* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
           
          [00:00:02]
STARTED TODAY. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. 
          I HOPE THAT YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR HOMES ARE WELL. 
          UH, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR 
          [PRESENTATIONS]
FIRST PRESENTATION BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, POLLARD. 
          UH, AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES HIM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO JASMINE PORTER TO RECOGNIZE THE PEACE PROGRAM. 
          WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE HERE IN ATTENDANCE. 
          UM, THE PEACE PROGRAM IS AN INITIATIVE THAT MY OFFICE TOOK THE LEAD ON WITH MS. PORTER HERE, UM, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGES THAT WE WERE HAVING AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. 
          AND AT THAT TIME, UH, THERE WERE MANY CALLS FOR POLICE REFORM, MANY CALLS FOR EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND POLICIES TO BE CHANGED. 
          AND ALTHOUGH THOSE THINGS WERE NECESSARY, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE POLICE OFFICER THEMSELVES AS A HUMAN, UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF THEIR JOB, AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THEM PERFORM BEST FROM A MINDFULNESS STANDPOINT, FROM A MENTAL HEALTH STANDPOINT? AND SO, JASMINE HERE APPROACHED ME ONE DAY AND SAID, HEY, I HAVE THIS PROGRAM OR THIS IDEA OF A PROGRAM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INCORPORATE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          AND JASMINE IS A INTERNATIONAL YOGA INSTRUCTOR, AND SHE SPECIALIZES IN SOUND THERAPY AND MEDITATION AND YOGA, ALL THESE MINDFULNESS TACTICS, UH, THAT SHE BELIEVED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO TRAIN AND TEACH OUR OFFICERS. 
          IT WOULD HELP THEM INTENSE SITUATIONS. 
          IT WOULD HELP THEM BE ABLE TO STAY CALM AND DEESCALATE. 
          AND WE PUT FORTH THIS PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE POLICE UNION SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY. 
          AND SO TODAY, WE WILL BE PRESENTING A PROCLAMATION TO THE PEACE PROGRAM, POLICE, ENLIGHTENMENT, AND COLLECTIVE EDUCATION. 
          AKA, THE PEACE PROGRAM IS A MINDFULNESS AND WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. 
          THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL AWARENESS, SUICIDE PREVENTION, PERSPECTIVE EXPANSION, AND IMPROVE PHYSICAL HEALTH AND AGILITY. 
          THE PEACE PROGRAM REFLECTS A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESSING CHALLENGES FACING LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL BY FOCUSING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS INDIVIDUALS. 
          THE PROGRAM ADDRESSES INTERPERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING. 
          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF DAILY STRESSORS AND TRAUMA THAT CONTRIBUTE TO RISING STATISTICS OF SUICIDE, MENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES, SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL, USE OF NEGATIVE COPING MECHANISMS, AND LOWER OCCUPATIONAL RESILIENCY. 
          FROM 2021, THE PEACE PROGRAM HAS OFFERED WEEKLY COURSES TAUGHT BY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL WELLNESS TRAINERS. 
          THE COURSES INCORPORATE A DATA-DRIVEN MINDFULNESS CURRICULUM, SYSTEMATIC MOVEMENT EXERCISES, COMPREHENSIVE MEDITATION DISCIPLINES, PARAY PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM ACTIVATION. 
          WOW, , I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT LATER. 
          RELAXATION AND COGNITIVE RENEWAL PEACE PROGRAM STUDENTS REPORTED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THEIR ABILITY TO MANAGE STRESS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WITH REGULAR INTEGRATION OF PROGRAM CURRICULUM INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES. 
          THE PEACE PROGRAM IS RECOGNIZED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM THROUGH CLASSES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VIRTUAL RESOURCES, AND CITY PARTNERSHIPS. 
          THE PROGRAM HAS IMPACTED OVER 6,258 POLICE OFFICERS AND STAFF MEMBERS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH INTERNAL TRAINING AND RESOURCES, THE PEACE PROGRAM STRIVE TO ENHANCE SOCIAL COHESION AND BUILD COMMUNITY. 
          IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HISD AND HPD, THE PEACE PROGRAM AIMS TO REIMAGINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS THROUGH A YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM INCORPORATING MINDFULNESS, PLAY, MOVEMENT AND VULNERABILITY. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE PEACE PROGRAM'S EFFORTS TO FURTHER PROMOTE COMMUNITY COHESION, MINDFULNESS AWARENESS, AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL SOCIAL RESOLUTIONS. 
          [00:05:01]
THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          SO THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX, TATU MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 21ST, 2024 AS PEACE PROGRAM DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND BELIEVING IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE A VERY, UM, UNORTHODOX IDEA AT THE TIME, AND BEING AVAILABLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE NEEDED AS FAR AS SUPPORT ALONG THE ENTIRE JOURNEY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY PARTNER IN THIS SAMANTHA WALKER FOR COME ON. 
          COME ON. 
          , THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, JUST GENUINE AND DEDICATED TI YOUR TIME AND YOUR ENERGY. 
          YOU'RE JUST ONE OF THE MOST AUTHENTIC PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, AND THIS IS WORK THAT I FEEL LIKE YOU AND I HAVE SUCH A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH. 
          WE'VE GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THESE OFFICERS. 
          THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. 
          'CAUSE WITHOUT OUR COLLABORATION WITH YOU, THIS COULDN'T HAPPEN. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY BREATH THAT WE TAKE, EVERY HOUR THAT WE SPEND TOGETHER, EVERY CLASS THAT WE TAKE OVER THE STRETCH OF THESE THREE YEARS, UM, WE'VE JUST WATCHED YOU GROW AND BLOSSOM, AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF YOUR VULNERABILITY AND YOUR AUTHENTICITY. 
          AND JUST, IT'S, IT'S SUCH AN INTIMATE EXPERIENCE. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE PRACTICED MINDFULNESS AND WELLNESS AND HAD A COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY, BUT IT IS PROBABLY THE DEEPEST WORK THAT I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE. 
          UM, WE DO HAVE, UM, A LOT IN THE WORKS. 
          WE'RE WORKING ON AN EXPANSION THIS YEAR. 
          AND BEFORE OUR FORMER CHIEF, UH, TROY FINNER LEFT, HE PUT US IN POSITION FOR A GRANT THAT YOU GUYS WILL SEE SOON. 
          UM, AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE, OR STATIONS THAT ARE ASKING FOR THE PROGRAM AS WELL. 
          SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO GET THAT TO THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. 
          UM, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY, ? I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO JASMINE FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE, FOR BRINGING IT TO THE LIVES OF SO MANY OFFICERS AND FOR CHANGING THEIR LIVES. 
          IT HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING FOR ME TO SEE HOW IT HAS AFFECTED THEM POSITIVELY. 
          UM, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MORE OF THIS WORK WITH THEM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, AND CONGRATULATIONS. 
          UM, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          I REMEMBER WHEN THIS GOT KICKED OFF, AND IT WAS AT A REALLY TUMULTUOUS TIME. 
          AND, UH, WE WENT TO THE YOGA CLASS OVER THERE AT THE, AT THE POLICE UNION. 
          IT WAS JORDAN AND I WENT OVER THERE AND DID SOME YOGA WITH YOU, AND IT WAS AMAZING. 
          UM, I HAVE THE CALM APP THAT'S ABOUT AS FAR AS I'VE GOTTEN INTO THE MEDITATION THING, BUT I'M TRYING, I'M GOING THROUGH THE 23 DAYS. 
          UM, UH, BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR JUST BRINGING THIS REALLY INSPIRED, UM, KIND OF DIFFERENT WAY OF HANDLING, UM, UH, GIVING OFFICERS, UM, SOMETHING, A WAY TO COPE, UM, WITH A VERY, VERY STRESSFUL JOB. 
          UM, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I'D LIKE TO MAKE ONE LAST COMMENT. 
          UM, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE PUT A LOT INTO THE PROGRAM TO TEACH THEM AND GROW THEM AND HELP THEM, BUT THEY HAVE TAUGHT AND GROWN US A LOT. 
          AND WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT WE WALK AWAY FROM THIS, UH, THE WATER WORKS, HOLD ON, , WE'RE TAKING AWAY FRIENDS FROM THIS SITUATION. 
          UH, AND IT'S A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT I'M SURPRISED TO BE IN, TO UNDERSTAND AND TO, UM, CONNECT WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE. 
          I THINK WE ALL EXPERIENCE THE STRESSORS OF LIFE, BUT THESE PEOPLE BEHIND US PUT THEMSELVES IN AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGING POSITION TO PROTECT US. 
          AND I THINK WHEN WE SEE THAT PEOPLE NEED HELP OR THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO DO SOMETHING, IT'S A FAR BETTER QUESTION TO ASK, WHAT CAN WE ADD AND HOW CAN WE HELP THAN ANYTHING ELSE? SO IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO DO THIS. 
          SO I WANT TO GIVE A, UH, A SHOUT OUT REALLY QUICKLY TO, UH, THE POLICE UNION FOR STEPPING UP. 
          UH, DOUG AND RAY, HI, UH, FOR GIVING A, A CHANCE ON THIS PROGRAM AT A TIME WHEN, UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, HESITATION AND APPREHENSION BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY, AND THEN OUR OFFICERS WHO, UM, BOUGHT INTO THE PROGRAM AND UNDERSTOOD WHY WE WERE DOING IT AND HOW IT COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO YOU ALL AS INDIVIDUALS AND PROFESSIONALLY. 
          SO I WANT TO, UH, PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [00:10:02]
YOU ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. 
          I HAD NO IDEA THIS EXISTED. 
          UM, EVERYONE'S A PRODUCT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT. 
          I THINK THE ENVIRONMENT WE HAVE POLICE IN IS A REALLY TOUGH ONE. 
          SO WE NEED TO DO STUFF LIKE THIS TO TRY AND HELP 'EM COPE. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          . 
          IS THAT ALRIGHT? PHOTOS, PHOTOS, EVERYBODY. 
          LET'S TAKE A PICTURE, EVERYONE THAT'S HERE FOR THE PEACE PROGRAM COME FORWARD. 
          HEY, STEEL, FOR PROCLAMATIONS TO RECOGNIZE MARIE KOS FOR HER 23 YEARS AS AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE YMCA. 
          I DIDN'T. 
          HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. 
          READY? OKAY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. 
          I AM EXCITED TODAY TO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY WHO HAS COMMITTED SO MUCH OF THEIR CAREER TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. 
          AND, UH, SOMEONE WHO EVEN THIS PAST SUNDAY, UH, WHEN THERE WAS A NEED TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD, ICE AND WATER IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE, STEPPED UP TO VOLUNTEER ALL DAY, UH, IN THE SUN TO RUN LOGISTICS AT THE MD ANDERSON, YMCA. 
          UM, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S NO LONGER TECHNICALLY AT THE MD ANDERSON, YMCA, UH, BUT IT IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HER COMMITMENT TO HOUSTONIANS, TO COMMUNITIES AND HER WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO STEP UP AND ANSWER THE CALL, UH, BEYOND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS EXPECTED. 
          UM, AND TODAY, UH, WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE SURVEY, ALL THE YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE MD ANDERSON, YMCA AND, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          SO, UH, MARIA ARCOS, A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SERVING HER COMMUNITY SINCE JOINING THE MD ANDERSON, WHY, OR THE THE YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON IN 2001, MARIE HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN DRIVING POSITIVE CHANGE IN FOSTERING COMMUNITY GROWTH. 
          AS THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS OFFICER, SHE MAINTAINS PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS WHILE ADVOCATING FOR THE YMCA'S NATIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. 
          SHE JOINED THE YMCA IN 1996 WHEN SHE VOLUNTEERED AS A BOARD MEMBER, EVENTUALLY RISING TO THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ONE OF HOUSTON'S 36 YMCA'S. 
          SHE BECAME THE FIRST LATINA IN THIS POSITION, PIONEERING REPRESENTATION FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY 
          [00:15:01]
WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. 
          SHE THEN BECAME THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE ON THE YMC A'S SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM SHOWCASING GROUNDBREAKING LEADERSHIP ABILITIES. 
          MARIA HAS BEEN A FORCE IN POSITIONING THE Y AS A PARTNER DURING TIMES OF DISASTER, RANGING FROM HURRICANES, FLOODS, PANDEMICS. 
          HER NAVIGATION OF PARTNERSHIPS HAS ENABLED THE Y TO LEVERAGE ITS RESOURCES TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE REGION, ENSURING SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE DURING CRITICAL TIMES OF NEED. 
          WITH THE MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GRADUATE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK, SPECIALIZING IN POLICY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, MARIE ARCOS IS EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND PASSION TO DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE, COMMITTED TO ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY AND HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR HOUSTON'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. 
          SHE SERVES ON SEVERAL LOCAL BOARDS, INCLUDING GULF COAST, TEXAS WORKFORCE BOARD, HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW, AND RODEO AVENUE, CDC COMP AND COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL. 
          HER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EXTENDS TO VOLUNTEERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SPINDLETOP COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND SERVING AS A SENIOR FELLOW WITH THE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM OUTSIDE OF PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS. 
          MARIE'S LOVE FOR HOUSTON SHINES THROUGH HER ACTIVE SUPPORT OF HER HISPANIC HERITAGE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY. 
          WHETHER ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS OR EXPLORING THE CITY'S HIDDEN GYMS, MARIE'S DEDICATION TO SERVING HOUSTON KNOWS NO BOUNDS. 
          THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 21ST, 2024, AS MARIE ARCOS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, MARIA. 
          WOW. 
          I WANNA MEET HER . 
          UM, SO JUST, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND TIM CASTEX, THANK YOU. 
          UM, AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, I, UM, AM HONORED TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. 
          MANY OF YOU I'VE WORKED WITH ALONGSIDE AND YOUR ORGANIZATIONS PRIOR TO YOU SITTING IN THE SEATS THAT YOU ARE, YOU WERE STEPPING UP AS LEADERS. 
          AND IN THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD TO WORK WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAD A WIDE DEPTH WITH THE YMCA, I WAS ABLE TO WORK IN ALL YOUR DISTRICTS. 
          I'M A VERY PROUD, UM, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED, AND MY PARENTS THAT ARE HERE, STILL LIVE THERE. 
          I THOUGHT IT WAS, UM, UH, VERY HONORING FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO COMMIT 16 YEARS AT THE MD ANDERSON Y IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN. 
          THOUGH AS WE WERE GROWING UP, I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THAT YMCA. 
          AND SO I FEEL LIKE THE YMCAS AND OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER, UM, LIBRARIES AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS ARE PUT IN NEIGHBORHOODS FOR OUR FAMILIES TO CONNECT WITH AND USE. 
          AND SO, WHILE THIS WAS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR ME, IT NEVER SEEMED LIKE WORK. 
          IT ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I GREW UP WITH FROM MY GRANDPARENTS WHO WERE RAISED IN DENVER HARBOR, KEEPING US IN TOW, GOING TO THE CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS, GOING TO THE VETERANS CLUB MEETINGS. 
          IT WAS NEVER A TIME WHERE WE JUST SAT BACK AND WATCHED OTHER PEOPLE DO THINGS. 
          WE WERE A PART OF THE SOLUTIONS. 
          MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVED IN THE PARK, CLARK PARK. 
          WE, UH, WERE ABLE TO HELP FUNDRAISE AND PUT LIGHTS IN THE PARK WHENEVER THEY WEREN'T THERE. 
          SO IT'S SOMETHING AS A YOUNG PERSON THAT IT WAS JUST MENTORED AND MODELED BY, UH, THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND ALSO COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
          I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT GROWING UP IN A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WERE THERE FOR EACH OTHER, IT'S WHEN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR LIBRARIES AND OUR NONPROFITS ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES HAD WHAT WE NEED. 
          AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS MY CALLING IN 2001, TO SEE SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES BEING UNDERUTILIZED IN OUR UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. 
          IT WAS, IT WAS MY JOY TO HELP BRING AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES SUCCEED. 
          I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN THE AMERICAN RED CROSS GIVING MY NUMBER OUT TWO DAYS AGO, . 
          AND I'VE RECEIVED SO, UM, SO MANY PHONE CALLS FROM INDIVIDUALS I DID TO ASK THEM TO STOP. 
          UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS ABLE TO LISTEN TO THEM AND TALK TO THEM AND ASK THEM, HAVE YOU CALLED 2 1 1? HAVE YOU CALLED 3 1 1? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD DO. 
          SOME OF THEM KNEW AND SOME OF THEM DIDN'T. 
          BUT THEY'RE TEXTING ME AND THEY'RE SAYING, STILL NO POWER. 
          AND I'M GIVING THEM THE ADVICE OF HOW TO WORK THROUGH YOUR, YOUR OFFICES, AND ALSO THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO CONNECT. 
          SO I THINK IT, WE HAVE AN AMAZING CITY AND WE HAVE AMAZING RESOURCES. 
          I'M JUST PROUD TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO BE A PART OF IT, AND TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF, UM, A LEGACY BUILDING FAMILY FOR HOUSTON, TEXAS. 
          WE'RE, UH, WE HAVE OUR FIFTH GENERATION, UH, BABY AND THE FAMILY, AND WE'RE ALL HOUSTONIANS. 
          WE ALL LIVE HERE. 
          AND THEN ALSO, I HAVE COLLEAGUES FROM THE YMCA 
          [00:20:01]
AND FRIENDS FROM THE NEAR NORTH SIDE WHERE I WORK SO LONG THAT ARE HERE. 
          AND ALSO MY NEW, UH, SHE'S MY FRIEND AND ALSO THE CEO OF COMP ADOPT, WHERE I WILL BE, UM, DOING CHIEF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AFFAIRS THERE ON A NATIONAL, UH, SCALE, UH, WITH THEM. 
          WE'RE WORKING WITH THE OEM RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONNECTIVITY AT THE DRCS AND IN YOUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS WHERE, UH, COMPUTERS AREN'T THERE. 
          AND WE'RE JUST, UH, HELPING TO CONNECT, UM, TO MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES, AGAIN, AND OUR RESIDENTS AND THOSE THAT ARE STILL NOT WITH POWER HAVE, UM, THE ADEQUATE SUPPORT THEY NEED. 
          SO, THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND MS. ARCOS, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO. 
          UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VICE, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, UM, COUNCILOR GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MARIE, UH, TO CELEBRATE HER AND HER SERVICES TO THE YMCA. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN SAY A LOT, A LOT ABOUT MARIE. 
          WE'VE WORKED, WE WORKED TOGETHER FOR, YOU KNOW, PAST 10 YEARS FOR SURE, OUT OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT, UH, EYE OFFICE. 
          UM, BUT YOU KNOW, SUNDAY SHE WAS AT, UH, HCC SOUTHEAST AS WELL. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS TWO OF HER OR YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT, YOU KNOW, MARIE FINDS HERSELF IN PLACES WHERE WE, WHERE WE NEED HER. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CASA BOOM SHUT DOWN IN THE, IN THE EAST END, UH, SHE WAS A HUGE ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE YMCA STILL HAD A PRESENCE IN THE EAST END. 
          UH, SO NOW THEY'RE HOUSED OUT OF, UH, MASON PARK. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK, MARIE, AND JUST YOUR CONTINUOUS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND OF COURSE, YOUR FAMILY. 
          UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOUR FAMILY OUT HERE AS WELL. 
          UM, AND, AND KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER YOU'RE GO OR YOU'RE COMPU AND KNOWING THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE, THAT YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO BE A, A, A HUGE SUPPORT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          SO, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROTO. 
          JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, MARIE, AND, AND I KNOW, UH, DARN GOOD. 
          AND WELL, IT TAKES SEVERAL PAGES OF A PROCLAMATION TO REALLY LIST ALL YOU'VE DONE. 
          AND YOU ARE THE FACE OF OUR CITY, AND YOU'RE WHAT MAKES OUR CITY WHAT IT IS. 
          YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU STEP UP, YOU GIVE OF YOUR TIME, YOU GIVE OF YOURSELF. 
          AND, UM, I GREATLY ADMIRE ANYONE WHO DOES THAT. 
          AND CERTAINLY IT'S GENERATIONAL. 
          AND, AND YOU'RE CONTINUE THAT LEGACY FORWARD, UM, AS A, UH, ON THE RECEIVING END OF THE RIPLEY HOUSE BACK IN THE DAY. 
          THAT DATES ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED BACK THEN. 
          I KNOW THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY CENTERS AND, AND CERTAINLY THE Y HAVING SERVED ON THE BOARD. 
          AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO, AND GOD BLESS YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MS. ARCOS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY? WHO'S HERE TODAY? ALL OF THEM. 
          WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, MY MOM AND DAD ARE HERE. 
          THEY WERE ACTUALLY BOARD MEMBERS ON THE Y BEFORE I WAS, THEY INTRODUCED IT TO ME. 
          SO, AND THEN MY BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW. 
          OKAY. 
          INTRODUCE SOME YOU WANNA SAY. 
          SO THIS IS MY MOM, CANDY HERNANDEZ, GEORGE HERNANDEZ, ONE OF OUR VETERAN MARINES AND MOM OF SEVEN, VERY NICE MOM AND DAD OF SEVEN. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING JUST REALLY MARIE JUST REALLY, REALLY FAST. 
          I JUST WANTED TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO. 
          BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST SO NICE WORKING WITH YOU SIDE BY SIDE. 
          I MEAN, THAT'S THE DIFFERENT PART, RIGHT? YOU'RE NOT JUST THE BOARD MEMBER. 
          YOU'RE NOT JUST WORKING IN THAT CAPACITY, BUT YOU ALSO GET OUT AND HELP COMMUNITY LIKE PERSONALLY. 
          AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR THAT. 
          AND, AND THANK YOU. 
          'CAUSE IT WAS HOT OUT THERE, . 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          SO IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT, 
          [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR NO. 
          SO, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR THE INVOCATION. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TAM. 
          UH, IF YOU CAN BOW YOUR HEAD, PLEASE. 
          HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM, AND SUPPORT. 
          AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING, HELP US ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. 
          ALLOW US TO GROW CLOSER AS A GROUP AND NURTURE THE BONDS OF COMMUNITY. 
          FILL US WITH YOUR GRACE, LORD GOD, AS WE MAKE, MAKE DECISIONS THAT MIGHT AFFECT OUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          GIVE US A FRESH SUPPLY 
          [00:25:01]
OF STRENGTH TO DO OUR JOB AND CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. 
          GUIDE US WHEN WE ARE CONFUSED. 
          ENERGIZE US WHEN WE ARE WEARY AND INFUSE US, WHEN WE, WITH THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHEN WE ARE BURNT OUT. 
          MAY THE WORK WE DO AND THE WAY WE DO IT. 
          BRING, DO IT IN. 
          BRING FAITH, JOY, AND SMILE TO ALL WE ENCOUNTER TODAY. 
          I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POWER OVER ALL THAT WE, THAT WILL BE SPOKEN, THOUGHT, DECIDE, DECIDED, AND DONE WITHIN THESE WALLS. 
          LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH, AND COMMIT TO USING THEM RESPONSIBLY IN YOUR HONOR, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I PRAY WITH MUCH LOVE AND THANKSGIVING. 
          AMEN. 
          AMEN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, IF YOU'LL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. 
          I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. 
          NEXT, WE'LL 
          [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
HAVE THE ROLL CALL. 
          MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN AZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          PRESENT IN THE CHAMBERS ALSO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, ALL WE NEED IS A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. 
          COUNCIL. 
          SECOND. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES. 
          ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? GOOD. 
           FOR, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLOWER. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR FOR TIM. 
          UM, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE CHLOE COOK TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE AGENDA LIST, PLEASE. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. 
          ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES. 
          MR. SECRETARY, 
          [PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. 
          ANDREA MAG BALL. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          YES, IT WAS ON. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          YES. 
          HI. 
          I AM AND BOL AND I, UM, I AM SPEAKING ON THE BEHALF OF A GROUP CALLED STOP TDOT AND TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, SALE OF A PARCEL OF, UM, THE, UH, WHITE OAK BAYOU. 
          UM, THE REASON I'M ABLE TO BE PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS BECAUSE OF WALKWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONS. 
          UM, THE WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO UHD DOWNTOWN PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY WAS WALKING THROUGH PART OF PART, PART OF THE WACO BAYOU FROM A, UH, TRAINED FROM A BUS STATION. 
          AND I THINK IT'S REALLY VITAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, UH, THIS KIND OF STUFF. 
          I THINK THE FACT THAT, UH, THE BIO IN PLACES LIKE IT ART CAN BE THE SOLE CONNECTION THAT PEOPLE GET PLACES, UH, THAT DON'T INVOLVE A STREET, THAT DON'T INVOLVE A CAR, INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO SO MANY PEOPLE, LIKE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT, UH, NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A CAR OR WHATNOT. 
          I ALSO THINK THAT PRECIOUS GREEN SPACE IN OUR CITY IS A RESPITE. 
          THERE'S A REASON WE HAVE SO MANY. 
          THANK YOU MR. SO MUCH. 
          PAUL. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          UH, NEXT SPEAKER, CHLOE COOK. 
          CHLOE COOK. 
          [00:30:07]
DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR MY NAME CALLED SWALLY IN THE MEETING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SAM PALMER. 
          PLEASE SIT IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MICROPHONES IN FRONT OF EITHER ONE. 
          EITHER ONE. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, SOME OF YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW ME. 
          MY NAME IS CHLOE COOK. 
          I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C. 
          UM, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO OPPOSE THE SALE OF PARCEL 8 0 1, THE WHITE OAK BAYOU GREEN TRAIL, UM, TO TXDOT. 
          IN SHORT, TXDOT WILL NOT, UH, BE A GOOD STEWARD OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES. 
          UM, SO FIRST OFF, I IMPLORE YOU ALL TO DELAY THE VOTE, DECLINE THE SALE, AND CALL TEX IN TO NEGOTIATE AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THAT PROPERTY TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THIS PROJECT. 
          UM, I'LL ASK YOU ALL TO REMEMBER THE PLANNED DEMOLITION OF LOFTS AT THE BALLPARK BACK IN 2020, UH, 20 21, 20 22, UM, AFTER TXDOT UNDER-REPORTED THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DEMOLISH FOR THE I 45 EXPANSION, WHICH AT THAT POINT WASN'T EVEN MOVING FORWARD. 
          UM, THANKS TO Y'ALL, THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK TO, TO TXDOT. 
          AND THE STATEMENT THAT THEY CAME OUT WITH WAS, WE ACTUALLY DON'T NEED THE CITY'S PERMISSION TO DEMOLISH AS MANY OF YOUR APARTMENT BUILDINGS AS WE WANT, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA ASK FOR PERMISSION EVER AGAIN. 
          SO WE CAN PRETTY MUCH TRUST THAT TXDOT DOESN'T REALLY WANNA WORK WITH Y'ALL. 
          BUT AT THAT POINT, THE FHWA WAS NOT SUPERVISING THEIR MOVEMENTS ON THE I 45 EXPANSION AT THIS POINT. 
          IF YOU FORCE TDOT TO COME TO THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS PARCEL OF LAND, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE FHWA EITHER THAT TXDOT IS WILLING TO PLAY BALL WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OR THAT THEY ARE NOT, AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO RAILROAD OUR COMMUNITIES TO PUSH THIS PROJECT FORWARD. 
          I HAD A WHOLE SECTION IN MY COMMENTS HERE, SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TO THE MAYOR. 
          I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT HE IS NOT HERE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY ON SOMETHING THAT'S AS BIG AS THIS PROJECT. 
          UM, BUT OUR BAYOU IS HYPERCRITICAL OUR TRAILS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. 
          UM, IT'S A, LIKE EVERYBODY HAS SAID, IT'S A SOLE CONNECTOR. 
          UM, AND THERE'S JUST REALLY NO WAY TO SAY THAT IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY PRO TO PUT A REALLY HEAVILY USED AND VERY IMPORTANT GREENWAY TRAIL UNDER 31 LANES AND THREE ON-RAMPS. 
          UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU, MS. COOK. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          IAN JOHNSON. 
          IAN JOHNSON, NEXT SPEAKER. 
          SUSAN CHADWICK. 
          SUSAN CHADWICK. 
          NO. 
          HELLO, MY NAME IS SUSAN CHADWICK. 
          I AM THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAVE BUFFALO BIO, A NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY GROUP. 
          JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT THE BIO PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION NOR THE BUFFALO BIO PARTNERSHIP, ALTHOUGH THOSE ARE EXCELLENT ORGANIZATIONS TOO. 
          I'M SPEAKING ALSO IN REFERENCE TO THE RECENTLY PROPOSED SALE OF CITY OWNED LAND CONTAINING THE WHITE OAK BIO GREENWAY TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 
          THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE TODAY IS THAT THE CITY MUST MEET CERTAIN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS BEFORE SELLING THAT LAND. 
          TEXAS STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE CITY HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING WITH AT LEAST 30 DAY PUBLIC NOTICE, PUBLISHED SEVERAL TIMES IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS BEFORE SELLING OR CHANGING THE USE OF THAT LAND, WHICH IS OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED RECREATION LAND. 
          I REFER YOU TO CHAPTER 26 OF TITLE THREE OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE. 
          THE WHITE OAK BIO GREENWAY IS A HIKE AND BIKE RECREATION AREA, PART OF THE 150 MILE $220 MILLION HOUSTON PARKS SPORT BIO GREENWAY'S PROJECT. 
          THE SECTION TO BE SOLD TO TEXDOT WAS COMPLETED IN 2018 USING FEDERAL FUNDS AS WELL AS LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS UNDER TEXAS LAW. 
          THE PROPOSED SALE USE OR TAKING OF THIS OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED RECREATIONAL LAND REQUIRES ADEQUATE PUBLIC NOTICE IN A PUBLIC HEARING, AS WELL AS A FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED SALE OR REUSE INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE LAND AS A PARK RECREATION AREA, SCIENTIFIC AREA, WILDLIFE REFUGE, OR HISTORIC SITE RESULTING FROM THE USE OR TAKING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MS. CHADWICK. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. 
          WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND Q TO ADDRESS YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS. 
          MS. CHADWICK, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, UH, ZAMORA. 
          SO REPRESENTATION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT NOTICE REQUIREMENTS ABOUT IT 30 DAYS. 
          DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? YEAH, I, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. 
          THERE ARE SOME IN THIS, THERE ARE, THERE'S, THERE ARE SOME NOTICE REQUIREMENTS IN THE SALE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY. 
          I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION. 
          I DON'T KNOW ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, BUT THERE ARE SOME NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. 
          WILL, WILL WE HAVE 
          [00:35:01]
AN ANSWER BEFORE A VOTE IS CALLED TOMORROW? HOPEFULLY. 
          YEAH. 
          I CAN GET YOU THAT BY TOMORROW. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PERAM. 
          AND ALSO, MAY I DIRECT A QUESTION TO THE SURE ATTORNEY? SO THE OTHER QUESTION IS, DOES THAT, IS THAT SALE OF CITY PROPERTY OR IS THAT SALE OF A PIECE OF LAND, UM, THAT IS CONSIDERED RECREATIONAL WILDLIFE, UM, PARK, ET CETERA? AND THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE AS OUR CHALLENGE HAS BEEN, THAT PARTICULAR AREA HAS NOT BEEN DEEMED A PARK BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          IT'S RECREATIONAL LAND. 
          IT'S RECREATIONAL LAND. 
          SO COULD WE CHECK ON THAT AS WELL, PLEASE? SO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. 
          SO IT IS CITY, IT IS CITY LAND. 
          I DON'T THINK IT IS. 
          DEFINITELY NOT A PARK. 
          RIGHT. 
          SO YOUR QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT BECAUSE IT IS RECREATIONAL LAND, IS ANY KIND OF, UH, ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENT, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SALE? YES, I CAN FIND THAT OUT, SIR. 
          WE, WE, WE NEED THAT INFORMATION BY TOMORROW. 
          YEAH. 
          WE'LL GET IT. 
          UH, YES. 
          YOU, I MEAN, I'VE QUOTED YOU, I'VE SENT THE SAME INFORMATION TO MR THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          AND, UH, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE GIVE 30 DAY, HAVE A SPECIFICALLY A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THAT ISSUE AND A FINDING THAT IT, THAT THE USE OR CHANGE IN THE LAND WILL NOT IS, IS ACCEPTABLE, IS NOT GONNA HARM THE RECREATIONAL VALUE OF THAT LAND. 
          I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU ARE RIGHT. 
          OUR SMOKING GUN  ATTORNEY, UM, ZAMORE, CAN YOU ALSO DOUBLE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS A DIFFERENT DISTINCTION WHEN WE ARE SELLING THE LAND AS OPPOSED TO IT BEING DONE VIA IMMINENT DOMAIN? UH, WELL, THAT I CAN TELL YOU, I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S NOT REALLY A DIFFERENCE, UH, EXCEPT THAT, UH, IN, IN, IN, WHEN, IF THE STATE WERE TO TAKE IT BY CONDEMNATION, ESSENTIALLY, THEY'D JUST COME AND SAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE PROPERTY. 
          WE, WE WOULD ALL, THERE'S NO WAY TO REALLY FIGHT IT. 
          I MEAN, YOU COULD PUT UP A CHALLENGE, BUT YOU WILL REALLY, YOU'D ONLY BE FIGHTING OVER THE PRICE. 
          AND WE SAME IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE CONDEMN LAND ALL THE TIME. 
          SO, UM, UH, SO THERE'S REALLY THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THERE IS THAT ONE, THEY ARE, THEY'RE TAKING IT FROM US AND WE'RE NOT AGREEING, BUT THEY WILL ULTIMATELY TAKE THE PROPERTY. 
          WE CAN'T STOP IT. 
          RIGHT. 
          SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT IS, ARE THERE DIFFERENT RULES FOR THE FACT THAT WE ARE SELLING THE PROPERTY AS OPPOSED, OPPOSED TO IT BEING IMMINENT? I UNDERSTAND THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          GOT IT. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MS. CHADWICK, WE APPRECIATE OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. 
          AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO, TO EXPRESS YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS. 
          UH, I REALIZED THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLKS TODAY THAT ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM. 
          THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I TAGGED LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF, OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SALE. 
          SO, UH, JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLKS HERE THAT SHARE THOSE CONCERNS. 
          THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS ONGOING AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY, UH, TO MAINTAIN THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IN A WAY THAT, UM, I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH. 
          AND THOSE, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE FINDING ON HOW THAT LAND IS GOING TO BE HANDLED, UH, IF IT WERE TO BE SOLD TO TDOT. 
          AND THAT ALL HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY SELL IT AND VOTE ON SELLING IT. 
          THANK YOU, MS. CHADWICK. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          AARON ECK ECKERSON. 
          AARON ERICKSON. 
          AARON ECKERSON. 
          HELLO, MY NAME IS AARON ERICKSON. 
          I LIVE IN DISTRICT C AND I'M A MEMBER OF STOP TEXT DOT I 45. 
          I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU NOT APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF PARCEL 8 0 1, WHICH IS A PORTION OF WHITE OAK BAYOU GREENWAY TO T. 
          THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN A TRYING TIME FOR MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO HELP OTHERS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN A CRISIS. 
          WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. 
          BUT 31 LANES OF FREEWAY OVER WHITE OAK BAYOU DOES NOT SOUND LIKE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SELLING THIS LAND TO TDOT IS A BELL THAT CANNOT BE UN RUNG. 
          AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO ANY PROMISES OR ASSURANCES THAT TDOT GIVES TO THIS BODY OR TO THE COMMUNITY WILL MOST LIKELY BE BROKEN. 
          WE'VE SEEN THAT TIME AND AGAIN, HIGHWAYS ARE ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT TO TXDOT THAN COMMUNITY WANTS AND NEEDS TO TE SORRY, , TO KEEP THE JAIL OPEN. 
          WE ASK THAT YOU NEGOTIATE ON AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH TDOT INSTEAD OF PURCHASE. 
          I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS LAND HAS 
          [00:40:01]
BEGUN THE PROCESS OF EMINENT DOMAIN WITH THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IN THEIR MEETING IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. 
          AND RIGHT NOW, IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS, OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME DESPICABLE AND VIOLENT PROCESS OF HAVING THEIR LAND FORCIBLY TAKEN BY THE STATE. 
          YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES, THEIR SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO MAKE WAY FOR A FREEWAY EXPANSION BECAUSE AGAIN, TDOT VALUES HIGHWAYS OVER COMMUNITIES. 
          PLEASE DO NOT AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF THIS LAND BEFORE FURTHER NEGOTIATING WITH TDOT. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          HILLARY HAYNES. 
          OKAY. 
          E EITHER ONE. 
          OKAY, PERFECT. 
          HI, MY NAME IS HILLARY HAYNES. 
          I'M A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C. 
          I'M HERE ALSO, UM, TO OPPOSE THE SALE OF WHITE OAK BAYOU PARCEL, UM, 8 0 1 AS A MEMBER OF STOP TECH I 45. 
          UM, AND TO HEALTHCARE WORKER BECAUSE IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS COMMUNITY HEALTH. 
          NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT ARE A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH. 
          AND TAKING AWAY A SPACE THAT IS A PARK AND MULTI-USE TRAIL WILL TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. 
          AND WHILE THE BAYOU IS OFTEN USED BY FOLKS EXERCISING, BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE IS NOT THE SAME AS EXERCISE OR RECREATION, BUT INCLUDES WALKING AND BICYCLING HIS TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING, UM, BETWEEN BUST AND TRAIN STOPS. 
          PEOPLE ASSUME THERE'S A NEGLIGIBLE EFFECT OF SITTING IN A CAR, BUT IT REALLY HURTS US ALL. 
          COMMUNITIES ALSO LIVING NEAR HIGHWAYS, EXPERIENCE NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS FROM POLLUTION AND STUNTED ECONOMIC GROWTH. 
          THESE ARE PREDOMINANTLY LOW INCOME, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT CONTINUOUSLY GET HIT WITH DISPLACEMENT. 
          AND WE NEED TO STOP THE VICIOUS CYCLE NOW. 
          SO I ASK YOU TO DECLINE THE SALE AND RENEGOTIATE WITH TXDOT. 
          AND LASTLY, AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED IN GAZA AND THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE BEING MURDERED. 
          SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, NATALIE MORENO. 
          HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS NATALIA. 
          I'M HERE WITH STOP TEXT DOT I 45. 
          I'M BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON. 
          MY EARLIEST MEMORY IN MY LIFE IS ACTUALLY HURRICANE ALLISON. 
          SO I'M NO STRANGER TO OUR NATURAL DISASTERS. 
          WHITE OAK BAYOU IS A CRUCIAL PART OF OUR FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M HERE TO ASK YOU REJECT THE OFFER FROM TDOT. 
          IT WOULD BE NICE FOR WHITE OAK BAYOU GREENWAY TRAIL TO BE DESIGNATED AS A PARK WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND WE USE IT THE SAME WAY AS A PARK. 
          THAT WAY TEXTILE WILL HAVE TO MORE THOROUGHLY CONSIDER THEIR PLANS, THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND THE IMPACTS ON MOBILITY. 
          I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS STATED THE IMPORTANCE OF RECREATIONAL BIKE PASS. 
          SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM KEEP HIS WORD ON THAT. 
          BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE'S NOT EVEN HERE TO HEAR THIS. 
          WE HOPE YOU CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WORKING WITH TXDOT WHO HAS HISTORICALLY NOT ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE ADVOCATED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OVER PROFIT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, MISSOURI WILKINSON. 
          HELLO. 
          I AM ALSO HERE TO, UM, ASK Y'ALL NOT TO SELL OR BAYOU. 
          UM, WA DUKE BAYOU IS A INDISPENSABLE AS A SPACE MITIGATING FLOODING AND TO EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE. 
          WILDLIFE AND TO GATHER AS A COMMUNITY. 
          I'M GONNA SPEAK ABOUT MY PERSONAL CONNECTION TO WHITE OAK BAYOU FOR MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF. 
          UM, BIKING IS NOT A FRINGE ACTIVITY. 
          IT'S A SOLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. 
          UM, IN A CITY, LACKING SAFE BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT LEADS TO NEGLIGENCE AND ROAD RAGE. 
          IT ADDS UP TO DAILY RISK OF MORTAL THREAT TO BIKERS LIKE ME EVERY DAY. 
          , JUST GETTING TO OUR STUPID RESTAURANT JOBS. 
          UM, , I DON'T KNOW, A CYCLIST WHO HAS NOT BEEN HIT IN HOUSTON. 
          I DON'T KNOW A SINGLE ONE. 
          UM, AND I KNOW A LOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO. 
          IT'S NOT FOR FUN. 
          UM, I MYSELF WAS HIT TWICE LAST FALL. 
          UM, SINCE THEN I'VE BECOME BEGUN TAKING THE LONG ROUTE. 
          I TAKE, UM, THE ONE SAFE BIKING ROAD ACROSS, UM, ALABAMA THROUGH DOWNTOWN. 
          AND THEN I GET ONTO WHITE OAK BAYOU. 
          THIS IS THE ONLY TWO ROADS IN HOUSTON THAT I FEEL REMOTELY SAFE ON. 
          WHITE OAK BAYOU IS THE ONLY SPACE THAT I FEEL SAFE GETTING ACROSS HOUSTON EVERY DAY. 
          I'M CONSTANTLY BEING HARASSED 
          [00:45:01]
AND THREATENED AND LIKE LITERALLY PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO RUN ME OVER ON F*****G HEIGHTS BOULEVARD. 
          EXCUSE ME, I'M SO SORRY. 
          UM, . 
          SO SORRY. 
          UM, . 
          ANYWAYS, UM, ALONG WHITE OAK BAYOU, I AM SAFE. 
          I'M SURROUNDED BY COMMUNITY AND NATURE. 
          I SEE MY FRIENDS PASSING BY. 
          IT IS A BRIEF BUT SHINING MOMENT OF MY DAY. 
          MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS URGED CYCLISTS TO STICK TO RAKE RECREATIONAL TRAILS. 
          WISH I COULD, WISH I COULD, I SURE WOULD BE ALL SURE WOULD IF WE COULD. 
          UM, BUT THE LEAST YOU COULD DO IS NOT SELL THEM. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. 
          NEXT SPEAKER GABRIELA BARONA. 
          GABRIELA BARONA. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          JUSTINA. 
          AUGUST JUSTINA. 
          AUGUST. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          NICK LOCKETT. 
          NICK LOCKETT. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          AALIYAH NEWMAN. 
