* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:10] GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. TODAY I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE MS ONE 50. IT'S ITS 40TH YEAR OF THE MS ONE 50 AND, UH, LEADING THE PACK. COME ON UP AND BIKE RIDERS. YAY. 40 YEARS. AND, UH, THIS IS OUR MAYOR. THIS IS OUR CITY TEAM, RIGHT? OUR MEMBERS OF OUR CITY OF HOUSTON TEAM WITH THEIR COOL CITY OF HOUSTON BIKE GEAR. MARK KISKY, WHO I USED TO WORK WITH FOR MANY YEARS, IS HELPING LEAD THIS PACK. AND, UM, WE'RE HONORED TO, TO READ THIS TODAY. I'M NOT GONNA READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THIS IS THE 40TH YEAR. THEY RAISE MORE THAN $20 MILLION EACH YEAR FOR MULTI MS RESEARCH, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND FEATURE. OVER 13,000 CYCLISTS SUPPORTED BY OVER 3 3500 VOLUNTEERS SINCE IT, SINCE IT'S INCEPTION OVER 40 YEARS AGO, 40 YEARS AGO, THE RIDE HAS RAISED NEARLY $300 MILLION THIS YEAR. THE RIDE WILL FINISH AT KYLE FIELD IN COLLEGE STATION. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO AUSTIN. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO KYLE FIELD. I MEAN, HOOK 'EM HORNS. I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT, BUT, UH, THEY'RE GOING TO AGGIELAND TO FINISH THIS THING UP. SO, UM, AND, UM, SOME OF THE STOPS WILL FE WILL FEATURE STARTS, AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STARTS. HOUSTON'S ENERGY CORRIDOR, THE ROYAL SCHOOL COMPLEX IN WALLER COUNTY, THE AUSTIN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, AND AUSTIN, TEXAS, WITH ALL FIRST DAY ROUTES ENDING AT THE FAYETTE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN LA GRANGE. THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT. THE LAG GRANGE THING. YEAH. UM, WHEREAS THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY USES THE FUNDS RAISED THROUGH, THROUGH THE MS ONE 50 TO FUEL MEDICAL RESEARCH AND PROVIDE MORE SERVICES THAN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD. THEY HELP LOCAL PEOPLE THROUGH ESSENTIAL DIRECT SERVICES THAT INCREASE INDEPENDENCE, INCLUDING SPECIALIZED MS CLINICS, EDUCATION, HOME VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, HOME CARE, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND FAMILY PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS THIS WEEKEND WILL BE THE 40TH ANNUAL MS ONE 50 FUNDRAISING RIDE AND THE 11TH YEAR OF PARTICIPATION BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM. IN THEIR FIRST 10 YEARS. IN THEIR FIRST 10 YEARS OF PARTICIPATION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM HAS RAISED OVER $300,000 FOR NATIONAL MS SOCIETY AND ARE PROUD TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHEREAS WE COMMEND ALL THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MS ONE 50 CYCLING TEAM MEMBERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, HAVE A SAFE RIDE THIS WEEKEND, THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS OUR BEST WISHES FOR A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL RIDE, AND ULTIMATELY A WORLD FREE OF MS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALKER. I HATE TO LET OUR DELEGATION KNOW, BUT LA GRANGE IS NOT ON THE WAY TO AND TO AGGIE LAND. SOME AGGIE DREW THAT UP, THAT MAP, AGGIE'S. BUT YOU CAN DO IT AS YOU CHOOSE. AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED IN AUSTIN FOR MANY YEARS, WE ALWAYS WATCHED THE MS ONE 50 WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION WHEN YOU'D ARRIVE AT THE CAPITOL, PARTICULARLY THE YEARS WHEN WE WERE IN SESSION. SO WE'RE AWARE OF THE, OF YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR TRAINING, AND CERTAINLY THE BENEFITS THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH WHAT YOU, UH, SPONSOR AND REPRESENT. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 23RD IS CITY OF HOUSTON BIKE MS. TEXAS ONE 50 CYCLING TEAM DAY. THANK Y'ALL. HERE'S MARK KISKY. I JUST AS USUAL WANT TO THANK A FEW, UH, PEOPLE. MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY FOR THE CITY ALCORN. I APPRECIATE IT. UM, DIRECTOR JANE CHEEKS, SHE'S ALWAYS HAD HER BACK. SHE'S OUR, OUR HEART AND SOUL. SHE SUPPORTS US, SO WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT HER. UM, OUR TOP FUNDRAISER THIS YEAR IS AUDREY ANGEL, WHO'S RAISED OVER $3,100. DANG THAT. AND, UH, HER BROTHER, IF YOU LOOK AT HIS LEG, HE'S ALL BANGED UP AND WON'T BE RIDING, BUT HE'S STILL OUR PATRON. UH, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN HIS 26TH, UH, YEAR OF PARTICIPATION. SO HE'S, HE'S STUCK ON 25 FOR ANOTHER YEAR. UM, EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS SOMEBODY WHO DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING, TOILS AND ANONYMITY. UH, DOESN'T GET THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE. BUT I'M GONNA GIVE, UH, OUR CAPTAIN GREG BELL, THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVE. AND, UM, BEFORE I INTRODUCE, UM, THE, THE HEAD OF OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM, I'LL JUST SAY, I, I NOTICED THAT, UM, WHILE THEY WERE STAFFERS, THREE PEOPLE JOINED OUR TEAM AND RODE WITH US. OF COURSE, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, AMY PECK. I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER [00:05:01] MARTINEZ. SO IF ANYONE'S OUT THERE WHO'S MAYBE A STAFFER AND THINKS ONE DAY THEY WANT TO BECOME A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S A CORRELATION, BUT COME ON AND JOIN THE TEAM. SO, UH, I'M GONNA NEXT INTRODUCE, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE HEAD OF OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM, AND, UH, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION CHIEF. HE'S GONNA RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT, UH, HELPED MAKE THIS A POSSIBILITY. AND THAT WOULD BE SEAN SMALL. THANK YOU, MARK. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND, UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR THE RIDERS. THIS IS A, A BIG UNDERTAKING, A PHYSICAL UNDERTAKING, UM, OVER TWO DAYS, 150 MILES. UM, SO WE DON'T TAKE YOUR SACRIFICE LIGHTLY AS WE TRY AND RAISE MONEY FOR THIS, UM, REALLY, REALLY DEBILITATING DISEASE, UM, THAT WE KNOW THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR GREAT RESEARCH FOR. SO THANK YOU TO THE WRITERS. UM, THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS THAT, ALL THOSE THAT HAVE HELPED US GET TO THIS POINT, UH, CIGNA, WE WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT THANKING YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT ANNUALLY. I THINK THIS IS THE 10TH YEAR THAT CIGNA SUPPORTED THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THIS ENDEAVOR. UM, AND JUST AGAIN, FOR ALL THOSE THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER, UH, GREG, OUR CAPTAIN AGAIN, THANK YOU, UM, OUR DIRECTOR OF HR JANE CHEEK, UM, AND AGAIN, WE JUST AS THE WELLNESS TEAM WANNA MAKE SURE WE FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO THRIVE AND BE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE. AND THIS RIDE IS A SHOWCASE OF THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. UM, IF YOU STILL WANT TO DONATE TO THE CD TEAM, IT'S NOT TOO LATE, WE WILL SHARE THE QR CODE . SO YES, WE WANT TO BREACH THAT $300,000 MARK THIS YEAR. SO YES, WE WILL SHARE THE QR CODE SO ANYONE WANTS TO DONATE CAN STILL DO SO. THANK YOU. AND WE'VE ALWAYS GIVEN Y'ALL ONE OF OUR JERSEY, UM, I GUESS NEW DECORUM HERE. YOU'LL BE GETTING 'EM EITHER LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR TOMORROW, OR IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. WE DID GET EACH OF YOU AT JERSEY . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PICK, TAKE A PHOTO. THANK YOU, YOU, UM, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE DOING THIS RIDE. HAVING DONE IT BEFORE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CYCLING TEAM. I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. OH, YES. WELL, I'VE DONE IT ONE AND A HALF TIMES. IT WAS RAINED OUT ONE OF THE TIMES, ONE OF THE DAYS THAT I DID IT. UM, BUT, UM, I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE, UM, A VERY PLEASANT RIDE. RIDE AND SAFE TRAVELS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND I, I LOOK OUT INTO THE AUDIENCE AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT DONALD PERKINS BECAUSE THIS WAS HIS JAM. YEAH. HE LOVED THE MS ONE 50, AND HE WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE TOP FUNDRAISERS FOR THE EVENT. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN HIS MEMORY, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL HAVE A VERY SAFE RIDE. UH, WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. UH, THE YEAR THAT I RODE, IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE THINGS THAT I DID, UM, IN MY LIFE. WE, WE GOT TO RIDE OUR BIKES IN SOME BEAUTIFUL AREAS, AND WHEN THE, DURING THE TRAINING, WE SAW ALL THE AMAZING BLUE BONNETS ALL ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY. UM, SO I WISH YOU ALL A VERY GOOD RIDE AND A SAFE RIDE, AND WE CELEBRATE, UM, ALL THAT YOU DO TO RAISE MONEY FOR THIS DISEASE. AND CONGRATULATIONS, AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALL GONNA DO A GREAT, UH, RIDE AND BE SAFE. VERY GOOD. YEP. TAKE, TAKE A PICTURE. GIVE THIS TO OUR CAPTAIN. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. [00:10:59] THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO BOB GOMEL TO RECOGNIZE HIS WORK THAT HAS HELPED ADVANCE PHOTOJOURNALISM JOURNALISM. CONGRATULATIONS. YES, THANK YOU. BOB GOMEL, BORN AUGUST 14TH, 1933, IS AN AMERICAN PHOTO JOURNALIST WHO CREATED IMAGES OF 1960S WORLD LEADERS, ATHLETES, ENTERTAINERS, AND MAJOR EVENTS. HIS PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE APPEARED ON THE COVERS OF LIFE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, NEWSWEEK, FORTUNE, AND FORBES, AND IN THE TIME THE NEW YORK TIMES AND STERN. AND IN MORE THAN 40 BOOKS AS A LIFE MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPHER FROM JANUARY, 1959 THROUGH JUNE, 1969, GOMEZ'S COVERAGE INCLUDED JOHN F. KENNEDY, THE BEATLES, AND CASSIUS CLAY, LATER KNOWN AS MUHAMMAD ALI AND ARNOLD PALMER GOMEZ'S MAJOR EVENT COVERAGE INCLUDED THE 1962 CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS IN THE 1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE 1960 THROUGH FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY IN THE 1964 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, THE 1965 NORTHEAST BLACKOUT, THE 1968 FUNERAL OF SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY, THE 1968 DEMOCRAT NATIONAL CONVENTION, THE 1968 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, THE 1969 FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT DWIGHT D EISENHOWER, UNITED NATION DEBATES, AND THE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES GOMEZ'S 1965, PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BLACKOUT DARKENED THE NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE AND MOONLIGHT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST DOUBLE EXPOSURE IMAGE PRODUCED AS NEWS PHOTOGRAPH GOMEZ'S 1969. LIFE COVER SHOT OF PRESIDENT EISENHOWER. LYING IN STATE WAS THE FIRST NEWS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN FROM THE DOME OF THE US CAPITOL ROTUNDA. THEN IN 2010, GOMEZ'S PHOTOGRAPH MALCOLM X PHOTOGRAPHING MUHAMMAD ALI WAS ACQUIRED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IN 2014. TIME INCLUDED A GOMEL PHOTOGRAPH IN DEATH FROM ABOVE AIRLINERS COLLIDE ABOVE NEW YORK CITY, DECEMBER, 1960. AND IN 2016, GOMEZ'S IMAGE OF JFK'S CASKET BENEATH THE US CAPITOL ROTUNDA WAS INCLUDED AMONG 30 POWERFUL PICTURES THAT DEFINED AMERICAN HISTORY AND A COLLECTION OF LIFE MAGAZINE IMAGES CURATED BY GETTY IMAGES. AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY THAT SAYS, WHEREAS HOUSTONIAN, BOB GOMEL HAS DEDICATED EIGHT DECADES TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF AMERICAN PHOTOJOURNALISM AND IMAGERY OF WORLD CULTURES. AND WHEREAS BOB GOMEZ'S LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY BEGAN IN HIS YOUTH IN NEW YORK CITY AND CONTINUED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AFTER GRADUATION FROM NEW YORK UNIVERSITY THROUGH HIS SERVICE ABROAD AS A US NAVY AVIATOR AND INTO HIS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER CAREER. AND BOB GOMO CAPTURED THE TRIUMPHS AND TRAGEDIES OF THE 1960S AS A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR LIFE MAGAZINE, MAKING ICONIC AND INNOVATIVE IMAGES OF WORLD LEADERS, EVENTS, ATHLETES, ENTERTAINERS, AND GREAT MOMENTS IN CONTEMPORARY HISTORY. AND BOB GOMEZ'S NOTABLE LIFE ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDED PHOTOGRAPHING PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY'S HISTORIC. WE CHOSE TO GO TO THE MOON SPEECH AT RICE UNIVERSITY ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, 1962. AND WHEREAS BOB GOMEL MOVED TO HOUSTON IN THE 1970S AND OPENED A PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO WHERE HE PRODUCED IMAGES OF LEADING POLITICAL BUSINESS, ACADEMIC AND MEDICAL FIGURES, HE HELPED CO-FOUND THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHERS AND BOB GOMEZ'S FAMOUS 1997 PHOTOGRAPH FIREWORKS OVER HOUSTON IS IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON. AND BOB GOMEL IS THE SUBJECT OF A DOCUMENTARY BOB GOMEL EYE WITNESS, DIRECTED BY DAVID SCARBOROUGH. AND GOMEZ'S WORK REMAINS OF INTEREST TO HISTORIANS, NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND COLLECTORS AROUND THE NATION. AND WHEREAS BOB GOMEZ'S CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY EMPHASIZES WORLD CULTURE'S LIFE ABROAD AND INCLUDES IMAGES FROM ASIA, EUROPE, AND THE AMERICAS. AND WHEREAS BOB GOMEZ'S PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES HAVE BEEN DONATED [00:15:01] TO THE BRISCOE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HISTORY AT UT AT AUSTIN, AND A NEWLY PUBLISHED ELECTION OF HIS LIFE'S WORK, AND AS EXHIBITED AT ULTA ARTS AS PART OF THE 2024 PHOTO FEST IN HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS AND RECOGNIZES BOB GOMEL FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO PHOTOJOURNALISM AND HOUSTON AND BEYOND. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR BRINGING MR. GOBEL AND THIS PROCLAMATION TO COUNCIL TODAY. WE'RE SO FORTUNATE AS HOUSTONIANS AND US CITIZENS, ACTUALLY, WE CANNOT LIMIT IT TO OUR COMMUNITY. BUT THE NATION IS SO FORTUNATE TO, UH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE YOUR WORK. AND I UNDERSTAND THIS WORK, AND I WOULD INVITE EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TODAY TO OBSERVE IT IN THE, UH, LA LOBBY. SO, THANK YOU. UH, I SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND I WONDER HOW'S IT POSSIBLE, IT IS GOT, IT'S GOT TO BE TRAINING, OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION, BUT PASSION TO BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU AND LET ME FINISH THIS PROCLAMATION THAT I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HERE, I PROCLAIM APRIL 23RD IS ABOUT GOLDMAN DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. I'M OVERWHELMED, I'M FLABBERGASTED, BUT MOSTLY I'M HONORED BY THIS GREAT OCCASION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER AL YES. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU MR. GOMEL. I HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF GOING TO, UM, ALTA ARTS TO SEE YOUR, UM, YOUR TALK AND TO SEE THE DOCUMENTARY YOU GUYS GET OVER TO ALTA ARTS. I SEE JOE HERE. HOW LONG'S THE EXHIBIT UP, UM, AT ALTA ARTS? I DON'T KNOW, BUT GET OVER THERE. IT IS. THESE, THESE ARE ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HAVE, UH, WELL, WHAT DO WE HAVE THERE? IS THAT ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS? OH, YEAH, THERE IT IS. UM, BUT THE ONES AT THE, AT ALTA ARTS ARE ALL THESE ONES THAT THEY'RE SHOWING YOU RIGHT HERE, THAT FAMOUS ONE OF CASSIUS CLAY WITH MALCOLM X TAKING THE PICTURE. UM, THE, THESE ARE, THESE ARE, HIS STORIES ARE AMAZING. HE TOLD A STORY ABOUT HOW PRESIDENT HE WAS OUTSIDE. UM, NOBODY CARES ABOUT, THERE'S AN EXCEPTION. AND GO AHEAD. IT'S NOT JUST ONE, IT'S JUST A MOMENT. THAT'S WHAT'S AMAZING TO ME. A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL HAVE ONE SPECIAL PHOTO IN THEIR CAREER. THERE'S SCORES IN, UH, YOUR HISTORY. THANK YOU. CAN YOU FINISH? GO AHEAD, FINISH THE STORY. I'M FINISH UP. SO THE MOVIE STREAMING ON AMAZON, YOU GUYS CAN LEARN A LOT MORE, BUT MY FAVORITE STORY THAT YOU TOLD THAT NIGHT ON APRIL 3RD WAS HE'S JUST STANDING OUTSIDE IN THE FREEZING COLD OUTSIDE, UM, PRESIDENT KENNEDY BEFORE HE WAS, UH, BEFORE HE WAS INAUGURATED OUTSIDE OF HIS GEORGETOWN TOWNHOUSE WITH SOME OTHER REPORTER. AND THEY'RE FREEZING. AND KENNEDY LIKE INVITES HIM IN TO WATCH A FOOTBALL GAME IN HIS HOUSE. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT A WHAT A WHAT A GREAT STORY. YOU'RE FULL OF HIM AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE FULL OF 'EM. AND YOUR, YOUR YOUR, UM, YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ICONIC AND AMAZING, AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE TIME TO GO TO ALTA ARTS ENGULF IN TO SEE THEM, PLEASE DO. AND THEN ALSO, UH, WATCH THE, THE DOCUMENTARY ON, ON, UM, ON AMAZON. IT'S GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. BEST PILOT AT ALTA ARTS UNTIL MAY 3RD. I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED. [00:21:34] UP NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CRIME STOPPERS AND SEVERAL OTHER VICTIMS' RIGHTS GROUPS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK. THANK YOU. THIS IS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEKS WEEK, UH, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. AND SO TODAY I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE A LARGE CONTINGENT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO REPRESENT HOUSTON AREA CRIME VICTIM SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF WHOM ARE CRIME VICTIMS THEMSELVES, HAVING LOST SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES. THESE DEDICATED HOUSTONIANS STANDING HERE ARE COMMITTED TO RES SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF CRIME WITH COMPASSION AND RESILIENCE. AND THIS WEEK SERVES AS A CLEAR REMINDER OF THE ONGOING NEED FOR CARE, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS. MANY OF YOU, OF COURSE, WILL RECOGNIZE ANDY KAHAN WITH CRIME STOPPERS STANDING NEARBY. HERE WE ALSO HAVE MAISHA COULTER WITH AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, CLAIRE DRE WITH CHILDREN AT RISK. CARRIE MCCRACKEN WITH THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND TEXAS NURSE, UH, FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINERS APARNA ASANA WITH DIA INC. JOE MADISON WITH DEMAND DISRUPTION. DAVID GAMBOA WITH ELIJAH RISING, CELESTE BYRAM AND COLLEEN JORDAN WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION. AMY SMITH, MY FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNSEL, SONYA CARLES CORRALES WITH THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER. JULIE PLEASANT WITH THE HBD CRIME VICTIM SERVICES UNIT WILL BATS WITH THE MONTROSE COUNSELING CENTER. SHARON SHEPHERD, WITH PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN. HOUSTON CHAPTER MARK ODOM WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, LESLIE SALAZAR WITH THE TEXAS FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINERS AND KEN HENRY WITH UNITED AGAINST, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING. ALL THESE FOLKS HERE TODAY WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW HOUSTONIANS IN EXTRAORDINARY EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO HONOR THESE HOUSTONIANS TODAY. WELL, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, AND THANK EVERYONE THAT IS HERE TODAY REPRESENTING YOUR FAMILY AND OTHERS. YOU HAVE TURNED SOME OF YOUR PERSONAL TRAGEDIES INTO SERVICE FOR OTHERS, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE BEEN INVITED HERE TODAY AND WILL PROUDLY DO A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATE YOUR SPECIAL DAY BEFORE COUNSELING, BEFORE ALL OF HOUSTONIANS. AND WHILE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS IN FIGHTING CRIME AND CREATING A PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENT, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. KIM OG IS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY WE'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHETHER WE'VE EVER BEEN ON THE BALLOT OR NOT. SO WE'RE GONNA BE JUDGED, I STRONGLY BELIEVE, BY WHAT WE DID WITH OUR PUBLIC SERVICE. SO WE ARE FULFILLING YOUR COMMITMENT. SO THANK YOU. AND IT'S MY HONOR TO SAY THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 21ST THROUGH THE 27TH AS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS. WE, WE APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU WANNA PRESENT [00:25:01] THESE? YES. AND, UH, MAYOR, IF WE CAN HAVE ANDY KAHN, UH, OFFER A FEW REMARKS. SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ANDY KAHN, DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES FOR CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON. PREVIOUSLY, I WAS IN THE MAYOR'S VICTIM ADVOCACY, THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A VICTIM'S ADVOCATE OUT OF A MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR 18 YEARS. AND THEN OVER AT HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OSCARS, THERE'S EMMY'S, THERE'S GRAMMY'S, IN WHICH WE GIVE HONOR AND RECOGNITION TO ATHLETES, ENTERTAINERS. BUT YOU LOOK AT THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE EVERY DAY WHO ARE PICKING UP LIVES AND HELPING HOUSTONIANS HEAL AND RECOVER. THEY ARE THE TRUE HEROES OF THIS COUNTRY. AND EVERY SINGLE ORGANIZATION THAT'S HERE, AND I'M GONNA, UH, NAME THEM A SECOND, DESERVES TO BE HONORED AND RECOGNIZED. I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ. THEY'VE ATTENDED OUR EVENTS. THEY'VE BEEN PRESENT AT THE NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU'VE BEEN PRESENT AT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVENTS COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, YOU'VE BEEN PRESENT AT THE NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, THE HOLIDAY MEMORIAL TREE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND YOU'LL GET INVITATIONS TO ATTEND EVENTS SUCH AS THIS. YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR'S THEME IS HOW WOULD YOU HELP OPTIONS, SERVICES, AND HOPE FOR CRIME SURVIVORS? SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO GET TO KNOW THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT HERE. YOU KNOW, I, I'VE HAD A MANTRA FOR 30 SOME ODD YEARS, AND AS CRIME VICTIMS ARE THE ONLY UNWILLING PARTICIPANTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EVERYONE ELSE CHOSE THEIR ROLE. LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, VICTIM ADVOCATES, AND YES OFFENDERS. BUT NO ONE EVER SAID, PICK ME, PICK ME. I WANT TO BE A VICTIM OF A CRIME. SO IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO, AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD ABUSE, CHILDREN AT RISK, SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE THAT TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO'VE BEEN UNFORTUNATE TO BE CRIME VICTIMS. WE CANNOT GO BACK AND CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AND OR YOUR FAMILY, BUT WE TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OTHERS TO COME ALONG. AND THAT WAY WE'VE ACHIEVED A LASTING LEGACY. SO I'M GONNA ASK AMY SMITH JUST TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS, BECAUSE AMY'S PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON THAT'S BEEN DOING THIS LONGER THAN ME. TERRIBLE . UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS AMY SMITH AND I'M WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL. IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO HAVE, UH, WORKED WITH SOME OF Y'ALL, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER RU UH, RAMIREZ. UM, JULIAN AND I GREW UP AT THE DA'S OFFICE TOGETHER. UM, WE SPENT MANY, A MANY A DAY AND NIGHT TOGETHER WORKING WITH CRIME VICTIMS. AND SO, UM, IT, IT'S VERY, I'M VERY HONORED THAT JULIAN, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT GAVE US THIS, UH, BECAUSE I THINK WE GAVE YOU AN AWARD FOR WORKING WITH VICTIMS. BACK WHEN WE WERE AT THE, WHEN I WAS AT THE DA'S OFFICE, UM, AS ANDY SAID, CRIME VICTIMS ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT DIDN'T ASK TO BE A VICTIM. BECAUSE IF THEY DID, WE WOULD KNOW. THEY WOULD PAY A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHAT TIME IT HAPPENED, WHAT WERE THEY WEARING, WHO WERE, WHO WAS THERE, WHAT DID THE PERPETRATOR LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT EASY TO CONVICT SOMEBODY OF A CRIME. BUT IT ALSO IS THE BEGINNING OF THE HEALING OF BEING A CRIME VICTIM. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS HOW TO HELP A CRIME SURVIVOR. EVERYONE BEHIND ME HAS HELPED TO MAKE VICTIMS SURVIVORS, AND WE WANNA END. WE WANNA END CRIME VICTIMS. WE DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANOTHER CRIME VICTIM. WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO BE OUT OF A JOB, BUT WE'RE NOT. SO WE LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE TO HELP CRIME VICTIMS, WHETHER IT'S FUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FUNDING VICTIM SERVICES, GIVING GRANTS, UM, AND MOVING EVERYTHING ALONG SO THAT CRIME VICTIMS CAN GET AHEAD. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, I KNOW YOU YOURSELF HAVE BEEN A CRIME VICTIM AND I KNOW YOU KNOW HOW THAT FEELS TO HAVE THAT POWER AND THE CONTROL TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO. UM, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES BEHIND ME BECAUSE WE ALL ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. WE ALL REALLY WANNA BE OUT OF A JOB 'CAUSE WE'D REALLY LIKE TO RETIRE. SO, UM, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. UM, AND PLEASE, UM, REMEMBER, LET'S MAKE THESE, UM, LET'S MAKE THESE VICTIMS SURVIVORS AND LET'S REALLY LET THERE BE NO MORE VICTIMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:30:04] YOU KNOW, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU'RE AWARE OF MAYOR WHITMEYER AS THE DEAN OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR 30 SOME ODD YEARS, HAS LED EFFORTS TO HELP CRIME VICTIMS PASSING LEGISLATION AND PASSING LAWS. SO ALL OF US HERE, WE COULDN'T BE ANY MORE HAPPIER NOW TO HAVE HIM AS THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON BECAUSE WE KNOW VICTIMS' RIGHTS ARE GONNA BE A CORE PART OF HIS ADMINISTRATION. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK SHARON SHEPHERD WITH PARENTS OF MURDER CHILDREN, JUST TO COME UP AND JUST SIT BRIEFLY, MAKE A FEW REMARKS. GOOD. A GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHARON SHEPHERD. I'M STANDING HERE REPRESENTING PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN. UM, I LOST TWO NEPHEWS IN 21 IN 2016 AND ONE IN 2019. SO WE, UH, THE PARENTS OF PER THE PARENTS OF MURDER CHILDREN, WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT US EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH AT CRIME STOPPERS. WE MEET FROM SEVEN TO NINE AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND JUST SEE THE FAMILIES AND SEE WHAT WE GO THROUGH EVERY MONTH. AND WE WANT YOU ALL TO HELP TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES, SUPPORT EVERYONE THAT'S THERE, THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORT. WE THANK YOU AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK DISTRICT ATTORNEY KIM OG JUST TO COME UP AND SUM EVERYTHING UP FOR EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND THOSE OF YOU WHO BROUGHT US INTO HONOR PART TWO OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING CRIME VICTIMS ADVOCATES. YOU KNOW, WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT LEAVES OFF AFTER THE ARREST IS MADE AND THE CASE IS SOLVED, THAT'S WHERE YOUR CRIME VICTIMS ADVOCATES REALLY COME IN. I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY RECOGNIZE CELESTE BYRAM FOR LEADING OUR VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION OF THE DA'S OFFICE, WHERE WE REACH ANYWHERE FROM 17,000 TO 20,000 PEOPLE PERSONALLY, TO HAVE VICTIMS ADVOCATES ACCOMPANY THESE INDIVIDUALS TO COURT, TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS AND TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE TOUGHEST TIMES OF THEIR LIVES. HAWK THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, CRIME STOPPERS, ALL OF THE GROUPS, THE COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THESE GROUPS PERFORM PRICELESS FUNCTIONS FOR THE CITY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CANNOT DO. THEY HELP PEOPLE PICK UP THE PIECES. THIS IS REALLY THEIR WEEK. AND I JUST WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE IS THE TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE WORK THAT EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD WORK THAT THESE PEOPLE DO. NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ, WHO WAS PART OF OUR OFFICE FOR MANY YEARS. SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM. AND MAYOR, DEAN, SENATOR, I NEVER KNOW WHICH TITLE TO ACTUALLY SETTLE ON. THANK YOU FOR 50 YEARS OF GREAT WORK, HELPING KEEP OUR PUBLIC SAFE. THANK YOU. I'M JUST GONNA VERY QUICKLY WRAP UP AND IF YOU CAN, WHEN I ANNOUNCE THE ORGANIZATION'S NAME, WE'RE GONNA COME AND, AND I GUESS I'LL END UP TAKING PICTURES AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF OVER HERE. SO AIDS TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, ABDA, CHILDREN AT RISK, CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, DEMAND DISRUPTION. THAT'S A REALLY COOL NAME. , CAN I GET A SHIRT? HAVE ELIJAH RISING, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNSEL, HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, CRIME VICTIM SERVICES UNIT, MONTROSE COUNSELING CENTER, PARENTS OF MURDER CHILDREN IN HOUSTON, CHAPTER, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON. AND IF I DIDN'T CALL YOUR NAME, I DUNNO, YOU'RE HERE. UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I MISS ANYONE ELSE. TEXAS FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINERS. YES. TEXAS. IT'S NOT EVEN HERE. TEXAS FORENSIC EXAMINERS. ANYBODY ELSE? [00:35:04] OH, OH, OH, OH. YOU WANT YOUR, YOUR HONOR. YEAH. TAKE OFF THE CHAIR. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZED CHAIR. UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME ALI ALEK IMAM OF THE BLUE MOSQUE, WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TURKISH CULTURAL CENTER HERE IN HOUSTON. IMAM CHIVEL IS ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MUSLIMS WHO LIVE IN WORSHIP HERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA. MAYOR, I HEARD HIM RECITE PRAYERS AT, AT YOUR IFTAR LAST MONTH DURING RAMADAN. AND HE PREACHED A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND COMPASSION IN OUR TROUBLED WORLD, WHICH IS ONE THAT ALL OF US SHOULDN'T, SHOULD UNITE BEHIND. I WILL OPEN WITH, UH, UH, OPENING OF THE QURAN, WHICH IS THE FAHA. IT'S THE CHAPTER, THE FIRST CHAPTER OF QURAN. I'M GOING TO READ IT AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THE MEANING OF IT IS JUST ASKING FOR PEACE, GUIDANCE, AND COMPASSION FOR ALL OF US [00:40:08] MEAN, UH, I MEAN IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST MERCIFUL, MOST COMPASSIONATE, ALL PRAISE IS DUE TO GOD. LORD OF THE WORLD, MOST MERCIFUL, MOST COMPASSIONATE MASTER OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. ONLY TO YOU, WE WORSHIP AND ONLY TO YOU, WE SEEK HELP GUIDE US TO THE STRAIGHT PATH, THE PRIDE OF THOSE YOU BE. YOU BESTOW YOUR BLESSING, NOT OF THOSE WHO EARN YOUR WRATH, NOR WANT ASTRAY. I MEAN, OH GOD. TODAY WE GATHER HERE TO ASK YOUR GUIDANCE AND HELP TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON TO ESTABLISH PEACE, HARMONY, PROSPERITY, AND PEACE IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF HOUSTON. AND ALSO, WE ARE ASKING YOUR HELP TO ESTABLISH PEACE IN ALL OVER THE WORLD. I MEAN, WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE RISE AND, UH, JOIN IN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, HOLY CHANCE, ONE NATION, LIBERTY JUSTICE, ROLL CALL. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ WILL BE ASKING CONSTABLE POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONSTABLE RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL CARTER WILL BE ASKING CONSTABLE PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 31ST AND NOVEMBER 1ST. OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 8TH. NOVEMBER 14TH, 15. NOVEMBER 20TH, AND NOVEMBER 28TH AND 29TH. CAST T MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ANY YOU WANNA DO THIS FIRST? NO, I'LL DO COUNCIL MEMBER [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] CAYMAN FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HAVE TWO MO MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES. THE FIRST IS TO MOVE STEVEN LONGMEYER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. THE SECOND, WELL, I'LL ENTERTAIN THAT MOTION FIRST, OR YOU WANT BOTH TO GO? JUST PUT EM TOGETHER. OKAY. UH, THE SECOND IS TO MOVE GIA LONG'S WORK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS BECAUSE SHE ASKED TO BE MOVED TO THE BOTTOM SO SHE COULD MAKE IT HERE FROM WORK. IT, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF I LET EVERYONE KNOW. CERTAINLY OUR GUEST, WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP. YEAH. BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES WORTH. THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH WITNESS, UH, ONE MINUTE. EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR TWO OR THREE. AND I'LL TRY TO BE JUDICIOUS IN LETTING YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENT. UH, WITH THAT SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TAPE. NEED A SECOND? A SECOND SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. YEAH. MAYOR PROAM CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. WITH THAT INFORMATION OF THE, UH, ONE MINUTE, I'D LIKE TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, AND MOVE, UH, AND ADD YOLANDA JONES TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE. UH, LIST. STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION MEMBERS. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MAKE A MOTION TO ADD LETITIA ANDREWS AND SHEILA TURNER. UM, BENEATH, UM, AT THE TOP, AT THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. VERY GOOD. MOTION THOMAS. SECONDS MADE AND SECONDED. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. HMM. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JUDGE BILL LITTLEJOHN, I GUESS TO [00:45:01] THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE, SINCE IT'S A ONE MINUTE LIMIT, THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA. AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE EVANGELINA. I'D LIKE TO ADD EVANGEL MACKLIN TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA. WE ALREADY HAVE TWO PEOPLE AT THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE, SO IT WOULD'VE TO BE AFTER SHEILA. SHEILA, SHEILA. YEAH. WE'LL, WE'LL PUT 'EM AS CLOSE TO THE TOP AS POSSIBLE. AND WE DON'T HAVE THE NAME THOMAS SECONDS. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THOMAS. LETITIA. LETITIA ANDREWS. WAIT A SECOND. WE HAVE COUNCILMAN JACKSON. DID YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED? YES. THANK YOU. I I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UM, TO MOVE WARREN RANDALL TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE. I KNOW EVERYTHING IS ONE MINUTE, BUT THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTES. I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. UH, I GOT THAT. YES MA'AM. PLEASE PROCEED. I THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANNA SAY THAT IT WAS AN HONOR BEING HERE, BUT IT WAS ALSO REALLY INCREDIBLE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE COME IN SUPPORT OF ENDING VIOLENCE IN HOUSTON. THAT WAS REALLY TOUCHED ME THIS MORNING. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA ADD ON TO THAT. YES, , I, I WANNA ADD ON TO THAT, THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN LOW LITERACY SKILLS AND THE VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND MY NAME IS LETITIA ANDREWS AND I AM THE CEO FOUNDER AND SUPERINTENDENT OF A CHARTER SCHOOL IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON, WHERE VIOLENT CRIME RATES ARE PROFICIENT AND VERY HIGH. AND, UM, I WANTED TO TALK TODAY ABOUT A SMALL PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING THAT I KNOW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN HELP ME, UM, SOLVE. I WANNA FIRST THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS, WHO HAS BEEN OUT TO BETA ACADEMY, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ACORN, WHO'S BEEN OUT TO BETA ACADEMY AND COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER, WHO'S ALSO BEEN OUT. AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CHARTERS. THANK YOU. SUPPORTING SCHOOLS, UM, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE BETA ACADEMY WAS AWARDED $6.8 MILLION IN NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT FUNDING, WHICH IS REALLY HUGE. WE NEED A A HUGE, WE NEED A SECOND BUILDING. UM, WE ARE OUT OF SPACE IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA AND, UM, IF TIME HAS EXPIRED OKAY, GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR POINT. OKAY. SO MY POINT IS, IS THAT, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS, UH, A LITTLE BIT SLOW LATELY ON, UH, SIGNING OFF ON THE PERMITS. AND IF WE DO NOT SECURE OUR PERMITTING, WE WILL LOSE $6.8 MILLION OF NON HOUSTON MONEY. THAT IS MONEY COMING INTO HOUSTON. VERY. GOT IT. TALK TO MY STAFF. UH, CYNTHIA, WOULD YOU TALK AND LET'S TRY TO PRIORITIZE THIS REQUEST. OKAY, THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. WE'RE GOOD. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SHEILA TURNER. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. ACTUALLY, I WAS, UM, JUST COMING HERE FOR SUPPORT FOR BETA ACADEMY AND BECAUSE, UH, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, HARRIET LATIMER AND MYSELF, SHEILA TURNER AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN THE FUNDRAISERS FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT. WE'VE HAD BEEN ABLE TO HELP THEM SECURE $36 MILLION. SO THE NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT OF, OF 6.8 MILLION IS AT JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THE, THE KIND OF THE BOTTLENECK, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN IN PLANNING FOR, FOR, FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS. SO ANYWAY, BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY GOOD, AWESOME PROJECT. THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE TAKEN CARE OF. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT. VALERIA ALVARADO. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS VALERO. I AM A RESIDENT OF MONTROSE AND I'M HERE TO ASK FOR THE MONTROSE, UM, [00:50:01] BOULEVARD PROJECT TO BE UN PAUSED. UM, THIS PROJECT I'M ALSO MOSTLY IN SUPPORT OF THE 10, UM, 10 FOOT SHARED USE PATH. THE REASON BEING, UM, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A SMALL GROUP THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SAVE THE LIVE OAKS THAT IS VERY PREOCCUPIED WITH THE TREES. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE IT SO CLEAR THAT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH COMPROMISE MADE ON THIS PROJECT THAT WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY IS HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SOMETIMES CAN'T COME TO CITY HALL, COME, YOU KNOW, COMING AND SPEAKING THEIR CONCERNS. AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMPROMISE. SO I EVEN APPRECIATE THEIR FEEDBACK 'CAUSE THERE HAS BEEN COMPROMISE ON THE PLAN. FOR EVERY TREE BROUGHT DOWN, THERE'S GONNA BE TWO NEW PLANTED ONES. OKAY? AND SO WHAT I WANNA SAY IS THAT THERE'S ALSO THE WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, UM, WHO'S VERY NEARBY AND A LOT OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS UTILIZE WHEELCHAIRS. THE 10 10 FOOT SHARED USE PATH ALLOWS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON WHEELCHAIRS TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND WALK TOGETHER TO PLACES ON DOWN MONTROSE BOULEVARD WITHOUT BEING DISRUPTED. IT ALLOWS A FAMILY TO WALK BY AND A WHITE BIKER TO BIKE BY. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAYBE SHOULDN'T BE THE MODEL ALL OVER HOUSTON, BUT I DO THINK THAT MONTROSE BOULEVARD HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO BE THAT ONE STREET THAT A LOT, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NEXT TO BUFFALO BAYOU, WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WALKING, BIKING, AND ALLOW IT TO BE AN EXTRAORDINARY STREET. VERY SAFE FOR SAFE. UM, PEDESTRIANS. THANK YOU. NEXT ALEXANDER SPIKE ALEXANDER SPIKE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSELORS AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. MY NAME IS ALEXANDER SPIKE. I'M A MEMBER OF FRIENDS OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD. WE ARE COMMUNITY GROUP SET ON SCENE, THE PROJECT UNPAUSE, THE SHARED USE PATH, SAFE CROSSINGS AND TRAFFIC CALMING INTACT. I GREW UP IN MONTROSE AND WENT TO CARNEGIE HIGH. I EXPERIENCED AND SEE TODAY THE SAME UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OUR NAMESAKE ROAD ENCOURAGES. I SEE CHILDREN, OLD FOLKS, AND DISABLED FOLKS STRUGGLE TO NAVIGATE BUSTED NARROW SIDEWALKS AND CROSS THE 100 FOOT WIDE ROAD MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT IN MONTROSE. IT'S WHERE WE WANNA, IT'S WHERE WE WANNA PUT DOWN ROOTS, START A FAMILY AND SEE THEM TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. BUT WE NEED INVESTMENTS IN SAFE STREETS, NOR DO WE SEE MUCH OF A FUTURE IF FLOODING IS GOING TO BE A PROLONGED ISSUE. WE'VE LIVED THROUGH IKE HARVEY, THE TAX DAY FLOODS AND THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOODS. EVEN AN INCH OF WATER IN YOUR HOME IS DEVASTATING. SOME OF THE OLDEST STRANGE PIPES SIT UNDER THAT BOULEVARD. IT'S FRUSTRATING. WE'RE WILLING TO TURN DOWN FLOOD MITIGATION IN AN ERA OF INCREASED HURRICANES. THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, CHRISTOPHER DELFIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRIS DELPHIN. I RESIDE IN THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD OF MONTROSE, JUST WEST OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD IN SOUTH OF WEST GRAY. I SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HYDE PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. PRIOR TO THAT, I WAS VICE PRESIDENT AND CHAIR OF THE DEED RESTRICTIONS COMMUNITY. DURING MY TENURE, I HAVE SEEN THE MONTROSE TURS ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO SEEK OUR GUIDANCE ON PLANS TO BALANCE AND THE DESIRE TO MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN MONTROSE IS THE MOST OUTDATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AS EVERMORE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENTS COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE NEED A STORMWATER SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED AND BUILT FOR THIS ERA AND THIS CLIMATE. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE TUR PLANS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE AND FLOOD MITIGATION SYSTEM ALONG MONTROSE BOULEVARD. WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY OR ALTERATION TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, SIR. MAYOR. MAYOR, VERY QUICKLY, CHRISTOPHER, UM, I JUST, SORRY, ONE QUICK QUESTION. I'M NOT GONNA, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY RESIDENTS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, I'M NOT ASKING EVERY RESIDENT QUESTIONS, BUT AS A FORMER, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE CIVIC CLUB. AS A FORMER PRESIDENT DURING THIS TIME, CAN YOU TALK JUST VERY QUICKLY ABOUT WHEN THE TURS DID OUTREACH TO THE CIVIC CLUB AND ENGAGEMENT AND HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN GOING ON? THE ENGAGEMENT THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO ME BEING PRESIDENT, I WAS, UH, WHEN I WAS DEED RESTRICTIONS CHAIR, UM, THE TURS WAS, UH, IN THE, IN ITS EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND HAD, UH, MANY PLANS, UH, PRESENTED TO US AT THE, UH, AT THE, THE SENSOR ON, UH, WEST GRAY THAT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE. AND WHEN I WAS VICE PRESIDENT, THAT ENGAGEMENT CONTINUED. AND THROUGHOUT THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'VE HAD THEM AS SPEAKERS OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITY TO SPEAK TO NEIGHBORS, TO GET THEIR INPUT AND TO, AND TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE PLANS SO THAT THEY CAN REFLECT THE MANY DIFFERENT DIVERSE VIEWS OF WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU. NEXT DEL RIO. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE MAYOR, TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR SIGNATURE IN THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT. MOSTLY FOR THIS BOY. HE'S A 9-YEAR-OLD BOY. HIS NAME IS TOMA, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR HEART TO SIGN IT. HE HAS SEEN MORE FLOODING IN HIS SHORT LIFE THAN I'VE [00:55:01] SEEN IN MY FIRST 35 YEARS. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG HEART 'CAUSE I WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO AND I SAW A LADY BROUGHT A SCRAPBOOK WITH SOME TREE NAMES ON IT, AND YOU, YOUR HEART MELTED. YOU ASK HER SO MANY QUESTIONS, YOU INVITE HER TO YOUR OFFICE TO ASK HER MORE ABOUT IT. AND I REALIZED IT'S LIKE YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE NAMES OF THE TREES, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW OUR FACES AND OUR NAMES. I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SEE HOW THIS PROJECT IMPACT POSITIVELY IN OUR LIVES. I, I, JEFF, ASKING FOR YOUR SIGNATURE FOR IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, STEVEN LONGMEYER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS STEVEN LONGMEYER AND I'VE LIVED IN MONTROSE FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. MONTROSE IS PLANNED AND PLANTED IN 1910 WHEN HOUSTON'S POPULATION WAS ONLY 78,000. JOHN LINK DESIGNED THE BOULEVARD TO BE A GRAND BOULEVARD LEISURELY CARRYING CARS FROM THE SOUTH END TO HATHAWAY. IT WAS DESIGNED FOR CONDITIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND FOR CARS LIKE THE MODEL T, WHICH WEIGHED 1600 POUNDS, WE'RE NO LONGER IN THAT ERA. WE'RE A QUARTER THROUGH THE 21ST CENTURY WITH 30 TIMES MORE PEOPLE SQUEEZING 25,000 VEHICLES, WEIGHING NEARLY THREE TIMES THE T DAILY THROUGH THE SAME FOUR LANES, AND DRAINING AN AVERAGE OF 10 INCHES MORE RAINFALL PER YEAR THROUGH ITS SINGLE 48 INCH AND SINGLE 24 INCH DRAINS. MAYOR TURNER'S BACK ROOM, NO PUBLIC INPUT PLAN TO SKIM COAT THIS 100 AND 14-YEAR-OLD ROAD WITH NO IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT IN KEEPING WITH HOUSTON'S HISTORY OF BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE. IT IGNORES THE FACT THAT NEARLY ALL OF THE GRAND LONG LAWNS ALONG THE BOULEVARD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY IMPERMEABLE SURFACES. AND THE TREND IS SET TO COVER EVEN MORE AS HIGH RISES GROW FASTER THAN THE TREES ALONG MONTROSE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST, STEVEN, I KNOW YOU HAD SOME PERSONAL MATTERS THAT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO BE HERE TODAY. IF I, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU 15 SECONDS WRAP UP. AND I HAD ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. THANK YOU. THIS PLAN WILL COST HOUSTON DEARLY IN THE COMING YEARS AS THIS BANDAID PLAN ON THE CANCER OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEGINS TO FAIL. 57 OF YOU 75 UNIQUE SPEAKERS AT COUNCIL SINCE JANUARY FAVORED THE TUR 27. ONLY 18 UNIQUE SPEAKERS HAVE OPPOSED IT. SO I AM BEGGING YOU ALL TO CHANGE BACK TO THE OLD SYSTEM WHEREIN IF A PROJECT QUALIFIES FOR PERMITS, THE PERMITS GET ISSUED AND WE DON'T HAVE NINTH INNING. I'M, I SAW A FOUL. I NEED THE GAME REPLAYED COMING IN TO CHANGE IT. WE'VE WORKED FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. YOU HAVE ON THE BACK OF YOUR HANDOUT A LITTLE TIMELINE PREPARED OF THE HISTORY OF MONTROSE AND THE HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT. TOUR 27 IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT GIVES EVERY CITIZEN THREE MINUTES BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY MEETING, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS RESULTING IN SOME OF OUR MEETINGS GOING UNTIL NINE 30 AT NIGHT. THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION. STEPHEN, I JUST REALLY QUICKLY, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE PRESIDENT OF A CIVIC CLUB, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY CIVIC CLUB LEADERS, UM, AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS THAT ARE HERE. THANK YOU. UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE AND WE'LL HEAR AGAIN AND I APPRECIATE THE INPUT FROM EVERYONE, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR THE TREES RIGHT NOW. UM, AND THAT'S A DEBATE. I KNOW YOUR HISTORY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF OUR NEW COLLEAGUES KNOW YOUR HISTORY IN ADVOCATING FOR TREE PRESERVATION. SO I ONE WANTED TO, IF YOU COULD QUICKLY EXPLAIN THAT. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN CHAINED TO TREE BEFORE . SO WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRYING TO GET OUR PROJECTS DONE AND 15 YEARS ON HOLD IN THE CIP PLAN, WHEN IT FINALLY CAME TO FRUITION AND I WAS PRESIDENT BY THEN, UH, THE PLAN WAS TO CUT DOWN 45 MATURE LIVE OAK TREES FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE CONTRACTOR. I RAISED UNMITIGATED HELL AT PUBLIC WORKS. I WAS THE FIRST CIVIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT TO ATTEND EVERY SINGLE BIWEEKLY CONSTRUCTION MEETING. I LOST NOT A SINGLE OAK TREE, I LOST FOUR DYING PINE TREES AND TWO CHINA BERRY TREES. AND I GOT 140 REPLACEMENT TREES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS ON SITE EVERY DAY OF THE FIVE YEARS IT TOOK TO BUILD THAT PROJECT, INCLUDING DURING HURRICANE HARVEY. SO TO SAY THAT I'M NOT A TREE PERSON IS SORT OF FALSE. AND MY HISTORY WITH THE FBI GOES BACK TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DAYS WHEN I CHAINED MYSELF TO A TREE ON THE WEST LAWN AND GOT A VERY UNFLATTERING PICTURE TAKEN. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT LAWN IS NOW CEMENT, BUT I HAVE A MEMORIAL TO THAT, UM, SPIRIT OF CONSERVATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AND SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR. SO YOU [01:00:01] SUPPORT THE PROJECT OR DO NOT SUPPORT THE PROJECT? 100%. THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING ANYONE'S ASKED OF THEM. THAT'S REASONABLE AND PRUDENT. UH, I, I CAN'T SEE IF WE WAIT ON THIS PROJECT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND BILLIONS DIGGING UP THE ROAD ONCE IT'S COVERED BY HIGH RISES. BECAUSE ONCE THE HIGH RISES ARE THERE AND THE PEOPLE ARE THERE, IT'S GONNA BE TOO LATE TO DIG UP THE ROAD AND PUT IN 10 BY 10 STORM DUCKS. I LIVED THROUGH THAT IN MY PROJECT WHEN THEY PUT A 14 FOOT STORM DUCK ON WEST ALABAMA. IT'S NOT A PICNIC. IT NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT. HISTORY IS IN YOUR HANDS. PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU BET. THANK YOU. NEXT STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. UH, I USED TO BE A FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND NOW I'M THE STATE REP FOR THIS AREA. IN FACT, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS PRIDE STUFF. LET ME SAY THIS, THE OLD PRIDE, THIS TAKE PRIDE BACK REMINDS ME VERY MUCH OF MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. PRIDE WHEN BACK IN THE DAY, AND, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, I'M THE FIRST BLACK OPENLY LGBT PERSON IN THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE. PRIDE WAS NOT WELCOMING TO US. WE ACTUALLY WENT TO GALVESTON TO GO TO SPLASH BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CULTURALLY COMPETENT. THE SAME PEOPLE ON THE NEW FACES OF PRIDE ARE DISGRUNTLED FORMER PRIDE PEOPLE. AND LET ME SAY THIS, I HEARD SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DISCONCERTING AND I WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S TRUE. I HEARD THAT AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. SUSAN CHRISTIAN, WHO WAS MY FRIEND OR SO I THOUGHT, REACHED OUT TO A BC 13. THE, THE THE MAJOR SPONSOR, TITLE SPONSOR FOR THE ORIGINAL PRIDE PARADE AND ASKED THEM TO COVER THE NEW FACES OF PRIDE. AND I KNOW SHE'S FRIENDS WITH SOME PEOPLE ON THE BOARD. I WON'T CALL NAMES RIGHT NOW, BUT I MIGHT FEEL LIKE IT IN A LITTLE WHILE. I HEARD SHE'S CALLING THE SPONSORS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. AND THE BLACK PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL, AT A MINIMUM, ESPECIALLY THE BLACK WOMEN, SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE VILIFIED BECAUSE YOU'RE A BLACK WOMAN. YEAH. TOM , GO AHEAD. AND SO THE DOG WHISTLES THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO CODE SHIFT, UH, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO NOT APPEAR TO BE ANGRY AND BLACK IS WHAT'S GOING ON. NOW. NEW FACES OF PRIDE TRY TO COME AND DEAR, THEY'RE POLITICALLY CONNECTED. AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I'LL MEET WITH YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHO THEY KNOW AND WHO THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO. 'CAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND POLITICS AND THE NEW PEOPLE DON'T. BUT THAT BOARD IS DIVERSE. THAT BOARD HAS JUDGE SHANNON BALDWIN, THE FIRST OPENLY GAY LGBT JUDGE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THAT BOARD FOR THE ORIGINAL PRIDE, THE ONE THAT THE NEW FACES IS TRYING TO SUPPLANT, UM, HAS CHRISTINA MARTINEZ. IT HADN'T ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR TO BE GAY. I MEAN, BEFORE PRESIDENT OBAMA EVOLVED, PEOPLE, CHRISTINA MARTINEZ STARTED THE RAINBOW PAGES WHERE GAY PEOPLE COULD FIND SAFE PLACES TO GO WHERE PEOPLE WOULD NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST US. AND THEY'RE VILIFYING KENDRA BECAUSE IT'S OKAY TO VILIFY BLACK WOMEN. AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, HARRIS COUNTY IS A DEMOCRATIC CITY. AND THE ONLY BLACK PEOPLE THAT LOST IN THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION WERE BLACK PEOPLE WITH BLACK SOUNDING NAMES. THE ONLY ONES THAT LOST. AND IN THIS PRIMARY, THEY LIT, THEY LITERALLY BLACK, UH, WHITE PROGRESSIVES, SINCE I'M CALLING NAMES, TRIED TO REMOVE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. AND ALL I'M SAYING THE CITY COUNCIL IS BLACK. PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONALLY HAS ISSUES WITH BLACK PEOPLE. WE, WE, THEY, THEY LISTENING, BIDEN CAN'T EVEN, THEY DON'T EVEN WANT HIM AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, RIGHT? HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. SPEAKER. WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION. THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS A PROBLEM. AND IF, AND THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO, AND, AND, AND PROGRESSIVES WANT TO REMOVE BLACK PEOPLE FROM BALLOTS AND REMOVE US FROM POSITIONS OF POWER, WE ARE BEING ATTACKED. THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS GOTTEN RID OF DEI AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. AND THE CODE THAT YOU SAY IS THEIR CRIMINAL. NOBODY'S A CRIMINAL. THEY, AND, AND I'VE ALSO HEARD COMPLAINTS THAT THEY'VE NOT USING LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE PRIDE HOUSTON HAS USED HPD, THEY PAID OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT I'VE BEEN CALLING AROUND AND I'M THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I'M A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THEN I KNOW PEOPLE. BUT WHEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, IF SHE'S TIPPING THE SCALES [01:05:01] AGAINST THE ORIGINAL PRIDE PARADE, I'VE GOT ISSUES WITH THAT. I CALLED HER THIS WEEKEND 'CAUSE I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH HER IN ADVANCE BECAUSE I KNOW SUSAN CHRISTIAN, RIGHT? AND I THOUGHT THAT SUSAN WOULD UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT OF DISCRIMINATED AGAINST PEOPLE. 'CAUSE SHE'S LESBIAN JUST LIKE I AM. I KNOW HER WIFE, I KNOW HER KIDS. BUT MARVIN LER USED TO SAY SOMETHING, MARVIN LER USED TO SAY, IT'S HELL TO BE POOR. GUESS WHAT? IT'S HELL TO BE BLACK. IT'S HELD TO BE A WOMAN AND IT'S HELD TO BE L-G-B-T-Q. SO I WILL PROUDLY PARTICIPATE IN THE ORIGINAL PRIDE PARADE. AND MAYOR, I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT. AND I, AGAIN, I'VE HEARD THAT, THAT SUSAN CHRISTIAN, I'M NOT MAKING ANY ALLEGATIONS. AND LET ME ALSO SAY THIS TO PEOPLE. YOU THINK YOU'RE IN SAFE SPACES. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRESSIVE WHITE PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING STUFF TO OTHER WHITE PEOPLE AND THEY PRESUME THAT THOSE WHITE PEOPLE BELIEVE EXACTLY LIKE THEY BELIEVE. WELL, THE REASON I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IS BECAUSE WHITE PEOPLE HAVE LITERALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE, THEY BELIEVE THAT SUSAN CHRISTIAN IS A PART OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT SHE'S DISCRIMINATING AGAINST IT. AND I HEARD FROM A WHITE PERSON THAT SUSAN CHRISTIAN HAS MADE IT AT LEAST TWO YEARS AGO, KNOWN THAT SHE'S TIRED OF THE BLACK PEOPLE ON THE BOARD AT PRIDE. WE'VE HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH THE GOBT CAUCUS WHEN BLACK PEOPLE RAN AND AND TOOK OFFICE. AND I'M SICK OF IT AND I'M GONNA CALL IT OUT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO. AND I'M GONNA TALK TO EVERYONE THAT I NEED TO TALK TO. AND I WANT EVERYONE SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE. I, I EXPECT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW HIM TO ATTACK US. BUT I DON'T EXPECT PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MY ALLIES TO SMILE ON MY FACE AND STAB ME IN THE BACK. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. BUT I'M INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED. I HAD NOT PLANNED TO COME UP HERE, BUT WHEN I HEARD SUSAN CHRISTIAN IS USING HER WEIGHT TO MARGINALIZE THIS ORGANIZATION, I GOT REAL PROBLEMS WITH IT. AND AWE, AGAIN, I TOOK OFFICE ON MAY 18TH, 2022. I WAS SWORN IN AS THE FIRST BLACK LGBT PERSON IN THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE. NOW LET ME BE CLEAR, I DON'T BELIEVE I'M THE FIRST ONE THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST AIN'T TELL. SO I'LL TAKE BEING THE FIRST. BUT I WILL SAY THIS, ALL OF THE BLACK STATE REPS, UM, I THINK THEY ALL HAVE PLANS TO BE HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL PRIDE IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. AND IF YOU'RE NOT WITH US, YOU'RE AGAINST US. AND EVIL THRIVES WHEN GOOD PEOPLE REMAIN SILENT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. JUST A SECOND. UH, MAYOR PROTE, CASICK, STATE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JONES, DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK OF US? ARE YOU ASKING, ARE YOU GIVING US THIS INFORMATION, UM, FOR INFORMATION? OR DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU WANT THE COUNCIL TO DO? IT'S, IT'S, IT IS CONCERNING. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT BOTH PARADES. UM, THE TAXING OF BOTH PARADES ON THE CITY'S RESOURCES IS CONCERNING. UM, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GROUPS COULD COME TOGETHER FOR ONE PARADE SO THAT WE COULD BE IN UNITY. AND I, I KNOW THOSE THINGS CAN GET COMPLICATED WHEN GROUPS SPLIT OFF. UM, BUT DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK OF THE CITY? SO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M A LEGISLATURE AND I DON'T KNOW IF, IF ANY OF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN TEXAS LEGISLATURE. 'CAUSE IF I WASN'T THERE, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T PAY ATTENTION. 'CAUSE IT'S EXASPERATING, RIGHT? BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LEGISLATURE WHO HATE HOUSTON AND THEY HATE HARRIS COUNTY, AND THEY LITERALLY PASS BILLS ALL THE TIME THAT TARGET HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. THEY BELIEVE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE FULLY ABLE TO GOVERN THEMSELVES BY PEOPLE WHO ARE LOCALLY ELECTED. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSTON, AND I SUSPECT IT'S 'CAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH OF, UH, DIVERSE PEOPLE HERE. THEY WANNA MAKE SPECIAL. I WANNA WORK WITH THE CITY. I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY. I WANT TO ADVOCATE, UH, WITH MY MAN. BUT IF I FIND OUT THAT THIS CITY IS ADVOCATING AGAINST PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, I JUST BECAME A GLAM MOTHER IN THE EVENT YOU DIDN'T KNOW. IF YOU CAN DO IT TO, TO BLACK WOMEN, YOU CAN DO IT TO MY GRANDBABY. AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. UH, THAT'S ONE THING. THE SECOND THING IS THE NEW FACES. AND OH, BY THE WAY, THEY'RE NOT A NONPROFIT YET. HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO ACCEPT MONEY? AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU, MAYOR, WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE INVOLVED ON NEW FACES OF PRIDE, A BUNCH OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT I THINK EVERYONE, UH, WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT. BUT THEY CAN, THEY CAN GO TO THE ORIGINAL PRIDE PARADE, WHICH IS THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE. THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN DO, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S NOT THE NEW PEOPLE. AND AGAIN, BLACK WOMEN, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE SAY STUFF ABOUT US AND HOW WE HAVE TO WALK ON EGGSHELLS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T TAKE US THE WRONG WAY. SARAH PELA CAN TALK CRAZY. SHE'S A TIGER MOM. AND, UH, THE PEOPLE IN IN CONGRESS NOW, I'M NOT GONNA CALL THEIR NAMES, WHO ARE INCITING VIOLENCE, CAN SPEAK LIKE THAT. AND SO IT'S HARD, IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS TO BE A BLACK WOMAN IN THIS [01:10:01] COUNTRY. AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK INTO IT. AND I'M, AND I, AND I'VE, I'VE, AGAIN, I'VE CALLED PEOPLE. THEY DON'T KNOW WHY I CALLED THEM. I DIDN'T TELL 'EM. AND I, AND I, I HEAR THE WOLF WHISTLES ABOUT THE BLACK PEOPLE. RIGHT? AND I'M EX EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. EXTREMELY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, WARREN RANDALL, UH, THANK YOU FOR, I'M SORRY. THANK, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO LET ME SPEAK. UM, I CAME TO TALK ABOUT INJUSTICE AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE CITY. YES, THE CRIME RATE IS GOING DOWN, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY HAS TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE INFRACTIONS THAT THEY'RE COMMITTING AGAINST OUR OWN PUBLIC CITIZENS, WHICH THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT MY SON. UM, DEATH IS COMING UP, UH, TWO YEARS ANNIVERSARY ON THE 27TH, WHICH IS THIS SATURDAY. HE WAS MURDERED WITHIN THREE SECONDS, UM, BY A POLICE, HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER. UM, IT'S ONLY BEEN AN APPEASEMENT OF JUSTICE IN HOUSTON. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THEY APPEASE YOU BY BRINGING THE CASE UP IN FRONT OF THE GRAND JURIES, BUT THEY NEVER PRESENT ALL THE EVIDENCE, OR THEY ALWAYS BRING UP THE LESS QUALIFIED OR THE LESS EXPERIENCED PROSECUTOR. IF YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO, UM, PROSECUTE AND CONVICT SOMEBODY, WHY DON'T YOU BRING UP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST QUALIFIED? AND, UM, MY SON WAS MURDERED OVER A DUFFLE BAG. HE WAS, HE WAS, IT WAS SAID TO BE, BEEN A GUN, BUT IT WAS A DUFFEL BAG. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU CAN FINISH. SO I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, CRIME RATE IS GOING DOWN. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE THINGS, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHO'S ACTUALLY COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST YOUR, YOUR PUBLIC CITIZENS? WHAT THEY'RE NOT. THEY, THEY'RE NOT DEALT WITH. THIS SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING'S BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG WHEN IT COMES TO THEM. HOW DO THEY KEEP GETTING AROUND, GETTING AWAY FROM BEING PROSECUTED? AND I KNOW FROM YOUR HISTORY, YOU'VE BEEN, YOU ARE A FAIR MAN. YOU'VE BEEN STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE. IF YOU, IF YOU'RE WRONG, EITHER WAY IT GOES, YOU'RE GONNA GET 'EM. SO I'M JUST BRINGING THIS TO THE ATTENTION SINCE YOU HAVE YOUR NEW ADMINISTRATION HERE, HOPEFULLY THAT, UM, THE, THE S OF HOUSTON CAN ALSO GET PROPER PROTECTION FROM THE POLICE OF WHICH SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEM. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. JUST A MOMENT. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU AND, UH, I BELIEVE MOST OF US AGREE WITH YOU, AND MOST OF ALL, WE WANT TO GIVE CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF YOUR SON. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MR. UM, RANDALL, UM, AGAIN, MY OFFICE IS HERE FOR YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. UM, I KNOW IT WAS A, IT'S A HARD THING TO LOSE ANYONE. YES. IT SEEMED LIKE IT JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY. UM, JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? THANK YOU, MAYOR. MR. RAT RANDALL, I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. THANKS, SIR. SIR, I'D LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU, UH, SOMETIME AFTER THIS MEETING. ALL RIGHT? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. MEMBER OF MY STAFF WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT. JOSEPH PANZA. MR. AM I GOOD TO GO? YES. FANTASTIC. PLEASE. HELLO EVERYBODY. GO AHEAD. PLEASE GO AHEAD. GREAT. HELLO EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. UH, I JUST WANNA SAY Y'ALL LOOK FANTASTIC. REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, MY NAME IS JOSEPH ELLA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE FOURTH WARD. I ACTUALLY LIVE JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE OFF OF, UH, BAILEY STREET. UH, I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS, UH, MY FULL SUPPORT BEHIND THE T 27 MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDESIGN. UM, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS WITH BETTER INTERSECTIONS AND MORE EQUIPPED SIDEWALKS, AND IT WILL BRING AN ECONOMIC BOOM TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN MONTROSE BOULEVARD, UH, THAT PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS CURRENTLY CAN'T GET TO. UH, AS A BIKER MYSELF, I AVOID MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND SEE IT AS MERELY A DANGEROUS STREET TO CROSS TO GET TO WHERE I'M GOING. UH, THIS SHOULD BE THE CORNERSTONE OF MONTROSE, NOT A TRAFFIC HAZARD. AND THIS PROJECT CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT. PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ATTORNEY 27 MONTROSE BOULEVARD BOULEVARD REDESIGN. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, GREAT. THANK Y'ALL. KAY WARHOL. [01:15:12] GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KAY WARHOL. I AM HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE MONTROSE TOURS AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR MONTROSE BOULEVARD. I HAVE LIVED IN MONTROSE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AMONG THE MANY REASONS THAT I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT IS ITS PROVISION OF CRITICAL DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. MONTROSE IS THE SITE OF INCREASING REDEVELOPMENT, LARGER HOMES, MID RISES, HIGH RISES. WE KNOW THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL ONLY CONTINUE. WE ALSO KNOW TO EXPECT MORE FREQUENT EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MONTROSE PLAN, WHICH MEETS THE CITY'S NEW 100 YEAR ATLAS 14 CRITERIA AIMS TO ADDRESS CURRENT FLOODING AND THE PROSPECT OF INCREASED FUTURE FLOODING. PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON MANY MATTERS. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE ALTERNATE PLAN ON THE TABLE FEELS LIKE. WE NEED TO ACT NOW TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. PLEASE APPROVE THE MONTROSE TORRES PLAN AS SUBMITTED. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. NEXT ALANDRA TORRES. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALANDRA TORRES. I'M A RESIDENT OF MONTROSE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BOULEVARD PROJECT. I'D LIKE TO WORK AND I WALK EVERYWHERE. DRIVERS AREN'T CONSCIOUS. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING SOMEWHERE ON TIME, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DISREGARD OUR LIVES BECAUSE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ALLOWS THIS. TRAFFIC ON THE BOULEVARD CONSISTENTLY GOES 45 MILES AN HOUR. NOBODY OBEYS THE CROSSWALKS IN THE SCHOOL ZONE. MAYOR, I'VE SEEN YOU ADVOCATE FOR THIS IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, THE ACTIVE DIVESTMENT HAS REDUC THE BOULEVARD TO A HANDFUL OF EMPTY LOTS AND STOREFRONTS. DESPITE IT ALL, THE BOULEVARD IS STILL A DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. ME, MY NEIGHBORS AND MY CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS ALL COME TO THE PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE PROJECT AND GAVE INPUT. UM, WE'VE GOT BUSINESSES ON THE BOULEVARD BEGGING FOR DRAINAGE WORK. THESE MOLLY CENTER GAVE UP $2 MILLION WORTH OF LAND TO MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN. DEVELOPERS AND LAND BANKERS ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS FOR THE, FOR THE ROAD TO BE REBUILT BEFORE STARTING THEIR OWN PROJECTS. I'M FRUSTRATED BY THIS PAUSE AND I'M TALKING TO MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT IT. OVER FOUR MONTHS, I'VE TALKED TO 100 NEIGHBORS AT TABLES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SENT OVER 50 PEOPLE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT. WHAT GOES, WHAT TIME HAS EXPIRED? CAN I CONTINUE? I HAVE ONE MORE SENTENCE. UM, WHAT GOOD IS THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS? IF A SMALL GROUP CAN REVERSE OUR HARD WORK, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO SHOW YOU THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS PROJECT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT JACKSON FOR THE PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE TIFFANY, RACHEL, TO SPEAK NEXT. THANK YOU. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. RACHEL. SHE WAS THE TIFFANY. RACHEL. HELLO, MY NAME IS TIFFANY ROCHELLE. I AM THE MOTHER OF JALEN RANDALL, WHO WAS TRAGIC, MURDERED ON APRIL THE 27TH, 2022 BY SHANE PRITT AND OFFICER EMPLOYED BY HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. DESPITE HAVING BODY CAMS, OFFICER PRIVY DID NOT GIVE MY SON A CHANCE TO SURRENDER. HE MADE DISTURBING STATEMENTS. HE WILL NOT, HE'S NOT GONNA LIVE TO LEAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEN UP UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, HE SHOT MY SON WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING A STATEMENT. OH S**T. THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT WAS CAPTURED ON THE POLICE BODY CAM. DESPITE THE EVIDENCE THAT THE DA'S CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY KIMBERLY CLARK PRESENTED TO THE CASE TO THE GRAND JURY, RESULTED IN A NO BILL, IT IS PERPLEXING WHEN THE DA WHO'S USUALLY SECURES INDICTMENTS FAILED TO DO SO IN SUCH A CLEAR CASE AND WRONGDOING. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME. THIS IS NOT THE OFFICER FIRST TIME USING EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST A AFRICAN AMERICAN. YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD BE A LIABILITY TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT NOT ACCOUNTABLE. THE FLAWS IN THE PROCESS ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND NO ONE SHOULD ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY. IF TIME HAD EXPIRED, YOU CAN FINISH FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THE JUSTICE SYSTEM [01:20:01] SHOULD PREVAIL AND OFFICIALS, THE OFFICIALS LIKE KIM A WHO INDICTED A SHERIFF OFFICER A WEEK LATER DO NOT EXPIRE. CONFIDENCE KIM ARG IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO FIXED BROKEN SYSTEM. WE NEED SOMEONE HONEST, COMMITTED TO BUILDING A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ADDRESSING, ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE OVER POLICING THAT AFFECT EVERYONE. PROSECUTIONS SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON SKIN COLOR. LAW ENFORCEMENTS MUST NOT ACT AS A JUDGE, JURY, OR PROSECUTOR TO ENSURE A SAFE COMMUNITY. WE MUST ELIMINATE CORRUPT POLICE OFFICERS AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE LAW. ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FAILED TO INFORM US ABOUT AN INTENT TO PUBLICIZED CASE BEFORE THE MEDIA. TO THIS DATE THERE, THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT FROM THE DA'S DA OFFICE, CITY COUNCIL, OR ANYONE ON BEHALF OF MY SON LEAVING US UNINFORMED AND DISTRESSED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AS ANOTHER LAYER OF INJUSTICE TO ALREADY GRIEVANCE SITUATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO DEMAND THAT THEY RESEND MY SON'S CASE BACK TO THE GRAND JURY AND ALLOW A, ALLOW A MORE EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY TO PRESENT THIS CASE ALL OVER AGAIN. WE WERE IN THIS PLACE BEFORE WE CAME HERE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE SPOKE TO Y'ALL ON LAST YEAR, AND NOW IT'S MY SON'S ANNIVERSARY ON SATURDAY. AND NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME, THE ONES THAT SAID THAT THEY WERE GONNA CONTACT ME AFTER WE CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU DID NOT COME AND CONTACT US ON NO BEHALF. SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR ACTION AND I'M ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, ROBERT NORRIS. ROBERT NORRIS, TIFFANY SCALES. GOOD AFTERNOON. IN SPITE OF EVERY ATTEMPT MADE TO DESTROY PRIDE HOUSTON 365, YOU WILL NOT BREAK OUR PRIDE. WE ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE 46 YEARS OF PROGRESSION AND WE INVITE YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO OUR EVENTS. MAY 5TH READY? UH, WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING OUR GRAND MARSHALS. MAY 11TH. WE'LL CELEBRATE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH FOR READY TO EXHALE MAY 17TH. WE'LL BE DOING A SKATE NIGHT FOR SOBER COMMUNITY. JUNE 1ST WE'LL BE HAVING HARM, HARMONY IN MOTION FOR SOUND, BATHING AND YOGA. JUNE 2ND IS OUR PRIDE KICKOFF AT KARBACH. JUNE 16TH IS OUR RECEPTION FOR OUR GRAND MARSHALS. JUNE 22ND IS SOAKED. OUR POOL PARTY. JUNE 26TH, IS OUR ROCK THE RUNWAY FASHION SHOW. THIS THEME IS KALEIDOSCOPE. WE INVITE YOU TO COME AND DRESS UP AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. JUNE 28TH IS EDEN OUR GIRL PLUS PARTY. YOU ARE ALL INVITED. AND JUNE 29TH, WE WANT YOU THERE FOR OUR 46TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF PRIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, KENDRA WALKER. HI, I'M KENDRA WALKER. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF PRIDE HOUSTON, AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE WITH MY BOARD. WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO OUR 46TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH. WE ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS CONCERNS AS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD OVER THE LAST YEARS, HOW BIG OF A STRAIN PRIDE IS ON THE RESOURCES OF THE CITY. AND WE HOPE THAT THE CITY CAN SUPPORT TWO CELEBRATIONS A WEEK APART. AND WE HOPE THAT THE CITY IS IMPARTIAL AND FAIR TO BOTH GROUPS. I ALSO SEE THAT THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY, BUT THE PEOPLE OF MY COMMUNITY DID NOT ASK FOR TWO PRIDE PARADES. WE BELIEVE IN ONE PRIDE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. UH, MA'AM, PLEASE, UH, MS. WALKER. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU. KENDRA. I I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS TODAY, BUT I DID BECAUSE I'VE WORKED MOST CLOSELY WITH YOU THROUGH PRIDE 1665. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. IN THE PAST I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS A GRAND MARSHAL. UM, I STILL CONTINUE TO BE HONORED BY THAT TITLE AND THE, ALL THE WORK THAT'S DONE. I KNOW THE MAYOR, UM, AND OTHERS HAVE, HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMING TOGETHER, UM, IN ONE, IN ONE PARADE, IN ONE EFFORT? I JUST WANTED TO KNOW YOUR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WEREN'T PRESENTED WITH THAT. THIS WAS DONE IN SECRET. WE FOUND OUT WITH MOST OF YOU, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT MONTHS, DIFFERENT SEASONS. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ONE, DO THE FESTIVAL, ONE DO THE PARADE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WE HOST THIS YEAR, THEY HOST NEXT YEAR. THERE WERE ALL SORT OF OPTIONS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE TABLE. BUT 60 DAYS OUT, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MALIGNED. OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MARGINALIZED. OUR COMMUNITY [01:25:01] HAS NOT BEEN HEARD. NO ONE IN THE COMMUNITY WANTS THIS. A SELECT VIEW FROM WHAT WE HEARD, USE THEIR CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY TO BRING THIS ABOUT. AND WE HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE IS A SOLUTION. BUT I LOOK TO YOU TO SEE WHAT IS A FEASIBLE SOLUTION. WE HAVE OVER 150 PAID REGISTRANTS RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S NOT EVEN MAY. WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER TEAM OF 700 AND WE ALSO HAVE PAID SPONSORS OF 40 AND WE HAVE PAPERWORK TO BACK THAT UP. I FEEL THAT WE CANNOT MOVE OUR CELEBRATION AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WILLING TO WORK THIS OUT IN JULY WHEN THIS WAS BEING DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THANK YOU. JUST SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. EVAN SHA. EVAN SHABBAT. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU KENDRA. I TELL YOU, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT PARADE, ESPECIALLY WITH IT BEING AT NIGHT. UH, WHOEVER ORGANIZED THAT, I'M TELLING YOU THAT IS THE BOMB. OH, EXCUSE ME, TO HAVE IT. . WE ARE THE LARGEST NIGHT TIME, TIME IN THE SUMMER. I TELL YOU. IT'S SOME THINKERS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU KENDRA FOR BEING HERE AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT'S HERE FROM PRIDE HOUSTON. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF SHOW SUPPORT. UM, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND, AND JUST BEING OPEN TO COMING TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE. UH, BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A PATH TO THAT. UM, AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE TALKED, WE MET THIS MORNING. YES. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. AND YOU HAVE THE ONE TO FIND A PATH. YES, EXACTLY. AND UH, AND YOU HAVE PUBLICLY STATED YES, THAT, THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THAT. AND THAT IS A GOOD FIRST STEP. BUT, UM, I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT. AND, UH, I'M OPTIMISTIC, CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, UH, THAT, THAT WE CAN GET THERE. WELL, HOPEFULLY THE PERMITTING PROCESS WILL BE REVIEWED AND WE WILL UNDERSTAND HOW WE COME TO HAVE TWO CELEBRATIONS, NOT MONTHS APART, BUT EIGHT WEEK APART. IT DOES SEEM ON THE SURFACE TOO, THAT THIS WAS DONE TO SUPPLANT THIS 46-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION OVER PETTY DISAGREEMENTS. THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ALMOST HALF A CENTURY. UH, MS. WALKER, LET ME ASK YOU, WOULD YOU SPECULATE WHAT YOU THINK THE IMPACT WILL BE WHEN YOU HAVE TWO? UH, THE IMPACT ON EITHER ONE OF 'EM? CERTAINLY THE ORIGINAL LONGEST RECOGNIZED NOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER SAME IDENTICAL EVENT ALONG THE SAME ROUTE. SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR MIND IN TERMS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR ENTHUSIASM OF THE PUBLIC? OKAY. UH, YOUR FRIENDS, I GET IT. THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE COMMUNITY. WILL IT CONFUSE PEOPLE TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD FORM? THEY'RE ALREADY CONFUSED AND THE SPONSORS ARE CONFUSED. YOU ARE CONFUSED. . UM, THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE IT'S IN JUNE. THE HEAT. DO WE REALLY EXPECT THE ELDERLY TO COME OUT TWICE? DO WE REALLY EXPECT KIDS TO BE EXPOSED TO THAT TWICE? WE HAVE FRIENDS FOR FAMILIES, UM, PRIDE FOR FAMILIES IN THE DAYTIME DUE TO KIDS NEEDING NAPS. UM, WE ALSO HAVE SPONSORS WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CHOICE THEY CAN'T AFFORD BOTH. WE HAVE SOME WHO LITERALLY SAID, OKAY, I'M GONNA SIT ON THE SIDELINES. YOU HAVE SOME THAT HAVE SPLIT THEIR SPONSORSHIPS DOWN THE MIDDLE AND YOU HAVE SOME WHO ARE JUST GONNA REMAIN LOYAL TO THE ORIGINAL AND YOU JUST HAVE SOME THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO DO BOTH. BOTH OF US ARE CHARGING THE TICKET PRICE. LEMME ASK SOMETHING. EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING. I'M SORRY. I SHARE YOUR CONCERN. HAVE THERE BEEN A DIALOGUE EXPRESSING THE CONCERNS WITH THE NEW PRIDE CONSCIENCE? NO ONE EVER CONTACTED US. NO. I GOT THAT COMPLAINT. I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S A DIALOGUE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD. BUT NOW THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, HAS THERE BEEN A SIT DOWN TO EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT NO. THERE'S BEEN NO DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TICKLES AND THE BENEFITS OF COMING TOGETHER BECAUSE YOU JUST EXPRESSED CONCERNS, WHICH I THINK MANY OF US SHARE. DO THE NEW SPONSORS AND THE NEW ORGANIZERS UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS? THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT EGOS OR TURF OR I HOPE NOT MONEY. NO. BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT TO QUOTE THE NEED TO, TO UNIFY AND NOT CONFUSE THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY NOT LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. I AM GOING TO QUOTE THE PRESIDENT OF NEW FACES OF PRIDE FROM A RECENT INTERVIEW. ONE OF US WILL BE PHASED OUT AND I AM CERTAIN NEW FACES OF PRIDE WILL BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE CITY LOVES US HERE. SO [01:30:02] I'M OPEN AND WE HAVE BEEN OPEN. WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU HAVE TO WANT TO FIND A PATH FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND. TAKES TWO TO THANK YOU. NEGOTIATE. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT. AUSTIN WILLIAMS. OKAY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? THIS IS SO EXCITING TO SEE. THIS IS VERY COOL. I HAVE NOTHING. I'M WITH, I'M AUSTIN DEXTER WILLIAMS. I'M WITH PRIDE HOUSTON. I'M THE OUTREACH DIRECTOR. I REALLY HAVE NOTHING BECAUSE EVERYONE STOLE ALL MY GREAT LINES. UH, BUT WE'RE VOLUNTEERS. WE DO THIS FOR FREE. OKAY. WE DO THIS 'CAUSE WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. ALRIGHT. AND AFTER THE, THE LAST PARADE, WE WERE EXCITED. WE WERE EXCITED, WE WERE THINKING WE WERE GONNA GET A CELEBRATION RECOGNITION, AND WE GOT GUT PUNCHED WITH THIS OTHER GROUP THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. IT'S LIKE WE'RE BEING DUMPED ON. I'M UPSET. THIS HURTS. I LOVE MY COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE NOT TAKING IT AWAY FROM US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT LUMI. MUTAR. GOOD, HONORABLE MAYOR AND ESTEEM COUNCIL OF MEMBERS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ULU ME MUTAR. IT IS A, IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR THAT I ADDRESS YOU TODAY AS A FELLOW OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED DEPARTMENT OF STATE IX COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM, REPRESENTING FREE MY TIME HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY ENGAGING. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN YOUR CITY'S DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES AND LEARN FROM IT OF OUTSTANDING IN INITIATIVE. THROUGHOUT MY STAY, I HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE THE VITAL ROLE THAT NON-PROFITS PLAY IN SHAPING AND ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS WITHIN COMMUNITIES. MOREOVER, I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE PARALLELS BETWEEN HOUSTON AND FRI, PARTICULARLY OUR SHARED COASTAL LOCATION ALONG THE LATIN OCEAN. AS FRITA UNDERGOES OPEN GOD, I SEE IT TREMENDOUS VALUE IN ESTABLISHING A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE USING CAS SERVE AS A SISTER CITY, LEVERAGING HOUSTON URBAN PLANNING, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAN PROVIDE INVALUABLE MENTORSHIP TO SALI, TO FREETOWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT EVANGEL. MACKLIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME AGAIN IS EVANGEL MACKLIN AND I LIVE IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA. MY GRANDPARENTS BUILT A HOUSE IN 1957, COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN YOU WERE NOT MARRIED, BUT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME OUT AND, YOU KNOW, DO SOME THINGS OR WHATEVER. BUT THAT NEVER OCCURRED. MY GRANDMOTHER HAS THIS, SHE'S PASSED NOW. SHE PASSED AT 97 AND THE HOUSE WAS BUILT. AND, SORRY, I HAD ALL OF MY TEETH PULLED OUT, SO I MAY SOUND A LITTLE, UM, SHE DIED AT 97. SHE WOULD'VE BEEN 98 IN APRIL. THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN AND I'VE COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL. IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE REDONE. IT NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN. AND THERE ARE HOLES AROUND THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE HAD A FENCE SOMEONE HAS COME INTO. AND I LIVE THERE BY MYSELF TOO. AND IT'S NOT SAFE. THERE ARE HOLES AROUND THE FOUNDATION, THE, UM, PARKING, UM, THE DRIVEWAY. OKAY. BUT THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. NO, YOU CAN GO AHEAD, MA'AM. MAY, SIR. SO YOU CAN CONTINUE. I'M LEARNING. OH, OKAY. BUT I JUST WOULDN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE I'VE COME TO THE CITY. I'M SORRY TO, WELL, CITY HALL ON COUNTLESS OCCASIONS, AND I'LL FINISH WITH THIS. MY NEIGHBORS HAVE NEW HOMES FROM THE CITY THAT THEY BUILT. AND OURS IS JUST, LET ME ASK SOMETHING. DO YOU HAVE FAMILY THAT LIVE YOU LIVE ALONE? [01:35:01] I DO. IN THIS HOUSE THAT YOU DESCRIBED, THAT'S GOT ISSUES? YES. OKAY. AND IT WAS WILLED TO ME. BEG YOUR PARDON? IT WAS WILLED TO ME. WILLED TO YOU? MM-HMM . AND YOU LIVE BY YOURSELF? I DO. DO YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE IN THE CITY? I HAVE TONS OF THEM, BUT NO FAMILY. I DO HAVE FAMILY I KNOW, BUT NOT HERE. YEAH. YEAH. THEY'RE IN HOUSTON, BUT THEY JUST DON'T WANNA BE BOTHERED. ARE YOU OWN SSI SOCIAL SECURITY. HOW DO YOU SUPPORT, FOR INSTANCE, PAY YOUR UTILITIES? UH, SSDI, MA'AM. SSDI. YEAH. S-S-D-I-I HAVE EPILEPSY. SO WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING HERE TODAY? FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE? NO, I WANT IT TO BE REDONE LIKE THE OTHER RESIDENTS HAS. YOU KNOW, YOU WANT IT BECAUSE THEY TORE THEIR HOMES DOWN TOO. AND THE HOUSE IS VERY OLD. I MEAN, I TRY TO KEEP IT. I KNOW. IF WE, IF YOU GOT ASSISTANCE TEARING IT DOWN, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE? WELL, SEE, WE GOT A DOUBLE, WE GOT, WELL, WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT THAT. OKAY. IF YOU, IF YOU HAD ASSISTANCE TEARING IT DOWN, BEFORE YOU DO THAT, YOU NEED A PLACE TO RESIDE. RIGHT. AND I THINK WE COULD HELP YOU WITH THAT. OKAY. THE TEARING DOWN IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. I, I PERSONALLY WOULD HAVE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS, BUT I THINK YOUR WELFARE SHOULD BE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. AND THEY, THEY'VE TORN DOWN HOUSES IN THE CITY HAD BUILT THEM. SURE. MAYBE IT'S ABOUT FOUR, FIVE. I HAVE FIVE ON MY STREET, BUT THEY NEVER OKAY. AND I CAME HERE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER, UH, BEFORE SHE PASSED, AND SHE, YOU KNOW, SIGNED HER UP OR WHATEVER, BUT NOTHING EVER OCCURRED. SURE. LET ME CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAS. OKAY. THANK YOU. MS. MACKLIN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH INGRAM AT THE DOOR. MM-HMM . UM, SHE'S STANDING THERE AND SHE'S WAITING TO SEE HOW WE CAN ASSIST YOU. OKAY. I'M NOT SURE THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE OTHER HOMES. IT COULD HAVE BEEN GLOW OR, YOU KNOW, HARVEY OR SOMETHING THAT, UH, AS TO WHY THEY WERE TORN DOWN. BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, MAY MEAN EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN NAVIGATE YOU. THE LADY RIGHT THERE STANDING BY THE DOOR. AND I, AND ONE, ONE LAST THING. I HAD, YOU KNOW, SOME CONTRACTORS TO COME, BUT IT'S NOT WORTH PATCHING UP BECAUSE EVEN THE, THE FLOOR IS COMING UP. THE GARAGE IS CRACKED. YOU KNOW, THE SURROUNDING OF THE HOUSE ON THE OUTSIDE TOO IS BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT IN 1957 AND THEY WERE NOT, UM, MY GRANDPARENTS, THEY WERE VERY PRIDE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PRIDEFUL PEOPLE. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT MINE FROM. BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST, IT WAS DISHEARTENING TO ME WHEN THE CITY WENT AROUND BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE HOMES IN THAT AREA THAT THE CITY HAS REBUILT, TORN DOWN, AND REBUILT. AND SO I KEPT, I, AND THIS IS MY LAST, UM, I SAID, THIS IS NOT WORDS. KEEP PATCHING IT UP. IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY. AND I'M SURE DEVELOPERS ARE TRYING TO GET YOU TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY. YES. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO. ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE IT WAS INHERITANCE. SO YOU'LL GET WITH INGRAM, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO HELP YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS. ONE, ONE MOMENT. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, IF I MAY OFFER SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. UM, UH, MA'AM, DO YOU HAVE, ARE YOU ON THE TITLE ON THE DEED OF THAT HOME? I AM. YOU ARE? MM-HMM . OKAY. 'CAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S THE, UM, TIPPING POINT FOR DENIAL. THERE IS A PROCESS WITHIN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO, FOR, TO ESCALATE A TEAR DOWN. OKAY. SO, UM, WHEN YOU GET WITH MS. EGRET, SHE'S GONNA GET YOUR INFORMATION AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT AN APPLICATION CAN BE SUBMITTED. BUT HOWEVER, THERE, THERE IS A WAITING LIST. BUT FOR THE MAYOR'S POINT ABOUT, UM, YOUR INCOME QUALIFICATIONS, THERE MAY BE A PATHWAY TO ESCALATE THAT. THAT ALSO WE HAVE TO STABILIZE YOU WHILE THERE'S A TEAR DOWN. AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN STABILIZE. AND SO WE DO HAVE A SERIES OF HOMES THAT ARE ON A, UH, ON A WAIT LIST AND THEY'RE WORKING TO, TO RESOLVE THAT. BUT, UM, BASED ON YOUR INCOME, YOU COULD BE ESCALATED. SO MS. INGRID'S GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH THAT WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. OKAY? UM, AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT APPLICATION SO WE CAN GET THAT PROCESS THROUGH. OKAY? AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. ONE SECOND, MA'AM. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. WANT TO, UH, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY? MS. MACKLE, YOU LIVE IN SUNNYSIDE, YOU SAID? I DO. AT 49 0 1 BRINKLEY STREET IS WHAT? ON THE CORNER? WHAT? 49 0 1 BRINKLEY BRINK BRINK. BRINKLEY BRINKLEY. YES. GOOD. THE CODE 7 7 0 3 3. GOOD. AND, AND WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND WELL IS SHABA WAS SAYING UNDER THE CONDITIONS AND THE TERMS BY WHICH WE CAN HELP AND ASSIST YOU. WE, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ASK FOR EXTENDED HELP OUTSIDE OF WHAT ALL OF WHAT THE CITY CAN DO. SOMETIMES, UH, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS CAN ASSIST [01:40:01] WITH THAT. BUT I, I WOULD, I'LL GO THROUGH INGRAM AND, UH OKAY. TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU OUT. RICK, WHO SAYS SPEAK? UM, HERE YOU GO. MA'AM, IF YOU'LL GO RIGHT OVER HERE, YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME HELP. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME. YEAH. STAY IN TOUCH. NEXT BILL, JUDGE BILL LITTLEJOHN. JUDGE BILL LITTLEJOHN. MAYOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE. AND, AND THERE SIX OTHER COUNCIL PERSONS. AND, UH, SATURDAY I WAS AT A MEETING WHERE MS. THOMAS WAS HONORED. I BELIEVE SHE RECEIVED A SUM CU WAIT, SAY THAT AGAIN. YOU KNOW, I'M SENSITIVE. YOU SAID SOMETHING. WHAT? IT WAS ABOUT 600 LAWYERS. THEY HAD A MEETING. YOU WERE ON THE PROGRAM THERE. THEY RECOGNIZED YOU. OH, OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. BUT NEVERTHELESS, OH, THEN NO. WHAT? OKAY. I'M SORRY TO DISRUPT EVERYTHING. I HOPE YOU ALL GOT THIS PACKET CHECK HERE. OKAY. THAT'S SOME SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL. AND I ALSO HAVE A BADGE HERE FOR THE MAYOR. IT'S, I LIKE IKE. UH, YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE IN AMERICA. YOU WON'T SEE THIS UNLESS YOU GET IT FROM SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL. SO I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT FOR YOU. MAYOR. ALSO, I'M ON THE BOARD OF SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL. I WAS APPOINTED BY, ALONG WITH MS. FATIMA, WHICH IS OVER THERE TO BE OVER THE STRATEGY COMMITTEE FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. BUT SOME OF YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, WHAT IS SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL? WELL, THE KOREA WAR STARTED IN 1950. THE LATER THE PRESIDENT DWIGHT DI AND I CREATED SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL IN 1956 AS A 5 0 1 C3 NON-PARTISAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD AND FINISH FOR A NETWORK THAT WOULD BE A CHAMPION FOR PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND FOR PROS. FOSTERING BONDS BETWEEN PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THAT IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. SISTER CITIES. MISS SISTER SUSAN YOUNG, WHO'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL SISTER CITIES. UH, HOUSTON HAS 19 SISTER CITIES. UH, THIS PAST FRIDAY, MR. MAYOR, OUR CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD, CAME AND SPOKE TO MR. CHRIS OLSON AND SOME OF YOUR OTHER STAFF PEOPLE. UH, HE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT HE CAME TO TALK ABOUT ALL AMERICA SUMMIT, WHICH WILL BE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, MAY 28TH THROUGH THE 31ST. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN ATTEND. WE'RE WORKING TO HAVE 35 COUNTRIES FROM THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THIS SUMMIT WILL BRING TOGETHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, CITIZEN DIPLOMATS, AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS. I WANT TO SAY ALSO THANK YOU MS. SHABAZZ AND MR. OLSON FOR TRYING TO HELP US DO THE SISTER CITY, MONROVIA AND LIBERIA. MONROVIA, LIBERIA AND HOUSTON. UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT. LAST YEAR IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, WHICH WAS FEBRUARY 22ND, WE CREATED AN ORGANIZATION TO BUILD 500 AFRICAN AMERICAN SISTER CITIES WITH AFRICA. AMERICA HAS OVER 19,000 TOWNS AND CITIES, AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THIS. SO THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. I WAS IN, UH, MONROVIA MARCH 1ST OF THIS YEAR, AND I MET WITH THE MAYOR THEN MR. SFA. HE WILL BE HERE AT THE SAME CONFERENCE, HOPEFULLY AT THE ALL AMERICA SUMMIT. I WAS ALSO GRANTED THE PRIVILEGE TO SEE THE PRESIDENT, MR. MR. BOKA. THEY BOTH WERE INTERESTED IN SISTER CITIES AND BEING AFFILIATED WITH HOUSTON. I HAVE HERE, YOU'LL HAVE TO WRAP IT UP, JUDGE. OKAY. THIS IS SOMETHING WITH LARRY KING WHO USED TO SIT RIGHT HERE. AND HE AND I WERE IN MONROVIA YEARS AGO, 2013. AND I KNOW HE IS LOOKING AT US RIGHT NOW. SO, THANK YOU, LARRY. AND LASTLY, THERE'S A MAGAZINE IN THERE CALLED IF MAGAZINE THAT IS PUBLISHED BY A LOCAL MERCHANT, MR. THOMPSON. HE DID THE SAME THING IN ATLANTA, AND NOW HE'S DOING THE SAME MAGAZINE IN MONROVIA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU. MAYOR. JUDGES, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY, ESPECIALLY WITH SISTER CITIES. I JUST GOT BACK FROM GUATEMALA CITY YESTERDAY ON A TRADE MISSION. THEY ARE INTERESTED IN BEING SISTER CITIES. ALSO VISITED TAIPEI CITY LAST YEAR, OUR FIRST SISTER CITY. UM, AND SO THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, IS NECESSARY. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE A GLOBAL CITY BY OPENING UP [01:45:01] AND GOING BEYOND OUR BORDERS TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR INFORMATION AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ED PETIT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL. IN ADDITION TO SERVING MY COMMUNITY LOCALLY AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE THIRD WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, I ALSO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE, UH, INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE BOARD KNOWN AS IRE. UH, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM A FEW OF THE FELLOWS HERE IN HOUSTON. THEY WERE SELECTED OUT OF A POOL OF 6,700 APPLICANTS, AND THEY REPRESENT 80 COUNTRIES. ONLY 140 WERE CHOSEN TO COME TO THE US. THAT'S A 2% ACCEPTANCE RATE. 14 OF THEM CAME TO HOUSTON, ONE OF THEM ESCAPED A WAR ZONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FELLOWSHIP. SO THESE ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED, HIGHLY QUALIFIED YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK WITH US FOR THREE MONTHS. ONE OF THEM WASN'T ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY. MARCELLA GARRY ESCALADE. SO I'M GONNA SAY A COUPLE THINGS THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING ON. HE'S BEEN WORKING ON A TREE CANOPY STUDY AND A LIGHT STUDY FOR THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL. I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE MAYOR FOR SUBMITTING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR OUR LIGHTING TO CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE TO GET FEDERAL FUNDING TO INSTALL THAT LIGHTING. AND JUST THIS MORNING I HAD A VERY POSITIVE MEETING WITH THE VISIONARY DIRECTOR OF TREES FOR HOUSTON ABOUT GETTING 500 TREES FOR THE TRIAL. GOOD TIME. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ED. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. DID YOU COMPLETE YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS? YES. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER . IT'S ON. SIR, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, HONORABLE MEMBERS AND THE TEAM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL HONORABLE MAYOR, AND THE C CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HASSAN KKI FROM KENYA. I'M HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND SHARE A GLIMPSE OF MY TRANSFORMATION EXPERIENCE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM. DURING MY TIME HERE, I'VE COLLABORATED WITH THE ROTARY CLUB OF HOUSTON, SCOTLAND AND ENGAGED IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE PLANTING TREES AND ESTABLISHING POLLINATOR GARDENS AT TEXAS EIGHT MEMORIAL GARDEN. FOUNDED BY MICHAEL LEE AND JAMES BUTTE PARK, FOUNDED BY KIRK FERRIES, I ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THEM WITH MORE TREES, INCREASED BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS AND, UH, INSTALLATION OF WATER METERS AND IRRIGATION TO HELP THE NEWLY PLANTED TREES TO SURVIVE HOUSTON'S DROUGHT. ONE HIGHLIGHT WAS EXPLORING HOUSTON'S EXTENSIVE BICYCLE TRAILS WHERE I WITNESSED THE CITY COMMENDABLE EFFORTS TO URBAN LIVING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION. AT THE SAME TIME, I EMPLOY THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING MULTIMODAL OPTIONS AND TRANSIT CONNECTIVITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIRD, WHAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, SIR. MR. HASSAN? YEP. UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A, A FEW SECONDS, UH, TO WRAP IT UP AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. OKAY. UH, I IMPLORE THE CITY COUNCIL TO, TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING MULTIMODAL OPTIONS AND TRANSIT CONNECTIVITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIRD WARD BY CONTINUING TO BUILD OUT THE HOUSTON BIKE PLAN, ESPECIALLY CONNECTIONS LIKE M**K GO STREET AND OFF AND OFF STREET SHARE USED PARTS FOR WHICH RESIDENTS AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE DR. CAROLYN EVAN CHABA HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE COMMITMENT TO GREEN SPACES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING NOT ONLY YOUR WORK, BUT YOUR COLLEAGUES' WORK AS WELL. YEAH. HOW LONG WILL YOU BE IN THE CITY? UH, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE FEBRUARY. THIS IS MY THIRD MONTH. SO WE ARE ENDING AT 28 20 NINTH. I'LL BE FLYING TO WASHINGTON, DC FOR THE CLOSING, UH, CEREMONY. AND WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT THE CITY? UH, OF COURSE THE BIKE TRAILS. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, UH, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING HOW WE HAVE SUCH BIKE TRAILS AND, UH, THE WAY THAT PEOPLE OF COURSE, UH, DO RESPECT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THAT IS ONE THING THAT I ENJOYED ABOUT THE CITY. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ENJOY THE REST OF THE TIME. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. JEANETTE ARAN, HONORABLE MAYOR AND THE ESTEEM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM JEANETTE DANCE IN EXCHANGE FELLOW FROM RWANDA CURRENT RESIDING IN HOUSTON SINCE [01:50:01] FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. DURING MY TIME IN IN HOUSTON, I'VE OFTEN HEARD THE PHRASE, YOU ARE LUCKY YOU DIDN'T COME IN SUMMER BECAUSE YOU WOULD HATE HEX TEXAS. WHILE THIS COMMENT COME, UH, FREQUENTLY, IT HIGHLIGHT THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE LACKING IN BE IN BENEATH THE SURFACE OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT. WORKING WITH DIFF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION LIKE THE BULLARD CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE GAVE ME INSIGHT ON THE, ON THE SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. LIKE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RIDING BICYCLE AND SCOOT HAS BEEN, UH, EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR ME DURING MY PROGRAM. BUT I FACED THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING, UH, A SAFE BIKE LANE, ESPECIALLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE UNION ALONG ALL THE SPANISH TRAY. SO I, I URGE THE, THE EMPHASIZING OF, UH, OKAY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME. OKAY. I WAS TALKING LIKE I EACH TO PRIORITIZE THE ENHANCEMENT OF BIKE LANE AND SIDEWALK AIMING THE FOSTER HEALTH HERE AND MORE INCLUSIVE HOUSTON FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, ANNA TAYLOR. HI, THIS IS AT HARED AND I'M A CEA FELLOW AS WELL. I'M A 23 YEARS OLD PALESTINIAN EGYPTIAN YOUTH ACTIVIST. I SURVIVED FOR MILITARY AGGRESSIONS IN THE GAZA STRIP AND THE CURRENT GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE. I ENDURED 45 DAYS IN THE 7TH OF OCTOBER, AND I WAS PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO BE EVACUATED BY THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY THANKS TO HOLDING THE EGYPTIAN NATIONALITY. AND TODAY, MARKS DAY 200 OF THIS GOING IN GEN GENOCIDE AS STORIES, DREAMS, AND BUILDINGS IN GAZA BEING DEMOLISHED EACH SINGLE MINUTE. THIS IS MY COUSIN ROSE. SHE'S SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND, UM, SHE COULDN'T REMOVE HER HANDS AT ANY GIVEN POINT BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T, SHE'S NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THIS. THE, THE HIVA SOUNDS OF BOMBARDMENT. AND SHE'S SEVEN YEARS OLD AND NOW DISPLACED IN RAFA. SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN A JUST AND PEACE ENVIRONMENT. I'M LEAVING HOUSTON NEXT WEEK, AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR THIS INCREDIBLE AND DIVERSE AND WELCOMING EXPERIENCE AND FEELING LIKE HOME. I WILL BE STRIVING FOR A CEASEFIRE WHERE I CAN WELCOME YOU ALL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BEACH OF GAZA, PALESTINE. AND ON THE BEHALF OF MY PEOPLE UNDER FIRE, WE LOVE LIFE AND WE ARE NOT NUMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ANGELA JACKSON HARDY. ANGELA JACKSON HARDY. NEXT SPEAKER, VIRGINIA SMITH. VIRGINIA SMITH. NEXT SPEAKER, CHARLES HOLLIS. CHARLES HOLLIS. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS CHARLES HOLLIS. I'M A RESIDENT OF RIVERSIDE TERRACE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY ABOUT THE SCOURGE OF NON-OWNER OCCUPIED SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN OUR CITY. LIVING HELL AND A HUB FOR CRIME ARE JUST SOME OF, SOME OF THE NOMENCLATURE USED TO DESCRIBE WHAT IT'S LIKE LIVING IN PROXIMITY TO THEM. PERSISTENT CIVIL VIOLATIONS ARE MAKING THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS A LONG-TERM MESS FOR US. IN THE PACKET I PREPARED FOR YOU, I DETAILED THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE 3,600 BLOCK OF GRIGGS ROAD. THIS 14 UNIT TOWNHOUSE COMPLEX CONSISTS OF NINE NON-OWNER OCCUPIED SHORT-TERM RENTALS NEARLY EVERY WEEKEND, DOZENS OF QUOTE UNQUOTE GUESTS CRAM INTO THIS TINY 18,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT AND NEARLY EVERY WEEKEND WE CALL HPD FOR VIOLATIONS OF NOISE, CARS BLOCKING THE STREETS AND DRIVEWAYS, TRESPASSING, FIGHTING, LEWD BEHAVIOR, AND DRUG USE. IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS ALONE, HPD HAS BEEN CALLED FOUR TIMES TWICE ON PAST TUESDAY, THE BUILDER OF THIS COMPLEX HAS A COPY PASTE BLUEPRINT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. YOU KNOW, BY TIME IN CLOSING, TOO MUCH DEFERENCE IS BEING SHOWN BY THIS COUNCIL TO POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGES. AND THE PROFIT MOTIVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING LEGISLATION INFRINGES ON THE RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS TO EARN MONEY. BUT THESE ARE NOT RESIDENTS THAT OWN THESE PROPERTIES, AS YOU WILL SEE DETAILED IN THESE PACKETS. IN MOST CASES, THESE ARE PROFITEERS [01:55:01] FROM OTHER CITIES, OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, AND EVEN OTHER STATES. WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHTS? WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHT TO PEACEFUL SANCTITUDE AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MY PROPERTY? THAT SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY OF THIS COUNCIL. NON-OWNER OCCUPIED SHORT-TERM RENTALS SHOULD NOT EXIST IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. YOU WANNA RUN OUT YOUR HOMESTEAD AND HAVE FOLKS STAYING IN YOUR HOUSE FOR A PITANCE, THAT'S FINE, DO YOU? BUT IF YOU WANT TO CARPET BAG A COMMUNITY BY INVESTING IN SHORT TERM RENTALS, IT SHOULD BE DONE IN A COMMERCIAL AREA OR IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S WELL PAST TIME. THIS CITY COUNCIL DID SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, BRO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEMP BRO. HOLLIS, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ON ADE, THESE, THESE, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS. YES, SIR. OKAY. HOW LONG, HOW LONG HAVE YOU RESIDE IN BUILDING THIS COMMUNITY? I HAVE, I TOOK MY FIRST STEPS ON CLEBURNE RIGHT ACROSS FROM JACKIE YATES HIGH SCHOOL. I MOVED AND WAS RAISED IN SUNNYSIDE, BUT AFTER I FINISHED COLLEGE, I MOVED BACK TO THIRD WARD. I'VE RAISED ALL OF MY CHILDREN IN THE THIRD WARD. SO I'M A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF THE SOUTH SIDE. UH, BUT PRIMARILY A SUNNYSIDE AND THIRD WARD. AND, AND THE EFFECTS OF THIS, I MEAN, YOU SAY THIS IS HAPPENING WEEKLY, THIS CONDITION OF CALLING THE POLICE ON ALL OF THE, THE, THE NUISANCE AND ALL THIS HAS BEEN A WEEKLY PROCESS. WEEKLY IS HYPERBOLE PASTOR, UH, NEARLY WEEKLY. UH, I CAN REALLY COUNT MORE TIMES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED THAN THEY HAVE NOT. AND I WASN'T ABLE TO, TO DETAIL IN MY COMMENTS. BUT THE PROPRIETOR OF THIS COMPLEX ACROSS THE STREET HAS A COPY AND PASTE CONSTRUCTION MODEL THAT HE HAS FORMED. HE BUILT AN EXACT CARBON COPY IN THE 4,100 BLOCK OF GRIGGS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SCOTT. WHAT HE DOES, HE HAS A CADRE OF INVESTORS THAT FOLLOW HIM FROM CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES WHO BUY THESE LOW PRICED TOWNHOMES. NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DWELLING, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF RENTING THEM OUT AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS. COUNSEL, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SCOURGE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS. WHAT WAS DESIGNED AS A VACATION RESPITE FOR PEOPLE OR AN ALTERNATE TO HOTELS, HAS BECOME A BUSINESS MODEL FOR THESE INVESTORS FROM OUT OF STATE. THE PEOPLE FROM CALIFORNIA HAVE A TOTAL OF FOUR UNITS ON GRIGGS ALONE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE RADIUS. THOSE ARE NOT HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, PASTOR. OKAY. NOW, OF COURSE THERE ARE, THERE ARE COUNCIL, UH, CITY COUNCILORS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHO ARE REALLY CONCERNED ESPECIALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE LANDLORD OWNERS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO. SO I THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE, UH, ADDRESSED. I'D LIKE TO TALK MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AND, UM, AND ALSO TO KIND OF SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS DIRECTIONAL? IT'S GOING YES, SIR. AS, AS, AS YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED. SERIOUS ISSUE. YES, SIR. YOUR, YOUR BIRTHPLACE. AND IT IS, THIS PARTICULAR UNIT IS IN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE HOMES OF MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL. MM-HMM . A FORMER CITY CONTROLLER, A DISTRICT JUDGE, AND A US CONGRESSPERSON. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. WE, UH, THANK YOU MR. HOLLIS. I WANNA INVITE YOU ON SATURDAY. I AM HOSTING A D RESTRICTIONS WORKSHOP. UM, I THINK THERE'S SOME MEMBERS FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE, HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THIS PARTICULAR REASON. UH, AND I BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT HOW WE ADDRESS LOCALLY SHORT TERM RENTALS. BUT I DO THINK IF YOU DO HAVE THE SPACE AND TIME, IT'LL ALSO BE BROADCAST ON HTV. SO YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT IT AGAIN. UH, WE WILL HAVE, UH, RIGHTS AND RIGHTS FOR LEGAL COUNSEL SO YOU CAN KNOW ONE WITH YOUR DEEDS. 'CAUSE A LOT OF IT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE IS IN YOUR COVENANTS. SURE. TO RESTRICT THE USE OF THE STRUCTURE, UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CITY LEVEL WITH AN ORDINANCE. BUT IF THE COVENANTS ARE UPDATED TO ADDRESS THAT, YOU HAVE MORE LEVERAGE AND SOME, AND SOME TEETH. SO WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES. UM, AND THEN AS AN ASIDE, YOU WENT TO U OF HI DID INDEED. YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. YEAH. I DID INDEED. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD BROTHER. ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA. THANK YES, THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROTI, I AM ACTUALLY GONNA ATTEND A MEETING TONIGHT AT THE, UH, CIVIC CLUB RIGHT THERE AT THE COURTHOUSE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. WONDERFUL. AND SO PERHAPS YOU CAN JOIN US AND WE CAN TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO, TO, UH, ABATE THIS ISSUE. I'LL BE HAPPY TO COUNCILWOMAN, AS YOU WELL KNOW, UH, PARKWOOD AND RIVERSIDE TERRACE CIVIC CLUBS BORDER EACH OTHER, BUT THERE ARE WEIRD CARVE OUTS ALONG THE GRIGGS CORRIDOR. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS, THAT PLOT OF LAND IS CARVED OUT. SO IT, IT, I I [02:00:01] I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT THE, SO YOU'RE NOT A PART OF THAT CIVIC CLUB IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WELL, THE, THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS NOT RIGHT. AND I'M, I'M IN BETWEEN THE TWO. OKAY. WELL, THE MEETING WILL BE AT THE, UH, WHAT IS IT, THE COURTHOUSE ON? YES. AT 7:00 PM VERY FAMILIAR. AND WE WILL BE DISCUSSING IT, WHICH WOULD IMPACT THE ENTIRE AREA. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. CHARLES, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, YOU, YOU'VE GOTTEN OUR ATTENTION. WE'VE HEARD, I MEAN, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. UM, I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH COMMITTEE WE CAN HEAR THIS IN AND THEN HOW WE CAN BRING SOME, UM, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO, UM, BRING AIRBNB HERE AND, AND SEE, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING, AIRBNB PUT SOME VERY, UM, STRICT REQUIREMENTS AND, AND MAKES IT CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WANT TO NOT BE BAD ACTORS. YES. AND SO THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE AS WELL. BUT I MEAN, I THINK YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN AND WE DEFINITELY, I WILL BE, I WILL, I WILL BE A MEMBER OF YOUR CIVIC CLUB VERY, VERY SOON. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING INTO THE, INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UM, BUT NOT JUST FOR THAT REASON, BUT ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WELL, DOC, I WOULD, I WOULD ADVISE COUNSEL AND I, THE, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE COME TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL THE AIRBNB HEAD REPRESENTATIVES HERE. I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST APRIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS. BUT FROM THOSE OF US THAT HAVE NOT DEALT WITH THEM IN COUNCIL, BUT HAVE CALLED THEM TO REPORT THESE VIOLATIONS, ONE OF TWO THINGS HAPPENED, PASTOR. FIRST THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT WE COULDN'T FIND THE LISTING. THE SECOND THING THEY WILL SAY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE COUNSELED OUR HOSTS AND THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH, WE HAVE DETAILED THE POLICIES AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. BUT IT IS IN AIRBNB'S BEST INTEREST NOT TO GET RID OF THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THESE CARPET BAGGERS REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THEIR, OF THEIR INCOME. THEY DON'T WANNA LOSE POTENTIAL HOSTS. OUR CITY IS NUMBER THREE IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS. AND WE'RE THE ONLY ONE OF THE MAJOR CITIES THAT DOES NOT HAVE SOME TYPE OF ZONING ORDINANCE IN PLACE. IF PLANO CAN DO IT, LITTLE OLD PLANO CAN DO IT. WE CAN AS WELL. AND I, AND I JUST WANNA CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO STAND UP TO WHATEVER LEGAL ROADBLOCKS MAY, MAY COME IN IN OUR WAY BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT ABOUT PROHIBITING A RESIDENTS OPPORTUNITY TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR INCOME BY RENTING OUT THEIR HOME. IT'S ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THAT'S MY ONLY ASK. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR COMING. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE COMMITTEE. I CHAIRED THE REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND WE DID START DELVING INTO THIS ISSUE HARD. UM, WITH THAT COMMITTEE MEETING WITH AIRBNB AND VRBO AND SEVERAL RESIDENTS. UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT. THE, THE ONES THAT ARE THE MOST CONCERNING TO ME ARE THESE THAT ARE ALL TOGETHER LIKE THIS. UH, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TACKLE FIRST. UH, WE WERE LOOKING PRIMARILY AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES, WHICH WERE GOOD, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, THAT HAVE BASICALLY BEEN TAKEN OFF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ROLES. AND NOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, FLOP HOUSES AND THEY'RE HOTELS. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT 'CAUSE THEY'RE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED. RIGHT. BUT THEY'RE STILL ALL TOGETHER. YES, MA'AM. AND THEY'RE ALMOST, IT'S ALMOST, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED, IT'S, IT'S SERVING LIKE A HOTEL. RIGHT. UM, WITH NO SUPERVISION. I KNOW SOME CITIES LIMIT THE NUMBER OF UNITS BY PERCENTAGE OR WHATEVER IN THAT CAN BE SHORT TERM RENTALS WITHIN A CONCENTRATED YEAH. CONCENTRATED AREA. A TOWNHOUSE OR APARTMENT BUILDING OR WHATEVER. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT. I, I TOTALLY HEAR, AND MY COLLEAGUE RIGHT HERE OFTEN SAYS, WE OFTEN ARE TOO SKITTISH ABOUT BEING SUED. YOU KNOW, LIKE WE, WE DON'T PUT THINGS FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED THAT IT'S JUST GONNA COME BACK. AND A LOT OF CITY ATTORNEYS OWN THE PAYROLL. A LOT OF, UH, WELL, BUT NO, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF THESE LAWS THAT, THAT PLACES LIKE PLANO AND OTHERS HAVE PUT ON THE BOOKS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND OVERTURNED. UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR YOU, WE HEAR FROM YOU, WE HEAR FROM MANY, WE ALSO HEAR FROM LEGITIMATE, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE RENTING OUT THEIR HOUSES. SO IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE. I KNOW EVERYBODY'S SICK OF US SAYING IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT. UM, YEAH. THAT DOESN'T HELP YOU ON A SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN SOMETHING'S GOING AFOUL IN YOUR AREA. SO, UM, IT'S, UH, YOU HEARD THE MAYOR SAY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, IT IS RISING TO THE TOP OF HIS PRIORITY LIST. SO, UH, I KNOW I HAVE TALKED TO ADMINISTRATION, REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND CITY LEGAL ABOUT THIS AT, AT THE VERY LE I MEAN, WE HAVE NO REGULATIONS HERE. WE DON'T HAVE A REGISTRATION. WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT. UH, THERE ARE COMPANIES, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL HIRE ONE OF THESE COMPANIES THAT MINE ALL THE DATA, NOT JUST FROM AIRBNB AND VRBO, BUT FROM ALL THE SITES. THERE'S 30 PLUS PROBABLY MORE SITES TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE. SO WE CAN, WHEN WE HAVE A BUNCH OF CALLS FOR SERVICE TO POLICE, WE CAN TRACK THAT OWNER AND WE CAN PUT SOME KIND OF TEETH [02:05:01] INTO AN ORDINANCE WHERE, YOU KNOW, LOOK, YOU CAN'T DO A ONE NIGHT, YOU CAN'T DO A, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT, BUT, BUT WE'RE GONNA FIGURE IT OUT. IF I, IF I MAY ASK THE LATITUDE, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH REPORTING IS THAT WHEN WE CONTACT HPD, IF THEY DON'T MAKE AN ARREST, THEY DON'T WRITE A TICKET, THEY DON'T TOW A CAR, IT VANISHES INTO THE ETHER. I I ONLY RECENTLY FOUND THAT OUT AND, AND WAS TOLD TO GO DOWN TO THE SUBSTATION AND FILE A, AN ALERT SLIP. I, I, I WAS NOT SCHOOLED AS, AS TO WHAT TO DO. AND SO I, I KNOW UNDER EQUAL PROTECTION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO, WE CAN'T ASSIGN SOMETHING AS A NUISANCE WITHOUT DUE PROCESS. RIGHT. AND, AND WE CAN'T AFFECT DUE PROCESS. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN UNDERGIRD THE DUE PROCESS PART BY IS BY EFFECTIVELY BEING ABLE TO ACCOUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE CALL THE POLICE. I MEAN, IF YOU CALL HPD NOW AND SAY, HOW MANY CALLS DO YOU HAVE IN THE 3,600 BLOCK OF GRIGGS? THEY'LL SAY, WELL, NOTHING. WELL, BECAUSE NO ARRESTS WERE MADE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. NO, WE, WE CAN, WE DO GET CALLS FOR SERVICE INFORMATION BECAUSE I GET IT ON BARS FOR NOISE AND STUFF. AND WE, REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, OKAY. AND, AND IF THIS, IF ANY, WOULD ANY CHARGES WERE FILED OR, OR CITATIONS WRITTEN, OKAY. WE, WE CAN TRACK THAT. AND WE CAN ALSO TRACK IT IN A WAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS AND OTHERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, THAT MORE PEOPLE THAN ONE ARE COMPLAINING. 'CAUSE WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS IS YOU GET ONE PERSON THAT COMPLAINS OVER AND OVER, AND THEN THEY'RE SEEN AS KIND OF LIKE AN OUT OUTLINE. THAT'S ME . SO. WELL, THAT'S OKAY. I MEAN, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS ONE. BUT LIKE, UH, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE BOTHERED ARE ALSO, UH, OR THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ARE ALSO REPORTING IT. AND I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A WAY, AND WE DID IT IN NOISE WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING WHERE THERE IS A, WHEN THERE'S A CRITICAL MASS OF COMPLAINTS AND, AND, UH, RESOURCES THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT AND DEVOTING TOWARDS AN ISSUE LIKE THIS, UH, THAT WE CAN CALL AN OWNER IN AND DISCUSS WHAT'S GOING ON. AND, YOU KNOW, HEY, WORK WITH US HERE. YOU'RE SURE THIS IS, THIS ISN'T, THIS ISN'T WORKING. SO, UH, UM, I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN COME TO SOMETHING. I AT THE VERY LEAST WANNA KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND WHO OWNS THEM. AND I THINK THAT, THAT I'D BE VERY HAPPY AS A FIRST STEP IN, IN HIRING ONE OF THESE COMPANIES THAT YES, THAT, THAT DOES JUST THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. SORRY, ONE OTHER, I JUST WANTED TO REEMPHASIZE WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SAID REGARDING CALLS FOR SERVICE. UM, HPD IS TRACKING CALLS FOR SERVICE. OKAY. SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT RESIDENTS DO CONTINUE TO CALL. ONE OF THE REASONS, AND I WOULD DEFER TO CITY LEGAL, BUT UM, THAT SOME CITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE CERTAIN ORDINANCES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THE NEED. SO WITHOUT RESIDENTIAL CALLS, UH, FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOWING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE, UM, WITHOUT THAT, IT MAKES IT A LOT MORE CHALLENGING FOR A CITY OR A, A JURISDICTION TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION VIS-A-VIS LOCAL ORDINANCES. SO I, I DO WANNA ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE WHEN APPROPRIATE, WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE. RIGHT. I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL. AND I THINK YOU EVEN SAID THAT OF SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT ARE A VALUE ADD TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE HELPED. AND IT'S NOT ONLY, UM, A REVENUE SOURCE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE EXAMPLES OF CANCER PATIENTS THAT ARE COMING AND THEY NEED THOSE SHORT TERM RENTALS. SO WE'RE NOT, I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT. IT'S THESE PROBLEM LOCATIONS, UM, THAT ARE BEING ABUSED AND ARE OF A, NOT JUST A QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERN TO NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THAT RESIDENCE, I WANNA ENCOURAGE TO CONTINUE TO CONTACT HPD, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE RECORDS OF CALLS FOR SERVICE. PART OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF SEASONED RESIDENTS AND THEY'RE AFRAID TO CALL. I COULD CARE LESS, BUT ONE OF THE RESULTS OF MY BOLDNESS IS THAT MY TIRES WERE SLASHED THIS PAST WEEKEND BECAUSE THEY SAW ME OUTSIDE STANDING TO THE POLICE, TALKING TO THE POLICE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MY, MY NEIGHBORS TO AS WELL. BUT YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HESITANT TO DO SO. THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT. BUT I BUT POINT I'LL, I'LL CONTINUE TO, TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND COUNCILWOMAN WE, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE COULD ADDRESS AT A COMMUNITY MEETING. THAT'S A FAIR POINT. AND I WOULD JUST, UH, MAYBE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, AND AS WE SPEAK WITH HPD, MAYBE IT'S, YOU KNOW, PHONE CALLS NOT NECESSARILY COMING OUT TO FILE REPORTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BALANCE IS THERE AND WHAT PD SPECIFICALLY NEEDS, BUT THAT'S A VERY FAIR POINT AND I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT SPEAKER. CONRAD AIRY. NEXT SPEAKER. BENJAMIN CALHOUN. [02:10:01] BENJAMIN CALHOUN. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. WE GO. HOW ARE YOU MR. KAHO? GO AHEAD. ALRIGHT. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, POLICE RESPONSE TIME AND, UH, POLICE MISCONDUCT. UH, ON FRIDAY, APRIL THE 12TH, UH, 2024, AROUND EIGHT 40, I CALLED THE 9 1 1 TO REPORT, UH, UH, BREAK INTO MY STORAGE. UH, NO ONE RESPONDED BY 10 O'CLOCK. NO ONE HAD RESPONDED TO MY CALL. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION. UM, FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, I WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL, ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS, THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE TO INVESTIGATE THIS RIGHT HERE. UH, Y'ALL WOULD HAVE A RECORD OF RESPONSE TIMES. SO YOU COULD LOOK AT THE LAST 20 YEARS OF ME CALLING THE HPD AND YOU COULD SEE THE LENGTH OF TIME FROM THE TIME I CALLED THEM TO THE TIME THEY RESPONDED. AND, AND WHAT MAKES MATTERS EVEN WORSE IS THEY ALSO HAVE A SECOND PATTERN THAT ENABLED THEM TO REFUSE TO ENFORCE THE LAW FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME. THE SECOND PATTERN THEY HAVE IS WHEN YOU GET TO THE POLICE, THEY TELL YOU TO FILL OUT AN INFORMATION SHEET OR INFORMATION APPLICATION. UM, A INCIDENT APPLICATION. ONCE YOU FILL OUT THE INCIDENT APPLICATION, THEY TURNED IT INTO A POLICE REPORT. WHEN THEY TURNED IT INTO A POLICE REPORT, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU WRITTEN DOWN. RIGHT. SO IT JUSTIFIED THEM. AND SO YOU DON'T SEE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLICE REPORT, IT'LL BE LIKE, IT LEAVES OUT CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT WAS CALLED ON CAMERA. YOU HAD WITNESSES. LIKE FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I GOT BURGLARIZED, IT'S A CAMERA RIGHT ABOVE MY STORAGE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESPONSE TIME FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS WHEN I CALLED HIM, YOU GOING TO SEE MAN, THIS MAN CALLED HIM AND IT TAKE HOURS. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T SHOW UP AT ALL. AND, AND IF THAT AIN'T ENOUGH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE, UM, OF THE INCIDENT REPORT OR THE INCIDENT APPLICATION, THEN YOU HAVE A COPY OF WHAT THE POLICE TRANSFERRED OVER AND MAKE IT TURN IT INTO AS A POLICE REPORT. THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE THE SAME. I'M TELLING THEM ONE THING AND TO JUST TO, TO MAKE THEM LOOK GOOD. THEY'LL PUT DOWN A POLICE REPORT THAT THEY TURNED THE, UM, THE, THE INCIDENT REPORT INTO A POLICE REPORT. IT'S GONNA SAY SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. NOW, I WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO INVESTIGATE THAT 'CAUSE YOU COULD LOOK AT COPIES. THEY WOULD HAVE IT ON RECORDS. WITHIN THE RECORDS. MR. MR. CALHOUN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. CALHOUN. YEAH. SO, UM, MY DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES IS HERE. HE'S WILLING TO VISIT WITH YOU, UH, SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN, UH, BE OF ASSISTANCE. OKAY. WELL, I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING BLOWED OFF. I CAME HERE BEFORE. SO WHAT I DID THIS TIME WAS I CALLED TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE. BECAUSE NORMALLY WHAT Y'ALL DO, 'CAUSE THAT'S Y'ALL JOB, IS, THIS IS HOW Y'ALL ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE. Y'ALL, Y'ALL, IF THEY'LL TELL YOU IN ADVANCE, Y'ALL CALL THEM AND THEY TELL YOU WHAT THEY COME HERE FOR, THEN YOU PREPARE TO SPEAK TO THEM WHEN YOU JUST GO TO THE BACK AND HE'LL HELP YOU. MAN. I'M NOT, I'M NOT NEW TO THIS. THIS IS AIN'T NEW TO ME. SO WHEN YOU COME UP HERE AND TALK TO YOU AND YOU OVER THE POLICE AND YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND YOU JUST, JUST GO BACK AND TALK TO THEM, THAT'S HOW YOU GET BLOWED OFF. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. WE'RE, THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO BLOW YOU OFF. I'M SORRY. I'LL TALK. GO AHEAD. NO, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BLOW YOU OFF, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU AND I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO, TO MEET AND INTERACT. SO WE'VE GOT NEW YEAR, NEW ADMINISTRATION, NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND UH, WHEN MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR OR ANYONE ON MY TEAM OFFERS TO HELP, WE DO GENUINELY WANT TO HELP. AND SO JUST KNOW THAT YOU GOING TO TALK TO HIM IS THE BEST WAY TO, TO STAY ENGAGED WITH MY OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN HELP. WHAT AM WHAT AM I TALKING TO HIM ABOUT, ABOUT YOUR ISSUES HERE WITH THE, UH, POLICE? THAT'S WHY I ALREADY TALKED TO ONE OF YOUR AIDES. I CALLED AHEAD OF TIME 'CAUSE I, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT NEW TO THIS. SO WHAT NORMALLY HAPPEN IS Y'ALL NORMALLY MR. CAHO WOULD REACH OUT TO ME AND THEN YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT I'M COMING TO TALK ABOUT. SO YOU BE PREPARED. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP ME, THEN YOU JUST DO WHAT YOU JUST DID. I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THEM AND TOLD 'EM WHAT I WAS COMING FOR. I CALLED HIM AND TALK TO HIM ON THE PHONE. IF YOU DON'T, MR. CAHO, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MEET WITH HIM, THAT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT. I'LL, I'LL MEET AGAIN, THEN I'LL COME BACK AGAIN AND TALK TO Y'ALL AGAIN. THAT SHOW THAT WHEN I TALKED TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER, HE BLEW ME OFF. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. UH, WHAT'S HIS NAME? HE'S RIGHT OVER HERE IN THE BACK. HIS NAME IS TY. OKAY. SERGEANT HERDON. OKAY. AND HE'LL VISIT WITH YOU. SERGEANT HERDON IS HIS NAME. THANK YOU MR. CALHOUN. NEXT SPEAKER. JUAN VIRO. ARRU VILLA ARRU. I'M HAPPY TO AT LEAST MEET IF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE FOR US? MS. WANA, CAN YOU REACH THE MICROPHONE? CAN YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER? YES, I DO APOLOGIZE. NO PROBLEM. I'M GONNA OFFEND YOU, BUT THIS IS THE REASON WHY I AM HERE. 'CAUSE I AM BEING, YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. DUE TO MY DISABILITIES, THIS IS HOW I AM TREATED IN THE PUBLIC AREAS EVERYWHERE I GO, NUMBER ONE, I CAN HARDLY MOVE. I LOST MOBILITY AND I RECENTLY WENT [02:15:01] THROUGH EVICTION. THE LADY GAVE ME 24 HOURS KNOWING THAT I CAN'T LIFT MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF POUNDS, KNOWING THAT I LOST MOBILITY. AND I HAVE A VERY SEVERE MEDICAL CONDITION BECAUSE I HAVE A MULTIPLE BODILY INJURIES. AND I NEED JUSTICE FOR EVERY, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I GOT INJURED AT SEVEN 11 ON APRIL 22ND, A DAY LIKE YESTERDAY, LAST NIGHT. AND, UM, OF, UH, 2022. AND I, UM, I'M GOING THROUGH, LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF EXPLOSION, A LOT OF ABUSE FROM EVERYONE, UH, RUN AROUNDS. AND I NEED JUSTICE. I'M WITHOUT A HOME. I HAVE A 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND I HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN A SHOWER FOR THREE DAYS. I, UM, THE DOCTORS HAVE ALREADY TOLD ME I'M LEAVING MY LAST FEW DAYS. BUT JESUS CHRIST, I INVITE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST OF YOUR SAVERS. AND, UM, HE CAN BE OUR SAVIOR. HE'S HELPING ME SURVIVE AT LEAST WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPE. 'CAUSE THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW. I NEED EACH AND EVERYONE, WHOMEVER HAS THE POWER TO USE IT YOUR TIME. MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, PLEASE. MS. JUANA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. AND MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR COMING. I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF YOUR, UM, ISSUES THAT YOU'RE FACING. UH, DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK OF US? YES, I DID A HOME BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THIS CAME FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON ORDINANCE TO THE LANDLORD. SHE WAS TRYING TO, LIKE I SAID, I AM SEEKING FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, SHE TRIED TO DO FRAUD JUST LIKE EVERYONE THAT I HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED DUE THROUGH THE MANY SITUATION THAT I HAVE BEEN GONE EVER SINCE. MY JOB INJURY ON APRIL 22ND, 2022 AT SEVEN 11, I, UM, HAD 10 GALLONS OF WATER WHEN I ENDED UP IN THE FIRST, UH, UM, SURGERY. AND I HAVE A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS. I'M IN NEED OF A COLORECTAL SURGERY. I'M NOT OKAY. SO, BUT I'M, LIKE I SAID, EVEN THOUGH I APPRECIATE THAT THEY DID LET ME KNOW, I'M, UH, PERMANENT DISABLED. I, UM, I NEED YOU, MS. ANA, EVERY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS HERE TO ASSIST HER RIGHT AWAY. THIS IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL. FAMILY MATTERS. MY CHILD. SHE DESERVES THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN EDUCATION. RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT SAFE, BUT WE WANNA DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO HELP YOU, UH, AND YOUR FAMILY. WE WANT YOU TO FEEL SAFE. IF YOU LOOK RIGHT BEHIND YOU, THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BLACK SHIRT, IT'S GOING TO HELP TRY TO GET YOU SOME ASSISTANCE. OKAY? RIGHT. BUT I DO NOT WANT TO, UH, GET ANYBODY THAT IS GONNA BE TRYING TO LIKE, LIKE RIGHT NOW I'M GETTING PEOPLE WHO IS TRYING TO COMMIT FRAUD. ONLY. THEY PRETEND THAT THIS IS KAYLA FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. SO WE HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT SHE'S GONNA HELP YOU. FIRST OF ALL, LIKE FIRST OF ALL, TO PLEASE, I HAVE SENT MY, MY DIAGNOSIS TO METRO ONCE, AND I HAVE BRINGING IT TO ME, TO THEM JUST LIKE I AM RIGHT NOW, DRAGON. OKAY. TO METRO LIFT. AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY NEVER RECEIVED IT. AND SO I AM STRUGGLING IN EVERY KIND OF AREA. I NEED A LIFTING HAND WITHOUT BEING PROUD AND WITHOUT BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF MY DISABILITIES LIKE I HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND KAYLA CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT. THANK YOU. MSA. I WENT THROUGH NOT ONLY CRIME, AND I WENT THROUGH, LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF ABUSE. UH, SINCE THAT TIME UNTIL NOW, I HAD ACTUALLY LEFT A VOICEMAIL WITH YOUR PASTOR. I'VE LEFT TWO VOICEMAIL TRYING TO REACH, I DON'T HAVE A PHONE. THAT'S, THANK YOU, MS. SING. MS. YOU, MS. KAYLA'S GONNA HELP YOU. UHHUH. THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL ME I NEXT SPEAKER, DELARA VERIAN. HELLO. FIRST OFF, I DO WANNA SAY IT'S MY FIRST TIME HERE. UH, MY NAME IS ANDRA AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING WOMEN, INSPIRING NEW GROWTH AND SUPPORT WINGS UNITY. I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO CHILD ABUSE AND STRUGGLES FACED BY SINGLE MOTHERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD CHILDCARE ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS TAKING THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK. WE NEED TO BE THE VOICE FOR THOSE VOICELESS CHILDREN AND MOTHERS BY EMPOWERING SINGLE MOTHERS WITH THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR A SAFER FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS. THIS IS WHY WE ASK YOU TO HEAR OUR VOICES. WE ARE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE, ADVICE, AND SUPPORT. I AM HERE, I'M SO SORRY, . I'M ASKING FOR HELP TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM AIMED [02:20:01] FOR PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE. WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE COUNSELING, CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, MEDIC MEDICAL HEALTH, UH, REFERRAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SHELTER AND TRANSPORTATION, EVALUATING AND MONITORING. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT WE WANNA HELP MOTHERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, WHO ARE, WHO HAVE DISABLED CHILDREN. AS I DO. I HAVE A CHILD WHO IS AUTISTIC AND I DEAL WITH THIS DAILY. AND I WANNA MAKE A CHANGE FOR WOMEN WHO CANNOT DO THIS. SO I AM HERE SPEAKING FOR WOMEN AND FOR CHILDREN. AND I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CHILD ABUSE BECAUSE I AM A PERSON WHO DEALT WITH THIS AS A CHILD. AND IT NEEDS TO STOP. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. AND I KNOW IT, UH, TAKES A LOT OF BRAVERY SOMETIMES TO OPEN UP TO US. UH, DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE THE NONPROFIT OR YOU WANT TO CREATE ONE? I AM STARTING A NONPROFIT. I HAVE A PLAN, I HAVE A BUDGET, AND I HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO COLLAB WITH US, UM, WITH THIS CAUSE. SO RIGHT NOW I AM STARTING, I AM 29 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH MY OWN TRAUMA FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. AND I WANNA MAKE A CHANGE. I WANNA BE THAT VOICE FOR EVERYBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE ONE. I WAS ABLE TO START MY OWN NONPROFIT A FEW YEARS AGO AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CLUE HOW TO START IT. I DON'T NEED IT. SO I WILL GIVE YOU MY CARD AND I WILL GIVE YOU SOME RESOURCES, SOME ADVICE, HOW TO GET STARTED. AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST WITH THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CAROL JONES. CAROL JONES. DANIEL PEREZ. MR. PEREZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. HI. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? LAST WEEK I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT DEREGULATION OF ENERGY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. DID Y'ALL GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT? NO, Y'ALL DIDN'T. DEION OF ENERGY HAS STOLEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT. AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT FAST. THE WAY THAT DEREGULATION WORKS IS MS. SHEILA GROWS THE ORANGE AND Y'ALL ARE MILLIONAIRES, SO Y'ALL DON'T ALLOW HER TO SELL ME THE ORANGE. SO Y'ALL GET TOGETHER AND MAKE LAWS AND MAKE HER SELL Y'ALL THE ORANGE. AND THEN Y'ALL PROMISE ME THERE'S GONNA BE CHOICES IN LOWER RATES, BUT THIS AIN'T THE WAY IT WORKS. AND THEY TOOK OUR ABILITY TO DO THIS FOR OURSELVES. SO WHAT I'M ASKING AND DEMANDING FOR MY COUNCIL IS Y'ALL NEED TO BRING BACK HOUSTON LIGHTNING POWER. AS A CITY, WE MUST BUY OUR ENERGY IN BULK AND WE MUST PROFIT FROM OUR OWN ENERGY. THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR BUDGET SOLVENT, IS TO BE ABLE TO BUY THINGS FROM OURSELVES AS A SOCIETY, AGAIN, AS A CITY, WE MUST CREATE HOUSTON LINE POWER AND BUY ENERGY IN BULK FOR OUR CITY SO WE CAN PROFIT AS A CITY. THANK YOU MR. PEREZ, FOR YOUR SUGGESTION. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. JAMES CHAMBERS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCIL AGAIN FOR SEEING ME AND THE MAYOR TOO. I COME IN HERE A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AND A HALF, WELL, TWO MONTHS AGO OVER THIS HOUSING PROBLEM. I'M THE ONE THAT LOST MY HOUSE THREE TIMES DUE TO A CORRUPT HOUSING SYSTEM. I JUST WON MY HOUSING BACK AGAIN, MA'AM. I GOT MY VOUCHER MARCH THE 11TH. WHEN THEY PUT THE VOUCHER IN MY HAND, THEY TURNED AROUND AND TOLD ME, SHOCK, MY, YOU KNOW WHAT MOUTH, I AIN'T GOT NO RIGHTS. I WENT TO 'EM AGAIN AND I SAID, LOOK, I'VE LOST MY ENTIRE HOME THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF Y'ALL. I HAVE NO FURNITURE LEFT. I HAVE NO CLOTHES LEFT. I HAVE NOTHING. I'M DISABLED. I GET SSDI, I WENT TO ST. JOSEPH'S. I HAD 90 DAYS THERE WAITING ON HOUSING TO BE ABLE TO GET MY HOUSING BACK TO ME. RIGHT. MY TIME RUN OUT. SO NOW I'VE HAD TO GO TO THIS PLACE OVER HERE. I HAD TO JUST FIND ONE IN THE PAPER AND I'M PAYING OVER 80% OF MY CHECK. HOPE I GOTTA PAY HIM ANOTHER $600 IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YOUR TIME HAS TO EXPIRED. THIS PLACE IS SO BAD. I'VE CALLED THE MAYOR. THE MAYOR LAST TIME TOLD ME TO TALK TO MR. NEWPORT. MR. NEWPORT TOOK MY INFORMATION. HE'S DONE NOTHING. [02:25:01] I KEEP CALLING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE RECEPTIONIST IS HELPING ME. OKAY? THEY SENT ME TO MISS, UH, JEFFRIES. MISS JEFFRIES DID NOTHING TWO YEARS AGO. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. I'VE BEEN KEEPING, GETTING PUT ON THE STREET. MR. CHAMBER. DO YOU HAVE A VOUCHER NOW? YES MA'AM. BUT IT'S FIXING TO RUN OUT. AND HERE'S MY THING. I GOT LESS THAN 60 DAYS. I'VE CALLED ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR HELP. I HAD A PERSON COME AND CALL ME. OH YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET SOME HELP. 'CAUSE I CAN'T PAY A DEPOSIT 'CAUSE I GOT NOTHING LEFT HAVING TO PAY ALL THIS RENT THAT I'M NOT PAYING. I HOUSING. I HAD A PERFECT HOME, GOOD FURNITURE, FOOD TO EAT NOW, PAYING MY WHOLE CHECK TO STEP OUT FOR A PLACE TO RENT. I HAVE NOTHING LEFT. OKAY. THIS MAN CALLED ME, MR. AUSTIN, HE SHUT THE CASE DOWN IMMEDIATELY. NEVER EVEN GOT TO TALK TO MR. LEE. SO I CALL REPORTED IT. THEY TOLD ME IMMEDIATELY, THEY OPENED IT BACK UP, SENT THE SAME CASEWORKER BACK. THAT'S WHY I ASKED TO COME TALK TO Y'ALL AGAIN. SO I TRIED TO REPORT THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. THEY GIVE ME THE 7, 7, 7 NUMBER, THE 800. THEY REFUSED TO LET ME REPORT IT. KEEP SENDING ME BACK TO THE SAME OFFICE. THE OFFICE WHO, WHO IS REFUSING TO LET YOU REPORT IT, MR. NEY? THE, UH, MAIN OFFICE IS 1 800 5400. IS THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY? HUH? AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY? NO, MA'AM. THE ADULT PROTECTION SERVICES. ADULT PROTECTION SERVICES, YEAH. OKAY. AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, MA'AM, I GOT 300 PICTURES ON MY PHONE. THE LAST PLACE I WAS IN ONE WEEK, MY CEILING COLLAPSED. HUNDREDS OF TERMITES COMING IN. I GOT SO ARE YOU IN A, UH, UH, AN APARTMENT NOW? DO YOU HAVE A PLACE, YOU SAID YOU HAVE A VOUCHER. SO HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED A PLACE FOR YOU TO LIVE? YES, I DID. I WENT AND PAID THE $50 FOR THE, UH, THE PROCESSING FEE. MM-HMM . IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE NO KIND OF, UH, DEPOSIT. AS SOON AS I PAID IT, WELL, I NEED 1600 MORE DOLLARS BECAUSE YOU ARE ON HOUSING. I'M LIKE, SIR, THERE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE NO DEPOSIT. I HAD TO GO TO KROGER. STOP THE MONEY ORDER. I GOT THE PAPERWORK. I'VE GOT THE HEALTH BOARD PAPERWORK WHERE THEY SHUT MY OTHER PLACE DOWN. AND I, RENEE, CAN YOU HELP HIM WITH NAVIGATING THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH HIS VOUCHER TO SEE WHO WE CAN GET TO TALK TO HIM TO HELP HIM WITH A PLACE TO, TO LIVE AGAIN? I'M, SAY IT AGAIN. IT'S RENEE. LET'S SPEAK WITH IT'S ALREADY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL, WE'LL GET YOU SOME HELP, SIR. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK. THANK YOU. AND A LADY CALLED ME WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE LOBBY AND TOOK MY INFORMATION FOR Y'ALL AND WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY. OKAY. THAT'S WHY I HAD TO COME BACK. I'M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, BUT I CAN'T DO IT ON, THERE'S NO BOTHER. SIR, WE WANNA HELP YOU. I HAVE NOTHING LEFT. WE, WE DEFINITELY WANNA HELP YOU. THANK YOU, RENEE, FOR GIVING HIM THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LILY GRANDVILLE. LILY GRANDVILLE. NEXT SPEAKER. WILLIAM BAB. WILLIAM BABB. NEXT SPEAKER. HEIDI FA. HEIDI FA. NEXT SPEAKER DON LEE. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. IS HEIDI? YES, SHE'S COMING. HEIDI, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI, HEIDI. UM, MINE WILL BE EASY AND FUN. IT'S NOT GONNA BE STRESSING OUT EVERYBODY AT THE END OF THE DAY. AGAIN, MY NAME IS TO LEE AND I'M ONE OF A MEMBER FOR THE, UH, VBI GLOBAL CONFERENCE AND EXPO. THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN MAY. THIS HAPPENED ON MAY NINE, 10, GONNA BE AT THE GIB. UM, THANK YOU TO THE REY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR OFFICE THAT HELPED TO SUPPORTING US WELL, AS WELL AS THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS OVER THERE THAT ENDORSED US TO HOST A BIGGER AND BETTER EVENT. SO WE STARTED OUT LAST YEAR, WHAT ABOUT ALMOST A HUNDRED COMPANY THAT COME ALL OVER THE WORLD TO BE IN HOUSTON, UM, TO PROMOTE AND TO EXPAND HOUSTON BUSINESS. AND THIS YEAR, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED COMPANY THAT GONNA TRAVEL FROM VIETNAM, FROM NEW ZEALAND ALL OVER THE STATE TO BE HERE THAT DAY. UM, THE MAYOR GONNA BE THERE, UM, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT MANY OF YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE. SO THIS IS ON YOUR DESK. YOU HAVE THE FLYER FOR THAT. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME OUT AND TO MEET ALL THE POTENTIAL COMPANY THAT GONNA HELP TO GROW HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, HEIDI, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. YES, WE ARE EXCITED, UM, ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE AND WHAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING. LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU. AND WE'LL HAVE THIS IN THE NEWSLETTER. UM, AND I THINK WE HAVE A, YOU HAVE A REQUEST TO MY OFFICE TO ASSIST WITH SOME OF, UM, SOME SPEAKERS. SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. SO WE HOPEFULLY TO HAVE A RESPONSE TO YOU BY THE, UH, THIS WEEK'S END. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD TO SEE. THANK YOU. [02:30:01] NEXT SPEAKER, SCOTTY, JOSEPH. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRO TIM. UH, I'M ALSO HERE WITH SOME GOOD NEWS AS WELL. UH, HOW YOU DOING? UH, WE WERE, SCOTTY'S BIKES WAS GRANTED A $15,000, UH, GRANT FROM HOUSTON, EVOLVE FOR ELECTRIC MOBILITY AND, UM, CREATING, UM, WAYS AROUND, UH, A LOT OF THE, UH, HEAT AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE DEALING WITH, UH, HOUSTON. AND, UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST CLASS THIS SATURDAY AT FINNEGAN PARK. SO INITIALLY THERE WERE 11 PARTICIPANTS WHO SIGNED UP, FIVE CAME THROUGH, AND, UH, FIVE HAVE PASSED SO FAR. SO THE WHOLE DEAL IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE LIVE, FIFTH WARD, THE TRAIN TRAP IS USING ELECTRIC MOBILITY TO HELP RESIDENTS GET AROUND SOME OF THE TRAPPINGS FROM THE TRAINS AND JUST GETTING TO ELEC, GETTING TO, TO PLACES, GETTING TO THE BUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, UH, SO YEAH. UM, THANKS TO EVOL HOUSTON AND THANKS TO YOU ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS FOUND OUT THROUGH YOU, UH, REPRESENTATIVE, UH, JACKSON. SO, UH, SO YEAH, THAT'S BASICALLY IT. JUST SOME GOOD, GOOD NEWS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, FOR FIFTH WARD. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. JUST KNOW THAT MY OFFICE IS HERE TO PARTNER WITH YOU, UM, TO GET THE WORD OUT. UM, MAYBE WE CAN COLLABORATE EVEN FURTHER. I CAN, I CAN SUPPORT, UM, FINANCIALLY WHAT YOU GUYS DO. SO JUST REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT. IT'S VERY OKAY. I MEAN, SO, SO THOSE, UH, SO YOU GOT THE CUPCAKES IN, RIGHT? THAT I SENT Y'ALL? I SENT Y'ALL SOME CUPCAKES, APPARENTLY YOU GOT 'EM. OH, THANK YOU, . I'M SAYING, YOU TALKING NICE TO ME, SO I'M ASSUMING YOU DID. I GOT PICTURE OF THEM, BUT I DIDN'T GET YOU DIDN'T GET NONE. SEE? NAH, I GOTTA BRING SOME MORE FOR YOU. I DIDN'T GET, BUT, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING ANOTHER CLASS ON THE 27TH, SO AT FINNEGAN PARK FROM TWO TO 12. SO IF YOU WANT TO BRING ANYBODY BY, JUST CHECK IT OUT. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH RIDE ONE, WHICH IS, UH, RODNEY ELLIS'S OFFICE. OKAY. AND, UH, FERNANDO MARTINEZ. AND, UH, YEAH, PLEASE, IF YOU GET A CHANCE. YEAH, DEFINITELY. AND HOPEFULLY THE OTHER GUYS CAN, UH, CAN, CAN LEARN FROM US IN THE TRACK. THANK, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CLEMENT MATHIS. CLEMENT MATHIS. NEXT SPEAKER. ALVIN RIGGINS. HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING? DOING WELL, GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS, UH, ALVIN RIGGINS. I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SWAY SEED OFFICE. IT'S A LOCAL CARIBBEAN JUICE BRAND. UM, THE DILEMMA THAT I'M HAVING TODAY IS THAT I'D LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL TO, TO SPEAK ON IS, UH, THE PYRAMID. OKAY. LIKE SOME OF, LIKE THE CITY PARKS IS SOME OF THE BIG PLACES THAT I GET A LOT OF MY TRAFFIC AND A LOT OF MY SALES AT. AND IT BE LIKE SOME DAYS, LIKE THE PYRAMID IS LIKE 120 SOMETHING DOLLARS, BUT LIKE TODAY I MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO LIKE SPOT SPARK OR TC JUSTICE PARK. I PAY THE PERMIT, BUT WHEN I GET THERE DON'T REALLY BE NOBODY THERE. SO I JUST LIKE LOST MONEY. AND I DO THAT LIKE A COUPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. BUT I'M HERE TO, TO SEE, IS THERE LIKE ANY WAY THAT I COULD SEND LIKE THE CITY A PROPOSAL ON LIKE THE PARKS THAT I GO TO. I CAN MAYBE LIKE GIVE Y'ALL A QUARTERLY PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPANY OR LIKE A YEARLY INSTEAD OF JUST PAYING DAY FOR DAY FOR THE, THE CITY PREMISE BECAUSE THEY KIND OF EXPENSIVE. AND I DON'T HAVE LIKE, NO OTHER INCOME. THIS COMPANY IS MY FULL, FULL-TIME JOB. SO I'M JUST ASKING LIKE, CAN Y'ALL HELP ME PULL MYSELF UP BY MY BOOTS SCRAP. SO ARE YOU PAYING FOR A PERMIT FOR EVERY PARK THAT YOU GO TO? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. YES. UM, THERE'S A WAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. WHEN THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER OPENED, WE HAD A VENDOR SELL A LEAF SHIRTS AND A PART OF THAT AGREEMENT WAS A PERCENTAGE WENT BACK, FRIEND WENT BACK TO THE FRIENDS OF ALE PARK. OKAY. SO THEY COULD PRESERVE THE PARK AND, YOU KNOW, TRASH CANS AND BEAUTIFICATION. THERE'S A WAY THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN. UM, I'M, I DON'T IS IS YOU DISTRICT B? UH, NO, I STAY ON THE NORTH SIDE, BUT I BE ALL BE ON THE NORTH SIDE. SO, UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER CAN, AND HER OFFICE CAN WALK'S AN A THROUGH, BUT OH, HE'S AN A, I'M SORRY. UH, THE VICE MAYOR, UM, UM, OFFICE CAN WALK YOU, BUT THERE'S A WAY, BECAUSE WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND THERE'S OTHER GROUPS THAT DO THAT, THAT BENEFIT THE, UH, PRESERVATION OF AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE AT THE PARK. OKAY. CAN I ASK ONE MORE THING? SURE. UM, IS IT ANY LIKE PROGRAMS OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LIKE STUFF LIKE THAT BECAUSE, UH, I BE TRYING TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, GET OUT OF MY, MY ENVIRONMENT AND, YOU KNOW, I, I'M A YOUNG BLACK MAN AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE A RAPPER OR ENTERTAIN OR NOTHING LIKE THAT. SO IS THERE ANY LIKE, ENTREPRENEURIAL CLASSES OR [02:35:01] SMALL BUSINESS CLASSES THROUGH THE CITY THAT I COULD, UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? JOIN THAT. THAT'S LIKE TAILORING FOR YOUNG BLACK MEN. I'M NOT GAY, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE NONE OF THAT TYPE OF STUFF GOING ON. I JUST, JUST STRICTLY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS. SO THE, UH, OBO OFFICE, IF YOU, UM, HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET, THE OBO OFFICE DOES PUT ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS. UM, I WOULD ALSO LOOK AT, UM, THE ION HAS SOME PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEURS. UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS IN THE QUEUE AND SHE MAYBE CAN ALSO DIRECT YOU TO SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, I'M YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. I'LL GIVE YOU MY BUSINESS CARD AND, UM, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH ALL OF THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK THE BETHUNE ACADEMY BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT. UM, ON VICTORY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS. I, I ALREADY GO TO THE, UH, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC, UH, LIKE THE TECH LINK THAT'S ON MY HOMESTEAD. I, I, I, UH, USE THOSE. BUT I'M JUST, ANY, ANYTHING THAT'LL HELP ME, YOU KNOW, JUST BETTER MYSELF. I'M ALL THE WAY FORWARD AND I'LL BE DOWN TO DO IT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. REALLY, SERIOUSLY, FROM AN ENTREPRENEUR TO AN ENTREPRENEUR, IT'S HARD. IT'S HARD. AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU. YOU'RE BEING, YOU'RE REALLY ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELF AND YOU'RE FINDING RESOURCES. I JUST WANNA JUST KEEP UP GOOD WORK. SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S HARD OUT THERE, BUT JUST DON'T GIVE UP. JUST KEEP ON WORKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS. WISHES TO YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. AUDREY NATH. AUDREY NATH. HELLO THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I'M A MOM AND HOMEOWNER IN MONTROSE, AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT MY CONCERNS TODAY DUE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOSING OUR ZONED SCHOOL, WHARTON DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AS WELL IN THE HEIGHTS WITH HELMS ELEMENTARY. LONG STORY SHORT, THE TEA TOOK OVER HISD AND VERY, VERY SUDDENLY, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, DETERMINED THAT THESE TWO SCHOOLS WOULD NO LONGER HAVE A ZONE. AND SO WE NO LONGER HAVE A ZONE SCHOOL. UM, LONG STORY SHORT, UH, THEY'VE SAID THAT WE COULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN AS HIS OWN SCHOOL FOR THREE YEARS, BUT THERE'S 46 WHARTON FAMILIES THAT WERE TRYING TO START IN KINDERGARTEN THIS COMING AUGUST, UH, AND HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. UM, SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE NEED TO HAPPEN IS FOR POSSIBLY ANOTHER KINDERGARTEN CLASS TO BE ADDED. UM, UH, BECAUSE THIS ALL HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY AFTER THE HISD MAGNET, UH, UH, LOTTERY HAD ALREADY HAPPENED. AND SO THOSE SPOTS ARE ALREADY FILLED. UM, AND THIS AFFECTS OUR CITY BECAUSE THIS AFFECTS OUR, OUR HOME PRICES AS WELL THAT WILL END UP CONTRIBUTING TAXES BACK TO THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING. HAVE YOU HAD THAT CONVERSATION AT THE, UM, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT? OH, YES. WE'VE MET WITH THE, UM, BOARD OF MANAGERS, UM, A FEW, A COUPLE OF TIMES. AND EVERYTHING IS, WELL, IN 60 DAYS WE'LL HAVE AN ANSWER. 60 DAYS CALENDAR DAYS WILL FALL IN JUNE AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, . RIGHT. WELL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP GOING TO HISD BECAUSE THEY ULTIMATELY WILL HAVE THE FINAL DECISION. SO YEAH. KEEP ADVOCATING IN AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST. OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT SPEAKER, CHANTE ALSBURY. HI, SHANTE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, MY NAME IS SHANTE SALISBURY AND I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON AS A FELLOW ESTONIAN. UH, THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO MY COMMENT. UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER, UM, FOR MAKING THE REQUEST TO OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, UM, THAT THE TEMPORARY HALT AND THE TCEQ PERMITTING ALSO INCLUDES, UM, OTHER FACILITIES SUCH AS ROCK CRUSHING PLANTS, UM, THAT CREATE SIGNIFICANT POLLUTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES, NAMELY, UH, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. UM, AS MAYOR OF THE LARGEST CITY IN TEXAS, UM, THE MAYOR'S ACTIONS HAVE GREAT IMPACT ON THE GREATER GOOD OF ALL OF US ACROSS THE STATE. AND FOR THIS REASON, I AM REQUESTING THAT, UM, THE MAYOR FOLLOWS UP ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER AND CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS THAT. UM, SECONDLY, A COLLEAGUE OF MINE SHARED WITH ME THAT AT THE EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR STATED THAT WHILE THE CITY DOES NOT RUN OUR SCHOOLS, I'M ALMOST DONE. HE DOES NOT RUN OUR SCHOOLS. HE COULD STILL, UM, SIT WITH MIKE MILES AND SUGGEST THAT HE LISTENS TO OUR COMMUNITY. UM, AND I KNOW QUITE A FEW HISD PARENTS WHO HAVE VERY VALID CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE OF, UM, OUR SCHOOLS. UM, AND THEY DON'T CURRENTLY FEEL HEARD. SO [02:40:01] I'M ALSO ASKING THAT THE MAYOR AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, UM, FOLLOW UP ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS LISTENING. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PEARL CASTANEDO. HELLO. GOOD MOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU TO THE MICROPHONE. OH, EITHER ONE. EITHER ONE. OKAY. MY NAME IS PRO CASTANERA AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH HOUSTON, EAST ALDEN AREA. AND MY COMMENTS ARE RELATED ALSO TO THE TEMPORARY HALT IN THE TCEQ PERMITTING. UH, I DO WANNA THANK THE MAYOR, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR MAKING THE REQUEST TO OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT THIS TEMPORARY HALT INCLUDE OTHER FACILITIES THAT ALSO CREATE SIGNIFICANT POLLUTION, UM, TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS, UH, THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THOSE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS THAT ARE PRACTICALLY MY OWN BACKYARD. AND HOPEFULLY THIS TEMPORARY HALT WILL LEAD TO POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE TCEQ PERMITTING PROCESS. AND HOUSTON BEING THE LARGEST CITY IN TEXAS, I BELIEVE OUR MAYOR'S REQUEST WILL MAKE AN, UH, POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE GREATER GOOD OF THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT TEXAS. AND EVEN THOUGH IT DID TAKE ANOTHER CITY TO RAISE ATTENTION TO CAUSE OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO ACT ON THEIR BEHALF, IT STILL DOES GIVE ME HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY'S TIRELESS EFFORTS ARE FINALLY BEING RECOGNIZED. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT US. SO PLEASE, UH, INFORM OUR MAYOR OF OUR, OF MY THANKS AS WELL. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CLIFFORD PUGH. CLIFFORD PUGH. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UM, I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF MONTROSE FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, SO I WANNA THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR DIRECTING HIS STAFF TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. UH, IN MY VIEW, IT'S REALLY A WASTEFUL VANITY PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE REVISED, AND WE'RE SO GLAD THAT HE'S GIVING IT A SECOND LOOK, UM, AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION IS REALLY TIGHT AND NOBODY KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN YOU DO. UH, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO PINCH EVERY PENNY YOU CAN. UH, MEANWHILE, THE MONTROSE TEARS IS SPENDING MONEY LIKE A DRUNKEN SAILOR ON SHORE, LEAVE MORE THAN $15 MILLION FOR A PROJECT THAT COVERS ONLY TWO BLOCKS. AND THIS IS DURING A TIME WHEN MANY OF THE DISTRICTS YOU REPRESENT DON'T EVEN HAVE SIDEWALKS. UM, MOST OF THE ORIGINAL GOALS OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD, SAFER STREETS, NEW SIDEWALKS, THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC TREES CAN BE ACHIEVED BY SPENDING MUCH LESS MONEY. SO I THANK THE MAYOR AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND CONTINUING TO SCRUTINIZE THIS PLAN AND WORK TOWARD A SENSIBLE ALTERNATIVE. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALQUAN. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN CLIFFORD. HEY, GREAT TO SEE YOU. JUST REAL QUICK, UM, ON THE TWO BLOCKS, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE TWO BLOCKS. DO I HAVE IT WRONG? I THOUGHT IT WAS ALLEN PARKWAY ALL THE WAY TO WESTHEIMER. SO IS THAT, BUT THIS, UH, $15 MILLION IS ONLY FROM ALLEN PARKWAY TO WEST CLAY TO CLAY. SO IT'S LITERALLY TWO BLOCKS. OKAY. OKAY. IT'S ONE 5 MILLION. I THINK THE ENTIRE PROJECT ON IT IS MULTIMILLION GOES TO WESTERN. I DON'T REALLY KNOW. OKAY. THANKS SO MUCH. BUT IT'S JUST FOR THAT SMALL PRIDE AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? AND I THINK THE MAYOR'S ALSO LOOKING AT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SALLY LEE, UR LEANNE, UR. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH FRAZIER. SARAH FRAZIER. ANNA WI WISE, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS DR. ANNA WEISS. I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST WORKING IN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TODAY BECAUSE I LOVE TREES. WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT A CONTROVERSY OVER CUTTING DOWN HISTORIC TREES AS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, I THOUGHT, NO WAY. THAT'S HORRIBLE. SURELY THERE'S A BETTER WAY. SOME SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND OR COMPROMISE, BECAUSE TREES ARE AMAZING. THEY HELP TO SHADE AND COOL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY PROVIDE DRAINAGE, THEY'RE PRETTY, BUT LOOKING AT THE TREES ALONG MONTROSE BOULEVARD, THEY DON'T PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES ANYMORE. AND IN FACT, THEY CREATE HAZARDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR COMMUNITY BY ROOTING UP SIDEWALKS AND GETTING TOO CLOSE TO POWER LINES. THIS ISN'T EVERY TREE OR THE TREES IN THE MEDIANS, [02:45:01] BUT THOSE AREN'T UP FOR REMOVAL IN THIS PROPOSAL. AND EVEN BETTER, THE REMOVED TREES WILL BE REPLACED AND WILL MAINTAINED SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES WELL INTO THE FUTURE. THIS ALREADY FUNDED PROJECT, WHICH PRESERVES THE TREES THAT HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE WHILE PLANTING NEW TREES THAT WILL THRIVE INTO THE FUTURE IS THE MIDDLE GROUND. IT IS THE COMPROMISE THAT WE'VE BEEN HOPING FOR. PLEASE APPROVE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER JULIE TOBEY. HAVE A JULIE TOBEY AND I HAVE A HANDOUT. UM, IT'S THE, UM, PRINTED VERSION OF THE APRIL 11TH, 2024 REPORT BY THE RICE UNIVERSITY KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AN EDITORIAL AND A CHRONICLE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT IT. IT SHOWS, UM, HOW THEIR STUDY SHOWS THERE IS EXTREME TREE CANOPY LOSS IN HARRIS COUNTY BETWEEN 2011 AND 2021 OF 10% OR 9.9 DECREASE IN OVERALL AVERAGE IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THAT'S THE AVERAGE. MONTROSE WAS FOURTH IN TERMS OF CANOPY LOSS AT 35.78% WITH NEIGHBORING AREAS SUCH AS MIDTOWN AT 35.4 5, 35 0.45%. UPPER KIRBY AT 35 POINT 27 EAST DOWNTOWN, ALL THE WAY AT THE TOP AT 46.09%. HOUSTON IS ALSO IN THE SAME ARTICLE. HOUSTON RANKS FOURTH ON CLIMATE CENTRAL'S LIST OF US CITIES WITH THE MOST INTENSE HER URBAN KEAT ISLAND. UM, NOT DOING THIS FOR THE INTEREST, INTEREST OF A SELECTS FEW, BUT FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. UM, AND THE LONGTIME BUSINESSES ALONG MONTROSE ARE VERY CONCERNED. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM? THEIR BUSINESS WILL SUFFER TERRIBLY. THEIR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I JUST HAVE ONE MORE PARAGRAPH. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. YESTERDAY IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, THERE'S A PIECE BY A RIDER WHO COVERS THE AMERICAN SOUTH. SHE TALKS ABOUT NEWLY PLANTED SAPLINGS HELP, BUT THERE'S NO WAY THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME EFFECTIVENESS AS MATURE TREES. WE'VE GOTTEN THE IDEA THAT PLANTING A TREE IN URBAN AND SEBER AREAS HAS THE SAME EFFECT AS PRESERVING ONE. IF ONE HAPPENS TO BE GROWING SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU DON'T WANT IT, YOU JUST CUT IT DOWN AND PLAN ANOTHER IN A MORE CONVENIENT SPOT. IN RAPIDLY GROWING CITIES WHERE EVEN A ROBUST PLAN FOR PLANTING TREES, WHICH WE REALLY DON'T HAVE, CAN'T POSSIBLY KEEP UP THE PACE WITH DEVELOPMENT, THE PRESERVATION OF EXISTING TREES NEEDS TO BE DONE. IT WILL HELP IMMENSELY WITH KEEPING A CITY LIVABLE FOR HUMAN BEINGS. ALL THE HUMAN BEINGS IN HOUSTON, AS WELL AS FOR WILDLIFE. PLEASE KEEP THESE ESTABLISHED TREES ALONG MONTROSE AND WE REALLY DO THANK THE MAYOR AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PUTTING THE PROJECT ON HOLD TO CONSIDER ITS EFFECTS AND TRY AND MAKE A BETTER PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, JAMIE FLAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A RESIDENT OF EAST MONTROSE, UH, MEMBER OF THE EAST MONTROSE CIVIC ASSOCIATION BOARD, AND I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR, UM, PROCEEDING WITH THE, UM, PROJECT ALONG MOROSE THAT HAS BEEN BEING EXPLORED. IT'S BEEN IN THIS, IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THIS CHAMBER IN THIS CIP IN ITS INITIAL STUDY FORM IN THE 2021, I THINK CIPI WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH. IT HAS BEEN APPROVED AS A GOOD ANSWER FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING DRAINAGE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SO MANY OF MY, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS MENTIONED, UM, BEFORE. AND IT HAS OTHER FOLKS MENTIONED. IT HAS ALSO BEEN, UH, CONSIDERED GREATLY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND INVESTMENT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN THIS PROJECT. AS SOMEBODY WHO BIKES TO WORK, WHO WALKS TO WORK, WHO WORKS IN THE PLANNING PROFESSION, THIS IS THE KIND THAT THE TRADEOFFS THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED ARE THE KINDS OF TRADEOFFS THAT CITIES NEED TO MAKE IN ORDER TO MAKE LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT CREATE THE AMAZING BOULEVARDS AND THE AMAZING ENVIRONMENTS THAT WE ARE SO PROUD OF. SO I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO APPROVE, UH, AND PROCEED AND STOP THE PAUSE ON THAT PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. JULIE YOUNG. HI, UH, I'M IN EAST MONTROSE, UH, UM, FOUNDER OF THE EAST MONTROSE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. I'M A BIKE RIDER. UH, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR BIKE SAFETY. UH, WE ALSO NEED SAFETY FOR CARS. THERE ARE, UM, SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT PLAN ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. THE PRO PROPOSED DRAINAGE [02:50:01] IS UNNECESSARY NARROWING THE LANES CAUSE SIDESWIPE ACCIDENTS AND ROAD RAGE BLOCKED INTERSECTIONS PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. PATRONS CAN'T ACCESS BUSINESSES. DRIVERS USE MORE GAS AND WASTE TIME TRYING TO ZIP AROUND THE SIDE STREETS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING. NARROWING THE MEDIAN FROM 30 TO 20 FEET, LEAVES NO SHELTER FOR, UH, THE 20 FOOT LONG AMAZON GUY WHO'S TRYING TO GET ACROSS. SO THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES. UM, AS THE MAYOR SAID AT THE LIBRARY REOPENING, WE DON'T NEED THE DRAINAGE PROJECT AND NOT AT $15 MILLION WITHOUT TEARING UP THE STREET FOR THAT UNNEEDED WATER TANK. A SIMPLE OVERLAY WILL REPAIR THE PAVEMENT, THEN THE LANES CAN STAY A SAFE 12 FEET WIDE. FIRE TRUCKS ARE NINE FEET WIDE. INTERSECTIONS WILL STAY OPEN FOR CROSS TRAFFIC, AND SO BUSINESSES, UH, THE CUSTOMERS CAN GET TO BUSINESSES. THE MEDIAN CAN REMAIN 30 FEET WIDE TO SHELTER VEHICLES THAT ARE CROSSING YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, AND WE'LL HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER TO GIVE SIDEWALKS TO THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, LAURA KALE. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LAURA KAI AND I AM A CONCERNED RESIDENT OF MONTROSE. UM, REGARDING THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, I LIVE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE TWO. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PHASE ONE RIGHT NOW. PHASE TWO, ACTUALLY, THEY'RE GO, UM, I THINK THE REQUEST FOR FUNDING IS THIS WEEK, SO THAT'S PHASE TWO, WHICH WILL GO DOWN TO 59 WESTHEIMER. I WALK BIKE, RUN AROUND HOUSTON. UM, I RODE MY BIKE HERE TODAY, SO I'M NOT AGAINST THE IMPROVEMENT. UM, THE MAYOR PUT A HOLD ON IT PROBABLY FOR A REASON. I JUST ENCOURAGE THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS AND DETAILED QUESTIONS. UM, YOU'RE HEARING IT FROM ALL SIDES, BUT JUST READ THE FACTS. UM, HOW MANY TREES WILL BE REMOVED? HOW MANY OF 'EM ARE HEALTHY? HOW MANY OF 'EM ARE UNHEALTHY? THERE'S A MASTER AORIST WHO'S DONE A REPORT. THE DRAINAGE PLAN READ THAT. UM, IS IT NEEDED, THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, UM, AND THE SIDE, THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS IN THE ROADS. HAVE THE EMERGENCY SERVICES BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS? ONE OF THE POLICEMEN THAT WAS AT OUR ONE MEETING DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT TIME AS EXPIRED. I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER THING. MONEY'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT. IT'S BETTER TO ASK THE QUESTIONS NOW WHETHER RATHER THAN WHEN IT'S TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD AND TOO LATE. 7,900 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION TO HELP SAVE THE TREES AND FIND A BETTER PLAN. PLEASE LISTEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER JOHN HUMPHREYS. JOHN HUMPHREYS, NEXT SPEAKER, REBECCA SALES. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU? I'M ALRIGHT. GREAT, THANK YOU. UH, HEY, MY NAME'S BECKY SELL. I'M CO-DIRECTOR OF WEST STREET RECOVERY AND A MEMBER OF NAC. UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT I RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I'M HERE, UM, TO TALK WITH, TO SHARE SOME BAD NEWS. WE RECENTLY DISCOVERED AND ASKED FOR YOUR HELP. LAST YEAR AFTER A LONG CAMPAIGN, WE CELEBRATED WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A VICTORY OF A $40 MILLION INCREASE TO DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMING. IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING ALONG WITH DISTRICT B'S UNDERSTANDING AND MANY OTHERS OF YOU HERE, THAT WE HAD WON $20 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL LDP PROJECTS AND $20 MILLION TOWARDS DEBT REESTABLISHMENT. UH, WE FARTHER UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS MONEY CAME FROM OUTSIDE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, SO IT WASN'T MOVING MONEY GOING TO OTHER DRAINAGE TO THIS, IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE AND ADDING TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE RECENTLY HAVE FOUND OUT, UH, THAT NONE OF THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED. SO LAST YEAR, I'M SURE Y'ALL REMEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON PUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT FOR 20 MILLION FOR LDP AFTER, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW US EVERY WEEK. GO AHEAD. THE TIME HAD EXPIRED. THANK YOU. UM, AND, UH, THIS YEAR, LIKE AS WE, UH, PREPARED FOR OUR, UH, WORK THIS YEAR, WE WENT INTO THE CITY BUDGET RECORDS AND STARTED LOOKING FOR PROOF OF THAT AMENDMENT ACTUALLY HAPPENING. IT'S WRITTEN THAT IT HAPPENED, BUT WE CAN'T FIND DOCUMENTATION ANYWHERE THAT THAT MONEY WAS ACTUALLY MOVED, NOR ANY INDICATION THAT IT WILL BE MOVED. WE'VE MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DRAINAGE AND PUBLIC WORKS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OF YOUR OFFICES TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS. AND WE BASICALLY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CLEAR ANSWER ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED, WHICH [02:55:01] UNFORTUNATELY GIVES US A HIGH SUSPICION THAT THAT MONEY WAS NOT MOVED. UH, THIS OF COURSE, IS ALARMING FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, UM, LIKE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, DEMOCRACY, UH, THE CITY FOLLOWING ITS OWN ORDINANCES AND, YOU KNOW, DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WE THOUGHT WE HAD WON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, UH, THAT MONEY IS NOT THERE. UH, SO THAT'S ONE PART OF THE $20 MILLION. UM, UH, THE, THE OTHER PART OF THAT 20 MILLION IS THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM. UH, GREAT NEWS IS THAT PROGRAM IS FUNDED AND IS HAPPENING. HOWEVER, THAT MONEY, WE ALSO WERE, UM, LIKE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT MONEY WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, POOLS OF FUNDING. AND WE ALSO, UH, CANNOT GET A CLEAR ANSWER OR DOCUMENTATION THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. IT APPEARS THAT THAT MONEY COULD HAVE COME FROM EXCESS SWAP MONEY FROM THE, FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. UM, WE ARE UNSURE ABOUT THIS, BUT WHAT'S REALLY ALARMING IS WE'VE BEEN EMAILING AND ASKING AND ASKING AND WE CAN'T GET A CLEAR ANSWER. UM, YEAH. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO FIND OUT WHERE THAT MONEY WENT AS WELL AS, UH, MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS. THIS YEAR. WE, WE, WE WON THAT MONEY. YOU ALL SUPPORTED US IN OUR FIGHT AND WE NEED TO ACTUALLY SEE IT IN PROJECTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU KNOCK FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. UM, AS I MET WITH YOU GUYS, I TOLD YOU THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO IDENTIFY HOW THE RESOURCES, UM, WAS SPENT. IF IT WAS SPENT, I KNOW IT WAS MONEY COMING FROM, UM, HARRIS COUNTY. AND SO ONCE I GET A FULL ACCOUNT ON THE RESOURCES, IF THE MONEY WAS SPENT, I WILL DEFINITELY LET YOU GUYS KNOW. BUT I'M, YOU KNOW, STILL WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THAT INFORMATION. UM, BUT THEN ALSO I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS TOMORROW WE HAVE OUR SERVICE SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE, UM, PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE, UM, THE REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM, THE DISTRICT ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM. AND SO THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO START ASKING QUESTIONS TO PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT THE PROGRAM. BUT IN REGARDS TO THE MONEY, I'M, I'M DOING RESEARCHING RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO FIND OUT THANKS. WHAT HAPPENS? THANKS. WE APPRECIATE THAT. YEAH. WE'LL HAVE SOME MANY TEAM MEMBERS HERE TOMORROW AND, UH, WE, WE'VE MET, WE MET WITH THEM JUST LAST MONTH AND WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE UPDATED PRESENTATION ON DITCH REESTABLISHMENT. SO GREAT NEWS, WE'RE REALLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT PROGRAM. IT'S GOING GREAT, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT MONEY DIDN'T COME FROM OTHER DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. RIGHT. AND THE LDP, BASICALLY THERE ARE, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL LDP PROJECTS HAPPENING AS FAR AS WE CAN UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, TRACY HAMPTON. HI. HI, UH, MY NAME IS TRACY HAMLIN. I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT I, A MOTHER, A MEMBER OF THE NAC NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND A CO-DIRECTOR OF THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM AT WEST STREET RECOVERY. I'M HERE TO REQUEST SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR ON OUR FOUR THREE NOW, UH, CITY BUDGET ITEMS AND ALSO TO NURTURE THE SEEDS OF DIALOGUE, OF OPENNESS AND OF TRANSPARENCY THAT I HOPE TO SEE IN MY CITIES AND MY CHILDREN'S FUTURE AS A SURVIVOR OF HURRICANE HARVEY, A WITNESS TO THE AFTERMATH, AFTERMATH ACROSS THE CITY, A VOLUNTEER IN THE MUCKING PROCESS, A LABORER, SKILLED IN SHEET ROCK REPAIR, AND NOW FULL-TIME EMPLOYED IN THE REBUILDING AND RECOVERY PROCESS FROM NATURAL DISASTERS IN SEVERAL NORTHEAST ZIP CODES. FOR YEARS, I'VE SEEN THE PROPORTIONATE EFFECTS, DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECTS OF POOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN IT RAINS IN HOUSTON, IT FLOODS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, AND BECAUSE OF SEWAGE OVERFLOWS, CANCER CLUSTER TOXINS, LANDFILL WASTE, AND RUNOFF FROM INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, THAT FLOOD WATER IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE FATAL AT TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAY I GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. A KEY WAY TO ADDRESS THIS IS PROPERLY MAINTAINING OPEN DITCHES, WHICH IS CON, WHICH ARE CONCENTRATED IN BIPOC COMMUNITIES. WHEN IN INSUFFICIENTLY MAINTAINED OPEN DITCHES, EXACERBATE FLOODING AND HEALTH RISKS OF TOXINS. SUSTAINING THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM WITH $45 MILLION ANNUALLY AND INCREASING LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS FUNDING BY $20 MILLION IS KEY TO CLOSING THE RACIAL GAP IN DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IN HOUSTON. ANOTHER WAY OUR CITY CAN COUNTERACT THE DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT IS ADDRESSING SEWAGE OVERFLOWS, ORIGINATING FROM PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS AS THE EARTH BENEATH OUR HOMES RESPONSE TO SHRINKING AND SWELLING FROM FLOODS AND DROUGHTS AND SHAKING FROM HEAVY TRUCKING OR CONCRETE CRUSHING EXPLOSIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AGED AND BURIED SEWAGE PIPES BUCKLE AND COLLAPSE. THESE UNSEEN DAMAGES CAUSED BACKUPS OF UNTREATED HUMAN WASTE INTO BATHTUB BATHTUBS. WERE DIRECTLY INTO THE YARD WHERE THE NEXT RAIN WILL SPREAD IT TO THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE CREATION OF A $20 MILLION PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL FUND TO REPAIR THESE BREAKAGES WOULD ADDRESS [03:00:01] MORE NEEDS THAN OUR ORGANIZATION HAS THE CAPACITY FOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CAROLYN RIVERA. TO THE MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. I AM CAROLYN RIVERA. JUST TODAY, A COURT RULED THAT THE CITY MUST FUND DRAINAGE WITH THE FULL 11.80 CENT AVALOR TAX. IF YOU REMEMBER, NAT CAME TO EVERY COUNCIL SESSION LAST SPRING ADVOCATING FOR AVALOR MONEY TO STOP BEING MOVED INTO THE GENERAL FUND WHEN VOTERS HAD DECIDED THE MONEY MUST GO TO DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. OVER $200 MILLION HAS BEEN LOST. THE PRACTICE OF MOVING BADLY NEEDED DRAINAGE FUND INTO THE GENERAL FUND IS OVER. THE NAC HAS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, PRESENTED A SERIES OF WELL RESEARCH POLICY SOLUTION TO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MA'AM, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD AND FINISH. THANK YOU, MA'AM. TO ADDRESS FLOODING IN OUR COMMUNITY TIME AND AGAIN, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY, DRAINAGE FUNDING WILL GO UP BY ABOUT $90 MILLION. BECAUSE OF THIS RULING, THE CITY MUST ENACT NEXT DEMAND, IMMEDIATELY INCREASE LDP SPENDING BY 20 MILLION ON A PERMANENT BASIS, FULLY FUND THE DISH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM WITH 45 MILLION, CREATE A FUND TO ADDRESS LEAKS IN PRIVATE SUE LATERALS AND INVEST 20 MILLION TO LAUNCH YET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER JOANNA HITCHCOCK. JOANNA HITCHCOCK TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER QUAS. THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE, A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF FUNDING DRIVING PROJECT GOALS AND DESIGN RATHER THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND. THE TIER HAS TO CLAIM THAT MONTROSE HAS SOME OF THE WORST FLOODING IN HOUSTON. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE NORTHEAST HAS THIS BEAT BY FAR, BUT THEY HAVE TO CLAIM THAT TO GET THEIR HANDS ON DRAINAGE FUNDING. AND LET'S BE CLEAR, WE DO NOT OPPOSE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN REPLACE THE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT TAKING DOWN ALL OF THE SIDEWALK TREES. PLEASE READ WHAT'S BEING DISTRIBUTED TO YOU. THE FACTS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE TIER'S OWN REPORTS THAT SHOW NOT ONLY, NOT A, NOT A FLOODING PROBLEM, BUT VERY, VERY MINIMAL IMPROVEMENT IN DRAINAGE THAT THIS OVER-ENGINEERED VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE. AND EVEN THEN, ONLY MAYBE, AND ONLY IN THE FUTURE DISTANT FUTURE, THE TIERS ALSO HAS TO INSIST ON THIS 10 FOOT SIDEWALK SO THAT THEY CAN CLAIM IN THEIR FUNDING REQUEST THAT THE PROJECT WILL DRASTICALLY REDUCE VEHICLE MILES THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WILL SWITCH TO CYCLING. THAT IT WILL OFFSET THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TAKING DOWN THE TREES AND ADDING SO MUCH CONCRETE TO OUR ALREADY OVERHEATED ENVIRONMENT. HOT UNSHADED, CONCRETE SIDEWALKS, MAKE WALKING, RIDING THE BUS, AND EVEN CYCLING MORE MISERABLE. PLEASE OPPOSE THIS PROJECT FOR A SIMPLER, LESS CONCRETE FILLED DESIGN. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTOPHER QUAS. CHRISTOPHER QUALES, NEXT SPEAKER ANTHONY JOHNSON. ANTHONY JOHNSON, NEXT SPEAKER BARA HANSEN. THIS IS MY CONTINUATION OF THE COVID MISRE MIS MRS. APPROPRIATION. UM, IT WAS FOUND THAT OVER 1% OF THE PROGRAM, IT NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS WAS OVER, UH, WAS MISAPPROPRIATED. UM, THEN THE COUNTY PAID THE AUDITORS $717,000 TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AFTERWARDS. THE, UH, BAKER RIPLEY WAS CONTINUOUSLY CHARGING ADMIN FEES ON TOP OF THE EM EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH I FIND KIND OF CONCERNING WHY THE CITY AND THE, UH, AND THE COUNTY WASN'T GIVING THESE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE [03:05:01] PROGRAMS AS OPPOSED TO THESE NGOS. THIS IS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WENT TO THESE PROGRAMS THAT I BELIEVE WAS MISAPPROPRIATED AND COULD HAVE CHANGED OUR COMMUNITIES IN DRASTIC, DRASTIC WAYS. AND I'M SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND WHY NO ONE IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY IS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY. UM, FROM THE REPORT THAT I READ, I WAS TOLD THAT BAKER RIPLEY REFUSED. THEY WERE NONRESPONSIVE TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED. UM, I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE FINAL REPORT. UM, I HAVE CALLED CLAUDIA AGUIRE. SHE BLOCKED ME WHEN I ASKED HER. I'M SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND WHY NO ONE IS TRYING TO RECUPERATE THIS MONEY IF OUR COUNTY AND CITY IS BROKE. AND ALSO THE ABUSE OF OF BAIL REFORM. MAY I CONTINUE? GO AHEAD. THE ABUSE OF BAIL, BAIL REFORM HAS BECOME SO BAD IN BROWN AND BLACK COMMUNITIES. OVER 200 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND 90% OF THEM ARE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND CHILDREN. SO HOW, HOW, WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS RE-INVESTIGATING THESE, THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING RELEASED AND, AND GOING OUT AND RECOMMITTING THESE MURDERS? IT'S IT, BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY, MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE. THAT'S NOT SOCIAL JUSTICE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SOCIAL JUSTICE. I THINK IT'S, I THINK THE PROGRAM IS BEING ABUSED AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, OUR COMMUNITIES COULD BE HELPED SO MUCH. IF YOU GUYS ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO WHERE THE MONEY WENT, HOW IT WAS MISAPPROPRIATED AND WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF CORRUPTION THAT I AM FINDING THROUGH ALL OF THESE 5 0 1 3 CS AND SO FORTH. THANK YOU MR. CLAUDIA. AG YEAR MAKES OVER 600, $600,000 A YEAR. YOUR TIME HAS HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MS. HANSON. THANK YOU. WE, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT CHO. MR. CHO, GOOD AFTERNOON BASE BASED ON LOOSE RESEARCH AND A MISLEADING STATEMENT BY THE THEN BUDGET DIRECTOR. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE PRENATAL, PARENTAL AND INFANT WELLNESS LEAVE PROGRAM IN APRIL OF 2022 TO GO INTO EFFECT A MONTH LATER, THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. DATA PROVIDED BY THE CITY SHOWS AN AVERAGE OF 179 CITY EMPLOYEES ON PPI LEAVE IN 2023, RANGING FROM 137 TO AS MANY AS 249 PEOPLE IN A GIVEN PAY PERIOD. AND LET ME ASK, UH, LET ME JUST, UH, POINT OUT THAT'S ONLY POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, JUST THOSE FOUR DEPARTMENTS IN 2023. THIS LEAVE COST THE CITY ON ESTIMATE MORE THAN $14 MILLION. MORE IMPORTANT, WE HAVE HAD 30 TO 40 FEWER POLICE OFFICERS ON PATROL AT ANY GIVEN TIME, NOT TO MENTION THE ABSENCES, ABSENCES AND HFD THAT HAD TO BE COVERED WITH OVERTIME. BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ONLY A FINANCIAL, BUT A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN. I URGE A RE RECONSIDERATION OF THE PPI PROGRAM. I'LL BE HAPPY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE LABOR COMMITTEE, ASSUMING THE MEETING SCHEDULE IS POSTED ONE DAY SOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, PRISCILLA RIVAS. PRISCILLA RIVAS, NEXT SPEAKER AN BAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA COMMEND MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HIS REASONED APPROACH TO PUTTING ON HOLD, UM, A NUMBER OF PROJECTS FOR REVIEW THAT AFFECT INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY IN OUR CITY. AND, UH, JUST TO BE SURE THAT THE IRREVOCABLE CHANGES THAT ARE PART OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL AFFECT THE DAILY LIVES OF THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON AND IN POSITIVE WAYS, UH, RELATED TO QUALITY OF LIFE. UH, I LIVE A BLOCK FROM MONTROSE AND I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 25 YEARS. UM, WE HAVE NOT HAD MAJOR FLOODING IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN THERE THROUGH HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS LIKE ALLISON AND EVEN HURRICANE HARVEY, WHERE WATER WAS DUMPED INTO THE BIO FROM UPSTREAM. UM, BUFFALO BIO, UH, [03:10:02] MONTROSE BOULEVARD DIDN'T FLOOD, UH, OR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS DIDN'T, THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING BEYOND OR SOUTH OF WEST DALLAS STREET. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF RECENT REPORTS, UH, FROM THE EPISCOPAL HEALTH CHARITY TO THE CENTER FOR HOUSTON'S FUTURE AND THE KINDER INSTITUTE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. MAY, MAY I GO ON? YOU CAN CONTINUE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, ALL AGREE THAT, THAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND, UM, OF THAT HOUSTON IS GETTING HOTTER. IN FACT, 2023, I BELIEVE WAS THE HOTTEST YEAR WE'VE HAD ON RECORD WITH 45 DAYS OF TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT, UM, AND AREAS WITH LESS STREET CANOPY. IN THE STUDIES, UH, IT WAS REPORTED WITH THE URBAN HEAT ISLANDS TEND TO BE 17 DEGREES HOTTER THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, WHICH LEADS TO CRITICAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS, UH, OR CAN LEAD TO THAT. SO, UM, AND WITH MONTROSE BEING NUMBER ONE IN, UM, SORRY, NUMBER FOUR IN ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR TREE CANOPY LOSS DUE TO DEVELOPMENT AND DROUGHT, UM, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ELIMINATE HUNDREDS OF MATURE TREES THAT GRACE MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND THAT COOLEY ENVIRONMENT MITIGATE FLOODING AND, UM, CLEAN THE AIR. SO, UM, THAT ONLY ADDS THE PLANS AS THEY ARE TODAY FOR THE MONTROSE IMPROVEMENT WITH TIERS 27 AND PLANS TO ADD MORE CONCRETE, 10 FOOT SIDEWALKS TAKE DOWN ALL OF THE STREET LINING TREES, REDUCE THE MEDIUM, THE ESPLANADE IN WHICH TREES GROW IN A ZIGZAG, WHICH WILL OF COURSE AFFECT THE TREES THERE. UM, AND SOME WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN OUT IN ORDER TO, UM, ADD THIS 10 FOOT, UM, RECREATION AND MOBILITY AREA RIGHT NEXT TO, UH, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ON A NORTH SOUTH CORRIDOR. THAT WILL PROBABLY NOT BE THE SAFEST WAY TO, TO GET AROUND OR TO ENJOY RECREATION. I'M NOT, I'M, I'M OPPOSED TO THE, THE TIER 27 MONTROSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, THE WAY IT'S PLANNED NOW. HOWEVER, I, I BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO MONTROSE BOULEVARD, SIDEWALKS, STREETS, THAT MAKE SENSE. AND, UM, WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT LOSING THE CANOPY, THE ENTIRE TREE CANOPY THAT WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. NEXT, THOMAS OLIVER, STEVE WILLIAMS, GIA LONGWORTH. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GIA AND I'M A MANTRAS RESIDENT. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT FOR ANY PUBLIC PROJECT, COMPROMISES ARE INEVITABLE. THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE MANTRAS BOULEVARD PROJECT. LET US KEEP SCORE. WE GOT UPGRADED TO BIGGER PLANTED TREES AND A LONGER FOUR YEAR WATERING PLAN. THEN THE TIER BOARD WENT EVEN FURTHER AND REQUESTED FOUR VARIANCES FROM THE CITY SO THAT THE MUCH NEEDED DRAINAGE PROJECT COULD MOVE FORWARD WHILE ALSO SAVING SOME OF THE TREES. WITH THOSE CHANGES, WE'VE NOW LOST A SAFE CROSSING AT WEST CLAY. WE NARROWED A SIDEWALK BY A FOOT. OKAY, WE'RE DOWNGRADING TO AN INFERIOR LEFT TURN DESIGN AND WE LOSE A SEGMENT OF SIDEWALK LEADING UP TO ALLEN PARKWAY. THE LANES WILL REMAIN WIDE. SO NO TRAFFIC CALMING, MA'AM, ALL OF THAT WASN'T CAN YOU SLOW DOWN? OKAY, BUT ALL OF THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. APPARENTLY THE SHARED USE PATH, WHICH WAS A COMPROMISE TO BEGIN WITH, IS NOW ALSO ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. AT THIS RATE, THE FATE OF THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT, THE CORE OF THE PROJECT IS UNCERTAIN. THAT IS NOT COMPROMISE. THAT IS A HIJACKING. IT IS FRUSTRATING TO SEE OUR CONCERNS SO EASILY DISMISSED WHEN WE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY JUST ASKING YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO MOVE AROUND OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD SAFELY. OUR RIGHT TO MOBILITY AND SAFETY DOES NOT END THE SECOND WE STEP OUTSIDE OF A CAR. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HELP US GET THIS PROJECT OVER THE FINISH LINE, AT LEAST SOMEWHAT INTACT. PREFERABLY, IT IS FULLY DESIGNED AND FULLY FUNDED. AND AFTER YEARS OF INPUT, IT IS BEING, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, IT'S BEING TOWARDS THE SHREDS. PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD JOB. NEXT, GEORGE LEBLANC. GREETINGS, UH, MAYOR GREETING CITY COUNCIL. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. I WAS JUST, UM, A DOCUMENT WAS PASSED OUT TO EVERYBODY ON MY BEHALF, WHICH IS [03:15:01] A FORWARDED UPDATED EMAIL, UH, TO YOUR OFFICE IN REGARDS TO MY PENDING COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THE DIRECTOR, MR. WILL FALK AND MR. RICHARDSON. UH, RESPECTFULLY, MAYOR, I'M JUST HERE SIMPLY TO, UH, UH, TO ASK, UH, WHAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO, UH, EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM YOU? A DISPOSITION FROM YOU IN REGARDS TO MY COMPLAINT? YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST HAVE TO CHECK WITH MY STAFF. I KNOW THEY MET WITH YOU AND, UH, GOT ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED, BUT I I HAVEN'T GOT A REPORT ON IT. OKAY, SIR, THANK YOU. I'LL DO SO WHEN WE GET UP FROM HERE. THANK YOU, SIR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, NANCY RAJI. SOPHIA, THE TIDE IS SHIFTING ON THE PUBLIC OPINION OF WHAT IS, CANNOT BE DESCRIBED AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MASSACRE IN GAZA. UM, THAT ISRAEL IS UNLEASHING AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATION THERE, THE ETHNIC CLEANSING AND THE MURDER OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. UM, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON NEEDS TO ACT AND CATCH UP TO WHAT IS HAPPENING. SO Y'ALL NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT'S TAKING PLACE. CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. UM, AND THEN UNTIL THEN, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE SOUNDS OF A CHILD WHO IS NOT OLDER THAN 10, WHO IS, WAS INJURED BY AN ISRAELI BOMBING AND WAS ASKING FOR THE DOCTORS, BEGGING FOR DOCTORS TO RELIEVE HIS PAIN. SO I WOULD LIKE TO YOU TO IMAGINE THAT THIS IS YOUR CHILD, OR YOUR NEPHEW, OR YOUR SON OR YOUR GRANDSON. AMY PECK, WHY ARE YOU SCROLLING ON YOUR PHONE INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THIS CHILD? AMY PECK. MA'AM, MA'AM, WHY ARE YOU SCROLLING THROUGH YOUR PHONE INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THIS CHILD CRYING? THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME HAS YOU'RE DISGRACE. Q NEXT, SOPHIA SEGAR. IF THAT WAS YOUR TIME, WOULD YOU BE SCROLLING THROUGH YOUR PHONE LIKE THAT? WOULD YOU BE WELL, GOOD EVENING. WE WERE GRACED TO THE PRESENCE OF PALESTINIAN EGYPTIAN YOUTH ACTIVIST OKTA HALID, WHO IS FORCIBLY EVACUATED FROM GAZA 45 DAYS INTO THIS ONGOING GENOCIDE. I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT TO YOU WHAT HE SAID TO YOU. WE LOVE LIFE AND WE ARE NOT NUMBERS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION HIS 7-YEAR-OLD COUSIN WHO IS CURRENTLY DISPLACED IN THE RAFA, THE SOUTHERNMOST CITY IN GAZA. RIGHT NOW, THEIR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE EGYPTIAN BORDER AND THEY'RE BEING BOMBED IN THEIR REFUGEE CAMP. HIS COUSIN CANNOT CURRENTLY MOVE HER HANDS. SHE'S SEVEN. THESE KIDS, THESE ADULTS ARE GOING THROUGH MORE TRAUMA AND PAIN THAT CAN BE ENDURED. BUT I ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT ATHA IS THE KINDEST PERSON I'VE MET TODAY. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK TO HIM BRIEFLY. HE EXUDES LIFE AND PASSION AND HE AND EVERY PALESTINIAN ARE WORTHY AND DESERVING OF LIFE AND LIBERTY TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN LAND AND REAL AND LASTING PEACE. SO TODAY IN THE NAME OF MR. HALID AND HIS 7-YEAR-OLD COUSIN RAFA, I ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND PERMANENTLY DIVEST FROM ISRAEL BY REMOVING THE OPTION TO INVEST IN IN ISRAELI BONDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, JACOB CLEMENTI. ROBERT. OI MA'AM? YEAH. UM, I'M TRYING TO, UM, BUILD A NEW THEME PARK CALLED, UM, HOLLYWOOD, UM, AKA GODS PLAN DEDICATED TO AUBREY GRAHAM AND UH, DARNELL, UM, D GOTTI MONROE, WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW WHO DRAKE IS ALREADY IN, HUH? DE GOTTI MONROE IS A, A RED SHOP ARTIST. WE DID A LOT OF WORK BACK IN THE DAY WHEN BIG MO WAS ALIVE. GOD BLESS DEATH, GOT ALL THE UPPER ECHELON AND THE PEOPLE WHO PAID THE WAY FOR US TO HAVE A FOUNDATION. AND HE USED TO TEXT [03:20:01] MUSICALLY. YOU COULD WRITE THIS OFF AS, UM, MISCELLANEOUS ONE-ON-ONE ARTS, CRAFTS, MUSIC AND RAPPORT. AND, UH, I GOT ALL MY PAPERWORK. I GOT MY FOREIGN ENTITY, MY, MY CONFLICT OF INJURIES, ALL MY PAPERWORK AND MY BACKPACK. AND I'M USING MY INCOME TAX TO GET A, UH, PERMIT STARTED. AS YOU CAN SEE, EXHIBIT A IS ON MY PAPERWORK AND, UH, ALL MY INSURANCE INFORMATION TO GET THE PERMIT STARTED. SO Y'ALL SEE WHAT YI NEED, UM, SOME SIGNATURES AND WE CAN GET IT STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SO WHO CAN I TALK TO TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT, SIR? WHO CAN NEED TO TALK TO WHO, WHO CAN I TALK TO TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT? RENEE, I WOULD SUGGEST CYNTHIA. OH, RENEE. RENEE. RENEE. YOU WANNA TALK TO THIS GENTLEMAN? YES, SIR. TO GET HIS INFORMATION? YES. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. SHOUT OUT ALL THE INFORMATION. HONOR, MAN. REAL SIR? YES SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY. YES SIR. BE SAFE. ALRIGHT. AND GRANT CARDONE TOO. HE'S A NICE MAYOR. YES, SIR. NEXT, THIS CONCLUDES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR TODAY. OKAY. I GUESS WE [RECESS] STAND RECESS UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK TOMORROW MORNING. THANK YOU TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, APRIL 23RD AND 24TH, 2024. ITEM ONE IS THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE VALLEY VIEW AND PIPESTONE CENTER POINT ENERGY RESOURCES, GAS MAIN RELOCATION IN SUPPORT OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IN BRAEBURN GLEN. SECTION ONE, SUBDIVISION ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF HERBERT SIMS AS DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR PAYMENT TO THE HARRIS GALVESTON SUBSTANCE DISTRICT FOR 2024. GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWAL PERMIT FEES FOR AREA TWO AND THREE. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR PAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE ACQUISITION FOR THE WATERLINE REPLACEMENT ALONG EAST 38TH STREET. PROJECT ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SETTLE IN CONNECTION WITH EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS STYLE, CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS A ONE REAL ESTATE LLC ET ALL FOR ANTOINE DRIVE PAVING AND DRAINAGE PROJECT FROM HAMLEY BOULEVARD TO HEMPSTEAD HIGHWAY. ITEM SIX, PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS LP FOR LANDSCAPING MOWERS THROUGH BY BOARD PURCHASING COOPERATIVE. ITEM SEVEN, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF EXPLORER IR RED WAVE HANDHELD GAS DETECTORS AWARDED TO FAR WEST ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPLY INC. ITEM EIGHT APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF SPECIALIZED ADVANCED LAW ENFORCEMENT. RAPID RESPONSE TRAINING ALERT KITS FOR AWARDED TO FAR WEST ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPLY INC. ITEM NINE, WILLIAM E MONSON CO FOR MODIFICATION TO A 33 FOOT LANDING CRAFT BO BOAT AND TRAILER ITEM 10, CHLORINATOR MAINTENANCE CONSTRUCTION CO INC. FROM EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF CHEMICAL FEED SYSTEM REPAIR PARTS. ITEM 11, EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC FOR. SO SOURCE PURCHASE OF CHAIN OF FLIGHT REPLACEMENT PARTS. ITEM 12, AMEND MOTION 20 20 64 AS AMENDED BY MOTION 20 23 8 48 TO INCREASE SPINNING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE CHEMICAL AWARDED TO PVS DX INC. ITEM 13 FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF FLUSHING DEVICES. ITEM 14 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH. AND IDD ITEM 15. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,346,015 AND 10 CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND $7,673,755 AND 90 CENTS OUT OF AIRPORT SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED I TRIP A MT CONSTRUCTION FUND AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AUSTIN GILBANE JOINT VENTURE FOR MICKEY LELAND INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL PROJECT ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $772,560 IN NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORT SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED I TRIP A MT CONSTRUCTION FUND AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO ENTER LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS A AND M ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2 MILLION AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR PROFESSIONAL [03:25:01] SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND INTEREST ARCHITECTS. LTD ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,200,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TURNER AND TOWNSEND INC. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $13 MILLION AND NO SENSE OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR TO TWO CONTRACTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONE HOUSTON AVIATION ALLIANCE, A JOINT VENTURE AND TWO PARSONS AND HJ RUSSELL, IAH TEAM, A JOINT VENTURE FOR PRO PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN JEFFERSON SMITH, LLC AS LANDLORD AND CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS TENANT FOR SPACE. LOCATED AT 500 JEFFERSON STREET. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN JEFFERSON SMITH, LLC LANDLORD AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. TENANT FOR SPACE LOCATED AT 500 JEFFERSON FOR OCCUPANCY BY HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 20 ABOVE ITEM 22. ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBLEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, SUBLEASER AND HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC. SUBLEASE C FOR OFFICE SPACE LOCATED AT 500 JEFFERSON. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 21 ABOVE ITEM 23, ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 1100 BLOCK OF AUSTIN STREET BETWEEN WEST 11TH STREET AND AND 12TH STREET. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 1100 BLOCK OF AUSTIN STREET BETWEEN 11 WEST 11TH STREET AND 12TH STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 25 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 55 POINT 88 ACRES OF LAND OF HARRIS COUNTY MUD. FOUR 16 ITEM 26 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 1 9 8 0.16 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUD 4 1 8 ITEM 27. ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF SIX ONE OH 0.32 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUD FOUR 90 ITEM 28 ORDINANCE. FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF A FIVE FOOT WIDE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT SITUATED IN GP FOSTER SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER 2 73 ITEM 29, OWNERS AUTHORIZING SALE OF 627 SQUARE FEET OF CITY FEET OWNED LAND SITUATED IN SAMUEL M. MORRIS. SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER 3 27 BEING OUT OF AND A PART OF LOT SEVEN AND BLOCK EIGHT. BLOCK EIGHT, TT HALEY EDITION, AN UNRECORDED EDITION IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS SELLING THE PROPERTY TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 30, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE OF 30 FOOT WIDE AREA EASEMENT OUT OF CITY FEE OWNED LAND LOCATED IN THOMAS HO. SURVEY ABSTRACT 3 42, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS SELLING EASEMENT TO CENTER POINT ENERGY ITEM 31 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS MORROW AT BRINKMAN BRINKMAN PROJECT ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $840,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RPS INFRASTRUCTURE INC. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $7,036,897 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO RAY TECH CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES INC. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 2 12 PASS. SECOND READING APRIL 17TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO BIO CITY WASTE SYSTEMS LLC, IT'S THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 35 IS THE ORDINANCE, 20 24 2 13, PAST SECOND READING APRIL 17, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO BRUMFIELD SANITATION SERVICES IS THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 38. ORDINANCE 20 24 2 14, PAST SECOND READING APRIL 17TH. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO EIO, CARRYON AND GREASE TRAP MAINTENANCE IS THE THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 37. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 2 15. PAST SECOND READING APRIL 17, ORDINANCE GRANTED TO HAMILTON ALLIANCE INC. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 2 16 PAST FIRST READING IT SHOULD BE PASSED. SECOND READING APRIL 17TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO NORTHWEST CASCADE INC. UH, THIRD AND FINAL READING, ORDINANCE 30, ORDINANCE 20 24 2 17. PAST SECOND READING APRIL 17TH, 2024. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO PHOENIX POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. THIRD AND FINAL READING, THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM 40 IS A MOTION TO SET A DATE NOW LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS FROM APRIL 24TH, 2024 TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO POSITION C 13 ON THE HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM 41, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION FOR THE [03:30:01] RENOVATION OF CORDOVA APARTMENTS. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, MAY 1ST, 2024. ITEM 42, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE RELATING TO LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE WEDNESDAY, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, MAY 8TH, 2024. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF APRIL 24TH, 2024. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I WANNA WISH MY HUSBAND A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 26TH. IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY. YOU'RE WELCOME. MY NUMBER ONE FAN. I'M READY FOR MY, [RECONVENE] UH, COUNCIL. PLEASE COME TO ORDER MEMBERS, UH, [MAYOR'S REPORT] TAKING THE MAYOR'S REPORT OUT OF ORDER. I WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAYOR'S REPORT TO BRING TO OUR ATTENTION AND ASK FOR IN A MOMENT I'LL ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR JOHN KODO, A HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF THAT WAS FAIRLY STRUCK ON GRAND PARKWAY WHILE ASSISTING ANOTHER, UH, CITIZEN WITH A TRAFFIC COLLISION. UH, DEPUTY KOTO WAS A, WAS 50, WAS A US ARMY VETERAN WHO HAD WORKED FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AS A DEPUTY INVESTIGATOR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT'S A REAL LOSS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT ONCE AGAIN SHOWS HE REPORT IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. SO AT THIS MOMENT, I'LL ASK YOU TO, UH, PLEASE HONOR DEPUTY KOTO AND HIS FAMILY WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK Y'ALL. ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, THE APPOINTMENT OF HERBERT SIMS IS DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, MR. SIMS SECRETARY, CALL THE ITEM MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL THE ITEM? ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION CAST TM MOVE THOMAS. SECOND. MOTION BE MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. SAY, AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. MR. SIMS, CONGRATULATIONS MEMBERS, UH, I MET MR. SIMS ACTUALLY DURING TRANSITION AND HE'S GOT IT AND, UH, HE BECAME OUR INTERIM AND THEN IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE RIGHT JOB AT THE RIGHT TIME. AND HIS ENTHUSIASM JUST IS DEMONSTRATED. SO, MR. SIMS, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. YOU'VE REALLY CONTRIBUTED MANY YEARS TO THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. AND ONCE AGAIN, YOU ILLUSTRATE HOW VALUABLE OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ARE AND YOU'VE COME UP THROUGH THE RANKS AND, UM, WE SHARE YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE COMMUNITIES BETTER. YOU, YOU, I MENTIONED SOMETHING TO YOU. SOMEONE CALLS IN AND IT GETS ADDRESSED. EVEN FOLKS THAT COME BEFORE COUNCIL, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FIRST THAT MY OFFICE TURNS TO, TO GET IT ADDRESSED. UH, THE LADY THAT HAD THE, UM, ILLEGAL DUMPING THE PILE OF DIRT IN THE CANCER CLUSTER COMMUNITY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UH, WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, YOU GOT ON IT AND MADE A DIFFERENCE. AND THAT CAN DO ATTITUDE IS WHAT ALLOWED ME TO, TO MAKE YOU THE PERMANENT DIRECTOR. AND, UH, AND SO, SO I'M EXCITED FOR YOU AND I KNOW YOU, YOUR FAMILY'S HERE. YOU CAN CALL 'EM UP OR I'LL YIELD YOU AT THIS TIME, BUT YOUR WIFE VALENCIA SONS. HOW ABOUT THIS? MEMBERS SONS BOSS, BO AND BASH. I, I, I WANT TO HEAR Y'ALL COME ON UP. I, I GOTTA HAVE, MAYBE I'LL LET MS. SIM, MAYBE I'LL LET MS. SIMS EXPLAIN THE NAMING OF BOSS BO AND BASH BECAUSE I UNDERLINED ALL OF IT. AND THEN OF COURSE, YOUR FATHER. YES, YOUR [03:35:01] MR. SIMS. SO THIS, THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY, UH, MEMBERS, I KNOW YOU JOINED ME, UH, IN THIS CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC SERVICE. AND, UH, I'LL YIELD TO, UH, THE MAYOR PROTE CASTEX TATUM. MR. SIMS, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. UM, THE POSITION THAT YOU HAVE HELD AS THE INTERIM AND THAT NOW ARE THE DIRECTOR IS A BIG ONE FOR OUR CITY. UM, ESPECIALLY AS, UM, A COUNCIL MEMBER WITH 96 CIVIC CLUBS AND HOAS NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ARE A BEDROOM COMMUNITY. WE DEPEND A LOT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU TO MAKE HOUSTON BETTER EVERY DAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. MAYOR OF VICE PRO, TIM PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT APPOINTMENT DIRECTOR. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU IN THIS ROLE. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER A LONG TIME AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S EVER ANYTHING THAT WE'VE TAKEN TO YOU THAT YOU'VE JUST SAID, NOPE, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT. YOU'VE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH US. AND SO I'M JUST SO EXCITED FOR YOU IN THIS ROLE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. UH, THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME, AS WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID, BUT, UH, NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. WE DEPEND HEAVILY ON THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. Y'ALL ARE, YOU KNOW, AN ANCHOR DEPARTMENT FOR THIS CITY. UM, AND SO I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP. YOU'VE ALWAYS EXEMPLIFIED LEADERSHIP, UH, TENACITY AND VISION FOR THIS ROLE. AND SO I, I KNOW THAT, THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES, UM, ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS. AND THIS IS A, A CELEBRATORY DAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. UH, ACTUALLY THE CONGRATULATIONS SHOULD GO TO US BECAUSE YOU ARE A WINNER FOR US. AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SERVICE, YOU KNOW, YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE, YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOU GOT TO BE COOL LIKE YOUR DAD AND COME UP HERE THE NEXT TIME. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE, AND WE'LL DO THANK YOU. AND WE ARE FROM THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, , COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, UH, DIRECTOR. I'M SO GLAD WE FINALLY GET TO SAY THAT. AND BIG CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S NOT JUST A WIN FOR US ON COUNCIL. AND I KNOW I CAN SAY PERSONALLY, UM, AS THE MOST ACTIVE DISTRICT WITH THE MOST 3 1 1 CALLS, RIGHT, THE MOST CIVIC CLUBS, THE MOST SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, MY STAFF APPRECIATES EVERY SINGLE THING YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT THE REAL THANKS AND APPRECIATION GOES TO YOUR LOVELY WIFE. UH, BECAUSE LIKE ALL OF OUR DIRECTORS, LIKE SO MANY OF US AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, UH, IT'S A 24 7 JOB AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON FAMILY, IT'S A FAMILY COMMITMENT. SO TO YOU, YOUR SONS, YOUR DAD. I KNOW IT'S A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR YOU, SIR. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT AND ALLOWING OUR NEW DIRECTOR TO DO EVERYTHING HE DOES FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD DIRECTOR, SIMS. THAT SOUNDS GOOD, DOESN'T IT? DIRECTOR SIMS , YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND I'D ASK THEM TO STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL. I'M CERTAIN EACH OF YOU SHARE WITH US THIS CELEBRATION, RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, MR. SIMS, UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOUR FATHER AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY FOR ALLOWING US TO USE YOUR TIME IN SUCH A WORTHWHILE MANNER. BUT IF YOU'LL KEEP YOUR SMILE, MR. SIMS, OUR DIRECTOR, AND THAT CAN DO ATTITUDE. I KNOW ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE AND HOUSTONIANS WILL BENEFIT, AND THIS COUNCIL BENEFITS, AND I YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME. UHHUH. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE GO. I, SO N NOTHING I'VE DONE IN MY LIFE, UM, HAVE I BEEN SUCH A GOOD PERSON OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE DONE ANYTHING SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE THAT I'M HERE TODAY. UM, MY PASSION FOR DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS GOES BACK TO WHEN I'M A KID. THIS COOL CAT BEHIND ME, YOU GUYS KEEP MENTIONING IT, MADE ME CUT A VACANT VACANT LOT NEXT DOOR TO US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THAT FOUR HOUSES BURNED DOWN ON. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY DEMOLISHED THEM OR IF THE OWNER DEMOLISHED THEM, BUT I CUT THAT LOT EVERY SATURDAY . AND, UM, SO WHEN YOU SPEAK OF THAT CAN DO ATTITUDE, THAT'S BECAUSE I'M NO BETTER THAN ANYBODY WHO CALLS THAT 3 1 1 LINE WHO PULLS MY EMAIL, WHO CALLS MY CELL PHONE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE AUNTIE AND, AND KAY, I HAVE FRIENDS AND [03:40:01] FI, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MANY SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED IN C UM, I'M FROM D UM, SO, UM, WORK MANY YEARS IN JAY BURNETT, BAIN AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. BUT I CAN SAY THAT, YEAH, IT'S GONNA TAKE ME A LONG TIME TO GET USED TO THE DIRECTOR 'CAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HEARD AND MY ATTITUDE IS STILL HEARD. I WILL STILL GO OUT, I WILL STILL DO WHAT I CAN. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM RIGHT THEN AND THERE, BUT PEOPLE JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT'RE BEING HEARD. THEY JUST WANNA KNOW SOMEONE HEARS THEM AND KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. AND IF WE CAN DO THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT OR WE CAN KEEP THAT COMMUNICATION OPEN INTERNALLY, WE CAN KNOW OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES THAT I HEAR YOU. YOU'RE NOT ALONE. I'VE BEEN THAT EMPLOYEE. I TOLD A STORY AT CHRISTMAS, I'VE BEEN THAT EMPLOYEE HOW SOMEBODY PASSED ME AND SAY, OH, IT MUST BE NICE. WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONG TWO DECADES. PLUS. YEAH, IT IS NICE. YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE. UM, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK IN FOLKS IN OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, FROM ANTI-GANG. YOU HAVE TINO CHOPPA OUT THERE, YOU HAVE TODD DANLEY OUT THERE. YOU HAVE IPS OUT THERE. YOU FROM MR. HARRIS'S CREW. YOU HAVE MISS ISHA FOWLER, WHO DOES ALL OUR HR. YOU HAVE EMMANUEL MORRIS, YOU HAVE ROYCE BROOKS, I CAN'T NAME SHERRY. UH, MISS SHERRY'S OUT THERE. YOU HAVE SEAN, YOU HAVE TERRANCE O'NEAL IN NEW AMERICANS, YOU HAVE BENITO EZ IN NEW AMERICANS, YOU HAVE SANDRA CORTEZ AND, AND RENEE RUIZ, WHICH I'LL USE EVERY, EVERY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. YOU HAVE MARK EVA, WHO, WHO DOES A LOT OF OUR COMMUNICATION, VANJI. I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST ME. IT TAKES EVERYONE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND I APPRECIATE IT. I THANK YOU GUYS AND I I WILL DO THE JOB. AND LIKE MAYOR SAY, TIME TO GET TO WORK. YOUR, YOUR PASSION IS YOUR PASSION'S CONTAGIOUS. LET'S GO TO WORK. YOUNG MEN, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE IT. WE'VE GOT MORE TIME. I WANT TO HEAR THE ORIGIN OF THESE NAMES. MS. SIMS, LET US KNOW. BOSS BO AND BASH. WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE THE YOUNG MEN? I'LL TELL YOU THIS, MY FAULT. IT'S NOT HERS. . SO, OH, YOU, YOU ARE THE LEADER UP HERE AT THIS PODIUM. YOU HAVE INTRODUCE THE YOUNG MEN. I WANNA KNOW YOU HAVE FIVE HERBERTS. YOU HAVE HERBERT CHARLES SIMS, SENIOR HERBERT, CHARLES SIMS JR. HERBERT BOSS, SIMS HERBERT, BOTH SIMS AND HERBERT BASS SIMS. WOW. SO HERBERT IS MY GREAT GRANDDADDY'S NAME BACK IN BA, LOUISIANA. AND, UM, BOSS IS MY GRANDDADDY'S NAME, AND THAT'S HIS MAMA'S NICKNAME. HER NAME WAS ALICE BOSS. WOW. AND SO BO, UM, WAS A NICKNAME THAT MY HIT, MY GREAT UNCLE CALLED MY GRANDDADDY. AND BO YOU KNOW, MEANS BO JACQUE MEANS GOOD LOOKING OR BIG GUY. AND HE WAS A BIG GUY IN HER BELLY. SO I ALWAYS CALLED HIM BJA AND THEN BASH. WE JUST HAD TO KEEP IT GOING. SO . WELL, YOU'RE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND AS YOU SAY, LET'S GO TO WORK. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK, GIMME JUST A SECOND TO [03:45:13] NEXT. WE'LL [1.  9:00 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING regarding the Valley View and Pipestone CenterPoint Energy Resources Gas Main Relocation in support of the Hike and Bike Trail at Parcels SY24-055 and SY24-057 in Braeburn Glen Section One Subdivision - DISTRICT J - POLLARD ] MOVE TO PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL ITEM ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE VALLEY VIEW AND PIPESTONE CENTER POINT, ENERGY RESOURCES GAS MAIN RELOCATION DIRECTOR ALLEN IS HERE. DIRECTOR ALLEN, I YIELD TO YOU. YES, SIR. I YIELD TO ALICE FOR THE INTRODUCTION. UH, GOOD MORNING. UH, I'M ALICE ADAMS, SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, AND I'LL LET DIRECTOR ALLEN PUT ON THE TESTIMONY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. AS ALICE SAID, I'M KENNETH ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE GRANTING OF TWO EASEMENTS ACROSS PARK PROPERTY TO CENTER POINT ENERGY RESOURCES. THE EASEMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE RELOCATION OF CENTER POINT FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE THE WIDENING OF A BRIDGE IN ORDER TO EXTEND THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL ACROSS RAY'S BIO, THE TWO EASEMENTS WILL USE 2,979 SQUARE FEET OF PARK PROPERTY, UH, WHICH ARE 10 FEET WIDE AND RUN ALONG THE PROPERTY LINES TO MINIMIZE IMPACT TO THE PARK. THE PARK PROPERTIES WERE ACQUIRED BY THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, SPECIFICALLY TO SUPPORT THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS ALONG GRACE BIO AND WERE TRANSPORT, THEY WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY FOR THESE PURPOSES. THE PROPERTIES ARE ALSO RESTRICTED FOR PARK PURPOSES ONLY. HOWEVER, THE CITY OF HOUSTON OBTAINED A RELEASE FROM THE KINDER FOUNDATION, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE THE RELOCATION OF THE GAS LINE. SECTION 26.00. ONE OF THE TEXAS, UH, PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE PROVIDES THAT THE CITY MAY NOT APPROVE A PROGRAM OR A PROJECT FOR THE USE OF TAKING OF PARKLAND DESIGNATED FOR PARKLAND. UNLESS THERE'S, UNLESS AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING, IT'S GOVERNING BODY DETERMINES ONE. THERE IS NO FEASIBLE OR PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF TAKING OF THE PARKLAND OR TWO, THE PROGRAM OR THE PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARKLAND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD CENTER POINT ENERGY, AND THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT HAS MINIMAL IMPACT, UH, ON PARK PROPERTY SINCE THERE IS NO REASONABLE OR PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE FOR THE ROUTE OR REROUTE OF THE GAS LINES. AND THE IMPACT TO THE PARKLAND IS MINIMAL. WE ARE IN, AS A PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT AND WE RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE EASEMENT ACROSS THE PARKLAND. ANY QUESTIONS? VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? MEMBERS? NO, SIR. NEED A MOTION? PUBLIC HEARING? WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC LIKE TO TESTIFY? WE HEARING NONE CAST MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING ON THE SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION HERE? PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GUESS THAT'S IT, HUH? . THAT AS GOOD AS THEY DESCRIBED. WHAT? OH, SAW YOU. AB THEY'RE JUST, THEY WERE OVER MY HEAD. THEY, WHAT DID THEY USE? [03:50:17] WAY, DID THEY DESCRIBE IT? [CONSENT AGENDA] OKAY. CATEGORY ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TA MOVE ON THE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? I JUST HAVE IT UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. NEED A MOTION? CASTEX, TATU. MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEM SIX THROUGH 13. NEED A MOTION? TAYLOR, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS, REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 14, 20, 21, 22, AND 32. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 14, 20, 21, 22, AND 32. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAY I MAKE A, JUST A QUICK COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER SIX. I KNOW IT'S ALREADY PASSED AND EVERYTHING. UM, I JUST WANNA BRING THIS, THIS BACK TO THE, THE COUNCIL AND THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION'S ATTENTION. YOU KNOW, ITEM NUMBER SIX, WE'RE SPENDING, UM, $451,000 ON LAWNMOWERS. UM, THESE ARE GOING THROUGH A CO-OP. AND AS I'VE SAID, YOU KNOW, REPEATEDLY, CO-OPS DON'T ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES OR SMALL BUSINESS VENDORS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. THESE ITEMS VERY EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE ARIBA SYSTEM FOR POTENTIALLY A MORE COMPETITIVE BUY. AND SO I JUST WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THAT, THAT I, THEY'RE LOCAL VENDORS THAT HAVE THESE, UM, THESE PARTICULAR PRODUCTS ARE NOT A PART OF THIS, OF THIS BIDDING PROCESS AT ALL. NOR DO I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE GO THROUGH CO-OPS, ARE WE GETTING THE MOST COMPETITIVE PRICE. SO I JUST WANNA JUST KEEP ON BRINGING, UM, ATTENTION TO THIS, UM, TO THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES. AND I, I'VE GOT A, I DO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR, UM, OF PROCUREMENT. SO I'LL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ONCE AGAIN. BUT, UM, ALL OF THESE, ALL OF THESE, UM, PURCHASES THAT WE'RE MAKING SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT, ARE JUST NOT ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS AND THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO WE JUST NEED A VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE. CONSENT. A VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE. CONSENT. NEED A MOTION? NO, JUST TO VOTE. JUST TO VOTE. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 14. ONE SECOND. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, MAYOR ONE. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, INSTRUCTING LEGAL AND SPD IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO GET THIS ON THE AGENDA. UM, AS YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS IS, UH, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOTED FOR CBS FEATURED US, BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S STILL AN ISSUE. AND YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE SHARED A SERIES OF REMARKS RECENTLY AROUND HOMELESSNESS. AND SO COLLEAGUES, JUST FOR YOUR REVIEW, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT'S PROVIDING BRIDGE FUNDING, UM, TO CONTINUE TO HOUSE 120, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OR AT THE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS ITEM WAS BRIEFED AT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, UM, LAST WEEK, AND THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED DETAILS. SO MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S ON THE AGENDA AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GONNA MONITOR IT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT'S BADLY NEEDED. AND THERE'S BEEN SOME, SOME ISSUES WITH MANAGEMENT, BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S BEEN STRAIGHTENED OUT AND NOW WE'RE GIVING THE RESOURCES TO GO FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE, UH, DONE OUT OF ORDER. SO I'M [03:55:01] GONNA CALL THEM IN THE SEQUENCE ORDER THAT THEY ARE NEED IN NEED OF BEING PASSED. ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UH, SPECIFICALLY ITEM 21 AND 22 AS WELL AS 20. UM, BUT THESE ITEMS WERE YEARS IN THE MAKING. UM, I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS. DR. STOUT, YOU AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE, MAYOR. UH, WE HAVE A GREAT LANDLORD, UH, IN THIS DEAL WHO HAS DONE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS EVER ASKED AND PARTNERSHIP. BUT FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS THE, UM, AGREEMENT TO CONSOLIDATE, UM, EVIDENCE AND BASICALLY HAND OFF TO THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER STREAMLINING EFFICIENCIES. OFTENTIMES WE ARE FOCUSED ON, UH, THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVIDENCE TESTING. BUT IF WE ARE NOT, UH, LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF TIMES EVIDENCE IS CHANGING HANDS, WE ARE NOT PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THAT EVIDENCE. THIS PROVIDES IMPROVED STORAGE, UH, AND SAFETY MECHANISMS. IT PROVIDES EFFICIENCIES. IT ALSO ENABLES HPD TO, UM, DO MORE IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE CHARGED WITH FOCUSING ON RATHER THAN, UH, STORING EVIDENCE. SO IT'S MORE OFFICERS, UH, THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO DO OTHER THINGS. BUT AGAIN, DR. STOUT, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, UH, AND EVERYBODY THAT MADE TODAY POSSIBLE MAY YOUR SUPPORT, OF COURSE. UH, BUT THIS IS A VERY LONG TIME COMING AND A, A WIN FOR THE CITY, BUT NOT JUST THE CITY. I WOULD SAY THE COUNTY AND THE REGION. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN PECK, VICE MAYOR. PROAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I AGREE. THIS IS, THIS IS GREAT. UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT DR. STOUT WILL BE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT MONTH TO KIND OF GO OVER THIS WHOLE PROCESS. IT'LL BE ON MAY 14TH AT 10:00 AM SO THIS IS JUST THE FIRST COUPLE OF STEPS, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO GO IN THIS PROCESS. SO HE WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS NEXT MONTH. VERY GOOD. UH, AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE WORKING WITH DR. STOUT FOR YEARS WHEN HE'D COME THROUGH AUSTIN AND TESTIFY, AND MORE THAN LIKELY HE WOULD BE TELLING ME HOW UNDER-RESOURCED HE IS. AND I WOULD SUGGEST WE STILL NEED TO MAKE FORENSICS A HIGHER PRIORITY BECAUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS A SYSTEM. AND IF ANY COMPONENT OF IT, IT'S NOT STAFFED PROPERLY AND RESOURCED CORRECTLY, UH, IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU, DR. STOUT. I RELUCTANTLY YIELD TO YOU BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HEARD YOU BE SHORT OR, OR BRIEF IN BRIEF IN WITH YOUR ENTHUSIASM. SO, NO, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK Y'ALL. I DO YIELD, I DO YIELD TO YOU. THANKS. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT ON THIS. WHAT, WHAT I WILL, WHAT I WILL SAY BRIEFLY, 'CAUSE YES, MR. MAYOR'S CORRECT. I, THERE ARE NO SHORT STORIES WITH ME. UM, EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT IS A CHALLENGE IN ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION, AND I GOTTA GIVE HOUSTON AN AWFUL LOT OF CREDIT FOR DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT ON THIS. UM, IT IS A BIG PROJECT. IT WILL TAKE US YEARS TO GET THERE, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THERE WILL BE AN AWFUL LOT OF ATTENTION ON THIS. EVERYBODY'S LOOKING ON HOW WE HANDLE EVIDENCE, SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL GARY. AND THANK EVERYONE FOR THE COLLABORATION. UH, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED, UH, MOTION PASSES. [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM 40 IS A MOTION TO SET A DATE, NOT LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS FROM APRIL 24TH. CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SET A DATE, UH, FROM APRIL 24TH, 2024, UH, FOR THE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITION C 13 ON THE HOUSTON FORCE FIRST CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A THREE YEAR TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. ITEM 41 IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION, NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION FOR THE RENOVATION OF CORDOVA [04:00:01] APARTMENTS. CASTEX TATE, A MOVE ALL SUBJECT. ALL IN FAVOR? COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? AFTER THE VOTE? AFTER THE VOTE. AFTER THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NO PASSAGE FROM MAY 1ST. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I HAVE SHARED MY CONCERNS WITH THIS PARTICULAR APPLICANT, UM, TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, COME UP TO SOME RESOLUTION IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, DEFINITELY BEFORE THE HEARING, BUT I DO HAVE SOME DEFINITE CONCERNS WITH THIS APPLICANT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. NEXT ITEM, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. UM, I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS REGARDING THIS DEVELOPER AND, UH, HOPE THERE'LL BE MORE FORTHCOMING THAN THEY HAVE BEEN THUS FAR ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS THEY'RE GONNA MAKE AT ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THEY ALREADY HAVE, UM, IN THE, UH, ETJ OFF OF TIDWELL, WHICH IS VERIO. SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THEM BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME WE VOTE. VERY GOOD. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE TO SET A PUBLIC, I MEAN, A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE RELATING TO LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH A SUGGESTED HEARING DATE OF MAY 8TH. CASTEX TATUM MOVED FOR A HEARING DATE AT 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, MAY 8TH, 2024. I'M THE SECOND RAMIREZ COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. MR. THANK MAYOR. THIS WAS THE SUB, SORRY. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF A HEARING COMMITTEE HEARING LAST WEEK, DURING WHICH WE REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF, UH, THESE ABATEMENTS AND WE'RE PROMISING INFORMATION. WE'VE NOT RECEIVED, UH, ANYTHING YET. WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN, UM, PROMISED THAT WE WILL RECEIVE IT BEFORE THE HEARING DATE. SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, TO RECEIVING THAT. THANK YOU. YES, WE'LL DO THAT. YES, WE WILL DO THAT. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FIRST OR NOTICE. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] OKAY. MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND AGAIN, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE, UH, MAYOR, YOU AND I AND, UH, VICE MAYOR PROTON PECK. WERE TOGETHER FOR EARTH DAY, UH, ON MONDAY, AND I REALLY WANNA THANK THE CITY FOR, UH, LEADING THE WAY AND CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND THE HOUSTON RESILIENCY PLAN. UH, I DID WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK AND DISCUSS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC RISKS POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXTREME WEATHER. UH, RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS, RIGHT HERE AT HOME IN HOUSTON, TEXAS A AND M JUST RELEASED A STUDY SAYING THAT OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS, WE CAN EXPECT MORE EXTREME WEATHER, MORE EXTREME HEAT AND DROUGHTS, UH, AND ESPECIALLY URBAN FLOODING. UH, HOUSTON WAS JUST RANKED THE SECOND WORST IN THE NATION FOR AIR QUALITY AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO AIR QUALITY. UH, WE KNOW THE HEALTH IMPACTS THAT THIS HAVE, BUT WE ALSO KNOW HOW WE CAN, UH, IMPROVE OUR AIR QUALITY. AND EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD BE STEPPING UP TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, WHETHER IT'S PLANTING MORE TREES, WE'RE INSTALLING AIR MONITORS, WORKING WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS. UH, BUT WE MUST DO MORE WHEN IT COMES TO EXTREME HEAT. WE'RE EXPECTING MORE FIRES, MORE DROUGHT. WE KNOW THE IMPACTS OF DROUGHT, UH, COSTING THE CITY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE JUST LAST YEAR ALONE, UH, WE ARE EXPECTING MORE HEAT DEATHS AND THE EXTREME HEAT PUT STRAINS ON OUR GRID. UH, WE'RE AT THE POINT WITH OCEAN TEMPERATURES WHERE EVEN OUR METEOROLOGISTS, WHO WE LOVE, THE SPACE CITY WEATHER GUYS, OR THE NO HYPE GUYS, AND THEY'RE EVEN SOUNDING THE ALARM AT HOW HEAT, HOW RAPIDLY OUR OCEAN TEMPERATURES ARE RISING, THAT COMBINED WITH OTHER FACTORS IS LEADING FOR WHAT THEY'RE PREDICTING TO BE ONE OF THE WORST HURRICANE SEASONS ON RECORD. SO THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS WE ARE SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY FROM HURRICANE SEASON. UH, AS I SAID LAST WEEK, WE ARE ON THE ANNIVERSARY ALREADY THAT JUST PASSED OF THE TAX DAY FLOOD. UH, AND WE'RE NOT AS A CITY OR AS A REGION READY FOR THE BIG ONE. WE DO NOT HAVE THE IKE D**E. WE DO NOT HAVE A MID BAY BARRIER. UH, WE DESPERATELY NEED THE NORTH CANAL PROJECT TO GET MOVING. I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN. UH, BUT WE NEED OUR PARTNERS TO ALSO BE WORKING TOWARDS THIS. WE NEED NEIGHBORHOOD FLOOD MITIGATION. UH, WE NEED SHOVELS IN THE GROUND. WE NEED MORE HOMES ELEVATED. WE NEED INSURANCE MITIGATION AND PROTECTION SO THAT EVERY SINGLE HOMEOWNER AND RENTER CAN AFFORD INSURANCE IN OUR CITY. BUT MAYOR, I RAISE ALL OF THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO. WE CAN'T SOLVE THIS ALONE, BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LEAD AS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. WE ARE THE ENERGY TRANSITION CAPITAL, BUT WE [04:05:01] ALSO NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE DESPERATELY NEED THE PLAN PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR FLOOD MITIGATION, IMPROVED DRAINAGE, INCREASING DRAINAGE CAPACITY. WE NEED THOSE PROJECTS NOW. WE NEEDED THEM YESTERDAY. UH, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH, BUT AGAIN, I'M RAISING THIS TODAY, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S EARTH WEEK, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE THAT ALL SIGNS INDICATE TO THE FACT THAT THIS SUMMER IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE WORST ON RECORD. AND I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED THAT WE ARE NOT READY. SO WE APPRECIATE EVERY RESIDENT'S VOICE ON THIS, BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO ACT AND WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO DO SO. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND LET ME JUST, UH, ECHO YOUR WORDS. FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN'T RELOCATE OUR CITY. IT WAS FORMED AND CREATED AND DEVELOPED RIGHT HERE ON THE GULF COAST. SO WE'VE GOTTA TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE READY. I DO WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE MEETING WITH THE EMERGENCY CENTER, THE FIRST RESPONDERS COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY AND DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FROM A FIRST RESPONDER STANDPOINT. RESOURCES, THE, UH, STATE EMERGENCY CENTER IS IN CONTACT WITH US. UH, ANGELA BLANCHARD, A VERY CAPABLE PUBLIC SERVANT, IS HEADING UP THE RESILIENCE OFFICE IN, UH, MY ADMINISTRATION. SO, UH, I DON'T ANYBODY THINK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT TAKING THIS AS, AS SERIOUS AS WE SHOULD. MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU LISTED WILL TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT AND RESOURCES AND, UH, I THINK IF WE HAVE THE COLLABORATION AND MAKE IT A PRIORITY THAT IT DESERVES, WE'LL BE AS READY AS POSSIBLE. AND MAYOR, I DON'T DISAGREE AT ALL. AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW MANY OF US AS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO MEETING WITH OEM AND THEY'RE COORDINATING, AGAIN, DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, LAST YEAR WE DID A PRESENTATION ON HOW WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF HIGH WATER RESCUE VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE FUNDED, THE NUMBER OF TRAININGS THAT HFD IS DOING, HOW PREPARED WE ARE FOR CERTAIN RESPONSES. UH, AND MY POINT IS SIMPLY THAT WE HAVE PROJECTS READY TO GO THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE FLOOD FLOOD MITIGATION. BUT WE NEED MORE OF THAT AND WE NEED TO GET THE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND NOW. SURE. AND WE NEED TO KEEP GOING. UH, AND IT'S ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT IS AWARE OF THE RISKS POSED RIGHT NOW. UH, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS BE DOING MORE AND WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE. UH, I THINK AS HOUSTON, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO LEAD IN THIS ARENA, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE RESILIENT AND THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS PROTECTED FROM FLOODING RIGHT NOW. WELL SAID. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE DRAINAGE THAT IS NOT BEING MAINTAINED CURRENT DRAINAGE, BECAUSE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND I WILL SHARE WITH YOU, I BELIEVE IT'S YOUR DISTRICT. I WAS IN MEMORIAL PARK OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE DRAINAGE DITCH WHEN YOU COME FROM THE, UH, EXERCISE ROOM IN THE POOL TURNED RIGHT THERE. APPARENTLY THE CONSERVANCY THINKS THE GREENERY IN THE DITCH IS PART OF SOME PURPOSE. I ASSUME THE, UH, GREENERY AND MAYBE OXYGEN. BUT IF YOU'LL NOTICE NEXT TIME YOU'RE THERE, THEY'VE COMPLETELY LET, AND THEY'RE NOT SHORTHANDED BY THE WAY. IT'S JUST SO MUCH DETERMINED TO ALLOW THE GROWTH IN THE DITCH TO GO FORWARD. AND ALL IT'S GONNA DO, OR PARTLY WHAT THE RESULTS GONNA BE, MAYBE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, IT'S GONNA BLOCK THE DRAINAGE. OH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT FLAG. UH, I KNOW THAT THE PARK AND THE CONSERVANCY HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB ADDING NATURAL PRAIRIE ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE MITIGATION FOR ACRES, UH, ALONG MEMORIAL PARK, THOUGH I'LL FLAG, WE'VE DONE AND FUNDED AS A DISTRICT DRAINAGE STUDIES. SURE. UH, THAT STILL NEED TO BE FUNDED FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT DRAINAGE AND UPGRADED, UH, DETENTION SYSTEMS. I JUST, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHY WE GO FORWARD WITH THE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND. AS, AS YOU REFERENCED, THERE'S A LOT OF OUR CURRENT DRAINAGE IS NOT BEING UTILIZED BECAUSE OF TRASH AND ILLEGAL DUMPING AND, AND GROWTH. SO ANYWAY, THANKS FOR YOUR TOPIC. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, UM, THE SUMMER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. AND AS WE SPEAK, SPEAK PARKS DEPARTMENT IS PICKING OUT WHAT PARKS, UM, POOLS THAT THEY WILL OPEN UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BASICALLY HOW THEY'RE CHOOSING, UM, THE PARK, THE POOL, THEY'RE, THEY HAVE A MAP AND [04:10:01] THEY'RE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTING IT ACROSS, UM, THE CITY. AND SO I JUST THINK WE SHOULD USE A EQUITY LENS WHEN CHOOSING WHAT POOLS, UM, WE OPEN ACROSS THE CITY. MAYOR. UM, BECAUSE LIKE IN MY DISTRICT, UM, WE DON'T HAVE HO MANY HOAS OR WE DON'T HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS DISENFRANCHISED AND I WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T SAY IN POVERTY, BUT LOW INCOME. AND SO WEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MORE RESOURCES THAN WE DO. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF YOU CAN HAVE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TAKE A MORE EQUITY AP APPROACH TO CHOOSING WHAT POOLS THEY OPEN UP, UM, THIS SUMMER, BECAUSE IF NO POOLS ARE OPEN UP IN DISTRICT B, THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THE KIDS TO GO AND WE WON'T HAVE ANY POOLS. SO, UM, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AND THEN ALSO THIS AFTERNOON, UM, WE WILL BE HAVING OUR INAUGURAL SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE MEETING, UM, WHICH IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE CHAIRING A COMMITTEE. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND TODAY WE'LL BE HEARING PRESENTATIONS ON THE CHANGES MADE TO DELIVERY, UM, TO DELIVER MORE ACCURATE WATER BILLS TO CUSTOMERS, UM, BY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR KARA HADDOCK AND UPDATE, AND AN UPDATE ON THE DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE WATER LEAKS. SO, UM, HOPE Y'ALL CAN JOIN US. UM, WE HAVE, UM, PUBLIC SPEAKERS ALREADY SIGNED UP, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SIGN UP, YOU CAN SIGN UP WHEN YOU GET TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING. UM, OR YOU CAN REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. AND THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE, UM, ONLINE MICROSOFT TEAMS. THANK YOU. FIRST OFF, IT'S A GREAT TOPIC, THE SWIMMING POOLS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE LIFEGUARDS THIS SUMMER WHILE WE DO A BETTER JOB AND REDIRECT OUR RESOURCES. CERTAINLY IN THE, THE, UH, THE EMPHASIS ON EQUITY INTO YOUR DISTRICT, WHICH YOU AND I ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ALLOWING YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND ALL HOUSTONIANS KNOW ABOUT THE AVAILABLE POOLS. UH, IT'S JUST SHOCKING TO ME DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE SUMMER, I GO INTO MEMORIAL PARK AND THAT POOL IS NOT BEING UTILIZED. IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T REPRESENT ANY DIVERSITY OF COMMUNITIES. SO I THINK PARKS AND ALL OF US NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF AT LEAST ALLOWING FOLKS TO KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AND ASSIST THEM IN THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION. I MEAN, THE, A LEAF OUTSTANDING MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AND ITS POOL, UH, IS PROBABLY UTILIZED BECAUSE YEAH. THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THE, AND THE DEMAND. BUT YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE TC JESTER PARK POOL MM-HMM . MM-HMM . OR THE MEMORIAL PARK, PARK AND POOL, UH, THEY OUGHT TO BE DISCUSSED MORE. YEAH. AND, AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, BROADCASTING THAT YOU'RE WELCOME TO THOSE COMMUNITY POOLS. MM-HMM . 'CAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, CERTAINLY THE ONE IN MEMORIAL PARK IS NOT JUST A COMMUNITY, IT'S, BUT THEY ALL ARE FOR THE, FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. BUT IT JUST BOTHERS ME WHEN I GO BY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER AND THEY'RE NOT BEING UTILIZED MM-HMM . BECAUSE I THINK A LACK OF MAKING IT A PRIORITY. GET THE KIDS THERE. YEAH. YEAH. SO ONE PART THAT MAYBE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY THAT SITS IN, EVERYBODY'S GOT A POOL, YOU KNOW? YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GOT POOLS IN THE BACKYARD, YOU WANNA, BUT THERE'S NO BACKYARD POOLS IN MY DISTRICT. AND SO, LIKE FINNEGAN PARK, UM, WILL BE SHUT DOWN THE POOL. AND SO THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT POOL IN DISTRICT B. WHICH ONE? UM, FINNEGAN PARK. YEAH, SURE. UM, IT'S GONNA BE SHUT DOWN AND THEN YOU DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE HARP TAYLOR PARK, WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, EAST HOUSTON, UM, PARK. I MEAN, THERE'S NO POOLS. UM, I'M, I'M ON THAT PROGRAM AT DIRECTOR ALLEN IN BRIEFING ME IN RECENT WEEKS, SAYS HE'S SO UNDER RESOURCE THAT HE HAS TO, UH, SHUTTLE HIS WORKERS TO WORK SITES. NOW, FOLKS, THAT'S SOMETHING WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE ALLOCATION RESOURCES, WE ALL SUPPORT OUR PARK SYSTEM. BUT THE DIRECTOR SAYS, I DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO MAINTAIN 'EM, AND I ACTUALLY HAVE TO SHUTTLE THE WORKERS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF VEHICLES, WORK TRUCKS. SO I THINK HE'S DOING A FINE JOB AND, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT. YEAH. I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB. YEAH. YEAH. WE NEED THE POOLS OPEN THOUGH. , HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB. HE BE A HOT SUMMER HOT. WE DON'T WANT NO ANGRY KIDS RUNNING AROUND HERE. THEY NEED THE POOL. THEY NEED SOMETHING TO DO. SO I, I JUST CONSIDER THAT MAYOR. I TOTALLY AGREE. OKAY. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS [04:15:01] WEEK IS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK. AND EARLIER ON MONDAY, I WAS ABLE TO JOIN THE MAYOR IN A PROCLAMATION TO ROBIN AND COREY. AND, UM, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE ON THEIR DESK. BUT, UH, ROBIN COREY, UM, HER DAUGHTER KRISTEN GALVAN WENT MISSING, UM, WHEN SHE WAS 15 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS RECOVERED OFF THE BISSONET TRACK, UM, NINE DAYS AFTER SHE WENT MISSING THE FIRST TIME AND WAS REUNITED WITH HER MOM. HOWEVER, THESE TRAFFICKERS HAVE SUCH A STRONG HOLD ON THEIR VICTIMS THAT, UM, KRISTEN WENT BACK AGAIN AND REENTERED AND HASN'T BEEN SEEN SINCE. HER MOM HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB, UM, BRINGING AWARENESS. AND, UM, AND IN HER SEARCH FOR KRISTEN, SHE HAS RECOVERED SO MANY GIRLS AROUND HOUSTON, THE YOUNGEST BEING 12 YEARS OLD. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS YEAR THE CALL TO ACTION FOR NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS WEEK IS FOR ALL OF US TO CREATE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR CRIME VICTIMS TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM. AND, AND BY DOING SO, WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER SUPPORT, UM, OPTIONS FOR LIFESAVING SERVICES. UM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOPE SO. I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, CLEAR CHANNEL, BECAUSE CLEAR CHANNEL DONATES THEIR BILLBOARD SPACE, UM, TO BRING AWARENESS. THEY HAVE, UH, WHEN THERE ARE EMPTY BILLBOARDS UP AROUND HOUSTON, UM, THEY, UM, PUT UP KRISTEN'S BILLBOARD AND THEY MOVE IT AROUND, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. SO THANK YOU. CLEAR CHANNEL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, NOT JUST IN KRISTEN'S CASE, BUT, UM, THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING A LOT OF CHILDREN. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SAY HOW HELPFUL I THINK THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST, UH, WEEK OR SO. UH, PROVIDING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DISCUSS ITEMS IN A WAY THAT IS DIFFICULT TO DO THAT BACK AT THE OFFICE BECAUSE OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAWS, WHICH ARE GOOD LAWS. I UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE THEM, AND THAT'S MORE OF AN OBSERVATION THAN A COMPLAINT. BUT, UM, I THINK, UH, THE WAY THE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN WORKING IS, UH, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH LEGAL OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE HEADS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND THE PERSONNEL WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. MUCH APPRECIATED. I'D LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AS WELL, THAT, UM, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO COME AND ASK QUESTIONS, EXPRESS VIEWS. IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR, UH, RESIDENTS TO COME DOWN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSIONS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON. SO THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WHICH ARE HELD TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK, UM, VARIOUS COMMITTEES MEET, UH, OFFER ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO COME DOWN AND SHARE THEIR VIEWS AND ASK QUESTIONS. AND, UH, I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR, FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, AND REMINDERS. ONE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH, WE'RE HOSTING OUR SECOND ANNUAL DEED RESTRICTIONS WORKSHOP. I'VE, I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIMES. UH, THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR PRO TEM. SHE SHARED THIS WITH HER, UH, UH, CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENTS AND DISTRICT K, AND WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OF, OF REGISTRATIONS THANKS TO THAT. UM, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, LEGAL COUNSEL FROM RICE AND RIGHTS LAW FIRM, OUR PARTNERS FROST BANK. UM, THEY ARE RETURNING HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND MORE. UH, THIS, UH, EVENT IS AT NO COST. WE ARE ENCOURAGING YOU TO REGISTER, UM, SO WE CAN PREPARE REFRESHMENTS. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE RESOURCES RELATED TO PROHIBITED YARD PARKING, CIVILITY, ORDINANCE, AND ALL THINGS AROUND, UM, INSPECTION AND CODE ENFORCEMENT SO WE CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. UM, ALSO IN MAY, IN HONOR OF NATIONAL BIKE MONTH, WE'RE HOSTING TOUR THE WEST. UH, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT'LL BE ON SATURDAY, MAY 4TH, UM, IN IN ALE IN WEST CHASE. UM, OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE WALMART TREK BIKES IN WEST CHASE NEIGHBORHOODS TO TRAILS CHAMPIONS CLUBS S THERE'S BAR DE BARRIO, UM, AND MORE. AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, UM, SHOWING OFF THE BEAUTIFUL TRAILS ON THE WEST SIDE. UM, DEFINITELY SIGN UP, UH, AND JOIN US. UH, NEXT MONTH I WANNA SHARE CONDOLENCES TO THE WESLEY FAMILY. CURTIS WESLEY, LONGTIME DISTRICT F RESIDENT. UM, HE WAS OUR BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT WHEN I WAS AT A LEAF ELSIK. HE PASSED AWAY AND LOST HIS BATTLE TO CANCER. I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIS THREE SONS. THE SERVICES WILL BE SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH AT MCGEE CHAPEL. UM, SO I'M GONNA DEDICATE MY POPOFF COMMENT COMMENTS INTO HIS MEMORY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MAYOR PROAM, CASICK STADIUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. WANT TO, UM, THANK, UH, CHRISTINA NOACK, THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICING REFORM. SHE WAS OUR GUEST SPEAKER [04:20:01] AT OUR DISTRICT, A IMPACT MEETING THIS WEEKEND. AND ARTURO MICHELLE, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, WAS ALSO PRESENT. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR DASHBOARD AND ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SERVE ON OUR, UM, POLICE REFORM, UM, BOARDS. AND, UH, REALLY, UH, ENGAGING WITH HER, UH, WAS, WAS NEW FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT CONSTITUENTS KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT OFFICE. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS HERE AT CITY HALL AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND THEN, UH, WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE TARGET DATE FOR THE GRAND OPENING FOR THE DR. SHANNON WALKER LIBRARY HAS, UM, BEEN SET FOR JUNE 1ST, 2024. IT'S EXCITING NEWS. DR. SHANNON WALKER HAS, UM, GIVEN US THE NOTIFICATION THAT SHE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE. SHE WON'T BE IN SPACE. UH, SHE WILL BE AT THE GRAND OPENING OF THE LIBRARY, AND MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT. UM, SHE IS A RESIDENT OF WESTBURY. SHE GRADUATED FROM WESTBERRY, SHE GRADUATED FROM RICE UNIVERSITY. SHE IS, UM, HOMEGROWN IN HOUSTON. UM, ONE OF THE, UH, MOST PROMINENT ASTRONAUTS OUT AT, AT, AT NASA. SHE SPENT THE MOST TIME, UM, IN SPACE. SHE'S GOT SOME GREAT VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ABOUT, UM, SPACE AND BEING IN SPACE AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT SHE DOES. AS WE, UM, CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE WITH, UH, NASA AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO, UM, SPACE AND BACK TO THE MOON. UH, SHE IS, UM, SCHEDULED TO BE THERE. WE HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE THERE. MAYOR, THERE'S ONE THING I DO WANT TO ASK AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE GRAND OPENING IS WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE ADDRESS CHANGED, UM, FOR THE LIBRARY RIGHT NOW. THE ADDRESS IS 55 0 5 BELROSE. UH, THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR A CHIMNEY ROCK ADDRESS. THERE'S AN ENTRANCE ON CHIMNEY ROCK, AND THERE'S AN ENTRANCE ON BELROSE. BELROSE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, AND THE RESIDENTS WOULD PREFER IF THE ACTUAL ADDRESS FOR THE LIBRARY WAS CHIMNEY ROCK, WHICH IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. UH, PUBLIC WORKS IS WORKING ON IT. IT'S STILL PENDING. UH, BUT I, I'D LIKE TO, UM, GARNER SOME, SOME SUPPORT. SURE. UM, TO, YOU KNOW, LET 'EM KNOW IT'S OKAY FOR US TO HAVE A CHIMNEY ROCK ADDRESS FOR THE LIBRARY . I BET WE CAN GET THAT DONE. ALRIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD. UH, THEN, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S POINT, UH, I ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF, UH, PARKS ABOUT THE POOLS IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY. UH, THE WESTBURY POOL WILL BE OPEN. OUR, UM, WINDSOR VILLAGE POOL WON'T BE OPEN. BUT WHAT I DID LEARN FROM, UH, THE DIRECTOR WAS THE ATTENDANCE, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, OVER THE YEARS AT THE POOL HAS, HAS GONE DOWN AND THEY, THEY'VE LOOKED AT, UM, ATTENDANCE AROUND IN ALL OF THE POOLS AND THAT WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME HIRING LIFEGUARDS. UM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS GONE OUT TO SCHOOLS WITH SWIM TEAMS, UM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT SWIM TEAMS TO TRY TO RECRUIT LIFEGUARDS. WE PUT IT IN OUR NEWSLETTERS. UM, SO I'M ASKING ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IF WE CAN MAKE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO SHARE, UH, THE NEED FOR MORE LIFEGUARDS. UH, AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I THINK THE PAY IS FROM 16 TO $20, UM, AN HOUR. UM, IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT SUMMER JOB AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN RECRUIT MORE LIFEGUARDS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ALL OF OUR POOLS OPEN HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROTE BECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST, I WANNA BRING SOMETHING TO YOUR ATTENTION, MAYOR. UM, WE HAVE A VACANT APARTMENT COMPLEX AT GESNER AND WESTVIEW, AND THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT FOUR FIRES THERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. UM, WE HAVE WORKED WITH H-F-D-H-P-D, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WE EVEN GOT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES INVOLVED. UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHY THESE FIRES ARE CONTINUING TO START, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE THERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE AND IT'S A DRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES FOR HFD. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP WITH BRINGING ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT SOME KIND OF SOLUTION HERE, BECAUSE IT, WHATEVER'S HAPPENING NOW IS NOT WORKING. THE FIRES CONTINUE TO START. UM, NEXT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE. RON DELANEY, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND. UM, HE IS GETTING THE MAYOR'S VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARD, UM, LATER TODAY. HE JUST DOES SO MUCH IN THE DISTRICT, A COMMUNITY. UM, HE HAS 247 VOLUNTEER HOURS JUST LAST YEAR ALONE. I'M SURE IT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT. UM, HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF HIS CIVIC CLUB, THE ANTOINE FOREST ESTATES AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH PIP. AND REALLY JUST VOLUNTEERS IN SO MANY THINGS. EVERY EVENT WE HAVE, HE IS THERE. HE WAS AT THE, UM, EARTH DAY [04:25:01] CELEBRATION DIRECTING TRAFFIC THE OTHER DAY. UM, HE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO STOP TRAFFIC, TO PUT CONES OVER SINK HOLES IN HIS AREA AS WELL. UM, AND JUST, JUST SO MUCH AND JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM. HE IS ALSO WORKING ON THE VOGEL CREEK BIKE RIDE AND WALK, WHICH WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW THAT I KNOW HE WANTS ME TO ANNOUNCE. UM, IT'LL BE TOMORROW AT 6:00 PM AT 7 4 5 5 MAPLE TREE. AND THANK YOU, RON, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. I WITNESS FIRSTHAND HIS PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE'LL BE HONORING HIM SHORTLY DOWNSTAIRS. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I'M NOT SURE IF I SPOKEN YET. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I WAS THE, ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE PARKING METER ORDINANCE PROPOSAL, UM, MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, BROUGHT THAT ITEM FORWARD BECAUSE, UH, WE WERE LOOKING FOR REVENUE AND TRYING TO FIND A CREATIVE WAY TO FIND REVENUE, UM, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO BACK AND RAISE ANY TAXES. RIGHT. UM, THAT PARKING METER ORDINANCE PROPOSAL WAS JUST TO EXTEND THE TIME, UM, THAT PEOPLE WOULD PAY TO PARK AT METERS AROUND THE CITY. UM, IT WAS MY INTENTION, UM, TO MAKE A MOTION TO REFER THAT ITEM TO THE ADMINISTRATION OR A MOTION TO DISPOSE OF THAT ITEM. UH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN IT CAME UP, UM, WHEN I WAS, UH, MADE AWARE THAT IT PROBABLY WAS GONNA HAVE TO GO TO A COMMITTEE, UM, YOU ALL KNOW THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE PROP A COMMITTEE MEETS THE INTENTION OF THE VOTERS WHEN THEY WENT TO VOTE FOR THAT CHARTER CHANGE. WE ACTUALLY HAD A TESTIMONY FROM A GENTLEMAN YESTERDAY WHO SAID HE SUPPORTED THAT CHARTER CHANGE. UM, HE VOTED FOR THAT CHARTER CHANGE, BUT HE DID NOT WANT IT TO BE A PART OF ANY TYPE OF COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE CHARTER CHANGE WAS FOR US TO HAVE AN EASIER WAY TO BRING ITEMS TO THE, UH, COUNCIL AGENDA AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, BUT WHAT I'VE SEEN IN YESTERDAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, ALTHOUGH RAN VERY SMOOTHLY AND, UH, WAS, UH, I THINK VERY SUBSTANTIVE, UM, LEFT A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. AND AS IT PERTAINS TO ANY ITEMS THAT WE MAY BRING, WHICH I HAVE DOZENS OF IDEAS THAT I WANT TO BRING, BUT IF IT HAS TO GO THROUGH A COMMITTEE PROCESS WHERE WE ONLY MEET ONCE A MONTH AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITHIN THOSE MEETINGS, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUORUM RULES. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACETS ABOUT HOW THOSE ITEMS WILL PROCEED. UH, IT JUST ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF, YOU KNOW, BUREAUCRACY AND RED TAPE, UH, TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, WHICH I BELIEVE THE, THE VOTERS WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND, AND A STREAMLINED WAY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING ITEMS. AND SO, UH, AS WAS MENTIONED YESTERDAY AT THE MEETING BY MY CHIEF OF STAFF, YOU KNOW, IT IS THE AUTHOR'S POSITION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TO NO LONGER PURSUE IT. OKAY? AND IF WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE IT AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING, OR IF THERE CAN BE A MOTION MADE, UM, TO DISPOSE OF IT OR TO REFER TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THERE HAS TO BE A MECHANISM, UH, FOR THE AUTHORS. IF THEY NO LONGER WANT TO HAVE THE DESIRE TO PUSH AN ITEM, THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF PROCESS IN WHICH TO PULL IT BACK. UM, SO I WANNA MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THE AUTHORS DO NOT DESIRE TO PURSUE THAT ORDINANCE CHANGE ANYMORE. AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL FIND A WAY TO RESPECT THE, UH, WILL OF THE AUTHORS WHO BROUGHT THAT ITEM FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. UM, OH, I CONTINUE TO GET RESPONSES IN ON THE BUDGET SURVEY. WOULD, UH, WOULD APPRECIATE THOSE, ESPECIALLY IN HISPANIC. WE NEED, WE DID IT IN LIKE FIVE LANGUAGES. SO, UM, DISTRICT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WE NEED MORE. WE'RE GETTING ALL THE ENGLISH ONES BACK, BUT WE NEED MORE IN THE, IN THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES. SO HELP ME PUSH THAT THING OUT. UM, I'LL READ YOU A FEW COMMENTS. MAYOR, UH, BASE COVER BASIC CITY OBLIGATIONS THAT NEVER CHANGE, POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS, ROADS AND BRIDGE BRIDGES AND DRAINAGE, WATER AND SEWER. UM, MR. INGER, THE TOP THREE ISSUES IN KINGWOOD, ACCORDING TO THIS, UH, SURVEY RESPONDENT ARE LITTER, FLOODING, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, BACK TO BASIS BASIC CITY SERVICES AND GET RID OF THE FLUFF, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER PERSON. IT HURT MY HEART TO SELECT ANYTHING AS MY LOWEST PRIORITY. ALL CITY SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT WITH [04:30:01] A HEART EMOJI, , UM, UM, OF SOMEONE ELSE. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS LACK OF INSPECTORS FOR AN ENDLESS LIST OF CITY REQUIREMENTS THAT SOMETIMES ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT AND RESULT IN WASTING TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES. WE SEE IT FREQUENTLY. SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE. UM, WE'RE HAVING OUR BUDGET AND LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY, MORE ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTER AGREEMENT, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN . THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST QUICKLY, UM, IT'S NEVER QUICK, BUT I'M, I'M GONNA DO MY BEST. UH, WE HAD A GRAND OPENING OF A WONDERFUL VETERINARY CLINIC ON THIS PAST SATURDAY. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A SHORTAGE OF, OF VETERINARIANS IN THE DISTRICT, AND SO WE LOVE OUR PETS, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT THERE WAS A RIBBON CUTTING ON THIS PAST SATURDAY AT THE CONE VETERINARY HOSPITAL, WHICH IS LOCATED ON, UH, ALAMEDA. AND I DON'T HAVE THE ADDRESS WITH ME, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S C-A-W-L-M IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET, UH, CARE FOR YOUR PET. UH, THE CAREER AND RECOVERY RESOURCES HAD A PICNIC AT THE POLO CLUB, AND THAT WAS THIS PAST SUNDAY. IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY AFTERNOON FILLED WITH NETWORKING, ENTERTAINMENT AND A SHOWCASE OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT. UM, AT THE HOUSTON POLO CLUB, UH, ON THIS AFTERNOON, UH, THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE SPRING 2024 OPEN HOUSE, AND THAT WILL BE FROM 4:00 PM TO 6:00 PM AT 52 80 CAROLINE STREET. AND IT'LL BE A CHANCE TO MINGLE WITH THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT CONSTITUENTS. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, CERTAINLY MY CO-CHAIR AND I PLAN TO BE PRESENT AS WE, UM, WANT TO PROMOTE ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE CITY. ALSO, THE COMMUNITY TOWN HALL, ADDRESSING THE CRIME CONCERNS, WHICH IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE WILL BE ON THURSDAY EVENING FROM SEVEN 30 TO NINE AT THE THIRD WARD, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, 36 11 IN STREET. WE WILL HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF AS WELL AS COMMANDER WYNN AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, BECAUSE WE MUST, UM, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THIS, THIS CRIME, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU SAW ON, UM, TV ON MONDAY WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAD A SHOOTOUT ON THE CORNER OF ARBOR AND EMANCIPATION, WHICH IS WITHIN BLOCKS OF MY HOME. AND SO CERTAINLY I'M AWARE OF THE CLUBS AND THE ACTIVITY THAT, THAT, THAT GOES ON. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MUST STOP. THERE ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT ARE AT AT RISK BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. I, I REALLY, YOU KNOW, CAN'T WRAP MY MIND AROUND WHY YOU WOULD COME OUT AND DO A SHOOTOUT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE REALLY GONNA BE FOCUSED ON TO TRY TO STOP THIS ACTIVITY. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WILL CERTAINLY BE REACHING OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE WE MUST HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP, UH, TO STOP THIS VIOLENCE. AND OUR DE OUR CITIZENS DESERVE TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR, TO, TO THRIVE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND TO WITNESS TANGIBLE, TANGIBLE CHANGES THAT WILL PROTECT AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY. AND CERTAINLY WE HOPE THAT THIS MEETING WILL, UH, PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE, THE CONSTITUENTS TO SPEAK, BUT NOT JUST TO SPEAK, I DON'T LIKE MEETING JUST TO MEET. I NEED SOME SUBSTANTIVE IDEAS AND CHANGES THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER, WE WILL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS I WANT TO SHARE FOR THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH. UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO EVENTS, ONE IN LINDE PARK. UH, THE LINDELL LITTLES WILL BE HOSTING A LEMONADE, UH, STAND AND DESSERT CONTEST OVER AT ST. ALBAN'S EPISCOPAL, STARTING AT, UH, 10:00 AM AND YOU CAN GO AND SUPPORT A NUMBER OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WHO WILL BE OUT THERE, UH, WITH THEIR LEMONADE AND DESSERTS. AND THEN SECOND AT HENDERSON PARK, SATURDAY AT 11:00 AM THERE WILL BE A DIA DEL NINO CELEBRATION, UH, ALL OF THROUGHOUT, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO, UH, CELEBRATE CHILDREN. AND, UH, THEY'LL BE, HAVE, UH, THERE'LL BE GAMES AND ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK OUT. UM, SECOND, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY POSTED A POSITION FOR A HISPANIC COLLECTION'S LEAD ARCHIVIST. AND, UH, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO MAY BE PASSIONATE ABOUT PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE TO CHECK OUT THE POSITION, UH, AND, UH, APPLY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. UH, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND, AND THERE ARE SOME EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING, UM, AT THE LIBRARY WITH THE, UH, HISPANIC RESEARCH CENTER. [04:35:01] UM, YOU KNOW, THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'VE HAD SOME SPEAKERS COME AND TALK ABOUT, UH, THE UPCOMING PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATIONS. WE'VE HAD NEW FACES OF PRIDE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO YESTERDAY, WE HAD PRIDE HOUSTON. UM, AND IT'S CLEAR WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING TWO PARADES AND TWO FESTIVALS IN JUNE. MY HOPE MOVING FORWARD IS THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. UM, ONCE, YOU KNOW, THIS MONTH, THIS, UH, THIS JUNE CELEBRATIONS ARE, ARE ALL SAID AND DONE. UM, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE UNITED AS A COMMUNITY. AND, UH, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE STILL TO THIS DAY, UM, FROM LEGISLATION THAT TARGETS, UH, THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, UH, TO ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT STILL TARGET THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. AND, UH, WE JUST NEED TO BE ADDRESSING THOSE CHALLENGES HEAD ON, UH, IN A UNITED FRONT. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, INFIGHTING AND, AND BICKERING AMONGST OURSELVES ISN'T GONNA HELP US IN THAT WAY. SO, UH, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN FIND A PATH FORWARD, UM, HAPPY TO EVEN HOST A MEETING BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, IN JULY. BUT, UM, WE, WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, TO MOVE BEYOND THIS, UH, DIVISION, UM, BECAUSE WE, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE MORE UNITED. UM, THAT'S ALL FOR ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. UH, WE WILL MOVE NOW TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. GOOD MORNING TO ALL. LET ME BEGIN BY, FIRST OF ALL, ANNOUNCING THE, UH, THIS COMING SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH IS OUR BLACK MEN'S WELLNESS DAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. UH, CARRIED ON BY OUR BROTHER, UH, DARNELL COOPER. AND OF COURSE, THE HONORARY CHAIR IS RUSSIAN MCDONALD, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A PHENOMENAL GATHERING. AS MANY OF US KNOW, DISPROPORTIONATELY, MANY OF OUR BLACK, UH, MEN, UH, HAVE HEALTH CHALLENGES A LOT LARGER THAN MOST OTHER. IT'S TO THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, UH, SEGREGATED TO ONE RACE, BUT IT IS CALLED THE BLACK MEN'S WELLNESS DAY, WHICH WAS START AT 7:00 AM ON APRIL THE 27TH. AND I AM VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT AND BE A PART OF IT, AND WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OUT TO BE A PARTICIPANT. UH, IT'S GOING TO BE, UM, UH, SCREENING. IT'S A 5K WALK, HEALTHCARE SCREENING AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD HOPE THAT OTHERS WOULD COME OUT. ALSO, I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FIRST AT LARGE TOWN HALL MEETING, WHICH WE INTEND TO DO ACROSS THE CITY, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST. AND OUR FIRST ONE, UH, WE ARE PLANNING TO DO NORTH OF OUR CITY AND DISTRICT B AREA, WHICH WILL INCLUDE, UH, THE DISTRICT OF B AND H AND, UM, AND, AND I, AND WE JUST DO 'EM BY SECTORS. WE WANNA LET ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER KNOW, UH, THAT WE CERTAINLY INVITE THEM THERE TO BE A PART, UH, OF IT IS JUST TO KIND OF KEEP INFORMED ON THE COMMUNITY. UH, ALSO, I, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A, A RESURRECTION OF THE MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN, UH, IN THIS CITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, WENT THROUGH FOUR MAYORS, AND IT'S A COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO BRING ALL OF THE LEADERS THAT ARE IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS, UH, IN THIS ORGANIZATION CALLED MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR. AND IT WILL HELP TO SOLIDIFY TO GET THE MINISTERS INVOLVED IN CRIME. IT'S AN ECUMENICAL, MULTIRACIAL GROUP. IT'S NOT ONE SINGLE RACE OR ONE SINGLE FATE. IT'S A MULTIPLE OF FAITH COMING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO PUT THEIR VOICE AND LEND THEIR VOICES TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR CITY. AND I THINK IT'S, IT, IT SHOULD BE THAT MANY OF OUR CHURCHES GET CANDIDATES WHEN WE ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, UH, IN THEIR CONGREGATION, BUT THEY NEED TO SEE THEM, UH, HEAR AND LET THEM HAVE A VOICE IN CLOSING, THE SAD NOTE I WANT TO ANNOUNCE IS A WONDERFUL LADY WHO WAS A LEGACY IN HOUSTON, UH, MS. CLARA CALDWELL, WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT AND LEADER OF THE A PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE UNION. AND, UH, WE LOST HER ON APRIL THE NINTH, WHICH WAS A VERY SAD, UM, MOMENT. AND WE GRIEVED, UH, THAT MOMENT, AND WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE FAMILY AND THE LOSS OF CLARA CALDWELL, WHO I DEAR LOVE AND, UH, AND WILL MISS HER. AND THIS CITY WILL MISS HER, UH, BECAUSE OF HER LEADERSHIP [04:40:01] AND HER LEGACY THROUGHOUT ALL OF HOUSTON, AND CERTAINLY HER LOVE FOR SOUTH HOUSTON AND THE SUNNY SIDE AND SOUTH PARK AREA, WHO WAS A GREAT LEADER. AND SO OUR HEART AND PRAYERS GOES OUT TO HER. UH, AND CERTAINLY THAT WOULD EXTEND ALL OF MY ANNOUNCEMENT. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, WANNA START OUT BY GIVING A SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR SAMS. WE HAD AN ISSUE HERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WITH AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY HAD ABANDONED THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. UH, THEY DID NOT PAY THE BILLS FOR THE WASTE REMOVAL, AND SUBSEQUENTLY IT DID NOT TAKE VERY LONG FOR A LOT OF WASTE TO PILE UP AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. UH, IT, UH, WAS ON THE NEWS, IT WAS ALL NEW TO US UNTIL WE SAW IT ON THE NEWS, GOT A HOLD OF HIM AND HE TOOK CARE OF IT VERY QUICKLY. SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THIS IS JUST A SIGN OF MORE GOOD THINGS TO COME, UH, IN KINGWOOD. WE'VE GOT A-B-O-P-A RECYCLING EVENT, SO EVERYBODY CAN BRING THEIR BATTERIES AND OIL AND PAINT AND ANTIFREEZE STARTING AT NINE O'CLOCK SATURDAY MORNING. UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET QUITE A BIT OF THAT DONE. UH, ALSO, I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER AND A RESIDENT WANTING TO RENT OUT THE FACILITY ON A SATURDAY. UM, AND APPARENTLY IF THEY RENT OUT THE FACILITY ON SATURDAY, EVEN THOUGH SOMEBODY FROM THE PARKS RECREATION WILL BE THERE, THEY REQUIRE A POLICE OFFICER. WHEREAS IF THEY RENT IT OUT DURING THE WEEK, THEY DON'T. SO I'M HOPING I CAN GET A LITTLE SOMETHING DONE WITH THIS AND TRY AND MAKE THESE FACILITIES AS USEFUL TO THE CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE. UH, WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THE BUILDING, SO IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE GOT AS MUCH USE OUTTA THE FACILITIES AS WE COULD. YEAH, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. UH, WE ARE GOING TO CIRCLE BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ, BECAUSE SHE IS IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE. SHE HAS MORE TO SAY. I ALSO WANNA ECHO THE CONDOLENCES, UH, TO THE FAMILY OF CLAIRE CALDWELL. UH, MS. CALDWELL, SHE WOULD TELL IT LIKE IT IS, BUT I KNEW SHE LOVED ME WHEN SHE SHOWED UP AT THE POLLS WITH A WONDERFUL SPAGHETTI. AND I'M, I'M GONNA CERTAINLY MISS HER. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I CAN COOK VERY GOOD, GOOD SPAGHETTI, BUT SHE BEAT ME. SO I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TELL I DON'T MISS MANY MEALS, BUT CERTAINLY I CIRCLE BACK BECAUSE I WANT TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT A, AN EVENT ON SATURDAY AT TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. THEY HAVE THEIR MONTHLY, UH, MARKET FROM 10 TO ONE AND CERTAINLY COME OUT AND, AND, UH, SUPPORT THAT. BUT APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, AND THEY WILL HAVE A POETRY SLAM ALSO ON SATURDAY, AND THAT WILL BE FROM 11 TO ONE. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR INDULGING ME FOR, UH, CONTINUED ANNOUNCING A TIME FROM DISTRICT D THAT NEVER END. THANK YOU, SIR, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU FOR SHARING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND WE'RE GONNA CIRCLE BACK, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. MY APOLOGIES ALSO IN THE QUEUE. I FORGOT SOMETHING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I SPOKE WITH A GROUP IN KINGWOOD THIS MORNING BEFORE COMING HERE. AND MUCH TO SALLY'S POINT, THEY WANTED TO HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT FLOODING. UH, AND WE CERTAINLY TALKED ABOUT THAT. THEY ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTERS AGREEMENT, AND IT WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION SO WE COULD GIVE THEM SOME INTELLIGENT ANSWERS ABOUT IT RATHER THAN NOT NECESSARILY HAVING THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION. SOUNDS GOOD. I KNOW WE'VE MADE THAT REQUEST OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND WE'RE STILL AWAITING THAT. UM, ATTORNEY, MICHELLE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT MATTER, . ALL RIGHT, COUNSEL, IF THAT'S ALL WE DO, STAND ADJOURN. * 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.