Mar 26, 2024 Council Meeting (March 26, 2024 &amp; March 27, 2024)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR THANK YOU.

AND, AND THEREFORE, MADAM CHAIR, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH, 2024.

I YIELD, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCILMAN, WE WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE, BE, BE WITH YOU GUYS TODAY.

I ALSO LIKE TO, UH, THANK, UH, THE PUBLIC, THE EMPLOYEES OF KNDA MAGAZINE.

KNDA MAGAZINE IS A, A TEAM PLAYER WITH, WITHOUT THE TEAM, UH, KNDA WILL BE NOTHING.

SO I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU.

I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MY MOTHER THAT SHE'S HERE WITH US TODAY.

SHE'S 90, 90 YEARS OLD.

ALSO TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY SON, MY WIFE.

WE'RE ALL HERE SUPPORTING THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AND WE ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCILMAN.

WE DO HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.

AND THANK YOU, GABRIEL.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY REALLY IS OUTSTANDING.

EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND JUST LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, EVERYWHERE I AM, YOU ARE ALSO.

AND, UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU WORK REALLY HARD AT BEING PRESENT, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM.

UH, GABRIEL, UH, JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, MAKING SURE THAT THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS STAYING INFORMED, BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU DO SHARE, UM, THERE'S THINGS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, RIGHT? UH, IT'S THINGS TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE BEING ENGAGED IN DIFFERENT EVENTS AS WELL.

UM, AND, AND YOU OFFERING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, UH, A WHOLE BUNCH OF STAKEHOLDERS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, , THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CONSTABLE.

THAT'S ALL.

AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE, DID YOU SAY THAT AS YOUR MOTHER? THIS IS MY MOTHER.

SHE'S 90 YEARS OLD.

SHE'S THE FOUNDER OF KEDA MAGAZINE, MY MOM AND DAD.

UH, WE WORKED, WE STARTED TOGETHER AND MY, MY DAD PASSED ABOUT 18 YEARS AGO.

MY MOM, UH, DECIDES TO RETIRE RIGHT AFTER THAT.

AND, AND WE, WE WILL RUN IT LIKE THAT.

BUT SHE'S THE FOUNDER, UH, VERY PLEASED.

UH, SHE JUST TELLS ME A LOT OF ADVICE.

I'LL TAKE A LOT OF ADVICE FROM MY

[00:05:01]

PARENTS.

UH, IT'S A FAMILY BUSINESS.

WE ALWAYS STAYED AS FAMILY.

WE ALWAYS STAY TOGETHER.

AND WE HAVE A THEME IN NDA MAGAZINE, UH, LIKE MR. MAYOR SAID WITH MEYER, WE ARE EVERYWHERE YOU NEED US TO BE.

LOVE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

NDA MAGAZINE IS A BILINGUAL PUBLICATION THAT CATERS TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THAT, AND WHATEVER YOU NEED US TO BE, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.

THAT'S EXACTLY, SO MAYOR, UH, PRETTY MUCH WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THAT.

SO, YEAH.

BUT MAMA, DO YOU WANNA SAY YOUR WORDS? WELL, UH, I'M OKAY.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, I'M LILIA ESPARZA FROM GODA MAGAZINE, AND MOST OF THE TIME THAT I NEED TO TALK, UH, IS GOOD TO SAY THAT, UH, NEVER IS LATE, UH, TO START A BUSINESS.

UH, WHEN I WAS 59 YEARS OLD, WE START THIS BUSINESS AND I, I WORK 20 YEARS ON IT.

UH, AND I RETIRED AT 79, AND NOW HE'S IN CHARGE AND HE'S DOING A VERY, VERY GOOD JOB.

WELL, WHAT A, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY LEGACY.

THANK CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

I ALSO LIKE INTERVIEW MY SON, MY SON MICHAEL.

HE'S THE THIRD GENERATION, UH, YOU SEE, FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD GENERATION NICE UP FIELD, THE MAGAZINE.

HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE AGAIN.

UM, THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERYTHING.

I CAN'T REALLY ADD TO IT, BUT, UM, IT'S JUST OUR ROLE AND OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS INFORMED FROM EVERY BUSINESS, LOCAL, BIG, SMALL, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

UM, SO WE TAKE PRIDE IN THAT.

BUT THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN, UM, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

AND YEAH, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Y'ALL JOB.

THIS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CRIME STOPPERS NEEDS PROGRAM DAY.

WHICH STANDS FOR NEURODIVERSITY EDUCATE, EMPOWER, DELIVER, AND SAFETY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE.

AND TO OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I AM VERY, VERY HONORED TODAY TO TAKE THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING PRESENTED ITS PROCLAMATION TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, WE REALLY CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT GIVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND THEN TO BE ACQUAINTED WITH SUCH GREAT DISTINGUISHED, UH, LADIES, AND TO ALL OF THOSE, UM, THIS IS A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT SOMETHING THAT'S DEAR TO MY HEART.

MANY OF YOU KNOW, IN MY INAUGURATION, THE PERSON THAT ESCORTED ME IN WAS MY 10-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON WHO IS AUTISTIC.

AND SO FOR THAT, I'M, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY, UH, SOMETHING THAT I ADMONISH AND I HOPE TO SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY CAN BE GREAT CITIZENS AND CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR SOCIETY.

CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON REMAINS OUR CITY'S LEADING PUBLIC SAFETY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

SINCE 1980, CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION OF SOLVING AND PRE PREVENTING SERIOUS CRIME.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITIZENS MEDIA AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

CRIME STOPPERS SERVES THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA BY OFFERING ITS ANONYMOUS TIP LINE, AND ALSO STANDS WITH CRIME VICTIMS AND WITH THE COMMUNITIES VULNERABLE TO EXPLOITATION AND VICTIMIZATION.

IN FACT, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE NE DIVERSE COMMUNITY IS AT AN INCREASED RISK FOR VICTIMIZATION.

WITH THAT IN MIND, CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM CALLED NEEDS,

[00:10:01]

THE PROGRAM HAS A SPECIAL MISSION TO CHAMPION THE SAFETY, WELLBEING, AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY.

THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROACTIVELY PREVENT CRIMES, THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION TO THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION.

THE NEEDS PROGRAM ALSO FOSTERS KNOWLEDGE OF RISK AND SAFETY SOLUTIONS AMONG THOSE WHO LIVE WITH SEVERE AND WITH AND SEVERE AND SERVE PER PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

WORKING ALONGSIDE PARENTS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, CRIME STOPPERS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES WILL EQUIP THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS TO AVOID CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN CODE CAPACITIES ARE DIMINISHED AND HARMFUL INTENT IS NOT PRESENT.

SO, MAYOR, IT IS MY HONOR TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WITH THIS GREAT HONOR THAT COMMITS TO OUR SOCIETY THE NEEDS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, AND I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR YOU TO BRING CRIME STOPPERS TO THIS COUNCIL.

YES, AS WE'RE ALL UNITING ACROSS HOUSTON TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY, WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT CRIME STOPPERS? I WAS IN PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE WE HAD CRIME STOPPERS.

LITERALLY WATCH THEM DEVELOP, IMPROVE, GET INVOLVED IN OUR SCHOOLS SPECIAL NEEDS.

BUT THE SOLVING OF VIOLENT CRIMES CERTAINLY IS WHAT THEY'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIRST AND FOREMOST.

SO IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE AS WE ARE ALL UNITING TO FIGHT CRIME.

I THINK, UH, SOME WOULD QUESTION THEIR CREDIBILITY IN RECENT YEARS WHEN THEY WOULD PROCLAIM THAT WE HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN.

I THINK CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN VALIDATED NOW THAT YES, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT IF WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND APPLY THE CITY'S RESOURCES TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY NEED TO BE, WE CAN MAKE THIS A SAFER COMMUNITIES.

SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING CRIME STOPPERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP AND THE, UH, VOLUNTEERS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS.

CERTAINLY, I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THIS APPROPRIATELY WITHOUT SHOUTING OUT.

DAVE WARD, I WATCHED DAVE WARD AS A NEWS ANCHOR, CREATE THIS BRAND NAME THAT WILL LIVE ON FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING DOWN.

AND COUNCILOR DAVIS, IT IS JUST SO APPROPRIATE AND THIS CURRENT PERIOD IN OUR HISTORY FOR YOU TO BRING CRIME STOPPERS.

LET US RECOGNIZE IT.

AND I QUITE FRANKLY, THINK THE BEST IS YET TO KNOW, BECAUSE THERE IS THE NEED.

THANK YOU, AND LEADERSHIP AND ALL YOUR TEAM HAVE PEOPLE HERE.

I CAN GO AND START NAMING THAT, THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE DEPEND ON CRIME STOP.

SO THANK YOU AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP.

THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TODAY.

UM, I AM THE LUCKY MOTHER OF A YOUNG ADULT, UM, WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

AND, UM, I GET TO BE THE ONE WHO THANKS YOU OPENLY TODAY.

WE HAVE LIVED AND, UM, DREAMT ABOUT THIS DAY.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN TO US MAMA BEARS THAN PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN.

AND, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS SAID, THE INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION.

SO WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO CRIME STOPPERS AND THE CITY TODAY FOR HELPING US PUT TOGETHER THIS MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT INCLUDES PARENTS ADVOCATES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CITY COUNCIL.

BECAUSE WITH EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT A SAFER PLACE FOR ALL OF THOSE WHOSE VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

MAYOR WHITMEYER.

I, I DO WANNA CIRCLE BACK.

WOULD YOU GO AHEAD AND PROCLAIM THE DAY? YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT MIGHT BE A REALLY GREAT IDEA.

THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH, 2024 IS CRIME STOPPERS NEEDS PROGRAM DATE.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND MAYOR WHITMEYER.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE GROUP BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE PHOTOS.

COUNCIL MEMBER PECK.

OH, THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

, I'M SORRY.

WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT THAT WORK THAT YOU DO.

MAYOR PROMAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD.

UM, TO EVERYONE WHO WORKS AT CRIME STOPPERS VOLUNTEERS WITH CRIME STOPPERS, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

IT'S TOUGH WORK.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW

[00:15:01]

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

COUNCIL MEMBER KAMATH, THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR, AND ESPECIALLY TO NOT ONLY THE BOARD, BUT THE VOLUNTEERS AND OUR PARTNERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT YOU ALL WORK WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

UM, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE THAT YOU ALL ARE TAKING ON, AS YOU SAID.

SO, UM, BEAUTIFULLY TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR THOSE THAT OFTEN DON'T HAVE ONE, INCLUDING IN OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

SO, I JUST WANNA SAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU.

AND ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT, UM, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT CRIME STOPPERS DOES, BUT REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE AN INCIDENT IN THE DISTRICT, THE, UM, DOLLARS THAT CRIME STOPPERS PROVIDES TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD THAT OFTENTIMES ARE AFRAID TO OR MAY NOT OTHERWISE, UM, IT GOES BEYOND THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, RIGHT? AND BRINGING JUSTICE AND BRINGING TO LIGHT, UM, FOR SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS. UH, IT, IT JUST, IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

AND AGAIN, I'M THINKING BACK TO SEVERAL INCIDENTS RECENTLY, SEVERAL SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR DISTRICT.

UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.

MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU.

I, I AGREE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE AND I THINK THAT WE ALL KNOW SOMEBODY WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS INITIATIVE.

AND I'VE EVEN HAD CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT REACH OUT SAYING THAT THEY WANTED TO GET INVOLVED SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS GROUP AND THIS INITIATIVE.

AND SO I'M JUST EXCITED TO SEE WHERE IT GOES.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR PROCLAMATION TO THE HONORABLE MARIA ELENA ORES, THE COUNCIL GENERAL OF MEXICO IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

TODAY, UH, I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE HONORABLE MARIA ELENA ORES, THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO.

THIS IS IN CON, IN PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DISTRICT H RECOGNITION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND OUR EMPOWER HER INITIATIVE.

AND PART OF THAT IS RECOGNIZING WOMEN WHO ARE IN TRAILBLAZING ROLES MAKING A PROFOUND IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THROUGH SERVICE AND INSPIRATION TO OTHERS.

SO WITH THAT IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THE HONORABLE MARIA ELENA ORES CONS GENERAL OF MEXICO IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

AND WHEREAS MEXICO HAS A NETWORK OF 53 CONSULATES OF THE US 11 IN TEXAS, THE CONSULATE IN HOUSTON IS RANKED WITHIN TOP FIVE CONSULATES IN TERMS OF MEXICAN POPULATION AND DOCUMENT ISSUING AND CONSUL GENERAL MARIA ELENA ORES IS A POLITICIAN, ACADEMIC BUSINESSWOMAN, WRITER, PRESIDENT OF THE 50 PLUS ONE INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIVE, AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS CONS, GENERAL OF MEXICO AND HOUSTON, WHEREAS HER ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE GREAT AND WORTHY OF NOTE, SHE HAS SERVED AS AN ACADEMIC AT THE TECHNOLOGICAL DE MONTEREY, WHERE SHE HAS GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND A MASTER'S IN ADMINISTRATION, AND HAS ALSO EARNED SEVERAL GRADUATE DIPLOMAS AMONG THEM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MADRID AND THE JOSE ORTEGA I FOUNDATION.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON REFLECTS ON THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND PRIDE THAT WE RECOGNIZE HER EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO SERVICE AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

CONSUL GENERAL MARIA ELENA'S EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY FOSTERED CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, BUT HAVE INSPIRED POSITIVE CHANGE.

LET ME SAY, UH,

[00:20:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, OUR CONSULATE GENERAL TO COUNCIL TODAY.

UH, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE TO OUR RESIDENTS, UH, THE INCLUSIVENESS THAT YOUR OFFICE REPRESENTS AND CERTAINLY YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UH, TO BE ONE OF OUR OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEADERS AND, UH, BEING OUR NEIGHBOR AND PARTNER.

UH, IT'S JUST A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE BEING, BEING A HOUSTONIAN AND BEING CERTAINLY A REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR PROUD COUNTRY.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND IT'S THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH, 2024.

IT'S THE HONOR.

MARIA ELENA ORIS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MARIO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK MAYOR JOHN MCGUIRE AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THE ONE RECEPTION.

I AM AS HONORED BY THE WORST THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S MAY GATHERING POSSIBLE TO THE COUNCIL COURT OF HOUSTON, TO MY TEAM THAT IS HERE, MY TEAM THAT COUNCILS FROM MEXICO, MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY.

I EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE OF THE PROCLAMATION TODAY.

REMEMBER THAT THE MEXICO AND HOUSTON WILL, WILL, WILL HAVE A LONG LASTING PARTNERSHIP FOREVER.

WE, WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.

JUST ONE SECOND.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY COUNCIL GENERAL, IT'S SO AMAZING TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HER FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

AGAIN, UM, I FOLLOW HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHE IS BUSY.

SHE IS DEFINITELY BUSY.

UM, AND IT IS EXCITING, UH, AS WE TALK ABOUT OUR, OUR CONS CORE.

I KNOW THE MOTIA STAFF IS HERE.

UM, THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE, THE FRIENDSHIP, THE SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS, THE GLOBAL ECONOMY THAT WE SHARE, UM, IS INCREDIBLE.

AND SO WE ARE VERY HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT MEXICO WILL HAVE ITS FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT, UM, BECAUSE THE TWO PEOPLE RUNNING ARE BOTH FEMALES.

SO ONE OF THEM WILL WIN, AND ONE OF THE WOMEN WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF MEXICO.

SO, UH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, THE, THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP THAT IS ASCENDING, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ELEVATE AND AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HOUSTON AND MEXICO.

SO MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO YWCA OF HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ CA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO.

UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAST FOR BRINGING, UH, CONS.

UM, JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

UH, THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING, UH, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME, WOMEN HISTORY MONTH.

UM, BUT ALSO WANNA SAY THAT WE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT WE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING TRO UH, DELEGATION NEXT WEEK.

AND, YOU KNOW, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THOSE STRONG BONDS WITHIN HOUSTON AND MEXICO, UH, TO ENSURE THAT BUSINESS IS THRIVING.

UH, OF COURSE YOU WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE TRAVELING HERE AS WELL.

UH, SO WITH ALL THAT, JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

, GRA JOAQUIN, THANK YOU.

A PICTURE? YEAH, I, A PICTURE, YEAH, THE COUNCIL.

[00:27:29]

SOMEONE COMING UP FOR THE YWCA.

LET'S GIVE THEM A FEW MINUTES TO, TO GET OUT.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM.

UH, PROCLAMATION FOR THE YWCA HOUSTON, WHEREAS YWCA HOUSTON HAS SERVED COUNCIL MEMBER.

WILL YOU SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU? OKAY.

OH, I CAN'T USE MY JACK GATES CHILLING VOICE.

HOPE AND A CATALYST FOR CHANGE, FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHILE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE VALUED AND RESPECTED, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS YWCA HOUSTON SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY BY CREATING INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A PROFOUND, PROFOUND AND LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.

SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE.

I'LL THAT, OKAY.

WHEREAS YWCA HOUSTON HAS SERVED AS A CORNERSTONE OF SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR OVER A CENTURY DEMONSTRATING AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.

AND WHEREAS THIS ESTEEM ORGANIZATION ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE WOMEN AND GIRLS THRIVE WITHOUT BARRIERS, THEREBY TRANSFORMING THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, LEADERSHIP SERVICE, AND THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND DIGNITY FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL.

AND WHEREAS YWCA HOUSTON ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO HELP WOMEN AND GIRLS EDUCATE THEMSELVES, ADVANCE THEIR STANDING IN SOCIETY, LEAD WITH COMPETENCE, SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THRIVE IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS YWCA HOUSTON STANDS AS A BEACON OF

[00:30:01]

MAYOR, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD, YOU AND I WORK IN MEMBERS NAME ID BRAND NAME IS SO IMPORTANT.

I CAN'T THINK A STRONGER NAME IN BRAND ID THAN THE Y-M-C-A-Y-W-C-A AND THE YMCA IS NOT ALL BAD , BUT WITH THE YWCA, UH, YOUR SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT NAME ID AND BRAND NAME IS ALL POSITIVE.

SINCE WE'VE ALL GROWN UP, WE'VE SPOTTED YWCA IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE UNDERSERVED.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.

AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH.

JANICE BEAL HERE, WHO'S THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

YES, YES.

WHO'S GONNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, ON BEHALF OF THE YWCA, WE HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1907, PROVIDING SERVICES TO WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WE ARE LOCATED ON MLK, UH, IN THE HEART OF THIRD WARD.

UH, WE HAVE SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE CONSISTENTLY DOING ON A DAILY BASIS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE ACTUALLY TOUCH.

AND DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, IT JUST FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE HERE AND TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

SO THEREFORE, WE THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

WE THANK OUR, OUR DISTRICT D UH, PERSON WHO HAS ALWAYS SHOWED UP FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS.

YOU'VE SUPPORTED US 110% COUNCIL MEMBER, AND WE ARE INDEED GRATEFUL.

WE ALSO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE Y PLEASE GO INTO OUR WEBSITE.

UH, WE ARE DOING A CAMPAIGN THIS MONTH TO GET AS MANY WOMEN AS WE CAN, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART.

WE'RE STARTING A STEM PROGRAM THIS SUMMER, AND WE, WE ACTUALLY HOUSE 40 FAMILIES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 23 YEARS OF AGE, AND WE FEED 1800 PEOPLE A DAY.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MAKE A CHANGE AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FOR US IN HOUSTON, TEXAS BEHIND ME ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BEING CHAIR OF THE BOARD IS ONLY A SMALL PART WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THIS WHO ACTUALLY DELIVER THE DAY-TO-DAY SERVICES OF WHAT TAKES PLACE AT THE WAT.

SO TO THEM, I SALUTE AND I GLADLY ACCEPT TODAY BEING OUR DAY.

UH, CAN IT BE TOMORROW AS WELL, OR DO WE JUST HAVE ONE DAY? .

WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP ON GOING.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE SURVEY.

DR.

BILL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, LEADING THE ORGANIZATION AND FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK.

WE SAY THIS AROUND THE HORSESHOE A LOT, THAT GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOUSTONIANS IS ONE THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF AND WE COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER PARTNER.

COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THIS GROUP, ESPECIALLY THIS MONTH.

UH, IT IS OUR HONOR TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN AND FAMILIES, UH, ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THAT WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM TO THE YWCA.

UH, LET ME JUST SAY FOR A MINUTE THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW, BUT, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION IS PHENOMENAL AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ FOR THE RECOGNITION TODAY, THIS LOCATION THAT MOST OF US NEED TO KNOW OUR PASTORED THE CHURCH, UH, THERE FOR 20 YEARS, RIGHT THERE AT THE CORNER, MLK BEEKMAN.

AND I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES YOU ALL HAVE SERVED US IN SO MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, SO MANY WOMEN THAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU.

AND, UH, I AM JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THE FACT OF RECOGNIZING YOU TODAY BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT.

AND THE YWCA HAS A RICH HISTORY OF DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THIS CITY.

AND, UH, I PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS YOU AND CONTINUE TO ALL OF THOSE WHO SERVICING THOSE WOMEN.

AND, UH, FOR THE MANY YEARS THAT THINGS THAT YOU OFFER TO ME AS A PASTOR IN THAT COMMUNITY AND ALL THAT I CAN DO, I CERTAINLY WANNA SUPPORT COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ.

WE HAVE ONE LAST PERSON

[00:35:01]

OH, THANK.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR THE INVOCATION.

GOOD AFTERNOON AS A, UH, BOARD MEMBER, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE AND JUST SHARE A QUICK THOUGHT.

UH, IF YOU WANT HAPPINESS, UH, FOR AN HOUR, TAKE A NAP.

IF YOU WANT HAPPINESS FOR A DAY, PLAY GOLF OR GO SHOPPING.

IF YOU WANT HAPPINESS FOR A WEEK, GO ON A VACATION.

IF YOU WANT HAPPINESS FOR A MONTH, GET MARRIED.

BUT IF YOU WANT HAPPINESS FOR A LIFETIME, HELP OTHERS.

SO JOIN US IN A HAP A LIFETIME OF HAPPINESS.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

IF WE COULD ALL BOW OUR HEADS.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY IN HUMILITY AND FAITH.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN THE MANY BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES.

WE ASK FOR THE ADDITIONAL BLESSINGS OF WISDOM AND STRENGTH, WISDOM TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT AND STRENGTH TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

SHOW US THE WAY AND FILL US WITH COURAGE AND WISDOM.

HELP US TO REMEMBER YOUR LOVE AND GRACE, AND TO BE FAITHFUL IN OUR SERVICE, TO YOU.

GIVE US THE PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING TO FACE LIFE'S CHALLENGES WITH GRACE.

WE ASK THINGS, THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN.

WELL, SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER.

YOU RISE FOR THE FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

WHERE ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE?

[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]

COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER.

COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? HERE.

COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE.

COUNCILMAN POLLARD.

HERE.

COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM.

HERE.

COUNCILOR RAMIREZ.

HERE.

WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 3RD AND FOURTH AND 10TH AND 11TH.

ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES AND CAYMANS PRESENT.

UH, TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES WORTH.

UM, ONE MINUTE.

[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]

THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE.

EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR TWO OR THREE SOMEDAY, MAYBE WE'LL AMEND THAT RULE BECAUSE I

[00:40:01]

PERSONALLY LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, BUT THE RULES ARE THE RULES.

WITH THAT SAID, UM, ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? DAVIS FIRST.

I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULE AND I WISH TO MOVE MS. NANCY HIGGS TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE LIST FOR THE NON AGENDA.

ALL OPPOSED? THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES.

COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK.

I HAVE TWO OF THEM.

THE FIRST ONE IS I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD RONIA MANCAR TO THE TOP OF WHAT WAS THE THREE MINUTE, UH, NON AGENDA LIST.

SO RIGHT AFTER LOIS MEYERS.

SHE HAS ANOTHER COUNCILMAN PICK.

I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ANDY KAHN RIGHT AFTER RONUM IN COURT.

I SECOND.

CASTILLO.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD MARIAN WRIGHT TO THE END OF THE SPEAKER'S LIST.

SECOND CALL.

THE SECOND MOTION MADE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ERICA HUBBARD AND FRED WOODS.

TO THE TOP OF THE WA WAS THREE MINUTE, UM, NON AGENDA.

IN FRONT OF MEYERS THOMAS.

SECOND MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THESE TWO, BUT COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA.

PASS COUNCILOR EVAN SHABBAT.

I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE TAMMY LANG CAMPBELL, KATHY SWILLEY, AND PASTOR GREGORY COLLINS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST OF BEHIND WHOEVER HAS COME BEFORE THEM.

UH, THAT WOULD BE TAMMY LANE CAMPBELL, KATHY SWILLEY, AND PASTOR GREGORY COLLINS.

UH, MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED.

THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED PASS.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER NEED TO READ WHAT I SAID AND THEN TALK.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.

UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE ALEXANDER SPIKE UNDERNEATH MARY FURY ON THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? SO, YES.

AFTER, AFTER MARY JURY.

GOT MOTION MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED.

ROBERT JEFFERSON IS NOT PRESENT.

READY? UH, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CALL HER FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE.

ROBERT JEFFERSON.

NANCY HIGGS? EITHER ONE.

EITHER ONE.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR MOVING ME UP.

WE DID HAVE THIS TO PRESENT TO YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, CLOSER TO THE CEREMONY, BUT YOU HAD TO LEAVE EARLY.

IT WAS ELECTION DAY.

SO THIS IS A PROCLAMATION FOR YOUR THREE FAVORITE TREES ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD THAT WERE DECLARED AND REGISTERED HISTORIC.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER.

AND

[00:45:01]

ALSO THANK YOU AS A PERSONAL GIFT.

I KNOW IN ALL YOUR SPARE TIME, WHICH ISN'T MUCH, I WOULD LIKE TO GIFT YOU THIS BOOK.

IT WAS A LIFE-CHANGING BOOK FOR ME, ACTUALLY.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

THAT'S IT.

I THINK I'M NOT GONNA TAKE UP MY TIME AND EVERYONE ELSE'S TIME TO READ ALL THESE WHEREASES.

IF YOU'LL GIVE TO STAFFORD LEWIS, I APPRECIATE IT.

I'LL PUT IT IN A PROMINENT PLACE.

JOSHUA MORGAN, GLADYS HOUSE L.

PEACE.

COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.

UM, MAYOR, I, UH, HAD PROVIDED YOUR OFFICE WITH A COPY OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY ON YESTERDAY.

AND YOU GIVE, UH, CYNTHIA, WILL YOU, MS. WILSON, WILL YOU GIVE THE FREEZE THE CLOCK TIME? SHE'S GOT SOMETHING SHE'D LIKE TO GIVE ME RIGHT HERE.

MS. WILSON, YOU WANNA GIVE HER SOMETHING? NO, I'VE ALREADY GIVEN IT TO YOU YESTERDAY.

NO, THAT'S HOW I GET IT.

THEY PASSED IT OUT.

OH, NO, HE ALREADY.

IT IS ALREADY HANDED OUT.

UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UH, HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH ITS PRACTICES AND POLICIES REGARDING, UM, MAINTENANCE OF ALLEN PARKWAY VILLAGE AS WELL AS THE SCATTERED SITES THROUGHOUT FREEDOMS TOWN.

AND SO WHAT I HAD DONE WAS, UH, TAKEN PICTURES, UH, TO GO WITH MY NARRATIVE TO SHOW THE IMPORTANCE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN.

GLADYS, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU JUST A FEW SECONDS OF MY TIME IF YOU'D LIKE TO WRAP UP, AND THEN I, I HAD SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU.

WELL, THAT'S BASICALLY IT.

MAYOR, I, I THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEW COMMISSIONERS.

WE WE'LL CHECK INTO IT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE TO A CHANGE IN, UH, LEADERSHIP AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

RIGHT.

SO I'LL MAKE CERTAIN THEY KNOW OF YOUR CONCERNS.

UM, BACK TO COUNCILOR KAMAN.

CAN I STILL USE THE ADDITIONAL TIME NOW? SURE.

WELL, COUNCILOR KAMAN, BY ALL MEANS YOU'RE WELCOME TO.

I JUST, I HAD SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU AS WELL.

UM, I MET THE NEW APPOINTED BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, UM, EARLY LAST WEEK.

MAYOR AND I PRESENTED THE SAME CONCERNS.

NOBODY GOT BACK TO ME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, ALTHOUGH THE HEAD GUY SAID HE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT ME.

I ONLY HEARD FROM HIM YESTERDAY, BUT NONE OF HIS STAFF PEOPLE.

SO IT'S LIKE THE SAME PRACTICES AND POLICIES UNCHECKED.

SO IF YOU WOULD LOOK INTO THAT, I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.

YES, MA'AM.

AND GLADYS, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO SAY THANK YOU AND, UM, I DO HAVE A MEMO FROM, UM, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT AS WELL.

SO MY STAFF WILL SEND THAT TO YOU.

UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EYES ON THIS.

NEXT ZA ALFRED.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNSELORS.

MY NAME'S ZA ALFRED.

SORRY.

I'M A MOTHER TO BE OF TWO CHILDREN.

AND DUE NEXT WEEK, .

SO I CAME ALL THE WAY DOWN, UM, TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT, UM, AND STRESS, THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGNING STREETS THAT PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE.

UM, BUT FIRST MY FRIEND BROUGHT A EASTER BASKET, UM, FOR YOU ALL IN IT.

THERE ARE 12 LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE MONTROSE RESIDENTS.

AS YOU ALL ARE SURE, AWARE, TWO PM'S KIND OF HARD FOR WORKING PEOPLE TO MAKE IT IN.

SO IN THEIR ABSENCE, WE GOT THEIR TESTIMONIES.

UM, IN THE EGGS, YOU WILL FIND INVITATIONS TO OUR UPCOMING EVENT, WHICH WE HOPE Y'ALL COULD ATTEND.

I'LL LEAVE THE FLYER TO SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

IT HAS ALL THE INFORMATION ON THERE.

UM, MONTROSE BOULEVARD IS ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK WHERE 58% OF TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR ON 9% OF THE STREETS.

TO FINISH UP YOUR THOUGHTS AND CATCH YOUR BREATH, BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE.

COUNCILMAN CAMAN.

UH, MAYOR, I I'M SURE BEING PREGNANT, YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF BREATH, UH, SO CLOSE TO YOUR DUE DATE.

SO IF YOU NEED A FEW EXTRA SECONDS JUST

[00:50:01]

I'LL BE QUICK.

UM, SO INSTEAD OF THE BOULEVARD SERVING FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, RED LIGHT RUNNING AND WEAVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO US, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SIX SCHOOLS SITUATED IN HIGH MILE, UH, HALF MILE FROM THE BOULEVARD, INEXPERIENCED 40 CAR CRASHES EVERY YEAR.

UM, WE NEED THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT TO PROCEED WITHOUT DELAY, AND WE CANNOT COMPROMISE ON SAFETY.

UM, CAN, UH, PLEASE, THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR US, SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU FOR OUR TIME.

HI, HOW ARE Y'ALL? UM, MY NAME'S MARY AND I LIVE IN MONTROSE.

I'VE LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.

UM, I REALLY LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT'S A CENTRAL LOCATION AND IT HAS A LOT OF FUN BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS TO GO TO.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, I'VE NOTICED HOW DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE IT IS TO WALK AROUND IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WALK MY DOG ABOUT THREE TIMES A DAY, AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO NAVIGATE, UH, THE BROKEN SIDEWALKS AND ESPECIALLY THE FLOODING.

IT JUST RAINED LAST WEEK.