          AALIYAH NEWMAN. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, JEFF BELLOW. 
          JEFF BELLOW. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          DANA FISHER. 
          DANA FISHER. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          KAREN HENRY. 
          KAREN HENRY HERE. 
          HELLO, MS. HENRY. 
          HI. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. 
          UM, MOST OF MY, UH, ADDRESS WAS GONNA BE TO MAYOR WHITMEYER, BUT HE'S NOT HERE. 
          UM, SO I WANTED JUST TO ASK YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL THE HORRIBLE STUFF THAT GOES ON WITH THESE, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS. 
          UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT G MARY ANNE. 
          HI. 
          UM, I WANNA KNOW, AS A CITY COUNCIL, WHAT CAN Y'ALL DO TO RESTRICT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS TO, UM, I LIVE IN AN, UH, HOA SO I'M FINE. 
          BUT I HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN TOWN HOMES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS OR HOAS TO PROHIBIT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. 
          WHAT CAN Y'ALL DO AS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? I LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCORN, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE. 
          IF YOU WANNA RESPOND, GO AHEAD. 
          YEAH, SO WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY LARGE CITIES THAT DOESN'T DO HAVE ANY KIND OF REGULATIONS ON THEM. 
          AND I THINK, I KNOW THIS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING, LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE. 
          I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, IN HIS COMMITTEE IS ABOUT TO TAKE THIS UP. 
          UM, WHAT WE'VE KIND OF DONE THROUGH OUR RESEARCH AND THROUGH MY ROLE ON THE REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COMMITTEE LAST TERM IS KIND OF RESEARCH WHAT ALL THE OTHER PLACES ARE DOING. 
          MM-HMM . 
          OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, IT'S DIFFERENT THINGS. 
          OTHER CITIES HAVE ZONING, SO IT'S ALL VERY D YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DIFFERENT. 
          AT THE VERY LEAST, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. 
          WE NEED TO HAVE THEM REGISTERED. 
          WE NEED TO KNOW WHO THE OWNERS ARE. 
          I MEAN, THE MAJORITY OF THESE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE GOOD ACTORS. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL STAYED IN AIRBNBS AND LIKE 'EM AND WHATEVER. 
          BUT, UH, WE KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. 
          YOU CAN CALL MY OFFICE. 
          I, I HAVE THE ADDRESSES OF WHERE THE BAD ONES ARE. 
          SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, UM, SOMEHOW PENALIZE, UH, THE OWNERS OF THE ONES THAT HAVE REPEATED CALLS FOR SERVICE REPEATED, UH, VIOLATIONS REPEATED. 
          UH, SO I THINK AS A COUNCIL, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME METHODOLOGY, UM, BY WHICH WE CAN, WHATEVER WE CAN DO. 
          I MEAN, THE, THE COURTS REALLY FIGHT BACK. 
          IT'S A BIG PROPERTY RIGHT? STATE. 
          SO A LOT OF THESE RULES THAT OTHER CITIES PUT INTO PLACE GET OVERTURNED. 
          BUT, UH, I'D, I'D RATHER FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GO TO THE OWNERS OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH. 
          AND, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT TO THE EXTENT OF WHAT LEGAL WILL LET US DO, WE NEED TO GET THEM TO STOP. 
          WE NEED TO TAKE THEM. 
          AND LIKE SOME OF THE PLATFORMS WILL TAKE THEM OFF THE ROLLS, BUT THEN THEY JUST JUMP ON ANOTHER PLATFORM. 
          SO I KNOW THAT A RA IS TALKING TO A COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO MINE ALL THE DATA, ALL THE PLATFORMS. THERE'S LIKE 30 PLUS PLATFORMS OUT THERE TO FIGURE OUT WHO, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET A CONTRACT TO SEE WHO THEY, WHO OWNS 'EM, WHERE THEY ARE. 
          THEY ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF, OF UH, KIND OF, UH, UH, MINING THE POLICE DATA AND STUFF TOO. 
          SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO AS FAR AS FIGURING OUT KIND OF WHERE THE BAD, BUT LIKE I SAID, I MEAN, PEOPLE CALL US, WE KNOW WHERE THE BAD ONES ARE. 
          YEAH. 
          WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A JILLION. 
          RIGHT. 
          SHORT TERM RENTALS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 50 THAT I KNOW OF OR, OR LESS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING. 
          SO FOR NOW WE'RE CALLING POLICE. 
          WE'RE CALL, WE'RE MAKING, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ADVERTISEMENTS. 
          WE'RE GETTING NEIGHBORS TO, TO PLEASE CALL 3 1 1 OR NINE ONE ONE. 
          OR IF IT'S SOMETHING BAD, LET US KNOW. 
          WE CAN'T JUST SAY, OH, THIS LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING BAD'S GOING ON. 
          WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE DATA THAT SOMETHING BAD IS GOING ON. 
          UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO I, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT WANTING TO DO SOMETHING. 
          I, I THINK, I THINK PEOPLE 
          [00:50:01]
ARE, I KNOW ARAS IN THE WORKS, I KNOW LEGALS AND THAT I KNOW THEY'RE INVOLVED AND THEY WERE INVOLVED LAST TIME AND THAT'S PROBABLY MOVING ALONG. 
          BUT WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING. 
          WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. 
          'CAUSE THERE'S SOME, I MEAN, ISN'T A LEGAL TO WALK AROUND WITHOUT ANY CLOTHES ON? YES. 
          I SEE THAT A LOT. 
          REPORT IT, GET IT REPORTED. 
          WE HAVE TO HAVE DATA. 
          OKAY. 
          WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THIS REPORTED. 
          BUT WE HEAR YOU. 
          I KNOW. 
          IT, IT, IT, IT'S HARD TO KEEP HEARING. 
          WE'RE WORKING ON IT. 
          WE'RE WORKING ON IT. 
          BUT, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE. 
          THE ONE THAT'S BEEN KIND OF CHALLENGED A LOT IN THE COURTS. 
          THERE'S NOT KIND OF A ONE SIZE FITS ALL REMEDY FOR THIS, BUT THERE ARE, AT THE VERY LEAST, WE NEED TO HAVE THEM REGISTERED AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHO THE OWNERS ARE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIR FOR YOUR TIME? OH, SOMEBODY ELSE? YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MS. HENRY. 
          JULIAN RAMIREZ. 
          UM, AND I CAN'T REALLY ADD ANYTHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HASN'T ALREADY SAID. 
          UH, WE DO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE. 
          I'M CHAIR OF IT. 
          MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE'LL BE TAKING THIS UP, UH, AFTER WE, UH, HEAR FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON, ON WHAT IDEAS THEY HAVE TO BRING FORWARD. 
          AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN STATED, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS PASSING AN ORDINANCE, BANNING SHORT TERM RENTALS. 
          YOU CAN'T DO THAT. 
          IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE STRUCK DOWN IN THE COURTS BECAUSE, UH, TEXAS IS SUCH A, A STRONG PROPERTY RIGHTS STATE. 
          SO IT, IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE. 
          IT'S GOING TO TAKE A NUANCED APPROACH. 
          AND, UH, WE WILL TAKE A GOOD, GOOD HARD LOOK AT IT VERY SOON. 
          I INVITE YOU TO COME BACK AND WEIGH IN WHEN WE HAVE OUR COMMITTEE MEETING AND, UH, WHEN WE TAKE UP ANY ORDINANCES AFTER THAT. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          SARAH EDWARDS. 
          SARAH EDWARDS. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          MICHAEL BARNES. 
          MICHAEL BARNES. 
          HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? HELLO, MR. BARNES. 
          UH, MAN, I'M JUST HERE TO FI FIND OUT WHAT YOU GUYS CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH EXONERATING MYSELF WITH THIS CHARGE THAT WAS FABRICATED UPON ME IN 2006. 
          I DID, UH, 13 YEARS IN PRISON. 
          ALMOST ALMOST SIX ON PAROLE RIGHT NOW. 
          UH, I CAME HOME, GOT A WELDING DEGREE, WENT TO CALIFORNIA BUILDING TRAINS. 
          SOME OF 'EM ARE RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. 
          I WENT TO RESEARCHING MY CASE AND EVERYTHING GOT SNATCHED BACK WHEN I CAME BACK HOME TO HOUSTON. 
          UH, MY PAROLE OFFICER, EVERYBODY I COULD POSSIBLY TELL YOU WAS THAT WAS, THAT WAS IN JU ON ONE. 
          FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE I CAN GO GET ME FIRED FROM MY JOBS. 
          KEEPING ME TO THE POINT TO WHERE I CAN'T EVEN, I CAN'T EVEN SUPPORT MYSELF. 
          YOU KNOW, UH, I FILED EVERYTHING I COULD POSSIBLY FILED. 
          I WENT AND SPOKE TO THE JUDGE OF THE COURT AND SHOWED HER MY DOCKET SHEET, WHICH SHOWS THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN I WAS ARRESTED. 
          THEY FILED THE CHARGE. 
          WELL, BEFORE I WAS EVEN IN HOUSTON, I WAS LIVING AT HOME IN LOUISIANA. 
          THEY FILED A CHARGE OF BURGLARY HABITATION ON ME AND RAN IT. 
          AND THEN ONCE THEY NOTICED, I WASN'T IN THE, IN THE, IN THE SYSTEM OR IN THE SYSTEM. 
          THEY, IT WAS A B***H WARRANT FOR MY ARREST. 
          THIS WHOLE TIME I WAS LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTY. 
          I WAS LIVING IN ANOTHER STATE. 
          I COME BACK HOME AND I GOT ARRESTED. 
          'CAUSE I WAS, I WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH THE CARPORT, SMOKING MARIJUANA AND GOT CHASED BY A COP. 
          HE PULLED IT UP AND SAID I HAD A WARRANT FOR, UH, THIS BURGLARY. 
          ALL THIS HAPPENED. 
          I WENT TO TRIAL. 
          UH, EYE WITNESS TOLD HIM, MAN, THAT'S NOT THE GUY. 
          NO EVIDENCE, NO PHOTOGRAPH, NO NOTHING. 
          THE EVIDENCE THEY SAID THEY HAD WAS SOME FINGERPRINTS. 
          SO FROM GLASS, GLASS DON'T EXIST. 
          NOW IT COMES TO FIND OUT AFTER A CIVIL SUIT. 
          I FILED THAT. 
          THEY NEVER DID AN A EXAMINATION. 
          IT WAS ALL A LIE. 
          AND IT'S PENDING RIGHT NOW AT THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS. 
          AND EVEN THOUGH THE BRIEFS ARE IN, THEY WON'T EVEN SUBMIT IT TO THE JUSTICES TO MAKE A DECISION. 
          I'M JUST, I'M, I'M IN LIMBO. 
          I HAVE NOTHING. 
          I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. 
          I'M LOSING MY MENTAL STATE. 
          I HAVE NO FAMILY. 
          I HAVE NO MONEY. 
          I HAVE NOTHING. 
          I'M LITERALLY COMING HERE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAN I DO TO OBTAIN MY FREEDOM AND GET MY LIFE BACK AND KEEP GOING. 
          YOU SAID YOU, YOU HAVE SOMETHING PENDING IN THE MA'AM FIFTH CIRCUIT, 23 DASH 24 84 IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS. 
          SO HAVE YOU GONE TO, UM, HARRIS COUNTY TO APPEAL THE HARRIS COUNTY TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT? HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU GONE TO NO, I SPOKE WITH, UH, THE OFFICER AND I, I PUT, I PUT IN A DATE TO GO SPEAK WITH THEM ON JUNE 4TH. 
          I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE THE BEST NEXT STEP IS TO GO TO HARRIS COUNTY TO ACTUALLY APPEAL MY MAIN PURPOSE IN COMING HERE. 
          'CAUSE I KNOW SENATOR WHITMEYER KNOWS SOME INDIVIDUALS AT THE SCHOOL OF LAW. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, UH, I, I'M LIKE, I'M TELLING YOU, UH, THERE IS A INVISIBLE FORCE THAT ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO TO KEEP ME FROM GETTING EXONERATED, EVERYTHING. 
          SO WE, WE WILL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT YOUR INFORMATION GETS PASSED TO HIS, HIS STAFF. 
          BUT YOU CAN ALSO VISIT IS SERGEANT HERNDON STILL HERE WITH, UH, SERGEANT. 
          SERGEANT HERNDON? UM, BUT I THINK YOUR NEXT STEP SHOULD DEFINITELY BE TO APPEAL AT HARRIS COUNTY. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          BEST WISHES TO YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT ALL. 
          OH, SORRY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, SIR. 
          THANK 
          [00:55:01]
YOU MR. BARNES. 
          AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE HAVING ALL OF THIS MA'AM. 
          DIFFICULTY. 
          MA'AM, HAVE YOU EVER SPOKEN WITH A LADY NAMED TAMMY CAMPBELL WITH HONEY BROWN HOPE MA? I HAVE NOT. 
          I'M GONNA, UH, THE LADY RIGHT THERE CAN GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION. 
          SHE CAN SOMETIMES HELP PEOPLE IN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS YOURSELF. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          WHO MAY BE ABLE TO WALK YOU THROUGH AND OUT OF THIS MM-HMM . 
          AND SO, UH, THE LADY RIGHT THERE IS GONNA GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION AND MAYBE YOU CAN REACH OUT TO HER AND IF SHE CAN'T DO IT, SHE MAY BE ABLE TO DIRECT YOU TO SOMEONE WHO CAN. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          MARK MCNEIL. 
          MARK MCNEIL. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UM, IT AND THE WORLD HARVEST OUT RESEARCH IS LO LOCATED IN SUNNYSIDE. 
          SO WE'VE HAD AN INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          IT'S AN EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE. 
          SO WE'VE BEEN DOING JOB FAIRS, UH, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. 
          AND WE'VE KIND OF MAXIMIZED THAT, UH, THAT RESOURCE. 
          WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION. 
          SO WE ARE, WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING MORE CONSISTENT AND LONG TERM. 
          'CAUSE WHAT WE DO, WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE GET JOBS, BUT WHEN THEY LEAVE THERE, THEY DON'T SEE US FOR THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. 
          AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ON A DAY-TO-DAY CONSISTENT BASIS. 
          AND WE, I'M COMING TO CITY COUNCIL TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SUGGEST OR ANY RESOURCES YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO HELP US CREATE THIS, THIS PROGRAM. 
          BECAUSE WHAT WE SEE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS PEOPLE COMING IN MAKING PROMISES, SAYING THEY'RE GONNA DO THESE PROGRAMS AND THEN THEY DISAPPEAR. 
          AND SO THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD THE TRUST OF THAT COMMUNITY IS WE HAVE TO BE THERE EVERY DAY CONSISTENTLY. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE. 
          SO JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR ANY RESOURCES THAT THE CITY MIGHT HAVE THAT COULD HELP US BUILD SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR THAT COMMUNITY. 
          SO MR. MCNEIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES AND WE APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP PEOPLE FIND EMPLOYMENT. 
          UM, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE SO WE CAN HEAR FROM THEM, UM, WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE. 
          OKAY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AND THANK YOU SIR FOR COMING FORWARD. 
          CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT PROGRAM AND HOW IT'S RUN IN SUNNYSIDE? BASICALLY IT'S A JOB FAIR THAT WE DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE, THE HOUSTON GAL, UH, GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. 
          AND SO WE'VE UH, WE JUST COLLABORATE. 
          THEY HAVE A HUGE NETWORK OF EMPLOYEES THAT THEY BRING INTO THE COMMUNITY. 
          'CAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IS, UH, LIVABLE WAGE JOBS. 
          AND THERE'S NOT A LOT IN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          SO THAT'S WHY A LOT OF KIDS OR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY DON'T EVEN RESPECT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE IT LEADING TO ANYTHING. 
          AND DO YOU SEE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE JOB FAIRS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT OR GAINING EMPLOYMENT FROM THOSE JOB FAIRS? SIR. 
          AND SO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FROM US IS HOW CAN WE PUT FORTH SOMETHING THAT CAN BE EVEN MORE CONSISTENT? YES. 
          INSTEAD, INSTEAD OF ON A, EVERY SO OFTEN BASIS. 
          YES. 
          YES. 
          SOMETHING. 
          OKAY. 
          I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MY CARD AFTER. 
          OKAY. 
          SO WE CAN COLLABORATE FURTHER ON THIS. 
          HAVE SOME IDEAS. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          I REALLY DO. 
          PRETTY GOOD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, I GOT SOME MORE LEAVE FOR YOU AS WELL. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MAYOR PRO TEM. 
          UH, THANK YOU MY FRIEND. 
          FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOUR EFFORTS AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHICH IS SO NEEDED, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH ALL ACROSS OUR CITY. 
          WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AT? IN SUNNYSIDE? RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF AIRPORT AND SCOTT. 
          AIRPORT. 
          AND SCOTT. 
          YEAH. 
          YEAH. 
          WE HAVE THE TWO BIG ROUND DON CHURCHES. 
          SO WE, WE KIND OF OPERATE OUT OF THE CHURCH. 
          OH, PORT AND SCOTT. 
          I GOT IT. 
          MM-HMM . 
          I GOT IT RIGHT THERE. 
          YEAH. 
          UM, WITH ST. 
          AGNES. 
          YES. 
          GOT YOU. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UH, S AND I, MY CONSTITUENTS SERVICE GUYS HERE, HE'S GOING TO GET SOME INFORMATION ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          I LIKE TO WORK ALONG WITH YOU BECAUSE OF ONE OF THE THINGS, IS IT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE OR YOU'RE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MEET THIS NEED? IT'S A COMBINATION BECAUSE THIS IS ALMOST, IF YOU ARE GOING TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT AND CHANGE YEAH. 
          THEN IT HAS, IT'S GONNA BE SOME, WE HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY TRACK AND SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING EMPLOYED, GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY. 
          YES. 
          SO THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THAT THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE GETTING, BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER THING. 
          THEY'RE NOT REALLY SEEING THE RESULTS TO START TRUSTING AND BELIEVING THAT THAT COMMUNITY HAS A LOT OF TRUST ISSUES. 
          'CAUSE HOW PEOPLE COME IN AND PROMISE AND THEN DELIVER. 
          SO WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. 
          AND WE CAN SEE THE PEOPLE, THEY, THEY WANT TO DO BETTER. 
          YEAH. 
          BUT IF THEY ONLY SEE YOU EVERY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, THEY GO BACK IN THE COMMUNITY AND DEALING WITH THOSE SAME NEGATIVE INFLUENCES. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          IT'S LIKE YOU JUST GOING IN A CIRCLE. 
          RIGHT. 
          AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET A, A SOLUTION FOR THIS AND UNDERSTAND. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          YES. 
          I LIKE TO WORK ALONG WITH, UH, COUNCILOR POLLARD AND OTHERS WITH YOU. 
          'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. 
          WE ACTUALLY NEED THAT. 
          AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER 
          [01:00:01]
RESOURCES I LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE IT A LOT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PORT TIM. 
          UH, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. 
          CERTAINLY SUNNYSIDE IS IN DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. 
          AND I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE CHANGE THE CONDITIONS OF OUR LIVES. 
          SO THAT SAME LADY RIGHT THERE, IF YOU COULD REACH OUT TO HER. 
          YEAH. 
          UH, WE'VE HAD EXPUNGEMENT WORKSHOPS, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECORDS. 
          UH, WE'VE CERTAINLY INVOLVED OURSELVES WITH SCHOOLS AND TRADE ORGANIZATIONS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. 
          SO WE WOULD WELCOME WHAT RESOURCE YOU CAN BRING TO THE TABLE. 
          AND CERTAINLY IF YOU GIVE HER YOUR INFORMATION, WE CAN GOOD EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT IT. 
          AND I ALSO WELCOME THE COLLABORATION OF MY COLLEAGUES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          AND I'LL LEAVE THIS HERE, SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOOK AT. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          APPRECIATE IT. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, PASTOR JAMES NASH. 
          PASTOR JAMES NASH. 
          DON'T SEE HIM. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. 
          LASHY DICKERSON. 
          LASHY DICKERSON. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, NIA COLBERT. 
          HELLO, MS. COLBERT. 
          UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS GENEVA WADSWORTH COLBERT. 
          I'M ALSO KNOWN AS, UH, SISTER NIA COLBERT. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE HERE TODAY WITH, UM, HOPE , UM, THAT MY HOUSING COULD BE RESTORED. 
          I AM AN ELDER. 
          I'M AGE 68. 
          I AM A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, A MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY. 
          AND THAT IS ANXIETY DISORDER WITH PANIC ATTACKS. 
          POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 
          A RUTHLESS HOMELESSNESS PREVENTS ME FROM ACCESSING THE NEEDED MEDICAL CARE. 
          AND I, UH, AM NOT A MALINGERER. 
          I'M NOT A FAKER. 
          I'M AT A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY IN SUGARLAND, TEXAS. 
          SO I HAVE TO SCOOT BACK THERE. 
          WELL, SCOOT SLOWLY. 
          UM, I DON'T HAVE AIDS. 
          I DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING THAT I NEED. 
          UM, NO ONE SEES THE PAIN THAT I AM PHYSICALLY RECOVERING FROM A STROKE. 
          AND THIS IS ALL A RESULT OF BEING HOMELESS ON THE STREET, EXPLOITED AND VICTIMIZED. 
          NOW, I MADE IT TO THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND SUBMITTED A REQUEST THAT MY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER TO BE REINSTATED. 
          THAT IS BECAUSE I WAS WRONGFULLY EVICTED ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022. 
          THAT'S A LONG TIME TO BE HOMELESS. 
          AND, UM, THAT ILLEGAL AREA, AGAIN, THE MAYOR IS NOT PRESENT, IS TO ASK THAT BECAUSE OF MENTAL DEFECT, I COULD NOT TIMELY FILE APPEALS. 
          I HAVE GONE TO LEGAL RESOURCES FOR HELP. 
          I'M APPEALING TO THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY. 
          AND IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MAYOR WHO PROMISED OR PLEDGED ON HIS CAMPAIGN THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. 
          LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN OUT THERE. 
          NO ONE WOULD WISH THIS ON HIMSELF OR HERSELF TO BE. 
          I MEAN, LOOK AT MY RECORD. 
          AT HOW MANY TIMES HAVE BEEN EVICTED, ALWAYS OVERTURNED THE VOUCHER REINSTATED, WHICH MEANT I DID NOTHING WRONG. 
          BUT THE YOUNG MAN SAID IS TRUE. 
          YOU CAN BE BLACKLISTED, WHITELISTED FOLLOWED, TRACKED, STALKED, DENIED OF A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. 
          AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO RELEASE THAT BED AT THE, UH, AT THE FACILITY. 
          NOT THAT I DON'T NEED IT, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE FACING SEVERE STAFF SHORTAGES, THEY'RE TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF ME. 
          BUT WITH THE 14 TO 17 HOURS OF HOME HEALTHCARE, IF I WERE HOUSED, I COULD RELEASE THAT SPACE FOR, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE LEAVING HERE TODAY AND YOU HAVE LOVED ONES. 
          NO ONE WOULD IMAGINE THAT THEY'D BE LYING IN A BED AND SOMEONE HAVING TO CHANGE THEIR DIAPERS. 
          I'VE SEEN HOW HARD THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND I PUT ASIDE SOME OF MY NEEDS SO THAT THEY CAN HELP OTHERS. 
          THAT'S MY REQUEST TODAY. 
          THE MAYOR WAS VERY DISCOURTEOUS AND I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK AT THE TAPE OF HOW HE TREATED YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MS. COLBERT. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. COLBERT. 
          ARE YOU CURRENTLY, UH, HOMELESS NOW? I AM. 
          UH, I WAS, UH, STILL WORKING 
          [01:05:01]
ON RULING OUT A STROKE. 
          I'VE RECOVERED, UH, I'VE GOT A WAY TO GO. 
          UM, I'M AT THE CRESCENT IN SUGARLAND, TEXAS. 
          OKAY. 
          IT'S AN EXCELLENT FACILITY. 
          THEY, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS, BUT THEY PUT UP WITH ME FOR 30 DAYS AND ANYBODY WHO COULD PUT UP WITH ME AND I WAS NOT WALKING, UH, I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, I, THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING REALLY HARD TO CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN MOVE. 
          OKAY. 
          I, I CAN MOVE ABOUT. 
          I JUST NEED TO GET MY VOUCHER AND GET HOUSED. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AND I KNOW THAT, UH, RENEE HAS BEEN HELPING TO GET YOUR VOUCHER. 
          UM, AND I KNOW HE STEPPED, HE STEPPED RIGHT OUT ING WILL YOU SEE IF, IF RENEE IS RIGHT OUT THERE? I KNOW RENEE, HE'S, HE'S GOOD GUY. 
          KNOW RENEE WE'LL, MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, KNOWS THAT YOU, YOU STILL NEED YOUR VOUCHER AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE IN A SAFE PLACE NOW AHEAD. 
          UM, BUT WE, WE WILL TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR VOUCHER SO YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT LOCATION. 
          I, I'M VERY, I'M VERY SAFE. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU MS. COLBERT. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, IAN JOHNSON. 
          IAN JOHNSON. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, GLAD TO FINALLY BE HERE. 
          UM, FIRST OF OFF, I WANTED TO QUICKLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND OTHERS FOR TAGGING WHAT IS NOW AGENDA ITEM 54 FOR TOMORROW. 
          AS I THINK IT CAUGHT A LOT OF US OFF GUARD LAST WEEK. 
          AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF PRESERVING THE WIDE OAK BAYOU. 
          AND AS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SECTION OF LAND IN THE AGENDA ITEM OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS A PARK. 
          THIS IS A VALUABLE, BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF LAND THAT CONNECTS THE NORTHERN PARTS OF HOUSTON INTO DOWNTOWN. 
          AND IT'S ONE OF THE CRITICAL PARTS OF OUR CITY WHERE WILDLIFE CAN SEEK REFUGE. 
          THE IDEA OF IT BEING SOLD TO TXDOT FOR BARELY A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS TO BE COVERED BY CONCRETE SLABS AND POLLUTING TRAFFIC IS QUITE FRANKLY INSULTING AND GENUINELY HEARTBREAKING TO ME. 
          AS DISCUSSION OF THIS ITEM HAS BEEN CIRCULATING, THE PHRASE PRESERVATION OF GREEN SPACE HAS BEEN CROPPING UP. 
          AND I BELIEVE THAT DESIGNATING THIS LAND AS A PARK WOULD HELP DO EXACTLY THAT. 
          ACCEPTING T DOTS LOW BALL OFFER OUT OF THE GATE WILL GUARANTEE THE EXACT OPPOSITE. 
          DESPITE NOT LIVING NEAR THIS SPECIFIC AREA, I, AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT A ENJOY AND LOVE BIKING DOWN WIDE OAK BAYOU. 
          AND BECAUSE PARTS OF OUR BAYOU DO GO THROUGH THIS DISTRICT, I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER PECK CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DECISION IMPACTS MEMBERS OF HER DISTRICT AS WELL. 
          WITH PROPOSITION A PASSED LAST NOVEMBER, THE COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. 
          AND LASTLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IS NOT PRESENT AT THE MOMENT, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY JUST SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT. 
          AS I BELIEVE AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED LAST THURSDAY, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THAT AREA DOES FLOOD AND POSE A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD TO PEOPLE TRYING TO USE IT DESPITE NOT BEING A MONTROSE RESIDENT. 
          I ENJOY THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WALKING AROUND WHENEVER I VISIT, AND I CAN ATTEST ON FIRSTHAND THAT THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE VERY BAD AND DO NEED TO BE IMPROVED. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. 
          THANK YOU MR. JOHNSON. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. 
          NEXT SPEAKER AMELIA ORAD. 
          SO I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HEIGHTS, UM, BRANCH OF THE LIBRARY WHERE I WENT RECENTLY TO TAKE CARE OF SOME BUSINESS. 
          NOW, UM, I WORK IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AS A WAITRESS, SO I CAN'T ALWAYS AFFORD THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE, UH, ASSUME ARE, UM, THAT EVERYBODY HAS. 
          SO I WENT TO LIBRARY TO USE A COMPUTER AND THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY. 
          UM, AND I REALIZE IT'S A PUBLIC BUILDING. 
          IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THEY ARE PART OF THE PUBLIC, BUT, UM, THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR BELONGINGS INTO THE LIBRARY WITH THEM, AND THE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. 
          THE ODOR, AGAIN, I'M SORRY TO TALK ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS LIKE THIS, BUT I FEEL LIKE IF I CAN'T USE THE COMPUTERS THEN, THEN I'M BEING LEFT OUT. 
          AND I DID LEAVE THE LIBRARY BECAUSE I WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE, AND WHEN I WENT BACK, I TOOK VIC'S VAPOR RUB AND SWIPED IT UNDER MY NOSE JUST SO THAT I COULD SIT AND USE THE COMPUTER. 
          NOW, THE LAYOUT THERE IS THAT THERE ARE FOUR ADULTS, THERE ARE SEVEN COMPUTERS, FOUR IN A ROW ACROSS FROM THREE IN A ROW. 
          AND SO YOU'RE JUST SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO PEOPLE, WHICH, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN AVOID DOING WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN PUBLIC, BUT IN, IN THE LIBRARY. 
          UM, OKAY, I I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. 
          I HAVE A SUGGESTION THAT THEY LEAVE THEIR BELONGINGS OUTSIDE. 
          THERE'S A WINDOW WHERE YOU CAN LOOK OUT AND SEE YOUR THINGS. 
          UM, BUT MORE THAN THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. 
          I MEAN, UM, I KNOW THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY 
          [01:10:01]
USED TO HAVE A PROBLEM AND I WAS THERE RECENTLY AND, AND IT'S BEEN RECONFIGURED. 
          SO I JUST LIKE TO ASK YOU TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. 
          IT, IT'S A SMALL ONE I KNOW COMPARED TO OTHER ISSUES, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS NEED TO BE DONE WITH A COMPUTER. 
          AND IF, IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD ONE AT HOME, THEN YOU NEED TO GO TO A PUBLIC SPACE. 
          AND, AND SO, UM, JUST LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU TRY TO CONSIDER ADDRESSING THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MS. RO. 
          WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WITH THE PROCEDURAL MOTION. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. 
          I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD RANDY BAXLEY TO THE THREE MINUTES NON AGENDA SPEAKERS LIST, UH, TO FOLLOW SAVANT MOORE. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM CARRIES. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          GREG THE GATOR. 
          HELLO, MR. DETER. 
          UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR PRO TIM, HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS GREG DETER. 
          I'M AN ATTORNEY AND A FELLOW IN THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
          AND IT'S NOT WHY I CAME TO SPEAK, BUT I DID DID WANT TO SAY FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, IT LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL DONE A WONDERFUL JOB ON THE RESPONSE TO THE RATIO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I I CAME TO TALK ABOUT, UH, A CRIME PROBLEM IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          UH, THERE WAS AN ARSON ON FRIDAY, AND WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU IS VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW HPD HAS DEALT WITH CRIME IN OUR IMMEDIATE VICINITY. 
          WE REPORTED THE ARSON. 
          SOMEONE CAME OUT, WE HAVE VIDEO OF THE ARSONIST. 
          WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE ARSONIST. 
          WE HAVE VIDEO OF HER COMPANION, COMPANION STEALING FROM OUR PROPERTY. 
          OUR PROPERTY IS A GATED COMMUNITY AND EACH INDIVIDUAL UNIT HAS GATES. 
          SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SECOND DEGREE FELONY BURGLARY, OR A HABITATION RATHER THAN YOUR NORMAL 30 0 2 BURGLARY. 
          UH, HHPD COMES OUT, TAKES A PERFUNCTORY REPORT FROM SOMEONE. 
          NO FOLLOW UP. 
          WE, SO I, I TELL HPD THAT WE HAVE PERISHABLE EVIDENCE AND Y'ALL CAN SEE I'VE GOT A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT INJURY. 
          MY ROTATOR CUFF CORE TORE FROM THE ANCHOR. 
          SO IT'S LIKE MY SHOULDER'S NOT ATTACHED WITH THE TENDON RIGHT NOW, AND I STILL OFFERED, I WOULD LOAD UP THE EVIDENCE AND PUT IT IN MY VAN AND BRING IT TO THE MIDWEST STATION AND THEY'RE LIKE, NOPE, WE CAN'T TAKE THE EVIDENCE. 
          THERE IS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS FROM CAMERA VIDEO THAT IS PERISHABLE 'CAUSE IT WILL RECORD OVER ITSELF. 
          THEY WOULDN'T TAKE THE NAME AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO OWNED THE CAMERA. 
          AND, AND IF CONCERNED CITIZENS WE'RE TALKING ARSON. 
          WE, WE, WE KNOW WHO THE ARSONIST IS. 
          A COMPANION IS A KNOWN THIEF. 
          WE HAVE VIDEO OF THE THIEF. 
          EVERYONE IS WILLING TO COOPERATE. 
          WE EVEN GOT THE ADDRESS OF THE THIEF. 
          HPD WON'T EVEN TAKE INFORMATION. 
          IN FACT, LATER THAT DAY, HPD, THE ARSONIST RETURNED. 
          I CALLED HPD, HEY, THE ARSONIST IS HERE. 
          CAN YOU PLEASE COME ARREST HER? NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT COME OUT, I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CASE NUMBER SO THAT THIS COULD BE FOLLOWED UP ON. 
          I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS. I'M NOT TRYING TO DOG PILE ON THE POLICE, BUT WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A CASE NUMBER TO FOLLOW UP ON FOR FELONIES, THAT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE HPD IS TRYING TO COVER THEIR TRAIL BY NOT GIVING YOU CASE NUMBERS. 
          'CAUSE YOU CAN'T TRACK WHAT'S NOT BEEN RECORDED. 
          THE CASE NUMBER. 
          AND, AND THAT HAS BEEN A COMMON PATTERN WITH, WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THE CONDOS WE LIVE IN ARE DILAPIDATED. 
          IF THAT RATIO HAD BEEN THREE MILES MORE SOUTH, YOU'D HAVE 24 HOUSTONIANS THAT LOST THEIR HOUSES. 
          BECAUSE THE CONDOS ARE SO DILAPIDATED, WE CAN'T GET INSURANCE. 
          DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS AWARE. 
          THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING. 
          NOW, I WILL SAY THAT, UH, CONGRESSMAN POLLARD'S OFFICE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT ABOUT TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. 
          THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS A SQUARE THAT'S, THANK YOU. 
          YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP? Y YES MA'AM. 
          THE, THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS A SQUARE OF LAND THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHO IT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO. 
          AND, AND THEN CONGRESSMAN FLICKINGER ALSO GOT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SAY THEY'LL, THEY'LL COME AND GET, GET THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS PERISHABLE. 
          BUT SOMEONE NEEDS TO COME IN AND MOW THE SQUARE OF LAND. 
          I TRIED TO, BUT IT'S SO FULL OF DEBRIS AND BROKE MY LAWNMOWER. 
          AND, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE, IF, IF THE SQUARE OF LAND WAS MOWED AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FORCED OUR ASSOCIATION TO MAKE THE REPAIRS OR HPD WOULD COME OUT, WE'VE, IN FACT, I, I, I PUT 
          [01:15:01]
A INFORMATION PACKET IF ONE OF Y'ALL COULD GET IT TO HPDI, I AM CERTAINLY GLAD WE, WE'LL, WE'LL GET THAT FROM, UM, FROM YOU AND WE CAN GIVE IT TO HPD. 
          BUT WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD IN THE QUEUE TO ADDRESS YOU. 
          THANK YOU, RICK. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD, AND SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE TO REPORT ON AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          UM, I WILL PERSONALLY, UH, REACH OUT TO THE COMMANDER AT THE MIDWEST STATION, UH, TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS, UH, INCIDENT SO THAT HE'S AWARE, UH, AND ALSO SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT WHY THEY'RE NOT GIVING PROPER RESPONSE TIMES AND FOLLOW UPS, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO CASE NUMBERS SO THAT YOU HAVE IT FOR YOUR RECORD. 
          UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO THAT GRASSY AREA, UH, MY OFFICE HAS PUT FORTH WHAT'S CALLED A SUPPLEMENTAL MAINTENANCE TEAM, UH, THAT MAY BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND SURVEY THAT AREA AND KEEP IT MOWED. 
          SO WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. 
          UM, AS IT, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE VIDEO EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE, IS IT STILL, DO YOU STILL HAVE IT? I, I DON'T HAVE IT. 
          IT'S ANOTHER UNIT, I THINK. 
          OKAY. 
          THINK BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD THAT THEIR CAMERA RECORDS OVER A WEEK BASE, LIKE RECORDS OVER A WEEK. 
          SO IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME OUT TOMORROW OR, OR THURSDAY, IT COULD BE HAD, BUT I, I'VE GOT THE OWNER'S NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION AND REGARDING YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT THAT THEY HAVE COME OUT, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE. 
          THEY'VE COME OUT AND THEY'VE CLEARED EVERYTHING BUT THAT SQUARE OF LAND WHERE THE HOMELESS, THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ARE. 
          AND DID THEY GIVE YOU ANY FEEDBACK ON WHY THAT WAS IT? I, I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE IT IS PAST THE, UH, DRAINAGE DITCH AND, AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL, IT, IT ONLY COVERED UP TO THE DRAINAGE DITCH. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT FOR YOU. 
          UH, LET'S TRY TO DOUBLE TEAM THIS TOGETHER. 
          BUT I'M GONNA NEED ALL I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, GREG. 
          SORRY. 
          SORRY. 
          SOMETIMES IT'S SPASMS. I APOLOGIZE. 
          DO YOU NEED TO SIT, DEAN? NO, MA'AM. 
          I'M GOOD NOW. 
          IT JUST, IT COMES, IT GOES. 
          I APOLOGIZE. 
          NO, YOU'RE FINE. 
          OKAY. 
          YOU'RE FINE. 
          I WILL, I WILL REACH OUT TO YOU DIRECTLY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, GREG. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. 
          HEY, GREG. 
          SORRY ABOUT ALL THE TROUBLES AND JUST HOPE YOUR SHOULDER GETS BETTER. 
          SO THANK, THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLER, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT ON. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          DOROTHY HOLINSKI. 
          DOROTHY HOLINSKI. 
          HELLO, MS. HOLINSKI. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND SPEAK. 
          I CAME SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE THE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE AIRBNBS. 
          AND, UM, SADLY, IT'S STILL CONTINUING ON. 
          AND YOUNG WOMEN ARE BEING TAKEN OUT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS BY NEFARIOUS PEOPLE AND PUTTING, BEING PUT IN CARS. 
          IT'S CALLED TRAFFICKING. 
          WHY CAN'T WE ARREST THOSE PEOPLE? I'M SORRY. 
          IN ALL DUE RESPECT, MS. ALCORN, YOUR ME, YOUR, YOUR ANSWER WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. 
          HOUSTON IS THE, THE GREATEST TRAFFICKING CENTER IN AMERICA, WHAT USED TO BE AN INCREDIBLE CITY. 
          THE CITY OF SAM HOUSTON IS A CITY THAT IS IN SHAMBLES IN EVERY WAY. 
          OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED ALL THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. 
          AND YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS. 
          I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THAT MAN WHO JUST GOT UP. 
          I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AT WHITE OAK WHO ARE DESPERATE TO SEE WATER AND TO HAVE GREEN SPACE AND TO PRESERVE THEIR ANIMAL LIFE. 
          BUT KNOW MONEY IS THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 
          AND GUESS WHAT? I HOPE MANY THOUSANDS LEAVE HOUSTON. 
          I HOPE THEY TAKE THEIR TAXES WITH THEM. 
          WE ARE TIRED OF PAYING TAXES FOR SCHOOLS THAT ARE DESTROYING OUR CHILDREN. 
          WE ARE TIRED OF PAYING TAXES IN THE CITY THAT DOESN'T PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. 
          WE ARE TIRED OF SEEING PEOPLE LIKE THIS LADY THAT ARE HOMELESS. 
          OUR VETERANS ARE ON THE STREETS, THOSE THAT FOUGHT AND ARE DYING FOR US, AND WE HAVE NO RESPECT. 
          WE BUILD HUGE BUILDINGS AND BIG ARENAS IN OUR STREETS, OR LIKE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. 
          DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PLAN HAS BEEN FOR HOUSTON? IT'S BEEN THE PLAN FOR ALL THE CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
          HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF CLOWER AND PIVOT? THEY WERE PROFESSORS FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY THAT IN THE 1960S CAME UP WITH A PLAN. 
          YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. 
          I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERY ONE OF YOU 
          [01:20:01]
LOOK UP FLOWER AND PIVOT AND YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE AGENDA IS. 
          BECAUSE THE AGENDA THAT THEY CAME UP WITH IS THE AGENDA THAT'S GOING OVER EVERY CITY IN AMERICA. 
          HOUSTON IS BECOMING DETROIT, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, AND ALL THE OTHER FABULOUS CITIES THAT GAVE US SO MUCH OF THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE DESTROYED. 
          AND GUESS WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THAT? AND ANOTHER THING I'M GONNA SAY, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS STORM THAT JUST HAPPENED. 
          THIS HA THIS STORM THAT JUST HAPPENED. 
          WE ARE GOING TO, WE'RE IN FIVE TO $7 BILLION WORTH OF OF DEBT. 
          BILSKI, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          YOU GO AHEAD AND WRAP, WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS, MS. HOLINSKI. 
          YES. 
          AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? WHO'S GONNA GET PAID OFF FOR THE, THE, UH, CONTRACTS THAT ARE BE GONNA BE COMING UP? WE DON'T TRUST OUR GOVERNMENT PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP. 
          WE'RE SEEING THE MONEY LAUNDERING, AND WE'RE SEEING THE STEALING IN THE LINE IN NON-TRANSPARENCY. 
          WE'VE HAD ENOUGH. 
          WE WILL SPEAK OUT AND WE WILL FIGHT BACK. 
          AND AGAIN, THOSE POOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT A HIGHWAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TO BE ABLE TO SEE TREES AND BEAUTY. 
          FORGET IT. 
          HOUSTON'S LOST ITS SOUL. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. LINSKY. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, MIKE ANI. 
          MIKE ANI. 
          GREETINGS, ESTEEM. 
          MEMBERS OF CITY HALL, A MAYOR WHITMEYER, AND THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. 
          A BEACON OF STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE IN AMERICA AND HOUSTON STRONG. 
