATE MR. THOMAS JONES TO JONES TO FILL POSITION TWO AT THE PORT OF HOUSTON, AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR A TWO YEAR TERM. MR. JONES IS IN THE AUDIENCE. IF YOU JUST WANNA STAND, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE MET HIM OR KNOW HIM ALREADY OR TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY. MR. JONES IS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON'S BUSINESS IN PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY. HIS CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS ARE MANY, MOST NOTABLY AS A FOUNDER OF MCCONNELL JONES, THE SECOND LARGEST AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED CPA FIRM IN THE UNITED STATES WITH OFFICES IN HOUSTON, DALLAS, AUSTIN, WASHINGTON, DC, AND DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA. THE FIRM HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 35 YEARS, AND ITS CORE VALUES ARE CREATIVITY, INCLUSION, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THESE ARE CERTAINLY KEY VALUES, WHICH I WANNA SEE AT LEADERSHIP AT THE PORT. MR. JONES, SINCE RETIRING FROM MCCONNELL JONES IN 2022, HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FUND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY, AN INITIATIVE WHICH HAS RAISED MILLIONS THROUGH PRIVATE AND CORPORATE DONATIONS TO DEPLOY FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR BOTH SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PRODUCE REAL AND IMPACTFUL OUTCOMES TO HELP PEOPLE AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE FUND CONTRIBUTES TO NONPROFIT EFFORTS AND HAS A VENTURE CAPITAL ARM FOCUSED ON MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS. I GOT TO KNOW MR. JONES THROUGH HIS INVOLVE INVOLVEMENT WITH JAZZ HOUSTON. HE IS SERVING AS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF JAZZ HOUSTON. JAZZ HOUSTON PROMOTES AND CELEBRATES JAZZ THROUGH PERFORMANCE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE COMMUNITY THINGS HE HAS DONE. HE'S DONE MANY, MANY OVER THE DECADES. THIS COMBINATION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MAKES THOMAS JONES AN OUTSTANDING NOMINEE TO SERVE ON THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY. HIS BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ACUMEN WILL HELP LEAD THE PORT, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE AND DRIVER FOR THE HOUSTON REGION. THE PORT HAS A $428 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET, $1.5 BILLION CAPITAL BUDGET OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. I THINK I WANT A CPA UP THERE LOOKING AT ALL THAT MONEY. UM, THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL IS COMPLEX, AND IT'S MORE THAN 200 PRIVATE AND EIGHT PUBLIC TERMINALS. IT'S THE NATION'S LARGEST PORT FOR WATERBORNE TONNAGE AND ESSENTIAL ECONOMIC ENGINE TO THE HOUSTON REGION, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE US. EVAN SHABAZZ SECONDS. OH, YOU'RE NOT DONE . A COUPLE MORE SENTENCES. THE PORT SUPPORTS 1.5 MILLION JOBS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, 3 MILLION JOBS NATIONWIDE. THE SHIP CHANNEL CONTRIBUTES NEARLY $10.6 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUE AND $62.8 BILLION IN NATIONAL TAX REVENUES. UH, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS NOMINATION AND HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME, COLLEAGUES IN SENDING MR. JONES TO THE PORT AUTHORITY. THANK YOU EVAN SHABAZZ. SECONDS. IT'S IN WRITING. COUNCILMAN [05:45:01] RAMIREZ, UH, NOAH SPURGEON AGAINST MR. JONES. HE MAY BE A, A FINE CANDIDATE AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY GETTING TO MEET WITH HIM YESTERDAY. UH, HOWEVER, I MOVE TO DELAY ITEMS 28 AND 29 FOR ONE WEEK TO GIVE, UH, THE PUBLIC TIME TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, UH, NOMINEE. UM, IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH 28 AND 29 AND FINISH THIS TODAY, THEN UM, THIS WILL BE THE TOTAL OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE SAW IN THE, UH, NOMINATION AND CONFIRMATION OF, UH, MS. BROCK AS MAYOR. YOU PUT THAT OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. UH, AND WE JUST LEARNED JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, UH, THE IDENTITY OF, OF THIS NOMINEE. AND SO I MOVE FOR, TO DELAY, UM, ITEMS 28 AND 29 FOR ONE WEEK. THOMAS SECONDS. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND NOW WE'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO DELAY. UM, MOTION MOTIONS MADE. SECOND TO DELAY MR. THOMAS'S NOMINATION. ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. YOU KNOW, MEMBERS BEFORE WE VOTE, UH, IT IS A SENSITIVE MATTER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW MR. RAMIREZ, BUT IT GOT DELAYED IN THE FUTURE. THIS REVERTS TO A COUNTY APPOINTMENT. UH, I KNOW OUR TIMEFRAME IS IS OKAY AS WE TALK, BUT I'M LEARNING AROUND HERE TO BE EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED, AND I THINK A SAFE VOTE WOULD GO FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH IS GONNA CHANGE. YOU JUST HEARD AN OUTSTANDING RECOMMENDATION FROM A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE PUBLIC SERVANT. I RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO DO WHAT YOU WANT AND CERTAINLY WILL HAVE A VOTE OF THE COUNCIL. BUT THE PORT IS PROBABLY, MAY BE, I GUESS, THE MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND, UH, WE'VE GOT A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT, BUT I'LL BE GOVERNED BY THE WILL OF THE, UH, COUNCIL, AND I DO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN KNOWN LONGER THAN A FEW MINUTES. WITH THAT SAID, THE MOTIONS PREMIER ROLL CALL. IF PREMIER, YOU'RE BIG ON THOSE ROLL CALLS. THEY AREN'T YOU PREMIER IS STILL IN THE QUEUE. BEG PARDON? RAMIREZ IS STILL IN THE QUEUE TO SPEAK. I'M SORRY, MAYOR. I, I I DON'T DISAGREE WITH, WITH ANY OF THAT. UM, IT MAY HAVE BEEN YOU DISAGREE WITH IT? I I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANY OF IT. NO. IT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL FOR ALMOST 48 HOURS. UH, BUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ONLY KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR FIVE MINUTES, PERHAPS. AND I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS NOMINEE. AND I THINK SINCE THIS IS A COUNCIL APPOINTMENT, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT OTHER NOMINATIONS AS WELL. IF, IF THEY SO CHOOSE. I CERTAINLY RESPECT YOUR VIEWS. UH, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO DELAY. MM-HMM . ALL IN FAVOR? NO. WE HAD A ROLL CALL. OH. COUNCILMAN POLL. ROLL CALL. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA. SHOW THE MAYOR. VOTING. NO. MAYOR I MEYER? NO. COUNCILMAN PECK? YES. COUNCILOR JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MC KAMAN? YES. COUNCILMAN EVAN CHABA? NO. COUNCIL FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCILOR THOMAS? YES. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCILOR CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MARTINEZ? NO. COUNCIL POLLARD? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCILOR DAVIS. NO. COUNCILOR CARTER? NO. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? NO. COUNCILOR ALCORN. NO. MOTION FAIL. MOTION FAILS. AND GOING BACK TO MY BELIEF EARLIER THAT IT WASN'T FINAL TILL YOU HIT THE GAVEL. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE RULES SAY ONCE I ANNOUNCED IT, IT'S FINAL. NOT NOT WHEN THE SECRETARY ANNOUNCED IT, BUT WHEN I ANNOUNCED IT, WHICH GOING BACK EARLIER, I HAD NOT ANNOUNCED ANYTHING. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY. THIS MOTION FAILS. THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR, UH, TAKING THIS SERIOUS MATTER UP. SO NOW WE'RE BACK TO 28, ACCEPTING NOMINATION. NOW WE'RE BACK TO 28. WE'LL ACCEPT NOMINATIONS. I BELIEVE I MADE MY NOMINATION. I THINK YOU DID A HECK OF A JOB. . ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? CAN I SAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? I GUESS WOULD BE A BETTER STATEMENT THEN WE NEED A, A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I JUST REITERATE MY COMMENT. UH, COUNSEL, I DON'T THINK HAS BEEN GIVEN AN ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS FOR [05:50:01] A COUNCIL APPOINTMENT. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, IT'S POSSIBLE TO TAKE ANOTHER VOTE TO DELAY 29, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, THIS FEELS VERY RUSHED AND, AND, UH, THAT'S DISCONCERTING. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO VOTE THEIR, UH, CONVICTIONS AND, AND REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICTS. I CERTAINLY RESPECT YOU, BUT, UH, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO FILL THAT, THAT VACANCY OUT THERE AND GET ON WITH. I REPRESENT THE CITY NEEDS A REPRESENTATIVE TODAY OUT AT THE PORT, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO. SO LET'S MOVE FORWARD. UH, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT IF COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ IS ACTUALLY MAKING THE MOTION TO DELAY THE ONE WEEK. ALTHOUGH WE JUST, WE JUST VOTED. I BELIEVE WE DID JUST VOTE ON THAT AND ACTUALLY CALLED IT. IT WAS A FINAL VOTE. WE DID JUST VOTE ON THAT ONE TOGETHER. PAR PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY H INQUIRY BEFORE WE GET TO 29, DOESN'T THIS REQUIRE ANOTHER, UH, MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES SINCE THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE SEVEN DAYS BETWEEN SELECTION AND CONFIRMATION? THIS IS, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AT LEAST A 14 DAY PROCESS THAT WE'RE COMPACTING INTO A 20 MINUTE PROCESS. SO THE INQUIRY IS, DOESN'T THIS REQUIRE ANOTHER SUSPENSION OF THE RULES? UH, IT, IT DOESN'T BECAUSE THE, UH, THE ORIGINAL AMENDED MOTION ON THE, ON THE PRIOR ITEM, UH, WAS TO SUSPEND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS IN RULE 19. YES. 19. BY REQUIREMENTS, I MEAN, TIMELINE, TIMELINES. MAY I, THE WAY I READ 28, IT SAYS, MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS. NOT TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT. I'M LISTENING TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY. YEAH. THAT, THAT'S HOW IT WAS WRITTEN. BUT THAT'S MOOT NOW BY THE ACTION OF THE PRIOR ITEM TO, UH, SUSPEND THE TIMELINES, THE, ALL OF THEM IN, UH, RULE 19. LET'S MOVE ON. THE MOTION MADE BY ALCORN ALCORN'S. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, IF, UH, ABSENCE OF AN APPOINTMENT, THE COUNTY IMMEDIATELY CAN TAKE THE SPOT. THE CLOCK IS RIGHT. I THINK IT'S LIKE MARCH 8TH, THAT WE'VE GOTTA BE COMPLETE. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO BRING THIS TO THIS DISCUSSION, IS TO PROTECT THAT APPOINTMENT. UM, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS SHORT THERE. AGAIN, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I INHERITED AND I'M, WE'RE TRYING TO GET A CITY REPRESENTATIVE OVER THERE, AND WE'VE GOT A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY BRIEFLY, I DO WANNA ALSO, UM, SAY, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY AND I SUPPORT THIS DEFERENCE IS ALSO GIVEN WHEN THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER IN THAT AREA FOR WHICH, UM, WE ARE DISCUSSING, UH, IS ALSO IN SUPPORT OF SOMETHING. SO I DO WANNA ALSO JUST POINT OUT AND REC, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE, UM, OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUN COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UM, WHO'S IN SUPPORT OF SOMETHING THAT I'M TAKING NOTE OF. I CERTAINLY RESPECT THAT, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE PORT BELONGS TO ALL OF US, KINDA LIKE THE AIRPORT AND THE MED CENTER AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. UM, I THINK IT, WE OUGHT TO GIVE DEFERENCE TO A COUNCIL MEMBER. I'VE BEEN A DISTRICT REP FOR MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN IT GETS TO SOMETHING OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PORT, THE MED CENTER, NASA, I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON. I THINK WE ALL HAVE AN INTEREST IN THAT. SO THAT'S JUST MY PHILOSOPHY FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH. BACK TO. AND THEN PLUMBER RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER, JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND THE DEADLINES TO BE COUNCIL HAS UNTIL MARCH 17TH TO ACT, IF I MAY ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY. OH, THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR WAS REFERENCING IS THAT THERE'S NO, UH, COUNCIL MEETING DURING THAT WEEK. THAT'S WHY HE MENTIONED THE PRIOR DATE. UNDERSTOOD. YEAH. I LIST OFF AN IMPORTANT PIECE. UNDERSTOOD. I I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE ONE OR TWO MEETINGS, UH, EVEN COUNTING THAT MEETING THAT WE'RE YES. UH, THE WEEK THAT WE'RE NOT MEETING. AND ALSO TO CLARIFY, IF THIS COUNSEL FAILS TO APPOINT A NOMINEE BY, OR CONFIRM A NOMINEE BY MARCH 17TH, THEN IT FALLS TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT YES. FOR ANOTHER 45 DAYS. THAT'S CORRECT. AND AFTER THAT 45 DAY PERIOD, IF, IF COMMISSIONER'S COURT DOESN'T, UH, APPOINT AND CONFIRM A NOMINEE, THEN ONLY THEN DOES IT GO TO [05:55:01] THE GOVERNOR, UH, TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE. CORRECT. COUNCILOR PLUMMER, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND AND I, I DO UNDERSTAND THE, THE CONCERN HERE. UM, I'VE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE AIR ALLIANCE AND WITH THE HEALTHPORT COALITION, UM, COMMUNITIES COALITION, WHICH IS A LARGE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT COMMUNITY. UM, WE HAD THIS DEBATE PREVIOUSLY, UM, REGARDING THE, UM, THE NOMINEE, UH, BECAUSE THERE WAS A REALLY, UM, SEASONED COMMUNITY LEADER THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN THAT POSITION. THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY, IF I COULD SPEAK FOR THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND THAT THE MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAPPEN AT THE PORT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. AND I HAD A VERY, UM, DETAILED CONVERSATION WITH MR. JONES YESTERDAY REGARDING HIS COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITH AIR ALLIANCE AND WORKING WITH THE HEALTHY PORT COMMUNITIES COALITION HAND IN HAND, AND UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. AND HE GAVE ME THEIR, HIS COMMITMENT TO THAT. UM, I IMPLORE, UH, THE COUNCIL TO ALSO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH RESOURCE AS MENTIONED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. UM, THERE JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAPPEN AT THE PORT. THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, AIR QUALITY ISSUES. THERE'S A LOT THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THEM. AND I, I, I DO BELIEVE THAT MR. JONES HAS GIVEN ME HIS WORD. UM, BUT I, I IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION, SPECIFICALLY WITH AIR ALLIANCE AND SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HEALTHY PORT COMMUNITIES COALITION, TO ENSURE, UM, THAT HE IS, UM, AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. SO IN THAT CONVERSATION, I DO SUPPORT THIS CANDIDATE AND I DO. UM, BUT I DO ABSOLUTELY RESPECT YOU, UM, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ AND YOUR CONCERN. AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENED LAST, LAST TERM AS WELL, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY HAS A VOICE. AND, UM, I THINK WITH THIS COUNCIL, WITH THE, UM, ATTENTION THAT THIS COUNCIL BRINGS, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT, UM, THIS PARTICULAR NOMINEE IN MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITY'S HEARD ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. THANK YOU. AND I AGREE THERE ARE MANY INTEREST GROUPS THAT HAVE A STAKE IN THIS. WE ALL SHARE THAT. I REPRESENTED PLEASANTVILLE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THEY'RE IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY THE DREDGING AIR QUALITY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. MR. THOMAS IS AWARE OF THAT. AND, UH, WE'LL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE. UH, I NEED A QUICK MOTION SO WE CAN WORK PAST 12. Y'ALL HAVE SOME INTERESTING REQUIREMENTS. BACK MOVES MARTINEZ. A SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDARY. WE CAN GO PAST NOON. WE BETTER GET, WE MIGHT, LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT OUGHT TO GET USED TO THAT. ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE YES. THOSE OPPOSED. GREAT. IT. OKAY. GOOD. WE CAN NOW WORK PAST NOON NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. I HOPE THAT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO BUY LUNCH FOR EVERYBODY. YES, IT DOES. . UM, IT MEANS WE'RE BEING, IT MEANS WE'RE BEING A DELIBERATIVE BODY. AND Y'ALL ARE GETTING MORE INPUT THAN YOU'VE EVER HAD IN YOUR LIFE. SO, AT SUCH COUNCIL. SO TO THAT, TO THAT POINT, UH, MAYOR, UM, SO I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMANS, UM, YOU KNOW, FLAGGING THIS, RIGHT? THIS, BUT IT'S NOT JUST DISTRICT I, IT'S DISTRICT B AND DISTRICT H. UM, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CITY APPOINTMENT, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE. UH, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE BLACK AND BROWN AROUND THAT COMMUNITY, RIGHT? HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF THAT IS BA IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL. UM, AND WHO BETTER THAN SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY? UH, WITH THAT SAID, UM, I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. UM, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH, UH, THOMAS, UM, AND I SPOKE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE HEALTHY PORT, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, AIRLINES, AND MAKING SURE THAT HE, HE'S ALSO BOOTS ON THE GROUND. UM, I GET IT'S A BIG CITY. NOT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS EVERY ASPECT OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO I, I'VE RECEIVED THAT COMMITMENT FROM, FROM THOMAS AS WELL. UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT, AND I SPOKE TO COMMISSIONER WENDY DEN AS WELL, IS SBS, WBE, MBS, ALL OF THOSE ARE BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE START TO TAKE TALKING ABOUT WORK AT THE PORT OF HOUSTON. UH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS WELL? BECAUSE IF WE START ADDRESSING THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT OF COMMUNITIES, THEN THEY GET TO OWN HOMES AND THEY GET TO BETTER, UH, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE AS WELL. AND ALL OF THAT IS A TRICKLE EFFECT. AND THOSE WERE MY CON UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH THOMAS YESTERDAY, MR. JONES, MY APOLOGIES. UM, AND SO I'M GONNA HOLD HIM TO THAT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, THAT ARE [06:00:01] STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE HEALTHY POORS, HEALTHY COMMUNITY, I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM. I WANT, I WANT MR. JONES TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THOSE INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT. UM, AGAIN, THIS IS A CITY APPOINTMENT, BUT UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY LIVE DAY IN, DAY OUT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, IT'S DIFFERENT. IT REALLY IS. UM, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MANCHESTER SMITH EDITION, HARRISBURG, CLINTON PARK, CLINTON VIEW, UH, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SURROUNDING THE PORT, UH, IN DISTRICT, I, AND AGAIN, THIS IS DISTRICT H IS IMPACTED, DISTRICT B'S IMPACTED. AND I, I REALLY FEEL THAT, THAT THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO HAVE A STAKE IN WHAT'S GOING ON AS WELL. I COULD GO AROUND THE HORSESHOE. WE REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, AND THAT'S HOW SERIOUS WE TOOK IT. I'VE WORKED WITH MR. THOMAS PROBABLY 40 YEARS. HE'S INCLUSIVE, HE'S FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND ALL THE CHECKS THAT WE WOULD PLACE ON A NOMINEE. SO I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S CRITICAL, THE TIMING THAT WE, BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE NEED SOMEBODY OVER THERE TO BE OUR VOICE THIS AFTERNOON. SO IF WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES, THE ENVIRONMENTALS, THE EQUITY, TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS, DIVERSITY, EVERYTHING WE CARE ABOUT, WE NEED THAT VOICE AT THE COMMISSIONER'S TABLE THIS AFTERNOON. SO YOU WANT TO DELAY IT. WE HAVE VOID THERE, AND EVERYTHING WE CARE ABOUT WILL NOT HAVE OUR VOICE AT THE TABLE. SO THE VOTE IS VERY CLEAR. I THINK TIMING IS ESSENTIAL. I DON'T WANNA PUT THE REPRESENTATION IN JEOPARDY. I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S VIEW. BUT, UH, IT'S TIME TO VOTE YOUR CONVICTIONS AND REPRESENT YOUR, UH, DISTRICT. ANY OTHER CAYMAN COUNCIL MEMBER? CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT MY REMARKS MEANT. THAT THE PORT DOES BELONG TO EVERYONE AND IS SOMEONE THAT IS HYPER-FOCUSED ON THE PORT FROM A FLOOD PROTECTION PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, OUR PORT WITHOUT OUR PORT, THE NATION'S ECONOMY IS NOT WHAT IT IS. UH, SO IT IS CRITICAL TO ALL DISTRICTS. MIGHT ONLY POINT BEING THAT WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY IN COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S DISTRICT YESTERDAY. AND I WANNA BE, UM, RESPECTFUL OF THAT. NOW. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR MR. JONES AS WELL. AND HE HAS PATIENTLY SAT HERE TODAY THROUGH A VERY LONG COUNCIL MEETING, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR. JONES. UM, AND I KNOW THAT HE WILL BE TRUE TO HIS WORD. WHAT I THINK THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT IS ABOUT IS MOVING FORWARD, MAYOR, I WILL PERSONALLY SUBMIT A REQUEST AS WE LOOK AT OTHER VACANCIES AS THEY COME UP. UM, THE UNION, OF COURSE, SHOULD STILL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE THAT IS CRITICAL. I KNOW YOU SUPPORT LABOR, YOU SAY THE UNIONS. UNIONS, AND THEY DO CURRENTLY INVOLVE. THIS IS NOT, NOT UPSETTING THAT BALANCE AT ALL. I, I, I, I'M SAYING IS FUTURE SEATS COME UP, MAKING SURE THAT, BUT ALSO, UH, WOMEN HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE. SURE. ALSO, THAT A COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE. SO I, I THINK THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RUNNING OUTTA SLOTS IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL. , I HEAR YOU. I'M JUST SAYING, BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING, WHAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR DISTRICTS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED WITH THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT HAVING THOSE COMMUNITY VOICES ALSO MATTERS. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY, UM, WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM, UH, ALSO LOOKING AHEAD AT FUTURE APPOINTMENTS, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE LOOK AT THESE, THESE, UH, DISCUSS DISCUSSIONS. YOU MAKE EXCELLENT POINTS. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU. AND I ECHO MY COLLEAGUE, UM, ABOUT THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY VOICES AT THIS. UM, ON, ON THIS PARTICULAR, UM, BOARD. UM, I KNOW WHEN IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS, UM, CHERYL CRUSO WAS PUT ON THE BOARD. UM, WE WERE TRYING TO GET A COMMUNITY PERSON, BRIDGET MURRAY, AND THAT DIDN'T GO THROUGH. AND SO, UM, JUST WANNA GO ON RECORD. I DID REACH OUT TO SEVERAL COMMUNITY WOMEN, IN PARTICULAR, TO SEE IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE, UM, HAD THE CAPACITY TO SERVE IN THIS, UM, ON THE BOARD. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY. AND AT THE SAME TIME, I DID HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH, UH, MR. JONES AND EXPLAIN TO HIM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS IS SURE, CONNECTING THAT DOT, MAKING SURE AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY VOICE IS AT THE TABLE, AND THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M, I'M RUNNING THE BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS INITIATIVE, AND WE HAVE REPEATEDLY TRIED TO PARTNER WITH, UM, THE PORTS ON THIS INITIATIVE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM. AND SO HE ASSURED ME THAT, UM, THAT HE WILL, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE HE ENGAGED COMMUNITY. I, I SUGGESTED MONTHLY MEETINGS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH, OF COURSE THE HEALTHY PORTS COMMISSION, UM, UM, UM, COALITION, UM, AS WELL AS AIR ALLIANCE AND JUST INDIVIDUALS THAT'S WORKING AROUND, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. SO I DO, UM, KNOW [06:05:01] THAT MR. JONES HAS AN EXTENSIVE RE RESUME. UM, AND WE'RE BEING BRING A LOT OF VALUE TO THIS, UM, TO THE COMMISSION. AND SO I WILL SUPPORT HIM, UM, BUT I WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURING THAT HE COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY. WE ARE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA HOLD HIM TO THIS RECOMMENDATION, OKAY? AND IN TERMS OF GROUPS, LORD KNOWS WOMEN SHOULD COMPRISE A LARGER SHARE OF THE COMMISSION. BUT IF YOU, BUT YOU RUN OUTTA SLOTS, IF YOU WANT TO GET TO THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, G LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, I COULD GO ON AND ON. I WISH WE HAD OTHER POSITIONS TO FILL WITH THIS DIVERSE GROUP THAT WE ALL, WELL, MAYBE SHE PUT A TERM LIMIT ON THIS. THERE IS A TERM LIMIT. IT IS, SENATOR WHITMEYER PASSED IT BECAUSE WE USED TO HAVE PEOPLE SERVING 20 YEARS ON THE PORT, OKAY? THEY FELT LIKE THEY OWNED IT. THEY TREATED IT LIKE THEIR OWN. SO WE REFORMED IT. AND NOW THEY HAVE TERM LIMITS BECAUSE IT WAS BEING ABUSED OR ADD EXTRA SEATS, THE BANK MAYOR. SO THIS, AND WE'RE, AND WE'RE KNOWN, WE'RE DEALING WITH A KNOWN QUANTITY, QUALITY, YOU KNOW, A TRACK RECORD. SO ANYWAY, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COUNCILORS VOTED TO NOT DELAY. SO I'M CALLING FOR THE QUESTION. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE WISE. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? NOMINATIONS OR MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS? SO MOVED. MOTION MAY 2ND. SECOND. I SECOND, UH, SECOND. OH, I'M SORRY. I SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. OR MR. JONES' NOMINATION. LET HER CALL. 29 FIRST. YEAH, CALL 29. GO FOR IT. GIVE US ONE SECOND. ITEM 29 TO CONFIRM THE NOMINEE. ALL IN FAVOR? DO YOU NEED A MOTION? YOU WANT? WE VOTE. WANT THAT? ROLL CALL MR. POLLARD? WE NEED A MOTION AND THEN A VOTE. NEED A MOTION? I MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD. ITEM MOTION 30. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 30 NEEDS A MOTION. OH, DO YOU WANNA CALL HIM UP SINCE HE'S HERE TO TALK? LET'S, UH, LET'S COMPLETE THIS BUSINESS. WE'LL GET BACK TO HIM. OKAY, MR. THOMAS, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOUR OPPORTUNITY IN A MOMENT, BUT, BUT I'M, I DON'T WANNA LOSE MY CROWD. COME ON UP. NOW, UH, IF YOU WOULD, MR. THOMAS, AND YOU, YOU WERE JUST MADE THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE AT THE COMMISSION. AND, UH, I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN YOU. AND, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BE TRANSPARENT AND VERY AVAILABLE TO ALL THE COUNCIL AND OUR, UH, DIVERSE CONSTITUENTS. SO I YIELD TO YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU ALL. UH, LET ME JUST FIRST SAY HOW GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL I AM, UH, TO BE GIVEN THIS HONOR TO SERVE, UH, SERVE ON THIS BOARD. UH, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I HAVE BOTH THE CAPACITY AND THE DESIRE, UH, TO SERVE. AND, UH, I'VE LISTENED TO A LOT OF THE COMMENTS. I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF YOU OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, AND I'M CERTAINLY, AGAIN, I'M READY TO GET HIT, HIT, HIT, HIT, HIT THE GROUND, START RUNNING. LET'S, LET'S GO. SO, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MAYOR, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND, AND SUPPORT. AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL. AND AGAIN, I WILL BE AVAILABLE, UH, TO DISCUSS, UH, A MYRIAD OF ISSUES. BUT I THINK THE FIRST TASK FOR ME IS TO, IS TO GET TO MEET MY, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS OVER AT THE PORT. UH, GET SOME ONBOARDING, UH, TOUR THE TOUR, THE TOUR, ALL THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES RIGHT UP DOWN THE SHIP CHANNEL A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I LIKE TO SEE WHAT, SEE THE OPERATION. AND, AND AS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ALCORN SAID, IT IS A HUGE, HUGE OPERATION. IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO, TO THIS, UH, CITY, TO THE REGION, TO THE STATE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE NATION AND THE WORLD. SO, UM, I, I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. AND I, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, MR. JONES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS [06:10:01] TO SERVE. UH, MANY OF US ARE WELL AWARE OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS, AND SO I BELIEVE YOU'LL BE A, A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE PORT. UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO FOR THE NOMINATION. THERE WERE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS THAT I KNOW OF. UM, AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS HIGHLY OF YOU. SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR WORK AND THE WORK OF THE PORT. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. UH, CONGRATULATIONS MR. JONES. I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT NONE OF THIS DISCUSSION HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU . UM, BUT REALLY ABOUT THE PROCESS. AND WE ALL WANT THE PORT TO BE ITS BEST. YOU KNOW, OUR CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE, TO ME, THE PORT IS A, IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE REGION. IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING ON, UH, THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, RIGHT? UM, AND SO MY ASK HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND I ALREADY EXPRESSED THIS, PEOPLE ON THE WEST SIDE HAVE NO IDEA THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PILOTS PROGRAM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE MWBE PROGRAM, THE INVESTMENT, GETTING SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE 18 TO 35 JOBS, I WANT THE PORT TO EXPAND FROM JUST LOCATION TO PLACE. UM, SO WITH YOUR BACKGROUND AND, UM, WHEN YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR WILLINGNESS, I'M SURE THAT WE'LL START SEEING, UH, MORE OF THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PORT OUTSIDE OF WHERE IT'S ALREADY LOCATED. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, WE'RE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU, . EVAN SHABA, COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU, MR. JONES, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. CERTAINLY THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT, ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHATEVER. WE EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM EVERYBODY. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING THAT HOME, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT D AND I PROBABLY KNOW WHERE YOU HANG OUT, AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'M STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE PICKLEBALL COURTS. SO , PICKLEBALL, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS JONES. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. I THINK YOU WORTHY OF IT. AND, UH, OFTENTIMES AS WE LEARN MUCH ON THE COUNCIL HERE, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO IN THE MIND, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. YOU GOT ALL THE CREDENTIALS THAT, UM, THAT IS REQUIRED. IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, ONE THING ABOUT ALL OF US, EVERYBODY, WE ARE NOT ALL, YOU KNOW, DISTRICTS, SOME AT LARGE, BUT MO BUT A LOT OF TIMES SOME ISSUES IS VOTED ON AS AN AT LARGE ISSUE BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THE ENTIRE CITY. AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT SOMETIME WE DON'T, GOING DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE MM-HMM . ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO APPOINTMENTS. BUT I CERTAINLY, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR WORK. AND I KNOW, AND, UH, AS, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN SHABA SAID, YOU KNOW, HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE, YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE. AND I MEAN, IT'S, IT IS WHAT IT IS. SO, UH, BUT I'M HOPING, UH, THAT YOU WOULD SUPPLY ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THANK YOU. WILL. THANK YOU. I CAN ASSURE YOU, I CAN ASSURE YOU, SIR, I WILL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. AND, UM, I REALLY WOULD, UM, ASK IF YOU COULD REACH OUT TO AIR ALLIANCE, REACH OUT TO THE HEALTHY PORT COMMUNITIES, UM, COALITION, AND, UM, SCHEDULE SOME TIME WITH THEM. OKAY? THEY HAVE BEEN IN THIS CONVERSATION FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY KNOW WHAT IS NECESSARY AND THEY KNOW THE STRUGGLES THAT THE COMMUNITY IS DEALING WITH. SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONVERSATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, UM, TO LEAD THIS FROM AN EQUITABLE PERSPECTIVE ECONOMICALLY, FROM HEALTHCARE PERSPECTIVE. UM, ALL OF IT. YOU ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO DO SO, AND, UM, AND YOU HAVE THE COUNCIL SUPPORT. UM, DEFINITELY MY SUPPORT, UM, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A PARTNER. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND YOU KNOW, MR. JONES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ME. UM, AND I DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. UH, ACCOUNTABILITY, IT'S NOT A BAD WORD. I THINK WE ALL WANNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IT'S A GOOD THING. UM, AND JUST TO NOT SHY AWAY FROM IT EITHER, BECAUSE THAT JUST SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS PASSION IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE SERVING ALTOGETHER. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, DEFINITELY WANT TO ECHO A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE SAY FROM THE EAST SIDE TO THE WEST SIDE, UH, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE EAST SIDE STILL HAS SOME GAPS THAT WE NEED, RIGHT? YEAH. WE DON'T WANNA FORGET ABOUT THE WEST SIDE, BUT IN THE EAST SIDE, THERE'S STILL, YOU KNOW, HOMES THAT ARE, UM, THAT ARE DILAPIDATED. THERE'S, AND THAT, AND ALL THAT GOES BACK TO, YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. UM, AND I WOULD LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU SIT DOWN WITH HEALTHY PORTS, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES OR AIRLINES, I'D LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AS WELL DURING THAT TIME. OKAY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE, UM, HAVE GAPS PRETTY UNIVERSAL ACROSS HOUSTON. I CAN TAKE YOU TO SPRING BRANCH AND SHOW YOU SOME GAPS, ACRES, HOME INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, PLEASANTVILLE. SO YOU CERTAINLY HAVE SOME OF THE EAST SIDE, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO COMMIT OURSELF TO ADDRESSING GAPS CITY, WHEREVER THEY RESIDE. YEAH, [06:15:01] DEFINITELY. I AGREE, MARY, THAT'S WHY I SAID WE AT THE WEST SIDE, YOU HONOR, I DO YOU A FAVOR NOT HAVING A ROLL CALL VOTE. SO SOME OF YOU NOW CAN, UH, TELL MR. THOMAS, YOU WERE REALLY FOR HIM. SO ANYWAY, , OR, OR, OR DIDN'T OR DID NOT WANT TO DELAY. BUT ANYWAY, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT I DECIDED IN FAIRNESS, I WOULD NOT DO A ROLL CALL. SO EVERYBODY WAS FOR YOU, THOMAS. YEAH, . THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, CONGRATULATIONS. IT WAS AN HONOR TO NOMINATE YOU, UM, COLLEAGUES. I KNOW THIS WAS, UM, NOT THE NOR, YOU KNOW, MR. JONES REACHED OUT TO ME, UH, SEEKING THIS NOMINATION, AND THEN IT WAS LATER THAT I LEARNED THAT WE WERE UNDER THIS KIND OF RUSH TIMELINE DUE TO THE VACANCY HELD BY MS. RIZZO. SO, UH, JUST, I, I FEEL SO STRONGLY THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO AN AMAZING JOB, REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU TO GET TO WORK. AS THE MAYOR ALWAYS SAYS, LET'S GET TO WORK. SO GO GET TO WORK, , WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA NOT PAY YOU VERY MUCH, BUT GET TO WORK. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THAT'S IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. GO TO WORK. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR. WE'RE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE ON YOUR BACK. ALRIGHT, TIME 30, ITEM 30. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAD TAGGED A BULK OF ITEMS LAST WEEK AND SEVERAL COLLEAGUES WERE ASKING WHY THIS RELATES TO OUR FLEET PROCUREMENT POLICY. UM, MAYOR, OUR FLEET PROCUREMENT POLICY FALLS SQUARELY WITHIN THE CITY'S PLANS AND OUR, UM, CLIMATE ACTION PLAN TO CONVERT MANY OF OUR VEHICLES TO HYBRID SOME ELECTRIC WHEN WE CAN BY 2030. UH, I, I DO WANNA SAY, ACCORDING TO CONSUMER REPORTS, FUEL SAVINGS ALONE MAKE UP FOR ANY UPFRONT COST OF A HYBRID IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS. EVEN IF GAS PRICES FELL TO $3 A GALLON, OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT AS A CITY WOULD ONLY BE FOUR TO FIVE YEARS. NEWER HYBRIDS ARE NOW ACTUALLY COSTING LESS THAN SOME TRADITIONAL MO MODELS OF THE SAME KIND. AND IT'S NOT ONLY A COST SAVINGS FOR THE CITY WHEN WE'RE MAKING THESE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY, UM, OF OUR CITY, EVEN FROM AN EMISSIONS PERSPECTIVE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL JUSTIFICATIONS FROM, UM, FLEET AND THEY DO A HELL OF A JOB. UM, THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM, BUT A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING IN PROCUREMENT, UM, I BELIEVE CAN POSSIBLY BE AVOIDED. FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THERE ARE REASONS PRESENTED AS TO WHY, UH, HYBRIDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF PACKAGES. MEANING, UH, THEY RAN OUT OF TIME BECAUSE OF A GRANT TIMELINE OR BECAUSE HYBRIDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. WE HAVE A VERY POTENTIALLY LIMITED POOL WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CO-OPS. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT OUR BUYBACK BOARDS, BUT THOSE ARE STATE, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO THE NATIONAL CO-OPS AND BEING INVOLVED IN THOSE AS WELL. AND SO I'VE HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH PROCUREMENT, WITH FLEET, AND I WANNA CONTINUE THOSE, MAYOR, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE NEED A BIGGER POOL TO CHOOSE FROM WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE WE ARE BUYING OUR GOODS FROM. THAT DIRECTLY WILL SAVE THE CITY MONEY IN THE LONG RUN AND ARE THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THESE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO GET THESE VEHICLES IN, BUT I DO WANNA BE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT HOW WE'RE PROCURING THEM BECAUSE THE POOLS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH ARE, ARE PRETTY LIMITED RIGHT NOW, AND WE NEED TO BE GOING BIGGER AND LOOKING HARD AT WHERE WE'RE GETTING THEM BECAUSE WE NEED MORE VEHICLES, BUT WE NEED TO BE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. COUNCILMAN CARTER, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THEM. COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT. UM, I'VE NOT SEEN TOO MANY HYBRIDS PULLING HORSE TRAILERS THAT CARRY EIGHT HORSES OR, OR, OR PULLING HEAVY EQUIPMENT. AND THESE, THESE LARGE VEHICLES WHILE NOT MAYBE ENERGY EFFICIENT ARE SOLELY FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, WE'LL GO BACK TO HPD IF WE'RE GOING TO EQUIP THEM TO DO THE A, A JOB TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED AND WE NEED TO DO SO IN A TIMELY MANNER. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO RESPOND. CAME, YEAH, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WEIGHT BEARING LOADS WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A CHALLENGE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THERE'S SOME MODELS THAT HPD USES THAT DO NOT HAVE A HYBRID VEHICLE. UM, AND THOSE ARE NOT THE ONES THAT I'M SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT. UH, HOWEVER, LET'S NOT CONFUSE HYBRID AND ELECTRIC AS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY. UH, AS IT RELATES TO HPD. AGAIN, SOME OF THESE, YES, THERE ARE NO HYBRID MODELS OR ELECTRIC MODELS. AND [06:20:01] WHEN IT COMES TO WEIGHT WEIGHTBEARING THOUGH, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HYBRID CAPACITY. THAT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH ELECTRIC CAPACITY. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NUANCED. SO THAT'S ALL WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON. ITEM 30 A VOTE ON ITEM 30. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE POSTS, I JUST HAVE IT. ITEM 31 HAS A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 32, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 33, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 34, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 35, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 36, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 37, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. AND ITEM 38, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. COUNCILOR MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. THIS IS AN ITEM FOR PROCUREMENT FOR SAND THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS USING. AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, SAND IS THE MOST VALUABLE AND SCARCE NATURAL RESOURCE SECOND ONLY TO WATER. CURRENTLY, UM, IT'S THE MO OTHER THAN WATER, IT'S THE WORLD'S MOST CONSUMED RAW MATERIAL. UM, IT'S ESSENTIAL AND LITERALLY EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH THAT WE DO. AND WE ARE FACING A DIRE SHORTAGE GLOBALLY. SCIENTISTS SAY IT CONSTITUTES ONE OF THE GREATEST SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY. I TAGGED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE OUR SAND IS SOURCED FROM, GIVEN THAT THERE'S A GLOWING GROWING BLACK MARKET, UM, AND VERY SERIOUS ETHICAL CONCERNS RELATED TO HOW, HOW SAND IS CON UH, PROCURED. YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE SAND IS NOT ONLY SOURCED IN THE US IT'S SOURCED RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS. UM, BUT I DO MAY OR WANNA EXPLORE POLICIES TO ENSURE WE ARE TRACKING SOURCE MATERIALS FOR SCARCE RESOURCES LIKE THIS. THE ONLY PROVISION WE HAVE IS A CITY IN PURCHASING TERMS AND CONDITIONS IS A CERTIFICATION OF NO BUSINESS WITH FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. BUT AGAIN, WE DO NOT HAVE A, UM, POLICY AS IT RELATES TO HOW WE ETHICALLY SOURCE MATERIALS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON GENERALLY. SO I WANNA RAISE THAT AS AN ISSUE, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. VOTE I NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. I ITEM 39 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 40 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 41 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABBAT. JUST WANNA QUICKLY SAY THAT I'M NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH MY AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. TAKE ME OFF THE QUEUE. . VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER. NOBODY. JUST A VOTE. JUST A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 42 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN CARTER FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 43. UM, ITEM 43. 