UM, AND MY SIDEWALKS WERE FLOODED.

THAT MEANS I HAVE TO WALK INTO THE STREET WITH MY ANIMAL AND RISK BEING IN THE STREET WITH THE CARS.

SO I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT BECAUSE IT'LL MAKE US ALL A LOT SAFER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, AND THAT MEANS I WON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT RISKY DECISION OF WALKING IN THE STREET OR HAVING TO CRAM INTO THE SIDEWALK, UM, TO TRY TO JUST NAVIGATE MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I BELIEVE, CAN I JUST HAVE TOM HAS EXPIRED? SURE.

GO AHEAD AND FINISH.

UM, AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL HELP OUR DRAINAGE ISSUE.

UM, THAT'S WHY I'M VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT WILL HELP WITH THE FLOODING THAT WE EXPERIENCE IN MONTROSE.

UM, AND IT'LL HELP WITH ALL THE DRAINAGE FROM THE RAIN.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL HEARING ME OUT.

NEXT ALEXANDER SPIKE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL.

I'M A RESIDENT OF MONTROSE.

I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER AND I'VE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR MANY YEARS.

I SUPPORT THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PLAN.

THE BOULEVARD IS DOT WITH EMPTY LOTS IN STOREFRONTS.

THE ROAD CONDITION SIDEWALKS ARE POOR AND THE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT IS AD HOC.

THIS PROJECT AND THE TRAIL WILL PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC BOOSTER SHOP FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STRENGTHS AS A CLOSE AND WALKABLE, FAMILY FRIENDLY AND TRENDY NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHY SHOULD THE HEIGHTS THIRD WARD OR SECOND WARD BE THE ONLY ONES WITH SIGNATURE TRAILS? THERE'S COMPROMISE.

THERE ALWAYS WILL BE.

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT WE'RE GETTING OUTTA THIS PROJECT TOO.

HUNDREDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS CAME TO THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND ASKED FOR A WALKING PRIORITY CORRIDOR TO MAKE THE BOULEVARD A DESTINATION AND NOT JUST A THOROUGHFARE.

I GAVE INPUT DURING THE DESIGN STAGE OF THE PROJECT AND WENT TO SEE THE COMMUNITY DESIGN PLAN STAY INTACT.

WE ASKED FOR SAFE CROSSINGS FOR CHILDREN AT THE SIX NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND FOR A BIO LIKE SHARED USE PATH OR BICYCLES, PEDESTRIANS, EVERYBODY, SOMETHING WIDE ENOUGH, UH, TO COMFORTABLY WALK WITH FAMILY AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO WALK PAST YOU.

I HAVE WRITTEN MY INFORMATION, SO I, I WANT TO GIVE IT TO YOU GUYS AND I NEED TO KNOW WHO I CONTACT TO THE NEXT PERSON TO HELP.

NEXT ABDULLAH NOURI.

HELLO EVERYONE.

THIS IS ABDULLAH NORI FROM AFGHANISTAN.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MARINES LIKE TWO, THREE YEARS, AND I LOST MY FATHER ON JULY 31ST.

2023.

I CONTACTED WITH THE HPD COUPLE TIMES AUGUST 1ST, SEPTEMBER 12TH, OCTOBER 4TH, OCTOBER 21ST.

ALL I WAS TOLD IS WAITING FOR THE DA.

THEN IN MARCH 18TH, I WAS AT THE POLICE STATION THAT THE CRIME AND VICTIM, UH, DIVISION CONTACTED THE DA IN FRONT OF ME AND THEY SAID, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE THE CASE OR THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT MY FATHER.

THEN THEY, AGAIN, THEY CALLED, UH, THE POLICE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD GIVEN THE INFORMATION TO THE DA.

SO THIS MORNING I GOT A CALL FROM THE HPD THAT THEY WERE ASKING ME WHY I WANT TO GO TO THE CONSOLE.

SO I DUNNO WHY.

AND I FEEL THE HPD IS LETTING PEOPLE TO GET AWAY WITH A MURDER, AND MY FATHER WAS KILLED, SO I WENT TRUSTING THE POLICE TO DO THEIR JOB.

[00:55:07]

COUNCILOR CAYMAN.

NO, MAYOR.

I JUST WAS GONNA GIVE HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE OF MORE TIME IF HE HAD NEEDED IT.

BUT, UM, I, I TRUST THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION WILL LOOK INTO, YOU KNOW, WHY IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DA HASN'T TAKEN THE CASE UP.

SO THE DA SAYING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE CASE AND ALL, LIKE THE POLICE SAYING THAT THEY'RE GIVING IT TO THE GRAND JURY AND THEY ARE THE, THE VICTIM AND CRIME CONTACTED THEM AND THEY SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE KEYS AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT MY FATHER.

SO MAYOR, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO FOLLOW UP TO, UM, FIND OUT ACTUALLY WHERE THIS CASE RESIDES? UH, USUALLY IF IT IS GOING, IS BEING PRESENTED TO A GRAND JURY.

YEAH, IT'S WITH THE D DA'S OFFICE, BUT I THINK HE DESERVES SOME CLARITY.

I HAVE WITH WHAT? WHERE OF MY SENIOR, UH, CYNTHIA, WILL YOU TALK TO GENTLEMEN AND GET THE NETWORKING GOING, SIR, SHE WILL HELP YOU GIVE HER, GIVE THE INFORMATION VERY MUCH.

AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON IT.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR KADEN.

MELANIE GI GOOD AFTERNOON.

I AM A LONG TIME HEIGHTS HOMEOWNER AND COME TO YOU WITH A PLEA REGARDING THE SAFETY MEASURES ON 11TH STREET.

SORRY.

PERFECT.

YEAH, PULL THAT DOWN.

YEAH, I'M A LITTLE SHORT .

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF UNDOING THESE SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF KEEPING 11TH STREET AS IT IS CURRENTLY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PTA AT HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS LOCATED ON 11TH STREET AND A MEMBER OF THE PTO BOARD AT HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, I AM DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS.

THE SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ON 11TH STREET HAS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE DAILY COMMUTE FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO DRIVE, WALK, OR BIKE TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

BEFORE THESE CHANGES ARE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS OFTEN REPORTED INSTANCES OF SPEEDING CARS THAT DISREGARDED CROSSWALKS AND SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMITS, SPECIFICALLY SLOWER TRAFFIC, CROSSWALKS AND TRAFFIC ISLANDS MAKE OUR SCHOOL ZONES SAFER.

IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO ALTER THE CURRENT SAFETY MEASURES, I ASK YOU TWO, ENSURE THE SAFETY YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED OF THE AREA SURROUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? MA'AM.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? HOLD ON.

MS. GIVEN MA'AM? NOPE.

THERE, YOU HONOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW YOU'RE A CONSTITUENT, SO I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE TIME TO FINISH IF YOU NEEDED IT.

EXCELLENT.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY OUR STUDENTS DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN AND GROW AND DESERVE THE SAME SAFE COMMUTE THAT WE AFFORD OUR DRIVERS.

COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? THANK YOU MA'AM.

MELANIE, I JUST, UH, I I ALSO WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS IN THE DISTRICT HOG.

YES, MA'AM.

IS IN DISTRICT H.

UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF, AND THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE PTOS AND PTAS AS YOU'RE SEEING IT, RELATING TO SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE WALKING IN BIKING TO SCHOOL? YES.

I MEAN, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF KIDS, UM, DURING AN HOUR IN THE MORNING AND AN HOUR IN THE AFTERNOON ARE DRIVING, WALKING, BIKING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SO OUR KIDS CAN BIKE AND WALK TO SCHOOL.

UM, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND BEFORE THESE CHANGES TOOK PLACE, UM, HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, STANDING ON ONE SIDE OF THE FOUR LANE 11TH STREET AT A CROSSWALK.

NO ONE'S STOPPING FOR THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO REPERCUSSIONS.

GOOD DATE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS DELPHINA TORRES.

I'M ACTUALLY HAVING THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

I'M IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.

I AM ON THE SDMC AT KETTLESTONE ELEMENTARY AND NORTH SIDE HIGH.

AND I'M HERE TO ASK ON MAYBE DETOURING THE BIKE LANES THAT WE HAVE COMING ON EQUIPMENT.

I'M A BUSINESS OWNER ON EQUIPMENT.

I'M A RESIDENT RIGHT OFF EQUIPMENT.

SO THE PLAN THAT THEY HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT IS GONNA GET, IT'S 18 FEET ACROSS NOW.

IT'S GONNA SHRINK DOWN TO 11 FEET.

THAT IS GONNA BE REALLY CRAZY.

THE PRINCIPLE AT KETTLESTONE IS NOT FOR THESE BIKE LANES.

SHE FEELS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE CRAZY

[01:00:01]

FOR A PICKUP.

WE DON'T HAVE STUDENTS BIKING TO THE SCHOOLS AROUND HERE.

WE REALLY DON'T.

UM, I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.

UM, SO I'M JUST HERE TO ASK ON SOME TYPE OF ANOTHER WAY.

MAYBE DETOURING THE BIKE LANES.

I DON'T KNOW.

THE BUDGET IS, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING.

I, I'M, I'M, I'M OPPOSING THE BIKE LANES.

COUNCILOR CASTILLO.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

DEL, DID YOU NEED A FEW MORE SECONDS TO WRAP UP OR? UH, I THINK I'M GOOD.

I I MIGHT BE BACK.

WELL, I, I WOULD LIKE TO, TO VISIT WITH YOU TO LEARN SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT, THAT ARE, UM, PROPOSED HERE, THAT, THAT Y'ALL ARE NOT, UM, THAT YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH.

UM, AND LOOK AT, UH, WHAT THOSE ARE.

I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU DID SEND AN EMAIL AND SOME BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, WERE ON THAT.

SO I'D, I'D LIKE TO VISIT WITH THEM TOO AS WELL.

BUT, UM, I HAVE MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR HERE WHO CAN, UH, GET SOME INFORMATION FROM YOU AND WE CAN GET A, A MEETING SET TO TALK ABOUT IT FURTHER.

PERFECT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, DID ANYONE TALK TO YOU BEFORE THIS PROPOSAL? I HAVE BEEN TO COMMISSIONER COURT, SO I HAVE BEEN ON THIS PLAN, UH, FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFICATION, WE WERE GONNA GET EQUIPMENT BEAUTIFIED.

AND THEN LATER ON, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS LATER, WE GOT COMMISSIONER COMING IN WITH BIKE LANES THAT ARE GONNA COME FROM HARDY TO A LESION TO EQUIPMENT.

AND IF YOU KNOW, A LESION AND HARDY, THOSE BIKE LANES WERE HORRIBLE.

THEY LOOKED LIKE A WAR ZONE.

HAVE YOU NOTICED NO ONE'S MAINTAINING THEM, PARTICULARLY AT FULTON AND EQUIPMENT? PRETTY RAGGED LOOKING.

UH, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER CARLA WAS HERE, THEY REMOVED THE LIGHTS ON FULTON EQUIPMENT.

WELL, IT WAS, WE, THE PEOPLE THAT WENT OUT THERE AND DEMANDED THE LIGHTS TO BE BACK BECAUSE, UH, IT WAS SCARY TO CROSS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE WALKERS AND THERE WAS NO LIGHTS.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO COME DOWN.

I'M A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND AN ENGAGED MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

I'M HERE ON THE BEHALF OF 2000 HOUSTON RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED ONTO A PETITION COLLECTIVELY ASKING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.

IN ISRAEL, THE RECENT PASSAGE OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL, TEMPORARY TWO WEEK CEASEFIRE IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

AS MEMBERS OF A GLOBAL COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO TOWARDS THIS PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.

SINCE THE TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE IN NOVEMBER, 2023, OVER 20,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE DIED, BRINGING THE DEATH TOLL TO OVER 35,000.

WITH 15,000 BEING INNOCENT CHILDREN, THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE ENTRY OF GOODS AND FOOD HATE AID HAS DEVELOPED INTO THE MOST DEVASTATING HU HUNGER CRISIS EVER RECORDED.

ACCORDING TO THE UN, CURRENTLY THE ALFA HOSPITAL IS BEING BESIEGED, A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

THOUSANDS WHO SOUGHT SHELTER AT THE HOSPITAL ARE NOW TRAPPED WITHIN ITS CONFINES.

HOUSTON SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICIT TO THE HORRORS BEING FACED BY PALESTINIANS.

MAY I HAVE A COUPLE MORE? SURE.

I STAND HERE ON THE BEHALF OF HOUSTON, 2000 HOUSTON HOUSTONIANS, CALLING FOR ITS HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN US IN THIS PLEA FOR HUMANITY AND ADVOCATE FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THE YEAR YOU FINALLY END THE ADD VALIUM TAX DIVERSION.

NEXT HANZA BRANCH.

MY NAME IS HANZA BRANCH.

I AM HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.

FLOODING FROM BAD DRAINAGE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WHERE, WHERE I LIVE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, RIGHT OFF OF TIDWELL AND CLOSE TO HALLS BAYOU.

THIS YEAR WE'RE HERE TO ASK THE CITY TO KEEP FUNDING THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT ARE ONLY STARTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL US THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.

WHEN WE TELL YOU THAT WE NEED THESE PROJECTS TO SAVE LIVES, YOU ASK US WITH WHAT MONEY? WELL, O WELL OVER $20 MILLION A YEAR OF ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.

MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNSELORS MAKE, MAKE 2024

[01:05:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.

MA'AM? UH, MA'AM.

COUNCIL RAMIREZ? NO, JUST BRIEFLY, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN MS. BRANCH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU AND YOUR GROUP LATER THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

I HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS TO SEND.

I HAVE TWO POINTS TO MAKE.

FIRST POINT IS, I'M COMING TO YOU CONCERNED ABOUT SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONCERNED ABOUT ELECTIONS AT SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE MAKING CHANGES WITH THE STRUCTURE OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT IF YOU DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE PROPER ELECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME OVERSIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA LOSE ALL INTEGRITY WITH THAT.

I LIVE IN FIFTH WARD.

I'M A HOMEOWNER IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 55.

WE HAVE NO STRUCTURE WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION INTEGRITY.

I'M ASKING YOU TO REVIEW THAT.

MY SECOND POINT IS 45 19 LIONS.

IT IS A DEATH TRAP.

IT IS AN ABANDONED BUILDING.

WE'VE BEEN REPORTING SINCE 2015.

THERE ARE 13 SR NUMBERS ON IT.

IT'S OPEN, IT'S DILAPIDATED.

THE, THE, UM, THE CEILING IS COLLAPSING, THE ROOF IS CAVING IN.

THE PERSON THAT OWNS THAT SEEMS TO GET AWAY WITH NO PENALTIES FOR THIS.

I'M SHOWING YOU A PICTURE OF CHILDREN PLAYING OUTSIDE OF IT.

NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

YOU CAN GO KEEP GOING.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP WITH THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S LIKE HOT POTATO.

WE CALL 3 1 1.

THEY GIVE US A SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER.

WE FOLLOW BACK.

UH, DON SAYS IT'S THEIR PROBLEM, THEN IT GOES TO, OH, IT'S A COMMERCIAL BUILDING.

IT'S PUBLIC WORKS.

WE NEVER GET ANYTHING RESOLVED.

AND THAT BUILDING RIGHT NOW IS WIDE OPEN AND IT'S A SAFETY THREAT TO EVERYBODY THAT LIVES AND HAS TO WALK PAST THAT BUILDING ON A DAILY BASIS.

I NEED FOR SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

AND THANK YOU ERICA FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS TO, UM, OUR ATTENTION.

UM, OUR OFFICE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION, THE ADMINISTRATION ON GETTING THIS BUILDING, UM, TORN DOWN.

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE GETTING THESE BLOTTED BUILDINGS, UM, TURNED DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE, UM, TORN DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE PRIVATE PROPERTY.

UM, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE LIKE REALLY BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING HOUSES TURNED, UM, TORN DOWN.

WE ARE ABLE TO GET THAT QUICKER THAN THESE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.

AND SO I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU, THE ADMINISTRATION AND, AND, AND PUBLIC WORKS AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD, WHOEVER'S RESPONSIBLE, UM, FOR GETTING THESE, UM, DANGEROUS BUILDINGS OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S A CAN I, CAN I RESPOND TO WHAT SHE SAID? SURE, GO AHEAD.

THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING BECAUSE IT'S OWNED BY FIFTH WARD, C-R-C-A-K-A CHURCH, 18 AKA FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT.

SO EVERY TIME WE TRY TO PUSH ANYTHING FOR THIS BUILDING, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PROP UP PLYWOOD AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT'S SECURE.

TWO DAYS LATER, THE PLYWOOD IS BACK ON THE GROUND AND PEOPLE ARE ROAMING IN AND OUT.

THE POLICE WAS JUST SITTING THERE CHASING SOMEBODY LAST MONTH.

WE HAVE CONTACTED THEM.

THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIVE TO THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING.

BELIEVE YOU CONTACTED THE, THE OWNER US.

LOOK AT ALL THE SR NUMBERS THAT I HAVE ON THE BACK OF THAT.

EVERYBODY HAS BEEN CONTACT I THAT BUILDING.

I'M, I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU HAD CONTACTED THE CITY.

YES SIR.

DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS PUBLIC WORKS AND THE OWNER, HPD, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING.

NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

LIKE I SAID, THEY EVEN PUT A FENCE UP AND THE FENCE WAS UP FOR TWO MONTHS AND THEN IT CAME BACK DOWN.

IT'S A JOKE WE NEED FOR SOME ACTION BECAUSE IT HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE OWNER? YES.

FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

THEY, THEY, WHAT IS HE, WHAT DOES HE OR SHE SAY? SO THAT WAS BACK IN 2017.

WE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE MINUTE.

YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM SINCE 2017.

WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THEM FACE TO FACE SINCE 2017.

I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE TALKED TO THEM.

BUT THE POLICE, WHAT, WHAT'S THE OWNER GONNA SAY? IS HE OR SHE CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING THEIR BUILDING? BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO 'EM SINCE 2017, IT, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY SAID IN 2017.

YEAH, WE NEED A 2024 REPORT.

I'M GONNA ASK, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO CONTACT THE OWNER AND SEE WHAT TYPE ENFORCEMENT, UH, MEASURES WE CAN USE.

I'M IN CONTACT WITH THE OWNER THROUGH H-P-D-H-P-D IS CONTACTING THE OWNER EVERY TIME WE CONTACT THEM.

I MEAN, THEY OWN A LOT OF PROPERTY IN FIFTH WARD.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN'T KEEP THIS ONE, BUT THEY'RE KEEPING EVERYTHING ELSE UP.

DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE OWNER? LIKE RIGHT NOW, FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OWNS THAT BUILDING.

WHOA.

SLOW DOWN.

AND I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT EARLIER, BUT I DIDN'T

[01:10:01]

STOP.

YOU TELL ME.

THE AUTHORITY OWNS THE BUILDING.

AKA TS 18.

THEY'RE THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IT'S KATHY.

SHE'S TALKING ABOUT KATHY, KATHY PAYTON, AND HARVEY, PAYTON, KATHY.

AND WE NEED TO LOOK, THIS IS THE FIRST ABOUTT.

HOW ABOUT, HOW ABOUT AGREEING? WE AGREE TO DO THAT.

IF THE MAKEUP OF THE TS THE MEMBERSHIP IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

RIGHT.

WHICH IS THEIR ROLE.

WE CAN ALWAYS, AND WE'LL REPLACE 'EM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED TO SECURE THE BUILDING AND, UH, HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT CERTAINLY IF IT'S A TURS, I MEAN, GIVE ME A BREAK.

I MEAN, THEY, THEY SHOULDN'T BE SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY.

I AGREE.

SO YOU HEARD IT HERE.

AND STILL WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON? I HAVE ONE MORE THING.

MAYOR AND ERICA.

UM, AS FAR AS THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE HAS BEEN A BIG, BIG COMPLAINT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE FIFTH WARD AREA.

AND SO, UM, THEY WILL BE HAVING ELECTIONS NEXT WEEK FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.

WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

SO WE GO TO THE MEETING.

WE NEED TO HAVE AN ANNOUNCE.

WELL, WE, I DID TALK TO, UM, WE DID TALK TO THE PRESIDENT AND SHE SAID THAT SHE'S GONNA HAVE AN INDUCTION, BUT WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

OKAY, MA'AM.

COUNSEL, WE WILL MAKE A PROJECT OUT OF THIS.

AND I WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT THIS IS NONSENSE.

I AGREE.

UH, CYNTHIA WILSON, WHEN YOU PUT THIS UP AT THE TOP OF THE LIST TODAY, THANK YOU.

AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOUR CONTACT.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE'LL GO, WE'LL DO A HOME VISIT.

I'LL, UH, THAT'LL BE GOOD.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE BOARD OF THE TURFS AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.

I I RECOGNIZE 'EM.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS FRED WOODS.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NORTHWOOD MANOR CIVIC CLUB.

I ALSO WANNA THANK MY COUNCILWOMAN ASHA JACKSON.

I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVES, DRAINAGE BUDGET DEMANDS AND ECHO THE STATEMENTS OF ALL THE CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE SPEAKING ON THIS MATTER.

END THE AVALOR TAX DIVERSION AND HONOR THE BUILD HOUSTON FORWARD ORDINANCE.

THOSE ARE AVAILABLE FUNDS THAT CAN BE IMMEDIATELY REALLOCATED TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

DON'T STOP THERE.

TO ACHIEVE THE RESILIENCY, AIR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH.

UH, TO ACHIEVE THE RESILIENCY AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR FAR TOO LONG, FUND THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM.

INCREASE FUNDS FOR STORMWATER ACTION TEAM AND LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

CREATE A PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL FUND.

WE ARE TIRED OF FLOODING.

THE AREAS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON HAVE GROSSLY BEEN UNDERSERVED.

OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS DESERVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE THAN KEEPING THEIR BELONGINGS IN PLASTIC BINS FOR FEAR OF THE NEXT FLOODING EVENT.

ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT A WORST FIRST FUNDING APPROACH FOR ALL DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO DISREGARD THE NEEDS OF OUR LEAST RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.

THOSE WHO SPEAK UP IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC TRUST AND SAFETY.

NEXT, TAMMY LANE CAMPBELL.

GOOD AFTERNOON AS INTRODUCED.

I'M TAMMY LANE CAMPBELL, FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONEY BROWN HOPE FOUNDATION.

TODAY, I AM HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU A CRITICAL MATTER CONCERNING FORMER HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER KATHERINE SWEE.

OFFICER SWEE SERVED OUR CITY HONORABLY FOR MANY YEARS.

HOWEVER, IN 2008, SHE WAS WRONGFULLY TERMINATED BASED ON FABRICATED CHARGES.

THIS RESULTED IN A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE, EFFECTIVELY ENDING HER CAREER.

THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ONE OFFICER.

SINCE 1994, THE CITY HAS FACED LAWSUITS FOR RETALIATING AGAINST OFFICERS WHO REPORTED DISCRIMINATION AND PAID OUT MILLIONS.

THIS PATTERN OF ING

[01:15:01]

AND IT MUST END IT'S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE PEOPLE BY PRACTICING JUSTICE FOR ALL, USING TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS.

RESPONS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND NOT ON UNNECESSARY LAWSUITS.

COUNCIL FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND REBUILDING PUBLIC TRUST.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.

UH, DID YOU FINISH MS. CAMPBELL? BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

I DID.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

HELLO, TAM.

HOW YOU DOING? I'M DOING WELL.

HOW ARE YOU? LET ME ASK A QUESTION.

I'M IN REGARDS TO, UM, OFFICER SWILLEY.

HOW, HOW LONG, HOW OLD IS THIS? WHAT, HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN? SINCE 2008.

2008? YES.

AND SHE HAS BEEN CONTINUING THE FIGHT TO, UH, RESTORE HER REPUTATION.

SO IS THIS, THIS, DID SHE IN THE PROCESS HAVE REPRESENTATION OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION, REPRESENTATIVE, OR, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO THIS CASE? UM, SHE WENT THROUGH ALL, DID SHE GO THROUGH ALL OF THE STEPS WITHIN THE, SHE, SHE HAS GONE THROUGH ALL THE STEPS AND IS NOW APPEALING TO ALL OF YOU TO, UH, CORRECT THIS WRONG.

MM-HMM.

AND WHAT WE ARE SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR, COUNCILMAN AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE, IS TO RESTORE HER GOOD REPUTATION AND ISSUE, A HONORABLE DISCHARGE AND, UH, A WELL DESERVED OFFICIAL HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT RETIREMENT IDENTIFICATION.

THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT WE ARE REQUESTING.

I, I LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU FURTHER IN THE CASE JUST TO, IF IT, IF WE CAN, IF I MAY.

AND IU THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HAVE FOLLOWED, UM, THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

KATHY WILLIE HAS BEEN EXONERATED, AND IT'S JUST A TRAVESTY THAT SHE'S STILL HAVING TO FIGHT FOR HER REPUTATION.

AND SO THERE'S SO MANY GUIDELINES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT SHE HAS TRIED TO TO JUMP, BUT CERTAINLY EVERY TIME IT COMES BACK.

AND SHE HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT SHE DOES FROM A LOT OF POLICE UNIONS.

AND SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THIS COUNCIL CAN DO TO GRANT THE RESTORATION OF HER REPUTATION, I'M CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF IT.

COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.

PLEASE STEP OVER MICROPHONE.

WHICH ONE? OKAY.

UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU MAYOR, WINNING AND, UH, ALL THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I ALSO LIKE TO SAY, MAYOR, I'M I SUPPORT CHIEF NER.

UM, AS MS. TAMMY SAID, YES, I WAS TERMINATED IN 2008 AND I'M HERE TODAY.

I WAS TERMINATED ON AN UNTRUTHFUL ALLEGATION AFTER REPORTING DISCRIMINATION AND REFUSING TO ABIDE BY WHAT THEY CALL A LAST CHANCE, UM, COMPROMISE WAIVER AGREEMENT TO DROP MY EEOC COMPLAINT.

UM, THE IED INTERNAL AFFAIRS FILES SHOW THAT THE UNTRUTHFUL THIS ALLEGATION AGAINST ME WAS NOT SUSTAINED.

I'VE HAD, UH, IED, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THE IAD SERGEANT SAID THE CHARGE, UH, THE CHARGES AGAINST ME WERE TRUMPED UP DURING MY, MY HEARING.

I HAD A ID LIEUTENANT, A IAD CAPTAIN, AND AN IAD SERGEANT.

ALL THEIR REPORTS SHOW, UH, THE CHARGE UNTRUTHFULNESS ALLEGATION WAS NOT SUSTAINED.

[01:20:01]

ONE OF THE SERGEANTS AND LIEUTENANT WAS FORGED TO ADMIT THAT I WAS WRONGFULLY TERMINATED AFTER ATTEMPTING TO PRESENT ERRONEOUS EVIDENCE.

DOING THE HEARING.

DURING THIS, UH, THE EVIDENCE IN THE FILES CLEARLY SHOW THAT HPDS CHIEFS AND OTHERS WAS MISLED BY THE FABRICATED TERMINATION LETTER IN MY FILE.

IN FACT, CHIEF HURT AT THE TIME, UH, THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE CHECK SHEET SAYS TO KEEP THE CHIEF OUT OF THIS.

NOW, WHY WAS THE CHIEF KEPT OUTTA MY DISCIPLINARY PROCESS? HE WAS THE ONE THAT FIRED ME, BUT HE WAS KEPT OUT OF THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS.

UM, AGAIN, I'VE HAD SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE POLICE UNIONS WHO HAVE REVIEWED MY EVIDENCE AND THEY ALL SAY I SHOULD RECEIVE AN HONOR.

I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE.

MY SUPPORTERS AND I HAVE BEEN TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SEVERAL TIMES AND PRESENTED THE FALSE EVIDENCE IN THE IAD REPORTS THAT CLEARLY, UH, SHOWS THAT THE UNTRUTHFULNESS ALLEGATION WAS FOUND NOT SUSTAINED.

I WAS HERE ON OCTOBER THE 10TH, PRESENTED THE EVIDENCE AGAIN TO MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SEVERAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THAT TIME REQUESTED MAYOR TURNER TO HELP ME.

UH, BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY, 'CAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GET IT ON THE CITY AGENDA, THE VERY NEXT DAY A POLICE OFFICER WAS INDICTED FOR DOING THE SAME THING I HAD BEEN HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT FOR YEARS.

FABRIC TAMPER WITH EVIDENCE AND FABRICATING EVIDENCE.

HOUSTON HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHEN VICTIMS ARE IGNORED.

NO ONE IS SAFE WHEN SWORN POLICE OFFICERS TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE AND FABRICATE EVIDENCE, AS IN MY CASE AND OTHERS, HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMEYER IN COUNSEL.

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT MY CASE, A MATTER OF PUBLIC CONCERN AND PUBLIC SAFETY BE ADDED TO THE CITY AGENDA ACCORDING TO PROPOSITION A.

I'M ALSO REQUESTING THE REMOVAL OF THE FABRICATED TERMINATION LETTER IN MY PERSONNEL FILE AND A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE AND OF BE REMOVED FROM MY RECORD AND I RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL POLICE IDENTIFICATION.

MA'AM, ID, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.

THANK YOU, KATHY.

I MET KATHY YEARS, YEARS AGO.

WE WERE TAKING SOME CHILDREN UP TO WASHINGTON, DC SHE, UH, HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO TRY TO RESTORE HER REPUTATION.

MAYOR, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION COULD LOOK MORE PERSONALLY AT THIS CASE AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME RELIEF THAT SHE CAN BE GIVEN.

I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

MR. MAYOR BY HER ADDRESS.

KAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO GET THREE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, INCLUDING YOURSELF, TO PUT MY CASE ON THE PROPOSITION UNDER PROPOSITION A, THE NEW CITY AGENDA, AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE FABRICATED EVIDENCE.

IN MY CASE, AGAIN, IT'S OBVIOUSLY NEW TO ME HAVING YES, BUT, BUT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN DOCUMENTS WHERE IT'S WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COURTS AS FAR AS THE, I MEAN, THE, THE COURT DID THE SAME THING.

THEY BELIEVE THE FABRICATED EVIDENCE ALSO.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE FIFTH CIRCUIT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL'S ALMOST AS HIGH AS YOU CAN GO.

SO I'M NOT CERTAIN HOW WE WOULD LITIGATE THAT HERE AT THIS FAR.

SHOOT.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LITIGATE IT.

UH, MAYOR, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE CASE.

OKAY? I WILL.

I WOULD WANT THAT FABRICATED TERMINATION LETTER REMOVED OUTTA MY FILE.

I WANT A, UH, HONORABLE DISCHARGE.

UM, WE'LL MAKE YOUR REQUEST KNOWN TO CITY ATTORNEY.

OKAY? THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SHOWN INTEREST OF IN PUTTING THIS CASE ON THE, UM, DOCKET.

WE'LL, WE'LL REVIEW IT.

WE'LL REVIEW IT.

AND, AND THE REASON WHY I SAID IT'S NOT ABOUT A LAWSUIT.

IT'S NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.

IT IS ABOUT HOLDING.

IT COULD, IT SHOULD BE ABOUT HOLDING THESE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR FLAT OUT LYING AND FOR FABRICATING THIS EVIDENCE.

I UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE AS I STATED, THE, UH, EVERYBODY, THE CHIEFS AND THE JUDGES ALL WERE VIEW, THEY WERE VIEWING FABRICATED EVIDENCE.

I UNDERSTAND.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

UH, THANK YOU.

UH, MS. SWILLEY, SORRY THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS, UH,

[01:25:01]

SHE'S A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT F.

