[Super Neighborhood Alliance Meeting on March 11, 2024.]
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SO, I WANT TO WELCOME Y'ALL TO THE MARCH MEETING OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE.THIS IS AMY DEN, THE SECRETARY UP FRONT.
KEITH DOWNEY, THE VICE CHAIR, SENDS HIS REGARDS AND IS NOT FEELING WELL AND IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
UM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS SIGNED IN.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SIGN IN.
UM, IF SO, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD GETS RECOGNIZED AS BEING HERE.
SO LET'S JUST KIND OF GO ROUND THE ROOM VERY QUICKLY AND JUST YOUR NAME AND WHO YOU'RE REPRESENTING.
CHERYL O'BRIEN, BRAESWOOD NUMBER 32, GINA VESTER REDBURN, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 30.
UM, JORDAN FRAZIER WITH COUNCILOR SALLY ALPERS OFFICE.
MY NAME IS MARIA
MY NAME IS PEDRO, NEIGHBORHOOD 15.
I'M PAULA MARSHALL WITH, UM, PROP SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD
HAROLD LEE FROM PRESIDENT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 31
FIRST, YOUR, UH, HOUSTON PERMITING CENTER OCCUPANCY.
DONALD SMITH, HOUSTON PERMITING CENTER, OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS.
THERESA GUYER PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I'M WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BUT I WORK AT THE PERMIT CENTER.
I WORK AT THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER.
UH, RICHARD SMITH, HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER, CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE.
KIM MONTGOMERY HOUSTON PERMITING CENTER MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
CRENSHAW CITY OF EASTERN LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
GREG CHANDLER'S, I ABOUT TO SAY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD
I DO UH, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SORRY, LETITIA GRANTON, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL NUMBER SIX.
GREG SERGI MEMORIAL SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 16 WARHOL ONE, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 65 82.
ROGER BRIDGEWATER WITH TOM RAMSEY.
COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT THREE.
PHILLIP ERNO AT GREATER GREENWOOD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.
UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE SECRETARY SUPER SUB 4 88 GREATER EASTWOOD LAWNDALE WAYSIDE, UH, WITH THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE.
HOW'S IT GOING? UH, I'M JAMES RON.
I'M WITH THE, UH, MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE.
SO GOOD TO SEE ALL YOU AND I GET TO KNOW YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
Y'ALL BE NICE TO INTERIM DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE WELCOME EVERYBODY AGAIN TO THE MEETING.
UM, AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO PHILLIP.
UM, THIS IS FOR PERMITTING CENTER? YES.
AS YOU COULD TELL BY, OH, SORRY.
AS YOU COULD TELL BY THE INTRODUCTIONS, WE HAVE A NUMBER
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OF PEOPLE HERE FROM THE PERMITTING CENTER, UH, TO DO A FOLLOW UP, UH, TO QUESTION AND ANSWERS FROM OUR JANUARY MEETING.AND WE HAVE QUITE A TURNOUT THIS EVENING.
SO HOPEFULLY, UH, YOU ALL WILL GET MOST ALL OR MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
AND UH, ELIZABETH, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND LEAD OFF? I SURE WILL.
WHO'S GONNA DRIVE THE PRESENTATION? OKAY.
AND THEN YOU KIND OF NEED TO BE AWARE, THE MIC CAN PICK YOU UP, BUT WE WANNA BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR FACE.
THIS, DO YOU REALLY
WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS? OH, BY THE WAY, PLEASE HOLD ALL THE QUESTIONS TILL THE END.
DON'T INTERRUPT THE PRESENTATION.
I WILL SAY WE ARE HAPPY TO STAY AFTER THE MEETING IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS YOU WANT ANSWER THAT AREN'T IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
UH, THANKS FOR HAVING US BACK.
PERMITING CENTER WAS HERE IN JANUARY AND YOU KNOW YOU WERE A GOOD GUEST WHEN THEY INVITE YOU BACK IN MARCH.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
UM, THANK YOU TO PHILIP SALERNO WITH GREATER INWOOD.
HE WORKED WITH US CLOSELY TO HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR AGENDA WOULD BE TONIGHT.
GATHERED SOME OF YOUR SUBMITTED QUESTIONS.
SO SPECIAL THANK YOU TO YOU TWO PHILIP.
UM, SO HAVE A LOT OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TODAY.
I'M AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT THE PERMITTING CENTER.
I MANAGE ALL THE EXCITING THINGS LIKE COMMUNICATIONS AND ONLINE CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND, UM, OPEN RECORDS AND ALL THE EXCITING THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DON'T WANNA HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT.
UH, BUT I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WITH ME TONIGHT.
I'VE GOT GRACE CHANDLER, WHO IS OUR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER.
WE HAVE DAMON CRENSHAW WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WHO'S GONNA TALK ABOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS TONIGHT.
UM, I ALSO HAVE A LOT FROM, UH, OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
WE HAVE KENDALL MONTGOMERY WITH THE FLOODPLAIN OFFICE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FROM BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENTS FROM OUR INVESTIGATIONS GROUP.
SO THEY'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE SCENARIOS AND QUESTIONS ALSO.
SO WE INCLUDE THIS SLIDE IN EVERY ONE OF OUR PRESENTATIONS.
UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS REALLY DOES, UM, BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR HOUSTON TO THRIVE.
AND THESE FIVE TO THRIVE VALUES IS HOW WE SHOW UP EVERY DAY WITH RESPECT, WITH OWNERSHIP, WITH COMMUNICATION, WITH INTEGRITY AND TEAMWORK.
UM, WE LIKE TO SAY THIS IS HOW WE ROCKET WHEN WE COME TO WORK.
UM, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHO WE ARE AS A DEPARTMENT AND WE INCLUDE IT IN EVERY PRESENTATION THAT WE SHARE.
SO THOSE WHO WEREN'T HERE IN JANUARY.
UM, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE PERMITTING CENTER WE OPENED IN 2011.
WE ARE HOME TO OVER 700 CITY EMPLOYEES FROM SIX DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.
SO I'LL SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
UM, BUT ALL OF US TOGETHER REGULATE UH, CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY THROUGH PERMITTING PLAN REVIEW INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH BUILDING CODES AND LIFE SAFETY STANDARDS.
AND THEN SOME OF OUR PARTNERS REGULATE PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONSUMER SAFETY.
THIS WILL SHOW YOU SOME OF OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS.
SO WE ARE HOME TO EMPLOYEES WHO REPRESENT NOT JUST HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, BUT ALSO ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS.
WE HAVE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HOUSED THERE, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THERE, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND OF COURSE HOUSTON PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THOSE LAST THREE ARE ALL INVOLVED IN YOUR PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO BEING A BUILDING THAT HOUSES THESE SIX DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WE ARE ALSO A SERVICE LINE.
SO HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER, THE BUILDING, HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER, THE SERVICE LINE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FIVE SERVICE LINES THAT'S IN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
SO IN THAT SERVICE LINE, YOU'LL ALSO FIND HOUSTON WATER CUSTOMER ACCOUNT SERVICES, ALSO REPRESENTED AT THE PERMITTING CENTER.
AND THEN YOU HAVE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS.
SO OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, UH, IS THE FIRST OF OUR THREE MAIN BRANCHES.
UM, I THINK OF THEM AS RIGHT OF WAY CONSTRUCTION.
SO YOU'LL FIND THINGS IN ENGINEERING LIKE TRAFFIC, UTILITIES, ENGINEERING STANDARDS, FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF YOU ARE PROBABLY MOST FAMILIAR WITH.
YOUR PLAN REVIEW, YOUR PERMITS, YOUR INSPECTIONS GROUP, YOUR CODE DEVELOPMENT, WHO WORKS ON CODE LEGISLATION AS WELL.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE BUSINESS SUPPORT GROUP, MY FAVORITE 'CAUSE IT'S MINE.
UM, AND WE DO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TRIAGE.
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WE MANAGE COMMUNICATIONS, OPEN RECORDS AND ARCHIVING.UM, OUR WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE ENGAGEMENT.
WE ALSO MANAGE THE BUILDING AND OF COURSE THE WEBSITE AND, AND ONLINE INFORMATION.
ALRIGHT, THIS IS OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP TEAM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT IN TRANSITION.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INTERIM ROLES UP THERE.
UM, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO ANY OF US DIRECTLY WITH QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE IT TO GIVE YOU A, A REFERENCE FOR WHO'S IN YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
AND HERE'S OUR BY THE NUMBERS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF.
UM, WE USE THESE NUMBERS AND THIS DATA TO ASSIST US WITH FORECASTING AND MODELING, UM, TO BENCHMARK, TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER CITIES.
WE DO, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, 871,000 INSPECTIONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN ONE YEAR.
UM, WE'VE SOLD 706,000 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERMITS.
WE HAVE HAD 400,000 PEOPLE HAVE A DIGITAL IMPRESSION OF US THROUGH OUR WEBSITE OR ONLINE.
UM, WE'VE ALSO CLOSED OVER 12,000 3 1 1 REQUESTS IN THE LAST YEAR.
SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF OUR DATA.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT US ONLINE AND LOOK FOR OUR INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD, WHICH YOU CAN FIND ON THE HOMEPAGE OF OUR WEBSITE TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND MORE DATA.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO GRACE CHANDLER, WHO'S OUR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER.
SHE'S GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WEBSITE.
SO NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT CAME UP IN OUR LAST MEETING.
ONE OF THEM IS A PERMIT SEARCH.
SO ON THE WEBSITE, IF YOU GO TO HOUSTON PERMITTING.ORG, AND I'M GONNA KIND OF STEP AWAY FROM THE MIC SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR ME.
AND YOU GO TO HERE WHERE IT SAYS SEARCH BY THE LAST THREE YEARS OR SEARCH BY COUNCIL DISTRICT, YOU CAN PULL UP EVERY PERMIT THAT HAS GONE INTO THAT NEXT SLIDE.
WHEN YOU PULL IT UP, THE MOST COMMON USE CATEGORIES IS GONNA BE YOUR PROJECT NUMBER, YOUR JOB ADDRESS, OR YOUR ZIP CODE.
WHEN YOU PUT THAT IN, IT'LL TELL YOU EVERY PERMIT THAT THAT JOB HAS HAD, THAT ZIP CODE HAS HAD OR THAT PROJECT NUMBER HAS HAD.
