* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:03] CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO. TIM PECK FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS. LET'S GO RECOGNIZE. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. IF I WAS ORGANIZED, I WOULD COME DOWNSTAIRS FOR Y'ALL ALL IN TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS. HOUSTON, I THINK THAT THIS IS THE NOW, THE FIFTH YEAR THAT, UM, THAT I'VE PRESENTED THIS PROCLAMATION AND DISTRICT A HAS A LONG HISTORY OF DOING THIS PROCLAMATION TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS. WE LOVE THIS ORGANIZATION. THEY DO SOME GREAT WORK. THE MISSION OF DRESS FOR SUCCESS HOUSTON, IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE BY PROVIDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE AND DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO WOMEN TO HELP WOMEN THRIVE IN WORK AND LIFE. THE AGENCY'S OBJECTIVE IS TO EQUIP WOMEN WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ATTAIN LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT AND SUCCESS. ULTIMATELY BUILDING SKILLED LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY DRESS FOR SUCCESS. HOUSTON PARTNERS WITH 200 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY THAT REFER WOMEN CLIENTS TO RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE, INTERVIEW SKILLS, AND A MUCH NEEDED BOOST OF CONFIDENCE. ONCE STRESSED FOR SUCCESS, HOUSTON CLIENTS LAND A JOB. SHE'S INVITED TO JOIN THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S GROUP, THE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT. THE CAREER CENTER SPONSORED BY CHEVRON PROVIDES JOB SEARCH WORK, JOB SEARCH WORKSHOPS TO SUPPORT WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT. ALL THE PROGRAMS ARE FACILITATED BY VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION DRESS FOR SUCCESS. HOUSTON IS HONORED TO CELEBRATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR VETERANS PROGRAM SERVING OVER 1,700 VETERANS. THESE HEROES RECEIVE A UNIQUE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY WITH OTHER WOMEN FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES AS THEY TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE. THE VETERAN WORKSHOP PROVIDES A COMMUNITY AND SAFE SPACE TO ENSURE VETERANS ARE SUPPORTED AND HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE. SINCE 1998, DRESS FOR SUCCESS, HOUSTON HAS SERVED MORE THAN 47,500 WOMEN WHILE IMPACTING OVER 63,000 CHILDREN. SINCE THIS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENCED US FOR SUCCESS, UIM FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO HELPING IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MANY WOMEN AND WISHES THE AGENCY A WELL SUITED SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND THANK DRESS FOR SUCCESS. I THINK Y'ALL ARE DEMONSTRATING WHAT DIFFERENCE EACH ONE OF US CAN MAKE. WADE, Y'ALL ARE TEACHING EVERY ONE OF YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS WITHOUT EVER BEING ON THE BALLOT. WHAT MAKES HOUSTON GREAT? THE JOY THAT YOU BRING WHEN YOU ALLOW SOMEONE TO HAVE DRESS THAT THEY NEED OR SUIT THAT THEY NEED TO GO OUT INTO RIPPLE EFFECT OF YOUR WORK WELL ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WITH THAT SAID, I, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 5TH, 2024, IS DRESSED FOR SUCCESS. HOUSTON DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. REAR GEAR WILL TAKE, I GOT TWO DAUGHTERS THAT LEFT THEM CLOSED BEHIND WHEN THEY LEFT THE NEST, SO, SO I'M GONNA CONNECT WITH Y'ALL REAL SOON. AND ON THAT NOTE TOO, ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE ANNEX, WE HAVE A, UM, RACK SET UP IN THE LOBBY THAT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DONATE ANY SUITS TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS, WE WILL TAKE THEM AT THE END OF THE MONTH OVER THERE. SO IF YOU HAVE SOME MAYOR THAT YOU'D LIKE TO DONATE, WE'LL WE'RE HAPPY TO COLLECT IT FROM YOU. GOT IT. I GOT IT. . AND IT WOULD BE A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE DAUGHTERS WHO ALREADY HAVE BIG HEARTS AND ARE GENEROUS. THEY WILL, UH, THEY'LL ASSIST ME IN, UH, DONATING THOSE CLOTHES. AND HOW ABOUT MEN FOR SUCCESS? FOR YOUR DEAR, I NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. LET, LET'S TAKE A GREAT PICTURE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TO WORK. ARE WE GONNA LET THEM, YOU GONNA LET THEM SAY SOMETHING? AND WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND LIZ AND JOSIE, UM, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE TODAY A SUCCESS. UM, MY NAME'S LAUREN LAKI CORVELL. I'M PRESIDENT OF DRESS FOR SUCCESS. IT'S MY 11TH YEAR AS A PART OF THE TEAM. SIXTH YEAR AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH INCREDIBLE TEAM MEMBERS. LILY ROBINS, CC, WAIT, WHERE AM I? LARA AND KELLY. I WAS LIKE, WHERE SKEL? THERE. SHE'S, UM, AND THEN OUR INCREDIBLE CHEVRON VOICES AND [00:05:01] TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE OUR SPON, WELL, THEY'RE EACH OTHER'S TEAM MEMBERS, UM, AND SPONSORS OF OUR HER PATH FORWARD MONTH. SO THE MONTH OF MARCH, WE ALL KNOW THANK YOU ALL FOR WEARING. PINK IS WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT MONTH, AND DURING THIS MONTH WE, YOU ALL MAY REMEMBER SOS IT WAS SEND ONE SOUP MONTH AND NOW WE CLAIM IT AS HER PATH FORWARD SO THAT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY CAN RECOGNIZE THAT YES, WHILE WE SUIT WOMEN, WE ALSO PROVIDE ONGOING CAREER EDUCATION. OUR WHOLE VETERANS PROGRAM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK MENTIONED IN THE PROCLAMATION, 10 YEARS OF THAT PROGRAM THAT LARA OVERSEES IS AIR FORCE VETERAN, UM, AND THEN ALSO OUR JOB SEARCH PROGRAM THAT CHEVRON SPONSORS. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING YOUR SUITS. UM, GENTLEMEN, YOU CAN BRING YOUR PORTFOLIOS AS WELL OR YOUR DAUGHTERS SUITS TO RECYCLE YOUR SUCCESS. A HUNDRED DOLLARS WILL ALLOW US TO SUIT A WOMAN HEAD TO TOE WITH PROFESSIONAL ACCESSORIES. WE ALSO HAVE A $20,000 MATCH FROM THE BOARD AND ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS, SIDNEY AND JEFF SHELA BARGER. SO WE ASK THAT THE COMMUNITY DONATES 20 TO HELP US GET TO OUR 20,000. SO WE RAISE 40,000, UM, IN AND OF THE VERY LEAST DURING THIS CAMPAIGN. BUT CHEVRON WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THEIR VARIOUS GENEROUS GIFT. THANKS AMBER. THANK YOU LAUREN. I'M AMBER DOMING. TRULY HONORED TO REPRESENT CHEVRON AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DRESS FOR SUCCESS AT CHEVRON. WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD AND COMMUNITIES THAT WE WORK WITH, BUT THERE'S JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY EMPOWER WOMEN AT CHEVRON. WE DO BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU EMPOWER WOMEN, THE BENEFITS ARE VERY FAR REACHING. IT EXTENDS TO THE COMMUNITY AND GENERATIONS TO COME. SO OVER THE 20 YEARS THAT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH DRESS FOR SUCCESS, WE VERY MUCH EMBRACE THE MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY OF ONE WOMAN, ONE SUIT, ONE JOB, CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. UM, AND SPEAKING AS SOMEONE WHO'S GOT TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS, FIVE AND SEVEN, IT REALLY HITS HOME WITH ME. UM, WE CONTINUE TO SUC, UH, TO PARTNER WITH DRESS FOR SUCCESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO 2024 AND BEYOND. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US. AND WITH THAT, AN EXTRA LITTLE GIFT. YES, WE WANNA PRESENT, UH, FOR DRESS FOR SUCCESS HOUSTON, UM, JUST A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL A LITTLE TOKEN . COUNCIL MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE GROUP COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN COUNCIL BUSINESS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MAYOR PRO TEMAN, OF COURSE. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THIS IS THE ONE EXAMPLE OF WHEN ANOTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER PRESENTS A PROCLAMATION FOR AN ORGANIZATION WE ALL LOVE THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN DISTRICT C, WHICH I AM SO PROUD OF, BUT NO MATTER HOW SUPPORTIVE I AM, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK IS, UH, TAKES THE LEAD RIGHT IN TERMS OF HER SUPPORT AND EDUCATING OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT ALL OF THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK YOU DO. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, THANK YOU FOR CHAMPIONING THIS TIME AND AGAIN, AND CARRYING ON THAT LEGACY. UH, TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING NOT JUST AN INSPIRATION, BUT ALLOWING OTHER WOMEN TO BE INSPIRED TO KNOW THAT THEY DO HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR CORNER, UM, TO HELP THEM ALONG THE WAY THAT BELIEVES IN THEM AND WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY SUCCEED. SO I JUST, AGAIN, CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. NOT JUST DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, BUT FOR ALWAYS TIME AND AGAIN, EMPOWERING THOSE THAT OFTEN AREN'T NOTICED, BUT YOU SEE THEM. UH, AND MAYOR, YOU ARE A LOT MORE GRACIOUS WITH YOUR DAUGHTERS THAN I AM. MY DADDY JUST, UH, DONATED EVERYTHING WITHOUT EVEN TELLING ME. SO WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE, SO, UH, AMY SAID, EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER P YOU SAID THAT THE DONATIONS AND THE ANNEX GO THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH, SO I ALREADY CLEARED OUT MY CLOSET. UH, WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE IN, BUT IF THEY CAN, IF PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE ANNEX, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, CAN YOU SHARE HOW SOMEBODY WOULD GO ABOUT DONATING, UH, GENTLY USED OR BRAND NEW SUITS FOR YOU ALL? HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK? YES. SO WE ARE ON 33 10 EAST SIDE STREET, SO BEHIND LAMAR OR CLOSE TO LAMAR, DISTRICT C UH, AND YOU CAN BRING, WE HAVE A, OUR RELIANT ENERGY CIRCLE DRIVE, SO YOU CAN BRING YOUR DONATIONS CLEAN AND ON HANGERS, UNLESS OF COURSE SHOES AND HANDBAGS DON'T REALLY GO SO WELL ON HANGERS. UM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 10 TO 3:00 PM AND YOU CAN CHECK OUR WEBSITE ONE SATURDAY A MONTH AS WELL. USUALLY IT'S THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. AND WE ALSO ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS. GENTLEMEN CAN COME AND VOLUNTEER WITH US IN ANY ASPECT OTHER THAN SUITING THE WOMAN. UM, BUT WE NEED A LOT OF HELP SORTING AND MERCHANDISING THE INCREDIBLE DONATIONS. AND THEN AS WELL, ALL OF OUR INTERVIEW PREPARATION COURSES IS WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, CHEVRON IS OUR SPONSOR FOR OUR JOB SEARCH PROGRAM. AND TO ACTUALLY HAVE GENTLEMEN FACILITATE [00:10:01] THOSE PROGRAMS IS INVALUABLE. SO IF A WOMAN HASN'T HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH A MAN IN THE PAST TO HAVE THOSE EMOTIONS COME UP IN A SAFE SPACE, UM, PRIOR TO HER INTERVIEW, SO NOT THAT IT WILL GO AWAY, BUT IT'LL HELP DISSIPATE THAT. SO THANK YOU AND THANK THANKS TO CHEVRON AS WELL FOR ALWAYS LEADING IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU, UH, ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TE PECK, THANK YOU FOR CARRYING ON THIS LEGACY OF CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE DRESS FOR SUCCESS. Y'ALL LOOK AMAZING TODAY. UH, A GOOD SUIT CAN REALLY, UH, BOOST THE CONFIDENCE OF WOMEN AS THEY ARE HEADED INTO THOSE INTERVIEWS. SO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU DO. CHEVRON, THANK YOU FOR THE DONATION. UH, LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO SURPASSING THEIR GOAL OF 40,000, UH, FOR THE YEAR. UH, AND MAYOR, THAT IS IT. SO Y'ALL ARE READY FOR YOUR PHOTO. THANK YOU ALL. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SANDIA BO FOR, TO CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SYMPOSIUM. OH, HERE COMES MARCH MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M SO EXCITED TODAY TO BE JOINED, UH, BY SANDIA BAYOU. SHE IS THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF GREATER HOUSTON. AND AS WE CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY THIS MONTH, IT IS BEFITTING THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL AND THEIR EFFORTS IN GATHERING AND CELEBRATING WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND NATIONALITIES AT THE SECOND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SYMPOSIUM. THIS IS THE VISION OF SANDIA BAYOU, UH, AND IT IS TO ILLUSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF HOW WOMEN ALIGN WITH THE GOAL OF THE WORLD OF AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF GREATER HOUSTON, WHICH IS TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD, ITS PEOPLE, ITS POLITICS, ECONOMIES, AND CULTURES TO ENABLE THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN THE GLOBAL WORLD. SO MAYOR, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION AND IT READS, WHEREAS THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF GREATER HOUSTON IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE SECOND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD ON MARCH THE SEVENTH, 2024, WILL BE A PLATFORM FOR WOMEN FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR ROLES IN SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S SYMPOSIUM THEMED LEAD, LEADERSHIP, EMPOWERMENT, ACHIEVEMENT AND DIVERSITY, UNITING, UNITING WOMEN LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY TO LEAD WITH PURPOSE, AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT AND DIVERSITY. AND WHEREAS SAND BAYOU, AN IMMIGRANT FROM LATVIA, HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING THIS IMPACTFUL EVENT AND HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGES AND CELEBRATES THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN [00:15:01] IN ADVANCING EQUALITY AND ELIMINATING GENDER BIAS ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF GREATER HOUSTON AND RECOGNIZES SANDIA BAYOU FOR HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AS THEY HOST THEIR SECOND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SYMPOSIUM. MAYOR, THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM CASTEX TATUM. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, SPECIAL DAY IN SYMPOSIUM TO COUNCIL TODAY. I KNOW MATTERS LIKE THIS SYMPOSIUM DON'T JUST HAPPEN. ABSOLUTELY. BUT IT'S A LOT OF FIELD WORK, A LOT OF COLLABORATION, AND YOU WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR ASSOCIATE. SO THANK YOU. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 5TH, 2024 AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SYMPOSIUM IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU LADIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AS WELL. UH, HAPPY TO HAVE MY FAMILY JOINING US TODAY. MY HUSBAND ALEX, MY BOYS EDMUND AND VINCENT AND MY COLLEAGUE SOPHIA. SO, AS YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T REALLY DO WITHOUT THEM, AS THE MAYOR SAID, UH, THERE'S, WE ARE SMALL AND MIGHTY, SO VERY THRILLED OF MY TEAM AND REST OF THE WORLD, THE AFFAIRS TEAM THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO COME HERE BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THIS FANTASTIC, UH, SYMPOSIUM, AS YOU SAID, WITH A FOCUS ON LEID, LEADERSHIP, EMPOWERMENT, ACHIEVEMENT AND DIVERSITY. SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN THIS FANTASTIC CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR. YOU HAVE A STRONG TEAM. YES, WE DO . THANKS MAYOR. WE DO YOU HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. SORRY MAYOR, I, BECAUSE Y'ALL DO SUCH IMPORTANT WORK, NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT C WHERE, WHERE YOU ARE HOUSED. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THEIR SPEAKER SERIES. I MEAN, Y'ALL BRING IN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORS, SE ADVISORS, SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE. MY FAVORITE WAS ALWAYS BILL BROWER, UH, WHEN BILL BROWER, WHEN YOU BROUGHT HIM IN. UH, BUT THE WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING TO OPEN UP DIALOGUE, UH, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR THE WORLD IS SO SPECIAL. SO IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED, HOW DO THEY PARTICIPATE? PAY ALWAYS. THE EASIEST, OF COURSE, IS OUR WEBSITE, WHC HOUSTON.ORG. AND I HAPPEN TO HAVE HANDY FLYERS IN MY BAG IF ANYBODY'D LIKE TO COME BY. HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE AS WELL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR PROAM FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. MAY I'S MY COLLEAGUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU ALL. ONE MORE TIME. CONGRATULATIONS. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP PASTOR T LEON PRESTON FROM THE YALE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THE INVOCATION. UM, PASTOR PRESTON IS THE SENIOR PASTOR SERVING 15 COMMENDABLE YEARS AT THE YALE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. HE IS A PRAYER WARRIOR, UH, DILIGENTLY PRAYING FOR FAMILY, CHURCH MEMBERS, FRIENDS, ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY AND, UH, BEYOND THE CHURCH. YOU KNOW, HE IS COMMITTED AND ENGAGED ACROSS SEVERAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, UM, CHAMPIONING CAUSES SUCH AS MINORITY CHILDREN'S ADOPTION IN TEXAS, AND SERVING AS THE CHAPLAIN FOR HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. UM, HE IS, UH, COMPASSIONATE TO THE HOMELESS, KNOWN AS THE HELPING PASTOR. AND, UH, I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM HERE TODAY FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU. ALLOW ME TO BEGIN BY FIRST EXTENDING MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND, UH, TO OUR MAYOR [00:20:01] JOHN WHITMEYER, AND TO THE ESTEEMED LEADERS OF THIS GREAT COUNCIL, WILL YOU JOIN IN PRAYER WITH ME, OUR FATHER, SOVEREIGN CREATOR OF THE CELESTIAL RIMS TERRESTRIAL EXPANSE. WE BOW BEFORE YOUR DIVINE PRESENCE IN REVERENT HUMILITY. WE THANK YOU FOR CREATING US IN YOUR IMAGE AND IN YOUR LIKENESS, IN YOUR BOUNDLESS MERCY. CAST YOUR COMPASSIONATE CARE UPON ALL OF US AND ALL WHO SEEK SOLACE IN YOUR EMBRACE FOR YOUR BENEVOLENT, KNOWS NO BOUNDS. AND MAY YOUR DIVINE SPIRIT PERMEATE THIS CHAMBER. AS I STAND BEFORE YOU, FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WILL ALLOW YOUR DIVINE GUIDANCE TO BE UPON THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOVERNANCE AND SAFEGUARDING OF OUR BELOVED CITY HOUSTON. GRANT THEM THE WISDOM TO DISCERN YOUR DIVINE WILL OF MR THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE AGENDA SET BEFORE THEM. AND MAY YOUR ETERNAL WORDS SERVE AS A BEACON OFID MULTITUDE OF COUNSEL. THEY RECEIVE, UPHOLDING THEM IN THE RADIANCE OF YOUR GRACE AS THEY DISCHARGE THEIR SOLEMN DUTIES. GRANT TRANQUILITY TO OUR CITY THAT IT MAY STAND AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE TO OTHERS. EXTEND YOUR PROTECTIVE ARMS OVER ALL CITIZENS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFLICTED BY MENTAL ANGUISH, HOMELESSNESS, ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES. STRENGTHEN OUR COLLECTIVE RESOLVE AS WE LEND AID TO THOSE GRAPPLING WITH THE CALAMITIES OF NATURAL DISASTERS. THEN, OH LORD, WE ASKED THAT YOU WOULD RECEIVE OUR GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR CITY. AND THEN WE ASKED THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THE ENDEAVORS AIMED AT FOSTERING UNITY AND RESILIENCE WITHIN THE ENTIRE CITY. LASTLY, GUIDE US IN NURTURING, COMRADERY AND FELLOWSHIP AMIDST OUR DIVERSE TAPESTRY OF RESIDENTS. AND MAY YOUR BLESSINGS BE UPON THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP OF THIS CITY AND UPON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT'S IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON. WE LY SUBMIT OUR SUPPLICATION AND THOSE WHO AGREED, RESPONDED WITH SAYING AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRIVILEGE, PASTOR. THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND AND ADVISOR FOR MANY YEARS. THANK YOU, SIR. IF SOMEBODY DON'T LIKE WHAT I SAY OR DO BLAME THIS GENTLEMAN 'CAUSE HE'S KEPT ME THERE FOR A LONG TIME. PLEASE. ALL TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] UH, MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, CONSTABLE PECK. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN PRESENT. CONSTABLE CASTILE. HERE. CONSTABLE RAMIREZ. I MEAN MARTINEZ. I'M SORRY. HERE. COUNCILMAN POLL WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? HERE. COUNCIL DAVIS. HERE. COUNCILMAN CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE. AND ALCORN HERE. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES. TAYLOR, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ANY [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SONYA RICO TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST TO BE FOLLOWED BY GLORIA SUAREZ AND MS. SUAREZ, UH, IF RENEE IS HERE, MAY NEED, UH, AN ACCOMMODATION UP AT THE MICROPHONE BACK. SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. OH, WAIT, WE NEED A VOTE. OH, WE NEED A VOTE ON COUNCILMAN. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. IF I MAY, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, INTRODUCE, UM, MY STAFF, UH, ROUNDING OFF. I'M VERY PROUD OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH ME AND, UH, JUST TO KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE THEM TODAY, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD TO DO, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, ANNETTE, UH, DWYER, AND, UM, MY, UH, OFFICE MANAGER AND SCHEDULER, STELLA RAMIREZ. UM, OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENCY, FREDDY OLIVER, UH, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS, UH, WIN LONG, LONG WIN. AND ALSO TO ROUND IT OFF, UH, [00:25:01] OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, TRISTAN LOVE, AND, UH, WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE WITH US TODAY. AND, UH, JUST PROUD TO HAVE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR STAFF. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO, UH, MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UM, PATRICIA SPIKE TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST. NON AGENDA LIST. NO, SHE SAID ONE MINUTE, UH, ONE MINUTE OR THREE. SHE'S, SHE HAS THREE ON HERE. SO THREE MINUTES. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? THANKS. NOT, UH, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER. MEREDITH MOORE. MEREDITH MOORE. JONAH ADLER. TURN THE MIC ON. YEP. SORRY. HELLO. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. NOW. HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEP. YES, MA'AM. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ABBY CAYMAN. HELLO. UM, I'M COMING TO, AS A JEWISH PERSON, THE CHILD OF AN ORTHODOX RABBI AND A CONSTITUENT OF YOURS. AS JEWISH PEOPLE, WE UNDERSTAND RESISTANCE WHILE BEING GHETTOIZED, DEMONIZED AND OSTRACIZED FOR WHO WE ARE. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SPEAK OUT FOR OUR PALESTINIAN COUSINS. NOW, DURING A SHOW, US, UH, 1,668 TEMPLES WERE RANSACKED AND DESTROYED TODAY, THE SAME THING IS, IS HAPPENING IN GAZA. UM, AS OF JANUARY 9, 378 MOSQUE AND THREE CHURCHES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN AIRSTRIKES. NOT ONLY HAVE HOLY SPACES BEEN DESECRATED, BUT PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY STARVED, SILENCED AND MASSACRED. THERE IS A PART OF HALAL JEWISH LAW CALLED P NEFESH, MEANING SAVING A SOUL, WHICH VALUE, SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE, AND THEREFORE THEIR SOUL AS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING A PERSON CAN DO. THE HALAKA COMES FROM LEVITICUS 1916 SAYING, NEITHER SHALL YOU STAND BY THE BLOOD OF YOUR NEIGHBOR. 30,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED BY ISRAEL IN NEARLY FIVE MONTHS. EVEN ISRAELIS ARE NOT SAVED FROM THEIR OWN ARMY WITH SEVEN ISRAELI HOSTAGES KILLED JUST LAST WEEK BY AIRSTRIKES. EACH MARTYR ISN'T JUST A NUMBER, BUT A PERSON. JUDAISM TEACHES THAT EACH PERSON IS A WHOLE UNIVERSE THEMSELVES. EACH PERSON IS AN EVER-EXPANDING GALAXY WITH EONS OF POTENTIAL AND STARS OF HOPE. PALESTINIANS DESERVE TO LIVE JUST LIKE WE DESERVE TO LIVE. CAN I HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS PLEASE? TIME HAS EXPRESSED YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD AND FINISH. UM, JUST LIKE WE AND WE DESERVE TO LIVE. NOW IT IS CLEAR THAT ZIONISM DOES NOT REPRESENT THE HUMANITY OF JUDAISM. PLEASE JOIN ME IN SEVERAL OF YOUR FEDERAL FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAND IN HAND IN TO KUNA LAM TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. ADDITIONALLY, WE ASK YOU TO AMEND THE FINANCIAL POLICY TO, TO DIVEST FROM ISRAELI BONDS. THANK YOU. AND LA SHALOM. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, SONYA, RICO. SONYA. HELLO. SO I NEED TO STAND. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SONYA RICO AND I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR HOPE LOCAL 1, 2, 3. UM, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THUS FAR. THE MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ARE EXCITED AS YOU CONTINUE TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE. WITH THE RECENT AND UPCOMING CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE WORKED AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MET A FEW TIMES REGARDING OUR CONCERNS ACROSS SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING HOUSING LIBRARY AND THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER. THEY CONTINUE TO BE AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL WE GET THEM COMPLETELY RESOLVED. THE MORALE AND CONFIDENCE IN LEADERSHIP ARE VERY LOW. WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO IN THESE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND WOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. IN TURN, WE ASK FOR YOU AND ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LET EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND THEIR ADMINISTRATIONS KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT TOLERATE BULLYING, HARASSMENT, OR RETALIATION OF ANY SORT. MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU MADE THE STATEMENT AT YOUR INAUGURATION GALA. WHILE WE HAVE SEEN SOME BIG CHANGES, WE STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO MAKE THE CHANGE. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH SOME OF THE DIRECTORS WHERE WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE MOST CONCERNS. BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, THERE IS A MIS MISCOMMUNICATION. THIS IS WHY WE ARE CALLING ON YOU TO SAY, ONCE AGAIN, THAT BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION ARE NOT AND WILL NOT BE A PART OF OUR WORKPLACE. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORK UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, ESPECIALLY NOT US AS CITY EMPLOYEES. WE'RE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF HOUSTON [00:30:01] AND WE NEED EACH OTHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR SONYA, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL. UM, FOR THOSE THAT DUNNO, SONYA IS CURRENTLY IN LEADERSHIP FOR HOPE, UM, WHICH IS THE CITY'S EMPLOYEES, CITY EMPLOYEES UNION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, BEHIND YOU, THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE STANDING AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE STANDING BACK. SO NOT TO, UM, VIOLATE THE RULES, BUT DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE ANYONE THAT'S STANDING WITH YOU? BECAUSE THIS IS, I BELIEVE, A, I'M ASSUMING A COLLECTIVE YES. EFFORT. SO THIS IS DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AM SPAIN, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FLEET MAINTENANCE. JOHN SCOTT, A MEMBER JOSEPH REYES. UH, MR. WILLIE MOORE, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, ESAN BAJA, AND OUR DISPUTE RESOLUTION FOR HOPE AKITA BATTLES. GREAT, THANK YOU. AND THANKS TO ALL HOPE MEMBERS, UH, SONYA. YES, SIR. THANK YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OPERATE WITHOUT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. UM, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW I'M SPEAKING FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT THE COUNCIL TABLE. WE WON'T TOLERATE BULLYING, HARASSMENT. IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC NAMES, DEPARTMENT HEADS OR COWORKERS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THAT, YOU NEED TO CONTACT US. YOU CAN START WITH ME. UH, WE'RE REVIEWING THE DEPARTMENTS. WE'RE TRYING TO DELIVER THAT MESSAGE. AND, UH, WHILE I'VE GOT YOU HERE, LET ME, UH, LET YOU KNOW HOW HARDWORKING THE SANITATION WORKERS ARE AND MY NEIGHBORS, WHEN I GOT HOME, JUST THE AFTERNOON LATE, WERE HIGH FIVE IN ME IN THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE RECYCLING AND GARBAGE WAS PICKED UP IN THE SAME DAY. AND I, I TEXTED DIRECTOR AND I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT THANK YOUR WORKERS BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE, UH, CERTAINLY HAD A BURST OF ENERGY AND A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. AND HOUSTONIANS ARE NOTICING IT. SO I ALREADY KNOW THE SANITATION WORKERS WORK SIX DAY WEEKS OFTEN, 18 HOURS. IN FACT, I GOT HOME AT 6 45 AND THAT'S, THEY WERE STILL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO NOT ONLY THOSE HOURS, UH, BUT THE WORKING CONDITIONS, AND I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THE 3 1 1 CENTER, HAVING THAT LEAKY ROOF AND THE EMERGENCY CENTER NOT BEING AS, UH, THE PLACE THAT WOULD BE COMFORTABLE TO WORK, CERTAINLY IN WINTER MONTHS. SO JUST TELL EVERYONE HELPS ON THE WAY. AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR ALL THE, UH, COUNCIL AND, AND THE MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S GOOD THAT YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD BE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANKS FOR COMING. HOPE. UM, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I WAS MADE AWARE. UM, HOPE MADE ME AWARE OF SOME PROBLEMS AT THE HOUSTON LIBRARY, UH, DEPARTMENT HAVING TO DO WITH HARASSMENT AND BULLYING. AND I ASKED LAST JULY FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. I THINK THERE WAS AN OIG COMPLAINT. I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING. AND, AND THAT'S STILL ON MY MIND. AND, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT HAS BEEN, WHO, WHO DID YOU INQUIRE OF? UH, I INQUIRED WITH THE OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, OIG BACK IN JULY, OIG. SO I KNOW A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION IS SENSITIVE AND THEY DON'T JUST GIVE IT OUT WILLY-NILLY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET, UM, SOME INFORMATION TO KNOW THAT THE COMPLAINTS WERE ADDRESSED AND THAT, UH, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING TO THEM THAT, THAT SOME CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, IT HAS BEEN DULY NOTED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED VIOLATIONS OR REPORTS OF THE HARASSMENTS. AND, UH, WE JUST WON'T TOLERATE IT THROUGHOUT CITY GOVERNMENT. IT'S A SALLY, WE CAN GET YOU SOME OF THAT INFORMATION. I'LL WORK ON IT. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SONYA FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE REST OF HOPE AS WELL. UM, AND YOU KNOW, JUST TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT COUNCILMAN ALCORN, I, I ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE LIBRARY STUFF, UM, AND THE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE SOME OF THAT WITH THE MAYOR. UM, SO WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA, UH, LEAN ON HIM TO, TO GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FROM YOU ALL. BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE, UH, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT I'VE HEARD OF, HIS DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PLATFORM UP SO WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IN THE OPEN PUBLIC. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU'ALL FOR, UH, BEING HERE. THANK YOU EVAN SHABAZZ FOR PROCEDURAL. UH, GOTTA LET THEM. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALSO MOVE, UH, SHERRY HAYDEN AND WILBERT HUBBARD UP BEHIND. I KNOW Y'ALL LOOKING AT ME. I SENT YOU A TEXT. OKAY. JUST, JUST FOLLOW ME ON THIS. MEMBERS. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. IS THERE OBJECTION. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED BEHIND. PATRICIA SPIKE. DR. PATRICIA SPIKE? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. GOT IT. [00:35:02] FOLLOW ME ON TRUST ME NEXT. GLORIA SUAREZ. OH, SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GLORIA SUAREZ. I HAVE A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT IN HOUSTON CALLED BE ABLED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE MONTROSE AREA DUE TO THE WEST GRAY REC CENTER. MOST OF THE SIDEWALKS ARE NOT A DA COMPLIANT. WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT A MODE TO ROLL AROUND MONTROSE FOR DECADES. THIS IS AN EIGHT 80-YEAR-OLD COURTIER THAT NEEDS NEW LIFE FOR ALL OF TODAY'S RESIDENCE. WE'VE WALKED AND ROLLED THE PLAN WITH THE TI TEARS TO LET THEM KNOW HOW MONTROSE IMPACTS US TODAY. DURING THIS EXERCISE WE HAD HEAD INTO, WE, WE HAD TO HEAD INTO THE STREET TO AVOID TERRIBLE SIDEWALK CONDITIONS. THIS IS NOT OPTIMAL DESIGNED FOR ANYONE, LET ALONE FOR MY COMMUNITY. AGAIN, WE WALKED AND ROLLED A WEEK AGO WITH A BC NEWS ON A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BOULEVARD A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO. IN THE SAME, IN THE SAME CONDITIONS. I'LL ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WATCH THE REPORT AGAIN. THIS IS NOT AN OPTIMAL DESIGN FOR ANYONE, LET ALONE MY COMMUNITY. IT IS DREADFUL TO THINK THAT WE HAVE COURTIER THAT AT NO POINT SUPPORT ANY OF US. I AM NOT AN ANTI-CAR ACTIVIST. I OWN A CAR. I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE DEHUMANIZED EVERY TIME I WANT TO MAKE A TRIP TO A RESTAURANT, A SHOP, OR A LIBRARY ALONG MONTROSE. LET'S SLOW DOWN THE DRIVERS TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. LET'S MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT LESS DANGEROUS FOR MY COMMUNITY AND OUR KIDS. MY COMMUNITY ISN'T ASKING FOR THE MINIMUM STANDARD. WE ARE ASKING FOR THE BEST STANDARD. WE NEED THE 10 INCH SHARED USE PATH TO ROLL SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR FRIENDS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. WE NEED IT TO BE SAFE MIDBLOCK CROSSINGS, BECAUSE THEY PREVENT US FROM HAVING TO WASTE ENERGY TO GO TO THE NEXT LIGHT THAT CAN BE 750 FEET AWAY. HELP ME AND MY COMMUNITY ENJOY ONE OF THE HOUSTON BEST COURTIER. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ACCEPT THE PLAN AT A HUNDRED PERCENT DESIGN. LET'S GET THE SHOVELS IN AND THE ON THE GROUND NOW. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, COUNCILMAN CARTER, MS. TO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, WE MET DOWN AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER BACK IN THE FALL AND, UH, JUST POINT OUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO. UH, THAT DAY WE MET, I WAS AMAZED AND INSPIRED BY YOUR DEDICATION TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY AND THAT THE, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES MAKING THEM, WITH GIVING THEM TRUE ABILITY. SO I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A RESOLUTION WORKED OUT FOR YOU ON THE SIDEWALKS, BUT, UM, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, YOU'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE ABILITIES BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE NONPROFIT. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT, DR. PATRICIA SPIKE, THE CITY COUNCIL. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO SPEAK. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER SUGAR VALLEY BLUE RIDGE AND REED WOOD CIVIC CLUB. I HAVE MY PAPER IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE AT MY AGE I MAY FORGET SOME IMPORTANT FACTS. I THREE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HISTORICALLY BLACK AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD A HOA CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEFS BECAUSE MOST OF OUR ORIGINAL RESIDENTS MOVED HERE IN THE 1950S RIGHT OUT OF JIM CROW LAWS THAT LASTED UNTIL 65. THEY MOVED INTO THE SUNNYSIDE AREA AND THEY WORKED HARD TO BUY HOMES AND PAY FOR THEM. IN 1979, THE GREATER SUGAR VALLEY CIVIC CLUB WAS FORMED, AND IN 2018, WE COMBINED GREATER SUGAR VALLEY BLUE RIDGE AND RE WOOD INTO ONE CIVIC CLUB BECAUSE MANY OF OUR FIRST GENERATION SENIORS PASSED ON. THE HOME I LIVE IN WAS PURCHASED BY MY GRANDMOTHER IN 1962 AT $50 A MONTH FOR THEM. THAT WAS LITTLE OR NO EDUCATION. THIS WAS A LOT. I GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I GRADUATED FROM EE WORTHING AND GRADUATED FROM TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY AND CAME BACK TO TRY AND HELP THE COMMUNITY. WE WERE A FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY UNTIL TODAY. TODAY EVERYONE WANTS OUR HOMES AND OUR LAND. [00:40:01] WE ARE COMING TO YOU MAYOR WITH MINE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE HELP US IN OUR FIGHT TO PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT IS ISSUING BUILDING PERMITS TO DEVELOPERS FOR THINGS THAT ARE IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO I DEED RESTRICTIONS, SPECIFICALLY DUPLEXES AND HALFWAY HOUSES, WHICH ARE NOT DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THEN WE ARE FORCED TO NOTIFY THE CITY OF THE VIOLATION BEFORE THEY HAVE 80% COMPLETED WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING. OUR COMMUNITY IS MA MOSTLY MADE UP OF SENIORS WHO HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTEST THINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. DEVELOPERS ARE COMING IN AND SAYING THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO UPGRADE AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THEY NEVER COME TO ANY OF OUR CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS, WHICH ARE HELD ONCE A MONTH, AND ASK US WHAT DO WE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY? SO WHO ARE THEY BENEFITING? THE COMMUNITY ARE THEMSELVES. WE ARE FACING THE CONFLICT NOW OF 21ST CENTURY CITY PERMITS DEPARTMENT TRYING TO INTERPRET 1950S LANGUAGE. AND WE NEED YOUR HELP IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. PERHAPS THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS SOME OF US OLD TIMERS TO HELP 'EM UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE. I I KNOW IN THIS COMPUTER AGE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO INPUT AND FLAG VIOLATIONS BEFORE THEY EVER REACH THE PERMITS AND BEFORE PERMITS ARE ISSUED. AND I'M WILLING NOT TO JUST COMPLAIN, BUT I'D BE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU ON DOING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, JUST A SECOND MA'AM. DR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THIS THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT I I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DO NEED TO BRING SOME ATTENTION TO. UM, AND, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. I THINK A LOT OF THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T, OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT, UM, THEY DON'T AGREE TO, OR THEY'RE NOT, UM, UH, HOW DO I SAY IT? IT'S NOT THEIR JOB, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, TO REVIEW AND TO EVALUATE A DEED RESTRICTION. AND THEY SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT, THE BUILDER SIGNS AN AFFIDAVIT SAYING THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE LINE OF THE DEED RESTRICTION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL, THE PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S HAPPENING. AND SO THERE'S THIS HUGE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN WHEN THE PERMITS ARE, ARE, UM, ARE GIVEN AND THE COMMUNITY FINDS OUT ABOUT IT, THEN THEY HAVE TO COME BACK. BUT AT THAT POINT, THE INVESTORS ALREADY MADE, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INVESTMENTS. AND SO THERE REALLY IS A HUGE DISCONNECT. EITHER THE CITY IS GOING TO DO THAT PORTION OF THE WORK AND EVALUATE THE DEEP RESTRICTIONS, WHICH THEY DON'T WANT TO DO BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM ARE, LIKE SHE SAID BEFORE, WRITTEN IN THE 1950S. AND WE DON'T, MAYBE THAT'S NOT OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF OUR LANE SO TO SPEAK. BUT WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE CITIES, THESE COMMUNITIES ARE, UM, THEY'VE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD TO PRESERVE THEM, AND ALL THEY HAVE IS THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. AND, UH, AND WE SAW THIS WITH THE GLOBE, WHEN GLOBE WENT IN TO TRY TO REBUILD HOUSES. I MEAN, WE'VE REALLY SEEN THIS ON EVERY LEVEL FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO, TO FEDERAL AND STATE. SO I DO THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE THAT WE, WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURES SO THAT WE CAN PRESERVE THESE COMMUNITIES AND, AND NOT PUT THE, THE, THE, THE, UM, ALL THE ONUS ON THE COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, MS. DR. MIKE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE WERE AT YOUR MEETING JUST RECENTLY, BACK A FEW WEEKS AGO AT YOUR CIVIC MEETING WITH EVERYBODY JOINED TOGETHER. ON TOP OF THAT MAYOR, I WANT TO ALSO ENCOURAGE US TO REALLY TAKE A, A PERSONAL LOOK AT THAT ISSUE OF THE, OF THE, UH, DEED RESTRICTIONS. BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY, BY AND LARGE, IT'S NOT REJECTING DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY JUST WANT IT TO BE WITHIN THE LINES OF THEIR DEED RESTRICTION, TO MAKE SURE AND ASSURE THAT PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES STAY RELEVANT AS TO EVERYBODY ELSE COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU, YOU KNOW, AND AS WE'VE TALKED MANY TIMES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK IN ORDER TO SUPPORT AND GET ALL THAT WE CAN DO, WORKING WITH NOT ON THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, OUR, UM, DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON TO SUPPORT THEM IN DOING ALL THAT WE CAN, MAYOR, AND I REALLY WOULD HOPE THAT WE TAKE A REAL LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DR. SPIKE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES. ONE OF THE EASIEST FIXES WOULD BE A SIGNATURE LINE THAT REQUIRES THE BUILDERS TO GET THE CIVIC CLUB LEADERS TO SIGN, TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE TALKED TO THEM AND THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. THEY ARE BEST IN THE POSITION TO LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING DONE. AND SO, I, I KNOW I'VE, I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE. I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER IMPLEMENTED. AND I THINK IF, IF IT HAD BEEN, WE COULD PROBABLY, UH, GET PAST SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY SHOULD NOT REALIZE THAT ONCE THEY START HEARING THE HAMMERS AND THE NAILS, [00:45:01] THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT'S GOING UP IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY'RE CHARGED WITH LEADERSHIP. AND THIS IS A GREAT LEADER I CAN ATTEST TO. AND JUST A SIGNATURE LINE SAYING THAT WE ARE AWARE AND YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. UH, FLICKINGER, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. WOULD IT AT LEAST BE POSSIBLE FOR THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT TO LOOP THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHEN THERE IS DEED RESTRICTIONS IN AN AREA TO JUST GIVE THEM AN FYI THAT HEY, AND THEN LET THE, THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION OR WHOEVER IT IS, LOOK AT IT AND SAY, HEY, WE GOT A PROBLEM, OR NO, THIS IS FINE. I MEAN, JUST COPY 'EM IN ON IT. VERY WELL. I JUST PUT IT ON MY LIST. , WE, WE, WE'VE BEEN HERE TWO MONTHS AND APPARENTLY IT'S EXISTED FOR SOME TIME. SO AGAIN, WHY DON'T WE CREATE ONE OF THOSE WORKING GROUPS OF 3, 4, 5 COUNCIL MEMBERS AND LISTS, UH, IF Y'ALL WILLING TO WORK ON IT. WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION. COUNCIL MEMBER SHAZI, EVAN SHAZI CERTAINLY SUGGESTED A, A SIGNATURE LINE. I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THAT DOESN'T HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU AUTHENTICATE THE SIGNATURE AND WHO THEY ARE AND IS THERE A NOTARY, I COULD GO ON AND ON SOME OF THE BUILTIN PROBLEMS, BUT MA'AM, YOUR TIME HERE IS WELL SPENT. SO MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM, YOU, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS MADE. UM, I DO WANT TO, UM, THANK YOU MS. SPITE, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I KNOW THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE WORKED ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE REALLY SOLID D RESTRICTIONS, BECAUSE THE D RESTRICTIONS ARE WHAT ARE REALLY, UM, KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS IN, UH, THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT. THERE'S AN AFFIDAVIT, AND THE AFFIDAVIT ASKS THE DEVELOPER, DOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE D RESTRICTIONS? AND THEY PUT YES OR NO. THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC PERSON THAT IS VALIDATING THOSE D RESTRICTIONS IN OUR, IN OUR PERMITTING DEPARTMENT. AND THEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM LEGAL, DOES NOT HOLD ALL OF OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS AND GIVE ADVICE ON OUR DEED. SO, INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HIRED, UM, ATTORNEYS OR CONTRACTED ATTORNEYS TO COME TO DO D RESTRICTION WORKSHOPS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, UH, SUSIE RICE, WHO IS AN AUTHOR OF THE PROPERTY CODE, IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP WITH THEIR D RESTRICTIONS, BECAUSE WE AS A CITY DO NOT TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON FOR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT MAYOR, IT, IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO, UM, LOOK AT OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER SO THAT WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE, ARE SUBMITTING THEIR PERMITS, THEY ARE SAYING, YES, WE DO HAVE DE RESTRICTIONS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SOMEONE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE OR ASSIGNED TO SAY, WE'VE LOOKED AT THE DE RESTRICTIONS AND WE ARE NOT VIOLATING THE DE RESTRICTIONS. I, I THINK IT'S A, AN EASY FIX, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON MAKING SURE THAT IT'S HAPPENING. SOUNDS GOOD. UH, COUNCILLOR EVAN SBAR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE LAST COMMENT. UH, AND I APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTIONS. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL DEED RESTRICTION WORKSHOPS IN DISTRICT D, BUT I THINK THAT IF A DEVELOPER WANTS TO DEVELOP IN A COMMUNITY, IT'S UP TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REACH OUT TO THE LEADERSHIP, NOT THE CITY. AND SO, JUST SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD PUT IN PLACE, UH, PERHAPS WITH THAT AFFIDAVIT, THAT GIVES A FINAL SIGN OFF FROM THE, UH, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL SAY WHAT THEY, YOU KNOW, A MOUTH OF THESE BREAD THEY SAY, WILL SAY ANYTHING. AND SO I CAN SAY YES OR NO TO THE ANSWER TO SOME QUESTIONS, AND I MAY NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT I'M SAYING. AND I MOVE ON AND I BUILD IN AN AREA THAT IS DE RESTRICTED. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. AND ONE LAST COMMENT ON THIS. UM, AND SO THE OTHER, ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS THE FACT THAT, WE'LL, THE CITY WILL SAY THAT WE DON'T READ OR DECIPHER A D RESTRICTION, BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES TO IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY DO DECIPHER ONE AND THEY DO IT IN THEIR OWN WAY. AND SO IT'S REALLY, IT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE WE EITHER GONNA DO IT OR WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT. UM, IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, COUNCILLOR BUR CHABA ABOUT HAVING HIM SIGN OFF. THE OTHER, THE, THE ONE THING THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE FOCUSING ON TOO IS THE MULTIPLE, UM, CLUBS IN COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? AND WHICH ONE IS THE ONE THAT THEY SHOULD SIGN OFF ON, WHICH ONE'S OFFICIAL, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING. RIGHT? AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, THAT, YOU KNOW, [00:50:01] WHO IS GONNA BE THE DESIGNATED PERSON TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S RIGHT. AND THEN THE LAST PIECE OF THIS, I'M SORRY, I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS CON UM, TOPIC, BUT THE LAST PIECE OF IT IS THAT, IS IT REALLY THE FAULT OR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PAY A LAWYER TO COME AND EVALUATE THEIR DE RESTRICTIONS? NUMBER ONE. AND THEN NUMBER TWO, UM, WHO HELPS THEM REWRITE THEM? I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME SUPPORT, I THINK MAYOR WHITMEYER, THAT WE NEED TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES. I KNOW WE DON'T, I KNOW THAT IT'S A GREAT AREA FOR US, BUT I DON'T KNOW, I JUST FEEL LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE, THE HOLDERS, THEY'RE THE HOLDERS OF COMMUNITY. I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ANSWER IS, BUT IT'S A LOT. IT'S A LOT TO DEAL WITH AND UNFOLD, THAT'S ALL. AND MAYOR, COULD I SAY ONE THING? CAN I SAY ANYTHING? YES, MA'AM. OH, I'D LIKE TO SAY IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO FORM A RESIDENTIAL BOARD TO WORK ON IT WITH CIVIC CLUBS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'D BE WILLING TO WORK. SOUNDS GOOD. AND, UH, MEMBERS, MEMBERS, WE KNOW THAT THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND DEPARTMENT IS BROKEN. SO AS WE REBUILD IT, LET'S DESIGNATE A CORNER OFFICE SOMEWHERE FOR FOLKS TO DEAL WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS. JUST DELEGATE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO A PERSON THAT WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THAT WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN. BUT FIRST, I THINK THE COUNCIL WORKING GROUP NEEDS TO GET TOGETHER AND, UH, HAVE A HEARING AND GET INPUT FROM YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND CERTAINLY THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. WE DON'T WANT UNNECESSARY DELAYS, BUT WE ALSO WANT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS HONORED. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK ALL OF YOU FOR LISTENING. YES. NEXT, SHERRY HAYDEN, BE FOLLOWED BY WIL WILBERT HUBBARD. MY NAME IS SHERRY HAYDEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. NOW. IS THAT GOOD? THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM A MEMBER OF THE GREATER SUGAR VALLEY BLUE RIDGE REED WOODS CIVIC CLUB IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY. I AM A SECOND GENERATION RESIDENT IN THE BLUE RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD. I INHERITED THE HOME FROM MY MOTHER WHO PURCHASED IT IN 1967. I ACCOMPANIED HER ON MANY OCCASIONS TO CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AND HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF HEARING MEMBERS VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND ENTHUSIASM TO WORK TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS. IN ADDITION, I WITNESSED MY MOTHER WORKING TIRELESSLY TO PAY OFF HER MORTGAGE, SOMETIMES TWO TO THREE JOBS. AND THEN IN THE MID EIGHTIES, SHE WAS APPROVED FOR A LOW INTEREST LOAN FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH ALLOWED HER TO MODERNIZE HER HOME WITH CENTRAL AIR AND HEAT AND OTHER AMENITIES. OUR PARENTS AND OTHER RESIDENTS WORKED HARD TO PAY FOR THESE HOMES. THIS WAS THE SPIRIT IN WHICH MOST OF THE FIRST GENERATION EMBODIED IN THIS AREA. THEREFORE, I AM CONTINUING A COMMITMENT OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA TODAY. THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN OUR FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY. DEVELOPERS ARE COMING IN FROM EVERYWHERE. WE KNOW CHANGE IS COMING, BUT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE ALONG WITH THE CHANGES. WE DO NOT WANT OUR HISTORY ELIMINATED, AND WE ARE PLEADING FOR YOUR HELP. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 602 STORY HOMES BEING BUILT AT THE INTERSECTION OF 2 88 AND AIRPORT BOULEVARD. ALSO, THERE IS ANOTHER COMMUNITY OF 200 HOMES BEING BUILT ON ORUM AT 2 88. AND THE DEVELOPERS ARE CONTINUING IN OUR AREA, THE HILL. THAT SEEMS SIMS GREENWAY IS A FUTURE PROJECT AND THE PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE, EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN OF NEW HOMES IN OUR AREA. THEY'RE ALL IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE ARE STILL FIGHTING TO KEEP THE HISTORIC DESIGN OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ON ANOTHER NOTE, TYPICALLY DUPLEXES DO NOT IMPROVE AN AREA THEY DESTROY. MOST OFTEN, THEY DEGRADE THE NEIGHBORHOODS INTO SLUM GHETTOS. UNFORTUNATELY, DUPLEXES SEEM MORE PREVALENT IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES. OUR FOREFATHERS HAD THE FORESIGHT TO ATTEMPT TO KEEP DUPLEXES OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED TO FORM THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED TO CREATE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, [00:55:01] GO AHEAD AND FINISH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME EXACT WORDING AS USED TODAY SINCE IT WAS SET UP IN THE 1950S, BUT THE MEANING IS THE SAME. NEVERTHELESS, WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF SUNNYSIDE AS THE RESIDENTS IN OUR AREA ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS OF RESIDENTS IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YES, THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT GREETINGS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WAS LISTENING AT THE INPUT THAT CAME FROM, UH, MS. SHABAZZ. I'M A FORMER CONTRACTOR AS WELL AS A RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEE. THE FIRST PART OF THE APPLICATION FOR A BUILDING IS A FORM THAT STATES GIVE YOU THE BLOCK. UH, YOU GOTTA GET THE BLOCK NUMBER. THAT'S THE EASIEST FORM TO GO IN AND REVISE THAT. THE RES BUILDER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL DOCUMENTATION MEETS EVERY PART AND EVERY ASPECT OF THE BUILDING. IF WE MODIFY THAT ONE FORM, THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE BURDEN OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAS TO REVIEW IT, THAT PUTS IT ON THE CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY. HE DOES THAT BEFORE HE EVER GET FINANCING. SO IF YOU MO MODIFY THAT ONE FORM AND PUT ALL OF IT BECAUSE IT HAS DEED RESTRICTION, IT HAS EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO THAT PARTICULAR, UH, PLOT PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR, UM, THE CITY AS WELL AS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS THE EASIEST FORM TO ADJUST BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER FARMS IS BASED ON THAT. AND IF THERE'S A PROCESS WHEN THEY SUBMIT IT, THEN THAT GIVES THEM US TIME TO GO BACK AND REVIEW IT, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING MEETS THE RIGHT POTENTIAL. AND THAT'S THE EASIEST THING TO DO. AND I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN AND THE INPUT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR 63 YEARS. WHEN WE MOVED IN THERE, THEY WAS JUST BUILDING THE BRIDGES WAS MADE OUTTA WOOD, THE STREETS WAS PAVED. BUT MY MOM IS 89 YEARS OLD. THEY HAVE NEVER, UH, THE COMMUNITY. WELL, WE WAS THE LAST HOUSE NEXT TO THE DEAD END BEFORE THEY EVER DEVELOPED. I THINK IT WAS 60 HOUSES IF THAT MANY WHEN WE FIRST GOT THERE. WE, SHE'S BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT IS, UH, ADULTS, UH, OLDER PEOPLE LIVING THERE NOW. MY MOM'S 89. THE NEIGHBOR NEXT TO US IS 93. THE ONE ACROSS THE STREET IS 84. IT'S ALL OLD, OLDER, ELDERLY PEOPLE. WE DON'T NEED THE RURAL HOUSES AND THE OTHER STUFF THAT GOES IN THERE. OUR CRIME WEIGHT HAS BEEN LOWER NEXT TO NONE SINCE WE GOT RID OF THE HALFWAY HOUSE. BEFORE THEN WE HAD MULTIPLE BREAK-INS. ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS GOT HIT UPSIDE THE HEAD WHILE SHE WAS GOING OUT TO FEED HER DOG EARLY IN THE MORNING. THINGS LIKE THAT DOES NOT NEED TO OCCUR IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I DO APPRECIATE THE INPUT THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN. AND, UH, LIKE I STATED BEFORE, ONE DOCUMENT IS ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, COMPLETED. AND REVI REVITALIZED BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS BUILDING THAT HE'S PUTTING IN MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT MEREDITH MOORE. HELLO. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A YOUNG BOY WHO A DAY AGO, HIS NAME WAS YASUN, DIED OF EXTREME HUNGER IN NORTHERN GAZA. I CAN'T DESCRIBE TO YOU THE LEVEL OF EMACIATION, HIS BODY. HE WAS LITERALLY SKIN AND BONES, AND HIS FACE IS ONE THAT WILL HARM ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. LAST WEEK, OVER A HUNDRED PALESTINIANS WERE SLAUGHTERED AND ALMOST 800 BRUTALLY INJURED BY ISRAELI TANKS IN NORTHERN GAZA. WHILE THEY WERE WAITING FOR FOOD AID, THEY WERE CIVILIANS WAITING FOR FLOUR. SO THIS IS THE CHOICE. PALESTINIANS ARE BEING GIVEN SEARCH FOR FOOD AND BE MURDERED WITH NO WAY TO INFORM YOUR LOVED ONES OR DIE SLOWLY WHILE YOUR BODY DISAPPEARS INTO NOTHING AND YOUR LOVED ONE'S WATCH. THIS IS [01:00:01] A CHOICE. NO HUMAN BEING, NO LIVING CREATURE SHOULD HAVE TO FACE. AND THIS IS A CHOICE WE PAY FOR WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS ELOQUENTLY ANYMORE. PALESTINIAN LIVES ARE WORTH SAVING. THEY DESERVE SAFETY, LIBERATION, AND SELF-DETERMINATION. JUST LIKE ANY OF US. THEY'RE NOT EXPENDABLE AND THEY ARE NOT COLLATERAL DAMAGE. AND TO THINK OTHERWISE IS TO BE COMPLETELY MORALLY BANKRUPT. WE EACH IN THIS ROOM HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGHT FOR HUMANITY AND STOP THIS GENOCIDE IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. SO CITY CA, COUNCIL, I CALL ON YOU TO PUT OUT A PUBLIC JOINT STATEMENT ASKING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. I ALSO ASK YOU TO ADD TO THE AGENDA A RESOLUTION TO AMEND HOUSTON'S INVESTMENT POLICY TO DISALLOW INVESTMENT IN ISRAELI BONDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, TOM TRAN. TOM TRAN IS NOT PRESIDENT. LETICIA ROWE, BE FOLLOWED BY ALFRED BRYANT. HELLO MAYOR. HELLO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UM, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR WHITMEYER. FEELS LIKE NOT SO LONG AGO WE MET OUTSIDE THE HEIGHTS HOSPITAL WHEN OUR CLINIC WAS BEING EVICTED DURING COVID. UM, HAPPY TO SAY WE'RE BRIGHTER DAYS NOW. LOCATED HONEYCOMB CLINIC IN ALAMEDA. I'M DR. TISHA ROWE, A FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN LOCATED IN DISTRICT D. I'M GONNA TRY TO PACK A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE INTO THREE MINUTES AND ITS MENTAL HEALTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE ALL KNOW NOT TOO LONG AGO SOMEONE TRIED TO DO AN ATTACK IN LAKEWOOD CHURCH, BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IN HERE IS EVERY DAY THE PATIENTS THAT I SEE THAT ARE SUFFERING WITH NO ACCESS TO RESOURCES. MY PATIENT LOST HER HUSBAND AND HER SON IN THE SAME WEEK. SHE'S AN INSURED PATIENT. I HAD A MEDICAL STUDENT CALL THREE PAGES WORTH OF PROVIDERS ON HER INSURANCE NETWORK WEBSITE. AND THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE PERSON WHO COULD SEE HER TO OFFER THERAPY. I'M WELL AWARE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I HAVE PERSONALLY CALLED THOSE CLINICS AND GOTTEN THE RUNAROUND. AND EVEN WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE CARE, PATIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WALK IN. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME PATIENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO WALK IN. THEY DO NOT HAVE MONEY FOR GAS OR FOOD, MUCH LESS TRANSPORTATION TO WALK INTO SOMEWHERE. WHEN THEY DO WALK IN, THEY'RE PUT ON WAITING LISTS FOR WEEKS, FOR MONTHS, AND SOMETIMES FOR YEARS. I HAD A CHILD WHO WAITED OVER A YEAR FOR ASSESSMENT. UM, THE REVIEWS ON OUR HARRIS COUNTY WEBSITE, UH, FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SOMETIMES THEY'RE GREAT, BUT THERE'S SOME THAT ARE QUITE FRANKLY DESPICABLE. AND IF WE WANNA TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN HEALTHCARE, THEN EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH. I WAS INSPIRED TO COME HERE WHEN I SAW THAT THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND, WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE BIKE RIDE PROGRAM. AND I BELIEVE MENTAL HEALTH IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IS PHYSICAL HEALTH, IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT. I'VE PREPARED A THREE PAGE PROPOSAL THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND TO ANY COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, I'M IN DISTRICT D, BUT THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT D PROBLEM. WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY AND CLOSE ENOUGH WALKING DISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS OF THIRD WARD AND OTHER RESIDENTS TO COME TO THE HONEYCOMB CLINIC. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FUNDING TO PLACE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO ANGULAR SPEAKING, ONE SPANISH SPEAKING AND ONE VIETNAMESE, UM, SPEAKING MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN HONEYCOMB CLINIC. THE COST OF THAT TO PAY THE PROVIDERS OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT THEM WOULD BE $500,000. UM, IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO FUND THIS, THEN I CALL ON EVERY CITY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE TO CONSIDER PROVIDING SUPPORT. OUR CITY DESPERATELY NEEDS ACCESS TO BETTER HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO GO TO THOSE WEBSITES FOR OUR CITY PAGES AND SEE WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PER STATED. THANK YOU MAYOR. DR. ROE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR RAISING A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. UM, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, UM, MENTAL HEALTH, UM, IN OUR CITY FOR A LONG TIME AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE THESE RESOURCES. I KNOW DURING UM, MENTAL WELLNESS MONTH WE PUT OUT A, UM, BOOKLET OF RESOURCES. UM, I'D LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU AND, AND TALK ABOUT WHERE THE REAL, UM, AFFORDABLE RESOURCES ARE, [01:05:01] UM, FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY BE DEALING WITH, UM, MENTAL, UM, ILLNESS AND WANT, UM, SOME ASSISTANCE AND NEED THAT ASSISTANCE. UM, SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE SEND THAT INFORMATION TO MY OFFICE, UM, I'D LOVE TO, UH, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALSO PUT ON RESOURCE FAIRS, UM, BUT WE NEED TO POOL OUR COLLECTIVE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE SHARING THAT TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU DR. ROE. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING YOUR RIBBON, CUTTING OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACILITY IN MY OTHER LIFE. I WAS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. I GUESS YOU ALWAYS THAT, BUT CERTAINLY THAT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT. UH, INGRAM IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A HARD COPY. IF NOT, CERTAINLY SHARE YOUR PROPOSAL WITH US IN DISTRICT D. OKAY. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. ALFRED BRYANT. ALFRED BRYANT, JOHN EBERLY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANDRE BARNES. IT IS THIS OKAY? YES, SIR. OKAY. UM, MY NAME AS SAID IS JOHN EBERLY. UH, I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON 77 YEARS. I'M CURRENTLY RETIRED. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MY WATER BILL. I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY WATER BILL. I'M SURE YOU'VE ALREADY HAD ENOUGH OF THAT FROM PEOPLE COMPLAINING. I'M GIVING YOU SOME FEEDBACK FOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST TWO, TWO AND A HALF. GETTING CLOSER. OH, I'M SORRY. I WANDER. UH, FOR THE LAST TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS, MY BILLS HAVE ALMOST NEVER BEEN RIGHT. THEY HAVE ONE OR TWO MONTHS. AND I WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. EVERY MONTH IT WAS ZERO, UH, BECAUSE THE BILL, THE METER WAS NOT READ. I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE TO DO WITH ELECTRONIC SENDING UNITS. THEY'RE NOT THE PHYSICAL PROBLEM OF THE GROUND. THE METER WORKS FINE, BUT THE ELECTRONIC PART DOESN'T. ANYWAY, FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS, I, OR TWO YEARS, I TRIED TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD FINALLY, UH, IN, I THINK IT WAS, UH, JULY, AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, I GOT A A BILL AND I'D BEEN PUTTING AWAY EXTRA MONEY KNOWING FULL WELL I WAS GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR IT SOONER OR LATER. AND ALL OF THAT GOT FINISHED AND I WAS HAPPY. AND I THOUGHT, GREAT, EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE FINE. I THINK IT WAS AUGUST I COULD GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL. BUT ANYWAY, AUGUST I GOT A BILL OF 7,000 GALLONS, EVERYTHING FINE. I FELT GREAT. SEPTEMBER ZERO. OCTOBER 14,000. NOVEMBER ZERO. NEXT MONTH IT'S 15,000. I HAD TO CALL EVERY TIME, TRY TO GET CORRECTIONS. UH, SOME OF THEM WORKED, SOME OF 'EM DIDN'T. THE IRONIC THING IS ONCE DID, I GOT ON THE AGENDA FOR CITY HALL. I HAD THREE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS CONTACT ME, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, THE WATER DEPARTMENT, AND MY, UH, COUNCIL DIS UH, THE COUNCIL, THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR MY COUNCIL DISTRICT. I DO THINK THAT I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD HELP OUT OF 'EM. I APPRECIATE THEY'RE GOING TO, UH, REDO THE BILLS. THEY'RE GONNA RECALCULATE 'EM. ALL I WANT TO TELL YOU IS THIS, MY WHOLE EXPERIENCE, UH, WORKING 60 YEARS HAS BEEN WRITING AND DESIGNING COMPUTER SYSTEMS, WRITING AND ASSIGNING WORK PROCESSES AND WORKFLOWS. THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY IF A METER IS NOT READ WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM YOU HAVE IN PLACE, THAT THE NEXT BILL WILL BE CORRECT WITH AN ASTERISK UNLESS THE PERSON ACTUALLY USE ZERO AMOUNTS OF WATER, THEY'RE OUTTA TOWN FOR A MONTH. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK Y'ALL, PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THESE PROCESSES, LOOK AT THE ALGORITHMS. THEY'RE NOT CORRECT. THEY WERE PROBABLY BASED YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE ALL READ MECHANICALLY, THEY'RE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET EVERY METER. YOU DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO READ EVERY METER IN THE CITY EVERY MONTH MECHANICALLY. SO JUST GO IN AND STUDY IT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HELP PEOPLE. AND BY THE WAY, EVERYBODY IN CUSTOMER TOWN HAS EXPIRED, RIGHT? UH, THEY WERE COURTEOUS, THEY WERE KNOWLEDGEABLE. THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD, BUT THEY COULD ONLY EXPLAIN THINGS DOWN TO A CERTAIN LEVEL BECAUSE THIS WAS MORE THE ACTUAL CALCULATION. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. JUST A SECOND. UH, MAYOR PRO CASTEX ITEM. MR. EBERLY, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. I, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE STAFF FROM MY OFFICE CALLED YOU AND I HAVE ASKED MY STAFF THAT WHENEVER THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE AGENDA FROM DISTRICT K, FOR THEM TO REACH OUT TO THEM BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY'D, UM, LIKE TO DISCUSS. IF THEY WANT TO DISCUSS IT, IF THEY DON'T WANNA DISCUSS IT, WE DEFINITELY WELCOME YOU TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL. I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK BECAUSE WE'VE DEALT WITH SEVERAL [01:10:01] WATER BILL ISSUES, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE DID, UM, MAKE SOME CHANGES A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, AND THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES COMING FORWARD. UM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. UM, BUT AT ANY TIME, UM, IF YOU ARE HAVING SOME CONCERNS IN, IN THE DISTRICT TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE, UM, AND, AND LET US TRY TO HELP NAVIGATE, UH, THE SITUATION, UH, FOR YOU. WELL, REAL QUICKLY, I WANTED TO TELL YOU IN RESPONSE TO THAT, SOMEONE CALLED ME, AND I APOLOGIZE, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT'S CITY WORKS OR CUSTOMER SERVICE OR SOMETHING. THEY ARE LOOKING INTO MY BILLS. 'CAUSE THEY AGREE, THEY WERE NOT CALCULATED, RIGHT? THE CREDITS WERE NOT CALCULATED, RIGHT? SO I DON'T REALLY NEED ANY OTHER HELP RIGHT NOW. I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU, THE PROCESS IS NOT WORKING AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. WE, WE APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN TO SHARE TODAY. AND, ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND, AND LET ME, SIR, THANK YOU ALSO FOR COMING DOWN, PUTTING A FACE ON THE PROBLEM. UH, OUR GOAL IS FAIR AND TRUTHFUL BILLING, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS PREPARED TO ROLL OUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS AND REFORMS, BUT WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THE PRODUCT THAT I RECEIVED FROM PUBLIC WORKS YESTERDAY. SO I SENT THEM BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND FOR OTHERS LISTENING, THERE'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND BROKEN SENSORS. YEAH. IS THE REASON THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE GOAL IS, IS TO REPLACE THOSE SENSORS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND. THAT'S 20% OF THE 500. THAT'S OF THE 500,000 THAT, UH, RECEIVED BILLINGS FROM THE CITY. UM, THE, THE, THE SYSTEM I INHERITED HAD A GOAL OF REPLACING 'EM WITHIN FIVE YEARS. WE MOVED IT UP TO THE NEXT NINE MONTHS BY NEXT JANUARY. THE GOAL IS, AND, AND, AND I THOUGHT WE HAD A SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW BILL TO GO OUT LIKE YOU RECEIVED, BUT TO INTERDICT IT, LOOK AT THE THREE LOWEST MONTHS OF YOUR BILLINGS LAST YEAR. FIND THAT AVERAGE AND SEND IT TO YOU. SO I'LL TALK EVEN MORE ABOUT IT TOMORROW. BUT, UH, WE'VE SPENT MANY, MANY HOURS TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF ONCE YOU GET THE BILL, BUT TO TRY TO PREVENT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE WILL GET THERE IF I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS. BUT, UH, DON'T THINK IT'S FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. THIS HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXIST WAY, WAY TOO LONG. AND FOR YOU TO COME TO CITY HALL TODAY, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT IT IS MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY, CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTED, WHICH WILL BE A MAJOR PART OF OUR ULTIMATE PACKAGE. BUT, UM, YOU'RE BEING HERE TODAY SERVES A REALLY USEFUL PURPOSE FOR ALLOWING ME TO LET HOUSTONIANS KNOW THAT WE'RE LISTENING AND WE WILL HAVE A MEANINGFUL, TRUTHFUL, FAIR WATER BILLING SYSTEM VERY, VERY SOON. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED I COULDN'T ANNOUNCE IT IN TOTAL TODAY, OR ACTUALLY IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW. I'VE BEEN BRIEFING COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I DID NOT LIKE THE PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT STILL HAD SOME GAPS. AND I SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA LET PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT GONNA TELL PEOPLE WE'VE FIXED SOMETHING IF IT'S NOT INDEED FIXED. AND IT'S STILL NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE'RE PREPARED TO KEEP WORKING NEXT. ANDRE BARNES. ANDRE BARNES. ALICIA DOYLE. OKAY, GUYS, STEP IN FRONT ONE. OH, START. WHAT? EITHER MIKE, EITHER MIKE. OKAY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS LOUD. UM, I AMM HERE. UH, MY NAME'S ALICIA DOYLE AND I'M FROM KINGWOOD. I LIVE IN KINGS POINT. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH Y'ALL BECAUSE IT'S BEEN KIND OF CRAZY THAT I NEED Y'ALL TO KINDA UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. UM, 2016, I GOT DIVORCED, MOVED INTO MY NEW HOUSE, AND I SET UP ALL MY BILLS ON AUTOPAY BECAUSE HONESTLY, I'D NEVER PAID BILLS BEFORE. OKAY? I WANT 'EM, AUTOPAY MAKE IT EASY FOR ME. SO EVERYTHING'S PERFECT. AUTOPAY, EVERYTHING'S WORKING 2020, SITTING OUTSIDE WITH THE KIDS AT COVID HOMESCHOOLING, TRYING TO WITH LIKE 10 TEENAGERS AND THE WATER GETS TURNED OFF. WE'RE LIKE, WHAT IN THE WORLD? SO CALL THE WATER COMPANY. AND THEY SAID, I'M SORRY, YOU HAVE A AMOUNT DUE OF $17,595. [01:15:01] AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT'S A LOT. SO, AND I WAS, THEY DEMANDED THAT I PAY HALF OR THEY WOULDN'T TURN IT BACK ON. IT'S C I'M IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING IN AUTOMOTIVE DURING COVID . UM, SO I BEGGED AND BEGGED AND I THREW OUT MY, UM, WHAT ALL I HAD WAS THAT DAVE MARTIN LIVES FIVE BLOCKS OVER FROM ME. I'M GONNA GO TO HIS HOUSE RIGHT THIS SECOND. AND THAT GOT THEM. HONESTLY, THEY, THEY SAID, OKAY. THEY TOOK, I THINK IT WAS, I PAID HIM $500, PAY WHAT I COULD PAY. AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS, RIGHT? SO WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS THEY HAD NEVER, THEY HAD BILLED ME FOR DRAINAGE THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT THEY'D NEVER BILLED ME FOR WATER. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS ON AUTOMATIC THING. MY WATER'S WORKING. I ASSUME EVERYTHING'S OKAY. SO I GET THAT THAT WAS THEIR SYSTEM. BUT I EVEN ASKED THE LADY ON THE PHONE 'CAUSE WE'RE GOING THROUGH IT, AND IT WAS THE COLLECTIONS PROCESS. THIS IS REALLY WHAT I WANNA SHARE WITH Y'ALL TODAY. THE COLLECTION PROCESS. WHEN I AM TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS, STRAIGHT UP BULLYING, IT IS HORRIFIC. I MEAN, GO, I NEED YOU TO GO THROUGH IT. I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO TRY TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS. IT IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT, SO THEY'VE DEMANDED NOW, SO THROUGH THE APPEALS PROCESS, THEY CAME BACK AND THEY SAID, WE GET IT. LET'S DO A VERY GENEROUS, UM, PAYMENT PLAN. AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH ANOTHER APPEAL PROCESS AND THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, YOU'VE EXHAUSTED ALL EFFORTS. I CALLED DAVE MARTIN'S OFFICE. THEY SAID THEY, THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO ANYMORE. SO IN NOVEMBER, MY WATER WAS TURNED OFF. SO, UM, AND I HAVE NOT HAD IT TURNED BY ON BACK SINCE. AND YES, DO I HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE? AND I'M VERY, VERY LUCKY ABOUT THAT. BUT HONESTLY, I WAS WAITING TILL THE NEW, I WAS WAITING TILL, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A NEW MAYOR BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN. I MEAN, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS. AMY DAVIS HAS BEEN AMAZING. SO, UM, WHERE WE ARE TODAY. SO I CALLED IN DECEMBER AND SAID, HEY, LET'S TURN IT BACK ON. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? AND IT WAS A NEGOTIATION. LIKE I WAS FIGHTING WITH LIKE A, UM, WHATEVER, TIMESHARE PEOPLE . THAT'S WHAT I FELT LIKE. AND IT WAS BACK AND FORTH. NO, YOU HAVE TO DO 15,000. NO, YOU'VE GOTTA DO AT LEAST 10,000. AND I WAS LIKE, LOOK LIKE WHAT CAN YOU PAY? I'M LIKE, UGH, IT'S CHRISTMAS. I JUST WANNA GET MY GIRLS IN. THEY'RE HOME FROM COLLEGE. I CAN PAY, YOU KNOW, TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED 'CAUSE I'M GETTING A NEW ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, IN JANUARY. ANYWAY, THEY, THEY SENT ME A LETTER AND THEY SAID ONLY 5,000. AND THEY SAID THEY ONLY TAKE 5,000 DOWN. I DECIDED NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE DEPLETED MY CHRISTMAS FOR THE GIRLS. SO CALLED AGAIN LAST NIGHT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. WHEN I CALLED THAT OR YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. AND THEY SAID, UM, 7,500 ONLY, ONLY 7,500. THE ONLY THING WE'LL TURN IT ON. AND I SAID, I DON'T HAVE 7,500 NEGOTIATE IT TO 5,000. AND I SAID, BUT I HAD ALREADY NEGOTIATED TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED. AND THEY SAID, NOPE, THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK. AND I, THEY KEPT GOING BACK TO, YOU KNOW, MR. RANDALL, MR. GREEN AND THE BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH. AND I SAID, WELL, THAT, THAT'S FINE. HOW LONG IS THIS GOOD FOR? YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAID, THEY'RE GONNA GIVE ME TWO DAYS TO TAKE THE $5,000 DEAL, OR IT GOES BACK UP TO 7,500. WHAT IS THAT? IT WAS VERY STRANGE. WELL, I DON'T WANNA CUT YOU OFF, BUT I'VE, YOU'VE PAINTED A REAL GOOD PICTURE WHAT THE STATUS REPORT WAS. YOU WERE ACTUALLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS, WHETHER THE WATER DEPARTMENT LAST NIGHT, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND THEY STILL NEGOTIATING WITH YOU. SEE THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE, JOSH SANDERS WITH MY OFFICE. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE BILLING WAS WRONG. TO GET BACK TO FAIR BILLING, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE THREE LOWEST MONTHS THAT YOU HAD LAST YEAR, AVERAGE THEM AND SEND YOU A NEW BILL. SO ONE, DISREGARD THE EXTREME BILL THAT YOU RECEIVED. NUMBER TWO, GIVE, UH, MY OFFICE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN IT TO PUBLIC WORKS. ONE MORE TIME. THANK YOU. HOLD ON. CAN YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WITH THESE COLLEAGUES WILL FIX THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL? OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT IN HERE OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS AND MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE PROVIDE WATER FOR FIVE YEARS AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT NOT KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT BILLING? AND MY GUESS IS YOU'RE NOT UNIQUE. NO, NO, I WASN'T. THERE'S PROBABLY QUITE A FEW OF THESE WHERE, YOU KNOW, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE AUTOMATIC BILL PAYMENTS AND ALL THAT, PEOPLE TEND TO DO THAT NOW. WOULD NEVER KNOW. I MEAN, HOW MANY MORE CASES ARE JUST LIKE THIS, THAT, AND WE HAVEN'T FOUND 'EM OUT YET. TOO MANY, TOO MANY. THEY ACTED WITH. IF I COULD SAY SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO THE LADY ON THE PHONE WHILE WE WERE NEGOTIATING AND SHE WAS FEELING SOME PAIN FOR ME THE FIRST TIME DURING COVID, AND SHE SAID, AND I SAID, WHAT IS HAPPENING? WHY ARE Y'ALL LIKE, WHY NOW? I MEAN, IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS. WERE YOU JUST CALLING UP? SHE GOES, YES. ACTUALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IS CALLING ALL THE ACCOUNTS THAT DO NOT HAVE, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING THEIR WATER. AND I SAID, WELL, WHO DOESN'T PAY THEIR WATER? SHE SAID, MOSTLY RENTAL UNITS. SHE SAID, WE'VE BEEN CALLING IN ALL OF THOSE. I'M LIKE, I'M NOT A RENTAL UNIT, SO I NEED SOME HELP. SO THANK YOU. IT'LL, IT'LL GET FIXED BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE BUILDING. UH, JOSH, [01:20:01] GET HER, GET RANDY PUBLIC WORKS ON TOP OF IT. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND WE, WE APOLOGIZE. SOUND LIKE YOU'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IT'S NOT FOR ME. I DID IT BECAUSE, AND THE REASON I'M DOWN HERE IS BECAUSE WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES? NO. WHAT ABOUT THE ONES WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE THE RESOURCES? YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. SO, AND, AND THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, LEAH FREEMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM. COULD YOU PLEASE STAND? I'M SORRY. WHAT? MAYOR PROTE MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR PRO TEM. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT EVERY TREE HAS A VOICE OF ITS OWN. THE OAK WARS, THE ASH MOANS, THE MULBERRY SINGS, AND THE WILLOW WEEPS. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO SAY THAT OUR MAYOR PRO TE REPRESENTS ALL OF THESE. YOUR ROARS, YOUR MOANS, YOUR SINGING AND YOUR WEEPING WILL BE AN INSPIRATION FOR UP AND COMING YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRLS LIKE ME TO KNOW THAT WE CAN REACH GREAT PLATEAU'S OUTCOME AFTER US MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR ROLE MODEL. AND I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU THIS. DID YOU DRAW THAT? WHAT'S THE ORIGIN OF THAT? WHO DID THAT ARTWORK? WELCOME YOUR MAYOR. LEIA LEIA. VERY NICE TO MEET YOU, LEIA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. APPRECIATE IT. MAYOR PRO TEM, HER FAMILY MAY ALSO BE HERE IF THEY WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SAY LEAH, WE'RE ALL INTERESTED. UH, WHAT GRADE YOU IN, WHERE DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SO TALENTED? ? I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. I GO TO SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL. WOW. AND I THINK I WAS JUST BORN TO BE TALENTED. ? YES, YES, YES. AND THIS IS YOUR SISTER COUSIN. COUSIN. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? INTRODUCE US TO YOUR FRIEND OR YOUR RELATIVE. HI, MY NAME IS GAIL. WOW. WELCOME BOTH OF YOU, FATHER. THANK YOU. , I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT SOMEDAY. , THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. A HORSE. HELLO. UH, NEXT ROBERT COOPER. THE THIRD BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID C GO AHEAD CHUCK. HOW YOU DOING? I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THIS VERSE RIGHT QUICK. UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THEY GOT HUSTLE SPEAKING. . THAT'S SOMETHING I JUST WANTED TO GET OUT THE WAY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? DOING WELL. TALK TO ALL Y'ALL. YEAH. OKAY. SO YEAH, GO AHEAD. IT'S A FEW THINGS GOING ON IN HOUSTON. I DON'T [01:25:01] KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT, UM, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS, PROSTITUTION ALL TIME HIGH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, MOSTLY ALL THE AREAS ARE LOW INCOME. UH, THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON, UM, WHETHER YOU PASS BY YOU COMING THROUGH THE AREA, PICKING UP SOMETHING IN THE AREA, THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT GO ON. UM, ACTUALLY WOMEN IN GENERAL ARE THE MOST POWERFUL BEING THAT WE HAVE ON THIS PLANET. SO THEY SHOULD NEVER EVEN KNOW BE SELLING THEMSELVES AND THEY SHOULD NEVER, THAT SHOULD NEVER EVEN BE A THING FOR OUR WOMEN. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I CAME UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS PROSTITUTION. UM, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE MORE SAFER. MAKE SURE THAT UP TO DATE SO KIDS CAN BE ABLE TO GO TO THE PARKS AND PLAY WITHOUT HAVING TO BE PREYED ON BY PREDATORS OR NO DRUGS OR WHATEVER. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY COME UP THERE MESSING WITH THEM, STUFF LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS I CAME UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT. MASON. MAINLY PROTECT OUR WOMEN AND PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN. THAT'S THE MAIN THING. THAT COULD BE THE MAIN FOCUS OF HOUSTON. SO THAT WE CAN SHOW ALL THE CITIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT WE STICK TOGETHER. NO MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, NO MATTER WHAT YOU STAND FOR. IF YOU'RE FROM CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU'RE COMING FROM HERE. YOU COMING TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT. THAT'S IT. FOR REAL. FOR REAL. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAD TO STEP OUT, SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, FOLLOW UP VERY QUICKLY. DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO FLAG? UM, FOR US, UH, AS THE MAYOR LOOKS INTO THAT AND HPD LOOKS INTO THAT AND OUR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, RIGHT? THIS IS PROSTITUTION IS ALSO FOR SURE THEY'RE THE VICTIMS AS WELL. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THIS, UM, IN THE APPROPRIATE MANNER. UM, THE SOUTH UNION AREA, THE THIRD WARD AREA, UM, THE SOUTHWEST AREA, THE A LEAF AREA, SPICE LANE, STUFF LIKE THAT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HOUSTON TOWARDS LIKE THE WILLOWBROOK AREA, 2 49 AND STUFF LIKE THAT. TTA OVER THERE IN THAT AREA. I THINK YOU JUST NAMED ALL OF HOUSTON , SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YEAH, IT IS A CITYWIDE CONCERN. YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A BIG ISSUE. SO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS SAFE SO THEY COULD BE ABLE TO COME OUTSIDE AND PLAY, BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, GOING OUTSIDE AND PLAYING. THEY ON THE GAME ALL DAY. GAME SYSTEMS ARE COMPUTERS ALL DAY. TAKE THEM OFF THE GAME, GET THEM BACK GOING OUTSIDE, BEING IN NATURE LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. ABSOLUTELY. WELL AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, FLAG CERTAIN LOCATIONS IF YOU'RE SEEING SOMETHING, I KNOW YOU'RE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND KNOW ALL THE AREAS, UM, YOU KNOW, FLAG THEM FOR THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO WE CAN ALSO BE THOSE ADVOCATES, UM, ALONGSIDE YOU. I GOT YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, BROTHER COOPER, LET ME THANK YOU. APPLAUD YOU FOR COMING DOWN. AND LET ME JUST SAY WHAT THE MAYOR'S ROLLING OUT, WHAT ALL OF US AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SO CRITICAL AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO DEAL WITH THE CRIME ISSUE, IT HAS TO BE A WHOLE CITY ISSUE. IT CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED BASED ON WHAT PART OF THE DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN OR CONTROL. IT HAS TO BE A WHOLE EFFORT. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE INTEND TO, I FOR ONE, IS GOING TO ROLL OUT AND INTRODUCE TO THE MAYOR THAT I THINK WOULD HELP. WE CAN'T ERADICATE ALL CRIME, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY REDUCE IT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHO WANTS TO DO THAT. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A CITY EFFORT AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES TO DO. AND I'M HOPING THAT ALL OF THE COLLEAGUES AND ALL OF US WILL LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE LIKE THE MAYOR SAY, IT'S A WHOLE CITY ISSUE AND WE CANNOT BE PARTICULAR ABOUT WHAT AREA THEY IN, BUT ABOUT THE WHOLE CITY. CRIMINALS DON'T CARE WHERE THEY ROLL, THEY AFFECT US ALL. THANK YOU. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. NAH, FOR SURE. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD JOB. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT DAVID, KEVIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY EL VIRUS PARTS. HELLO. NICE, NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY. I WAS, UH, I BEEN HERE WITH MS. ANISA PARKER AND UH, UH, UH, MR. TURNER WAS HERE. IT WAS NICE SEEING EVERYBODY THAT WAS STILL HERE, SOME OF THEM. SO NICE TO MEET Y'ALL. MR. WHITMEYER. MAYOR WHITMEYER. THANK YOU. I HAD AN IDEA OF ABOUT THE TYPE ONE LANDFILL AND LITTER. IF WE CAN RECYCLE THE, UH, THOSE MATERIALS ARE JUST SITTING THERE AS COMMODITIES THAT ARE COPPER, TURNING INTO, YOU KNOW, D DIFFERENT STATES OF DENOTES DENOTING, UH, DIFFERENT STYLE OF MONEY OR EXCHANGE RATE. UM, AND TO, TO FUND A, UH, HOPEFULLY A HOMELESS SHELTERING IN PLACE SCENARIO SCENARIO FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING OR, OR HOW HAVE YOU GET STUCK IN BAD WEATHER? UM, HAVE A PLACE TO GET FUNDED TO BE FOOD OR SHELTER OR, OR, [01:30:01] OR, UH, CLOTHING, UM, YOU KNOW, BLANKETS, STUFF LIKE THAT. UM, BUT YES, THAT'S WAS MY IDEA THAT MAYBE TAX, UH, HAVE A WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR THE, UH, RECYCLING GOODS SO THAT WE BRING MORE REVENUE TO THE CITY TO FIX, LIKE POTHOLES AND ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT'S BEEN COMING UP. I'VE WORKED PRIVATE SECURITY FOR SOME TIME NOW AND I SEE THE DIFFERENT ISSUES ARE STRESSED OUT BY PEOPLE, SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY COME FROM AND WHEN AND, UH, WHY THEY GO THROUGH IT. BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE TAXES OR THE LANDFILL TYPE TWO WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE PEOPLE REBUILD THE, THE, UH, THE PRODUCT THAT THEY HEAVY TRASH, REBUILD THE HEAVY TRASH AND POTENTIALLY MAKE CELLS OFF OF YOU REUSE OUR RESOURCES THAT WERE JUST THROWING AWAY AND REBUILD FROM IN WITHIN INFRASTRUCTURE, WITHIN RE RECYCLE ALL OF OUR, OUR OUR NEEDS THAT WAY INSTEAD OF HAVING IT CONSTANTLY BRINGING IN NEW PRODUCT THAT WE COULD, COULD RUN OUT OF TARIFF, TARIFF ISSUES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I FIGURED THAT WE CAN BUILD WITHIN, WE ALREADY HAVE, WE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY JUST SITTING ON THE GROUND. CANS ARE NOT BEING RECYCLED. IT'S LITTERED EVERYWHERE. AND HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WOULD BRING IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, SAME WITH LANDFILLS THAT ARE JUST FILLED WITH CANS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE JUST THROW IT ALL WAY WITHOUT RECYCLING AND MAKING THE MONEY OFF OF THAT. YOU HAVE A LOT MORE MONEY. MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS. HE GAVE GO THE BILLIONS ON THAT. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST IN THE LANDFILLS JUST SITTING THERE, NOT RECYCLED, YOU KNOW, THAT'D BRING IN REVENUE FOR THE CITY. AND YOU CAN HELP THE HOMELESS FACILITIES AND THE POTHOLES. DON'T FORGET THAT, I THINK. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU TOO. YEAH. HAVE A GREAT DAY. YEAH, HAVE A GOOD DAY. NEXT. YEAH. VIRUS. GOOD. CAPTAIN, RESPECTFUL COUNSELORS. GOOD AFTERNOON RESPECTFUL COUNSELORS AND CITY MAYOR . UH, MY NAME IS LV. I COME HERE TO DISCUSS MY FAMILY. TRY, TRY TO SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE MIC. YES, PLEASE. UH, I COME TO DISCUSS MY FAMILY ISSUES REUNION WITH MY, UH, CHILD WHO IS 20 YEARS OLD AND WHO IS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND, UH, STUDY, UH, ECONOMY AND BUSINESS. UM, WHY I COME HERE BECAUSE, UM, WE ARE UNDER THE DIVORCE WITH MY EX-HUSBAND, DOUGLAS , WHO IS EXXONMOBIL EMPLOYEE AND WHO BRING ME IN THE COUNTRY BACK IN 2001 MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AFTER THE STREET, AFTER THE SEPTEMBER OF 11. AND I'VE BEEN ESCORTING HIM IN THE TRIP, UH, BACK FROM THE BUSINESS TRIPS FROM THE UKRAINE TO THE, UH, UNITED STATES AFTER THE DISASTER. SO, UH, HE BEEN MARRIED ME, UM, BUT I'VE BEEN AT THE WORKPLACE AND I'VE BEEN ARCHEOLOGIST DOCTOR OF MEDICINE ARCHEOLOGIST IN THE UKRAINE, AND HE'S COMING BY THE ACCENT MOBILE BUSINESS AND DO BUSINESS WITH GOVERNMENT. SO I REPRESENTED GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE AND CRIMEA AND RIGHT NOW OVER THEIR WAR AND THE UNITED STATES, AGAIN INVOLVED, I'M VERY SORRY, NEITHER OIL, NEITHER GAS, A BUSINESS HAPPENING. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, PROBABLY, UH, GOVERNMENT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT UKRAINIANS IS HUNGRY, DON'T WANT WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA. THEY SPEAK ONE LANGUAGE, THEY ONE ROOT. SLAVIC. I'M MONGOLIAN QATAR BY REGION. SO I COME HERE BEING FORCEFULLY LEFT IN THE UNITED STATES BY MARRIAGE. I DIDN'T INTEND MARRIAGE, I HAD MY FIANCE. SO WE, WE JUST BEEN SEPARATED WITH FAMILY THIRD TIME AFTER THE DEPORTATION TALENT DEPORTATION FROM CRIMEA TO US PAKISTAN. AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN RETURNED BACK WITH THE GORBACHEV BACK IN 2019 90. AND, UM, I'VE BEEN BORN IN US PAKISTAN, SO I UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT, LIKE A PRESIDENT BUSH. HE GIVE US A LETTER WHEN MY OLDEST CHILD, ISABELLA SPART BEEN BORN. BUT UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T HELP MYSELF ANYTHING FOR THE NEITHER FOR THE PRESIDENT, NEITHER THAT I BEEN BORN IN US PAKISTAN, OF COURSE, I ASKING FOR SUPPORT, PEOPLE WHO LIVING OVER THERE THAT, UH, THEY WILL TREAT MILITARY GOOD AND, UH, WILL NOT PROTEST AGAINST ANY ACTIONS. BUT AGAIN, I'VE BEEN HERE, BEEN MARRIED, LIVED FOR 10 YEARS, BEEN KEPT LIKE A HOUSEWIFE AND, UH, UH, DIDN'T RETURN BACK. UH, [01:35:02] I FLY BACK, UH, AS NEEDED. AND HAVING THE MARRIAGE TWO CHILDREN, BUT THEN FORCEFULLY, FORCEFULLY BEING DIVORCED WITH THE SO GARCIA, UH, UM, ANDREA GARCIA, WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATIONS AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY PUT IT IN THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED. YES. AND, UH, MY CHILD, UH, BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY, UH, BEEN, UH, LEFT WITH MY EX-HUSBAND AND HE'S DIABETIC. AND, UH, I'VE BEEN INFECTED WITH HYPOTHE C AFTER THE, UH, DELIVERY, UH, BABY BIRTH AND THE HOSPITAL. SO I'VE BEEN ON THE TREATMENT FROM THE HYPOTHE. I TELL YOU WHAT, MA'AM, I'LL CUT YOU OFF. BUT CYNTHIA WILSON RIGHT OVER HERE BY THE DOOR'S IN MY OFFICE. WHY DON'T YOU VISIT WITH HER AND LET'S SEE IF THE WOMEN'S CENTER OR, UH, ANOTHER, UH, I JUST WANTED A FAMILY REUNION WITH MY CHILDREN WITH OLDER ONE BECAUSE SHE'S NOT UNDER THE COURT ORDER. WELL, LET'S, UH, LET'S, LET'S GET, UH, YOUR CONTACT AND PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH ORGANIZATION THAT COULD HELP YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. NO, MA MAYOR. I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THE SAME THING, MA'AM. ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AGAIN, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE FAMILY LAW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP REPRESENT YOU. UM, IT, SO MAYOR, I'M, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE ALLUDING TO IN CONNECTING HER WITH THOSE LEGAL SERVICES AS SHE DEALS WITH A, WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A FAMILY CUSTODY MATTER. BUT I, I RECOGNIZE, UM, ALL OF THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE WAR. UM, SO, BUT MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT. YEAH, I SPENT IT HALF OF MONEY FOR THE, WAS RESPONSIBLE, UNFORTUNATELY, MA'AM, THEY TOOK MONEY AND LEFT. I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS, BUT, BUT LET MY OFFICE TALK. I WE'D LIKE TO YES, SIR. DRILL DOWN. THANK YOU. NEXT. GARY RUBY, DENISE O'NEILL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM DENISE O'NEILL. UH, I AM HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE FATES BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL. IT IS SET TO ARRIVE JUNE THE EIGHTH THROUGH THE 14TH, 2025. THIS INITIATIVE IS EMERGED OUT OF A PRESSING NEED TO ADDRESS THE ALARMING DEPARTURE OF BLACK ARTISTS SEEKING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OUR GREAT CITIES. BUT WE HAVE THE POWER TO ELEVATE HOUSTON'S RECOGNITION FOR BEING THE CITY THAT HOLDS ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS BLACK ARTS FESTIVALS IN THE COUNTRY. AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO DO THAT THAN HERE? I REQUEST YOUR INFLUENCE IN SECURING FUNDING AND ENCOURAGING POWERFUL CORPORATIONS TO RALLY BEHIND THIS $1.5 MILLION PROJECT. THIS BIENNIAL EVENT, WHICH WILL PROCEED OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IS GROUNDBREAKING BECAUSE OF THE DISTINGUISHED ORGANIZATIONS JOINING FORCES WITH US, SUCH AS THE ALLEY, THE BALLET, THE OPERA, AND THE SYMPHONY IT HAS ALREADY HAS, HAS GARNERED THE SUPPORT OF, UH, UH, CELEBRITY ADVISORS. AND EVERY CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT THAT'S ALREADY DRAWING NATIONAL ATTENTION. THE THEATERS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR POSITIVE WAYS TO SHOW UNIFIED MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AGAINST A SYSTEMIC LACK OF REPRESENTATION OF BLACK ARTISTS. THIS WAS THE PROJECT THEY ALL BELIEVED IN. IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO JOIN US IN OFFERING A WEEK OF GREAT AFRICAN AMERICAN PERFORMANCES IN FILM, MUSIC, POETRY, AND THEATER, ALL IN ONE CENTRALIZED LOCATION WITH THESE POWERFUL ALLIES. FOR ONE AMAZING WEEK, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WILL FADE TO BLACK. ALTHOUGH HOUSTON IS AN IMPRESSIVE CITY, IT STILL FALLS SHORT OF OTHER CITIES WHO RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH CREATIVE ARTS PROJECTS, THE SOUTH AND THE SOUTH. THE ESSENCE FESTIVAL IN NEW ORLEANS SAW AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $327 MILLION LAST YEAR. SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, UH, IS A, A FILM FESTIVAL IN AUSTIN THAT BROUGHT IN 381 MILLION. OUR BELOVED RODEO, WHICH IS A SOURCE OF GREAT PRIDE, BROUGHT IN 227 MILLION, BUT IT TOOK THREE WEEKS TO BRING IN WHAT THOSE FESTIVALS BROUGHT IN. ONE HOUSTON CAN ACHIEVE THESE NUMBERS AND SO MUCH MORE. THE FADES OF BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. ARTS ENTHUSIASTS LOVE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HAVE A BUYING POWER THAT WILL BENEFIT [01:40:01] HOUSTON'S THRIVING ECONOMY. THE ENDORSEMENTS OF THE CITY COULD EASILY ENSURE A WELCOME INFLUX OF TOURISTS, FLOODING OUR AIRPORTS, HOTELS, AND RESTAURANTS. MOCA HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENCOURAGING TO MY TEAM AND WE GENUINELY APPRECIATE THEIR KINDNESS, BUT WE WANT THIS FESTIVAL TO TAKE THE NATION BY STORM IN 2025. SO WE NEED, YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. CITY SUPPORT, UH, I'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM AND, UH, WE'VE RUN IT WELL, BUT WE REALLY NEED THE CITY SUPPORT TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL. I WELCOME FORMAL MEETINGS AND, UH, FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JUST A MOMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. O'NEILL. COULD YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH INGRAM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION, UH, SO WE CAN SEE HOW, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, WE CAN SUPPORT YOU IN SOME WAY AND CERTAINLY BE ABLE TO MAYBE USE OUR NEWSLETTER OR WHATEVER TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE CONSTITUENTS. OKAY. AND SHE'S RIGHT THERE IN THE, IN THE RED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, MA'AM, ONE, ONE LAST, UH, MAYOR PER TATUM HAS A QUESTION. THANK YOU, UH, MS. O'NEILL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION. I KNOW WE HAD A, A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FADE TO BLACK FESTIVAL AND WANTED TO ALSO ENCOURAGE THE MEETINGS WITH, UM, HOUSTON. FIRST, IF WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING MORE PEOPLE TO THE CITY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROGRAMS, UM, AND THAT WE CAN HELP TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE AROUND, UH, FADE TO BLACK AND GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH YOUR SPONSORSHIPS AND, UM, TO GET THE WORD OUT, UM, CONSIDER US AN ALLY. I APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE WE'VE NOT GOTTEN THE SUPPORT. SO I AM NEW TO THIS. I'M LEARNING WHO TO TALK TO, I DON'T KNOW EVERYONE. AND SO A BIG HELP WOULD BE TO HAVE A CHAMPION FOR THIS PROJECT OR SOMEONE SAYING, I CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL, I CAN GET THIS PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU. UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT BY OURSELVES FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THIS IS A GREAT EVENT THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO TURN THE ECONOMY UPSIDE DOWN. SO YES, ANY SUPPORT, UH, OR GUIDANCE IS, IS GREATLY WELCOME. THANK YOU. I'LL REACH OUT TO YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE, ONE MORE MA'AM. COUNCILMAN CARTER. UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVELY PRESENTATION. HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR GRANT FUNDING THROUGH HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE? I HAVE, UH, WE LOVE THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY CAN DO. I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THIS BEING A NEW THING FOR OUR, OUR CITY. THEY MAY NOT KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE BENEFIT OF THIS, THIS, UH, FESTIVAL FOR THE ECONOMY, NOT JUST FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN OR ARTISTS, JUST FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES THE ARTS. SO I'VE, I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS. EVERYONE ALWAYS SAYS THAT WORD DISCRETIONARY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE GONNA NEED A LOT MORE THAN JUST A SMALL AMOUNT. WE WILL BE APPLYING FOR THE CITY INITIATIVE GRANT. UH, THERE'S A CAP ON THAT OF 10 AND 20,000, WHICH WILL BE A GREAT HELP. BUT, UH, ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE FESTIVAL, UH, EDUCATION ABOUT IT, AND THEN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHO TO REACH OUT TO THAT CAN HELP SPONSOR CORPORATIONS CAN HELP SPONSOR. WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHO TO TALK TO. SO YES, WE WILL BE PURSUING THAT. WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH MOCA AND SEEING WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP US TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT, CHRIS QUARLES. CHRIS QUAS, RICHARD REED. THEM RICHARD REED, THEM, ROBERT CARTER. ROBERT CARTER. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? ROBERT CARTER. ROBERT CARTER. NO. ROBERT CARTER MORGAN SINSKI. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MORGAN SINSKI AND I'M A RESIDENT IN MONTROSE. TODAY I WANNA BEGIN BY POSING A QUESTION. DO WE NEED OXYGEN TO BREATHE? I'LL BE PRESENTING SOME REASONS WHY THE PLAN TO RIP OUT [01:45:01] TREES FOR A LARGER SIDEWALK AND BIKE LANE ARE COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE REASONS FOR LOW POPULATION OF WALKERS AND BIKE RIDERS. FIRST WOULD BE THE WEATHER. HOUSTON TYPICALLY HAS A HUNDRED DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR WITH TEMPERATURES OF 90 DEGREES OR MORE. IN 2023 ALONE, THERE WERE 45 DAYS OF TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES. THEY'RE AN AVERAGE OF 18 DAYS WITH TEMPERATURES OF 32 DEGREES OR LESS. HOUSTON ALSO GETS ABOUT 50 INCHES OF RAIN NEARLY. I WOULDN'T BIKE IN THE RAIN WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE OR WHEN IT GETS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I ALSO WOULDN'T SUBJECT MY CHILDREN TO THOSE CONDITIONS REGARDLESS OF HOW NICE THE BIKE LANE IS. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT A REOCCURRING SUBJECT HERE. THE CRIME RATES IN HOUSTON. HOUSTON HAS AN AVERAGE OF 57 VIOLENT CRIMES PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS. ON AVERAGE, THERE'S MORE THAN 27,000 VIOLENT CRIMES YEARLY WITH ABOUT 433 MURDERS, 1200 RAPES, 7,000 ROBBERIES, AND OVER 17,000 ASSAULTS. AS A SINGLE WOMAN IN HOUSTON, I THINK THOSE NUMBERS ARE ENOUGH TO DETER WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM WANTING TO WALK OR BIKE. THE PROJECT CLAIMS THAT THESE TREES WILL BE REPLANTED, BUT CREPE MYRTLES TAKE FIVE TO 10 YEARS TO MATURE. LIVE OAKS MATURE JUST TWO TO TWO AND A HALF FEET OF GROWTH PER YEAR. EASTERN RED BUDS TAKE FIVE TO SIX YEARS JUST TO GROW SEVEN FEET. AND FINALLY, THE BALD CYPRESSES TAKE 15 TO 25 YEARS TO MATURE. CUTTING THESE TREES DOWN MEANS NO SHADE FOR AT LEAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS. I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS IS GONNA MAKE PEOPLE WANNA BIKE MORE. NOW, BACK TO MY QUESTION OF WHETHER WE NEED OXYGEN. I THINK THIS IS COMMON SENSE. THE FACT IS THAT ONE MATURE TREE PRODUCES NEARLY 260 POUNDS OF OXYGEN YEARLY. TWO MATURE TREES CAN PROVIDE ENOUGH OXYGEN FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. A MATURE TREE WILL, WILL ABOR ABSORB MORE THAN 48 POUNDS OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE. NOW IMAGINE CUTTING DOWN 57 MATURE TREES, ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH A SLOW GROWTH RATE. I WANT A NEW PLAN THAT ENSURES THAT WHEN MY CHILDREN HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDREN, THEY WILL BE ALIVE. GIVEN THE INCREASED CLIMATE ISSUES, TEARING DOWN THESE TREES WILL CAUSE AN INCREASE OF CO2 EXPOSURE LEADING TO RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS, RAPID BREATHING CONFUSION, INCREASED CARDIAC OUTPUT, AND MORE. FOR THESE REASONS, I URGE A BETTER PLAN. IF YOU HATE THE ENVIRONMENT, THEN GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE PROJECT THAT WILL TEAR DOWN TREES JUST TO REPLACE THEM WITH NON MATURE TREES. IF YOU VALUE YOUR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, THEN YOU WILL SUPPORT LEAVING THESE MATURE TREES ALONE. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. SONKE FOR COMING. I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND ANYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHO DOESN'T LOVE TREES AND AND APPRECIATE THE OXYGEN AND, AND ALL THE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, UH, ABOUT TREES. UM, YOU HAVE COME AND ELOQUENTLY STATED YOUR CASE. UM, WE'VE HAD AN EARLIER SPEAKER, UH, WHO IS DISABLED. TALK ABOUT IT. UH, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL SPEAKERS OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS, MONTHS, UM, ABOUT, ABOUT THE MONTROSE PROJECT. UH, I'M NOT, UH, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU SEE THIS AS A ZERO SUM GAME? DO YOU THINK THERE IS A COMPROMISE THAT CAN BE REACHED WHERE, UM, WE CAN PROTECT SOME OF THE TREES AND ALSO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT SAFER FOR KIDS TO GET TO SCHOOL? SAFER WHEELCHAIRS TO GET DOWN THE SIDEWALK? UM, ALL ALL OF THAT. I'M ALL FOR THAT. I'M ALL FOR ADVOCATING FOR A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE CUTTING DOWN 57 TREES. IF IT'S ONE OR TWO, THEN THAT'S ONE THING, BUT ESPECIALLY THE HEALTHY TREES 'CAUSE SO, SO YOUR COMPROMISE IS ONE OR TWO TREES? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE NEXT ROBERT CLARK. SO I HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT I AM, I WAS ABUSED BY SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS FOR MULTILATERAL MILITARY, POLITICAL, AND COMMERCIAL AND RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL AND CRIMINAL REASONS SINCE 1981. AND THIS CIRCUMVENTED MY IN INDEPENDENCE. NOW, UM, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1981, AND I ESTIMATED BASED ON, UM, MY WATCHING SOME OF THE TOP CONTENT ABOUT THIS, THAT THEY SPEND OVER $200 TRILLION. THAT'S $200 TRILLION SINCE 1981. UM, BASED ON MY ESTIMATES. NOW, I WROTE ON THIS WEBSITE AND VICTIM INTIMIDATION.COM, UM, MULTIPLE ARTICLES. AND THIS HAS GOTTEN, UM, TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CIRCUMVENT MY DAILY ACTIVITIES [01:50:01] FOR VICTIM INTIMIDATION ATTACKS WHERE THEY WILL, UM, OVER SCHEDULE, UM, CERTAIN, CERTAIN TIMES WITH CONFUSING SCHEDULING, FOR INSTANCE. THEY WOULD, UM, THEY, WELL, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD, UM, SCHEDULE MULTIPLE EVENTS AT THE SAME TIME. AND THIS WAS MY PRODUCTIVITY. THEN THEY WOULD CALL ME, UM, THEY WOULD MAKE IMPLIED ACCUSATIONS, IMPLIED CHARACTER ASSASSINATION ATTACKS. THEY WOULDN'T DO ANY OFFICIAL, UH, COMMUNICATION WITH ME. THEY WOULD USE ALL OUR, ALL FORMS OF UNOFFICIAL, UH, COMMUNICATION TO TRY TO INTIMIDATE ME. THEY WOULD GO AFTER MY PARENTS AND THEY WOULD ATTACK MY FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THEY WOULD TRY TO GET MY FAMILY MEMBERS TO MAKE UNOFFICIAL, UM, ACCUSATIONS FOR, FOR THEM INSTEAD OF, UM, DOING THEM THEMSELVES. THEN THEY WOULD GET PEOPLE AT WORK TO DO THIS. I WORKED AT PAPA JOHN'S AND THEY'RE DOING IT AT PAPA JOHN'S, BUT IT'S, UM, BEING STARTED BY NONE OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, UM, IS LEADING THE ATTACK, UM, AND WHOEVER, AND ALSO PEOPLE FROM OVERSEAS ON TOP OF THAT. SO I HAVE WRITTEN A HUGE, A WEBSITE@ENDVICTIMINTIMIDATION.COM THAT EXPLAINS ALL OF THIS. THERE'S MULTIPLE ARTICLES AND I CAN GO ON FOR DAYS AND DAYS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE ATTACKING ME. THEN I'VE WRITTEN A PATREON, WHICH I HAD TO WRITE ABOUT PEOPLE, UM, WHO WERE, YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. WELL, I, WELL ALSO CHECK OUT MY PATREON, WHICH IS SELLING FOR $1.5 MILLION. UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. DID YOU FINISH YOUR COMMENTS? UH, YES. OKAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MORE COMMENTS. OKAY. WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. BEST WISHES TO YOU NEXT SPEAKER. KENNETH LAER LAER. KENNETH LAER. NEXT SPEAKER. EMMETT SQUARE. EMMETT SQUARE. NEXT SPEAKER. LENORA OLO. PULLMAN. I DON'T SEE HIM. NEXT SPEAKER, JUDY ADAMS. JUDY ADAMS BE FOLLOWED BY JAKE ORTIZ. HELLO, MS. ADAMS. WELL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THE MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, PRO TEM AND ALL OF CITY COUNCIL. UH, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE MONTROSE AND I'VE, UH, BEEN A BUSINESS OWNER FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY TO, UM, ASK CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, THE MAYOR TO HOLD OFF ON APPROVING BOARD MEMBERS TO THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND TO PLEASE HOLD OFF ON REINSTATING THAT NEW MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TAX BECAUSE THEY LOST TWO LAWSUITS. THE MMD DISSOLVED IN 2018. TAXATION CEASED AT THAT TIME, AND THE BOARD DISCONTINUED MEETING. HOW CAN THE MMD NOW CLAIM THAT IT NEVER DISSOLVED, WHEN IN FACT IT CEASED COLLECTING TAXES FOR YEARS? I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE VERY IRATE ABOUT THIS SURPRISE RESURRECTION OF THE MMD. WE ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT ANY OF THIS BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS FROM A REPORTER. UM, THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 60 PETITIONS THAT ARE SAID TO BE SIGNED TO REINSTATE THE MMD OUT OF ABOUT A THOUSAND BUSINESSES THAT WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE TAX IN THE MONTROSE AREA. JUST BECAUSE THIS POULTRY, POULTRY NUMBER OF OF 60 CAN BE USED TO JUSTIFY REINSTATEMENT BECAUSE OF VERY POORLY WRITTEN STATUTES, MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT, DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE. I ASK MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UH, COUNCIL PERSON CAYMAN, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND ETHICAL FOR OUR CITY AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU ARE THE ONES WHO CAN PUT A BREAK ON THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR NOW. YOU ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT US. UH, YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE THE HISTORY OF THE MMD, UH, WHICH I WAS HAD, WAS PART OF FOR THE 10 YEARS. IT WAS, UM, IN BEFORE IT WAS DISSOLVED. [01:55:01] WE ARE ASKING YOU, I'M ASKING YOU TO SCHEDULE A TOWN MEETING WITH YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. UM, WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE EXTRA REVENUE STREAM THAT CAN COME FROM THESE TAXES AND HOW IT COULD HELP WITH DEVELOPMENT. THE MAJORITY OF THE BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, MIGHT WELL ACCEPT A WELL RUN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. BUT WHAT WE SAW BEFORE AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE IT, IT WAS REINSTATED IN DECEMBER OF 2023. THEY'RE, THEY'RE USING TAXES THEY, THEY, UH, USED BEFORE. UH, WE FEEL IT'S A DISTORTION OF THE HISTORY AND IT'S SENDING UP A LOT OF RED FLAGS WITH THE BUSINESSES. SO, UM, I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO WORK WITH US, NOT AGAINST US TO TABLE ANY AGENDA ABOUT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR NOW. SCHEDULE A TOWN MEETING, TALK TO THE THE BUSINESSES. WE LOVE THE MONTROSE AS MUCH AS YOU DO. UM, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOU NEED TO HEAR FROM US. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. UH, MS. ADAMS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. YOU ANSWERED, I THINK MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A VIBRANT BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE MONTROSE AREA, RIGHT? THIS IS PART OF THE HEART OF THE CITY, AND YOU ALL, UM, GO HAND IN HAND WITH THAT. IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING UNDER THIS NEW MODEL, AND AGAIN, WE'RE THE NEW REVIVED, I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE CORRECT LEGAL TERM AT THIS POINT, MAYOR, FOR WHAT IS TO COME, UM, WOULD YOU BE TAXED UNDER THIS OR, 'CAUSE SOME BUSINESSES HAVE HAVE COME AND SAID, WE DON'T WANT THIS, BUT THEY DON'T FALL INTO THAT BRACKET. SO, JUST SO I KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WOULD YOU BE INCLUDED IN THAT ADDITIONAL COST? YES, I WOULD. OKAY. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. UM, MAYOR, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY LONG, DRAWN OUT, I MEAN, DECADES LONG BATTLES. UM, WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS IT WAS COMING BACK AND THE LEGAL EXPLANATIONS I WAS GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK WITH THAT. AND THE ONE THING THAT I SAID THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS WAS THERE MUST BE TRANSPARENCY AND THERE MUST BE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND WHAT I AM HEARING IS THAT HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING. UH, AND THAT, THAT RAISES CONCERNS FOR ME. I'M NOT AWARE, AND I'LL, I'LL DEFER TO THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION ON THIS, ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR YOU TODAY, THAT THERE'S NOTHING FORTHCOMING TO COUNCIL AT THIS TIME THAT I AM AWARE OF. UM, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THIS AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE BUSINESSES, YOUR VOICE ABSOLUTELY MATTERS. AND THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE NUANCE OF IT, MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AREN'T IN THEORY BAD. AND THERE'S SOME REALLY GREAT ONES AND THERE'S GREAT MODELS AND THERE'S BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY FROM NOT JUST FOR, NOT JUST THE BUSINESSES, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE. THE BEAUTIFICATION, THE MAINTENANCE, SECURITY PATROLS SPECIAL PROJECTS. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH ONE RIGHT NOW ON THE CREATION OF A GREEN WALL, UH, THAT THE RESIDENTS ASKED FOR TO BEAUTIFY ALONG THE 59 SPUR. AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. SO IT'S NOT INHERENTLY BAD. IT'S HOW IS THIS BEING DONE AND IS IT BEING DONE ABOVE BOARD TRANSPARENTLY AND IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT IT WAS CREATED TO DO, UM, WITH THE INCLUSION OF, IN PARTICULAR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HEARD EVERYTHING YOU SAID. I KNOW I JUST PUT A LOT BACK ON YOU, BUT THANK YOU. AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE. I DON'T HAVE MUCH INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FRUSTRATING THINGS ABOUT THIS. UH, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE, THE BEST EYE WE CAN AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE BEING RAISED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, JAKE ORTIZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY A FEE. HASSAN. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, MY NAME IS JAKE ORTIZ AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT. AND I SPEAK ON IT FROM AN ANGLE OF A VICTIM WHO WAS HIT BY AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER IN THE AREA. UM, THE GUY WAS TRYING TO PASS AN ACTIVE AMBULANCE AT AN INTERSECTION, ACCELERATED SPEED IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. LAUNCHED ME 40 FEET ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. BUT I ALSO WANNA SPEAK FROM THE POINT OF VIEW FROM THE FOLLOWING MONTHS AFTER THAT, I WAS HANDICAPPED IN A WHEELCHAIR, GETTING DOWN THE SIDEWALKS ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. I KNOW THEY MENTIONED THE SIZE EARLIER OF THEM, BUT THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED. LIKE THERE'S NO WAY. THERE WERE DAYS WHERE I WAS MUMBLING CURSE WORDS TO MYSELF, HOPPING ON THE BACK OF MY WHEELCHAIR, TRYING TO MANEUVER ACROSS THE BROKEN SIDEWALK. IF ANYONE'S BEEN THERE LATELY, YOU CAN SEE THAT A LOT OF THESE SIDEWALKS ARE TOTALLY BROKEN UP. BUT YOU WILL ALSO SEE THAT THEY ARE BROKEN UP BY TREES THAT ARE STRUGGLING FOR SURVIVAL. THEIR ROOTS ARE [02:00:01] LITERALLY FIGHTING WITH THE CONCRETE THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD TIME AND TIME AF OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE OF THESE ROOTS TEARING UP THE CONCRETE. SO I'M NOT ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO COMPROMISE. I DO BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW SOME WAY THERE HAS TO BE A COMPROMISE WHERE WE CAN GET THIS DONE, AT LEAST TO GET THESE SIDEWALKS SMOOTHED OUT. BUT AS I UNDERSTAND, THE MONTROSE PROJECT HAS ALREADY BEEN, THE PLANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN LAID OUT. THE FUNDING FOR IT IS THERE. ALL IT NEEDS IS THE OKAY IS I'M ASSUMING, UH, PROBABLY NOT THE WHOLE STORY, BUT I DO ALSO UNDERSTAND MAYOR, THAT UH, ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST PROJECTS IS SAFETY AND SECURITY OF HOUSTON. RIGHT NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A BIGGER POLICE FORCE. YOU'RE TRYING TO FUND THESE GUYS. YOU'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE THE MONEY THAT THEY DESERVE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR THAT. BUT I DO WANT TO PROPOSE THIS IN A MANNER THAT IT'S NOT AN OPPOSITION TO THAT AS FAR AS FUNDING GOES. IT'S NOT, UM, AN OPPOSING PROGRAM. IF WE CAN GET THE PROJECT AS IT HAS BEEN PLANNED OUT, WHERE WE CAN PREVENT AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS FROM BEING AGGRESSIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE OFFICERS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SITTING THERE POLICING AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S FOLLOWING TRAFFIC LAWS COULD BE BETTER SERVED IN AREAS OF HIGH CRIME, BRINGING THIS CRIME RATE DOWN, IT WOULD BE BETTER SERVED FOR THESE OFFICERS TO NOT BE IN OFFICES, FIELDING CALLS FROM INVESTIGATORS, UM, INVESTIGATORS FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND FOLLOWING REPORTS THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE OUTSIDE DOING WORK THAT HOUSTON REALLY NEEDS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY. IF WE GO WITH THE PROGRAM AS THE PROJECT AS AS IT IS TODAY, AND I MEAN I WOULD LOVE TO GET WITH SOME OF THE OPPOSING PARTIES, NOT IN A DEBATE TYPE SETTING OR ANY OFFICIAL TYPE SETTING. MAYBE WE COULD SIT DOWN OVER A CUP OF COFFEE, MAYBE WE COULD WALK THROUGH MONTROSE TOGETHER. WE COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE TREES THAT I KNOW THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. WE CAN COME UP WITH WAYS AND AS THE PLAN, AS IT WAS SHOWN TO ME, THE TREES WOULD BE PUSHED BACK BEYOND THE ELECTRICAL LINE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT NEEDED TO BE. THAT TIME HAS. AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT WITH AN OPEN INVITATION FOR EVERYONE HERE TO THE MORNING COFFEE AND BIKES RIDE THAT IS USUALLY THROUGH THE MONTROSE AREA WHERE YOU GUYS CAN ACTUALLY JUST ENJOY IT AND NOT TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS OR ANYTHING, JUST AN ENJOYABLE BIKE RIDE WHERE YOU CAN JUST SEE THE CITY AS IT IS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT AFI HASSAN BE FOLLOWED BY SAMMY FORD. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AFI HASSAN. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW MY CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM METRO AND ITS INITIATIVES. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECENT PUBLIC COMMENTS MADE IN THE, UH, METRO BOARD MEETINGS, AS THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA SAID, FOR ANY MODERN METROPOLIS TO BE VIBRANT, TO BE COMPETITIVE, TO BE ON PAR WITH SOME OF THE LEADING CITIES IN THE WORLD, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A MODERN PUBLIC TRANSPORT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. OF COURSE, HOUSTON IS A CITY THAT HAS ALREADY MADE A NAME FOR ITSELF ON THE WORLD STAGE. AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR IT TO BE ACHING TO TOKYO, NEW YORK OR LONDON. I LOVE THE CITY 'CAUSE IT'S SPREAD OUT, LAID BACK AND IT'S A BEHIND THE SCENES CITY. HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE NEED TO SLOW DOWN THE MOMENTUM THAT HAS BEEN BUILT WITHIN METRO NEXT INITIATIVES. FROM A RESIDENT RESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE, I DO OWN A CAR, BUT THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE I TAKE THE METRO BUS. BENEFITS INCLUDE SAFETY. I'M NOT EXPOSED TO THE DANGEROUS DRIVERS WHO SPEED, WHO RUN RED LIGHTS, WHO HAVE NO INSURANCE. I'VE BEEN HIT AROUND THREE TIMES IN JUST ONE YEAR, AND TWO OF THEM DID NOT HAVE ENTRANCE. I ALSO AVOID CONGESTION, ESPECIALLY AROUND SIX, 10 AND 59. AND YOU SEE EVEN SUBURBANITES UH, TAKING PART IN PARKING RIGHTS WITH THE WOODLAND SHUTTLE FORT BEND. THEY RECENTLY OPENED A NEW DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHICH I THINK OPENED YESTERDAY. AND UM, EVEN UA SUGARLAND, YOU HAVE STUDENTS COMING IN FROM THE ON THE BUS FROM THE SUGARLAND CAMPUS. IT IS ALSO MAKES IT CHEAPER TO OWN A CAR. UH, INSURANCE RATES ARE LOWER, YOU SAVE MORE ON GAS AND OVERALL WEAR AND TEAR. OF COURSE, I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT CONCERNS WITH ENERGY INDUSTRY OR ENERGY CITY AND I'M A MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT PLAYS A BIG INFLUENCE EVEN LIKE MORE THAN HALF OF A BARREL. CRUDE OIL IS MADE TOWARDS GAS, BUT THERE CAN BE A GOOD BALANCE. OF COURSE, IT'S ALSO THE CAR INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, BUILDING BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM OWNING A CAR. I STILL HAVE A CAR PAYMENT. I STILL PAY MY INSURANCE REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION, EVEN THOUGH TEXAS DID DID AWAY WITH IT, YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY A $7 FEE STARTING IN A COUPLE YEARS. NOW. THE OTHER CONCERN IS SAFETY. UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR, UM, IS REALLY TAKING THIS HEAD ON AND DEALING WITH THE RECRUITMENT ISSUES WITH HPD AND THAT'S THE MOST WELCOME AND I HOPE TO SEE, UM, MORE SAFETY INITIATIVES LED, UH, INCLUDING TOWARDS METRO. THANK YOU, [02:05:01] NO SPEAKERS. NEXT, SAMMY FORD. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND PANEL. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M CONTINUOUSLY BEING TARGETED AND HARASSED BY METRO DRIVERS SINCE THE TIME I TURNED IN A REPORT OF A METRO DRIVER THAT WAS IMPORTING, UH, UH, IMPERSONATING A SUPERVISOR, UH, COME TO MY HOME AND BROUGHT SOMEONE ELSE TO MY HOME. AND ALSO IT WAS SO MUCH SO, UH, WITH THE HARASSMENT GOING ON TO MAYISHA WITH CHANNEL 13. NEWS WAS BROUGHT INTO IT, BUT I WAS TOLD EVERY TIME I TRY TO REPORT IT, UH, UH, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXCUSE BROUGHT UP ABOUT IT AND TOLD THAT IF I TALKED TO THE MAYOR I WOULD BE DOING A DISSERVICE, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO PEOPLE. BUT I BELIEVE I'M DOING MORE OF A DISSERVICE NOT TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY, UH, EVEN ONE OF THE METRO DRIVERS TOLD ME THAT, UH, SINCE THE TIME I MADE THAT REPORT THAT THEY'RE CONTINUALLY USING MY DAUGHTER AND I AS, UH, PART OF THEIR TRAINING, PROMPTING THEM TO HAVE THE NASTY ATTITUDES AND HARASSMENT GOING ON AGAINST MY, UH, DAUGHTER. AND I, UH, SOME OF 'EM HAVE TOLD ME THAT YOU ARE NOT REFERENCED. I'M NOT YOUR CHAUFFEUR. UH, I DON'T WANT YOU TO SIT WITH ME. JUST DIFFERENT KIND OF NASTY THINGS. UH, AS LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE PICKED UP FROM THE GROCERY STORE AND DROPPED OFF AT A HOTEL, UH, TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. AND I KNOW THEY HAVE THE, UH, ADDRESS IN THE BOX, BUT WE WERE DROPPED OFF AT A HOTEL AND THE DRIVER SIT THERE IGNORANTLY LAUGHING, UH, AND TELLING US TO OPEN THE DOOR, TELLING US TO GET OFF THE BUS AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. I SAID, I WILL WHEN YOU TAKE ME WHERE I BELONG TO MY HOME WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DROPPED OFF. AND HE SAT THERE LAUGHING SAYING, OH, I THOUGHT I DROPPED YOU OFF AT ANOTHER HOUSE BEFORE. I SAID, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY HOUSES YOU DROPPED OFF, YOU HAVE MY ADDRESS. AND YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT THIS HOTEL IS NOT A HOUSE. UH, I'VE BEEN COM COMPLETED, UH, COMPLETELY JUST UH, DISORIENTED BY THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE. AND I'M THINKING TO MYSELF THE SIGN THAT I USED TO POST WHEN I HAD A LICENSE SET, UH, JUSTICE ALL WHERE IS THE JUSTICE, I KEEP GETTING THESE EXCUSES MADE SAYING WE ARE GONNA HANDLE IT, BUT IT'S NOT HANDLE IT. IT THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING, HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDES, IT MAY DIE DOWN FOR A DAY OR SO AND THEN THEY'RE BACK WITH THE SAME UH, NASTY LITTLE ATTITUDES AND MESS AND DOING THINGS, UH, TRYING TO CREATE HAVOC IN OUR LIFE. UH, AND I THINK IT'S JUST GOING ON FOR TOO LONG. IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THIS HAPPENED AND I'M STILL DI DEALING WITH IT AND I WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE MAYOR'S ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT THIS SITUATION IS STILL ONGOING. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT WILL HEAL BE FOLLOWED BY DIANA HEAT HEATH. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. I WAS, UH, PROUD OF YOUR INAUGURATION DAY. I CAME UP HERE. I SPOKE WITH SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME HERE BEFORE AND WHEN I COME DOWN HERE, LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH Y'ALL ABOUT FEDERAL COURT THAT THEY GAVE ME THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS AND THE SEALS AND SENT ME TO THE POST OFFICE AND THEY WANTED THOSE SEALS BACK. UH, WENT BACK UP THERE AND SHE ASKED ME WOULD I RETURN THEM. I TOLD HER NO. SHE GAVE ME THE SEALS. SO WHEN I GOT TO THE POST OFFICE, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN THERE ASKED ME HOW DID I GET 'EM? I TOLD 'EM, THEY GAVE ME IN FEDERAL COURT 'CAUSE I FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST LIBERTY MUTUAL. BUT TELLING YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF, UH, I WAS ORDAINED AT 16 YEARS OLD AND I WAS A MINISTER AT DEEP PRIEST BAPTIST CHURCH. I DIDN'T COME TO THEM. THEY CAME TO ME. THEY INTERRUPTED MY BUSINESS, THEY INTERRUPTED MY ENGAGEMENTS, THEY INTERRUPTED MY WIFE AND IT WAS SO MANY COMPLICATIONS. EVEN MY COUSIN THAT'S BEEN DOING PLUMBING HERE FOR YEARS, BEEN TO THE MILITARY. AND UM, HE HAS WORKED WITH MY COMPANY ON OCCASIONS. SO I WORKED FOR A RS, WHICH THEY LEFT ME ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEY PROCLAIMED A HEAT STROKE, HEAT EXHAUSTION. THEY HAD DR. O KIKI, UH, LIBERTY MUTUAL, HAVE HIM GIVE ME ATIVAN LORAZEPAN TRYING TO TURN INTO A BIPOLAR ISSUE. BUT I HAVE A, A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT NEXT WEEK AT A CHURCH WHERE I PREACH AT AND I DO A LITTLE TRAVELING MINISTRY. AND I DIDN'T COME HERE FOR PROBLEMS. I CAME HERE FOR SOLUTIONS. THAT'S WHY WE COME TO Y'ALL. WE DON'T [02:10:01] COME TO GIVE YOU A PROBLEM. WE COME FOR SOLUTIONS. I'VE ALREADY EMAILED, UH, CAMILLA HARRIS AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION 'CAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WROTE ME A LETTER AND TOLD ME THAT THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT WAS BEING SUED, UH, BY THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAD. AND THEY WANTED TO DO A PAPER REDUCTION ACT AND WANTED ME TO GIVE THEM ALL MY PAPERWORK. WELL, I KNOW IT'S A BALANCE BETWEEN LIBERTY MUTUAL AND SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE THAT'S BEEN DEALING WITH MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, WHICH THEY HAD WIPED OUT, BUT I KNOW WHO THE INFORMANT IS. MY SISTER, EUGENE HILL, WAVING THEM ALONG. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS, WORKING WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. AND ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE TARGETS THEY TARGET ME IS BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS GOOD AT WHAT I DID. FOOTBALL. I GOT MVP AT FARMVILLE, GOT PUT ON UM, VARSITY RIGHT OUTTA JUNIOR HIGH. I WAS, UH, PIPING TRADES PRESIDENT AT, UH, SAM HOUSTON. SO I WAS ORDAINED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. SO JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT ME. SO FOLK, THEY STAND AND TRY TO MAKE ME BIPOLAR. THEY MUST REMEMBER ONE THING. THEY MUST REMEMBER, WE ALL AS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN A MAN THAT DIED IN ROSE. AND YOU DIDN'T SEE IT, BUT YOU BELIEVE IT. BY FAITH. AND BY FAITH I STAND. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU BETTER GET IT. 'CAUSE THERE'S A MAN IN THE CITY LIKE ME. THAT'S GOT IT. THANK YOU. NEXT, DIANA HEATH, DIANA HEATH, SARAH CONTA HILLARD. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN. UM, MY NAME IS KINETTA HILLIARD. I'M THE PROUD OWNER OF SPACE CITY ENVIRONMENTAL, A DEDICATED ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN, THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO POSITIVE TO OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1977. WHEN IT STARTED. OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE LED US TO A PARTNERSHIP REPUTABLE COMPANY SUCH AS RAY TECH AND TEXACO CITY OF HOUSTON, IN WHICH WE STARTED SERVING AS A SUB CRAB TRACTOR IN JULY OF 2022. OUR FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE IN THIS ROLE EARNED US AN EPO IN AUGUST OF 2023. A TESTAMENT OF OUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND QUALITY OF SERVICE THROUGHOUT OUR OPERATION, BOTH PRIOR AND FOLLOWING THE ASSURANCE OF THE EPO SPACE. CITY ENVIRONMENTAL HAS UPHELD THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF SERVICE, NEVER ONCE HAVING QUALITY OF INTEGRITY OR OUR COMPANY CALLED INTO QUESTION YET, YET IS DESPITE PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS DUE TO EXTERNAL ISSUES AND ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WITHIN THE CITY, PAYMENTS HAS STOPPED. FINANCIAL STRAIN ON OUR COMPANY HAS BEEN IMPACTED, HAS IMPACTED OUR CONTRACTORS, OUR VENDORS, OUR SUPPLY CHAIN, WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING LIENS ON THINGS. SEVERAL DAMAGING OUR REPUTATION AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT STRESS IN OUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK. EVERY PROJECT UN UNDERTAKEN BY SPAC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED FROM EXCEPTION TO COMPLETION. THE RIGOROUS DOCUMENTS ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF QUALITY IN ALL OPERATIONS. OUR RECORDS, WHICH ARE READILY AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW, INCLUDES DETAILED REPORTS, TIME LOGS, AND ET CETERA. OUR SELECTION OF VARIOUS PROJECTS HAS BEEN STRICTLY MERIT BASED ON ROOTED IN OUR PRO, OUR PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SERVICE SPACE CITY ENVIRONMENTAL HAS RECEIVED, HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY, PREFER PREPARATIONAL TREATMENTS OF ANY SORT. INSTEAD, OUR SELECTION HAS BEEN THE DIRECT RESULT OF OUR PROFESSIONALISM, OUR EFFICIENCY, AND OUR POSITIVE OUTCOME OF OUR PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS. WE HAVE KUNK, WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUR CAPACITY, OUR ABILITY TO MEET AND EXCEED THE RIGOROUS STANDARDS EXPECTED BY THE CITY AND ITS CONSTITUENTS. VERY GOOD, NO SPEAKERS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, [02:15:01] ANGIE YAMANAKA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN PETERS. HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS ANGIE AMAKA AND I'M HERE ON THIS ELECTION DAY AS A CONCERNED HOUSTONIAN IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOUSANDS OF TEXANS OF ALL FAITH AND BACKGROUNDS TO ASK THIS COUNCIL AND ABBY CAYMAN, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, TO RELEASE A JOINT STATEMENT FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND TO DIVEST FROM INVESTING HOUSTONIANS TAXPAYER MONEY INTO BONDS THAT SUPPORT ISRAEL. I'M NOT PALESTINIAN, BUT I DON'T HAVE TO BE TO CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN REZA. I'M A MOTHER AND EVERY MORNING THAT I MAKE BREAKFAST FOR MY CHILD, I THINK ABOUT THE OTHER MOTHERS IN PALESTINE MAKING BREAKFAST OUT OF MOLDY ANIMAL FEED AND GRASS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE. THIS IS A WAR CRIME PAID FOR WITH MY TAX MONEY. MANY PEOPLE WANT TO RETURN TO BUSINESS AS USUAL BECAUSE THIS IS HAPPENING OVER THERE. BUT UNLIKE OTHER GENOCIDES, WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF IGNORANCE. THE CITY'S INVESTMENT INTO THESE BONDS BRINGS THIS GENOCIDE RIGHT HOME IN OUR BACKYARDS. HOUSTONIANS DO NOT WANT OUR HARD EARNED TAXES TO STARVE AND BOMB CHILDREN. WE CANNOT LOOK AWAY AND WE CANNOT STOMACH THE MORAL WOUND OF COMPLICITY KNOWING OUR GOVERNMENT AND, AND OUR TAXES SUPPORT GENOCIDES. I'M AN IMMIGRANT FROM JAPAN. I WAS BORN 36 YEARS AFTER THE ATOMIC BOMBS DROPPED ON HOSPITALS AND CIVILIANS IN HIROSHIMA, IN NAGASAKI AS A BUDDHIST RAISED TO REVERE PEACE ABOVE ALL SACRED IDEALS, I CANNOT DARE TO SEE HISTORY REPEAT SO BRUTALLY NEVER AGAIN IS HERE AND NOW, AND WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO STOP THIS, I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO RELEASE THIS JOINT STATEMENT, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, AND ALSO VOTE FOR A RESOLUTION TO DIVEST FROM THESE BONDS. TO QUOTE JAMES BALDWIN, THE CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS OURS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BENJAMIN PETERS, BE FOLLOWED BY ZINE AMBROSE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW THE MAYOR JUST STEPPED OUT. UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE WITH YOU TODAY IN LIGHT OF A LOT OF RECENT, UM, DISCUSSION AND CITY ACTIONS ON STREET REBUILDS IN HOUSTON. I GREW UP IN KATY, AND TO ME, A DRIVER'S LICENSE REPRESENTED FREEDOM, PROBABLY 'CAUSE AS A KID I COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE. MY MOM DIDN'T DRIVE ME, AND I PROBABLY ALSO WOULD'VE LAUGHED AT YOU IF I TOLD YOU THAT ONE DAY I'D BE LIVING IN HOUSTON WITHOUT A CAR. TODAY I CHOOSE TO WALK, RIDE THE BUS OR RIDE MY BICYCLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT MAKES ME A BETTER NEIGHBOR AND CONNECTS ME MORE TO THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF THE CITY. AND YES, EVEN WHEN IT'S HOT OR WHEN IT RAINS, I DON'T THINK I REALIZED, UH, QUITE HOW ISOLATING DRIVING CAN BE UNTIL I TRIED OTHER WAYS OF GETTING AROUND, UM, BEHIND THE WHEEL. OUR CITY, UM, CAN FEEL REDUCED TO ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AND BILLBOARDS AND CARS. BY CONTRAST, I STARTED TO NOTICE MUCH MORE OF OUR CITY WHEN I CHOSE TO TAKE ANOTHER MODE. OUR HOMES, OUR BUSINESSES, PARKS AND GREENERY, AND OUR PEOPLE. IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING TO BUMP INTO SOMEONE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON A WALK WAITING FOR THE BUS OR ON YOUR BICYCLE. I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SIMPLY STOP AND TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES. I START CONVERSATIONS AND GET TO KNOW PEOPLE I OTHERWISE WOULD NEVER HAVE MET ON THE BUS. THE DRIVERS AND OTHER RIDERS OFTEN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE FOLKS GET TO WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO GO. AND, UH, IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE A TEAM EFFORT. I I LOVE NOTICING A SHOP OR A STORE I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE AND TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO WALK IN AND CHECK IT OUT, TALK TO THE OWNERS AND SUPPORT THE BUSINESS. 11TH STREET IS JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM ME WHERE I RENT OUT A SMALL DUPLEX, AND IT USED TO BE A STREET I ACTIVELY AVOIDED BECAUSE OF THE SPEED OF THE CARS, UM, WHICH MADE WALKING AND BIKING, UH, UNPLEASANT OR VERY UNSAFE. NOW I'LL RIDE MY BIKE DOWN TO THE STORES AND RESTAURANTS AND IT IS MUCH NICER TO WAIT AT THE STOP FOR THE NUMBER 30 BUS BECAUSE THE CARS DRIVE SLOWER AND WILL STOP FOR YOU AT THE IMPROVED CROSSWALKS. I ALSO SEE MORE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WALKING TO HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL. THERE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, UH, LIKE THE, I LOVE 11TH STREET FESTIVAL AND NEW BUSINESSES AND STORES ARE OPENING ALONG THE STREET AS WELL. I BELIEVE THAT IMPROVEMENTS LIKE 11TH STREET AND THE PLAN MANTRAS, CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT, DON'T JUST MAKE THE STREETS SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE, BUT ALSO CREATE IMPORTANT SPACES FOR US TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITY. MY GREATEST HOPE IS THAT OVER TIME WE FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO EACH OF OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS AND WE ARE BETTER ABLE TO COME [02:20:01] TOGETHER AND RISE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES, UH, OF OUR TIME. AND, UM, I ALSO ALSO WANTED TO JUST SAY AT THE END, UH, ONE TREE ABSORBS 48 POUNDS OF CO2 PER YEAR. ONE CAR EMITS 4.6 METRIC TONS OF CO2 PER YEAR. SO THERE'S A MISMATCH IN TERMS OF THE, UH, EFFECT OF THESE THINGS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER ZINE AMBROSE. ZINE AMBROSE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH SHEFFIELD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ZINE AND ZINE. AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE AND THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I AM HERE TO ASK ALL OF YOU, UH, TO PLEASE COME TOGETHER AND CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE. UM, THERE IS NOTHING BUT DEATH GOING ON OVER THERE, AND WE ARE THE DIRECT CAUSE OF IT. UM, WE ARE FUNDING ALL OF IT AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS, WHICH IS SENDING MORE WEAPONS, MORE MONEY TO THIS DEATH. UM, I DO NOT WANNA BE KNOWN AS THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS DEATH. I WANT TO BE A PROUD HOUSTONIAN, AND YOU GUYS HAVE NOT MADE ME PROUD. UM, THE ONLY TIME THAT ANY OF US WEARING A KAFI GET ADDRESS IS TO BE TOLD THAT OUR TIME IS UP. UM, AND A LOT OF THE TIMES, THE ONLY REASON ANYONE'S PAYING ATTENTION IS IF WE'RE UP HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT A GOOD JOB Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. UM, I CAN'T SAY ANY OF THAT TODAY. MY HEART IS BROKEN FOR THIS CITY. MY HEART IS BROKEN FOR THE COUNTRY AND FOR ALL OF THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST, AND WE CONTINUE TO FUND IT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU TO, IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING IT, IT, THERE'S NO OTHER REASON WHY YOU WOULD NOT BE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, THEN YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE DIRECT DEATH THAT THIS IS CAUSING. UM, LOOK IT UP, . THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE. IT'S, IT'S ALL THERE FOR US TO SEE. UM, IF YOU ARE SEEING IT AND YOU'RE STILL DECIDING NOT TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, THEN THAT'S MORAL BANKRUPTCY THAT YOU ALL HAVE AT THIS MOMENT. UM, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR HOUSTONIANS. UM, THE MAJORITY OF US WANT THIS TO END, SO LEAD WITH YOUR HEARTS AND NOT WITH WHATEVER IS KEEPING YOU FROM SPEAKING UP ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ELIZABETH SHEFFIELD TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIE YOUNG. HELLO. UM, I AM A RESEARCHER, AN BIOLOGIST CURRENTLY WORKING ON A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STUDY WHOSE AIM IN SHORT IS TO PREVENT PRETERM BIRTH IN WOMEN. THAT SELF-REPORT AS DEPRESSED, STRESSED, AND OR ANXIOUS. UM, I WANTED TO KNOW, UM, ARE YOU ALL AWARE OF THE LONG TERM PHY PHYSIOLOGICAL REPERCUSSIONS OF PROFOUND CONSTANT STATE OF STRESS IN A BODY? NO. OKAY. WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS, UM, CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN A BODY CAUSES CELL DEATH, WHICH LEADS TO A MULTITUDE OF ILLNESSES AND ORGAN DISEASE, OTHER ORGAN DISEASE. AND WE CAN SEE EXAMPLES OF THIS IN THE EPIGENETIC CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER TIME IN AFRICAN AMERICANS, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO SLAVERY AND SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND RACISM. AND IT'S IN THE LITERATURE, WE KNOW THIS. AND IS THIS THE FUTURE THAT WE'RE ALL WILLING TO ACCEPT FOR PALESTINIANS OR ALL OF HUMANITY? LIKE SO MANY FOR THE LAST 151 DAYS, I'VE WATCHED A MASSACRE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, CHILDREN, INFANTS, ELDERLY, AND MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED PEOPLE. ARE THESE NOT CONSIDERED SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG A POPULATION? I COULD GO ON ABOUT THE INHUMANE CONDITIONS TO CHALLENGE YOUR HUMANITY? BUT 151 DAYS IN IT'S CLEAR THAT APPROACH HOLDS MINIMAL WEIGHT. SO I ASK FOR THOSE OF YOU SITTING HERE TODAY THAT HAVE NOT USED THEIR VOICE TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, WHERE DO YOU PLACE YOURSELF ON A SCALE OF INTELLIGENCE? BECAUSE INTELLIGENCE IS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW. RATHER YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN AND APPLY WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED TO ENHANCE YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES AROUND YOU. AND I'M HERE TO SAY, I'M HERE TO SAY TO WHOEVER THIS APPLIES TO, IF YOU'VE CONTINUED TO STAY SILENT OR NEUTRAL ON THIS MATTER, REGARDLESS OF THE PLETHORA OF LITERAL VIDEO EVIDENCE YOU AND I HAVE HAD THE SAME ACCESS TO, THEN YOU ARE UNINTELLIGENT. YOU'D NOT ONLY LACK MORAL FOUNDATION, YOU LACK THE ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY AND OBJECTIVELY. [02:25:02] YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO SIT IN THIS POSITION OF POWER BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT AN INFORMED, YOU ARE WILLFULLY IGNORANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, JULIE YOUNG. I'LL, I'LL WAIT. JULIE YOUNG, I'LL WAIT UNTIL THE MAYOR PASSES. PLEASE. HE MAY NOT COME BACK TODAY. I AM NOT SURE IF HE'S COMING BACK. SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TODAY, HE DOES LISTEN AND HE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS FIRST. THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FOR PUTTING A HALT ON THE TOURIST PLAN TO CHANGE MONTROSE BOULEVARD. MONTROSE NEEDS TO MOVE A MASSIVE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC QUICKLY, EFFICIENTLY, AND SAFELY. THIS PROJECT AS PROPOSED, WOULD MAKE MONTROSE INEFFICIENT AND DANGEROUS. NARROW LANES DON'T CALM TRAFFIC. NARROW LANES BASH MIRRORS. THEY SIDESWIPE CARS AND THEY LEAD TO ROAD RAGE. THIS PLAN WANTS TO NARROW LANES TO 11 FEET AND 10 FEET. A FIRETRUCK IS EIGHT TO NINE FEET WIDE. NOW TRYING TO NAVIGATE A 10 FOOT NARROW LANE WITH POTHOLES. NOW DO THE MATH. BLOCKED INTERSECTIONS, IMPEDED TRAFFIC FLOW, PREVENTING LEFT TURNS, IMPEDES TRAFFIC FLOW. I CAN'T PICK UP MY MAIL AT THE POST OFFICE. SHOPPERS CAN'T GET INTO DRIVEWAYS AT LOCAL BUSINESSES FORCING DRIVERS TO GO FURTHER AND MAKE U-TURNS. IT CLOGS UP TRAFFIC. NARROWING THE MEDIUM FROM 30 TO 20 FEET DEVASTATES THE CANOPY AND CHOPS THE ROOTS OF THE TREES THAT THE TURS PROMISED THEY WEREN'T GOING TO HARM. NARROWING THE MEDIAN BLOCKED INTERSECTIONS. NOW YOU'RE FORCING THE AMAZON GUY TO GO AND MAKE A U-TURN STRADDLING THAT 20 FOOT NARROW MEDIAN. AND THE AMAZON TRUCK IS 24 FEET LONG. NOW TWO OF THEM IS HANGING OUT ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STREET, TWO OF IT IS HANGING OUT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET. THE CARS IN THOSE 10 FOOT NARROW LANES CAN'T GET PAST THEM. PEOPLE ARE GETTING TICKED OFF. UH, TEMPERS FLARE. SOMEBODY PULLS OUT A A SIX FOOT SIDEWALK IS THE COMPROMISE THAT WILL SOLVE ALL THIS. A SIX FOOT SIDEWALK ACCOMMODATES, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES, WHEELCHAIRS. I WAS IN KATY ON SUNDAY. KATY HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY. THEY PLANNED AHEAD TO MAKE SPACE FOR WIDE SIDEWALKS. I PASSED A GREEN SPACE. THERE WAS A WIDE SIDEWALK AND SCORES OF PEOPLE STROLLING, BICYCLING, PASSING EACH OTHER EASILY IF THERE WERE TREES. I'M LIKE, MAN, THAT'S A WIDE SIDEWALK. I'M A PAPER. I'M A WALLPAPER HANGER. I CAN MEASURE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK. I RAN THE SIDEWALK WAS SIX FEET WIDE, SERVING EVERYBODY AND SAVING THE TREES. THIS TUR PROJECT IS TRYING TO RETROFIT A NEW SUBURBAN CONCEPT ONTO AN 80-YEAR-OLD STREET THAT WAS DESIGNED TO MOVE MOTOR VEHICLES AND SERVE LOCAL BUSINESSES. THIS, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE FOR A UTOPIAN PROMENADE. NOT WITHOUT CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE, SNARLING TRAFFIC, CHOPPING TREES, CHOPPED TREES DON'T GROW BACK. WE DON'T NEED A 10 FOOT SIDEWALK, A SIX FOOT SIDEWALK ACCOMMODATES EVERYONE, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES, WHEELCHAIRS. IF I WAS PUSHING A BABY CARRIAGE, WALKING ALONGSIDE A GIRLFRIEND WHO'S DOING THE SAME AND A BICYCLIST WANTED TO PASS, I GUARANTEE YOU THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. IF NOT, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM STEPPING BACK AND WALKING SINGLE FILE FOR THE FIVE SECONDS. IT TAKES THAT BIKE TO GO BY IF IT WOULD SAVE A LIVE OAK. SO PLEASE, FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS ON MONTROSE AND THE SAKE OF THE MAJESTIC TREES, INSIST THE TURS REDESIGN THIS PLAN. MAINTAIN WIDE SAFE LANE WIDTH. MAINTAIN A 30 FOOT WIDE MEDIAN. KEEP THE INTERSECTIONS OPEN AND PASSABLE. KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING. SIX FOOT SIDEWALK SERVES EVERYONE AND PRESERVE THOSE WONDERFUL MATURE SHADE LOVING FLOOD ABSORBING AIR CLEANING TREES. AND, AND BY THE WAY, SIDEWALKS CAN BE BUILT WITH A BRIDGE THAT WILL PROTECT THE ROOTS AND STILL HAVE A NICE FLAT SIDEWALK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER IN THE QUEUE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR, PART TIME. JULIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. UM, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION 'CAUSE YOU TO TOUCHED ON THE LANE WIDTH, UM, THAT IT, THE LANE RITZ ARE BEING REDUCED FROM 10, FROM 11 TO 10. WOULD A SUFFICIENT COMPROMISE ON THAT BE TO KEEP THE LANE WIDTH AS IT CURRENTLY IS? WHAT YOU SAY WOULD A SUFFICIENT, WOULD A COMPROMISE BE? 