SO AS YOUR ADMINISTRATION LOOKS THROUGH, I WOULD LOVE TO BE KEPT ABREAST AS YOU GATHER INFORMATION TO, UH, FOR NEXT STEPS.

UH, SURE.

I DON'T RECALL WHEN YOU CAME, UH, PREVIOUSLY, BUT I THANK YOU FOR THIS FOLDER.

IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME TO READ THROUGH THIS AND MY OFFICE CAN FOLLOW UP FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

CAN I SAY SOMETHING ELSE? SURE.

I BELIEVE 'CAUSE SEVERAL TIMES I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE ALSO ASKED FOR A POLICE WHISTLEBLOWER COMMITTEE.

I BELIEVE A POLICE WHISTLEBLOWER COMMITTEE ASSIGNED TO THE MAYOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ANONYMOUS WRITTEN COMPLAINTS OF POLICE OFFICERS AGAINST FELLOW MISS FELLOW OFFICERS, UH, WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION, UM, COULD RESOLVE SOME OF THE MATTER OF OFFICERS MANIPULATING AND FABRICATING EVIDENCE.

PERHAPS A POLICE WHISTLEBLOWER COMMITTEE WILL SAVE LIVES AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON ANY UNNECESSARY LAWSUITS.

AND A MATTER OF FACT, I WOULD VOLUNTEER ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR FREE.

NEXT PASTOR, UH, GREGORY COLLINS.

THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

AND TO, UM, THE CABINET HERE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

I DON'T WANT, UM, BEAT A DEAD HORSE, BUT I'VE BEEN KNOWING MS. WILLIE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

AND, UM, SHE'S THE FIRST ONE OF THE FIRST, UM, FEMALE BLACK OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE, UH, KNOWN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SHE WORKED IN THE, UM, UH, COURTHOUSE FOR YEARS WHERE THE TICKET COURT WAS.

AND SO I'VE BEEN HONORED TO BE A PASTOR FOR 20 YEARS NOW AND BURIED SOME OF HER CLOSE FAMILY.

SO I ASKED THAT YOU ALL WOULD PLEASE, UH, REVIEW A CASE.

UH, IT'S TIME NOW TO, UM, SOMEONE HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE THIS THING RIGHT.

AND WE THOUGHT THE LAST, UM, MAYOR WOULD MAY HAVE DONE THAT.

AND SO SHE'S BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR 2000, 2008, HER LIFE AND, UM, HER FAMILY.

AND SO WE ASKING NOW THAT YOU GUYS WOULD PLEASE, UH, SEE HER CASE, LOOK OVER THE FACTS, AND, UH, DO WHAT YOU CAN TO ASSIST HER WHERE SHE CAN GET HER BENEFITS.

AND, UH, WRONGFULLY TERMINATED.

MOVED OFF HER.

UH, THING ONE LAST REAL QUICK.

THIS RIGHT? NO SPEAKERS.

JUST ONE FIVE SECONDS.

MS. JACKSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP FOR THE CHURCH, YOUR EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF.

LOIS MEYERS, RANIA MANCAR.

I GOT SOMEBODY.

I GOTTA AGREE.

JUST ONE AT A TIME.

JUST JUST ONE AT A TIME.

ONE AT A TIME.

RANIA MAN.

CARILLO, CEO OF CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO REINTRODUCE THE ORGANIZATION TO ALL OF YOU.

FAMILIAR FACES, NEW FACES, UM, WHEN PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN, IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT HERE, WHETHER IT'S, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOODS, RECREATIONAL AREAS, RESIDENTIAL AREAS, SCHOOLS, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THE SERVICES THAT CRIME STOPPERS PROVIDES FOR FREE.

WE'VE HANDED OUT PACKETS ALREADY.

YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

WE ARE IN MOST OF YOUR DISTRICTS ALREADY ACTIVELY WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS.

WE ARE AN A HUGE ASSET TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRIMARILY HPD, WHEN THEIR RESOURCES ARE STRAINED.

UM, OUR TIP LINE IS AVAILABLE.

WE ACCEPT TIPS IN OVER 20 LANGUAGES AND WE PAY OUR OWN CASH REWARDS.

SO WE WANT OF COURSE, TO VISIT WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT TO SPEAK TO YOU AS A GROUP TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE UTILIZING YOUR FAMILIAR WITH THE TIP LINE, OUR SAFE SCHOOL INSTITUTE, OUR SAFE COMMUNITY PROGRAM, AND THE MANY TOOLS IT OFFERS TO YOUR DIRECT DISTRICTS FOR FREE.

ANY QUESTIONS? AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.

I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE RANIA SOME OF MY TIME.

OH, GO AHEAD.

I'M REALLY JUST WRAPPING IT UP TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AND THAT YOU PLEASE, UM, UTILIZE THEM IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

'CAUSE AGAIN, THEY ARE FREE AND WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING, UM, TO COVER THE CITY.

AND OF COURSE THE COUNTY AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES, RAMIREZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.

I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU RONIA, FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WHAT YOUR, YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES FOR DECADES.

CRIME STOPPERS HAS BEEN MAKING THIS CITY SAFER AND WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS.

[01:30:01]

NEXT SPEAKER, ANDY KAHAN.

THIS WILL BE REAL QUICK.

I YIELD TO RANYA.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE INFORMATION TODAY.

APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

NEXT SPEAKER ROSE MARIE SANCHEZ.

I DUNNO WHAT, EVAN, GOOD AFTERNOON.

HOW ARE YOU? OH, OH, COUNSEL.

OH.

HELLO.

MY NAME IS DAVID ESPINOZA.

I AM A RESIDENT IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THEIR VERSION OF FUNDS CREATED BY THE AVALOR TAX TO THE GENERAL FUND, AWAY FROM FUNDING DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAD APPROVED BY VOTE BACK IN 2010.

SO BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022, THE D-D-S-R-F DRAINAGE FUND HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED BY AN ESTIMATED $118.3 MILLION.

AND THIS IS BETWEEN 22 TO $26 MILLION EVERY YEAR.

THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SAVING LIVES IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON WHERE I LIVE.

THE BOTH HOUSTON FORWARD WEBSITE CLAIMS THAT YOU ARE PAYING BACK DEBT AND FUNDING DRAINAGE PROJECTS AT AN 11.8% RATE.

EVEN THOUGH IN THE EQUATION STATED IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 2010 DASH 8 79 THAT THE CITY OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR SHOULD BE CLOSER TO 18.5%.

THIS NUMBER, WHICH HAS BEEN CORROBORATED BY A STATEMENT MADE BY MAYOR TURNER'S OFFICE, WAS NEVER HELD TO SINCE 2012.

SHE HAS A MOTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, IS THIS ON THIS ITEM? HE CAN HAVE MY TIME.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

SO ALL, ALL I'M ASKING IS, UH, FOR MAYOR WHITMEYER MAYOR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, CAN YOU, WOULD YOU CORRECT THE MISTAKES OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND TO FULLY TRANSFER THE OUT OFOR TAX FUNDS MEANT FOR DRAINAGE? THAT IS ALL.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, I BELIEVE MR. FRED WOODS ALSO, UH, GIVE PACKET TO YOUR CLERKS TO DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN Y'ALL, UH, WITH THAT INFORMATION.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER SEBA SHABAZZ FOR A PROCEDURE MOTION.

I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, AND LET DR.

ANITA WRIGHT SPEAK, UM, AT THIS TIME.

I SECOND DOCTOR, IT IS, BEEN MOVED A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED PASSES? GO AHEAD.

DR.

ANITA WRIGHT.

HELLO, MS. WRIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, HONOR.

UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL'S.

DR.

I'M DR.

ANITA WRIGHT.

I AM A RETIRED SERGEANT FOR 27 YEARS WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT FORMER POLICE OFFICER CACTUS WILL, WHO WAS WRONGFULLY CHARGED WITH AND LATER TERMINATED AFTER REPORTING DISCRIMINATION IN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SHE RECEIVED A DISORDER OF A DISCHARGE, WHICH IN HER CAREER AS A SERGEANT OF HPDI WAS ALSO S UNTRUTHFULNESS.

AFTER REPORTING DISCRIM PRACTICE IN HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, I AM AWARE THAT OTHER OFFICERS HAVE BEEN RETALIATED AGAINST OR TERMINATED AFTER RECEIVING REPORTING DISCRIMINATION, WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF THE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND FEDERAL LAW.

I ALSO SPENT SEVERAL YEARS AT AN IED INVESTIGATOR BEFORE I RETIRED.

FORMER POLICE OFFICER KATHY IS INNOCENT.

SHE IS INNOCENT, SO I PLEAD WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL EVANS, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ.

THANK YOU MAYOR TIM, I, I'M SORRY I MISSED YOU THE FIRST START WITH THE FIRST GROUP, BUT CERTAINLY YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME.

SO AGAIN, SHE'S BEEN DEDICATED, COMMITTED AS A POLICE OFFICER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND ALSO A DEDICATED SERVANT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO I ASK HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMEYER.

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT SHE RECEIVE AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE AND SHE BE ISSUED AN OFFICIAL HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT RETIRE AND IDENTIFICATION.

YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK

[01:35:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.

YES, MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM.

I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULE THAT WE WOULD MOVE AT THIS TIME TO SPEAK RACHEL HOOPER AND MR. KEVIN CANTRELL ON THE SECOND.

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT FOR THE CITY SECRETARY? KEVIN CANTRELL, RACHEL HOOPER AND KEVIN CANTRELL.

WE'LL HAVE TO FIND THEM.

GIVE US JUST A SECOND.

RACHEL HOOPER.

GIVE A SECOND TO FIND IT.

BUT IT'S BEEN, UH, MOVED IN SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES.

CAN YOU REPEAT WHERE YOU WANNA PUT THOSE SPEAKERS NOW? SPEAKER? YES.

UH, IS MR. CANTRELL HERE? HE IS.

RACHEL HOOPER FIRST.

RIGHT, RIGHT TO SPEAKER RACHEL HOOPER.

HELLO, MS. HOOPER.

THAT ARE COMING EVERY WEEKEND DOWNTOWN AND RENTING THESE SCOOTERS TO, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME HERE BEFORE.

MY NAME IS RACHEL HOOPER.

I'M HERE TODAY WITH SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS.

THE REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY, WE LIVE IN DISTRICT I IS ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS WAS SHOT, UM, ON A SATURDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 PM IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.

TWO TEENS ON SCOOTERS.

SHOT ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

HE IS FOREVER, THANKFULLY HE'S ALIVE, BUT HE'S FOREVER RUINED.

I MEAN, HIS, HE HAS PHYSICAL DAMAGE THAT HE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO OVERCOME.

AND IN JUST DAYS OVER 60 OF MY NEIGHBORS SIGNED A PETITION AND I WILL CIRCULATE IT.

AND THE PETITION SAYS, PLEASE CONSIDER REMOVING SCOOTERS FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.

AND PLEASE CONSIDER FOCUSING ON, UH, WE ALL SEE THE RUBBER ON THE ROADS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.

PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING ACTION, UM, A ABOUT THE SAFETY IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.

MARTINEZ, ARE YOU DONE OR DO YOU WANT ADD, ADD SOME MORE TO IT? UM, NO, BUT THANK YOU.

SO IF I CAN JUST, UH, COMMENT ON SCOOTERS, AND WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION PROBABLY A FEW WEEKS AGO, UM, ACTUALLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, UH, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON HAS SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN SCOOTERS.

AND WE'VE HAD, UH, HISTORICALLY, I, I KNOW I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH A RA ABOUT WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO? UH, WHEN IT COMES TO ORDINANCE, THERE'S POPUPS THAT ARE COMING UP ON, UH, YOU KNOW, PARKING LOTS THAT THOSE OWNERS ARE RENTING OUT TO THESE POP-UP SHOPS.

UH, SO DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, AND, AND DEFINITELY GO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT WE NEED START ADDRESSING THIS.

UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS, UH, TO OUR ATTENTION.

UH, IT IS ON MY RADAR AS WELL.

I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF ONE PARK PLACE IN DISTRICT.

I, UH, THE BAD PART AND THE SAD PART ABOUT THE, THE, THE SHOOTING IS IT NEVER NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

UH, THE SCOOTERS WERE ON THE SIDEWALK AS THEY'RE ALL EVERY WEEKEND.

IT'S, IT, IT, IT, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE, WE REALLY NEED A STRONG CITY ORDINANCE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW SCOOTERS TO BE RENTED TO MINERS, UNLICENSED, UNINSURED, THRILL SEEKERS.

I MEAN, THE THE WHOLE IDEA OF RENTING THESE THINGS WITH THESE NEON LIGHTS IS IT, IS IT, IT PLAYS TO THE IDEA OF A YOUNG PERSON'S THRILL SEEKING BRAIN.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THEY, THEY LOVE THRILLS.

AND SO THEY ALL DESCEND ON THE CITY FOR FUN.

AND THE, THE STREETS ARE NOT FOR FUN.

THE STREETS ARE FOR MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND YET WE'RE READING SCOOTERS TO MINORS.

THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

NUMBER ONE, I KNOW SCOOTERS CAN BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION, BUT NOT THE WAY THAT THEY'RE DOING IT.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT FUN, FUN, FUN.

AND THEY COME ZOOMING DOWN AT FULL SPEED ON THE SIDEWALKS.

AND THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS SHOT JUST SAID, CAN YOU GET OFF THE SIDEWALK OR GET OFF THE SIDEWALK? MAYBE I'M NOT SAYING THE WORDS.

THE MINOR JUMPED OFF, HAD WORDS WITH HIM.

HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME, WHATEVER.

AND BEFORE HE KNEW IT, THE GUN WAS OUT AND HE WAS SHOT.

WHAT DID THEY, UM, THE SCOOTERS, THEY WERE ON THE SIDEWALK.

THEY WERE.

SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, SIGNS DOWNTOWN THAT SAYS NO SCOOTERS ON SIDEWALKS AND THAT THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SIDEWALK.

UM, UH, THIS QUESTION IS FOR A CITY ATTORNEY.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ON OUR, ON OUR, UM, CITY BOOKS, UM, TO ALLEVIATE, UH, THE SCOOTERS AND THE POP-UP SHOPS

[01:40:01]

I THINK, UH, ONE YOUNG LADY, HER, THEY KEPT HER LICENSE.

UM, IT, IT, IT SEEMS TO BE A, A, A REAL NUISANCE.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ALREADY ON THE BOOKS? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES IT.

UM, SO WHEN THE SIGN WHO PUT THE SIGNS ON THE SIDEWALK DOWNTOWN THAT SAYS, NO SCOOTERS ON SIDEWALK NEXT TO THE SCOOTERS THAT I DO NOT KNOW.

UH, DISCOVERY GREEN.

DISCOVERY GREEN, YEAH.

BUT WITH THE SUPPORT OF, UH, HPD, UH, CENTRAL AND I'VE, I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH, WITH, UH, CENTRAL DIVISION LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER IT WAS KIND OF PEAKING AGAIN.

UM, SO IT'S ENFORCEMENT IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE AS WELL.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE ORDERS SHOULD REALLY BE ADDRESSING THOSE OPERATORS, RIGHT? UH, AND HOLDING MORE LIABILITY ON THOSE FOLKS.

UH, TO YOUR POINT, RIGHT? ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY CAN JUMP ON A SCOOTER RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'VE HAD ACCIDENTS MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHERE SOMEBODY WAS GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY AND WAS HIT BY A CAR AS WELL.

AND SO, UH, AGAIN, IT IS BEEN SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IS, IS ON A RADAR.

UH, WE'VE BEEN ASSIGNED COMMITTEES.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PUT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, PUT SOME TEETH BEHIND IT MAYBE.

AND, YOU KNOW, UM, I, I KNOW THAT A RA WASN'T INTERESTED IN WANTING TO HAVE ONE SPECIFIC OPERATOR.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR BIKES AS WELL.

UH, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SEE HOW WE CAN HAVE SOME CONTROL MECHANISMS FOR THIS.

IF, IF I COULD JUST REAL QUICKLY YEAH, PLEASE.

ONE SUGGESTION IS IT'S THE MINORS THAT ARE THE ONES THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LAW, AND THEY'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY, AND THEY'RE RUNNING THE RED LIGHTS AND THEY'RE ON THE SIDEWALKS.

IF WE RENTED THEM TO ADULTS FOR TRUE TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES, LONG TERM, NOT JUST SHORT TERM BY THE HOUR, ANY, ANYBODY CAN HAVE ONE.

AND, AND SO WE NEED TEETH AND YOU CAN'T RENT 'EM TO MINORS UNLICENSED, UN UN UNINSURED ADULTS.

IT'LL BE FINE.

WELL, I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY FOCUS ON, ON MINORS, RIGHT? BUT HONESTLY, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE EVEN HEARD OF STORIES WHERE, UH, FATHER WAS CARRYING A YOUNG, YOU KNOW, CHILD ON THE SCOOTER, AND SO SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE REGULATION.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

LOOKING INTO THAT, UM, IT, IT IS DANGEROUS.

UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, AND THEN AGAIN, THIS, THIS LAST INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED, UH, I DID, YOU KNOW, BRING IT UP AND SAY THAT WE, WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT SCOOTERS IN DOWNTOWN SPECIFICALLY.

BUT I'M, I'M SURE THAT IT'S A CASE ACROSS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN MIDTOWN EAST DOWNTOWN AS WELL.

UM, NO, TO THIS POINT, IT'S BEEN A LONG CONVERSATION, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE TAKE ACTION ON IT? MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AS IT RELATES TO ENFORCEMENT OF THESE RULES.

IS IT HPD OR IS THERE ANOTHER, FOR EXAMPLE, A RA BODY THAT CAN ENFORCE THIS? BECAUSE AGAIN, RIGHT NOW IT FEELS LIKE THE BURDEN KEEPS FALLING ON H-P-D-H-P-D IS STRAPPED THIN, AND WE NEED A REGULATORY AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM BEYOND ASKING POLICE OFFICERS TO PATROL WHEN WE NEED THEM ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY NOW IT'S VIOLENT CRIME TOO.

SO THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION, THEN I HAVE A FOLLOW UP.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW IT FALLS TO HPD.

UH, I ASSUME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RULES OF DISCOVERY GREEN.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW, UH, DISCOVERY GREEN IS RUN BY A, A PARK ORGANIZATION.

AND SO WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE, I CAN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY, IS THAT WHEN YOU VIOLATE DISCOVERY GREEN RULES, YOU'RE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PARK.

AND THAT WOULD BE DONE THROUGH PROBABLY TRESPASSING, RIGHT? SO I WOULD REQUEST, AS WE LOOK AT THIS, THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM OF THIS.

SO THAT, AGAIN, FROM A REGULATORY SCHEME, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE ISSUE OF POPUPS VERSUS WHAT IS ARE LICENSED VENDORS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE THAT CITIES ARE DEALING WITH NATIONWIDE ABOUT WHERE YOU CAN PARK SCOOTERS.

ARE YOU LEAVING THEM IN, YOU KNOW, THE MIDDLE OF A SIDEWALK AND IT'S BECOMING A HUGE ISSUE OR THEIR DESIGNATED PLACES.

AND AGAIN, YOU NEED THAT REGULATORY SCHEME TO ENFORCE THAT.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE OF THIS.

SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING.

I'VE WORKED WITH, UH, DISTRICT I IN THE PAST.

I DO KNOW THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IN YOUR DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY, BUT IT DOES IMPACT ALL OF US.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT AS WE LOOK AT THIS, THERE'S MULTIPLE LAYERS OF HOW TO REGULATE THAT WE AS A CITY NEED TO BE ADDRESSING.

AND IT'S NOT JUST HOUSTON DEALING WITH THIS.

IT'S, IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.

COUNCILMAN DAVIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, GO ON, BE ON RECORD TO HELP ALL OF THE, TO ASSIST ALL OF THE DISTRICT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THIS PROCESS.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER, UH, ON REGARDS TO SCOOTERS ON SIDEWALKS.

AND I THINK, MAYOR, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK UP.

BUT I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD THAT WHATEVER WE CAN DO, I THINK, UH, WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT, UH, EXPEDITIOUSLY.

YEAH, I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

[01:45:07]

UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT I, AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS, UH, FLOODING AT THE POLK STREET UNDERPASS UNDER THE UNION PACIFIC TRACKS THERE.

UH, THAT, THAT PARTICULAR THOROUGHFARE IS USUALLY 99.9% SAFER THAN ANY OTHER WAY TO GET AROUND THE TRAINS IN THAT AREA, WHICH ARE A BIG PROBLEM.

THEY'RE OFTEN PARKING ON THE TRACKS, HOWEVER, UH, PROBABLY ONE OR ONE OR TWO TIMES A YEAR, IT RAINS VERY HEAVILY LIKE IT DID ON MARCH 15TH OF THIS YEAR.

AND CARS WILL DRIVE INTO THAT UNDERPASS.

IT IS BELOW GRADE, AND, UH, IT WILL FLOOD AND THEY WILL, PEOPLE WILL RUIN THEIR CARS.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS CURRENTLY THERE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I HAVE, UH, PICTURES OF MY PHONE OF THIS TYPE OF EVENT HAPPENING IN 2008, OR SORRY, 2018 TWICE, UH, AGAIN IN 2020, AND THEN AGAIN JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE, UH, SORT OF AN EMERGENCY PLAN TO BE IN PLACE FOR WHEN THESE HEAVY RAIN EVENTS COME THROUGH AND, UH, ESPECIALLY AT THE POLK STREET UNDERPASS.

COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.

UH, KYLE, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

I KNOW YOU'VE, YOU WERE IN LINE IN QUEUE AND GOT BUMP BUMPED DOWN A FEW SPOTS, BUT, UH, JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT.

UH, YEAH.

WHEN I WAS THERE, UH, LAST, NOT FRIDAY, BUT THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE LAST, UH, SOME POLICE OFFICERS CAME, UH, DURING THE EVENT AND, UH, THEN LEFT WITHOUT WARNING.

AND I THOUGHT, WELL, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT KEEPING PEOPLE FROM DRIVING INTO THE FLOOD WATERS.

UH, IT WAS VERY CONCERNING TO ME.

UM, ONE CAR WAS THERE AND THEN LEFT.

UM, IT, IT WAS BLOCKING THE, UH, LET'S SEE, THE WEST EASTBOUND SIDE ON THE WEST, JUST PARKED THERE, BLOCKED TRAFFIC FOR A WHILE, AND THEN LEFT AND DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY.

AND THEN ANOTHER CRUISER CAME, UH, THERE WAS TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN IT.

I WAS LIKE, OH, GREAT.

THERE'S, THERE'S ONE FOR EACH SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THEY DROVE TO THE FLOODWATER, TURNED AROUND AND DROVE AWAY.

I, I COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT.

SO, UM, HISTORICALLY IN, UH, FOR SOME OF THOSE, THEY PUT BARRICADES UP.

UH, OUR OFFICE IS GONNA BE DOING A BETTER JOB OF WORKING WITH, UH, HPD TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S SOME, SOME WORK BEING DONE IN THAT ASPECT.

I KNOW WE'VE ADDED SOME SIGNAGE, BUT WE, WE ALSO, UH, NOTICED THAT PROBABLY NEED ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE AS WELL.

UM, DEFINITELY WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT NOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.

I'M SORRY, I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.

COUNCILOR FLICKINGER.

I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTY THAT THEY'VE GOT GATES THAT WILL FOLD LIKE BACK UP AGAINST A WALL, AND THEY OPEN 'EM UP AND CLOSE 'EM WHEN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE IMPASSABLE WATER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO FOR HERE OR NOT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT CHECK.

THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING DOWN.

NEXT ZA PAGE.

ZA PAGE IS NOT PRESENT.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UH, DEMETRIUS WRIGHT AND HA BOWIE TO SPEAK.

NOW, MOVE OR ADD YOU'RE MOVING.

MOVING OR ADDING TO MOVE THEM TO SPEAK NOW.

DEMETRIUS WRIGHT AND HA BUOY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER.

DEMETRIUS.

UH, COUNSEL.

UH, MY NAME IS DEMETRIUS WRIGHT AND I'M ALSO TOO A FORMER, UH, HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER OF 10 YEARS.

UH, JUST LIKE KATHY WILLY, I WAS ALSO TERMINATED AFTER REPORTING, UH, DISCRIMINATION, UH, BACK IN, UH, 2000 AND, UH, 11.

AND I'M, I'M ALSO ASKING FOR THE REMOVAL OF A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE, WHICH ALSO WAS ATTACHED TO MY FILE IN REGARDS TO THAT.

UH,

[01:50:01]

IN ADDITION.

AND, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I WAS ALSO GONNA ASK YOU, SIR, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IF ME AND, UH, KATHY SWILLEY CAN MEET WITH YOU AT A DIFFERENT TIME, THAT IT'S THE DISCUSS OUR ISSUE? WE CERTAINLY, WE CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN THAT.

UH, I WOULD BELIEVE SO.

I'M SAYING THE ANSWER'S YES.

THE, THE, AND I DON'T KNOW YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

I REVIEWED HERS, WHICH I'M GOING TO DRILL DOWN ON FURTHER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE BEEN IN THE COURTS AS FAR ALONG AS HER CASE HAS AND THE FIFTH CIRCUIT'S RULED, THERE'S NOT A LOT MORE, UNLESS YOU'RE ASKING US JUST AS A POLICY MATTER TO GO AGAINST COURT RULINGS AND WE'LL LISTEN TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TRY TO BE FAIR.

BUT, UM, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE LISTEN TO YOUR CASE AS WELL.

I, I'M, I'M NOT, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT IN THE COURTS AT ALL.

LIKE, WELL, AND THEN I WOULD CAUTION YOU ABOUT TEAMING UP, NICE PERSON.

BUT HER STATUS IN THE CHALLENGE MIGHT BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN YOURS.

BUT I GUESS WE CAN DETERMINE THAT ONCE WE MEET.

I, YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO CYNTHIA WILSON, WILL YOU GET THE CONTACTS AND, UH, I'M SPREAD PRETTY THIN.

I'M SPREAD PRETTY THIN, I'M SAYING, YEAH, BUT, BUT YOU'VE MADE A GOOD FAITH REQUEST AND I'M GONNA HONOR IT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALRIGHT, HAVE A GOOD DAY.

ALRIGHT, THANKS.

NEXT I DO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS HI BOWIE AND I'M THE FOUNDER.

WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZE WHERE WE HOLD ELECTED OFFICIALS AND POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.

I'M HERE TODAY REGARDING THE WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF FORMER HPD OFFICERS, KATHY SWILLEY AND DEMETRIUS WRIGHT.

THESE OFFICERS WERE TERMINATED FOR UNTRUTHFULNESS AND OR IN INSUBORDINATION AND RECEIVED DIS HONORABLE DISCHARGES AFTER REPORTING DISCRIMINATION.

DESPITE THE DEPARTMENT POLICY 300 DASH 11 STATE, IT WAS THEIR DUTY TO REPORT DISCRIMINATION.

I'M REQUESTING THE REMOVAL OF THE DISARMED DISCHARGE FROM THEIR PERSONAL FILE.

NEXT, CAROL WILLIAMS? YES.

SARAH KILNER.

SARAH KILNER, JAMES CHAMBERS.

STEVE WILLIAMS, NEVER HERE.

GREETINGS TO THE BOARD AND THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON.

UH, I AM ONE OF THE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS IN MY COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE BEEN, UH, HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AT THE WATER WHEEL HOLE, UH, PARK WITH NO PARK RANGERS, UH, UH, PATROLLING THE AREAS WE ARE HAVING STUDENTS SKIPPING IN THE AREA.

WE HAVE STUDENTS DOING AND RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA DOING A HOST OF UNLEGAL, UH, MARIJUANA.

I HAVE, I WALK THAT TRAIL.

I BIKE THAT TRAIL.

I RUN THAT TRAIL.

I KNOW WHAT WEED SMELLS LIKE.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN THE CAR.

I'VE TRIED TO CONTACT, UH, OUR CITY COUNCILWOMAN.

I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO THE, UM, PRINCIPAL, UH, WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE TO NO AVAIL.

I CAN'T GET PARK RANGERS OUT.

I CAN'T GET ANYONE TO MEET WITH US AS A COMMUNITY, UH, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND GET INVOLVED IN WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.

UH, MAYOR PROTE CASTEX TATUM.

MS. FRANCIS, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH, I'VE TRIED TO CONTACT MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

I HAVE CALLED YOUR OFFICE.

CALL ME.

I HAVE CALLED YOUR OFFICE.

DID YOU SPEAK TO ANYBODY? NO, I WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK TO ANYBODY.

ANYBODY? WELL, WE'LL, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU SPEAK TO SOMEBODY TODAY.

A, A FOUNDATION AND THEY HAVE A TEAM, RIGHT? A THAT WORKS ON THE, ON THE PARK, SO WE CAN GET THESE ISSUES ADDRESSED.

AND WE CAN DEFINITELY MAKE SURE WE GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE.

WE, UH, THE WILL OF WATER HOLE HAS

[01:55:01]

RIGHT? AND BILL AND I HAVE, UH, WORKED WITH THIS AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT.

UH, HE'S BEEN HERE AND HE'S TRIED TO GET SEVERAL THINGS DONE IN THAT AREA WITH THE PARK.

UM, AND, UH, WE NEED LIGHTINGS OUT THERE.

WE NEED LIGHTS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THESE PEOPLE.

UH, I GET ON THE TRAIL SOMETIMES IT'S DARK WHEN I START.

SO YOU NEED LIGHTING OUT THERE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THE STREET THAT'S NEXT TO THE PARK, WHICH IS DRY AIR, 5,400 DRY AIR.

UH, THEY HAVE TAKEN THAT STREET LIKE IT'S A RACETRACK.

THANK YOU FOR COMING MS. MS. FRANCIS.

SO, CAN WE GET SOME ROAD BLOCKS OR SOMETHING? YES.

YOU, SOMEBODY'S GONNA CALL YOU TODAY, MS. FRANCIS.

I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT CAROL WILLIAMS. HOW TO Y'ALL? OH MAN.

I DIDN'T MEAN, SORRY.

DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT.

MY NAME IS WILLIAM CARA AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN 29, 29 COMMON STREET FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

IN THOSE THREE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RUMORS OF A KEY BEING USED TO ENTER RESIDENCE HOMES.

I HAVE, UH, MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING, BUT THEY'RE AFRAID BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE RETALIATION AND INTIMIDATION FROM THE PROPERTY MANAGER.

SO ON THE 28TH OF THIS YEAR, UH, THOSE RUMORS ENDED FOR ME BECAUSE SOMEBODY CAME INTO MY HOME WITH A KEY.

I CALLED THE POLICE AND I'VE MADE A REPORT AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO AN INVESTIGATOR, WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW OF THEM.

AND THE GIST OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WAS IF THERE WAS NO VIDEO, THERE WAS NO PROOF.

AND I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS CAMERAS IN THIS WORLD, AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

SO WHAT DO WE, WHAT DID, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PEOPLE? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

COUNCILMAN CASTILLO.

UM, HEY WILLIAM.

I WANT TO LET YOU FINISH AND USE SOME OF MY TIME.

EXCUSE ME.

IF YOU WANT TO FINISH YOUR, YOUR STATEMENT, YOU CAN USE SOME OF MY TIME TO FINISH.

I'M, I'M VERY HARD HEARING, MR. CASTILLO.

UM, YOU CAN FINISH YOUR STATEMENT.

I'M GONNA LET YOU USE SOME OF MY TIME TO FINISH.

SO, UH, THERE WAS NO PROOF.

AND NOT EVERYBODY IN THIS WORLD HAS ACCESS TO CAMERAS AND INTERNET.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT.