THIS IS WHAT THE ACTUAL BOX LOOKS LIKE ONCE YOU GET THERE.
SO ONCE YOU GET INTO THAT AREA, YOU CAN, IT'S ON.
ONCE YOU GET THERE, YOU CAN AGAIN GO TO THAT PROJECT NUMBER, THE JOB ADDRESS AND THE ZIP CODE.
THOSE ARE THE MOST USED CATEGORIES TO FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.
THE OTHER ONES DO WORK, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET YOU TO WHAT YOU WANNA FIND, WHICH IS WHAT PERMITS ARE OUT THERE FOR YOUR AREA.
THE NEXT THING WAS THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ACTIVITY PORT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY DONE BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO IF YOU WANNA KNOW ALL THE INFORMATION AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT AND SAID, HEY, WHERE CAN I FIND THIS REPORT? WHERE CAN I FIND THIS REPORT? YOU GO TO NEWS AND EVENTS ON OUR PAGE, WWW.HOUSTONPERMITTING.ORG.
AND THEN YOU GO TO NEWS AND EVENTS AND THEN IT'LL TAKE YOU HERE AT NEWSLETTER PERMIT ERE REPORT.
YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND REPORT ARCHIVES.
WHEN YOU GO THERE, IT IS GOING TO TAKE YOU TO PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AT THAT PART.
THIS REPORT PROVIDES YOU INFORMATION WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION REMODELING CHANGE OF USE PERMITS.
THIS IS THE URL THAT YOU NEED.
I'M GONNA LEAVE IT THERE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS IN CASE YOU NEED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF IT OR IF YOU WANNA SEE IT, THAT IS THE URL THAT WILL TAKE YOU STRAIGHT TO THAT REPORT BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS WAS THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASKED US ABOUT SAYING, HEY, I WANNA KNOW THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
SO THEN WE SAID, OKAY, THE NEXT THING IS I CAN'T REACH ANYBODY TO KNOW THE STATUS OF MY, UM, CASE NUMBER.
I PUT IN A CASE NUMBER WITH 3 1 1 AND I'VE CALLED AND CALLED AND CALLED AND I STILL HAVE, NOBODY IS TALKING TO ME AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CASE NUMBER.
SO IF YOU GO TO 3 1 1 INVESTIGATIONS, THERE IS A LITTLE DROPBOX THAT SAYS STATUS.
ALL YOU NEED IS YOUR CASE NUMBER AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU INFORMATION.
I WILL GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION IN A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE IT'S MORE FOR THIS IN MY MY PRESENTATION PART, BUT UNDERSTAND YOU CAN FIND THE STATUS OF YOUR CASE NUMBER HERE.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CALL AGAIN.
IF YOU SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THAT 3 1 1, THERE IS A PICTURE THAT SAYS SAMPLE IMAGE.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN'T CLICK IT, CLICK IT.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU CLICK IT, YOU CAN FIND OUT THE REPORT CARD FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN IT COMES TO A 3 1 1 CASE.
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OUT THERE AND YOU'RE LIKE, UHUH, THEY DON'T GET BACK TO ME.YOU CAN SEE IN THAT REPORT HOW MANY DAYS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO YOU AND HOW MANY DAYS THAT WE MAY NOT GIVE BACK TO YOU.
IT'S A GOOD AND BAD REPORT JUST DEPENDING ON YOUR AREA.
SO NOW THE PERSON OF THE HOUR IS OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
AND AGAIN, HOLD ALL QUESTIONS TO THE VERY END AND I PROMISE WE'RE GONNA LET YOU ANSWER.
MY NAME IS DAMON CRENSHAW, WORK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
I AM THE CHIEF FOR THE SECTION THAT HANDLES DEED RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT.
WE CALL OURSELVES DEED THE DRE TEAM.
IT'S A DEED RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT TEAM.
AND, UH, WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO, UM, ENFORCE DEED RESTRICTIONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON LEGAL DEPARTMENT, UM, SOME YEARS AGO, I WAS ASTOUNDED THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ARE ENFORCING DEED RESTRICTIONS, WHICH ARE PRIVATE CONTRACTS.
UH, IT'S A VERY UNUSUAL SITUATION.
IT IS SOMETHING SPECIFIC FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT WAS SET UP IN THE EIGHTIES BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
AND I THINK THE REASON IT WAS DONE THEN, AND I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE 'CAUSE I WASN'T HERE, BUT I THINK THE REASON IT WAS DONE IS BECAUSE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE ZONING.
AND THE ONLY WAY REALLY FOR, UH, TO DO SOME TYPE OF ZONING THINGS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS TO, UH, ALLOW THE CITY TO ENFORCE IT IN ADDITION TO, UH, PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO ARE PARTIES TO THOSE CONTRACTS.
NOW, WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS AUTHORITY AND AS I SAID, IT IS LIMITED AND IT SAYS ON THE SCREEN HOW IT IS LIMITED.
ON THE NEXT SCREEN YOU'LL SEE ARE LIMITED AREAS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THE MOST COMMON ONE IS COMMERCIAL VERSUS RESIDENTIAL.
UM, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT IN CITIES THAT HAVE ZONING.
THEY DO THAT BY ZONING AND WE HAVE TO DO IT IN HOUSTON, UH, WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUILDING SETBACKS, ANOTHER THING WE HAVE BUILDING LINES IN THE CITY, SOME DONE BY THE CODE, BUT YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT BUILDING SETBACKS IN YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
SO, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS ALLOWED TO, UH, ENFORCE THOSE TYPES BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S SIMILAR TO ZONING SIZE, A LOT SIZE TAPE, UH, SIZE OF LOTS OR SIZE TYPE AND NUMBER OF STRUCTURES.
WE CAN DO THOSE SORT OF THINGS.
ALSO, ORIENTATION OF A STRUCTURE JUST MEANS WHICH ROAD DOES IT FACE? WE DON'T GET VERY MUCH OF THAT.
THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN MUCH.
MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE FACE THE NORMAL WAY.
SOMETIMES WE GET PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CHANGE THAT AND WE CAN ENFORCE IT AND CONSTRUCTION OF FENCES.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE LIMITED ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH FENCES.
IT HAS TO BE A FENCE THAT REQUIRES A PERMIT UNDER THE CITY CODE.
OH, I TALKED ABOUT COMMERCIAL VERSUS RESIDENTIAL BEING THE VERY THING THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT.
THIS IS JUST SOME EXAMPLES THAT YOU MIGHT NOT THINK OF IMMEDIATELY.
PARKING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL LOT IS COMMERCIAL USE IN OUR OPINION.
WE SEE IT AS BASICALLY MAKING YOUR RESIDENCE A PARKING LOT FOR A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE.
UM, SO WE DO THAT SORT OF THING.
WE DON'T DO, UH, BOATS FOR INSTANCE BECAUSE THAT'S, BUT TYPICALLY WE DON'T HAVE THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
UM, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE NOT, UH, ALLOWED TO ENFORCE EVERYTHING.
FOR INSTANCE, MANY OF YOUR, UH, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS OR CIVIC CLUBS HAVE A REQUIREMENT IN YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
WORLD HAS TO SUBMIT THEIR PLANS FOR REVIEW BY YOUR ASSOCIATION FIRST.
WE DON'T HAVE POWER TO ENFORCE THAT, BUT UM, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COME TO YOU.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS NEED TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE SURE THOSE SORT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO DO, UM, BUT THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, ARCHITECTURAL CONTROLS, SAME THING.
UM, WE CANNOT, FOR INSTANCE, ENFORCE WHAT COLORS YOU MAY PAINT YOUR HOUSE.
THERE ARE THE RESTRICTIONS AND NOT ENFORCE IT.
UM, JUST BECAUSE WE CANNOT ENFORCE IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU AS AN OWNER IN YOUR SUBDIVISION CANNOT ENFORCE IT.
YOU CAN STILL ENFORCE EVERYTHING IN YOUR AND, UM, SO CAN YOUR
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HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION IF THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO.SO THE WAY WE DO IT, WE'RE COMPLAINT DRIVEN.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE STAFF OR THE PERSONNEL TO GO OUT AND ROAM THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS TO LOOK FOR VIOLATIONS.
UH, WE RELY ON HERE OUR EYES AND OUR EARS FOR THESE SORT OF THINGS.
SO, UH, THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN CONTACT US.
I THINK MOST OF YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THESE WAYS, BUT WE PUT 'EM THERE AGAIN.
THESE ARE THE DISTRICTS AND ASSIGNMENTS CURRENTLY FOR THE LAWYERS IN THE, ON THE DISTRICT ENFORCEMENT TEAM.
AND, UH, SOME OF THEM WILL HAVE MULTIPLE DISTRICTS THAT DON'T TEND TO HAVE A LOT AND SOME OF 'EM WILL HAVE FEWER DISTRICTS THAT DO TEND TO HAVE A LOT.
SO, UM, MS. BAR IS A NEW LAWYER IN OUR OFFICE.
UM, SHE ONLY HAS ONE DISTRICT AT THIS TIME, BUT SHE'LL BE LATER.
IN MOST CASES WHERE WE DO ENFORCEMENT, IT GETS RESOLVED BEFORE MOST PEOPLE WILL TRY.
AND SOMETIMES WE GO TO LITIGATION, HANDLE ALL THE COSTING EXPENSE OF DOING THAT IF WE CHOOSE TO.
SO, UM, IT CAN HELP OUT NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, HELP YOU OUT WITH ENFORCING YOUR DEED RESTRICTION.
AND I PUT THIS IN 'CAUSE WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THESE ARE YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS, NOT OURS.
THE CITY DOESN'T MAKE THEM, CITY DOESN'T WRITE THEM, THE CITY DOESN'T MODIFY THEM.
ALL WE CAN DO IS WE SUGGEST THAT.
YOU'LL NOTICE HERE, IT'S WRITTEN THERE TWICE.
UH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSULT WITH THE LAWYER TO GET YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS THE WAY YOU ALL WANT THEM TO BE.
AND I KEEP SAYING YOUR DE DEED RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE YOURS, THEY'RE NOT OURS.
