* 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. [00:00:04] COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER. THE CHAIR [PRESENTATIONS] RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THERE SHE IS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO, UH, ISSUE TODAY A PROCLAMATION FOR PAMELA LUCKETT. SHE'S AN AMAZING LADY. I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PAMELA. PAMELA LUCKETT WAS BORN IN NAVASOTA, TEXAS AND RAISED IN HOUSTON. SHE IS A TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE WITH A DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING, AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE BETA ALPHA SIDE, AN ESTEEMED ACCOUNTING SOCIETY. WITH OVER THREE DECADES OF DIVERSE EXPERIENCE IN ACCOUNTING, AUDITING, CONSULTING, SALES, AND TRAINING, PAMELA DEMONSTRATES AN EXCEPTIONAL WORK ETHIC. SHE HAS SERVED AS SENIOR RESERVE ACCOUNTANT AT PENNZOIL APACHE CORPORATION, ALLRIGHT CORPORATION, AND GRACO INTEREST. SHE IS AL SHE HAS ALSO SERVED AS SENIOR TAX SPECIALIST FRAUD SALES AND USE TAX AUDITOR WITH THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. AS A CONSULTANT AND SALES REP AT, AT ACCOUNTEX, PAMELA HELPED PROGRAMMERS DEVELOP, DEVELOP ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS A POS SYSTEM THAT LED HER TO BELIZE TO SET UP TRADE SYSTEM FOR THE ISLAND OF SAN PEDRO AND MANY OTHERS. PAMELA IS A WOMAN OF FAITH AND A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR WHO OWNS TRAVEL, A TRAVEL AGENCY, LPG TALENT TRAVEL. BEYOND HER PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS, MAYBE MOST IMPORTANT, SHE PAYS, PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF HER TWO CREATIVE ADULT CHILDREN. LATOYA LUCKETT AND GAVIN LUCKETT. MANAGING THEIR ENTERTAINMENT CAREERS AND IS, IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HER RESPONSIBILITIES. SHE'S VERY TALENTED AS A GRANDMOTHER. SHE IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN RAISING LATOYA'S TWO WONDERFUL CHILDREN, GIANNA AND TYSON, WITH PAMELA AS A PILLAR OF SUPPORT. LATOYA, AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF DESTINY'S CHILD, BOAST A SUCCESSFUL CAREER WITH NUMEROUS AWARDS, INCLUDING TWO GRAMMYS. SHE HAS SOLD OVER 25 MILLION RECORDS WITH DESTINY'S CHILD ON THE GROUP'S FIRST TWO ALBUMS AND SINGLES. WE HAVE FAME IN THE HOUSE. LATOYA HAS RELEASED TWO NUMBER ONE R AND B ALBUMS, LATOYA AND LADY LOVE. SHE RELEASED HER HIGHLY ANTICIPATED THIRD ALBUM BACK TO LIFE, WHICH MARKED HER FIRST INDEPENDENT RELEASE. IN ADDITION TO MUSIC, LATOYA HAS PURSUED HER NEWFOUND PASSION FOR ACTING AND STARTED AND STARRED IN NUMEROUS FILMS AND TELEVISION PROJECTS. UNDER PAMELA'S GUIDANCE. HER SON GAVIN, HAS ALSO EVOLVED INTO A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER PLATINUM AWARD, AWARDED MUSIC PRODUCER AND MIXING AND MAX MASTERING ENGINEER. HOWEVER, HE WAS FIRST KNOWN FOR PLAYING REGGIE, THE SON OF RON AND CHERYL MCNAIR, PORTRAYED BY JOE MARTIN AND ANGELA BASSETT IN THE PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD-WINNING MOVIE CHALLENGER. SINCE THEN, GAVIN HAS BECOME A PROMINENT FIGURE IN HOUSTON'S ME MUSIC SCENE, CONTRIBUTING TO MAJOR NAMES IN SOUTHERN HIP HOP. IN ADDITION TO PRODUCING TRACKS FOR HIS SISTER, LATOYA, HE MOST NOTABLY PRODUCED THE TEXAN SONG AND LIKED THE FUSE, THE THEME SONG FOR THE HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THE HOUSTON ROCKETS RESPECTIVELY. PAMELA'S CHILDREN'S SUCCESS IS NOT ONLY A REFLECTION OF HER GOD-GIVEN TALENTS AND PERSEVERANCE, BUT HER LIMITLESS GUIDANCE AND IMMEASURABLE SUPPORT. AS A MANAGER, A MOTHER, AND A FRIEND, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS AND APPRECIATES PAMELA LUCKETT FOR HER SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT. IT EXTENDS ITS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. WOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CARTER FOR BRINGING THIS REMARKABLE HOUSTONIAN TO COUNCIL TODAY. AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING MAKE HOUSTON THE GREAT CITY. IT'S, YOU REALLY SET AN EXAMPLE FOR, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE, AND YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH YOUR FAMILY. SO THE, I BET EVEN THE BEST IS YET TO COME. OH, I CAN'T WAIT. YES, GO AHEAD. ABSOLUTELY. OH, SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMAR , I GET CARRIED AWAY WITH YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANK YOU. WHAT A GREAT PROCLAMATION MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON DO. HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024 IS PAMELA LUCKETT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MIKE IS YOURS, MS. DAY. I WILL SAY ONE OTHER THING. WHEN IT COMES TO A, A PROCLAMATION FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE HAVE JUST BROUGHT YOU ONE OF THE FINEST THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS TO OFFER. [00:05:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCILMAN TWILA, UM, CARTER, UH, I, THIS IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE, AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL JOURNEY, UM, WITH MY TWO WONDERFUL CHILDREN. I HAVE TWO AND THEY'RE AMAZING. AND NOW I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE JOURNEY AND THE ROAD AND HOW I CAN SUPPORT THEM AS WELL AND DO WHAT WE CAN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT HAVE COME TO SHARE THIS DAY WITH ME. THANK YOU. YEARS OLD TODAY, DO YOU WANNA HAVE, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE WITH YOU TO STAND IF, IF EVERYONE THAT IS WITH HER, IF HER FAMILY WANTS TO COME UP, Y'ALL WANNA STAND, SHE CAN INTRODUCE HER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE WITH HER PRETTY PROMINENT. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH. THANK YOU. I AM JOINED HERE, UM, BY GRACIE KAVANAUGH. SHE'S THE FOUNDER AND CEO, AND I'M GONNA HAVE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, MAYOR, I'M GONNA HAVE THESE HARDWORKING VOLUNTEERS AND STAFFERS, UM, TO COME AND STAND WITH US. SO, I, I WANNA JUST TAKE A A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE REALLY QUICKLY. UM, HOPE FARMS IS A TREASURE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ACREAGE OF JUST, JUST LAND. AND, UM, AND WHAT THEY'RE CULTIVATING OUT THERE IS PHENOMENAL. UM, I'VE GONE TO A FUNDRAISER THERE AND THEY'VE GOT THIS AMAZING PAVILION, UM, A LITTLE SMALL LITTLE COUNTRY STORE. IT'S JUST A GREAT SPACE. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN THERE BEFORE, PLEASE GO OUT THERE AND SEE THIS. UM, BUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN, IN SUNNYSIDE IS, IS PRETTY PHENOMENAL. SO, WHEREAS OBESITY RATES IN CHILDREN CONTINUE TO RISE IN HOUSTON WITH 31.5% OF TEXAS CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 TO 17 CONSIDERED SEVERELY OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE. AND WHEREAS RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY BY CHANGING THE WAY OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE, AND EAT THEIR FOOD, AND MAKING HEALTHY FOOD APPEALING AND AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WITH PROGRAMS THAT TEACH, EMPOWER, INSPIRE HEALTHY EATING. AND WHEREAS RECIPE FOR SUCCESS ADDRESSES A MAJOR NEED FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE, AND EAT THEIR FOOD WITH ITS SERVICE AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SEED TO PLATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS, HOPE FARMS, AND THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE. AND WHEREAS RECIPE FOUR SUCCESS FOUNDATIONS SEED TO PLATE EDUCATION HAS EMPOWERED MORE THAN 50,000 HOUSTON CHILDREN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MAKE LIFETIME HEALTHY EATING DECISIONS AND HABITS. WHEREAS RECIPE FOUR SUCCESS FOUNDATION, HOPE FARMS IS GROWING FRESH, AFFORDABLE, PRODUCE ON SEVEN ACRES, AND SUNNYSIDE, ONE OF THE CITY'S VAST FOOD DESERTS AND TRAINING VETERANS AND OTHERS TO BE PROFESSIONAL FARMERS WITH THE INTENTION OF EXPANDING THE FOOTPRINT OF URBAN FARMS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON'S FOOD DESERTS AND COMMUNITIES IN NEED. AND WHEREAS THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE WAS CREATED BY THE FOUNDATION AS A CALL TO ACTION FOR EVERYONE TO EAT 30 DIFFERENT VEGETABLES IN 30 DAYS, WITH THE INTENTION OF EXPANDING CONSUMPTION OF FRESH PRODUCE AS ADVISED BY THE SURGEON GENERAL TO BE THE FASTEST PATH TO GOOD HEALTH. AND WHEREAS IN ITS 12TH YEAR, THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE HAS BEEN TAKEN UP BY MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE IN 50 STATES AND ABROAD. WHEREAS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION IS [00:10:01] CHALLENGING AND ENCOURAGING EVERY HOUSTONIAN TO TAKE THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE IN MARCH, 2024. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION FOR INSPIRING HOUSTONIANS TO EAT HEALTHY EVERY DAY THROUGH THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE IN MARCH, AND THROUGH THEIR MANY OTHER HEALTHY EATING INITIATIVES AND ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. VERY GOOD. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2024 AS VEG OUT WITH RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION MONTH. THE CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO. THANK YOU. I WISH MY GRANDSONS WERE HERE TO HEAR YOUR MESSAGE. SEND 'EM OVER TO US. I WILL WE, WE'LL PUT 'EM TO WORK. THERE YOU GO. I LOVE, THANK YOU. AND BEFORE SHE, BEFORE SHE SPEAKS, GUYS, I WANNA SAY THIS, AND I REALLY WANT HOUSTON TO KNOW THIS. UM, IT'S A VOLUNTEER BASED FARM, SO THEY DO TEAM BUILDING. THEY DO SO MANY REALLY COOL THINGS TO GET OUT THERE. AND I'M A BIG GARDENER, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE MY HANDS ARE IN THE DIRT. I AM GROUNDED. UH, AND, AND NOT ONLY IS IT JUST A KIND OF A PURIFICATION EXPERIENCE IN MY MIND, BUT IT'S A WAY TO REALLY TEACH KIDS THAT WHAT THEY EAT EVERY SINGLE DAY COMES OUTTA THE GROUND. SO WITHOUT, WITH, UM, WITHOUT, UM, ANY MORE COMMENTS ON MY END, YOU SEE, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS . I'M GONNA LET GRACIE TAKE THE MIC. THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PERSON. HOW DO I SAY THAT? COUNCIL PERSON. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER. I'M NOT VERY POLITICALLY CORRECT AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, FOR, UH, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE VEGGING OUT, RIGHT? AND ENCOURAGING ALL HOUSTONIANS TO JOIN YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP SO MUCH. EVERYBODY HERE FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM OF POOR NUTRITION AND INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. AT RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION, OUR MISSION IS TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY BY CHANGING THE WAY OUR CHILDREN UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE, AND EAT THEIR FOOD. AND BY MOBILIZING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE HEALTHIER DIETS FOR OUR CITY'S CHILDREN. SINCE 2005, AND COUNCILPERSON CARTER, YOU WERE THERE, RIGHT? LIKE 18 YEARS, IT'S BEEN LIKE RAISING A CHILD SINCE 2005. WE HAVE TAUGHT EMPOWERED AND INSPIRED HEALTHY EATING WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE, PLUS OUR AWARD-WINNING SEED TO PLATE NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND OUR EXTRAORDINARY HOPE FARMS, URBAN AGRICULTURAL SHOWCASE AND TRAINING CENTER RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF HOUSTON, IN SUNNYSIDE, LITERALLY 12 MINUTES FROM WHERE WE STAND TOGETHER, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MANY THINGS, YOU AND I, MAKING IT EASIER FOR HOUSTONIANS TO LIVE A HEALTHIER LIFE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE STILL HAVE A BIG JOB AHEAD OF US. OVER 30% OF US. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE PANDEMIC DID NOT HELP. BUT OVER 30% OF US ARE OBESE, AND THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE SUFFERING FROM AN ARRAY OF CHRONIC PREVENTABLE DISEASES THAT COME WITH THE TERRITORY. HEALTH EXPERTS ACTUALLY TELL US THAT THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH THAN BY SIMPLY EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO PUSH AWAY FROM THE WHOPPER, RIGHT? I'M JUST SAYING ADD SOME VEGGIES THERE. WE SHOULD ALL BE EATING NINE SERVINGS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGGIES EVERY DAY, HALF OUR PLATE. BUT MOST HOUSTONIANS, JUST LIKE MOST AMERICANS CAN ONLY NAME FIVE VEGETABLES. THREE ARE ON A HAMBURGER, AND THE OTHER WOULD BE LIKE, UH, CORN ON THE COB AND GREEN BEANS, AND, OKAY. FRENCH FRIES, RIGHT? SO THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE WANT TO EXPAND EVERYONE'S VEG UNIVERSE. SO THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO USE THE SAME TACTICS THAT WE USE WITH THE KIDDOS IN THE CLASSROOM, MAKING HEALTHY FOOD DELICIOUSLY FUN AND EASY TO CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR OF ADULTS TOO. SO WE DECIDED TO MAKE HEALTHY EATING FUN FOR EVERYONE. IN 2012, RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM, WE LAUNCHED THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE AS AN EASY, DELICIOUS WAY TO ENCOURAGE HOUSTONIANS TO EXPAND THEIR VEGGIE REPERTOIRE. THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS HAVE TAKEN THE CHALLENGE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IT JUST KIND OF WENT VIRAL. AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD TAKE THE CHALLENGE FROM AS FAR AWAY AS DUBAI AND IRELAND. THEY'RE REGISTERING TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE 'CAUSE YOU CAN JUST DO IT ONLINE. SO NOW FAMILIES ARE VEING OUT, SCHOOLS ARE VEGGING OUT. COMPANIES ARE VEING OUT. AND THANKS TO THE MOMENTUM WE LAUNCHED ALL THANKS TO THE MOMENTUM. WE LAUNCHED RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. WE BROUGHT A TASTE OF HOPE FARMS. DID YOU TASTE IT? ? LITERALLY, WE JUST PULLED THOSE CARROTS THIS MORNING. AND AT HOPE FARMS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE 2ND OF MARCH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY OF A SATURDAY MARKET TO LAUNCH THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE WITH FUN AND GAMES AND FREE COOKING CLASSES. WE EVEN HAVE THE RESTAURANT CRITIC FROM THE CHRONICLE TEACHING FREE COOKING [00:15:01] CLASSES AT THE FARM ON SATURDAY, FREE GARDENING CLASSES, GAMES FOR THE KIDS, PRIZES COME OUT AND SEE US, SEE THE INFLUENCE AND IMPACT THAT A FARM IN THE CENTER OF TOWN CAN HAVE FOR BRINGING FRESH VEGETABLES RIGHT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHILE YOU'RE CRUNCHING DOWN ON YOUR CARROT TODAY, CONSIDER HELPING US. HOW CAN YOU HELP US EXPAND OUR REACH? HOW CAN WE GET OUR PROGRAMS INTO MORE SCHOOLS? HOW CAN WE EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF URBAN FARMS IN HOUSTON AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR PARENTS TO PUT HEALTHY FOOD ON THE TABLE BY MAYBE SWEEPING AWAY A FEW REGULATORY OBSTACLES TO URBAN FARMS? I'M JUST SAYING , WITH EVERYONE'S HELP, WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE HEALTHY PRODUCE INTO OUR NEIGHBOR'S HANDS AND GET THE ENTIRE CITY TO EAT THEIR VEGETABLES AND LOVE IT. LET'S SHOW THE REST OF AMERICA HOW WE DO THINGS IN HOUSTON. Y'ALL, LET'S VEG OUT. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD. CERTAINLY HOPE FARMS IS IN SUNNYSIDE, AND I THINK THE LAND IS MORE FERTILE THERE FOR GROWING . AND CERTAINLY I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YOU ARE THERE. AND I, I PROMISE I'M GONNA DO BETTER. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHEN, BUT I AM, IF I COULD STOP EATING A CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE, THEN MAYBE I COULD EAT SOME OF THIS STUFF IN THIS BAG, WHICH IS TOO HEALTHY FOR ME. BUT CERTAINLY I AM VERY HAPPY FOR WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. AND AT SOME POINT I'M GONNA CATCH THE VISION, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT I PUT THIS IN OUR NEWSLETTER SO THAT THE, UH, DISTRICT D AND THOSE AROUND WHO READ THE NEWSLETTER WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE THERE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AS WELL. AND SO, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, GRACIE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MANY YEARS OF SUCCESS WITH RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS AN IDEA AND I THOUGHT, HMM, WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WORKS. WHAT'S WORKED? AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION, BUT ALSO YOU'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM AROUND YOU. YOU ALWAYS HAVE, AND YOU KNOW, THE CITY, UH, THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS JUST SO BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY GREAT NONPROFITS SUCH AS YOURS. AND IT'S, THOSE IDEAS ARE BORN, YOU GET OUT THERE, YOU STICK WITH IT, AND, AND YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND WHILE THE DISTRICT D IS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION OVER HERE, I THINK WE NEED MANY MORE RECIPES FOR SUCCESS AND HOPE FARMS AROUND THE CITY. SO PUT THAT IN YOUR LIST OF GOALS AND GET GOING. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEF. AND SO TO THAT POINT, DISTRICT I, WHICH IS JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION , UM, WE HAVE A, A PROPERTY, ACTUALLY 62 25 NORTHDALE HARBO RIPLEY USED TO BE THERE. THEY'RE NOT THERE ANYMORE, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF GREEN SPACE OUT THERE AS WELL. SO I'D LOVE TO VISIT WITH Y'ALL TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO BRING Y ALL OVER TO DISTRICT I, THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION . THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS MUCH CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND WE PROMISE THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UM, VEG OUT IN MARCH AND EXPAND OUR VEGETABLE REPERTOIRE. [00:20:28] UH, MEMBERS [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I GOT A DRINK. IF I COULD ASK. UH, PASTOR ROSE TO COME UP. PASTOR ROSE SERVES AS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF THE HISTORICAL MOUNT VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH INCORPORATED, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO, TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, IT IS THE HISTORICAL CHURCH. UH, THEY GOT THEIR MARKER, UH, ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT. UH, HE WAS BORN IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WHERE HE MAJORED IN BUSINESS COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS, AND HE LATER TRANSFERRED TO HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY AND FURTHERED HIS APP, HIS EDUCATION AT THE HOUSTON SCHOOL OF BIBLE STUDY. PASTOR ROSE IS A FAMILY MAN WHO BELIEVES THAT STRONG FAMILIES ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO STRONG CHURCHES, WHICH MAKES STRONG COMMUNITIES, CITIES, AND STATES. HE BEGAN PREACHING THE GOSPEL AT THE AGE OF 12 YEARS OLD. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT I, WELL, WE WON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT I WAS DOING AT 12 IN 1975 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LATE DR. HOAXY PERRY JR. AND WAS ORDAINED IN 1984 BY DR. PERRY AT THE MOUNT MARIAH BAPTIST CHURCH AT THE AGE OF 26. HE WAS CALLED THE PASTOR, THE MOUNT VERNON CHURCH IN 1989. HE IS A VISIONARY. HE WORKED SO HARD IN THE COMMUNITY. HE'S BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER OF MINE, AND I KNOW THAT HE HAS PRAYED FOR ME. AND SO, UH, I COULD GO ON BECAUSE HIS ACCOLADES ARE, THEY GO FAR AND WIDE. BUT I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YOU, PASTOR, SO THAT YOU CAN BRING A WORD FOR US TO PRAY US ON INTO THIS MEETING. AND I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TAKING OF YOUR TIME TO COME AND DO THAT. PA PASTOR, EXCUSE ME, GET IN FRONT OF THE MIC. THAT'S ON. OKAY, THERE YOU GO. ALRIGHT. I, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE LORD FOR, FOR HIS POWER AND HIS PRESENCE AND TO YOU, OUR MAYOR. AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE ARE BEHIND YOU AND, UH, AND YOUR FOREGOING AS YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR OUR CITY AND TO CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY. HALLELUJAH. WEST DAVIS, A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE, UH, DISTRICT D UH, THANK GOD FOR YOU AND TO ALL OF YOU AS WE COME TOGETHER TO MAKE HOUSTON BETTER. LET'S PRAY. UH, LORD GOD, WE COME AND YOUR NAME RECOGNIZING THAT YOU ARE JEHOVAH GOD. YOU ARE THE ONLY WISE GOD. AND, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR POWER AND YOUR SPIRIT. I PRAY RIGHT NOW FOR OUR MAYOR WITH MEYER THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE HIM THE LEADERSHIP THAT HE NEEDS AND THE FOLLOWSHIP WE PRAY FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THEY LEGISLATE AND MAKE POLICIES THAT'S GOING TO HELP OUR, OUR CITY. AND WE ASK THAT YOU WILL STRENGTHEN THEM IN PROGRAMS AS WE, UH, CHANGE, UH, THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED AND STRENGTHENED. THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY STRONG. WE PRAY RIGHT NOW FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT, AND WE ASK THAT THE PEOPLE WILL BE BETTER BECAUSE OF THIS LEADERSHIP. WE PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL WATCH THE CITY. WE PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL KEEP THE CITY LEST THE WATCHMAN. WATCH IN VAIN. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE FOR THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUST STRAW. OH, UH, MADAM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. CONSTABLE PECK. HERE. CONSTABLE JACKSON. HERE. CONSTABLE CAYMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE EVAN SHABA. HERE, COUNCIL FLICKINGER PRESENT. CONSTABLE THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? PRESENT? CONSTABLE CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. HERE. COUNCILMAN CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE. AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN. HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES? [00:25:01] CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE SECOND. THOSE OPPOSED THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES. UH, NOW TO [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] OUR AGENDA. WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO TODAY. UH, I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO HONOR THE, UM, LIMITATION ON YOUR TIME. UH, TRY NOT TO BE REDUNDANT. I'LL WORK WITH YOU TO LET YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENT. UH, BUT PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF OTHERS' TIME REQUIREMENTS. UH, WITH THAT SAID, UH, WE DO HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION. ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS BY MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FEW PARENTS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT NEED TO GET PICK UP THEIR KIDS FROM SCHOOL. SO I'M GONNA MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JAN KOSKI, HUGO VALIER AND SOLEDAD DEL RIO. UH, TO FOLLOW EVELYN SPIKE ON THE NON AGENDA TWO MINUTE LIST, HOUSEMAN SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND HOPE IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAVIS HAS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULE TO MOVE, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DWIGHT KINS TO THE TOP OF THE ON THIS, YOU WANT A RECORD VOTE ON THAT, HUH? . WHERE? UH, WE CAN DO THAT. YES. WHERE, WHERE? AT THE TOP OF THE, THE TOP OF THE, WE MAY NEED A RECORD BILL. THREE MINUTE LIST. THREE MINUTE TIME. SECOND. THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. YES. THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. WE WE'RE FINE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NO. MOTION CARRIES. CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. LORETTA WILLIAMS, GARNELL. EMERGENCY WORKFORCE. GOOD, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN I RECOGNIZE? OKAY, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. BEFORE MY MINUTE STARTS, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UM, THE, I DO HAVE THREE ASKS AT THE END AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF I COULD HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT. SO IF YOU WOULD IMAGINE THIS CITY WHERE THERE ARE PARTICULARLY GIRLS THAT FEEL SAFE BECAUSE THEIR MASLOW'S NEEDS ARE MET AND THAT WHEN THEY ARE MET, THEY BECOME EXPOSED AND GAIN ACCESS TO PROGRAMMING, TO SUSTAINABLE CURIOSITY THROUGH DIGITAL DIVIDES, HEALTH DISPARITIES, SOCIOECONOMIC GAPS, TECHNOLOGY AND AEROSPACE. WELL, I NO LONGER HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT BECAUSE I'M THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF SUPERGIRL SHINE FOUNDATION, WHERE WE TOGETHER WITH OUR TEAM ARE EXPOSING THESE UNDERSERVED WOMEN AND GIRLS TO STEM PLUS OPPORTUNITIES. THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THAT IS WHEN THEY'RE EXPOSED TO MENTORSHIP PLACEMENTS AS WELL AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS A SOLUTION TO THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. SO THEREFORE, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL LEADERS. FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN HERE CONSISTING, IMPACTING MORE THAN 2000 UNDERSERVED WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE HOUSTON AREA THAT IS IN ALE HOUSTON, SPRING, KATIE DICKINSON. AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING TODAY, MICROPHONE IS THAT IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING TODAY IS THAT AS WE CONTINUE WITH OUR SPONSORSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH MICROSOFT HALLIBURTON TC ENERGY FLOW CARE SHARES, JUST TO NAME A FEW, ONE, WOULD YOU CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH US SO THAT NEW NETWORKS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND DECISION MAKERS COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON? WE'LL RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO SHARE THE WORK AND RESULTS OF WORKFORCE THAT ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS TO HOUSTON. AND NUMBER TWO, ON MARCH THE 11TH, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR EIGHTH YEAR OF IMPACT. AND EACH OF YOU NOW HAVE AN INVITATION IN YOUR INBOX. SO YOUR TEAM PROBABLY HAS THAT EMAIL. NOW, WE INVITE YOU TO COME TO THE ION WITH US TO CELEBRATE WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WHAT WE ARE DOING, AND WHAT WE CAN DO MORE TOGETHER. AND THEN LASTLY, AND FINALLY, AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, COUNCIL LEADERS, WE LOVE TO HAVE THE ACCESS TO APPLY AND COLLABORATE WITH YOU IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE. DISTRICTS IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE A [00:30:01] COPY OF OUR ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. MS. WILLIAMS GRINNELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND I WANT TO, UM, COMMEND YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE GIRLS IN OUR CITY. UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, IN GOVERNMENT WE CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE. WE HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERS THAT ARE HELPING TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. AND, UM, YOUR PROGRAMMING IS STELLAR. UM, THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A VIABLE WORKFORCE IS CRITICAL, UM, FOR ALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND, AND BUSINESS LEADERS IN OUR, IN OUR CITY. UM, I DID WANT TO ASK YOU, HAVE YOU, UM, LOOKED AT OUR CASE FOR KIDS GRANT TO SEE IF, IF, IF THERE IS QUALIFICATION OR IF YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN QUALIFY FOR THE CASE FOR KIDS GRANTS? BECAUSE, UM, THAT IS ONE OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN, UH, SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. WE WERE, IN OUR CASE FOR KIDS, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT WE CHANGED OUR MODEL. WE'RE IN THE SCHOOLS NOW AND SO WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THERE'S A MATCH WHERE WE CAN NOW RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. OKAY. BUT WE WERE A RECIPIENT AT THAT TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, MORE GREAT WORK FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MELISSA GIL HART. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MELISSA GIL HART. I LIVE IN FIRST MONTROSE AND FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS. CAN YOU STEP OVER TO THE MIC PLEASE? THANK YOU. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SPOKEN. I'M A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON URBAN FORESTRY, THE TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST, AND I'M AN MD ANDERSON NURSE. SINCE 2017 WITH 12 NEIGHBORS, I PROPAGATED AND PLANTED 80 TREES OF 55 NATIVE TREE SPECIES IN FMC FIRST MONTROSE COMMONS. HERE IS THE BLUEPRINT INVENTORY OF EVERY SINGLE TREE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S 227 PAGES LONG. IT IS MY BIBLE. AND UM, HERE. AND SO I HAVE BEEN WELCOMED OVER THE YEARS MEETING WITH CITY PLANNERS AND TWO FORMER ARBORISTS WHO SUPPORTED MY FMC TREE PROJECT IN IMPROVING OUR CANOPY WITH NO EXPENSE TO THE CITY. TODAY ALL OF MY TREES THRIVE DUE TO NEIGHBORS WHO GIVE CARE BI-ANNUALLY TO THE TREES. I WAS RECOGNIZED AND AWARDED BY THE NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS USA CONFERENCE. THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO, GO AHEAD AND FINISH. THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR WHITMEYER. I WAS RECOGNIZED BY NEIGHBORHOODS USA CONFERENCE IN OMAHA IN 2017. LAST WEEK, FEBRUARY 20 20TH, A 26 INCH LIVE OAK TREE NUMBER 4 0 4 WAS CUT DOWN AND REMOVED. IT WAS 80 YEARS OLD AND HEALTHY. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A CITY ORDINANCE? WHEN TWO PEOPLE IN MY CIVIC CLUB, MY PRESIDENT AND AN URBAN FORESTER, NOT A FIELD EXPERT ARBORIST MET ON JANUARY THE 24TH TO DECIDE JUDGE AND PERMIT THIS TREE WAS UNWORTHY. BAD DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE REGARDING THE TREES AFTER THE TREE WAS CUT DOWN, ACCORDING TO THE FMC PRESIDENT AND FORESTER, OOPS, THAT WAS A HEALTHY TREE. THEY COULD SEE THE SAP BLEEDING OUT OF IT. AND WHEN A, WHEN A TREE SAP BLEEDS OUT OF ITS STUMP, ITS SOUL IS MANIFESTING WHAT A HEALTHY TREE DOES TO PROVIDE NUTRIENTS AND MINERALS TO CREATE NEW LEAF GROWTH TO THE TREE. IT COULD NOT FUNCTION ANY LONGER. FURTHERMORE, MR. LONGMEYER STATED IN THE CIVIC MEETING, OH BY THE WAY, THERE'S A TREE MORATORIUM AND OOPS, WE CUT THE TREE DOWN HERE IS A LIST OF 40 NEIGHBORS IN MY FMC NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT ACTION PLAN IS GOING. AND THERE'S MORE GATHERING ON THE LIST TO WE ARE WOUNDED. GO GO AHEAD. BUT I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WHERE WAS THE TREE LOCATED? IT WAS LOCATED IN THE 700 BLOCK OF SOLE ROSS STREET. AT THE CORNER OF ON CITY PROPERTY? YES. AND WHO CUT IT? IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, DECIDED UPON OUR FMC PRESIDENT, MR. LONGMEYER AND AN URBAN FORESTER. I HAVE REQUESTED THE OPEN RECORDS, BUT THE PARKS AND RECREATION HAVE NOT PROVIDED ME, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PAID FOR MY RECORDS TO BE SENT. YEAH, I WANT YOU TO GIVE MY OFFICE YOUR INFORMATION. UH, THANK YOU SIR. WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR BIBLE, I WAS, I ACTUALLY MADE MYSELF A NOTE. WE'RE GONNA PROTECT YOUR BIBLE AND THEN, AND THEN THE NEXT BREATH, YOU'VE LOST ONE OF YOUR TREES, SO WE GOTTA ACT FAST. BUT, UH, THANK [00:35:01] YOU FOR BEING HERE. I I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC AND WE'LL GET TO, I DON'T NEED, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO PROTECT. CAN I JUST SAY THAT I'VE GIVEN YOU, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GIVE YOU VEGGIES, BUT I GAVE SOME OF YOU. I WAS SHORT SAWDUST THAT ARE THE REMAINS OF THE TREE, WHICH THE VOLUNTEERS THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, UM, ARE TRANSPORTING, HAVE, HAVE TRANSPLANTED THAT SAWDUST INTO OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN, WHICH ARE FMC PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD DOES NOT SUPPORT US AT ALL RATHER THAN PER PRESERVE WHAT WE HAVE. IT SEEMS THE SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE AND WHICH IS A BAD STEWARDESS STEWARDSHIP OF, OF US. SO I THANK YOU FOR ME SPEAKING HERE TODAY. I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO COME, BUT OUR FMC PRESIDENT HAS TOLD US NOT TO COME AND I WILL FURTHER NO LONGER BE INTIMIDATED AND I WILL HAVE MY VOICE TO SPEAK. YEAH. WHO TELLS YOU NOT TO COME? I'M SORRY, WHAT? WHO TOLD YOU NOT TO COME? OUR FMC PRESIDENT. WHAT, WHAT IS THAT YOUR CIVIC CLUB? YES. IS ITS, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE A GROWN UP. YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. YEAH. WHEN I, WHEN I WORKED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE ARBORIST. DALE, YOU COME ANYTIME. THANK YOU. YOU GOT OPEN INVITATION AND I WANT TO GET YOUR INFORMATION. THANK YOU SIR. FROM THE, AND UH, WE WILL MEET YOU OUT THERE AT THE SITE AND THANK YOU SIR. HAVE A PROPER BURIAL. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. BE SAFE. THANK YOU. NEXT. ZACH FERGUSON. HELLO MAYOR. AND HELLO COUNCIL. I LIVE A NINE MINUTE WALK FROM MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL IN HOUSTON STANDARDS THAT'S QUITE CLOSE. IT'S GOOD FOR KIDS TO WALK AS IT ENCOURAGES DAILY EXERCISE AND IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF CARS ON THE ROAD. A WIN-WIN SITUATION. YES. WE EVEN DO IT IN THE BRUTAL HOUSTON HEAT. THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S AN INTERSECTION WHICH WE MUST CROSS THAT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS EVERY DAY. MAJOR THOROUGHFARES LIKE I 10 MEMORIAL DRIVE AND ALLEN PARKWAY ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE CONGESTED. AS HOUSTON'S BECOMING SUCH AN URBAN CITY, THIS PUSHES DRIVERS TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE ROUTES WHICH INCREASE TRAFFIC ON TRADITIONALLY LESS DRIVEN ROADS. IT'S GETTING MORE DANGEROUS. LAST TIME I CHECKED CROSSWALKS, GIVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO PEDESTRIANS. YEAH. ON DALLAS STREET AT THE STANFORD INTERSECTION. THAT IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL. THERE'S A CROSSWALK AND ONE SCHOOL ZONE SIGN, BUT THEY'RE OBLIVIOUS TO DRIVERS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UH, MR. FERGUSON, I YOU CAN TAKE SOME OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO BE AS QUICK PEDESTRIANS. MUST WAIT FOR A BREAK IN THE TRAFFIC, WHICH ISN'T MORE THAN A HUNDRED FEET DISTANCE FROM THE NEXT CAR BEFORE VENTURING OUT AND HOPING THAT CARS WILL STOP IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS DURING MORNING RUSH, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME TIME AS KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL. WHEN DRIVERS ARE RACING EAST TOWARDS DOWNTOWN WITH THE RISING SUN SHINING IN THEIR EYES. THEY AREN'T THINKING ABOUT KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL. THEY'RE WORRYING ABOUT GETTING TO THE OFFICE ON TIME. AND THAT MEANS SPEEDING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE. IT'S NOT IN HOUSTONIAN DNA TO GIVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO PEDESTRIANS. I WON'T LIE, I'M GUILTY OF IT TOO. WE ALL ARE. IT'S HOUSTONIANS, DNA FOR THAT REASON. THERE NEEDS TO BE SAFETY MEASURES TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS BY REDESIGNING STREETS SUCH AS DALLAS STREET, WHICH FORCE DRIVERS LIKE YOU AND ME TO DRIVE AT THE LEGAL SPEED LOWERING THE CHANCE OF VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS. I MIGHT ADD THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AT THIS STREET. JUST CHECK THE CITY LOG. IT'S A SIMPLE FIX TO A GROWING PROBLEM, WHICH STARTS WITH IMPLEMENTING SAFETY MEASURES LIKE SPEED BUMPS, PEDESTRIAN CROSS LIGHTS AND ENFORCEMENT. IF WE CAN PAY POLICE OFFICERS TO DIRECT TRAFFIC, TO ALLOW CARS TO PULL OUT OF PARKING GARAGES AT BUSY TIMES DOWNTOWN AND IN THE GALLERIA, I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT BASIC IMPROVED STREET SAFETY, MAKING OUR CHILDREN'S WALKING COMMUTE TO THEIR JOB, IE SCHOOL CAN AND SHOULD BE ACHIEVED AS WELL. IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO, WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS INTERVENTION TO REVIEW PRIORITIES IN LIFE. THANK YOU MS. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. FERGUSON, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WALKED YOUR DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND I'M JUST, YOU MENTIONED WEST DALLAS ON THE OUR PUBLIC SHEET, YOU HAD LISTED THE MONTROSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. SO FOR THE RECORD, IS THAT PART OF THE MONTROSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT? AND ARE YOU ADVOCATING ON ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT'S DOING RIGHT NOW? Y [00:40:01] YES, YES. MONTROSE IS ANOTHER DANGEROUS SHEET, WHICH NEEDS TO HAVE MORE SECURITY MEASURES PUT IN, IN SHAPE TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, EVERYBODY. AND DO YOU LIVE IN THAT AREA OR WHERE DOES YOUR CHILD GO TO SCHOOL? UH, YES. I, I LIVE IN MONTROSE. THEY GO, THEY GO TO WHARTON. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT ALIA. GUERRERA. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MAYOR, HOLD IT DOWN. MY NAME IS ALIA GARRA AND THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR AS BEING A WHARTON PARENT. I HAVE A KINDERGARTNER AND TWO OTHER CHILDREN I HOPE WILL FOLLOW HER AND THEIR EDUCATION AT WHARTON. SINCE DAY ONE, WHARTON HAS PROVIDED A COMMUNITY OF A SAFE AND WARM ENVIRONMENT FOR MY CHILD TO THRIVE. THE FACULTY, STAFF AND PARENTS WORK ENDLESS HOURS TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT FEELS INCLUDED AND ENJOYS BEING AT SCHOOL. BUT IT IS A SHAME THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SURROUNDING OUR SCHOOL DOES NOT MIRROR THAT WHARTON COMMUNITY. EVERY MORNING AND AFTERNOON, I WITNESS THE CHALLENGES THAT STUDENTS AND PARENTS FACE WHILE WALKING AND RIDING TO SCHOOL, RIDING A BIKE TO SCHOOL. IT'S A SHAME THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS IS NOT PRIORITIZED BY CONSTRUCTING A PROJECT LIKE THE MONTROSE IMPROVEMENT MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THIS WILL GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION SAFELY. AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, I HAVE SEEN OUR DRAINAGE AND DRAINAGE STANDARDS AND PROJECTS EVOLVE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS DUE TO NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS HARVEY MEMORIAL DAY FLOODING, WE ARE NOW FACED WITH A DIFFERENT INFRASTRUCTURE NEED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN CAMAN, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UH, MS. CARRA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE SOME OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW FACED WITH A DIFFERENT INFRASTRUCTURE NEED OUR BICYCLE TRANSIT AND PEDESTRIANS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND PROJECTS NEED TO EVOLVE AND NOT BE DELAYED. LASTLY, WE'RE NOT ASKING ANYBODY TO GIVE UP THEIR VEHICLES, WE'RE JUST ASKING TO LET US COEXIST ON THE SAME STREETS. GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR KIDS SAFELY TO SCHOOL. THANK YOU. NEXT? OH NO, NO. NEXT. ALANDRA TORRES. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR COUNCIL. UM, MY NAME'S ALANDRA. I'M A MONTROSE RESIDENT. UM, MONTROSE IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF INVESTMENT. UM, SINCE THE PANDEMIC TWO GROCERY STORES HAVE CLOSED AND DOZENS OF BUSINESSES HAVE SHUT DOWN, I CHOSE MONTROSE BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MOST LIVABLE, WALKABLE AREA IN HOUSTON, BUT OUR BOULEVARD HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN 30 YEARS. OUR STREETS SHOULD CONNECT PEOPLE TO EACH OTHER AND OUR BUSINESSES TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS PROJECT CAN SERVEE AS AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AND PUT HOUSTON ON THE MAP. AND THIS PROJECT IS 90%, 90% DESIGNED AND FULLY FUNDED. SO HONESTLY, IT SHOULD BE A SLAM DUNK AND COULD PUT HOUSTON ON THE MAP. UM, AND IT'S A VERY EASY WAY TO SAVE AND IMPROVE LIVES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, EVELYN SPIKE. HI Y'ALL. MY NAME IS EVELYN SPIKE AND I AM A HOMEOWNER IN MONTROSE. AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT I AM FULLY SUPPORT THE CURRENT MONTROSE REDESIGN PLAN. I WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL IN THE MEDICAL CENTER AND I RELY ON THE 56 BUS TO GET TO BOTH WORK AND TO SCHOOL. OFTEN WHEN WAITING FOR THE BUS, IT'S NOT THE HEAT FROM THE SUN THAT BAKES ME, IT'S THE HEAT FROM THE CARS WHO ARE STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS AROUND ME. HAVING THAT 10 FOOT SIDEWALK WOULD BE VITAL TO ME IN THE COMING SUMMERS SO THAT I CAN JUST PHYSICALLY GET AWAY FROM THE HEAT OF THESE CARS. OUR HOME SITS JUST EAST OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD, WHICH MEANS WE ARE CONSISTENTLY CROSSING MONTROSE ON FOOT AND BY BIKE. IT'S OFTEN THE MOST STRESSFUL PART OF OUR JOURNEY. THE TRAFFIC MOVED FAST AND PEOPLE OFTEN RUN THE RED LIGHTS. JUST THE OTHER DAY WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS MONTROSE AND UM, ON WESTHEIMER ON MONTROSE, A CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSSWALK OUTTA RED AND THEN DECIDED TO RUN THE RED. WHILE ME AND TWO OTHER PEDESTRIANS WERE ATTEMPTING TO WALK AROUND HIM. WE ARE SETTLED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WANT TO RAISE KIDS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO WALK AND BIKE THEM TO SCHOOL. WE ARE HERE AND WE'RE HERE TO STAY AND WE WANT TO INVEST IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE THE GOVERNMENT INVEST IN IT AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT. OKAY. JAN LIPSKI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. UH, FOR THE [00:45:01] RECORD, IT IS JAN LEKI. I DO GET JAN A LOT, SO NO WORRIES. UM, I AM ALSO A PARENT AND A RESIDENT OF NORTH MONTROSE AND I'M ALSO HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE NORTH MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. WHY AM I HERE EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A PROJECT THAT IS FULLY FUNDED AND READY TO START CONSTRUCTION? 'CAUSE APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN DELAY. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION TO THIS PROJECT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT TREES THAT TALK IS VERY MISGUIDED. THE PROTESTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TREES. IT'S ABOUT TRAFFIC. LIKE THE OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED. TRAFFIC IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. PEOPLE DO NOT STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS. DO NOT GIVE THEM THE RIGHT OF WAY. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO FIX THAT. THIS PROJECT IS NEEDED. IT IS VITAL. PLEASE DO NOT DELAY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE, THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED ARE BUILT IN THEIR PROPOSED FORM TO WATER IT DOWN AND NOT HAVE THOSE MODIFICATIONS TO THOSE INTERSECTIONS WILL BE TO NEGATE THE SAFETY EFFECTS OF THIS PROJECT IS MEANT TO BRING TO THE CITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOUR HONOR, I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE 'CAUSE I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME. NO WORRIES AT ALL. I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET BEFORE. UM, YOU, YOU SAID YOU HAVE, YOU LIVE IN MONTROSE. YOU DO YOU ALSO HAVE A FAMILY? CHILDREN? YES, YES. I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT GO TO WHARTON. THEY ALSO ATTEND WHARTON. DO THEY WALK TO SCHOOL? YES, THEY DO. AND DO YOU, IN ADDITION TO THE SAFETY MEASURES WITH THE CROSSINGS, UM, AND I I MEANT TO ASK, UH, ONE OF THE OTHER RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS, UH, AND THAT YOU WANNA STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TALK OF TREES, WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANTLY. AND WE LOVE, WE LOVE OUR TREES. UH, DO YOU THINK BASED ON WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND OF THE PROJECT, THAT THIS IS A, UH, PROJECT THAT LOOKS FORWARD FOR YOUR CHILDREN OR FUTURE GRANDCHILDREN? OH, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, MONTROSE IS THE, COULD BE THE CHAMP OF HOUSTON. IT IS, IT IS A FANTASTIC STREET THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A FANTASTIC STREET. AND, AND I LIVE A BLOCK FROM IT AND I WANNA STAY THERE. I WANT MY KIDS TO STAY THERE. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SAFE. IT NEEDS TO BE A AND PEOPLE SAY NO ONE WALKS IN HOUSTON. WELL, IF WE GAVE THEM A, A SAFE AND ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WALK, THEY WOULD WALK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT HUGO VEIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SUGO. I'M A PARTNER AT WARTON. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MY CIVIC ASSOCIATION. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, UH, TRYING TO PUSH FOR BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS. WHEN I MOVED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD, I REALIZED THAT, UH, THEY WERE IN CROSS BOOKS. UH, THE FEW MARKINGS THAT WE HAD ON THE PAVEMENT. PEOPLE DON'T EVEN SEE THEM. EVEN THE POLICE DON'T STOP BY THE CROSS BOX. UH, SO I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE THIS TIME I, FOR THE BON PROJECT. I SEE SOME REPORTS THAT IS PROB LIKELY ON HOLD. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVEN'T WALKED THE STREET. UH, BUT IF YOU WALK THE STREET, YOU'RE GONNA REALIZE THAT THOSE MATERIAL GRANDIOSE TREES THAT ARE GONNA BE TAKEN DOWN ARE NOT THAT GRANDIOSE ON THAT MATERIAL. I MEAN, SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT EVEN OAKS. SO WHY PUT THAT ON HOLD WHEN WE ACTUALLY NEED THAT INFRASTRUCTURE? THIS MORNING I TOOK MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. WE WALKED TO SCHOOL. UH, THANKS. UH, I MEAN, IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE A CROSSING GUARD RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. UH, THERE'S NO, UH, CROSS SIGNALS OR ANYTHING. UH, I RODE MY BIKE TO WORK. I RAN SIX MILES THIS, UH, AT NOON AND I'M GONNA RIDE MY BIKE BACK. SO I I, I USE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS VERY POOR. MY MOM GOT GOT A STROKE AND, UH, SHE STAYED WITH ME LAST YEAR AND SHE CANNOT LIFT HER LEGS. SHE'S NOT SAFE WALKING AROUND MY, MY NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL MY SIDEWALKS ARE BROKEN. UH, THERE, THERE'S NO WAY TO GET ANYWHERE WALKING. SO YEAH. TOM HAZARD, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UH, HUGO, I HOPE YOUR MOTHER'S DOING. I THINK YOU SAID IT WAS YOUR MOTHER THAT YOU'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF, SO I HOPE SHE'S DOING WELL. UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED YOU'RE ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF YOUR CIVIC ASSOCIATION. DO YOU MIND SAYING WHICH CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAT IS? IS MONTREAL CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND HOW ENGAGED HAS THE CIVIC ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATION BEEN IN THIS PROJECT? AND FOR HOW LONG? I I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A SPLIT. UH, THERE'S, WE, WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE ON, ON, ON FAVOR OF THE PROJECT. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREES. UH, MY MY TAKE IS, I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT ONE LANE, MAKE IT ONE LANE. THE FOR, FOR THE CARS AND LET'S JUST SAVE ALL THE TREES, OR LET'S JUST DO THE PROJECT THE WAY IT IS, WHICH I THINK IS READILY DESIGNED. WE'RE GONNA ADD TREES TO THE, TO THE DESIGN OF THE STREET. IT'S GONNA BE SAFE FOR EVERYONE. 10 10, 10 FEET. SIDEWALKS HELP WHEN YOU BIKE AND WHEN YOU, YOU HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING WITH STROLLERS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE BIKING, YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON SCOOTERS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WALKING. YOU NEED A WIDE, UH, [00:50:01] SIDEWALK IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE SAFE. GOT IT. AND FROM A CIVIC ASSOCIATION PERSPECTIVE, AND I APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE. HAS THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE TOURS THROUGH THIS PROJECT? SOME OF US ASSIST THE MEETINGS. I, I, LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR AT LEAST TWO OR THREE YEARS GOING TO THOSE MEETINGS. UH, JULIE YOUNG, ALSO FROM MY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION, SHE'S, UH, AGAINST TAKING DOWN THE TREES. SHE GOES TO THE MEETINGS TOO. SO WE TRY TO, SO FOR TWO TO THREE YEARS, BOTH PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH THE TURS ON THIS PROJECT THROUGH THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. CORRECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SOLEDAD DEL RIO. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS SO, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I WANT TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING HOW MONTROSE HAS DONE THINGS WELL OVERALL. AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW, IT HAS ALSO PRESERVED ITS HISTORY, DIVERSITY AND WELLBEING OF ITS CITIZENS. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE ALSO CAN SEE HOW IT'S POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY LEAPS, WHICH TELLS US THERE IS AN INTEREST IN BUILDING MORE APARTMENTS TO BRING MORE PEOPLE TO THIS PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AREA. AND WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ATTRACTION OF A WALKABLE CITY? THAT IT IS SUITABLE FOR WALKING TO ALL SERVICES, WHICH IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT MONTROSE AVENUE CHANGES. UH, GALLERIA DOWNTOWN HAVE ACHIEVED IT. UM, AND THEY MUST ENVY THE GROWTH IN MONROE AREA. I THINK THEY HAVE SIDEWALKS, BUT WE HAVE THE PEOPLE TO WALK ON THEM, OR AT LEAST TRY. LET'S GIVE CITIZENS NOT ONLY A COMMUNITY FULL OF PEOPLE, BUT FULL OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL SAFE, WHO WANT TO BE OUTSIDE, WHO WALK TO THE MUSEUM TO SCHOOL ON THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES. THE SIDEWALKS AND THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSED WILL ALLOW THIS WITH ONLY BENEFITS. BY WALKING, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE CAR EMISSIONS. PEOPLE BECOME HEALTHIER, THE BUSINESSES WILL SEE GROWTH, AND YOU CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PROTECTION. WHAT STOPS US? THE TREES WILL BE TRANSPLANTED, WHICH IS EVEN BETTER FOR THEM THEN. IT'S NOT THE TREES. THE CARS HAVE MULTIPLE ROWS. THE WALL IS BEING MODERNIZED AS WE SPEAK. SO IT'S NOT FOR THE GOOD OF THE DRIVERS. THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THIS AREA ARE DUE TO HIGH SPEEDS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT GOOD SIGNAGE AND CONTROL IN HERE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, YOU, YOU CAN USE MY TIME. UH, THE CONTROL IN THE AREA WILL CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCE THE ACCIDENTS. IF WE ACHIEVE THIS PROJECT, WE WILL BE ONE OF THE SAFEST AREAS IN THE CITY. I ONLY SEE BENEFITS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO WORKS IN THE AREA AND I PRACTICALLY DON'T HAVE THE NEED TO DRIVE, WHICH ALLOWS ME MORE TIME WITH MY FAMILY TO INVEST MY MONEY IN THE AREA, BUILD COMMUNITY. AND I FEEL THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE GOAL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ISN'T IT? BUT WHEN I WALK RIGHT ALONG THE VEIN IN THE, OF THE AREA, MONTROSE AVENUE, I AVOID IT. AND I SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF A STREET. MY SON CAN'T EVEN BE BY MY SIDE ON THESE SIDEWALKS. WHEN WE CROSSED WITH OTHER PEDESTRIANS WHEN HE WAS A BABY, I WASN'T ABLE TO USE A STROLLER. I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR. NOT TO MENTION THE LACK OF RAMPS IN SO MANY CORNERS. WHEN I CROSS THE WHARTON, IT'S LIKE PLAYING FROGGER . THE CROSSWALK IS A JOKE. THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE SOMETIMES RESPECTED AND SOMETIMES NOT. IT DEPENDS. WE ALL KNOW WHO IS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING AND THE NUMBER OF CARS RACING IS LAUGHABLE, BUT NOT, THEY THINK THERE ARE ON THE I 10 FOR REAL. AND WHY DO THEY THINK THAT? BECAUSE NO ONE WITH AUTHORITY HAS COME TO TELL THEM OTHERWISE. WE ALL KNOW WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE IN INFRASTRUCTURE. WE MADE THE EFFORT TO MAKE THE BUFFALO BAYOU PROJECT A SUCCESS. TO BE CLOSE TO THE BEST MUSEUMS IN THE NATION, TO THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE CITY, AND TO THE BEST BUSINESSES. NOW HELP US GET THERE SAFELY WITH AROSE IMPROVEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, BARBARA WEBB TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES FOSTER. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE COUNSELOR MAYOR WILMAR. UH, BEFORE I SPEAK, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL, UH, SAY SOMETHING TO MAYOR WILMAR. I HAVE A LETTER HERE FROM 2010 THAT YOU WROTE ME AND GAVE ME MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT. , I FORGOT THE LETTER, BUT I STILL HAVE THE ENVELOPE. IT'S AT HOME. BUT, UH, HE WROTE ME AND HE GAVE ME A WHOLE LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO CONTINUE TO DO THINGS THAT I DO NOW AND SPEAK OUT. BUT, UH, HERE TODAY, I'M HERE ABOUT THE BRI GATE AREA IN THIS AREA. I JUST MOVED OVER HERE FOR 90 DAYS. WITHIN THE 90 DAYS AND WITHIN THE 90 DAYS, I HAVE HAD TO CALL THE HOUSTON MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT THESE MANY TIMES BECAUSE THE AREA, THE [00:55:01] TOWN HOME COMPLEX THAT RECEIVED GOVERNMENT FUNDING IS RUTHLESS. I DID NOT KNOW IT, AT LEAST FROM A PRIVATE PERSON. SHE DIDN'T GIVE ME THE INFORMATION THAT THIS AREA HAD CHANGED. I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR A WHILE. I MOVED BACK HERE. I WENT TO JACK GATES AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOREVER. MY UNCLE IS HUNGRY, YEARS OLD, MR. BLAKE, AND WE'LL BE SELLING HIS BIRTHDAY NEXT MONTH. BUT THIS AREA IS PATHETICALLY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, COUNCIL MAYOR PRO, JIM TATUM. MR. WEBB, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, UM, WE DO HAVE A, UM, COUPLE OF MEETINGS AND WE'VE GOT SOME BIG PROJECTS HAPPENING IN BRI GATE. ALL, ALL OF THE STREETS ARE, UM, IN PROCESS OF, OF GETTING RESTORED. WE'VE DONE THE WEST FE WAY. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE TOWN HOMES ALONG WEST FE WAY? YES. RIGHT. NO, NOT THE NEW ONES. THESE ARE NO, NO, NO, NO. NOT THE NEW ONES. THE ONES THAT ARE ALONG WEST FUQUA, UH, THOSE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY OWNED TOWN HOMES. YES. THAT'S THE ONE. ONE. SO THOSE ARE PRIVATE OWNERS, RIGHT? SO THAT'S NOT THE CITY'S PROPERTY. MM-HMM . THOSE ARE PRIVATE OWNERS. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BRIARGATE CIVIC ASSOCIATION TO TRY TO GET THOSE OWNERS TO DO BETTER WITH THEIR PROPERTIES. RIGHT. UM, WE'VE INCREASED, I MEAN, WE'VE IMPROVED WEST FUKE WAY. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE JUST PASSED THE ALLOCATION THAT ALL FIVE OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS ALONG WEST FUKE WAY WILL BE UPGRADED. SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THOSE TOWN HOMES ARE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND WE'VE GOT TO PUT PRESSURE ON THOSE OWNERS TO IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTIES. CAN I SAY ONE THING ELSE? AND WITH THE SCHOOLS, THE KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL. THEY'RE THERE. I HAVE PICTURES OF KIDS JUMPING OVER THE FENCE. RUNNING IN GANG. YEAH. COMING DOWN THE SIDE. I LITERALLY GOT IN MY CAR. JUST TAKE PICTURES OF THEM BECAUSE YEAH, I MEAN, AND, AND I'M SORRY THAT, THAT, THAT KIDS ARE DOING THAT. BUT, UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY GET YOUR PHONE NUMBER. UM, WE DO HAVE A MEETING WITH, UH, CHIEF FINN ON MARCH THE 14TH. HE'S COMING TO QUAIL RUN COMMUNITY CENTER TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE BROUGHT FORTH. UM, BUT WE, WE WOULD LE LOVE TO JUST SET UP A TIME TO TALK TO YOU FROM OUR OFFICE. OKAY? SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER, WE WILL. BUT THOSE TOWN HOMES ARE PRIVATELY OWNED. I KNOW. AND THE OFFICER HAVE BEEN, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING. I MUST TELL YOU THAT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF 'EM. THEY HAVE ALL GAVE GREAT INFORMATION. ONLY THING THEY NEED TO GET THE CITIZEN ALERT KIND OF WORK THOUGH, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR THAT. OKAY? BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, I MEAN, YES, BUT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON REAL SERIOUS. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU GO FOR IT. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, JAMES FOSTER. JAMES FOSTER IS NOT PRESENT. FAHAD SADIK. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO APPEAL TO YOUR SENSE OF MORALITY AND JUSTICE. IT'S APPALLING TO ME THAT FIVE MONTHS OF THIS MASSACRE AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAS PASSED. ALL WE ARE ASKING YOU FOR IS PEACE AS CEASING OF VIOLENCE AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. AS OF TODAY, ROUGHLY 35,000 HAVE BEEN MURDERED, INCLUDING 14,000 CHILDREN. THOUSANDS MORE HAVE BEEN BAED WITH LIFELONG INJURIES AND TRAUMA. 2 MILLION DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE FACING DEATH BY DISEASE AND STARVATION. YOU HAVE FULLY DEMONSTRATED THE PLIGHT OF THE PALESTINIANS PRESENTED WITH OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE AND PLEAS FOR JUSTICE, WHICH FALL ON DEAF EARS AND BLIND HEARTS. THIS CAUSES THE UNHEARD TO TAKE EXTREME MEASURES LIKE AARON BUSHNELL, WHO CHOSE TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF HIS LIFE TO FOREVER GIVE HIS VOICE TO THIS CAUSE. IT'S BEEN TOO LONG FOR CONTEMPLATION AT THIS POINT. NEUTRALITY ONLY SHOWS SUPPORT FOR THE OPPRESSOR. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE A POLITICIAN. IT IS THE TIME TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF HUMANITY. YOU CANNOT REMAIN NEUTRAL IN THE FACE OF THIS CHAOTIC EVIL. PLEASE BE THE LAWFUL GOOD THAT THE CITY SHOULD REPRESENT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE BEG YOU TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE AND TO AMEND THE CITY'S POLICIES TO ENSURE OUR TAXES STAY IN HOUSTON OVER A COLONIAL SETTLE OF STATE, WHICH COMMITS ATROCITY AT AGAIN, COMMITS ATROCITY AFTER ATROCITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ANGEL HERRERA. HELLO. UH, HI. UH, I'M A TRUCK DRIVER, 15 YEARS SAFE DRIVER, UH, WITH A LOT OF CONSTRUCTIONS IN HOUSTON, UH, WHICH IS GREAT. [01:00:01] UH, SOMETIMES THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FORGET TO PUT UP SIGNS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE BRIDGES. UH, MY TRUCK IS 13, 13, UH, FEET TALL, SIX INCHES. UH, WITHOUT THOSE SIGNS, I CAN'T TELL IF THE BRIDGE, I MIGHT HIT THE BRIDGES OR SOMETHING. UH, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY CONSTRUCTION ON SIX 10, UH, SIGNS ARE TIPPED OVER, SO I CAN'T TELL. UH, I HAD TO MAKE LIKE A DECISION, A QUICK DECISION, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAYS. TRY TO AVOID OR AVOID ACCIDENTS. I'M JUST ASKING IF, IF YOU COULD LIKE ASK CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO PUT UP SIGNS OR MAKE 'EM NICE AND STEADY SO THE WINDS WILL KNOCK 'EM OVER. UH, SOME SIGNS ON THE BRIDGES OR SO DIRTY, WE CAN'T SEE 'EM. THEY'RE NOT LEGIBLE OR THEY'RE FADED OUT BY THE SUN. UH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT THE SIGNS. THAT'S A TRUCK DRIVER. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU SIR. NEXT, PHILLIP REINA. GOOD DAY EVERYONE. I'M HERE. UM, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE, UH, COOKOFF JUST ENDED THIS PAST WEEKEND AND THEN TODAY WE START THE RODEO HERE IN HOUSTON. AND I'M ONE OF THE, UH, FLEET OWNERS OF MY SECOND YEAR OF BEING, UM, A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. UM, MY COMPANY ACTUALLY OPERATES IN, UH, AUSTIN, UM, DIRECTLY IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHMENTS IN MIAMI GARDENS AND HAVE, UH, UM, PROVIDED OUR SERVICES FOR FORMULA ONE, BOTH IN AUSTIN AND IN MIAMI, AS WELL AS THE PGA THERE IN ORLANDO. SO I'M ASKING BECAUSE, UM, AS YOU GUYS MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE, WE HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED PETTY CAPS THAT ARE REGULATED AND DRIVERS WHO ARE, UM, BACKGROUND CHECKED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. UM, HOWEVER, THIS WEEKEND WE HAD OVER, UM, DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT, UM, BECAUSE THE LACK OF IN, UH, ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE SAFETY, UM, OF THIS, UH, FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WE PROVIDE HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. SO I'M ASKING IF THERE IS ANY WAY THAT WE CAN WORK IN COORDINATION, THE WE BEING THE, THE PROPER BUSINESS OWNERS OF A PROPER, UH, TRANSPORTATION COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN REGULATED BY YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET ANY MORE TIME BUT TRULY GO, GO AHEAD AND FINISH. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, UM, THOSE CABS AREN'T LOT LIT. THEY'RE NOT INSURED AND IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. AND THE HOUSTON PD DOESN'T HAVE THE ENFORCEMENT RIGHT TO DO SOMETHING. ALL THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IS PROVIDE A TICKET AND THEY LET THOSE INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO OPERATE. SO WHAT WE'RE WE'RE ASKING IS THE ABILITY TO MAYBE WRITE SOME ADDITIONAL RULES TO PROVIDE THEM THE ENFORCEMENT IN ORDER TO NOT JUST CITE THEM WITH A TICKET, BUT ACTUALLY REMOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE CITY STREETS, WHICH THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE ON. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR, MAY I ASK THE, UM, CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION? PLEASE? ATTORNEY? IF, IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO A HOUSTON RESIDENT ON AN UNLICENSED UNPERMITTED PETTY CAB, IS THAT LIABILITY FALL ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR DOES THAT LIABILITY FALL ON THE COMPANY? UH, IT WOULD FALL ON, FALL ON THE COMPANY. THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY LIABILITY IN THAT SCENARIO, EVEN THOUGH, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE MONITORED BY NOT, NOT SHOULD BE MONITORED 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT ENFORCEMENT, BUT SHOULD BE PERMITTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YEAH, WE HAVE, UH, WITHOUT GOING INTO GREAT DETAIL, WE HAVE PRETTY BROAD IMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN THAT SCENARIO, WE JUST WOULDN'T FACE ANY LIABILITY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. AND I, I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS. WE'VE HEARD THIS, WE'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE TIMES LIKE, YOU KNOW, RODEO AND THE ROCKETS GAMES AND, AND ALL THE OTHER ISSUES. UM, SO I DO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, BEAR OUR CONCERNS. WELL, ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL KAMAN. SORRY MAYOR ONE, ONE QUESTION BECAUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER SAID, WE HEAR THIS ISSUE OVER AND OVER AGAIN DURING MAJOR EVENTS AND WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A SUPER BOWL EVENT, THE WORLD CUP COMING HERE, OTHER THINGS AND JUST THE WEEKEND SAFETY. UM, AS A BUSINESS OWNER THAT IS FOLLOWING THE APPROPRIATE RULES, WHETHER IT'S IN AUSTIN OR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHAT IS THE COST, PER SE, OF DOING SO IN FOLLOWING THAT REGULATORY SCHEME? UM, WELL, MY, UH, COMPANY PAYS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR IN INSURANCE, UM, PREMIUMS JUST FOR US TO COVER THE PROPER LIABILITY FOR THE, UM, CITIES THAT WE OPERATE IN AND FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION. THEN ALSO, ALL MY DRIVERS ARE VETTED THROUGH THE CITY MUNICIPALITIES, [01:05:01] WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK, WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY OF ANYONE THAT GETS ON A PETTY CAB. SO, UH, THESE ARE ALL THINGS AND WHEN, WHEN THE ATTORNEY MENTIONED THAT, UM, IT WOULD FALL ON THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE COMPANY, THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS A PETTY CAB THAT THEY BOUGHT FOR $1,500. THAT'S THEIR ABILITY TO PAY FOR ANYONE THAT GETS HURT. THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR THE MILLION DOLLAR, $2 MILLION COVERAGE THAT WE HAVE ON OUR, ON OUR CAPS, EACH ONE OF THEM. TH THANKS FOR LAYING THAT OUT. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND THANKS FOR COMING. UM, AS HAS BEEN SAID, THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT WE'RE SEEING AND, AND NOT JUST ON THIS ISSUE, BUT BASICALLY WE REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO GET THESE PERMITS. WE REQUIRE NOT JUST BARS OR PEDICABS OR WHATEVER. AND, AND WE, AND THE, THE GOOD ACTORS GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. THEY PAY THE PERMIT FEE, THEY GET THE INSURANCE. THEY, THEY DO EVERYTHING THAT'S RIGHT. BUT BASICALLY, THE ONES THAT DON'T, IT'S JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. YOU GET A CITATION, YOU DRAG IT OUT THROUGH COURT, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT PAY BEN'S OVER. IT'S DONE. SO IT'S KIND OF A CONUNDRUM THERE. I DON'T KNOW THE BEST WAY TO, UH, ADDRESS IT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE, AS I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR ON, ON NOISE AND BARS, I, I, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PERMIT, YOU CAN'T PLAY THE MUSIC. YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PERMIT, YOU CAN'T DRIVE THE PEDICAB. AND THAT'S HARD TO DO WITH LIMITED RESOURCES TO, TO CATCH EVERYBODY. BUT, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A PROBLEM. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR COMING AND BEING DILIGENT ABOUT BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. WHAT IS THE COST OF A, OF A CITY OF HOUSTON PERMIT, OR DO YOU, IF YOU KNOW, OR WHAT AN ANNUAL PERMIT FOR PEDICAB, I PAID $5,000 FOR 10 PETTY CABS TO BE, UH, OKAY. LICENSE HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. WE'RE GONNA LOOK INTO THIS, SO I APPRECIATE IT. UH, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IT HERE, I'M PRETTY SURE ON YOU ALL'S SIDE. SO I THINK AS A COUNCIL BODY, UH, MAYOR, WE NEED TO, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A ISSUE AND THEN BRING SOMETHING FORWARD THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANOTHER YEAR WHERE, UM, THE PETTY CAB COMPANIES COME TO US AND SAY, WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT. WHAT IS THE CITY DOING? SO WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING. OKAY. AND THE THE DIFFICULTY, SIR, IS THAT THE MORE THAT WE PUSH THIS OFF AND NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THESE BIG EVENTS THAT ARE COMING, THAT ARE GONNA BE LARGER THAN WHAT THEY ARE NOW, IT'S GONNA BECOME MORE AND MORE OF A PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE ALLOWANCE OF IT, WITHOUT THE ENFORCEMENT, MORE PEOPLE WILL JUST SAY, THAT'S WHAT HOUSTON ALLOWS. GOT IT. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MAYOR, PRO TEM CAST TATUM, WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PERMIT THIS YEAR? YELLOW, MA'AM. YELLOW. AND I KNOW IF, IF I'M CORRECT, THEY CHANGED THE COLOR OF THE PERMITS EVERY YEAR SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHICH ONE OF THE PETTY CABS ARE PERMITTED AND WHICH ONES ARE NOT. I THINK IT'S ALSO, UM, IMPORTANT FOR US TO LET, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UTILIZING THE PETTY CABS KNOW THAT THIS IS A PERMITTED PETTY CAB, AND THIS ONE IS NOT. I KNOW IF I WAS GETTING ON A PETTY CAB, I'M LOOKING FOR THE YELLOW PERMIT NOW BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, UM, THERE WOULD BE SOME INSURANCE OR SOME KIND OF SAFETY NET IN PLACE. UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ALSO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PERMITTING OF THE PETTY CABS, AS WELL AS DOING SOMETHING FOR THE ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE THAT ONLY, UM, OPERATORS THAT ARE PROPERLY PERMITTED ARE HELPING DURING THESE, UM, EVENTS THAT WE'RE HOSTING IN OUR, IN OUR CITY. SO, UM, WE WILL LOOK INTO IT AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP. I KNOW THAT IT, IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT, AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE STILL BENEFITING BY NOT DOING IT CORRECTLY. UM, BUT WE, WE DO NEED TO, UM, DO TIGHTEN UP ON THAT ENFORCEMENT AND, AND LOOK FOR THOSE, UM, THOSE PERMITS. I KNOW THE LAST TIME I WENT TO THE ASTROS GAME AND I SAW A PETTY CAB, AND I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF I COULD SEE THE PERMIT ON THE BACK. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERMIT IS IN, IN THE FRONT AND IT'S, UH, VISIBLE OR ON THE SIDE SO WE KNOW LIKE THIS IS A PERMITTED, UH, PETTY CAB. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE THE CITY, UH, PD TO BE ABLE TO BASICALLY LOOK REALLY QUICKLY AND IT'S VERY VISIBLE ON THE STEM OF EVERY BIKE. IT CANNOT BE REMOVED. MM-HMM . UM, SO THEY'RE GREAT STICKERS, UM, BUT THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT INFORMED ENOUGH TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. RIGHT. AND THEN ALL THE CABS HAVE THE DRIVER'S INFORMATION ON THE CAB ITSELF. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ALSO BACKGROUND CHECKED AND PERMITTED WITH THE, WITH THEIR PICTURE OF THEIR LICENSE THAT THEY HAVE. SO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS, IF YOU COULD COMMUNICATE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HELPING OUR CAUSE AS WELL. MY BIGGEST THING IS JUST GIVE HOUSTON PD THE ABILITY TO TAKE THEM OFF THE STREET ONCE THEY ARE STOPPED. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE [01:10:01] THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO, BECAUSE THERE'S NO REGULATION TO, TO GIVE THEM THAT AUTHORITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE TODAY. JUST A MOMENT. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ONE MORE THING. JUST COULD WE ADD FOOD TRUCKS IN THERE TOO? FOOD TRUCKS, THEY DO. THEY FUNCTION, THEY FUNCTION WITHOUT PERMITS ALL THE TIME. SO, I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'RE GONNA STRENGTHEN THIS ENFORCEMENT, LET'S ADD, LET'S ADD ALL BAD ACTORS TO THE BUNCH. WE WOULD HATE FOR ANYONE TO GET FOOD POISONING. AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT THE FOOD TRUCKS, FOOD TRUCK. , THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR DWIGHT BOYKINS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE CHAMBER. IT'S BEEN A WHILE. SEE A LOT OF NEW FACES SMILING. FACES MY FRATERNITY BROTHER. GOOD TO SEE YOU, BROTHER. POLL. MAYOR. I WANT TO, AND, AND FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, MARTHA ON GETTING SELECTED. MAYOR PRO TEM. I KNOW YOU'RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, MAYOR. THERE ARE TWO THINGS I WANNA BRING TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR. UM, DURING MY TENURE HERE AT CITY HALL, I HAD A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE DEVELOPMENT WITH, UH, SALLY, A ACORN OF THE REBUILD HOUSTON PROGRAM. AND WE WENT TO THE CONSTITUENTS, THE VOTERS, AND WE TOLD THEM WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO WITH THIS MONEY. WE RECAPTURED. A COUPLE OF ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE COME THROUGH, AND SOME OF THAT MONEY HADN'T BEEN USED APPROPRIATELY. ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO, MAYOR, IS TO JUST FOLLOW THROUGH, MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE STREETS IN OUR CITY ARE ADDRESSED. WE COLLECTED THAT MONEY. WE PROMISED THE VOTERS WE WOULD FIX THEIR STREETS AND DRAINAGE. AND WE, BY THE, THE CREATION IN 2018, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH REVENUE AT THIS POINT TO WHERE THE RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY ARE NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE, THE STREET CONDITION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THE SECOND IS THE HEB PROJECT. IN MY DIS IN COUNCIL MEMBER, , GET TO SEE YOU, BY THE WAY, MY COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT D LIKE OTHER CITY, OTHER AREAS, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FACING MAJOR FOOD DESERT ISSUES. AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE THOSE CHALLENGES. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I DID MY BACKGROUND WORKING IN WASHINGTON. I MET WITH SOME FOLK IN HOOD, AND WE FOUND SOME REVENUE TO ADDRESS FOOD DESERTS IN CITIES SUCH AS HOUSTON. IT WAS SECTION 1 0 8 MONEY. AND WE TO, BECAUSE THE TIME, AND IT'S GONNA KIND OF JUMP INTO IT, WE PULLED DOWN SOME SECTION 1 0 8 MONEY. AND THE PREMISE MAYOR WAS TO TAKE THAT MONEY, BUILD A STORE, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHICHEVER MAJOR DEVELOPER CAME WITH US, HEB, KROGER, WHOMEVER, WITH THE MONEY BEING PAID BACK, EDI MON TO HOUSTON FINANCE CORP WOULD EDI, THE EDI LOAN, THAT THAT MONEY BE USED TO HELP OTHER FOOD DESERT, OTHER GROCERY STORES IN INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I'M HEARING STORIES, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE OR NOT, MAYOR, THAT THE MONEY THAT'S NOT BEING REPAID OR WASN'T STRUCTURED CORRECTLY TO WHERE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS CAN GET QUALITY GROCERY STORES. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. SO I JUST WANTED TO COME. YOUR TOM HAS EXPIRED. PAT, I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME. YOU AIN'T SUPPOSED TO DO ME LIKE THAT. . THANK YOU MAYOR SHA. MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBER BOYKIN. SO YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. WELL, I JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN MAYOR AND TO THE NEW COUNCIL THAT YOU GUYS TAKE SOME TIME AND LOOK AT THE REBUILD HOUSTON STRUCTURE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHAT WE GO OUT AND TELL THESE CONSTITUENTS WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THAT MONEY, THAT WE DO THAT. AND WITH HEB, IF YOU ARE FACING A FOOD DESERT SITUATION IN YOUR DISTRICT, UM, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MONEY TO HELP WITH THOSE PROGRAMS. BUT IF IT'S STRUCTURED CORRECTLY, LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, REVENUE COLLECTED SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT BACK IN A FUND TO HELP OTHER FOOD DESERT NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE, AND I KNOW YOU'RE A MAN OF YOUR WORD, I JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS. AND EIGHT YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE STILL HADN'T ADDRESSED IT. I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS WITH THE INPUT THAT YOU HAD WITH HEP, WHY DIDN'T YOU GO FURTHER INTO THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF THE CORNER OF, UH, MCGREGOR AND, UH, 2 88? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHERE THE FOOD DESERT WAS. I THINK IT WAS MORE LIKE MAYBE OFF OF SCOTT SUNNYSIDE AND, UH, IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY. YEAH. ONE THING I LEARNED ON COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO GIVE AND TAKE. I WAS TRYING TO TAKE IT ALL IN MAYOR, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, . SO MY NEXT LOCATION WAS JUST AN OBSERVATION ON MY PART. NO, NO. I'M, WE HAVE SOME PROPERTY. WE'VE BEEN IN THE CITY BETWEEN MARTIN LUTHER KING AND BELFORT MACAU ROAD AND, UH, SIX 10, AND THERE'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY I WAS GONNA LOOK AT TRYING TO BRING SOME OF THEIR REVENUE TO BUILD THAT STORE. BUT DISTRICT B HAD SOME, WELL, WE JUST, JUST ALL TRYING TO FIGHT FOOD DESERT. AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THAT HEB, BUT JUST SHOWED UP ON THE CORNER OF A PRETTY WELL, SOME WONDERFUL COUNCIL MEMBER MADE THAT THING HAPPEN. [01:15:01] MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS. BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS A LOT HARD WORK WENT INTO THAT. ANYWAY, I'M JUST KIDDING. I'M KIDDING. ANYWAY, ANOTHER MAYOR DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER TIME. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD TO SEE YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BOYKINS, UM, ON THE REBUILD HOUSTON MATTER. I, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ON THE DRAINAGE FEE ITSELF. I MEAN, THAT MONEY HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY SPENT. I THINK ALL THE MONEY'S BEEN APPROPRIATELY SPENT. I THINK WHAT'S AT ISSUE IS MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, THE 11.80 CENT EQUIVALENT. CORRECT. THE 11.80 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION. UM, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR 'CAUSE I HATE WHEN PEOPLE THINK WE'RE JUST WASTING THEIR DRAINAGE FEE MONEY. THAT'S THAT'S ABSOLUTELY BEING SPENT ON DRAINAGE THAT COMES IN. YEAH. ALL THE MONEY AND THE MONEY THAT WE ARE TAKING FROM AVALOR IS, IS BEING USED TO PAY DOWN DEBT, UH, AND THEN SPENT ON PROJECTS. IT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE USING TO PAY DOWN DEBT AND SPEND ON PROJECTS. THAT'S A QUESTION. THE, THE, THE ISSUE, THE BASIS OF LAWSUITS, ET CETERA. BUT WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT ON THE HEB THING? UM, SO AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT, UH, HEB WAS TO PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR OTHER AREAS THAT WERE FOOD DESERTS. WHAT, WHAT WAS, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE IMPROVEMENT? NO, IT WAS PART OF, WELL, TWO THINGS. ONE, SALLY, LET ME JUST SAY YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ABOUT THE REBUILD HOUSTON, BUT I'M GOING BACK AND MY REASONS FOR BEING HERE IS THAT IN 2018, WE TOLD VOTERS WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO WITH THE REVENUE, WHETHER IT WAS METRO, WHATEVER. AND IT APPEARS THAT THE MONEY IS NOT BEING USED THAT WAY. THAT'S MY POINT. IT'S NOT THAT IT'S NOT BEING USED, RIGHT. IT'S, IT'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY. I'M TALKING, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE 11.08. I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. WE'RE NOT MISUSING THE MONEY, WE ARE JUST NOT SPENDING ANO AS MUCH OF IT. BUT GO ON. WE CAN FIGHT THAT ALL DAY LONG, BUT, OKAY. BUT, UH, GO ON ABOUT THE HEB DEAL. WELL, THE HEB IS STRAIGHT, SO SECTION 1 0 8, UH, EDI LOAN WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THERE'S AN AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWED, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF, UH, HOUSING, UH, I THINK IT WAS TOM MCCLIN DURING THAT TIME, WAS NEGOTIATING WITH, UH, THE COUNTY. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING AM MAYOR TO CHECK INTO IT, TO DETERMINE WELL, YOU'RE, YOU'RE THE ONE BRINGING US INFORMATION. KEEP WELL, WELL YOU KEEP MAKING THESE SPECULATIONS. I'M NOT MAKING A SPECULATION, MAYOR. ALL I'M SAYING, YOU SAID YOU THINK, YOU THINK IT WAS SET UP, BUT CAN YOU TELL US WHERE IT IS? WHEN I, WHEN I, WELL, NO, I'M NOT THE MAYOR. I MEAN, I DIDN'T HAVE THE, THE, THE INSIGHT. THAT'S WHY I'M DOWN HERE TALKING TO YOU, THINKING I CAN GET IT, GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M, I'M GONNA LOOK INTO IT, BUT YEAH, I WANT YOU TO, YOU ASKING US TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK? NO, GO AHEAD, DRAKE. GO AHEAD. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE NEGOTIATE THIS DEAL, MAYOR, IS THAT ROUGHLY $600,000 A YEAR, IT'S GONNA BE SET IN AN ESCROW ACCOUNT, AND IT WOULD BE A FORGIVABLE LOAN WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF WE MET, MET ALL THESE BENCHMARKS. YOU CAN TALK TO ANNA, WHO WORKS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT AND HOUSING. I THINK ANNA CAN GIVE YOU MORE SPECIFICS THAT MONEY WOULD BE USED TO HELP OTHER FOOD DESERT LOCATIONS. I WANNA MAKE IN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MONEY IS ALMOST AT A ZERO ACCOUNT. 'CAUSE IT NEVER HAPPENED. ZERO BALANCE. SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE COMMITTED TO THAT TO HELP OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEEDED, UH, ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD DESERTS. AND MAYOR I TRUST YOU'LL FOLLOW THROUGH ON IT. THAT'S THE REASON. OH, YEAH. WELL, AS SOON AS WE GET THROUGH HERE, YEAH. COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCILOR MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, BROTHER WALKER. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MY FRIEND. ALWAYS. AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN ABOUT THE ALLOCATION OF THESE DOLLARS IN TERMS OF OUR FOOD DESERTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED IS THAT THE COUNCIL, WHEN WE VOTE, NO MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER OR WHETHER YOU AT LARGE, BUT ON THESE TYPE OF ISSUES, EVERYBODY VOTED UPON IT. AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW BIG YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR THAT. SO LET ME ASK THE QUESTION. YOU SAY THERE WAS $600,000 THAT WAS ALLOCATED DESIGNATED FOR IN REGARD TO FOOD DESERTS? YEAH. YEAH. WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED? COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, DURING THE, PUTTING THIS PIE TOGETHER, LET'S PUT IT LIKE THAT. THERE WERE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT WITH HEB, WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND THERE WERE ESTIMATE NUMBERS. AND SO WHEN I DEAL CAME THAT THE REVENUE FROM THIS, BECAUSE OF USING EDI AND, UH, SECTION 1 0 8 MONEY, BECAUSE OF THOSE TYPE OF LOANS, REVENUE REPAYMENT WOULD BE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT $600,000. BUT THAT MONEY COULD BE USED TO HELP OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. OKAY. IN FOOD DESERT AREA. RIGHT. BECAUSE SO ROUGHLY WAS 600,000. YEAH. 'CAUSE WHEN THE MAYOR ASKED THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, REGARDING HEB ON THE CORNER, 2 88 AND, AND, UH, UH, MCGREGOR, OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY THAT AS A LARGE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, AS WELL AS HOW WE RECTIFY FOOD DESERTS AND BRINGING IN BUSINESS. 'CAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THAT PROMOTES THE COMMUNITIES, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN CERTAIN COMMUNITY AND, AND OFTENTIMES PEOPLE REACT ON, IF I DON'T LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IN GOING FORWARD, AS THE MAYOR SAID, HE WILL LOOK INTO IT, THAT WE COULD COUNT ON YOU IN ORDER TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION. I KNOW, I'M, I'M MAKING THAT ASK [01:20:01] SO THAT WE CAN ASSURE THAT THE, THAT THESE THINGS ARE, ARE RECTIFIED ALL OVER THE CITY OR WHEREVER, ESPECIALLY WHERE THOSE THINGS ARE NEEDED. YOU DID A LOT OF GOOD WORK. YEAH. AND DISTRICT D AS WELL AS, UH, COUNCILMAN AL IS DOING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT. YEAH. UH, I'M SURE THIS CAME THROUGH BLOCK GRANT. YEAH. ANNA, UH, P I'M MISPRONOUNCING HER LAST NAME WORKS IN HOUSING. ANNA PR CAN'T RECALL THE LAST NAME. WE'LL, WE'LL FIND OUT. YEAH. SHE, SHE, SHE CAN GIVE YOU AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU NEED. COUNSEL, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHIBA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BOYKINS. I DO RECALL WHEN WE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING, UH, HEB, WANTING TO MOVE FROM SCOTT STREET AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PROPERTY. UH, IT WAS OWNED BY THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. AT THAT TIME, I WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, AND SO IT WAS A GREAT LOCATION FOR, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GET THERE AND WHATEVER. BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER AMENITIES THERE. UH, THEY HAVE DELIVERY FOR GROCERIES. THEY ALSO, WE HAVE A EVOLVED CAR THAT TAKES PEOPLE TO THE GROCERY STORE AT LEAST MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR FREE. SO WE ARE UTILIZING THAT AREA AS MUCH AS WE CAN. CERTAINLY. UM, PERSONALLY, I AM WORKING ON A FOOD INSECURITY PROJECT THAT IS MORE DEEPLY IN THIRD WARD. UH, BUT CERTAINLY WE NEED THESE, UH, FIND THIS FUNDING AND I WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE WITH YOU IN ANY CONVERSATION AND ANY EFFORTS TO BE ABLE TO MEET FOOD INSECURITY, NOT ONLY FOR DISTRICT D, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE IN NEED. SO I THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND BRINGING THESE THINGS TO OUR ATTENTION AND HELPING US TO NAVIGATE, BECAUSE I'M GONNA CALL ON YOU TO HELP US TO NAVIGATE, TO GET TO THE MONEY AND GET IT USED PROPERLY. AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR WILL BE A PARTNER IN THAT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU, DWIGHT. ALRIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH, GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. NEXT MEYER AND, UH, DEAR UH, COUNCIL LEADERS, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING, UH, SOME POINTS ABOUT THE PETTY CABS AS WELL, UH, AS JUST AS MY COLLEAGUE PHILLIP RENA. UM, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS I'M A PETTY CAB DRIVER. HE'S A CAB LORD. I STARTED THIS JOB IN 2017. UH, I'VE, UH, THIS ALLOWED ME INVEST IN MY RESALE BUSINESS. UH, I'M LIVING A, I'M BECAME A TEXAN. I'M LIVING AN AMERICAN DREAM. I LOVE IT. UH, THE ONLY, UH, WORRY WAS, UH, AS HE STATED, THERE WAS, UH, NUMEROUS, UH, KIND OF ILLEGAL PETTY CABS ARE DOING THIS. THEY'RE IN THE STREET. UM, THEY'RE ENDANGERING PEOPLE'S, UH, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. UH, THEY'RE ENDANGERING PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND, UH, UH, DRIVERS, UH, AS WELL. ALSO, UH, WITH THE PETTY CABS. UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, NUMEROUS GOLF CARTS APPEARED AS WELL. UH, THEY'RE NOT INSURED AS WELL. UH, UH, CAN I ASK, UM, UH, FOR, UH, LIKE WHAT YOU CALL IT, YOUR TIME HAS EXPLAINED LIKE REGULATIONS, UH, MEASURES FOR THESE. PLEASE. I'M SORRY. YOU ASKED FOR WHAT, UH, REGULATIONS TO BE ENFORCED. SURE. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO. THANK YOU. THERE'S BEEN SOME EXCELLENT IDEAS ABOUT PUTTING THE, UH, PERMIT MORE VISIBLE AND HAVE ENFORCEMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT JAMES CHAMBERS BE FOLLOWED BY KENDRA LONDON. YES, SIR. MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO BRING A LITTLE BIT TO Y'ALL'S ATTENTION. I'M ON HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THIS STARTED A FEW YEARS BACK. OKAY. WE WAS IN A NICE PLACE. SOMEBODY BOUGHT IT OUT. I GOT MOVED TO A VERY BAD PLACE. NOTHING BUT DRUGS. MY POLICE FAILED INSPECTION. OKAY. THEY GIVE ME AN AGREEMENT TO MOVE OUT. THEY MOVED ME TO ANOTHER PLACE, SIR, WHEN I GOT IN THERE, THEY DIDN'T PAY MY DEPOSIT. SO THAT CAUSED ME TO GO IN AND GET PUT OUT. SIR, THEY TOOK MY HOUSING. I WENT TO COURT AGAINST THEM, AND I WON MY HOUSING BACK. THEY SAID THEY HAD ALL THESE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME. THEY HAD NOTHING, SIR. I'VE BEEN ON THE STREET A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. I COME IN, I GOT MY BRAND NEW PLACE NOVEMBER THE 17TH, BY DECEMBER THE SECOND. BEFORE THEN MY WHOLE CEILING FELL IN TERMITES COMING THROUGH MY [01:25:01] WALL. MY WINDOWS IS FALLING OUT. I GOT 300 PICTURES ON MY PHONE. THE CITY HEALTH BOARD COME OUT, FELL MY PLACE, CEILING IN THE FLOOR, WATER, EVERYTHING. OKAY? WHEN THE HEALTH BOARD FILLED AND TIME HAS EXPIRED, I TURNED IT IN. THEY HAVE TOOK MY HOUSING AGAIN FROM ME. AND WHERE THE, THE LANDLORD SAID THAT HE WAS, UH, ASKING ME TO BE TERMINATED DUE TO HARASSMENT OF MANAGEMENT FOR ME, TELLING THE TRUTH, TRYING TO GET MY CEILING OUT THE FLOOR, SOMETHING ABOUT MONEY FOR SEX. I PROVED ALL OF THAT WAS A LIE. JUDGE ENO JUSTTO IT OUTTA COURT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BECAUSE THE LANDLORD COME IN AND SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO COURT. HE WENT AHEAD AND MOVED OUT. SO WE'RE GONNA DROP THE CHARGES. OKAY? THEY DROPPED THE CHARGES. HE SAID HE DROPPED THE CHARGES DUE TO ME MOVING OUT. SO THAT STOPPED THE HEALTH BOARD. I CALLED THE HEALTH BOARD, THEY OPENED THE CASE BACK UP SO THEY COULDN'T RENT THIS PLACE TO SOMEBODY ELSE. NOW THAT I GOT OUT, SIR, HOUSING, STILL TOOK MY HOUSING, TOOK ME TO COURT WITH THEM LAST WEEK ON THE 15TH, I WAS SUPPOSED TO GOT AN ANSWER BY, YOU KNOW, SEVEN TO 10 DAYS. NOW THEY'RE TELLING ME WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER FOR 15 OR 20 DAYS. WHO TOLD YOU THAT? THE HOUSING. OKAY. WE'VE GOT ENOUGH INFORMATION, AUTHORITY TO HAVE REASON TO LOOK INTO IT. HOUSING AUTHORITY. OKAY. YEAH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. OKAY. THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME, EXCUSE MY, I DON'T WANNA SAY THE WORD TO SHUT MY, YOU KNOW WHAT, MA'AM? YEAH, WE DON'T NEED ALL THAT. WE GOT, WE'RE GONNA LOOK INTO IT. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE HOUSING THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. LIKE WHO'S THE MANAGEMENT OR THE ACTUAL FACILITY WHERE THE ROOF CAVED IN SO THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT. AND MAYOR, YOUR, YOUR DEPARTMENT MAY ALREADY KNOW, BUT WE'RE NOT AWARE. WE'LL, WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION. HOW DO I GET IT TO YOU? WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOMEONE TALK TO YOU RIGHT HERE IN A MINUTE. OKAY? THANK YOU. CHRIS, WOULD YOU GET A CASEWORKER ON THAT, PLEASE? THANK YOU. KENDRA LONDON. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. BE SAFE. BE FOLLOWED BY LISA BRUNETTE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KENDRA LONDON. I'M BORN AND RAISED IN FIFTH WARD, CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF FIFTH WARD. AND I'M COMING HERE JUST TO SIMPLY SHARE A FEW COMMUNITY CONCERNS. SO, UM, A FEW OF THE CONCERNS ARE OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS MEETINGS, OR NOT ON THE TOP FIVE SAFE LISTS TO EXPRESS CONCERNS OUR TOURIST BOARDS. IF I COULD HAVE A WISH, I WOULD WISH THEY WOULD ALL BE DISMANTLED OR THROWN AWAY IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. IT SEEMS TO BE A WAY OR AVENUE FOR POVERTY PIMPING. UM, THE, UM, IT'S UNLIMITED CONFLICTS ON OUR TOUR BOARDS. SO WHEN YOU PAUSE THE HOUSTON LAND TRUST PROJECT, WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. NOW, IF THEY, IF THE HOUSTON LAND TRUST TRUST DECIDES TO PARTNER WITH OUR TOUR BOARDS, WHAT WOULD, I MEAN, WHAT WOULD THE OUTCOME BE? WE HAVE, WE HAVE SO MUCH EVIDENCE FROM HCA TO, I MEAN, IT'S JUST WRITINGS ON THE WALL OF THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON OUR TOURIST BOARDS, WHO ARE ALSO ON OUR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARDS. WE HAVE BEEN IGNORED FOR YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN UNDER THE SAME AUTHORITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS. SO, UM, TO ALLOW HOUSTON LAND TRUST, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. TO ALLOW HOUSTON LAND TRUST TO PARTNER WITH ENTITIES THAT OWE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN BACK TAXES WILL LEAVE US IN THE SAME RESULTS. WE WILL HAVE MORE RESIDENTS DISPLACED. THANK YOU. UH, ONE MOMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR KENDRA. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE TIME TO, TO, TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. SO, UM, EVEN WITH THE, UM, C SOUL MEETINGS, I AM NOT A SUPER, I HAVE NO AUTHORITY IN MY COMMUNITY, BUT WHAT I DO HAVE IS A REPORT AND TRUST OF MY NEIGHBORS. SO MY PHONE IS LOADED WITH WHY, REASONS WHY THEY DO NOT WANT CERTAIN REPRESENTATION. NOW, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT US AND TO REPORT BACK TO YOU, THERE'S A DISCONNECT. SO SOME KIND OF WAY, EVEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON, IF YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO BUILD A BRIDGE OF POSITIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE HANDS ON WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO ARE ELECTED. WE GOT THE SAME PEOPLE IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS. TURNS 18, UM, REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME SEATS FOR YEARS. WE HAVE NO RESULTS. BUT FOR SOME REASON WE ARE FLOODED WITH NONPROFIT [01:30:01] ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SWEARING TO GOD. THEY'RE HERE TO HELP US. WE HAVE NO RESULTS FROM THEM, EITHER. IT'S OVER 15 NONPROFITS. IT'S IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHERE THE RESULTS, IT'S, IT'S EVERYBODY'S MISSION STATEMENT IS TO HELP. EVERYBODY'S MISSION STATEMENT IS TO, UM, THEY'RE DRIVEN FOR RESULTS. WE DON'T SEE 'EM. WE, WE, INSTEAD THE COMMUNITY IS HELPING THE COMMUNITY. SO, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN A LITTLE GIRL, OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN HELPING EACH OTHER, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE CAPITALIZES OFF OF IT. SO, KENDRA AND THANK AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. I KNOW YOU DO A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, YOU A FIERCE ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I TOLD YOU SEVERAL TIMES THAT I REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THE COMMUNITY LISTENS TO YOU. UM, YOU HAVE A FOLLOWING. AND SO WHAT BETTER PERSON TO SEND MESSAGES, AND AGAIN, BRING BRIDGE THAT GAP IS WITH THE PERSON THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS SEE AS THE LEADER. I'M NOT COMING AFTER ANYONE'S SEAT EITHER, RIGHT? RIGHT. THEY CAN HAVE A SEAT, BUT I MEAN, NO, I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE A SEAT. I'M LYING. PUT NEW PEOPLE, NEW IDEAS. SO LET'S SIT DOWN. 'CAUSE I, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN HAVING LUNCH. LET'S SIT DOWN AND LET'S TALK AND MAP OUT YOUR AGENDA, YOUR PRIORITIES, AND WHAT THE COMM, I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANT AND LET'S JUST WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT. AND IT'S UP TO US TO MOVE IT FORWARD. OKAY? YES. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. LISA BRUNE, I HAVE A HANDOUT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON COUNCIL. I'M LISA BRUNE. I'M THE CEO OF DLZP GROUP. WE ARE A 13-YEAR-OLD COMPANY THAT PROVIDES INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES TO PRIVATE, PUBLIC, AND FEDERAL CLIENTS. AND WE ARE A MINORITY WOMAN-OWNED TECHNOLOGY FIRM THAT I AM, THAT I STARTED. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE OF THE QUESTIONABLE PRACTICE AND SUBJECTIVE LANGUAGE USED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON CERTIFICATION PROCESS. THIS WAS EVIDENT IN THE LETTER OF DENIAL FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SENT TO ME BY DIRECTOR MARSHA MURRAY. I HOLD OVER 18 CERTIFICATIONS. I HAVE THE TEXAS HUB, N-M-S-D-C, THE FEDERAL SBA EIGHT A AND WECONNECT INTERNATIONAL. THOSE ARE JUST A SAMPLE OF SOME OF THEM. I LIVE AND SERVE CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, BUT I CANNOT BE CERTIFIED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION ON JUNE 22ND, 2021. 11 MONTHS LATER, I WAS DENIED THE CITY OF HOUSTON CERTIFICATION. I BEGAN THE APPEAL PROCESS WITH A LETTER SUBMITTED ON MAY 9TH, 2022, WHICH INCLUDED DOCUMENTATION FROM THE SBA AND MY CERTIFICATION FROM WEBANK. ONE YEAR LATER ON MAY 26TH, 2023, I FINALLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON STATING WITH A SECOND DENIAL. THE LETTER IN SHORT PUTS IN QUESTION, MY KNOWLEDGE AND REPUTATION. HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE LETTER. WHILE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CERTIFICATION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES NOT REQUIRE YOU TO PERFORM IN THE AREAS OF WHICH YOU SEEK CERTIFICATION ON A DAILY BASIS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MOTION TO EXTEND. YEAH, GO AHEAD PLEASE. APPLICATION OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO PERFORM NOT SOLELY HAVE THE IN, IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE CORE SERVICES COMPANIES PROVIDE. I STARTED DLZP. IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT MY COMPANY. I AM THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT PERFORMING MANY OF THESE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS. MY COMPANY HAS GROWN WITH MORE CLIENT DEMANDS AND CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY. AS A-C-E-O-I NO LONGER PERFORM THE DAILY IT FUNCTIONS. I AM NOW REQUIRED TO WORK ON DLZP VERSUS IN DLZP. MY GROWTH STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING OUR CLIENT BASE WITH THEIR DEMANDS, EX EXPANDING OUR SERVICES AND CREATING JOBS WITH TALENT TO SUPPORT THE DEMAND. I DON'T USUALLY COMPLAIN. HOWEVER, HOWEVER, THE SUBJECT MATTER LANGUAGE USED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY DIRECTOR MARSHA MURRAY, CALLS INTO QUESTION MY EXPERTISE IN THE INDUSTRY, MY REPUTATION AND MY COMPANY'S REPUTATION AS AN ASIAN WOMAN, I, ACROSS MY SHARE OF BARRIERS, I WANTED TO BE A BUSINESS OWNER SHARING EXPERTISE THAT I LOVE BY SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEM IN MY WORK. WHETHER I GET A CITY OF HOUSTON CERTIFICATION OR NOT, I QUESTION THE PROCESS AND THE FAIRNESS OF THIS OFFICE. DOES THIS OFFICE HAVE STANDARDS? AND HOW MUCH IS THIS BASED ON OPINION? DOES THIS OFFICE REFLECT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY? IT SERVES PEOPLE LIKE ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IF, IF SOMEONE ASKED YOU WHY YOU WERE DENIED, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER? THEY SAID THAT I WAS NOT THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FOR YOU. YOU WHAT IT YES. I'M THE ONE THAT REPRESENTS THE LCPI [01:35:01] USED TO DO THE DAILY WORK EVERY DAY, BUT AS WE GREW, I CANNOT SUPPORT MY CUSTOMERS BY DOING THE IMPLEMENTATIONS, THE CLOUD SERVICES AND THE CYBERSECURITY. I NEED TO HIRE A TEAM TO DO THEM SO I CAN GO GROW THE COMPANY AND MANAGE IT. HMM. COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM CA STADIUM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. I, WE, WE JUST RECEIVED THIS. SO I'M TRYING TO SKIM THROUGH IT BECAUSE I WANT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES ARE CORRECT, UM, AND THEN I WANNA BE, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO DIRECTOR MURRAY TO GET THE, THE REASONING BEHIND THE DENIAL. UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY. IS THERE, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT, UM, SOME KIND OF, UH, LAW RULE ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, A DETERMINING FACTOR IN THIS? OR IS THIS ALL OUR INTERNAL, UM, POLICIES? UH, I BELIEVE IT'S INTERNAL. I CAN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY, BUT I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN MR. INTERNAL. SO I SEE DIRECTOR MURRAY AND THE AUDIENCE MAYOR, IF IT'S PRUDENT, CAN WE ASK HER TO COME FORWARD, UM, TO ANSWER, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SHE, SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE US, I I WANNA GET THIS RESOLVED FOR YOU, DIRECTOR MURRAY, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME. MY CONCERN IS, IT APPEARS WE'LL HEAR FROM THE DIRECTOR. IT'S SO SUBJECTIVE. RIGHT? YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR MURRAY, IF YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS. 'CAUSE I KNOW WE ALL GOT THE MEMO, BUT I, I, I KNOW YOU KNOW THE, THE RULES AND I DO AND REGULATIONS, IF YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH US. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO IN FACT, THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCE HAS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE QUALIFYING OWNER FOR CERTIFICATION MUST HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO PERFORM THE WORK THAT THE, THE, THE BUSINESS IS SEEKING CERTIFICATION IN. AND SO, SO THAT'S BY CITY ORDINANCE AS WELL AS OUR INTERNAL POLICIES ACTUALLY EXPLAINS WHAT THAT REQUIREMENT ACTUALLY MEANS. AND SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE APPLICANT DID NOT INDICATE IN HER APPLICATION THAT SHE HAS THE IT EXPERIENCE THAT SHE'S ACTUALLY ARTICULATED HERE. IN FACT, SHE ACTUALLY LISTED, UM, WHEN SHE WAS, UH, INTERVIEWED BY THE STAFF THAT SHE HAS EXPERTISE IN PROBABLY WELL OVER 20 OTHER AREAS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANY OF THE AREAS TO WHICH SHE WAS SEEKING CERTIFICATION. SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY SHE WAS ACTUALLY DENIED BECAUSE SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE OR THE EXPERIENCE AS REQUIRED BY CITY ORDINANCE OR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO DO THE WORK THAT SHE SPECIFICALLY SOUGHT CERTIFICATION FOR. SO WHAT DOES THE CITY ORDINANCE SAY? SO THE ORDINANCE ACTUALLY SAYS THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT THE MINORITY PERSON, SMALL BUSINESS OR WOMAN OWNER OF THE M-B-E-S-B-E-W-B-E HAVE THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE, CREDENTIALS, AND REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT THE TYPE OF BUSINESS FOR WHICH THE CI THE BUSINESS IS CERTIFIED. THIS IS ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 15 DASH 84 8 D AND THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES. SO DO YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE FOR THAT YOU WERE SEEKING? YES, I STARTED THE COMPANY. SO CLEARLY THERE'S A, A DIFFERENTIATION IN OPINION HERE. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'LL SOLVE IT HERE AT THE, AT THE PODIUM. UM, BUT KENT MAYOR, IF WE COULD MAYBE SUGGEST THAT WE, UM, HA HAVE HAVE A MEETING BETWEEN THE PARTIES SO THEY CAN DETERMINE IF THERE IS A, A MEETING IN THE MIDDLE OR SOMETHING. UM, I, I THINK WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALLOWING BUSINESS OWNERS TO GET THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT THEY NEED TO WORK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S, IT'S PRUDENT THAT WE FOLLOW OUR, UM, ORDINANCES AND, AND THE REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. BUT IT, IT, IT'S, THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE'LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT IF THERE'S SUCH A, A VARYING DIFFERENCE IN OPINIONS HERE. UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? DIRECTOR? SO I, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDED TO US BY THE APPLICANT. WE DON'T CREATE THIS INFORMATION. SO SHE COMPLETED AN APPLICATION LISTING, UH, UH, QUITE A LONG LIST OF EARS OF EXPERTISE THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AREAS IN WHICH SHE'S SEEKING CERTIFICATION. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO CHANGE HER APPLICATION, AMEND THE APPLICATION TO MEET THE POLICY? I KNOW SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FILL OUT APPLICATIONS YOU MAY BE, DIDN'T DO IT EXACTLY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE. UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND IF SHE FEELS LIKE SHE DOES HAVE THE EXPERTISE? SO THERE FOR THE, FOR THE, SO AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO NEED TO AMEND. SHE CAN JUST SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION. AND SO SHE DID MENTION THAT I, THAT I, THAT, THAT WE DID TAKE A [01:40:01] WHILE TO RENDER THE FINAL DECISION. I WAIVED THE WAITING PERIOD. SO TYPICALLY THERE'S A SIX MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR REAPPLICATION. UM, IF SHE FELT LIKE SHE ACTUALLY MET THE REQUIREMENTS, AND THAT WAS ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO, UM, SHE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE SUBMITTED A NEW APPLICATION. UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT AVENUE AT THIS POINT, BUT IT'S NOT AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT THAT APPLICATION IS ACTUALLY CLOSED OUT. BUT IF SHE BELIEVES THAT SHE ACTUALLY CAN ESTABLISH THAT SHE HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN THE AREAS IN WHICH SHE IS SEEKING CERTIFICATION OR ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. WILL LOOK AT THAT. OKAY. IT JUST STRIKES ME HOW SUBJECTIVE THIS CONVERSATION IS ON THE, ON THE FACE OF IT, YOU'D THINK SHE QUALIFIES. YOU'RE SAYING THAT SHE HAS TO HAVE SOME EXPERTISE IN A GIVEN AREA. HOW DOES SHE ESTABLISH OBJECTIVELY FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO REVIEW IT, THAT SHE HAS THE EXPERTISE? THAT'S MY FIRST CONCERN. THAT, THAT YOUR REVIEW OR YOUR STAFF'S REVIEW CERTAINLY COULD BORDER ON BEING, OR IS OBVIOUSLY VERY SUBJECTIVE. UNLESS YOU CAN HAVE THE BLACK LETTER LAW OF THE EXPERIENCE. WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AS IT WOULD BE THE OBVIOUS COMMON SENSE QUESTION. AND THEN NUMBER TWO, MY CONCERN IS IT OUGHT TO BE THE OBJECTIVE OF CITY HALL IN MY JUDGMENT IN MY WORLD, TO HELP HER GET HER CERTIFICATION INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BLOCK IT. SO INSTEAD OF JUST A DENIAL, COULD YOU CREATE A SYSTEM THAT IS MORE USER FRIENDLY WHERE, MA'AM, ON THIS APPLICATION WE'VE GOT SOME CONCERNS, BUT LET'S KEEP THIS FILE OPEN AND KEEP WORKING TILL YOU CAN SHOW US YOUR EXPERTISE OR QUALIFICATIONS. THAT'S JUST KIND OF WHAT I THINK MOST HOUSTONIANS WOULD EXPECT US TO DO WITH A LADY. THAT CERTAINLY IS MWB THAT CERTAINLY HAS A RECORD AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AND THEN YOU'RE RELYING UPON A STATUTE SAYS YOU GOTTA HAVE MORE EXPERTISE. SO WHERE'S THE THRESHOLD THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? BUT PRIMARILY I'M SAYING CAN WE JUST KEEP WORKING WITH HER? AND, AND YOU JUST SAID SHE'S GOTTA REAPPLY. WHY DON'T YOU JUST REOPEN THE FILE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING ABOUT TODAY AND AT THIS TIME I'LL YIELD. SO, SO WE DON'T, I MEAN WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO BE, BE TECHNICAL IN TERMS OF A REAPPLICATION HER, BUT THERE, I, I WOULD ACTUALLY JUST PUT FORTH THAT THIS WAS NOT A SUBJECTIVE PROCESS. THIS APPLICANT LISTED THAT SHE HAD EXPERTISE IN BILLINGS AND MARKETING AND COST ANALYSIS AND FINANCE. MM-HMM . AND GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES. AND THIS, THIS, THIS APPLICANT WAS SEEKING CERTIFICATION, IT CONSULTING AWS HOSTING, MIGRATING APPS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY. THOSE ARE DISTINCT THINGS. WE'RE, WE'RE WITH YOU, WE WANT YOU TO DO YOUR JOB, BUT WE ALSO WANT, IN MY WORLD, WANT YOU TO BE MORE USER FRIENDLY. AND I WOULDN'T STAND UP AND SAY, WELL, SHE CAN REAPPLY. YOU GOT THE LADY STANDING, THE CEO NEXT TO YOU THAT WAS DENIED. WHAT'S, WHAT'S WRONG WITH JUST REOPENING THE FILE? AND KIND OF LIKE, I THINK MOST OF IT WOULD SAY, LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT WITHOUT DRAGGING IT OUT WITH A REAPPLICATION GOING TO THE BUREAUCRACY. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE CAN PROVE TO THAT. SHE'S GOT EXPERTISE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THAT LAUNDRY LIST THAT YOU JUST WENT THROUGH. PROBABLY NO ONE AT THE TABLE WOULD, SO WE TYPICALLY RELY ON, SO IF SHE PROVIDED US WITH, UM, WITH A RESUME THAT ACTUALLY SHOWED A HISTORY IN THE AREAS IN WHICH SHE SEEKING CERTIFICATION, CERTIFICATION TO, BUT, BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HERE. MM-HMM . I'M SAYING SIT DOWN WHEN WE GET THROUGH HERE AND LET'S RESOLVE IT AND RESOLVE IT. SATISFACTORY. WE WANT HER, IF SHE'S QUALIFIED TO BE A VENDOR, SO WE CAN CERTAINLY FOREGO A REAPPLICATION THAT IS NORMALLY THE PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND. I DON'T LIKE TO HEAR WE CAN FORGO IT USED TO BE THIS IS A NEW DATE. WE'RE USER FRIENDLY. DON'T ASK HER TO REAPPLY. GO TO YOUR OFFICE, GET HER FILE AND PUT YOUR BEST, IF NOT YOU, TO SIT DOWN WITH HER AND SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP HER BECOME CERTIFIED. WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR INTEREST IN, IN WORKING WITH THE CITY, UM, DIRECTOR MURRAY. I THINK, UM, YOU LOOK AT THINGS FROM A VERY, UH, NARROWLY TAILORED PERSPECTIVE, WHICH I APPRECIATE BECAUSE RULES ARE RULES AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND I THINK WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE QUALIFIED AND ARE COMPETENT ENOUGH TO DO THE SERVICES. I THINK WHERE WE CAN FIND, UM, A WAY TO STRENGTHEN THAT FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT IS IN THE LETTER DATED MAY 26TH. UH, IT MENTIONS YOU MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONAL MISSION OF THE COMPANY. IN THE ABSENCE OF SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE REQUIRED EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE, YOU ARE INELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATION. I THINK THERE LEAVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO THEN VERY PLAINLY AND DIRECTLY STATE WHAT IT WOULD BE, UH, THAT SHE [01:45:01] WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE FOR IT TO BE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. SO THE RESPONSE WOULD BE, UH, TO MS BRUNETTE, WE RECEIVED YOUR APPLICATION, BUT IT IS LACKING X, Y, Z. IF YOU CAN PROVIDE X, Y, Z, THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO CERTIFY YOUR FIRM AS A MINORITY VENDOR UNDER THIS PARTICULAR CRITERIA. BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE IT OPEN TO WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE IT, UM, IN THE LETTER SPECIFICALLY IN THE LETTER SPECIFICALLY IN THE LETTER, THEN I THINK THAT IS WHERE THERE IS A GAP. BECAUSE ALTHOUGH, ALTHOUGH IT'S STATING THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, I DON'T SEE IN THE LETTER WHERE IT'S LAID OUT, I I'M LOOKING AT THE LETTER, I DON'T SEE WHERE IT'S LAID OUT IN VERY PLAIN TERMS THAT PLEASE PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION AND PLEASE PROVIDE, UH, THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, UH, FOLLOW UP. IF IT IS THERE AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, THAT'S FINE. BUT IF IT, IF IT, IF IT IS THERE, THEN SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, OR YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, WE'VE ALREADY TOLD HER SUBMIT THIS PART OF YOUR RESUME OR PRESENT THIS TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION. AND, BUT FOR THAT SHE WOULDN'T HAVE A CASE. SO, UM, SO I, I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SO I SHOULD HAVE RE RE-ARTICULATED IN THE, IN MY FINAL DECISION THAT, UH, WHAT WHAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. WE DO ACTUALLY, UM, INFORM APPLICANTS OF SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE IN ORDER TO SHOW US, UM, THAT THEY HAVE THE EXPERTISE, UM, OR THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY, THE LICENSE TO DO, UH, WHAT IS NEEDED. THAT'S A PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ARTICULATING THAT THAT SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN REITERATED IN THE, IN THE FINAL DETERMINATION. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST, 'CAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE ALL GETTING INFORMATION QUICKLY ON THIS AND I DO WANNA DEFER. UH, FIRST MA'AM, I WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD. MY DAD'S A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND I RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH OWNING A BUSINESS AND SEEKING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, DIRECTOR MURRAY, I BELIEVE YOU SAID TWO THINGS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR. ONE, THAT THE, USING A METAPHOR, THE BOX WASN'T CHECKED FOR SPECIFICALLY THE TYPE OF CONTRACT OR, OR, UM, CERTIFICATION THAT SHE WAS SEEKING. AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID SPECIFICALLY IN THE LETTER, UH, 'CAUSE AND THANK YOU MA'AM FOR PROVIDING THIS. UH, THE SECOND TO LAST PAGE YOU HAVE RE I'M NOT GONNA READ THE WHOLE THING 'CAUSE WE HAVE A HOST OF SPEAKERS, BUT TO ME YOU CLEARLY LAID OUT THAT YOU WERE REQUESTING CERTIFICATION IN THE AREA OF IT CONSULTING. THE LIST GOES ON DURING THE VIRTUAL INTERVIEW AND YOU LAY OUT WHAT WAS NOT PROVIDED. YOU LAID OUT WHAT THE APPEAL PROCESS WAS FOR ALL OF THIS. UM, THAT BEING SAID, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALSO ALSO WAIVED ONCE, WELL FIRST WAS THE APPEAL PROCESS WAS THAT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF? SO, UM, MS IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AND PLEASE CORRECT, CORRECT MS. MS. BURNETT, UM, THAT YOU, UH, DID NOT REQUEST AN INFORMAL HEARING THAT YOU ACTUALLY APPEALED ON PAPER VIA A LETTER SENT TO ME. YES. YES. 'CAUSE I WAS TRAVELING AND I WAS NOT IN HOUSTON. SO THERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES. YOU CAN EITHER APPEAL ON PAPER OR, UM, REQUEST AN IN IN PERSON, UM, INFORMAL HEARING AND AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. YES, THERE WERE TWO LETTERS SENT TO MS. BURNETT. THERE WAS THE INITIAL TENTATIVE DENIAL LETTER, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS, UM, UM, UM, LOTS OF SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT MY STAFF LOOKED AT IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND MADE THE INITIAL DETERMINATION. UM, AND THEN THERE WAS A SECOND LETTER WHICH WAS PROVIDED BY ME AFTER MS. BRUNETTE, UM, DECIDED TO APPEAL THAT TENTATIVE DENIAL. SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A TWO LAYERED PROCESS REVIEW. AND THEN, AND I'M SORRY, AFTER ALL OF THAT, I UNDERSTAND THIS WAS NINE MONTHS AGO, YOU WAIVED, UM, THE WAITING PERIOD TO REAPPLY, SO TO SPEAK. AND MAYOR, I HEAR YOU, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT YOU ACTUALLY DID AN ACCOMMODATION TO WAIVE AND ALLOW A APPLICATION THAT SHE COULD CORRECT, SO TO SPEAK, TO MOVE FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY. AND THAT WAS DONE NINE MONTHS AGO. BUT HAVE WE RECEIVED THAT? SO I, YEAH, SO I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ACTUALLY, WE TOOK A, A VERY LONG TIME TO RENDER THIS DECISION. AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAIVED THE WAIN PERIOD FOR HER. IF SHE, IF IN FACT, UM, THERE WAS ANY CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SHE COULD ESTABLISH THAT SHE HAD THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN THOSE AREAS TO WHICH SHE SOUGHT CERTIFICATION, SHE COULD, UH, REAPPLY. SO CAN I MAKE ONE COMMENT? SO THE THING IS, WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWED, I WASN'T ASKED ABOUT MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. I WAS ASKED ABOUT MY DAILY TASKS CURRENTLY, AND THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I STARTED OUT DOING EVERYTHING IN THE BUSINESS FROM FINDING THE CUSTOMERS, DOING THE PROJECTS, THE IMPLEMENTATIONS, [01:50:01] TO GROWING IT, TO THE POINT WHERE I OVERSEE EVERYBODY NOW WHO DOES THE WORK. BECAUSE IF I WORK ON JUST THE CUSTOMER, I'M NEVER GONNA GROW MY BUSINESS. AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IS I WAS NEVER ASKED WHAT I DID TO GET TO THE POINT I AM NOW. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AGAIN, I'M JUST TRYING TO LAY OUT ALL THE FACTS CLEARLY. 'CAUSE WHEN WE SAY THAT IT WASN'T EXPLAINED, I'M READING THAT IT WAS EXPLAINED, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE AGAIN, THE CITY CAN ALWAYS DO MAYOR AND MAYOR, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT. AND DIRECTOR MURRAY, I APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING FORWARD. LOOK, Y'ALL ARE STANDING SIDE BY SIDE RIGHT NOW, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN AT CITY COUNCIL AND THAT'S WONDERFUL, UM, TO ALLOW THIS TO MOVE FORWARD TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHEN WE CAN. BUT I DID WANNA MAKE SURE IT WAS CLEAR SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW CLEARLY THINGS WERE LAID OUT, THE WAIVER TO ALLOW HER TO REAPPLY. AND MA'AM HOPEFULLY NOW, UM, EVERYONE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. COUNCILOR DAVIS? NO, MAYOR PRO JIM CAST. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I WANNA BE CLEAR BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THESE ORDINANCE IN PLACE BECAUSE IN THIS PROGRAM PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT THE WIFE IS THE MINORITY SHAREHOLDER AND DOES NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND WILL GET THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS MAY BE IS THE SITUATION HERE. SO I WANNA ASK, DO YOU HAVE THE IT EXPERIENCE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO GET THIS CERTIFICATION? YES, I USED TO DO IT ALL THE TIME. OKAY. BUT AS I GO, I DON'T. SO I THINK THAT WE ARE MOVING TO A GOOD PLACE NOW. SO IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND UM, DIRECTOR MURRAY HAS, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND LET'S REVISIT THE APPLICATION AND SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO MOVE TOWARDS A, A CERTIFICATION. BUT I DID NOT WANT US TO JUST LOOK AT THIS WITHOUT LOOKING HOLISTICALLY BECAUSE WE DO KNOW OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GAINED THE SYSTEM PER SE BY SAYING THAT THERE IS A FEMALE OWNER OF A BUSINESS AND NOW THEY GET THE BENEFITS OF THE MWBE PROGRAM WHEN THEY, THAT, UH, PERSON IS NOT ACTUALLY THE PERSON THAT SHOULD QUALIFY. BUT THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THIS IS A SITUATION. UM, IF WE CAN REVISIT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET HER CERTIFIED, I HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK FOR A POTENTIAL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I DO WANNA THANK YOU DIRECTOR MURRAY FOR FOLLOWING THE, THE PROTOCOL AND THE PROCEDURES, BUT I ALSO WANT US TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE ON OUR BEST COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE QUESTION I HAD IN MIND WAS YOUR RESPONSE IN YOUR LETTER THAT YOU WROTE, YOU INDICATED THAT, UH, THE, THAT TO PERFORM ALL OF THE IT FUNCTIONS DAILY THAT I'M NOT REQUIRED TO WORK. BUT YOU WERE SAYING THAT YOU, YOUR GROWTH AND YOUR STRATEGY HAS INCREASED AND YOUR CLIENT BASE HAS INCREASED. UH, JUST LOOKING AT THIS AND THAT YOU HAVE THE INTENTION OF HIRING THE PEOPLE, I'M ASSUMING THAT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT'S REQUIRED BY, BY THIS, UH, BY THIS CONTRACT. RIGHT? SO WE CONSTANT, LIKE WE EXPAND OUR BUSINESS. WE STARTED OUT SPECIFICALLY AS A PEOPLESOFT SHOP AND AS WE GREW WE BROUGHT MORE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN. BUT AS WE GREW, I LEARNED MOST OF THOSE SKILL SETS ON THE JOB. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I STARTED OUT AS AN ORACLE SHOP. RIGHT. AND SO, BUT YOU ARE PREPARED TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT'S QUALIFIED THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENT. YES. GOOD. OKAY. COUNCILMAN CARTER, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. IT'S PRETTY BASIC. DID YOU SUBMIT THIS FORM, THIS INFORMATION WHEN YOU, THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR A CAPABILITY STATEMENT, SO YOU DIDN'T SUBMIT THIS? NO, THIS RIGHT HERE IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY AND IT APPEARS THAT THE, SHE HAS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND THE CERTIFICATIONS AND EVERY, EVERYTHING YOU NEED. SO DIRECTOR, I I WOULD SAY IN ALL DUE RESPECT, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, THIS IS KIND OF THE, THE SOLUTION PERHAPS THAT Y'ALL CAN WORK TOGETHER TO WORK OUT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING OVER HERE DISCUSSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON METRO AND, AND, AND PRETTY OBVIOUS IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND, AND YOU SAID, EXCUSE ME, DIRECTOR MAYOR, YOU SAID YOU GAVE HER MORE TIME BECAUSE IT TOOK SO LONG FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT ME TO RENDER, TO RENDER DECISION FOR ME TO RENDER THE FINAL DECISION. AND SO I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE HER WAIT. SO TYPICALLY YOU HAVE TO WAIT. SO WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO RENDER IT? WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WE HAVE ABOUT OVER 350 APPLICATIONS IN OUR PIPELINE. WE HAVE MANY APPEALS THAT ARE COMING. I UNDERSTAND. I'M WRITING THOSE MY, YOU KNOW, MYSELF IN ADDITION TO OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. IT'S BALANCING THAT [01:55:01] WITH THE REST OF THE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE ORGANIZATION. AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS THAT DELAY AND THEN WAIVE THE WA WAITING PERIOD FOR THAT. I THOUGHT IT WAS REASONABLE. WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD HEALTHY DISCUSSION. I HOPE YOU'LL, UH, FACILITATE NOT A NEW APPLICATION, BUT REVISIT THE OTHER ONE AND FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT MAYBE BE A LITTLE MORE USER FRIENDLY. ABSOLUTELY. UH, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, OUR PROGRAM IS, IS THE CITY'S PROGRAM. AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, IT CAN, IT BEARS REVIEWING IS IS ONE THAT DOES REQUIRE THAT THE APPLICANT OWNER BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH, OH, I GOT, WE'RE ALL ON BOARD ON THAT AND WE ALL KNOW THE SHAMS AND THE MAYOR PROTE POINTED IT OUT, BUT I THINK A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD BELIEVE THIS LADY IS NOT PULLING A SHAM. AND I THINK IF YOU HAD HEARD THAT INFORMATION, I HAVEN'T HEARD. YEAH, THAT INDICATED A SHAM WITH THIS APPLICANT. I THINK IT WAS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE MAYBE FAILURE TO, UH, MAYBE WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO HELP HER IN HER APPLICATION. THAT'S ALL I WOULD EMPHASIZE. CERTAINLY IT SOUNDS LIKE IF, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THE CAPABILITY STATEMENT, IF MY STAFF HAD THE BENEFIT OF THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL VERY WELL, WE HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANKS FOR COMING. THANKS FOR DOING YOUR JOB AND UH, LET'S GO FORWARD. THANK YOU JEROME. LOVE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL SLATER. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS JEROME LOVE AND I'M THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE TEXAS BLACK EXPO. WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A MISSION TO EMPOWER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE PROUDLY SERVE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. 14 YEARS AGO, I STARTED A SMALL BUSINESS IN NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION AND I PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S HOUSING, UH, DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A MISSION TO PROVIDE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HOUSTONIANS. BUT THIS PAST NOVEMBER MY COMPANY WAS DEALT A SEVERE BLOW. SO IN, NO, IN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022, I BOUGHT A LOT AT TAX AUCTION I BOUGHT THE LOT WITH THE INTENT TO BUILD TWO DUPLEXES ON IT. WHEN I READ THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, THE DEED RESTRICTIONS SAID THAT ONE SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING WAS ALLOWED PER 5,500 SQUARE FOOT LOT. THE LOT WAS 7,000 SQUARE FOOT. SO IT WOULD'VE REQUIRED ME TO REPLANT IT, WHICH WOULD'VE REQUIRED THAT WE GET 50% OF THE VOTES OF THE NEIGHBORS. THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION IN THE AREA DOESN'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE. I FELT LIKE IT WAS GONNA COST TOO MUCH TIME AND MONEY. SO I WENT THE SAFE ROUTE AND I BUILT ONE DUPLEX WITH MONEY FROM MY OWN POCKET. I INVESTED OVER $200,000 IN BUILDING THIS DUPLEX. AND THIS PAST NOVEMBER, AS I WAS AWAITING FINAL INSPECTIONS, DUPLEXES ALREADY BUILT. I GOT A RED TAG FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON TELLING ME TO STOP WORK. I CALLED THE CITY ATTORNEY, I ASKED THEM, UM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THREE MINUTES. RIGHT? OKAY. UM, I ASKED THEM WHAT THE VIOLATION WAS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT DUPLEXES WERE NOT ALLOWED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT WAS A VIOLATION OF THE D RESTRICTIONS. IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S BUILDING CODE, WHICH CLEARLY DEFINES A DUPLEX AS A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. I SHARED THAT WITH THEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO INTERPRET THAT IN THE MOST RESTRICTIVE MANNER POSSIBLE AND THAT IF IN THE OPINION OF THE CITY THERE'S A VIOLATION, THEY CAN ISSUE A RED TAG. NOW I DID BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. THEY REFERRED ME BACK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS NO DEFINITION OF SINGLE FAMILY IN THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. THEY HAVE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY'RE DEFINING DEED RESTRICTIONS IN A MANNER THAT'S INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S BUILDING CODE. SO IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT THEY'RE TAKING THIS ACTION. AND THE REMEDY THEY SUGGESTED WAS THAT WE LITIGATED IN A COURT OF LAW. NOW THERE ARE THREE DUPLEXES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WERE BUILT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THIS PARTICULAR LOT HAD A HOMELESS PERSON LIVING IN A STORAGE SHELTER IN IT. AND I PAID AN $1,800 FINE IN ORDER TO GET MY PLANS APPROVED. YOU HAVE THOSE PICTURES IN FRONT OF YOU AS WELL. SO IT MAKES NO SENSE IF THEY CAN CHOOSE TO DEFINE IN THE MOST RESTRICTIVE MANNER POSSIBLE. THEY CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO TAKE A COMMON SENSE APPROACH AND LOOK AT THE, THE SITUATION ON ITS MERITS. WE, I EVEN BOUGHT THE LOT RIGHT NEXT DOOR. I TOLD THEM, HEY, I WON'T BUILD THE DUPLEX ON THAT LOT, JUST THE ONE I'VE ALREADY BUILT. DON'T DEMAND THAT I TEAR IT DOWN OR CHANGE IT. AND WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY, UM, UH, ANY ASSISTANCE WE'VE JUST BEEN TOLD BASICALLY SUE US. WHEW. CITY ATTORNEY. DID YOU WANNA OPINE ON THIS? MY APOLOGIES. I WASN'T, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UH, WE WERE SUED AND WE ARE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION WITH 'EM RIGHT [02:00:01] NOW. SO YES, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION, SO CERTAINLY I WOULD ADVISE EVERYONE TO, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING YOU. CAN YOU, I APOLOGIZE. YEAH, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT CERTAINLY YOU LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. WE'RE IN LITIGATION ON THIS CASE. ARE YOU SUING US? WE HAVE. WE HAVE SUED, YES. . OKAY. YES. GOT IT. WELL, I DON'T THINK WE CAN TALK IF WE ARE, I DON'T THINK WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND TALK IF WE ARE BEING SUED. IS THAT CORRECT? UM, I WOULD CERTAINLY ADVISE AGAINST IT, YES. OKAY. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING AND WE WILL TRY TO RESOLVE THIS. UM, SO IS SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY LEGAL COMMUNICATING WITH MR. LOVE? WE HAVE, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ATTEMPTS AT, TO ENJOIN THE CITY FROM ENFORCING THIS. UH, THE COURTS AS I UNDERSTAND IT, HAVE DECIDED WITH US BOTH SIDES, BOTH TIMES. SO WE'RE JUST ON HOLD RIGHT NOW. OKAY. WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION. WE, WE TOLD THEM, HEY, YOU KNOW, I WON'T EVEN BUILD A DUPLEX. JUST LET US FINISH THIS ONE. AND THERE, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY, BASICALLY AT THE PREVIOUS HEARING THEY SAID IT'S A ZERO SUM DEAL. EITHER YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE OR YOU'RE NOT. SO IT WAS NO MIDDLE GROUND TO NEGOTIATE TO TRY TO WORK ANYTHING OUT. SO, SO WE'RE IN LITIGATION, SO I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH, BUT I DO WANT TO, UM, ASK THE CITY LEGAL IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE HE'S HERE NOW. IS THERE SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE THAT Y'ALL CAN COMMUNICATE AND MAKE SURE THAT HE, NEXT TIME HE COMES, HE DOESN'T SAY THAT HE'S NOT RECEIVING ANY COMMUNICATION? I, I BELIEVE HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH AN ATTORNEY FROM OUR OFFICE. WELL, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION EXCEPT FOR AT THE TRO HEARING. UM, AND, AND WHEN WE COMMUNICATED THAT, THE JUDGE SAID, DO Y'ALL WANT TO TALK FIRST? AND IT WAS STATED, THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND. EITHER YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD OR YOU'RE NOT. SO IT WAS LIKE, THERE IS NO NEGOTIATION. OKAY. SO I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE WE ARE IN LITIGATION, BUT UM, I'M JUST GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, JUST CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY'S EITHER TALKING TO HIS ATTORNEY OR TALKING TO HIM SO THAT HE HAS A COMMUNICATION THAT HE NEEDS? SURE, ABSOLUTELY. AND, AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND BOTTOM LINE, I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND IF THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW THE DE RESTRICTIONS, BUT THEN THEY CAN INTERPRET IT ANOTHER WAY. IT'S GONNA DETER FUTURE DEVELOPERS. IT'S NOT ONLY GONNA HURT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE ME, BUT THE CITY WILL LOSE MILLIONS IN POTENTIAL REVENUE. 'CAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA WANT TO DEVELOP. RIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MR. MR. LOVE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE SPEAKERS IN THE CAMERA. OH. OH, I'M SO SORRY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, WE NEED TO THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. BUT I, I DO WANT US TO BE, UM, COGNIZANT THAT WE ARE IN LITIGATION AND WE PROBABLY SHOULD JUST KEEP THE CONVERSATION TO A MINIMUM BECAUSE WE ARE IN LITIGATION. ABSOLUTELY. AND I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO ASK ONE QUESTION. YOU ARE, THIS ISN'T A BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY? YES, SIR. YES, SIR. RIGHT. OKAY. DID, AND THE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION DOESN'T EVEN EXIST AT THIS POINT. THEY WENT DEFUNCT IN 1989. THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER THERE FOR THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS IS NOT, THIS IS JUST A GENERAL, KIND OF A GENERAL COMMENT. I DO THINK THAT THIS AS A CITY JUST DIRECTLY, OFTENTIMES THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL SAY THEY WON'T DECIPHER FOR A DE RESTRICTION OR THEY CAN'T ENFORCE A DE RESTRICTION. BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, THEY MAKE A DECISION BASED ON IT. SO I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF CLEAR THE WATERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS OUR ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO DEEP RESTRICTIONS. OKAY. 'CAUSE THERE IS SOME CONFUSION THERE. SO I WOULD JUST WANNA ADD THAT TO THAT AS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND POSSIBLY REVISING IT IN SOME WAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. NOT TO SPEAK TO THE SPECIFICS OF THIS CASE, BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS LAST COMMENT. I HEAR PERSON AFTER PERSON SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO BUILD IN THE CITY BECAUSE IT'S TOO DIFFICULT. WE NEED THE TAX REVENUE. I, I, WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS INSIDE THE CITY CAME THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE PROPERTY, HCA WAS THERE AND THEY SAID, OH, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS EXISTED. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID? THEY INCREASED MY TAXES BECAUSE IT'S A, IT IS A DUPLEX THERE, A NICE PROPERTY THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE. SO NOW I'M PAYING MORE TAXES ON A PROPERTY THAT I CAN'T EVEN COMPLETE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. LOVE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PROCEDURAL MOTION. A PROCEDURAL MOTION NOT ON YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LOVE. AND, AND I'M WISHING YOU THE BEST TO GET IT ALL WORKED OUT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, YOU HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION? I DO. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MATTHEW LATHAN TO FOLLOW GEORGE WALKER. NEED A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECOND IS IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. NEXT. MICHAEL SLATER. [02:05:02] OOH. GOT A LOT TO SAY IN A SHORT TIME TO SAY, CAN YOU STEP IN FRONT OF THE MIC? I'M A FORMER TEACHER, UM, TAUGHT NA LEAF FOR 12 YEARS. UH, FORMER COACH, COACH FOOTBALL, UH, HERE AT RICE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, ARIZONA STATE. UM, I'M EXPERTS IN THOSE FIELDS. OKAY. IF SOMETHING WITH TEACHING OR SOMETHING ABOUT FOOTBALL, I, I'M, I, I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD. WHEN I GOT INTO REAL ESTATE, UH, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, UM, I INHERITED A PROPERTY FROM MY GRANDFATHER WHO PURCHASED IT IN THE BLUE RIDGE SUBDIVISION IN 1955. I'VE HELD ONTO THAT PROPERTY DESPITE BEING CONTACTED DAILY BY 10 TO 15 OR MORE PEOPLE ABOUT PURCHASING THE PROPERTY. UNLIKE MR. LOVE, UM, I'M, I'M NOT A, A A A, A SMALL SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE SENSE THAT I GO OUT AND, AND BUILD A LOT. THIS WAS MY FIRST PROJECT. SO I SOUGHT THE ADVICE OF EXPERTS IN THE FIELD. UH, UH, KEVIN SHELTON, THE BUILDER OF PARK STREET HOMES, UH, THE OWNER OF PARK STREET HOMES, WHO'S, WHO'S BEEN, UH, IN THE NEWS LATELY. UM, I, AND AGAIN, BECAUSE WHEN I GOT INTO REAL ESTATE, I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD. I SOUGHT OUT EXPERTS THAT WOULD GUIDE ME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. INDY KALU, UM, WITH TITLE LOANS AND CHED AZULE FORMER PLAYERS THAT I COACHED, UH, TO, TO HELP ME MAKE MY DECISION. WHILE I WAS THERE INTERNING, UM, KEVIN SHELTON AND HIS WIFE CAME IN AND PRESENTED THEMSELVES ON, ON, ON BEING BUILDERS. SO WHEN I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WANTED TO DO MY FIRST BUILD, I SOUGHT SOMEONE THAT WAS AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD TO REACH OUT. THAT'S WHERE THIS COMES IN. UM, THE EMAIL THAT EVERYONE RECEIVED, UH, KEVIN COMMUNICATED WITH THE PLANS AND PERMITTING ABOUT THE DUPLEX. IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS, THAT IT WAS A DUPLEX, AND HE WAS GIVEN SPECIFIC THINGS THAT HE NEEDED TO DO IN ORDER TO COMPLY. UH, WITH, WITH THE, THE DEED RESTRICTION, UH, UH, THAT WAS BEING BROUGHT UP. WE DID EVERYTHING. NO, LATE NOVEMBER, I GET A RED FLAG. AS SOON AS I GET, UH, WOOD ON, ON, ON MY, ON MY STRUCTURE. FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, MY STRUCTURE HAS NOT HAD A ROOF. IT'S BEEN RAINED ON, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING. HAD IN PLANNING. IT WAS STATED THAT I COULD NOT BUILD A DUPLEX. I WOULD'VE COMPLIED AND WOULD'VE NOT BUILT A DUPLEX. BUT THEY PERMITTED MY PLANS AND THEY WERE, THEY WERE APPROVED IN, IN 2021. THEY SAT THERE FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. I DID EVERYTHING I COULD UP UNTIL THE ACTUAL BUILD. I HAD MY BEST FRIEND, DEXTER LEE COME IN TO HELP ME FINISH THIS PROJECT, TO HELP ME FINANCE IT, TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. AGAIN, EVERY APPROVED PLANS, WHAT, WHAT COULD GO WRONG? NOW, I'M BEING TOLD THAT BECAUSE IT STATES IN THE DEED RESTRICTION THAT IT IS, UH, NOTHING MORE THAN A, A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING CAN BE BUILT. DWELLING IS NOT EVEN A TERM THAT'S USED TODAY. IN, IN, IN, IN THE PLANNING PERMIT DEPARTMENT AS A REALTOR, A DUPLEX FALLS UNDER SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE IN WHICH IT, THAT'S, I, I THOUGHT I DID EVERYTHING THAT I NEEDED TO DO TO FOLLOW THE STEPS I NEEDED TO DO, TO DO, TO, TO BUILD MY DUPLEX. AND NOW IT'S COSTING ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS NOW THAT IT, NOTHING, NO CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN DONE, AND THE STUFF THAT I DO HAVE DONE IS BEING RUINED BY THE WEATHER. SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN LITIGATION, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE IN LITIGATION FOR BECAUSE I'M NOT, I'M, I'M SOMEONE THAT IS TRYING TO HELP BUILD THE COMMUNITY. MY, I I HAVE BROUGHT MY INVESTORS INTO, UH, IN, INTO THE SAME, SAME NEIGHBORHOOD TO, TO, TO DEVELOP THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PURCHASED THE HOUSE FIVE DOWN, FIVE HOUSES DOWN. MY COUSIN PURCHASED THE HOUSE AS AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY TO, SO WE CAN HAVE A PROPERTY TOGETHER TO, TO, TO, UH, MANAGE. UM, SINCE MY PLANS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, TWO DUPLEXES HAVE BEEN BUILT. ONE OF THESE DUPLEXES IS 11 HOUSES DOWN ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STREET OF MINE. ONE OF THEM IS FIVE HOUSES BEHIND MINE ON THE SAME STREET. SO I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE GETS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT AND SOMEONE DOESN'T. [02:10:02] UH, NO. AND, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FROM A COMPLAINT FROM SOMEONE IN THE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE COMMUNITY. DO THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT, DID THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS A DILAPIDATED HOUSE? SOMETHING 30 YEARS. WHAT, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF YOUR LEGAL DISPUTE? WHAT'S MY, YOU YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY? I HAVE AN ATTORNEY. SEAN GREENWOOD, HIS AND, AND, AND EXCUSE TO A LONG EMAIL. SO IT'S, IT'S IN LITIGATION RIGHT NOW, SIR? IT'S IN LITIGATION. IT'S IN LITIGATION RIGHT NOW. OKAY. CORRECT. WELL, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ALLOW THE LITIGATION TO GO FORWARD. WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M ALLOWING THE LITIGATION TO GO FORWARD. BUT THE, THE BUT FROM EVERYTHING THAT I, I, AND I'VE GOT PLANS BEING RESUBMITTED NOW. YEAH. SO I CAN BE, UH, COMPLIANT WITH WHAT'S BEING ASKED. I'M, I'M SORRY THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THAT SITUATION. AND I THINK YOU'VE, HOW I, I WANNA KNOW HOW CAN THIS NOT BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. OB OBVIOUSLY THE, UH, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THE PERMITTING PRO, WE ALL KNOW IT NEEDS REFORMING, NEEDS IMPROVING. AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. BUT YOUR DILEMMA STARTED ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THREE YEARS AGO. NO, MY DILEMMA STARTED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS RED FLAGGED. I UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND. OR, OR IF YOU WANNA SAY THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THIS PERSON APPROVED THEM. I AGREE. AND, BUT, AND, AND, AND MY THING IS WITH THAT IS THIS PERSON IS NOT AFFECTING, IS NOT RECEIVING ANY OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT I'M RECEIVING. I UNDERSTAND. FOR, FOR THE ACTIONS THAT I, THAT I'M GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. UNDERSTAND. WE UNDERSTAND. WE'VE GIVEN YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS. AND, AND ALL I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IS YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR ATTORNEY AND PURSUE A LEGAL ACTION. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WHILE, WHILE WE REVIEWED THE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU. NEXT, I'M SORRY. HAS A PROCEDURAL MOTION. I COUNCIL COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAY I, UM, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, PLEASE, TO MOVE AMINA. I I THINK WE'RE THROUGH WITH THIS GENTLEMAN. OH, NO, NO, NO. YES. NO. YEAH. THANK YOU, SIR. I'M SORRY. NO, NO, IT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, PLEASE. TO MOVE AMINA. I THOUGHT TO, UM, JUST BEFORE GILBERT PEREZ ON THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR AGAINST. MOTION CARRIES. WE GOT IT. NEXT. KIRK CARTER, JR. TO BE FILED BY LANCE ROSET. HELLO EVERYONE. HI. MY NAME IS KURT CARTER AND I'M HERE WITH MR. LOVE. I LIVE WITH DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPERTY THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. AND I'VE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. I LIVE ON, IN FRONT OF THE, HE ONCE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A HOMELESS GUY STANDING THE, IN THE, UH, KINDA, UH, MAKESHIFT HOME SINCE, UM, THAT GUY HAS LEFT. YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A LITTLE BETTER AS FAR AS LIKE, UM, THE DRUG ACTIVITY AND THE PROSTITUTION THAT WAS GOING ON, ON THAT LOT. AND THEN ALSO THE LOT, THAT'S THE OTHER LOT THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. I LIVE ON THE SIDE OF THAT. AND THEY NEVER WOULD KEEP IT CLEAN TO WHERE IT WAS LIKE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH RODENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SINCE HE'S GOT IT, HE'S BEEN TAKING CARE OF IT PRETTY GOOD. AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME THAT I WOULD GO OVER AND TALK TO HIM, HE WOULD ALWAYS TALK TO ME ABOUT, ABOUT THE PROCEDURES THAT HE HAD TO FOLLOW. SO HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS THREE OR MORE MM-HMM . DUPLEXES, WHICH IN FACT, THERE'S OVER 20 DUPLEXES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I'M JUST BASICALLY HERE TO HELP HIM TRY TO GET HIS, UH, PROPERTY TO KEEP GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK Y'ALL. NEXT LANCE ROSET BE FILED BY GEORGE WALKER. I BETTER CHARGE MY DAMN PHONE. DO YOU HAVE CHARGER? UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LANCE ROSET. UM, I'M ALSO HERE ABOUT THE, UH, DUPLEXES. SO I ACTUALLY, UH, GREW UP IN THAT AREA AND IT, OVER THE TIME IT HAS REALLY FALLEN. UM, IT'S NICE TO FINALLY SEE THAT THIS AREA IS FINALLY COMING BACK. UM, MY FAMILY RUNS A BUSINESS. UM, I'M THE CURRENT OWNER AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND 48 YEARS IN THIS AREA. AND IF THEY'RE NOT ALLOWING THE BUILDERS TO BUILD AND JUST LEAVE THESE LOTS LIKE THEY ARE, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE JUST ALL KINDS OF CRIME. EVEN MY BUSINESS THAT'S ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY IS CONSTANTLY GETTING BROKEN INTO. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THEY FINALLY GO AHEAD AND FILL OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FILL OUT ALL OF THE STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. GO AHEAD. JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, [02:15:01] UM, OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING TO COME UP. THEY'RE GETTING THESE DUPLEXES. WHY ARE THEY NOT ALLOWING THEM OVER HERE WHERE THEY ALREADY ARE? UM, I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND IF THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BUILD, THEN I WON'T GET THE WORK. UM, IT IS, IT'S JUST, LET'S JUST HELP THEM. LET THEM FINISH. JUST GO AHEAD AND PUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BACK TOGETHER. 'CAUSE I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, GEORGE WALKER, BE FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW LATHAM. COUNCIL, COUNCIL, MAYOR. UH, MY NAME'S GEORGE WALKER. I AM THE OWNER OF WALKER JG ELECTRIC. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MR. LOVE. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. LOVE FOR OVER 15 TO 20 YEARS. UH, I'M THE ELECTRICIAN THAT WIRES UP EVERY PROPERTY HE HAS. HE GOES STRICTLY BY THE BLUEPRINTS, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO THIS HAS REALLY IMPACTED ME. THIS ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT HERE ON FAIRLAND, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO PAY THE LABOR. I BOUGHT ALL THE PERMITS. WE GOT IT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ROOF END INSPECTION. SO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WITH LABOR MATERIAL THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T RECUPERATE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S ON HOLD. AND, YOU KNOW, JEROME HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY, ENHANCES SO MANY PROPERTIES. I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN COUNT HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, JUST BY WORKING WITH HER FOR 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW, SO I, THIS JUST NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. 'CAUSE OUTTA 28 YEARS OF BEING AN ELECTRICIAN, I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE. I'VE DONE DUPLEXES, MULTI-FAMILIES, SINGLE DWELLINGS, AND THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT WE'VE EVER HAD WHEN WE HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. SO, YEAH. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MAYOR. I JUST WOULD JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT, UM, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THESE, IN THESE COMMUNITIES, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT ARE TAKING THEIR PERSONAL INVESTMENTS TO BRING UP THEIR COMMUNITIES, I JUST THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID HERE. I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND THE RULES ARE THERE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON, BUT I JUST WANNA BRING LIGHT TO JUST WHO HAVE WE SEEN MINORITY, MINORITY CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE THAT CAN COMMENT ON WHAT A DILAPIDATED LOT DID AND HOW DRUGS IS NOT THERE. I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STORY JUST OVERALL. I KNOW IT'S THERE IN LITIGATION COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE SPECIFIC CONVERSATION, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT FOR HOUSTON AND, UM, I JUST WANT US TO JUST KIND OF FIGURE OUT A WAY, HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK? AND THIS IS HOW THE COMMUNITY GROWS AND IS ABLE TO THRIVE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE RESOURCES OF LARGER DEVELOPERS OR GENTRIFICATION, ET CETERA. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT, SIR. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING DILEMMA BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S ORDINANCE CONSIDERS A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING AS A DUPLEX. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, WHO CONSIDERS A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING AS JUST FOR ONE SINGLE FAMILY AND ONLY ONE FAMILY CAN BE IN THAT STRUCTURE. UM, AND SO I THINK AS A CITY MAYOR, IF WE KNOW THAT THAT'S THE DILEMMA, THEN WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO EITHER AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO WHERE PERMITTING HAS TO CHECK OFF, OR SOMEONE HAS TO CHECK OFF ON THE FACT THAT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN, UM, SEEN AND UNDERSTOOD BY THE PROPERTY OWNER AND BY THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEIR PERMITS GET APPROVED. BECAUSE IF WE CONSIDER IT ONE THING, BUT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, CONSIDER IT ANOTHER AND WE APPROVE IT, AND THEN TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE WE'RE HERE, THEN THIS IS GONNA CONTINUE TO OCCUR OVER AND OVER. AND SO, UM, I THINK THERE CAN BE SOME SIMPLE CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS TO OUR ORDINANCE AND SOME PRACTICES WITH THE PERMITTING CENTER. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT A PRIORITY TO DO SO, BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY COSTING THESE GENTLEMEN AND OTHERS, UH, AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT IS A MISINTERPRETATION OR, UH, OR THE WAY IN WHICH WE READ WHAT A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING IS COMPARED TO WHAT THE DE RESTRICTIONS ARE. YEAH. AND THEY, AND THEY JUST ONE AT A TIME, ONE AT THE MIC. WELL, I WAS SAYING, UH, AND EVEN IN THE NEC CODE, IT TALKS ABOUT SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. TWO, TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS AND MULTIFAMILIES. SO SINGLE FAMILY AND, UH, TWO PEOPLE, UH, FAMILIES. THAT'S, THAT'S CLASSIFIED AS THE SAME THING. IT DOESN'T CHANGE UNTIL IT GETS TO MULTIFAMILIES OF THREE OR MORE. AND SO THAT FOR CLARITY, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO, HE'S ALRIGHT. OKAY. WELL, WELL, ONE AT A TIME. I WILL LET THE GENTLEMAN COME BACK UP. WHEN, WHEN YOU GET YOUR PLANS APPROVED, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO SIGN AFFIDAVIT, TALK [02:20:01] TO THE OTHER MIC OR TURN THAT ONE ON. THERE YOU GO. YOU'RE REQUIRED TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT IN ORDER TO GET YOUR PLANS APPROVED. THAT SAYS THAT YOUR PLANS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DE RESTRICTIONS. SO THAT'S THE PROTECTION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, OR WHATNOT. THE QUESTION HERE IS, TRADITIONALLY, IF THERE ARE DUPLEXES ALLOWED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT SAYS NO DUPLEXES. THIS ONE SAYS SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS. SO NOW THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU DEFINE SINGLE FAMILY? CORRECT. THE CITY DEFINES IT ONE WAY, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE REACHED A POINT. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. AND, AND, AND THE TRAGEDY IS IT DIDN'T JUST START. YES. TODAY IT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR YEARS. YEAH. AND OTHER FOLKS COULD HAVE ADDRESSED IT. YEAH. BUT LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT NOW AND GO FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S NO REASON FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE DEALING IN GOOD FAITH YES, SIR. TO BE PENALIZED AS YOU ARE. BUT DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE IMPORTANT ALSO. BUT I THINK IT'S, UH, COMMON SENSE AND, UH, LET SOMEONE GET A LEGAL, UH, OPINION AS TO WHAT IN FACT IS A SINGLE FAMILY. IF YOU TALK TO THE DIFFERENT FOLKS IN THE CROWD, SOME WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY BELIEVE A SINGLE FAMILY IS, AND THAT'S BEING INTERPRETED BY THE, THOSE, OBVIOUSLY THAT RED TAGGED YOU. BUT THE PLANNERS APPARENTLY THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. AND COUNCILOR POLLARDS POINTED OUT, IT DIDN'T JUST START TODAY. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. BUT, UH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS SESSION TODAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST BRIEFLY, UM, AND I WAS, UH, HEARING, UH, MY COLLEAGUE TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND I AGREE WITH, UM, WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT IT AT THE FRONT END. UM, I'VE ACTUALLY HAVE DEALT WITH THIS. I'VE WORKED ON STAFF FOR SOME TIME AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS. UM, AS SOON AS THIS ISSUE OCCURRED WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, THE DEVELOPER WOULD COME TALK TO OUR OFFICE. WE'D HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH PLANNING, WE'D HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS, WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FI UH, GET THROUGH IT. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WHERE THE CHALLENGE COMES IN IS ALSO, UH, IT DOES, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO FIX WHAT Y'ALL ARE GOING THROUGH OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. UH, WE DO DEFINITELY NEED TO ADDRESS IT, UH, ON THE FRONT END WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, WHAT PERMITTING IS CHECKING OFF. YEAH. YEAH. THAT, THAT WAS GONNA BE MY, MY, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON? THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE DE RESTRICTION AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BECAUSE ONCE WE, YOU KNOW, PAY FOR THE PERMIT, THIS IS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND THEY APPROVE IT. AGREED. AND THEN WE START THE WORK. SO, I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING WE'VE IDENTIFIED, A BROKEN SYSTEM. YES, SIR. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON. OKAY. SO NOW WE NEED TO PUT THINGS IN MOTION TO FIX IT, RIGHT? YES, SIR. AND GET A CLEAR DEFINITION QUICKLY. I UNDERSTAND, UH, CHRIS, LET'S WORK WITH LEGAL AND, UH, PLANNING. YEAH. AND EN ENFORCEMENT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT DOES GET COMPLICATED 'CAUSE YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LAWSUIT, BUT THAT CAN BE TAKEN IN CONSIDERATION AS WELL. AGAIN, AGAIN, I GOT IT. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. GREAT JOB AT BRINGING IT FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, MATTHEW LATHAM TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMINA . THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME IN HERE. SO MY NAME IS MATT LATHAM. I AM ONE OUT OF SIX BOARD CERTIFIED MASTER ARBORISTS IN THE HOUSTON AREA, AND ONE OUT OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONSULTING ARBORISTS. AND SOON, LORD WILLING, I'LL BE THE ONLY REGISTERED CONSULTING ARBORIST IN ALL OF HOUSTON, UH, THROUGH THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONSULTING ARBORISTS. I HAVE PROFESSIONALLY TAKEN CARE OF TREES FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS NOW, A LITTLE MORE THAN, AND I'VE BEEN CERTIFIED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBOR CULTURE FOR 14 YEARS. I, UH, I THINK THIS GIVES ME KIND OF A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE MONTROSE PROJECT, BUT ALSO THE TREES AS A WHOLE IN HOUSTON. UM, I, I DID GROW UP IN THE DALLAS AREA AND QUITE FRANKLY, AS AN INDUSTRY AMONG PROFESSIONALS, WE USED TO JOKE ABOUT HOW BAD HOUSTON TREE CARE WAS. I THINK IT'S QUITE HUMOROUS THAT GOD IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM, HERE I AM, MAYBE WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. UH, I EVEN CALLED THE INTER, THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE ISA ONCE AND ASKED HIM WHY THERE WEREN'T MORE EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT HELD IN HOUSTON. HIS ANSWER, WELL, NOBODY SHOWS UP, SAID, WELL, NOT THE FIRST TIME, NO. SO, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A DECADE, I'VE WATCHED, UH, I WATCHED THE QUALITY OF TREE CARE IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA DRASTICALLY CHANGE. AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF TWO PRIMARY FACTORS. ONE, A LOT OF US GOT TOGETHER AND WE DECIDED WE'RE NOT GONNA DO SUBPAR TREE WORK, WE'RE GONNA RAISE OUR STANDARDS. WE'RE ALSO GONNA TEACH THOSE WHO COME AFTER US. ANOTHER THING IS A COUPLE OF LEADERS ACTUALLY IN THE COMMUNITY WORKED VERY HARD WITH CITY OFFICIALS TO ESTABLISH PROPER TREE CARE POLICIES, UH, PROTECTION POLICIES. SO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY CERTIFIED ARBORISTS WITHIN HOUSTON, UH, EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I COULD BE WRONG. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE ALL URBAN FORESTERS, GRADE OR OTHERWISE, UH, UM, HAS EXPIRED. HOWEVER, GO AHEAD. HOWEVER, THE, UH, THE ROLE OF THE URBAN FORESTER IS VASTLY DIFFERENT [02:25:01] FROM THE ROLE OF THE ARBORIST MASTER ARBORIST OR, OR REGISTERED CONSULTING ARBORIST. THE URBAN FORESTER LOOKS AT THE BIG PICTURE, CITY PLANNING, COMMUNICATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THE CERTIFIED ARBORIST LOOKS AT THE INDIVIDUAL TREE, THE HEALTH OF THE TREE, AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE HUMANS THAT LIVE UNDER IT. UM, IF I HAD A MASTER'S DEGREE IN URBAN FORESTRY, THAT WOULD GET ME ONE QUARTER OF THE WAY TO BE BEING A BOARD CERTIFIED MASTER AIST. SO YEAH. GET, GET TO THE POINT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE TODAY. YEAH, OF COURSE. OF COURSE. COURSE. WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR IT. SO, IN OCTOBER, I WAS CALLED, UH, BY THE SAFE MONTROSE LIVE OAKS TEAM TO VERIFY SOME PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, UH, BY VERY, BY THE POWERS THAT BE. I TOLD THEM I WAS VERY LIMITED ON TIME, BUT I'D LOOK INTO IT. UM, I DID SEE A LOT OF CREATIVE WAYS, UH, THAT THE EXISTING TREES COULD BE PRESERVED. WHEN I DID LOOK AT IT, UM, THERE WERE SEVERAL, I JUST WANT TO CALL IT LIKE IT IS LIES THAT WERE SPOKEN ABOUT, THE TREES. UH, THEY WERE ALL CONDEMNED FOR BEING SICK. WHEN I INSPECTED THEM, THERE WERE NO MORTAL DISEASES FOUND, UH, THAT HAD ANY EVIDENCE THAT I COULD FIND. THERE WAS ANOTHER STATEMENT THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO SAVE THE MONTROSE TREES THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. THERE ARE, UM, THERE THE CANOPY WOULD BE BETTER IN 10 YEARS WAS ANOTHER STATEMENT. I RAN IT THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED EYE TREE AND SIMULATED THE GROWTH OF NEW TREES. IF ALL THE TREES WERE GONE, IT'S NOT, UH, NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. SO HERE'S THE LOW DOWN. IF YOU WANT THE BEST CANOPY OVER TIME, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO PRESERVE AS MANY TREES AS PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE, AND SOME WILL NEED TO BE LOST. I UNDERSTAND THAT. UH, WHILE ACCOMPLISHING THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT, MOST OF WHICH I DO BELIEVE ARE AN IMPROVEMENT, UM, ESPECIALLY AFTER THINGS LIKE HARVEY, STILL ON OUR MINDS. RIGHT. UM, TREES ARE, QUITE FRANKLY THE LUNGS OF OUR CITY AND THEY PROVIDE COUNTLESS BENEFITS TO HUMANS THAT LIVE HERE. UH, THEY DON'T NEED US WHEN LEFT ALONE IN THE FOREST. HOWEVER, PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY NEED NEED TREES. UH, I'VE GONE THROUGH THE CITY POLICIES, THE TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCES OF AUSTIN, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, FORT WORTH IN HOUSTON, AND APART FROM HOUSTON, EACH ONE OF THESE HAS MULTIPLE CERTIFIED ARBOR ON STAFF, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THEIR TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCES. ON TOP OF THIS, THEIR, THEIR PROTECTION ORDINANCES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE STRINGENT. UH, AND RECENTLY 86 HISTORIC TREES IN DALLAS WERE PUT ON THE PROTECTED TREE LIST. MEANING THAT IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO DAMAGE THEM IN ANY WAY. SO AS AN INDEPENDENT OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY, I'M LOOKING AT THE SITUATION AND SEEING THAT THERE'S A BIGGER ISSUE HERE, UH, THAN JUST THE MONTROSE UH, ORDEAL. IT SEEMS THAT, WELL, FOR MANY YEARS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HOUSTON HAS HAD A TREE POLICY THAT DOESN'T REALLY PROTECT THE TREES, UH, BUT RATHER CONDEMNS THEM AND REPLANT STATING THAT IT'S FOR THE BETTER. UH, AND I'M NOT AT ALL OPPOSED. UH, WE ALL WANT SAFER STREETS, UH, TO THE TIERS 27 PROJECT, BUT AS A PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, UM, ON VERY, A LOT OF SIMILAR PROJECTS, IT'S MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT MANY OF THE TREES CAN BE SAVED WHILE STILL ACCOMPLISHING ALL THE CONSTRUCTION GOALS. WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE BEYOND THE MONTROSE TIERS PROJECT IS A NEW, UH, AS A NEWISH HOUSTON, UH, HOUSTONIAN IS FOR THE TREES TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH THEY ARE, UH, WORTHY OF PROTECTION. VERY GOOD. SO, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. LEMME GET YOUR WRAP UP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. UM, MATTHEW, THANK YOU. I'M, I MOVED YOU UP, UH, 'CAUSE I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY AS AN EXPERT ARBORIST. AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE FOR TREES. RIGHT. AND EVEN MY PLEASURE. UH, WHILE RESIDENTS DISAGREE ON HOW TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THIS, I THINK EVERYBODY SUPPORTS TREES AND TREE PLANTINGS AND TREE GROWTH AND THRIVING TREES. YOU SAID, I JUST, I HAD A NOTE HERE, SO I'M GONNA ASK A FEW QUESTIONS. OF COURSE. UM, YOU SAID YOU'RE AN INDEPENDENT OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY, BUT, UH, THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS TERRIFIC, HAD REACHED OUT TO YOU. ARE YOU, UM, HIRED AS A CONSULTANT OR AS AN EXPERT BY THESE RESIDENTS? I HAVE RECEIVED A VERY, VERY LITTLE MONEY, YES. OKAY. BUT SIMILAR TO LIKE AN EXPERT WITNESS AND A PARTY. CORRECT. YOU'RE, YOU ARE REPRESENTING A CERTAIN PARTY IN THIS. I JUST WANT US TO BE JUST CLEAR ABOUT THE FACTS. ABSOLUTELY. BUT NOT AS AN ADVOCATE. AND ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH TREES FOR HOUSTON AND THEIR ORGANIZATION, UM, AND THEIR JOB IS TO PLANT AND PROTECT TREES. IS THAT CORRECT? I, I SEE THEM MORE ON THE PLANTING AND LESS ON THE PROTECTION SIDE. OKAY. . UM, AND ARE YOU, YOU SAID YOU'VE INSPECTED, HOW MANY SITE VISITS HAVE YOU BEEN ON? 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU FOR TO DATE, FOR TO DATE, INCLUDING YESTERDAY. AND YOU'RE AWARE THAT NO OAK TREES IN THE ESPLANADES OR THE MEDIANS ARE BEING REMOVED? I'M AWARE OF THAT, YES. HOWEVER, HANG ON. CAN I MAKE A STATEMENT ON THAT? HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON. I'M ASKING A QUESTION AND THEN YOU, YOU CAN RESPOND. I UNDERSTAND. UH, EACH TREE ALONG THE MEDIAN WILL GET TO THE SIDEWALKS, BUT EACH TREE ALONG THE MEDIAN FOR THE OAKS HAS AN INDI INDIVIDUALIZED PROTECTION PLAN USING TECHNIQUES PROVEN IN MULTIPLE PUBLIC REALM PROJECTS. I'VE SEEN THOSE PROTECTION PLANS AND, UH, SOME OF THE MEASURES TAKEN ARE NOT NCA 300 APPROVED. OKAY. SO IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK ON THAT OF HOW, AGAIN, MOVING FORWARD IN PROTECTING THOSE TREES, THAT CAN BE DONE. I WOULD LOVE THAT FEEDBACK. YES. THAT WE CAN RELAY TO THE DEPARTMENT. YEAH. REACH OUT TO ME PLEASE. TERRIFIC. UM, WE [02:30:01] ARE TALKING ABOUT TREES THAT ARE ALONG THE SIDEWALKS, CORRECT? YEAH. EAST AND WEST SIDE, CORRECT. AND THAT'S, YEAH. AND THE PLANTING ZONE, AND I'M, I'M NOT AN EXPERT, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU QUESTIONS. OKAY. UH, THE PLANTING ZONE'S ONLY ABOUT 18 INCHES ON THE SIDEWALKS, UH, BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE SIDEWALK. WHERE SIDEWALK EXISTS 18 INCHES IN THE PARKWAY SECTION, UH, THE, IN THE SIDEWALK SECTION BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND MONTROSE. YES. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD. OKAY. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD? I'VE BEEN TOLD FOUR TO SIX FEET. THAT'S WHAT IT WILL BE. IT WILL BE, WILL BE 18. I'VE ALSO MEASURED FOUR TO FIVE FEET. RIGHT. SO RIGHT NOW THOUGH, I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT ON AVERAGE 18 INCHES. AND YOU'RE AWARE OF IN THE OVERHEAD, THE UTILITY LINES AND THE REQUIREMENT TO PRUNE THOSE. AND THAT'S NOT THE CITY THAT'S CENTER POINT. CORRECT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT JUSTIFICATION FOR REMOVAL THE TREE'S RESPONSE. I'M NOT, I'M JUST ASKING SOME QUESTIONS. YES. OKAY. I'M NOT UNDERSTAND. I'M TAKING AN INPUT FROM ALL RESIDENTS. WE'RE JUST ASKING QUESTIONS. YES. UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING PRUNED AND BECAUSE OF A LIMITED ZONE, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO GROW ANY MORE THAN THEY CURRENTLY ARE? YES. YOU BELIEVE THAT WILL. UH, AND THAT CAN BE PROVEN BY THE POST OAKS JUST OUTSIDE THE MAGNOLIA CEMETERY. OKAY. SO, RIGHT. SO, GREAT. TERRIFIC. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. ARE YOU AWARE THAT BARRY WARD AND TREES FOR HOUSTON HAS LITERALLY SAID THE, THE TREES WILL NOT LOOK BETTER THAN THEY DO TODAY AND THAT THE PLAN PRESENTED WILL FIX ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES FOR THOSE TREES? AND HE LITERALLY SAID THAT IT IS THE BEST TREE PLANTING SLASH STREET TREE PLAN HE HAS SEEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN 16 YEARS. ARE YOU, ARE YOU JUST AWARE OF HIM SAYING THAT? I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT LAST STATEMENT. OKAY. NO. ALL RIGHT. SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE AWARE THAT TREES FOR HOUSTON HAS ACTUALLY SAID THAT. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR DOING SO MANY SITE VISITS, INCLUDING WITH THE TOURS YESTERDAY. I KNOW SOME RESIDENTS ALSO JOINED YOU, SO I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND REALLY GETTING HANDS ON WITH THIS. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I, I WOULD GET YOU TO REPEAT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS. YES. BUT I THINK YOU DID A REAL FINE JOB THE FIRST TIME. SORRY. I UNDERSTOOD. I HAD THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. NEXT AMINA ICK, UH, RAHIM IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE ABUNDANTLY MERCIFUL, BUT ESPECIALLY MERCIFUL. I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER WITH A PRIVATE PRACTICE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MY CLIENTS, WHICH IS DETERIORATING DAY BY DAY BECAUSE OF THE SECONDARY TRAUMA THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING THEM THROUGH. WHEN A YOUNG 25-YEAR-OLD ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE MEMBER, AARON BUSHNELL SET HIMSELF ON FIRE AND DIED THIS PAST SUNDAY IN THE MOST EXCRUCIATING FORM OF PROTEST TO MAKE A STATEMENT AGAINST THE GENOCIDE OF HIS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. IN ZA, YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE OF MY CLIENTS IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS WHO HASN'T MENTIONED THEIR SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND THEIR COLLECTIVE GUILT ABOUT THEIR COMPLICITY IN THIS GENOCIDE USING OUR TAX DOLLARS, JUST AS AARON MUST HAVE FELT SO HELPLESS AND FELT LIKE HE HAD TO TAKE SUCH EXTREME MEASURES TO BE HEARD AND TO BE SEEN. OUR GOVERNMENT WILL ONLY BE CREATING MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO MAKE, TAKE SUCH MEASURES TO STOP THE GENOCIDE IN HONOR OF THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN GAZA. AARON WAS THE EVERYDAY PERSON, NOT SOME SPECTACLE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER MOMENT? OKAY. OR MINUTES, WHATEVER. HE WAS NOT SOME SPECTACLE. UH, AND HE, HE WAS AN EVERYDAY PERSON JUST LIKE US, AND HE SET HIMSELF ON FIRE SO HE COULD MAKE A STATEMENT. SO, AND HE KNEW HIS PRIVILEGE AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HE WAS A WHITE SOLDIER. AND MAYBE IF PEOPLE SAW HIM BURNING LIKE THAT, PEOPLE WOULD START TAKING HIM SERIOUSLY. I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT BECAUSE I DID NOT GET MY FULL THREE MINUTES, WHICH I WAS TOLD I WOULD. UH, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING IF WE DO NOT DO SOMETHING. MY CLIENTS AND ALL OF US ARE LIVING THROUGH THIS COLLECTIVE TRAUMA AND WATCHING A YOUNG 25-YEAR-OLD PUT HIMSELF ON FIRE LIKE THAT, IT, IT, IT'S VERY TRAUMATIZING FOR ALL OF US. AND I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY HIS LAST WORDS. IF YOU WOULD JUST GIVE ME THAT TIME BECAUSE YEAH, I REALLY NEED TO SAY THAT. AND WE NEED TO HONOR HIM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE WAS BORN IN 1999 AND HE PASSED AWAY THIS WEEKEND IN 2024. HIS LAST WORDS. MY NAME IS AARON BUSHNELL. I'M AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER OF THE US AIR FORCE, AND I WILL NO LONGER BE COMPLICIT IN THIS GENOCIDE. I'M ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN AN EXTREME ACT OF PROTEST, BUT COMPARED TO WHAT THE PEOPLE IN PALESTINE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AT THE HANDS OF THEIR COLONIZERS, IT'S NOT EXTREME [02:35:01] AT ALL. THIS IS WHAT OUR RULING CLASS DECIDED WILL BE NORMAL FREE PALESTINE. WE NEED TO LISTEN TO HIS CALL. HE DIED. WE DID NOT LET NEED TO LET HIM DIE IN VAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. GILBERT PEREZ, GILBERT PEREZ, STEVEN FLUID, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAYOR AND TO ALL THE NEW CITY COUNCIL. STEVEN FLUID. I LIVE IN KINGWOOD. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT THE CRIMES OBVIOUSLY AND EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN HOUSTON. IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, OBVIOUSLY, DOING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BORDER. THERE'S SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM THAT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AND TRYING TO GET THAT UNDERSTANDING. AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER OFFICER, THE YEAR, MANY WARS, MANY ACCOLADES TO GO WITH IT. UH, WENT TO THE BUSINESS SECTOR, UH, SUCCEEDED VERY WELL IN DOING OTHER THINGS. UH, WANT TO ALSO BRING THAT, UH, CPAI, WHICH IS CITIZENS AND POLICE AND MEDIA INTERACTIVE ASSISTANCE. IT'S A BETTER WAY, A NEW INITIATIVE TO HAVE THE COMMUNICATIONS AND, AND, UH, WITH THE POLICE, WITH THE CITIZENS AND WITH THE BUSINESSES IN CERTAIN AREAS. UH, WE HAVE, UH, AN HPDI SORORITY STILL HAVE IT IS CIT. AND THEY HAVE, THEY WORK WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES. UH, MY OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE SOMEONE IN A ZONE AREA OR IN A DISTRICT AREA, ANY AREA OF CHOICE. UH, KINGWOOD WOULD BE MY CHOICE IF NEEDED TO ACTUALLY SHOW THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THAT WHEN YOU PUT CERTAIN THINGS IN A PLACE WITH CPAA AS THE RUNNING FOREFRONT OF IT, YOU WILL SEE IMMEDIATE RESULTS. YOU'LL SEE CRIMES. YEAH. TIME HAS EXPIRED. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. UH, YOU WILL SEE CRIMES. YOU SEE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH DRUGS AND VIOLENCE, BURGLARIES, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT IS HAPPENING CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AS WE SEE DAILY PEOPLE DYING IN THEIR CARS COMING UP MISSINGS AND, AND RIVERS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. YEAH. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. BUT I ASSURE YOU, IF I WAS TO SOMEHOW WORK WITH, UH, FRED F INGER AND THE MAYOR AND YOU ALL, I WILL ASSURE YOU WITH THE MEASURES AND STRATEGIC PROACTIVE MEASURES THAT I HAVE IN PLACE TO SHOW YOU ALL, YOU'LL SEE A BIG IMPROVEMENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER, UH, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER, APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN. UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, SERGEANT HERNDON IS GONNA BE REACHING OUT WITH THE, UH, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO, UH, SEE WHAT THEY CAN COME UP TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING WITH THIS. SO WE SHOULD BE REACHING OUT FOR YOU. OKAY. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT AMADA, NVA. SURE. TRANSL. HELLO. I'M HERE. UH, WITH MY CONCERN ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, NOT ASSISTING ME WITH A PROPERTY THAT I HAD PURCHASED. I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING MYSELF. I'VE, UH, TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTATION. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE, UH, I FILED MY COMPLAINT. UH, AND THE POLICE HAS NOT HELPED ME. UM, I WENT IN TO, UH, FILE MY COMPLAINT AND, UM, THE POLICE SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. AND SHE'S ASKING WHY THE POLICE WOULDN'T GIVE ME A, A CARD FOR MY REPORT. NO, NO, NO. OH, TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. UM, THE POLICE OFFICERS WOULD NOT GIVE ME A IDENTIFICATION CARD WHEN I WENT IN THAT THE CITY DIDN'T, UH, MADE, UH, MAKE BUSINESS CARDS FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS. WAS THE RESPONSE SHE RECEIVED WHERE, UH, EXCUSE ME TO INTERRUPT, BUT WHAT LOCATION DID SHE GO TO? I CAN LIE IN, UH, IN THE DOWNTOWN EAST, UH, 1200 TRAVIS, MA'AM. TRAVIS, WHERE? 12, 1200 [02:40:01] TRAVIS? THE DOWNTOWN POLICE STATION. OH, CENTRAL. MM-HMM . AND WHAT WAS THE PROPERTY THAT SHE WAS MISSING? UH, THIS IS A, A PROPERTY SHE OWNS ON, ON WEAVER ROAD. SHE TALKING ABOUT REAL ESTATE LAND? YES. LAND. UH, SHE SAYS THAT, UH, HER, UH, HER SISTER AND HER BROTHER-IN-LAW, UM, TOOK OVER THE, THE DOCUMENTATION AND DEEDS WITHOUT HER CONSENT BECAUSE SHE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL STROKES. SHE HAD, UH, THREE SEIZURES AND TWO STROKES. NO, 10 SEIZURES AND TWO STROKES. AND, AND, OKAY. AND SHE WAS IN A COMA FOR TWO, TWO WEEKS. OKAY. DOES, DOES SHE, IS SHE AWARE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY REVIEWED HER ALLEGATIONS AND FOUND NO, NO CRIMINAL PROB PROBABLE CAUSE? OKAY. NO, SHE CALLED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT SHE DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE. DOES SHE STILL TALK TO HER SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW? WHO, WHO HAD THE DISPUTE WITH HER OVER THE LAND? UM, SHE SAYS HER, HER SISTER DIED. AND YOUR BROTHER? UM, SHE SPOKEN TO HER BROTHER-IN-LAW, BUT, UH, HE'S CLAIMING THAT THE PROPERTY BELONGS TO HER. I MEAN TO HIM, TO HIM, EXCUSE ME. PERSON. MM-HMM. OKAY. THE LAWYER THAT, UH, NO, NO, NO. A LAWYER? NO. OKAY. UH, THE NOTARY THAT THE, UM, BROTHER-IN-LAW USED, UH, SAID THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE SEAL ANY LONGER LAWYER PER THAT. SHE'S LOST IT. TELL HER WE'RE SORRY. BUT THE POLICE PROBABLY DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THIS DISPUTE. UM, MM-HMM . AND TELL HER SHE PROBABLY NEEDS A CIVIL ATTORNEY, A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY. SHE SAYS THAT, UH, SHE'S A DISABLED PERSON. SHE CANNOT AFFORD ATTORNEY'S FEES. YEAH. SHE HAS, UH, TWO BROKE, UH, TWO BROKEN ARMS AND AN INJURED BACK. AND SHE ALSO SUFFERS FROM SEIZURES. UH, SHE SAYS SHE HAS ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT, THAT SHE, SHE'S, SHE CAN'T PROVIDE. BUT, UH, NOBODY SEEMS TO BE WANTING TO ASSIST HER. ARE THERE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT COULD, COULD HELP ASSIST HER? DOES SHE HAVE SIBLINGS, CHILDREN, SOMEONE THAT COULD HELP? SHE HAS, SHE HAS TWO SONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO HELP MAYOR HER TO COME. YEAH. WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? UH, ASK HER TO MEET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THERE ARE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS WILLING TO ASSIST HER. OKAY. SHE SAYS THAT SHE'S, SHE UNDERSTANDS ENGLISH. UM, BUT I THOUGHT SHE WAS ANSWERING ME BEFORE YOU DID, BECAUSE I CAN'T SPEAK. I FLUENCE YOU'RE SNEAKY . SHE, SHE UNDERSTANDS ENGLISH VERY WELL. I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, MA'AM. LISTEN, WE WANT TO HELP YOU. THE CITY ATTORNEY, OUR HIGHEST ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY STANDING RIGHT THERE. HE'S GONNA CONNECT YOU WITH SOME LEGAL REPRESENTATION. I'VE BEEN CALLING EVERY PLACE AND THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE I'M, I KNOW, BUT WE'RE, YOU'RE GONNA GET BETTER RESULTS NOW. THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST WE CAN DO. THAT'S WHAT I SAY. THAT'S DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE I MEAN, I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE ALL MY LIFE. I, I'M SORRY. WE'RE ALL SORRY. IN EVERY PLACE I GO, THEY SAY YOU'RE SPANISH. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME HELP. IT'S LEGAL MATTER, NOT THE POLICE MATTER. AND SO GO MEET WITH MR. ARTURO AND HE'LL GIVE YOU SOME GOOD ADVICE AND CONNECT YOU WITH SOME LEGAL REPRESENTATION. OKAY? GOOD LUCK. COME BACK. THANK YOU. AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU TURN OUT. BYE-BYE. NEXT. CLINTON S [02:45:02] CLINTON S JOHN LENNON. OKAY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BE FOLLOWED BY RONALD LAWRENCE? GOOD EVENING. UH, I'M HERE TODAY INQUIRING ABOUT THE REASON BEHIND THE ABSENCE OF INVESTIGATION TO THE MATTER OF JOSHUA AL EMS 7 3 2 8 2 5, WHICH OCCURRED NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS TALK, TALK A LITTLE MORE INTO THE MIC, SIR. WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT AND ASSAULTED BY A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE, THIS IS DESPITE WITNESSES PROVIDED STATEMENTS THAT SHOULD BE DEEMED SIGNIFICANT, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING THE PRINCIPLES AND OATH UPHELD BY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. THAT'S ALL I GOT. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. LAST QUESTION. UH, I WAS SPEAKING BASICALLY, I WAS ASSAULTED BY EMS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN AN INVESTIGATION. OKAY. WON'T THIS GENTLEMAN GET YOU WITH THE, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT. RONALD LAWRENCE. HELLO, MAYOR. THIS IS MY, UH, FIRST TIME MEETING YOU, SO IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. BUT, UH, IT'S MY FIFTH TIME REGARDING THIS MATTER COMING HERE. AND THE LAST TIME I MET WITH SYLVESTER TURNER, HE PROMISED ME I WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK IN HERE AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS. AND STILL NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE HE WAS ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR OR WHAT, BUT WHEN SEPTEMBER 6TH, THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM CAME OUT AND DUG A HUGE DITCH NEXT TO MY BUILDING, IT'S A 22 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING AND IT'S FULLY OCCUPIED AND THERE'S A HUGE DITCH NEXT TO IT NOW. AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES HERE THAT IT'S CAUSING FOUNDATION COLLAPSE UNDER THE SIDEWALK. I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A WOMAN PUSHING A STROLLER DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT BUMPY SIDEWALK WITH IT COLLAPSING LIKE THAT. AND, UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE NOBODY'S TAKING ME SERIOUSLY, MAN. THIS IS MY FIFTH TIME HERE. AND, UM, WHO'S TO HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE WHEN THEY CAUSED DAMAGE TO SOMEONE'S BUILDING LIKE THAT? DO YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER TO HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? GO AHEAD. WE'LL LOOK INTO YOUR ISSUE. MM-HMM . YEAH. SO COUNCILMAN POLL. JUST A SECOND. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. FIRST OFF, I WANNA APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR, UM, YOU ROUTINELY HAVING TO COME WASTE YOUR TIME TO ADDRESS THIS OVER AND OVER WITH THE SAME ISSUE. UH, IT SHOULD NOT WORK THAT WAY. SECONDLY, UM, THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, I REMEMBER THE FORMER MAYOR INSTRUCTING PUBLIC WORKS TO, UH, ADDRESS THIS ISSUE REGARDING YOUR PROPERTY. AND I BELIEVE HE, UH, HAD YOU MEET WITH SAL RUTA. SAL'S A JOKE. HE CALLED SAL TO COME UP HERE. LAST TIME I WAS IN HERE, SAL RAN OUT THE DOOR. OKAY? 