* 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] COUNCIL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FIRST. [PRESENTATIONS] I'LL BE RIGHT THERE. I'M GONNA YIELD THE CHAIR TO THE MAYOR. PROTI CASTEX TAYLOR, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MOM'S DEMAND ACTION PROCLAIMING JUNE 7TH AS NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY. THANK YOU, HONOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, I LEFT THE PROS RIGHT ON MY DESK. HOW ARE Y'ALL? ALL RIGHT, WE GOT OUR MOMS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES AND MAYOR AND Y'ALL. Y'ALL COME UP. KAREN. UH, THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH, MARK'S THE 10TH ANNUAL NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, WHICH ALSO KICKS OFF WHERE ORANGE WEEKEND, UH, WHICH IS AGAIN, JUNE 7TH THROUGH JUNE 9TH OF THIS MONTH WHERE ORANGE WEEKEND IS HELD. UH, ALWAYS ON THE FIRST WEEKEND IN JUNE IS A WAY TO REMEMBER, UH, HADIA PENDLETON, WHO WAS 15 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN CHICAGO IN 2013. HADI'S FRIENDS COMMEMORATED HER LIFE BY WEARING ORANGE, THE COLOR HUNTERS WEAR IN THE WOODS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. IN HONOR OF THE WORK BEING DONE TO SAVE LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY. I AM HONORED TO INTRODUCE THOSE REPRESENTING MOMS DEMAND ACTION TODAY, INCLUDING ISHA ARCHER, WHO'S THE GROUP LEAD. LISA BECKMAN, WHO'S A VOLUNTEER. KAREN KNAPP, ANOTHER VOLUNTEER, AND OF COURSE, KATE FROST FINK, WHO'S WITH EVERY TOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK. FOR THOSE OF YOU, UH, WHO MAY NOT KNOW, MOM'S DEMAND ACTION IS A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT OF AMERICANS FIGHTING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES THAT CAN PROTECT PEOPLE FROM GUN VIOLENCE. THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN NOT ONLY RAISING AWARENESS FOR GUN VIOLENCE, BUT ALSO ASSISTING MY OFFICE AND OTHERS THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE BE SMART FOR SAFE STORAGE INITIATIVES. AND OUR OFFICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HPD AND MANY OF THE MOMS VOLUNTEERS LAUNCHED THE LOCK IT UP SAFE CAMPAIGN THAT IS NOW CITYWIDE, WHERE WE ACTUALLY GO INTO SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT TO GIVE AWAY FREE GUN LOCKS AND FREE GUN SAFES, AND ALSO TO DE-STIGMATIZE CONVERSATIONS AROUND SAFE STORAGE. IT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM TO ASK A FAMILY WHEN YOU DROP OFF A CHILD THAT YOU LOVE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A FIREARM. AND IF IT IS STORED SECURELY AT A TIME WHEN FIREARMS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES, WHERE ROUGHLY THREE AND FOUR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGE OF FIVE AND 14 WITH A GUN OWNING PARENT, THOSE CHILDREN KNOW WHERE THE FIREARM IS STORED, AND MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE OF THOSE CHILDREN HAVE ACTUALLY HANDLED A GUN WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS' KNOWLEDGE. AND WHERE WE SEE WEEKLY HEADLINES OF PEOPLE OBTAINING FIREARMS WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM, WHETHER THAT IS A CHILD OR A CRIMINAL, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STEM THE TIDE OF GUN VIOLENCE. MOMS DEMAND ACTION SUPPORTS LOCAL COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS LIKE THE FORGOTTEN THIRD THAT WORKS TO REDUCE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN GUN VIOLENCE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED. THEY ADVOCATE FOR GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS THROUGH EVENTS LIKE WEAR ORANGE, AND THEY WORK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO PASS LAWS AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES SAFE FROM GUN VIOLENCE. AND HOUSTON'S VOLUNTEERS WITH MOMS DEMAND ARE AMONG NEARLY 10 MILLION MDA SUPPORTERS NATIONWIDE WHO HONOR GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS. DURING THIS WEEKEND, UH, I WILL NOW PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS EACH DAY, 120 AMERICANS ARE KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND 200 OR MORE ARE SHOT AND WOUNDED WITH AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 18,000 GUN HOMICIDES ANNUALLY. TEXAS HAS ABOUT 4,000 GUN DEATHS ANNUALLY WITH A 13.7 DEATH RATE PER 100,000 PEOPLE AND COST THE STATE APPROXIMATELY $51.3 BILLION A YEAR, OF WHICH 1.1 BILLION IS PAID BY TAXPAYERS. GUN VIOLENCE IS CONCENTRATED IN CITIES WITH MORE THAN HALF OF ALL FIREARMS RELATED GUN DEATHS IN THE US OCCURRING IN 127 CITIES. CITIES ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING HOUSTON, ARE WORKING TO END THE SENSELESS VIOLENCE WITH EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE IS THE MAYOR'S HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY SUPPORT FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT. RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS GOES HAND IN HAND WITH KEEPING GUNS AWAY FROM PEOPLE WITH DANGEROUS HISTORIES. MAYORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PARTNERED [00:05:01] WITH LOCAL VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ACTIVISTS KNOWN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BEST AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO KEEP THEIR CITIZENS SAFE. GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS PARAMOUNT AS WE SEE AN INCREASE IN FIREARM HOMICIDES. NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS CALLS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINES AND CITY GUN VIOLENCE. IN JANUARY, 2013, HAD PENDLETON WAS SHOT AND KILLED AT THE AGE OF 15. AND ON JUNE 7TH, 2024, PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL RECOGNIZE NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY AND WEAR ORANGE AND TRIBUTE TO ALL VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND THEIR LOVED ONES. ANYONE CAN JOIN THE CAMPAIGN BY PLEDGING TO WEAR ORANGE ON JUNE 7TH TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE. WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE AND PLEDGE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO KEEP FIREARMS OUT OF THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEM, AND ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP TO HELP KEEP OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SAFE. MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL. UH, IF I'D HAD TIME, I WOULD'VE RUN HOME AND GOTTEN MY ORANGE SHIRT THAT I ROUTINELY WORE IN AUSTIN AS I CARRIED MY MOM'S DEMANDING ACTION COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION SUCH AS RED FLAG LEGISLATION. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN ANYONE BE OPPOSED TO SEEING SOMEONE IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE THREATENING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AND NOT APPROACH THE COURTS UNDER DUE PROCESS TO PROTECT THEM FROM THEMSELVES AND OTHERS? NOT TO MENTION THE STORAGE ISSUE THAT YOU SO ARTICULATED TO ALL OF US. SO IT'S MY PLEASURE. AS JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 7TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS STATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR RAISING AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF GUN VIOLENCE IN HOUSTON. AMERICA IS A NATION OF GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WITH 59% OF AMERICAN ADULTS OR SOMEONE THEY CARE FOR HAVING EXPERIENCED GUN VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. FOR BLACK AMERICANS, THAT NUMBER RISES TO 71%, AND FOR LATINO ADULTS, IT IS 60%. THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IS TWO TO FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE COMPARED TO HETEROSEXUAL AND CISGENDERED PEOPLE. GUN VIOLENCE IS ALSO THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF CHILDREN AND TEENS IN AMERICA. AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN SAID, MANY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS. WHILE THE FULL COST OF THE DEVASTATION OF GUN VIOLENCE TO A PERSON, A FAMILY OR COMMUNITY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO QUANTIFY OUR ANALYSIS USING THE EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETIES CALCULATOR ESTIMATES THAT THE COST OF TAXPAYERS OF JUST ONE HOMICIDE IN HOUSTON IS ABOUT $706,000. I MENTIONED THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL IS ENGAGED IN DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISIONS, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU ARE DOING TO CREATE A BUDGET THAT WILL ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN HOUSTON. WE HAVE TO BE RESOURCEFUL AND CREATIVE BECAUSE LIMITATIONS PLACED ON US BY THE STATE PREVENT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS LIKE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON EVERY FIREARM SALE, EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, AND PREVENTING PEOPLE CONVICTED OF HATE CRIMES FROM PURCHASING WEAPONS. NEVERTHELESS, WE DO HAVE EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL, INCLUDING SECURE FIREARM STORAGE, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, HOSPITAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, AND THE FIREARM INJURY DATA INTEGRATION DASHBOARD PROPOSED BY THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THESE AND OTHER INITIATIVES TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER AND WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER ON A TASK FORCE COMMISSIONED BY THE MAYOR TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK THROUGH CLOSER COLLABORATION. THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME TO THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE EAGER TO SUPPORT OUR CITY'S LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M KATE FROST FINK. I AM A GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVOR. IN 2008, MY FATHER, UM, HERE IN HOUSTON DEVELOPED ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. MY FATHER WAS A VIETNAM VET WHO HAD AN ARSENAL OF MULTIPLE AR FIFTEENS AND OTHER LONG GUNS. I ASKED HPD AND I ASKED PRECINCT FOUR BECAUSE OF HIS BEHAVIOR, HIS THREATS TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, AND TO OUR NEIGHBORS. THEY TOLD ME IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THERE IS NO LAW TO TAKE A GUN AWAY UNLESS THERE'RE A FAMILY, A FELON. MY FATHER'S SITUATION, 'CAUSE I HAD TO CREATE A PAPER TRAIL OF CALLING POLICE AND TRYING TO GET HELP [00:10:01] FOR HIM. UH, HE ENDED UP COSTING HARRIS COUNTY $250,000 WHEN HE, THE SWAT TEAM WAS CALLED. THIS IS A DRAIN ON OUR SOCIETY AND LIVES THAT ARE LOST WHEN WE DON'T STAND UP AND ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION ON MAKING LAWS AND TAKING CARE OF OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE. IF YOU, I WOULD SUPPORT BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL GUN PURCHASES AS WELL AS THE SECOND AMENDMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYTHING. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU, CAM. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON SAFE STORAGE, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND THE DASHBOARD THAT'S COMING, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND GLAD TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS IN THE BUDGET. UM, AND TO, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL ON THIS ISSUE AND THE MOMS, I MEAN, WHO BETTER THAN A BUNCH OF MOMS TO SOLVE THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS AND, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT YOU ALL DO TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE RAISE FAMILIES IN A SAFER COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN AL CORNY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. WE'LL DO A PICTURE REAL QUICK. MEMBERS, ALCORN AND FLICKINGER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO U OF H CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TO RECOGNIZE THIS INSTITUTION FOR THEIR SUCCESS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOUSTON. I, MAN, YOU GOT IT IN A NICE FRAME. YOU READ THE WHOLE THING? YEAH. OKAY. HI, COLLEAGUES. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AT U OF H. GO COUGARS. I I GOT MY MASTER'S THERE, SO I'M A COUGAR TOO. AND A LONGHORN, BUT A COUGAR. WHAT, WHAT IS THIS? RIGHT THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GLOBALLY KNOWN AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY CITIES, IT IS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS A PLACE WHERE GLOBAL BUSINESS THRIVES. THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS A PREMIER INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT AIMS TO TRANSFORM LIVES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SOCIETY FOUNDED ON RESEARCH AND OFFERING A STATE-OF-THE-ART STUDENT-CENTERED EDUCATION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE. THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING LEVERAGES THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH ITS DIVERSITY AND VIBRANT BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING SERVES HOUSTON, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE NATION BY EDUCATING ENGINEERS, THESE ENGINEERS ARE TRAINED TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP POSITIONS TO ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND SOLUTION OF THE COMPLEX TECHNICAL CHALLENGES, TO ADVANCE THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGH PIONEERING RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY WORK TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO TEXAS AND US INDUSTRIES TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR HOUSTON IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC THROUGH SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION. AND WHEREAS THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AIMS TO BE A WORLD CLASS LEADER IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WITH CUTTING EDGE CURRICULUM, LEADING EDGE INSTRUCTION, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOUSTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING PREPARES ITS DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND BEYOND. SINCE THE FUTURE WILL REQUIRE A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS TO ADVANCE ORGANIZATIONS, REINVENT INDUSTRIES AND AND BETTER SOCIETY, THE CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING BELIEVES THAT WE ARE ENGINEERED FOR WHAT'S NEXT, ENGINEERED FOR WHAT'S NEXT, A MANDATE FOR THE COLLEGE TO SHAPE THE ENGINEERS OF TOMORROW THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING PROGRAMS AND INNOVATIVE THINKING TODAY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ITS PROGRAMS FOR SUPPORTING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY PROFESSIONALS IN ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND [00:15:02] OUR COMMUNITY, AND CERTAINLY IT'S ENGINEERING SCHOOL. SOME OF US HAD TO STICK TO POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, DUE TO, UH, MATH AND SCIENCE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. BUT I I, I'M GUESSING FROM SOME OF MY FRIENDS, CHRIS, ARE YOU? YES. HE'S ON THE GALA COMMITTEE. NOT REFERENCING YOU. I WAS THINKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR OTHER FRIENDS. I WAS GONNA SAY THEY DEFINITELY GREAT ON THE CURVE OUT THERE, . BUT ANYWAY, IT'S A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 4TH, 2024, IS CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING DAY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU LADIES. THANK YOU Z FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. YES. AND, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, YOU KNOW, SINCE HE'S GOT ALL THE BRAINS OUT THERE IN CLEAR LAKE AT NASA IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, HE'S ALSO IN FAVOR OF ALL ENGINEERS COMING UP. SO Z ARE YOU SPEAKING? YES. OKAY. UH, I'LL JUST, UH, KICK IT OFF. I WANT, UH, DEAN S SHERMA TO REALLY MAKE SOME COMMENTS. UH, MAYOR, THIS CITY HALL IS HISTORIC. I FIRST WAS INVITED HERE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELEANOR TINSLEY AND I, I'VE SERVED SEVERAL MAYORS, STARTING WITH MAYOR BROWN, AND I THINK I'M THE LUCKIEST HOUSTONIAN. I I'M AN IMMIGRANT WHO WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, GOT A LAW DEGREE. THIS TOWN REALLY MAKES YOU PART OF IT. UH, I WON'T LEAVE ANYWHERE ELSE. UH, NOW THE, THE THING ON MY RADAR SCREEN IS CULLEN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING IN THE REGION, AND WE NEED TO BRAND IT SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT CULLEN IS THE NAME OF COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. AND TO SAY MORE TO, TO, TO TELL YOU MORE IS OUR DEAN, DEAN, UH, SHERMA, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR RECOGNIZING THE CULLIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. WITH THIS COLIN DAY PROCLAMATION, I ALSO HAVE WITH ME OUR PROVOST DIANE CHASE, AS WELL AS MANY DISTINGUISHED FACULTY AND FRIENDS OF OUR COLLEGE. IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR US TO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION AT THIS BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORICAL CITY HALL. OUR BUDDING ENGINEERS COME FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. THEY RANGE FROM SINGLE MOMS WHO WORK TWO JOBS OR FRESHMEN WHO LIVE IN ONE OF OUR DORMS AND ARE DOING DOUBLE MAJORS. OUR COLLEGE BRINGS EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE WAY THEY NEED IT. OUR GRADUATES INCLUDE ONE OF THE FIRST FEW PIONEER WOMEN WHO IS AN ASTRONAUT AND A PROFESSOR, AND HAS SPENT A RECORD TIME IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. AND WE HAVE MANY GRADUATES WHO HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR OWN BUSINESSES OR OUR CEOS OF MAJOR COMPANIES, SOME OF THEM WHO ARE HERE TODAY. WE ARE NOT CONSIDERED AN ELITE INSTITUTE LIKE HARVARD, BUT WE OFFER ELITE EDUCATION. WE AT PRIZES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES CAN AFFORD. WE ARE LOCAL, BUT I THINK ZAFAR WAS ALLUDING TO, WE OFFER WORLD CLASS EDUCATION WITH GLOBAL CONNECTIONS. WE ARE TRULY HOUSTON'S COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, AND WE ARE, WE TAKE EXTREME PRIDE IN THAT. LAST YEAR, WE WERE, WE WERE NAMED THE BEST GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR ENGINEERING BY THE US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT. AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO BECOME A TOP 50 TIER ONE SCHOOL IN, UH, US UH, NATIONALLY. OUR COLLEGE INCLUDES 17 MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING. THIS IS THE HIGHEST HONOR AN ENGINEER CAN RECEIVE. WE HAVE COMPETITIVELY WON WORLD CLASS RESEARCH CENTERS, SUCH AS THE ONE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, A $64 MILLION CENTER TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE ARMY. WE RECENTLY WON A MAJOR CENTER FROM NASA FOR SPACE RELATED RESEARCH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE MUCH TO DO. AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE. WE ARE RELATIVELY SMALL AND WE CANNOT BE ALL THINGS TO EVERYONE. BUT IN OUR AREAS OF STRENGTH, OUR GOAL IS TO BECOME THE DESTINATION COLLEGE FOR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY'S TRULY THE KICKOFF OF OUR BRANDING CAMPAIGN. HOUSTON CITY HALL IS WHERE WE WILL UNVEIL OUR STRATEGY LEADING TO OUR FIRST IN INAUGURAL GALA THIS COMING OCTOBER. I'M CONFIDENT THAT WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THE CULLEN BRAND WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAME GLOBAL BRAND AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY CITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, COOK COOKS. IF I MAY ADD, UH, OUR INAUGURAL GALA IS ALL SET FOR OCTOBER 10TH, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SEVERAL ENGINEERING, UH, APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND SEVERAL [00:20:01] OWNERS OF ENGINEERING FIRMS ARE ALREADY ON BOARD. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE CITY CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS, WHO IS PART OF THE, UH, GALA COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A STATE REP, JOHN ROSENTHAL. WE HAVE A STATE REP, DENNIS PAUL. BOTH OF THEM ARE ENGINEERS. DENNIS PAUL COULDN'T BE HERE. UH, WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS, ADRIAN GARCIA AND TOM RAMSEY, WHO ARE ALSO ON THE GALA COMMITTEE, AND SEVERAL OTHER MAYORS, INCLUDING MAYOR OF SUGARLAND, WHO IS ALSO AN ENGINEER. SO WE ARE HERE FOR QUESTION AND ANSWERS. WE HAVE OUR UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON PROVOST HERE. UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE ARE, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER. AND WE HAVE A SMALL GIFT, MAYOR FOR YOU. HANG, THIS IS A COAT POCKET THAT YOU, YOU CAN PUT, THIS IS A COAT POCKET SO WE CAN MARK. YEAH. OH, VERY WELL. THANK YOU, ZACH. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, ZAP, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCORN AND FLICKINGER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORTH. WE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY FOR THEM TO, UM, BRING FORTH THE STRATEGY TO AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ELITE EDUCATION. I DO SEE THAT, UH, OUR AIRPORTS ARE REPRESENTED. WE KNOW THEY'VE GOT A REALLY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH ENGINEERING, UH, AND U OF H UH, RHONDA ARNOLD IS IN THE, UH, GROUP WITH YOU AND, UH, GARY HIGH, WHO'S OUR CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, UM, TO, UH, DEAN SHERMAN AND THE PROVOST, UH, EVERYONE WHO'S SERVING ON THE GALA COMMITTEE. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT I KNOW YOU WILL DO TO KEEP AMPLIFYING THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH AN ELITE, UH, HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TIM, UH, ZAP AND DEAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING, UH, TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALQUAN AND INGER FOR BRINGING THEM FORWARD, MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING HIM AS WELL. UH, JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, GRADUATING FROM THE U OF H SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE WHAT IT WAS IN THE LATE NINETIES AND TO WHERE IT IS NOW. UH, YOU SAY NUMBER ONE IN AT ENGINEERING, I THINK BOWER SCHOOL IS ALSO DOING REALLY WELL. UH, SO JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL, ALL OF THE, UH, U OF H COUGARS. MY SON WILL BE A COUGAR IN THE FALL, SO HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING. UH, DEFINITELY WANNA RECOGNIZE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES RODRIGUEZ. YES, ALSO AN EAST STINT RESIDENT, UM, WHO'S ALSO A COUGAR. AND THEN I'D BE REMISS TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT WE WORK WITH CLOSELY, LIKE JIMENA AND SARAH, UH, WHO'S PART OF THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM. AND THEN, UH, ALSO I HAVE A FRATERNITY BROTHER, UM, AND HIS WIFE THAT WORK OUT OF THE ENGINEERING, UH, SCHOOL. UH, ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, DIRECTOR FOR, UM, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, UH, MONICA PADILLA. AND THEN HE, UH, ARTURO PADILLA, HIS, UH, HER HUSBAND, UH, HANDLES ALL YOUR IT OVER THERE, SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE HIM A QUICK SHOUT OUT AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND CERTAINLY MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND FLICKINGER. BUT LET'S JUST BE REAL HERE. UH, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT D. THAT'S RIGHT. THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. YOU ALL MAKE US VERY, VERY PROUD. I SEE MY FRIEND SARAH, CHURCH MEMBER RHONDA ARNOLD BACK THERE, AND CERTAINLY, UH, STATE REPS. AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING TODAY. AND, AND CERTAINLY CHRIS HOLLANDS, WHO WAS ALSO A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT D. I'M JUST, I'M JUST SAYING , BUT AT ANY RATE, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. UH, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, I, I TOOK A COUPLE OF CLASSES AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND HAVE TO HONESTLY SAY THOSE WERE THE HARDEST CLASS CLASSES I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I MEAN, IT DIDN'T HELP THAT I PARTIED THE NIGHT BEFORE FOR THE FINAL, BUT CERTAINLY I PASSED THE CLASS. BUT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS HAD A STELLAR REPUTATION, AND CERTAINLY YOUR ACADEMIC PURSUITS ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE WORLD, UH, RENOWNED. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND FOR WHAT YOU DO. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS PROCLAMATION. Z YOU DO SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY. UH, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY, MANY HATS THAT YOU WEAR. REPRESENTATIVE ROSENTHAL, UH, MY GOOD FRIEND, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU, MADAM PROVOST DEAN. UH, I KNOW OUR AIRPORTS ARE REPRESENTED AND WE WOULD NOT BE SPACE CITY WITHOUT OUR ENGINEERS. UH, ENGINEERS MAKE THIS CITY WORK AT EVERY LEVEL. UH, AND FOR THAT, THAT YOU ARE INSTILLING THIS WISDOM, THIS KNOWLEDGE, THIS LOVE OF SCIENCE AND MATH, UH, TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND I'LL GIVE A PERSONAL PLUG FOR WOMEN IN STEM, UH, BUT THAT YOU ALL ARE LEADING THE WAY IN KEEPING HOUSTON AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS, UH, MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCON AND, UH, FLICKINGER, UH, WERE THE FIRST ONES TO JOIN THE ANDRE COMMITTEE. UH, MAYOR PROAM IS ALSO ON OUR HONORARY COMMITTEE, AND WE WOULD LIKE [00:25:01] ALL OF YOU TO BE PART OF THIS ORRY COMMITTEE. I KNOW THAT , THANK YOU, ZAV, CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE GALA IN OCTOBER. THANK YOU. WE'RE FINE. I'M FINE. OKAY. SHOULD WE GO THE HORSES? SHOOT. WE'RE GOOD. SORRY. IS IS IT? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, ALLISON, WHOEVER YOU WANT. HEY, JOCK, WE SEE YOU. OH, NO, . ALL RIGHT. HERE I AM AGAIN. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HERITAGE SOCIETY HONORING THEIR 70TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. OKAY, HERE I'M AGAIN. AND I ALSO GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY BECAUSE OF WHERE MY OFFICE IS. I GET TO LOOK OUT RIGHT OUT MY WINDOW EVERY SINGLE DAY AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL HERITAGE SOCIETY AND ALL THOSE HOUSES. SO, UM, LET'S JUST WAIT A SECOND SO WE CAN TRY TO, SO WE CAN HEAR YOU . WE HAVE A LOT OF COUGS IN THE CHAMBER TODAY. , SORRY. WE ALSO SHOULD, OKAY, EVERYBODY. WE ARE HONORING THE HERITAGE SOCIETY FOR THEIR 70TH ANNIVERSARY, WHEREAS THE HERITAGE SOCIETY IS A LOCATE, IS A BEACON OF HOUSTON'S HISTORY, PRESERVING HISTORIC HOUSES THAT BRIDGE THE PAST AND FUTURE. AND WHEREAS THE HERITAGE SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN 1954 BY HOUSTONIANS, WHO RALLIED TO RESCUE THE 1847 KLUM NOBLE HOUSE FROM DEMOLITION. AND WHEREAS THESE PRESERVATIONISTS BIRDS SAW BRISCOE CHARLES BIBE, FAITH BIBE, I'M A HOG, AND OTHERS HAVE MOVED AND RESTORED NINE ADDITIONAL HISTORIC BUILDINGS CREATING A LIVING TAPESTRY OF HOUSTON'S HERITAGE. AND WHEREAS THEIR LOVE FOR HISTORY AND COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY SHAPED THE HERITAGE SOCIETY INTO A CATALOG CATALYST FOR DIALOGUE, REFLECTION, AND A MORE HARMONIOUS TOMORROW. AND WHEREAS THE, THIS OCCASION OF THE HERITAGE SOCIETY'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATES OUR FOUNDER'S DEDICATION TO PRESERVING HOUSTON'S PAST AND ENSURING ITS VIBRANT MOSAIC LASTS. AND WHEREAS THE HERITAGE SOCIETY'S 10 HISTORIC HOUSES IN SAM HOUSTON PARK STANDS STAND AS ENDURING MONUMENTS THAT PRESERVE THE CITY'S HISTORY AND SYMBOLIZES ITS CULTURAL LEGACY. AND WHEREAS ANCHORED IN THE PAST, THESE ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES SERVE AS A PART OF HOUSTON'S EVOLUTION, OFFERING A TANGIBLE LINK BETWEEN BYGONE ERA AND THE FUTURE. AND WHEREAS A PEEK INTO THE PAST, OUR MUSEUM EXHIBITS, HOUSES, EVENTS, AND COLLECTIONS ARE A CHANCE TO DIVE INTO THE RICH TAPESTRY OF HOUSTON'S HERITAGE. AND WHEREAS BY EXPLORING THE STORIES ENCAPSULATED WITHIN THEIR WALLS ON THE, THEIR TOURS, LOCAL AND GLOBAL VISITORS CAN GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY'S VIBRANT MOSAIC. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND THE, UH, LEADERSHIP OF THE HERITAGE SOCIETY. THANK YOU FOR HELPING MAKE THIS CITY AS GREAT AS IT IS. AND WITHOUT YOU, WE WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS GREAT AS WE DO TODAY. SO THANK YOU. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 4TH, 2024, IS A HERITAGE SOCIETY 70TH ANNIVERSARY. WOO. [00:30:01] THANK Y'ALL. AND, UM, LET ME INTRODUCE ALLISON BELL, WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HERITAGE SOCIETY. . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BEING HERE. WE ARE HONORED AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE STEWARDS OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSES. THESE ARE YOUR HOUSES THAT BELONG TO THE CITY, AND I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT SAM HOUSTON PARK IS 125 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR. SO SOME OF YOU HAVE THE PLEASURE OF LOOKING OUT ONTO COUNCIL MEMBERS ONTO THAT BEAUTIFUL PARK, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU TOO ARE STEWARDS AND YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU SEE SOME NOT SO GOOD BEHAVIOR GOING ON BACK THERE, . SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH YOU ALL. AND I HAVE SOME WONDERFUL BOARD MEMBERS HERE TODAY. ONE OF WHICH IS A YATES DESCENDANT. MARTHA, RAISE YOUR HAND. WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL JACK YATES. HARRIET HAS BEEN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. JOANNE ZEBRA HAS BEEN A JOSEPH FOR 35 YEARS. UH, WE HAVE THE ENZOS DUKE AND CECE HANK DERIO. HE'S ONE OF OUR NEWEST, WE'VE GOT OUR NEW INCOMING PRESIDENT, JILLIAN JOPLIN, PETER MCGILLIVRAY, AND JILL BROOKS, WHO'S BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE THIS LEADERSHIP BEHIND US. AND I'M NOT 70 THIS YEAR, BUT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE FOR 70 MORE YEARS TO BRING THE STORIES OF HOUSTON'S HISTORY AND THE DIVERSITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL CITY. THANK YOU, MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR TIM ALLISON, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND TO THE BOARD AS WELL. UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS WORKING UNDER ROBERT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD DO A LOT OF, UH, COLLABORATIONS TOGETHER. I THINK ONE OF THE, THE LAST ONES THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE WAS THE LULAC EXHIBIT THAT Y'ALL, THAT I BROUGHT TO THE CITY AS WELL, AND WORKING COLLABORATION WITH SOME OF THE LULAC COUNCILS, UH, JUST TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY THAT'S, THAT IS HOUSTON. AND SO, UH, KNOW THAT YOU CAN, YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE A PARTNER WITHIN DISTRICT. I, UH, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, UH, ALONG WITH THE, THE MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. PRO TEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, SPOTLIGHT. WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE THE HERITAGE SOCIETY, BUT TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS. UM, THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU HAD MENTIONED, UH, REVEREND JACK GATES' HOME, UH, ONE OF MY FAVORITES. AND TO THE EXHIBITS. YOU DO, UH, SOME INCLUDING WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL DO TO INCORPORATE HOUSTON'S HISTORY INTO OUR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FABRIC. UH, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WE'RE GOING. IF WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN. AND THE ROLE THAT YOU ALL PLAY IN PRESERVING HOUSTON'S HISTORY, UH, IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. SO THANK YOU ALL. AND ALLISON, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SHOWING UP. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. BOARD MEMBERS, ALLISON, YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB WITH PROGRAMMING AND TELLING HOUSTON'S HISTORY. AND, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, WE APPRECIATED YOUR BUDGET PROPOSAL THE OTHER DAY, OR ACTUALLY MINETTE, SO WE'LL BE KEEPING YOU IN MIND ON THAT. UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THE, THE, UH, I ALWAYS SAY THAT TELL EVERYBODY THAT HERITAGE SOCIETY IS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN HOUSTON BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GEM. AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF, I HAVE THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE CITY, PAUL ANNEX. SO I HAVE THE BEST OFFICE IN THAT BUILDING, WHICH OVERLOOKS THE PARK. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU. AND, UH, JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND, AND WE'RE OUT HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE GREAT EXHIBITS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 70TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. YES. TIME. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO TONY'S PLACE IN HONOR OF PRIDE MONTH, AND FOR THEIR IMPACTFUL WORK WITH LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH. AND I'M, I'M WALKING VERY SLOWLY. 'CAUSE TAMMY WALLACE, THE, UH, CEO OF THE LGBT CHAMBER IS DOWN IN SECURITY RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK OUR STAFF, OH, TAMMY MADE IT [00:35:01] . I KNEW, I KNEW SHE'D COME THROUGH. WELCOME TAMMY. SORRY. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL COME CLOSER. ALRIGHT, SO, UH, AS MANY AS YOU KNOW, JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH, AND THIS IS THE FIRST WEEK OF A MONTH'S LONG CELEBRATION OF PRIDE HERE IN HOUSTON. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, PRIDE HONORS THE 1969 STONEWALL UPRISING IN MANHATTAN. AND THIS MONTH WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE HISTORY, PROGRESS, AND FUTURE OF THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY. PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY IN HOUSTON SPANS DECADES THANKS TO ACTIVISTS, ADVOCATES, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL. AND I HAVE TO GIVE A DISTRICT SHE C SHOUT OUT, UH, BECAUSE OF COURSE, MONTROSE IS THE HISTORICAL HEART OF THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF PRIDE IS THAT WE GET TO SPOTLIGHT INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY YEAR ROUND. AND THE LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REMAINS A STAPLE OF THE COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON. ADVANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR LGBTQ I PLUS BUSINESSES THROUGH A NETWORK OF ALLIES, PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ADVOCACY. THE CHAMBER, THEIR STAFF, THEIR VOLUNTEERS, AND THEIR BUSINESS PARTNERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTORS TO THE EFFORT, NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT C BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, AND THAT ACTUALLY THE CHAMBER, TAMMY, IT WAS YOU ALL THAT INTRODUCED ME TO THE WORK OF TONY'S PLACE. SO IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO GET TO NOW INTRODUCE SOME OF YOU TO THAT WORK. TONY'S PLACE PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY, UNHOUSED, LGBTQIA PLUS YOUTH. THESE YOUTH ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE DUE TO SOCIAL STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION, AND MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT LEAVE THEM DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK. UH, TONY'S PLACE, UH, WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN MANY PRIDE EVENTS THIS MONTH, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO FIND THEIR TABLE. UH, AND THERE'S TWO SPECIAL PLUGS BEFORE I GET TO CARRIE. YOU DON'T KNOW. I'M DOING THIS. TWO SPECIAL PLUGS. UH, BEFORE WE GET TO THE PROCLAMATION, THERE ARE TWO EVENTS THAT TONY'S PLACE PUTS ON ANNUALLY. ONE IS A FALL FUNDRAISER CALLED CRAFTING THE FUTURE WITH LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH. AND THEN THEY, OF COURSE, HAVE THEIR QUEER HOMECOMING. UH, AND FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, YOU CAN VISIT TONYS PLACE.ORG, UH, AFTER THE PROCLAMATION. CARRIE, IF YOU ALSO WOULDN'T MIND, I KNOW THAT, UH, YOU ALL WERE IMPACTED BY THE DERECHO AS WELL, AND I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SHARE HOW EVERYDAY PEOPLE CAN COME AND SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THAT. IN 2015, TONY CARROLL STARTED WITH AN IDEA PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE FOR HOMELESS GAY YOUTH WHO ARE BEING VICTIMIZED AND NEEDED THE MOST BASIC SERVICES TO SURVIVE FOOD, CLOTHING, SHOWERS, AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES. AFTER HIS UNTIMELY DEATH, HIS SUPPORTERS OPENED TONY'S PLACE IN HIS MEMORY IN 2024, TONY'S PLACE, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING ALL LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH, AGES 14 TO 25 BY PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE, KEY SERVICES, AND VALUABLE PROGRAMMING. TONY'S PLACE PROVIDES LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH WITH SAFE ACCESS TO SURVIVAL RESOURCES. THEY ALSO AFFIRM AND EMPOWER LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, SUPPORT GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE ADVOCATES FOR THE QUEER YOUTH THEY SERVE BY PARTNERING AND COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, CHARITIES, AND BUSINESSES. OVER THE PAST YEAR, TONY'S PLACE HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PROVIDING APPROXIMATELY 150 HOT MEALS A MONTH TO LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH. THEY HAVE EXPANDED SERVICES SO THAT YOUTH CAN RECEIVE TAILORED ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT AND HAVE DEVELOPED PROGRAMS SUCH AS CRAFT YOUR PRIDE THAT CREATE SAFE AND AFFIRMING SPACES. AND MAYOR, BEFORE I ASK YOU TO GLARE THE DAY, I NEGLECTED TO INVITE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO TO STAND WITH ME. HE IS A VERY BIG SUPPORTER OF TONY'S PLACE IN THE CHAMBER AS WELL, SO I'D INVITE YOU TO COME DOWN AS WELL. EXCELLENT. UH, LET ME THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE TWO FINE SERVICES TO OUR ATTENTION. I WAS PRESENT, UH, AND ACTIVE BEFORE THERE WAS A CHAMBER. ABSOLUTELY. AND TAMMY AND I VISITED AND THERE WAS DEFINITELY THE NEED IN CHAMBER FIELD AVOID TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY GIVE IT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND A VOICE. AND THEN TONY'S PLACE IS EXCEPTIONALLY WELCOMING TO THOSE WHO SO BADLY NEED PROTECTION AND SERVICES. SO IT'S A, IT IS A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE INSTITUTIONS AND PEOPLE THAT MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF [00:40:01] THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM TONY JUNE 4TH, 2024 IS TONY'S PLACE DATE. CONGRATULATIONS. AND, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD INVITE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO TO SAY A FEW REMARKS, AND THEN I, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE WHO WE HAVE WITH US. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, CAMAN AND MAYOR FOR THIS PROCLAMATION HIGHLIGHTING SUCH A VALUABLE ORGANIZATION. UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PRIDE MONTH AND THE FACT THAT WE CELEBRATE THIS EVERY YEAR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK, DO WE STILL NEED A PRIDE MONTH? AND WE ABSOLUTELY DO. AND IT'S FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TONY'S PLACE THAT ARE SERVING A HIGHLY VULNERABLE POPULATION, UNHOUSED, L-G-B-T-Q, YOUTH, UM, THAT MAY NOT HAVE A FAMILY THAT SUPPORTS THEM, MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES, UH, TO BE, UH, SUCCESSFUL ON THEIR OWN AND INDEPENDENT, AND THE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE THEMSELVES AND ACCEPT IT. AND SO, HIGHLIGHTING THIS GROUP, UH, IS SO IMPORTANT AND HIGHLIGHTING THIS ORGANIZATION IS SO IMPORTANT. UM, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THIS GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO MAKE MORE OF AN IMPACT, GET MORE SUPPORTERS, UH, MORE VOLUNTEERS, SO THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY STILL NECESSARY. UM, AND SO I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THEM HERE TODAY AND THEM BEING HONORED WITH THE PROCLAMATION. AND, UH, FIRST WE HAVE TAMMY, UH, THE CEO AT THE LGBT CHAMBER. DID YOU WANNA SAY A FEW REMARKS? IF YOU WANNA INTRODUCE YOUR STAFF? UH, TAMMY WALLACE. I'M A CO-FOUNDER, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE HAVE RAY PURSER WITH US, OUR DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, MANY OF YOU KNOW HIM. AND OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER, RYAN WILSON, WHO JOINED US AS OUR DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE RELATIONS IN DECEMBER. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION AT THE CHAMBER. WE'RE BUILDING AN LGBTQ PLUS ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM, AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TONY'S PLACE ARE SQUARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP LIFT UP OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND DRIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND CLOSE ECONOMIC GAPS. SO WE LOVE HELP CREATING CONNECTIONS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TONY'S PLACE, AND WE LOVE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA CLOSE THIS GAP. WE ARE GONNA LIFT UP THE WHOLE OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER. THANK YOU COUNCILPERSON. UH, ABBY CAYMAN. AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST FOR BEING, UM, ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND SUPPORTING TONY'S PLACE. WE HAVE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY. SO IN THE MONTH OF MAY, WE SERVED 175 MEALS TO UNHOUSED, UNSTABLY HOUSED AND UN UNSAFELY HOUSED L-G-B-T-Q YOUTH. IN THE RECENT STORM, WE LOST ALL OF OUR PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS, BUT WE CONTINUED TO SERVE THOSE YOUTH. THE CLIENTS THAT COME TO OUR DOOR, 89% ARE FROM THE BIPOC COMMUNITY, AND ALL OF THEM ARE LIVING IN POVERTY ON TOP OF BEING FROM THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTERSECTIONS HAPPENING, UH, AND WITH WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. I WANNA THANK OUR CHAIR, STEPHANIE PETIN FOR BEING HERE, UM, AND THE CHAMBER FOR BEING SUCH A GAME CHANGER FOR TONY'S PLACE. AND WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. IT TAKES A VILLAGE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR CHAIR. UM, AND JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, YOU HAVE ALLIES AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, OF COURSE, WITH THE MAYOR, AND OF COURSE, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN CASTILLO, UH, FOR THE, FOR, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHTING, UH, YOU KNOW, TONY'S PLACE. KNOW THAT AS, AS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS, THOMAS LOPEZ IS A CONSTITUENT THAT YOU HAVE OUR EAR, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR SUPPORT AS WELL. UM, I ENJOYED YESTERDAY BEING ABLE TO RAISE A FLAG WITH YOU ALL, UM, AT THE DYNAMO STADIUM, UH, TAMMY. SO CONTINUE DOING THE GOOD, GOOD WORK. KNOW THAT. WHATEVER YOU NEED AT TONY'S PLACE, DISTRICT GUYS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THANK YOU. THIS IS SO GREAT. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW EARLY ON WHEN WE WERE FIRST RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WHEN WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS, I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE, UM, THE FOSTER SYSTEM AS OUR KIDS AGE OUT, THEY'RE THE LARGEST POPULATION, RIGHT, OF HOMELESS. AND I KNOW THAT IS THE, A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ASSIST. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. UM, THE WORK IS CRITICAL. AND, UM, IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN SUPPORT, I WILL TOTALLY DO THAT. THIS IS SUCH, SO GREAT. I LOVE THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL, AND WE APPRECIATE THE [00:45:01] GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AT TONY'S PLACE. TAMMY, I JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU, I LOOKED AT YOUR WEBSITE LAST NIGHT. I LOVE THE CAMPAIGN FOR, UH, WE TAKE PRIDE IN SERVING YOU FOR THE CHAMBER, SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU, TINA'S, FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND RECOGNITION OF EAST END DAY AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, AND JUST WANNA QUICK RECOGNITION. UM, YOU KNOW, THE EAST END, EAST END, UH, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS HAD, UH, FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, BUT EVERY OTHER YEAR HAS HAD EAST END CHAMBER DAY. AND, AND SO AS A STAFFER, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH FRANCIS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS COME DOWN TO THE LEGACY ROOM, ENJOY A TASTE OF THE EAST END, UH, MEET SOME OF THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, UM, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE EAST END BRINGS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FROM THE PORT OF HOUSTON, UH, ALL THE WAY FROM, YOU KNOW, EAST DOWNTOWN HOBBY AREA. UH, FRANCIS DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ENGAGING, UH, LOCAL BUSINESS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTED. UM, AND SO, UM, TODAY, AND ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, WHO REPRESENTS THE EASTON AS WELL, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE CONTINUE THE SAME TRADITION. THE MAYOR WAS DOWN THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAD SOME OF THOSE TAMALES OR, UH, SPANKY OR I, I THINK WE HAD DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT, A VARIETY OF FOOD. FOOD. I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS WAS THERE. LEMME SEE IF I CAN REMEMBER. I THINK POLLARD SHOWED UP AS WELL. UH, CARTER RAMIREZ, AND I WANNA SAY SOMEBODY ELSE. AND OF COURSE, CONTROLLER HOLLANDS. SO IF YOU DIDN'T GO, YOU MISSED OUT. LET ME JUST SAY, YES, YOU'RE HUNGRY RIGHT NOW. THERE WAS, UH, WAFFLES AND, AND, UH, CHICKEN. THERE WAS SOME MEXICAN FOOD, THERE WAS SOME COFFEE FROM, FROM SEGUNDO COFFEE LAB. UM, AND, UH, IT'S JUST, IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THE EAST END COME TOGETHER HERE AT CITY HALL. UH, A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WE GET TO BE, UH, GO OUT AND PATRONIZE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, UH, IN THE EAST END. AND SO JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THIS TRADITION WITH FRANCIS AND THE REST OF THE EAST END, UH, CHAMBER BOARD FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY CONTINUE. AND SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND START READING AND THEN, UH, I'LL HAVE MY COLLEAGUE, UH, FINISH OFF. SO WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON ORIGINATED IN WHAT IS NOW THE EAST END AT THE INTERSECTION OF BRAS AND BUFFALO BAYOU, THE AREA WAS SETTLED BY JOHN HARRIS IN 1826 AND KNOWN TODAY AS OLD HARRISBURG. AND WHEREAS THE EAST END IS A PROUD HOME OF THE, OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON, THE NATION'S FOREMOST PORT FOR FOREIGN COMMERCE AND ONE OF THE LARGEST PORTS IN THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS FOUNDED IN 1991 AND PROUDLY REPRESENTS BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON EAST CHAMBER'S VISION IS TO BE THE PREMIER CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST END. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. I JUST WANT TO ADD, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SUCH A GREAT CELEBRATION, UH, DOWNSTAIRS EARLIER, AND IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS RECOGNITION. UH, THE EAST END IS SUCH A VIBRANT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. UH, YOU HEARD ABOUT SOME OF THEIR GREAT FOOD THAT THEY HAD. YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN THERE, GO CHECK IT OUT. DON'T SLEEP ON THE EAST END. WE WILL SHOW YOU A GOOD TIME IF YOU WANT TO COME VISIT BECAUSE IT IS, UH, A PHENOMENAL PLACE. AND THE CHAMBER AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THERE ARE SO INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND SO INVOLVED IN HELPING TO GROW THE EAST END IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY. AND THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHY WE WANT TO BE, UH, HERE CONTINUING THIS DAY. SO, UH, I WILL CONTINUE ON. UM, WHEREAS PROGRAMMING FOR THE HOUSTON EASTERN CHAMBER INCLUDES BUSINESS LUNCHEONS, BREAKFAST EXCHANGE, PROCUREMENT EVENTS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENTS, AND AN ANNUAL AWARD CELEBRATION. AND PARTICIPATION IN THE HOUSTON EAST END CHAMBER OFFERS [00:50:01] ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO MAJOR CONTRACTS, BUSINESS VENTURES, NEW CLIENTS, MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES, GOODWILL AND PROFITS. AND WHEREAS SINCE 2006, THE CHAMBER FOUNDATION HAS DISPLAYED ITS DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF AREA STUDENTS, AND HAS AWARDED OVER 600,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS. AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON EAST END CHAMBER SUPPORTS EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND IN 2013, FOUNDED AN ANNUAL EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM, A HALF DAY EVENT TO CREATE A PIPELINE BETWEEN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, INDUSTRY, AND COMMUNITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING WORKFORCE. AND I WANT TO ADD THAT THE LUNCHEON AND THE EVENT DOWNSTAIRS WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION THAT, UH, WILL LIVE ON FOREVER. UH, THE FOOD, THE CULTURE, THE PEOPLE, THE REPRESENTATION. UH, I EMPHASIZED AT LUNCH THAT THE AT LARGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY WERE THERE, WHICH SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE EAST END. SO THANK YOU FRANCIS AND EVERYONE INVOLVED, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 4TH, 2024 AS A HOUSTON EAST END CHAMBER DAY AT CITY HALL. THANK Y'ALL FOR DOING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. UM, AS EVERYONE KNOWS OR MAY NOT KNOW, THE EAST END IS A SMALL TOWN WITHIN A BIG CITY, AND WE WANTED TO NOT KNOW OUR, UH, UM, POPULATION IS AS DIVERSE AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND SO IS OUR RESTAURANTS. AND IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO COME TODAY, YOU GOT TO SEE A, A VERSE, A DIVERSE, UM, UM, ARRAY OF, OF DELICIOUS FOODS. THERE WERE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I KNOW YOU GOT THERE EARLIER. UH, BUT WE HAVE A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T THERE JUST TO, UH, SAY THANK YOU AND TO ALWAYS COME BACK, UH, TO THE EAST END AND CELEBRATE OUR CULTURE, OUR DIVERSITY, AND THE FUTURE GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING. UM, WE HAD RESTAURANTS LIKE EL HARDIN, SPANKY NIN, FFAS SEGUNDO COFFEE LAB RIVER, HOUSED AT EAST RIVER NINE, WHICH IS IN, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S, UH, DISTRICT SWEET CHEESES BAKERY, JERSEY MIKE'S AT GULF GATE, AND, UH, THE NEW JONATHAN'S ON THE RUB. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE LATELY, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. UM, WE ARE GROWING, UH, AS, AS, AS THE, AS THE CITY IS GROWING, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. SO WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, AND WE HAVE, UH, OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR SPONSORS HERE TODAY, UM, TO, TO JOIN US AND, AND, AND THANKING YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. GREAT. YAY. GOT IT. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. I CAN'T BELIEVE I MISSED THIS. I LOVE THAT. I ALWAYS GO, I HOPE IN MY BAG OF GOODIES. I GET SOME NIFA IN THERE, . UM, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FRANCIS AND EVERYBODY FOR ALL YOU DO. THE EAST END IS SO WHERE IT'S AT THESE DAYS. I WISH I WOULD'VE INVESTED OVER THERE A LONG TIME AGO 'CAUSE NOW IT'S TOO LATE. IT'S ALL SO EXCITING OVER THERE AND SUCH GREAT COMMUNITIES AND, AND, UM, REALLY LOOKING AFTER EACH OTHER AND IT'S, YOU JUST GET A GREAT FEEL WHEN YOU GO TO THE EAST END. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. THIS IS SO AWESOME. NO, IT IS A LOT OF FUN. NFAS IS LIKE PERFECT. AND THE MARGARITA IS OUR LIKE . UM, NO, BUT CONGRATULATIONS. YOU ARE DEFINITELY THE HEARTBEAT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S SO, UM, THE CULTURE HERE IS WICKS IS SO SPECIAL. SO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT ALIVE. I SEE BACK THERE. HE MADE ME THIS BEAUTIFUL PAINTING IN MY OFFICE. I LIKE, LOVE IT SO MUCH. UM, BUT THE ARTS, THE CULTURE, THE FOOD, THE DANCE, JUST EVERYTHING IS SO, IS SO AWESOME AND IT ALL COMES OUTTA THE EAST END. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR SHARING THE EAST END WITH US HERE AT CITY HALL. UH, EVERYTHING REPRESENTED BRINGS US SO MUCH JOY. THE FOOD, THE CULTURE, THE COLORS, THE DANCE, IT'S ALL SO EXCITING. UH, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR CULTURE AND BEING HERE WITH US HERE AT CITY HALL. CONGRATULATIONS TODAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. [00:58:22] CHAIR [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, UM, MY FRIEND JASON FULLER AND A DELEGATION FROM UKRAINE. UM, WE HAVE PASTOR IGOR BANDURA AND MARK SEV. HE'S A PENTECOSTAL PASTOR FROM POL MELA TOPOL UKRAINE, AND ALSO MARK'S BROTHER ANTON SERGEEV. THEY ARE VISITING TEXAS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ONGOING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS AND EVANGELICALS AND DESTRUCTION OF CHURCHES IN UKRAINE BY RUSSIAN FORCES. SO THEY'LL BE GIVING, UM, SOME ONE OF YOU WILL BE GIVING IGOR, I THINK YOU'LL BE GIVING THE INVOCATION TODAY. YES, YES. GO AHEAD. YES, YES. LET'S PRAY. FATHER GOD, YOU ARE A GRACIOUS HEAVENLY GOD, AND IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO PRAY ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE OF HOUSTON HERE AND ASK FOR YOUR BLESSINGS FOR THIS SESSION. IT'S GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR US TO STAND IN THE CITY HALL AND ASK YOUR BLESSINGS FOR THE MAYOR, FOR ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM, FOR EVERY DECISION THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AND THE DECISIONS THEY WILL BE MADE THAT THIS DECISION WOULD BRING FOR GOOD TO PEOPLE, THAT WISDOM WOULD BRING TO JUSTICE, LOVE, COMPASSION, AND UNDERSTANDING. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PRAY HERE WITH OUR DEAR FRIENDS ABOUT UKRAINE. [01:00:01] OUR COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH TERRIBLE WAR AND WE ARG URGENTLY NEED TO SEE THE ANTO. THIS WAR WE ARE LOOKING FOR JUST PEACE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND GOODNESS TO OUR PEOPLE. PRAISE GOD. PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR PRAYERS AND BLESS HOUSTON, BLESS TEXAS, BLESS THE UNITED STATES, AND ALSO BLESS UKRAINE. THANK YOU. WE PRAY TO YOU WITH GRATITUDE. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. NOW RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. PLEASE RISE THE UNITED STATES, AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE MATTER. WE ARE THE MADAM SECRETARY TODAY. YES, , WOULD YOU [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. CONSTABLE PECK. HERE. CONSTABLE JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. PRESENT. CONSTABLE THOMAS. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? HERE. CONSTABLE RAMIREZ. MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. HERE. COUNCILMAN CARTER. COUNCIL PLUM HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 9TH AND 10TH. 2024. YES. TO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. NOW FOR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR CAYMAN. MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD TRACY RILEY TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. CAST STATE, UH, MAYOR PRO, UH, MAYOR PRO CAST STATE TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JACOB CLEMENTE TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALCORN, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE TAMA LUNDQUIST TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA ITEMS. AND ADD TINA LUNDQUIST, UM, JUST BELOW HER. AND THE VERY GOOD MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL OPPOSED? THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. SECOND. UH, SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU. OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ED PETIT TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA BEHIND. I THINK SOMEONE ELSE WAS MOVED UP. RILEY. THANK YOU. OKAY. MOTION MADE. SECOND? SECOND. YES, I'M ON IT. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES TO FOLLOW AND RIGHT. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? NOPE. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. MADAM [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, ROLANDO PEREZ, TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRACY HAMLIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME AGAIN IS ROLANDA PEREZ. I LIVE IN DISTRICT H. JUST A SECOND. LET US MAKE SURE THE MIC IS, IS PICKING UP. THERE YOU GO. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU SIR. UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS ROLANDA PEREZ. I LIVE IN DISTRICT H AND AS OF OCTOBER, THIS YEAR WILL BE 47 YEARS. I AM HERE AGAIN BECAUSE I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND DISCUSS IT WITH YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AS A POLITICIAN, AS MY MAYOR, AND AS A MAN. NOW ALLOW ME TO ELABORATE AS A POLITICIAN. WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR MAYOR AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU RENT INFOMERCIALS REGARDING HOUSTON FLOODING ISSUES. YOU WERE ALSO QUOTED IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE STATING THAT YOU WOULD END THE AVALOR TAX DIVERSION. [01:05:02] NOW, AS A MAYOR, AS A RESULT OF A LAWSUIT, A COURT HAS ORDERED THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITHIN THE WRONG AND HAS ORDERED TO STOP THAT DIVERSION OF FUNDS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS NOW YOU ARE WILLING TO APPEAL THAT DECISION INSTEAD OF GOING ALONG WITH IT. NOW, AS A MAN, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU SIR, BUT THE WAY I WAS BROUGHT UP, A MAN WHO GIVES HIS WORD HONORS HIS WORD, AND YOU ARE NOT DOING THAT. AND MATTER OF FACT, YOU'RE DOING THE TOTAL OPPOSITE. THAT IS WHY MYSELF, MEMBERS OF NAC AND YOU STONE ARE LOSING TRUST AND YOU ARE LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENT AND IT'S MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY ARE LOSING FAITH IN OUR LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENT. YOU HAVE ALSO SPOKEN ABOUT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HAS SPOKEN IN 2010. I UNDERSTAND IT WAS WAY BEFORE YOUR ADMINISTRATION. WE VOTED FOR THE VALOREM TAX AGAIN IN 2018. IT WAS REAFFIRMED LAST YEAR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. APPRECIATE THAT. TO INCREASE LDP PROGRAM BY $20 MILLION, UH, THE $20 MILLION WAS TRANSFERRED. BUT AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE YET TO GET A CLARIFICATION OF HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS SPENT, WHERE IT WAS SPENT. UH, SO MUCH FOR TRANSPARENCY AS WELL. THAT WAS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT YOU RAN YOUR CAMPAIGN ON. WE ARE IN OUR CITIES IN CRISIS, UH, WITH GLOBAL WARMING. CLIMATE CHANGE. CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING AT A RAPID PACE. WE SAW THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE DURING THE RECENT STORMS THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. TORRENTIAL RAIN, HEAVY WINDS, TORNADOES, LARGE HA, STREET FLOODING, HOME FLOODING, UH, SEWER DRAINS. WERE OVER FLOODING IN PEOPLE'S YARDS IN THE STREETS, EVEN IN THEIR HOMES. WE NEED TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD AND FINISH. THANK YOU, SIR. WE NEED THOSE FUNDS. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE PACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. SO I'M HERE TO HAVE, EXCUSE ME, ASK THREE, ASK ONE. MAYOR MEYER TO RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION TO APPEAL THE COURT DECISION. TWO, I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL ONCE AGAIN TO INCREASE THE LDP PROGRAM BY $20 MILLION. ENSURE THAT IT GETS TO THE LDP PROGRAM AND PROJECTS 'CAUSE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST YEAR. AND THREE, TO CREATE A PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL FUND WITH $20 MILLION. 'CAUSE THAT IS GREATLY NEEDED. A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR PRIVATE SEW LATERALS AND CANNOT AFFORD IT. PEOPLE NEED HELP, SIR. THEY REALLY DO. SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME. ALLOW ME, ME, THE SPACE TO COME AND SPEAK HERE TODAY. AGAIN, MY NAME IS ROLANDA PEREZ FROM DISTRICT H. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP. . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT. TRACY HAMLIN. THANKS FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME COMING UP HERE. OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS TRACY HAMLIN. I'M A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN AND A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT. I I'M A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, A MEMBER OF THE NAC AND CO-DIRECTOR OF THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM AT WEST STREET RECOVERY. AS A SURVIVOR OF DECADES OF WORSENING CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS FACING OUR CITY AND NOW EMPLOYED FULL-TIME IN THE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE IMPACTS OF NEGLECT ON OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. I'VE WATCHED MY CITY NEGLECT THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS, WHICH HAS CAUSED US TO SUFFER ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE FLOODING AND EXPOSED US TO CONTAMINATED WATERS. THIS COULD ALL BE FIXED IF THE CITY INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO AND CAN AFFORD TO ADDRESS. CLIMATE CHANGE IS CAUSING WORSENING DISASTERS, WHICH ARE LESS PREDICTABLE AND ARE LEADING TO MORE DANGEROUS INUNDATIONS. AND BECAUSE OF SEWAGE OVERFLOWS CANCER CAUSING TOXINS, [01:10:01] LANDFILL WASTE, AND RUNOFF FROM INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, THAT FLOOD WATER IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY FATAL. INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE OPEN DITCHES ARE CONCENTRATED IN PRIMARILY BIPOC COMMUNITIES AND THE EFFECTS OF FLOODING DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BIPOC FAMILIES. LDP PROJECTS ARE SELECTED ON A WORST FIRST BASIS BY PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERS AND ARE TARGETED IN AREAS THAT WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST IMPACT. THIS IS WHY OUR CITY NEEDS AN INCREASE OF $20 MILLION TO THE LDP BUDGET. ONE REASON I KNOW THIS IS NEEDED IS THAT IN NOVEMBER VOTERS SAID THAT FLOODING WAS THEIR SECOND HIGHEST PRIORITY. STILL, WE HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY WORD FROM THE MAYOR OR MOST OF THE CITY COUNSELORS ON HOW THEY PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. MAYOR, YOU CAMPAIGNED ON ADDRESSING DRAINAGE. INCREASING THE LDP BUDGET WILL SUPPLEMENT THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM. OUR CURRENT DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM IS IDENTIFYING MANY DITCH PROJECTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES. THE EXISTING FUNDING CANNOT COVER ALL OF THIS WORK. AND SOME IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF REESTABLISHMENT WHERE REESTABLISHMENT CAN'T WORK. LDP CAN ACTUALLY BRING RELIEF. FINALLY, A $20 MILLION INCREASE WAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. ACCORDING TO AVAILABLE SOURCES SUCH AS THE PUBLISHED BUDGET AND FINANCE PRESENTATIONS. THAT INCREASE HAS YET TO HAPPEN. THE DEPARTMENT OF DRAINAGE HAS CONFIRMED THE INCREASE HAS YET TO HAPPEN. THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REDUCES TRUST AND VIOLATES DEMOCRACY BY DELAYING THE BENEFITS OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. THIS IS, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY THE COUNCIL CAN ADDRESS THIS, AND THAT IS TO INCREASE LDP THIS YEAR AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INCREASE ACTUALLY OCCURS. I CALL ON YOU JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, MY COUNCIL MEMBER. PLEASE SUPPORT JACKSON'S CRUCIAL AMENDMENT NEXT WEEK. AND TO ALL OF YOU, IF YOU ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. OKAY. UH, AND IF YOU NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, PLEASE SAY SO. AND YOU DID. THANK YOU. WE'LL SEND IT OVER. WE'LL CALL YOU. SO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LED THIS FIGHT FOR YEARS CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. MAY I FINISH ONE MORE SENTENCE? THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, YES. THANK YOU. I'LL CLOSE BY. BE MINDFUL OF THE TIME. THANK YOU. I'LL CLOSE BY EMPHASIZING MY DESIRE TO LIVE WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT THAT EARNS TRUST BY DEMONSTRATING TRANSPARENCY THAT BUILDS EQUITY BY TURNING ATTENTION TO AREAS THAT HAVE SEEN HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT AND WHO HONOR DEMOCRACY BY FOSTERING CHANNELS FOR REAL PUBLIC INPUT THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE. HAVE REAL WORKING LINKS, ENCOURAGE OPEN DIALOGUE AND HELP ALL CITIZENS HAVE OUR NEEDS MET. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SADE HOKE TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVEN LONGMEYER. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE PRESENT. MY NAME IS SADE HO, YOUR FAVORITE GIRL FROM CITY GAS. IT'S SO NICE TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN. THE LAST TIME I SPOKE, I SHARED WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THE SEWER ISSUES THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AT MY HOME. I ALSO SHARED WITH YOU THAT GOLD STAR METALS IS DIRECTLY BEHIND MY PROPERTY, AND HOW THOSE COMPOUNDING ISSUES ARE NOT ONLY IMPACTING ME, BUT THE FOLKS ON MY STREET WHOM MOSTLY ARE ELDERLY. MAY ASK, MAY I ASK, WAS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CREATED A $20 MILLION FUND FOR PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL TO ADDRESS THE GAPS IN THE CONSENT DECREE THAT DO NOT ADDRESS THE RESIDENTIAL SEWER LINES. TODAY I COME WITH AN ADDITIONAL ASK OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ALLOCATE THE $20 MILLION TO THE LDP PROGRAM. BOTH OF THESE DEMANDS ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND INJUSTICE AND REPRESENT A BIGGER THEME THAT WE CONTINUALLY SEE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS THE DISINVESTMENT IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR. IN THE PAST WEEK, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HIT THE HARDEST AGAIN BY THESE LOVELY TORNADOES HEAVY WINDS, RAINS THAT LEFT US WITHOUT POWER. IN MIDDAY, THE DISINVESTMENT LEAVES PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES AND CLIMATE CHANGE WORSENING DISASTERS AND HEIGHTENING PUBLIC HEALTH RISK. THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE DISTRICT B AND AROUND ALL OF HOUSTON FACING RELATED ISSUES TO DATED INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT ONLY IN NORTHEAST, BUT ALL OVER HOUSTON. WE ARE HOPING TO SEE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPOND IN A DELIBERATE AND TIMELY MATTER TO MITIGATE FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE CITY. IT IS NOT ONLY STORMS LIKE HARVEY THAT WE'RE, ARE AFFECTED BY, BUT THAT THE FLOODING OUTSIDE OR FLOODING OUT OUR HOUSTON RESIDENTS. OUR CITY NEEDS TO TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO SOLVING CHRONIC FLOODING ISSUES THAT ARE COMBINED WITH, UM, COMPOUNDING ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACED WITH. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE TWO DEMANDS WOULD SUPPORT TREMENDOUSLY IN PROACTIVE APPROACH, AND IT'S GOING TO SAVE PEOPLE MONEY BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE TO REBUILD AGAIN. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME. [01:15:01] THANK YOU, MA'AM. UH, MA'AM. MS. MA'AM, ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. MR. MAYOR, I JUST, I WAS JUST GOING TO EXTEND SOME, UH, EXTRA TIME IF SHE NEEDED, BUT ONE QUESTION, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO REPLACE THE PRIVATE PLUMBING ISSUE ON YOUR SIDE? LIKE, HAVE YOU HAD A, A PLUMBER ASSESS WHAT THE FINANCIAL AMOUNT WOULD BE? YES, MA'AM. IT WAS 30 MILLION, SORRY, 30,000. I SAY WE AIN'T GOT THAT NOW. NOW HOLD ON FOR MY HOUSE. BUT $30,000. $30,000. YES, SIR. UH, MR. MAYOR, UM, I KNOW AS YOU WORK WITH THE FEDERAL CON CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AROUND THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE, I WONDER IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO BE DRAWN DOWN IN THE FUTURE. UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S QUALIFYING OR NOT. I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF CLAUSE THAT WAS REMOVED OR ALLOWED, UM, FOR THAT TO, TO HAPPEN. SO I THINK, UM, AS WE ENGAGE WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION, HOPEFULLY, UM, HE CAN BE ABLE TO, UM, ADVOCATE FOR THAT. UH, DRAINAGE IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT, SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONVERSATION. YES, KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. STEVEN LONGMEYER TO BE FOLLOWED BY FELIX KAUR. KAUR. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M STEVEN LONGMEYER, BORN IN HOUSTON, AND I'VE LIVED IN MONTROSE FOR MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF MY LIFE. UH, MY PRONOUN IS DOCTOR . I'M HERE TODAY TO FIGHT AGAIN FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY FAMILY AGAINST ACTIONS AND SPEECH THAT HARMS US. WHEN THE FIRST PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE THE FREED MONTROSE LIBRARY WAS PRESENTED, I SPOKE AGAINST IT. I FEARED THAT THE RELOCATION WOULD SET US UP FOR A WAR OF CULTURES WAGED LARGELY BY FOLKS WHO DO NOT EVEN LIVE IN MONTROSE AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE MONTROSE LIBRARY. MANY SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY LIBRARY. THIS TRANSLATES TO MY COMMUNITY AS FREE FROM GAY INFLUENCES HISTORY OR CONTRIBUTIONS. I WAS OFFENDED THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO STOOD UP AND SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED OF LIBRARY FRIENDLY TO GAY FAMILIES. YES, FOLKS, GAY PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES, AND WE ARE FAMILY. NOW. WE HAVE A NEW BUILDING COMPLETELY DESIGNED FROM THE GROUND UP AS A MODERN, FULLY EQUIPPED LIBRARY WITH 100 PROTECTED PARKING SPACES AND A PROTECTED GARAGE. BUT OUR MAYOR HAS WITH NO PUBLIC MEETINGS OR HEARINGS, DECIDED THAT HE, HAVING ATTENDED NONE OF THE PREVIOUS NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS THAT WENT INTO THIS PLAN, WOULD RATHER THROW AWAY NEARLY $20 MILLION TO TRY TO REHABILITATE A FORMER CHURCH, WHICH CAN NEVER BE COMPLETELY MODIFIED TO PROVIDE THE SAME FACILITIES. HIS REASON STATED WAS BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLOSE TO ADULT ENTERTAINMENT, AND HE WAS CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. FIRST, THE TERM ADULT ATTA ENTERTAINMENT COMMENT HIT MY COMMUNITY AS TOO CLOSE TO QUEERS. HEARKENING BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN IF YOU TOLD SOMEONE YOU LIVED IN MONTROSE, THEY ASKED, ISN'T THAT WHERE THE QUEERS LIVE? I HAD HOPED THAT BY THIS TIME WE HAD EVOLVED PAST THAT SORT OF BIGOTRY. I HAD HOPED THAT THE MAYOR OF THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY WOULD CHOOSE HIS WORDS MORE CAREFULLY AND USE WORDS MORE WORTHY OF ITS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, RATHER THAN DOG WHISTLE PHRASES FROM A SHAMEFUL PAST. SECOND. IF THE MAYOR IS TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, PERHAPS HE SHOULD BE AWAY AWARE THAT RENE CONTU WAS MURDERED WHILE JOGGING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PRESENT LOCATION OF THE FREED MONTROSE LIBRARY ONLY FOUR YEARS AGO. THE CROSS IS STILL AT THE ENTRANCE TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND LAST, SINCE WE'RE BROKE, DOES IT MAKE ANY FIDUCIARY SENSE TO SPEND MONEY? WE DON'T HAVE TO REHAB A BUILDING BEYOND ITS USEFUL LIFE WHEN WE HAVE A CUSTOM BUILT LIBRARY ALREADY READY TO GO, BUT IT'S WORSE. OUR MAYOR DIRECTED TURNS 27 TO PROVIDE A BUDGET TO FUND THIS CHANGE, FAILING TO EXERCISE DUE DILIGENCE, WHICH WOULD'VE INFORMED HIM THAT THE CHURCH IS IN TERMS TO TWO NOTTS 27. THEREFORE, TURS 27 CANNOT GIVE ITS FUNDS TO DO THIS PROJECT THAT DIDN'T STOP HIM. NOW WE HEAR HE'S HALTED CONSTRUCTION ON THE LIBRARY AND MAYOR TURNER'S, UH, DISTRICT, UH, IN ORDER TO BE BE ABLE TO USE THE FUNDS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE ON THESE CHANGES AND TO OPPOSE ANY FURTHER ACTIONS ON THE PART OF THE MAYOR TO INTERFERE WITH THE MOVE OF THE MONTROSE LIBRARY TO ITS RIGHTFUL LOCATION. I PRAY THAT THE DAYS OF GOOD OLD BOY GOVERNMENT RULED BY KENNETH MAS MACHO ARE MERE FOLKLORE NOW, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO SEE THAT THAT HAPPENS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANY OF YOU ANYTIME TO GIVE YOU THE HISTORY OF THIS LIBRARY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR STEVEN. I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION BECAUSE THE MONTROSE LIBRARY IS CONTINUING TO PERMEATE IN THE NEWS. MAYOR, YOU WERE INITIALLY OPPOSED TO THE MOVE TO THE NEW BUILDING [01:20:01] AND NOW YOU SAY YOU ARE IN FAVOR OR SUPPORT OF THE MOVE. SO YES, I WAS OPPOSED TO THE MOVE TO THAT LOCATION, WHICH IS IN THE HEART OF GAY BARS. IT'S THE HEART OF GAY CULTURAL LIFE IN THIS CITY. AND IN MY ESTIMATION, I WAS AT THAT MEETING TO LISTEN TO DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE IMPORTED FROM OUTSIDE MONTROSE, SAY THE MOST HEINOUS THINGS ABOUT THE NEED FOR FAMILY SAFETY AT THAT LIBRARY AND TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN. NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT PROTECTING MY CHILDREN OR MY FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. NO ONE. I STOOD UP ALONE. NOW THAT IT'S BUILT, I'M NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO THROW AWAY A BRAND NEW BUILDING THAT MY COMMUNITY COULD USE. IF YOU REHAB THIS LIBRARY NOW, IT WILL BE CLOSED TWO YEARS TO GET THE ASBESTOS OUT, THE MOLD OUT TO FIX THE CRUMBLING WALLS, TO REPLACE AN ANTIQUE ELEVATOR THAT OTIS DOESN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE ANYMORE. IT MAKES NO SENSE. WE HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN TO ARGUE ABOUT THIS LIBRARY. AND IT, IT IS INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT I SAT THROUGH A PRESENTATION FROM ITS DIRECTOR LAUDING THAT THE MOVE WOULD HAPPEN THIS SUMMER AT LAST. SO YES, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. I AM CAPABLE OF THOUGHT AND EVOLVING. MAYBE THIS EVEN OFFERS US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE THAT WOULD IMPROVE THINGS. THANK YOU. I'LL, UH, BE GLAD TO LET YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MIND. THERE'S NO PARKING AT THE PROPOSED NEW SITE. IT'S ON THE SECOND, THIRD FLOOR OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING. THE TERRACE GAVE THE DEVELOPER $2 MILLION FOR PARKING FOR THE EMPLOYEES, WHICH AMOUNTS TO 20 THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA HAVE TO PAY TO PARK. AND YES, I REFERENCED THAT IT WAS IN AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT DEALING WITH TRAFFIC AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE REFERRING TO AS THE MAYOR IN MY WELL ESTABLISHED RECORD OF LOOKING OUT AND SPEAKING FOR THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I WENT TO THE REOPENING OF THE LIBRARY, THE MONTROSE SITE, AND I THINK EVEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID THAT WE TRIED TO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION. I WENT AND SAW THE COMMERCIAL SITE, WHICH CERTAINLY APPEAL APPEARS TO BE A DEAL IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSACTION, THE SWAPPING OF LAND, WHO THE PLAYERS ARE. SO, NO, I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MIND. IT'S AN ICONIC BUILDING THAT WILL REVERT BACK TO ST. THOMAS. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REGIONAL PROPOSED LIBRARY IN AKERS HOME. IT HAS TO DO WITH USABILITY, FRIENDLINESS, SAFETY, AND A LOT OF COMMON SENSE. WHOEVER IN TALKING TO THE TURS GAVE THE DEVELOPER $2 MILLION HAD A CONFLICT. SO I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MIND. I WAS ELECTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. BUT I CERTAINLY RESPECT YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU, SIR. AND I WOULD THOUGHT MAYBE YOUR FIRST OPINION OF THE DEAL WAS PROBABLY THE MOST ACCURATE, BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN ALL CHANGE OUR MINDS. I HAVEN'T, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. NO, THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST 'CAUSE YOU REFERENCED MY COMMENTS. SURE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD WAS CLEAR AND I I APPRECIATE YOUR POSITION ON IT. SURE. UH, WHAT I HAD SAID IS, WHEN THE INITIAL PROPOSAL HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR OFFICE, I HAD SAID, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDING. IS THERE ANY WAY TO SAVE IT? AND WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS, UH, THAT THE COST OF GOING THROUGH ALL OF THAT WOULD NOT, WOULD OUT BE, UH, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO WHAT THE BENEFIT WOULD BE AS OPPOSED TO CREATING A NEW FACILITY FROM THE GROUND UP, UH, INCORPORATING ALL THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO OTHER LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, THAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BENEFITING FROM. UH, SO WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING MM-HMM . FROM THE COST PERSPECTIVE, AND WHAT I HAVE COMMUNICATED TO YOUR OFFICE AS WELL IS, UH, IF WE'RE GOING BACK TO AN OLD BUILDING, WHAT IS THE COST OF THAT VERSUS WHAT HAVE WE ALREADY EXPENDED? AND WE HAVE TO BE, UH, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN THAT RESPECT. AND, UH, I I, I WILL ALWAYS DEFER TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED, UH, MR. LONGMEYER FOR HIS, WHAT HIS VIEWS ARE BECAUSE THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY. WELL, I'VE REPRESENTED THE COMMUNITY FOR 50 YEARS BEFORE I TOOK THIS CHAIR. VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMUNITY. THE WIN-WIN IS SPEAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY IS WE'RE GONNA TURN THE PROPOSED SITE INTO AN HIV DRIVE-THROUGH PHARMACY, RUN BY LEGACY CLINIC. SO THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING [01:25:01] BY MY AWARENESS THAT THE ICONIC LIBRARY WAS SERVING THE COMMUNITY, THE ONE THAT YOU SUPPORTED ORIGINALLY WILL MAINTAIN IT AS AN ICONIC SITE FOR FAMILIES OF ALL PERSUASIONS. AND WE WON'T GO TO BEHIND A HAMBURGER JOINT THAT YOU CAN'T FIND AT 1000 OH ONE CALIFORNIA STREET, WHERE ALL YOU SEE IS A HAMBURGER JOINT PARKING LOT AND THEIR WASTE DUMP. IT'S ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING THAT YOU ONLY HAVE AN OUTSIDE STAIRCASE. SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO GET REAL AND SEE WHAT THE RESIDENTS REALLY WANT. THAT'S THE VOICE THAT I'M EXPRESSING TODAY. IT'S A WIN-WIN DEAL FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND, UH, I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO DRIVE BY IT. MY COLLEAGUES GO LOOK AT THE PROPOSED SITE, NO PARKING UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT ACROSS THE STREET IN A PARKING GARAGE. SOMEBODY CUT THEMSELVES A REAL DEAL, THE DEVELOPER AND THE TAX THE DEVELOPER BENEFITED AND THE TAXPAYER'S LOSS. WE WILL FIX THE ICONIC LIBRARY ON MONTROSE. IT'LL HAVE BRAND NEW SIDEWALKS, BIKE PASS AND BE VERY USER FRIENDLY. AND I'M GLAD I RAN ACROSS THIS DISASTER THAT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. THAT'S THE REASON I RAN FOR OFFICE. THAT'S THE REASON I WAS ELECTED. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, MA. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT ONE THING AND I'M HAPPY TO STAND CORRECTED. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT IN THE PARKING FOR THE NEW FACILITY, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA OPERATE ON THE FACTS, UM, THAT A SPECI SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF SPOTS WE'RE GOING TO BE FREE FOR LIBRARY USERS. WE HAVE THE SAME CHALLENGE AT THE MONTROSE FREED LIBRARY WITH EXTREMELY LIMITED PARKING. UH, WHICH IS, AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE ARE, THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT ACCESS THROUGH ALL FORMS, RIGHT? SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN WALK, CAN BIKE, CAN DRIVE, WILL BE INCORPORATED, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN FOR THAT ENTIRE CORRIDOR, IS THAT INCREASING ACCESS, UH, FOR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION. WELL, I'M NOT GONNA ENGAGE WITH EVERYONE THAT USES MISINFORMATION BEFORE US BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR RIGHT. BUT THIS ONE IS SO OBVIOUSLY IN THE BEST IN INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS. YOU DON'T WANT TO GO FROM ICONIC HISTORICAL LIBRARY THAT WAS CLOSED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. BY THE WAY, WE REOPENED IT. WE'RE GONNA REPAIR IT. WE'RE GONNA USE A PROPOSED COMMERCIAL SITE FOR A COMMERCIAL USE, SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH A DRIVE THROUGH PHARMACY OPERATED BY LEGACY. YES, IT WAS A DEAL. ANYBODY OBJECTIVELY WANNA LOOK AT THE SWAPPING OF THE STOREFRONT CITY PROPERTY FOR A SECOND STORY, THIRD STORY LIBRARY WITH NO ACCESS, NO PARKING, NOVIS, VISIBILITY TO FAMILIES. SO ANYWAY, UH, I'VE MADE MY POINT AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND I THINK YOU'LL BE PLEASED IF YOU GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY, WHICH YOU'RE GONNA GET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE REQUEST, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL FROM MY OFFICE 'CAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO, AND I KNOW I'M TALKING WITH CYNTHIA, BUT THE COST OF SURE. WHAT WE'VE EXPENDED ON THE NEW BUILDING. SURE. UH, I KNOW WHAT THE ESTIMATED COSTS ARE FOR THE REHAB OF THE OLDER BUILDING, BUT AGAIN, WE'VE EXPENDED MONEY AND THERE'S STILL FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS TO WHAT ALL OF THAT. ANYTHING I GOT. YOU'RE WELCOME. TRUE. YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY. YOU WERE THERE AND SAW MY SHOCK AND DISMAYED THE MORNING THAT WE REOPENED THE MONTROSE LIBRARY. AND I WENT DOWN AND SAW, I, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GOING TO HEAR OTHER THAN I KEPT HEARING IT WAS ON WESTHEIMER. IT'S NOT ON WESTHEIMER, IT'S ON CALIFORNIA STREET. A BLOCK OFF OF WESTHEIMER. YOU CAN'T FIND IT. NO PARKING, NO ACCESS TO IT OUTSIDE OF A, IN THE WEATHER OUTDOOR STAIRCASE. AND YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE HAMBURGER JOINT, IT'S ACTUALLY AN EMBARRASSMENT. THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS. BUT LEGACY NEEDED IT AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH PHARMACIES. SO I'M EXCITED TO PUBLICLY DISCUSS A WIN-WIN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF MONTROSE AND THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M SORRY YOU CAN'T FIND IT, MAYOR. ANYONE WHO LIVES IN MONTROSE COULD FIND IT EASILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. WELCOME. ANYTIME. NEXT. FELIX KAUR. WE FOLLOWED BY TAMARA LUNDQUIST, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS FELIX KAPO. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE TOMORROW, DISTRICT B COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON IS GONNA PRESENT A $20 MILLION AMENDMENT TO INCREASE AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE LTP [01:30:01] PROGRAM BY $20 MILLION. UM, ON JUNE 7TH OF LAST YEAR, CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A $20 MILLION INCREASE IN THE LTP PROGRAM SO THAT PUBLIC WORKS COULD START MAKING REAL PROGRESS ON UPGRADING THE CITY'S DANGEROUSLY DATED FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. AS A REMINDER, THE LDP PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM FOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE BETWEEN ONE TO $3 MILLION. THESE PROJECTS ARE CONSIDERED REHABILITATION PROJECTS AND ARE BIGGER THAN MAINTENANCE AND REESTABLISHMENT, BUT SMALLER THAN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE $20 MILLION RAISE WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE FLOOD PROTECTION AS LDP PROJECTS ARE FLEXIBLE AND TARGETED AND INCREASES THE ABILITY OF PUBLIC WORKS TO FUND THE WORST PROJECTS FIRST. HOWEVER, EQUITY DID NOT HAPPEN. WE FOUND OUT AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET WORKSHOP THAT THE INCREASE IN THE LDP PROGRAM NEVER HAPPENED. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. A POLL CONDUCTED BY RESEARCHERS AT THE HOBBY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LAST YEAR FOUND THAT RESPONDENTS VOTED THAT FLOODING IS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE TO VOTERS IN THE CITY. MANY OF YOU ON COUNCIL TODAY RAN ON IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE OR IMPROVING FLOOD MITIGATION FOR THE CITY MAYOR WHITMEYER ON MAY 7TH AT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE WESTHEIMER PAVING PROJECT. YOU WERE QUOTED AS SAYING, I'M HERE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE BROKEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT'S OUR ROADS AND STREETS OR OUR DRAINAGE. WE'RE GOING TO FIX HOUSTON HERE. HERE'S AN EASY POLICY TO TAKE REAL ACTION TOWARDS THIS PROCLAMATION. I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS SEVERELY BROKEN. I'M HERE TO LIFT THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO RECOVER FROM FLOODING. I'M HERE TO REMIND ALL OF US THAT POLICY CHANGES ROOTED IN EQUITY ARE THE ONLY WAY ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD SHOULD MOVE FORWARD. AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU ALL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE $20 MILLION INCREASE IN THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAM. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU, UH, REALLY QUICKLY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COUNCIL REVIEWING. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S AMENDMENT. WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, BUT OBVIOUSLY, UM, THROUGH NAC AT LEAST. FELIX, DO YOU MIND SHARING? 'CAUSE WE, WE HAVE A REALLY CHALLENGING BUDGET, UH, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR. ARE WHERE ARE YOU PROPOSING TO PULL THAT MONEY FROM? RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROPOSING THAT MONEY COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUNDS AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THE TIGHT, THE TIGHT BUDGET THAT CITY COUNCIL IS PROCLAIMING. BUT THIS MONEY SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED LAST YEAR. UM, THIS WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR AN INCREASE AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN. AND MAYOR, IF YOU WANTED THE TAPE, WE CAN SEND IT TO YOU OF WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED. I, I THINK COUNCIL, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN IS ABOUT TO POTENTIALLY SHARE SOME INFORMATION. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A EXTREMELY, UH, TIGHT BUDGET. IF WE VOTED ON SOMETHING, IT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. I JUST WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU ON WHERE YOU THINK THAT MONEY SHOULD COME FROM. 'CAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE OTHER LOOMING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS INCLUDING PENDING IN THE COURT'S MAYOR RELATED TO DRAINAGE SPECIFICALLY. UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK IN Y'ALL'S VOICES, BUT I'LL DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, IF I MAY. MAYOR ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. SO, HI FELIX. SO WE, WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS, UH, BUDGET WORKSHOP. UM, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND. I READ THE EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED 'CAUSE I WAS LIKE, YEAH, WE ALL APPROVED THE 20 MILLION. WE ALL WANTED, WANTED THE 20 MILLION TO GO TOWARDS LOCAL DRAINAGE. UM, AND THE ANSWER THAT I GOT WAS COMMITMENT TO TRANSFER THE 20 MILLION WAS OUTSIDE THE CIP ADOPTION. LIKE MEANING IT DOES, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME ISSUANCE, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU PASS THE BUDGET, THEN YOU PASS THE CIP. BUT, UH, IT WAS SET ASIDE. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT 20 MILLION IS NOT APPROPRIATED BY COUNCIL IN 2020, IN FY 24, IT WILL SHOW UP IN NEXT YEAR'S CIP BOOK. SO THAT MONEY IS THERE. I I AGREE WITH YOU INFRASTRUCTURE IN MY LITTLE NON-SCIENTIFIC SURVEY THAT I'M DOING, MY, YOUR 2 CENTS INFRASTRUCTURES TURNED OUT TO BE NUMBER ONE, I WOULD PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT AND I WILL PLAN ON A PROPOSING AMENDMENT WHERE WE'RE SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY TO, TO DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT. PEOPLE WANT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. UM, WE DON'T HAVE 20 MILLION EXTRA IN THE BUDGET. I, I MIGHT HAVE A TROUBLE GETTING A, A SMALLER AMOUNT PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE ARE ARE IN AND BECAUSE OF THE, THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST. BUT I FEEL, UM, LIKE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HONOR, UM, WHAT PEOPLE WANT THEIR MONEY SPENT ON. AND IF WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY, UM, I KNOW IT'S NOT THERE FOR LONG. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CHALLENGES, BUT I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT PUTTING SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY IN, BUT THERE'S NO WAY I CAN VOTE FOR 20 MILLION MORE DOLLARS ON THAT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IF THAT'S THE NUMBER I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH A SMALLER AMOUNT. BUT I HAVE CONFIRMATION FROM PUBLIC WORKS THAT THAT MONEY IS THERE. IT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE THAT IS GOING TO LOCAL DRAINAGE. NO, THERE WAS NO SUTTER FUGE GOING ON THAT THERE WE'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT GETTING [01:35:01] THAT MONEY. THAT MONEY WAS PASSED AND IT WILL BE THERE. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I ASKED AND ANSWERED IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC WORKS, UM, WORKSHOP. UM, ACCOUNTING IN THE CITY IS HARD TO FOLLOW. I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S TIMING ISSUES. THERE'S CIP, THERE'S THE OPERATING BUDGET. UM, BUT, BUT I HEAR YOU, YOU GUYS ARE GOOD ADVOCATES FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S NOT JUST THE NORTHEAST, IT'S ALL OVER TOWN WHERE THERE'S DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD BAD STORMS ALREADY THIS YEAR AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, SO I'M WITH YOU ON A GREATER INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK THERE'S NOT A ONE OF US UP HERE THAT DOESN'T, UM, DOESN'T FEEL THAT WAY. BUT, UH, I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THAT $20 MILLION IS SOMEHOW GONE FOREVER. SURE. UM, MAY I RESPOND? SURE. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALQUAN. AND THANKS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO, UH, IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY. I THINK, UM, FROM THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AS WE WERE THERE, THAT MONEY IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS ANOTHER PROGRAM AND NOT TOWARDS LDP AND EVERYTHING. ALL OF OUR CORRESPONDENCE WITH PUBLIC WORK SAYS THAT MONEY IS NOT HAPPENING. AND AFTER TALKING TO, UH, I GUESS ONE OF THEIR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS, THEY BASICALLY CONFIRMED THAT AS WELL, VERBALLY. AND THEY SAID YOU NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC. I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET MORE SPECIFIC OTHER THAN LABELING THE PROGRAM, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE IDENTIFYING THE, ARE YOU SAYING THAT IT WAS GO IN THAT, I'M SORRY, BECAUSE I DID ALSO RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT THAT WAS FOR DITCH RE REESTABLISHMENT MM-HMM . AND YOU'RE, AND AS OPPOSED TO L DP. SO I CAN GET FURTHER CLARIFICATION FROM, FROM, UM, PUBLIC WORKS. BUT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH $20 MILLION BEING SPENT ON DRAINAGE. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. MM-HMM . SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I STAND ON THAT. YEAH. WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE OR IF Y'ALL CAN SEND US THAT RESPONSE. 'CAUSE I THINK WE'VE HAD THAT RESPONSE BEFORE AND WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN AS DILIGENT AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF TRACKING THE MONEY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON OUR SIDE IN THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO GET ANSWERS. COUNCIL COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FELIX FOR BEING HERE. UM, I THINK ONE PIECE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE, AND AND WE ASKED THIS LAST YEAR IS THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS TO GIVE US A FORWARD FACING POLICY DOCUMENT THAT DEFINES WORKS FIRST. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE. IT NEEDS TO BE VERY CLEAR ON HOW WE CHOOSE TO DO THESE PROJECTS. AND IT'S GOTTA BE IN AREAS THAT ARE STRUGGLING. THE MOST CITY OF HOUSTON, IT, IT FLOODS EVERYWHERE, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE CLEARLY KNOW THAT, BUT THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MORE FRAGILE AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE THAN OTHERS. AND I JUST, I, I ASKED PUBLIC WORKS. I MEAN, WE, WE, WE PUT, WE PUT THAT OUT THERE PUBLICLY. IF THEY COULD JUST GIVE US THE CHECKLIST ON WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY MAKE A DECISION ON WHERE THEY DO THESE PROJECTS, I THINK THAT'S VERY FAIR. AND THEN THAT WAY THE COMMUNITY CAN SAY, OKAY, MY PROJECT THAT I WANT WASN'T CHOSEN BECAUSE THIS CHOSEN HAD 10 OF THE 20. IT JUST NEEDS TO BE MORE CLEAR. AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION IS, IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE. AND YOU ASKED THAT LAST YEAR AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, I WAS JUST WONDERING, MAYOR ADMIRER, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT TODAY. STRATEGY. WHAT WAS THE ANSWER? I'M SAYING LEMME LEARN. I'M JUST SAYING THAT ALONG WITH ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS HE'S HAVING RIGHT NOW, WE JUST SURE. WE JUST WANT, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC WORKS, I AGREE. IN, IN, IN THEIR CAPACITY CURRENTLY ON WHO'S THERE NOW NEEDS TO GIVE US A FORWARD FACING POLICY THAT DEFINES ON HOW THEY CHOOSE WHERE THE PROJECTS ARE DONE. I'LL HELP YOU GET THAT. OKAY. AND IF WE CAN GET THAT, THEN I BELIEVE THAT AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY, EVERYONE CAN BE ON THE SAME PAGE, INCLUDING US. I MEAN, 'CAUSE WE VOTED ON THAT. WE VOTED ON THAT 20 MILLION AND IT'S, I UNDERSTAND. I WAS WATCHING YEAH. FROM A DISTANCE. RIGHT? SO, SO I MEAN, I'M NOT PUTTING FAULT ON ANYONE. I'M NOT DOING ANY OF THAT. I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW HERE IN FRONT OF US, WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT. I AGREE. I'M WONDERING, DOES ANYONE APPROACH THE COUNTY ABOUT PARTNERING IN THAT PRECINCT, IN PRECINCT ONE, OR AT LEAST WHEN WITHIN OUR DISTRICT? UM, WE, THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH THEM IN THE PAST ON A SEPARATE PROGRAM. WE WOULD, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. MM-HMM . I THINK THAT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA. IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO, UM, FLOOD CONTROL AND SEE IF THEY'VE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THE PAST FOR THE SWAP PROGRAMS, IF THEY COULD PROVIDE, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THE LDP PROGRAM, THAT COULD BE A SEPARATE SOURCE OF FUNDING. THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, WELCOME SOUNDS. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FELIX. FELIX FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY, UH, AROUND THIS ISSUE OF FLOODING WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THANK YOU. UM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR THE INFORMATION. [01:40:01] 'CAUSE UM, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH PUBLIC WORKS REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE, THE, THE SEVERAL PROJECTS, THE SWAT PROJECTS, BUT ALSO THE LDP WANNA KNOW WHERE THE MONEY, UM, WENT. AND THEY NEVER COULD TELL US WHERE THE MONEY WAS. SO LIKE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M HEARING THAT IT WASN'T IN A, YEAH. THAT IT'S THERE, THAT IT'S IN ANOTHER LINE ITEM. SO BEING CLEAR ON THAT, AS WE ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, UM, I THINK IT'LL LIKE MINIMIZE A LOT OF THE CONFUSION. BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE MONEY IS NOT, WE, WE VOTED ON IT, BUT WE STILL HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED IT. AND SO, UM, AND THAT'S WHY I WAS GONNA SUBMIT ANOTHER BUDGET AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE VOTED ON IT LAST YEAR. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE, THAT HAS HAPPENED A LOT. WE'VE VOTED ON THINGS. I HAD VOTED ON SOMETHING IN 2021. I'M GONNA THROW THAT OUT THERE. AND WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT, SO MM-HMM . UM, AND I'M JUST, MY JOB IS TO KEEP PUSHING, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF FLOODING, UM, ACROSS THE CITY, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT B. UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, A LOT OF THE OPEN DITCHES ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT'S WHERE, UM, A A LOT OF THE IMPACT, UM, WHEN IT FLOODS HAPPEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO, UM, I WILL, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, AS I GET BACK INTO THE OFFICE TO TRY TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON. I KNOW I HAVE A MEETING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO GET MORE INFORMATION, BUT I MEAN, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE MONEY WAS NOT SUBMITTED. IT, IT DIDN'T TRANSFER OVER. AND SO YEAH. THANK THANKS COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING TOO. SO, YEAH, IT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, UNLESS YOU'VE GOTTEN AN ANSWER IN THE PAST COUPLE DAYS, I, WE ARE NOT CONFIDENT IN THAT RESPONSE OF LIKE, THE MONEY IS ACTUALLY THERE AND GOING TOWARDS LPP. WE'VE TALKED TO THEIR HEAD ENGINEER, WE'VE TALKED TO THEM COUNTLESS TIMES. WE'VE EVEN WORKED THROUGH YOUR OFFICE TOO IN THE PAST. YEAH. AND THEY, THEY DID SAY, DID REESTABLISHMENT. SO WE WE'LL CLEAR THAT UP. WE'LL CLEAR THAT UP. YEAH. YEAH. BUT FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES THAT THAT MONEY HAS NOT BEEN GOING TOWARDS THE PROGRAM. IT SHOULD HAVE. YEAH. AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER EMPLOYMENT, WE HAVE SWAT PROJECTS, SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WE, TD THAT WE SUBMITTED, UM, THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. PROBABLY WE HAVE LIKE A TIMELINE ON WHEN THAT WILL BE, UM, TAKEN WHEN IT BE FINISHED, COMPLETED. BUT STILL, THIS LDP IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE NEEDING RESOURCES FOR. AND WE THOUGHT WE HAD THAT LAST YEAR AND WE DIDN'T. WE DIDN'T. SO, COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCILOR DAVIS. THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, I KEEP HEARING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO, TWO YEARS AGO IN REGARDS TO ISSUES AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHEN, WHEN THIS WAS VOTED UPON TO GET THESE DOLLARS, WAS THERE A PROCEDURE THAT INDICATED WHAT AREA WAS GOING TO BE STARTED FIRST? I MEAN, I HEAR ALL THE COMING FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND PARDON MY IGNORANCE ON THAT, BUT BEING ABSENT, BUT WHERE, WHERE, WHO GETS IT FIRST? WHAT COMMUNITY WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE ONE TO GET IT? AND THEN WHAT STEPS? I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT STEPS MAKES THAT DETERMINATION OF THOSE DOLLARS? IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN ADDRESS THAT? I, I'M JUST ASKING, UM, I CAN ADDRESS THAT. SO IN TERMS OF THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT AND GREAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, IN TERMS OF THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAM, PUBLIC WORKS ADDRESSES AND, UH, DECIDES THE PROJECTS AND THEY DETERMINE IT FROM OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. THEY DO HAVE A VERY EQUITABLE LENS AND REALLY TRULY TRY TO DECIDE ON A WORST FIRST MODEL IN TERMS OF LIKE, WHERE THE PROJECT SHOULD GO. AND IT IMPACTS THE WHOLE CITY, NOT JUST DISTRICT B, NOT JUST DISTRICT H, THE WHOLE CITY. YEAH. SO THEY'RE LOOKING, AND WE'VE GOT A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE LDP PROGRAM FOR EACH DISTRICT. SO, OKAY. WE, AND WE AS, AS A COMMUNITY GROUP THAT'S BEEN MEETING WITH THEM FOR MULTIPLE YEARS NOW, REALLY TRUST THEIR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY A PROJECT AND REALLY IDENTIFY IT AS LIKE A WOR ON A WORST FIRST BASIS. GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT MY, BUT IN THE FOLLOW UP OF THAT, MY, MY QUESTION THEN WOULD FOLLOW THEN, IF THAT WAS THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE, THEN SHOULDN'T THAT HAVE COME BACK TO COUNCIL TO DETERMINE, I MEAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, EVEN IF PUBLIC WORKS DID MAKE THAT DECISION THROUGH THEM, THAT THAT PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD HAVE LET THE COUNCIL KNOW WHAT AREA, WHETHER IT SOUTH SIDE OR WHAT PARTICULAR WAY I'M, I'M, I'M JUST STILL LOST ON AS TO HOW THAT PROCESS WORK. THE COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW WHAT'S THE STEPS TO DETERMINE WHAT COMMUNITY, EVEN IT GOES THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS AS TO WHAT PROJECT GET DONE FIRST AND WHY THAT PROJECT GETS THAT, UH, FUND BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. YEAH, THAT'S, THAT COULD BE A REALLY GOOD ADDITION TO THE AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THAT LIKE, IF THIS 20 MILLION DOES IMPROVE TAKING ON WHAT DR. PLUMMER SAID OF WHY DON'T YOU SHOW US A RUBRIC OF HOW YOU'RE SELECTING THE PROJECT OR WHY THIS IS SELECTED, AND SHOW US WHERE THAT 20 MILLION IS GOING. NOT NOT JUST YOUR BUDGETED 12 MILLION THAT YOU HAVE [01:45:01] SO THAT THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ARE SEEING IT. RESIDENTS IN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS ARE UNDERSTANDING WHEN A PROJECT IS COMING TO THEIR AREA. SO THAT CAN BE LIKE A WELCOME ADDITION, LIKE AT A FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETING OR EVEN AT CITY COUNCIL. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU ALL. TAMELA L LUNDQUIST TO BE FOLLOWED BY TINA LUNDQUIST. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, VICE CHAIRMAN CASTILLO AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND ALSO CHAIRWOMAN ELCO. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS TAMA LUNDQUIST. I'M CO-PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON PETSET, ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING ANIMAL WELFARE NONPROFITS IN HOUSTON. UH, WE HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN 400,000 IN GRANT FUNDING IN 2023 AND OVER $4 MILLION THROUGHOUT THE 20 YEAR HISTORY. WE HAVE GIVEN TO BAR BARRIO DOGS CITIZEN FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION. FRIENDS OF BARK HOUSTON BOXER RESCUE, HOUSTON CARES ANIMAL RESCUE, HOUSTON CAN 9 1 1 RESCUE HOUSTON PETS ALIVE CANINE ANIMALS RESCUE PAW PATROL PET RESCUE TEAM, PUG HEARTS, SPAY NEUTER INITIATIVE, SPECIAL PALS, SUNNYSIDE STREET DOGS, THE RESCUE FOR PTSD AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER ANIMAL NONPROFITS AT HOUSTON. PETS SET. WE ARE PROUD TO PROVIDE RESCUE, LOW COST OR NO COST, SPAY NEUTER SERVICES. UM, AND WE ALSO DO OUT-OF-STATE TRANSPORT TO ENSURE THAT HEALTHY ANIMALS HAVE A CHANCE AT ADOPTION. ALTHOUGH HOUSTON PET SET IS BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE ANIMAL WELFARE CRISIS, WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. HOUSTON PET SET IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF VICE CHAIRMAN CASTILLO'S AMENDMENT TO KEEP BARK'S PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICES TO ENSURE BARK'S STAFF CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON DIRECT ANIMAL CARE, AS WELL AS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ADOPTABILITY OF PETS. HOUSTON PET SET UNDERSTANDS THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS CURRENTLY HAVING BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, BUT BARK HAS CONSISTENTLY PREVIOUSLY NOT RECEIVED ADEQUATE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING DUE TO CITY NOT PRIORITIZING ANIMAL WELFARE. LEADING TO PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. STRAY CATS AND DOGS ARE HARBINGER OF DISEASE. AND FOR THOSE LIVING IN AREAS OF TOWN WITH HIGH STRAY POPULATIONS, IT COULD MEAN THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE DOG ATTACKS LEADING TO HOSPITALIZATIONS AND EVEN MORE DEATHS BY MAULING. CURRENTLY, ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE ISSUES FOR HOUSTON METRO AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, AS WELL AS K 12, STU K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS, BUS RIDERS. BUS RIDERS IS THE INABILITY TO GET ON A BUS WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING CHASED BY STRAY DOGS. IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CHAIRMAN WOMAN ELCO, VICE CHAIRMAN CASTILLO, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICES AT BARK HOUSTON. PETSET. LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE COMMITTEE, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, AND WE HOPE TO SOLVE THIS ANIMAL WELFARE PROBLEM TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. COUNCIL, MA'AM. TAMMA, PLEASE. SEC. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TAMMA FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, UH, ALL OF THE WORK THAT HOUSTON PETS HAD DOES. YOU LISTED A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THERE IN YOUR REMARKS, UM, AND THAT IMPACT IS FELT CITYWIDE. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW WITH WORKING THROUGH Y'ALL, WORKING WITH BARK, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE KENNEL CLEANING SERVICES AND, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY LOSING THAT, THE IMPACT, HOW IT CASCADES THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS, UH, WHY I DO PLAN ON OFFERING THIS AMENDMENT. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL SEE THAT VALUE AS WELL. I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND. MM-HMM . UM, AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON THE ABILITY TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS IN BARK AND ALSO, UH, ADOPT THEM OUT AND, AND THEIR WELLBEING AS WELL AS, AS PETS MOVING FORWARD. SO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT, UH, PETS THAT DOES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THANK YOU. IF I MAY ADD, IF BARK HAS TO SHUT DOWN DUE TO DISEASE, MORE ANIMALS STAY ON THE STREETS, AND THAT'S REALLY THE ISSUE HERE. SO WE JUST WANNA KEEP BARK DOORS OPEN, BARK CONTINUING TO, TO RUN AS IT IS. THANK YOU, . UH, TAMMY, YOU DID, DID YOU MENTION THAT WE TOURED BAR LAST FRIDAY? PARDON? DID YOU MENTION THAT WE TOURED BAR LAST FRIDAY? I DIDN'T MENTION THAT, BUT WE DID. WE DID. MAYOR. AND IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE YOU THERE. WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU CAME OUT THERE. YOU TALKED TO THE EMPLOYEES THERE, YOU GAVE THEM HOPE ABOUT WHAT IS COMING FOR BARK AND THE CHANGES THAT [01:50:01] YOU MENTIONED WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP. WE KNOW YOU HAVE CONSTRAINTS. WE KNOW THERE ARE BUDGET ISSUES, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ISSUES THAT THE CITY HAS, BUT WE JUST WANNA KEEP YOU SAFE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE AND THE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE WE'RE GONNA MAKE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, TINA LUNDQUIST BE FOLLOWED BY EMMANUEL THOMAS. I PROMISE I WON'T SAY THE SAME THING. HI. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER. CHAIRMAN CASTILLO, UM, CHAIRWOMAN ALCORN AND THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS TINA LUNDQUIST FAUST, AND I'M CO-PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON PETSET. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, TO ANALYZE AND EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF TRANSFERRING CITY ANIMAL SERVICES. FROM BARK TO A NEWLY FORMED LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION AT HOUSTON PETSET, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL WELFARE FUNDING. AND BELIEVE THIS STUDY WOULD BE A GREAT FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HOUSTON PETSET WAS VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE $400,000 TO 90 DESERVING ANIMAL NONPROFITS IN 2023 ALONE, AND MORE THAN $4 MILLION TO HUNDREDS OF NONPROFITS SINCE 2004. HOUSTON PET SAID IS APPRECIATIVE OF CHAIRMAN ALCORN'S AMENDMENT AND HER STEADFAST SUPPORT OF ANIMAL WELFARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS CURRENTLY HAVING BUDGET BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, BUT THIS STUDY WILL HELP PROVIDE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES THAT FACE OUR CITY AND ENSURE WE'RE MAXIMIZING EVERY DOLLAR FOR A SAFER CITY FOR HOUSTONIANS AND ANIMALS. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER, FOR MAKING THIS A PRIORITY. CHAIRMAN ELKHORN, VICE CHAIRMAN CASTILLO AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, HOUSTON PETSET. LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE IN HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO END THE HOMELESSNESS AND SUFFERING OF COMPANION ANIMALS AND TO ELEVATE THEIR STATUS IN OUR SOCIETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR CARING AND WHAT YOU AND TAMMY AND THE HOPE PET SET TEAM DOES. WE'RE, WE'RE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. SURE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU BOTH TO THE LUNDQUIST SISTERS FOR HOW MUCH YOU REALLY DO TO SUPPORT, UM, PET SET AND ALL THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ABOUT THE ANNUAL PO ANIMAL POPULATION IN OUR CITY. UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THEY RECENTLY RELEASED A DOCUMENTARY, UM, ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN HOUSTON CALLED FOR THE ANIMALS. AND IF YOU HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH IT YET, IT'S FANTASTIC. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. THANK YOU, ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TINA, SO MUCH FOR COMING. UM, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES ON THIS, UH, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CHAIRED THE REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS COMMITTEE LAST TERM, UH, BARK FELL UNDER THAT PURVIEW. SO WE'VE REALLY BEEN OUT THERE IN THE TRENCHES. WE, WE, AS YOU WELL KNOW, MAYOR, SPEND HALF OF WHAT OTHER TEXAS CITIES SPEND ON ANIMAL WELFARE. AND IT SHOWS, IT SHOWS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, WE DON'T HAVE GOBS OF MONEY THIS YEAR. SO THAT'S WHY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND I WILL BE OFFERING AN AMENDMENT TOMORROW TO, UH, COMMISSION A STUDY TO, AND, AND SOMETHING YOU CAMPAIGNED ON. MAYOR, IT'S LOOKING AT TURNING SOME OF THIS OVER. UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WE, THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE, KEEP ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANIMAL CONTROL. I MEAN, WE HAVE A DUTY TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE TO SEND ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS OUT WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE. UH, BUT, BUT SHELTER MANAGEMENT, UH, ADOPTION, UM, LIVE RELEASES, RESCUE, ALL THAT OTHER STUFF, OUTREACH, UH, THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. UM, WITH THE SUCCESSFUL MODEL THAT WE'VE HAD WITH OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS, UM, WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE AS THE LUNDQUIST REPRESENT, WE HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLY PHILANTHROPIC HOUSTON ANIMAL LOVING COMMUNITY, AND THEY, I THINK WILL BE WILLING TO PUMP MONEY, MUCH LIKE THE ZOO WHEN WE TURNED THAT OVER. AND THAT BECAME LIKE A BIG, BIG AVENUE FOR, FOR DONORS TO PARTICIPATE IN. AND THEN WE CAN REALLY, UM, WE CAN REALLY CHIP AWAY AT WHAT IS AN UNTENABLE PROBLEM IN OUR, IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT, UM, LOOK AND, AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALKER. THANK YOU. NEXT EMMANUEL THOMAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTE. [01:55:01] GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. I WANNA FIRST START OFF BY THANKING COUNCILWOMAN PLUMMER AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, JACKSON'S OFFICE FOR THE MANY YEARS OF SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WITH DIRECT PROJECTS THAT I'VE, UH, ASKED FOR THEIR HELP ON. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF A YOUNG MAN NAMED CRAIG DAVIS. HIS DAUGHTER WAS A, UH, CITIZEN OF OUR COMMUNITY NAMED MALIA DAVIS. IF Y'ALL REMEMBER ON A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, SHE WOULD, HER LIFE WAS TAKEN AND, UH, THE MAYOR TURNER CAME TO THE FUNERAL AT THAT TIME AND PROCLAIMED JUNE 9TH TO BE MALIA DAVIS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND SO ON SUNDAY, THE FATHER IS, UM, ORGANIZED AT SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY PARK, A CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE FOR HER. AND I COME HERE ON BEHALF OF HIM TO INVITE EVERY MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL OUT THERE WHO CAN COME AND TO REACH OUT TO ME BECAUSE THEY DO NEED A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT NOW STILL. I KNOW IT'S A SHORT, UH, SPAN THE WINDOW, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ALL YEAR, YOU KNOW, PLANNING IT. AND THEN PROBLEMS WILL HAPPEN, BUT PERSONAL ISSUES COME IN. BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH MALIA, NOBODY CARED ABOUT THE TIME, TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. NOBODY CARED ABOUT THE TIME. THEY STOPPED EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING AND THEY JUST JUMPED IN. AND I BELIEVE EVEN THOUGH THIS WINDOW IS SHORT, WE CAN ALL DO THAT SAME THING. ONE PHONE CALL, GET CHAIRS, TABLES, MUSIC STUFF FOR THE LITTLE KIDS. WE JUST WANNA HONOR OUR BABIES. THIS IS MY BABY RIGHT HERE. AND HE PASSED AWAY. AND I'VE BEEN HERE 22 DIFFERENT TIMES TALKING ABOUT MY BABY, AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. BUT I'M NOT GONNA STOP ADVOCATING FOR ALL OTHER KIDS, LIKE MANY OF US OTHER PARENTS ARE GOING TO DO. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY ADVOCATING FOR MALIA AND FOR ALL OF OUR BABIES, WE CAN TURN THIS EVENT INTO SOMETHING THAT CAN HONOR ALL OUR CHILDREN. I CAME AND I ASKED THE MAYOR, AND I WAS HOLDING MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER, AND I ASKED HIM TO HONOR MALIA AND HONOR THE MANY BABIES OUT HERE IN THE CITY. NOW I JUST ONE THAT PASSED AWAY AND HE SAID HE WOULD, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE AND REALLY DO THAT. IF YOU CAN COME AND SHOW UP, IT'S FROM 12 TO SIX, YOU KNOW, UH, EVERYBODY WILL REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU KNOW, YOU THERE, OR SEE ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE TO SPEAK SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE REALLY THERE FOR US. UH, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH MYSELF. I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE VANESSA GUILLEN SITUATION. I WAS INVOLVED. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THINGS. I'M JUST A DIFFERENT FACE, BUT I'M THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE. BUT HEAVY IS THE HEAD THAT LIES THAT, THAT, THAT HOLDS THE THRONE. SO YOU'RE GONNA GET A LOT OF GRIEF FROM PEOPLE. JUST DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO. AND THAT'S WITH EVERYBODY. ONE PHONE CALL. WE NOT ASKING YOU TO, YOU KNOW, FLIP TRUCKS OR CARS, JUST ONE PHONE CALL AND ASK IF ANYBODY IN THIS CITY CAN HELP SO THAT WE CAN ALL COLLECTIVELY HONOR OUR BABIES. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NOBODY GONNA SAY NOTHING. NO, SIR. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCILOR POLLARD. COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. UH, THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES AND EVENTS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND YEARS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT SOMETIMES, UH, THE DAYS BECOME A BLUR AND YOU FORGET, UH, TRAGEDIES AND, AND THINGS THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER IN WAYS THAT WE NEED TO LIFT UP COMMUNITIES. AND SO, BY YOU BEING HERE TODAY, UH, SHEDS MORE LIGHT INTO THAT SITUATION THAT OCCURRED AND WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO TO, UH, PAY OUR RESPECTS AND ALSO ENSURE WE DO WHAT WE CAN SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN FURTHER. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, SPEAKING UP. AND, UH, IF YOU CAN HAVE WHOEVER YOU OR YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS, SEND OUR OFFICE THE DETAILS ON THIS EVENT. I'M SURE IF WE CAN MAKE IT, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU REMEMBER THAT SITUATION WITH, UH, GEORGE FLOYD, AND YOU KNOW HOW WE ALL WERE OUT HERE IN HOUSTON AND THEY JUST MADE RECORDS. THEY DID A UH, UH, THEY DID A PRESENTATION IN ONE OF OUR MOST RACIST TOWNS DOWN HERE CALLED VIER, TEXAS. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS REALLY, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A SETUP, YOU KNOW, BUT WE WENT DOWN THERE REPRESENTING HOUSTON SO THAT WE COULD SHOW THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT IT IS MORE THAN COLOR. WE ALL LIVE IN THE SAME AREA. AND SO COLLECTIVELY, WE ALL SUPPOSED TO COME TOGETHER. AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE MALIA. I WAS ON THE NEWS THE FIRST DAY. I LOOKED DIFFERENT A LOT WHEN I'M OUT THERE, BUT THAT WAS ME ON THE NEWS THE FIRST DAY I WAS WITH TIM MILLER WITH EQU SEARCH AND ANDY KAHN. AND WE WERE TELLING EVERYBODY, LAY DOWN YOUR PREJUDICES. 'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYBODY GONNA BELIEVE RED BLOOD AND YOU CARE ABOUT MY BABY. IT'S JUST A BABY. SO IF ANYBODY NEED HELP, WE WILLING TO HELP, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS. AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD DO. AND WE ALL GOT THE RESOURCES TO DO IT. BECAUSE IF I'M A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND I'M ABLE TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN OUT HERE, AND A LOT OF Y'ALL PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW MY NAME, THEN THAT MEANS [02:00:01] THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE NAMES THAT WE VOTED IN, Y'ALL JUST MAKE IT HAPPEN. THAT'S ALL THE BABIES NEED IS TO KNOW OUR CITY LOVES THEM, MAN. AND IF YOU COULD, MAY IN THE FUTURE PICK UP A SPOT AROUND HOUSTON AND MAYBE WE CAN, UH, TRANSITION THAT INTO A HUGE MURAL BECAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF BABIES IN OUR CITY THAT PASS AWAY UNDER VERY HORRIBLE SITUATIONS. AND WE NEED A PLACE FOR ALL OF THE FAMILIES TO COME AND CONVERGE, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE HURT, THEY HEAL EACH OTHER. WE CAN DO THAT. BUT IT'S UP TO Y'ALL NOW. I PRESENTED IT IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, JACOB CLEMENT. JACOB CLEMENT HERE. I HAVE A, A QUESTION WHERE DWELLING CARTER OUT THE VERY END. AND I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR WILL DAVIS SAY THE VERY END AND ATE. JUNE IS ALSO KNOWN AS IN THE MONTH OF, UH, THE S HEART OF JESUS CHRIST. AND WANTED ME TO MENTION THAT TO THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION COURT, BUT I FORGOT. BUT I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD MENTION TO Y'ALL THAT BECAUSE HE LIVES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BY AND, UH, WOODWAY, I MEAN, YEAH, WOODWAY. AND, UM, NOW I WANT TO SAY TO TLA CARTER, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE, UH, ASTROS? COME ON. WHAT'S HAPPENING? I MEAN, YOU WERE THE FOUNDATION DIRECTOR. I MEAN, YOU, YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT IT. LIKE, UH, OH, AND, UH, MR. , WE MISS YOU. THE, UH, HOUSTON PASTORAL COUNCIL AT THE GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS QUITE GOOD. I MEAN, UH, REVEREND DAVE WELCH DID A GOOD JOB. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, JACOB. THANK YOU, JACOB. YOU'RE WELCOME. MR. MEYER. HEY, YOU, YOU'RE THE BEST. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT, TRACY RILEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRENT SULLIVAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S NOT IN HERE, BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK HER FOR ADDING US ONTO THE AGENDA TODAY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TRACY RILEY AND I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITIES OF TIMBER GROVE MANOR LAZY BROOK, AND THE RESIDENTS OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 14 THAT WE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THE DERECHO OF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. TODAY WE WANTED TO BE HERE IN PERSON TO SHARE OUR GRATITUDE AND ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AS WE NAVIGATE MOVING FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY. EXCUSE ME, COMMUNITY. WITH A STORM RECOVERY, THE MAY STORM LEFT US WITH EXTENSIVE DEBRIS AND SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION TO OUR DAILY LIVES. I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO REQUEST IMPROVED COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE DEBRIS REMOVAL TIMELINE AND THE PRIORITIZATION OF CLEANUP WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE DASHBOARD IS CONTINUES TO NOT WORK DAILY, SO IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN AND WHERE WE KNOW GOOD WORK IS HAPPENING. WE SEE IT, BUT WE NEED SOME COMMUNICATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. OUR COMMUNITIES WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A NOTE OF GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND HER STAFF, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND HER STAFF AND CHRIS NEWPORT WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM, MANY OF US WERE LEFT UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHEN OUR BASIC UTILITY SERVICES WOULD BE RESTORED, STREETS WOULD BE CLEARED, AND HOW SOON WE COULD RETURN TO NORMALCY. CLEAR, TIMELY, TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY IS CRUCIAL DURING SUCH TIMES OF CRISIS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE REGULAR UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF DEBRIS REMOVAL, SPECIFIC TIMELINES AND CRITERIA FOR PRIORITIZING DIFFERENT AREAS FOR CLEANUP. WE HAVE REAL AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY HAZARDS FOR RESIDENTS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO WALK SAFELY DOWN THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AVAILABLE BOULEVARD. AND WE HAVE HAD WRECKS ON TC JESTER DUE TO BLOCK SIGHT LINES. WE STILL HAVE CENTER POINT UTILITY POLES, LINES AND EQUIPMENT LINING OUR SIDEWALKS AND STREWN ACROSS LAWNS AS STUDENTS ARE RELEASED FROM HISD TOMORROW AND STUDENTS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT MANY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER. CANDIDLY, WE ARE ON THE GROUND. WE NEED OUR, WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT THE CITY'S EFFORTS AND IDENTIFY THE NEEDS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. BY ENHANCING COMMUNICATION, YOU CAN PROVIDE COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SHARE DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MAYOR CAMAN. COUNCIL MAYOR CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, TRACY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND I HAVE TO GIVE YOU A BIG SHOUT OUT. UH, TRACY AND HER FAMILY, I JOINED THEM. THEY WERE OUT THERE GIVING OUT, UH, GATORADES WATERMELON POPSICLES TO THE LINE CREWS, UH, THAT WERE OUT IN LAZY BROOK TIMBER GROVE AND CHECKING ON RESIDENTS. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA. UM, WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE MAYOR'S [02:05:01] TEAM ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER, UH, LET RESIDENTS KNOW, MAYOR, WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT PICK UP. UH, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THAT AND I'LL JUST DO A QUICK PLUG, UM, FOR ANYONE THAT STILL CAN, PLEASE DO REPORT TO 3 1 1 BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH DATA COLLECTION. I KNOW IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT IT ALSO HELPS US DRAW DOWN DOLLARS FROM FEMA, UM, WHEN WE CAN SHOW THE SPECIFIC HOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT TO YOUR POINT, TRACY MAYER, A LOT OF OUR STREETS ARE EXTREMELY NARROW AND RESIDENTS PARK ON THE STREETS. SO WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN DEBRIS PICKUP IS COMING, UH, IT ACTUALLY SOMETIMES THEY'RE HAVING TO PASS HOMES AND THEN DEBRIS ISN'T BEING PICKED UP BECAUSE THE CARS ARE OUT THERE. UH, FIRE TRUCKS CAN'T GET THROUGH, AMBULANCES CAN'T GET THROUGH. WE'VE SEEN SCHOOL BUSES CAN'T GET THROUGH, CAN'T GET THROUGH. UH, THE OTHER THINK THE SCHOOL'S THE OTHER CHALLENGE, UH, PREDOMINANTLY IN DISTRICT C, LIKE DISTRICT B, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPEN DITCHES AND THERE'S SO MUCH DEBRIS, RESIDENTS ARE MOVING IT TO THE CURB. BUT IT'S, THERE'S SO MUCH, IT'S GOING INTO THE DITCHES AND IN EFFECT, CREATING AN ACTUAL DAM. UH, SO THAT WATER CANNOT FLOW. AND IF WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG STORM THAT CREATES AN EVEN MORE, UH, A MORE SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR FLOODING. UH, ALL OF THIS TO SAY, I DO KNOW THAT CREWS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. I'VE BEEN OUT THERE AND IT TAKES HOURS JUST FOR A BIG TRUCK TO COME DOWN ONE BLOCK. UH, I KNOW THAT WE'VE PASSED A COUNCIL, ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS, UH, BUT MAYOR, ANYTHING THAT YOUR TEAM CAN CONTINUE TO DO TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT AND HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN EXPECT IT. UH, I'VE BEEN WALKING OUT THERE TO TRACY AND I KNOW, UH, AGAIN, DODGING INTO THE STREET, UH, TO TRY TO WORK AROUND DEBRIS. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT THIS IS PRESENTED. UH, AND I WELCOME AGAIN MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK. I KNOW THIS IS NOT PERFECT. I JUST WANNA ASK, YOU KNOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND CALLING INTO 3 1 1, I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF ADDRESSING FEMA, BUT I THINK TO ALL OF YOU ON COUNCIL, NO ONE CAN SIT HERE TODAY AND SAY THAT THAT MAKES SENSE. WE KNOW THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRULY DEVASTATED. COME DRIVE THROUGH TIMBER BROOK, COME DRIVE THROUGH LAZY BROOK AND YOU'LL SEE WHY ARE WE CALLING 3 1 1? IS THAT REALLY THE BEST USE OF OUR RESOURCES WHEN WE KNOW THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO DEPLOY MORE TRUCKS TO? WHAT IS THE TEAM DOING AND HOW ARE WE RECEIVING OUTWARD COMMUNICATION? THANKFULLY, I KNOW CHRIS, I KNOW HE IS WONDERFUL. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER THE SUPPORT'S THERE, BUT I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY CAN DO THAT. WE CAN DO BETTER. YEAH. I I DON'T DISAGREE. YOU, YOU REALLY DON'T THINK WE WAIT FOR 3 1 1 CALLS TO BE PICKING UP THE DEBRIS. THE CITY IS DIVIDED AMONG THE RESOURCES AND DOING EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN, AND THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A NOTICE BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THEY DON'T WANT IT TO NOT BE ACCURATE BECAUSE THEY'RE MOVING AS QUICK AS THEY CAN FROM ONE SECTOR TO THE OTHER. TIMBER GROVE CERTAINLY IS A HIGH PRIORITY 'CAUSE IT WAS SO HEAVILY HIT, BUT SO ARE, SO IS SPRING BRANCH, SO IS DOWNTOWN. SO ALL I CAN SAY IS WE SEE IT, WE WANT IT REMOVED, AND WE'VE GOT SOME OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS AND SANITATION ON TOP OF IT. SO DO YOU THINK WE'LL STILL GET THE FEMA MONEY IF WE'RE NOT LIKE BIG? PARDON? PARDON? HOW CAN THE FEMA MONEY, IF THE FEMA MONEY IS TIED TO 3 0 1 SUPPORT, ARE WE WORRIED ABOUT THAT? WE'RE NOT FE THE FEMA MONEY IS NOT THE HOLD UP. THE CITY'S FUNDING THE RECOVERY. OKAY, WELL LET ME ASK YOU A FAVOR. FEMA WILL REIMBURSE US, BUT WE, AS WE COMMUNICATE, WE GOT ALL HANDS ON DECK, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND AS WE COMMUNICATE, SO 3 1 1 RIGHT NOW THOUGH IS ASKING RESIDENTS OR COMMUNICATING, YOU WON'T GET PICKED UP. IF YOU DON'T CALL ENOUGH, I CAN ASK YOU GUYS AND YOUR TEAM TO WELL, THAT'S JUST MISINFORMATION. LIKE A LOT OF STUFF STUFF. YEAH. LET'S, IF WE CAN REMEDY THAT. WE, WE GOT, WE GOT CREWS. IN FACT, THEY'RE BASED OUT THE NORTHWEST MALL, LET ME ASSURE YOU. WE ALL ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. CITY, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, EVERY COMMUNITY. IF YOU GO TO THE EAST END, THEY THINK THAT IT'S NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH THERE. CORRECT. YOU GO TO SPRING BRANCH, I KNOW IT'S NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH THERE, BUT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THERE'S JUST NOT ANOTHER PHYSICAL THING THAT THE WORKERS OF THE CITY CAN DO, MAYOR. AND I HOPE YOU'LL BE PATIENT. AND I KNOW IT. I WENT DOWN TC JESTER TWO DAYS AGO. IT'S SCARY. UH, IT WAS ACTUALLY SATURDAY. I WAS THROUGH TC JESTER NORTH OF 11TH. IT'S, IT'S TERRIBLE. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT. WE ALL SO WHAT ABOUT THE PRIORITIZATION THOUGH, MA'AM? SO IF WE KNOW, IF WE KNOW IT, THE PRIORITIZATION, WE KNOW IT'S SCARY. WE KNOW THAT WRECKS ARE HAPPENING. HOW ARE, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING BECAUSE THE, THE DASHBOARD'S DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE MONITORING IT BECAUSE WE'RE ON TOP OF IT. NOBODY WANTS TO PICK UP MORE THAN THE PEOPLE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND THE SANITATION WORKERS WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. BUT THAT'S MY, I TOTALLY AGREE. AND WE'RE HERE WITH SHARING GRATITUDE IN PERSON, TAKING TIME AWAY FROM HOME AND KIDS. BUT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION. OH, I'M NOT FRUSTRATED. I'M JUST ASKING. OH, YOU'RE, NO, I'M NOT. I'M TRULY YOU NOT SO LEMME TELL YOU FRUSTRATED [02:10:01] FOUR KIDS. NO, NO. THIS IS NOT IT. I PROMISE YOU WHAT I'M ASKING IS HOW DO WE DO BETTER? I KNOW EVERYONE'S WORKING HARD, BETTER WE'RE THERE TOGETHER. SO HOW CAN THE TEAM AT SOLID WASTE, YOU KNOW, THOSE BIG OLD LOGS? I DON'T, YOU GOTTA HAVE EQUIPMENT TO PICK 'EM UP. NO KIDDING. THAT'S, I MEAN, SEE THAT'S, THAT'S THE LACK OF SERIOUSNESS OF IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAS OFF OF PINE MONT TWO 90 DRIVING SUNDAY AFTERNOON. I'M OUT THERE. WE'RE ALL OUT THERE. YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THE DAMAGE. AND IF YOU GET OUTSIDE OF JUST YOUR COMMUNITY AND GO TO SPRING BRANCH, THEY STILL GOT ROOFS OFF. AND UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE NO REASON. YOU AND I ARE BLESSED THAT WE'VE GOT A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD. CORRECT. AND SO I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. NO ONE WANTS TO GET IT PICKED UP MORE. THE CONTRACTORS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING PAID. THE MORE THEY PICK UP, THE MORE THEY GET PAID. THERE'S AN INCENTIVE THERE. SO I DO THINK YOU'RE FRUSTRATED. IF YOU DON'T WANNA CALL IT THAT, CALL IT DISGUSTED OR CONCERN. I FEEL IT. I'M OUT THERE. ALL SOLUTION ORIENTED. YOU TOGETHER WE'RE SOLUTION ORIENTED. I BELIEVE IT. LIKE I, I PROMISE MY APOLOGIES IF I CAME OFF FRUSTRATED. NO, NO, NO. DON'T APOLOGY. I'M NOT A SCRIPT READER. LISTEN, NO ONE KNOW OWES AN APOLOGY AROUND HERE EXCEPT THE PEOPLE THAT TALK ABOUT ME . BUT, BUT THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. NOT MY FIRST RODEO. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I WANT YOU TO REALIZE WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I WANT ALL HOUSTONIANS INVOLVED. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS DOING EVERYTHING SHE CAN. SHE IS AMAZING. TIM GROVE LOOKED LIKE A WAR ZONE, BUT I, I INVITE YOU TO GO OVER TO PINE MOUNTAIN TWO 90, I'LL TAKE YOU TO THE EAST END. EVERY COMMUNITY'S IMPORTANT AND THE CONTRACTORS GET PAID MORE THE HARDER THEY WORK. AND WE GOT A GREAT SANITATION DEPARTMENT. SO MAYOR, LET'S JUST GET READY FOR THE NEXT ONE'S. ALL I CAN SAY, AND MAYOR, TO THAT POINT, THERE'S TWO THINGS, AND I SPOKE WITH YOUR STAFF YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN GETTING DIFFERENT INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. SO ONE DEPARTMENT IS INFORMING RESIDENTS THAT THEY NEED TO DO 3 1 1 ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. I, I'D RATHER HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THAT OFFLINE. HUH? I'M NOT GONNA THROW ANYONE UNDER THE BUS PUBLICLY. WE CAN'T FIX SOME IF YOU DON'T DESCRIBE IT, WHAT I, I UNDERSTAND. AND ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IS SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I THINK EVERYBODY IS WORKING AS HARD AS THEY CAN. WELL, LET ME JUST START AT THE TOP. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL 3 1 1 TO GET YOUR STUFF PICKED UP. CORRECT. THE, WE HAVE THE CITY MAPPED OUT. WE HAVE A PLAN. YES, SIR. AND TO THAT POINT ABOUT PREPARING FOR THE NEXT ONE, UM, I HAD ALSO ASKED, UH, THERE'S STAR AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER CITIES THAT WE LEVERAGE DURING HARVEY. UH, THOSE AGREEMENTS ALLOW OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO COME IN TO PICK UP DEBRIS. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS THAT WE CAN'T UTILIZE THOSE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, CONTRACTORS. SO THE CITY MAY NOT LIKE A SAN ANTONIO. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S SAN ANTONIO, JUST AN EXAMPLE THAT, UH, COULD SEND THEIR TRUCKS BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT AGREEMENT, BUT THEY NEED THEIR TRUCKS RIGHT NOW. RIGHT. SO WE HAVE TO SET UP THESE AGREEMENTS IN A WAY THAT ALLOW US TO USE THEIR SUBS FOR ASSISTANCE. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO PUT THOSE, UH, MOUS TOGETHER, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE RESOURCES QUICKLY AS IT COMES IN. SO AS SOON MAYOR, THE FASTER WE CAN GET THOSE NAILED DOWN, THE BETTER. UH, BUT TRACY, I HEAR YOU. IT'S IN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. LIKE I'M RIGHT BY YOU. AND I, I HEAR YOU COMPLETELY. AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING AGAIN, NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF, BUT YOU'RE COMING ON. I'M GETTING A FEW TEXTS FROM RESIDENTS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU'RE COMING ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENTIRE. YEAH. JUST NOT THE ONE AT WORK TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YEAH, THANK YOU. SORRY, TRACY. REALLY QUICKLY, MAYOR, BECAUSE SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY IS IN THE AREA REALLY QUICKLY, DO WE KNOW IF HISD HAS APPLIED FOR THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO REBUILD SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY? UM, IT'S BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE NOT, AND THAT THEY NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY. IS THAT CORRECT? I WILL REFER YOU TO SUPERINTENDENT MILES. . WE'RE, WE'RE RUNNING, WE'RE NOT RUNNING SINCLAIR. ANY EFFORT. AND THE REASON I BRING IT UP, MAYOR, IS THE DEADLINE'S RAPIDLY APPROACHING AND SURE. AND THE SCHOOL IS THE, THE WORST, I BELIEVE HIT OF OUR HISD SCHOOLS. AND WE, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DEADLINE. UH, HIC APPLY FOR THAT FUNDING YESTERDAY. I'LL GIVE, I'LL GIVE YOU THEIR PHONE NUMBER. THANKS. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT, BRENT SULLIVAN SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY VALDO LOPEZ. YEAH, I KNOW. I MISPRONOUNCED. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANKS FOR HEARING ME. JANUARY 6TH, 2020 WAS A MULTI-LAYERED ATTEMPT TO DESTROY DEMOCRACY AS WE ALL KNOW IT AND LOVE IT. TODAY, [02:15:01] THERE ARE FAKE ELECTORS WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AROUND THIS COUNTRY. THERE ARE FAKE ELECTORS WHO MAY IN FACT BE IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS IN THEIR AREAS. THE VIOLENT PARTICIPANTS WHO STORMED OUR CONGRESS BUILDING ON JANUARY 6TH HAVE BEEN PRAISED BY MANY AND OFFERED PARDONS IN THE FUTURE BY A LEADER WHO CONTINUES TO DENY THE ELECTION RESULTS AND HAS SAID THAT HE, HE HAS NOT DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE UPCOMING ELECTION, THAT WE WILL SEE TROUBLE LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN TROUBLE BEFORE. THESE ARE NOT THE WORDS OF A MAN RUNNING TO ENLARGE HIS BASE AND WIN AN ELECTION. THESE ARE THE WORDS OF A MAN TRYING TO ENR HIS BASE AND WIN THE NEXT COUP. IT'S THE DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR ELECTEDS TO PLAN FOR FORESEEABLE EVENTS. SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT A COUP WHERE HISTORY SHOWS THAT THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST A COUP ARE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, NONVIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS HELD BROADLY IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. AND I, SO I CALL ON COUNCIL TO PLAN AND TO HOLD PRO-DEMOCRACY RALLIES IN EVERY DISTRICT OF THIS CITY IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE ELECTION AND THE INAUGURATION. LET US SHOW LEADERSHIP TO THE NATION OF HOW WE VALUE DEMOCRACY AND HOW WE STAND FOR IT. I WANNA BE CLEAR. THE IDEA IS NON-PARTISAN RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY, PEOPLE OF EVERY POLITICAL PARTY INVITED, ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AND STAND UP FOR THE DEMOCRACY THAT WE ALL HOLD DEAR. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE TO BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD THE FIRST TIME IT'S MALPRACTICE TO BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD. THE SECOND TIME LET'S, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. FINAL STATEMENT. LET'S ALL STAND TOGETHER FOR DEMOCRACY WITH A SERIES OF RALLIES IN EVERY DISTRICT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT OSWALDO LOPEZ. NOPE. MYRNA BLANCO TO BE FOLLOWED BY OLIVIA OLIVERES. GONNA START THIS. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MIR BLANCO AND I'M A JANITOR, ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUILDINGS HERE IN HOUSTON, AND I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF SEIU TEXAS. TODAY IS A LITTLE BRIGHTER FOR JANITORS HERE IN HOUSTON. WE JUST WANT A HISTORIC NEW CONTRACT. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF SEIU TEXAS 3000 JANITORS. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING OUR CONTRACT CAMPAIGN. CONS POST THROUGH WITH YOUR HELP. WE WON THE LARGEST WAGE INCREASES FOR JANITORS SINCE OUR UNION WAS FOUNDED. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU. WE ARE PROUD OF, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, UH, UM, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE. NANCY ISHA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE STILL HERE. UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN Y'ALL CAME TO THE, TO, WELL, EVEN PRIOR TO RIGHT. EVEN LAST YEAR AND THE YEARS PRIOR, AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK FOR, [02:20:01] UH, YOU KNOW, HIGHER PAY FOR OUR JANITORS, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A CONTINUOUS FIGHT. UH, LAST FRIDAY WHEN Y'ALL ANNOUNCED, Y'ALL SHARED WITH ME THAT Y'ALL WERE GONNA SIGN THE CONTRACT THE FOLLOWING DAY. IT WAS, HONESTLY, IT WAS, IT MADE MY DAY. UM, AND THEN THERE'S A GROUP OF Y'ALL THAT WERE THERE. UM, THE FIRST CONVENTION THAT Y'ALL HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WAS VERY TOUCHING BECAUSE AS I LOOKED OUT IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE, I REALLY SAW, YOU KNOW, FAMILY MEMBERS, RIGHT? FOLKS THAT LOOK LIKE MY MOM, MY AUNT, UH, MY UNCLE. AND SO, UM, JUST VERY HAPPY, PROUD FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL CONTINUE TO DO AND KNOW THAT I'M HERE TO CONTINUE TO STAND WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I TOO WANTED TO CONGRATULATE, UM, JUSTICE FOR JANITORS FOR, UM, THE VICTORY. UM, I ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN MY FIRST, UM, REAL ACTION BACK IN 2006 WHEN A WERE, UM, PUSHING FOR THEIR CONTRACT. AND SO JUST TO SEE YOU CONTINUING THE WORK. ISHA, CONGRATULATIONS, ELSA. UM, JUST ALL THE LEADERS AND JUST THE MEMBERS FOR JUST STICKING WITH IT AND JUST STAYING FIRM AND, AND, AND COMMITTED TO GETTING THAT GOOD WAGE. AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS, UM, FINALLY GOT IT. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, RIO. THANK YOU. THE SALARY HELPS US, UH, TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILY, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT, OLIVIA OLIVERES. JAMIE GONZALEZ, IF YOU FOLLOW BY MARIA HERNANDEZ, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU HERE TODAY. UH, ABOUT A COMMUNITY THAT I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH AND SERVE THE GAULIN COMMUNITY. THIS COMMUNITY HAS MANY STRENGTHS, STRONG LEADERSHIP, BUT IT NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. I'VE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING CLOSELY WITH MANY HOUSTON DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING HAR, PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE OF EDUCATION RESILIENCY, AND ON A NUMBER OF PLANS, PROJECTS, PROCESSES TO UPLIFT HOUSTON COMMUNITIES USING THE POWER OF NATURE. THIS INCLUDES THE GREENER GULFTON INITIATIVE. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADD MY VOICE TO OTHERS, SPEAKING ABOUT GULFTON, OUR ELLIS ISLAND, A PLACE THAT GIVES PEOPLE A LAUNCHING PAD TO START A NEW LIFE HERE IN HOUSTON AND IN TEXAS. I KNOW THIS FROM EXPERIENCE BECAUSE GULFTON PROVIDED ME AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN I WAS WORKING MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TO BECOME A FIRST GEN GRADUATE. THIS POINTS OUT THAT WHAT STARTS IN GULFTON DOESN'T END IN GULFTON. THE COMMUNITY ADDS GREATLY TO OUR CITY THROUGH ITS HARDWORKING RESIDENTS, THROUGH ITS INTERNATIONAL CULTURE, AND MUCH MORE. GULFTON IS PRIME FOR SEVERAL KEY INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING ACTIVATING THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S GROUNDBREAKING RESILIENCE SIDEWALKS INITIATIVE USING FEDERAL FUNDING, MASTER PLANNING OF BURNETT BAIN PARK TREE PLANTINGS TO FIGHT THE INCREDIBLE HEAT THAT IS BUILDING UP IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND WAS POINTED OUT IN THE 2020 HEAT MAPPING CAMPAIGN THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS A KEY PART OF. ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT LATELY IS METRO'S BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM, IN ADDITION TO ADDING A LOT OF TRANSIT OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS TO CONNECT TO JOBS, SHOPPING, MEMORIAL PARK, AND LEISURE OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURAL AND REVITALIZATION PROJECT, ADDING TO DRAINAGE, BEAUTIFICATION, PLACEMAKING, SIDEWALK CONNECTIVITY, AND YES, TREE PLANTINGS, NOT JUST ON ITS ROUTE, BUT ON YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, MARIA HERNANDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK UP BEFORE YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS MARIA HERNANDEZ. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MADRE PARQUE. I'M A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, MIGRANT LEADER AND A GO RESIDENT. OUR ORGANIZATION STARTED WITH A GROUP OF MOMS, UM, CONCERNED WITH THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR LOCAL PARK, UM, TO SEE A SAFER AND CLEANER FOR OUR CHILDREN, THANKS TO THE CARE AND SUPPORT OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE COLLABORATION OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS. THE ONLY AMBI PARK IN GULFTON IS [02:25:01] IN THE PROCESS OF A MASTER PLAN. GULFTON. THAT DIVERSE COMMUNITY IS STRONG, VIBRANT, AND COLORFUL HOME TO MANY MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO HAVE PLANTED THEIR ROOTS, THEIR EFFORTS AND HARD WORK FOR THIS COUNTRY. AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THEY HAVE SUPPORTED HOUSTON ECONOMIC GROWTH. IN THIS PAST EIGHT YEARS OF WORKING AND SHARING WITH OUR GULFTON COMMUNITY, WE HAVE LEARNED OF THEIR STRENGTHS AND THEIR PERSISTENT AND RESILIENCE. OUR GULFTON COMMUNITY ONLY REQUIRES OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO EXCEL RESOURCES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN HOUSING, GREEN SPACES, JOBS, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE. BY IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION IN GULFTON, OUR COMMUNITY WILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MORE, TO MOVE MORE FREELY FROM THEIR EMPLOYMENT, TO ACCESS OTHER RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES LIKE EDUCATION, OR TO SEEK BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. I INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO LEARN AND ENJOY THE WARM OF ITS PEOPLE, TO VISIT OUR LOCAL PARK, BURNETT BAYLON, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE SIMPLICITY OF OUR GULFTON COMMUNITY, AND THAT DESPITE THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, EMPATHY, KINDNESS, SIMPLICITY, SOLIDARITY, FRIENDSHIP IS FELT UNDER SMILES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND THE JOY AND THE JOY OF HEALTHY AND HAPPY CHILDREN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR MARIA, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ADVOCACY AND WORK IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS MR. GONZALEZ AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT MEMBER, AND THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT SHARIA AUNTIE, I GOTTA GO GET READY FOR THE, UH, JURY, MARY AND OH SHARIA. THIS, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHARIA AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SUNRISE MOVEMENT HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF A US NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE. AND HE AND WE ARE HERE IN, IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE RESIDENTS OF GULFTON. AS MAYOR WHITMER HAS, UH, SAID, IN SAID IN HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH, WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN, IN, PROBABLY IN THE WORLD, AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT. ALONG WITH THIS, HE HAS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING, AND I QUOTE, A SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM. GULFTON IS A MICROCOSM OF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY WITH PEOPLE FROM 82 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, SPEAKING 50 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, ALL IN THE AREA OF A FEW CITY BLOCKS. GOLDSTONE REPRESENTS THE VAST DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY. NOW, IN THE CASE OF THE BRT LINE, LOCAL NONPROFIT LINK, HOUSTON, THROUGH THEIR EXTENSIVE STUDY OF GULFTON RESIDENTS HAS, HAS FOUND WHAT THEY WANTED. AND WHAT GULFTON RESIDENTS WANT IS TRANSIT THAT CONNECTS THEM WITH OPPORTUNITY. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THEY WANT RELIABLE AND RELIABLE INFORMATION AND SERVICES REGARDING METRO 15 MINUTE BUS FREQUENCY AND IMPROVED SHADE, SHADED SAFE AND WEATHER AS TRANSIT STOPS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PROVIDED BY THE METRO NEXT PLAN. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH OUR SURVEY OF NEARLY 150 GULFS AND RESIDENTS, ALONG WITH CENSUS DATA, WE SEE THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF GULFS AND RESIDENTS WORK IN UPTOWN AND REGULARLY USE TRANSIT IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK. IN FACT, WITH DATA FROM THE, FROM HG, FROM THE HGI TRANSIT MAPPER, WE SEE THAT SIGNIF A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY USING THE UPTOWNS SILVER LINE OR GULF AND RESIDENTS WHO USE IT TO GET TO WORK. EVEN THOUGH THAT IT DOESN'T EXTEND TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT IS VERY, IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO CONNECT THIS VERY DENSE RESIDENTIAL AREA, ESPECIALLY WITH ONE OF THE LOWEST CAR OWNERSHIP RATES IN ALL OF HOUSTON WITH A VERY DENSE JOB CENTER THAT IS UPTOWN. WITH THESE INVESTMENTS WE CAN BRING ABOUT THE NEW BEGINNINGS THAT MAYOR WHITMER HAS PROMISED DURING HIS CAMPAIGN. AND WITH THIS, GULFTON CAN BE A COMMUNITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS RESIDENTS. AND THAT STARTS WITH CONNECTING GULFTON WITH THOSE SAID OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER MARIAN WRIGHT, BE FOLLOWED BY ED PETTY. I RESPECTFULLY, I'D LIKE TO ASK IF I CAN PLEASE BE MOVED TO THE BACK AND THE MAYOR'S GONNA COME BACK. I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO SPEAK WITH HIM. HE'S COMING WITH COMING BACK. MA'AM, DO YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT? HE'S NOT COMING BACK TODAY. OH, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR NEXT WEEK. OKAY. I SIGNED UP FOR THIS WEEK. I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND THEN THEY WENT AHEAD AND THEY PUT ME IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THIS. I COME TO SPEAK AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND MOVES PEOPLE, AND THEN SHE RUNS BACK AND FORTH. ONLY WHEN THE PEOPLE SHE MOVES SPEAKS AND THE REST OF US SIT HERE, WE DO LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND SHE RUNS IN AND LISTEN. IT, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. ARE, IT'S VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING FOR TODAY, I WAS HERE TO SPEAK TO THE MAYOR HIMSELF ABOUT SOMETHING BECAUSE I DID HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE HIM TODAY, AND I WANTED TO THANK HIM. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE [02:30:02] IN WEEKS AND I'M SORRY HE HAD AN EVENT THAT HE HAD TO LEAVE TO GO TO, BUT HE TYPICALLY LISTENS, UH, WHEN HE LEAVES. UH, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD, AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS, OR IF YOU WANNA LEAVE IT FOR HIS STAFF, WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE IT TO HIM. OR YOU CAN SIGN UP AND COME BACK. I, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER HIS SCHEDULE, BUT I'M, IF YOU WANNA GO IN THERE AND MAKE CARE OF COMMENTS, I UNDERSTAND CONTROL OVER HIS SCHEDULE AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS YOU HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE USING THIS PLATFORM THAT Y'ALL ALL HAVE FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL OBJECTIVES. WHEN YOU ARE A COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOU MOVE PEOPLE UP IN THE AGENDA, OKAY? AND THEN YOU COME AND LISTEN TO JUST THEM, AND YOU RUN OUT WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS THERE, AND THEN YOU COME BACK AND YOU SIT AND YOU LISTEN JUST TO THAT ONE PERSON AND THEN YOU RUN BACK AND FORTH. THERE'S A PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL SOLVE IT, BUT THIS ISN'T FAIR TO EVERYONE ELSE THAT PLAYS THE GAME AS THE GAME IS SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYED. IT'S NOT RIGHT AND IT'S NOT FAIR. COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND MOVED PEOPLE UP IN THE THING. SHE SAT THERE, SHE ENGAGED WITH THEM, SHE SPOKE WITH THEM, AND SHE'S USING THIS PLATFORM TO PUSH HER OWN PERSONAL OBJECTIONS. THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE REST OF THIS COMMENTS FOR TODAY. MS. WRIGHT, JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. IF YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TO THE MAYOR, YOU CAN EITHER GO AHEAD AND MAKE THOSE COMMENTS OR WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET YOU SIGNED UP FOR NEXT WEEK. AND WHERE WILL I BE PUTTING THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK? WILL, IT DEPENDS WHEN YOU SIGNED UP MS. BEHIND EVERYBODY AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH THAT I WAS HERE THIS WEEK AND WE'LL, COUNCIL MAYOR CAYMAN, THEN MOVE EVERYONE ABOVE SO THAT YOU, YOU CAN DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS RIGHT? IF YOU, IF YOU SIGN UP, I WILL MOVE YOU TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. AND WILL YOU PLEASE ALLOW THE MAYOR TO KNOW NEXT WEEK THEN THAT I AM PLANNING ON BEING HERE AT THAT POINT, PLEASE. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH, I'LL HANG ON HERE. THREE MINUTES GONNA BE UP. SHE DIDN'T USE THE TIME. OH, I KNOW. I'M IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. MM-HMM . BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS OFFERED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US BRIEFINGS MM-HMM . ON WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON, ON THE AGENDA. THOSE ARE DESIGNATED AND SET UP DURING PUBLIC SESSION. I HAVE NOT MOVED ANYBODY UP. A CONSTITUENT OF MINE MADE A REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO THE TWO MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST. YOU ARE NOT MY CONSTITUENT AND I STILL LISTEN TO YOU, MS. WRIGHT, BUT YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST. SO, TO SAY THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS NOT ACCURATE, I'M GOING TO CORRECT THE RECORD. I ADDED A CONSTITUENT FROM MY DISTRICT WHO ASKED TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WILL DO. IT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK. THANK YOU, MS. WRIGHT DISTRICT. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS FINE. NEXT SPEAKER. ED PETIT. DID YOU MOVE HER? HER? HI, MR. PETIT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. UM, MY NAME IS ED PETIT. I AM FOUNDER OF A NONPROFIT GRASSROOTS GROUP CALLED FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP AND SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER THIRD WARD, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 67. UM, I CAME HERE TO, UH, THANK THE MAYOR FOR, UM, REALLY LOOKING INTO ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. UM, I HOPE THAT HIS NEW LEADERSHIP OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WILL WORK WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT D DR. CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ, TO DO CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS LIGHTING ON THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL. UM, BUT HERE TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL ABOUT, UH, T'S REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES AND OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS. UM, I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN SHINING A LIGHT ON T'S, WHICH I BELIEVE IS WISE. UH, DURING THE TURNER ADMINISTRATION, WE RAISED MULTIPLE RED FLAGS ABOUT THE MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. NO ONE LISTENED TO US, NO ONE LOOKED INTO IT UNTIL WE DID OUR OWN INVESTIGATION. SUBMITTED ALL OF OUR EVIDENCE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND SHE FOUND THAT WHAT WE WERE SAYING WAS CORRECT, THAT THEY WERE SIPHONING AND STEALING, UH, POTENTIALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR AN ILLEGAL LAWN MOWING SCHEME. SO I HOPE THAT UNDER THIS MAYOR, THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE, UM, OUR ISSUE SERIOUSLY. UM, I SPOKE TO ANOTHER PERSON, THIS WAS ABOUT A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO. SO I HOPE THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER LEADER OF A REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND I ASKED HER, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT DO YOU HAVE WITH COUNCIL? SHE SAID THAT THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO LOOKED AT HER BUDGET LINE BY LINE AND ASKED FOR FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND, AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WAS COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN, THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU COULD THINK OF THAT ACTUALLY DID THEIR JOB. AND SO, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE TERMS AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES, AND I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT THEY ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS. WHERE DO LGC COME FROM? THEY CAME FROM THE 1984, [02:35:01] UM, TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE TO ALLOW FOR PRIVATE CITIZENS TO DONATE RIGHT OF WAY AND FUNDS FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THOSE RIGHT OF WAYS. AND OUR CITY ATTORNEYS, BASED ON THE LOOSE WORDING OF ARTICLE 1529 OF THE TRANSPORTATION CODE, HAVE INTERPRETED THAT TO ALLOW FOR LGC TO RUN PARKS TO EXAMINE FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND FOR THE NEWEST LGC COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, BASICALLY EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN. AND THESE L GCS HAVE ALL THE POWERS, UH, MOST OF THE POWERS OF A CITY DEPARTMENT, AND ALMOST NONE OF THE OVERSIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO ABIDE BY THE TEXAS NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT AND THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. AND I CAN TELL YOU, THEY ARE NOT PAR. THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD LGC DOES NOT ADVERTISE WHEN THEY'RE HAVING THEIR PUBLIC MEETINGS. I'VE ASKED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES LAST YEAR, AN EMAIL, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE HAVING YOUR MEETING. YOU DO NOT PUBLISH THEM. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT ONE IS. I ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN THEIR NEXT MEETING WAS WHEN ONE OF THEIR STAFF MEMBERS TOLD ME INDIVIDUALLY, THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY RESPOND TO MY, IT WAS BASICALLY LEAKED TO ME WHEN THEIR MEETING WAS. AND WHEN I WENT TO THAT MEETING AND I SAID, YOUR PHONE NUMBER ISN'T WORKING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND WHEN WE LEAVE MESSAGES, WE DON'T GET RESPONSES. UH, BETH WHITE SAID, OH, I'M SORRY. IT WAS, UM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. IT, IT, IT WAS A GLITCH. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UH, ED, CAN I HAVE MORE OF MY TIME IF HE NEEDS IT? YES, PLEASE. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING UP ON THE BUDGETS OF ALL THESE EGCS. THERE'S OVER 20 REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES THAT ARE EGCS, AND THERE'S MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN. NOW, THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WAS ADDED IN THE 11TH HOUR OF TURNER'S ADMINISTRATION. MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN SPECIAL INTEREST EGCS. YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR BUDGETS LINE BY LINE. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT AND THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. AND ALSO THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A PLAN THAT THEY ARE GIVING PREFERENCE TO MINORITY WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES. ARE THEY DOING THAT? WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BOARD STRUCTURE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. LOOK AT THE BOARD OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. ARE THEY REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR PARKS DISTRICTS? AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, OUR PARKS DISTRICTS ALREADY HAVE DISPARATE FUNDING DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM THE, UH, PARK DEDICATION, UH, IMPACT ASSESSMENT FEES. ARE WE ALSO GIVING THE RICHER PARK SECTORS FUNDING MORE PUBLIC DONOR, UH, FUNDING AND WITH THE NEWEST LGC WITH COMPLETE COMMUNITIES? I MEAN, LOOK AT THE BOARD. BACK WHEN IT WAS A MAYOR'S, UM, OFFICE, THE, UH, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INVESTMENT FUND BOARD. WE ASKED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES COME OUT TO OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, COME OUT TO, UH, MEET US AT, UH, OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AND, AND ALSO THE NONPROFIT THAT IS PAYING THE DIRECTOR OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. AND THAT IS OVERSEEING THOSE FUNDS, THE GREATER HOUSTON, UM, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. NONE OF THOSE LEADERS OR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE EVER BEEN OUT TO ONE OF OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS. YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT BE FAMILIAR FACES. I'M GONNA CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER SHA. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIMM. I WANNA GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL TIME. TIME, I'M ALMOST DONE. SO THESE FOLKS, THESE LEADERS OF ALL THESE BOARDS THAT ARE OVERSEEING FUNDS FOR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, THEY MIGHT BE FAMILIAR FACES AT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE. THEY'RE NOT FAMILIAR FACES IN THIRD WARD. AND I COULD PR MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION FINDS OUT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ALL THESE FUNDS. WE'VE ONLY SEEN ONE BUDGET FROM COMPLETE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKED. WE ASKED SHANNON BUGS MULTIPLE TIMES DURING HER ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GET BUDGETS FOR US. NO ONE CAN GET BUDGETS. ONE WAS LEAKED IN MARCH OF 2021, AND AT THAT TIME THERE WAS $16.6 MILLION. RAISED OVER 2 MILLION OF 2 MILLION OF WHICH WERE UNRESTRICTED. WE ASKED HER, HOW DO WE GET ACCESS TO THESE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR THE ACTIVITIES WE HAVE IN OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PLANS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY FUND SPECIFIC PROJECTS? SHE SAID, NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY STRUCTURE IN PLACE FOR THAT. WHEN THE DONORS TELL US WHAT THEY WANT, THAT'S WHAT WE DO. AND NOW AT LAST YEAR WHEN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE LOOKED INTO IT, NOW SHE SAYS THEY HAVE OVER $75 MILLION THAT THEY RAISED. WHERE IS THIS FUNDING AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO IT NOW THAT IT'S AN LGC? AND HOW ARE YOU AS COUNCIL GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING EQUITABLY FUNDED? DO WE, DOES PARENT ON THE HORSESHOE KNOW HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT ALREADY PER COMPLETE COMMUNITY OR WHAT'S PLANNED WITH THIS $75 MILLION? NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW OR TO BE LOOKING AT THE BUDGETS OF THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS, AND WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. RAMEZ. THANK YOU. ARE YOU BACK IN THE QUEUE? COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU. I HAD YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY WITH REGARD TO T ARE WELL TAKEN. NOT ALL TS, UM, ARE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSPARENCY, BUT CERTAINLY SOME OF 'EM DO. AND YOU'VE, YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED THAT WE APPRECIATE IT. UM, YOU AND I ARE MEETING SOON MM-HMM . ABOUT THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL. SO MAYBE WE'LL JUST ADD TRANSPARENCY, UH, TO THAT DISCUSSION AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. NEXT SPEAKER, SANDRA RODRIGUEZ. SANDRA RODRIGUEZ. NEXT SPEAKER, MAYOR GI. MAYOR GI. [02:40:01] NEXT SPEAKER, ISAAC MIDCALF. HELLO. HI, ISAAC. THAT WHITMEYER ISN'T HERE BECAUSE I BROUGHT VISUALS. THAT'S OKAY. SO I'M SURE CAN YOU GET BEHIND THE MICROPHONE? YEAH. THANK YOU. I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW. THERE ARE 30 BUSES IN METRO THAT RUN WITH 30 MINUTE PEAK FREQUENCY. THE FIRST BUSIEST, THE SECOND BUSIEST, THE THIRD BUSIEST. THEY ALL GO THROUGH GULF. IN SHARPSTOWN, THERE ARE 22 BUSES THAT RUN WITH 15 MINUTE PEAK FREQUENCY. THE FIRST BUSIEST, THE SECOND BUSIEST, THE THIRD BUSIEST. THEY ALL GO THROUGH SHARP GUIN SHARPSTOWN. LET'S LOOK AT A MAP OF THE GUIN SHARPSTOWN AREA OVERLAID WITH THESE BUS ROUTES, THE SIX BUSIEST BUS ROUTES. YOU CAN SEE THAT GULFTON IS COVERED IN THESE EXTREMELY OVERBURDENED BUS ROUTES. AND ALL OF THESE GULFTON RESIDENTS, GULFTON ONCE AGAIN, IS THE LEAST, UM, THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T OWN A CAR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THESE GULFTON RESIDENTS NEED TO GET BETWEEN THESE BUS ROUTES TO GET TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING. HOW DO THEY DO THAT? WITH THE PROPOSED GULFTON, BRT, WHICH PERFECTLY CONNECTS ALL OF THESE HIGH PRIORITY, HIGH RIDERSHIP BUS ROUTES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO. HOW DO THEY, WHERE DO THEY HAVE TO GO? WELL, THE, ACCORDING TO HDIC DATA, THE NUMBER ONE, UM, COMMUTING LOCATION FOR GOLFED EMPLOYEES IS, UM, THE MEDICAL CENTER. THEY CAN TAKE THE BRT DOWN TO THE FOUR. UM, AND THEN FROM THERE, THEY CAN GO TO THE MEDICAL CENTER. THE NUMBER TWO LOCATION IS JUST EAST OF THE GALLERIA. NOW, I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHY I MIGHT BRING UP THE GALLERIA. UNFORTUNATELY, MAYOR WHITMEYER ISN'T HERE. UM, AND GOLFING RESIDENTS CAN TAKE THE BRT RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE OF THE GALLERIA AND THEY CAN CROSS UNDER THE HIGHWAY. THE THIRD BUSIEST, UM, AREA FOR GULFTON RESIDENCE TO COMMUTE TO IS DOWNTOWN. THEY CAN TAKE THE BRT TO THE FOUR, TO THE NINE, TO THE 32, OR TO THE TWO, AND THEY CAN GET DOWN TO FROM THERE. THE FOURTH IEST, I'M THINKING I'M ON THE FOURTH, IS , THE GULFTON AREA ITSELF. AND THIS GULFTON BRT REPRESENTS A VERY EFFICIENT WAY TO GET GOLFING RESIDENTS FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? THE PROBLEM IS THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS PUT THE GULFTON BRT ON PAUSE, THE MOST NO-BRAINER, THE MOST NO-BRAINER BRT TRANSIT PROPOSAL IN THE HISTORY OF ANY MAJOR CITY. HOUSTON IS SO UNDERSERVED BY TRANSIT. GULFTON IS INCREDIBLY UNDERSERVED BY TRANSIT. AND IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT WE WOULD PUT THIS ON PAUSE RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, FLOODING AND, UH, PROBLEMS, UH, PROBLEMS WITH FUNDING OUR STREETS. THE REASON WHY OUR STREETS ARE CRUMBLING, THE REASON OUR FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRUMBLING IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING EVERYWHERE. THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE. AND THOSE CARS ARE TEARING UP OUR STREETS. YOU WANNA SPEND $20 MILLION FIXING FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE NOW FIXING STREETS NOW. YOU CAN'T FIND THAT MONEY IN FIVE YEARS. YOU'LL HAVE SPENT 10 TIMES THAT MUCH FIXING THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CAUSED BY NOT INVESTING IN BETTER TRANSPORTATION. TODAY, YOU HAVE TO PROPOSE, YOU HAVE TO RE UM, START THIS GULFTON, VRT. YOU HAVE TO GET IT ON THE GROUND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS OF GULFTON NEED THAT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NEEDS SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER SHERELL DUNCAN. SHERELL DUNCAN. NEXT SPEAKER, CAESAR ESPINOZA. CAESAR ESPINOZA TO BE FILED BY ORAL ROLLINS. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, TO THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW ME AND NO FIELD, KNOW THAT I'M NO STRANGER TO STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HORSESHOE. SO, UH, I'M BACK. UH, ONCE AGAIN, UH, I WANTED TO ADDRESS, UH, THE COMMENTS THAT, UM, THAT MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER HAD MADE ABOUT IMMIGRANTS. BUT FIRST, I WANTED YOU GUYS TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. I WENT TO SCHOOL AT CUNNINGHAM ELEMENTARY ON RICE, UH, IN, I WENT TO JANE LONG MIDDLE SCHOOL ON BEL AIR AND HILLCROFT. AND THEN I, I WENT TO AN UNKNOWN HIGH SCHOOL CALLED DEBAKEY HIGH SCHOOL. THAT WAS, THAT'S BESIDE SOME POINT. BUT ANYWAY, UH, THEN I GRADUATED FROM U OF H, UH, AND THEN I BECAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FI. SO THE, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE A WEEK AGO BY OUR NEW MAYOR, OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR, UM, HID HOME AND, AND WERE VERY PERSONAL TO ME. UM, AND NOT ONLY WERE THEY VERY PERSONAL TO ME, BUT THEY WERE VERY PERSONAL TO MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME WAS THE FACT THAT HE WASN'T, HE DIDN'T RETRACT HIS COMMENTS. IN FACT, A DAY LATER, HE DOUBLED DOWN ON HIS COMMENTS SAYING THAT HE WAS TALKING, UH, ABOUT, UH, SPENDING AT THE GALLERIA. UH, AFTER HE SAID THAT IMMIGRANTS WERE NOT WELCOMED AT THE GALLERIA. UH, MY WIFE AND I WERE JUST AT THE GALLERIA, BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT. UM, SHE LIKES GOING THERE. UM, SO WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT SPENDING, UH, I ACTUALLY PULLED A REPORT AND I BROUGHT COPIES FOR EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, ANTICIPATING THAT HE MAY NOT BE HERE, UH, TO HEAR MY REMARKS. UM, BUT [02:45:01] A NEW STUDY JUST PUBLISHED, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AGO OR LAST NOVEMBER, SAID THAT IMMIGRANTS IN HOUSTON PAID OVER $16 BILLION IN TAXES AND EXCEEDED $50 BILLION IN SPENDING POWER. THAT'S B THAT'S BILLION WITH A B. AND SO I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO A LARGER ISSUE OF SOMETIMES PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT US WITHOUT KNOWING US, WITHOUT TALKING TO US, AND JUST ASSUMING THINGS. UH, I WANNA, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR, FOR, UM, HOLDING YOUR GROUND AND STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. WE NEED PEOPLE, UH, TO TALK ABOUT IT. SO IN THIS PACKET, UH, WHICH I'LL PASS AROUND ON THE HORSESHOE AFTER I'M DONE BEFORE IT FALLS, UM, I, IT'S A FORMAL, UM, REQUEST, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DO SOMETHING THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE. AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED, UH, WHICH IS A STUDY, UH, TALK TO PEOPLE, GO OUT AND SURVEY PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED, UH, AND, AND TALK TO FOLKS AND, AND KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS NON MONOLITHIC. WE'RE NOT JUST WORKERS. WE'RE HEALTHCARE WORKERS. WE'RE WORKING IN THE MEDICAL CENTER, WE'RE WORKING AS ENGINEERS. WE'RE EVEN, AND EVEN THOUGH WE DO DO, UH, THE THE HARD MANUAL LABOR, UH, THERE'S SO MUCH, THERE'S SO MUCH DIVERSITY GROWING UP, MY MY FAMILY WAS A WORKING CLASS FAMILY, WORKED TWO OR THREE JOBS. MY MOM WORKED AT THE GALLERIA. UH, AND THEN GUESS WHAT? ON THE WEEKENDS WE WOULD GO SHOPPING THERE. THAT TOWN HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTO. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. UM, AND SO THIS IS AN OPEN INVITATION TO, TO EVERYBODY. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ALL ARE NOW FAMILIAR WITH FI UH, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT, ALL OF OUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND A WAY TO GET AHOLD OF US AND A BUNCH OF GOOD STUFF IS IN HERE. UH, BUT USE US AS A RESOURCE. UH, WE ARE TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY. WE DO UNDERSTAND NOT EVERYTHING, BUT A LOT OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAYS. UH, AND I WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK UNTIL MAYOR WHITMEYER IS RIGHT HERE. SO WE CAN HAVE A HEALTHY DIALOGUE OF WHAT IS NEEDED, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO ANYBODY. AND I DON'T MEAN THIS AS DISRESPECT, BUT WE WILL HOLD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE. AND THAT IS NOT A THREAT, THAT IS A PROMISE. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY AND WE CARE AND LOVE HOUSTON, AND WE CARE AND LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT. SO I WILL PASS THIS TO, YOU CAN GIVE THOSE RIGHT OVER THERE TO RENEE, AND HE'LL PASS THEM OUT FOR US. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, DO YOU STILL INY? COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, ARE YOU IN A KEY? YES, I AM. GO AHEAD. C SORRY. JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEN I SAY COMMUNITY, I MEAN ALL OF HOUSTON. SO, UH, I HOPE YOUR FAMILY'S DOING WELL, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM CESAR. UH, AND THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOOD FRIEND. AND WE'VE BEEN, UH, STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER ON UNDOCUMENTED ISSUES FOR SOME TIME, EVEN PRIOR TO ME BEING IN OFFICE. UH, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOUR WORDS, UH, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND I KNOW I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE FEELING, RIGHT? UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES SOME THIS, SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION TURNS IN CAN GET, UM, BECOME MORE NOISE AND WHAT IT NEEDS TO BECAUSE OF WHAT EL WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN, IN, WITH PROJECTS OR WHATNOT. UH, BUT KNOW THAT, UH, WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT THE WORDS THAT YOU'RE SAYING I I HOLD, I HOLD TRUE TO THEM AS WELL. YOU KNOW? UM, OUR COMMUNITY IS, IS NOT MONOLITHIC. WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST, UH, THOSE THAT ARE EITHER, YOU KNOW, WORKING AT THE GALLERIA OR, OR, UM, OR NEAR THE GALLERIA, BUT ALSO THOSE THAT ARE SPENDING MONEY IN THE GALLERIA, AS YOU NOTED. ABSOLUTELY. UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. I APPRECIATE THE WORK Y'ALL CONTINUE TO DO. UM, AND, AND MY HOPE IS THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, RIGHT, WE CAN CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CITY IS, UM, IT, IT'S A CITY THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE, RIGHT? UH, IT'S LATINOS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY UNDOCUMENTED, ARE JUST AS MUCH A FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY AS ANYONE ELSE. SO, UM, CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I'M HERE WITH YOU AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. MM-HMM . THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM CSA, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU. AND LAN THANK YOU ALL FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR ALL COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME. YES, MA'AM. I KNOW WHAT YOU STAND FOR. AND JUST KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON B IS HERE IF YOU EVER NEED ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. JUST, JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT, I MEAN, YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR WORK AND YOUR VOICE MATTERS. AND THE POINT I WAS MAKING LAST WEEK IS THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE TRUE ENGAGEMENT AND TRUE QUALITY OF LIFE DISCUSSION WITH CERTAIN COMMUNITIES WITHOUT HAVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY REPRESENTED AND UNDERSTANDING THAT COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. [02:50:01] YOU ALL ARE A FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY. YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO VOICE. SO I WANNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU AS YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE AND KNOW THAT I WILL ALWAYS DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR HERE. THANK, APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. BORO ROLLINS. BORO ROLLINS. NEXT SPEAKER. MYRA BANKS. MYRA BANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. FORMER ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY UNDER MS. ANNA RUSSELL, MY FORMER BOSS. OKAY. OH, SHE IS HERE. COME ON, MS. MYRA. BANKS. IT AIN'T LIKE IT USED TO BE . GOD BLESS. UM, JUST ONE. HE JUST, YOU HAVE TO STEP BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S, HE'S GONNA ACTUALLY MAKE THE PRESENTATION. THIS IS MY ADMINISTRATOR. UH, ALL I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT I COME ON BEHALF OF MY CHURCH, THE GREAT EMMANUEL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST ON, IN DISTRICT B, MOVE TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ALLOW THE SEC ALTERNATIVE SPEAKER. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? GO AHEAD. MS. BANKS STATE MAY FOR THE RECORD. WE WILL GET HIS NAME WHEN HE GETS READY TO SPEAK. MR. BANKS, IF YOU GO AHEAD. OH, GO AHEAD. FINISH, FINISH. CAN I FINISH? YES, I CAN FINISH. THANK YOU. UH, THE GREATER EMMANUEL CHURCH AFTER A SOLID YEAR, UM, OF COURSE FLOODING IS, IS TERRIBLE OVER IN OUR DISTRICT. BUT AFTER, UH, FIVE YEARS AFTER HARVEY DESTROYED EVERYTHING OVER THERE. UM, AND THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR, IT'S BEEN A YEAR, BUT THEY CAME AND PUT IN A NEW SEWER SYSTEM. WHAT HAPPENED? HOWEVER, UH, WE COVER ONE ENTIRE BLOCK FROM MESA TO SURREY, UH, IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. MY CHURCH HAS BEEN DESTROYED FIVE TIMES. WE PUT IT BACK EVERY TIME WE, WE'VE BEEN THERE OVER 52 YEARS ON THAT CORNER. SO WHEN THE CITY CAME AND TOLD, THEY DIDN'T GIVE US NOTIFICATION, BUT WHEN THEY SHOWED UP, WE MADE IT HAPPEN. THEY BROUGHT ALL OF THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND THEY SET IT ON THE CORNER PART OF THE LOT THAT GOES FROM MESA DOWN TO SURREY. UH, AND IN OUR, UH, PARKING LOT, THEY TOOK THE PARKING LOT FOR THE OTHER HEAVY EQUIPMENT, THE, UH, SEWER THING ITSELF. AND HE HAS PICTURES AND ALL OF THAT STUFF. IT'S LIKE 20 FEET TALL THAT WAS GONNA GO IN THE GROUND. SO THEY TORE UP THE WHOLE STREET. UH, AND WE DID NOT KNOW, WE COULDN'T EVEN GET ACCESS TO OUR CHURCH UNTIL I CAME THERE AND FOUND THEM THERE. SO THEY REROUTED AND THROUGH THE BACK WAY AROUND WAYSIDE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME TO CHURCH FOR THE LAST YEAR. SO NOW WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE THEY PROMISED ME THAT WHEN THEY FINISH, WHERE THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT TORE UP OUR PARKING LOT AS, AS WELL AS THE FRONT, THE FRONTAGE FROM, UM, MESA, HALFWAY DOWN TALTON, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT WHOLE BLOCK AND I NEED, AND THEY PROMISED ME THEY WOULD REPAIR IT BACK TO THE CONDITION THAT IT WAS. AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE. MS. BANKS, WHAT'S THE ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH? 8 7 1 1 TALTON, T-A-L-T-O-N AT MESA DRIVE. OKAY. AND, AND THE CONTRACTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE PICTURES PRIOR TO THE WORK? YES. AND RETURN IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL, UM, STATE OR BETTER? YES, MA'AM. UM, SO WE CAN DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY HAVE THOSE PICTURES AND THEY DID DAMAGE THE, UM, DRIVEWAY OR THE PARKING LOT AT THE CHURCH, UM, THAT WE CAN ASK THEM TO COME BACK. ABSOLUTELY. UH, HE CAN GIVE THE NAME OF THE PERSON CAN STATE YOUR NAME. HE HAS CONTACTED CAN FOR THE RECORD, SIR. MY NAME IS CHAD STEVENSON. OKAY. THE RECORD. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD? UM, THIS IS BASICALLY THE, UH, FIRST ESTIMATE THAT WE HAD FOR THE DAMAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY $22,000. IT INCLUDES THE DRIVEWAYS, THE HOLES THAT WERE MADE IN THE PARKING LOT, AND THE DAMAGES ON THE ACTUAL PROPERTY WHERE THE FORMER HOUSE WAS ON THE CORNER OF MESA AND TALTON. UH, WE HAVE THE PICTURES, THE SECURITY CAM FOOTAGE. THE LOT WAS BASICALLY COMMANDEERED FOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE. SO THE SEWAGE, UH, HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND IT HAS STOPPED A LOT OF THE FLOODING, BUT THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGES THAT CAUSED, UH, THAT WAS CAUSED TO THE FACILITY, WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO PARK. WE CAN'T REALLY USE THE LOT ANYMORE. UM, AND IT MAKES IT TERRIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO TRY IT. SO DID THEY USE IT FOR LIKE A STAGING AREA? THEY PUT THE EQUIPMENT THERE, EQUIPMENT [02:55:01] CARS, UM, OKAY. THAT'S, THAT, THAT WAS THEIR WORK JOB. HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? THIS WAS WAS FROM MAY OF LAST YEAR UP UNTIL MAY OF THIS YEAR. SO IT WAS A FULL YEAR. AND, UH, THE PROJECT MANAGER, I BELIEVE HIS NAME WAS CHRIS, HE CAME AND HE MET WITH US. HE SHOWED US THAT WHEN THEY FINISHED THE PROPERTY, THEY WILL BE OR FINISH THE REPAIRS. THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND DO, UH, REPAIRS ON THE PROPERTY. THEY NEVER GOT TO IT, BUT THEY DID COME BACK TO PUT TWO NEW METRO BUS STOPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF WELL, THAT'S A DIFFERENT PROJECT. THAT'S A DIFFERENT PROJECT. BUT WE CAN, UH, FOLLOW UP WITH THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT TO SEE IF THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO COME BACK AND, AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND, AND TRY TO MAKE YOU WHOLE AT THE CHURCH. THANK YOU. WHOSE DISTRICT IS THIS? B THIS IS YOU. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THIS? SO I'M JUST, I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, GO AHEAD. THANK, THANK YOU. MACRO. UM, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THIS. SO, UM, MY OFFICE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY FOLLOW BACK UP AND FIX WHATEVER PROBLEM THAT THEY CAUSED. AWESOME. I, I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. I AM STILL RUNNING ELECTIONS, UH, OUT OF THE CITY. SO I JUST CAME BACK FROM FLORIDA. AND SO CHAD, THE ADMINISTRATOR IS BASICALLY THE PERSON THAT THEY'RE TALKING TO AND CONTACTING. BUT I DO WANT MY CHURCH FIXED BACK. LIKE IT WAS, WE BOUGHT THE ORIGINAL LAKEWOOD CHURCH AT A VERY HIGH PRICE. AND WE'VE BEEN THERE. THE CHURCH IS PAID FOR. WE OWN THAT WHOLE BLOCK. YES, MA'AM. AND I WOULD LIKE IT RESTORED BACK TO WHERE IT WAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS THIS ADDRESS AND ALL THE INFORMATION FROM MY OFFICE. OFFICE IS GONNA MEET YOU AT THE DOOR TO GET THAT INFORMATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHELLE EGEN. BO MICHELLE EGEN BO. NEXT SPEAKER PAUL O. SULLIVAN. PAUL O. SULLIVAN. CHAPTER 42 IS ENACTED TO PRESERVE THE LOT SIZE CHARACTER OF A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. ONCE IN PLACE, ONLY A SFR AND A GARAGE APARTMENT OR DUPLEX WITH A GARAGE MAY BE BUILT THE PROPERTY AT 44 29. WOODSIDE OBTAINED CHAPTER 42 PROTECTION IN 2019 AND HAD A PRE-EXISTING GARAGE APARTMENT. THE CURRENT DEVELOPER SLASH LANDLORD SUBMITTED A PERMIT THAT STATED SFR, BUT IS EFFECTIVELY A DUPLEX. THEIR OWN WEBSITE LISTED A LANDING PAGE ENTITLED EASTWOOD TRIPLEX TRIPEX, WHICH WAS ONLY REMOVED IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. ONLINE RENTALS SHOW ONE LISTING FOR UNIT ONE CONSISTING OF 1070 SQUARE FOOT SQUARE FEET OF A 21,000, I'M SORRY, 2,139 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURE. NEIGHBORS HAD FOUND THE DESIGN ONLINE AND EXPRESSED CONCERN TO REGULATORS. AFTER THE PERMITS WERE FINALIZED, I HAPPENED TO ENCOUNTER TWO SEPARATE RENTERS FOR THE DUPLEX WITHIN ABOUT A TWO THREE DAY SPAN. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT IS SLATED TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY TODAY, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL LIKELY NOT GAIN ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR. UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING INSPECTOR REQUESTED PERMISSION TO INSPECT THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT WERE DENIED ACCESS BY THE OWNERS. THIS PROPERTY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE AS THIS DEVELOPER WILL LIKELY REPEAT THIS FRAUD IN OTHER AREAS, UH, PROTECTED BY CHAPTER 42 AND PROBABLY, UM, INDICATE TO THEIR OTHER DEVELOPER FRIENDS HOW TO GO ABOUT SUBVERTING CHAPTER 42. SO, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TAYLOR. PAUL, THANK YOU FOR COMING. UM, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN AT THIS ONE FOR SOME TIME, UM, AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, UH, CHAPTER 42 OR, UM, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, VIOLATIONS WITH, YOU KNOW, PERMITTING. IT'S, IT CAN BE A LENGTHY PROCESS, YES. BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AND, AND MY, MY TEAM IS GONNA CONTINUE TO STAY ON TOP OF IT. THANK YOU. UH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH OUR OFFICE. UH, WE'RE GONNA HOLD, UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS AND THE PLAN DEPARTMENT. THEY, THEY'RE OPENING UP ANOTHER INVESTIGATION AS WELL AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT THEY DO BECOMING COMPLIANT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. UM, AND LIKE I SAID, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU SARAH EDWARDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ZACHARY WOODS. I'M LIKE THE OTHER LADY HERE I'M GOING TO ADDRESS MYSELF. I'M SHARON, SARAH CHANTEL. BE EDWARDS AND I'M OF CHRIST. UH, AND I AGREE WITH THIS LADY HERE. I CAME TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE WITH THE MAYOR, NO DISRESPECT TO NOBODY. 