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PEOPLE? I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE 'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A CAMERA IN MY APARTMENT AT THAT TIME, BUT I HAVE PROOF THAT THEY CAME INTO MY APARTMENT WITH A KEY.

I HAVE TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE PERSON THAT I KNOW CAME INTO MY APARTMENT.

I HAVE TEXT MESSAGES THAT WILL PROVE THAT.

UM, I SPOKE, SPOKE TO YOUR GENTLEMAN, UH, THIS MORNING, AND I TOLD HIM THAT IF SOMEBODY WOULD SIT DOWN WITH ME AND GIVE ME JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND, AND LOOK AT THESE TEXT MESSAGES, YOU CAN SEE THE STORY BEHIND THEM.

AND WE'RE, WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

MY OFFICE IS WILLING TO DO THAT.

I HAVE MY, UH, CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR HERE AND THE AUDIENCE.

HE WILL COME, UH, UP TO YOU AFTER YOU'RE DONE AT THE PODIUM, ALRIGHT? AND WE'LL, UH, HELP YOU AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

WELL, THEN THAT'S ALL I ASK.

SO I, I'M, I'M DONE.

UH OH.

AND BY THE WAY, I WANT TO SAY ONE THING THAT I AM NOT HERE TO VILIFY.

HPD.

THEY HAVE, THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND A VERY DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT.

AND I SUPPORT OUR POLICE.

ONE MOMENT.

THANK YOU MAYOR BROTHER DAVIS.

IT'S GOOD TO, GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU OTHER THAN ON THE PHONE.

UM, UM, HE NOTIFIED ME IN OUR OFFICE.

AND LIKE I SAY, WE WERE TAKING SOME STEPS TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES, YOU KNOW, REGARDING THAT BEING THAT IT'S, IT'S A PRIVATE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT APARTMENT.

BUT, UH, WE DID HAVE SOME CONTACT WITH DIFFERENT RESOURCES IN ORDER TO HELP AND ASSIST YOU WITH THAT.

WE'VE ALSO MADE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE OWNERS, UH, OF THE FACILITY AS WELL AS THE MANAGER.

WELL, I'VE NOT HEARD, I'VE GOTTEN NO, UH, INTERACTION WITH THE MANAGER, WITH THE, UH, THE, THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE COMPANY.

THE MANAGER DIDN'T SECURE ME IN MY CHAIR ONE TIME.

THIS IS BACK IN JUNE OF, OF, UH, TWO YEARS AGO.

TIME TO, TO FILE A LAWSUIT HAS, HAS RUN OUT.

BECAUSE MY

[02:00:01]

WHICH NO BIG DEAL.

BUT SHE HURT ME.

SHE BLATANTLY DID NOT SECURE ME IN MY CHAIR AND BOUNCED ME OUT OF MY CHAIR.

AND WHEN I LANDED, I SCREAMED OUT IN PAIN.

NOW I FELL OUT OF AN OIL.

WELL, DERRICK, Y'ALL, I FELL SEVEN STORIES.

SO I AM NOT A AFRAID OF PAIN.

RIGHT.

BUT WHEN I SCREAM OUT IN PAIN, I DON'T EXPECT THE MANAGER TO LOOK AT ME AND GO, MY BAD, MY BAD.

I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY BEHIND THAT.

SO THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING WRONG AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION OF AN INVESTIGATION.

AND ACCORDING TO WEBSTER, LEMME GET MY NOTE OUT REAL QUICK.

THE DEFINITION OF A INVESTIGATION IS THE ACT OR PROCESS OF EXAMINING A CRIME PROBLEM, STATEMENT, ET CETERA, CAREFULLY, ESPECIALLY TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH.

NOWHERE IN THAT DEFINITION DOES IT MENTION A VIDEO.

WHAT DO WE DO BEFORE THE CAMERAS? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE'LL HELP YOU BROTHER WILLIAM.

SO I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND SPEAK TO Y'ALL.

AND I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

KAREN HOLMES.

WILL YOU STEP, WILL YOU IN, IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MICROPHONES.

I WAS HERE LAST YEAR IN 2000, UH, REGARDING THE TERRORISTIC ATTACK THAT I'M CURRENTLY STILL GOING THROUGH IN 2, 2 24.

UM, I SPOKE WITH EVERYONE.

UM, I WAS, THEY WERE SAYING THAT I WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC.

SO I DID SUBMIT A LETTER.

I CAME HERE TWICE.

LAST IN 2000, I SUBMITTED THE LETTER SHOWING THAT I WAS NOT SCHIZOPHRENIC.

UM, I SPOKE TO MR. FRED AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE, HE UNDERSTANDS MY PAIN.

I'VE CALLED POLICE OFFICERS, I'VE CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

I'VE CALLED THE WHITE HOUSE.

I'VE CALLED MAYORS.

I'VE, I'VE REACHED OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT I CAN POSSIBLY REACH OUT TO.

GOD.

MAINLY HE, HE'S ALL IN CONTROL.

THAT'S WHY I'M STILL STANDING HERE NOW.

AND I NEED JUSTICE.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE FOR ONE, IT'S KNOWN EVERYWHERE.

IT'S NOT A SECRET.

YOU KNOW, MY NEIGHBORS PEOPLE, IT'S KNOWN.

SO IT'S NOT A SECRET.

YOU'RE TIME FIRE AND I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE.

I REALLY NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE REGARDING THIS, THIS MATTER, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE I'VE BEEN CALLING.

I MADE CALLS.

I KNOW EVERYTHING IS BEING RECORDED.

SO WHY CAN'T I GET JUSTICE SERVED HERE? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T HARM ANYONE.

I WAS HARMED.

THERE'S PROOF.

AND EVERYONE IN HERE KNOWS IT THOUGH.

IT'S NO SECRET.

JUSTICE NEEDS TO BE SERVED.

WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

IT'S TIME.

WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH TOO MUCH.

I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH TOO MUCH SINCE 2000, ACTUALLY BEFORE THAT.

BUT IT STARTED IN 2000.

'CAUSE I MADE A STATEMENT WHY I WENT TO CALI HOSPITAL AND I SAID THEY'RE SHOOTING STUFF IN THE AIR KILLING PEOPLE.

AFTER THAT.

I'VE BEEN CHASED AROUND POLICE OFFICERS, EVERYTHING YOU CAN LEARN.

AND I'M TIRED.

IT'S TIME FOR EXPOSURE.

I I, CAN I GET SOME KIND OF RESPOND? LAST TIME I WAS TOLD I'M, I'M GONNA LET, I'M GONNA LET, I'M GONNA LET YOU TALK TO ME.

YOU UNDERSTAND MY PAIN? I'M GONNA LET YOU TALK.

NO, YOU DON'T.

YOU WANNA TALK TO A STAFFER? MS. WILSON? MS. WILSON, WE'LL GET YOUR, I APOLOGIZE, I JUST NEED TO CALM DOWN.

I APOLOGIZE.

YOU DON'T TO APOLOGIZE.

WE'RE FINE.

MR. JOHN WHITTIER.

TALK TO MS. WILSON.

I WANT TO GO, I WANT TO, I WANT TO VOTE.

I WANT TO VOTE.

I WENT TO PAUL.

WE NEED TO DRILL DOWN MORE ON WHAT YOU WANT US TO VOTE ON.

SO YES, LET US DO OUR WORK VERY WELL.

TALK TO MS. WILSON.

INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH METRO.

THEODORE CARRERA.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, I HANDED OUT, UH, THREE PAGES.

I WAS HERE ON JANUARY 9TH, UM, I THINK JANUARY 30TH, FEBRUARY 13TH.

AND, UM, AND TODAY, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUALMS WITH ANY OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO ACTUALLY, UH, COMMEND, INSPIRE, AND ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO KEEP, UH, HOUSTON SAFE.

THERE ARE THREE PAGES, THE FIRST TOPICS WHICH HISD, HOUSTON CITY PARKS.

I THINK COUNCILMAN PECK, SHE ADDRESSED ONE THING WITH THE, UH, FENCE AT COTTAGE GROVE.

[02:05:01]

UH, NICK ABELS.

HE HAD MENTIONED, UH, HOMELESSNESS.

I ALSO HAVE CRIME PREVENTION THERE.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS THERE.

EVERYTHING'S IN DETAIL.

UM, I DIDN'T DO MY HOMEWORK AND I WASN'T PARTICULARLY A GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER THE FIRST THREE TIMES, BUT THIS TIME I DID MY HOMEWORK.

SO THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT PAGES.

I WROTE A LETTER TO THE MAYOR ON ONE OF THE OCCASIONS.

I WROTE ANOTHER TWO LETTERS DOING SOME HOMEWORK TO EVERYBODY.

I DRESSED ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' TIME.

AND SO YOU GUYS HAVE EVERYTHING TIME HAS, THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.

DARREL HARPER SCHRAM GEM AUGUSTUS FORD.

FELIX KAPO AUGUSTUS FORD.

FELIX FELIX KAPO.

MY NAME IS FELIX KAPO AND I'M WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.

AND MY MESSAGE IS SIMPLE.

LET'S END THE AVALOR TAX DIVERSION.

UM, AFTER THE SECOND VOTE ON THE TAX DIVERSION IN 20 ON THE AVALOR TAX IN 2018, WE WERE TOLD THAT, UM, NO FUNDS FROM THE AVALOR TAX COULD BE USED FOR ANYTHING BUT DRAINAGE.

UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER ON DECEMBER 10TH, YOU WERE QUOTED IN THE CHRONICLE AS SAYING THE CITY NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND USE THE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY WERE INTENDED.

WE WILL SPEND THE MONEY ON STREETS AND DRAINAGE.

THESE FUNDS GO TOWARDS OUR VERY SIMPLE DEMANDS TO FUND DITCH THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM, LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND SWAP PROGRAMS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO KEEP WATER OUT OF OUR HOMES.

I CLOSE WITH A QUESTION TO YOU, MAYOR.

THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE HAS ASKED, WHEN WILL THERE BE FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE OF ENDING THE DIVERSION? AND HOW CAN WE BE CERTAIN THAT DIVERSION WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR FORWARD? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

OH, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION? ENTRY IS WE'RE PROCESSING IT AS WE TALKED.

SO HERE I'D LIKE TO PASS OUT TO THE MAYOR.

WILL YOU STEP IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE? EITHER ONE.

WAIT UNTIL HE PASS IT OUT.

I, YES.

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO, UH, A GRADUATION.

AND I'M HERE TO SEE THE MAYOR.

AND THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO RESOURCES HE TALKED ABOUT.

SO I'M KIND OF SHORT FOR WORDS 'CAUSE I WANT, I WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO READ THIS.

FIRST, IT PERTAINS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU'RE HAVING IN THE CITY.

AND I'M THE CITY, THE PERSON, UH, SENT FROM WASHINGTON DC THROUGH A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TO ASSIST YOU.

SO ON THIS LETTER, I HAVE THE NAMES OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SENT ME THROUGH US.

ARMY MILITARY, CHILDREN ACADEMY, CAMP BULL, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

AND I HAVE TO DO THIS AS A PROJECT.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, RIGHT? UH, ONE OTHER THING, I'D LIKE TO COME BACK IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND TALK TO YOU, GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS AND TALK, TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.

I HAVE SOME MORE TO BRING YOU AND THIS WILL SATISFY YOUR PROBLEMS. VERY GOOD.

COUNSELING CAYMAN.

SHE HAS A PROCEDURAL.

UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO HAVE MARIANA LEOF IF SHE'S HERE.

BE THE FOLLOWING SPEAKER.

THE MONTROSE DISTRICT AIMS TO ALLOCATE 60% OF THE TAXES TOWARDS SECURITY.

MARIANNA LAMOV.

HELLO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH IT BY NOW.

I HAVE OWNED A BUSINESS AND LIVED IN MONTROSE FOR 28 YEARS.

[02:10:01]

15% OF THE TAXES STORES THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE FEES DURING THE EXISTENCE OF THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH WAS FROM, UH, 2012 UNTIL 2018, MY BUSINESS WAS BROKEN INTO THREE TIMES.

THERE WAS NO SECURITY.

FINALLY, I HIRED MY OWN SECURITY.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES THAT MANY BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE MY OWN BUSINESS HAVE WITH THIS MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

WE ALREADY PAY FOR OUR OWN SECURITY.

IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RESUSCITATE BECAUSE THEY SOLD IN 2018, DOES THAT MEAN I WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY FOR SECURITY? AND IF I DO, I WILL BE PAYING THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME THING.

I AL I ALREADY PAY MY AGE CARD AND ALL MY TAXES.

I PAY FOR SECURITY OUT OUT OF POCKET, AND THEN I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE, UH, MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH IN THE YEARS THEY OPERATED, THEY PROVED TO BE INEFFECTIVE AT, UH, PROVIDING SECURITY OR ANY OF THE OTHER SOLUTIONS THEY PROPOSED FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING GRAFFITI ABATEMENT.

EVERY BUSINESS OWNER TAKES CARE OF THEIR MAINTENANCE.

I HAVE MY MAINTENANCE PEOPLE THAT IF THERE'S EVER GRAFFITI, THEY PAINT IT OVER WITH A $20 CAN OF PAINT.

IF THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS ALLOWED TO COME BACK, WILL I NOT HAVE TO HAVE MY MAINTENANCE? PEOPLE WILL, HOW MUCH WILL THEY TAKE CARE OF? AND I SPEAK FOR MANY OF THE BUSINESSES.

WE, UH, WE DON'T AGREE WHETHER REORGANIZATION, AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU KINDLY TO DISALLOW THEM FROM VOTING ON NEW MEMBERS.

SO, AND, AND NOT ALLOW THEIR FUNDING.

WE ARE NOW, MANY OF THE BUSINESSES IN MONTROSE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UH, CONSTRUCTING OUR OWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN PROBLEMS, OUR OWN CHALLENGES, BECAUSE, UH, AS OPPOSED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WE LIVE AND WORK AND HAVE OUR BUSINESSES IN MONTROSE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN.

UM, MS. LEMS SOFT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.

I ASK ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE, UM, PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO US ON THIS MATTER.

JUST TO CONFIRM, YOU WOULD BE A BUSINESS THAT IS, UM, CHARGED A FEE OR TAXED? YES.

IF THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT COMES FORWARD.

I PAID THEM FOR SIX YEARS YES.

WHILE THEY WERE ACTIVE IN MONTROSE.

GOT IT.

HAVE YOU RECEIVED A, UH, STATEMENT FROM THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SINCE THEY ANNOUNCED THEY WERE BACK IN BUSINESS? YES.

UH, COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE QUESTION? THEY SENT YOU A, UH, A BILL.

THEY, THEY HAVEN'T SENT BILLS YET, BUT THEY SENT A NOTICE THAT THEY WERE, UH, RESURGING BECAUSE SOMEONE LAST WEEK BROUGHT ME A STATEMENT AND WE'RE ACTUALLY RESEARCHING ITS AUTHENTICITY.

UH, WE'RE NOT CERTAIN THE BOARD PROPERLY WAS RECONSTITUTED, SO STAY TUNED.

WE'RE, UH, WE'RE, WE HOPE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THE NEXT DAY OR TWO ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THE, UM, NEW MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

I'M NOT CERTAIN THEY EVEN HAVE ENOUGH BOARD MEMBERS TO JUSTIFY CONDUCTING BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE ON TOP OF IT.

WONDERFUL.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UM, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS, SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT, UM, THE REASON I'M HERE, BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE, UH, PEOPLE THAT CASE GOT CLOSED, UH, IN THE FINANCIAL CRIMES DIVISION.

I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE.

NOBODY WOULD RESPOND TO ME.

I SPOKE, I REQUESTED SERGEANTS, NOBODY RESPOND TO ME.

I CALLED OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REPORT, UM, A PARTICULAR BUSINESS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THE SON AND FATHER, THEY SAID THEY WERE REHABBING HUD HOUSING, HUD PROPERTIES.

AND I INVESTED, UH, IN TOTAL $75,000, NOT INCLUDING THE PENALTIES THAT I HAD TO PAY TO THE IRS.

AND THESE GUYS

[02:15:01]

STOLE MY MONEY.

AND, UM, NOTHING'S BEING INVESTIGATED.

NOBODY'S CALLED ME AND THEY'RE CLAIMING THEY'RE PART, THEY WERE CLAIMING THEY WERE PART OF HUD.

UM, UM, AND I, WHEN I CALLED THE OTHER, LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE OTHER LIKE, UM, I THINK IT WAS THE SEC, SOMEBODY TOLD ME TO CALL BECAUSE IT WAS A CONTRACT THAT I DID.

AND, UH, I TRIED TO, YOUR TIME WAS FOR A POSSIBLE PONZI SCHEME.

AND SO I'M HERE BECAUSE ONE IS THE, THE FATHER'S A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, UM, HARRIS COUNTY POLICE, AND THE SON IS GOING AROUND TELLING EVERYBODY HIS MOTHER IS A PROSECUTOR.

SO I NEED HELP.

TIME IS AGAINST ME.

I NEED FOR SOMEBODY TO, I NEED SOMEONE TO SPEAK TO, TO GET MY CASE REOPENED AND TO GET IT INVESTIGATED TO TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK.

UH, LEWIS, WILL YOU GET THE LADIES GET, GET YOUR CONTACT, MA'AM.

THANK.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN CON OR YOU SAID YOU ATTEMPTED TO REACH SOMEONE? I SENT SEVERAL LETTERS, CERTIFIED LETTERS, LIKE TO SEVEN DIFFERENT ADDRESSES.

I, I ENDED UP GETTING A REPORT FROM, UM, UH, UH, CONSTABLE FORS, UH, THE CONSTABLE FOR, TO GIMME A REPORT I SENT FROM WHO? FROM THE CONSTABLES, UH, PRECINCT FOUR.

AND, UM, I SENT ALL THESE CERTIFIED LETTERS TO EVERY ADDRESS THAT THE, THE HUSBAND AND THE WIFE HAD AND NO RESPONSE.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.

YOU ACTUALLY LIVE IN SPRING, SO WHAT JURISDICTION? I AM PERSONALLY IN SPRING NOW, BUT THE BUSINESS THAT I WAS DEALING WITH IS IN HOUSTON.

THE BUSINESS IS IN HOUSTON.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS DEALING WITH HAD A BUSINESS IN HOUSTON, AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY WERE DOING, UM, HUD PROPERTIES.

AND SO, AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS, I KNOW THAT THE, THE FATHER IS A RETIRED HARRIS COUNTY POLICE.

I KNOW THAT.

UH, AND I KIND OF LET MY GUARDS DOWN A LITTLE BIT WHEN I MADE THAT BIG INVESTMENT BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS DEALING WITH PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY.

DO YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY? I TRIED TO GET AN ATTORNEY, GAVE AN ATTORNEY $5,000 JANUARY AFTER THIS HAPPENED TO ME.

HE NEVER GAVE ME A CONTRACT.

I WAITED UNTIL JUNE AND I FINALLY TOLD THE, THE ATTORNEY, I NEED MY MONEY BACK BECAUSE I NEVER GOT A CONTRACT FROM THE ATTORNEY.

AND I WENT INTO THE OFFICE AND GAVE HIM THE RETAINER FEE.

CYNTHIA LUNA, LAYLA RAMEN.

OKAY, NEXT.

AMANDA LUNA.

MY NAME IS LAYLA AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE 2000 HOUSTONIANS THAT HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION THAT THIS LOVELY GENTLEMAN IS PASSING OUT BEFORE YOU TODAY.

AND THESE ARE THE SIGNATURES, JUST SOME OF THEM.

THEY WERE HANDWRITTEN AND SIGNED BY PEOPLE AROUND HOUSTON AS I COLLECTED THEM.

AND THEY ARE DEMANDING FOR A PERMANENT HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GAZA AND IN ISRAEL.

AS WE KNOW, THE UN PASSED A TWO WEEK CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AS OF YESTERDAY.

HOWEVER, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION BECAUSE FOLLOWING THE LAST TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 24TH THROUGH 30TH, AN ADDITIONAL 20,000 PALESTINIAN LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST.

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL PLEA, BUT A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING ACCORDING TO THE IPC UNDER THE UN.

OH, THANK YOU.

YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED.

COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES, MA'AM.

COUNCILMAN POLLARD, JUST SAY MA'AM.

I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UM, WELL TO MOVE UP OLIVIA OLIVERAS AS WELL AS ROSE SHAR AFTER MIRIAM SHRI.

I THINK WE'RE THROUGH, MA'AM.

I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH COPIES.

I WAS ORIGINALLY AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT, SO NO PROBLEM.

UH, MOTIONS BEEN MADE IN A SECOND.

SECOND, SECOND.

HOORAY, AZAR.

[02:20:09]

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AND FELLOW CITIZENS, UH, AS A PROUD UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON STUDENT AND A RESIDENT OF THE GREAT OF THIS GREAT CITY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH THE HEARTFELT PLEA OF ACTION IN LIGHT OF THE CEASEFIRE INITIATIVE IN CHICAGO.

I STAND HERE REPRESENTING 2000 FELLOW PALESTINIANS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION, URGING OUR CITY TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.

OVER 35,000 PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING 50, 15,000 CHILDREN AND 9,500 WOMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED.

AS WE SPEAK, HOSPITALS LIKE ELPAS ARE UNDER SIEGE, UNABLE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL CARE TO THOSE IN NEED.

I URGE YOU ONCE AGAIN TO JOIN US IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF GAZA.

FOR HOUSTON TO CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.

NEXT, YASMINE ALKI.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF 2000 HOUSTON RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED A PETITION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE UN'S TEMPORARY TWO WEEK CEASEFIRE IS NOT ENOUGH.

MORE THAN 35,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING 15,000 INNOCENT CHILDREN AND 9,500 WOMEN.

ADDITIONALLY, ANOTHER 80,000 CIVILIANS HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO VITAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BEYOND THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS.

GAZA NOW HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE FACING CATASTROPHIC HUNGER EVER RECORDED.

ACCORDING TO THE INTEGRATED FOOD SECURITY PHASE CLASSIFICATION UNDER THE UN, THE COLLAPSE OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HAS RESULTED IN DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.

AND AT THIS VERY MOMENT, EL SHIFA HOSPITAL IS BESIEGED, CONSTITUTING YET ANOTHER VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE CRISIS HAS REACHED A CRITICAL POINT THAT DEMANDS OUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND ACTION.

WE CALL FOR A PERMANENT HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE AND ASK OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN US IN THIS PLEA FOR HUMANITY.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF OVER 2000 SIGNATURES, THIS PETITION IS A RECOGNITION OF THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS THE HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE UNFOLDING TOGETHER.

IT TIME HAS EXPIRED.

NEXT MIRIAM SHRI.

FOR MONTHS I'VE BEEN JOINING COMRADES AND ASKING YOU ALL FOR REPRESENTATION THROUGH A GAZA CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.

AND WE'VE BEEN MET WITH INACTION IN JUST A STRAIGHT UP REFUSAL OF DIALOGUE.

THE NEED FOR A CEASEFIRE IS AN URGENT CALL ECHOED BY PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.

Y'ALL HAVE THE POWER TO PUT HOUSTON ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, AND A MAJORITY OF HOUSTONIANS ARE IN SUPPORT OF AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.

THERE'S NO REASON THAT COULD JUSTIFY THE WAR CRIMES OUR GOVERNMENT IS HELPING TO FUND OR HOW EVERY LEVEL OF OUR RULING CLASS HAS TIES TO THE ISRAELI LOBBY.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE 172 DAYS INTO THIS INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING AND INTENTIONAL STARVING OF A POPULATION THAT IS 50% CHILDREN.

AND MANY LEADERS HAVE NOT SPOKEN UP OR USE THEIR GOVERNMENTAL POWERS TO OPPOSE THIS CLEAR ETHNIC CLEANSING AND LAND THEFT.

IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A WAR, IT IS A GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST PALESTINIANS.

I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT FURTHER, THAT IT IS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW TO GO TO WAR WITH A TA TERRITORY YOU OCCUPY.

WE NEED YOU ALL TO LISTEN TO PALESTINIANS, CHECK YOUR BIASES, APPLY CRITICAL THOUGHT AND FIND YOUR HUMANITY.

THIS DIRECTLY AFFECTS MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND IT AFFECTS ALL.

NEXT, OLIVIA AVAREZ.

HELLO.

UM, WE CAN EVERMORE DISCUSS THE ATROCITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN COMING OUT OF PALESTINE OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.

BUT TODAY I'D LIKE TO SHARE WHAT I'VE SEEN SINCE VIRTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY ATTENDING THESE CITY HALLS.

ON TUESDAYS, I'VE SEEN COUNCIL MEMBERS LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF SPEECHES.

I'VE SEEN NOT EVEN A WRINKLE FORMING BETWEEN YOUR EYEBROWS WHEN HEARING CHILDREN'S LAST WORDS BEGGING FOR HELP.

I'VE SEEN THE BLANKEST STAIRS WHEN BEING TOLD ABOUT CHILDREN BEING FORCED TO GO THROUGH AMPUTATIONS WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.

I'VE SEEN Y'ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY EATING WHILE HEARING ABOUT HOW PALESTINIANS ARE BEING INTENTIONALLY STARVED TO DEATH.

ALL WE EVER HEAR BACK IS NEXT.

OR ARE YOU STANDING BEHIND A WALL THAT SEPARATES Y'ALL AT THE SEMICIRCLE TABLE FROM ALL YOUR CITIZENS? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

IF WE ASK, WHAT MORE DO WE HAVE TO DO? IT'S EITHER YOU'RE DOING YOUR PART OR WE ASK THE QUESTIONS.

UH, YEAH.

WE ARE DOING OUR PART.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

BUT ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART IN SUPPORTING AND STANDING WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

[02:25:01]

CAN I PLEASE GET 30 SECONDS FROM ANYBODY? GO AHEAD.

AT ONE OF THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETINGS I ATTENDED, I HEARD THE MAYOR AT THE END SAY, HOUSTON IS SMALL IN THE GRAND SCHEME AND DOESN'T HAVE MUCH SAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND JUST THIS PAST WEEK, I SAW THAT SAME MAN SHAKING HANDS WITH THE PRESIDENT.

AN OPPORTUNITY.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO Y'ALL HAVE MORE HIGHER UP CONNECTIONS THAN WE DO, AND AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE ACCURATELY REPRESENTING ITS PEOPLE.

THE SEC, THE CITY IS THE SECOND LARGEST MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY AND Y'ALL CONTINUE TO FAIL THEM.

BUT THINK MAKING A RAMADAN POST WILL SHOW YOUR HEART.

YOUR HEART WILL GROW BY AMENDING THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POLICY FROM INVESTING IN ISRAELI BONDS.

AND IT'S EMBARRASSINGLY DISAPPOINTING THAT THAT'S STILL AN OPTION.

THE MOST YOU'VE SHOWN YOUR HEARTS IS WHEN Y'ALL DISCUSS MORE POLICING.

SO I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHO DO YOU PROTECT AND WHO DO YOU SERVE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

NEXT ROSE AL SHAR.

OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON.

WHILE SITTING HERE TODAY AND HEARING ABOUT THE TRAGIC CRIMES HERE IN HOUSTON LATELY, IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT HOW HOUSTON IS ALSO CONNECTED TO CRIMES EVEN OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTRY.

SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT YET ANOTHER WAR CRIME COMMITTED BY ISRAEL AND THEN HOUSTON'S CONNECTIONS TO ISRAEL.

THERE ARE NO WORDS IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY TO DESCRIBE THE RECENT ATTACKS.

SFA HOSPITAL MEN, WOMEN IN CHILDREN WERE KIDNAPPED.

SOME WERE SHOT EXECUTION STYLE, OTHERS WERE RAPED, SUCH AS WHEN THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES RAPED A PREGNANT PALESTINIAN WOMAN IN FRONT OF HER HUSBAND, HER FAMILY AND CHILDREN, FORCED THEM TO KEEP THEIR EYES OPEN AND THREATENED TO KILL THEM IF THEY DIDN'T.

AND THEN THEY EXECUTED THIS PREGNANT WOMAN IN FRONT OF HER FAMILY KILLING HER AND HER UNBORN CHILD.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU ALL OF SECTION 9.10 IN THE INVESTMENT POLICY OF HOUSTON, AND WHICH IT SPECIFICALLY DOES NOT PERMIT THE PURCHASE OF ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ISRAEL.

SO WHY IS HOUSTON STILL ALLOWED TO INVEST ITS TAXPAYERS MONEY AND A FOREIGN COUNTRY THAT'S ACTIVELY COMMITTING WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE? CAN I HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS AND I'LL BE DONE? YES, YOU CAN HAVE TRIAL.

30 MORE SECONDS.

YES, THANK YOU.

IT'S PAST TIME TO CLOSE THAT DOOR.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I REQUEST YOU ALL TO AMEND THAT INVESTMENT POLICY.

LASTLY, I'M NO LONGER GOING TO BEG THE REMAINDER OF YOU TO HAVE WHO HAVE NOT CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE TO DO SO.

NOW, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD THE TESTIMONIES, READ THE REPORTS, SEEN VIDEOS OF STARVING CHILDREN WITH THEIR HEADS BLOWN OFF AND HAVE SEEN CIVILIANS BEING SHOT, EXECUTION STYLE, ALL BEING FUNDED, BOTH AMERICAN TAXPAYERS MONEY.

I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO APPEAL TO YOUR MORAL COMPASS, ETHICS, OR HUMANITY.

I WILL NO LONGER BEG YOU ALL TO SEE US ARABS AS HUMAN BEINGS DESERVING OF LIFE AND SAFETY.

I'LL NO LONGER I UNDERSTAND.

THE ONLY WAY SOMETHING YOU WILL CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IS IF YOU FEEL YOUR JOB IS ON THE LINE.

SO AS A REMINDER, LIKE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU ARE HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT.

WHILE YES, YOU ARE IN THIS POSITION 'CAUSE OF YOUR OWN HARD WORK, YOU ARE ULTIMATELY HERE BECAUSE WE, THE VOTERS PUT YOU HERE.

AND IN THE SAME WAY WE CAN PUT YOU OUT IF YOU DON'T REPRESENT OUR BEST INTERESTS.

AND FREE .

NEXT AREA, IMAN.

HELLO, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHITMEYER.

I'M HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE AS WELL.

THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUST CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND FOR AID TO ONCE AGAIN ENTER GAZA.

WE CANNOT SURRENDER OUR HUMANITY BY IGNORING THE INJUSTICES.

OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE FUNDING.

IMAGINE BEING UNDER SIEGE IN A HOSPITAL.

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SPEAKING UP CLEARLY CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR MONEY AND PRIVILEGE THAN THEY DO ABOUT HUMAN LIVES.

I ALSO WANNA BRING TO ATTENTION THE ONGOING PANDEMIC THAT CONTINUES TO BE A MASS DISABLING EVENT WHEN OVER HALF OF COVID CASES ARE SPREAD BEFORE SYMPTOM ONSET OR FROM ASYMPTOMATIC CASES.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.

THERE'S NO SOLIDARITY WITHOUT DISABILITY JUSTICE, AND WE MUST PROTECT AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER BY TAKING LAIRD PRECAUTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MASKING.

AND WE MUST SUPPORT PA A FREE PALESTINE.

NEXT DO TANVIR PATRICIA MCNEIL.

[02:30:10]

I SPOKE TO YOU LAST WEEK ABOUT HPD AND NOT TAKING A REPORT ON SOME CRIMES THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED AGAINST ME AND THEY WON'T DO IT BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER, UH, POLICE, WELL, SOMEONE ELSE WITH A BADGE.