UH, WE WILL TRY TO HELP TO ENFORCE THEM IF WE CAN, BUT THEY ARE YOURS IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ENFORCE NEXT SPRING.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE CITY, UM, OF HOUSTON, KANSAS, FOR INSTANCE, UM, WEEDS AND ABANDONED CARS AND HOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE IT IN YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS ABOUT LAWN CARE AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.
HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, MR. SIM, HE WAS RIGHT BACK HERE.
UH, HERBERT SIMS, HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
UH, THAT DEPARTMENT CAN DEAL WITH HIGH WEED ISSUES, ABANDONED HOUSES, UM, DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND THAT SORT OF THING, UH, CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT PERMITS.
WE WILL REFER THAT TO HPW AND THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT AND SIGNS DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY.
SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF DE RESTRICTION ENFORCE, MIGHT BE CONCERNED WITH.
BUT, UH, THAT'S JUST A FEW LITTLE TOUCHES ON BODY THAT IF YOU NOTICE 3 1 1 IS ON THERE A LOT.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU CALL 3 1 1 AND YOU GO AHEAD AND PUT YOUR PROJECT OR YOUR IN YOUR INVESTIGATION OR WHATEVER IS YOUR CONCERN IS.
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN CHECK THE STATUS OF THAT ONLINE AS WELL AS MAKE THAT PHONE CALL ONLINE.
WE'LL GET YOU A VERY QUICK RESPONSE.
YOU JUST PUT IN THAT CASE NUMBER AND THEY WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT.
SO NOW I'M GONNA BRING UP FROM OUR FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
I'M KENDALL MONTGOMERY AND I'M A PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT OFFICE, WHICH IS A PART OF HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER.
SO FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT OFFICE, WE HANDLE ALL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FLOOD.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FLOODPLAIN, A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA, WE OVERSEE THAT HOUSES PARKING LOTS, DRIVEWAYS, UM, IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, WE OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT, BOTH OF THOSE.
SO THIS IS SOME BASIC INFORMATION HERE.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.
UH, BASICALLY INFORMATION WHEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENROLLED IN THAT PROGRAM WAS 1979,
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A LITTLE BIT BEFORE MY TIME.FLOOD MAPS, THESE ARE SOME OF THE EFFECTIVE DATES.
YOU NOTICE THAT SOME OF YOUR FLOOD MAPS, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PANEL NUMBERS.
THAT'S BECAUSE SOME OF THEM BECAME EFFECTIVE ON DIFFERENT DAYS, ON DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE WE HAVE DEVELOPMENTS TAKE PLACE.
SOME OF THOSE UP STREAMS ARE RESTUDIED AND THEN ONCE THEY REST STUDY, UH, THEY GO THROUGH AND THE MAP IS UPDATED.
AND SO IT HAS AN UPDATED BURN PANEL DATA ON IT.
ALSO, WE USE THE CHAPTER 19, UH, CODE OF ORDINANCE TO HELP REGULATE THE FLOOD PLAIN.
SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN, YOU CAN JUST SIMPLY SEARCH ON GOOGLE CHAPTER 19.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE USE TO REGULATE FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT.
WITH THIS, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON BEING A PART OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM, UH, WE PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING CALLED COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM.
WHAT THAT IS, IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A HIGHER STANDARD THAN WHAT FEMA REQUIRES.
WITH US HAVING A HIGHER STANDARD THAT ALLOWS DIFFERENT CITIZENS, HOMEOWNERS TO GET A DISCOUNT ON YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA AND PEOPLE THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF FLOOD HAZARD AREA, IF YOU COUNT CLOSE TO THE AREA, IF YOU WANT FLOOD INSURANCE, YOU CAN SIGN UP.
YOU CAN ALSO GET A DISCOUNT AS WELL.
FOR US RIGHT NOW WE WILL CONSIDER WHAT'S A CLASS FIVE.
YOU GET A 25% DISCOUNT ON YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE.
YOU HAPPEN TO STAY WITHIN A FLOODPLAIN, A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA, AND YOU HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE AGENT AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE GETTING THIS DISCOUNT.
HERE'S MORE ABOUT A COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM.
UM, AS I JUST EXPLAINED HERE, FEMA HAS MINIMUM STANDARDS.
UM, CLASSES ARE ONE THROUGH 10.
WE'RE PROBABLY AT ONE POINT IN TIME.
WE WERE THE LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION WITH A CLASS FIVE RATE.
SINCE WE ARE CLASS FIVE, YOU GET UP TO OH, 25% DISCOUNT ON YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE.
AGAIN, IF YOU'RE IN A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA, CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE AGENT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE GETTING THAT.
SO I'M QUITE SURE THEY'RE JUST NOT GONNA VOLUNTEER THIS INFORMATION.
AND HERE'S OUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
UM, AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, HERE'S OUR PHONE NUMBER AT EIGHT THREE TWO THREE NINE FOUR EIGHT EIGHT FIVE OH.
AND OUR EMAIL ADDRESS FMO@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO EMAIL THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT CONSTANTLY MONITORING THAT.
UM, AND THEN ONCE WE, WE GET THAT EMAIL, WE TYPICALLY TRY TO RESPOND TO YOU WITHIN A 24 HOUR TIMEFRAME THERE.
NOW, UM, ALSO SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
WE DO, UH, PLAN REVIEWS, BUT ALSO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT DEVELOPING WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN OUR DEPARTMENT BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR DEVELOPMENT, CONTACT US AND WE WILL DO WHAT'S CALLED A PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETING WHERE WE'LL GO OVER THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE FLOODPLAIN JUST SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO INVEST MONEY IN A DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE FLOOD PLAY.
WE ALSO, UH, OUTSIDE OF THAT, LEMME SEE WHAT ELSE WE DO HERE.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM ABOUT YOUR CLAIM REVIEW, YOU CAN CALL US AND WE TRY TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON, WELL, WE'LL GET WITH YOU, UH, VIA PHONE CALL, TEAMS MEETING, EMAIL, HOWEVER YOU FEEL IS COMFORTABLE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE IT FOR MY PART.
WE DO HAVE SOME SCENARIO QUESTIONS.
SOME OF THESE ARE GONNA BE REPEAT FROM OUR FIRST PRESENTATION AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE NEW, MEANING WE'RE TRYING TO ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE COULD FROM THE FIRST ONE AS POSSIBLE.
BUT AGAIN, WE DID BRING OUR TEAM OF EXPERT PANEL EXPERTS AND I SAID EXPERT TWICE TO TRY TO ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS.
NOW, IF YOU HAVE A OFFLINE QUESTION, PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE HERE AFTER THE PRESENTATION TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR, YOUR VERY COOL QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE.
AND WE WANNA BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY, SO THE FIRST THING, SOMEONE REPORTS UNDER PERMITTED WORK BEING PERFORMED.
THE, THE CONTRACTOR OWNER RIPS UP THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND WORK CONTINUES.
WHAT ARE THE REPERCUSSIONS? MANY PEOPLE SEE NONE.
WHY BOTHER GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS? THE PURPOSE OF THE BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT IS TO ENSURE LIFE SAFETY AND BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED PER CITY OF HOUSTON CONSTRUCTION CODES, THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE COURT CITATIONS, A K TICKETS, THE REGULAR PROCEDURES ARE THE OFFICE CHECKS ON TAG PROJECTS EVERY TWO WEEKS.
AND THEN WE ALLOW FOR DUE PROCESS.
BUT IF YOU SEE IT HAPPENING, PLEASE
[00:30:01]
REPORT TO 3 1 1.UM, EVEN IF YOU TAKE A VIDEO OF IT, THEY HAVE TO SEE IT VISUALLY.
SO JUST PLEASE CONTINUE TO REPORT TO 3 1 1 AND IT IS BEING MONITORED.
HOW DOES THE PERMITTING OFFICE VERIFY DEED RESTRICTIONS? WHAT VERIFICATION IS DONE IF SOMEONE MERELY CHECKS NO TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER IT IS, WHETHER IT IS OR NOT.
OKAY? THE PERMITING OFFICE DOES NOT VERIFY DEED RESTRICTIONS WHEN APPLICANT APPLIES FOR A PERMIT.
UM, THE RESTRICTION AFFIDAVIT, WHICH CHECKS WHICH ASK IF THERE ARE ANY DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE IF THERE ARE VIOLATING ANY MEANING, WILL YOU CHECK THE BOX? WE DON'T CHECK IT.
FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE DO NOT VERIFY WHETHER D RESTRICTIONS ARE COMPLETED.
THE D RESTRICTION GOES INTO THE HARRIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE, I WANNA SAY RIGHT THERE IS THE PHONE NUMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL AND CONTACT.
IF THERE'S A D RESTRICTION COMPLAINT, CALL THAT NUMBER.
WHAT WILL THE CITY DO IF THE CONTRACTOR LIES ABOUT THE DECLARATION? I HAVE SOMEBODY HERE, ONE OF MY EXPERTS WHO IS GOING TO REFER HIM TO COME BACK ON UP TO GO AHEAD AND ENTER THAT QUESTION, MR. DAMON.
ALRIGHT, TYPICALLY WE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE LIED ON THE DECLARATION OR PUT IN FALSE INFORMATION, UM, UH, BASED ON NOT EVEN KNOWING.
WE HA WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE COME AND SIGN THE DECLARATION PAGE WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO LOOK AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BOTHER TO LOOK TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
UM, AND SO, UH, SOME OF THAT IS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH, THAT'S FOR SURE BECAUSE THE DEED RESTRICTION DECLARATION SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THEY HAVE INQUIRED WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
AND THEN IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THEY HAVE DETERMINED THEY HAVE NOT, THEY'RE NOT IN VIOLATION OF THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
BUT WE TALKED TO PEOPLE, UH, AND THEY SAID, OH, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.
WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT UNLESS WE GET A COMPLAINT AND THEN WE START OUR INVESTIGATION PROCESS.
SO IF YOU THINK THAT SOMEBODY HAS, UH, FALSELY FILLED OUT THE DECLARATIONS FORM AND THAT THEY ARE VIOLATING A DEED RESTRICTION ISSUE THAT WE CAN HANDLE ONE OF THOSE FIVE AREAS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, MAKE A COMPLAINT, WE WILL LOOK INTO THE DECLARATIONS.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THEY GET A FINE, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT SAYS, UH, THEY GET TAKEN DOWN TO JAIL FOR, UH, DOING THIS FALSELY.