          OUR SPIRIT THRIVES FACING CHALLENGES WITH UNWAVERING DRIVES, FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, JOBS, RELIEF, ESPECIALLY DISASTER RELIEF. 
          OUR CITY'S NEED BEYOND RELIEF. 
          BELIEF, FREEDOM OF FAITH FUND IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT. 
          OUR NOBLE QUEST TO AID THE COMMUNITY AT ITS BEST. 
          $50,000 INVESTMENT WE SPEAK SEEK TO SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE, FRAIL, AND MEEK TO IN THESE STORMY TIMES, WE STAND TALL. 
          THE CHARACTER AND STRENGTH. 
          WE HEED THE CALL TOGETHER, WE RISE IN UNITY AND GRACE. 
          HOUSTON'S GREATNESS, OUR INTERNAL EMBRACE. 
          IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADO'S CRUEL DANCE, HOUSTON'S STRENGTH SHINES. 
          A RESILIENCE STANDS THE FREEDOM OF FAITH FUND A BEACON BRIGHT GUIDING OUR CITY THROUGH THE DARKEST NIGHT. 
          BY INVESTING IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE INVESTING IN THE COLLECTIVE RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. 
          THAT CAN POSITIVELY CHANGE THE VERY FABRIC OF THE DNA, OUR CITY TOWARDS DIVINITY. 
          THE FREEDOM OF FAITH FUND IS NOT JUST ABOUT PROVIDING TEMPORARY RELIEF. 
          IT IS ABOUT BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALL ITS RESIDENTS. 
          FOR OUR CITY BY OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT, INCLUDING DISASTER RELIEF, ASSISTANCE, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WE ARE CREATING PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY AND EMPOWERMENT FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. 
          WE URGE YOU TO JOIN US TO SUPPORT IN THE FREEDOM OF FAITH FUND AND MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
          WE WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO GIVE THANKS TO PASTOR WILLIE DAVIS FOR ALREADY MAKE STANDING UP, MAKING A CALL TO DO, UH, THROUGH ALSO, UH, HIS, HIS, HIS, HIS ASSISTANT, FREDDIE GIBBS. 
          WE ALSO WANNA GIVE THANKS TO ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER TULA CARTER FOR ALSO REACHING OUT, UH, TO DENE FIELDS. 
          ALSO TO TO BROTHER EDWARD POLLARD FOR ALSO REACHING OUT AS WELL ALREADY. 
          AND ALSO MS. KAYLA COCHRAN, UH, THROUGH, UH, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          BUT WE WANT TO ASK FOR ALL THE COUNCIL TO JOIN THE CALL AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAKE IT A, A, A, A STEADY NEED BECAUSE THEIR DISTRICTS ARE PARTICULARLY IN, IN NEED OF THEM TO STAND UP AND TO SPEAK AND TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THEY NEED. 
          'CAUSE THIS IS THE TIME STRUCTURED GRANTS A LIFELINE. 
          WE EXTEND EMPOWERED GRASSROOTS OUR HEARTS TO MEND THE HER NOR NETWORK OF FORCE OF LIGHT SHINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA SHINING BRIGHT KOHA OUTREACH, A HELPING HAND MENTOR, EMPOWER, MOTIVATOR ACROSS THE LAND, OYSTER CREEK METHODIST CHURCH TO PILLAR STRONG UNITY. 
          WE RISE WHERE WE BELONG. 
          AND THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE GROUPS IN HOUSTON THAT WE ALREADY WORK WITH THAT ARE, ARE ALREADY IN OUR COLLECTIVE THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH. 
          AND, AND, AND, AND THE GRANT APPLICATION PROGRAM FUND THEM TO SUBGRANT THEM TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE REACHING THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE SOUTH SIDE, IN PARTICULAR, UH, DI DISTRICT MEMBERS, SHABAZZ'S DISTRICT. 
          UH, BUT WE, WE KNOW THE WHOLE CITY IS IN NEED FOR IMMEDIATE AID AND LONG-TERM CARE. 
          SO TRAINING, EDUCATION TOOLS WE PROVIDE TO THOSE WHO SERVE WITH HEARTS OPEN WIDE. 
          TOGETHER WE STAND IN LOVE AND GRACE. 
          HOUSTON SPA, HOUSTON SPIRIT, A SACRED SPACE FOR IMMEDIATE AID AND LONG-TERM CARE. 
          THE FREEDOM OF FAITH FUND WILL ALWAYS BE THERE IN THE FACE OF DISASTER. 
          WE UNITE GUIDED BY FAITH IN OUR CITY'S LIGHT. 
          THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING OUR PLEA AS WE STRIVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE HEART OF OUR BELOVED CITY THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF FAITH FUND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          WELCOME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MAYOR PRO TEM BROTHER MARK, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORT AND YOUR PASSION, YOUR COMPASSION, AND ALL OF THOSE OF 
          [01:25:01]
THE COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO WANT TO ASSIST YOU. 
          AND I, I THINK THE, THE JOB WILL GET DONE 'CAUSE IT IS CITYWIDE. 
          YES, SIR. 
          IT AIN'T JUST ONE SECTION. 
          IT'S ALL OVER. 
          SO WE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU DIRECTLY. 
          THANK YOU SIR. 
          SIR, MY FRIEND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, KYRA ANI. 
          KIARA ANI, HOW Y'ALL DOING? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. 
          I JUST WANNA REITERATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MY HUSBAND SAID. 
          UM, THE FREEDOM OF FAITH FOOD BANK. 
          WE ARE TRYING TO BE A BEACON OF HOPE FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE SPECIFICALLY ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT LOW INCOME MINORITY FAMILIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE TORNADOES THAT JUST HAPPENED HERE. 
          THOSE POPULATIONS ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, ARE OFTEN THOSE WHO ARE POOR. 
          AND IN ETHNIC AND RACIAL BACKGROUNDS. 
          FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER AND JOBS ARE WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW TO HELP THE LOW INCOME. 
          AND THOSE WHO MAY IDENTIFY AS POOR URBAN AREAS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE FREQUENTLY SEGREGATED INTO REGIONS WHERE FLOODING AND OTHER INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS HAPPENED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING IN THOSE AREAS. 
          NOT ONLY ARE WE ADDRESSING THE FOOD DESERT AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER MINORITY COMMUNITIES, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE POOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS AFFECTING US DAILY. 
          UM, DAILY DAY IN, OUT AND NIGHT IN OUT. 
          AS WE CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TODAY WHO ARE STRUGGLING JUST TO FIND SHELTER WHEN IT MAY BE RAINING COLD, OR THEY JUST NEED, UM, A BITE TO EAT. 
          DURING THESE TIMES, FREEDOM OF FAITH BLUE BANK IS ADDRESSING THE URGENT NEED TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM. 
          SO THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS GONNA EMPOWER GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND THEIR REACH DURING THE PROGRAM. 
          WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE TRAINING AS WE ARE NONPROFIT ATTORNEYS TO EQUIP PEOPLE WITH LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES. 
          THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK IN THEIR ALLOTTED DISTRICTS, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING, UM, IN A SUBSET OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED THEM. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM TOOLS AND RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY. 
          AGAIN, THOSE NEEDS ARE FOOD, SHELTER, JOBS, AND DISASTER RELIEF. 
          WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO EQUIP OUR COMMUNITY WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE OTHER AREAS. 
          AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS IN PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MS. ANI. 
          UM, BEFORE YOU WALK AWAY, YES. 
          UM, DO Y'ALL HAVE, UH, ANY INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OR YOU CAN SEND TO OUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES? UM, YOU, IF YOU CAN SEND THAT TO OUR DISTRICT BOXES, WE'D BE HAPPY TO, UM, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION. 
          WE SAY IT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE ALL THE TIME THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO THIS WORK ALONE. 
          WE APPRECIATE THOSE, UM, NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HELPING TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF SERVICES IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          UM, AS, AS FAR AS LIKE A PROPOSAL OR PITCH DECK, THINGS LIKE THAT, THE INFORMATION, ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION YES, MA'AM. 
          AND WHAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO, MAYBE TO PARTNER IN OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS, UM, TO HELP THE FOOD BANK MAAM, OR TO HELP MA'AM WITH ANY OF THE TRAINING. 
          UM, I KNOW THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD, WOULD BE WILLING. 
          UH, WE WE NEED EXTRA HANDS ON DECK MA'AM IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL, MA'AM. 
          SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING TO HELP MOVE OUR COMMUNITIES FORWARD. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          I ALWAYS SAY TAKE A VILLAGE. 
          WELL, THE, THE SLOGAN IS THEY TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD, BUT OUR NONPROFITS ARE THAT THE VILLAGERS THAT WE, UM, RELY ON AND LEAN ON TO, UM, SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          AND SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, HOW, UM, ARE YOU, DO YOU HELP NONPROFITS IDENTIFY FUNDING? UM, ARE YOU A FUNDING SOURCE? ARE YOU JUST UM, YES MA'AM. 
          A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH. 
          SO WITH OUR NONPROFIT FREEDOM OF FAITH FOOD BANK, WE DO, UM, FOOD DRIVES AND WE PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES IN THE CITY TO HELP THEM GET THEIR FOOD DRIVES UP ON BOARD. 
          AND THEN WITH OUR LAW FIRM, WE HELP BUILD UP NONPROFITS, SO MAKING SURE THEY'RE IN LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND THEN PROVIDING WITH THEM, WITH THE INFORMATION FOR GRANTS, HELPING THEM APPLY FOR THOSE GRANTS AND DOING THOSE PROPOSALS FOR THEM. 
          OKAY. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NO PROBLEM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. 
          AND I'M GONNA THANK YOU AS WELL. 
          BUT I ALSO HAVE TO POINT OUT HE IS SO ADORABLE. 
           WITH THAT HAT ON, I SAID, OH MY GOODNESS. 
          ANYWAY, BUT THAT'S, HE'S OUR LEGAL INTERN . 
          BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE LOVE WHEN BABIES COME TO CITY HALL  YOUNG LAWYER IN THE MAKING . 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER JOSEPH SMITH, SENIOR JOSEPH SMITH, SENIOR NEXT SPEAKER, 
          [01:30:02]
SAVANT MOORE. 
          SAVANT MOORE. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          UM, MY NAME IS SAVANT MOORE. 
          I'M THE ELECTED TRUSTEE FOR HISD. 
          UM, I REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO MO OF NORTHEAST HOUSTON. 
          I'M A FORMER ARMY RANGER, SEVEN YEARS. 
          UM, I'M A MINISTER AT GREATER MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH IN SUNNYSIDE, TEXAS. 
          I HAVE A GRADUATING SENIOR THAT'S GOING TO HOWARD AND I HAVE TWO EIGHTH GRADERS. 
          I'M, UNFORTUNATELY, MY CHILDREN ARE VERY GIFTED, BUT THEY STAY IN A SCHOOL THAT HAS CEILINGS, FALLING IN MOLD, THERE'S NO CLEAN WATER. 
          UM, AND THEY, EVERY DAY THEY'RE EXPECTED TO SIT IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, SHOW UP, MAKE AS DO GOOD ON THE STAR TEST, AS YOU KNOW, UM, TO STAY TAKEOVER AS TAKING OVER HISD. 
          SO I CAME TODAY, I'VE BEEN GOING TO BOARD MEETINGS BEFORE I WAS ELECT FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, UM, FOR THIS PAST YEAR. 
          I THINK, UM, MR. CASTILLO'S, THE ONLY PERSON THAT WAS AT THE MEETING THIS THURSDAY AT 4:00 PM I'M ASKING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO SHOW UP BECAUSE THERE'S ALMOST 200 PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS THAT WILL BE TERMINATED. 
          LAST WEEK, A ACT OF GOD STOPPED HIM FROM BEING TERMINATED. 
          AND ONE IS A PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. 
          I OFTEN ASK GOD, WHY DID HE PUT ME INTO POLITICS NOW? HE SAID THAT WE MUST BE HIS HANDS AND HIS FEET. 
          AND SO EACH OF US MUST START STANDING UP FOR EACH AND EVERY SINGLE CHILD BECAUSE NOW IT'S STARTING TO GO INTO THE AFFLUENT AREAS. 
          JUST TODAY. 
          THEY HAD TO CLOSE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE NO AC YET. 
          MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITH THAT. 
          AND FIFTH WARD IN NORTHEAST AS OF NORMAL. 
          AND SO I'M ASKING ALL OF US IN HOUSTON AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT EACH DISTRICT FOR YOU TO SHOW UP BECAUSE A BOND WILL BE NEEDED. 
          LIKE THERE'S $10 BILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT NO ONE TRUST THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP. 
          AND SO WHO WILL SUFFER MOST MY DISTRICT? SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR YOU, I KNOW THAT IN JUNE THAT YOU'RE GONNA ASK FOR PROTECTIVE LANDMARKS. 
          MY FATHER COACHED AT FOREST BROOK. 
          MY MOM TAUGHT AT SMILEY. 
          WE KNOW NORTH FOREST NO LONGER EXISTS. 
          I'M ASKING THAT YOU PROTECT EVERY HISTORICAL BLACK SCHOOL, N-H-I-S-D, FROM WEELEY TO YATES TO WORTHING BOOKER T CASHMERE, BECAUSE WE KNOW IF THERE'S NO MONEY, THE FIRST CLOSURES WILL BE THOSE BLACK SCHOOLS. 
          AND THAT IS NO, THERE'S NO REASON THAT MY SON HAS TO GET ON A SCHOOL CHOICE BUS TO GO TO CARNEGIE WHEN THAT PRINCIPAL MAY BE TERMINATED AND HE CAN'T GO TO HIS NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL AND RE RECEIVE THE SAME QUALITY. 
          AND SO I'M ASKING THAT EVERYONE WE GIVE BACK TO OUR SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY HAVE DECENCY. 
          AND REMEMBER THAT WE'RE HOUSTONIANS, REGARDLESS OF THE STATE COMING OVER. 
          WE GOTTA REMEMBER IT'S ABOUT THESE BABIES. 
          WE ONCE WERE CHILDREN, AND WITHOUT THESE TEACHERS, WE WOULDN'T BE WHO WE ARE TODAY. 
          AND SO I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE SHOW UP BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS BASICALLY BECOMING BAD FOR BUSINESS. 
          AND SO I'M A TRUCK DRIVER. 
          I WORK 14 HOURS DAYS, BUT I, I CHANGE MY SCHEDULE. 
          I'M GONNA SHOW UP EVERY TUESDAY UNTIL I GET MORE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP. 
          'CAUSE I'M JUST ONE PERSON. 
          AND SO I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE START SHOWING UP. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP MR. MOORE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. 
          UM, DID, AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SAID YOUR, YOUR POSITION WAS. 
          I'M THE, I TOOK KATHY BLUFORD SPOT. 
          I'M THE ELECTED DISTRICT TWO TRUSTEE. 
          SO LIKE, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE POWER TO THE STATE TAKEOVER, BUT I, I REPRESENT ALL OF NORTHEAST FROM BASICALLY NAVIGATION BOULEVARD TO BOOKER T TO NORTH FOREST. 
          ISD COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, MY FRIEND, UH, BROTHER MOORE. 
          FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          UH, AS A VETERAN, I CERTAINLY COMMEND YOU. 
          I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, CERTAINLY HEARING YOU AND, UH, THERE'S BEEN A PROCESS START OF MEETINGS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT. 
          LET'S, LET ME LET YOU KNOW THERE ARE MORE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT GROUPS OUT THERE DOING IT. 
          THERE'S A MINISTER GROUP THAT HAS HAD A COUPLE MEETINGS AND I WAS WITH IT AND WE'VE ALREADY REQUESTED ANOTHER ONE. 
          AND TO LAY OUT ALL THESE ISSUES, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS SYSTEMIC. 
          IT DIDN'T JUST START YESTERDAY. 
          IT'S NOT GONNA GET SOLVED TODAY, BUT IT WILL GET SOLVED, I BELIEVE, AT CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION AND SERVICE AND WE WILL CERTAINLY GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND CONNECT WITH YOU ON THIS MATTER BECAUSE IT IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND IT'S GROWING IN MORE AND MORE INTEREST THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE CITY. 
          AND MY PRAYER IS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON LONG BEFORE NOW BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT IS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, BUT WE CAN'T BE, UH, WE CAN'T BE JUST PARTICULARLY ABOUT WHEN WE DO IT, WE SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DOING IT. 
          'CAUSE EDUCATION IS THE KEY. 
          I'M A STUDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I'VE ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC 
          [01:35:01]
EDUCATION, BUT ALSO GIVE THE RIGHT THAT MANY PEOPLE FROM PRESIDENTS ON DOWN AND PUT THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ALL OTHER TYPE OF SCHOOL. 
          SO WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, DEMONIZE EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE EDUCATION'S A FREE MARKET. 
          AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE FAIR AND WE WANT IT TO BE HONEST. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, YOUR EFFORTS. 
          MR. MOORE. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          UM, A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, UH, MADE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH HISD. 
          UM, WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. 
          UM, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CORRELATION OF A, A VERY STRONG SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THE THRIVING CITY. 
          UM, SO WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR KIDS AND FOR EVERYONE THAT IS, UM, WITHIN HISD SYSTEM, WE THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP. 
          UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO, TO JOIN. 
          UH, I KNOW, UH, YESTERDAY HOUSTON LANDING HAD AN EVENT AT THE HOBBY CENTER WITH, UM, SUPERINTENDENT MILES. 
          UM, I ATTENDED THAT EVENT, UH, WHERE THE STUDENTS INTERVIEWED HIM. 
          UH, THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATIONS THERE. 
          WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS SO THAT WE CAN DWELL IN OUR CITY AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR HOUSTONIANS. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 
          THANK NEXT SPEAKER. 
          RANDY BAXLEY. 
          RANDY BAXLEY, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE ADD. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LAST WEEK, UH, TAGGED ITEM 40 ON THE AGENDA, ITEM 54 FOR THIS WEEK'S AGENDA, SELLING OFF, UH, THE WHITE OAK BIO GREENWAY FOR A MERE QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. 
          ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S $268,000, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH. 
          UH, IT IS A SHAME. 
          UH, THE PRICE IS A SHAME TO START WITH THAT WE'RE SELLING IT AT ALL IS A SHAME. 
          THAT AREA. 
          THIS, THIS COUNCIL HAS SAT HERE AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYING Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE TO SIT HERE. 
          AND THAT'S, THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO SIT HERE ALL THIS TIME. 
          UH, BUT, UH, IN Y'ALL DUTIES, NOT THIS COUNCIL, BUT THE COUNCIL BEFORE, YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH MAKING SURE THAT CARS WERE PULLED FROM THE BIOS. 
          AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE, THERE ARE CARS ALL IN THOSE BIOS WHEN HARVEY'S OR OTHER HURRICANES HIT HOUSES, GO DOWN THOSE BIOS. 
          DURING HARVEY, I STOOD ON THE PARKING LOT OF CASTILLO CENTER, WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. 
          AND IN BETWEEN CASTILLO CENTER AND UHD IS THE STRIP OF LAND THAT IS BEING SOLD OFF. 
          THE IDEA IS THAT N-H-H-I-P WILL PUT SUPPORTS DOWN INTO THAT BIO AND THEY WILL CREATE AN AREA WHERE THOSE CARS AND THOSE HOUSES CAN BE CAUGHT. 
          AS THE WATER COMES DOWN, I SAW THE WATER RISE TO WITHIN INCHES OF THE TOP OF THAT BERM ON CASTILLO CENTER, MOVE AROUND THAT BERM AND GO OVER AND FLOOD THE BACKSIDE OF IRVINGTON COURTS. 
          IF WE ADD TO THAT BLOCKAGE AREA WITH SUPPORTS INTO THAT, WHICH IS WHAT N-H-H-I-P WANTS TO DO, THEN WE WILL CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THE WATER POSSIBLY WILL GO TO THE PARKING LOT OF MOODY PARK, WHERE WE STOOD YESTERDAY DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO, TO THOSE OF US WHO, WHO NEEDED THE FOOD. 
          AND SEVERAL OF US, I, I GOT TO MEET MS. CARTER. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TAG. 
          LAST WEEK, UH, MARIO WAS THERE WITH US. 
          ADRIAN GARCIA WAS THERE WITH US. 
          UM, SYLVIA, SYLVIA GARCIA'S STAFF WAS THERE. 
          MANY HAD HAVE COME OUT. 
          AND WILLIE CERTAINLY YOU'VE COME INTO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL MANY TIMES TO, TO HELP US AND TO SEE US AT LULAC. 
          AND THAT AREA UP TO PATTON STREET IS IN DANGER OF BEING FLOODED. 
          IF WE DO ANYTHING TO DESTROY THE PATH OF THE WATER TRAVERSING FROM THE NORTH SAN JA CENTER RIVER, I, I SHOULDN'T SAY THE NORTH. 
          IT'S ACTUALLY THE WEST BRANCH OF THE SAN JACINTA RIVER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MR. BAXLEY. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          SHYA SHARP. 
          SHYA SHARP. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          BENJAMIN BROADWAY. 
          BENJAMIN BROADWAY. 
          [01:40:02]
NEXT SPEAKER. 
          JACOB CLEMENTI. 
          JACOB CLEMENTI. 
          HEY JACOB. 
          HI THERE. 
          HOW ARE YOU? I WAS GONNA PLAY LA WOMAN, I MEAN, NOT LA WOMAN, BUT RIGHT ON THE, ON THE STORM BY THE DIVORCE, BUT, UM, WELL, I, I I SCREWED UP. 
          OKAY. 
          AND ANYWAY, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS, UH, THINK OF THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVE OF, UH, OF, OF ANY, OF, OF MAKING THE STUPID, UH, CELL TEXT OUT OF THAT PARTIAL, PARTIAL LAND. 
          I MEAN, COME ON, PULL THE, UH, RAMIFICATIONS FOR EVERYTHING. 
          I MEAN, UM, SOME OF THEM WOULD BE WILL AS NINE, EXCUSE MY FRENCH. 
          AND, UM, WHAT ELSE I WANT TO SAY IS, IS GETTING MONEY, MONEY IN HERE. 
          SO I'M GOING GO SWIMMING AND UH, YOU KNOW, UM, WATER GOES DOWNSTREAM. 
          KNOW IS GOING GO DOWN STREET AND UH, I'M ON MANCHO AND WATER. 
          I BUY YOU IS . 
          AND THEN WE'LL WIN THE BUFFALO BAYOU SLOWS WELL, AND WE'LL COME DOWN US AND THAT I WOMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, JACOB. 
          AND I LIKE YOUR PROPS. 
          . 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          STEPHANIE VALDEZ. 
          STEPHANIE VALDEZ. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. 
          MY NAME'S STEPH ORGANIZER WITH STOP TEXT, DO. 
          AND THIS WEEKEND WE ALL KNOW WE FACED A DEVASTATING NATURAL DISASTER. 
          AND AFTER BEING OUT THERE THE NEXT DAY, HELPING PEOPLE REMOVE TREES, REMOVE DEBRIS, GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT WAS WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO MITIGATE THESE DISASTERS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY? AND NEVER DID A $12 BILLION HIGHWAY CROSS MY MIND. 
          UM, OUR WIDE OAK BODY SERVES US, ONE OF OUR PRINCIPAL FLOODING MITIGATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST LOVED GREEN SPACES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, YOU ATTENDED OUR CHRISTMAS CAROLING EVENT LAST TIME AND YOU WITNESSED HOW THIS SPACE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AS MENTIONED, BUT FROM ALL MY FRIENDS, WE ALL KNOW TDOT DOES NOT OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH. 
          WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD TEXTILE TO THEIR WORD AND MAKE THEM RENEGOTIATE ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S TERMS. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS GREEN SPACE IS VALUED AT 4.3 MILLION IN TECHSTAR WANTS TO PAY 260,000 FOR IT. 
          UM, YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP? YES, PLEASE. 
          I URGENTLY ASK YOU TO NOT VOTE AND RE RECONSIDER THE SALE OF PARCEL 8 0 1 AND EXPLORE ALL YOUR OPTIONS, WHETHER IT'S DESIGNATING IT AS A PARK OR LEASING IT TO TECH STOCKS SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOESN'T LOSE AUTONOMY OVER OUR GREEN SPACE. 
          LASTLY, ON THE TOPIC OF DISPLACEMENT, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SITUATION IN GAZA. 
          THERE IS CURRENTLY 1.7 MILLION PALESTINIANS DISPLACED AND I URGE THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CRAN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT CEASEFIRE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. 
          NEXT SPEAKER SCOTTY JOSEPH. 
          SCOTTY JOSEPH. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS PRO TIM. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER JACKSON. 
          JUST TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY WITH THE, UH, FIFTH WARD, UH, ELECTRIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE. 
          UH, WE KNOW A LOT IS GOING ON IN THIS, IN THE AREA, SO YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT. 
          BUT, UM, FOR THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO ATTEND, MANY OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY. 
          SO JUST BEING ABLE TO COME OUT AND COME TO THE PARK, GET THEIR BIKES, GO FOR A RIDE, TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT, EVERYONE WAS REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. 
          WE'LL BE HAVING OUR LAST CLASS THIS SATURDAY AND WE WILL BE TAKING THE COLUMBIA TAT TRAIL TO TA-DA THE THIRD WARD. 
          AND WE'LL BE IN YOUR AREA WITH OUR, WITH OUR, UH, MUTUAL FRIEND ED PETIT AND THE, UH, FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA TAB. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO COME IN AND JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT I KNOW A LOT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. 
          I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE. 
          UH, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHEN IT COMES TO THE, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS NOW. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A, A, A BRIEF UPDATE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, ROSANNA AL NA SHAHIR SANNA AL NAIA NEXT SPEAKER. 
          THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS NOTES. 
          THANK 
          [RECESS]
YOU COUNSEL, WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE, THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR 
          [01:45:01]
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF 2020 THROUGH 2024 ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FEES TO THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. 
          ITEM TWO, RECOMMENDATION FROM ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE PUB DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,987,441 22 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH GRAVA LLC. 
          ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DEPOSIT THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD OF SPECIAL SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS INTO THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT TO PAY ALL COST OF COURT IN CONNECTION WITH IMMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDING STYLE, CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS GFL TEXAS REAL PROPERTY LLC. 
          ITEM FOUR, COLBURN SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. 
          FOR PURCHASE OF MANHOLE HOOKS. 
          ITEM FIVE, SILSBEE TOYOTA FOR PURCHASE OF HYBRID TOYOTA VEHICLES. 
          ITEM SIX APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,934 84 CENTS FOR PAYMENT OF THE FINAL COST OF ADMINISTERING THE CITY'S 2023 GENERAL AND RUNOFF ELECTIONS THROUGH THE JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENT AND CONTRACT FOR ELECTION SERVICES WITH FORT BEND COUNTY. 
          ITEM SEVEN, MION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 
          FOR PURCHASE OF ULTRA RADIAC PLUS PERSONAL RADIATION MONITORS. 
          ITEM EIGHT HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          ITEM NINE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $958,500 70 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF AUTOMOTIVE LIFTS, INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES. 
          ITEM 10, MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY SERVICES INC. 
          FOR SCOTT AIR PACKS AND REPLACEMENT PARTS. 
          ITEM 11 IS AMEND MOTION 2022 DASH 2 67 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM $323,850 TO $404,812 50 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF LEVEL MEASUREMENT DEVICES. 
          ITEM 12, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP SOUTHWEST INC. 
          FOR WATER FOR WAGER ORDER CONTROL SYSTEMS. ITEM 13, AMEND MOTION 2023 DASH 4 4 0 TO INCREASE DIS SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM $14,392,403 15 CENTS TO $17,392,403 15 CENTS FOR VEHICLES RENTAL SERVICES. 
          ITEM 14 GCB INDUSTRIES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF PRE HEATER BOILER TUBES. 
          ITEM 15 WEISINGER INCORPORATED FOR PURCHASE OF A 600 HORSEPOWER VARIABLE SPEED I INFLUENT PUMP MOTOR ITEM 16. 
          APPROVE SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $966,591 82 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF WORKIVA LICENSES. 
          ITEM 17 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $580,000 FOR CITYWIDE ENTERPRISE ASSESSMENT CONSULTING SERVICES. 
          ITEM 18 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $250,000 TO PURCHASE SERVICES, PARTS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE APPLIED NT VEHICLE EXHAUST REMOVAL SYSTEMS. ITEM 19 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF HOUSTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING GOVERNMENTAL NOTE YALE VILLAGE ITEM 20 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVED THE ISSUANCE AND SALE BY HOUSTON HEIGHT, HOUSTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVENUE BONDS, CORDOVA APARTMENTS. 
          ITEM 21 ORDINANCE AMENDED SECTIONS 28 DASH 4 54 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES HOUSTON TEXAS RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM APP APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER 28. 
          ARTICLE 14 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO REGULATION OF BOARDING HOMES. 
          ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN DOCUMENTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, EAST END MAKER HUB SPONSOR LLC AND URBAN PARTNERSHIPS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. 
          ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON HEALTH INC. 
          ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON SRO HOUSING CORPORATION. 
          ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING NEW LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BLACK FOREST VENTURES AVIATION RE LLC ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING APPROPRIATING $800,000 FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR PLANNED HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT LEGACY LAB INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BRACEWELL L-L-C-L-L-P ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT U-S-L-L-P ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $255,729 
          [01:50:02]
10 CENTS OUT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO STRAY CON GROUP INC. 
          ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $980,000 OUT OF PARKS CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND $162,260 OUT OF PARKS SPECIAL FUND, $187,000 OUT OF STATE GRANT. 
          STATE GRANT FUND AND $100,000 OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL TASK ORDER CONTRACTING PROGRAM. 
          ITEM 31 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2017 DASH 3 0 7 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF HOUSTON INC. 
          ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AWARD AND CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SMITH PUMP COMPANY INC. 
          ITEM 33, ORDINANCE OF AWARD AND CONTRACT TO BAYSIDE PRINTING COMPANY INC. 
          ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY OR ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SAN JACINTO RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES SEDIMENT REMOVAL AND SAND TRAP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT ITEM 36 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 3 54 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER INC. 
          ITEM 37 ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024 DASH NINE RELATING TO THE RESCHEDULING OR POSTPONEMENT OF CERTAIN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. 
          ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. 
          ITEM 39 ORDINANCE DESIGNATING RESIDENTIAL AREA IN WEST MOUNT WESTMONT SUBDIVISION REPLAY AND EXTENSION TWO NUMBER P 2 3 7 0 2 WESTMONT CIVIC CLUB SECTIONS ONE THROUGH SIX AS A PROHIBITED YARD PARKING AREA. 
          ITEM 40 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2017 DASH 7 0 8 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALL PUMP AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY ITEM 41 ORDINANCE RENEWING AND RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 1000 AND 1100 BLOCKS OF LAG. 
          GREENE STREET BETWEEN STUDIO WOOD STREET AND MISHAW STREET EAST SIDE OF THE 1400 BLOCK OF STUDIO WIDE STREET BETWEEN ALL ALL GREG STREET AND LAG GREENE STREET AND THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 4,600 BLOCKS OF OAK RIDGE STREET AND NOR HILL BOULEVARD BETWEEN LAGREE STREET AND ALL GREG STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK. 
          ITEM 42 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 97.846 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR 10 ITEM 44 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 5.9977 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 2 7 8 ITEM 44 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 6.262 ACRES OF LAND TO EMERALD FOREST UTILITY DISTRICT. 
          ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CDM SMITH INC. 
          ITEM 46 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,375,000 OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND AWARD IN CONTRACT TO JAY RIVAS CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 47. 
          ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,375,000 OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT, FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO JAY RIVAS CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 48. 
          ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 5 MILLION FOR $145,036 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. 
          CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO VORTEX LINING SYSTEMS. LLC ITEM 49. 
          ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,679,100 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. 
          CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD IN CONTRACT TO INDUSTRIAL TX CORPORATION. 
          ITEM 50 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO DESIGNATE LANDMARKS, PROTECTED LANDMARKS AND SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES. 
          ITEM 51 COWBOY CONCEALMENTS LLC FOR PURCHASE OF CONCEALMENT BOXES TO CONCEAL SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. 
          ITEM 52 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING EACH LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR NON-COMPETITIVE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR SUCH DEVELOPMENTS. 
          ITEM 53, ORDINANCE A AMENDED ARTICLE FOUR OF CHAPTER 44 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO TAX ABATEMENT. 
          ITEM 54, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE OF $126,627. 
          I'M SORRY, 126,627 SQUARE FEET OF CITY FEE 
          [01:55:01]
OWNED LAND SITUATED IN JOHN AUSTIN. 
          SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER ONE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS SELLING PROPERTY TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 
          AND ITEM 55 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON TO EXTEND OR CONTINUE A PROCLAMATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF DISASTER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON BEYOND THE SEVEN DAY PERIOD AFTER THE PROCLAMATION PERIOD BEGAN DUE TO SEVERE DERECHO STORM MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS RELATED THERETO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 
          AND THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OF MAY 22ND, 2024. 
          AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT THOSE THE WAY YOU WISH TO BE TREATED. 
          AND WITH THAT, I WISH YOU A BLESSED AND FANTA DAY COUNCIL COME TO ORDER 
          [RECONVENE]
, WHERE ARE YOU? THANK YOU EVERYONE, UH, 
          [MAYOR'S REPORT]
FOR BEING PATIENT AND ALLOWED ME TO GET MY NOTES, UH, ORGANIZED HERE. 
          UH, IT'S BEEN A VERY STRATEGIC, UH, WEEK. 
          UH, LAST THURSDAY NIGHT I WAS AT A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME, GRANDSON'S LITTLE LEAGUE GAME. 
          IN ONE OF THE MORE INTENSE SUDDEN STORMS THAT WE'VE EVER, CERTAINLY IN RECENT HISTORY EXPERIENCED CAME UPON NORTHWEST HOUSTON, KIND OF COMING DOWN TWO 90 FROM THE BRENHAM WALLER AREA. 
          AND AS I WAS WATCHING LITTLE LEAGUE GAME, WE WERE WARNED THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A INTENSE STORM. 
          THE COACHES ADVISED US TO THEN GO TO OUR CARS, COME BACK AND FINISH THE GAME, WHICH WE ALL LOOKED AT HIM, KIND OF DID HE REALLY KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. 
          WITHIN ABOUT THREE TO FIVE MINUTES, WE ALMOST ALL GOT BLOWN AWAY. 
          WE RAN FOR OUR CARS, KIDS GOING EVERYWHERE, PEOPLE GETTING UNDER METAL SHEDS. 
          WE WERE OFF OF, UH, PINE MOUNT BEHIND THE, UH, COYA LIBRARY, BUT WE GOT TO OUR CARS AND REALIZED THAT WASN'T SAFE. 
          SO I DROVE TO PINE MOUNT. 
          THAT WASN'T SAFE. 
          YOU LITERALLY COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING BUT THE SWIRLING WIND, HAIL AND RAINED. 
          SO I PULLED OVER ON PINE MART, WAITED 10 OR 15 MINUTES AND IT LED UP A LITTLE BIT. 
          SO I WENT DOWN PINE MAR TO JESTER COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THAT INTERSECTION WAS BLOCKED BY TREES. 
          SO WE MADE OUR WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. 
          I REALIZED I WAS NOT THAT FAR FROM THE EMERGENCY CENTER, SO WE WORKED OUR WAY TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER. 
          I HAD A, A NEIGHBOR WITH ME, UH, LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL FAN. 
          UH, AND I GOT TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER AND PULLED UP IN A DRIVING REIGN AND THE LADY AT THE GUARDHOUSE COMMUNICATED WITH ME AS BEST WE COULD IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM THAT I NEEDED A CITY ID. 
           I DIDN'T HAVE IT. 
          AND SHE KEPT SHOWING ME 'CAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANNA COME OUTTA THE GUARDHOUSE AND SHOWED ME WHAT I NEEDED. 
          AND I FINALLY TOLD HER I'M THE MAYOR . 
          SHE WAS DOING HER JOB AND SHE WAS DOING HER JOB. 
          REALLY GOOD , AND SHE LET ME IN. 
          AND THEN OF COURSE I GOT TO THE DOOR AND WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS. 
          I'M THE MAYOR, SO I'VE LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON. 
          CARRY MY IDEA,  IT, IT'S A VERY HUMBLE EXPERIENCE, WHICH, WHICH OBVIOUSLY I APPRECIATED HER. 
          AND SHE AND I OVER THE, THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR DAYS, SHE AND I BECAME BEST OF FRIENDS . 
          BUT NO, SHE WAS DOING HER JOB. 
          BUT IMMEDIATELY OUR RESOURCES STARTED COMING TOGETHER AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER. 
          AND I'LL GIVE YOU A STATUS REPORT WHERE WE ARE NOW, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE LOSS OF POWER WAS WIDESPREAD THROUGH NORTHWEST HOUSTON WHERE I WAS THROUGH TIMBER GROVE, THE HEIGHTS THROUGH THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT TO THE EAST END OUT THE GULF FREEWAY INTO THE BAY. 
          AND IT WAS VERY DEVASTATING, THE AREAS THAT WERE IMPACTED. 
          BUT I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD. 
          I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT HOUSTON CITIZENS AND, AND DEPARTMENTS. 
          UH, ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT CAME TOGETHER LIKE ONLY HOUSTON HAS AND DID AND WILL IN THE FUTURE. 
          IN FACT, MEMBERS, IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT, THAT MORNING I WAS IN A HURRICANE RECOVERY PREPARATION MEETING CHAIRED BY ANGELA BLANCHARD, 35 FIRST RESPONDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, PEOPLE LISTENING TO EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE AND HOW WE WERE PREPARING FOR HURRICANES. 
          [02:00:01]
BUT NOTHING WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE, INTENSE INTENSITY AND THE SUDDENNESS OF THIS STORM. 
          BUT WHILE I WAS THERE AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER, ABOUT 6 37 O'CLOCK, FIRST RESPONDERS SHOWED UP. 
          OUR FIREMEN WERE ON TWO 90, TAKING LIVE WIRES OFF OF THE FREEWAY OF TWO 90. 
          PINE MOUNT POLICE WENT INTO ACTION, PUBLIC WORKS SANITATION, THE FLEET MANAGEMENT METRO IMMEDIATELY STARTED RESPONDING. 
          AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT IS TIMES LIKE THIS WHEN WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE HOUSTONIANS. 
          AND I'M PROUD TO BE THE MAYOR. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT STARTED SHOWING UP LOOKING AT, AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER, LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS AND THAT LARGE THAT REACHED ACROSS HOUSTON. 
          UH, THE IMMEDIATE, THE NUMBER THAT NIGHT WAS 920,000 PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT POWER. 
          UH, IT'S DOWN TO JUST A SECOND. 
          WHERE'S MY, UH, HERE IT'S, WE'RE DOWN TO 72,000 THIS MORNING. 
          UH, 550,000 PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR POWER RESTORED OVER THE PAST FIVE DAYS. 
          UH, OUR SIGNAL LIGHTS, TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHTS. 
          WE HAVE 135 STILL OUT THIS MORNING. 
          AS I CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU A STATUS REPORT, I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN, I GIVE THE SHOUT OUTS TO TXDOT, TDOT, UH, CAME TO OUR ASSISTANCE NOT ONLY HELPING WITH THEIR RIGHT OF WAY, BUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES. 
          UH, WE STILL HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THE CONCERN FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY, UM, BUT PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND, UH, RANDY MACKEY AND HIS TEAM WORKING WITH STATE RESOURCES HAVE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. 
          NOW LET ME STOP RIGHT HERE BEFORE I DO ANYTHING ELSE AND GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 
          THE FIRST EVENING, BRIANNA RAMSEY AND GARCIA CALLED TO SAY THEY WERE BRINGING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM THE UNINCORPORATED PART OF THEIR PRECINCTS INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          AMAZING. 
          AND I HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME WITH ALL THREE OF 'EM IN THEIR PRECINCTS, OUTTA THEIR PRECINCTS, BUT LOOKING OUT FOR HOUSTONIANS, UH, SANITATION, UH, WENT INTO OVERTIME, IMMEDIATELY GOT OUR CON OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS THIRD PARTIES INVOLVED, HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
          WE DID OUR REGULAR ASSESSMENTS TWICE A DAY AND TO LISTEN TO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND THEIR RANK AND FILE FIRST RESPONDERS, WHICH I CONSIDER PUBLIC WORKS AND SANITATION, DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB. 
          UH, WE TOURED DOWNTOWN. 
          AMAZING CONCERN FOR WORKERS IN CENTRAL HOUSTON LAST NIGHT ACTUALLY ISSUED A REQUEST THAT THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY LEAVE LET THEIR WORKERS WORK AT HOME. 
          WE DID. 
          SO, UH, ON MONDAY, TUESDAY, WE ASKED EVERYONE TO USE GOOD JUDGMENT, UH, BETTER JUDGMENT THAN PERHAPS HISD USED, UH, YOU KNOW, SPRING BRANCH CANCELED SCHOOLS. 
          THEY WERE AT THE PITNER LOCATION, WHICH YOU NEED TO VISIT. 
          IT'S OFF OF HEMPSTEAD, A SELF-CONTAINED APARTMENT COMPLEX, DEPENDING ON NON-PROFITS FOR THEIR FOOD, WATER, AND POWER. 
          UH, WE WERE ACTUALLY IN A LIFE SUPPORT RESCUE MODE MOST OF THURSDAY NIGHT. 
          FRIDAY, SATURDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO GO INTO A RECOVERY MODE, BUT WE SOON FOUND OUT, NO, THERE'S STILL PEOPLE LIVES AND SECURITY EXPOSED THE PROTECTION OF LIVES AND PROPERTY. 
          SO SUNDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO DO BETTER INTO THE RECOVERY MODE. 
          AND THEN AS YOU SAW YESTERDAY, WE'RE IN A LONG-TERM RECOVERY MODE. 
          THE FEMA DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATOR BEING HERE, UH, SBA, WE'VE OPENED, UM, 50 CITY COOLING FACILITIES. 
          [02:05:01]
METRO WILL GIVE YOU A RIDE TO A COOLING FACILITY CALLING 3 1 1 RESERVING 9 1 1 FOR EMERGENCIES. 
          WE'VE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE STATE AND I'M, I'M, I'M SHOUT GIVING SHOUT OUTS FOR THE COUNTY, BUT THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER HAD PREPOSITIONED THEIR TRUCKS. 
          SO YESTERDAY WE WERE DISTRIBUTING ICE, FOOD AND WATER. 