AND, UM, I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

YOU TOLD ME TO TALK TO LOUISE AND, UM, I COULDN'T, THEY WOULDN'T LET ME TALK TO HIM.

SO I'M BACK HERE AGAIN AND I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

I EVEN BROUGHT SOME WATER IF Y'ALL WANT TO HAVE IT TESTED.

I'LL TAKE BLOOD TESTS, WHATEVER'S NECESSARY.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS I STILL NEED TO MAKE A REPORT AND HPD AND ALL THE, UM, OFFICERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO, THEY HAVE NOT, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE A REPORT.

AND LIKE I SAY, I WENT WITH YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED EVIDENCE AND I BROUGHT EVIDENCE WITH ME.

YOU, YOU LIVE, UH, ON LOUISIANA? NO, THAT'S MY PO O BOX.

I STAY WITH MY SON.

THAT'S YOUR WHAT OFFICE? PO BOX PO BOX.

PO BOX.

UH, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY? YES, I STAY WITH MY SON.

YOU IN HOUSTON.

DO YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE IN HOUSTON? YES.

HAVE YOU CONSULTED WITH THEM ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS? UH, THEY'RE VERY AWARE, YES.

BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HPD? NO.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A SUPPORT GROUP FOR YOU BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

IF HPD DOESN'T TAKE THE REPORT, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THEM.

THEY'VE CERTAINLY LISTENED AND WE'VE PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

YOU CAN WITH EVIDENCE AND IT'S A CRIME.

SO I WAS JUST LOOKING TO SEE IF MAYBE IF YOU HAD A SUPPORT GROUP, UM, AND LOOKING FOR SOME SOLUTIONS TO HELP YOU.

I, I DON'T NEED A SUPPORT GROUP.

I NEED FOR HPD TO MAKE THE REPORTS AND TAKE THE REPORTS.

WELL, MY STAFF HAS PLACED YOU IN CONTACT WITH HPD.

THEY CONTACTED HPD MS. WILSON.

NO, THEY DIDN'T.

SO IF YOU WANT TO, IF YOU WANT TO CONSULT WITH THE STAFF, WE'LL DO IT AGAIN IN, BUT I WAS REALLY TRYING TO FIND A ULTIMATE SOLUTION FOR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND I WAS THOUGHT MAYBE FAMILY WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.

OH, NO, THEY CAN.

THEY'RE NOT POLICE.

NO, I UNDERSTAND.

AND YOU SAID IT WAS, UH, YOU WERE HERE AND YOU WERE GONNA DO BE TRANSPARENT.

YES, MA'AM.

AND, UH, POLICE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, PROTECTING OTHER POLICE.

I UNDERSTAND.

AND HIDING BEHIND THE BADGE AND COMMITTING CRIMES.

I UNDERSTAND.

WE'LL CHECK NEXT WILL HILL, LOUIS TORRES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILWOMAN.

I'M BACK AGAIN FROM LAST WEEK.

UH, FINALLY FOUND OUT WHO MY DISTRICT IS.

WE FINALLY FOUND OUT IT'S ACTUALLY MR. MARTINEZ DISTRICT.

I, UH, WE'RE DOING THE EASTER FEST AGAIN.

AGAIN, WE WANT YOU TO COME OUT, UH, IT'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF KIDS FAMILIES IN THE SOUTHEAST HOUSTON GULF GATE AREA.

WE WANT YOU TO JUST COME OUT TO HAVE FUN.

UM, AGAIN, I'M GONNA BE GIVING OUT OVER, YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 900 BASKETS.

THAT'S LIKE $20,000 I'M GIVING OUTTA MY MONEY FOR KIDS.

AND OVER $12,000 IN TOYS JUST COME OUT NEXT SATURDAY IF Y'ALL CAN.

LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE MUCH OF YOUR TIME.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE Y'ALL.

I DID EMAIL YOU, MR. POER AND ALSO DAVIS.

I DID EMAIL Y'ALL.

EVEN IF Y'ALL COME ON FOR 10 MINUTES, FIVE MINUTES IF Y'ALL CAN COME ON.

JUST SHOW SUPPORT TO THE FAMILY.

THAT'S IT.

SO AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WE HOPE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.

UH, MR. TORRES, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE IT.

UH, WE DID RECEIVE THE EMAIL AND I PLAN ON STEPPING BY AS WELL.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE Y'ALL.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

NEXT, CHRISTOPHER QUAS, CHRISTOPHER QUAS, MATTHEW LATHAM, JUDY ADAMS

[02:35:04]

MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AS YOU KNOW, IT TAKES GREAT EFFORT, REARRANGING OF SCHEDULES AND TIME TO COME HERE TO THE COUNCIL AND GET ONE TO THREE MINUTES AUDIENCE.

MANY SMALL BUSINESSES CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT.

THERE IS MUCH CONFUSION, MISINFORMATION, AND ANGER OVER THE SURPRISE RETURN OF THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

NO ONE FROM THE MMD HAS OFFERED A COMMUNITY MEETING.

SO WE, THE BUSINESSES OF MONTROSE ARE HAVING OUR OWN.

WE ARE INVITING RESIDENTS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THIS NEW ENTITY.

I'M GIVING EACH OF YOU A FLYER FOR AN EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE TOMORROW, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE SHORT NOTICE, BUT EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH AND WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS NOW TO GET CLARITY AND ACTION.

SO WE INVITE EACH OF YOU OR A REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND AND TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, AND HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR THIS NOTICE.

WE'LL, UH, WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE THERE NEXT.

PATRICIA GREER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITBY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M PASSING AROUND A, UH, THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M ABOUT TO ASK AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TYPO THAT'S IN IT.

FREUD WOULD HAVE A REALLY BIG TIME WITH IT.

YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

I, WITH CURRENTLY 486 BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU ABOUT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT.

DISTRICT THREE ARE, HOW IS IT LEGAL? THE DISTRICT HAS ONLY THREE BOARD MEMBERS AND CAN INSTITUTE A NEW TAX RATE.

YOU ADDRESS THAT.

MAYOR WHITMEYER.

HOW CAN THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT LEGALLY ASSESS TAXES THROUGH EQUITY TAX FOR PREVIOUS YEARS, STARTING IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WITH PENALTIES ACCRUING IN APRIL THE LAST YEAR, SHOWING ON THE TAX BILL IS 2016.

HOW CAN THE LEVY ATTACKS WITHOUT HOLDING AN ELECTION WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES FROM HOUSTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? IT TOOK A LOT OF SCHEDULE MANIPULATION FOR ME AND MY FAMILY TO BE HERE AGAIN TODAY.

I'M THANKFUL TO BE HERE AND BE A PART OF STOPPING THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FROM CONTINUING.

ANGIE YAMANAKA.

I'M GEN X, SO I NEED A LITTLE DEVICE HERE TO HELP ME.

I AM AN AUTISTIC HOUSTONIAN HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

BUT I ESPECIALLY AM THINKING ABOUT THE DISABLED AND AUTISTIC PEOPLE IN PALESTINE WHO ARE CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO SURVIVE A GENOCIDE.

I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN MY ADULT LIFE TO HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES, SUPPORT AND GOOD HOSPITALS WHEN I HAVE NEEDED THEM.

I LIVE WITH PTSD FROM CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THAT I HAVE SURVIVED, AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO OVERCOME.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN GAZA, I WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT WITH YOU WITH THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE, THE MOTHERS WITH NO SAFE PLACE TO DELIVER THEIR CHILDREN.

THE FATHERS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES SEEKING FOOD, WHICH MIGHT INSTEAD BE A LETHAL TRAP.

MAY I HAVE THEIR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

SURE, GO AHEAD.

THE CHILDREN LOOKING TO THE SKY WONDERING IF AN AMERICAN MADE BOMB WILL MAKE THIS THEIR LAST NIGHT ALIVE.

YOU MAY FIND IT MORE COMFORTABLE TO LOOK AWAY OR ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU CAN DO.

ALL OF US HAVE POWER.

ALL OF US HAVE POWER THAT WE CAN USE IN MULTIPLE WAYS TO HELP OTHERS.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN ME IN THAT TODAY.

THERE ARE MANY IDEAS AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SMART PEOPLE HERE WHO CAN COME UP WITH THEM.

I HOPE YOU'LL LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

COUNCIL POLL.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR P*****K.

MA'AM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH DISABILITIES, TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF A AUDIENCE AND SPEAK YES, THANK YOU.

AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOU LET US KNOW ABOUT SOME OF YOUR OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU'RE FACING WITH.

UH, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, WE HEAR YOU.

I HEAR YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND YOUR, YOUR TIME HERE TODAY WAS VERY WELL SPENT.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE THINKING THAT IT'S NOT.

[02:40:01]

CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALL RIGHT.

I'M COMING TO YOU FOR THE RECENT EVENTS THAT HAVE UNFOLDED IN GAZA, THE BESIEGEMENT OF SFA HOSPITAL BY THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE, AND THE EXECUTION OF INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN INSIDE THE HOSPITAL.

THE THREATENING OF DOCTORS AND THE RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT OF MANY WOMEN ALSO SEEKING REFUGE IN WITHIN THE HOSPITAL.

RAPE IN PARTICULAR AS A WEAPON OF WAR, IS SOMETHING THAT HAS EXISTED FOR AS LONG AS WAR HAS AND IS SOMETHING PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM FOR AS LONG AS THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION HAS EXISTED.

THIS FINAL STAGE OF EXTERMINATION, THIS GENOCIDE IS NO DIFFERENT.

I COME TO YOU AS A WOMAN WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND I APPEAL TO THE WOMEN ON THIS BOARD WHO HAVE LIVED IN FEAR THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

AND THE MEN WHO CLAIM TO WANT TO PROTECT US, THE FIRST STEP IN HALTING THIS TORTURE FOR WOMEN JUST LIKE US, IS A DIVESTMENT IN ISRAEL.

I KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY INVESTING, WE STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I AM ASKING THAT WE REMOVE THAT OPTION ALTOGETHER SO THAT NO FURTHER HARM CAN BE COMMITTED.

NEXT IN ESCA, BENJAMIN BROADWAY.

SARAH SAEED.

MY NAME IS SARA SAYED.

I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR WOODY JUNTOS I AND THE A API ADVISORY BOARD.

I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THIS PARTY BODY, AS YOU KNOW, SB FOUR AND HB FOUR IS CURRENTLY ON A HALT.

BUT WHATEVER THE OUTCOME IS, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT THIS IS ESPECIALLY, UH, RISKY FOR ASEE REFUGEES, ESPECIALLY GAZEN WHO ARE COMING HERE.

UM, THEY'RE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF RACIAL PROFILING.

UM, AND, AND EVEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS NOT HAVING AN ID.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS THOSE DISCUSSIONS COME UP.

UM, AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING OVER-POLICING BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, IF WE CAN HAVE ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR THE HAMAD FAMILY WHO HAS LOST 94 MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

CAN WE HONOR THAT ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE, THOUGH? WE'RE FINE.

UM, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS COMING BACK ON A MEETING ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

I WAS GOING DOWN MONT AT WASHINGTON ON THE WAY TO THE MEETING, WHICH THE MEETING WAS AN HOUR AND A HALF.

ON THE WAY TO THE MEETING, I SAW SOME PEOPLE ON FOUR WHEELERS POPPING UP ON FOUR WHEELERS AND DRIVING, BUT THEY WERE DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS 'CAUSE THE LIGHTS WERE GOING IN THE DIRECTION DOWN WASHINGTON.

I THOUGHT, JUST IDIOTS.

THEY'RE GONNA GET STOPPED.

NO BIG DEAL.

I LEAVE THE MEETING.

IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF LONG COMING BACK FROM THE MEETING.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF WASHINGTON, THE INTERSECTION, THE LIGHT IS GREEN.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M ENGULFED BY THESE FOUR WHEELERS.

THERE WERE TWO OTHER CARS, ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS ALSO ENGULFED AND WE'RE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

THE LIGHT CHANGES DURING THAT TIME.

AND SO WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES, WE'RE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WASHINGTON AT MONT AND TRAFFIC IS READY TO GO.

RIGHT? BUT WE'RE STUCK THERE BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC'S GONE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

A POLICE OFFICER PULLS UP AND TELLS US, CAN A POLICE FINISH? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

YOU JUST GET ON YOUR WAY.

THE POLICE OFFICER PULLS UP AND TELLS US TO TURN IN, TURN RIGHT, AND THEN PULL INTO THE WALMART PARKING LOT AT, I MEAN A WALGREENS PARKING LOT.

AT THAT POINT, WE THINK WE'RE GETTING TICKETS BECAUSE HE SAYS, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, RIGHT? SO WE PULL INTO THE INTERSECTION, HE COMES INTO THE INTERSECTION, I MEAN INTO THE PARKING LOT.

TELLS US NOT TO GET OUT OF OUR CARS, PUT OUR HANDS ON OUR STEERING WHEEL.

OH, SO WE'RE DOING THAT, RIGHT? BOTH OF US.

THE GIRL NEXT TO ME IS LOOKING VERY CONCERNED.

SO I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW TO KIND OF TALK TO HER AND I'M LIKE, IT'S OKAY.

SO WE'RE SITTING THERE, HE COMES OVER AND HE TELLS US, WHENEVER YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN, AND WE LIVE IN A BIG CITY, WE CAN'T CONTROL THESE FOUR WHEELERS.

THEY DO THIS EVERY WEEKEND.

THEY HAVE THESE POPUPS WHERE THEY DO THIS EVERY WEEKEND.

YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY.

THEY BREAK PEOPLE'S WINDOWS, THEY BREAK PEOPLE'S MIRRORS.

YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY.

SO ANOTHER CAR PULLS AROUND BY THIS POINT AND SAYS, YOU AREN'T GIVING THESE PEOPLE TICKETS, ARE YOU? BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE ALSO GETTING TICKETS.

AND HE LOOKS AT HER AND HE SAYS, I'VE BEEN DOING MY JOB FOR 20 YEARS.

I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

[02:45:01]

I, I JUST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

WE WERE DOING NOTHING WRONG.

AND HE DID TELL US, YOU KNOW, I'M TELLING Y'ALL TO GET OUTTA THE WAY SO THAT Y'ALL CAN BE SAFE, BUT THEY'RE JUST LETTING THE FOUR-WHEELER PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS GO.

THEY SAID THERE'S NO WAY OF STOPPING HIM BECAUSE THEY DISBAND AND GOING EVERY DIRECTION.

SO I GO THE NEXT DAY TO A PIP MEETING, A DISTRICT PIP MEETING, AND SERGEANT NERS THERE, TROY THINNER.

AND I ASKED HIM, WHY IS THIS MAN ALLOWED? AND HE SAID, I'VE GOT SOME STUFF UP MY SLEEVE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT IS 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA LET IT THEM ONTO IT, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME FOUR WHEELERS.

THERE'S NO WAY FOR US STOPPING THESE PEOPLE.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING, I MEAN THEY WERE DOING THIS FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AT LEAST.

I JUST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

I JUST DON'T.

NO DOUBT WE NEED BETTER TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, OKAY? INCLUDING FOUR WHEELERS AND ATVS AND THOSE THAT VIOLATE THE LAW.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.

ANYTHING ELSE? WE RECESS UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK.

[RECESS]

AMEN.

ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING JUST AND REASONABLE RETAIL GAS RATES OF CENTER POINT ENERGY OR HOUSTON RESOURCES CORP, DBA CENTER POINT ENERGY IN TEXAS CENTER POINT ENERGY, TEXAS GAS.

ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF LENORA OLO PULLMAN, HISD, HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO POSITION SIX OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE.

NUMBER 12, CITY PARK ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TO SERVE AS CHAIR.

ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF LENORA OLO PULLMAN, HISD, HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO POSITION SIX OF THE CITY PARK.

WE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SERVE AS CHAIR.

ITEM FOUR, PROOF SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $63,820 AND 50 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AWARDED TO CONTINGENCIES CONSULTING LLC ITEM FIVE, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $5,142,404 AND NO CENTS THE PURCHASE OF LEVEL THREE BULLETPROOF BEST PLACE AND EQUIPMENT AWARDED TO GAU LLC.

ITEM SIX, PATTERSON EQUIPMENT COMPANY LLC FOR PURCHASE OF CAMERAS THROUGH THE CORPORATE PURCHASING AGREEMENT.

ITEM SEVEN, RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.

ITEM EIGHT, ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTING CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM MASTER ORDINANCE NUMBER 2004 2 99.

ITEM EIGHT, ORDINANCE RELATING TO ISSUANCE AND ONE OR MORE SERIES OF AIR AIRPORT SYSTEMS, SPECIAL FACILITIES, REVENUE BONDS.

ITEM 10 ORDINANCE RELATING TO RETAIL ELECTRIC RATES OF CENTER POINT ENERGY.

HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC ITEM 11, ORDINANCE SUSPENDING FOR 45 DAYS IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERIM RATE ADJUSTMENT FILING PERTAINING TO RETAIL GAS UTILITY RATES BY UNIVERSAL NATURAL GAS L-L-C-D-B-A UNIVERSAL NATURAL GAS INC.

ITEM 12 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $11,868,121 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORT'S IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND DE FUKU AIRPORT AMERICA CORPORATION.

ITEM 12, I MEAN ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 1,212,000, 10012 CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ROAD AND SCHWARTZ, USA INC.

ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE INNOVATIVE CON CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH PROGRAM.

ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO GRANT CONTRACT UNDER THE TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM BETWEEN CITY AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.

ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FOUR AGREEMENTS WITH INNOVATION.

NUMBER ONE, INNOVATION PAINTING AND RESTORATION LLC TWO LIVE WELL LIVE WELL SOLUTIONS.

LL C3, NEW LIFE CONCIERGE, LLC AND FOUR BROWN STERLING BUILDERS INC.

ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AWARDING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EASTER SEALS OF GREATER HOUSTON INC.

ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SEVEN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONE BRUCE.

A MATTON, DDS PA TWO CONNECT DENTAL SPECIALIST, PLLC ITEM THREE, HOUSTON PRECISE DENTAL CARE THREE PLLC.

ITEM FOUR IBN SIGNA FOUNDATION, INC.

ITEM FIVE, HOUSTON AMAZING PLACE INC.

SIX AMERICAN RESPONSE TECHNOLOGIES INC.

AND SEVEN PSYCH MATTERS.

LLC FOR AGING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

ITEM 19, ORDINANCE OF MANY.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 365 AUTHORIZING INCREASE OF MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR

[02:50:01]

CYBER SECURITY MONITORING SERVICES.

UNDER 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING ISSUANCE OF BONDS FROM BY HARRIS COUNTY.

WE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ITEM 21 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 100 TO 400 BLOCKS OF NORTHWOOD STREET BETWEEN NORTH MAIN STREET AND PICO AVENUE.

ITEM 22 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 1 9 2 8 0.765 ACRES OF LAND TO RICHFIELD RANCH WATER SHOWING AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TEXAS FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OF REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR BENNING DRIVE AT CHIMNEY ROCK DITCH.

ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT TO CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANS TRANSPORTATION FROM BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OF REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR VAN FLEET STREET AT HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT DITCH ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXDOT FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OF REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR CREEK DRIVE AT BUTTERMILK CREEK.

ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $397,485 62 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.

CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR RELOCATION AND ADJUSTMENT OF EXISTING SANITARY SEWER LINE ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 35 FROM GRIGGS ROAD TO IH 45 SQUARE FIVE.

ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF TWO APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF TWO APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR COMMUNITY FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE.

ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 4617037 CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM.

CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR LAKE LIVINGSTON SPILLWAY GATE REPAIR AND COATING PROJE PROJECT OPERATED BY TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY.

ITEM 30, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS FOR MAINTENANCE OF CAMPBELL TRIANGLE.

ESPLANADE.

ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $26,250 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE, STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AND $26,250 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE, STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AND VALOREM TAX APPROVING AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES.

CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HON INC.

ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CITA ENGINEERING GROUP INC.

ITEM 33 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE VALLEY VIEW AND POWELLS PIPESTONE CENTER POINT ENERGY RESOURCES, GAS MAIN RELOCATION IN SUPPORT OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AT PARCELS SY 24, 0 5 5 AND SY 24 0 5 7 IN BRADBURN GLEN.

SECTION ONE SUBDIVISION SUGGESTED HEARING DAY 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2024.

ITEM 34 IS A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION AWARD TO CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H, CHASTAIN FORD.

IT WAS TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

THIS WAS ITEM FIVE ON AGENDA OF MARCH 20, 20, 24, ITEM 35, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND THE NHP FOUNDATION TAB BY COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.

THIS WAS ITEM NINE ON AGENDA OF MARCH 20TH, 2024.

ITEM 36, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT, EXCUSE ME, BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL TAB BY COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.

THIS WAS ITEM 10 ON AGENDA OF MARCH 20TH, 2024.

THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF MARCH 27TH, 2024.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.

SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON.

DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.

HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY.

THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

MY NUMBER ONE FAN, COUNCIL.

COME TO ORDER.

[RECONVENE]

CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR APPOINTED PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

MEMBERS OUT IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT ALSO OUR MAYOR.

UH, JUST WANTED TO, UH, WELCOME OUR GUEST TODAY OR MY GUEST TODAY.

THEY'RE THE HUMBLE AREA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

IT'S OF OVER 300 MEMBERS.

STRONG SHOUT OUT.

THEY ARE, UH, HERE TODAY.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND, AND, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, SUPPORTED OUR COUNCIL

[02:55:01]

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING 'EM TODAY, AND WE WELCOME Y'ALL TO CITY HALL.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING OUR, OUR FRIENDS TO COUNCIL.

THANK YOU MEN AND WOMEN FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT STARTS WITH EDUCATION.

AND, UH, HAVING SPENT A CAREER IN THE LEGISLATURE, I KNOW, UH, HOW YOU'RE OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID.

SOME, SOME OF US HAVE BEEN YOUR SPOKESMAN FOR MANY YEARS AND WE WILL CONTINUE.

BUT, UH, I WILL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING ELECTIONS MATTER.

SO I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT BETTER THAN MOST.

SO STAY, UH, STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR REPRESENTATION AND HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE.

WITH THAT SAID, HUMBLE IS AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL DISTRICT.

UH, ACTUALLY SERVE SOME OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THE FAR NORTH SIDE, THE LAKE HOUSTON AREA.

SO, UH, I CAN'T BEGIN TO EMPHASIZE, UH, HOW IMPORTANT YOUR SERVICE IS, YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS IN EVERY SPIRIT OF THE WORD.

SO THANK YOU AND BE SAFE.

AND, UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER, THANK YOU FOR, UM, GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAUSE AND, AND THANK OUR FOLKS, TEACHERS, WHEREVER THEY'RE LOCATED.

UH, CERTAINLY HISD AND I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST.

I HAD 14 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MY SENATE DISTRICT, AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF 'EM ARE REPORT AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

NOW, YOU'RE GONNA GET ME ON A ROLL, , THAT, THAT, THAT THAT TEACHING IS MUCH MORE THAN READING AND WRITING.

AND IF YOU GET, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WHEN YOU TALK TO THE A LEAF SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THEY HAVE SUCH AN IMMIGRANT POPULATION, UH, OUR NEW AFGHANISTAN, UH, REFUGEES, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD TELL ME, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HELP THEM ADJUST TO OUR, TO THE AMERICAN CULTURE, AND WE CAN'T REALLY GET TO READING AND WRITING.

'CAUSE SOME OF THE SIXTH GRADERS ARE NOT EVEN FAMILIAR WITH THE RESTROOM PROCEDURES AND PROCESS BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST ARRIVING FROM THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY.

SO I KNOW YOU FEED, CLOTHE AND SHEPHERD SO MANY OF YOUR STUDENTS WAY BEYOND WHAT SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS UNDERSTAND.

YOU GET THERE EARLY, YOU STAY LATE.

IN FACT, MY DAUGHTER TAUGHT THE SECOND GRADE ONE YEAR IN KINDERGARTEN.

THE NEXT, DURING KATRINA DAYS, SHE, UH, WAS ASKED TO TEACH AT HELMS ELEMENTARY IN THE HEIGHTS, AND SHE WOULD COME HOME AND SAY, DAD, THIS YOUNG MAN COMES FROM A SHELTER AND HE GETS UP ON THE, UH, SLIDE AT 10 O'CLOCK AND JUST DARES ANYBODY ELSE TO GET UP THERE, SECOND GRADER.

AND SHE SAID, IF YOU DON'T GET HIM SOME HELP, I WAS CHAIRING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT THE TIME.

SHE SAID, IF YOU DON'T GET THIS YOUNG MAN SOME HELP, BECAUSE HE'S SO ANGRY COMING OUT OF THE SHELTER, BEING BROUGHT TO HELMS ELEMENTARY IN THE HEIGHTS, THAT AT 10 O'CLOCK HE DARES ANYBODY ELSE TO GET ON THE SLIDE AND HE'LL PUSH HIM OFF.

SO IT WAS SUCH AN EYE-OPENER TO ME FOR A, A YOUNG COLLEGE GRADUATE, UH, TO, TO RECOGNIZE THE SOCIAL ACTIVITY IN THE, IN THE, THE COM COMPLEXITIES OF TRYING TO BE A TEACHER.

BY THE WAY, SHE DIDN'T GET MUCH MENTORING FROM HISD.

SHE WAS A NEW TEACHER THAT SHE GOT FRUSTRATED AND NOW IS IN A DIFFERENT FIELD.

SO I'VE, I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND, BEEN YOUR VOICE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND I'M CERTAIN MY COLLEAGUES HERE AT THIS HORSESHOE RECOGNIZE YOUR IMPORTANCE.

WE, IT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH EDUCATION, EARLY INTERVENTION.

YOU CAN GO TO TDCJ AND AND PROFILE THE INMATES.

THEY HAVE AN AVERAGE SIXTH GRADE EDUCATION, DYSLEXIA, OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, LEARNING CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED.

SO YOU EITHER, WE CAN EITHER PAY ON THE FRONT END, PAY OUR TEACHERS PAY FOR EDUCATION, OR ARE WE GONNA PAY ON THE BACK END WITH FOLKS THAT, UH, BECOME, BECOME, BECOME PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO THAT SAYS, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

UH, AS A RETIRED TEACHER MYSELF, I WANNA CERTAINLY COMMEND THEM AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TEACHING IS NOT A JOB.

IT'S A CALLING AND SO CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND, BUT, UH, TEACHERS NEVER RETIRE.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT OUT ALREADY.

BUT CERTAINLY IT IS SUCH A HONORABLE PROFESSION AND NO ONE GOES THROUGH ANY CAREER WITHOUT A TEACHER.

AND SO CERTAINLY I WELCOME YOU.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, AND SO WELCOME THIS MORNING AND

[03:00:01]

ITEM ONE AS WE GO TO WORK.

WELL THAT SAID, UH, NEXT

[1.

9:00 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING regarding just and reasonable Retail Gas Rates of CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON RESOURCES CORP. d/b/a CENTERPOINT ENERGY ENTEX and CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS to be observed within the City of Houston, Texas

]

UM, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL UP ITEM ONE.

ITEM ONE IS THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE JUST AND REASONABLE RETAIL GAS RATES OF CENTER POINT ENERGY.

TODAY IS MARCH 27TH, 2024.

I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE HEARING REGARDING THE STATEMENT OF INTENT OF CENTER POINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS AS CENTER POINT ENERGY, INTEX, AND CENTER POINT ENERGY, TEXAS GAS TO CHANGE THE RATES IN THE PROPOSED TEXAS GULF DIVISION, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

FIRST, WE'LL HEAR FROM CENTER POINT REPRESENTATIVE.

PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND FOR THE RECORD AND MAKE YOUR STATEMENT.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS PATRICK PETERS.

I'M VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR CENTER POINT ENERGY.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING.

THE LAST TIME I APPEARED BEFORE COUNCIL WAS IN 2019 IN CONNECTION WITH OUR ELECTRIC RATE CASE.

AND TODAY I'M HERE TO PRESENT OUR 2023 GAS RATE CASE.

THE COMPANY PROVIDES NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO ABOUT 440,000 CUSTOMERS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND 1.9 MILLION STATEWIDE.

WE LAST FILED A GAS RATE CASE FOR OUR HOUSTON CUSTOMERS IN 2016.

THROUGH THE COURSE OF THAT PROCEEDING, WE WORKED WITH THE CITY, THE COMMISSION STAFF, AND OTHER PARTIES TO REACH A SETTLEMENT.

THAT CASE WAS FINALLY SETTLED AND APPROVED BY THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, AND THOSE RATES WENT INTO EFFECT IN MID 2017.

AS A COUNCIL IS AWARE, SINCE THAT TIME, THE CITY, THE COMPANY, OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE WEATHERED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, TWO MAJOR WINTER STORMS, TWO HURRICANES.

DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN ITS SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LEAKS THAT WE EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE MORE ROBUST INFRASTRUCTURE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GAS SUPPLY OPTIONS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS HERE IN HOUSTON, AND TO RESPOND TO CONTINUED CUSTOMER GROWTH ACROSS OUR SERVICE TERRITORY.

OUR STATE'S UTILITIES, WHETHER THEY BE GAS, UTILITIES, WATER ELECTRIC, ALL NEED MORE ATTENTION AND MORE INVESTMENT NOW THAN THEY EVER HAVE TO THAT END, CENTERPOINT ENERGY HAS INVESTED ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT HERE IN OUR HOUSTON DIVISION SINCE THE LAST RATE CASE THROUGH THE END OF 2022.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO START RECOVERING THE COST OF THOSE INVESTMENTS GRADUALLY OVER TIME THROUGH THE INTERIM RATE ADJUSTMENT PROCESS THAT ALLOWS US TO START RECOVERING THOSE COSTS, CONTINUE TO MAKE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY INVESTMENTS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND AVOID THE EXPENSE AND TIME OF A FULL RATE CASE.

THE LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS US TO DO SO DOES REQUIRE US TO PERIODICALLY COME IN FOR A FULL RATE CASE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

WE FILED THAT WITH THE CITY, WITH THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, AND WITH OUR OTHER MUNICIPAL REGULATORY AUTHORITIES.

AND THE LITIGATION IN THAT PROCEEDING IS OCCURRING CURRENTLY AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

THE NEED FOR THE RATE CHANGE IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN OUR SYSTEM, UPDATES TO OUR DEPRECIATION RATES TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL SERVICE LIVES AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ASSETS THAT WE'VE BEEN INVESTING IN AND TO MAKE NECESSARY INCREASES IN OUR OPERATING EXPENSES.

WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING IN THIS FILING TO FULLY DEPLOY NEW AND INTELLIS GAS METERS OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

THESE ARE A GREAT SAFETY INVESTMENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE A VALVE THAT CAN AUTOMATICALLY SHUT THE FLOW OF GAS TO A CUSTOMER'S PREMISES IN RESPONSE TO EITHER EXCESS FLOW ON THE, ON THE GAS SYSTEM OR EXCESS TEMPERATURES.

THIS IS A GREAT SAFETY INVESTMENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR OUR SYSTEM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FULLY DEPLOYING IT OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

OUR FILING ALSO SEEKS TO CONSOLIDATE OUR FOUR EXISTING TEXAS DIVISIONS INTO A SINGLE TEXAS DIVISION TO REALLY REFLECT THE WAY THAT WE OPERATE OUR SYSTEM TODAY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE SET THESE DIVISION BOUNDARIES 45 YEARS AGO AND THEY DON'T REALLY REFLECT THE WAY WE OPERATE TODAY TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.

SO A, A TECHNICIAN CAN LEAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, GO EAST ON THE EAST FREEWAY AND BE IN MONT BELLEVUE, THAT'S IN A DIFFERENT DIVISION.