I GUESS THERE'S PROBABLY SOME LAW SOMEWHERE ABOUT FILLING OUT A, UM, GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT AND, UH, FALSELY DOING SO.
WE DO NOT PROSECUTE THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PROSECUTES THAT.
SO, UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE THAT, UM, WE DON'T CHECK.
THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT DOES NOT CHECK, UH, DE RESTRICTIONS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE DO DE RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT, IT TAKES HOURS IF NOT DAYS OF REVIEW.
IT TAKES HUGE EXPENSE AT PULLING THE DOCUMENTS AND REVIEWING THEM.
UH, I DON'T SEE HOW THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT COULD DO THAT.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE.
THE MAYOR HAS SAID AT LAST WEEK'S COUNCIL MEETING THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET SOME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THIS HERE, THIS ISSUE TO BE DETERMINED.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, I JUST WANTED ONE THING I I SAID ABOUT CONTACT US FOR THE VIOLATION, WHAT WE DO WITH THE DECLARATION AND, AND THERE'S NO SPECIFIC PENALTY.
WE GO AHEAD AND DO OUR REGULAR ENFORCEMENT BASED ON WHAT YOUR RESTRICTION.
WE'RE GOING DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE THOUGH, AND WE ARE GOING DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS INVOLVING THE D UH, WELL, I MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS.
WE WILL USE THAT DECLARATIONS PAGE WHERE THEY SIGNED AND SAID THEY WERE NOT VIOLATING IT.
WE WILL USE THAT, UH, IN AS EVIDENCE IN THE CASE AS BEST WE CAN.
HOW DOES THIS HAVE ANY VALUE? IT HAS VALUE THERE
[00:35:01]
FOR SOME PEOPLE.THEY ACTUALLY DO START INQUIRING ABOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS.
ONE, THAT'S WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO DO.
SO THIS HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE BEFORE I STARTED DOING THIS STUFF.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S GOTTEN TO WHERE PEOPLE, HOW MANY CITATIONS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITHOUT GOING TO COURT.
HOW MANY HAVE GONE TO COURT WITHIN A CALENDAR YEAR? LAST YEAR, FROM JANUARY, 2023 TO NOVEMBER, 2023, 2000 CI CITATIONS WERE ISSUED FOR INVESTIGATIONS.
WE CANNOT ACCESS THE COURT SYSTEM TO SPEAK ON HOW MANY HAVE GONE TO COURT IN A CALENDAR YEAR.
WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
HOW DO I GET MORE DETAILS ON THE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURE? PROCEDURE? THE ACTION DETERMINES THE ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WE ALL CALL AN INVESTIGATION OPEN INVESTIGATIONS ARE MONITORED AND IF NECESSARY, ACTIONS ARE DETERMINED, PLEASE CHECK THE, THE CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION BY USING THE CASE NUMBER THROUGH 3 1 1.
FOR LEGAL REASONS, DETAILS ARE NOT COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC.
AGAIN, FOR LEGAL REASONS, DETAILS ARE NOT COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC.
BUT IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN MAKE AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FOR THE PROPERTY.
WHAT IS THE RECOURSE FOR ENSURING THE CON THE CONTRACT REMOVES FIELD DIRT FROM THE FLOODPLAIN WITHOUT A PERMIT.
SO THE RECOURSE FOR THIS IS WHEN SOMEONE HAS DONE A 3 1 1 COMPLAINT, WE GO OUT AND VERIFY THAT THEY'RE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
WE HAVEN'T EXPECT TO GO OUT TO DO AN INVESTIGATION CALLED, THEY VERIFY THAT THERE'S FIELD WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN WITHOUT A PERMIT.
FROM THAT POINT, THEY ISSUE A, UH, WE CALL A RED TAG NOTICE, WHICH IS AN ISSUE OF VIOLATION.
TYPICALLY WITHIN 24 TO FOUR EIGHT HOURS, SOME FORM OF COMMUNICATION IS DONE WHERE THEY USE HCA TO FIND OUT WHO THE OWNER IS AND MAIL THAT VIOLATION TO THEM.
SOMETIME THE INSPECTOR GOES OUT, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACTOR OWNER WITH ALREADY OWNER ON SITE THERE.
AT THAT POINT, THAT'S A FACE-TO-FACE NOTIFICATION.
UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT, THEY MAY EVEN USE AN AFFIDAVIT TO TRY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE OWNER, LET 'EM KNOW THAT THERE'S A VIOLATION.
FROM THAT POINT, WE WANT EVERYONE TO CO COMPLY.
SO THEY INSPECT TO GIVE THEM ABOUT 10 DAYS TO BEGIN THEIR COMPLIANCE TO SEE, OKAY, IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A PERMIT, SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT WANNA GET A PERMIT, THEY MAY JUST DECIDE, OKAY, I'M GONNA REMOVE THIS FIELD.
SO HOW DOES THE INSPECTOR ENSURE THAT THE FIELD HAS BEEN REMOVED? UH, THAT INSPECTOR IS GONNA REQUIRE TRUCK RECEIPTS SHOWING THAT HEY, YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO COME IN THERE AND REMOVE THAT FIELD.
THAT FIELD WAS THEN TAKEN FROM THAT SITE OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN AND THEN TAKEN TO A FACILITY SHOW THAT THEN AFTER THAT, THEY'RE GONNA REQUIRE THAT THAT OWNER GETS A TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL SURVEYOR OR A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS REMOVED.
UH, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL USE THAT TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY AND WE'LL COMPARE THAT TO, UH, CONTOUR LINES OR THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE VIA HAD OR OUR OWN WEBSITE HERE ACCORDING TO THE LINES, TO SEE, OKAY, WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.
AND THIS IS WHAT THE TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY SHOWS NOW TO ENSURE THAT THE FIELD HAS BEEN BEEN REMOVED.
NOT IN THE CASE THAT SOMEONE SAYS, OKAY, I'M NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING.
AT THAT POINT OUR INSPECTOR CAN ISSUE A CITATION.
THAT CITATION FINE CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 250 TO TWO AT THAT POINT.
ONCE IT MAKES THE COURT, WHAT IS THE RECOURSE FOR ENSURING THE CONTRACT AND REMOVE FIELD DIRT FROM THE FLOODPLAIN WITHOUT A PERMIT.
MEANING THAT THEY BROUGHT FUEL INTO THAT, THAT SITE WITHOUT A PERMIT.
SO IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT US, HERE YOU GO.
YOU CAN HA YOU CAN USE YOUR PHONE TO USE ANY OF THOSE QR CODES, WHICH WILL TAKE YOU TO FACEBOOK, TWITTER, X, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, YOUTUBE HAS ALL OF THE, THE, UM, WHAT IS IT? THE, THE TRAININGS WE HAVE FOR THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER.
WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE HOUSTON GBRC, WHICH WE'LL BE HOSTING AN EVENT ON, UM, THE 28TH OF MARCH.
I MEAN, WE CAN ALL PUT A SMILE ON OUR FACE FOR THAT ONE.
UM, BUT MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, REACH OUT TO US AT 8 3 2 3 9 4 9,000 OR WW DOT HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER.ORG.
THIS TIME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING AFTER THIS MEETING, YOU CAN ALSO
[00:40:01]
EMAIL US AT ALERT DOT PERMITTING CENTER@HOUSTONTX.GOV.YOUR QUESTION WILL THEN BE REDIRECTED TO THE EXPERT AREA SO THAT THEY CAN BE SURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
I'LL GIVE Y'ALL A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO TAKE THIS, TAKE THIS ONE DOWN.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY COH PERMITS.
IT'S ALL ONE WORD PERMITS, MA'AM, WE ALREADY DONE TO THAT EMAIL 'CAUSE IT WAS A DIFFERENT ONE THE LAST TIME.
SO WHAT IS THE NEXT, OH, THAT'S YOUR QUESTION? YEAH.
OH, IF YOU GO TO WW DOT HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER.ORG, WE HAVE LIVE CHAT.
SO YOU CAN ALWAYS CHAT WITH SOMEBODY RIGHT THEN IN IN PERSON, LIKE DO CHAT AWAY AND I PROMISE YOU IT'S GONNA GET TO THE RIGHT PERSON.
AND IF YOU STILL CAN'T GET TO ANYBODY AND YOU REALLY, REALLY NEED TO REACH A DIAL 8 3 2 3 9 4 9,000 AND THEN YOU'LL GET TO SOMEBODY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF EIGHT AND FIVE.
IT IS A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THERE? YES.
AT THIS POINT, LET ME ADD TO THAT.
OKAY? UM, AND I'LL FIND OUT IF, IF YOU GO TO THE, CAN YOU COME UP TO THE FRONT AND ALSO IF YOU GO TO THE WWW.HOUSTONPERMITTINGCENTER.ORG, YOU GO DOWN TO THE, I WANNA SAY FREQUENTLY USED LIST.
THERE IS A CONTACT NUMBER, A WHOLE PAGE, RUDY'S NUMBER'S ON THERE, UM, BYRON'S NUMBER'S ON THERE.
ELIZABETH'S NUMBER'S ON THERE.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT WORK CHART? YOU CONTACT US DIRECTLY.
SO I'M NOT, I'M NOT ADVOCATING.
ALRIGHT, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE COME UP TO THE FRONT SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR.
BACK TO THE ORG CHART SO THAT YOU CAN SEE IT AGAIN.
YES, Y'ALL CAN SIGN UP, UH, LINE UP AND COME UP TO THE FRONT BECAUSE WE CAN'T ALL HEAR, WE ALWAYS SEND IT WITHIN THE MINUTES.
THEY'RE ALWAYS ATTACHED IN THE MINUTES.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE LINE UP AND COME UP HERE TO TALK IN ONE MINUTE.
I'M THE ACRES HOME SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT NOT EVERY BUILDER FILLS OUT THAT FORM AND THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY PUTTING THE INCORRECT INFORMATION.
HOWEVER, I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER BY TRADE AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF BUILDERS TELL ME IT'S DIFFICULT TO LOCATE THE DEEP RESTRICTIONS.
SO IN GIVING ADVICE, WHERE DO WE TELL THEM TO GO TO FIND IF THAT AREA HAS DEEP RESTRICTIONS? OH, AND, AND, AND NOT TO MENTION, AND NOT TO MENTION, PLACES LIKE BROOKHAVEN, THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE SO OLD.