          WE'VE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO 800 MEDICALLY FRAGILE PEOPLE AT THEIR HOMES, A STEER PROGRAM FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS PARTNERING WITH US. 
          NOW, HERE'S SOMETHING I WANNA REALLY ASK YOU TO CONSIDER AS WE GO FORWARD, AND YOU'VE BROUGHT IT UP IN COUNCIL. 
          BEFORE THE UNLIVABLE CONDITIONS OF SOME OF OUR RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, INDEPENDENCE HALLS SUNDAY AFTERNOON WAS DEPLORABLE PEOPLE WITH NO ROOFS OVER THEIR APARTMENTS. 
          THE OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT MANAGERS HAD ABANDONED THE SITE. 
          WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING GOING FORWARD DURING QUOTE, NORMAL TIMES TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CONDITION OF FACILITIES THAT PEOPLE LIVE IN. 
          UH, WE GOT ALL THE RESOURCES ON LOCATION SUNDAY ABOUT FIVE SENIORS, MEDICALLY FRAGILE PEOPLE HAD NOT HAD ANY WATER, FOOD OR ELECTRICITY SINCE THURSDAY NIGHT. 
          SO WE CAN, WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, BUT IF THE MANAGERS AND OWNERS DO NOT BRING THESE CONDITIONS OR THESE FACILITIES TO OUR ATTENTION, INDEPENDENCE HALL, THE PITNER SITE THAT WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN THE LAST FOUR EIGHT HOURS HELPING INDIVIDUALS RECOVER, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING, IF THERE'S CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR ABANDONING THESE FOLKS THAT WERE LOCKED IN THEIR APARTMENTS. 
          HPD ACTUALLY HELPED THE HOUSTON FIRE KNOCK DOWN A FEW DOORS TO GO IN AND DO RESCUE, UH, FOR THESE MEDICALLY FRAGILE INDIVIDUALS, SENIORS, AND, AND, UM, I WOULD ASK FAMILIES TO CHECK ON THEIR LOVED ONES, WHICH, WHICH, UH, SOME OF THE FAMILIES WERE MISSING. 
          BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE IN A STRONG RECOVERY MODE. 
          I CAN'T THINK I RANK AND FILE EMPLOYEES ENOUGH. 
          THEY HAVE PROPERTY, THEY HAVE FAMILIES THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT THEY TOOK ON THEIR CITY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB. 
          I WOULD SAY WHETHER YOU'RE BLESSED IN YOUR AREA OF TOWN WAS NOT HIT HARD. 
          WE STILL COME TOGETHER TO REACH OUT TO HOUSTONIANS FOR THEIR FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, PETS WERE CONCERNED DURING THE STORM. 
          I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT WHAT I WITNESSED PERSONALLY WITH THE DEDICATION OF EACH OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS. 
          UH, EVEN WITH WITHOUT THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, POLICE AND FIRE, UH, NEVER, NEVER MISSED A BEAT. 
          THE CHIEFS WERE THERE WITH THE RANK AND FILE. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WENT INTO ACTION. 
          COUNTY, GOVERNMENT, STATE, LOCAL, OUR FOUNDATIONS, OUR PHILANTHROPIC. 
          AND I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE IN A MINUTE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF, UH, THE UNITED WAY AND THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. 
          THERE'S BEEN A PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION, CHARITABLE FUND SET UP. 
          AND UH, I'LL DO THAT IN ONE MOMENT. 
          UH, IN FACT, WHY DON'T WE, UH, ASK, UH, AMANDA, IF Y'ALL WOULD ALLOW ME TO CALL AMANDA MCMILLAN THE PRESIDENT, CEO OF UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON, AND STEPHEN LIN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GREATER HOUSTON, UH, FOUNDATION, IF Y'ALL WOULD COME FORWARD AND GIVE A, A REVIEW OF THE FUND THAT'S BEEN SET UP, THE SEVERE WEATHER AND DERECHO RECOVERY FUND ESTABLISHED BY THE GREATER HOUSTON DISASTER. 
          I'LL YIELD TO, UH, AMANDA, I'LL YIELD TO YOU AND THEN, UH, STEVEN, YOU CAN FOLLOW TO GIVE US WHAT CAN WE DO, UH, AS COUNCIL CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HELP THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS. 
          WE HAD FOLKS THAT EVERYTHING THEY HAD HAD BEEN RUINED WITH THE LOSS OF POWER AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO REPLACE THE BASICS THAT THEY NEED. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. 
          SO I YIELD YOU AT THIS TIME. 
          [02:10:01]
THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          UM, AND GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, AGAIN, MY NAME'S AMANDA MCMILLAN, I'M PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON, ALSO A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H. 
          UM, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND EVERYONE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR YOUR HEROIC EFFORTS TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RECENT STORMS. UM, THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE SEVERE WEATHER AND DIRECTION RECOVERY FUND, WHICH IS WHAT STEVE AND I ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS MORNING. 
          WE KNOW THAT 14% OF HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS OUR REGION ARE STRUGGLING ON INCOMES BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. 
          AND ANOTHER 31% OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE WORKING HARD, AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO COVER THE BASICS FROM MONTH TO MONTH WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, IT'S THESE NEIGHBORS, AS THE MAYOR INDICATED, WHO GET HIT THE HARDEST. 
          THEY'RE FACED WITH EXPENSIVE HOME RE REPAIRS, LOSING, UH, ALL THE FOOD IN THEIR FRIDGE, AND THEY HAVEN'T BUDGETED TO REPLACE, UM, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK AND, AND EARN THEIR WAGES BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED AND THEY'RE HAVING TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE FOR THEIR KIDS. 
          UM, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THE UNITED WAY AND GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CAME TOGETHER A YEAR AGO TO LAUNCH THE GREATER HOUSTON, UH, DISASTER ALLIANCE. 
          IT'S DESIGNED TO SWIFTLY ACTIVATE FUNDING EFFORTS, MOBILIZE OUR TRUSTED NETWORK OF PRO NONPROFIT PARTNERS, AND CONNECT THOSE IN NEED TO RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THEM RECOVER, REBUILD, AND BE MORE RESILIENT IN THE FUTURE. 
          THE SEVERE WEATHER AND RE RECOVERY FUND ALLOWS US TO LIFT UP THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ALSO PROVIDE THEM WITH EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HOME REPAIRS, AND ALSO NAVIGATION TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS FOR FEMA SBA AND OTHER ASSISTANCE AS THEY TRY TO REBUILD AND RECOVER. 
          UM, THIS WILL PROVIDE SERVICES IN HARRIS, MONTGOMERY, AND WALLER COUNTIES. 
          THE FUND. 
          THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS FUND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO TRUSTED NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO HAVE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL BE ABLE TO GET HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST IN AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND EQUITABLE MANNER. 
          AND I'LL ADD TOO FOR THOSE, UM, IF, IF ONE THING Y'ALL CAN DO TO HELP FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP RIGHT NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY DONE SUCH AN AMAZING JOB OF LETTING OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THEY'RE NOT ALONE. 
          UM, THEY CAN CALL 2 1 1. 
          WE'RE AVAILABLE 24 7, UM, 365. 
          THEY CAN CALL 2 1 1 DIRECTLY. 
          THEY CAN TEXT 2 1 1 HOUSTON TO 8 9 8 2 1 1 FOR HELP. 
          THANK YOU. 
          STEVEN AMORE. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          I'M STEVE MASLIN, PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. 
          UH, LET ME ADD MY THANKS TO THE MAYOR AND, UH, TO ALL OF YOU, A PROUD MEMBER OF DISTRICT C. 
          AS A MATTER OF FACT, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS, WHICH WE'RE PRIVILEGED TO SEE UP CLOSE IN HELPING DRIVE RECOVERY OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, WE'RE REMINDED THAT NO ONE ENTITY CAN FIX IT ALL. 
          IT REQUIRES A COLLABORATIVE AND COORDINATED RESPONSE FROM THE NONPROFIT FOR-PROFIT, PUBLIC, AND PHILANTHROPIC SECTORS TO ENSURE THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR REGION GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED TO START THE RECOVERY AND REBUILDING PROCESS. 
          NOW, DISASTER RECOVERY OFTEN REQUIRES MULTIPLE AVENUES OF ASSISTANCE. 
          SO THIS FUND IS MEANT TO COMPLIMENT FEMA AND SBA FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, AND THEREFORE, WE ENCOURAGE IMPACTED FAMILIES TO APPLY FOR THAT ASSISTANCE. 
          NOW, UH, AS AMANDA NOTED, THE FUND WILL SERVE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS, MONTGOMERY, AND WALLER COUNTIES WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING EVENTS THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN APRIL 26TH AND MAY 17TH. 
          WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR FRIENDS AT CENTERPOINT AND COMCAST WHO ARE EACH DONATING $500,000 TO HELP JUMPSTART OUR EFFORTS TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS RECOVER. 
          AND AN EXTRA THANK YOU TO COMCAST AND CENTERPOINT WHO ARE WITH US TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE FUNDS. 
          SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          DIFFICULT TIMES ARE WHEN WE SEE THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AS YOU ALL KNOW, AS OUR NEIGHBORS FACE THE NEXT STEP IN THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY, WE ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO CAN TO SUPPORT THE SEVERE WEATHER AND TO RETRO RECOVERY FUND, ANY AMOUNT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 
          TO MAKE A DONATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW DERECHO FUND.ORG. 
          THAT'S D-E-R-E-C-H-O-F-U-N D.ORG. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          QUESTIONS? NOT THANK Y'ALL. 
          OH, I'M SORRY. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          DIRECTLY TO THEM. 
          COUNCILMAN KAMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          MY REMARKS WERE, UM, MORE DIRECTED TOWARDS YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I DO WANNA THANK THE EFFORTS BEING LAUNCHED. 
          AGAIN, WE DID THIS DURING, UM, THE WINTER STORM AND THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO COME TOGETHER AND THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM NOT JUST THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, BUT NATIONWIDE TO THIS. 
          AND I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK Y WHEN WE WERE AT THE DRC YESTERDAY, UM, THERE WERE A LOT OF NEEDS THERE. 
          UH, AND I KNOW FEMA AND SBA ARE STANDING UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT, UM, I CAME RIGHT TO Y'ALL, Y'ALL IMMEDIATELY 
          [02:15:01]
RESPONDED, GOT RESOURCES IN TO HELP FOLKS THAT NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST, UM, FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AT THE TIME. 
          SO Y'ALL HAVE JUST BEEN TRUE PARTNERS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, VICE MAYOR . 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          UM, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT MOST OF THE POWER OUTAGES THAT ARE LEFT IN THE CITY ARE STILL IN DISTRICT A. 
          SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT CENTERPOINT CAN GET THAT BACK UP AND GOING, UM, VERY SOON. 
          AND I KNOW A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, UM, ARE JUST LEFT WITH NOTHING NOW. 
          AND SO, UM, WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE CONTACTING YOU AND WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          AND, AND WE'RE IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH CENTER POINT. 
          UH, THEIR, UH, BEST PLANS ARE TO BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF THE DAY, UNLESS THERE'S TECHNICAL, CERTAINLY YOUR DISTRICT, BECAUSE THOSE HUGE TRANSMISSION TOWERS WERE KNOCKED DOWN. 
          SO MOST OF THE RESIDENTIAL, MOST OF THE USERS ARE GONNA BE RESTORED BY THE END OF THE DAY. 
          IF YOU DON'T, AND, AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S LIGHTS ARE ON AND YOURS ARE NOT, IT'S GONNA PROBABLY BE SOMETHING AT YOUR, UH, RESIDENCE THAT YOU MIGHT EVEN NEED A, A ELECTRICIAN TO CHECK. 
          BUT, UH, THEY'RE DOWN TO 72,000 IN LESS THAN A WEEK. 
          WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER, OF COURSE. 
          BUT, UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE. 
          THEY BROUGHT IN, UH, ADDITIONAL MUTUAL AID SUPPORT FROM OUT OF TOWN. 
          THERE'S OVER 7,000 LINEMEN OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE TALK. 
          AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA STAY IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH 'EM. 
          BUT IT'S A GREAT TIME TO MENTION, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, UH, HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY TO EMPHASIZE NO COMMUNITIES BEING NEGLECTED. 
          THERE WAS SOME CONCERN, SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT THE EAST END WAS GONNA BE THE LAST TO BE SERVED, AND THAT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. 
          EACH COMMUNITY'S GETTING, UH, THE SERVICE THAT, THAT THE CENTER POINT CAN GET TO 'EM, AND WE'RE MONITORING THAT VERY CAREFULLY. 
          ANOTHER THING ABOUT MISINFORMATION ON MY NOTES IS OUR WATER IS GOOD. 
          THERE WAS SOME MENTION OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THAT WE NEEDED TO BOIL OUR WATER. 
          THAT'S JUST NOT THE FACTS. 
          THE FACTS ARE THE WATER, UH, PLANT IS WORKING AND THE WATER IS GOOD. 
          UM, ANOTHER THING TO ANNOUNCE IS THAT SANITATION IS DOING THEIR REGULAR RUNS AND ALSO PICKING UP DEBRIS. 
          AND IF YOU WANT, UH, SOLID WASTE TO PICK UP YOUR DEBRIS, PUT IT OUT ON THE CURB. 
          AND THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY CONTRACTED WITH THIRD PARTIES TO HELP WITH THAT EFFORT. 
          UM, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TELL YOU ON, ON THURSDAY, UH, WHEN THE STORM BLEW THROUGH, I WAS AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN FOR AFRICA DAY. 
          MM-HMM . 
          SO THE STORM CAME STRAIGHT THROUGH DOWNTOWN, AND I DO WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE GEORGE R. BROWN IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE IN A STORM. 
          THAT CONCRETE BUILDING, WE DIDN'T HEAR IT. 
          UH, WE DIDN'T FEEL IT. 
          WE ONLY SAW IT FROM THE WINDOWS. 
          UM, BUT THAT BUILDING IS WELL CONSTRUCTED, UH, BECAUSE THAT STORM BLEW THROUGH. 
          UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE WAS THERE AT AFRICA DAY, AND HE CAME AND TAPPED ME ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, I'VE GOTTA GO TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER. 
          THERE'S A STORM BLOWING THROUGH WHILE THE STORM WAS BLOWING THROUGH. 
          UM, BUT ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT A FARED, UH, PRETTY WELL. 
          THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS, UM, THE POWER OUTAGES. 
          SO THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED TODAY WILL BE HELPFUL TO RESIDENTS WHO LOST EVERYTHING IN, IN THEIR REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS. 
          UM, BUT BIG SHOUT OUT TO CENTERPOINT, SPECIFICALLY JASON FABRE AND, AND, AND PAUL LOCKE, UM, WHO COMMUNICATED WITH US PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WASTE IS ALREADY OUT PICKING UP THE DEBRIS, UM, THE STAFF FOR THE CONSISTENT, UH, COMMUNICATION. 
          UM, THE FOUNTAIN APPRAISED CHURCH MAYOR, WHEN WE STARTED DOING THE CHARGING AND COOLING STATIONS, I MADE ONE PHONE CALL TO THEM AND THEY SAID, ABSOLUTELY, COUNCIL MEMBER, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IN THE AREA, UNFORTUNATELY, DOESN'T HAVE A GENERATOR. 
          UM, WE'RE WORKING ON A GRANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE THOSE THINGS PROVIDED, BUT THE, THE CHURCH WAS SO WILLING TO JUST OPEN UP THEIR FACILITIES FOR US TO HAVE A COOLING AND CHARGING STATION IN DISTRICT K FOR RESIDENTS. 
          UM, AND JUST WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. 
          AND I THINK NOW AS WE TRANSITION TO RECOVERY, THE SERVICES THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE 
          [02:20:01]
KNOW WHAT FEMA'S PROVIDING AND HOW THEY CAN RECOVER, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GOING TO BE PIVOTAL. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION, AND WE'LL GET THAT OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTERS, UM, AND COMMUNICATE THAT TO AS MANY HOUSTONIANS AS WE CAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          AND THE REAL MESSAGE FROM FEMA IS PEOPLE HAVE TO APPLY, RIGHT? AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY SENDING TEAMS INTO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES WITH A MOBILE TEAM TO ASSIST FOLKS. 
          UH, IN TERMS OF THE SECURITY OF THE GEORGE BROWN, UH, SOME BUILDINGS CLOSER TO CITY HALL DID NOT FARE THAT WELL. 
          THERE'S ABOUT A SIX BLOCK EXCLUSION ZONE. 
          IN FACT, IT'S BEEN INCREASED. 
          SOME OF THE GLASS IN THE BUILDING HAS TO BE SPECIALLY ORDERED. 
          A LOT OF WORKERS, UH, MOST OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS HAVE BEEN RESTORED, BUT IT'S THE WORKERS AND THE SAFETY OF THE SIDEWALKS THAT HAVE TO BE UTMOST ON PEOPLE'S MINDS. 
          SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. 
          THE, THE FAITH COMMUNITIES, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAS BEEN OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THIS. 
          UH, I WAS JUST GIVEN NOTES THAT, UH, SOLID WASTE IS, UH, ALREADY PICKED UP OVER A HUNDRED TONS OF GARBAGE AND RUNNING IN ADDITIONAL 55 CREWS. 
          SO IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK. 
          WE'RE MADE PROGRESS, BUT AS LONG AS ONE HOUSTONIAN ONE RESIDENT DOESN'T HAVE POWER, FOOD, WATER, UH, WHERE ESSENTIALS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING THE IMMEDIATE AID TO HIM, YOU KNOW, , I DON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS, BUT IF I KEEP REACHING INTO MY POCKET TO GIVE MONEY TO, AND, AND TOM MUNOZ AND I WERE AT THE INDEPENDENCE HALL, AND WE JUST, WE SHARED OUR RESOURCES. 
          I CAN'T DO THAT EVERY DAY. 
          BUT, UH, I, I THINK IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF, OF EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER AND THE FAMILIES ARE JUST WITHOUT THE, THE ESSENTIALS. 
          AT PITNER YESTERDAY WE TALKED TO A A, A FAMILY IN LINE. 
          SHE HAD A YOUNG BABY AND AN 11-YEAR-OLD, THEY'D WALK 45 MINUTES WALKING IN THE HEAT FROM HAMMERLY AND, UH, GUESSING HER OVER TO THE PITNER SITE. 
          AND, UH, I ACTUALLY HAD MY, MY SECURITY DETAIL GIVE THEM A RIDE HOME. 
          I CAN'T HELP EVERYONE WITH THAT SPECIALIZED SERVICE, BUT IF WE HELP ONE FAMILY, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE. 
          BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS I'M HAVING TODAY ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT, ALL HANDS ON DECK AND WORKING, UM, IS GONNA GET US THROUGH THIS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY, UH, COME TOGETHER TO TRY TO HELP, UH, THE CITY GET THROUGH THIS. 
          WE FINALLY GOT POWER RESTORED LAST NIGHT AT SIX, SO THANK YOU. 
          CENTER POINT, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE 90,000 OTHER CUSTOMERS THAT ARE STILL, STILL WAITING FOR THAT. 
          I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. 
          A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE ANNOUNCED, AND THANKS TO UNITED WAY AND OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS, UM, CENTER POINT AND COMCAST FOR STEPPING UP TO HELP HOUSTONIANS. 
          UH, IS THERE A TIME TIMELINE FOR TIMETABLE FOR APPLICATION? GREAT QUESTION. 
          AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, WE HAVE A, A GROUP, A GRANT MAKING GROUP CONVENING LATER TODAY TO GET THAT PROCESS STARTED. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO AS PART OF THESE RECOVERY FUNDS IS AS SOON AS THE DOLLARS ARE IN THE DOOR, AS SOON AS WE GET ENOUGH TO GET BACK OUT, THE DOOR IS DESIGNED TO GET IT OUT RAPIDLY. 
          FOR INSTANCE, AFTER THE WINTER STORM, UH, WE, WE APPROVED OUR FIRST ROUND OF GRANT MAKING FOUR DAYS AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE HELD AFTER THAT STORM. 
          SO IT IS DESIGNED TO MOVE VERY RAPIDLY AND GET APPLICATIONS OPEN QUICKLY. 
          SO WE WOULD ANTICIPATE, UM, PROBABLY OVER THE NEXT WEEK, WE GET OUR FIRST ROUND OF GRANT MAKING DONE TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD HELP US GET THINGS OUT IN THE, INTO THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND DO YOU HAVE, UH, IDEAS IN MIND ABOUT WHAT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS THERE MIGHT BE? WE, WE ARE LOOKING TO TARGET LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. 
          SO, UH, WE TALK A LOT AT UNITED WAY ABOUT ALICE ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED. 
          SO THAT WOULD COVER FAMILIES ABOVE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE AS WELL, WHO ARE STILL, WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET EVERY MONTH. 
          OKAY. 
          AND ABOUT HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE YOU HOPING TO SERVE WITH THIS PROGRAM? UH, IT DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS RAISED. 
          AND, UM, WE TYPICALLY, FOR THESE FUNDS, WE'LL ALLOCATE ABOUT 25% OF THE FUND TO EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND THEN ABOUT 75% OF THE PROCEEDS FOR HOME REPAIR, AND THEN ALSO NAVIGATION. 
          SO WE CAN HELP PEOPLE GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF GETTING FEMA ASSISTANCE AND SBA ASSISTANCE AS WELL. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THIS. 
          THIS IS MUCH NEEDED. 
          AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          I'M GONNA ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE, UH, THE DIRECTOR A PARTS. 
          KENNETH ALLEN. 
          UM, PARKS WENT INTO IMMEDIATE, IMMEDIATE ACTION. 
          A LOT OF OUR PARKS, CERTAINLY 
          [02:25:01]
MEMORIAL PARKS, SUFFERED A LOSS OF SOME LARGE TREES AND, UH, AND, UH, VERY VALUABLE TREES. 
          IT'LL BE HARD TO RESTORE. 
          UM, THE DISPATCHERS AT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WAS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK EXTRAS, BROUGHT IN, UM, CHIEF MUNICH, HIS ASSISTANT TOM MUNOZ. 
          EVERYONE, UH, YOU COULD JUST, YOU COULD FEEL THE MORALE OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES WANTING TO HELP OTHERS. 
          DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WAS VERY ACTIVE. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, WE OFTEN IN OUR OFFICE USE 2 1 1. 
          AND SO IT'S JUST NICE WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO CALL CONSTITUENTS AND YOU'RE, THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE REFERRING A TRUSTED PARTNER, SOMEONE THAT JUST DOESN'T SHOW UP WHEN IT'S AN EMERGENCY, BUT SHOWS UP ALL THE TIME. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, AND, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR IT YET, BUT DOES THE RESIDENT HAVE TO SHOW A DENIAL OF A FEMA CLAIM BEFORE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE? POSSIBLY AT, AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT THINK THEY WOULD FOR THE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 
          UM, SO, WE'LL, WE'LL, I THINK WE'LL KIND LOOK AT THE GRANT MAKING THERE AND MAKE SOME DETERMINATIONS THERE. 
          BUT I THINK PARTICULARLY FOR THE NEAR TERM IMMEDIATE NEEDS, I DO NOT THINK THAT WOULD BE A FACTOR. 
          TYPICALLY, ONE OF THE REAL BENEFITS IS HOW QUICKLY THIS GETS OUT. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE AHEAD OF THOSE KIND OF DETERMINATIONS IN MOST CASES. 
          PERFECT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HOPMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU UNITED WAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO. 
          UM, THE CITY COULDN'T, UH, RECOVER AS QUICKLY WITHOUT, UH, YOUR EFFORTS. 
          AND THANK YOU TO COMCAST AND ALSO TO CENTER POINT, UM, IN THE FUTURE. 
          MAYOR, IT MAY BE HELPFUL IF CENTER POINT LEADERSHIP COULD POSSIBLY COME TO COUNCIL AFTER AN EVENT LIKE THIS TO KIND OF GIVE AN AFTER ACTION REPORT AND ANSWER COUNCIL MEMBER'S QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE STILL, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE AND HOW WE CAN ALWAYS DO THINGS BETTER. 
          EXCELLENT SUGGESTION. 
          THEY HAD, UH, A VICE PRESIDENT IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER GIVEN US HOURLY REPORTS, BUT, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT TO COME FORWARD, COUNSEL WOULD BE A A GREAT IDEA. 
          WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE THAT, UH, MAKE THAT HAPPEN. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, AND DEFINITELY WANNA, UH, MAKE SURE WE GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL AS STEVE AND DAVID. 
          KIM WAS INFORMED, UH, REGULARLY. 
          WE HAD MORNING DEBRIEF, UH, YOU KNOW, AFTERNOON DEBRIEF, AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE, THE FUND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEND IT ON A NEWSLETTER, PROBABLY SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS FOLKS THAT WILL NOT GET THIS INFORMATION MM-HMM . 
          UM, AND SO, UM, HOWEVER WE COULD BE HELPFUL WITHIN MY OFFICE TO CANVAS, BUT ALSO IF THERE'S ANY RESOURCES FROM YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN GET IT ON THE GROUND. 
          UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE NOTICED EVEN MORE SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, THE EAST END WAS HIT, UH, PRETTY HARD, BUT ALSO THE NORTHEAST PART OF DISTRICT I MM-HMM . 
          AND SOME FOLKS FORGET ABOUT THAT. 
          THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WOOD BAYOU SONG, WOOD GREENS, BAYOU ESTATE, EL DORADO, UM, AND THEY, THEY'RE POCKET NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO THEY'RE EASILY CANVASED, BUT THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION MM-HMM . 
          UM, THERE'S NO COMMUNITY CENTER OUT THERE. 
          THERE'S NO MULTI-SERVICE CENTER OUT THERE. 
          UH, THE CLOSEST THING WE HAVE TO THEM IS, UH, NORTHEAST, UM, UM, HCC. 
          AND SO, UM, DEFINITELY WANNA WORK WITH YOUR, WITH YOU ALL WITH MY OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION TO THE FOLKS THAT REALLY NEED IT AND MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TO WHETHER IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA OR, OR NEWSLETTERS OR EMAILS. 
          AND SO, UM, A QUESTION JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON COUNCILLOR RAMIREZ. 
          UM, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH AMOUNT WE RECEIVE, RIGHT? UH, WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE AVERAGE, UH, AMOUNT WILL BE PER FAMILY? MM-HMM . 
          UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY PUTTING OUR FUND TOGETHER BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS OF UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER FAMILY IN EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND UP TO $15,000 PER HOUSEHOLD FOR HOME REPAIR. 
          UM, THANK YOU. 
          UM, AND, AND I'LL TAKE THIS, I'LL TAKE THIS TIME AS WELL. 
          UH, MAYOR, UH, UH, WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT CENTER POINT, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, THE THINGS IN THE EAST END, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE, THE POWER LINES ARE BEHIND HOMES, AND A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW THAT THEY NEED A CALL CENTER POINT TO ADDRESS THOSE TREE TRIMMING. 
          AND IT'D BE GREAT TO, UH, WORK WITH THEM, MAYBE WITH THE ENTIRE CITY TO HAVE A, A DAY OF TRIMMING OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING OF THAT SORT. 
          UH, PEOPLE CALL 3 1 1 AND, AND THEY, THEY THINK THAT IT'S THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. 
          BUT ONCE THOSE TREE LIMBS START CROSSING SOME OF THE, UH, THE POWER LINES, THEN IT BECOMES CENTER POINTS RESPONSIBILITY. 
          AND I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT HOW MUCH RESOURCES THEY ACTUALLY PUT OUT, UM, IN TRIMMING THOSE TREE, UH, TREE LIMBS. 
          BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE PILOT A DAY OF TRIMMING, UH, IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S IN THE EAST END OR IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE DISTRICT. 
          AND, AND THEN, UH, JUST FINALLY, UH, JUST WANTED 
          [02:30:01]
TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT DEFINITELY TO THE THREE, UH, CHURCHES. 
          SO YOU MENTIONED NONPROFITS, BUT I'M HOPING THAT CHURCHES CAN ALSO BE A PART OF THIS, THIS, UH, CONVERSATION. 
          IIA FE PO ON NAVIGATION, PASTOR CANTU, NORTH SHORE, UH, FELLOWSHIP CHURCH, PASTOR DIXON AND ST. 
          MATTHEWS MISSIONARY, UH, BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, PASTOR LACEY. 
          UH, THOSE HAVE BEEN, THOSE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT I'VE BEEN LEANING ON. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, AND FOR BETTER OR WORSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH DISASTERS AND, UH, WE'VE HAD NONPROFITS THAT HAVE BEEN HELP HELPFUL, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES THEY GET OVERWHELMED. 
          THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO, TO TAKE ON SOME OF THIS, UH, ASSISTANCE. 
          AND SO, UH, I KNOW HISTORICALLY WE'VE GOTTEN CALLS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND FOLKS DIDN'T GET HELP, UH, WITH WHATEVER AGENCY THAT THEY'RE CONNECT TRYING TO CONNECT WITH. 
          UM, SO I'D LOVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN BE MORE ON THE GROUND, ON THE GROUND WITH SOME OF THE, THE CHURCHES THAT THEY DO HAVE THAT TRUST AND THEY VISIT WITH THEM WEEKLY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE, THOSE, THAT LEADERSHIP IS ACTUALLY, UH, POINT OF CONTACT FOR SOME OF THESE FUNDS AS WELL. 
          YEAH, WE AGREE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY IS A CRITICAL PARTNER IN TIMES OF DISASTER, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE PART OF A LOT OF THE NETWORKS WE WORK WITH. 
          AND WE, WE LEARNED AFTER HARVEY THAT OUR, OUR ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES ARE, ARE TRUSTED PARTNERS IN INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS FOR NEEDS. 
          SO, UM, WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, HAVE, UM, AVAILABILITY TO GET SOME SUPPORT FOR THAT AS WELL, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH SMALLER NONPROFITS THAT SOMETIMES WOULDN'T NORMALLY COME TO MIND IMMEDIATELY, BUT THEY HAVE TRUST IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AND IN AREAS WHERE YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY SEE SOME OF THE BIGGER INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. 
          YEAH, I, I AGREE. 
          UH, SOMETIMES WE JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THE, THE LARGER NONPROFITS FOR THAT, THAT QUICK SUPPORT. 
          UH, BUT SOMETIMES EVEN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AREN'T IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. 
          EXACTLY. 
          AS MUCH AS WE, WE THINK, UH, OR WOULD HOPE. 
          UM, AND SO THOSE SMALLER NONPROFITS ARE DEFINITELY A, A HUGE HELPING HAND, SO. 
          YEP, EXACTLY. 
          UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE SUPPORT Y'ALL ARE BRINGING TO HOUSTONIANS AND COUNCILOR. 
          I WANT YOU TO KNOW EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WE'VE EMPHASIZED MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE WORKERS, UH, IN SOCIAL AGENCIES WITH FEMA, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE, CERTAINLY HAVE BILINGUAL, UH, WORKERS AVAILABLE. 
          WE ENCOUNTERED THAT AT THE PITNER SITE OVER THE WEEKEND, THAT, UH, THERE WERE SOME BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION. 
          ALSO, WE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE EVERYONE, EVERYONE'S WELCOME TO REACH OUT FOR ASSISTANCE ON THE FEMA APPLICATIONS. 
          ONE, YOU HAVE TO, THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. 
          BUT EVEN IF YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO APPLY, IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT IS A US CITIZEN, YOU CERTAINLY CAN COME FORWARD AND RECEIVE FEMA AND OTHER ASSISTANCE THAT ARE AVAILABLE DURING A CRISIS LIKE THIS. 
          WE REACH OUT TO EVERYONE THAT IS A HOUSTON RESIDENT. 
          UH, ALSO, UH, YOU TALK ABOUT THE, UH, TRIMMING OF TREES. 
          I KNOW CENTER POINT HAS A PRETTY VIGOROUS PROGRAM OF GOING DOWN THEIR EASEMENT. 
          A LOT OF THE TREES ARE IN ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES, SO THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE. 
          ONE THING WE DID DISCOVER DURING THE, UH, CRISIS IS SOME LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND, UH, LACK OF RESOURCES, WHICH WE ARE AWARE OF, EVEN DURING NORMAL TIMES. 
          CERTAINLY HPD UH, BROUGHT ON ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, LONG HOURS, UH, TO PROTECT NOT ONLY LIES, BUT PROPERTIES. 
          THERE WAS SOME INCREASE IN BURGLARIES IN THE, UH, AREAS WITHOUT ENERGY. 
          SO AGAIN, I COULD GO FORWARD IN, IN, UM, THANK THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, SACRIFICED TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY AS FIRST RESPONDERS AND CITY WORKERS, UH, AND MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND, UM, FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION, UM, WITH US. 
          UM, I PIGGYBACK, UM, WHAT COUNCIL MARTINEZ, UM, MENTIONED ABOUT THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, HOW WE LEAN ON THEM TO BASICALLY HELP, UM, HELP OUR, HOW COMMUNITIES RECOVER. 
          AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THE MAX AMOUNTS FOR THE SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND DO THEY GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS RESIDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET, UM, FUNDING OR SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT? MM-HMM . 
          UM, WE DON'T HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS, SO WE'RE, WE'LL BE RELYING ON OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO HELP DISTRIBUTE THIS AID THROUGH AND INTO THE COMMUNITY. 
          UM, AND, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LEVERAGE SOME OF THAT FUNDING TO COVER THEIR PROGRAM COSTS BECAUSE, UM, NONPROFITS ARE ALSO BUSINESSES AND YEAH. 
          AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR TEAMS AS THEY, AS THEY GET OUT AND DO THIS IMPORTANT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          OKAY. 
          DO YOU ADD ANYTHING TO THAT, STEVE? YEAH, BUT THERE'S, WE, WE HAVE A PRETTY RIGOROUS PROCESS TO EVALUATE THE NONPROFITS TO QUALIFY AS PARTNERS. 
          SO WE GO THROUGH THAT, BUT THEN WHEN THE MONEY GETS DISTRIBUTED, 
          [02:35:01]
YOU KNOW, THEIR ROLE AS, AS AMANDA SAYS, IS TO GET IT OUT TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE FAMILIES, BUT THERE WILL BE A PIECE OF IT THAT HELPS COVER THEIR COSTS. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILOR CAVIN. 
          THANK YOU, MERYL. 
          JUST, UH, MAKE MY REMARKS NOW AS IT RELATES TO EVERYTHING. 
          I KNOW WHEN YOU OPENED UP, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT HEAT RIGHT NOW, UM, AND I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING HEAT. 
          WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES WITHOUT POWER. 
          UM, I DID WANNA EMPHASIZE WITH RESIDENTS, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF COMMENTS, UM, AND WE APPRECIATE CENTER POINT GETTING, UH, THE MAPS THAT THEY DO HAVE UP AND GOING AGAIN. 
          UH, BUT THERE'S NEIGHBORHOODS THAT AREN'T REFLECTED ON THERE. 
          WE KNOW THAT, UM, THAT DOESN'T MEAN DON'T, UH, PLEASE KEEP REPORTING TO CENTER POINT, LET OUR OFFICES KNOW. 
          THAT DOESN'T MEAN CENTER POINT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE MAPS. 
          BUT THAT BEING SAID, UM, REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE CITY. 
          IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO POWER, TO PLEASE GO TO ONE OF THE COOLING CENTERS, UM, OR SOMEWHERE TO GET RELIEF OUT OF THE HEAT. 
          DO NOT WAIT, UM, UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE. 
          AND YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING THE SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND, UH, LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS. 
          SO MAYOR JUST REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO PUSH THE FACT THAT WE ARE SEEING, UM, BRUTAL HEAT RIGHT NOW AND THE DANGERS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. 
          UH, ALSO, MAYOR, YOU ARE PUSHING OUT, UH, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. 
          UM, WE WERE WITH ADMINISTRATOR SWELL YESTERDAY AND SBA, UM, THE FEDERAL RESOURCES ARE COMING IN. 
          ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS WITH ANY DISASTER FOR A CITY IS AN ADDITIONAL FORM CALLED I THROUGH I STAT, UM, THAT WE'RE ALL ASKING RESIDENTS TO FILL OUT IF YOU HAVE HOME DAMAGE. 
          IT HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING IN THIS INCIDENT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE HOMES AND BUSINESS DAMAGE IS, BECAUSE IT'S SO SPORADIC, BECAUSE IT'S TREES FALLING AND WIND DAMAGE. 
          AND WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, UH, THE CITY DOESN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO BE FOCUSING RESOURCES. 
          AND IT ALSO HELPS US DRAW DOWN THOSE RESOURCES. 
          UH, MAYOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I KNOW IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ASK FOR THOSE DIRECT ALLOCATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY, BUT I STAT IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT IN THAT. 
          SO WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THAT OUT. 
          BUT IF THE MEDIA CAN ALSO PLEASE HELP EDUCATE RESIDENTS, WE REALLY NEED, IN ADDITION TO THOSE FEDERAL FORMS BEING FILLED OUT, THAT IAP FORM. 
          UM, AND ALSO TO JUST BE AWARE OF SCAMS RIGHT NOW FOR RESIDENTS. 
          WE GOT A LOT OF DOOR TO DOOR SCAMS HAPPENING. 
          PLEASE USE TRUSTED RECOVERY RESOURCES, INCLUDING YOU ALL, UM, THAT ARE UP HERE THROUGH THE DISASTER ALLIANCE. 
          UH, BUT THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO FOR A LOT OF US. 
          I KNOW DISTRICT A AND DISTRICT C, UM, HAVE SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. 
          THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE NOT SUFFERING RIGHT NOW FROM POWER OUTAGES EITHER. 
          UM, SO IT HAS BEEN A VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UM, BOTH AT THE CITY LEVEL, THE COUNTY LEVEL, UH, BUT WE DO HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, AND I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS ARE BEING AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW. 
          UH, AND IF YOU NEED A FREE RIDE TO A COOLING CENTER, PLEASE CALL 3 1 1 OR METRO. 
          UH, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF, LOT OF HEAT, UH, IMPACT RIGHT NOW. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 
          AND I KNOW YOU WERE IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER MOST OF THE WAKING HOURS AND, AND SOME AFTER WAKING HOURS. 
          BUT, UH, WE HAVE 50 COOLING CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY. 
          NO ONE'S, UH, BEING OVERLOOKED. 
          AND IF A COUNCIL MEMBER CAN BRING SOMETHING TO MY ATTENTION, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK TOGETHER TO GET THE RESOURCES THERE. 
          METRO'S BEEN GREAT ABOUT BRINGING SOME, UH, VEHICLES AS TEMPORARY COOLING CENTERS AS WE'VE DISCOVERED SOME OF THE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES THAT ARE UNDERSERVED. 
          YEP. 
          AND I MAYOR, IF I CAN JUST RECLAIM A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME. 
          UM, ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND I, I PERSONALLY WANNA THANK, UM, CHIEF PENA AND I WENT ON SCENE TOGETHER TO THE FIRST SENIOR CENTER THAT WE FOUND, UM, SURE. 
          HEIGHTS TOWER. 
          AND I KNOW THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO THAT, UM, AFTERWARDS. 
          AND I KNOW THERE'S AN ITEM TODAY ON, UM, SENIOR BOARDING HOMES THAT I'LL, I'LL TALK ABOUT MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER TOOLS WE CAN LEVERAGE. 
          BUT, UM, BASED ON WHAT WE SAW THERE, UH, MAYOR, YOU AND YOUR TEAM JUMPED INTO ACTION CITYWIDE. 
          UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP, THE TEAMWORK, BUT WHAT I SAW THERE, I'M NOT SOON TO FORGET. 
          AND, UH, WE'RE CONTINUING TO CHECK IN ON THEM. 
          BUT THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF NEED RIGHT NOW. 
          IT, IT IS SO AMAZING HOW QUICK I, AND I WAS THERE, I GOT TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER TO GET OUTTA THE STORM  AND THEN TO WATCH IT 
          [02:40:01]
UNFOLD. 
          UH, WE CAN ALL JUST BE SO GLAD WE'RE HOUSTONIANS. 
          NOT THAT WE EXPERIENCE THESE WEATHER, BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST, ONCE AGAIN, YOU GET TO SEE HOW WE COME TOGETHER. 
          I THINK THE COLLABORATIONS ON, I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE OVER 50 YEARS. 
          I'VE BEEN THROUGH STORMS. I'VE WORKED WITH EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. 
          I'VE NEVER SEEN THE COLLABORATION. 
          I JUST BELIEVE IT'S UNPRECEDENTED. 
          AND TO SHOW AGAIN, HOW CITY GOVERNMENTS RESPONDING. 
          UH, LET'S TAKE PERMITTING FOR INSTANCE. 
          THIS IS A GOOD ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS SET UP AN EXPEDITED REVIEW PROCESS FOR REPLACEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL ROOFING AND FENCING. 
          I, JOHN WHITMEYER REQUIRING ALL DISCIPLINES INVOLVED IN THE PERMIT PROCESS TO BE A PART OF THE EXPEDITED REVIEW PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INSTRUCTED TO ALLOW REPLACEMENT REPAIR STRUCTURES IN THE ORIGINAL FOOTPRINT, PROVIDED THE CONSTRUCTION DOES NOT VIOLATE A DEED RESTRICTION. 
          SO IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, WE CANNOT LET RED TAPE IF DONE, IF THE PROCESS IS DONE SAFELY, WE CANNOT LET RED TAPE GET IN THE WAY OF, UM, REPAIRS OF ROOFING, ELECTRICAL, AND FENCING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          PUBLIC WORKS. 
          AND RANDY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          JUST TO THE POINT TO ADD ON TO WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KINGMAN MENTIONED ALSO GENERATORS AND JUST, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, I KNOW THAT HFD, UM, HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB KIND OF PUTTING THAT ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION TO OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE, UM, THE RISKS OF GENERATORS. 
          I WENT TO ONE CONSTITUENT'S HOME, UM, JUST TO BRING HER SOME ICE AND SHE HAD A, UM, A MOTOR LIKE, UM, A GAS MOTOR THAT I THINK WAS MAYBE FEEDING THE, YOU KNOW, GIVING THE GENERATOR ELECTRICITY OR WHATEVER. 
          AND, UM, THE FUMES WERE JUST INSANE. 
          AND IT WAS JUST THE GAS BURNING AND, BUT, BUT IT WAS OUTSIDE, BUT IT WAS ON HER PORCH. 