THE TEXAS COAST DIVISION, THEY CAN KEEP DRIVING 15 MILES AND BE IN ANAAC, THAT'S IN ANOTHER DIVISION, THE BEAUMONT EAST TEXAS DIVISION.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IN THIS CASE IS TO CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THOSE DIVISIONS INTO A SINGLE RATE STRUCTURE TO REALLY REFLECT THE WAY WE OPERATE THAT SYSTEM.

ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND MORE ARE CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED IN THE LITIGATION PENDING BEFORE THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS.

WE'LL FILE SOME REBUTTAL TESTIMONY LATER THIS WEEK.

THE EVIDENTIARY HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR MID-APRIL AND WE EXPECT A DECISION FROM THE RAILROAD COMMISSION LATER THIS SUMMER.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY AND THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING SETTLEMENT POSSIBILITIES.

THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING AND THE COMPANY FEELS

[03:05:01]

THAT THERE IS STILL A POSSIBILITY OF REACHING A FULL SETTLEMENT IN THIS CASE THAT WE CAN PRESENT TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

I'LL STOP THERE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

I HAVE ONE.

UH, HOW DOES A SINGLE RATE STRUCTURE BENEFIT THE, UH, RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE REPRESENTING TODAY? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

THERE ARE BENEFITS TO SPREADING THE COSTS THAT CENTERPOINT ENERGY INVESTS FOR ITS CUSTOMERS ACROSS A WIDER NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE AND THE AREAS THAT WE PROVIDE GAS SERVICE IN, IN OUR SOUTH TEXAS DIVISION, FOR EXAMPLE, WE SEE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER GROWTH.

SO THAT CORRIDOR BETWEEN I 35, BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO IS HAVING A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS, A LOT OF NEW CUSTOMERS COMING ONTO THE SYSTEM.

THOSE NEW CUSTOMERS WILL PAY OUR BILLS AND SO WE CAN SPREAD THE COSTS ACROSS NOT ONLY THE HOUSTON AREA CUSTOMERS, BUT THOSE NEW ONES WHO ARE COMING ONTO THE SYSTEM.

THEY'RE ALSO, YOU SAID, YOU SAID WHAT, WHAT AREA? YOU SAID BETWEEN AUSTIN? BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO ALONG THE I 35 CORRIDOR.

ALRIGHT.

AND ALL DUE RESPECT, WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT THE AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO USERS? AND SO THE, WHEN THOSE CUSTOMERS COME ONTO THE SYSTEM, THEY WILL BE HELPING TO SHARE THE BURDEN OF THE COST STRUCTURE FOR OUR RATES ACROSS A GREATER CUSTOMER BASE WHICH BENEFITS HOUSTON CONSUMERS.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ESTABLISH THAT A LITTLE BETTER AS WE GO FORWARD.

UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD.

THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU, SIR FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHY ARE SOME OF THE REGIONS GETTING A DECREASE AND THEN WE ARE PROPOSED TO GET AN INCREASE? AND SO THE, THE INCREASES AND DECREASES ARE RESULT OF A FEW THINGS.

ONE IS THE COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCURRED BY THE COMPANY SINCE THE LAST RATE CASE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE SERVICE.

ONE IS THE WAY THE RATES WERE STRUCTURED FOR EACH OF THE DIVISIONS AND EACH OF THEIR RATE CASES HISTORICALLY.

AND SO WHEN YOU TAKE A SNAPSHOT IN TIME AND SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE THE PROPOSED RATE STRUCTURE GOING FORWARD, THERE CAN BE DIFFERENCES AND HOW THE DIVISIONS ARE TREATED.

I WILL SAY THOUGH, THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT DOING, UM, INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT WORK HERE IN THE CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COSTS TO DO THAT ARE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE ON A PER MILE BASIS BECAUSE WE'RE IN OFTEN CASES HAVING TO BREAK UP CONCRETE TO REACH THE LINES TO, TO REPLACE THEM AND, AND MAKE THEM SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE.

UM, IN SOME OF OUR OTHER DIVISIONS, THOSE COSTS ARE LOWER, SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAVING TO BREAK UP AS MUCH CONCRETE.

AND SO WHILE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RATE STRUCTURE KIND OF AT A MOMENT IN TIME, IT CAN LOOK LIKE THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AMONG THE DIVISIONS.

THE COMPANY FEELS LIKE BEING ABLE TO SPREAD THOSE COSTS OVER THE WIDER CUSTOMER BASE IN THE LONG RUN WILL BOTH REFLECT HOW WE'RE OPERATING THE SYSTEM AND ALSO ACHIEVE BENEFITS FOR ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

SO IF IT ACHIEVES BENEFITS FOR EVERYONE, IS THAT GONNA BE, UM, AN ACROSS THE BOARD AVERAGE COST SAVINGS TO THE END USER BASED ON THIS NEW STRATEGY? THE COMPANY HAS BEEN OPERATING MORE LIKE A SINGLE TEXAS DIVISION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BECAUSE THAT DOES ALLOW US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE WAY WE OPERATE RATHER THAN MAINTAINING THESE BOUNDARIES THAT WERE SET 45 YEARS AGO.

IT ALSO HELPS US TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO OUR CUSTOMERS IF THERE'S AN EVENT ON THE GAS SYSTEM.

BUT DO YOU THINK THAT THE OVERALL COST SAVINGS THERE ON AN AVERAGE, BASED ON THIS NEW STRATEGY THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE AS SAVINGS ON THEIR BILL, THE COMPANY VIEWS THIS AS BEING MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS OVER THE LONG TERM? THAT'S A NO.

UH, WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS CENTER POINT'S OVERALL PROFITS, UH, LAST YEAR IN THE HOUSTON REGION? I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WITH ME TODAY.

IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT TO US THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AFTER THE WINTER STORM, UH, THAT HAPPENED, UH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WERE THERE ANY, UM, RATE INCREASES OVERALL THAT YOU SAW IN THE HOUSTON REGION BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL GAS COSTS THAT WERE INCURRED TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS DURING WINTER STORM, YURI.

AND DID, DID CENTERPOINT MITIGATE THOSE COSTS IN ANY WAY BY TAKING ON THE BURDEN OR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE COSTS? OR WERE THEY ALL PASSED TO THE END USER? THE COMPANY WORKED WITH ITS GAS SUPPLIERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INVOICES WE RECEIVED FOR THEM, FOR THE GAS THAT OUR CUSTOMERS CONSUMED WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE REACHED.

AND IN CASES WHERE WE DETERMINED THAT THOSE COSTS WERE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE AGREEMENTS, WE PUSHED BACK AND WERE ABLE TO RECOVER SOME MONEY ON BEHALF OF OUR CUSTOMERS FROM THOSE SUPPLIERS.

WE ALSO WORKED WITH, UM, STATE LEGISLATORS TO COME UP WITH A SECURITIZATION PROCESS THAT ALLOWED US TO SPREAD OUT THE COSTS OVER TIME SO THAT THERE'S NOT, UH, AN IMPACT RIGHT NOW ON CUSTOMERS TO PAY THOSE BILLS, BUT TO COST EFFECTIVELY SPREAD THEM OUT OVER A NUMBER OF

[03:10:01]

YEARS.

MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM.

THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR.

MR. PETERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UH, THIS IS, UM, IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE WHEN WE NEED OUR NATURAL GAS, WE NEED THE NATURAL GAS.

UM, BUT WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING PRUDENT IN HOW WE ARE, UM, DELIVERING PAYMENTS FOR OUR, OUR CONSTITUENTS.

UM, I THINK EVERYONE AROUND THE TABLE IS, UM, VERY, UH, FOCUSED ON OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR, THEIR FINANCES AND THE CITY'S FINANCES.

AND EVERYONE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION AND EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

OUR INSURANCE, OUR GAS, OUR WATER, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

UM, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE IMPACT ON AN AVERAGE CUSTOMER'S GAS BILL? UM, WITH THIS CHANGE, THE COMPANY'S REQUEST WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT OF ABOUT $5 A MONTH FOR A HOUSTON DIVISION CUSTOMER.

SO ABOUT $5 A MONTH FOR AN AVERAGE HOUSTONIAN ON THEIR GAS BILL.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS BODY VOTES? NO, IF THE CITY, UH, VOTES NO ON THE COMPANY'S REQUEST, THAT WILL BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE PROCEEDING THAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

AND FINAL RATES WILL BE SET IN THAT PROCEEDING.

I ASSUME WE'D BE AT THE MERCY OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION AND, UH, WE WOULD NOT BE MAKING A DECISION LOCALLY IN WHAT WE VIEW AS THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

WE'D BE, WE'D BE YIELDING OUR INPUT TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, WHICH ARE ELECTED STATEWIDE.

THAT I THINK WOULD BE A FAIR STATEMENT.

SAY THEY'RE STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY, UH, STATEWIDE INTEREST GROUPS, LARGELY THE UTILITY COMPANIES AND THE OIL PRODUCERS AND THE GAS PRODUCERS THEY RUN STATEWIDE WITH THE, WOULD THAT NOT BE ACCURATE? YES, THEY'RE A STATEWIDE, UM, ELECTED BODY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY AND THE RAILROAD COMMISSION PROCEEDING, AS I MENTIONED.

UM, IN ADDITION TO THE LITIGATION THAT'S OCCURRING, THEY'RE ALSO EXPLORING SETTLEMENT WITH THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVES.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

GOOD MORNING.

UM, PATRICK, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO CENTER POINT AND I SEE PAUL IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE DISTRICT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT Y'ALL ARE NOT THE SUPPLIERS, RIGHT? AND THERE IS A, UM, MAYOR, AS WE HAVE SEEN EVEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU BROUGHT UP, UH, WINTER STORM URI, UH, THE GAS SUPPLIERS, THE, THOSE SUPPLIERS THEMSELVES THAT FAILED ALSO SHOT UP THEIR RATES.

AND SO WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH THAT AS WE DEAL WITH HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HOUSTONIANS AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE IS TRYING TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELT BUCKLES.

UM, I ALSO UNDERSTAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NATURAL GAS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, ITEM 10, WHICH IS THE ELECTRICAL RATE INCREASES.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

SO I'LL ASK THIS QUESTION TO CENTER POINT.

I'VE ALSO ASKED IT OF A RA MAYOR, UM, FOR DOCUMENTATION OF, AGAIN, ELECTRICAL NATURAL GAS, BUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RATE INCREASES THAT WE ARE SEEING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AS A WHOLE.

UM, SO IF WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

AND I UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, TODAY'S THE HEARING.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THIS LATER IN APRIL FOR COUNCIL, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.

UH, MY QUESTION IS ALSO, UH, MAYOR, DO WE PLAN AS IT RELATES TO THIS, AGAIN, WITH ELECTRICAL, I BELIEVE WE DID THE SAME THING WITH ELECTRIC.

I KEEP SAYING ELECTRICAL, I'M SORRY, WITH ELECTRIC, UM, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO APPEAL AND NEGOTIATE THAT RATE.

ARE WE INTENDING TO DO SO WITH THIS? WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM OUR, OUR COUNCIL IN A MOMENT.

UH, CERTAINLY IN MY BRIEFINGS, THAT IS A OPTION DEPENDING ABOUT, DEPENDING ON HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS GO FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY IT'S, UM, ALWAYS HOPEFUL THAT YOU COULD RESOLVE IT IN A SETTLEMENT THAT BENEFITS, UH, OUR CONSTITUENTS MAKE CERTAIN THAT CENTER POINT CAN PROVIDE A RELIABLE SUPPLY OF GAS, UH, AND ELECTRICITY.

SO HOPEFULLY THE, UH, PARTIES WILL COME TOGETHER AND DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HOUSTONIANS.

UH, WHICH WOULD MAKE PARTLY WOULD BE THAT THAT CENTER POINT IS A, UH, RELIABLE, VIABLE SUPPLY OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY.

I THINK WE'VE ALL THROUGH THE STORM SEEING HOW, UH, DEPENDENT

[03:15:01]

WE ARE.

AND SO A GREAT CITY'S GOTTA HAVE, UH, A RELIABLE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY AND, AND OUR TREMENDOUS GROWTH, UH, IS UH, CERTAINLY PUTTING STRAINS ON THE SYSTEM.

BUT, UH, I THINK IF WE ALL DO OUR JOB WE'LL REACH HOPEFULLY A SETTLEMENT.

IF NOT, WE THEN, AND, AND I JUST KIND OF EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT LOSING CONTROL AND GOING TO THE, UH, RAILROAD COMMISSION AND, AND THE PUC RESPECTIVELY.

SO, UH, WHY DON'T WE HEAR FROM MR. ALTON SMITH IN A MOMENT THAT WOULD GET HIS PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS? ABSOLUTELY, AND I UNDERSTAND MAYOR AND I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE WITH SOME OF THESE COSTS THAT ARE INCREASING, I DO KNOW THAT CENTERPOINT IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HARDEN THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

UH, GOING BACK TO RESILIENCY IN LIGHT OF WINTER STORMS, IN LIGHT OF WHAT WILL INEVITABLY BE ANOTHER HURRICANE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE POWER AND THAT DOES COST SOMETHING.

WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A FAIR COST FOR ALL, UH, IN THE PROCESS.

ANYTHING ELSE MR. PETERS? OH, I'M SORRY.

COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.

IT'S ABOUT $38.8 MILLION TOTAL.

UM, SO JUST A BIT MORE, JUST TO GET SOME CLARITY.

UH, HOUSTONIANS WILL PROBABLY SEE ABOUT A $5 INCREASE.

AND I'M LOOKING AT THE OVERALL REQUEST FROM CENTERPOINT.

HOUSTON WILL INCREASE 59.9 TEXAS COAST, COAST DIVISION 21.5, BUT THEN WE SEE DECREASES 23.5 FOR THE SOUTH TEXAS DIVISION, 19.1 FOR BEAUMONT AND EAST TEXAS.

ARE THEY GONNA SEE A DECREASE IN THEIR BILL? THE, THE PROPOSAL TO CONSOLIDATE DOES HAVE DIFFERENT IMPACTS ON THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS BASED ON THE POINT IN TIME AT WHICH THE, THE RATE STUDY WAS DONE.

UM, AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE THINGS IN HOUSTON THAT DO DRIVE MORE COSTS, AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT SPREADING THEM ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE WILL HAVE BENEFITS FOR THE HOUSTON CUSTOMERS AS WELL.

UM, IN ADDITION, WHEN WE FILED OUR, OUR LAST RAY CASE ON THE GAS SIDE HERE IN HOUSTON IN 2016, AT THAT TIME WE HAD PROPOSED TO CONSOLIDATE OUR HOUSTON DIVISION WITH THE TEXAS COAST DIVISION, WHICH KIND OF FORMS A RING AROUND THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.

SO WILL THEY HAVE A DECREASE ON THEIR BILL, IS MY QUESTION.

UM, AND IF, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT I KNOW THERE'S CONCRETE THAT WE BREAK UP AND I APPRECIATE THE, YOU KNOW, YOUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO CALL AND SAY, HEY, THERE'S ASPHALT HERE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, COME BACK AND PUT CONCRETE.

UM, AND SO I'M HOPING THAT, THAT WE GET TO SEE THE BENEFIT AS WELL.

UM, BUT EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO KIND OF DIG IN, BREAK IN, UH, THERE, THERE'S STILL A COST THAT I THINK IT'S A SHARED, SHARED COST THAT THEY, THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING AS WELL.

AND SO MY QUESTION AGAIN IS ARE THEY GOING TO SEE A DECREASE IN THEIR BILL WHILE WE SEE AN INCREASE TO COVER THE COST PRETTY MUCH FOR THE REST OF THE CENTRAL DIVISION FOR THIS PROPOSED CHANGE? THAT'S CORRECT.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FLICKINGER, YOU'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES INCREASED COST IN OPERATING IN HOUSTON DUE TO LIKE BREAKING UP CONCRETE AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

I ASSUME THERE'S ALSO SOME ECONOMIES TO SCALE THAT ARE ACHIEVED IN HOUSTON AS WELL.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

UM, THIS $5, YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS GONNA BE AN AVERAGE, THIS IS ACROSS THE BOARD IN TERMS OF THE $5 INCREASE? YES.

FOR AN AVERAGE CUSTOMER IN THE HOUSTON DIVISION, IT WOULD BE ABOUT A $5 INCREASE.

IS THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING BUILT IN, IN REGARDS TO SENIORS OR ANY PREVIOUS BENEFIT, UH, FROM CENTERPOINT TO THOSE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THE AGE AND, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND THE AMOUNT OF USAGE THAT THEY USE? 'CAUSE THAT'S HOW I'M SURE A LOT OF IT'S GONNA BE BUILT ON THE USAGE AND WE KNOW AS SOME OF THE PREVIOUS WINTER SITUATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THAT THAT WOULD BE A GREATER USAGE IF IT'S A LOT COLDER.

RIGHT? SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT TO THE POINT, COULD BUILD, BUILD IN REGA RELATE TO SENIORS OR IN THAT PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU LOOKED AT SOMETHING OF THAT SORT? WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT A A RATE SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIORS.

UM, I WILL SAY WE DO HAVE A VARIETY OF CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND CAN HELP PROVIDE, UM, INFORMATION TO CUSTOMERS IF THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING THEIR BILLS.

COULD YOU PRESENT THAT, YOU KNOW, TO US YES.

WHEN THIS HAS BEEN CONSIDERED? WHENEVER THE, WE GO FORWARD WITH THAT.

THANK YOU MR. PETERS.

YOU GIVE US YOUR ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS? ABSOLUTELY.

UH, MR. HALL, COULD WE ASK YOU TO APPROACH, GIVE US, IF YOU WOULD, MR. HALL, WOULD

[03:20:01]

MAYOR WHITMEYER, TELL US, STATE YOUR NAME AND WHO YOU REPRESENT.

YES, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ALTON HALL.

I'M WITH THE LAW FIRM OF ADAMS AND REESE.

AND, UH, IT'S BEEN MY HONOR AND MY PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THESE TYPES OF REGULATORY MATTERS FOR THE PAST 30 PLUS YEARS.

UH, AND I'M REPRESENTING THE CITY IN THIS PARTICULAR MATTER AS WELL AS THE ELECTRIC MATTER THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND HAD RAISED.

BASICALLY, A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE ASKED GO TO THE, THE CRUX OF, OF WHERE WE ARE IN THIS CASE CENTER POINT IS ASKING FOR A $38.8 MILLION INCREASE.

BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THAT AND COUPLE THAT WITH THE CONSOLIDATION PROPOSAL, THERE IS WHERE A MAJOR PROBLEM IS CREATED FOR THE HOUSTON DIVISION AND SPECIFICALLY HOUSTON RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

THIS PROPOSAL WOULD, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, AND ACTUALLY THE MAYOR, YOU RAISE IT, FIRST OFF, CREATE THE PROBLEM, IT WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE BY CONSOLIDATING ALL FOUR DIVISIONS, WHICH IS THE WEIGHT.

IT'S CON IT'S STRUCTURED NOW INTO ONE.

IT WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT DECREASES FOR TWO OF THE DIVISIONS AND SIGNIFICANT INCREASES FOR TWO OF THE DIVISIONS, NAMELY THE HOUSTON DIVISION, WHERE INSTEAD OF A, UH, 38.8 SYSTEM-WIDE INCREASE, YOU'D BE LOOKING AT ALMOST $60 MILLION INCREASE AND ALMOST $70 MILLION INCREASE FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUE, THAT IS A RESULT OF THE COST STRUCTURE IN THE VARIOUS DIVISIONS.

THE NOTION THAT IT'S HOUSTON'S COST STRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE SPREAD, THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE IN THIS CASE.

IN THIS CASE, HOUSTON IS ABSORBING AND IN FACT SUBSIDIZING ISSUES WITH THE COST STRUCTURE IN THE OTHER TWO DIVISIONS THAT ARE GETTING DECREASES.

THEY ARE VERY DENSELY POPULATED AND THEREFORE THE COST PER METER OR THE COST PER, PER, UM, CUSTOMER IS A LOT HIGHER THAN IT WOULD BE IN HOUSTON.

AND SO WHEN YOU COMBINE OR CONSOLIDATE, YOU END UP WITH THIS ISSUE.

UH, SO WE HAVE, UH, RETAINED, UH, EXPERTS, CONSULTANTS WHO'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND WHO'VE GIVEN EXPERT TESTIMONY THAT'S BEEN FILED AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, OPPOSING CONSOLIDATION FOR THAT VERY REASON.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATES FOR EACH DIVISION SEPARATELY, AS HISTORICALLY IT'S BEEN DONE, THE HOUSTON DIVISION WOULD NOT GET A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS CASE, MAYOR, AND WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE IMPACTS, ACTUALLY WHAT OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE RECOMMENDED IS THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A DECREASE IN THE RATES.

AND PART OF THAT IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT SINCE 2017, THERE HAVE BEEN SIX INTERIM RATE INCREASES.

THOSE ARE CALLED GRIPS IS THE ACRONYM FOR CENTER POINT.

TOTALLY ALMOST A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

SO IT'S NOT AS THOUGH WE'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE 2016 17, WHICH STAGNANT RATES, THE RATES HAVE GONE UP THROUGH THOSE INTERIM PROCEEDINGS.

AND IN THE INTERIM PROCEEDINGS, THE ONLY THING YOU LOOK AT IS ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENT.

YOU DON'T LOOK AT ANY OTHER FACTORS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE, THE COST TO GO DOWN UNTIL YOU GET TO A RATE CASE LIKE WHERE WE ARE NOW.

SO WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THAT YOU DENY THIS RATE INCREASE, UM, AND ALLOW THIS CASE TO BE PLAYED OUT AS MAYORS.

YOU IDENTIFIED BEFORE THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, WHICH HAS ULTIMATE DECISION MAKING.

ANYTHING YOU DO HERE, MOST LIKELY WOULD BE APPEALED AND CONSOLIDATED AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

WE ARE A PARTY AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

WE FILED TESTIMONY, WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE CASE, INCLUDING SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS THAT WE ARE ENGAGED IN, AS MY COLLEAGUE STATED.

UH, AND I THINK THE MOST APPROPRIATE THING TO DO AT THIS POINT THEN IS FOR YOU TO DENY THE REQUEST, ALLOW US TO TRY THE CASE IF NECESSARY, OR SETTLE IT IF APPROPRIATE AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION AND DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HOUSTON CITIZENS AND HOUSTON RESIDENTIAL RATE PAYERS.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS AND YOUR LEGAL CAPACITY.

AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR, UH,

[03:25:01]

UM, IF WE DENY TODAY AND IT GOES TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OR IF, IF, IF WE DENY AND IT, IT EVENTUALLY GOES TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION AS YOU ADVISE, IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY THAT THE RATE COULD BE INCREASED FURTHER THAN WHERE IT IS PROPOSED, UH, IN THIS HEARING FOR THE CITY? NO, NOT MORE THAN WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED BY CENTER POINT UNDER THE STATUTORY, UH, SET UP FRAMEWORK IN THIS STATE.

THEY CAN ONLY GET WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR IN THEIR REQUEST.

NOW THEY CAN CERTAINLY GET LESS, BUT THEY, THEY COULD NOT GET MORE WHEN THEY HAVEN'T ASKED FOR MORE.

SO NO, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IT COULD BE, UH, AT THE 38.8 MILLION LEVEL.

SO THERE WOULD BE NO REAL INTEREST IN THE CITY THEN TO APPROVE A RATE, UM, THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.

IF WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO INCREASE WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BEFORE THE RAILROAD COMMISSION AND POSSIBLY, UM, HAVE LESS IMPACT ON THE CITY FINANCIALLY, OR YOU MAY SETTLE IT FOR SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US.

CORRECT.

I IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, I THINK YOU USED THE WORD INCREASE, I THINK YOU MEANT DECREASE THAT THE, THE HIGHEST IT WOULD BE IS THE 38.8.

IF WE WENT TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, THEN I THINK IT COULD POSSIBLY GO LOWER.

I IT COULD POSSIBLY GO LOWER, CORRECT? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE TATUM.

UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND ALL THAT YOU DO, UM, TO PROVIDE US THIS INFORMATION.

SO YOU SAID THAT WE, YOU SUGGEST THAT WE OPPOSE THE CONSOLIDATION.

UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY, IF THIS DOES GO TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION FOR THE STRUCTURE TO REMAIN THE SAME, IS THAT PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS OR IS IT, WOULD IT ONLY BE ABOUT THE RATE? I CAN'T GET INTO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT, THAT, THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL NEGOTIATIONS.

WE'RE IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

UM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE EXPLORING ALL OPTIONS AND TRYING TO FIND WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HOUSTON DIVISION.

UH, SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE LOOKED AT.

AND OF COURSE, THE SIX INTERIM INCREASES WOULD BE PART OF THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE BE PRESENTED TO HELP US TO KEEP THE COST LOW FOR HOUSTONIANS.

THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED.

THAT'S PART OF THE CASE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION.

O OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT TODAY TO NOT GO TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS AND A SETTLEMENT.

WELL, NO, MAYOR, WE'RE ALREADY AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

UH, BUT CERTAINLY AS PART OF THAT PROCEEDING WE'RE, WE'RE ENGAGED IN THE SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS.

SO I, I GUESS IT'S YES AND YES.

WE, WE, WE, WE, WE HAVE TO GO TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION 'CAUSE THAT CASE IS ALREADY PENDING.

THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO HEARING ON APRIL 10TH IF WE DON'T GET A RESOLUTION.

BUT IN THE INTERIM, WE ARE CONTINUING AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO TRY TO SETTLE THE CASE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

COUNCILOR CAYMAN.

UM, MR. HALL, THANK YOU.

UH, YOU SPOKE TO, ALLUDED TO WHAT I HAD BEEN REFERRING TO EARLIER WHEN MAYOR, I HAD REQUESTED AN ACTUAL LAYOUT OF WHAT THOSE, UM, PREVIOUS YEARS RATE INCREASES WERE GIVEN AT THE HEART OF THIS AS A CONSOLIDATION MATTER.

UH, IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO HAVE FOR THE OTHER AREAS IN WHICH THERE ARE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION, WHAT THOSE RATE INCREASES HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AS WELL.

AGAIN, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BURDEN THAT HOUSTON, UM, IS HAVING TO SHOULDER FOR THIS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S FAIR AND EQUITABLE, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

SO I, I THINK I'M MODIFYING MY REQUEST TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR PREVIOUS YEARS FOR RATE INCREASES.

THAT INFORMATION CAN CERTAINLY BE PROVIDED.

THANK YOU MR. HALL.

THANK YOU MR. UH, HALL HANG TOUGH AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD JOB YOU'RE DOING.

UH, ANY OF THE SPEAKERS, ANY, UM, WE HAVE TO GET HIM A SPEAKER RESPONSE.

MR. PETERS BY CENTER POINT, JUST THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER FOR THE COMPANY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVES AS THE CASE MOVES FORWARD.

CASTEX TATUM MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING I A SECOND MOTION MADE.

UH, ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? NO.

IF NO ONE, UM,

[03:30:01]

AND SECOND, UH, MOTION PASSES MEMBERS, UH,

[MAYOR'S REPORT]

I'LL TAKE A MOMENT ON THE MAYOR'S REPORT TO, UH, ME.

ONE OF THE REAL PLEASANT PARTS OF THIS JOB IS TO, UH, WHEN THERE'S A VACANCY, UH, TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHO YOU CAN FIND IS THE BEST QUALIFIED PERSON TO, UH, HOLD A POSITION.

UH, WE DO A SEARCH.

WE CERTAINLY LOOK INSIDE CITY HALL AND, UH, SOMETIME IT TAKES LONGER THAN AT OTHER TIMES.

BUT, UH, HAVING BEEN HERE, MARTY, WE WORK COUNT TODAY, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S 90 DAYS YET, BUT, UM, WE HAD A VACANCY IN THE CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

I, UH, NORMALLY START LOOKING INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHO HAS REALLY BEEN DOING THE WORK.

AND, UH, WHEN IT GOT TO THE CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, UH, GWEN TILLESON BELL AND I MET, AND, UH, DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO REALIZE THAT WE'VE GOT A VETERAN DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEE SMART, AND HAS A RESPECT OF EVERYONE SHE'S EVER WORKED WITH.

SO IT WAS A, UH, A REAL HONOR TO MAKE GWEN TILLIS AND BELL THIS LAST WEEK, OUR CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE MS. TILLISON BELL IS, IS JUST DILIGENTLY WORKED FOR 19 YEARS.

I, UH, THINK IT IS SO DESERVING, FIRST OF ALL TO GIVE SOMEONE THE OPPORTUNITY.

UH, BUT THEN JUST SOMEONE THAT I'VE ALREADY WORKED WITH HER KNOWLEDGE ON MANAGEMENT AND DETER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, AND THE TOURS DISTRICT HAS JUST, SHE'S FORGOTTEN MORE THAN MOST OF US WILL EVER KNOW ABOUT THESE ENTITIES.

BUT HER INTEGRITY AND HER ABILITY TO COLLABORATE WITH, WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, I'M JUST PLEASED THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, GWEN, WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD OF YOU AND, AND I'LL YIELD TO YOU.

UH, BUT AS I TALKED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY, UH, WERE SO EXCITED BECAUSE YOU'VE ASSISTED THEM FOR SO MANY YEARS IN, UH, HELPING THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR, YOUR EDUCATION BACKGROUND, YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE IS, LET'S GO TO WORK.

I YIELD TO YOU.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, THIS IS A VERY GOOD DAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

I THINK I'M BEYOND WORDS AND INCREDIBLY THRILLED.

UM, I AM PERSONALLY WANTING TO IN PUBLIC, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITY TO LEAD THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE YOUR VISION FOR GROWING THIS ECONOMY ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

UM, FOR THOSE WHO KNOW ME, THEY KNOW THAT I CAN GET PRETTY CHATTY WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL.

AND I PROMISE, JUST TO KEEP MY, MY COMMENTS BRIEF.

BUT FOR AN 11 AND A HALF YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, DOING WORK THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

UH, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, AFTER SPENDING SO MUCH TIME DOING THIS WORK, I CAN'T IMAGINE MYSELF DOING ANYTHING ELSE.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE I WAS CREATED TO DO THE WORK THAT I'M DOING NOW, UM, AND TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT, TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A WHOLE, BUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THIS AMAZING CITY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AND SPECIFICALLY THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE COMMUNITIES.

I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MY PART, TO CONTRIBUTE, TO SUPPORT HOUSTON'S GROWTH BY ATTRACTING INVESTMENT ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES AND BRINGING JOBS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE COMMUNITIES.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, THIS, THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I'M EXCITED.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MANY.

LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE REMAINING, AND I, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL, THOSE I'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, AND THOSE THAT I WILL, UM, WILL CERTAINLY GET TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE.

SO, THANK

[03:35:01]

YOU.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PRO, TEM TATUM.

AND I AM SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR BECAUSE, UH, DIRECTOR TILLSON, OR CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER TILLSON, I THINK WE ARE, WE ARE, WE JUST GONNA CALL IT DIRECTOR TILLSON, CHIEF ECONOMIC, ALL OF THE TITLES, YOU DEFINITELY DESERVE IT.

UM, YOU HAVE BEEN SO STEADFAST IN YOUR ROLE IN THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, OFFICE OVER THE LAST YEARS, I MEAN, FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.

AND EVEN AS A DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, WE ALL KNOW THAT IF WE ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT A, A BUSINESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES OR IN OUR DISTRICTS, THE FIRST PERSON THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH IS DIRECTOR TILL IT WAS THEN DEPUTY DIRECTOR TILLSON, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS ALL THE RULES FOR THE TURS, THE THREE 80 AGREEMENTS, THE OPPORTUNITY ZONES, ANY TYPE OF INCENTIVES THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS TO OFFER.