SO THERE, THERE ARE MANY LIKE THAT, THAT ARE VERY OLD.
THERE ARE MANY ON THE BOOKS THAT HAVE EXPIRED.
IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A SUBDIVISION HAS DEED RESTRICTIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES NOT KEEP DEED RESTRICTION RECORDS.
THE COUNTY CLERK, HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE KEEPS DEED RESTRICTION RECORDS IN, UM, THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS.
WE HAVE EXPERTS, TITLE RESEARCH, PEOPLE THAT DO IT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE EXPENSIVE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND WE CHECK EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE EVEN IN A SUBDIVISION FROM ONE LOT TO THE NEXT, THE DEED RESTRICTIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT AND EXCEPTIONS MAY APPLY.
IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.
SO, UH, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO KNOW WHAT THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS SAY.
SO WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A PERMIT, THE OWNER IS ON RECORD, UH, SUPPOSEDLY BY THIS DECLARATION.
UH, FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE COMPLYING.
UH, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REVIEW EVERY APPLICATION.
UM, SO IF YOU WANT, THE BEST THING IS YOUR HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION FOR YOUR SUBDIVISION OR YOUR CIVIC CLUB OR YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, GET A COPY OF YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS
[00:45:01]
AND IF YOU SEE SOMETHING GOING ON, UH, LET THAT PERSON KNOW YOU DO HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS IN THAT AREA.IF, UH, IF YOU HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS, THEN PEOPLE ARE GONNA TALK AND KNOW ABOUT IT BEFORE THEY DO IT.
SO THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET, UH, THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
I LIVE IN A GREATER, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, SUPER HEIGHTS 15.
AND UH, SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HISTORICALLY WERE PROTECTED AND SOME OF THEM HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
UH, SOME OF OUR CIVIC, NONE OF US ARE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.
SOME OF US HAVE LAWYERS ON RETAINER.
AND UH, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IF WE NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO ENFORCE A DEED RESTRICTION, COULD WE COME TO THE CITY OR WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE LAWYERS THAT WE HAVE? UM, GET INVOLVED COUNSELOR.
YOU CAN STILL STAND
ALSO ANOTHER UH, GOOD TOOL IS EVERY WEEK THE PERMITTING CENTERS SENDS OUT A LIST OF ALL THE PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR THE PRIOR WEEK.
JUST LOOK BY YOUR ZIP CODE AND YOU CAN LOOK DOWN AND FIND THEM.
THAT HELPS US KNOW ABOUT IT TOO.
MY CONCERN IS THESE PEOPLE ARE SIGNING AFFIDAVITS.
IF THEY WENT OUT AND STARTED BUILDING A SECOND STORY ON TOP OF A, WHAT THEY SAID WAS GONNA BE A ONE STORY, YOU WOULD RED TAG 'EM, YOU WOULD STOP 'EM.
HERE'S THE SAME CASE THEY'VE GONE IN AND THEY'VE SAID, OH YEAH, WE HAVE AD RESTRICTIONS.
THEY'VE MADE A FALSE OFFICIAL STATEMENT, BUT IT HAS NO TEETH.
'CAUSE NOBODY'S WILLING TO ENFORCE IT.
SO I HOPE THE MAYOR IS GONNA LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE AT THIS POINT NOTHING'S BEING DONE.
THEY CAN SIGN IT ALL DAY LONG.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT.
UH, HEY DAVID, WE TALKED ON SOME THINGS.
UH, THE QUESTION IS WHEN THEY FILL OUT THE AFFIDAVIT TO STATE THAT IF THERE ARE D RESTRICTIONS, WHAT ABOUT UH, HAVING THEM TO HAVE A LETTER FROM THE HOA OR THE CIVIC CLUB AS A REQUIREMENT TO STATE THAT THERE ARE THE RESTRICTIONS OR THEY'RE NOT? AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE LETTER AND THEY CAN'T PRODUCE IT, THEN PERHAPS THERE'S NOT.
SO THAT'LL PUT IT, THE RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON THEM.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS, I KNOW WE ARE SITTING IN THE BACK, BUT IN SPEAKING TO YOUR OFFICE, THERE ARE FIVE ITEMS THAT YOU ALL CAN ENFORCE WITH FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT.
CAN YOU VERBALLY MENTION THOSE FIVE ITEMS? WE WILL BE SENDING, Y'ALL GONNA SEND A THING INFORMATION OUT IN MINUTES.
AND THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT YOU ALL.
YOUR RESPONSE IS THEY HAVE A REASONABLE TIME TO CORRECT IT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN RVS AND TRAILERS ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND IT NOT ONLY VIOLATES OUR D RESTRICTION, IT VIOLATES THE CITY ORDINANCE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO RESIDE IN A TRAILER OR RV UNLESS IT'S IN A DESIGNATED TRAILER PARK.
MARIE CARLISLE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 14.
AND I DO WANNA FIRST SAY THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF HEAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STAND HERE.
UM, I'M GONNA SWITCH TOPICS THOUGH A LITTLE BIT.
YOU POSTED A STATISTIC SAYING THAT THERE WERE 706,000 PERMITS LAST YEAR.
AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO.
TO ME THAT SEEMS VERY LOW ON THE INSPECTION SIDE.
THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF ONE FOR MOST OF THEM.
THERE'S A 23% THAT WOULD HAVE TWO INSPECTIONS.
AND GIVEN ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH ENFORCEMENT, NOT JUST DEED RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT, BUT FLOODPLAIN FILL, I LIVE NEXT TO PROPERTY THAT HAS THREE FOOT OF FILL, BROUGHT ONTO IT WITHOUT A PERMIT.
AND THAT FILLS STILL SITS HERE A YEAR AND A HALF LATER.
[00:50:01]
SO CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THOSE NUMBERS ARE SO LOW AND WE'RE NOT SEEING MORE INSPECTIONS COMING THROUGH TO ENSURE THAT PERMITS ARE COMPLIED WITH? SO I'M RICHARD SMITH.I'M THE INTERIM CITY ENGINEER.
I WILL SPEAK ON THE, THE CITY ENGINEERING SIDE STUFF THAT'S DONE IN THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY SUCH AS SIDEWALKS, THE DRIVEWAY BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE, UH, PROPERTY LINE.
FOR US, A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL GO OUT AND DO AN INSPECTION IF IT DOESN'T PASS OR FOR SOME REASON IT'S SOME MINOR CHANGE THAT THE DEVELOPER NEEDS TO FIX.
SUCH AS, UH, WE'VE HAD SOME WHERE THE FORMS HAVE ONLY BEEN LIKE FOUR INCHES TALL INSTEAD OF SIX.
THE INSPECTOR WILL JUST NOTE IT AS BEING A FAIL, NO AS FAILING OR NOT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS AND NOT NECESSARILY CONSIDER IT AS AN INSPECTION.
'CAUSE THEY MAY COME BACK, THEY MAY SCHEDULE TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY.
THEY MAY SCHEDULE TO COME BACK LATER THAT AFTERNOON AND GIVE THE DEVELOPER OR THE BUILDER A CHANCE TO FIX IT.
SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU WON'T SEE THAT THERE WAS TWO OR THREE INSPECTIONS.
YOU'LL ONLY SEE THAT THERE WAS ONE INSPECTION THAT THEY IMPROVED ON.
SO THAT WOULD BE ON THE CITY ENGINEERING SIDE.
I CAN'T ANSWER FOR THE BUILDING SIDE, BUT AT LEAST FROM THE CITY ENGINEERING SIDE, THAT'S A LOT OF TIMES WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS NOT SO MUCH THAT WE'RE NOT DOING MORE INSPECTIONS, WE'RE JUST NOT RECORDING THE INSPECTION EVERY TIME.
AND THEY'LL JUST SAY IT'S A PARTIAL, WHICH SOMETIMES WE'LL GET PARTIALS, LIKE IF THEY JUST DID THE SIDEWALK BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE DRIVEWAY.
SO THEN YOU WOULD SEE A PARTIAL INSPECTION AND THEN WE MAY COME BACK AND FINAL THE DRIVEWAY AND THAT WOULD BE TWO INSPECTIONS FOR TWO PERMITS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, AND LIKE I SAID, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THERE THREE TIMES TO DO THAT.
MM-HMM
I'VE LISTENED TO THIS PRESENTATION NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME AND IT IS MADDENING TO ME TO HEAR THE SAME RESPONSES THAT WE GOT IN JANUARY.
AND IT JUST CONFIRMS THE HAMSTER WILL THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS FIND THEMSELVES IN EVERY TIME WE GO TO ACCESS THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THROUGH OURSELVES, TO ME IT'S POINTLESS TO REACH OUT VIA YOUR CONTACT US SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S A HAMSTER WHEEL.
AS MARIE SAID EARLIER, SHE'S BEEN DEALING WITH ONE SITUATION FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 12 NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT GOES ON AT THE WEST END OF WASHINGTON AVENUE.
AND THERE ARE BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT OR LACK THEREOF THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS ON, PARTICULARLY IN ONE SITUATION.
THEY HAVE NO CO AND THE UN PERMITTED, UH, STRUCTURE THERE HAS, UH, INVALIDATED THE CO THEY DID HAVE.
SO I'M LOOKING TO GET WITH I THINK THE BUILDING EN CO CO BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR AS WELL AS RUDY TO FIND OUT SOME ANSWERS TO MY QUESTION.
I'M FROM THE STAGE TO EACH, I'M FROM THE THIRD WARD.
UM, OUR PRO, I CAME BECAUSE I'M DESPERATE.
UH, OUR PROBLEM ARE NOT IN REGARDS OF, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS OR LAND OR NONE OF THAT.
I'M NOT GONNA BRING IT UP HERE, BUT IT SEEMS WHAT I HEAR IS THAT THE BURDEN OF FIXING THINGS OR, YOU KNOW, GETTING HELP FROM THE CITY IS A HAMSTER WHEEL, LIKE SHE SAID.
SO I THINK THAT THE MENTALITY OF PUTTING THE BURDEN ON US, IT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
WE NEED, UM, IN MY OPINION, WHAT I HEAR HERE AND WITH THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING FOR THREE YEARS, UM, THERE'S NO REAL SOLUTION.