'CAUSE I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT THE LANE WIDTH. RIGHT NOW IT'S BEING REDUCED AN INCH. CORRECT? IT'S GOING FROM 11 A FOOT A FOOT, EXCUSE ME, A FOOT, FOOT, A FOOT AND TWO FEET. THE, THE NOT, YEAH, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE LANE WIDTH ITSELF. SO GOING FROM CURRENTLY IT'S AT 11, THE PROPOSAL WAS TO GO TO 10. WOULD IT BE A COMPROMISE AND ACCEPTABLE TO YOU FOR IT TO REMAIN AT THE CURRENT WIDTH OF THE LANES NOT NARROWING THE LANES? YES. IF THEY KEEP THE LANES WHERE THEY ARE NOW. OKAY. THERE'S, THERE'S ROOM FOR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TO, PEOPLE MOVE A LITTLE BIT. YOU DROP SOMETHING, THE KIDS ARE FIGHTING IN THE BACKSEAT AND, AND YOU HIT A POTHOLE, , RIGHT. YOU WANT, YOU WANT A LITTLE, LITTLE LEEWAY, A LITTLE ROOM TO MOVE AND MANEUVER AND GET WHERE YOU WANNA GO. YES. TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. THAT IT? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS [02:30:01] TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER JANELLE PARRISH. JANELLE PARRISH. NEXT SPEAKER ANAM ANI ANAM ANI. NEXT SPEAKER SOPHIA SEGER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM. RIGHT. AS OF THIS WEEK OVER 30,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA AND THIS US FUND A GENOCIDE. THE IMAGES AND SOUNDS COMING OUT OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HOLY LAND OR ANYTHING. BUT HOLY, THIS TERROR AND GRIEF ARE BEYOND COMPREHENSION AND THE LACK OF ACTION FROM THIS COUNCIL IS APPALLING. BUT WITH AS MUCH TIME THAT IS PASSED ALREADY, THERE IS STILL TIME TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. I KNOW WE HAVE SUPPORTERS ON THE COUNCIL. I THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH PALESTINE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO. UH, MY TWO DEMANDS TODAY ARE SIMPLE. PUT OUT A PUBLIC STATEMENT FOR A CEASEFIRE AND AMEND THE CITY'S FINANCIAL INVESTMENT POLICY TO REMOVE THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS WITH CITY FUNDS. I KNOW THAT MS. LETICIA ROSE SPOKE TODAY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING FOR THE HONEYCOMB CLINIC, WHICH IS INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT THAN FUNDING THE KILLING OF TENS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EARTH. IF I COULD ASK THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY, WHEN WILL YOU SEE IT, HEAR ENOUGH TO PUT OUT A STATEMENT? IS THERE ANY RESPONSE TO THAT? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, MARIAN WRIGHT TO BE FOLLOWED BY NANCY HIGGS. HI, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU MS. CAYMAN FOR ACTUALLY STAYING THIS WEEK AND HEARING EVERYBODY. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. UM, EVERYONE, IF Y'ALL LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS AT ACTUALLY MR. CASTILLO IN YOUR OFFICE AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO COME OUT OR SEND SOMEONE OUT TO MEET WITH PUBLIC WORKS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BALL DROPPED WITH THAT, BUT I WISH Y'ALL WOULD'VE DONE THAT. THIS INTERSECTION. OKAY, WE'RE PUTTING PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE AND TELLING KIDS THAT IT'S SAFE TO STAND ON THESE, THIS HAS BEEN HIT SEVEN TIMES IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS. SEVEN TIMES IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS. I WANNA THANK MS, UM, WHITNEY, MIKE IN PUBLIC WORKS. SHE ACTUALLY GOT ME THE INFORMATION OF WHEN IT WAS HIT. SO PLEASE LET, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHO ISN'T HERE, PLEASE LET HIM KNOW THAT MS. WHITNEY, MIKE FIRST SAID THAT I HAD TO FILL OUT A PUBLIC DOCUMENT REQUEST. AND WHEN I SAID, OH, THIS IS A NEW ADMINISTRATION, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO DO THAT. SHE LAUGHED AND SHE SAID, YOU'RE RIGHT, TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT AND SHE GOT ME THE INFORMATION. SO THANK Y'ALL IN PUBLIC WORKS FOR WORKING WITH US. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? WE CAN'T LET KIDS STAND ON THIS. WE JUST CAN'T DO THIS. THE ANSWER FROM PUBLIC WORKS IS MS. RIGHT. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE TO SPEAK WITH YOU. OKAY? I'M NOT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND YOU KNOW, YOU DID BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING DOWN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS SINCE YOU DID BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. WE'VE WORKED WITH PUBLIC WORKS, THEY HAVE INSTALLED REFLECTORS TO HELP THIS BE MORE VISIBLE TO THE DRIVERS THAT, UH, HAVE HIT IT. THEY WERE JUST INSTALLED. WE NEED TO GIVE THAT THE REFLECTORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK BEFORE WE COME BACK AND SEE IF TO SAY THAT THIS, THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST NOT GOING TO WORK. THE TWO PEOPLE FROM PUBLIC WORKS THAT CAME OUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE REFLECTORS WERE NOT GONNA HELP. AND THAT WAS MR. CONY AND MS. JOHANNA, UM, WHAT WAS HER NAME? JOHANNA CLARK. OKAY. THEY CAME OUT, THEY LOOKED AT THE SITUATION. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT IT? I'VE DRIVEN BY THERE. YES, I'VE SEEN THE REFLECTORS AND YOU THAT THE REFLECTORS ARE GONNA STOP THIS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T. I AM WILLING TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SEE IF THEY WILL WORK AND WHILE WE'RE GIVING 'EM A CHANCE, IT JUST TAKES ONE TIME FOR A KID TO BE ON THIS WHEN IT'S HIT JUST ONCE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. YEAH, I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING. UH, MS. WRIGHT, I KNOW YOU'RE A CONSTITUENT OF A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, BUT YOU TEND TO COMMENT ON MY DISTRICT QUITE A LOT. I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THAT I HAD TO LEAVE EARLY LAST WEEK BECAUSE I HAD BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT. SO I SAT HERE AS LONG AS I COULD UNTIL I COULDN'T ANYMORE. YOU CONTINUE TO COME TO COUNCIL AND SAY, WELL, WHY DOES A COUNCIL MEMBER MOVE SOME PEOPLE UP AND NOT OTHERS AS AN ETIQUETTE? WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT COURTESY, IF A CONSTITUENT IN OUR DISTRICT REACHES OUT AND SAYS, I HAVE AN ACCOMMODATION THAT I NEED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF PARENTS HAVE TO PICK THEIR CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL, OR IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS A DISABILITY AND NEEDS A SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ALL HONOR TO THE BEST OUR OF OUR ABILITY. THOSE THINGS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF WE BROUGHT EVERY SINGLE PERSON UP ON ONE ISSUE AT ONE TIME, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEIR [02:35:01] CONSTITUENTS WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED. THAT THAT'S A DISRESPECT TO THEM. SO WE TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE, BUT THE PERSONAL JABS, THE PERSONAL ATTACKS DO NOT HELP. THEY ARE NOT CONDUCIVE. AND WE ARE HAVING AN IMPORTANT DIALOGUE WITH OUR RESIDENTS THAT MATTERS. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THERE WAS A LADY THAT CAME OUT THAT HAD A BUSINESS. OKAY. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MS. WRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR COMING THOUGH. WE APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND I KNOW THAT YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. NANCY HIGGS. NANCY HIGGS, HOW ARE YOU? MA'AM, GO AHEAD. I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? UM, I'M GONNA CHANGE WHAT I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT SINCE THE MAYOR HAD TO LEAVE. OKAY. MAYBE I'LL HAVE BETTER LUCK NEXT WEEK. I'LL CONTACT ABBY'S OFFICE AND TRY TO GET MOVED UP. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME PERSONALLY WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK. MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SAY MISTRUTHS. MAYBE I SHOULD SAY THINGS THAT AREN'T EXACTLY ACCURATE, BUT I WANNA CLARIFY SOME THINGS THAT WERE SAID TODAY BY OTHER PEOPLE. FIRST OF ALL, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO PROCLAIM THAT I, ALONG WITH ABBY'S STAFF DURING THE PANDEMIC, GOT A CROSSWALK SIGNAL INSTALLED AT DUN LAVY AT WEST GRAY, WHERE THERE WAS NOT ONE JUST WEST OF THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. NOW I KNOW THAT DIDN'T HELP OUT THE LADY IN THE WHEELCHAIR WHO APPARENTLY IS GOING TOWARDS MONTROSE, BUT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT 'CAUSE I WATCH BLIND PEOPLE, WHEELCHAIR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE THERE WASN'T A CROSSWALK THERE. SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. AND, UM, AALIYAH AND ABBY'S OFFICE HELPED WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO PUSH IT THROUGH AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE NEXT THING I WANNA SAY IS GOING ON A WHEELCHAIR FROM THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER TO MONTROSE IS GOING ALONG WEST GRAY. IT IS NOT GOING ALONG MONTROSE. SO I GUESS WHEN SHE GETS TO MONTROSE, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THOSE SIDEWALKS. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF NON-EXISTENT OR BAD SIDEWALKS GOING EAST FROM THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER TO MONTROSE. THAT STATEMENT MADE NO SENSE TO ME WHATSOEVER. THE NEXT THING I WANNA CLARIFY IS MR. ORTIZ IS NOT AN ARBORIST, MUCH LESS A CERTIFIED ARBORIST. AND WE HAD A CERTIFIED OR ARBORIST STUDY AND EVALUATE EVERY ONE OF THE LIVE OAK TREES AND THE THREE POST OAK TREES, AT LEAST IN THOSE TWO NORTH BLOCKS OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND DETERMINED THEM TO BE HEALTHY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. NANCY, IF YOU WANNA TAKE JUST A FEW SECONDS OF MY TIME AND I I WANTED TO RESPOND IF I MAY. UM, YES, MS. ALCORN ASKED ABOUT COMPROMISES AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT'S VERY DOABLE. UM, ONE IS THAT WE PUT IN OUS CONCRETE OR, UM, THE SUBSTANCE THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT WOULD PRESERVE THE TREES. I MEAN, WE HAVE ALL OVER TREES THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE CURB BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE SIDEWALK, AND THEY ARE ALL JUST FINE. SO NOBODY CAN MAKE ME BELIEVE OR ANY OF YOU BELIEVE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THOSE TREES ARE NOT FINE, THEY'RE DOING JUST FINE. UM, SECOND OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE US TO STRONGLY CONSIDER THAT WE DO NOT MOVE THE POWER LINES TO THE WEST SIDE IN THE VERY NORTH BLOCK ALONG MAGNOLIA CEMETERY. WE JUST GOT THOSE THREE, 160 YEAR OLD POST OAK TREES DECLARED HISTORIC. WE HAD A CEREMONY ON SUNDAY TO COMMEMORATE THAT. I WAS GONNA PRESENT THAT TO THE MAYOR, BUT I'LL DO THAT HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK. UM, THERE CAN'T BE POWER LINES THERE. N NANCY CAN I, I GOTTA TAKE BACK A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME. IF YOU WANNA WRAP THAT UP, PLEASE. CAN I JUST SAY ONE MORE QUICK THING? OKAY. I, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS CITY OF HOUSTON AND ISRAELI BONDS, SO I LOOKED IT UP. UM, GUESS WHAT, NOBODY'S INVESTED IN IN ISRAELI BONDS SINCE JUST SHORTLY AFTER THE INVASION OF ISRAEL. I'M VERY MUCH FOR A CEASEFIRE, BUT I THINK IT IS MISLEADING FOR PEOPLE TO GET UP HERE AND SAY THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY BUYING ISRAELI BONDS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S TRUE. THANK YOU. AND NANCY, FIRST OFF, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVE PARTNERED BEFORE AND EVEN WITH JONNA, RIGHT? WE HELPED SAVE PART OF LOVETT BOULEVARD, UH, WHEN THAT WAS AT RISK. SO I I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE WOMAN THAT WAS HERE THAT SPOKE FIRST. I THINK WHAT SHE WAS SAYING IS [02:40:01] BECAUSE THE DIS I'M JUST PARAPHRASING, BUT BECAUSE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS IN AND AROUND THAT AREA USING WEST GRAY, THEY ALSO ARE GOING TO OTHER PLACES IN AND AROUND MONTROSE. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT PARTS OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD AT THIS POINT AREN'T EVEN A DA COMPLIANT. SO I JUST, I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR HER. IT WAS HARD FOR SOME OF US TO EVEN UNDERSTAND HER, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS SAYING. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION. I JUST WANTED TO ADD IN AN ADDITIONAL COMPLIC, NOT COMPLICATION, BUT THE REASON WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE UTILITIES TO BE MOVED TO THE WEST SIDE THERE, MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT, THIS ISN'T THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH, UM, IS WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THIS TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY WITH THE AS SMILEY CENTER COMING IN AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING INVESTED INTO THE CORRIDOR FOR THE AS SMILEY CENTER. AND MANY OF YOU KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS. AND THE UNDERSTANDING WITH THAT WAS THAT THIS ENTIRE CORRIDOR WAS BEING DONE. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, UM, THE AS SMILEY CENTER GENEROUSLY DONATED, UH, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF LAND FOR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY TO CREATE THE PATHWAYS AND THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE AS SMILEY CENTER. WITHOUT THOSE UTILITIES BEING MOVED, IT RENDERS, UH, THE ENTRANCE TO THE AS SMILEY CENTER. AGAIN, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT'S GOING TO BRING AN EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST ALONG THE CORRIDOR, BUT THE GARDENS, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, ET CETERA, UM, INTO IT. SO IT'S NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE STREET ITSELF, IT'S, THIS WAS PART OF HOW THE, AS SMILEY CENTER WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OF THIS. SO I HEAR YOU, AND I'M NOT SAYING YES OR NO, I JUST WANT US TO BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE NUANCED ASPECTS OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO INTO INFRASTRUCTURE COORDINATION ON THAT. CAN I COMMENT BACK ON THAT? PLEASE? I THINK THAT WE'RE PRETTY SURE THAT THOSE UTILITIES COULD BE BURIED ON THE ISMAILI SIDE, NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, IT WHEN I HEAR A LOT OF LIKE HMM, WORKAROUNDS OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHO DONATED WHAT AND WHO DID WHAT. I MEAN DIDN'T, I DON'T KNOW. I I DON'T WANNA SAY TOO MUCH AND I ALREADY SAID BEFORE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WITH THE MAYOR, FINE, LET'S PUT THE 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK ALONG THEIR BLOCK AND THEN LET'S STOP IT AND GO TO A NORMAL SIX FOOT SIDEWALK. GOT IT. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT FROM, OKAY, COUNCILMAN, ARE YOU DONE? SORRY, ONE OTHER THING. I APOLOGIZE. UM, I DO WANNA SAY THE SIDEWALKS ON WEST, WEST GRAY ON BOTH SIDES TO MY KNOWLEDGE, UM, TO MONTROSE BOULEVARD HAVE ALL BEEN REBUILT WITH THE SAFE SIDEWALK PROGRAMS. AND I KNOW DISTRICT C FUNDED ON THE BACKSIDE OF WEST GRACE SPECIFICALLY, THERE WERE NO SIDEWALKS ON THAT SIDE. AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS COME IN TO USE IT THROUGH, UM, THE BACK END OF THE BUILDING WHERE THAT, THAT EXTRA PARKING LOT. SO WE ARE FUNDING THOSE SIDEWALKS AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN, UH, NOT JUST USE THE FACILITY, BUT USE THE ENTIRE AREA. SO THAT WORK IS HAPPENING AT, AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, BUT NOT, I I'M GONNA WALK ALL THE WAY TO MONTROSE TOMORROW MORNING. NOT ALL THE WAY TO MONTROSE WITHOUT A DOUBT. I HEAR. I I HEAR YOU. THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE. I COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM AND THANK YOU NANCY FOR COMING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER A COMPROMISE. I WHAT I'M TRYING YOU TO, TO GRAB A HOLD OF. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR Y'ALL TALK, YOU KNOW YEAH. WHEN I HEAR THE OTHER PEOPLE TALK, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO DISCERN, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT CAN HAPPEN. AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME, LEADS ME TO THINK THERE'S GOTTA BE, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AROUND CITY HALL A LONG TIME AND USUALLY, UM, NEITHER SIDE GETS WHAT THEY WANT AND THAT'S OFTEN GOOD POLICY. AND BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU END UP SOMEWHERE DOWN THE MIDDLE. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROJECT'S PAUSED, I'M SURE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS. UM, BUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, BOTH ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START BEING, UM, UM, I'M NOT TELLING ANY OF THE SPEAKERS HOW TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS IT, BUT I THINK IT, IT, IT WOULD BE REALLY CONSTRUCTIVE, UM, TO, TO SEE WHAT KIND OF GIVE BOTH SIDES WOULD BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE, AND WE'RE NOT ALL ARBORISTS OR, OR ENGINEERS OR WHATEVER. SO NOT, NOT SPECIFICS, BUT JUST KIND OF WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE, UM, ACCEPTABLE AND YOU, YOU'VE SAID SOME OF THAT, YOU, YOU AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE 10 FOOT SIDEWAYS THROUGH THE SMILEY CENTER BLOCK AND, AND NOT ON THE OTHER AND THE UTILITY THINGS. BUT, BUT SINCE YOU'RE A REGULAR, YOU KNOW, SPEAKER ON THIS, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST ASK THAT IF YOU COULD BRING SOME, SOME IDEAS THAT COULD HELP, YOU [02:45:01] KNOW, I, I ULTIMATELY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS GOES. I MEAN, THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATION DECISION. UM, CERTAINLY THAT'S GONNA BE FORMED BASED ON INPUT FROM, FROM THE COMMUNITY AND, AND FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERYONE ELSE. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GUYS COME DOWN HERE TO SPEAK. I'M JUST, I, I'VE BEEN KIND OF GRAPPLING AS I THINK WE ALL ARE THE AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE OTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S BOTH, BOTH OF THESE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SAFE GETTING SOMEWHERE ON THE SIDEWALK AND SAVE THE TREES ARE BOTH IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING HERE AND, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE A ZERO SUM GAME, BUT, BUT EVERY, BOTH SIDES ARE NOT GONNA GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT, IS MY VIEW ON THIS. SO I DON'T REALLY ASKING FOR A RESPONSE, I'M JUST KIND OF TALKING. WELL, I DO WANNA GIVE A RESPONSE, OKAY. BECAUSE WE ALL FEEL WHEN WE GO TO THE TURS MEETING THAT ANY SUGGESTION THAT WE HAVE OF COMPROMISE FALLS ON DEAF EARS. AND WE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY, BUT THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND SHARING YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. GIA LONGS WORTH. HELLO. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK. SO I MOVED TO MONTROSE BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO STEP OUT MY FRONT DOOR AND TAKE A SHORT WALK FOR A QUICK BITE TO EAT. UM, I GREW UP IN SPRING, SO FOR MOST OF MY LIFE I NEVER HAD THAT FREEDOM. I ACTUALLY PASSED UP ON A LARGER, CHEAPER APARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WALKABILITY HEAVILY INFLUENCES WHERE I WANT TO RENT AND EVENTUALLY BUY A HOME AND RAISE A FAMILY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY INTERSECTIONS AROUND MONTS THAT MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT EVEN THE MOST ACCESSIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS HERE ONLY HAVE A FRACTION OF WHAT OTHER PLACES ENJOY. HOW CAN WE HOPE TO BE A WORLD-CLASS CITY WHEN WE INSIST THAT PEOPLE MUST GIVE UP THE FREEDOM TO WALK, ROLL, AND BIKE SAFELY JUST TO LIVE HERE? I DON'T SEE WHY OTHER CITIES ARE MORE DESERVING OF STRAI OF SAFE STREETS THAN WE ARE. ARE THEY SMARTER THAN US? BETTER THAN US? NO, I THINK THEY JUST HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND WE CAN DO THE SAME. I DON'T THINK, UM, I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH ALREADY. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PUTTING EVEN MORE WORK ON THEIR PLATE BY DESIGNING ROADS THAT ENABLE RECKLESS DRIVING AND ENDANGERED PEDESTRIANS. THE MANTRAS BOULEVARD PROJECT IS FULLY DESIGNED AND FULLY FUNDED. LET'S NOT MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. PERFECT TIMING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NICE. NEXT SPEAKER, JONNA HITCHCOCK. JONNA HITCHCOCK. HI, I'M JONNA HITCHCOCK AND I THINK THERE'S ABSOLUTELY COMPROMISE MS. ALCORN, THAT'S A, THAT IS POSSIBLE. UM, I WHAT WHAT IT'S HARD TO DO COMPROMISE WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE BASIC FACTS BEING SHARED ACCURATELY. SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANNA POINT OUT THAT HAVE BEEN INACCURACIES. I'M GONNA HAND OUT THIS, THIS IS ACTUALLY A VIDEO WHERE YOU WALK, I WALKED DOWN THE SIDEWALK FROM WEST DALLAS TO WEST CLAY. YOU GUYS CAN LOOK FOR YOURSELF AT THE SIDEWALKS, AT THE TREES. YOU CAN SEE IF YOU THINK THERE'S ONLY 18 INCHES OF GROWING SPACE OR IF THERE'S MORE, LOOK FOR YOURSELF. OKAY? SECONDLY, UM, THE, UM, TEARS MULTIPLE TIMES. I, THERE ARE EMAIL THREADS WITH THE CITY WHERE THEY HAVE SWORN THAT NO CENTURY OLD TREES WILL BE TAKEN DOWN IN PHASE ONE. THEY'VE COMMITTED IT IN WRITING TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN FORESTRY DEPARTMENT. AND THOSE, THOSE GROUPS MADE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT PROMISE. THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE. THESE ARE EITHER BY MISTAKE OR ON PURPOSE FALSEHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH THE CITY AND THE CITY RELIED ON AND GAVE APPROVAL FOR THEIR 70% PLANS BASED ON THAT. I ASK YOU TO READ THAT AND MAKE, I ONLY HAVE FOUR COPIES, BUT HERE THEY ARE. IF YOU GOT ONE OF THESE LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO, IT'S IN HERE AS WELL. AND THERE'S A THIRD FALSEHOOD THAT'S SHARED, BUT I CAN NEVER SHARE IT IN ONE MINUTE, SO I'LL HAVE TO BE BACK NEXT WEEK UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO KNOW. , THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. UH, WE APPRECIATE THE, UM, FEEDBACK AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE, AT THE VIDEO AS WELL. OKAY. AND THIS IS THE, UM, THIS, THIS IS THE, UH, WHERE THE, THE TEARS SAYS THAT THERE'S NO A HUNDRED YEAR OLD TREES BEING TAKEN DOWN. SOMEONE WILL, WE'LL HAVE RENEE TO DISSEMINATE THOSE. RENEE WILL GET IT FOR YOU. THANK YOU. YOU CAN LEAVE IT ON THE DESK AND HE'LL GIVE IT OUT TO US. NEXT SPEAKER. SAE KA. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. REAL QUICKLY, I WANTED TO, UH, READ AN EXPERT FROM A LETTER WE'VE RECENTLY SENT TO THE HOUSTON CONTROLLER. UH, THE CITY'S 2015 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT NOTES A $5 MILLION ISRAELI BOND PURCHASE. THIS FOLLOWED ON THE HEELS OF ISRAEL'S DEADLY INCURSION IN DE GAZA IN THE SUMMER OF 2014, IN WHICH OVER 2000 CIVILIANS WERE [02:50:01] KILLED IN ARABLE BOMBARDMENTS. AND THE INTERNATIONAL FOUND EVIDENCE THAT ISRAEL TARGETED SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, CIVILIAN INTER INFRASTRUCTURE IN A CAMPAIGN OF COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. THE CITY'S FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 2017 AND 2018 SHOW AN APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION INVESTMENT 2020 AND 2021 REPORT SHOW A $10 MILLION INVESTMENT. ALL OF THESE INVESTMENTS CAME AT A TIME OF BROADER INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL'S TREATMENT OF PALESTINIANS. AS APARTHEID ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAVE THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED THAT ISRAEL HAS IMPOSED A SYSTEM OF OPPRESSION AND DOMINATION OVER PALESTINIANS, WHEREVER IT EXERCISES CONTROL OVER THE ENJOYMENT OF THEIR RIGHTS ACROSS ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, YOUR TIME HAS RIGHT IN REGARD TO PALESTINIAN REFUGEES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, PRISCILLA RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN DAVIS, PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU'RE A VETERAN. UM, UH, SPECIAL FORCES LIKE MY HUSBAND, UH, YOU HAVE SEEN WAR LIKE THE DOZENS OF VETERANS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME TO EXPRESS THAT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN GAZA IS NOT A WAR, IT'S A GENOCIDE. ONE VETERAN SAID THAT EVERY DAY IN GAZA, THE ACTS OF THE IOF ARE EQUAL TO THOSE OF ABU INDEED AMERICAN SOLDIERS WOULD BE COURT MARTIALED FOR THESE DEPRAVED ACTS LIKE JOYFULLY RIDING THE BIKE OF A CHILD MURDERED BY A SNIPER, AND STRIPPING MEN NAKED AGAINST THEIR RELIGIOUS MORAL BELIEFS AND TORTURING THEM BEFORE MURDERING THEM. I URGE YOU TO HONOR THE MOTTO OF SPECIAL FORCES DE BREATHE THE OPPRESSED. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAND WITH YOUR FELLOW VETERANS AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE. I ENCOURAGE THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL TO CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY, WE STAND [RECESS] IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM DO IT THE REPORT FROM THE CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY. ITEM ONE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL TO FINAL A CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $3,863,954 AND 2 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB L-L-C-D-B-A-I-P-R SOUTH CENTRAL. ITEM TWO, RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY TO DEPOSIT THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD OF SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT TO PAY OUR COST OF COURT IN CONNECTION WITH EMULATE DOMAIN PROCEEDING STYLE. CITY OF HOUSTON V COSMOS WEBSTER, LLC ETAL. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY TO DEPOSIT THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD OF SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT TO PAY OUR COST OF COURT IN CONNECTION WITH EMORY DOMAIN PROCEEDING STYLE CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS SYNDICATE LAND LTD ETAL. ITEM FOUR APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND TWENTY FIVE CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF AUTO AUTOMOTIVE SHOP EQUIPMENT AWARDED TWO TEXAS PRIDE MARKETING. ITEM FIVE SALES BEFORE FOUR HUNDRED NINETY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND FIFTY CENTS AND METRO FIRE APPARATUS SPECIALIST INC. $11,574,882 NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF FIRE TRUCKS AND APPARATUS. ITEM SIX, HOUSTON FREIGHTLINER INC. FOR PURCHASE OF MEDIUM HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. ITEM SEVEN, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF HYBRID PICKUP TRUCKS. ITEM EIGHT, AMA INC. DBA CORE OFFICE INTERIORS FOR PURCHASE OF VARIOUS FURNITURE ITEMS FOR A NEWLY LEASED SPACE. ITEM NINE, RE MEDICAL LLC $730,000 AND NO CENTS AND LIFE ASSIST INC. $400,000 AND NO CENTS FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY AND IT MIGHT NOT EXCEED ONE METER $130,000 AND NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES. ITEM 10, EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF THE SUPPLY OF LIQUID CALCIUM NITRATE. ITEM 11, PATRICIA TECH SUPPLY AND SERVICE FOR PURCHASE OF SLUDGE GRINDER. ITEM 12, FISHER SCIENTIFIC COMPANY LLC FOR PURCHASE OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT. ITEM 13, TECHNICAL LABORATORY SYSTEMS INC. FOR SO SOURCE PURCHASE OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SIMULATED CHAIRS. ITEM 14 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE MILE NOT EXCEED $606,500,000 IN NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF WATER METER SERVICES AWARDED TO VEREX INC. ITEM 15 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE MAY NOT EXCEED $100,000 IN NO CENTS FOR ADVERTISEMENT [02:55:01] SERVICES TO HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL. ITEM 16, TRAFFIC SYSTEMS CONSTRUCTION INC. FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS. ITEM 17 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FOUR GRANT APPLICATIONS TO HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT NUMBER TWO PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS. ITEM 18, ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 40, CODE OF ORDINANCES HOUSTON, TEXAS ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SEVERAL RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF GALVESTON HOUSTON. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 150 THOU $50 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORT SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED 2011 CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNITED AIRLINES INC. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $16 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DESIGN BILL OF CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS STERLING BKE J FUND J-V-L-L-C ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 2 9 290 $3,000 IN NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR THE PLANNED PURCHASE AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADE A PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO TOWER ANTENNA REPLACEMENT PROJECT. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $120,000 IN NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR THE PLANNED PURCHASE AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADE A PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO TOWER LIGHTING PROJECT. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $259,000 IN NO CENTS OUTTA EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR THE FY 24 MASTER DATA MANAGEMENT PROJECT. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE 20 21 685 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LJ POWER INC FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND TESTING OF EMERGENCY POWER UNITS. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE ADMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21, 9 7 AND FOUR TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RUBICON GLOBAL LLC ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT FOR VEHICLE TOWING AND STORAGE SERVICES BETWEEN CITY AND MILAN STREET AUTO STORAGE INC. ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND INAX INC. ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO END THE LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FY 2025 SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, COMPREHENSIVE MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FY 2025 SELECTED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BAKER WASHROOM LLP ITEM 33 OR FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF A 200 SQUARE FOOT SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT OUT OF AND A PART OF LOT 23 OF HIGHLAND PARK. ADDITION SITUATING THE JOHN AUSTIN SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER A ONE ABANDONED SAID EASEMENT TO KENSINGTON MONTGOMERY, LLC ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO WASTE DISPOSAL CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 19 ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO UNTREATED WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NRG TEXAS POWER ITEM 39. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $44,100 IN NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PLUMBER ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOWS CONSULTING ENGINEERS LLC ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $9,006,486 AND 90 CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT RECOM INC. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $13,954,957 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AND $7,433,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO SER CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS. LLC ITEM 40 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT, FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO DL GLOVER UTILITIES. LLC ITEM 42 IS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024 DASH 97 PAST FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024 WAS AN ORDINANCE GRANTED TO A JJ WASTE LLC SECOND READING ITEM 43, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 98 PAST FIRST READING 20 FEBRUARY, 2020. FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANT TO CHIEF SOLUTIONS INC. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 44. ORDINANCE 24 20 24 99 [03:00:03] PAST FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28 OR GRANT TO SEMA SERVICES LP. THIS IS THE SECOND READING. ITEM 45 IS ORDINANCE 20 24 100 PAST FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28TH. THIS ORDINANCE GRANTED TO EQ LABS CODE. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 46. IT'S ORDINANCE 20 24 1 0 1, PAST FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28TH. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO EASY WASTE INC. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 47. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 1 0 2 PASS. FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28TH. ORDINANCE GRINNING TO HOUSTON. WINDOW CLEANING COMPANY LLC. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 48. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 1 0 3 PASS. FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28. ORDINANCE GRINNING TO INLAND ENVIRONMENTS. LTD. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 49. ORDINANCE 20 24 1 0 4 PASS. FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28TH. I ORDINANCE GRANTED TO KSP ENVIRONMENTAL LLC. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 50, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 1 0 5 PASS. FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28TH. ORDINANCE GRANTING TO REPUBLIC SERVICES INC. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 51. ORDINANCE 20 24 1 0 6. PAST FIRST READING FEBRUARY 28TH. THIS ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TEXAS PORTABLE RESTROOMS. LLC. THIS IS THE SECOND READING THAT IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM 52 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION. NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICANT'S TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, MEADOW, BROOK PLAZA, AND YALE VILLAGE. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 20, 24 UNDER THE MATTER'S HELD CATEGORY. ITEM 53 IS THE ORDINANCE MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS RELATED TO THE CONVEYANCE OF EASEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 0.3447 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF LUTER YORK STREET AND WAYSIDE DRIVE AND WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S TRTA PARK. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THIS WAS ITEM TWO ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024. ITEM 54, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION ON AWARD TO BUBBLE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES INC. FOR PURCHASE OF HUMAN PORTABLE RADIATION BLACK BACKPACK DETECTORS. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THIS WAS ITEM 15 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024. WE HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM. ITEM 55 WAS A REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JAMES RJA TO POSITION TWO OF THE BOARD OF PILOT COMMISSIONERS FOR HARRIS COUNTY PORTS. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF MARCH 6TH, 2024. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR INFAMOUS CITY SECRETARY, PAT J DANIEL. I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY. YOU'RE WELCOME. MY NUMBER ONE FAN, . [RECONVENE] NOW FOR THE [ADMIN REPORT] MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS AND CHAIR RECOGNIZES HIS FINANCE DIRECTOR MELISSA DEBOWSKI. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED JANUARY 31ST, 2024. IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $418.3 MILLION FOR FY 2024. THIS IS $10.1 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE DIFFERENCES DUE TO A $10.1 MILLION LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $231 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO AND RESERVE OUR REVENUE PROJECTION INCREASED BY $35.9 MILLION FROM THE DECEMBER, 2023 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AS FOLLOWS, SALES TAX INCREASED BY $35.9 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED RECEIPTS. UH, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPAND ON OUR SALES TAX PROJECTION. AS I PLEDGED DURING MY FIRST REPORT, OUR OFFICE HAS TAKEN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS. WE'VE DEVELOPED THREE SCENARIOS, A CONSERVATIVE CASE, A BASE CASE, AND AN OPTIMISTIC CASE. THESE PROJECTIONS CONSIDER VARIOUS FACTORS SUCH AS OIL PRICES, EMPLOYMENT, UH, UPSTREAM EMPLOYMENT IN PARTICULAR, AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, WHICH IS INFLATION. THIS MONTH WE'RE ADJUSTING OUR PROJECTION TO THE CONSERVATIVE SCENARIO, WHICH STANDS AT $865.9 MILLION. AGAIN, THIS IS $35.9 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST MONTH'S PROJECTION. THE CONSERVATIVE PROJECTION ASSUMES THAT THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS FOR THE REMAINING MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR WILL BE 5.9% [03:05:01] LOWER THAN LAST YEAR, WHICH WILL SUM UP TO ABOUT 3% LOWER OVER THE ENTIRE UH, YEAR. WHEN WE COMPARE OUR SCENARIOS, OUR CONSERVATIVE PROJECTION IS AGAIN $865.9 MILLION. THE OPTIMIST, UH, PARDON ME, THE BASE CASE SCENARIO IS 8 8880 $1 MILLION AND OUR OPTIMISTIC SCENARIO IS $889 MILLION. THE LATEST SALES TAX RECEIPT COLLECTION FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WAS DOWN 4%, MARKING THE LARGEST DROP SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2021. THIS COULD INDICATE A SMOOTHING OF SALE TAX FROM THE, UH, FROM THE RECORD YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH SEEN IN RECENT YEARS. BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I HOPE THAT BY THAT BY PROVIDING MORE OPTIONS TO THIS BODY, WE CAN HAVE A MORE WELL-ROUNDED DISCUSSION ON SALES TAX. OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS ARE UNCHANGED FROM THE DECEMBER, 2023 REPORT IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. WE ARE PROJECTING NO CHANGES FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET AMOUNTS IN THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND, THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM FUND CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING FUND, THE STORM WATER FUND, OR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND THIS MONTH FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE. UH, WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT. UH, FINALLY, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE PUBLICLY THAT THIS IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. UH, OUR COMMUNITY IS LUCKY TO BE LED BY SO MANY INSPIRING, INSPIRING AND DYNAMIC WOMEN, WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM, UH, SERVE AMONG US ON THIS BODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. UH, DIRECTOR. UM, KOWSKI DKI. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE SEVEN PLUS FIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 31ST, 2024. THE FISCAL 2024 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON SEVEN MONTHS OF ACTUALS, SORRY, SEVEN MONTHS OF ACTUALS AND FIVE MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS CURRENTLY $16 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND IS REMAIN, UH, REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTHS REPORT. THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 55.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND ALSO REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE REPORT. UH, SO WE DON'T PROJECT ANY CHANGE IN THE FUND BALANCE BASED ON THE PREVIOUS PREVIOUS MONTH'S REPORT. UH, AND WE ARE PROJECTING THAT THE ENDING FUND BALANCE IS 428.4 MILLION, UM, WHICH IS 17.2% OF EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THAT REPRESENTS $241 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT AND PAY AS YOU GO. UM, SO SINCE WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES TO THIS MONTH'S REPORT, I WANTED TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DISCUSS THE, UH, PLAN FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET PREPARATION. UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE FY 24 FUND BALANCE, UM, AND MAINTAINING THAT REQUIREMENT OF 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT IN OUR FUND BALANCE. UH, BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT FUND BALANCE IS ONE TIME FUNDING SOURCE AND WE CANNOT RELY SOLELY ON THE USE OF THAT FUND BALANCE IN PREPARATION FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET THAT WOULD BE USING A SHORT TERM SOLUTION FOR A LONG TERM PROBLEM. SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, WE'RE DEFINITELY FACING CHALLENGES AND FUTURE UNCERTAINTY WITH ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, UH, THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR AS WE DO OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS. UM, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO, UH, DISCUSS AND ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET. OUR, OUR RECURRING REVENUES AND OTHER RESOURCES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT OUR RECURRING EXPENDITURES THE WAY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING. SO WE DO ANTICIPATE A BUDGETARY GAP FOR THE FY 25 FISCAL YEAR OF APPROXIMATELY $160 MILLION THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO CLOSE. THIS GAP IS GOING TO NECESSITATE US TO USE PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE FINANCIAL STABILITY. WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR SPENDING AND WE NEED TO SEEK EFFICIENCIES AND EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS. UH, WE'VE SENT OUT A 5% REDUCTION EXERCISE TO THE DEPARTMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET. WE'RE LOOKING AT CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, AND WE'RE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT WHICH VACANCIES CAN BE ELIMINATED. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR RECURRING REVENUE SOURCES, AND I KNOW DURING MY APPOINTMENT IN EARLY JANUARY, ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID THAT I WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT IS NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANNA HEAR, BUT RATHER THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR. AND IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE EXERCISE THIS PRUDENCE IN MANAGING OUR FUND BALANCE, FINDING EFFICIENCIES AND MAXIMIZING REVENUES, INCLUDING NEW REVENUE SOURCES. WE HAVE TO ENSURE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AS WE GO FORWARD. SO AS WE BEGIN WORKING ON THE FY 25 BUDGET, UH, WE ALSO GIVE A FIVE YEAR FORECAST AT THAT TIME WHEN THE BUDGET IS RELEASED. SO YOU'LL GET TO SEE NOT JUST THE FY 25 BUDGET, BUT THE FORWARD LOOKING, UH, FOUR YEARS BEYOND THAT. [03:10:01] UM, AND JUST TO UPDATE YOU ON THE PLAN SCHEDULE FOR THAT, I KNOW A LOT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HERE, YOU KNOW, FOR FOUR YEARS, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW FACES, UM, AS WELL. UH, AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE, ON THE PLAN SCHEDULE FOR HOW THE BUDGET CYCLE WILL GO. UH, SO WE'RE PLANNING TO RELEASE THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN MID-MAY. UH, AND THERE'LL BE A VOTE AT THAT TIME FOR A RESOLUTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME AND, UH, GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. AND THEN GOING ON TO THE MIDDLE TO THE END OF MAY DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE BUDGETARY WORKSHOPS. UH, SO EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION AND GIVE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO A DEEP DIVE ON THEIR BUDGETS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND THE FINANCE STAFF. AND THEN, UH, FOLLOWING TO THE END OF MAY, THROUGH EARLY JUNE, THERE'LL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET, LIKE I MENTIONED. UH, THAT WILL HAPPEN DURING YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE, UH, YOU KNOW, WILL ASK YOU TO FORMULATE YOUR DRAFT BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND SUBMIT THEM FOR OUR REVIEW. AND, UH, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH YOU ON THOSE. UH, AND THEN THE TIMELINE, UH, FOR EARLY JUNE, WE HOPE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET IN EARLY JUNE IN PREPARATION FOR THE JULY 1ST FISCAL YEAR START. UH, SO THAT'S JUST A PREVIEW OF, OF WHAT'S TO COME, UH, ON THE, ON THE BUDGET. VERY GOOD. THANK EACH OF YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR REPORTS. UH, DIRECTOR, MY QUESTIONS ARE, ARE, ARE FOR YOU. UM, YOU STATED, UH, IN YOUR REPORT THAT WE HAVE LONG-TERM PROBLEMS AND YOU ALSO STATED THAT, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION'S LOOKING AT PROACTIVE MEASURES SPECIFICALLY. WHAT ARE THOSE PROACTIVE MEASURES? SO I THINK I MENTIONED, UM, WE, WE WANNA IDENTIFY EFFICIENCIES, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S DUPLICATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, WE'RE LOOKING INTO POSSIBLE CONSOLIDATIONS. UM, WE SUBMITTED THE 5%, UM, TEMPLATE TARGETS TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO COME BACK TO US AND GIVE US IDEAS THAT THEY MAY HAVE FOR EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCTIONS AS WELL. UH, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, NEW REVENUE SOURCES, RECURRING REVENUE SOURCES. SO WHAT WOULD THOSE REOCCURRING REVENUE SOURCES THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT BE? UM, SO FAR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, UM, POSSIBLY, UH, A PUBLIC SAFETY EXEMPTION FOR THE PROPERTY TAX, SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS DONE IN 2006 OR OTHER, UM, OTHER ENHANCEMENTS TO PROPERTY TAX THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER, UM, FEES AS WELL TO SEE IF, UH, WE CAN READJUST OUR FEES, UH, TO GET THEM MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT TO COVER OUR COSTS. UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, THE END OF THE YEAR FUND BALANCE IS PROJECTED TO BE AT 42, UH, NO. 428 MILLION. YES. UM, I KNOW WE, UH, JUST HEARD THAT THE, UM, NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS IS, IS, SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL. MM-HMM . UH, IS A PORTION OF THAT 428 MILLION, UH, CONSIDERED FOR ANY OF THE, UH, ALLOCATIONS THAT WILL BE MADE FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS? UM, I GUESS NOT DIRECTLY. UM, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DRAW ON FUND BALANCE TO PARTIALLY ADDRESS THE FY 25 BUDGET. UM, AND THE INCREASE TO THE FIREFIGHTERS, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING WE CAN GET TO A RESOLUTION, COULD BE PART OF THE FY 25 BUDGET. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. UM, DIRECTOR, MY QUESTIONS ARE TO YOU JUST TO ALLUDE TO, UM, A FOLLOW UP COUNCILMAN REP POLLARD. SO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE $160 MILLION GAP THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE ANTICIPATING, UH, UH, NEGOTIATIONS TO BE CONFIRMED WITH HOUSTON FIRE. ARE WE ALSO KEEPING IN MIND HOPE AND HPD, 'CAUSE THOSE CONTRACT INCENTIVES THAT WERE BUILT IN FOR THREE YEARS ALSO EXPIRE MM-HMM . SO CAN YOU, UH, ALSO INCLUDE SOME NUANCE AROUND THE IMPACT OF, OF THOSE POSSIBLE SALARY OR NEGOTIATIONS AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE $160 MILLION GAP? SURE. UM, SO FOR THE HPD, UH, THE CONTRACT WITH HPOU, UM, THEY'RE ON THEIR FINAL YEAR OF THE CONTRACT, THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT. AND SO THAT'S ALREADY FACTORED INTO, UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE BASELINE BUDGET GAP OF 160 MILLION. RIGHT. BUT AS WE ANTICIPATE ONCE THAT CONTRACT EXPIRES MM-HMM . WE GO BACK INTO, TYPICALLY IT'S A THREE YEAR RIGHT. NEGOTIATION. SO WE HAVE TO START LOOKING NOT JUST AT 25 AND 26. YES. AND THEN THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT THAT MEANS, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GONNA DRAW DOWN ON THE 428 MILLION. YES. YES. NO, THAT DEFINITELY IS. WE SHOULD, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ARE, YES. THE LONG RANGE CONVERSATION IS MORE SO WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN TERMS OF THAT YES. THAT FINANCIAL IMPLICATION. AND SO IF YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME ON THAT. YEAH. WELL, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL INCLUDE, AND I MENTIONED THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST AT THE TIME THE BUDGET'S PROPOSED, AND, AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD INCLUDE [03:15:01] THOSE. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. UH, DIRECTOR AS WE TALK ABOUT REVENUE GENERATION AND HAVING TO COME UP WITH, UM, NEW WAYS TO FUND THE CITY. UH, AND I, I AM VERY HAPPY TO HEAR WE ARE LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY EXCEPTIONS. UH, THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN A STAUNCH PROPONENT OF, UH, FOR YEARS COMING INTO OFFICE. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THERE. SO AGAIN, I, I ENCOURAGE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO CONTINUE AS WE LOOK AT NEW REVENUE GENERATION. I'M ALSO HOPING, UM, AND MAYOR, MAYBE AT SOME POINT WE CAN HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ON HOW WE ALSO ADDRESS THE INEFFICIENCIES, UM, WITH NOT JUST WITHIN EACH DIVISION, BUT AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE PFM REPORT AND THINGS THAT ARE IN THERE THAT WE STILL HAVE NOT ACTED UPON. UM, AND OTHER WAYS IN WHICH, UH, WE AS A CITY CAN BE SAVING CERTAIN DOLLARS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE INCREASING, UH, OUR REVENUE GENERATION. SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO KIND OF OUR PLAN AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES? UM, YEAH. WE CERTAINLY, UH, STILL USE THE PFM REPORT TO LOOK, LOOK BACK ON, UH, A LOT OF THINGS IN THE REPORT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, LIKE THE PENSION REFORM, UM, THE OPED REFORM, A LOT OF MAJOR, UH, MAJOR ITEMS THAT WERE, THAT WERE TAKEN CARE OF. UM, BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE STILL THINGS IN THAT REPORT THAT WE, THAT WE DEFINITELY CAN FOLLOW UP ON. YEAH. AND, AND WILL BE THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS. RIGHT. AND EVEN, AND I DON'T WANNA GET STUCK ON PFM, THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. YES. UM, BUT I JUST WANNA SPOTLIGHT AS WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT THIS, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EFFICIENCIES, UM, THAT WE KNOW CAN WORK AND WILL WORK. UH, COUNCILOR INGER, YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE HPOU, UH, INCREASE ALREADY BEING BUILT INTO THE 160 MILLION. HAS THE FIREFIGHTER INCREASE BEEN BUILT IN OR NOT? BECAUSE IT ISN'T FINALIZED YET. NOT YET, CORRECT. SO THAT'LL BE IN ADDITION TO, YES. OKAY. UH, CASICK MAYOR PROTE, KASICK STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTION IS TO CONTROLLER HOLLANDS. I, I LIKE THE WAY YOU PRESENTED THE, UM, CONSERVATIVE, UM, THROUGH THE OPTIMISTIC VIEW. CAN YOU REMIND US, UM, WHAT YOU ARE USING TO DETERMINE THOSE THREE LEVELS? HOW, HOW YOU'RE MAKING THOSE, THOSE DETERMINATIONS FOR OUR, AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE DO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, HEALTHY SALES TAX, BUT, UM, I, I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WAIT TO, I JUST WAIT FOR MY MIC TO TURN ON. OKAY. THEY PRO TIM, UH, SO WE, WE USE A FINANCIAL MODEL, UH, AND SO THERE'S SOME ASSUMPTIONS BUILT IN AROUND, UH, VARIOUS FACTORS THAT IMPACT, UH, ULTIMATELY SALES TAX REVENUE. THE, THE FOUR THAT ARE CRITICAL, UH, ONE IS THE PRICE OF OIL, UH, TWO IS OVERALL EMPLOYMENT IN THE REGION. UH, THREE IS UPSTREAM EMPLOYMENT IN PARTICULAR, AND FOUR IS CPI, WHICH AGAIN IS INFLATION. AND SO AS WE CHANGE THOSE ASSUMPTIONS AROUND IN THE MODEL, THEN YOU GET, UH, UPDATED, UM, RESULTS IN TERMS OF WHAT SALES TAX IS PROJECTED TO BE. THANK YOU. ALCORN COUNSEL, MAYOR ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A FEW THINGS, UM, THE 5% KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU SOME DEPARTMENTS PROBABLY HAVE 5% AND SOME DEPARTMENTS DON'T. CORRECT. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'RE DOING OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING, AGAIN, I'M JUST GONNA KEEP HARPING ON THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ON WHERE WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR GOALS, ESPECIALLY IN PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO CONSTITUENTS. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE MONEY NEEDS TO BE SHIFTED, WHERE WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR GOALS. SO I THINK, I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD'S FINE FOR AN EXERCISE TO, FOR EVERYBODY TO KIND OF DIAL BACK MM-HMM . BUT ULTIMATELY THAT'S, THAT'S A TOUGH WAY TO, TO DO IT. UM, RIGHT. YOU HAVE YOUR, I MEAN, IF THAT'S, THAT'S MORE OF A COMMENT, NOT A QUESTION, BUT IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. SURE. YEAH. AND I THINK THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, WE SEND THAT COMMUNICATION OUT TO GET A STARTING POINT TO GET, TO START COLLABORATING AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS. AND THEN WE'LL EVALUATE, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE IDEAS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS COME BACK WITH, UH, TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES ARE LEAST IMPACTFUL TO, UM, CONSTITUENTS TO SERVICES. TO YOUR POINT, SOME DEPARTMENTS MAY NOT HAVE 5%. RIGHT. SOME DEPARTMENTS MAY HAVE SEVEN, SOME MAY HAVE THREE. SO, UM, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING IN GOING THROUGH THOSE DETAILS. ABSOLUTELY. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING THROUGH, MY STAFF AND I WENT THROUGH ALL THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND KIND OF MADE SUGGESTIONS TO EACH DEPARTMENT OF WHICH ONES, UM, NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS, SOME THINGS THAT COULD BE ADDED, SOME THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE TO RESIDENTS WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE BUDGET. ARE, ARE WE, ARE WE DELIVERING, UM, NOT JUST KIND OF INTERNAL MEASURES THAT NOBODY REALLY UNDERSTANDS, UM, THE COMPENSATION STUDY. CAN YOU, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? IS IT COMING? DO WE HAVE IT? UH, I'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH HR [03:20:01] AND GET THAT TO YOU. OKAY. AND FINALLY, THE ARPA, UM, FUNDS. UH, WHAT'S LEFT , WHAT WILL, WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE USING IN, IN THE FY 25 BUDGET? MM-HMM . UM, SO AT, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE ARE COMBING THROUGH THE, UM, PRIORITY PROGRAM PROJECTS, UH, THAT WERE USING THE ARPA FUNDING. WE, UM, USED THE MAJORITY OF THE ARPA FUNDING FOR THE REVENUE REPLACEMENT, AS YOU KNOW. UM, AND SO WE ARE WORKING, UH, WORKING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. WE GOT ALL THEIR INFORMATION BACK, WORKING WITH LEGAL, WORKING WITH THE ARPA TEAM, WITH GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, UH, IN ENSURING THAT THE REMAINING PROGRAMMATIC PROJECTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SPENT YET, THAT WE CAN OBLIGATE THOSE BY DECEMBER OF 24 AND SPEND THEM BY 26. UH, WE, WE DEFINITELY INTEND THAT IF WE CANNOT MEET THOSE DEADLINES, TO REALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SPENT AND OBLIGATED BY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES. UM, SO I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT FIGURE FOR YOU TODAY, BUT THAT EXERCISE IS ONGOING, BUT PROBABLY IN THE WHAT RANGE? UM, DON'T WORRY, IF YOU DON'T WANNA GUESS. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, I WOULD SAY LESS THAN $20 MILLION. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S, UM, STATEMENT ABOUT THE 5%, I KNOW IT'S JUST A BASELINE TO KIND OF GET STARTED. YES. UH, BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES OUR CORE SERVICES, OUR SOLID WASTE, UM, PUBLIC WORKS, POLICE AND FIRE. UH, AND WHAT WE KNOW IN THE, IN OUR, OUR CORE SERVICES AND MOSTLY ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, MANY OF OUR, UH, BUDGETED, UM, RESOURCES FOR EACH DEPARTMENT GOES TO PERSONNEL. MM-HMM . SO WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A 5% REDUCTION, UH, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT THAT'S A 5% REDUCTION TO SOME OF OUR CORE SERVICES, UH, AS WELL, INCLUDING POLICE AND FIRE. UM, AS WE ARE ON THE AGENDA TODAY, WE HAVE THE UNITED CONTRACT THAT IS UP JUST FROM BOTH OF YOU ALL'S STANDPOINT, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT MATERIALLY CHANGED, UH, IN THAT ITEM, UM, FROM THE TIME THAT IT FIRST WAS DISCUSSED AT COMING TO COUNCIL TO NOW? I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT MATERIALLY CHANGED. COUNCIL MEMBER DIRECTOR. YEAH. UM, FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, THE $150 MILLION APPROPRIATION, UM, THE PLAN IS TO, UH, HAVE THAT APPROPRIATION COME FROM COMMERCIAL PAPER CAPACITY. AND THE AIRPORT HAS SUFFICIENT COMMERCIAL PAPER CAPACITY FOR THAT. SO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, HAD GETTING TECHNICAL, HAD POSTED THE BUDGET, HAD BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH THAT ITEM MOVING FORWARD, UH, EVEN LAST CALENDAR YEAR. SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. BUT BEFORE YOU DO, UH, COUNCILOR POLLARD, THERE WOULD BE AN EXCEPTION OF FIRE AND POLICE USING THE 5% STARTING POINT. SO, UH, THAT WAS NEVER ANTICIPATED. AND YOU'RE CORRECT, MOST OF THE CUTS WOULD COME IN PERSONNEL IN YOUR RIGHT. IT WOULD AFFECT BASIC SERVICES AND, UH, IT'S A SERIOUS MATTER, BUT FIRE AND POLICE OBVIOUSLY ARE EXCEPTIONS. COUNCIL, MAYOR PLUMMER, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. UH, DO YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF OUR BENEFITS PLAN, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON MEDICAL INSURANCE? AND YOU CAN COME BACK TO ME WITH THE NUMBER IF YOU WANT TO. OKAY. IN, IN TOTAL MM-HMM . OKAY. AND THEN ALSO, UM, ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE PM REPORT, UM, YOU KNOW, SUGGESTED WAS FOR US TO LOOK AT, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO GIVE BENEFITS TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, CLEARLY, BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A SPOUSE THAT HAS INSURANCE MM-HMM . THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO HAVE THEM BE ON THEIR INSURANCE AND OFF OF OURS. RIGHT? YES. AND I, I PRESENTED THAT ABOUT TWO AND A HALF, MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO MM-HMM . UM, TO HR. AND THE QUESTION WAS, THEY HAD TO SEND OUT A SURVEY, SO TO SPEAK, TO GET UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WAS INSURED IN OTHER WAYS. AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT LOOKING AT RESOURCES AND, AND, UM, OTHER REVENUES, SAVING MONEY IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US. AND SO, UM, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AS WELL. MM-HMM . UM, KEEPING IN MIND THAT WE WANT EVERYONE, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE THE OPTION OF HAVING FULL BENEFITS. SURE. BUT IF THERE'S AN OPTION FOR THEIR SPOUSE TO BE ON THEIR PLAN MM-HMM . THEN THAT MAY BE A SPACE WHERE WE CAN, UM, LOOK AT SOME RESOURCES. SURE. AND I KNOW THAT IN OTHER CITIES ON THAT, THEY, THEY EVEN HAVE LIKE A SPOUSAL BENEFIT, UM, KIND OF AN OPT OUT MM-HMM . WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE COST OF, UH, US HOLDING THEM ON OUR INSURANCE IS GREATER THAN, YOU KNOW, A SMALL INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH THEIR OTHER EMPLOYER. [03:25:01] ABSOLUTELY. YES. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. I COULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCES, BUT, UH, Y'ALL DONE A FINE JOB, BUT I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON EVERY ONE OF US TO REALIZE EVERY TIME WE PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, WE'VE GOT TO SCRUTINIZE. IS IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY? IS IT COST EFFECTIVE? UH, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE BARELY FUNDED AS WE TALK. YOU KNOW, WHEN PARKS TELLS ME THAT THEY'VE GOTTA SHUTTLE THEIR WORKERS TO WORK SITES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRUCKS, IT'S PRETTY SERIOUS. WHEN WE HAVE HPD WRESTLING WITH A PROBLEM THAT THEY SUSPENDED CASES FOR LACK OF STAFFING, AND I COULD GO THROUGH CITY GOVERNMENT, IT'S, UH, A LOT OF NEGLECT OF BASIC SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN KICKED DOWN, DOWN THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR YEARS. UH, SOLID WASTE IS WORKING 18 HOUR DAYS, SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR LACK OF EQUIPMENT AND STAFFING. SO I HOPE WE ALL REALIZE WE ALL OWN THESE CONDITIONS. AND WE RAN FOR OFFICE, TOOK AN OATH TO, UH, PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES. SO I HOPE THIS IS A BEGINNING OF A VERY SOBER DISCUSSION. EACH AND EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND IS GONNA HAVE TO BE WISE. UH, WE'VE GOTTA LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. YOU DIDN'T MENTION THAT WE WILL PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY. I COULD SPEND TIME THIS MORNING, UH, CELEBRATING SOME COLLABORATION WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. UH, UH, NOT TO MENTION CONGRESS, UH, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER ON WEST GRAY IS GONNA GET FUNDING FROM WASHINGTON. UH, METRO IS WILLING TO BE OUR PARTNER ON SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PRO PROGRAM. SO WE'VE JUST GOT TO BE AS, UH, AS CREATIVE AS WE CAN BE BECAUSE, UH, THE SHORTFALL HAS BEEN PRESENT AT CITY HALL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE SOLD PROPERTIES, UH, CUT PROGRAMMINGS, USE ONE TIME FUNDING FOR SALARIES. IT'S JUST A LOT OF MISMANAGEMENT THAT WE INHERITED IT THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA SOLVE. AND CONTROLLER HOLS, I APPRECIATE YOUR WISDOM AND, AND REVIEW AND YOUR CONSERVATIVE APPROACH. I THOUGHT THE MAYOR PROTE WAS GONNA ASK YOU HOW YOU DECIDED WHICH OF YOUR THREE MODELS YOU WANTED TO, TO USE CONSERVATIVE EVERY TIME. BUT, UH, MY KNOWLEDGE OF YOU BEING A BIG CONSERVATIVE , UH, I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF YOU DID ANYTHING ELSE, BUT USE THAT CONSERVATIVE PHILOSOPHY THAT YOU USED IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND, AND, AND OTHER, I MEAN, I MEAN, I COULD GO ON AND ON TALKING ABOUT YOUR CONSERVATISM, BUT, UH, IS WELL ESTABLISHED. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR WISDOM. AND I MEAN THAT SINCERELY, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR DIRECTOR. SHE'S BEEN GIVING ME GREAT INFORMATION AND OPTIONS, WHICH I WILL SHARE WITH Y'ALL WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO BUDGET TIME. SO I DO THINK, THOUGH, TODAY IS A NEW BEGINNING WHERE WE'VE HEARD THE REPORTS, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE COMING TO ME WITH 250,000 PRO COST PROJECT, OR A 500,000 AND THE BIG PICTURE, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TILL YOU ADD IT UP. AND CERTAINLY PUBLIC WORKS IS SITTING THERE WITH A HUNDRED UNFILLED POSITIONS, AND, UH, THEIR SERVICES INDICATE THAT. SO WE'VE JUST GOT A LOT OF A LOT OF THINGS ON OUR PLATE, AND, UH, I'M GONNA ASK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO JOIN ME IN OWNING THIS PROBLEM. 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON US, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE SHOCK OF SEEING AN HPD REPORT THAT THEY HAVE A LACK OF STAFFING AND THEY DON'T GET TO INVESTIGATE SEXUAL ASSAULTS OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS, IS NOT WHAT THIS GREAT CITY IS ABOUT. SO LET'S, LET'S, UH, LET'S GO TO WORK AND THANK Y'ALL. AND I THINK NOW I WOULD TAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THESE REPORTS. CASTEX ITEM MOVED TO SECOND, ACCEPT THE REPORT. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU'ALL. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. MEMBERS [MAYOR'S REPORT] ON THE MAYOR'S REPORT, I COULD, COULD REALLY SPEND THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT A VARIETY OF ISSUES, BUT, UH, [03:30:01] I KNOW MY STAFF AND, AND YOUR STAFF'S MEETING, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS SOME TIMELY ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK YOU TO PAUSE WITH ME TO HONOR JUDGE ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ, A REAL TRAILBLAZER WITH HIS WIFE RITA, WHO PASSED THIS WEEK. HE, UH, BROUGHT TO US FIAT FIESTA'S PADRES, UH, PARADE AND CELEBRATION, AND HIS DAUGHTER WAS ELECTED TO HIS BENCH. UH, I'VE WORKED WITH A FAMILY MY ENTIRE CAREER, AND THEY CERTAINLY ARE, HAVE MENTORED SO MANY YOUNG HISPANICS DURING THEIR CAREERS AND PUBLIC SERVICE. SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP. IT, I WAS SADDENED BY THE REPORT OF HIS DEATH, AND SO WE SHOULD CELEBRATE HIS LIFE. I MEAN, I COULD, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANT FOR YEARS IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WHICH MAKES UP OUR VERY DIVERSE CULTURE HERE IN THE CITY. SO, WITH THAT SAID, UM, LET'S CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, HIS WIFE, RITA, AND THEIR FAMILY. KEEP 'EM IN OUR PRAYERS. UH, WITH THAT SAID, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL [CONSENT AGENDA] NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM ONE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEMS TWO AND THREE, NEED A MOTION CAST, TAXED MOVED. THOMAS SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BS CATEGORY ITEMS, REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, AND 16. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN, ARE 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, AND 16. NEED A MOTION ON 4 9, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, AND 12. CAST TAX STATE. MOVE ON THE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 40 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 20 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS REMOVED. TEMPORARY CONSIDERATION, 18, 19, 26, 27, 29, 32, AND 41. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 18, 19, 26, 27, 29, 32, AND 41. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. UH, IN THE QUEUE'S IN THE QUEUE. OH, COUNCIL RAM? YES. 29 SQUARE? YES. ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT'S, IT'S ON CONSENT? YES. OKAY. IT'S SQUARED. SO WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IT SEPARATELY. YES. YES. OKAY. I REMOVE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TITLE MOVED. THOMAS. SECOND. MOTION MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU. MOVE ON THE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TATUM. MOVED THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. AFTER THE VOTE. AFTER THE VOTE. AFTER THE VOTE. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NOW COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, GOOD MORNING AGAIN. I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT ON ITEM FIVE, WHICH WE ALSO VOTED ON. WE'RE GETTING NEW FIRE TRUCKS FOR OUR FIRE STATION. SO I WANNA THANK, UM, PROCUREMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYONE FOR WORKING ON THAT ITEM, BECAUSE THAT'S CRITICAL. UM, MORE STATIONS NEED FIRE TRUCKS, BUT THIS IS A GREAT START AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO GET THOSE FIRE TRUCKS AND IT TAKES YEARS. UM, ON ITEM SEVEN, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK, UH, FLEET. WE HAVE 142 NEW HYBRID VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE JUST PURCHASED, UM, WHICH IS MOVING THE GOAL FORWARD. AGAIN, NOT JUST AS WE RELATE TO REDUCING EMISSIONS, BUT ALSO COST SAVINGS. MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE LONG RUN. SO, REALLY WANNA, UM, THANK FLEET FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS ITEM. NEXT ITEM NEXT. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATUM, MOVE I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? [03:35:01] MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 13 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE ALL THE SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. MAYOR FOR 13. I WANT TO TAG 13. OH, VERY WELL. OKAY. TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGER. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER TAGS. ITEM 13, ITEM 14 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 16 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND IS ALL IN FAVOR. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 17 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, UH, PRECINCT TWO PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA. UM, THERE'S A FEW PROJECTS ON HERE, UH, THAT, THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN ON FOR A FEW YEARS, SPECIFICALLY WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC MITIGATION, UM, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, UH, UH, PROGRAM. UH, THESE ARE SPEED CUSHIONS. AND JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GIVE, UH, SOME RESIDENTS A, UM, A QUICK SHOUT OUT. UM, SPECIFICALLY RICARDO PALACIOS IN GOLF GATE. HE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION IN 2018. SO NOW WE'RE ABOUT FIVE, SIX YEARS THAT HAS BEEN BACKLOGGED, UH, IN PECAN PARK. MARIA MENDOZA ALSO SUBMITTED IN 2018, UH, SUBMITTED THIS APPLICATION. AND THEN IN GLENBROOK VALLEY, KATHY BAILEY SUBMITTED IN 2020. AND SO, UH, WE, WE DEFINITELY, WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN, UH, ADDRESS SOME OF THESE, UH, SPECIFIC ISSUES. THIS IS PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. UM, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LEAN ON OUR COUNTY PARTNERS. AND SO I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER GARCIA, UH, ON THIS. AND THEN LASTLY, THE MAGNOLIA PARK SUB-PROJECT TWO. IT'S, UH, IT'S A $20 MILLION PROJECT, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR THE COUNTY TO, YOU KNOW, ALSO PUT, YOU KNOW, HELP FOOT, FOOT THE BILL, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. IT'S A DRAINAGE PROJECT IN MAGNOLIA PARK. UM, AND, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED, UH, SECTION ONE A, WHICH IS CLOSER TO THE BAYOU. AND WE'LL BE DIGGING, UH, START DIGGING, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. AND ONE B. AND SO THIS NEXT PROJECT IS IMPORTANT AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING, UH, FLOOD MITIGATION WITHIN THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA. AND SO, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE WE GIVE A SHOUT OUT AGAIN TO THE COMMISSIONER, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, RESIDENTS ALSO KNOW THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY NEED TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER ON THESE PROJECTS. SO I APPRECIATE THIS, UH, ITEM MOVING FORWARD. MAYOR, YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANTED TO ECHO, UM, THE COMMENTS DISTRICT I, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ MADE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THESE PROJECTS ARE SO VITAL TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THEY'VE ORGANIZED, THEY'VE ASKED FOR, AND, UM, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY IS GONNA ALLOW US TO REALLY HELP MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER AND, AND IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO MORE OF THIS. YOU KNOW, MAYOR, YOU'VE MENTIONED WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE FOR US. UM, AND SO TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR THIS BECAUSE IT IS GONNA HELP MAKE AN IMPACT DIRECTLY IN OUR, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. UH, I TOTALLY AGREE, AND I, I JUST WISH I HAD THE TIME AND COULD WALK Y'ALL THROUGH MY MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA BRIANIS RAMSEY. THEY ARE WILLING AND, AND STEPPING FORWARD TO, UM, COLLABORATE WITH US. IT'S GONNA BE SOME EXCITING THINGS, NOT ONLY ON INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, DRAINAGE, PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THE PARKS. AND IN FACT, UM, WHO IS DENVER HARBOR PARK? YOU DO. WE GOTTA GET THE CITY RIGHT NOW. THE COMMISSION'S, UH, MOVING FASTER THAN THE CITIES. AND, AND THE PARKS DIRECTOR KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. WE GOT SOME STATE FUNDING THANKS TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLING ON HERNANDEZ. AND THE COMMISSIONER IS REALLY MOVING FORWARD. AND, UH, THE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO PICK UP THEIR GAME. AND, UH, THE DIRECTOR UNDERSTANDS. SO IT'S, IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE. AND YOU'RE GONNA DO SOME, YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME FANTASTIC THINGS THAT BRIANIS IS, THAT COMMISSIONER BRIANIS IS DOING, AND RAMSEY'S WILLING TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE ROADS IN HIS PRECINCT. SO THERE'S A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT WHEN WE LOOK AROUND AND SEE THE, UH, THE NEW COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE COUNTY, EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND, UH, FOR CERTAIN METROS. SO, BACK TO MARTINEZ. WE JUST [03:40:01] GOTTA, WE JUST GOTTA BE RESPONSIBLE. COMM UH, COMMISSIONER, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST HAD TO DO THE PLUGIN. MASON PARK. WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN AND IT'S ALSO PART OF, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PRECINCT AS WELL. SO I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT MASTER MASTER PLAN COME TO FRUITION AS WELL. THANK YOU. SOUNDS GOOD. OKAY. JUST NEED TO VOTE. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY JUST POINT OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ORDINANCE. UH, IT'S COMMUNITY INITIATED, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE VESSELS IN THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO I CERTAINLY SUPPORT, UH, THEM PULLING THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE AREA. UH, AND THIS, I WANNA REITERATE THIS IS NOT TO PUSH OUT THE HOMELESS, BUT, OR THE, UH, HOUSING INSECURE, BUT TO HELP THEM, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY FOR SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. AND SO I SEE THIS AS A POSITIVE MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIC, UH, VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES IN THE AREA. UH, AND SO I AM EMPLOYING MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PLUMMER. VERY GOOD. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AND, AND GOOD JOB. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ FOR, FOR DOING THIS AND REALLY LISTENING TO COMMUNITY. UM, THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. COMMUNITY VOICES THEIR OPINIONS. THE COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORTS THEM AND ADVOCATES FOR THEM. AND THEN WE PASS IT. SOUNDS GOOD. JUST NEED A VOTE. NEED A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS ITEM IS AN EXPENDITURE OF $14 MILLION TO GO TO THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. AND, UH, JUST SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, WHEN HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRESTS A SUSPECT AND BOOKS THEM INTO JAIL, THEY GO TO THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER, WHICH IS RUN BY, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE CITY OF HOUSTON ITSELF, GOT OUT OF THE JAIL BUSINESS A, A WHILE AGO. AND SO INMATES WHO WERE BOOKED IN ON CLASS A AND B, MISDEMEANORS AND FELONIES GO TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF AND ARE UNDER HIS CUSTODY WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL OR WHILE UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE BOND. AND, UM, THE HOUSTON LANDING RECENTLY DID AN EXCELLENT INVESTIGATIVE SERIES ON THE NUMBER OF JAIL DEATHS THAT OCCUR AFTER OUR HOUSTON RESIDENTS ARE BOOKED INTO THE JAIL. UM, SINCE 2017. 32 HAVE DIED WHILE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF. 14 FROM SUICIDE, SIX FROM HOMICIDE, SEVERAL FROM DRUGS FOR CRIMES RAGING FROM SERIOUS OFFENSES ON DOWN TO CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, TRESPASS, EVADING ARREST, AND, AND PUBLIC INTOXICATION. AND, UH, I'LL REMIND EVERYONE THAT, UH, MAYBE THESE FOLKS DID COMMIT, COMMIT CRIMES. MAYBE THEY DIDN'T. WHEN THEY WALK INTO THE JAIL, THEY WALK IN WITH A PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE CARRIED OUT IN A BODY BAG BEFORE THEY GET TO TRIAL OR BEFORE, UH, THEY'RE ABLE TO BOND OUTTA JAIL. AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW, UH, IN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF HAS CUSTODY OF THESE FOLKS, IS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING. UH, THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN NO PROGRESS, EVEN THOUGH THIS, THIS ISSUE HAS GOTTEN ATTENTION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND FOR THAT REASON, A MAYOR, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TAG THIS ITEM, OKAY. TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, ITEM 29, TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. AND I THINK ALL OF US SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS BUILT, IT WAS HELD OUT AS A CURE-ALL TO REALLY AN EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATION IN, IN HELPING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. BUT OFFICERS HAVE ACTUALLY REPORTED THEY HESITATE TO TAKE SOMEONE OVER THERE, TAKES 'EM OFF THE STREETS THREE AND FOUR HOURS. SO THAT'S THE DYSFUNCTION THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING [03:45:01] TO THOSE THAT ARE TAKEN THERE. UM, SUSPECTS SOME WILL HAVE TO SIT IN A CHAIR AT 24 OR MORE HOURS WITH, WITH NO, UH, NO SUPPORT. SO IT CERTAINLY NEEDS OUR REVIEW. AND, UM, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THEY SET IN THE PROCESSING 'CAUSE THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL JAIL SET BEDS, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE BACKLOG AT THE COUNTY. SO IF EVERYONE WOULD HIT THE URGENT BUTTON OVER THERE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, UH, PROCESS, THE FOLKS, UH, REVIEW THEIR BOND CONSIDERATION AND, UH, GET 'EM TO THEIR HEARINGS, UH, THE WHOLE SYSTEM WOULD WORK BETTER. SO I JOIN YOU IN WANTING TO REVIEW THIS. NEXT ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIED. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR. THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. IT'S ON, IT'S ON ONE. I'M SORRY. IT'S ON . HMM. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SO MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS IS JUST MORE SO OF A COMMENT RELATED TO 32, ALTHOUGH IT JUST PASSED. THIS IS THE CONSENT DECREE, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF REQUESTS AROUND, UH, AN UPDATE ON THAT. UH, WE, UH, PASSED THE CONSENT DECREE, I WANNA SAY SUMMER OF 21. UM, SO I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL INVESTMENTS. WE'VE HIRED FIRMS, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, LAW FIRMS, ALL OF THAT. SO IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON OUR STATUS. AND THEN THE, UH, TIMELINE FOR THAT, BECAUSE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CONSENT DECREE, ALSO INFLUENCES THE RATES WATER STUDY WE DID SO THAT WHEN WE PASSED IT, INTEREST RATES WAS AT 1%. NOW IT'S AT NINE. SO I THINK IT MAY BE HELPFUL FOR US TO BUMP THAT BACK BEFORE THE BODY SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE A STATUS. OKAY. VERY WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, MAYOR, MY COMMENT WAS ON 41, HONOR 41. WE VOTED ON IT. VOTE HONOR. OKAY. YEAH, SHE JUST WANTS A COMMENT. WE, WE JUST VOTED. YEAH, GO AHEAD AND COMMENT. I RECOGNIZE YOU. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR ON 41. I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS. UM, THIS IS THE SECOND CONTRACT. AS COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU'LL RECALL, LAST YEAR, WE APPROVED A CHANGE IN HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSING DRAINAGE AS IT RELATES TO OPEN DITCHES. AND THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, POLICY SHIFT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HELP ADDRESS FLOODING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THIS IS THE SECOND CONTRACT FOR THIS, BUT I WANTED TO LIFT UP THE WORK THAT WE, THE CITY ARE DOING AND THE WORK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO AS IT RELATES TO TACKLING FLOODING. AND THAT ALSO, AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO CARRY ALL THAT WATER AWAY. BUT STARTING RIGHT AT SOMEBODY'S DOORSTEP, AT THEIR DITCHES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THIS. SO IT'S JUST GETTING STARTED. IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME TO IMPLEMENT, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK TO HELP REHAB AND MAINTAIN THESE DITCHES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 53 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING. I MEAN, 52, [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] I'M SORRY. 52 CASTEX. TATU MOVED TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE. THOMAS SECONDS. UH, MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 53 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST, SORRY. COUNCILOR PLUMMER HAD A COMMENT ON 52. I'M SORRY. COUNCILOR PLUM. IT'S OKAY. NO, THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. UM, SO, UM, I KNOW WE JUST VOTED TO APPROVE THE HEARING, WHICH IS, WHICH IS GREAT. I WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THIS PARTICULAR APPLICANT. UM, WE DID SOME RESEARCH. THERE WERE THREE, UM, ON 3 1 1 REPORTS ON THIS PROPERTY OVER THE LAST, UM, DECADE OR SO. THEY HAD BEEN OVER, UM, LEMME SEE THE PROPER NUMBER. YEAH. THREE OVER 300 CALLS WERE MADE ON THIS PROPERTY. UM, WHICH ARE A LOT OF ON, UH, ON THE, UH, LITTLE YORK MEADOWBROOK MEADOWBROOK, HUH? YES. MEADOWBROOK. YEAH. MIDDLEBROOK. UM, THE MIDDLE, MIDDLE MEADOW, BROOK PLAZA, A LITTLE YORK. UM, AND SO, UH, I'M WORKING DIRECTLY WITH, UM, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO ON THIS ITEM. WE HAVE MADE THE REQUEST TO, UM, TO MEET WITH THE OWNER, UM, OF THIS PROPERTY JUST TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT OUR CONCERNS ARE. WE HAVE NOT HAD A SCHEDULED MEETING YET, UM, NOR HAVE WE HEARD FROM THEM. SO I WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THAT. AND I'M AN URGE THEM TO, UH, TO GET AN APPOINTMENT [03:50:01] WITH US SO WE CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 53 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL, UH, MOTION MADE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, YEAH, THAT'S FINE. UM, YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO, UM, MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. I TAGGED THIS LAST WEEK. UM, BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS KNEW ABOUT THE WORK THAT WAS HAPPENING. I KNOW THAT, UM, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THEY HAD HEARINGS OR THEY NOTIFIED THEY PUT A NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER. UM, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. UM, AND I KNOW THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. 'CAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T GET THE NEWSPAPER NOWADAYS. THEY LOOK AT IT DIGITAL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO COME UP WITH OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN NOTIFY RESIDENTS ABOUT HEARINGS, UM, OR, YOU KNOW, THESE HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE SO THAT THEY CAN BE AWARE OF THE PROJECTS THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO, UM, I DID INFORM THEM THEY'RE OKAY ABOUT THE TREE REMOVAL. UM, JUST IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN COME UP WITH THE PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE TRULY NOTIFYING THE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. OKAY. VERY GOOD. YOU VOTE HE TO VOTE . ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 54 IS A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 55 [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] NEEDS A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? I NEED A MOTION. ANY MOTION? AND A SECOND. FIRST CASTEX TATUM MOVE, UH, FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JAMES R YARD. THOMAS SECONDS. THE BOARD OF PILOT COMMISSIONERS MOTION REPORTS. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND FIRST I WANT TO PREFACE BY, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATING THE URGENCY ON ADDRESSING THIS. I UNDERSTAND IF, IF WE DON'T, UH, BRING SOMEONE IN, THEN YOU KNOW, IT'LL GO OVER TO THE COUNTY AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T, YOU KNOW, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS ON, ON THESE, ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE CAN, UH, SPEAK TO DIRECTLY. UH, THE PILOTS, UH, BOARD FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT BE AWARE, UH, THEY, THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH PILOTS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY OUT IN THE GULF, RIGHT? AND SO THEY DO THE TRAFFIC COMING IN AND OUT. UH, BUT A BIG PART OF IT, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ME, IS THAT THEY ALSO WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH, WITH SCHOOLS LIKE YATES AND AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, WHO HAVE A MARITIME PROGRAM. AND SO THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT THAT PIPELINE LOOKS LIKE. AND, AND THERE IS A NEED FOR PILOTS RIGHT NOW FROM WHAT I'VE, I'VE HAD THOSE, YOU KNOW, FROM THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH, UH, THE ACTUAL, UH, THE, NOT JUST THE PILOTS BOARD, BUT THE PILOTS THEMSELF. AND SO, UM, I GUESS FOR ME TOO, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THE URGENCY, I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, UNDERSTAND THE, THE PROCESS. UM, UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, GRANTED IT IS A MERIT APPOINTMENT. UM, BUT UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF HOW WE COULD ALSO CHIME IN ON SOME OF THESE APPOINTMENTS, UH, IN THE FUTURE. UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS EXPIRED FEBRUARY 1ST. AND SO WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SIT DOWN WITH YOUR TEAM AHEAD OF TIME AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE DIVERSITY, BUT ALSO FOLKS THAT ARE READY TO, YOU KNOW, GET TO WORK AS WELL. UH, BUT AGAIN, JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE JAMES ON THIS APPOINTMENT IF IT PASSES. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE FUTURE, AGAIN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO MY OFFICE, YOUR TEAM, MY TEAM. I THINK TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT, WE NEED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW YOU AND I HAD OVER AN HOUR LUNCHEON THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, AND YOU NEVER MENTIONED IT. SO MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO MAKE IT PART OF OUR CONVERSATION IN THE, IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE I WELCOME YOUR INPUT. AND, UH, THIS, UH, APPOINTMENT WAS MADE BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MAKE IT, IT REVOLVES TO THE COUNTY. UH, THIS IS MORE, AS MUCH A PLACEHOLDER AS ANY, UH, THE PILOTS ARE IMPORTANT. UH, THEY MEET EVERY THREE MONTHS. AND I'LL BE REAL HONEST, IT WAS NOT ON MY SHORT LIST UP AGAINST WATER BUILDING AND FIRE AND POLICE AND THE OTHERS, BUT EACH AND EVERY FORM, IT'S IMPORTANT. I TAKE ALL OF 'EM SERIOUS. AND YOUR INPUT IS WELCOME. WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS DIVERSE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE. SO, UH, THIS, THIS GENTLEMAN IS SERVED ON PLANNING SPORTS AUTHORITY. HE WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT THAT I HAD CONFIDENCE IN THAT WOULD, UH, CONTINUE TO REPRESENT, UH, THE INITIATIVES OF THE PILOTS. BUT THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. AND LIKE I SAID, I ENJOYED OUR LUNCH AND I WISH THIS WOULD'VE BEEN A PART OF THE CONVERSATION. MR. THOMAS. COUNCILOR THOMAS, I'LL GO TO LUNCH WITH YOU TOO. [03:55:01] ANYTIME. TAKE ME TO LUNCH. LOOK, EVERYBODY, YOU GET A LUNCH. YOU GET A LUNCH. I WANT A LUNCH. UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. JAR. I UNDERSTAND HE'S NOT HERE. UM, I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, REVIEW HIS RESUME. UM, SO I APPRECIATE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY AS, AS YOU MENTIONED. SO, UM, FOR ME, EVERY TIME WE HEAR AN UPDATE FROM THE PILOTS ORGANIZATION, THEY SAY WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET MORE WOMEN. WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET MORE BLACKS. WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET MORE HISPANICS IN THE PIPELINE, UM, TO BE A PILOT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW AT AN AGE THERE'S AN AGE CAP IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY FOR POLISH TO SERVE. SO I'M MORE INTERESTED IN MR. JAR'S COMMITMENT TO THAT. AS WE KNOW, THERE'S AN ATTACK ON DIVERSITY PROGRAMS IN THE NATION AND THE STATE AND CORPORATIONS ARE ROLLING BACK WHAT THEY INVESTED IN IN 2020. AND SO I'M MORE INTERESTED IN HIS PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY. UM, SO HOPEFULLY, ALTHOUGH THIS IS A MAYOR APPOINTMENT, YOU WILL INVITE HIM TO COME VISIT WITH US SO WE CAN GET TO KNOW HIM. UM, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA GO TO ANOTHER MEETING AND HEAR THEM SAY WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT. NO, WE'RE TRYING. WELL, I REALLY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT, UM, ALL OF OUR INDUSTRIES REFLECT THE VERY BEST OF OUR CITY. SO LONG AS HE'S WITH THAT I SUPPORT, UH, HIS NOMINATION. WELL SAID. AND, AND I GIVE YOU THAT GUARANTEE AND HE'LL VISIT WITH YOU. AND THE, I'VE DEALT WITH THE PILOTS FOR YEARS. THEY COME TO AUSTIN. IT'S CONTROLLED LARGELY BY THE LEGISLATURE. IT'S UNFORTUNATELY A PRETTY CLOSED SHOP. UH, CERTAINLY THE LACK OF DIVERSITY AND THE OPENNESS OF THEIR, UH, SELECTION PROCESS. YOU NEARLY HAVE TO BE IN THE FAMILY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO FIX AT THE PILOTS. AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT OF MR. JARDY AS SOMEONE THAT WOULD GO OVER THERE AND REPORT BACK TO ALL OF US ABOUT WHAT HE FOUND BECAUSE HE'S, UH, NOT AFRAID TO TAKE ON A CHALLENGE. AND, UH, UNLESS YOU AND I CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS GROUP AS, AS WE DO OTHER INSTITUTIONS AROUND OUR CITY, THAT JUST NOT QUITE AS OPEN AS THEY SHOULD BE. YEAH. WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO PUT IN A LITTLE PLUG FOR, UH, THE MARITIME PROGRAMS AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL TO ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, OUR YOUTH TO LOOK TO SEEK JOBS AT THE PORT. THESE ARE SOME VERY LUCRATIVE JOBS, AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING, UH, ONE INDUSTRY D AT JACKIE YATES AND OF COURSE AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, TO JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR YOUTH NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. THANK YOU, DR. MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, MAYOR, THANK YOU. AND, UH, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATED LUNCH. UH, IT WAS AN UNEXPECTED BUMP IN, SO I DIDN'T HAVE A LAUNDRY LIST, BUT WE DID TALK ABOUT A LOT OF GREAT STUFF, UH, DURING THAT TIME, I THINK, UM, FOR ME, YOU KNOW, RECEIVING, UH, MR. JAR'S, UH, RESUME THE DAY BEFORE EARLY IN THE MORNING, I JUST WASN'T PREPARED, OF COURSE. SO AGAIN, JUST GOING BACK TO THE PROCESS, I JUST WANT, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE I, I'M SORRY. AND I, AND I, I HATE TO PUT OUR BUSINESS ON THE STREET. THAT'S OKAY. YOU MAY NOT WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WE HAD LUNCH , BUT, AND WE'RE GONNA GO OFF FRIDAY AS WELL. DON'T CARE. I DON'T CARE THOSE RESUMES AROUND WITH ME. BUT IF YOU HAD A CONCERN, I WOULD, I WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE IT AS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. SO THANK YOU. AND WE WILL COMMUNICATE. THANK YOU. JUST NEED TO VOTE. NEED TO VOTE MEMBERS. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. POPOFF. COUNCIL [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I WANT TO, UM, LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UH, THERE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, THERE WILL BE ABOUT 450,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE CELEBRATING RAMADAN, UM, THIS MONTH. AND, UH, WE HAVE MANY, UM, MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS, UM, THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, THEY'LL BE FASTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 13 HOURS. UM, AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE ASK THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, AND TRY TO SUPPORT THEM THE BEST WAY WE CAN. UH, AND, UM, THERE'LL BE MANY DAYS THAT MAY BE KIND OF WARM AND HOT AND PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING OUTSIDE THAT DON'T HAVE WATER. SO JUST MAKE THOSE, THOSE, THOSE ADJUSTMENTS IF POSSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY BEING FAIR, BUT IF POSSIBLE, BEING MINDFUL OF THAT. AND, UM, AND I JUST WANT TO, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT STARTING RAMATHAN AND, UM, I'M GONNA WANNA WISH ALL OF EVERYONE IN HOUSTON, UM, A GREAT BEGINNING OF FASTING. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN CARTER. SO, IN THE SPIRIT OF TALKING ABOUT WATER BILLS, UM, AND MET WITH THE FOOD BANK, UH, LAST WEEK, AND, UM, I'LL BE SENDING SOME MORE INFORMATION TO YOUR OFFICE MAYOR, REGARDING, UM, THE, UH, CONSIDERATION TO, UH, ADDRESS AN ORDINANCE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE ALLOWING, UM, LARGE FARMS OF OVER A HUNDRED ACRES, UH, TO ACCESS TO UNTREATED WATER. THE, THE FOOD BANK ACROSS SIX DISTRICTS ACROSS HOUSTON HAS, UH, JUST OVER EIGHT ACRES AND SIX FARMS. AND, UH, THEY PRODUCE 400 AND OVER 460,000 [04:00:01] POUNDS OF PRODUCE FOR FOOD INSECURITIES ANNUALLY. AND, UH, THEY'RE PAYING WATER BILLS JUST UNDER $30,000. AND I THINK IT'S PRUDENT THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FOOD INSECURITIES AT THE, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR'S RATES WERE 16.6%, 23% OF THOSE BEING CHILDREN. AND THE ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE ACROSS THE DISTRICTS, UM, IT'S CRITICAL TO THE, TO, UH, THE SERVICE THAT THE FOOD BANK PROVIDES. SO I'LL BE SENDING FURTHER INFORMATION TO REQUEST A, A VARIANCE ON THAT, UM, TO SEE IF WE CAN HELP THEM OUT BECAUSE, UH, IN ABSENCE OF PAYING, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY $30,000 IN WATER BILLS, THEIR PRODUCTION CAN BE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY. SO THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN EVANS SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND I'M, I'M REALLY TRYING HERE, BUT I POLLED MY CONSTITUENTS AND THEY, THEY DO WANT ME TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT. UH, SO, SO JUST, JUST A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. I, I ALSO, I WANT TO SAY THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHURCH FIRE AT THE SOUTH UNION BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, 35, 35 LYDIA STREET, UH, PASTOR MICHAEL SMITH. AND OF COURSE, THEY WOULD NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. THEY'RE TRYING TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH REBUILDING. AND, BUT I WANNA THANK THE FIREFIGHTERS FOR THEIR VERY QUICK RESPONSE. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THERE, I THINK, WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF THE CALL, AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO PRESERVE THE CHURCH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND I MEAN, THERE WERE STATIONS 25, 23, 21, 46, 33, 35, AND 24. SO HOPEFULLY NOTHING ELSE WAS ON FIRE IN THE CITY AT THAT TIME, BUT THEY WERE ALL THERE FOR THAT RAPID RESPONSE. UH, AND IF YOU WANNA ASSIST THE CHURCH, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE SOUTH UNION BAPTIST CHURCH. ALSO, UM, THE, WE HAD A AFRICAN AMERICAN READ IN AT THE JOHNSON NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY, WHICH WAS VERY ENCOURAGING, UH, FOR THE YOUTH TO COME OUT AND HEAR SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS READ, UH, SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE PASSAGES. ALSO, UH, THERE WILL BE A CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING ON TOMORROW AT THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL APARTMENTS AND TABOR STREET HOMES, UH, WHICH IS 3,500 OLD SPANISH TRAIL. AND IT'S GOING TO, OF COURSE, HIGHLIGHT OUR HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND, UH, ENSURING AND ENHANCING COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY. AND THEN FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE OUT ON SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK, THERE WILL BE A SPRING LITERACY CAMP AT THE, UH, EEDC, WHICH IS 42 12 EMANCIPATION. IT'S FROM NINE TO THREE 30, AND IT'S IN TWO HOUR INCREMENTS. SO IF YOU NEED SOME PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS, UM, NOT JUST IF YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT D, BUT JUST IN THE AREA, AND YOU CAN CALL 7 1 3 4 1 6 5400. UM, IN REGARDS TO SOME ISSUES, I CERTAINLY, UH, PLAN TO DO A RIDE ALONG WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ON MACAU ROAD. UH, I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME EXTENSIVE WORK THAT IS BEING PLANNED, BUT THE PEOPLE ARE BEING JUST, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, CARS AND THINGS ARE JUST REALLY BEING DESTROYED. SO I'M GONNA DO A RIDE ALONG WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO SEE IF WE CAN DO SOME TEMPORARY MEASURES TO HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE EXTREME POTHOLES. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, UM, THAT OF COURSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND I HAD AN ENGAGEMENT, UH, REGARDING THE WATER BILLS. I'M VERY, WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED, UH, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THE CONSTITUENTS TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THESE VERY HIGH WATER BILLS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THAT, MAYOR, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. ALSO, I WANNA SAY PERSONALLY THAT I ENJOYED THE MEETING WITH THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM ON YESTERDAY, MAYOR, AND I DO, UH, APPRECIATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SHARED, AND I AM VERY ENCOURAGED, AND THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND ON SATURDAY, I PARTICIPATED IN A 35TH ANNUAL AIDS WALK HERE DOWNTOWN, PUT ON BY ALLIES IN HOPE. AND, UH, IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT. UM, A LOT OF FOLKS THERE, A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS PRESENT, UM, AND GOOD PARTICIPATION. I WAS HAPPY TO BE THERE. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS ON, BUT STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER GROUPS TO CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS. UM, THROUGHOUT MARCH, DISTRICT H WILL BE CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, UH, WITH A COUPLE OF EVENTS. WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER ONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER AND THE HPDS FAMILY VIOLENCE, UH, DIVISION TO DO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SELF-DEFENSE FORUM. AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN, UH, FOR AN EVENT FOCUSED ON, UH, HELPING YOUNG WOMEN, UH, GET INTO COLLEGE AND FIND FINANCIAL AID AND, UM, PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SERVICES THERE AS WE CAN. UM, AND WE REALLY, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO OUR EFFORTS [04:05:01] HERE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MARCH. WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE HIGHLIGHTING, UM, A WOMAN OF THE WEEK FROM DISTRICT H. UH, WE'RE STARTING THIS WEEK WITH RONNIE CABRERA, WHO IS, ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND, NO, MORENO, THE FOUNDER OF HTX ART IN THE HEART STUDIOS IN THE EAST TEXAS JENSEN AREA. AND THEY HAVE DONE SOME FANTASTIC WORK, UH, LOOKING TO BRING ART INTO COMMUNITIES AND UTILIZE IT, UH, FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT, UM, AND AREAS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED. AND SO WE, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S DONE, UH, THAT, THAT FACILITY HAS BECOME REALLY THE DEFUNCT, THE, THE DEFACTO COMMUNITY CENTER FOR EAST TEXAS JENSEN. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL OF HER HARD WORK AND, UH, EFFORTS FROM HER AND HER, HER FAMILY. UH, THIS COMING SATURDAY, WE'LL HAVE OUR SEVENTH TOWN HALL AT CLARK PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, WE'LL INVITE ALL RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT H WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING AND, AND FROM THE NORTHLINE AREA TO COME OUT AND VISIT WITH US AND THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND RESOURCES THAT ARE PRESENT AT OUR TOWN HALLS. AND, UH, ON MARCH 19TH, TCEQ, THERE WILL BE A-T-C-E-Q PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS. THEY'RE PURSUING A AIR QUALITY PERMIT RENEWAL FOR THEIR ROCK CRUSHING FACILITY. THIS WILL BE AT 6:00 PM AT, UH, ROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND, UH, WE'LL BE THERE FROM THE DISTRICT H OFFICE. UH, WE WANT ALL THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE AROUND THIS FACILITY TO BE THERE TO ALSO, UH, GIVE THEIR COMMENTS, UH, MEET WITH, UH, TCEQ AND, UH, REALLY MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, UH, FOR THESE PERMIT RENEWALS. IT'S, IT'S SO IMPORTANT. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, LAST WEEK, I, I MENTIONED THE HOMELESSNESS, UH, THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND IN CANVAS THAT WE'RE POPPING UP. UH, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME RESOLUTIONS WITH SOME ENCAMPMENTS CLEARED OUT, UH, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND, AND OUR WORK WITH THE COUNTY. UM, ONE THING THAT HAS COME UP IS OUR, OUR WORKING WITH FLOOD CONTROL AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND OUR BA UH, WITH ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE POPPING UP AND ACCESS TO THOSE ENCAMPMENTS. AND, AND ALSO JUST THE, UH, THE TRASH COMPONENT, THE ILLEGAL DUMPING COMPONENT ALONG THE BAYOU. AND, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH FLOOD CONTROL AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DOING THEIR PART TO KEEP, UH, OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN AND, UH, NOT TRYING TO PASS IT OFF TO, UM, OTHER AGENCIES BECAUSE, UM, THEY CONTROL THOSE, THOSE WATERWAYS AND, UM, WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM. WE'RE WILLING TO HELP THEM, BUT, UH, IT'S GONNA TAKE THEM BEING AN EQUAL PARTNER AS WELL. AND SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION AND HOPEFULLY, UH, BRING SOME RESOLUTION THERE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING A LOT TO UNION PACIFIC. UM, WE MET WITH THEM IN THE COUNTY AND PUBLIC WORKS RECENTLY ABOUT A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING OVER A TRAIN NEAR MC REYNOLDS, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE KIDS ARE HAVING ISSUES. UM, THEY'RE JUST BEING HELD UP BY THE TRAIN. AND SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT MEETING AS WELL. IT'S PRELIMINARY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON. AND, AND WE'LL LOOK TO, YOU KNOW, OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, UH, LIKE UNION PACIFIC TO AGAIN, BE GOOD NEIGHBORS IN THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHERE THEY CAN STEP UP AND HELP. AND, UH, THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO IDENTIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AGAIN TO THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE TOUR THAT WE SHARED, WHICH WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL IN REGARDS TO, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. IT WAS A PHENOMENAL PRESENTATION AND THERE ARE SOME VERY INTERESTING AREAS UP HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT, UH, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH. HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE DIRECTOR, UM, IN, IN PERMITTING AND SOME OF THE VERY CONCERNS THERE, AND CERTAINLY ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYEES. UM, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CERTAINLY NEED TO, UM, UH, BRING FORTH. ALSO, UH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE SPRINGTIME AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE, ARE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY BECAUSE DUMPING IS BECOMING TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE. THE DUMPING, WE, WE WOULD IDENTIFIED HOUSTON SHORTLY WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE DIRTIEST CITY IN AMERICA. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF. AND I THINK THAT WHAT MOST PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMERTIME, PEOPLE MOVE, AND A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT'S DUMPING. I MEAN, IT IS SO OBVIOUS. IT'S LIKE RIGHT IN FRONT OF BUSINESSES ON THE SIDE OF HOUSES, AND THAT HOUSTON'S BETTER THAN THAT. AND SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO GO ALL OVER THE CITIES. I OFTEN EMPHASIZE IS THAT WE [04:10:01] ALL WILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERY AREA OF OUR CITY, AND DUMPING IS ONE OF 'EM. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO, TO DEAL WITH THAT. THIRDLY, AND OUR OFFICE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF CALLS ON THAT, BY THE WAY. THIRD THING I WANNA BRING UP IS ALSO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MUCH DISCUSSION ON OUR CRIME REDUCTION. SOME THINGS AND IDEAS THAT I LIKE TO PRESENT THAT I THINK WOULD HELP IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO REDUCTION OF CRIME. WE ARE HEARING THIS UP, RISE SLOWLY BUT SURELY. IT'S GO, IT'S GETTING WAY OUTTA CONTROL. LET ME OFF SAY AGAIN. I, I THINK THE INITIATIVE THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD HAD BROUGHT UP IN HIS DISTRICT IS A USEFUL TOOL, BUT I THINK THERE ARE OTHERS AND WE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THAT MATTER. AND THE NUMBER ONE OF THE NUMBER STATISTIC LASTLY THAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS BEING HELD BY MEN UNDER SEVEN, 18 YEARS OLD. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE ALL GOTTA BE VERY MINDFUL OF, MAYOR. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, BRING IT FORTH TO YOU WHAT SOME OF OUR IDEAS ARE, BECAUSE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY IS CERTAINLY HAS TO BE, UH, ABOUT HOW WE HANDLE OUR CRIME NUMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, YESTERDAY I GOT TO ATTEND THE GRADUATING CLASS FOR THE ASTRONAUTS DOWN AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. UM, IF YOU EVER WANT TO BE HUMBLE TO GO DOWN THERE AND LISTEN TO THOSE PEOPLE'S ACHIEVEMENTS, IT'S UH, QUITE SHOCKING. IT'S JUST WHAT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE DONE AT THAT AGE OF THEIR LIFE. UH, SHOUT OUT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HAD A FIRE OUT, OUT BY LAKE HOUSTON. UH, ABBY HAD TO EDUCATE ME ON WHAT THE WILDLAND GROUP WAS. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA BEFORE THAT. UH, ALSO STATIONED 1 0 1 AND 1 0 3, UH, RESPONDED TO THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, THE MEETING THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY ABOUT THE WATER BILLING, I'M, UH, REALLY OPTIMISTIC WITH WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO GOING FORWARD TO GET AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND FIX 'EM RATHER THAN KIND OF SPINNING OUR WHEELS AND CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH IT. UM, ON A COUPLE OF ORDINANCE ISSUES, I'VE GOT A CONSTITUENT LIVES OUT IN HUFFMAN WHO HAS, IS BUILDING A HOME IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT ALLOW SIDEWALKS, UH, BY DEED RESTRICTION. AND THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY AN $18,000 FEE TO THE CITY NOT TO BUILD A SIDEWALK. AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT MONEY ACTUALLY GOES TO HELP BUILD SIDEWALKS IN OTHER PLACES, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM VERY EQUITABLE TO ME. UM, ALSO GOT A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS. THERE'S SOME IN KINGWOOD, SOME OF THE MIDDLE PART OF THE DISTRICT THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY SINCE KINGWOOD WAS ANNEXED. UM, THEY HAVE NO WATER, NO SEWER SERVICES FROM THE CITY. UH, THE WATER SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE, UH, KINGWOOD IS PROBLEMATIC WITH POWER GOING OUT, UH, BECAUSE OF ALL THE TREES. THE ELECTRICAL LINES ARE NOT BURIED. UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF TIMES WHERE WE LOSE POWER PRETTY MUCH WHENEVER WE GET TOO MUCH WIND. UH, BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH PRESSURE WITH THE WATER AND PROBABLY GET A BOIL WATER NOTICE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. UH, I'VE GOT SOME AREAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DISTRICT THAT WERE ANNEXED BACK IN THE FIFTIES THAT HAVE NO WATER, NO SEWER YET. ALL THESE PEOPLE PAY THE EXACT SAME TAX RATE AS EVERYBODY THAT HAS THAT. SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, I, I THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME THINGS THAT WE CONTROL THAT ARE NOT TERRIBLY EQUITABLE THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE A BETTER LOOK AT. WELL SAID. UH, AND YOUR CONSTITUENT THAT APPEARED BEFORE YESTERDAY, HER WATER BILL WAS FORGIVEN. THAT WAS ACTUALLY IN KINGWOOD ITSELF. UH, YES. THAT WAS, I, AND I HAD, IN FACT, THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETING. HOW MANY MORE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE THERE THAT ARE NOT BEING BILLED FOR THEIR WATER AT ALL? UH, 'CAUSE SURELY THAT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. UH, YOU COULD PROBABLY ASK AMY DAVIS AND SHE'D GIVE YOU A RUN IN NUMBER . IT IS, IT IS. ONE IS TOO MANY, BUT THERE ARE ARE LARGE NUMBERS, AND THAT'S, UH, AND THAT'S REVENUE TO THE CITY. AND WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE REVENUE ISSUES. SO, YEAH. BUT ANYWAY, SHE, HER, HER MATTER WAS ADDRESSED SATISFACTORY. IT'S A SHAME, YOU KNOW, SHE'D BEEN GOING ON LIKE THIS FOR YEARS. YOU KNOW, I HAD A CONVERSATION THEN FOR LIKE THREE YEARS. IF, IF I HAD NOT BILLED MY CUSTOMER FOR YEARS FOR SOME SERVICE I WAS PROVIDING, I COULD NOT COME TO THEM AND SAY, OH, HERE'S YOUR BILL FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. YEAH. HERE'S YOUR CATCH UP BILL. YEAH, WE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, GETTING INVOLVED. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GONNA START ON A HEAVY NOTE, BUT I'LL [04:15:01] END ON SOME LIGHTER NOTES. UM, I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED AS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS BRING UP VIOLENT CRIME. UH, WE HAD YET ANOTHER SHOOTING ON WASHINGTON AVENUE OVER THE WEEKEND. UH, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THERE WERE ONLY INJURIES, AND I DON'T WANNA DIMINISH THE IMPACT THAT INJURIES CAN HAVE. BUT WHEN TWO INDIVIDUALS GET IN A FIGHT AT A BAR, AND THIS IS THE SAME BAR THAT WE'VE HAD OTHER ISSUES AT, THEY'RE ESCORTED OUT BY SECURITY, ASKED TO LEAVE, ONE GETS IN A CAR AND DECIDES TO START FIRING ON AN OPEN CROWD TOWARDS THE SECURITY PERSONNEL, THOSE ARE OFF-DUTY OFFICERS. NOW, THOSE OFFICERS DID NOT, IN MY OPINION, THANK GOD, SHOOT BACK BECAUSE IT WAS SO CROWDED THAT THEY COULD HAVE HIT SOMEBODY ELSE. BUT THE FACT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE GUN VIOLENCE ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE, AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INSTANCE OF GUN VIOLENCE AROUND BARS. I KNOW THAT IN COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S DISTRICT, IT HAPPENS. I KNOW IN COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ'S DISTRICT ALL ACROSS THE CITY, THIS HAPPENS. BUT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT WASHINGTON AVENUE BECAUSE AGAIN, IN A CORE RESIDENTIAL AREA, WE CONTINUE TO SEE VIOLENCE AND FIREARM VIOLENCE, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. UH, SO I WANNA THANK, UH, EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED. I DO NOT KNOW AN UPDATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED. SO, TO THE PUBLIC, IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT FIRED INTO THE CROWD, PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT. UH, OR I BELIEVE YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT CRIME STOPPERS. BUT MAYOR, YOU KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL. MANY OF US KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL. BUT WHAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE AND IS GROWING TO OTHER AREAS WE TALK ABOUT IN DISTRICT C, WE NOW HAVE A NEW BAR CORRIDOR IN SHADY ACRES THAT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO HAVE BARS OF THIS CAPACITY. UH, IT'S GETTING VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. SO I, I RAISE THAT, UM, CONCERN. WE'VE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE RESIDENTS, UH, ON THIS AND THE GROWING CONCERN THERE. UH, AND COUNCILOR ALCORN AND I HAVE FILED SEVERAL PETITIONS WITH TABC WHEN THERE IS VIOLENT, REPETITIVE VIOLENCE AT BARS. BUT THAT'S A STATE PROCESS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. UM, AND IT'S A BIG, BIG CHALLENGE AND BIG SAFETY CONCERN. UH, ON THE NOTE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DID WANNA INVITE YOU, UM, THERE'S A, THERE WAS A DEDICATION AT BARING MEMORIAL CHURCH IN MONTROSE THIS PAST WEEKEND. THERE'S AN INSTALLATION THERE. UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH, UH, SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, PRIMARILY FAITH-BASED, UM, ON INSTALLATIONS CALLED THE STOLEN LIVES INSTALLATION THAT HONORS RESIDENTS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY. SO THERE IS AN INSTALLATION THROUGH THE END OF MARCH, UM, AT BARING MEMORIAL CHURCH. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AND SOMBER REMINDER OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE. UH, BUT ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO SEE THAT. AND THERE WILL BE MORE INSTALLATIONS AT OTHER CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, IN THE MONTHS TO COME. WE HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING, UM, ON MARCH 12TH AT ROSE OF SHARON, UH, BAPTIST CHURCH FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM IN FREEMANS TOWN. UH, THIS IS WITH PUBLIC WORKS. IT'S A COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AND PUBLIC MEETING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, THE FREEMANS TOWN COMMUNITY, THE FREEMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY, THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, AND OTHERS. AND IT, THIS ALL PERTAINS TO, UM, HOW WE PRESERVE THE, THE IMPORTANCE AND THE ACTUAL BRICK STREETS THAT ARE IN FRIEDMAN'S TOWN. UM, MANY OF YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. OTHERS MAY NOT, BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY MEETING FOR RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE INPUT AS TO WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND HOW THAT IS HANDLED. UH, SO AGAIN, MARCH 12, SIX TO 8:00 PM AT ROSE OF SHARON. MAYOR, YOU ASKED US TO BRING CONCERNS FORWARD DURING POPOFF. SO ONE OF THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL CONCERNS WE'RE HEARING ABOUT ARE FROM SENIORS, UM, AT HEIGHTS TOWER. UH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT I COULD USE SOME HELP HERE. UM, THE CROSSWALKS AROUND THOSE, UH, THESE SENIOR FACILITIES SPECIFICALLY AT HEIGHTS TOWER, UM, THE CROSSWALKS ARE NOT TIMED LONG ENOUGH FOR SENIORS TO GET ACROSS. SO AT, UM, SPECIFICALLY 20TH AND RUTLAND AND 19TH AND RUTLAND, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO, AGAIN, I KNOW THERE'S STANDARD TIMING, BUT OUR SENIORS CAN'T MAKE IT ACROSS. UM, WE DID LOSE, UH, I BELIEVE ONE SENIOR PASSED AWAY RECENTLY IN THE HEIGHTS TWO WEEKENDS AGO, UM, HIT BY A CAR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AT THIS SPECIFIC INTERSECTION, BUT THEN WE HAD A RESIDENT OF HEIGHTS TOWER ALMOST HIT, UH, NEAR THESE INTERSECTIONS. SO I'M RAISING THAT. AND ALSO THAT, UH, SOMEONE DID LOSE THEIR LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS BEING HIT BY A VEHICLE. UM, THE LAST THING, AGAIN, I SAID I WOULD END ON A POSITIVE NOTE. UH, WE HAD [04:20:01] THE GROUNDBREAKING, AND I SAY THAT 'CAUSE DIGGING HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOR THE MEYER GROVE DETENTION BASIN. UH, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, UH, BACK IN 2020, I BELIEVE, I COULD BE WRONG, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY PARTNERED TOGETHER. MAY YOU TALK ABOUT THESE, UH, COUNTY PARTNERSHIPS. WE PARTNERED WITH FLOOD CONTROL AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S OFFICE. THE CITY PUT IN 8 MILLION, I BELIEVE THE COUNTY MATCHED THAT TO BUY THE PROPERTY. AND THEN CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER, I HAVE TO GIVE HER A HUGE THANK YOU, UH, SECURED UP CLOSE TO $10 MILLION, UM, TO SEE THIS PROJECT THROUGH. SO WE HAD THE GROUNDBREAKING LAST WEEK. UH, BUT THIS WILL BRING 40 OLYMPIC SIZED SWIMMING POOLS, OR 27 MILLION GALLONS OF DETENTION TO THE AREA. UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS ALSO COMMITTED THAT ONCE THE DETENTION IS DONE, HE'S GONNA BE PUTTING IN TRAILS PARK BENCHES AND BEAUTIFYING IT. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. BUT AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF, UH, COLLABORATION FROM CONGRESS ON DOWN, WE ARE SEEING THESE, UH, FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS COMING TO FRUITION. I ALSO WANNA THANK STEVE COSTELLO. UH, I CALL HIM THE HONORABLE COSTELLO, WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THIS DONE. UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AS WELL AS DR. PETERSON WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. UH, SO MORE FLOOD MITIGATION IS COMING. MAYOR, WE NEED MORE THAT WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS. UH, BUT THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. VERY GOOD. AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR THESE ITEMS. THE, UH, WASHINGTON SHOOTING, WE ALL KNOW GUNS AND ALCOHOL ARE A BAD COMBINATION, AND UH, OBVIOUSLY IT'S AN ISSUE ALL OVER TOWN AND IN SOCIETY IN GENERAL. YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF PAINTING THE PROBLEM. I I WOULD, I WOULD WELCOME YOU TO GIVE US A PROPOSED SOLUTION, MAYOR. WE GOT LOTS OF SOLUTIONS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PRESENT THOSE. AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND RESIDENTS ON SOME OF THOSE. NO, I UNDERSTAND. THAT'S, THAT'S THE CONTROL FACTOR. IT'S JUST WHEN YOU GOT FOOLS THAT JUMP IN THE CAR AND SHOOT BACK AT THE CLUB THAT THEY JUST LEFT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE OTHER THAN THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A PENAL CODE. AND, UH, I WAS JUST SITTING HERE LISTENING TO YOU ABOUT THE, THE DESCRIPTION OF THAT PARTICULAR SHOOTING, AND I JUST DON'T KNOW THE, THE CURE THERE, OTHER THAN WE'VE GOT IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THAT ARE DRINKING AND CARRYING A GUN AND GET UPSET. ACTUALLY, THE, THE STORY WAS THAT THEY'D SHOT BACK AT THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS WHO USED GOOD JUDGMENT, DIDN'T RETURN FIRE. BUT ANYWAY, I'LL WORK WITH YOU ON THAT, UH, ISSUE. I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE JAILS AND PROSECUTORS AND ULTIMATELY PRISONS. I THINK THAT THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE CAN BE DOING, ONE FROM AN ADVOCACY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT FIREARM SAFETY, BUT EVEN ON DOWN HOW WE DEAL WITH OUR BAR ENVIRONMENTS, THERE ARE CONTROL FACTORS THAT WE CAN PUT IN, UM, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY FOR THE BARS THEMSELVES. UM, THESE ARE BARS THAT, WELL, THE BARS ARE NOT AT FAULT HERE. THE, THESE ARE A COUPLE OF IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE HAVE GOT. I WOULD SAY THAT CERTAIN BARS, IT'S NOT JUST NO, NO, A RANDOM SHOOTING. IT'S BAD ACTOR BARS THAT CREATE ENVIRONMENTS OH, OKAY. AND HAVE CONTINUOUS ISSUES THERE THAT DO CREATE A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. I AGREE. BETTER ENFORCEMENT BY TABC AND OTHERS. BUT, UH, I WOULD JUST, THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT, I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, SEARCHING MY THOUGHTS. HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU PREVENT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT ABOUT 150,000 PEOPLE LOCKED UP IN TVCJ 'CAUSE THEY USED POOR JUDGMENT AND MADE A MISTAKE. AND THE COUNTY JAIL'S RUNNING OVER ABOUT 10,000 NOW. SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, ALCOHOL AND GUNS JUST ARE A HORRIBLE COMBINATION. SO I GUESS OTHER THAN TALKING ABOUT IT AND POP OFF, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO. I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. UH, COUNCILOR HUFFMAN, I, COUNCIL MEMBER MERIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FOLLOWING UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLOS, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR A CROSSOVER AT MC MCREYNOLDS MIDDLE SCHOOL, I TOTALLY SUPPORT ANYTHING YOU WANNA DO ON THAT. UH, IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM TO PUT A FINER POINT ON IT. UM, ACROSS THE TRACKS FROM MCMEALS MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX, AND MANY OF THE YOUTH WHO LIVE IN THAT COMPLEX HAVE TO CROSS THE TRACKS TO GET TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND WHAT YOU FIND DURING THE LENGTHY DELAYS THAT UNION PACIFIC, UH, CREATES WITH ITS TRAINS, UH, THE KIDS WILL CRAWL THROUGH THE TRAIN IN [04:25:01] BETWEEN RAIL CARS IN A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS, UH, WAY. AND WE'RE LUCKY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE'S BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED, BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. AND SO, WHATEVER, UH, YOU DECIDE TO DO ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I I WILL HELP YOU WITH THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, UH, ON THE SUBJECT OF OUR YOUTH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE NEAR TOWN LITTLE LEAGUE'S OPENING DAY CEREMONY THIS PAST WEEKEND. THERE ARE A LOT OF OPENING DAYS GOING ON IN THE CITY, AND I SALUTE ALL THE, UH, ADULT VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR YOUTH TO ENJOY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL IN THE NEAR TOWN LITTLE LEAGUE. THEY HAVE MORE THAN 300 YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE AND WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME AND LEARN SPORTSMANSHIP. AND I HAD THE SINGULAR PLEASURE OF GETTING TO TOSS THE FIRST PITCH, WHICH WAS THE FIRST FOR ME. AND I WANNA SAY I THREW A STRIKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, BUT HOPE TO DO THAT AGAIN SOON. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILLOR THOMAS. THANK YOU. I HAVE NOTHING BUT, UH, GOOD NEWS. UH, BUT AS A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COMMUNITY RESEARCH CLASS, MY GRADUATE CLASSES IN THE CHAMBERS. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? YAY. HEY, THEY ARE GRADUATE STUDENTS AT PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M, THE ONLY INSTITUTION IN TEXAS WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. SOME HAVE TRAVELED FROM DALLAS THIS MORNING TO BE WITH US, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU. SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF UPDATES, UM, FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT WILL IMPACT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO WORK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, THE FISCAL, THE FINAL FISCAL 24 BUDGET FEDERAL BUDGET INCLUDED A $2.1 BILLION INCREASE TO HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS. SOME OF YOU MAY ASK LIKE, WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? UM, WITH THE RECENT NEWS OF OUR HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY FREEZING BECAUSE OF RENT MARKET INCREASES, UH, UH, DUE TO LIMITED FUNDS AND THE MARKET CHANGES, THIS DIRECTLY BENEFITS THE HOUSTON MARKET. UM, THIS WILL ALLOW, UH, EXISTING RENTAL, UH, CONTRACTS TO CONTINUE ALSO WITH THE HOPE OF INCREASING OUR HOUSTON, OUR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM BY 3000 NATIONWIDE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY HAVE INCREASED THE PROJECT BASE RENTAL VOUCHER, UH, PROGRAM AT 1.1 BILLION, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE SOME SLIGHT CUTS TO FEDERAL FUNDS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR HOUSING WORK AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEY'VE DECREASED HOME FUNDS NEIGHBORHOOD CHOICE, WHICH IS DESIGNATED IN DISTRICT D AND HOUSING FOR ELDERLY AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. SO I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, UH, AFFORDABILITY ISSUES IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION AT THE, UH, UH, OUR HOUSTON FEDERAL DELEGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THESE DOLLARS TO THE STREET. I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND JUST LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING SENSORS ON YOUR METERS. PLEASE DO NOT BE ALARMED. WE DID RECEIVE SOME EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS, UH, CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR. I'M LOOKING AT THEIR METER. UM, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO FULFILL THE, UH, UH, PROMISE TO REPLACE THOSE METERS, EXCUSE ME, THE SENSORS THAT ARE MISREADING YOUR, UH, METERS. AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN IN PARK VILLAGE AND A PARK HOLLOW SUBDIVISION. SO IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, JUST REACH OUT TO THE OFFICE. BUT I ALSO WANNA ASK PUBLIC WORKS IF YOU'RE ABLE, IF YOU'RE GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITIES, GIVE THE DISTRICT OFFICES A HEADS UP SO WE CAN SHARE, UH, THROUGH OUR NEWSLETTERS SO RESIDENTS CAN ANTICIPATE, UM, THAT THERE WILL BE ACTIVITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SHOUT OUT OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER, UH, A TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL SEVEN, LIZZIE FLETCHER. UM, TODAY, THIS MORNING, SHE WILL BE VOTING ON A, A COMMUNITY EARMARK THAT'S GONNA DIRECTLY BENEFIT RASMUS PARK COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD HAS STEPPED OUT. HOWEVER, UH, THIS PARK HAS HAD MUCH ATTENTION FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCIL MEMBER LASTER, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WHEN THIS PARK WAS IN DISTRICT J AFTER REDISTRICTING RASMUS PARK CAME TO DISTRICT F. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD MENTIONED IS THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THAT PARK. AND SO I'M GLAD I'M, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THAT $500,000 EARMARK OF FEDERAL FUNDS, WE'LL THEN RELEASE A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, SO WE CAN REINVEST THOSE DOLLARS INTO ENHANCEMENTS OF THE PARK. UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK HER FOR ACCEPTING THE EARMARK FROM MY OFFICE AND THEN, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET READY. 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO INVEST THERE. SO I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT. UM, LASTLY, SHELFORD CITY. UH, WE WERE IN THE NEWS LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE, UH, CHANNEL 11 REPORTED ON AN UPDATE ON, ON SHELFORD CITY. SO I JUST WANNA REMIND RESIDENTS, UH, TO PLEASE A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, SIGN UP FOR ENGAGE HOUSTON. CONTACT THE DISTRICT F COUNCIL OFFICE. ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE. AND JUST A REMINDER, WE PASSED FOUR EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDERS IN JANUARY SO WE CAN HAVE SOME SUPPLEMENTAL WORK HAPPENING UNTIL THE CONTRACT GOES OUT TO BID. UM, SO THIS INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH NEXT DOOR. WE'RE VERY AGGRESSIVE. WE'RE GETTING [04:30:01] THIS INFORMATION ON THE STREET. NONE OF IT MEANS NOTHING IF YOU DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, YOU AIN'T GOT TO CALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME. YOU COULD CALL THE COUNCIL OFFICE AND WE CAN GET IT TO YOU. OKAY. STOP CALLING THE NEWS. WE GOT IT FOR YOU. UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, AT 12 O'CLOCK, UM, I'M HOSTING AN INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS RECEPTION, UM, CELEBRATING THE WORK IN THE CITY, BUT, AND ALSO EXPANDING THAT WORK INTERNATIONALLY. MY STUDENTS WILL BE JOINING, UM, JOINING ME AS WELL. AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL OF YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN INVITATION FOR THAT. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO, CASSY TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THINGS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT K. WANT TO LET THE RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND HOUSTON KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE CONSTRUCTION NEAR THE FIRE STATION NUMBER 80 ON CHIMNEY ROCK. THERE IS A TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENT HAPPENING AND WANT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THEY ARE RIDING THROUGH THERE SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT, UM, PROJECT UP AND COMPLETE. IT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THE SUMMER. UH, IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN DEFINITELY CONTACT OUR OFFICE. AND THEN ALSO, UH, THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE UPCOMING WEST FUQUA IMPROVEMENTS, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON MARCH THE 13TH FROM FIVE 30 TO 6:30 PM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE ACCEPTING ANY QUESTIONS AND PROVIDING ANSWERS IN AN, UH, SCOPE OF THE PROJECT. AGAIN, THAT IS ON MARCH THE 13TH FROM FIVE 30 TO 6:30 PM UH, IT WILL BE ON MICROSOFT TEAMS, AND IF YOU NEED THE LINK, WE'LL, WE'LL SEND IT OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER. YOU CAN CONTACT THE DISTRICT A OFFICE, BUT ANY RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON THAT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING WEST FUQUA PROJECT, THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO ENGAGE WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS IN THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE AS WELL. AND THEN ON MARCH THE 21ST, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW REQUESTS FROM SOME OF OUR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING. UM, AND SO, UH, TWO OF OUR COMMANDERS IN DISTRICT K AND I WILL BE HOSTING AND ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING FOR OUR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. UM, THEY DO WANT TO JUST KIND OF REVIEW THEIR SAFETY PLANS AND GO OVER, UM, ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR, OR, UM, CONCERNS THAT THEY MAY HAVE ABOUT THEIR FAITH-BASED FACILITIES. AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON MARCH THE 21ST FROM 6:30 PM UM, AND IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE NATA STATION, UH, AT 1 3 0 9 7 NATA, WHICH IS OUR SOUTHWEST DIVISION. IF YOU ARE A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION IN DISTRICT A AND YOU WANT TO ATTEND, UH, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO REGISTER SO THAT OUR COMMANDERS CAN KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND WHICH ONES WE'LL BE ATTENDING. SO WE CAN TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH, UM, STAFF ON STANDBY TO HELP WITH YOUR, YOUR SAFETY PLANS. AND THEN FINALLY, I HAVE A, A GREAT NEWS TO REPORT. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON ATTRACTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE DISTRICT. UM, AND YOU KNOW, I SAY IT ALL THE TIME THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY ATTRACT, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO AREAS THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF ILLEGAL DUMPING AND IT'S NOT SAFE. AND SO THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN YEAR AFTER YEAR TO CLEAN UP THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, HAS REALLY BEEN WORKING. OUR BRAY OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN VERY VIGILANT ABOUT ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO DISTRICT A. WE HAD OUR GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEW STARBUCKS THAT IS COMING, UH, TO DISTRICT A AT THE CORNER OF WEST AIRPORT. AND, UH, THE BELTWAY, UM, ALONG THAT CORRIDOR IN THE BRAY OAKS CROSSING WILL ALSO BE A TESLA CHARGING STATION. AND WE'RE FINALIZING PLANS FOR A NEW RESTAURANT THERE. UM, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, HOPEFULLY, UH, YOU KNOW, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES BEGET OTHER SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES. SO WE ARE GOING TO STAY VIGILANT AND ENCOURAGE, UH, MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOURS, AND WE'RE INVITING MORE BUSINESS OWNERS TO TOUR OUR DISTRICT AND SEE THE SPACES THAT WE HAVE A AVAIL AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO ALSO COME AND, AND BUILD IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU TO, UM, SHERRY CORTEZ AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AT THE BRAY OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS IN ATTRACTING, UH, THE NEW BUSINESSES THERE. AND ABOUT 120 DAYS WE'LL HAVE THE RIBBON CUTTING. YOU'LL ALL BE INVITED AND COFFEE ON ME, UH, TO THE, TO THE NEW STARBUCKS. UM, SIGN UP FOR OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER, REACH OUT TO US, UH, IF WE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO DO IT. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. SOUNDS GREAT. UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WANT TO THANK THREE EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC WORKS. THERE WAS A WATER LEAK ON LITTLEJOHN FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. NO ONE COULD EVER FIND THE LEAK. UM, BUT THEN THE LEAK DETECTION TEAM CAME IN. CHARLES DU AND MAURICE CRO CROSS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MICHAEL JOHNSON CAME OUT. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK [04:35:01] THEM FOR THEIR DILIGENCE ON THIS. THEY REALLY TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK FOR THIS LEAK AND FOUND IT AND FIXED IT. SO THANK YOU TO THEM. AND THEN NEXT MAYOR, I WANT TO BRING, UM, AN ISSUE TO YOUR ATTENTION. UM, THIS INVOLVES DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, THIS KIND OF COMES UP EVERY BUDGET CYCLE, BUT NOTHING EVER REALLY HAPPENS WITH IT. UM, EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT DOES NOT RECEIVE THEIR, UM, A DEDICATED INSPECTOR PER COUNCIL DISTRICT. AND, UM, IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES IN OUR DISTRICT. WE HAVE NO ONE REALLY TO REFER IT TO. WE HAVE NO ONE TO ESCALATE ISSUES TO. IF IT'S A REALLY BIG ISSUE, WE CONTACT THE DIRECTOR. BUT SOME OF THE SMALLER ISSUES THAT WE NEED, SOMEONE'S ATTENTION TO IT, THERE'S NO ONE TO SEND IT TO. THE, THE INSPECTORS JUST WORK ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO, UM, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUDGETS AND HOW TO REORGANIZE, UM, DEPARTMENTS, I THINK MOST OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEBODY DEDICATED IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, SO JUST TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON OPENING DAY, UH, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, UH, HIDALGO PARK OPENING DAY THIS PAST SATURDAY. UH, AND I WANNA SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT PARK BECAUSE THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH THE ASTROS FOUNDATION. UH, SO HOUSTON ASTROS WANNA GIVE 'EM A, A SHOUT OUT. AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION, UH, THIS IS AN RBI BASEBALL LEAGUE. UH, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY TO TWO, UH, TWO FOLKS THAT, UH, KINDA REALLY, UH, CARRYING THIS ON THEIR SHOULDERS, JERRY RODRIGUEZ AND MICHAEL LOPEZ, FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK. UH, VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED AT, AT LITTLE LEAGUES, AND SO THANK THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY CONTINUE DOING. ALSO, WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CASE FOR KIDS TOMORROW. WE'LL, WE'LL BE HAVING, UH, THEIR CELEBRATION, THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY. UH, EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT RECEIVES A BID, A LITTLE BIT OVER $40,000 EACH YEAR TO DEDICATE TOWARDS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING. UM, AND, AND A LOT OF THIS, THIS WORK, IT'S, UH, IT'S HELPFUL WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE PROACTIVE SIDE. AND SO, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY FOR HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CASE FOR KIDS. UM, AND THEN, UH, LASTLY, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A TEMPORARY BLOCK ON SB FOUR. UH, THAT LAW BASICALLY ALLOWS, UH, TEXAS POLICE OFFICERS TO ARREST, UH, PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF CROSSING, UH, TEXAS BORDER ILLEGALLY. AND, AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A FULL LAW ON WIND, RIGHT? UH, YOU STILL NEED TO STAY VIGILANT, UH, IN, IN THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THIS, UM, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT OVER THE NEXT, UH, COMING, YOU KNOW, MONTHS, YEARS. UH, MY OFFICE IS GONNA BE WORKING WITH SOME COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, UH, WORKSHOPS IN THE DISTRICT. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER DISTRICT OFFICES TO ALSO HAVE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, UH, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, UH, CAN STAY PREPARED AND, AND VIGILANT. AGAIN, THIS IS FOR FOLKS THAT ARE, UM, SUSPECTED TO BE, AND, AND THAT COULD BE ME IF I DON'T HAVE A SHIRT AND TIE ON RIGHT NOW. UH, AND SO, UH, AGAIN, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLY FOR HIS VOICE ON THIS. UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR CONTINUING TO BE AN ADVOCATE, UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS NEW AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE, UH, LIKE MY MOM WHO'S A RESIDENT OF, OF, OF, UH, OF THE UNITED STATES AS WELL. SO, UH, AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THAT. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, RECEIVED YOUR, YOUR, UH, PRESS RELEASE ON THE FIREFIGHTERS NEGOTIATIONS. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING, UH, THOSE DETAILS. I BELIEVE I HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO GET SOME UPDATES ON THAT. I KNOW THAT'S A LONG TIME COMING, AND WE'RE ALL, I THINK, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE CAN WORK THAT OUT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR DILIGENCE ON THAT. UM, THIS, THIS SATURDAY, UM, IN MY DISTRICT, WE'LL HAVE THE ANNUAL MARCH ON CRIME. UH, THAT WILL BE FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM IT WILL BE A ACTUAL MARCH, UH, FROM BENAVIDEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UP TO BURNETT BAYLAND PARK, WHICH IS ON GULFTON STREET. UH, THIS IS A WAY IN WHICH WE HAVE SHOWN A LOT OF UNITY WITH OUR DIVERSITY IN THE GULFTON AREA. UH, AND, AND OUR, OUR FOCUS IS REALLY TO BE ON REDUCING CRIME, BRINGING RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING OUT TO THE PARK FOR RESIDENTS TO BE INVOLVED IN. I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE GULFTON MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THEIR CHAIR, TAMMY RODRIGUEZ, FOR HELPING TO, UM, COORDINATE THIS. UM, AND YOU ALL ARE INVITED TO THAT. IT'S ALWAYS A, A, A FUN TIME, UH, EACH EACH YEAR. UM, RECENTLY MY CHIEF OF STAFF, PAUL YOUNG AND I, WE MET WITH OWNERS OF THE WESTWOOD MALL, THE OLD WESTWOOD MALL ON BINET. AS WE'VE CLEANED UP THE AREA WHEN IT COMES TO PROSTITUTION AND SOME OF THE BEAUTIFICATION. THE NEXT THING, UH, LIKE IN YOUR, YOUR AREA, MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE OWNERS OF THAT OLD WESTWOOD MALL TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ATTRACT, UH, BUSINESSES [04:40:01] TO COME TO THAT AREA, BECAUSE THAT IS A ANCHOR PROPERTY RIGHT OFF THE FREEWAY. AND WE KNOW IF WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, UTILIZE THAT PROPERTY TO BE A DRIVER, THEN IT WILL HAVE A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT FOR THE REST OF THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, LAST THING, UH, I DO WANT TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF ATTORNEY GLENN ROSENBAUM. UH, HE WAS A PARTNER, A LONGTIME PARTNER WITH, UH, VINCENT AND ELKINS, AND HE PASSED AWAY, UH, THIS PAST WEEK. UH, WAS ALWAYS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, AND SO WANT TO SEND MY PRAYERS TO HIM, TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS WELL. HIS MEMORIAL WILL BE, UH, ON THURSDAY AT 7:00 PM THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MAYOR, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF, UH, THE COUNT, THE COUNTY CONSTABLES ENFORCING THE NOISE ORDINANCE. UM, A LOT OF THESE PROBLEM NIGHTCLUBS WHERE THERE'S VIOLENCE AND STUFF, THEY'RE ALSO THE BAD ACTORS ON NOISE. UH, AND FENNER WAS ALL FOR IT. AND, UH, ALAN ROSEN WAS ALL FOR IT. AND THEN OUR HPD LEGAL SERVICES, YOU KNOW, HAS SAID, NO, WE CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE THERE'S STATE CODE SECTION 86.021 AS A MUNICIPALITY, WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CONFER POWERS UPON CONSTABLES. THERE'S NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO EXPAND THE POWERS OF THE CONSTABLES BY MOU OR OTHER AGREEMENT. STATE LAW SPECIFIES THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF CONSTABLES. ALSO WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE TALK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. I'VE FORWARDED ALL THIS INFORMATION TO, I MEAN, TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, UM, CHRISTIAN MENEFEE. 'CAUSE HE DOES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH EXPANDING THE POWERS OF THE CONSTABLES. UH, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY, THAT'D BE GREAT. COULD USE YOUR HELP ON THAT. IF WE HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE TO DO SOMETHING, COULD USE YOUR HELP ON THAT. UH, IT JUST MAKES SENSE THAT CONSTABLES ENFORCE A LOT OF OTHER RULES. THEY'RE ALREADY IN A LOT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, NOISE IS LOW LEVEL HPD STUFF. AND, UM, ANYWAY, JUST, UH, I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT AND, AND PULL YOU IN IF I, IF NEED BE. THANKS. SOUNDS GOOD. AND, UH, THAT WAS ONE OF THE STRONG SUGGESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE, THAT THE CONSTABLES SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME OF THE LOWER LEVEL, CERTAINLY MISDEMEANORS PRE-UP HPD. ANYWAY, THERE'LL BE THAT COLLABORATION AND WE'LL RESEARCH IT AND GET IT DONE. ANYTHING ELSE, WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.