43. SO IT'S ON, UH, SORRY. ON ITEM 43 ON THE BAYSIDE PRINTING CONTRACT, I, UH, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REFER THAT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR REVIEW. I HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION WITH A RA YESTERDAY AND, UH, THAT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. SECOND. VERY GOOD. I SUPPORT YOUR MOTION. IT MAKES SENSE. UH, YEAH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. SO THAT'S REFERRED BACK. THAT'S IT. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, BUT BEFORE WE START POPOFF, LET ME, UH, CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS OR MAKE EDITORIAL COMMENTS. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER COUNCIL MEETINGS I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME. I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE EIGHT. THE INVOLVEMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE GET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES, WHETHER IT WAS CIVILITY, THE APPOINTMENTS. I THINK WE NEED TO REVIEW IN MY JUDGMENT, HOW WE RUN THE COUNCIL MEETINGS IN TERMS OF, Y'ALL NEED TO VISIT. WE, WE NEED TO VISIT THE RULES. YOU GOTTA ACTUALLY CHANGE A RULE TO WORK PAST 12 O'CLOCK. UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM [06:25:01] THE CHART A LONG TIME AGO, PROBABLY. UM, I WOULD ALSO, FOR THE SAKE OF ALLOWING THE PUBLIC, AND, AND OBVIOUSLY Y'ALL ARE AWARE, I'M BRINGING SOME OF MY PAST EXPERIENCES TO THE TABLE. I'M USED TO IN THE LEGISLATURE. IF SOMEBODY WAKES UP IN THE MORNING, THEY WANT TO TALK TO THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE, THEY COME DOWN AND SIGN UP. WE REQUIRE SOMEBODY TO DO IT AT THREE O'CLOCK BEFORE THREE O'CLOCK THE DAY BEFORE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THE WAY WE ALL TALK ABOUT INVOLVEMENT, INCLUSION. AND YOU CAN'T GET UP AND READ SOMETHING IN THE PAPER OR GET A CALL FROM YOUR NEIGHBOR OR TALK ABOUT SOMEONE SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALK. AND YOU CAN'T COME DOWN AND TESTIFY BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP THE DAY BEFORE. SO THAT'S WHERE THE DIRECTION I'M GOING IN TERMS OF THE RULES SITTING AROUND HERE. YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD I'VE WORKED IN, IF I'M RELYING ON SOMEBODY'S SINCERE TESTIMONY ON A POSITION ON A ISSUE THAT SWAYED ME, I WAS GONNA VOTE A CERTAIN WAY. I HADN'T ANNOUNCED THE VOTE YET BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT PERSUADED ME CHANGED APPARENTLY HIS OR HER MIND. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO BE FAIR AND I DON'T THINK A VOTE IS FINAL UNTIL I ANNOUNCE IT OR GAVEL IT OUT. NOW YOUR RULES SAY AFTER THE VOTE'S TAKEN, BUT ALL THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT WE'VE ALREADY HAD A VOTE ANNOUNCED IT'S OVER. REALLY? YOU, YOU KNOW, I COME FROM A SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE WHERE IT'S NOT FINAL. YOU CAN, YOU SEE THE LIGHTS CHANGING UP ON THE BOARD IN THE SENATE, YOU CAN CHANGE. YOU CAN GO DOWN AND CHANGE YOUR VOTE AFTER YOU VOTE. THIS AIN'T THE HOUSE, THIS AIN'T THE SENATE. THIS IS HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. BUT I'M TRYING TO BRING A FAIRNESS TO THE PROCESS THAT I DON'T THINK CURRENTLY EXISTS. SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE BEFORE I ANNOUNCE IT, I THINK THEY'LL BE RESPECTED AND DO THAT. I JUST THINK IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ALL THE ARGUMENTS WHY I'M VOTING A CERTAIN WAY AND THEN YOU'RE NOT THAT WAY, THEN MAYBE I NEED A SECOND CHANCE TO THE WAY THE, UH, POSITION I TOOK. BUT I'LL STAND BY MY VOTE. WITH THAT SAID, UH, I GUESS MY VERSION OF POPOFF , LET'S GO FORWARD WITH [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, TODAY I WANT TO REALLY ADDRESS SOME ISSUES I'M HAVING WITH, UH, FOOD TRUCK PARKS. AND I THINK THE CITY HAS TO REALLY MAKE FOOD TRUCK PARKS AND POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AROUND FOOD TRUCK PARKS, UH, A PRIORITY. I INHERITED A FOOD TRUCK PARK FROM MY GOOD FRIEND, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UH, THE GALLERIA FOOD TRUCK PARK ON CHIMNEY ROCK AND WESTHEIMER. UM, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN G BUT NOW IT'S IN J AFTER REDISTRICTING. AND, UM, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING THIS FOOD TRUCK PARK A HIGH PRIORITY FOR OUR AREA BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CONCERNS REGARDING PUBLIC NUISANCE, UH, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, LOUD NOISE, UH, COMING FROM THIS FOOD TRUCK PARK. AND WHEN I LOOK INTO SOME OF THE ORDINANCES REGARDING FOOD TRUCK PARKS IN THE CITY, UM, IT'S AMBIGUOUS. THEY AREN'T, UH, I THINK, UM, HAVE ENOUGH TEETH IN THEM FOR REAL ENFORCEMENT. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF LOOPHOLES THAT THE FOOD TRUCK PARK OPERATORS USE, UH, TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN A WAY THAT I DON'T THINK IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AT AT LARGE. SO, UH, I DO WANT TO THANK H-P-W-H-P-D ST. GEORGE, UH, MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TOUR ONE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLANNING AND, UH, THE OVERALL COMMUNITY WITH WORKING WITH MY OFFICE ON HOW TO ADDRESS, UH, SOME OF THE FOOD TRUCK PARK ISSUES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UM, HAVING TO DEAL WITH IS WE HAVE NO PARKING SIGNS OUT NEAR THE FOOD TRUCK PARK, BUT PEOPLE PARK AND BUY THEIR FOOD AND THEN AS THEY'RE OUT THERE, UH, PARKING, THEY'RE STAYING THERE, THEY'RE CAUSING CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC. UH, THERE'S A CUL-DE-SAC NEARBY THAT PEOPLE JUST DO DONUTS AND ALL NIGHT LONG THAT WE'VE HAD TO PUT TEMPORARY BARRIERS OUT FOR. UH, THERE'S NOISE COMPLAINTS, THERE'S LOITERING, THERE'S ALLEGED DRUG CELLS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THIS FOOD PARK, FOOD TRUCK PARK. AND UH, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE HEALTH CODE VIOLATIONS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY AND SANITARY NESS OF THE FOOD TRUCK PARKS ITSELF AND THE LOOPHOLES THAT THE FOOD TRUCK PARK OPERATORS GET TO USE TO, TO GET APPROVAL FROM ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS JUST TO USE THEIR BATHROOMS AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT, IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO AND ADDRESS AS WELL. SO I DO WANNA PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR, UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO FOOD, TRUCK PARKS. AND, UM, WHILE I HAVE THE MIC, I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE SIGNING UP FOR A PUBLIC SESSION, THE REASON WE DO IT AT THREE O'CLOCK THE DAY BEFORE IS SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VET THEM [06:30:01] TO UNDERSTAND WHO'S COMING AND WHY. AND IF THERE HAS TO BE A MOTION MADE ON THE DAY OF TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO SPEAK, WE AUTOMATICALLY DO THAT. SO WE ALWAYS GIVE PEOPLE WHOEVER THEY ARE, WHENEVER THEY COME, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM, AND WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING YOUR VOTE, HOPEFULLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE INITIAL VOTE THAT YOU CAST, YOU CAST IT BECAUSE YOU DID SOME, UH, SOUL SEARCHING YOURSELF AND YOU LOOKED AT THE, THE ISSUE AND THE ITEM THAT WAS PRESENTED AND YOU MADE YOUR CHOICE FOR YOURSELF. AND TO GO BACK AND CHANGE A VOTE AFTER THE FACT, TO ME, UH, SHOULD REALLY, UM, NOT BE PRESSED BECAUSE I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, A PERSON'S CHOICE IS THEIR CHOICE. AND WE COULD GO BACK AND FORTH ALL DAY. SOMETIMES I GET BACK TO MY OFFICE AND I SAY, I SHOULD HAVE VOTED NO OR SHOULD HAVE VOTED YES ON A PARTICULAR ITEM. AND THEN WE CALL EACH OTHER AND SAY, HEY, I'M SORRY I VOTED FOR THAT OR FOR THIS. BUT WE CAN, WE CAN DO THAT ALL DAY. BUT, UH, I DO THINK ONCE A ONCE A VOTE IS CALLED AND WE PUT IT OUT THERE, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS AND WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ELISE. WELL, I DON'T WANNA DEBATE THE ISSUE, BUT I DON'T, I THINK IT'S INTERPRETATION OF WHEN THE VOTE IS FINAL. ALSO, THERE'S ISSUES OF SPEAKING ONE WAY AND THEN VOTING ANOTHER CAN BE MISLEADING TO THOSE THAT DEPEND ON YOUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL. NOT YOU PERSONALLY, BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA, I'VE SEEN IT DONE IN IN PREVIOUS POSITION, PEOPLE GET UP AND TALK AND THEN YOU LOOK AROUND, THEY'RE VOTING THE OTHER WAY. I RELY UPON CREDIBLE PEOPLE'S INFORMATION. AND SO WHEN I CAST A VOTE THINKING THAT'S HOW THEY BELIEVE, AND THEN I SEE THEY VOTED DIFFERENT MAYBE. I THINK IN TOTAL TRANSPARENCY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SWITCH OUR VOTE BEFORE IT BECOMES FINAL. AND THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN IT BECOMES FINAL. AND I DON'T THINK THE SECRETARY HAVING THE FINAL TALLY MAKES IT FINAL. I HADN'T ANNOUNCED IT, I HADN'T GAVELED IT IN, AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY LEGISLATIVE BODIES OPERATE. SO THAT'S JUST, UH, SOMETHING THAT, THAT WILL EVOLVE AS WE GO FORWARD. NEXT, MEMBER PASS. UM, YOU KNOW, I, UH, NOT TO BRING UP A HEAVY SUBJECT, BUT, UM, UH, MAYOR, WE WERE OVER AT LAKEWOOD ON SUNDAY AND, UH, ATTENDED A, A REALLY NICE SERVICE COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. UM, YOU KNOW, UH, AGAIN, I'LL USE THE THE PHRASE THAT YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY OFTEN, WHICH IS WE, WE OFTEN FOCUS ON A SITUATION AND WE FORGET THE REASON BEHIND IT. AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND CONTINUE TO KEEP MENTAL HEALTH, THE HOMELESSNESS, THOSE ISSUES, THOSE SOCIETAL ISSUES AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR WORK AS WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY. THAT'S ALL. SHABA. EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I FIRST WANT TO REFLECT ON THE HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION AT MOUNT VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH. UH, THIS PAST SUNDAY WAS A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION THAT CELEBRATED THE RICH, RICH HISTORY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. I WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCERE THANKS TO PASTOR KENNETH ROSE, UH, AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE AND CERTAINLY THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION, UH, FOR THEIR DEDICATION IN PRESERVING OUR HISTORY, WHICH IS SO COMMENDABLE. UM, ALSO, I ATTENDED THE FIRST TEA CORE VALUES LUNCHEON, BRIAN LADAY, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH THROUGH GOLF. IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND GET SCHOLARSHIPS, UM, THROUGH GOLFING. AND I, I THINK THAT IT'S A WORTHY PROGRAM TO TEACH THEM HOW TO START IN THAT SPORT. UM, THERE WAS A COMMUNITY MEETING ON LAST NIGHT IN PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. I WANT TO THANK, UH, TAMAR BELL, UH, THE MCGREGOR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT WHO GOT THE MEETING TOGETHER. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND FREDDIE OLIVER AT LARGE TWO WHO CAME OUT TO SUPPORT, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT D REGARDING A PROJECT. UM, THAT'S GONNA CHANGE THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN NAVIGATE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S CERTAINLY A NEED TO COLLABORATE AND ALLOW THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON SO THAT THEY COULD PLAN THEIR, UH, THE WAY THAT THEY MOVE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. ON, UM, LET'S SEE, NUMBER, OKAY. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, I'M GONNA DO THE SHAMELESS PLUG AGAIN. THE, UH, FREEDOM FUND ADVOCACY AND AWARDS DINNER OF THE NAACP WILL BE ON FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 PM UH, THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THAT WORTHY ENDEAVOR. THAT IS HOW THE NAACP IS ABLE [06:35:01] TO FUNCTION. IT'S THEIR ONLY FUNDRAISER. AND SO IF YOU COULD, UH, GO ONLINE TO NAACP HOUSTON, WE CERTAINLY WOULD WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT. ALSO, UM, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WILL HAVE THEIR FRESH PRODUCE MART ON THIS SATURDAY FROM 10 TO ONE, AND THAT'S 2,600 HOLMAN STREET. THEN THERE'S A FILM FESTIVAL, UH, HOUSTON PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION AT THE ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER. SEE, WE'RE VERY BUSY IN DISTRICT D. UH, THERE WILL BE A PROCLAMATION PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, AND THAT'S AT 7:00 PM AT THE ASIA SOCIETY. UH, LET'S SEE, THEN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN READ IN WILL BE WEDNESDAY THE 28TH FROM SIX TO SEVEN 30 AT THE JOHNSON LIBRARY, UM, LOCATED ON REED ROAD. AND THIS IS AN OB OBSERVANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND YOU CAN COME OUT, UH, GET YOUR FAVORITE BOOK AND HEAR COMMUNITY LEADERS READ A PASSAGE OUT OF THEIR FAVORITE BOOK, UH, AS AN INSPIRATIONAL READER. UH, THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A REDEDICATION CEREMONY. UH, PLEASE JOIN HPD CHIEF TROY FINNER AND THE STRINGFELLOW FAMILY FOR THE REDEDICATION CEREMONY OF THE EDWARD J STRINGFELLOW SOUTHEAST POLICE STATION. THAT WILL BE ON FEBRUARY THE 27TH AT 1:00 PM THAT'S 8,300 MACAU ROAD. AND THEN, ON A SAD NOTE, I CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF WELCOME WILSON SENIOR, UH, WELCOME. WILSON WAS A GREAT SUPPORTER, UH, OF ME AND THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHERE I SERVED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. AND CERTAINLY HE WILL BE MISSED. AND HIS PRESENCE, UH, IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I WILL ALWAYS APPRECIATE. UH, HE NOT ONLY, OF COURSE, LOVED THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, BUT HE LOVED THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS WELL. AND I WANNA GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. UH, MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT MY PHONE'S BURNING UP BY THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED US SAYING, ROBERT RULES OF WATER SUPPORT THE ABILITY TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE. BUT I THINK EVEN THE BIGGER QUESTION IS, WHEN IS THE VOTE FINAL? I DON'T THINK THE SECRETARY COMING UP WITH A TALLY IN, IN THE PROCESS OF HANDING IT TO ME, UH, FINALIZES THAT VOTE. SO I DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S A CHANGE OF VOTE. I THINK IT'S THE PROCESS OF ANNOUNCING THE VOTE. SO ANYWAY, WE'LL TAKE THAT UP IN A WORKING GROUP. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE DISTRICT A DISTRICT H . I WAS LOOKING AT DISTRICT A, UH, TOWN HALL SERIES THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND INVITE RESIDENTS TO A FEW OF THE ONES THAT ARE UPCOMING. WE HAVE ON FEBRUARY THE 28TH, UH, TOWN HALL IN THE EVENING FROM FIVE 30 TO SEVEN AT HTXR IN THE HEART, FOLLOWED BY MARCH THE THIRD FROM TWO TO THREE 30. THAT IS A SATURDAY AT THE MD ANDERSON YMCA. AND THEN MARCH THE NINTH FROM 10:00 AM TO 1145 AT THE CLARK PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. UM, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT, UH, WELL ATTENDED. LOT OF GOOD DIALOGUE, DISCUSSION, AND INFORMATION. AND, AND THOSE ARE THE UPCOMING ONES. WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING OUR EFFORTS, UH, FOR LOVE YOUR PET MONTH. THIS COMING FRIDAY IS THE LAST FRIDAY, UH, TO GET A WELLNESS APPOINTMENT AT BARK, SPONSORED BY DISTRICT H. FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO BARK TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT. UM, ALSO NEXT WEEK, FEBRUARY THE 25TH THROUGH THE 28TH, HOUSTON PETSET WILL BE IN THE NORTHLINE AREA WITH THEIR MOBILE CLINIC, PROVIDING FREE BAY AND NEUTER FOR RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT H. YOU CAN VISIT HOUSTON PETSET.ORG TO SIGN UP. UH, YOU COULD ALSO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AS WELL ON MARCH THE SECOND. UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES IS HOSTING HER THIRD ANNUAL COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR AT MINUTE MAID PARK. IT'S GONNA BE, UH, FEATURING A NUMBER OF INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS. MUSIC. ONE OF THE ATTENDEES WILL WIN A CAR IF THEY HAVE A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE. UM, THIS EVENT'S ALWAYS A GREAT HIT AND DOES A LOT OF GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. UM, SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO ATTEND THAT ON MARCH THE SECOND, 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AND THEN TEXDOT WILL BE EXTENDING THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE INNER KATY PROJECT, UH, THROUGH APRIL THE FIRST. UH, SO THIS IS GONNA GIVE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN, UM, ON A SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED. UM, AND THEY HAVE TAKEN COMMENTS AND MADE, UH, MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR PLAN. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, STAKEHOLDERS TO GIVE THEIR FEEDBACK TO TXDOT, SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS, UH, BECAUSE NOW YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT THROUGH APRIL [06:40:01] THE FIRST. AND FINALLY, AS I'VE, UH, TAKEN TIME TO HIGHLIGHT MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, I WANNA FINISH, UH, HIGHLIGHTING MEMBERS OF MY STAFF BY RECOGNIZING MY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, THOMAS BENJAMIN WHEATON. HE IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, UM, AND A U UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ALUMNI. UM, HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, UH, RELATED TO MEDIA, INCLUDING, UM, MAKING MOVIES. HE'S BEEN FEATURED AT THE LA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL IN 2023. HE'S A VERY TALENTED INDIVIDUAL, DOES GREAT WORK. WE'RE REALLY, UH, HAPPY TO HAVE HIM, UM, AS A PART OF THE DISTRICT H STAFF. AND, UH, FINALLY I'LL SAY THAT I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE, THE DIALOGUE THAT WE HAD TODAY, THE DISCUSSION, THE QUESTIONS. UH, I DO THINK IT, IT'S HELPFUL AND I DON'T SEE, UM, ANY ISSUE WORKING PAST NOON. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YEAH, LAST WEEK I SPOKE ABOUT, UH, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAS GOING ON DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE. AND LAST THURSDAY, TEXAS A AND M UH, SIGNED A DEAL WITH NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER FOR A $200 MILLION BUILD OUT GOING THERE. AND IT'S, UH, PART OF A 240 ACRE SITE. UH, SO NOT ONLY IS IT A BIG DEAL FOR CLEAR LAKE AND DISTRICT E, IT'S A HUGE DEAL FOR THE, THE CITY AS WELL, AND EVEN TEXAS. UH, AND KINGWOOD, WE'RE STARTING CONSTRUCTION ON NORTH PARK. FINALLY. THAT PART PROJECT, UH, DAVE MARTIN, I THINK KIND OF WORKED ON FOR ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE YEARS. AND, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSING TWO OF THE LANES ON NORTH PARK RIGHT AT 59, SO ALL THE RESIDENTS CAN MAKE A NOTE OF THAT, MAYBE FIND SOME ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET OUTTA KINGWOOD. SO, AND, UH, THAT'S ABOUT ALL I GOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED FOR THE 2024 PRIMARY. SO REMINDING EVERYONE NOW THROUGH MARCH 1ST, UH, EVERY DAY, UH, FROM SEVEN TO SEVEN, EXCEPT SUNDAY THE 25TH. IT'S FROM NOON TO SEVEN, AND YOU CAN VOTE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY. UH, SO PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY VOTE, UH, THE INNER KATY TEXT CORRIDOR PROJECT. MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THIS. I KNOW IT IMPACTS SEVERAL OF US. UM, THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IT WILL NOW BE APRIL 1ST. THEIR WEBSITE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED WITH THIS INFORMATION. BUT AGAIN, THE DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW APRIL 1ST. UM, I'M ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. UH, I WAS LOOKING FOR JOSH IN THE AUDIENCE. I SAW MS. SECOND BEFORE, 'CAUSE I'M ASKING IT. THE CITY ALSO SUPPORT, UM, THE FACT THAT ONE OF THESE, UH, MAYOR, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. ONE OF THESE, UH, PROPOSALS FOR THE INNER KATY CORRIDOR IN DISTRICT C TEXDOT IS PROPOSING UNDER OPTION TWO A TAKING OR ACQUISITION THAT WOULD DISPLACE 52 HOMES AND 30 BUSINESSES, INCLUDING A CITY PARK. SO AGAIN, UM, THAT'S OPTION TWO, WHICH WE OPPOSE, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT TXDOT REMAIN, TDOT REMAIN IN THEIR RIGHT OF WAY FOR WHATEVER, UM, PROJECT THEY'RE DOING. BUT I WOULD ASK THAT, ESPECIALLY OUR AT LARGES, IF YOU CAN PLEASE WEIGH IN, UH, LISTENING AND HEATING THE CALLS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS. BUT AGAIN, DEADLINE THANKS TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANN JOHNSON. UH, IN PART HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO APRIL 1ST. UH, WE WILL HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING FOR QUEST WOOD GLEN CLOVE IN RICE MILITARY. UH, TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 22ND AT 5:00 PM UH, EVERY YEAR BEFORE THE PGA TOUR AT MEMORIAL PARK, UH, WE MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, TO DISCUSS THE, UH, WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY IS GONNA BE PROTECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM PARKING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO THAT COMMUNITY MEETING WILL BE THIS WEEK, TOMORROW AT 5:00 PM YOU CAN EMAIL OUR OFFICE FOR THE LINK, UM, AT DISTRICT C@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THERE'S ALSO A CONTROL BURN TAKING PLACE. UH, I BELIEVE IT IS NOW STARTED, UM, AT THE HOUSTON ARBORETUM. UH, THE WILDLAND DIVISION DOES AN AMAZING JOB WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A PLANNED CONTROL BURN. YOU'LL SEE SIGNS UP ALONG, UH, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHWAYS LETTING PEOPLE KNOW. SO IF YOU SEE SMOKE IN THE AREA, UH, IT IS PLANNED, IT IS CONTROLLED. IT IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST. SO, PLEASE KEEP THE LINES OPEN FOR 9 1 1. YOU DO NOT NEED TO CALL. IT'S EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT TWO HOURS. UM, BUT PLEASE USE REDUCED SPEEDS IN THE AREA AND USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS, UH, WHEN SMOKE IS PRESENT. UH, ALSO RELATED TO MEMORIAL PARK AND THE RODEO TRAILS, UH, FRIDAYS GO TEXAN DAY. UH, WE CANNOT WAIT, UH, FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS. TRAIL RIDERS HAVE BEEN CAMPING IN MEMORIAL PARK OVERNIGHT. UH, THEY WILL BE ARRIVING ON FRI THIS FRIDAY ALONG MEMORIAL DRIVE. [06:45:01] THE ROAD WILL REMAIN OPEN, BUT PLEASE EXPECT TRAFFIC DELAYS. IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA, YOU CAN GO TO MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY'S WEBSITE, UM, FOR THE PARK CLOSURES RELATED TO THAT. BUT WE WELCOME ALL OF OUR TRAIL RIDERS. I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, REMIND RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE SOME LANE, UH, REDUCTIONS GOING ON ON WEST DALLAS. UM, IT'S REDUCED TO A SINGLE LANE WESTBOUND AT MONTROSE BOULEVARD DURING NON RUSH HOUR HOURS. SO 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM THE LINES FOR THE SEWAGE ARE GETTING CONNECTED TO THE AS SMILEY CENTER. THAT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW WEEKS. THEY HAVE PUBLIC WORKS OUT THERE, HPD DIRECTING TRAFFIC, UH, BUT THE AS SMILEY CENTER IS COMING ALONG VERY NICELY. IT'S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION, NOT ONLY TO THE MONTROSE CORRIDOR AND ALONG ALLEN PARKWAY, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. LASTLY, I WANNA WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AALIYAH IN OUR OFFICE. IT WILL BE HER BIRTHDAY THIS WEEKEND. SHE'S OUR OFFICE COORDINATOR. SHE HANDLES OUR SPECIAL EVENTS. UH, SHE ALWAYS BRINGS A SMILE TO EVERYONE AROUND HER, AND WE APPRECIATE HER VERY MUCH. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY AALIYAH. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AALIYAH. THANK YOU. UM, SO I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND A HUGE THANKS TO THE 65 VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOWED UP ON SATURDAY. IT WAS VERY COLD ON SATURDAY. UM, THEY SHOWED UP TO CLEAN UP THE, AND BEAUTIFY SMOKEY JASPER PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT BASEBALL PARKS, UM, IN DISTRICT B. UM, THESE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED COACHES, PARENTS AND PLAYERS. WE ALSO HAD THE PARKS DEPARTMENT JOIN US, WHO OUTLINED SOME PROJECTS THAT THEY WILL BE WORKING, UM, UPDATE UPGRADES THEY WILL BE DOING TO THE PARK AS WELL. AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE UPGRADES ARE DONE AND THE PARK, UM, IS MAINTAINED. UM, ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS, UM, NEAR SMOKEY JACKSON PARK IS ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, OUR BE CLEAN TEAM, WHICH WE HAVE TWO TEAMS ON MONDAY. THE, THE MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, THE DE DEPOSITORIES ARE CLOSED ON MONDAY. ON MONDAY. SO ON MONDAYS, OUR HOT TEAM PICK UP TIRES, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO COLLECT 225 TIRES JUST ON MONDAY. AND SO, UM, AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY WEEK. AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE WE CAN GET THE, UM, MAYOR, YOU NOT LISTENING , WE NEED THE DEPOSITORIES OPEN ON MONDAYS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WAY WE CAN LIKE REALLY, UM, MAXIMIZE OUR EFFORTS AS OUR HOT TEAMS ARE CLEANING UP. BECAUSE IF IT'S CLOSED, THEY CAN'T DEPOSIT, UM, ANY TRASH, UM, AT THE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES BECAUSE THEY'RE CLOSED ON MONDAY. UM, ALSO, AND, AND, AND VERY LIMITED HOURS DURING WORK DAYS, SHORTLY ON. EXACTLY. YEAH. ONE ON NORTH MAIN AND CROSS TIMBERS. AND THEN WE HAVE ONE ON, ON SATURDAY MORNING CLOSE. YEAH. SO WE NEED WONDER WHY PEOPLE GO TO ILLEGAL. NO. YEAH. BUT IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SCHEDULES, WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON BEING OPEN ON MONDAY WHEN HISD AND THE COUNTY AND THE STATE AND EVERYBODY WHO DOES Y'ALL SCHEDULE AROUND HERE, I MEAN, KIDS ARE AT HOME BY THEMSELF AND, AND CITY EMPLOYEES. I TRIED TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO CHANGE THAT, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. BUT WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO USE SOME COMMON SENSE AND RESPECT THE FAMILIES. IF THE KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL, WHY WOULD YOU, WHY WOULD WE NOT HAVE THAT A HOLIDAY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES? BUT YEAH, SO WE'LL GET TO IT. IT'S OKAY. JUST WANT THE CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW, UM, THAT THE DE DEPOSITORIES ARE CLOSED AS WELL. I'M SORRY. SO THAT'S WHY THE TIRES ARE STILL RUNNING AROUND. UM, ON THIS MONDAY, FEBRUARY THE 27TH, MY OFFICE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH, UM, FILM DIRECTOR ALEX STAPLETON AND HBO. UM, WE WILL BE SCREENING, UM, GOD SAVE TEXAS, THE PRICE OF OIL. UM, ALEX STAPLETON, SHE'S ACTUALLY A HOUSTONIAN, UM, BORN IN PLEASANTVILLE. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, UM, SHOWING THIS FILM. IN FACT, UM, PLEASANTVILLE RESIDENCE IS PART OF THE FILM. I'M ACTUALLY, I HAVE A CAMEO IN THE BACK PLAYING CARDS WITH THE CONSTITUENTS. SO, UM, IF YOU'RE NOT AVAILABLE, IF YOU, IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE SHOW UP. YOU SHOULD HAVE THE INVITATION ON YOUR IN YOUR COM COMPUTER, WHICH WAS SENT TO YOU LAST WEEK. AND SO THE MOVIE SCREENING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DELUXE THEATER MONDAY, FEBRUARY THE 26TH AT 7:00 PM HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. UM, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE MY STAFF FOR THEIR AMAZING WORK. UM, THIS WEEK WE HELPED MS. CONNOR, UM, GET OUT OF A $30,000 BILL THAT WAS SPRUNG ON HER BY A COMPANY SELLING SOLAR PANELS. AND SHE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE SOLAR PANEL WAS FREE, BUT THEN EVENTUALLY THEY STARTED, UM, UM, TRYING TO COLLECT $30,000. AND SO MY STAFF, UM, WORKED CLOSELY WITH HER TO TRY TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF. AND SO THAT BUILD IS NO MORE. SO CONSTITUENTS. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THE SOLAR PANELS BECAUSE YOU HAVE COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT'S NOT SCAMMING. YEAH. SCAMMING PEOPLE. UM, YEAH. AND OTHER THINGS. UM, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE FRED, WHO IS ALSO ON MY STAFF, MY, UM, SPECIAL PROJECTS, UM, [06:50:01] UM, DIRECTOR. UM, HE'S BEEN VISITING HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION, UM, WORKING WITH YOUNG KIDS THAT'S INCARCERATED SO FAR. HE'S TALKED TO 90 INCARCERATED YOUTH, AND NOT JUST HIM, BUT SOME OF OUR, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS. AND SO THEY'RE GETTING THESE YOUTH READY TO, AS THEY TRANSITION OUT, GET THEM CONNECTED TO SOME JOBS SO THAT THEY COULD REINTEGRATE BACK INTO COMMUNITIES IN, INTO THE COMMUNITY SUCCESSFULLY. UM, ONE LAST THING. I'LL BE SUCCESSFUL. JOBS AND RESOURCE FAIR IS NEXT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH, STARTING AT 10:00 AM 10:00 AM AT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IN CYPRUS. PLEASE COME OUT IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING A JOB OR GETTING RESOURCES OR HOUSING, CHILDCARE, YOU NAME IT. UM, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I WANNA BE THE FIRST TO, UH, WISH COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. YAY. THANK YOU. BIRTHDAY IS FRIDAY. UM, FRIDAY SECOND. UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RODEO PARADE ON SATURDAY. I'LL BE ON HORSEBACK. I HOPE, HOPE ALL OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE, MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE ON HORSEBACK AS WELL. AND ON A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS NOTE, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE, UH, HOMELESS SITUATION AND SPECIFICALLY THE FEEDING, UH, OPERATION THAT IS RUN BY FOOD, FOOD NOT BOMBS, UH, ON LIBRARY PROPERTY FOUR TIMES A WEEK. UM, I KNOW, UH, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE HEARD THAT, UM, THERE'S A LAWSUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE CITY BY FOOD NOT BOMBS. UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT LAST WEEK THERE WAS A COURT RULING BY JUDGE HANNON GRANTING A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION IN JOINING THE CITY FROM ENFORCING THE FEEDING ORDINANCE, WHICH MEANS THAT FOOD NOT BOMBS HAS CONVINCED THE JUDGE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PROVE THEIR CASE THAT THE STATUTE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE JUDGE FOUNDS THAT THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL PROBABILITY THAT, UM, THE ORDINANCE WILL BE SHOWN TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. UM, AND, AND MAYOR, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT REPEALING OR AMENDING THAT ORDINANCE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S UNENFORCEABLE AND FRANKLY, DURING ITS EXISTENCE, IT HAS BEEN INEFFECTIVE. UH, IN ADDRESSING THE SITUATION, IT WAS PASSED IN 2012, WE REQUESTED FROM THE MUNICIPAL, MUNICIPAL COURT'S, UH, DATA ON HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN CONVICTED UNDER THAT ORDINANCE. AND WHAT WE WERE TOLD WAS THAT ONLY IN ONE INSTANCE HAS A PERSON WHO HAS PLED NOT GUILTY, BEEN FOUND GUILTY. THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN, UH, WHO HAVE PLED GUILTY. HOW, HOWEVER, ONE PERSON CONVICTED UNDER THAT ORDINANCE IN 12 YEARS IS, IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE ORDINANCE. MM-HMM . AND SO I WOULD URGE MAYOR THAT WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. I'VE TALKED TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY INTENDS TO GO FORWARD WITH THE TRIAL IN THIS CASE WHERE THE JUDGE HAS ALREADY SAID THAT ESSENTIALLY THAT THE ORDINANCE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. AND THAT WHEN WE LOSE THAT CASE, WHICH I BELIEVE WE WILL, BECAUSE THE JUDGE HAS ALREADY FOUND A SUBSTANTIAL PROBABILITY THAT THE ORDINANCE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THEN WE'RE GOING TO APPEAL IT. AND, UH, MAYOR, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD USE OF OUR RESOURCES. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION SOONER RATHER THAN LATER ABOUT REPEALING OR AMENDING THAT ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. UH, I'LL TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT, BUT TO CLARIFY YOUR POSITION, ARE YOU FAR FEEDING AT THE LIBRARY OR AT THE DESIGNATED PLACE? RIGHT UP THE STREET. SEE, I WANNA MEET WITH THE FOOD AND NOT BOMBS FOLKS AND TAKE MIKE NICHOLS AND SOME REASONABLE HOMELESS ADVOCATES LIKE US AND SAY, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FEED YOUR HOMELESS RESTROOMS, FOOD PROTECTION, MAYBE EVEN SHOWERS, PORTA CANS. BUT WHY YOU GOTTA DO IT AT THE LIBRARY? SO FOR YOU FOR CONTINUING TO USE THE LIBRARY OR GO UP A STREET IN A SAFE DESIGNATED AREA, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN OVER TO THE MEN'S RESTROOM IN THE LIBRARY, BUT THAT'S KIND OF SHOWING, UH, IT IS, IT IS KIND OF TURNED INTO A SHOWER AND A, UH, HOMELESS SHELTER, WHICH MEANS [06:55:01] YOU'RE NOT GONNA OPEN THE LIBRARY FREELY TO HOUSTONIANS AND WEDDINGS AND MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES. SO WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN? YOU WANT TO USE THE LIBRARY OR YOU WANT SEND 'EM OVER TO ROMERO, UH, TO REASONER STREET? WELL, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE. UH, HOWEVER, NOT TOO COMPLEX. HOWEVER, UM, FOOD NOT BOMBS DOES THEIR FEEDING AFTER THE LIBRARY CLOSES. THEY DON'T FEED THE HOMELESS WHILE THE LIBRARY IS OPEN. YOU SURE? I'M POSITIVE. WHAT ABOUT THE RESIDUE, LIKE THE URINE AMMONIA SMELL IN THE RESTROOMS? I, I GET IT. UM, I COME DOWN ON THE SIDE OF NOT CRIMINALIZING ACTS OF CHARITY LIKE FEEDING THE HOMELESS. OKAY, WELL, WE ALL, WE ALL ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THAT. BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, DO YOU WANNA DO IT IN A SAFE, PROTECTIVE DESIGNATED AREA WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE? BECAUSE I'LL WALK OVER THE LIBRARY WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. IT HAS DETERRED FAMILIES FROM USING THE LIBRARY AND CITY EMPLOYEES. I'M KINDA RESPECTFUL OF THEIR CONDITIONS. MAYBE CORPORATE HOUSTON, UNITED AIRLINES SAID, UH, IN A POLL TO TRY TO GET THEIR EMPLOYEES BACK WORKING IN THE OFFICE. AND NUMBER ONE CONCERN, JUST LIKE SOME OF OUR RESIDENCES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WITH THE HOMELESS CONDITIONS. SO ANYWAY, I'LL WORK WITH YOU. WE NEED A LEGAL POSITION, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE ADVOCATES AND SEE IF WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THEIR INTEREST IN FEEDING THE HOMELESS, WHICH WE ALL DO. BUT I WANNA PROVIDE 'EM SOME SAFETY, SANITATION, PORTA CANS, HEALTHCARE, YOU NAME IT. AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE DONE AT THE LIBRARY. SO WE GOT A LOT TO DO, UH, UH, AGREED MAYOR. AND, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, UH, YOU'LL BE MEETING WITH, UH, REPRESENTATIVES OF THAT GROUP AND MR. NICHOLS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. YOU GOT IT. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I WILL TRY TO BE, BE BRIEF AND JUST FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON SOME CONSTITUENT SERVICES ISSUES THAT ARE RAISED. A BC 13 RECENTLY HAD A, UH, A STORY ABOUT, UM, AN ONGOING WATER LEAK IN WESTCHASE. I WANNA LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT, CALLED IT INTO OUR OFFICE AND TO 3 1 1 THAT THIS HAS BEEN ROUTED UP AND WILL BE RESOLVED. THE, UH, INITIAL PROTOCOL IS 10 DAYS. SO ALLOW US 10 TO 14 DAYS, UM, TO COME BACK WITH THE SOLUTION ON HOW WE RESOLVE THAT WATER LEAK. UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANNA SHOUT OUT SCHLUMBERGER, SLB, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SCHLUMBERGER FOR THEIR FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT AND PARTNERSHIP IN DISTRICT F FOR THEIR LOVING ON YOUR SENIORS. UM, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW OVER THE FOUR YEARS. UM, EVERY FEBRUARY, UH, THEIR BLACK EMPLOYEE NETWORK AND OTHERS JOIN, UM, TO PROVIDE BASKETS, UH, TO THE PINEY POINT COMMUNITY, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CIGNA AND OTHER PARTNERS. SO I JUST WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK. AND SPEAKING ABOUT PINEY POINT, UM, WE WILL BE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, TO TALK ABOUT A SINGLE FAMILY REPL THAT'S ON THE AGENDA THAT, UH, WHAT WE INTERPRET AS PROBLEMATIC TO PRESERVING THE, UM, HOUSING INVENTORY IN THAT COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO THE CULTURAL AND HERITAGE AS THEY ARE A CONSERVATION DISTRICT. I ALSO WANNA RAISE, UM, SOME INFORMATION AND SOME HELPFUL TALKING POINTS, UM, DUE TO THE RECENT NOTIFICATION OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE PAUSE ON HOUSING VOUCHERS. AND I THINK THAT IT'S EASY TO, YOU KNOW, CLICK ON SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT JUST TO PAINT THE PICTURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MARKET. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS ON THE NEW YORK TIMES IS BECAUSE OF OUR HOUSING FIRST MODEL. UM, AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH THE UNHOUSED POPULATION, MOST OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THOSE VOUCHERS. AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT AN AVERAGE TENANT OF AN $11,000 INCOME AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION IS 30% AND THE MARKET CONTINUES TO INCREASE, THAT PUTS A DRAIN ON, UH, THE FINANCIAL, UH, RESOURCES OF THE AGENCY. ALSO, HUD HAS NOT INCREASED THEIR ALLOTMENT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO, UM, I'M ASKING OUR FELLOW FEDERAL DELEGATION, MAYOR WHITMEYER, IF, UM, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO LEND YOUR VOICE TO THE FEDERAL DELEGATION THAT THEY ENCOURAGE HUD, UM, TO DEEPLY INVEST IN INCREASING THE ALLOCATION FOR THE HUD VOUCHERS. BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, WE HAVE OVER 40,000 IN HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE ON A WAITING LIST. ALSO, IN CONTEXT, WE HAD OVER 86,000 INDIVIDUALS IN HARRIS COUNTY APPLY FOR THE INCOME-BASED PROGRAM. SO THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU CONTEXT TO THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY AND COUNTY THAT ARE IN DEEP NEED, UH, FOR SOME TYPE OF RENT SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF A PANDEMIC. SO I THINK, UM, UM, EDUCATING OURSELVES, TALKING MORE ABOUT THE CRISIS, UH, THAT WE ARE POTENTIALLY FACING AROUND HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE I WANNA RECALL IN 2021 WHEN WE HAD HIGH, UM, NEED OF OCCUPANCY IN OUR MULTIFAMILY, UH, DEVELOPMENTS, UH, WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC EVICTIONS, LANDLORDS WERE WORKING WITH [07:00:01] US TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WERE SECURE THROUGH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OR LEASING A UNIT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE, UM, UH, WONDERFUL RENT, $700, $600. THOSE LEASES ARE NOW EXPIRING AND LANDLORDS ARE NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO ACCEPT THE VOUCHER. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE WOULD, WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AND I WANNA SHARE WHAT IS HAPPENING. LASTLY, NEXT WEEK, I WILL BE AT THE AILEY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL. I WANT TO EN ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN THIS MEETING ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, WE WILL HAVE THE CEO OF A COALITION OF HOUSING AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM PRE PRECINCT FOR TALKING ABOUT HOMELESS WORK. I WILL BE THERE UPDATING ON THE CITYWIDE ENCAMPMENT STRATEGY, PARTICULARLY WHAT THAT MEANS IN DISTRICT F ON THE WEST SIDE. WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION TO SHARE. I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THERE. IF MY OFFICE CAN SERVE YOU IN ANY WAY, DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 2. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, VICE MAYOR PROTE P. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL PASS COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. AS LONG AS I HAVE COFFEE. I'M WORKING TILL PAST 12, SO WE'RE GOOD. UM, NO, I'LL, I'LL BE BRIEF. UH, JUST FIRST AND FOREMOST WANNA SAY, UH, UH, THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR EAST OUR DISTRICT EYE TOUR. AND THIS PAST WEEK, UH, WE WERE IN THE EAST END. SO WE VISITED, UH, PECAN PARK, WHICH IS IN GROUND PARK WITH DIXIE LITTLE LEAGUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE READY TO, UH, BE UP AND RUNNING FOR OPENING DAY. WE WENT TO MAN MANCHESTER SMITH EDITION, MAGNOLIA PARK EAST, UH, EAST DOWNTOWN EASTWOOD. AND SO, UH, STAFF ARE GETTING ACCLIMATED TO THE DISTRICT, MAKING SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT, UM, WHEN BOOTS ARE ON THE GROUND, WE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO ILLEGAL DUMPING, STRAY ANIMALS, UM, AND ALL THE OTHER NUISANCE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, WE ENDED OUR, OUR DISTRICT GUIDE TOUR AT, UM, VISITING FRENCH FRY HOUSE. UH, IT'S A BLACK OWNED BUSINESS. WE'RE STILL CELEBRATING AND HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. UM, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO, IT'S 57 40 SOUTH WAYSIDE DRIVE. AMAZING FRIES. YEAH, IT'S CHEF, UH, CHOPS, UH, OLIVER. HE'S AMAZING. I WANNA GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, JUST WANT TO INVITE, UH, DISTRICT I RESIDENTS, UH, TO OUR FIRST OPEN HOUSE AND RESOURCE FAIR. THIS SATURDAY. IT'S GONNA BE AT THE MAGNOLIA MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, THAT'S 70 37 CAPITAL STREET IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA. IT'S FROM 10 TO ONE. THERE'LL BE FREE VACCINES, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE SEVERAL, UH, VARIOUS HOUSTON CITY DEPARTMENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, NON-PROFITS, SO THAT WAY COMMUNITY CAN GET CONNECTED. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. PARTNER. THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. UH, COUNCIL STAND ADJOURNED. THANK Y'ALL FOR A VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION. * 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.