SHE KNOWS IT, UM, OFF THE TOP OF HER HEAD, AND SHE IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OPERATE IN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEGRITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

UM, AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO SEE YOU STANDING HERE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU, UH, EVEN CLOSER AS A CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, ATTRACT MORE INVESTMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO OTHER BUSINESSES ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE.

THANK YOU FOR THE FOUNDATION YOU HAVE LAID, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AT THE HELM OF THIS DEPARTMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

THANK YOU, AND ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUP, YOUR SUPPORT.

POLL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CHIEF TILLESON.

I STILL, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AS WELL.

UH, WHAT I FIND MOST, UH, ATTRACTIVE, UM, ABOUT YOU IS YOU'RE ABLE, YOUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND YOU'RE ABLE TO TRULY KIND OF BREAK DOWN IN VERY SIMPLE WAYS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND, UM, WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN HELP THE CITY GROW AND HELP OUR ECONOMY GROW.

AND YOU HAVE AN EXTREMELY GOOD REPUTATION AROUND THE CITY, VERY APPROACHABLE, AND I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT AS WELL.

SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, CHIEF, I THINK THAT'S A VERY APPROPRIATE, UM, I LIKE IT.

SUPER EXCITED.

UH, WE'VE SAT, WE'VE SAT AROUND THE TABLE SEVERAL TIMES TALKING ABOUT TOURS, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, AND I ALSO WANNA JUST MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A BOARD MEMBER OUTSIDE OF, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU SERVE ON NONPROFITS AS WELL.

AND, AND YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT JUST TELLING OF WHO YOU ARE, YOUR PASSION.

UM, AND, AND SO JUST WANNA SAY, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NEW ROLE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT, AS MAYOR PROTON HAS MENTIONED, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT, THAT YOU AND I HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO, UH, SPOKEN ABOUT AS WELL.

AND SO JUST SUPER EXCITED, CONGRATULATIONS AND, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU.

SO AM I.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR THOMAS.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

UH, MR. MAYOR, SLAM DUNK APPOINTMENT WHEN I'M WITH YOU.

I'M WITH YOU.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

UH, MR. MAYOR.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO, UM, BE A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION.

UM, AND I WOULD EVEN OFFER, UM, UH, MUCH OF YOUR LEGACY WILL BE TIED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT IN THIS CITY, UM, BECAUSE SHE'LL BE AT THE HELM.

SO I AM IN FULL SUPPORT, UH, A LOT OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

WE WE'RE HERE, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE BENEFITS ON THE WEST SIDE, THE THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH WEST CHASE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH IS, UM, UH, A SIGNATURE, UM, UH, PROJECT WITHIN, UH, WITH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY AND, UH, WEST CHASE.

SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THAT.

UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE OTHER GOOD THINGS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO, NOT JUST IN THE DISTRICT OF, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

UM, UH, HOUSTON IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

UH, WE WANT THE COMMERCE, WE WANT THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY.

UM, AND WITH YOU AT THE TABLE, I KNOW IT'LL HAPPEN.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

COUNCILOR CAYMAN.

LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU STAND FOR.

CHIEF, I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID IN MORE, UM, MAYOR.

I DON'T THINK YOU COULD HAVE PICKED ANYONE MORE.

PERFECT.

UH, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK ANDY AIKEN FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE.

UH, SO I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE HIM.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

UH, BUT GWEN, YOU AND I, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH YOU, UH, ALL THROUGHOUT MY FIRST TERM AND INTO THIS ONE.

AND, UH, YOUR INTEGRITY, YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, UH, YOUR LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION, AS WELL AS YOUR FOLLOW THROUGH.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE THING I KNOW OF THAT MAYOR, WHEN SHE SAYS SHE WILL DO, SHE DOES.

AND, UH, THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.

THAT SAYS A

[03:40:01]

AND IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY.

SO I, I COULD NOT BE MORE ECSTATIC, UH, TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE, UH, EARNED THIS.

YOU DON'T JUST DESERVE THIS.

YOU HAVE EARNED IT.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL TAKE THE CITY EVEN FARTHER.

ALL OF THESE AMAZING COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS LONG TIME, LONG TIME AGO, , IF I KNEW I WAS GOING TO GET THIS KIND, LOVE AND SUPPORT, BUT THE PASSION IS GENUINE.

I THINK, UH, A FIVE MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH ME ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IT BECOMES VERY CLEAR AND APPARENT THAT I, I LOVE THE WORK THAT I DO.

IT'S NOT JUST A JOB TO ME, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I JUST KIND OF FELL INTO.

UM, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAS CREATED TO DO AND TO SEE THE TANGIBLE OUTCOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE CITY AND SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES ACROSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

UM, I JUST KNOW THAT WHEN I RETIRE AT SOME POINT, MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS FROM NOW, I'LL BE ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND HOUSTON AND POINT TO THINGS THAT OUR OFFICE PERFECT.

AND OUR TEAM, AND I HAVE SOME OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE, BUT THE THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO MAKE HAPPEN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT WILL LIVE WAY BEYOND ANY OF US.

SO, THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN CAYMAN.

YOU, YOU WERE SAYING GWEN DOES WHAT SHE SAYS SHE'LL DO.

SO DOES SHE BELONG TO THE CLUB THAT IF SHE TELLS YOU A GOAT CAN PULL A TRAINS , HOOK HIM UP? WELL, I'M FROM LOUISIANA AND OUR GOATS ARE PRETTY STRONG.

I LOVE IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.

GLENN, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU THROUGH THE YEARS.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'VE GOT NEARLY 25% OF OUR, UH, TAX TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THIS TOWN, TIED UP INTS, THAT CAN SEEM REALLY OPAQUE TO PEOPLE, TO THE PUBLIC.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THE, THE POLICIES THAT, UH, WERE PUT FORTH LAST YEAR.

ONTS, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC FACING DOCUMENT TO GET THAT OUT.

UH, WITH SO MUCH, UH, MONEY TIED UP INTS, IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT, UH, EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE CITY'S STANCE AND, AND HOW WE DEAL WITH TOURS.

AND YOU DID A LOT.

I LOVE TO GET IN THE WEEDS.

YOU REALLY GOT IN THE WEEDS OF, OF HOWT AND DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS WORK AND COMING UP WITH THE BEST FRAMEWORK FOR OUR SET OF TOURS.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WORK AND KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY.

YOUR INSIGHT WAS INVALUABLE.

OBJECTION.

UM, AND I WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN SAYING CONGRATULATIONS.

UM, WHEN I CAME IN OFFICE, UM, ONE OF MY PRIORITIES IS JOBS.

AND YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET CLOSER TO OUR GOAL.

FROM ME ALL WOLF, I'M LOOKING INTO COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS, HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THE TURS AND EXPANDING THE FIFTH WATERS TO TAKE CARE OF SOME ISSUES, UM, SOME PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU SPECIFICALLY ON THE GREENS POINT PROJECT.

WE'RE READY.

WE ARE READY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR.

GOOD CHOICE.

UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.

AND, UH, IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR THE COMMENTS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU.

I THINK, UH, THE HIGH POINTS THAT I RECOGNIZE IS YOUR INTEGRITY.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THAT OFFICE IS RUN WITH THE HIGHEST OF INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

AND OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T HAVE TO ENCOURAGE YOU 'CAUSE THERE'S A RECORD HERE OF BEING AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND EVERYONE THAT, UH, NEEDS YOUR ADVICE IN COUNCIL.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF OPENING UP CITY HALL TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND, UH, THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

SO, THANK YOU.

AND, AND ONE LAST THING.

I KNOW FOR A FACT, YOU'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR PAST TO GO WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PROBABLY MAKE MORE MONEY MM-HMM .

SO YOU'RE, YOU GET SHOUT OUT FOR BEING THE PUBLIC SERVANT THAT YOU ARE.

AND, AND WE HAVE OTHERS IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

UM, THE, IT'S A CALLING AND I KNOW YOU'VE HAD OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, SO WE'RE JUST REALLY FORTUNATE.

AND I'M JUST FORTUNATE TO BE IN THIS CHAIR TO NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, BUT ACTUALLY REWARD YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST WONDERFUL THAT YOU GET TO STAND THERE AND LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE WILL SAY ABOUT YOU PUBLICLY.

SO THANK YOU.

AND I'LL LET YOU GO TO WORK.

I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO SAY, QUOTING OUR MAYOR, LET ME GET BACK TO WORK.

THANK YOU ALL.

DIRECTOR TO TRY TO FIND THE THREE REPORTED, UH, REMAINING MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBERS.

WELL, THAT WAS A PLEASANT PART OF THE MAYOR'S REPORT.

NOW, NOW A A SUBJECT THAT I KNOW WE'VE HEARD ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, AS IT PERTAINS TO YOUR DISTRICT IS THE MANAGEMENT, THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

THERE'S SO MUCH CONFUSION.

CERTAINLY, UH, WE'VE, WE FOLLOW IT IN THE PRESS.

AND I'VE HAD, UH, THE APPOINTMENTS, UH,

[03:45:01]

WE CAN'T FIND TWO OF THEM.

SO I THINK THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF DYSFUNCTION.

WE DO KNOW THAT IT WAS DISSOLVED IN 2018, AND NOW THERE'S DISCUSSION THAT THEY WOULD, LIKE A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

THREE INDIVIDUALS HAVE STARTED KIND OF REPRESENTING THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, CERTAINLY TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE, UH, RESIDENTS.

SO I WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE.

IT DOES NOT COMPLY.

THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH STATE LAW AS WE SIT HERE TODAY.

THERE'S ONLY THREE MEMBERS.

THE STATE REQUIRES FIVE.

UH, SINCE 2014, NO BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY COUNCIL.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, UH, TOO STRONG A WORD TO SAY IT'S A RENEGADE, UH, GROUP.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT ARE DEALING IN GOOD FAITH, BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC AND THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT THERE IS NO AUTHORIZED MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

WE'VE BEEN ASSURED IN CONTACT WITH THEIR CONSULTANTS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A, UH, BILLING SENT OUT UNTIL WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROPERLY, UH, CONSIDER THE REINSTITUTION OF THAT MANAGEMENT BOARD.

BUT, UH, THERE'S A CURRENTLY LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND, UH, JUST THE DYSFUNCTION.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE FRUSTRATED WITH SOME LACK OF CITY SERVICES, CERTAINLY AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND TURS ARE A VITAL PART OF CITY OPERATIONS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO IT RIGHT.

SO TODAY, LET'S ALL MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE AGREE AND COMMUNICATE TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE, CERTAINLY THE BUSINESSES, THAT THERE WILL BE NO ACTIVITY TAKEN BY THIS SELF, UH, ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, MANAGEMENT BOARD.

WE WILL CONSIDER IT HERE AT COUNCIL, THE REINSTITUTION AND SOME VALID CHOSEN MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBERS.

AND UNTIL WE DO THAT, THEY NEED TO CEASE AND INSIST AND NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING ANY OFFICIAL ACTION.

SO, WITH THAT SAID, UH, WE CAN MOVE ON.

CERTAINLY YOU AND MY OFFICES HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION, AND I BELIEVE I'M REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF THE, UH, OF THE DISTRICT.

AND I, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, AND I DO WANNA BE CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC, THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THE MONTROSE TURS AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, WITH THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD RECONSTRUCTION.

THERE ARE TWO VERY DISTINCT AND INDEPENDENT THINGS, LOTS HAPPENING IN MONTROSE, WHICH IS GREAT.

BUT MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, POINT, AS IT RELATES TO THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, I APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS.

UM, I HAVE SINCE DAY ONE, UH, WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS WORD THAT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WAS COMING BACK, QUOTE UNQUOTE, UM, I SAID, THIS MUST BE DONE NOT ONLY TRANSPARENTLY, BUT WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF ENGAGEMENT FROM RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

AND AGAIN, WITH THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, THE BURDEN, THE COST OF THAT FALLS ON BUSINESSES.

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT BUY-IN.

UH, I WANNA ALSO BE CLEAR THAT I AM NOT OPPOSED TO MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK THEY PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OTHER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS IN THE CITY, AND THEY PROVIDE A VERY VALUABLE SERVICE WHEN DONE THE RIGHT WAY, WHEN DONE WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND WHEN IT'S DONE WITH BUY-IN FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

UH, SO I, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, MAYOR, THAT BOTH OF OUR POSITIONS WERE CLEAR AND I THINK WE ARE IN ALIGNMENT.

UM, BUT IN THIS CASE, I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH MANY, MANY, MANY BUSINESS OWNERS.

I KNOW A LOT HAVE BEEN COMING TO COUNCIL, AND I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR VOICES ON THIS.

UH, AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH THEM AS WELL.

THEY'VE BEEN HAVING THEIR OWN MEETINGS.

UH, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO ENGAGE ON THIS MATTER.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA SEE FROM A COMMUNITY.

SO, UH, AS IT STANDS, I APPRECIATE THE STATUS UPDATE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL TO HEAR THAT.

AND, UH, MOVING, LOOKING AHEAD, MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE CREATE A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UM, THAT DOES FIT THE NEEDS OF THE MONTROSE AREA, THAT DOES SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IN A WAY THAT WE AS A CITY KNOW THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE? VERY GOOD.

AND IF I WASN'T CLEAR A MOMENT AGO, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE PUBLIC.

AND BUSINESSES SHOULD DISREGARD ANY NOTICE OR REQUEST FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO PAY ANY ASSESSMENT OR FEES THAT THE ILLEGAL BOARD HAS OR WILL TRY TO IMPOSE UNTIL THIS COUNCIL REINSTITUTE A LEGITIMATE MANAGEMENT

[03:50:01]

DISTRICT BOARD.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THEY SHOULD BE TAKING NO ACTION.

AND IF THEY ATTEMPT, IT SHOULD BE DISREGARDED.

WITH THAT SAID, UH, I'M READY TO GET ON, GET ON TO OUR WORK.

ITEM TWO AND THREE.

ITEM TWO AND THREE, THE APPOINTMENT OF LENORA OLA.

PULLMAN, OUR FRIEND, SEE, SECRETARY WILL ANNOUNCE FOR UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS TWO AND THREE, NEED A MOTION, CASTEX, TA MOVE I A SECOND.

MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED.

UH, LENORE, I'LL LET YOU SPEAK IN ONE SECOND.

CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO YIELD TO YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE FOR SO MANY YEARS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THANK YOU, UH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, YOU'VE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB.

UH, AT LEAST I CAN SAY FOR MY PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR SURE.

WE DON'T HAVE A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, BUT WE DO HAVE TOUR.

AND, AND I DO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OUR, UM, OUR, UM, I, I, I'M TRYING TO TAKE AWAY MY BUSINESS, UH, THE, UM, THE VOTERS THERE.

AND I DO MEET WITH THEM AND TALK WITH THEM.

AND, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE, UM, THE CONFIDENCE OF, UH, CHAIRING THIS POSITION.

I THINK I'LL, I HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB.

BUT NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ALWAYS BEING THERE WHEN WE NEED YOU AND MAYOR, WHAT CAN I SAY? YOU HELP ME.

MAYBE NOT AT MY HOME AREA, BUT WHERE I WORSHIP.

AND I TRULY APPRECIATE ALL WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US THERE AT OUR LADY GUADALUPE.

UH, LENORE, THERE'S COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN.

UM, LENORE, YOU BE MUTED.

THE PUNCH IN SAYING THANK YOU, UH, I'M, I'M THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE THANKING YOU, UH, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE LAZY BROOK TIMBER GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A RESIDENT OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WANNA POINT THAT OUT.

WE HAVE A CHAIR THAT LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS CHAIRING THIS TOURS.

AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH RESIDENTS TO EXPAND THE CITY PARK TOURS BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECTS THAT SHOULD BE COMING IS THE INCREMENT BUILDS THE FLOOD MITIGATION FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD MAYOR, ALL ALONG WHITE OAK BAYOU.

AND WITH INCREASED DEVELOPMENT AND DENSITY, UM, YOU ALL ARE INTRINSIC IN THE SOLUTIONS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, LENORA, THANK YOU.

AND TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, UM, FOR THEIR SERVICE.

MAYOR, YOU HAVE SEVERAL OF YOUR OWN STAFF THAT PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THIS TOURS.

UH, SO I FIRST AND FOREMOST WANNA SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY FOR, WHICH IS YOUR REAPPOINTMENT AS THE CHAIR.

BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU LOOK TO BRING OTHERS ALONG WITH YOU, AND YOU LOOK TO BRING OTHERS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AND INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES WHEN OTHERWISE, THEY MAY NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND ONE OF THOSE WOMEN IS HERE WITH YOU TODAY, MY DEAR FRIEND, ANNETTE RAMIREZ.

UM, BUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, YOU LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

SO I ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND IF ANYONE HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO MEET ANNETTE, UH, OR SPEAK WITH ANNETTE, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE, I STRONGLY, STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO AS WELL.

UM, AND LENORA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, YOUR SERVICE TO THIS TOURS AND TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

WE HAVE A VERY SMALL SECTION OF DISTRICT A IN THIS TOURS.

IT'S, IT'S SMALL BUT IMPORTANT.

UM, I KNOW MOST OF THE WORK, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE IS IN DISTRICT C RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN THE PART THAT'S IN DISTRICT A AND REALLY EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS SO MUCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ.

UH, JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS, LENORA, AND, AND REALLY, UM, REALLY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO UPLIFT, UH, LATINAS, LATINOS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE LEAN ON YOUR, WE, WE STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS FOR SURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL, COUNCILOR CASTILLO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO JIM, CAST TATUM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR LENORA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UM, THAT SMILE EVERYWHERE WE GO, YOU ARE THERE, UH, GREETING US ALL WITH YOUR, UM, SINCERE, UH, ADMIRATION.

AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE ADMIRATION IS SO MUTUAL.

UM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR WISDOM.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY.

AND WHEN LENORA SPEAKS, IT'S SOFT SPOKEN, BUT SHE'S SAYING SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

UH, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE GREAT WORK YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO ON THIS TERMS. THANK YOU.

THANK

[03:55:01]

YOU, MAYOR.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REAPPOINTMENT, LENORA.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU AND TO SEE YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE CITY, UH, IN SO MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED, UH, THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR OTHERS AND, AND YOUR MENTORSHIP AND THE FOCUS YOU PUT ON MENTORING YOUNG LATINAS, YOUNG WOMEN, BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE ARENA OF SERVICE, IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT PIPELINE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DO.

AND IT, IT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND, UH, I WISH YOU MANY MORE YEARS OF SERVICE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.

AND THANK YOU, LENORA.

I MET LENORA YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD CHAIR.

SHE AND HER BELOVED HUSBAND, AND HE LOVED TO GIVE THE STORIES ABOUT WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT AT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

BUT I'LL JUST HAVE TO SAY TO KNOW LENORA, UH, IS TO LOVE HER.

AND SO CERTAINLY I HAVE ENJOYED, UM, ALL OF OUR INTERACTIONS AND JUST REALLY, REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.

GOOD MORNING.

I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, IN THE SPIRIT OF OPENING DAY, LENO, CONGRATULATIONS ON HITTING A DOUBLE THIS MORNING.

, THANK YOU.

I, I SEE YOU EVERYWHERE.

I KNOW YOU LOVE THE COMMUNITY VERY MUCH, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SERVE.

AND ALSO SHOUT OUT TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS CREW YOU BOUGHT WITH YOU THIS MORNING.

COUNCILMAN POLLARD.

SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT COUNT AGENDA UNDER THE PURCHASING TABULATION OF BS CATEGORY.

AND I TOO, JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, LENORA, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE, NOT ONLY IN THIS CAPACITY, BUT IN ALL CAPACITIES IN THE CITY.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SIX.

NEED A MOTION.

NEXT, TAYLOR, MOVE THOMAS.

SECOND.

MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY.

ITEM SEVEN.

8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27 AND 30.

ALL IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY, ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27, AND 30.

NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED.

FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

GOT IT.

ITEMS REMOVED

[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]

ITEM EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED.

ITEM NINE IS AN ORDINANCE.

ITEM ITEM 10 IS AN ORDINANCE.

ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE.

ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE.

CHOO.

ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

YOU'RE MOVING BABY.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED.

ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.

THAT AND JUST TO TELL DR.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THIS ITEM AND, AND JUST, I'M SO ELATED THAT DR.

MATSON, WHO IS A DENTIST, WHO'S ALSO A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT D, IS PROVIDING THESE SERVICES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA ON AGING.

UH, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, UH, INSURANCE OR WHATEVER, DENTAL CARE SOMETIMES IS LEFT UNDONE AND IT IS CERTAINLY NEEDED.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT

[04:00:01]

MATSON THAT I'M VERY, VERY PROUD THAT HE IS THE ONE THAT WILL BE, UH, FACILITATING THESE SERVICES.

THAT ONE OUT OF 18, 19.

JUST NEED TO ALL NEED ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED.

19.

ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED.

ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE MOTION MEMBER CAMAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

UM, I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, IF I MAY.

UH, CITY ATTORNEY TODAY, UH, FOR ITEM 20, WE ARE VOTING TO INCREASE THE TURS OR THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES BONDING CAPACITY FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROJECT THAT THE CITY IS GRANTING THE RIGHT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS FOR ARE LAID OUT AND DESCRIBED IN THIS ITEM THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION FOR THE CERTAIN PURPOSES OF UTILIZING THE TAX INCREMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THE PARAMETERS OF THE BONDS ARE WHAT ARE SPECIFIED IN THIS? YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THIS ORDINANCE SPECIFIES, JUST SO EVERYONE'S CLEAR, THE BONDING AUTHORITY IS TO BE USED FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WATER AND WASTEWATER LINES, UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS, ROADWAYS, SIDEWALK REPLACEMENTS, AND SHARED USE PATHS SPECIFICALLY ON KIRBY DRIVE, WHICH IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS COUNTY MONEY, UH, THAT WILL THEN BE GOING INTO THE TURS FOR SOME OF THESE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT CITY ATTORNEY, ONCE THOSE DOLLARS, BE IT COUNTY, BE IT CITY, BE IT BONDS ARE IN THE TURS, UH, THIS IS THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES FUNDS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.

AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE INTENDED PURPOSE? THE SPIRIT OF THIS BOND IS LAID OUT IN WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON.

AND I ASK THIS BECAUSE ITEM 20 IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT WILL BRING NEEDED CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, MULTIMODAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING MULTI-USE PATHS ALONG MAJOR CORRIDORS THAT BENEFIT RESIDENTS NOT ONLY OF THE MULTIPLE DISTRICTS IN WHICH, UH, THIS PROJECT TOUCHES, BUT WILL HAVE CITYWIDE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

WELL, THE CITY APPROVES THAT, UH, ALL PROJECT PLANS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE HAS TO BE OVERSIGHT BY THE CITY, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY HPW TO ASSURE THAT IT'S FOLLOWING THE PARAMETERS, RIGHT? SO WHEN WE'RE VOTING ON THIS, THOSE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THE BONDS THAT ARE GONNA BE ISSUED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

SO YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT MAY JUST BE UP TO PUBLIC WORKS TO ENSURE THAT WELL, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT THEY GRANT THE PERMITS, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL HAVE OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THAT IT'S FOLLOWING, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROJECT PLAN AND THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT AT, AT ISSUE.

SO AGAIN, I'M, I'M POSING THE QUESTION COLLEAGUES AND I WELCOME FEEDBACK, BUT AS TO HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS.

'CAUSE THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, UM, TS ENDEAVOR THAT'S ABOUT TO BE TAKEN UP.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MY, UM, COMMENT IS NOT ABOUT 20 AS A COURTESY.

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST ON 19.

WE PA WE JUST, WE ALREADY PASSED THAT ITEM, BUT MY REQUEST IS JUST TO VALIDATE, UM, UH, WHERE THE, UH, DATA INFORMATION, IF THE CITY IS RETAINING THAT DATA, INFORMATION THAT'S COLLECTED FOR THE CYBERSECURITY ITEM, UM, IF IT CAN CONFIRM WHO OWNS THAT INFORMATION, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AND THAT COULD BE A FOLLOW UP.

THERE'S NOTHING, I'M FINE WITH THE ITEM PASSING, I'M IN SUPPORT, BUT JUST, UM, JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DILIGENT AROUND THAT THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT'S ALWAYS, THAT ALWAYS COMES UP WITH TECHNOLOGY, AI, DATA COLLECTION, WHO HAS THE USE, ALL OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD HELP FOR US TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

VERY GOOD QUESTION.

WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

YOU APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

UH, SO YEAH, MAYOR PROTE TATUM.

HAS FIVE MEMBERS ON THIS TURS AS OPPOSED TO ONE, AND EVERYTHING HAS TO BE APPROVED THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS.

AND, UM, BASED ON COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S, UH, QUESTIONING, UH, I WANT TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY.

SO YOU SAID THAT, UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WILL APPROVE ALL OF THE PROJECTS EVEN THOUGH THIS FUNDING WOULD PRIMARILY BE COMING THROUGH THE TS.

UM, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE ADDED FIVE MEMBERS TO THIS TURS THAT REPRESENT THE CITY.

SO WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE OVERSIGHT AND, UM, I GUESS INPUT IN THESE PROJECTS NOW THAT THE CITY

[04:05:01]

FOR ANY, UH, ROTARY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT'S WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT NEED TO BE GRANTED.

SO PUBLIC WORKS IS LOOKING AT THAT, AND TO YOUR POINT, UH, YOUR, UH, TS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE FIDUCIARY DUTIES TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THE PROJECT IS, IS GOING ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY APPROVED.

AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS, I KNOW THAT AS A TS IS LOOKING AT THEIR PROJECTS, THESE KIND OF SEEM LIKE THEY'RE CONCEPTS.

THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY FINAL PROJECTS.

SO THERE'LL BE SOME MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL PROJECTS WILL BE ONCE THE BOND IS SECURED.

UH, YES.

TYPICALLY THERE, THERE'S, UM, UH, THE PLAN, IT CONTINUES TO BE DEVELOPED.

THERE ARE CHANGES SOMETIMES WHAT THEY, THEY FIND, YOU KNOW, UNDERNEATH THE STREETS AND THE GROUND MERIT CHANGES.

IT'S CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, BUT IT IS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THE, THE, THE PROJECT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED AND THE FUNDING.

AND CAN YOU REMIND ME, IN THE, IN THE PAST, DO WE, DO WE TALK ABOUT ANY OF THESE IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE? CAN WE BRING THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW? YES, YOU CAN DO THAT.

COUNCIL CAN DO THAT.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR CASTILLO.

UM, MY QUESTION ON THIS IS WE APPROVE THE BUDGETS FOR THE TSS, WHICH INCLUDE THEIR PROJECT PLANS AND WHAT THEY'VE ALLOCATED.

SO WE WOULD KNOW WHAT PROJECTS THEY PLAN DUE THAT YEAR WITH THE BUDGET WE'RE APPROVING, AND IF THESE ARE A PART OF THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

SO IF SOMETHING IN HERE IS NOT A PART OF THEIR BUDGET, WE DO HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT OVER THAT.

YOU, YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THE PROJECT PLAN, AND THAT'S, UH, PRIMARY MECHANISM OF OVERSIGHT OFTS PROJECTS.

GREAT.

MY QUESTIONS ARE TOO, FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.

UM, ONCE WE APPROVE, UH, ITEMS LIKE THIS AND, UH, IT THEN BECOMES UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE TURS, OUTSIDE OF ANY LEGAL CHALLENGES, MAYBE WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, PERMITS OR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT OTHER, UM, ROLE DOES PUBLIC WORKS PLAY IN ENSURING THAT A PROJECT EITHER GOES FORWARD OR DOESN'T? WELL, THEY, THEY'RE OVER THE PERMITTING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT, THAT'S A, A PRIMARY MEANS OF WHAT THEY DO.

UH, WHEN YOU HAVE A, UM, A TS THAT INVOLVES, UH, MORE THAN ONE ENTITY AND, AND THEY'RE COMMITTING FUNDS, THEN YOU HAVE AN ILA THAT GOVERNS SOME ASPECTS OF IT.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN, UH, SOURCES.

AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE PERMITTING ASPECT, IS THE PERMITTING CHECK FOR TURS PROJECTS ONLY TO ENSURE THAT IT'S IT'S FOR A LEGAL PURPOSE OR IT IT FITS ITS INTENDED, UH, PURPOSE FOR THAT PROJECT? OR CAN A PERMIT BE HELD FOR OTHER REASONS? THE, THE, THE PERMITTING PROCESS IS INDEPENDENT OF, OF, OF THE BONDING PROCESS AND THE PROJECT THAT THE, THAT, THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE PERMITTING IS, WOULD BE THE SAME AS IF IT WERE A PRIVATE ENTITY SEEKING, SEEKING PERMITS.

BUT WHAT AUTHORITY DOES THE CITY HAVE TO CHANGE MATERIALLY CHANGE A PROJECT ONCE IT'S UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE TURS? SO IF WE WERE TO APPROVE, IF WE WERE TO APPROVE, UM, DOLLARS TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE TURS AND THEY HAVE IT UNDER THEIR PURVIEW TO HAVE CERTAIN PROJECTS, THEN WHAT AUTHORITY WOULD THE CITY HAVE TO CHANGE MATERIALLY CHANGE A PROJECT? UH, IT WOULDN'T HAVE DIRECT AUTHORITY UNLESS IT, IT, IT IS PART OF A CONTRACT IN WHICH THERE IS SOME ABILITY TO EITHER RESCIND IT OR CHANGE IT.

BUT AGAIN, COUNSEL, BECAUSE IT HAS ANNUAL OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY CAN PUT PRESSURE IF THERE, IF COUNSEL BELIEVES THERE'S A NEED AND WOULD LIKE THE TERMS TO TAKE IT A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT DIRECTION, THE ONLY COUNCIL COULD TURN, COULD PROPOSE MATERIAL CHANGES TO A PROJECT ONCE IT'S UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE TURS.

YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

CHANGES TO WHAT IS SET FORTH FROM WHAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY COUNSEL THROUGH THE T'S BUDGET, THE ILA AND FOR HIGH, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS PURPOSE, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A PHENOMENAL EFFORT AND ENDEAVOR.

SO AGAIN, I WANNA CONFIRM WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID THAT THERE, UM, WITH THE ILA AGREEMENT IN THE LINE OF QUESTIONING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD JUST ASKED THAT ONLY COUNSEL COULD PROPOSE MATERIAL

[04:10:01]

I'M NOT CRITICIZING THIS TURS.

I AM SAYING THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT THAT WE WANNA SEE MOVE FORWARD AND ENSURING THAT THE PARAMETERS LAID OUT ARE ADHERED TO AND RESPECTED.

SO, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

NOW, THE ILA CAN HAVE CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT CAN DELEGATE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN DUTIES, BUT ULTIMATELY COUNSEL APPROVES THE, THE ILA IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS.

AND TYPICALLY, IT, IT DOESN'T INVOLVE ANY SUB, UH, LARGE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE OR, UH, EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS.

ANYONE ELSE? UH, WE NEED TO VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED ITEM PASSES.

COUNCILOR CADEN, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS ITEM PASSED BECAUSE, AND I DID WANNA 0.1 FINAL THING OUT.

IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGETS THAT WE HAVE PASSED FOR OUR TSAS AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES AUTHORIZING SPECIFIC PROJECTS AS WE HAVE DONE HERE, UH, AGAIN, WE HAVE NOW PASSED A BOND LAYING OUT THE CLEAR PARAMETERS FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THIS AREA.