          IT WAS LIKE THREE STEPS AWAY FROM HER FRONT DOOR. 
          AND A LOT OF THE OLDER HOMES ARE NOT REALLY, REALLY INSULATED WELL. 
          SO I KNOW THOSE FUMES HAVE TO BE INSIDE, BUT IF THERE'S, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO THAT, BUT WE NEED TO PUT SOME GENERATOR HOW THE BEST PRACTICES OF HOW TO USE A GENERATOR. 
          UM, I THINK'S IMPORTANT. 
          ANOTHER PIECE TOO IS, UM, A LOT OF OUR SENIORS WERE USING, UM, LANTERNS THAT HAD LIKE OIL IN THEM, LIKE THE BURNING OIL IN THEM WITH THE WICKS. 
          LIKE THOSE CAN BE DANGEROUS SOMETIMES WHEN THEY'VE GOT A CANDLE NEXT TO THEM. 
          I, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW. 
          I MEAN, AS WE'RE MOVING INTO HURRICANE SEASON, IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN JUST DO A BIT OF A BETTER JOB PUTTING OUT, UM, SOME PUBLIC MESSAGING, UM, ON, WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB DURING THE FREEZE WITH LIKE HEATERS AND NOT PUTTING BLANKETS NEXT TO THEM AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          BUT WHEN WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION, I THINK THAT, UM, IF WE CAN DO SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC MESSAGE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. 
          CHIEF PENA MENTIONED THE, UH, DANGERS OF CARBON MONOXIDE AS A RESULT OF USE IN GENERATION AT EVERY PRESS AVAILABILITY. 
          AND OBVIOUSLY GREAT THAT YOU BRING IT UP THIS MORNING. 
          UH, THE FUMES, CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE GENERATORS WILL, UH, WILL INJURE YOUR HEALTH AND IT'S, IT'S LIFE ARE DEATH MATTER. 
          AND, AND I THINK A MATTER OF FACT COULD JUST ADD, MAYBE WE DO IT AT LIKE CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AT TOWN, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. 
          BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SENIORS DIDN'T HAVE CELL PHONES AND THEY WEREN'T WATCHING TV, SO THEY MISS A LOT OF THOSE MESSAGES. 
          I MEAN, WE WERE SENDING OUT MESSAGES TO PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND THEN THEY WERE FEEDING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SENIORS JUST DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS. 
          WELL, NOT ONLY SENIORS, I MEAN EVERYONE, UM, IF YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT TO A CHARGING STATION. 
          SO MAYBE IF WE COULD START PUTTING THAT OUT AT LIKE THESE, OUR, OUR CLUB, OUR MEETINGS, OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS EARLY ON, MAYBE AN OPTION TOO. 
          UM, BUT JUST I THINK WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX IN THAT ONE A LITTLE BIT. 
          WE, WE'VE ACTUALLY ASKED TXDOT FOR PERMISSION TO USE SOME OF THEIR DIGITAL BILLBOARDS, UH, BY AGREEMENT IT WAS RESTRICTED FOR TRANSPORTATION ITEMS. WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
          SO THIS IS A, UH, THAT YOU GOT ME THINKING THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, UH, AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION. 
          SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUM, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. 
          UM, THE TEXAS TOOL BANK, WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE GENERATORS FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO DISASTER RECOVERY OR REPAIR. 
          WE HAD BLUE TARPS, AND SO WE WERE DELIVERING, UM, GENERATORS AND TARPS AND CUTTING TREES. 
          BUT WHEN WE, AS WE STARTED, UM, DELIVERING GENERATORS TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND TO SOME, YOU KNOW, LARGER BUILDINGS SO THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE CAN GET IN, WE REALIZED THAT WE HADN'T TRAINED THEM ON HOW TO USE THE GENERATOR. 
          AND 
          [02:45:01]
SO IT WAS HELPFUL TO GET, UM, SENIORS WHO ACTUALLY NEEDED ELECTRICITY, YOU KNOW, HAD OXYGEN TANKS, SOME, SOME ELECTRICITY. 
          HOWEVER, IT WAS DANGEROUS. 
          AND SO I JUST THINK LIKE REALLY TRAINING THE CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, UM, THE DANGERS OF, UM, GENERATORS WOULD BE HELPFUL. 
          BUT THEN ALSO HAVING GENERATORS. 
          I MEAN, WE HAD MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS THAT WAS NOT OPERATING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A GENERATOR. 
          AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO, UM, AS A CITY. 
          THANKS. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          COUNCILOR CARTER, I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, AT THIS POINT TO TRY TO REALLY PUSH OUT INFORMATION ON THE EMERGENCY ALERT OR TEXT MESSAGES AND SUCH. 
          AND WE NEED TO, TO, TO YOUR POINT AT THE, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND SUCH, CONTINUE TO REMIND PEOPLE TO, UH, REGISTER FOR THE ALERTS. 
          UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TRAVELING AROUND TO SOME OF THE COOLING CENTERS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S INDIVIDUALS AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT'S OPEN. 
          AND IT'S NO FAULT OF ANYONE OTHER THAN HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU DON'T KNOW? RIGHT? YOU'RE NOT SITTING HOME WATCHING TELEVISION IF YOU HAVE NO POWER. 
          SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REMIND PEOPLE TO REGISTER FOR THESE SYSTEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THAT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT'S NECESSARY TO GET THEM TO THE RESOURCES, WHETHER COOLING CENTER, WHETHER GENERATOR SAFETY, WHATEVER. 
          I THINK WE HAVE A, CERTAINLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOUND AND EXPAND ON THAT ALERT TO HOUSTON. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S A, CERTAINLY A VERY RESOURCE. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. 
          ONE MORE QUESTION, ONE MORE COMMENT. 
          UM, ALSO FOOD SPOILAGE. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF SENIORS KNOW HOW LONG THEIR FOOD CAN BE IN THE REFRIGERATOR AT A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE. 
          AND WE, WE WERE TELLING A COUPLE PEOPLE, NO, YOU CANNOT EAT THAT FOOD. 
          IT'S ALREADY BEEN TWO DAYS. 
          AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS SIMPLE. 
          I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD JUST KINDA BE COMMON KNOWLEDGE, BUT WE'LL GET WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK, ADVISEMENTS, UH, TEXT, EMAIL COULD, UH, CAUTION ABOUT THE, UH, JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN GET REALLY SICK. 
          SURE. 
          THE OTHER PIECE IS, UM, WE USED TO HAVE THE EXTREME WEATHER EXPO. 
          NO, A COUPLE. 
          DO WE, DO WE STILL HAVE IT? IS IT LIKE HURRICANE, LIKE, LIKE HURRICANE READINESS? ARE WE, ARE WE DOING THAT THIS YEAR? WE'LL CHECK ON THAT. 
          GREAT. 
          'CAUSE A LOT OF THE NON-PROFITS, THAT'S, THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT, UM, RESOURCE. 
          UH, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THE PUBLIC THAT, UH, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, IF THERE'S SOME RECOMMENDATION OR, UH, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, UH, WE STAND READY TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, OUR PARTNERS IN PROVIDING THE SERVICES AND CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHARING INFORMATION AND COLLABORATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS, IS WELCOME. 
          WE'RE COMING UP ON A LONG WEEKEND OF RECOVERY. 
          UH, I WOULD URGE US TO USE THIS TIME, UH, TO RESUPPLY OUR FOOD PANTRIES. 
          THE FOOD BANK WAS RUNNING SHORT. 
          I WOULD, UH, ASK OUR CHARITABLE PARTNERS TO HELP THE FOOD PANTRIES, CERTAINLY ASSIST OUR CONSTITUENTS WITH FEMA AND SBA REGISTRATION, PROTECT OUR PROPERTY, GET TREES OFF HOUSES, TARPS ON ROOFS, AND, UH, SHARE INFORMATION. 
          THE INFORMATION IS SO VALUABLE AS WAS JUST, UH, EXPRESSED. 
          SO WITH THAT SAID, UH, I'LL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PRESS AND AVAILABLE TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. 
          UH, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. 
          THE COLLABORATION IS MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE. 
          AND, UH, IF NOTHING ELSE, ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY REPORTS, IF NOT, I WOULD 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
ASK THE MADAM SECRETARY TO MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CONSENT. 
          UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEM ONE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. 
          ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION AS SIXT A MOVE. 
          ACT SECONDS. 
          MOTION MADE, AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. 
          ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION CAST NEXTT TO MOVE. 
          ACT SECONDS. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORIES. 
          ITEM EIGHT HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 
          ITEMS 5, 12, 17, AND 18 HAVE BEEN 
          [02:50:01]
REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE? UH, 16. 
          A MOVE. 
          NEXT. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. 
          RIGHT. 
          ITEMS 27, 28, 46 AND 47 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED AT THE, BY THE END OF THE AGENDA. 
          ITEMS 21, 22, 29, 36, 37, 38, 39 AND 40 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN. 
          21, 22, 29, 36, 37, 38, 39, AND 40. 
          NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? THANK YOU. 
          VOTE. 
          JUST A VOTE. 
          YEAH. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. 
          MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. 
          UH, JUST THANKING THE TEAM. 
          DO WE WANT THE MOTION FIRST? OH, YES. 
          PASS. 
          . 
          MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? NO. 
          NO. 
          CA WE WANTED THE MOTION. 
          COUNCILMAN KAMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          QUICKLY JUST THANKING THE TEAM, UH, FOR THIS PACKAGE OF HYBRIDS. 
          WE APPRECIATE IT. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 12, NEEDS OF, NEEDS A MOTION CAST. 
          TATUM MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          COUNCIL CAYMAN. 
          COUNCILOR CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          REALLY QUICKLY, UM, THIS IS, UH, AN ITEM I'M GONNA SUPPORT. 
          IT'S FOR ODOR CONTROL SYSTEMS. UH, FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT. 
          I DID WANNA BRING UP ONE ISSUE, UH, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          LAZY BROOK, TIMBER GROVE. 
          ALSO AN AREA DEVASTATED BY THIS CURRENT STORM. 
          BUT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE 11TH STREET WASTEWATER TREATMENT. 
          THERE. 
          THE ODOR IS EXTREMELY BAD. 
          WE'VE TRIED EVERYTHING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS. 
          UH, THEY'VE BROUGHT IN, UH, REPAIR SERVICES, ODOR CONTROL TOWERS, AND MONITORS. 
          UM, WE'RE EVEN COORDINATING A PUBLIC MEETING TO TRY TO EXPLAIN SOME OF IT, BUT NOTHING, UH, THAT THE CITY SEEMS TO BE DOING IS WORKING. 
          AND THE ODOR CARRIES ACROSS THE BAYOU. 
          UH, SO I AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ODOR ISSUES, UH, RELATED TO THIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 17 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. 
          MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION. 
          COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          THE VOTE. 
          COURT. 
          AFTER. 
          BEFORE. 
          YES. 
          AFTER. 
          OKAY. 
          VOTE. 
          AND THEN VOTE. 
          AND THEN THOSE ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          RAMIREZ. 
          COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          FULLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM, WHICH HAS JUST PASSED. 
          UM, THIS WILL HELP, UH, THE CITY BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, WHICH, UH, WE, WE NEED, UH, ALSO INVOLVE SOME FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, DOING A DEEP DIVE INTO PARTS OF, UH, CITY GOVERNMENT. 
          AND WE SUPPORTED IT. 
          AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO BEING, UH, PART OF THE PROCESS, GOING THROUGH IT AND PROVIDING SOME INPUT HOPEFULLY AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILOR ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YES, I AGREE. 
          UM, THIS IS A GOOD MOVE. 
          UH, I'VE GONE THROUGH THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE PROPOSAL. 
          IT'S VERY THOROUGH. 
          IT'S AMAZING TO ME THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN SIX WEEKS. 
          UM, I DO FEEL, UM, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ SAID IT WOULD BE GREAT TO, FOR, FOR THIS GROUP TO GET INPUT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ALONG THE WAY. 
          UM, WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT DEPARTMENTS, WE'RE DOING A DEEP DIVE THROUGH THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS RIGHT NOW, UM, LOOKING AT PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND THINGS. 
          SO I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE SOME, SOME IDEAS TOO. 
          SO WE'D LOVE TO, TO KIND OF BE HOWEVER USEFUL, UM, AS THIS ENGAGEMENT IS CARRIED OUT. 
          NEXT. 
          NEXT. 
          ITEM 18 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. 
          STATE A MOVE. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          [02:55:17]
PROCEDURAL MOTION TO GIVE A CALL ON MAYOR PRO TE UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CAST TATUM. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, WE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO BRING YOU PRIOR TO ITEM. 
          UH, THIS IS A RESOLUTION. 
          NO OBJECTION. 
          BEFORE WE APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND ON ITEM NUMBER 22. 
          SO THE MOTION IS TO BRING UP ITEM 52 PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON ITEM 20. 
          PREMIER IS SECOND MOTIONS MADE? AND SECOND. 
          ANY ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? ALL IN PASSES. 
          ITEM 52 IS A RESOLUTION. 
          JUST NEEDS A VOTE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          COUNCILOR PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND I'M JUST GONNA GO ON AND JUST MAKE MY COMMENTS NOW ON THIS ITEM. 
          UM, IN ADDITION TO ITEM NUMBER, UM, NUMBER 20. 
          UM, SO AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, KITTLE, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT NOW. 
          THEY CURRENTLY HAVE NUMEROUS, UM, LAWSUITS, UM, ACROSS THE NATION. 
          UM, WE TRY TO WORK WITH THEM IN TERMS OF A LEASE ADDENDUM THAT WOULD JUST GIVE TENANTS SOME ADDITIONAL RIGHTS BECAUSE CURRENTLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOESN'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM ORDINANCE THAT HOLD ANY OF THESE LANDLORDS, UM, ACCOUNTABLE, UM, FOR TREATING PEOPLE FAIRLY. 
          THEIR CURRENT LOCATION IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND IS AL ALREADY IN DISREPAIR. 
          UM, THE TENANTS THERE ARE NOT PLEASED EITHER. 
          UH, LET, LET ME BE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR. 
          I AM SO SUPPORTIVE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          I KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE IT. 
          AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT LANDLORDS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND OWNERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. 
          AND, UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS ADDING ANOTHER ONE ON TOP OF THE TAX ROLL. 
          UM, IN TERM, IN TERMS OF THE, IN TERMS OF, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEXES. 
          THEY'RE JUST NOT GOOD PLAYERS. 
          I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. 
          THE LEASE ADDENDUM THAT WE RECOMMENDED IS BEING USED CURRENTLY THROUGH THE NNHP FOUNDATION AT COLUMBIA MANOR. 
          AND IF ANYONE'S BEEN AT COLUMBIA MANOR, IT IS HUGELY TURNAROUND. 
          I MEAN, THEY ARE, I WENT OVER THERE THIS WEEKEND. 
          UM, THE OWNERS OF NHP HIRED A BUS, A A LITERAL, A CHARTER BUS, AND WAS TAKING ALL OF THEIR TENANTS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO COOLING CENTERS TO GET GROCERIES AND FOOD. 
          UM, THEY FED THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          THREE MEALS. 
          I MEAN, THESE FOLKS ARE JUST THE EPITOME OF WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE, UM, FOR, FOR A GOOD, FOR, FOR A PERSON THAT IS, UM, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S RESPECTING OTHER TENANTS. 
          SO I'M OBVIOUSLY A NO VOTE ON THIS. 
          I JUST WANTED TO, UM, JUST BRING IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THAT I GET. 
          I GET IT. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, I, I KNOW THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, I DON'T WANT THAT. 
          THIS IS NOT, UM, I KNOW IT'S NECESSARY AND YOU KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE DOES. 
          UM, AND SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ON THAT. 
          AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE, UM, SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. 
          I JUST, UM, FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTA PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE TO HOLD THESE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE. 
          AND WE'RE NOT DOING THIS, THIS, THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, UH, FOR YOUR, UH, CONCERNS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR, UH, GROUP. 
          UH, BUT I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE WORKED TO, UH, AND THEN CONTINUOUS EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS. 
          UM, THE LEASE ADDENDUM THAT I BELIEVE WAS, UH, RECOMMENDED BY YOU, THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T PROHIBIT OR INHIBIT, UH, PROPERTIES FROM BEING ABLE TO MANAGE. 
          AND, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE ADDENDUM THAT YOU SENT WAS A LITTLE BIT RESTRICTIVE. 
          AND SO THEY ARE WILLING, AND THEY HAVE, UH, I THINK, UH, RED LINED AND, AND REFERRED, UM, THEIR COMMENTS BACK SO THAT, BECAUSE WE DO WANNA HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. 
          BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, UH, IN DISTRICT D UH, FOR THE SENIORS AND FOR THE CITY. 
          UH, IT'S 283 UNITS THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED, UH, FOR FUTURE INVESTMENTS. 
          AND I BELIEVE THAT, THAT THE KITTLE GROUP WILL STAY ON TOP. 
          AND, AND, AND I'M GONNA EVEN ATTRIBUTE YOU AND COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOLERATED. 
          AND SO I, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE WORKED, UH, TO TRY TO SHOW THAT, UH, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH. 
          OF COURSE, EVERYTHING IS, YOU KNOW, SPECULATIVE. 
          WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN DOWN THE PIKE. 
          BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUES WILL AS WELL. 
          UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          [03:00:04]
COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND TOTALLY RESPECT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S VIEW. 
          UH, AND I, I DON'T BLAME HER AT ALL. 
          UH, FOR OUR PART, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THIS, THIS PROJECT A FEW WEEKS AGO. 
          SINCE THEN, WE HAVE MET WITH KITTLE, UH, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. 
          YESTERDAY WAS THE MOST RECENT. 
          WE HAD A TEAMS MEETING, UH, YESTERDAY MORNING. 
          UH, THEY WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS, UH, SOME OF OUR CONCERNS. 
          THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS AT THE PROPERTY SPECIFICALLY. 
          THEIR, THEIR FRONT GATE HAS BEEN FIXED. 
          THEIR PEDESTRIAN GATE HAS BEEN FIXED. 
          THEY'VE AGREED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL, UH, DUMPSTER FOR WEEKEND TRASH PICKUP. 
          A DANGEROUS PROPERTY HAZARD THAT WE IDENTIFIED TO THEM, UH, HAS BEEN FIXED. 
          THEY ARE GETTING THEIR SECURITY IN ORDER, UH, ACCORDING TO WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US. 
          MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY'VE AGREED TO QUARTERLY MEET WITH EACH RESIDENT AND SURVEY SPECIFICALLY REGARDING MOLD, PESTS, AND VERMIN, GET THE, UH, TENANT TO SIGN OFF ON, ON A REPORT AND SUBMIT THAT TO US. 
          NOT THAT WE'RE IN A GREAT POSITION TO DO OVERSIGHT. 
          UH, UNFORTUNATELY, OVERSIGHT IS, IS LACKING. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE IDEAL PLACE FOR OVERSIGHT WOULD BE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING OR OUR OWN HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS STRAPPED, UH, WITH, WITH PLENTY OF OTHER, UH, OBLIGATIONS. 
          BUT IT IS SOMETHING, AND WE APPRECIATE KITTLE BEING, BEING WILLING TO WORK WITH US. 
          WE EXPECT THAT THEY'LL FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT THEY, THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO. 
          AND, UH, BECAUSE OF THEIR RESPONSE, WE'RE GONNA BE VOTING. 
          YES. 
          COUNCILOR KAMAN. 
          COUNCILOR KAMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, AGAIN, MY, MY EYES WERE OPENED A LITTLE BIT MORE OVER THE PAST WEEKEND AS WE, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT, UH, ESPECIALLY NON-PROFIT ENTITIES OVERSEEING A LOT OF THE MANAGEMENT AT, UH, SOME OF THESE FACILITIES. 
          UH, SO I, I KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE AS A CITY TO WORK ON THIS. 
          AND BOTH COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND RAMIREZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN THIS. 
          UM, I WILL BE DEFERRING TO, UH, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S BEEN WORKING CLOSELY ON THIS. 
          IF COUNCIL MEMBER YOU SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR AND THERE IS THE NEED, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIOR HOUSING, UM, I PERSONALLY WILL BE DEFERRING TO YOU, BUT I, I DO THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE NOT JUST CONVERSATIONS, BUT ACTIONS, UH, UTILIZING ALL TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL AND STRENGTHENING OUR TOOLS, UM, AS IT RELATES TO, UH, OVERSIGHT AND PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS. 
          YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SO CORRECT. 
          UH, NOT ONLY DID WE NOTICE THIS WEEKEND, BUT I'VE BEEN AWARE OF IT FOR YEARS. 
          ANYTIME PEOPLE ARE IN A PROFIT MODE, OWE AND CARING FOR INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE TO BE VERY DILIGENT. 
          WHETHER IT'S A NURSING HOME, A CORRECTION FACILITY, INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY. 
          WHEN YOU'RE CARING FOR PEOPLE IN YOUR MAIN PURPOSE IS TO MAKE A PROFIT, THE MORE THEY CUT BACK, THE MORE NEGLECT, THE GREATER THE PROFIT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT CONSCIENTIOUS. 
          SO EVERY TIME WE SEE SOMEONE THAT WE CAN REGULATE OR OVERSEE, OR MONITOR MIGHT BE THE BEST WORD IN THEIR, AND THEY GOT PEOPLE UNDER THEIR CARE, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          FLICKINGER, I HAD A QUESTION FOR COUNCILWOMAN PLUMMER. 
          DID THEY REJECT THE ADDENDUM ENTIRELY OR WERE THEY WILLING TO IMPLEMENT PART OF IT? NO, NO. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          MAYOR, MAY I RESPOND? UM, SO WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DID WAS THEY PULLED OUT THE TENANT PROTECTIONS. 
          SO THEY AGREE. 
          AND, AND LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS ADDENDUM IS LITERALLY WHAT THE COUNTY IS USING IT, IT'S NOT ANYTHING DIFFERENT. 
          AND THEIR, AND THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE CURRENTLY USING IT, AND IT'S IN EFFECT AND IT'S EFFECTIVE. 
          BUT THEY, THEY PULLED OUT THE TENANT PROTECTIONS, UM, OUT OF THE ADDENDUM AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AGREED TO, TO THAT. 
          BUT THAT'S, THAT KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE. 
          AND LET ME BE, YOU KNOW, CLEAR. 
          YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, AND THIS IS, ONCE AGAIN, I'M PUTTING MY PLUG IN TO PUT SOME TYPE OF APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM ORDINANCE. 
          IT'S NOW FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING, AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT RIGHT? IF I HAVE TO, I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND GET IT DONE. 
          'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG. 
          BUT BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS NO GUIDANCE, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, I'M LEAVING IN THREE YEARS. 
          YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US ARE, WE DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO MONITOR APARTMENT COMPLEXES, NOR DO WE HAVE THE GOVERNANCE. 
          AND SO IF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WILL AGREE TO AN ADDENDUM THAT'S PULLING OUT ALL OF THE TENANT PROTECTIONS, WHAT'S THE POINT? I MEAN, IT'S THE POINT IN HAVING IT. 
          OKAY? AND THESE ARE SENIORS. 
          SO, UM, THEY MADE A COMMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CRIME AND THAT, THAT THE ADDENDUM KIND OF SUPPORTS CRIMINALS OR, OR, OR SOMETHING OF THAT SORT. 
          [03:05:01]
AND I'M LIKE, THESE ARE 75 YEAR OLDS. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHAT 75 YEAR OLD'S GONNA GO ROB A BANK. 
          BUT THESE ARE, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE. 
          AND, UM, AND YOU, YOU, YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE COME BEFORE US. 
          I MEAN, THERE, THERE ARE SENIOR FACILITIES CURRENTLY THAT HAVE FLOORS THAT ARE UNFINISHED. 
          I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE ARE GONNA MAKE A DECISION ON HOLDING THESE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT, 'CAUSE I I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ. 
          WE HAVE TO HAVE IT, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SENIOR FACILITIES, BUT THEY'VE ALSO HAS TO BE SAFE. 
          AND WE AS A GOVERNING BODY CAN DO THAT. 
          WE HAVE FULL GUIDANCE TO DO THAT. 
          WE JUST HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING FORMAL IN PLACE. 
          SO I'M REQUESTING, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, TO PLEASE, LET'S COME TOGETHER, LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATION I PUT FORWARD ON APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM. 
          COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT WE WANNA DO. 
          UM, WE HAVE ENOUGH HEALTH INSPECTORS NOW TO DO IT. 
          UM, THE COMMUNITY'S ASKING FOR IT. 
          I THINK WE CAN DO IT AND GET ALL, ALL THE, UM, THE, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, A PART OF THE CONVERSATION, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS A PART OF THIS, AND LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN. 
          AND LET'S PROTECT HOUSTON. 
          WHAT ARE THE POINT? STATE, STATE HEALTH, STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO GET MORE INVOLVED, DO THEIR JOB. 
          I'M SORRY, ONE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE IS, IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THERE'S SOME MEMBERS THAT ARE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THE COOPERATION THEY'VE GOTTEN FROM 'EM AS OF LATE. 
          I'M CURIOUS HOW MUCH OF THAT IS TEMPORARY AND HOW MUCH OF THAT IS PERMANENT? COUNCILOR POLLARD. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY. 
          UH, I'VE BEEN KINDA WATCHING THIS ITEM FROM A DISTANCE. 
          UH, I TOO AM IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          MY, MY DISTRICT IS 85% APARTMENTS, SO I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES WITH MANAGEMENT COMPANIES ARE LANDLORDS OR OWNERS WHO DO NOT, UH, KEEP THEIR PROPERTIES UP TO CODE. 
          THE ONE THING THAT HAS, UH, STOOD OUT TO ME IN THIS CONVERSATION IS COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ SAID HE WAS MEETING WITH KITTLE AND HAD ADDRESSED SOME ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE NOW CORRECTED. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR. 
          SPA MAYOR, SURE. 
          NO, I, I I CAN'T SAY THERE ARE ISSUES THEY HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO, THEY HAVEN'T TRIED TO ADDRESS. 
          NO, I CANNOT SAY THAT. 
          MY MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU MENTIONED JUST NOW BROKEN GATES AND OTHER ISSUES. 
          CAN YOU, UH, ELABORATE MORE ON, ON WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT HAD TO BE CORRECTED? UH, THE FRONT GATE, THEY EXPLAIN FREQUENTLY, GETS HIT BY CARS AND GETS KNOCKED OUT OF A, OUT OF ACTION. 
          IT IS, IT IS OPERATIONAL NOW. 
          A PEDESTRIAN GATE WAS, WAS UNLOCKED. 
          UH, IT IS NOW LOCKED. 
          SO, AND, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER PROPERTY HAZARD WE'D BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION, WHICH HAS BEEN FIXED AS WELL. 
          SO MY, MY, MY BIG THING IS, YOU KNOW, BUT FOR US TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT FOR US REACHING OUT BASED ON THIS ITEM, WHO KNOWS WHEN THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN NOTICE OF THAT OR WHY THEY DIDN'T HAVE NOTICE ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE? I MEAN, YOU'RE AT THE PROPERTY. 
          WHY IS THE GATE NOT WORKING? WHY, WHY ARE THINGS BEING UNLOCKED? THAT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAUSE ME SOME CONCERN. 
          I, I BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE PUTTING FORTH ITEMS OR TAX CREDITS OR ANY TYPES OF SUBSIDY, UH, THE DEVELOPERS OR THE VENDORS HAVE TO BE, UH, EXCEPTIONAL IN EVERY SINGLE WAY. 
          UM, AND WHEN THEY HAVE PROVEN TO BE, UH, MAYBE NOT EXCEPTIONAL, THAT'S A TIME WHEN I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OH, SHOULD WE, UH, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE, UH, RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN, UM, CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THE CITY WITHOUT PROVING THAT THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL? SO, UM, I HEAR WHAT THE, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER IS SAYING, AND I'M A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, SO I LIKE TO DEFER TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          UH, BUT I AM, I'M, I'M VERY HESITANT, UM, WHEN I HEAR WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER IS SAYING ABOUT CON UH, THE, THE TENANT PROTECTIONS AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT SHE'S, SHE'S BROUGHT UP REGARDING THIS, UH, PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT. 
          YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. 
          AND BEFORE I GOT HERE, I WOULD OBSERVE THE DISCUSSION AROUND THE HORSESHOE ABOUT MANAGERS, OWNERS, DEVELOPERS THAT WERE NEGLECTING THE RESIDENTS AS THEY WERE BEFORE YOU WANTING ANOTHER PROJECT. 
          SO I THINK THE STRONGEST TOOL WE WOULD HAVE IS JUST LET EVERYONE BE PUT ON NOTICE THAT IF THEY DON'T DO THEIR BUSINESS CORRECT AND HAVE SAFETY AND, AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS IS THE TOP PRIORITY, THEY JUST WON'T DO ANY FUTURE BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. 
          I KNOW THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT IT OUGHT TO BE ENFORCED. 
          SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR EXPRESSIONS. 
          WHAT I DON'T WANT IS FOR THIS PROJECT TO BECOME A SCAPEGOAT FOR WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO ADDRESS GLOBALLY. 
          UH, BUT I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, WHO'S VERY DILIGENT, 
          [03:10:01]
HAS ATTESTED TO THEIR RESPONSIVENESS. 
          AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOUR OFFICE AND THE ANTI-GANG OFFICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE COLLABORATED WITH, UH, VICTOR GONZALEZ JR. 
          THE DIVISION MANAGER. 
          AND, UH, I THINK THAT THAT HAS BEEN VERY FRUITFUL. 
          THEY HAVE ALSO ENGAGED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THE SENIOR CITIZENS VIA THE YWCA OF HOUSTON. 
          SO I THINK THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN THAT, UH, THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK. 
          AND OF COURSE, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO STOP DOING THIS, NOR DO WE WANT ANY OTHER, UH, DEVELOPER TO STOP DOING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED. 
          AND SO, AGAIN, I DO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. 
          IT IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE SENIORS. 
          IT HAS A ONSITE FOOD PANTRY, A SHUTTLE PROGRAMMING ONSITE THREE DAYS A WEEK THAT TAKES THE RESIDENTS TO THE GROCERY STORES, THE PHARMACIES, CHURCHES, AND OTHER NECESSARY DESTINATIONS. 
          AND I THINK THAT THIS, UH, PROJECT IS WORTHY AND WE WILL STAY ON TOP OF IT, AND IT'S CRUCIAL TO ENSURING THE CONTINUED POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT D. 
          SO I THANK, UH, MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. 
          VERY GOOD COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. 
          SO WHAT ALL OF THIS REVEALS TO ME IS THAT THIS, THIS HAS BEEN A HEALTHY DISCUSSION, BUT THIS REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE IT REACHES, UH, COUNCIL. 
          AND THESE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ASKED AND ADDRESSED BEFORE IT REACHES COUNCIL, BECAUSE BY THE TIME IT REACHES COUNCIL, YOU'VE GOT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL. 
          AND THIS IS NOT JUST THIS, THIS PROPOSAL, BUT ANY PROPOSAL THAT COMES BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER'S ALREADY ON BOARD. 
          AND, UH, THE TRAIN HAS ALREADY LET, LET THE STATION. 
          IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO, TO GET THINGS DONE, UM, AT, AT THIS POINT. 
          AND SO I, I THINK THESE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ASKED EARLIER IN THE PROCESS WHEN, WHEN IT IS WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND OUR INPUT CAN BE OBTAINED AT, AT THAT, THAT POINT AND, AND SAVE A LOT OF THIS, UM, UH, HEADACHE, IF YOU WILL, AT, AT THIS STAGE. 
          YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU. 
          AND IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE, UH, WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE HOUSING COMMITTEE TO DO MORE, UH, ACTIVITY IN THIS REGARD. 
          IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A HEARING SHORT OF BEING AT COUNCIL TABLE. 
          SO WE'LL TAKE THAT AND VISIT WITH THE HOUSING CHAIR NEXT. 
          NO, WE NEED TO VOTE ON 52. 
          OKAY. 
          A VOTE ON 52 MEMBERS. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED PLUMBER? NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER? NO. 
          UH, I HAVE IT. 
          MEMBERS ON, UH, ITEM 20. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED ITEM PASSES. 
          PLUMBER. 
          NO, I'M SORRY. 
          NO PLUMBER. 
          NO. 
          SHOW PLUMBER VOTING? NO. 
          PLUMBER? NO. 
          OKAY. 
          ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED TAG. 
          MARTINEZ PECK TAGS AS WELL. 
          PECK. 
          OKAY. 
          YEP. 
          21 IS TAGGED. 
          21 IS TAGGED. 
          NUMBER 22. 
          ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          COUNCILOR CASTILLO. 
          COUNCILOR CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, ON THIS ITEM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EAST END MAKER HUB, UM, WHICH IS A FACILITY FOR TRAINING, EDUCATION, APPRENTICESHIP, JOB OPPORTUNITY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH. 
          UM, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO, THROUGH THE COMPANIES THAT ARE THERE, PROVIDE OVER, UM, A THOUSAND HIGH PAYING JOBS SINCE 2001. 
          AND THEY'VE DONE SOME FANTASTIC WORK OUT IN THE EAST END. 
          UM, THIS ITEM WILL HELP THEM, UH, WITH SOME ISSUES THEY HAD THROUGH HUD, UH, LOCKING IN FIXED RATE INTERESTS AND, UH, INTEREST RATES SPIKED, CAUSING SOME COST TO INCREASE. 
          SO THIS WILL HELP STABILIZE, UH, THE EAST MAKER HUB ECONOMICALLY AND, AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK. 
          UM, GLAD THIS WENT TO THE HOUSING COMMITTEE. 
          AND, UH, HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. 
          VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR THOSE POSTS. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 29. 
          ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE JUDGE. 
          NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST 
          [03:15:01]
NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR OF THE COUNCILOR RAMIREZ ON 37TH. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ ON 37. 
          YOU WANT 36? HE HAD A COMMENT ON 36. 
          I'M SORRY, HONOR TOO LATE. 
          , YOU'RE MOVING SO FAST HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ ON ITEM 36. 
          COMMENTS? YES. 
          JUST TO COMMENT ON IT. 
          I SUPPORTED IT AND I'M GLAD THAT IT'S PASSED. 
          SPENT A LOT OF TIME LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE BACKLOG AT THE CRIME LAB AND HOW IT WAS NECESSARY TO OUTSOURCE CASES. 
          AND SO I'M GLAD, UH, THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT FORTH AND HAS PASSED SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE OF THAT BACKLOGGED DOWN AND GET, GET JUSTICE FOR OUR VICTIMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          WELL SAID. 
          AND THEN SHE 37. 
          NOW GOING TO 37. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, THIS JUST RELATES TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND TIME OFF. 
          AND I DID AGAIN, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST YEAR, WE SUCCESSFULLY INCORPORATED INTO THE SCHEDULE AN AMENDMENT. 
          I PUT FORWARD TO HAVE A CONSOLIDATED SESSION, UH, AROUND ELECTION DAY. 
          BUT I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THAT ELECTION DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD BE A CITY HOLIDAY WHERE ALL CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE THAT DAY OFF. 
          UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT, BUT WANTED TO, UH, JUST SPOTLIGHT THAT FOR THE TIME BEING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          MAYOR PROM. 
          CASTEX TATUM. 
          NO, THAT'S FINE. 
          MAYOR. 
          UH, AFTER THE VOTE, UH, WE JUST VOTED. 
          DID WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WHO IS TRAVELING. 
          UH, SHE WANTED TO SHARE THAT THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK DONE BY THE WESTMONT CIVIC CLUB AND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND, UH, OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED TO GET THIS ITEM TO THE FINISH LINE. 
          UH, AND THAT, UM, IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF ENGAGEMENT AND SO SHE'S VERY HAPPY, UM, THAT THIS ITEM HAS PASSED AND IT IS WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          GOOD. 
          NEXT, ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES UNDER 
          [NON CONSENT AGENDA - NUMBERING]
THE NON-CONSENT MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. 
          ITEM 50 IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE. 
          CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO DESIGNATE LANDMARKS, PROTECTED LANDMARKS AND SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH AT 9:00 AM SECOND MOTIONS MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 
          [MATTERS HELD - NUMBERING]
51 NEEDS A MOTION. 
          COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          WE A MOTION. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I, I REALLY QUICKLY WANNA GO BACK. 
          ITEM 38 WAS AN IMPORTANT EFFORT. 
          UM, THAT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER FOR HPD, UM, WHICH IS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM TO ENABLE CROSS-AGENCY COLLABORATION, INFORMATION SHARING, AND ALLOW HPD TO MANAGE BETTER MANAGE, UH, CRITICAL INCIDENTS. 
          SO I WANNA THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM, BUT AS WE TALK ABOUT HPD, PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THIS ITEM I HAD TAGGED I WILL BE SUPPORTING. 
          UH, BUT FOR THE PAST YEAR OR TWO, I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH HPD AS MORE CAMERAS COME ONLINE AS GREATER ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY COMES ONLINE, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SOPS IN PLACE, UM, FOR THE PROPER CHECKS AS IT RELATES TO VIDEO SURVEILLANCE. 
          UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH CHIEF MARTIN MAYOR BECAUSE HP D'S BEEN DEALING WITH SO MUCH THIS YEAR ALREADY. 
          I KIND OF LET UP OFF THE GAS A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE THEM THE SPACE TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEEDS. 
          BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AND TECHNOLOGY, WE REALLY NEED TO GET THOSE SOPS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE WITH HOW WE OPERATE. 
          THOSE, THE SAME THING WE DID WITH FLOCK CAMERAS AND OTHERS. 
          IT'S JUST, AGAIN, STANDARD PROCEDURES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, UM, ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. 
          SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, BUT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING THAT FORWARD AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          CAST I TO MOVE. 
          ALCORN SECOND. 
          MOTION IS MADE 
          [03:20:01]
IN SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          OKAY. 
          YEP. 
          ITEM 53 IS AN ORDINANCE JUST NEAR VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN CAYMAN, UH, MOVES TO REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO REFER BACK. 
          UH, MOTION TO REFER BACK. 
          ALL IN FAVOR OF THE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 54 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED TO VOTE. 
          MAYOR PROTE, CAST SIX TATUM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MAYOR. 
          WE HAD, UM, YESTERDAY, I KNOW THAT YOU WERE OUT DEALING WITH THE STORM. 
          UM, WE HAD QUITE A, A BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. 
          WE HAD SOME RESIDENTS THAT CAME FORWARD WITH SOME CONCERNS. 
          UM, I WENT BACK AND READ OVER, UH, THE MOUS AND THE AGREEMENTS AND I, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION FROM, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          THERE WERE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT THAT CAME UP YESTERDAY DURING THE, UM, PUBLIC SESSION. 
          UH, ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS, UH, RESIDENT THAT SPOKE ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING TO HAVE A HEARING AND TO POST FOR 30 DAYS FOR PARKLAND. 
          CAN YOU D CLEARLY TELL US, IS THIS DEDICATED PARKLAND OR NOT DEDICATED PARKLAND? NOW, UH, THE RESEARCH WE'VE DONE SHOWS THAT, THAT IT IS NOT DEDICATED PARKLAND. 
          IT IS NOT DEDICATED PARKLAND. 
          CORRECT. 
          SO IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR A HEARING? IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR US TO DO ANYTHING AT 30 DAY NOTICE? HAVE WE MET ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS? UH, NOT IN MY OPINION. 
          AND EVEN IF IT WERE DESIGNATED AS PARKLAND, THE AGREEMENT, THE USE AND ACTIVITY WOULD NOT IMPINGE ON THE USE OF THE TRAIL. 
          SO YOU WOULD NOT HAVE A, A NON-PAR USE. 
          IT WOULD REQUIRE A HEARING EVEN IN THAT EVENT. 
          AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO, UH, A RESIDENT THAT MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE PROPERTY BEING VALUED AT $5.3 MILLION. 
          UM, DOES THAT HAVE ANY INDICATION ON HOW WE ARE LOOKING TO, TO MOVE FORWARD? I MEAN, THIS IS PROPERTY THAT CAN'T BE DEVELOPED ON. 
          UM, IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PARTICULAR PLAN, IT IT, IF TDO WANTS TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY, IT CAN OBTAIN IT THROUGH CONDEMNATION, WHICH IS OFF THE SAME WAY THE CITY DOES. 
          AND WHEN YOU HAVE TWO CONDEMNING ENTITIES, THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T GO THROUGH A HEARING OR NOTICE PROCESS. 
          AND, UM, THAT I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT EV EVALUATION, THAT VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY IS ACCURATE. 
          OKAY. 
          SO IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PARTICULAR PLAN THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT THAT WE WORK WITH TDOT, UM, I WENT THROUGH THE EMAILS, I READ THAT WE'VE GOT THE MOU WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH WAS DATED DECEMBER THE 19TH, THE MOU WITH HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH WAS DEC DATED DECEMBER 22ND, 2022, THE VOLUNTARY RESOLUTION AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION. 
          UM, IF WE DON'T MOVE THROUGH WITH THESE LEGAL AND COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TDOT TO TAKE THIS PROPERTY VIA IMMINENT DOMAIN? YES, THERE IS. 
          I GUESS MY CONCERN, I KNOW THAT, UM, WE'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE COME FORWARD, UM, TO DISCUSS THIS. 
          UH, AND THEY SAID THAT THE TRAIL WAS GOING TO GO AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE READ, THE TRAIL IS NOT GOING AWAY. 
          THE TRAIL WILL STILL BE ACCESSIBLE FOR RESIDENTS, UM, EVEN THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. 
          UH, THE DOCUMENT SAYS THE TRAIL WILL HAVE ACCESS DURING THE DAY, JUST NOT AT NIGHT. 
          IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? YES. 
          THOSE ASPECTS ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THE AGREEMENT. 
          OKAY. 
          BECAUSE I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF TALK THROUGH, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THE MAYOR AND SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WEREN'T HERE, UH, ON YESTERDAY. 
          UM, AND I KNOW WE HEARD THAT INFORMATION AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION, UH, TO THE PUBLIC AND THEN ALSO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT I KNOW THAT THE, UM, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER MAY HAVE. 
          BUT I WANTED TO JUST FOR THE RECORD, GET A LEGAL OPINION THAT RIGHT NOW THE TRAIL IS ACCESSIBLE, THE TRAIL WILL CONTINUE TO BE ACCESSIBLE EVEN THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION. 
          YES. 
