* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:05] UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ ON AN IMPORTANT MATTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR BISHOP, [PRESENTATIONS] THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND THIS IS A, A HONOR FOR ME. I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD MY HISTORY WITH PRAIRIE VIEW MANY TIMES AND PROBABLY TIRED OF HEARING, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IT AGAIN. I AM ACTUALLY THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF PRAIRIE VIEW A M UNIVERSITY, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME GREAT PRIDE, UH, TO HAVE THAT LEGACY. AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WHY ARE THEY HONORING PRAIRIE VIEW? WELL, I'M GONNA SAY PRAIRIE VIEW IS THE SUBURB OF HOUSTON , ACTUALLY. UM, THERE ARE SO MANY CONTRIBUTING PEOPLE, UH, TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY THAT, UH, MATRICULATED AT PRAIRIE VIEW, OR WERE RAISED IN PRAIRIE VIEW. SO, AND I HAD THE WONDERFUL HONOR OF, OF MEETING THE BISHOP HERE. YEAH, HE CARRIES A BIG STICK, RIGHT? , BUT CERTAINLY, I'M JUST GONNA GET STARTED ON THIS PROCLAMATION. I I WANT TO THANK, UH, THIS IS HIS GRANDDAUGHTER AND, AND THEN, BUT HE'LL INTRODUCE, AND THEN, UH, MS. TAMMY CAMPBELL, WHO'S A LONGTIME FRIEND AND ACTIVIST WHO ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MY OFFICE. AND I AM VERY HONORED THAT SHE FELT THAT, THAT I WOULD BE THE ONE THAT SHE WOULD PASS THIS PROCLAMATION THROUGH. SO, AT ANY RATE, WYATT CHAPEL COMMUNITY CEMETERY PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF TEXAS HISTORY, MARK MAKER BISHOP WALTER PENDLETON, AN ACTIVIST COMMUNITY LEADER, AND FORMER NASA RESEARCH SCIENTIST, AND A I I'M GOING TO, I'M NOT GOING TO, UH, DIGRESS FROM THE, BECAUSE HE'S A WONDERFUL PERSON. WE'VE HAD SOME, SOME GREAT TIMES, BLESS YOU. WHEREAS BISHOP PENDLETON, WHO COP PIONEERED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE WITH HIS LATE WIFE, DR. ALICE PENDLETON, PHD. AND WHEREAS BISHOP PENDLETON HAS DEMONSTRATE, DEMONSTRATED UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND ZEAL TO ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS TO ENGAGE IN THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS OF OUR NATION. AND WHEREAS BISHOP PENDLETON CARRIES ON THE SERVANT LEADER LEGACY OF HIS GREAT-GRANDFATHER, THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. WYATT, TEXAS FIRST ELECTED BLACK LEGISLATOR DURING RECONSTRUCTION IN 1883, BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE PRAIRIE VIEW UNIVERSITY, LEAVING AN ENDURING LEGACY. AND WHEREAS REPRESENTATIVE WYATT'S LEGACY IS PERMANENTLY ETCHED INTO THE A AND M SYSTEM AS HE RESTS IN WYATT CHAPEL COMMUNITY CEMETERY AT PRAIRIE VIEW, A M UNIVERSITY, ALONG WITH OVER 2000 ENSLAVED, FORMERLY ENSLAVED AND DESCENDANTS OF THE ENSLAVED. AND WHEREAS THE WYATT CHAPEL COMMUNITY CEMETERY AT PRAIRIE VIEW UNIVERSITY HOLDS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE REPRESENTING THE A AND M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, CONNECTIONS TO CHATTEL SLAVERY, SEGREGATION, DISENFRANCHISEMENT, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY. AND WHEREAS BISHOP PENDLETON AND HIS LATE WIFE, DR. ALICE PENDLETON, PHD, ESTABLISHED THE GWY FOUNDATION TO DOCUMENT, PRESERVE, AND SHARE THE HISTORY OF THE WYATT CHAPEL COMMUNITY CEMETERY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE MARK THAT BISHOP WALTER PENDLETON HAS LEFT IN AREAS OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE, CIVICS, AND HISTORY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ITS RESIDENTS TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE ALSO THANK HONEY BROWN HOPE FOUNDATION FOR HIGHLIGHTING BISHOP PENDLETON'S LEGACY MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR STARTING OUR DAY OFF WITH SUCH A CELEBRATION OF A ROLE MODEL. I BLESS YOU, BISHOP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I OFTEN SAY WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS AND WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO. YES. BUT YOU NEED TO GET THE CREDIT AND RECOGNITION FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITY CEMETERY WILL LIVE ON FOREVER. AND SO I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION TODAY. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 19TH, 2024, MS. WYATT'S CHAPEL COMMUNITY CEMETERY DAY. THANK YOU. WE RESPECT YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK NO, IT MUST BEEN ANOTHER OUTLAW. BISHOP, DID YOU WANT? YES, SIR. UH, [00:05:01] YES I COULD. A FEW SEATS. YOU WANT TO COME UP? PUSH JUST A LITTLE CLOSER. THANK YOU, SIR. HE'S SO DELIGHTFUL. HE REALLY IS. . I WONDER WHERE YOU GOT THIS THING. THIS WAS HANDED DOWN FOR MOSES . WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW MOSES , BUT YOU'RE HOLDING HIS STICK . GOD BLESS YOU. TO THE COUNCIL MAYOR, WE, AND TO, UH, MY LONG LOST COUSIN, UH, DR. CAROLYN SHABAZZ, IT'S A PLEASURE THAT YOU BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT. THIS IS A VERY AUSPICIOUS MOMENT FOR ME AT THIS TIME, UH, HOLDING BACK TO TEARS. I THANK MY GRANDDAUGHTER FOR BEING HERE WITH ME, WHO'S A DIRECT DESCENDANT, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU TODAY FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THIS VERY AUSPICIOUS OCCASION. AGAIN, THANK YOU. MAY GOD BLESS YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO KEEP THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND VIEW THAT EVERYBODY CAN BECOME ONE. AND I'LL VISIT HIM ON THAT GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KEN. FOR MINE, I'D LIKE FOR DR. SAS. I DON'T SEE HER PRESIDENT OF OUR, UH, IS SHE HERE? YES. HERE. ARE YOU OKAY TO COME UP WITH US? UH, SHE'S, UH, I JUST WANT TO STAND HERE BY ME, DR. BERTHA. UH, YOU PLEASE EVERYBODY COME UP. JUST COME UP PLEASE. ALL THAT CAME WITH ME. I WANT YOU TO COME UP AND AMEN. JUST GET CHANCE TO SHAKE THE MAYOR'S HAND HERE. ALRIGHT. COMMENTS? OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE A HONEY BROWN . TAMMY CAMPBELL. YEAH, DR. CAMPBELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM TAMMY LANE CAMPBELL. YES. FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONEY BROWN HOPE FOUNDATION. IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE. I THANK GOD IN HIS PRECIOUS SON'S NAME, JESUS CHRIST, FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LIVING LEGEND, DR. CAROLYN SHABAZZ. YEAH. HERE. THANK YOU. TO PAY TRIBUTE TO ANOTHER LIVING LEGEND BISHOP WALTER PENDLETON. THANK YOU. WHAT A DAY. I WOULD DO A HALLELUJAH DANCE. AH, BUT I WILL SPARE YOU ALL AND DO IT LATER. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. VERY WELL SPOKEN. AND I ALSO HAVE TO CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, WHO IMPARTS SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE TO HER STUDENTS AT PRAIRIE VIEW ANN UNIVERSITY. AMEN. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, . ALRIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. TURN AROUND AND, AND, AND THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR WHITMEYER. I THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. . MAYOR, YOU GONNA TAKE A PICTURE WITH ME? YEAH. TURN AROUND. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST TO RECOGNIZE THEIR WORK FOR PROMOTING WOMEN'S HEALTH AND EQUITY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. AND I'M GONNA ASK MELANIE AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD TO COME UP AS WELL AS, UH, ONE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, ELIZABETH WELLER. [00:10:08] HEY, MELANIE, HOW ARE YOU? PARDON, MAYOR, I TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT, I DON'T HUG PEOPLE IN PUBLIC. YOU'VE PROBABLY READ THAT . ALRIGHT. SO, IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE RECOGNIZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES, UH, FOR DECADES, PROTECTING WOMEN'S WHITES AND STANDING WITH WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. UH, SO MELANIE, IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM, AND I'LL EXPLAIN IN A MOMENT WHILE WE ALL, WHY WE ALSO HAVE ELIZABETH UP HERE. BUT IN RECOGNIZING PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AS MANY OF US KNOW, THEY PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING HEALTH SERVICES AND SCREENINGS FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. UH, AS THE STATE CONTINUES DRACONIAN ATTACKS PUSHING US BACK DECADES AND THREAT, I WOULD SAY, THREATENING THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. UH, I'M REMINDED OF THIS POEM THAT MY PREDECESSOR, ELLEN COHEN, LEFT FOR ME, UH, IN MY OFFICE WHEN I TOOK, TOOK OVER FOR DISTRICT C. WE ARE IN A VERY, VERY LONG HAUL. AND I AM ASKING FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO GIVE. WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR YOUTH, YOUR SLEEP, YOUR PATIENCE, YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR, AND OCCASIONALLY THE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE VERY MUCH. IN RETURN, I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER YOU, BUT YOUR PRIDE IN BEING A WOMAN AND ALL YOUR DREAMS YOU'VE EVER HAD FOR YOUR DAUGHTERS AND NIECES AND GRANDDAUGHTERS, YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT THE END OF YOUR DAYS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU GAVE EVERYTHING YOU HAD FOR JUSTICE. AND THAT WAS A POEM READ BY JILL RUCKEL SHAW AT THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS CONVENTION BACK IN 1977. AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE THAT EMBODIES THAT MORE THAN PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN THIS FIGHT TODAY. AS WELL AS, AND I WANNA TAKE A SPECIAL MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR, UH, IN YOUR OFFICE, MISS ELIZABETH WELLER, UH, AS A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE, ELIZABETH HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS FIGHT, TAKING HER OWN STAND. THERE'S A LAWSUIT RIGHT NOW. ZUKI V THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, FILED THIS LAWSUIT LAST MARCH ASKING THE STATE TO CLARIFY THE SCOPE OF THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY EXCEPTIONS UNDER THE ABORTION BAN. ONE OF THE NAMED PLAINTIFFS IN THAT CASE IS ELIZABETH. SO ELIZABETH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE STANDING UP, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR RIGHTS, YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY, BUT THE SAFETY OF ALL WOMEN IN TEXAS. THANK YOU. WHETHER IT'S IN OUR COURTS OR RIGHT HERE TODAY, I AM SO PROUD TO SAY THAT I STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND IN PARTICULAR PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST. AND THAT'S WHY I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT AS OF TODAY, I HAVE SUBMITTED $25,000 OF DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO GO DIRECTLY TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST FOR LIFESAVING SCREENINGS AND HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN IN OUR CITY. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO JOIN ME. EVERY SINGLE PERSON CAN DO THEIR PART RIGHT NOW TO HELP PROVIDE SERVICES FOR WOMEN IN THEIR FAMILIES. AND THAT INCLUDES MAKING PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST, YOUR DOCTOR. EACH ONE OF US CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT. AND I KNOW MELANIE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF WOMEN AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. SO MAYOR, I'M GOING TO NOW READ THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, AND THEN I'LL, I'LL PITCH IT TO YOU. AND THEN, OF COURSE, MELANIE, WE CERTAINLY WANNA HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR TEAM. WHEREAS PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST IS A PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDING SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. FOR 88 YEARS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST HAS SHOWN AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE CONTRACEPTION, CANCER SCREENINGS, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION TESTING AND TREATMENT, AND HIV PREVENTION REGARDLESS OF A PATIENT'S IDENTITY OR INCOME. P-P-C-G-C IS A TRUSTED SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATOR FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH THE MEDICALLY ACCURATE, INCLUSIVE, AND UNBIASED INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. THEY'RE A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WORKING TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER COMMUNITIES, PROTECT AND EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE COMBAT EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND BODILY AUTONOMY AND CHAMPION POLICIES THAT UPHOLD THE DIGNITY AND AUTONOMY OF ALL INDIVIDUALS. NOW MORE THAN EVER, PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST IS AN IRREPLACEABLE [00:15:01] PART OF HOUSTON'S PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY NET AND REMAIN STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION TO ENSURE THE RIGHT INABILITY OF ALL INDIVIDUALS TO MANAGE THEIR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NO MATTER WHAT. MAYOR, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND THANK, UH, YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE BY SUPPORTING PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST. UH, WE ALL NEED, UH, YOUR COLLEAGUES AND ANYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE IS THE FATHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS. AS A PUBLIC SERVANT THAT HAS STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH YOU, ACTUALLY ALLOWED MY SENATE OFFICE TO BE YOUR BASE OF OPERATIONS IN OPPOSING SOME VERY PROHIBITIVE, MEAN LEGISLATION. UH, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU PROVIDE WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE AND CRITICAL SERVICES THAT THEY COULD NOT RECEIVE IN ANY OTHER LOCATION OR SERVICE CENTER. SO IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE THAT WE STOP TODAY TO RECOGNIZE A TRUE PARTNER IN WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE BNY. IT IS BEEN A, AN HONOR AND, AND A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU FOR LONGER THAN PROBABLY YOU AND I WILL ADMIT PUBLICLY. BUT THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COLLEAGUES. IT'S MY PLEASURE. UH, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 19TH, 2024 AS PLANNED PARENTHOOD GUFF COAST STATE. CONGRATULATIONS. AND, AND IF I COULD, ELIZABETH, UM, I KNOW OF YOUR COURAGE AND, UH, WE'RE TESTED BY CHALLENGES IN LIFE AND WHEN WE GO THROUGH 'EM, AS YOU HAVE AND AND OTHERS IN THIS ROOM, WE COME OUT STRONGER. YEAH. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE AND TO BE, UH, INVOLVED IN, IN MAKING CHANGES IN THE POLITICAL ARENA. SO THANK YOU. AND ALSO HELPING ME GET HERE ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. WAS A, WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR TEAM IN THE CAMPAIGN, AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT YOU'RE AT CITY HALL TODAY AND EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND GONNA BE A MENTOR TO OTHER YOUNG WOMEN. YES. THANK EVERYONE THAT'S PARTICIPATING TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MELANIE. MELANIE, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST, I JUST WANNA SAY HOW MUCH THIS HONOR MEANS TO US. I WANNA EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO MAYOR WHITMEYER, TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AND TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION HONORING OUR ORGANIZATION. PLANNED GULF COAST HAS SERVED HOUSTONIANS FOR 88 YEARS. WE'VE PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS, NO MATTER WHAT. WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE PROFOUND CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY AND WOMEN'S ROLE IN SHAPING OUR FUTURE AS WE STRIVE TOWARD A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE CAN DETERMINE THEIR OWN DESTINIES. PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST IS PROUD TO SERVE WOMEN, GIRLS, AND ALL PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR CARE, REGARDLESS OF IDENTITY, INCOME, OR INSURANCE. EVERY DAY, OUR DEDICATED PROVIDERS AND STAFF WORK TIRELESSLY TO EMPOWER ALL HOUSTONIANS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODIES AND THEIR FUTURES. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ITS LEADERSHIP UNDERSTAND THAT A THRIVING COMMUNITY IS A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. AND IN A STATE LIKE TEXAS, HAVING LOCAL CHAMPIONS TO ACCESS TO CHAMPION CARE, ACCESS TO CARE AND EQUITY IS INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR ABILITY TO SERVE THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS WHO RELY ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AND FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN ADVANCING THE HEALTH AND RIGHTS OF OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND MR. MAYOR FOR PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION. I HAVE A PLANNED PARENTHOOD STORY. SO WHEN I WAS IN MY TWENTIES BACK IN THOSE DAYS, UH, YOU HAD TO, I WAS ON PROBATIONARY STATUS WITH MY EMPLOYMENT, AND SO [00:20:01] I DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE AT THE TIME. IT WAS WITHIN THAT THREE MONTHS, BUT I HAD TO STAY ON TRACK FOR MY WELL WOMAN. AND SO I LOOKED UP PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN STAFFORD NEAR 59. I PLAYED A FLAT FEE, UM, BASED ON MY INCOME AT THE TIME, AND THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED, UM, TO ADVOCATE FOR A FULL PLAN, UH, BLOOD TEST. THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED, UM, A NURSE PRACTITIONER WAS LIKE, YOU NEED TO ASK ABOUT YOUR THYROID. YOU NEED TO ASK ABOUT THESE THINGS. UM, AND SO THE INFORMATION I LEARNED ABOUT HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF, I SHARED WITH MY PEERS AND OTHERS. UH, SO, UH, PLAN, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I'VE BEEN A FULL SUPPORTER OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD EVER SINCE THEN. YOU'RE DOING REMARKABLE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ELEVATING THIS CONVERSATION. UM, AND THEN ALSO TO OUR COLLEAGUE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PUT YOUR NAME ON THE, THE LINE, UM, UH, FOR SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT IN OUR CITY AND ALSO FOR, UM, OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU ALL. AND I, I JUST WANT TO TELL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR YOU AND THE MAYOR PRESENTING THIS. UM, PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS A STAPLE, UH, 88 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. WE CAN NEVER STOP ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH. UM, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN. SO, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU TO CHAMPION WOMEN'S HEALTH. DID YOU WANNA INTRODUCE? THAT'S OKAY. WE KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS A BUSY AGENDA. CONGRATULATIONS. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM KASEK TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO VALERIE BARON, COUNSEL GENERAL OF FRANCE. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK, AND, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER. BONJOUR. I'M SO HONORED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING THE ANNUAL FRENCH CULTURES FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE CELEBRATED HERE IN HOUSTON FROM MARCH 20TH TO APRIL THE 20TH. THE FRENCH CULTURES FESTIVAL WILL COINCIDE WITH THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN PARIS. THE FESTIVAL IS OFFERED FREE TO EVERYONE AND IS IN COLLABORATION WITH MUSEUMS, UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS, AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS HIGHLIGHTING EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE IN TEXAS, ARKANSAS, AND OKLAHOMA. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY THE HONORABLE VALERIE, UH, BARON. SHE IS THE CONS GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE STAFF OF THE CONSULATE AND SEVERAL OF OTHER, UH, CONSUL GENERALS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. IF YOU WANT, INVITE EVERYONE TO COME UP WHILE WE READ THE PROCLAMATION. Y'ALL COME ON UP AND I WILL START THE PROCLAMATION AND IT READS, WHEREAS THE FRENCH CULTURES FESTIVAL IS A MONTH LONG ANNUAL CELEBRATION TAKING PLACE EACH YEAR IN TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, AND ARKANSAS FROM MARCH THE 20TH TO APRIL 20TH TO CELEBRATE FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRIES AND THEIR RICH CULTURES. THE FRENCH CULTURES FESTIVAL STARTS ON THE OFFICIAL FRANCOPHONE DAY, MARCH THE 20TH, AS A SYMBOL OF INTERNATIONAL DIVERSITY. THE LAUNCH EVENT OF THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZED AT THE END OF MARCH IS A HIGHLIGHT OF THIS MONTH'S LONG CELEBRATION, WHEREAS THE FRENCH LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN IN NEARLY 321 MILLION SPEAKERS, AND OVER 61% OF THEM ARE IN AFRICA. AS SUCH, PROMOTING THE FRANCOPHONE IS A MEANINGFUL WAY TO CELEBRATE THE CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY THAT MAKES UP THE WORLD AND IS SO PREVALENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EACH YEAR, ON MARCH THE 20TH, THE UNITED NATIONS, ALONGSIDE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LA FRANCOPHONE, CELEBRATED ITS OFFICIAL FRANCOPHONE DAY TO CELEBRATE THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND FRANCOPHONE CULTURE. THE FRENCH LANGUAGE IS ALSO PROMOTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION AS A VECTOR OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN HUMANISM. WHEREAS THE FRENCH CULTURAL FESTIVAL PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SERVING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE VIBRANT CITY, EMPHASIZING AND CELEBRATING THE RICH DIVERSITY OF CULTURES AND [00:25:01] ARTISTS THAT HOUSTON NURTURES THE FESTIVAL IS A PIVOTAL PLATFORM FOR CULTURAL CELEBRATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, A HOME TO ALMOST 70,000 FRENCH SPEAKERS IN HOUSTON, A VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC INTERNATIONAL CITY. FRENCH IS THE SECOND MOST SPOKEN EUROPEAN LANGUAGE WITH 10,000 FRENCH SPEAKERS. MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TATUM. IT'S, UH, SO APPROPRIATE THAT WE RECOGNIZE OUR FRIENDS AND FRENCH RESIDENTS AND IMMIGRANTS, AND, UH, YOU HELP US WITH OUR DIVERSITY. YOU'RE A KEY PART OF THIS GREAT CITY'S DIVERSITY, YOUR CULTURE, YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR RETAIL. I COULD GO ON AND ON. UH, YOU'RE A MAJOR FIBER OF THE TEXAS, UH, CULTURE ITSELF, AND YOU HELPED US GET TO WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR HISTORY OF THE, UH, CURRENT DAY ALLIES. CERTAINLY, UH, PARTNERS IN ALL OF OUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, YOUR COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE, THAT, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A DAY TO PAUSE AND REALIZE HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE OUR FRENCH COLLEAGUES WITH US TODAY. SO THANK YOU AND BE SAFE AND LET'S GO FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. OH, I BETTER MAKE IT OFFICIAL. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 20TH, 2024. IT'S FRENCH CULTURES FESTIVAL DAY. I GOT A LITTLE CARRIED AWAY BECAUSE WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU WITH US. THANK YOU, MA'AM. WITH MY COUNTERPARTS REPRESENTING FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRIES AND FRIENDS OF FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRIES, I'M DEEPLY HONORED TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH THE FESTIVAL, THE FRENCH CULTURES FESTIVAL, AND I UNDERLINE THE POOL OF FRENCH CULTURES FESTIVAL. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO INVITE ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY TO CELEBRATE THE FRENCH CULTURES AS A COMPONENT, COMPONENT OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. FIRST UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN COUNCIL. THANK YOU, UM, TO MAYOR VICE. EXCUSE ME, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. AND TO CONS, GENERAL BUKU, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CONSULAR CORPS STICKS TOGETHER, UH, AND IT IS SO GREAT THAT WE HAVE, I WOULD SAY, THE MOST VIBRANT, DIVERSE AND ONE OF THE LARGEST CONSULAR CORES IN THE NATION. SO TO EACH OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING IN HOUSTON, UH, AND WORKING WITH US, BUT ESPECIALLY TO CONSULATE GENERAL TODAY. THANK YOU FOR, UM, EVERYTHING THAT FRANCE HAS DONE, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NATION. OUR OUR HISTORY IS STRONG AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MAYOR POTEN FOR BRINGING THIS. WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. MY DAUGHTER SPENT, UH, HER SENIOR YEAR IN FRANCE, UH, AND SHE HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK. UM, SHE, SHE HAS, SHE LIVES IN NEW YORK NOW, BUT SHE TAKES FRENCH LESSONS STILL. UM, SHE'S BRINGING US ALL OVER TO PARIS IN, UM, EARLY MAY. WELL, SHE'S NOT PAYING FOR IT, BUT SHE'S MAY HAVING US HAVE A FAMILY VACATION OVER THERE. AND WE'RE GONNA SEE ALL THE SITES, EIFFEL TOWER, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE GREAT SITES OF PARIS, BUT ALSO TAYLOR SWIFT IN PARIS, SO I KNOW THAT'S GONNA BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE AS WELL AS THE OLYMPICS. AND WE'RE, WE WON'T BE THERE FOR THE OLYMPICS, BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF IT. UM, MAYOR PROAM, YOU WENT LAST YEAR, I KNOW, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS AND, AND, UM, DID SUCH GOOD WORK FOR HOUSTON OVER THERE IN PARIS. SO JUST THANK YOU TO YOU AND ALL THE CONSULAR CORPS AND, AND, UH, VIVA LA FRANCE . THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PERAM. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, CHRIS OLSEN AND HIS TEAM FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO WITH OUR CONSULATE CORPS. UM, AND JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE, MAYOR, THAT WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATION FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BLANK BANGLADESH, UH, LAGO ENERGY, THE CONSUL GENERAL OF MEXICO, QUEBEC GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN HOUSTON, THE CONSULATE OF TUNIS IN HOUSTON, AND THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY, THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO, AND THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF SWITZERLAND. AND ALSO ANOTHER DELEGATE FROM QUEBEC IS HERE WITH US TODAY. SO YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND THE COUNCIL OF CORE DOES STICK TOGETHER, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY. PERFECT [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] [00:30:59] CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL. UH, I AM INDEED HONORED TODAY AND CERTAINLY ELATED TO PRESENT TO US TO DO OUR INVOCATION TODAY. A GOOD FRIEND AND A BROTHER BELOVED, AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT HE AND HIS LOVELY WIFE HAVE COME TODAY TO OFFER THE INVOCATION AND THE PERSON OF DR. HERNAN CASTANO AND HIS WIFE, WENDY CASTANO SERVED AS A SENIOR PASTOR OF THE RIOS DE ASTE RIVERS OF OR CHURCH IN HOUSTON. AND IN KATY, PASTOR CASTANO HOLDS A PHD OF PHILOSOPHY AND BIBLICAL THEOLOGY FROM VISION UNIVERSITY IN RAMONA, CALIFORNIA AND HAS A MASTER OF ARTS AND PASTORAL COUNSELING FROM LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. DR. CASTANO AND DR. WENDY CASTANO ARE THE DIRECTORS OF A WEEKLY TELEVISION PROGRAM, GOD OF MIRACLES THAT IS SEEN IN ALL LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES THROUGH TBN HISPANIC NETWORK IN LACE, AND THE DAY STAR NETWORK IN THE USA. DR. HERNAN CASTANO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BIBLICAL INSTITUTE RIVERS OF OIL IN HOUSTON, WHERE HE HAS HELPED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER. HE HAS SERVED AS THE OFFICIAL TRANSLATOR FOR MC WORLD EVANGELISM MINISTRY IN ALL OF LATIN AMERICA. DR. CASTANO ALSO SERVES AS PRESIDENT OF ELIJAH UNIVERSITY, A HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTRY SCHOOL IN HOUSTON, TRAINING PASTORS ALL OVER THE CITY. HE SERVES AS A DIRECTOR OF HISPANIC CHURCHES ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TEXAS AND THE US PASTOR COUNCIL. THE CASTS ARE ORDAINED MINISTERS OF GRACE INTERNATIONAL AND ORGANIZATION OF MORE THAN 4,500 CHURCHES WORLDWIDE. HE IS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL OF KSBJ OF HOPE MEDIA GROUP IN HOUSTON. FINALLY, PASTOR HANAN CASTANO IS A SERVANT WHO LOVES OUR CITY AND CARES FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M ELATED AND EXCITED TO HAVE HIM TO OFFER OUR INVOCATION TODAY. MY GOOD FRIEND AND BROTHER, BELOVED PASTOR HANAN CASTANO, HONORABLE, UH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, JOHN WOOD MEYER, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS, MY FRIEND AS WELL, ALSO MY FRIEND, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, DISTRICT F AND TO ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO LEAD THE PRAYER IN TODAY'S IMPORTANT MEETING. FATHER GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU IN THE NAME THAT'S ABOVE EVERY OF THE NAME, THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. WE COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE GIVER OF LIFE. FOR WITHOUT YOU, THERE IS NO LIFE. WE COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NO WISDOM, LORD, THAT CAN PREVAIL IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. BUT THE WISDOM THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR KINGDOM, WE COME BEFORE YOU LORD, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE GIVER OF PEACE, THE LORD THAT UNITES THE LORD. THAT IN DIVERSITY GIVES US LORD, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE DIRECTION, THE DISCERNMENT TO DO THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT. AND WE COME BEFORE YOU, FATHER, BECAUSE THERE'S NO JUSTICE, THE DEALS WITH INJUSTICES, BUT THAT COMES FROM YOU. SO TODAY WE ASK YOU THAT YOU WILL IMPART UPON OUR HONORABLE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OUR HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE WISDOM IN THEIR MINDS, THE INSPIRATION IN OUR HEARTS, LORD, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON SO THAT IT WILL BE A LIGHT TO THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS, LORD, THAT YOU WILL GUIDE THEM AS THEY DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE COMPLICATED AND THE LORD, THAT YOU BRING A SPIRIT LORD OF WISDOM, [00:35:01] OF SUCH DEPTH, THAT EVEN THE COMPLICATED THINGS BECOMES SIMPLE, EASY TO SOLVE. SO THAT AT THE END RESULT THE CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE, THE CITY THAT WE ALL LIVE IN, WILL BE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE LORD THAT BRINGS CHANGE, TRANSFORMATION, UNITY, AND THAT ENLIGHTENS LORD, OUR STATE AND NATION TO BE LORD, A LIGHT THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO COME TO BLESS THIS DAY, BLESS THOSE THAT ARE SEATED IN THOSE POSITIONS, THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN THEM TO REPRESENT THEM IN OUR CITY. AND WE THANK YOU, FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS FOR WE BELIEVE IT IS DONE. AMEN AND AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, UNITED STATES FOR [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] NEXT. UH, WILL SECRETARY PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PECK? HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA? HERE. HERE. COUNCIL FLICKINGER. PRESENT. CONSTABLE THOMAS. HERE. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE CASTILLO WILL BE ASKING CONSTABLE MARTINEZ. HERE. CONSTABLE POLLARD. HERE. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONSTABLE RAMIREZ. HERE. CONSTABLE DAVIS. HERE. CONSTABLE CARTER PRESENT. COUNCIL PALMER WILL BE ASKING THE COUNCILMAN FOR ALCORN. HERE. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 12TH AND 13TH. SEPTEMBER 19TH AND 20 AND SEPTEMBER 26TH AND 27TH. CASTEX T MOVED. SECOND MOTION HAS BEEN MADE IN SECOND. THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES WORTH. THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE, EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR TWO OR THREE A RULE, WHICH I PERSONALLY HOPE WE REVISIT SOMEDAY. BUT THOSE ARE THE RULES. AND NOW WE'LL PROCEED WITH OUR MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE CATHERINE MCNEIL, MAC HO AND TRUMAN EDM MINSTER TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA. ALL THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THREE MINUTES. I'M SORRY. THREE MINUTES. IT'S ALL. ONE MINUTE. IT DOESN'T MATTER. THREE. THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST, PLEASE. YEAH, EVERYBODY'S A AMEND TODAY. . I NEED A MOTION. WE MADE A MOTION. WE NEED A SECOND. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] ALCORN FOR A MOTION. YES. COUPLE MOTIONS. UH, MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JASON SMITH AND SARAH TYLER. THEY'RE NOT ON THE LIST. THEY'RE ADDITIONS TO THE LIST. UM, TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE, WHICH IS REALLY ONE MINUTE. A TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SO ABOVE JAY, CARA HAN. THEY'RE WITH THE CLEAN CITY COMMISSION. AND THEN, OKAY, SO THAT'S MY FIRST MOTION. SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. NO, NO. SHE HAS A SECOND MOTION. YEAH. ONE MORE. SORRY. MAYOR, I HAVE, I'M SORRY, UH, TO MOVE. UM, THEY'RE SPEAKING ON THE SAME SHORT-TERM RENTAL SUBJECT. SO I MOVING KA I I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE KATHY YANG HAVEN, SEABERT AND SAMANTHA EVANS TO JUST BELOW. TRUMAN MUNSTER, WHICH SECOND? MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JODY JOVI SMITH AND KENDRA LONDON BEHIND KELAN WILSON UNDER THE TWO MINUTE NUN. AGENDA SECOND. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS, I WANNA MOVE ALICE, LOU AND BENJAMIN BROADWAY BEFORE CALLEN RIVIERA ON THE NON AGENDA. SECOND TWO MINUTES, SORRY. AND CITY SECRETARY HAS THOSE? YES. ONE MOTION. SECOND, BUT IT'S FOR SECOND. ONE. MOTION. SO WE HAVE MOTION. AND A SECOND ONE. MOTION MADE. AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD LAUREN OLI TO THE TOP [00:40:01] OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE'LL HAVE TO GET THAT NAME FROM HER. LAUREN, WHAT'S THE LAST NAME? AVILI. A-V-I-O-L-I-I BELIEVE IN A SECOND. SHE'S NOT ON THE LIST. I'M ADDING HER SECOND. OKAY. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD A MOTION. UH, IT'S BEEN SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? NOT, UH, MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER I, GOLDIE VAN Z GOLDIE VANZANT, BROAD THOMPSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. MY NAME'S ROD THOMPSON, PRESIDENT OF THE GOSPEL MUSIC HOUSE AND MUSEUM. I CAME TO HOUSTON IN 1986 AS A NATIVE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. THE FIRST WEEKEND IN HOUSTON, I VISITED BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH AND BECAME THEIR FIRST DRUMMER. DURING THAT EXPERIENCE, I MET V MIKE MCKAY, A GOSPEL MUSIC LEGEND, AND MANY OTHER LEGENDS. AS A YOUNG MAN, I WAS NURTURED BY THE WORDS WRITTEN IN GOSPEL MUSIC. AS A MATURED MAN, I NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT GOSPEL MUSIC MEANT TO ME AND MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MANY OTHERS. I'M HERE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE, SO THAT WE CAN BUILD THE GOSPEL HOUSE MUSEUM AT THE WESLEY CHAPEL SITE. THIS WILL BE A PLACE THAT WILL PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND HISTORY OF GOSPEL MUSIC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT ALANDRA OLI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LAUREN AVEOLI. I'M AN ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE NHP FOUNDATION, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NINE. UH, NHP FOUNDATION WAS PART OF A TEAM SELECTED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE WESLEY A ME CHURCH IN THIRD WARD. WE ARE A NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN HOUSTON SINCE 2014 AND HAVE, UM, OVER 1400 UNITS FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSTONIANS ACROSS SEVEN COMMUNITIES. RECENTLY WE COMPLETED A DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH TEO CDC TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR 95 PEOPLE EXITING HOMELESSNESS. WE'RE EXCITED AND HONORED TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL MUSIC HOUSE AND MUSEUM FOUNDATION TO REALIZE THEIR VISION FOR THE WESLEY A ME CHURCH SITE. WE PROPOSE TO CONVERT THE HISTORIC CHURCH BUILDING INTO A CULTURAL HUB AND MUSEUM TO BE OPERATED BY GOSPEL MUSIC HOUSE AND TO CONSTRUCT 50 APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT WILL BE AFFORDABLE ALONG WITH GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL SPACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT V MICHAEL MCKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. DEMO. BEHIND THE MIC. STEP BEHIND THE MIC. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOUGH I THOUGHT I WAS USING THAT ONE. MY NAME IS V MICHAEL MCKAY AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE GOSPEL MUSIC HOUSE IN MUSEUM. UH, HELLO. HELLO. HELLO. HELLO. AND, UH, WE EXCITED ABOUT THIS. YOU ALL. UH, WE'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY SOME OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE ON THE COUNCIL AS, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS AND, AND THE DEVELOPERS WITH NHP TO, TO FINISH THIS WORK ON THE GOSPEL JESUS HOUSE AND MUSEUM, WHICH WILL BE AT THE WESLEY CHAPEL. WHY WESLEY? WELL, WHY WESLEY? BECAUSE WESLEY WAS, WAS BUILT IN, UH, 1906 OR 19 0 70, BUT IT WAS ORGANIZED IN 1877. AND HOW PERFECT IS THE HISTORIC WESLEY CHAPEL, A ME CHURCH, UM, TO HOUSE AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND THE HISTORY OF GOSPEL MUSIC? UH, I'M HERE REPRESENTING MY CONSTITUENTS LIKE LATOYA LUCKETT, WHO'S AN R AND B SINGER, LIKE KIRK WILLIAM, WHO'S ENDORSERS, WHO'S A JAZZ PERFORMING LIKE THE COMPARABLE YOLANDA ADAMS, WHO'S THE QUEEN OF GOSPEL, AND NOW THE DARLING OF HOUSTON. SO WE ALL PARTNER IN DOING THIS WITH THE REST OF THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU, SIR. SHA, SIR, COME, COME BACK. COME BACK. COME BACK. COME BACK. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. I I COULD NOT EVER THINK THAT HE SHOULD WALK AWAY WITHOUT ME SAYING HOW MUCH I HE BRINGS TO THIS TABLE. I MEAN, HE, HE'S A PHENOMENAL, HE'S A LEGEND. YES. AND I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR FIRST NAME. I CAN BLACKMAIL YOU NOW 'CAUSE IT'S ON HERE. BUT CERTAINLY V MICHAEL MCKAY HAS BEEN A LEGEND AND A STALWART IN THE GOSPEL COMMUNITY. [00:45:01] HE, ALONG WITH YOLANDA ADAMS, UH, I'M JUST TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED AND CERTAINLY THAT IT'S IN DISTRICT D, WHICH OF, YOU KNOW, IS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. CERTAINLY IT ADDS TO OUR, UH, OUR CULTURAL CAPITAL THAT WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT FORWARD. AND I THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT NOW THAT I AM THE CHAIR OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE, THAT THIS IS A PART OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN GET DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. WE'RE NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO PERFORM, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I'M GLAD YOU VALIDATED. I'M 28 YEARS OLD. A LEGEND. SIR, SIR, SIR, SIR? UH, COUNCILOR DAVIS? YES. B? YES, SIR. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY FRIEND. LET ME, DITTO WHAT, UH, CAROLYN HAS JUST SAID, UH, FOR YEARS TO COME. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO DO THE PRAYER AS WE INITIATED THE GROUNDS AT WESLEY CHAPEL A FEW WEEKS AGO. AND I'M HONORED BECAUSE OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS CITY. SOME MAY, MAY NOT KNOW, BUT YOUR, YOUR HISTORY OF WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO HOUSTON, YOU PUT HOUSTON ON THE MAP IN REGARDS TO YOUR GIFT THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED YOU TO DO. I'M PROUD OF THE FACT, AND HOUSTON SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE FACT AND MY SHORT TERM IN CHICAGO AS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. YEAH. EVERYBODY WAS ALWAYS, UH, COMPLIMENTING THE GOSPEL HISTORY THAT HOUSTON, UH, HAS BROUGHT ABOUT AND THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THAT UP. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR GIFT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO ALL OF US. AIN'T MANY CHURCHES IN THIS TOWN, HEAVEN HAD BE MICHAEL K DOING A WORKSHOP AT SOME TIME. THANK YOU. MY BROTHER. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND ENRICH YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. I'M HUMBLED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, JASON, LET GRIFFIN, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EACH OF YOU. MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY. I AM REVEREND JOSETTE GRIFFIN AND MY SON EVAN LEE, WAS MURDERED IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL THIS YEAR. I'M SORRY, THIS MONTH ON THE 22ND. THIS FRIDAY WILL BE TWO YEARS WITH NO ANSWERS. I'VE TAKEN MY PAIN AND TAKEN IT INTO PURPOSE. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE ON SO MANY ARRESTS BY OUR HPD OFFICERS THAT IS OVER FLOODING THE JAILS AND SOME OF THE ARREST AS SUCH AS, UM, JUST VERY, VERY SMALL OFFENSES THAT ARE MISDEMEANORS. I'M ASKING IF YOU COULD JUST GALVANIZE YOUR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO FLOOD THE JAILS OR MAYBE EVEN OPEN ANOTHER CITY JAIL. I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT'S VERY, VERY SINCERE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TRY AND CONTROL ALL OF THE ARREST AND OVER FLOODING OUR JAILS AND SO MANY LIVES ARE BEING LOST AND TRANSFERRED AND OUR DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE, MAYBE WE CAN OFFER THOSE HERE IN OUR CITY AND USE THEM FOR THOSE LESS THAN FORTUNATE FOR HOUSING OR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, I FEEL LIKE APPRECIATED TO OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF OUTSOURCING OUR INMATES AND USING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND INCONVENIENCING THOSE THAT ARE ARRESTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT, CHRIS DU. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE SENATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE ALL THESE YEARS. WE'VE ALWAYS SHARED THE SAME, UM, GOAL OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 43, WHICH IS A CITY'S PAYMENT TO THE COUNTY JAIL. I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU THREE QUICK DATA POINTS. UM, THE CITY HAS A VERY DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THE COUNTY JAIL. TODAY'S DASHBOARD ON THE JAIL SHOWS THAT OVER 58% OF THE ARRESTEES IN OUR JAIL ARE BY HPD. SO EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE JAIL, YOU HAVE A HUGE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THE JAIL. UM, THE OTHER DATA POINT IS ALMOST 700 OF THEM ARE MISDEMEANORS. AND THE THIRD DATA POINT I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU IS WE ARE SPENDING THE COUNTY SPENDING $50.3 MILLION TO HOUSE 1,162 PRETRIAL LEGALLY INNOCENT DETAINEES OUTSIDE THE COUNTY AND OUTSIDE THE STATE. AND ONE REPERCUSSION OF THAT IS IF A PERSON [00:50:01] DIES OUTSIDE THE STATE, WHICH HAPPENED IN LASSALLE CORRECTIONS TWO YEARS AGO, THE STATE HAS NO OBLIGATION TO COUNT OR REPORT THE DEATH OF THE AGS OFFICE OR TO INVESTIGATE IT. AND THAT'S THE RIPPLE EFFECT WE'RE SEEING OF THE ARRESTS FROM HPD INTO OUR JAIL. SO WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU TO, UM, LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES FROM YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED IN DIVERSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH, HOLD ON. COUNCIL. THANK YOU COUNCIL. MA'AM. MA'AM, MA'AM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK BOTH OF YOU ALL FOR COMING, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU, MS. GRIFFIN, ON THE LOSS OF YOUR SON. WE ALL, UH, ARE MOURNING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. MS. GUNDY, MA'AM. HELLO? THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YOU DON'T NEED TO RUN. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MS. GUNDO, LET, LET ME, I WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S CONDOLENCES EVERY, EVERY LIFE LOST IN THE JAIL IS A TRAGEDY AND IN IS UNNECESSARY IN, IN MY OPINION. AND, UH, I, I TAGGED THIS ITEM LAST WEEK BECAUSE I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF DEATHS WE WERE SEEING IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, ESPECIALLY OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS. AND, UM, IN THE INTERIM HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH THE SHERIFF AND I WILL BRIEF THE COUNSEL ON THAT PRIOR TO TOMORROW'S VOTE ON THE AGENDA ITEM. UM, BUT THIS WEEK WE ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUR, UH, THE HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER AND LEARN ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, DONE THERE. THE HARRIS CENTER WHERE MENTAL HEALTH, UH, INMATES ARE DIVERTED AND THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT IS BEING THERE IN, IN, IT'S MY HOPE THAT, THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO PRESERVE, UH, THE FUNDING THAT THESE FACILITIES RECEIVE SO THAT OUR MENTALLY ILL INMATES CAN RECEIVE, UH, THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND, UH, IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, WHICH IS OFTEN NOT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. BUT I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS YOU'VE RAISED AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MAY I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT COUNCILMAN? 'CAUSE YOU BRING UP A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS. I THINK THE CITY WOULD PROBABLY SEE BETTER RETURN ON ITS INVESTMENT IF WE EXPANDED THE DIVERSION CENTER 'CAUSE IT IS WORKING AND WE HAVE GOOD DATA ON THE SUPER USERS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING BACK OR NOT COMING BACK WITHIN 30, 60, 90 DAYS, IT SHOWS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DIVERSION CENTER. SO IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU COULD PUT THESE RESOURCES INTO EXPANDING THE DIVERSION CENTER AND ALSO EXPANDING THE PARAMETERS OF PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY TO GO INTO THE DIVERSION CENTERS. AND THAT WOULD REALLY CREATE A HEALTHY, SAFE COMMUNITY, UM, IF WE COULD INVEST IN THOSE FRONTEND UPSTREAM PREVENTIVE SOLUTIONS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT BECAUSE CATCHING PEOPLE AT THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL THE FIRST TIME WHEN THEY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THEY'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. IF THEY COULD GET THAT CARE, WE COULD PREVENT THEM FROM COMING INTO THE JAIL. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT THAT DATA. THANK YOU. YOU BET. AND, AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE EXPANDED BECAUSE THERE IS, THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR THEM. UH, THE CHALLENGE, AS YOU KNOW, BECOMES WHERE, WHERE WE FIND THE FUNDING FOR, UH, THIS GREAT NEED, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS. AND, UH, I DON'T MEAN TO, UH, UH, SUGGEST THAT THIS ISN'T WORTH ADDITIONAL MONEY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT IS. AND SO I KNOW COUNT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ARE GONNA WORK HARD, UH, TO FIND A, A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK, THANK, UH, LET ME THANK EACH OF YOU FOR COMING. MS. GRIFFIN? YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. SORRY, CERTAINLY CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR SON. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN FIND THESE ARE OUT OF STATE AND IN POST TEXAS, UH, AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. I'M, I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE COMMUNICATIONS BACK HOME THAT THEY NEED. AND, UH, ONE ELEMENT OF, OF THAT SOLUTION WOULD BE THE BACKLOG. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR JUDGES TO, UH, HAVE THE HEARINGS, HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE OR CERTAINLY RELEASE 'EM IF THEY'RE INNOCENT. BUT THE PRACTICE AND, AND THE COST OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE IN LOUISIANA WHEN YOU HAVEN'T. MOST, MOST OF THE CONFINING HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANYTHING. SO I'VE SPOKEN OUT, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HERE AT THE HORSESHOE JOIN ME THAT, UH, IT'S JUST WRONG TO SEND FOLKS. MANY HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUDICATED OUT OF HARRIS COUNTY. THE, UH, CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FENCE COUNCIL DOES NOT EXIST. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL TELL YOU THE, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT SPONSOR THESE PROGRAMS WILL TELL YOU, OH, THEY HAVE CONTACT VERY, VERY LITTLE. AND THE FIRST TIME YOU GET CROSSWISE WITH A CORRECTION OFFICER, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY CONTACT. SO IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO SPEAK OUT ON. BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND [00:55:01] BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, CYNTHIA DORE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM CYNTHIA DORE AT 12 YEAR RESIDENT OF MONTROSE. I LIVE FIVE BLOCKS FROM THE PROPOSED MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND I'M THEREFORE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY IT. THIS SECTION OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD IS GRACED INDEED WITH A LOVELY BOULEVARD AND OUR SECTION OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD SHOULD RESEMBLE THE BEAUTY OF HEIGHTS BOULEVARD. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, OUR STREET IS FLANKED BY A STUNNING PATCHWORK OF VARIABLE BROKEN AND UNEVEN SIDEWALKS AND RAMBLING UTILITY LINES, BISECTING TREES THAT ARE MUTILATED AND SICKLY. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS AND IS APPROVED BY NUMEROUS URBAN FORESTRY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OWN URBAN FORESTRY. PLEASE DON'T ALLOW A VOCAL MINORITY OF PEOPLE TO CONVINCE YOU TO KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO ALLOW THIS PROJECT TO COMMENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT, JASON SMITH. HELLO, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M JASON SMITH. THIS IS TARA TYLER WITH ME. WE'RE BOTH COMMISSIONERS IN THE, IN THE HOUSTON CLEAN CITY COMMISSION. YOUR COMMISSION THAT'S, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE, UH, THERE TO BRING ABOUT LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS OF TRASH HANDLING HABITS AND ALSO PROVIDE A QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, EACH QUARTER, OUR LAST QUARTERLY REPORT, IT'S ONLY A TWO PAGE REPORT. LAST QUARTER QUARTERLY REPORT WAS ON TIRE TIRE RECYCLING, AND OUR NEXT ONE FOR THE NEXT QUARTER IS GONNA BE ON E-WASTE. THIS ONE IS ON SINGLE WASTE RESIDENTIAL YARD WASTE. AND WE'VE INTERVIEWED AND WORKED WITH GENERATORS, TRANSPORTERS, AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES AND IDENTIFIED, IDENTIFIED MANY PROPER END STATES, UH, TO INCLUDE COMPOSTING. UH, THE UNFORTUNATE END STATES INCLUDE WASTE, UH, LANDFILLS AND STORM DRAINS AS WELL. I WANNA COMMEND THE CITY FOR THEIR WEEKLY YARD WASTE PICKUP. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, 30% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE IS FROM YARD WASTE AND ONLY 1% OF THAT IS RECYCLED THROUGH THE CITY SPONSORED COMPOSTING PROGRAM. MR. MAYOR, UH, SARAH'S HERE, SHE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND OR CONTINUE AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE FOUND IN THE TWO PAGE REPORT. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU JASON, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE YOU. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU CONTINUING TO ENGAGE, SO THANK YOU ALL TO THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR THEIR WORK. BUT I, I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE JUST YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION, SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. GREAT, THANK YOU. NEXT, SIERRA? TYLER? YES. THANK YOU. SO, LIKE JASON SAID, UH, OUR YARD WASTE DIVERSION NUMBERS AREN'T GREAT AND THERE'S A REPORT THAT'S CIRCULATING RIGHT NOW, WHICH WAS ALSO CIRCULATED BY EMAIL TO EVERYONE HERE. UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE FOUND, UH, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE IT. UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THERE, BUT, UH, ONE THING THAT WE FOUND IS MOST CITIZENS AREN'T AWARE THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO ORGANIC WASTE PICKUP PROGRAMS, ONE FOR HEAVY TREE WASTE AND ONE FOR YARD TRIMMINGS. SO THERE'S A PUBLIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY THERE. UM, WE, UH, ARE CONCERNED THAT, UM, CITIZENS ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO USE VERY SPECIFIC CITY BRANDED COMPOSTABLE BAGS. THIS LIMITS PARTICIPATION AND IT IS A DATED APPROACH. UH, WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE TYPES OF BAGS BEING ALLOWED, BUT ALSO, UM, REUSABLE PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH AN OPEN TOP AND A MESH BOTTOM. AND THIRD, EVEN THOUGH YARD WASTE AND TREE WASTE ARE, ARE BOTH LANDSCAPING WASTE, UM, THEY ARE PROCESSED SEPARATELY. YEAH, IT SEPARATELY. AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. HOLD ON, WE COUNCIL, WE'RE HAPPY TO HANDLE QUESTIONS. ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. UM, MAYOR, THIS, THIS IS A COMMISSION THAT'S ACTUALLY DOING REAL WORK OUT THERE. NOT THAT OTHER COMMISSIONS DON'T, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY HELPING THE CITY FIGURE OUT WAYS TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS. THEY DUG INTO THE ORDINANCE AND SAW THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE A QUARTERLY REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL THAT HAD NEVER REALLY BEEN DONE BEFORE. SO THEY'RE COMING TO US, THEY'VE COME ONCE BEFORE WITH A BUNCH OF REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCRAP TIRES THAT ARE LEFT ALL OVER THE PLACE. NOW THEY'RE HELPING US ON OUR YARD WASTE. YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF COMPOSTING. WE NEED TO GET MORE OF THAT YARD WASTE RECIRCULATED. UM, SO WHATEVER THE BEST VENUE, UM, PERHAPS IN A COMMITTEE QUALITY OF LIFE OR ANOTHER, THIS [01:00:01] WILL BE A GREAT REPORT TO GET AND FOR US TO REALLY HAVE A POINT OF CONTACT WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR VOLUNTEER TIME ON ARE ACTUALLY BEING ACTED UPON. THIS IS FREE HELP TO THE CITY. THEY'RE DIGGING IN DEEP AND ANALYZING SOME OF THE ISSUES, UM, THAT ARE GOING ON AND, AND, UM, JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE US TO DEVELOP SOME KIND OF MECHANISM BY WHICH WE CAN TRACK THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING UP ON THEM. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOVE TO, UM, FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK. YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM US. THANK YOU. NEXT JAY CARA HAND. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M JAY CARA AND I'M HERE TO FULLY SUPPORT THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND URGE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE IT. I'M AN ACTIVE SEMI-RETIRE. I LIVE, WORK AND RECREATE IN THE NORTH MONTROSE ROSEMONT SUBDIVISION SINCE 2016. OURS IS AN ATTRACTIVE NEAR TOWN, NEAR HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD. MY WIFE, NEIGHBORS AND I WALK TO SHOP, DINE AND EXERCISE. HERE. WE WALK TO METRO'S, BUS STOPS ON MONTROSE TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING THE MEDICAL CENTER AND SPORTING EVENTS AND EVEN A CITY HALL LIKE WE DID TODAY. OUR NEIGHBORS WALK THEIR CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL CROSSING MONTROSE. MANY OF OUR SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS HAVEN'T BEEN REFRESHED IN NEARLY A CENTURY. SIDEWALKS ARE OFTEN BUCKLED, CRACKED AND MISSING. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN PENDING FOR FOUR YEARS WITH ACTIVE DESIGN PLANS IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS. YOU WON'T FIND A MORE ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAN OURS ON A PROJECT THIS SIZE. OUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS ATTEND ALL CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND OTHER MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT. GIVEN OUR EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT IN THE PROJECT AND EXPECTED TRAFFIC INCREASE DUE TO CURRENT CONSTRUCTION OF MANY HIGH RISE RESIDENCES, WE ASK YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN RAMIREZ. OH, I'M SORRY. MY EYES. HE WAS READY FOR COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. I JUST ANTICIPATED CAMAN. HE JUST KNEW YOU JUST KNEW YOU WAS HERE. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. JIMMY. BE NEXT. JUDGE. CARA HAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME IF YOU NEED SOME MORE TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS WON'T TAKE LONG TO FINISH THIS UP. GIVEN OUR EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT IN THE PROJECT AND THE EXPECTED TRAFFIC INCREASES DUE TO CURRENT CONSTRUCTION OF MANY HIGHRISE RESIDENCES MIXED USE PROJECTS IN THE NEWEST MAILING CENTER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE EXTENSIVE DRAINAGE OVERHAUL SAFETY INTERVENTIONS LIKE MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS, 10 FOOT SHARED USE PATHS, A DA COMPLIANCE SIDEWALKS IMPROVED LIGHTING, 80 MORE TREES, AND GENERAL IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE HERE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MOST OF THE TIME I WOULD'VE BEEN CORRECT. ALWAYS HAPPY. I I'LL KEEP MY GLASSES ON . I KNOW WE, THE NAMES HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF LETTERS. NEXT. EDUARDO LAREDO . GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR WHITMEYER. UH, MY NAME IS EDGAR LAREDO. I'M HERE, UH, TO, UH, SAY THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, COMING, COMING BACK. UH, THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN DISSOLVED FROM THE PREVIOUS JUDGE. UH, AND UH, I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS THERE FOR 45 YEARS. OUR FAMILY. AND, UH, WE'VE GOT A LIEN PUT AGAINST OUR PROPERTY AND I THINK IT'S NOT FAIR FOR A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO COME IN AND HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT WHEN, UH, THEY'RE NOT TRANSPARENT. UM, I JUST WISH THAT Y'ALL WOULD DO ANYTHING IN Y'ALL'S POWER TO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN AND FOR THEM TO COME BACK. THANK YOU SIR. SIR? UH, COUNCILOR KAMAN. YEAH, I KNOW YOU REALLY WANTED TO HEAR FROM ME. UH, MR. LAREDO, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST FOR THE RECORD, DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS IN THE AREA? YES. BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LISTED AN ADDRESS IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, SO I WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT. C THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES. OKAY, GREAT. AND, UM, WITH THE PROPOSAL, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SO I'M JUST ASKING QUESTIONS [01:05:01] AND I'LL ASK THAT OF EVERY BUSINESS. UM, WOULD YOU BE FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY THE CREATION OF THE TUR? SOME BUSINESSES WOULD BE, SOME BUSINESSES WOULDN'T BE. WELL, I, I'M JUST THE, THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS, UH, I'M, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH YOU. MY ONLY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE, UH, FEE MAYOR THAT'S LEVERAGED ON CERTAIN BUSINESSES? WOULD YOUR BUSINESSES BE BUSINESS BE ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES OR NOT? IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE, THE, SORRY. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT YOUR BUSINESS WOULD BE IN FALL UNDER THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S LE OF THAT TAX. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ONE, ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, BROTHER LODO, LET ME ASK THE QUESTION OF YOU. YOU ARE OPPOSED TO THIS CREATION. YES. SPECIFICALLY, TELL ME WHY YOU ARE OPPOSED TO IT IN REGARD. YOU MENTIONED PREVIOUS STATUS. WELL, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE GONE TO COURT, WE'VE BATTLED, WE'VE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO GET THIS GROUP, UH, TO BE DISSOLVED. AND NOW THE SAME GROUP, THE SAME ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO GET BACK AND PUT US THROUGH THE SAME PREDICAMENTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH. SO WE JUST WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAYBE, UH, SET UP OUR OWN COMMUNITY GROUP AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE SOME AND A GROUP THAT'S TRANSPARENT. AND WHEN YOU SAY TRANSPARENT, ARE YOU SPEAKING OF SOMETHING THAT WAS FINANCIAL? WELL, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE GOT A LETTER THAT, THAT WAS SENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN ADDRESS, THAT DIDN'T HAVE A SIGNATURE SAYING THAT THIS GROUP WAS COMING BACK IN AND THEY WERE GONNA DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. BUT I MEAN, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED ON THE WRONG FOOT AND WE JUST WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT AMAYA BROWN. AMAYA BROWN. DANIELLA GONZALEZ. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON IS DEAN MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MR. MAYOR. MY NAME IS ALA GONZALEZ AND I SERVE AS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT ELECT DIEGO ORGA AND AUSTIN CRAIG OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON STANDS AS A CORE BELOVED INSTITUTION OF OUR CITY, BOASTING A STUDENT BODY OF 46,700 INDIVIDUALS. AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THESE STUDENTS, WE RECOGNIZE A RESPONSIBILITY TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOTES, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. FOR MOST. AMONG THE CONCERNS OF STUDENTS TODAY IS THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. IT PAINS US TO WITNESS INSTANCES WHERE STUDENTS FEEL APPREHENSIVE ABOUT TRAVERSING FAMILIAR ROOTS AFTER DARK OR RESIDING IN THEIR OWN ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. REPETITIVELY, THESE FEARS ARE UNFOUNDED. AS RECENT EVENTS SUCH AS A TRAGIC INCIDENT AT HAVEN APARTMENT LAST SEMESTER UNDERSCORES A PRESSING NEED FOR ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES. THE ALARMING STATISTIC THAT ONE IN EVERY 88 CUSTODIANS IS AT RISK OF BECOMING A VICTIM OF CRIME TRANSLATES TO 53 OF STUDENTS POTENTIALLY FACING SUCH THREATS. WE ALREADY BEGAN INITIATING A CAMPUS ALONG CAMPUS INITIATIVE ALONGSIDE CHIEF MOORE OF UHPD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNCIL IN WHATEVER POSSIBLE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT ALICE LOU. OH, MA'AM, SHE'S, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? COUNCIL, FINISH UP. OH, FINISH UP. YEAH. THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH THIS COUNCIL IN WHATEVER WAY POSSIBLE TO ENSURE OUR COUGS TRAVERSES THE CAMPUS AND CITY BEYOND SAFELY WITHOUT FOLLOWING PERIOD OF CRIME. TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE ALONG MANY OTHERS, WHICH COLLABORATION FOR OFF CAMPUS INITIATIVE CAN PROVE PRODUCTIVE FOR STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL PRESENT TO OUR OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 1ST AT 5:30 PM IN THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, ALICE LOU, WESTERN RECOVERY IN THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE ARE HERE TODAY TO INTRODUCE OUR DRAINAGE CAMPAIGN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET CYCLE. AFTER YEARS OF ADVOCACY FROM FLOOD SURVIVORS, HOUSTON IS BEGINNING TO ADDRESS THE DEEP INEQUALITIES THAT DEFINE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. EACH CITY COUNCILOR THAT MET WITH US OR VOTED YES ON THE AMENDMENT LAST YEAR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, JACKSON PLUMBER AND ALCORN TO NAME A FEW. YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT BEGINNING. THE DISTRICT ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM THAT [01:10:01] CREATED A PROACTIVE FIVE YEAR MAINTENANCE CYCLE WAS A CRUCIAL INTERVENTION. AND THIS PROGRAM NEEDS GUARANTEE OF FULL AND PERMANENT FUNDING TO MEET ITS OBJECTIVES. PUBLIC WORKS HAS STATED DIRECTLY THAT THE PROGRAM REQUIRES $45 MILLION TO CONTINUE, AND WE'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET AND THAT THE CITY FOLLOWS THROUGH ON ITS POLICY ORDINANCE. WE BELIEVE ALL PEOPLE DESERVE SAFE HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO LIVE IN. AND THIS REQUIRES PROTECTION FROM FLOODING. CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE SUFFERING FROM INFRASTRUCTURE CRISES, BUT HOUSTON HAS A PARTICULAR URGENCY TO ACT. BOTH STREET AND HOME FLOODING ARE KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO RACIAL DISPARITIES IN HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE. ACROSS HOUSTON AND OF ALL MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES, HOUSTON HAS BEEN FOUND TO FACE THE HIGHEST RISK FROM WEATHER AND CLIMATE HAZARD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS ON FLOODING, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL SAW, UM, SPACE CITY WEATHER'S MOST RECENT REPORT TODAY ABOUT THE EXTREME RISK GIVEN, UM, NOT JUST CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT WHAT IS LIKE, WHAT IS HAPPENING THROUGH CLIMATE CHANGE OF STORMS ALONG THE GULF COAST, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE AS WE CONTINUE, BECAUSE WE NEED MORE FLOOD MITIGATION, WE NEED MORE RESILIENCY. UH, WE ARE NOT THERE YET. SO THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TO EVERY SPEAKER. WE GOT A LONG LIST, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR MANY OF US. YEAH. I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. AND I JUST WANNA END WITH THIS STATISTIC BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY ASTOUNDING FOR ME. BUT 9% OF CENSUS BLOCKS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE BEEN LISTED AS CLIMATE ABANDONMENT ERAS AREA. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY AFFECTING, UM, PEOPLE WANTING TO MOVE TO THE CITY, PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE LIVING HERE IN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT BENJAMIN BROADWAY DRIVER LICENSE. THANK YOU. UH, YES, UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BENJAMIN BRO. I'M WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. LAST YEAR, THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE WITH WEST STREET, UH, CAMPAIGN FOR $20 MILLION FOR LDP PROJECTS, WHICH WE DID A GOOD JOB. WE GOT THAT MONEY OVER TO THEM. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL 45 MILLION FOR THIS UPCOMING BUDGET. WITH THAT 45 MILLION, WE CAN SPEND 5 MILLION ON EMPLOYING PEOPLE TO, UH, DO THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS, TO DO THE DITCH REVITALIZATION PLAN. WE ARE FALLING BEHIND, WE NEED, AND THEY NEED HELP. SO LET'S SPEND THE OTHER 40 MILLION TO GOING AHEAD AND FUND THE DITCH REVITALIZATION PLAN. WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB SO FAR, SO LET'S KEEP IT UP. THE GS UH, THE GIS MAPPING TOOL IS ONE GOOD TOOL THAT, UH, THE CITY HAS ADDED AND WE'VE ALSO SECURED THE 25 MILLION PROJECTS THAT CAN BE DONE. WE NEED TO KEEP UP THE WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, NO SPEAKERS. CAROLYN RIVERA. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JACKSON AND CITY COUNCIL. FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. THANK YOU FOR THE PLANS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO SAVE LIVES IN THE POOR, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. I AM CAROLYN RIVERA. I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY GAS NORTHEAST HOUSTON AREA FOR OVER 45 YEARS, AND A VOLUNTEER FOR NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. I'M HERE TO ALSO AGREE AND STAND WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF WEST STREET AND NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE ON ASKING FOR THE FUNDS THAT ARE NEEDED TO CONTINUE THE WORK. THE PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. WE'RE ALSO ASKING THAT YOU PERMANENTLY HAVE FUNDS TOWARD THIS PROJECT YEARLY [01:15:01] BECAUSE OVER 85% OF THE MARGINALIZED POOR COMMUNITIES OR DITCH DRAINAGE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU, UH, MA'AM. COUNCILOR JACKSON HAS COMMENT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MS, UM, FOR COMING IN FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE GUYS DONE TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RESOURCES TO HANDLE THE DRAINAGE, UM, PROBLEMS IN THE NORTHEAST HOUSTON, UM, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S BENEFITING EVERYBODY. YES. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU AGAIN. NEXT COURTNEY RES. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME MAYOR WHITMEYER. UM, MY NAME IS COURTNEY RES. I LIVE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, EAST HOUSTON, CGAS AREA LIKE MS. RIVERA. AND, UM, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. BUT TODAY I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE NAC, THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. UM, WE ADVOCATE FOR FLOOD MITIGATION AND EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, BUT NOT JUST IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. WE WANNA SEE FLOOD MITIGATION ACROSS THE CITY. UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, AND THIS IS THE, THE THIRD YEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN, WE'VE DECIDED TO, UM, TO, UH, . THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WE'VE DECIDED TO, UM, TO, IT IS BEEN A LONG DAY. I'M SORRY. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT WE'VE DECIDED TO, TO GO FOR THE CITY AND TO TRY AND IMPACT THE CITY BUDGET CAMPAIGN. AND OUR GOAL WITH THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE IN INVESTMENT IN FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS THROUGH THE CITY BUDGET. UM, THE LAST TWO YEARS, LIKE BIG BEN SAID, WE WON LOCAL DRAINAGE MONEY FOR LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS, AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL. WE HAVE ONE BY MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. WE'VE ALSO SEEN A DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM THAT WE REALLY TIME HAS EXPIRED. WELL, THANK YOU GUYS. WE WILL BE BACK AND WE DEFINITELY EXPECT YOU GUYS TO SUPPORT US, ESPECIALLY, UH, YOU MISS CAYMAN. WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU MORE CLOSELY THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. JOSEPH SMITH, JUNE SENIOR. MY NAME IS JOSEPH SMITH, SENIOR. UH, THIS GENTLEMAN, I'M TRYING TO, SIR SYLVESTER TURNER TOLD TO HELP ME WITH THIS. MY DILIGENCE HAS BEEN SOMEBODY KEEP GETTING A, UH, KEEP GETTING BENEFITS IN MY NAME, NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. AND LIKE I SAID, SO THIS FROM A BANK SAYING THEY GOT A CREDIT CARD IN MY NAME. I REPORTED THIS LAST YEAR. AND YOU SAY Y'ALL ALLEGEDLY SENT A LETTER OF FEBRUARY THE 13TH WHEN I REPORTED THIS LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU TELLING ME THAT'S POSSIBLY OKAY WITH IT. I REPORTED THIS LAST YEAR AROUND MY FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF 2003. AND YOU SAY YOU SENDING ME SOMETHING IN 2024. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING, SIR, ON FEBRUARY 34TH. AND LIKE I SAID, I'M RIGHT HERE. I'M IN BREAK FORCE. SO I HAVE WITNESSES AND I'M RECORDING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I'M STEADY ASKING YOU. I'M TRYING TO, SIR, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TERMINATE THE CALL BECAUSE YOU CAN RECORD A CONVERSATION. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, BECAUSE YOU BEING VERY, YOUR TOWN HAS EXPIRED. SO MY FAMILY KEEPS SUFFERING. MY FINANCES KEEP HITTING. SO I DIVORCED MY WIFE, BUT FAMILY COURT KICKED US OUT. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND US. YOU LOOK, YOU'LL SEE I'M TRYING TO PUT A FILE IN TO DIVORCE MY WIFE. 'CAUSE I WANT TO SEE HOW I HAVE ALL THESE WIVES AND SIT IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO THEY, HARRIS COUNTY JUST SENT US A LETTER SAYING THEY DISMISSED THE, OUR DIVORCE TO, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND ME. I LIVED WITH MY WIFE, I BILL MY WIFE OVER 30 YEARS, BUT HARRIS AND I WORKED FOR THE CITY TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. SO, BUT EVERYBODY, LIKE, THEY CAN'T FIND ME. IF I'M A CRIMINAL, WHY AM I STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU, MAYOR, IF I'M A CRIMINAL, I'M STILL, I'M DOING WELFARE FRAUD. I'M DOING IDENTITY FRAUD. I'M DOING, UH, THEY SAY I'M DOING, UH, DISABILITY. THEY SAY I'M GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT AND I HAVE A JOB HOW I'M GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT AND I HAVE A JOB. THANK YOU, SIR. BUT NO ONE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND THIS THE BANK TELLING ME NEXT. RITA CAMPOS. [01:20:09] RITA CAMPOS IS NOT PRESENT. TOMMY HOLSTON, THANKS. AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UM, AND COUNCIL, SORRY, I HAVE A LITTLE RODEO POLL AND IIS RIGHT NOW, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. UM, I'M WITH BAKER RIPLEY AND I'M HERE TO TELL Y'ALL ABOUT, UH, A GREAT NEW THING THAT WE'RE BRINGING RIGHT TO Y'ALL HERE IN CITY HALL. UH, THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE INVITED US TO OPEN ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TAX CENTERS, UM, FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. AND SO WE'RE GONNA START TOMORROW, UM, ALL DAY. AND THEN THE NEXT FOUR WEDNESDAYS, UM, THIS IS AVAILABLE REGIONWIDE, UM, TO ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT, UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THAT INVITATION AND THANK, UH, KAITA REYES. SO REALLY WANTED TO SHARE WHAT'S COMING AROUND THE HORSESHOE WITH Y'ALL, UM, TO SHARE THE WORD ABOUT IT. ALSO, UH, BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL TO TELL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE WATCHING, PROMOTE IT TO YOUR, UM, UH, EMPLOYEES SO THAT WE CAN GET A GREAT TURNOUT. UM, IN ADDITION TO THE, EXCUSE ME, CITY HALL SPECIFIC FLYER, THERE'S ALSO THE, ALL THE LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE CITY. SO WE WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO GET THE WORD OUT. AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SINCE WE'LL BE HERE ON WEDNESDAYS, COME ON DOWNSTAIRS AND SEE US. UM, YOU CAN COME BEFORE, UH, THE MEETING STARTS TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE OR AFTERWARDS IF YOU WANNA DROP BY, SEE OUR STAFF AND EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. THANKS. NEXT, TIFFANY RIA. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. MY NAME IS TIFFANY CHEVERIA AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CREDIBLE MESSENGERS AND TO SHARE SOME GRATITUDE. CREDIBLE MESSENGERS IS A MENTORING STRATEGY THAT PAIRS INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO BECOME INVOLVED OR THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY NAVIGATING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR YOUR INVESTMENT INTO THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER STRATEGY. IT IS A WAY TO APPROACH PUBLIC SAFETY THAT'S INNOVATIVE AND REALLY CENTERS COMMUNITY IN THE CONVERSATION. I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON, WHO'S MY COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT B TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN CHAMPIONING THIS EFFORT BECAUSE OF YOUR NONSTOP ADVOCACY, YOU'RE GIVING A PATHWAY FOR US TO DO THE WORK. SO THANK YOU. I'M JOINED TODAY BY OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THE WORK AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TIFFANY, AND ALL THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS WHO ARE HERE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, UM, FOR, UM, APPROVING THE RESOURCES THAT I THINK WE GOT THE FIRST ROUND OF RESOURCES, UM, FOR, TO RUN A PILOT PROGRAM. AND SO WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THESE RESOURCES SINCE 2021. AND SO NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO KICK THIS CREDIBLE MESSENGER INITIATIVE OFF. WE HAVE LIKE APPROXIMATELY 65 CREDIBLE MESSENGERS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED SO FAR, UM, THROUGH BE SUCCESSFUL. AND SO, UM, IT'S JUST IF PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY, THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS. I KNOW WE WERE JUST TALKING EARLIER ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND THIS IS THE CITY'S WAY OF DOING IT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR PARTNERSHIP. THANKS. THANK YOU ALL. WE'RE SO EXCITED. THANK YOU. NEXT DIZZY PETERS MON GREETINGS. AND AND THAT'S BUSI PRONOUNCED BUSI PETERS MON. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR, UM, FUNDING THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS TASHA JACKSON WHO'S SPEARHEADED THE PROGRAM. I WAS A PART OF THE FIRST COHORT OF THE TRAININGS FOR THAT THREE YEARS AGO. MY ORGANIZATION IS WOO, WOMEN HEALING AND EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE A PART OF THIS WORK. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AUGUST SUPPORT. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. NEXT LEOTIS WILL LEOTIS JOHNSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS LEOTIS BOSWELL JOHNSON. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SONS OF SOPHISTICATION. [01:25:01] WE ARE A NONPROFIT MENTORING PROGRAM AND WE ARE ONE OF THE 15 PARTNERS THAT IS PARTNERING WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION AS A SERVICE FOR THE CREDIBLE MESSAGES PROGRAM. DOING THIS WORK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME. UH, THE, THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO POUR INTO YOUTH AND SEE YOUNG MEN GROW AND HAVE A COMMUNITY AND BE SAFE AND BE CHALLENGED IS THE PERFECT WAY TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY. TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A WAY THAT THEY ARE GROWING AND FEELING LOVED, AND ANYTHING THEY MIGHT BE MISSING, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET. AND THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT ON A LARGER SCALE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. NEXT. KAYLYN WILSON. KEELY WILSON. JOVI SMITH. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. I'M JOVI SMITH AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING INCREDIBLE MESSAGES AND, UH, COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. AND I JUST WANNA SAY, WORKING WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING FOR ME 'CAUSE I GET TO DO WHAT I LOVE AND THAT'S BEEN A MENTOR, A TEACHER, AND A ROLE MODEL FOR OUR YOUTH. THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM ENABLES ME TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT I LOVE. AND SO I'M HERE TODAY TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH AND, UH, CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY HERE TODAY THAT SUPPORTS THE MISSION, AND THANK YOU AGAIN. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. NEXT, KENDRA LONDON. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. I'M USUALLY HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS. TODAY I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF. I HAVE, UM, RECEIVED A, UM, HIGH WATER USAGE BILL. NOW MY LIGHT BILL IS $70. 'CAUSE IT REFLECTS MY REALITY THAT I'M NEVER HOME. THE WATER BILL IS $2,000. SO WHEN I CALLED THE REPRESENTATIVES ON YESTERDAY, I WAS ASKED TO MAKE A PAYMENT SO I CAN PLACE IT ON HOLD AND THEN ALLOW THE LANDLORD TO FIND, UH, IF THAT WAS A LEAK OR A PROBLEM. SO I DID. SO NOW I THINK WE HAVE A LOOPHOLE FOR THE LANDLORDS. IF THE LANDLORD DECIDES THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR IT'S NOT HIS PROBLEM, THAT $2,000 BILL IS GONNA FOLLOW ME AND MY NAME. THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE TENANT. IT SHOULD RESIDE ON THE HOMEOWNER OR LIKE WHOEVER OWNS THE PROPERTY. IF THIS IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM OR IF IT'S A, UM, OR IF IT'S A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM OR DAMAGES THAT'S NOT VISIBLE TO THE EYE, THE TENANT SHOULDN'T BE LIABLE FOR THOSE REPAIRS. AND IT'S, IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE A RUNNING TOILET OR SOMETHING, YES, WE CAN FIX MINOR THINGS, BUT WE ARE STILL LIABLE IF WE DO, IF WE DAMAGE THOSE REPAIRS. I WAS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL WATER BILL? YES. OKAY. I HAVE IT. WILL YOU TALK THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE ON THE END OF THE BENCH, JOSH. OKAY. JUST SEC. THERE'S, UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ HAS IT FIRST. YES. UH, MAYOR MS. LONDON CAN HAVE MY TIME IF SHE NEEDS ADDITIONAL TIME. OKAY. AND IF NOT, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR HER. OKAY. SO, UM, WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO THE REPRESENTATIVE ON YESTERDAY, SHE STATED THAT THE TENANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WATER THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE METER. I, I UNDERSTAND THAT. UM, NOW THE WATER, WATER, THE WATER THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE MEDIA IS US. THEY WILL COME OUT AND SEE IF IT'S A CITY PROBLEM OR THE PRIVATE OWNER'S PROBLEM. THE, UM, RESOLVE, I THINK IS TO REMOVE WHEN IT'S SUCH A HIGH BILL AND IT'S FOUND THAT IT'S THE LANDOWNER'S PROBLEM. THAT BILL SHOULD BE THAT THIS, THIS NOTICE SHOULD GO TO THE HOMEOWNER, NOT TO THE TENANTS. AND THAT BILL SHOULD GO TO THEM. AND IT WOULD TAKE A, IT WOULD TAKE IT OFF OF THE CREDIT OF THE TENANT. SO EVEN WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE STEPS WITH ME. THESE, OUR REPRESENTATIVES CAN BE RESOLVING SOMETHING ELSE. THESE BILLS, THIS HIGH, HIGH USAGE NOTICE SHOULD GO TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING TAXES ON THAT PROPERTY. AND IT'S NEVER THE TENANT. SO THAT, THAT'S MY, UM, CONCERN. THERE'S SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT COME TO US, TO MY NONPROFIT. AND EVEN WHEN I WAS RUNNING THROUGH ELECTION, ASKING ABOUT THE WATER BILL, THE HIGH USAGE, UM, [01:30:01] WATER BILL, IT'S, IT IS MORE THAN JUST ME. IT'S LIKE A MILLION MES DEALING WITH THIS, WHICH OUR TAX DOLLARS IS GOING TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PHONE EXPLAINING STEPS TO ME WHEN THIS SHOULD HAVE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE LANDOWNER AND NOT THE, NOT THE TENANT. WHAT, UH, IT'S YOUR WATER BILL. HUH? IT'S YOUR WATER BILL? YES. YOU USED THE WATER. YES. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU PAID A WATER BILL? SO THE WATER BILL WAS, UM, IN JANUARY I PAID $432, JUST SO I WOULDN'T BE CONFRONTATIONAL ONLY FOR 30 DAYS LATER FOR IT TO TURN INTO $2,000. SO YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A BROKEN METER. YES. SOMETHING IS WRONG, BUT IT'S NOT. OKAY. TALK TO THIS GENTLEMAN OVER HERE AND WE'RE GONNA PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH PUBLIC WORKS. OKAY. WE'RE STILL WITH RAMIREZ. 'CAUSE HE HAD A QUESTION. I'M SORRY. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ? NO, NO. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION ON A DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEM. SO YOU WANT TO, WOULD THIS FINISH UP? DO THIS WITNESS? YES. GO FOR IT. OKAY, MA'AM, ANOTHER QUESTION. YES. YES. UH, MS. LONDON, I, I UNDERSTAND. UM, WELL, YOU, YOU MAY KNOW, UH, THE DEVELOPER, NHP HAS AN AGENDA ITEM ON THIS WEEK'S AGENDA. AND, UH, I, I'M GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NHP ON A PREVIOUS PROJECT. IS THAT RIGHT? YES. I HELD MY BREATH SO LONG IN THE BACK. THE, UM, I WAS A EMPLOYEE FOR NHP FOUND FOUNDATION THROUGH A NONPROFIT ON THEIR PROPERTY IN FIFTH WARD. SO AS A RESIDENT SERVICE COORDINATOR, I ORGANIZED FOR EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS TO COME TO CITY HALL AND EXPRESS THE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR NHP FOUNDATION. AFTER THE, AFTER WE FILED A PROTOCOL, WE, UM, SENT EMAILS IN 2021. WE HAD EMPLOYEES HERE AND WE ALSO HAD RESIDENTS HERE AND RESIDENTS TO CALL IN TO EXPRESS THE SEWER DAMAGE, MOLD, RAT INFESTATION, ROACH INFESTATION, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT NHPF WAS AWARE OF. AND IN RETURN, WE READ THE NEWSPAPER TO SEE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER GIVE 10 MILLION, $10 MILLION TO THIS, UM, DEVELOPER. AND THEN MR. RODNEY ELLIS GIVES I THINK, 15 MILLION TO START A VETERAN'S HOMELESS, A VETERAN'S HOMELESS SHELTER DOWNTOWN. IF NO ONE, IF WE ARE SIMPLY TAPPING THEM ON THEIR ARM OR THEIR WRIST, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY DO TO THE RESIDENTS WITH NO REGARD BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO SEEK GRANT MONEY AND THEY RECEIVE IT WITH NO ONE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WAY THAT OUR NEIGHBORS LIVE IN FIFTH WARD IS THE ONLY ADVOCACY THAT I'VE DONE FOR THEM. I MEAN, ON THEIR BEHALF, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WORK. BUT YES, I WOULD NOT, I WOULDN'T GIVE THEM 50 CENT. ALRIGHT. SO YOU HAVE STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT NHP GETTING YES. APPROVAL FOR THIS NEW PROJECT. IS THAT RIGHT? YES. I HAVE EMAILS AND EVERYTHING TO SHOW THAT I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE E THE RESIDENTS HAVE DOCUMENTED WITH PICTURES AND EMAILS GIVEN TO NHP FOUNDATION AND THEY WERE TOTALLY IGNORED. SO YES. TO THE GOSPEL, UM, UM, PROJECT, A HOUSING PROJECT. NEVER. NOT YET. THEY'RE NOT READY YET. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. SO MA'AM, MA'AM, UH, COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MISS, MISS LONDON ON YOUR WATER BILL MM-HMM . SITUATION. BACK TO THAT. CALL ME. UM, LET US KNOW AS YOU WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THAT. UM, I WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN ABOUT THAT ON YESTERDAY. WE COULD'VE LIKE OUT. YEAH. SO I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T WANNA GIVE THAT DIRECTLY TO YOU MM-HMM . BECAUSE I'M AWARE THERE'S A PROGRAM, BUT I JUST DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM. MM-HMM . BUT BECAUSE THIS, I SHOULDN'T BE IN THE PROGRAM. THIS IS A OWNER'S PROBLEM. MY WATER BILL IS $40 AND 32 CENTS. THIS USAGE THING IS STATING 2000. OKAY. SO JUST KEEP ME INFORMED IN THE LOOP SO THAT I CAN, UM, JUST MAKE SURE IT TAKEN. SAY I HAVE AN INTERESTING QUESTION. YOUR NON-PROFIT IS RECRUITED BY ACTIVISTS OR STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM. OH, NO. I LIVE IN FIFTH WARD. SO DUE TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES NO, I KNOW UHHUH OR MY COMMUNITY AND ON PAPER MY COMMUNITY LOOKS RICH. WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE, THAT IS ALLOCATED TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. SO SINCE 2011, I HAVE STARTED NON, UH, I HAD A GRASSROOTS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, UM, DUE TO MY FRIEND'S DRUG ADDICTION. SO TO KEEP HER NAME IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, I STARTED A GIRLS GROUP. THEN I STARTED, UH, 5 0 1 C3, OUR AFRICAN FAMILY TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIR HOUSING AND, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO US. [01:35:01] IT'S NOT COMING TO US. SO I OPEN A COMMUNITY CENTER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS. SO NO, NO ONE IS FUNDING ME. THIS IS LOVE LABOR. I DON'T GET PAID FOR THIS. I JUST DO IT. YOU DO HAVE A 5 0 1 C YES. OR NONPROFIT? YES. AND YOU RAISE MONEY FOR THAT PROJECTS? YES. TO ADVOCATE OR OPPOSE TO ADVOCATES. TO EDUCATE. YES. AND TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS THAT THEIR VOICES MATTER. AND WE SHOULD HAVE A VI WE SHOULD BE INVITED TO THESE VITAL CONVERSATIONS THAT GO ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND FIFTH WARD IS LIKE A, IT'S LIKE A LIKE BUTTON FOR THE MEDIA AND EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT I'M THE MONEY THAT'S GOING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE NOT RECEIVING THE RESOURCES. SO WHERE IS THE MONEY? LIKE, SO, SO YOU'RE TELLING US YOU HAVE NOT BECOME A COMPLETE COMMUNITY. WE'VE NEVER BEEN A COMPLETE COMMUNITY. HMM. WE'VE NEVER BEEN A COMPLETE COMMUNITY. YOU WERE DESIGNATED TO BECOME ONE BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SEE, THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF CONVERSATIONS WE ARE LEFT OUT OF. I DON'T KNOW. FIFTH FLORIDA IS NOT. IT'S IN CASHIER GARDENS. OKAY. AND CASHIER GARDENS IN FIFTH WARD IS NOT THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH THEY PUT 'EM ON THE MAP LIKE THE SAME NO, I GOT YOU. AND I HAVE MET IN TRINITY GARDENS. NO, NO. TRINITY GARDEN WEST. YES. WEST GOT TRINITY GARDEN. YES. YES. I ENJOYED IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DON'T YOU WORK WITH JOSH ON THE WATER BILL. OKAY. THANK NEXT. CATHERINE MCNEIL. SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING OH, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS, ESPECIALLY AROUND SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEXES. I LIVE IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT AND I LIVE DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO A 24 UNIT OLD MONTROSE TYPE APARTMENT COMPLEX. WHEN I MOVED IN THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX, UH, HOUSED, UH, WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS, THERE WAS A TRUCK DRIVER. THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS A BEAUTICIAN. THERE WAS A MOM WHO LIVED THERE. SO HER KIDS COULD GO TO POE ELEMENTARY. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS BOUGHT UP BY, UH, A GENTLEMAN WHO IS BUYING THESE PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE AREA. AND WHAT I WHAT THEY'RE PASSING OUT TO YOU IS A PACKET THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER. UH, THE FIRST TWO PICTURES WERE TAKEN, TAKEN SUNDAY. AND THE SECOND PICTURE, UH, THE FENCE ON THE LEFT IS MINE. UM, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DOCUMENT FOR YOU IS THE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, IN THE CITY, UH, IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT. UM, SO WE, UM, TWO OF MY OTHER NEIGHBORS ARE GONNA SPEAK ALSO, BUT WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET THE LANDLORD, UH, KNOCKED OFF OF AIRBNB. THE CITY WAS VERY HELPFUL. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UM, HELPING US. BUT JUST AS RECENTLY AS THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE FOUND, UH, THE LANDLORD ON VRBO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU. UM, AND CATHERINE, THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER RESIDENTS HERE, MAYOR. IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING, AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AD NAUSEUM LAST YEAR AS WELL. UM, IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT OWNS THESE PROPERTIES IS ALSO THE OWNER OF THE HEIGHTS PROPERTY THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH. AND, UH, CATHERINE, I'D LIKE YOU IF YOU CAN SHARE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST PAGES OF THIS ARE JUST TRASH AND DEBRIS, BUT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO THIS. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE SHARING WHAT OCCURRED SEVERAL WEEKENDS AGO, WHICH AGAIN, MAYOR, I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOU ABOUT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ABOUT IF, IF YOU GO TO THE SECOND LARGE PAGE, THE FIRST TWO PICTURES ARE OF HOUSTON POLICE AND THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. THIS WAS MY SUNDAY MORNING. MY HOME IS IN THIS PICTURE. UH, SUNDAY MORNING I WAS OUT WITH MY DOGS AND ALONG WITH FOUR DIFFERENT POLICE UNITS BREAKING UP A DIS UH, DOMESTIC DISPUTE THAT WAS TAKING PLACE OUT ON THE STREET. THIS WAS A COUPLE THAT HAD RENTED, UH, ONE OF THE APARTMENTS SHORT TERM, UH, AFTER THE POLICE CAME AND, UH, SETTLED [01:40:01] THAT DISPUTE, UH, ON THE STREET. UM, IN THE AFTERNOON, I WAS TEXTED A PICTURE OF SOMEONE HIDING BETWEEN THE UTILITY ROOM AND MY FENCE. I DECIDED I SHOULD GO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A HOMELESS PERSON OR WHAT I NEEDED TO DO. IT WAS A WOMAN HIDING. SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD PLEASE CALL THE POLICE. THIS WAS THE AFTERNOON, THAT'S THE PICTURE OF THE CONSTABLES AND THE FIRE TRUCK. SHE, HER BOYFRIEND WHO WAS IN ONE OF THE APARTMENTS HAD JUST BEATEN THE CRAP OUT OF HER AND SHE WAS HIDING. YEAH. AND THIS IS, AND AND IF YOU CONTINUE DOWN THE PICTURES, YOU'LL SEE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DOCUMENT. THIS WAS SOME OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE USED TO GET THEM KICKED OFF OF AIRBNB. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, IT CONTINUES BECAUSE THAT PICTURE I TWO PICTURES I JUST DESCRIBED TO YOU WAS MY LAST SUNDAY MORNING. YEAH. AND SO, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, CATHERINE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE WHERE THERE HAS NOT ONLY BEEN DOMESTIC ABUSE SITUATIONS, BUT VI OTHER TYPES OF VIOLENT CRIME AND NUISANCES FOR THE RESIDENTS AT THESE LOCATIONS. AND I WANNA SAY ON THE RECORD THAT, UM, SHORT TERM RENTALS AS A BUSINESS ARE NOT BAD FOR THE CITY. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF HOMEOWNERS THAT CHOOSE TO RENT OUT THEIR PROPERTIES ARE NOT BAD ACTORS. BUT WE MUST DO SOMETHING AS IT RELATES TO ENFORCEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THESE BAD ACTORS THAT HAVE A HISTORY OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT IS NOT JUST PLAGUING RESIDENTS NEARBY, BUT IS A DANGER TO THOSE DWELLING IN THOSE UNITS. UH, I KNOW MAYOR, THAT WE HAVE A BRIEF AND A MEMO, UM, FROM A RA ON WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE TO PRECLUDE CITIES FROM ACTING SPECIFICALLY ON THIS. HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE, AND I KNOW WE'LL GET TO SOME OTHER RESIDENTS THAT CAN SPEAK TO THIS, WE HAVE RULES ON THE BOOKS THAT CAN BE ENFORCED TO ADDRESS THIS AS WELL. MY NEIGHBOR, TRUMAN MUNSTER, UH, HAS PULLED THE HOTEL ORDINANCE AND WE BELIEVE IT DIRECTLY APPLIES TO ANY SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEX OVER 10 UNITS. THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FOR ONE NIGHT, TWO NIGHTS, THREE NIGHTS, AND THEN THEY'RE GONE JUST LIKE ME GOING AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND, RENTING A PLACE AT, UH, THE MARRIOTT FOR TWO OR THREE NIGHTS. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING HERE. BUT HE'S GOT LISTINGS FOR WHAT ARE ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS THAT HE'S LISTING FOR SIX TO EIGHT PEOPLE FOR 80 BUCKS A NIGHT OR A HUNDRED BUCKS A NIGHT. BUT IF YOU'VE GOT EIGHT PEOPLE STAYING THERE, THAT'S A PRETTY CHEAP NIGHT. SO, UH, AND, AND TRUMAN HAS PULLED THIS ORDINANCE AND RESEARCHED IT AND HE CAN SPEAK TO IT. UM, BUT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS NOW FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THANK YOU. NEXT MAC HOLT HO. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL LET THE PHOTOGRAPHS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I WON'T RELATE ALL THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, BUT IT'S REALLY BEEN A DAMAGE TO OUR BEAUTIFUL MUSEUM DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE'RE NOT UNIQUE. IT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE THINK WE CAN TO WORK WITH THE OWNER. WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS. TALK TO ATTORNEYS. WE'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. WE'VE MET WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALCORN AND CAYMAN. THANK YOU. YOUR TEAMS ARE AMAZING. WE'VE MET WITH AIRBNB. WE'VE COLLABORATED WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE THE SAME OWNER PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR OWNER. WE'VE MET WITH HPD MANY TIMES. WE'VE MET WITH CONSTABLE MANY TIMES. WE FILED REPORTS, CRIME REPORTS, HARASSMENT REPORTS. WE'VE BEEN ON SITE WITH THE HOUSTON CITY ATTORNEY AND HIS TEAM, AND WALKED THE PROPERTY AND HAD A MEETING WITH HIM. AND THEN I MET WITH ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, MR. MAYOR, UH, ONE OF YOUR ASSOCIATES. AND MET WITH SEVEN OR EIGHT OTHER HPD OFFICERS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN, AND YET WHAT HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. WE THINK THERE ARE EXISTING REGULATIONS AND CRIMINAL DISCUSS IT THAT WE CAN, IF WE ENFORCE, WE CAN HELP THE CITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR FLICKINGER, WHO'S THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY. UH, WE KNOW THE GENTLEMAN IS A, HE HAS MULTIPLE PROPERTIES AROUND THE CITY. UM, AND WE WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH HIM. WE HAVE HIS INFORMATION. HAVE A NAME. YES, SIR. I, I, IF I CAN, UH, CAN'T PRONOUNCE IT PROPERLY, I APOLOGIZE. UH, ADA YOUNG. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HE'S, HE'D BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROP PROBLEMS WITH MULTI-TENANT PROPERTIES. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MULTI-TENANT PROPERTIES. I'M AN AIRBNB, UH, LANDLORD. I LOVE IT. IT'S FANTASTIC. [01:45:01] BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT IRRESPONSE, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING. WHAT DOES HE SAY WHEN YOU TALK TO, WE FIRST POLITELY MET AS A GROUP ON THE CORNER AND SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU HELP US? AND HE SAID, ALL THE RIGHT THINGS. I'LL GET SECURITY, I'LL GET AN ONSITE MANAGER. THERE'S NO SECURITY, THERE'S NO ONSITE MANAGER. THE OWNERSHIP IS, UH, DISTANT. UH, EVERY TIME THERE'S A PROBLEM, HE SAYS, I'LL ATTEMPT TO IT. WHEN THERE WAS A STREET TAKEOVER, WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIM. WHEN THERE WAS PRO I WAS APPROACHED BY PROSTITUTION THREE TIMES COMING OUTTA THE PROPERTY. YOU KNOW, HE GOES, I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT MY TENANTS DO. UM, WE TRIED, HE SAYS HE TRIES TO, YOU KNOW, EDIT WHO'S COMING. BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S, UH, UNFORTUNATELY A PROBLEM THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS AND 129 UNITS AROUND THE PROP CITY, HE CAN'T MANAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, MAYOR. I ALSO WANTED TO ADD, WE BELIEVE IN ADDITION TO OWNING THE HEIGHTS, ALLEGEDLY, THIS IS THE SAME PROPERTY OWNER THAT IS BUILDING THE ILLEGAL APARTMENT COMPLEX RIGHT AT THE OUTSKIRT OF SHEPHERD FOREST. LITERALLY NO CITY PERMITS HAS BROUGHT IN ILLEGAL FILL. UH, THE CITY'S DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN. I BELIEVE A WARRANT WAS ISSUED ON THAT FOR HIM, UH, WHEN THE CITY BROUGHT HIM TO COURT OVER THE SHEPHERD FOREST. ILLEGAL DEVELOPMENT. BUT AGAIN, TO OUR RESIDENTS POINTS, STRUGGLING WITH THIS. AND THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES. YOU ALL JUST HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. UH, WHEN WE HAVE BAD ACTOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CREATING A CRIME PROBLEM, IT'S A BURDEN ON YOU ALL. IT'S A BURDEN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WE MAY LIKELY HAVE THE TOOLS ALREADY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOTEL ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THIS EFFECTIVELY. HOTEL ORDINANCE DID NOT APPLY. THANK YOU, SIR. LEMME LEMME ASK JUST A SECOND. YES, SIR. YOU TELL US THERE'S ORDINANCE IN PLACE. CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHY YOU DIDN'T INSIST THAT IT BE DONE AND WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU TRIED? I'M, I'M GONNA LET COUNCIL MEMBER AL APPOINT ON THAT. I MEAN, I MEAN, FURTHER MAD THE GENTLEMAN STANDING THERE LISTENING TO AN HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBER SAYING, WE GOT LAWS ON THE BOOKS. YOU'VE DEALT WITH IT. THE PREVIOUS WITNESS FOR OVER TWO YEARS. SOME OF US JUST BEEN HERE TWO MONTHS. CORRECT. SO WHAT ABOUT SOME INFORMATION OF PREVIOUS EFFORTS? AND I WE TOLD YOU NO, I BELIEVE WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED MEMOS. I'M, YOU KNOW, WE GOT DOWN HERE TO GET THINGS DONE. SOME OF 'EM YOU'VE TRIED IN PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS WITH THE SUBJECT, WHAT WENT WRONG? AND CAN YOU GIVE US SOME ADVICE AND COUNSEL, 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY I'M LISTENING, WE'RE GONNA TALK TO LEGAL. OBVIOUSLY THE GOT INVOLVED, UNFORTUNATELY, TRYING TO RUN CITIES FOR US. BUT WHEN YOU SIT THERE AND TELL US WE'VE GOT THE POWER TO DO SOMETHING, AND SOME OF YOU BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR POWER? WELL, I'M NOT, I THINK THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION, MAYOR. AND I'M GONNA SAY THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY PROVIDED, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAS WORKED ON THIS. I HAVE WORKED ON THIS. MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, AND WE ALSO INCLUDED IN PROVIDING YOU WITH MEMOS, GIVE YOU THAT HISTORY. SO MAYBE THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF. I'M, I I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M GONNA DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN TO GIVE YOU SOME OF THAT HISTORY. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS, UH, NO, IT'S GONE ON TOO LONG. IF IN FACT, WE'VE GOT THE AUTHORITY. NOW, IF SOME WOULD SAY WE DO NOT, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAD SAID, WE DO NOT. BUT CERTAINLY I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE REVISIT THAT. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT I'M LISTING SOMEONE I RESPECT, SAYING WE'VE GOT THE AUTHORITY. RIGHT. AND THAT'S WE THE HECK WE'RE HAPPENED TO. THAT'S WHAT ASKING FOR IS THE INTERPRETATION TO ENFORCE UNDER THE HOTEL ORDINANCE, WHICH PREVIOUSLY WE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY BEEN EMPOWERED TO DO SO. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I DEFER MY TIME TO YOU. SURE. UM, WE HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN WORKING ON THIS. MAYOR. I CHAIRED THE REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER WHICH THIS FELL. SO THIS STARTED COMING TO US, UM, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE YEARS AGO. AND, AND WE, UH, WE'D PUT TOGETHER A MEMO FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. WE OUTLINED ALL THE ISSUES. WE VISITED THE PROPERTY WITH ARTURO. MICHELLE, UM, SAT DOWN AT YOUR HOME AND TALKED EXTENSIVELY. AND I THINK THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT. SO WHAT HAPPENED? NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN BECAUSE THE, AS THE MEMO STATES, UH, LEGAL HAS PUSHED BACK A LOT ON OTHER CITIES IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS THAT GET CHALLENGED AND OVERTURNED IN THE COURTS. THAT'S ONE BIG PUSHBACK ON THE HOTEL ISSUE. THE PUSHBACK HAS BEEN THAT THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE LEGAL, DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT MET THE TRUE DEFINITION OF A HOTEL. HOWEVER, I'VE HEARD FROM OTHERS, FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY AT THE MEETING THAT HE WAS WILLING TO PURSUE THAT AVENUE. AND THAT'S WHERE WE LEFT IT. SO I DO THINK THERE'S MERIT TO THE HOTEL DEAL. IT LOOKS LIKE [01:50:01] A HOTEL, SMELLS LIKE A HOTEL. IT'S A HOTEL. I MEAN, THESE ARE DEFACTO HOTELS WITH NO MANAGEMENT. SURE. SO WE GOT PUSHBACK, UM, BECAUSE IT WAS, UH, MAINLY, UM, I'D SAY FROM LEGAL AND, UM, A RA WELL, LEGAL WORKS FOR US WORKS CERTAINLY FOR ME. AND SO IF YOU'LL GET ME THE MEMO, WE'LL HIT TO RESTART. I'LL GIVE YOU THE MEMO, I'LL GIVE YOU THE, THE, ALL THE BACKUP UP. WE, WE HAVE IT ALL RESTART. AND, AND WE WON'T SIT HERE MUCH LONGER. SAY WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY, BUT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING. SO IF WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY, IN FACT, LET'S DO SOMETHING ALL IN. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKING. THANK YOU'ALL FOR BEING HERE. UH, SIR, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, I, I ASSUME THIS GENTLEMAN'S AVOIDING TAXES BY NOT BEING CLASSIFIED AS A HOTEL AS WELL. WELL, HE'S PAYING PROPERTY TAXES, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I MEAN, THE HOTEL AND THE INCOME TAX, WHICH WE DON'T RECEIVE. SO WE'RE GONNA GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. WE'LL EITHER FIND OUT WE'VE GOT THE STROKE OR WE DON'T. AND I WOULD SUGGEST IF IT'S A GRAY MATTER, WE OUGHT TO TAKE IT TO COURT AND TEST THE, TEST THE STATUTE AND, UH, AND THE DEFINITION OF A, UH, HOTEL. YOU KNOW, IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK AND WALKS LIKE A DUCK, WE'LL MAKE IT A DUCK AND WE'LL CALL IT A HOTEL. IF THE GENTLEMAN'S GOT MULTIPLE UNITS AND MULTIPLE FOLKS, AS I THINK CATHERINE MENTIONED, SIX OR EIGHT PEOPLE STANDING IN A ONE BEDROOM HOTEL. IT'S SOUNDED TO ME LIKE CERTAINLY A SAFETY HEALTH ISSUE AND, UH, OCCUPANCY VIOLATIONS. SO, UH, LET'S GET AFTER IT. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL GET WITH LEGAL, BUT WE CAN'T JUST SIT HERE AND SAY WE'VE GOT THE AUTHORITY, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING. SO ANYWAY, WE'LL, WE'LL TEST IT. NEXT. TRUMAN, ED MINSTER, MY ASTRO FAN, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M TRUMAN EDM MINSTER. I'M ONE OF THE OTHER RESIDENTS ADJACENT TO THIS PROBLEM PROPERTY AT 1116 BANKS, 24 MULTIFAMILY TYPE UNITS. I LOOKED INTO THE ORDINANCE. I WANNA OFFER PERHAPS A PATH FORWARD TO MAY RESOLVE THIS. IF YOU LOOK AT CHAPTER 28, SECTION 2 0 1 AND SECTION 2 0 2. AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS. I THEY'RE ALREADY OUT. THIS WILL BE THE STAPLED ONE THAT'S IN A Q AND A TYPE FORMAT. I DID THIS FOR MY NEIGHBORS, SUCH THAT YOU COULD STEP YOU THROUGH INDIVIDUAL ISSUES WHERE THINGS TEND TO GET, LET'S SAY, SIDEWAYS AS FAR AS BEING A RESOLVE. THIS HAS TO DO WITH, OKAY, IT WAS AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. IT IS BEEN CONVERTED. OH, BUT WE CAN'T CALL A HOTEL ANYTHING THAT'S RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT DOES RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE MEAN? WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE AND THE ENTIRE SECTION 2 0 1 RESIDENTIAL IN CHARACTER MEANS SOMETHING THAT IS A, GO AHEAD. SOMETHING THAT IS FOR A RESIDENT, A TYPE LAND USE FOR A RESIDENCE FOR NON-TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS THE KEY NON-TRANSIENT. HOWEVER, A HOTEL IS FOR TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS. NOW, PERHAPS THEY COULD GO DOWN THE PATH OF A BED AND BREAKFAST, BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO BE UNDER 10 UNITS. WHOOPS, THEY'RE 24. AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PARCEL THINGS OUT THAT WELL, THIS ONE'S MULTIFAMILY, BUT THAT ONE'S A SHORT TERM RENTAL. AND THIS IS A CONDO. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GONNA WORK HERE IN THIS SITUATION. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO OFFER A PATH FORWARD THAT IN THE EVENT THAT MAYOR, IF YOU AND THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SET UP A CITIZENS TASK FOR, I KNOW THAT MY NEIGHBORS AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS ON THAT TO GET TO THE END OF THIS ISSUE. SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PATH FORWARD IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND TRUMAN, THANK YOU FOR THIS BREAKDOWN. I THINK IT HELPS PUT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, WITH THE ORDINANCE AND THE INTERPRETATION. UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE DON'T NEED A RESIDENTS TASK FORCE, THAT WE CAN JUST GET THIS DONE SO THAT RESIDENTS ARE NO LONGER PLAGUED WITH THIS ISSUE. AND WE HAVE MAYOR, AS YOU SAID, AND TRUMAN, YOU SAID A PATH FORWARD. SO I APPRECIATE IT. UM, IN MY OPINION, RESIDENTS HAVE SPENT FAR TOO LONG ALREADY HAVING TO ENGAGE ON THIS. SO, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO OUR RESIDENTS FOR CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YOU WERE ALSO NAMED [01:55:01] IN THE MEMO THAT WE DID SEND TO MAYOR WHITMEYER SEVERAL WEEKS AGO ON THIS. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. MOST WELCOME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THANK YOU TRUMAN. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I READ THIS NOT TOO LONG AGO AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR, YOUR TAKE ON THIS, UH, RESIDENCE, MEANING, UM, NON-TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY. AND SO I, I'VE WONDERED WHY THE, THE, THE, UH, ORDINANCES CURRENTLY WRITTEN HAS NOT BEEN USED TO ENFORCE. I WOULD KNOW THAT MYSELF. COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, COULD WE ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S REPRESENTATIVE? NO, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA GET A BRIEFING. I THINK A TRUE OUGHT TO COME BEFORE US IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE NEXT WEEK AND EXPLAIN. I'M LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WAS INVOLVED IN HIS INTERPRETATION. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT LOGIC. BUT WE WILL FIND OUT THE TRUE LEGAL OPINION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO AT LEAST TEST THE, UM, STATE LAW AND OR THE, UM, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ORDINANCE. WE OWE THAT TO THE RESIDENTS AT A MINIMUM. SO WE'LL BE BUSY. THAT'D GREAT. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT. KATHY YANG. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE, MORE THAN TWO YEARS, NEARLY THREE YEARS, WE SUFFER FROM SHORT-TERM RENTALS. LIFE IS A LIVING HELL. AND I'M HERE TODAY, ASK YOU ALL, IS THERE A PLAN TO BAN AND REGULATE THOSE SHORT-TERM RENTALS? THESE OWNERS AROUND THIS BUSINESS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AS AN UNLICENSED HOTEL MOTELS, AFTER OUR BARS, NIGHTCLUBS, EVEN BROTHELS, WE SET, WE SEE THE LIFE SEXT ON THEIR BALCONY MONDAY MORNING WHEN PARENTS DROP THEIR KIDS TO BRYAN GROVE SCHOOL, ONLY 150 FEET AWAY. DU YOU EMBARRASSED. YOU'RE NOT ANGRY. THE NEWS WENT VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA. EVEN INTERNATIONAL NEWS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. AND THE PARTY ON THE STREET THIS PAST SUNDAY AND LAST WEEKEND. 'CAUSE IT'S SPRING BREAK. CAN I CONTINUE? YOU CAN FINISH. YEAH. WELL, NOBODY CAN SLEEP. IT LASTS FROM 7:00 PM TO 7:00 AM MONDAY MORNING. WHILE WE NEED TO GET UP, GO TO WORK, KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, WE NEED TO DO A AND, AND TAKE CARE OF THE ELDERLYS. THE MAJORITY NEIGHBORS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE RETIREES, SEMI RETIREES AND COUPLES WITH YOUNG KIDS. WE'RE STUCK. WE'RE TRAPPED. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU MA'AM. WE'RE GONNA GO TO WORK ON IT. THANK YOU. NEXT. OH WAIT, COUNCIL, I'M SORRY. NO, THIS IS NOT TO THE SPEAKER. IT'S A MOTION. I, I NEED A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD NANCY RUTHERFORD. UH, SHE'S AN ADDED SPEAKER TO THE LIST AFTER SAMANTHA EVANS AND THEN HUFFMAN, I DUNNO. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A, A REALLY BIG PROBLEM FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ABSOLUTELY. AND ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE HOAS. AND, AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION, BUT I THINK IN GENERAL, WHEN WE GO TO THESE HOA MEETINGS, UM, I WAS AT A MEETING LAST WEEK WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS, UPDATING THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, OWNS A HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT SOMEBODY COULD MOVE OUT AND A NEW OWNER COULD MOVE IN AND BE ONE OF THESE BAD ACTORS. SO UNFORTUNATELY THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY APPLY TO YOU. YES, WE ARE GONNA WORK ON THIS, ABSOLUTELY. BUT WE DO NEED TO ENCOURAGE OUR HOAS TO UPDATE THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. THAT HELPS. MM-HMM . AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, I'M JUST GONNA POINT OUT THE OBVIOUS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, CATHERINE, THAT YOU SUPPLIED US, THERE ARE FIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES AND ONE LADDER TRUCK. WHERE ARE RESOURCES FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND, AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY'RE DEALING WITH THIS KIND OF GARBAGE. WELL, LET ME JUST EMPHATICALLY SAY Y'ALL, THE WITNESSES ARE [02:00:01] EXPOSING A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I THINK IT'S THE LACK OF, UH, ENFORCEMENT. I'VE LOOKED AT THE MATERIALS. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HOTEL. IT'S OBVIOUSLY, AS THE STATUTE SAYS, HAS TO HAVE ACCESS TO A THOROUGHFARE. YOU GET BEFORE THE RIGHT JUDGE AND JURY, THEY WOULD INTERPRET THOSE ROADS AS THOROUGHFARES. THERE'S JUST BEEN A LACK OF DESIRE FROM THE LEADERSHIP TO PURSUE THIS. ONLY THAT LEADERSHIP WHO'S NOT HERE KNOWS WHY I DON'T HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS. AND I KNOW I'M LISTENING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT BETTER ENFORCEMENT, A LEGAL CHALLENGE OR WHATEVER IT TAKES. NO ONE SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT TODAY. THAT GETS DIRECTLY TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT WE ALL CAMPAIGN ON. WE WANT TO ENJOY OURSELVES AND CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENTED. SO IT JUST GOT MOVED UP THE PRIORITY LIST A LONG WAYS. AND, UM, THANK YOU TO THE WITNESSES. I'LL WORK WITH THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND SPOKEN OUT, AND CERTAINLY THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I WILL HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION. WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND CHALLENGE THIS OWNER IN COURT AND LET A JUDGE AND OTHERS HEAR THE, UH, CONDITIONS THAT I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF. IT LOOKS LIKE ACTIVE PROSTITUTION, UM, ALCOHOL, PROBABLY MINORS INVOLVED. AND WE CAN GO ON AND ON WITH SERIOUS HEALTH AND WELFARE ISSUES AND CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY. SO TODAY'S BEEN A GOOD MEETING BECAUSE WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROJECT THAT WE'RE GONNA PURSUE. ANYONE ELSE? NEXT? HI, COUNCIL AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. I WANNA SAY FIRST THAT I HAVE A STALKER. AND SO I HAVE LAID LOW AND DON'T GIVE MY NAME OR ADDRESS EVER. AND THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I'M HERE TODAY AND I'M ON PAPER AND IT SCARES ME TO DEATH. BUT I AM A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF TEXAS, A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF, OF HOUSTON, AND A 20 YEAR RESIDENT OF WEST HAVEN ESTATE, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT G. AND AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE, WE HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL JUST WITH THE MULTI-GROUP, THE THE ONES THAT ARE RUNNING LIKE A HOTEL, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES IN BRIAR GROVE DISTRICT, AND, AND RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US THAT ARE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME OR BEING RUN LIKE A BROTHEL. AIRBNB LISTS ON ITS QUESTIONNAIRE FOR HOSTS. WILL YOU ALLOW PARTIES, WILL YOU ALLOW FILMING? THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. IF PEOPLE WANNA HAVE PARTIES, THEY SHOULD RENT OUR PARTY VENUES. IF THEY WANNA HAVE A FILM MADE, THEY SHOULD RENT OUR FILM STUDIOS NOT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES WHERE PROSTITUTION DRUGS AND ILLICIT ACTIVITIES ARE HAPPENING CONSTANTLY. PLEASE HELP US. I'M SITTING HERE THINKING I DON'T KNOW WHY IT COULDN'T BE DECLARED. AND CERTAINLY WE'LL TALK TO NOT ONLY THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND DECLARED A NUISANCE. WE HAVE ENTIRE APARTMENT PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DECLARED A NUISANCE AND GANG ACTIVITY HAS BEEN PROHIBITED. SO WE JUST NEED SOME SMART LAWYERING. IF THE DESIRE IS AT THIS TABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, IT IS WITH ME. AND I'M CERTAINLY HEARING AND FEELING IT FROM OUR COUNSEL COLLEAGUES. SO I, I FEEL LIKE THE, THE MOTTO THAT REALLY MANY OF US, LET'S, LET'S GO TO WORK FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT WE DON'T MESS WITH, WITH TEXAS, IT HAS BEEN SUED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. THERE'S A NEW DAY, ELECTIONS MATTER AND WE'RE FIRED UP. THANK YOU. I HOPE, I HOPE, I HOPE WE'LL TELL THE SHORT TERM RENTALS IF THEY CAN'T MESS WITH TEXAS. NEXT, SAMANTHA EVANS. UM, HOWDY. I'M SAMANTHA EVANS AND I'M ASKING FOR THE REGULATION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS IN HOUSTON. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY BECOME FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS IN OUR BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE EAST END DISTRICT. WE INVESTED OUR HARDER EARNED SAVINGS TO PURCHASE OUR HOME, A TESTAMENT TO OUR DEDICATION. HOWEVER, BEFORE WE COULD EVEN MAKE OUR FIRST MORTGAGE PAYMENT, OUR EXCITEMENT QUICKLY TURNED TO TERROR DUE TO THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY ON OUR BLOCK. AT 1:20 AM WE ARE AWAKENED TO THE SOUND OF SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE. [02:05:01] THE AFTERMATH WAS CHILLING. THERE WERE 20 BULLET HOLES IN OUR HOME, SIX PENETRATED OUR WALLS CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. QUITE FRANKLY, WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. PLEASE SEE PAGES NINE THROUGH 14 FOR PHOTOS OF THIS DAMAGE. UM, A MASSIVE PARTY AT A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 4 0 6 IN STREET INVOLVING UPWARDS OF 60 INDIVIDUALS. THEY KICKED IN THE GATE OF A PRIVATE LOT AND THEY USED IT AS A PARKING LOT TO PARK THE CARS THERE FOR THEIR PARTY. IT ESCALATED INTO A TRAUMATIC EVENT WHEN TWO ATTENDEES OF THE PARTY GOT IN A FIGHT, TOOK IT TO THE STREET, AND THEY HAD AUTOMATIC, LIKE SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. I HAVE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE TOO OF THIS CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS THE NEXT MORNING. REVEALED NO, WELL, AGAIN, UM, CONVERSATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS THE NEXT MORNING REVEALED THAT THIS AIRBNB SHORT-TERM RENTAL, IT'S ON VRBO AND BOOKING TWO IS NOTORIOUS FOR HOSTING DISRUPTIVE PARTIES. MY NEIGHBORHOOD WREAKS OF WEED EVERY WEEKEND. IT'S LOUD. YET EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS THROUGH VRBO AIRBNB AND BOOKING.COM HAVE BEEN MET WITH SILENCE. UM, THEY HAVE EVEN ADVERTISED THIS PROPERTY AS BEING AVAILABLE FOR LARGE PARTIES AND VIDEO SHOOTS. IT APPEARS THAT OUR CONCERNS IN THE SAFETY OF OUR TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY ARE BEING OVERLOOKED. WHILE 4 0 6 ENNIS MADE A PROFIT OF A MINIMUM OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LOOKING AT $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES TO MY HOME THAT INSURANCE IS NOT COVERING. UM, HOUSTON IS THE ONLY MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS WITHOUT SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATION. AND THIS INCIDENT UNDERSCORES THE URGENT NEED FOR THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TO TAKE ACTION, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE COMMITTED TO. UM, NOT JUST MY HUSBAND AND I, BUT MY NEIGHBORS. KIMMY AND THOMAS, WHOSE CHILDREN'S BEDROOMS WERE 20 FEET AWAY FROM THE SHOOTERS. ERIC AND KAREN, WHO HAVE LOVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER NINE YEARS. JOHNNY, WHO'S AN ACCOMPLISHED ENGINEER AT NASA AND A NAY WHO JUST MOVED TO TEXAS FROM LOUISIANA. THIS SHOWS JUST, UM, AND ON PAGE EIGHT YOU'LL SEE A SATELLITE PHOTO OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, AND IT SHOWS JUST HOW SATURATED MY COMMUNITY IS WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS. ALL THE NEIGHBORS I STATED ABOVE, UM, ARE IN THAT PHOTO. THEIR HOMES ARE, AND WE'RE SURROUNDED BY A REVOLVING DOOR OF STRANGERS WHO HAVE NO VESTED INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY OR SAFETY. UM, I'M HERE NOT JUST TO COMPLAIN, BUT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. I'VE LISTED, UM, SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATION THAT HAS BEEN PASSED IN OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS AND AROUND THE UNITED STATES ON PAGES THREE THROUGH SEVEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL ISSUE TO, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SAMANTHA, FOR THIS GREAT PRESENTATION. I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN READING THROUGH IT AND, AND I'M SORRY. UM, YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND BUY YOUR FIRST HOME AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET. UM, ON YOUR MAP. THERE'S SEVERAL SHORT TERM RENTALS LISTED. THESE ARE, THESE ARE THESE INDIVIDUAL HOMES OR TOWN HOMES THAT ARE THE SHORT TERM RENTALS? YES. AND NORMALLY THEY HAVE AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE IN THEM. I HAVE. AND, AND IS ONE WORSE THAN THE OTHER? OR FOUR? OH SIX ENNI IS THE WORST. OKAY. BECAUSE THEY ADVERTISE. IT IS BEING USED WHEN YOU GET THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS. UM, SEND, SEND THEM BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN ABLE, THAT'S ONE WAY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STOP SOME OF THIS. MAYOR, WHEN WE GET THE, THE FACEBOOK ADVERTISEMENTS OR WHATEVER WHEN THERE'S LIKE BIG PARTY COME OR MAKING A FILM OR WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING. YEAH. WE CAN SOMETIMES, UM, WARD 'EM OFF THAT WAY. UM, BUT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED TO JORDAN ON MY STEP AND, AND, UM, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY ON THAT. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS. AND, AND THE MAYOR'S SAYING WE'RE GONNA GET ON IT. YEAH. I'M SCARED TO BE IN MY OWN HOME RIGHT NOW. THANKS FOR COMING. THANK YOU. NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK Y'ALL ALL FOR, UH, HAVING ME HERE TODAY. MAYOR WHITMAR, HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON CRIME. IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED. I TOO LIVE IN DISTRICT G AND, UM, WHAT WE'VE BEEN LIVING WITH, AS YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY, IS A NIGHTMARE. UH, THIS IS ON ME, MY APOLOGIES. I WASN'T AWARE THAT WE COULD BRING ANY KIND OF, UM, HARD COPIES, BUT THIS WILL SHOW YOU A NAKED WOMAN AND THEN PEOPLE HAVING SEX ON THE BALCONY AT NINE 30 IN THE MORNING, UM, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, 200 FEET FROM, FROM A LOWER SCHOOL. UM, THERE'S BEEN GUNSHOTS. Y'ALL HAVE HEARD IT ALL. YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL. HOPEFULLY NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I ALSO WANTED TO ADD, UM, YOU KNOW, IN OUR DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT G IN WEST HAVEN ESTATES WHERE WE LIVE, UM, WE'VE BEEN PLEADING FOR HELP AND, UM, ABOUT THESE AFTER HOURS CLUBS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION TO ALL THE, THE MESS OF THE S STR BECAUSE AFTER THE PARTY, THEY'RE LIKE, NO, WE HAVE ANOTHER PARTY. AND THEY CONTINUE. UM, MAY I GO AHEAD? YES. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF HOMICIDES AND HAVENS FOR DRUG DEALING PROSTITUTION. UH, IN 2023, THE FORMER MAYOR, UM, AND CHIEF ANNOUNCED A NEW BYOB ORDINANCE, [02:10:02] UH, TO COMBAT THE VIOLENCE. AND THE ORDINANCE WAS SO POORLY WRITTEN THAT AS OF JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE PERMIT APPLIED. ONE, SIX MONTHS AGO THERE WERE ZERO APPLIED. SO WHY HAVE IT IF IT'S NOT EVEN GONNA BE ENFORCED? AND THAT CONTRIBUTES, UM, SO MUCH SO TO THE CRIME AND THE VIOLENCE AND THE SDRS AND JUST THE VULGAR NASTINESS THAT'S WE'RE HAVING TO LIVE WITH AND THE CHILDREN HAVE TO LIVE WITH. SO IT'S A SCARY PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. AND IT, IT WAS NEVER LIKE THIS BEFORE. NEVER. UH, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN CAP POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE FRUSTRATED, UH, ON MY SIDE OF THE LINE IN DISTRICT J. YEAH. WE FORWARD, WE EXPERIENCED IT, SOME OF IT AS WELL. UH, MAYOR, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THESE AFTER HOURS CLUBS ARE OUTTA CONTROL. I THINK THE LAST ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER A-B-Y-O-B ORDINANCE THAT, UM, I THINK IS ONLY STRONG IF IT HAS REAL ENFORCEMENT AND ACROSS THE BOARD WITH A LOT OF THE INFRACTIONS AND THE BAD ACTORS THAT ARE OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, UNLESS THERE'S TRUE ENFORCEMENT THAT MAKES THEM CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIORS OR CRACK DOWN ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY FEEL EMBOLDENED BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM. AND SO WE HAVE TO COME WITH A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THE AFTER HOURS CLUBS ARE RUINING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT'S GOING ON ALL OVER THE CITY. AND SO I'VE TALKED TO HPD AND THEIR, AND THEIR LEADERSHIP ABOUT AFTER HOURS CLUBS, UM, AND THE NIGHTLIFE. THAT SEEMS TO BE A, UM, TRUE NUISANCE TO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO GET, UH, A TRUE HANDLE ON IT. UM, BUT I THINK IT COLLECTIVELY WE ALL NEED TO WORK ON WHAT CAN WE DO, UH, TO CRACK DOWN, AT LEAST SEND A MESSAGE. MY IDEA WAS WE, IF WE IDENTIFY FIVE OR SIX OF THE WORST ACTORS AND WE HAMMER THEM FIRST, IT STARTS TO SEND A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ELSE. BUT RIGHT NOW, UH, PEOPLE FEEL AS IF NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE AFTER HOURS. CLUBS IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES. SO WHOEVER WANTS TO WORK WITH ME ON THAT, UH, PLEASE COME FORWARD BECAUSE SHE AND MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING, UM, A VERY DECREASED QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, BASED ON THEIR ACTIONS. WELL, OBVIOUSLY I'M INTERESTED IN GOING FORWARD, IT'D BE GOOD FOR YOU TO SHARE WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS ON THIS AND, AND SHARE WITH US THE, UH, YEAH. SO THE COMPLICATION, I MEAN, YOU'RE VERY, EVERYTHING COMES DOWN TO YOU'RE VERY CAPABLE COUNCIL MEMBER AND ATTORNEY AND SEEM VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING? WELL, IT COMES DOWN TO ENFORCEMENT. AND SO, UH, THE HPD OFFICERS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THE VICE TEAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE HAVE TO CRACK DOWN. WHEN WE TALK TO ABOUT THE CHAPTER 1 25 THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN PUT FORWARD, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, PUSH THOSE CASES, EVEN IF WE DON'T THINK THEY'RE THE STRONGEST CASES, BECAUSE WELL AT LEAST WE'RE SENDING A SIGNAL THAT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE NOT GONNA TOLERATE IT ANYMORE. AND AT LEAST THE RESIDENTS CAN SEE THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING. SO, AND OF THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO. AND OF COURSE WE KNOW WE'RE SHORT OF POLICE OFFICERS. NO EXCUSES, SIR. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES. NO, I UNDERSTAND. I'M NOT MAKING EXCUSES, BUT THAT WOULD CERTAINLY ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL, I DON TAKE ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. AND CERTAINLY YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, BUT ANYWAY. YEAH, NO EXCUSES. WE, WE NEED TO HIT THE RESTART BUTTON AND NO EXCUSES, BUT SOMETHING HADN'T BEEN RIGHT. YEAH. LET'S, AND THAT'S ELECTIONS MATTER AND WE'RE, WE'RE FIRED UP. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. WE'LL GET A CITY ATTORNEY FIRED UP AND, UM, CERTAINLY HPD, BUT I'VE SEEN SOME PICTURES THAT, THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY VIOLATING THE LAW AND UH, WE CAN MAKE EXAMPLE OUT OF ONE OR TWO, BUT IT'S PROBABLY SO DARN PROFITABLE, UH MM-HMM . THAT THEY WOULD JUST GO TO ANOTHER LOCATION AND BE REPEAT OFFENDERS. SO LET US SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE ENERGY THAT WE'RE, UH, WE'RE UH, EXPERIENCING TODAY. IF I MAY, MAYOR, OUR DISTRICT IS THE ONLY DISTRICT WITHOUT A SUBSTATION, THE ONLY ONE. AND OUR DISTRICT GENERATES ALMOST 40% OF THE REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY. WE, WE UNDERSTAND SENATOR, I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN DOES A GREAT JOB OF POINTING THAT OUT. WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE RESOURCES AND I HOPE WE'LL REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION, THAT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL HPD RESOURCES. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MESS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THERE THAT DIRECTLY RELATES YES TO RESOURCES. SO I HOPE WE'LL ALL GET IN THE BOAT AND WORK TOGETHER AND UNITE BEHIND THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE CAN HAVE, WHICH IS GONNA START WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, EFFICIENCIES, FORENSICS, [02:15:01] COLLABORATION WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES, AND, UH, GET BACK TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT WE ALL SUPPORT. SO, THANK YOU. YOUR BEING HERE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. BUT I, BUT I DO GET FRUSTRATED WHEN I HEAR AN ISSUE IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS. YEARS AND SOME VERY CAPABLE PEOPLE HAVE JUST NOT ADDRESSED IT TO ITS COMPLETION. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BRINGING IT UP. 'CAUSE OTHERS HAVE NOT. COUNCIL, THANK YOU. WELL, Y YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO COME WHEN YOU WORK ALL DAY. THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE PAST. NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT AH, GOT YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. NO, YOU GOT, YOU GOT. AND IN FACT, IN FACT, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU JUST MADE A GOOD ARGUMENT FOR THE POINT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE COUNCIL MEETINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE THAT WORK ALL DAY. YEAH. AND WE WILL TACKLE THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. YES. TO EXTEND THE HOURS. I MEAN, IT'S STILL, LET ME REPEAT THIS. WHY WILL YOU HAVE A RULE THAT YOU GOTTA VOTE TO WORK PAST NOON ON WEDNESDAY? THAT THAT IS JUST, YEAH. UNBELIEVABLE. YES. AND I ALSO THINK WE NEED EVENING MEETINGS. PERIODICALLY. WE NEED TO BE AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS TO GO WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. THANK, AND UH, THAT MEANS WE THANK YOU TWICE FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU AGAIN. GOD BLESS Y'ALL. COUNCIL FLICKINGER. HOLD ON. AND MA'AM, ONE OTHER LAST THING, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO SIGN UP YESTERDAY TO BE HERE TODAY. IF YOU WANT TO GET UP THIS MORNING, OR ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES OR YOUR NEIGHBORS SAID, LET'S GO DOWN THERE. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SAY, BUT I DIDN'T SIGN UP YESTERDAY. YOU SHOULD GET UP THIS MORNING AND HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR. YEAH, COUNCIL MEMBER, FEW PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T SPEAK. SO, YEAH. THANK YOU AGAIN. SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE WORST ACTORS. I WOULD THINK SOME DWI CHECKPOINTS AT THESE PLACES FOR FOUR OR FIVE IN A ROW. HOW, HOW ABOUT, PRETTY MUCH RUN THEIR CUSTOMERS OFF SEX WORKERS. HOW ABOUT DRUGS? HOW ABOUT JUST BEING DECLARED A NUISANCE? AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU OUGHT TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUTTA ONE OR TWO OF 'EM, BUT IT'S SO PROFITABLE. IF MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF PEOPLE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ALL THE RANGES. AND THE LADY SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE JAIL BEING OVERCROWDED. THIS IS PART OF THE ELEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP BY HPD, BUT WE'RE SHORT THERE TOO, SO LET'S JUST AGREE TO NOT POLITICIZE IT, BUT COME TOGETHER AND FIX IT. Y'ALL GOT ME WORKED UP THIS AFTERNOON. MAYOR. PROTEST NEXT. MAYOR PROTEST COUNCIL MEMBER CADEX TATUM. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, I, I THINK THAT, UM, WE'VE GOT A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE HAVE, UM, TACKLED ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE GONE ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I MEAN, THERE'S EVEN BEEN A MOVIE MADE ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON BINET. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, HIS TEAM JOINED WITH THE COUNTY AND SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS, AND THEY WERE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WEEK AFTER WEEK, UM, PROVIDING THE ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS NEEDED IN THE BINET TRACK THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT THE TYPE OF ATTENTION AND, UM, THE TYPE OF RESOURCES. BUT IT, IT WASN'T JUST THE CITY, IT WAS THE CITY, IT WAS THE COUNTY. MM-HMM . IT WAS ALL ASPECTS OF, UM, GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COMING TOGETHER AND PROVIDING, UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I, I THINK THAT'S THE PERFECT MODEL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE, THE SHORT TERM, UH, RENTAL ISSUE AS WELL. I MEAN, WE, WE'VE SEEN THE SUCCESS OF IT. UM, SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THE, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE TO GET TOGETHER AGAIN AND PROVIDE THAT TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT AND COLLABORATION AND SYNERGY TO TACKLE THESE NUISANCES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE THEM BETTER. I AGREED, AND I APPLAUD THE WORK ON BINET, BUT IF YOU TALK TO, UM, HPD AND THE ACTIVISTS THAT HELP GET THE SEX WORKERS OFF STREET, YOU'LL LEARN THEY'VE MOVED FROM THIS NET TO I 45 AND AIRLINE. SO WHAT WE NEED ARE THE RESOURCES THAT WILL FOLLOW THE PROBLEM. AND WE CAN ENFORCE IN THESE, IN THESE INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED TODAY. BUT THIS IS A CITY THAT I WOULD SUGGEST THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN EVERY, EVERY DISTRICT IN EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S REASON WE NEED TO GET TO COURT, ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE, GET HPD, THE RESOURCES, DO THE UNDERCOVER, AND, UH, BE VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT THAT. MM-HMM . I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THE BINET WORK YOU HEAR FROM SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S DRIVEN SOME OF THE WORKERS AND SOME OF THE VICE INTO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE. [02:20:01] UH, BINE NET'S GOTTEN THE PROPER ATTENTION. UH, BUT WE GOTTA FOLLOW THE PROBLEM. AND, AND, AND I WOULD SUGGEST ALSO ASSIST THE SEX WORKERS FROM THE HUMAN TRAFFICK, UH, PIMPS AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE ABUSING THESE WOMEN, THEY SHOULD BE NOT CRIMINALIZED. THEY SHOULD BE HELPED. AND, UH, GIVE THEM SOME LIFE SKILLS COURSES AND GET THEM OFF DRUGS. GET 'EM A GED AND GO TO THE CORE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF, UH, AND, AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD INSIST ON ARRESTING THE USERS OF THE SEX WORKERS AND PUT 'EM ON THE FIVE O'CLOCK NEWS. THAT WOULD PROBABLY, THAT WOULD PROBABLY DO MORE TO DISCOURAGE THE REPEAT OFFENDERS. UH, AT ONE TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE PRESS QUIT PUBLICIZING THE FOLKS THAT WERE ARRESTED FOR USING SEX WORKERS, BUT THAT NEEDS TO COME BACK. IT'S, UM, BUT ANYWAY, YOU'RE RIGHT. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SOLVING AN ISSUE, BUT IT WILL REPEAT ITSELF. COUNCILMAN P*****K. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTO FOR THOSE COMMENTS. I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS THAT AS A PERFECTLY EXAMPLE OF WHEN YOU ARE RELENTLESS IN YOUR APPROACH TO ADDRESSING A PROBLEM. AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, BUT IF IT IS HAPPENING, USE BISSONNET AS A MODEL. BECAUSE BISSONNET HAS PROVEN THAT WE'VE TAKEN ONE OF THE WORST STREETS IN THE ENTIRE CITY THAT HAS HAD AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR DECADES AND TRANSFORMED IT. AND WE'VE ONLY DID THAT BECAUSE OF A COLLABORATION, AS SHE MENTIONED, BETWEEN THE CITY, THE COUNTY, MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE RESIDENTS, AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS. THE SAME THING CAN BE DONE WITH, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL. THE SAME THING CAN BE DONE WITH AFTER HOURS CLUBS. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE RELENTLESS IN YOUR APPROACH, AND YOU CANNOT TAKE THINGS, UH, AND GIVE EXCUSES TO THEM OR TOLERATE THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE DID NOT TOLERATE THAT ON BINET. AND PEOPLE SAID FOR DECADES, NOTHING WOULD EVER HAPPEN ON BINET. AND NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WANTING TO DEVELOP ON BINET. AND SO I ENCOURAGE WHOEVER, UH, IS EXPERIENCING ISSUES IN THEIR AREA OF TOWN THAT WERE SIMILAR TO BISSONNET, TO USE OUR OUR STREET AS A MODEL. CLOSE IT OFF AFTER HOURS, BRING THEIR NECESSARY, UH, BRING THEM. YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD, BUT IT WORKS. NO, I'M, I'M SHAKING. YOU'RE SHAKING. HEAD. HEAD. BUT IT WORKS. IT IT SENDS THEM TO OTHER COMMUNITIES. NO, AND WE NEED TO GET IT TO ROOT CAUSE OF WHY THESE LADIES ARE ON THE STREET. THAT'S A PART OF IT AS WELL. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW IT HAS WORKED. YEAH. AND IF YOU GOOGLE SEX WORKERS IN HOUSTON, I DARE YOU. IT'LL SEND YOU TO BINET. WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T. SO I APPRECIATE THE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE'VE GOT A ROOT PROBLEM. INDIVIDUALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL SHOW YOU WHEN PEOPLE LAND AT BUSH AIRPORT, GOOGLE SEX WORKERS, IT'LL SEND YOU TO BINET. WE'VE GOT TO HELP THE SEX WORKERS AND THE, AND PROSECUTE THE TRAFFICKERS OF THESE WOMEN WHILE WE'RE CLEANING UP THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. WELL, YOUR, YOUR HPD OFFICERS HAVE SAID THAT, UH, CRIME IS DOWN 30% THERE. SO MAYBE THAT'S ON GOOGLE AS WELL. IF NOT, WE NEED, I THINK WE NEED TO DO IT CITYWIDE. GOOD. AND WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM TODAY THAT'S GONNA GET OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. THANK YOU EVERYONE. NEXT WILLIE HARRIS. GO TO WORK ON IT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS WILL HARRIS AND I AM THE YOUTH JUSTICE DIRECTOR FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH. UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THE FUTURE WHERE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INCLUDED. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING AND HOPING THAT THERE IS STILL VALUE LEFT IN OUR IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. CREDIBLE MESSAGES ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART, UM, TO OUR COMMUNITIES BEING RESTORED AS RESPECTABLE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN REALLY THRIVE, SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALS FOR WE KNOW SUPPORTED AND STRONG PEOPLE CREATE STRONG AND UNBREAKABLE COMMUNITIES. IT IS MY HOPE WITH CREDIBLE MESSAGES, WE CAN BE THAT EXTRA PUSH OF MOTIVATION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, MR. HARRIS, WE DO, WE DO HAVE A COMMENT FOR YOU. THANK, THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING IN. I KNOW YOUR COMRADES HAD ALREADY SPOKE. IF I WOULD'VE KNOWN YOU WAS HERE, I WOULD'VE PULLED YOU UP WITH THEM. BUT CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH, UM, CREDIBLE MESSENGER'S, MENTORSHIP, SOCIAL JUSTICE? ABSOLUTELY. SO I'M ORIGINALLY BORN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. AND, UM, AFTER MAKING SEVERAL MISTAKES AND NOT JUST BEING ABLE TO AVOID DIFFERENT, THE PITFALLS OF LIFE OF GROWING UP AS A TEENAGER, UM, I FELL INTO IT. AND SO PART OF MY MISSION AND MY PURPOSE IS TO LITERALLY GIVE BACK TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND PREVENT THEM FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES THAT I DID. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO [02:25:01] OUR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER RANDALL CALL RANDALL CALLEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RANDALL. CAN YOU SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE PLEASE, SIR? THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RANDALL CALLANAN AND I'M A COMMUNITY, UM, ACTIVIST. AND I'VE BEEN RECEIVING MANY, MANY CALLS FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE 264,000 CASES THAT HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT. IT'S BEEN ON THE NEWS. UM, ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE, THE PUBLIC IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS, WHICH APPLY TO MANY OF THESE CASES. FIRST OF ALL, ALL MISDEMEANOR CASES ARE LIKE TWO YEARS. AND FOR INSTANCE, UM, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR EIGHT YEARS. AND SOME OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY PASSED ARE, ARE FOR THEFT OR ROBBERY INJURY, INJURY TO THE ELDERLY. UH, ABANDONING BEN, EXCUSE ME, ABANDONING OR ENDANGERING A CHILD, ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL OR DISABLED INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE FRAUD. THE LIST IS ENDLESS. MOST OF ALL THESE CASES, PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF 'EM, CAN NO LONGER BE INVESTIGATED AND THE VICTIMS WILL SUFFER. SO WE NEED, UH, TO WHAT, WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED, WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN VERY CONCERNED WITH IS THAT THE, UM, IS, IS THAT, UH, THIS COMMITTEE, NOT MR. CALLANAN INDEPENDENT. I I'M SORRY. WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO ONE MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER. WE, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. UM, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU NEXT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE HIM MY TIME. THANK YOU, MR. UH, THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, MEMBER JACKSON. YES. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW BOARD THAT HAS THE CITY ATTORNEY ON WHO? THE MAYOR. YOU JUST HEARD HIM, THAT THAT'S HIS EMPLOYEE AND YOU JUST HEARD IT. AND, UH, SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW BOARD. WE NEED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, LIKE FROM LULAC, NAACP, UH, CARE, THE URBAN LEAGUE, UH, AND OTHER PEOPLE LIKE THAT. WE DON'T NEED A BUNCH OF GOVERNMENT PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. WE NEED TRUE TRANSPARENCY. UH, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT THE PUBLIC IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT, UM, A CHIEF FINNER WHO WAS RIGHT THERE, HE WAS A, HE WAS A CHIEF ASSISTANT CHIEF BEFORE HE WAS THE CHIEF. HE'S BEEN THERE ALL ALONG. WHILE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR EIGHT YEARS, HE IS STILL IN HIS POSITION. HE SHOULD AT LEAST STEP ASIDE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. IF, IF NOT, UH, GETTING ANOTHER POLICE CHIEF. WE'RE NOT SAYING FIRE HIM, BUT WE, HE SHOULD STEP ASIDE. 'CAUSE THIS IS A SCANDAL OF NATIONAL. THIS IS A NATIONAL SCANDAL, 264,000 CASES. COUNCIL THA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, UM, COMMENTS. WE APPRECIATE IT. UH, NEXT SPEAKER PATROL. CYNTHIA COLE. CYNTHIA COLE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA COLE. OFFICIALLY I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR AME LOCAL 1550, WHICH IS A UNION. AND WE REPRESENT EMPLOYEES, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ESPECIALLY. BUT TODAY I'M HERE AS AN ADVOCATE AND A BOARD MEMBER OF THE GREATER HOUSTON COALITION FOR JUSTICE. AND WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK IS NOT TOO MUCH. SO TO GO INTO POINTING FINGERS, I'M GONNA ASK ABOUT RESOLUTION AND SOLUTION FOR THOSE INVESTIGATIVE CASES THAT HAVE NOT COME UP. IS THERE NOT A PROGRAM THAT COULD BE CREATED OR SOMETHING FOR THOSE VICTIMS WHO NEVER GOT THE DAY IN COURT? THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION. I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN HANDLE IT, BUT CONSIDER IT. THE OTHER ONE IS, DON'T CREATE THE PROBLEM. WE DON'T NEED TO GET RID OF PEOPLE. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE. LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE DON'T NEED TO GET RID OF LEADERSHIP. WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE LEADERSHIP. WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM. SO I'M GOING TO SUGGEST AT ALL COSTS, GO AHEAD AND BE CREATIVE. BE CREATIVE. UTILIZE WHAT YOU GOT AND MOVE FORWARD. UTILIZE WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY ON, ON THE BOOKS AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU KNOW. GOOD TIME, . THANK YOU, MS. COLE. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. FIRST, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. MS. COLE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANT, WHICH IS SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS. YES. AND, UH, AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY, AND I DO BELIEVE HPD IS DOING THIS AS WELL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL AND HAWK AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW, LOOKING AT WHAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS TAKEN CARE OF. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ARE NOT. AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR ELEVATING THE CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING TO [02:30:01] SUPPORT SURVIVORS. BECAUSE SO MANY WOMEN ARE ALREADY AFRAID TO COME FORWARD. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TRUST IS RESTORED AND THAT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, THAT THERE IS AN INCREASED LEVEL OF FAITH IN OUR, UH, CITY AND IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO I JUST, AGAIN, WANNA EMPHASIZE ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU MS. COLE FOR COMING. AND TO EVERYONE HERE WHO'S TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC, UM, I ANTICIPATE THAT A LOT OF THIS WILL COME TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AT SOME POINT. AND, UM, AS I WAS RECENTLY NAMED THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, I WELCOME ANY COMMENTS, INPUT, SUGGESTIONS LIKE YOU HAVE. SO PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE, UM, FOR ANYONE WHO, UM, HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR IDEAS ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE YOU SOME OF MY TIME IF YOU WEREN'T FINISHED. BUT ALSO THANK YOU. AND, AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS AND, AND NOT POLARIZING THE SITUATIONS. I MEAN, IT'S A TERRIBLE SITUATION. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND, AND I BELIEVE EVERYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE IS, IS COMMITTED TO FIXING THAT. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CARTER ON. THE ONLY THING I WANT TO ADD IS THAT WE CANNOT DO THIS BEING DIVIDED. IT'S NOT A US AND THEM SITUATION. IT'S ALL OF US. EVERYBODY HAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOLUTION. THANK YOU MS. COLE, FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. JOHN LENNON. JOHN LENNON. JOHN LENNON. HOW YOU DOING? HELLO, MR. LENNON. UH, TWO YEARS AGO I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, I WAS ASSAULTED BY A PARAMEDIC. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK A QUESTION OF WHY ISN'T THE CITY OF HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE CITY OF HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATED OR DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT? SO THAT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT I CAN ANSWER, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO GIVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO, UH, RHONDA SOLDER WHO IS HERE. UM, AND SHE CAN FOLLOW UP AND GET THAT RESPONSE FOR YOU. THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. RIGHT? AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE CAN'T RESOLVE THAT HERE AT THE TABLE. PUBLIC SESSION IS FOR YOU TO COME. THIS IS YOUR TIME FOR YOU TO TALK. WE DON'T HAVE INVESTIGATIVE POWERS WHILE WE'RE SITTING HERE AT THE TABLE. AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MEET WITH MS. RHONDA AND GET SOME INFORMATION AND THEN WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. I MEAN, I THINK YOU ARE AWARE OF, UM, THE COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER AND THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SOME ADDITIONAL EYES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY. AND SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET A, A BETTER ANSWER FOR YOU THIS TIME. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. LENA. NEXT SPEAKER THEUS WALKER. THEUS WALKER. THEUS WALKER. NEXT SPEAKER. HI BOY. BUI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HI BOWIE. I'M THE FOUNDER OF WE, THE PEOPLE ORGANIZED MY GROUP, I'M SORRY. MY ORGANIZATION MISSION IS TO HOLD ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. AND THE POLICE, HPD CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO INVESTIGATE 264,000 CASES DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL IN THE LAST FIVE TO 10 YEARS, HPD RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $60 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANTS HPD RECEIVED TO HIRE OFFICERS? HOW MANY OFFICERS WERE, WERE HIRED THE LAST FIVE, 10 YEARS? WE ARE ASKING THE MAYOR TO HAVE AN AUDIT OF, OF, OF WHAT'S RIGHT, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THESE FEDERAL GRANTS. IN ADDITION, AN AUDIT OF $73 MILLION TO THE ONE HOUSTON SAFE INITIATIVE, WHOSE SUCCESS AND CRIME STATISTICS ARE NOW QUESTIONABLE ALSO FRONT. AND LASTLY, WE'RE ASKING THE MAYOR TO REQUEST A FORMAL OUTSIDE A KEYWORD HERE IS OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BY THE TEXAS RANGERS TO REACHES MISCONDUCT OF HPD, NO SPEAKERS. THANK YOU, MR. BOYD. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. SANDRA FRANCIS. SANDRA FRANCIS. YES. [02:35:01] HELLO. GOOD EVENING. HI, MS. FRANCIS. HOW ARE YOU? MY NAME IS CASSANDRA DAVIS AND I STAY IN IRVINGTON VILLAGE. UH, WE CALLED SANDRA FRANCIS. OH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID CASSANDRA DAVIS. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. WE, WE GOT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. MS. DAVIS. OKAY. . OKAY. SANDRA FRANCIS. SANDRA FRANCIS. SHE'S NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. LOIS MEYERS. I DON'T SEE HER. LOIS MEYERS. NEXT SPEAKER. JAMES OPPO. JAMES OPPO. NEXT SPEAKER. LAURIE FLORES. LAURIE FLORES. NEXT SPEAKER. JEREMIAH LOPEZ. JEREMIAH LOPEZ. JERRY GEORGIE. GEORGIE LEBLANC. YES. GEORGE LEBLANC. NEXT SPEAKER. TIMMY GAN. WOBE. TIMMY. NEXT SPEAKER. CAS CAS DAVIS. CASSANDRA DAVIS. CASSANDRA DAVIS. THAT MS. DAVIS, IT WAS YOUR TIME. . COME ON DOWN. COME ON. YOU KNEW IT WAS YOUR TURN. THEY TOLD ME. . CASSANDRA DAVIS. MS. DAVIS, GO AHEAD. UH, YES MA'AM. I'M, UM, INFER, UM, IN IRVINGTON VILLAGE AND I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE, UM, HARVEY. AND, UH, I'VE BEEN, I HAD MOLD AND, UH, TOXIC. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS TOXIC UNTIL 2003. UM, THE MO INSPECTOR TOLD ME ON THE THIRD INSPECTION. AND SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO, UH, I CALL EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD TRY TO GET SOME HELP AND NOBODY HELPED ME. SO I'M HERE TO TRY TO GET HELP TO GET UP OUT OF THERE. 'CAUSE ME AND MY DISABLED SON BEEN IN THERE FOR A WHILE. THAT'S A LONG STORY. SO I'M JUST GONNA CUT A SHUT. AND, UM, THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS ON THE BUILDING BEEN OUT FOR LIKE THREE YEARS AND IT'S DARK. AND WE HAVE WALKERS LIKE DRUG ADDICTS AND, UH, HOMELESS PEOPLES. AND MS. DAVIS, WE, WE DID RECEIVE A NOTE THAT THERE'S A LEGAL SITUATION HAPPENING HERE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR REPORTING THIS AND COMING TO US AGAIN. I AM GOING TO ASK IF YOU WILL GIVE YOUR, UM, INFORMATION TO, UH, RENEE, UH, AND HE CAN HELP YOU RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT WE DID GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH. TY. SARAH, NEXT SPEAKER. RICHARD RERUM. RICHARD RERUM. NEXT SPEAKER, DESTINY, JACKSON WILLIAMS DESTINY. JACKSON WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. REGINALD ALLEN. HELLO, MR. ALLEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS REGINALD ALLEN. I'M WITH A SAFETY COMPANY CALLED SAFER, AND MY GOAL TODAY IS TO MAKE HOUSTON A SAFER COMMUNITY. UH, WE AT SAFER, WE PARTNER WITH BUSINESS, UH, BUSINESS CITIES, COMMUNITIES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALYSSA'S LAW. WE HAVE WRIST BANDITS, PENDANTS, AND WEARABLES WITH GPS AND CAP AND CAMERA CAPABILITIES THAT ARE VOICE ACTIVATED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. OUR GPS PRODUCTS DO WORK ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND THIS IS A PART OF OUR ANTI-TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN. OUR SCHOOL PROTECTION PROGRAM INCLUDES THE SAFER APPLICATION FEATURES SUCH AS GEOFENCING, SECURITY MONITORING, AND WEAPON DETECTING CAMERAS THAT CAN BE ADDED TO ANY SECURITY SYSTEM THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE. EXCUSE ME. UM, UPON THAT, WHEN A WEAPON IS DETECTED, THE CAMERA WILL SEND AN ALERT TO THE SAFER USER SECURITY TEAM, ALSO WITH THE CALIBER OF WEAPON THAT HAS BEEN PLACED ON CAMPUS OR A BUILDING. UH, I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO TRY TO SAVE THE LIVES OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH THE DIRECT RESOURCES OF THE HOUSTON CITY AND HPD. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MR. ALLEN. IF YOU HAD ANY HANDOUTS OR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR THAT YOU CAN SEND TO OUR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL OFFICES, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL. SURE. WHO SHOULD I SEND IT TO? TO OUR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL OFFICE? RENEE, CAN YOU HELP HIM WITH THOSE, UM, EMAIL ADDRESSES? SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT [02:40:01] SPEAKER. RENEE LIEBER. RENEE LIEBER. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. SHAY SHARP. SHAY SHARP. NEXT SPEAKER. MARILYN RA. AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. HELLO, MS. MARILYN? I NEED TO EXCUSE SOME SIR. OKAY. WE CAN GET THAT. I'VE BEEN RETIRED FROM THE CITY A YEAR AND TWO WEEKS. OKAY. AND Y'ALL BEEN RUNNING JOB FAIR? I'VE BEEN GOING TO EACH ONE OF 'EM. I'VE BEEN TAKING CONSTANTLY DRUG TESTS, BUT E EACH TIME THEY ONLY OFFER ME 60 CENTS TO COME BACK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE. AND Y'ALL CONSTANTLY NEED SOMEBODY. AND I'M COMING BACK TO GIVE MY RETIREMENT UP FOR 60 CENTS. I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ME, I'M TALKING ABOUT OTHER RETIREES LIKE TO COME BACK TOO, BUT THEY NOT OFFERING THEM ANYTHING. AND, AND TELL ME WHAT THIS IS THAT YOU'RE GIVING TO US. MS. UH, RA, THAT'S THE MATRIX FOR OPERATORS. THE MATRIX, HOW MUCH YOU'LL GET PAID. THE MATRIX. OKAY. THAT RIGHT THERE WAS THE JAR FAIR THAT I TOOK THE DRUG TESTS AND EVERYTHING AND THEY WAS ONLY OFFERING ME 60 CENTS. YOU'VE BEEN GETTING A, A JAR FAIR EVER SINCE JANUARY. EVERY MONTH THEY HAVING A JAR FAIR EVERY MONTH BECAUSE THEY NEED OPERATORS NOW. OPERATOR THAT'S TRYING TO COME BACK, WANT TO COME BACK, GOING GIVE HER RETIREMENT UP TO COME BACK. YOU ARE ONLY OFFERING HIM 60 CENTS TO COME BACK. PICTURE. I, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY YOU ARE SAYING THAT. WE WOULD OFFER YOU 60 CENTS TO COME BACK. THE CITY OF HOUSTON OFFERED YOU 60 CENTS TO COME BACK. YES. YES MA'AM. YOU HAVE IT, YOU HAVE IT UP THERE? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO THIS IS GONNA BE AN EMPLOYMENT ISSUE AND SO WE'RE GONNA REFER YOU TO, UM, UH, RHONDA, SO YOU CAN SPEAK WITH OUR, UM, EMPLOYMENT DIVISION. UM, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF DECIPHER HERE, BUT WE HAVE YOU ON RECORD AND WE HEAR YOU. UM, AND WE'RE GONNA REFER YOU TO RHONDA AND WE CAN TALK TO, UM, EITHER DIRECTOR CHEEKS OR SOMEONE IN EMPLOYMENT TO HELP YOU WITH THIS ISSUE. OKAY? 