PUT IT ON US AND IT, IT DOESN'T GET ANYWHERE.
YOU GO TO THE COURT, IT GET DISMISSED OR IT GETS RESET AND IT NEVER GETS TO THE POINT.
SO I HOPE THIS MAYOR UNDERSTAND THAT
[00:55:01]
THERE'S LIMIT, BUT WE NEED, WE NEED HELP.WELL AGAIN, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
UM, AGAIN, AFTER THE MEETING WE WILL BE HERE TO ADDRESS CERTAIN QUESTIONS.
UM, MS. ELIZABETH WILL BE HERE.
I'LL BE HERE AND SOME OF OUR EXPERT PANEL WILL BE HERE TO HELP YOU TO GET SOME OF YOUR SITUATIONS FIXED OR AS BEST AS WE CAN DIRECT YOU TO THE NEXT POINT OF CONTACT.
BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE FIXING IT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO HELP.
AND UM, Y'ALL ARE GOING TO STAY AROUND, RIGHT? YES.
UM, VERY GOOD EX UM, PRESENTATION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
OKAY, UM, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON, BUT DO REMEMBER THAT, THAT THEY WILL BE HANGING AROUND, OKAY.
UM, SO THE NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF LITTLE MINOR TWEAKS IN WORDING.
SO, UH, WE, WE NEED TO KIND OF GO THROUGH AND MAKE A COUPLE OF LITTLE WORDING ADJUSTMENTS ON THE MINUTES.
SO, UH, ONCE WE DO THAT, WE CAN SEND THEM OUT TO Y'ALL REDLINE TO SHOW WHAT CHANGED AND WE'LL BRING THEM UP, UM, NEXT MONTH.
UM, WE JUST NEED TO DO SOME VERIFICATION ON SOME OF THE WORDING.
UM, NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS.
I WANTED TO REMIND Y'ALL THAT WE HAVE A COMMITTEE WORKING ON REVISING OUR BYLAWS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DELEGATE AND OR ALTERNATE FOR YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD HAS RECEIVED A COPY OF THE PROPOSED BYLAWS REVISIONS.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE THIS BACK.
TALK ABOUT THEM WITH YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEM, LET US KNOW.
AND NOW RHONDA, YOU HAD A REQ? OH ME.
WE'RE GONNA LET DIRECTOR SIMS. OKAY.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT ROBERT RULE.
SO, UM, AS A PART OF THIS NEW FISCAL YEAR, WE UM, PARTNERED WITH AN, UH, COMPANY TO DO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER IN A PORTAL STYLE TRAINING.
SO THE PORTAL INCLUDES LIVE TRAINING WEBINARS, AS WELL AS IF YOUR OFFICERS CHANGE WITHIN THE YEAR, THEY CAN GO INTO THE PORTAL, DO THE TRAINING, TAKE THE TEST AND GET THEIR CERTIFICATE THAT THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED IN ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
SO IT, WE DID A, IT'S NOT A MOCK TRAINING, IT WAS REALLY A TRAINING FOR US 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER EXPERTS EITHER.
WE GOT TO PREVIEW THE PORTAL, UM, SEE WHAT OTHER TRAININGS ARE THERE AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, IT'S HOW TO CHAIR A MEETING SUCCESSFULLY.
UM, SEND SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL MOTIONS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.
'CAUSE I THINK EVEN IN COUNCIL MEETINGS WE DON'T GET THAT FAR INTO MOTIONS.
SO IT WAS PRETTY, YOU KNOW, GOOD TO HEAR, UM, ABOUT THAT.
SO WHEN DO THESE RULES BECOME IN EFFECT? SO I REALLY ENJOYED THAT PART OF THE MEETING WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT THE BOX.
AND AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN THIS BOX, THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER DOESN'T CONTROL THE WHOLE MEETING.
INFORMATION IS NOT UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
SO IT'S ONLY WHEN THAT MOTION COMES UP THAT VOTE COMES UP IS WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT HOUSE.
NOW WE GOTTA USE THESE RULES, SO I DON'T WANNA SPILL THE BEANS ON EVERYTHING SHE TAUGHT US, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, I LEARNED SOMETHING.
SO IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT AND I THINK I TRY TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLAR.
AND SO THAT WILL BE ROLLING OUT THIS MONTH.
UM, WE SENT, UM, THE LAST PIECES OF INFORMATION TO THEM THIS WEEK.
UM, I KNOW THAT MARK AND AND JARED WERE CORRESPONDING.
SO THAT WILL BE ROLLED OUT THIS MONTH THROUGH THE MAO WEBSITE.
UM, SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT LINK, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH YOU GUYS TO GET THE USERNAME AND LOGINS AND ALL THAT GOING CORRECT.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET TALKING LOUD FOR, FOR THE TV.
UM, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GET A LINK AT YOUR, UM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD EMAIL.
SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CHECKING THAT AND THEY WILL REACH OUT TO YOU FOR YOUR COUNSEL INFORMATION AS WELL.
[01:00:01]
CAN REGISTER ON COUNCIL.UM, WHAT WE HOPED TO DO IS THAT THE COUNCILS WOULD WORK TOGETHER, KIND OF A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE TOGETHER TO, TO PROVIDE BETTER MEETINGS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND I, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT AS A DEMONSTRATIVE, PASSIONATE PERSON MYSELF, UM, THAT A LOT OF THE ISSUES YOU'RE DISCUSSING ARE VERY, UM, ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE MAY BEEN DEALING WITH FOR YEARS.
YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEM AND I THINK IT WILL HELP DIRECT, UM, THE MEETING AND TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE.
UM, 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, AFTER I TELL YOU A WHILE, I'LL START REPEATING MYSELF.
SO, UM, I DID LIKE THAT PART 'CAUSE I WAS UTILIZED THINKING OF MYSELF IN A MEETING AND HOW TO APPLY THE RULES.
SO HOPEFULLY IT HELPS AND PRODUCTIVE.
WE WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK WHEN YOU'RE USING THEM, UM, ON HOW IT'S GOING, WHETHER YOU FIND THEM USEFUL.
UM, WE DO HAVE A YEAR'S SUBSCRIPTION AND THAT'S A CALENDAR YEAR.
SO THE SUBSCRIPTION GOES FROM JANUARY 1ST TO DECEMBER 31ST.
UM, AND THEN FROM THERE WE'LL DECIDE WHETHER IT'S WORTH TO RE-UP THAT SUBSCRIPTION OR MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT HOW LONG IS THE UH, TRAINING? OH, THE TRAINING WASN'T VERY LONG.
IF YOU DO THE PORTAL SELF-PACED, I BELIEVE IT'S ANYWHERE BETWEEN 25.
YOU CAN GO AS LONG AS 45 MINUTES DEPENDING ON HOW LONG YOU TAKE ON IT.
UM, THE WEBINAR ITSELF WASN'T 45 MINUTES.
I THINK MAYBE WE EXTENDED TO AN HOUR, BUT IT WAS KIND OF AN AWKWARD ROOM SITUATION, SO IT KIND OF EXTENDED THE MEETING MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT IT'S NOT LONG AT ALL AND VERY INFORMATIVE.
I I PERSONALLY WANTED TO SAY THAT AMY AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING KIND OF A, ONE OF Y'ALL'S DEPARTMENT MEETINGS,
UM, WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY, UH, WELL MORE THAN A FEW SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HAVING SOME PROBLEMS IN HOW TO RUN A MEETING.
AND I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN RUNNING THINGS.
NOW I WANTED TO GIVE Y'ALL SOME UPDATES.
UM, I REFERRED EARLIER THAT THE BYLAW REVISIONS, I'M ASKING, WELL THE TEAM IS ASKING THAT WE GET ONE COMBINED LIST OF COMMENTS PER SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU WANNA, UH, EXPRESS ABOUT THE REVISED UH, BYLAWS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD TO COME TOGETHER WITH ONE LIST.
WE DON'T WANNA BE GETTING 15 LISTS OF CONFLICTING COMMENTS FROM SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE ONE LIST FROM EACH SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ON, UH, POTENTIAL CHANGES YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MADE IN THE DRAFT OF THE NEW BYLAWS.
AND JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW WHAT OUR PROCESS HAS BEEN FOR THIS IS THE CITY IS FULLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
OKAY? WE'RE NOT DOING THIS WITHOUT THE CITY KNOWING THAT WE'RE DOING IT.
THEY KNOW THE PROCESS THAT WAS FO UH, THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT WE HAD A COMMITTEE.
AND THE COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON REVI, ON THE PROPOSED BYLAW CHANGES.
AND THAT WILL LEAD TO MOST PROBABLY A NEED FOR A NEW MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY.
AND ONCE WE COME UP WITH A BYLAWS THAT WE ALL AGREE ON, THEN WE WILL LOOK AT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
WE'VE KIND OF DOING IT IN TANDEM AND IT'S OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY.
SO THEN WE WILL UPDATE THAT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, PRESENT IT TO THE CITY.
I THINK THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS PROBABLY BY THAT TIME IS PROBABLY GONNA HAVE SEEN IT ALREADY AND IT SHOULD BE A FAIRLY SEAMLESS, BUT THAT'S THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE'RE GOING THROUGH, UM, TO DO THIS, THE CITY IS AWARE OF THAT, THEY HAVE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
SO, UH, THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR US TO FINISH AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING SO THAT WE CAN GO TO THAT NEXT STEP.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO OUR OPEN FORUM AND SO WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO, TO GO FOR TWO MINUTES.
IF YOU CAN JUST LINE UP AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO JUST TO COME UP AND, AND, UH, ANNOUNCE, GIVE US, LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'LL KICK IT OFF.
SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 31 BRAESWOOD HAS APPLIED FOR A CITY GRANT.
KNOCK ON WOOD, I DON'T THINK THIS IS WOOD, BUT WE'RE HOPING NO, DON'T SAY DON'T KNOCK.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING THAT THERE ARE OTHER SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT GOT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN AND THAT WE ALL HAVE REALLY POSITIVE NEEDS TO SHARE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DO, WHAT'S YOUR PROJECT? PARDON? WHAT'S YOUR PROJECT? OH, OUR PROJECT WAS TO DO SOME LANDSCAPING.