          THAT'S WHAT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT PROVIDE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [03:25:01]
LET ME THANK THE, UH, MAYOR PRO FOR DOING, UH, THE RESEARCH. 
          I'VE BEEN BRIEFED. 
          UH, EVERYTHING IS BEING PRESERVED. 
          UH, THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN IT. 
          THE PAST WILL BE PROTECTED. 
          BUT ALSO KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THAT THERE WAS SOME AGREEMENT WITH MY STAFF AND YOUR, UH, OVER YOUR CONCERNS THAT IF ALL THE QUESTIONS HADN'T BEEN ANSWERED, THAT WE WOULD GIVE AN ADDITIONAL WEEK TO, UH, TIDY IT UP OR, OR MAKE IT IN THE FOUR CORNERS THAT WOULD SATISFY YOUR CONCERN AND SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          IT SEEMS TO ME, AND ABSOLUTELY I WASN'T HERE YESTERDAY, BUT I WAS BRIEFED, MOST OF THE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. 
          THIS ALLOWS US THE MOU TO CONTINUE TO HAVE INPUT VERSUS CONDEMNATION, WHICH WE WOULD LOSE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF, OF, UH, OUR CITY LEGAL AND, UH, PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS. 
          BUT OBVIOUSLY I'M GONNA YIELD TO YOUR CONCERNS. 
          UH, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA CHANGE 'CAUSE WE'VE DONE OUR DUE PROCESS AND CHECKED OUR, CHECKED OUR CONSIDERATIONS. 
          SO ANYWAY, IT'S, UH, I'M GONNA HONOR YOUR REQUEST IF YOU STILL STILL HAVE SERIOUS QUESTIONS. 
          I, I DO THINK THAT, UH, YOUR INPUT AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS' CONCERNS AND THE WITNESSES HAVE CERTAINLY MADE IT MUCH MORE CLEAR. 
          BUT I I ARE YOU TO I'M DONE. 
          MAYOR PROTE, I'LL, I'LL YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR PROTE FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. 
          IT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO GET FACTS AND INFORMATION OUT THERE. 
          UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF EMAILS SENT OUR WAY ABOUT THIS. 
          THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SPEAKERS I TAGGED THIS LAST WEEK. 
          UH, OTHERS JOINED IN, YOU KNOW, I DID BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT THIS HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS MAINTAINED WHEN WE ARE SELLING THE LAND. 
          UM, AND ONCE WE SELL IT, IT'S GONE. 
          AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PRECIOUS GREEN SPACE IN THE INNER CITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST MAKING A LOT OF THESE DAYS. 
          AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN DONE ACROSS THE CITY WITH THE PIERCE ELEVATED AND 59 AND HOW THEY CROSS OVER A NUMBER OF, OF CITY STREETS, THERE'S AERIAL EASEMENTS INVOLVED. 
          UM, SO MY QUESTION TO TDOT, AND I WILL SAY I'VE HAD ONE MEETING WITH THEM, A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES JOINED, WE'VE ALL BEEN FOCUSED ON RECOVERY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SO THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH. 
          SURE. 
          UM, AND I, AND THAT WAS WITH THE REASON, UM, MORE TIME IS BEING REQUESTED, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A PATH FORWARD WHERE WE CAN GET STRONGER REASSURANCE THAT THIS TRAIL WILL BE PRESERVED, UM, THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION AND, AND AFTERWARDS. 
          AND, UH, IF AS IT STANDS TODAY, I, I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. 
          IF Y'ALL WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, BUT IT WON'T BE WITH MY SUPPORT. 
          BUT I DO NEED, UH, MORE TIME TO GET THOSE STRONGER REASSURANCES AND, AND GET MORE THINGS, UH, SQUARED AWAY BECAUSE THERE, UH, THERE JUST HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF TIME TO DO THAT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'VE HAD GOING ON ACROSS THE CITY. 
          AND I RESPECT THAT AND HONOR IT AND, AND APPLAUD YOUR, UH, YOUR REPRESENTATION. 
          UH, SO IN A MINUTE I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR, FOR THE MOTION, BUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, GOOD SHAPE. 
          UH, COUNCIL RAMIREZ. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S, UM, TRYING TO GET THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND ASKING FOR MORE TIME. 
          MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOUR GIVING US MORE TIME TO GET THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
          SO THERE WERE A LOT OF COMMENTS, ONE OF WHICH, UH, PERTAINED TO THE LEGALITIES. 
          AND MAYOR, IF I COULD ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          UM, UM, ONE OF THE COMMENTERS YESTERDAY STATED THAT THE CITY WAS REQUIRED TO GIVE 30 DAY NOTICE AND SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE. 
          AND I ASSUME YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THAT SINCE IT'S ON THE AGENDA, BUT COULD YOU, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT? YEAH, THAT'S, UH, THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR DEDICATED PARKLAND UNDER CHAPTER 26, UH, OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION CODE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. 
          AND AS I STATED BEFORE IN THE QUESTIONS TO THE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, THIS IS NOT DEDICATED PARKLAND. 
          THE CITY HAS NOT DEDICATED IT AS SUCH. 
          AND ALSO, IF IT WERE, THE USE OF WHAT IS RECREATIONAL HAS NOT CHANGED, WHICH IS THE BIKE TRAIL, EVEN UNDER THE AGREEMENT, IT 
          [03:30:01]
WILL CONTINUE. 
          SO THERE WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE OVER. 
          UM, YOU WOULD NOT HOLD A HEARING EVEN IF IT WERE DEDICATED. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          AND ANOTHER QUESTION, ACCORDING TO THE, UH, TEXT OF THIS ITEM, THERE'S AN AGREED UPON SALES PRICE, $261,000. 
          IF THIS ITEM SHOULD ULTIMATELY FAIL, THEN THE STATE COULD COME IN AND CONDEMN THE PROPERTY ANYWAY AND TAKE IT VIA EMINENT DOMAIN. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. 
          IF IT WAS AN EMINENT DOMAIN, UH, ISSUE AND THE PROPERTY HAD ALREADY BEEN CONDEMNED, WOULD WE BE GUARANTEED OF GETTING $261,000 OR COULD WE GET SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT POSSIBLE? IT'S MICROPHONE. 
          SORRY. 
          IT'S ALWAYS A BIG SPECULATIVE WHEN YOU GO BEFORE, UH, UH, THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS AND ULTIMATELY TO A COURT. 
          IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE WE COULD OBTAIN LESS. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          WELL, UM, MEMBER CAMAN, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND, UM, I, I TOO, I WANNA THANK FIRST OFF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR ORGANIZING THE FIRST INITIAL MEETING THAT WE DID, NOT INITIAL MEETING. 
          WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH TDOT, BUT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THIS ITEM, UM, THAT AGAIN, SOME OF OUR OUT LARGES JOINED WITH US ON. 
          SO I, I DO WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND TDOT, UH, TDOT DID A VERY THOROUGH REVIEW WITH US OF THIS, UH, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO MAYOR. 
          I HAVE RECEIVED AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF CALLS, EMAILS, UM, OUTREACH WITHIN DISTRICT CI DEFER TO, UM, THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS IN. 
          UM, BUT SO MANY SEE RESIDENTS UTILIZE THIS. 
          UM, SO I AGAIN WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE ONGOING DISASTER RECOVERY, UH, BECAUSE WE ALL AS A CITY NEED TO DO A VERY DILIGENT JOB IN COMMUNICATING TO RESIDENTS WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING, UM, WITH THIS ITEM. 
          SO AGAIN, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS. 
          THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE NEED TO, UM, GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND THEN I, MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, BY A MOTION TO DELAY THIS WILL ALLOW THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THE ITEM, UH, SORRY, MOTION TO REFER, WILL ALLOW THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THIS ITEM TO BE, UM, IRON CLAD IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE IN THE PROTECTIONS. 
          SO GIVING THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE IS REFLECTIVE OF ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDINGS AND THE PROTECTIONS INCORPORATED THAT TXDOT IS ASSURING US, UM, IS, IS CRITICAL, BUT WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, UH, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN A LOT OF OUR FOLKS THAT UTILIZE THIS PARTICULAR TRAIL, WE'RE SO IMPACTED BY THE DISASTER, UH, GIVING THEM SOME MORE TIME ON THIS TOO. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. 
          I THINK WE ALL HAVE A DUTY TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION. 
          AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM LOOKING AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING, THERE WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS, UH, ABOUT THE, UM, MOU AND THE COLLABORATION THAT'S TAKEN PLACE AND ACTUALLY LOOKING OUT FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST. 
          AND I WANNA, AGAIN, THANK, UH, MAYOR PROAM KASICK TATUM FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN CLEARING UP A LOT OF THIS, UH, MISUNDERSTANDINGS. 
          BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GONNA HONOR THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL TIME. 
          YOU'RE CORRECT. 
          WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE RECOVERY, SO WE NEED TO GET INTO THE MODE OF, UH, LONG-TERM RECOVERY, BUT ALSO FURNISHING INFORMATION THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE ENTITLED TO. 
          UH, MAYOR PROAM. 
          MAYOR, I, I THINK THAT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE I KNOW ALL OF OUR DISTRICT OFFICES, PROBABLY ALL OF OUR OFFICES RECEIVED THE, UM, QUITE A FEW OF THESE LETTERS. 
          IT WAS KIND OF THE SAME LETTER THAT WAS SENT OVER AND OVER, UM, FROM RESIDENTS, BUT IT HAD A COUPLE OF BULLET POINTS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS. 
          MM-HMM. 
          UM, AND I THINK THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ADDRESS TODAY REALLY SPEAK TO THESE BULLET POINTS BECAUSE WE'VE ALL RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, NUMEROUS, UM, EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS AND I, AND WE SHOULD PROBABLY ADDRESS THOSE. 
          BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY ARE STATING THAT WHITE OAK BAYOU IS THE MOST USED GREENWAY IN THE PARK SYSTEM. 
          WE AGREE, UH, THE GREENWAY SERVES AS A VITAL ROLE IN HEALTH AND WELL, WE AGREE THE GREENWAY PROVIDES VITAL HABITAT TO LOCAL WILDLIFE. 
          YOU KNOW, WE AGREE WITH, WITH THOSE THINGS. 
          UM, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING WHITE OAK BIO. 
          SO WHEN I READ THEIR LETTER AND, UM, THAT THE ASK WAS TO VOTE NO, BUT THE CONCERNS FROM THE LETTER, IF YOU READ THE VOLUNTARY RESOLUTION AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, UM, THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT IS PROBABLY A VERY STRONG DOCUMENT THAT PROVIDES ENFORCEABLE COMMITMENTS TO INTEGRATE 
          [03:35:01]
AND ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE FACILITIES, ENSURING THESE ELEMENTS ARE PRIORITIZED AND THE PROJECTS DESIGNED AND EXECUTION. 
          UM, I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THREE SOLID AGREEMENTS TO PROTECT THE TRAIL. 
          UM, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER HAS READ THOSE AGREEMENTS OR YOU FEEL LIKE THAT THOSE THREE AGREEMENTS DO NOT PROTECT THE TRAIL, I'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THAT BECAUSE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME GOING THROUGH 'EM BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY EMAILS AND, UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE COME AND TALK TO US. 
          BUT I'M CONFIDENT ON, WITH THESE THREE DOCUMENTS THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE TRAIL, UM, WHICH IS WHAT RESIDENTS WERE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, WAS THE ACCESS TO THE TRAIL. 
          BUT I'LL, I'LL DEFER TO, UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HEAR MORE OF IT. 
          UH, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN MOU WITH THE CITY IN PLACE AND MOU WITH THE COUNTY IN PLACE. 
          AND THEN ALSO A VERY STRONG VRA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE. 
          AND I THINK, UH, THE DELAY WILL BE HONORED, BUT I'M AFRAID IT, UH, WILL BE ABUSED. 
          WE'RE DOING THIS IN GOOD FAITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I HOPE WE'RE JUST NOT GIVING ADDITIONAL TIME TO THOSE WHO JUST DON'T WANT THE PROJECT. 
          I'VE HEARD FROM 'EM AS A STATE SENATOR, AS THE MAYOR, I RESPECT THEIR OPINION, BUT WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT, WITH THE GUARANTEES THAT THE MOU PROVIDES. 
          SO, UH, BOY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EXPERIENCE AND LEADERSHIP OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO DISPLAY. 
          WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THE PROTECTIONS FOR THE PATH. 
          IT'LL BE MAINTAINED BY THE CITY AND, UH, THERE WOULD BE EXPOSURE TO THE CITY IF WE WENT TO CONDEMNATION. 
          BUT ANYWAY, THAT SAID, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, UH, COUNCILOR MAR MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, AND, AND I ALSO WANNA BE SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AS WELL. 
          UH, I APPRECIATE MAYOR PROAM DOING HER DUE DILIGENCE. 
          AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THIS INFORMATION, I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE OWN SOME OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL. 
          WHEN THESE HIKING BIKE TRAILS WERE, WERE CREATED, WE SAID THERE ARE LINEAR PARKS. 
          AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE VERBIAGE THAT WE USE WHEN WE SAY HIKING BIKE TRAILS. 
          AND IT MIGHT NOT BE A GREEN SPACE SPECIFICALLY, BUT AS WE TALK, TALK THROUGH THESE, UH, I THINK THAT OWNERSHIP ON US, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND, UH, GREEN SPACE IS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AND THESE LINEAR PARKS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT DEDICATED PARKS, UM, SERVE AS A, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, A WAY OF HEALTH. 
          A WAY OF TRANSPORTATION. 
          UM, AND, AND SO FOR US, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I WOULD SPEAK TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE CO COUNCILOR CASTILLO, UM, 'CAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED SOME OF THESE EMAILS AS WELL. 
          UM, JUST REASSURING, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THESE THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, FOR ALL YOUR WORK. 
          UM, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT WE UNDERSTAND AS WELL WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE PUTTING AT ON THE TABLE AND RESPECTING, UH, THAT, THAT GREEN SPACE, WHETHER DEDICATED OR NOT. 
          UH, BUT AS PROMOTED BY THE PARKS BOARD AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THE PAST 10 PLUS YEARS, THESE LINEAR PARKS ARE SOME, UM, A WAY WHERE FOLKS CAN GET TO A GREEN SPACE WHERE THEY MORE THAN LIKELY DO NOT HAVE GREEN SPACE. 
          AND WE HAVE THAT THROUGHOUT ALL OF HOUSTON BECAUSE OF THESE BAYOU. 
          SO, UM, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR WORK, COUNCILOR CASTILLO, UM, AND BEHIND YOU AS WELL. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND I JUST KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'RE GONNA END UP DOING A VOTE HERE. 
          SO LET ME GET MY 2 CENTS IN. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY PROPOSED A PROJECT WILL DRAMATICALLY EXPAND THE WIDTH AND HEIGHT OF THE FREEWAY ADJACENT TO WHITE OAK. 
          UM, FROM 22 LANES TODAY TO 34 LANES AFTER CONSTRUCTION. 
          UM, THESE CHANGES WILL RESULT IN LOUDER, MORE OBSCURED AND OVERALL DEGRADED EXPERIENCE FOR HOUSTONIANS WHO USE THE WHITE OAK BAYOU GREENWAY FOR TRANSPORTATION AND FOR RECREATION. 
          SO I JUST WANNA GO INTO ON RECORD JUST SAYING THAT, UM, WE CAN'T CALL THINGS RECREATIONAL AREAS AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WE SAY, NO, IT'S NOT RECREATIONAL. 
          WE CAN'T CALL SOMETHING A PARK BY THE PARKS BOARD AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY, OH, IT'S NOT REALLY A PARK. 
          I MEAN, WE LOSE A LOT OF CREDIBILITY AS A CITY WHEN WE DO THAT. 
          SO LET'S MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT IT IS AND MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. 
          CLEARLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GUIDELINES THAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO PUT FREEWAYS OVER PARKS. 
          AND SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT'S BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND, UM, PEOPLE DESERVE CLEAN AIR AND, AND SPACES TO BE. 
          SO, I DON'T KNOW WHO HE RIDES ON WHITE, BUT I RIDE IT OFTEN AND IT'S A REALLY NICE SPACE. 
          AND 
          [03:40:01]
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT RENDITION OF WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE WITH ALL OF THESE FREEWAYS GOING ON TOP OF IT, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY INTERESTING. 
          SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          I MEAN, I'M CLEARLY A NO ON THIS, BUT, UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT YOU ON WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO. 
          UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD STATING THAT I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHAT HE WANTS TO DO. 
           COUNCIL MEMBER, GOOD TELL YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, FOR CLARIFICATION, CITY ATTORNEY, THE MOU AND THE VAR ARE THOSE CONTRACTS. 
          THEY ARE CONTRACTS. 
          THERE ARE ANYTHING THAT OFTEN MOU THERE IS LEEWAY ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE WORKED OUT. 
          SO IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT QUITE WITH THE DETAIL OF YOU WOULD THINK OF, UH, MANY CONTRACTS, BUT THEY ARE, THEY ARE AGREEMENTS. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU BROUGHT UP THAT WE HAVE THESE, UH, THE LANGUAGE IS THERE AND THOSE ARE, WE WILL, WE WANT THAT LANGUAGE, RIGHT? WE WANT THAT REASSURANCE. 
          UM, I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS FROM A LONGER TERM PERSPECTIVE, AND I ALSO WANNA BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING THE PROJECT, RIGHT? THIS PROJECT'S HAPPENING. 
          THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS HEAVILY IMPACTED BY THIS PROJECT FROM THE NORTH ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE EAST, WE'RE REROUTING AN ENTIRE HIGHWAY THROUGH THE NEAR NORTH SIDE AND DOWN THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN. 
          THE POLLUTION, THE NOISE, THE IMPACTS THAT IMPACTS MY CONSTITUENTS. 
          I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO IS PROVIDING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF IMPACTS TO DISTRICT H. 
          AND SO THINKING ABOUT LONG TERM, WE SELL THIS PROPERTY, IT'S GONE, IT'S NOT OURS, RIGHT? WHAT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO IN THE FUTURE? THEY MAY PUT THE TRAIL IN AND KEEP IT. 
          AND IS IT GONNA BE UP TO A STANDARD THAT'S GONNA BE USEFUL? IS IT GONNA BE MAINTAINED? UM, WHAT ABOUT WHEN THIS HIGHWAY'S NO LONGER IN USE, OR IF IT'S GONNA GET REBUILT AND RELOCATED? WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT LAND? SO THIS IS, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ABOUT STOPPING THE PROJECT, IT'S ABOUT SEEING IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO THIS. 
          LIKE TXDOT HAS DONE OTHER PROJECTS WHERE THE CITY CAN MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND, BUT GIVE THEM THE AERIAL EASEMENT TO BUILD THEIR HIGHWAY. 
          SO WE CAN ENSURE THE CITY, WE'RE NOT GONNA TRUST THE DIFFERENT ENTITY. 
          WE CAN ENSURE THAT THIS HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL STAYS WHERE IT IS USEFUL AND THAT IT'S MAINTAINED IN THE FUTURE. 
          AND THEN WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED WITH IT, UH, DOWN THE ROAD IN 50 OR 75 YEARS. 
          UM, BUT I HEAR EVERYBODY'S PERSPECTIVE. 
          UM, I THINK, UH, AT THIS POINT, A DELAY IS NOT GOING TO DO US ALL ANY FAVORS. 
          UM, SO I THINK WE MOVE AHEAD WITH THE ROLL CALL VOTE, MAN. 
          THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STEP OUT TO USE THE RESTROOM, I GUESS. 
          , , WHEN I LEFT A MOMENT AGO, YOU WERE PRETTY STRONG ABOUT A DELAY. 
          NOW YOU'D LIKE A ROLL CALL. 
          AND WHAT IS YOUR ROLL CALL ON THE ITEM ON, UH, ITEM 54 FROM ITEM BEFORE YOU? NOT ON THE DELAY, CORRECT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, THANK YOU. 
          AND I WILL CERTAINLY DEFER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER PEACH CHOOSES A ROLL CALL VOTE AT THIS MOMENT. 
          UM, I WILL SAY IF WE DO VOTE TODAY, UM, I KNOW TDOT HAS BEEN ACTING IN GOOD FAITH WITH US, BUT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM FROM THE STRICT PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT C REACHING OUT, UM, CONFUSED, CONCERNED, UH, ET CETERA. 
          SO I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, I APOLOGIZE. 
          I MAY HAVE MISSED YOUR QUESTION. 
          UM, I WAS TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS MYSELF, AND YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY ASKED THIS. 
          SO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IS THERE, AGAIN, THIS MAY HAVE JUST BEEN ASKED, SO APOLOGIES FOR REDUNDANCY. 
          IS THERE ANY, UM, ANYTHING AT PRESENT THAT WOULD PRECLUDE THE CITY FROM OFFERING AN EASEMENT VERSUS A SALE OF THE LAND AS COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAD SAID PREVIOUSLY? RIGHT? WE HAVE OTHER PRECEDENT LAID OUT FOR EASEMENT COMPARED TO SALE OF PROPERTY. 
          SO IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE TO THIS, UM, ITEM IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT WOULD PRECLUDE AN EASEMENT? THAT WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE SUBJECT TO OF, OF COURSE, TDOT AGREEING, AND AS I SAID BEFORE, TDOT HAS A POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN. 
          COUNCILMAN DAVIS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, FIRST OF ALL, I, I, I DO WANT TO, IN RE RESPECT TO, UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO'S, UM, INTEREST IN THE EASEMENT AND THE LAND PROCESS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT BEEN BROUGHT UP. 
          BUT 
          [03:45:01]
TEXDOT, UH, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, MOST OF THESE PLANS ARE DONE WAY BEFORE IT'S PRESENTED. 
          SO, UH, AS COUNCIL, WE CAN DISCUSS THESE PIECES, BUT TEXDOT HAS ALREADY PRETTY MUCH PUT THESE PLANS TOGETHER. 
          SOME OF YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHERS ALSO BELIEVE THAT NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMING THE COMMUNITY ON THESE PLANS IN ADVANCE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY DONE. 
          IT'S BEEN DONE MANY YEARS AGO. 
          SAME THING WITH THE I 45 EXPANSION. 
          THESE PLANS WERE BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND MANY PEOPLE AT THE STATE LEVEL VOTED ON THESE PLANS. 
          SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AROUND THE HORSESHOE WHEN WE DISCUSSING THESE MATTERS, THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE RIGHTEOUS DECISIONS AND VOTED UPON IT. 
          SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL GOING FORWARD. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL. 
          UH, PRO TEM CAST TATUM. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, MY QUESTION IS, UM, FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, BECAUSE I WANNA TRY TO GIVE AS MUCH ASSURANCE AS I CAN BECAUSE I HEAR WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO IS SAYING, AND AS A, AS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, I DEFINITELY WANT TO DEFER TO A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T DEFERRING, UM, TO A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER BASED ON INFORMATION THAT MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE. 
          UM, SO DOES THE VOLUNTARY RESOLUTION AGREEMENT STAY WITH THE PROJECT THE ENTIRE TIME? UH, YES, IT WOULD. 
          AND AND IT'S IN THIS AGREEMENT IS IN PERPETUITY? YES. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, MAYOR, I THINK WHAT I HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN SAY IS THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME FOLKS THAT ARE CONFUSED AND CONCERNED. 
          UM, IF PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED AND CONCERNED, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO, UM, READ THE MOU BETWEEN THE CITY, THE MOU, BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE VRA BECAUSE IT'S, IT STATES CLEARLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. 
          UM, AND IF, UM, WE STILL HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE CONFUSED AND CONCERNED, I WOULD SUPPORT THE DELAY, THE MOTION TO DELAY. 
          YEAH, I, I AGREE. 
          WELL, I MOVE TO DELAY FOR A WEEK. 
          CAN WE DO A SECOND? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S HEAR FROM OUR, YEAH, I HONOR YOUR MOTION, BUT BEFORE WE HAVE A VOTE, CAN I HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, I TOO, OF COURSE, HAVE BEEN, UM, INUNDATED WITH EMAILS AND REQUESTS TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THIS. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT MOU WAS WAS A LONG TIME COMING. 
          IT WAS A HARD WORK TO GET TO THE MOUI WAS INVOLVED ON THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL. 
          I MEAN, GETTING THAT MOU WAS A BIG DARN DEAL. 
          AND I WANNA BE CLEAR, AND I GUESS THIS IS A, A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          IF, IF WE REJECT THIS SALE, UM, IS THE MOU FOR THIS PORTION FOR, FOR WHAT, WHAT WE GO, WILL THAT STILL BE HONORED IF THEY ACQUIRE IT THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN? OR DO WE KIND OF LOSE THAT? UH, DID LOSE OUR LEVERAGE WITH THE MOU? WE LIKELY WOULD LOSE THE PROTECTIONS OF THE MOU. 
          OKAY. 
          AND ANOTHER QUESTION, IS THIS PURCHASE, UM, ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR TDOT'S UH, COMPLETION OF THE N-H-H-I-P AS I UNDERSTAND IT? YES. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SORRY, I LOST WHERE WE'RE COUNCILOR RAMIREZ? ARE YOU TOO? YES, MA'AM. 
          COUNCILOR RAMIR RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I, I APPRECIATE, UH, MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES', UH, POSITION ON THIS. 
          UH, WE SPOKE YESTERDAY, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE WERE GONNA DELAY THIS. 
          UM, I WOULD BENEFIT, I THINK FROM A DELAY, UH, I'D LIKE TO GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN AN EFFORT TO HAVE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS ADDRESSED, UH, WHILE TXDOT GETS TO DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO AS WELL. 
          SO I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUE TO WITHDRAW HIS ROLL CALL VOTE. 
          AND, UM, I WOULD MOVE TO DELAY THIS FOR A WEEK IF THAT OCCURS. 
          WELL, WELL SAID. 
          UH, COUNCILOR PLUMMER, I JUST WANNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION. 
          GO FOR IT. 
          HOW, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD BEFORE IS MOUS ARE NOT INCREDIBLY BINDING. 
          CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW BINDING AN MOU IS? WELL, IT, IT, 
          [03:50:01]
IT'S AN AGREEMENT IF YOU HAVE CONSIDERATION AND WHICH YOU DO, AND THEN YOU HAVE BOTH PARTIES PROPERLY AUTHORIZED IT. 
          WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS WITH MOUS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS ARE THERE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ADDED IN THE FUTURE THAT ARE BUILT ON, BUT TYPICALLY YOU, YOU WANT PRECISION IN ANY LANGUAGE. 
          SO WHAT YOU HAVE THERE IS WHAT BOTH PARTIES RELY ON. 
          BUT THERE ARE OFTEN OTHER ASPECTS THAT WILL BE ADDED TO IT OR CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. 
          IT'S STILL A CONTRACT. 
          UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, ATTORNEY MICHELLE. 
          IS IT IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE TO SELL THIS PORTION OF THE LAND? IS IT IN THE MOU THAT WE HAVE TO SELL THIS PORTION OF THE LAND TO TXDOT OR THAT, OR COULD WE DO ANY OTHER WAY TO ALLOW THEM TO BUILD THE PROJECT WITHOUT HAVING TO SELL THE LAND? UH, I'D HAVE TO CHECK, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT GOES PARCEL BY PARCEL THAT IT WOULD BE REQUIRED. 
          WE DON'T SELL. 
          OKAY. 
          SO HOW WOULD, HOW WOULD US DOING A OTHER VERSION OF THIS MITIGATE THE ENTIRE MOU IF WE DON'T SELL IT? IF WE DO SOMETHING ELSE, WHY WOULD THAT JEOPARDIZE THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT? UH, IT, IT WOULD REALLY REQUIRE SOME OTHER STEPS. 
          IF TDOT BELIEVES THAT IT HAS TO ACQUIRE, UH, THE FEE SIMPLE FOR THIS, THAT IT COULD INSTITUTE, UM, EMINENT DOMAIN, UM, PROCEEDINGS. 
          BUT, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND YOUR, YOUR COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCORN WOULD PROBABLY KNOW, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY FROM HER WORK, HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO THE, UM, TO THE TE THE PLAN TDO HAS TO RECONSTRUCT I 45. 
          YES. 
          AND, AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE DOCUMENT, UM, WHICH TOOK A LONG TIME TO DEVELOP AND HAS GOOD IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROJECT, UM, IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S NECESSARY. 
          UH, THIS IS, AGAIN, AND THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT EXPLORING AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND WHILE TDO CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD THE HIGHWAY. 
          UM, SO THAT WE MAINTAIN THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL DURING CONSTRUCTION AND THROUGH THE FUTURE AND BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHATEVER WILL HAPPEN TO THAT STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY, AGAIN, WE STILL HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND. 
          UM, AND IF THERE'S A PATH TO DO THAT, THAT IS THE PATH THAT I WOULD WANT TO EXPLORE. 
          UM, AND I DON'T THINK A WEEK WOULD BE ENOUGH TIME. 
          'CAUSE WE'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH A NUMBER OF THINGS HERE. 
          A WHILE AGO YOU WANTED A VOTE BEFORE YOU, RIGHT? RIGHT. 
          YOU WANTED TO LAY, THEN YOU WANTED TO VOTE. 
          NOW WHERE ARE YOU? NO, NO, NO, I'M NOT, I HAVEN'T MOVED OFF OF . 
          I HAVEN'T MOVED OFF THAT, NO, I'M TALKING 'CAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ ASKED FOR A WEEK, AND I, THAT'S, WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TIME. 
          THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK OF ALL OF US IS TO DEAL IN GOOD FAITH. 
          I DON'T THINK IN THE NEXT WEEK WE OUGHT TO DEBATE WITH CONCERNED RESIDENTS. 
          THE NEED FOR THE DESIGN, THE PROJECT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN IS SPENT LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME ON AND OTHERS, UH, THE MO U'S, SEVERAL YEARS OLD, UH, THE PROJECT'S GOING FORWARD. 
          IT IS, IT'S JUST DO WE TAKE A WEEK TO, UH, INFORM FOLKS, CLEAR UP ANY, UH, MISINFORMATION, BUT I HOPE WE DON'T SPEND THE WEEK ENERGIZING THOSE THAT WERE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT IN ANY FORM OR FASHION. 
          UM, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY CITIZEN DO WHAT THEY WANT AND EXPRESS THEMSELF. 
          I CAN ONLY IMAGINE RIGHT NOW WITH THE FORM LETTER THAT'S GONE OUT WITH MISINFORMATION, UH, WILL BE HERE NEXT TUESDAY SO I CAN, YOU KNOW, I CAN ALMOST PREDICT IF WE GO A WEEK, WHICH I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO, IF THEY'RE USING IT TO RATIFY OR, OR ASK QUESTIONS OF THE I OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          I UNDERSTAND TXDOT ACTUALLY SAT DOWN WITH A, A NUMBER OF YOU AND CLEARED UP AND I WAS SHOWN THE FIVE PAGE DOCUMENT THAT ANSWERED MOST OF THE QUESTIONS. 
          SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEW INFORMATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING, BUT, UH, CERTAINLY I'LL HONOR IN GOOD FAITH A A WEEK REQUEST 
          [03:58:02]
ALL THE MOU, THEY WILL GET WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR PROJECT. 
          WE WILL LOSE OUR INPUT. 
          AND THE MANY, YOU KNOW, SALLY ALCO IS AS STRONG A SUPPORTER FOR PARKS AND BIKE PATHWAYS AS ANYONE. 
          SHE'S ALSO BEEN IN THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE M MOUS. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS CERTAINLY EXPRESSED A VERY CLEAR, I THINK IF FOLKS, COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO, TO VISIT WITH THE RESIDENTS A WEEK. 
          NOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M DEALING IN GOOD FAITH AND I THINK WE ALL ARE. 
          BUT I THINK THERE'S GROUPS THAT ARE ORGANIZED THAT ARE GONNA USE THIS CLARIFICATION OF THE MOU AND ANSWER UP ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTACK THE DESIGN, THE AGREEMENT, AND GOING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. 
          I'VE HEARD FROM 'EM, COTTAGE GROVE. 
          I COULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED, BUT WE'RE PAST THAT DISCUSSION NOW. 
          WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN MOU ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA. 
          IF PEOPLE IN GOOD FAITH NEED MORE TIME, I'M A GOOD FAITH GUY. 
          BUT, UM, I HOPE WE USE IT TO HELP FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY NEED MORE INFORMATION, GET THE INFORMATION AND NOT START, YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR CASTILLO, YOU, YOU WANTED TO CLARIFY IT THEN YOU STARTED ASKING IF WE DON'T DO THE MOU, SO I, I, I DON'T READ YOUR MIND, BUT ARE YOU RESPONDING TO THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO START FROM SCRATCH? NO. 
          NO. 
          AND I, AND I SAID THIS EARLIER, UM, MAYOR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING THE PROJECT ONE ONE BIT. 
          THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT MY 
          [04:00:01]
DISTRICT, WHICH IS HEAVILY IMPACTED BY THIS PROJECT IS, IS AS IMPACTED AS LEAST AS POSSIBLE IN A NEGATIVE WAY. 
          AND THIS HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS VITAL TO RECREATION. 
          IT'S VITAL FOR FOLKS IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE FIRST WARD, WOODLAND HEIGHTS TO ACCESS DOWNTOWN AND, AND SOME DO FOR WORK. 
          UM, AND IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND IF WE CAN DO THIS A BETTER WAY WITH US MAINTAINING THE OWNERSHIP, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO EXPLORE. 
          IN THE TIME, I DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT AND, UH, TRY AND CLEAR UP A TON OF MISINFORMATION. 
          IT WAS WORKING WITH TEX OUT ABOUT A BETTER WAY FORWARD HERE WHERE WE CAN MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP. 
          IF THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, UH, THEN THERE'S NO REASON FOR THE DELAY, WHICH WAS WHY I SAID WE SHOULD JUST, UH, VOTE. 
          WELL, I THINK IT, IT REALLY PROTECTS THE PATH AND THE PARKS AND CITY PROPERTY. 
          UH, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DISCUSS IT, BUT I THINK WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO HAVE A VOTE. 
          THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MADE TO, UH, POSTPONE FOR A WEEK. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, I'M NOT SHUTTING OFF DISCUSSION. 
          NO, I HAD A POINT OF INFORMATION. 
          I DIDN'T PUT A MOTION FORWARD. 
          YOU, YOU DIDN'T, HIS MOTION WAS HIS I THOUGHT YOU MADE A MOTION. 
          YEAH. 
          OKAY. 
          WE GOTTA DEAL WITH HIS, BUT MAYOR, I THINK I, I'M SORRY, WHAT? SO YOU WANT TO GIVE US A WEEK TO CLARIFY THINGS? OH, I, I'M PREPARED TO VOTE, SIR. 
          MAYOR, I'M PREPARED TO VOTE. 
          YOU WITHDRAW THE, THE, HE'S PREPARED TO VOTE. 
          I I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY. 
          I DID NOT MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY. 
          OKAY, MAYOR, I HAD A POINT OF INFORMATION BEFORE WE DO THE ROLL CALL. 
          VOTE. 
          I CAN'T HEAR YOU. 
          I HAD A POINT OF INFORMATION THAT I CALLED BEFORE THE ROLL CALL VOTE BEGINS. 
          YOU HAVE A MOTION POINT OF CLARIFICATION. 
          OH, OKAY. 
          POINT OF CLARIFICATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          UH, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY IS NOT THE MOU, IT'S WHETHER OR NOT WE SELL A PARCEL OF LAND. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? YES. 
          IT'S A SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT. 
          SO WHETHER OR NOT THIS VOTE IS AN, THIS VOTE IS UP OR DOWN, THE MOU WOULD STILL BE IN PLACE WITH TDOT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES OR NOT? YES, IT WILL. 
          OKAY. 
          AND WITH THE SALE, BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T, I'VE SAID IF, IF WE VOTE TODAY, I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS ITEM. 
          BUT IF THIS DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD AND THERE IS AN EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDING, ALBEIT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE, WE WOULD STILL RECEIVE FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TAKING. 
          ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO CONTROL, I'M NOT SAYING WE GET A BETTER DEAL AT ALL, BUT I, IN TERMS OF IT'S NOT, THERE IS A FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT. 
          YEAH, THERE WOULD BE COMPENSATION BY THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS OR THE COURTS IF IT GOES TO THAT LEVEL. 
          OKAY. 
          AND AGAIN, THE MOU WOULD STILL REMAIN. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU OKAY? COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS, I I WANT TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ANY COMPENSATION ON THIS. 
          THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT DOES, UH, BRING SOME CHALLENGES FOR ME. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN WE COME AS A CITY AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THAT BEING IN GOOD FAITH INFORMING FOLKS, AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON. 
          AND THAT'S WHY I WANT, AGAIN, BE SUPPORTIVE OF YOU, UH, COUNCILOR IN CUSTODY. 
          I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE FACTS BEHIND IT. 
          I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE FOLKS THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BE REASSURED WHAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. 
          UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN. 
          UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CHANGE THIS PROJECT. 
          WE'VE HAD THESE CHALLENGES IN EAST DOWNTOWN. 
          NO ONE WANTED A DE, YOU KNOW, DEPRESS 45 59 THERE AS WELL. 
          TEXTILES GONNA MOVE FORWARD. 
          AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, WE ARE DOING THIS IN GOOD FAITH AS WELL TO WHERE WE WERE COMMUNICATING TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING. 
          THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS, THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE, TO THE, TO THE ACTUAL PROJECT. 
          UM, AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE, BRING THAT CLARITY. 
          UM, SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. 
          SO I GET HERE THIS MORNING AND I WAS HONORING YOUR REQUEST WITH MY STAFF TO DELAY, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU STARTED OUT THIS MORNING. 
          AND I THINK A DELAY MADE A LOT OF SENSE. 
          SEVERAL MEMBERS JOINED YOU, SO NOW YOU'VE SWITCHED IT. 
          YOU WANT TO VOTE, WHICH LEADS ME TO THINK YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO FAIL. 
          SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE HERE. 
          I I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS, BUT I'M JUST READING YOUR AND SOME 
          [04:05:01]
OF YOUR ALLIES, UH, EFFORTS SO WE CAN HAVE A VOTE, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER. 
          THE MOU IS IN EXISTENCE TO PROTECT THE, THE COMMUNITY, YOUR DISTRICT. 
          UH, SO WE'LL VOTE I, AND ALL I'M SAYING IS IF WE DON'T PASS IT MEMBERS, IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER. 
          IT WAS JUST TO CLARIFY IN THE WEEK AND GET THE ASSURANCES. 
          BUT THE MOU PROTECTS THE CITY, GETS THE PRICE OF THE LAND. 
          AND IF WE GO FORWARD, IT'S VERY RISKY. 
          AND YOUR MIGHT ACTUALLY GET UNDERSERVED BY NOT HAVING AN MOU. 
          SO LET'S HAVE A VOTE. 
          WELL, MAYOR, I WAS TOTALLY UNDER THE SAME, UH, IMPRESSION, BUT WE WENT FROM A DELAY TO REALLY IMPROVE IT. 
          THE UNDERSTANDING THE EXISTING MOU TO NOW WE'RE GAMBLING WITH THE PROJECT AND THE, UH, INTEGRITY OF THE PATH. 
          THAT'S THE WAY I'M GONNA VOTE. 
          CAME IN THE MIRROR COUNT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN? NO, NO. 
          RAMIREZ. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          SO I HEARD, UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY ANSWER COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S, UH, QUESTION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR. 
          IF THE STATE TAKES THE PROPERTY THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN, IS ANY MOU STILL IN EFFECT AND BINDING UPON THE STATE? YES. 
          UH, THE, THE MOU WAS PUT INTO PLACE BEFORE EXECUTED BY BOTH PARTIES, IT WOULD STILL BE IN EFFECT. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILOR CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I WAS TOTALLY UNDER THE SAME IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS GONNA GET DELAYED THIS MORNING. 
          UM, BUT AFTER Y'ALL SAID, UH, IT, THE DELAY ISN'T GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO, EXCEPT WE'LL BE ABLE TO INFORM THE FOLKS THAT WERE SENDING OUT THE FORM LETTERS IN THISFOR. 
          IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY INFORM THOSE THAT WERE HERE YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE SENDING OUT THE FORM LETTERS. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PRETTY DARN IMPORTANT. 
          I I I, I BELIEVED YOU WHEN I GOT TO WORK THIS MORNING THAT YOU WANTED A WEEK FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE. 
          UH, NOW, UH, I GUESS WE'RE FIXING EVERY ROLL CALL AND PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE. 
          I UNDERSTAND THE ROLL CALL IS A REQUEST. 
          IT'S NOT A, A RULE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GRANT, BUT, UM, MAN, I BELIEVED YOU WHEN I GOT TO WORK THIS MORNING THAT YOU NEEDED ANOTHER WEEK. 
          I, I DID WANT MORE TIME. 
          AND THAT WAS TO TALK TO TEXT. 
          I'M ABOUT A BETTER WAY FORWARD WHERE WE CAN MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND WHILE STILL LETTING THEM BUILD THE HIGHWAY. 
          THIS WAS, THAT WAS WHAT I COMMUNICATED TO YOUR STAFF. 
          SURE. 
          SURE. 
          WELL, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL AL HOR. 
          COUNCIL ALCORN. 
          I, I THINK THAT WE'VE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION DIFFERENT WAYS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND SAID, DO WE STILL HAVE AN MOU REGARDLESS OF IF THEY USE EMINENT DOMAIN. 
          MY QUESTION WAS, DO YOU, IN THE OPINION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, DID WE LOSE OUR LEVERAGE OVER THESE POINTS IN THE MOU UNDER PARK SPACE AND URBAN DESIGN UNDER THIS THING? DID WE LOSE OUR LEVERAGE IF WE, IF WE DON'T, UM, DO IT NOW? AND YOUR ANSWER WAS YES. 
          THERE, THERE WAS A DISTINCTION IN, IN THE TWO QUESTIONS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, EVAN SHABAZZ, . 
          I SCARED TO SAY ANYTHING. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I, I GUESS I'M TRYING TO GRASP HERE. 
          UM, INITIALLY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A DELAY. 
          OF COURSE, WE HAVE COME TO THE DE TO THE DETERMINATION THAT IT'S THE DEAL IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE AND THAT THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH IMMINENT DOMAIN. 
          I ALWAYS THINK IT'S GOOD THOUGH, TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE. 
          SURE. 
          AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND. 