I WOULD LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT AND COUNSEL TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS A BOND THAT COUNCIL PASSED IN 2021, SPECIFICALLY AGENDA ITEM 32 ON AUGUST 31ST, 2021.

IN THAT COUNCIL PASSED NEARLY IDENTICAL LANGUAGE TO WHAT WE JUST VOTED ON TO INCLUDE DRAINAGE, THE INCLUSION OF SIDEWALKS AND BICYCLE FACILITIES.

THIS WAS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 0 7 6 7, APPROVING BONDS TO BE ISSUED TO THE MONTROSE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD RECONSTRUCTION.

AND THAT TO PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCES NEED TO VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PEC, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK.

THIS ITEM IS THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CAMPBELL TRIANGLE ESPLANADE AT CAMPBELL AND PEPPER MILL.

UM, IT'S A SMALL TRACT OF LAND.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN HALF AN ACRE, BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUT THERE.

UM, THE CITY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING IT, AND THEY WERE NOT MOWING IT.

WE HAD AN 81-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT WHO HAD BEEN MOWING IT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GRASS DIDN'T GET TOO TALL BECAUSE THE CITY WAS MOWING IT, MAYBE JUST A FEW TIMES A YEAR.

SO THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW, UM, THE INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE TO STOP MOWING IT AND LET THE COUNTY TAKE IT OVER.

SO, UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR PUSHING THIS THROUGH.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

UM, STEVE DOMAN, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS FOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

TAMMY BOONE IN PUBLIC WORKS.

AND, UM, LIZ MIRANDA IN MY OFFICE, ALL WORKED REALLY HARD ON GETTING THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT GOING, SO THANK YOU.

GREAT COMMENT ON, UH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S COLLABORATION.

UH, HE'S WILLING TO HELP PARKS WITH THE ESPLANADE AND EVEN THE PARKS IN THIS PRECINCT AND BE HONEST, HAS DONE THE SAME GARCIA.

SO WE'RE REALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY CITY COLLABORATION.

COUNCILOR THOMAS.

WE NEED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

UM, AGAIN, MY COMMENTS FOR, UM, ITEM 27.

YOU'RE MOVING THE TRAIN FAST THIS MORNING, MR. MAY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, KNOW WE MOVING? SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE PUBLICLY WITH RESIDENTS THAT WITH THIS, UH, UH, GRANT FROM FEMA, UM, IT ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HOME ELEVATION PROJECT, UH, UH, UH, RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT F UM, PARTICULAR LOCATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE.

UH, SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, UM, HIGHLIGHT THAT, THAT THIS IS A VERY GOOD MOVE.

THANKS FOR HAVING US ON THE AGENDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

UH, THANK YOU.

I TOO WANTED TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT MAYOR, UM, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK WITH THIS HOME ELEVATION PROGRAM.

UH, THIS IS A CRITICAL, CRITICAL PROGRAM TO PROTECTING RESIDENTS FROM FUTURE FLOODS.

THESE ARE HOMES THAT ARE, HAVE EITHER BEEN SUBJECTED TO OR ARE AT RISK OF REPETITIVE FLOODING.

UM, I BELIEVE UNDER THE FY 23 PROGRAM, THE CITY HAS PREPARED ELEVATION APPLICATIONS FOR A TOTAL OF 59 HOMES.

NEARLY A THIRD OF THOSE HOMES ARE IN DISTRICT C.

UH, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET THE WORD OUT.

BUT I ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE OTHER DISTRICTS TO PLEASE CONTINUE SHARING THIS INFORMATION OUT SO THAT WE CAN GET WHAT WE NEED, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ELEVATE THESE HOMES, WHICH IN THE LONG TERM MAYOR ENDS UP SAVING THE CITY.

MONEY KEEPS FAMILIES AND HOMES, KEEPS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THRIVING.

BUT THIS IS ABOUT FLOOD PROTECTION, UH, WHICH

[04:15:01]

JUST NEED TO VOTE ON 30 MEMBERS.

ON ITEM 30.

WE NEED TO VOTE.

33 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING CAST.

ITEM

[NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS]

MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2024.

[MATTERS HELD]

ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE.

COUNCILOR RAMIREZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.

YES, MAYOR, UH, TAG THIS ITEM LAST WEEK.

UM, THE TAG WAS NEVER ABOUT A CHURCH OR A MUSEUM.

IT WAS MORE ABOUT MAKING SURE THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THESE, UH, PROJECTS ARE WELL-SERVED BY OUR VENDORS.

UM, WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM, UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS ITEM, UM, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRONG SUPPORT BY COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.

UH, IN THE MEANTIME, SINCE LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH NHP.

APPRECIATE THAT MEETING.

TWO OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES CAME TO MEET, UH, WITH US AND LAID OUT, UH, THEIR PLANS GOING FORWARD TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS AT CLEM MANOR.

AND, UM, SO WE HOPE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

WE KNOW THAT NHP IS GONNA BE BACK AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UH, SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING AT CLEM MANOR, BUT DON'T WANNA STAND IN THE WAY OF THIS PROJECT.

AND, UM, THAT FOR THAT REASON.

MAYOR, I'LL BE VOTING.

YES, MAYOR CARTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.

SO, UH, IN, IN RESPECT TO YOUR TAGGING LAST WEEK, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S, UH, COMMENTS REGARDING NHP AND, AND THE PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE.

ALSO IN SUPPORT OF, UH, MY NEIGHBOR HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ, UM, I MET WITH, UH, V MICHAEL MCKAY YESTERDAY.

HAD SOME QUESTIONS.

UH, NOT NECESSARILY ON THE NHP SIDE.

UH, I THINK THERE'S BEEN, UH, SOME RESOLUTION THERE, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE MUSEUM OPERATIONS OF A MUSEUM ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN A LOW INCOME HOUSING UNIT.

AND CERTAINLY, UH, WITH RESPECT TO OUR, OUR FRIENDS IN THE BACK, UM, I THINK THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ON THE OPERATION SIDE AS RELATES TO, UH, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE CHURCH AND CONTINUED SUPPORT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH GRANTS AND SUCH.

SO I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL, UH, SHORE UP THEIR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND, AND CONTINUE DOWN THAT, BUT CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE ITEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABA.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND CERTAINLY WE ALL BELIEVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE CERTAINLY WANT EVERYONE TO LIVE IN A QUALITY ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO, UM, I I THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING VERY DILIGENT ABOUT THIS.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SHE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY.

I THINK I HAVE TEXTED HER.

SHE'LL LEARN TO NOT ASK ME A QUESTION.

, I'VE SENT HER A LOT.

, I SENT HER A LOT OF INFORMATION.

BUT THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THE SUPPORT.

'CAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL MUSEUM.

WE NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 35.

ADAM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE.

RAMIREZ.

COUNCILOR RAMIREZ.

YES, MAYOR, THANK YOU.

THIS WAS ANOTHER ITEM WE TAGGED LAST WEEK.

UH, WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HIGH ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH WAS 23%.

AND ALSO WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE OF THE SUB-RECIPIENTS, WHICH HAD FAILED TO MEET GOALS BY A WIDE MARGIN, UH, FOR A PERIOD OF A FEW YEARS.

AND SO, UM, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE LAST WEEK TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND WITH, UH, DIRECTOR MIKE NICHOLS HIMSELF.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE HIM COMING DOWN.

MAYOR, WE, WE APPLAUD YOUR, YOUR APPOINTMENT OF HIM.

WE THINK HE'S, HE'S A GREAT PICK.

UM, WE HAD A, A GREAT DISCUSSION AND, UM, I, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE WERE IN AGREEMENT WITH EVERYTHING, BUT, UH, WE HEARD ENOUGH TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THIS AGENDA ITEM TODAY, AND WE DO NOT WANT TO RESULT, CAUSE A RESULT OF A SERVICE GAP.

SO WE'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL.

EVAN SHABAZZ IS FIRST UP.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, IF NOT A VOTE ON ITEM 36? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE

[04:20:01]

OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

I DON'T START WITH EVAN SHABA MEMBERS.

[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]

UM, ON MONDAY WE CAME TOGETHER FOR THE ORIGINAL MARCH AGAINST CRIME FOR THE STATE OF SENIOR URGENCY.

I WANNA THANK, UH, THANK, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, AND THE REPRESENTATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS FOR COMING OUT TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT.

IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT, IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.

IT IS FOR THE SENIORS BECAUSE OF COURSE THEY ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO CRIME AND THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK HPD AND THE HONORABLE MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, SANDRA MASSEY HINES, UH, FOR HER INVOLVEMENT IN COLLABORATION FOR THIS PROJECT.

UH, THEN THERE ON SATURDAY, THERE WAS A RE-IMAGINING OF MIDTOWN CHARETTE, UH, SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER, WHERE THE CONSTITUENTS CAME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT SHAPING A DECADE OF SERVICE AND IMPROVEMENT IN MIDTOWN.

AND THIS EVENT MARKED A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD ENSURING MIDTOWNS DEVELOPMENT, UH, WHICH REFLECTS THE ASPIRATIONS AND NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CONGRATULATE, UH, THE NINTH PRESIDENT OF PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY.

OF COURSE, YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT, AND SO I AM VERY, VERY ELATED, UH, FOR HER SERVICE.

AND PRAIRIE VIEW PRODUCES PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE SUCH AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS OVER THERE.

AND SO SHE WILL CONTINUE IN THAT LEGACY.

UH, ALSO I WAS PROUD TO BE THE SPEAKER AT THE INAUGURAL SOUTH UNION PROUD CIVIC CLUB, UH, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE HELP OF MY OFFICE AND JUST VERY, VERY EXCITED.

AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR SOUTH UNION.

ON TOMORROW ON, YEAH, TOMORROW THURSDAY THERE WILL BE A SENIOR LUNCHEON JUST TO LET ANYONE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE HUNGRY AROUND 11:00 AM ON TOMORROW, IT'S GONNA BE AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.

IT IS A SENIOR LUNCHEON, SO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE SENIORS AND THE LUNCHEON.

AND THEN ON SATURDAY, THE SHE HAPPY HAIR FOUNDATION, WE'LL HAVE THEIR PICNIC AT THE KRISTA ADAIR PARK AND COME OUT AND ENJOY.

IT'S ALWAYS A WONDERFUL EVENT AND THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY.

AND IT'S AT THE KRISTA ADAIR PARK, UH, FROM 12 NOON, THE FOOD WILL BE SERVED AT 1230 AND IT WILL CONTINUE UP UNTIL 4:00 PM AND SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UH, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVING THE MUSEUM, AND WE ARE GONNA GO AND HAVE A SHOUTING.

GOOD TIME.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

THIS PAST SATURDAY, THE DISTRICT H OFFICE PARTICIPATED IN THE 30TH ANNUAL TRASH BASH AND WE, UH, WERE AT THE MOODY PARK LOCATION.

UH, THIS EVENT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

UH, FANTASTIC TURNOUT.

UH, A LOT OF TRASH WAS PICKED UP AND, UH, WE REALLY ENJOY, UH, GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, INTO THE PARKS AND, AND GREEN SPACES AND, AND HELPING TO MAKE THEM, UM, HEALTHIER AND SAFER.

UH, AS PART OF OUR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH EFFORTS, UH, ON SATURDAY, WE ALSO HOSTED A HEALTH FAIR, UH, WOMEN FOCUSED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UM, WE HAD OVER 400 WOMEN IN ATTENDANCE, UM, WITH SERVICES THAT INCLUDED HEALTH EDUCATION, COUNSELING, PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS, BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING, FAMILY PLANNING.

UM, AND WE, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR BEING OUR PARTNER THERE.

AND THAT WAS OVER AT THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.

UM, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR SERIES OF TOWN HALLS.

OUR NEXT ONE IS THIS SATURDAY AT PROCTOR PLAZA COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 10 TO 1130.

THIS WILL BE OUR NINTH ONE.

UM, AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE, UH, CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE PRESENT AND REPRESENTED AND, AND VISITING WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS.

UH, THEY ALSO APPRECIATE, UH, ACCESSING THOSE CITY SERVICES AND DEPARTMENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND FINALLY, I WANT TO MENTION, UH, FOR FOLKS TO GET ON THEIR CALENDAR, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT EYE OFFICE AND THE AT-LARGE ONE OFFICE, WE ARE HOSTING A COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE FOR THE PLANNED HISPANIC HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER ON APRIL THE 13TH FROM 10 TO 11:30 AM UM, WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT AND CAN PLAN TO ATTEND.

UM, THIS WILL BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP.

UM, THE TWO ENTITIES THAT ARE, UH, WORKING ON THIS FACILITY AND THE LIBRARY WILL BE, UH, OBVIOUSLY MANAGING THE RESEARCH CENTER.

UM, BUT SAVE

[04:25:01]

THE DATE.

AN RSVP LINK WILL BE COMING OUT SOON.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN, UH, GET THAT ON THEIR CALENDARS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND THAT'S ALL FOR ME.

COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, I'LL MAKE IT REAL SHORT, UH, IN THE SOUTH END OF THE DISTRICT, WE'RE HAVING A RECYCLING EVENT AT ELLINGTON FIELD.

UH, STARTS AT NINE O'CLOCK ON SATURDAY, GOES UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FULL.

SO IF YOU WANNA GET YOUR ELECTRONICS RECYCLED, PLEASE SHOW UP NINE O'CLOCK.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM.

UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, COULD ISSA PETERSON PLEASE STAND? ALL RIGHT.

I WANTED EVERYONE TO, UH, MEET ISSA.

SHE HAS, SHE'S A SENIOR AT POST OAK MONTESSORI, AND SHE GAVE UP A TRIP TO ITALY TO COME INTERN IN MY OFFICE FOR TWO WEEKS.

THAT THAT JUST SHOWS HER DEDICATION.

SHE WANTED TO COME AND SEE WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT.

UM, ISSA IS WORKING ON POLICY IN OUR OFFICE.

UH, SHE'S VERY FOCUSED ON WOMEN'S HEALTH, GUN VIOLENCE, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND AIR QUALITY, AND HAS BEEN HELPING IN ALL THOSE REALMS AND CONSTITUENT SERVICES.

SO, ISSA, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU.

I ALSO WANT TO, UH, SAY HOW PROUD WE ARE DISTRICT C ONCE AGAIN, THE HOME OF MEMORIAL PARK IS HOSTING THE PGA TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOUSTON OPEN THIS WEEK.

UH, TOMORROW IS THE FIRST DAY, FIRST ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT PLAY CONTINUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MOS AND OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND PLANNING THIS AND BRINGING THIS TOGETHER WITH THE ASTROS FOUNDATION.

UH, TEXAS CHILDREN'S, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IS A REMINDER.

THERE ARE SPECIAL ROAD CLOSURES AND PERMITTED PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR THE PARK.

UM, SO YOU CAN GO TO TC HOU OPEN.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THAT AS YOU TRAVEL TO, UH, THE TOURNAMENT.

I ALSO WANTED TO ANNOUNCE AT THE GREGORY LINCOLN, UH, AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY RESEARCH LIBRARY IN FRIEDMANS TOWN.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT WE'VE HAD, AND, UH, COUNCILLOR MEMBER CASTILLO YOU JUST BROUGHT UP, UM, THE NEW RESEARCH LIBRARY THAT'S COMING UP.

UH, THESE ARE GREAT FACILITIES AND THEY'RE IN THE HEARTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THEY AREN'T TRADITIONAL LIBRARIES, SO TO SPEAK.

SO IN FOURTH WARD, FRIEDMANS TOWN, WE DON'T HAVE A LIBRARY LOCATION.

SO I AM PROUD THAT WE HAVE FUNDED IN DISTRICT CA NEW BOOK, LINK BOOK VENDING MACHINE THAT IS OFFICIALLY OPERATIONAL SO RESIDENTS CAN STOP BY, USE THIS VENDING MACHINE SORT OF, UH, THING TO PULL OUT BOOKS.

SOME OF IT IS CENTERED ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, BUT ALSO CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND OTHERS, UM, THAT YOU COULD FIND IN ANY LIBRARY.

I REALLY WANNA THANK THE, UH, LIBRARY STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US, BOTH THE STAFF AT THE RESEARCH LIBRARY, DIRECTOR LAWSON RAMIKA ALLEN, MIGUEL CAESAR AND ERICA THOMPSON FOR GETTING THIS THROUGH.

AND THE RESIDENTS, UM, WHO ARE VERY VOCAL IN MAKING SURE THAT ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH HAS ACCESS TO BOOKS IN ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

UM, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR PROTO .

I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS ON FRIDAY.

UM, WE WILL BE HOSTING THE, UM, ALONG WITH HIP IMPACT HOUSTON, OUR 2024 SPRING BLAST, WHICH WILL BE AT HARPER TAYLOR PARK STARTS AT 10:00 AM THE ADDRESS IS 8,100 KENTON DRIVE, COME OUT FOR SOME FOOD AND A LOT OF FUN.

UM, AGAIN, THIS FRIDAY AT 10:00 AM AT HARPER TAYLOR PARK.

AND THEN ALSO, UM, HE EAST HOUSTON CIVIC CLUB.

WE'LL BE HAVING A SPRING BLAST AS WELL AT 10:00 AM ON FRIDAY.

UM, AT NORTH WAYSIDE PARK, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 9 5 5 1 NORTH WAYSIDE.

UM, GRAB YOUR KIDS.

I'M SURE KIDS ARE OFF ON FRIDAY.

BRING 'EM OUT.

FREE FOOD.

UM, SOME EASTER EGG HUNTING, AND, UM, JUST A LOT OF FUN.

UM, MARK YOUR CALENDARS ON NEXT WEEK ON MARCH.

THE, WHERE ARE WE AT RIGHT HERE? APRIL THE FOURTH, SORRY.

AT 10:00 AM WE WILL, ON THURSDAY, WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR.

UM, AT 10:00 AM AT GREENHOUSE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH.

UM, IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS, NEED SOME ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING THEIR RESUME IN INTACT, UM, HAVE 'EM COME ON OUT OR REGISTER AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.

THANKS.

RESEARCH CENTER AND ARCHIVES, UH, BUILDING.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES, THANK YOU.

UM, JUST WANNA REITERATE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO SAID ABOUT THE OPEN HOUSE COMING UP ON APRIL 13TH, WHICH IS A SATURDAY MORNING AT THE PROPOSED HISPANIC

[04:30:01]

WE WOULD LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK.

UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS, IS HUGE, UH, IN THIS ADMINISTRATION AND VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AS WELL.

SO I WOULD LOVE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND, AND, AND VISIT.

ALSO, JUST WANNA SAY GOOD LUCK.

GO ASTROS.

TOMORROW'S OPENING DAY.

PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

UM, I WANNA START WITH SOME CONSTITUENT ISSUES, UH, THAT THEY'RE NOT NEW, BUT I WANNA BRING TO THE ATTENTION.

AND THEN I HAVE A REQUEST OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEN ALSO THE ADMINISTRATION.

UM, I WANNA SAY EARLY THIS FEBRUARY, MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION, MY CHIEF OF STAFF VISITED, UH, THE HOME DEPOT ON BEL AIR AND BELTWAY EIGHT TO ADDRESS RETAIL THEFT.

THEY'RE EXPERIENCING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RETAIL THEFT, UM, UH, WHICH HAS SPIKED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

UM, WITH THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL VENDOR LOCATIONS, STREET VENDOR LOCATIONS ON BINET, NEAR HUNTINGTON VILLAGE.

AND SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING SOLD ARE HOME DEPOT EXCLUSIVE TOOLS.

SO, UM, I'M NO INVESTIGATOR, BUT ONE CAN, UM, CONNECT THE DOTS.

SO I'M, I'M MAKING A REQUEST TO RESIDENTS THAT AS WE INVESTIGATE THIS AND PUT OUR HANDS AROUND THIS GROWING ISSUE, UH, TO NOT ENGAGE AND PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THOSE ARE STOLEN GOODS.

UM, AND THEN TO HELP US PROTECT, UM, OUR PATRONS AT THE HOME DEPOT, BUT THEN ALSO, UH, THOSE STREET VENDORS THAT ARE JUST SIMPLY SELLING ARTS CRAFTS AND FOOD.

UM, SEPARATE FROM, UM, CRI UH, POSSIBLE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT IS ON OUR AGENDA.

WE ARE PRIORITIZING THIS AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT.

UM, SECONDLY, AS WE APPROACH THE SUMMER, WE KNOW IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

IN ORDER FOR OUR POOLS TO OPEN, WE MUST HAVE LIFEGUARDS.

HOUSTON PARKS HAS RELEASED, UM, THEIR FLYER TO INCENTIVIZE, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG AND OLD, THOSE WHO HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR SWIMMING TO SIGN UP AS A LIFEGUARD.

WE NEED YOU THIS SUMMER IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR POOLS OPEN.

IF OUR RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, WE CAN SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND AS YOU KNOW, IN DISTRICT F, WE HAVE ONE CITY POOL AT THE A LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.

UH, THIS ALSO FALLS RIGHT IN LINE WITH DISTRICTS F'S, DISTRICT F'S SUMMER OF SAFETY INITIATIVE.

UH, PARKS IS OFFERING A $500 INCENTIVES FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

CONTACT MY OFFICE OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS, UM, IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE WANT OUR RESOURCES OPEN.

UM, ALSO AS AN UPDATE, OUR SECOND ANNUAL DEED RESTRICTION WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 27TH AT TRACY G COMMUNITY CENTER, RIGHT THERE IN WEST CHASE IN THE MIDDLE OF DISTRICT F.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION, UM, GREAT FEEDBACK.

AND SO WE'RE RETURNING TO YOU WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND WE'RE GONNA WALK MANY NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH UPDATING THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS, PARTICULARLY TO ADDRESS SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

WE KNOW THIS IS AN EMERGING ISSUE.

WE'VE HEARD THIS IN THE HORSESHOE, WE HEAR IT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA WALK HAND IN HAND, UM, WITH YOU TO THAT.

SO STAY TUNED AS WE'LL.

UH, LASTLY, APRIL 3RD, WANNA ASK RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT F IN THE CITY, AND THEN ALSO MY COLLEAGUES AT THE HORSESHOE.

UH, APRIL 3RD IS NATIONAL WALKING DAY IN HOUSTON.

UM, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR STEPS.

UH, 10,000 A DAY SO WE CAN HAVE HEALTHY HEART, UH, HEALTH.

I'LL BE IN DC BUT I'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT I GET MY STEPS AND HOPEFULLY THAT YOU'LL JOIN ME.

AND THEN LASTLY, I WANNA SHOUT OUT HAPPY NEW YEAR, UM, TO OUR IRANIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

I CELEBRATED N RU'S, UH, DAY WITH THEM, UH, THIS PAST SUNDAY, A LITTLE MORE THAN A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS JOINED TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR, AND WE CAN ALWAYS USE A RESET.

SO HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THAT CELEBRATES.

AND AND THAT CONCLUDES MY DISTRICT F POPOFF COMMENTS.

THANK YOU MUCH.

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, JUST, UH, WANNA REITERATE ABOUT THE LIFEGUARD.

UM, FOR ALL THE YOUNG FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE, PLEASE, UH, LOOK INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE COME, GONNA, UH, COMING UP AS WELL FOR THE SUMMER.

UM, THEN I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO TWO DEPARTMENTS, UH, PARKS AND PARKS AND RECS DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR WORK.

UH, LEADING UP TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE OPENING DAY, UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND AT DIXIE LITTLE LEAGUE AND AT EASTON LITTLE LEAGUE.

SO THANK YOU PARKS DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN ALSO TO THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, SPECIFICALLY THE, UH, STORMWATER ACTION TEAM DIVISION.

UH, WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING THIS PAST WEEK, UH, IN THE SKYSCRAPER SHADOW NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, INFORM THIS NEW, UH, DISTRICT GUY NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THIS DRAINAGE PROJECT AND, AND WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS FOR COMING OUT AND, AND ALSO ASKING ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE INFORMED.

UM, AND THEN LASTLY, JUST WANNA SAY HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE, UH, THIS COMING SUNDAY.

UH, AND, AND JUST HOPEFULLY YOU CAN BRING SOME, UH, SOME, GET SOME MONEY IN THOSE EGGS AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU.

OUR CREDIT RATINGS ARE STRONG.

VICE MAYOR.

PROTO, UH, RECENTLY THE MAYOR STATED THAT THE CITY IS BROKE.

UH, I DON'T FULLY AGREE WITH THAT.

UH, I, I DO THINK THAT, UM,

[04:35:01]

UM, I THINK OUR FUND BALANCE IS HIGHER THAN IT'S BEEN IN A LONG TIME.

UH, SALES PROJECTIONS HAVE BEEN MUCH HIGHER, UH, THAN WE PROJECTED OVER THE, WELL, SALES, SALES TAXES THAT HAVE COME INTO THE CITY ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY'VE BEEN IN PROJECTIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

A LOT OF OTHER, UH, VARIABLES WE CAN LOOK AT TO SHOW THAT THE CITY RIGHT NOW IS FISCALLY STRONG.

HOWEVER, WE WILL NOT BE FISCALLY STRONG IF WE DO NOT SPEND WISELY GOING FORWARD.

SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, I THINK IS OKAY.

UM, BUT AS A BODY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ON HOW WE SPEND GOING FORWARD, HOW WE BUDGET AND ALLOCATE GOING FORWARD, AND WHERE WE PUT THOSE DOLLARS, AND HOW IT WILL HAVE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY GOING FORWARD.

UM, MY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AS IT RELATES TO SPENDING WISELY.

UH, THE CHRONICLE RECENTLY REPORTED THAT THE FIREFIGHTER CONTRACT COULD BE, UH, BETWEEN A 1.1 AND A $1.3 BILLION EXPENSE TO THE TAXPAYER.

UH, WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, UM, THE INTEREST OVER TIME, IS THAT, IS THAT A ACCURATE, UM, STATEMENT? I KNOW YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY AND NOT THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, BUT IS 1.1 TO 1.3 BILLION SOMEWHERE IN THE REALM OF, OF WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING? THE, UH, I THINK MR. BAI CAN CORRECT ME, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO, TO 1 BILLION IF YOU'RE LOOKING OVER THE LIFE OF A 25 TO 30 YEAR WHERE YOU ADD THE INTEREST.

THAT, UM, IN ASSERTING THAT THE COMMAND STAFF SHOULD BE, UM, INCLUDED WITHIN THE BACK PAY? WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT ARGUMENT, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD MAKE EVERYTHING EASIER.

AND I KNOW THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE HAS PROVISIONS 1.1507 THAT REQUIRES VOTER APPROVAL FOR JUDGMENT BONDS, AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE SECTION 1207 THAT DOES NOT, UH, REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL.

UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON WHY THEY'RE CONTRADICTING SECTIONS OR WHAT WE DO WHEN THEY ARE CONTRADICTING SECTIONS? UH, I CAN'T, UH, AT THIS POINT EXPLAIN THE HISTORY AS TO WHY YOU HAVE TWO PROVISIONS THAT COULD BE USED THIS WAY.

THE 1207 IS TITLED REFUNDING BONDS RATHER THAN JUDGMENT BONDS.

BUT I DO KNOW, AND I'VE CHECKED WITH OUR, UH, PUBLIC FINANCE LAWYERS, AND IN FACT FROM MORE THAN ONE SOURCE OF, OF OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS THAT TO PAY A JUDGMENT, UH, WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES IS THAT IT USES 1207.

THAT'S WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID IN 2005, 2006 FOR A FI FIREFIGHTER OVERTIME CASE.

THAT'S WHAT THE CITY OF DALLAS DID RECENTLY TO PAY THEIR FIREFIGHTERS.

UH, AND IN FACT, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT, UM, THEY'RE UN UNAWARE OF, UM, ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT USING, UM, 1507.

AND THIS COMES FROM, UH, THE PERSON WHO USED TO HEAD THE PUBLIC FINANCE, UM, UH, SECTION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AND THEN LATER HAD A SUPERVISORY ROLE OVER VARIOUS SECTIONS INCLUDING THAT ONE.

AND I KNOW RECENTLY WE RECEIVED A LETTER, UH, THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS ALSO RECEIVED FROM, UM, THE EXECUTIVE COMMAND STAFF, UH, WITHIN THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT, UH, ASSERT THAT THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGREEMENT, UH, AS IT PERTAINS TO THEIR TIME IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMAND, UH, POSITIONS.

UM, WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY PART OF THE SIX 50 PROPOSAL? AND IF SO, ARE THERE ANY OTHER GROUPS OF FIREFIGHTERS THAT YOU KNOW OF WHO WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE 650 MILLION BACK PAY PROPOSAL? UH, WHAT THE UNION IS REPRESENTING, AND THAT WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL DOCUMENT, IS THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COMMAND STAFF, WHILE THEY WERE SERVING ON COMMAND STAFF, EVERYONE ELSE WILL RECEIVE A, A PRO RATA PORTION OF THE SETTLEMENT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WERE THERE, UH, ONLY ONE YEAR, OR IF YOU HAD SOMEONE ON COMMAND STAFF WHO WAS SIX YEARS ON COMMAND STAFF AND ONE YEAR THERE, THEY WOULD RECEIVE, UH, A ONE SEVENTH PRO RATA SHARE.

AND THE COMMAND STAFF IS OUR, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WITHIN THE HU THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND CORRECT.

WHAT'S THE RATIONALE BEHIND WHY THE COMMAND STAFF WOULD NOT BE, UM, FAIRLY COMPENSATED ANY BACK PAY, UM, FOR THEIR TIME SERVED? UH, WELL THE RATIONALE COMES, COMES FROM THE UNION.

WE, WE BARGAIN WITH THE UNION.

THAT'S THE BARGAINING AGENT.

SO OUR AGREEMENT IS WITH THE UNION, BUT WHAT THE UNION HAS REPRESENTED IS BECAUSE THIS, THE, THE, THE PAYMENT HERE IS ALL OVERTIME.

THAT COMMAND STAFF HAS EXECUTIVE LEVEL UNDER THE FLSA IS NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE OVERTIME.

THEY HAVE ALSO STATED THAT COMMAND STAFF IS COMPENSATED HIGHER FOR SERVING ON COMMAND STAFF, UH, DURING THE, DURING THAT TIME THAT THEY, SOMEONE WHO HOLDS THAT POSITION.

DO WE AS A CITY ARGUE AGAINST

[04:40:01]

BUT IT, IT, IT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE SETTLE WITH THE UNION AND IT'S FOR THE UNION TO DETERMINE THIS.

I MEAN, THERE'S ALSO A, A RECENTLY FILED LAWSUIT, UH, BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND STAFF SEEKING TO ASSERT THIS BEFORE THE COURT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.

AND I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE A JOINT BFA AND LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING ON APRIL 2ND, 10:00 AM UM, MUCH OF THESE QUESTIONS CAN BE ADDRESSED.

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE FIREFIGHTER DEAL, AS WELL AS, UM, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD JUST BROUGHT UP THAT ARE PART OF THE, UH, THE, THE AGREEMENT ITSELF.

UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL BE AVAILABLE, UM, FOR ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS.

SO PLEASE, I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS, REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED IN WRITING BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOMAS AND POLLARD.

UM, GET YOUR QUESTIONS IN ORDER FOR, FOR THAT DATE.

AND, UH, AND ALSO THE CITY CONTROLLER WILL BE THERE, UM, GIVING HIS MONTHLY REPORT, UM, AND BE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK THE CONTROLLER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AS WELL.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE ON APRIL, TUESDAY, APRIL 2ND AT 10:00 AM THANKS.