UH, OUR PROJECT WAS TO DO SOME LANDSCAPING ALONG STONE LAKE CORRIDOR AND, AND WORKING WITH SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES AROUND THERE.
[01:05:01]
ENTRANCE AREA TO THE CITY AND IT MEETS SOME SPRUCE IT UP.AND SO WE WANTED TO PUT IN SOME, UM, IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
SO WE GOT IT ALL DONE, ALL WENT UP ON THAT.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY DID APPLY? HOW MANY RN REMEMBER HOW MANY APPLICATIONS DID YOU RECEIVE? 10.
THE MOU IS WHAT EQUIVALENT OF CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION IS THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE, OUR BYLAWS CANNOT CONTRADICT THAT.
SO TO ME, I ASKED THIS OVER A WEEK AGO, I HAVEN'T HAD A RESPONSE YET.
WHY ARE WE NOT LOOKING AT THE MOU FIRST? GETTING THAT IN ORDER? BECAUSE WE KNOW WITH THE GUIDELINES, WE HAD NO IMPACT INPUT AT ALL ON THAT BECAUSE THEN IF WE GET THE BYLAWS IN PLACE, AND THEN WHICH ONES ARE APPLICABLE FOR THE MEMORANDUM OF STANDING, WHICH ONES ARE IN CONFLICT, WHICH ONES WILL BE IN CONFLICT, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BYLAWS AND AMENDMENT THEM? ONCE AGAIN, TO ME IT'S PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT THE MLU FIRST WITH THE BYLAWS IN THE BACKGROUND OF THAT.
AS I SAID, WE'RE DOING IT IN TANDEM.
WE'VE GOT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING HERE, WE HAVE THE BYLAWS HERE.
AND AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND LOOKING AT THIS, WE ARE LOOKING AT BOTH AND IT'S, IT'S A CIRCLE IN OUR MIND.
UM, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY CON ANYTHING Y'ALL WANTED TO THROW IN FROM THE CITY SIDE? NO.
I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE WELL AWARE THAT THE COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON BOTH.
WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THEIR PROCESS, BUT, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE MOU STUFF AND THE BYLAWS AT LEAST IS AN INTERNAL, THAT'S WITHIN US.
MOU, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CITY.
AND IF THE CITY SAYS, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON THE BYLAWS AGAIN.
WHY ARE WE DOING THAT TO ME? LET'S WORK ON THE MOU, GET THAT IN PLACE.
UM, AND THEN I AM WORKING WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE BOARD AND WE ARE COMFORTABLE.
IT'S, WE ARE THE BOARD WE ARE WORKING WITH.
I'M SAYING NO, WE'RE THE BOARD.
WE ARE WORKING WITH SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.
WE'RE THE COUNCIL
AND WHO'S ON THAT COMMITTEE? THE CITY AND THE CITY AND THE, WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS.
IS IT FIVE MEMBERS? AMY? IT'S NEVER BEEN PUT IN.
WELL, IF THERE, WE NEVER KNOW WHO THEY WERE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE COMMITTEE? I'M ON THE COMMITTEE AND KEITH AND KEITH IS ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO WE AND RICKY CARDENA, HE'S NOT HERE.
TONIGHT'S ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE PEOPLE FROM THE CITY WERE AT THE FIRST MEETING WERE ASKED IF THEY WANTED BE COMMITTEE.
I RECALL CORRECTLY, EVERYONE WAS ASKED IF YOU WANTED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE TO DO THAT, THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT ON COMMITTEE.
BUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, I GUESS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY'RE WORKING T AT THE SAME TIME THE CITY IS AWARE.
SO THE CITY HAS NO OBJECTIONS.
AND IF THE CITY, OKAY, BUT I, YEAH, I DON'T THINK THIS IS OUR DEBATE TIME TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
NO, AND I I I'M NOT QUESTIONING ABOUT HITTING ON THE COMMITTEE.
I WAS QUESTIONING WHO'S ON THE COMMITTEE.
WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
WE, WE, I THOUGHT WE HAD ANNOUNCED IT, BUT GO AHEAD.
HI, I'M JACKIE MAHORN WITH SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 47 EAST LITTLE YORK HOMESTEAD AND ALSO PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE WAY BACK IN THE DAY 2005, BILL WHITE DAYS AND STUFF.
BUT THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS THE GUIDELINES.
WHEN DO WE GIVE FEEDBACK BACK TO THE NA DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS? AND HOW DO YOU WANT IT? BECAUSE ONE PART OF IT IS SAYING THAT YOU GUYS WILL NOT HELP WITH A 5 0 1 C3.
I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU DO THAT.
THAT'S DOES IT SAY? OH YEAH, WE'RE NOT, YEAH, I MEAN, AT THIS MOMENT, UM, WE ARE NOT ASSISTING.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING BEHIND THE SCENES.
UM, BUT AT THIS TIME WE ARE NOT ASSISTING WITH THE 5 0 1 C.
SO I, I AM HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE GRANT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR 24 YEARS AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED NOT ONE STAMP TO MAIL OUT TO HELP DO OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, SO THAT, THAT'S HELPFUL.
I MEAN, IT IS LIKE 24 YEARS LATE, BUT IT'S HELPFUL.
SO ON THAT ORDER, REMIND EVERYBODY THAT GRANT DOES NOT RUN TO THE END OF DECEMBER.
IT'S THE, UM, OUR FISCAL YEAR.
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SO ALL OF YOUR EXPENSES, UM, THAT YOU WANT REIMBURSED, YOU FIND OUT IF AN EXPENSE IS, UM, REIMBURSABLE CONTACT SANDRA CORTEX.CURRENTLY, HOPEFULLY, UM, BUDGET DOESN'T PASS TO LATER THIS YEAR, BUT HOPEFULLY THE, THE PROGRAM'S FUNDING STAYS INACT IN.
SO, UM, WE'LL GET THE CHANCE TO FIND, TUNE A LOT OF THINGS.
'CAUSE I HATE TO SEND YOU AN INVOICE NOW.
SO FOR THAT QUESTION AND, AND THE LAST QUESTION, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN.
SO I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE SUBMITTED TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS AROUND IT? YOU KNOW, WHEN DO PROJECTS ACTUALLY GET FUNDED OR HOW MANY HAS IN THE PAST? BECAUSE THE WHOLE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN AROUND WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PROCESS, IT HASN'T WORKED.
SO THEY'LL GO, OH, IT'S CIP IS SNAP.
WHEN DO, DO WE GET PRIORITY OR WITH THESE PROJECTS, IT GOES TO THE MAYOR, WHERE'S THE FUNDING? IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN YOU GO TO CIP, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'LL BE ON THERE FOR FIVE YEARS AND THEN JUST DROP OFF.
THERE'S NO PROCESS AROUND THAT EITHER.
SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHO CAN TAKE IT OFF.
WE KNOW HOW IT GETS ON SUPPOSEDLY WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GO LOOK FOR A PROJECT AND, AND NOBODY KNOWS.
OH, IT'S NO, IT'S NO MONEY, IT'S NO BUDGET.
WELL, I'M STILL TALKING TWO MINUTES IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU.
SO, SO REALLY QUICKLY, UH, AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND AS WELL.
HE'S, AND WE DO NOT, THE CITY DOES NOT DO SNAPS THE WAY THEY USED TO.
THAT ENDED IN AN EAST PARKER'S ADMINISTRATION IN THE VERY LAST TWO YEARS, I THINK, OF HER ADMINISTRATION.
WE DON'T DO SNAPS THE WAY THEY USED TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLANS.
THE SNAPS, UM, WILL GO TO THE ALLIANCE AND WE WILL PUT THEM ONLINE.
THE GOAL IS WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT, YOUR PROJECTS, BUT YOU TURN INTO THE ALLIANCE, WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WILL PUT THAT ONLINE, ON THE WEBSITE TO WHERE IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR AND THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT YOU WANT.
SO YOU WON'T HAVE, YOU SHOULD HAVE A, A, A ELECTED OFFICIAL SAY, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WANTED THAT.
WELL, IT'S BEEN ONLINE, SO ROLLING OUT THE NEW GUIDELINES HAS BEEN LABOR INTENSIVE AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO WORK AS FAST AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE REALLY HOPING YOU GUYS GET YOUR BYLAWS IN QUICKLY, YOUR TURN.
SO ARE WE DOING SNACKS? TAKE THAT ONE.
SO LET'S, OKAY, SO, UM, MINE IS ALSO, THE TOPIC IS ALSO ON REGARDS TO THE GUIDELINES.
UM, ONE, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE ABOUT SMOS.
THERE'S THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND THERE'S THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS CREATING A WHOLE NOTHER DEFINITION CALLED SNO SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS.
SEEMS TO ME, WHAT THE HECK? WHY AREN'T WE CALLING THEM SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS? THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE.
AND I THINK THE GUIDELINES NEED TO GO BACK AND START REFLECTING WHAT'S IN THE CITY ORDINANCE INSTEAD OF MAKING UP NEW NAMES OF ORGANIZATIONS.
IT'S THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND IT'S THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.
AND THESE ARE GUIDELINES SHORT OF WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE ORDINANCE.
THE WORD MUST DOES NOT BELONG IN GUIDELINES.
OTHERWISE IT SHOULD BE CALLED THE REQUIREMENTS.
I KNOW THESE ARE WORDS SEMANTICS PERHAPS, BUT THEY HAVE MEANING.
AND AGAIN, NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT AND MAKE IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE.
OR YOU TAKE THE ORDINANCE AND YOU AMEND IT AND YOU TAKE THAT TO CITY COUNCIL.
I WANNA SAY THAT THIS A LIVING DOCUMENT.
I WELCOME YOUR, YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
UM, I THINK I SPEAK FOR AARON DIRECTOR SAYS THAT WE DO WANNA MAKE SOME CHANGES.
UM, SO YOU GUYS WOULD REALLY WANT SOME HELP.
SO LET US KNOW WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO DO THOSE CHARGES.
UM, WE BRING UP SHEET METAL FENCING ALL THE TIME, BUT TODAY, UH, MY COMMUNITY HAS, UH, CHARGED ME WITH REPORTING.
UH, IF WE CAN LOOK AT THE REPORT TIME, WHEN WE CALL 3 1 1 AND THERE'S A, LET'S SAY IT AS A HEAVY TRASH, A TREE WASTE VIOLATION.