'CAUSE I, I GOT HIRED TO COME BACK. OKAY. BUT WHAT THEY WAS OFFERING ME JUST 60 CENTS, IT DIDN'T WORK. SO EVIDENTLY THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT OKAY. THAT IS CAUSING THAT TO COME UP AT AT 60 CENTS, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN DECIPHER IT. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR COMING UP AND SPEAKING WITH US TODAY. OKAY. WHO I NEED TO TALK TO RHONDA SOLDER. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, YUSEF SHAW. YUSEF SHAW. HELLO, MR. SHAW. HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? GOOD. MY NAME IS YUSUF SHY AND I JUST COME TO INVITE THE COUNSELORS, THE MAYOR, AND THE PRO TEAM TO COME OUT AND VISIT T COOL. TODAY AT 67 20 COOLING BOULEVARD. THE PROPRIETOR IS ROSALYN EDWARD. SHE SPOKE HERE I THINK ABOUT A WEEK AGO, DEALING WITH THE ISSUE IN THAT COMMUNITY THERE. SO WE'RE JUST INVITING YOU ALL TO COME OUT TO SEE FIRSTHAND FOR YOURSELF. THAT'S 67 20 COOLING BOULEVARD 7 7 0 2 1. AND I'D LIKE TO HONOR YOU. THANK YOU'ALL FOR LETTING US COME STAND BEFORE Y'ALL AND EVENT AND INVITE YOU ALL OUT AND COME VISIT US. AND I THINK Y'ALL WOULD BE VERY WELL PLEASED TO SEE THE WORK THAT SHE BEEN DOING IN THAT AREA FROM THE TIME SHE WAS KNOWN AS THE SLACK BOY, LADY AT ATS MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT COME INTO THE STORE. REMEMBER HER NOW, SHE'S BEEN RUNNING HER OWN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS. SO WE HONOR YOU ALL FOR LETTING US COME BEFORE YOU ALL TO BRING THIS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON ATTENTION. SO PLEASE COME BY AND VISIT. YOU WILL BE. THANK YOU MR. HAW. RECOGNIZED. MR. THANK YOU ALL. OKAY. JUST ONE SECOND, MR. HAW. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q COUNCIL, MEMBER POLLARD. UH, YOU'RE THANKING US, BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL AND PLEASE, UH, SEND OUR THANK YOUS TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WHAT SHE'S DOING. UH, I'M SURE, UH, WE WILL TRY TO GET OUT THERE TO SEE IT FOR OURSELVES. UH, WHAT DISTRICT IS THAT? IS THAT D? THAT'S D THE DISTRICT, DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. OKAY. WELL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE MEANT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND PLEASE PASS THOSE WORDS ON ALONG TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. [02:45:01] GOD BLESS YOU. VERY WELL RECEIVED. WE HONOR YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ANTHONY JOHNSON. ANTHONY JOHNSON. IS ANTHONY JOHNSON HERE? HERE? HELLO, MR. JOHNSON. COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ANTHONY JOHNSON. UH, I COME TO YOU ON BEHALF OF SOUTHERN BROTHERS PROPERTIES. UH, LAST YEAR IN NOVEMBER, WE DID WORK, COMPLETED SOME WORK FOR THE CITY AS A SUBCONTRACTOR FOR THE M SUITES. UH, ROUGHLY OVER ABOUT, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS SIX FIGURES AS FAR AS FINANCIALS AND, AND WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED. UH, AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN PAID STILL. UH, WE, ON FEBRUARY THE SIXTH, THE PRIME THAT WAS LISTED ON OUR PROJECT CAME AND SPOKE TO YOU GUYS. UM, WE SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, AFTER, AFTER THE, OUR PRIME, UM, SPOKE ON BEHALF OF US AND NOTHING WAS DONE. WHEN WE, WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM MAYOR WHITT MEYER'S OFFICE, UH, THE REPLY BACK WAS, IT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION. NO FURTHER, NO FURTHER COMMENT CAN BE ADDED OR, UH, SPOKEN ON. UM, MR. POLLARD, UH, YOU SPOKE FOR AN ADVOCATE OF US, UH, ONCE OUR PRIME, UM, MS. TATUM, YOU AS WELL. AND TO THIS DAY, UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING ON SIX MONTHS AND WE HAVE YET TO BE PAID. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WE SPOKE WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. WHEN OUR PRIME SPOKE WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR PRIME WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE UP TO SIX MONTHS. THAT'S WHAT THE CONTRACT STATES FOR US TO BE PAID. NOW, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SIX MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO FLOAT SIX FIGURES OF PAYROLL, THAT WOULD TAKE US OUT OF THE LEAGUE OF BEING A SMALL BUSINESS. NOW WE COME TO YOU AS BUSINESS OWNERS TO SHOW YOU THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S AFFECTED OUR BUSINESS TREMENDOUSLY. NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY, BUT THE TOLL THAT HAS BROUGHT ON US AS FAR AS OUR REPUTATION WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE EMPLOY BECAUSE THEY LOOK TO US. WE HAVE OUTSTANDING BALANCES ON EQUIP YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. JUST, JUST ONE SECOND, MR. JOHNSON. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, JUST WANNA CONFIRM, THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE EMERGENCY PO FOR THE WATER LINES BREAKING. YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT. TO LEGAL. HAVE WE MADE ANY ADVANCE OF THIS? WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR THREE MONTHS, AND I THINK THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS EVEN BEFORE WE GOT IN. SO AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. COUNCIL MEMBER, I CAN GET YOU MORE INFORMATION, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE THAN WE HAD LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED IT. ANY IDEA ON A CLOSURE DATE? DATE? I DON'T BECAUSE THERE'S OUTSIDE AND, UH, AGENCIES INVOLVED. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU. MAYOR PROTE. UH, MR. JOHNSON, YOU SAID IT IS BEEN SIX MONTHS, RIGHT? YES, SIR. WE'RE COMING UP ON SIX MONTHS. SIX MONTHS, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO NOW. YES, SIR. FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. SO THE PRIME, WHAT, WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE PRIME? M THE M SUITES. THE M SUITE. LLCM. THE DM SUITE. LMCM SUITE? YES, SIR. DM SUITE? NO, DTHE. OH, THE GOT IT. THE LETTER M, SUITE LLC. OKAY. YES, SIR. LLC? YES, SIR. SIR. AND SO YOU WERE THE SUB, RIGHT? YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT PRIME THEY STILL EXIST OR THEY YES, SIR. NO, THEY STILL EXIST. OKAY. THEY'RE STILL IN BUSINESS. YES, SIR. BUT THEY HAVE NOT, WERE THEY, THE PROCESS WAS, WERE THEY TO PAY YOU OR, YES, SIR. THEY, THEY WERE TO PAY US MM-HMM . ONCE THEY WERE PAID BY THE CITY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID BY THE CITY. WE'VE SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS AS FAR AS SHOWING COMPLETION OF WORK SEVERAL TIMES. UM, WHEN WE WERE HERE, WHEN, WHEN OUR PRIME SPOKE THE LAST TIME ON FEBRUARY 6TH, UM, IN BETWEEN THAT TIME AND BEFORE SHE WAS, SHE HAD SPOKE ON BEHALF OF US AND OUR COMPENSATION, WE PROVIDED THESE DOCUMENTS AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PAYMENT IS, UH, IT HAS BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE WHEN WE SUBMITTED OUR DOCUMENTATION, THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE, THAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE DOCUMENTATION WAS SUBMITTED. IE UM, WE HAD CITY INSPECTORS THAT WERE ON SITE THAT SIGNED OFF ON THESE WORK ORDERS SAYING THESE WORK ORDERS WERE COMPLETED. NOT ONLY ON TOP OF THAT, BUT THERE WERE, THERE WAS A, UM, AN APP TO WHERE WE HAD TO UPLOAD PICTURES OF COMPLETED WORK IN THE PROCESS THAT WAS DONE NOW. SO THE PRIME NEVER GOT PAID? YES, SIR. THE PRIME DID GET PAID? NO, NO, NO, SIR. I'M SAYING THE HAS IT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION. OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S ALL UNDER INVESTIGATION. GOT IT. AND, AND MR. MR. JOHNSON, THIS IS A HORRIBLE SITUATION [02:50:01] AND IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE, UM, THAT THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE. I KNOW THAT, UM, THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS, UM, INVESTIGATION HAVE, HAVE GONE OUT AND WE'VE HAD TO GET SOME OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO COME IN AND HELP WITH DECIPHERING, UM, WHO IS INVOLVED AND WHO IS NOT INVOLVED. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS TAKING A VERY LONG TIME THAT DOES NOT NEGATE THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS WELL AS OTHER, UM, VENDORS WHO HAVE HELPED WITH THIS, UM, ISSUE. UM, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT AS FAST AS WE CAN. WE CAN TRY TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS. UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE THE BEST I CAN OFFER YOU RIGHT NOW. IT, IT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. IT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR US TO DECIPHER WHO WAS INVOLVED AND WHO WASN'T. UM, IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT OF, UM, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES. AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN APOLOGIZE AND, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT JUST YOU AND YOUR COMPANY, BUT THERE IS A INVEST, AN INVESTIGATION THAT IS HAPPENING SO THAT WE CAN DECIPHER WHO'S INVOLVED, WHO'S NOT, AND WHO IS TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PAYMENTS. YES, MA'AM. SO, UM, MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE A PATH FORWARD AS FAR AS, UM, MAYBE A TIME FRAMING ISSUE? IS IT, IS IT, IS IT SIX MONTHS? LET US, LET US, LET US GET THE, THE LATEST UPDATE. UM, THE LAST ONE WE GOT MAYBE WAS A WEEK OR SO AGO, AND THEY, WE HAD HIRED SOME OUTSIDE FOLKS TO COME AND HELP US WITH THE INVESTIGATION. SO IF, UM, IS ANY, CAN YOU, CAN, UH, RANDY, RANDY, CAN YOU GET US AN UPDATE? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. UM, OR SEE IF SOMEONE'S HERE THAT CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE WHILE THEY'RE HERE ON HOW HAVE THEY MOVED FORWARD WITH THE INVESTIGATION, WHAT THE TIMELINE IS FOR THE INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE, BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM AT LEAST AN UPDATE SURE. ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE INVESTIGATION. I'LL ABSOLUTELY. AND AND ALSO, MY, MY LAST QUESTION. YES, SIR. UM, I'LL BE FINISHED AS FAR AS ONCE THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED. D DOES THAT MEAN THAT OUR, OUR TENURE FOR OUR CONTRACT IS DONE? ARE WE TO, ARE WE TO BE PAID OUT OR ARE WE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE WORK? OR HOW DOES, HOW DOES THAT LOOK? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO SPEAK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AS WELL? SO THAT'S GONNA ALL, UM, BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION. THAT'S, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER TO RIGHT NOW. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT COMES OUT IN THE INVESTIGATION. OKAY. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT LET US TRY TO GET YOU AN UPDATE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY. OH, GO AHEAD. NO, NO. SHE'S GOT A PROCEDURAL. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, WE HAVE A RESIDENT WHO'S LET US KNOW THAT, UH, SHE NEEDS TO GET TO WORK. SHE'S BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME. SO I, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO HAVE, UH, SEAN LEE BADONE. I APOLOGIZE IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME. BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. SECOND. MOVED AND SECONDED. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES YOU. THANK YOU KINDLY GIVING HONOR TO THE MOST HIGH GOD, YAHWEH, WHO EMPOWERS ME. MAY I CALL YOUR NAME FIRST? SEAN LEE BA. SEAN LEE BAU. YES. THANK, THANK YOU ALSO GRACIOUSLY FOR BLESSING ME. UM, I'M COMING TO YOU AT PUTTING MYSELF AT RISK 'CAUSE I AM A PART OF THE A CP PROGRAM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR, UM, ONGOING STALKING AND HARASSMENT THAT I AM PART OF. MANY OF THE CLAIMS FROM HPVS, CASES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND UNINVESTIGATED AND UN AND FOR ME TO BE HERE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME CURRENTLY AT MIDTOWN 180 IS, UM, ME TAKING A BIG RISK ON THE PROGRAM THAT I'M IN, BUT ALSO TOO, I HAVE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT I KNOW IS GOING TO NOT ONLY HELP OUR CITY, BUT BE ABLE TO DEFEND EVERYONE IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH, I AM CURRENTLY ENDURING DISCRIMINATORY ACTS BECAUSE I AM A BLACK JEWISH WOMAN. I HAVE FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS HAVE WENT TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. I'VE CONTACTED THEM WHO ARE THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY IN DISTRICT C THAT, UM, THEY HAVE THAT ENDURED THE DIS DISCRIMINATION AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED FROM THE MOVE IN PROCESS TO EVEN THEM HONORING MY RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS. MAY I PLEASE PROCEED? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAY I PLEASE PROCEED? YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER? CAYMAN? YEAH. UM, MS. MS. BAU, I, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU PREVIOUSLY. I JUST WOULD ASK, UM, SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION. RENEE IS, UM, I HAVE EMAILED YOU GUYS. I HAVE EMAILED YOU. I, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND. BUT AGAIN, IF RENEE [02:55:01] IS RIGHT THERE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE GET WITH RENEE SO HE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION, I'D APPRECIATE. I'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON FAIR HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND THEY'VE ALSO CON FOUND THAT, UM, EVEN THE OWNERS IN MARYLAND HAVE BLATANTLY LIED ABOUT THEIR POSITION, UH, AND THEIR TITLE HERE. I, I UNDERSTAND IF YOU, AGAIN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE GET WITH RENEE RIGHT BEHIND YOU, AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL ALSO FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU MS. BENO FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. DARRELL HARPER. DARRELL HARPER. NEXT SPEAKER. IVY SPIVEY. IVY SPIVEY. NEXT SPEAKER, TRAVIS DORS. TRAVIS. HELLO, MR. DORS. HOWDY. I WAS HOPING TO MEET THE NEW MAYOR. UH, I'M ON MAYOR NUMBER FIVE. UH, I'VE BEEN DOING RICK SHAWS FOR 20 YEARS HERE IN HOUSTON NOW. SO I MET MAYOR BROWN. ANYWAYS, LONG STORY SHORT, WE'RE STILL IN THE SAME, UH, THERE'S A NEW MAYOR. I WAS JUST TELLING THEM YOU'RE MY FIFTH MAYOR. I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR, I AM THE MAIN PETTY CAB GUY IN HOUSTON. I'VE HAD A COMPANY HERE FOR 20 YEARS AND BEEN INVITED. WE, UH, JUST GET THROUGH WITH THE RODEO. UH, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. UH, OFFICERS OR A RA COMES OUT, THEY MIGHT ISSUE TRAFFIC CITATIONS, BUT THERE'S STILL LIKE A HUNDRED PLUS UNLICENSED VEHICLES FOR HIRE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE LITTLE RICKSHAWS, PETTY CABS, THEY STILL OPERATE NONSTOP. UH, JUST ENFORCEMENT JUST SEEMS TO BE A 20 NOW. WE'RE ON 13 YEARS OF HAVING THE ORDINANCE PASSED IN HOUSTON, WHERE I'M 14. UH, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR ANSWERS, LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS. I'VE PRESENTED SOLUTIONS, UH, JUST HERE SHOWING FACE MAYOR PROTE, CAST STATE. MR. OWERS, I KNOW YOU SAID YOU, YOU'VE, YOU'VE COME DOWN SEVERAL TIMES. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON, ON HOW TO HELP US SOLVE THIS ISSUE, UH, IN THE VEHICLES FOR HIGHER ORDINANCE? I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU THOUGH. IN THE VEHICLES FOR HIGHER ORDINANCE, IT DOES STATE THAT HPD CAN TOW, THAT MEANS STOP THEM FROM OPERATING MM-HMM . WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED BECAUSE HPD SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES. UH, IT JUST SEEMS THEY JUST KICKED THE BALL DOWN THE, UH, DOWN THE HALL. SO I EXPECT TO BE TOLD THE SAME THING AFTER COMING HERE AGAIN. LIKE, COMING TO SEE YOU WONDERFUL FOLKS IS NOT MY FAVORITE THING TO DO. IT DOES LIKE, DISRUPT YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO COME AND ASK FOR HELP. YOU PAY FOR PERMITS, BUT SEEMINGLY THESE PERMITS ARE SEEMINGLY WORTHLESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR SOME REASON. SO I'M KIND OF LIKE PLEADING FOR HELP, OR IF NOT, I JUST GO, GO OUT OF BUSINESS OR, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OR CHIEF OF STAFF THAT HELP. RIGHT. UH, MR. UH, OF COURSE, MR. NEWPORT HELPED WRITE THE ORDINANCE FOR THE PETTY CABS. MAYBE HE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE. MM-HMM . HE, UH, GOT HIMSELF 14 YEARS AGO. AND I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO JUST THE ENFORCEMENT. UM, WE'VE JUST GOT TO FIND THE, THE RIGHT ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PETTY CALVES THAT ARE OPERATING IN OUR EVENTS ARE PERMITTED AND OPERATING UNDER THE LAWS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, ON, ON OUR BOOKS. SO I, I'M SORRY THAT YOU'VE HAD TO COME DOWN SEVERAL TIMES. UM, IT'S NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. UH, AND WE WILL KEEP WORKING ON IT. RIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT. BUT IT WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS. I TRY TO BE AS, I MEAN, LISTEN TO PEOPLE FOR TWO YEARS ASKING YOU, I'M HERE FOR 20, I'M HERE FOR 13. LIKE AT SOME POINT, LIKE, THE LAW HAS TO BE THE LAW OR ELSE WE GOTTA CHANGE THE LAW. IF YOU CAN'T ENFORCE THE LAW, AM I NOT CORRECT ON THIS? I'M LIKE, I DIDN'T PASS THIS ORDINANCE. RIGHT. Y'ALL DID. THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID. SOMEBODY'S ACCOUNTABLE, LIKE SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PASSING A LAW. THEY DON'T WANNA ENFORCE OR UNPASS THE LAW. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK YOU'RE 1000% CORRECT. UH, MANY TIMES WE HAVE ORDINANCES ON THE BOOKS THAT ARE JUST WORDS. UM, AND THEY DON'T MEAN MUCH UNLESS THERE'S ENFORCEMENT AND THERE HAS TO BE ENFORCEMENT. YOU'VE ALREADY CLEARLY ARTICULATED WHAT CAN, WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO AT LEAST GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE. UM, BUT UNTIL WE HAVE REAL ENFORCEMENT, UM, IT'S THE SAME SONG AND DANCE, UNFORTUNATELY. RIGHT. WHICH [03:00:01] IS TURNED INTO AN INTERESTING SCENARIO FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF ASKING AND ASKING AND ASKING. AND I'M A BUSINESS PERSON THAT HAS LITERALLY LIKE A WHOLE SHOP FULL OF THESE UNLICENSED THAT THEY NEVER LEAVE. LIKE, I COULD HAVE A WHOLE SHOP OPERATING LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS TOWN DOES, BUT I DON'T BECAUSE I ABIDE BY THE LAW. I'M LIKE, THE PERSON ABIDING BY THE LAW IS GETTING HURT THE MOST. IT'S JUST LIKE TOTALLY EXACT OPPOSITE. WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD, MR. MR. STARS? WE DID, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK HAS RECEIVED AN, UH, A MESSAGE THAT THEY WILL HEAR IT IN, IN PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, SO WE, WE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU TO SEE IF, IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, BUT WE, IT, IT'S NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. WE JUST NEED TO RIGHT. COME UP WITH THE AVENUE TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. AND THANK YOU'ALL, STAY ENCOURAGED. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD IS BACK IN COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, SIR. SIR, SIR. SURE. AND I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, AS IT GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND YOU ALL LOOK AT IT, I, I THINK JUST A SIMPLE, A SIMPLE RESOLUTION IS JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS YOU CAN DO AND TRY TO TOW OR BOOT SOME OF THESE ILLEGAL PETTY CALVES AND SEE IF THAT ALONE CAN SEND A MESSAGE TO THE INDUSTRY THAT WE WON'T TOLERATE IT ANYMORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE NOT TALKING LIKE ONE TO FIVE. WE'RE TALKING LIKE A HUNDRED. RIGHT? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND I GOT 45 PERMITS. YEAH. I'M LIKE, BUT THERE'S A HUNDRED OF COMPETITION THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ON THESE STREETS FOR THE LAST DECADE. I KNOW IT'S NOT YOU GUYS JUST TAKING OVER, BUT LIKE SOME OF US. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT IS. UH, MAYOR PROM. SAID NEXT. LAURA CONNOLLY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M, UH, LAURA CONLEY AND I'M A WALKING WELLNESS COACH, AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE ALL THIS TIME. IF ANY OF YOU WANNA STAND WHILE I SPEAK AND STRETCH, PLEASE DO THAT. I WON'T BE , I WON'T BE OFFENDED. UM, SO I, AS I SAID, I'M A WALKING WELLNESS COACH. I LAUNCHED URBAN PATHS 11 YEARS AGO ON A MISSION TO GET HOUSTONIANS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OUT GETTING THE PROFOUND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF A WALK. UM, AND I, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU. LAST YEAR I RECEIVED A MAYORAL DIRECTIVE GRANT TO LEAD WALKS IN ALL SEVEN OF HOUSTON'S CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICTS, WHICH WAS HUGELY POPULAR. SO THANK YOU TO THE POWERS THAT BE FOR THAT. I'M HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT HOUSTON, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, IS PARTICIPATING IN NATIONAL WALKING DAY. COMING UP ON APRIL 3RD, A PARTNERSHIP WAS FORGED BETWEEN BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP FIT HOUSTON AND URBAN PATHS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IT'S A FREE CITYWIDE INITIATIVE, AND WHAT WE HOPE IS THAT ALL OF YOU WILL EITHER FORM WALKING GROUPS WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS OR COME OUT TO GROUP WALKS THAT ALREADY EXIST. UM, TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN CAMAN, IF YOU JUST WANNA QUICKLY WRAP UP. I KNOW WE, I STILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE. YEAH. ONE MORE. YEAH. THERE'S, THERE'S WALKS, FREE WALKS GOING ON ACROSS THE CITY ON THAT DAY, UM, FROM SEVEN IN THE MORNING TILL EIGHT AT NIGHT, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND WALK WITH US. AND IT'S OUR GREAT HOPE THAT THESE WALKING EVENTS WILL BRING TO THE FOREFRONT THAT, UM, HOUSTON CAN INDEED BECOME A WALKABLE CITY. WE HAVE MANY, MANY MILES TO GO, BUT TAKING THE FIRST STEP AND GOING OUT IN A WALK IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE DONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT JAMES CHAMBERS. JAMES CHAMBERS. KAREN, WILLIAM CARDWELL. THANK YOU. HELLO, FAMILY. I'M HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS KAREN WILLIAMS CARDWELL. I AM AT THIS POINT SO DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I DID SIGN UP FOR THREE MINUTES AND NOW I'M HAVE LESS THAN PROBABLY ONE MINUTE. AND MY PROBLEM IS SOMEWHAT COMPLEX. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT A, UH, CANNABIS DISTRIBUTING, UH, LOCATION AT THE INTEREST OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW, I, THEY PLAY LOUD MUSIC, LOUD VIR MUSIC. THEY HAVE, UH, I RECEIVED A NOTICE BACK FROM THE CITY SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T, THE ISSUE IS CLOSED. IT IS. HOW MANY OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A DRUG DISPENSER AT THE FRONT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD? OKAY. [03:05:01] I MEAN, AT THE HOUSE, I MEAN BEHIND ON THE SAME STREET. AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. I, I, I WANNA KNOW BECAUSE I FEEL YEAH, THAT'S MY ONE MINUTE. I'M HELP ME SOMEBODY. YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, SHE, IF SHE HAS IT IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD, I WOULD BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO WHAT SHE'S SAYING. HOLD ON. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MS. CALDWELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. UM, ACTUALLY WE RECEIVED THE EMAIL FROM MR. CHARLES NOBLE ABOUT THIS DISPENSARY THAT'S COMING OVER IN THE, UM, FANGS WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO CURRENTLY WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TALKING WITH, THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THE PERMIT, UM, BUT ALL THEY NEED NOW IS THE OCCUPANCY PERMIT. AND SO WE'RE TALKING TO, UM, UM, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HOLD OFF. THEY ALREADY PERMITTED. YEAH. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT AT THE BUS PASS, THE SCHOOL BUS LETS OUT RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER. THE THIRD THING IS, IS THAT YOU CAN LITERALLY SMELL THE MARIJUANA. I DID TALK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DID GO OUT, TOLD ME THEY WERE GONNA COME BACK AND DID AND DID NOT. AND I, I KNOW YOU, YOU GUYS ARE TIRED. AND I JUST THANK YOU, TASHA. I, I, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY AND THAT THE CITY'S GONNA GET MORE MONEY, THEY PROBABLY WON'T DO ANYTHING. SO AT LEAST I WANNA BE ON RECORD. UH, AND I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WITH ME AS WELL. AND WHATEVER IT TAKES YOU GUYS NEED FOR ME TO DO. I'M STANDING HERE TO SAY FAMILY GOY, HELP ME PLEASE, IF YOU CAN, IF NOT, DO WE NEED TO GO TO TEXAS? TO, TO, I DUNNO. YES, MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA DO IT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. MS. CALDWELL, YOU, YOU MADE A STATEMENT YOU SAID THAT YOU HAD CALLED AND SOMEONE TOLD YOU IT WAS SOLVED, OR IT WAS, I RECEIVED SOMETHING TODAY SAYING THAT THE SITUATION WAS CLOSED BECAUSE THEY HAD DID A 3 1 1 THING. UH, 3 1 1. LET ME SEE IF I CAN, I'M, SO IT SAID THAT IT WAS CLOSED, THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED, SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS PERTAINING TO COUNCILMAN JACKSON. SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING INTO THE DISPENSARY. WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T SPOKE WITH, GOT THE 3 1 1 REFERENCE NUMBER. WE, I JUST RECEIVED THE EMAIL FROM THE CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT CHARLES NOBLE, RIGHT. ABOUT THIS DISPENSARY. RIGHT. AND WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT. BUT AS FAR AS THE 3 1 1 REFERENCE NUMBER, WE HADN'T, UM, FOLLOWED UP WITH THAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING ABOUT THE OKAY. LETTER THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. SAID, UH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE OCCUPANCY NOW THAT YOU, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THEY SAID THAT PART OF IT WAS CLOSED. SO LET ME GET WITH, LET ME GET WITH MARY WITH MY OFFICE AND SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON. BUT MY OFFICE JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS DISPENSARY. SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT AND WE'RE TALKING TO PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT, I KNOW THAT THEY GOT A PERMIT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THE OCCUPANCY PERMIT FROM MY, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT. UH, UH, OKAY. I I, I ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE, THE, THE, UH, HOME BUILDING PROJECT. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT THREE TIMES. MY HUSBAND, WE APPLIED BEFORE MY HUSBAND DIED. HE DIED IN 2015. EVERY YEAR, UH, THEY HAVE SENT ME THREE APPLICATIONS TO FILL OUT. I FILLED THEM OUT, I HEARD NOTHING. THEY COME OUT AND INSPECT THE HOUSE. THEY TELL ME WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO. THEY RUN OUTTA MONEY THIS TIME. THEY, THEY CALL ME AND SAY, WELL, YEAH, WE GONNA RECERTIFY YOU. WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP CALLING IT RECERTIFY IF YOU'RE CHANGING THE PROGRAM? AND WOULD YOU PLEASE, PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE SEND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE PROGRAM? AND I'M SO DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE YOU GUYS LET MONTROSE, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN OUR DISTRICT. MONTROSE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AS LONG AS THEY WANTED TO SPEAK. AND I, I FEEL LIKE I'M PART OF THE FAMILY TOO. NO, MAYBE I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT I AM A PERSON JUST LIKE YOU. AND I WANNA BE HEARD. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, [03:10:02] MA'AM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, MS. CALDWELL. SO THERE'S TWO THINGS. SO ONE, UM, AND MAYOR, I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. UM, MA'AM, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE'S A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ALL OPERATING A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? MY APOLOGIES. LET ME JUST CALL NO, MA'AM. NO, NO MA'AM. WHAT I'M SIMPLY SAYING, THIS IS A COMMERCIAL BUILDING. THIS IS A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN, IN THE BEGINNING. IN, OKAY, OKAY. NO, NO, MA'AM. IT, THIS WAS MY, THIS IS NOT A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. IT WAS MY, I MEAN, IS THERE TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS? I'M TALKING ABOUT MY HOUSE. THEY WERE GOING TO BE REPAIRED. NO, NO, NO. HOLD ON. STAY WITH ME. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. IS THE DISPENSARY A A RESIDENTIAL, UH, SITE? OPERATING A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS? THE REASON WHY THEY'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE IT NO, MA'AM. MA'AM. MA'AM. MA'AM, MA'AM, STAY WITH ME. OKAY. IS IT, IS IT A RESIDENTIAL OR IS IT A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS? IT IS ZONED AS COMMERCIAL BECAUSE IT WAS A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. GOT IT. LONG AGO. IT OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I NEED. OKAY. RIGHT. SECONDLY, LET ME QUICKLY WALK YOU THROUGH THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM. YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S A, UM, EVERY YEAR APPLICANTS MUST BE RECERTIFIED BECAUSE THEY'RE LIMITED FUNDS. SOME APPLICANTS, UM, ARE ABLE TO FIND SUPPORT ELSEWHERE. SOME APPLICANTS FALL OFF THAT LIST. UM, WE INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FOR HOME REPAIR, BUT THAT IS A PART OF THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE STILL ELIGIBLE IN THAT HOME. SO ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE AND CERTIFIED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR? UH, YES MA'AM. OKAY. SO DO YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE SOMEONE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO KNOW YOUR STATUS? UH, NO MA'AM. I JUST THINK BECAUSE PRIMARILY IT'S DONE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ELDERLY AND OLDER, THAT IT IS VERY TEDIOUS TO RE RESUBMIT THAT SAME INFORMATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND EACH TIME YOU APPLY, YOU NEVER SENT WHAT THE PARTICULARS OF THE PROGRAM IS LIKE. I JUST FOUND OUT IT WAS GOING TO BE 20 YEARS. THE LAST TIME WE DID IT, IT WAS THREE. THE NEXT TIME IT WAS FIVE. NOW IT'S 20 YEARS THAT YOU'RE GONNA PUT A LIEN ON THE HOUSE. YOU DIDN'T SAY THAT BEFORE YOU SENT THE PROGRAM? NO, WE REDUCED THE LIEN. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. OKAY. I CAN YOU SAY, CAN YOU SHARE THE, UH, PAPERWORK? CAN YOU GET IT TO RENEE? TO RENEE PLEASE? THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A NAME OF SOMEONE THAT YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH? UH, IT'S, IT'S ON THAT, THAT, THAT PAPER THERE, I, I WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO OKAY. EXCEPT FOR THE, THE LAST PERSON. THEY SAID I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMANDER. AND IN THE MEANTIME, THAT'S WHEN I CALLED TASHA. AND THEN IN THE MEANTIME, THAT'S WHEN I GOT ON THE LIST BECAUSE I'M JUST SAYING, EVEN IF I DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM, JUST PLEASE, IF YOU'RE GONNA RECERTIFY US, PLEASE TELL US WHAT THE PROGRAM IS. I GOT ALL THE WAY TO COMPLETION. THEY WERE GOING TO FIX MY HOUSE, AND THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT MY FOUR BEDROOM THAT I HAD, THEY WERE GONNA CONVERT IT TO A TWO BEDROOM. AT THAT TIME, I WAS HELPING PEOPLE STAY WITH ME WITH THAT. AND SO I DIDN'T DO THE PROGRAM. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS. I, I UNDERSTAND IT. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR WAITING. THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA CHECK COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. MS. CALDWELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND MAKING US AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU. SOMEONE FROM MY STAFF IS AT THAT DOOR AND THEY'RE GONNA WORK WITH YOU IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO HELP US. AND THEN I KNOW, UM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, SHE HAS YOUR PAPERWORK AND SO WE WILL LOOK INTO IT AND WORK WITH YOU, UM, TO, TO GET TO MEDIATE THESE, THESE ISSUES. OKAY? OKAY. THANKS MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. NEXT, REBECCA JASO. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BECKY HASSEL. I AM A 40 YEAR RESIDENT AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE LAST 14 I'VE BEEN HERE IN MONTROSE. I'M ONE OF OVER 4,000 MONTROSE RESIDENTS THAT ARE ASKING FOR A CHANGE TO THE PLAN THAT THE TIER HAS SUBMITTED FOR THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT. MONTROSE IS A MAJOR THOROUGH FOR, IT IS A CROSS TOWN ARTERY FOR REGIONAL GOODS AND TRANSIT. IT'S A VITAL CORRIDOR FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES TRYING TO GET TO THE MEDICAL CENTER FOR COMMUTERS, UH, FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE THAT WANNA COME IN AND ENJOY WHAT MONTROSE CAN OFFER. BUT IT'S ALSO A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET WITH OAKS LINING MEDIANS AND SIDEWALKS. PRESERVING THESE TREES MAINTAINS THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVES WALKABILITY AND BREATHABILITY. [03:15:01] THE A HUNDRED PERCENT PLAN THAT THE MONTROSE TIER HAD SUBMITTED IS REALLY DESIGNED TO TAKE DOWN ALL OF THE TREES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE, UH, STREET IN ORDER TO PUT BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE SHARED PATH. 10 FOOT PATH. WE DON'T NEED A 10 FOOT SHARED PATH. CONTINUE. YOU CAN GO AHEAD. UH, THE 2017 BIKE PLAN THAT DEVELOPED THE BIKE PLAN FOR THE AREA HAS A VERY ROBUST PLAN FOR THE SURROUNDING STREETS IN MONTROSE. THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD THEMSELVES. METRO CAN WORK WITH COMMUTE SOLUTIONS AND MITIGATION, UH, CONGESTION MITIGATION PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE FREE RIDES FOR CYCLISTS THAT WANT TO GET DOWN THE BOULEVARD AND GET ON THE BUSES AND BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT COST TO THEM. UH, THOSE ARE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. WE HAVE A GROUP OF US HERE TODAY THAT WANT TO PRESENT SOME POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS, BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DIRECT THE TIERS THAT WE DO NEED A BETTER PLAN. AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT FOR THE TIERS BOARD, THEIR CHAIR AND THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE PAUSE FOR THE ROAD DIETS AND THE OFF OR THE STREET BIKE LANES. UH, WE REALLY NEED YOU TO WORK WITH US, WORK WITH THE TIER SO THAT THEY CAN HEAR WHAT WE'RE SAYING. MONTROSE RESIDENTS WANT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTED. WE WANT SAFETY, WE WANT MOBILITY, BUT WE ALSO WANNA KEEP THE TRAFFIC MOVING. UH, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST, UH, LOOKING AT THE TRADE-OFFS ARE BEING MADE, HELPING US TO KEEP OUR SHADE CANOPY AND OUR TREES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, DAVID VINCENT. MR. MAYOR, UH, CITY COUNCIL. I BRING TO THE PODIUM TODAY 26 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS THE SENIOR MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR THE LATE COMMISSIONER L FRANCO LEE. I HAVE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING ROADS, BRIDGES, PARKS, PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY. SO I COME TO YOU TODAY TO CARRY ON WHAT MS. JASO JUST SAID. I WROTE AN ARTICLE IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE LAST SUNDAY ASKING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE 60 LIVE OAKS THAT WE WOULD LOSE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. BUT I WANNA COME TO YOU TODAY TO NOT ONLY MAKE THAT POINT, TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN DEALING WITH THE TURS IN THAT AREA. DURING THE DAYS OF COMMISSIONER LEE'S SERVICE, WE, WE, UH, WITNESSED THE FIRST TURS. WE HAVE 20 SEVENT IS NOW, AND THEY'RE BEING USED AS A METHOD OF GO AHEAD OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM INPUT BY THOSE COMMUNITIES. MM-HMM . INPUT IS NOT MANDATE, BUT IT IS VERY NECESSARY IN A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT WE LISTEN. THIS TOUR IS A VERY ADAMANT TURS. IT SEEMS TO BE FEEL ITSELF TO BE AN ELITIST GROUP OVER AND ABOVE THOSE WHO BRING INFORMATION TO THE TABLE. WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO ARE GONNA MAKE, UH, PRESENTATIONS CONCERNING THAT WHAT I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO DO, AND THE MAYOR, I REALLY WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR MORATORIUM IN TERMS OF THAT BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT I FEEL IS PARTIALLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE LACK OF THESE TOURS GROUPS LISTENING TO COMMUNITIES ABOUT THAT DEVELOPMENT. IF YOU DON'T ENFORCE THAT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT YOU APPOINT TO THESE T TO ACTUALLY DO THE RIGHT THING AND LISTEN TO COMMUNITIES AND DO WHAT IS LOGICALLY NECESSARY IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE THIS DISCONNECT FROM NOW ON. MAY I SUSPECT THAT A LOT OF THIS IS DUE TO DIS UH, UH, A DISCONNECT AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THESE GROUPS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THE TOURISM IS A PROXY GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE WE ELECTED. WE ELECTED YOU. SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DIRECT VOICE TO YOU, TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS, PUT THIS MEMBRANE, THIS GOVERNMENTAL MEMBRANE THAT REALLY DOESN'T LISTEN TO WHAT WE WANT IN THE COMMUNITY. I AM A 37 YEAR RESIDENT OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD. MONTROSE IS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY. AND I HEARD SOME COMMENTS TODAY ABOUT MONTROSE AS BEING LISTENED. IT HAS TIME. MONTROSE IS A VERY, VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT [03:20:01] CLASSES AND VERY, VERY EDUCATED PEOPLE. DET NEEDS TO LISTEN. AND NOT ONLY THAT TOUR, DET PROCESS IN THIS CITY NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. AND MAYOR, I SAY TO YOU, YOU'RE TWO MONTHS IN OFFICE AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU WELL, I GO BACK TO YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN THE, IN THE DAYS OF KATHY WHITMEYER, UH, THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE BEST MEANS. OUR COUNTY, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY SHOULD HAVE THIS RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO GROUPS WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY NOW CONTROL THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF. SO I ASK YOU TO NOT ONLY CON NOT , FIRST OF ALL, NOT GET RID OF THE TREES BECAUSE THOSE LIVE OAKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOU READ MY ARTICLE, YOU CAN SEE IT'S A VERY PART OF THE HISTORY OF HOUSTON, BUT ALSO TO ACTUALLY JERK THE CHAIN OF THIS TOUR, TO MAKE THEM LISTEN TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO OFFER IN TERMS OF MAKING THESE PROJECTS BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MS. SMITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, MR. BENSON, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. AND I WANNA THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR YOUR SERVICE. NOT TO JUST THE CITY, BUT TO THE COUNTY AND YOUR LONG YEARS. UM, AND I DID READ YOUR ARTICLE. I TAKE ISSUE WITH A FEW THINGS, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH YOU. I'M HERE TO LISTEN. UM, HOWEVER, I DO WANNA SAY AS IT RELATES TO ARTUR IS ONE, THE MONTROSE TUR IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY. AND NOT EVERYONE MAY AGREE, BUT THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT, AND THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. BUT THE LEVEL ENG OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE SEEN ON THIS PROJECT IN PARTICULAR COMPARED TO SOME OF EVEN THE OTHER TSAS, RIGHT? THERE'S TSAS THAT DON'T EVEN NECESSARILY MEET ON PROJECTS AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. BUT FOR THREE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING COMMUNITY MEETING AFTER COMMUNITY MEETING, AND EVEN THE SHARED USE PATHS THAT WERE DESIGNED. AND THERE HAVE BEEN COMPROMISES BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN ALTER AL ALTERATIONS TO THE PLANS AS EVEN SUBMITTED. BUT ALL OF THAT WAS BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT TO BEGIN WITH. FROM CHALET STYLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHERE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES PUT, WE WANT THIS HERE, WE WANT THAT HERE. SO TO CHARACTERIZE SPECIFIC TS IS I DON'T WANNA GET INTO PERSONALITY POLITICS. AND AGAIN, I'M LISTENING TO YOU AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THAT TOURS ARE RESIDENTS OF THAT AREA. AND I DON'T WANT TO START SLINGING MUD AT PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTARILY GIVE THEIR TIME, JUST LIKE YOU DO FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THERE MAY BE DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT HOW TO BETTER THE COMMUNITY, BUT THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEDICATING JUST AS MUCH TIME, IF NOT MORE, INCLUDING THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF MONTROSE, THE PUBLIC, THE MEETINGS THAT WERE JUST HAD ON AFFORDABILITY, MONTROSE TURNS ITSELF FUNDED AN AFFORDABILITY STUDY FOR HOUSING BECAUSE MONTROSE IS ONE OF THE, IF NOT THE, UH, LARGEST RATE OF EVICTIONS FOR RENTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECAUSE SO MANY FAMILIES ARE BEING PRICED OUT AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE FIRSTERS TO FOCUS ON HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY INCLUSIVITY. SO AGAIN, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO ALL RESIDENTS AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO COMPROMISE AND TO FIND COMMON GROUND. BUT I WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL IN CHARACTERIZING AND MISCHARACTERIZING, UH, GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO OUR CITY AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, I CHAIRED, MY WIFE ASKED ME NOT TO TELL STORIES , BUT I CHAIRED THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER BOARD. MY BEST FRIEND WROTE THE GRANT FOR THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER THAT WAS A, IS A DIS, IS A CENTER FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. LAST NIGHT I WITNESSED IN THE CHURCH MEETING A TURNING AGAINST OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AGAINST THE TREE COMMUNITY, ALRIGHT? NOT ONLY AGAINST THE TREE COMMUNITY, BUT AGAINST OTHER INTEREST GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO COME TO THE TURS TO ASK FOR BETTER STREET CROSSINGS FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SAVING THE TREES, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN PLOTTED, UH, PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER. SO THE POINT I'M GONNA MAKE TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, I VOLUNTEERED TO CHAIR OF THAT BOARD. I LED THE BUILDING OF THE SWIMMING POOL AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. WHEN THAT POOL WAS GIVEN TO US, IT WAS, IT HAD NO ACCESSIBILITY. THE ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED IT SAID, WELL, WE CAN'T ASK FOR ACCESSIBILITY BECAUSE IT WAS GET DONE IN GRATIS. [03:25:02] WE CAN'T GO BACK TO THE ARCHITECT AND ASK HIM TO DO SOMETHING FOR US. WHEN THEY VOLUNTEERED THAT SERVICE, THE VOLUNTEERING OF SERVICE, IS EXPECTED OF US. I'M A COMBAT VETERAN AND I VOLUNTEERED FOR THE AIR FORCE, FLEW 145 MISSIONS IN VIETNAM. I VOLUNTEERED. ALRIGHT, SO I'M NOT ASKING ANYBODY TO THANK ME FOR VOLUNTEERING. BAD INFORMATION, BAD ADVICE, BAD PROJECTS. WHAT I WANT THE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE PERSONS WHO ARE GETTING FOR FAR THE TREES ARE NOT AGAINST THE PROJECT. WE WANT A BETTERMENT OF MONTROSE. BUT I LIVE IN THE 3,600 BLOCK OF MONTROSE AND I FEEL THIS WAVE COMING TOWARD ME IN THE FUTURE IF WE DON'T RESOLVE THE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE TURS AND THE COMMUNITY. NOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I, I'M SORRY. I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE A PERSON VOLUNTEERS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. MR. SHOULD ADVICE AND BAD. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. MR. BENSON. AND I WILL SAY I'M A TREE PERSON. HA LIKE WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO SAVE SO MANY TREES. THERE ARE TREE PEOPLE BEING PITTED AGAINST OTHER TREE PEOPLE AT THIS POINT. SO AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE ALL COME TOGETHER. MY ISSUE AT THIS POINT IS THAT WE ARE SEEING THROUGH THIS PROJECT AND THE BEHAVIORS OF SOME, I'M NOT DIRECTING THAT AT YOU, OF THIS ISSUE LITERALLY TEARING APART THE FABRIC OF MONTROSE. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING. AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND YOU'RE, YOU ARE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WEST GRAY. SO MAYOR, I'LL DO MY LITTLE PLUG ON WEST GRAY TOO 'CAUSE WE GOTTA DO MORE THERE AS WELL. SO AGAIN, THIS ISN'T DIRECTED AT YOU, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD. SURE. HAVE TO. THANK YOU DAVIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. BENSON, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN IN REGARDS. 'CAUSE THAT IS AN INTEREST ABOUT TOUR, ESPECIALLY WE TALKING ABOUT DOLLARS THAT THIS CITY NEED AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. LET ME ASK YOU FOR ONE THAT'S LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 37 YEARS. THAT'S RIGHT. I HEAR CORRECT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND, AND ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD 4 36. VERY GOOD. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A VIETNAM VET. THANK YOU. I'M ONE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UM, NUMBER ONE, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY OR LIST, I DIDN'T REACH YOUR ARTICLE, DID YOU SAY YOU PUT IN THE CHRONICLE? BUT I WILL. BUT DID, DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF YOUR CONCERNS AS TO TURS? IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY, THERE AIN'T A DEBATE ABOUT WHO'S WORKING AND VOLUNTEERING AND WHO'S NOT. THE OBJECTIVE IS IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, THEN THE PROBLEM NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, MAYOR, REGARDLESS AS TO THE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY CAN CONCLUDE ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE TURS. BUT LET ME ASK YOU, DO YOU HAVE A LISTING OF THINGS THAT YOU SEE FIT WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE COUNTY THAT THE TOURS IS OR IS NOT DOING? THERE IS A COMMITTEE OF RESIDENTS IN THE COMMITTEE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DO HAVE THAT LIST. OKAY. AND THEY HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I FEEL ARE VERY VIABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE JUROR THAT HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENED TO. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU DAVID. UH, THANK YOU. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU. AND CERTAINLY EL FRANCO LEE IS, IS BADLY MISSED. THANK YOU. I WISH WE COULD GET THE COUNTY TO PARTNER WITH US ON IMPROVING THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AND, UH, WE ARE GETTING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE IN THAT REGARD. BUT LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE TREES WILL BE PROTECTED. UH, THE PAVE BEING OF, OF MONTROSE, SIDEWALKS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS WILL BE ADDRESSED. AND, UH, THE SMILEY CENTER WILL BE A TOP PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY NEED. BUT WE'LL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE MUSEUM DISTRICT. THE MUSEUM DISTRICT HAS SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, IMPEDING THEIR MOBILITY. TWO AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE VISIT OUR MUSEUMS MOST BY, UH, BY CAR. AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE, UH, SAFE STREETS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS. CERTAINLY WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT, UH, PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS TO GET THERE. SO I THINK AS I SIT HERE AND LISTEN, YOU'D PROBABLY MAKE A GREAT MEMBER OF THE MONTROSE TOUR. SO, SO, SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL BE I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU. MAY I, YOU'VE GOT TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH PASSION, TOO MUCH EXPERIENCE AND, UH, COMMITMENT TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, TO, TO NOT, I WORKED, I WORKED FOR THE COMMISSIONER FOR 26 YEARS. NO, I'M FAMILIAR WITH, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD WORKED THAT LONG. [03:30:02] SO, SO NOW I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT ME TO WORK . WELL, PUBLIC SERVICE IS, IS A CALLING. YEAH. AND WE'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHETHER WHEREVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT. BUT YOU STAYING THERE REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITY, UH, YOU NEED TO BE PUT IN A POSITION TO HAVE A REAL FORUM AND TO, UH, HAVE PEOPLE REASON WITH THE, UH, DIVERSITY OF THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I, AND I'LL YIELD TO OUR MAYOR APPROACH. TIM CASTEX TATUM. MR. BENSON. THANK YOU, TIM, YES, MA'AM. FOR COMING DOWN AND, AND SHARING AND YOUR THOUGHTS AND, AND WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT IS, IS HAPPENING IN YOUR TERMS. I JUST, UM, WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, WHILE WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE CONCERNS THAT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS, UM, MAY HAVE WITH THE TURS THAT I, I'D WANNA CAUTION US ABOUT PAINTING. TURS IS WITH A BROAD BRUSH, BECAUSE IN MY DISTRICT, GOOD POINT. BUT FOR THE TURS, THERE WOULD BE NO CIP PROJECTS. AND SO I, I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, THE WORKING TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD AT THOSE MEETINGS. AND, UM, AND ALSO STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, ENGAGEMENT IS A TWO-WAY STREET. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. BUT I DON'T WANT US TO PAINT TURS IN A, IN A BAD LIGHT, UM, AND USE A BAD SITUATION TO MAKE IT SEEM THAT ALL TURS ARE ARE NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE CITY. BECAUSE IN DISTRICT K, BUT FOR THOSE TS, WE WOULD HAVE NO CIP PROJECTS. AND I THINK THAT THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE. UM, WE JUST, OUR TURS JUST PURCHASED A PROPERTY THAT HAD BEEN A DRUG HAVEN IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE I WAS IN THE 12TH GRADE. AND, BUT FOR THAT TURS PURCHASING THAT PROPERTY AND KNOCKING THAT PROPERTY DOWN MORE LIVES WOULD'VE BEEN RUINED BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THAT PROJECT. OUR TURS HAVE MADE SOME TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I HEAR YOU AND I THINK THAT THERE IS ROOM AT THE TABLE FOR ALL OF US, YOUR POINT. BUT I DON'T WANT TO, UM, PAINT TURS WITH A BROAD BRUSH AND ELIMINATE THE GOOD WORK THAT MANY OF THESE TURS ARE DOING. UM, AND, AND CHANGING AND, AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I, I, I TAKE YOUR POINT. SERIOUSLY, JUST LOOK AT THE MONTROSE TURS AND IT'S NOT FUNCTIONING AS YOUR, I I HEAR YOU. AND, AND I THINK THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE THERE TO BETTER ITS FUNCTIONING, UH, AND GETTING RID OF ITS DYSFUNCTION. AND LISTEN TO THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. SO, AND I, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON OUR BEST. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO, TO HELP IN THAT EFFORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, PATRICIA GREER, MAYOR WHITMEYER CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING WITH ALL OF US. MY NAME IS PATRICIA GREER AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE REAPPEARANCE AND TAXATION BY THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR 43 YEARS. I'VE HAD SEVERAL BUSINESSES IN HOUSTON AND MONTROSE, ONE BEING CENTRAL CITY CO-OP. STARTED ON MY DAUGHTER'S FRONT PORCH WITH SIX PEOPLE. IT'S GROWN, IT STILL EXISTS TODAY. I STARTED PAT'S KITCHEN AND, AND AN OCCUPIED CRACK HOUSE ON WEST CLAY STREET, UM, IN 2004. SO I'VE BEEN THERE 20 YEARS THIS YEAR. A LITTLE HOUSE IN MONTROSE CONTINUES TO FEED PEOPLE IN HOUSTON, JUST THROUGH MY HEART AND SOUL. AND IT'S BEEN A HARD WAY TO MAKE A LIVING. WE FED THE HOUSTON DYNAMO AND WE FED THE HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE JUST, WE EDUCATE. WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN. I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IN ABOUT 2010 WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER SAYING A LIEN WAS ABOUT TO BE PLACED ON MY PROPERTY FOR NONPAYMENT OF A TAX THAT I DIDN'T KNOW AN OR I DIDN'T KNOW OF THE ORGANIZATION OR OF THE TAXATION. I UNDERSTOOD THIS ORGANIZATION, ORGANIZATION WAS DISSOLVED IN 2018. MAY I CONTINUE? YES. I BELIEVE THIS TAXING ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND STOPPED. MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. YOU KNOW THE MONTROSE? I ASK YOU TO NOT APPROVE THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND ORGANIZE A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH THE MONTROSE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND PROPERTY OWNERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS WE'RE ALL AFFECTED BY ANY MORE TAXATION. THERE'S BEEN A LOT SPOKEN TODAY ABOUT BAD ACTORS AND ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER THAT HITS THE NERVE OF THIS MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. IF FUTURE BEHAVIOR IS BEST DETERMINED BY PAST BEHAVIOR, THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WILL NOT FULFILL ITS TOUTED MISSION ONLY WASTE TAXPAYERS' MONEY. PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INTEREST, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? NO, MS. GRAY. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UM, AS IT [03:35:01] RELATES TO THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. 'CAUSE THAT'S, AGAIN, A WHOLE OTHER SEPARATE THING. YES. WE GOT A LOT OF MONTROSE STUFF GOING ON. UM, WHEN DID YOU FIRST, WHEN WERE YOU FIRST TOLD THAT THE MA MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WAS COMING, QUOTE UNQUOTE COMING BACK? WE HEARD JUST AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, 2024, THAT THERE WAS A MEETING AT THE END OF DECEMBER. AND SO THERE WAS A MEETING POSTED ONLY. AND THE ONLY REASON WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE JUDY FELL. JUDY ADAMS KEPT LOOKING ON THE DISTRICT LIKE EVERY DAY AND THEN SAW IT POSTED. SO THANK YOU. THAT WAS OUR FIRST THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. AND POLLARD HAS A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JACOB MENTI AS THE NEXT SPEAKER. I SECOND. UH, MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. I GOT A BOOGIE. SO I'M GOING TO DO THIS ACAPELLA. 1, 2, 3. I DRILL TWO YOU UNTIL WE MEET YOU. NO, UM, WELL I WORK AT NRG AND, UM, WELL, UM, SEE I HAVE ON MY, NOT MY NRG UNIFORM PER SE, BUT THIS IS THE HAT THAT WE WEAR TO WEAR. AND WE CAN WEAR BOOTS. AND I HAVE ON BOOTS AND WE CAN WEAR ON I DENIM JEANS, WHICH I HAVE ON THE SHIRT IS WRONG BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE BLUE AND IT HAD TO SAY NRG PARK. BUT HEY, THAT'S LIFE. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW JOB. YEAH. AND, UH, SO, AND THEN WE REMEMBER HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. HAVE A GOOD DAY. NEXT THROUGH. DANG. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYS COUNSELOR. AND EVERYONE. MY NAME ANG. I AM FROM VIETNAM. I LIVE IN MONTREAL AREA. I'M OWNER HOLLYWOOD FOOD STORE. ALMOST 30 YEAR. I KNOW MANY OWNER, UH, PRESIDENT AND NEIGHBOR. WE ARE WORK VERY HARD WITH THE HOUSTON HELP. FEW YEAR AGO THEY WANT TO BE COME MOUNTAIN MADE DISTRICT, BUT THE JUDGE REFILL THEM, SO NOW THEY COME BACK AGAIN. PLEASE MAY COUNSELOR EVERYONE, PLEASE DON'T VOICE THEM. AND THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. MAY AND COUNSELOR AND JUDGE AND CITY OF HOUSTON HELP. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE IT WAS LISTED AS MONTREZ BOULEVARD PROJECT, YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, CORRECT? YES. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, PATRICK LAMB. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL MAYOR. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND I'M OPPOSED TO THEM COMING BACK. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE MONTROSE AREA FOR LIVING AND WORKING IN THE MONTROSE AREA FOR 35 YEARS. MY FAMILY, I, MOST OF US, UH, I THINK 40 AND COUNTING NOW. STILL, MOST OF US STILL LIVE IN THAT AREA. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE IN THE DISTRICT. WE FELT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T NEED A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. I KNOW IT'S, IT'S THERE TO REVITALIZE, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT MONTROSE WAS THERE AND IT'S BEEN REVITALIZED. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S JUST DUPLICATING A LOT OF SERVICES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE DISTRICT. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST OPPOSED TO THAT. SO, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, THANK YOU. REALLY QUICKLY, MR. LAM. THANK YOU. UM, YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER. YEAH. UH, WOULD YOU FALL UNDER THE BRACKET WITH A NEW MANAGEMENT DISTRICT THAT WOULD BE CHARGED? YES. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT. ROBERT SHEPHERD. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME'S ROBERT SHEPHERD. UM, I'M A LONG TIME HOUSTON RESIDENT, UH, 20 YEAR HOMEOWNER IN MONTROSE AREA. AND AMONG OTHER PEOPLE HERE ARE GONNA BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TELLING YOU ABOUT PROPOSALS WE HAVE FOR SOLUTIONS TO OUR, UM, ISSUE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT. AND SPECIFICALLY, I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE SIDEWALK, UH, PART OF THE PLAN. OUR PROPOSAL IS THAT WE CAN INSTALL SIX FOOT SIDEWALKS BETWEEN WEST CLAY [03:40:01] AND WEST DALLAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET WITH SOME ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE TREES, WHERE THE SIDEWALK MAY BE ONLY FIVE FEET, BUT THAT WOULD BE FULLY A DA COMPLIANT. IT WOULD BE A NICE SMOOTH SIDEWALK ALL THE WAY. UM, AND IT WOULD, WE WOULD PROPOSE USING TREE BRIDGING ROOT BRIDGING FOR THE TREES. SO THIS WOULD ALLOW THE TREES THEMSELVES TO BE PROTECTED. UH, THE, UH, THE CONCRETE CAN BE POURED RIGHT UP BASICALLY TO THE, THE TRUNK OF THE TREE. UH, WITH THIS PROCESS, IT'S A NICE, SMOOTH, UH, SURFACE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK ON. THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, PUSH PRMS DOWN AT WHEELCHAIRS, ET CETERA. TOM HAS EXPERIENCE GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. IT, IT'S NOT MUCH LONGER. UM, THIS WOULD PROTECT THE TREES AND ALLOW THE SIDEWALKS TO BE INSTALLED. WE CAN KEEP THE SAME SIZE LANES THAT WE HAVE NOW, THE SAME MEDIAN, THE SAME RIGHT OF WAY. AND WE CAN HAVE THE SAME TREES THAT ARE THERE TODAY AND THE SIX FOOT SIDEWALK. WE DON'T HAVE TO COMPROMISE ON THAT. OUR PROPOSAL, YOU KNOW, ACCOMMODATES ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TUR A HUNDRED PERCENT PLAN WANTS TO DO. IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THIS 10 FOOT PATH, AND IT DOESN'T KNOCK DOWN ALL THESE TREES, WHICH WE THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT. SO WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE THAT CAN PROVIDE BOTH SAFE STREETS, SAFE WAY TO GET TO SCHOOLS, SAFE CROSSINGS OF THE STREETS WITHOUT TAKING DOWN THE TREES, WITHOUT COMPLETELY RECONFIGURING THE, THE STREET. WHEN YOU SAY WE, EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPT, BUT WHEN YOU SAY WE YES. WHO ARE YOU SPEAKING OF? SO I'M PART OF A GROUP CALLED SAVE MANTRA LIVE OAKS, AND SEVERAL OF US ARE HERE TODAY TO PROPOSE VARIOUS SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE LACKING IN THE A HUNDRED PERCENT PLAN. VERY GOOD. YOU SHOULD HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. STAY IN TOUCH. PEDRO MARTINEZ. NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, CITY COUNCIL. I'VE BEEN A, UH, BUSINESS OWNER ON WESTHEIMER ROAD FOR 32 YEARS NOW, 1330 TIMER ROAD. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN, UH, FINDING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS, UH, REINSTITUTION OF THE, UH, MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT THE PRIOR MANAGEMENT DISTRICT MISMANAGED THEIR, THEIR, UH, THEIR, WHAT THEY, THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. YES, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER THERE AND, AND A, UH, LONGTIME RESIDENT AS WELL. AND, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, UH, THESE FOLKS SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT, UH, IF WE GET A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SHOULD BE, UH, ALLOWED TO BE THE MANAGEMENT. I MEAN, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS. I THINK THEY DO WONDERFUL THINGS. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THESE FOLKS, AND I'VE COME TO FIND OUT, I THINK THEY STILL OWE MONEY ON WHATEVER THEY DID LAST TIME. THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. AND IF WE DO GET A NEW MANAGEMENT DISTRICT DOWN THERE, WHICH I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT, UH, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND WE, WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD. COUNCILMAN KAMAN, MR. MARTINEZ, I WANNA THANK YOU. ONE, UM, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AGAIN, I'M ASKING AS MANY BUSINESS OWNERS AS POSSIBLE. WOULD YOU FALL UNDER THE BRACKET THAT WOULD HAVE TO PAY INTO THE NEW MANAGEMENT DISTRICT? YES, I WOULD. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT, RONALD WHITFIELD, PATRICIA MCNEIL. JENNA WALLY. JENNA, WALLY. I'M MCNEIL. YOUR NAME, WERE YOU SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE? OH, PATRICIA MCNEIL. PATRICIA MCNEILL, GO AHEAD. UH, I'M KAY. I NEED TO SPEAK TO, UH, THE SUBJECT OF, UH, HPD. UM, THE MAYOR SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE TRANSPARENCY AND, UM, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REPORT SOME FEDERAL OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN VIOLATED MY CIVIL RIGHTS. AND THEY ARE PRACTICALLY THE KKK. THEY CALLED ME A C**N AND THE N WORD. THEY HAVE BEEN STEALING FROM ME. THEY SOLD MONEY. MY TV APP PRINTER, TWO LAPTOPS, TABLET, PHONES AND CONTACTS. I CAME TO, I TALKED TO CHIEF FINNER AT CLEBURNE. I SAT OUT THERE ON THE BENCH AND [03:45:01] WAITED FOR HIM TO TALK TO HIM. AND, UH, HE SAID HE'S GONNA GET SOMEBODY TO CONTACT ME. THEY NEVER DID. IN FACT, UM, WHEN I SAW HIM AGAIN, I TOLD HIM THAT, UH, SERGEANT HEREFORD, H-E-R-E-F-R-D HAD CONTACTED ME, BUT HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THAT WAS. AND THAT WAS THEM CALLING ME, UH, I GUESS TO FIND OUT INFORMATION. UH, I WENT TO, UH, 1200 TRAVIS. I TOOK EVIDENCE AS TO WITH THEM PUTTING POISON AND, UH, IN MY FOOD AND DRINK. GO AHEAD, MA'AM. BECAUSE I, UH, A BAG OF EVIDENCE WHERE IT WAS ALL CONTAMINATED. I BOUGHT FROM HEB AND I SPOKE TO A SERGEANT ANDREWS AND A OFFICER , WHO WAS AT THE FRONT DESK ON 1200 TRAVIS. UH, AND, UH, THEY TOLD ME, WELL, WE CAN'T HELP YOU. AND I HAD TO REPORT TO SOMEBODY ELSE. I TALKED TO, UH, SERGEANT BANKS, WHO WAS ALSO AT 1200, TRAVIS, THIS, AND THIS WAS LIKE ABOUT MAYBE TWO MONTHS AGO. AND HE WAS JUST CONDESCENDING AND JUST BASICALLY TALK CRAZY TO ME. AND THESE ARE CRIMES THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED. AND I TALKED TO A SERGEANT GOMEZ AT HPD AND HE SAID, I NEED TO CALL, UH, F FOR AN APPOINTMENT IF I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM. AND I TOLD HIM, WELL, HIS, UH, SECRETARY, UH, RASHONDA LASHONDA, WHATEVER. SHE WOULDN'T, SHE WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I WENT TO KIM OGS OFFICE, AND I TALKED TO A OFFICER THAT WORKS IN THAT OFFICE, AND HE SAID, WELL, THE PROBLEM IS, IS WILL ANYBODY BELIEVE YOU? AND I HAD A BAG OF EVIDENCE WITH ME AT THAT TIME WHEN I WENT, UM, TO KIM MARK'S OFFICE. I SAID, WELL, HERE, ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS TEST IT. I CAN'T LIE ABOUT, UH, POISON IN FOOD AND IN MY BODY. AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD TAKE A URINE TEST, BLOOD TEST, ANYTHING THAT THEY NEEDED DONE, I I WOULD BE GLAD TO DO IT. AND, UM, I WENT TO THE, THE LAY ROAD POLICE STATION ON THE ONE ON LAY ROAD, AND I, UM, TOOK A BAG OF EVIDENCE WITH ME AND HE SAID, OH, WELL, WE'LL CHECK ON. HE DID A REPORT, OKAY, ON THE TICKET. I, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LET MY STAFF LOOK AT YOUR CASE. WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION NOW, SO LET US, UH, LET US REVIEW IT. OKAY? SO, BECAUSE YOU MAKE, YOU MAKE A LOT OF STRONG ALLEGATIONS, SO LET US LET HPD REVIEW IT. WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. YEAH. I'VE, I'VE SEEN YOUR, YOUR REPEATED ALLEGATIONS AND YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'VE GOT SOME, UH, REAL CHALLENGES. SO IF YOU WOULD LET, LET, UH, LEWIS OVER THERE, GET YOUR CONTACT, WHICH IS ON OUR, IN YOUR SIGN IN SHEET, BUT WE'LL ASK HPD TO REVIEW IT. OKAY? OKAY. SO IF I GO BACK DOWN THERE WITH SOME MORE ITEMS AND REPORT IT, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE OUTCOME, BUT I'M JUST GONNA SAY SOMEONE WILL LOOK AND REVIEW YOUR CASE. OKAY? WELL, I DON'T WANT TO REVIEW MY CASE. I WANT THEM TO FILE A REPORT 'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT. OKAY. AND WHO I TALK THAT GENTLEMAN, THAT YOUNG MAN RIGHT THERE THAT'S GONNA PUT YOU IN CONTACT, WE'RE GONNA GET A HOLD OF HPD FOR YOU. BE SAFE NEXT, GINA WALLY. GINA WALLY, MICHAEL WATKINS. MICHAEL WATKINS, DESHAWN, ESKA DEAREST HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. YOUR PRESENCE IS A TESTAMENT TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND HUMANITY. LET'S DO AN EXPERIMENT. LET'S ENACT OUR IMAGINATION REAL QUICK. I WANT YOU TO THINK OF A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY AND HOLD ONTO IT. IT COULD BE FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD LAST WEEK, ANYTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT HAS STAYED WITH YOU. RATHER, ANY ONE OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT HAS STAYED WITH YOU. I WANT YOU TO SEE THEM, YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER, YOUR MOTHER. KEEP THIS IMAGE OF THEM EXCEPT THEIR SMILE THAT RADIATES. THE ROOM FADES. THE COLOR OF THEIR SMILE IS PALE AND THEIR BODIES MALNOURISHED INTO AN UNRECOGNIZABLE VESSEL. SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HERSELF ANYMORE, BUT YOU KNOW SHE'S THERE. NOW RAISE THAT THOUGHT FOR A SECOND. AS YOU GUYS LISTEN TO ME TODAY, IMAGINE SEEING THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU IN THIS STATE, WOULD IT BE OF CONCERN TO YOU? DOES IT MATTER AT ALL? AS AMERICANS WE'RE BORN TO BRED, BORN AND BRED TO PROTECT AND SERVE. AND BECAUSE OF THIS, I KNOW THAT SEEING [03:50:01] ANY HUMAN BEING THIS WAY WOULD ENACT THAT INHERENT SOLDIER IN EACH OF US. I URGE YOU TO SEE IN EACH OTHER THE WOMAN AND THE CITIZENS OF GAZA. I URGE YOU TO SAVE THE BABIES OF GAZA AND TO SEE YOUR MOTHER, YOUR DAUGHTERS IN EACH BODY THAT HAS BEEN DISCARDED BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SINCE 1948. PEACE FIRE MAYOR PROTE, MCC TATUM, THANK, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. I DID, I DID, UM, WANT TO, UH, SHARE WITH ALL OF THE, UM, PALESTINIAN, PALESTINIAN CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING WEEK AFTER WEEK. ON LAST WEEK, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE, AND WE HAD, UM, CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND I BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT WEEK AFTER WEEK, WEEK HAVE, UM, SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE ASKING US TO CALL FOR THE CEASEFIRE. IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE. AND I ASKED OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOR SOME ADVICE, AND IF THEY COULD GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION SO THAT WHEN WE ARE SITTING AROUND THE DESK, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT CAN I SHARE WITH OUR HOUSTON CONSTITUENTS THAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN CONGRESS? AND, UM, I GOT SOME REALLY GOOD, UH, FEEDBACK, SOME GOOD ADVICE. UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS WORKING, UM, CLOSELY WITH HIS CABINET TO TRY TO GET US TO, UM, END THIS WAR. UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, VICE PRESIDENT, UH, KAMALA HARRIS HAS CALLED FOR CEASEFIRE, UM, AND THAT WE ARE AS A, AS A COUNTRY, WE ARE WORKING ON HUMANITARIAN AID. UM, AND I REALLY WANTED TO HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SO THAT I COULD COME BACK AND SHARE SOMETHING ENCOURAGING WITH OUR HOUSTONIAN, UH, PALESTINIAN SISTERS AND BROTHERS. AND I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THAT, UM, WEEK AFTER WEEK WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU ARE PLEASED. YOUR ASK ARE NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS, BUT WE ARE, UM, STAYING IN TOUCH WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHO IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UM, THE PRESIDENT AND HIS CABINET AS WE ALL TRY, UM, TO BRING A END TO THIS DEVASTATION THAT IS HAPPENING, UM, IN FRONT OF ALL OF OUR EYES. SO I WANTED TO JUST SHARE THAT WITH YOU BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE DON'T HEAR YOU AND WE DON'T CARE BECAUSE WE DO. UM, BUT WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE AND ABLE TO DO, WE WILL, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BECAUSE THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING, UM, ON, ON THIS ISSUE. AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, THAT WE ARE SPEAKING, UM, TO THEM ON YOUR BEHALF. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALSO REACH OUT, UM, TO YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BECAUSE THERE YOU CAN GET SOME, UM, FIRSTHAND INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY AS WELL. SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, SAYEED MAYS ARI, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU. LET'S SAY, AS MY SISTER WAS THANKING YOU FOR YOUR TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF HER SPEECH, A MAN WALKED IN HERE GUNS A BLAZING. WOULD WE CALL OUR GOVERNMENT AND BEG FOR A CEASEFIRE OR WOULD THE SOLDIERS IN THIS ROOM, THE VETS IN THIS ROOM, STAND UP AND RESIST AND PROTECT? WOULD THE NEWSPAPERS THE NEXT DAY CALL OUR RESISTANCE TERRORISM? AND WOULD THE POLITICS SURROUNDING THE ATROCITY CONCERN US AT ALL? OR WOULD WE BE SATISFIED WITH THE HUMAN LIVES THAT WE, OUR SOLDIERS SAVED HERE TODAY? SEE, RESISTANCE BECOMES TERRORISM, AND TERRORISM IS A GREATLY PAID HEADLINE. I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO CHANGE THE HEADLINE. I'M ASKING YOU, IF YOU WERE IN THE SITUATION, WOULD YOU RESIST OR WOULD YOU ASK FOR PERMISSION? WOULD YOU RESIST OR WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT THE HEADLINES THAT YOUR RESISTANCE WOULD CAPTURE? CONSIDER BEING ONE OF THESE PEOPLE, ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COWARDLY WORLD TO HAVE AN ADMIRABLE CHARACTER. MAY WE COLLECTIVELY REFLECT ON THAT FOUNDATION. MAY WE USE OUR INNER SOLDIERS AND OUR AMERICAN BLOOD THAT RUNS 50 STARS DEEP TO NOT ALLOW OUR FLAG TO BE STAINED WITH THE BLOOD OF CHILDREN. MAY WE CHOOSE TO BE SOMEONE AND TO SAVE THE PILING UP BABIES OF GAZA. AND AS MRS. COLE, AS MRS. COLE HAD COME UP HERE AND SAID, THIS IS NOT AN US AND THEM SITUATION. THIS IS A HUMAN CRISIS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED THAT WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR POLLARD HAS A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL POLLARD. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO [03:55:01] MOVE PRISCILLA RAMIREZ TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. I NEED A SECOND MOTION BEEN MADE. SECOND. SECOND. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. PRISCILLA RAMIREZ. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN POLLARD. IT SHOULD SCARE ALL OF YOU HOW WELL THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL HAS DEHUMANIZED PALESTINIANS OVER THE LAST 75 YEARS. SO MUCH SO THAT OVER 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED OUTPACING THE HOLOCAUST AND THE MURDER OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGLISH DEHUMANIZED THE IRISH LIKE ME SO WELL, THAT OVER 1 MILLION DIED IN A FAMINE THAT THE ENGLISH C CREATED JUST AS ISRAEL IS DOING NOW. THIS HAPPENED WHEN EUROPEAN SETTLERS CALLED THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE SAVAGES AND HUNTED AND KILLED THEM, TENS OF MILLIONS OF THEM TO TAKE THEIR LAND CALLING IT MANIFEST DESTINY JUSTICE AS ISRAEL IS DOING NOW, THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE SAME SETTLERS KIDNAPPED ENTIRE FAMILIES FROM MOTHER AFRICA BREAKING THEIR BACKS WITH HARD LABOR AND THEIR BLOODLINES WITH FORCED SEPARATION JUST AS ISRAEL IS DOING. NOW, THIS HAPPENED WHEN AN AUSTRIAN MAN UTILIZED THE DEHUMANIZATION OF EUROPEAN JEWS TO COME TO POWER DURING A PERIOD OF DECLINE IN GERMANY AFTER THEY LOST WORLD WAR II, HE ROUNDED UP UNDESIRABLES AND FORCED THEM INTO CONCENTRATION CAMPS. JUST AS ISRAEL IS DOING NOW, I'M WATCHING AS MY LEADERS ALLOW THIS HISTORICAL PATTERN TO CONTINUE. IF YOU DO NOT CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, YOU CONFIRM TO ME THAT HOUSTON HAS LOST ALL SENSE OF MORALITY AND JUSTICE, AND IT IS NOT A CITY IN, IN WHICH I FEEL SAFE TO RAISE MY SON AS I ASK EVERY WEEK, CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. MR. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABA. I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNT, UH, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE CONTA HILLIARD THE NEXT SPEAKER WHO LIKE, WHO? CONTA HILLIARD. SECOND. GO AHEAD. CONTA HILLIARD. HI, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY COMPANY, SPACE CITY ENVIRONMENTAL. I RECEIVED AN EPO FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HAVE NOT BEEN PAID IN ALMOST SIX MONTHS. MY COMPANY HAS DONE THE WORK I OWE CORE AND MAINE AND ALSO COBURN OVER $120,000 WHERE I HAVE BOUGHT PARTS. I HAVE PROOF OF THAT. I CAN PROVE THAT I HAVE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING THAT MY COMPANY HAS DONE AND COMPLETED. WE WERE GOOD AT WHAT WE DID, AND ALL I'M ASKING IS TO BE PAID. YOU KNOW, NOW I'M GETTING LAWSUITS. I OWE MY SUPPLIERS, I OWE SUBCONTRACTORS, AND I NEED HELP. YOU KNOW, I AM A SMALL BUSINESS. I'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 2017 AND I, I'M JUST NEEDING TO GET PAID AND I UNDERSTAND THE ATTORNEY IS HERE. I'VE REACHED OUT TO ROBIN CURTIS AND I'VE SENT HER OVER THE BILLS SHOWING WHERE THE COMPANIES HAD SENT ME THE BILLS I FORWARDED DIRECTLY TO HER SO SHE'LL KNOW IT'S LEGITIMATE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I MEAN, IT IS A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. HOWEVER, SMALL BUSINESS LIKE MINE AND MANY OTHERS WILL NOT EXIST ANYMORE. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY, WE WERE GIVEN, ASKED THREE QUESTIONS. CAN YOU FLOAT PAYROLL FOR 60 DAYS? FOR 90 DAYS? SAID YES. CAN YOU ALSO BRING ON IF YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY, CAN YOU START WITHIN A WEEK? I SAID, YES. AND THE THIRD QUESTION WAS, IF WE GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY, CAN YOU GET FIVE CREWS WITHIN SIX WEEKS? I DID ALL OF THEM AND I'M STILL BEING PUNISHED FOR WHATEVER'S GOING ON THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER SHERIFF, UH, , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH INGRAM IN MY OFFICE. OKAY, WELL, WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE HOLDUP IS AND WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, DANA RI, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE LATEST YOU CAN RECALL? DANA RI LOUIS TORRES. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. [04:00:01] COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN MAYOR, I MET YOU ALREADY. UM, MY NAME IS LEWIS TORRES. I OWNED A POWERHOUSE GYM. IT'S A BODYBUILDING GYM IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO OUR COUNCIL IS OUT THERE. I COME TO YOU FROM THE COMMUNITY. I'M DOING SOMETHING BIG. UH, I WAS ACTUALLY YOUR FIRST RESPONDER DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, WHICH, WHICH I TOOK CARE OF A HUNDRED PEOPLE AND KIDS INSIDE MY GYM. UH, DURING THAT TIME, I WAS IN A BOAT ON MY OWN, UH, GOING TO ROOFS, TAKING OUT PEOPLE COMING INTO MY GYM. UM, I HAVE AN EASTER FEST. THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SOUTHEAST HOUSTON AND EVERYBODY, I'M GIVING OVER $20,000 WORTH OF TOYS OR NOT CHOKED UP BECAUSE I'M IN FRONT OF Y'ALL. SO I'VE NEVER BEEN IN FRONT OF Y'ALL. UM, $20,000 IN TOYS TO KIDS, OVER $25,000 IN EASTER BASKETS. WE HAVE GREAT SPONSORS. DAIRY QUEEN. YES, PREP, HISD. ALL I ASK FOR Y'ALL TO COME OUT, COME AND ENJOY LEMONADE, COME AND SEE THE KIDS. IT'S SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH FROM FOUR TO EIGHT. EASTER EGG HUNT IS FOR ALL THESE KIDS FROM ALL OVER. I'M NOT ASKING NOTHING. I KNOW THEY SAY IT'S POWERED BY NUMBERS. EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. I'M TALKING ABOUT SOUTHEAST, A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY, FIVE MINUTES FROM Y'ALL. AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT TIME, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE Y'ALL THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FROM ALL OF US, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO THE KIDS. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A GREAT, UH, TON OF RESPECT IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO GET ALL THESE SPONSORS. IF SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE CAN EMAIL OUR OFFICES. WELL, I LOVE THE OFFICE. I ACTUALLY OWN MY GYM. OKAY. NOBODY OUT THERE DOES ANYTHING. I HAVEN'T SEEN NO COUNCILMEN COUNCILWOMAN COME OUT THERE, SO I TRY TO HAVE STUFF FOR KIDS. YEAH, I HAVE IF YOU, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO EMAIL THIS TO OUR OFFICE, GREAT. I DID. YOU DID? MM-HMM . OKAY, WE'LL FORWARD IT OUT AND, UH, I'LL LOOK AT MY CALENDAR AND, UH, I SEE YOUR, JUST COME OUT AND SAY HELLO. HAVE A LEMONADE, A FUNNEL CAKE. Y'ALL HAVE KIDS? YEAH. Y'ALL HAVE FUNNEL CAKE? I HAVE. WELL, WE HAVE EVERY, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF AMAZING VENDORS. UM, I ALSO OWN, IT'S CALLED A SPOT POPUP MARKET. WE HAVE LOW INCOME VENDORS THAT COME OUT THERE, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF FOR KIDS. AGAIN, IT'S, I'M NOT GIVING AWAY ONE OR TWO OR THREE BASKETS, JUST $20,000 WORTH OF BASKETS, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF Y'ALL COME OUT AND SAY HI. SO THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT. MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. UM, FIRST REAL QUICK, I WAS HERE LAST WEEK AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN, SAID THAT I WASN'T IN HER DISTRICT, WHICH HE IS, RIGHT? I'M IN MR. UM, MARIO'S ELLA'S DISTRICT. I OWN TWO HOUSES IN HER DISTRICT. I PAY TAXES IN HER DISTRICT. SO I REALLY THINK THAT HONESTLY, EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE, WHEN I PAID TAXES, THEY GO TO EVERYBODY. SO BEING, HAVING SOMEONE SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT IN MY DISTRICT, THAT'S REALLY OFFENSIVE TO ME. AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN CHANGE THAT MINDSET. I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A CONSTITUENT AT LARGE. I GO TO MEETINGS AT ALL OF Y'ALL DISTRICTS AND YOU KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALL SEEN ME. I HAVEN'T BEEN ANY AT YOURS, ACTUALLY, I'M LOOKING AROUND THE TABLE, BUT I HAVE BEEN AT MEETINGS AT EVERYONE ELSE'S IN THE DISTRICT, AND I WILL GO TO ONE OF YOURS. BUT NOW THAT ALL BEING SAID, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR PUTTING A MORATORIUM ON ROAD DIETS, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY BEING DONE. THERE'S A ROAD DIET RIGHT NOW THAT IS BEING DONE AT IRVINGTON AND PATTERSON. ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? HELLO? DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S A ROAD DIET RIGHT NOW BEING DONE AT IRVINGTON AND PATTERSON? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'M SORRY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. OKAY, AISHA AMIN, GOOD EVENING. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND EVERYBODY ELSE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL, I'M HERE. UM, MY SECOND TIME TO REQUEST YOU, UM, TO SUPPORT CEASEFIRE AND GAZA BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR SO LONG AND THE DEADLY SITUATION THERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM FAMINE NOW. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU JUST TOLD US, THAT THERE IS SOME CON WORK GOING ON AND SOME SIGN OF OUR CALLS BEING, BEING HEARD AND ACTED UPON. AND I, I JUST, THE SITUATION THERE, WHICH I HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE COMING BACK, THE HOSPITALS BEING SABOTAGED, THE PATIENTS LYING IN BEDS, NOT ABLE TO RUN FROM THE BOMB BLASTS AND THE, THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES BEING ATTACKED AS WELL, JOURNALISTS BEING TORTURED. AND [04:05:01] IT'S JUST A REALLY HARD TO HEAR, TO THINK ABOUT EVEN LOSING ONE LOVED ONE AND EVEN BEING HUNGRY FOR ONE DAY WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOW HUNGRY FOR MULTIPLE DAYS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO PASS OVER THAT MESSAGE. GO AHEAD AND FINISH. WERE YOU THROUGH? WOULD HAVE YOU FINISHED? I'M OKAY WITH. OKAY. WELL I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER, I PASSED ON AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE, FINISH YOUR STATEMENT, YOU CAN. I'M SORRY. I AM DEAF IN ONE YEAR. I'M SORRY. OH, I WAS GONNA SAY, IF YOU NEED A FEW MORE, IF YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME, I WAS GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU. NO, I'M FINE. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. I KNOW EVERYBODY'S TIRED AND OKAY. END OF THE DAY AND I'M, THANK YOU MA'AM. GLAD THAT YOU SAID THAT SOMETHING WAS OKAY. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. NEXT. SOPHIA SAGER SAGER. HI, UH, IS THIS THE RIGHT MICROPHONE? ALRIGHT. YES. UM, I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SENATE BILL FOUR, UH, WHICH ESSENTIALLY ENABLES RACIAL PROFILING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EVEN CAMPUS AND UNIVERSITY OFFERS, UH, OFFICERS. THIS IMPACTS THE LATINO AND CHICANO POPULATION HERE DEEPLY AND ALSO REFUGEES AND ASYLEES LIKE PEOPLE FROM GAZA WHO HAVE ARRIVED HERE FROM THE GENOCIDE. WE ARE FUNDING IN THE US WHICH IS ANOTHER BAG OF WORMS THAT YOU'LL SEE ME HERE NEXT WEEK FOR, UH, THIS LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND VIOLATES THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE. THE DUAL PROCESS CLAUSE, EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE, FIRST AMENDMENT, FOURTH AMENDMENT, AND CONTRACT CLAUSE. IT THREATENS TO VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE ARE AT A HARROWING POINT IN TEXAS HISTORY WHEN INDIVIDUALS CAN BE PLUCKED FROM THE STREETS FOR, FOR WHAT? LOOKING LIKE WE DON'T BELONG HERE LOOKING FOREIGN. UM, I'M URGING YOU TO CONSIDER THE UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF SENATE BILL FOUR MOVING FORWARD. OUR DIVERSE POPULATION HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY SPEAKS VOLUMES AS TO WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON NEEDS TO STAND TO ABOLISH THIS LAW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. UH, NEXT BEON, RAJI BEON RAJI. MICHELLE BOUCHARD, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MAYOR. HELLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING. IT REALLY, UH, RESTORES MY FAITH IN DEMOCRACY, UH, THAT YOU STAY HERE AND LISTEN TO US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LIVE IN MONTROSE, AS YOU KNOW. I'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES. I'M ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE TREES AND WE ARE TRULY GRASSROOTS. UH, WE, YOU KNOW, ALL MET, UH, AT MEETINGS ACTUALLY AND TALKING THROUGH NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND, YOU KNOW, TALKING ON OUR STREETS. UM, AND, UH, WE'RE BACKED UP BY 4,000 SIGNATURES FROM DISTRICT C, WHICH IS ON OUR CHANGE.ORG, UH, UM, PETITION. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO TELL YOU TODAY IS THAT WE DO WANT TO MEET CO WE, WE DO WANT TO WORK WITH THE TOURS WE DO. WE DON'T WANNA STOP THIS PROJECT AT ALL, AND WE HAVE REALLY SIMPLE IDEAS THAT WE CAN INSTALL, UM, THAT WILL BE A LOT LESS, UH, COSTLY QUITE FRANKLY, AND THAT ARE EASY. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY BIG ISSUES BECAUSE I LIVE RIGHT THERE IN MARCONI NEXT TO WEST CLAY, IS WE WANT A HAWK. WE WANT A FLASHING PEDESTRIAN LIGHT LIKE MY DAUGHTER USED WHEN SHE CROSSED OVER WESTHEIMER AT LAMAR. SO MAY I CONTINUE? JUST, UH, ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD. OKAY, YOU TOO. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. THE, UM, THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT. WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY SIMPLE IDEAS THAT WILL SAVE Y'ALL MONEY. TIM. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. STAY, STAY INVOLVED. PARDON? STAY INVOLVED. OH, YES SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, SARAH FRAZIER. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SARAH FRAZIER. I LIVE A BLOCK FROM MONTROSE BOULEVARD. LIVED THERE FOR 20 YEARS. I HAVE A SON WHO WALKS HOME FROM CARNEGIE VANGUARD. SO OUR GROUP SAVED MONTROSE. LIFE OAKS HAS TALKED ABOUT FOUR ITEMS SO FAR. UM, WIDENING SIDEWALKS FROM FOUR FEET TO SIX FEET INSTEAD OF 10. BUILDING A SAFER CROSSING AT WEST GRAY, UM, PROVIDING AMPLE CYCLING FACILITIES IN MONTROSE, BUT NOT ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROPER. BUT CONSIDERING FREE PASSES FOR THOSE CYCLISTS WHO WANNA TAKE THAT BOULEVARD AND REFRAINING FROM NARROWING OUR MEDIANS AND CUTTING INTO THE [04:10:01] TREE ROOTS FOR THE LIVE OAKS THAT ARE OUR GRANDEST IN THIS STRETCH OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD. THE FIFTH THAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS PERVERT PRESERVING THE THREE HISTORIC POST OAK SISTERS OF MONTROSE. AND WE DO THAT BY ENSURING THAT THERE IS A VARIANCE GRANTED TO NOT BUILD A SIDEWALK ON THAT SIDE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POWER LINE, IF IT IS ACTUALLY MOVED, YES, TIME HAS EXPIRED. CONTINUE VERY BRIEFLY, GO AHEAD. IF THE POWER LINE THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE EAST SIDE BY THIS MILLIE CENTER, IF IT IS ACTUALLY MOVED TO THE OTHER SIDE, THAT IT BE DONE SO IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S NOT RUNNING OVER THE POST OAKS AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S NEEDED THERE. THE TURS KNOWS WHAT TO DO, IT SAYS IT'S WILLING TO DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT APPLIED FOR IT AND IT'S WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE CITY FOR WHATEVER REASON. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. AND SO WE LOOK TO YOU TO HELP US ACTIVATE THAT PROCESS AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE. OKAY, THANK YOU. PAUL HERRERA. PAUL HERRERA, JOHNNA HITCHCOCK. HI. THANK YOU. UH, ECHO MY, UH, COLLEAGUE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS STAYING HERE TO LISTEN. SO WE DO, WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD SOME SIMPLER ALTERNATIVES TODAY. THIS DIDN'T START OUT AS A HUGE OVERHAUL WITH 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALKS MOVING THE STREET OVER NARROWING THE, THE MEDIANS. THIS STARTED OUT AS A RE PAVEMENT PROJECT AND IT'S A RE PAVEMENT PROJECT THAT'S GONE A LITTLE BIT OFF THE OFF THE TRACKS, RIGHT? UH, IF WE COULD SIMPLY KEEP THE LANES WHERE THEY ARE NOW, KEEP THE MEDIANS AS THEY ARE NOW, ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THAT IS IT SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND SAFER FOR EVERYONE. IF YOU HAVE THOSE WIDE, UH, MEDIANS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO TURN INTO THEM, ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND ALLOW PEDESTRIANS TO HAVE A NICE WIDE, UH, MEDIAN TO STOP AT. AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO DO THAT IS NOT TAKE, NOT TAKE A HUGE CHUNK OUT OF OUR, UH, STREET AND AND EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE TO BUILD A 10 FOOT WIDE BIKE PATH. IT'S NOT NEEDED. I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT. WE HAVE LOTS OF BIKE PATHS ALL OVER MONTROSE THAT, THAT SERVE THE NEEDS NOW. SO WITH THAT ONE CHANGE EVERYTHING, WHAT CAN BE DONE, ALL THE OTHER NEEDS CAN BE MET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT HELEN'S UNCLE. SORRY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY AND FOR STAYING LATE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY IN CONCLUSION THAT THERE'S NO NEED FOR AN EXPENSIVE AND MASSIVE OVERHAUL OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD AS THERE ARE GOOD, EASIER SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE THAT CAN IMPROVE THE BOULEVARD FOR ALL ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FROM THE SIMPLER DESIGN WE ARE SUGGESTING INCLUDE COST SAVINGS FROM USING LESS CONCRETE, LEAVING THE MEDIANS AS IS, NOT HAVING TO CUT DOWN A BUNCH OF TREES, AND ALSO NOT HAVING TO PLANT NEARLY AS MANY TREES. PRESERVATION OF THE SHADE CANOPY AND CONTINUED CARBON SEQUESTRATION. EXPANSION OF MULTI NODAL TRANSIT OPTIONS, REDUCED URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT FROM LESS CONCRETE AND MORE MATURE TREES PRESERVATION. THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD IN OUR COMMUNITY INCREASED SAFETY FOR RESIDENTS, VEHICLES, CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS AND REDUCED CRIME PRESERVATION OF HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND BIRDS. ALL OF THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH A SIMPLER PLAN, A SIMPLER DESIGN THAT IS FASTER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, THAT IS CHEAPER, THAT MAINTAINS THE CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT PROVIDES SHADE FROM THE HOT TEXAS SUN ON DAY ONE, NOT 20 YEARS FROM NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT, JUDY, JUDY ADAMS. GOOD EVENING. UM, I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO ITEMS TO GIVE TO MAYOR WHITMEYER CONCERNING THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. UM, THE FIRST ONE IS A LETTER THAT WAS MAILED TO THE MONTROSE BUSINESSES LAST WEEK WITH THE MMD LOGO AT THE TOP. AND VERY BASIC INFORMATION GIVEN. AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO DATE, NO SIGNATURE, NO PHONE NUMBER, AND THE ONLY ADDRESS GIVEN IS A PO BOX THAT WAS ON THE RETURN LABEL OF THE ENVELOPE. NUMBER [04:15:01] TWO, OUT OF CURIOSITY, I JUST DECIDED TO GO ONLINE AND LOOK AT EQUIFAX JUST TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS GOING ON. LO AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A STATEMENT FOR MY PROPERTIES OF TAXES DUE FROM 2016, BUT THE BILL WAS FIRST POSTED THIS MONTH, MARCH, 2024. THERE'S NO PENALTY FOR MARCH, BUT IT'S GOING TO START TO ACCRUE IN APRIL IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND I HAVE RECEIVED NO STATEMENT OF THIS. I JUST HAPPEN TO FIND IT. SO PLEASE PUT A BREAK ON THIS MA, THIS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, THEY'RE NOT PROFESSIONAL, THEY'RE NOT TRA TRANSPARENT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. I HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ROBERT CLARK. ROBERT CLARK, EDUARDO DURAN, ADA BRADLEY. GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? UM, I CAME A MONTH AGO AND I ASKED AND I INQUIRED ABOUT THE FOOD PANTRY. I WANNA GIVE YOU A UPDATE. SO TWO WEEKS AGO WE LOST A BABY. BABY GABBY, SHE DROWNED BECAUSE HER BROTHER LEFT WHILE THEY WERE IN THE HOUSE TO GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT 'CAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING TO EAT. SHE FOUND HER WAY TO A POOL AND FELL IN THE POOL AND DROWNED THREE YEARS OLD. HER NAME IS GABBY. I ALSO STAND WITH MONTROSE TREES BECAUSE I JUST FEEL THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THIS CITY AND, AND, AND THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, WE SHOULDN'T BE FIGHTING WITH ANY OF Y'ALL ABOUT WHAT OUR CONCERNS IS. I CAN'T EVEN LIST MY CONCERNS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA BE BLACK, BUT I DON'T WANNA BE OUTNUMBERED WITH MY CONCERNS. WE NEED, WE NEED, WE NEED A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU MAYOR, IN A BETTER WAY THAN UP HERE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME. I'M IN FREEMAN'S TOWN, MY FAMILY IS SPREAD OUT EVERYWHERE. EVERYBODY KNOW HOW THEY GO. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. DON'T SAY THAT YOU GONNA CREATE THESE PROGRAMS. BE ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FOOD INSECURITY PROBLEM. OKAY? DID YOU FINISH? CAN I SAY SOMETHING ELSE? ALSO, WE DO NEED TO, UH, MONITOR OR REEVALUATE THE TEARS. I'M NOT SPEAKING BAD LIGHT TO THE TEARS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE'RE ARGUING AND FIGHTING WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE PUT IN POSITION. YOU NEED TO, UH, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT FREEMAN'S TOWN TEARS THAT STILL HAS A DEAD MAN ON THEIR BOARD. OUR PREVIOUS PASTOR WHO, WHO'S BEEN DEAD FOR SEVEN YEARS. SO PLEASE DON'T TALK ABOUT, UH, WHAT THE TEARS IS DOING WHEN IT'S USING OUR MONEY TO BECOME THE TEARS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I RESPECT EVERYBODY. WE'RE NOT HERE TO FIGHT WITH Y'ALL. WE JUST WANNA BE HEARD. WE THANK WE, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BEING, UNDERSTANDING, LISTENING, AND WE SEE THE ACTION THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SAYE K ROSE AL NASHO MEMBERS, [RECESS] WE STAND IN RECESS, SEE IN 15 ITEM ONE PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICANT'S TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, TRINITY EAST VILLAGE HAS WITHDRAWN AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. MEADOWBROOK PLAZA, YALE VILLAGE ITEM TWO HAS BEEN REMOVED AND WILL NOT HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM THREE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 4 540 8,600,000 NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF RESTROOM AND SHOWER TRAILERS FOR THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AWARDED TO LANIGAN HOLDINGS. L-L-C-D-V-A BLACK TIE PRODUCT. ITEM FOUR, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-V-H, CHASTAIN FORD FOR PURCHASE OF ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TRUCKS AND A MOBILE ADOPTION UNIT. ITEM FIVE, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-V-H, CHASTAIN FORD FOR PURCHASE OF FORD EXPLORER POLICE PURSUIT VEHICLES. ITEM SIX, APPROVED FITTING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,470,000 IN NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR. SERVICES OF WATER AND WASTEWATER PUMP MOTORS FOR HOUSTON. PUBLIC WORKS OF WATER TO AMER MAX MOTOR AND CONTROLS LLC. ITEM SEVEN, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 44 OF THE CODE OF AVOIDANCES, HOUSTON, [04:20:01] TEXAS. ITEM EIGHT, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 47 DASH 72 OF THE CODE OF AVOIDANCES HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM NINE, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SELL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS AND THE NHP FOUNDATION. ITEM 10, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNSEL. ITEM 11, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A NEW VERSION OF THE HARVEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. GUIDELINES ITEM 12, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING FIFTH MEMBER TO TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. ITEM 13, ORDINANCE ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS FROM INSURANCE CARRIERS. ITEM 14, ORDINANCE ACCEPTANCE PROPOSAL FROM UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL FROM HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY. ITEM 16, ORDINANCE ACCEPT INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS FROM INSURANCE CARRIERS. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $150 MILLION OUT OF AIRPORT SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED 2011 CONSTRUCTION FUND FROM A MEMORANDUM AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNITED AIRLINES INC. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO EIGHT CONTRACTS FOR ONCA ON-CALL AVIATION DESIGN SERVICES. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO THREE CONTRACTS FOR ON-CALL AVIATION DESIGN SERVICES FOR LARGE PROJECTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RAS AND H INC. JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC. AND ATKINS, NORTH AMERICA INC. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 18 6 5 6 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR SECTION 5 5 9 REIMBURSABLE SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING REIMBURSABLE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN CD HOUSTON AND US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION FOR COST RELATED TO PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES AT GEORGE BUSH IN THE CONTINENTAL AIRPORT. ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF FUSION AND SO INC. I 23 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $1 MILLION IN NO SENSE ITEM OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR PLANS, SAP BUSINESS OBJECT SYSTEM UPGRADE PROJECT ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TO MAINTENANCE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT PROGRAM ITEM 25, ORDINANCE APPROVE WE CAN AUTHORIZE AND SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TO PARTNERSHIP PROJECT FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 32.86 ACRES OF LAND TO FORT BEND MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 58. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 25.7 6 76 65 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUD FOUR 80 ITEM 28 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 100 POINT 28 ACRES OF LAND HARRIS COUNTY MUD 5 38 ITEM 29 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST AND CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE NORTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL AREA DRAINAGE AND PAVING PROJECT. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,725,000 NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EJES INCORPORATED. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACTOR GROVER, LLC ITEM 32. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 97 PAST SECOND READING MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANTING A GRANTING TWO A JJ WASTE LLCA, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 30 AND FINAL READING. ITEM 33. ORDINANCE DECEMBER 20, 24 98. PAST SECOND READING. MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO CHIEF SOLUTIONS INC. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 34 OR DECEMBER 20, 24 99, PAST SECOND READING. MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE, GRANT TO SEMA SERVICES, LP, TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. THIRD AND FINAL RATING. ITEM 35, ORDINANCE 20 24, 100. PAST SECOND READING MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO EQ LABS COMPANY, A FOREIGN CORPORATION. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 36, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24, 1 0 1, PAST SECOND READING. MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE OF GR TO EASY WASTE, INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 1 0 2, PAST SECOND READING. MARCH 6, 20, 24. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE 20 24, 1 0 3. PAST SECOND READING. MARCH 6TH, 2024 WAS AN ORDINANCE GRANTED TO INLAND ENVIRONMENTS. LTDA, TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 39, ORDINANCE 20 24, 1 0 4. [04:25:01] PAST SECOND READING. MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO KSP ENVIRONMENTAL, LLCA, TEXAS MT LIABILITY COMPANY. THIRD AND FINAL READING, ITEM 40, ORDINANCE 20 24 1 0 5 PASSED. SECOND READING. MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANNY TO REPUBLIC SERVICES INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 41. ORDINANCE 20 24 1 0 6, PAST SECOND READING. MARCH 6TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANNY TO TEXAS PORTABLE RESTROOMS, LLC, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. THIRD AND FINAL READING. THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MATTERS HELD CATEGORY. ITEM 42 IS THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION ON AWARD TO TECHNICAL LABORATORY ASSISTANCE INC. FOR SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR STIMULATED CHAIRS. IT WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THIS WAS ITEM 13 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 6TH, 2024 AND ITEM 43. IT WAS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING, AN AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO ENTER A LOCAL AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY ORDINANCE 20 23, 2 34 BETWEEN C OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THIS WAS ITEM 29 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 6TH, 2024. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF MARCH 20TH, 2024. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND THE WHERE OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. YOU'RE WELCOME. MY NUMBER ONE FAN. [RECONVENE] UH, MELISSA'S HERE. OKAY. MOVING [MAYOR'S REPORT] RIGHT INTO THE MAYOR'S REPORT, FIRST OF ALL, UH, AT ABOUT 10 30, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REVIEW PANEL WHO ARE, UH, REPORTING THIS MORNING FOR THEIR, UH, ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. UH, WHEN THEY GET HERE AROUND 10 30, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO COUNCIL BEFORE THEY RETIRE TO BEGIN THEIR WORK. UH, VERY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF CIVILIANS THAT, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS ACTUALLY THAT ARE GIVING THEIR TIME. BUT FIRST, UH, LET'S MOVE RIGHT INTO THE ISSUE OF THE, UH, AGREEMENT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS. UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE SENT QUESTIONS. I THINK THAT'S VERY, UH, PRODUCTIVE IN THAT IT GIVES US ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, UH, WITH HOUSTONIANS AND LET THEM KNOW THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, UH, REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, THAT IT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S LONG OVERDUE. I'M GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO, UH, FIRST LET US KNOW, UH, AND THE MEMBERS TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. UH, IT WAS A VERY INTENSE, UH, PROCESS OF NEGOTIATIONS. WE WERE UNDER A TIMELINE THAT THE COURT HAD INSTRUCTED US TO MEET, UM, CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY THE ATTORNEYS HERE AT THE HORSESHOE, BUT OTHERS WOULD KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT PUBLICLY DISCUSS, UH, THE TERMS FOR, FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. ONE, THE COURT, UH, ADVISED US NOT TO. BUT WHEN YOU'RE NEGOTIATING SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR EIGHT YEARS, UM, IT HAD TO BE HANDLED IN A VERY, UM, BUSINESSLIKE, REMEMBER WHO WE'RE NEGOTIATING WITH IN TERMS OF WE'VE LOST 400 FIREFIGHTERS WHILE THIS DISCUSSION'S BEEN DELAYED FOR EIGHT YEARS. YOU HAVE AMBULANCES LEAVING RICHMOND AND BINET TO MAKE CALLS IN KINGWOOD, WHICH I'M SURE WE ALL FIND UNACCEPTABLE. CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE A HEART ATTACK VICTIM. BUT ALSO I, I'LL REFER YOU TO THE, UH, RECENT SURVEY THAT WAS RELEASED AFTER A STUDY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE BY FAR THE MOST CONCERNED AND HAD THE LOWEST MORALE OF ANY DEPARTMENT. [04:30:01] UH, THEY'RE CURRENTLY BEING PAID LESS THAN FORT WORTH, UH, ABOUT 10%. WE CANNOT RECRUIT FIREFIGHTER CADETS. WE CANNOT RETAIN FIREFIGHTERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EACH AND EVERY DAY. THIS WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS. I CAMPAIGNED ON IT. I MADE THE COMMITMENT TO RESOLVE IT AND QUIT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S WHAT HOUSTONIANS EXPECT. THE TERMS ARE VERY DOABLE FROM A CITIZEN STANDPOINT, AND CERTAINLY THE FIREFIGHTERS IN OUR EMS. I COULD SPEND THE WHOLE MORNING TALKING ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH FIREFIGHTERS IN AUSTIN, NEGOTIATIONS OVER, WHETHER IT'S THEIR PENSION, THEIR HOURS, YOU NAME IT. I SPOKE LAST MONTH. MEMBERS, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER RAMEREZ WAS THERE, A CADET CLASS OF 31 PEOPLE. 