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE PLENTY OF TIMES. MM-HMM . AND I AIN'T GETTING NOTHING DONE. MY LIFE HAS BEEN THREATENED. THAT'S [03:00:01] NUMBER ONE. SO WHAT DAY AND WHAT TIME CAN I BE ON THE TOP OF THE LIST? THAT'S THE NUMBER FOR THREE MINUTES WITH THE MAYOR. I'M NOT, I'M NOT DISRESPECTING NOBODY, BUT I HAVE A VERY ISSUE. I HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT WHEN IT'S ON THIS PAPER RIGHT HERE FOR LOG FOR LEGISLATION. MY WHOLE NAME'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON HERE FOR NUMBER ONE. I'M JUST ADDRESSING A FEW OF ISSUES. SO, UH, I AGREE WITH THIS LADY HERE. 'CAUSE SOME REAL ROUGH NEED TO BE CUT OUT IN HERE. I'M TEXAS BAIL. SO IF THE MAYOR WAS HERE, HE WOULD ELABORATE ON WHO I AM. 'CAUSE EVERY TIME I COME TO SEE HIM, THE NEW MAYOR, HE STEPS OUT OR HE BUSY OR HE THIS OR HE THAT. SO IT'S NOT FAIR TO SOME OF US TO BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST. I DONE BEEN HERE THREE TUESDAYS AND IT'S BEEN SOME DISRUPTIONS, UH, UH, ABOUT THE TIMES, THE DATE, THE BLAH BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. I'M IN HARM'S WAY LINKED TO HOUSING. VITAL STATISTICS. A VEHICLE I JUST BOUGHT BY THE FEDS GAVE ME SOME MONEY FROM BODY MOBILITY. I'M ON A FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAM WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S A HIGH RISK HOUSING PROGRAM BECAUSE I'M A HIGH RISK CRIME, UH, UH, WITH VITAL STATISTICS IN IN EVERY ENTITY ENTITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I'M TRYING TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE. UH, WHEN SOMEONE CALLED ME THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS AT THE POST OFFICE ASKING ME WHAT I WAS TALKING ON MY TOX TOPIC ABOUT, UH, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, IT WAS PREPARE PAPERWORK AND THE MAYOR HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON IT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF Y WHOEVER CALLED ME THEN CONVEYED THAT MESSAGE TO THE MAYOR. 'CAUSE THAT'S VERY SERIOUS WHEN YOU SCREAM MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. THAT'S VERY SERIOUS LEGISLATION. IF ANYBODY IN THIS COUNCIL KNOW THAT HANDBOOK OR ORIENTATION LEGISLATION WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU SCREAM OUT CERTAIN THINGS IN, IN FOR CITIZEN, I'M A LAW ABIDE CITIZEN. AND WHEN YOU SCREAM OUT CERTAIN THINGS, AND I'M A HIGH RISK CRIME VICTIM OF MEDICAL, GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL SECURITY, VITAL STATISTICS, MOTOR VEHICLE HOUSES, LAND CALLS, ALL THIS HERE, JOGS ALL THIS HERE. SO I'M A, I'M SARAH. I'M, MY NAME IS RINGING RING AND RINGING. PEOPLE ARE BREAKING IN AND OUTTA MY HOUSE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY ABOUT HERE AS I'M HERE TAKING MY PAPERWORK. PRESENTED AS DES FOR TAXES. PEOPLE WAS WORKING UNDER MY IDENTIFIER. PEOPLE WAS TRYING TO COUNSEL ME OUT OF TEXAS. A I'M THE ONLY ONE IN SENATE. HOUSTON'S TEXAS A UH, UH, SENATE WITH SENATE BILL WITH MARVIN ZETLER AND DAVE WARD. THAT'S HONOR THAT'S TRYING TO BE WIPED OUT. SOMEBODY TRYING TO WIPE ME OUT. MY BIRTHDAY IS NOT JUNE THE 15TH. IT'S JUNE THE 13TH. SO, YES. CAN I GET A MEETING WITH THE SAME DAY? THIS LADY HERE FOR THE MAYOR? YOU CAN. YES MA'AM. GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP FOR NEXT WEEK. AND THE MAYOR WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK. NEXT TUESDAY. THANK YOU MS. EDWARDS. NEXT SPEAKER, ZACHARY WOODS. ZACHARY WOODS, HC COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THE DYSTOPIAN FILM, MAD MAX BEGINS WITH A SIGN STATING 57 FATALITIES ON THE ROAD THIS YEAR. THIS IS MEANT TO EVOKE AN UNTHINKABLE AMOUNT OF DEATH ON A LAWLESS OUTBACK HIGHWAY. HOUSTON'S ROADS ARE WORSE OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. I 10, I 45, AND US 59 EACH AVERAGE MORE DEATHS PER YEAR THAN WHAT WAS AN APOCALYPTIC VISION IN THE 1970S. AS A FATHER OF A 2-YEAR-OLD, I'M DISTRAUGHT BY OUR MISSING MAYOR'S ACTIONS AND ROLLING BACK INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT PROTECTED FAMILIES LIKE MINE GO TO SIXTH STREET AND HEIGHTS IN THE NEW RAISED PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK AS A GODSEND TO FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN SATURDAY MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS NEAR THE PARK. OR MORE ENJOYABLE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT BEING RUN OVER BY A TRUCK OR DISTRACTED DRIVER. NOW THE IMPROVEMENTS ON LOWER SHEPHERD ARE ON HOLD AND FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE AT RISK FOR A CITY AND A BUDGET CRUNCH WITH FLOODING ISSUES. WHY DO THIS? FOR THE RECORD? IT WAS VERY ENJOYABLE DRIVING THROUGH THE FLOOD WATERS THIS PAST WEEK, ALL FOR THE SAKE OF A POTENTIAL REDUCTION IN TRAVEL TIMES BY MERE SECONDS. ELIMINATING THE EXPANSION ALSO CRIPPLES THE NETWORK EFFECT OF CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PLACES WITH THE LARGER SIDEWALKS AND BIKE PATHS ON SHEPHERD CURRENTLY BUILT. IF A ROAD GOES NOWHERE, NO ONE WILL DRIVE ON IT. IF A BIKE PATH GOES NOWHERE AND CONNECTS TO NOTHING, NO ONE WILL USE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR WHO IS NOT HERE THAT SAFETY IS ENGINEERED. THINK OF THE HUMBLE RUMBLE STRIP THIS ENGINEERED SAFETY FEATURE, ALERTS DISTRACTED OR TIRE DRIVERS WHEN THEY ARE DRIFTING AND ALLOWS THEM TO CORRECT RAISE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS AND PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS ARE SAFETY EXAMPLES AS WELL AT FIELD ELEMENTARY WHERE KIDS ARE WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. I'VE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THESE IMPROVEMENTS PROTECT CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND DRIVERS FROM GETTING IN ACCIDENTS. SO IN CONCLUSION, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MEANT TO BE LIVED IN, NOT DRIVEN THROUGH AT HIGH SPEED. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THE MAYOR OF THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON, NOT THE COMMUTERS OF HOUSTON. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO TAKE ACTION WITH REGARDS TO THE STATE TAKEOVER OF HISD. I KNOW YOUR AUTHORITY IS LIMITED, BUT I HAVE PER PERSONALLY WITNESSED HOW THE APPOINTED BOARD IGNORES TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND CITIZENS. HOWEVER, WHEN INDIVIDUALS LIKE, UH, MEMBER CASTILLO SHOW UP, THEIR HEADS SNAP UP, THEY GET OFF THEIR PHONES AND THEY PAY ATTENTION. THUS, I'M ASKING YOU TO ENGAGE [03:05:01] THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE CITY'S FINANCES ARE DEPENDENT ON PROPERTY TAXES, OFTEN TIED TO THE QUALITY OF LOCAL SCHOOLS, GOOD SCHOOLS THAT WERE NOWHERE NEAR FAILING OR SEEING STAFF PURGED AND FORCED ADOPTION OF THIS QUESTIONABLE NES. GIVEN THAT WE NOW KNOW MR. MILES HAS STOLEN MONEY FROM TEXANS TO BAIL OUT HIS FAILING COLORADO SCHOOL'S ACTION IS REQUIRED. I WOULD RECOMMEND CALLING THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO TESTIFY ABOUT THESE ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING AND ASKING WHAT OVERSIGHT THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL. GET TESTIMONY FROM FIRED TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS. PLEASE ENCOURAGE THE LOCAL DA TO INVESTIGATE ACCUSATIONS THAT MR. MILES IS BREAKING TEXAS LAW WITH HIS ACTIONS TOWARDS SPECIAL EDUCATION. IF DEFENDING OUR CITY DOESN'T CAUSE YOUR SPIRIT TO RISE TO ACTION, UH, PERHAPS POLITICAL AMBITION WILL, I CAN THINK OF NO GREATER STORY THAN TO TELL THE VOTERS THAT A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE IS DEFENDING THEIR COMMUNITY FROM A TAKEOVER THAT STRIPS PARENTS OF THEIR GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS AND REMOVES REPRESENTATION FROM TAXPAYERS TIME, HEATHER SPINE. THAT IS THE STORY AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE. THANK YOU MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MR. WOODS. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CHRISTINA WILKERSON. CHRISTINA WILKINSON. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHAEL GRIFFIN. MICHAEL GRIFFIN. HELLO, MR. GRIFFIN. HELLO THERE. I SHOULD, I'M GONNA HAVE TO TALK TO THE SECRETARY 'CAUSE I SIGNED UP, UH, TUESDAY MORNING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK. WHAT, EIGHT 30 IN THE MORNING? SHE SAID, UH, GRIFF, YOU'RE NUMBER ONE. OH, WELL THANK YOU. I'LL HAVE TO BE DOWN HERE AT TWO 30. YEAH, YOU'LL BE THE FIRST SPEAKER. SO, UH, TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER, . BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE 3 1 1 BECAUSE, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, I CREATED THE THREE ONE ONE, I CALL IT THREE ONE ONE POTHOLE HOTLINE IN THE YEAR 2000. BUT THE ONE THAT DESERVES A LOT OF THE CREDIT, AND HE DOESN'T GET IT, IS MAYOR BROWN. BECAUSE MAYOR BROWN, THE ONE LIKED THE IDEA, PUT A COUNCIL GROUP TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH THE 3 1 1 SELF-HELP. AND I BELIEVE THERE'S OVER 5,000 PEOPLE A DAY THEY CALL. SO THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB AND ALL OF YOU. BUT I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T GET THE CREDIT. 'CAUSE IF HE HADN'T PICKED IT UP, AND, UH, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, BUT I'M HERE ON A, A MORE SERIOUS THING. I KNOW MS. KAMAN, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB IN THE AREA, BUT I I WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT. THEY CAME IN BACK WAY YEARS AGO. IN FACT, I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALREADY GONE. AND OF COURSE THE IDEA WAS THAT UH, THEY HAVE 1,121 BUSINESS PEOPLE. I THOUGHT THAT'S TERRIFIC. AND THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST 51% FOR IT. I SAID, WELL GOD. I SAID, THAT'S FANTASTIC. I WENT TO THE FIRST MEETING, WHICH TECHNICALLY IS IN THAT LIBRARY WHERE THE MAYOR HAS GOTTA BE REMODELED. AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED. THERE WERE 55 PEOPLE, UH, 25 CHEERS. WHICH GOT, GOT ME A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE PEOPLE SAYING, CHARLIE, THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME. 'CAUSE I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED, UH, MARY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS. THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME. AND I WENT, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE TAXED FOR SEVEN YEARS. AND THEY WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CERTIFIED LETTER TO EACH ONE OF THEM. SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS, I SAID, I'M A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR ALSO. I OWN GRIFFS. SO MANY OF YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN TO MY PLACE. IT'S THE OLDEST COLLEGE SPORTS BAR IN THE STATE. UH, SO WE'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I SAID, SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT HERE. THEY HAD THE BOARD THERE, THE HAWS HILL LAW FIRM. THEY SAID THE SON OF ONE OF THE LAWYERS WOULD BE THE PRESIDENT, $65,000 A YEAR TO START. WELL, I SAID, GOOD, THAT'S GOOD. I SAID, WELL, SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT. SO I WENT DOWN TO WESTHEIMER ON MY OWN AND I WENT TO 34 BUSINESSES AND GOT THE NAMES, THE PLACES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. AND SEVEN OUTTA 10 WEREN'T FAR. I SAID, WELL, HOW DID THEY GET THIS THING PASSED? IF THEY DID, I THOUGHT THEY GOT 51% OF THE, UH, 1,122 BUSINESSES. SO I WENT OVER TO THE LAW FIRM AND OF COURSE THEY WERE KIND OF NERVOUS, YOU KNOW? AND I SAID, YEAH, LISTEN, COULD I SEE A COPY OF THE BILL? AND THE GUY SAID, WELL, WHY? YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UM, MR. GRIFFIN IF YOU JUST QUICKLY WANTED TO WRAP UP, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW, UNLESS YOUR HEARING INFORMATION, WHICH AT TIMES HAS BEEN HAPPENING, THAT THAT'S NEW OR THAN THE INFORMATION I HAVE THAT THE, UH, THERE IS NO MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AT PRESENT AND IT IS NOT CURRENTLY FORMING, UH, THE MAYOR SOUGHT OF THAT. UM, AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT MISSING [03:10:01] SOMETHING. YEAH. WELL, I SAW A COUPLE OF, UH, A COUPLE OF, UH, MONTH OR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS, UH, IN THE PAPER THAT THEY WERE STARTING AGAIN, THAT THEY WERE JUST, UH, THEY DIDN'T DISSOLVE AND ALL THE REASON I'M HERE IS I GOT CALLS FROM, UH, PROBABLY 25 DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND THEY SAID, GRIFF, YOU WASN'T THE INVESTIGATOR. I UNCOVERED THE WHOLE THING IN THE BEGINNING WHERE THEY NEEDED A LOT OF WORK. OKAY. WELL, MY OFFICE, I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON SOME PERMITTING STUFF WITH YOU AS WELL, UM, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE'LL REACH BACK OUT, UM, TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE SO THAT WE CAN RUN THAT DOWN. DO YOU, IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO MONTROSE MANAGEMENT, UH, JUST TRYING TO START UP AGAIN. I I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU JUST, I SAID THERE IS NO MONTROSE MANAGEMENT. THE CHRONICLE WAS WRONG. THEY'RE SAYING THEY WERE TRYING. I I JUST NEED TO SEE THE ARTICLE YOU'RE REFERENCING. I'M NOT, UM, THEY, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT. I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. OKAY. WELL, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE ABOUT 15 BUSINESSES THAT CALLED ME AND ASKED ME TO COME ON DOWN HERE AND SAY, LET THEM KNOW. WE DO NOT WANT THE MONTROSE MANAGEMENT, UH, INVOLVED. AND SEE PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES. IT'S 1100 SOMETHING, A FIFTH OF THOSE BUSINESSES IN MONTROSE IN YOUR DISTRICT. THEY WORK REAL HARD. THEY, THEY CAN'T AFFORD 2000, 5,000, SIX THOUSAND EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR. I, I HEAR YOU. MY, MY FATHER'S A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. I GOT YOU. I KNOW YOU WORK EVERY DAY TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS GOING, AND I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. HOLY SURE. I OPENED UP IN 1965. SO GRS, UH, YOU KNOW, GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES, BUT, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T NEED AN EXTRA SIX, SEVEN, OR EIGHT $10,000. AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP THERE. I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU WITH THEIR, WITH THE OFFICE THERE, BECAUSE WE CAN'T LET THAT HOUSTON'S TOO GOOD OF A CITY, AS EVERYBODY SAID. WELL, NOW THE DIRTIEST WELL, THE NEXT THING IS WE WERE WHAT, LAST YEAR? UH, MI MR. GRIFFIN UGLY. I SAID, THIS IS TERRIBLE. WE'RE ONE OF THE GREATEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU, MR. GRIFFIN. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. CHEY TDA. NEXT SPEAKER. RONALD BEES. THERE YOU GO. WAIT, IS THIS CHEY? OH, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? CHEY. HI, MR. CHEY. I KNOW I HAVE ONLY, UH, THREE MINUTES. GO AHEAD AND GET BEHIND THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU, SIR. YEAH. THANK I, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK. UM, I KNOW IN THREE MINUTES IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME TO, UM, MAKE ALL MY POINTS. SO I PREPARED THIS REPORT. HE TELLS YOU OF EVERY CORRUPT PRACTICES. I DIDN'T REACH HIM. GOING, UM, UM, GOING ON, UH, UH, UM, AT THE AIRPORT. I, I'M A CAR DRIVER, AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT THE ATMOSPHERE AT INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT IS WREAKING WITH INTOLERABLE CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION ON THE PATH OF GROUND TRANSPORTATION STATUS. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS CORRUPTION, PLEASE TRY TO READ THIS REPORT. YOU CAN, UH, GIVE THOSE TO RENEE, AND HE'LL PASS THOSE OUT TO EACH ONE OF US. UH, MR. CHUDA, YOU CAN, YOU CAN GIVE 'EM TO RENEE AND HE'LL GIVE 'EM TO US. MR. CHUDA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ARE YOU ARE, DID THAT CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS? YEAH, I, I, I WANTED THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO HEAR ME. YES, SIR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF, IF, WHEN THEY SEND COPS FROM, FROM THE STAGING GROUND AT THE AIRPORT TO THE TERMINAL, THE COPS ARE SENT IN. THE SEQUENTIAL ORDER IS SEQUENTIAL ORDER IN WHICH EVERYBODY POSTED. BUT WHEN THEY GET TO THE TERMINAL, THE STATUS AT THE TERMINAL RESHUFFLE THE NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING, SO THAT THE FIRST BECOMES THE LAST AND THE LAST BECOMES THE FIRST. AND WHAT HAPPENS? THE CAB DRIVER, WHEN THEY GET TO THE TERMINAL, THEY START QUARTER IN, WHICH MEANS THE IDEA OF RESHUFFLING THE NUMBERS WAS TO KNOCK HEADS TOGETHER, KNOCK HEADS TOGETHER. AND I'M SURE THIS MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL NEVER APPROVE TO THAT. I WANT APPROVE SUCH THING. YOU CAN, WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THE INFORMATION YOU ARE LEAVING FOR US. I, I THEN ANOTHER BRAND OF, ANOTHER INSTANCE OF CORRUPTION IS IF THEY HAVE CAB TO SEND FROM, SAY, TERMINAL EIGHT TO TERMINAL, UH, UH, C SEE WHERE MORE [03:15:01] CUSTOMERS ARE HERE WAITING THE ORDER OF DOING THINGS. I'VE, I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AIRPORT SINCE 1990. THE ORDER WE DO THINGS IS YOU SEND THE FIRST DRIVER, THE, THE FIRST ONLINE YOU CALL THE FIRST ONLINE CALL, THE SECOND ONLINE CALL, THE THIRD ONLINE CALL, THE, BUT THEY'LL NOT DO THAT. THEY'LL GO TO THE AREA AND SEND ALL THE TAB AT THE AREA TO HOW ABOUT THE FIRST AND THE, AND THE SECOND. MR. CHUDA, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. WE DO HAVE, UM, A COPY OF THE REPORT YOU'RE GIVING US. WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. UM, WE WILL, UH, REACH BACK OUT. IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO AT THE AIRPORT, WE, WE WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE REPORT AND FOR MAKING YOUR CONCERNS KNOWN TO US TODAY. YEAH, YEAH. FOR INFORMATION, THE CORRUPTION IS TOO MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHU. IT IS TOO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. RONALD BEES. DID HE GIVE IT TO US? RENEE RONALD BENITEZ. NEXT SPEAKER. BROOKE HOTEZ. BROOKE HOTEZ. HELLO. HI, BROOKE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DR. BROOKE HOTEZ. I AM A JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADER, ORGANIZER, AND EDUCATOR, AND I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT C . I'M HERE TODAY AS A PROUD JEWISH AMERICAN ASKING THAT YOU JOIN HOUSTON INTERFAITH FOR CEASEFIRE, A NEW LOCAL GROUP IN TOWN. WE'RE A BROAD COALITION OF FAITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN HOUSTON, ADVOCATING FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA IN ISRAEL. WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 28 SIGNATORIES, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR HER COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP AND FOR SIGNING ONTO OUR LETTER. WE INVITE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER SIGNING OUR LETTER AND JOIN US IN A LONG TRADITION OF FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PEACE. AS LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, LET US CONDEMN THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE AND GAZA THAT CAME TO THE WORLD'S ATTENTION FROM THE DEVASTATING ATROCITIES OF OCTOBER 7TH. SADLY, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT BEGIN ON THAT DAY. A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN EMPTY GESTURE FROM, UM, A CITY COUNCIL. FROM THE LEVEL OF CITY COUNCIL, UM, WE'RE WITNESSING TODAY, UH, DANGEROUS SPEECH, JUST SATURATING OUR DISCOURSE. UH, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, PARENTS ARE CONCERNED. I JUST MET A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN HOUSTONIAN AT TRINITY CHURCH THE OTHER DAY. SHE'S AN ELDER MILLENNIAL LIKE ME. SHE HAS LITTLE KIDS AT ONE OF THE BILINGUAL IMMERSION SCHOOLS HERE, AND SHE'S AFRAID, YOU KNOW, SHE'S, SHE'S SCARED. UM, ANTI-ARAB RACISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA HAS JUST, UH, BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ANTISEMITISM IS ON THE RISE. A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION FROM THIS BODY COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. WE NEED MORAL LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO INTERVENE IN THIS DISCOURSE THAT'S DOMINATED BY DANGEROUS SPEECH, PERPETRATING DANGEROUS STEREOTYPES ABOUT GROUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE HERE IN THIS, IN THIS PROPHETIC CITY. SO, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION NOT AS AN EMPTY GESTURE OR SOMETHING THAT IS IRRELEVANT. THIS COULD BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE AND OUTREACH EFFORT THAT OUR COALITION, WE HAVE OVER 28 SIGNATORIES OF FAITH LEADERS AND CLERGY FROM ACROSS THE CITY. WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU AND HELP AS A COALITION AND OFFER ANY RESOURCES THAT WE COULD TO PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT. SO, UM, WE'LL SEND YOU A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU, BROOKE, FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, BRETT HIGHTOWER. BRETT HIGHTOWER. MARIA ZAMUDIO. MARIA ZAMUDIO. NEXT SPEAKER, DARRELL HARPER. DARRELL HARPER. NEXT SPEAKER PASTOR JAMES WILLIAMS. PASTOR JAMES WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. ROSALYN WILLIAMS. ROSALYN WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER, PAULA [03:20:01] CURRY. PAULA CURRY. NEXT SPEAKER JOSEPH SMITH, JR. JOSEPH SMITH, JR. NEXT SPEAKER, DANIEL PEREZ. DANIEL PEREZ. NEXT SPEAKER. ILI MONTOYA. REVA. ALRIGHT. ILI MONTOYA. REVA IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE, UH, I WENT TO AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNMENT WITH DWC, UM, AND I NEED, UH, SOMEONE TO ASSIST ME. I CONTACT AUSTIN. I ALSO CONTACT, UH, THE OFFICE OF DAN CRENSHAW AND SENATOR, UM, CREON IN REGARDS TO, UH, PAY STUBS THAT WERE NOT GIVEN TO ME, NOT W2 WHEN I WAS WORKING IN THE JOHN WITH MY CAMPAIGN. UNFORTUNATELY, DATING THAT I'M HIDING MONEY OR HIDING EARNINGS, MY EARNINGS DON'T COME FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, NOR HAVING, UH, HAVE I BEEN RECEIVING ANY KIND OF, UM, MONETARY INCENTIVES AFTER, AFTER HE FIRED ME BECAUSE HE FELT THAT I WAS TAKING TOO MANY PICTURES WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, PEOPLE OR MINORITIES. UH, NOR I REMIND SOME OF YOU I'M A MINORITY. I'M FROM MEXICO CITY. UH, MOST RECENTLY WE ELECTED, UH, UH, MEXICAN FEMALE PRESIDENT, UH, TO BE, UH, THE ME THE FIRST MEXICAN, UH, PRESIDENT, UH, OF MEXICO. UH, SO I JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO ASSIST ME TO CONVINCE MR. JOHN WIMAR, UM, WHO LOST HIS SEAT, UH, IN, UH, AUSTIN AS A SENATOR AND NOW WHO WAS ELECTED, UM, THE MAJOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TO PLEASE, UH, PROVIDE ME THAT, UM, DOCUMENTATION. I HAVE CONTACT HIS PEOPLE, UM, WHO WERE IN CHARGE OF THE, UH, CAMPAIGN, AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE ME THAT DOCUMENTATION. UH, WHATEVER HIS, UM, HIS, UH, EMOTIONS ARE, OR WHATEVER HE HAS AGAINST ME, UH, DUE TO SOME FAMILY FEUD, THE SHERIFF OF SAN KUDOS, UH, ARE OVER. THIS IS, UM, UM, THE LAW. HE CAN, HE'S NOT ABOVE THE LAW. I'M JUST REQUESTING SOMETHING THAT BY THE LAW, UH, I NEED FOR IRS PURPOSES FOR, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED? ALL THE PURPOSES. AND, AND SO I CAN BE, UH, TRANSPARENT WITH MY INTERVIEWS AND THE GOVERNMENT. SO, NOR NOR I REMIND YOU ALSO UNDER, UH, BASICALLY, UH, EEOC, UH, HE HAD NO THE RIGHT TO, UH, USE HIS INFLUENCE TO DISCRIMINATE SOME PEOPLE AROUND, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE STATE OF TEXAS, OR THE COUNTY, AND FIRE THEM. SO I, UH, DON'T, UH, UM, I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE THAT I DID A LIVE ON MY FACEBOOK ACCOUNT. I DONATED HIS SHARE THAT SAYS, JOHN, MY CAMPAIGN TO THE GOODWILL, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I WAS FEELING. ANOTHER TIME THAT HE DESIRED TO FIRE ME. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEWS WERE DELIVERED BY MY MOTHER WHO WENT TO TALK TO PEOPLE WITHIN THE HIGHS THAT BASICALLY I WAS FIRED BECAUSE I TOOK PICTURES WITH PEOPLE WITHIN, UH, WHO WERE, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED? UM, YEAH, THOMAS MINORITIES'. FINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE'LL MAKE SURE HE GETS THAT MESSAGE. OKAY. AND, UH, CAN I JUST HAVE A, LIKE A MINUTE TO TALK TO MR. POLLER? I HAVEN'T, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PA TRYING REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE. HE'LL STEP OUT AND, AND SPEAK TO YOU. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. THANK YOU, MS. MONTOYA. RIVA. JOSEPH RAO. SHE LOOKS GOOD. JOSEPH RAO, NEXT SPEAKER. HE'S COMING. OH, HI, MR. JOSEPH. HI, HOW ARE YOU? I'M NOT DOING TOO GOOD. UH, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA COME IN HERE TODAY. WE HAVE THREE MINUTES. I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO PREPARE. UM, THERE'S A SITUATION, I, I'VE BEEN, UM, THERE WAS A WRONGFUL TERMINATION, A DISCRIMINATION CASE, UH, IN AUGUST 26TH TO 22. AND, UH, IT'S A, A JEWISH BUSINESS OWNER AND THE OWNER'S FROM ISRAEL AND THE SITUATION, UM, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THE EOC IN JULY OF 23, AND THE EEOC SAID, YOU KNOW, THE, THE THINGS THAT I HAD, THE EVIDENCE AND OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, I COULD OPEN UP A US DISTRICT COURT CASE. I, I, THE CASE IS EXTRA SENSITIVE. UM, THIS IS, UH, JULY 23. THIS IS BEFORE THIS THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON OC IN OCTOBER. BUT THE CASE IS EXTRA SENSITIVE. I HAVE, I HAVE, UH, EVIDENCE IN THINGS [03:25:01] THAT, UH, COULD BE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY THREATENING TO, UM, PEOPLE MORE THAN YOU. YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD WANNA KNOW. AND, UM, I, UH, ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS. I CONTACTED THE JEWISH FEDERATION, UM, UH, IN AUGUST OF 20 THIR, UH, 23. I, I DROVE UP THERE. SHE SAID I NEEDED TO SPEAK TO THE SECURITY DIRECTOR. UM, I DID THIS, UH, SENT OUT EMAILS. I PREPARED EMAILS. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I SENT EMAILS TO ALL THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS IN THE, IN THE UNITED STATES, UH, AS MANY AS I COULD FIND. UM, NOBODY RESPONDED. THE LAST EMAIL I SENT WAS SE UM, I SENT EMAILS THROUGHOUT AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 2023. THE LAST EMAIL THAT I SENT TO JEWISH FEDERATION WAS APPROXIMATELY, UH, THE 15TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2023. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UM, THREE WEEKS LATER, THE, THIS, UH, CONFLICT HAPPENED IN, IN ISRAEL AND, UM, THE HAMA STING AND STUFF. AND, UH, I JUST ASSUMED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO NOT CONTACT ME BACK UNTIL THAT WAS FINISHED. SO I STARTED SENDING, UH, EMAILS TO THE SENATE, THE HOUSE, UM, CONGRESSIONAL STAFF, UM, THINGS OF, OF THAT NATURE TO, BECAUSE MY CASE IS ULTRA SENSITIVE, AND I HAVE EVIDENCE IN THINGS THAT, UH, UH, COULD COME OUT INTO THE OPEN AND, UH, REVEAL STUFF THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST COULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND OR, OR TO, UH, TO KNOW ABOUT. 'CAUSE THEY BECOME UPSET. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO EXPLAIN THIS IN A WAY THAT COULD CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, THE MINIMUM PROBLEMS. IT'S GOOD. AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY PROFESSIONALS. SO I STARTED CONTACTING THE, THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND, AND THINGS. AND THEN THEY WEREN'T, UH, THEY WEREN'T, UH, CONTACTING ME BACK. UH, I STARTED CONTACTING, UM, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. UM, I, WELL, AFTER THE JEWISH FEDERATION DIDN'T COME ME CONTACT ME BACK, I COMPLETED THE SUMMONS PAPERWORK. I TRIED TO, YOU KNOW, I SENT EMAILS TO THE JEWISH FEDERATION TO SAY, MAYBE WE COULD RESOLVE THIS WITHOUT NEEDING TO GO TO COURT, BECAUSE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, COURT'S PUBLIC AND THEY DIDN'T RESPOND. SO I, I DID THE SUMMONS PAPERWORK ON OCTOBER 16TH. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UM, I, UH, DO, I DID, DID, DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC TO, I, I HAVE EVIDENCE IN THINGS THAT WAS, UH, SENSITIVE AND, AND I, I ENDED UP, UH, BEING EVICTED OUTTA MY APARTMENT, AND I'M SLEEPING IN MY CAR, HOMELESS, AND I'M WORKING ON CON ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT GOVERNMENT, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE FBI, THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS HAVE RENEE TALK TO YOU. UM, RENEE CAN GIVE YOU SOME RESOURCES TO HELP WITH YOU IF YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE HOMELESS. RENEE, IF YOU CAN GIVE HIM, I DON'T, SOME INFORMATION. I DON'T KNOW. I, I KNOW ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS FOR HOMELESS. I'M, I HAD AN APARTMENT AND I WAS EVICTED BECAUSE I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT, I NEEDED TO CONTACT GOVERNMENT TO HELP ME TO COME OUT TO MY APARTMENT, TO, UH, TO UNDERSTAND THE EVIDENCE. 'CAUSE IT'S A, THIS A SECURITY THREAT TO THE COUNTRY. OKAY. AND, AND, UH, IT WAS IMPORTANT. AND I, YOU KNOW, I EVEN, I, I WENT IN THERE AND I SPOKE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE NONPROFITS AND THE, UH, UH, NONPROFITS IN THE GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE SPENDING LIKE $305 MILLION ON ANTISEMITISM AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. RIGHT? MY, BUT I THINK WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SOLVE THAT RIGHT HERE TODAY. UM, RENEE, IF YOU CAN GET HIS INFORMATION, WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET YOU SOME, SOME, BUT I NEED LEGAL, BUT I NEED LAW. I NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP ME. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, MR. CARR IS HERE. HE CAN, HE CAN TALK TO YOU. HE'S WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. OKAY. WILL THAT HELP? YEAH. WELL, I, I DON'T KNOW. WELL, I NEED, WE'LL TRY, I NEED RESOURCES AND STUFF, SO, RIGHT. HE'S HERE WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE. OKAY. AND, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE MAYOR SO HE'S NOT HERE. I'M SORRY. BUT HE'LL BE HERE NEXT WEEK. OKAY? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT US. NEXT SPEAKER. TREVOR SMITH. TREVOR SMITH. TREVOR SMITH. NEXT SPEAKER. IRIS KING. IRIS KING. IRIS KING. NEXT SPEAKER. TINA BRADY. TINA BRADY. NEXT SPEAKER. THAT [RECESS] COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM 5 0 5. 5 0 5. IT'S 5 0 5 FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 4TH AND FIFTH, 2024. ITEM ONE, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 11, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, GREATER GREENSPOINT ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE GREATER GREENSPOINT REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM THREE, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS [03:30:01] FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $10,330,917 65 CENTS. AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH TOTAL CONTRACTING LIMITED. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SETTLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE IMMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDING STYLE, CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS SONG KEY MEN. ITEM FIVE, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $388,147 67 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF SABA TALENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FROM INSIGHT PUBLIC SECTOR INC. ITEM SIX G THREE TECHNOLOGIES INC. THE SOLE SOURCE SUPPLIER FOR PURCHASE OF THE TETLEY HYDRO SYSTEM. ITEM SEVEN L HORSE NORTH AMERICA OF TEXAS LLC FOR SUPPLY OF CALCIUM HYDROXIDE SLURRY. ITEM EIGHT, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,593,947 59 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF TECHNOLOGY RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THROUGH COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENTS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES. ITEM NINE, ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CONTINUATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR SUPPORT OF CITY GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE SIX, A SECTION ONE OF THE CITY CHARTER ITEM 10. ORDINANCE RELATED TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE CITY APPROVING ANNUAL BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. ITEM 11, ORDINANCE RATIFIED AND ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2025. ANNUAL BUDGETS RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM A VALOR AND PROPERTY TAXES. ITEM 12, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER L HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER LGC FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2025. OPERATING EXPENSES PURSUANT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER. LGC ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC. ITEM 14, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF AN AD VALOREM TAX FOR THE PAYMENT AND SECURITY THEREOF, AUTHORIZING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, INTEREST RATES, PRICES, REDEMPTION FEATURES AND TERMS THEREOF. AND TO AWARD THE SALE THEREOF CERTAIN DESIGNATED OFFICIALS TO APPROVE THE METHOD OF SALE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERTAIN PARAMETERS AUTHORIZING A FUND AND METHOD OF PAYMENT RELATING TO CERTAIN CLAIMANTS PERTAINING TO HOUSTON PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LOCAL 3 41 VERSUS CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN PROVEN SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF $650 MILLION BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LOCAL 3 41 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIA ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT REFUNDING BONDS IN ONE OR MORE SERIES AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF AN AVALOR TAX FOR THE PAYMENT AND SECURITY THEREOF, AUTHORIZING CERTAIN DESIGNATED OFFICIALS TO APPROVE THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, INTEREST RATES, PRICES, REDEMPTION, FEATURES, TERMS AND SALE THEREOF IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERTAIN PARAMETERS. ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVING. APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE DEAR APPROPRIATING, $595,000 OUT OF POLICE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED TO GS D TLC SLASH JLC PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING $595,000 OUT OF POLICE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT INTER-AGENCY MARINE OPERATIONS CENTER, BOATHOUSE INSTALLATION PROJECT AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORK. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE OF WARDEN CONTRACT TO TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP INC. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SMITH PUMP COMPANY, INC. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND A ONE PERSONNEL OF HOUSTON INC. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT TO HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL ITEM 24 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 459.224 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 1 6 5 ITEM 25, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 0 2 11 TO CORRECT OUTLINE AGREEMENT NUMBER FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB LLC ITEM 26. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE $3,984,641 85 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON [03:35:01] AND CDM SMITH INC. ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,330,798 36 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TRILOGY ENERGY. TRILOGY ENGINEERING SERVICES LLC ITEM 28. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,939,584 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD AND CONTRACT TO RELIANCE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LP ITEM 29, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO EQ INTEGRITY SOUTHEAST INC. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO PEEKABOO RENTALS. LLC ITEM 31 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DUMPSTER GUYS LLC ITEM 32, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO LEADS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LLC ITEM 33 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY SEPTIC TANK SERVICE LLC ITEM 34, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SOTOS TRUCKING INC. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING INC. ITEM 36 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO UNITED SITE SERVICES OF TEXAS INC. ITEM 37 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ARCANE COMPANIES LLC ITEM 38, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO WASTEWATER TRANSPORT SERVICES. LLC ITEM 39, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SPECIALIZED WASTE SYSTEMS INC. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SAN MARCOS GREASE SERVICE LLC ITEM 41 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SO WASTE DISPOSAL, LLC ITEM 42, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BRACEWELL, LLP ITEM 43, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NORTON. ROSE FULBRIGHT, U-S-L-L-P ITEM 44, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 45, ARTICLE 15 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE FOUR AND FIVE, 2024. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARIES, PAT JEFFERSON, DANIEL ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. CATCH THESE HANDS AND WITH THAT, HAVE A BLESSED AND FAMILY . THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY. COUNSEL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER. [RECONVENE] UH, NOW FOR THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL [ADMIN REPORT] REPORT, CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS AND CHAIR RECOGNIZES FINANCIAL DIRECTOR MELISSA DEBOWSKI. NO, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED APRIL 30TH, 2024 IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $453.8 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. THIS IS $14 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $267.5 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET, UPHOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO AND RESERVE. OUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS ARE UNCHANGED FROM THE MARCH, 2024 REPORT FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. MY OFFICE IS PROJECTING NO CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTHS AMOUNTS IN AVIATION CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT, THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, STORM WATER FUND, OR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUNDS AND FOR THE CITY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. UM, I'M MISSING A PAGE HERE, BUT IT'S OUR STANDARD PRACTICE, UH, TO HOLD, UH, NO MORE THAN 20% OF THOSE BONDS, UM, IN VARIABLE RATE DEBT. AND WE'RE WELL BELOW THOSE THRESHOLDS. UH, BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WE HELD OUR FIRST CONTROLLERS TOWN HALL LAST NIGHT WITH A FOCUS ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET. A SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO DR. MARCUS D COSBY AND WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH FOR OPENING UP THEIR DOORS FOR US AND TO THE ATTENDEES FOR DEALING WITH MULTIPLE RESCHEDULES BASED ON THE SEVERE WEATHER OUR COMMUNITY HAS DEALT WITH RECENTLY. I KNOW THAT PASTOR DAVIS, UH, HAS HELD A SIMILAR TOWN HALL THIS MONDAY, [03:40:01] AND I ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, BFA CHAIR ALCORN AND VICE CHAIR CASTILLO HAVE HELD MULTIPLE TOWN HALLS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. WHAT'S CLEAR TO ME, AND I'M SURE IT'S CLEAR TO ALL OF US, IS THAT HOUSTONIANS ARE HUNGRY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CITY AND HOW IT AFFECTS THEM AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. I KNOW THAT EVERYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE IS COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT WE CAN BE DOING MORE TO PUT PERTINENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCES AND OPERATIONS AT THE FINGERTIPS OF HOUSTONIANS IN LANGUAGE, IN A FORMAT THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND. I'M ASKING FOR EACH OF YOUR SUPPORT AND MAKING THAT A REALITY. UH, WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. OH, HERE WE GO. OKAY, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE 10 PLUS TWO FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30TH, 2024. FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 10 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND TWO MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION REMAINS THE SAME AS THE PRIOR MONTH, AND IS $42.5 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET. THE EXPENDER PROJECT, THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTION LIKEWISE, REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH AND IS $42.4 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET. BASED ON THE REVENUES AND THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS, WE'RE PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 467.8 MILLION, WHICH REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH AND REPRESENTS 18.8% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES. LET DEBT LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO, THAT BRINGS THE FUND BALANCE TO $281.5 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. UM, AND FOR THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WE ARE PROJECTING A CHANGE TO THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FUND DUE TO INCREASED REVENUES OF 1.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED PUBLIC HEALTH AND CHARITY CARE PROGRAM REIMBURSEMENT, AND ALSO INTEREST ON POOLED INVESTMENTS. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. UH, UH, MR. HOLLINS, IN AN EFFORT TO BE THAT TRANSPARENT AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, WHICH WE ALL ENDORSE, IS IT IN SHARING THAT INFORMATION, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU'RE NOT CERTIFYING THE FIREFIGHTERS AGREEMENT AS WE WOULD AS WE GO FORWARD ON THE AGENDA? YEAH, AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR, UH, WHICH, WHICH MEANS WE WON'T TAKE IT UP, WHICH MEANS WE'LL PULL THE BOND COUNCIL AS WELL. 'CAUSE WE DON'T NEED BOND COUNCIL TILL WE CERTIFY AND PASS THE AGREEMENT. SO IS THAT YOUR POSITION? UH, WELL FIRST, IT'S, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BOND COUNCIL HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. AND SO, I'M SORRY, WHAT? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BOND COUNCIL HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW, PREDATING THIS. SO IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU CAN'T CONSIDER BOND COUNCIL WITHOUT THIS. SURE. UH, BEYOND THAT, WELL, IF YOU DON'T CERTIFY, CERTIFY THE AGREEMENT, I WOULD SUGGEST THE OUGHT GO HAND IN HAND. SO I WILL PULL THE BOND COUNCIL, UH, BOND ISSUANCE MOTION AS IT'S CURRENTLY SCHEDULED. THAT'S CERTAINLY YOUR PREROGATIVE. THE, UH, THE FIREFIGHTERS AGREEMENT, AS YOU KNOW, IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S INCREDIBLY WEIGHTY IN TERMS OF ITS MAGNITUDE AND THE IMPACT OF THE CI ON, ON THE CITY AND OUR FUTURE FINANCIALLY. UH, MY OFFICE RECEIVED FOR THE FIRST TIME, UH, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND THE BACK PAY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, UH, MONDAY AFTERNOON. AND SO WE'VE HAD LESS THAN TWO DAYS NOW TO CONSIDER WHAT'S PAGES. YOU DO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GONNA BE TAGGED THIS MORNING, WHICH WOULD GIVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL WEEK, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES. EXACTLY. I HAVE MY RESPONSIBILITIES, SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. AND SO FAR, WE HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE OUR REVIEW. YEAH, I RESPECT THAT. AND I MISSTATED WHEN I SAID BOND COUNCILS, THE ACTUAL ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS WERE ITEM 14, SO I THINK THEY OUGHT TO GO HAND IN HAND. SO WE RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE, THE JOB YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. YEAH. UH, CITY CONTROLLER, JUST TO BE CLEAR, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING COULD BE TAGGED AS AN ITEM, WHICH MAYORS YOU INDICATED AS COUNCIL'S, RIGHT? UH, CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE, WHAT GOES INTO THE PROCESS OF CERTIFICATION AND WHY YOU WOULD NOT NECESSARILY CERTIFY SOMETHING, UH, UNTIL YOU HAVE AS AN OFFICE, AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT YOU ARE DOING? SURE. I MEAN, OUR JOB AS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE CITY, AND WE VIEW IT AS THE CHIEF ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER AND CHIEF TRANSPARENCY OFFICER FOR THE CITY. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN, IN ANYTHING THAT WE PUT FORWARD. AND SO IT'S, IT'S VERY COMMON FOR OUR OFFICE WHEN WE RECEIVE AGENDA ITEMS, IF WE DON'T HAVE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING TO GO AND ASK QUESTIONS OF CITY DEPARTMENTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. UH, BUT HERE, BEFORE WE EVEN ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, IT'S, IT'S OUR [03:45:01] RESPONSIBILITY TO SIMPLY READ THE DOCUMENT. RIGHT? AND THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS UPWARDS OF ABOUT 120 PAGES AND OTHER SUPPORTING AGREEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE BACK PAY SETTLEMENT OR ANOTHER 30 OR SO PAGES. UH, WE'RE READING THROUGH THAT. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SPECIFIC FINANCIAL RETURNS ABOUT PAY LEVELS AND SO ON. AND OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING TEAM HAS GONE DIRECTLY TO THOSE FINANCIAL AMOUNTS AND HAS STARTED TO PERFORM ANALYSIS ON THEM. UH, AND IT'S SIMPLY NOT COMPLETE. AND SO WE WANT TO, AGAIN, GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE, RIGHT, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE HIGH LEVEL MATH ON THIS IS THAT, IS THIS IS UPWARDS OF A BILLION DOLLARS OF FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR THE CITY, AND IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO, AT A BASELINE LEVEL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN IT BEFORE PUTTING IT FORWARD TO YOU. AND CERTIFICATION IS BASICALLY THE STAMP SAYING THAT YOU AS THE CONTROLLER, UM, WHAT DOES THAT SAY? UH, ULTIMATELY IT'S ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. UM, BUT AGAIN, TO UNDERSTAND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT. TO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, WE HAVE TO READ THE DOCUMENT. AND SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT. UH, WE MAY HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS ONCE WE'VE READ IT, BUT AT THIS POINT IT'S, IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT REVIEW AND THEN INPUTTING SOME OF THE FINANCIAL, UM, UM, TERMS AND SO ON INTO OUR MODEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CONTROLLER. AND FLICKINGER. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER QUESTION FOR FINANCE, UH, SALES TAX RECEIPTS WERE DOWN 5%. YES. YEAR OVER YEAR? YES. LAST MONTH, YES. WAS THERE AN EVENT FROM A YEAR AGO THAT MAYBE DISTORTED THAT OR IS THIS A PRETTY APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON? UM, I THINK IT'S FAIRLY APPLES TO APPLES WE HAVE SEEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MONTH TO MONTH, AND WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THE DETAILS FOR EACH MONTH. THERE ARE SOME MONTHS WHERE WE'RE FLAT TO THE PRIOR YEAR. SOME MONTHS WE'RE ABOVE PRIOR YEAR, UM, SOME MONTHS BELOW PRIOR YEAR. SO IN TOTALITY, FISCAL YEAR TO DATE, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH FLAT WITH THE PRIOR YEAR, ABOUT 0.2% UP. I SAW SINCE THE CALENDAR YEAR, ANOTHER REPORT THAT SAYS WE'RE DOWN 2%. UM, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE FIGURES AND PULL IT ALL TOGETHER, BUT OKAY. WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE MONTHS OF DECREASES YEAR OVER YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. ANYTHING ELSE, MEMBERS? IF NOT, WE THANK EACH OF YOU AND CONTROL ANY OF THE STAKEHOLDERS. UH, CERTAINLY MY STAFF, THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY, ANYONE THAT CAN ASSIST YOU IN YOUR REVIEW IS, IS AVAILABLE. THANKS SO MUCH. ALRIGHT. BE SAFE. THANK YOU, MELISSA, FOR THE MOTION. COUNCILMAN ALCORN, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED APRIL 30TH, 2024. VERY SECOND, CASTILLO. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, ON A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO WELCOME SOME INTERNS WE HAVE HERE FROM JUDGE ERICA RAMIREZ. COURT. JUDGE RAMIREZ IS JUDGE OF COUNTY COURT AT COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER EIGHT, AND HAS SOME INTERNS WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE SUMMER AND THOUGHT, THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, UH, IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO COME DOWN AND SEE HOW CITY HALL OPERATES. ALSO WANNA WELCOME INTERNS THAT, UH, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS WORKING FOR THEM THIS SUMMER AS WELL. SO IF YOU FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY, IF YOU'RE AN INTERN HERE VISITING, PLEASE, PLEASE STAND UP. GREAT ONE, WONDERFUL TO HAVE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. I'D LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU AFTER THE MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU INTERNS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. STAY INVOLVED. COME BACK AND HELP US. WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO TEE IT UP FOR YOU, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S GONNA BE YOUR SHOT. OKAY? THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN POLLARD ON MATTER OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UH, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AS WELL TO RECOGNIZE MY DAUGHTER WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE, STAND UP. NADIA. NADIA IS, UH, A RISING JUNIOR AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND SHE JUST FINISHED THIS SEMESTER. SO SHE'S SHADOWING DAD TODAY, AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE HER HERE IN CHAMBERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND WE'RE TEEING IT UP FOR YOU TOO. OKAY? UH, NEXT. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL NOW PROCEED WITH [CONSENT AGENDA] THE CONSENT UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEMS ONE AND TWO, NEED A MOTION, CAST MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE, AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES ON THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. T MOVED. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES [03:50:02] UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TM MOVED. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF B CATEGORY. ITEM SIX AND EIGHT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM FIVE AND SEVEN? CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL OPPOSED IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEM 15, 16, AND 21. I'M SORRY. NO. ITEM 15 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED. IT WILL NOT BE CON WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE AGENDA, WHICH WE KNOW IT WILL NOT BE. SO ITEM 14 AND 15 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, AND 22. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, AND 22. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION PASSES. ITEM [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] SIX NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX. TA, MOVE ON THE SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. SIX. TATUM MOVED. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NINE IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, NOW THIS BUDGET NUMBER 10. ITEM 10 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. NOT THAT EASY. ALL IN FAVOR? . TAG TAG. HERE THEY ARE IN ORDER. VERY WELL. WE'LL START OUT WITH THAT LARGE ONE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. NO, WE'RE GONNA TAG IT. TAG TAG. WE NEED TO DO THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE WE TAG THE AMENDMENTS. ANIMATE ITEMS OR ELSE YOU CAN'T AMEND. Y'ALL WANT TO TAG IT BEFORE YOU LAY THE AMENDMENTS OR NOT TAG THE WHOLE THING. YOU TAG YOU TAG THE WHOLE THING. YEAH. WE'LL TAG THE, WE DON'T GO THROUGH AMENDMENTS WITH THIS TAB. YOU, YOU MIGHT WANT TO. NO, NO. SO YOU'LL SUBMIT 'EM NEXT WEEK FOR, FOR THE FIRST TIME. JUST STATE THE AMENDMENTS FOR NEXT WEEK DISCUSSION. IF SUBMIT THE AMENDMENTS IN WRITING. DON'T YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE THE AMENDMENTS FOR THE WEEK. WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL HAVE THEM IN IN ADVANCE. YEAH, I I GOT IT. TAG. THAT'S FINE. THE CHAIR TAGGED IT. IT'S TAGGED TWICE. POINT OF INFORMATION MATTERS. MATTERS. TAGGED. WE WON'T TAKE IT UP. SUITS ME. POINT OF CLARIFICATION. COUNCILOR CAMAN, POINT OF INFORMATION. IF THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN LAID OUT ON THE TABLE, ARE THEY CONSIDERED SUBMITTED? AND THEREFORE, WILL WE RECEIVE A MATRIX IN ADVANCE OF WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE? BECAUSE ONCE THEY'RE LAID OUT ON THE TABLE, IS THAT NOT THE SUBMISSION OF THE AMENDMENTS? I WANT YOU TO HAVE THE INFORMATION. WE WERE PREPARED TO LAY IT OUT. THEN SOMEONE COULD TAG IT. THEY COULD HAVE THE AMENDMENTS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WOULD LIKE TO TAG IT BEFORE THE AMENDMENTS ARE LAID OUT. I, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALMAN ALSO DID. I I COULD PLAY HAR HARDBALL AND SAY NO TO ENOUGH. BUT IF YOU WANT TO TAG IT BEFORE THE DISCUSSION, GO BE IT. AND YOU CAN DO THE, IN YOUR OFFICE OR WITH MY OFFICE, UH, DISCUSSION AND, UH, WE'LL TAKE 'EM UP NEXT WEEK. RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND. MY, MY POINT OF INFORMATION WAS ON WHETHER OR NOT BECAUSE THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE TABLE, IF THAT IS THE SUBMISSION FORMALLY, SO THAT YOU COULD, THE ADMINISTRATION, I UNDERSTAND PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT'S ON THE TABLE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE 'EM UP AND THEN WE CAN TAG THE DECISION. UH, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT'S PRETTY PRODUCTIVE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA GET IN AN ARGUMENT ABOUT IT. I DON'T THINK MY [03:55:01] QUESTION'S BEING ANSWERED. I'M TELLING YOU WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS. THEY'RE BEFORE YOU. THEY'VE BEEN DISTRIBUTED. WE COULD DISCUSS 'EM AND BEFORE VOTE THEY COULD BE TAGGED. WAIT, I CAN'T. THEN THERE'S A POINT OF VIEW LIST TAG THEM AND WE DON'T TAKE 'EM UP. RIGHT. BUT FOR PARLIAMENTARY PURPOSES, HAVE THE AMENDMENTS BEEN RECEIVED? AND ARE THEY NOW INCORPORATED FOR LAYOUT NEXT WEEK? YES. OR WOULD IT BE THE FIRST? OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. YES, THEY ARE. YES, MA'AM. I'LL HAND DELIVER 'EM TO YOU IF YOU WANT ME TO. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. ITEMS TAGGED. AND THEN WE NEED A TAG ON ITEMS, UH, 10 THROUGH, UH, 10 THROUGH 13, OR 11 THROUGH 13 RATHER. 11 THROUGH 13. I ASSUME IT'S TIFFANY TAGGING THEM. YOU WANT TAG THEM? I, I I'LL TAG, UH, 11 THROUGH 13. OKAY. OKAY. 10 THROUGH 13, TEN'S BEEN TAGGED. AND WE'LL MOVE TO 11 THROUGH 13. ALSO, IT'S BEEN TAGGED, UM, TAGGED VERY WELL. JUST TAG. OKAY. ITEM 11. NOW WE'RE ON 12, 13, 14, 15. WE'VE PULLED 14 AND 15. SO NOW WE'RE ON, UH, 16. 16 NEXT, RIGHT? YES. 16 IS THE NEXT ITEM. ITEM 16. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. TAG THAT POLL TAG. UH, COUNCILOR POLLARD. 22ND. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. HUFFMAN TAG. HUFFMAN TAG. HUFFMAN TAG. DO YOU WANT A RELEASE FOR DISCUSSION? TEXT IN THE QUEUE. OKAY. HUFFMAN TAG 22 IS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. 42 WAS PULLED. 43 WAS PULLED. POINT OF INFORMATION. MAYOR, UM, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO NUMBER 22 THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. SO CAN WE SUBMIT THAT BEFORE THE TAG? SURE. YES. IT'S, IT'S ALREADY ON THE TAPE. IT'S IN, IT'S ON THE TAPE. IT'S IN, YEAH. IT'S A SINGLE PAPER THAT YES, IT'S IN. FAIL TO GET A CITY SECRETARY ONE. OKAY. OKAY. MEMBERS, ITEM 42 BEFORE US. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED PASS ITEM PASSES. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM PASSES. ITEM 44 [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. ITEM PASSES. SPEED BUMP. JUST COMPLETE THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. SPEED BUMPS. WE GOT SPEED BUMPS. VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] IS RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, OFFICER LASTER, UM, FOR HIS LAST DAY THIS FRIDAY. HE'S BEEN WITH HPD FOR 32 YEARS. HE WAS AT THE SOUTHWEST PATROL, SOUTH GESNER, INVESTIGATIVE FIRST RESPONDER, MIDWEST PATROL, AND NOW OF COURSE, WITH THE MAYOR'S DETAILS. SO I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS 32 YEARS OF SERVICE. UM, AND NEXT MAYOR, UM, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NORTH REGIONAL LIBRARY. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT THE FUNDING HAS BEEN MOVED FROM THAT LIBRARY AND JUST WANTED TO GET MORE INFORMATION EITHER NOW OR, YOU KNOW, LATER ON. THAT'S, UM, A LIBRARY THAT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT IN DISTRICT A ANYMORE, IT WAS IN DISTRICT A BEFORE REDISTRICTING. IT'S NOW IN DISTRICT B, BUT IT'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF OUR TWO DISTRICTS. AND SO WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SURE. HOW WE'RE PROCEEDING WITH THAT LIBRARY. YEAH, A LOT OF MISINFORMATION BY SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. IT'S UNDER REVIEW FIRST FOR THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, ALSO THE IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE ON THE BULA SHEPHERD LIBRARY AT THE CORNER OF LITTLE YARD IN WEST MONTGOMERY. THERE IS CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMPETING INTERESTS THERE. SO IT IS UNDER REVIEW. THANK [04:00:01] YOU MAYOR. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. SOUNDS LIKE IT. I'LL BE BRIEF. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE, THAT'S WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL IT. POP OFF . I'LL BE BRIEF AND I'LL, I'LL I'LL STICK TO THE, UH, TO THE BUDGET. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN DOING. UH, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT, UM, THIS COURSE CORRECT HAS BEEN GOING, HAS BEEN NEEDED FOR MULTIPLE DECADES, ACTUALLY. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO BEGIN TO, UM, ADDRESS SOME OF THE INEFFICIENCIES IN THE, IN THE DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO, UM, ALSO BRING SOME CERTAINTY WITH THE HOUSTON FIREFIGHTER CONTRACT. THESE ARE ALL HEAVY LIFTS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS NOT, UH, UH, TAKEN LIGHTLY. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO, TO ENSURE THAT SOLID WASTE BASIC SERVICES ARE BEING ADDRESSED. AND SO AS, AS WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, UH, MY MY HOPE IS THAT, UH, WE CONTINUE TO, IN THE SPIRIT OF, OF COLLABORATION, IN THE SPIRIT OF, UH, MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITIES COME FIRST, THAT WE APPROVE A BUDGET, UH, SOON, THAT, THAT WOULD BE, UH, OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITIES FIRST AND FOREMOST. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA, UH, THANK THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ITEM 44, UH, THAT WE JUST PASSED. UM, THIS WAS RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THIS WAS A ITEM THAT MYSELF AND SEVERAL COLLEAGUES BROUGHT FORWARD A FEW MONTHS AGO THROUGH THE PROP. A, UM, PROCESS, UH, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THREE OR MORE SIGNATURES, UH, TO BRING, UM, AN ORDINANCE CHANGE, UH, RELATED TO THE NTMP PROCESS. UM, THIS ALL STARTED BY MY OFFICE RECEIVING A CALL FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WANTED SPEED BUMPS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO, UM, GET THE SPEED BUMPS ON ONE PARTICULAR STREET BECAUSE THE PROCESS MANDATED THAT IT SURVEYS THE ENTIRE AREA. AND IF THE ENTIRE AREA WAS DEEMED TO NEED, UH, SPEED BUMPS, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO IT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA AND NOT ONE STREET. THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE CHANGE GIVES THE DIRECTOR OF THE, UH, DEPARTMENT MORE DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT, UH, THESE ITEMS, UH, THAT COME FORWARD AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO, UM, NOT GO FORWARD HAVING TO DO THE ENTIRE AREA, BUT CAN, UH, DECIDE THAT ONE OR TWO STREETS ARE A PRIORITY. AND SO, UM, WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE EXTREMELY NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENCY, FOR FLEXIBILITY, AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A COMMON SENSE APPROACH, UH, TO THE NTMP PROCESS. SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT, UH, WE FINALLY GOT IT ON THE AGENDA AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE SUPPORT OF IT. UM, AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE START OF US BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO THINK OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, UH, THAT WE THINK WILL BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVING THE ABILITY TO PUT THEM ON THE AGENDA. UM, ALSO, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT, UM, THERE WILL BE A RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR CHIEF TROY NER, UM, NEXT FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH AT 5:30 PM AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN. AS YOU ALL KNOW, CHIEF NER SERVED FOR 34 YEARS WITH THE, UH, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND SO WE'LL, WE WILL BE, UM, CELEBRATING HIS RETIREMENT. SO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL PUBLIC IS INVITED. SHOUT OUT TO APOL FOR, UM, ORGANIZING AND FOR HOUSTON. FIRST FOR, UH, COLLABORATING WITH APOL AND PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AT GEORGIA R BROWN. AND, UH, IT SHOULD BE A FESTIVE, FESTIVE TIME FOR ALL. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON THE YEAR 2 CENTS SURVEY. WE'VE GOT INFRASTRUCTURE IN FIRST PLACE, PUBLIC SAFETY IN SECOND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HOUSING HAS A SLIGHT LEAD OVER SOLID WASTE FOR NUMBER THREE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON COUNCIL MEMBER PECK'S, UH, COMMENT ABOUT THE NORTH REGIONAL, UM, LIBRARY. I KNOW THAT IT'S UNDER REVIEW. UH, WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE JUST KIND OF BRING TO THE TABLE IS THAT WE HAVE SECURED THE PROPERTY FOR THAT AND I DON'T WANT US TO LIQUIDATE THAT LAND, UM, JUST IN THE POSSIBILITIES OF US HAVING IT IN THE FUTURE. SO I JUST WANNA JUST KIND OF GO ON RECORD SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THAT LIBRARY THERE. WE REALLY DO. ACRES HOMES LIBRARY IS IN DIRE STRAITS. AND, UM, WITH WHAT WE SAW DURING CID, THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY STRUGGLES WITH INTERNET AND ACCESS AND WITH, WITH HI, THE SYSTEM WITH [04:05:01] HISD, I MEAN, I THINK THAT HAVING LIBRARIES, ALTHOUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE KIND OF OBSOLETE IN MANY WAYS IN THESE PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES, HAVING THEM CLOSE AND HAVING THEM HAVE ACCESS TO WIFI, INTERNET, YOU KNOW, INTERNET ACCESS IN JUST, UM, AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY CAN LEARN IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO AS WE DELIBERATE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SECURES THAT PROPERTY AND THAT DOES NOT, UM, BECOME SOLD IN ANY WAY. THE ADMINISTRATION, ME IS VERY BONDED WITH THAT COMMUNITY. UM, GOT BAKER'S HOME LIBRARY NAMED FOR BEAH SHEPHERD. HER FAMILY IS STILL INVOLVED. I THINK THE MAIN, UH, DUE DILIGENCE IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT IF WE ESTABLISH THE NEW FACILITY, THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN IT AND KEEP IT AS A FIRST CLASS OPERATION. SO THAT'S WHAT'S UNDER REVIEW. UH, WE, WE'VE FOUND MORE AND MORE, UH, PROPOSALS AND I COULD GIVE YOU A LONG LIST THAT THE FUNDING DID NOT FOLLOW THE PROPOSAL. SO THAT'S THE, UH, GUARANTEES WE'RE LOOKING FOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I'LL BE BRIEF AS WELL. JUST WANNA KEEP THE REGIONAL FLOODING ISSUE. FIRST AND FOREMOST. BEEN HAVING A LOT OF MEETINGS LATELY ON THE, UH, KINGWOOD LAKE HOUSTON ISSUE AND HAVE ANOTHER ONE THIS AFTERNOON. AND SO JUST TOP OF MIND, WE'VE GOT A BIG, BIG PROBLEM TO SOLVE AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU. GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME IN THE HURRICANE RECOVERY PREPARATION. THAT WAS QUITE A, UH, INVOLVED OPERATION. YOU BROUGHT ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THERE, SO THANK YOU. I, I, UH, I APPRECIATE BEING INVOLVED. WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I'LL START OUT. I WAS GONNA THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT MEANT A, A GREAT DEAL TO ME AND TO THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE ACTUAL MAYOR THERE TO BE ABLE TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS. AND SO I DO APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW YOU HAD A VERY, VERY BUSY SCHEDULE AND, BUT YOU STAYED LONGER THAN I THINK YOU ANTICIPATED, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. THAT'S MY CUSTOM . OKAY. . OKAY, WELL WE GOING TO KEEP THAT MOVING. WE'LL DO IT AGAIN, THANK YOU THOUGH FOR INVOLVING ME, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT WAS, AND THE PUBLIC CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT, YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I GOT TO SEE AND LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION ALSO. AND I UNDERSTAND NOW. THANK, I'M SORRY I SAY I FULLY UNDERSTAND. I KNEW AHEAD OF TIME, BUT NOW IT WAS REAFFIRMED. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'M SURPRISED OTHER MEMBERS DON'T STEAL THAT, THAT OKAY. I'M GONNA HAVE TO RECLAIM MY TIME 'CAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I GOT WHOLE LOT TO DO. , , I'LL HIT THE, I'LL HIT THE RESTART BUTTON. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU, UH, FOR DR. WILSON COMING AND CHIEF SAT WHITE, CHIEF PENA, CHIEF MUNOZ, BRENT TAYLOR, MARY BENTON, DIRECTOR WOLF FOG DIRECTOR ALLEN AND INTERIM DIRECTOR RICHARD SMITH AND THE VENDORS THAT CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE OUT, UH, DIFFERENT INFORMATION AND KITS AND WHATEVER TO HELP US TO BE PREPARED BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY TOUGH HURRICANE SEASON ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD. UH, I JUST WANNA STEP BACK JUST A MINUTE. I WANNA ALSO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THESE SPEED CUSHIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW, BUT THE SPEED CUSHIONS COME OUT OF OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS. AND WHEN THE COMMUNITY INDICATES THAT THERE'S A NEED AND THE, THEY GO OUT AND THEY ASSESS WHAT IS NEEDED, SOMETIMES IT FAR SURPASSES WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, WITH OUR DISTRICT FUNDS. SO THIS ALLOWS THE FLEXIBILITY TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR SAFETY. AND I THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. ALSO, I, YOU KNOW, I WAS SOMEWHAT OF A MEDIA DARLING AND I WANNA ADDRESS JUST VERY QUICKLY, , YOUR TOM HAS STARTED , UH, THIS COLUMBIA TAP. IT CERTAINLY IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED, BUT I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED BY DISTRICT D IS THERE, READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT CERTAINLY THERE WERE SOME FEDERAL EARMARKS THAT WE WERE EXPECTING THAT WERE NOT RECEIVED. SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, GOING WITH, UH, HOUSTON, UH, GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT TO HELP US TO BRING THAT TO FRUITION. SO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH CENTER POINT TO GET THIS DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT, UH, THE MONEY IS THERE AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. AND THE WILLINGNESS TO GET THIS DONE IS CERTAINLY THERE AS WELL. AND SO, UM, LET ME MOVE ON. UH, THERE WAS A WASTE REDUCTION EVENT AND LIBRARY CARD SIGN UP. I WANT TO THANK, THANK SOLID WASTE, THE AKAS, UH, AND THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES AT JOHNSON NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCH FOR HOSTING THE WEIGHT RE WASTE. OOH, I WISH [04:10:01] IT WAS A WAIT. WASTE ION EVENT. UH, AND, UH, SIGNING UP FOR LIBRARY CARDS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE SUMMER'S COMING. AND OUR CHILDREN NEED TO STILL ENGAGE IN, IN THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AND LEARN DURING THE SUMMER. BECAUSE I'M A FORMER EDUCATOR AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT LOSS. AND IF WE, THEY DON'T STAY ENGAGED, THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM WITH THEM RETAINING AND MOVING FORWARD IN THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR, UH, THERE WAS ALSO A SPARK PARK REDEDICATION AT MATTING ELEMENTARY. AND, UH, THAT WAS PHENOMENAL. AND THE DEDICATION CEREMONY WAS A JOYOUS OCCASION BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WERE THERE. VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE SPARK PARK, WHICH ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE INSTALLED NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS ONE WEEK AFTER THE KIDS ARE OUT. BUT CERTAINLY THEY ARE READY TO GO AND, AND TUMBLE. I TOLD 'EM, I THINK THAT EQUIPMENT MIGHT NOT HOLD ME, BUT I MIGHT COME BY THERE AND TAKE A COUPLE PICTURES WITH THEM. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S A GOOD THING. AND SO WE ALSO HAD THE US ARMED FORCES DAY AT MY, AT MY PARK, WHICH IS NEXT TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER. I WANNA THANK, UH, BISHOP FRANK RUSH, DIRECTOR DEMBO AND HIS STAFF FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION. IT WAS A VERY INSPIRING ACTIVITY. CERTAINLY THE WEATHER TRIED NOT TO COOPERATE, BUT WE WERE IN A COVERED AREA AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH, UH, OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS. AND I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME ADDITIONAL TIME. I GIVE YOU ALL THE TIME YOU WANT. COUNCILMAN ALCORN? YES. I'D LIKE TO RELEASE MY TAG ON ITEM 10. HIS OBJECTION. WE ONLY HAVE TO ACCEPT ONE AMENDMENT THAT WASN'T IN TAG. TAGS ARE REMOVED FOR THE SAKE OF RECOGNIZING COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WANTS TO LAY OUT AN AMENDMENT AND WANTS IT ON THE TABLE BEFORE THE ITEMS STACKED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION, I THINK ON THE DUE TIME, THE DUE DATE AND TIME. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AND YEAH, SO SHE SUBMITTED THAT. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE COUNCIL AND THEN TAG. NOW ADAM'S TAGGED BY ALCORN NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANNA START, UM, MY COMMENTS BY GIVING A, A FEW THANK YOUS. FIRST TO, UH, DIRECTOR SIMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM, ALONG WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND LEGAL TO GET A VACANT AND DANGEROUS COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE, UM, DEMOLISHED. AND WE GOT, UH, WE GOT THE ORDER THAT THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN AND, UH, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS. UM, IT'S NEAR RESIDENCES, IT'S NEAR SMALL BUSINESSES. AND, UM, NOW IT'S GONNA BE CORRECTED AND IT'S A BIG WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, AS THEY WERE INVOLVED, UH, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. UH, AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR WORK, UH, THAT WENT INTO THAT. AS WELL AS, UM, DIRECTOR NICHOLS IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. WE HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH THE OLD SIX WARD LAST WEEK. UH, THEY'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A NUMBER OF, UH, ISSUES INCREASED, UH, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD RELATED TO THE CRIME. AND IT'S TIED TO, UH, THE FEEDING PROGRAM DOWN BY THE MUNICIPAL COURTS AND, AND SOME OTHERS. BUT, YOU KNOW, HE SHOWED UP, WE MET WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE HEARD ALL THEIR CONCERNS. UM, WE HAD HPD THERE AS WELL. AND, AND HE'S CONTINUING TO WORK WITH MY OFFICE AND WITH HPD TO, TO TRY AND FIND SOME SOLUTIONS. AND, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS WILLINGNESS JUST TO, TO BE THERE AND HEAR THAT AND, AND TO BE A PARTNER IN, IN THIS EFFORT. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, WE HAD A BACK TO SUMMER BASH AT MOODY PARK WITH HPD CENTRAL COMMAND LAST SATURDAY. UM, AND WE PROVIDED A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR KIDS TO GET INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. UH, WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT, THEY ENJOYED IT. UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM. AND THEN, UH, I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT A INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT WAS JUST LAUNCHED, UH, THROUGH THE DISTRICT H OFFICE. IT'S CALLED THE DISTRICT H HORIZONS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. IT'S A SIX MONTH PROGRAM. APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW, PAID INTERNSHIP. UM, I WANNA ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED, WHO LIVE LIVES, WORKS, OR STUDIES IN DISTRICT H TO APPLY, UH, TO THIS PROGRAM. UM, YOU CAN FIND THE APPLICATION ON, UH, HOUSTON TX.GOV/COUNCIL/H UH, BUT THIS IS A, A GREAT WAY TO GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WHO, WHO WANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, WHO WANT TO EXPLORE A POTENTIAL CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, UM, TO TAKE THAT CHANCE AND GET THAT EXPERIENCE AND ALSO EARN, UH, SOME MONEY WHILE THEY DO IT. AND THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, COUNCIL WANTED TO, UH, [04:15:01] START BY, UH, THANKING MY TEAM AND AT LARGE TOO FOR OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD OUR FIRST AT LARGE, UM, TOWN HALL MEETING AND, UH, ON MONDAY. AND WE, WE ARE CERTAINLY, WERE GRATEFUL TO THEM IN THAT WORK, UH, BECAUSE, UH, AS THE CONTROLLER WERE MENTIONING EARLY AND REGARDING TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO INFORM MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PEOPLE ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE AT THE HORSESHOE TODAY. AND, UH, IT WAS WELL, WELL ATTENDED. I WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY TO, UH, ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME OUT. UM, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 90 PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED FROM THE COMMUNITY, MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND, UH, CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR HPD CHIEF SADDLE WHITE FOR ATTENDING. AND, UH, HFD, CHIEF SAM PENA, UH, OUR OEM DEPUTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, A BORROWER, UH, OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR RICHARD SMITH. UH, OUR HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS FROM THE IMMUNIZATION AND PLANNING TEAMS WERE THERE WITH US, ALONG WITH A RA SOLID WAYS HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARKS. UM, AND CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO THOSE ATTENDED FROM THE STAFF FROM, UH, THE HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LENA HAGAR'S OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR BORIS MILES. UH, THE STAFF FROM THE COUNSELOR OF OFFICES OF THOSE OF OUR HERE IN THE CITY, DISTRICT B, DISTRICT D AT LARGE, THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE. WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED. AND, UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY DIRECTLY. A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE HEARD, AND WE HAVE DOCUMENTED THOSE ISSUES, AND WE TEND TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS FOUR TIMES A YEAR IN EVERY AREA OF OUR CITY, UM, TO GO AROUND NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST. AND, UH, OUR NEXT PLACE OF, OF TARGETING IS THE SOUTHWEST. AND, UH, FROM THERE, WE GOING TO GO TO THE EAST AND THEN DOWN SOUTH. BUT THE WHOLE OBJECTIVE IS, IS TO SUPPORT, UH, OUR DISTRICT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INFORM AND TO LET, UM, LET THEM KNOW THAT THE AT LARGE POSITION IS, IS EQUALLY CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO OUR ENTIRE CITY. LAST, AND CERTAINLY AT LEAST, I, I NOT LEAST, I WANTED TO, UH, SHOUT OUT AND GIVE PRAYERS TO MY GOOD FRIEND RICHARD WYNN, WHO WAS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR. UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SOLID WASTE, UH, MANAGEMENT, UH, ALSO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT ELF, UH, HIS MOTHER PASSED. AND, UH, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SEND AND GIVE HIM OUR CONDOLENCES, AND WE WANT TO KEEP HIM IN OUR PRAYERS. UH, THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER, ER, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND RAMIREZ FOR JOINING ME OUT IN A MEETING AT HUFFMAN, UH, LAST WEEK WITH THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, THE FLOODING. FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR, HUFFMAN IS ON THE EAST FORK OF THE SAN JACINTA RIVER. UH, THEIR PROBLEMS ARE SOMEWHAT RELATED, BUT NOT ENTIRELY THE SAME AS PEOPLE ON THE WEST FORT. UH, SO WE HAD A GREAT MEETING OUT THERE WITH THERE. WE ALSO GOT TO SEE, UH, A SIDEWALK OUT THERE THAT, UH, I THINK THE ONLY PROPER WORD TO DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE IDIOTIC. UM, THE, UH, SIDEWALK ORDINANCES THAT MAKE SENSE INSIDE THE LOOP. ABSOLUTELY DO NOT OUT THERE. AND MAYOR, WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH YOUR OFFICE TO SEE ABOUT WORKING ON THAT TO GET SOMETHING TO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR EVERYTHING WITH THIS, AND SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE FOR, FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY AND, AND WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. UM, LASTLY, I KIND OF WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO, UH, THE SALES TAX. UH, WE WERE DOWN 5% YEAR OVER YEAR, LAST MONTH. UH, THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP HAD A REPORT OUT SHOWED WE WERE DOWN 2% FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR, SINCE JANUARY 1ST. UM, AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE IN ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION. SO ACTUALLY OUR PURCHASING POWER IS DOWN EVEN FROM THAT. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE REALLY GOTTA TAKE A LOOK AT AND, AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, TO KEEP EXPENSES IN LINE. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, REALLY WORKING WITH THESE BUSINESSES, TRYING TO LOCATE IN HOUSTON THAT, THAT WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN HOUSTON AND COLLECT SALES TAX AND, AND HOPEFULLY MOVE THAT NUMBER UP. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MAYOR, I WANTED TO START OFF FIRST BY SAYING, UH, HOW EXCITED THE COMMUNITY AND I AM ABOUT, UM, DURHAM SHEPHERD MOVING FORWARD. UH, I, [04:20:01] THIS PROJECT, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS IN THE COMMUNITY'S BEST INTEREST, AND THAT'S WHY WE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR IT. I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY FOR COMING TOGETHER WITH OUR OFFICE AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS TOURS. AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. THERE WERE SO MANY OF YOU THAT PERSONALLY WENT OUT TO WALK THE PROJECT, UH, THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION CIVIC CLUBS. THIS WAS A COMMUNITY LED EFFORT. THIS PROJECT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING TO BRING SAFETY, DRAINAGE, BEAUTIFICATION, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH TO THE AREA BENEFITS WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT ARE INVALUABLE TO OUR CITY. THE GRANT SECURED EVEN OPENED THE DOOR FOR MORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY THROUGHOUT HOUSTON. AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEFERENCE TO THE DATA AND THE OVERWHELMING NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. AND I KNOW THAT YOUR TEAM WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO GET TO THAT DECISION. UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING SWIFTLY TO ENSURE THE FUNDING OF PHASE TWO. SO I START WITH THAT AND MAYOR, I, I, HONEST TO GOD, WAS HOPING IT WOULD JUST BE A DAY OF APPRECIATION BECAUSE OF HOW BIG OF A DEAL THIS WAS. BUT JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE THAT, UH, BEFORE YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DECISION TO ACCEPT THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS, ON MONDAY, I RECEIVED SEVERAL PHONE CALLS THAT YOU HAD DECIDED TO REMOVE THREE BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE MONTROSE TURS, THE DAY THAT A STORY HAD DROPPED ABOUT THE TURS SHARING PUBLICLY THAT, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION HAD DIRECTED THEM TO MOVE FUNDS TO REHAB THE OLDER MONTROSE FREED LIBRARY, UH, WHICH IS NOT IN THEIR TURS. UH, THAT WAS AN OPEN AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION. AND I THINK THAT THEY WERE EVEN WILLING TO DO WHAT YOU HAD ASKED. UH, THEY WERE SAYING ALL OF THIS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND, UH, DURING THE PHONE CALL, I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT YOU HAD ALREADY NAMED THEIR REPLACEMENTS. I SENT YOU AN EMAIL PERSONALLY AND TO YOUR STAFF ON MONDAY, UH, RAISING MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, AND I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE. YOUR STAFF, HOWEVER, DID THE NEXT DAY CIRCULATE TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS WAS YESTERDAY. NOTICE THAT YOU'LL BE SETTING THE NEW APPOINTMENTS ON THE AGENDA ON A DAY THAT I HAD SPECIFICALLY SUBMITTED WEEKS AGO THAT I WOULD NOT BE PRESENT AT COUNSEL. WELL, WAIT, LET ME INTERRUPT, SIR. I DID NOT KNOW THAT. AND CERTAINLY WE'LL ACCOMMODATE THAT. SO I UNDERSTAND, I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT THAT'S NEW INFORMATION. THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT I'M GONNA TRY TO SET SOMETHING WHILE YOU'RE GONE. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. SO THAT'S NEW INFORMATION. I APPRECIATE THAT. I, I'LL BE GLAD TO ADDRESS, UH, THE APPOINTMENTS. YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR TERMS EXPIRED IN JANUARY. CORRECT? AND, AND WE, AND, AND IT'S PRETTY CUSTOMARY. MARY, I'D LIKE TOD LIKE TO, TO FINISH MY COMMENTS, MARY, FILL THOSE APPOINTMENTS, BUT GO AHEAD. GREAT. I'D LIKE TO FINISH MY COMMENTS BEFORE YOU RESPOND. I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA RESPOND, AND THAT'S, I APPRECIATE THAT TOO AND RESPECT THAT. BUT I DO WANNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU, UM, I BELIEVE HAVE ALSO REFUSED TO MEET WITH, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN BEGINNING AT THE YEAR TO MEET WITH YOU. THE FIRST IS THE CHAIR, JOE WEBB, WHO HAS BEEN A MULTI-DECADE MONTROSE RESIDENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBER. HE'S ALSO AN ARCHITECT. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FOUNDING THE TURS FOR MONTROSE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN, UH, A TURS WAS BEING CREATED. IT WAS GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE MIDTOWN TURS, AND JOE AND OTHERS WERE INSISTENT THAT MONTROSE ITSELF BE ITS OWN TURS BECAUSE OF HOW UNIQUE IT IS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HE WAS ALSO AN INAUGURAL, INAUGURAL, INAUGURAL MEMBER, EXCUSE ME. THE VICE CHAIR WHO'S NOT BEING RENEWED IS REVEREND LISA HUNT. SHE'S THE RECENTLY RETIRED RECTOR OF ST. STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WHICH IS A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY IN HOME TO COUNTLESS PUBLIC MEETINGS. SHE WAS ALSO THE CHAMPION AND LED THE EFFORTS THROUGH THE TOURS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MONTROSE. MONTROSE IS ONE OF, HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST EVICTION RATES IN THE ENTIRE CITY. AMANDA FLORES IS A YOUNG, DYNAMIC FEMALE ENGINEER WHO WORKS IN ENERGY AND RESILIENCY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WAS SERVING HER FIRST TERM. AND OF COURSE, I APPRECIATE AND WANNA THANK, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU DO TOO. RAY VALDEZ FOR HIS SERVICE. HE WAS STEPPING DOWN, UM, AND ASKED TO STEP DOWN AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. UH, HE WAS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR YOUNG ADULTS FOR LULAC DISTRICT EIGHT, AND IS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF HISTORIC LULAC COUNCIL 60. HE'S ALSO AN, UH, INSTRUMENTAL NEIGHBORHOOD LEAD LEADER, AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. AND ALL OF THIS IS TO SAY, MAYOR, THAT, UM, GENERALLY WHEN TERMS ARE EXPIRED WITH THE TURS, THERE'S AN OPTION TO RENEW. AND THAT IS AT YOUR DISCRETION. AND I RESPECT THAT. BUT THAT WE ARE NOT BEING SPOKEN TO OR DISCUSSED, UM, IN ANY WAY AND ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT IN THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN [04:25:01] YOU'RE NAMING FOUR NEW PEOPLE THAT WILL NOW ACCOUNT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE MONTROSE TOURS, UH, IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING. UH, AND I ADD TO THE VOICE OF OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF PARTNERSHIP, UH, AND WORKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO I, I HOPE, UH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ON THIS. I DO APPRECIATE, UH, AND, AND TRUST AND BELIEVE THAT YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS SET ON A DAY THAT I HAD SPECIFICALLY SUBMITTED, OR IN EARLY MAY THAT I WOULD NOT BE PRESENT. BUT AGAIN, UH, IS THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WORKS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, AS DO OTHERS, BUT HAVE RECEIVED MANY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS ABOUT THIS. SO I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RAISE THIS, UM, AS PROBLEMATIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TAR TO ACCIDENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA START OFF BY CONGRATULATING, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UM, ON GETTING IT, THE TRAFFIC, UM, ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, PAST THE SPEED BUMPS. I MEAN, OF COURSE, UM, IT'S GONNA HELP US AS DISTRICT REPS BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE OUR DOLLARS AND GET, UM, MORE SPEED BUMP PROJECTS DONE. AND SO I HAVE SOME ON THE BOOK RIGHT NOW THAT I CAN, UM, GO AHEAD AND START IMPLEMENTING TO REDUCE, UM, THE NUMBER OF SPEED BUMPS THAT THE, THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, UH, THE OLD ORDINANCE REQUIRED. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, FOR MOVING THAT FORWARD. AND THEN ALSO, MAY I, OF COURSE, I TEXT YOU ABOUT THE LIBRARY, MY CONCERNS ABOUT IT, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT MOVED FORWARD. AND OF COURSE, YOU, YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GONNA, UM, DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO KEEP IT MOVING FORWARD. SO I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I SUPPORT THAT LIBRARY. UM, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE AMENITIES AND JUST THE, JUST THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT'S GONNA BRING TO THE COMMUNITY, IT'S GONNA FIT WELL WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND IN THE AREA, LIKE BETHUNE ACADEMY. AND SO, UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED WHEN THEY PARTICIPATED, OF COURSE, IN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. THIS IS PART OF, UM, THEIR, UM, EXECUTION PLAN. SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROJECT MOVE FORWARD. LAST, LET INTERRUPT FOR, YOU KNOW, IT'S MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN A LIBRARY. YEAH. KIND OF FOLLOWS COUNCIL MEMBER PROMISES CAMPUS. YEAH. THAT CAMPUS OVER THERE. YEAH. SO ANYWAY, SO I THINK, I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, WE NEED TO REVIEW IT IN TERMS OF NOT JUST AS A LIBRARY, BUT AS REGIONAL SERVICE CENTER ALMOST. YEAH. 'CAUSE ALE HAVE A PRETTY, PRETTY NICE, NICE CENTER, AND A LEAF HAS A MODEL IN AT THE RIBBON CUTTING AT THE, UH, ALE. I ASKED CJ, HOW ARE WE GONNA AFFORD MAINTAINING IT? RIGHT? IT IS A MAJOR OBLIGATION AND WE WANT TO DO IT RIGHT AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT, UH, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE STARTING, BECAUSE IT IS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT TO CREATE IT AND A CHALLENGE TO MAINTAIN IT. YEP. BUT THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL WORK TOGETHER ON THAT. OKAY. AND THEN LASTLY, I WANNA INVITE FOLKS OUT TO OUR DISTRICT B BRIEFING ON THIS SATURDAY. UM, IT WOULD BE AT TIDWELL PARK IN THE FRANK SILLS GYM, START AT 10:00 AM. UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UM, AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THERE. UM, JUST TO KIND OF GO OVER OUR, THE PROCESS OF EMERGENCY PLAN, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, JUST GET BETTER WITH EACH, UM, NATURAL DISASTER. SO, UM, COME ON OUT. DISTRICT B RESIDENTS AND WHOEVER WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROCESS. SATURDAY 10:00 AM AT TIDWELL PARK, UM, IN THE FRANK SILLS GYM. THANK YOU. GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, I'LL PASS COUNCILLOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, HAVING HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW THE BUDGET AND, UM, CONSIDER, UH, AMENDMENTS, I WANNA GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT THREE AMENDMENTS THAT I WILL BE, UH, PRESENTING FOR CONSIDERATION. UM, THE FIRST ONE, MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND IS A PRIORITY OF YOURS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION ON THIS. ONE WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL ACADEMY CLASS, UH, FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. TRADITIONALLY, THEY'VE DONE A MAXIMUM OF FIVE. THERE WAS, UM, SOME INFORMATION PRESENTED AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP THAT WITH ADDITIONAL WORK AND SOME HEAVY LIFTING, THEY COULD, THEY COULD DO A SIXTH CLASS. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'LL BE SEEKING. UH, THE COST SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN $4 MILLION, HOPE TO FUND IT THROUGH THE CANCELLATION OF THE SHOT SPOTTER CONTRACT. WHICH MAY, I KNOW YOU, IN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE INDICATED, UH, IT WAS NOT A WISE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. I, I AGREE. IT SOUNDED GREAT, BUT IN THE END, IT ENDED UP TAKING OFFICERS, UH, AWAY FROM IMPORTANT CALLS TO GO CHASE DOWN THESE ALERTS. AND IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE, CONSIDERING THAT IT ONLY SERVED, UH, A COUPLE, A VERY SMALL PART OF THE CITY. IN ADDITION, MAYOR, I HOPE THAT WE WILL LOOK TO FUND PART OF THIS THROUGH AVAILABLE ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS. [04:30:01] I KNOW ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS ARE CONTROVERSIAL TO A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS, BUT WE HAVE 'EM AT OUR DISPOSAL. WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND USE THEM. UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ACCESS TO, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS AS WELL. SO I BELIEVE WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THE MONEY TO FUND THIS SIXTH CLASS TO PUT MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS. WE'VE HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS IN RECENT YEARS WITH ATTRITION. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME YEARS WHERE WE'VE LOST MORE OFFICERS THAN WE'VE ACTUALLY GRADUATED FROM THE ACADEMY. SO I THI THINK THIS IS NEEDED. IT'S NOT A COMPLETE, UH, SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, BUT IT'S PART OF IT. AND IT'S A START. I WILL BE URGING, UH, A SECOND BUDGET AMENDMENT TO CONTINUE FUNDING THREE CALL TAKERS AT THE, UH, CRISIS CENTER. UH, DIVERSION. UM, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UH, THESE HAVE BEEN FUNDED. THESE THREE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FUNDED WITH ARPA FUNDS, WHICH ARE GOING AWAY. SO WE HAVE FUNDING THROUGH THE END OF MAY OF NEXT YEAR. UH, BUT THAT DOESN'T GET US FAR ENOUGH. SO I WANT TO USE PART OF THE SURPLUS THAT I HAVE IN MY FISCAL 24, UH, COUNCIL OFFICE, UH, BUDGET, UH, TO FUND FOR THESE THREE CALL TAKERS, UH, THE ADDITIONAL MONTH TO KEEP THIS GOING THROUGH THE END OF, UH, THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT, IT IS DIRECTED TOWARDS NONVIOLENT, UH, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CASES. PEOPLE IN CRISIS WILL CALL 9 1 1. AND, AND WE NEED TO REDIRECT THOSE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AWAY FROM A JAIL BED AND TO THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, UH, THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. SO THESE SERVICES END UP HELPING THOSE WHO ARE IN CRISIS, SAVING US MONEY AND PRESERVING, UH, NEEDED CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESOURCES. SO WILLING TO FUND THIS OUTTA MY, UH, BUDGET, UH, SURPLUS FUNDS FOR, FOR THIS YEAR. THE THIRD AMENDMENT I'LL BE OFFERING, UH, MAYOR WOULD, WOULD, UH, CREATE, UH, LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR DURING THE EMERGENCIES THAT WE'VE HAD. UH, THIS YEAR, THE, THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN AND POINTED OUT SOME GAPS THAT WE'VE HAD WHERE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT EMERGENCY INFORMATION TO FOLKS WHO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. AND I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER IF WE FUND THIS, UH, POSITION, WHICH WOULD COORDINATE EFFORTS ACROSS THE CITY FROM OEM TO OTHER VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, UH, TO SEE WHERE THE GAPS ARE, UH, TO SEE WHERE WE CAN HAVE EFFICIENCIES AND SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER. UM, SO I'M WILLING TO PARTIALLY FUND THIS AS WELL OUT OF SURPLUS FUNDS FOR MY, UH, FISCAL 24 BUDGET, AND WOULD WELCOME ANY ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MIGHT WANNA PARTICIPATE AS WELL IN FUNDING THIS, UH, THIS PROGRAM. SO THOSE ARE THE AMENDMENTS I'LL BE OFFERING, AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THEM NEXT WEEK. MAYOR. VERY GOOD. WELL SAID. UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS, THANK YOU MUCH. UH, AS WE KNOW, JUNE IS PUBLIC SAFETY MONTH. AND MAYOR, I WANNA BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, UM, A FEW PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP ON THE WEST SIDE. HOPEFULLY, UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR, OUR VICE MAYOR, WILL BRING THIS UP THROUGH COMMITTEE. UM, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO, WE PASSED AN AFTER HOURS ORDINANCE, AND RECENTLY I WAS CONTACTED, UM, BY ONE, UH, AN EMPLOYEE OF ONE OF OUR STRIP CLUBS IN DISTRICT F UM, OUR LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. UM, AND WHAT'S ? WE HAVE LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT ON THE WEST SIDE. UM, BUT HER, OUR REQUEST WAS THAT THEY'RE BEING FORCED, UM, TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ALCOHOL AFTER HOURS AND PROVIDE BOTTLE SERVICE. SO WE KNOW THAT ON THE WEST SIDE, WEST PARK, RICHMOND, WEST TIMER CAME UP IN OUR DATA SET AND SOME OF THE HIGH IMPACT AREAS AROUND AFTER HOURS. AND SO I REALLY WANNA TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AND GET THAT BACK ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, COMMITTEE SO WE CAN HAVE A DEEPER DIVE. I'M HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH, UM, WITH THE EMPLOYEE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN ENFORCE THIS. UM, UM, I DIDN'T SAY WHICH CLUB IT WAS. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. OKAY. UM, BUT CLEARLY SOME OF Y'ALL WANNA DO A SITE VISIT, SO WE MAY, UH, UH, DO THAT AS WELL. UM, BUT THERE'S MORE TO COME ON THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A, A LOT OF, UH, STRIP CLUBS AND AFTER HOURS AND PO AND POKER CLUBS AND ALL OF THAT. AND THAT JUST, UM, SPEAKS TO OUR LARGER PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. UM, CONTINUING IN THE SAME VEIN OF PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WE'LL, WE'LL BE IN ALE TOGETHER ON, UH, NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 11, TALKING ABOUT SWIM SAFETY WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. BUT LAST WEEK, UH, IN DISTRICT FA, A YOUNG, A FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD, UH, WAS FOUND IN THE POOL OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN WEST CHASE, WHICH JUST SPEAKS TO THE OVERALL IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED IN ORDER TO SWIM. UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THE PARAMEDICS FOUND THE CHILD FLOATING IN THE POOL AND WAS DECEASED ONCE THEY, UH, ARRIVED TO THE HOSPITAL. SO, UM, UH, IF WE CAN JUST SAVE ONE FAMILY, ONE CHILD, ONE ADULT, WE, WE, WE ARE DOING OUR, OUR REALLY GOOD WORK. UM, IN THE SAME VEIN OF SUMMER OF SAFETY, THE TWO SWIM SAFETY EVENTS THAT WE HAVE ON JUNE 15TH [04:35:01] AND JULY 13TH ARE FULLY, UH, UH, MAXIMIZED. WE ARE AT CAPACITY, WE ARE NOW RECEIVING REGISTRATIONS FOR A WAIT LIST, WHICH IS GREAT. WE HAVE, UM, UM, FAMILIES FROM, UH, THAT SPEAK VIETNAMESE, SPANISH, ENGLISH, UM, YORUBA. SO IT'S EXCITING THAT THE, UH, FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY IS PARTICIPATING IN THESE AT NO COST, UH, PROGRAMS. UM, ALEY VOTES IS HOLDING A DISTRICT F THE THIRD ANNUAL YOUTH LED SUMMER CONFERENCE ON JUNE 15TH, AS WELL AT THE WEST HOUSTON INSTITUTE AT HCC. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THINGS, UH, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND MORE. YOU CAN VISIT, UM, OUR WEBSITE FOR REGISTRATION DE DETAILS IN TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, SPEED CUSHIONS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AROUND THAT. WE HAVE TWO NOTICES OF CONSTRUCTION THAT, THAT OF SPEED BUMPS, UM, HAPPENING IN DISTRICT F1 IN WEST CHASE FORESTS AT $79,000. THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM SNEAD ELEMENTARY. IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 300 CITATIONS OF PARKING VIOLATIONS. WE'VE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH SNE ELEMENTARY IN THE WESTCHASE FOREST TOWN HOME COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO GET THIS, UH, ON THE BOOKS. AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD. AND SIMILARLY WITH RICHMOND ESTATES, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY ALSO INCLUDES SMALL THINGS LIKE SPEED BUMPS. UH, LASTLY, I WANNA, UH, MENTION MAYOR, YOU KNOW HOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT SENIOR CENTER WITH THOSE RESIDENTS. AFTER THE, AFTER THE, UH, THE TORNADO MEADOW RIDGE APARTMENTS ON BEACH NUT, THEY'VE BEEN WITHOUT POWER FOR THREE WEEKS. I WAS TAGGED IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST. THIS IS ON THE BORDER OF DISTRICT F IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO I'VE REACHED OUT TO CENTERPOINT AND THE HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON AIR, UM, APARTMENT ASSOCIATION SO THEY CAN GET US AN UPDATE. BUT IT WAS ON GRIZZLY NEWS. SO SHOUT OUT TO GRIZZLY. 'CAUSE GRIZZLY STAYS IN THE STREETS WITH ALL THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. SO I WAS TAGGED. SO THEY'VE BEEN WITHOUT POWER. AND MATTER OF FACT, MY UNCLE CALLED ME 'CAUSE A FAMILY FRIEND LIVES AT THAT PROPERTY, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM EIF TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL. SO JUST WANNA LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE ARE AWARE WE HAVE ESCALATED THIS. UM, BUT I THINK ALSO IN YOU, UM, WANTING TO GET A HANDLE ON THOSE SENIOR CENTERS, THOSE APARTMENTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ADD TO THAT LIST, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH RECOVERY. UM, I WANNA MENTION, UM, UH, HACKBERRY PARK. SO WE'VE HAD, UM, A COUPLE OF, UH, INCIDENTS HAPPEN, UM, NEAR CHURCH. UM, CHURCH OF THE OIL, PASTOR CASTANO, WHO HAS COME TO CITY HALL, UH, SEVERAL TIMES, AND HIM AND HIS WIFE HAVE WORKED WITH MY OFFICE ON VARIOUS PROJECTS. THERE'S BEEN SHOOTINGS AT THE CHURCH NEAR HACKBERRY PARK. UM, THERE'S BEEN A, A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS I WANNA ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN EVERY PATHWAY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY. HOUSTON PO, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY, UM, TO PROVIDE CONCIERGE SERVICE FOR ALL THINGS CRIME. UNFORTUNATELY, AS MENTIONED AT THIS HORSESHOE, EVERY WEEK, HOUR, EVERY DAY, AND EVERY YEAR, UM, WE HAVE LIMITED STAFFING ABILITY. SO OUR PIP, OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, UM, I WANT YOU TO, UH, DESIGNATE PEOPLE FROM YOUR CHURCH, YOUR CIVIC CLUB, TO ATTEND THESE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETINGS, WORK WITH THE OFFICERS DIRECTLY, SUBMIT ALERT SLIPS, AND TAKE FULL, TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF EVERY PATHWAY AVAILABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR CHURCH, YOUR BUSINESS IS SAFE. AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, WITH, WITH YOU AND OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT ACROSS THE, THE FINISH LINE. IN CLOSING, I WANNA SEND MY PRAYERS TO CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. SHE ANNOUNCED, UM, A DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATIC CANCER. THAT IS A VERY TOUGH DISEASE. UM, WE KNOW HER AS A FIGHTER, AND REGARDLESS OF HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT, UM, WHO SHE IS AND HER METHOD OF HOW SHE SERVES, NO ONE CAN DENY THAT SHE FIGHTS FOR, UH, THE PEOPLE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL 18TH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, SEPARATE OF HER POSITION. SHE IS A HUMAN, AND I THINK IN THIS MOMENT THAT WE CAN SEND, UM, OUR PRAYERS AND GOOD THOUGHTS, UM, TO HER AS SHE TAKES TIME AWAY, UM, TO WORK ON HER HEALING. UM, AND WE HOPE TO SEE HER, UM, AND CELEBRATE WITH HER WHILE SHE DOES THAT. SO I WANNA THANK HER TO HER COM, HER COMMITMENT TO THE CITY, EVEN THROUGH HER DIAGNOSIS, UM, WALKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION, VARIOUS COUNCIL OFFICES, AND PROVIDING RECOVERY, UM, UM, UH, RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE THROUGH FEMA AND HER AND HER, HER FEDERAL OFFICE. THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. WELL SAID. COUNCIL MEMBER. EVAN SHABBAT. OH, YEAH. EVAN SHABBAT MAYOR. BERT, YOU'RE NOT YOUR LIST. YEAH, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE IS NOT JUST MY CONGRESSWOMAN. SHE'S MY ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY SISTER AND A LONGTIME FRIEND. AND SO HOPEFULLY THE FIGHT THAT SHE HAS GIVEN FOR OTHERS WILL BE THE SAME FIGHT THAT THAT GOES INTO HER HEALING. AND SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT I WANTED TO ALSO, UM, GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF REVEREND DR. VERNE SWISHER, WHO WAS THE, UH, FORMER CEO OF CAREER AND RECOVERY RESOURCES. HE AND HIS WIFE, ALMA, UM, WELL, WERE MY [04:40:01] NEIGHBORS, UH, AND HE PASSED THIS WEEK. AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO, TO HIS FAMILY, UH, DR. VERNA SWISHER. SOME PEOPLE MAY KNOW HIM. HE'S BEEN VERY, VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. HE WAS A FORMER CIVIC, UH, CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE T WESTERN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND AGAIN, A LONGTIME NEIGHBOR. AND SO JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES. THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE. I GOT OFF THE SHOUT OUT. GO AHEAD. NO WORRIES. THE COUNCIL MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ON THE GRAND OPENING OF THE DR. SHANNON WALKER NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY THIS WEEKEND. UM, HUNDREDS OF OUR RESIDENTS FROM, UH, DISTRICT A IN MEYER AND ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CAME TO THE GRAND OPENING OF THAT LIBRARY. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. DR. SHANNON WALKER, WHO IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, ALSO GREW UP IN, UM, WHAT IS NOW DISTRICT A AND, UM, ATTENDED PARKER JOHNSTON, NOW MEYERLAND, PVA AND WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL. UH, GRADUATED FROM RICE. SO SHE WAS THERE. THE RESIDENTS WERE SUPER EXCITED TO MEET, UH, THE NASA ASTRONAUT THAT IS NOW TRAINING MORE NASA ASTRONAUTS. UM, SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN, UM, YOU KNOW, LIBRARIES ARE BEING REMOVED FROM OUR SCHOOLS. UM, SO EXCITED THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS ACTUALLY AMPLIFYING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE. UH, THIS LIBRARY WILL DEFINITELY BE ONE THAT WILL BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDES. IT IS A HIGH TECH LIBRARY. UH, I READ AN ARTICLE A WHILE BACK THAT SAID, THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S LIBRARY. UH, AND I LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY, UM, A, A LIBRARY THAT IS ALLOWING ACCESS TO INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY. THERE ARE TWO PASSPORT OFFICES, UM, IN THIS LIBRARY AND COUNCIL. WE KNOW THAT, UM, THE, THE FIVE PASSPORT OFFICES THAT WE'VE HAD ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE GENERATED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. UM, SO WHEN WE CAN HAVE, UM, ECONOMIC, UH, ENGINES IN OUR LIBRARIES, UH, THAT, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. UM, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY. UH, WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT TO MAKE THE, UH, LIBRARY GRAND OPENING, UH, ONE THAT WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE AND BE EXCITED ABOUT. ALSO, WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SIGNING ON THE, UM, LETTER. UH, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF, UH, RESIDENTS COME FORWARD TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS WITH HISD, UH, MAYOR, UH, HAS REQUESTED, ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE COMMUNITY'S, UH, KNOWLEDGE, UH, A MEETING WITH SUPERINTENDENT MILES. UH, THAT LETTER HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY H-A-I-S-D, AND WE'LL AWAIT THE RESPONSE, UM, FOR US TO HAVE SOME DIALOGUE, UH, WITH THE, WITH SUPERINTENDENT MILES AND THE, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THROUGH A, THROUGH A COMMITTEE MEETING. UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME ANSWERS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND HOUSTONIANS HAVE BEEN ASKING US TO, UH, BE A VOICE, UH, IN THEIR STEAD. UM, AND WE WILL, UH, MOVE FORWARD AS WE RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ON, ON THAT PROCESS. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT IN THAT. UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LEADERSHIP COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WAS GOING TO SAVE THIS FOR NEXT WEEK, BUT NEXT WEEK MAY BE PRETTY ACTIVE, SO I WANTED TO BRING IT OUT NOW. UM, ONE OF MY MAIN PRIORITIES IN, IN DISTRICT J HAS BEEN THE, THE BINE NET CORRIDOR, KNOWN AS THE BISSONNET TRACK BETWEEN, UH, US 59 AND BELTWAY EIGHT. UM, IT'S BEEN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AS A HOTSPOT FOR PROSTITUTION HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE PUT FORTH MANY DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, UH, TO TRY TO CURB THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AND ACTIVITY. UM, AND IF YOU GO DOWN THAT STRETCH OF THIS, AND THAT RIGHT NOW, YOUR EYES DO NOT SEE THAT LEVEL OF PROSTITUTION AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY THAT YOU'VE ROUTINELY SEEN THROUGHOUT THE PAST COUPLE DECADES. UM, BUT WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT DID THE DATA SHOW? LIKE OUR EYES ARE TELLING US THAT IT'S BEEN TRANSFORMED. OUR EYES ARE TELLING US THAT IT'S SAFER, IT'S CLEANER, MORE PEOPLE ARE, ARE TRAVELING THERE FOR BUSINESS. UM, BUT I REACHED OUT TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I WANTED TO GET THE STATS AND THE DATA, UH, YEAR TO DATE FROM JANUARY ONE THROUGH THE END OF APRIL OF 23, COMPARED TO NOW IN 24. AND THE STATS ARE STAGGERING. SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE. WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND COMMERCIAL SEX ACT, SEX ACTS, AND THIS IS FOR DISTRICT J, UM, BUT PRIMARILY THIS WAS HAPPENING ON BINET. UM, IT'S GOING DOWN 70% FROM, FROM, FROM, [04:45:01] FROM 10, FROM 10 TO THREE. PROSTITUTION, UH, RELATED, UH, INCIDENTS WENT DOWN 80% FROM 120 TO 24. UM, PROSTITUTION PURCHASING HAS GONE DOWN 99% FROM 112 TO ONE. THE OVER THE, THE, THE OVERALL TOTAL NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UH, PROSTITUTION RELATED CRIMES FOR THAT PERIOD, UH, THE OVERALL TOTALS HAVE GONE DOWN 88% WOW. FOR DISTRICT J. SO, UM, THAT'S GREAT. WE BELIEVE THAT THE MODEL THAT WE'RE USING, WHICH IS IN COLLABORATION, NOT ONLY WITH HPD, UH, BUT ALE, ISD, UM, WITH PRECINCT FOUR, HARRIS COUNTY, UM, WITH, UH, METRO, WITH CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE, IT, IT HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, UH, OF STAKEHOLDERS, UM, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, THAT HAVE FOCUSED ON THAT PARTICULAR STREET, WHICH WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS STREETS IN THE ENTIRE, UH, CITY. UM, AND HAS TRANSFORMED IT. UM, AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM, UH, FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND KNOW THAT SINCE WE HAVE, UH, THIS LEVEL OF SUCCESS, UH, THE COMMUNITY NOW EXPECTS IT. AND SO WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO CONTINUE IT, WHICH WILL MEAN THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED THOSE RESOURCES AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO NEED, UH, THE COMMITMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT IT STAYS THAT WAY AND GETS EVEN BETTER. SO, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU. NO, WE STARTED WITH HER ANYWAY. YEAH, SHE WENT FIRST. SO WE'RE DONE. WE'RE DONE. YEP, WE'RE DONE. OKAY. EVERYBODY HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.