'CAUSE HE DIDN'T WANNA BE CONFRONTED. SAL RECOMMENDED THAT I CALL THE HANDICAP DEPARTMENT AND SEE IF I CAN GET THEM TO PAY FOR THIS. IT'S NOT EVEN THAT SERIOUS. IT'S LIKE A $9,500 JOB. I ALREADY HAD CONTRACTORS COME OUT AND GIMME PRICES ON IT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT 'CAUSE THEY CAUSED IT. TELL ME THAT. TELL ME THE, TELL ME THE ADDRESS. TELL ME THE ADDRESS. IT'S 45 25 WEAVER ROAD. LET ME TAKE THE LEAD ON IT, OKAY? YEAH. UH, 45 25 WEAVER ROAD. LET ME TAKE THE LEAD ON IT. OKAY? I'LL GIVE YOU MY CONTACT INFORMATION AND YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ME. YEAH, I'LL FOLLOW UP. MR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. SOPHIA SEGER. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALRIGHT? UH, YOU ALL KNOW THE NAME OF AARON BUSHNELL, THE ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER WHO SET HIMSELF ON FIRE IN FRONT OF THE ISRAELI NBC TO PROTEST THE PALACE, THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE. HIS LAST WORDS WERE FREE PALESTINE. BY MAINTAINING YOUR FINANCIAL POLICY TO ALLOW FOR THE INVESTMENT INTO ISRAEL OF BONDS, TO CITY FUNDS, YOU THRUST THE CHARGES OF GENOCIDE, DISPLACEMENT, ETHNIC CLEANSING, AND WAR CRIMES INTO OUR HANDS. WE ARE ALL COMPLICIT IN THESE ATROCITIES, AND WE GET TO SEE THE FRUIT OF THAT LABOR PLAY OUT ON OUR SCREENS EVERY DAY. I'LL SAY THIS, AARON BUSHNELL IS THE FINAL SYMPTOM OF COMPLACENCY. SO I STAND HERE FOR THE PALESTINIANS IN GAZA, IN AN ALL OF PALESTINE AND AROUND THE WORLD EXPERIENCING GENOCIDE, ETHNIC CLEANSING, AND WAR CRIMES. AND I AM HERE FOR AARON BUSHNELL, [02:50:01] AND I AM ALSO HERE BECAUSE I NOW HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT BOMBS DROPPING, PEOPLE SCREAMING AND RUNNING AND SOBBING AND BLOOD IN THE STREETS. AND ACTUALLY, THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A SYMPTOM OF COMPLACENCY. EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT, THE BODY CANNOT BE ARREST WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. AARON BUSHNELL IS THE FINAL SYMPTOM OF COMPLACENCY. BUT UNLIKE ME OR AARON BUSHNELL OR MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, YOUR TIME EXPIRED. YOU HAVE THE POWER IN YOUR HANDS TO DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THAT YOU CAN RECLAIM TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CITY. BELIEVE ME, WE ARE EXHAUSTED, BUT NONE OF US WILL GET TIRED OF DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN FOR 40,000 PEOPLE MARTYRED. AND YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED FOR EVERY SINGLE LAST UNIVERSITY BOMBED FOR 100 AMPUTATED LIMBS A DAY. YOU CAN'T STOP THIS. THANK YOU. THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT POLICY TO REMOVE THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAEL BOND. NEXT SPEAKER, AISHA KAHAN. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S MY FIRST TIME HERE. I'M SCARED AND I'M NERVOUS. IT'S MY FIRST TIME SPOKEN TO AT AN EVENT LIKE THIS, BUT I'M SCARED FOR AMERICA. I REALLY AM. UM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF HER STANCE ON THE GENOCIDE OR THE OCCUPIED STATE OF PALESTINE. WE HAVE BEEN SEEN AS THE BIGGEST BULLIES ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS DID I IMAGINE THAT COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, AND IRAN, WHAT WE'VE SEEN AS THE HEROES OF THIS STORY, WHICH IS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF OUR DIRECT ACTIONS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE OCCUPIED STATE OF PALESTINE. I GET THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE DEAD BABIES IN PALESTINE HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD. I GET IT. IT DOESN'T IMPACT US, BUT DOESN'T IT? LET ME GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS RIGHT NOW. THE US DEFICIT STANDS AT $510 BILLION. THAT'S 52% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR. WHAT IF I'M GONNA PLAY THE WHAT IF GAME? WHAT IF INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN THE GENOCIDE AND IN THE OCCUPIED STATE OF PALESTINE, WE TOOK THOSE FUNDS AND BROUGHT THEM RIGHT BACK HERE TO US. I'M HEARING PEOPLE COME TO YOU AND ASK YOU TO SUPPORT STEM PROGRAMS FOR THE WOMEN. I'M ASKING. I'M I'M HEARING PEOPLE, UM, ASK YOU FOR SUPPORT FOR A KITCHEN HEALTH IN HOUSTON. WHY ARE WE SENDING OUR HARD EARNED MONEY? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED ACROSS TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY WHEN WE NEED THOSE FUNDS RIGHT HERE, CEASEFIRE. NOW. FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AISHA AMIN. GOOD EVENING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, MR. MAYOR. MY, UM, NAME IS ISHA. I LIVE IN FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS. I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT GAZA. PULL THAT MICROPHONE DOWN TOWARDS YOUR, I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT GAZA BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S VERY DEVASTATING TO SEE PEOPLE LYING ON THE STREETS WITHOUT FOOD, WITHOUT SHELTER, WITHOUT BATHROOMS, WITHOUT CLOTHING TO CHANGE AND SEE THEM SITTING THERE WITH DRONES AND BOMBS AND SNIPERS, JUST SHOWERING ALL AROUND THEM. I'M A PHYSICIAN AND I MET ANOTHER PHYSICIAN WHO JUST RECER RETURNED FROM GAZA. AND HE TOLD US ABOUT, HE SHOWED US VIDEOS ON HOW HE WAS TREATING HIS PATIENTS, AMPUTATING THEM WITHOUT ANESTHESIA AND TREATING THEM WITHOUT MEDICATIONS. PATIENTS LYING ON THE, ON THE FLOOR. AND THESE, AND THESE NURSES AND DOCTORS ARE WALKING BACK INTO THE HOSPITAL AMIDST ALL THE SNIPERS HE TOLD US ABOUT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. HE TOLD US ABOUT HOW COUNCILMAN YOU MY TIME, HOW NURSES ARE WALKING TO THE HOSPITAL AND GETTING HIT BY SNIPERS. ONE OF THEM WAS PARALYZED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND ABOUT CHILDREN WALKING TO THE HOSPITAL, GETTING SNIP, GETTING, UM, HIT IN THE BRAIN. AND IT'S JUST VERY HARD TO SEE THIS AND CONTINUE EVERY DAY. WE ARE SEEING A HUNDRED TO A HUNDRED AND PEOPLE STILL DYING DESPITE ICJ SAYING THAT GEN THIS GENOCIDE SHOULD STOP. WE HAVE STATISTICS TELLING US THAT CLOSE TO 30,000 HAVE DIED AND 10,000 CHILDREN HAVE DIED. THESE, THESE ARE PEOPLE THERE. PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS JUST AN INSECT COUNT OR A, A NUMBER OR BACTERIA. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE DYING LIKE THIS. I NEED SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR FOR, UH, FOR THIS WAR AND TO SUPPORT CEASEFIRE. AND IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO THINK THAT IF I WERE THERE SITTING ON THE, ON THE STREET ON WITH THIS DEVASTATION, THIS CONSTANT SMELL AND SIGHT OF DEAD BODIES AND THE WORST [02:55:01] TO SEE MY OWN FAMILY MEMBERS AND MY OWN, UH, DYING OR, OR LYING THERE IN PAIN. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. I CANNOT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS, HOW THOSE PEOPLE ARE LIVING THERE FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. AND I JUST WANT REQUEST, UH, REQUEST ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT CEASE FIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, VIRGINIA MCDAVID TO BE FOLLOWED BY TAMINA ZAKI. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JENNY SERGEANT MCDAVID AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT PRECINCT TWO 70 IN DISTRICT A. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS MY DISMAY AT THE SITUATION IN GAZA OF OCCUPATION, PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, AND TO MAKE A COUPLE OF REQUESTS AS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDING TO A 2021 STUDY BY WALLET HUB, HOUSTON HAS A DIVERSITY SCORE 71, WHERE ONE IN FOUR RESIDENTS WERE BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. PUBLIC OFFICIALS OF THIS DIVERSE CITY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL. AS THE ONLY WAY TO DEMOCRATICALLY GOVERN A PLURALISTIC CI CITY IS THROUGH A SECULAR NON-SECTARIAN GOVERNMENT THAT RECOGNIZES EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL. ISRAEL COULD TAKE A PAGE OUT OF HOUSTON'S PLAYBOOK, ETHNIC CLEANSING, JIM CROW STYLE LAWS AND BELLIGERENT MILITARY OCCUPATION SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF ANY 21ST CENTURY STATE THAT RECEIVES BILLIONS IN FUNDING FROM THE US AND HAS THE AUDACITY TO CALL ITSELF A DEMOCRACY AS A REGISTERED CITIZEN IN THE CHICKASAW NATION. MY ANCESTORS, ALONG WITH CITIZENS OF THE CREEK, SEMINOLE CHOCTAW AND CHEROKEE NATIONS LEARNED ALL TOO WELL. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. NEXT SPEAKER CASTILLO. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. UM, UM, LEARNED ALL TOO WELL. THE DEVASTATION CAUSED FROM DISPOSSESSION DEATH AND RELOCATION TO FOREIGN TURF IN INDIAN TERRITORY, ONLY TO BE RIPPED AWAY AGAIN WITH OKLAHOMA STATEHOOD IN TWO TH IN 1906, I'M 50% PERCENT IRISH AND THE IRISH KNOW ALL, ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH BRITISH IMPERIALISM AND MILITARY OCCUPATION. IN FACT, IRELAND WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN UNION STATE TO ENDORSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PALESTINIAN STATE IN 1980. BEYOND MY DNA, I'M ALSO THE MOTHER OF A TEENAGE SON, OFTEN CONSIDERED A TROUBLEMAKER AND ACCOUNTS OF TEENAGE BOYS AS YOUNG AS 12 BEING PUT AWAY FOR YEARS IN ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION, SOMETIMES WITH NO CHARGES OR CHARGES. AS FLIMSY AS THAT EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE ISRAELI NATION OF STONE. THROWING CAN JUST BREAK A MOTHER'S HEART. NO MOTHER WANTS ANYTHING MORE THAN TO PROTECT HER CHILDREN. AS REPORTED BY PALESTINIAN SUPERMOM MANAL TAM MIMI TO AL JAZEERA, 90% OF PALESTINIAN MOTHERS EXPERIENCED AT ONE POINT IN THEIR LIVES TO HAVE ONE OF THEIR CHILDREN EITHER BE INJURED OR ARRESTED. THE FIRST REQUEST TO ISSUE A RESOLUTION STATEMENT, PROCLAMATION, OR SOME OTHER PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND RESTORATION OF UF UN RELIEF FUNDING WOULD PUT US IN LINE WITH DOZENS OF CITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. ALTHOUGH THE CITY'S POSITION HAS BEEN THAT IT DOESN'T ISSUE RESOLUTIONS, IT DID ISSUE A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE AND ALSO LET CITY HALL BLUE IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL. FOLLOWING THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS, MANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS ALSO ATTENDED A PRAYER VISUAL AT CONGREGATION BETH URIN FOLLOWING THE OCTOBER ATTACKS, YET THE 108 MOSQUES IN HOUSTON HAVE NOT SEEN THE SAME WHO'S WHO OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS ATTEND THEIR PRAYER VISUALS FOR THE FOLLOWING PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS, WE APPLAUD THE CALLS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND PLEASE AMEND YOUR INVESTMENT POLICY AS WELL TO, UH, DE US FROM ISRAELI BONDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER TAMINA AS SHAZI FIVE ONE INTO GENOCIDE. THE CITY COUNCIL STILL HAS NOT PUT FORTH A UNIFIED DEMAND FOR A CEASEFIRE, NOR HAVE YOU MADE ANY EFFORT AT AMENDING THE INVESTMENT POLICY TO REMOVE THE OPTION FOR INVESTING IN ISRAELI BONDS. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACTION, WE ARE ALL COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING. OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS HAVE FOR YEARS CONTRIBUTED TO ISRAELI BONDS AND ARE VERY WELL EQUIPPED TO DO SO AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. OUR INVESTMENT POLICY DOES NOT LIST EXPLICITLY ANY OTHER FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OTHER THAN ISRAEL TO, TO PERMIT PURCHASING GOVERNMENT BONDS FROM. WHY IS THAT? WHY WOULD WE SPECIFICALLY ALLOW THE PURCHASE OF BONDS FROM ONLY THE COUNTRY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF 30,000 PALESTINIANS? YESTERDAY I READ UP AN INCARCERATED MAN WHO DONATED $17 AND 74 CENTS TO KAZA. IT WAS A SUM OF HIS 136 HOURS OF LABOR IN PRISON, WORKING AS A JANITOR MAKING 13 CENTS AN HOUR. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE SACRIFICING EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AND EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO THEIR NAME. AND YET YOU CANNOT SACRIFICE A FEW POLITICAL MANEUVERS OR RISK THE SUPPORT OF LOBBYISTS AND FUNDING THAT HAVE PREVENTED YOU FROM ACTING ON THE SUFFERING OF 2 MILLION PEOPLE FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS. YOU HAVE POWER TO YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. [03:00:01] AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. EVERY TUESDAY DEMANDING ACTION. YOU CAN CALL FOR CEASE FIRE. YOU CAN RECLAIM OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. YOUR TIME HAS AND YOU CAN DIVEST FROM DEATH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE ROSE AL SHAR BE MOVED UP TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ROSE SHAW, WILL YOU STEP IN FRONT OF MY OH, HERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO ORIGINALLY I WAS GONNA FOCUS MORE ON THE INVESTMENT POLICY, BUT AFTER RECENT EVENTS, I WANT TO FOCUS ON AARON BUSHNELL'S SACRIFICE AND READ HIS VERY LAST WORDS BEFORE HE DIED. I WILL NO LONGER BE COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE. I'M ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN AN EXTREME ACT OF PROTEST. BUT COMPARED TO WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN PALESTINE AT THE HANDS OF THEIR COLONIZERS, IT'S NOT EXTREME AT ALL. THIS IS WHAT OUR RULING CLASS HAS DECIDED WILL BE NORMAL. AND HIS VERY LAST BREATH WITH HIS LAST STRENGTH AS HE DIED, HE SAID FREE PALESTINE. FREE PALESTINE. FREE PALESTINE. THIS WAS AN ACTIVE US SERVICE MILITARY MEMBER WHO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE AND THE NAME OF PALESTINIAN LIBERATION. AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GENOCIDE HAPPENING THERE IS WRONG AND WE CANNOT LET HIS SACRIFICE GO IN VAIN. IT IS TIME NOT ONLY FOR OUR, THE CONSTITUENTS HERE IN HOUSTON AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALSO OUR LEADERS TO STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND NOT LET A US SERVICE MIL MILITARY MEMBER SACRIFICE GO IN VAIN. HE DIED FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND AT THE MINIMUM, UM, AMEND THE INVESTMENT POLICY IN SECTION 9.10 THAT ALLOWS HOUSTON TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO BE INVESTED IN A COUNTRY THAT'S COMMITTING GENOCIDE. WHY OPEN THE DOOR FOR THAT. WHY IS THAT DOOR STILL OPEN? CLOSE IT FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ASHA WRIGHT. ASHA WRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER. CANNA. NASBY. UH, SHAINA COULD NOT MAKE IT TODAY IN HER PLACE. UM, SHE REQUESTS NO, NO, NO. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. YOU CAN'T. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? SARAH. SARAH. SAY IT. I ARE YOU ON THE SPEAKERS LIST? NO, I'M READING FOR SHAINA. I'M OKAY. HANG ON ONE SECOND. SURE. CAN SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION? I MOVE TO ALLOW, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH IN HER PLACE. I SECOND MOTION. HANG ON ONE SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? GO AHEAD MA'AM. WILL YOU RESTATE YOUR NAME CLEARLY? ABSOLUTELY. MY NAME IS SARAH SAYED. UM, SHANA COULD NOT MAKE IT HERE TODAY IN HER PLACE. WE ARE REQUESTING TO YIELD OUR TIME FOR ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR THE DIRECT FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE ADE AND ALAH FAMILY LOCAL TO HOUSTON, WHO HAVE LOST SIX MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY IN UH, OCCUPIED PALESTINE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER CLEMENT MATHIS. CLEMENT MATHIS. J GISELLE BNO [03:05:08] IS, IS THAT GISELLE? AND I'M RIGHT HERE ON THE FRONT PAGE. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN REQUEST FOR THE MAYOR. I'M ACTUALLY COMING TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR. OKAY, GO AHEAD. SO MY SISTER DIED ON FEBRUARY 3RD AND, UH, HOUSE FIRE, HER NAME WAS JOANNA CABRERA AND MY NEPHEW GABRIEL PENA, UM, WHO WAS 1-YEAR-OLD, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER ACTUALLY WENT THAT DAY TO GIVE HIS CONDOLENCES AND MY PARENTS' HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE. THAT'S THE WAY THAT THEY PASSED AWAY. SO WE ARE JUST HERE TO TRY TO SEEK ANY HELP. HE DID GO THAT DAY AND HE PROMISED TO GIVE US ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE OR TRY TO LOOK FOR ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE FOR US. WE HAVE DONE OUR RESEARCH, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO DIFFERENT ASSOCIATIONS. WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE COULD AS FAR AS REMOVING THE UN SALVAGE REMAINS OF THE HOUSE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT THAT IS NO EASY TASK WITHOUT THE ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT AND PROFESSIONALS. MY SISTER, UM, LEFT MY NEPHEW WHO IS NINE YEARS OLD, AND MY NIECE, WHO IS SIX YEARS OLD. THESE DIFFERENT ASSOCIATIONS THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO, UH, EITHER DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS OR THEY DON'T PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH BUILDING A HOUSE. WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP FROM YOUR OFFICE AND FROM THE MAYOR. WE KNOW THAT THE INCIDENT HAS REACHED MANY FAMILIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, ACTUALLY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MY FAMILY'S PAIN A LITTLE LESS AFTER ALL WE HAVE LOST. SO I'M GONNA ASK IF YOU CAN, UM, TALK TO RENEE AND BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THE ASK IS. THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, UM, DOESN'T QUITE STATE THAT, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, AND THEN WE CAN ROUTE THAT. UM, I, UH, THROUGH THE COUNSEL OFFICE AND THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UM, I, I DON'T WANT TO JUST KIND OF TALK, TALK ABOUT IT HERE, HERE IN PUBLIC, BUT, UM, DEFINITELY YOU, YOU HAVE OUR CONDOLENCES AND WE'RE VERY SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF, OF YOUR SISTER AND THE FIRE. UM, AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP HELP YOUR FAMILY. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? I KNOW IT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT. YES. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. AND I ALSO WANT TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES AND, AND ASSISTANCE TO HELP, UH, FROM MY STAFF. AND SO I'LL GIVE YOU MY CONTACT INFORMATION HERE AND WE'LL BE IN TOUCH, UM, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP CONNECT, UH, OR FACILITATE ANY ASSISTANCE, UH, TO YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, RENEE, NEXT SPEAKER WILL HILL, CHRIS QUAS. HELLO, MR. HALE. HOW ARE YOU? I'M CORAL. I'M CHARLES COR. MR. CORAL. OH, I'M SORRY. SORRY. GO AHEAD, MR. CROSS. HOW ARE Y'ALL TODAY? DOING WELL, THANK YOU. UM, SOME QUESTIONS. UM, I'M NOT FROM HERE. UM, I MOVED FROM KENTUCKY AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIG HOMELESS POPULATION, UM, EYESORE AS PEOPLE SAY. UM, I WENT TO HOUSTON IMPACT AND I SOUGHT FOR REHABILITATION HELP. AND, YOU KNOW, THE AA AND THE NA PROGRAMS, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THEY SAY IS ADMITTING THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. CORRECT. WHY WAS I DENIED? I HAVE A FIVE MINUTE, 22ND VIDEO OF A PASTOR TIM AND A PASTOR NATE, TELLING ME THAT I DIDN'T FIT THE REQUIREMENT. OKAY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAY WORSE OFF THAN ME ASKING FOR HELP, REACHING OUT FOR HELP AND BEING DENIED ALSO ON, ON TOP OF, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SO MANY BIG DONATORS AND THEY GIVE SO MUCH FOOD AWAY, BUT THEY TURN AWAY HOMELESS PEOPLE FOR WHAT? BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE HOW THEY BELIEVE. AND THROUGH THE INTIMIDATION OF KNOWING MORE THAN THEY DO, THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE VIDEO PROOF OF IT. IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT, THAT'S NO PROBLEM. UM, ON TOP OF I'M A DETAILER OF 22 YEARS, Y'ALL WANT TO HELP THE HOMELESS PEOPLE HERE. THERE'S A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP OFF OF OUR MAIN STREET. HOW CAN I GET A GRANT TO HELP MAKE NOT SO MUCH OF AN EYESORE, BUT HELP PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREET AND EARN SOME MONEY TO BE ABLE TO BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN IN, IN, IN SOCIETY INSTEAD OF, HEY, THAT'S AN EYESORE. YOU CAN'T BE THERE. THAT'S A PROBLEM. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BATHROOMS OUT HERE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO USE. [03:10:01] AND Y'ALL LOCK 'EM UP AND THEN YOU SAY, THAT'S A PROBLEM. MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NO PROBLEM. NOT A PROBLEM. I DO APPRECIATE Y'ALL LETTING ME TALK. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER. ELVIRA SPARKS. ELVIRA SPARKS. NEXT SPEAKER. RA VARGA. WE DID HIM ALREADY. HI, UH, MY NAME IS MALARIA RO. UM, I LIVE IN MONTROSE. I AM FROM HOUSTON. I GREW UP IN HOUSTON. UM, I MOVED AWAY FOR A WHILE, SO I WENT TO COLLEGE IN ANOTHER CITY. UM, EVEN POST-GRAD. I LIVED IN OTHER PLACES AND I REALLY, REALLY DEBATED COMING BACK BECAUSE I GOT USED TO A VERY WALKABLE LIFESTYLE IN OTHER PLACES. UM, BUT THEN I DECIDED THAT MAYBE THERE WAS HOPE IN MONTROSE. UM, AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN MONTROSE FOR OVER 10 YEARS. I DO LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY I WAS NOT EXPECTING IT TO BE AS UNSAFE, UM, AS IT IS RIGHT NOW TO BE WALKING AROUND. I THINK I REALLY FORCED MY WALKABLE LIFESTYLE. UM, FOR ME TO GET TO MY OFFICE, I HAVE TO CROSS MONTROSE AND WEST DALLAS. AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENS THERE IS THAT EVEN WHEN I HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY, UM, A LOT OF THE CARS THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I'M ABOUT TO CROSS THE STREET HAVE A REALLY BAD TENDENCY OF NOT LOOKING RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO, UH, TURN RIGHT ON THE RED LIGHT. UM, IT PUTS ME IN A REALLY AWKWARD SITUATION WHERE I'M JUST THERE FOR ABOUT A FEW MINUTES. SOMETIMES I CAN'T EVEN LIKE CROSS ANYMORE. UM, BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION OF WHETHER I'M GONNA WALK AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO POTENTIALLY ACCELERATE WITH, WITHOUT THEM LOOKING RIGHT TO WHERE I AM. UM, OR FOR ME TO JUST WAIT IT OUT UNTIL THERE'S NO CARS. UM, EVEN WHEN THERE IS A RED LIGHT. AND EVEN WHEN I DO HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, I THINK I AM PART OF, I THOUGHT I HAD THREE MINUTES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. WELL, I JUST DOES ANYBODY WANNA GIMME THEIR TIME? COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. YOU HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT I THINK, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC, AND I BE REAL, ESPECIALLY MONTROSE THAT WORK FROM HOME AND LOVE WALKING AROUND IN MONTROSE AND SPECIFICALLY MOVE TO MONTROSE TO BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND. AND I THINK THIS, THIS MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT REPRESENTS A LOT OF HOPE FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, SAFER FUTURE. I KNOW THERE WAS PEOPLE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE TREES. I REALLY, REALLY URGE YOU TO GO LOOK AT THE TREES THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. THEY'RE VERY, THEY DON'T PROVIDE SHADE. THEY'RE NOT NATIVE. I ALSO LOVE TREES. I, I LIVE NEXT TO BUFFALO BAYOU PARK FOR A REASON, BUT IF IT'S BETWEEN TREES AND LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE POSSIBILITY FOR ME TO RAISE MY KIDS HERE IN THE FUTURE, I DON'T HAVE KIDS. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO STAY HERE LONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT MONTROSE BOULEVARD BE AN OPTION FOR US IN THE FUTURE. BUT I THINK IF IT DOESN'T CHANGE, IT DOES PUT ME IN A POSITION WHERE I WONDER IF I COULD HAVE THIS LIFESTYLE HERE, UM, AND CHOOSE ANOTHER BIG CITY OVER HOUSTON. I THINK MONTROSE BOULEVARD WILL MAKE HOUSTON A VERY COMPETITIVE CITY, AND SPECIFICALLY MONTROSE A VERY COMPETITIVE NEIGHBORHOOD IN ALL OF TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. DIANA DILLA. OH, OKAY. CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE SOMEONE? OH, PROCEDURAL MOTION. PROCEDURAL. WE'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU. UH, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE ARIAN WRIGHT, UH, UNDER, UH, UH, UNDER MONICA TILL, IF THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. PREMIER, A SECOND. IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. UH, ANY OBJECTION? ALL IN FAVOR? MM-HMM . MAD PASSES. MARIAN WRIGHT UNDER MONICA TILLY. NEXT SPEAKER, DIANA D LIA. DIANA DAVILA. NEXT SPEAKER. MONICA TELY. MONICA TELY. HI, UM, MY NAME IS MONICA AND I'M THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF REVOLUTION COFFEE AND JUICE. UM, IT'S A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, JUICE BAR AND COFFEE SHOP IN THE HEIGHTS. IT'S AT 1 2 3 1 WEST 11TH STREET. IT'S PRETTY MUCH AT THE INTERSECTION OF SHEPHERD AND 11TH. UM, I'VE BEEN A TENANT AT THE LOCATION ON 11TH STREET FOR GOING ON EIGHT YEARS NOW. UM, HOWEVER, COMING UP IN A FEW MONTHS, MY LEASE WILL BE UP FOR RENEWAL, AND IT'S NOT BEEN [03:15:01] MY PLAN TO CLOSE MY DOORS, BUT IT FEELS THAT I'M BEING FORCED TO CLOSE MY DOORS AND SHUT DOWN MY BUSINESS. BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTION, BOTTLENECKS AND POOR DESIGN OF THE 11TH STREET PROJECT, IT PREVENTS MANY OF MY CUSTOMERS FROM ENTERING AND EXITING MY PARKING LOT. THINK ABOUT THIS AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT ONE'S BUSINESS. ANY VEHICLE TRAVELING WEST ON 11TH STREET COMING FROM YALE SHEPHERD CANNOT TURN INTO MY BUSINESS. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. LIKEWISE, ANY VEHICLE EXITING MY BUSINESS CANNOT TURN WEST OUT OF MY BUSINESS, WHICH WERE BOTH POSSIBLE EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS AGO. FOR INSTANCE, IF A CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO HEAD TOWARDS I 10 AFTER VISITING MY STORE AND IS PLANNING ON GOING WEST ON I 10, LET'S SAY TO THE GALLERIA, THEY'RE FORCED TO TURN EAST AND BACKTRACK TO EVENTUALLY HEAD IN THE DIRECTION THEY DESIRE. WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY, THEY COULD PULL OUT OF MY PARKING LOT, TURN WEST ON 11TH, TURN DOWN ON DURHAM, AND THERE AT I 10 WITHOUT ANY BACKTRACKING IN REGARDS TO HOW THAT AFFECTS MY BUSINESS. THAT MEANS A DRASTIC DROP IN SALES FROM CUSTOMERS REFUSING TO DRIVE DOWN 11TH STREET AS A WHOLE. BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTION CONFUSION AND IMPRACTICAL DESIGN OF THE 11TH STREET PROJECT. NOT ONLY DO LESS SALES DRASTICALLY AFFECT MY BUSINESS, THEY ALSO AFFECT MY EMPLOYEE'S TIPS AND TAKE HOME PAY. SOME PEOPLE TIP ON SERVICE ALONE. HOWEVER, A MAJORITY OF TIPPING IS DONE ON DOLLARS SPENT, LESS DOLLAR SPENT EQUALS LESS TIPS FOR MY EMPLOYEES. EVERYTHING I'VE MENTIONED SO FAR HAS BEEN STRICTLY ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS MY BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES. HOWEVER, THE NEW TIME HAS EXPIRED. NO SPEAKERS. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YOU, YOU CAN GO AHEAD, USE MY TIME. UM, HOWEVER, THE NEW 11TH STREET DESIGN IS ALSO MORE DANGEROUS NOW TO THE VEHICLE COMMUTER, LITERALLY IN THE INTERSECTION RIGHT THERE AT SHE AND 11TH. THERE'S TWO LANES THAT MERGE INTO ONE, AND PEOPLE ARE TURNING RIGHT A LOT, AND I JUST HEAR HONKING ALL DAY. UM, I STAND THERE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. I WORK A LOT . I'M ONE OF THOSE OWNERS THAT'S IN THERE ALL THE TIME. UM, AND IT'S JUST BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. THERE'S A CROSSWALK RIGHT THERE AT SHE 11TH AND ONE, LITERALLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET DOWN. UM, AND WITH ALL THE PEOPLE CONGESTED RIGHT THERE, I DON'T THINK IT HELPS ANY OF THE PEOPLE TRYING TO CROSS RIGHT THERE EITHER. UM, I'VE ALSO SEEN THE EASTBOUND LANE ON 11TH STREET BECOME COMPLETELY BLOCKED. BLOCKED BECAUSE BIG TRUCKS CAN'T MAKE THAT TURN DUE TO THE HIGH MEDIA, UM, WHICH ALSO BLOCKS THE ENTRANCE TO MY BUSINESS. UM, AND THAT IS NOW THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN ENTER MY BUSINESS. UM, AND THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES I HAVE SEEN WHERE THE FIRETRUCKS AND THE, UM, EMS CAN'T GET THROUGH BECAUSE OF THAT BIG MEDIAN THAT'S NOW RIGHT THERE. UM, WE ALL GO THROUGH HARD TIMES AS A BUSINESS OWNER, ESPECIALLY THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE BEEN HEAVILY IMPACTED, IMPACTED DURING COVID. HOWEVER, I SURVIVED COVID AND HAVE SURVIVED EVENTS SUCH AS HARVEY POST COVID. MY SALES WERE PICKING BACK UP AT A STEADY PACE, WHICH WAS GREAT FOR THE BUSINESS AND MY EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, IN THE PAST EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS POST THE 11TH STREET PROJECT, MY SALES HAVE BEEN HIT SO HARD THAT, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I'M NOT CONSIDERING CLOSING MY BUSINESS. IT'S BECOMING MY ONLY OPTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER MAYOR ANN WRIGHT. IT'S REALLY SAD. THERE HAVE NOW BEEN FIVE BUSINESSES ON 11TH. AND MS. ELKHORN, YOU'VE COME OUT TO HIM WITH ME. YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR MONICA TO COME IN? BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THIS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PRO 11TH STREET, AND YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS TOO, ON NEXT DOOR AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ON X THEY ATTACK YOU, DANNY, WHEN SHE CAME IN FROM THE DONUT SHOP, THEY ATTACKED HER. I'M PASSING THIS OUT, PLEASE. THIS IS KEVIN STRICKLAND. KEVIN STRICKLAND IS THE HEAD OF OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 15 ALLIANCE. READ WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. THIS IS BRAD SNEAD. BRAD SNEAD IS THE HEAD OF OUR, UM, WOODLAND HEIGHTS CIVICS CLUB. KEEP IN MIND, WHEN THEY VOTED ON THIS, SUPPOSEDLY VOTED ON IT. THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION DID NOT SUPPORT THIS. THEY VOTED ON IT. ANYWAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ABBY CAYMAN DIDN'T MOVE A BUSINESS OWNER UP. PETER, WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS. SHE LEFT. SHE ADMITTED THAT SHE MOVED OTHER PEOPLE UP BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY BEFORE SHE LEFT. THE MAYOR'S NOT HERE TO HEAR. I MEAN, I'M HOPING THAT THE MAYOR LISTENS TO THIS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTELLO KNOWS THAT THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS PROJECT, THAT THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN SO MUCH THAT DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION, THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE HIM TWICE. WHEN HE ASKED PUBLIC WORKS, WHAT CAN WE DO? THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY COULDN'T PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING, BUT THAT THEY WOULD PUT UP EXTRA REFLECTORS. WE ASKED HOW MANY TIMES DID THAT SIGN GET KNOCKED DOWN? AND WE GOT [03:20:01] TOLD, WE DON'T KNOW. TWO TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXTEND MY TIME? NO ONE'S GONNA EXTEND IT. I, I THINK THAT WE, WE, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND, AND, AND WE HEAR YOU. WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS WATCHING AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALSO WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, HEAR YOUR MESSAGE. THERE IS ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING THAT Y'ALL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT. GO, GO AHEAD. GIVE, GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS. THERE'S ANOTHER GENTLEMAN ON HERE WHO SAYS, AND I'M GONNA READ JUST WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN. OKAY. UM, I'VE HAD TO USE EMS MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST. YOUR EMS HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT LIKE 11TH STREET. NOW, IT HAS AFFECTED THEIR RESPONSE TIME, WHICH I CAN ATTEST TO. THEY DO NOT GO DOWN 11 WHEN IT COMES TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY CHANCES THAT THEY WOULD GET STUCK BEHIND TRAFFIC. THIS WAS ILL-CONCEIVED PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING. A BI PATH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BUILT ON 12TH, UM, STREAK WITH MUCH LEFT TRAFFIC. UM, IT ALSO IS MORE TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW, I HAVE NARROWLY MISSED TWO ACCIDENTS BY DRIVERS FLYING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT IN TRAFFIC ON 11TH STREET. I LIVE ON A BIKE PATH. I RIDE MY BIKE PUTTING BIKE LANES ON 11TH STREET IS, AND HE USES THE WORD STUPID. BUT THIS HAS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW. WE HAVE LOST FIVE BUSINESSES. IF MONICA LEAVES, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. BUT Y'ALL NEED TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN JUST TELL US, WADE. WE'RE WE'RE CHECKING ON THE BUS. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD TAKE ONE YEAR IN FEBRUARY. Y'ALL WERE GONNA TELL US IF THE BUSINESSES WERE THRIVING OR NOT. FIVE ARE GONE. FIVE. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND, AND WE HEAR YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? NO, NO, NO, NO. ADDING THE TIME. I JUST WANTED TO SAY WE HEAR YOU. THE MAYOR HEARS YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. WE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ARE SUFFERING. WE KNOW THAT IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. EVERYBODY AROUND HERE HEARS YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. NEXT SPEAKER CASTILLO FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. YES. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SARA S SED TO THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST TO FOLLOW. EDUARDO DURAN, HER SECOND TIME, SHE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN ON SOME SOMEONE WHO HAD TO LEAVE. YEAH. WHAT, SAY IT AGAIN. SHE'S ALREADY SPOKEN TODAY. SHE HAS SPOKEN TODAY. SHE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD TO LEAVE. IT'S NOT AGAINST THE RULE. IT'S A SUSPENSION RULE. DO WE HAVE A WE HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND IT. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY A, UH, ANY ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? AND IT PASSES. NEXT SPEAKER. ANDREW PATTERSON. ANDREW PATTERSON. ANDREW PATTERSON. I'M HERE. OH, I'M SORRY. MR. PATTERSON, WE SEE YOU COMING UP HERE. YES. I WOULD SAY, UH, MAYOR PROTE. MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHEN LISTENING AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK ON A MATTER OF THAT'S GONNA IMPACT BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOUR ABILITY TO DO YOUR JOBS. AND THAT'S BY, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS HERE. PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND SO FORTH. LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I SAID THERE WAS 3.5 MILLION CARS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ACTUALLY, HARRIS COUNTY, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. AND THEY SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1,100 EVERY YEAR ADDITIONAL ON EVERY VEHICLE DUE TO CONGESTION. OKAY. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN THE TIME BEING INCLUDED AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE ON THAT BIKE PATH. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF CRIME. SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. ACTUALLY, SORRY TO SAY THAT, UM, I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALSO TO THE MAYOR TO FIND ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO FINANCE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO DO THE WORK THAT'S NEEDED. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT EVERY TIME WE EVER HEAR, WE HEAR ON THE NEWS ABOUT, OH, SOMEBODY WANTS A RAISE, GOTTA ROB PAUL TO PAY PETER OR ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL AS THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE, THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY EMPLOYEES, SERVICES AND SO FORTH. EVERYBODY GETTING CUT BACK. I DON'T LIKE THAT. YOU DON'T LIKE THAT. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE MEANS YOU HAVE TO DO THAT IS YOU HAVE TO FIND ALTERNATIVE BOYS TO GET INCOME INTO THE CITY. AND THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MA'AM, I'VE HAD A WATCH HERE ALL THE TIME AND IT'S ONLY SAID ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS MINUTES. GO AHEAD MR. PATON. WE'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER 30 SECONDS, BUT WE NEED NEED YOU TO TRY TO WRAP UP, UP. I'M, I CAN STAND RIGHT HERE. YOU CAN [03:25:01] LOOK AT THIS. I DUNNO WHOSE WATCH YOU'RE USING. SEE, BUT THE TIME IS GOING NOW WHILE YOU'RE ARGUING ABOUT IT. GO AHEAD MAN. I DON'T CARE. OKAY. 30 SECONDS IS FINE. GO AHEAD. I SAY THREE MINUTES. YOU GUYS SAY THREE MINUTES. IT'S ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS THAT YOU GUYS USED. OKAY. YOU GUYS, I DON'T KNOW WHOSE WATCH YOU'RE USING. GET IT FIXED. THANK YOU. OH, MR. PATTERSON. THAT IS THE TRUTH. ALL RIGHT, I HAD ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS ALL. SO, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE SPECIAL RULES, BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF MINUTES THAT WE HAVE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO EXTEND YOUR TIME. WE JUST NEED YOU TO JUST WRAP IT UP. WE WANNA HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. JUST WRAP IT UP. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. YOU NEED TO WRAP IT UP. HONESTLY, THE PROBLEMS HERE ARE MULTIFACETED. OKAY? RIGHT. I'M TALKING ABOUT GETTING INCOME INTO THE CITY HERE. OKAY? YES, SIR. HOW TO DO IT. AND THERE ARE WAYS, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE MAYOR'S INTERESTED. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. MR. PATERSON. WE'RE ALL VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING, UM, MORE DOLLARS INTO THE CITY. IF YOU'VE GOT SOME SUGGESTIONS, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR. YOU CAN EITHER SHARE THOSE IN YOUR TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEAK. I JUST, MA'AM, I JUST TOLD YOU. OR YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IT. NO MA'AM. NO EMAIL. I COME HERE IN PERSON BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE. AND WE APPRECIATE IT. ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IF YOU TOOK 100, DO ONE GALLON OF GAS, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SAVE A LOAN. OKAY? BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTION. THAT'S $10.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL MONEY TO CITIZENS. OKAY? RIGHT? AND WE'RE TALKING ONE ABOUT $1,100 A YEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING ADDITIONAL. YOU CAN JUST TAKE THE MATH AND DO IT YOURSELF. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, UH, I WISH YOU GUYS THE BEST. YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL. YOU HAVE TEARS. THAT'S DOING A HORRIBLE JOB. YOU'RE GIVING 'EM MONEY TO DO REPAIRS. THERE'S NO ACCOUNTING FOR THEM. AND YOU CAN GET THE MONEY BACK FROM THEM, BUT YOU GUYS DON'T ADDRESS IT. SORRY. THANK YOU. YOU FOR CARING. I'M AT THE TWO. UH, ALL RIGHT. MY ALARM WENT OFF. I HAD MY THREE MINUTES. THANK. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR KAREN. MR. PATTERSON. NEXT SPEAKER. SAMMY FORD. MR. FORD, NEXT SPEAKER. EDUARDO DURAN. EDUARDO DURAN. HI THERE. HOW ARE YOU? HI THERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YES, SIR. HOW MANY MINUTES DO I HAVE? THREE, RIGHT? GO AHEAD. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WELL, THERE'S THE DENIAL OF SATANISM GENERALLY BY ALOOF SENSE OF COMPLACENCY AND CONJECTURES DISMISSED AND DISREGARD AS BEING NOTHING MORE THAN SINCE SUPERSTITION OR THE SUBJECT OF MOCKERY TO MAKE SUCH A CLAIM THAT EXISTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO, OF COURSE ARE ALSO WITHIN THE COURT ORGANIZATION ITSELF. IT BEING A RELIGION ITSELF, ALTHOUGH IS A DECEPTION AND GENERALLY MURDER, SELF EXALTATION AND DEGENERACY, NO GOODWILL DECIDES IT BEING DENIED SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS NOW BEING REPRESENTED AS SIMPLY AN ATHEISTIC HUMANISM SECULAR RELIGION WITH NO ACTUAL MATTERS OF MALEVOLENCE OR SPIRITUAL OR SUPERNATURAL CONNOTATIONS. ALL THE WHILE SECRET SOCIETIES AND THE PRACTICES OF THE DEMONIC COMMUNICATION AND ENDEAVORS BEING CARRIED FORTH BY WHAT HAS BEEN GENERALLY THE MAJOR ASPECT OF POLICY WITH CULTURE AND THE HEAD, THE HIDDEN COMMUNITY DECEPTION THAT DO THESE THINGS AND ARE PRACTICED BY A GLOBAL DEATH CULT, GLOBAL DEATH CULT, WHO HAVE SHOWN IT WITH THE HUSH SYMBOL OF SECRECY SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC BY THE HOLLYWOOD SEA PROMINENCE ACTORS, INCLUDING ITS BRANCH THAT IS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. IT'S BEING PROMOTED MORE AND MORE, ESPECIALLY IN CARTOONS FROM JAPAN FOR ADULTS BESIDES THE STATUES OF THE GOAT, GOD BETTE BEING LOOKED UP TO BY CHILDREN SHOWING UP THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. MAGIC BOOKSTORE ARE COMMONPLACE AND MAGIC IS BEING PROMOTED MORE AND MORE TOWARDS CHILDREN. WHEN OBAMA HAD SAID IN 2009 THAT THIS IS NO LONGER A CHRISTIAN NATION, WE SHOULD HAVE , YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED 10 SECONDS TO BE A CHRISTIAN NATION. LAST OF ALL, THERE IS A LOT OF FALSE CONVERSIONS TO CHRIS CHRISTIANITY AS ACTUAL EVIL PEOPLE TRY TO JUST SUBSIDE ITS INFRASTRUCTURE OF TRUTH IN LIFE BY POLITICAL PERSUASION, FOLLOWED BY THE CORRUPTION AND REVEALING OF EVIL DENIED FALSE FLAGS ARE SHOWING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE WHILE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DENY FORCES OF MALEVOLENCE AND MANIPULATION. I MET A LOT OF BAD FAITH ACTORS AND HAVE WITNESSED THE PARANORMAL NATURE AND ACTIVITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH SAE. UH, HELLO. MY NAME IS SARAH. UM, I, SADIA, FARHAD COULD NOT BE HERE AND IN ON HER BEHALF. WE WOULD LIKE TO DO JUST ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE AND YIELD THE REST OF OUR TIME FOR THE EL MATONE FAMILY LOCAL TO HOUSTON, WHO HAS LOST SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE. [03:30:37] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PETER ING. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PETER AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE. I AM AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FROM PALESTINIAN DESCENT. MY MOTHER IS FROM PALESTINIAN DESCENT BY LINEAGE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY BY THE APOSTLES 2000 YEARS AGO. THAT THIS IS A SITUATION THAT HAS TO DO WITH PEOPLE FROM OTHER RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND. LAST YEAR, THE IDF BOMBED ONE OF OUR CHURCHES, ST. PORPHYRIA'S ORTHODOX CHURCH IN GAZA, WHICH IS OVER 1300 YEARS OLD. DUE TO THE SITUATION IN GAZA DURING CHRISTMAS, OUR BISHOPS IN BETHLEHEM, THE BIRTH OF THE CITY OF CHRIST, UH, ASKED US TO NOT HAVE CELEBRATIONS. WE HAD CHURCH SERVICES AND WHATNOT. WE DID NOT GO OUT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS GIVING GIFTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SENSELESS MURDER IS NOT FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN THAT CAN, IT IS CLEAR IN SCRIPTURES, ESPECIALLY IN THE GOSPELS AND PAUL'S EPISTLES. IT IS. AND I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS NECESSARY FOR A CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DARL HARPER. DARRYL HARPER. NEXT SPEAKER J STEEN JTE. HI, I'M JONNA HITCHCOCK STEEN. I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE SPEAKING FOR SAVE MONTROSE LIVE OAKS, ABOUT SEEKING RATIONAL DESIGNS FOR THE PROJECT. BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE TODAY. I'M HERE TODAY AS A CITIZEN WHO HAS DELVE DEEPER INTO THE WORKINGS OF OUR CITY'S GOVERNANCE THAN I EVER WANTED TO OR THOUGHT I'D NEED TO. WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED IS A TROUBLING REALITY, ONE WHERE QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WIELD DISPROPORTIONATE POWER, STIFLE, DISSENT, AND AVOID ANY VOTER ACCOUNTABILITY. THESE ENTITIES UNFORTUNATELY, INCLUDE SOME OF OUR LARGER AND MORE VOCAL SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THE HEIGHTS AND NEAR TOWN, AS WELL AS MANY CIVIC CLUBS, INCLUDING NORTH MONTROSE AND FIRST MONTROSE COMMONS, WHOSE LEADERS HAVE ESTABLISHED A CHOKE HOLD BY MODIFYING VOTING RIGHTS DIS UH, DISCRIMINATELY, UH, APPLYING SOME RULES ABOUT ELECTABILITY DEADLINES AND CHANGING QUORUM RULES IN THEIR GROUPS AND BULLYING ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH THEM. DECLINING CIVIC CLUB PARTICIPATION AND PAY TO PAY, PAY TO PLAY MEMBERSHIP MAKES IT MUCH THAT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR THESE LEADERS TO LOAD THEIR BOARDS ONLY WITH PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH THEM. BUT AMONG OF ALL THE QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL GROUPS THAT I'VE ENCOUNTERED, THE TIER SYSTEM STANDS OUT AS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS, MAINLY BECAUSE THESE APPOINTED UNELECTED BOARDS, 25% OF OUR CITY BUDGET DOLLARS. DOES ANYONE WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW YOU COULD SOLVE YOUR BUDGET PROBLEM? NO SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS IN THE QUEUE, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A LAST 30 SECONDS TO GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. IN THE FALL, 2022, THE CHRONICLE PROVED THAT YOU GUYS CAN DISSOLVE THE TIER BOARDS AND TAKE THE MONEY BACK. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE REVENUE CAP. I UNDERSTAND THAT DEEPLY. BUT THE MONEY THAT'S SITTING IN TIER BOARDS TODAY COULD SOLVE A LOT OF THE CITY'S BUDGET PROBLEMS. AND IT'S BEING SPENT TO MAKE THE RICH AREAS RICHER ON AFFLUENT EMBELLISHMENTS LIKE BIG WIDE SIDEWALKS AND FANCY BIKE PATHS. WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO HAVE NO SIDEWALKS AND NEED BASIC ROAD REPAIRS. THANK YOU. YOU SHOULD DISSOLVE THE TEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. SGE FARHA. MM-HMM. SHE, SHE? JARVIS TILLMAN. JARVIS TILLMAN. THANK YOU. HEY, COUNCIL, HOW ARE YOU? MR. TILLMAN? MAYOR POT TEAM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, [03:35:01] MR. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ME AND MY PARTNER, VIN FARRAN, I'M ON A GOVERNMENT WITH GOVERNMENT FUNDING THE HOUSE AND CHARGE POLICY PROGRAM. WE'RE MOVING OUR UNIT. EVERYTHING'S GOING ON. GOING. OKAY. UM, I IDENTIFY AS THE LGBT COMMUNITY. THEY MOVED ME WHERE A LOT OF WOMEN AND KIDS WERE, WHICH I KNEW WASN'T GONNA WORK OUT, BUT I MOVED THERE ANYWAY. AND THROUGH THE PROCESS, SPENT A LOT WITH THE WOMEN AND KIDS WHERE I'M AT. AND I THINK, I BELIEVE I REACHED OUT TO, UH, CONS INMAN OFF COUNCILMAN SHABA, CAROLYN COUNCILMAN SHABAS OFFICE. WE SPOKE AND, UM, I WAS TELLING HIM ABOUT THE ISSUING A PROBLEM AND I PRESENTED HER WITH A, UH, A EVICTION LETTER THAT THE OFFICE MANAGEMENT PUT ON MY DOOR. BUT THE EVICTION NOTICE THAT SHE PUT ON MY DOOR WAS INACCURATE. SHE SAID THAT WE WEREN'T PAYING OUR RENT. I PAY MY RENT EVERY MONTH, SO IT PUT, I PAY MY RENT EVERY MONTH PRETTY MUCH. SO I GET EVICTION NOTICE AND OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S BEEN POCKETING. I PAY ME EVERY MONTH. IT HAD ME IN EVICTION COURT. I'M IN EVICTION COURT AND SHE PLACED A, UM, THE JUDGE SAID THAT SHE WENT WRONG WITH EVICTION, BUT I'VE BEEN PAYING, WE'VE BEEN PAYING YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. SO WE'VE BEEN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, UH, THANK YOU. WE SPOKE MR. TILLMAN. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME, SOME OF MY TIME AND I BELIEVE WE WRAP UP SOME COMMENTS. AND I BELIEVE MANY OF YOUR OFFICER SPOKE ON THIS AND YOU WERE, YOU WERE TRANSPARENT, YOU WERE VERY NICE. AND YOU SAID WE WOULD WORK ON THIS TOGETHER AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND I THINK THAT, THANK THAT. BUT I'M THINKING THAT OUR COMMUNICATION HAD LACK, LACKED AND WE WERE, WEREN'T ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH EACH OTHER BESIDES, IT WAS ELECTION AND I WAS FALLING BACK, LETTING YOU GUYS HANDLE Y'ALL ELECTION THINGS. BUT AT THE SAME, SAME TIME, I LOST MY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM. ME, MY BOYFRIENDS SLEEPING ON THE STREET FOR TWO DAYS 'CAUSE SHE LIED AND POCKET OUR MONEY ORDER EVERY MONTH. NOW THE POLICE, MR. TILLMAN. YES MA'AM. LET ME SUGGEST MAYBE THAT YOU CAN TALK TO THE STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ'S OFFICE AND THEY CAN GET YOU TO NICHOLAS AIS IN THE HOMELESS INITIATIVES AND THEY CAN PROVIDE SOME SERVICES FOR HIM. IF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GETTING HIM TO NICHOLAS INGRAM IS RIGHT THERE IN THE CORNER. YES, INGRAM. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. SO SHE'LL GET YOU WITH OUR HOMELESS, UH, TEAM TO HELP. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. GET YOUR ASSESSMENT DONE. ALRIGHT. BEST WISHES TO YOU NEXT SPEAKER. MARILYN CASEY. I THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARILYN CASEY. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF MONTROSE, UH, FOR THE LAST 31 YEARS. WE RESTORED A TRIPLEX INTO ITS ORIGINAL, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOME. UH, UNFORTUNATELY MY HOME IS CATTYCORNER FROM THAT MONSTROSITY, THAT HORRIBLE ACT THAT SOMEONE AS A CONTRACTOR FOR THE CITY, PROBABLY AT THE BEHEST OF ONE OF THE LIKE QUASI LEGISLATIVE GOVERNMENTAL PEOPLE THAT THE LADY JUST DESCRIBED CAUSED TO HAPPEN. THAT TREE WAS CUT DOWN. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TREE. I APPRECIATE THAT. THE MAYOR IS GONNA LOOK INTO IT. I REGRET HE'S NOT HERE. I HOPE HE IS LISTENING 'CAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. A FOYER REQUEST WAS MADE. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT YET. WAS THE PERMIT EXCEEDED? WAS IT A MISTAKE? BUT IT'S AN ATROCITY. UH, WE TALKED, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE SHAZ. WE HAVE A SHAZ. IT'S MONTROSE BOULEVARD. IT GOES INTO MAINE. IT'S FANON, THIS TYPE OF TREE. YOU, THEY DON'T GROW IN 30 YEARS. THAT'S A LONG TERM TREE. AND IT WAS JUST BRUTALLY MURDERED. I MEAN, THERE'S GOTTA BE A LESS BURDENSOME ALTERNATIVE TO JUST TAKING SOMEBODY'S WORD AND CUTTING IT DOWN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. LET'S GET THE GENTLEMAN, MR. LATHAM. I MEAN, WE AS A CIVIC ASSOCIATION CAN SAY, WE'LL RETAIN HIM TO GO GET A SECOND OPINION IF THE CITY FORESTER NOT AN ARBORIST THAT THINKS THERE'S A PROBLEM, BUT IT'S A BEAUTY, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET BACK. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'D LIKE TO ASK, I'LL WRAP IT UP IN 30 SECONDS. COULD I HAVE 30 SECONDS? GO AHEAD. SURE. UM, AND PART OF THE ISSUE WITH THIS, AND I DON'T THINK THE UNDERLYING CONDITION OR THE HISTORY WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE PERSON FROM THE CITY THAT CAME OUT WAS WE ARE BENEFITING BY THE BEAUTIFUL STORM STORES THAT WENT IN. BUT THAT IS WHAT A PRICE, WHAT A COST. AND ALL OF MONTROSE, ALL IF THEY, IF YOU WILL REDO 'EM UP MAINE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK LIKE THE HOUSTON. WE KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA BE THE NATURAL BEAUTY A WONDER OF THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE. SO WE BEG YOU GUYS TO GET ON IT. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO AS SYMBIOTIC WAY TO HELP, WE AS CITIZENS ARE, AND VOTERS ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT. UM, MY KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND FROM MONTROSE CROSSED THE 59 BRIDGE, UH, OVER MONTROSE BRIDGE, DOWN MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND CAME TO OUR HOME WHEN THEY WERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT STILL, AND THEY'RE 28 [03:40:01] YEARS OLD NOW. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD CROSS THE STREET. THAT'S WHAT STREET CROSSINGS ARE FOR. WHY DO WE NEED 10 FOOT SIDEWALKS OR BIKE LANES? ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER THAT. DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT TEARS, LEARNED ABOUT IT 'CAUSE OF THIS TREE. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER MARYAM CHARE. MARYAM CHARE. NEXT SPEAKER, TYRELL VIE. TYRELL. AVI, NEXT SPEAKER ALEXANDER LEE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANTED TO START OFF WITH A VISUAL EXERCISE. WE'RE ESTONIANS, UH, IMAGINE YOU'RE AT ENERGY STADIUM, UH, WHICH SEATS ABOUT 70,000 PEOPLE. GIVE OR TAKE. TAKE YOUR ENTIRE VISUAL FIELD AND FILL IT UP WITH PEOPLE, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. HALF OF ENERGY STADIUM IS ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE, WHICH IS HOW MANY PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES AT MINIMUM. OF THOSE 30,000, A THIRD OF THEM WERE CHILDREN. 10,000 CHILDREN. RESEARCHERS FROM JOHN HOPKINS ESTIMATE THAT IF WE DON'T EVER GET A CEASEFIRE BY THIS AUGUST, 85,000 PEOPLE WILL HAVE BEEN KILLED FROM BOMB BLASTS THAT TEAR BODIES APART FROM THE GUNSHOTS OF SNIPERS, FROM STARVATION, FROM DISEASE, FROM EXTREME COLD. 85,000 PEOPLE REMEMBER THAT ENERGY SEATS ABOUT 70,000 MORE THAN AN ENTIRE STADIUM OF LIVES TAKEN AWAY BY ISRAELI BOMBS. AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU CAN DO AT MINIMUM. ONE IS TO JOIN OVER 70 US CITIES AND PASS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO SUPPORT ONE AND TO THE OTHERS. YOU STILL HAVE A CHOICE. AND THE SECOND IS TO AMEND HOUSTON'S INVESTMENT POLICY TO REMOVE ANY AUTHORIZATION FOR INVESTMENT FUNDS INTO ISRAELI BONDS. PLEASE DO NOT KEEP US COMPLICIT IN THIS GENOCIDE. EVERY PASSING DAY, YOU DON'T TAKE THE ABOVE. ACTIONS MAY BE YIELDED. 36 YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. PALESTINIAN PEOPLE DIE IN THE MOST TRAGIC WAYS IMAGINABLE, CRUSHED UNDER RUBBLE, STARVED TO DEATH SHOT BY ISRAELI SNIPERS JUST FOR TRYING TO PROVIDE AID TO ONE ANOTHER. COUNCIL MEMBERS. EVEN IF YOUR ACTIONS COULD SAVE JUST ONE MORE LIFE, YOU WILL BE SAVING SOMEONE'S ENTIRE WORLD. AND IS THAT NOT WORTH IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. TRACY HAMLIN. TRACY HAMLIN, NEXT SPEAKER. ROSALYN EDWARDS. ROSALYN EDWARDS. OKAY. HOW YOU DOING? DOING WELL, THANK YOU MS. EDWARDS. OKAY. MY ISSUE AND MY CONCERN IS FOR THE COMMUNITY NEXT DOOR TO THE BUSINESS THAT I OWN IS A SMOKE SHOP. AND IN THIS SMOKE SHOP THEY HAVE ON THE DOOR MUST BE 21. I SIT THERE EVERY DAY. THERE ARE KIDS, CHILDREN GOING IN THERE THAT'S UNDER 21, NOT EVEN 18. SOME OF 'EM HAVE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE I'VE ASKED THEM HOW OLD THEY ARE. AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD GET LIKE, MORE POLICEMEN TO MAYBE COME AND LOOK AROUND? I EVEN CALLED, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SHIVA'S OFFICE AND TALK, I FORGET THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME THAT I SPOKE, SPOKE WITH, BUT IT'S, IT'S GETTING TERRIBLE EVERY DAY. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SELLING THEM STUFF THAT WE KNOW. THEY GO IN LOOKING ONE WAY AND THEY COME OUT LOOKING ANOTHER WAY. AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST TERRIBLE. AND I'M JUST WONDERING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ? THANK YOU MS. EDWARDS. AND I THINK WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION AND WE CAN PUT A, WE CAN ASK THE, UM, HPD TO PUT AN ALERT SLIP ON THE LOCATION AND THEN THEY CAN CHECK TO SEE IF THEY'RE ABIDING BY, UH, WHAT THEY'RE LEGALLY, UH, BOUND TO DO. YEAH. OKAY. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. 'CAUSE LIKE I SAY, I'M, I'M A MOTHER, A GRANDMOTHER, AND I WOULDN'T JUST, JUST MAKE, MAKE THAT UP. IT'S JUST SAD. IT BRINGS TEARS TO YOUR EYES. BUT I THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR CARING. ALRIGHT. APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NANCY HIGGS. NANCY HIGGS, NEXT SPEAKER, PRISCILLA RAMIREZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW MY FACE, BUT I'LL INTRODUCE MYSELF TODAY AS A MENTAL HEALTH [03:45:01] PROFESSIONAL AND A WIFE TO A COMBAT VETERAN, A GREEN BERET WHO DEPLOYED TO BOTH IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, NONE OF YOU HAVE HAD TO EXPERIENCE WAR FIRSTHAND. SO I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND PTSD OR WHY VETERANS RETURN FROM UNWINNABLE IMMORAL WARS WITH DAMAGE, NOT TO JUST THEIR BODIES, BUT TO THEIR SOULS. THIS WEEKEND WE SAW AN ACTIVE DUTY AIRMAN, AARON BUSHNELL, AND AN ACTIVE PROTEST LIGHT HIMSELF ON FIRE IN FRONT OF THE ISRAELI CONSULATE. YOU MIGHT BE CONFUSED AS TO WHY A HEALTHY YOUNG MAN WOULD DO THIS. I HAVE PROVIDED EACH OF YOU WITH AN EXPLANATION OF A CONDITION CALLED MORAL INJURY, A SUBSET OF PTSD. THE MASS MURDER OF CIVILIANS IS NOT NORMAL. AND EVER BEFORE HAVE WE SEEN A GENOCIDE LIVE STREAMED THROUGH OUR PHONES. A MORAL INJURY CAN OCCUR IN RESPONSE TO ACTING OR WITNESSING BEHAVIORS THAT GO AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL'S VALUES AND MORAL BELIEFS. MORAL INJURY IS MADE WORSE BY SEEING THE BETRAYAL BY YOUR LEADERSHIP. IN THIS INSTANCE, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS SITTING ON THEIR HANDS WHILE A GENOCIDE IS BEING PERPETRATED, AS I DO EVERY WEEK, I URGE YOU ALL TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND RESPECT THE WISHES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. CAN I HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS? GO AHEAD. SO I SENT ALL OF YOU A VIDEO, THE TESTIMONY OF MAN NAMED ALAN SHIRO, A SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN JUST LIKE MY HUSBAND. AND HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT GOING, WHAT'S GOING ON IN PALESTINE IS NOT WAR. IT IS A GENOCIDE. THESE PEOPLE COULD ALL BE GONE. 2 MILLION PEOPLE IF WE DON'T DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER. TO STOP THIS, MY HUSBAND DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS, AND I WISH HE COULD BE HERE TO SPEAK WITH Y'ALL, BUT HE IS HOME WITH MY BABY AND I MISS SPENDING TIME WITH MY BABY AND EVERY WEEK COMING HERE AND TALKING TO Y'ALL AND URGING Y'ALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND JUST CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. CHICAGO DID IT, BUT THE OTHER CITIES DID IT. WE ARE ASKING BILATERALLY FOR MURDER TO STOP. THIS IS NOT A BIG ASK AND ALL OF YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT, SO PLEASE DO IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER SAIF KA SAIF KAZEM. NEXT SPEAKER ANNE RAJI. LAST THURSDAY, A FRIEND AND I DISRUPTED THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD LUNCHEON. AND THE REASON WE DISRUPTED THAT LUNCHEON IS BECAUSE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THAT EVENT WAS FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN. AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ACCEPTS DONATIONS FROM COMPANIES THAT SEND WEAPONS TO ISRAEL THAT ARE USED TO BOMB AND MASSACRE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. ADDITIONALLY, NEITHER PLANNED PARENTHOOD NOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN HAVE ISSUED ANY STATEMENT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE OR AN END TO THE SLAUGHTER OF THE PALESTINIANS IN GAZA. NEITHER PLANNED PARENTHOOD NOR HRC HAVE CALLED FOR AN END TO THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIAN LAND. SO WHILE I WAS HANDCUFFED AND DETAINED FOR DISRUPTING THE LUNCHEON, THE ORGANIZER FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD CALLED ME A NARCISSIST BECAUSE HOW I DARE I INTERRUPT THIS MEAL FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO PAID $150 OR MORE PER TICKET TO HAVE A FANCY TIME AND PRETEND LIKE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING WONDERFUL WORK FOR THE WORLD, WHEN IN REALITY THEY CAN'T STAND UP FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE WORLD. IN REALITY, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE. AND IT'S PINNING THAT OUR VERY OWN ABBY CAYMAN WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THAT LUNCHEON BECAUSE ABBY CAYMAN HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO BRING HERSELF TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. ABBY CAYMAN HASN'T SEEN ENOUGH PALESTINIAN BLOOD SPILL. SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PALESTINIAN ORPHANS AND SO WOULD MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU YOU FOR BEING HERE. CAN I HAVE A FEW MORE SECONDS? PLEASE SPEAKER EVERYONE ELSE HERE THAT HASN'T CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE YET. MA'AM, YOUR TIME HAS ED BY SEEING CHILDREN STAR. MA'AM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. DID I HAVE 30 EXTRA SECONDS? NO MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER, BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT HEAR. NO MA'AM. NO. CAROLYN RA. NEXT SPEAKER CAROLYN RIVERA. NEXT SPEAKER COURTNEY REBELS. COURTNEY REBEL, NEXT SPEAKER ROA CARRA ROSINA, 61% OF LIKELY VOTERS, INCLUDING A MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS AND EVEN 49% OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT THE US CALLING WHO ARE PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, WHILE ONLY 11% OF LAWMAKERS SUPPORT AND INTO ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE. SO WILD. WHAT'S WILD ABOUT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS THAT EVEN IF LIKE 60% OF THE ACTUAL POPULATION ARE IN SUPPORT OF SOMETHING, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT DONE IF IT SHIFTS POWER AWAY FROM THE ULTRA WEALTHY, EVEN IN THE SLIGHTEST. [03:50:02] Y'ALL SEE WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING TO PALESTINIANS. YOU ALL SEE ISRAEL LEADERS COMING FOR AND KILLING, KILLING EVERYONE IN GAZA, INCLUDING BABIES AND EVEN SOME AMERICAN LEADERS LIKE OLD ANDY OGLES. YOU SEE THE CONSTANT DEHUMANIZATION OF PALESTINIANS IN ALMOST ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA. STOP PRETENDING YOU DON'T AND STOP PRETENDING. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US WHEN YOU KNOW, OUR CORRUPT GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO AND UPHOLDS THIS BLATANT COLONIZATION. BUT Y'ALL WILL REALLY HAVE YOURSELVES BELIEVING A STARVING BABY IS A TERRORIST INSTEAD OF CALLING OUT THE REAL ONES. I WOULD LOVE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T RELEASED A STATEMENT, CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE TO DO SO, TO START DOING YOUR JOB AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON'T COME HERE EXPECTING IT. I MEAN, MOST OF YOU DON'T EVEN BOTHER RESPONDING TO OUR COMMENTS, OUR QUESTIONS. AND IN AARON BUSHNELL'S LAST WORDS, THIS IS WHAT OUR RULE HAS DECIDED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WILL BE NORMAL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. WARTA HAAN. HASSAN. WARTA HASSAN. NEXT SPEAKER. LAC EQUA. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENT. DON'T SEE JACOB SAN. OH, THERE HE IS. THAT IS JACOB. YEP. I COULDN'T, DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM WITH THE HAT. PHILOSOPHY IS PREDICATED. HEY JACOB. HI. LET'S GO. WHICH ONE? OH, HI THERE. WHICH ONE YOU LIKE? YEAH. OH, WHO'S GOING TO THE RODEO? I TOLD YOU, YOU CAN LOSE WEIGHT WITHOUT GOING TO THE GYM OR HAVING SURGERY. THAT'S RIGHT. AT SAME MECHANIC OR WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM STARTS. COWBOYS AIN'T EASY. LOVE IN THEIR HEART TO GO. THEY'D RATHER GIVE YOU A SONG THAN DIAMONDS OR GOLD. AND EACH BEGINS A NEW DAY. IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HIM, HE DON'T DIE HERE. HE'LL PROBABLY JUST RIDE AWAY. BYE . THANK YOU JACOB. DON'T LET YOUR I'M BOLE NOW, BROTHER, BE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, BUT NOW POLITICIANS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU JACOB FOR BEING HERE. NEXT. WHO'S GOING DO THE RODEO? WHO'S GOING TO, OKAY. YEEHAW. YEEHAW. I WORKED THERE TO YEEHAW. ALRIGHT. YOU PAY MY SALARY, . THANK YOU JACOB. WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE RODEO. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHELLE BOUCHARD. MICHELLE BOUCHARD. YES, MA'AM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HEARING FROM THE RESIDENTS OF MONTROSE YET AGAIN. UM, I UNDERSTOOD AT THE LAST TEARS MEETING FROM THE CHAIRMAN THAT PROMISES WERE MADE TO THIS MAILY CENTER, UH, WHICH MUST BE KEPT. AND THESE INCLUDED ONE, MOVING THE STREET TO THE EAST AND ADDING A NEW WIDE SIDEWALK. SO THEIR MAIN ENTRANCE ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD COULD ACCOMMODATE THE MANY EXPECTED VISITORS. AND TWO, CREATING A MECHANISM FOR BETTER UNDERGROUND WATER RETENTION, GIVING THEIR LOCATION ON BUFFALO BIO, GIVEN THAT THEIR LOCATION IS THE ONE LOCATION IN MONTROSE THAT DOES FLOOD, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT IS THAT IF WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE ISRAELI CENTER PROMISES AND WE CAN SAVE THE 300 60-YEAR-OLD POST OAKS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BLOCK BETWEEN ALLEN PARKWAY AND WEST DALLAS. COULD WE PROCEED WITH PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT? BUT JUST STOP IT AT WEST DALLAS, STOP IT AT WEST DALLAS, UH, AS OPPOSED TO GOING TO WEST CLAY BECAUSE THIS WOULD GIVE US TIME TO ENSURE THAT MONTROSE RESIDENTS AND THE TIER BOARD COULD COME TO A REASONABLE COMPROMISE FOR THE PROJECT GOING FORWARD. LOOK, WE ALL WANT A BETTER MONT TRUST BOULEVARD. I LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO IT, BUT WE NEED MORE TIME TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT THE WIDTH OF THE SIDEWALKS, THE PRESERVATION OF THE TREES, THE MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH WE SUPPORT CROSSING MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND SUPPORT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE TRAFFIC FLOW GOALS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROJECT. MAY I JUST SAY ONE THING? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. HELENKA HELENKA. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH FRAZIER. GOOD EVENING. I'M SARAH FRAZIER. I'M MONTROSE RESIDENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HE'S, I'M ALSO A PROUD CARNEGIE VANGUARD PARENT AND PTO MEMBER. I'VE COME HERE IN RECENT WEEKS TO SUPPORT MODIFYING [03:55:01] THE MONTROSE TURS PROJECTS, UH, MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, SPECIFICALLY THE DESIGN FOR CUTTING DOWN 57 TREES, ALL OF THE TREES ON THE SIDE OF THE BOULEVARD. CURRENTLY MOST MONTROSE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO PRESERVE THOSE TREES AND I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER AND, UM, BUILD BEAUTIFUL SIDEWALKS AT THE SAME TIME. TODAY I'M HERE AS A CARNEGIE PARENT AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT THAT, UM, HGAC HAS AWARDED $8 MILLION FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS. THIS IS A GOOD THING WE CAN USE THIS MONEY FOR, UM, APPROPRIATE, UM, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO WEST GRAY TO GET KIDS TO WHARTON AND CARNEGIE AND GREGORY LINCOLN AND ALL OF THAT IS GOOD. WE JUST NEED TO HAVE INTELLIGENT DESIGN THAT ACCOMPLISHES THAT. SO I WANNA CELEBRATE THAT. UM, NONE OF THAT INVOLVES TREE REMOVAL. NOW, THERE HAS BEEN A MOVE TO YOUR TIME PASSES MAY 30 SECONDS. CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP IN 30 SECONDS? YES, MA'AM. THERE HAS BEEN A MOVE TO, UM, MOBILIZE PTOS TO ALSO SORT OF GET ENTANGLED IN THE MONTROSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROPER AND SPECIFICALLY THE 10 FOOT PATH, BUT THAT RELATES TO TOTALLY DIFFERENT, UM, ISSUES THAT REALLY DON'T DIRECTLY CONCERN THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT. SO WE'VE HEARD FROM A, FROM A LOT OF FOLKS HERE TODAY. UM, I WOULD JUST URGE US TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THOSE SEPARATELY, UM, BECAUSE WE CAN OF COURSE, UM, MAKE SMART DECISIONS ABOUT THE 10 FOOT PATH AND WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE, UM, COMMUTER CYCLISTS NEXT TO KIDS WITH DOGS ON THAT PATH. UM, AND THOSE ARE SEPARATE FROM THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL COME TO AGREEMENT ABOUT WITH REGARD TO THOSE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS AND ACCOMPLISHING WHAT I KNOW PRINCIPAL M AT CARNEGIE WOULD LIKE TO WITH REGARD TO THE TRAFFIC THERE. SO I WANNA THANK YOU AND I WANNA LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY FURTHER ON THESE GOOD ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, THIS [RECESS] COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC SESSION COUNSEL. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM THE GROUND WATERLINE TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 0.3447 ACRES FROM THE EXISTING TROTTER PARK. ITEM TWO ORDINANCE MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS RELATED TO THE CONVEYANCE OF EASEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 0.3447 ACRE OF LAND LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF LU YORK STREET AND WAYSIDE DRIVE. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JIM SAK AS DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR APPROVAL OF PAYMENT TO THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP. ITEM FIVE, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 161,870, $70 AND 42 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES. LTD ITEM SIX. RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER FIVE, AWARDED TO MAINLAND INDUSTRIES LTD. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM FIVE ABOVE. ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $782,052 AND 87 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH NASH INDUSTRIES INC. ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $941,970 AND EIGHT 94 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT ON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH RECON AIR AND HEAT COMPANY. ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $568,790 AND 77 CENTS AND ACCEPT THE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH JFT CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE. ON REQUEST FROM SEAN GAR GARIBALDI OF HOUSTON GATEWAY ACADEMY INCORPORATED DECLINING THE ACCEPTANCE OF REJECTING AND REFUSING THE DEDICATION OF A 30 FOOT WIDE UTILITY EASEMENT LOCATED EAST OF PARSON STREET WITHIN LOTS ONE AND 12. ITEM 11, METRO FIRE APPARATUS SPECIALIST INC. FOR PURCHASE OF SOLBERG. 3% MILL SPEC SFF FLOORING, FREE PHONE ITEM 12 JAMES M OR DBA TEXAS PRIDE MARKETING FOR PURCHASE OF TEL SCAN TOOLS. ITEM 13, VANGUARD TRUCK CENTER OF HOUSTON, LLC FOR PURCHASE OF A BOX TRUCK THROUGH THE CORROBORATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS WITH THE HU WITH THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. ITEM 12, VANGUARD TRUCK CENTER, [04:00:01] HOUSTON, LLC FOR PURCHASE OF A BOX TRUCK DUE TO CORPORATE PURCHASING PROGRAMS WITH THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. ITEM 15 BUBBLE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR PURCHASE OF HUMAN PORTABLE RADIATION. BACKPACK DETECTORS AND ACCESSORIES, EXCUSE ME. ITEM 16, PFEIFFER AND SON LTD FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE FOR UNDERGROUND CABLE. ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT, EXCUSE ME, BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND KING MILLER, LLP FOR REPRESENTATION OF CITY AND BANKRUPTCY CASE NUMBER 23 9 0 2 9 2 IN R AND P CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC ET AL. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JOHNSON CONTROLS INC. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AWARDING SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AIR CLEANING TECHNOLOGIES INC. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BROWN AND ROOT INDUSTRIAL LLC ITEM 22 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND TREND AVIATION AND AEROSPACE ADVOCACY PLLC ITEM 23, ORDINANCE ORDINANCE APPROVING ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ARROW SIMPLE. LLC ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AWARDING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND VAN BRU AND ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $787,500 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR TWO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EJES INCORPORATED. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $52,500 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HR GREEN INC. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $52,500 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOWELLS CONSULTING ENGINEERS. LLC ITEM 28 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO A JJ WASTE LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. THE FIRST READING ITEM 29 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO CHIEF SOLUTIONS INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. THE FIRST READING ITEM 30 ORDINANCE GOING INTO SEMA SERVICES. LP FIRST READING ITEM 31 ORDINANCE GOING INTO EQ LABS CO. A FOREIGN CORPORATION. FIRST READING ITEM 32, ORDINANCE GOING INTO EASY WASTE INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. FIRST READING ITEM 33, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO HOUSTON WINDOW CLEANING COMPANY LLC FIRST READING. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO INLAND ENVIRONMENTS. LTD FIRST READING ITEM 35 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO KSP ENVIRONMENTAL LLC, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. FIRST READING ITEM 36, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO REPUBLIC SERVICES INC. AT TEXAS CORPORATION. FIRST READING ITEM 37, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TEXAS PORTABLE RESTROOMS. LLC, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. FIRST READING. THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY [RECONVENE] COUNCIL. COME TO ORDER MADAM SECRETARY, ITEM THREE. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED ON THE NOMINATION THAT JIM SAYS, SAYS, THE ACT IS DIRECTED OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT. UH, ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIES. MR. JIM. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, [04:05:02] I, UH, I I MADE THIS NOMINATION MEMBERS BECAUSE OF CONCERN FOR THE AIRPORT SYSTEM OPERATIONS, TRANSPARENCY, AND A LACK OF USER-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY FOR HOUSTONIANS, BUT THOSE THAT TRAVEL THROUGH. AND IT IS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE A YEAR. UH, MR. SK AND I'VE MET AND TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR BETTER OPERATIONS, SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS SIGNAGE, ACCESS, MOBILITY TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT. AS A HOUSTONIAN, I FREQUENT THE AIRPORT. I LISTEN TO HOUSTONIANS, I LISTEN TO THE PRESS. UH, WE CAN DO BETTER. AND, UH, WITH THAT CONSIDERATION, UH, MR. SEMAN HAS THE BACKGROUND, THE EXPERIENCE, AND THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE THINGS AND MAKE IT A FIRST CLASS OPERATION RATION. WE DO HAVE A WELL-FUNDED, IN MANY REGARDS, A VERY VIABLE AIRPORT SYSTEM. IN FACT, IT SOME INSTANCES GETS GREAT RATINGS, BUT WE NEED TRANSPARENCY. WE NEED QUICK RESPONSE. I UNDERSTAND CONSTRUCTION CREATES BACKLOGS AND TRAFFIC AND PROBLEMS, BUT YOU GOTTA PLAN FOR IT. AND I DON'T WANT TO GET LATE EVENING CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY'VE WAITED 45 MINUTES IN LINE TO GET OUTTA THE AIRPORT AND HAD NOT MOVED AFOOT. YOU GOTTA PLAN FOR THAT. YOU GOTTA HAVE MOBILITY OFFICERS OFFSITE PARKING. YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES. OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES AT THE AIRPORT. I'VE REASSURED THEM THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION, THIS DIRECTOR WILL LISTEN TO THEM. CITY EMPLOYEES, WE WILL DEAL WITH YOUR PARKING CHALLENGES WHILE YOU'RE WORKING FOR THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND THE COMMITMENT THAT JIM ESC BRINGS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM. I DO BELIEVE IT'S GREATER DAYS ARE IN FRONT OF US. THANK YOU, JIM, FOR TAKING ON THIS HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. I KNOW YOUR, YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY'S WITH YOU TODAY. THEY SHARE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY. THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME, FAMILY TIME TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS JOB. SO I DON'T, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T COME HERE TO LISTEN TO ME , BUT, BUT IT'S THAT DARN IMPORTANT. OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM IS, IS PART OF THE NERVE SYSTEM OF THIS GREAT CITY. AND WE CANNOT TAKE IT IT FOR GRANTED. IT IS GOT TO EVERY DAY GO TO WORK TRYING TO IMPROVE, AND WE STAND READY TO JOIN HAND WITH YOU IN THAT ENDEAVOR. SO I YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME, JIM. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UM, I AM, UH, TRULY, UH, HUMBLED AND HONORED BY THIS, UH, APPOINTMENT. UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR $36.4 BILLION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ABOUT 190,000 JOBS. UH, SO THIS IS NO SMALL JOB. UM, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE HOUSTON ECONOMY AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR FAITH IN ME TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION, UH, TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE. UH, AGAIN, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMIT TO THE FIVE STAR SERVICE AND VISION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. UH, I KNOW WE, WE DO HAVE SOME, SOME HOLES THAT WE NEED TO FILL IN, BUT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK FORWARD WITH THAT. SO AGAIN, WE HAVE BOTH AIRPORTS AT A, AT A FIVE STAR LEVEL. UM, AND, AND CONTINUE THAT ULTIMATE, UH, YOU KNOW, CONTINUATION OF IMPROVEMENT. UM, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF, OF, OF GROWTH AHEAD OF US. UH, WE'VE GOT SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL ON FROM A TRAFFIC PERSPECTIVE TOO. BUT AGAIN, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY RUN THAT AIRPORT. UH, 'CAUSE AGAIN, FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, IT IS SO IMPORTANT. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN, THANK MY FAMILY, UH, PARTICULARLY MY PARENTS WHO STARTED OUT MY AVIATION CAREER WITH THEIR SUPPORT. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE, UH, WHO AGAIN, SUPPORTS ME FROM A, UH, YOU KNOW, MY LOVE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I, I REALIZE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, SERVICE IS A NOBLE PROFESSION. UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I THINK I DISTILLED THAT IN MY FAMILY. UM, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK, UH, MY SON WHO IS NOT HERE, WHO'S CURRENTLY ACTIVE DUTY OFFICER IN THE US MILITARY, UH, THE ARMY. UH, I'VE GOT MY OTHER SON WHO IS STUDYING FOR AN AVIATION MANAGEMENT. SO MAYBE SOMEDAY HE'LL BE RUNNING AN AIRPORT. UH, AND THEN MY DAUGHTER, SOPHIE, WHO'S RIGHT HERE, UH, WHO, UH, IS ULTIMATELY WANTING TO BE A NURSE. UM, SO I REALLY, UH, THANK THEM FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GIVE ME, UH, AS I CONTINUE IN THIS JOB. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY SENIOR STAFF WHO MOST OF 'EM ARE HERE. UH, OBVIOUSLY THEY HEARD IT [04:10:01] DIRECTLY FROM THE MAYOR ABOUT WHAT'S EXPECTED OF US. UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE, THE WORK THAT THEY GIVE US AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GIVE THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. UH, TRULY APPRECIATE THEM. UH, THEY DO A GREAT JOB BY JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S RUNNING THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE HERE, , BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT GOOD FRONTLINE STAFF. AND SO I'D WANNA AGAIN, SAY THANK YOU TO THE FRONTLINE STAFF THAT WORK THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS. UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THEY'RE IN THE TRAFFIC, THEY'RE IN THE TERMINALS. THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING THE MAINTAINING, THEY'RE CLEANING THEIR RUNWAYS, THEY'RE DOING ALL THOSE FUN STUFF ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS. UH, I DID GET SOME GREAT FEEDBACK. WE JUST, YOU KNOW, HOSTED THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, UM, AND THE FOLKS THAT RUN THAT ORGANIZATION TOLD US THAT THE STAFF AT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM WAS THE BEST THAT THEY HAD EVER WORKED WITH. UM, SO I THINK THAT THAT'S GREAT. UM, WE'VE GOT RECORD NUMBERS OF PASSENGERS THROUGH THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, AND I THINK OUR STAFF IS DOING A GREAT JOB. AND SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IT'S JUST AMAZING. AND THEN WE, WE WE'RE IN SPACE NOW. I MEAN, LITERALLY SOMETHING THAT, THAT WAS MADE AT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT, UM, AT THE HOUSTON SPACEPORT, UH, IS LITERALLY SITTING ON THE MOON RIGHT NOW. SO, AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THE STAFF, UM, FOR, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS TO KEEP THE AIRPORT SYSTEM RUNNING. UH, I'M TRULY HONORED, UH, TO BE ABLE TO, TO LEAD THEM. AND I, I YIELD BACK TO THE COUNCIL ON THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MARTINEZ, JIM, MISS ACK, UH, MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MARIAN, THANK YOU FOR THIS, THIS APPOINTMENT AS WELL. UH, DON'T LEAVE, JIM. I NEED, I NEED SOME, UH, SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO BE AN EMPTY NESTER SOON. SO, UH, I NEED YOU TO STICK AROUND. UM, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, WHOLEHEARTEDLY, UH, FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ME AND MY TEAM, UH, AND, AND WANNA SAY THAT, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. UH, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT CONSTRUCTION PAINS ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING SOON IN THE, IN THE HOBBY OR AIRPORT AREA. AND SO, UM, AS THE MAYOR STATED, YOU KNOW, THO THOSE TYPES OF, UM, UH, CONSTRUCTION PAINS, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE A BIT DIFFICULT FOR COMMUNITY. BUT, UH, YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITY ARE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED IN, IN THOSE, UH, IN, IN THAT INFORMATION, IT'S GONNA BE HELPFUL. THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA BE YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS AS WELL. UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN SPEAKING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION WE HAD AS WELL, UH, ABOUT A WEEK AGO ON HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT THAT ANCHOR IN THE HOBBY AIRPORT AREA BECOMES A, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. UM, AND JUST WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO YOUR TEAM, OF COURSE, YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTER. UM, IT, IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, UH, WINGS FOR, FOR HAVING ALREADY GIVEN TO YOU ALREADY. SO, UH, SONYA, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AS WELL. UM, AND, AND TO THE TEAM, YOU KNOW, JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU KNOW, TODD AND MAORI, UH, THEY'RE ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE AND, AND RESPONSIVE TO, TO THE OFFICE. SO, UH, WISHING YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE AS WELL AS PARTNERS, UH, AROUND THE HORSESHOE. SO, THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR, DIRECTOR SNYK, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND OF YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR AIRPORTS. UH, AIRPORTS ARE ECONOMIC ENGINES FOR CITIES, AND WE ARE VERY HONORED AND BLESSED TO HAVE HOBBY AIRPORT AS A FIVE STAR AIRPORT, UH, IN NORTH AMERICA. AND WE WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. UM, AND THEN WE KNOW THAT IAH AT A FOUR STAR THAT IS HEADED TO FIVE STAR SOON, UH, WILL BE A CROWN JEWEL IN OUR CITY. UM, WE WANNA JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU IN THIS NEW ROLE, UH, WE ARE HERE TO DO THAT. UH, WE WANT TO THANK YOUR FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES AN ENTIRE FAMILY WHEN YOU, YOU RISE TO THESE LEVELS OF, OF, OF LEADERSHIP. UH, WE WANNA THANK ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE AIRPORT. UM, I WAS JUST IN THE AIRPORT LAST WEEK, AND I, IT, IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU JUST HAVE ON A, A, A, A PAIR OF JEANS AND A SHIRT, AND YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH THE AIRPORT LOOKING AROUND, LIKE, UH, JUST WANNA SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE GET TO TALK ABOUT AT CITY COUNCIL, HOW THEY'RE FUNCTIONING. THE BATHROOMS WERE CLEAN, THE PEOPLE LOOKED HAPPY IN THE AIRPORT, PEOPLE WERE BUYING FOOD, PEOPLE WERE DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT HERE. I GOT TO SEE IT IN ACTION. SO, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, AND I WANNA WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THIS IS A GREAT APPOINTMENT, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU DIRECTOR, UH, MAYOR AND DIRECTOR . UH, I, I TOO, JUST WANTED TO ADD MY APPRECIATION, UM, FOR YOU STEPPING UP TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY AND TO RECOGNIZE YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, UH, BECAUSE IT IS A TEAM AT THE AIRPORTS, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE. UH, YOU ALL HAVE DONE SO MUCH FROM, AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, UH, SECURING A FIVE STAR THAT WE REALLY WANNA HOLD ON TO AT HOBBY TO, UH, WORKING OUR WAY UP TO THAT FIVE AT INTERCONTINENTAL. UH, BUT, OR EXCUSE ME, IH UM, [04:15:01] YOU TOUCHED ON SPACE, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIT THAT A LITTLE HARDER BECAUSE WHAT THE AIRPORT SYSTEM HAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NASA AND WITH OUR PRIVATE SECTOR, IS REJUVENATED AND REVITALIZED HOUSTON AS SPACE CITY 2.0. AND THAT WILL LAST FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, UH, AS WE EXPAND UPON SPACE EXPLORATION. SO THE INTEGRAL INVOLVEMENT OF YOU ALL AS LEADERS IN THAT, UH, I JUST CAN'T EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION ENOUGH, UH, FOR WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DOING LEADING THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY IN MY, MY GOOD FRIENDS', UH, DISTRICT OVER THERE, . BUT I ALSO WANTED TO, AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, THANK YOUR FAMILY. I KNOW YOUR DAUGHTER'S HERE TODAY, AND IT REALLY IS A FAMILY EFFORT, WHETHER IT'S YOUR FAMILY AT THE AIRPORTS, BUT ALSO YOUR FAMILY AT HOME. UH, YOU ALL WORK VERY LONG HOURS. UH, YOU ARE ON THE PHONE, UH, AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE WHEN SOMETHING IS HAPPENING. UH, WE, WE LIKE TO NOT HAVE THINGS HAPPEN, UH, THAT MAKE THE NEWS. BUT AGAIN, UH, JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION. BUT PLEASE EXPRESS AND RELAY OUR APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE AIRPORT SYSTEM FOR ALL THEY DO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, FLICKINGER, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. YES, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UM, AND UNDERSTAND THE CORRECT PRONUNCIATION OF YOUR LAST NAME. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW IS SMITH. YES. IS THAT CORRECT? . OKAY. I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT YOUR WIFE HAD ACTUALLY TAUGHT MY GRANDCHILDREN. YES. SO HOPEFULLY THEY DIDN'T BEHAVE TOO TERRIBLY ON THOSE DAYS. SO SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE YOUR, YOUR GRANDKIDS WERE SOME OF HER FAVORITES. WELL, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THEY'RE MINE. SO, UH, KIND OF DOVETAIL ABBY'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE SPACEPORT, UH, WHEN YOUR NAME WAS FIRST MENTIONED. I GOT SEVERAL CALLS, UH, REALLY EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU DOWN THERE. SO ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. I WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TO HAVE, UH, DISAPPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR BECAUSE HOUSTON IS A FIRST CLASS CITY AND WE NEED A FIRST CLASS AIRPORT, YOU KNOW, SYSTEM BECAUSE PEOPLE WATCH THAT. AND, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST BECAUSE HOUSTON, I BELIEVE IS THE BEST. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, THANK YOU AND YOUR WIFE, UH, FOR THE HONOR OF HAVING A SON TO SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. I'M A VETERAN AND I RESPECT ALL VETERANS, MEN AND WOMEN, AND CERTAINLY BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU HAVE A SON OR DAUGHTER SERVING OUR COUNTRY, THE FAMILY SERVES THE COUNTRY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, UH, MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY AND YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE APPOINTMENT. AND JUST WELCOME NEIGHBOR KINGWOOD NEIGHBOR, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT, RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE ANOTHER NEIGHBOR ABOARD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, AND TO, JUST TO ECHO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER COMMENT, AS SOON AS YOUR NAME CAME UP, I GOT TEXT. AND YOU KNOW, I STARTED RECEIVING THOSE TEXTS OF SUPPORT FOR YOU, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. AND THAT RIGHT THERE JUST SOLIDIFIES THAT YOU ARE THE OF, OF THE VERY BEST CANDIDATE. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, FOR BRINGING HIM ON BOARD, UH, IN THIS ROLE. AND I KNOW THAT OUR, OUR GYM OF AN AIRPORT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT OUT IN OUR BACKYARD WILL ONLY BE BETTER FOR IT. SO THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, UH, JIM, GO TO WORK. OKAY. THANK YOU, . UH, IF THE AIRPORT EMPLOYEES LIKE TO STAND AND BE EXCUSED, WE'LL LET YOU GO TO WORK. LET YOU GO. HE CAN'T WORK WITHOUT Y'ALL. HAVE A GOOD DAY. . I WORK WITH THE GO TO WORK. GO TO WORK, RAY. GO TO WORK NOW. MEMBERS, AS OUR FRIENDS LEAVE, [1.  9:00 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING regarding the construction/dig of an underground water line totaling approximately 0.3447 acres from the existing TROTTER PARK - DISTRICT B - JACKSON ] WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TROTTER PART. UH, MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU CALL ITEM NUMBER TWO? NO, I'M SORRY. THE, THE TROTTER PART NUMBER ONE. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTING OF AN UNDERGROUND WATER LINE, TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 0.3447 ACRES FROM THE EXISTING TRTA PARK. GENTLEMEN, PROCEED. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL EVANS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT [04:20:01] OF WEST HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITIES PURCHASE OF A 50 FOOT WIDE EASEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A 96 INCH DIAMETER UNDERGROUND WATER LINE. THE 0.3447 ACRE EASEMENT ACROSS TROTTER PARK, ALONG ITS EAST LITTLE YORK. FRONTAGE IS A DISTANCE OF JUST OVER 300 FEET AND WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PARK. TROTTER PARK CONSISTS OF 26.77 ACRES WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENITIES, NONE OF WHICH WILL BE DISTURBED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PLAYGROUND PICNIC PAVILION, THREE BASKETBALL COURTS, FIVE BASEBALL FIELDS WITH LIGHTS, ONE SOCCER FIELD WITH LIGHTS, ONE FOOTBALL FIELD WITH LIGHTS, RESTROOM BUILDING, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, PAVED PARKING, BARBECUE, GRILLS, TABLES, BENCHES, TRASH CANS AND BLEACHERS. THE DEED TO THE PARK INCLUDES A REVERSIONARY INTEREST IN FAVOR OF THE GRANTOR. HOWEVER, THE CITY HAS RECEIVED THE, RECEIVED THE GRANTOR'S CONSENT TO PLACE A WATER ALONG THE YORK ROAD WITHIN THE PROPOSED EASEMENT. THE PROPOSED LINE AS DESIGNED WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH PARK PROCESSES AND WILL HAVE MINIMUM IMPACT ON THE PARK. ONCE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE DURING CONSTRUCTION, THE AUTHORITY WILL TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO ALLOW SAFE ENTRANCE INTO AND USE OF THE PARK, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO A SIX FOOT CHAIN LINK FENCING, ENC, CLOSING, AND OPEN CUT AREAS. THE WATER LINE WILL BE BURIED AT LEAST EIGHT FOOT BELOW GRADE. THE SURFACE OF THE EASEMENT AREA WILL BE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL GRADE ONCE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, AND THE SURFACE WILL BE FULLY RESTORED TO ALL GRASS COVERED SURFACES. UTILITIES, DRIVEWAYS, GATES, DISTURBED BY THE CONSTRUCTION ACCESS TO TROTTER PARK WILL BE PRESERVED THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. AT THIS TIME, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATERLINE ACROSS THE PARK PROPERTY IS EXPECTED TO START IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2024, AND IT, AND LAST APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS, THE TWO ROWS OF TREES WILL BE REMOVED TO ACCOMMODATE THE WATERLINE. HOWEVER, THE TREES WILL BE REPLACED OUTSIDE THE EASEMENT. THE AUTHORITY HAD PERFORMED EXTENSIVE ROUTING STUDIES AND DETERMINED THAT THE PARK CANNOT BE AVOIDED. THE AUTHORITY SELECTED THE ROUTE THAT MINIMALLY AFFECTS TROTTER PARK AND MINI MINIMIZES TREE REMOVAL. THE SELECTED ROUTE RESULTS IN THE CROSSING OF TROTTER PARK WERE JUST 300 FEET ALONG ITS ROAD FRONTAGE. THE AUTHORITY DID CONSIDER WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO AVOID CROSSING TROTTER PARK, BUT GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE WATERLINE AND THE RESULTING ENGINEERING CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ATTEMPTING TO INCORPORATE A JOG IN ITS ALIGNMENT, THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE SELECTED ROUTE. AS A RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL ENGINEERING EFFORTS AND THE ENSUING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY, THE PROPOSED LINE IS DESIGNED, MINIMIZES HARM TO TROTTER PARK AS A PARK AND RECREATION AREA. NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 2024, FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024, AND FEBRUARY 19TH, 2024. THE AUTHOR'S REPRESENTATIVE IS PRESENT SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROJECT, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. MAYOR PROAM, KASICK TATUM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THIS SEEMS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT LOOKS LIKE VERY MINIMAL, UM, DISRUPTION TO THE PARK. HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY OPPOSITION OR ANY COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE WATERLINE? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? UH, THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THAT REPORT. THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? UH, TO THE MATTER, I DO HAVE MAYOR PROTEAM CAST TATUM JACKSON. UH, MAYOR COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR PRESENTATION. SO MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE TREE, THE REMOVAL OF THE TREE. AND SO CAN YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE WHERE A TREE IS LOCATED, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA MOVE IT. I KNOW YOU SAID OUTSIDE OF THE PARK. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TREE, UH, TREES, APPROXIMATELY 11 ALONG THE, UH, FRONTAGE THAT WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED. UH, TO INSTALL THE WATER LINE. THOSE 11 TREES WILL BE REPLACED INSIDE THE PARK BOUNDARY. OKAY. THANK YOU. CASTEX. TA MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE. SECONDED. NEXT. SECOND. SECOND. [04:25:02] OKAY. YEAH. A SECOND. MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE [2.  ORDINANCE making certain findings related to the conveyance of easement of approximately 0.3447 acre of land located at the corner of Little York Street and Wayside Drive and within the city of Houston’s Trotter Park; authorizing and approving the conveyance of easement to West Harris County Regional Water Authority ] NOW MOVE TO CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE FOR THIS ITEM. CITY SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL ITEM TWO. ITEM TWO IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED TAG. TAG ON THE ORDINANCE. YEAH. TAG ON THE ORDINANCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. TAG ON ORDINANCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. SO DONE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE SOME GUESTS WE HAVE TODAY FROM YES, PREP NORTHLINE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND. WE ARE JOINED BY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, UH, FROM YES, PREP NORTHLINE. THEY'RE HERE TO OBSERVE CITY COUNCIL. UM, I WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO BRAG ON THEM. I DID VISIT WITH THEM LAST WEEK. UM, THIS IS THE FIRST SENIOR CLASS GRADUATING FROM THIS INSTITUTION. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED TO AT LEAST ONE FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. UM, THEY'RE VERY SHARP AND, AND HARDWORKING, AND THEY'RE, UH, GONNA GO AND GRAB LUNCH AND VOTE AFTER THIS MEETING. SO THEY'RE GETTING THE FULL EXPERIENCE AND, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THEM COMING DOWN TO, TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH US. THANK Y'ALL. THANKS FOR BEING OUR GUEST AND CONGRATULATIONS AND CHARGE ON, YOU'RE DOING GREAT AND MAKING YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF US VERY PROUD. SO ENJOY YOUR, YOUR VISIT TO CITY HALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, [MAYOR'S REPORT] THE MAYOR'S REPORT. UM, I'VE OBSERVED Y'ALL DURING YOUR POP-OFF OF BRINGING EVENTS AND, AND JOY TO THE, TO THE HORSESHOE. UM, I HOPE IT CAN ALSO BECOME MORE ISSUE ORIENTED. BUT FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD TODAY, I'M GONNA DO SOME SHOUT OUTS FOR THE HOUSTON RODEO PARADE WITH SUCH A SUCCESS. AND I HOPE EVERYONE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT EVENT, WHICH IS SUCH A PART OF OUR HERITAGE AND BRINGS, UH, VENDORS AND GUESTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND ACTUALLY THE NATION. UH, ALSO ALONG THE SHOUT OUTS, HOW ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE BASKETBALL TEAM IN THE NATION? WHAT IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH A GAME, I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. OH GOD. UM, THEY'VE GOT REAL CHANCE TO GO ALL THE WAY, SO LET'S WISH THEM WELL. ON A MORE SOBER NOTE IS, UH, I'LL LEAVE IN A LITTLE WHILE TO ATTEND THE SERVICE FOR WELCOME WILSON. UM, A REAL ICON IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO'S CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO OUR GREATNESS AND THE SUCCESS OF U OF H, WHERE HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR MANY YEARS. SO LET'S KEEP HIS FAMILY IN OUR THOUGHTS. BUT IT'S TRULY A CELEBRATION. HE WAS 95 AND HAS SUCH A LEGACY THAT, UH, WE SHOULD ALL STRIVE FOR. ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, UH, WHICH I HOPE POPOFFS WILL BECOME, UH, TO CLARIFY SOMEWHAT THE THE END OF LAST WEEK, UH, I LISTENED TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD MAKE A VERY PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT THAT WE SHOULD VOTE FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT EVEN THOUGH THEY HADN'T MET THEIR OBLIGATIONS. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A RULE THAT IF THEY DO IT TWICE THERE, THERE'S A GRIEVANCE AND SANCTIONS AGAINST THEM. SO THERE IS PROVISION FOR THAT. SO I LISTENED TO A VERY PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT CONCLUDING IN THE ARGUMENT THAT WE HAD A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO, TO GO FORWARD, AND THAT WE HAD MINORITY CONTRACTORS THAT WERE NOT GETTING PAID. SO I VOTED TO APPROVE THAT, AND THEN I NOTICED SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WERE ARGUING FOR IT WITH CONCERN ALSO ENDED UP VOTING NO. SO I THOUGHT, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, THE CHAIRING COMMITTEES IN AUSTIN FOR 30 YEARS, YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER HOW OTHER PEOPLE VOTE. YOU LEARN FROM, FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. AND SO I THOUGHT BEFORE I ANNOUNCED THE VOTE, I'D CHANGE MY VOTE TO REFLECT WHAT I LEARNED THROUGH THE VOTING PROCESS. AND THEN THERE WAS THIS OUTCRY THAT NO, WE'D TAKEN THE VOTE. WELL, I HADN'T ANNOUNCED A THING. I DON'T THINK WHEN THE CITY SECRETARY COUNTS HANDS OR VOICES, IT WOULD, ACCORDING TO ROBERT RULES OF ORDER. AND I'VE LEARNED CITY RULES, UH, ALLOW YOU TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE. IN FACT, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT MATTERS TO ANOTHER MEMBER. IT'S BETWEEN ME AND YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS. BUT I, I LISTENED TO THE OUTCRY AND THE CONCERN BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE OF BEING HERE, HERE FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS [04:30:01] LONGER THAN THE TWO MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. AND I FOLLOWED THEIR LEAD. I SOON LEARNED THAT THAT WAS WRONG. THAT THE CITY RULE ALLOWS YOU TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE BEFORE IT'S ANNOUNCED. SO I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW, AND I CAN YIELD ARTUR THAT WILL CITE THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE THAT IT'S NOT FINAL UNTIL I ANNOUNCE IT. THAT'S WHY WE GOTTA GAVEL AND CONCLUDE THE VOTE. I THINK IT'S PART OF THE RESPECT THAT YOU GIVE YOUR COLLEAGUE. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN THE PAST, BUT THAT'S, UH, ELECTIONS MATTER. AND WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE RULES AND THE COURTESY TO YOUR COLLEAGUE TO LET HE OR SHE CONCLUDE HER VOTE BEFORE IT'S, AND CHANGE YOUR VOTE BEFORE IT'S ANNOUNCED. IN FACT, IN FACT, THERE'S RULES THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE AFTER IT'S RECORDED. IF IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE VOTE. THAT'S HOW CLEAR IT IS. AND IF ANYBODY WANTS ME TO YIELD TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DO A BETTER JOB THAN I JUST DID TO EXPLAIN THE RULE, I'LL DO. SO WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE WITHIN THE RULES, THEY OUGHT TO BE ALLOWED TO GOING FORWARD. THE VOTE WILL BE OPEN UNTIL I ANNOUNCE IT AND GAVE IT TO. SECOND ISSUES I WANT TO USE ON MY PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IS I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESS KNOWN IN AUSTIN FOR SUPPORTING OPEN RECORDS, OPEN MEETINGS. THE PRESS IS PART OF THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND IT'D BE EASY FOR ME TO JUST KEEP ON WORKING 18 HOUR DAYS LIKE I'M DOING. BUT WHEN I SEE A REPORT THAT IS SO FACTUALLY WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I DIRECTED CHANNEL 13, AT LEAST TWICE SATURDAY REPORTED THAT THE HOUSTON WASHINGTON INTERSECTION WAS CHANGED BY ME BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH TRINITY. IT'S BEEN THERE A HUNDRED YEARS AND THEY DO HAVE A VOICE AND A THOUSAND MEMBERS. BUT TO BE SO FACTUALLY WRONG TO SAY THAT THE CHURCH GOT ME TO DO IT, THE FIRST TIME THAT THE INTERSECTION WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WAS NEW YEAR'S EVE AT 1230, THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, BUT I WAS RIDING WITH CHIEF NER ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON. THE FIRST PLACE HE TOOK ME AFTER WE LEFT CITY HALL AT 1230 WAS THE REGIONAL CENTRAL STATION. THE MUNICIPAL COURTS TO GAS UP AS WE LEFT, LEFT THE CENTRAL STATION, FORMER CENTRAL STATION TURNED RIGHT ON HOUSTON AVENUE TO GO DOWN WASHINGTON. 'CAUSE WE WANTED TO GO IN THE ESTABLISHMENTS, COUNCILMAN ALCORN TO CHECK OUT THE NOISE ORDINANCE. HE WANTED ME TO SEE THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS AT WASHINGTON AND DURHAM AS WE TURNED RIGHT. I'D NEVER BEEN AT THAT INTERSECTION. HE SAID, THAT'S DANGEROUS. AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. IT NEEDS TO BE UNDONE. I HAVEN'T BROUGHT CHIEF NER INTO THIS DISCUSSION 'CAUSE HE'S GOT A FULL PLATE. LORD KNOWS HE'S THE ONE THAT SAID IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A PROACTIVE PUBLIC OFFICIAL. I WAS, SOMEONE POINTED OUT THE PROBLEM AND I SAID, WE WILL ADDRESS IT. AND THAT'S WHAT I DID. IF YOU RESEARCH THE PROJECT, IT WAS DONE FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND AND IT SHOWED HOW IT WAS DONE FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND. THE DESIGN WORK WAS INFERIOR. THE ENGINEER THAT HAD THE PROJECT SAID THAT THE CITY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO HIM WHEN HE SAID IT WON'T WORK. BUT THE ANTI-CAR ACTIVIST IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION REDUCED IT FROM THREE LANES TO TWO LANES, KNOWING WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO SLOW THE CARS DOWN AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO ENTER 45 GOING SOUTH. I SAW THE DIGITAL BILLBOARD THE NEXT DAY BY THE CHURCH CONCERNED. I TALKED TO OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. I WENT TO WORK. I ASKED PUBLIC WORKS TO MAKE IT SAFE TO START OVER, DO PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE WORRIED ABOUT BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION IS NOT A HIGH INCIDENT LOCATION. THE DANGER WE OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS TRINITY SCHOOL, WHICH IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WASHINGTON. THE CHURCH IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE. AND ALL DAY LONG, STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS CROSS BACK AND FORTH. THE WASHINGTON HOUSTON PROJECT ONE, THE STORY SATURDAY WENT AWAY FROM CONGESTION TO THE COST. THE COST INCREASED BECAUSE, AND THIS IS A COMMENT ABOUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WE OUGHT TO, OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN THEY STARTED CHANGING AND UNDOING [04:35:01] THE CEMENT BLOCKS THAT WERE CREATING THE DANGER AND PREVENTING THE CHURCH FROM USING ITS PROPERTY AND THE BUSINESS. AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE POLICE SUPPLY OFFICE ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF WASHINGTON AND HOUSTON AVENUE COULD NOT GET THEIR CUSTOMERS IN AND OUT. ALL THE CADETS TRAVELING ACROSS HOUSTON WERE CONCERNED. IT GOES ON AND ON WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY COULD NOT GET UP ON 45 SOUTH WITH THEIR LARGE APPARATUS. SO BACK TO THE COST, WHY DID IT BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE? AND ACTUALLY A WEEK OR TWO LONGER WHEN THEY STARTED DIGGING, THEY HIT A GAS LINE, WHICH WAS SIX INCHES UNDERGROUND INSTEAD OF SIX FEET UNDERGROUND. WHICH POINTS TO A REAL CHALLENGE WE'VE GOT ACROSS THE CITY. IT'S HARD TO REPAIR STUFF BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA RUN INTO A CRUMBLING INTERSECTION. SO I WANT ANYONE THAT CHALLENGES ME ON THE WASHINGTON HOUSTON AVENUE CORRECTION TO LOOK AT THE FACTS. WHAT PRICE DO YOU PUT ON PUBLIC SAFETY? YOU CAN'T TAKE THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE UP ON 45, WHICH FIRE AND POLICE HAVE TO GET ON TO SERVICE THE SOUTHEAST AREA OF HOUSTON IN DEMAGOGUE ABOUT THE COST INSTEAD OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACTORS. IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY THE CHIEF, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. SO OF COURSE, I WANNA SPEAK OUT AND THINK THE PRESS FOR THE JOB THEY DO ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT I'M NOT GONNA SIT BY AND LET SOMEONE MISREPRESENT THE FACTS AS CLEAR AS I KNOW 'EM TO BE. I HOPE YOU'LL VISIT IT YOURSELF. IT'S NOT FINISHED. IT'S GOING TO DO WHAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS DO. LOOK OUT FOR PEDESTRIANS, THE MISLEADING FACTS THAT THERE SOMEONE HAD A CRASH AND DIE THERE THAT WAS NORTH ON HOUSTON AVENUE NORTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACK. I CAN GO ON AND ON. IT'S JUST DISGUSTING WHEN WE'RE WORKING AS HARD AS WE ARE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND THEN SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS GET AHOLD OF IT AND MISREPRESENT WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HOUSTONIANS. THERE MAY BE OTHER INSTANCES LIKE THIS THAT I NEED TO SPEAK TO, BUT I ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE THE PRESS. CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY. AND IF I SEE AN OBSTACLE TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, I'M GONNA SPEAK OUT. WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO SAID, BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT, UH, LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE, UM, DISCUSSING I THINK THE ITEM THAT YOU WERE REFERENCING, UM, REGARDING THE MWBE PROGRAM AND OUR DISCUSSION ON WHETHER TO VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. UM, I THINK WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION WAS WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ MADE AN ARGUMENT OR MADE A MOTION TO REFER IT BACK. I THINK THE DISCUSSION THAT I HAD AND THE COMMENTS THAT I HAD WAS REGARDING THE MOTION TO REFER BACK AND THAT I DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD BE PROPER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THAT WOULD, UM, NOT ALLOW THE SUBS TO BE PAID, BUT ALWAYS INDICATED THAT I WOULD BE VOTING NO ON THE ITEM. AND I MADE MY ARGUMENTS ON WHY I'M VOTING NO ON THE ITEM. AND I THINK THOSE AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ALL OF OUR DISCUSSIONS AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THAT. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WHEN IT COMES TO ME AND THE ARGUMENTS THAT I WAS MAKING, THERE WAS NO BACK AND FORTH. I WAS VERY CLEAR. AND I ALWAYS WILL BE CLEAR THAT WHEN IT COMES TO MWBE PARTICIPATION GOALS, IF I SEE THAT THERE IS A UNSATISFACTORY, I'M VOTING NO REGARDLESS. I DON'T CARE IF IT GOES TO LITIGATION. I DON'T CARE IF WE GET SUED. I DON'T CARE IF WE GET MORE THAN NON VOTES. I'M VOTING NO. UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO CHANGING VOTES, UH, I JUST WANT TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW LONG THAT PROCESS WILL TAKE IF YOU, IF YOU CAN CHANGE VOTES AFTER THE MEETING, WHAT IS THAT PROCESS? WHEN DOES A VOTE BECOME FINAL? HOW CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE FROM LAST WEEK IF I HAVE SOMETHING? LIKE WHAT ARE WE TO KNOW AND HOW ARE WE ABLE TO JUDGE IF SOMETHING IS PASSING OR FAILING? IF BY A PERSON'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS THAT THEY VOTE YES OR NO IS NOT THE END ALL BE ALL, THEN THEN THEN HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE KNOW? AND THEN, AND THEN WHY CHANGE A VOTE WHEN YOU JUST MADE A VOTE? [04:40:01] THAT WILL BE EXTRA CONFUSING AS WELL. SO I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO JUST FOR ME, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INTENTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE WITH VOTES, UM, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ALWAYS NOT GONNA AGREE ON EVERYTHING AND WE SHOULDN'T. AND I THINK THE DIALOGUE THAT WE HAVE IS IMPORTANT, BUT, UM, WHEN WILL THE VOTES BE FINAL? UH, SO THAT WE ALL CAN HAVE THAT EXPECTATION? WELL, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR AND I RESPECT YOU. I THOUGHT WHEN YOU DID SUCH A GOOD ARGUMENT OR ARGUMENT AGAINST THE LACK OF COMPLIANCE ON NWB, I DO RECALL YOU SAYING, BUT WE HAVE A LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GO FORWARD. WE HAVE MINORITY VENDORS WAITING TO GET PAID. THAT WAS PERSUASIVE TO ME. SO THAT WAS JUST A MISCOMMUNICATION. I UNDERSTAND NOW. YOU CONSISTENTLY VOTE NO. AND I RESPECT THAT AS TO THE FINAL VOTE, ACCORDING TO ROBERT RULES OF ORDER IS WHEN I GAVEL THE FINAL VOTE NO GOING BACK A WEEK LATER, NO GOING BACK TO YOUR LAW OFFICE AND WISH YOU TO VOTE A DIFFERENT WAY. IT'S WHEN WE'RE STILL CONDUCTING THE VOTE AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE FINAL BASED ON CITY RULE UNTIL I ANNOUNCE THE FINAL VOTE. AND THAT'S THE REASON WE GOT TO GAVEL THE LETTER. ONE NOTE. THAT'S IT. I JUST REFERENCED THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE ROOM, YOU CAN GO CHANGE YOUR VOTE IF IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE OUTCOME. IT WAS JUST A REFERENCE. BUT LET'S BE REAL CLEAR, YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOTE HERE. BUT I DO THINK BY THE TIME WE GET AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HORSESHOE AND SOMEONE OVER HERE HAS ALREADY VOTED A CERTAIN WAY, AND THEY MAY BE RESPECT SOMEONE'S EXPERTISE ON A SUBJECT LIKE I DO, MANY OF YOU, HELL, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS LONGER THAN SEVEN OF US, EIGHT OF US. THAT'S IMPORTANT. SO IF I SEE YOU VOTING AND MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR POSITION, I OUGHT TO HAVE THE OPTION ACCORDING TO THE ROBERT RULES OF ORDER, IT'S NOT JOHN WHITMORE'S RULE. THIS IS THE CITY RULES THAT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR VOTE. LAST WEEK, I WAS GONNA ALLOW A COUPLE MEMBERS, INCLUDING ME, TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE BECAUSE WE LEARNED SOMETHING DURING THE VOTE. AND THEN I RECALL AT LEAST TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYING, NO, IT'S OVER. WE VOTED. I WAS KIND OF TAKEN BACK. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MATTER TO YOU? IT'S BETWEEN ME AND THE HOUSTONIANS AND THAT DISTRICT MEMBER AND THEIR DISTRICT. SO WE DID OUR RESEARCH AND I WAS APPROACHED BY LEGAL SAYING, YOU WERE RIGHT AND WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, WE OUGHT NOT TO. AND AND, AND MAYBE THERE WAS NO WRONG INTENT BECAUSE I DO RESPECT YOU. YOU, YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY AND WHEN YOU SAY WE NEED TO PAY 'EM, I PAID ATTENTION TO YOU. THERE WERE MINORITY CONTRACTORS THAT NEEDED TO GET PAID. BUT I HAVE LEARNED THAT YOU CONSISTENTLY VOTE NO. SO I GUESS YOU CAN BRING MATTERS TO OUR ATTENTION, BUT YOU'RE GONNA BE TRUE TO YOUR CONVICTIONS AND VOTE NO. AND I RESPECT THAT. I REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH WITH MEMBERS TO HELP YOU BE THE VERY BEST COUNCIL MEMBER YOU CAN BE. BACK TO THE CHANGING OF THE VOTE IS WHEN IT'S GAVELED, I ANNOUNCE IT. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. I COULD READ IT TO YOU. IT SAYS, WHEN THE PRESIDING OFFICER READS THE RESULTS AND GAVELS IT, IT'S OVER. SO LAST WEEK, I THINK WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE, YOU SAY, WELL, I GET BACK TO MY LAW OFFICE AND WISH I'D HAVE VOTED A DIFFERENT WAY. WELL, I'M SORRY YOU'RE STUCK WHEN YOU GET BACK TO YOUR LAW OFFICE. BUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THIS PANEL AND I ANNOUNCE A VOTE, IT'S GONNA BE AN OPEN VOTE. AND I JUST THINK THAT ALLOWS THAT MEMBER TO REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICT THE BEST THEY CAN. SO I HOPE THAT CLARIFIES IT. AND IF YOU'RE FINISHED, I'LL REPRESENT, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST PROCEDURALLY, AND I APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION AND THE CLARIFICATION AS SOMEONE THAT VOTES THIRD, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT I CAN SEE WHO VOTES AND MAYBE THERE IS A CRITICAL VOTE THAT NEEDS TO PASS. I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, IF A MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE PRIOR TO YOU GAVELING, WHAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE, UH, MECHANISM? IS IT A NO JOKE INTENDED, BUT IS IT A FLAIL? IS IT A YELL ACROSS THE, LIKE, HOW WOULD WE SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE OUR VOTE? WELL, THE QUICK ANSWER WOULD BE, HOLLER AT ME. . THE MORE DELIBERATE WAY WOULD BE TO LIGHT UP YOUR BOARD. AND, AND OBVIOUSLY WE DO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO IT. SO AS I'M CONDUCTING THE VOTE, SECRETARY GIVES IT TO ME. I WILL WATCH THE PANEL AND IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, JUST ANNOUNCE IT. BUT IT'S A SMALL ENOUGH GROUP OF US THAT WE CAN KINDA LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER IS IF YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED, YOU'LL GET RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS AROUND HOUSTON AVENUE. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY [04:45:01] TO JUST BE CLEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MY STANCE ON ALL OF THIS. AND, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING THE FACTS, UH, WHICH IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO, UM, AND GET INFORMATION TO MY CONSTITUENTS WHO HAD QUESTIONS. UM, AND IN THE TIMELINE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT GIVEN THE QUICKNESS OF EVERYTHING. AND THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS THAT I'M WAITING ON INFORMATION ON. AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, UM, AND THE TIMELINE AND THE FACT THAT THERE ARE FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT THAT STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IF THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S THAT URGENT, I WANT TO BE OUT THERE MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW IT. UM, BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DO THAT IF I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION. AND SO THE MEDIANS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS NOT MY PROJECT. I'M NOT OUT HERE TRYING TO DEFEND THAT, BUT I AM TRYING TO DEFEND THE PROCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN BE, UH, CLEAR AND PRESENT INFORMATION TO FOLKS WHO HAVE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE CITY IS DOING, UH, WHAT IT'S DOING. WELL, THANK YOU AND I RESPECT YOU AND I WANNA WORK WITH YOU. UH, IT WAS AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE. BE GLAD TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION. I'LL CERTAINLY GIVE YOU ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT, UH, THE FIRST RESPONDERS. BUT YOU AND I REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE. UH, I HAVE NOT MET WITH A SPECIAL INTEREST THAT TRIED TO POLITICIZE THIS, WHO HAS POLITICIZED IT TO TRY TO INCREASE THEIR MEMBERSHIP. IT'S LARGELY THE ANTI-CAR ACTIVISTS VERY OPEN ABOUT THEIR INTENTION. HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE MAIN FEEDER THAT FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE PUBLIC? YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND MY CONSTITUENTS USED TO GET UP ON 45. IT WAS CREATING A HUGE BOTTLENECK. FIRST RESPONDERS COULD NOT ACCESS IT. SO IT WAS AN URGENT ISSUE AND IT WAS DEALT WITH THAT WAY. AND I'LL DEAL WITH OTHER URGENT ISSUES THE SAME WAY. JUST FIX IT. AND THEN I NOTICED SATURDAY IT BECAME A COST ITEM. YOU KNOW, SOMETIME PUBLIC SAFETY IS EXPENSIVE AND WE'RE WITNESSING THAT AT HPD AS WE TALKED TODAY. PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS MONEY. IT REQUIRES STAFFING. AND WHEN I TALKED TO PUBLIC WORKS AND THEY SAID THAT'S NOT THE DESIGN THE ENGINEER WANTED, IT WAS USED TO REDUCE LANES TO FORCE PEOPLE OUTTA THEIR CARS OR MAKE 'EM AS MISERABLE AS THEY CAN BE. I RESPONDED BECAUSE I'M A PROACTIVE, LET'S GET IT DONE, MAYOR. SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE GLAD TO MEET WITH ANYONE. I'LL BE GLAD TO GIVE FULL ACCESS TO THE DEPARTMENTS. BUT IT'S JUST DISAPPOINTING TO WATCH THE MISREPRESENTATION BY THE PRESS ON SATURDAY IN YOUR INTERVIEW THAT IT WAS DRIVEN BY A CHURCH WHO HAS A RIGHT TO THEIR USE OF THEIR PROPERTY WITHOUT THE FACTS THAT IT WAS DIRECTED BY FIRST RESPONDERS. CHIEF FINNER ASKED ME TO DO SOMETHING ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. I'VE LEFT HIM OUTTA THE DISCUSSION. 'CAUSE HE'S GOT A FULL PLATE THEN YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRETRUCK CANNOT TURN RIGHT OFF OF WASHINGTON COMING OUTTA STATION SIX WITH THEIR LADDER TRUCK. THEY RESPOND TO CAR ACCIDENTS UP AND DOWN SOUTH 45. SO W WITH MY MAYOR IS NOT GONNA SIT ON MY HEELS WHEN SOMETHING IS THAT URGENT. AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS CAPTURED BY THE ANTI-CAR ACTIVISTS. IT WENT FROM A SAFETY ISSUE TO A COST ISSUE TO TRIED TO BE DRAGGED ME INTO OTHER INTERSECTIONS, WHICH WILL ALL BE UNDER REVIEW. BUT LET'S JUST DO THE RIGHT THING AND AND RESPECT EACH OTHER AND BE FACTUAL. THAT'S ALL I WOULD SAY. FACTUAL. AND I I DIDN'T MENTION THE CHURCH IN MY, IN MY INTERVIEW. YOU WHAT? I DIDN'T MENTION THE CHURCH. I UNDERSTAND. AND IT WAS LIKE TWO CHURCHES AND, UH, THE BUSINESSES AND THE, AND, AND MORE, MORE IMPORTANT THAN MOBILITY. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LOSE MOBILITY IN THIS CITY. AND YOU DO IT WHEN YOU REDUCE A THOROUGHFARE FROM THREE LANES TO TWO LANES. NOT TO MENTION PLACING HUGE CONCRETE BLOCKS THAT METRO METRO THE FIRST DAY WAS STUCK ON TOP OF. I DIDN'T EVEN THROW IN THE FACT THAT THE METRO FOLKS SPOKE TO US ABOUT PLEASE GIVE RELIEF SO I CAN GO ON AND ON. I'M, I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE CONFIDENT IN THE DECISION I MADE. AND I'M SORRY, AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU WERE NOT BROUGHT INTO THE LOOP QUICK ENOUGH. IT'S YOUR DISTRICT. I RESPECT THAT. BUT QUITE FRANKLY, I'VE GOT SOME AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND THE MAYOR THAT REPRESENTS THE SAME COMMUNITY. IN FACT, I GOT ACCOLADES FROM SOME OF THE VERY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN WOODLAND HEIGHTS THAT YOU REPRESENT. SO LET'S GO FORWARD, LET'S COMMUNICATE. BUT, UH, FOR TOTAL TRANSPARENCY, I WANTED [04:50:01] THE FACTS TO BE ON TAPE. I'D NOT BROUGHT IN CHIEF NER NEW YEAR'S EVE 1230. I SAID, THIS IS BAD. IT'S DANGEROUS. I LISTENED TO HIM. I LISTENED TO FIRE, I LISTENED TO METRO, I LISTENED TO THE CHURCHES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I TO HOUSTONIANS. SO ENOUGH SAID. UH, BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU GOING FORWARD. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE, UH, CONCERNS AND, UH, BRINGING UP THE CORRECTION, THE CLARITY ON THE CHANGE OF VOTING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHERS FOR, FOR UNITY, THE SPEAKING OF UNITY. AND I'M HOPING THAT WE ALL, UH, HAVE THAT SPIRIT OF UNITY. AND I THINK THAT'S THE GOAL OF ALL OF US, INCLUDING YOURSELF. AND, UH, LEMME JUST ADDRESS, I WAS ONE OF THE ONES, IF THERE WERE OTHERS, I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, BUT I WAS ONE WHO WAS, UH, THE VOTE TO CHANGE MY VOTE. BUT IF YOU RECALL ON RECORD, I ASKED FOR CLARITY. THAT'S WHAT I DID. I ASKED, LET ME, LET ME ASK FOR CLARITY BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION AMONG THE ISSUE OF THE MWBE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP RESPECTFULLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, POLLARD, WHICH I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT WE OUGHT TO SUPPORT THOSE OF THE MWBE AND WE DON'T WANNA SEE ANYONE NOT TREATED FAIRLY IN THAT CASE. BUT IN ALL DUE RESPECT, THE CONVERSATION WENT ON AROUND THE HORSESHOE IN REGARDS TO CORRECTING IT. YOU ADDRESSED THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO GET A COMMITTEE TOGETHER AND TO ADDRESS THAT, THAT FACT, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER ADDRESSED IT BASED UPON WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ACCORDING TO LAW THAT WE PAY THE CONTRACTOR, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FOR THE RECORD. AND THAT WAS MY REASON WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT BACK THAT I ASKED FOR CLARITY BEFORE I CHANGED MY VOTE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT GONNA ALWAYS AGREE, UM, AROUND THE HORSESHOE, WHICH IS EXPECTABLE, UH, RESPECTED. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I THINK IT IS FAIR GOING TO ROBERT RULES OF, OF OF ORDER THAT WE FOLLOW THE RULES. AND IF THAT'S THE, IF THAT'S THE RULE, THEN I THINK IT, IT SHOULD BE GRANTED THAT ONE CAN CHANGE THE VOTE. I'M NOT BEING DISAGREEABLE WITH COUNCILMAN POLLAN OR ANY OTHER, BUT I THINK RESPECTFULLY, WE OUGHT TO FOLLOW THE RULE. AND IF THAT'S THE RULE, WE OUGHT TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO CHANGING OUR, OUR VOTE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT IT BECAME POLITICAL, THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN MEMBERS FELT LIKE THEY HAD CERTAIN MEMBERS VOTING A CERTAIN WAY AND THEY DIDN'T WANT 'EM TO UNDO IT. MM-HMM . I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I HOPE WE LEAVE POLITICS OUT IN THE HALL. ABSOLUTELY. AND I WOULD SUGGEST OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT GONNA VOTE TOGETHER IF SOME OF Y'ALL VOTE TOGETHER, SOMEBODY'S NOT REPRESENTING THEIR DISTRICT. RIGHT. AND I WON'T DRAW THE COMPARISON, BUT, BUT THERE IS A HUGE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION YES. AT THIS PANEL. AND YOU NEED TO REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICT AND, UH, GET ON DOWN WITH THE JOB. BUT, UH, I, I WISH LAST WEEK, I MEAN, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN A VERY EDUCATIONAL PROCESS TO LEARN WHAT THE RULE IS, MOST PEOPLE OPERATING UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MAYOR SEES A VOTE, HE ANNOUNCES IT AND THAT'S IT. BUT, UH, ACTUALLY ONCE IT IS ANNOUNCED, THAT'S IT. UH, ANYTHING. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPLANATION OF WHY YOU MADE THE HOUSTON AVENUE CHANGES AND HOW THAT DECISION CAME ABOUT. UM, YOU MADE A VERY COMPELLING CASE I THOUGHT, FOR, UH, MAKING THAT CHANGE. AND I APPRECIATE KNOWING THAT. NOW, UH, LET ME ALSO SAY WITH REGARD TO THE RULES, UM, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT WHEN A VOTE BECOMES FINAL AND MAY I SUGGEST THAT WE REVISIT ALL THE COUNCIL RULES, UH, TO SEE IF SOME OF THEM NEED TO BE CHANGED ALONG WITH THE CLARIFICATION OF WHEN A VOTE BECOMES FINAL IN READING THROUGH THEM. UM, THEY'RE NOT THE CLEAREST RULES I'VE EVER READ. UH, SOME OF THEM ARE ANTIQUATED AND PROBABLY REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN APPLICATION, UH, TO THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS NOW. AND MAYBE SOME NEED TO BE ADDED. AND SO I WOULD URGE MAYOR, THAT WE ALL CONSIDER, UH, LOOK, TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THOSE RULES AND REVAMPING THEM AND IMPROVING THEM SO THAT WE CAN WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT POINT. AND I LOOK FORWARD SOMETIME THIS SPRING TO HAVING A PANEL, A WORKING GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE RULES. I STILL, I'LL REPEAT WHAT I SAID, I THINK LAST WEEK. I THINK IT'S WRONG THAT HOUSTONIANS CANNOT WAKE UP THE DAY THAT COUNCIL MEETS AND COME DOWN AND ADDRESS THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE 3:00 PM SHUT OFF THE DAY BEFORE. A LOT CAN HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. SO IF YOU HEAR FROM A NEIGHBOR, IF YOU SEE IN THE PRESS [04:55:01] AN ISSUE YOU CARE ABOUT, YOU OUGHT TO BE COMING DOWN HERE FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING AND SIGN IN. I THINK WE OUGHT TO KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE. I DON'T THINK YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO USE SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME. I THINK WE OUGHT TO KNOW IF YOU'RE A HOUSTONIAN, JUST SOME CREDIBILITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE TO HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO I UNDERSTAND THE THREE O'CLOCK CUTOFF THE DAY BEFORE ALLOWS BILL TO DO A LITTLE BACKGROUND CHECK. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS PERCEIVED AS THE INTIMIDATION THAT SOME OF OUR WITNESSES HAVE GOTTEN ONCE THEY SIGN UP BY DEPARTMENT HEADS. I'VE TALKED TO WITNESSES, CITIZENS, AND THEY'RE DRILLED PRETTY HARD ABOUT WHY ARE YOU COMING TO COUNCIL? CAN WE JUST RESOLVE IT BEFORE YOU SHOW UP AT COUNCIL? THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY OPEN GOVERNMENT WORKS. SO I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO, TO SIGN UP THE, THE ARGUMENT LAST WEEK BY SOME ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES THAT, OH, EVERYBODY HAS ALL THE OPPORTUNITY. THEY CAN, THEY NEED TO GET DOWN HERE WRONG. I THINK IF YOU WAKE UP AND, AND, AND YOUR, YOUR PARTNER, SOMEONE SAYS, YOU KNOW, I FEEL HE'S REAL. FEEL STRONG ABOUT THAT PROJECT. COME ON DOWN. IT MAY TAKE LONGER IN THE NONSENSE THAT YOU'VE GOTTA CHANGE THE, YOU GOTTA HAVE A VOTE TO WORK PAST NOON. I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE HAVEN'T SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THAT. WHAT, WHAT OTHER HOUSTONIAN BUSINESS HAS TO HAVE A VOTE OF THE STAFF OR THE CEO OR THE LEADERSHIP IF THEY WANNA WORK PAST NOON, THAT IS SO ANTIQUATED AND PROBABLY GOES BACK TO HELL HORSE AND BUGGY DAYS. I HOPE. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM. . I'VE WORKED IN THE LEGISLATURE ALL NIGHT LONG. . SO LET'S, LET'S GET HOUSTON AS RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC AND MODERN AS WE CAN BE. AND I THINK THIS SPRING, UH, WE, I GOT A FULL PLATE AND I I NEED Y'ALL'S HELP. I COULD JUST, I COULD GO DOWN THE LIST. I'M WORKING 18 HOURS, I'M LISTENING TO EVERYONE. WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FIRE UNION. OBVIOUSLY HBD HAS SOME REAL CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO ALLOW THE CHIEF TO DO HIS JOB AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. I COULD TALK ABOUT WATER BUILDING, I COULD TALK ABOUT PERMITTING, ON AND ON AND ON, BUT IT'S FUNDAMENTAL, THE ACCESS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO US. AND I WANT TO HELP Y'ALL BE THE BEST COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU CAN BE. AND JUST REMIND YOU, WE'RE IN MY JUDGMENT IN MY WORLD. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. WE REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE. SO WITH THAT SAID, UM, I'M GONNA MISS MY, MY FUNERAL IF I'M NOT CAREFUL AND I'LL, I'LL NOT YOUR, SOME OF Y'ALL PROBABLY SAY, GO AHEAD AND GO NOW. NOW, WELCOME WILSON. WE'RE GONNA GO CELEBRATE HIS GREAT LIFE AND I WILL GO BACK ON THE POSITIVE NOTES OF THE U OF H TEAM AND THE RODEO AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW MAKES THIS A GREAT CITY. WITH THAT SAID, UH, I MOVE TO [CONSENT AGENDA] GET TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEMS FOUR AND FOUR THROUGH SIX. BUT ITEMS FOUR AND SIX NEED A MOTION CAST ACT STATE MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT MY DEAR. UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY ITEMS UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEM SEVEN THROUGH NINE NEED A MOTION CAST, STATE A MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE SECOND. ALL FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION TO MOVE. NEXT SECOND. MOTION MADE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] PERING AND TABULATION OF B CATEGORY ITEMS. 11. I'M SORRY. ITEM 15 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 11, 13, 14, AND 16. NEED A MOTION. WHAT ABOUT 12 ITEM 15, MOTION ALL IN FAVOR. 13. OH, ITEM 15 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEMS. 11, 12, 13, 14, AND 16 NEED A MOTION CAST. NEXT STATE, A MOVE. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 17, 18, 19, 20, AND 24. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 17, 18, 19, 20, AND 24. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. [05:00:02] ITEM MOVE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION CAST T MOVED. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? UH, THOSE OPPOSED TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THAT'S THE ONE. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING FOR THIS ITEM AND UM, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM, BUT I WANTED TO MENTION ONE THING. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT TO GIVE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND, UM, I'M SORRY, MY MOM. I'M SORRY I'M ON THE WRONG NUMBER. I'M LIKE, WHAT? THAT'S NOT WRONG. 18. UM, ITEM 18. WE NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. ITEM PASSES. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS IS FOR THE, UM, THIS ITEM IS TO BE ABLE TO REMOTELY CONTROL HVAC SYSTEMS. AND SOMETHING THAT I JUST WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT, UM, WAS RECENTLY COMMUNICATED TO ME IS THAT AT OUR FIRE STATIONS, UM, IN ORDER TO SWITCH FROM HEATING TO COOLING OR VICE VERSA, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO CALL ONE PERSON IN THE CITY TO MAKE THAT SWITCH. AND IF THAT PERSON IS NOT AVAILABLE, THEY'RE STUCK WITH EITHER AIR CONDITIONING WHEN IT'S COLD OR HEAT WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE. AND SO THERE, I'M SURE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO HERE, YOU KNOW, EVEN TO HAVE A BACKUP PERSON OR SOME OTHER SYSTEM IN PLACE TO WHERE, UM, IT'S NOT JUST FALLING ON ONE PERSON TO SWITCH THE HEAT OR COOLING AT OUR FIRE STATIONS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? NO. UH, NEED A VOTE? MADAM SECRETARY? YES, PLEASE. ITEM 19. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE THIS NEED TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. MARY JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT COMPLETES THE, UH, EXHAUST VEHICLE EXHAUST REMOVAL SYSTEMS FOR THE LAST, UH, FIRE STATION. SO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR FIRE STATIONS WILL NOW BE EQUIPPED WITH, UH, THIS TOOL THAT PREVENTS EX, HELPS PREVENT EXPOSURE TO CONTAMINATION FROM EXHAUST EMISSIONS. UH, WHICH AGAIN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL THE, THE OTHER EFFORTS IS HELPING, UH, SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS DISTRICT SEES STATION 37 WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS INSTALLATION. SO I JUST, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT'S ROUNDING OUT, UH, THIS ENTIRE EFFORT. I DID MAYOR, UM, I I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S IN THE QUEUE AS WELL. SO I WANNA DEFER TO HER. AND THEN I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU TO FOLLOW UP RELATED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GIVE FIRST RESPONDERS THE, UH, RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND SAID, THIS IS KIND OF ROUNDING IT OUT, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A CHIEF PENA WHO'S HERE TODAY. UM, LAST WEEKEND THERE WAS AN INCIDENT IN TERRY HERSHEY PARK AND HFD HAS BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO GET DEEP INTO THE PARK WHEN SOMEBODY IS HURT A BIKER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ABOUT A HALF MILE, HALF MILE IN AND FUNDS FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FROM DISTRICT G PROVIDED A MEDICAL CART AND WERE ABLE TO GET TO THIS GENTLEMAN WHO HAD MULTIPLE BROKEN RIBS, A POSSIBLE, UH, BROKEN CLAVICLE. UM, HE WAS 57 YEARS OLD AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TO HIM A LOT FASTER THAN THEY WOULD'VE IN THE PAST. AND SO THANK YOU HFD FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING YOU DO. CHIEF PENA, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. AND THEN KAMAN. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND I DIDN'T EVEN SEE CHIEF PENA IN THE AUDIENCE. SO CHIEF, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. UM, I WAS GOING TO SAVE SOME REMARKS I HAD FOR, FOR POPOFF, BUT SINCE WE'RE ON THIS ITEM, UM, MAYOR, WE HAVE THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND I KNOW WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. AND, UM, WE ALSO ARE CRITICAL IN SUPPORTING THE REST OF THE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, DISASTER RESPONSE AND WILDFIRES. UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE SECOND LARGEST WILDFIRE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN OUR HISTORY. UM, OVER 500,000 ACRES AND IT'S 0% PERCENT CONTAINED. I BELIEVE THAT TDE, UM, ISSUED A, UH, REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN. AND, UH, AGAIN, WITH OUR WILDLAND DIVISION, I KNOW I'M THE BROKEN RECORD, THEY'RE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS. UM, THESE GUYS KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHEN WE STEP UP TO HELP IN THE STATE, [05:05:01] WE'RE HELPING OUR ECONOMY. AND MY QUESTION IS, UM, WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE DOING ANYTHING GIVEN T DM HAS ISSUED THAT NOTICE, UM, TO ACTIVATE AND GET SUPPORT OUT FOR, UH, OUR BROTHER AND SISTERS IN COUNTIES IN THE PANHANDLE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SO CAN I, WILL SOMEONE GET BACK TO ME ON THAT? I'M SORRY. WHAT? WILL SOMEONE GET BACK TO ME ON THAT? YES, WE CAN. YES. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. ANYONE ELSE LET NEED THE VOTE ON 20? DOES HAVE A VOTE ON 20? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. ITEM 24 PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU MEMBERS. UH, HOW ABOUT [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] PAPA ALCO? COUNCILMAN ALCORN? OKAY, WE'RE ALL PREPARED WITH ISSUES TODAY. UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SHARING MORE SERVICES WITH HARRIS COUNTY. UM, CERTAINLY YOU'VE MADE, UH, AN ISSUE OF THAT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, I'D LIKE TO, UH, REEXAMINE OUR ILA THAT WE HAVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. I DON'T THINK WE'RE MAKING AS MUCH PROGRESS ON THAT AS WE SHOULD BE. WE PASSED THIS LAST FEBRUARY. THERE SHOULD BE MONTHLY MEETINGS GOING ON. UM, THERE'S A, A HEALTH, UM, PART OF THE ILA THAT WE PASSED WAS, UM, AND I GIVE, I GIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAMS CREDIT. HE'S MADE PROGRESS ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS, BUT WE AGREED TO, UM, TO GET TOGETHER. LET'S SEE, PART OF IT IS, UM, BRINGING IT UP HERE. IT HAD, UH, THE AGREEMENT HAS PARTIES MEETING MONTHLY HHD AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS ISN'T IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, THIS IS JUST PUBLIC HEALTH. AGREE TO REVIEW THIS AGREEMENT ON A YEARLY BASIS. SO WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT AT THAT RIGHT NOW. IT'S FEBRUARY OF 24. SO I'D LIKE TO GET A, AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THIS. IT'S BEEN A YEAR UNDER THE AGREEMENT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND, AND, UM, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT MUTUALLY AGREE THAT THEY WILL MEET MONTHLY TO DISCUSS CURRENT AND FUTURE COLLABORATIONS. THIS COLLABORATION WILL HELP IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY TO RESIDENTS AND SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE. THE AREAS OF POTENTIAL COLLABORATION ARE, ARE AS FOLLOWS, ALIGN CU COMMUNITY WIDE PLANNING. ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY COMMUNITY-WIDE COORDINATING COUNCIL THAT INCLUDES HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PARTNERS. I NEED AN UPDATE ON WHETHER THAT COORDINATING COUNCIL HAS BEEN FORMED AND ARE THEY MEETING AND ARE THEY MAKING ANY PROGRESS? UM, COOPERATIVE PLANNING ACCESS WITH ACCESS, HOUSTON VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND CREATE A DATA SHARING MECHANISM FOR PATIENT LEVEL AND PROGRAM LEVEL DATA. SO WE HAD A REALLY SPECIFIC ILA THAT WAS PASSED. UM, I HAVE MET WITH, UH, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. I THINK SOME OF THE STUFF HAS BEEN DONE. IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE PASSED IT. I'D LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT. AND I THINK WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY LARGE CITIES THAT HAS A SEPARATE, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT. NOT, NOT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, NOT HARRIS HEALTH, BUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE WE COULD DO TOGETHER. UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF OVERLAPPING AND DUPLICATIVE SERVICES. SO SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON. IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE PASSED THAT. THANK YOU. VERY WELL SAID. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, I'M GONNA STAY FOR THESE POPOFFS. SO APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ALMOST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD IN MANY OF OUR PUBLIC SESSIONS, PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS. SO I WANNA BRING IT BACK TO THE FOREFRONT. I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING WITH A LOT OF THE NEW MEMBERS AND KIND OF EXPLAINING THE PROCESS AND WHAT WE PUT FORWARD, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT HOUSTON HAS THE LEGAL GUIDANCE TO HOLD THESE SLUMLORDS ACCOUNTABLE. AND, UM, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO PICK THE 12 NASTIEST APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND DEAL WITH THEM, UH, USED AS A PILOT PROGRAM POSSIBLY. UM, BUT REALLY PUT THOSE IN PLACE AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THERE ARE THAT HOUSTONIANS LIVE IN A SAFE, UM, A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. AND, UM, AND I ALSO WANNA COMMEND, UM, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, AMY PECK. UH, WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING YESTERDAY WITH ONE PARTICULAR OWNER THAT ACTUALLY WANTS TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. AND JUST HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME. IT'S KIND OF A REVERSE. OFTENTIMES WE HAVE APARTMENT OWNERS THAT DON'T WANNA DO ANYTHING. THIS WOULD ACTUALLY CAME TO THE TABLE AND SAID, LISTEN, WE'RE HAVING SOME STRUGGLES. WHAT CAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON DO TO ASSIST US? AND SO I THINK THERE'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION, BUT, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE AWARE, MAYOR, BUT WE HAVE 5,000 APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND 2550% OF OUR INVENTORY ARE D AND UM, C AND D APARTMENT COMPLEXES. SO THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT EVEN AT A LEVEL OF A HEALTH CODE, TEXAS HEALTH CODE AND THAT'S WHO YOU WANNA BRING IT TO. SO NO FINES NECESSARILY, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERY APARTMENT OWNER, UM, YOU KNOW, HAS, UM, AN ENVIRONMENT THAT AT LEAST MEETS THE STATE HEALTH CODE AT A MINIMUM. [05:10:03] THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CARTER? WELL, MAYOR, YOU STOLE MY THUNDER. I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT, UH, FOR THE RODEO. JUST THE, UH, RODEO COMMITTEE, UH, THE PARADE COMMITTEE, THE CITY STAFF AND ALL THAT WORKED TOGETHER TO HAVE A FABULOUS PARADE. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE FAMILIES, UH, JUST SO MANY PEOPLE. AND ALSO TO, UM, I'M HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO, UH, REPRESENT THE, UH, MAYOR TONIGHT AT ARMED FORCES DAY FOR THE RODEO. AND, AND, UH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE OF MANY TO OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S AN HONOR TO DELIVER THAT PROCLAMATION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, OH, HABITS DIEHARD. I'M GONNA FINISH THIS WEEK, UH, WITH MY ACCOLADES TO THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, I HAVE, UH, ENGAGED WITH THIS WEEK. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME, UH, OTHER MORE RELEVANT INFORMATION REGARDING CONSTITUENT ISSUES. UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE REDEDICATION OF THE EDWARD J STRING FELLOW POLICE STATION TOOK PLACE ON YESTERDAY AND ON THE 8,300 MACAU ROAD, UH, TO HONOR A FIGURE OF IMMENSE INTEGRITY AND DEDICATION, CHIEF EDWARD J STRINGFELLOW THROUGH THE RED REDEDICATION OF THE SOUTHEAST PATROL STATION AND HIS NAME. UH, THE CEREMONY NOT ONLY COMMEMORATED HIS REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO REINFORCED OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. UH, ON YESTERDAY, THERE WAS ALSO AN APPRECIATION BY CITY CONTROLLER HOLLANDS AND THE STAFF WHO HOSTED AN ENLIGHTENING EVENT THAT CELEBRATED THE SOCIAL JUSTICE LEGACY OF BLACK AMERICANS THROUGH THE ARTS. AND THAT WAS, UH, EVENTS LIKE THIS IN ENRICH OUR UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATE IN APPRECIATION OF THE PIVOTAL ROLES BLACK AMERICANS PLAY IN SHAPING OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE. ALSO, ON YESTERDAY, THERE WAS A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS, UH, WHICH WAS HELD AT WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE WERE IN PARTNERSHIP AND WE GAVE, UH, TUXEDOS AND PROM DRESSES TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS THERE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE THESE ITEMS. AND SO WE DID THAT, AND THEY WERE VERY, VERY EXCITED. WE HAD ONE PREVIOUSLY AT STERLING. THERE IS ALSO, UH, ONE PLANNED AT THE JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL, UH, SO THAT WE CAN HELP OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THAT EVENING, UH, AND NOT HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH HAVING ANYTHING TO WEAR FOR THAT SPECIAL EVENING. ALSO, I WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT AND, AND SUPPORTED THE NAACP FREEDOM FUND GALA, PARTICULARLY MY COLLEAGUES, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER, WHO, UH, HELPED ME TO FILL MY TABLE, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT AFTER AN ELECTION TO GO OUT AND ASK PEOPLE TO GIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT IT IS A WORTHY EVENT, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL, UM, PARTICIPATING, UH, FINANCIALLY AND, AND, AND IN YOUR PRESENCE, UH, ONTO TOMORROW. NO, I'M SORRY, ON TODAY, THE RASMUS, UH, TIMINOS RIBBON CUTTING WILL BE AT 1703 GRAY STREET AND JOIN US FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE NEW RASMUS TIMINOS FACILITY. AND SO, UH, IT'S ANOTHER HOUSING FACILITY IN DISTRICT D, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. ALSO, THE LIVING LIVING LEGENDS LUNCHEON IS ALSO, SO YOU HAVE A BUSY DAY, UH, AT THE, AT THE EL DORADO BALLROOM, A LUNCHEON EVENT, WHICH WILL BE HELD TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LIVING LEGENDS IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO PRECINCT ONE COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS FOR COMMEMORATING THESE LIVING LEGENDS. ALSO, ON TONIGHT AT THE JOHNSON NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY FROM SIX TO SEVEN 30, A COMMUNITY EVENT CELEBRATING AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING IN SHEER PASSAGES FROM THEIR FAVORITE BOOKS BY AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHORS. NOW, IN TERMS OF AN ISSUE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE. WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO THE NOISE ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN GIVE SOME TEETH. UH, PEOPLE ARE HAVING SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, AND WE TRIED TO IMPLEMENT SOME THINGS, BUT IT JUST DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. AND SO WE ARE INUNDATED WITH PHONE CALLS AND, AND EMAILS FROM THE CONSTITUENTS THAT REALLY NEED THE RELIEF. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UM, AIR THIS OUT WITH YOU, MAYOR. CERTAINLY IF WE CAN GET IN COMMITTEE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING TO PUT TEETH TO THESE ORDINANCES. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, BUT THIS CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HEAR A LOT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS AROUND HOMELESSNESS. [05:15:01] UH, AND WE'VE HAD A, A NUMBER OF INCREASED EVENTS OF ENCAMPMENTS POPPING UP AROUND PARKS AND BAYOU AND UNDERPASSES. UM, YESTERDAY MY OFFICE MET WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DISTRICTS, UH, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY PRECINCT TWO AND HPD TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN WORK MORE COLLABORATIVELY ON, UM, THESE ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE POPPING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS. UM, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AND, AND FIGURE OUT WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS IT. UM, WE'RE ALSO GONNA MEET WITH, UM, MARK EICHENBAUM AS WELL, TO, TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION AND BRING FOLKS TOGETHER. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND, AND WANT TO EXPLORE WAYS TO ADDRESS, UH, COMPREHENSIVELY BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING MORE, MORE OF THESE ENCAMPMENTS POP UP AND FOLKS ARE ENCOUNTERING, UM, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AGGRESSIVE AND, AND DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, AND IT'S CREATING SAFETY CONCERNS. UM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND, UH, WE'LL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON, ON OUR PROGRESS IN TERMS OF, UM, THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THE DISTRICT. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE. ONE, IRVINGTON PARK IS GONNA BE CLOSED FOR REPAIRS NOW THROUGH APRIL 30TH. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE AWARE THAT NEW EQUIPMENT'S GONNA BE INSTALLED. UM, THINGS WILL BE UPGRADED, BUT, UH, SOME OF THE PLAY AREAS WILL BE CLOSED THROUGH THE 30TH OF APRIL. UM, THIS COMING SATURDAY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES IS HOSTING HER COLLEGE AND CAREER DAY AT ADMIN AND MAY PARK FROM 10 TO TWO, UH, WHERE FOLKS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A FREE CAR. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS, UM, DEFINITELY VISIT HER, HER SOCIAL MEDIA TO PRE-REGISTER THE MD ANDERSON, YMCA IS PUTTING ON FOOTBALL IN THE CITY, UH, WHICH IS A PROGRAM FOR FREE COACHING AND SOCCER FOR KIDS AGES SIX TO 14. UH, WE'LL SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO UTILIZE THAT PROGRAM, BUT IT IS A POPULAR ONE, AND, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE, UH, DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TALKING TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE DISTRICT AND BRINGING RESOURCES TO THEM, UH, THROUGH OUR TOWN HALL SERIES. WE'LL HAVE ONE THIS EVENING IN EAST TEXAS, JENSEN, AND THEN ONE ON SUNDAY. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE OUT THE INFORMATION ON THOSE. AND I, AND I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTED AT THOSE MEETINGS. UH, THE CONSTITUENTS REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOLKS IN THE CITY COMING TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS DIRECTLY AND PROVIDING THEIR RESOURCES. SO, UH, I DO WANT TO THANK THEM, UH, FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND ALL OF THEIR HELP. AND, UH, THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY UPDATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, THANKS FOR BRINGING HOMELESS ISSUE AS A DISCUSSION. UH, ONE OF MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES, I KNOW WE ALL ARE IN THIS TOGETHER, THE COLLABORATION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN MENTIONED WITH THE COUNTY. IT'S A GOOD MODEL, BUT IT NEEDS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. WE'VE GOT TO LOOK TO THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING YOU DESCRIBED IS IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE TO REMIND OUR FRIENDS AT THE COUNTY THAT WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER, AND IT'S GONNA BE RESOURCES, MORE RESIDENTIAL, MORE SHELTERS, DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIX, AND HAVE A WORKABLE REENTRY PROGRAM FOR THOSE RELEASED FROM THE JAIL AND FROM PRISON WHO BECOME HOMELESS. BUT, UM, IT NEEDS TO BE OUR TOP PRIORITY. AND, UH, I'M GONNA RECRUIT MIKE NICHOLS TO PLAY A, A VITAL ROLE. I THINK THERE'S INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HADN'T THOUGHT OF IN THE PAST, MAYBE IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, COULD PLAY A ROLE. AND CERTAINLY METRO COULD PLAY A ROLE. MANY, UH, ROUTES OF THE METRO TRAIN AND BUSES ARE BEING, UH, INTERFERED WITH BY THE HOMELESS PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS FEEL SAFE ON THE METRO, UH, SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE HOMELESS. SO IT IS A TOP PRIORITY. IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE, AND IT'S FIXABLE. IF WE APPLY THE RESOURCES AND THE LEADERSHIP AND THE, AND THE FAITH COMMUNITY, THERE'S NO REASON IN THE WORLD, SOME OF OUR MAJOR FAITH INSTITUTIONS CANNOT ASSIST US IN DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE. SO, I, I CAN'T, I JUST, I PLEAD WITH EVERYONE TO MAKE THAT A SHORT LIST CONCERN. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE. I MET WITH AL CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN LAST WEEK. HE'S GONNA BE TALKING TO MAXINE WATERS. LA WE KNOW HAS PROBABLY THE WORST PROBLEM [05:20:01] IN THE NATION. SHE'S TACKLING IT, GONNA GET MAYBE A BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEAL WITH, UH, MAJOR CITIES HOMELESS. THE, UH, MAYOR OF NEW YORK IS IN THE NATIONAL NEWS TODAY, SO THAT THE HOMELESS ISSUE THERE, UH, CERTAINLY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE VIOLATED THE LAW IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR HIS COMMUNITY. SO I'M DOING MY BEST TO NETWORK WITH OTHER MAJOR CITIES LEADERSHIP TO, TO MAKE THIS A NATIONAL ISSUE AND GET FEDERAL FUNDING TO ADDRESS IT. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND CERTAINLY PROPER SHELTERS TO TREAT THE HOMELESS CORRECTLY, AND, UH, ALSO REPRESENT THE, UH, INTEREST OF ALL HOUSTONIANS. SO IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ME TO GET IN THE RACE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE HOMELESS ISSUE. WE'VE DONE GOOD, BUT WE'VE GOTTA DO A LOT BETTER BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, THE CONCERN, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ, THAT THE BUS STATION BEING RELOCATED, UH, GREYHOUND ON HARRISBURG, THERE'S A HOMELESS ELEMENT THAT THAT IS FOLLOWING IT TO THAT LOCATION. SO, MAN, I COULD SPEND THE DAY WORKING ON IT. AND, AND LET'S STAY FOCUSED ON THAT AS WE DEAL WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IN THE, IN THE IMPROPER HOUSING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THE DANGEROUS HEALTH ISSUES. PART OF THAT INVOLVES THE HOMELESS ISSUE. IF THEY WEREN'T THERE IN THESE INFERIOR DANGEROUS SITES, THEY'D BE HOMELESS. SO WE'VE GOTTA GIVE THEM SOME, UH, SOME OPTIONS FOR HOUSING AND NOT BE FORCED TO LIVE IN SUCH A DANGEROUS, SORRY, ENVIRONMENT. AND RIGHT NOW IT'S EITHER THAT OR THE STREETS, OR THEIR BACKSEAT OF THEIR CAR. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND Y'ALL GONNA HAVE TO EXCUSE ME IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. I'VE GOT TO GO TO THE SERVICE. SURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT, JUST WANT, YOU'LL BE BACK. GOOD LORD. UH, JUST, JUST WANNA IDENTIFY, WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS CERTAINLY, UM, GRATEFUL TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH ON CRIME ON MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE COLLABORATION OF ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, AS WE ALL KNOW, AROUND THIS HARD SHOE. THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR EMPHASIS THAT WE ALL TALK ABOUT IS CRIME. AND ALSO YESTERDAY, I WANTED OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WHO ATTENDED IT, UH, AS WELL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ALCORN, AND, UM, MARTINEZ AND AMY, COUNCILMAN PECK, AND OTHERS WHO WERE ABLE TO BE THERE TO STAND WITH THE CHIEF, UH, UH, THE POLICE, CERTAINLY TO, UH, NER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. SO I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF THAT AND CERTAINLY ADDRESS IT. AND ALSO TO PARTICIPATE ON YESTERDAY IN THE CONVERSATION ON CRIME, WHICH IS VERY, VERY ESSENTIAL TO ALL OF US. AND I THINK, UH, I WAS HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU. UH, LAST THURSDAY, GOT TO GO DOWN AND ACTUALLY SEE THE LUNAR LANDING, UH, DOWN AT, UH, INTUITIVE MACHINES. AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND I THINK THE CONFIRMATION OF OUR, UH, NEW AIRPORT DIRECTOR, UH, JUST ENHANCES ALL OF THAT. UH, AND AS FAR AS A, AN ISSUE, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING AS FAR AS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE UNITED EXPANSION THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO DO. I KNOW LAST YEAR THERE WAS A LOT OF CONSTERNATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WAS ON THE HOOK FOR ANY OF THOSE BONDS OR, OR NOT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE THEN. AND I REALLY THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HELP US MEET OUR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE UP, NEED TO TAKE UP PRETTY QUICKLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. AMEN. UM, I HAVE A FEW NEIGHBORHOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO RAISE ANY ISSUES, THOUGH I HOPE THAT THE MAYOR'S TEAM IS LISTENING. UM, THE FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO LAZY BROOK CIVIC CLUB, UM, CLEVELAND PARK, BELL PARK, OLIVE OF WOOD CEMETERY, COLLEGE PARK, MEMORIAL CEMETERY, AND OTHERS ALL HAVE BEEN DOING COMMUNITY CLEANUPS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THEM. AND I THINK IT'S JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO TEAM UP WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO START THE NEW YEAR, CLEANING UP AND BEAUTIFYING OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES. SO I WANNA JUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS, UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE PRIDE IN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING, UH, HISTORICAL CEMETERIES. [05:25:01] THERE WAS A, UH, PUBLIC WORKS MEETING AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER MEETING AT THE GREGORY LINCOLN AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER, UH, IN FRIEDMAN'S TOWN LAST NIGHT. IT WAS ONE, THE LAST ONE OF A SERIES, UM, ON HEARING FROM STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BRICKS IN FRIEDMANS TOWN. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MEETINGS ON THIS, BUT I DID WANNA SAY WHAT WILL BE UPCOMING IS A PUBLIC MEETING IN MARCH. SO FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THAT, AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR AT LARGE MEMBERS, PLEASE STAY TUNED. WE'LL BE SHARING INFORMATION OUT, UM, BUT A REALLY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY EFFORT THERE. I WANTED TO THANK SEVERAL PEOPLE. UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. YESTERDAY I VISITED WITH STATION 13 IN GARDEN OAK OAK FOREST. IT'S CALLED LUCKY FIRE STATION 13. AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THEM OVER THERE. UH, I PARTNERED WITH THE STATION, UH, TO FUND A MINI MURAL TO HONOR CAPTAIN, UH, GUNDERSON, WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2021 FROM ILLNESS. AND, UH, WE WENT TO VISIT THE MURAL. UH, IT HONORS BOTH HIM AND, UH, KIMBERLY SMITH, WHO IS THE FIRST FEMALE FIREFIGHTER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO, UM, PASS DIE IN THE LINE OF DUTY. UH, SO WE HONORED BOTH OF THEM, BUT I REALLY WANNA THANK THE STATION. UM, AND CAPTAIN BIVENS, UH, THERE'S A SHIFT AT THE FIRE STATION CALLED THE GUNDERSON SHIFT, AND THEY STILL, UH, THE HONORING AND REVERE OF WHO THE CAPTAIN WAS, REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME, AND THEY WANTED TO SURPRISE THE GUNDERSON SHIFT WITH THIS MURAL. UH, SO CAPTAIN BIVENS WAS VERY ENGAGED, AND THE, THE SHIFT TEAM DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS UNTIL IT WAS FINISHED. SO IT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY. BUT I DID WANNA RAISE AN ISSUE. UM, I SAT WITH, UH, SOME OF THE FIREFIGHTERS FOR SOME TIME, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, THEIR DIFFERENT ISSUES. WE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, TO YOUR POINT. AND, UH, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE FREE MEDICAL SCREENINGS AND THOSE THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT. IT'S A VERY, VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, UH, FOR ALL OF US. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ENCOURAGING OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO PARTICIPATE. ONE, BECAUSE THIS IS GRANT FUNDED, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBERS NEEDED TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM, UH, SO THAT WE CAN ACCURATELY ASSESS. BUT THEY ARE CATCHING, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT HEALTH NEEDS FOR OUR MEMBERS. NOT JUST CANCER SCREENING, BUT WHETHER IT'S DIABETES, WHETHER IT'S OTHER ISSUES THAT THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF TO KEEP THEM SAFE. SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE HELP IN ENCOURAGING, UM, ALL OF OUR STATIONS TO PARTICIPATE, AGAIN, IT'S FREE. AND IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH INDIVIDUALS FROM THAT STATION ON A SHIFT, THEY CAN ACTUALLY, UH, NOT CLOCK OUT, BUT GET AUTHORIZATION ON SHIFT, UH, TO GO DO SO AS A GROUP, WHICH ALSO HELPS AGAIN, WITH PARTICIPATION. SO, WANTED TO RAISE THAT, BUT HUGE GRATITUDE TO THE STATION FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THIS MURAL. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO WISH, UH, BELATEDLY A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, TO OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, FOR HER BIRTHDAY. I KNOW WE ALSO CELEBRATED THIS MONTH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S BIRTHDAY. UH, BUT FOR EVERYONE CELEBRATING HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, REMINDER THAT VOTING EARLY VOTING CONTINUES. BUT, UH, THE WEEKEND BEFORE ELECTION DAY, THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING. SO PLEASE, PLEASE GET OUT, VOTE, UM, IN THE PRIMARY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND THEN IF ANYONE ON THE MAYOR'S TEAM IS LISTENING, I JUST WANNA THANK THEM FOR ADDRESSING, UM, ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS. I DON'T SEE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LEGAL, SO I'LL HOLD MY COMMENTS. UM, RELATED TO THE ILLEGAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S CONTINUING IN, UH, SHEPHERD FOREST, A MASSIVE APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH A LEGAL FIELD THAT LITERALLY HAS NO PERMITS AND IS CONTINUING TO BE BUILT. UM, SO WE APPRECIATE LEGAL'S HELP, BUT RESIDENTS ARE STILL CONCERNED 'CAUSE NOW THERE'S A NEW DRIVEWAY AND NEW DRAINAGE THAT WAS LAID DOWN. SO THEY'RE CONTINUING, ALLEGEDLY TO DO THAT WORK, WHICH IS A PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UM, SO THIS PAST MONDAY, MY OFFICE HOSTED THE ROYAL PREMIER OF GOD, SAVED TEXAS, THE PRICE OF ALL AN HBO DOCUMENTARY BY HOUSTON OWNS ALEX STAPLETON. UM, ALEX IS FROM PLEASANTVILLE, AND SHE CAME BACK TO EXAMINE HOW BLACK HISTORY IS VITAL TO THE TEXAS OIL BOOM. UM, BUT HAS LARGELY BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE HISTORY BOOK. SO I'M GRATEFUL TO ALEX AND HBO, UM, FOR SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THIS IN INEQUALITY. UM, WE WANNA ALSO THANK ALL THE FOLKS FROM PLEASANTVILLE WHO SHOWED OUT, UM, SHOWED UP TO THE EVENT. IT WAS AT, UM, THE DELUXE THEATER IN, UM, FIFTH WARD. IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE SO MANY LEGENDS. I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, SALLY ALCORN AND YOUR, YOUR HUSBAND FOR COMING ON OUT AND JOINING US, UM, CHRISTIAN MENIFEE. SO IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. AND SO THIS DOCUMENTARY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON HBO STARTING [05:30:01] TOMORROW. SO GO CHECK IT OUT. UM, TOMORROW, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH, WE'LL HOST ANOTHER JOB FAIR AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR, UM, STARTING AT 10:00 AM AT THE WORKFORCE SOLUTION IN CYPRESS STATION AT FM 19 SIX. THIS IS PART OF OUR BE SUCCESSFUL, UM, COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE. PLEASE COME OUT AND DISCOVER THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE THAT NEED A JOB ENCOURAGING 'EM TO COME SHOW UP, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, BE HIRING PEOPLE ON THE SPOT. UM, IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, GIVE US A CALL AT EIGHT THREE TWO THREE NINE THREE THREE ZERO NINE. LASTLY, PLEASE SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR NEXT DISTRICT B BRIEFING. UM, THIS BRIEFING WILL FOCUS ON THE ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, WE WILL HEAR, UM, ABOUT THE PROGRESS BEING MADE AND SOME EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL HELP US CATCH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DUMPING. UM, THE MEETING STARTS AT 10:00 AM ON SATURDAY, MARCH TONIGHT AT THE CARL WALKER JUNIOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AT 4,300 NOBLE STREET. UM, AND I KNOW I SAID LASTLY, BUT THIS IS LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO, UM, UM, BISHOP DIXON, UH, ON THE CHILI COOKOFF. UM, ON LAST WEEK I WAS A JUDGE AND CHIEF PENNER, UM, PENA WAS A JUDGE, AND IT WAS PRETTY GOOD CHILI. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE CHILI COOKOFF. THANK YOU. I HEARD YOU WERE KARAOKE SINGING AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF. YEAH. GLAD Y'ALL HAD A GOOD TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. UH, FIRST I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HOLLY CCA. SHE'S A DISTRICT G RESIDENT, AND YESTERDAY COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPOINTED HER TO THE METRO BOARD. SO SHE IS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH METRO. UM, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR HER TO, YOU KNOW, GET IN THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ALSO, LAST WEEK WE HAD, UH, MY OFFICE, I MET WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR HOMELESS INITIATIVES AND THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT G RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE. AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN HOUSTON CAN PARTNER ALSO, I WAS THINKING MAYBE ONE OF THE IDEAS IS EVEN HAVING HOUSTON FIRST BE A PARTNER IN SOME OF THIS HOMELESSNESS. I MEAN, PEOPLE COME TO HOUSTON, THEY COME TO OUR CONVENTION CENTERS. I MEAN, IT IS A TOURISM ISSUE. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I KNOW WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT, UM, THE ISSUES GOING ON WITH HPD RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S CONCERNING. WHEN WE FIRST HEARD IT WAS ABOUT 2000 ADULT SEXUAL ASSAULTS, THEN WE HEARD, WELL, IT'S LOOKING MORE LIKE 4,000. AND THEN, UM, NOW THE NUMBER'S AT 260 INCIDENTS, UH, TOTAL. SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT ACTUALLY REALLY LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OF THOSE 260,000 INCIDENTS. UM, I'M SURE A LOT OF THEM ALREADY PASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. UM, BUT HOPEFULLY, UM, WE COULD SEE THIS COME BEFORE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE VERY SOON. SO WE CAN TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M HEARING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS A LOT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TAMEL WAS GONNA TAKE A PASS, BUT SINCE, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER IS ENCOURAGING SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS, I WANNA SHARE MY THOUGHTS AS, AS DID, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN ABOUT THE, UH, UM, CODING OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CASES AS LACK OF, UH, LACK OF PERSONNEL. I WORKED AT THE DA'S OFFICE FOR 27 YEARS AND PROBABLY READ TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OFFENSE REPORTS. AND I NEVER SAW SUCH A CODE. IT WAS ENACTED AFTER I LEFT, UH, THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. AND I'M FLABBERGASTED AT WHY ANYONE WOULD'VE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CREATE SUCH A CODE, BECAUSE IF ANYTHING WAS EVER CODED THAT WAY, GIVEN THAT STAFFING HAS AN INCREASED AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY RAISING THE WHITE FLAG ON ALL THESE CASES. THEY WOULD NEVER BE SOLVED. NO ATTEMPT WOULD EVER BE MADE TO BRING THE PERPETRATOR TO JUSTICE. AND, UH, THAT DISAPPOINTS ME. IT SADDENS ME AND ALSO RAISES QUESTIONS THAT I THINK I HOPE WILL BE ANSWERED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY HAS PAINTED A ROSY PICTURE ABOUT CRIME IN THE CITY, ABOUT HOW THE OVERALL CRIME RATE IS COMING DOWN, ABOUT HOW CRIME RATES FOR VIOLENT CRIMES ARE COMING DOWN. UH, AND NOW WE HEAR THAT MORE THAN 260,000 CASES WERE CODED LACK OF STAFF. AND IT MAKES ME WONDER, WERE THESE INCLUDED IN THOSE CALCULATIONS? UH, THOSE ARE QUESTIONS I THINK THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED THE SAME WITH REGARD TO CLEARANCE RATES. UM, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE CLEARANCE RATES THAT ARE, UH, PUBLICIZED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S POINT ABOUT STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS? SHE IS, SHE'S RIGHT ON. IN MANY OF THESE CASES, WE'RE GONNA FIND THAT IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO PROSECUTE THESE CASES AND TO BRING THE OFFENDERS TO JUSTICE. AND THAT ITSELF IS AN INJUSTICE. AND [05:35:01] I KNOW THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN UNDER MAYOR WHITTIER'S WATCH, IT'S YET ANOTHER LANDMINE THAT, THAT WE'VE DISCOVERED TRAVELING THIS ROAD TOGETHER. BUT I, I KNOW THAT, UH, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. I MAKE NO JUDGMENT ABOUT WHO'S RESPONSIBLE OR WHETHER ANYBODY NEEDS TO LOSE THEIR JOB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT, UH, THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED. AND SO I HOPE WE'LL HAVE SOME SOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIMM PECK, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE SUSPENDED, UM, HPD CASES. EVERY SINGLE CASE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO OUR PATROL OFFICERS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK ON THE FRONT END. IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO ALL HOUSTONIANS AND ESPECIALLY TO THE VICTIMS HERE. IT'S HARD ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD, UM, WHEN THERE'S BEEN AN ISSUE WITH CRIME OR, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ELSE. AND THE CONCERN IS ALWAYS, WELL, NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY. WHY EVEN COME FORWARD? AND IN A LOT OF CASES, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS RIGHT. NOTHING HAPPENED WITH THOSE CASES. SO IN THE FUTURE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A REALLY BIG CHANGE HERE. UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MORE INFORMATION. WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS YET, BUT WE NEED THAT INFORMATION TO SEE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TAN. UH, FIRST I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, UH, TAYLOR FOR BEING HERE. HANNAH, UH, THERE WAS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT I'VE ACTUALLY HAVE FOUND VALUE IN, UH, ATTENDING A LOT OF THESE EVENTS. UH, FEBRUARY THE 15TH, WE HAD THE FUTURE OF TEXAS THAT MYSELF AND A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE, UH, TW CARTER AND FRED FLICKINGER WERE ON, ON THE PANEL. UH, WE ALSO HAD TO MEET THE BOARD AND FIRESIDE CHAT WITH THE PARTNERSHIP LEADERSHIP. AND THEN JUST RECENTLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN HAD, UH, UM, HAD A, UH, A COMMUNITY AND A CRIME AND COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING. SO I FIND THESE, UH, THESE, UH, UM, EXPERIENCES VERY USEFUL WITHIN, UH, YOU KNOW, MY, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DIVING INTO THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CITY, RIGHT? AND THEN LEANING ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE, UH, SOME, SOME OF THOSE, UH, SOLUTIONS AS WELL. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU ALL. UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR SITTING THROUGH OUR COUNCIL MEETING. UM, ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE DISTRICT IT TEAM. WE HAD OUR FIRST, UH, OPEN HOUSE AND RESOURCE FAIR THIS PAST WEEKEND. UM, IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT FROM CONSTITUENTS. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH, UH, SEVERAL CITY DEPARTMENTS. WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, DIRECTOR MURRAY, UH, FOR, UH, FOR SHOWING UP AS WELL. I THINK SHE WAS THE ONLY DIRECTOR THAT SHOWED UP, NOT TO CALL OUT ANYBODY ELSE, . UH, BUT I, I REALLY DID APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, THAT, UH, CONSTITUENTS, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, BUT SOME OF THOSE, UH, UH, DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT WERE THERE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT AND FIND, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS, UH, KEEPING, KEEPING THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY, UH, ABREAST ON, ON RESOURCES OPPORTUNITIES. I KNOW DISTRICT B HAS RESOURCE FAIRS AS WELL. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAS BEEN HAVING RESOURCE FAIRS. AND THE MORE THAT WE ENGAGE COMMUNITY IN THAT ASPECT, IT REALLY MAKES OUR JOB A LOT, A LOT EASIER BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE, UH, ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY CAN ACCESS, UH, HELP. UM, ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE G FAMILY FOR THE INVITATION FOR THE LUNAR, UH, NEW YEAR, UH, SCHOLARSHIP DINNER EVERY, UH, UH, RECIPIENT IS DEFINITELY WELL DESERVING. IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I, I NEEDED TO DO SOME EXTRA HOMEWORK, UH, WITH, WITH ALL OF THE YOUNG FOLKS THAT, THAT RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS. UH, HAD ONE YOUNG LADY THAT READ NINE BOOKS, UH, SO FAR IN 2024. YEAH. AND I'VE ONLY READ LIKE FIVE ARTICLES, NEWS ARTICLES, . UM, AND THEN, UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE CLOSE OUT, UH, THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY THAT WE'RE STILL HONORING, UH, CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UH, WE, THE STAFF AND I, WE WENT TO GO VISIT, UH, CULTURE OUT IN DISTRICT I IN DOWNTOWN, UH, MARCUS DAVIS. UH, GOOD FOOD, GREAT FOOD, UH, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, UH, SMALL, UH, BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES. UM, AND WANT TO CONGRATULATE AS WELL. UH, CLAUDIA, UH, DESCO. SHE'S THE NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER. SHE WAS, UH, BROUGHT IN LAST OCTOBER, UH, BUT OFFICIALLY TOOK, TOOK THE HELM THIS JANUARY. UM, YOU KNOW, SHE'S, UH, HOMEGROWN, UH, FROM HOUSTON. UH, SHE GRADUATED FROM H-S-P-B-A AS WELL. UH, SHE, SHE LEFT THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD HER, HER, UM, HER CAREER. UM, AND, AND HAS COME BACK TO HOUSTON TO, UH, KIND OF TAKE THE HELM AT THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER. AND I THINK, UH, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER AS, UH, HOUSTON'S, UH, COMMUNITY THEATER. UH, SO IT'S A FREE, UH, FREE, UM, UH, VENUE FOR FOLKS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND, AND, AND REALLY SEE A LOT OF TALENT, NOT JUST FROM HOUSTON, BUT FOLKS THAT THEY BRING FROM ACROSS THE, THE NATION AND THE WORLD AT, AT TIMES AS WELL. UM, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE LOVE POPPING OFF ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT THEN WE START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE POLICIES THAT ARE THAT, THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, PETTY CABS, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, DURING PUBLIC SESSION. BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO BRING INTO, INTO THE CIRCLE AS WELL, [05:40:01] UH, SCOOTERS IN DOWNTOWN. UM, WE JUST HAD, UH, SOMETHING OVER THE WEEKEND WHERE, UH, THERE WAS A UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. UH, SCOOTERS WERE TAKEN UP BY SOME TEENAGERS, AND THEN THERE WAS A SHOOTING AS WELL. UH, SO IT LED TO A, A CONFRONTATION THAT REALLY, UM, IF WE COULD PUT SOME TEETH BEHIND, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, HOW POP-UPS ARE COMING UP. UM, AND, AND WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO REALLY, UH, BRING A, BRING AROUND SOME, SOME LIABILITY THAT COMES ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, THAT ARE POPPING UP IN, IN, IN DOWNTOWN. UM, AND REALLY YOU'RE HAVING YOUNG, YOUNG KIDS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT ARE JUMPING ON THOSE SCOOTERS AND JUST MAKING IT DANGEROUS, DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET. AND SO, UM, HOPEFULLY AS WE GET TO WORK, UM, IN THE NEXT COMING MONTH, AS MAYOR SAID IN SPRING, UM, AS HE GIVES US ALL OUR ASSIGNMENTS, UH, THIS COULD BE A TOP PRIORITY AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANNA TAKE MY MOMENTS OF POPOFF TO PERSONALLY APOLOGIZE TO ALL THE HOUSTONIANS, UM, WHO MADE REPORTS TO HPD AND TO HAVE TO HEAR THAT THEIR CASES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL. UH, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND OUR CITY OWES YOU BETTER. IT TAKES A LOT FOR PEOPLE TO COME FORTH AND TO REPORT A CRIME. AND WHEN YOU DO, THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT PROPER MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO ADEQUATELY INVESTIGATE EVERY REPORT, NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL THE CRIME IS, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND WE SHOULD MAKE IT A PRIORITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT HPD IS SPREAD VERY THIN, AND THEY WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE. BUT BASED ON THIS ISSUE, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEP TO REPAIR THE TRUST THAT HAS BEEN LOST WITH THE COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS LONGSTANDING CODE WITH HPD AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. IT MUST BE ADDRESSED, AND THE PROCESS AND PROTOCOLS MUST BE PUT IN PLACE SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN GOING FORWARD. I'M CONFIDENT IN OUR LEADERSHIP, UH, THAT THEY WILL ENSURE THAT. AND SO, GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR WEEK. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, I JUST HAVE ONE, UH, QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT. I WANT TO THANK RICARDO, UM, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS. HE HAS ASSISTED OUR OFFICE WITH THE SHUTTLE BUS PARKING. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE, UM, COMING TO NRG FOR RODEO. UM, AND WE'VE HAD LOTS OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR COMPLEXES. BUT THEY DID HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO, AND WE'VE DEVELOPED A PLAN TO PRE-STAGE THE BUSES ON BRASSWOOD. AND WE WANT EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE BEING MINDFUL OF THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT IS AROUND NRG AND THE RODEO AND TO BE SAFE, UH, AND ENJOY THESE NEXT 26 DAYS OR SO OF HOUSTON RODEO. UH, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL DAY. BE SAFE AND BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. WE STAND ADJOURN. * 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.