31 PEOPLE. YOU KNOW WHAT I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME TALKING TO 'EM ABOUT? WE APPRECIATE 'EM AND DON'T LEAVE US. THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TO TRY TO GET A CADET CLASS AND THEN NOT HAVE 'EM GRADUATE AND GO TO PARA LAND, SUGAR LAND, KATY AUSTIN. WE HAVE A BROKEN FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RESPECTED FOR EIGHT YEARS. AND AS A SENATOR, I WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO RESOLVE IT. PASSED THE LEGISLATION LAST YEAR TO REQUIRE THE CITY TO HONOR THE PUBLIC'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY. I PASSED LEGISLATION REQUIRING COMPULSORY ARBITRATION, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PASSED BY THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. OF COURSE, THE CITY TOOK US TO COURT ON THAT. YOU CANNOT HAVE A GREAT CITY WITHOUT HAVING A GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I WELCOME QUESTIONS. THIS IS SOMETHING I ENJOY TALKING ABOUT AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT BECAUSE IT FULFILLS MY CAMPAIGN AND IT FULFILLS MY CONCERNS AS A HOUSTONIAN WITH TWO GRANDKIDS. AND I REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IT IS LONG OVERDUE TO GET THIS BEHIND US AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WE'RE DOING OUR JOB, THE CAN-DO ATTITUDE THAT I BROUGHT TO THIS HORSESHOE. SO I WELCOME THE QUESTIONS. THEY CAN BE ANSWERED IN A VERY SERIOUS MANNER. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE QUESTIONS, WHICH I REALLY APPLAUD, THEY'RE ALL GOOD QUESTIONS WITH SOLID ANSWERS, I'M GONNA ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO LET THE MEMBERS KNOW WHERE WE ARE TODAY. IN THE PROCESS, I COULD NOT MEMBERS DISCUSS PUBLICLY, AND I HAD TO BE CAUTIOUS EVEN TALKING TO MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT A GOOD DEAL THIS IS FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF NUMBERS. YES, IT'S 650 MILLION, BUT WE HAD PARTNERS WE WERE NEGOTIATING WITH, ARE YOU GONNA SIT THERE IN NEGOTIATIONS? AND BEFORE IT'S SIGNED SAYING, OH, I GOT, I GOT A GOOD DEAL. A DEAL THAT QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU'D HAVE WORKED HARDER, MAYBE IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE FAVORABLE FOR YOU. THE PARTNERSHIP, THE HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN SAYING FOR OVER A YEAR, THE OBLIGATION WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE UPWARDS OF $800 MILLION. IF WE WENT TO COURT, OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL SAID HE COULD GET TO 1.2 BILLION, WHICH WOULD'VE BANKRUPT THE CITY. SO ANYWAY, IT WAS INTENSE. IT WAS BUSINESSLIKE. HOUSTONIANS CONCERNS WERE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, AND CERTAINLY IT COMPLIED WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITMENT. I WANT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE TODAY. I'VE BEEN AT THE HORSESHOE 80 DAYS, AND IT'S HARD WORK, BUT NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RESOLVING PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. AND IT STARTS WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR UNDERSTAFFING UNDER-RESOURCED FOR MEN AND WOMEN THAT RUN INTO BURNING BUILDINGS AND SAVE OUR LIVES WHEN WE'RE HAVING A HEALTH CRISIS. [04:35:02] ARTURO, WOULD YOU PLEASE LET EVERYONE KNOW WHERE WE ARE, AND YOU MIGHT EVEN GO BACK AND TELL US HOW WE GOT THERE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT AND WHERE YOU ANTICIPATE US BEING A MONTH AND TWO MONTHS FROM HERE. THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR THE MAYOR'S REPORT. UH, WILL DO MAYOR. UH, FIRST I WANNA SAY THAT, UH, IN TERMS OF HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS WENT, I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS PRIVATELY ABOUT THAT. THE COURT GAVE US PERMISSION TO TALK ABOUT THE MAJOR POINTS, NOT HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS WENT. THAT WAS DONE DURING THE CONFIDENTIAL MEDIATION PROCESS IN CHAPTER 1 74. THAT'S HOW WE REACHED THAT. SO I CAN, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. AND I THINK THERE'S AN INTEREST IN THAT BECAUSE I THINK NEITHER SIDE WANTS TO REALLY GET THE OTHER SIDE THINKING THEY GOT THE BETTER DEAL. THIS WAS A COMPROMISE. BOTH SIDES GAVE UP SOMETHING, BOTH SIDES GOT SOMETHING. BUT I CAN TALK, TALK ABOUT THAT PRIVATELY. WHERE WE ARE NOW IS WE HAVE, UH, I'VE EXPLAINED IT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AS A BACKWARD LOOKING AND FORWARD LOOKING, WE HAVE THE BACKWARD LOOKING DEAL TO SETTLE THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, A FORWARD-LOOKING DEAL FOR FIVE YEARS FOR THE NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. UH, IN ORDER TO PAY THE THE PAST JUDGMENT, WE HAVE TO FINALIZE THE LANGUAGE INTO THE JUDGMENT. IT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE MAYOR AND THE UNION PRESIDENT, BUT THE LAWYERS HAVE AGREED TO MAKE CHANGES WHERE NEEDED FOR LEGALITY. IF WE BELIEVE THERE'S MORE CLARITY NEEDED, IF THERE ARE CHANGES, BOTH SIDES AGREE TO, UH, WE CAN DO THAT. AND THIS HAS TO BE DONE VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE PAID BY A JUDGMENT BOND. UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL WILL VOTE, UH, ON APPROVING THE JUDGMENT BOND WILL VOTE ON APPROVING THE SETTLEMENT. SO IT'S GONNA BE NECESSARY TO GO, THAT COUNCIL WILL ALSO VOTE ON THE NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. BUT THESE HAVE TO BE TIMED VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE A JUDGMENT BOND REQUIRES ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROVAL. AND THE PROCESS FOR THAT IS ONCE WE FINALIZE THE JUDGMENT, WE WILL GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND WE WILL HAVE AN IN-PERSON MEETING EXPLAINING THE, THE DEAL. THEY WILL LOOK AT, AT THE DRAFT LANGUAGE. UH, THEY WILL ASK QUESTIONS, UH, THEN WE, WE WILL LEAVE. THEY WILL MULL OVER IT. THEY WILL LOOK AT IT, IT MAY TAKE UP TO A MONTH. AND DURING THAT TIME, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, AND AT THE END, THEY WILL TELL US, WE WILL APPROVE THIS, OR WE HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, OR CAN THIS BE CHANGED? UH, WHEN WE GET TO, UH, THE FINAL APPROVAL, THEN WE WILL GO TO THE COURT AND, UM, ASK TO SIGN OFF ON THE JUDGMENT, WHICH WE'LL BE WORKING ON. UNTIL THEN. THE REASON THAT THEY HAVE TO BE TIMED TOGETHER IS THAT WE HAVE, UH, OTHER DEBT, COMMERCIAL PAPER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE WE HAVE COVENANTS IN THERE THAT AN UN A JUDGMENT THAT IS NOT PAID FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND IT'S RELATIVELY SHORT. UH, 60 DAYS, 90 DAYS IS AN AUTOMATIC EVENT OF DEFAULT FOR OTHER, FOR OTHER PURPOSES, WHICH MEANS INVESTORS COULD CALL IT IN. SO WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, A MONTH TO, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY TWO MONTHS BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, GET ALL OF THIS DONE. AND IN THAT INTERIM, THERE WILL BE COUNCIL VOTES. THE GOAL IS TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, JULY 1ST. SO THAT IS THE UPCOMING PROCESS. VERY, VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UH, MY MY QUESTIONS ARE FOR THE, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY. UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BACK PAY THE 650 MILLION PLUS THE PROPOSED, UH, FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT, WHAT WOULD THE TOTAL COST BE FOR, FOR, UM, FOR THE TAXPAYER? WELL, IN TERMS OF THE, UH, THE TAX PAY, WE, WE NEED NEW REVENUE. CLEARLY THAT'S BEEN STATED BY THE MAYOR. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE ONLY MAJOR TEXAS CITY THAT OPERATES UNDER A REVENUE CAP. YOU, WE HAVE LES TO BE, TO BE THE CONTINUE BEING THE PREMIER CITY IN TEXAS. THE JUDGMENT BOND, THE 650 MILLION IS THE ESTIMATE IS IT WILL COST, UH, $36 MILLION ANNUALLY. THERE'LL BE, UH, THERE'LL BE ANNUAL BUMPS THAT ARE IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT THERE. THERE'S NO BALLOON PAYMENT. UM, INTEREST RATES ARE RELATIVELY HIGH RIGHT NOW. WE CAN REFINANCE LATER TO BRING IT DOWN, BUT WE ANTICIPATE A 25 TO 30, UM, UH, YEAR, UH, ISSUANCE WHERE WE WILL, IT WILL ADD 36 MILLION TO OUR GEN COST THAT WILL BE PAID OUT OF OUR GENERAL REVENUE. UM, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD IS WE ESTIMATE A, A SIMILAR COST, ALSO 36 MILLION TO FUND IT FOR THE FIVE YEARS. SO IT WILL BE 72 MILLION FOR FIVE [04:40:01] YEARS, 36 MILLION WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF WHETHER IT'S 20 OR 25 YEARS. AND THEN THERE WILL BE A, A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. SO, UH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL DO, BUT, BUT THE TOTAL COST IS THE TOTAL COST GONNA BE WHERE A BILLION DOLLARS, A BILLION PLUS IT, IT, IT, WE WILL PROBABLY BE PUSHING THAT. I THINK THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT CAN ANSWER IT IN MORE DETAIL, BUT NEAR, NEAR, NEAR THAT. OKAY. AND, UM, OVER THE PAST THREE FISCAL YEARS MM-HMM . WE'VE GIVEN A 6%, UM MM-HMM . PAY INCREASE TO THE FIREFIGHTERS. YES. AND ALTHOUGH I THINK WE ARE BELOW OTHER MAJOR CITIES WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, SALARY, THE OVERTIME FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS KICKS IN AT A DIFFERENT TIME PERIOD THAN ALL OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN TEXAS. MM-HMM . WHEN YOU CLOSE THAT GAP DOES AFTER THE 18%, ARE WE MUCH CLOSER THOUGH, WHEN IT COMES TO TOTAL PAYOUT TO THE FIREFIGHTERS? WELL, WE STILL ESTIMATE THAT AT THE END OF FORT WORTH PAYS ITS FIRES FIGHTERS THE MOST, WE STILL ESTIMATE THAT AT THE END OF THIS FIRST YEAR WITH A 10% INCREASE, WE'LL BE APPROXIMATELY 5% STILL AT THAT TIME BEHIND FORT WORTH. AND WE CAN'T REALLY PREDICT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEW FORT WORTH CONTRACT WILL BE. AND FORT WORTH, YOU'RE MENTIONING FORT WORTH, UH, FOR WHAT REASON? THEY, UH, IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT LOOKS AT AND OUR EXPERTS IN, IN THE CASE THAT THAT'S THE HIGHEST, UH, PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT IN AMONG THE MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS. AND THE, UM, I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, UM, THERE COULDN'T BE ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON, ON THE DETAILS OF THE $650 MILLION MM-HMM . AGREEMENT. BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WILL WE GET A COPY PRIVATELY TO READ THE DETAILS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, I, I, UH, I THINK YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAD SENT A LETTER. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE CIRCULATED DURING COUNCIL WITH ANSWERS TO THAT. WHAT I WAS REFERENCING BEFORE IS I DON'T WANT TO PUBLICLY DISCUSS THE BACK AND FORTH IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. I'D RATHER DO THAT PRIVATELY. BUT THE, THE DEAL POINTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU IN, IN WRITING TODAY. AND THEN FINAL. AND THEN FINALLY, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT COUNCIL WOULD HAVE SEVERAL VOTES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE COUNCIL PROCESS WILL BE FOR VOTING? UM, THERE, THERE'LL BE, UH, IT COULD BE ONE ON ONE AGENDA, IT COULD BE ON MORE. BUT COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AND COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. UH, AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO, UM, TO, UH, TO ISSUE THE, UH, THE JUDGMENT BONDS. ALTHOUGH BY VOTING ON THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, YOU'RE EFFECTIVELY VOTING ON THE SAME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL TATUM, UH, MAYOR PROTE. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTIONS ALSO TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY. UM, I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS BECAUSE THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED. SO, UM, AS A COUNCIL BODY, UM, SEVERAL OF US HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGH, UM, THE STALEMATE, UM, OF THE LAST ADMINISTRATION. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME, UM, NEGOTIATIONS EVEN PRIOR TO THAT WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT AS FAR AS PROCESS GOES, UM, WHEN YOU SAY COUNSEL WILL VOTE ON THE SETTLEMENT, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THE JUDGMENT BOND, EXPLAIN TO ME IF ALL OF THAT IS APPROVED BY A JUDGE, WHAT WOULD BE THE PURPOSE OF US TAKING A VOTE? BECAUSE IF WE VOTE YES, IT MOVES FORWARD. IF WE VOTE NO, DOES THAT GO BACK TO THE JUDGE? EXPLAIN THE RAMIFICATIONS OF ONCE IT GOES TO THE COURTS AND THEN COMES BACK TO CITY COUNCIL? WELL, BOTH THE PAST YEARS AND THE FUTURE HAVE TO BE FUNDED. AND SO THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT WOULD GO TO COUNSEL TO GET THAT APPROVAL. UH, BECAUSE THE, BOTH THE, THE COURT, UH, JUDGE REER AND ALSO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHEN THEY LOOK AT THIS FOR PURPOSES OF FINAL JUDGMENT OR ISSUING A JUDGMENT BOND, THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S FINALITY AND THAT THERE ARE NO UNFUNDED LIABILITIES INVOLVED IN THAT. THAT'S WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL LOOK AT. SO WE WILL HAVE TO GET COUNSEL APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD. SO IT WOULD JUST BE THAT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO PAY FOR IT. NOT NECESSARILY THAT YOU AGREED ON IT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T REALLY HAVE INPUT ON THE TERMS. RIGHT. I MEAN, IN ESSENCE, COUNCIL HAS TO AGREE TO FUND, UH, BOTH THE BACK PART BACKWARD LOOKING AND FORWARD LOOKING. OKAY. THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK A LOT OF THE, THE CONFUSION HAPPENED BECAUSE MM-HMM . UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE PROCESS, WE, WE WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON IT, BUT WITHOUT HAVING ACTUAL INPUT ON THE [04:45:01] TERMS, IT WAS HARD TO THINK ABOUT HOW WOULD I ACTUALLY VOTE ON IT WHEN I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY, ANY INPUT ON THE TERMS. SO WHAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE VOTING ON THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IS THAT WE AGREE THAT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO FUND THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CORRECT. TO CHANGE ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN AGREED TO DATE, OTHER THAN FOR THE PURPOSES I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE WOULD BASICALLY GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE AND, YOU KNOW, THEN WE'D HAVE TO REACH A A DEAL. AGAIN, COUNCIL'S ROLE IS REALLY TO FUND, AND THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN THE SENSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF IT, BUT THIS IS VERY MUCH THE NORM FOR HOW UNION CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED. UH, I'VE SERVED FOR FOUR MAYORS. EVERY UNION NE UH, CONTRACT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED IN THIS FASHION. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. UH, THOMAS, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. AND COLLEAGUES. UM, UH, MAYOR, YOU HAD MENTIONED THE POINT ABOUT THE TRUCKS, RIGHT? HAVING TRUCKS FROM DIFFERENT STATIONS HAVING TO GO ACROSS TOWN. AND SO EEMS PRIMARILY S EXCUSE ME, EMS, UM, REALLY GOOD POINT. AND SO, UH, THAT'S ALSO MY INTEREST IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS NEGOTIATED BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE. WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR STATIONS. UM, WHAT IS THE EXCHANGE IN TERMS OF, ARE WE MOVING FROM A THREE TO A FOUR SHIFT? UM, ARE WE INVESTING IN OUR TRUCKS? LIKE, I'M CURIOUS ON WHAT THE CITY IS RECEIVING, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M RECEIVING. I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE, UM, TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED ON MARCH 3RD. SO IF THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED ON MARCH 3RD, WE'RE SEVERAL WEEKS IN BETWEEN AND THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC DISCUSSION. I'M ALSO CURIOUS OF THE TENTATIVE PARTNERS. AND IF WE, IF THE CITY'S POSITION WAS TO ENGAGE THE PARTNERS AND TO COVER, TO COVER A PORTION OF THE FEE, UM, WHAT I SEE, UH, LARGE AMOUNTS, THE SETTLEMENT BOND, IN ADDITION TO MOVING TO 34% A 10, 6 6, 6 6 OVER FIVE YEARS, WHEN BY PRACTICE WE'RE ISSUING TWO OR THREE YEAR CONTRACTS. WE HAVE NOT YET HAD OUR FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN. UH, WE'VE NOT YET HAD A BFA MEETING. UH, SO, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE IN THE AIR. UM, UH, YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT, UH, THERE WAS A, A FEE ON THE TABLE TO CHARGE, UH, HOUSTONIANS AFTER 6:00 PM PARKING ON CITY STREETS. RIGHT. WE PULLED THAT. RIGHT. UM, I, I, I MEAN, YOU MAKE, YOU MAKE GRIMACE. BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT IF THERE'S NOT A REVENUE STREAM, AND WE ARE HAVING A 34% INCREASE OVER FIVE YEARS, UM, NOT CONSIDERING MUNICIPAL WORKERS NOT CONSIDERING HPOU NOT CONSIDERING A DISASTER, THEY MAY COME AND BLOW THROUGH THIS CITY. IF WE DRAW DOWN ON OUR FUND BALANCE TO, UM, PAY THE $160 MILLION GAP THAT'S BEEN NOTED BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, WHAT IS THE VULNERABILITY OF THE CITY? THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT ANSWERED, THAT FULL FINANCIAL PLAN. SO WE CAN MAKE THE VERY VALID VOTE AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES HERE TO MAYOR PRO TEMS POINT, WE'RE VOTING ON IF WE FINANCIALLY HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO CARRY THIS DEBT. SO I THINK WE, IN PLAIN ENG, PLAIN ENGLISH, WE HAVE TO TELL THE, THE RESIDENTS THAT IT'S SEPARATE OF THE BOND, RIGHT? THE BACK PAY, WHICH I THINK WE ALL REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, UH, UH, INVEST IN OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GAP OF TIME. BUT MOVING FORWARD, UM, WHEN WE HAVEN'T NOT HAD THOSE OTHER, UM, UH, INPUTS IN TERMS OF DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE, ARE WE GOING TO FEE HOUSTONIANS? IS IT A TRASH FEE? ARE WE PAYING FOR PARKING AFTER SIX? ARE WE GOING AFTER METRO'S MONEY? LIKE WHAT? LIKE WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT'S, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS SO WE CAN MAKE THE, THE VERY BEST, UH, DECISION AND, AND LIKE THOSE, THAT'S THE INTENT AND THE GENESIS OF THOSE QUESTIONS. AND IF THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED PRIVATELY, OF COURSE WE'LL HAVE THAT OFFLINE. BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED. 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION. VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. OUT OF THE PARKING FEE AFTER I READING, FIRST TIME, I'VE HEARD THAT. NO, I IT WAS NOT YOUR ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS, WE PULLED IT. WELL, SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS NOT MY ADMINISTRATION. I, I KNOW. AND THAT'S FINE. SO WE'RE HERE TO GO FORWARD AND I HOPE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. UH, WHAT WE WOULD GET OUT OF THIS, WHAT HOUSTONIANS GET OUT OF IT, IS A, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN INDIVIDUALS, CERTAINLY AS WE ASK THE PUBLIC FOR MORE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WOULD INCLUDE EMS AND, UH, EQUIPMENT AND, AND WHAT YOU NEED TO RUN A DEPARTMENT, WHICH, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE. AND I WANT ALL OF THIS WORLD. AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BEING TRANSPARENT. WE NEED TO BE REALLY HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC. FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, THEY HAVEN'T HAD A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT PERFORMS THAT AT THE LEVEL THAT WE NEED. RESPONSE TIME. RESPONSE TIME IS GROWING. [04:50:02] I THINK WE COULD DOCUMENT IT. AND I'VE HAD OTHERS SUGGEST DOCUMENTING SOME LOSS OF LIFE BY EMS DELAYED TO GET TO A HEART ATTACK VICTIM. SO THERE'S, THERE'S THE TRANSPARENCY. SO THEN THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT? IT'S BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD FOR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS. I CAMPAIGNED ON NOT DOING THAT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A TOUGH NEGOTIATING AND, AND NOTHING WAS SIGNED ON MARCH 3RD. I DON'T KNOW. NO, I DID IT LAST WEEK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT LAST WEEK WAS, WHAT WAS LAST THURSDAY? THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF LEAK COPIES GOING AROUND. SO, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF I TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF I TELL YOU A GOAT CAN PULL A TRAIN, HOOK HIM UP. YEAH. AND I, AND I, I, AND I, AND I GET THAT, BUT I DON'T WANNA DISTRACT THE, I DON'T WANNA DISTRACT THE POINT EITHER. NO, NO, NO. BUT I DON'T WANNA DISTRACT THE POINT. DON'T WANNA SAY THINGS LIKE THAT I DID NOT SIGN. THAT'S FINE. BUT I DON'T WANNA DISTRACT THE POINT, MY, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, MY POINT IS, IS THAT I WANT ALL OF THAT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS TOO. AND I'VE USED COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO INVEST IN EQUIPMENT FOR CITY IMPROVEMENTS, ALL OF THAT. MY POINT IS, WHEN MAN HOPE COMES TO US AND THEY'RE READY TO NEGOTIATE, I'M THEIR BEST FRIEND AT THIS TABLE. O OKAY, YOU MAY BE THEIR BEST FRIEND, BEST FRIEND, BUT WE MAY NOT HAVE THE BEST MONEY FOR THEM. I WILL. THAT'S MY POINT. SO WHEN POLICE COMES TO NEGOTIATE, BECAUSE SEE, WHEN WE HAVE TO OPEN WARMING CENTERS, IT'S MEDICINAL EMPLOYEES WHO STAFF THOSE. IT'S SOLID WASTE. WHEN WE HAD THE FREEZE, IT WAS PUBLIC WORK, EMPLOYEES DROPPING OFF WATER TO EVERY DISTRICT. SO I'M, I'M KEEPING THEM IN MIND. SO, SO I'M SAYING OF COURSE, WE WANNA INVEST IN FIRE. THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE. THAT'S NOT THE DI THAT'S WHAT THE ISSUE BEFORE. THAT'S ISS NOT THE, I'M TELLING THAT'S, I'M TELLING YOU THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS. IT'S WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PICTURE, IT'S WHEN WE DON'T HAVE YET THE, UM, THE, THE NEGOTIATING, UM, A REQUEST OF POLICE AND FROM MUNICIPAL WORKERS, WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH SOLID WASTE. WE CAN'T KEEP A DRIVER. RIGHT? SO IT'S THE, IT'S THE SAME, IT'S THE SAME THING. WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BOTH WAYS. AND SO WHEN THEY HAVE A 3, 3, 3 OR A SIX, UH, UH, 9% OVER THREE YEARS, AND WE, AND WE, UH, ADJUST THEIR HOURLY WAGE, AND THEN THEY SEE THE OPTICS OF THIS, AND THEY COME TO US AND WE LOW BALL THEM. I, I'M JUST SAYING, WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. AND THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS. AND I APPLAUD THAT. WE'LL KEEP IT IN MIND. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE AT SIX 30 IN THE MORNING, BUT I'M GONNA BE AT THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT'S LIFTOFF AT SIX 30 IN THE MORNING, INVITE ME, I'LL CALL AND, AND HOPE KNOWS MY COMMITMENT TO MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, UNDERPAID, OVERWORKED FOR YEARS. I'LL SHARE WITH YOU THE MORALE STUDY. I KNOW HOW THE DEPARTMENTS LINE UP. AND YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE MORALE IN ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, STARTING WITH FIRE AND POLICE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE LIFE AND DEATH MATTERS. NOW, THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CITY'S FINANCES. I'VE BEEN HERE 80 DAYS, SOME MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER. IT'S NOT A NEW ISSUE. THE LAST ADMINISTRATION WAS BAILED OUT WITH FEDERAL FUNDING, ONE TIME FUNDING TO GIVE THE FIREFIGHTERS THEIR RAISE. THAT GOES AWAY. SO WE'VE GOT TO PICK UP THAT WHEN I GOT HERE, IT'S ABOUT $160 MILLION THAT WE'VE GOT TO EITHER CUT OR APPROACH CITIZENS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. SOME WOULD SAY, WELL, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS PACKAGE? AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO REVIEW THEIR BUDGETS AND TRY TO DO A 5% CUT. WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT IS A STARTING POINT TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION. I DON'T LIKE ACROSS THE BOARD CUTS. AS A LEGISLATOR, I'VE SEEN IT, AND IT IS NOT GOOD. IT REWARDS THE INEFFICIENT THAT, THAT IF RAT HOLD MONEY AND IT PUNISHES THOSE THAT ARE EFFICIENT. SO THAT'S A STARTING POINT. I DON'T KNOW OF ONE DEPARTMENT THAT COULD REALLY ABSORB A 5% AND HAVE THE SERVICES THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT, BUT THAT'S A DISCUSSION. WHAT WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELF IS WE WERE IN COURT, WE HAVE EXPOSURE TO A SETTLEMENT THAT IS NOT RESOLVED. AND I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE FINANCES, AND THIS WAS THE BUSINESS-LIKE APPROACH TO GET OUT OF COURT AND NOT HAVE A BILLION PLUS EXPOSURE. IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN EMS AND FIREFIGHTERS. SO I DIDN'T GO IN THIS FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING PEOPLE FEEL GOOD. THESE ARE TOUGH DISCUSSIONS. AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAKEHOLDERS OR TWOO NEGOTIATORS, MELISSA FINANCE, LOCAL 3 41. THEY DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING THEY WANTED. THEY DIDN'T WANT A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. I DID THAT FOR THE SECURITY OF THE CITY. PREDICTABILITY. WE CANNOT RECRUIT PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FIRE DEPARTMENT. I SPOKE TO 31 [04:55:01] PEOPLE. WE USED TO HAVE 3000 PEOPLE APPLY FOR POSITIONS. SO IT WAS BROKEN. IT IS BROKEN. AND THIS ALLOWS HOUSTONIANS TO KNOW WE'VE TAKEN THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE SECURITY SERIOUS. IT'S WHAT I'VE CAMPAIGNED ACROSS. AND THE POLICE KNOW I'M THEIR BEST FRIEND AT THIS SHOOT, HOPE. WELL, I'VE BEEN DOING IT ABOUT 50 YEARS. THAT'S FINE. LISTEN FOR ME, AND I'VE GOT, I'VE GOT, I JUST APPRECIATE THE ROBUST DISCUSSION. IT'S THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU OUGHT TO GO THROUGH THIS MORAL STUDY AND SEE WHERE HOPE EXPRESSES HIMSELF AND HOW THEY'RE BEING BULLIED AND ABUSED AND UNDERPAID AND OVERWORKED. HOPE KNOWS I'M IN THEIR CORNER. SO I THAT'S, I APPLAUD YOUR QUESTIONS. IT GIVES US A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL PICTURE OF THIS CITY. IT'S BROKEN. IT WAS BROKEN WHEN I GOT HERE, AND IT'S THE ONLY REASON I RAN FOR MAYOR IS TO BE TRANSPARENT, KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, AND MAINTAIN THE GREATNESS OF OUR CITY AND OUR PEOPLE. IF WE GET A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT'S AS GREAT AS ITS PEOPLE, WE HAVE UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY IN THIS GREAT CITY. SO I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC DIALOGUE. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST, THIS IS GOOD. THE ROBUST. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS OPEN, SO NO, WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. YEAH, WE, WE ARE. SO I APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, CAYMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, AND AGAIN, I WANNA JUST STATE FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE HAD AS A COUNCIL TO EVEN DISCUSS THIS. SO MAYOR, UM, THIS IS IMPORTANT, BUT WE NEED MANY SURE, MANY, MANY MORE CONVERSATIONS. UM, I KNOW THAT SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SUBMITTED QUESTIONS ALREADY OPENLY, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR INITIATIVE IN THAT. UM, I DO NOT APPRECIATE THAT SOME IN THE PUBLIC AND FROM CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TARGETED COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. WE SHOULD DO THAT. AND, UM, FOR ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THE CHAIR OF LABOR, I WILL ALSO BE COLLECTING ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT SO THAT WE'RE, UM, SUBMITTING THOSE TO YOU IN AN ORGANIZED FASHION, UM, SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE RESPONSES BACK. UH, MAYOR, YOU SAID WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE. AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIME AND AGAIN, UM, ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING HOPE, THAT HAVE EMBRACED, UH, THE PHILOSOPHY OF SHARED SACRIFICE. AND THAT IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE, IS ALL OF US PUTTING, PUTTING SOMETHING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY, UH, CAN REMAIN STRONG, RESILIENT, AND BE THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE, WHICH IS, IN MY OPINION, THE BEST DAMN CITY IN THE WORLD. MY QUESTIONS ARE FOR, UH, CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE, UH, AND THEY RELATE TO THE, THIS UNIQUE SCENARIO WHERE WE HAVE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. AND MAYOR, I, I DEFER TO COUNSEL, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE COURT PROCEEDINGS. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL. THAT'S WHY, UM, WE INVEST THE MONEY IN THE WAY THAT WE DO. HOWEVER, THIS IS A NEW SCENARIO, AT LEAST FOR ME, WHERE WE HAVE ALSO BAKED INTO IT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. MM-HMM . SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, IS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT? UM, AS, AS CURRENTLY DRAFTED, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT INCORPORATES BOTH. AND THAT'S A PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN TERMS OF, UH, AN ENTIRE PACKAGE. SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE FOR ME BECAUSE AS A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG MM-HMM . AN OPEN NEGOTIATION THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO. NO COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD ACCESS TO THIS NEGOTIATION, AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE PUBLIC DID NOT, IN CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, DID NOT. SO CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME, OR IF THIS NEEDS TO BE, UM, SUBMITTED IN WRITING? I'M HAPPY TO. AGAIN, I'M NOT, UM, I HAVEN'T MADE A PERSONAL DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT I'M GRAPPLING WITH THE FACT THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OPEN NEGOTIATION WITH PUBLIC INPUT. BUT IF IT IS IN BAKED INTO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AND WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS THAT PUBLICLY, MAYOR, I HAVE NOT EVEN SEEN THE CONTRACT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE SIGNED WHEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COPY OF THAT AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT DOESN'T VIOLATE THE RULES OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING? RIGHT. UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME BEGIN WITH SOME BACKGROUND. UH, THE SIGNATURES OF THE UNION PRESIDENT AND THE MAYOR WERE TO ESTABLISH THAT WE HAD THE MAJOR DEAL POINTS IN THAT, THAT THE AGREEMENT AMONG COUNCIL IS WE WILL CHANGE IT AS NECESSARY WHEN REQUIRED. UM, THE CHAPTER ONE 70, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? WHAT CAN BE CHANGED AS NECESSARY BY COUNSEL? UH, IT, WE, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO CHANGE FOR MORE CLARITY. IF SOMETHING IS REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF A LEGAL ISSUE, UH, IF BOTH PARTIES AGREE THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CHANGED, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL [05:00:01] OR THE COURT INSISTS ON, THOSE WILL, THOSE WILL BE, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. SO, SO DOES THAT INCLUDE PROPOSALS FROM THE PUBLIC AND INPUT FROM COUNSEL AS IT RELATES TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT? I THINK ANY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES WOULD PUT US BACK AT THE BARGAINING TABLE. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IF BOTH PARTIES AGREE, WE CAN DO THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN TAKE IN ANY REQUEST BY COUNCIL. BUT IN CHAPTER 1 74, IT'S, THERE ARE DIFFERENT STAGES IN THE PROCESS. IT, IT BEGINS WITH THE UNION GIVING NOTICE TO THE CITY THAT WE WANT TO BARGAIN, THAT, UH, THE PARTIES SIT DOWN, THEY HAVE 60 DAYS TO BARGAIN. THERE CAN BE EXTENSIONS THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BY STATUTE, UH, AT THE END OF THE 60 DAYS, OR IF, IF THEY AGREE AT, AT THAT POINT, THEN THERE, UH, THEN EITHER PARTY CAN DECLARE AN IMPASSE. ONCE YOU DECLARE AN IMPASSE, YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT STAGE. UH, YOU GO TO, UH, ARBITRATION, WHICH IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND WE, OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL ARE VERY EXPERIENCED. THEY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE THAN ANY OTHER ATTORNEYS IN THIS FIELD. UH, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THERE IS ALSO AN ALTERNATIVE PROCESS THAT YOU CAN BEGIN, OR YOU CAN LEAVE THE ARBITRATION PROCESS TO DO IT, WHICH IS A MEDIATION PROCESS. THAT'S A CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS HERE. WE WERE DOING IT UNDER THE JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT CASE THAT IT WAS FILED IN 2017. SO THAT'S WHY THAT CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS IS WHY WE COULD NOT SHARE OTHER THAN THE MAJOR DEAL POINTS UNTIL THIS MONDAY WHEN THE COURT ALLOWED US TO, TO, TO SHARE THOSE ASPECTS. AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE DOCUMENTS, BUT AS SOON AS THEY'RE FINALIZED, MAYOR AND COUNCIL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. AND WILL THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO THAT? UH, PROBABLY NOT UNTIL IT COMES BEFORE COUNCIL. AND WITH HOW MUCH NOTICE, MAYOR, AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, NORMALLY WHEN SOMETHING IS POSTED ON THE AGENDA, IT'S ONLY UP THE WEEKEND PRIOR. BUT WITH SOMETHING AS, UM, EXCEPTIONAL AND EXTRAORDINARY AS THIS, ARE WE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD THAT DOCUMENTATION, UH, IN ADVANCE WITH SUFFICIENT TIME, AGAIN, SEVERAL WEEKS SO THAT THE PUBLIC, AGAIN, CAN'T, AND COUNCIL CAN REALLY DIG INTO THIS? UM, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THIS ISN'T THE BEST DEAL THE CITY COULD GET OR NOT GET. I CAN'T MAKE THAT JUDGMENT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS IS A CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLAR IMPACT ON THE CITY, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ON THAT AS WELL. BECAUSE THIS HAS AN IMPACT NOT JUST ON THE CITY, BUT EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT MOVING FORWARD. VERY GOOD. YEAH, I, I BELIEVE THAT INFORMATION, WHAT, WHAT THE PUBLIC WOULD NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE DOCUMENTS COME BEFORE COUNCIL. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, FOR COUNSEL, UM, I'LL BE COLLECTING ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SUBMIT THEM ON YOUR OWN INDEPENDENTLY, BUT I WILL ALSO BE CONSOLIDATING ALL OF THOSE, UM, TO SUBMIT TO THE ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CARTER, ALCORN, SORRY. OH, I'M SORRY. ALCORN. AND THEN CARTER. YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, YEAH, I EXPECT WE'LL BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THIS AT, AT BFA AND, AND ALL THE FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS. I'D LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EXPOSURE OUTSIDE OF THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PAYMENT WILL BE A KIND OF CONSIDERED OVERTIME PAY, CORRECT? YES. AND, AND HAD IT GONE TO ARBITRATION, THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY IT WOULD'VE BEEN BASE PAY? CORRECT. AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT EX BASE PAY EXPOSURE WOULD'VE AFFECTED OUR GENERAL FUND, UH, UNDER OUR STATUTORY OBLIGATION? WOULD WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE PENSION? THE CITY'S PORTION IS AROUND 30%, A A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT. SO YOU, YOU'RE TALKING ROUGHLY A THIRD WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDED ON TO WHATEVER THE ARBITRATION GAVE AS BACK PAY IF IT WERE, BECAUSE BACK PAY CL WITHOUT QUESTION IS SUBJECT TO PENSION CONTRIBUTION BY BOTH THE CITY AND ALSO THE FIREFIGHTER, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 10%. SO A THIRD OF THAT 650 MILLION WOULD'VE HIT THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT AWAY, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES. OKAY. WOULD'VE HIT, WE WOULD'VE HAD TO PAY OUT THAT OUT THE FIRST YEAR, UH, LIKE IN AN ARBITRATION DEAL? YES. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. SO BY GOING PAYMENT, BY GOING THIS ROUTE, WE'RE ABLE TO SPREAD THAT MONEY OUT BY, BY MAKING THIS A LUMP PAYMENT, A LUMP SUM PAYMENT, AS OVERTIME, WE'RE ABLE TO SPREAD THAT OUT THROUGH A JUDGMENT BOND. UH, WELL, WE MAY WELL HAVE HAD TO PAY A JUDGMENT BOND. UH, IN ANY EVENT, I THINK JUST THE HIT WOULD BE HIGHER BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE THE BACK PAY AN AWARD BY AN ARBITRATION PANEL. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THE ARBITRATION PANEL WOULD NOT GET INTO THE PENSION OBLIGATION. BUT WE HAVE THAT STATUTORY REQUIREMENT. OKAY. OKAY. AND ON THE, ON THE, IF IT HAD GONE TO ARBITRATION, [05:05:01] THE, THE BILLION DOLLAR PLUS EXPOSURE WAS JUST ON THE BACK SEVEN YEARS, CORRECT? COR CORRECT. I MEAN, OKAY. SO THAT, SO THAT WAS THE BILLION DOLLAR PLUS EXPOSURE, WHICH IS DOWN TO SIX 50, I MEAN, WHICH WAS SOMEHOW NEGOTIATED TO SIX 50. THE ADDITIONAL MON GOING FORWARD, MONEY IS WHAT PUTS IT, RIGHT. I MEAN, YOU MAY RECALL THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP REPORT FROM LAST FALL ON THE CITY'S FINANCES THAT WAS DONE BY RICE PROFESSORS. UH, IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD ESTIMATED THAT WITH INTEREST, AND THIS WOULD BE INTEREST ON JUDGMENT INTEREST FROM THE COURT, IT, IT WOULD BE IN THE BILLION DOLLAR RANGE. SO THAT'S WHAT THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP WAS ESTIMATING WOULD BE THE COST. AND, UH, AS I READ THAT REPORT, IT DID NOT FACTOR IN THE PENSION CONTRIBUTION. OKAY. BUT, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST ON THE, THE GO LOOK BACK. YES. OKAY. OKAY. UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S, POINT ON SALARIES ON IT'S, IS IT 46.7 HOURS WHEN WE GO TO OVERTIME? WHAT? I CAN'T REMEMBER. I THINK IT'S 47.5. 47.5. WAS THAT FACTORED IN, IN LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT SALARIES FROM THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES? YEAH, WE DO FACTOR THAT IN. OKAY. SO THAT'S A, THAT'S AN EVEN LOOK. YES. OKAY. UM, AND, UH, FINALLY, I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE COURT. YOU GO TO THE COURT FIRST FOR APPROVAL OF THIS JUDGMENT. WE WILL LIKELY GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE OF THE ATTORNEY. OKAY. GO TO ATTORNEY GENERAL FIRST, THEN BACK TO THE COURT. YES. AND THEN TO US. YES. OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. NOW, CARTER COUNCILMAN CARTER. SO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, YOU ASKED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. UM, THE OTHER JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING NEW TO THE HORSESHOE, THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THOSE WHO I'VE POLL THAT WERE HERE BEFORE THAT THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION. SO I THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR, FOR WORKING WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. UH, WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT, I'M JUST SAYING WHAT I KNOW, WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD. UM, AT ANY RATE, UH, AS FAR AS THE CONSTITUENTS WEIGHING IN, YOU KNOW, I KNOW AS A CONSTITUENT, WE DIDN'T WEIGH IN ON WHETHER TO BE IN LAWSUITS WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR, YOU KNOW, THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. SIX, SEVEN YEARS. SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT OUR PUBLIC WILL BE GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE SETTLED TOO. AND CERTAINLY IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S MY BELIEF THAT WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH THOSE WHO WORK WITH YOU AND FOR YOU, YOU'RE WORKING TOGETHER. SO I APPLAUD THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ATTEMPTING TO SETTLE THIS AND COMING TO THE, COMING WITH THIS TODAY. QUESTION FOR THE ATTORNEY. UH, THE ATTORNEY IS, IS THERE ANY, UH, ABILITY TO USE R FFA FUNDS TO SETTLE ANY OF THIS? UH, I, I THINKS THE, I THINK IN THE, UH, I THINK YOU WOULD LOOK AT MORE, IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO USE THE JUDGMENT BOND FOR THE PAST AND THEN THE ARPA THAT WE HAVE IN THE BALANCE. UM, I'D HAVE TO DEFER THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THAT TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO USE IT FOR THE BEGINNING, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CBA COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I WANT TO, UM, IDENTIFY THE FACT ON THIS ISSUE FROM MY STANDPOINT IS THAT I THINK THESE QUESTIONS, MAYOR, CONCERNING, UH, THIS AGREEMENT, UH, ARE ABSOLUTELY VALID. AND I'VE TAKEN SOME TIME, AND I'M TAKING MORE TIME TO REVIEW THOSE QUESTIONS, BEING THAT WE ARE, SOME OF US ARE NEW TO THE HORSESHOE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT, AND I THINK WE ALL SHOULD, THAT WE HAVE A LOW MORALE ISSUE IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. NOW, THIS IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO A FINANCIAL SACRIFICE BY THE CITY. NOW, WE COULD EITHER BE 1.2 BILLION BROKE, OR WE COULD BE SIX, ONLY 50 MILLION BROKE. BUT AT ANY REGARDS, AND I THINK ALL OF THE CONCERNS AROUND THE HORSESHOE ARE NECESSARY AS A COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS MATTER. WE'RE FACING A CRISIS RIGHT NOW IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LACK OF MEN AND WOMEN TO PROTECT US AS A PUBLIC SAFETY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE ARE BLEEDING FIREFIGHTERS. WE HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME. ON THE FLIP SIDE, I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH THE CONCERNS OF THE, OF THE, UH, QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS SETTLEMENT AND AGREEMENT, BUT I WANT TO THANK, UM, THE MAYOR AND TAKING IT ON SO THAT WE DON'T BE ACCUSED AS A CITY, ALL OF US TOGETHER, OF KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. NOW, THERE ARE SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT I'M NOT PRIVY TO IS HOW MUCH DID IT COST US TO KEEP FILING LAWSUITS TO KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD? THAT WAS A COST TO THE TAXPAYERS AS [05:10:01] THIS WILL BE A COST TO THE TAXPAYER. I THINK ALL OF THIS IS ON THE TABLE, BUT I THINK I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, AND PRAYERFULLY THAT ALL OF US WOULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THERE NEED TO BE A SETTLEMENT. HOW WE GET TO THAT SETTLEMENT IS THE ISSUE. BUT LET ME JUST SAY, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, I THINK IS ONE OF THE BEST. AND WE COULD BE EVEN BETTER AS WELL AS WE FEEL ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT HERE WE ARE NOW AT THIS POINT. AND SO I, I, I WANT US GOING THROUGH PRAYERFULLY AND I SAY THAT SINCERELY, PRAYERFULLY, THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. AND I DON'T WANT THE FIREFIGHTERS THINKING THAT WE THINK LESS OF THEM THAN WE DO ANYBODY, WHETHER THEY'RE UNION WORKERS AND ALL, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE DESERVE THE RESPECT AND THE HONOR TO BE TREATED RIGHTLY. NOW, THESE GONNA BE SOME HARD DECISIONS. GRANTED, AND I'M NOT QUESTIONING ANY OF THESE MATTERS BASED ON BEING A GURU. THAT'S SOME AROUND HIS HORSES SHOE. WELL PRIVY TO MANY THINGS, AND I RESPECT THAT TO THE HIGHEST. BUT ALSO I THINK THE OBJECTIVE IS HOW WE MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. WE ALSO SERVE AS FIXING THINGS. I THINK WE ARE NOT JUST A COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE TO VOTE UP AND DOWN ON THINGS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE A COUNCIL TO FIX THINGS. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. NOW, MY ATTITUDE AGAIN IS I CLOSE, THIS WASN'T GOING AWAY. AND IF IT HAD HAVE BEEN TO COURT, WE'D HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A 1.2 BILLION. WE STILL WOULD'VE HAD TO PAY IT. IF THE COURT WOULD'VE SAID WE HAD TO PAY IT, IT WOULD'VE BEEN DONE. BUT IN THE FACT THAT MAYOR, YOU TOOK ON THE OBLIGATIONS TO COME INTO AN AGREEMENT ATE, WE KNEW WE GONNA HAVE TO PAY IT SOMEDAY, AS OLD SAYING, PAY NOW, PAY LATER. SO THE REALITY OF IT IS, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN PRAYERFULLY COME TO A UNIFIED EFFORT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, HAVE TABLE, WHATEVER, AND WE CAN GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED AND THAT THE, THAT THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON WILL FEEL PROUD ABOUT WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS QUESTION IS ALSO FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND, UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE 650 MILLION KIND OF IN, IN THE PAST, AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. AND SO WE KNOW CONTRACT YEAR ONE 10% AND THEN 3%, 3%, 4%, 4%, RIGHT, FOR YEARS TWO THROUGH FIVE. IS THAT CORRECT? AND, AND IF THERE ARE SUFFICIENT ADDITIONAL REVENUES, THOSE, UH, YEARS, TWO TO FIVE CAN BE BUMPED UP TO SIX, RIGHT? SO IT POTENTIALLY COULD BE YEAR ONE 10% AND THEN YEARS TWO THROUGH 5, 6, 6, 6, 6. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND SO IF THERE'S SUFFICIENT REVENUE, IS WHAT YOU SAID, AND SO, UM, HOW WILL THAT BE DETERMINED? UH, WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT IN PART BECAUSE WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR REVENUE. THE ADMINISTRATION IS STILL LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ITS CITY ATTORNEY. DO YOU BY CHANCE KNOW HOW MUCH WE SPENT DURING THIS WHOLE STALEMATE ON LEGAL FEES? UH, SORRY, I DIDN'T QUITE CATCH THAT. NO, NOT THAT MAY BE A BETTER ANSWER. RIGHT? ? UH, NOT OFF THE, NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU. A APPROXIMATELY, UM, WAS IT IN THE BILLIONS? NO, I THINK WE, IT'S PROBABLY IN EXCESS OF A MILLION. OKAY. BUT PROBABLY NOT 2 MILLION. PROBABLY MORE BETWEEN ONE AND 1.5. BUT I, LET ME GET THAT AND I'LL, I CAN TELL YOU DURING THIS MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. FLICKER. JUROR, I HAVE A QUESTION ON IF THERE'S SUFFICIENT REVENUE. SO IF WE RAISE TAXES, THAT'S CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT REVENUE AND THEN THE INCREASE IS BUMPED UP? UH, UH, I THINK IT'LL HAVE TO BE MORE DETAILED THAN THAT. I MEAN, IT'S GONNA TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR PROJECTIONS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, UH, OTHER NEEDS AND THEN WHAT THE, THE REVENUE LEVEL THAT COULD PERMIT THIS TO HAPPEN AND MEET OUR OTHER NEEDS. THAT'S STILL BEING WORKED THROUGH PECK. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, VICE . THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF VALID QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT THE FINANCES AS WE LOOK FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE. UM, AS FAR AS WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, OUR, UM, FINANCES WILL LOOK LIKE. UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GETTING TO A SETTLEMENT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS. THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID, THEY DESERVE [05:15:01] THEIR BACK WAGES AND THEY DESERVE THE FIVE YEARS GOING FORWARD. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS DONE. THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR OUR FIGHTER FIGHTERS AND JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. AND ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ALSO GETTING WHAT THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL POLL. COUNCIL POLL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, CITY, THIS QUESTIONS ARE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL. O OTHER THAN PROP B, WHICH THE CITY WON, UH, WERE WE EVER THE, UH, PLAINTIFF IN ANY OTHER LAWSUITS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS? UH, NO. THERE WERE, THERE WERE TWO, TWO LAWSUITS. THERE WAS THE, WHAT BEGAN AS HP U'S CHALLENGE TO PROP B, AND THE CITY JOINED THAT LATER. UH, AND THEN THERE WAS A JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT. UM, NO, I, I, I'M INCORRECT ON THAT. JU JUDICIAL ENFOR, WE CHALLENGED THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE PROVISION IN 1 74 THAT PERMITTED JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT. UH, AND SO WE WERE THE PLAINTIFFS THERE AND WE WERE THE, UH, ALSO THE PLAINTIFFS IN PROPERTY AS IN INTERVENTION. AND, UM, AS YOU ALL WERE NEGOTIATING THIS, UM, WHAT WERE THE DISCUSSIONS REGARDING HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS AND WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS REGARDING HOW DO WE PAY FOR, FOR THIS BILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED? THE, THE NEGOTIATIONS? WELL, FRANKLY, THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE BETWEEN THE, THE NEGOTIATING TEAM THAT DIDN'T ADDRESS THE FINANCES. THAT WAS A BACKROOM ISSUE WHERE WE SPOKE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE HOW WE WOULD FUND THIS. BUT IS THERE, IS THERE A STRATEGY? MAYBE THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE MAYOR, IS THERE A STRATEGY THAT WE KNOW AS A CITY THAT WE CAN LAY OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS, OR HOW THE TAXPAYERS ARE GONNA PAY FOR THE BILLION DOLLARS? I, I, I THINK THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING AND THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED. IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE A DETERMINATION OF WHICH, UH, REVENUE OPTIONS WE WILL PURSUE. OKAY. AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, UM, THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT IS, UM, ONLY CONSIDERING THE BACK PAY TO BE OVERTIME DOLLARS. NOW, IN THE PAST, WHEN IT CAME TO MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES OR WITH THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE UNION, UM, THERE WAS VOTER APPROVAL ON THE BALLOT. AND IS THAT BECAUSE, UH, THERE DEALS HAD TO DEAL WITH PENSIONS AND OURS ARE ONLY DEALING WITH WHAT'S, WHAT'S PROPOSED AS OVERTIME? WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS VOTER APPROVAL. UH, I MEAN, I'M, I'M SORRY. THERE'S COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE UNION CONTRACT. THERE'S VOTER APPROVAL. UH, IF A BOND, UH, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE BOND JUDGMENT BONDS DO NOT REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BECAUSE IT'S, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ADDRESSING A, A LIABILITY THAT THE CITY HAS TO PAY. AND IS THERE A TOTAL COST FOR THE, IF IT IS A 10% AND THEN 6% FOR YEARS TWO THROUGH FIVE, IS THERE A TOTAL COST PROJECTION IN DOLLARS THAT, THAT WILL, THAT, THAT WILL EQUATE TO, UH, YES. THAT THE ESTIMATE FOR THE GOING FORWARD COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, IT WOULD BE, UH, ANNUAL COST TO BE PAID BY OUR GENERAL REVENUES OF APPROXIMATELY 36 MILLION. YOU KNOW, UH, ODDLY ENOUGH, IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT THAT IT WOULD BE USED TO PAY THE DEBT ON THE $650 MILLION SETTLEMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM CAIUS TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTION IS, UM, FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE MEDIA HAS, UH, CONTINUALLY REPORTED THAT THE 18% RAISE THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE FIREFIGHTERS WAS A, A ONE-TIME PAYMENT. MM-HMM . CAN YOU REITERATE THAT THAT PAYMENT WAS NOT A ONE-TIME PAYMENT? IT, I MEAN, HALF OF US WERE HERE WHEN THAT HAPPENED. MM-HMM . IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WAS PART OF THEIR ONGOING SALARY. YES. UH, EVERY TIME THAT YOU HAVE A RAISE TO BASE PAY, IT'S GONNA BE INCORPORATED IN FUTURE YEARS UNLESS YOU REDUCE THEIR PAY. SO WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE PART OF THEIR CURRENT SALARY AND THEIR ONGOING SALARY. YES. SO I WANNA CLARIFY THAT THAT 18% WAS NOT A ONE-TIME PAYMENT THAT WAS PART OF THEIR SALARY. WAS THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT THAT WAS PART OF THEIR BASE SALARY? UH, YES, IT WAS. OKAY. AND THEN MY NEXT, UM, STATEMENT IS, UM, I THINK THAT WE, WE NEED TO BE CLEAR AND, AND I DON'T LIKE THAT, UM, YOU [05:20:01] KNOW, WE, WE, WE TALK ABOUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROW OR HOW, WHATEVER LITTLE COLLOQUIALISMS WE USE, BUT I THINK THAT HALF OF US WERE HERE IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A STALEMATE. I THINK BOTH SIDES WANTED TO GET TO AN AGREEMENT, AND THEY COULDN'T, NOT ONLY THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE FIREFIGHTERS ALSO MM-HMM . WE COULD NOT GET TO AN AGREEMENT. UM, QUITE FRANKLY, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE COURTS WOULD'VE SAID. MM-HMM . NO ONE KNOWS WHETHER THE COURTS WERE GOING TO SAY, WE NEED TO PAY A BILLION, OR WE NEED TO PAY 600 OR 450 MILLION. SO WE DON'T KNOW. SO I APPRECIATE THAT BOTH SIDES NOW HAVE COME BACK TO THE TABLE, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE STATED THAT THERE WAS A STALEMATE AND IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO. BOTH SIDES DID NOT GIVE AND TAKE. AND SO NOW THAT WE ARE AT A POINT THAT THERE IS CONVERSATIONS ON THE TABLE, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT COUNCIL'S ROLE WILL BE, BECAUSE THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE GONE ON WITHOUT THE INPUT OF COUNCIL, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S, IT'S DONE. YES. AND, AND I GET THAT. UM, OUTSIDE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? I THINK THE CONFUSION AND COMPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE IS THE PROCESS. WE ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT THE PROCESS IS BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED FOR ANY OF US BEFORE. SO CAN YOU TELL US WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP AND WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT MAYBE IN THE NEXT MONTH? UH, UH, UH, AS OF MONDAY, WE, WE HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE COURT TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE DETAILED CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, AND EVERYONE IS FREE TO CALL ME ON THAT, OR IF YOU WOULD, SO WE SHOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY SO THAT EVERYONE'S QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED. UH, I, I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY WORK BEST SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OPEN MEETINGS ACT CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, WE COULD, WE COULD DO IT DIFFERENTLY AND WE CAN DISCUSS THAT. BUT I THINK I CAN GIVE YOU THE MORE DETAILS. WE WILL FINALIZE A JUDGMENT LANGUAGE THAT WILL GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT WILL BE SHARED WITH THIS TABLE HERE, UH, THAT WE, WE WILL HEAR BACK FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. IT MAY TAKE AS LONG AS A MONTH, YOU KNOW, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO APPROACH THE COURT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY. AND THEN WE, THEN WE CAN TIME COUNCIL ACTION WITH, UH, THE ANTICIPATED ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS. SO IT, IT WILL BE A MONTH TO TWO TO TWO AND A HALF MONTH PROCESS, THREE PERHAPS. SO THIS COULD GO ON AS LONG AS THREE MONTHS. MY ASK WOULD BE IF WE COULD JUST BE KEPT IN THE LOOP WITH THE PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE A VOTE ON EITHER THE JUDGMENT BOND, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, OR THE PROCESS, BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAH. TIME FOR US ALL AS OF MONDAY THIS WEEK. WE CAN DO THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU, THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UH, AND I'LL BE DONE AFTER THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, UM, REALIZE THAT THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MORALE AND, YOU KNOW, OH, UH, OUR POLICE AND OUR MUNICIPAL WORKERS. THE REALITY IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE NOT GROWING UP ANYMORE, WANT CHOOSING TO BE A TEACHER. UH, PUBLIC EDUCATION IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH SCHOOL TEACHERS. THEY ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION. UH, SAME, SAME THING WITH POLICE. THESE ARE HARD JOBS. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS WHERE PEOPLE, YOU CAN GET A GOOD CITY JOB AND STAY HERE FOR 30 YEARS AND RAISE YOUR FAMILY WHEN OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE OPENING UP AND THEY ARE PAYING AT A DIFFERENT WAGE. SO I THINK THAT IT IS LIMITED OF US, UH, TO SAY, UM, IT'S JUST PURELY MORALE, BUT WE ARE ALSO NOT OFFERING THE SAME THING. YOU CAN GO GET ACROSS THE STREET OR, UM, AT THE COUNTY OR IN, IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT CONVERSATION. UM, I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE'RE, WE, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ENJOY AND THEY, THEY SHOW UP TO THIS CITY AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS WITH INTEGRITY ARE PROUD TO WORK. UM, AT CITY HALL, UM, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT GET UP TO PULL YOUR TRASH, RECYCLE D CLEAN THOSE DITCHES, CODE ENFORCEMENT, CUT THAT GRASS, THAT THEY DO THAT WITH PRIDE. UM, AND, AND SO I I, I WOULD HATE FOR US TO SIT AT THIS HORSESHOE AND, UM, UH, AND, AND, AND AND DIMINISH, UH, THEIR WORK ETHIC, UH, THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY MAKE ON BEHALF, THE FACT THAT WE GET TO TAKE CREDIT ON THEIR BACK OF THEIR WORK. WE GET TO SIT UP HERE AND SAY, LOOK WHAT WE HAVE DONE. UM, SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL, MINDFUL OF THAT, UH, MOVING FORWARD. I AM, UH, UH, DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS ON THE MAYOR'S REPORT. UM, AND GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OPENLY. I'M [05:25:01] LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DETAILED RESPONSE FROM CITY LEGAL. UM, ALL THOSE QUESTIONS. AND THEN LASTLY, WAS CHIEF PENA INVOLVED IN ANY OF THIS? UH, YES. HE WAS, HE WAS AT THE TABLE DURING THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PORTION. IN THE MEDIATION. IT WAS JUST THE LAWYERS, BUT WE SOUGHT INPUT FROM CHIEF PENA ON ALL ASPECTS. YOU, YOU, OKAY. UH, FLICKINGER COUNCILMAN IS THE CONTROLLER REVIEWED THIS? THE CON THE CONTROLLER HAS BEEN BRIEFED. WE HAVEN'T BRIEFED THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE SINCE MONDAY, BUT HE WAS BRIEFED BEFOREHAND IN THE SAME FASHION. COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS IS FOR SOME CLARIFICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO IF I HEARD YOU RIGHT, I, I THINK YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THE 650 MILLION WE'RE SEEKING TO CLASSIFY THAT AS OVERTIME INTEREST, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT IS THERE A CHANCE THAT IT WOULDN'T BE CLASSIFIED LIKE THAT AND THERE WOULD BE A PENSION CONTRIBUTION? IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? UH, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. WE DON'T THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. THANK YOU CORN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN, UH, SINCE WE WILL BE LOOKING AT A FEW MONTHS, IT LOOKS LIKE, TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL, CORRECT? I WOULD LIKE TO, TO COME TO COUNCIL WITH THIS. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? OKAY. YEAH. UH, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE WILL BE, OUR GOAL IS TO COME TO COUNCIL IN JUNE, SO THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE, UH, THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE THIS WAS, OKAY. WE'LL CERTAINLY BE HAVING A LOT OF BUDGET DISCUSSIONS DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. BUT I WOULD MAYOR, AND I'VE ALREADY REQUESTED OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO, TO START RIGHT AWAY AT, AT BFA, TALKING ABOUT THE, UM, GO IN WITH, WITH, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THE SPECIFIC, UM, THINGS WITHIN THE CONTRACT, BUT ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, WE NEED TO START WORKING ON THAT APRIL 2ND AT THE FIRST MEETING. YES. AND I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING YOUR HEARINGS ON APRIL 2ND. THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU, POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTIONS ARE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. SINCE THE 18%, UH, WAS BAKED INTO THEIR SALARY, AND THAT IS ONGOING, SHOULDN'T IT ALSO BE TIED TO PENSIONS AS WELL? AND IF SO, WHY ISN'T THERE A ARGUMENT THAT, UH, WHY IS THERE A ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS ONLY REGARDING OVERTIME PAY? WELL, UH, THERE IS A REASONABLE ARGUMENT ON OVERTIME ON A COUPLE LEVELS. YOU KNOW, ONE, THE FIREFIGHTERS HAD THE CLAIM THAT THEY SPENT ADDITIONAL TIME FOR WHICH THEY WERE NOT COMPENSATED DURING COVID FOR SANITATION PURPOSES, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER DUTY. THERE'S ALSO THE ARGUMENT THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE RESIST IN COURT, BUT THIS IS A SETTLEMENT THAT THE STANDARD STILL REMAINS THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMPARATOR, PRIVATE SECTOR PAYS OVERTIME AT OVER 40, NOT 47.5 OR 53 LIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS DO. SO THIS WAS A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT THAT WAS LOOKED AT AT, IN THAT FASHION. BUT COULD AN ARGUMENT BE MADE THAT PENSIONS ARE TIED TO THE 18% AND, AND THAT THERE ARE PENSION OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE $650 MILLION AGREEMENT? UH, EXCEPT THAT WE DID NOT, UH, 1, 1, 1 NEGOTIATED POINT HERE WAS THAT THE SETTLEMENT WOULD NOT INCREASE AND THAT ONE OF THE ANOTHER REASON FOR OVERTIME WOULD NOT INCREASE THEIR BASE PAY. SO THE NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS BEGINNING FROM WHERE THEY CURRENTLY ARE, RATHER THAN A BUMP FROM WHAT THEY RECEIVE BEFORE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE PAYOUT FOR THE CBA TO THE CITY, THE COST IS GOING TO BE LESS. AND I KNOW WITHOUT A CONTRACT IN PLACE, I THINK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT, UM, THEIR SALARY BE, UM, COMPARED TO WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR STANDARD WOULD BE. CORRECT? YEAH. YES. DO AND DO, DO WE HAVE MODELS ON WHAT THAT PRIVATE SECTOR STANDARD WOULD BE AND HOW FAR OFF THE CITY MAY HAVE BEEN EVEN AFTER THE 18%? OR WERE WE CLOSE AFTER THE 18%? UH, I THINK WE WERE LIKELY BEHIND. I'D RATHER NOT GET INTO SPECIFICS BECAUSE IF WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THAT AGAIN, AND THIS IS A BATTLE OF EXPERTS BECAUSE OF PRIVATE SECTOR STANDARD, THAT IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAVE DEALING WITH. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT? I MEAN, THERE ARE FIRE SUPPRESSION UNITS IN THE SHIP CHANNEL AREAS, IN THE FERTILIZER PLANTS IN WEST TEXAS, BUT NOT OF THE SIZE AND MAGNITUDE IN THE COMBINED EMS. SO IT'S, IT'S VERY MUCH, UH, DIFFICULT TO PREDICT HOW THAT WILL BE PLAYED OUT IN A COURT OR IN A BEFORE AN ARBITRATION PANEL. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE DONE. THANK YOU. MEMBERS. THIS HAS BEEN, UH, VERY PRODUCTIVE. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON, UH, [05:30:01] THAT WE'RE BROKE. UH, SOME OF US INHERITED A BROKE SYSTEM. I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE, UH, HEARING, UH, CLEARLY HOW BROKE WE ARE. AND IN FACT, TO EMPHASIZE IT, I'LL BE TALKING TO YOU IF Y'ALL WANT TO LIKE START APRIL 1ST, NOT BRING ANY MORE SPENDING ITEMS BEFORE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE UNDERFUNDED, UH, NATURE OF, OF MOST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. UH, IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ME TALK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED IN TWO MONTHS IS HOW UNDERFUNDED OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE. WE HAVE A PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WHO SAYS HE HAS TO SHUTTLE HIS WORKERS TO THE WORK SITE. SANITATION, WORKING 18 HOUR A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK. I WON'T ELABORATE ON THE HPD CHALLENGES, BUT HOW CONVINCING DO WE HAVE TO BE TO SEE THE MESS WE'RE IN BECAUSE OF UNDERSTAFFING AT HPD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE MORNING DOCUMENTING LIFE AND DEATH MATTERS. IN ALL DUE RESPECT, ALL THE OTHER POSITIONS ARE IMPORTANT. CERTAINLY I'VE VOTED WITH TEACHERS MY ENTIRE CAREER, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRE APPARATUS EMS THAT WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT, AND THEY'RE STRAINED, UNDERSTAFFED, AND UNDER-RESOURCED. SO THIS IS A PHYSICAL RESPONSIBLE PROPOSAL, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING EVERYONE'S HELP, CERTAINLY ON THE FRONT END AND WHERE WE FIND OURSELF TODAY, HOPE, HPOU OUR POLICE ARE ALL CHALLENGED. PUBLIC WORKS HAS A HUNDRED UNFILLED POSITIONS. THAT'S WHAT I INHERITED. NO WONDER YOU CAN'T GET A BROKEN WATER MAIN ADDRESSED IN OUR STREETS. NOW, I KNOW MAYBE SOME LIKE THE STREETS, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT SLOWS DOWN CARS, BUT FOLKS, WE'VE GOTTA PAINT AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF OUR GREAT CITY. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ATTEMPTS TO DO. AND I CAN'T THINK MARTY AND THE LOCAL, AND ARTURO AND MELISSA AND EVERYONE, STAFF, WE'VE TRIED TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS THE COURT WILL ALLOW. WE'RE BROKE. AND OF COURSE, IF WE PAINT AN ACCURATE PICTURE TO HOUSTONIANS, WHICH I DON'T THINK'S BEEN DONE IN RECENT YEARS, THEY'LL RESPOND BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU. NOW, UH, SPEAKING OF MELISSA, MR. BAKI, WOULD YOU GIVE US A REPORT ON THE UNITED AIRLINE TRANSACTIONS AND THE, UH, FINANCIAL STATUS OF THAT AGREEMENT, AIRPORT DIRECTOR. AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE ASKED THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR TO BE HERE TO, UH, HAS THE ACT TO ALLOW US TO KNOW THE STATUS FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT OF WHERE THIS PLACES US. WE HAVE A AIRPORT SYSTEM THAT IS ONE OF THE REAL FUNDAMENTAL INSTITUTIONS OF OUR CITY, AND I QUITE FRANKLY, EXPECT BETTER DELIVERY OF SERVICES THERE. I'VE ALREADY SEEN A NEW MORALE, AN ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT, LEAVING CLEAN RESTROOMS, SAFE CONDITIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MOTIVATING YOURS WORKERS. AND MELISSA. UH, I THINK YOU'RE ONE OF THE MORE VALUABLE PERSONS IN THIS BUILDING. IN FACT, I KNOW YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. WOULD YOU LET US KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH UNITED? SURE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. YES. AND, UM, JOINED BY THE DIRECTOR FROM THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. UH, HE'S GONNA START US OFF JUST GIVING A, UH, BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT ITSELF, AND THEN I'LL GO INTO MORE OF THE FINANCIALS. OKAY. UM, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UM, GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE UNITED, UH, AIRLINES TRANSFORMATION AT THE AIRPORT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, VERY EXCITED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS A $2.55 BILLION INVESTMENT IN THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. UH, THAT'S SET TO, AGAIN, BE A LEAD SILVER FACILITY. UM, IT'S GONNA GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL 3000 JOBS AND BE ABLE TO HOST AN ADDITIONAL MORE THAN 6 MILLION PASSENGERS ON ANNUAL, ANNUAL BASIS. AND AGAIN, THIS IS REPLACING A 50-YEAR-OLD TERMINAL. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE FIRST IMPRESSION OF HOUSTON, UH, HAVING A NEW MODERN FACILITY VERSUS THAT [05:35:01] 50-YEAR-OLD, UH, FACILITY WILL BE, WILL BE A WELCOME IMPROVEMENT AT THE AIRPORT. UM, NEXT, UH, SO THE MAIN PORTION OF THIS IS BASICALLY IT'S THE REPLACEMENT OF TERMINAL B. AND SO TERMINAL B HAS BASICALLY THREE SEGMENTS TO IT. YOU'VE GOT THE OLD BANJO GATES, WHICH WERE THE SMALL CIRCLE ONES. UM, YOU'VE GOT THE CENTRAL PROCESSOR, THE TICKETING HALL, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE EXISTING, UM, SOUTH SIDE WHERE THE, A LOT OF THE REGIONAL JETS WOULD BE. AND SO WITH THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE GONNA BASICALLY REDEVELOP THAT INTO A MODERN TERMINAL. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL END UP WITH A NEW CENTRAL TICKETING HALL, UM, WITH NEW RESTAURANTS AND, AND, AND RETAIL IN THERE, A MODERN 14 LANE TSA SECURITY CHECKPOINT, UM, AGAINST SOME NEW HYDRANT FUELING SYSTEMS, UH, TO ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO BE FUELED QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY, UH, NEW AIR, UH, AIRFIELD RAMP AND PAVEMENT, AND NEW, UH, DETENTION BASINS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THE STORM WATER FROM THE AIRPORT. UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. UM, SO AGAIN, AS WE LOOK AT IT, UH, YOU'LL SEE, UH, IF YOU'VE BEEN INTO C NORTH, THE NEW ONE, UM, THAT'S GATE C ONE THROUGH 15. IT'LL BE VERY SIMILAR IN, IN, IN SCALE AND SCOPE TO THAT. UH, BUT TWO BRAND NEW MODERN PIERS WITH 22 GATES THERE, UM, HAS THE ADDITIONAL ABILITY TO PUT IN SOME WIDE BODY AIRCRAFT IN THERE TOO. UM, BUT IT'LL BE VERY NICE FACILITIES, UH, MODERN EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN WE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEW FACILITIES AT THE AIRPORT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UH, AGAIN, THE NEW CENTRAL PROCESSOR, AGAIN, MUCH LARGER. UH, AGAIN, OUR TRAFFIC ISSUES THERE AT THE AIRPORT ARE GENERALLY DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT WE LAST LACK CURB CAPACITY. UM, SO WE'RE GONNA SEE WITH THIS SIGN A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION IN THE CURB CAPACITY AT THE AIRPORT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE, UH, CUSTOMERS COMING TO AND FROM. UH, AND AGAIN, IT'LL BE A, A GOOD TSA EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE A NEW MODERN, UH, EXPANDED TSA FACILITY WITH, UH, LOTS OF, UH, THE NEW EQUIPMENT THERE. AND THEN NEXT, PLEASE SLIDE PLEASE. AND THEN AGAIN, UH, UNITED FROM A CONCEPT PERSPECTIVE IS GONNA USE THEIR GATE OF THE FUTURE IN THERE. AND SO THAT WILL, AGAIN, ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN THERE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THEY'LL HAVE, UH, NEW, UH, FURNITURE NEW, UH, AGAIN, CONCESSIONS AND ALL OF THE AMENITIES THAT A MODERN CUSTOMER EXPECTS. AND THEN WITH ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE LARGEST UNITED AIRLINES CLUB AND THE NETWORK, UH, AT TERMINAL B. SO, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. UM, SO JUST TO TRANSITION OVER TO THE FINANCE COMPONENT OF THIS PROJECT, UM, BACK LAST CALENDAR YEAR, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU REMEMBER THE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOA BETWEEN THE CITY AND UNITED AIRLINES. SO THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. UM, AND THERE WERE SOME FINANCIAL COMPONENTS IN THAT MOA, UH, THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS OF FINANCING THE PROJECT. UH, THE FIRST COMPONENT IS THE SPECIAL FACILITY REVENUE BONDS. AND IN THE MOA, THAT AMOUNT IS CAPPED AT 1.95 BILLION. AND THEN THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THE FINANCING FOR THE PROJECT IS THE GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUE BOND PIECE OF IT, WHICH AGAIN, SPELLED OUT IN THE MOA IS CAPPED AT THE 624 MILLION. UM, SO ON CITY COUNCIL, UH, AGENDA TODAY, YOU'LL SEE ITEM 17 IS THE FIRST PORTION OF THAT 624 MILLION. THAT'S ITEM 17, AND IT'S PERTAINING TO THE FIRST 150 MILLION APPROPRIATION. UH, YOU RECALL THAT THAT ITEM CAME TO COUNCIL LAST CALENDAR YEAR, UH, HADN'T BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE CITY CONTROLLER AT THE TIME. UM, AND YOU'LL SEE IT AGAIN TODAY AND, UH, FOR A VOTE. UM, SO THAT'S THE FIRST COMPONENT OF THIS FINANCING. UM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TWO DIFFERENT FINANCING SOURCES FOR THE PROJECT, THE SPECIAL FACILITY REVENUE BONDS, AND THE GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUE BONDS HAVE DIFFERENT PLEDGES FOR THEIR REVENUE STREAM. SO THE SPECIAL FACILITY REVENUE BONDS, UM, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, IS SOLELY SECURED BY LEASE PAYMENTS COMING FROM UNITED. SO THERE'S NO GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, THERE'S NO GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUES. IT'S JUST THE UNITED LEASE PAYMENTS THAT, THAT SECURE THAT. UM, AND ON THE GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUE BOND SIDE, THAT IS, UH, NET REVENUES OF THE AIRPORT. THAT IS THE, THE PLEDGE FOR THAT FINANCING COMPONENT. UM, SO ON SLIDE SEVEN, JUST GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS, BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE A WHOLE SERIES OF, UH, ORDINANCES THAT THIS BODY'S GONNA HAVE TO APPROVE, UH, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE FINANCING FOR THIS PROJECT. UM, AND AGAIN, THEY'RE GONNA BE SEPARATE ORDINANCES FOR THE DIFFERENT FUNDING COMPONENTS OF IT, WHETHER IT'S SPECIAL FACILITY REVENUE BONDS OR GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUE BONDS. UH, SO ON THE SPECIAL FACILITY BOND SIDE, WHICH AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE, UH, PAYABLE WITH THE UNITED LEASE PAYMENTS. UM, THE NEXT STEP YOU'RE GONNA SEE ON THIS ITEM, UH, THE PLAN IS TO BRING IT TO THIS BODY NEXT WEEK ON MARCH 27TH, IS THE INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION OR INDUCEMENT ORDINANCE. UM, AND THIS DOCUMENT IS, UH, LIKE I SAID, IS GONNA REQUIRE COUNCIL ACTION. UM, AND THAT DOCUMENT IS SORT OF STARTS THE PROCESS ON THE FINANCING FOR THE SPECIAL FACILITY REVENUE BONDS. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT ON AGENDA NEXT WEEK. UM, AND THEN AS WE GO ON TO, UH, ISSUE THE BONDS IN, UM, SEPARATE SERIES, IT'S CONTEMPLATED THAT WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS BODY FOR THE ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE BOND ORDINANCE, UM, IN SUMMER OF THIS YEAR, AND [05:40:01] AGAIN, IN SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR. 'CAUSE THE PLAN IS TO DO THE BORROWING IN, UH, TWO DIFFERENT TRANCHES. AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU GET AN OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCING OF IT. UM, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE, THE CAPPED AMOUNT IS THE 1.95 BILLION. UM, WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT THE INTEREST COST, AND THIS IS SUBJECT TO THE MARKET WHEN WE GET TO THE MARKET, UH, WOULD BE AROUND 6%. AND LIKE I MENTIONED, UM, WE'LL BE COMING WITH THE INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION NEXT WEEK. AND THEN BOND ORDINANCES FOLLOWING THAT IN SUMMER OF THIS YEAR AND SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR. AND ON SLIDE NINE, UH, THIS PIECE PERTAINS TO THE GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUE BOND. SO THIS IS MORE RELATED, UH, LIKE I SAID, TO THE 624 MILLION CAPPED AMOUNT. UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT A FEASIBILITY STUDY, UM, LAST CALENDAR YEAR AND THIS CALENDAR YEAR. SO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY IS A, IS A STEP IN THE PROCESS TO ISSUING THE GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUE BONDS THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. AND THAT WILL BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND. SO AGAIN, WE'LL COME BACK TO COUNSEL IN THE COMING MONTHS WITH THOSE, UH, WITH AN ORDINANCE TO GET THAT APPROVED. VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? YES, THOMAS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM IN, IN BOTH OF THE TRANSACTIONS. UM, I'M CURIOUS, THE FORMER CONTROLLER WAS RESISTANT TO CERTIFY THIS, AND I KNOW NOW THE FORMER CONTROLLER IS NOW THE ADVISOR OF FINANCIAL INTEGRITY. HAS SOMETHING CHANGED IN TERMS OF HIS OPINION FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD? HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ADVISED WITH THAT? UM, SO IN TERMS OF, HI, OF WHERE HE IS. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE, WITH THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, WITH THE CFO, UM, IN THE AIRPORT SYSTEM TO GO THROUGH THE FINANCIALS, THE DETAILED FINANCIALS, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THE 624 MILLION. UM, SO THE 624 MILLION, ALTHOUGH IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, BACKED BY GENERAL AIRPORT REVENUES THAT WILL BE, UH, RECOVERED THROUGH RATES AND CHARGES. SO GOING THROUGH THAT RATES AND CHARGES MODEL, GOING THROUGH THE FI DETAILED FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, UM, I THINK IT JUST, YOU KNOW, IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET THERE. UM, BUT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THOSE NUMBERS AND, AND WE FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THIS POINT, MY UNDERSTANDING WITH FROM UNITED OR FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHEN YOU REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE FROM WHEN THIS ITEM WAS PLACED INITIALLY TILL TODAY. IS THAT CORRECT? IN TERMS OF THE, OF THE TERMS OF THE FINANCING? CORRECT. SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. EXCITED ABOUT THIS. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE, THE DISCUSSION OF THE FINANCES ON THIS AND FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, WITH THAT EXPLANATION. UM, DIRECTOR, THIS QUESTION'S FOR YOU. PART OF THE MOA DEALT WITH THE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, UM, EXPANSION. IT'S PART OF WHAT UNITED WILL BE PAYING FOR. YES. UM, IT, IT, IT'S BASICALLY, IT'S THE MARRIOTT LOOP TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SLASH EXPANSION. IF UNITED DETERMINES TO PROCEED WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, UNITED SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A ROADWAY EXPANSION AROUND THE MARRIOTT LOOP. AS FURTHER DESCRIBED ON EXHIBIT C SIX, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN THE AT FOR THE I TRIP DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN THE TRAFFIC. AND, AND I, I KNOW THAT WE'RE LEAVING THIS UP TO UNITED, IT'S THEIR, ONE OF THEIR COSTS. BUT I, I MEAN, WILL WE HAVE A SAY LIKE WE DO, WE, WE NEED THE BYPASS. I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA NEED A BYPASS. YEAH. SO, SO WE DO HAVE A SAY, UM, AND WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE ULTIMATE CONTROL OVER THAT. UM, AND WHAT WE DO THOUGH IS, IS WE'VE GOT A THREE PART TEST THAT WE DO FOR THE, THE ROADWAY MODELING. SO WE MODEL IT, THEN WE TEST IT, AND THEN WE IMPLEMENT IT. AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT ALREADY HAS KICKED OFF, RIGHT? AND SO IF WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED, THEY TORE DOWN THE BANJOS, UM, CURRENTLY. AND SO WE LOOKED AT THE TRAFFIC MODEL OF TAKING ALL OF THAT DEBRIS OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE, UH, AIRPORT. AND SO WE COULD LOOK AT THAT AND SEE THAT THAT WORKED. UM, FOR TERMINAL B, UH, WE DID THE SAME THING WHERE THEY'VE ALREADY MOVED THE TNCS AND THE BUSES INTO THE GARAGE TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE MORE CURB SPACE. UM, SO WE MODELED IT, WE TESTED IT, AND WE'VE IMPLEMENTED IT. UM, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE IS THEY'RE GONNA CLOSE THE, THE RAMP THAT GOES UP TO THE DEPART, UH, THE DEPARTURE TOP. SO WE'VE, UM, ALREADY MODELED THAT AND WE LOOKED, THAT LOOKS GOOD, AND WE'LL BEGIN TO TEST THAT NEXT WEEK. AND THEN AFTER WE TEST IT, THEN WE'LL IMPLEMENT IT. UM, OKAY. AND SO WE, WE USE THAT THREE PART PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO REALLY IMPEDE THE TRAFFIC THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, DIRECTOR, YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT, THAT IT'S ALREADY STARTED. WHO'S PICKED? WHO'S BEEN PICKING UP THE COST FOR CONSTRUCTION NOW? SO FOR THE, AND YOU WANT TOUCH THE, NO, GO AHEAD. OKAY. SO FOR THE INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION THERE, THERE'S A LOOKBACK PROVISION IN THERE. SO IF WE, IF WE, UM, IF, IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE RE INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION, UH, NEXT WEEK COUNCIL, THEY CAN LOOK BACK 30 DAYS OR 60 DAYS, 60, 60 DAYS PRIOR AND BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE COSTS IN THERE. SO WILL BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE ENTIRE COST THAT HAS ALREADY STARTED CONSTRUCTION, I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT. YEAH. SO WHO HAS PICKED, WHO'S BEEN PAYING THAT NOW? SO THAT'D BE UNITED. UNITED. OKAY. [05:45:01] WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, PUBLICLY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AS WELL, WANNA APPRECIATE UNITED, YOU KNOW, STEPPING FORWARD AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UM, AT THEIR COSTS, UM, AND MAYBE EVEN LOSE SOME MONEY, UH, DURING THAT PROCESS. SO, THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR PROTE. CAN IAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE UPDATE ON, ON THE FINANCIALS. I DID WANT TO, UM, STATE THAT ON, ON YESTERDAY, A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN ACTUAL SITE VISIT MM-HMM . AT THE, UM, AIRPORT AND AT THE UNITED, UH, TERMINAL B. AND TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AND THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON OUR ECONOMIC FORECAST IN THE CITY IS INCREDIBLE. UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CITY'S PLAYING A PART, BUT UNITED IS REALLY SHOWING US THEIR INVESTMENTS INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND WE NEEDED THE EXPANSION OF TERMINALS. UM, WE NEED THE CAPACITY TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE COME THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WE LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL PICTURE. UM, AIRPORTS ARE ECONOMIC ENGINES, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST OF THE BEST AIRPORT IN A CITY LIKE HOUSTON. AND I THINK THAT WE ARE SHOWING, UM, TODAY THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF STATE OF THE ART AIRPORT FOR, UM, TO BE CONSIDERED A ECONOMIC HUB, UM, FOR OUR CITY AND FOR TRAVELERS THAT ARE WANTING TO GO ANYWHERE, ALMOST ANYWHERE, UM, AROUND THE WORLD. BUT I WANNA SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR THE, THE FINANCIALS. UM, PICTURE, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST, UM, SEVERAL MEETINGS IN IN THE LAST YEAR. UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GET THOSE UPDATES. I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALL SCHEDULED TO GO ON THE, ON THE TOUR. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. I THINK YOU WILL BE THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED. UM, YESTERDAY WE SAW SOME PHENOMENAL, UM, ARTWORK. I MEAN, PEOPLE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THAT. UM, I, A H IS CONSIDERED THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR, UM, ARTWORK. OVER A MILLION PEOPLE, UM, ARE VIEWING THAT'S THE RIGHT NUMBER, RIGHT? MILLION. IT'S A MILLION PEOPLE. WELL, SO THE, THE, THE ART MUSEUM IN IN TOWN GETS ABOUT A MILLION VISITORS A YEAR. THE AIRPORT GETS ABOUT A MILLION A WEEK. UM, SO WE, WE GET A LOT MORE VIEW OF OUR, OUR PROGRAM THAN, THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. AND IT'S INCREDIBLE. UM, WE SAW SOME SURPRISE PIECES, UM, THAT I THINK THAT TRAVELERS WILL REALLY ENJOY WHILE THEY ARE, UM, TRANS TRANSFERRING FLIGHTS AND EN ENJOYING THE SPACE. UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GREAT THINGS TO COME. AND I DO WANT TO JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE PATIENT. SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE WORSE IN CONSTRUCTION, BUT ULTIMATELY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PRIZE PRODUCT. UM, SO IF THERE IS A, A LITTLE BIT MORE TRAFFIC AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CONGESTION, UM, BE PATIENT BECAUSE GREAT THINGS AWAIT US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT OUR AIRPORT. UM, I DO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. AND WHEN YOU SIT IN THIS SEAT, WHEN WE GO TO THE AIRPORT, WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS THAN WE DID WHEN WE WERE SIMPLY JUST CATCHING A FLIGHT. MM-HMM . UM, BUT THE SIGNAGE WAS GREAT. UM, I WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I NEEDED TO PARK THAT HAD CHANGED. UM, THE SIGNAGE INSIDE WAS VER WAS QUITE SUFFICIENT. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TRANSITION PROCESS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION EASIER FOR, UH, TRAVELERS. UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. UM, THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT FOR THE CITY. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED. I'M GLAD THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE CERTIFICATION BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL FLICKER. AMEN. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR YESTERDAY. UM, REALLY EXCITED TO SEE SOME OF THE CHANGES GOING ON THERE. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT WHEN YOU GET DONE. YEAH. ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATIONS ON SOME OTHER AGENDA ITEMS WE HAVE TODAY THAT WERE APPROVING SOME SPENDING ON. UH, YOU GAVE ME QUITE A BIT OF DETAIL THAT CLEARED THAT UP. THANK YOU. YEAH, VERY GOOD. THANK EACH OF YOU, UH, JUST KEEP ON DOING A GREAT JOB. THE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE IN BEING USER FRIENDLY SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN OVER IS REALLY NOTICEABLE. I WAS THERE LAST WEEK AND, UH, IF WE COULD SURVIVE THE, UH, SPRING BREAK INCREASE IN VOLUME, I BET IT'S PROBABLY AN ALL TIME HIGH. SO IT WAS AN ALL TIME HIGH RECORD, RECORD HIGH FOR US. AND THEN AGAIN, UH, WE WERE REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAM. UH, 'CAUSE THEY DID VERY WELL ON THE OUTBOUND. UM, SO WHEN, WHEN ALL THE HOUSTONIANS WERE LEAVING OUR TRAFFIC THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR WAS DOWN 53% ON FRIDAY AND 52% ON SATURDAY, AND 23% ON SUNDAY. SO, SO ON THE OUTBOUND WE DID GOOD. UH, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A HICCUP ON SUNDAY, UH, WHEN EVERYBODY RETURNED. BUT IT WASN'T ACTUALLY EVERYBODY RETURNING. WE HAD SOME TRAFFIC THERE. IT WAS ACTUALLY PEOPLE LEAVING HOUSTON. SO THAT WAS A GOOD SIGN THAT PEOPLE CAME TO HOUSTON FOR SPRING BREAK 'CAUSE THEY WERE [05:50:01] ALL GOING BACK TO THEIR HOMES. UH, SO WE WERE, YOU KNOW, VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE AIRPORT GENERATES ABOUT 36.4 BILLION ANNUALLY, UH, TO THE CITY'S ECONOMY. AND SO WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE LEAVING AFTER SPRING BREAK AND WE KNOW THAT THEY WERE HERE IN HOUSTON DOING SPRING BREAK, THAT'S A GREAT THING FOR US. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. AND MELISSA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND, UH, WISDOM. THANK YOU. IT REALLY IS REALLY NOTICEABLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT MEMBERS, UM, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER COHEN JUST WALKED IN, SO YOU CAN DO THIS IF YOU WANT, BUT I WAS GONNA LEAVE MEMBERS WE MIGHT AS WELL, BEFORE WE GET ON TO SOME AGENDA ITEMS. I THINK WE HAVE OUR REVIEW PANEL PRESENT THAT I WANT TO, UH, PRESENT TO YOU IN PUBLIC. UM, OBVIOUSLY WE ALL KNOW THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE HPD SUSPENDED, UM, REVIEW OF INCIDENT REPORTS. IT'S, UH, IT'S ALARMING. UH, I KNOW CHIEF FINN AND HIS TEAM, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEIR WORK LOCATION, IS GOING THROUGH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES AND DOMESTIC ABUSE CASES TO REVIEW THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE VICTIM REPORTS. I'M HAVING HAND OUT TO YOU THE SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW PANEL. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT WITH THE PANEL INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A GROUP, ANY OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER. UH, I THINK THE EYES OF HOUSTON ARE OPPONENTS AND TO HAVE AN INDIVID INDEPENDENT REVIEW, UH, THE HPD WORK PRODUCT WAS ESSENTIAL. UH, I'VE HANDED OUT TO YOU THE NATURE OF THE REVIEW. I'VE, UH, ASKED ELLEN COHEN, A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS BODY. IN FACT, MAYOR PRO TEM TIM LEGISL, OUR, UH, FORMER CEO OF THE HOUSTON AREA AND WOMEN'S CENTER, JUST A PERSON THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED HER COMMITMENT TO HOUSTONIANS REPEATEDLY. THE CHAIR CAPTAIN JEFF LES WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS IS A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT WITH 21 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, 12 YEARS AS A RANGER. EXCELLENT INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS. AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT THE DPS AND THE RANGERS ALLOWED HIM TO TAKE ON THIS ASSIGNMENT. CHRISTINA NOACK WORKS IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, RECOGNIZED AS SOMEONE COMMITTED TO POLICE REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY, ACTUALLY SERVING ON THE CITY'S POLICING REFORM ACCOUNTABILITY SINCE SEPTEMBER 23. A NO NONSENSE PERSON TO GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF A POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. UM, CIVIC LEADER, PASTOR LEON PRESTON IS, UH, A COMMUNITY SPOKESPERSON. I WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS INCLUDED, THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT HOUSTON CONSISTS OF. AND REVEREND PRESTON WILL BRING A POINT OF VIEW AND EXPERIENCE TO THIS PANEL. AND OF COURSE, TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE, EACH OF THE STEPS WE GO FORWARD TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE CITY ORDINANCES AND ALL THE REGULATIONS ARE FOLLOWED. I THOUGHT IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY ARTURI MICHELLE, AND THANK YOU FOR HIS PUBLIC SERVICE. I'LL ASK HIM TO STEP UP TO THE, TO THE PODIUM JUST SO WE CAN, UH, THANK THEM PUBLICLY AND THEN ALLOW THEM TO GO BEGIN THEIR WORK. UM, THEY'VE BEEN GATHERING INFORMATION SINCE I CONTACTED THEM OVER A WEEK AGO. SO THE WORK HAS BEGUN. AND, UH, I'VE ASKED THEM TO BE TRANSPARENT, INDEPENDENT, AND GO WHEREVER THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM HBD TAKES 'EM. UH, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO, TO BE EXCUSED AND GO TO WORK. UH, I'LL BE WITH YOU VERY SHORTLY, BUT, UH, UM, I'LL YIELD AT THIS TIME TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. [05:55:01] I WAS GONNA YELL TO MS. COHEN, BUT YOU GO AHEAD. NO, MAYOR, I'M HAPPY TO WAIT UNTIL, UH, WE HEAR FROM THE APPOINTEE. UH, I WANT TO CALL YOU ALLEN 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE CALLED YOU FOR. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T CALL ME ANYTHING ELSE, THAT'LL ALRIGHT. 30, 30 OR 40 YEARS. UH, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO BE A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS IN, IN PREVIOUS VENUES, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THIS. I KNOW THE TIME THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE TO THIS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU, YOU WERE BORED OR DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY WHEN WE CONTACTED YOU. AND SO I COULD, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT I'LL YIELD TO, UM, CHAIRMAN COHEN AT THIS TIME. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THIS. I, MIKE, SORRY, I SHOULD KNOW THAT RIGHT. , THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, TO WORKING WITH AS AUGUST BODY. UH, WE HAVE NOT MET, MET, SO, UM, I GET AN OPPORTUNITY IN A FEW MINUTES TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND REALLY GO OVER AND TALK ABOUT OUR CHARGE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT. UM, I THINK IT'S A, A VERY STELLAR PANEL AS YOU SUGGEST. UM, MAYOR, IT REPRESENTS A CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY. AND, UM, I KNOW THAT CITY COUNCIL FEELS A STRONG OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WORKS AS WELL AS DO WE. AND, UH, I'VE BEEN IN YOUR PLACE AND I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND I'LL YIELD TO, WELL, I I'M GONNA PROBABLY, UNLESS SOMEONE'S GOT SOMETHING TO ADD, UH, LET YOU BE RELEASED TO GO TO WORK, . I, I'M, I'M GONNA SAY, UH, I WANNA EMPHASIZE THE ACCOUNTABILITY FACTOR. THAT'S THE PURPOSE IN THIS REVIEW AND CERTAINLY THE PREVENTION. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK AT A FUTURE DATE AND ASSURE US OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE PROCESS THAT HBDS UNDERTAKEN, AND ALSO THE GUARDRAILS OR THE PREVENTION ASPECT TO BE PROACTIVE, THAT THIS JUST CANNOT BE ALLOWED IN THE FUTURE. AND, AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING ALSO, UH, TO HAVE YOU COME BACK AND REPORT ABOUT THE SYSTEM OF DATA COLLECTION AND THE LACK OF RESOURCES THAT HPD HAS, NOT ONLY STAFFING, BUT ON, UH, THE DATA COLLECTION, WHICH I, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME THAT THE CHIEF TELLS ME IF THEY TAKE DOWN THE CODE TODAY, THE WHOLE SYSTEM COULD COLLAPSE. AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY HOUSTONIANS WANT THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE OPERATING. AND GOING BACK TO A LOT OF OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, ABOUT HOW UNDER FUNDED SOME AREAS OF CITY GOVERNMENT IS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY, I THINK WE ALL WOULD AGREE WITH IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. SO ACCOUNTABILITY AND PREVENTION WOULD BE THE, THE BULLET POINTS THAT I WOULD EMPHASIZE. AND I'LL, I'LL YIELD TO CAMAN COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU, MARIN. THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE REFERENCE TO THE RMS SYSTEM. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, UM, HAVE NOW FUNDED AND IS BEING IMPLEMENTED, UH, WHICH WAS A PRIORITY FOR ME. I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU ALL, UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, BUT ALSO ON THIS MATTER BECAUSE ALL OF HOUSTON IS LOOKING TO YOU. UH, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE, UM, AT THE HELM, UH, I REFER TO YOU ALWAYS AS MAYOR PRO TEM COHEN, ALSO MY PREDECESSOR, BUT I THINK IT SIGNALS TO THE CITY WHEN WE HAVE A CHAIR WHO USED TO LEAD THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, AND THAT THE FOCUS ON THIS, UM, WHILE WE HAVE TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED SO THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. THAT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE MUST DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS. AND WE MUST NOT ONLY MAKE SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN, BUT THAT WE, UM, TAKE THIS TIME TO BUILD THAT TRUST TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN AND MEN DO COME FORWARD AND DO WORK WITH THE CITY, DO REPORT, UM, AND HAVE THAT FAITH IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, THIS BODY IS EXTREMELY CAPABLE, BUT MAY I APPRECIATE THE, THE REFLECTIVENESS OF THE FACT THAT THE EMPHASIS MUST ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE ON SURVIVORS. I HAD ONE QUESTION. UM, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, I KNOW, GOING TO BE A THOROUGH REVIEW. MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE, UH, AND THEY NEED AS MUCH TIME AS THEY CAN GET TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT AS IT RELATES TO, UM, EXPECTATIONS, DO WE HAVE AN OBJECTIVE TIMELINE FOR WHEN THIS REVIEW REVIEW WILL BE CONCLUDED? I WANT 'EM TO JUST DO A COMPLETE REVIEW. SO I, I DON'T, I THINK IT'D BE WRONG TO GIVE THEM TIME RESTRAINTS. I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF 'EM. THEY'VE ALL HELD RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS AND HAVE RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS [06:00:01] BEYOND THIS. SO I'M GONNA LEAVE IT TO THEIR JUDGMENT WHEN THEY THINK THEY'VE, UH, BEEN COMPLETE. A LOT OF THAT OBVIOUSLY WILL BE INFLUENCED BY THE COMPLETENESS OF THE HPD REVIEW, WHICH THEY WILL REVIEW AND REPORT BACK TO US. AND I HOPE, UH, THEY'LL LET US KNOW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BETTER TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS AND HOW IN THE WORLD THIS WAS ALLOWED TO EXIST FOR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS. AND, AND MAYBE EVEN, I SAW A TAPE YESTERDAY OF, OF SOMEONE DISCUSSING IT IN 2014. SO WE NEED SOME SAFEGUARDS WHERE IF SOMETHING IS THAT BROKEN, THAT SOMEONE STEPS FORWARD AND LETS THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT IT. SO IT'D BE A, IT'D BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HIT A RESTART AND HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DATA COLLECTION. SO I COULD BRAG, UH, JEFF HOWES, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR LONG TIME PUBLIC SERVICE. AND CHRISTINA, YOU'VE CERTAINLY BUILT A REPUTATION OF INTEGRITY AND GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT. SO IT'S A GREAT MIX. AND REVEREND PRESTON, YOU PRAYED FOR US A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, RIGHT AT THAT HORSESHOE. SO, UH, KEEP THOSE SKILLS SHARP. . THANK YOU, MY FRIEND, MAYOR PRO. MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX STADIUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, OF COURSE, I WANTED TO, UM, SAY GOOD MORNING AND HELLO TO, UM, A FORMER COLLEAGUE, THE HONORABLE ELLEN COHEN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING WILLING TO, UM, CHAIR THIS COMMITTEE. UM, IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT ONLY LED THE WOMEN'S CENTER, BUT ALSO SAT IN THIS SEAT AND KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT THIS PERSPECTIVE WILL BE ON THIS, UM, NEW BOARD IS, UH, REFLECTIVE IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE TO HAVE, UH, THIS BOARD PUT TOGETHER FOR, UM, THE REVIEWING OF, UH, THE HPD CASES. UH, MAYOR YESTERDAY, WE HAD PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT CAME AND, UH, SUGGESTED THAT THE TEXAS RANGERS TAKE OVER THE, IN INSPECT, UH, THE INVESTIGATION. SO WE'VE GOT SOMEONE, UM, FROM THE TEXAS RANGERS, WE HAD SOMEONE COME UP AND ASK FOR OIG TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THE, UM, INVESTIGATIONS. WE'VE GOT SOMEONE FROM OIG ON ON THE BOARD. UM, SO I THINK THAT THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, THE DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE IS REFLECTIVE HERE. UM, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UM, ALL EYES, UM, WILL BE, BE LOOKING AT HOW WE HANDLE THIS. THIS IS A, A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR US IN PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK YOU WILL DO AND YOUR FINDINGS. THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. UM, Y'ALL ARE, UM, STEPPING INTO A POSITION AT, AT THE RIGHT TIME. UM, SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTINA. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, SHE'S FROM A LEAF, RIGHT? I DIDN'T, SO THAT'S WHY SHE GIVES DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. WE SHARED THAT, BUT I I, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, HOUSTONIANS ARE DEPENDING ON YOU, THE ADMINISTRATION'S DEPENDING ON YOU, WE ARE AS WELL. AND I'M SURE YOU'LL COME BACK, UM, WITH SOME RESULTS. UH, MR. MAYOR, A QUESTION FOR YOU. UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM, THOUGHTS ABOUT THE I UH, IPOD BOARD AND HOW YOU PLAN ON LEVERAGING THEM, THE INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENTS REVIEWED, UH, THAT ALREADY COMPRISES COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OR IS THAT AT A LATER DATE? I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION. I'M, I'M SO SURE PLEASED WITH THIS PANEL. SURE. I MEAN, IT'S JUST, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD IMPROVE UPON IT, QUITE FRANKLY. BUT, UH, THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, THE INTEGRITY, AND THE PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND GET SOME RESULTS. THEY'RE ALL RESULTS ORIENTED, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS IN HPD. AND, UH, I, LIKE I SAY, I'M READY FOR 'EM TO GO TO WORK. I'LL, I'LL JOIN Y'ALL VERY SHORTLY, UH, TO EMPHASIZE ACCOUNTABILITY AND PREVENTION. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL, THAT'S WHAT HOUSTONIANS WON'T NEED AND WILL GET FROM THIS PANEL. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT. LET'S GO TO WORK. . THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. [1.  PUBLIC HEARING to provide a Resolution of No Objection for the 4% Housing Tax Credit for the following applicants: TRINITY EAST VILLAGE 2709 ST. CHARLES DISTRICT D - EVANS-SHABAZZ  Trinity East Village has withdrawn and will not be considered MEADOWBROOK PLAZA  600 E. LITTLE YORK  DISTRICT H - CASTILLO  YALE VILLAGE  5673 YALE  DISTRICT H - CASTILLO ] NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL UP ITEM NUMBER ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICANTS TRINITY [06:05:01] EAST VILLAGE HAS WITHDRAWN AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. MEADOWBROOK PLAZA AND YALE VILLAGE, THANK YOU. NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THAT'S PRESENT? SEEING NO ONE? IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. COMMENT SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL OPPOSED? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA SAYS MAYOR'S REPORT. I DON'T, I ASSUME Y'ALL DON'T WANNA START OVER WITH THE MAYOR'S REPORT. THAT [CONSENT AGENDA] CONSENT AGENDA, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PROCEED TO THE CURRENT AGENDA, CONSENT AGREEMENT. ITEM TWO HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID. CATEGORY ITEMS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SIX, CAST TAX. TA, MOVE ON THE SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS, REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. SEVEN THROUGH 12, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25 AND 30. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, AND 30. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM THREE FOR ME. YES. OKAY. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CAN STATE, STATE A MOVE THOMAS SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FOUR NEEDS. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. SAY A, MOVE THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? GIMME A SECOND. CAN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. COLLEAGUES. THIS WAS MY BUDGET AMENDMENT. WE GOT THIS DONE LAST YEAR AT THE BUDGET. WE, WE PUT, I PUT A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN FOR A NEW ADOPTION TRAILER AND THREE VEHICLES. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY, WE'RE GETTING TWO MORE. MINE WAS FOR 500,000. SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE BADLY NEEDED. THOSE, THOSE, UH, VEHICLES WERE LIMPING ALONG. AND SO REALLY HAPPY IT TOOK, YOU KNOW, THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR TO GET THIS ON THE AGENDA. BUT IT'S HERE. AND GO. TEAM . VERY GOOD. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. MOVE ALMOST SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GONNA BE TAGGING THIS ITEM AGAIN. UH, JUST AS A DISCLAIMER, UH, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WILL NOT, UH, BY TAGGING IMPACT THE TIMELINE TO ALLOW THE PROCUREMENT FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS. SO THIS IS FOR HPD PURSUIT VEHICLES THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED, BUT TAGGING ONE WEEK WILL NOT IMPACT THE TIMELINE FOR THE ORDER I'M TAGGING SIMPLY BECAUSE, UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED ACROSS THE CITY FOR VEHICLES. UH, AT THE SAME TIME, MAYOR, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL BILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG ON A SETTLEMENT. WE ARE LOOKING FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO SAVE DOLLARS. AND HYBRID VEHICLES ARE A WAY TO DO THAT, THAT ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. HYBRIDS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ELECTRIC ARE THE SAME EXACT VEHICLE, BUT HAVE EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THEM. IT IS THE WAY THAT WE ARE MOVING AS A NATION AND ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT RELATE TO VEHICLES ACROSS THE BOARD. WHILE I LOVE GSD, UH, WHEN WE HAVE CANCELLATIONS, WE HAVE CANCELLATIONS WITH TRADITIONAL VEHICLES AS WELL. IT IS ZERO WEEK HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THERE ARE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS COMING UP WITH EXTRAORDINARY TECHNOLOGIES ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WE CANNOT SIMPLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROCURE HYBRID VEHICLES WHEN OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. AND I TRUST THAT OUR CITY CAN. I AM WORKING WITH PROCUREMENT AND I APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP AS WE LOOK AT ADDITIONAL CO-OP OPPORTUNITIES. UH, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE, UH, FROM HPD ON THE FACT, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH HPD, AND THIS MAY NOT BE ACCURATE, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD AS IT RELATES [06:10:01] TO PURSUIT VEHICLES, WE ARE NOT EVEN LOOKING AT HYBRIDS. AGAIN, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES. WE DO NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, SIMPLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. SO I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HPD, LIKE EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING INTO OPPORTUNITIES TO PURCHASE HYBRID VEHICLES. AND WITH THAT, I'M TAGGING. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. ITEM FIVE IS TAGGED. ITEM SEVEN, ITEM SEVEN IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. OH, BACK UP. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON GOING FORWARD? ON, ON SEVEN? I'M SORRY. YES, MA'AM. SEVEN MAY MADAM SECRETARY, ITEM SEVEN IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. UH, FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, ON THIS ITEM, UM, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ORDINANCE, UM, IS IN REFERENCE TO, UM, WHAT WAS DONE IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. UM, BUT AFTER THIS LENGTHY DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD THIS MORNING, AND, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, YOU SAID, WE ARE BROKE. UM, DO WE REALLY NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, DOING THIS? UM, AND SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF MY COMMENT FOR DISCUSSION. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I HAD, UH, SIMILAR QUESTIONS WHEN IF FIRST STARTED SPEAKING TO YOUR STAFF, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR RESPONSIVENESS, UH, TO THE QUESTIONS I HAD. UH, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS? UH, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS GONNA BE TAKEN FROM REV THAT WE CANNOT ALREADY ADD, UH, TAKE INTO TO OUR GENERAL FUND. UH, BUT THEN SPEAKING TO CHILDCARE FACILITIES IN GENERAL AND JUST CHILDCARE FACILITY DESERTS, UH, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS IN DISTRICT. I, UH, WHERE WE DO SEE A LOT OF THESE, UH, THESE AREAS. UM, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THESE CHILDCARE FACILITIES ARE, THAT ARE IN, IN OPERATION RIGHT NOW CAN STAY IN OPERATION, WHICH IS NEEDED. BUT THE ONE THING THAT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, AND THAT MAYBE WE CAN, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE STATE ASK US TO TALK ABOUT TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR CHILDCARE FACILITIES. HOW CAN WE HAVE THEM ALSO SUPPORT INCREASING CHILDCARE FACILITIES IN DESERTS? BECAUSE THE BILL DOESN'T NECESSARILY ADDRESS WHERE WE HAVE CHILDCARE FACILITY DESERTS, THAT WE NEED MORE FACILITIES. AND SO I SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, ZIP CODES IN 11, 12, 23, 8, 7. PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE IS IN DISTRICT. I, UH, IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE. UH, AND THEN THE, THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UH, WAS BEING DISCUSSED TOO IS, UM, HOW, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT AS WE GIVE THIS TAX EXEMPTION TO THESE CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT YOU ALSO SEE THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO THE FAMILIES. UM, AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH, WITH YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN HOPEFULLY OPEN, UH, AT THE, AT STATE LEGISLATOR AND NEXT GO AROUND AS WELL. BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS FLICKINGER COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. SO I UNDERSTAND THIS WILL DECREASE OUR REVENUES BY MAXIMUM OF 3.5 MILLION. IS THAT CORRECT? IF EVERYONE APPLIES? I UNDERSTAND. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME STATISTICS AS TO WHY. UM, IN THE PAN DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW THE REPERCUSSIONS OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES CLOSING. WE SAW FAMILIES FORCED BACK INTO HOMES. UH, CHILDCARE FACILITIES NOT ONLY HAVE A DISPARATE IMPACT WHEN CLOSED ON WOMEN, BUT IT'S STATISTICALLY SHOWN THAT WOMEN OF COLOR, EXCUSE ME, UM, ARE A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF OWNERS OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND THEY ARE DEEMED A SMALL BUSINESS AS WELL. UM, THE CLOSURE RATE THAT WE SAW FROM MARCH, 2020 TO SEPTEMBER OF 2021 IN HARRIS COUNTY WAS ABOUT 582 CHILDCARE FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY. THAT'S ABOUT 21% THAT CLOSED AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC THANKS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. AND I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAME IN THE 24 BILLION IN SUBSIDIES TO CHILDCARE THROUGH ARPA. MANY OF THOSE WERE ABLE TO EITHER REOPEN OR TO STAY OPEN. HOWEVER, AS WE KNOW, THE FUNDING HAS RUN OUT. AND WHILE AT THE LEGISLATURE, I WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO, UH, REPRESENTATIVE WALLY WHO TRIED TO SECURE STATE FUNDING FOR THIS. UM, THE ALTERNATIVE THAT WAS PASSED IS WHAT THE TEXAS VOTERS APPROVED, WHICH WAS THIS TAX, UM, ABATEMENT PROGRAM, TAX RELIEF FOR THESE CHILDCARE FACILITIES. IF WE DO NOT PASS THIS, UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO PULL THE NUMBER. GIMME ONE SECOND. THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE CHILDCARE CENTERS IS APPROXIMATELY 278. THAT'S 278 CHILDCARE FACILITIES [06:15:01] THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REMAIN OPEN IF WE DON'T PASS THIS. I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL REPERCUSSIONS AND THE CONSTRAINTS THAT THE CITY IS UNDER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE FAMILIES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO TAKE THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY NEED TO GO TO WORK, AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES FOR CHILDCARE IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY EARN A LIVING, GET TO WORK AND HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. DO YOU WANNA GO? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION. I DO THINK, UH, CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN EMPHASIZED THE FISCAL RAMIFICATIONS. YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND WE KEEP PUTTING ITEMS LIKE THIS ON THE BALLOT, WE GOT A HECK OF A PROBLEM. AND SO I HOPE AS WE REVIEW THE MERITS OF THIS, WE'LL ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S GONNA COME A DAY. AND I THINK I WAS SUGGESTING EARLIER, LET'S SAY APRIL ONE, YOU KNOW, I'LL GET Y'ALL'S INPUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE, WE JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. IN FACT, I WOULD SUGGEST WITH THE 160 MILLION SHORTFALL THAT WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH, UH, WE'RE ALREADY IN THE DILEMMA. SO AS WE TALK OF THE PASSION OF THESE CITY SERVICES, WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE PASSION OF BEING BROKE. AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SAY THAT REPEATEDLY BECAUSE I COULD GO ON AND ON. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION. MELISSA, YOU WANNA COMMENT ON THE PHYSICAL IMPACT? I DO, YEAH. JUST TO CLARIFY, IN THE THREE AND A HALF MILLION, SO THE THREE AND A HALF MILLION WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM THAT THE, UH, QUALIFIED CENTERS WOULD SEE AS A REDUCTION, THE WAY THE REVENUE CAP IS STRUCTURED NOW, WHEN WE INCREASE EXEMPTIONS, IT LOWERS THE CITY'S OVERALL TAXABLE VALUE. UH, AND SO IT'S NOT A DIRECT IMPACT TO OUR REVENUE. UM, BECAUSE AS TAXABLE VALUE INCREASES, WE END UP LOWERING OUR TAX RATE. UH, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA BE A, IT'S GONNA BE REVENUE NEUTRAL FOR THE CITY, THE WAY THE REVENUE CAP IS STRUCTURED CURRENTLY. SO ESSENTIALLY IT SHIFTS THE BURDEN ON TO EVERYBODY ELSE WITH THAT CORRECT IT. CORRECT. OKAY. YEAH. THAT, THAT'S THE CASE WITH ALL EXEMPTIONS OVER 65 RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD, RIGHT? YES. THANK MAYOR. CAN I RECLAIM SOME OF, OF MY TIME? THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT IN PERSPECTIVE. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. YEAH, I JUST, I QUICKLY WANTED TO CLAIM SOME OF MY TIME AND RESPONSE, AND I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AROUND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. CHILDCARE IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE THAT DRIVES OUR ECONOMY. NO QUESTION. WITH ALL CHILDCARE, WE CANNOT HAVE A THRIVING HOUSTON ECONOMY. I AGREE. AND YOU COULD SAY THAT ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER ITEMS, THOMAS, OR MAYBE TWO DOZEN ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU. I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AS WELL, AND I JUST WANNA, UM, ILLUSTRATE THE CONNECTION AS IT RELATES TO, UM, HOUSING SOME OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL 9% TAX CREDIT DEALS. ONE IN DISTRICT K. YES. UM, I WANT, AND I ALSO WANNA SAY ONE OF THE TEJANO CENTER IS BECAUSE, UH, WITHIN THOSE PROJECTS, THEY ADDED, UM, AN EDUCATION COMPONENT K THROUGH 12. UH, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, SOME OF THE MODELS, MOST DEVELOPERS PRE ARE LOOKING TO PRE-K THREE AND FOUR, THE PRE-K, RIGHT? AND FORT BEN I, WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH FORT BEND, ISD. AND SO, UM, MANY NONPROFITS AND DEVELOPERS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING CHILDCARE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING WITHIN THESE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. UM, SO THIS IS A PIVOT IN THE DIRECTION THAT MANY OF OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS HAVE ALREADY GONE TO. AND, UM, AND WHERE THE INDUSTRY HAS AN APPETITE. SO I, I THINK THIS IS AN APPEALING ITEM FOR US TO SUPPORT TODAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. AND WE ALL KNOW EARLY INTERVENTION, UH, MATTERS. SO ANYONE ELSE JUST NEED TO VOTE? NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? UR? NO. YEAH. GOT RAMIREZ. ALL OPPOSED? NO MOTION. CARRIE, WHAT ARE KIDS? RAMIR RAMIREZ. NO KIDS. HOFFMAN, RAMIREZ, AND CARTER. OKAY. THEY CAN'T GET TO WORK. HELL. OKAY. ITEM CARRIES. ADAM CARRIES. UH, ADAM EIGHT. ITEM EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL P*****K. COUNCILOR P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AS I LOOK AT THE AGENDA, UH, RELATED TO THIS ITEM, IT STATES THAT IT [06:20:01] IS RELATING TO WATER BILL ADJUSTMENTS. AND IN THE BACK, UH, IT REFERENCES THAT THIS REPEAL WILL ENSURE FASTER BILLING, ISSUE RESOLUTION AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. UH, CAN YOU LAY OUT TO THE PUBLIC HOW THAT WILL BE AND, AND WHAT THIS ITEM WILL COVER? NOW WE'RE WAITING FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THEIR TECHNOLOGY IN COMPLIANCE THAT, UH, WOULD PREVENT THE BILLS FROM GOING OUT, EXORBITANT BILLS IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO THERE'S STILL A COMPONENT THAT, UH, THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT'S WORKING ON. SO WHAT, WHAT WILL THIS ITEM DO? THIS ITEM WILL STOP THE PRACTICE OR THE ORDINANCE THAT, THAT'S ON THE BOOKS THAT YOU'D GET FIRED IF YOU INTERVENE AND TRY TO HELP SOMEBODY WITH THEIR BILL. NUTTIEST THING. I'VE RUN ACROSS, WELL, NOT THE MOST NUTTIEST, BUT . IT'S ON THE SHORT LIST THAT Y'ALL, THAT Y'ALL, THE CITY HAS AN ORDINANCE THAT YOU GET DISCIPLINED OR FIRED IF YOU ASSIST SOMEBODY IN CORRECTING THEIR BILLING. SO THIS TAKES IT OFF THE BOOKS. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH OUR PLAN OF HAVING AN ACCURATE AND FAIR WATER BILLING SYSTEM THAT, UM, IS LONG OVERDUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. THAT'S ALL. JUST A, UH, NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NINE. ITEM NINE IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. TAG TAGGED BY COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. ITEM NINE'S TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. ADAM 10, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA IS, IS COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR POLICING HIS TAG FOR DISCUSSION. I'M, I'M, I AM. HOLD ON Y'ALL. I JUST, THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU WANNA LET, OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WANNA ASK OF MY COLLEAGUE IF HE'LL LIFT HIS TAG FOR ME TO MAKE A COMMENT. SURE. I WILL RELEASE THE TAG. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. CERTAINLY I WILL. EVAN SHABA, THAT'S VERY, VERY COMMENT. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I CERTAINLY RESPECT MY, UH, COLLEAGUES', UH, DESIRE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPER. WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THE, THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS HAD SOME PROBLEMS, BUT I DID, UH, SEND A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TO HIM LAST NIGHT AS WELL AS HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE THIS MORNING. BUT HE SAID THAT HE NEEDS MORE TIME. CERTAINLY IF ANY OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET BE PRIVY TO THAT INFORMATION, I CAN, YOU CAN CERTAINLY REQUEST THAT OF MY OFFICE AND I WILL SEND IT OUT TO YOU. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, UH, THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO COMPLETING AND MOVING FORWARD. AND SO CERTAINLY I HOPE THAT AFTER YOU REVIEW YOUR INFORMATION, I CAN, UH, DEPEND ON YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES ON NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. DID YOU WANNA COMMENT AGAIN? I DID. OKAY. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ IN THE YES. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MARY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED. UM, WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS AFTER INVESTIGATING, UH, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE OF NHP. I'M CERTAIN AS WE CONTINUE THIS, UH, DISCUSSION, UH, THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS AND WE CAN GET SOME, UH, SOME CONCERNS RESOLVED. BUT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO RESIDENTS OUT THERE AND, UM, THEY'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE BEING PROVIDED. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT, UH, ANY, ANY VENDOR WHO DOES BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, IT'S NOT REALLY SO MUCH ABOUT NHP AS ANY VENDOR WHO DOES BUSINESS WITH THE CITY SHOULD BE PERFORMING AT A HIGH LEVEL AND SHOULD BE, UM, UM, PERFORMING AT, AT A LEVEL THAT SATISFIES OUR RESIDENTS. AND MY CONCERN IS RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT BEING DONE, UH, WITH NHP AND, UH, HOPE TO GET THIS RESOLVED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO, UH, AS ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ AS TO THOSE CONCERNS TO BE INCLUDED THAT YOU WOULD INFORM ME AS TO WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE IN REGARDING THIS PROJECT. UM, I CERTAINLY COMMEND THE QUESTIONING OF IT, BUT I LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS CERTAINLY, UH, A WELL DESERVED PROJECT AND I LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON IT IN REGARD. DR. RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCIL RAMIREZ. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE, AND THEY LIST SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WERE LISTED A YEAR AGO, UH, THAT WERE REFERENCED BY, UH, MR. LONDON IN HER REMARKS, IN, IN PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, YESTERDAY. UH, THEY BELIEVE THEIR CONCERNS ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THERE HAS BEEN SEWAGE THAT HAS BEEN BUBBLING UP. THERE HAVE BEEN RATS. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN ANOTHER OF OTHER, UH, UNSANITARY CONDITIONS. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN [06:25:01] THESE CONDITIONS. AND, UH, WE NEED FOR OUR VENDORS WHO PROVIDE HOUSING SERVICES TO TAKE THESE, THESE, UH, SERIOUS CONCERNS INTO ACCOUNT AND, AND DEAL WITH THEM. AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR CONCERN BECAUSE WE HAVE RESIDENTS OUT THERE WHO ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED. A NUMBER OF THEM HAVE TOLD US THEY'RE, UH, SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT BREAKING THEIR LEASE. THAT'S ALRIGHT. SO THEY CAN GO AND FIND SOME OTHER MORE SUITABLE PLACE TO LIVE. THAT'S OUR CONCERN. OKAY. THAT'S ALL TAGGED BY RAMIREZ. THAT'S IT. COUNCIL, I'M SORRY. COUNCILOR CARTER. COUNCILMAN CARTER. JUST REAL QUICK. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE YOU REFERRING TO WITH, UH, CON ISSUES ON THE SERVICE SIDE? THE ONE, I'M SORRY, THE ONE WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON IS CLEM MANOR. CLEM MANOR, JACKSON, COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, SHABAZZ, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, UM, FOR, UM, YOUR DISTRICT. AND, UM, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH CLEM MANOR, THE MANAGEMENT NHP, UM, FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IN FACT, UM, BACK IN 2014 15, IT WAS THE FIRST DEVELOPER THAT ENTERED INTO A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND SO, UM, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE WITH THE SEWER. UM, THERE WAS SOME ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS, BUT THIS IS AN OLD APARTMENT COMPLEX. UM, THE MANAGEMENT HAVE SINCE REPLACED OLD MANAGEMENT THAT THEY HAD OVER THE FACILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. AND SO, UM, I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I KNOW LAST YEAR WE HAD A, A ITEM THAT CAME UP WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO GIVE COLUMBIA MAN A, WHAT IT WAS SOME DOLLARS FOR, UM, A PROJECT THEY WERE DOING AFFORDABLE, WHAT IS IT? A WHAT WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PROJECT? IT WAS PSH. YEAH, IT WAS A SEPARATE ALLOCATION, BUT CLEMENT HAD COME UP AT THE TIME THEY CAME UP AGAIN. YEAH. 17. RIGHT. AND SO THEY COMMITTED, THEY COMMITTED TO, UM, WORK WITH COUNSEL AND CHECK IN WITH COUNSEL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'RE MAKING IN REGARDS TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OVER AT CLEMENT MANOR. AND SO, AGAIN, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULDN'T LIKE, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DEVELOPERS THAT ARE NOT, UM, TAKING CARE OF PROPERTIES WITHIN OUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT THIS PROJECT RIGHT HERE, UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT AND WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. I MEAN, I AGREE WITH THIS PROJECT, BUT HOWEVER, UM, CLEMENT MANOR, THE DEVELOPER NEEDS TO BRING IT UP TO STANDARD AND THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO DO THAT. AND SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CLEMENT MANOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, FOR GIVING THAT INFORMATION ABOUT CLEMENT MANNERS, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER. UM, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A WEALTH OF INFORMATION SENT ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPER HAS COMPLETED. IN PARTICULAR THE CITADEL, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT D. AND THE, AND LAST WEEK OR WEEK OR TWO, GO THE RASMUS TENUS. AND SO I'M VERY ENCOURAGED THAT THEY WILL, UM, CERTAINLY DO A GREAT JOB ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. AND I, I, NO ONE WANTS ANYBODY TO LIVE IN SQUALOR, BUT I'M CERTAINLY GLAD THAT YOU ARE ON TOP OF IT, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AND THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WORTHY PROJECT AND THAT THIS DEVELOPER WILL MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS. THANK YOU. UM, EXCUSE ME. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVAN SHABAZZ AND JACKSON. UH, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR AT LARGES, AS YOU ARE DIVING INTO THESE ISSUES, THERE IS A PLETHORA AND WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY, UM, THAT MANY OF THESE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ON THOSE MATTERS IN THEIR DISTRICT. SO IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, UM, I REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE, UH, ENGAGING AND TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT THAT IS VERY, UM, NEAR AND DEAR TO THE COMMUNITY'S HEART COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE COLLABORATION. I WOULD NOTE THAT WITH REGARD TO CLEM MANOR MANAGEMENT WAS CHANGED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THESE CONCERNS RESOLVED AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN. AND LIKE I SAY, HOPEFULLY IN THE SHORT TERM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS. OKAY. THAT'S ALL. THAT'S IT. MEMBERS. UH, ITEM NINE IS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. MADAM SECRETARY. ITEM 10. ADAM 10 IS AN, OH, I JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCIL RAMIREZ. ALL IN FAVOR, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. MAYOR, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TAG THIS [06:30:01] ITEM AS WELL. WE'VE GOT CONCERNS ABOUT ONE OF THE SUBS ON THIS, UM, NOT MEETING, UH, GOALS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND AGAIN, WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SUB PROVIDERS WANT, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE ARE, ARE EFFICIENT AND, UH, MAKE GOOD USE OF THE CITY'S RESOURCES. OKAY? ITEM, UH, 10 IS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. ITEM LEVI, ITEM 11 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. ITEM PASSES. ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE THIS ITEM COME BACK BEFORE US IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE HAD AND HAVE BEEN HAVING, UH, FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. NOW. MY, MY QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT HAS MATERIALLY CHANGED REGARDING THIS ITEM? I KNOW IT CAME TO COUNCIL RECENTLY, AND THEN IT ALSO CAME TO COUNCIL LAST YEAR. WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT MATERIALLY CHANGED THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF? UH, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. WHERE ARE WE, ADAM? 17. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. LET'S ROCK. I'M LEARNING. LET'S GO. I'M LEARNING. LET'S GO, BABY. HEY, I'M TRYING TO BEAT THAT 12 O'CLOCK DEADLINE. Y'ALL. NO. MEET THE CLOCK. BEAT THE CLOCK. LET'S VOTE. I'M NOT SURE I EVEN WANT TO PUT THAT TO A VOTE. NO. PUT LEFT. BEAT THE CLOCK. THAT'S RIGHT. WE'LL BE THROUGH. I HAD ON 25 AS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION. MARTINEZ. MARTINEZ. OH, NO. . I HAVE TO, I HAD TO BRING IT TO BOTTOM TO MAKE SURE WE CAN COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. STAY FOCUSED A BIT. , SLOW US DOWN JUST A BIT. JUST A BIT. NO, I JUST, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE BUDGET'S GONNA LOOK LIKE. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UH, THE COUNTY AND, UH, MASON PARK. IT'S, UH, IT'S OUR REGIONAL PARK IN THE, IN, IN THE EAST END. AND SO I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOU MAYOR AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS ONE OF OUR PROJECTS THAT WE WANTED TO SUBMIT AND WE ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA AS WELL TO HIS COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR JOINT CONSTITUENCY SEE, UH, GREEN SPACE IMPROVEMENT IN THE EAST END. SO, THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. WELL SAID. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. YEAH, I WANTED TO THANK ADRIAN GARCIA AS WELL. THE COMMISSIONER WORKED WITH US. UH, WE MET WITH HIM HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND WE HAD SOME RESIDENTS THAT WERE LOOKING TO GET SOMETHING DONE AT ONE OF THE LOCAL PARKS THAT THE CITY HAD RECENTLY MADE SOME NEW INVESTMENTS INTO TO ACTUALLY PROTECT THOSE NEW INVESTMENTS. SO REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR HELPING US KIND OF GUIDE US THROUGH THE PROCESS. MM-HMM . OKAY. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AND, AND HE'S BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE AS WELL AS, UH, BRIANIS AND, UH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THEY'RE REALLY BEEN MEETING WITH THE, UH, MAYOR'S OFFICE, BEEN MEETING WITH ME AND, UH, THEY REALLY WANT TO COLLABORATE ON, ON PARKS AND ALSO STREET IMPROVEMENTS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, AND JUST, IT'S REALLY BEEN REALLY POSITIVE. SO IT'S GOOD THAT WE EMPHASIZE OUR COLLABORATION. VERY GOOD. JUST TO VOTE, JUST NEED A VOTE. MEMBERS AT THIS TIME. ITEM 25. 25. MM-HMM . ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ANYTHING ELSE? [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 42. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? FLICKINGER. NOW. FLICKINGER. OH, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. JUST NO. GOT IT. SHALL FLICKER VOTING? NO. ALL IN FAVOR, VOTE. AYE. , ALL THOSE VOTE. AYE. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. FLICKER VOTING. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU SEE THE VOTE? COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. UH, A WEEK AGO I TAGGED THIS ITEM, UH, OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE NUMBER OF JAIL DEATHS WE'VE BEEN SEEING WITHIN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. OF COURSE, A NUMBER OF THOSE, MOST OF THOSE [06:35:01] ARE GONNA BE CITY OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS. AND, UM, IN, ACTUALLY, IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO. SO IN THE TWO WEEK PERIOD, I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND SOME, UH, COUNTY OFFICIALS REGARDING THE SITUATION. AND I ASKED, UH, SHERIFF GONZALEZ, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO DIFFERENTLY IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF JAIL DEATHS WE SEE? AND, UM, HE LAID OUT, UH, FOUR PART, UH, PLAN, IF YOU WILL, THAT THAT HE'S GOT, THAT'S BASICALLY CONTINUING TO DO WHAT, WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. UM, HE EXPECTS THAT THE NUMBER OF JAIL DEATHS WILL COME DOWN IN 2022. IT WAS, I BELIEVE, 27, 20 23. I THINK IT WAS 19. AND SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN, THERE'S BEEN ONE. SO TIME WILL TELL WHETHER THESE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO COME DOWN. I CERTAINLY HOPE THEY DO, AND I CERTAINLY HOPE HE'S SUCCESSFUL, UH, IN DEALING WITH THIS, WITH THIS ISSUE. I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, EFFORTS AND ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE, UH, SEEKING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AS WELL. UH, WE VISITED THE, UH, HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER, THE SOBERING, UH, CENTER, AND, UH, VISITED WITH OUR CERT UNITS, WHICH ARE POLICE OFFICERS WHO TEAM UP WITH, UM, CLINICIANS FROM THE HARRIS CENTER. AND THEY, THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB. AND, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THESE CERT CERT UNITS AND MAKE, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AVAILABLE FUNDING. WE ALSO VISITED THE, UH, ED EMMETT, UH, DIVERSION CENTER, WHERE A NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH, UM, UH, INMATES WILL BE DIVERTED INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH OUR HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. THESE, THESE ARE ALL THE TYPES OF EFFORTS THAT WILL, I THINK WILL, WILL HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS WE SEE IN THE JAIL. OTHERS INCLUDED, UH, OUR OTT EFFORTS AND, AND, AND SO FORTH. SO I, I HOPE THAT GOING FORWARD, WE'LL, WE'LL FIND THE FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, IF NOT, EXPAND THESE EFFORTS TO, TO GET THESE JAIL DEATHS DOWN. I ALSO WANT TO COMMENT ON AN ISSUE, MAYOR, THAT, THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT AND A NUMBER OF, UH, FOLKS AT HPD HAVE TALKED ABOUT. AND THAT IS THE L LENGTHY WAIT TIMES THAT OUR OFFICERS HAVE. WHEN THEY PROCESS INMATES INTO THE, UH, JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. ON AVERAGE, THEY SPEND, ACCORDING TO THEM, AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF PROCESSING, UH, THEIR, THEIR PRISONERS INTO THE JAIL, UH, WHEN IT SHOULD TAKE FAR LESS. AND THIS IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE IT KEEPS OUR OFFICERS OFF OF THE STREETS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE AT BACK OUT PATROLLING OUR STREETS. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BECAUSE OF THE LENGTHY WAIT TIMES. SO I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT AS A RESULT OF THE MEETING WE HAD WITH THE SHERIFF, UM, HPD LEADERS AND, UH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE LEADERS ARE GOING TO, TO MEET, TO SEE, UH, IF WE CAN'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND, AND ACHIEVE, UH, SOME, SOME IMPROVEMENT THERE. AND FINALLY, UM, MAYOR, AS TO THE $14 MILLION, UH, PRICE TAG ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UM, THE HBD FEELS LIKE WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND, AND GET THIS PAID, UH, BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THE HOPE IS THAT FOR NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL. AND SO I FULLY SUPPORT THEM ON THAT. AND, AND BECAUSE OF ALL THAT, I'M GONNA VOTE YES ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND I ALSO WANNA, UH, JUST WANNA GIVE A THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR, UH, RAMIREZ FOR LOOKING INTO THIS, UH, AND TALKING TO THE, TO THE, UH, SHERIFF, I ALSO WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE, UH, SHERIFF GONZALEZ AS WELL. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES ARE GONNA BE WHERE, WHERE WE CAN INVEST MORE IN THE SUBMARINE CENTER DIVERSION CENTER. BUT THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S ALSO BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IS A DRUG DETOX CENTER AS WELL. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND IT IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ALSO BRING IN THE STATE AS WELL. HOW DOES THE STATE COME, COME IN TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH DOLLARS? UH, HOW DOES THE STATE COME IN TO PROVIDE DOLLARS TO A ASSIST US WITH, WITH THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AT THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER? UH, IT CAN'T BE CARRIED ON THE, ON THE SHERIFF'S SHOULDERS ALONE. UM, AND SO AS WE TAKE ON THAT SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY TO ADVOCATE FOR, FOR THESE RESOURCES TOO. THAT'S ALL. ANYONE ELSE? ITEM 43. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. UH, NOW POP OFF. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB YOU DO. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POPPING OFF TODAY, SO I'LL KEEP IT REAL BRIEF. UH, JUST APPRECIATE THE, UH, COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO WORK, UM, WITH THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANKS. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, A COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN DISTRICT D, [06:40:01] THE TEXAS A'S MEMORIAL GARDEN REDEDICATION, WHERE WE RECENTLY CAME TOGETHER TO RE REDEDICATE THE TEXAS A'S MEMORIAL GARDEN. THIS NOT ONLY COMMEMORATED A REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO LOST, WE LOST TO AIDS, BUT ALSO A REAFFIRMATION OF OUR ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST THE DISEASE. I CERTAINLY WANNA THANK ED PETTED AND MICHAEL LEE AND ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO RESERVING THE GARDEN AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND REMEMBRANCE. ALSO, UH, THERE WAS A BLACK FAMILY WELLNESS EXPO HELD AT THE WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, BY THE LINKS HOUSTON CLUSTER. AND I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND ALL ATTENDEES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION. AND I JUST WANNA SAY FROM THIS EVENT, UH, I, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY PROMOTING ADVOCACY FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH, BUT ALSO ACTIVISM, UH, AS RACISM WAS DISCUSSED AS A BARRIER TO HEALTHCARE. AND SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS VERY, VERY INTERESTING. ALSO, YOU CAN'T COMMEMORATE EVERYBODY'S BIRTHDAY, BUT WE HAD A HUNDRED YEAR OLD, UH, LADY, MISS ALASKA BOURGEOIS PRINCE, WHO HAD A WONDERFUL EVENT ON, UH, IT WAS WAY OUTTA DISTRICT D, BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY WORTH THE RIDE FOR ME TO GO OUT AND COMMEMORATE A HUNDRED YEARS, UH, OF REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. UH, UPCOMING THIS SATURDAY, WE HAVE A MCGREGOR PARK CLEANUP, UH, FROM NINE TO 1130. MCGREGOR PARK IS 52 25 CALHOUN ROAD. WE CERTAINLY INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JOIN US IN BEAUTIFYING MCGREGOR PARK. UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME WONDERFUL THINGS COMING TO PASS AT MCGREGOR PARK, BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND SUPPLIES WILL BE PROVIDED. ALSO, UH, THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WILL HAVE A SAFETY EVENT ON THIS MONDAY FROM 10 TO TWO, AND IT'S HOSTED BY THE HONORABLE MAYOR, SANDRA MASSEY HINES AND OTHERS. AND THIS IS FOCUS FOCUSING ON CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY. AND SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME OUT SO THAT WE CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY STAY SAFE, BUT IN PARTICULAR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS. AND SO CERTAINLY IF YOU COULD COME OUT ON MONDAY FROM 10 TO 2:00 PM I, I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL FIND A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AS WELL AS PEOPLE THERE, THEY'RE GATHERED TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS PASS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YEAH, ONCE AGAIN, WANTED TO, UH, THANK THE CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE AND TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR HELPING OUT, UH, GETTING THAT IMPROVEMENT AT, UH, WILSON PARK. ALSO WANTED TO WISH, UH, COUNCILMAN JOAQUIN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. AND, UH, I GOT THE DOLLAR IN, IN MY CAR, SO I GET THAT TO YOU. SO, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS TODAY YOUR BIRTHDAY? TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY. ALL RIGHT. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, ELISE ANO, WHO'S BIRTHDAY MEMBER CAY, AND WE'LL MOVE TO YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, FIRST I WANTED TO SAY, I KNOW THAT ITEM TWO WAS PULLED THIS RELATED TO, UM, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL CITY HOLIDAYS. I WANNA SAY ON THE RECORD THAT I REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ELECTION DAY IS A CITY HOLIDAY. WE DID SUCCEED IN INCLUDING IT AS A COUNCIL HOLIDAY. UH, BUT ALL EMPLOYEES DESERVE, UM, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, EVEN IF THEY AREN'T VOTING ON THAT DAY THROUGH EARLY VOTING, GOING TO THE POLLS TO WORK, TO VOLUNTEER, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS AND A RIGHT TO. SO I WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT WHEN THE ITEM COMES BACK. UH, IF IT IS NOT INCLUDED, UH, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS. UH, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF AWARDS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, THAT HAVE SHOWN THE SPOTLIGHT ON HOUSTON RECENTLY. NATIONAL AWARDS, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, I KNOW YOU CAN SPEAK TO. ALSO AT NLC, UH, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAD A CAPSTONE CHALLENGE AWARD, UM, RECOGNIZING THE CITY'S HEALTH DASHBOARD. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE RECEIVED AWARDS FOR, UM, OUR EFFORTS IN HEALTH. UH, 11TH STREET, UH, I WANNA CONGRATULATE THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS, MULTIMODAL SAFETY AND DESIGN TEAM. UH, CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND FORMER EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED ON THIS. THEY RECEIVED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION'S 2024 IN-HOUSE TRANSPORTATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR FOR THE 11TH STREET IMPROVEMENTS. UM, AND AWA SELECTS PROJECTS BASED ON A PLATITUDE OF A MULTITUDE OF FACTORS, INCLUDING GOOD CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES, SAFETY, PERFORMANCE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND RELATIONS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. AND THE LIST GOES ON. DIRECTOR DEMBO AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, UH, RECENTLY RECEIVED THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS'S, LARGE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARD. UM, AND THIS RECOGNITION IS A TESTAMENT [06:45:01] TO THE DEPARTMENT'S ROBUST SUPPORT SYSTEM AND COMMITMENT TO ENSURING VETERANS OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING, UH, THE TIME IN WHICH THEY HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. TO PIVOT FOR A MOMENT, UH, I DID WANT TO SAY AND FLAG FOR ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS A REQUEST FOR SUPPORT. UM, A LITTLE 2-YEAR-OLD BOY BRAYLIN, UH, WAS SHOT IN FOURTH WARD FRIEDMANS TOWN, UM, I BELIEVE NOW, TWO WEEKENDS AGO. UH, HE MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED. THERE WERE, IT, IT WAS A DRIVE BY, UH, RESIDENTS, AS THEY NORMALLY DO. WERE ON THE CORNER HANGING OUT. UH, EVERYONE WAS JUST BEING TOGETHER IN A COMMUNITY, AND LUCKILY NO ONE ELSE WAS SHOT. BUT THIS LITTLE 2-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS SHOT IN THE ARM IN THE ABDOMEN. UH, HE MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED. UM, HIS MOTHER ALSO STRUGGLES WITH SEVERAL, UM, HEALTH ISSUES. THEY HAVE STARTED TO GOFUNDME. AND, UH, I HAVE SHARED THAT LINK OUT ON TWITTER, BUT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT OUT AS WELL, TO HELP COVER, UM, LITTLE BRAY'S MEDICAL EXPENSES, UH, THE FAMILY IS ASKING FOR HELP AND SUPPORT, AND I HAVE DONATED. UH, BUT I THINK THIS GOES DIRECTLY TO THE HEART OF WHY GUN VIOLENCE, UH, HAS TO BE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITY ISSUES THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS AS A CITY. UM, THE, IT'S NOT JUST BY MIND VIOLENCE, IT IS GUN VIOLENCE. LASTLY, I KNOW THE MAYOR IS NOT HERE, UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION. THERE'S A LOT OF CHAOS AND CONFUSION RIGHT NOW AROUND SB FOUR. AND, UH, THE SUPREME COURT HAD OPENED IT BACK UP. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO ENFORCEMENT HOURS LATER, AN APPEALS COURT, UH, ONCE AGAIN STOPPED IT. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED. I THINK OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS JOINED ME IN THIS, IN THE, UM, RACIAL AND DISCRIMINATORY IMPLICATIONS OF THIS LAW. AND, UH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION. I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS MADE STATEMENTS IN THE PAST, BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO BE COMMUNICATING OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR AMPLIFYING THE GREAT WORK OF OUR CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES WITH THOSE NATIONAL AWARDS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS SUNDAY WE ARE HAVING, UH, CIGNA IN THE PARK, IN DISTRICT G. IT'S GONNA BE AT BENWOOD PARK FROM 12:00 PM TO 4:00 PM THERE'S GONNA BE FOOD GAMES AND EASTER EGG HUNT, ALL SORTS OF GOOD STUFF. SO BRING YOUR FAMILIES AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT BENWOOD PARK ON SUNDAY. ALL RIGHT, HAVE A GOOD TIME ON SUNDAY. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, I'LL PASS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO, TIM AMY PET. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. I HAD SOMETHING I WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH THE MAYOR, BUT SINCE HE'S NOT HERE, I WILL SAVE IT FOR NEXT WEEK AND PASS TODAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THE BIRTHDAY, MAN. WELL LET START OFF BY, UM, GIVING A SHOUT OUT TO MY SON WHO'S GONNA BE TURNING 18 ON SUNDAY. UH, SO IT'S NOT JUST MY BIRTHDAY, IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY AS WELL. UH, LITTLE JOAQUIN. UM, BUT I DO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SERGEANT ROGERS, WHO, UH, RETI, WHO'S RETIRING, UH, MARCH 29TH. I WAS ABLE TO VISIT SOUTH CENTRAL LAST NIGHT. UM, THEY HAD A CELEBRATION FOR HIM. UM, IT'S ALWAYS A, A, A GREAT EXPERIENCE WHENEVER, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO PROBABLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DURING MY TIME OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, WORKING FOR THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT TIME TO SEE, UM, THE FAMILY THAT SHOW UP, UH, THE, THE LOVE THAT IS ACTUALLY IN THAT SPACE, UH, FOR, UH, THE, THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE STAYING BEHIND. AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL THE ROASTING, RIGHT? UH, THEY, THEY LIKE ROASTING THAT PERSON THAT'S ABOUT TO GET RETIRED. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT LEFT BEHIND FROM THAT, FROM THAT, UH, INDIVIDUAL AND SOMEBODY LIKE SERGEANT ROGERS WHO SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR 43 YEARS. UM, IT'S, I THINK IT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING AS A WHOLE. UH, SO AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO SERGEANT ROGERS. UH, A FEW, UH, A FEW EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND. IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY BUSY. UH, WE HAVE TWO LITTLE LEAGUE OPENING DAYS, DIXIE LITTLE LEAGUE AND EASTON LITTLE LEAGUE. AND NO, UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER'S BEEN WITH ME AT EASTON SEVERAL TIMES AND AT DIXIE, SO IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, PLEASE COME OUT. UH, THEY'RE ALWAYS GREAT. UM, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE TRASH BASHES THAT ARE GOING ON, UH, IN DISTRICT. I, THE FIRST ONE'S GONNA BE AT MASON PARK, UH, COLEMAN GULLY, WHICH IS IN THE PINE VALLEY COMMUNITY AND GLENBROOK PARK. UM, AND THEN ON SUNDAY, WE'RE HAVING OUR, THE 14TH ANNUAL PETALS FOR PAWS. AND IT'S A WAY TO SUPPORT BODY OF DOGS, WHICH IS A, A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT IS FOCUSED ON, UH, EDUCATING, UH, UH, FOLKS HOW TO BE, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS. BUT ALSO THIS EVENT WILL HELP, UH, PROVIDE, UH, SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, FREE LOW SPAY NEUTER, UH, SERVICES FOR COMMUNITIES AS WELL. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT, UH, JUST WANNA SAY, UH, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE, THE COMMITTEES AS WELL. UH, BUT I THINK THE ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THE MOST TODAY IS THAT WE ARE BROKE, RIGHT? AND, UM, I WAS AT TWO DIFFERENT CIVIC CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AND SPEAKING TO [06:50:01] THEM, WHAT'S, WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHAT CITY SERVICES DO YOU WANT? WE TALK ABOUT TRASH SERVICES, PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND, AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION WITH RESIDENTS IS IMPORTANT TO ME, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE, WHATEVER WE VOTE AROUND HERE, UM, IT'S, IT'S THE ACTION THAT WE TAKE CARE, BUT THEN THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY, THOSE DIALOGUES ACTUALLY GO A LOT FURTHER BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FAMILY'S DAY TO DAY, UH, WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE ON THE, ON THE CONTRACT TODAY. UM, DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS AS COMMITTEES GET ROLLING AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, MY, UH, COMMENTS ARE DIRECTED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. I'M LOOKING AT THE CHARTER, UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE THREE COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT WAS CHANGED BY THE VOTERS, AND IT READS THREE OR MORE. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ALSO REQUEST IN WRITING THAT ANY LAWFUL ITEMS AS SPECIFIED IN SUCH REQUESTS BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA OF ANY DESIGNATED REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. CONSISTENT WITH THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE MAYOR SHALL ENSURE THAT SUCH ITEMS BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA OF THE DESIGNATED MEETING. READING THAT AND KNOWING THAT, ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS OF COUNSEL FOR THREE MEMBERS TO PRESENT AN ITEM THAT IT HAS TO GO TO A COMMITTEE BEFORE COMING TO THE AGENDA? UH, THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS. I, I BELIEVE COUNSEL COULD PASS REGULATIONS IF IT WANTS THE WAY IT HAS IN OTHER INSTANCES, BUT THE CHARTER DOESN'T HAVE ANY LIMITATION WITH REGARD TO PROCESS. AND NORMALLY, WHAT IS THE CUSTOMARY TIME FOR A CAPTION TO BE DRAFTED BY LEGAL SO THAT IT CAN BE ON THE AGENDA? TYPICALLY, THE AGENDA IS POSTED ON THE THURSDAY PRIOR TO THE FOLLOWING WEEK'S MEETING. UM, UH, I THINK MAYBE MS. COULD ANSWER BETTER ABOUT THE PROCESS IN, OR THE INTERNAL PROCESS TO GET SOMETHING ON. BUT, UH, FROM AN OPEN MEETING STANDPOINT, IT'S 72 HOURS. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, AND SHIFTING GEARS, I DO WANT TO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE. UM, OUT NEXT FRIDAY, UM, MY OFFICE WILL BE HOSTING A REFLECTION CEREMONY FOR A NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, OVER MY LAST TERM, ONE OF MY SIGNATURE PROJECTS WAS TO, UH, CONSTRUCT A VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL, AND THAT'S AT THE CLUB CREEK PARK. AND WE WANT TO HAVE A REFLECTION CEREMONY THERE THIS YEAR FOR VIETNAM VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY, AND HOPEFULLY ALL THE YEARS TO COME. UH, BUT I INVITE YOU ALL OUT FOR THAT CEREMONY. IT WILL BE AT THE MEMORIAL. UH, IT IS LOCATED AT CLUB CREEK PARK, WHICH IS 9 6 8 0 CLUB CREEK DRIVE. IT WILL BE FROM 10 TO 11. UH, WE'RE EXPECTING, UM, VIETNAM VETERANS GROUPS AND OTHER, UM, VETERANS TO BE PRESENT. I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR DEBO AND DR. JONES, UM, THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THE SOUTHWEST TURS 20, UH, FOR ALL OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND HELP WITH THAT. OUR SPECIAL GUEST WILL BE CAM BRAILLE MARSHALL, WHO, UH, YOU ALL KNOW FROM CLICK TO HOUSTON, WHO'S RECENTLY RETIRED, BUT HIS FATHER SERVED IN VIETNAM, AND SO HE WILL BE THERE AS OUR SPECIAL GUEST. AGAIN, THAT'S MARCH 29TH. UH, I WILL SPEAK MORE ON THAT IN THE DAYS TO COME, BUT YOU ALL ARE ALL WELCOME TO JOIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE, UH, UPDATES AND COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UM, JUST ONE THING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING COMMUNITY INPUT ON, UM, WHAT THEY WANNA SPEND. I'LL BE DOING THIS YEAR, AGAIN, MY BUDGET SURVEY, UM, YEAR 2 CENTS SURVEY. UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO A CITYWIDE ONE, SO I'LL BE PUTTING THAT OUT AND HOPE Y'ALL CAN GET THAT OUT TO YOUR, TO YOUR, UH, RESPECTIVE LIST SO WE CAN HAVE A, A LOT MORE ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET. THANKS. OKAY, THEN I'LL ROUND IT OUT. UM, COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS IN DISTRICT K. IF THERE ARE FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE STILL INTERESTED IN ATTENDING OUR ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING ON TOMORROW, MARCH THE 21ST AT 6:30 PM AT THE HPD SOUTHWEST COMMAND STATION, THE HAROLD PRESTON SOUTHWEST COMMAND STATION ON NATA, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE. AND THEN ON SATURDAY, MARCH THE 23RD FROM H EIGHT TO 10, RIDGEMONT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WILL BE BEAUTIFYING THE COMMUNITY. UM, IF YOU'D LOVE TO JOIN THEM, THE PLANT TREES, UM, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO RIDGEMONT CIA TO JOIN US IN THAT BEAUTIFICATION EFFORT. UH, WE'VE GOT SOME CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENTS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. WE PUT THOSE IN THE, UM, NEWSLETTER. UH, ONE SENT [06:55:01] A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ABBY AT THE, UM, HOUSTON CHRONICLE FOR THE GREAT ARTICLE ABOUT OUR DISTRICT, A HOT TEAM. UM, THERE IS DEFINITELY A CORRELATION BETWEEN A CLEAN COMMUNITY AND A SAFE COMMUNITY. SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR HOT TEAM HAS DONE IN MELVIN HOPKINS FOR LEADING THAT EFFORT AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES LITTER FREE. ON THAT NOTE, KEEP HOUSTON. BEAUTIFUL. DAY IS SATURDAY, APRIL THE SIXTH. SO NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN HOUSTONIANS IN BEAUTIFYING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THE SOUTH HOUSTON CONCERNED CITIZENS COALITION WILL HOST THEIR EVENT AT TOWN WOOD PARK ON APRIL THE SIXTH AT 8:00 PM LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL. AND THEN FINALLY, WE'RE CELEBRATING THREE BIRTHDAYS IN DISTRICT K. OUR CHIEF OF STAFF'S BIRTHDAY IS TODAY. SO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PARTY FOR THE BOTH OF YOU. UM, AND THEN WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR CHIEF OF STAFF DEI CHAVIS, OUR CHIP INTERN, UH, MAKIA. IT'S HER BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY. AND JOE GATSON MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ON THE 25TH. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EVERYONE CELEBRATING. UM, LET'S, UH, MAKE IT A GREAT DAY AND BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. ADJOURN. AND WITH THAT ADJOURN COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE STAND ADJOURNED. PERFECT. * 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.