AND WE CALL IT THEY HAVE 25 DAYS.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS TODAY IS OUR PICKUP
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DAY.SO IF SOMEONE PUTS SOMETHING OUT TOMORROW AND WE REPORT IT TOMORROW, THE 25 DAYS, THERE'S A PICKUP WITHIN THAT 25 DAYS.
SO THE PERSON THAT'S VIOLATING NEVER GETS THE MESSAGE BECAUSE WHEN THE CITY GOES OUT, THE INSPECTOR SAYS, TRAVELED OUT TO THE PROPERTY, NO VIOLATION CITED BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A PICKUP.
SO CAN WE LOOK AT SHORTENING THOSE DAYS OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE, UH, JUST THE FACT THAT THEY GOT THE REPORT, PUT A WARNING OR SOMETHING BECAUSE WE HAD A GUY TO PUT OUT THREE TOILETS IN AUGUST, THREE TOILETS IN SEPTEMBER AND THREE TOILETS IN OCTOBER, BECAUSE NO ONE'S TELLING HIM TO STOP.
AND I DID TALK TO THE DIRECTOR WILFORK ABOUT IT ON SATURDAY BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, SILENT WASTE HAS, THEIR INSPECTORS ARE IN CHARGE OF THAT NOW.
SO WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT ON SATURDAY.
ANY OTHER, UM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, THEN LET'S LET, WE HAVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS HERE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
ANYBODY CARE TO COME UP AND AND SHARE? YES, MA'AM.
CAN I GET AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION ABOUT HOW DO WE CHANGE THE GUIDELINE, UH, CHANGES TO THE GUIDELINES? JUST SEND IT TO SANDRA.
YEAH, SHE SAID TO SEND IT TO SANDRA.
SO, UM, ANY, I'LL SAY HI, COME ON.
I'M NOT JUST REINTRODUCING MYSELF.
JORDAN FRAZIER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN'S OFFICE.
I JUST WANNA REITERATE WHAT, UM, DAMON AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAD SAID ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION AT CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK ABOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS AND PERMITTING AND THE AFFIDAVIT.
IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS NOW.
SO WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO SEE SOME CHANGES AND TO WORK WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON THAT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING HOW HE SAID THAT THERE ISN'T A FEE IF YOU, IF YOU'RE FOUND FALSIFYING THE DOCUMENT, SO MAYBE THAT'S A HEFTY FINE.
MIGHT HELP
UM, IT'S COUNCIL BREAK WEEK, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE AROUND.
AND I'M GONNA, I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT COMMENT ABOUT MS. MARTIN MADE ABOUT THE 25 DAYS, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE SEE A LOT, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THE END COUNCIL MEMBER.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, UH, FOR SOME OF YOU WHO KNOW ME, SOME THAT MAY NOT, I'M, UH, WILLIE DAVIS, I'M THE AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE TWO.
AND WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS HERE TO HEAR.
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT AND THEN I'LL, I'LL JUST BE SEATED.
I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF WHAT I'M HEARING IN REGARDS TO SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND MANY COMMUNITIES.
I'VE ALSO, IT RELATES TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, I'VE HAD CONVERSATION WITH BOTH ELIZABETH AND RUDY IN TERMS OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
AND, UH, I WANT TO, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, LISTEN, ALL OF US HEARING EVERYTHING, ALL OF US ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ABOUT THE ISSUES AND THE CONCERNS OF EVERYONE, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I AM CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN IT.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT MANY OF US MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE, SO MANY QUESTIONS IS ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF, YOU KNOW, CIVIC CLUBS, DEEP RESTRICTIONS AND COUNSELING HAVE HEARD MUCH OF THAT OVER THE PAST WEEKS ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF PERMITTING.
HOUSTON PERMIT WORKS MOST OF YOU KNOW, IS ON DEMAND.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE A HUNDRED AND PROBABLY SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO WAY 150, UH, SHORTAGE.
AND, UH, SO YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE GOTTA DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE IN REGARDS TO, UM, SOME OF THE, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITHIN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND PERMITTING AND CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND, AND THE RESTRICTIONS.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT.
I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE MAYOR, NEITHER.
I SPEAK FOR ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THE ATTENTION TO, UH, THESE DEED RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO US.
WE'VE BEEN EARING ON IT, UH, STACEY AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO TALKED ABOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, THE MAYOR'S TAKING THE PART TO SAY THAT HE'S GOING TO FORM A GROUP OF US TOGETHER TO ACTUALLY TACKLE THE DEEP RESTRICTION ISSUE.
AND SO, UH, THERE IS NO QUICK FIX TO IT, YOU KNOW, BUT I DO KNOW ONE THING, WE WANT TO HELP EVERYBODY THAT WE CAN.
LAST THING, AND I'LL TAKE MY SEAT, AS IN AT LARGE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M INITIATING, I AS AN AT LARGE, I'M GOING TO HOST AN AT LARGE MEETING ALL AROUND THE CITY.
EVERY THREE MONTHS, EVERY THREE MONTHS, I WILL HOST ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE, ON THE SOUTH SIDE, ON THE EASTERN OR WEST.
AND I'LL DO THAT EVERY YEAR AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
WHY SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPRESS
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THEIR CONCERNS BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAN'T COME DOWN THE CITY HALL, FIND A PARKING PLACE, GO THROUGH SECURITY, SIT IN COUNCIL TO THEIR NAME, GET CALLED TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES OR ONE MINUTE.OKAY? SO I JUST TAKE IT UPON MYSELF THAT I'M GOING TO DO THE MEETING.
MY STAFF AND I WILL GO OUT TO THAT.
THE FIRST AREA WE DOING IS NORTH KER HOME.
THAT'S THE FIRST COMMUNITY WE GOING TO AFTER THAT, THEN WE'LL GO TO OTHERS.
THE AT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE INVITED, BUT IT'S BY ME.
I'M THE AT LARGE AND I REPRESENT EVERYBODY NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.
SO THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT IS TO HEAR FROM THE MEDIA COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY, EVERY OTHER AT LARGE DISTRICT COUNCIL MAY HAVE TO DO IT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DEFINITELY DO SOMETHING.
SO JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT NOW.
IF YOU'LL SEND US YOUR MEETING LIST, WE CAN I WILL.
I'LL, HI, I AM THERESA FEDERER GEISER WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE PERMITTING HERE TONIGHT.
WE WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO KIM BOWIE E HADDI, WHO RUNS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SECTION CALLED SITE PLANNING REVIEW BASED AT THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER.
SHE'S GONNA TELL YOU BRIEFLY WHAT IT IS WE DO DOWN.
SHE'S GONNA TELL US BRIEFLY WHAT WE DO AT THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER AS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WE DO DO IS WE REVIEW MY GROUP.
IT'S ABOUT 12 OF US OR 12 PEOPLE UNDER ME.
AND SO WHAT WE DO IS LOOK AT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, CREATES THROUGH ORDINANCES AND, UM, DIFFERENT, THEY WORK WITH YOU GUYS OFTEN, UM, BUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, SO JUST FOR EXAMPLE, THE HISTORIC, UM, WE HAVE THE HISTORIC DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
MY GROUP IS CHECKING THAT DURING THE REVIEW, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT SOMEBODY IS LOOKING AT BUILDING LINES ON PLATS, BUILDING LINES ON SURVEYS.
WHAT HAPPENS THOUGH IS THAT THE DE RESTRICTED BUILDING LINES ARE NOT ALWAYS THERE.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ACTIVE OR NOT, BUT IF WE SEE 'EM, WE USUALLY WILL REJECT THE PROJECT.
I WAS TELLING THERESA YES, SIR, THAT, UM, I HAVE CONVERSATIONS PERSONALLY WITH PEOPLE CALLING ME AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK ABOUT VIOLATING D RESTRICTIONS AND THEM NOT WANTING TO CHANGE IT, BUT OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO REJECT.
AND IF THEY, WE JUST, WE'LL SEND THEM.
WE'LL SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S A ASSOCIATION OR AN HOA OR SOMEBODY THAT YOU CAN GET APPROVAL BECAUSE WE CAN'T APPROVE IT.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING CAUGHT OR IT WILL BE WORSE.
WE ARE LOOKING, UM, AND WE, THAT'S ALL
OKAY, 30 SECONDS IS
HELLO, MY NAME IS SANDRA PUENTE.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER LESLIE.
BRIAN HARRIS COUNTY, UH, PRECINCT FOUR.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW, UH, MOMENTS TO TALK.
WE WANTED TO INVITE EVERYONE TO OUR NEXT LISTENING TOUR.
UM, IT IS SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD.
UM, DOORS OPEN AT 8:30 AM OVER AT THE RICHARD AND MEG WEEKLY COMMUNITY CENTER.
THAT IS, UH, 84 40 GREENHOUSE ROAD, UM, IN CYPRUS.
I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE DRIVE FOR SOME OF YOU.
UH, WE DO PLAN ON COMING BACK TO, UM, UH, THE CITY LATER IN THE SPRING, UH, EARLY SUMMER FOR THREE MORE LISTENING TOURS.
UH, WE WANT TO COME BACK AROUND AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE FOUND OUT THE FIRST TIME AROUND LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD ALL OF OUR LISTENING TOURS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THOSE AS WELL.
UM, WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME PROGRESS, SHARE WITH YOU OUR PLANS FOR 2024 AND GOING FORWARD.
AND I DID BRING MY BUSINESS CARDS HERE ALONG WITH, UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, ALICE LEE, AND, UH, OUR MANAGER IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AUSTIN REESE.
AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, AGAIN, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE APPROACH US AFTER THE MEETING TIME.
WHAT TIME ON THE 20? UH, THAT'S SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH FROM NINE TO 10:30 AM I'M SORRY, 23RD FROM NINE TO 10:30 AM MARCH 23RD, SATURDAY.
LOTS OF INFORMATION DISSEMINATED TONIGHT.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THE APRIL MEETING WILL BE VIRTUAL AGAIN ON TEAMS. YOU'LL BE SENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE TRYING TO SLOWLY GET BACK INTO HAVING SOME IN-PERSON MEETINGS BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S
[01:25:01]
IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO CHAT WITH EACH OTHER IN PERSON.OUR TIME IS UP, SO I HEREBY DECLARE THE MEETING ADJOURNED.