          I MEAN, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS AND DELAY IT A WEEK, THERE'S THE REALLY GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 
          IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE FOR THE DEAL, BUT IT MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HAVING CONFIDENCE OF THE VOTERS, UH, AS TO, UH, THEY, THEIR CONCERNS BEING TOTALLY RECOGNIZED. 
          SO I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON HERE, AND I GUESS WE ALL ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, BUT ARE WE VOTING ON A MOTION TO DELAY ITEM 50 54, WHICH, UH, GOES FORWARD? IT, UH, THE MOU IF WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT, WHICH I'VE LOOKED AT, IT GUARANTEES THE SAFETY OF THE PROJECT, THE WORK AT NIGHT, THE, THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PROJECT. 
          UH, AND YOU'RE CORRECT. 
          THE, WHEN I GOT TO WORK THIS MORNING, THE DELAY HAD BEEN REQUESTED. 
          ACTUALLY, WE'VE HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN NOW REQUEST IT FOR THE PURPOSES OF 
          [04:10:01]
INFORMING THE PUBLIC. 
          BUT, UH, I GOT THE DISTRICT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WANTED TO DELAY. 
          NOW HE WANTS TO VOTE. 
          SO, UM, WE'RE FIXING TO SEE WHAT THE HORSESHOE WOULD LIKE TO DO. 
          AND, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM HIM. 
          MAYOR. 
          I'M MAYOR BECAUSE THAT'S, I'M MORE INFORMATION GOING. 
          I, I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA CHANGE THE MOU. 
          IT WAS MORE AN OPPORTUNITY INFORM THE RESIDENTS, UH, TO SPEAK TO THE MISINFORMATION THAT'S GOING AROUND IN A FORM LETTER, WHICH AIN'T GONNA CHANGE THOSE FOLKS' MIND BECAUSE THEY'RE ORGANIZED AGAINST THE PROJECT. 
          I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM 'EM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. 
          BUT WE'RE NOW, THE VOTE IS, DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE CITY THROUGH THE MOU AND GET A REASONABLE VALUE? UH, THE RISK OF GOING TO A COMBINATION COURT? IT DEPENDS ON WHO THE THREE COMMISSIONERS ARE. 
          UH, WE COULD BE IN A HECK OF A SPOT IF WE DON'T PASS THIS. 
          SO, UM, I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE AND I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO SAID THAT, UM, WE'RE, OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO JUST STOP THE PROJECT. 
          SURE. 
          I'VE HEARD FROM CIVIC CLUBS, I HAVE HEARD FROM NEIGHBORHOODS, I HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS THAT USE THIS TO COMMUTE DOWNTOWN. 
          SO I WANNA ADD VALIDITY TO THE VOICES THAT ARE SPEAKING UP WITH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS. 
          THAT DOESN'T MEAN, UM, I'M NOT PICKING ONE OVER THE OTHER. 
          I JUST WANT TO SAY, AS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, MY CONSTITUENTS VOICES ON THIS DO MATTER. 
          IT'S NOT JUST A ALL OR NOTHING. 
          THERE ARE ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED BY RESIDENTS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S, UH, RESPECTED. 
          BUT THAT BEING SAID, UM, I I DO, I THINK WE DO HAVE A CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE TABLE AS A POINT OF ORDER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND I, I DON'T CONTINUE TO TO REPEAT MYSELF, BUT I'M FAMILIAR WITH THIS CONCERN AS A STATE SENATOR FOR THAT AREA FOR SEVERAL YEARS THAT THIS DISCUSSION HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE. 
          THE MOU WAS WORKED OUT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL THE PARTIES. 
          YOU TAKE IT TO COURT WITH THREE COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE NO STAKE IN IT EXCEPT THE DRAW OF THE THREE COMMISSIONERS. 
          ACTUALLY THEY'RE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY CIVIL COURTS. 
          WE WILL LOSE THE AGREEMENT. 
          WE'LL RISK WHAT WE GET IN RETURN. 
          AND I JUST HONOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS, STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND OTHERS, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S DONE A FINE JOB. 
          SO I KNOW THERE'S SOME, I I'M, I CAN READ BODY LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE THAT WORK THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO KILL ANYTHING THAT SHOWS A LITTLE PROGRESS, UH, ON THIS. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S HAVE A VOTE. 
          CALL AND HONOR EACH OTHER. 
          RESPECT EACH OTHER'S OPINION. 
          COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          WHAT DO YOU WANT TO, WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO NOW? ? WELL, I WAS PREPARED TO, TO REFER THIS BACK THIS MORNING. 
          UM, AND THEN WE HAD DISCUSSION AND IT WAS COMMUNICATED THAT THERE WON'T BE ANY CHANGES TO THIS. 
          RIGHT? WE GOTTA TAKE WHAT WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT. 
          CHANGE WILL BE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOLKS THAT YOU AND I REPRESENT. 
          SO YOU WANT TO VOTE NOW, BUT YOU'RE GONNA VOTE? NO. 
          I, AND I TOLD THIS TO YOUR STAFF, I SAID, AS IT STANDS, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT. 
          UH, I NEED IT TO BE STRONGER. 
          RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED MY TALKS WITH TXDOT TO BE, BECAUSE I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE CITY HERE, MY CONSTITUENTS. 
          SURE. 
          AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATH WHERE WE CAN HAVE AN EVEN STRONGER AGREEMENT THAT PUTS US IN A BETTER POSITION. 
          THAT WE ALL, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO, WE ALL THE SAME PEOPLE, PEOPLE I REPRESENT YOUR FOLKS AT LARGE REPRESENT YOUR PEOPLE. 
          SO WE'RE FIXING TO HAVE A ROLL CALL ON WHAT YOU THINK'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT. 
          I'M LOOKING OUT FOR THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT. 
          SAME FOLKS. 
          YOU REPRESENT THE SAFEGUARD OF THE MOU, THE PROPER PRICE, WORKING AT NIGHT SAFETY PROVISIONS. 
          AND I THINK IT'S BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT, BUT LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL AND SEE WHAT THE COUNCIL THINKS. 
          UH, SECRETARY CALL THE ROW. 
          IT'S ON ITEM 54. 
          MEMBERS IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED? MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. 
          INITIALLY I WAS PREPARED TO, UH, VOTE WITH YOU, MARIO. 
          UM, 
          [04:15:01]
BUT I AM AFTER HEARING ALL OF THE DISCUSSION, I'M GOING TO VOTE. 
          YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          I ORIGINALLY TAGGED, BUT I WILL BE VOTING. 
          YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? YES. 
          HERE BEING 11 YES. 
          IS FOUR NOS. 
          THE MOTION PASSES. 
          AND THAT'S A FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT. 
          AND NOW WE'RE GONNA DO ITEM 55, WHICH IS THE EMERGENCY ITEM. 
          AND THEN WE'LL BE DONE. 
          NO, I GOT THE CENTER POINT. 
          ITEM 55 IS 
          [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING - NUMBERING]
AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED TO VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          OKAY. 
          NOW, MEMBERS, IF YOU'LL, UH, ALLOW ME TO TRY TO RESPOND TO COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. 
          I THINK SHE EXPRESSED ALL OF OUR CONCERNS THAT WE GET REGULAR UPDATES FROM CENTER POINT. 
          WHILE WE WERE MEETING AND DISCUSSING, I'VE ASKED CENTER POINT TO SEND ONE OF THEIR VICE PRESIDENTS HERE TO GIVE US A REAL TIME, UH, ASSESSMENT OF WHERE THEY ARE. 
          UH, WOULD YOU COME ON UP? BRAD. 
          BRAD IS, HAS, UH, BEEN IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND AND MONITORING, UH, THE RESULTS. 
          SO I TRYING TO RESPOND TO OUR CONCERNS, UH, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND GIVE US A REAL TIME. 
          BRAD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK THIS WEEKEND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I KNOW CENTER POINT WANTS THE, UH, REENERG REENERGIZE THINGS AS BAD AS ANYONE. 
          Y'ALL DO SELL THIS STUFF. 
          SO THAT'S KIND OF YOUR PRODUCT. 
          I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET BACK ONLINE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. 
          SO WOULD YOU GIVE US A NUMBER COUNT RIGHT NOW AND SUBJECT YOURSELF TO ANY QUESTIONS. 
          AND STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS BRAD TUNIN. 
          I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF REGULATORY POLICY AT CENTERPOINT ENERGY AND BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE. 
          CURRENTLY WE ARE AT OR AROUND 70,000 CUSTOMERS. 
          AND JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE'RE AT, UH, AT THE PEAK OF THE INCIDENT, WE'RE JUST UNDER A MILLION AT 922,000 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT SERVICE. 
          IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND JUST KIND OF GIVE AN IDEA OF OUR, UH, OPERATION PLAN AND HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE WERE TODAY. 
          'CAUSE IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, WE WERE, UH, READY TO RESPOND TO A STORM, BUT NOT READY TO RESPOND TO A STORM OF THIS MAGNITUDE. 
          SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE AN INSTANCE WHERE IT'S AFTER HOURS, YOU'RE COOKING DINNER FOR YOUR FAMILY OR AT A KID'S BALL GAME, YOU GET A CALL THAT SAYS WE'RE INSTITUTING, UH, UH, AND EXECUTING OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN. 
          AND BY THE WAY, YOU NEED TO HAVE WITHIN 24 HOURS OR LESS NINE STAGING SITES UP AND OPERATING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH, UH, 7,000 CONSTRUCTION, A LINEMEN, UH, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE APPROXIMATELY JUST UNDER 500 CIRCUITS. 
          SO, UH, I CAN TELL YOU IN FULL CONFIDENCE THAT AS SOON AS A STORM SWEPT THROUGH, WE IMMEDIATELY SENT AND DEPLOYED OUR RESOURCES, OUR LOCAL RESOURCES, TO START WORKING IN A RESPONSE. 
          WHILE WE SENT OUR, UH, UH, OTHER RESOURCES TO GO OUT AND SECURE MU MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD HAVE THE MATERIALS READY. 
          WE NEEDED TO HAVE OVERNIGHT STAGING SITES AND SO WE SECURED AND LOCKED IN RESOURCES, NOT ONLY FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, CREWS, UTILITY WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS FROM NEW MEXICO, EVEN AS FAR AS MISSOURI, WERE ABLE TO RESPOND AND HELP US OUT THROUGH THIS DEVASTATING EVENT. 
          AND WITH THAT, UH, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET A FULL ASSESSMENT OF WHAT IT TAKES REGARDING THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OUR FACILITIES, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 700 BOOTS ON THE GROUND. 
          SO FOR US, AND I KNOW IT TAKES TIME TO GET AN IDEA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS REGARDING HOW LONG IS IT GONNA BE? AND THE CHALLENGE FOR THE UTILITY IS WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE ON OUR FACILITIES. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND. 
          [04:20:01]
UH, AND THOSE PEOPLE WALKING, UH, STEP BY STEP WALK, UH, LOOKING, OBSERVING, NOTING, DOCUMENTING THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE ON, LIKE I SAID, APPROXIMATELY, UH, 490 CIRCUITS AND OVER 7,000 MILES THAT HAD TO BE WALKED AND LOOKED AT. 
          WE'RE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT ASSESSMENT BY, UH, SATURDAY EVENING. 
          SO JUST TO KEEP IN MIND TO, TO PUT IN SCALE AND REFERENCE THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS TYPE OF EVENT, UH, YOU HAVE LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO SET UP NINE STAGING SITES TO BRING IN CREWS THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE HOUSTON AREA OR CENTER POINT ENERGY FACILITIES. 
          WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE FOOD, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROPERLY TRAINED, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE MATERIALS NECESSARY TO DO THE WORK. 
          AS SOON AS THEY GET HERE, WORK PACKETS AND THE INFORMATION NEEDED FROM THOSE ASSESSMENTS HAVE TO BE PROVIDED TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FED, LODGED, SENT OUT, AND ABLE TO WORK 12 PLUS HOUR DAYS TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE THE WORK THAT WE HAVE, UH, BEFORE THEM. 
          SO, UH, I AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THAT CENTERPOINT ENERGY LINEMEN WERE ABLE TO GET, UH, ACCOMPLISHED. 
          I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. 
          I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY OPERATION EFFORTS, UH, IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING HOUSTON, WHEN WE HAD HURRICANE IKE, UH, INVOLVED WITH RESTORATION EFFORTS WITH KATRINA AND RITA. 
          AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT AS I HAVE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE SURROUNDING AREAS, HARRIS COUNTY, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON. 
          SO THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU. 
          UH, WE'RE STILL IN THE, UH, RESTORATION MODE. 
          AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL FROM OUR PRESS RELEASES. 
          OUR GOAL IS TO BE AROUND 98% OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT WERE IMPACTED TO BE FULLY RESTORED. 
          BUT WE WANT TO REST ASSURED THAT WE ARE CONTINUINGLY, UH, BEING LASER FOCUSED TO GET THE REST OF OUR CUSTOMERS ON. 
          SO EVEN AT THAT 98%, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT'S STILL APPROXIMATELY 20,000 CUSTOMERS THAT ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER NOW CIRCUITS IN THEIR AREAS, OR MORE LIKELY BE RESTORED. 
          SO THESE ARE THE PARTICULAR CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THEIR FACILITIES. 
          THEY MIGHT HAVE THEIR NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE POWER, PEOPLE ACROSS THE STREET THAT HAVE POWER, BUT REST ASSURED, WE'RE STILL WORKING TO HELP ADDRESS THOSE. 
          A LOT OF THEM ARE, AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED. 
          AND IF YOU GO TO THE AREA SUCH AS TIMBER GROVE OR SPRING BRANCH AREAS, YOU'LL SEE THIS IS A CATEGORY TREE TYPE STORM. 
          AND THESE ARE LARGE TREES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, LARGE CRANES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE, LIFT THEM. 
          AND IT JUST TAKES TIME. 
          UH, AS FAR AS THE DEPLOYMENT, IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE AMOUNT OF, UH, LINEMEN THAT ARE WORKING ON OUR FACILITIES, WE DO DEPLOY THEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TERRITORY TO ADDRESS ALL AREAS. 
          BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESTORATION TIME AS THAT, THAT IT TOOK FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE SOME CUSTOMERS VERSUS OTHERS, THAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 
          AND I DID HAVE SOME TALKING POINTS I BROUGHT WITH ME JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE COULD WELL, WELL, WELL, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME HELP YOU, BRAD. 
          IF WE'RE, WE'RE HEARING FROM FAMILIES THAT SEE THE LIGHTS ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEIRS ARE NOT ON, SO THEY THINK THEY'VE BEEN FORGOTTEN OR OVERLOOKED, NEGLECTED, WHAT IS CAUSING THAT IN YOUR, IN YOUR JUDGMENT, THE WEATHER? WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT INSTRUMENT AT THE, THE WEATHERHEAD? WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT, UH, TECHNOLOGY AND THEN ALSO, WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE DO IF EVERYONE'S LIGHTS ON BUT THEIRS? ABSOLUTELY. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE SEEING NOW A LOT MORE OFTEN IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS NESTED OUTAGES. 
          SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO GET THE CIRCUIT, WHICH IS THE BACKBONE UP AND RUNNING, AND THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTING THE ELECTRICITY THROUGH THE GREATER REGION. 
          HOWEVER, WHEN THOSE CIRCUITS COME BACK ON, CUSTOMERS COULD BE ON A LATERAL THAT'S ATTACHED TO A FUSE, AND THOSE CUSTOMERS COULD RANGE ANYWHERE FROM A HUNDRED TO 200 CUSTOMERS APPROXIMATELY. 
          SO IT CAN BE THAT A CIRCUIT LINE IS RUNNING AND YOUR NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET, BUT YOU'RE DOWNSTREAM OF THAT FUSE. 
          OUR FOLKS ARE AWARE OF THAT, TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, 
          [04:25:01]
BUT THAT COULD BE PART OF THE REASON. 
          ANOTHER ARE TRANSFORMERS. 
          TRANSFORMERS, UH, YOU COULD HAVE THAT CIRCUIT ENERGIZED IN YOUR BACKYARD, BUT IF A TRANSFORMER IS BLOWN OR DAMAGED, THERE'S LOCALLY ABOUT 10 TO 20 CUSTOMERS ON THAT PARTICULAR TRANSFORMER THAT WILL TRY TO RESTORE. 
          NOW, IF EVERYONE SURROUNDING YOU, INCLUDING YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS ON BOTH SIDES DON'T HAVE POWER, THEN THAT COULD BE BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE DAMAGE TO YOUR FACILITIES AT YOUR HOUSE. 
          YOU MAY HAVE, UH, SURVIVED THE STORM AND NOT HAD, UH, WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS ANY IMPACT. 
          BUT THERE IS THE WEATHERHEAD, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE TRANSITION OR THE CONNECTION FROM CENTER POINT ENERGY FACILITIES TO YOUR HOME. 
          AND IF THAT'S DAMAGED, TYPICALLY WHAT OUR CREWS WILL DO IS ROLL THAT UP, UM, AND, AND, UH, UH, NOTIFY THE CUSTOMER IF WE CAN, OR ASK THAT THAT CUSTOMER CALL CENTERPOINT ENERGY TO LET US KNOW THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT POWER. 
          SO WE CAN GO OUT THERE AND COORDINATE, UH, OR AT LEAST LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND HOW THEY NEED TO CONTACT AN ELECTRICIAN TO GET, UH, THE REPAIRS MADE TO THEIR HOME. 
          A COMMON QUESTION WE ALL GET IS WHERE DO YOU DECIDE TO START? UH, I'VE HEARD YOUR EXPLANATION WHERE YOU CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT, CERTAINLY PROVIDING FOR MEDICAL CORRECTION FACILITIES ESSENTIALS, BUT BEYOND THAT, WE ALL WONDER WHY YOU START IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOT ANOTHER. 
          YEAH, THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION. 
          AND YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AN ISSUE OF KIND OF DEFINING OUR SYSTEM AS HIGHWAYS AND ROADS. 
          UH, IT'S, WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE. 
          WE DON'T DEFINE IT BY NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          WE DON'T DEFINE IT BY BOUNDARIES. 
          WE DEFINE IT. 
          IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THE SUBSTATION AS AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET, AND OUR ELECTRIC LINE IS A CORD THAT'S PLUGGED INTO IT THAT'S BASICALLY CHOPPED UP INTO A HUNDRED PIECES. 
          SO FOR US TO WORK ON THE END AND TRY AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER IS NOT GONNA BE HELPFUL BECAUSE YOU NEED TO START AT THE END OF THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET. 
          AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE A VERY DIVERSE SPREAD OUT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, UH, WITH LAND, UH, LATERALS AND BRANCHES, WHICH ARE THE ROADS GOING OFF OF THE HIGHWAYS, YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOU WANNA START FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND WORK THAT WAY DOWN. 
          AND SO THESE PARTICULAR, UH, CIRCUITS IS WHAT WE REFER TO THAT AS EXTENSION CORD STARTS AT THE SUBSTATION, GOES THROUGH MANY COMMUNITIES. 
          IT CAN GO THROUGH SEVERAL CITIES AND THEY GO ON FOR MILES. 
          BUT THE IMPORTANCE IS WE RECOGNIZE WHERE OUR CRITICAL CUSTOMERS ARE. 
          WE RECOGNIZE THE HOSPITALS, WHAT CIRCUITS THEY ARE ON. 
          WE TRY TO GIVE THEM AS UTMOST RESPONSE, UH, UH, A PRIORITY AS WE CAN, BUT WE HAVE TO GET THOSE HIGHWAYS UP AND RUNNING. 
          IF YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN, THE HIGHWAYS HAVE TO BE RESTORED. 
          ONCE THAT HAS BEEN DONE, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THE STREETS, THE BOULEVARDS AND, AND, AND THOSE TYPE OF STREETS TO HELP GET THOSE BACK UP AND RUNNING. 
          THAT'S REALLY HOW IT'S DONE. 
          AND AGAIN, FIRST WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY WALK THOSE LINES SO WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, AND THEN MAKE THOSE REPAIRS FROM THE SUBSTATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE VERY END. 
          ONCE WE ENERGIZE THOSE CIRCUITS, THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND GET THOSE LATERALS. 
          THAT'S WHERE WE ADDRESS, WHICH COULD BE IMPACTED LATERALS THAT ARE NOT ON BECAUSE A FUSE IS OUT. 
          AND THEN WE COULD GET, UM, THOSE CUSTOMERS RESTORED. 
          THEN WE TRY TO GET THE TRANSFORMER CUSTOMERS RESTORED, AND THEN THE LOCAL INDIVIDUAL, SINGLE CUSTOMERS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL OBSERVE, AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO GO AND GET THESE CIRCUITS BACK ON, TYPICALLY WITH A NORMAL STORM RESPONSE, YOU CAN SEE CUSTOMERS BEING RETURNED WITH POWER BY THE THOUSANDS. 
          THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THAT MAIN CIRCUIT LINE THAT HIGHWAY RESTORED, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE CUSTOMERS ON BY THE HUNDREDS BECAUSE WE'RE REPAIRING THE DAMAGE DOWNSTREAM OF THOSE LATERALS AND GETTING THOSE FUSES BACK ON. 
          THE ISSUE IS NOW WHEN WE'RE HAVE THESE MORE LOCALIZED, UH, UH, REPAIRS THAT WE'RE MAKING, THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS IS JUST AS LONG AS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO BE ON THE CIRCUIT. 
          BUT INSTEAD OF A THOUSAND CUSTOMERS TO GET BACK ON, WE COULD SPEND FOUR HOURS TRYING TO, TO REPLACE ONE TRANSFORMER. 
          AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING FIVE, 10, POSSIBLY 20 CUSTOMERS ON AT A TIME. 
          SO STILL SAME AMOUNT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT IT WON'T AFFECT AS MANY CUSTOMERS FOR THAT AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. 
          THE, UH, LARGE TRANSMISSION TOWERS OFF OF TWO 90. 
          YES. 
          A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THEY HAVE. 
          I HAD READ OR HEARD YOU'RE ABLE TO WIRE AROUND THEM, BUT WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ONE OF 
          [04:30:01]
THOSE HUGE TOWERS GOING DOWN? YEAH, THE TRANSMISSION TOWERS ARE VITAL FOR OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. 
          SO IF YOU, UH, KIND OF KEEP IT IN MIND AS FAR AS THE ROLE OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE DISTRIBUTION IS WHAT BRINGS IT TO THE CUSTOMER'S HOME. 
          BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT, IN TERMS OF OUR ERCOT GRID IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IT'S THE TRANSMISSION LINES THAT BRING IT AROUND THE STATE. 
          AND SO THOSE ARE VITAL WITHOUT TRANSMISSION LINES, IT'S HARD TO GET, UH, TO THE DISTRIBUTION THAT BRINGS IT TO YOUR HOUSE. 
          SO WITH THAT, WE DID HAVE SOME, UH, SOME TOWERS THAT WERE IMPACTED. 
          WE HAD SOME TRANSMISSION CIRCUITS THAT WERE IMPACTED. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE IMMEDIATELY AND TRY TO MAKE SOME, UH, REPAIRS, GET THOSE CIRCUITS UP AND RUNNING. 
          WE'RE STILL MAKING SOME REPAIRS TO SOME OTHER CIRCUITS, BUT TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, WE WERE ABLE TO REROUTE THEM WITH, UH, SWITCHING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR SUBSTATIONS WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE POWER NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY. 
          DID I SEE CORRECTLY THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS WERE TAKING YOUR CABLE OFF OF TWO 90 RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM? AND WERE THOSE LIVE WIRES? I MEAN, WHAT I WAS, I WAS JUST WORRIED TO DEATH THAT THEY WERE GONNA GRAB ONE OF THE HOT WIRES. 
          YEAH. 
          WE ALWAYS ASK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WIRES ON THE GROUND, WE, WE DO HAVE PROTECTION TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THOSE WIRES ARE NOT, UH, ENERGIZED WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND. 
          UH, BUT SOMETIMES THAT DOES AS, AS, AS MUCH TECHNOLOGY AS YOU CAN HAVE AND THINGS WITH THE FUSES, THEY DON'T ALWAYS WORK AS PLANNED. 
          UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE LINES WERE NOT ENERGIZED AT THE TIME. 
          SO Y'ALL HAVE A, A SYSTEM, IF IT, A LIVE WIRE HITS THE GROUND, IT'LL SHUT, IT'LL TRIGGER A A THAT IS CORRECT. 
          SO THE WHOLE POINT OF THE FUSES, UH, THE TRANSFORMERS HAVE FUSES BREAKER A BREAKER BOX, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. 
          THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT. 
          VERY SIMILAR TO THAT GFI OUTLET THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BATHROOM. 
          I'LL BE DOING, WE HAVE THAT ON MUCH LARGER SCALES, AND WE HAVE THAT IN REDUNDANCY. 
          SO WE HAVE ALL, EACH LATERAL, WE'LL HAVE THESE TYPE OF FUSES TO HELP PROTECT IT, AND THAT'S TO ENSURE THAT THAT LATERAL GOES DOWN AND THAT CIRCUIT STAYS ACTIVE, SO WE CAN STILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE POWER FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. 
          OKAY. 
          MY LAST QUESTION. 
          WHAT IS YOUR BEST ESTIMATE THAT MOST OF THE, UH, USERS WILL BE RESTORED? MOST OF YOUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS WILL BE RESTORED? SO AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS BY THE END OF THIS EVENING TO BE ABOUT 98%. 
          AND THAT STILL IS GONNA IMPACT ABOUT 20,000 CUSTOMERS. 
          WE'RE KEEPING OUR RESOURCES, AND I ANTICIPATE BECAUSE THE EXTENT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, DONE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE LEVEL OF, UH, DAMAGE THAT WE HAVE, THAT I COULD FORESEE OUR CREWS STILL WORKING WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE WEEKEND. 
          THE 98 IS IMPRESSIVE UNLESS YOU'RE ONE OF THE 20,000. 
          EXACTLY. 
          AND, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE WORKING AND ROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY TO GET THEM ON AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. 
          I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE PATIENCE OF OUR CUSTOMERS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE WORKING AND TRY TO GET THOSE CUSTOMERS ON. 
          WELL, THANK YOU. 
          AND YOU'RE, UH, A, A FINE REPRESENTATIVE OF CENTER POINT. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, BRAD, FIRST I'LL START BY SAYING MY APPRECIATION TO YOU, JASON, PAUL, GLORIA, OLIVIA, THE LIST GOES ON, AND THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF WORKERS, UM, LINE CREWS, VEGETATION CREWS THAT ARE NOT JUST IN DISTRICT C, BUT ALL OVER THE CITY RIGHT NOW, FIGHTING THIS HEAT. 
          I WAS OUT, UM, WITH SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS GIVING OUT, YOU KNOW, GATORADE, WATERMELON POPSICLES, JUST TO THANK THEM FOR, FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'RE DOING. 
          UM, I'M GONNA ASK SOME QUESTIONS, AND THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM MY APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION OF THE SITUATION WE'RE IN, BUT, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE OUTAGE MAP. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR ON THE RECORD, JUST BECAUSE THE OUTAGE MAP THAT CENTERPOINT HAS FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO SHARE, UM, THAT IS NOT THE FINAL ALL INCLUSIVE LIST. 
          WE STILL HAVE POCKETS THAT ARE NOT REFLECTED ON THE MAP. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. 
          AND THAT IS SOME THINGS THAT, UH, WE'RE LOOKING BACK TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE HAD SOME, UM, IT ISSUES REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF, UM, TRAFFIC THAT WAS USING THOSE MAPS, AND SOME OF THOSE WERE CAUSING SOME ISSUES. 
          BUT TO YOUR POINT, THAT IS FAIR. 
          'CAUSE WE HAVE AREAS THAT DO SAY THAT THEY HAVE, UH, BEEN ENERGIZED, BUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LOCALIZED EVENTS SUCH AS 
          [04:35:01]
A PARTICULAR CUSTOMER HAS, UH, DAMAGED WEATHERHEAD. 
          THEY COULD HAVE A TRANSFORMER THAT'S OUT, RIGHT? SO THEY COULD STILL BE IMPACTED, THEY COULD STILL BE ON CENTERPOINT'S SIDE. 
          AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT A POINTING FINGERS. 
          WE JUST HAVE, LIKE, OUR OFFICE CONTINUES TO GET CALLS. 
          HEY, WE'RE NOT ON THE MAP, BUT WE'RE OUT. 
          WE'RE TRACKING ALL OF THOSE, RELAYING THEM TO YOU. 
          BUT I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT INCLUDED ON THE MAP DOESN'T MEAN THAT CENTERPOINT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. 
          BUT THAT ALSO DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY SHOULDN'T KEEP REPORTING IT. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. 
          UM, AND YOU BROUGHT UP IT, UH, MAYOR AGAIN, NOW WE'RE STILL IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS, SO IT'S NOT THE TIME TO BE GOING NECESSARILY BACK AND FORTH ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO MORE. 
          BUT I THINK HAVING A, A FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION ABOUT A LOT OF THIS IS ALSO IMPERATIVE. 
          UM, BUT TO THE IT POINT, OBVIOUSLY, UH, DOUG, AS PART OF THAT, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CELL SERVICE DOWN. 
          UM, AND YOU ARE NOT A CELL PROVIDER, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE, THE CELL NODULES OR WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER TURN IS LIVE, A LOT OF THEM ON CENTER POINT POLES. 
          SO WHEN THE POLE GOES DOWN, CELL SERVICE GOES DOWN. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S FAIR. 
          I WOULD SAY YES. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, AND I ASK THAT, MAYOR, BECAUSE AS WE TALK ABOUT CENTERPOINT'S CAPACITY, THE IT CHALLENGES ALONE, WE ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH OUR CELL, UH, SERVICE. 
          AND AGAIN, IN AN EMERGENCY, I MEAN, I, I WAS SHELTERING WITH MY THREE-YEAR-OLD UNDER THE STAIRS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND COULDN'T GET RIGHT AFTERWARDS, DATA RECEPTION, INTERNET, ANYTHING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON OR WHAT WAS SAFE OR NOT SAFE. 
          AND THERE'S FAMILIES THAT STILL CAN'T NECESSARILY GET ACCESS. 
          THIS WAS ONLY, YOU SAID CATEGORY TWO TO CATEGORY THREE SUSTAINED WINDS, UM, OVER A 20 TO 30 MINUTE PERIOD. 
          AND IT CAME THROUGH A SMALL, I, I SHOULDN'T SAY SMALL, BUT A PORTION OF THE CITY. 
          THIS WAS NOT A CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE HURRICANE REGIONAL DISASTER. 
          AND MY CONCERN, WELL, ONE, BRAD, I KNOW Y'ALL DON'T HAVE THE PROPER ESTIMATES OR OFFICIAL ESTIMATES IN, BUT ESTIMATING CENTER POINTS, DAMAGE AND COSTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE INCURRED. 
          WHAT IS, DO WE HAVE A BALLPARK FIGURE ON THAT YET? IS IT IN THE STILL MILLIONS, BILLIONS? WHAT ARE WE TALKING? UM, I, I WOULD SAY IT WOULD, IT, IT, IT'S HARD TO GAUGE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF RESOURCES WE STILL HAVE DAILY, UM, YOU KNOW, GATHERING ALL THE INVOICES THAT WE HAVE, THE AMOUNT OF FOOD, THE LODGING, UH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS PROVIDED, IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE AN AUDIT PROCESS TO GO IN AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING RECONCILES APPROPRIATELY. 
          RIGHT. 
          UM, BUT YES, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE MILLIONS. 
          YES. 
          AND IT'S, I'M FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M ASKING A BIT OF A LOADED QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE CONTINUED TO PUSH, AND JASON KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN MOST. 
          I CONTINUE TO PUSH WHEREVER WE CAN TO BURY LINES. 
          UM, AND AT WHAT POINT DOES THE COST OF THIS, DOES IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO START BURY LINES? THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH BEARING, RIGHT? IT TAKES LONGER TO GET INTO THOSE REPAIRS. 
          CORRECT. 
          BUT AGAIN, WE WE'RE SEEING A CATEGORY TWO WIND EVENT OVER 20 MINUTES. 
          WE HAVE NOT SEEN A DIRECT HIT OF A CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, THAT MY CONCERN, UH, THE ANXIETY OVER THIS IS STARTING TO INCREMENTALLY GROW, UM, THROUGHOUT JUST THIS INCIDENT ALONE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED HURRICANE SEASON YET. 
          UM, SO I, AGAIN, MAYOR, I THINK THAT A LOT MORE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS NEED TO HAPPEN. 
          THAT DOESN'T IN ANY WAY DIMINISH MY APPRECIATION FOR CENTERPOINT'S PARTNERSHIP. 
          ANY CALL I HAVE MADE, ANY FLAG I HAVE MADE, THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM HAS BEEN TOPNOTCH IN THE RESPONSE. 
          SO I APPRECIATE THAT PARTNERSHIP. 
          WE JUST, WE HAVE SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO TALK THROUGH. 
          UM, AND AGAIN, AS WE, WE'RE NOT EVEN INTO HURRICANE SEASON YET, AND WE STILL HAVE THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER RIGHT NOW. 
          I, I APPRECIATE THOSE QUESTIONS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AND I CAN SHARE THAT WE, WE DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THEM. 
          WE AGREE AND SUPPORT THAT THOSE ARE THINGS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD. 
          UM, YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THAT WITH THE LATEST RESILIENCY FILING THAT WE JUST FILED. 
          AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT AS FAR AS, UM, RECOGNIZING THE BACKBONE CIRCUITS UNDER GROUNDING FREEWAY CROSSINGS, HOW TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM MORE RESILIENT. 
          AND I THINK THIS IS, UH, THE TIMING IS JUST A REPRESENTATION TO YOUR POINT, THAT THIS WAS NOT EVEN A FULLY DEPLOYED HURRICANE. 
          SO I THINK IT IS A STRONG MESSAGE REITERATING THE NEED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RESILIENCY, UH, REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          UM, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL EVERYONE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK AND IN THIS HEAT RIGHT NOW. 
          UH, AND IT, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA DEAL WITH THE IT. 
          THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR 
          [04:40:01]
PROTE PECK. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, TO CENTER POINT, UM, GETTING THE MOBILE GENERATION TO MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRY SO THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS HAD SOMEWHERE TO GO FOR A COOLING CENTER. 
          THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. 
          WE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT OF THAT CENTER, UM, AND A FEW OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THERE AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UM, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATED THAT. 
          UM, YOU SAID THAT BY TODAY, 98% OF THE CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE POWER BACK ON, UM, IN DISTRICT A, WE'RE SEEING MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE POWER OUTAGES ARE IN DISTRICT A. 
          SO I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT 2% THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU SAID BEFORE? UM, ARE THOSE, DO YOU SUSPECT THAT THOSE WILL BE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WON'T HAVE POWER BY THE END OF SALE? ARE THOSE THE INDIVIDUAL HOMES THAT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING AT THEIR HOUSE? WE'RE HOPING THAT IT'S MORE OF THE LOCALIZED AREAS THAT WE HAVE. 
          YEAH. 
          SO THE, THE, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING EVERYTHING GOES WELL AND WE DON'T FORESEE SOME UNFORESEEN, UH, UH, DAMAGE THAT WE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO RESTORE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE AGAIN, ASKED TO HAVE THE PATIENTS, THE, THE ESTIMATES ARE THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE HAVE, UM, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, UM, UPDATE THOSE MAPS AND GET 'EM THE, THE MOST CORRECTLY UP TO SPEED. 
          IF YOU CAN IMAGINE. 
          UM, SOME OF THAT HAS TO JUST BE DONE BY HAND. 
          SO WE HAVE THE 700 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OUT WALKING, MAKING NOTES. 
          UM, IT'S THIS, THESE ARE, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, HAND NOTES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO UPDATE OUR INFORMATION MANUALLY. 
          AND IT DOES TAKE TIME. 
          AND THERE ARE SOME, UH, I GUESS SOME ISSUES JUST AS POINTED OUT BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET THAT AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. 
          AND SO YOU SAID THAT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL HOMES TO CONTACT CENTER POINT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE STILL OUT. 
          AND SO AFTER TODAY, IF THEIR WHOLE STREETS, WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD'S STILL OUT, YOU ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THEY CONTACT CENTER POINT YES. 
          AND LET THEM KNOW JUST IN CASE. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. 
          WE'LL, WE'LL SHOOT THAT MESSAGE OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND LET PEOPLE KNOW TO REALLY START CONTACTING CENTER POINT, BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW BEFORE WHEN PEOPLE WERE CONTACTING CENTERPOINT, THEY WEREN'T GETTING THROUGH, AND SO THEY MAY HAVE STOPPED. 
          SO WE'LL START TELLING PEOPLE TO START CONTACTING AGAIN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          BRAD. 
          I'M JUST CURIOUS, DID THE PITNER CORRIDOR GET RESTORED? I DO NOT HAVE CONFIRMATION. 
          OKAY. 
          IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MOBILE GEN SITE IS STILL THERE UP AND RUNNING. 
          YEAH. 
          YES. 
          AS, AS OF THIS MORNING, THEY DID NOT HAVE POWER YET. 
          UM, BUT WE'LL CHECK AGAIN FOR STATUS UPDATE. 
          WOW. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU CENTER POINT FOR EVERYTHING THAT, THAT Y'ALL DID DURING THIS STORM. 
          AND THIS QUESTION WAS KIND OF TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND SAID, UM, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ANSWERED THAT QUESTION. 
          SO CENTERPOINT IS LOOKING AT AREAS, UM, THAT REGULARLY EXPERIENCE OUTAGES FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES? THAT IS CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          AND ARE THERE STILL MUTUAL AID TECHNICIANS ON THE GROUND? ARE THERE, UH, I'M SORRY, WHAT KIND OF TECHNICIAN? LIKE THE MUTUAL AID, THE YES. 
          PEOPLE THAT CAME IN. 
          OKAY. 
          AND HOW LONG WILL THEY BE HERE? UH, I WILL, I ANTICIPATE WE'LL HAVE THEM WORKING EVEN WHEN WE HAVE OUR CUSTOMERS RESTORED. 
          KEEP IN MIND, UM, IT MIGHT BE AT A POINT WHERE WE FEEL LIKE IT'S STATUS QUO, THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE POWER RESTORED, BUT IT STILL WILL BE, UH, OTHER REPAIRS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION TOWERS THAT'LL BE WORKING ON. 
          SO AS FAR AS GETTING THE CUSTOMERS ON, WE WILL HAVE THESE EXTERNAL RESOURCES WORKING THROUGH THE WEEKEND, BUT WE'LL ALSO HAVE THEM ON EVEN BE A BEYOND THAT PERIOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE, THE RESILIENCY QUESTION AS WELL. 
          UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE OBSERVED IS JUST INFLUENCES OF THE, THE WEATHER THAT WE'VE HAD. 
          UM, SIMILARLY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST EVER WINTER STORM, UM, OTHER EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD. 
          SO WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR RESILIENCY. 
          WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME DISCUSSING THE RELIABILITY. 
          UH, I, I ALWAYS, UH, WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE DIFFERENCE ON THE RESILIENCY PIECE IS IF YOU COMPARE IT TO THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO HAVE YOUR CAR ACCESSIBLE, TO TAKE YOUR FAMILIES TO, TO THE BALL GAMES, TO GET THE GROCERIES, THAT CAR'S GOTTA BE UP AND RUNNING. 
          IT'S GOTTA BE AVAILABLE, IT'S GOTTA BE WORKING. 
          THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT TODAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS A RESILIENCY PIECE. 
          AND THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE A PUNCH WHERE, UH, YOU SEE THINGS, IF YOU USE THE SAME CAR ANALOGY WHEN YOU GET INTO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THAT'S WHERE YOUR, UH, SEAT BELTS, AIRBAGS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS REALLY START TAKEN INTO EFFECT. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS UPGRADES TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          SO THAT WHAT WE'LL SEE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, UH, WEEKS AT A TIME FOR A LARGE 
          [04:45:01]
STORM RESTORATION EFFORT. 
          MAYBE WE COULD GET IT DOWN TO DAYS. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? MEMBERS? IF NOT, THANK YOU, UH, BRAD, APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, YOUR TIME AND, AND, UM, CENTER POINT IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          AND I HOPE YOU MEET YOUR ESTIMATED TIME FRAME. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          BE SAFE MEMBERS. 
          [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
ANYTHING ELSE? NOW WE'LL GO TO POPOFF AND I RECOGNIZE MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
          UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. 
          UH, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, EVERYONE WHO PUT FORTH EFFORTS TO HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES DURING THIS, THIS STORM, ESPECIALLY, WANNA SEND A SHOUT OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND THE CONSTANT CHECKING ON EACH OTHER AND STAYING IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR OFFICE. 
          UH, DO WANNA LET THE RESIDENTS SPECIFICALLY IN FONDANT GARDENS KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PLAT APPLICATION? LO CREST PLACE, LOCATED ON LO CREST STREET SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90, THE DEVELOPER IS REQUESTING THE PLAT BE CHANGED FROM A RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL USE. 
          UH, AND THEY DO INTEND TO BUILD AN OFFICE BUILDING. 
          THEY INTEND TO BUILD AN OFFICE BUILDING WITH WAREHOUSE SPACE ON THE SITE. 
          AND THAT HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, MAY THE 30TH, AT 2:00 PM AND IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CITY HALL ANNEX CHAMBER. 
          AND IF WE NEED, IF THEY NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION, THEY CAN CONTACT THE DISTRICT A OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 1 6, AND WE'LL ALSO SEND THAT OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER. 
          ALSO, WANT TO, UH, MAYOR, GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO, UM, RANDY AND THE PERMITTING CENTER AND CODE ENFORCEMENT. 
          WE HAVE A, UH, A RESIDENT IN WESTBURY WHO IS, UH, BUILDING A SEVEN ROOM AIRBNB. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, RED TAGGED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UH, BUT THE CONTRACTOR CONTINUES TO WORK. 
          UH, RANDY AND HIS TEAM AND EVERYONE WENT AND, UH, MET WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO STOP THE DEMOLITION AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE GETTING THE PROPER PERMITS. 
          BUT WE SEE THIS A LOT, THAT PEOPLE GET THE RED TAG AND THEY JUST KIND OF DISREGARD THAT RED TAG. 
          UM, SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PUSH FOR ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT, UM, WHEN OUR CONTRACTORS ARE NOT COMPLYING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE REPEATEDLY RED TAGGED ON THESE FACILITIES. 
