* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. THERE [00:00:01] WAS A COURTROOM IN HERE. COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WAS JUST HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YOU READY? OH, THERE'S COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. WELL, THERE'S, OH, I'M SORRY. I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR PROTE CASTEX STADIUM TO PLEASE RESIDE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO, AS ONE FOUNDATION TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR WORK WITH SICKLE CELL EDUCATION. THANK YOU MAYOR POTE. AND, AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS JOB IS THE PEOPLE YOU MEET WHEN YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT IN TOWN AND ON, UM, ARBOR DAY THIS YEAR, AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER DISTRICT AT WILSON MEMORIAL PARK, I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO PLANT SOME TREES AND MEET, UM, SAMANTHA HUGHES OVER OVER HERE. AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION. THEN SHE TELLS ME ABOUT THE GOOD WORK SHE DOES FOR SICKLE CELL. THEN SHE INVITED ME TO A, TO A 5K OR 10 K. I RAN A 10 K. YEAH. UH, THEN WE, UH, IT WAS A 10 K AT, UM, STUDIOY PARK WHERE I REALLY GOT TO KNOW THE STORY OF THE DARLING FAMILY. AND SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THIS STORY, BUT THERE WERE, UM, TWIN BROTHERS. THIS IS THE OLDER BROTHER AND SISTER, UM, DEVON AND DEVARD DARLING, WHO WERE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT FLORIDA STATE PLAYING THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR. AND DEVON SADLY PASSED AWAY DURING A PRACTICE, UM, DUE TO SICKLE CELL TRAIT DISEASE. AND SO THEY ARE REALLY HONORING THE LEGACY OF HIS LIFE BY, UM, EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT SICKLE CELL AND SICKLE CELL TRAITS. SO I'LL LET THEM TELL YOU MORE. I'M NOT GONNA READ THE WHOLE, UH, THE WHOLE, UH, PROCLAMATION, BUT I'LL JUST READ HERE TOWARDS THE BOTTOM. WHEREAS THE AS ONE FOUNDATION AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE PROVIDED OVER 60,000 HOURS OVER 14 YEARS THROUGH LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, AND TOWN HALLS, ALL FOCUSED ON EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING SICKLE CELL WARRIORS AND CAREGIVERS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS HAS THE THIRD LARGEST SICKLE CELL POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES WITH APPROXIMATELY 70 BABIES PER YEAR BEING BORN IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WITH THIS GENETIC DISORDER, THE AS ONE FOUNDATION HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE CARE ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE SUNNYSIDE THIRD WARD, AKER HOMES, RICHMOND ALE AND SHARPSTOWN AREAS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE AS ONE FOUNDATION FOR ITS TIRELESS EFFORTS IN PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR SICKLE CELL PATIENTS AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SICKLE CELL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2ND, 2024 IS ONE FOUNDATION SICKLE CELL TRAIT AND DISEASE DAY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ALCORN, FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC OF A SILENT KILLER THAT QUITE FRANKLY, IF ONE COMMUNITY IS SUFFERING, WE ARE ALL SUFFERING. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US PAUSE AND, UH, HAVING THIS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND THANK EVERYONE THAT CONTRIBUTES TOWARDS CARING FOR OTHERS. WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THEY WERE FIGHTING OVER THE BROTHER OR THE SISTER IS GONNA FIGHT, GONNA TALK WHICH ONE AND I'LL YIELD. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO, HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JASMINE AND I AM ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE AS ONE FOUNDATION. AND WE DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE. AND, UM, JUST A QUICK STORY ABOUT THE AS ONE FOUNDATION. SO BACK IN 20 2001, UH, DEVON SADLY PASSED AWAY. AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS EDUCATE THE WORLD GLOBALLY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING YOUR STATUS WITH SICKLE CELL TRAIT. UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BORN AND THEY DON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY EITHER GO TO SCHOOL OR IF THEY, UM, GO TO THE MILITARY OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. UM, SO WE DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR THIS DAY. UH, WE DO HAVE THE DARLING DASH EVERY FEBRUARY IN HONOR OF DEVON. IT'S FINE. SO THAT WE CAN KEEP, UM, HIS MEMORY ALIVE. SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE ASWAN FOUNDATION. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND FOR AMPLIFYING THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING YOUR STATUS AND THE, AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SICKLE CELL TRAIT. WE KNOW THAT, UM, AFRICAN AMERICANS PRIMARILY, UM, HAVE THIS TRAIT. UM, SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR NEIGHBORS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE EDUCATED ON IT AND THAT WE ALSO KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE. SO, BEST WISHES TO YOU. AND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. I HAVE A, A DEAR FRIEND THAT, UM, SUFFERS WITH THE [00:05:01] SICKLE CELL AND SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, WITNESS HIS LIFE AS A FRIEND IN THE UPS AND DOWNS AND THE PROCESS WITH THAT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING IN COMMUNITY, AND HOWEVER WE CAN AMPLIFY THAT ON THE WEST SIDE. PLEASE ALLOW ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. THANKS FOR PRESENTING THIS. OH YEAH. RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CARLO HERNANDEZ TO CELEBRATE HONEYBEE AWARENESS MONTH MORNING. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. UM, PRO TEM. I AM EXCITED TODAY TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION, UH, AND AWARENESS OF HONEYBEE AWARENESS MONTH, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT THINK A LOT ABOUT IN OUR DAY TO DAY. UH, BUT THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANIMALS ON THE PLANET. UM, AND SO, UH, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE B AND ME, WHICH IS A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT THAT'S DEDICATED TO EDUCATION AND AWARENESS. UM, AND SO WITH THAT, PLEASE JOIN US UP HERE. WE'RE HERE, WHEREAS THE BEE AND ME IS A HOUSTON-BASED PASSIONATE 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EDUCATING CHILDREN AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT SIGNIFICANCE OF HONEYBEES AND THEIR INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN OUR ECOSYSTEM. AND WHEREAS THE BEE AND ME WAS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF PRESERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION, THIS ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS NOT ON HOW TO BECOME BEEKEEPERS, BUT RATHER HOW TO BECOME DEDICATED KEEPERS OF BEES. AND THE BEE AND ME IS MOTIVATED BY THEIR MISSION ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT THE WELLBEING OF HONEYBEES IS INTRINSICALLY LINKED TO THE WELLBEING OF ALL LIFE ON EARTH. HONEYBEES ARE CONSIDERED THE MOST IMPORTANT ANIMAL ON OUR PLANET AND ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COUNTLESS FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER CROPS THAT BOTH SUSTAIN HUMAN AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. WHEREAS THE BEE AND ME IS DRIVEN BY A VISION OF A WORLD WHERE HONEYBEES THRIVE, WHERE THEIR DELICATE ECOSYSTEM IS SAFEGUARDED THROUGH WIDESPREAD AWARENESS AND INFORMED ACTION. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE VITAL ROLE THAT HONEYBEES PLAY IN OUR ECOSYSTEM. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MERELY ADMIRE THESE INCREDIBLE CREATURES FOR A DAY. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACTIVELY PROTECT THEM. THANK YOU. BEFORE I FINISH YOUR PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, IMPORTANT ANIMAL TO US. UM, THEY DO SO MUCH FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND I'VE HAD AT LEAST TWO CONSTITUENTS IN MY CAREER CALL ME ABOUT WHERE THE QUEEN RELOCATED. AND HE OR SHE COULD NOT USE THEIR UTILITY BOX OR EVEN THE EDGE OF THE GARAGE, AND I WOULD REACH OUT AND SOMEONE WOULD COME RETRIEVE THOSE FEES. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESCUE IN A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY, AND IT'S PRETTY EXCITING, UH, TO WORK WITH BEES. BUT, UH, I ASSUME YOU, YOU TAKE ADEQUATE PROTECTION. NOT ALWAYS, YOU DON'T . SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE, THE MONTH OF APRIL AS HONEYBEE AWARENESS MONTH. AND WE'VE DONE IT TODAY. YAY. UM, CERTAINLY NATURAL FOODS. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M NOT, I'M NOT REALLY A SPEAKER. UM, I CAN TELL Y'ALL ABOUT HONEYBEES ALL DAY LONG, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO STANDING UP IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF GET A LITTLE BIT COLD SCARED ABOUT IT, SO FORGIVE ME. UM, MR. WHITMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, CARING ABOUT THE CITY AND DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB SO FAR. YOU KNOW, I WANNA COMMEND YOU ON THAT. UM, MR. CASTILLO, THANK YOU AGAIN AS WELL, AND TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK Y'ALL. UH, I LOVE THE CITY AND, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS SO WE CAN SHOW THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN IT COMES WITH THIS TO THIS ANIMAL. [00:10:01] YOU KNOW, JUST ONE DAY OF RECOGNITION AND THEN IT'S GONE. IT'S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE ONCE THAT FEE IS GONE, THEN WE ARE GONE AS WELL. SO, UM, ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IN QUEUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. YOU KNOW, I HAD TO JUMP IN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEES. UH, MY 3-YEAR-OLD IS CURRENTLY LEARNING IN CLASS, LITERALLY THIS WEEK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEES AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, HIS FAMILY FARM USED TO GOING BACK TO WORLD WAR II, YOU SAID, UM, RAISE BEES, BUT ALSO THE IMPORTANCE WITH THE RAT, WITH THE DECLINE IN THE BEE POPULATION AND HOW INTRINSICALLY TIED TO OUR WHOLE GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM. BEES ARE. UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, YOU MAY, UH, I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER THE OTHER DAY AND WE EVEN HAVE A BEE, UM, HIVE. HIVE AT GRB NOW, UH, AT, YEAH, WHICH IS VERY COOL. BUT IN DISTRICT C, WE HAVE SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY KEEPING THEIR OWN BEES NOW. AND TO SEE THE COMMUNITY START TO ENGAGE, UM, MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS HOW CAN WE GET MORE INVOLVED? HOW ARE YOU ENGAGING, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUTH TO TEACH THEM? AND WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT? AND I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION, WHICH WAS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL OF YOU KNOW, DURING CAMPAIGN SEASON, WE ALL, THERE'S A LOT OF SIGNS THAT GO UP, UH, AND A LOT OF THOSE GET THROWN AWAY. I WAS TOLD SOME PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO RECYCLE THOSE TO ACTUALLY CREATE, UM, BEEHIVES USING THOSE YARD SIGNS. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ALL KNOW HOW TO DO? OR WHO COULD WE GET IN TOUCH WITH TO HELP US RECYCLE? UM, ALL OF THESE POLITICAL YARD SIGNS THAT JUST GO IN THE TRASH. SO, SO THOSE SIGNS, UM, IN THE B COMMUNITY, LOTS OF TIMES ARE USED, UH, FOR THE HIVE THAT'S ALREADY THERE TO, FOR UNDERNEATH IT OR ABOVE IT IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT. BUT THE CORRUGATED PLASTIC'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST THING TO TAKING A BUNCH OF BEES IN. NO. UM, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS, REALLY. NOT A WHOLE LOT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT. OKAY, PERFECT. HOW DO THE KIDS GET INVOLVED? SO IF THERE'S PARENTS LISTENING, WE GO TO, UM, SCHOOLS, UH, SCOUT GROUPS, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, UH, EVENTS, UH, WHEREVER ANYBODY WOULD LIKE US TO GO. AND WE BRING A, A OBSERVATION HIVE AND WAS FULL OF BEES AND WE TALK TO THE KIDS ABOUT THE BEES, UM, HOW TO PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM, HOW TO CO PLANT, UH, WITH, UH, PLANTS LIKE MARIGOLD, UH, TO ATTRACT THE GOOD BUGS LIKE LADYBUGS AND NOT HAVE TO USE PESTICIDES TO KILL THE APHIDS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR GARDEN, UM, TO REDUCE THAT PE PESTICIDE FOOTPRINT, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. I HAVE THE SIGNS. IF YOU NEED ANY MORE SIGNS, WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE'LL FIGURE OUT. SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH THEM. THANK Y'ALL. CONGRATULATIONS RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP TO CELEBRATE THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND MAYOR, UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO HAVE WITH ME NOT ONLY LENORA, UH, BUT DEMETRIUS NAVARRO AND HIS FAMILY AND OTHER EMPLOYEES HERE IN DISTRICT C. WE LOVE TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES. AND THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. SO IN RECOGNITION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY, UH, I AM PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION, A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. DEMETRIUS NAVARRO BEGAN HIS INSURANCE CAREER IN 1984 AFTER PARTNERING WITH COMMERCIAL LIFE AND HEALTH BROKERAGES FOR MANY YEARS. DEMETRIUS SET OUT TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN FIRM. THIS FIRM WOULD BE ONE, DRIVEN BY TRUST, EMPATHY, AND PROFESSIONALISM. HIS VISION WAS TO OFFER CUSTOMER-FOCUSED SOLUTIONS THAT INCLUDE THE DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE REGARDING MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. BASED ON THIS VISION, NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED ON APRIL 1ST, 1999. SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, THE GROUP HAS SEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN CLIENTELE. THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AS A REPUTABLE LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE CONSULTING FIRM. AND THROUGH THEIR PRINCIPLES, THEY'VE BUILT MANY LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CLIENTS. SEVERAL SPANNING OVER GENERATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, ATTENTION TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, MARKET TRENDS, [00:15:01] ALONG WITH INNOVATIVE THINKING, HAS ENABLED NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP TO RECOMMEND CREATIVE COST CONTAINMENT STRATEGIES TO ITS CLIENTS. AN ADVOCATE FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP IS ACTIVE WITH MANY LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. DURING 2020 THROUGH 2021, THE GROUP HOSTED A WEBINAR SERIES WITH HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF THE DISPARITY STUDY FROM 2019. THIS STUDY AIMED TO EDUCATE MWBE AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED FELLOW ENTREPRENEURS DIRECTLY BY USING THEIR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS, AND HAVE MADE REFERRALS ACROSS ENTITIES COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY. DEMETRIUS AND HIS TEAM MEMBERS AT NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP CONTRIBUTE AND DEDICATE THEIR TIME TO MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE CITY CELEBRATES NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND COMMENCES ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ASSISTANCE, AND ENRICHMENT. IT'S THROUGH THESE CONNECTIONS THAT WE BUILD WITHIN THE CITY THAT REFLECTS OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHICH MAKES US A COMPETITIVE EXAMPLE TO OTHERS. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CAYMAN FOR BRINGING, UH, SUCH A SUCCESSFUL GROUP AND FAMILY BEFORE COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR MENTORING AND SO MANY CONTRIBUTIONS. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2ND, 2024. IT'S NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP DATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. IF YOU WANTED TO INTRODUCE WHO YOU'RE WITH. SO YES, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANKS FOR THE PROCLAMATION. UH, IT'S BEEN A GREAT 25 YEARS HERE IN HOUSTON. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, SO, UH, SOUTHEAST HOUSTON IN THE BARRIO, SO IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE STANDING UP HERE IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL. I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, LENORA HERE, , WE'RE CELEBRATING HER, UH, LENORA, UH, UH, POOLMAN OR CELEBRATING HER 15TH ANNIVERSARY WITH NAVARRO INSURANCE GROUP ON APRIL 1ST. YESTERDAY, HER QUINCEANERA. SO QUINCEANERA MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE WHO'S BEEN WITH ME FOR 37 YEARS. MY SON, NATHAN ELIZABETH, WHO'S BEEN WITH OUR ORGANIZATION FOR 28 YEARS, AND SELENA FOR 25 YEARS. AND JESSICA, JESSICA TAKING PICTURES FOR 15 YEARS. SO I BROUGHT ALL MY GREAT GROUP. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS, MAYOR. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q COUNCIL, MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN FOR BRINGING THIS AND, AND MAYOR FOR HIGHLIGHTING, UH, DEMI. UM, I THINK I WANTED JUST SPEAK TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU'VE BEEN DOING, UH, I THINK, AND I'LL PROBABLY SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT I SHOULD. BUT I SEE YOU AT THE GOLF COURSE A LOT, , BECAUSE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE TOURNAMENTS, THEY'RE SUPPORTING, UH, SCHOLARSHIPS. AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, UH, IN THAT, IN THAT SPACE AS WELL. THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS, UH, THEY PAY IT FORWARD. AND SO I WISH YOU MUCH MORE SUCCESS TO THE ENTIRE TEAM. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THIS COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SIGMA LAMBDA BETA TO CELEBRATE THEIR ANNIVERSARY, LIKE PURPLE . SO FIRST I JUST WANNA SAY I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE MAYOR FOR BEING AN HONORARY BROTHER TODAY, . UH, SO MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THIS SPACE TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND ORGANIZATIONS AT COUNCIL. UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, AT TIMES WE CAN HAVE SEVERAL A DAY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT COULD BE A BIT OVERWHELMING, BUT I THINK YOU CAN, UM, REALLY SEE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL GROUP APPRECIATES THIS, UM, AND THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE THINGS THAT WE GET TO DO, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO, UH, THANK, UH, COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO, UM, THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE SIGMA BETA ACKNOWLEDGING THE 26 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE FRATERNITY. UM, ALSO THE INVOLVEMENT OF 38 YEARS SINCE THE FRATERNITY'S EXISTENCE. UH, THIS [00:20:01] GROUP OF MEN HAS BEEN A STRONG FOUNDATION PERSONALLY TO ME, UM, AS A HUSBAND, AS A FATHER, UM, ACTUALLY A LOT OF US CONSIDER OURSELF, UH, UNCLES TO OUR KIDS AS WELL. UM, BUT ALSO PROFESSIONALLY. I CAN'T SEE MYSELF BEING HERE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY FRATERNITY BROTHERS. UM, AND SO TODAY, YOU KNOW, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HIGHLIGHT, UH, LATINO REPRESENTATION BECAUSE REPRESENTATION MATTERS. AND I WOULD HONESTLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, JUST SAY THIS WITHOUT ME BEING AT THE HORSESHOE. I DON'T KNOW IF THESE GENTLEMEN WILL EVER BE RECOGNIZED. UM, AND SO I WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE, UM, HIGHLIGHTING LATINO CONTRIBUTION THAT MAKES THE FABRIC OF HOUSTON AS WELL. UM, AND MY HOPES IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THESE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, OF COURSE, PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR. AND SO I'LL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ, UH, THE PROCLAMATION NOW. SIGMA ANDA BETA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY IS HISTORICALLY A LATINO BASED FRATERNITY FOUNDED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ON APRIL 4TH, 1986. THE SIGMA ANDA BETAS ARE LARGEST LATINO BASED FRATERNITY IN THE COUNTRY. THEY'RE OFTEN THE FIRST LATINO BASED, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT CREATE A SAFE SPACE AND WELCOME MORE OF HISPANIC AND DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AT THESE INSTITUTIONS. TODAY, MEMBERSHIP HAS EXPANDED FAR BEYOND ITS HISPANIC LATINO ORIGINS TO INCLUDE MEN FROM CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD MAKING SIGNAL AND BETA ONE OF THE MOST CULTURALLY DIVERSE GREEK LETTERED ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE THE EARLY NINETIES, MEMBERS OF SIGMA ATLANTA BETA HAVE HAD THE PRESENCE IN THE, IN THE HOUSTON REGION, ESTABLISHING CHAPTERS AT MAJOR UNIVERSITIES IN THE REGION LIKE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, DOWNTOWN UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, MAIN CAMPUS, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW, A AND M, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, TEXAS A AND M, SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY, STEVEN DE AUSTIN UNIVERSITY, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, AMONGST OTHERS, STANDING AT ON THE SHOULDERS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN, GREEK LETTERED ORGANIZATIONS. HOUSTON ALUMNI NETWORK OF SIGMA LAND BETA HAS CREATED A SPACE FOR MEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO COME TOGETHER UNDER THE PRINCIPLES OF BROTHERHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURAL AWARENESS. TODAY, ITS MEMBERS ARE BUSINESS OWNERS, ATTORNEYS, ENGINEERS, REALTORS, TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND HOLD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES, LIVING BY THE, THEIR PRINCIPLES. THE HOUSTON ALUMNI NETWORK OF SIGMA LAND BETA LEAD THE EFFORTS IN AIDING THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THESE EFFORTS ARE REFLECTED IN THEIR PART BY HOSTING ANNUAL RESOURCE COLLECTION TO SUPPORT VITAL NONPROFIT PROGRAMS, FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND, AND COLLECTIVELY DEVOTING HUNDREDS OF HOURS TO VOLUNTEERING. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS FABRIC OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY BEFORE US, THE MENTORS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, CONDUCTED. NOW, SOME OF US HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH YOUR FRATERNITY BROTHERS, 'CAUSE SOME OF US WHO ARE TOO BUSY WORKING OUR WAY, OUR WORKING THROUGH YOU OF AGE. SO I GET TO LIVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND HEAR THE ACCOLADES THROUGH YOU AND OTHERS. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 4TH, 2024 IS HOUSTON LUM NETWORK, SIGMA LAMBDA BETA DAY. CONGRATULATIONS. SO WE HAVE, UH, I HAVE A FEW OF MY FRATERNITY BROTHERS HERE, UM, FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE LEADERSHIP. AND SO I WOULD ASK, UH, RICARDO, IF YOU COME UP FIRST. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. UH, JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY OF, UH, SIGMA ABI INVOLVEMENT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OBVIOUSLY WE BREACHED TEXAS BORDERS IN 91, RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT, UH, MAIN CAMPUS, UH, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE BREACHED ANOTHER, UH, BORDER WITH GOING TO THE FIRST HBCU RIGHT DOWN THE STREET AT PRAIRIE VIEW UNIVERSITY BY ALMA MATER. UH, QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE. AS YOU KNOW, ALL, WE FEED A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES AND ALL OUR BROTHERS COME BACK. WE STARTED LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT WE COULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S HOW HOUSTON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, UH, NETWORK WAS BORN. SINCE THEN, WE'VE, UH, LIVED THROUGH OUR PRINCIPLES AS ALUMNI GUYS, AND WE'VE TRIED TO DO, UH, MULTIPLE EVENTS IN THE BROTHERHOOD. WE DO COUNT COUNTLESS SOCIAL EVENTS, NETWORKING WITH OUR UNDERGRADS, DOING, UH, 5 0 3 C UH, UM, PROGRAMMING AND HOME, HOME BUYING NETWORK AND PROGRAMMING. THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP. WE'VE GRANTED, UH, WE RAISED ABOUT 10 SCHOLARSHIPS THUS FAR. GRANTED 10 SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, MULTIPLE PROGRAMMING GRANTS, CAREER AND COLLEGE VISITS, TRIPS FACILITATED BY SOME OF OUR BROTHERS FOR EDUCATORS AND, UH, COLLEGE ADVISORS HERE IN THE HISD, UH, CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND YES, PREP AND KIPP COMMUNITY SERVICE. COUNTLESS OF DEC UH, DECADES OF, UH, WORK WITH OUR CHARITY PARTNERS WITH NA BARRIO, FORMER HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER OF, UH, ORGANIZED THE ORGANIZATION, NEWLY PARTNERS, THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF LIFE, HOUSTON, AND OUR CULTURE AWARENESS PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLES OF THE MAYO AND FIESTA PARA AIDS, ORGANIZED MULTIPLE DEALS, MARTOS WITH THE UNDERGRADS. AND JUST RECENTLY WE DID A LATINO GREEK MIX MIXTURE TO TRY TO PULL A LOT OF LATINO GREEKS TOGETHER, EMPHASIS ON GETTING 'EM ON BOARD COMMISSIONS AND, AND BEING MORE, UH, IMPACTFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND, UH, WE HAD SOME, UH, INSPIRING WORDS FOR OUR HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LENA HIDALGO THAT DAY TO REALLY, [00:25:01] REALLY, UH, RESONATE WITH EVERYONE. BUT, UH, THAT'S, UH, UH, THAT'S WHAT THE HISTORY HERE. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO GUILLERMO, OUR CURRENT CHAIRMAN, TO GIVE YOU, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON THEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, I THINK WE'RE TAKING QUITE A BIT OF TIME, BUT I, I, I, UH, BELIEVE ME, IT'S WORTH IT. UH, MY NAME IS GUILLERMO SUAREZ. I'M ON MY SECOND TERM AS THE HOUSTON ALUMNI NETWORK CHAIR FOR SIGMA AND THE BETA. UH, I HAVE BEEN A BROTHER SINCE 2004. I CROSSED AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, WENT TO MEDICINE HIGH SCHOOL, THEN DID MY GRAD SCHOOL AT ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY. SO EVERYTHING'S BEEN HOUSTON EVER SINCE. I'VE, UH, I'VE BEEN HERE. UH, SO, UH, LIKE MYSELF, THERE ARE MANY BROTHERS WHO WENT TO SCHOOLS HERE LOCALLY, BUT WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF BROTHERS THAT WENT TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN OTHER UNIVERSITIES, OR THE MAKEUP OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IS, UH, U-H-U-H-D, PV SAM HOUSTON, UT A AND M, TEXAS STATE, AND ANY SCHOOL PRETTY MUCH. AND WE HAVE A BROTHER ACTUALLY THAT DROVE ALL THE WAY FROM BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA TODAY JUST TO COME SEE THIS. SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR US. I WANT YOU ALL TO, UM, TO GET A, A A, AN IDEA OF HOW BIG THIS IS TO US. UH, LIKE MYSELF, THERE ARE MANY BROTHERS WHO WORK IN LARGE CORPORATIONS. I'M ACTUALLY A DIRECTOR AT A, AT A JAPANESE COMPANY HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, AND I LEAD A GROUP OF ENGINEERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS. UH, WE COULDN'T EXIST IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF BROTHERS THAT OWNED THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, UH, SUCH AS, UH, THE GONZALEZ ANDINO LAW FIRM, SEVEN REALTY COMMERCIAL, UH, Y PICKET RESIDENTIAL TIRE STORAGE SERVICES TO NAME A FEW. AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PROFITS IN THE NONPROFIT SPACE, UH, AND ALSO BROTHERS IN, IN, IN POLITICS NOW WITH OUR BROTHER JOAQUIN GETTING ELECTED. AND WE'RE REALLY, UH, EXCITED TO SEE WHAT COMES AFTER. UM, ALTHOUGH WE'RE RELATIVELY YOUNG COMPARED TO OTHER GREEK ORGANIZATIONS, UH, WE DO HAVE A BIG, UH, OPPORTUNITY HERE. WE HAVE OVER 500 ALUMNI BROTHERS THAT LIVE HERE IN HOUSTON. AND SO OUR IMPACT COULD DEFINITELY BE MAGNIFIED BY THE AMOUNT OF INVOLVEMENT THAT WE GET FROM THOSE BROTHERS. UH, I WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WE STARTED WITH ABOUT 14 ACTIVE ALUMNIS, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO 50 PLUS. AND THAT CAN BE, THAT TURNS INTO REVENUE FOR US, WHICH THEN TURNS INTO MONEY THAT WE CAN GIVE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. SO THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'RE GONNA GIVE ABOUT $5,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AS A RESULT OF THAT. UH, AND WE'RE NOT STOPPING THERE. WE WANT TO ACTUALLY DOUBLE THAT NEXT YEAR AND CONTINUE TO INCREMENTALLY INCREASE THAT. SO, UM, AGAIN, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY, AND I HOPE THAT TODAY'S PROCLAMATION CAN SERVE AS A TESTAMENT, UH, TO OUR MISSION AND INSPIRE US ALL TO WORK TOGETHER TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q. CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WE'LL START WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR GOT THE MEMO TO WEAR THE PURPLE. SO YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO INDUCT HIM NOW, SINCE HE IS HONORARY BROTHER, THE HONORARY THE HONOR, HE'S THE HONORARY BROTHER. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING THIS GROUP FORWARD. AS A MEMBER OF A BLACK GREEK LETTERED ORGANIZATION, I UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR WORK. UM, AND I WOULD OFFER YOU THAT NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU'RE IN THE HORSESHOE. AND, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL MEMBER PRESENTS YOU WITH THE PROCLAMATION THAT ALL 500 ALUMNI MEMBERS ARE FILLING THIS CHAMBER WITH PURPLE, RIGHT? AND THAT Y'ALL ARE SPEAKING TO YOUR ADVOCACY AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR HOUSTON, JUST AS MUCH AS IT'S MY HOUSTON. UM, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENCE AND SHOUT OUT TO BOTH OF MY ALMA MATER, SAM HOUSTON PRAIRIE VIEW IN THE HOUSE. UM, SO GOOD TO SEE SOME, UH, REPRESENTATIVE, UH, REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE. AND HOWEVER, ON THE WEST SIDE, I KNOW HE HOLDING YOU DOWN ON THE EAST SIDE, BUT ON THE WEST SIDE, IF THERE'S EV EVER ANYTHING WE CAN DO, LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. WE HAD SPOKE ABOUT THIS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND I KNEW YOU WERE VERY PROUD AND EXCITED ABOUT THIS DAY. UM, TO THE, TO THE BROTHERS, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. I'M A MEMBER OF ALPHA ALPHA AND, UM, I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE IN A FRATERNITY. THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MAKE, THE SERVICE, THE MENTORSHIP, THE BROTHERHOOD THAT BOND IS LIKE NONE OTHER. UH, AND TO ALL OF THE BROTHERS THAT ARE SITTING IN THE BACK WITH YOUR PURPLE ARM, WE SEE YOU, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID. UM, BUT FOR HIM BEING HERE, THIS FRATERNITY MAY NOT BE RECOGNIZED. AND IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE AND THAT YOU ALL ARE REPRESENTED. AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE YOU AT SHORE CITY HALL. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS GROUP FORWARD, GORGEOUS PURPLE. BUT MOST IMPORTANT, YOU GUYS, YOU, YOU, YOU JUST ARE THE EPITOME OF WHAT COMMUNITY IS. YOU'RE FOCUSED ON GIVING BACK, RIGHT? AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE 14 ORIGINALLY INVOLVED AND NOW 50. AND, AND, AND YOU DO WHAT MATTERS MOST. AND THAT'S GIVE BACK AND GROW YOUNG CHILDREN TO BE JUST LIKE YOURSELF. SO THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK. OKAY. [00:33:10] WE WILL ASK FOR, UH, RECOGNITION BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS, SHABAZZ OF A VERY SPECIAL HOUSTONIAN. YEAH. LET'S LET OUR, UH, FRIENDS GET A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG, UH, MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVAN SHABAZZ AND I ARE NOT GONNA LEAVE THE PODIUM TODAY UNTIL WE RECOGNIZE RUTH MAY BRANTLEY READ A HUNDRED YEARS YOUNG. SHE, SHE, YOU, YOU ARE MY ROLE MODEL. ALRIGHT THEN. SO WHEN I COME BACK AT AT A HUNDRED, I WANT THESE FOLKS TO SEE HOW YOU TREAT SOMEBODY. . I WANT TREAT YOU GOOD. I JUST WANNA KNOW THE SECRET, BUT WE'LL DO THAT PRIVATE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY. , JUST DON'T PUT OUR BUSINESS ON THE STREET. ALRIGHT? OKAY. THAT'S FINE. WELL, LISTEN, WE'VE READ YOUR PROCLAMATION. WE HONOR YOU. WE WISH YOU MANY MORE AND WE CAN ALWAYS USE YOUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL. YES. AND I WILL YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME IF YOU'D LIKE TO, UH, GIVE US JUST A LITTLE INSIGHT HOW GOOD GOD IS. WELL, GOD IS GREAT. AND HIT GOD. PLEASE TALK ON THE MICROPHONE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. WELL, IT STARTS WITH MY PARENTS. IT SAID, IF YOU ARE OBEDIENT TO YOUR PARENTS, YOU WILL LIVE A LONG TIME. AND THAT'S A FACT. THEY ALL, ALL OF MY PARENTS, MY PARENTS AND ALL MY SIBLINGS ARE GONE. AND THEY LEFT ME HERE BY MYSELF. MM-HMM . AND I'M UP TO THE WISHES OF YOU AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. PALESTINE, NOT PALESTINE. I USED TO LIVE IN PALESTINE AND, UH, CITY OF, UH, [00:35:01] SUNNYSIDE, HOUSTON, SUNNYSIDE, TEXAS, YOU MIGHT CALL IT SUNNYSIDE, SUNNYSIDE, TEXAS. AND THE MAYOR OF A COUNCIL. OUR COUNCIL MAYOR, OUR COUNCIL LADY IS TAKING CARE OF THE SUNNYSIDE AREA AND WE ARE DOING WONDERFUL OUT THERE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND NOT TO FORGET US OUT THERE IN SUNNYSIDE. SUNNYSIDE IS GOOD, BUT SOME, SOME PART OF IT IS NOT SO GOOD, BUT WE ARE IN THE BEST PART OF IT. AND THAT'S EAST SUNNYSIDE COURT IS WHERE I LIVE AND I'M MAKING SURE THAT THAT AREA STAYS GOOD AND ACT PEOPLE ACT RIGHT OVER THERE. OKAY? WE APPRECIATE YOU, APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DO HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q. MA'AM, WE APPRECIATE YOU NOT FORGETTING US AND KEEPING AN EYE ON US, NOT LEAVING US ALONE OVER THERE. JUST KEEP IT. DON'T FORGET US. DON'T FORGET US, OKAY. COUNT ON IT. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. GUARANTEE. OKAY. WELL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST FROM ALL OF US. AND, AND SHE HAS SOME WILLER AVENUE MEMBERS WITH HER. UH, CERTAINLY. I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE REVEREND GWEN PIERRE WHO AS THEY WERE THEN GRAD, AND I THINK YOU'RE THE FIRST WOMAN THAT PLAYED IN THE NFL. NO, IT WAS A WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM. WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM. OKAY. I'M GONNA GET IT RIGHT. BUT SHE PLAYED FOOTBALL. OKAY. YEAH. PROFESSIONALLY. TV PIERRE GOT IT. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU ALL WOULDN'T MIND JUST TAKING A MOMENT FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A MOMENT FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION. THANK YOU. WILL EVERYONE PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] UH, MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN P HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. COUNCIL MC CAMAN. PRESENT? COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA? HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCILOR THOMAS. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? HERE. COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONSTABLE RAMIREZ. HERE. CONSTABLE DAVIS. HERE. CONSTABLE CARTER. PRESENT. CONSTABLE PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 17TH AND 18TH. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] NOW FOR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. CHAIR RECOGNIZES. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYBODY. [00:40:01] NOBODY. . OH, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW DOELL DUCKIN TO SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL OPPOSED? THOSE FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SOPHIA CIGAR IN PLACE OF BAYAN RAJI ON THE, UH, PREVIOUS ONE MINUTE LIST. SECOND. ALL HAVE MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. YEAH. COUNCILMAN CARTER? WELL I WAS GONNA MOVE, UH, MOVE MY NUMBER ONE ASTRO FAN UP, I GUESS UNDER BUY-IN. DID YOU MOVE? BUY-IN TO THE TOP. OKAY, WE, I MAKE, UH, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JAKE'S JACOB CLEMENTE UP UNDER THE ONE MINUTE, UH, TO THE TOP BEFORE ANDREW PATTERSON. SECOND. ONE MINUTE. TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE PREVIOUS. JUST AT THE OH, OKAY. GOT IT. YOU'VE HEARD A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. MA'AM. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. WHERE DID SHE WANT? DOMINIQUE TAYLOR. DOMINIQUE TAYLOR IS PRESENT. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. MY NAME IS DOMINIQUE TAYLOR. UM, I AM OWNER AND, UM, OWNER AND FOUNDER OF POSEY US, WHICH IS A NEW STORE THAT IS OPENING UP HERE IN HOUSTON. AND, UH, MISS ABBEY CAMONS COMMUNITY, UM, DISTRICT C. UM, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE JUST WENT AHEAD AND OPENED UP OUR OWN NEW, UH, NONPROFIT PROGRAM. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IS HELP HIS AND ALL THE KIDS IN HOUSTON COMMUNITY GO AHEAD AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THEM. UM, AND DO CLINICS DO CERTAIN THINGS AS FAR AS HELPING THEM LEARN HOW TO GET INTO THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN BEFORE. UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO COME, YOU KNOW, INTRODUCE MYSELF AND LET YOU GUYS KNOW YOU GUYS WILL BE SEEING MY FACE A LOT MORE TODAY. VERY GOOD. NICE MEETING YOU. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT KENNY LEWIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY KATRINA. ISAAC. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KELLY LEWIS. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN, MEMBERS AND MAYOR FOR LISTENING TODAY. UM, I AM WITH A LARGER GROUP, UM, HERE, UH, WITH, UH, AIRBNB AND STR. UM, I'M A NEIGHBOR, NATIVE HOUSTONIAN HERE, UH, WHO USES AIRBNB TO SUPPLEMENT MY INCOME AND ALSO HELP MY MOTHER WHO IS AGING IN PLACE. UM, I'VE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET MANY FAMILIES, UM, DOING STR WITH AIRBNB WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND MAY NOT AFFORD, UH, HOTELS IN THE AREA. SO I'M ALSO GLAD TO HELP THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY. I USE A LOT OF SINGLE MOMS TO HELP CLEAN, UM, IN MY AIRBNBS AND, UM, SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME AS WELL. SO I'M A VERY CONSCIENTIOUS HOST, UM, AND CARING HOST WHO CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THE NEIGHBORS, UM, AND, UM, MY PROPERTY. AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP DOING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT KATRINA, ISAAC. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS KATRINA ISAAC. I'M ALSO REPRE REPRESENTING THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, UM, SPACE. UM, I HAVE BEEN HOSTING WITH AIRBNB SINCE THE BEGINNING OF A PANDEMIC IN 2020. I'M A SUPERHOST AND I HAVE HOSTED OVER 150 STAYS WITH A 4.8 RATING. UM, ORIGINALLY I STARTED BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE TRAVELED TO HOUSTON AND UM, I WANTED TO SHOWCASE WHAT HOUSTON HAD TO OFFER. SO I'VE BEEN HOSTING THE AIRBNB SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PAN PANDEMIC, LIKE I SAID. AND I JUST WANNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT. UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE AIRBNB SPACE AND SO I ASK THAT YOU JUST [00:45:01] CONSIDER US, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO SUPPLEMENTS MY INCOME, I GOT LAID OFF LAST YEAR AND I WANNA CONTINUE TO, TO TO, TO DO WHAT I DO AND PROVIDE SPACES AND BE A RESPONSIBLE HOST AND MAKE SURE THAT THE GUESTS ARE ON POINT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT. OH, I'M SORRY MA'AM. QUESTION. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, MS. ISAAC. THANK YOU. SO RIGHT HERE. OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. UM, I KNOW ONE OF THE ADDRESSES YOU LISTED IS IN THE DISTRICT, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GONNA ASK A FEW QUESTIONS. SURE. UM, AND I HAVE SAID THIS, I THINK EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, WHEN WE'VE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY. UM, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS AS A SOURCE OF INCOME AND THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, UM, OF THOSE WHO HAVE PROPERTIES ARE GREAT PARTNERS, ARE INVESTED IN NOT JUST THAT HOME AND THAT BUSINESS, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING IT. SO I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT FROM AT LEAST WHERE I SIT, UM, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS LOOKING TO COME DOWN HARD ON THESE INDIVIDUAL, UM, PARTICIPANTS AND FOLKS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE RIGHT WAY. UH, ARE YOUR PROPERTIES, UM, INDIVIDUAL HOMES OR ARE THEY MORE MULTI-FAMILY RELATED WHERE YOU'RE LEASING OUT OR RENTING OUT MULTIPLE, UM, ROOMS IN ONE LOCATION? NO, SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY, I WORK WITH THE LANDLORD WHO LIVES IN, UM, MARFA, TEXAS. AND SO HE ENTRUSTS ME TO, I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR FOUR YEARS WITH HIM. AND SO HE HAS GARAGE APARTMENTS, HE HAS IN A GARAGE THAT HE TURNED INTO APARTMENTS. AND SO HE ALLOWS ME TO, SO THEY'RE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENCES. I THINK A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING RELATE TO, UM, THESE MULTI-FAMILY, UM, BUILDINGS THAT ARE LITERALLY BEING RENTED OUT SOMEWHAT MORE LIKE A HOTEL. GOTCHA. UM, WHERE IT'S EXTREMELY TRANSIENT. NOW, THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD IN OTHER DISTRICTS DISCUSSING INDIVIDUAL HOMES, BUT THESE ARE PERPETUAL ISSUE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE A REPETITIVE RECORD OF EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS AND THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH I KNOW THAT IS NOT YOU. SO I WANTED TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND ON THAT, UM, AT LEAST AS IT RELATES TO DISTRICT C. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LET ME ASK A QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON YOUR PROPERTY FOR, UH, USERS? LIKE MAYBE HOURS OR ALCOHOL OR DRUGS? SO YES. WHEN PE HER SEX WORKERS, I MEAN, I HAVE A FRIEND IN THAT DOESN'T AIR IN A AND B AND SHE HAS PRETTY STRICT REQUIREMENTS. AND OF COURSE SHE SAYS SHE LOSES OUT ON SOME BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THESE, UH, GUIDELINES. BUT WOULD THAT BE A POSSIBLE SOLUTION? WHAT, WHAT COULD YOU USE IN YOUR AGREEMENT THAT MIGHT ELIMINATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT MOST OF US HAVE? SO I THINK THAT IT'S JUST, IT, THERE'S DIFFERENT STIPULATIONS FOR DIFFERENT HOSTS, BUT AS FOR ME, UM, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, I DON'T ACCEPT PEOPLE WHO ARE WITHIN THE HOUSTON PARAMETERS TRYING TO BOOK WITHIN HOUSTON BECAUSE WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO BOOK IF YOU ALREADY LIVE HERE? ALSO, I GIVE, I ASK THEM WHEN THEY FIRST BOOK WITH ME, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASK THEM IS, WHAT BRINGS THEM HERE? WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY COMING HERE FOR? SO THEY'RE GIVING ME THE BACKGROUND OF WHY THEY'RE COMING BEFORE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I APPROVE OR DENY THEIR REQUEST. UM, WHAT ELSE? IF THEY DON'T HAVE THREE RATINGS OR MORE THAT THEY'VE ALREADY STAYED WITH OTHER HOSTS AND I CAN VERIFY THAT THEY'RE A GOOD GUEST, THEN I'M NOT, THEN THAT'S AN AUTOMATIC DECLINE. SO THERE'S DIFFERENT CRITERIA THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU LEARN AS YOU GO ALONG THE HOSTING PLATFORM TO KIND OF WEED OUT THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE, THAT YOU SHOULDN'T STOP. SO THERE'S A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PERSON THAT IS RENTING OUT THEIR PROPERTIES. YES, SIR. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD. I PERSONALLY HEAR ABOUT IT ACROSS HOUSTON. EVEN IN THE GALLERIA AREA. YES, SIR. WHERE THERE'S NUMEROUS CLUBS, PEOPLE WILL, UH, PARTY GET INTOXICATED. MM-HMM . GO BACK OVER IN THE EDGE OF TANGLEWOOD. AND SO, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE MULTIPLE UNITS IS I THINK A FLAGRANT VIOLATION. YES, SIR. AND I JUST THINK IF WE ALL COME TOGETHER, WE CAN, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE'S NEEDS. ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT WOULD BE MY GOAL. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT. DAPHNE SCARBOROUGH. HELLO. I'M HERE ABOUT THE MONTROSE DISTRICT. I WANNA CLEAR UP CONFUSION. THEY LOST IN STATE DISTRICT COURT TWICE THEY WERE FORMED TALKING TO MIKE MA'AM. THEY WERE FORMED ILLEGALLY. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER NUMBER OF, UH, PETITIONS SIGNED. WHEN THEY FORMED. THEY OPERATED ILLEGALLY SIX YEARS AS WE DRUG [00:50:01] THEM THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM. WE HAD TWO JUDGES HAVE THE SAME FINDING. THE SETTLEMENT THAT IS A SOURCE OF CONFUSION FOR EVERYONE IS ABOUT THE MONEY BECAUSE THE LOSER PAYS THE LEGAL FEES. AND OUR LITIGANT HAS STILL NOT BEEN PAID TODAY FOR THE LEGAL FEES. AND THAT'S ONLY PARTIAL IF THERE ARE OVER $500,000. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEM WITH THIS DISTRICT. AND IT'S MORE THAN ABOUT THE BOARD. IT IS MORE THAN ABOUT JUST TAXES BECAUSE THEY HAD PLANNED TO SEND OUT TAX BILLS TO EVERY ONE OF THE TAXPAYERS FOR BACK TAXES FOR SIX YEARS, PLUS LIENS, PLUS PENALTIES. AND THAT IS UNFAIR BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS PAID FOR BOTH SIDES OF THIS LAWSUIT. IT WAS FUNDED BY THE LITIGANT 1620 HAWTHORNE LIMITED AND DONATIONS FROM THE MAJORITY OF ALL OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES. AND THEN NOW THEY WANT THE SMALL BUSINESSES TO PAY AGAIN. THEY HAVE HUGE, HUGE TAXPAYERS IN THIS DISTRICT. THEY'VE ALREADY CUT A DEAL WITH THE BIG BOYS SUCH AS HINES, WHICH IS FINE IF THEY THINK THEY'RE COMING BACK, BUT TO ONLY TAX THE FIRST FOUR FLOORS OF THESE HUGE COMPLEXES. YOU HAVE HANOVER, YOU HAVE GREYSTAR, YOU HAVE AMLI. IF THEY WANT THE DISTRICT, THEY NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH AND LET THE 10 LARGEST TAXPAYERS YOUR TIME HAS THAT BILL. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. NO DOUBT. JUST AS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRAP UP VERY QUICKLY IF YOU HADN'T FINISHED. WELL, THANK YOU. I WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR BECAUSE WE HAD A GREAT COMMUNITY MEETING ON THIS SUBJECT AND HE SENT STEVEN DAVID TO COME AND TALK TO US. AND HE STAYED AND HE TOOK NOTES AND HE ASKED QUESTIONS. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS HE LISTENED. 'CAUSE THIS TAX IS A BURDEN ON THE SMALL BUSINESSES. RETAIL IS NOT GOOD. AND WE WANT TO KEEP ALL OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE JOBS THAT COME WITH THEM. SO THANK YOU MAYOR. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND, UH, I'M ON TOP OF IT. I I'VE HEARD THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, FRANK PRCA, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, EITHER ONE. THIS ONE I'M, UH, FRANK PRCA. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C COUNCIL CAYMAN'S DISTRICT, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ANOTHER MONTROSE ISSUE. THAT REDEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT THE TAX INCENTIVE RE WHATEVER TIER STANDS FOR, HAS, UH, DEVELOPED. I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF IT. I'VE BEEN TO JUST ABOUT EVERY TIER MEETING THAT'S BEEN HELD. AND ANYTHING YOU ALL CAN DO TO MOVE THAT ALONG, PLEASE DO IT. THEY'VE ADDRESSED EVERY ISSUE THAT'S BEEN RAISED AND THEY'VE ACCOMMODATED AS MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT GET MOVING. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE RICHMOND AVENUE, WHICH IS NOW A SIX LANE HIGHWAY IN MY PART OF TOWN. MM-HMM . GET THAT BRT PROJECT MOVING WITH THE WIDER SIDEWALKS THAT ACCOMMODATE PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS AND THE SAME THING ALONG MONTROSE BOULEVARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILOR MCCAIN. THANK YOU. UH, MR. PR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, 'CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT MONTROSE ISSUES RIGHT NOW. I KNOW MS. SCARBOROUGH CAME ABOUT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOU ARE NOW SPEAKING ON THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING. YES. IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. YES. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S CLEAR. 'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF MANTRAS. YEAH. IT'S CONFUSING. RIGHT. UM, AND YOU SAID YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THE TS MEETINGS AND THE PUBLIC OUTREACH. DO YOU RECALL AROUND WHEN YOU STARTED ENGAGING ON THIS PROJECT AND HOW? UH, AT LEAST, UH, I MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON THREE YEARS AGO. I GREW UP HERE AND THEN MOVED AWAY FOR WORK AND THEN MOVED BACK AFTER I RETIRED. UH, PROBABLY THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, TWO. SEEMS LIKE TWO YEARS MAYBE. THEY'VE BEEN GOING ON. THEY, THEY'VE MET REGULARLY. THEY'VE MET, THEY'VE LISTENED TO EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS. THEY'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB, I THINK. AND I LIKE WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING. THEY'RE ACCOMMODATING THE, I THINK THEY'RE CALLED HERITAGE TREES OR THE, THE, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME. THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN CUT BY THE, UH, UTILITY [00:55:01] COMPANIES, UM, MOVING THEM. BUT THEY'RE REPLACING WAY MORE THAN THEY'RE PROPOSING TO TAKE OUT. SO THANK YOU. YEAH. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT DARCELL. DUCKIN. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I AM DORIS SEAL DUCKIN. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN AZZ AND HER TEAM FOR FOLLOWING UP AND, UM, LANCE LOT. UM, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE GALA OF MCGREGOR. I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, NOW LATELY, CARS ARE BEING VANDALIZED. TENANTS ARE COMING OUT AND THEIR CARS ARE SITTING ON RIMS, NO TIRES. SATURDAY THE MAIN OFFICE IS BROKEN INTO. THERE IS NO SECURITY THERE AT THE FACILITY FOR THE SENIORS. I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE JULY. THE FLOORS ARE STILL NOT FINISHED. FLOORS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX, YOU'RE TRACKING WHITE DUSK INTO YOUR APARTMENT AND IT'S COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. SO EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS YOU'RE DUSTY. AND FOR ME, I SING PROFESSIONALLY SO THAT DUST COME AGAIN, AFFECTS MY, YOU KNOW, MY RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, UH, IT'S TAKEN SO LONG. AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY HELPED FUND, UH, THE PROJECT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO GET SOMETHING DONE AT THE FACILITY. I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY HAS TO REALLY GET HURT BEFORE WE CAN GET SOME HELP THERE. THE ELEVATOR, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR BETWEEN FLOORS FOR FIVE AND SIX AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME GET 'EM OUT. AND RIGHT NOW, ONLY ONE ELEVATOR IS WORKING ALL LAST WEEK. THIS IS THE SECOND WEEK WE'VE CALLED IT IN. WE TALKED TO THESE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I JUST WISH I COULD GET SOMEBODY JUST TO COME AND SEE THE CEMENT DUST IS SO THICK ON THE FLOORS IN THE HALLWAY. YOU CAN SEE THE WHEELCHAIR TRACKS GOING THROUGH THE DUST. AND THEN WE HAVE TENANTS WHO WILL COME AND MOP THE FLOOR OR SWEEP THE HALLWAY FLOOR. YOU KNOW, IT, IT JUST, IT'S JUST SAD FOR, WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY WHO IS WHEELCHAIR BOUND. SHE'S IN A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT THAT IS NOT HANDICAP ACCESS. SO SHE'S BUMPING INTO WALLS AND TRYING TO GET AROUND. JUST IT, IT IS JUST NOT GOOD. IT'S NOT A GOOD ENVIRONMENT AT ALL. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. D FOR COMING IN TODAY. UM, MAYOR, IS IT, IS IT POSSIBLE TO, AND I'M GONNA OF COURSE DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER AZZ, BUT IS IT POSSIBLE TO, UM, HAVE, HAVE Y'ALL CALLED 3 1 1 TO MAKE ANY COMPLAINTS? OKAY. SINCE JULY. OKAY. IS IT POSSIBLE, HAS THE HEALTH INSPECTOR COME? HAS THERE, HAS THERE BEEN AN INSPECTOR? THE HEALTH INSPECTOR CAME AND SAID, I THINK HIS NAME WAS ELIJAH, CAME AND SAID THEY ONLY DID WITH WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE. MM-HMM . RIGHT. NOT WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE IN THE HALLWAY. BUT I MEAN, IF THE DUST IS COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THE INSIDE, BUT APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS HEALTHWISE THEN. RIGHT. IT WAS PROBLEM FROM, FROM A AND I DO, I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. UM, AND I'M SORRY I HAD NOT BEEN TO THE BUILDING. IS THE BUILDING, UH, ARE THE OUTDOOR WALKWAYS EXTERNAL OR THEY IT'S ALL PART, IS IT ALL A PART OF THE FIRST TWO FLOORS ARE PARKING. OKAY. AND I HAVE PICTURES. I WAS, OH NO, IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. THE FIRST FLOOR GARAGE IS WIDE OPEN. OKAY. ON TOP OF THE LIVING, THE LIVING SPACE, SIR, THE LIVING SPACE, IT'S FLOORS. 3, 4, 5, 6. IS IT LIKE A HOTEL WHERE YOU WALK INTO THE ELEVATOR? YEAH. AND THEIR HALLWAYS ARE INSIDE OR THE HALLWAYS OUTSIDE. INSIDE. OKAY. SO MAYOR WHITMEYER, IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? BECAUSE IF THE HALLWAYS ARE INSIDE AND THEY'VE GOT CEMENT DUST, THEN THAT'S GONNA OBVIOUSLY AFFECT THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IN TURN, YOU KNOW, INTERNALLY IN THE UNITS. IS THERE POSSIBLE MAY MAYBE THAT WE CAN GET THEM OUT THERE AGAIN AND, AND LOOK AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE? YES, ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. WE'RE I'M MAKING NOTES AND MY STAFF'S TAKING NOTES. I WAS GOING TO INQUIRE, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU DO ON THE SITE? DO YOU TALK, IS THERE A MANAGER THAT YOU PLEAD WITH? HAVE YOU YES. UH, HAVE YOU HAD CONTACT WITH THE CITY? WE'VE HAD THREE MANAGERS THERE [01:00:01] AT THE FACILITY. AND HOW LONG YOU BEEN THERE? I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE THE 10TH OF JULY. YEAH. THE FACILITY IS BRAND NEW. WHICH LEADS ME TO THIS QUESTION AND, AND CHALLENGE THE MEMBERS. WE SHOULDN'T ALLOW THE DEVELOPER AND I'VE SEEN YOUR WORK AND OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WE'VE GOTTA HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY NEEDS TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. IF YOU HAVE THIS POOR PRODUCT, YOU SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP HOUSING FOR SURE. UH, 'CAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD COMMISSION TABC COMMISSION. UH, THE REAL OBVIOUSLY CHALLENGE IS OF COURSE THEY'VE GOT YOU LIVING THERE. YEAH. . AND IT'S SO DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO RELOCATE, BUT IT IS AFFECTING YOUR HEALTH. SO WE'LL PAY A VISIT AND UH, SEE WHAT STRONG ARM OF GOVERNMENT WE CAN USE ON THEM. RIGHT. THE OTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT THEY BROKE INTO THE MAIN OFFICE SATURDAY. SO STEALING THE COMPUTERS OR WHATEVER, NOW THEY HAVE OUR INFORMATION. YEAH. THEY HAVE MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. THEY HAVE MY BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION THAT WE INTO THE FACILITY. WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL EXAMINE THAT AS WELL. RIGHT. BUT ALSO IT SAYS YOUR ELEVATORS PERIODICALLY DON'T WORK. SO IT SOUND LIKE SOMEBODY DID A REALLY POOR JOB OF CONSTRUCTION AND I THINK THEY OUGHT TO BE PROHIBITED FROM DOING ADDITIONAL WORK IF AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. LAST WEEKEND THIS WEEK WE ONLY HAVE ONE ELEVATOR THAT'S WORKING. HOW MANY FOLKS LIVE THERE? THERE'S A 86 UNIT, UH, APARTMENT COMPACT. BE IT'D BE INTERESTING TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE, UH, WHO WAS CHOSEN, SEE IF IT WAS AN ARM WAS LENGTH. SOUNDED LIKE WHOEVER WAS CHOSEN WAS NOT QUALIFIED. IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY HAD A TRACK RECORD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION AT THE TIME. IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF IT ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE COUNCIL. BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE ON TOP OF IT. LET YOU KNOW. I, I CAN'T ABSOLUTELY ASSURE YOU OF THE SOLUTION, BUT IT'S GONNA GET OUR ATTENTION. I APPRECIATE IT. SO IF YOU'LL TALK, WE'RE STILL WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. I'M SORRY COUNCIL MEMBER. NO, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND YEAH. AND TO PLUM TO THAT POINT REGARDING THE FIRE, I MEAN THAT'S A FIRE CODE VIOLATION. SO IF WE GET FIRE BACK OUT THERE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU'VE GOT FOLKS, SENIORS THAT ARE LIVING THERE. MM-HMM . SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? YOU CAN GO, IT IS THE TRANSITION TO ACCEPTABLE HOUSING. IF YOU GO AND TRY TO SHUT THIS ONE DOWN, FIND IT, WE KNOW IT'S IN VIOLATION JUST FROM THIS GENTLEMAN'S REMARKS. YOU COULD GO TAG IT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. BUT HE'S, HE NEEDS A PLACE TO SLEEP TOMORROW NIGHT. WE'LL GET HIM OUT THERE IN THE MORNING, BUT WHERE'S HE GONNA GO TOMORROW NIGHT? AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. AND HOW PEOPLE GET YOU FORCED TO LIVE IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS. YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IT PREVIOUSLY AS OTHERS HAVE, UH, WE NEED BETTER ENFORCEMENT. BUT THE REAL CHALLENGE IS WE ENFORCE IT, WE RED TAG IT. YOU CAN'T LIVE THERE THEN WE'VE GOT A REAL CHALLENGE. WE DO. YES. YEAH. WELL WE WILL CROSS THAT ROAD WHEN WE GET THERE. LET'S FIRST GET THE RIGHT DEPARTMENTS OUT THERE AND LET 'EM KNOW THAT CITY HALL CARES. WE APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT, MS. WILSON, WOULD YOU GET THIS GENTLEMAN, UH, CONTACT, WHICH ACTUALLY I HAVE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. WE'RE STILL WITH . YEAH. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S YOUR DISTRICT. THANK BUT GET A PHONE NUMBER AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER. THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. DUCKIN HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE, UH, WITH SOME OF THESE SAME ISSUES. MAKES NO SENSE TO ME FOR A HEALTH INSPECTOR TO GO OUT AND SAY HE'S ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUTSIDE. AND YOU HAVE A HALLWAY THAT'S ON THE INSIDE. MM-HMM . SO ONE OF THE THINGS I I HEARD YOU ASK WAS FOR SOMEBODY TO COME, WE WILL COME. I WILL COME. UH, AND THAT WAY, UH, I CAN SEE IT AND YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M REALLY NICE MR. DUCKIN, UNTIL PEOPLE ARE NOT TREATED WELL. AND SO YOU MIGHT SEE A DIFFERENT FACE MM-HMM . BUT CERTAINLY I WILL COME AND VISIT TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN PERSONALLY ADDRESS. BUT CERTAINLY YOU HAVE THE, THE MAYOR ON BOARD NOW AND SO WE EXPECT, EXPECT TO GET WHAT THEY CALL IN MY COMMUNITY SOME ACT. RIGHT? AMEN. SO WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. UH, ACTUALLY I, I GOT YOUR PHONE NUMBER FROM YOUR INFORMATION, YOUR ADDRESS. I'M GONNA NETWORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND UH, WE'LL BE ON SITE. THANK YOURSELF. HOLD ON. WE APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, BROTHER [01:05:01] DUCK. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. YES SIR. VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR FAMILY FOR SO LONG. AND REVEREND DUCKIN AND SO MANY OTHERS. AND THIS MAYOR IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT IS USED, DRAWN A CIRCLE AROUND WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING AND APPROVAL OF THESE THINGS. THIS IS WHAT WE GET BACK FROM WHEN WE APPROVE THESE PARTICULAR HOUSING PROJECTS, IS THAT PEOPLE, THESE CONTRACTS GO OFF WITH CITY, YOU KNOW, UH, TAX, UH, INCREMENTS AND OTHER BENEFITS. BUT MR. DUCKIN, ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ, I WILL COME AND VISIT. THANK YOU. I WILL COME OUT TO VISIT YOUR FACILITY, BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE MAYOR, THAT WE PUT SOME REAL RESTRAINTS ON THIS SITUATION AND GO AND CLARIFY THIS GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS BECOMING A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN OUR CITY AMONG A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS. SO I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE, UH, QUICKLY, BUT I'LL GET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ AS WELL. 'CAUSE I LIKE TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND. I APPLAUD THAT. AND WE NOT ONLY HOLD NEED TO HOLD THE DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE STAFF THAT ONE APPROVES SUCH A DEVELOPER. AND THEN ALSO WE GOTTA FIND OUT WHY THIS GENTLEMAN HADN'T BEEN HEARD PREVIOUSLY. WE, I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. AND I THINK YOU'VE BID BEFORE STEVEN SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. YES. JANUARY. WHEN YOU FIRST JANUARY. 'CAUSE I REMEMBER YOU TALKING ABOUT THE, THE WHITE CHALK DUST. YES. AND SO, I'M SORRY YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE. I I, I LITERALLY APOLOGIZE. IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO WORK LIKE THIS. ALRIGHT. BUT WE'RE GONNA BE OUT THERE. I'VE ALREADY HEARD TWO ALLIES COME FORWARD AND OTHER MEMBERS ARE GONNA STAY ON TOP OF THIS FACT. WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK WITH A REPORT. HOW'S THAT? THAT'LL HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. I APPRECIATE IF I GOTTA COME BACK FOR COUNCIL AND TELL 'EM WHAT WE FOUND AND WHAT WE DID THAT'LL HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE AND HOLD THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE. WE APPRECIATE. AND SO TELL YOUR, TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS HELPS ON THE WAY. FANTASTIC. . DO DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HOUSING OPTIONS THAT YOU COULD THINK OF RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? NO. NO. THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS. THEY GET YOU IN THERE AND INFERIOR HOUSING, DANGEROUS HOUSING AND THEN YOU'RE STUCK. YEAH. AND THEN IT BECOMES A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY TO MAKE THEM CLEAN UP THEIR ACT. MM-HMM. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER, YOU WANNA GO OUT THERE TOO? YEAH, I'LL GO OUT THERE TOO. NO, I REMEMBER YOU. I'M GONNA START RECRUITING THOUGH. LET'S ALL GO, LET'S ALL GO. NO, I'LL KNOW THE, THE, THE, THE EASE OF THE INTERNET AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. I WAS JUST LOOKING AT IT. IT'S INTERESTING. GARDNER CAPITAL WHO SPECIALIZES, BY THE WAY, IN SENIOR HOUSING MM-HMM . SPECIALIZES IN SENIOR HOUSING. SO I THOUGHT, WELL GOSH, I WONDER WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED. QUICK, QUICK REVIEW. ST. LOUIS OFFICE IN DALLAS, TEXAS. SO WE NEED TO DO BUSINESS LOCAL FOLKS BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN. JUST SAYING. I AGREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU CYNTHIA. MAKE SURE THAT'S UP THE TOP OF THE LIST TODAY. YES. NEXT DOUGIE STEINBECK. THAT'S A DAN. HELLO. HELLO, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UH, THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DOUGIE STEINBACH AND I AM HERE TO COMMENT ON THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDESIGN. BUT, UH, I THINK IT'D BE BETTER TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM THIS PROJECT FIRST TO LOOK AT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. UH, RECENTLY, MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU HAVE SAID THAT OUR CITY IS BROKE AND THAT WE ARE OUTTA MONEY AND THUS WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME, UH, SPENDING CUTS. HONESTLY, THIS IS NOT SURPRISING TO ME. UH, SINCE, UH, EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE AROUND ANYWHERE IN HOUSTON, EVERY ROAD IS JUST COVERED IN POTHOLES AND MAINTENANCE HAS CLEARLY NOT BEEN PRIORITIZED. UH, HEARING THAT THE CITY IS BROKE AND THAT YOUR OFFICE WILL REVIEW EVERY ROAD DESIGN, I WAS IMPRESSED THAT OUR MAYOR IS MAKING, UH, GOOD AND BOLD MOVES, TAKING NECESSARY, BUT LIKELY UNPOPULAR STANCES SUCH AS POSTPONING ROAD DEVELOPMENT TO SAVE MONEY OR, UH, SAVING ON CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE BY, UH, REDUCING WIDTH, UH, REDUCING THE WIDTH OF, UH, ROADS AND NARROWING LANES. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GOAL OF REVIEWING THE ROAD DESIGNS IS TO STOP ROADWAY NARROWING. SO, UH, I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED FOR PART OF OUR PLAN TO BALANCE THE BUDGET OF OUR CITY IS TO KEEP THE SAME SPENDING ON ROADWAYS THAT CLEARLY OUR CITY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AS EVIDENCED BY THE POTHOLES EVERYWHERE. SO, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MAYORS IN ALL OF AMERICA FOR TAKING BOLD ACTION ON, UH, TURNING AROUND THE BUDGET OF OUR CITY WHEN EVERY OTHER CITY IN THIS COUNTRY SEEMS TO BE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. [01:10:01] AND PART OF THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, I BELIEVE, IS NARROWING ROADWAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE. AND, UH, BY NARROWING ROADWAYS, INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF TAXABLE LAND NEXT TO STREETS. UH, BRINGING THIS BACK TO MONTROSE BOULEVARD. SPECIFICALLY, IF THIS PROJECT IS TO GO THROUGH, THEN I THINK MAKING THE LANES NARROWER WILL NOT ONLY MAKE THE ROAD SAFER, UM, BUT MEAN MORE MONEY FOR OUR CITY BUDGET. MOREOVER, THE SHARED USE PATH, BASED ON MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE HEIGHTS, WILL, UH, INCREASE THE PROPERTY VALUE OF NEARBY LAND AND AGAIN, GIVE US MORE TAXABLE PROPERTY. UH, I'LL FINISH WITH THIS QUOTE. I SAW SOMEONE ELSE MAKE ONLINE THAT, UH, OR AT LEAST, UH, NOT VERBATIM, BUT HU HOUSTON HAS $160 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL THIS YEAR. MEANWHILE, OUR STATE IS ABOUT TO SPEND $9,700 MILLION ON ONE SECTION OF ONE HIGHWAY, UH, NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YEAH. NEXT. ANGEL LIVA OVER. HELLO EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ANDREW LEVA. I OWN AND RESIDE IN AN EIGHT UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX IN EAST MONTROSE. I HAD A FEW MORE PROPERTIES THAT WERE PURCHASED BEFORE THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT EXISTED, BUT ALL OF THEM WERE EVENTUALLY TAXED BY THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. I'D LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL FOR GIVING A PAUSE TO THIS MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYBODY'S EVER HEARD OUR CAUSE. UM, WE'VE OFTEN TALKED IN FRONT OF THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, BUT THEY WOULD NEVER RESPOND TO US. AND THEY OFTEN CHUCKLED WHEN WE CAME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR MANAGEMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. DURING MY FIRST MEETING AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ON MONTROSE BACK IN 19, I'M SORRY, IN 2008 AT THE NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS, DAVID HAWES AND HIS REPRESENTATIVES CORNERED ME AFTER THE MEETING. 'CAUSE I WAS PRETTY ANGRY AT WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO. AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAD ALL THE SIGNATURES NECESSARY THAT THEY COULD THEN TAX ME AND MY PROPERTY AT WHATEVER RATE THEY DEEMED NECESSARY. THAT I WOULD NEVER GET TO VOTE ON ANY BOARD ME MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY, THEY WOULD BE APPOINTING THEIR OWN BOARD MEMBERS. AND ANY BOARD MEMBER THAT QUIT, THEY WOULD GET TO REAPPOINT A BOARD MEMBER THAT WAS FAVORABLE TO THEIR CAUSE. UM, AND THAT THEY WOULD GET TO UTILIZE OUR MONEY IN THE WAY THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE BEST UTILIZED FOR THE AREA OF MONTROSE. THE DISTRICT CLAIMED TO ONLY REQUIRE 25 SIGNATURES IN ORDER TO TAX WHAT EVENTUALLY CAME TO 950 BUSINESSES ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS THAT WERE PROVEN. UH, ONLY 21 OR 22 OF THOSE SIGNATURES WERE VALID THAT THREE OR FOUR OF THEM WERE TOTALLY INVALID, WHICH MEANS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED SIGNATURES TO EVEN START THIS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THEY PROCEEDED ANYWAY, 'CAUSE THIS COURT CASE DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL AFTER THEY'D BEEN TAXING US FOR MANY YEARS. SO THEY DIDN'T EVEN QUALIFY UNDER THE OLD EASY TERMS, NEW STATE TERMS WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO GET OVER 50% OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING TAXED TO APPROVE THEM. THEY'RE TRYING TO SURPASS THAT BY SAYING THEY NEVER, THEY NEVER CEASE AND DESIST THAT THEY HAD A COUPLE CAVEATS THAT ALLOWED THEM TO GET OUT OF IT. BUT IN COURT, THE JUDGE AWARDED, UH, THE TAXPAYERS SIX OVER $6 MILLION BACK AFTER DETERMINING THAT THEY HAD VIOLATED THEIR OWN ORDINANCE. THE ALL THE RULES OKAY. ON APPEAL, OUR MONEY SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR. POOF, JUST GONE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. AND SOME SECRET DEAL WAS MADE THAT WE DON'T REALLY GET TO SEE ALL THE DETAILS OF. NOW, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WAS OVER. THE HALL'S LAW FIRM SPENT ALL THE REMAINING MONEY IN THE BUDGET IN THEIR, IN THEIR FUNDS, EVEN AFTER THEY VOTED THEMSELVES TO DISBAND, THEN THEY LOST THE LAWSUIT. AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO PAY THE LAWYERS THEY NEED TO GET THIS THING STARTED BACK UP. 'CAUSE THEY OWE THE LAWYER WHO DEFEATED THEM OVER $450,000. AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY WAY, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ASSETS TO SUE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PAY THIS LAWYER WHAT THEY OWE THE LAWYER. THEY NEED US TO PAY FOR OUR LAWYER IN A SENSE. OKAY? OVER THE YEARS, DAPHNE FROM THE BREAST MAIDEN AND OTHERS AND TIME HAS HUNDREDS OF HOURS GETTING SIGNATURES, WHICH IS ANOTHER WAY TO ABOLISH THE DISTRICT. WE HAD TO COLLECT, THEY ONLY NEEDED 25 REAL SIGNATURES TO SIGN. WE NEEDED 80% OR 85% TO DISBAND IT. AND WE DID THAT. WE, WE HAD ALL THE SIGNATURES, BUT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HIRED A FRIENDLY LAW FIRM AND PAID THEM $10,000 TWICE TO TELL US OUR, OUR DOCUMENTS TO DISBAND THEM WERE INVALID. THEY HIRED A FIRM TO TELL US OURS WERE INVALID. YOU, UH, [01:15:01] HAVE MADE GOOD POINTS. CAN I LET YOU YIELD FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN? I MISS, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. LEVA, I WAS ONE GOING TO GIVE YOU LIKE 20 MORE SECONDS 'CAUSE YOUR TIME HAD EXPIRED TO, TO WRAP UP. AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK YOU, UM, YOU PROVIDED ME WITH CERTAIN DOCUMENTS. DO YOU MIND JUST EXPLAINING WHAT THE, THE SHEET? YEAH. THIS SHOWS YOU THAT THEY CHARGED $20,000 A MONTH IN ORDER TO MANAGE OUR DISTRICT. AND THEN WHEN THEY ANNEXED WEST MONTROSE, THEY BILLED US 60 MORE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THEIR WORK IN DOING THAT. OKAY. UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST PULLED MY TAX RECORDS AND FOUND OUT THEY HAVE NOW REINSTATED MY TAXES AND THEY'RE BILLING ME LATE FEES AND INTEREST. AND I THINK I PROVIDED Y'ALL WITH A COPY IN THE BACK THAT SHOWS MY TAX STATEMENT THAT, THAT NOW, WHICH HAD NOTHING ON IT, HAS NOW BEEN ALL OF A SUDDEN READJUSTED. I DIDN'T HAVE A PICTURE BEFORE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. YOU KNOW, THIS EVEN MATTERED BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE DISSOLVED. OKAY. WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE DISSOLVED. NOW APPARENTLY THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE NOT RESOLVED. BUT MAYOR, WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU ELECT NOT TO PARTNER WITH THIS LAW FIRM. WE'LL PARTNER WITH YOU, WE'LL PARTNER WITH THE CITY. WE'LL, WE'RE WILLING TO DO OUR OWN WORK ON OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER. WOULD YOU, UM, EXCUSE ME TO INTERRUPT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED IF AND WHEN THERE'S NEW MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED AN APPOINTMENT? I'M REALLY AGAINST THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR CASE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WELL, I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS THIS GROUP. THEY SPENT $800 PLUS THIS GROUP WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AT STEAKHOUSE. I UNDERSTAND THEY WASTED OUR MONEY. NO, WE ALL KNOW WE DON'T. WE SO IF WE WANNA ORGANIZE NOT WITH HAWS. CORRECT. BUT IF YOU HAVE IS A A NEW FROM SCRATCH. NEW FROM SCRATCH UNDER THE CURRENT LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, THAT REQUIRES A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE. NO, I GOT IT TO AGREE WITH IT. YES. BUT WE'RE NONE OF THIS 25 SIGNATURE BUSINESS, THEY GOT AWAY. THAT HAS TO BE ABOLISHED. WELL, WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH THE INDUSTRY THAT GOES AROUND TOWN CREATING MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS FOR THE WRONG REASON. HAVE TO GET RID OF IT. IT'S CRIMINAL. SO INSTEAD OF YOU BEING ON THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S BOARD, WHY DON'T YOU JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING? YOU'RE DOING A REAL GOOD JOB OF IT. IF Y'ALL NEED SOMEBODY, I'M HERE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE ALL THAT. THANK YOU. AND I DID WANNA SAY FOR EAST MONTROSE, WE ARE MAYOR REALLY PUSHING A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. SO THAT ARE NEEDED. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THIS. Y'ALL HAVE JUST REDONE OUR STREETS. I EVEN WAS ON TV. I CALLED ABOUT A WATER LEAK. Y'ALL CAME OUT AND FIXED THAT THE NEXT DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT ME ON TV, BUT , I WAS THERE. I'M LOOKING OUT FOR THE CITY. ALL OF US MONTROSE PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR IT. WE DON'T NEED SOME LAW FIRM PICKING OFF THE TOP AND DOING NOTHING BUT PUTTING THE MONEY IN THEIR OWN POCKET. OKAY. IT'S BEEN A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION. WE NEED TO GET THEM OUTTA OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE APPRECIATE YOU WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE. STAY INVOLVED. THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE FIXED A COUPLE POTHOLES IN OUR ALLEY, BUT THAT'S BEEN ON FACEBOOK, NOT ON THE NEWS VERY MUCH. NEXT, CYNTHIA GABRIEL, WELCOME TO HOUSTON CITY GOVERNMENT. MAYOR WHITMEYER. I GET CHILLS SAYING THAT BECAUSE I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE, BECAUSE I USED TO BE AT THE CITY HALL, PART OF THE CITY HALL PRESS CORPS WHEN, UH, STARTING WITH MAYOR HOFFINS, THEN MAYOR KATHY WHITMEYER, AND THEN, UH, JIM MACON. SO THIS IS KIND OF DEJA VU FOR ME. UM, I JUST, I WAS GOING TO COME TO TALK ABOUT IT SAYS REDISTRICT. IT'S, IT'S, UH, THE SAME SUBJECT. UM, I AM A NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND OF THE BERGS AND I'VE BECOME CLOSE TO A LOT OF THE STORIES OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SMALL BUSINESS IN A COMMUNITY LIKE WE HAVE. AND THEY DEAL WITH A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CITY DEALS WITH. AND I JUST HAVE A SHOW AND TELL HERE. THIS IS A PIECE OF POTTERY THAT, THAT CAME, THAT I BOUGHT FROM THEM AT A SHOW. AND IT WAS MADE BY A MAN WHO WAS ON THE STREET. AND THE FELBER DISCOVERED HIS TALENT AND INVITED HIM IN. AND HE HAS BEEN HAVING ACCESS TO THIS GALLERY FOR DECADES NOW. AND IT TOOK A DECADE TO GET HIM INTO HOUSING. HE'S NOW IN THE DEGEORGE. BUT ONCE HE GOT INTO HOUSING, HE DISCOVERED THE LITTLE GEICO GUY ON TV 'CAUSE HE HADN'T WATCHED TV IN DECADES. AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY THAT THIS ART SHOWED UP, YOU KNOW, IN, IN HIS, BUT HIS ART IS REALLY GOOD AND THEY SELL IT, AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BUY IT. AND IT HAS HELPED. IT HAS HELPED THIS MAN GET ON HIS FEET AND FINALLY GET INTO HOUSING EVEN THOUGH HE RESISTED FOR SO MANY YEARS. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY HAVE TAKEN HIM AND SHOWED HIM HOW TO BUDGET, HOW TO BUY GROCERIES AND ALL OF THAT. BUT IT WASN'T, AS JUDY SAYS, IT WASN'T JUST [01:20:01] HER SMALL BUSINESS. IT WAS A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, INCLUDING GALLERIES. PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER AND SUPPORTED HIM. I DON'T, BASED ON THE LAST COMMENT HERE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THE SNICKERING, IT JUST SCARES ME TO DEATH THAT THIS BIG LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY JUST APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE. WHO DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT US, IS NOT REALLY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. I WAS ON THE, UH, BOARD OF THE FIRST, UH, MONTROSE COMMONS THE LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE. AND I DON'T RECALL, AND I'M NOT GONNA BE LOW ON SPECIFICS, BUT WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT 'EM. WE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THEM. THE WORLD WAS EXACTLY THE SAME BEFORE THEY CAME. AND SINCE THEY'VE LEFT, AND I WILL SAY THIS, IT MAKES ME NERVOUS TO EVEN HEAR THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, EVEN UNDER ANOTHER MANAGEMENT COMPANY. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ONE BAD MANAGEMENT COMPANY, IT'S SOMETHING BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM. THERE'S A POCKET LINING GOING ON. WE ALL KNOW IT. SO I, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THIS, I WANNA KNOW WHAT THE BUDGET WAS FOR THE TIME THEY WERE THERE. I WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT, AND I KNOW, I WANNA KNOW WHAT TANGIBLE THINGS WERE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT MONEY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, EDDIE LUNA. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS, UH, EDDIE LUNA, AND I REPRESENT THE MEADOWBROOK FREEWAY CIVIC CLUB, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT. I, UH, IT'S A GROUP OF 480 HOMES JUST LOCATED NORTH OF HOBBY WEST OF MONROE, AND EAST OF BROADWAY. UM, OVERALL OUR COMMUNITY IS QUIET. UH, IT'S MADE UP OF RETIRED AND WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS. AND SOME OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS ARE NOT FROM WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE SURROUNDING AREA. VISITORS ARRIVING AT HOBBY AIRPORT WILL GET THEIR FIRST IMPRESSION OF HOUSTON IN THIS AREA. AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE ROADS LEADING TO I 45 THAT NEED REPAIR AND SIGNS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. UH, MOST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, TO OUR, UH, RESIDENCE IS, UH, MAJOR CRIMES CONTINUE TO PLAGUE OUR AREA FROM SHOOTOUTS, MURDERS, AND PROSTITUTION AS WELL. UH, THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT APPEAR TO FACILITATE THIS TYPE OF CRIME, LIKE CLUBS AND MOTELS. SOME OF THESE ARE EXPOSING, THERE ARE PEOPLE AS WELL, IN ADDITION IN THE SURROUNDING AREA THAT SOMETIMES ARE HOMELESS OR JUST WANDERING AROUND THAT ARE EXPOSING THEMSELVES TO THE PUBLIC. UM, HOMELESS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE, TO CONTINUE TO CAMP OUT ALONG THE FREEWAY. NOT SO MUCH MORE AROUND UNDER THE FREEWAYS ANYMORE, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'VE MOVED AWAY FROM THE INTERSECTIONS AND GONE OVER TO SIMS BAYOU BRIDGE. UM, THERE'S ALSO VACANT COMMERCIAL LOTS, ALLOWING HEAVY TRASH TO ACCUMULATE. AND EVEN WHEN WE REPORT TO 3 1 1, NO ACTION IS TAKEN, UH, WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, WE'VE HAD WATER MAIN LEAKS THAT HAVE GONE MONTHS WITHOUT REPAIR. UH, DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS ON ABANDONED HOMES HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITHOUT ANY ACTION TAKEN. UH, AND THERE ARE ROADS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALSO ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR. SO ALL WE'RE ASKING, I'M HERE TO, ON BEHALF OF, UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO OUR AREA, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S AROUND HOBBY. AND IT IS AN AREA THAT VISITORS GET THEIR FIRST IMPRESSION OF HOUSTON DRIVING DOWN RO MONROE AND AIRPORT AND COMING OFF 45. SO WE DO NEED HELP WITH THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, MICHAEL DECKER. MICHAEL DECKER, ERNEST CARLTON. ERNEST CARLTON, ALFREDO BLANCO. MAYOR, UH, ADMIRE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TRY TO SPEAK IN ENGLISH 12 WORLD COUNTRY AND AT LEAST 10. UH, WHEN I SIGNED UP FOR TODAY, [01:25:01] UM, INITIALLY I WAS GONNA SPEAK ABOUT THE EAST END. THAT LOOKS LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. OKAY? UH, I HAVE, UH, FIVE POINTS I WANNA MAKE TODAY. UH, THE FIRST POINT THAT I WANNA MAKE IS THAT WHENEVER A PROJECT IS STARTED IN THE AREA, THERE IS NO FOLLOW UP. 45 SOUTH, 6,500 BLOCKS ON THE WHEELERS THOSE MAY ADDRESS. OKAY. IN PARTICULAR, THE UNDER THE UNDERPASS AT GRIGGS AND 45 WHERE 18 WHEELERS HAD FALLEN INTO, INTO IT AND NOTHING HAS BEEN THERE. YEAH. I TELL A PHOTOS WHAT I TELL A PHOTOS, THE 6,500 GULF FREEWAY BLOCK. UM, THE PHOTOS ARE OUT FOR THE 6,500 BLOCK. EXPLAINING WHAT I'M SEEING. OKAY. MASON PARK. MASON PARK. I'D LIKE AN UPDATE ABOUT MASON PARK. UH, IN, IN PARTICULAR, FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, NOTHING HAS MOVED ON THAT PROJECT. AND, UM, CONGRESS, CONGRESS, SVIA GARCIA, CONGRESS PERSON SYLVIA GARCIA GAVE, UH, 85 8 800 5800 $50,000, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE PARK. AND I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN, WHEN THE PROJECT'S GONNA START. OLD CASE SCHOOL, ROBERTO, 11 MILLION TO RENOVATE THE OLD CASE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I'D LIKE AN UPDATE ON OLD GAUGE SCHOOL. UM, COUNCIL CAGE, CAGE GAGE, OLD ELEMENTARY, OLD CAGE ELEMENTARY. AND, UM, IN PARTICULAR, MAYOR TURNER AND ROBERT GALLEGOS, UH, TURNER GAVE A MILLION, UH, MAYOR TURNER GAVE $11 MILLION TO, FOR THAT PROJECT. YEAH. DRIVE. YEAH. TO HAS EXPIRED. WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH. UH, UH, THE FOURTH POINT, UM, THE OLD BENNIGANS ON THE, ON THE FEEDER ROAD OF 45, UM, HAS BEEN WITHOUT OPERATION FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS. AND THE BUILDING IS SITTING VACANT. YES. IT'S FULL OF, UH, VAGRANT AND PEOPLE WHO HANG OUT BECAUSE THIS MASON PARK IS ME. IS ME PRISON. 72 A CC. OKAY. HE'S A PRECINCT CHAIR FOR 72 PRECINCT. 72 FOR PRECINCT 72. AND IN PARTICULAR, HE WANTS TO POINT OUT THAT THE LOW VOTE COULD BE PART OF THE FACT THAT MASON PARK HAS NOT BEEN IN OPERATIONS. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHO CARES? NOBODY CARES. NOW WE GOT YOU IN THE FIELD. I LISTEN TO YOU, YOUR, I FEEL LIKE YOU LISTEN, MAYOR, I FEEL LIKE A YOGA IS LISTENING. AND NOW WE GOT DIFFERENT MEMBERS OVER HERE. BUT NOW WE GOT THREE LATINOS. AND I APPLAUD YOU WHAT YOU ARE DOING TOGETHER, AND I HOPE YOU DO BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. BLANCO RIGGS, YOU SEE THE PHOTOS THERE? NO SIGNS. THE NO. ANYTHING WHEELER? MY SIGN. THE NO TRAFFIC THROUGH HERE? NO. NOBODY. NOBODY CARE FOR US. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. [01:30:01] COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE DO CARE FOR YOU FREDDY. UH, OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, NO, NO, NO, NO. I JUST LET HIM KNOW I'M GONNA SPEAK IN ENGLISH. HE UNDERSTANDS IT. UH, HE FEELS COMFORTABLE SPEAKING IN SPANISH AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE DIALOGUE A LOT. SO, UH, FIRST I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, FREDDY. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AT MASON, UH, AND EVEN IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. UH, WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR GRANTS THROUGH THE PRECINCT TWO PARTNERSHIP. WE DID, UH, RECEIVE SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS, UH, FROM SYLVIA GARCIA AS WELL. AND I KNOW THE MAYOR'S, YOU KNOW, BEEN VERY, UH, HE'S A STRONG, UH, PROPONENT OF LEVERAGING DOLLARS. ALRIGHT. UH, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY CAN, CAN, UH, UM, MAINTAIN EITHER INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, WHETHER IT'S ROADS OR IF IT'S, UH, CITY BUILDINGS, LIKE AT MASON PARK? UH, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AT MASON, OF COURSE, WITH COVID, UH, IT SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT AFTER THAT, THE FREEZE HAPPENED. IT, YOU KNOW, HAD ISSUES AT, ON THE ROOF. AND SO AT THE ROOF AND, UH, AT MASON PARK, UH, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT IT IS IN THE CIP, IT'S IN CIP FOR FISCAL YEAR 24. THIS YEAR IT'S IN THE CIP. THE GOAL IS TO LEVERAGE DOLLARS AT THE FEDERAL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL BECAUSE WE HAVE ALSO BEEN, UH, WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, SENATOR ALVARADO AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SEE HOW WE CAN BRING SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS TO, UH, MASON PARK. SO I WANNA SAY, UH, PRETTY CONFIDENTLY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA START SEEING SOME MOVEMENT AT MASON, AT MASON PARK SPECIFICALLY. I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF YOUR, UH, YOUR BABIES AS YOU MENTIONED. RIGHT? UM, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WE GET MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHEN, YOU KNOW, BIDDING CONSTRUCTION HAPPENS, YOU'LL, YOU'LL GET IT A HUNDRED PERCENT. UM, WHEN IT, WE TALK ABOUT THE, UH, THAT UNDERPASS AT GRIGGS, IT'S AT, IT'S A TEXT STOP PROJECT. UH, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN REACHING OUT, UH, TO SEE WHAT, WHAT INFORMATION WE CAN GET. IT HAS HALTED FOR SOME TIME. UH, THE ONLY THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A TRAFFIC, A TRAFFIC PLAN THAT THEY HAVEN'T AGREED WITH. ONE DAY THAT I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THERE, FOLKS WERE DRIVING ON THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SIDE THAT THEY WERE THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. SO, WE'RE FINDING INFORMATION, I'LL MAKE SURE WE GET IT TO YOU. UM, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT CAGE, RUFUSS CAGE, UM, I'M NOT AWARE OF $11 MILLION THAT WAS GIVEN. WHAT I AM AWARE OF IS, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME CHANGES RIGHT NOW IN THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT, UH, OUR, OUR, UM, OUR CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, GWEN TEON, IS FULLY AWARE. WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, I WOULD SAY ABOUT A MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF, UH, AGO, UH, TO SEE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD. UH, WE HAD A MEETING MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO GIVE FOLKS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS IT THAT THEY WANNA SEE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYS, UH, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. UH, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOMEONE COME IN AND, UM, YOU KNOW, REHAB THE, THE, THE MAIN STRUCTURE AND THEN SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO AROUND THE MAIN STRUCTURE, WHICH IS THE SCHOOL. UH, SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE. UH, ANYTIME, FREDDY, FACEBOOK, FACEBOOK, ROBERTO, MASTER MASON PARK, NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN. JOSE PRECINCT CHAIR FOR 31 YEARS THERE. MASON PARK. I DON'T EVEN KNOW. I'M, I'M AWARE. WHAT IS THE MASTER PLAN FOR MASON PARK? SO, AND I'M AN ELECTION JUDGE, SO, SO I MEAN, THIS IS A, A THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GRA FRED, HOLD ON. NOIR. OH, HEY, FREDDY. MR. BLANCO. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, FREDDY. I'LL BUY THE COFFEE , BUT THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR COMING DOWN HERE. AND I WILL WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IN, IN TRYING TO HELP YOU OUT AND THE COMMUNITY OUT. THANK YOU. YES, WE ARE TOGETHER. THANK YOU, FREDDY. READY? NEXT. [01:35:01] RAFAEL MARTINEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RAFAEL MARTINEZ. TODAY, I DENOUNCE BEFORE YOU THE BAD PRACTICES OF CPS AND THE HOUSTON POLICE. CPS HAS ALLOWED MY SISTER ELECTRA ORTIZ OVER TO HER SEX OFFENDERS. ON NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023, MR. COLEMAN, A CPS INVESTIGATOR DENIED TO WEST UNIVERSITY POLICE OFFICERS THAT THERE WAS AN ACTIVE CASE WITH CPS ON THE DAY OF MY MOM'S ARREST. ACTIVE REPORT NUMBER WAS 49 79. 36 39, DUE TO, DUE TO CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF MY SISTER. THE CPS INVESTIGATOR WAS UNAWARE OR DID NOT CARE TO MENTION TO THE OFFICER INVOLVED THAT THERE WAS A FORENSIC INTERVIEW CONDUCTED ON OCTOBER 27TH, 2022. AND AFTER HANDING OVER MY SISTER, A SECURITY PLAN HAD TO BE ESTABLISHED WITH CPS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT ELEKTRA WAS AT RISK VALID FOR ONLY 30 DAYS. FROM DECEMBER 5TH OF LAST YEAR, MY MOM WAS ARRESTED FOR ABSCONDING WITH MY SISTER AND MY MOM IS FACING CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT FACT. SHE'S HAD HER FULL CUSTODY REMOVED FROM MY SISTER EKRA ORTIZ. AND FULL CUSTODY WAS GIVEN TO THE DAD, THE SEXUAL ABUSER. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT POINT, OFFICER JASON GARCIA OF THE HOUSTON POLICE, ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HAS INTERFERED AND PREVENTED JUSTICE FROM BEING SERVED FOR ELECTRA. ON DECEMBER 6TH OF LAST YEAR, OFFICER JASON GARCIA OF THE HOUSTON POLICE FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH INVESTIGATOR COLEMAN, THE CPS, AND CANCELED THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW THAT ELEKTRA WAS SUPPOSED TO OBTAIN THAT DAY AT TWO IN THE AFTERNOON, ALLEGING THAT THE DAD OF ELEKTRA DID NOT AUTHORIZE, SAID INTERVIEW, THE OFFICER GARCIA GAVE EVIDENCE TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OF THE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN DIVISION CLAIMING EVERYTHING WAS SUBMITTED. BUT WHEN MY MOTHER ASKED WHAT EVIDENCE DID HE SUBMIT, HE VAGUELY RESPONDED ABOUT ELECTOR'S MEDICAL RECORDS AND INFORMATION FROM A FORENSIC INTERVIEW CONDUCTED ON OCTOBER 22ND, 2022. THAT WAS NOT THE DAY OF ELECTOR'S FORENSIC INTERVIEW. TO THIS DAY, WE WONDER WHOSE FORENSIC INTERVIEW WAS THAT ABOUT? CURRENTLY THE CASE IS CLOSED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE WHEN IN FACT, THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE. WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO REOPEN THAT CASE AND THAT THE INVESTIGATION BE CARRIED OUT AGAINST THE AGGRESSOR AND NOT AGAINST MY MOTHER. ATTORNEY CAR TORRES ASSIGNED BY THE MEXICAN CONSULATE IN HOUSTON FOR MY MOM ENSURED THAT OFFICER GARCIA'S INVESTIGATION WAS AGAINST MY MOM, NOT MY SISTER'S SEXUAL AGGRESSOR. INVESTIGATION NUMBER 80 88 65 DASH 22. WE ASKED THAT RA BE TAKEN TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY. AS HER RIGHTS ARE NOT BEING RESPECTED, ELECTRA DOES NOT HAVE, HAVE ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL SERVICE, INCLUDING PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY. HER DAD PREVENTS IT FROM HAPPENING. HER FAMILY, PSYCHIATRISTS, THERAPISTS, TEACHERS GROUPS, FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES ALL WANT THE SAME. WE ASK FOR JUSTICE FOR EKRA. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'M SITTING HERE THINKING YOU WERE DEALING WITH HPD. YES, SIR. THEN CPS GOT INVOLVED. CPS AND THE HPD GOT INVOLVED BACK IN 2022. MY MOM HAD REPORTED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY SISTER TO THEM. THEY, WHO'D SHE REPORT IT TO? HPDH. PD AND CPS AS WELL. AND YOUR, YOUR HOUSTON RESIDENCE? YES. AND SO WAS MY MOTHER. SO HPD OBVIOUSLY OPENED A FILE. YES. IT TOOK A LOT OF PRESSURING FOR THEM TO OPEN ONE. NOW WAIT, STOP, STOP RIGHT THERE. LET ME DRILL DOWN ON THAT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? IT TOOK A LOT OF PRESSURE? IT, UH, AT FIRST THEY DID NOT WANT TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE YOUR MOTHER MADE THE ALLEGATION YES. THE ALLEGATIONS TO PROPER CHANNELS TO HPD AND CPS. YES. SO WHEN YOU SAY IT TOOK A LOT OF PRESSURE, HOW'D THAT WORK? SHE NEEDED, WHERE, WHERE'D THE PRESSURE COME FROM? SHE NEEDED ASSISTANCE FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEAL AND, UH, ASSIST VI VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. AND, UH, THEY HAD TO SPEAK WITH CPS FOR THEM TO, SO SHE GOT A AGENCY INVOLVED AND THEY TALKED TO HPD? YES. UH, YES TO CPS. AND THEN FROM THAT CPS REPORT, IT TURNED INTO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. YEAH. WHEN DID, WHEN DID THE CPS ENTER THE PICTURE? CPS ENTERED THE PICTURE BACK IN 2022. OKAY. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THEIR POSITION? THEIR STATUS? [01:40:01] THEY, THEY STATE THAT THE REASON WHY THEY NEVER RE UH, REMOVED THE LECTURER FROM, FROM HIS RESIDENCY IS BECAUSE SH UH, HE HAS FULL CUSTODY AND MY MOTHER DOES NOT. WELL, BUT SOMEONE DETERMINED, FIRST OF ALL, WAS THIS BEING LITIGATED? WERE Y'ALL IN CIVIL COURT FAMILY LAW AT THAT TIME? YES. THERE WAS. THERE WAS A CIVIL OKAY. SO A JUDGE GAVE CUSTODY TO TO, TO HIM THE FATHER. YES. AND YOU GOT HPD LOOKED INTO IT. CPS LOOKED INTO IT. I UNDERSTAND THE DA LOOKED INTO IT. SO THERE MUST STILL BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNSEL AND I ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH. THERE'S GOT TO BE THE REST OF THE STORY. YES, SIR. SO IF YOU WILL, IF YOU'LL TALK TO MY STAFF THROUGH STATE SENATE CHANNELS, I WILL GET A REPORT FROM THE CPS. THERE MAY BE JUST CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY DO NOT THINK THERE'S EITHER CREDIBILITY OR WHATEVER THE JUDGE SAW IN HIS OR HER RULING. SO WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT? I CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL HOPEFULLY IN THE MORNING. IN FACT, I WILL IN THE MORNING. THERE'S STILL SENATE STAFF UP THERE THAT I CAN GET A CPS REPORT. NOW, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE WILL HAVE DONE PERHAPS EVERYTHING WE CAN. AND IT'S JUST A TRAGIC FAMILY SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. SO AT LEAST YOU'RE COMING HERE TODAY, YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARD ABOUT ONE MORE INTERESTED PARTY BEING ME. AND IT MAY NOT BE THE OUTCOME YOU WANT, BUT AT LEAST I'LL ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH CPS. AND A LOT OF, LOTS OF TIMES IT'S CONFIDENTIAL, BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE BEING HERE AND YOUR CONCERN AND YOUR LOVED ONES WILL KNOW THAT SOMEONE INQUIRED. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE YOUR CONTACT AND I'LL, I'LL GET CPS TO TALK TO YOU ONE MORE TIME. IT'S NOT, UH, JUST CPS SIR, IT'S ALSO HPD JASON GARCIA. I UNDERSTAND. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'VE NAMED ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE AUTHORITIES. AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IF THEY'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THERE'S JUST NOT A CASE, THEN SIR, EVERYTHING THERE'S GOT, THERE'S GOT TO BE THE REST OF THE STORY THAT PERHAPS EVEN YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT MY MOTHER'S SIDE OF THE STORY. IT WAS NEVER PROPERTY TOLD. AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS SUBMITTED WELL WAS NEVER TAKEN ACCOUNT OF. WELL, LIKE I SAID, THE, THE STATE AGENCY, WHEN SOMEBODY'S LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER, FOR SURE DOES A GOOD JOB. HPD, THE WHAT BECAME OF THE THIRD PARTY, THE AGENCY THAT LOOKS OUT FOR, UH, THEY ASSIST WHENEVER THEY CAN. UH, OKAY, WELL LET ME JUST GIVE THIS, THIS, UH, RUN TO ALLOW CPS COMMUNICATE WITH MY OFFICE. UH, THEY CARRY EVIDENCE. THESE ARE MEMBERS OF I GOT IT. I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S MADE AN IMPRESSION ON ME. UH, YES. AND UH, TODAY, I ALSO HAVE EVIDENCE FROM THE GREEN FOLDER THAT I BROUGHT IN. YES. GIVE IT TO MY OFFICE. THIS LADY RIGHT HERE, I'M GONNA GET ON TOP OF IT. WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT CPS HAS TO REVEAL. WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU. BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU, YOU'VE ALREADY NAMED ABOUT FOUR AGENCIES. ALL OF 'EM APPARENTLY HAVE COME DOWN ON THE SIDE OF NOT HAVING A CASE. SO EVEN BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, IT THERE COULD BE THE REST OF THE STORY THAT EVEN YOU MAY NOT BE FULLY AWARE OF. YES, SIR. SO YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB HERE TODAY, MA'AM. WE CAN'T LITIGATE OR SOLVE IT. YOU'VE BEEN TO FAMILY COURT ACTUALLY, AND A JUDGE HAS PLACED THE CHILD WHERE HE OR SHE WANTS THE CHILD. SO LET ME DO WHAT I HAVE OFFERED TO DO. LET ME GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU. BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THERE'S THE REST OF THE STORY THAT, UH, THE AUTHORITIES ARE PERHAPS FAMILIAR WITH THAT YOU AND I ARE NOT. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL. BE SAFE, CYNTHIA, IF YOU'LL GET THE CONTACT, THE NAME AND EVEN IF THERE'S A CASE NUMBER THAT THEY CAN FURNISH, FURNISHES, UH, WE'LL GET AN INQUIRY STARTED. NEXT, VIS SPA VIS PAVI, MARK RODRIGUEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UM, AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S MARK RODRIGUEZ. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF OAKLAND FULLERTON CIVIC ASSOCIATION. ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AT NFA EARLY START. NFA LORENZO, EARLY START. I ALSO OWN TWO BUSINESSES IN EAST END. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR THE CHANGE THAT I'M SEEING ALONG WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBER. [01:45:01] WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SCHOOL ZONE LIGHTS. THE LAST ADMINISTRATION MADE IT A BIG DEAL ABOUT CHANGING THEM. THEY GOT, THEY SAID THE STATE WAS INVOLVED. I CONTACTED YOU AND I CONTACTED, UH, MARIO CASTILLO, THE COUNCIL MEMBER. AND TY, FOUR DAYS LATER, THE SCHOOL SCHOOL'S OWN LIGHTS GOT FIXED. THANK YOU. IT WAS ALL FOR THE BEST PART OF THE KIDS. UM, NEXT I WANT TO THANK JOAQUIN MARTINEZ AND COUNCIL MILITIA PLUMMER. THEY PROVIDED OUR SCHOOL WITH ZOO TICKETS FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL STAFF. AND, UH, THE PARENTS CHAPERONE. THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT. THE SCHOOL KIDS LOVED IT. RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON GETTING SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, BUT THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE BOOKED UP RIGHT NOW FOR THIS YEAR. BUT THANK YOU. LETITIA PLUMMER. THANK YOU JOAQUIN MARTINEZ. AND THANK YOU MARIO CASTILE FOR WORKING ON THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WITH US. NEXT I WANT TO ELABORATE ON JOAQUIN MARTINEZ ABOUT THE SCHOOL, THE SPEED BUMPS. I WAS VERY AGAINST HIM. AND ONE DAY A LITTLE GIRL GOT RAN OVER IN FRONT OF MY CAR LOT RIGHT NEXT TO EASTWOOD PARK AND HE TOLD ME IF IT SAVED ONE KID'S LIFE, THEY DID THEIR JOB. AND THEY SAVED THAT LITTLE GIRL'S LIFE. BUT THANK YOU JOAQUIN. UM, NEXT I'M GONNA GO TO HPD REAL QUICK. FOR THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS, I'VE ASKED HPD TO COME OUT TO PATROL THE SCHOOL ZONE AND A STOP SIGN. 'CAUSE I LIVE ONE BLOCK FROM THE SCHOOL. EVERY MORNING I WALK MY DAUGHTER EVERY AFTERNOON I PICK HER UP. SHE'S FOUR YEARS OLD AND SEVEN MONTHS. I'VE SEEN 'EM OUT THERE FOUR TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN THERE 'CAUSE I WALK ONE BLOCK. BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE GETTING SOME HELP ON THAT END. UM, SOMETHING REAL BRIEF, UH, ALONG WITH THE FIREMEN AND THE HPD, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL WORKING WITH BOTH DEPARTMENTS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE EFFORT TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO BE, BECOME POLICE OFFICERS, WHATEVER KIND OF INCENTIVES WE NEED TO GIVE THEM SO WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE TO BE POLICE OFFICERS. SO WE'RE NOT IN THIS SHORTAGE FOR HOUSTON AND FOR THE WHOLE NATION. BUT THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU JOAQUIN. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CASTILLO. AND ALSO, AGAIN, I WANTED TO THANK YOU. THE KIDS LOVE THE FIELD TRIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER AND CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MARK, UH, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU, UM, ON THE ISSUE YOU MENTIONED, UH, TODAY, JUST NOW WITH HPD. UM, TY CAN VISIT WITH YOU TODAY AND WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND WE CAN, UM, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU ON THAT AND JUST CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US. UH, WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS WITH YOU AND YOUR CIVIC CLUB AND, UH, ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I APPRECIATE SABRINA ALSO. SHE DOES REALLY WELL. SHE GOES TO MY CIVIC MEETINGS. THUMBS UP. THANK YOU. STAY IN TOUCH. NEXT. THANK YOU. ROBERT SEARCY. ROBERT SEARCY. NEXT SPEAKER. STELLA HART. STELLA HART. OH, HERE SHE COMES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS STELLA HART AND MY FAMILY MOVED TO HOUSTON IN APRIL OF 2014. WE ARE NOW A FAMILY OF FIVE WITH TWO DOGS AND PURCHASED A PROPERTY AT 3 6 0 6 REAGAN STREET TO HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO COMMIT ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO LIVING IN HOUSTON. THE FORMER STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY FLOODED IN ALICE AND HARVEY. IT WAS, UM, NECESSARY TO RAISE THE FOUNDATION AND DEMOLISH THE BUILDING AND REBUILD TO REPLACE THE STRUCTURE THE CITY REQUIRED. WE DISCONNECT IT FROM THE SEWAGE LINE. DURING THE PERMITTING PROCESS, I RECEIVED A NOTICE SAYING THAT THE SANITARY SEWER DOES NOT EXIST TO CONNECT TO OUR HOME, BECAUSE THE LINE FROM WHICH THEY MADE US DISCONNECT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WE COULD NOT RECONNECT TO IT. HOWEVER IT MAY BE POSSIBLE. THE DOCUMENT STATED THAT I PERSONALLY BILLED 160 FOOT SEWER MAIN TO RECONNECT MY HOME. I SPENT WEEKS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS DOCUMENT AND WHY REBUILDING THE SEWER MAIN WAS NECESSARY AND WHY IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR IT. WHEN WE WERE AT THE POINT IN CONSTRUCTION TO CONNECT THE SEWAGE, OUR PLUMBER DROPPED A CAMERA IN THE OLD CLEAN OUT. HE OBSERVED THAT THE PIPE WAS FALLING APART AND THAT IT ENDED IN WHAT HE CALLED A DIRT HOLE UNDER REAGAN STREET. HE MENTIONED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A SINK HOLE ON THE STREET. SEE PAGE SEVEN FOR HIS NOTES AND HIS SIGNATURE. THE FIRST SOLUTION THE PERMITTING OFFICE GAVE ME, OF COURSE, WAS THAT I, THE HOMEOWNER PAY FOR THIS 160 FEET [01:50:01] SEWER MAINE, AN APPROXIMATE 40 TO $80,000 PROJECT. THE SECOND SOLUTION THAT THE HOUSTON GAVE ME WAS, IT STILL REQUIRED ME THE HOMEOWNER TO PAY FOR IT. I HAVE GONE IN ACTUAL CIRCLES WITH WATER AND PERMITTING OFFICES WHERE ALL OF THEIR SOLUTIONS AND WITH ME PAYING TO CONNECT AND BUILD THIS 160 FOOT SHARED SEWER MAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO HIRE AN ENGINEER, HIRE A PLUMBER, PAY FOR EVERYTHING. THEN UPON INSPECTION BY THE CITY, I WOULD HAND OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE MAIN I HAD BUILT FOR THE CITY TO TAKE IT AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT. THEN THIS MAIN WOULD PROVIDE THE APPROVED CONNECTION, NOT JUST FOR MY PROPERTY, BUT AN ADDITIONAL FOUR PROPERTIES THAT CONNECT CURRENTLY TO THE DEFUNCT LINE. ONLY TWO SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE WATER AND PERMITTING OFFICE. BOTH INVOLVE, AGAIN, ME PAYING FOR IT. I HAVE SIGNED A PETITION ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS THAT'S PAGE 17 THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THIS DEFECTIVE LINE. WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO INTERVENE. I AM HERE TO ASK FOR A SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT FOR A SHARED CITY SEWER MAINE. NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR EVERY OTHER PROPERTY ON MY BLOCK THAT NEEDS THE DRAIN. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I WOULD LIKE TO, SORRY. THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S OFFICE FOR THEIR ATTEMPTS TO HELP IN THIS COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU. UH, . OH, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UM, TO COME AND SHARE, YOU KNOW, YOUR EXPERIENCES HERE. UM, THERE IS AN, AN OPTION FOR A COST SHARING SOLUTIONS TO WHERE IT'S NOT FULLY YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. IS THAT SOMETHING, UH, YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN PURSUING? I WOULD STILL HAVE TO FRONT THE 80,000 POTENTIAL. AND, AND HONESTLY, THIS NUMBER IS UP IN THE AIR UNTIL AN ENGINEER IS HIRED AND PAID FOR TO MAKE THE DESIGN. AND UNTIL IT'S PRICED OUT, WE WON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS. BUT BASED ON OTHER PROJECTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT IS AN ESTIMATE. I WOULD HAVE TO FRONT THAT MONEY FIRST. AND THEN THE, UM, THERE ARE STIPULATIONS. I, I HAVE TO MEET, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN STANDARDS OR WHATNOT THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE IT AFTER I PURCHASED, AFTER I SPENT THAT MONEY. AND THEN THEY WOULD DECIDE WHETHER, UM, IT'S EITHER A 30% OR A 50% REIMBURSEMENT. STILL, I'M ON THE LINE FOR MAYBE $40,000, EVEN IF THE CITY REIMBURSES ME. AND WHEN, WHEN IS THERE GONNA REIMBURSE ME? AND, AND, AND OTHER QUESTIONS. IF I DO THIS, HOW DO WE CLOSE THE STREETS? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. HOW, WHO, WHO'S LIABLE IF SOMEBODY FALLS IN THE HOLE WHILE I PERSONALLY, I'M DIGGING UP THE STREET, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE, THIS IS A CITY JOB. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. WELL, ON THE PAGE 17, UH, SIGNATURES, YOU'RE ASKING FOR SOME INTERVENTION. WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD Y'ALL, ARE Y'ALL ASKING FOR THE CITY TO DO THEIR JOB, SIR? THE CITY TO BUILD A WATER MAIN IT IS CITY INFRASTRUCTURE. MS. HART, THE CITY, MS. HART, HAR MS. CITY, HAR CITY COLLECTS MONEY ON THAT. SORRY. RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND I, AND I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR YOU. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WHILE, I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH IT FOR A WHILE, MAN, I, I CAN RECOGNIZE THAT. THAT WOULD BE VERY FRUSTRATING. I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT. SO YOU WERE CONNECTED AND THEN YOUR PROPERTY FLOODED AND YOU WERE TOLD TO DISCONNECT? NO, MA'AM. WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. WE KNEW THAT THE PROPERTY HAD FLOODED, BUT NO OTHER PROPERTY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD FLOODED. IT'S NOT A FLOOD ZONE. IT WAS POOR DESIGN THAT IT FLOODED, FLOODED TWICE. SO THE ONLY OPTION IS TO DEMO IT AND REBUILD WITH A HIGHER FOUNDATION ACCORDING TO EVERYTHING THE CITY TOLD US TO DO AFTER HARVEY. OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID. SO IN ORDER TO DEMO A BUILDING, SO YOU BUILT IT ON A HIGHER FOUNDATION? YES MA'AM. AND WERE YOU CONNECTED AT THAT TIME? NO, MA'AM. IN ORDER TO DEMO A BUILDING, THE CITY REQUIRES YOU TO DISCONNECT FROM SEWAGE TO DEMO THE BUILDING. OKAY. AND THE CITY THEN AFTER YOU BUILT IT, HOW YOU, YOU'RE NOT CONNECTED NOW. WE'RE SITTING HERE WAITING AROUND FOR THE CITY TO COME BUILD IT, BUT THE CITY'S TELLING ME IT'S MY JOB TO DO. OKAY. SO WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO LITIGATE THAT HERE RIGHT NOW AND COME UP WITH A DECISION. I KNOW THAT SAL IS HERE. UM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE WHEN YOU REBUILD A PROPERTY TO SEE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. IF THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THAT, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF. BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT TOOK PLACE. AND I KNOW WE CAN'T DO ALL OF THAT HERE, BUT I KNOW SAL IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. AND WE CAN TAKE YOU STEP BY STEP AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, [01:55:01] WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO COME UP WITH A FAIR SOLUTION. AND I KNOW THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING, BUT JUST TRUST AND BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO WORK THROUGH THIS FOR YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. AND AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, IT'S NOT A LINE JUST FOR OUR PROPERTY. IT IS A LINE THAT SERVICES FIVE PROPERTIES ON THE BLOCK. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AS WELL. THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION. IS, UH, SAL HERE? UH, CHRIS? CHRIS. CHRIS IS, IS HERE. I'M SORRY. CHRIS IS HERE. CHRIS, CAN YOU, UM, CIRCLE BACK WITH US AND LET US KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSE IS? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. EDGAR JUAREZ. YES. YES. JUST ONE AT A TIME. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS EDGAR JUAREZ. I AM A CITIZEN OF, UH, I'M A RE, UH, MIDTOWN RESIDENT AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A BAR WHO CONTINUES TO BREAK THE LAW. THIS BAR'S NAME IS PALAPAS. UH, THE BAR FACES THREE OTHER LARGE APARTMENT CON CONDOMINIUMS. UH, WE HAVE CALLED THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER AND HAVE GIVEN THE ESTABLISHMENT MULTIPLE CITATIONS, CITATIONS THAT RECORD, UM, THE NOISE READINGS WAY ABOVE THE CITY LIMITS. AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, DURING A WEEKDAY, THEIR LIMIT IS AROUND 58 DECIBELS. UH, AFTER 10:00 PM THEY GO ABOVE 70. IT HAS COME TO A POINT WHERE WE CALL THE POLICE AND THE BAR SEIZED THE, UH, POLICE SIRENS AND THEY QUICKLY LOWERED THE MUSIC. IN OTHER CASES, THE POLICE GAVE A CITATION TO THE BAR. THEY LOWERED THE MUSIC. UH, BUT ONCE THE POLICE CAR LEFT, THEY CONTINUED TO PLAY THE MUSIC AT THE SAME LEVEL. UH, I HAVE A SIX MONTH DAUGHTER. I, I COULD BARELY PUT HER TO SLEEP WITH THE NOISE. EVEN WITH THE BASS VIBRATIONS GO THROUGH THE WINDOW, UH, WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF SLEEP TO THE DUE TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT. WE FEEL HOPELESS AT THIS POINT AND HAVE GIVEN THE ESTABLISHMENT MULTIPLE CITATIONS MORE THAN 25 IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WE FEEL WE FEEL MORE THAN LOST. UH, NOW THAT THE NOISE UNIT, UH, IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT BE WORKING SUNDAYS, MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS, I'M HERE REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE TO REMOVE THEIR NOISE PERMIT. UH, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS. UH, THIS IS A, THIS IS A CONSTANT DISRESPECT AND ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR. ONCE CITATION THAT WAS ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, HAD A COURT DATE IN LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER, UH, BECAUSE THE OWNER DIDN'T SHOW UP AND WENT TO THE WRONG COURT, IT GOT PUSHED TO FEBRUARY. I WENT TO THE SAME COURT IN FEBRUARY, AND THE POLICE OFFICER WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND. SO IT GOT PUSHED TO JULY. SO THE TI SO THE CITATION THAT WAS, UH, SAID IN SEPTEMBER. UH, NOW THE COURT DATE IS ALL THE WAY TO JULY, BASICALLY ALMOST A YEAR. UH, WE, WE RAN OUTTA OPTIONS. WE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HELPED US AS MUCH AS THEY CAN. THEY, THEY COME, THEY PUT CITATIONS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK THE LAW. AND I'M JUST HERE REQUESTING YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING. I'M SURE YOU HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK TO COME DOWN HERE. SO THIS MUST BE A REAL ISSUE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. UM, CERTAINLY WE, UH, UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM WITH THE COURT SITUATION. THEY GET A CITATION ISSUED. IT'S PROLONGED THROUGHOUT THE COURT PROCESS. IT'S DELAYED, IT'S PUT OFF. YOU DON'T GET ANY RELIEF. SO WE CHANGED THE ORDINANCE TO ADD AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS BAR? UH, PALAPAS PALAPAS. WELL, I WILL CERTAINLY BE ADVOCATING WITH THE A RA DIRECTOR TO BRING THIS BAR IN FOR ADMIN, AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. WE, WE PUT THAT IN WHEN WE REVISE THE ORDINANCE SO PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT OUT THE COURT SYSTEM FOR SO LONG. ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE GOTTEN 25 CITATIONS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S A DEFINITE CANDIDATE FOR THAT. THEN THAT BAR HAS TO COME IN AND PRESENT SOME KIND OF PLAN TO MITIGATE THAT NOISE. AND, AND THEN WE'VE GOTTA, YOU KNOW, GO FROM THERE TO, TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ENFORCE THAT PLAN, GET IT IMPLEMENTED, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS. AND WE'RE WORKING ON SOME FUTURE REVISIONS TO MAKE, TO PUT EVEN MORE TEETH IN IT. WE HEAR YOU. WE UNDERSTAND IT. WE DID, WE DO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEMS WITH IT DRAGGING OUT THROUGH COURT. AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT IN THIS ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. AND I WILL BE ADVOCATING, AND I'M SURE YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE ADVOCATING THAT THIS BAR BE BROUGHT IN FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING SO WE CAN TALK TO THE OWNERS AND, AND GET SOME KIND OF SOUND MITIGATION PLAN PUT IN PLACE. WE DO HEAR YOU. UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING DOWN HERE AND, AND TELLING US HOW THIS IS AFFECTING YOUR FAMILY AND, AND WE'RE ON IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. I, I WAS GONNA DEFER TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER IF SHE WAS IN QUEUE. OH, [02:00:01] OKAY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN PRETTY MUCH SUMMED IT UP. UH, YOU'RE NOT, YOU DON'T RESIDE IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THESE ISSUES, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE NOW THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCESS. UH, MY QUESTION WOULD BE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, ONE, WHERE DOES THIS CASE CURRENTLY STAND? AND TWO, UM, WHEN WE SEE THESE DELAYS LIKE THIS AND WE KNOW THAT IT COULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW, WHO IS LOOKING AT THAT TO DIRECT IT TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS? SO IF LEGAL IS AWARE THAT WE HAVE X NUMBER OF CITATIONS, THIS IS CLEARLY A BAD ACTOR BAR, UM, HOW ARE WE CATCHING SOME OF THOSE? FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO I'M NOT, UH, FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR RESTAURANT OR BAR. I KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER ONES. IT'S USUALLY BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF A RA WHO COMES TO US AND SAY, WE HAVE A BAD ACTOR. THEY, THEY WORK WITH HPD IN THE SOUND UNIT. UM, AND THERE'S, UH, CERTAIN SERGEANTS OVER THAT. SO, UM, IT, WHEN BECOMES AN ISSUE, WE NORMALLY DISCUSS IT. I'M NOT INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ONE, BUT IT HAS BEEN. YESTERDAY, I GOT A CALL ABOUT THIS. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT WHEN HE MENTIONED THE BAR, I SAID, I GOT A CALL ABOUT YESTERDAY. SO IT'S ON OUR RADAR NOW. SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING INTO IT. TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, MARIO VIEL. MARIO SULA. JESSE. HI EVERYONE. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. HELLO, MAYOR. UM, HELLO. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. WE'RE HERE WITH A FEW OTHER FOLKS, UM, TWO WHO ALREADY PRESENTED, AND TWO MORE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY, UM, TO TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBLE SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOSTS FOR SINGLE, UH, FAMILY UNITS. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA TELL MY STORY. I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT YOUR FOCUS MAY BE ON SORT OF LARGER UNITS, BUT I JUST WANNA TELL MY STORY AS WELL. UM, SO I CAME TO HOUSTON A FEW YEARS AGO. UH, I WAS A PATIENT AT MD ANDERSON. I CAME FOR TREATMENT AS MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON DO. AND I DID NOT WANNA STAY IN A HOTEL FOR SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. AND SO, UM, AFTER TREATMENT, I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR AND BE ABLE TO HOUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS, INCLUDING TREATMENTS AT OUR MEDICAL CENTERS. UM, AND SO I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, MY PASSION IS NOW. I ACTUALLY JUST RESIGNED AND MY LAST DAY OF MY JOB WAS TODAY. UM, SO, UM, I'M HERE JUST TO, TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NUISANCES, UM, IN THE CITY. AND, UH, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S, THE MAJORITY OF HOSTS ARE RESPONSIBLE HOSTS, RIGHT? WE, WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS. WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ABOUT OUR GUESTS, AND WE ARE VERY, VERY ADAMANT. YOU ASKED SOME QUESTIONS, MAYOR, ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE RES, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBLE GUESTS AT OUR PROPERTY. AND, UM, I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF US, UM, HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND DO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY FOR, YOU KNOW, OVERNIGHT PARTIES OR, OR ANY OF THAT. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT WE WANT HERE. WE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH YOU ALL GOING FORWARD AS YOU THINK THROUGH, UM, SOME OF, SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND THE NUISANCES THAT, THAT DO EXIST. AND AGAIN, WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND, AND, AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT CAN BE AN ISSUE. UM, AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE, UM, WITH YOU ALL. WE'RE, UH, REQUESTING THAT CITY OFFICIALS EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, UH, WITHOUT RESORTING TO AN OUTRIGHT BAN, UH, OR CLASSIFYING STRS, ALL STRS AS HOTELS. UM, AND THERE MAY BE OTHER, MAYBE OTHER OPTIONS. UH, WE WANNA EMPHASIZE THE BENEFITS OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND, UH, RESPONSIBLE RENTAL OWNERS AND OPERATORS. UM, AND WE OURSELVES ARE APPLYING PRESSURE TO AIRBNB, FOR EXAMPLE. UM, AND SO WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PART AS WELL. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MARY. UM, URSULA, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR COMING. I, I FIGURED YOU MAY NEED A FEW MORE SECONDS TRAP UP. DID YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL TIME? YEAH, NO, ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WANTED TO DO A QUICK LITTLE THING ABOUT RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE IMPORTANCE [02:05:01] OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN, IN HOUSTON, RIGHT? WE TALKED ABOUT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR GUESTS, YOU KNOW, CANCER PATIENTS, FAMILIES THAT ARE VISITING OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. WE'VE HAD NEIGHBORS HAVE OUR, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS STAY AT OUR SHORT TERM RENTALS. UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A HUGE CITY AND, UM, HOTELS JUST AREN'T ENOUGH. SO PAUSE THERE. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE SHORT TERM RENTALS OF YOUR OWN OR ARE YOU JUST I I DO, YEAH. STARTING TO GET INTO BUSINESS? NO, SO I'VE, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW. UM, HOW MANY, COULD I ASK HOW MANY UNITS YOU HAVE? YEAH, I HAVE, I'VE HAD THREE. I HAVE THREE NOW. I'VE HAD UP TO FIVE. AND I MAY, UH, BE ACQUIRING ANOTHER ONE IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. HMM. SO YEAH, BUT WE HAVE A RANGE OF, JUST QUICKLY, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO PRESENT ARE THOSE ACROSS THE BOARD WITH ONE UNIT WITH OUR RENTING OUT AND THEN DOING SHORT TERM RENTALS. SO WE HAVE KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD, UM, A DIFFERENT VARIETY OF OF FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED. AND ARE YOU A HOUSTONIAN? I AM NOW, YEAH. YEAH. I MOVED TO YOUR GLORIOUS CITY. NO. GREAT, GREAT. UH, ARE THERE ABSENTEE OWNERS IS KIND OF WHERE I WAS INQUIRING. OH, I UNDERSTAND. UM, NOT IN OUR, NOT IN THE GROUP THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO COUNCIL TODAY. NO. OKAY. STILL WITH CAYMAN. OH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE THROUGH. NO, I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE, UM, YOU ON, YOU SAID YOU'RE STEPPING DOWN FROM YOUR PREVIOUS JOB, SO OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOW YOUR SOLE, I'M ASSUMING, SOURCE OF INCOME, WHICH IS SOURCE OF INCOME, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT I DID WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SORRY YOU'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG ON A DAY YOU LIKELY WANT, WOULD WANT TO BE CELEBRATING . UM, AND I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED IN THE PAST WITH OUR OFFICE ON OTHER CONCERNS, SEWAGE, ET CETERA. SO THANK YOU FOR JUST WORKING WITH US. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND YOU FOR HELP WITH, WITH ALL THAT AS WELL, ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND THANK, THANKS FOR COMING SO MUCH. I MEAN, UH, YOU TELL A GREAT STORY. ARE YOU GUYS ORGANIZED IN ANY KIND OF GROUP? I MEAN, DOES IT HAVE A NAME? AND SO, UM, WE ARE WORKING ON A NAME, BUT WE DO HAVE MEMBERS AND WE HAVE A GROWING GROUP OF, OF, UH, OF FOLKS AS WELL. UM, OKAY. LA LAST YEAR I ATTENDED BEFORE THE FINAL FOUR WHEN HOUSTON HOSTED IT. UH, A GROUP OF VERY RESPONSIBLE OWNERS THAT, UH, YEAH. AT SOMEWHERE. AND, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE ME, I LOVE AIRBNBS. I STAY WITH STAY IN 'EM ALL OVER THE PLACE. YEAH. AND, AND I'M, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN A BAN OR SHUTTING ANYTHING DOWN. I MEAN, WE REALLY JUST HAVE TO TACKLE THE, THE NUISANCE PROBLEMS AND THE, AND THE KIND OF MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN OVER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT, BUT YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT AND I THINK AS WE LOOK AT ANY REVISIONS OR, OR ANY POTENTIAL REGULATIONS OR REGISTRATIONS OR WHATEVER WE'RE GONNA DO, UM, THAT YOUR GROUP WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDER AT THE TABLE. SO AS YOU GET ORGANIZED, PLEASE KEEP US, UM, IN THE LOOP. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. AND, AND WE ARE WORKING ON, ON GETTING IT OFFICIALLY ORGANIZED, BUT WE DO HAVE A, A GROUP OF MEMBERS HERE TODAY AND THE LARGER GROUP THAT AREN'T PRESENT HERE TODAY AS WELL. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT, ALEX PAPO MARTIN BRENDA GRASS. UH, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. UM, I AM HERE TO DISCUSS THE SAME ISSUE. SOME OF WHAT I MAY HAVE TO SAY IS MAYBE, UH, YOU, YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE, BUT AGAIN, I, I'M HERE TO GIVE THE OTHER SIDE, UH, REGARDING RESPONSIBLE OWNERS. AND, UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL REFER TO MY NOTES. MY MIND TENDS TO WANDER. SO, UM, UM, YOU'VE NO DOUBT HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS OR AKA AIRBNB. WHILE YOU WILL HAVE HEARD OF ISSUES REGARDING IRRESPONSIBLE, IRRESPONSIBLE GUESTS AND IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS, YOU PROBABLY AREN'T HEARING ABOUT THE GUEST STAYS AT PROBLEM FREE GUESTS WHO VISIT HOUSTON AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY. GUESTS WHO, FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS PREFER, UH, A HOME RATHER THAN A HOTEL. LISTENING HERE TODAY, TODAY, I, I, I HEAR, UM, THAT YOU DO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT AND, UH, I, I APPRECIATE THE OPEN DIALOGUE ON THESE, UH, ISSUES. MY WIFE AND I HAVE TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, UH, ONE IN DISTRICT C, UM, ONE IN DISTRICT H. UM, AND WE AREN'T DOING THIS TO GET RICH. I CAN TELL YOU THAT NEITHER US IS EITHER IS ANY CLOSER TO RETIRING FROM THIS. UM, WE'RE NO DIFFERENT THAN CITIZENS FOR DECADES THAT PURCHASED A SECOND HOME TO RENT OUT, TO BUILD A NEST EGG FOR THE FUTURE, FOR THEIR RETIREMENT. UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THREE YEARS, UH, IN OUR EARLIER [02:10:01] GREENER DAYS, WE DID HAVE, UH, WHY WE COULD SAY, WOULD SAY, WOULD BE TWO PROBLEM, UH, GUESTS. UM, WE LEARNED HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT, UM, TESTAMENT HOW TO, HOW, HOW WE RECTIFIED. THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORS ON BOTH OUR PROPERTIES. THEY TAKE OUT OUR TRASH RECYCLING AND BRING THE INFRA AS IF WE CAN'T BE, UH, AVAILABLE TO DO THAT. UH, AS YOU KNOW, TRASH AND RECYCLING DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN ON THE DAY IT'S SCHEDULED TO. SO, UM, UH, NEIGHBORS, UH, HAVE, UH, LIKE I SAID, HAVE EVEN RENTED FROM US WHEN THEY HAVE FAMILY COMING INTO TOWN AND THEY WANT 'EM CLOSE BY. THEY DON'T WANT THEM IN A HOTEL IN THE GALL OR DOWNTOWN. UM, SO AGAIN, THAT, UH, WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO, UH, STAY IN OUR NEIGHBORS GOOD GRACES. UH, AIRBNB ALSO DOES PROVIDE TOOLS TO STOP POTENTIAL NUISANCE GUESTS. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ALGORITHMS TO BLOCK PROBLEM GUEST BOOKINGS. PARTIES ARE STRICTLY FOR, UH, FORBIDDEN ON THE PLATFORM. AND, UH, GUESTS THAT VIOLATE THAT CAN BE EVICTED WITH NO REFUND. UH, WE HAD A SITUATION THIS PAST NEW YEAR'S EVE WHERE WE HAD PEOPLE TRYING TO BOOK AND THEY WERE FLAGGED BECAUSE THE DATE WAS, UH, WAS CONSIDERED RISKY THAT PEOPLE MAY WANT TO, UH, PARTY ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. UM, AND WE WOULD, WE WERE ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE AND THEY CLEARLY WERE NOT GONNA BE PROBLEM GUESTS YOUR TIME WOULDN'T ALLOW IT. COUNCIL, UM, CAYMAN, JUST, EXCUSE ME. ME, SIR. WE, WE PERSONALLY HAVE A THREE DAY MINIMUM ON OUR, ON OUR PROPERTY. TIME OUT FOR ONE MINUTE. COUNCILOR CAMAN? NO. MR. PENDERGRASS, I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE YOU JUST A FEW SECONDS. I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A REALLY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO JUST WRAP UP, UM, PLEASE. YEAH. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT MENTIONED THAT WHAT WE DO SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS HOTELS. AND, UH, WE, OUR, OUR PLACE IS A THREE DAY MINIMUM. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY HOTEL HAS EVER HAD A THREE DAY MINIMUM. UM, WE'RE, UH, I WILL GO OVER THIS. I, I RECOGNIZE, UH, THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF RESPONSIBLE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SUCH AS BOOSTING TOURISM, PROVIDING TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR FAMILIES IN TRANSITION, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES SUCH AS COFFEE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS. I EMPHASIZE THE ROLE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN PROVIDING COMFORT AND SUPPORTS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS CANCER PATIENTS SEEKING ACCOMMODATIONS DURING TREATMENT. AND I STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE HOSTING AND MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOSTERING POSITIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT, JOHN YABO. HELLO MAYOR WHITMORE COUNSEL. UM, I HOPE I'M ALSO HERE WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, UH, CONGLOMERATE THAT'S HERE. UH, WE HOPE THAT WE'RE NOT A VICTIM OF FATIGUE AT THIS POINT. OBVIOUSLY, YOU GUYS HAVE, HAVE HEARD AND PINPOINT THE MOST THAT IT AT, UH, THAT THE SUBJECT ENTAILS. UH, OBVIOUSLY I CAME HERE WITH THE INTENTION TO FULLY DIVE INTO IT, BUT FROM WHAT I SENSE AND TO DO SO FAR, YOU GUYS SEEM TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE HOST, THE MAIN HOST OF MOST OF THE ISSUES ARE COMING MORE SO FROM THE LARGER, UM, INVESTMENT PARTIES, MULTI-FAMILIES. I'VE BEEN A HOST NOW FOR EIGHT YEARS, WAS AMONG THE FIRST TIER OF WAVE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT JOINED THIS PLATFORM. I'M A FORMER, FORMER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, UM, VERY BRIEFLY, UM, THAT CAME CUT SHORT DUE TO INJURY. UM, ONE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PLATFORM IS THE SUSTAINABILITY THAT IT HAS. OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GONNA NEED SOMEWHERE TO STAY, WHICH, UH, INTRIGUED ME AND, UH, GRAVITATED ME TOWARDS THE PLATFORM. UM, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MILD OF BENEFITS THAT COME FROM HOSTING AS FAR AS CONNECTIVITY TO THE COMMUNITY. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. UH, I DO HAVE SEVERAL SAFEGUARDS AS A HOST THAT ELIMINATE A LOT OF THESE, UM, NUANCES, UH, NUISANCES, UM, THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, UH, SPOKEN ON SO FAR? ONE WOULD BE, AS MY COLLEAGUE JUST MENTIONED, UM, A THREE DAY MINIMUM THAT HAS ALLEVIATED A MAJOR, UM, WAVE OF ANY, UH, YOU KNOW, UNWANTED EXPERIENCES THAT I HAD IN MY INITIAL DAYS. UM, SO YEAH, UH, I DID HAVE A THREE MINUTE, UH, LAPSE HERE TO SPEAK, BUT, UH, MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, UH, TACKLE, UH, MOST OF MY PINPOINT. SO I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE, FROM SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN IN THE PLATFORM FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS NOW, STARTING FROM WHEN THE SUPER BOWL CAME TO HOUSTON, UH, 2016. 2017. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING. SO, THE THREE DAY MINIMUM HAS BEEN A BIG DETERRENT FROM ANY, DID YOU, DID YOU INITIALLY SAY YOU COULD DO ONE NIGHT AND THEN YOU HAD SOME PARTY PEOPLE? YEAH, NO, I, I FEEL JUST PERSONALLY, UM, THE ONE NIGHT, UM, IT INVITES A LOT OF UNWANTED RIGHT, UH, SHOOTERS, YOU KNOW, LAST MINUTE PEOPLE OVER, WE AT THE CLUB, LET'S GET A B FOR ONE NIGHT AND GO DO WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO. THAT'S FECKLESS BEHAVIOR. BUT, UH, ONCE I DID IMPLEMENT [02:15:01] THAT THREE DAY, UM, MINIMUM, IT'S NIGHT AND DAY AS FAR AS ANY ISSUES. AND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, I HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE, YOU KNOW, UNWANTED GUEST. I'M A SUPERHOST ON THERE. ALL OF MY STAYS. I'VE HOSTED OVER A THOUSAND, UH, GUESTS IN TOTAL. UM, I HAVE FOUR, 4.84, UM, OUT OF FIVE STARS RIGHT NOW, RATING ON THERE. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, SIR. WHOOP. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. YES, SIR. THANKS FOR COMING. I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, YOUR VIEWPOINT, BUT CAN, CAN YOU SHARE ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW THAT, FOR INSTANCE, THE THREE NIGHT MINIMUM MIGHT BE ENFORCED? UH, IT'S, IT'S REGULATED WITHIN THE APP. UM, EACH HOST HAVE THE RIGHTS TO SET THEIR OWN PARAMETERS FOR AS FAR AS RESTRICTIONS, RULES, UH, MINIMUM STAYS, PRICING, THINGS OF THAT NATURE IS A PRETTY, UH, IN-DEPTH APP. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT, BUT HOW WILL THAT HELP THE CITY ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF PARTY HOUSES THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, DISRUPT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? UH, IT'S NOT A PERFECT SCIENCE, BUT JUST FROM EXPERIENCE, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS GOVERN INDIVIDUALS, SO THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE THAT ONE, UH, BLACK SHEEP IN A GROUP. SO IT, IT IS NOT A PERFECT SIGN, BUT JUST FROM EXPERIENCE THAT ALLEVIATES A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO RENT THESE PLACES FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS JUST TO PARTY OR FOR SHORT TERM PLEASURES. UM, ONCE I IMPLEMENTED THAT THREE DAY MINIMUM, MOST OF MY GUESTS ARE FAMILIES VISITING FOR SOMEBODY IN THE HOSPITAL OR THEIR KIDS HAVE WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IT JUST, IT JUST SEEMS TO WORK. MM-HMM . AND DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON OTHER, OTHER, UH, REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS IT CAN BE, UH, IMPOSED ON SHORT TERM RENTALS TO, UH, MAKE A MORE RESPONSIVE IN GENERAL? UH, YES, CERTAINLY. I'M ALSO A LICENSED REAL REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT AND A REALTOR AS WELL. AND SIMILAR TO GETTING YOUR LICENSE, UH, JUST SOME, SOME FORM OF EDUCATION PRIOR TO GETTING ON APP TO HOSTING, WHICH I THINK IS FAIR. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A, A BLIND SICKLE FAN TO, TO BE HERE AND SAY, LET'S, ANYBODY CAN JUST HOP ON AIRBNB AND HOST. THERE IS SOME SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS NEEDED, UH, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, UH, ANNUAL OR BIANNUAL FOLLOW UP. OBVIOUSLY THE STUDIES NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS SOME FORM OF EDUCATION OR REGULATION IN REGARDS TO WHO'S ALLOWED TO HOST. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. UH, NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR PROCEDURAL FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MS. JUDY ADAMS UP, UH, TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, JUDY ADAMS, UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. UM, THANK YOU FOR MOVING ME UP BECAUSE I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. UH, MY DAUGHTER IS GETTING MARRIED IN 10 DAYS, AND I NEED TO FOCUS ON FAMILY AND THAT JOYFUL OCCASION. BUT I HAD TO THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR PUTTING A PAUSE ON THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHILE THE CITY LEGAL COUNSEL RESEARCHES THE MMD, ITS VALIDITY AND HOPEFULLY AUDITS THEIR BOOKS. PLEASE KNOW THAT THEY DID NOT CEASE AND DESIST AS YOU ASKED. SOMEHOW IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THEY RETURNED TO THE DEFUNCT TAX RECORDS FROM 2016 AND FOR OTHER BUSINESSES, MAYBE IT'S 2017, THEY RETURNED THOSE TO THE RULES OF EQU TAX. THEY HAD PENALTIES IN PLACE TO ACTIVATE YESTERDAY, APRIL 1ST. AND THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED. I SUBMIT TO THE MAYOR, UM, A COPY OF MY EQU TAX FROM LAST MONTH, WHICH SHOWS NO PENALTIES. AND THIS MONTH'S, WHICH SHOWS THAT THE PENALTIES ARE STARTING, THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY TO INSIST THAT HAWS HILL, THE ADMINISTRATORS HAVE THESE TAXES REMOVED FROM THE BUSINESS ACCOUNTS NOW. THANK YOU. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER, CAN I RESPOND? YES. YEAH, I LOOKED UP YOUR STATEMENT. IF I WAS YOU, IN FACT, I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU JUST COMPLETELY IGNORE IT. OKAY. BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT COLLECTING MONEY, THEY'RE NOT OPERATIONAL. THEY'RE GONNA PUT A LIEN ON YOUR HOUSE. THEY HAVE CEASED TO EXIST UNTIL THEY GET PROPER MEMBERSHIP ON THEIR BOARD, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO CONTROL. OKAY. I APPRECIATE. NOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY, IF YOU SEE ANYBODY TAKING ANY ACTION AGAINST YOU, GET A HOLD OF US. BUT RIGHT NOW, IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN ASSURED BY THEM, THEY'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD. 'CAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT IN BUSINESS ANY LONGER. OKAY. I I, I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I DEALT WITH THEM FOR SO LONG. I KNOW. I LET, MAY I FINISH? THERE'S JUST THIS FEAR THAT THOSE [02:20:01] THINGS, THOSE NUMBERS ARE ON THE BOOKS. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. AND IF THEY WERE TO COME INTO EXISTENCE IN THE YEAR, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT IF AND WHEN THEY EVER START BACK UP. OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. BUT YOU HAVEN'T, YOU'VE DEALT WITH THEM FOR YEARS, BUT YOU HAVEN'T DEALT WITH ME FOR YEARS. . I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS. THANK YOU. AND SO THEY'RE NOT GOING BACK IN BUSINESS UNTIL A LOT OF, UH, COMPLETE RE RESTART. WE GOTTA SEE WHAT THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES WANT TO DO. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTION WAS GONNA FOLLOW, UH, YOU KNOW, JUDY, YOU'RE RAISING A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE OF SOMETHING IS WITH EQUIFAX RIGHT NOW. AND I CAN'T GIVE, I CAN'T OFFER THAT, THAT LEGAL ADVICE. BUT MY QUESTION WAS, MAYOR, AND I THINK YOU CLARIFIED IT, HOW WE ENSURE AS A CITY, THE ENFORCEMENT, SO THAT THAT NO ACTION IS TAKEN ON THAT. UM, I KNOW WHEN I HAD SPOKEN WITH THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY, MAYOR, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION WHERE THEY WERE NOT PURSUING VIA EQUIFAX, ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT. SO I JUST, THAT'S WHAT WAS COMMUNICATED TO ME. I WANNA SAY THAT. AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN, SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL AS SMALL BUSINESSES ARE PROTECTED, UM, FROM UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES GIVEN WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT I SAW SOME OF THE, UM, STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT SAID WE WILL NOT ASSESS GOING FORWARD. WE WILL NOT ASSESS FOR 2024. THESE ARE THE LITTLE GRAY LINES THAT SCARE US BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW THEY WORK. BUT IN YOUR LOOKING AT RETROACTIVELY WHAT IS BEING CLAIMED AS AN ASSESSMENT PREVIOUSLY UNTIL THE MAYOR HAD ANNOUNCED THE CITY'S POSITION. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KEEP ME POSTED. NEXT SEMINAR FOSTER DO SALE. JENNA WILEY. JENNA, WALLY, DARRELL BANKS. DENNIS WOODARD. I THOUGHT IT WAS LAST, BUT, YOU KNOW, SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST KIND OF THING. UH, MOST PEOPLE WOULD BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD STICK WITH ONE TOPIC. I BELIEVE YOU'RE CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE THAN THAT. TRASH COLLECTION IN HOUSTON IS A BURDEN. MY CHILD AND I ARE PART OF THE REASON IT'S NOT A BIGGER BURDEN. MY CHILD RECYCLED 900 PUMPKINS LAST FALL. I RECYCLED A HUNDRED. SO THAT'S LIKE THREE TH 6,000 POUNDS OF MATERIAL SOLID WASTE. DIDN'T HAVE TO PICK UP THIS EFFORT BY MY CHILD. MY, MY DAUGHTER RESULTED, CAUSED A RESIDENT TO CALL THE DIVISION OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION. AND MY CHILD WAS ISSUED A WARNING FOR CREATING A POTENTIAL BIOHAZARD. THE BEAUTIFUL PILE OF 900 PUMPKINS DISPLAYED AT MY CHILD'S RESIDENCE WERE NO MORE A POTENTIAL BIOHAZARD WHEN THAN WHEN THEY WERE IN A BIG BOX AT KROGER. WE ALSO PICK UP BAGS OF YARD WASTE FROM THE CURBS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE PERSONALLY COMPOSTED 3,600 BAGS OF YARD WASTE OVER 30 YEARS. IT'S ACTUALLY A VIOLATION OF A CITY CODE. PLEASE CHANGE THE CODE. SOME PEOPLE ADHERE TO ANTIQUATED CODES, WHETHER THEY'RE ENFORCED OR NOT. PLEASE CHANGE THE CODE TO ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO REMOVE SOME OF THE ORGANIC MATTER FROM THE WASTE STREAM. HERE'S THE SECOND, SECOND TOPIC. WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING TO WE COULD DO TO REDUCE FLOODING IN THE CITY. THE AMOUNT OF WATER PERCOLATING DOWN THROUGH THE SOIL WILL INCREASE IF WE CHANGE THE WAY WE MAINTAIN THE LAND. EVEN DEAD TREES ON THE GROUND ARE A POSITIVE THING AS THEY FEED THE ORGANISMS THAT ENRICH THE SOIL AND INCREASE FRIABILITY. FRIABILITY IS THE ABILITY OF WATER TO SOAK INTO THE GROUND. HARD PACKED SOIL DOESN'T SOAK IN WATER. UNTOUCHED LAND DOES REMOVAL OF TREES DAMAGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT BY REMOVING THE ORGANIC MATTER THAT COULD IMPROVE THE SOIL AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS TO FEED THE SOIL MICROBIOME AND INCREASE FRIABILITY. MOST OF THE COST OF REMOVING A DEAD TREE IS THE REMOVAL PART. IF THEY CUT IT DOWN AND LEFT IT ON THE GROUND, THAT WOULD REDUCE, GREATLY REDUCE THE COST. SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE CITY THAT COULD CUT THE TRUNKS AND PUT 'EM IN SQUARES OR TRIANGLES, PREVENTING MOWERS FROM GETTING INSIDE THOSE SPACES AND TREES. GUESS WHAT? THEY ACTUALLY GROW ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT BEING PLANTED. IF YOU JUST LEAVE THE, THE, THE THEM ALONE, I'D LIKE [02:25:01] A, A PROGRAM CALLED TRIANGLES FOR TREES TO BE IMPLEMENTED SO THAT WHEN A TREE IS CUT DOWN, THEY CREATE A SPOT WHERE TREES CAN ACTUALLY GROW WITHOUT ANYONE HAVING TO PLANT THEM. THE TREES DECOMPOSE AND FEED THE WONDERFUL PEATED WOODPECKER, WHICH WE'VE EVICTED FROM THE CITY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK PARTLY ON, ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS. LAST YEAR IN SPRING BRANCH, A GIANT PILE OF WOOD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED FOR DAYS. IT NEVER WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF THOSE TREES HAD REMAINED WHERE THEY WERE. THIRD TOPIC, THE WEED EATERS. YOUR TIME HAS FIRE. JUST 10 SECONDS ON WEEDED. YEAH. GO, GO FOR IT. I CAN'T WAIT. OKAY. WE BUY THE CITY BUY TAKES MY TAX DOLLARS AND BUYS PLASTIC WEED EATER LINE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT'S ALL GONE. AND GUESS WHERE IT IS? THEY SPREAD IT OUT ALL OVER THESE CITY PARKS. THEY DON'T NEED TO WEED EAT AROUND THOSE TREES. NOTHING. THERE'S NOT GONNA BE THE END OF THE WORLD IF THEY DON'T WEED EAT AROUND THE TREES. ACTUALLY, THE TREES WILL PREFER THAT 'CAUSE THEY GET THE BIG BARK RIPPED OFF THE TREES. MM-HMM . THEY ACTUALLY PUT PLASTIC COLLARS MORE PLASTIC IN THE PARKS. THEY'RE NEVER GONNA RETRIEVE. THEY LEAVE THIS TRASH IN OUR PARKS. THE CITY. I TRIED TO GET HPD TO GO GIVE HOUSTON PARKS AND WRECK A TICKET, BUT A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TOLD ME I PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET ANY TRACTION THERE. EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE LITTERING. WE CAN PROVE THAT. 'CAUSE THEY BUY THE BUY THE LINE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. IT'S GONE. WE'RE TRASHING OUR PARKS. VERY GOOD. MY TAX DOLLARS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. YOU TOO. BE SAFE. STEVE WILLIAMS, JACQUELINE BROOKS, ADDIE, KAREN HOLMES. DOLORES MAGRUDER. RONALD FORD DID. OH, I'M SORRY. DOLORES MAGRUDER. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. COME ON. OKAY. BACK TO, OH, OKAY. HAVE THE UH, SIR, I HAVE TO HAVE THE MIC 'CAUSE I CAN'T STAND HIM. UM, THE MATCH, THE MIC DOESN'T MOVE BACK THAT I CAN JOY OR STEVENSON. MS. DOLORES MRU. I, YOU HAVE TO BE HIGH. I CAME HERE ONCE. THEY'RE GONNA BRING IT DOWN. THEY'RE GONNA BRING DOWN, YEAH. YEAH. I WAS HERE ONCE BEFORE AND THEY HIT ME. THERE YOU GO. HOW ABOUT THAT? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. HAVE A SEAT. OH, SHE WANTS TO SIT IN HER. OKAY. THANK YOU. HELLO, UH, TO, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE, MS. UH, PLUMMER AND TO, UH, MY COUNCIL LADY OF MS. TORCH JACKSON, AND TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER. MSS, UH, UH, MRS. ELCO. THANK YOU. AS I SAY, I'M UP IN AGE AND I'M JUST SO HAPPY FOR ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE TO BE HERE. WISH THE MAYOR WAS HERE, BUT I CAN TALK TO THE COUNCIL. UH, PROTE AND I, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MY, UH, FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. MANY PEOPLES DON'T KNOW, AND MAYBE THEY DO THAT. YOU KNOW, FIFTH WARD HAS ALWAYS LINGERED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS CITY. WE ARE THE ONES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE STANDS ON THE FOUNDATION. WE ARE THE FOUNDATION. AND A LOT OF TIME PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT THE FOUNDATION. SO I COME TO SPEAK ON THE FIELD, WORLD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION. I'M THE COORDINATOR OF THE MEMBERSHIP. SO THEREFORE, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A PROBLEM WHEN IT COME TO OUR HAVING ELECTIONS. IT'S NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE MEMBERSHIP DECIDED DURING COVID-19 THAT WE SHOULD SUSPEND, SUSPEND AVA MEMBER, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS. I MEAN, EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGHOUT THE WORLD REALIZED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UPON US. ALL OF A SUDDEN, SO MANY PEOPLES THAT WAS MEMBERS AND STILL MEMBERS OF THE FIELD FOREST SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE. THEY HAD TOO MANY OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. WE [02:30:01] ARE ORGANIZATION THAT'S DEDICATED TO THE FIFTH WARD. AS A FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATOR, A MEMBERSHIP. I'M THE FIRST FRONTIER LINE THAT KNOWS ABOUT WHEN WE GOING TO HAVE ELECTIONS. YOU KNOW, IT IS A SHAME, UH, THAT IN MY COMMUNITY WE HAVE MANY ORGANIZATION, BUT WE ARE NOT UNITED. SO WHAT HAPPENS? ONE ORGANIZATION COME AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OTHER ONE. WE ARE NOT CHILDREN. WE GROWN PEOPLE SURROUND HERE. AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE HAPPY TO BE A MEMBER. WE HAVE A GREAT PRESIDENT WHEN NO ONE ELSE COULD HELP US. GUESS WHO STEPPED IN? IT WAS MISSED. OUR PRESIDENT, JOTA STEVENSON, SHE ORGANIZED FOOD DRIVE WATER DRIVES. SHE HAD SHEILA JACKSON LEE, OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, TO COME THERE IN FIT WAR SO THAT WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE WE CAN GET COVID-19. EVERYWHERE ELSE WAS AROUND IN THE CITY, COULD GO GET A COVID-19 SHOT, BUT NOT IN FIFTH WARD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YES. AND SO THAT'S WHY MS. MAGDA, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION AND WE KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT TO SAY. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU IF YOU WOULD JUST YIELD TO HER FOR A SECOND. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR. MA'AM. MAAM. AND MS. MAGDA, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU, UM, SOME MORE TIME, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS. YOU PUT A HUGE SMILE ON MY FACE. UM, WHEN YOU COME IN, YOU'RE SUCH A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR, YOU KNOW, FEEL FORWARD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. YES. AND SO IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR YOU GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS. YES. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT SHE IS INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING THE TRASH PATROL RIGHT NOW. I'M SORRY. WE SITTING IN A PILE OF TRASH RIGHT HERE. THEY HAVE NOT PICKED UP OUR TRASH GOING ON THREE MONTHS. THREE MONTHS. NOT PICKING UP THE TRASH. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED THAT TO HAPPEN. MS. TORCH, JACKSON, MS. PLUM. MS. ABORN, WE NEED OUR TRASH PICKED UP BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? RESTAURANT START COMING TO YOUR COMMUNITY. WE DON'T NEED A RAT PROBLEM. NOT IN THE FIELD WAR COMMUNITY, NOT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE DO NOT WANT TO BECOME ANOTHER NEW YORK. SO THEREFORE WE NEED TO GET ON THE BALL BY HAVING NO MAINTENANCE PEOPLE WHO PICK UP TRASH TO COME AND START PICKING UP ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO I JUST APPRECIATE BEING HERE. I GIVE HONOR TO ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE, THE NEW COUNCIL PEOPLE, AND THE ONES THAT WAS ABLE TO GET REELECTED. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORT FOR HAVING US TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY CALLED HOUSTON, TEXAS AND FOOT WATER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WE'LL GO BACK TO YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. AND JUST WANT MISS, MISS MAGDA, UM, THIS TRASH BEEN SITTING OUT THERE FOR THREE MONTHS. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. OKAY. YES. SO PJ AND FRED, UM, IS BACK THERE. YOU KNOW, WE PAY FOR A HOT TEAM THROUGH OUR DISTRICT SERVICE FUND. SO AGAIN, THERE'S UNACCEPTABLE, UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE TRASH SITTING THERE FOR THREE MONTHS GOING ON. UM, AND, AND THEN WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. SO JUST REACH OUT TO THE OFFICE, 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 AND WE'LL GIVE PJ AND THE HOT TEAM OUT TO PICK UP TRASH, ESPECIALLY TRASH THAT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR THREE MONTHS. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. NO. GOING ON THREE, GOING ON THREE MONTHS. THAT, THAT'S STILL UNACCEPTABLE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANNA SAY ONE THING. AS I WAS LEAVING, I THOUGHT ABOUT MY MUSTARD SEED PROGRAM. THAT'S THE KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF ONE DAY AND 14 YEARS OLD. WE NEED THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS BECOME A BUDDY TO THESE BABIES IN OUR CITY. WHY NOT? THEY CAN'T DO IT. THEY CAN HAVE TIME TO DO IT. YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE TIME FOR SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. AND OUR BABIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS IMPORTANT TO. SO INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, UH, AFTER THE FACT, WE WANT CRIME PREVENTION TO BE TAUGHT TO ALL OUR CHILDREN IN THIS GLORIOUS CITY CALLED HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU MS. MAGDA. UH, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'D LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. HANG ON ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR . I JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO, MS. MAGRUDER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS ADVOCATING AND EVERYONE BEHIND YOU. I KNOW THAT EVERYONE'S GONNA SPEAK IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND, UM, AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MS. JOTA STEVENSON. JOTA STEVENSON. MR. BULL, MR. FORD. HAVE ONE, HAVE A SEAT FOR ME. LET ENJOY THE GOLD PERSON. IS THAT OKAY? [02:35:05] OH, SORRY. HOLD ON. GOOD AFTERNOON. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM AND TO THE MAYOR WHEREVER HE MIGHT BE. UH, MY NAME IS JOTA STEVENSON AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 55. I AM HERE TODAY TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND AND TRANSPARENCY ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN JANUARY, 2018 TO THE PRESENT REGARDING SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 55. I AM ALSO SPEAKING WITH THE INTENT TO DISPEL THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT WAS PROVIDED BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO THIS BODY. MARCH 26TH DURING COUNCIL MEETING STARTING IN JANUARY, 2018, I WAS SWORN IN AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IN 2019. COVID-19 HIT IN 2020 COVID-19, SHUT DOWN OUR NATION. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF, OF MARCH IN OCTOBER OF 2020. THAT'S WHEN A MOTION WAS MADE ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2020. UH, FROM THE BODY, IT WAS VOTED AND APPROVED, STATING THAT THE CURRENT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, 55 OFFICERS WILL STAY IN PLACE UNTIL AN ELECTION CAN BE HELD. IT WAS DONE DEMOCRATICALLY. IT WAS DONE DECENT. AND IN ORDER, COME 2021, WE STILL WERE UP UNDER A LOT OF COVID REGULATIONS AS WELL AS THE WINTER STORM URI THAT HIT US IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE ALSO, UH, IN 2022, WE WERE STILL UNDER COVID REGULATIONS. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, I CAN SAY IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE, THE MOST ACTIVE AND BUSIEST SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. I, THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE LOYAL THAT WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY. UH, BESIDES, UH, AND THERE ARE SOME THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT, BUT I WANT WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY COME 2023. WE WERE STILL WORKING HARD COME 2024 UP TO THIS PRESENT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAD OUR VERY FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING IN JANUARY. THE FIRST ONE IN THAT MEETING, SOMEONE BROUGHT UP AT THE VERY END AT, DURING THE ADJOURNMENT, THEY BROUGHT UP THE ELECTION AND I TRIED TO ANSWER THE BEST I COULD. SO WHAT HAPPENED IS, FOR THE FEBRUARY MEETING, WHEN I SENT OUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT, I ALSO SENT OUT THE INFORMATION STATING THAT, UH, A LOT OF THINGS OF COURSE. BUT WE ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE, UH, GREATER FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE HELD LATER IN THIS YEAR, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT ALL SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVE WHAT, 11 PAGES SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING HARD TO, TO WORK ON. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH DAWN, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR, UH, PRIORITY IS FOR US TO DEAL WITH OUR BYLAWS. SO I WANTED TO LET THAT YOU KNOW THAT AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE A, A STRUCTURED AND WELL ORGANIZED MACHINE. MS. STEVENSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND SHARING YOUR VIEWS TODAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROTO. MS. STEVENSON, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE TIME TO WRAP UP 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE OH, THAT'S FINE. THE, THE, THE CONCERNS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN A FIERCE ADVOCATE AND YOU, I AGREE WITH YOU. FIFTH WARD HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE, UM, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, I MEAN, THROUGH COVID, YOU KNOW, EVEN NOW. AND SO, UM, I KNOW MY OFFICE REACHED OUT JUST TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE ELECTION BECAUSE WE RECEIVED SEVERAL, UM, CALLS AND SOMEONE CAME IN LAST WEEK, AND SO I KNOW YOU'RE HERE TO ADDRESS THOSE. AND SO GO AHEAD AND FINISH, UM, YOU KNOW, OUTLINING YOUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN UP TO. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH COUNCILWOMAN. AND I WANNA THANK NOT JUST YOU, BUT I WANNA THANK SOME OF OUR BRAND NEW COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPROACHED US AND, AND CONNECTED WITH FIFTH WARD. AND I WANNA THANK OUR, OUR STEADFAST COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS, UH, SALLY ALCORN AND DR. PLUMMER. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. SO NEXT SPEAKER, NOW, MR. FORD. [02:40:07] AND I'M HERE. FIRST OF ALL, HELLO TO THE COUNCIL PEOPLE. HELLO, MR. FORD. I'M GOING TO JUST PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT MY WIFE SAY. UH, MS. JOTA STEVENSON, SHE'S A STRONG LEADER IN OUR FIFTH WARD AREA, AND I RECOMMEND HER TO KEEP ON BEING OUR PRESIDENT. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU MR. FORD. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. SHEILA EE. SHEILA EE NOT HERE. SHE'S NOT HERE. FE ENE CITY COUNCIL. HOW ARE YOU SIR? UH, MY NAME IS FE. UH, UH, I JUST JOINED THIS, UH, UH, ORGANIZATION. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT, UH, I'M HAPPY WORKING WITH A BUNCH OF LADIES. MR. DELORES AND MS. DOTA GOT ME INTO THIS, AND I ENJOY, I'M ONE OF THE, UH, FOOD, UH, WORK AT THE FOOD BANK. ANY ONE OF 'EM THAT CALLED ME ON THE PHONE, I'M READY TO GO. I'LL BE READY FOR THE EVENING. CALL ME, I'LL BE READY. SO, UH, I THANK THEM FOR LEADING ME TO A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MR. BEN. ME. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'D LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. MR. BEN. MR. BENAMI. SORRY, JUST ONE SECOND. SIR. SIR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, UH, YOU OBVIOUSLY PUT IN A FEW YEARS OF WORK. YOU'RE A DAY OLDER THAN 51 OR 52, SO YOU, YOU WORKED HARD THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND WHEN THEY CALL YOU FOUR YEARS, YOU SHOW UP. WELL, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. AND THANK Y'ALL FOR SITTING THROUGH THIS TODAY. MR. DELORES AND MS. JOTA GOT ME INTO THIS AND I ENJOYED, WELL, THANKS TO MS. JOTA AND MS. DELORES AND THE REST OF THE CREW. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. IRMA MARSHALLS. IRMA MARSHALLS. GOOD EVENING. HELLO TO AM MAYOR, UH, WHITMEYER AND THE CITY COUNCILMAN. MY NAME IS IRMA MARSHALL . I CORRECTED THAT , YOU KNOW, I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. UM, I'M WITH, UH, THE FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, UM, I CAME TO HOUSTON IN 1994 AND I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THERE I ALSO GOT ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEN I MET, UM, MS. UH, MAGRUDER, SHE INTRODUCED ME TO MS. JOTA. I DIDN'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS KIND OF SHED IN FOR A WHILE, BUT I GOT VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WITH MS. JOTA AND MS. MAGRUDER, IT INTRODUCED ME TO MANY PEOPLE AND ALSO TO THE CITY COUNCILMEN. I DID NOT KNOW ANYONE BECAUSE I WAS CLOSED IN. BUT BEING, UM, ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, IT EDUCATED ME TO GET TO KNOW MANY PEOPLE. EVEN WITH THE CITY COUNCILMEN, I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THEM. AND MS. JOTA BEGAN TO GIVE ME INFORMATION. SHE'S THE PERSON THAT WOULD ALWAYS SEND OUT INFORMATION. AND WHEN I GOT ACTIVE, I BEGAN TO SHARE OTHER INFORMATION WITH MY NEIGHBORS THAT WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN UM, YOU CAN'T SHARE INFORMATION. AND TO GET TO KNOW MS. JOTA, SHE BEGAN TO SHARE INFORMATION. AND THAT MEAN IT WAS SO ENLIGHTENING TO KNOW SO MUCH. AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, IT, IT GOT ME SO INVOLVED AND I GOT ENTHUSIASTIC AS ABOUT, UH, BEING AT THE MEETINGS AND MEETING OTHER PEOPLE. I GOT TO KNOW YOU, MS. JACKSON, , I EVEN GOT TO KNOW YOU, MS. PLUM, , EVEN FINALLY, MS. ALCON, I, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST PEOPLE I GOT TO MEET AND IT'S JUST A JOY. BUT MS. JOYA WAS, IS REALLY A REALLY AMAZING, [02:45:01] UM, SHE'S JUST A AMAZING PERSON. AND YOU KNOW, THE WORD INTEGRITY KIND OF, IT'S KIND OF WENT UP WITH ME BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAY INTEGRITY, IT MEAN THAT IT, IT, IT DAMPERS YOU BECAUSE YOUR CHARACTER IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SHE HAS CHARACTER, SHE HAS HONEST HONESTY, AND I FEEL THAT SHE'S ONE THAT BELIEVES IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE AND WITH THE PEOPLE. AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. JUST ONE MINUTE, MS. MARSHALL. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. AND MS. MARSHALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING, UM, YOUR, YOUR STORY. IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR PEOPLE THAT WAS ONE ONCE DIDN'T ENGAGE, NOW ENGAGING, UM, CIVICALLY AND IT TAKES LEADERS LIKE MISS JOTA TO DO THAT. UM, I, AGAIN, MISS JOTA, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, I'VE WORKED WITH YOU FOR QUITE SOME TIME OVER AT TOP. YOU KNOW, WE WERE, UM, TEXAS ORGANIZING PROCESS. SHE WAS A MEMBER AND SHE WAS A FORCE TO BE RECKON WITH SOMETIMES LIKE, WHY DID I BRING HER ON HERE? BECAUSE SHE'S JUST A FIGHTER AND SOMETIMES YOU NOT, YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE FIGHTING. SHE WANNA FIGHT AND SHE'S FIGHTING NOT JUST IN FIFTH WARD, BUT ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. SO IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THE FOLKS THAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO RECRUIT AND GET INVOLVED IN FIFTH WARD. THAT'S WHY FIFTH WARD IS ONE OF THE BEST. NA I SAID ONE OF THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT B BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT YOU GUYS ARE VERY ACTIVE. SO KEEP IT UP AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU WITH HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU FOR COMING. MS. MARSHALL. MS. MARSHALL, JUST ONE SECOND. JUST THANKS FOR COMING. MS. MARSHALL, JUST REAL QUICK, I MEAN THE, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS WERE A GREAT LEGACY OF FORMER MAYOR LEE P BROWN, A WAY FOR US TO GET INFORMATION DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY FROM CITY HALL AND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A WAY FOR US TO GET INFORMATION FROM YOU, UH, COMING UP THROUGH CITY HALL. SO JUST APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR PER AND THANK YOU MS. MARSHALL FOR BEING HERE. AND MR. WETA, I AM, I, THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. THANK YOU. YOU SH AND, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T SHARE TRUTHS, BUT WHAT YOU SAID, MS. MARSHALL, ABOUT INTEGRITY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DEAD ON. UM, I MEAN, MSTA ALWAYS SHARES THE, THE FACTS AND THAT WE'RE ALL ABLE TO DECIPHER WHAT WE WANNA DO WITH THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE ALWAYS KNOW THE INFORMATION IS TRUE AND THERE'S, THERE'S PASSION AND CARE, UM, BEHIND IT. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M SO GLAD THAT SHE HAD THE SAME INFLUENCE ON YOU THAT SHE HAD ON SO MANY OF US. THANK YOU. UM, THAT, THAT ARE NEW TO THE, NOT NEW TO THE HORSESHOE, BUT NEW FOUR YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. IT FIT THE WORD IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY AND, UM, AND, AND Y'ALL ARE PRESERVING IT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, THE ENTIRE GROUP, THE ENTIRE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. IT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT, BUT, UH, WE HEAR GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY ARE NOTED. AND SO I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT TO COME DOWN HERE ON A TUESDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BE CHEER . GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBER. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. UH, MY NAME IS HIN. I LIVE IN, UH, 600 NOTTINGHAM OAK STREET. IT'S LOCATED, UH, COMP APARTMENT COMPLEX LOCATED BETWEEN ELDRIDGE, UH, DAIRY ASHFORD, THE MEMORIAL. I'VE BEEN LIVING THIS COMPLEX FOR THE, I MEAN, SINCE, UH, 2005. UH, I HAD A NEIGHBOR SINCE THEN AND HE'S NOW 94 YEARS OLD. SO LIKE, UH, THE LAST TWO YEARS HE FELT LIKE HE NEEDED THE SOMEBODY TO HELP. SO HE ASKED ME TO MOVE IN WITH HIM, AND WE BECAME ROOMMATES. LAST MAY OR JUNE, HE WENT TO PAY THE RENT, AND THE LEASE IS 895. SO WHENEVER HE WENT TO PAY THE LEASE, THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT'S GONNA BE THOUSAND AND $70. WHENEVER HE ASKED FOR THE REASON OF THE INCREASE, THEY TOLD THEM THAT, UH, HOUSTON, UH, CITY RAISED THE WATER BILL. SO BESIDES THE RAISE OF THE WATER, THEY RAISED THE RENT VERBALLY, WASN'T EVEN, THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHANGE THE CONTRACT. WE THOUGHT IT'S GONNA BE FOR A MONTH, BUT IT'S STILL GOING ON TILL THIS MONTH. SO YOU HAVE, ARE YOU IN A LEASE? WE, WE HAVE A LEASE. HAVE DID THE LEASE EXPIRE AND THEN THEY WENT UP ON THE, SO YOU'RE IN A LEASE RIGHT [02:50:01] NOW. AND THEY WENT UP ON THE, ON THE RENT. THE, THE LEASE STARTED IN, UH, MAY 23 UNTIL MAY 24. SO THEY STARTED THE LEASE IN MAY, BUT THERE IS THE RENT IN JUNE JUST FROM, SO RIGHT AFTER THE LEASE EXPIRES, THEY ARE RAISING THE RENT? YES. OKAY. AND WE HAVE A NOTE HERE THAT SAYS THAT, UM, YOU ARE CURRENTLY BEING HELPED BY MS. YOLANDA JEFFRIES. HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH HER? MA'AM? HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH MS. YOLANDA JEFFRIES? CAN YOU, CAN YOU GET, UM, WITH RENEE AND HE'LL GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH YOLANDA JEFFRIES. SHE IS OUR, UH, FAIR HOUSING COORDINATOR WHO'S LOOKING UP INTO THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE, OF THE RIGHT HIKE, UH, WE DIDN'T TALK TO. SO RENEE CAN GET YOU IN TOUCH WITH MS. JEFFRIES. THANK YOU. OKAY. BEST WISHES TO YOU THE PAPERS. IF YOU NEED ANY, YOU CAN GIVE ALL OF THAT TO RENEE AND HE'LL GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH MS. JEFFRIES. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WALTER VOW. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER BE YES SIR. NO, NO. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER BEARD. OH, YOU, HE DID. YOU COMING UP? YOU'RE COMING UP. AND ONE OR TWO MORE PEOPLE. WALTER VIDAL. NEXT SPEAKER. MARIA LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ. NEXT SPEAKER ADRIAN WALLACE. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI, MS. WALLACE. HOW ARE YOU? I'M WELL, THANK YOU. OKAY, EVERYONE, UM, I KNOW I HAVE THREE MINUTES. SO MY NAME IS ADRIAN WALLACE. I AM A NEW HOUSTONIAN. I'M GONNA SHARE YOU WITH MY STORY. IT'S ON HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ACUTE EXPOSURE AND SYSTEMATIC DEPRESSION. I MIGHT GET CRUCIFIED FOR TELLING YOU THIS TODAY, BUT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHERS WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY. I'M ASKING COUNSEL FOR AWARENESS AND RESOLUTION IN A TIMELY AND URGENT FASHION. MY CHILDREN AND I ARE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. WE SU UH, WE SUFFERED A 10 YEAR LONG CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IN TURN RESULTED IN MANY ATTEMPTS TO FLEE FOR OUR SAFETY. WHEREAS I SUFFERED RELATIONSHIP CAREER ABUSE AS A COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTOR AND A 14 YEAR VETERAN CELEBRITY HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST. IF I WAS GONE WORKING FOR TOO LONG, I WAS ACCUSED OF CHEATING AND I WOULD GET HIT. I MUST NOT. UM, THIS INCLUDES A DECADE OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE AS WELL FOR A NEW YORK NATIVE. YES, I'M NOW A HOUSTONIAN. HE USED TO HAVE AN ALMOST PERFECT CREDIT SCORE WITH A BEAUTIFUL CAR THAT I ACTUALLY HAD TO FORCE REPOSSESS LAST YEAR FOR OUR SAFETY LAST JULY. DUE TO STALKING, MY LIFE HAS NOW BEEN REDUCED TO RUBBLE. IN FINAL ATTEMPTS TO FLEE, I SUFFERED INITIAL SYSTEMATIC ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF A LAW JUDGE AT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COURT WHO NOT ONLY DENIED TO GRAMMY A ORDER OF PROTECTION ONCE, BUT TWICE IN JUNE, 2023. DUE TO INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST HPD AND DFPS FAILING TO GET US TO SAFETY. DFPS TOLD ME I HAVE TO HELP MYSELF AND THEY COULD JUST NOT HELP ME. DUE TO MY VERY LARGE FAMILY SIZE, I HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY ATTAINING A SAFE HAVEN FOR MY FOUR CHILDREN. AND I, DURING THE FIRST POST-TRAUMATIC EPISODE MY 14-YEAR-OLD EVER HAD, I FOUND MYSELF REALLY DESPERATE FOR ANY PLACE THAT HAD SPACE FOR US. LAST SEPTEMBER, IN THE FINAL MOMENTS OF DESPAIR, WE ONLY SECURED A SPOT AT A DFE SHELTER IN WEBSTER, TEXAS, WHO STILL KEPT TELLING US THEY HAD NO SPACE. I ONLY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD SPACE THROUGH THE NATIONAL DIVI DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE AND METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE SAFE HAVEN WAS ACCESSIBLE OF SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION. AND BECAUSE OF THIS DV SHELTER'S POLICIES NOT SPEAKING TO US IN A TIMELY FASHION, WE WERE INITIALLY DENIED TO BE SPOKEN TO. WHEN MY 14-YEAR-OLD WAS RELEASED FROM INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION, HE REQUIRED SEVERAL MEDICATIONS TO KEEP THE PEACE IN TRANSITION. DUE TO THE SHELTER DIRECTOR'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW US TO TRANSPORTATION TO CVS PHARMACY, MY SON WITH WENT WITHOUT MEDS FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS. HE RAN AWAY FROM THAT SHELTER THAT WEEK AFTER THAT, AND AFTER THAT, AGAIN AND AGAIN. AFTER MULTIPLE PLEAS AND WRITTEN GRIEVANCES, MYSELF AND OTHER RESIDENTS WERE FINALLY ALLOWED BEDSHEETS, SOAP, BASIC NEEDS, CLOTHING, EVENTUALLY A ELEVATOR FOR STROLLERS OR THE DISABLED, OR MAYBE POSSIBLY TRANSPORTATION WITH A CATCH WE HAD TO ENDURE. CONSTANT MADE UP RULES, THREATENED TO BE KICKED OUT OF SHELTER, UH, THREATS TO CALL CPS AS SCARE TACTICS. THIS IS WHY MANY VICTIMS LIKE MYSELF, GOD FORBID, WE END UP BACK WITH THE ABUSER WHO REALLY WANTS TO BE ABUSED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAUSES STRIFE. NO ONE IN THE END, I HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED TO PUT MY KIDS' KNEES AND [02:55:01] DISABILITIES ASIDE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. JUST ONE SECOND. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WRAP UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I'M ALMOST THERE IN, UM, IN THE END, I'VE BEEN SUPPRESSED TO PUT MY KIDS' NEEDS AND DISABILITIES ASIDE AND ENDURE THE TAKE. WHATEVER WE GIVE YOU ATTITUDE IN THAT MINDSET. THE APARTMENT THAT I HAD MOVED INTO SINCE DECEMBER, 2023 HAS HAZARDOUS LAYERS OF BLACK MOLD THAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DUE TO MY LANDLORD RECENTLY, CARELESSLY DIYING, OR WHAT MY GENERATION CALLS IT, YOUTUBE UNIVERSITY WITHOUT PROPER CERTIFICATION, INCLUDING DETRIMENTAL AMOUNTS OF ROACHES, INSPIRED AS TO SOME OF THE LARGEST SIZES I HAVE EVER SEEN. DISHONESTLY THE PROPERTY OWNER SIGNED HUD GUIDELINES WITH THE SHELTER HOUSING PROGRAM, AND BEING AN EAGER AND NEW TENANT. I INITIALLY WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE BASEBOARDS INITIALLY HAS SUCH LARGE GAPS IN THEM WHILE ASKING HIM QUESTIONS. MY LANDLORD, AKA, THE HANDYMAN STATED PROPERTY WAS MOVED OFF ITS FOUNDATION. IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I RECENTLY CANNOT OBTAIN A HEALTH INSPECTOR THROUGH THE CITY ABOUT TO CRY TWICE. I HAD TO HIRE MY OWN PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR BECAUSE CITY OF HOUSTON STATES THAT THE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY APPRAISED AS A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING AND NOT EVEN A DUPLEX OR TWO FAMILY. IT WAS BUILT IN 1965, NOT IN 2005, LIKE IT'S LISTED ON ZILLOW. BUT IT, UH, YEAH, THE WHATEVER TYPE OF DWELLING SHOULD BE REALLY CONDEMNED FROM MATTERS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY. EVEN WITH CERTIFIED LETTER, MY LANDLORD HAS VIOLATED TEXAS PROPERTY CODES CHAPTERS 92.056 92.054, AND ONE 5.05, AND MANY OTHERS INSTEAD OF LOGICAL RESOLUTIONS. LAST WEDNESDAY, I GOT YELLED AT BY MY LANDLORD AND HIS LAWYER IN MY OWN APARTMENT IN A MEETING THAT WAS ORCHESTRATED BY MY SHELTER CASEWORKER. IN TURN, WHEN DISCUSSING THAT, MY SON COLLAPSED IN SCHOOL LAST TUESDAY. DUE TO THIS NEGLIGENCE, THE LANDLORD AND THE LAWYER LAUGHED IN MY FACE. CURRENTLY, MY KIDS AND I ARE SUFFERING SEVERE ACUTE EXPOSURE. IT'S KILLING ME TO TALK RIGHT NOW. MY EIGHT, MY 8-YEAR-OLD COLLAPSED IN CLASS PROMPTING HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RUSH HIM TO THE MEDICAL CENTER LAST WEEK. I'VE BEEN COUGHING UP BLOOD FOR TWO WEEKS AND MY BABY GIRL ALMOST DROWNED IN HER OWN VOMIT ON EASTER SUNDAY, TWO DAYS AGO, IN THE ATTEMPTS TO GET TO ACTUAL SAFETY, OUR CRIES HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS REGARDING THESE PEOPLE. THIS ORGANIZATION JUST SCHEDULING PEDIATRIC URGENT MEDICAL REFERRALS HAVE BEEN HELL. I'M AFRAID TO SLEEP BECAUSE IF I DO, MY KIDS MIGHT ASPIRATE OR COLLAPSE IN THEIR SLEEP. THERE IS NO WORSE FEAR THAN BEING THREATENED. AND ULTIMATELY WE DESPERATELY NEED TO DISASSOCIATE OURSELVES FROM THIS ORGANIZATION IN A MORE PERPETUALLY BALANCED SOLUTION. THIS IS THE LAST SENTENCE. WHILE WAITING FOR A MORE STABLE EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHER, WE WILL NEED TO STAY IN AN AIRBNB TO KEEP MY KIDS IN SCHOOL AND KEEP OUR FOOD FROM, YOU KNOW, BEING THROWN OUT AGAIN. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE, ARE GOING TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. UH, THANK YOU. UH, MS. WALLACE. SO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE IN, IN THIS APARTMENT IN SOUTH PARK THAT YOU HAVE LISTED SOUTH? YES. OKAY. YOUR ABUSER. WHERE WHERE ARE THEY? NOT WITH ME. GOD, THEY'RE WHAT? NOT WITH ME, NOT WITH THEIR KIDS. OKAY. SO ARE YOU STILL IN ANY KINDA CONTACT WHERE YOU FEEL NO. IN FEAR OF THAT PERSON? I'M IN FEAR THAT WE'RE JUST GONNA BE HOMELESS AGAIN BECAUSE OF THESE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, I, I WOULD LIKE TO NOT BE HOMELESS AGAIN. I'M SCARED TO EVEN DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. AND I JUST GOT OUT OF IT THREE MONTHS AGO. OKAY. DID YOU TALK TO INGRAM? IN, IN MY OFFICE SHE CALLED ME, YES. OKAY. EARLIER TODAY. WELL, SHE, SHE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO TRY TO SEE WHAT IT IS WE CAN DO TO GET YOU IN A BETTER ENVIRONMENT. UM, AND I'M, I'M GOING TO, I ALSO JUST RECEIVED A EMAIL FROM THE HOUSING WORKER AFTER TWO WEEKS OF NONCHALANTNESS, AND THEY DON'T WANNA DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. AND THERE ARE HED GUIDELINES IN PLACE THAT, UM, AS A CLIENT, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. RIGHT. THEY TOLD ME, BECAUSE IT'S HEALTH AND SAFETY, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. WELL, INGRAM, WILL YOU ALL GET TOGETHER AND MM-HMM . SHE'LL HELP YOU TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT. I, I KNOW IT BECOMES VERY FRUSTRATING MM-HMM . UH, WHEN IT'S LIKE YOU'RE NOT BEING HEARD AND YOU'RE NOT BEING HELPED, BUT SHE WILL GET WITH YOU TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK YOU TOWARDS A BETTER, UH, ENVIRONMENT OR BETTER SOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND, AND, AND TALK ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE LIKE THAT. [03:00:01] BUT IT'S NECESSARY SOMETIMES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BECOME AWARE AND, AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO ASSIST YOU. OKAY. AND I'M, I JUST HOPE NO ONE ELSE GETS ABUSED BY THIS. THESE PEOPLE. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HANZA AWAY. HANZA AWAY. BEARD. OH, I'M SORRY. WALTER BEARD. MR. BEARD'S BEEN WAITING. SO PATIENT. MR. BEARD, IT'S YOUR TURN. I DON'T, I DON'T MIND. I I'M, I I HAVEN'T DID THIS BEFORE COMING THROUGH. THAT'S OKAY. THIS IS YOUR TIME. SO GO AHEAD MR. BEARD. I'M MARY ADMIRING YOU GUYS. HOW YOU GUYS JOINED FROM THE WEST COAST, THE BAY AREA. GET THAT GOING. THIS HE, YEAH. MS. PHIL. I PUT A, PRETTY MUCH IT SELF EXPLANATORY BY INFLUENCE IN THE BAY AREA. I GOT BRANCH OF RIGHTEOUS MINISTRIES. I STARTED IN 1990. IT WAS GOING ON 34 YEARS. I'M OUT HERE WITH YOU GUYS NOW. I'VE BEEN OUT HERE HOUSTON TWO YEARS. SOMEHOW DIVINELY, GOD BROUGHT ME OUT HERE AND, AND I'M ADMIRING YOU GUYS. THIS IS A BELT. I WONDER ABOUT THAT BIBLE BELT, RIGHT? AND WHAT IT REALLY MEANS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT MORE, UH, RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY ON THE RADIO. AND I LIKE THAT. I COME OUTTA A BIBLICAL SITUATION, BUT IT'S TIME AGAIN. I'M PRO I'M PROTESTING, I'M, I'M GONNA BE, UM, PROTESTING TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT I THINK IS OUR TIME AGAIN TO, UH, SAVE AMERICA. ONE TIME WE SAVED AMERICA THROUGH THE C**K, UH, UM, COTTON PICKING. AND THEN ANOTHER TIME WE DID, WE SAVED AMERICA THROUGH HITLER. THEY WEREN'T ALLOWING US, DIDN'T THINK WE SHOULD FIGHT, BUT THEN THEY FINALLY LET US FIGHT AND WE STOPPED HITLER, AFRICAN AMERICANS. AND I THINK THIS THIRD TIME, WHAT I LIKE FOR US TO DO AS AFRICAN AMERICAN IS SAVE AMERICA FINANCIALLY. CHINA GOT US. I HEARD 800 TRILLION IN DEBT. CHINA ALONE. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S POSSIBLE WITH MY, UH, ATTENTION AND FOCUS AND, AND PERSISTENT. I CAN GET, UH, REPARATIONS FOR US TO PAY OFF AMERICA DEBT. I PUT THAT ON THE FLYER, THE INFORMATION PAY OFF ALL AMERICAN DEBT, EVEN CHINA WITH THIS REPARATION. WE GET ALSO PUT A NICE TWO ZILLION DOLLARS IN THE TREASURY ON A NICE HEALTHY TREASURE IN AMERICA, IN MY COUNTRY. AND BUILDING THREE MEGA SKYSCRAPERS. THAT WAS THE IDEA. I'M A BUILDER. I LOVE TO BUILD. I ALWAYS BUILD CLUBHOUSES, BUT SKYSCRAPERS WOULD BE LIKE ECONOMIC, SELF-SUFFICIENT MONEY FOR US. ONCE THE REPARATIONS START GOING DOWN, WE'LL HAVE THE SKYSCRAPERS. AND I WANTED TO BUILD ONE HERE IN TEXAS, MAKE A SKYSCRAPER, ONE ON THE EAST COAST AND ONE ON WEST COAST. WHY TEXAS? 'CAUSE IN THE MEANTIME, IF ANY NATIONAL DISASTERS COME, PEOPLE CAN RUN INTO BOTH SIDES. WEST COAST AND EAST COAST CAN COME TO TEXAS AND DWELL. BUT I'M MAKE THESE, I'M HOPING TO MAKE THESE MEGA SKYSCRAPERS, EARTHQUAKE PROOF, HURRICANE PROOF, FLOOD PROOF. THEY GOING TO BE TECHNOLOGY OUT. BUT I'M JUST BASICALLY INTRODUCING MYSELF WITH YOU GUYS. I'M OUT HERE. I'VE BEEN OUT HERE TO HOUSTON TWO YEARS NOW. I'VE BEEN EXAMINING YOU GUYS. I'M READY TO RUN THIS. I'M READY TO RUN MY MINISTRY BRANCH RIGHTS MINISTRY AT YOU GUYS. I'M GONNA START OFF, I NEED TO, I NEED SUPPORT TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WAY TO GET THIS, GET THESE SIGNATURES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. MR. BEARD. IF YOU CAN JUST, UM, WRAP IT UP BECAUSE WE, WE HAD THREE MINUTES. UM, WE'VE GOT YOUR, UM, OKAY. PAPER THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN OUT TO US. I, I GET DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK OF US? DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK OF US TODAY? UH, YES. I JUST WANT TO GET US, I WANT TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE FOR THE FOLLOW UP ON GETTING THESE, THE STEPS. DO I NEED SIGNATURES? DO I NEED THE, A CERTAIN SIGNATURE CARD? BECAUSE I'M GONNA START GOING AROUND HOUSTON, THESE CHURCHES MINISTRY FIFTH WARD. I'M GONNA START ASK, TELLING THESE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT ME, AFRICAN AMERICANS TO SUPPORT ME AND US GETTING THIS REPARATION. RIGHT. SO SHOULD I DO, SHOULD I, DO I NEED SIGNATURES? SO I, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME, UH, CONGRESS MEMBERS THAT ARE ALSO, UM, WORKING ON LEGISLATION FOR THAT MAY MIGHT, I SUGGEST THAT YOU REACH OUT TO THE, UM, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THAT IS ALSO WORKING ON THAT. THAT MAY BE A GOOD NEXT PLACE FOR YOU TO GO WITH YOUR, YOUR INFORMATION. UH, WILL I GET A NUMBER? CAN YOU GIVE ME THE PROCESS? DO, DO [03:05:01] THEY KNOW THE PROCESS? DOES I PROCESS TO GO THROUGH THE, TO GET THE REPARATIONS? THAT'S WHAT I'M BASICALLY ASKING. YES, SIR. AND WHEN RENEE COMES BACK IN HERE, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE HE GIVES YOU THE CONTACT TO YOUR ELECTED, UM, CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION. OKAY. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN FIFTH WARD. I LIVED IN FIFTH WARD, UH, SINCE I GOT HERE, BUT I MOVED TO THIRD WARD. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. OKAY. WE, AND WE CAN ALSO GET YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S NUMBER. THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. ANZA AWAY. YOU WON OUT. HELLO, COUNSEL. UH, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? WELL, I'M ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'M NOT HANZA. UH, UNFORTUNATELY HE HAD TO STEP OUT. I, I HAD TO WALK HIM OUT. HE IS HAVING A BIT OF A MEDICAL, MEDICAL EMERGENCY. UM, SO I WAS HOPING TO ASK YOU ALLALL, UH, WITH PERMISSION IF I COULD, UH, SAY HIS SPEECH FOR HIM. I'M SORRY, I'M, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID. OH, THAT MR. HAMZA. OH, I, HE, HE HAD TO STEP OUT RIGHT NOW. HE HAD A BIT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. I WALKED HIM OUT. SO WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? MY NAME IS DAVID ESPINOZA. I I MAY HAVE DAVID ESPINOZA VIA YES. AND I SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? GO AHEAD, DAVID. OKAY. SO SPEAKING FOR MR. HAMZA AND HE IS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT A AND A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, LIKE MYSELF. ALRIGHT, TODAY I AM HERE TO URGE A CITY TO END THE DIVERSION OF DRAINAGE MONEY FOR THE AVALOR AND DRAINAGE TAX. THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUST HONOR THE BUILD HOUSTON FORWARD ORDINANCE BY USING THE 18 POINT 47% OF TAX REVENUE TO SERVICE PAST DRAINAGE, DEBT, AND PAY FOR NEW DRAINAGE PROJECTS. WE HAVE VOTED ON THIS TAX TWICE NOW IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS. AND A SECOND VOTE CAME ON THE HEELS OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION CAMPAIGNING ON BUILDING A LOCKBOX AROUND THESE FUNDS. ACCOUNTING INFORMATION THAT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SHOWS THAT THE CITY IS NOT PAYING AS MUCH TO DRAINAGE AND DEBT SERVICE AS REQUIRED BY THE BILL HOUSTON FORWARD ORDINANCE. WE ASK THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION MOVE IN FAVOR OF ENDING THE VERSION OF MONEY AS WE KNOW THAT HURRICANES OR STORMS LIKE HARVEY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. AND EVEN THIS YEAR, IT'S FORECASTED TO BE A BUSY HURRICANE SEASON. AND WE KNOW THAT OUR CITY'S NOT YET EQUIPPED TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE FROM HARMS OF FLOODING DUE TO THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE BEING INADEQUATE. FIXING THE WAY WE FUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF OUR CITY, NO MATTER OUR BACKGROUND OR WHERE WE LIVE IS NO SAFE PLACE. NO PLACES SAFE WHEN BIPOC NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T PROPERLY INVESTED IN. ON THE OTHER HAND, OUR TAXES ARE READY, READILY AVAILABLE. THE USE OF FUNDING FOREIGN WARS AND GENOCIDE, WHILE OUR CITIES ARE FACING ENOUGH STRESS FROM A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING IS IMPORTANT TOO. HENCE, THAT'S WHY FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS WE'VE BEEN SEEING PEOPLE COMING FOR, UH, PIECING THIS HALL THAT OUR TAX ARE USED FOR PEACEFUL MANNERS INSTEAD OF THIS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. FINALLY, PLEASE MAKE OUR CITY SAFER FROM THE NATURAL DISASTERS. BY FUNDING MORE FOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU'RE ENDING DIVERSION OF OUR DRAINAGE MONEY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DAVID. WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT FOR MR. UH, HANZA. OISE. NEXT SPEAKER. CHERYL HENDERSON. CHERYL HENDERSON. HELLO, MS. HENDERSON. DOING WELL, THANK YOU. PATIENT WITH ME. WE'RE PATIENT. UM, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING. OKAY. I AM, UH, CHERYL HENDERSON. I'M HERE, UH, WITH NAC TO SPEAK ON THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, MY CONCERNS ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE I DO STAY IN THIRD WARD NOW, BUT I STAYED IN FIFTH WARD AND GREENSPOINT. AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IT'S A DRAINAGE ISSUE. IT FLOODS, IT KEEP PEOPLE FROM GOING TO WORK. THEY GET STUCK AT HOME. YOU HAVE DEAD ANIMALS, EVEN SNAKES, ANYTHING THAT'S CRAWLING, THAT'D BE IN THE WATER, FLOODING HOUSES. IT'S EVEN PROBLEMS WITH CHEMICALS BEING IN THE WATER. IT'S UNSAFE FOR KIDS. IT'S UNSAFE FOR THE, THE ELDERS AS WELL AS ME. I DON'T WORK ANYMORE BECAUSE I AM ON, UM, SSI FROM ME HAVING A STROKE. AND WE NEED THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE IT HAVE TRASH IN IT. THE DITCHES NEED TO BE CLEANED WHERE THE WATER CAN RUN OUT. WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT, UM, THIRD WARD, FIFTH WARD, GREENS POINT WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN PLACE AND THEY NEED TO BE THERE. IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, I SPEAK FOR, A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER ACROSS HOUSTON [03:10:01] WITH THE DRAINAGE ISSUE THAT THEY CAN'T COME OUT AND SPEAK TO YOU AND ASK YOU, ASK YOU TO HELP AND GET THE MONEY TO, TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO GET IT IN MY MOUTH RIGHT. AND I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. 'CAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN THAT PROBLEM WHERE I WAS STUCK AFTER A HURRICANE, COULDN'T MOVE, COULDN'T GO NOWHERE. AND IT WAS PROBLEM WITH DEADLY SNAKES COMING OUT THE BAYOU, ALMOST GETTING BITTEN. WE NEED THIS TAKEN CARE OF. WE GOT KIDS THAT CAN'T GO OUTSIDE OR DO GO OUTSIDE AFTER THE FACT AND THINGS HAPPEN TO 'EM. CHEMICALS COMING UP OUT OF THE, THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM, SEWAGE AND EVERYTHING. AND IT MAKES PEOPLE SICK. AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR ABOUT IT, THEY CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS THAT'S GOING OUT THERE. DUE TO THE DRAINAGE, DRAINAGE ISSUE. ALL I'M ASKING IS THAT WE COULD GET A, WHAT, HOW YOU SAY, GET OUR FOOT DOWN, PUT IT DOWN ON IT, GET THE MONEY WHERE IT NEED TO BE TO FIX IT AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU, MS. HENDERSON. YOU DID A GOOD JOB FOR YOUR FIRST TIME COMING HERE. YOU GOT YOUR POINT ACROSS. AND DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, UH, THE NORTHEAST ACTION, UH, COLLECTIVE DID A LOT OF ADVOCACY LAST YEAR FOR THE BUDGET AND WE DID MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PROCESSES AND GOT SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR, UH, DITCH MAINTENANCE AND FOR THE DRAINAGE, UM, PROGRAMS IN FIFTH WARD. UH, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUING TO COME DOWN AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. ROLANDO PEREZ. HELLO. MR. PEREZ, QUICK QUESTION. BEFORE I TIME START THE MAYOR COME BACK. NO, HE'S NOT BACK, BUT HE'S LISTENING. GO AHEAD. I'VE BEEN SITTING IN HIS UNCOMFORTABLE CHAIR. OKAY. RIGHT HERE. CAN Y HEAR ME? YES SIR. GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, APPARENTLY MAYOR MEYERS GONE. UH, MY NAME IS UHLAND PEREZ. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H AND THIS OCTOBER WILL BE 47 YEARS LIVING IN DISTRICT H. UH, PART OF MY WORDS WERE GONNA BE, AS WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING, UM, THE HISTORIC NEGLECT, EXCUSE ME, THAT PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE HAD TOWARDS OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. AS WE JUST STATED EARLIER, LAST YEAR'S ADMINISTRATION TOOK A BIG STEP, A BIG PART IN ADDING FUNDING FOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. BUT BEING A PART OF NAC, UH, WE COME ACROSS, UH, HERE RECENTLY TALKS WITH PRO. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, GOOD PROJECT. AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY OR THAT PROJECT COSTS TOO MUCH. WELL, PART OF THAT FUNDING OR PART OF THE FUNDING COULD BE FROM THE AVALOR TAX THAT'S CONSTANTLY BEING DIVERTED. SO I'M ASKING MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO END, EXCUSE ME, THE ABOR ATTACK DIVERSION. 'CAUSE HERE RECENTLY, THE LAST 35 YEARS, I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN AN AVERAGE 20 TO $23 MILLION. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 60 TO OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO IMPROVE OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M ALSO A VICTIM OF HURRICANE HARVEY. 2017, I HAD 33 INCHES OF WATER IN MY HOME. UH, MY GIRLFRIEND AND I, WHO'S ALSO BASICALLY IMPAIRED, WE WERE TRAPPED. AND AT SOME POINT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA DROWN AND DIE. IT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING. I'M 53 YEARS OLD. UH, WE BOTH MADE IT. OF COURSE I'M HERE. SHE'S MADE IT AS WELL. I'M 53 YEARS OLD. I GOT HEALTH ISSUES, GOT A COUPLE OF TUMORS, I GOT ASSISTED MY KIDNEY. I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA DIE. THAT'S UP TO OUR LORD'S SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, UPSTAIRS. BUT I CAN TELL YOU ALL THIS RIGHT NOW, HOW I DON'T WANNA DIE. I DON'T WANNA DIE BECAUSE I FLOOD AND CHOOSE TO TEXAS BY DROWNING. THAT MAY BE MY MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO IMPROVE OR TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. LIFE HAVE BEEN LOST. I WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE. THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ. UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. OH, I'M SORRY SIR. I, UH, I DON'T KNOW MY TIME, BUT YEAH, GO AHEAD. UH, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST BRIEFLY ADDRESS, [03:15:01] UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER DIRECTLY. I KNOW THE NAC HAS INVITED YOU BY EMAIL TO A INVITATION FOR A MEETING. SINCE I'M HERE, JUST WANTED TO CORDIALLY INVITE YOU IN PERSON TO A MEETING WITH THE NAC AND MYSELF. I WILL TRY MY BEST TO BE THERE. UH, I BELIEVE YOU'LL BE IN MY AREA THIS SATURDAY, MELROSE PARK. I WILL TRY MY BEST TO BE THERE AS WELL. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH MY COMMENTS. GO AHEAD, SIR. UM, BY, YOU KNOW, ASKING THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO COME TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER, UH, IN MY OPINION, DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, RIGHT WING, LEFT WING, LIBERAL, CONSERVATIVE, YOU ALL RAN FOR OFFICE, IN MY OPINION, FOR ONE REASON. Y'ALL CARE ABOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND Y'ALL CARE ABOUT THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. SO I ASK YOU, KEEP ON IMPROVING OR DRAIN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. FIND A FUNDING TO KEEP THESE PROGRAMS GOING. MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF ALL THE CITIZENS THAT HOUSTON ARE IN YOUR HANDS. NONE OF US CAN CONTROL THE, THE CLIMATE. NONE OF US CAN CONTROL THE WATER, HOW MUCH RAINFALL, BUT WE CAN'T CONTROL ON HOW WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO END MY COMMENTS WITH A TITLE OF A MOVIE. I'M A MOVIE DIRECTOR, SPIKE LEE. DO THE RIGHT THING. DOING THE RIGHT THING IN SOCIETY TODAY, IT SEEMS SO MUCH TO BE SO HARD TO DO, OR DOING THE WRONG THING SEEMS TO BE EASIER OR EVEN NOTHING AT ALL SEEMS SO MUCH EASIER, WHICH I AND OTHER CITIZENS HAVE SEEN FROM PIERCE ADMINISTRATION FOR NEGLECTING OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I ASK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE NAC, THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND MYSELF, PLEASE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF FLOODING. I HAVE FLOODED FIVE TIMES. FIVE TIMES I HAD A HOUSE FIRE, BUT MY HOUSE IS STILL STANDING AND I'M STILL STANDING. SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE. GIVE ME THE SPACE TO COME SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS ROLANDO PEREZ, DISTRICT H AND ANYONE HAVE YOU ANY STATEMENT OR QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CASTILLO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU, MR. PETTI. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UH, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S NOT EASY TO COME DOWN HERE AND TALK TO US AND, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR PAST EXPERIENCES AND HAVE TO, UH, RELIVE THAT. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT, UH, AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND, AND FOR AN ISSUE THAT IS IMPACTING Y'ALL. YOU KNOW, MAYOR PRO TEM JUST MENTIONED, UH, THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID LAST YEAR AND THE IMPACT IT WAS ABLE TO HAVE ON OUR BUDGET. AND YOU'RE BACK AT IT AGAIN, WHICH IS GREAT 'CAUSE WE'RE NOW ABOUT TO GET INTO BUDGET SEASON. AND UH, YOU'RE RIGHT. I DO HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH Y'ALL, UH, NEXT WEEK IN MY OFFICE. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. I HOPE YOU CAN BE THERE. AND, UM, I WILL BE HOLDING A TOWN HALL IN MELROSE ON SATURDAY, UM, TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR ISSUES AND CONCERNS. AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE THAT IS BROUGHT UP IN MELROSE AT MELROSE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER WHEN WE VISITED WITH FOLKS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE NORTHEAST ACTION COALITION, UH, ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. AND, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT AND AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK, UH, THE RETURNING COUNCIL MEMBER FROM LAST YEAR, FROM LAST ADMINISTRATION, UH, WHO HELPED DO WHAT THEY DID WITH LAST YEAR CITY BUDGET. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, JILL RAFFERTY. HI, I'M JOE RAFFERTY. I, I AM A FIRST TIMER HERE. I'M A LITTLE OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW, UM, AND I'M PRETTY AMAZED THAT Y'ALL HAVE THE ENDURANCE TO STILL BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING, I LIVE IN STUDIO WOOD, RIGHT NORTH OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. I'VE LIVED THERE 10 YEARS, AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO START BY THANKING THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER, THE HPD NORTHSIDE STATION OFFICERS, CARTER BLAND HERNANDEZ AND WRIGHT, TO NAME A FEW. ALSO THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD VICTOR GONZALEZ AND MARA POLITO AND THE 3 1 1 STAFF. AND I'D ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER IS NOT HERE, BUT I'D AL BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM AND DIRECTLY FOR GETTING RID OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY COUNCIL. THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HE'S DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY [03:20:01] THAT WILL HOPEFULLY PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN. UM, THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY CAME IN 2013 AND BUILT PHASE ONE OF, UH, 156 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND. I AM AFFORDABLE. I AM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT NOT OF. IT'S AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT HAS BEEN, WE HAVE NO INFRASTRUCTURE TO, TO REALLY SUPPORT LARGE, UM, DEVELOPMENTS. AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE 1950, UM, OH, MOST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BORN, WAS BORN, WAS, UH, CREATED IN THE FIFTIES. AND VERY LITTLE CAN THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF, UH, THINGS THAT HAVE HAD BEEN DONE TO ACCOMMODATE AT LEAST PHASE ONE. PHASE ONE, UH, HAS A DETENTION POND. UM, AS I SAID, NO INFRASTRUCTURE CAN SUPPORT THEIR RUNOFF. THEY BUILT A DETENTION POND. UH, THE DETENTION POND WAS BUILT WITH ONE INLET, NOT AN INLET AND AN OUTLET. THE OUTLET IS DESIGNED TO BE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SO WHEN IT RAINS ENOUGH WHERE THE DETENTION POND FILLS UP, IT FLOWS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE FENCING THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CONSTRUCTED AROUND THE RESIDENCE ON ONE SIDE, UH, HAS AN OPENING AT THE BOTTOM SO THAT RUNOFF CAN COME INTO THE YARD. I HAVE AN 85-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR WHO'S LOSING HER BACKYARD BECAUSE OF THE EROSION, BECAUSE OF THE RUNOFF. SO IT GOES ON AND ON. I ENGAGED THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AT THE VERY BEGINNING AND EVEN HAD DR. BULLOCK COME OUT WHEN SHE WAS THE HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS TO LOOK AT THE DETENTION POND AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY REMEDIES. SHE MADE A FEW. THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY DISCARDED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THEN, AND I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT EXCEPT FOR MAYBE BLOCKING OFF THEIR RUNOFF THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE. THAT'S A CITY CODE, AND THAT'S A CITY CODE VIOLATION. SO THAT BEING SAID, WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOW COMING IN FOR ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, ANOTHER HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE COMING IN AND THEY WANT, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT PART OF IT ON AN OLD HARRIS COUNTY, UM, FLOOD DISTRICT FUEL DEPOT, THE FLOOD DI FUEL DE FUEL DEPOT SHOOT. YEAH. TOWN HAS EXPIRED OR HAD HAD LEAKING STORAGE TANKS. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE IT HAS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE THAT'S REALLY OUN RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT HAS A CHANNEL. THAT CHANNEL AFFECTS NATURAL FLOW IN THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE BUILDING ITSELF AND WHAT CAN BE ACTUALLY BE BUILT ON IT. I ASKED THAT PETE PUBLIC WORKS TO LOOK AT THIS RIGHT NOW, AND CHRIS HAS, HAS EXTENDED HIS INTEREST IN IT. RIGHT. BUT A FEASIBILITY STUDY REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANY BUILDING OR EVEN PLANS NEED TO BE DONE. THANK YOU, MS. RAP. I APPRECIATE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM, AND THANK YOU, JILL, FOR BEING HERE. I, I FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AT YOUR HOUSE. HOW ABOUT THIS BEFORE? YES. UH, YES. BLOCK WALKING LAST YEAR. UM, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE. AND, UH, I, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHRIS. UH, HE IS A GOOD RESOURCE, AND I WOULD LIKE MY OFFICE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS. UM, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO GET A MEETING WITH THE DEVELOPER, UH, COLUMBIA, UM, RESIDENTIAL, UH, TO ALSO LEARN MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS PROJECT, BUT I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING SO THAT I CAN, UH, ALSO RAISE THEM AS WELL. BUT, UH, MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR WILL, UH, COME UP TO YOU HERE, GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO WE CAN ALL LINK UP AND, UH, GO FROM THERE. LET'S DO IT, WRIGHT, THIS TIME, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. SPENCER GALE. SPENCER GALE. NEXT SPEAKER KIMBERLY LANIER BRINGS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR PRO TIM, AND, UH, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. AND THIS ABSENCE, I APPRECIATE THIS TIME. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT SQUATTING. I HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND. I COME FROM OIL AND GAS AND CONSTRUCTION. UH, AND I, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND HAVE BEEN SO IN MY COMMUNITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS WORKING WITH THE HOMELESS AND HOUSELESSNESS. SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PRESENTED HERE ARE IN MY WHEELHOUSE BECAUSE I ADVOCATE FOR THE HOMELESS. UM, THE SQUATTING SITUATION. I'VE FINALLY, IN ALL MY YEARS OF SERVICES, HAVE GOTTEN, UM, DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS WHO ARE INTERESTED [03:25:01] IN DOING THINGS. WHAT, IN WHAT I CONSIDER THE RIGHT WAY AND THE RIGHT WAY FOR ME IS TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY AND ITS CULTURE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MY CHILDREN WHO ARE AGING OUT OF CPS, MY SENIORS AND, UM, OTHER PEOPLE. A COMING OUT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RIGHT? TO MAKE HOUSING EASY, RIGHT? THEY'VE AGREED TO MY PROGRAM MODELS, WHICH IS A FOSTER AND HOPE MODEL. UH, AND IT, IT, IT, IT REACHES OUT TO NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LIVE IN THESE HOUSING COMPLEXES, BUT THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING THERE. BECAUSE UNTIL YOU CAN ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY AND THE CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE IN, YOU'LL BE LIKE MY INVESTORS, WHO IS THE 11TH OWNER OF A PROJECT IN DISTRICT D RIGHT OFF OF YELLOWSTONE. I'VE, I'VE GONE TO CHURCH THERE. I'VE LIVED IN THAT COMMUNITY BEFORE. I'VE, I, UM, HAD RELATIVES IN THAT COMMUNITY. SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THESE THINGS ALL OVER HOUSTON. THEY'VE GIVEN ME TWO OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE IN OTHER DISTRICTS. BUT THIS IS THE PRIORITY, BECAUSE THE LOOPHOLE OF SQUATTING, 11 DIFFERENT INVESTORS HAVE INVESTED IN THIS PROPERTY IN A FIVE YEAR TERM. FOR ME, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE BEING A HOUSTONIAN BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S NO, UM, RESOLVE FOR THE SQUATTERS. I LISTENED TO, I BELIEVE THE MAYOR ADDRESSED, UM, SOMEONE ELSE WHO SPOKE TODAY ABOUT, UM, COMING THE, THE ELDER, THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN WHO WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WAS A HOUSING, A SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT THE DUST WAS CREATING, UM, HOW INSPECTIONS AND PERMITTING SHOULD BE DONE. THIS BUILDING WAS EMPTY FOR SOME TIME RIGHT BEFORE IT. MY, UH, CLIENT BOUGHT IT, WHICH MEANS IF SOMEBODY'S SQUATTING IN THOSE BUILDINGS, RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE CIRCLES OF EVICTIONS OVER AND OVER BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE KEEPS COMING ONTO THE PROPERTY, BY THE TIME THEY GO THROUGH THE EVICTION PROCESS, YOU HAVE A WHOLE NEW SET OF SQUATTERS, RIGHT? WHY CAN'T WE GET HEALTH AND SAFETY INVOLVED TO SAY, HEY, IT'S NOT FIT TO BE INHABITED. MATTER OF FACT, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO CONSTRUCTION ON IT. WHY CAN'T THEY BE PUT OUT THAT WAY? NOW, I'M A HOMELESS ADVOCATE TO MY HEART. I'LL NEVER LEAVE THAT COMMUNITY. I SIT AND TALK WITH THEM, I HEAR THEIR STORIES, SO I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THEM TO BE PUT OUT. BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO FALSIFY DOCUMENTS TO BE IN THIS PLACE. THEY'VE SHOWN GOVERNMENT IDS. I'M ALL FOR CRIMINALLY CHARGING THEM WITH SOMETHING MORE THAN TRESPASSING, BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE FRAUDULENTLY PRESENTED DOCUMENTS THAT THAT GAVE YOU ACCESS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, MS. LANIER, LET ME ASK AND MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR. ARE YOU, ARE YOU ADVOCATING THAT YOU THINK THAT HOUSING AND THIS NEED TO BE PROVIDED FOR THE SQUATTERS? I'M ADVOCATING FOR ALL OF IT. IF THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY HOMELESS, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CASES ARE FOR, WHY THEY'RE SQUATTING. OKAY. IF IT IS JUST CRIMINAL, THEN I'M ADVOCATING FOR THEM TO, UH, GET THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. BUT IF IT'S JUST SOMEONE NEEDING A PLACE TO STAY, I, I CAN'T LEAVE MY PASSION. BUT I HAVE A, I HAVE CLIENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN MY CAUSE AND FOR MY COMMUNITY. I GREW UP IN TRINITY GARDEN. I WAS A SINGLE PARENT OF FIVE CHILDREN AFTER I GOT DIVORCED. SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE HOMELESS IN HOUSES AND RUN FROM EVICTIONS, RIGHT? BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO WORK TOGETHER THAT MEETS THE INTEREST OF INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS WHO ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY. BUT THIS CYCLE OF SQUATTERS HAVING MORE CONTROL AND MORE, UM, RIGHTS THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES HAS GOT TO STOP. AND I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A PLAN TO WORK. OKAY? YEAH. OKAY. I'LL REACH OUT TO YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, MS. LANIER. AND I, I'M LOOKING FOR, UM, SERGEANT HERNDON. IS HE THERE? HE DID. I WANTED TO THANK HIM. HE, HE, HE, HE, WHEN I PUT REGISTERED TO SPEAK YESTERDAY, HE IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT. I WAS INTENDING TO THANK HIM. OKAY. AND THE UNION, THE UNION HAS AGREED TO HELP ME WITH THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE IT PUTS YOUTH TO WORK, RIGHT? SO THEY HAVE AN APPRENTICE PROGRAM. MY, MY DEVELOPERS ARE, UH, UH, WILLING TO USE UNION WORKERS IN AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. SO IT'S JUST AN ALL AROUND SUPPORT. BUT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK SERGEANT, UH, HERNDON, 'CAUSE HE DID REACH OUT. THANK YOU, MS. LANIER, AND KEEP US POSTED. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THAT PROJECT UP AND RUNNING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, M AND SCOTT. MARIAN SCOTT, NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENT. JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB. YO JACOB, YOUR TIME RUNNING JACOB. ALL RIGHT. [03:30:06] YOU COME TO ASTROS, BURNING WITH DESIRE. HEY, DID YOU SEE THAT APRIL 1ST CAME WITH AS MADE OF BLACK AND BLUE? YES. SHOW, SHOW US. UH, UM, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT RIGHT NOW, SERIOUSLY, IS I WORK IN ENERGY PARK, UH, FOR A SM GLOBAL, AND THEN, ANYWAY, NOW I'M GONNA BE A GATED ATTENDANT, I THINK AGAIN, AND WELL, UM, THEY, UH, ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS FOOD EVENT FESTIVAL THIS FIFTH THROUGH THE SEVENTH, AND YOU CAN GET IN FOR, UM, SO MUCH MONEY, LIKE $7, AND YOU CAN TRY FOOD FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES ALL AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US, JACOB. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HOUSTON MAY BE TRYING TO ATTEND THAT EVENT, AND THAT INFORMATION IS VERY HELPFUL. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND SHARING THAT INFORMATION. AND IN 12 DAYS, I TURNED 56. OH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. WE'LL PROBABLY SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY GHOST TROS. YEAH. NEXT SPEAKER. AND THEN THE, UH, RENEE HAS IT FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. JACOB. ANDREW PATTERSON. ANDREW PATTERSON. NEXT SPEAKER. SOPHIA SEGER. SOPHIA SEGER NEXT. OH, SOPHIA'S HERE. HI, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? UH, THANKS FOR ADDING ME TO THE SPEAKER LIST TODAY. I APPRECIATE IT. UH, MY NAME IS SOPHIA SALGAR. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF BAYAN RAJI. UH, THIS WEEK, BAYAN WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE DONE TO THE YESHIVA HOSPITAL IN GAZA. AS DO I, ISRAELI FORCES HAVE JUST PULLED OUT OF YESHIVA HOSPITAL AFTER BUSING IT FOR WEEKS, LEAVING MORE THAN 300 DISMEMBERED, CRUSHED, AND OTHERWISE MUTILATED BODIES, INNOCENT CIVILIANS. THERE ARE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS THAT NO SINGULAR BODY WAS FOUND INTACT DURING THE BESIEGEMENT. THERE WAS NO FOOD OR WATER, AND DOCTORS WERE FORCED TO DRINK IV SOLUTION TO SURVIVE. MAGGOTS HAVE INFESTED THE WOUNDS WITH THEIR PATIENTS, AND THAT HAS, ALL THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND RECENTLY. ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THE COUNCIL TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND A PERMANENT DIVESTMENT IN ISRAEL. I SAY THIS EVERY WEEK, IT'S A SMALL ASK, BUT NOW I'M BEGGING. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GET ON MY HANDS AND KNEES FOR YOU? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE IN RETURN? YOU SIT HERE EVERY WEEK AND YOU WON'T SAY ANYTHING, AND YOU WON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME. I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO DO BUREAUCRATIC BUSY WORK. THERE'S NOTHING I WOULDN'T GIVE TO MAKE THIS STOP. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN I GET 20 MORE SECONDS? COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. CALL FOR CEASEFIRE AND AMEND THE CITY BUDGET TO REMOVE THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS IN THE CONTEXT THAT MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT, SO PLEASE HELP US FREE PALESTINE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, EDUARDO DURAN. I GOTTA GIMME THE IDEA. SO I'M GONNA PLAY THIS FOR A SECOND. MAYBE PUT IT ON THE OTHER ONE. THE OTHER ONE'S ON, OH, HERE. NO, I GOT IT. I GOT IT. Y'ALL CAN HEAR IT. TO DETERMINE THE, THIS FORMER PRESIDENT, LYNDON B JOHNSON, TALKING ABOUT CONTROLLING, CONTROLLING THE, THE WEATHER, WHOEVER CONTROLS THE WEATHER WILL CONTROL THE WORLD. THERE IS A, UH, FACT CHECKED FULLY FACTCHECK. THERE'S A WEBSITE CALLED GEOENGINEERING WATCH.ORG, WHICH HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATING, UH, CLIMATE ENGINEERING, MORE LIKE, UH, WEATHER ENGINEERING. AND WELL, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT SCIENCE FICTION IS BECOMING, UM, UM, NONFICTION OR STRANGER IN FICTION, OR IT'S BECOMING A REALITY. UM, GEOENGINEERING WATCH.ORG, IT'S A FULLY FACT CHECKED, UH, WEBSITE DISCUSSING THE SUBJECT MATTER WITH, WITH PLENTY OF DOC OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTATION AS FAR AS CLOUD SEATING, ET CETERA. UM, WEATHER MODIFICATION ALSO. YES, MA'AM HAS EXPIRED. 30 MORE SECONDS, PLEASE. GO AHEAD, SIR. WRAP THAT UP. UH, ALSO, UM, UM, NC B.GOV, PUBMED AND OTHER WEBSITES, UH, HAVE, UH, ENGINEERED NANO MATERIALS AND FOOD, WHICH HAVE, [03:35:01] UH, NOT THEORETICALLY, BUT ARE HAVE, ARE FULLY, UM, EVIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, BOTH SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL JOURNALS, STATING HOW THERE HAS BEEN, UM, ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS BEING IMPLEMENTED INTO THE FOOD WITH, UH, MORE COMPLEXITY IN MOLECULES AND MORE COMPLEXITY IN APPLICATION. NOW, WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE HEALTH, UH, PUBLIC, AND YOU AND ME AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS EATING, WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE NONE OF US DO KNOW, NOR NOR HAS THIS INFORMATION BEEN, BEEN, BEEN PRESENTED TO, TO THE PUBLIC FOR, UH, THOROUGH EXAMINATION. BUT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF THAT ON THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITES FOR ALL DOCUMENTATION OF MEDICAL JOURNALS AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, ET CETERA. THIS IS NOT THEORETICAL. THERE ARE IN FACT, AS I SAY, ENGINEERED N MATERIALS AND FOOD. UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE, THE TIME HERE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. SORRY, NEXT SPEAKER. I DON'T MEAN TO BE SOME CONSPIRATORIAL, BUT THESE THINGS ARE NOT CONSPIRATORIAL. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY, COUNSEL, WE STAND [RECESS] IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM WE HAVE A REPORT FROM THE CITY CONTROL AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY. ITEM ONE IS REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL NICHOLS AS DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ITEM TWO, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF ONE ME $609,053 AND 66 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH AXIOM CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON AIRPORT ASSISTANT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $19,535,190 AND 60 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT FOR THE TEXAS STERLING VANKE JV LLC. ITEM FOUR. RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,325,991 AND 74 CENTS AND ACCEPT TO WORK ON CONTRACT WITH MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES LTD ITEM FIVE. CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHASTAIN FORD FOR PURCHASE OF HOMICIDE COMMAND POST VEHICLE. ITEM SIX APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $144,069 AND 62 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF AUDIO AND VIDEO EQUIPMENT AWARDED TO ROMEO MUSIC LLC. ITEM SEVEN, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $601,705 82 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES FOR CVID 19. SCIENTIFIC TESTING AND DETECTING OTHER VIRUSES FOR THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF WATER TO LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION. ITEM EIGHT, ITEM EIGHT, DC EXPORT LLC FOR PURCHASE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BRAILLE BROCHURES. ITEM NINE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,100,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO SANITARY SEWER LINES AWARDED TO BOYER, INC. ITEM 10, HAROLD BECK AND SONS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC ACTUATORS. ITEM 11, PARADIGM TRAFFIC SYSTEMS, INC. $169,100 AND NO CENTS AND PFEIFFER AND SON LTD $81,250 AND NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF CAMERAS. ITEM 12, APPROVED SPEEDING AUTHORITY AND THE MON 9 6200 $8,580 AND NO CENTS FOR A WATERLINE REPAIR AUDIT FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AWARD TO STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC. ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING RELOCATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SELF RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AGREEMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN, I'M SORRY, LOAN AGREEMENT AND OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AVENUE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS LANDLORD AND NEW STAR LOGISTICS LPS TENANT ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN [03:40:01] CITY OF HOUSTON AND FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RECEIVABLES CONTROL CORPORATION ON BEHALF OF IEH AUTO PARTS HOLDING L-L-C-D-B-A AUTO PLUS AUTO STORES. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CYNTHIA BAU AND CITY OF HOUSTON. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ORANGE STONE MCKINNEY, LLCS LANDLORD AND THE C DIFF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS TENANT. ITEM 22 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE OF SURPLUS VACANT LOT CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 12 POINT 22 ACRES AND LOCATED AT TEN THREE OH ONE STELLAR LINK ROAD APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING MARKETING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEVILLES INC. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING MARKETING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND CVRE INC. A DELAWARE CORPORATION. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING AND MARKETING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND CUSHMAN AND WAKEFIELD OF TEXAS INC. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $136,500 AND NO CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F FOR APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AMONG CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ST. GEORGE PLACE, REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND REINVESTMENTS ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,100,000 AND OH CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HALF ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROPRI $4,987,500 IN NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPRO AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY HOUSTON AND COO ENGINEERS INC. ITEM 28 ORDERS APPROPRIATING $26,250 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE, STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE, AND $26,250 IN NOTICE INSIDE A DEDICATED DRAIN STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AVENUE RUM TAX I APPRO AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN STEVE HOUSTON AND AR KK ENGINEERS LLC, EXCUSE ME, ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THREE MAIN $412,253 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO EEX INTER INTEGRITY SOUTHEAST INC. FOR SANITARY SEWER CLEANING AND TELEVISION INSPECTION IN SUPPORT OF REHABILITATION. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,066,832 NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND WATER AND CONTRACTOR EQU INTEGRITY SOUTHEAST INC. FOR SANITARY SEWER CLEANING AND TELEVISION INSPECTION IN SUPPORT OF REHABILITATION. ITEM 31, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICANT'S CORDOVA APARTMENTS NEW HOPE HOUSING AVENUE C. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH, 2024. ITEM 32, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICANTS. THE ARBORETUM AT WOODLAND HILLS, CHISHOLM TRAIL APARTMENTS, WILLOW CREEK MANOR. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH, 2024. ITEM 33, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 45, ARTICLE XV OF THE 15 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 26 1 55 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO PARKING METER REGULATIONS. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF APRIL 3RD, 2024. 2024. STATE 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 WELCOME MY NUMBER ONE THING. ALRIGHT, COUNCIL, [RECONVENE] PLEASE COME TO ORDER. UH, MEMBERS, WE WERE GONNA DO THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FIRST. I THINK THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME IN MIKE NICHOLS TIME IS TO BRING UP MIKE'S APPOINTMENT AS DIRECTOR OF HOUSING COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH THE CONTROLLER'S BLESSING AND MELISSA TO LET MIKE COME UP AND, UH, LET'S DO HIS NOMINATION AND THEN LET HIM GO BACK TO WORK. YEAH, LET HER CALL, ASK HER TO CALL THE MADAM [MISCELLANEOUS] SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL ITEM MORNING. ITEM ONE NEEDS [03:45:01] A MOTION CASTEX TO MOVE I A SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. HERE COMES MR. MIKE ITEM. DON'T THINK I COULD SEE ANYTHING THAT HADN'T BEEN SAID ABOUT YOU IN THESE CHAMBERS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. IF YOU GOOGLE PUBLIC SERVANT, UH, I KNOW YOUR PICTURE IS THERE, SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT IN THIS DEPARTMENT. UH, PARTICULARLY I TOOK IN CONSIDERATION YOUR DEVOTION TO THE HOMELESS ISSUE. SO THAT'S A GREAT COMBINATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, THE HOMELESS CONCERNS. AND SO WITH THAT, YOU HAVE MY TOTAL BLESSINGS AND SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE. MR. MAYOR. COUNSEL, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR APPOINTING ME, AFFIRMING ME. I DO CONSIDER THIS AS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, I HOPE OTHER CITIZENS WILL FOLLOW AND WATCH HOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO DO SERVICE FOR THEIR CITY. JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU HERE, IT'S DIFFICULT JOBS, BUT IT'S GREAT JOBS. I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT WHILE I HAVE YOU HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS TEAM. THEY REP SOME OF THE FOLKS ARE REPRESENTED BEHIND ME. THE LAST 30 DAYS HAVE BEEN REALLY REMARKABLE FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE RARELY WORKED WITH SUCH INTELLIGENT, HIGHLY EXPERIENCED PEOPLE WHO ARE SO COMMITTED TO THIS CITY AND SO COMMITTED TO EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY SPENDING MONEY. IT'S AN AMAZING GROUP. I MEAN, VERY WELL EDUCATED, HARDWORKING. I WAS WITH ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS TILL SEVEN 30 LAST NIGHT WORKING TO SAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED UNITS FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE. SPENT THE MORNING WITH SOME FOLKS IN OUR DEPARTMENT WHO WERE, UH, GEOLOGISTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS TO WORK ON A PROBLEM ON, ON THE ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE SURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS AVAILABLE TO SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE. UM, THIS THE NEXT POINT I WANNA JUST MAKE FOR JUST TAKE ONE MOMENT BESIDES THIS AMAZING STAFF, IS THAT I DO WANNA REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE, UH, AND COMPLEXITY OF THE WORK OF THIS DEPARTMENT. UM, I APPRECIATE GOING BEFORE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE CONTROLLER BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THIS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY IS EFFECTIVELY USED AND EFFICIENTLY USED. AND THIS MONEY IS NOT JUST MANA FROM HEAVEN. IT HAS SO MANY COMPLEXITIES, SO MANY TALES. AND TO USE IT WISELY JUST TAKES REALLY SMART PEOPLE. AND THIS DEPARTMENT HAS THOSE PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S USED WISELY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S USED FOR FOLKS WHO NEED IT THE MOST. UH, AND AND, AND THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OF, AND THE JOB IS A BIG JOB. I MEAN, IT HAS, THE DEPARTMENT DOES ALL SORT OF THINGS, FAIR HOUSING, UM, SINGLE HOME DEVELOPMENT, DISASTER PLANNING, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON. BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THE FOCUS, AT LEAST MY FOCUS IS GONNA BE ON HOUSING. I BELIEVE HOUSTON CAN BE THE MOST PRO-HOUSING CITY IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK IT'S FUNNY. I THINK WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE WE GOT ALL THE BASES TO DO IT NOW. WE JUST HAVE TO PULL ALL THAT TOGETHER, COLLABORATE BETWEEN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALL THE OTHER GROUPS THAT MAKE IT A LITTLE HARDER FOR US TO HAVE THE HOUSING WE WANT. WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE. WE HAVE TO USE THIS FEDERAL MONEY AND STATE MONEY WISELY. UM, BUT THE GOAL SHOULD BE, AND I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO ASPIRE WITH ME, THAT WE'RE THE MOST PRO-HOUSING CITY IN THE COUNTRY, THAT WE HAVE THE BEST HOUSING, THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE GET RECOGNIZED FOR THAT. 'CAUSE THAT WILL MAKE US UNIQUE. AND EVEN IN THIS TIME OF AUSTERITY, MAYOR THAT YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS HOUSING CAN BE A REAL STAR IN OUR, ON OUR, ON OUR HAT. UM, SO I APPRECIATE BEING HERE. IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF WORK. I APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS I LEARN, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND, AND ORDINANCES THAT COME THROUGH HERE AS A RESULT OF OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT THINK OF IT AS COMPLEX FEDERAL STATE FUNDING THAT'S USED TO GET PEOPLE IN HOUSING TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE CITY, AND TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THAT'S TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYBODY TO CALL HOME. THANK YOU. WELL, I DON'T DOUBT, MIKE, THAT WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE, UH, COLLABORATION WITH THE GLO AND HUD, THE COUNTY YES, SIR. ALL THE DIFFERENT LEVELS THAT WE CAN LEAD THE NATION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY YOUR CHARGE. AND, AND, UH, WHAT'S SO IMPRESSED ME WHEN I FIRST DISCUSSED, WOULD YOU TAKE ON THIS MISSION, IS YOUR DESIRE TO MAKE HOUSTON THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING? AND [03:50:01] I I TOLD YOU AT THE TIME, LARGE CITY, YOU SAID NO, ANY CITY, THE MOST AFFORDABLE CITY IN, IN THE NATION. SO WITH THAT, UM, I KNOW YOU'LL HIT THE RESTART BUTTON AS YOU HAVE WITH GLO. THEY'VE HAD CONCERNS IN PREVIOUS YEARS WITH HUD, WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND CERTAINLY THIS, THE, THE MEMBERS AT THIS HORSESHOE, UH, YOUR ACCESSIBILITY TO THEM IS, IS, UH, EXACTLY WHAT'S BEEN MISSING AND NEEDS TO LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR CONSTITUENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GONNA PROPOSE LISTING SOME PROPERTIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR HOUSING. AND THOSE TARGETS WERE NOT MET, BUT WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD. IT'S THINGS THAT YOU AND I INHERITED AND, UH, WITH A LOT OF COMMITMENT AND COLLABORATION, WE'LL GET IT DONE. AND I'M GLAD TO YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAD TO JUMP IN. UH, MIKE, ON MY WAY IN, I WAS THINKING ABOUT JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE WERE STANDING THERE CELEBRATING YOUR, UH, QUOTE UNQUOTE RETIREMENT. AND MAYOR, IF YOU RECALL, I HAD SAID, I HAVE NO DOUBT THERE IS MORE TO COME BECAUSE, UM, FOR MIKE AND HIS FAMILY, UH, YOU ALL ARE A FAMILY OF SERVICE, UH, IN SO MANY WAYS, NOT JUST TO THE CITY, BUT TO OUR, TO OUR WORLD. AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE. I APPRECIATE, AND I THINK YOUR OWN REMARKS SPEAK TO THE CHARACTER OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR, THAT YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR STAFF, THE HARDWORKING STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT YOU HAVE A VISION AND THAT YOUR COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND FOR THE EVERYDAY PERSON THAT LIVES IN HOUSTON, UH, THAT DESERVES THE, THE FAIR QUALITY, UM, HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE THAT WE KNOW WE CAN DELIVER. SO AGAIN, MIKE, I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU AT THE CITY IN A FORMAL POSITION. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, IT IS AN HONOR TO ME. LAST WEEK, UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS WAS AT A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH US WHERE WE TALKED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, PARTICULARLY ELDERLY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR DESIRES. AND WE LISTENED. IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN WANT. AND, UH, WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, ASK THEM WHERE HOUSING SITS ON THEIR LIST OF PRIORITIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THEY WILL SAY RIGHT AT THE TOP. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN KING. NEXT WEEK, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. RAMIREZ. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. MIKE RAMIREZ. YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, SELDOM HAVE I SEEN, UH, RESUMES IMPRESS HIM AS YOURS. YOUR EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT, IN BUSINESS, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. I WANTED GO INTO AND, UM, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING AT HOUSING. I LOVE THE WAY YOU'RE LIFTING UP YOUR DEPARTMENT ALREADY AND FIRING THEM UP. AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE THINGS WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. WHEN, WHEN, UH, THE HR DEPARTMENT'S LOOKING AT MY RESUME, THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHY I'D BEEN FIRED SO MANY TIMES, , AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT IT'S A THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT AGAIN, I HOPE I REPRESENT OTHER CITIZENS WHO WILL BE COMING TO THE CITY, WHO'VE DONE OTHER THINGS IN THEIR LIVES AND WILL REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR DEPARTMENT. I SEE THEM ALREADY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD OTHER IMPORTANT JOBS AND THEN COME IN AND WANNA WORK FOR THE CITY BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND THE BEST THING TO DO, MY, MIKE, YOU LET ME FIRST RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. AND MIKE, I WANT TO, UH, CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS APPOINTMENT. AND MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT FORWARD. UH, THAT WAS A BOLD STATEMENT TO HEAR, UH, TO, TO HAVE US TO BE THE NUMBER ONE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CITY IN, IN AMERICA. NOT JUST A MAJOR CITY, UH, BUT OF ALL CITIES. WHERE'S THAT GAP RIGHT NOW FOR US THAT YOU SEE? H HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM THERE? I THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT. THE KINDER STUDY JUST NOW SAID THAT WE HAD LESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN OTHER MAJOR CITIES. I DON'T, I HAVEN'T STUDIED THAT REPORT. I QUESTIONED SOME OF THE THINGS, BUT THE ISSUE IS WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF POVERTY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. PEOPLE LIVE VERY NEAR THE, WE HAVE WORKING POOR WHO $400 A MONTH, UH, EXTRA IS HARD TO COME BY. WE HAVE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THOSE FOLKS AND OTHER FOLKS HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I BELIEVE THAT WITH COLLABORATION, AGAIN, AMONG THE DEPARTMENTS WITH THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE CAN MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE. BUT WE HAVE SOME WAYS TO GO RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. WELL, NICHOLS, AND I WANNA, I WANNA, UH, AGAIN, SAY TO YOU AS WELL THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT I HEARD AT THE MEETING, THE COMMUNITY MEETING, I THINK WAS, UH, YOU HAVE A TREMENDOUS TEAM AND YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND WE LOOKING FORWARD TO CERTAINLY MEETING THE GOAL OF HAVING THE BEST CITY IN AMERICA, UH, [03:55:01] IN PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU KNOW, FOR MOST PEOPLE KNOW, I GREW UP IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE, UH, PEOPLE DEPENDED UPON THAT AND WE'VE BEEN LACKING IN THAT. AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE HURTING TO HEAR WHEN THE MONEY GOES BACK TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR US NOT DOING WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO. BUT I CERTAINLY COMMEND YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I REALLY, UH, MY STAFF WAS, CONSTITUENTS WERE THERE AND WE WERE REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY EVERYTHING WAS ORGANIZED. AND SO I THINK I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME GREAT THINGS COMING FROM YOU IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU, SIR. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL ASK FOR YOU IS WHEN YOU TALK TO OUR CONGRESSMEN AND TALK TO OUR SENATORS AND OUR LEADERS IN, AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MONEY THAT'S NOT SO TIGHTLY BOUND THAT WE CAN'T SPEND IT. AMEN. THEY, AND THEY CAN DO THAT. THEY CAN MAKE CHANGE THOSE RULES. SURE THEY CAN. AMEN. SAY, MIKE, YOU PROPERLY BROUGHT UP YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOU WANT TO, AND IS YOUR FAMILY HERE TODAY BY CHANCE? MY, MY WIFE IS, YOU KNOW, I LAUGH. ONE, ONE OF EVERYBODY HAS KARMA. ONE OF THE REASONS I STAND HERE IS BECAUSE MY FOUR CHILDREN DON'T LIVE IN HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK IT'S AN AFFORDABLE CITY, . AND, UH, THEY'VE CHANGED, THEY'VE CHOSEN SMALLER CITIES TO LIVE IN. SO WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT. AND MY WIFE HAD A MEDICAL PROCEDURE. I DO WANT RECOGNIZE MY STAFF. YOUR STAFF. I WAS GONNA ASK YOU TO LET THEM STAND. I APPRECIATE OUR STAFF. LOOK AT THAT THOUSAND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND IF I CAN TAKE ONE MORE MOMENT, OUR PARTNERS HERE IN THE NONPROFIT AREA IF ALL STAND UP TOO, BECAUSE WE, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS. THANK. OKAY. THANK YOU. EVERYONE. GO TO WORK. THANK YOU. READY TO GO? WE'RE ALL GOING [ADMIN REPORT] NOW FOR THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLANDS AND FINANCE ARREST DIRECTOR MELISSA KOWSKI. I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE RISE ON THE HEIGHT HERE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. MORNING, SIR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND STAFF, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $433.8 MILLION FOR FY 2024. THIS IS $35.1 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. DUE TO DIFFERENCE DIFFERENCES IN REVENUE PROJECTIONS. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE ENDING FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $247.6 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO AND RESERVE OUR REVENUE PROJECTION INCREASED BY 2.3 MILLION FROM THE JANUARY, 2024 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AS FOLLOWS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES DECREASED BY 3.7 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED TURS MUNICIPAL SERVICE FEES, DIRECT INTER FUND CHARGES DECREASED BY 1 MILLION DUE TO LESS POLICE SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM AND LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED CHARGE BACK FOR PLANNING SERVICES. INTEREST INCOME INCREASED BY 6 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST EARNINGS ON DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS, SALE OF CAPITAL ASSETS INCREASED BY 0.9 MILLION DUE TO PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF ASSETS AND VEHICLES. OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS DECREASED BY $13.3 MILLION FROM THE JANUARY, 2024 REPORT, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE FOLLOWING. VACANCY SAVINGS IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TOTALING 13.1 MILLION, A DECREASE OF 3.5 MILLION FOR ELECTRICITY, CHARGEBACKS FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, A DECREASE OF 3 MILLION FOR HEALTH BENEFIT SAVINGS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. AN INCREASE OF 4.2 MILLION IN POLICE FOR THE MAYOR'S CRIME REDUCTION INITIATIVE, AN INCREASE OF 1.4 MILLION IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SHARED OPERATION COSTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS. AN INCREASE OF 0.4 MILLION IN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TERMINATION PAYMENTS. MOVING ON TO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THE AVI, IN THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND, OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $15.5 MILLION DUE TO INCREASED PASSENGER TRAFFIC, WHICH RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES FOR AIRLINES CONCESSIONS AND PARKING. NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 10.2 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST EARNINGS ON DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS. OPERATING EXPENSES INCREASED BY 3.2 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO AN INCREASE OF 4.3 MILLION FOR PERSONNEL AND SERVICE COSTS OFFSET BY 0.9 MILLION, DECREASE IN NON-CAPITAL [04:00:01] OUTLAY. TOTAL TRANSFERS INCREASED BY $22.5 MILLION DUE TO A $52.1 MILLION INCREASE IN THE TRANSFER FROM THE REVENUE FUND TO THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT FUND OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN DEBT SERVICE TRANSFER OF 29.6 MILLION IN THE CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT FUND. NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $6.2 MILLION, PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS IN THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, OPERATING REVENUES DECREASED BY $23.5 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED WATER AND SEWER REVENUE. OPERATING EXPENSES DECREASED BY $22.5 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO CONTRACT DELAYS. DELAYS IN FI IN FILLING VACANT POSITIONS AND LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED SPENDING ON REPAIRS. NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 0.9 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST INCOME. TOTAL TRANSFERS DECREASED BY 37.2 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN RECEIVING CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FOR 56.9 MILLION, OFFSET BY A NET INCREASE OF 19.7 MILLION IN TRANSFERS TO OTHER FUNDS. AND THE STORM WATER FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY $1.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER TRANSFERS FROM THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY 4.3 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO AN INCREASE OF 5.8 MILLION FOR PURCHASES OF CAPITAL ASSETS OFFSET BY A DECREASE OF 1.1 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN FILLING VACANT POSITIONS IN THE AD VALOREM DRAINAGE AND STREET RE RENEWAL FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $9.2 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN VEHICLE PURCHASES IN THE DRAINAGE CHARGE. DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND REVENUES DECREASED BY $5.1 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED DRAINAGE CHARGE REVENUES IN THE METRO. DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 3.2 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO DELAYS IN FILLING VACANT POSITIONS FOR THE CITY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE. WE ARE WELL BELOW THOSE THRESHOLDS. MAYOR, IF YOU'D ALLOW ME TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO AGAIN CONGRATULATE MIKE NICHOLS ON HIS IMPORT, HIS APPOINTMENT TO THIS POSITION. UH, THIS WORK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, UH, NEXT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. HAVING A PLACE TO LIVE THAT'S AFFORDABLE AND OF HIGH QUALITY IS THE NEXT MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT HOUSTONIANS NEED. AND SO MIKE HAS AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE THIS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK HE'S GONNA DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NEXT, AS I'VE SAID FROM DAY ONE, MY COMMITMENT TO HOUSTONIANS AND SERVING AS THEIR TAXPAYER WATCHDOG IS TO PROMOTE, IS TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AROUND OUR CITY'S FINANCES AND TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT. LAST WEEK, MY OFFICE HOSTED A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE I SPOKE DIRECTLY TO HOUSTONIANS ABOUT THE PROPOSED FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT THAT YOU ANNOUNCED. WHILE WE RECOGNIZED THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT AS A STEP TOWARDS ENDING THE CITY'S LONGSTANDING DISPUTE WITH FIREFIGHTERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO KEEP US SAFE, WE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR A HEALTHY DISCUSSION ON THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT AND HOW YOU AND COUNCIL PLAN TO ABSORB COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT WITHOUT SACRIFICING SERVICE DELIVERY ACROSS THE REST OF THE CITY IN WAYS THAT PUT RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE AT RISK. YESTERDAY'S EXCHANGE AT THE JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING ON LABOR BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND I WANT TO COMMEND DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI AS WELL AS CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE, FOR THEIR OPENNESS IN DISCUSSING SOME OF THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT BEFORE TAKING THIS PROPOSED SETTLEMENT INTO ACCOUNT, THE ANTICIPATED BUDGET SHORTFALL FOR NEXT YEAR OF NEARLY $200 MILLION REPRESENTED SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE. ABSORBING THE COST OF THIS SETTLEMENT WOULD DEEPEN THAT SHORTFALL. THE DEBT SERVICE AGAINST A $650 MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT BOND WOULD ON AVERAGE EXCEED $40 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT 25 TO 30 YEARS. AND THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST YEAR OF RAISES IN THE CONTRACT WOULD BE IN THE $36 MILLION RANGE BY YEAR FIVE. WE'RE LOOKING AT ASSOCIATED COSTS IN THE $140 MILLION RANGE WITH BUDGET DELIBERATIONS FAST APPROACHING, WE MUST PREPARE OURSELVES FOR A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW ALL OF THIS WILL BE PAID FOR. AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT THE, THAT IN DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI PRESENTATION YESTERDAY, SHE BEGAN TO ARTICULATE A SET OF OPTIONS THAT THE CITY MIGHT PURSUE AS HOUSTONIANS WORKED TO BALANCE THEIR CHECKBOOKS AT HOME. CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT. TO KEEP THE CITY AFLOAT, WE MUST EITHER GENERATE NEW REVENUE OR DECREASE COST OR SOME COMBINATION OF THE TWO. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SAFEGUARD THE FINANCIAL FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND REDUCE THE RISK TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS DEPEND ON AND THAT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF OUR DAILY LIVES. AND AS WE NAVIGATE THIS CHALLENGE, WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND COLLABORATION IN THE PROCESS. MY OFFICE COMMITTED [04:05:01] IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU MAYOR, AND WITH EACH MEMBER OF COUNCIL AND YOUR STAFFS, AS WELL AS LABOR GROUPS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS THAT CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY TODAY, TOMORROW, AND IN YEARS TO COME. AS HOUSTON ALWAYS HAS, I KNOW THAT WITH NEW IDEAS, ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP AND DETERMINATION, WE CAN WEATHER THIS STORM AND EMERGE STRONGER THAN EVER. THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. WELL, LET ME RESPOND ABOUT THANKING YOU FOR YOUR NICE WORDS. UM, YOU AND I HAVE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD SIT DOWNS COMMITTED OURSELF TO WORKING TOGETHER. AS YOU WELL KNOW IN OUR FIRST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL PICTURE, WE RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A SHORTFALL, UH, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AGREEMENT. I I GUESS YOU REMEMBER WE WERE SAYING ABOUT 160 MILLION SHORT COME 2026. SO I THINK IT'S ONLY PROPER THAT WE PAINT AN ACCURATE PICTURE PRIOR TO AN AGREEMENT, POST AN AGREEMENT. IN FACT, UH, I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD FROM ARTURO AND MELISSA THAT WE BELIEVED AFTER A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT THE AGREEMENT WOULD ACTUALLY SAVE THE CITY MONEY, UH, WHEN YOU START MAKING SOMEONE WHOLE FROM EIGHT YEARS WITHOUT A CONTRACT OVERTIME. AND THE EXPOSURE WE HAD IN THE COURTS, IT WAS OUR JUDGMENT TO REACH A SETTLEMENT. AND FOR CERTAIN, THE FIREFIGHTERS DIDN'T WANT A THREE YEAR CONTRACT. 'CAUSE THEY LIKE TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD DISCUSSION SOONER. SO IT WAS, AS I MENTIONED TO A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, SUCH AN EXCELLENT HEARING. UH, THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE OPENNESS THAT WAS DISPLAYED YESTERDAY ABOUT THE LABOR COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCIAL COMMITTEE IS, IS WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING IN MY JUDGMENT AT CITY HALL FOR A LONG TIME. SO I LISTENED TO YOUR COMMENTS, I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. THE, UH, 5% GOAL WAS A STARTING POINT FOR CUTS. IT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO APPLY TO MAYBE NOT DEALING WITH THE STAFFING VACANCIES THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED. WE'RE ACTUALLY SAVING MONEY IN THAT REGARD. SO I DON'T WANT TO CUT SERVICES. IN FACT, SERVICES HAVE IMPROVED SINCE I WAS SWORN IN. UH, PEOPLE ACROSS HOUSTON ARE CELEBRATING THAT THEIR GARBAGE AND THE RECYCLING IS BEING PICKED UP IN THE SAME DAY. SO SERVICES IS A COMMITMENT OF EVERYONE AT THIS HORSESHOE. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ONE SETTLEMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE TRANSPARENT. LET HOUSTONIANS SEE THE SHORTFALL THAT WAS HERE WHEN I GOT HERE. I CAMPAIGNED ON SETTLING THE LAWSUIT, GET THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THE CITY OUT OF THE COURT, WHICH I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND IS, IS NOT GOOD GOVERNMENT AND WAS COSTING US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES. SO I INVITE EVERYONE, UH, TO JOIN TOGETHER IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. I DO, AS I MENTIONED TO A COUNCIL MEMBER YESTERDAY, WE NEED TO GET BACK AND INCORPORATE PUBLIC SAFETY INTO THE DISCUSSION. I WAS A LITTLE, I WAS NOT A LITTLE, I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE FIRE CHIEF WHEN I ASKED ABOUT OPERATIONS. WOULD THIS ADDRESS OPERATIONS? AND HE SAID, NO. IN FACT, THAT IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. OPERATIONS RESPONSE TIME. WE'RE PAYING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FIRE OVERTIME FOR UNDERSTAFFED POSITIONS. WE HAVE APPARATUSES THAT ARE NOT BEING MANNED OR WOMAN BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF STAFFING. SO OPERATIONS WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IF WE CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS. I SPOKE TO THE RECENT CADET CLASS, MR. CONTROLLER, 31 CADETS, MOST OF WHOM ARE ALREADY MAKING PLANS TO RELOCATE. SO IF HOUSTONIANS GET A PRINTOUT OF WHERE THE AMBULANCES ARE THIS MORNING, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER, WE'RE MAKING CALLS TO KINGWOOD FROM STATIONS ON RICHMOND. SO FINANCES ARE CRITICAL, OPERATIONS ARE CRITICAL, THEIR LIFE AND DEATH. SO I COMMIT TO YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE AND THIS MEMBERSHIP OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. BE VERY TRANSPARENT. OUR CAMPAIGNED ON SOLVING THE FIREFIGHTERS, IT WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE EXPENSIVE. WE HAD HUGE RISK IF WE WENT TO COURT. THE, UH, SETTLEMENT BOND WAS PARDON THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COURT BECAUSE THE COURT WANTED US TO GO TO TRIAL IF WE COULDN'T GIVE CERTAINTY AND CLOSURE TO THE ISSUE. SO THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN, JUST HALF HAPPENED SINCE LEE, THIS WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT BY, UH, A TEAM OF, UH, [04:10:01] FINANCIAL FOLKS. THE LEGAL TERMS, AND I WANT IT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AND, UH, THE INPUT OF EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOUR INPUT. YOU KNOW, BOB BULLOCK, ONE TIME TOUGH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR USED TO DRILL US. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS PLAN, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN? THAT'S A PRETTY SOBERING QUESTION. AND, AND HE DIDN'T. HE WAS A NO NONSENSE GUY. SO I'VE COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT I THINK IS FISCAL RESPONSIBLE. IT'S GONNA REQUIRE US TO HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE. I THINK WE NEED TO PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GARBAGE FEE. I SAT THERE AND WATCHED THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION SIT RIGHT HERE AND SAY, IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE, THE FISCAL POLICY OF SANITATION. AND I'D BE AT HOME WATCHING THAT OR AT THE OFFICE AND I SCREAM, DO SOMETHING. WELL, WE'RE ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING. AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING TODAY ANY ONE METHOD. IT OUGHT TO BE IN CONSIDERATION WITH OUR, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY, WITH OUR HOPE EMPLOYEES, OUR POLICE OFFICERS. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER IN YOUR COMMENTS LAST WEEK, SHARING YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE 5% CUT AS A STARTING POINT, WHAT IT WOULD DO TO CITY SERVICES. I CAMPAIGNED ON CITY SERVICES. I CAMPAIGNED ON PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, ILLEGAL DUMPING, THE HOMELESS ISSUE. YOU KNOW, YOU THINK I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE VALUE MIKE NICHOLS BRINGS TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. SO ANYWAY, YOU GOT ME FIRED UP THIS MORNING. AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR BEING A GENTLEMAN AND A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT WORKING WITH MY OFFICE AND, AND, UH, THE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. SO THANK YOU. AND, AND, UH, ANYTIME YOU WANNA HAVE A MATTER OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I'LL BE GLAD TO YIELD TOO. THANKS, MAYOR. NOW MELISSA, NOW MELISSA KIND OF GOT A LITTLE OFF FINANCES, BUT, BUT IT, BUT, BUT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SERVICES AND, UH, THEY'RE GONNA IMPROVE. YES, MELISSA. THANK YOU. GOOD. I THINK, HELLO. OKAY. AND IT'S ALL RIGHT FOR EVERYBODY TO AGREE THAT WE'RE BROKE. WE WERE BROKE WHEN WE GOT HERE. WE WERE USING ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SALARIES AND, UM, BROKE IS WHEN YOU NOT PAYING YOUR BILLS, BUT WE'RE GONNA FIX IT. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS, THIS IS THE EIGHT PLUS FOUR FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 29TH, 2024. FISCAL YEAR 24 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON EIGHT MONTH OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND FOUR MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS $42 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND $26 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH'S PROJECTIONS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO A $15 MILLION INCREASE IN SALES TAX DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX RECEIPTS. UH, AND ON THIS POINT, IN ORDER TO MEET THE REVISED PROJECTION OF $880 MILLION, THE REMAINING MONTHS NEED TO COME IN 2.7% BELOW THE PRIOR YEAR, UH, WHICH WE STILL FEEL IS A CONSERVATIVE PROJECTION BASED ON THE YEAR TO DATE, ACTUALS BEING ABOUT, UH, 0.4% ABOVE THE PRIOR YEAR, ADDITIONAL REVENUE CHANGES INCLUDE AN $8.5 MILLION INCREASE TO INTEREST TO REFLECT HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED EARNINGS. A $2 MILLION INCREASE IN INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENTS DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TAXABLE VALUES, A $1.9 MILLION INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AMBULANCE FEES. A $3.7 MILLION DECREASE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL, PRIMARILY DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED TERMS MUNICIPAL SERVICE FEES. MOVING TO THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS, THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS $42 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, BUT $13 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. AND THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH'S PROJECTIONS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO A $13 MILLION DECREASE, UH, IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO REFLECT VACANCY SAVINGS. THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS DECREASE TO REFLECT, UH, INTER FUND CHARGEBACK SAVINGS PRIMARILY IN ELECTRICITY COSTS. A $3 MILLION DECREASE, UH, TO REFLECT HEALTH BENEFIT SAVINGS DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED ENROLLMENT. UH, THOSE EXPENDITURE SAVINGS ARE OFFSET BY A $4 MILLION INCREASE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REFLECT OVERTIME FOR THE MAYOR'S CRIME REDUCTION INITIATIVE AND A $1.4 MILLION INCREASE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT TO REFLECT TAX APPRAISAL FEES, UH, HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED. UH, SO WITH ALL THOSE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE CHANGES, WE ARE CURRENTLY PROJECTING A FUND BALANCE OF $468 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT, UH, $39.5 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH, AND REPRESENTS 18.8% OF EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT AND PAY AS YOU GO. THIS FUND BALANCE IS $281.6 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT AND PAY AS YOU GO. UM, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE [04:15:01] AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, UH, WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON OUR IDENTIFYING THOSE RECURRING REVENUE SOURCES AND OTHER EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS, WE ARE GOING TO USE, UH, GONNA HAVE TO USE AT LEAST A PORTION OF THIS EXCESS FUND BALANCE TO CLOSE THE BUDGETARY GAP AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE FY 25 BUDGET. UH, SO I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, A ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCE WHILE WE, UH, LOOK FOR THOSE RECURRING REVENUES. UM, THE CONTROLLER ALREADY WENT OVER THE CHANGES ON THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, SO I'M GONNA SKIP OVER THOSE, UH, FOR, I'M GONNA LEAVE THOSE FOR YOU NEXT FOR MY COM. OKAY, NEXT TIME I'LL DO IT. YEAH. , NO, IT'S A LOT. I KNOW WE'RE, UH, WE'RE GOING OVER A LOT TODAY. I'LL GO TO THE, UH, TO THE SPECIAL FUNDS FOR THE HEALTH BENEFITS FUND. REVENUES DECREASED BY 16.8 MILLION, UH, DUE TO LOWER ENROLLMENT, UH, THAT WAS OFFSET BY AN EXPENDITURE DECREASE OF ABOUT $15 MILLION DUE TO LOWER CLAIMS. UH, PROPERTY AND CASUALTY FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES BOTH DECREASED BY $7.4 MILLION. UH, WORKERS' COMPENSATION FUND DECREASED BY 6.1 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED CLAIMS. UH, ASSET FORFEITURE FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.3 MILLION. UH, FOR THE AUTO DEALERS SPECIAL REVENUE FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.6 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES OF IMPOUNDED VEHICLES. AND THE CABLE TV FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 1.5 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO DELAYS IN EQUIPMENT PURCHASES. UH, THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FUND EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY 7.5 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL. AND THE HEALTH SPECIAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 2 MILLION DUE TO SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL AND SERVICES. UH, POLICE SPECIAL SERVICES FUND REVENUE INCREASE BY 2 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED POLICE SERVICES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. AND ON THE TOURISM PROMOTION, SPECIAL REVENUE FUND REVENUE INCREASED BY 1 MILLION, UH, WHICH IS DUE TO, AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED, THE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. UH, WHICH AS A RESULT, THE EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY 1 MILLION TO REFLECT A HIGHER PAYMENT TO HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCILOR ALCORN. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VACANCIES. YOU BOTH AND NOW, UM, SAID THAT THERE'S A 13.1 MILLION DECREASE 'CAUSE OF VACANCIES. HOW ARE WE GONNA HANDLE VACANCIES GOING FORWARD? WOULD THAT HELP CLOSE THAT $160 MILLION GAP IF WE JUST SOME OF THESE VACANCIES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER, WE TAKE OFF THE BOOKS? YES. I THINK WHAT, UH, WHAT OUR PLAN GOING INTO THE, UH, BUDGET PREPARATION FOR FY 25 IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, OLDER VACANCIES VACANCIES THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED FOR LONGER THAN A YEAR OR LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS. UM, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN. SO IF, IF, IF A POSITION HAS ONLY BEEN VACANT FOR A FEW MONTHS, WE WANNA, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT IN PLACE. WE WANNA TRY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT TO THE SERVICE DELIVERY FOR SURE. UM, AND SO LOOKING AT THOSE AGED VACANCIES IS WHERE WE WANNA FOCUS OUR, OUR ENERGY. OKAY. AND YESTERDAY, MELISSA, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, SOME POTENTIAL REVENUE, UM, SOURCES AND YOU TALKED ABOUT COMBINED UTILITY, RIGHT OF WAY RENTAL FEE. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE? SURE. UM, SO RIGHT NOW WE GET, UM, SOMETHING CALLED A FRANCHISE FEE FROM, UM, FOR OUR ELECTRICITY CABLE TV, UH, NATURAL GAS THAT WE CHARGE TO OUTSIDE ENTITIES. UH, ONE THING THAT WE'RE EXPLORING, AND WE DO STILL HAVE, UM, SOME WORK TO DO WORKING, WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AS WELL. BUT ONE THING WE'RE EXPLORING FOR THE FUTURE IS, UM, THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT CHARGE THEIR, UH, UTILITY, THEIR WATER UTILITY FOR, UM, IT'S BASICALLY A, A FRANCHISE FEE OR COULD BE CALLED A RENTAL FEE FOR RUNNING THEIR WATER PIPES UNDERNEATH CITY RIGHT OF WAY. UM, AND YEAH, I'M NOT SURE I'M IN FAVOR OF TAKING ANY MONEY FROM THE CS NO, A LOT OF PROBLEM. IT'S, SO WE'RE EXPLORING YEAH, OKAY. WHEN WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CUS AND NEEDING THAT MONEY. I, I THOUGHT I WAS UNDERSTANDING THAT YESTERDAY, BUT JUST WANNA SAY THAT, THAT I DON'T THINK THAT'S A, A GREAT PLACE TO START GETTING MONEY FROM THE CS, UM, UM, ON, AS A MATTER, TALKING ABOUT THE CUS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M SEEING A DECREASE IN THE RE WATER SEWER REVENUE. UM, WE'VE HAD PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES, I THINK, 'CAUSE WE HAD PRETTY HIGH BILLS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T DESERVE. IS THIS A MA BECAUSE OF NEW POLICY OR WE'RE NOT COLLECT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH MONEY IN ON REVENUES BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'RE HANDLING HIGH BILLS. THIS IS RELATED TO A, A, I WOULD SAY A INITIAL STEP ON A WATER BILL RELIEF PROGRAM. OKAY. OKAY. UM, THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING IN THEIR BILLING. OKAY. SO THAT'S EVIDENCE OF THAT. AND FINALLY, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT REALLY LARGE EXCESS, UM, FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW, LARGER THAN WE'VE EVER HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN SITTING AROUND HERE. UH, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S WORRIED ABOUT THE GO FORWARD AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO CLOSE THE GAP, WHICH I THINK WE ALWAYS END UP DOING IN VARIOUS WAYS. WE ALWAYS PROJECT THESE REALLY BIG DEFICITS THAT SOMEHOW COME DOWN. YOU [04:20:01] KNOW, WE USED A LOT OF ARPA MONEY ON RECURRING EXPENDITURES. ARPA MONEY WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THIS JUDGMENT BOND. I MEAN, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT SOURCE FOR THE, FOR THE GO BACK 'CAUSE IT'S ONE TIME MONEY. UM, TO ME, WE USED ARPA MONEY ON RECURRING EXPENDITURES. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH A BIG SURPLUS. SO SINCE IT'S KIND OF THAT ONETIME MONEY, I I, I'M IN FAVOR OF EXPLORING AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SOME YESTERDAY USING SOME OF THAT FUND BALANCE TO PAY DOWN THAT SIX 50, NOT HAVE SUCH A BIG JUDGMENT BOND STILL BECAUSE IT'S MORE OF A ONETIME SOURCE. AND WE'RE, WE DON'T GET THESE KIND OF FUND BALANCES. I KNOW WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. I KNOW WE NEED TO CLOSE GAPS. I KNOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING FORWARD, BUT I THINK, UM, BUYING DOWN SOME OF THAT DEBT, UM, AND HAVING LESS DEBT SPREAD OUT TO, TO DECADES, UM, IT'S SOMETHING WORTH EXPLORING. VERY WELL. WE'LL TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HAVE YOUR INPUT. UM, POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. UM, YESTERDAY WE HAD DISCUSSED, UM, AT ONE POINT WHEN WE WERE AT THE, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS FIREFIGHTER NEGOTIATION, IT WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE PRIVATE SECTOR STANDARD AND WHAT WERE THE COSTS FOR A PRIVATE FIREFIGHTER. THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT RECENTLY, UM, THE NEW COMPARISON IS PUBLIC TO PUBLIC, LOOKING AT THE OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS, WHAT THEY'RE MAKING, AND THEN COMPARING THAT TO HOUSTON. NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE WITH THAT STANDARD, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE AN EXACT FORMULA ON HOW DO WE GET CLOSE THAT GAP? WHAT IS THE EXACT NUMBER? SO MM-HMM . WE'RE, WE'RE SITTING AT 650 MILLION RIGHT NOW. IS THERE AN EXACT FORMULA THAT YOU ALL USE TO GET TO SIX 50 TO SHOW THAT THAT WAS THE EXACT NUMBER TO, TO GET US TO A CERTAIN DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE COMPARING TO, TO MAKE US COMPETITIVE? WHAT, WHAT IS THAT FORMULA? SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT ON THE SIX 50, THAT'S A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AMOUNT. UM, WE DID, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC SECTOR COMPARATORS FOR THE GOING FORWARD. SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT PUBLIC SECTOR FOR, FOR THE, THE, UH, BACK PAY. WE OF COURSE LOOKED AT IT, BUT THERE'S NOT A, THERE'S NOT A SPREADSHEET THAT IS GONNA SHOW YOU THE EXACT METHOD THAT CAME TO IT. IT WAS A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AMOUNT BETWEEN WHAT THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE, YOU KNOW, SAW THAT THEY COULD GET IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMPARATOR, THE 1.2, 1.3 BILLION AND NEGOTIATED THAT AMOUNT DOWN. BUT I THOUGHT YESTERDAY, MAYBE THIS IS A, A QUESTION FOR LEGAL THAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE SECTOR VERSUS PUBLIC SECTOR, AND NOW WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT PUBLIC SECTOR VERSUS PUBLIC SECTOR. WHEN YOU DO IT THAT WAY, THERE SHOULD BE AN EXACT FORMULA USED TO BE ABLE TO COMPARE. IS THAT NOT ACCURATE? ARE YOU ALL NOT DISCUSSING THAT IN YOUR NEGOTIATIONS? THIS IS FOR THE CITY OF, FOR RANDY. I, I PERSONALLY THINK YOU OUGHT TO WAIT AND LET ARTURO ANSWER THAT. WELL, I, I THINK IF WE'RE DOING PUBLIC SECTOR TO PUBLIC SECTOR, THERE SHOULD BE AN EXACT NUMBER BASED ON OUR 46.7 HOURS, UH, FOR REGULAR TIME PER WEEK. RIGHT. PLUS THE OVERTIME, AS COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER POINTED OUT, POINTED OUT YESTERDAY MM-HMM . YOU ADD THAT AND THEN YOU DO THE DIVISION, YOU SEE WHERE THAT IS, WHAT THAT TOTAL NUMBER IS, AND COMPARE IT TO WHATEVER CITY YOU WANT. THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN EXACT AMOUNT OF WHERE YOU SHOULD LAND. AND IT SHOULD BE AN EXACT AMOUNT THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO COUNCIL OR THE VOTERS AND SAY, THIS IS WHY IT'S THAT NUMBER. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WE'RE SAYING IT WAS JUST A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S SUBJECTIVE WITH MONEY. IT SHOULD BE AN EXACT FORMULA IF YOU'RE DOING PUBLIC TO PUBLIC. NOW, IF IT WAS PUBLIC TO PRIVATE AND THE EXPERTS GET INVOLVED, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT ARGUMENT. BUT WHEN IT'S PUBLIC TO PUBLIC, YOU HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ATTORNEY MICHELLE MENTIONED YESTERDAY. HE KEPT, YOU KNOW, USING THE PHRASE, THE BATTLE OF THE EXPERTS. THEY'RE EXPERTS, SAY THE PRIVATE SECTORS, THIS, OUR EXPERTS SAY THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THAT. AND, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE NOT DOING AT THE END, WE NEGOTIATE NOW THAT WE'RE NOT DOING PUBLIC TO PRIVATE ANYMORE, WE'RE DOING PUBLIC TO PUBLIC, THERE SHOULD BE AN EXACT NUMBER TO TELL US THIS IS THE EXACT NUMBER ON HOW TO CLOSE THAT GAP. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M WAITING TO HEAR. SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSION ON IT. THANK YOU. AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU COME UP WITH A LARGER NUMBER, CERTAINLY IF YOU FACTOR IN OVERTIME AND OTHER MATTERS. SO IF IT'S NOT APPLES AND APPLES, IT'S WHAT THIS DEPARTMENT'S BACK, UH, LACK OF A CONTRACT AND OBLIGATIONS. [04:25:01] UH, I'LL REMIND YOU, MANY PEOPLE, EXPERTS, IF YOU WANT TO USE THE PARTNERSHIP STUDIES, WERE SAYING 800 MILLION TO A MILLION, A BILLION OR MORE. UH, THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS WE HAD TO WEIGH THE RISK OF GOING TO COURT. THE JUDGE WAS READY FOR TRIAL. AND SO IT WAS A TOUGH NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIAN, TAXPAYERS, THE FIREFIGHTERS. NOT EVERYONE WAS HAPPY, BUT WE WERE EITHER FACED WITH GOING TO COURT OR TRIAL, AND WE LISTEN TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL. THAT'S BEEN YOUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. SO YOU JUST GET THE BEST INFORMATION YOU CAN. I THINK WE HAD A GREAT HEARING YESTERDAY. I'M SURE THERE'LL BE MORE. AND I WOULD INVITE YOU TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT. SO WHEN I SPOKE TO ARTURO YESTERDAY ON THIS EXACT QUESTION, I ASKED HIM, WAS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT IF WE WENT TO TRIAL OR ARBITRATION, THAT IT WOULD BE A LOWER NUMBER? HIS ANSWER IN A LAWYER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY, BUT YOU LISTEN TO YOUR LAWYER IF YOU'RE SMART, AND THE RISK OUTWEIGHED, IF ANY POSSIBLE REDUCTION IN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY YOU FILE LAWSUITS, THAT'S WHY YOU NEGOTIATE AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SETTLEMENTS. WE DIDN'T DO IT IN A VACUUM. WE LISTENED TO THE FINANCIAL NUMBERS, THE LEGAL RISK, AND, UH, THE JUDGE'S ATTITUDE. HE WANTED A SETTLEMENT. AND, UH, I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS, I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY ELECTED US AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF SAYING AN ELECTION. UH, THE JUDGE WANTED CERTAINTY AND CLOSURE, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS REPRESENTS. BUT I UNDERSTAND FROM WATCHING YESTERDAY, UH, SOME MEMBERS WANT TO TWEAK IT, HAVE INPUT, AND, UH, THAT'S STILL STILL ON THE TABLE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LONG TIME NO SEE ONE IS IT RELATES TO THE FUND BALANCE. UM, CITY CONTROLLER, YOU SAID WE'RE AT 4,430 3 MILLION, UH, FOR BOTH OF YOU, AND I THINK I HAD ASKED THIS YESTERDAY, BUT AS IT STANDS AS ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY HAVING THIS, I WILL SAY A HEALTHIER SIZE OF A FUND BALANCE, UM, IS VERY RARE. SO I WOULD ONE, LIKE TO KNOW IF SOMEONE CAN HELP ME IN YOUR DEPARTMENTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE OTHER CITIES STAND CURRENTLY WITH THEIR AVERAGE FUND BALANCES. UM, THEN AS IT RELATES TO THE SHORTFALL CITY CONTROLLER, I KNOW YOU SAID WE'RE AT 160 MILLION. REMIND ME, BASED ON THE ESTIMATED IMPACT, UM, AND FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE PROPOSED FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT, UM, WHAT WOULD THAT SHORTFALL INCREASE TO? SURE. SO, SO WE HAVE THE, THE ORIGINAL SHORTFALL, UH, IN THE RANGE OF 160 TO 200 MILLION. UH, THE COST IN YEAR ONE OF THE FIRE, FIRE FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, DEBT SERVICE ON THE $650 MILLION AS WELL AS THE FIRST YEAR OF RAISES IN THE NEW CONTRACT WOULD FALL IN THE, THE 70 TO $80 MILLION RANGE. AND SO JUST TAKING THOSE TWO NUMBERS, ADDING 'EM TOGETHER, WHAT YOU END UP WITH IS A RANGE OF 230 TO $280 MILLION, UH, FOR THE FIRST YEAR PROJECTED, UH, STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. THANK YOU. AND I'LL HAVE A FOLLOW UP, UM, FINANCE DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI FOR YOU. I BELIEVE YOU HAD SAID YESTERDAY, IT'S SOMEWHAT WITHIN THAT RANGE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE SINCE WE'RE IN, UH, COUNCIL TODAY. SURE. YEAH. WE SAW THE BASELINE BUDGET GAP AT 160 MILLION. THAT'S ABSENT THE FIREFIGHTERS, THAT'S THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET GAP THAT WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS, UH, PRESENTED IN THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, UM, FOR AT LEAST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN AT THE CITY. UM, SO AGAIN, FOR FY 25, WE SEE THE STARTING BASELINE GAP AT THE 160 MILLION. UM, LOOKING AT THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FIREFIGHTER PROPOSED CBA FOR THE BASE PAY PLUS PENSION AND FICA PLUS THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT ON THE JUDGMENT BOND, THAT WOULD ADD ROUGHLY ANOTHER 70 MILLION. SO AROUND 210 MILLION, INCLUDING THE FIREFIGHTERS. THAT 160 MILLION WE'RE CONTINUING TO REFINE. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT NUMBER CHANGE BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS WE ADJUST, AS YOU SAW TODAY, WE'RE ADJUSTING, UM, REVENUES IF WE ARE ELIMINATING VACANCIES, THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU'LL SEE THAT GAP, UNDERSTANDABLY. AND AGAIN, AS WE'VE SAT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND COUNCILS BEFORE US HAVE, WE'RE USED TO A SHORTFALL THAT WE ADDRESS EVERY FISCAL YEAR. UM, CONTROLLER. THE ESTIMATED IMPACT OF THIS AGREEMENT, UH, THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING THE NUMBERS FOR THE TWO 30 TO 280 MILLION, WHAT DOCUMENTS IS THAT BASED ON? SO THE IMPACT, UH, THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, RIGHT? 160 TO $200 MILLION. THERE ARE [04:30:01] NUMEROUS DOCUMENTS, SORRY, I I MEANT THE, FOR THE FIREFIGHTER AGREEMENT ASSESSMENT, WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE YOU BASING THOSE NUMBERS ON? SURE. UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS, JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR. UH, WHAT WE HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN BRIEFED ON THE HIGH NOTES OF THE AGREEMENT, UH, A 10% RAISE. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN LOOK BACK AT WHAT COMPENSATION LOOKS LIKE TODAY, AN HFD TACK ON 10%. AND SO WE HAVE AN ASSUMPTION OF WHAT NEXT YEAR LOOKS LIKE. SIMILARLY, FOR A $650 MILLION SETTLEMENT, UM, I KNOW THAT WHAT DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI SHOWED AS A FORECAST YESTERDAY SHOWED ESCALATING PAYMENTS OVER TIME ON THE BONDS, WHICH, WHICH IS A SENSIBLE APPROACH. UM, OUR ASSUMPTIONS LOOK AT SORT OF A FLAT PAYMENT OVER THE COURSE OF 25 TO 30 YEARS. AND SO WE BACKED INTO, WITH SOME ASSUMPTIONS AROUND INTEREST RATES THAT 40 TO FOUR, 40 TO $45 MILLION ANNUAL PAYMENT ON THE DEBT SERVICE. SO BOTH OF YOUR ESTIMATES ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON THE BACK PAY SETTLEMENT CONTROLLER. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE CBA PROPOSAL YET. THAT'S CORRECT. SO THAT'S CORRECT. SO ARE ANY OF THOSE COSTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE MOVING FORWARD, RIGHT, THE FIVE YEAR NEGOTIATION, ARE ANY OF THOSE COSTS INCORPORATED INTO YOUR ESTIMATE OTHER THAN THE PAY RAISES? SO IN ADDITION, THERE'S SORT OF A $5 MILLION RANGE ON SPECIALS, UH, THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATE, BUT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE TWO KIND OF TOP LINE FIGURES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. OKAY. UH, BUT IN DIRECTOR DE BKI YESTERDAY THOUGH, YOU HAD SAID, AS I WAS ASKING YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN, UH, PROPOSED CLAUSES IN THE AGREEMENT THAT THOSE CA THAT THERE ARE CALCULATIONS THAT HAVE NOT, UM, BEEN DONE YET, ARE NOT FINALIZED YET. IS THAT CORRECT? THEY'RE IN THE PROGRESS, RIGHT? THEY'RE IN THE PROGRESS OF BEING CALCULATED. SO WE, FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT SPECIAL PAYS, INCENTIVE PAYS OVER TIME. SO THERE ARE COSTS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY THAT WE DO NOT YET KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL COST WILL BE PROJECTED FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT WASN'T PRESENTED YESTERDAY. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT ANALYSIS. IT DEFINITELY WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ADVANCE OF THE VOTE ON THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. CORRECT. I JUST, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS. I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN OVER A BILLION DOLLARS, BUT WE HAVE YET IN THESE CONVERSATIONS TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE COST BEYOND THAT IS. AND SO I, AGAIN, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S, IT'S CLEAR AS MAYOR AS WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS AND THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN, YOU KNOW, A COPY OF THE CBA FORMALLY, NEITHER HAS THE CONTROLLER, AND THERE ARE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT COSTS AFFILIATED WITH MOVING FORWARD THAT WE ARE NOT CLEAR ON YET. SO THE SOONER WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION, AGAIN, WE ARE COMING UP ON, YOU KNOW, BUDGET SEASON AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SHORTFALLS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE IMPLICATIONS WE'RE WE DON'T HAVE NUMBERS TO GO OFF OF. AND I THINK THAT IS IMPERATIVE FOR A RESPONSIBLE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, THE FINANCES AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS, UH, A, A DEAL. WE ALL WANT A DEAL, BUT A DEAL THAT WE CAN, UM, TAKE ON ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, I KNOW YESTERDAY WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT, UM, OF COURSE WE HAVE THE SIX, 650 MILLION FOR BACK PAY, SO WE KNOW THAT EXACT NUMBER, AND THEN WE HAVE THE 428, IF THE FIVE YEAR GETS PAID OUT IN FULL, RIGHT? YES. AND THEN, UM, WITH INTEREST, ESTIMATED INTEREST OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE BOND COULD BE ANOTHER, UH, 4 MILLION. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT AROUND 1.5 BILLION JUST TO START MM-HMM . ROUGHLY, ROUGHLY 1.5 BILLION. DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA ON WHAT THE AMOUNT OF THE INCENTIVES COULD ADD UP TO, LIKE A ROUGH ESTIMATE? THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH. I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA THROW A NUMBER OUT THERE UNTIL WE FINISH GOING THROUGH EVERY LINE ITEM. SO WE SHOULD JUST ROUGHLY STATE THAT AROUND 1.5 BILLION PLUS IS GIVE OR TAKE, WHERE WE, THE NUMBERS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT AT THE MOMENT. YES. THANK YOU, CAYMAN AGAIN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. SORRY MAYOR, I, I NEGLECTED TO SAY MY APPRECIATION. UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAD A VERY, UH, LENGTHY AND IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS. AND I WANNA THANK, UM, BOTH OF YOU AND THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US, UH, FOR ANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS AND OF COURSE TO, UH, MY CO-CHAIR FOR THE MEETING FOR BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY HELPFUL CONVERSATION. COUNCIL CARTER, COUNCILMAN CARTER. UM, WITH RESPECT TO ALL OPINIONS AND THE TIME WE SPENT ON IT YESTERDAY, I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD AS SAYING IN AS MUCH AS IF WE GO TO TRIAL, IT COULD BE LOWER, IT COULD BE HIGHER, AND WE ALL NEED TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE'RE SITTING AROUND AND THROWING OUT THE NUMBERS. WE'VE NOT SEEN THE AGREEMENT, WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS. WE'RE ASSUMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, [04:35:01] IF WE TAKE IT TO TRIAL, WE COULD GET A BETTER DEAL. WELL, WE COULD REALLY GET A BAD DEAL TOO. SO WE NEED TO BE FAIR. WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT THE RIGHT WAY. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. I JUST NEEDED TO GO ON RECORD OF SAYING THAT. EXCELLENT POINT. AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO REMIND EVERYONE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OF LACK OF, UH, BENEFITS COMPETING WITH OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO IF IT'S SOMEONE'S OBJECTIVE TO JUST PUT THE TOP NUMBER ON IT, YOU CAN DO THAT ALL DAY LONG. BUT IF YOU DON'T PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE OF THE AREA AND THE TIME THAT IT COVERS, YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT GIVING THE TRUE PICTURE. YOU KNOW, WE'LL SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS ON HPD THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR. SO, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY'S EXPENSIVE, AND IT'S AMAZING THAT WE SIT HERE AND, AND, AND RIGHTFULLY TALK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY. AND, AND COUNCILMAN ALCO. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT Y'ALL SHORTFALLS IN THE PAST AND EVERY POSSIBLE, I'M TRYING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT, FOR THE FIRST TIME, UH, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE SOLD, YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO PREVIOUS MAYORS, I'VE LOOKED AT THEIR MODEL, AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T PAY OUR BILLS LIKE ANY HOMEOWNER OR FAMILY, AND YOU ARE BROKE, IF YOU'RE SPITING MORE THAN YOU'RE BRINGING IN AND YOU PROPERLY SAID, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE. THAT WAS A MODEL WHEN I GOT HERE. AND I COMMITTED NOT TO DO THAT. WE'RE OUT OF ASSETS TO SELL, WE'RE OUT OF FEDERAL FUNDING. SO IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC. WE CERTAINLY, EVERYONE SWORN IN, IN JANUARY ONE, UH, RECEIVED A SHORTFALL, A SIGNIFICANT ONE. EVEN IF WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT, THIS COMPOUNDED IT, IT'S TIME TO GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER, BUT, UH, IF YOU JUST WANNA MAKE A BIG NUMBER, UH, THAT'S ONE OBJECTIVE. BUT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY, RECRUITING, RETENTION OF FIREFIGHTERS APPARATUS, WE ARE LIVING THROUGH A CHALLENGE OVER AT HPD BECAUSE OF THEIR UNDERFUNDING FOR YEARS. WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SUSPEND CASES AND, AND BLAME IT ON STAFFING, YOU GOT A REAL PROBLEM. UH, THE FIRE CHIEFS ASKED ME FOR OVERTIME PAY IN RECENT MONTHS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE STAFF TO SHOW UP FOR A SHIFT. SO LET'S MAKE SURE HOUSTONIANS KNOW THOSE CHALLENGES AS WELL. I RAN ON FIXING THAT AND, UM, WE NEED TO INCLUDE THE PUBLIC IN THIS DISCUSSION. GO FORWARD WITH THE COMMITTEE HEARING, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR'S REPORT IN A MINUTE. I JUST WANNA BRAG ON THE, ON THE COMMITTEE PROCESS YESTERDAY. I THINK WE NEED MORE OF IT. AND, UH, IF Y'ALL WILL BRING ME ITEMS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PETITION THIS, MAYOR, JUST ASK ME TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA IF IT'S SOUNDS REASONABLE, UH, WE'LL PUT IT ON THERE. BUT, UH, I HOPE Y'ALL APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT I'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, BECAUSE I KNOW FROM PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, IT WAS LACKING. SO I THINK THE WAY THE FIREFIGHTER AGREEMENT WAS HANDLED YESTERDAY ALLOWED THE PUBLIC, THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THIS COUNCIL TO BE INVOLVED, AND CERTAINLY WE'RE HEARING FROM THE CONTROLLER. SO THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. MELISSA, I CAN'T THANK YOU AND ARTURO ENOUGH. IT'S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT WITH THAT SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. YEAH, JUST ON THAT NOTE THAT IT'LL BE THE FIRST OF MANY BUDGET MEETINGS ABOUT, UH, THIS DEAL AND ALL THE THINGS THAT IMPACT US. AND I ENJOYED THE MEETING AS WELL. IT WAS A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS, A LOT OF PREP, GREAT PREPARATION BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND, AND IT WAS, WE GOT A LOT OUT OF IT. UM, WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NO OTHER SPEAKERS, I'LL MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE, UH, MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED. FEBRUARY 29TH, 2024, CAST SIX, TATUM SECOND. VERY GOOD. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, CHRIS. MELISSA, JUST KEEP ON GOING. [CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM. SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL NOW PROCEED WITH A CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE SEPARATE CATEGORY. ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR HAVE BE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF B CATEGORY. ITEM 6, 8, 9, AND 12 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR CONSIDERATION. EITHER [04:40:01] MOTION FOR ITEMS 5, 7, 10, AND 11 I TO MOVE ALL. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED. ITEM 24 HAS BEEN RECEIVED, [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 13, 15, 16, 22, 23, AND 24. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 13, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM TWO, GIMME A MINUTE. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TAYLOR MOVED. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION FAVOR PASSES. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU. MOVE. I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATUM, MOVE I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR MAY. MAYOR, UH, PROTE CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS. WE ARE EAGERLY ANTICIPATING THE OPENING OF THE DR. SHANNON WALKER LIBRARY. UM, AND THIS IS FOR THE SPENDING FOR THE, UM, EQUIPMENT THAT WE'LL USE IN THE TECH LINK CENTER. SO DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM AS WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF, UM, THE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN THIS LIBRARY SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THAT GRAND OPENING. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TITLE, MOVE A SECOND. COUNCILMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. UH, THANK YOU MARY. I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION IF SOMEONE ON YOUR STAFF COULD GET BACK TO ME. WE HAD SUBMITTED A QUESTION. UH, THIS IS A TERRIFIC ITEM. IT'S, UH, FOR BRAILLE BROCHURES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS. SO WE ARE REACHING OUT TO THOSE THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION. MY ONLY QUESTION, MAYOR, WAS, UM, HOW WE PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE THEM? WHAT ARE, WHO ARE WE, WHAT GROUPS ARE WE FOCUSING WITH, PARTNERING ON? UM, WHO ARE THEY PARTNERING WITH? WHAT IS THE OUTREACH STRATEGY, UM, TO DISTRIBUTE THIS INFORMATION? BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY, UH, WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE WORKING WITH FOLKS, UM, IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE THIS. UH, IT'S A GREAT STEP FORWARD. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A LONG TIME COMING. UH, SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THESE EFFORTS AND WANNA CELEBRATE IT. BUT IF I COULD HAVE SOMEBODY GET BACK TO ME WITH SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT GROUPS WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING WITH, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. WE'LL GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. I'LL SAY WE. MARTA WILL . YOU'RE WELCOME. WE IN THE FORM OF MARTA . JUST A VOTE. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION. CAN I SAY A MOVE TO SECOND MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. COUNCILOR JACKSON? COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. WAS IT JACKSON? OH, HUFFMAN. I'M SORRY. HUFFMAN. HUFFMAN. I'M SORRY I HAD THE WRONG HEARING. HUFFMAN. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. UM, THIS ITEM IS ONE OF THE CONSENT DECREE, UH, PROJECTS. AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE HAD AN UPDATE ON THE CONSENT DECREE, WHERE WE'RE AT, UM, WHAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, WHAT'S OUTSTANDING. AND SO, UH, AT SOME POINT, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT EVERYONE ON COUNSEL TO GET AN UPDATE OR A PRESENTATION ON WHERE WE ARE. THANK YOU. SOUNDS GOOD. JUST A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 12 NEEDS A MOTION CAST XT MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND PECK. COUNCILMAN PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS IS FOR THE AUDIT AND REVIEW OF THE WORK ON THE WATERLINE REPAIR PROJECTS PROCURED THROUGH THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDERS. UM, I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM. I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE AUDITS . UM, BUT I WAS INITIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST HERE, UM, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LESS [04:45:01] THAN HALF A PERCENT OF THE TOTAL PROJECT. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE OVERSIGHT AND LOOKING FOR MORE OF THESE AUDITS. I THINK THAT A LOT OF TIMES WE, UM, YOU KNOW, DO SOME KIND OF PROCUREMENT AND THEN WE NEVER REALLY SEE THE RESULTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY. SO I APPRECIATE THIS. AND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AUDITS, JUST WANTED TO PUT A PLUG IN FOR DOING EFFICIENCY AUDITS AS WELL FOR ALL OF THE PROJECTS AND DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU. MAYOR. PRO. MAYOR APPROACH. CHAIR COUNCIL, STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS AS WELL BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SEVERAL, UM, FOLKS COME UP AND ASK US ABOUT, UM, PAYMENT. AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO UNRAVEL IN THIS SITUATION, BUT WANTED TO KNOW, IS THERE A PROCESS OR TIMELINE THAT IS EXPECTED WITH THIS, UM, SPENDING? DO WE DO, DO WE, I WAS TOLD 30 DAYS. SO WITHIN 30 DAYS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE WHO, WHO'S GETTING PAID AND, AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT PAYMENT. THAT'S WHAT LEGAL HAS TOLD ME. 30 DAYS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THIS ITEM, YOU KNOW, IS EXTREMELY WORTHY. AND TO CONTINUE TO, UH, BE ABLE TO SERVE THIS POPULATION IN HOUSTON, OF COURSE, UM, IT TAKES MONEY. AND SO I THINK IN THE FUTURE AND AS WE GO FORWARD, WE NEED TO FIND ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP SUPPORT THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. AND, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. JUST A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. MAYOR . MAYOR PROTE, MCC STADIUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I THINK AFTER OUR APPOINTMENT TODAY OF, UH, MR. NICHOLS, UM, THIS, THIS ONE IS A, A TOUGH ONE FOR ME JUST BECAUSE, UH, WE WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE ANTICIPATING 126 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN DISTRICT A, UH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT WE ALL KNOW, UM, DISTRICT A IS A, A BEDROOM COMMUNITY WITH 96 CIVIC CLUBS AND HOAS. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UM, AFFORDABLE SINGLE HOMES TO BE BUILT IN A IN OUR DISTRICT AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, IN SEVERAL OF OUR DISTRICTS. AND TO HAVE THIS SITUATION, UM, BE WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH HAVING TO LIST THIS PROPERTY THAT WE PURCHASED, UM, AND TO SELL IT AND GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO THE GLO, IT IS, IT'S PAINFUL. UH, IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY PAINFUL. I I, I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH MR. NICHOLS ON YESTERDAY, AND HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS FUNDING WITH THE DR 17 FUNDS. AND, UH, MAYOR, YOU'VE, YOU'VE, UM, EXPRESSED HOW, UM, MUCH YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO, UM, WORK WITH THE GLO AND YOUR GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GLO. I THINK THAT, UM, I'M JUST NOT READY TO GIVE THIS ONE UP. I'M, I'M NOT READY TO, UH, GIVE IT UP. I UNDERSTAND THAT HUD GAVE GLO AN EXTENSION, UM, GLO WAS NOT WILLING TO GIVE US AN EXTENSION. SO THERE'S A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH. UM, AND IF, UM, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO LOOK AT ANY KIND OF PROVISIONS TO EXTEND THIS OR KEEP THIS ON THE BOOKS, I'D LIKE FOR US TO EXPLORE THAT. UM, FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, IF WE SELL THIS PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN WHAT WE PAY FOR IT, THE GLO WILL GET THAT EXTRA MONEY. IF WE SELL IT FOR LESS THAN WHAT WE PAY FOR IT, THE GLO WILL WANT THE DIFFERENCE. AND I STILL WANNA UNDERSTAND, I I ASKED FOR THE COST OF WHAT WE PAY FOR IT. I'M, AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THAT. SO IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS, I'D LIKE TO TAG, UH, THIS ITEM. I'LL JOIN THE TAG. THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION. NO ONE ELSE. NO. I'LL JOIN THE TAG. THOMAS JOY. ANGELA THOMASON CAST EVAN SHABAZZ TOO. MAYOR, CAST, UH, I SHARE YOUR PAIN. YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS. UH, BOTTOM LINE IS WE [04:50:01] OWE THE LAND COMMISSION 46 MILLION DUE TO IMPROPERLY USING JELLO FUNDING PRIOR BUYING APARTMENTS IN THE FLOODPLAIN. THEY'RE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THEY HAVE TO RETURN MONEY TO HUD. SO THERE IS A RESTART BUTTON WITH THE GLO. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS. THIS DOES NOT SELL THE PROPERTY. IT'LL DETERMINE THE VALUE AND THE BEST USE. UH, IT'S SAD THAT PREVIOUSLY COMMITMENT WASN'T KEPT TO USE IT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, ACROSS HOUSTON. SO WITH NEW LEADERSHIP, UH, NOT ONLY AT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, BUT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, I THINK, UH, WE'LL KEEP COMMITMENTS GOING FORWARD WITH THE LAND COMMISSION. IF WE SAY WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING WITH MONIES, WE'LL, WE'LL DELIVER OR NOT MAKE THE COMMITMENT. SO I, UH, AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULDN'T GIVE UP, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY A POSITIVE STEP TO SEE WHAT IS THE BEST USE OF THAT LAND AND, UH, WHAT THE TRUE VALUE IS. SO IT WAS PART OF GOING FORWARD TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL MONIES FROM THE GLO. THEY'RE WATCHING US. THEY'VE GOT TO REPAY MONEY TO HUD AND, UM, THEY'RE HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE, WHICH, UH, IS THEIR DECISION. SO, UM, AS LONG AS EVERYONE RELEASES THEIR TAG, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND THOMAS, I'LL RELEASE THE TAG FOR DISCUSSION. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PERAM, I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION. WHEN I MET WITH THE GLO AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU MIGHT HAVE ADD SOME, UM, COLOR TO THIS. IT WAS ABOUT A A A IS THIS THE SAME THING FOR THE, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD WITH THE RELOCATION ACT? THE URA STUFF? NO. OKAY. BECAUSE I, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING WE WERE SELLING SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO PAY BACK OR WHAT I WAS TOLD TO PAY BACK THEM FOR, FOR A SEPARATE ISSUE. HAVING TO DO WITH URA? NO. OKAY. I'M THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. SO, UM, I JOINED THE TAG WITH, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM AND I SUPPORTED, AND I, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD, UM, PURSUE TO, UM, FILL THE GAP, BUT JUST FOR SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT. SO WITHIN THE DR 17 DISASTER RECOVERY, 17 HURRICANE HARVEY FUNDS, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS. ONE OF THOSE IS LARGE TRACK, LARGE TRACK. WE HAD THREE LOTS. THIS IS HARVEY, THIS IS HARDY YARDS, STELLA LINK. AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE. UM, THE TWO PRODUCED CLOSE TO 720 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE 3000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WE HAVE INTO THE QUEUE. NOW, THIS IS RAW LAND, THERE'S NO INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, SO DEVELOPERS WOULD HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH. THE CONFLICT WAS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME EXTENSION THAT THE GLO HAS. AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE ANOTHER EXTENSION FROM HUD, UM, TO COMPLETE, UM, UH, THEIR PROJECT. SO THIS IS NOT AN INDICATION BECAUSE THE CITY WAS NOT, UM, RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE UNABLE TO MEET THEIR TIMELINE. IT'S NOT, UM, IT'S NOT A REALITY TO DEVELOP 700 HOMES IN THIS MARKET WITH THESE CONDITIONS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT, UM, OF THE STATE AGENCY ON THAT TIMELINE. AND THE DEVELOPERS THAT WERE IN THE QUEUE TO PRODUCE THAT WORK ALSO SHARED THE SAME SENTIMENT. AND SO, UM, THE MAYOR PROTE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AT THE RATE THAT WE PURCHASED THE LAND. WE DON'T KEEP THAT DIFFERENCE. THAT ALL GOES BACK TO GLO. SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY EITHER TO LOOK AT THIS, THIS LAND AND WHAT WE DO SOMETHING INNOVATIVE AS A CITY OR WE GIVE THIS BACK, BUT WE'RE TALKING 700 HOMES. SO IN TERMS OF INNOVATION, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE TURS DOLLARS TO FILL THE GAP, UH, WITH LARGE TRACK THAT COULD HAPPEN WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. BUT THOSE TWO THINGS ARE SEPARATE. UM, AND THIS IS NOT AN INDICATION ON, UM, THE WORK ETHIC OR, UM, OF THE DEPARTMENT. IT'S THAT WE COULDN'T MEET THE TIMELINE. 'CAUSE WE DID NOT GET AN EXTENSION THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL EXTENSIONS AND THAT'S THE REASON IN FACT, THE LAND COMMISSIONER'S CALLING ME RIGHT NOW, I WISH I'D ALMOST PUT HER ON THE PHONE, BUT PUT HER ON THE PHONE. YEAH, PUT HER ON THE PHONE. NO, NO, NO. WE'RE NOT GOING DOWN THAT ROAD. PUT ON THE PHONE. THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THIS IS A STEP TO DETERMINE THE VALUE AND THE BEST USE. IF NOT, WE'RE JUST SITTING HERE TALKING TO OURSELVES. UH, CERTAINLY WE WANTED THE HOUSINGS TO BE BUILT. I INHERITED THIS. I WISH WE'D BEEN RAISING THIS ISSUES BEFORE JANUARY. THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THE TIMELINE RAN OUT. THEY GOT EXTENSIONS. NOW THEY WANT THEIR MONEY 'CAUSE THEY GOTTA PAY HUT. LISTEN, I WAS TRYING TO, UH, EVALUATE THE LAND LIST. IT, THE CITY IS NOT UNLOADING IT, IT'S JUST DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND, UH, I'LL GO WITH THE WILL OF THE BODY. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION, UH, MAYOR PER TEM, I APPRECIATE [04:55:01] YOUR STAND ON THIS AND THE CONTEXT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAS, UH, ALSO PROVIDED, UH, MAYOR, THIS WASN'T SOMETHING INHERITED. THIS HAS BEEN THE CITY TRYING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UH, TO WORK WITH THE GLO IN PARTNERSHIP. AND I KNOW THAT I AM SO EXCITED, UM, FOR THE NEW PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE AT GLO. SO IF, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR GLO COMMISSIONER IS LISTENING, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE IT'S A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. UM, I THINK ALL OF US AT THIS POINT HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE TEAMS, UH, LOCALLY AND THAT ARE AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP. SO THIS ISN'T, UH, DIRECTED TOWARDS HER AND THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THERE EITHER. BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT AS MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS AN EXTENSION TO THE STATE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO, IN PARTNERSHIP AND IN GOOD FAITH BE PASSED DOWN AT TO THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND THIS IS, WE'RE SEEING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UH, WHERE THE STATE IS BEING GRANTED SOMETHING AND THE CITY IS NOT RECEIVING THAT BENEFIT. AND IT MAY BE THAT THIS IS NOT THE BEST USE OF THIS LAND AND THAT IT MAY BE THAT WE, WE SHOULD BE SELLING IT FOR THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, WE JUST DON'T KNOW. I UNDERSTAND. BUT UNTIL WE KNOW THE TRUE VALUE, AND THEN WE'LL KNOW WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD WORKING WITH MIKE'S LEADERSHIP. I UNDERSTAND, BUT I DID INHERITED IT. WE ALL THAT JUST GOT HERE INHERITED THIS. WE ACTUALLY HAD THE TWO PARTIES, THE STATE AND THE CITY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO EACH OTHER. SO THAT'S WHAT WE INHERITED IT. IT IS TRUTH. I I I'M GOING TO AGAIN SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE GLO IN A WAY THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY DONE BEFORE. HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN GRANTED THE SAME, UH, GRACE IS ONE WAY TO PUT IT, BUT OPPORTUNITIES, OR JUST FROM A REGULATORY PERSPECTIVE, THE, THE SAME RULES ARE NOT BEING APPLIED TO THE CITY IS ARE BEING APPLIED NECESSARILY TO THE STATE. SO I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO TAG THIS, I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I KNOW WE HAVE TWO OTHER ITEMS OF SIMILAR NATURE. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT ONE DISTRICT. I WILL DEFER TO, UM, OUR DISTRICT COLLEAGUES BECAUSE THAT DISTRICT IS IN THEIR LAND. BUT MY HOPE IS THAT TOGETHER WE ARE SAYING AS A CITY, AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE EXPECT THE STATE TO GIVE US THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AND TIMELINE, UH, THAT THEY HAVE GONE AND SOUGHT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL. SURE. THE CHALLENGE WOULD BE WHERE DO YOU GET THE MONEY TO PAY 'EM THE 46 MILLION THAT THEY'RE DEMANDING IF WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD WITH THE GLO. SO IT'S EASY. WE, IT IS BEEN TAGGED, BUT WE STILL HAVE AN OUTSTANDING DEBT WITH THE GLO AND WE'RE GONNA WANT MILLIONS FROM THEM GOING FORWARD. SO FINE, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SPECULATE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IF WE DON'T LIST IT. AND THAT'S ALL THREE PIECES THAT WERE PUT ON THE AGENDA TO TRY TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE FOR, UH, REPAYING SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T PAY OUR DEBT TO 'EM, WE SURE AS HECK WON'T GET ANY FUTURE FUNDS FROM WHICH WILL AFFECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND, AND MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND IF THERE WAS ANOTHER, IF THERE WAS A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION HAPPENING WHERE IT WAS, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA ASSESS THE VALUE THIS ALL AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE WORKING WITH THE GLO FOR THE SAME EXTENSION THAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN, THAT'S, THAT'S A DIFFERENT BALL GAME. BUT IF WE'RE SAYING, AND WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THAT'S NOT BEING GRANTED, THEN THAT'S A DIFFERENT SCENARIO. I'LL GIVE YOU HER PHONE NUMBER. THE, THE MEETING WE'VE HAD IS THEY NEED THEIR MONEY. WE DIDN'T USE THE LAND FOR WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GONNA USE IT FOR. SO THERE'S A LACK OF, UH, CREDIBILITY. WE'VE REESTABLISHED CONTACT, I JUST SAID THEY CALL THIS WAS AT THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THEM TO GIVE THEM BACK THEIR MONEY. WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT WHY DIDN'T WE BILL THE HOUSES WHEN WE WERE ON SCHEDULE TO DO SO. WE'RE PENALIZED BECAUSE 900 APARTMENTS WERE BOUGHT IN A FLOODPLAIN IN VIOLATION OF HUD, THE GLO AND ANY REASONABLE PERSON. SO ANYWAY, UM, IT'S BEEN TAGGED AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I RESPECT THE TAG FOR SURE. COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN ASK OF COUNT MAYOR PRO TEM TATUM. IS THERE, IS THERE, OUT OF ALL OF THE EXTENSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED, IS THERE SOMETHING IN HOUSING THAT PROJECTIVELY COULD BE PUT ON THIS LAND? IS THERE SOMEONE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU? YES. 126 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. OKAY, GOOD. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. UH, GREAT. SO I, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES SO THAT ALL OF US COULD BE AWARE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ASK OF THAT. SO YOU DO HAVE THAT ON, [05:00:01] ON SOMEONE'S ALREADY, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE LARGE TRACK GOT, IT WAS 126 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO. HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT BE BUILT IN THE TIMEFRAME. GOT IT. THAT GLO WANTED THEM, WELL, THAT GLO REQUIREMENTS WERE FOR THEM TO BE BUILT. AND SO WE NEEDED AN EXTENSION CORRECT. IN ORDER FOR THE DEVELOPER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HOMES WERE BEING BUILT. THAT EXTENSION WAS NOT GIVEN, UM, FROM THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO NOW WE'RE IN THE SITUATION WHERE GLO IS REQUESTING MONEY BACK. GOT IT. UM, SO WE WANT TO LIST THIS PROPERTY PLUS TWO OTHER LARGE TRACKS OF PROPERTY GOT IT. IN ORDER TO GARNER THE FUNDS TO PAY THE GLO BACK. BUT WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME SO THAT I CAN WRAP MY MIND AROUND ACTUALLY NOT BUILDING THESE 126 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AS WE ARE JUST PROCLAIMING THAT WE WANT TO BE THE MOST AFFORDABLE LARGE CITY IN THE COUNTRY. THE THESE HOMES WERE GOING TO BE BUILT FOR. UM, AND, AND RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A SINGLE FAMILY HOME FOR LESS THAN $300,000. AND YOU CAN CONSIDER THAT AFFORDABLE OR NOT CONSIDER THAT AFFORDABLE. MM-HMM . BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE EVEN ON OUR STAFF, THIS IS ON HIGHWAY 90, AND THIS IS JUST THIS PARTICULAR LARGE TRACK RIGHT. WHERE THEY WERE DOWN THE STREET FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER. RIGHT. UM, THIS IS A PRIME PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE PEOPLE, WORKING CLASS FOLKS MM-HMM . WHO NEED A WHO AND WANT TO LIVE IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. GOOD. UM, AND SO THIS WAS AN OPTION THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. GOT IT. AND SO IT WAS, WE WERE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AND SO I JUST, I TAGGED IT SO THAT WE CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT, AND I'M HAPPY TO KNOW THAT, UH, THE COMMISSIONER HAS, UH, REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR AND I HOPE THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A VERY FRUITFUL CONVERSATION SURE. ABOUT HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY EX EXTEND THIS OR DO SOMETHING. UM, I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT I WAS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LISTING IT, WITHOUT EXPLORING EVERY OPTION THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE PUT AS MANY SINGLE FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOMES, ATTAINABLE HOMES ON LAND THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOR HOUSTONIANS. SO I THINK THAT WE ARE ALL SAYING THAT WE WANT TO PUT MORE ATTAINABLE HOMES ABSOLUTELY. IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON MM-HMM . AND THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN. GOOD. WELL, LET ME JUST SAY MAYOR, I I, IN REGARDS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THOSE CONCERNS THAT WE WANT TO DO THAT, THEN I CERTAINLY WOULD HOPE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE INHERITANCE OF THE DEBT THAT WE HAVE TO, UH, PAY BACK. I GET THAT. BUT, UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, CERTAINLY BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS PROPERTY BEFORE, UH, UNLOADING IT TO JELLO. AND MY, MY OTHER QUESTION, MAYOR, IS WHEN WE PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, I THINK THAT GIVES US A GOOD VALUE OF WHAT THE PROPERTY IS WORTH. BECAUSE WE JUST BOUGHT IT NOT TOO LONG AGO, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? NOT TOO LONG AGO, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, TWO YEARS AGO MAYBE. WAS IT MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO? YEAH. LARGE TRACK TWO YEARS AGO CHANGED. SO WE, WE KIND OF HAVE AN AN, AN ESTIMATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE PAID FOR THE PROPERTY. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS THAT I HAD SURE. WAS HOW MUCH HAVE WE, DID WE ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE PROPERTY? BUT OBVIOUSLY I WASN'T HERE. SO, UH RIGHT. THE, THERE'S PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND BETWEEN ALL THE PARTIES, QUIT COMMUNICATING. WE SHARE WITH YOU YOUR GOAL. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT MIKE NICHOLS IS IN THE DIRECTORSHIP NOW. MM-HMM . HE'S GONNA HAVE THE SKILL SET TO SIT DOWN WITH THE GLO. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU, WE, IT'S IRREFUTABLE. WE, THEY WANT $46 MILLION THAT THEY SAY WAS IMPROPERLY USED. YEAH. SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FAILED IN KEEPING THEIR OBLIGATION TO THE GLO. AND IT WAS A LOT OF IT WAS GEORGE BUSH WHILE HE WAS THERE. WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHO WAS NEGOTIATING FOR THE CITY. I'M JUST TRYING TO JOIN YOU IN SEEING WHAT WE CAN GET FOR THE LAND. ABSOLUTELY. WHAT'S THE BEST USE OF THE LAND? AND, UH, I THOUGHT TO BRING IN, UM, I'LL SAY, UH, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE GO AND LIST IT AND SEE WHAT DEMAND IS FOR IT. UH, YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A HOTSPOT, AND I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. I WOULD VENTURE SAY IT'S PROBABLY GONE UP. SO, YOU KNOW, IS IT GONNA BE MIXED USE NOW? IS IT GONNA BE THE HOUSING THAT WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO? UH, AND, AND IF YOU WANT TO TAG IT, I THINK THAT'S GREAT TO GIVE US MORE [05:05:01] TIME. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA CHANGE THE, UH, DYNAMICS OF THE GLO, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF SENDING MONEY DOWN HERE WANTING MONEY THAT WAS IMPROPERLY SPENT. AND, UH, THAT'S THEIR MESSAGE TO US. SO, OKAY. UH, I DON'T THINK WE CAN ESTIMATE MIKE BEING IN CHARGE AND CERTAINLY A, A RESTART. I MEAN, I, I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HER, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE THE FACTS WHEN SHE'S LISTENING TO HER STAFF AND THEY CAN DOCUMENT HOW MONEY WAS IMPROPERLY USED AND NOW THEY'VE GOTTA REPAY IT BACK TO HUD. AND SO THERE AGAIN, THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, BUT, UH, MORE TIME IS, IS NOTHING BUT POSITIVE. IT, I PROMISE YOU THE VALUE IN TWO YEARS. AND THAT REALLY, UM, ATTRACTIVE LOT IS GONE UP. SO WE'LL SEE WHAT MIKE AND HIS LEADERSHIP CAN DO. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. SO, UH, I'VE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF FORWARDING TO EACH OF YOU THE SUMMARY FROM CALLIS CALLIS, CLARISSA PEREZ, UH, AFTER I HAD MET WITH THE GLO IN FEBRUARY. THE URA WAS NOT YOUR DISTRICT, UH, HK AND D PARCELS WERE NOT IN THAT URA, THE TOTAL SEPARATE, UH, DISCUSSION WAS THE, UH, TRACKS THAT YOU, THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW. AND IT CLEARLY STATES SEPTEMBER, 2023 THAT THE SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE COMPLETING THEIR CONTRACT BY THE DEADLINE. AND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT UNABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE. AND THAT'S THE PROPERTIES IN K THAT'S WHAT WE SAID DNH. THAT'S IT. RIGHT. SO THE URA, THERE WAS DISCUSSION OVER THERE THAT THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH JOB. NO. YEAH. WE RA IS NOT LARGE TRACK. YEAH. URA IS NOT LARGE TRACK. URA IS NOT LARGE TRACK. OH, I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. AND THERE IS NO BLAME. THERE IS NO BLAME. THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE STAFF THAT WORKS, THAT HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY SINCE HARVEY TO GET THESE PROGRAMS ON THE STREET. THERE IS NO BLAME. WE CANNOT MAKE THESE STATEMENTS WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE PREVIOUS COMMISSION. WE CANNOT, AT, AT ONE POINT, UH, THEY WOULD NOT EVEN OFFER WAIVERS FOR A THIRD BEDROOM. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THEY TOOK THE SINGLE FAMILY REPAIR PROGRAM FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE ATTACHED ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS IN TURS TO REBUILD AND MAKE WHOLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID? RETURNED THE MONEY AND SAID NO. SO THE GLO HAS DICTATED ECONOMIC WEALTH AND EQUITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE OUR PRIME OH WEALTH DRIVER IS HOME OWNERSHIP. THEY HAVE MINIMIZED, IT'S A ONE BATHROOM, TWO BEDROOM. SO IT'S EASY TO GET UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT BLAME AND INHERITANCE. BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. AND IF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION FOR ALL THESE YEARS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT NEW, BUT I HAVE TO STOP AND INSERT HERE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THAT DEPARTMENT, WHILE THEY WERE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN DISASTER RECOVERY, HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR HOUSTONIANS WHO COULDN'T EVEN QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAMS THE CITY OFFERED. THEY COULDN'T EVEN QUALIFY 'CAUSE THEY WERE EMPLOYEES. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO PAUSE AND REALLY TAKE IN ALL THE INFORMATION. I FIND FENCE WITH THAT. OKAY. AND SO ALL OF THE HEARINGS WE HAVE DONE AROUND, UM, EVERY HOUSING COMMITTEE AROUND DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS, EVERY LINE ITEM, EVERY BENCHMARK, THE MINIMUM BENCHMARK IS 81% MINIMUM. THOSE BENCHMARKS SUCCEED TO 103%. WE ARE DONE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DONE. RIGHT. AND THE PROBLEM IS WHEN PEOPLE WILL COME TO THIS HORSESHOE, WHEN THEY TOOK THAT SINGLE FAMILY PROGRAM, THAT REPAIR PROGRAM, AND, AND THEY DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM THE GLO, WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. THEY DIDN'T, DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR THEIR STATE SENATOR. THEY CAME BACK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WE HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR THEM. SO NO, IT'S NOT, I, I, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH US FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH, WHAT THE MARKET SAYS FOR THESE THREE LOTS. I THINK IT'S DILIGENT FOR US TO DO THAT. BUT THIS WAS DONE IN 21, 22 AND 20, I THINK 21 AND 22. WE PURCHASED THESE LOTS. SO I JUST THINK AS WE, WE MOVE THROUGH THIS, LET'S NOT LET US NOT TAKE THE POSITION OF BLAME AND IRRESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THESE PROGRAMS AND THE AGENCIES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY WOULD OFFER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. NOT ONLY DID THEY TAKE THAT PROGRAM, THEY CLAWED MONEY BACK FROM MULTIFAMILY. THEY TOOK MONEY FROM PUBLIC SERVICES SO THAT AGENCIES, COALITIONS FOR THE HOMELESS, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN JUST PRAISED. THEY TOOK MONEY FROM US TO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY TOOK THAT MONEY, THEY CLAWED BACK $144 MILLION. AND THEN THEY RAISE THE POINT ABOUT, OH, Y'ALL HAVE NOT SPENT, YOU CAN LOOK ON THE BENCHMARK. MAYBE THE GLO HAS NOT APPROVED, BUT THAT MONEY IS IN THE QUEUE WAITING FOR APPROVAL. IT'S IN THE QUEUE. AND HOPEFULLY WHEN WE HAVE A APRIL COMMITTEE MEETING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ITEMIZE THAT AND SHOW YOU ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. [05:10:03] DR. CARTER, THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S PROPER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO HAVE A NEW LAND COMMISSIONER SINCE MOST OF THE ACCUSATIONS YOU JUST MADE. UH, IT'S THE PREVIOUS, PREVIOUS LAND COMMISSIONER. UH, AND I HAD ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS ENOUGH BLAME TO GO AROUND. UH, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WOULDN'T TAKE PHONE CALLS FROM THE GLO. I'M NOT A PARTY TO THAT. YOU JUST IN CLOSING SAID IT'S PROPER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE VALUE SO WE CAN DETERMINE, AND THAT'S ALL IS ON THE AGENDA THIS MORNING, IS TO GET SOME PROFESSIONAL HELP TO SEE IF THE PRICE IS GOING UP, DOWN AND WHAT WOULD BE THE WISE USE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT ANY OTHER WAY. CERTAINLY WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT AT THIS TABLE. NO, I AGREE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY THINK YOU KNOW THE VALUE AND NO, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE VALUE. I, I DON'T, I SUPPORT THE ITEM. LET'S DO ALL THREE OF 'EM. I THINK THAT'S DILIGENT. WHAT I'M PUSHING BACK ON IS THE LANGUAGE OF BLAME. WELL, YOU JUST DID IT. YOU JUST USED BLAME TO ACCUSE THE LAND COMMISSIONER OF CREATING A MESS. THIS LET'S CALLED BLAME. THIS IS A DISTRACTION TACTIC. AND I'M NOT GONNA PARTICIPATE. ALL I I'M NOT GONNA PARTICIPATE IN IT. ALL I'M STATING IS LET'S KEEP THE ITEM, THE ITEM AND LET'S BE MINDFUL ABOUT HOW WE TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THAT HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS LIFTED AND THE PRACTICES OF THE PREVIOUS GLO ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S IT. AND ALL DUE RESPECT. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M STANDING ON IN ALL DUE RESPECT. OKAY. THE CITY MISUSED THE FUNDS. THAT'S IRREFUTABLE TAG. LET'S, LET'S ROCK. ANYONE ELSE ITEM BEEN TAGGED? CASTEX, EVAN SHABAZ CAYMAN, AND THOMAS. GREAT. NEXT ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCILOR EVAN SHABBAT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND NOT TO BELABOR THE POINT, UM, OR TO BE REDUNDANT, BUT CERTAINLY I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENTS AND CONCERNS. OUR GOAL IS STILL TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. SURE. AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE CAUGHT UP. WE ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE POLITICS OF IT ALL. AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO RELY ON YOUR PERSUASIVE SKILLS AND MAYBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP THAT COULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THIS. SURE. AND SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM AS WELL. PERFECT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR NICE COMMENTS. UH, KA TATUM, JOIN TAG THOMAS. SOUNDS GOOD. AND CA YOU HAVE SIX. I HAVE. OH, NO, I HAVE CA IN TWICE. GO AHEAD. CA AND THOMAS EVANS, CARTER AND CASTEX. TATUM. OH, JACKSON. JACKSON. VERY GOOD. NEXT ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENTS AND YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ITEM, UH, SO I WILL BE TAGGING IT AS WELL. VERY GOOD. TATUM JOINED THE TAG. EVAN SHABAZZ JOY, THE TAG. VERY GOOD. NEXT. JACKSON CAYMAN. EVAN WHO? THOMAS. THOMAS SHABAZZ. THOMAS EVAN JACKSON CAYMAN. EVAN SHABAZZ. CARTER. CARTER. OKAY. JUST 4 1 5. JACKSON CAYMAN. EVAN THOMAS. GOT IT. NEXT. [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM 31. NEEDS A MOTION. ATE A MOVE ON THE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. SET A HEARING DATE FOR APRIL 10TH. COUNCILOR THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU. I JUST, UH, THIS IS A REQUEST TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. JUST, UM, LET'S CONTINUE THE PRACTICE OF ALSO INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF UNITS AND THE A MI ASSOCIATED WITH EACH PROJECT SO WE CAN HAVE CONTEXT. I APPRECIATE, UM, COLLEAGUES, YOU'LL SEE, UM, WITHIN THE BACKUP, WHAT'S A NEW CONSTRUCTION, WHAT'S AN ACQUISITION? BUT IT'S ALSO HELPFUL TO GET CONTEXT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL THRESHOLD OF, UH, THE APARTMENTS. THANK YOU. PERFECT. NEXT [05:15:01] ITEM 32 IS AN IT NEEDS A MOTION CAST X TATU MOVE. ALL IN ALL IN FAVOR? UH, THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE COUNCILOR POLLARD, CATHERINE POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM WAS, UM, OR IS AN ITEM THAT IS BROUGHT FORTH, UH, BASED ON PROPOSITION A, UH, WHICH WAS THE VOTER APPROVED CHARTER AMENDMENT CHANGE THAT ALLOWS, UH, THREE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO AGREE TO PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA. UM, WE PUT FORTH THIS ITEM, UM, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO. AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SIGNED ON TO IT, WHICH WAS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. UH, ALSO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HELP OF OUR VICE MAYOR PRO TIMM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S OFFICE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUTS. MAYOR PRO TIMM, AND ALL OF YOU. ALL THAT OUR OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT TO. UM, THIS IS A ITEM THAT PERTAINS TO THE NTMP PROCESS, WHICH IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. AND IT CONTROLS, YOU KNOW, SPEED BUMPS AND, AND VOLUME CONTROL DEVICES. AND WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED, OR WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED, UH, IS THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS CREATED, UM, SOMETIMES HURDLES FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO PROPERLY UTILIZE THEIR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO GET CERTAIN PROJECTS DONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE WAY THE PROGRAM WORKS IS, LET'S SAY FOR SPEED BUMPS. THE CITY ONLY WAY THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE SPEED BUMPS IS THE RESIDENTS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO A PETITION PROCESS. THEY DO THE PETITION, THEY GET A REQUISITE AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES, THEY BRING IT BACK TO THE CITY, THE CITY VERIFIES IT. UM, AND THEN, UH, THE COUNCIL OFFICES WILL PUT FORTH COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, UH, THE COMMUNITY WILL CHIME IN. THERE WILL BE A SURVEY THAT IS DONE ON THE ENTIRE AREA, AND THEN WE'LL GET SOME FEEDBACK. UM, AND THEN WE CAN EITHER GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT OR NOT. WHAT THE HURDLE HAS BEEN IS, LET'S SAY ONE STREET GOES OUT AND DOES THE PETITION. WHEN WE GET THE REPORT BACK, IT MAY SAY NOT ONLY DOES THAT STREET NEED SPEED BUMPS, BUT THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD MAY NEED SPEED BUMPS. WELL, IF THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS SPEED BUMPS, THAT'S GONNA COME AT A MUCH HIGHER COST. AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE THE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO DO THAT. AND SO IT, IT IMPEDES US FROM BEING ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITH AT LEAST DOING SOMETHING. AND IT'S LIKE A, YOU KNOW, UH, ALL OR NOTHING TYPE OF PROCESS. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS CREATE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS, UH, ORDINANCE CHANGE DOES. IT GIVES THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTOR TO HAVE DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE JUST A PORTION OF THAT SURVEY. NOW THE SURVEY STILL STAYS ON THE BOOKS FOR THREE YEARS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, BUT IT DOES GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE ABLE TO MODIFY. THIS ALL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I HAD A SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT THAT NEEDED SPEED BUMPS IN THE FRONT OF IT BECAUSE THEY SAID CARS WERE JUST RACING UP AND DOWN THE STREET AND IT WAS UNSAFE FOR THE KIDS. SO THE SCHOOL AND THE NEIGHBORS IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, THEY TOGETHER DID THE PETITION PROCESS. UH, THEY GOT THE REQUISITE SIGNATURES, CAME BACK TO THE CITY, DID THE WHOLE PROCESS, AND THEN THE CITY SAID, WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE DID WANNA PROTECT THAT STREET, RIGHT? AND SO WE WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR A WHILE ON THAT AND WE NEVER WERE ABLE TO GET ANYWHERE BECAUSE OF THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE. WELL, THANKS TO THE VOTERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN BRING FORTH AN, AN ITEM TO CHANGE OR AMEND THE ORDINANCE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE. UM, AND SO I KNOW IN YOUR BACKUP IT IS A LOT OF, UH, RED LINES THAT'S THERE. WHAT WE PRESENTED WAS BASICALLY ONE PARAGRAPH. I THINK IT, THEY OVERLY COMPLICATED IT WITH ALL OF THAT. AND I DO THINK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHERS, UH, AND WE'RE GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO THIS NEW WAY OF GOING ABOUT, UH, THE THREE COUNCIL MEMBER OR MORE, UM, ORDINANCE CHANGE PROCESS. BUT THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES. AND, UM, BY THE AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES THAT WE GOT FROM DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS, IT LETS YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING JUST IN DISTRICT J, BUT IT'S HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE CITY. AND SO I WILL APPRECIATE YOU ALL'S SUPPORT ON THIS. AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD THIS [05:20:01] ON THE BOOKS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. SO HOPEFULLY ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, UH, BECAUSE WE DID TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WITH ALL THE LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORTH. WELL, THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT THAT, UH, A SUPPORTED PROPOSITION, A VERY CLEARLY SAID, AS A FORMER LEGISLATOR, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY PERMISSION TO INTRODUCE A BILL OR OFFER AN AMENDMENT. I DO THINK MEMBERS, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE PROCESS. UH, WE HAVE SIX NEW MEMBERS, YOU JUST KIND OF LAID IT OUT, WHICH I WOULD ENVISION IN A COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, MODELED SOMEWHAT AFTER YESTERDAY. UH, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A PETITION. YOU CAN COME TO ME AND I WILL, UH, WORK WITH YOU TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, UH, VERY TRANSPARENT AND WANT TO MAKE YOU ABLE TO REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICT. SO I JUST THINK GOING FORWARD, UM, MEMBERS, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT. UH, THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. IT IS A CONFUSING SPEED CUSHION, UH, PROCESS THAT I THINK THE PUBLIC OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON IT. YOU COULD BRING THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THE PARENTS DOWN. SO I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT AFTER LEGAL WORKED WITH YOU TO MAKE IT LEGAL, WHICH WAS MY COMMITMENT TO YOU, BUT I JUST THINK IT'D BE BETTER IF YOU ALLOWED A PUBLIC HEARING AND LET YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CORRECT PLAY A ROLE. BUT, UH, NO, IT'S ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE OF THE PETITION PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO MEMBERS THAT THE PROP A WAS CREATED BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T GET ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA. WELL, IT'S A NEW DAY. YOU COME TO ME, YOU CAN GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA. I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE VETTED. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT. THE PUBLIC, I DON'T KNOW WHO OPPOSES IT IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WOULDN'T THAT BE INTERESTING TO AT LEAST SEE THE PERIMETERS? IS, IS THERE BUSINESS CONCERNS FIRST RESPONDERS FOLKS, WE GOTTA START LISTENING TO FIRING POLICE WHEN WE MAKE MEASURES, WHETHER IT'S ROAD REDESIGN, UH, SPEED CUSHIONS, OR YOU NAME IT. BUT YOUR PREROGATIVE IS TO GO FORWARD, BUT YOU JUST KINDA LAID IT OUT, WHICH YOU DO IN A COMMITTEE HEARING, AND THEN YOU ADHERE THE SUPPORTERS, THE, THOSE THAT MIGHT HAVE CONCERNS OR MAYBE EVEN DO IT BETTER. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT I THINK OF USING, I KNOW YOU WANNA BE THE FIRST ONE TO USE THE PROCESS. WELL, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS ALLOW, AND THAT'S GREAT. I WANNA ALLOW THE, THE, THE PROCESS TO TAKE PLACE IN WHICH THE VOTERS HAVE VOTED ON TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. THE FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE TO SIGN OFF DURING THE, THIS, DURING THE PROCESS, BUT THE MOST MEMBERS DON'T KNOW THAT. THEY FORGET TO LEARN. OKAY. UNDERSTOOD. LET ME FINISH MY POINT. SECOND THING IS, THIS HAS BEEN OUT, UM, IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WE HAD NO, WE HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS HERE EVERY SINGLE TUESDAY, WHICH NOW WE'RE HERE ALL NIGHT. UM, AND THEY'RE ALLOWED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK ON WHATEVER THEY WANT. NO ONE, NO ONE COMPLAINED ON THIS. THIS IS PRETTY SIMPLE. THE MEMBERS HAVE HAD SEVERAL WEEKS, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS. I'VE WORKED WITH YOUR OFFICE AND, AND MANY OF THE ADMINISTRATION ON, ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SURE. AND, AND SO THE SAME WAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING FOR EVERY SINGLE AGENDA ITEM THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PUTS FORTH THIS PROPOSITION A, IS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF LEVERAGE, THE SAME TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT. IF WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WE'RE JUST MEETING TO MEET OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON SIMPLE ITEMS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD EASILY BE LAID OUT. UM, THE MEMBERS CAN ASK QUESTIONS. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF ASKING QUESTIONS, BUT IT IS NOT MEANT. AND THAT, THAT CHARTER CHANGE WAS NOT MEANT FOR COMMITTEE HEARINGS. IT WAS MEANT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING ANY ITEM THAT IS LAWFUL TO THE AGENDA AT ANY DESIGNATED DATE. THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS. THE VOTERS ARE THE ONES THAT WANTED THAT. AND NOT ONLY DID THE VOTERS WANT IT, THEY DID A PETITION. SURE DID. 20,000 PEOPLE HAD TO SIGN UP JUST FOR US TO HAVE THAT ABILITY. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE CITY'S HISTORY THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE ALL CAPABLE AND TALENTED AND HAVE GREAT IDEAS. SURE. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THOSE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO A COMMITTEE MEETING. JUST TO FLUSH IT OUT. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A COMMITTEE MEETING, I WELCOME THAT AND I JOIN YOU IN THAT, IN TRYING TO VET IT. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ON EVERY SINGLE ITEM AS, AS THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T HAVE TO GO AND PUT THEIR ITEMS ON A COMMITTEE MEETING. MANY TIMES WHEN WE SEE THE AGENDA ITEMS, WE GET THAT ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER EVEN SEEN [05:25:01] THESE ITEMS BEFORE. OKAY, I, I GOT IT. AND SO, AND, AND I'M STILL GOING. AND SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS THE PROCESS THAT THE VOTERS HAVE LAID OUT. AND I APPRECIATE THE VOTERS, UH, FOR THEIR CONFIDENCE AND COUNSEL. THANK YOU, MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT GONNA DEBATE YOU TRANSPARENCY OR MORE INFORMATION 'CAUSE YOU'LL LOSE THE PUBLIC ALSO WANTS TRANSPARENCY, MORE INFORMATION, AND, UH, HAVE A PROCESS THAT WORKS FOR REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF OUR DIVERSE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS. AND CERTAINLY SOMEONE HAS TO LOOK OUT AS ARE AT LARGE DUE FOR THE INTEREST OF ALL HOUSTONIANS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I'M JUST GLAD YOU GOT WITH LEGAL. LOOK, FOR INSTANCE, THE, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WOULD'VE NOT, IT WAS UNLAWFUL BEEN LEGAL. IT WAS UNLAWFUL. SO MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR A COMMITTEE TO, TO VET IT AS WELL. BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE GLAD WE HELPED YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA PULL IT BACK FROM THE PROP A CONVERSATION FOR A BIT AND GO, WE'LL GO BACK TO THIS N 10 P UH, PROCESS. UM, AND I, I HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS AND I'VE ALSO SHARED SOME OF MY CONCERNS WITH, WITH THIS PROCESS. UM, THERE ARE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT CAN ALSO HAPPEN. UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE APPLICATION COULD STAY ON, AND I, I KNOW THIS PROCESS VERY WELL WITH MY PREDECESSOR. I MANAGE THESE THROUGH CDSF. UH, WE'VE PROBABLY DONE OVER 20 APPLICATIONS. I KNOW HOW EXPENSES THEY CAN BE. UH, BUT WE, WE HAVE A, A, A WAY OF HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS. UM, THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR ME ARE, UM, YOU DO THREE OR FOUR STREETS WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY. UH, ANOTHER SIX MONTHS LATER, THOSE RESIDENTS NOW WANT SPEED CUSHIONS. AND NOW YOU'RE HAVING TO GO BACK AND READDRESS THOSE WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND JUST FINALIZE THAT, THAT APPLICATION. AND SO, UM, I THINK TWO THINGS THAT THE, UH, THAT MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, WHICH IS A SCHOOL, ACTUALLY ONE THING WAS THE SCHOOL, BUT ANOTHER ONE THAT I CAN THINK OF IS A PARK WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING. UH, BUT I, I DO APPRECIATE A PROCESS AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO VET THESE. UM, YES, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT A MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF. I ASK QUESTIONS OF, OF, UH, OF PUBLIC WORKS, SPECIFICALLY THE TRAFFIC TRAFFICKING, UH, DIVISION TO SEE, UH, WHAT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WOULD HAPPEN. I'M STILL WAITING ON THOSE, THOSE, UH, DETAILS. UM, I DON'T WANNA GET IN THE WAY OF, OF DIFFERENT DISTRICT OFFICES ADDRESSING ISSUES, BEING CREATIVE. UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE, THESE TYPES OF, UH, UH, AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT UP, UM, WHAT IS THAT PROCESS? WHAT IS THAT VETTING, UH, OPPORTUNITY THAT WE GET TO HAVE, UH, SIMILARLY TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM AS WELL. UM, FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO REFER THIS TO, TO THE PROP A COMMITTEE. UM, AND AGAIN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUE, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THESE, UH, THESE REQUESTS AS WELL. IS THAT IN FORM OF A MOTION TO SEND US TO PROP A FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION? YES. RAMIR IS SECOND POINT OF ORDER. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE. POINT OF ORDER. CAN A MOTION CONFLICT WITH THE LANGUAGE OF A CHARTER? THE CHARTER HAS NO REFERENCE. AND THIS IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. THIS CHARTER HAS NO REFERENCE TO A COMMITTEE. THE CHARTER IS OUR CONSTITUTION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOT QUITE. IT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A COMMITTEE OR A PROCESS TO GO TO A COMMITTEE. WHAT IT STATES IS ANY LAWFUL ITEM THAT THREE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS BRING FORTH CAN BE SET ON THE AGENDA AT ANY DESIGNATED DATE. THIS MOTION WOULD BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE CITY CHARTER. I NEED A REF. UH, I NEED A RULING ON THAT. I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD, THE, THE, WHAT THE PROP A SAYS IS YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. SO IT'S ON THE AGENDA. SO YOU COMPLIED WITH PROP A AFTER THAT. IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO ANY OTHER RULES. YOU COULD TAG IT, YOU COULD REFER IT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. UM, IF, AND IF SOMEONE HAS MADE A MOTION, THEN, THEN YOU COULD TAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION. BUT PROP A SIMPLY ALLOWS YOU TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, WHICH HAS HAPPENED. AND IF I CAN FINISH, I DON'T KNOW IF MY TIME, AND I COULD ADD, THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE A PROP, A COMMITTEE. THIS PROCESS NEEDS TO BE VETTED. THIS PROPOSITION THAT THE COUNCILMAN BROUGHT FORWARD HAD TO BE WORKED OVER WITH LEGAL AND PUBLIC WORKS. IT NEEDED TO BE VETTED IN A COMMITTEE. SO WE DON'T HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I RESPECT BRINGING IT TO THE COUNCIL, BUT FOLKS, WE'RE DEALING WITH SERIOUS MATTERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOLLARS, PUBLIC SAFETY. SO ALL I'M SUGGESTING IS REALLY GOING FORWARD. BUT CERTAINLY I RESPECT THE, THE MOTION. WHAT IS WRONG WITH A COMMITTEE PROCESS? HEARING YOUR PROPOSAL WAS WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE COMMITTEE? MY GOD. I MEAN, MORE INFORMATION IS WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING FOR. AND LET THESE NEW MEMBERS LEARN THE PROCESS. YOU YOURSELF SAID [05:30:01] IT WAS COMPLICATED. THAT'S READING. YOU'RE STEPPING UP AND MAKING THIS PROPOSAL. LET US LEARN WHY IT WAS COMPLICATED. IT MIGHT, COULD BE APPROVED. AND I HONOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS REQUEST. 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA DO THIS TIME AFTER TIME. ARE YOU, YOUR NEXT PROPOSITION IS HAD WE'RE BEING FLOODED WITH CONTACTS, ARE YOU GONNA COMMIT TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR ITEMS THAT YOU BRING TO NO, BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF 'EM DOESN'T NEED TO GO. I'M, I WOULD ASK, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU NOT TO HAVE US CHANGE OUR PROCESS OF WHAT THE CHARGES SAYS TO HAVE TO GO TO A COMMITTEE. WHEN THAT IS NOT MANDATORY. YOU CAN MAKE ANY MOTION YOU WANT GOING FORWARD. IF YOU WANNA SEND A WHOLE AGENDA. I WOULD LIKE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. IN FACT, I, I WOULD LIKE TO EMPOWER COMMITTEES TO HEAR THINGS PASS 'EM FORWARD OR BLOCK 'EM IN THE COMMITTEE. THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT I GREW UP IN. IT'S VERY, VERY PRODUCTIVE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU WANNA START MAKING CORRECTIONS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND POLITICAL AND PUBLIC INPUT, I THINK SOMEBODY THAT WOKE UP THIS MORNING WANTS TO TESTIFY ON YOUR BILL, OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWN AND TALK TO US TODAY. YOU HAVE STUDIED THIS. THE REST OF US HAVE NOT. I HONORED YOUR REQUEST IN THE PROP. A GOOD FAITH EFFORT. LEGAL WORKED ON IT, PUBLIC WORKS, WORKED ON IT. AND I THINK IF YOU HAD THE INPUT OF ALL YOUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, IT WOULD ONLY GET BETTER. BUT WE'VE HEARD MOST, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE WHEN WE'RE STILL WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YEAH. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE CAN PULL THIS BACK A BIT MORE. RIGHT. UM, MY REASON FOR REFERRING IT BACK IS BECAUSE I SEE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I'VE ASKED PUBLIC WORKS. WHAT WILL THAT HA WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DO THREE STREETS, THREE OR FOUR STREETS WITHIN THAT APPLICATION? I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE. HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I'M SPEAKING TO MY COMMUNITY THAT HAVE NTPS AND WE HAVE ABOUT 18 THAT ARE BACKLOGGED, THAT I CAN DO THOSE, I CAN ACT ON THOSE NTPS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR TO CLOSE UP THAT WHOLE APPLICATION BECAUSE IT'S STILL ON THE, ON THE, ON THE BOOKS FOR THREE YEARS. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE ANSWERS, UH, BEFORE. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M REFERRING IT BACK. I WANTED IT TO BE VETTED. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. UM, IF IT'S PASSES TODAY OR IT PASSES NEXT WEEK OR A MONTH AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET IS A MORE FINE TUNED ORDINANCE. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT, WANNA SEE. IT'S A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POINT OF ORDER. I BELIEVE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE, BUT CAN WE OPEN UP THE, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE. SO, DISCUSSION. CAN WE OPEN UP DISCUSSION SURROUNDING THE, UH, MOTION? I'M SORRY, WHAT? YEAH, I WAS HOPING WE COULD OPEN UP DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION SPECIFICALLY. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q RATHER THAN A BACK AND FORTH. OKAY, SO ON THE MOTION, ON THE MOTION, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. UM, I HOPE THAT YOU ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS FOR ITEMS THAT COME FROM THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION. UH, WHEN AN AGENDA SHOWS UP ON FRIDAY AND YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, UH, HOPEFULLY YOU ARE CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO DEFER THAT BACK FOR MORE INFORMATION. SECONDLY, I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM OUR VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT ACTIVELY VERBALLY CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD ADD TO THE AGENDA ITEMS. UM, BECAUSE I KNOW, UM, YOU WERE IN SUPPORT OF MAKING SURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICTS. THIRDLY, UM, I FUND EVERY SPEED BUMP APPLICATION IN FULL EACH ONE. WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR IT, WE'RE GONNA DO IT. WE DON'T INTERRUPT THAT PROCESS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CREATE, UM, YOU DID IT FOR THEM. YOU DIDN'T DO IT FOR ME. HOWEVER, WHAT THAT HAS CAUSED FOR ME IS THAT WHEN OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS, THAT I HAVE TO PAY IT ALL IN FULL AND I START IN A NEGATIVE, THEY AUTOMATICALLY TAKE OFF THAT, UH, METRO 500,000. I START AT A QUARTER MILLION. SO I'M ALWAYS BEHIND. ALL THIS DOES IS ALLOW THE FLEXIBILITY FOR YOU TO MAKE THE BEST FISCAL DECISIONS FOR YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICT BUDGET. THAT IS IT. NOW, WHAT CITY LEGAL DID, AND THEY ADDED ALL THIS RED LINE, THAT WAS NOT THE INTENTION. THAT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL REQUEST. IT WAS THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO ABUSE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, RESOURCES TO HAVE ANOTHER MAP. SO WHEN YOU GET THAT MAP AND THAT NOTICE TO PROCEED AND THAT COST ESTIMATE, IT'LL SHOW YOU ALL THE LOCATIONS AND THE COSTS AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER, BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT FUND SPEED CUSHIONS. COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO DO THIS FROM THEIR OFFICE. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AND MAKE THE VERY BEST DECISION. NOW THAT MAY MEET MEAN, YOU GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, I CAN DO THREE, AND THEN I COME BACK TO YOU IN JULY AND DO THE THE NEXT OF THE THREE. BUT LET US NOT COMPLICATE AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. AND THEN FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE, UM, HAVING APPETITE FOR LEADING IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND LEADING IN FOR THIS CITY, AND USING THIS THREE COUNCIL MEMBER RULE, LET THIS BE A MODEL. WHAT YOU DO TODAY WILL SHOW UP FOR YOU NEXT WEEK AND THE NEXT WEEK. AND WHEN YOU HAVE AN ITEM, I'LL HAVE THE APPETITE TO REFER BACK AS WELL. COUNCIL, YOU JUST MADE AN EXCELLENT ARGUMENT FOR WHY WE NEED TO HAVE THIS IN A COMMITTEE. [05:35:01] ABSOLUTELY. SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR, EVERYBODY CAN HEAR WHAT YOU SAID IN A DELIBERATIVE FASHION. NO. AND PLEASE DON'T SAY THE ADMINISTRATION SETS UP THE AGENDA SCHEDULE. AND WHEN YOU LEARN OF IT, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SITTING THERE FOUR YEARS AND I FOLLOWED THE EXACT MODEL AND IT WAS NEVER RAISED. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A COMPARISON. THAT'S NOT THE POINT. WELL, WE DO. IT'S, THAT'S NOT THE POINT. VERY RELEVANT. WE'RE NOT IN COMPETITION WITH ANYONE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS PR THIS PROCESS AND THE, AND WHAT'S OFFERED TO, I THINK, COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY. NOW. SO, BECAUSE WE WANNA DO A COMPARISON, LET'S COMPARE MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. I NEVER HAD AN ITEM THAT I COULDN'T GET ON THE AGENDA. NEVER. THAT WAS NOT MY EXPERIENCE. WELL, THAT MAYBE YOU HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP. BUT TODAY, BUT TODAY I HAVE A DIFFERENT, A NEW EXPERIENCE. YEAH. TODAY IT'S A NEW EXPERIENCE. SO IF WE WANNA COMPARE, THEN LET'S DO THAT. BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS TO MY COLLEAGUES IS THAT THIS WAS A SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. LET US NOT COMPLICATE SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES. SO FOR, TO GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO LEAD IN OUR DISTRICTS. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU FOR MAKING AN ARGUMENT WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS. IN HEARING, THERE ARE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS PRO AND CON THAT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC WORKS, LEGAL, HOMEOWNERS, SCHOOLS. LET'S HAVE THE, LET'S LET THE PUBLIC SEE HOW THIS WORKS. WELL, YOU KNOW, I TRIED THAT WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR HOUSING AND THAT DIDN'T HAVE SO, WELL, WE ARE, IT WOULD'VE HELPED IF YOU WERE THE CHAIR AT THE TIME. BUT ANYWAY, WE HAVE A MOTION ON TABLE. ANYONE WANT TO DISCUSS IT? SHABA, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK TO THE MOTION, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE A COMMENT. UM, DO OR LATER, PROP A WAS NOT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GET THINGS ON THE AGENDA. PROP A WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DIVEST THE PREVIOUS MAYOR OF CONTROL OF THE AGENDA. THE VOTERS APPROVED IT. I AM THE, UH, VICE CHAIR OF THE PROP A COMMITTEE. AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A DISCUSSION, THE CHAIR AND I, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE GATEKEEPERS OF WHETHER COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN FOLLOW AN ORDINANCE. UM, AND SO, I MEAN, A CHARTER AMENDMENT, EXCUSE ME. AND SO, AND, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE FIRST ONES TO ATTEMPT TO PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL WAS COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, UH, UM, UH, HUFFMAN AND MYSELF IN REGARDS TO THE WATER BILLS, BUT CERTAINLY, AND WHICH WAS RESOLVED. AND SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR AGENDA ITEM. BUT CERTAINLY, UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST OF YOU IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THE COMMITTEES WOULD BE A CLEAR FOCUS ON WHAT THE COMMITTEES ARE TO VET, WHAT ARE THEY TO DO, BECAUSE WE ARE A LITTLE CONFUSED. AND WE ALSO NEED THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEES BECAUSE WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE MEMBERSHIP. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, WE DO NOT WANT TO BE GATEKEEPERS. WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, GIVING EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THE RIGHT TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA. IT CAN BE VETTED JUST AS IT WAS TODAY. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. BUT, UH, AGAIN, SOME CLARITY FROM FROM YOU AS TO, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE COMMITTEES TOTALLY CHANGED. AND SO WE ARE NOT REALLY CLEAR. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO CALL, WELL, WHO DO I PUT THIS IN FRONT OF? BUT EVEN WHEN I DISCOVER WHO IT GOES TO, THERE'S NO MEMBERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. SO CERTAINLY, UM, IF YOU COULD GIVE US THAT DIRECTION, I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. AND, UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I CAN PUBLICLY SAY I DO NOT SUPPORT, UH, WHAT, WHAT YOU PUT BEFORE US, BECAUSE I THINK IT VIOLATES THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE REMAIN TO THE MOTION. YES, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA SAY AT THE OUTSET THAT I APPRECIATE THAT THERE HAS BEEN THE CREATION OF A COMMITTEE THROUGH WHICH IF A COUNCIL MEMBER CHOOSES TO CAN BRING FORWARD AN ITEM THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE FOR INPUT, UH, AND THE LIKE. AND I HAVE FULL FAITH IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT COMMITTEE. MAYOR, I BELIEVE AT THE OUTSET. AND IF YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR MIND, I THINK IT BEHOOVES US TO SAY THAT, THAT YOU CREATED THAT COMMITTEE AS A CHOICE, THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT A COUNCIL MEMBER'S RIGHT UNDER THE CHARTER, WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO GO TO COMMITTEE OR IF THEY CHOOSE TO PRESENT SOMETHING. AND IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS CHOSEN, UH, TO FOLLOW THE OPTION TO PRESENT BEFORE COUNCIL. I WILL GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD CREDIT. THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE ITEM. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR WEEKS. AND MAYOR I KNOW, AND I [05:40:01] BELIEVE YOU EVEN SAID HE HAS MET WITH WHERE WERE, WHERE WERE WE? ALL OF US TALKING ABOUT? I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA FINISH MY COMMENTS AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND. OKAY? SURE. UM, THE, I KNOW THAT COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH LEGAL. THAT'S HOW WE GOT A MORE SUB SUBSTANTIVE RED LINE, WHICH I ALSO APPRECIATE IF WE'RE GONNA BE GOING IN AND ADDRESSING, UH, CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF OUR ORDINANCES, CLEANING UP IS ALSO VERY HELPFUL, RIGHT. IF WE'RE GOING IN, WE SHOULD BE GOING IN. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT. UM, I BELIEVE THE INTENT OF THIS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, MAYOR, THIS IS GERMANE. I I'M GOING TO BE ASKING COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD SOME QUESTIONS, BUT IT IS GERMANE TO THE MOTION BECAUSE THIS WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER OR NOT I VOTE TO SEND IT TO COMMITTEE OR NOT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THIS? UH, A FEW MONTHS. AND HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE RELATED TO THIS? EITHER I SPOKE TO THEM OR MY, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF HAS SPOKEN TO THEM. AND HAVE YOU MET WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE ADMINISTRATION'S TEAMS REGARDING THIS? YES. AND I, IN DISTRICTS LIKE MINE THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY SINGLE FAMILY, UH, NOT MULTIFAMILY, WE HAVE A CONSTANT, I IN EVEN INHERITED A LIST OF, I WANNA SAY OVER 30, UH, BACKLOG REQUESTS FOR SPEED CUSHIONS. AND BECAUSE THE CITY CUT FUNDING, WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PUT ALL OF THOSE SPEED CUSHIONS REQUESTS FORWARD. UH, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING IN SPEAKING WITH YOU THAT THIS WAS PRIMARILY IN, I BELIEVE YOU SAID IT HERE, PRIMARILY THIS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE IN A SCHOOL AREA, A SENSITIVE LOCATION, IT WAS NOT FEASIBLE TO PUT THE SPEED CUSHIONS IN, UH, IN THAT SENSITIVE LOCATION BECAUSE IT REQUIRED THE ENTIRE PARAMETER. CORRECT. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, YOU BROUGHT UP THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING THIS. I BELIEVE, I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT IN SENSITIVE LOCATIONS, WHETHER IT'S A SCHOOL OR A PARK, THAT THERE MAY BE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THIS CAN BE USED. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BLANKET OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL DISTRICTS TO FUND, UH, ALL OF THE REQUESTS THAT COME IN, BECAUSE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, WE DON'T WANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF, WE PUT SPEED CUSHIONS ON ONE STREET AND THEN THE TRAFFIC GOES TO THE NEXT. AND THAT IS WHY, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE DEPARTMENT HAS A POLICY WHICH I SUPPORT, AND I WANNA BE CLEAR ON THAT. I SUPPORT THE POLICY THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE AN AREA AS A WHOLE IN THIS ITEM. IS IT THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S DISCRETION OR THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT'S DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO WAIVE THAT EXCEPTION SO THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR SPEED CUSHIONS IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL OR IN A PARK IS THE DIRECTOR'S DISCRETION. SO IT'S NOT THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S DISCRETION, BUT IT DOES GIVE AND PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SOME FLEXIBILITY TO SAY, OKAY, WE RECOGNIZE HERE IT'S APPROPRIATE. IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOUR SPEED CUSHIONS. CORRECT. AND IT ACTUALLY SAYS THE, UH, DIRECTOR'S PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT. THE THE REASON I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS IS BECAUSE TO ME, THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS MAYOR. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT, WHEN SOMETHING IS POSTED, TRADITIONALLY IT COMES THROUGH, IT POSTS ON THURSDAY AND THE PUBLIC CAN COME. THIS ITEM, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCILLOR MARTINEZ IS NOT BEING TAGGED. I UNDERSTAND YOU WANNA REFER IT BACK, BUT IF WE WANTED PUBLIC COMMENT OR ADDITIONAL OUTREACH, WE COULD ALSO HAVE THE MECHANISM TO TAG. THE REASON I SAY THAT IS I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT DIMINISHES THE ABILITY OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT ALLOWS FLEXIBILITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP TO LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AND ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY. IS THAT THE INTENT OF THIS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? YES. DOES IT CHANGE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT THAT FLEXIBILITY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT ARISES? THAT IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. IN ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU JUST SHOWED WHY A COMMITTEE HEARING WOULD WORK. THE INFORMATION GOING, AND LET ME FINISH WHAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW. MY OFFICE AND LEGAL REWROTE THE PROPOSAL PUBLIC WORKS, REWROTE THE PROPOSAL. SO I DON'T KNOW WHICH VERSION THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT IT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST WEEK. ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE IT A BETTER PRODUCT. CERTAINLY RESPECTING THE PETITION, THE PROP A SURELY THE PUBLIC EXPECTS US TO DO THE VERY BEST [05:45:01] JOB WE CAN. AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE CUSHIONS IS NEW TO MOST MEMBERS, TO THE PUBLIC. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SIMPLE. AND LET'S WRAP THIS UP. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HAVING A COMMITTEE HEARING? YOU KNOW, THE MORE I SIT HERE AND HEAR PEOPLE ARGUE ABOUT GOING TO COMMITTEE, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT US TO SEE IN A COMMITTEE. THIS IS TRANSPARENCY, THIS IS WITNESSES, THIS IS EXPERTISE. SO IF I WOULD JUST ASK THE SIMPLE COMMON SENSE QUESTION, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? LET'S LET THE SUN SHINE IN ON THIS PROCESS. LET THE PUBLIC BE INVOLVED AND LET'S COME OUT AND JOINT HANDS AND HAVE A BETTER PRODUCT IN WEEK. ALL I'M SAYING IS IT'S BEEN REWORKED IN THE LAST WEEK. CHIEF OF STAFF TALKING TO CHIEF OF STAFF IS NOT THE BEST PRODUCT. SO I REST MY SUPPORT WELL, I, I WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OF BEING A COMMITTEE MEMBER, ASKING THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL WHAT HIS INTENTION WAS, DA DA DA. THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO WITNESS. UH, MAYOR, YESTERDAY, YOU HAD AN EXCELLENT HEARING. THINK HOW MUCH BETTER THIS BODY IS BECAUSE OF THE HEARINGS YESTERDAY. AND I'LL ROLL OUT TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS THIS AFTERNOON. IT'S ON MY DESK, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, IT JUST HASN'T BEEN MY HIGHEST PRIORITY WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER PLANT. AND I COULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE LIST. I UNDERSTAND THAT. MY POINT BEING, THERE'S CERTAIN ITEMS THAT I DO BELIEVE SHOULD BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL MEMBER LET POLL WITH ALL, WELL, LET ME, EXCUSE ME. YOU SAY THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS. I'M THE ONE THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE THAT. UH, NO, SIR. NOT WHEN IT COMES TO PROPOSITION A AND WHETHER OR NOT A COUNCIL MEMBER IS PUTTING SOMETHING ON THERE, AND IT'S BEING HONORED AS THE COUNCIL, AS A LEGAL COUNSEL SET, IT'S ON THE AGENDA. IT WAS HONORED IN GOOD FAITH. NOW I'M TRYING TO HELP ALL OF US HAVE A BETTER PROCESS AND BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PUBLIC ARREST. MY CASE, I MAYOR THE PUBLIC BENEFITS. THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL MEMBER, PAULA, YOUR SECOND ITEM WHERE, AND I WAS GONNA RAISE THIS, AND I THINK OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE WHERE THE, UM, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS REACHED OUT AND WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON THAT. THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES WHEN IT IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE AND SHOULD BE GOING TO COMMITTEE. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I AM SAYING. WHAT I AM SAYING IS THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR, AND WE'RE SPEAKING TO THE MOTION, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I BELIEVE A COUNCIL MEMBER HAS IN GOOD FAITH, NOT ONLY JUST PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, IT WAS NOT DONE SPORADICALLY. IT WAS NOT DONE AT THE LAST MINUTE. IT WAS SIMPLY WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE NOW HONORING THAT THE VOTERS HAVE GIVEN US ACCESS TO. AND AGAIN, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I PLAN TO BRING DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT PROCESS. BUT TO STAND HERE AND SAY, ONE, WE HAVE PROPOSITION A AND IT'S A COUNCIL MEMBER'S, RIGHT, TO BRING SOMETHING TO COMMITTEE, BUT BY GOLLY, WE NEED TO REFER IT BACK TO A COMMITTEE. I DON'T SUPPORT THAT. I THINK IF WE WANNA TAKE A VOTE ON THE ITEM, IF WE WANNA TAG THE ITEM. BUT IF A COUNCIL MEMBER HAS DONE THE WORK TO BRING IT FORWARD, AND IN THIS CASE, I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN DONE, IT IS COUNCIL'S RIGHT TO HEAR THAT BEFORE COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC. I, I WOULD SUGGEST MORE INFORMATION DELIBERATE TO, TO BE MORE DELIBERATIVE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. AND IT'S NOT REFERRING BACK TO COMMITTEE, IT'S REFERRING TO COMMITTEE FOR IMPROVEMENTS. SO MOTION MAYOR, PRO TEM, VICE MAYOR, PROTO PECK. OH, I'M SORRY. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, OBVIOUSLY I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSITION, THE CHARTER AMENDMENT. I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT ARE VERY SIMPLE THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE TO TAKE TO COMMITTEE. AND THEN THERE'S OTHER ITEMS THAT, UM, WE MIGHT WANNA SHARE MORE INFORMATION WITHOUT VIOLATING ANY KIND OF TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT BY SHARING IT AMONGST OFFICES. MY QUESTIONS ARE RELATED TO THE PROCESS, AND I'M FINE WITH HAVING SOME KIND OF PROCESS TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. UM, BUT IF WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT WE WANT TO GET ON THE AGENDA, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH WOULD BE MAYBE ANOTHER MONTH, UM, IN ORDER TO HEAR THAT, AND THEN TO FIRST GET IT ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA. AND THEN IF IT DOES HAVE TO GO TO COMMITTEE FIRST, IS THERE AN INTENT TO TAKE A VOTE AT THAT COMMITTEE MEETING FOR, TO THEN GET ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA? BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT QUORUM. DO WE NEED A QUORUM THEN AT THAT POINT TO VOTE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE? AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAN BEFORE. THE CHARTER AMENDMENT WENT INTO EFFECT WHEN THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD CALL A COUNCIL MEETING AND, UM, THERE WAS NEVER A QUORUM TO HOLD A VOTE. SO THOSE ARE MY [05:50:01] CONCERNS WITH THE PROCESS HERE. YOU KNOW, IF IT DOES GO TO A COMMITTEE, I WOULDN'T SUPPORT THAT. WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE ON IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO THEN GET ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA. EXCELLENT POINTS. AND THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE A COMMITTEE TO LISTEN TO Y'ALL. I'M TRYING TO BUILD A CONSENSUS. UH, YES, IT GETS ON THE AGENDA WHEN YOU TURN INTO YOUR PETITION AS IT IS TODAY. BUT I THINK THERE ARE SUBJECTS LISTENING TO MEMBERS THAT OUGHT TO GO TO A COMMITTEE. I THINK PART OF IT IS WHETHER IT'S THAT SIMPLE OR NOT, THIS IS NOT THAT SIMPLE TO THOSE THAT HAVE NEVER DEALT WITH THIS SUBJECT BEFORE. I MEAN, WE WE'RE SITTING HERE HAVING A COMMITTEE HEARING. THAT'S WHAT'S IRONIC ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM. IT SHOULDN'T BE JUST DIRECTORS COME IN AND MAKE STATEMENTS. LET THE PUBLIC GET INVOLVED. PRO AND CON SIGN UP. YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THE PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS ON OUR TUESDAY EVENING DEALS. THIS IS, THIS IS PEOPLE BEGGING FOR HAVING INPUT. THEY COME UP HERE EVERY TUESDAY, HAVE A FUNCTIONING COMMITTEE SYSTEM. IF YOU WANT TO PETITION, FIRST OF ALL, I'VE ALREADY COMMITTED TO YOU IN GOOD FAITH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A PETITION. IF YOU WANNA BRING THIS ON THERE, LET'S LET A COMMITTEE HEAR IT. LABOR. LET THE LABOR ISSUE BE DEBATED. BUT I CREATED PROP A COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSES OF LISTENING TO Y'ALL. PUBLIC VOTE TOLD US TO DO THIS, BUT CAN WE IMPROVE UPON IT? AND I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHY WE'RE AFRAID OF TRANSPARENCY AND ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TESTIFY FAR AND AGAINST SOMETHING AND IMPROVE IT. COUNCILMAN POLLER, YOU KNOW, FOR A FACT, WE'VE REWORKED THIS. WE WORK, WE REWORKED THIS BECAUSE LEGAL SAID WE WANT TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN WE BRING IT FORTH. SO THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW FOR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR TO VET OUT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE BY YOUR ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PROCESS. BUT THERE'S, NOW THERE'S, YOU ASKED ME A, YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION. I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER. THIS PROCESS HAS ALREADY GONE PROBABLY ON A LITTLE TOO LONG, HONESTLY, BASED ON, BASED ON THE CHARTER AMENDMENT. BUT WE, WE WERE OPEN TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WORKING WITH LEGAL. THEY CAME OUT WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE, A RED LINE THAT YOU ALL SEE TO ENSURE THEY WENT OVER EVERY SINGLE DETAIL FOR YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW. NOW, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROCESS THAT YOU WANT TO PUT IN PLACE OF A COMMITTEE IS ONLY BEING SUBJECTED TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IF WE BRING SOMETHING. NOW, IF THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO WANTS TO ARGUE FOR ITSELF, THAT EVERY ITEM BEFORE IT COMES TO AN AGENDA, GOES TO A COMMITTEE HEARING, AND WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT, WELL, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAMPER THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' ITEMS AND MAKING THEM GO TO A COMMITTEE MEETING. AND THEN ON ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION BRINGS FORTH, WHICH IS 30, 40, 50 A WEEK THAT WE GET ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, HAVE THE WEEKEND TO DIGEST AND THEN GO FORWARD WITH IT. AND MOST OF THE TIME, HALF OF 'EM ARE ON CONSENT AGENDA. RIGHT? AND YOU, AND YOU'VE NEVER QUESTIONED THAT BEFORE. STILL, I'M STILL MY TIME. AND SO I JUST WANT US TO, I JUST WANT US TO REALLY BE CLEAR THAT ALL THE ARGUMENTS FOR WHY THERE SHOULD BE A PROCESS FOR A COMMITTEE HEARING FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO BE THE ARGUMENTS WHY EVERY SINGLE ITEM. AND IF THAT IS THE PROPOSAL, I'D BE FOR IT, TALK ABOUT IT. ALRIGHT? SO IF, IF YOU WANT TO JOIN ME ON THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S UNWORKABLE BECAUSE MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE NOT, MOST OF 'EM ARE ALREADY DEVELOPED MUCH BETTER THAN YOUR PROPOSAL. QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE SPENT MORE TIME ON THIS PROPOSAL THAN MOST ITEMS THAT COME ON THE AGENDA. AND IN TERMS OF YOU HAVING A LESS AMOUNT OF TIME TO LOOK AT THE AGENDA, I'LL FOLLOW YOUR RECOMMENDATION OF EXTENDING THAT ANY WAY YOU WANT TO. I JUST AM FOR TRANSPARENCY, AND WE'RE SITTING HERE HAVING A COMMITTEE HEARING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE PUBLIC CAN'T SPEAK. SO ANYWAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US COUNCIL HUFFMAN COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN, WHO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHAIRING A COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT A CONSENSUS OF THIS BODY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I WANNA SAY THAT I SUPPORTED PROP A WHEN IT WAS ON THE BALLOT. I SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE I THINK IT, IT IS A VERY GOOD ORDINANCE. UM, YOU KNOW, COMING IN MIDTERM, I DIDN'T KNOW MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL, UM, AS THOSE OF YOU WHO SPENT TWO YEARS PRIOR. BUT SINCE TAKING OFFICE, I HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH HOW THOUGHTFUL MY COLLEAGUES ARE AND THAT THEY DO, THEY [05:55:01] WANNA MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE. AND THEIR EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. I MEAN, WE HEAR THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND, UM, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT TIME SENSITIVE. I MEAN, I DON'T THINK GOING THROUGH A COMMITTEE, IT, IT CAN'T HURT, RIGHT? UM, WE KNOW THAT TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE, THREE HEADS ARE BETTER THAN TWO. AND I HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM CITY LEGAL TO HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY AT THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION, UM, WE ARE DOING THE WILL OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT WAS INTENDED WITH THE CHARTER AMENDMENT, BUT WE'RE ALSO BEING COLLABORATIVE AND WE'RE BEING THOUGHTFUL SO WE CAN GET THE BEST RESULTS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LET ME, I, I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD TO SAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, THE INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT I SEE IN SUPPORT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, UH, I CAN SEE IN, IN, IN THIS BEING A PART BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOUR DISTRICT AND THOSE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE, UH, RESPECTFULLY MAKE YOU AWARE OF. BUT I SUPPORT THE MOTION THAT'S GIVEN BY COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN, BECAUSE THE FACT THAT INFORMATION IS NEEDED CONCERNING IT FROM WHERE'S PUBLIC WORKS OR OTHER PEOPLE YOU UNDERSTAND. SO FOR THE SPIRIT OF CLARITY AROUND THE HEART SHOE, I THINK IT'S IN PART BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTION THINGS THAT HAS GONE ON. I MEAN, EVERYBODY ASKING QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING ISSUES ABOUT WHAT THEY GET AGREEMENT ON. NOW, I DON'T THINK, I DIDN'T HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ ASK, UH, THAT IT GO TO A COMMITTEE. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR HIM ASK THAT. I, I THOUGHT I HEARD HIM SAY YOU WAS REQUESTING BEFORE TO GO TO THE COMMITTEE. THAT'S THE MOTION RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? LIKE NOW. SO THE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN GOING ON, THESE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN GOING ON BEFORE, UH, IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND THE PREVIOUS ONE BEFORE THAT COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN GOING ON. AND SO THE REALITY IS, I THINK IT'S IN PART, AS THE MAYOR WAS STATED, THERE ARE THOSE OF US THAT ARE NEW AT THE HORSESHOE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE WHO'VE BEEN HERE WHILE, AND, UH, THEY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING MORE AND, AND ALL THAT. BUT IN RESPECT TO THE VOTERS, WE ARE HERE. AND IT'S IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT THAT WE THAT ARE HERE ALSO GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE A SOUND VOTE ON THESE ISSUES. SO I, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. AND, UH, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN WE THINK A COMMITTEE IS IMPORTANT AND WHEN IT'S NOT ON THE ISSUE OF PROP A, I THINK, UH, FOR THE RECORD, THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF WHAT ABOUT PROP A THAT, UH, STILL NEEDS SOME CLARITY UPON. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT IS FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I, I, I SUPPORT THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS TO GET MORE INFORMATION. SO I SUPPORT THE MOTION. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, TO FIRST ADDRESS THE QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UM, AS FAR AS THE PASSION OR QUESTIONING THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, I THINK IT WAS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD CONCERNS WITH THE PILOT, PILOT BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, NOMINATION. AND I BROUGHT THAT UP. SO PLEASE KNOW THAT I WILL ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WORK ON CONVICTION AND WORK OFF OF MY COMMUNITY AT ALL TIMES. UH, SECONDLY, UH, I SHARED WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD MY CONCERNS, MY CONCERNS OF THE UNINTENDED, UH, CONSEQUENCES. I GUESS MY QUESTION NOW IS, SHOULD I NOW MOVE FORWARD, CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUBLIC WORKS? OR IS IT UPON THAT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S BRINGING THAT ITEM UP TO PROVIDE THOSE ANSWERS, RIGHT? SO IF I SAY, HEY, I HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS AND THEY KNOW I HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS, BUT IF YOU HAVE THE VOTES, DO YOU STILL RESPOND TO MY QUESTIONS? OR DO YOU JUST KIND OF PLOW THROUGH? AND SO FOR ME, I'VE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE MINDSET OF A PROCESS LAST YEAR WHEN, WHEN THIS WAS AT, EVEN WHEN IT WAS ON THE BALLOT, I, I HAVE, I WAS FOR PROP A, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A PROCESS. UM, THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE VETTED, SHOULD BE ALLOW EVERYONE HERE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE, THE, THOSE, UH, CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE HORSESHOE AND NOT JUST COUNT THE VOTES AND THEN THAT'S IT. I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT I SHARED WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POTTER OVER THE WEEKEND. I HAD ISSUES WITH WHAT WILL THOSE BE? SO AGAIN, MY QUESTION IS, SHOULD I, SHOULD IT BE A, A C*****G ABOUT MY MYSELF TO GO AHEAD AND TALK TO PUBLIC WORKS OR THAT PERSON THAT IS WORKING THE ITEM TO FI TO HAVE THOSE ANSWERS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS, [06:00:01] THE PROP A COMMITTEE IS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. NOW I'M TRYING TO BE FAIR AND REASONABLE. IN FACT, COUNCILMAN POLLARD, I WOULD APPEAL TO YOU TO LET THE PROP A COMMITTEE MEET APRIL 23RD IS WHEN IT'S SCHEDULED. I DON'T SEE ANY HARM TO HAVE A COMMITTEE OF, OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS, YOUR PROPOSITION. IF IT'S GOOD TODAY, IT'LL BE BETTER THEN, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ALL THIS EXPERIENCE AND MINDS AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT, YOU OUGHT TO ALMOST HONOR A COLLEAGUE'S REQUEST. THAT'S THE WAY THE ENVIRONMENT WORKED, THAT I WAS SERVING IN FOR YEARS AND YEARS. COLLEAGUE ASKED FOR MORE TIME, AND IT DOESN'T KILL OR HARM THE BILL. WHY NOT? SO ANYWAY, I'M READY TO VOTE. ROLL CALL. NOW, WE, WE GOT COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, UNLIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COURSE SHOOT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA. UM, AND I'M JUST BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT. I WAS A VERY LARGE PART OF WRITING PROP A BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE NEEDED MORE, WE NEEDED MORE OF A VOICE, AND, AND IT PASSED. THE VOTERS VOTED ON IT AND IT PASSED, WHICH IS AMAZING. UM, POPOFF DOESN'T REALLY EXIST. POPOFF WAS CREATED. IT IS MATTERS HELD. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TIME WHERE NOT WE MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TIME WHERE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER CAN VOICE THEIR OPINIONS, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HEAR THOSE OPINIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT. WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS FINE. UM, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME PROCESS OF HOW PROP A WORKS. AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THE COMMITTEE'S IMPORTANT. BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, I FEEL LIKE WHEN A COLLEAGUE SPENDS THE TIME AND EFFORT TO PUT SOMETHING ON AN AGENDA, IT SHOULD BE REFERRED OR IT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AT ANY OTHER ITEM. WHETHER IT BE A MOTION TO REFER BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, OR A MOTION TO REFER BACK TO A COMMITTEE, OR IT'S JUST A MOTION. UM, TO, AND WE DID THAT MULTIPLE TIMES FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT WERE HERE BEFORE. SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A BLANK IN JUST MAKING A RECOMMENDATION WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT EVERY SINGLE ITEM THAT IS PUT ON THE AGENDA SHOULD NECESSARILY GO TO THE PROP A COMMITTEE. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT EVERY COLLEAGUE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE IT TO GO TO COMMITTEE, OR I WOULD LIKE IT TO GO TO BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE DEAL WITH ALL OF YOUR AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD. SO I DO SUPPORT THE MOTION, I DO BELIEVE IT SHOULD GO TO COMMITTEE IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. BUT MAYBE MOVING FORWARD, IT DOESN'T. I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO PUT MY APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR FIVE YEARS NOW TO, TO BE ON THE AGENDA. BUT I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO GO THROUGH HOW I NEED TO GO THROUGH HOUSING. I NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FULLY VETTED AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT I WANT TO INTEND ON THAT AND WHAT THE UNINTENDED CON, I DON'T WANNA CREATE HOMELESSNESS AND THAT THAT ORDINANCE MAY DO THAT. SO WE HAVE TO WORK THOSE THINGS OUT. BUT THIS, I PROP A IS WORKING EXACTLY THE WAY THAT I AND MY PREVIOUS CHIEF OF STAFF INTEND IT TO BE. IT IS ON AN AGENDA. IT IS A CONVERSATION NOW. SO LET'S REF, LET'S MAKE, LET'S LET THE BODY, AND I DO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL, IF HE WANTS TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE, THAT'S PERFECTLY FAIR. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE BRING FORWARD HAS TO GO TO PROP A I THINK IT SHOULD BE THE DECISION OF THE BODY TO REFER IT BACK OR TO REFER IT WHEREVER THEY WANT TO OR MAKE THE DECISION TO VOTE. AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S MY OPINION. THANK YOU. VERY REASONABLE COMMENTS. UH, COUNCIL RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UH, MOTION TO REFER TO THE COMMITTEE BASED ON TRANSPARENCY. UH, I, I RESPECT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S DESIRE TO FLESH OUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES REGARDING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND GET HIM SOME OF HIS CONCERNS ADDRESSED. I AGREE WITH, WITH SOME WHO HAVE SAID THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY SINGLE, UH, MEMBER SPONSORED ITEM NEEDS TO GO BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, BUT CERTAINLY I THINK WE HAVE A COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD USE IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR FORMING IT, MAYOR. AND, UM, I WOULD, UH, EMPHASIZE YOUR POINT THAT EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THAT PROP, A COMMITTEE. IT IS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, WE KNOW THE MEMBERSHIP AND EVERY ONE OF US WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, TALK ABOUT THESE ITEMS THAT, THAT END UP GOING BEFORE, UH, THE, THE COMMITTEE. I, I DO THIS IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY. I, I RESPECT AND APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD MAKING THIS, UH, PROPOSAL OR THE INITIAL VERSION OF IT, BECAUSE [06:05:01] IT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS AVAILABLE TO EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK IN PERSON. HOWEVER, I, I THINK THAT PROCESS OF SENDING AN EMAIL TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IS NOT THE SAME AS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND GETTING THE PUBLIC INVOLVED. COMMENT WAS MADE THAT IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS NOW, WE HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT, UH, UH, SESSIONS. AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT'S BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT TO COME FORTH AND VOICE SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO IT. AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO GIVE THE PUBLIC, UH, UH, A VOICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS PROPOSAL AND OTHERS. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TO REFER TO THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALQUAN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. GREAT DISCUSSION HERE TODAY. AND, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGH, UH, THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM BROUGHT IT UP, BUT, UH, CORE ISSUES OF QUORUM ALSO, YOU KNOW, EXIST WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO VET THINGS, WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE CARE. AND I KNOW THERE WAS NO VIOLATION THIS TIME OR ANYTHING THAT WAS A LOT OF STAFF COMMUNICATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I WANNA BE SURE THAT THINGS ARE AIRED IN PUBLIC, THAT THE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING IN PUBLIC, SO THERE'S NO, UH, POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF A WALKING QUORUM OR ANY OF THAT NATURE. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ALSO A SUBJECT THAT, UM, ETHICS, PERHAPS COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MARTINEZ MIGHT TAKE UP. 'CAUSE WE USED TO HAVE FULL ON, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE, IT'S BEEN SOME TIME, BUT THE, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONDUCT A, A WORKSHOP ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU CAN DO, WHAT YOU CAN'T DO AS FAR AS THAT. AND, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE NOBODY, UM, STEPS INTO ANY OF THAT. HOPING THAT'LL BE OUR FIRST VERY GOOD, GREAT MOTIONS MADE. MARIO, YOU WANT NO, NO. YOU READY? YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED? COUNCIL ON THE MOTION? YES. ON THE MOTION. ON THE MOTION. CASTILLO ON THE MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANT FIRST, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR HER COMMENTS, BECAUSE I THINK YOU MADE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS, UH, ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COLLEAGUE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE MORE TIME AND INFORMATION AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SUPPORT AND HONOR, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN I ASK FOR THAT SUPPORT AS WELL. UM, AND, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS GOES AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF PROPOSITION A, WHICH I SUPPORTED PUBLICLY. YOU KNOW, THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION TODAY BECAUSE OF PROPOSITION A. AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO. AND, AND NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND TO FLESH THIS OUT AND GET SOMETHING THAT CAN BE VERY POSITIVE AND IMPACTFUL FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH WE OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE DOING RIGHT NOW. UM, AND SO HAVING ALL OF US HAVE THE ABILITY TO FULLY WORK THROUGH THIS, UH, I THINK IS ONLY GONNA MAKE A BETTER ORDINANCE, UH, IN THE END. AND I, I WANNA SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE AND HIS ASK FOR MORE TIME WITH THIS. AND JACKSON, VERY GOOD. REASONABLE COMMENTS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THIS WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION. UM, GREAT DISCUSSION. I'M GLAD YOU'RE ENJOYING IT. YEAH. UM, , GREAT, GREAT DISCUSSION. BUT I WANT TO THANK, UM, COUNCILMAN POLLARD FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM, WHEN YOU CALLED ME, I WAS REALLY EXCITED, UM, ABOUT THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT GAVE, IT'S GONNA GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, MAXIMIZE OUR DOLLARS, UM, AND DO MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A, YOU KNOW, BACKLOG OF ABOUT 70, UM, UM, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY WANTED SPEED BUMPS. AND WE STILL HAVE THAT BACKLOG. I MEAN, IT GOES BACK TO 2011. AND SO, UM, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REFERRING IT TO THE COMMITTEE, I'M LIKE, NO, I NEED THIS NOW. I NEED THIS NOW. UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, AGAIN, A, A LONG LIST OF FOLKS THAT'S WAITING FOR SPEED BUMPS. UM, BUT IN, IN THAT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMER APPRECIATES YOUR COMMENT. UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THE DETAILS, UM, OF THIS ORDINANCE. I MEAN, I SEE ALL THE RED LINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I'M REFERRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT, UM, AS A DISTRICT REP, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROCESS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. UM, AND, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD. UM, AND MARTINEZ, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. UM, WE DO GET RESIDENTS THAT COME AND SAY WHY WE HAVE SPEED BUMPS ON MY STREET, UM, WHEN WE DIDN'T REQUEST IT, YOU KNOW? AND SO THEN WE HAVE SOME THAT WHEN WE, UM, PUT IT ON THE STREET, THEY COME AND SAY, WE WANT SPEED BUMPS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE GONNA LIKE RUN INTO, UM, VARIOUS SITUATIONS REGARDLESS. SO I SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM. UM, AND, UM, YEAH, I I REALLY THINK IT'S GONNA BENEFIT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS QUICKLY. WE REALLY NEED TO VOTE MEMBERS, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PASS A MOTION THAT Y'ALL CAN KEEP A MOTION. WE [06:10:01] DON'T GET THROUGH. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PASS A MOTION TO ALLOW US TO KEEP WORKING, WHICH I STILL THINK IS THE NUTTIEST THING I'VE SEEN YET. EVAN SHABA. EVAN SHABA, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I JUST WANNA PUT A FACE ON SOMETHING AS TO WHY I EVEN SUPPORTED THIS. UH, BACK LAST YEAR, SOUTH UNION DID A PETITION, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC FOR SEVEN SPEED CUSHIONS. PUBLIC WORKS CAME BACK WITH 122. THAT IS NOT DOABLE ON THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE. SO IN THE MEANTIME, PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING UP AND DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET SEVEN SPEED CUSHIONS INSTALLED. SO THAT IS WHY I WAS READILY ABLE TO DO THIS, UM, READY TO PARTICIPATE. BUT I THINK WE DO NEED THE COMMITTEE TO HAVE A PROCESS, BUT BE CLEAR, NOT GATEKEEPERS, BUT I THINK REQUIRING A QUORUM AT THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS COULD HAVE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. LET'S WORK ON THAT. SO AGAIN, WE NEED CLEAR DEFINITIONS AND BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING SOME THINGS WE NEED TO DO, SOME THINGS WE DON'T, WHERE WE NEED PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE ARE. BUT IN TERMS OF THIS ITEM, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS MOTION, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT GAVE GOOD DISCUSSION AS TO HOW WE NEED TO GET CLARITY AS TO HOW THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO FUNCTION. APPLAUD YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU BE, WOULD YOU BELIEVE I WORKED ON A SPEED CUSHION IN YOUR DISTRICT YESTERDAY ON SOUTHMORE? WHAT'S THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME? THAT, UH, SON IS THE NOTED JAZZ PLAYER THAT HE'S, YEAH, I WORKED WITH HIM YESTERDAY TO TRY TO GET YOU A SPEED CUSHION AND, UH, I DIDN'T COME IN HERE KNOWING HOW COMPLICATED IT WAS. WELL, JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU COME TO DISTRICT DI NEED TO KNOW. OH, I KNOW. I GOTTA GET YOUR PERMISSION. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST BE CLEAR AND I'LL START TELLING YOUR CONSTITUENTS VERY TERRITORIAL HERE. I'LL TELL HIM I CAN'T TALK TO HIM TILL I, THAT'S RIGHT. GREEN DESTINATION, THE SO VERY MUCH. AND CITY, HE WAS TIRED AWAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. LET'S VOTE MEMBERS. AYE, CAYMAN, AND THEN COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ, TO YOUR POINT, UM, I HOPE YOU KNOW, MY COMMENTS ARE NOT IN ANY WAY REFLECTED TOWARDS, UH, YOUR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TIME. AND YOU AND I HAVE ACTUALLY SPOKEN ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. UH, MY POINTS ARE MERELY THAT. AND MAYOR, I, I BELIEVE THAT MAYOR I'M TALKING ABOUT, I GOTTA SPEAK AT CRIME STOPPERS AT NOON TODAY. I I GOT IT, BUT I HAVE, SO I'M STILL FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND, UH, AND I BELIEVE SPEED CUSHIONS ARE ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY. SO MAYOR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP IS THE FACT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ HAD SUBMITTED QUESTIONS TO PUBLIC WORKS AND HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE BACK YET. AND MY QUESTION, AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THAT THE COMMITTEE ITSELF TAKES UP OR THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT WE NEED YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN IS, OKAY, IF I DON'T WANNA CREATE MORE RED TAPE FOR ITEMS, AND IF SOMETHING DOES NEED TO COME BEFORE COMMITTEE, THAT IS TERRIFIC. BUT BY WHEN IS A DEPARTMENT REQUIRED TO RESPOND? BY, BY WHEN IS FINANCE GOING TO DO A FISCAL ANALYSIS? BY WHEN IS THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT GONNA, SO I DON'T WANT SOMETHING BOGGED DOWN IN A DEPARTMENT AT THE DIRECTIVE OF AN ADMINISTRATION AS IT RELATES TO SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL IS TRYING TO VET. SO IN TERMS OF TIMELINE, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING MAYOR, THAT YOU WOULD EVER DO THAT, BUT IN TERMS OF PROCESSES, YOU GOT PRETTY CLOSE. NO, SIR. IN TERMS OF PROCESSES, I AM REQUESTING THAT THE COMMITTEE OR THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE TAKE UP BY WHEN DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE NOT JUST NOTIFIED OF AN ITEM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD, BUT ALSO RESPONDING TO THE INQUIRIES AS IT RELATES TO THAT. SO THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ CAN GET THOSE. IF I CAN JUST ADD ONTO THAT. RIGHT. THOSE WERE BROUGHT UP TO THE CHIEF OF STEP AS WELL. I THINK WE LEFT THE, THE CHAIR THERE. THERE IS NO WORK TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO ME. ONE, ONE SECOND. LET'S LET THE CHAIR WORK OUT THE PROCESS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE RIGHT NOW. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF REFERRING THIS MATTER TO THE PROP A COMMITTEE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU. UM, I THINK ALL THIS HAS HEALTHY DISCUSSION. ONE REFERRING BACK TO A COMMITTEE. I JUST HAVE A, OR A MOTION TO A COMMITTEE. I THINK I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE COMMITTEE. AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT TO A COMMITTEE, COOL. THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE. I SUPPORT YOU ON THAT. USUALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN, IF YOU NEEDED MORE QUESTIONS, IF SOMETHING GOT BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA, YOU WOULD MAKE A TAG FOR, FOR A WEEK TO GET YOUR ANSWERS FOR WHATEVER YOU NEED. I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. I WOULD SUPPORT IF YOU NEEDED A, A MOTION TO DELAY FOR A WEEK, BUT A MOTION TO TAKE IT TO A COMMITTEE. UH, THAT'S, THAT'S DIFFERENT. WE, WE DON'T, WE HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. WHEN, WHEN SOMETHING [06:15:01] COMES TO THE AGENDA AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, THEN YOU CAN TAG THE, YOU CAN, YOU CAN TAG THE ITEM FOR A WEEK, GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. YOU CAN, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY MAYBE FOR TWO WEEKS TO GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK AT PUBLIC SESSION. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THAT. BUT TO, TO, TO, TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO TO A COMMITTEE THAT COULD BE WEEKS FROM NOW, THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT ADDITIONAL WEEKS TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA. I MEAN, HONESTLY, THAT'S, THAT, THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE PROCESS OF ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA. IT'S USUALLY A, A TAG FOR AN, FOR AN, FOR AN FOR AN ADDITIONAL WEEK. AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUPPORT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TAG, OF COURSE I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. IF YOU HAVE A MOTION TO DELAY, OF COURSE I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. BUT TO FORCE IT TO A COMMITTEE, WHEN THE CHARTER DOESN'T SAY IT HAS TO GO TO A COMMITTEE, IT GOES AGAINST THE INTENT OF THE VOTERS. THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE DEALING WITH A COMPLETE NEW PROCESS. I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS THE PUBLIC TO BE INVOLVED. SO THAT'S THE WAY I VIEWED IT, THAT WE'VE HAD A COMMITTEE HEARING THE BEGINNINGS OF ONE HERE THIS MORNING. UH, THE PROP A COMMITTEE INCLUDES EVERY MEMBER OF THE HORSESHOE. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH TRANSPARENCY, INCLUSION, AND ALLOWING FOLKS TO LEARN MORE AND ALSO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, HOW WE GO FORWARD. THAT'S AS CRITICAL AS ANYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR POLLARD, UH, REACHING OUT. BUT I HAVE SIMILAR CONCERNS FOR 34, AND I NEED TO BE CONSISTENT ON MY, ON MY END. ON MY END. I NEED TO BE CONSISTENT AND TO DELAY OR TAG THE NEXT ITEM DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY TIME FOR THIS, FOR THAT ITEM. AND THAT IS A LOT LARGER, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING METERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NO INVOLVEMENT WITH CENTRAL HOUSTON, NO INVOLVEMENT WITH HOUSTON. FIRST, MINIMAL POINT, POINT OF ORDER THAT IS NOT GERMANE TO THE MOTION. AGAIN, TAKING THAT BACK, TAKING THAT BACK A BIT, BUT IT'S IN IT'S REFERENCING HOW WE, YOU KNOW, PROP A ISN'T EVEN ON THIS EITHER. AND WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT PROP A. THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ITEM. THIS ITEM FOR ME, I WANT TO SEE IT VETTED. I WANT A PROCESS. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M, I WANNA STICK TO THIS. AND IF IT GOES UP AND DOWN AND FOLKS DON'T WANNA GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, BY ALL MEANS VOTE NO. COUNCIL MEMBER KASICK STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS, IT'S BEEN A, A VERY HEALTHY DISCUSSION. I'VE LISTENED TO, UM, MY COLLEAGUES AND I, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE, UH, ENGAGED. I THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE HAD TO HAPPEN, MAYOR, IS YOUR STAFF HAS PLAYED A INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN, UM, MAKING SURE IT'S LAWFUL, UM, AND MAKING SURE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND DONE THE REDLINING, DONE ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. UM, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE WHERE IF A NEIGHBORHOOD IS INTERESTED IN A SPEED CUSHION, THEY HAVE TO DO A PETITION, THEY HAVE TO BE INVOLVED, THEY HAVE TO GET THE SIGNATURES. AND SO EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS SPEED CUSHION WILL HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT IN THE ACTUAL SPEED CUSHION. I THINK THAT FROM THIS DISCUSSION, WHAT WOULD BE, UM, THE BEST SO THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE INTENT OF PROPOSITION A WOULD BE FOR A TAG TO GO FORTH ON THIS ITEM. I THINK IF WE SEND THIS BACK TO COMMITTEE, WE DIMINISH THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF PROP A. UM, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THE SAME PROCESS FOR EVERY ITEM. SO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THE NEXT ITEM, YOU DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THE NEXT ITEM. BUT I THINK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH, UM, INPUT FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE, AND BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HAS TO BE ENGAGED ON THIS ITEM IN ORDER FOR IT TO PASS THAT IT COULD BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO TAG THIS ITEM. EVERYONE CAN GET THIS, THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, AND WE STILL CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INTENT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WHICH IS ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN THERE IS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE LIKE A SCHOOL. UM, I'VE HAD SO MANY REQUESTS FOR SPEED CUSHIONS, WE CAN'T AFFORD 'EM. UM, WE HAVE RESIDENTS IN [06:20:01] A PREDOMINANTLY NEIGHBORHOOD, A DISTRICT MADE OF NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE SPEED CUSHIONS ARE $6,000 A PIECE. PEOPLE SLOW DOWN MAYBE THREE MILES PER HOUR WHEN THEY GO ACROSS THOSE SPEED CUSHIONS. UM, SO THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO IT ALL. I THINK WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH IT. WE'VE GOTTEN THE RED LINES. A TAG WOULD ALLOW US A WEEK FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED. I DO THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RED LINES, A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. UM, THE FLEXIBILITY IS THERE FOR THE DIRECTOR TO USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS. AND IT'S A SIMPLE ASK FOR FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE THERE IS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE OF A SCHOOL. IT'S DIFFERENT IN EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS ALLOWING THE DIRECTOR THE FLEXIBILITY AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO REQUIRE US TO SPEND THE MONEY ON SPEED CUSHIONS FOR AN ENTIRE AREA. UM, IT'S THAT SIMPLE. I THINK A TAG IS THE SWEET SPOT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. IT GIVES EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, AND IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE FOR PROP A. UM, AND I LIKE TO, UH, TAG THIS ITEM. AND IN ALL DUE RESPECT, I'VE NEVER SEEN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR AGENDA ITEM THAT COULDN'T BE IMPROVED. AND THAT'S, UH, MOVING TO A VOTE ON MOTION. IT HADN'T, IT IS NOT BACK TO COMMITTEE. WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE COMMITTEE THE FIRST TIME. I KNOW. POINT OF ORDER. WE DO HAVE A MOTION POINT OF ORDER IF THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, BUT THE ITEM IS TAGGED AS THE TAG SUPERSEDE MOTION HAS TO BILL DOWN. YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON THE MOTION. YEAH, THE MOTION. THANK YOU. IS WE'RE DEBATING THE MOTION AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VOTE ON THE MOTION. MOVING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION. MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? ROLL CALL. MAYOR WHITMEYER? YES. YES. COUNCIL PECK? YES. COUNCILOR JACKSON? NO. COUNCILOR CAMAN? NO COUNCIL EVER. CHABA? NO. COUNCIL FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL THOMAS? NO. COUNCIL HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MARTINEZ? YES. COUNCILOR POLLARD? NO. COUNCILOR CASTEX TATUM? NO. COUNCIL RAMIREZ. YES. CONSTABLE DAVIS? YES. COUNCILOR CARTER? YES. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? YES. CONSTABLE ALCORN? YES. COUNCIL? 11. SIX. HMM. 11. WHAT IS IT? THE 11 YESS. SIX NOS. MOTION PASSES. MOTION IS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. NEXT ITEM 34. TAG MOTION IS TAGGED. NOW YOU CAN GO TO LUNCH. WHO? WHO? HOWARD RAMIREZ. I MEAN HOWARD. NO DISCUSSION. GOT IT. NOW Y'ALL CAN GO TO LUNCH. IS THAT IT? YES. MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO STAY FOR YOUR POP OFF, BUT I'M SUPPOSED TO SPEAK AT THE GALLERY IN 15 MINUTES, SO I DON'T WE DON'T HAVE LIGHTS POP OFF. COUNCIL [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO, UH, FIRST REMIND FOLKS IN DISTRICT H. WE ARE HAVING OUR NEXT TOWN HALL THIS SATURDAY AT MELROSE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 10 TO 1130. I WANNA INVITE ALL THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE TO ATTEND. UH, THIS WILL BE OUR 10TH ONE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING SOME GREAT ENGAGEMENT THERE. UM, I ALSO WANNA REMIND THE DISTRICT THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DISTRICT I AND AT LARGE ONE, WE ARE HOLDING AN OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 13TH FROM 10 TO 1130 ON THE HISPANIC HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER. THAT IS BEING PROPOSED OFF OF NAVIGATION. UM, WE WILL HAVE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY THERE. THE BUFFALO PIU PARTNERSHIP WILL ALSO BE ON HAND, AND WE INVITE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND SEE THE SPACE, UH, AND GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS AND INPUT. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, THE BUDGET AND LABOR COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR A GREAT COMMITTEE MEETING YESTERDAY. LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE OF THOSE AND ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GET ENGAGED ON THE BUDGET PROCESS, UH, AND SOME TOWN HALLS THAT WE'RE HAVING. UM, FOR THE BUDGET. THAT'S ALL FOR ME. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS. PASS. [06:25:01] THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. AND THEN THERE WERE TWO. UM, I DO WANNA THANK EVERYONE THAT MADE THE HOUSTON PGA OPEN AN ABSOLUTE SUCCESS. UM, ATTENDANCE WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, UH, PERFECT WEATHER, BUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON HOUSTON AT MEMORIAL PARK IN A PUBLIC PGA RANKED GOLF, UH, COURSE IS EXTRAORDINARY. SO BIG THANK YOU TO THE ASTROS FOUNDATION, THE CRANES. UM, ALSO THANK YOU TO MOOSE DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN AND HER TEAM. SEAN SMITH AND PARKS DIRECTOR ALLEN, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, AND OF COURSE, THE MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY. UH, LASTLY, I DO WANNA SAY, UH, PUBLICLY THAT I AM EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR A SHOW YOUR PRIDE CAMPAIGN. ALL CITY EMPLOYEES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ARE INVITED FOR A PHOTO SHOOT HERE AT CITY HALL ON APRIL 17TH TO SUPPORT THE CHAMBER. UH, WE'LL BE CIRCULATING THAT INFORMATION, BUT I DO WANNA PUBLICLY INVITE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOUR PRIDE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. ARE YOU I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF MY OKAY. YOU'RE UP. JUST, I JUST WANNA COMMEND THE HOUSTON ZOO. UH, THEY ACHIEVED A HISTORIC EXCELLENCE. THEY, UH, HAD AN INSPECTION WITH NO INFRACTIONS. AND SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO, UH, COMMEND THE HOUSTON ZOO AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BRINGING THAT TO MY ATTENTION. THANK YOU. UH, IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER, WE ARE ADJOURN. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.