          SO, UH, THIS WEEK IS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. 
          BE SAFE AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAY. 
          UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. 
          UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND MAYOR, YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, I JUST GOT WORD FROM MY STAFF THAT MOST OF PITNER DOES HAVE ELECTRICITY NOW. 
          SO I GUESS AS WE WERE SITTING HERE, THEY GOT MOST OF PITNER. 
          NOT ALL OF IT, BUT MOST. 
          SO THAT'S GOOD PROGRESS. 
          UM, I HAVE A FEW PEOPLE I WANNA THANK FROM THIS AFTERMATH OF THIS STORM. 
          FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HEB, UM, GETTING WATER AND ICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN DOING SO MUCH TO FEED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN DISTRICT. 
          A THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          UM, LISA HEALTHMAN AND MARTHA BARRERA. 
          I CANNOT THANK YOU BOTH ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT A, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          UM, THANK YOU. 
          CROWDSOURCE RESCUE MATTHEW, UM, HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB HELPING SO MANY PEOPLE, FEEDING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, GETTING VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER. 
          UM, HE'S ALSO WORKED WITH THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK, AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK FOR EVERYTHING. 
          UM, BUT GETTING GENERATORS AND TOOLS TO PEOPLE. 
          SO I CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH. 
          UM, MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, REALLY STEPPING UP TO LETTING US USE THEIR FACILITY AND ALSO, UM, NOT JUST AS A COOLING CENTER, BUT THEY'VE ALSO ASSISTED SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THERE AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          UM, AND THEN THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE HELPED THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS. 
          RON DELANEY, EDITH AND DANIEL SANTA MARIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR FEEDING PEOPLE AND BEING OUT THERE. 
          UM, SENATOR TED CRUZ'S OFFICE, SENATOR MOLLY COOK'S OFFICE, AND THEN A BIG THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ AND ALCORN. 
          UM, THEY WERE OUT THERE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ WAS, UM, HAULING HEAVY, UM, LOADS OF WATER AND ICE FOR HOURS AND HOURS IN THE HEAT, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN YESTERDAY, UM, OUT THERE FEEDING PEOPLE FOR HOURS AS WELL. 
          UM, IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT PHOTO OPS. 
          THEY WERE DOING HEAVY, HEAVY LIFTING AND HARD WORK, SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR THAT. 
          UM, AND THEN ALSO DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ASSISTING WITH VOLUNTEERS AS WELL. 
          UM, REPRESENTATIVE HULL AND REPRESENTATIVE SHAW AS WELL. 
          UM, AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR HELPING AS WELL WITH SO MANY THINGS. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, HAVE JUST BEEN DOING SUCH AN AMAZING JOB OUT THERE. 
          UM, AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, FIRST WANNA START OFF BY OFFERING CONDOLENCES 
          [04:50:01]
TO THOSE THAT PASSED AWAY DURING THIS, THIS EVENT. 
          UH, WE HAD TWO, UH, KRISTEN MARTINEZ, UH, MOTHER OF FOUR. 
          SHE WAS 31 YEARS OLD. 
          HER CHILDREN WERE THE AGES OF ONE IN 13. 
          UH, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE, UH, JUAN FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ, 72, UH, HIGH WINDS TOPPLED, MASSIVE CRANE IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA. 
          UM, AND, AND AGAIN, JUST FOR ALL THOSE THAT THAT LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THIS TIME, UM, JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER. 
          UH, IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE, AND I HAVE A FEW SHOUT OUTS AS WELL. 
          UH, CONVOY OF HOPE. 
          UH, THEY, THEY WERE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE ANOTHER DISTRIBUTION SITE IN THE CLINTON PARK, UH, COMMUNITY TODAY FROM THREE TO FIVE. 
          UH, THEY SUPPORTED US IN MAGNOLIA PARK AND IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE DISTRICT, HEB AS WELL. 
          UH, SHOUT OUT TO MY FRATERNITY BROTHER WHO WORKS FOR A GB, UH, JOE CASTANO, UH, WHO REACHED OUT RIGHT AWAY, UH, COMCAST, NICK, UH, NICO. 
          UM, WE WERE ABLE TO SET UP SATELLITE, UH, COOLING CENTERS IN HCC, NORTHEAST, HCC SOUTHEAST, UM, AND THEN ALSO HAVE CHARGING STATIONS BECAUSE OF COMCAST, UM, IN DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, JESSICA GARO AND ROMAN AGUILAR. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. 
          UH, AND I, I KNOW WE CAN THANK A LOT OF A LOT OF FOLKS, BUT THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN, UH, WITH US ON THE GROUND, UH, REMOVING TREE DEBRIS FROM STREETS SO FOLKS CAN GET THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SUPPORT, UH, WITH VOLUNTEERS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UM, ONE OF THEM AS WELL. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE, WE SEE THE NEED, UH, THESE GUYS ARE SPREAD, SPREAD THIN, UH, I KNOW THEY'RE RUNNING FROM DISTRICT A ALL THE WAY TO, YOU KNOW, IB UH, AND, AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE 'EM A HUGE SHOUT OUT. 
          UM, AND THEN RECENTLY JUST GOT A WORD FROM UNION PACIFIC. 
          UH, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES WITH, WITH BLOCK CROSSINGS, BUT THEY STEP UP AS WELL. 
          UM, THERE'S LABOR GROUPS THAT ARE GOING OUT AND DOING REPAIRS, DROPPING OFF, UH, WATER, ICE FOOD, WHATEVER SUPPLIES THAT WE HAD AT OUR DISTRIBUTION SITES TO FOLKS AT, AT HOMES. 
          AND UNION PACIFIC'S GONNA BE GIVING SOME CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE, THE LABOR GROUPS TO GO CONTINUE DOING REPAIRS, UM, AT LOCATIONS WITHIN, WITHIN THE CITY, UH, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT. 
          I. 
          AND SO WE APPRECIATE, WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. 
          AND, AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, I, I CAN'T THANK, UH, PASTOR CANTU, PASTOR DIXON, UM, AND THEN, UH, PASTOR LACEY, UH, FOR STEPPING UP. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT GUY HAS ONE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IN THE EAST END LIGHTS WERE OUT. 
          AND SO WE LEAN ON THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO STEP UP AND OPEN THEIR DOORS, AND THERE'S, THERE'S NO HESITATION. 
          THEY, THEY JUST OPEN UP. 
          AND SO, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UM, THANK OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, UH, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. 
          UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO, UH, WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, TO MARTA, WHO'S MAY 25TH, GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT. 
          AND SHE SAID, , I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE KNEW THAT WE'RE THINKING OF HER. 
          UM, ALSO EDIT IT. 
          MARIA, UM, WHO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY ON MONDAY. 
          UH, AND, AND AS COUNCILOR PECK MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SHE LIVES IN THE, IN THE SPRING BRANCH AREA, AND SHE WAS SUPPORTING FAMILIES OUT THERE. 
          I THINK IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 300 FAMILIES THAT HER AND HER HUSBAND, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, DANIEL SANTA MARIA, THEY WERE OUT THERE SUPPORTING, UH, FOLKS IN SPRING BRANCH AREA. 
          SO, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE OUR, OUR TEAM. 
          SO EDITH, I WANNA SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER. 
          UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATIONS TO KARINA, WHO'S WITH THE FINANCE, UH, THE, UH, DEPARTMENT PART OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, OR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, SHE'S GRADUATING, UH, SOON, BACHELOR'S IN OF SCIENCE AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. 
          SHE'S IN THE, IN THE CHAMBER, SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE HER IF SHE WANTS TO STAND FOR A QUICK BIT. 
          UH, AND, AND, LIKE, LIKE MANY OF US, RIGHT, FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES, IT'S, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, MAKE SURE FOLKS, UH, UH, SEE HOW A PATH FORWARD CAN BE FOR, FOR, UH, THE NEXT GENERATIONS COMING UP. 
          SO THANK YOU, CORINA, FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING FOR US AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, I WANT TO START MY POP OFF, UH, WITH GIVING CONGRATULATIONS TO HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER HERNDON, UH, MANY OF US KNOW HIM, WHO IS USUALLY HERE DOING PUBLIC SESSION. 
          UH, HE STANDS BY THE DOOR, HE IS RETIRING, I BELIEVE, AFTER 38 YEARS OF SERVICE. 
          HE SAID HE STARTED, UM, IN THE DEPARTMENT AT 19, AND HE WAS HERE YESTERDAY, AND HE HAD ON HIS SUIT, AND HE WAS, UH, EVERYONE WAS BEING ABLE TO GIVE THEIR APPRECIATION FOR HIS SERVICE. 
          BUT MANY TIMES ON TUESDAYS, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE, AND HE HANDLES A PLETHORA OF ISSUES AND PEOPLE. 
          AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. 
          UM, AND HIS HUMILITY. 
          UH, HE, HE'S A GOOD MAN. 
          AND SO THE DEPARTMENT'S LOSING A GOOD ONE, AND I WANT TO TELL HIM, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND, AND GOOD LUCK, UH, IN RETIREMENT. 
          ALSO, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, 
          [04:55:02]
UH, WHEN THESE NATURAL DISASTERS HIT. 
          UM, WE ALL COME TO COME TOGETHER, AND I'VE SEEN EVEN THE CM, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE NEW ONES, YOU GET THRUST INTO ACTION LIKE RIGHT AWAY FOR YOUR FIRST EVENT. 
          AND IT'S ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW QUICKLY WE CAN PUT TOGETHER, UH, THE LOGISTICS AND, UH, MAYOR, YOUR, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, UH, FOR GIVING US THE BRIEFINGS FOR THE LONG HOURS, THE LONG NIGHTS THAT THEY AND YOU PUT IN, UH, TO KEEP US ABREAST OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, UH, TO REACH OUT TO THE SENIORS, TO REACH OUT TO THE VULNERABLE, TO LOOK OUT FOR THE HOMELESS THAT WERE DOWNTOWN. 
          IT WAS JUST A COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF, OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT HOUSTON'S REALLY ALL ABOUT. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN CRISIS COMES UPON US, REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, UH, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, WHATEVER YOU ARE, WE KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND WE BAND TOGETHER FOR ONE ANOTHER. 
          AND, UM, GOING THROUGH THIS STORM, ALTHOUGH IT WAS SOME TRAGEDY, UH, IT ALSO SHOWS THE BEST IN PEOPLE. 
          AND SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR EFFORTS. 
          UM, LASTLY, MAYOR, UH, I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUES GOING ON WITH HISD. 
          UH, WE'VE CONTINUED TO HAVE, UH, PROTEST IN MY DISTRICT AT THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. 
          UM, RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY, UH, MEMBERS ARE STILL REACHING OUT, WANTING TO GET MORE CLARIFICATION. 
          UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR OFFICE IS IN THE WORKS OF COMING UP WITH A PLAN TO, UH, ENGAGE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT. 
          UH, SO WE AS COUNCIL MAY HAVE MORE, UM, DIALOGUE. 
          AND SO I, I WELCOME THAT. 
          UM, THE DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE ANY ELECTED TRUSTEES. 
          SO, UH, MANY OF THE CONSTITUENTS ARE LEANING ON US, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK OUT ON THEIR BEHALF. 
          AND I THINK, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS LEFT TO BE ANSWERED. 
          AND, UH, WE CANNOT HAVE A THRIVING CITY WITHOUT A THRIVING PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US, UH, TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN, UH, TO GET ANSWERS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE DO IT IN A TRANSPARENT FASHION, AND SO THAT WE GIVE OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND FAMILIES SOME REASSURANCE, UH, THAT WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN, UH, TO KEEP THEIR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND. 
          SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF ON, ON WHATEVER STRATEGY THAT MAY BE, AND FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR WEEK. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU'RE REACHING OUT, EVEN THOUGH YOUR DISTRICT WAS RELATIVELY, I GUESS YOU GOT A LOT OF HARD RAIN AND WHATNOT, BUT CERTAINLY SURVIVED WITHOUT THE WIND. 
          AND SO YOU REACHED OUT IMMEDIATELY OFFERING TO BRING YOUR RESOURCES TO THE NORTHWEST OR EAST END, AND SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S VERY THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK. 
          AND I, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT HISD. 
          UH, I WAS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT SATURDAY MORNING TO LOOK AT DELMAR AS A FEMA, UH, APPLICATION CENTER. 
          I EXPRESSED COLLECTIVELY OUR CONCERNS. 
          UH, I WAS WORKING WITH HIM TO GET THEM TO RESCHEDULE SOME OF THEIR EVENTS, UH, GRADUATION, A COUPLE OF WORK FAIRS. 
          SO IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WHEN YOU'RE MEETING WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU NEED A COOPERATION ON SOMETHING THAT IS IN REAL TIME, AND TRY TO EXPRESS TO HIM THAT HE NEEDS TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO NOT ONLY YOUR CONCERN, BUT YOUR COLLEAGUES' CONCERNS. 
          HE UNDERSTANDS THAT, UH, MY, MY CONCERN IS HE'S LISTENING, OBVIOUSLY, TO HIS BOARD. 
          UH, ONE THING IS WE DEVELOP A WAY TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE WITH HIM BEYOND MY MEETING WITH HIM. 
          WHEN WE HAVE WORK TO DO, UH, RICK CAMPO AND OTHERS THAT WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, UH, OUR PORT COMMISSION CHAIR NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE CONCERN OF THAT YOU'RE EXPRESSING ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          SO I TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY. 
          HE ACTUALLY CALLED ME AGAIN YESTERDAY, DID NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT I WAS CRITICAL THAT WE HAD SCHOOL ON MONDAY WHEN SPRING RANCH AND OTHERS WERE NOT. 
          UH, I TOLD HIM I WAS REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF THE CITY, THAT IT'S, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE WATER, FOOD, AND ELECTRICITY. 
          SCHOOL'S IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S NOT A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE WERE ALL DEALING WITH. 
          SO I'M DOING MY BEST TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN, AND THIS COUNCIL'S 
          [05:00:01]
CONCERNS. 
          UH, AND IT'S A, BUT IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. 
          BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP. 
          EXPRESS ACTUALLY RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE, UH, PRINCIPAL THAT HAD BEEN PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, AND HE EXPRESSED THAT THAT WAS A PERSONNEL ISSUE THAT HE COULDN'T DISCUSS WITH ME BECAUSE OF THE PRIVACY ACT. 
          BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS. 
          I'VE DEALT WITH IT THE LAST, ACTUALLY THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AS A CANDIDATE THAT WAS BROUGHT INTO THAT DISCUSSION. 
          BUT I PROMISE YOU, I'VE GOT A FULL PLATE, AS I KNOW ALL OF US DO WITH PURE CITY ISSUES. 
          BUT I'VE SAID FOR YEARS AS HISD GOES, IS HOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S GONNA GO. 
          AND I KNOW THAT'S, UH, YOUR, YOUR SENTIMENT AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU. 
          I'LL BE BRIEF. 
          UM, THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT WORKED ON THIS . 
          I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A HECK OF A WEEK, AND I'M IN AWE OF MY DISTRICT CO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE JUST MOVED ALL KINDS OF LOGISTICS TO HAVE ALL THESE DISTRIBUTIONS AND, AND TO THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION STAFF THAT'S KEPT US ALL, UM, GOING THIS WHOLE TIME WITH ALL THE INFORMATION. 
          UM, WE ARE IN BUDGET SEASON STILL , UH, THE STORM HAD VERY BAD TIMING. 
          UM, I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE BUDGET TOWN HALL WHEN IT BLEW THROUGH, AND EVERYBODY'S PHONES WENT, WENT OFF, UM, THANKFULLY IN SOUTHWEST. 
          SO WE DIDN'T GET IN IN HARM'S WAY. 
          BUT, UM, TODAY WE'VE GOT BUDGET WORKSHOPS STARTING AT ONE, HEALTH AT ONE SOLID, WASTE AT TWO MUNICIPAL COURTS AT THREE AND PARKS AT FOUR. 
          THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ IS PROVIDING SOME LUNCH IN THE BACK. 
          UM, SO YAY FOOD. 
          AND, UM, WE'LL SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND I'M JUST GONNA DO A QUICK ROLL ON THIS. 
          UM, PARTNERS THAT HELPED WITH ALL OF THIS WAS JUST AMAZING. 
          I JUST HAVE TO GIVE THEM SHOUT OUTS. 
          UM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 49 AND 50. 
          VICKI MARTIN, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF CLAREMONT PLACE CIVIC CLUB, EAST HOUSTON CIVIC CLUB, TRINITY GARDEN CIVIC CLUB, RIVERWOOD ESTATES CIVIC CLUB, VERDE FOREST, SECTION TWO, SET OF GAS RESIDENCE, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 48. 
          DORIS BROWN FROM WEST STREET RECOVERY, NAC, NORTHWOOD MANOR CIVIC CLUB. 
          HAROLD PARK, HOA, WOODLAND ACRES, UM, WOOD, WOODLAND, HOA, AKER HOMES, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          MARY FONTANO, PLEASANTVILLE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. 
          UM, SP ENGINEERING, PASTOR MATTHEWS, UM, TRADE THE TRUTH. 
          NHP FOUNDATION, HEB, WALMART BREAD OF LIFE, THE FOOD BANK. 
          UM, COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S OFFICE, JUDGE ALGO, CONGRESSMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS MAI AT THE OFFICE. 
          SHE'S BEEN AMAZING. 
          VERONICA MANIRA HELD IT DOWN WITH NO ELECTRICITY. 
          MY CHIEF OF STAFF, OH, BY THE WAY, IT'S HER BIRTHDAY. 
          HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MANIRA. 
          UM, LET'S SEE, KEITH DOWNING, SARAH HENDERSON, DESTINED FOR EMPOWERMENT VOLUNTEERS AT DEANNA HALL. 
          RICHARD BONTON, REVEREND HARVEY CLEMONS, UM, BAPTIST FIFTH, I MEAN, UH, FIRST BAPTIST, UM, NO, FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A-F-L-C-A-O, ALL THE LABOR GROUPS. 
          IF I MISS ANYONE, I'M SO SORRY. 
          BUT IT HAS BEEN AMAZING. 
          H-P-D-H-F-D, EVERYONE HAS JUST BEEN PHENOMENAL. 
          MY DISTRICT MEMBERS, THE NEW ONES, SERIOUSLY, KUDOS. 
          AND I'VE GOTTA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          HE LET ME STEAL LIKE TONS OF ICE AND WATER. 
          SO, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AND, UM, I'M JUST GLAD EVERYONE IS SAFE AND, UM, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          WELL, I'M GLAD COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WENT BEFORE ME THAT WAY. 
          I DON'T HAVE TO RATTLE OFF A WHOLE LOT OF THANK YOUS, BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID THE GREATEST ASSETS IN OUR CITY TRULY ARE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. 
          AND I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT OVER THE PAST WEEK, WHICH HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. 
          AND JUST TO CERTAINLY THANK YOU, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND HIS STAFF. 
          THE, UH, EFFORTS OVER AT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WERE JUST INCREDIBLE. 
          24 7 TO, TO EVEN WATCH OR BE PART OF THAT WAS, WAS CERTAINLY AN EXPERIENCE. 
          UM, BUT ALSO TO SPECIAL THANKS TO HFD AND HPD AS IN A TIME LIKE THIS. 
          IT'S THAT WE SEE THE NEED TO SUPPORT, UM, CONTINUED SUPPORT, PROVIDE THEM THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB, AND ESPECIALLY IN A TIME OF A DISASTER. 
          UM, AS ALWAYS, COLLABORATION IS KEY, AND I'M GLAD TO BE PART OF IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. 
          UH, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR IN HIS ABSENCE, UM, UH, FOR HIS TEAM, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, CHRIS NEWPORT, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, STEPHEN DAVID AND JOSHUA SANDERS, IGR DIRECTOR. 
          THEIR LEADERSHIP AND HOSTING AND LEADING DISASTER INFORMATION CALLS WITH THE COUNCIL, UH, PROVIDED A LOT OF TIMELY UPDATE AND EMAIL AND, AND THE EMAILS, WHICH WERE ALL INVALUABLE. 
          UH, I WANT TO THANK RANDY MACKEY AND VE KEONE FOR THEIR RELENTLESS EFFORTS 
          [05:05:01]
AND SUPPORT, AND CERTAINLY, UH, REBECCA WILLIAMS, UH, SENIOR ADVISOR FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS ROMAN AGUILAR, CHIEF SERVICE OFFICER FOR THE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM IN THE OFFICE OF THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT. 
          AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, NIKKI, ANU, THE CEO OF CAREER AND RECOVERY AND RESOURCES FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND TIRELESS EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY CLEANUP, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THIS PAST WEEKEND. 
          AND ALSO THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK. 
          THAT WAS A GREAT INVESTMENT OF DISTRICT FUNDS, UH, FOR THEM TO PROVIDE E ESSENTIAL RECOVERY TOOLS AND EFFORTS. 
          AND SO, IF I'VE FORGOTTEN ANYONE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EFFORTS. 
          CERTAINLY ON A SAD NOTE, I WANT TO JUST KIND OF CONVEY, UH, THE SERVICES FOR REVEREND WILLIAM A. LAWSON. 
          UH, THURSDAY WILL BE, MAY THE 23RD FROM NINE TO 5:00 PM HIS BODY WILL LIE IN STATE, AND ALSO ON THURSDAY EVENING AT 6:00 PM THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OF CELEBRATION. 
          AND ON FRIDAY, MAY 24TH AT 11:00 AM THE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE OF CELEBRATION. 
          AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED, HAS ALREADY MISSED, AND HIS GUIDING LIGHT HAS BEEN A REAL BEACON IN THE CITY. 
          AND SO I THANK YOU TO HIS FAMILY FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE TO GET HIM INTO PLACES AND SPACES, UH, WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO JUST BE THERE IN SOME INSTANCES. 
          THAT GAVE PEOPLE A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO SEE HIM THERE. 
          UH, FINALLY, THERE'S A PRODUCE MARCH, UH, EXCUSE ME, AT THE TRI TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 2,600 HOLMAN THIS SATURDAY FROM 10 TO ONE, COME OUT IN AND GET SOME OF THE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AND MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. 
          AND THERE WILL BE A MENTAL HEALTH SESSION CALLED PEACE OF MIND AT THE CHURCH AS WELL, FROM 11 TO 12 ON THIS, UM, SATURDAY. 
          AND I GUESS WE WON'T BE MEETING BEFORE, UH, MEMORIAL DAY. 
          AND SO CERTAINLY I WISH EVERYONE TO HAVE A HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY AND CERTAINLY STAY SAFE. 
          UH, WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE HOT, AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE MIX BEING HOT AND A LITTLE DRINK AND A LITTLE PARTY AND THINGS GET OUTTA HAND. 
          SO WE, WHO DOES THAT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE HERE AND WELL AND AVAILABLE ON THE DAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY? AND SO CERTAINLY, THANK YOU. 
          THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. 
          OH, ONE OTHER THING. 
          AND EVERYBODY GO VOTE. 
          WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A LOT OF CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT, WHICH SHOULD MAKE IT MORE INVIABLE FOR YOU TO GO AND, AND, AND VOTE. 
          IT ONLY TOOK ME A FEW MINUTES, AND CERTAINLY VOTE, UH, IS VOTING IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF. 
          AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET REGISTERED. 
          THERE'S A VERY CRUCIAL ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER, AND WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR REMINDING EVERYONE ABOUT THAT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR TEM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE, THE PRIMARY RUNOFF THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. 
          UM, THERE'S A LOT IN, UH, THE CITY THAT'S HAPPENING, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE CONTINUE, UM, TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. 
          I DO WANT TO THANK A NUMBER OF FOLKS, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, CAME TOGETHER THIS PAST WEEK TO, UH, HELP HOUSTONIANS IN NEED. 
          UH, WE SEE IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND, UM, IT'S BEEN ON DISPLAY AS WE, UH, MOVE INTO RECOVERY, UM, FROM THE MAYOR'S STAFF, KEEPING US INFORMED TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ CARTER PLUMMER, ALL PARTICIPATING IN DISTRIBUTION EVENTS, UH, AND DISTRICT H, UM, TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE MD ANDERSON, YMCA, UH, HOSTING AN EVENT ON THE FLY, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, SENDING FIREFIGHTERS TO COME OUT AND DISTRIBUTE ICE AND DISTRIBUTE WATER IN THE SUN. 
          UM, VIIV CHURCH WHO POSTPONED THEIR SUNDAY SERVICE AND SENT EVERYONE OUT TO GO VOLUNTEER, UH, THOSE IN NEED, UH, CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP. 
          T-MOBILE, COMCAST, AT AND T, UM, HEB WALMART PROVIDING ICE, PROVIDING FOOD, PROVIDING WATER, THE FOOD BANK AS WELL. 
          AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SAW COOPERATION FROM EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, UM, IN DISTRICT H. 
          WE HAD CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, UH, WORKING TO GET, UH, RELIEF TO THOSE IN NEED. 
          AND PARTICULARLY TWO CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES. 
          UM, ONE DEVONTE JACKSON FROM PUBLIC WORKS, HE, UH, SHOWED UP AT THE MD ANDERSON YMCA, AND HE WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO UNLOAD SOME WATER FOR A TRUCK, AND HE ENDED UP STAYING IN THE HOT SUN, PARTICIPATING, HELPING US OUT, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. 
          UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          AND, UH, MOSES BETA FROM PARKS WHO DID THE SAME, UH, AT MOODY PARK, WHO, WHO REALLY, AGAIN, WENT ABOVE 
          [05:10:01]
AND BEYOND, WHICH IS WHAT WE SEE CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES DO TIME AND TIME AGAIN, UH, TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND OTHERS. 
          UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE EFFORTS CENTERPOINT HAS BEEN MAKING, UM, TO RESTORE POWER TO THOSE QUICKLY. 
          UH, I KNOW THERE'S STILL WORK TO DO, THERE'S STILL PARTS OF DISTRICT H THAT, UM, ARE PATIENTLY WAITING FOR POWER, AND WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HELP, UH, BUT THEIR EFFORTS ARE APPRECIATED AND, UH, STAY SAFE OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. 
          UH, LET ME FIRST OF ALL WANT TO THANK OUR MAYOR AND THE STAFF FOR KEEPING US ABREAST OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, KEEPING US INFORMED ALL OVER THE CITIES. 
          WE KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE DOING GREAT WORKS IN EACH OF THEIR DISTRICTS, AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR LEADERSHIP AS WELL. 
          I DO WANT TO LIFT UP THAT, UH, OUR AT LARGE TO OFFICE. 
          WE WERE SCHEDULED TO HAVE OUR FIRST TOWN HALL AT LARGE MEETING ON MONDAY, UH, WHICH WE POSTPONED AND IT WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE THE THIRD, UH, AT, UH, 6:00 PM UH, WE WILL BE HOSTING AT THE FRANK SEALS GYMNASIUM NEXT TO THE TIDWELL COMMUNITY CENTER, 97 20 SPALDING STREET. 
          AND WE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. 
          WE, WE'VE GOTTEN GREAT, UH, RESPONSE AND PARTICIPATION FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE CITY THAT'S GOING TO JOIN WITH US TO INCLUDE OUR INTERIM POLICE CHIEF RIGHT NOW. 
          AND, UM, WE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF IN ADVANCE FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. 
          I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE ONE OF FOUR THAT WE WILL DO, UH, THIS YEAR AND PLAN TO DO IT EVERY YEAR AS AN AT LARGE TOWN HALL MEETING AND THAT INVITING ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE. 
          I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT SINCE, YOU KNOW, I AM A VETERAN, PROUD OF IT IN SERVING MY COUNTRY, UH, AS I DO, UH, EVEN NOW THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY. 
          BUT I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT AND THANK OUR, OUR DIRECTOR, UH, OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S MAYOR'S OFFICE, DIRECTOR OF OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, UH, DIRECTOR ROBERT DEMBO, THE THIRD, AND DR. 
          UH, JONES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE. 
          BUT I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT SINCE WE'VE MOVING INTO MEMORIAL DAY, THE PASSING OF A HERO AND OF TIME, MANY OF US AS CITIZENS, WE DON'T RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT WE COULD HAVE THE FREEDOMS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE, AND WE OVERLOOK THAT. 
          AND AS LONG AS I'M HERE ON THIS COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY AND CITIZENS NEVER FORGET THEM, BUT THE PASSING OF A HERO, MR. CLARENCE E SAER, A RECIPIENT OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS HEROIC ACTIONS DURING VIETNAM PASSED AWAY ON MAY 3RD, 13TH, I'M SORRY, IN 2024 AND SUGARLAND, TEXAS. 
          HE HAD BEEN THREE OF BLACK MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS. 
          AND, UH, WE WANT TO ASK THAT WE REMEMBER HIS SERVICE CAME UNDER HEAVY ENEMY FIRE DURING VIETNAM. 
          AND THOSE OF US WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM AS I DID. 
          AND, UH, I CERTAINLY WANT TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES AND RESPECT, UH, AS HOUSTONIANS, AS CITIZENS, AS AMERICAN CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THIS NATION TO THE GREAT HEROISM OF THIS GREAT, UH, MAN WHO SERVED THIS COUNTRY. 
          AND SO WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT ALL WOULD REMEMBER. 
          I WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN SEVERAL MEMORIAL UH, SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS I OFTEN DO, AND I HOPE TO DO. 
          AND, UH, WE PRAY THAT EVERYBODY HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND. 
          ENJOY YOURSELF, BE SAFE. 
          AND WE PRAY FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE UNDER SERIOUS, UM, ISSUES WITH LOSS OF POWER, AND WE HOPE THAT THAT GET RESTORED. 
          GOD BLESS YOU ALL. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. 
          YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH, UH, HELPING GET EV THE CITY BACK UP TO SPEED. 
          UH, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO CENTER POINT. 
          I MEAN, I THINK WHAT'S LOST ON A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS IS THAT THIS WAS NOT A HURRICANE EVENT WHERE THEY HAD SEVERAL DAYS OR EVEN A WEEK TO PREPARE AND TO PRESTAGE, UH, MATERIAL AND PEOPLE TO, TO GET THIS RECOVERED. 
          I MEAN, THIS WAS KIND OF OUT OF THE BLUE. 
          UH, SO I THINK THEY REALLY DID A GOOD JOB. 
          I MEAN, I'VE STILL GOT SOME RESIDENTS OUT IN NORTH SHORE THAT ARE STILL NEEDING TO GET POWER, AND, AND I THINK THEY CAN CERTAINLY, UH, WHEN WE GET DONE WITH 
          [05:15:01]
THIS, GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE IT PIECE OF IT AND THE COMMUNICATION WITH WIND POWER BE RESTORED. 
          BUT I REALLY THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB IN, IN GETTING POWER RESTORED BACK TO THE CITY. 
          SO, THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND, UH, I JOINED ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR REMARKS OF APPRECIATION. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT STARTED AS ME, LIKE MANY RESIDENTS HUDDLING, UH, UNDER A STAIRCASE WITH MY 3-YEAR-OLD HAS TURNED INTO A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER. 
          UM, AND RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS REMAINS ON GETTING POWER BACK TO ALL THE RESIDENTS, UM, LARGE PORTION IN DISTRICT C, BUT FOR SO MANY RESIDENTS, IT'S NOT JUST A RETURN OF POWER. 
          THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MANY HOMES IN OUR DISTRICT AND IN DISTRICT A AND OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL. 
          I DON'T WANNA NEGLECT THOSE, BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED IS IN CNNA. 
          UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S SO MANY RESIDENTS AND SO MANY CITY EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. 
          ONE, I'M GONNA JUST SHARE A FEW EXAMPLES. 
          UM, ONE OF THE MAIN TREES DOWN BLOCKING, UH, TC JESTER AT WYNWOOD AND LAZY BROOK TIMBER GROVE. 
          UM, THERE WAS A LARGE TREE BLOCKING THE ROADWAY. 
          UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS CREWS THAT I CAME OUT TO MEET AND THINK, UH, WERE IN THE RAIN. 
          IT, IT STARTED TO RAIN AGAIN. 
          THEY WERE SOPPING WET, STILL CONTINUING TO WORK, INCLUDING, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SMITH HIMSELF, MIKE WALL, FABIO CAPPI AMONG THE CREWS, TRYING TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. 
          BUT I PROMISED THEM THAT I WOULD THINK THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE OUT THERE, UM, SPECIFICALLY MARK AND ALYSSA MILLNER, UM, AND OTHERS WHO WORKED TO CLEAR THE SEWER DRAINS, WARN MOTORISTS OF THE DANGER WITH CONES. 
          UH, THIS WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK AND OUR RESIDENTS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, CONTINUE TO STEP UP. 
          UM, TRACY MARIE AND LAZY BROOK, TIMBER GROVE, TRACY WAS HANDING OUT, UH, COOL DRINKS AND SNACKS TO LINE WORKERS. 
          MARIE, UM, HAS BEEN CHECKING ON NEIGHBORS. 
          THERE'S TIME AND AGAIN, EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN IMPACTED CONTINUES TO, UH, LOOK OUT FOR THE NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE, UH, THAT CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THIS. 
          AND ONE INSTANCE, I GOTTA THANK H OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          I WAS OUT WITH, UH, RESIDENTS CHECKING ON DOWN LINES, FLAGGED ONE OF OUR HFD CREWS THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BY. 
          UM, AND THEY GOT OUT AND IMMEDIATELY GOT TO WORK. 
          AS YOU KNOW, TREES WERE WRAPPED UP IN WIRES AND BEING HELD UP BY THE CENTER POINT POLES. 
          UM, SO CONTINUING TO WORK IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, BUT WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE. 
          GOVERNMENT COMING TOGETHER. 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, UM, WE'VE BEEN IN VERY CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH BOTH OF THEM. 
          COMMISSIONER BRIANIS HAS CREWS PICKING UP DEBRIS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, EVEN MOSQUITO SPRAYERS, UH, WHICH WE DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY NEED RIGHT NOW. 
          UH, BUT ON HER TEAM, FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE WALTER HAMBRICK, AARON MINTZBERG, UM, I WAS WALKING AREAS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER TO SHOW HER THE DAMAGE. 
          I KNOW SHE WILL BE BACK HOME AS SOON AS SHE CAN. 
          CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE. 
          UM, WHAT WE SAW, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME MEDIA COVERAGE, BUT I GOT A CALL FROM EDNA GRIGGS, WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT HEIGHTS, TOWER AND HEIGHTS HOUSE, WHICH ARE QUOTE UNQUOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES, WHICH BY NO MEANS, AT LEAST WITH HEIGHTS TOWER, ARE, IS SHOULD IT BE A INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY. 
          UM, CHIEF PENA WAS WITH ME. 
          UH, WE IMMEDIATELY MOVED INTO ACTION. 
          I GOTTA THANK LIKE A COUNCIL MEMBER, PECK SAID CROWDSOURCE RESCUE. 
          MATT AND CROWDSOURCE RESCUE STARTED DELIVERING 400 MEALS, HOT MEALS, BOTH LUNCH AND DINNER AT A TIME WHEN THESE RESIDENTS HAD NOT HAD A STANDARD MEAL SINCE THURSDAY, AND I THINK THIS WAS ON SATURDAY, UH, ONE CHURCH HAD BEEN STEPPING IN TO BRING OVER PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES WHEN THEY COULD. 
          BUT AGAIN, THE FACILITY ITSELF HAD NO PLAN TO PROVIDE FOOD TO THESE RESIDENTS IN NEED. 
          UM, WHEN WE GOT THERE, THE ELEVATORS WERE OUT. 
          UH, THEY HAD A BACKUP GENERATOR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE POWERING THEM, BUT THAT WAS NOT WORKING. 
          UH, OEM DID A LATE NIGHT DROP OF WATER THERE. 
          UH, THERE'S STORY TIME AND AGAIN OF THIS, UH, GOTTA THANK THE TOOL. 
          BANK MARLEY, SPECIFICALLY HEB AND LISA HEALTHMAN HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. 
          UH, WE HAVE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD STAFF IN SOME OF OUR HARDEST HITS, SEA AREAS, UH, DOING ADDITIONAL DEBRIS PICKUPS. 
          SO SOLID WASTE IS COMING THROUGH. 
          THEY WILL DO MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF DEBRIS PICKUP, BUT WE'RE ALSO COURTING WITH DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR DISTRICT C. 
          UM, THEY WERE IN THE HEIGHTS YESTERDAY. 
          THEY ARE GOING OVER TO SHEPHERD FOREST TODAY, AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK AS NEEDED. 
          MOVING BETWEEN THE DISTRICT C NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THE MOST HELP. 
          UM, HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT, MARTHA ESCALANTE, UM, HELPING A CREW GET OUT TO REMOVE A TREE 
          [05:20:01]
THAT WAS ON VEHICLES IN THE HEIGHTS. 
          UH, YET, I THINK THAT WAS EVEN JUST YESTERDAY. 
          UM, OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, EVERYONE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK AT HECK. 
          UM, THERE'S SO MANY EMPLOYEES TO THANK, BUT I DO WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE FEMA ADMINISTRATOR, CRISWELL AND DEPUTY, UM, ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE SBA SANCHEZ, UH, OUR HOME HOMEGROWN HERO. 
          UH, WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HIM WHERE HE IS, BUT A BIG RECOGNITION TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. 
          SO, I PERSONALLY, ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT C, WANNA THANK PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR ACTING SO QUICKLY TO GET RESOURCES INTO THE GROUND, ON THE GROUND, AS WELL AS WITH OUR STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS. 
          UM, I DO WANNA FLAG THE NEED AS DRCS, UH, COME ONLINE WITH FEMA AND SBA, THAT WE ARE BRINGING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. 
          SO FONDE WILL NOW HAVE MEALS THERE AS WELL. 
          THIS WAS A NEED THAT I FLAGGED YESTERDAY AND WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR JUMPING INTO ACTION THERE, UM, IN THE ADDITIONAL NAVIGATORS. 
          BUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OFTENTIMES 3 1 1, UH, STAFF, DON'T GET THE SHOUT OUT THAT THEY NEED. 
          OUR THREE ONE ONE CALL CENTER ACTUALLY WENT DOWN FROM THE MAIN BUILDING AND WE HAD HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES OPERATING OUT OF, UM, MAKESHIFT AREAS, HANDLING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CALLS THE PAST FEW DAYS. 
          NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS AND SO MANY MORE. 
          UM, I DO WANNA THANK COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR PARTICIPATING IN STEER FOR ALL THE DISTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING, UH, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY STAFF. 
          UH, WE HAVE STAFF THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WRAPPING UP TO HEAD OFF TO SCHOOL FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS. THEY STUCK AROUND IN TOWN TO HELP. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. 
          UM, WE HAVE, IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EFFORT AND PARTNERSHIP. 
          SO MY APPRECIATION TO THEM, UH, I'LL, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE THANK YOUS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE BUDGET HEARINGS TO GET TO. 
          UH, BUT I DO WANNA JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRIED TIME AND AGAIN, UH, FOR SOME OF US IT STARTED WITH WATSON. 
          WE HAD A PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD A FREEZE, WE'VE HAD FLOODS, UH, BUT WE CONTINUE TO BE HOUSTON STRONG AND WE CONTINUE TO BE RESILIENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I JUST WANNA SAY HOW GRATIFYING IT IT IS TO BE IN A POSITION TO HELP FOLKS IN NEED. 
          UM, I RECEIVED A FEW CALLS OVER THE WEEKEND, UH, FROM FOLKS WHO ARE IN DISTRESS AND TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND REACH OUT TO SOME OF MY CONTACTS AND GET THEM, UH, QUICK HELP, UH, I IS A GREAT FEELING. 
          I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY OWN DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, AMY PECK, WHO DOES A GREAT, DOES A GREAT JOB. 
          I WAS ABLE TO ASSIST IN HER DISTRIBUTION ON, ON SATURDAY VERY WELL RUN, UM, OPERATION THAT WAS MADE, UH, POSSIBLE IN LARGE PART DUE TO HEB. 
          SO THANK YOU TO HEB, OUR CORPORATE, UH, PARTNER IN THAT I WAS MADE AWARE OF NEEDS IN DENVER HARBOR AND WAS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH DENVER HARBOR'S OWN DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          AND WITHIN A FEW HOURS, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A DISTRIBUTION OF ICE, WATER, AND BREAD AT THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. 
          THAT ALSO CONTINUED ON TUESDAY MORNING. 
          BUT THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR, UH, THE COLLABORATION ON, ON THAT. 
          A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW, HOW THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER. 
          A NU NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE, WERE NECESSARY TO PULL THAT OFF. 
          TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OUR OWN HOUSTON OFFICER OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UM, THE STAFF OF PUBLIC WORKS. 
          THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN NAMED JASON CUNNINGHAM WHO WORKS FOR PUBLIC WORKS WHO GOT OUT THERE WITH HIS CREW AND DELIVERED SEVERAL TRUCKLOADS OF WATER, UH, TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. 
          THE SECURITY GUARD AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER NAMED LOIS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AND DID MANY THINGS TO FACILITATE THE EFFORT. 
          MY GOOD FRIEND JUAN HERNANDEZ, THE PROPRIETOR OF DONIA MARIA RESTAURANT ON NAVIGATION, CALLED UP HOUSTON FIRE STATION 27 AND GOT FOUR FIREFIGHTERS OUT. 
          DENVER HARBOR CARES PARTICIPATED AND PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS. 
          OF COURSE, MY OWN STAFF WAS INVOLVED. 
          GLORIA RODRIGUEZ WAS ABLE TO COME OUT AND HELP AND GET THREE OF HER FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE. 
          UM, LEAH AL WAS THERE WORKING SONYA SOTO AS WELL, AND JOHN MOSS WAS SUPPORTING. 
          SO ALL OF THIS WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO HELP THE 300 CAR, 351 CARLOADS OF FOLKS WHO CAME THROUGH AND RECEIVED WATER, ICE AND BREAD ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, AND A NUMBER OF WALKUPS AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE. 
          I KNOW THIS ISN'T OVER YET. 
          A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER. 
          A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW HAVE TO CLEAN UP AND, UH, TRY TO PUT THINGS BACK TOGETHER. 
          [05:25:01]
AND REST ASSURED, ALL OF US HERE AT CITY COUNCIL, UH, ARE GONNA DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP YOU. 
          AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          UH, IF NOTHING FURTHER COUNCIL, EVERYONE ENJOYED THE THREE DAY WEEKEND AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* 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.