* 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. [00:00:06] FOR PROCLAMATION [PRESENTATIONS] TO THE MEMORIAL SOFTBALL LEAGUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO JOIN YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON COLLEAGUES. UM, AS WE WIND DOWN, UH, PRIDE MONTH, I WANTED TO HONOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, THE MONTROSE SOFTBALL LEAGUE ASSOCIATION. UM, THEY'RE A LEAGUE THAT WELCOMES, UH, THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AS WELL AS ALLIES, UH, TO JOIN, TO BUILD COMRADERY, MAKE FRIENDS, UH, HAVE SOME HEALTHY COMPETITION, AND ALSO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY. UM, THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF SINCE 2013, UM, PROUD TO BE A PART OF, OF THE MONTROSE SOFTBALL LEAGUE ASSOCIATION AND ALL THAT THEY DO. AND, UH, I'LL SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS IN THE PROCLAMATION, BUT NEXT YEAR HOUSTON IS HOSTING THE GAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES AND IT WILL BRING 6,000 PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OVER 250 TEAMS WILL BE COMPETING, UH, FIELDS THAT ARE CITY FIELDS AS WELL AS OTHERS 'CAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF TEAMS. BUT ALL PLAYER EXPERIENCE EVENTS WILL BE HOSTED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, AND IT'S PROJECTED TO BRING BETWEEN AN EIGHT AND $12 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT. SO, VERY EXCITED. THAT'S A BIG FEAT TO PULL OFF. THAT'S A LOT ON THE ORGANIZATION TO, UH, ORGANIZE. SO WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE THEM HERE TODAY. THE MONTROSE SOFTBALL LEAGUE ASSOCIATION, M-S-L-L-A HAS PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY, EMBODYING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF INCLUSION AND COMRADERY WITH THE COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING AMATEUR SOFTBALL FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, CREED, RELIGION, SEX, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. THE LEAGUE PLACES SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON WELCOMING MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. THIS CREATES A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND VIBRANT ENVIRONMENT FOR LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS TO CONNECT AND THRIVE. THROUGH THE MSLA, COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOUND NOT JUST SPORT OUTLET, BUT A FAMILY OUTLET. THE LEAGUE FOSTERS CONNECTIONS, BUILDS FRIENDSHIPS, AND ENCOURAGES PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH THE JOY AND FRIENDLY COMPETITION BY ORGANIZING DIVISIONS THAT CATER TO VARIOUS SKILL LEVELS. THE MSLA CATERS TO EVERYONE AND ENSURES THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY, IMPROVE, AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND TEAMWORK BEYOND THE FIELD. THE MS LA'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SHINES BRIGHTLY. THE MONTROSE SOFTBALL LEAGUE ASSOCIATION HAS OVER 500 MEMBERS AS A PROUD AND ACTIVE MEMBER MYSELF, UH, THE LEAGUE DONATES A PERCENTAGE OF ITS ANNUAL REVENUES TO LOCAL CHARITIES MAKING A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED. THIS YEAR'S CHARITIES ARE TONY'S PLACE AND THE CHILDREN'S CENTER. THIS SPIRIT OF GIVING BACK UNDERSCORES THE LEAGUE'S PRIDE AND DEDICATION TO UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. IN 2025, THE LEAGUE'S PRIDE AND DE UM, THE MONTROSE SOFTBALL LEAGUE ASSOCIATION WILL WELCOME THE GAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES TO HOUSTON, THE LARGEST ANNUAL LGBT, SINGLE SPORT WEEK LONG ATHLETIC COMPETITION IN THE WORLD. TEAMS FROM THE 54 MEMBER CITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA WILL COMPETE TO QUALIFY AND REPRESENT THEIR CITY. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, ARE YOU INVITING US ALL TO ATTEND THE GAME? I HOPE? ABSOLUTELY. ALRIGHT. PUT ME DOWN AND, AND MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHARITIES AND BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH YOU ACTIVITIES. WITH THAT, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 25TH, 2024 AS THE MONTROSE SOFTBALL LEAGUE ASSOCIATION DATE. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ANYBODY WANNA OFFICIALLY WELCOME US TO THE GAME? SURE, ABSOLUTELY. UH, MY NAME'S BILL SANSO AND I'M PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE, UH, MONTROSE SOFTBALL LEAGUE ASSOCIATION. UH, I'VE BEEN A, THIS IS MY 43RD SEASON TO PLAY AND, UH, NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THAT, BUT, UH, TO SEE WHERE WE'VE COME FROM WITH ABOUT EIGHT TEAMS BACK IN THE, UH, EARLY EIGHTIES TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH 20 S TEAMS. AND JUST TO, UH, VERY PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE, ALSO OF I INTERNATIONAL PRIDE SOFTBALL AND A PROUD NATIVE TEXAN. AND I'M PROUD TO BE A HOUSTONIAN. SO IT'S REALLY THRILLING TO COME FROM WHERE WE'VE, UH, STARTED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH THE CITY ISSUING A PROCLAMATION ON OUR BEHALF. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. YOU CAN GIVE THIS GENTLEMAN CREDIT RIGHT HERE, . LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. THANK YOU. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] [00:05:53] CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA JUST PUT IT OUT THERE THAT THIS IS GONNA BE THE BEST MEETING OF THE YEAR AS WE ARE BEING COVERED IN PRAYER BY AN AWESOME MAN OF GOD, UM, FROM THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND I WANNA INVITE, UH, DR. PASTOR, PASTOR DR. T GRANT MALONE TO THE PODIUM. HE'S A DISTINGUISHED LEADER AND SERVANT OF GOD, KNOWN FOR HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY, AND HIS PROFOUND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE. AS THE ESTEEMED PASTOR OF THE HISTORIC ST. JOHN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, PASTOR MALONE HAS SHEPHERDED HIS CONGREGATION WITH A VISION ROOTED IN FAITH, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE. HIS DEDICATION, I COULD GO ON, BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS BRIEF. HIS DEDICATION EXTENDS BEYOND THE PULPIT. PASTOR MALONE IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS CIVIC AND INTERFAITH ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT PROMOTE EQUALITY AND JUSTICE. AND HIS WORK HAS EARNED HIM RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FROM BOTH RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR COMMUNITIES ALIKE. SO, THANK YOU, UH, PASTOR DR. T GRANT MALONE FOR COVERING US IN PRAYER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. LET US PRAY UNDER THE, OH LORD, DO WE SAY THANKS? WE GIVE YOU PRAISE FROM THE MANY GIFTS FROM THY BOUNTY. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNCIL. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS THEY SEEK TO DELIBERATE ON THE ONGOINGS OF THIS CITY. LET THE DECISIONS THAT BE MADE BE RIGHTEOUS IN YOUR SIGHT AND THAT YOU BE PLEASED WITH OUR SACRIFICE, COVER THEIR SAFETY, COVER THEIR MINDS, COVER THEIR HEALTH, AND ORDER THEIR STEPS. WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR WHAT WE KNOW WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED TODAY AND IN THE DAYS TO COME. WE PRAY THIS PRAYER IN THE NAME YOU TAUGHT ME TO PRAY. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PASTOR, EVERYONE FOR THE PLEDGE. SORRY, MA, I DIDN'T MEAN TO TAKE YOU UP UNDER TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC OF WHICH IT STANDS FOR A NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD. THANK YOU, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN WILL BE ABSENT. ABSENT. COUNCIL EVAN SHABA. HERE. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER? HERE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. HERE. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL COLLEY. WE'LL BE ASKING COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? HERE. CONSTABLE DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. CASTEX TATUM. MOVED ON THE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. MOTION. NOW WE HAVE PROCEDURE VOTES. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, AND MOVE BRUCE NICHOLS TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. THOMAS. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED PASSES. ALCORN. COUNCIL [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MEMBER ALCOR. I HAVE TWO MOTIONS. THE FIRST I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD BURT KELLER TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTION THEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. AND SECONDLY, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD GLENDA WALTON TO THE, UH, LIKE BOTTOM OF THE TWO MINUTE NON-AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION [00:10:01] PASSES. COUNCILOR CARTER. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JACOB CLEMENTE TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD NINA WALLACH, MARA LUZ GOMEZ, AND THEN SHELL DUNCAN AT THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST. SECOND TO, TO FOLLOW BRUCE NICHOLAS. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND NICHOL. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE AND SUSPEND THE RULE TO MOVE, UH, PASTOR RICHARD VEGA TO FOLLOW, UH, BURT KELLER UNDER THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SAVANT MOORE TO THE TWO MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA. LIST FOLLOWING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER'S ADDITIONS. SHELL TO FOLLOW SHELL DUNCAN. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPENDED RULES TO MOVE STEVE MOORE UP TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST. WE ALREADY HAVE SOMEBODY AFTER. YEAH. PASTOR AFTER PASTOR, YEAH. AFTER HIS PASTOR. SECOND TO FOLLOW PASSES, MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. I GOT STATEMENT. UH, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER. JULIE PAYNE. JACOB CLEMENTE. JACOB. YES. WELCOME. WELL, WELL, WELL, THANK YOU MR. YOU'VE GOT THE ASTROS ON A LITTLE, LITTLE RUN RIGHT NOW. YEAH. HEY, WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? . UH, ACTUALLY I WAS GONNA PLAY THAT WHERE Y'ALL RIGHT NOW? WHAT? OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IT? YEAH, GO FOR IT. THIS IS YOUR TIME. OKAY. IN, IN, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER. GOT YOU MOVED UP TO THE FRONT. MM-HMM . MM-HMM . THOSE AS ARE EXCELLENT. MAN. THE TIME'S RUNNING . I WON'T, I OH, TO HELP. YEAH. LOUIE, HELP HIM. WHATCHA TRYING? DO YOURSELF. LET THE DOGIES OUT. GOTTA ADD. [00:15:03] HEY JACOB, YOU WANNA COME BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE? WHO? LET THE DOG DOWN? WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? WHO LET LET THE DOGS OUT? WHO LET THE, LET THE, AND EVERYBODY OH, YOU HAVING FUN? OH, GREAT JOB. I DON'T HAVE MY TIME. AND THEN WAIT. UM, AND THOSE AS A******S, MAN, THEY'RE TWO GAMES FROM FIVE OF 500 BRACKET AND OUT OF 500 WINS AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, POINT 500. AND SO THEY'RE DOING AWESOME. LIKE, UH, 12 CARTER COMING THROUGH 12 QUARTER. I MEAN, NOT COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WAS WRITING. DON'T COUNT THEM OUT WHEN THEY DO THE ASTROS, THE HOUSTON ASTROS IS LIKE, MAYOR WHITMEYER IS HOUSTON MAYOR AND ALL OF Y'ALL GUYS ARE THE HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND, UM, TOO BAD MR. POLL LIVES IN HERE WHEN THIS AND, UH, KAY ON. THERE'S ANOTHER CALL ON HIM, BUT I, I'M, THERE'S ANOTHER CALL ON YOU, MR. MEYER, WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET ALSO. AND WELL, I WAS THINKING OF GETTING YOUR AUTOGRAPH ON AND WELL, BYE. YOUR TIME HAS FRIDAY GO TROS. THANK YOU, JACOB. BE SAFE. THANK YOU. COME BACK NEXT. EUGENIA ERY. EUGENIA ERY. AMANDA FLORES. HELLO, UH, MY NAME'S AMANDA FLORES. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY BRT PROJECT. UM, PERSONALLY, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RELY ON THE HOUSTON METRO TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, WHICH HAS BEEN AWESOME. UM, IT'S ALLOWED MY HUSBAND AND I TO SHARE ONE CAR AND SAVE A TON OF MONEY AS A RESULT. UM, BUT THIS HAS BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS LIVED IN PARTS OF THE CITY THAT DO HAVE RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT. SO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE HOUSTON BRT PROJECT, UM, IS THAT IT'LL EXPAND ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT TO SO MANY MORE HOUSTONIANS. UM, AND IT'LL WOULD BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD, UM, TOWARDS A MODERN AND EQUITABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR OUR CITY. SO I, UM, I THINK THE METRO'S DECISION TO SCRAP THIS PROJECT IS A HUGE LOSS FOR OUR CITY. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO ASK THEM TO, UH, RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, BRUCE NICHOLS. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. HOW DO I DO THIS EITHER WAY? OKAY. UM, I AM BRUCE NICHOLS. I LIVE IN THE FROST WOOD SUBDIVISION NEAR MEMORIAL CITY MALL. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF TOUR 17 SO THAT IT CAN COMPLETE PROJECTS BENEFITING OUR AREA. THIS MEMORIAL CITY TOURS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT T SHOULD BE. IT IS TRANSPARENT LED BY A WELL QUALIFIED BOARD, AND IT LISTENS TO AND IS RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT. IT IS PROPERLY FOCUSED ON ENCOURAGING COMMERCIAL GROWTH WHILE MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. TUR 17 HAS IMPROVED STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, ADDED STORM WATER DRAINAGE AND DETENTION. AND IF ALLOWED LONGER, LIFE CAN FULFILL OTHER NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, UH, HERE THE MAYOR WANTS TUR 17 TO BUILD A NEW FIRE STATION NEAR GESNER AND I 10. WE NEED THIS UPGRADE OF OLD STATION 49 TO PROTECT NEW HIGH RISES AND THE EXPANDED MEMORIAL CITY HOSPITAL, AS WELL AS HOMES, CONDOS, AND APARTMENTS IN THE AREA. WE AND FROST WOULD ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT PROPOSED SUBSURFACE DETENTION AT MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH TUR 17 CAN FINANCE ONLY IF IT IS EXTENDED. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY HAS PROMISED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY AND SPRING BRANCH ISD TO GET THIS BUILT, WE NEED TUR 17 EXTENDED TO FINALIZE [00:20:01] THE DEAL AND MATCH A BIG FEDERAL GRANT ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE FOR THIS DETENTION TO DO ALL THESE THINGS, THE TOURS NEEDS TO LIVE BEYOND ITS SCHEDULED EXPIRATION IN 2029 SO THAT IT CAN SELL BONDS. FINALLY, I WANT TO PAY SPECIAL RESPECT TO STEVE COSTELLO, WHO FRIDAY WILL FINISH HIS SERVICE AS HOUSTON'S RESILIENCE OFFICER AND AN ALLY TO ALL OF US FIGHTING AGAINST FLOODING. HE HAS DONE A LOT TO IMPROVE STORMWATER CONTROL IN HOUSTON AND HAS EARNED ARREST. THANK YOU, STEVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. NICHOLS FOR COMING FORWARD. I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE. I MEAN, TUR 17 HAS DONE SOME GREAT THINGS, UH, FOR DISTRICT G, BUT THERE ARE STILL, THERE'S STILL MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO I 100%, UM, SUPPORT THE LIFE EXTENSION OF THE TOURS. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR BRUCE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. I AGREE AS WELL. TOUR 17 OF COURSE IS IN DISTRICTS A AND G, AND WE BOTH SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING THE LIFE OF THE TOURS. WE HAVE SOME FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS, MAYOR THAT ARE IN THE QUEUE READY TO GO, BUT WE CAN'T PAY FOR THEM UNTIL WE EXTEND THE LIFE OF THAT TUR SO THEY CAN TAKE OUT THE, THE BOND AND THEN THE FIRE STATION AS WELL. WE WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO HELP BUILD A NEW FIRE STATION THAT'S IN VERY MUCH NEED RIGHT THERE. SO, UM, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE TOURS AND GET THESE PROJECTS GOING WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT, NINA WALLACH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NINA WALLICK, UH, AND I'M A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN AND A PRODUCT OF THE HISD SCHOOL SYSTEM. UH, NOW I ATTEND RICE UNIVERSITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTRIBUTING TO A POSITIVE FUTURE IN HOUSTON. I STARTED USING THE METRO TO COMMUTE TO SCHOOL, UH, IN NINTH GRADE, AND I AM HERE AND I CONTINUE TO USE IT, UH, THIS TO THIS DAY. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOU TO ADVOCATE. FOR THOSE OF US WHO USE THE BUS AND RAIL TO MOVE THROUGH HOUSTON. YOU MUST ASK THE METRO BOARD TO PROCEED WITH THE FEDERAL GRANT PROCESS FOR THE UNIVERSITY BRT. UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. LIKE MYSELF, PAYING FOR COLLEGE IS AN ENORMOUS FINANCIAL STRAIN FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SO PAYING FOR A CAR IS OFTEN OUT OF THE QUESTION. I PERSONALLY USE THE METRO TO GO HOME TO SEE MY FAMILY, TO GO TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE MEDICAL CENTER, UH, TO COMMUTE TO MY JOB, AND TO EXPLORE HOUSTON WITH MY FRIENDS. HOUSTON HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER COLLEGE STUDENTS, UH, BUT WITHOUT A CAR, IT IS CHALLENGING TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF HOUSTON'S RESOURCES. I INVITED MY FRIENDS WHO USE THE METRO TO COME AND SPEAK WITH ME TODAY, AND MANY OF THEM WANTED TO BE HERE, BUT ALL OF THEM ARE WORKING AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. DUE TO THE TIMING OF PUBLIC SESSIONS AND THE LACK OF A VIRTUAL OPTION, UH, EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE TOO MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS HERE TODAY, I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THE THOUSANDS OF US IN THIS CITY AND THE BENEFITS THAT WE CAN GAIN FROM THE UNIVERSITY. BRT. MY PEERS AT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS DESERVE EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND RELIABLE BUS TRANSIT TO ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES AND TO HELP THEM GROW TO BE HOUSTON'S FUTURE LEADERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL AND PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. N THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A SON THAT'S 23, AND ONE THING THAT HE SAYS TO ME IS THAT HOUSTON'S SO CHALLENGING GETTING AROUND, AND I THINK YOUR GENERATION DOESN'T REALLY LIKE CARS A WHOLE BUNCH. YOU'LL LIKE TO HAVE OTHER WAYS OF GETTING AROUND AS, AS AN ADULT, AS YOU GET OLDER, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE THE, THE THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM WANTING TO FIND HOUSTON AS HOME? LIKE, DO YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? ABSOLUTELY. UH, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO, UM, STUDY ABROAD IN GERMANY, AND I'VE ALSO TRAVELED TO OTHER CITIES LIKE NEW YORK CITY. SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TRANSIT SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO EASILY GET WHEREVER THEY NEED TO GO FOR A LOW PRICE AND IN VERY LITTLE TIME. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF HOUSTON COULD ASPIRE TO THAT KIND OF TRANSIT SYSTEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, MARA GOMEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS MARA GOMEZ. UH, I AM A MOM AND A WIFE AND A METRO RIDER. SO I HAVE BEEN RIDING FOR METRO. UM, I HAVE BEEN RIDING METRO FOR FIVE YEARS NOW. IT WAS A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO NOT OWN A CAR. I ENJOY RIDING THE BUS TO GO TO WORK, TO SPORTING EVENTS, TO DO ERRANDS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. I AM ALSO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT [00:25:01] MANAGER FOR LINK HOUSTON, A NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR A ROBUST AND EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK SO THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN REACH OPPORTUNITY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT METRO'S UNIVERSITY BRT PROJECT. IT IS A VITAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT THAT WILL FILL A CRITICAL MISSING EAST TO WEST CONNECTION FOR THE METRO NETWORK. CONNECTING ALL OF HOUSTON'S MAJOR JOB CENTERS, UNIVERSITIES, AND OVER HALF OF METRO'S LOCAL BUS ROUTES. MANY PEOPLE THAT I MEET DAY TO DAY ON MY TRIPS AND BECAUSE OF MY JOB, TAKE MULTIPLE TRANSFERS THAT LAST UPWARDS OF AN HOUR TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATIONS. IT IS PROJECTS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY BRT THAT WILL WORK WITH METRO'S EXISTING RAIL AND FUTURE BRT TO CREATE A ROBUST NETWORK THAT WORKS FOR CURRENT WRITERS AND FUTURE WRITERS. SINCE 2021, METRO HAS WORKED WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNER AGENCIES TO COMPLETE SIGNIFICANT WORK, UH, FOR THE FEDERAL GRANT PROCESS. ABANDONING THE PROJECT NOW IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND FEDERAL FUNDING THAT OUR REGION COULD RECEIVE. AS MY COLLEAGUE WILL MENTION, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO RELIEVE THE FINANCIAL STRAINS METRO CITED AS THE REASON TO ABANDON THIS PROJECT. IF METRO MISSES THIS THURSDAY DEADLINE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT PHASE, MUCH OF THE WORK ALREADY COMPLETED WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED OR REDONE. WHILE THIS WOULD NOT PRECLUDE METRO FROM A, FROM APPLYING IN THE FUTURE, THE PROJECT'S CURRENT FAVORABLE STANDING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE UNDENIABLY LESS CERTAIN. TODAY I ASK THAT YOU URGE THE METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FEDERAL GRANT PROCESS FOR THE UNIVERSITY BRT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND FOR THE BOARD TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THOMAS PLUMMER AND MARTINEZ COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND REPRESENTATIVE MORALES FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. ONE MOMENT PLEASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ARE YOU DONE? YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? YES. OKAY. THAT WAS IT. JUST, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AS A DISTRICT GUY RESIDENT, UM, YOU'RE ONE OF, UH, I SAY MANY THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MESSAGING ME OVER THE PAST WEEK. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, ADVOCATING FOR THIS. UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS I'VE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BEEN BRINGING TO ATTENTION WITH FOLKS, UH, WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT METRO REALLY REBUILDS TRUST. AND IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE EAST END SPECIFICALLY EASTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, EAST LAWNDALE. AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AROUND METRO RAIL AROUND AT HARRISBURG MM-HMM . UM, WHERE IT WAS AN UNDER OVER CONVERSATION FOR YEARS, UM, THAT THAT REALLY JUST SAW THE COMMUNITY, UM, YOU KNOW, LACKING THAT, THAT TYPE OF, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST HISTORICALLY. UM, JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CHAIRWOMAN BROCK. UH, SHE UNDERSTANDS THE CONCERNS, UH, AND IS WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, WHAT IS IT THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THE CITY, WE'RE ALL FI UH, FINDING OURSELVES IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND THAT'S BY COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL. YEAH. AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO SIT IN THOSE MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS TO SHARE THE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE'RE, UM, EXPLAINING TODAY. THANK YOU, MA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, SHERELL DUNCAN. HELLO MAYOR WHITMEYER, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY. I STAND BEFORE YOU ON BEHALF OF LINK HOUSTON AND THE COUNTLESS RESIDENTS WHO SEE THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR BRT PROJECT AS A SIGN FOR PROGRESS IN OUR ENTIRE CITY. THIS IS MORE ABOUT JUST IMPROVING TRANSIT. IT'S ABOUT EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S ABOUT CREATING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING. THE UNIVERSITY BRT PROJECT WILL CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS HOUSTON TO MAJOR JOB CENTERS, UNIVERSITY ESSENTIAL SERVICES, REDUCE TRANSIT TIME, AND MAKE OUR CITY MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. THE PROJECT ALIGNS THE VISION THAT 68% OF HOUSTON VOTERS ENDORSE WHEN THEY APPROVE THE METRO NECK MOVING FORWARD PLAN. IT IS THE COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST ANY FUTURE, BUT TO A SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE WHERE EVERY COMMUNITY CAN THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE. SO WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT. THE RECOMMENDATION TO PAUSE THE PROJECT ONLY CONSIDERS THE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE LONGER TERM IMPACT. ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT INCREASES ACCESSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY. AN INITIAL OPERATING SEGMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY, BRT AS PROPOSED WOULD IMMEDIATELY BEGIN THE U BEGIN TO UNITE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BETWEEN WESTCHASE AND WILLARD TRANSIT CENTER. THIS APPROACH IS BOTH FEASIBLE AND FINANCIALLY PRUDENT, ALLOWING US TO LEVERAGE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS WHILE PRESERVING THE CAPACITY FOR FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBERS MARTINEZ PLUMMER THOMAS, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND REPRESENTATIVE MORALES HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS VISION BY AGREEING TO SIGN OUR LETTER URGING METRO [00:30:01] TO RECONSIDER ITS RECENT STANCE AND INVEST THIS, ADVANCE THIS PROJECT, THE FORESIGHT EXEMPLIFIES THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT LOOKS BEYOND THE LEDGER TO THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE AND ENSURING THAT NO PART OF HOUSTON IS LEFT BEHIND AS WE BUILD A TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING CITY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MISSING OUT ON $1 BILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS WOULD BE A MISSTEP AND A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE. I URGE EACH OF YOU TO JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY BRT PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU ONE MORE TIME? I'M DONE. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROTE TATUM. SURE. THANK YOU MS. DUNCAN FOR BEING HERE. UM, I, I HEARD SOMEBODY ELSE SAY, UM, THAT THERE IS A PROPOSED, UM, AGREEMENT THAT Y'ALL WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF, UH, THE METRO BOARD AND THE MAYOR. HAS THAT BEEN SENT OUT TO EVERYONE TO LOOK AT AS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO LOOK AT? SO WE PUT IT IN OUR LETTER, BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION. UM, WE KNOW THAT THE UNIVERSITY BRT BELIEVES THAT THE COST OF ALL THREE BRT PROJECTS ARE TOO MUCH TO TAKE ON AT ONCE WE GET THAT. UM, BUT THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. SO OUR SUGGESTION IS JUST, UM, TO BUILD A SHORTER INITIAL OPERATING SEGMENT. SO FROM WEST CHASE TO WHEELER TRANSIT CENTER WHERE WHEELER MAIN IS ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY, METRO ALREADY CONTROLS ALONG WEST PARK DRIVEWAY AND THE I 69 HIGH OCCUPANCY TOLL ROADS. THIS DISTANCE IS JUST APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES OF, VERSUS THE 25.3 MILES OF THE FULL PROJECT. AND IT WOULD SAVE MONEY AND IT WOULD ALLOW FOR ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS TO CONTINUE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. DID AND HAS THAT BEEN SENT TO US TO YES. TAKE A LOOK AT. OKAY. AND IF Y'ALL DON'T HAVE IT, I'LL MAKE SURE TO SEND IT AGAIN. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT TAVAN MOORE. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBER, IT'S LONELY AT THE BOTTOM. IT'S COMPETITIVE IN THE MIDDLE, BUT IT'S COLLABORATIVE AT THE TOP. LET'S CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE TO BRING SOLUTIONS TO, TO PROBLEMS IN HOUSTON. UM, UNFORTUNATELY IN DISTRICT J, UM, UH, MECCA, THE PERSON THAT DESIGNED THIS, HE PASSED AWAY ON YESTERDAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHOW MY RESPECT AS FAR AS CENTER POINT GOES. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR NOT APPROVING THE INCREASE IN OUR RATES BECAUSE FOR MONTHS I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR CENTER POINT TO FIX A POLL THAT'S BEEN HANGING ON TOP OF A CHURCH IN A DAYCARE. I WENT THROUGH MY CITY COUNCIL JACKSON, I WENT THROUGH MY STATE REP. I MADE A SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO THAT WENT VIRAL. AND TODAY, AFTER FIVE MONTHS, THEY FINALLY FIXED IT. THERE ARE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THIS CITY WITH CENTERPOINT UNTIL YOU HAVE AN ASSESSMENT OF HOW LONG IT TAKES. WHY I DIDN'T TAKE A PHONE CALL. I HAD TO GO TO MY STATE REP FOR THEM TO MAKE A PHONE CALL FOR IT TO BE FIXED ON TODAY. ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, YESTERDAY, MY DAUGHTER WAS HIT BY A CAR ON HER BIKE. SHE WAS IN THE CROSSWALK, THE RED LIGHT WAS RED AND HE TURNED AND HIT HER. SO POLICE CITY OF HOUSTON, THINK ABOUT BICYCLISTS BECAUSE OUR CITY, AS YOU CAN SEE, PEOPLE NEED OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION. I LIVED IN DC NEW YORK, PEOPLE BICYCLE, PEOPLE RIDE THE METRO. AND LASTLY, BEHIND THE SCENES THIS THURSDAY AT THE HISD, THEY WILL BEVO VOTING TO PUT A BOND ON NOVEMBER'S ELECTION. WHAT I WANT YOU TO ASK IS THAT THEY REMOVE THE WORD CO-LOCATIONS. CO-LOCATIONS IS A SECRET ROAD. SCHOOL CLOSURES. YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT WILL BE UPSET WHEN THEY SEE THE MINIMUM OF TWO SCHOOLS IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS WILL BE CLOSED. AND THAT WILL BE UNFORTUNATE IN DISTRICT B ARE CLOSING TWO PRE-K SCHOOLS. THOSE WILL UNHOUSED BLACK HOMEOWNERS AND HISPANIC HOMEOWNERS. IT CANNOT BE OKAY, EVEN THOUGH WE NEED A BOND. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND I'M REALLY LEARNING FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND I REALLY ADMIRE AND BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME LIKE THEY JUST TOLD ME, MS. PALMS A GREAT PERSON BEHIND THE SCENES. MS. JACKSON, YOUR TIME, MR. CASTILLO. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA GET THAT BRIDGE OVER WHERE THAT, UM, RAILWAY IS. SO I THANK ALL OF Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, DAVINA YUGO. LAURA JOHNSON. OLIVIA OH, LAURA, ARE [00:35:01] YOU LAURA JOHNSON? YES. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA BE IN FRONT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. YES. UM, GOOD EVENING, MARY. GOOD EVENING. UM, CITY COUNCIL, I HAD JUST WANTED TO BRING TO ATTENTION. UM, I KNOW WE HAD THE STORM FUEL WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE WINDOWS AND STUFF GETTING BLOWN OUT AND WE HAD POLICE UP ON EVERY BLOCK. UM, RECENTLY WAS THE REPORT HAS BEEN MADE A WHILE BACK I HAD LIKE A, UM, A STORAGE STUFF AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS PERSON IS THAT, UM, JUST SO HAPPENED I BE HERE ON WHAT? UM, MCKINNEY. MCKINNEY AND SMITH AND THIS PERSON, UM, MUST BE THE PERSON HAVE ACCESS TO THE STORAGE. UM, 'CAUSE I HAD, WELL IT'S, IT IS A STORAGE FULL OF STUFF, BUT MAINLY IT'S MY PAPERS. SO MAIN THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AND I KEEP HEARING SOMEBODY THAT'S CALLING MY NAME AND MY MIDDLE NAME IS, IS, IS RARELY YOU. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS PERSON IS OR WHO THESE PEOPLE IS THAT GOT MY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS. AND ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, A COURT ORDER JUDGE SIGNED, UM, DOCUMENT, UM, CHILD SUPPORT PAPERS AND YOU KNOW, IT HAS YOUR NAMES, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND ALL THAT STUFF UP ON IT. I STILL GOT A LOT OF MORE STUFF MISSING. SO WHO THIS PERSON IS, I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS. THIS PERSON THAT HAS MY DOCUMENTS, THIS PERSON THAT'S CALLING MY NAME, I'M STILL KIND OF PUZZLED BY ALSO. UM, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? THAT'S WHENEVER I GET READY TO GO SOMEWHERE, I HAVE A LINE OF CARDS. SO I KNOW Y'ALL PROBABLY NOTICE YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T PAID NO ATTENTION, BUT I KNOW YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THAT YOU SEE A LINE OF CARS BE PASSING. SO WHENEVER I'M OUT, I HAVE A LINE OF CARS, THOSE CARS ARE FOLLOWING ME AND I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS THIS PERSON THAT GOT ACCESS TO MY STORAGE. SO WHAT I DID WAS I WENT TO THE DA OFFICE AND I TRIED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE THERE OR MAKE, UH, A REPORT DOCUMENT. AND WHEN I GOT THERE, THE PERSON WHO HAD WAITED ON ME, SHE, SHE SAID, I DON'T NEED TO MAKE, UM, A REPORT AND I DON'T NEED TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE. ONLY THING SHE ASKED ME FOR, FOR TO GIVE HER, WHEN YOU MAKE A POLICE REPORT, THEY GIVE YOU YOUR SLIP WITH YOUR, UM, YOUR CASE NUMBER AND THE, UM, THE OFFICER'S NAME ON IT AND SHE JUST DON'T GIVE A REPORT. SO SHE JUST TOOK IT AND SHE PUT IT IN THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. YEAH. AND SHE JUST PUT IT IN THE SYSTEM AND JUST TOLD ME I JUST NEED TO GO TO THE POLICE REPORT AND JUST DO A FOLLOW UP ON IT. BUT TO ME IT DOESN'T MAKE NO SENSE BECAUSE I DON'T NEED NOBODY WALKING AROUND CALLING MY WHOLE NAME OUT. SO I JUST WANT TO, UM, GET THIS PERSON PRO PROSECUTED FOR THEFT AND HOPEFULLY MY MERCHANDISE GET RETURNED. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU OLIVIA EZ DO YOU KNOW THEY, HELLO? I AM HERE SPECIFICALLY TO SPEAK TO THE MAYOR AND I'M GLAD THAT EVERYBODY'S ACTUALLY SHOWN THEIR FACES TODAY. UM, SPECIFICALLY REFERENCING A COMMENT THAT YOU MADE REFERRING TO OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR PALESTINIAN LIBERATION AS ENEMIES. AND THAT I I DO NOT RESPECT THAT. UM, WE ARE HERE FIGHTING FOR YOU GUYS TO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES, THAT ARE DELIBERATE, NOT EVEN JUST LOSING THEIR LIVES, BUT THEY'RE BEING TAKEN FROM THEM. THEY'RE BEING SLAUGHTERED INTENTIONALLY. AND WE TRY TO SHOW YOU IMAGES. WE TRY TO SHOW YOU SOUND BITES OF ACTUAL PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES IN THESE MOMENTS. BODY PARTS GETTING BLASTED APART EVERYWHERE AND WE DON'T GET ANYTHING BACK BESIDES SILENCE. AND YOU ARE REFERRING TO US AS ENEMIES. LIKE THAT JUST DOESN'T ACTUALLY MAKE SENSE WHEN THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE DEFENDING ARE DELIBERATELY TARGETING YOUNG CHILDREN, YOUNG CHILDREN, SCHOOLS, REFUGEE CAMPS, BOMBING THEM, BURNING THEM, BLOWING THEM TO SMITHER MARINES AND YET WE ARE SEEN AS ENEMIES. THAT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. AND FOR YOU, AS OUR MAYOR OF HOUSTON BEING ONE OF THE MOST CULTURALLY DIVERSE CITIES, THAT'S JUST MIND BLOWING THAT YOU ACTUALLY REFERRED TO US AS THAT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR AN APOLOGY. DO YOU, DO YOU REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT? WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST SAID IN THE MOMENT TO APPEAL TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PROUDLY WANTING TO TAKE OVER THAT LAND? LIKE DO YOU UNDERSTAND? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM? WE HAVE HEARTS. YEAH. TIME HAS EXPIRED. NO SPEAKERS [00:40:01] YOU THROUGH? NOTHING. NOTHING. OH MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT. SIMON KANG. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UM, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AND EVERYONE ELSE HERE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS SIMON AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT THE UNIVERSITY BRT LINE AND THE METRO NEXT PROJECTS CONTINUE. I'M CURRENTLY A PHD STUDENT AT RICE UNIVERSITY. TO GET TO CAMPUS, I EITHER BIKE, DRIVE OR TAKE THE METRO RAIL. I CHOSE WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE BECAUSE ALL THREE ARE AN OPTION. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. UH, I'M ASKING FOR THE OPTION AND THE CHOICE ON HOW TO GET AROUND TO THE OTHER PARTS OF HOUSTON AS WELL. THE UNIVERSITY BRT LINE AND THE METRO NEXT PROJECT ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE TO HELP PEOPLE GET AROUND THE CITY TO GIVE THOUSANDS OR A MILLION OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY THE OPTION AND THE CHOICE TO GET AROUND AND TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN HOW THE CITY GROWS AND CHANGES SO THAT IT IS SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE IN THE FUTURE. AT RICE, WE RECRUIT POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE DEPARTMENT PHD PROGRAM AND I'M ALWAYS ASKED ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING HERE. IT'S PRETTY GOOD COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE UNIVERSITIES. UM, THE WEATHER, YEAH, I KNOW IT'S HOT IN THE SUMMER, BUT LIKE DURING THE WINTER IT'S LIKE NOT. IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY NICE AND NOT COLD. AND THE FALL AND THE SPRING ARE REALLY GOOD FOOD. THAT'S REALLY AN EASY QUESTION. THE FOOD HERE IS GREAT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I CURRENTLY TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED A CAR TO GET AROUND AND THAT IS A DEAL BREAKER FOR A LOT OF THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, UH, WHICH MEANS THAT WE LOSE SOME AND I'M SURE THE CASE IS SIMILAR WHEN RECRUITING FOR INDUSTRY POSITIONS. I GREW UP IN HOUSTON, WENT TO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL IN HISD, WENT OUT, WENT TO SCHOOL OUTTA STATE AND CAME BACK. I CAME BACK BECAUSE MY FAMILY'S HERE AND BECAUSE I LOVE HOUSTON MORE TRANSIT OPTIONS WILL MAKE MY HOME AND THE CITY THAT I LOVE BETTER CONNECTED AND BETTER PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE AND MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE JOB MARKET. THE UNIVERSITY BRT LINE AND THE METRO NEXT PROJECTS ARE ONE LARGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. OH, NO SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. NEXT, CHRISTINA ROTENBERG. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I AM ALSO HERE CONCERNED ABOUT LAST WEEK'S DECISION ABOUT METRO NEXT AND, UH, THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR PROJECT. BUT UNLIKE THE OTHER SPEAKERS, I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION JUSTICE OR SUSTAINABILITY OR MAINTAINING OUR POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FEDERAL GRANT MAKING BODIES. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT RESILIENCY. SO FOR TWO YEARS, FROM 2018 TO 2019, I WAS THE TRANSPORTATION RESILIENCY PLANNER AT THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MY JOB WAS TO ASSESS THE VULNERABILITIES OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. SO THAT WAS LOOKING AT ALL OF THE BRIDGES IN THE ROADS IN THE REGION, AND THEN TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE RESILIENCY FOR THE CITY AND THE REGION. ONE OF THE BIGGEST FINDINGS THAT WE CAME TO WAS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A REDUNDANT SYSTEM. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE NEED TO HAVE DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION MODES OPERATING AT DIFFERENT GRADES AND USING DIFFERENT FUEL SOURCES. ALL TO SAY WE NEED A MULTIMODAL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW, METRO NEXT AND THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR IS HOUSTON'S BEST AND ONLY CHANCE TO BE A MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. AND IF WE DO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, WE WILL NEITHER BE MULTIMODAL NOR RESILIENT. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THE RECENT DERECHO REALLY DISRUPTED MY FAMILY. WE DIDN'T HAVE POWER FOR SIX DAYS. I WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET OUT. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE UPCOMING HURRICANE SYSTEM, MY ABILITY TO MOVE THROUGHOUT HOUSTON OR TO EVACUATE FROM HOUSTON IF NEED BE. AND IF WE DO NOT PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND, WE'RE GONNA BE IN A REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION. SO I'M PLEADING WITH YOU TO FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE VOTERS WHO VOTED FOR METRO NEXT, AND I'M PLEADING WITH YOU TO FOLLOW OUR RESILIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO PROCEED WITH ME METRO NEXT AS PLANNED. THANK YOU. NO SPEAKERS. NEXT. DAPHNE SCARBOROUGH AFTERNOON, DAPHNE SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND AVENUE COALITION. AND IT'S SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE [00:45:01] INTERESTED IN TRANSIT. NOW, IF WE COULD JUST GET PEOPLE TO GET ON THOSE BUSES AND GET ON THAT LIGHT RAIL BECAUSE THAT'S NOT REALITY. WE ON RICHMOND AVENUE ARE VERY PLEASED, MAYOR WITH YOU HAVING THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THE LITTLE PEOPLE, YOU HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE MONEY THAT METRO SPENDS AND THE SALES TAX. AND I DID NOT BRING PEOPLE DOWN HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS REALLY NICE CLIENTS THAT UNDERSTAND WHEN I HAVE TO CLOSE MY SHOP TO COME AND SPEAK. IT'S THAT IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU AND I AM HERE TO THANK YOU. AND SO ALL OF THIS, THE FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY POINT OUT, THEY LOVE TO SAY THAT THIS WAS A MAJORITY VOTE IN 2019. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. ONLY 18% OUT OF 1.97 MILLION VOTERS REGISTERED IN HARRIS COUNTY VOTED FOR THIS REFERENDUM. EVERYBODY LOVES THE WORD TRANSIT. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT ENTAILS TO LISTEN TO THIS GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY ARE CONFUSED. THERE IS PLENTY OF TRANSIT OUT THERE. WE HAVE THE NUMBER 25 BUS, THE WESTHEIMER BUS IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST. AND THIS YOUNG LADY FROM HVAC WHERE I HAVE SPOKEN FROM 19 YEARS AT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL IS REALLY CONFUSED BECAUSE EVEN AFTER ALMOST FIVE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, NEW DRAINAGE ON SHEPHERD AT RICHMOND, WE STILL FLOOD AND WE WILL ALWAYS FLOOD THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD FLOODS TO WEST GRAY BECAUSE THOSE STREETS ARE MADE LOWER AND YOU CANNOT RUN THESE OPERATIONS WHETHER IT WOULD BE BRT OR LIGHT RAIL. YOU CANNOT DO IT IN MORE THAN TWO INCHES OF WATER. AND SO THAT IS NOT FOR THE FUTURE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL DAVIS. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO FINISH? YOU HAD SOME MORE TO SAY. I, I HAVE, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT TO SAY. THANK YOU MR. DAVIS. SURE. SO THE OTHER THING TO REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT TRANSIT AND METRO USED TO BRAG ABOUT THIS, WE DON'T BUILD PARKING LOTS AND WE DON'T DO SIDEWALKS. THEY PLAN ON THE TURS AND THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS HANDLE THAT. AND WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TWO ENTITIES IN THIS CITY WHERE THE MONEY DOES NOT GO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO. YOU STILL HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET TO TRANSIT. I JUST SPENT NINE DAYS DRIVING IN ENGLAND TO TAKE AN ELDERLY FRIEND BACK FOR HER LAST VISIT. AND SO I'M AN EXPERT ON ROUNDABOUTS NOW, AND WE DO NOT, THEY DON'T EVEN WORK IN LIVERPOOL. THEY HAVE LIGHTS WITH EVERY SINGLE ROUNDABOUT IN THAT CITY. AND THAT CITY HAS ABOUT 500,000 RESIDENTS. SO I AM HOPEFUL YOU WILL GET BETTER PLANNERS. YOU DO NOT HAVE PLANNERS. I'VE HEARD THE HEAD PLANNER FROM METRO SPEAK AT A RICE DESIGN ALLIANCE LECTURE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND SHE NEVER MENTIONS PEOPLE. AND THAT IS A PROBLEM. YOU CAN DRAW LINES, YOU CAN THINK YOU CAN MAKE PEOPLE RIDE THESE THINGS, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS. IF IT'S SAFE AND IT IS CLEAN AND IT'S TIMELY, THEN PEOPLE WILL FEEL MORE ADAPT AND WE DO NOT HAVE GOOD, UH, COURSES FOR THEM TO FOLLOW. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT ROBIN HOLZER RUNWAY. HOW ABOUT NOW? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I WANT TO SAY TO YOU TODAY. BUT TO DAPHNE'S POINT, I WILL START BY SAYING I HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB AND I PARENT CHILDREN. AND IT WAS A DECISION TO COME DOWN AND SPEND MY TIME WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE METRO'S DECISION REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY BRT, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON MY PLATE TODAY. I BECAME A COMMUNITY LEADER IN 2003 AND I SPENT EIGHT YEARS LEADING THE CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION COALITION WHERE WE TALKED WITH THOUSANDS OF ORDINARY HOUSTONIANS FROM DOZENS OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOZENS MORE CIVIC CLUBS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A SYSTEM THAT HAS TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL USERS. BECAUSE MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE ADULT [00:50:01] TEXANS CANNOT OR DOES NOT DRIVE. AND IF YOU'VE HAD A CAR YOUR WHOLE LIFE, THAT'S HARD TO IMAGINE. BUT IN EVERY CIVIC CLUB WE WENT TO, I WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE, PUT YOUR HAND UP IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO CANNOT OR DOES NOT DRIVE. AND IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE ROOMS, PEOPLE PUT UP THEIR HANDS. WE SPENT SEVEN, NO SIX, SEVEN YEARS FIGHTING FOR THE UNIVERSITY LINE. MORE THAN 3000 PEOPLE SIGNED A PETITION. EVERY ACTIVE CIVIC CLUB IN THE MONTROSE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ADOPT A FORMAL RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO PUT HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT ON RICHMOND. EVEN THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE UNIVERSITY LINE ON RICHMOND. THERE CONTINUE TO BE A FEW DOZEN CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT READY FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THAT'S OKAY. BUT OUR CITY DEPENDS ON VISIONARY LEADERS WHO WILL CARRY THIS PROJECT FORWARD. IF AND AFTER SOME OF US STOP ADVOCATING AND GO ON WITH OUR LIVES WHERE MY CHILDREN ARE TEENAGERS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO USE EVERY OUNCE OF POLITICAL CAPITAL IN YOUR QUIVER TO HELP METRO DO THE RIGHT THING AND BUILD THE SPINE, THE BACKBONE THAT WILL LINK DOWNTOWN AND THE MEDICAL CENTER AND UPTOWN AND WEST CHASE TO OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS. IF YOU HAVE ANY. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, YOU'RE JUST GONNA EXTEND OUR TIME. I THINK THAT'S IT, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY PLEASURE, SIR. THANK YOU. ANTHONY SOUZA. HI MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS ANTHONY DEA. MY BACKGROUND IS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND I'M WITH AIRLINES, HOUSTON. UM, I WANNA SPEAK, SPEAK IN FAVOR TODAY OF METRO NEXT AND THE UNIVERSITY LINE. UM, THE FIGHT FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME. I MOVED TO HOUSTON FROM ABROAD IN 2015 AND SINCE I WAS A FULL-TIME STUDENT, I DIDN'T HAVE THE FINANCES TO PURCHASE A CAR AT THE TIME. AND A RESULT, MY SISTER AND I, UM, RELIED ON USING THE METRO BUS TO GET TO MY COMMUNITY COLLEGE CLASSES AND OTHER PLACES. SO PUBLIC TRANSIT REALLY WAS THE CONNECTION TO MY EDUCATION, MY SOCIAL LIFE, MY LIVELIHOOD, AND I'M PRETTY SURE MANY OTHERS ACROSS THE CITY. UM, SHARED THIS EXPERIENCE AS WELL. I ACTUALLY RODE THE METRO RED LINE ON THE WAY HERE TOO. AND UM, IT WAS FULL AND IT WAS CLEAN AND IT WAS ON TIME. UH, NEARLY HALF OF ALL CARBON POLLUTION IN HOUSTON COMES FROM TRANSPORTATION AND MAINLY SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES LIKE CARS. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUGGESTS THAT CITIES WITH A TRANSIT MODE SHARE BELOW 5% NEED TO DOUBLE THAT FOR EVERY FIVE YEARS TO ABOUT 33% OF ALL TRIPS. SO METRO NEXT REALLY IS THE COMPROMISE. IT'S NOT THE MAXIMUM PROGRAM OR THE MAXIMUM EFFORT THAT WE CAN EVEN MAKE ON TRANSPORTATION THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET THIS AS DEEPLY CONCERNING. AND WE MUST DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO MAKE TRANSIT EXPANSION TIMELY, TO MAKE IT COST EFFECTIVE AND HIGH QUALITY AND NOT ABANDON PROJECTS WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH URBAN PLANNING EXPERTS, AIRLINES ACTUALLY RESEARCH AND MODEL THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF THIS PROJECT, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR PROJECTS WERE RESULT IN NUMEROUS HEALTH BENEFITS FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LOCATED DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO IT. UM, OVERALL THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE TRANSIT. IT WILL IMPROVE THE PEDESTRIAN REALM AND IT WILL DECREASE CAR USE IN THE AREA, ALL OF WHICH PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS. UM, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PROJECTS INCLUDE, UM, AN INCREASE IN WALKING, BIKING, AND TRANSIT USE, LOWER BODY MASS INDEX, UM, LOWER TYPE TWO DIABETES, LOWER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND CORONARY HEART DISEASE RATES. UM, AND THE, ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW, AS COSTS. UM, SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE RESULTS OR SEND COPIES OF THIS REPORT. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY AND ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. NEXT SARIA CONTE. UM, HI, MY NAME IS SHARIA CONTE AND I'M WITH SUNRISE MOVEMENT HOUSTON. WE'RE A YOUTH LED CLIMATE ACTIVIST GROUP BASED IN HOUSTON. I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY DISCUSSING THE RECENT CANCELLATION OF THE UNI UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR, BRT BY THE METRO BOARD AND URGE YOU TO AND URGE YOU TO CALL ON METRO TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT. METRO HAS REPEATEDLY MADE THE CLAIM THAT DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THIS METRO NEXT BOND THAT THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THROUGH THIS PROJECT. THIS FUNDAMENTALLY REPRESENT, UH, MISREPRESENTS THE NATURE OF THE 2019 VOTE AND THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS, THE UNIVERSITY [00:55:01] CORRIDOR, BRT AND THE BROADER NETWORK ARE NOT PERIPHERAL ELEMENTS OF THE METRO NEXT PLAN. THERE WERE CENTRAL AND ESSENTIAL SELLING POINTS OF THE, OF THE PACKAGE. WHEN 68% OF VOTERS APPROVED THIS PLAN, THEY WERE ENDORSING A COMPREHENSIVE VISION FOR HOUSTON'S TRANSIT FUTURE WITH THE CORRIDOR AS A CENTERPIECE. BY CANCELING THIS, BY CANCELING THIS PROJECT, METRO'S THROWING AWAY NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANTS, $72 MILLION ON DEVELOPMENT ALREADY SPENT. AND THE THREE YEARS WORK, THREE YEARS OF WORK AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. METRO ALSO CITES FINANCIAL CONCERNS, BUT WHAT THEY'RE OVERLOOKING IS THE COSTS MITIGATED BY THE PROJECT SUCH AS THE REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC CONGESTION, WHICH COST HOUSTON NEARLY $3.7 BILLION LAST YEAR OR NOT IN 2022. UM, IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR QUALITY AND THE PRODUCTIVITY GA GAINS THAT COME FROM MAKING TRAVEL MORE, MORE EFFICIENT. HOUSTON'S EXCESSIVE TR TRAFFIC AND CAR CENTRIC DESIGN IS PART OF THE REASON WHY HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST AIR PARTIC LEVELS IN ALL OF TEXAS KILLING 1400 HOUSTONIANS EVERY YEAR, OVER A THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE THAN DIED BY HOMICIDE IN THIS CITY. IT'S ALSO WHY, UM, IT'S ALSO, IT'S ALSO WHY DESPITE HOSTING THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER AND THE, AND THE LARGEST CHILDREN IN AND THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN THE WORLD, HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS ARE AMONG THE SICKEST IN THE UNITED STATES WITH SOME OF THE HIGHEST INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES. IF THAT'S NOT A BIG ENOUGH MOTIVATOR, HOUSTON WILL BE HOSTING THE WORLD CUP IN TWO YEARS. UNDERSCORING THE URGENT NEED FOR AN EFFICIENT TRANSIT SYSTEM CAN ICONTINUE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YOU CAN FINISH. YOU DO THANK YOU. SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE CANCELLATION OF MANY MULTIMODAL TRANSIT PROJECTS HAS BEEN THE INCREASED FOCUS ON SO-CALLED MICRO TRANSIT AS A NEW HIGH TECH FUTURE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE. IF WE CARE ABOUT RIDERSHIP, WE CAN SEE THAT METRO MICRO TRANSIT IS NOT SCALABLE DUE TO ITS LIMITED CAPACITY AND INDIVIDUALIZED ROUTING REQUIRING MORE VEHICLES TO BE ON THE ROAD. IF WE CARE ABOUT QUALITY OF SERVICE, WE WOULD SEE THAT MICRO TRANSIT, UM, FORCES, TRANSIT TRANSIT AGENCIES TO DEGRADE THE QUALITY OF THEIR SERVICE. AS WE CAN SEE IN, IN JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS AND LOS ANGELES AND MINNEAPOLIS AND ALBANY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK AND PARK CITY, UTAH. IF WE CARE ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, WE SEE THAT MICRO TRANSIT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE WITH CITIES LIKE LOS ANGELES SUBSIDING EACH EACH TRANSIT RIDER BY NEARLY FOUR $42. IF WE CARE ABOUT EQUITY, WE'D SEE THAT STUDIES SHOW IT TENDS TO BE INACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO NEED TRANSIT THE MOST OFTEN SERVING A YOUNGER, MORE AFFLUENT DEMOGRAPHIC. IF WE CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, WE'D SEE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF MICROT TRANSITS ARE QUESTIONABLE, OFTEN RESULTING IN MORE VEHICLES PER MILE PER PASSENGER THAN TRADITIONAL BUSES. IN CONTRAST, THE UNIVERSITY BRT WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT, MOVE LARGER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, CONNECT MAJOR JOB CENTERS AROUND HOUSTON WHILE SERVING A DIVERSE RIDERSHIP. OKAY, WE MUST FOCUS ON PROVEN. ARE YOU ABOUT TO I'VE REALLY, YEAH. I'M ABOUT TO KIND OF BEEN GENEROUS. UM, FOR THESE REASONS I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CALL ON METRO TO NOT THROW AWAY THIS FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION AND MAKE THE DECISION TO MAKE HU TO MOVE HOUSTON TRANSIT INTO THE FUTURE BY SUPPORTING THIS QUARTER. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. NEXT, GLENDA WALTON. HELLO, I AM GLENDA WALTON AND I'M ADDRESSING YOU MEN AND WOMEN TODAY 'CAUSE I'M A CANCER PATIENT. I'M IN RECOVERY AND REMISSION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. I WANT TO BE CANCER. I'M AT YOUR MERCY BECAUSE I'M IN TRANSIT, NOT BY CHOICE, BUT I'M BEING FORCED INTO IT DUE TO THE MEDICAL TREATMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER, AS WELL AS OTHER ONGOING MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT AROUSE FROM TREATMENT. I'M ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT I WAS A HEALTHCARE WORKER AND I'M NOTICING THAT NOTHING'S BEEN DONE TO ASSIST ANY OF US ONCE OUR HEALTH START FAILING, BUT WE PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO ACCOMMODATE EACH OF YOU, YOUR FAMILIES MEMBERS THAT YOU MAY KNOW IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ET CETERA. SINCE 2022, I'VE BEEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I'VE BEEN GIVEN NOTHING BUT COMPLETE RUNAROUND BY ALL OF YOUR AGENCIES HERE AND I'M FED UP WITH IT. THE MO UH, PD, [01:00:02] THEY HAVE, UH, TRIED TO ASSIST, BUT WHAT, WHAT DO WE DO IF YOU'RE UNDER 65? MEDICARE MAKES YOU PAY 20% OUT OF POCKET. IF YOU'RE ON SSDI OR A A DISABILITY, YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PLAY WITH BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO BUSY TRYING TO FIGHT CANCER. WHAT I'M ASKING FROM EACH OF YOU IS TO EXAMINE, CONSIDER AND FIX THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR CITY. EVEN FOR FORMER HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES LIKE MYSELF, I'M DISABLED NOT BY CHOICE. I DID MY DUES NOT ONLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE CHURCH, BUT I HAVE WILL SERVED IN THE MEDICAL, UH, AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. DO YOU REALIZE THAT HEALTHCARE CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, THIS PROBLEM, STRESS AND CANCER ARE NOT FRIENDS, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THAT THE SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WHEN A PERSON IS BEING FORCED TO LIVE IN A, IN A CAR, IT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S WHAT I'M TELLING EACH OF YOU. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. YOU GET NOTHING BUT THE RUNAROUND WITH ALL OF YOUR AGENCIES AND NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING. AND IF NO ONE COME AND TELL YOU ABOUT IT, THEN YOU CAN'T FIX IT. LET ME, UM, LET ME SUGGEST IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION WRONG. YOU TALKED TO MS. WILSON WITH MY OFFICE AND LET ME GET YOU TO GIVE US A SPECIFIC AGENCY THAT YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND, WHETHER IT BE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR HEALTH OR UH, COMMUNITY. TALK TO MS. WILSON AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, UM, MAYOR, THAT MEANS A LOT TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP. I BELIEVE IN YOU AND I'M BELIEVING IN EACH OF YOU THAT'S SITTING IN THESE SEATS. WE NEED YOUR HELP. SAFETY IS A MAJOR CONCERN. I DON'T WANNA BE A VICTIM AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANNA COOL AND BOARD AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THAT'S WHAT I'M TELLING YOU. WE'LL, WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN TALK TO MS. WILSON. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . UH, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. BERT KELLER. DID HE JUST WALK OUT? HE JUST STEPPED OUT. HE STEPPED OUT FOR A MOMENT, SO HE, WE WILL COME BACK TO HIM. WE'LL GET BERT IN A MOMENT. MA'AM. RICHARD VEGA, I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. UM, COME UP HERE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE COMMUNITY LEADERS, UH, WITHIN YOUR OWN DISTRICT. SOME OF YOU ARE OVER THE WHOLE CITY. UH, I'VE BEEN, UM, I I'VE BEEN GOING AND LOOKING INTO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WHAT THEY OFFER OUR STUDENTS. AND HERE IN HISD, WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES. UH, BUT ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT I'VE BEEN FINDING IS A LOT OF PORNOGRAPHY BOOKS AND RACIST BOOKS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO. UM, AND SOME OF THESE BOOKS ARE EXTREME RACIST. UH, I CAN READ A WHOLE BUNCH OF 'EM. YOU GUYS, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE NOT THE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT YOU GUYS ARE LEADERS. YOU GUYS ARE INFLUENCERS WITHIN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW IF I READ SOME OF THIS CONTENT TODAY, NONE OF YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME OR ANYONE THAT THIS CONTENT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO MINORS OR ACTUALLY ANYBODY. UM, PERIOD. IT, IT'S, I JUST WANNA READ A LITTLE BIT, AND I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO THE OTHER GRAPHIC STUFF, BUT THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, THIS IS A BOOK CALLED WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF. UH, AND I KNOW FOR THE LADIES THAT ARE UP HERE THAT THIS DOESN'T REPRESENT YOU OR YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT SAYS ON PAGE 58, YET, I LEAST OF ALL MY SOUL, TAKE HIM IN MY HAND, EAT HIM AND DRINK HIM. AND I DO WITH HIM WHAT I WILL. SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT WORSHIPING JESUS. BUT COME ON, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVING SEX WITH THEM, SEX WITH JESUS. ALL SHE WANTED TO DO WAS GIVE JESUS HEAD, DO WE REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS EDUCATIONAL OR IS SUITABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN? I MEAN, AS A PASTOR THAT THAT IS ON STAFF AT A CHURCH AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. I MEAN, THIS IS VERY OFFENSIVE. IF YOU HAVE A CROSS AROUND YOUR NECK, THIS SHOULD UPSET YOU TOO. A LOT OF THESE BOOKS THAT I HAVE RIGHT HERE, UH, ARE VERY RACIST. THEY, THEY GO AGAINST, UH, THEY TARGET HISPANICS. THEY TARGET THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THEY TARGET THE WHITE COMMUNITY. IT'S, IT'S NO RACES OFF LIMITS, UH, WHEN IT COMES [01:05:01] TO THIS NASTINESS THAT IS ALLOWED, UH, WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. UM, SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL, UH, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL THE OTHER LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITIES AT AND, AND ASKED THEM TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TIME WITH ME. UH, I DO READ THIS CONTENT ACTUALLY AT THE SCHOOL, SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. WHAT I'M ASKING FROM YOU GUYS IS TO BE ABLE TO HELP US, UH, TO BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY GET AN AUDIT AND START REMOVING THESE BOOKS. HERE'S WHAT I'M GONNA TELL YOU GUYS. WE HAVE DONE OUR OWN AUDITS IN A LOT OF DISTRICTS. THERE'S NOT ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THIS STATE. I'VE BEEN IN OVER 30 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF MONTHS. THERE'S NOT ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAS LESS THAN 400 BOOKS THAT GOES AGAINST THE PENAL CODE 43 THAT GOES AGAINST T SLACK POLICIES AND GOES AGAINST THE, UH, SUPREME COURT RULING IN 1982 WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD EDUCATION AND PI AND, UH, PI PICCO CASE. SO I REALLY AM COMING UP HERE TO ASK, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING A AN AMAZING JOB. LET ME JUST TELL YOU THAT FROM THE BEGINNING. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT FROM THE BEGINNING. UH, I, I THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR HARD WORK, BUT I'M COMING UP HERE AND ASKING YOU TO HELP ME. YEAH. TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BECAUSE IT TAKES ONE TEACHER TO ASSIGN THIS JUNK. THAT TEACHER CAN'T BE FIRED BECAUSE IT WAS ALLOWED AND PAID FOR BY GOVERNMENT FUNDS. IT WAS, IT WAS ALLOWED IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THEM TO DO A RESEARCH PAPER ON THIS. AND THEN THE DAMAGE IS DONE. IT'S SAD THAT MOST OF THESE BOOKS TARGET LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NASTY GUYS. OKAY. COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCILOR DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU PASTOR FOR COMING AND SHARING. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. YOU INDICATED THAT YOU HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL AND HAVE WENT TO SEVERAL DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY THE BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE HERE. WHAT, WHAT AREA, WHAT GRADE LEVEL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WITH SOME OF THOSE BOOKS? I MEAN, I HAVEN'T READ, BUT I'M JUST FOR C OUTTA CURIOSITY. WHAT, WHAT LEVEL ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THESE BOOKS? YES, SIR. SO, UH, THESE BOOKS, WE FOUND THEM AS LOW AS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. UH, WE GENERALLY LOOK IN THE INTERMEDIATE TO, UH, HIGH SCHOOL. I'LL JUST SHOW YOU THIS ONE RIGHT HERE IS A NINE OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOLS. THIS IS STRAIGHT PORNOGRAPHY. UM, THAT, THAT'S ALLOWED IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS IS AN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL HERE IN HOUSTON. THIS PARTICULAR BOOK, UM, IS AN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. HOW IS THIS OKAY? AND IT HAS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF LEADERS THAT ARE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE. SO, SO IS THERE ANY ACTION THAT, THAT HAS BEEN AS YOU APPROACH THE SCHOOL BOARD, LIKE HISD OR SOME OF THE OTHERS? SO WHAT, WHAT'S THE CONSEQUENCES TO THE, UM, THE ACTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD REGARDING SOME OF THIS MATERIAL IN THESE BOOKS? SO SOME OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH, UH, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY, UH, I HAVE A, A LIST OF 1700 BOOKS THAT DON'T BELONG IN, IN MI FOR MINORS. THEY HAVE STARTED REMOVING THESE BOOKS, UH, AND WORKING WITH US. UH, BUT SOME OF THEM HERE LOCALLY HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE, UH, THESE BOOKS ON SHELVES FOR KIDS, UH, WHICH IS DISGUSTING. UH, IT MAKES ME REALLY THINK ABOUT, UH, WHO'S REPRESENTING US ON THOSE BENCHES, UH, AND WHO REALLY HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF THESE KIDS AT HEART. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT, NOW WE'LL GO TO OUR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, MR. BURKE KELLER, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL BEEN A WHILE. UH, DOES IT NEED TO BE SAID? DOES IT NEED TO BE SAID RIGHT NOW? AND DOES IT NEED TO BE SAID BY ME? I, I THINK SO. I, UH, HAVE BEEN INSPIRED RECENTLY BY DIRECTOR RUDY MORENO. UM, I THINK IT'S INTERIM, UM, WHEN, WHEN I SAT AND EVEN TO YOUR DAY, I THINK IT'S 10 TIMES EASIER FOR SOMEONE TO CRITICIZE THAN TO COMPLIMENT. I COACHED OVER 2000 BASEBALL GAMES, AND MY PHILOSOPHY WAS HUG THEM, HIT 'EM, HUG THEM, COMPLIMENT, CRITICIZE, COMPLIMENT. I LISTENED TO YOU IF YOU START WITH THAT. SO I'M INSPIRED BY HIM, AND I GOT MY BABY BOO BERKELEY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PLAYING WATER POLO. SHE STUDIES PSYCHOLOGY AND SOUND LANGUAGE, AND SHE'S CALLED TO HELP DEAF PEOPLE. WE, WE HAVE A CODE IN OUR FAMILY OF LOVE, TOLERANCE OF OTHERS, OF EVERYONE. AND I WANTED TO SAY, MAN, I'M GONNA GET UP. I'M GONNA GET IN MY CAR, I'M GONNA GO DOWNTOWN. I'M GONNA PAY FOR PARKING. AND I'M GONNA TELL THIS COUNCIL, RUDY [01:10:01] MORENO IS THE REAL DEAL. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, BUT WHAT I'M GONNA GET TO IS Y'ALL. SO I HAVE A FRIEND DISTRICT, A DEVELOPER, SAYS HE'S GOT A SUBTENANT BIG PROBLEM. I GO ALL THE WAY AROUND FROM THE COUNTY BUILDING AT TRINITY MENDEN HALL TO WESTVIEW AND WALK 50 YARDS TO HIS OFFICE. THAT TENANT IS IN THERE, AND THEY FELT LIKE THEY'RE GETTING JAMMED UP, AND HE HAD FOUR INCHES OF STUFF. I SAID, LOOK, I AIN'T READING ALL THAT. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? I SAID, HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO. EMAIL ME EVERY EMPLOYEE, EVERY PERSON YOU'VE SPOKEN TO AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. JUST, JUST SEND IT TO ME. AND THEN I CALL MY GO-TO LIZ MIRANDA, BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO BOTHER AMY ALL THE TIME. BUT I THINK WE PROBABLY WORK ON MAYBE AT LEAST TWO ISSUES A WEEK. WE HAVE A STANDARD CALL, LIZ AND I, ONE OF THE GREATEST CHIEFS OF STAFF I'VE EVER KNOWN ON FRIDAY. UH, I SAY, LISTEN, I, I, WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, I DID THIS THING CALLED TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE. IS THAT STILL THERE? AND, UH, AND SHE GOES, I DON'T THINK SO, BUT WE GOT CODE ENFORCEMENT GROUP. I GO, GIMME THE NAMES OF THAT. AND SO I LOOK AT IT AND I GO, YOU KNOW, I HADN'T TALKED TO RUDY. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE'S GONNA REMEMBER ME, BUT I'M GONNA DO THESE GUYS A FAVOR. I'M GONNA CALL RUDY. AND I GOT UP CALLED RUDY. IT WAS PROBABLY BEFORE EIGHT O'CLOCK. I CALLED, I LEFT A MESSAGE. HE LEAVES HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER ON THE MESSAGE. I I, I DON'T KNOW, I I'M, YOU CAN'T GO TO CHURCH BALLFIELD A GROCERY STORE WITHOUT SOMEBODY CRITICIZING PERMITTING IN HOUSTON. AM I WRONG? HE IS. IS HE, IS HE STUPID OR COURAGEOUS? BUT HE'S COURAGEOUS. HE, HE PUTS HIS, I SAID, I'M NOT CALLING THIS CELL. I'M CALLING THE MAIN NUMBER. I LEFT A VOICEMAIL. I GET MY GUY'S FRIEND ON THE PHONE AND I SAID, LOOK, HERE'S HOW IT'S GONNA GO. THOSE ARE THE NAMES. UM, I'M JUST GONNA GET YOU A MEETING SOMEHOW. GO AHEAD, BURT. SO HE CALLS ME RIGHT BACK. AND LONG STORY SHORT, HE FIGURES OUT A WAY. THE CLIENT, THE CUSTOMER, THE CLIENT OF THE DEVELOPER FRIEND HAD A MEETING THAT AFTERNOON ALREADY SET WITH THIS CODE ENFORCEMENT GROUP. RUDY GOES IN, I SAID, ALL I WANTED IS THEM TO GET TREATED FAIRLY. DOT YOUR I'S CROSSED THEIR T'S. THEY'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH, AND THEY'RE NOW IN THE FINAL PART OF THE FI THE, THE, UH, THE PERMITTING. HE'S GOT A GUY NAMED ERIC. EVERYBODY FOLLOWS UP. EVERYBODY DOES WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO. AND YOU WANNA KNOW WHY? IT'S BECAUSE WE GOT A NEW VINE. THE CITY WAS NOT UNITED. WE WERE IN FEAR. WE WERE FIGHTING. BL BLUE WAS FIGHTING RED AND RED. Y'ALL GOT SOME PURPLE STUFF GOING ON. SOMETHING HAPPENED. IT'S 'CAUSE Y'ALL ARE ELECTED. THERE'S NOT THAT TOXIC STUFF THAT WAS OVER WHERE YOU SIT RIGHT NOW. THAT SAID THAT THINGS ON ELECTION DAY, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL. WE'VE APOL, I'VE APOLOGIZED TO YOU. RIGHT? THESE ARE GOOD PEOPLE. YOU GUYS GOT MY RESPECT. I'M GONNA COME DOWN HERE AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW. AND I GUESS WHAT, I THINK MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE SAYING GOOD THINGS AT COUNCIL. I THINK MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA SEND THOSE EMAILS. YOU'VE UNITED THE CITY AND YOU'VE JUST STARTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK MAYOR, VICE MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. UM, AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO HEAR GOOD THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY. AND I KNOW THAT LIZ, UM, ENJOYS THE WEEKLY PHONE CALLS WITH YOU AS WELL. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AT THE COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THANK YOU. IT'S A LOT OF FUN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. HONORABLE BURT KELLER. GREAT TO SEE YOU AND GREAT TO MEET YOUR DAUGHTER. AND, UH, YOU JUST, THANKS FOR COMING AND SAYING THANKS. I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT RUDY. UH, I MEAN, I, I, I SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT CHRIS BUTLER. HE WAS GREAT ABOUT GETTING STUFF DONE WHEN YOU CALLED HIM. UM, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CALL THE TOP GUY, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY SINGLE TIME WE NEED SOMETHING. BUT, UH, REALLY AGREE WITH YOU. HE'S VERY RESPONSIVE. AND THANKS FOR COMING DOWN AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SALUTING THE PURPLE DOWN HERE, . YOU GUYS BEHAVE WELL IN PUBLIC AND YOU TREAT EACH OTHER CIVILLY AND YOU'RE SOLVING REALLY BIG ISSUES AND YOU, AND YOU'RE SPOT ON ON ALL OF THEM. THEY'RE REALLY, THEY'RE REALLY BIG. EVERYTHING Y'ALL TAKE ON, YOU MAKE TOUGH, GOOD DECISIONS AND, AND THEY'RE ALL RIGHT. I MEAN, YOU REALLY MEASURE THE WHOLE THING. SO IMPRESSED. THANK YOU, BUR BE SAFE. NEXT, STEVE MOORE, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH TIME [01:15:01] YOU SPENT INCLUDING LISTENING TO ME. I'M NOT HERE LIKE MOST SPEAKERS TO ASK FOR MONEY OR HELP, OR EVEN FOR YOUR, UH, RECOGNITION. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO NOT WASTE TAXPAYERS MONEY. SOMETHING WHICH I THINK IS BECOMING A HALLMARK OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. IF IT AIN'T BROKE, THEN WHY SPEND $13 MILLION TO FIX IT? EVEN THOUGH PAST ADMINISTRATION SPENT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS DESIGNING A NEW NORTH BE POLICE STATION, THE RENTED NORTH BELT POLICE STATION AIN'T BROKE. POLICE OFFICERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF A CLASS, A OFFICE BUILDING ALREADY HAVE THE BEST OFFICE SPACE, INCLUDING COVERED PARKING, A CAFE, TWO GYMS, TWO EMERGENCY GENERATORS, AND OTHER AMENITIES. THEY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFECTIVE POLICE STATIONS IN HOUSTON FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WHILE THEY'VE BEEN AT THIS LOCATION. IF THE CITY INSISTS ON OWNING RATHER THAN RENTING, FINE, YOU CAN BUY THE WHOLE 14 STORY BUILDING FOR LESS THAN THE COST. A BILLION, A NEW STATION, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT 12 TIMES SMALLER AND GET 13 FLOORS FOR OTHER CITY OFFICES. THE IDEA TO BUILD A NEW BIRTH NORTH BELT STATION MADE SENSE 20 YEARS AGO WHEN GREENS POINT OFFICE SPACE WAS EXPENSIVE, BUT NOT NOW. WHEN YOU CAN BUY A CLASS, A OFFICE SPACE FOR 10 TIMES LESS THAN YOU CAN BUILD A NEW STATION. THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE JOHN WHITMEYER AS, UH, REPUTATION FOR MAKING COMMON SENSE, MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS INSTEAD OF RUBBER STAMPING AN OBSOLETE PLAN. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU ALL. NEXT OSCAR ORUS. DANIEL ARAGON. I HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY, BRT, LIKE, UH, SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS. I AM A LIFELONG HISTONIA AND BEEN HERE SINCE DAY ONE. UH, I GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. I AM A METRO WRITER. I AM A METRO RIDER BY CHOICE. I DON'T LIKE TO DRIVE. UH, WELL, I'VE NEVER DRIVEN, I DO NOT HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. IT'S JUST SO MUCH MORE CONVENIENT TO, TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. AND RIGHT NOW, THE STATE OF METRO IS JUST A MESS. BUSES AS RIDERSHIP HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE. BUSES STILL DO NOT RUN AT PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE 50 BROADWAY, WHICH, UH, THROUGH DISTRICT I, WHERE I ALSO LIVE ON THE WEEKENDS, IT COMES EVERY 30 MINUTES, UH, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, EVERY 12 MINUTES. AND RIDERSHIP IS RECOVERING AND THE BUSES TAKE FOREVER. SO WHENEVER THEY TALK ABOUT RIDERSHIP BEING DOWN AND THEY TALK ABOUT HOW RIDERSHIP DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE EXPENSE, IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, UH, THEY'RE NOT, UH, PUSHING FOR MORE TRANSIT. UH, AND ALSO THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO TALKED ABOUT THEIR DAUGHTER BEING HIT BY A CAR. BEING A PEDESTRIAN IN HOUSTON IS SO SCARY. UH, EVEN WHERE I, WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO WALK SIDEWALKS WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO CROSS THE STREET WHEN I HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY, I'M SCARED. I'VE SOMETIMES HAVE TO SAY A QUICK PRAYER, YOU KNOW, GOD, PLEASE PROTECT ME. UH, BECAUSE IT IS SCARY. I DON'T KNOW WHO HERE WALKS, WHO HERE USES METRO, BUT IT IS NOT SAFE. AND I'M NOT SAYING CRIME. YEAH, CRIME HAPPENS, BUT, BUT IT'S, IT'S FINE. YOU KNOW, CRIME HAPPENS THAT WE WERE, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT METRO NEVER FOCUSES ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED JUST ACROSS THE STREET A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE WAS HIT BY A BUS. THAT'S WHY I CROSSED THERE TODAY TO GET HERE. AND IT IS A SCARY THOUGHT THAT IF I LEAVE MY HOUSE AND GET ON METRO, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT I MIGHT NOT COME BACK. 'CAUSE I'M GONNA GET HIT. AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. I READ YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY LINE. UH, YOU ARE CORRECT. THEY MADE THE WRONG TURN. AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I AGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT TOO. [01:20:01] UH, YES. THE, THE PLAN WAS MADE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, SO A LOT HAS CHANGED. SO THIS COULD CHANGE TOO, BUT THEY JUST REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND THIS, UH, I I, I SAW AN INTERVIEW BY THE CURRENT METRO CHAIRWOMAN. SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTS TO SEE METRO, UH, TURN BE MORE LIKE UBER. I'M LIKE, ARE YOU, ARE YOU SERIOUS? UBER, IT'S METRO. IT'S NOT UBER. AND THE FOCUS IS ON MICRO TRANSIT. WHAT, WHAT IS THAT? YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR. THE METRO NEXT PLAN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I EVER VOTED FOR. I HAD JUST TURNED 18, UH, WHEN, UH, THAT ELECTION TOOK PLACE. AND IT'S, IT'S WHAT THE VOTERS WANTED. AND I HOPE THAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU SUPPORT THIS. 'CAUSE METRO HAS BEEN PERFECTLY GOOD WITH, UH, UH, THE PREVIOUS BOARD WITH PUBLIC OUTREACH. THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WANTED. I REMEMBER LAST YEAR THERE WAS A BIG ISSUE ABOUT THEY WERE GONNA BUILD ANOTHER OVERPASS FOR THE UNIVERSITY. UH, AND METRO SAT DOWN WITH PEOPLE. I WAS THERE AT ALL THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED. AND WHAT, UH, UH, PLUMBER, MS. PLUMMER, YOU SAID, I DON'T WANNA LIVE HERE ANYMORE, . IT'S, IT'S, IT'S TERRIBLE. LEMME UH, EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPT. LET ME CALL ON COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST, YOU HAVE LAST, LAST THOUGHTS THAT YOU WANNA SHARE? YEAH, I JUST, I DON'T WANNA LIVE IN THE CITY ANYMORE. I, I'VE SAID THAT ONCE I GRADUATE A YEAR, I'M OUT HERE. I'VE, I'VE, I'VE BEEN TO NEW YORK. IT'S OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK HOUSTON'S GONNA HAVE THE SAME TRANSPORT NETWORK AS NEW YORK, BUT IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO LIVE THERE. UH, I'M JUST SAYING SOMEWHERE WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH A CAR SOMEWHERE WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING HOME SAFE. SO I HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL DEMANDS THAT THIS LINE BE BUILT OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT. RIGHT. THINGS HAVE CHANGED. AND THANK YOU TO MS. PLUMMER AND MS. THOMAS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU. UM, DANIEL, SO IF I CAN JUST, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I NOTICE THAT YOU LIVE IN THE HOBBY AIRPORT AREA, SO I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US SOME CONTEXT ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS A BUS RIDER COMING FROM THE HOBBY AREA TO UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. YES. AND HOW, HOW THAT TRANSIT CONNECTION IS IMPORTANT. UH, AND, AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, I THINK MY BIGGEST CONCERN, UH, WITH THIS DECISION IS, UM, YOU, AS YOU STATED, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT OUT TO ASK VOTERS TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING AND THEY METRO NEXT, AND THAT PLAN. UM, AND SO TO DEFER INDEFINITELY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DEFER IT INDEFINITELY. AND ONE MORE THING, THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT BOARD SUPPORT. SO, SO TO THAT POINT, RIGHT, UM, I'M, I'M INTERESTED IN HAVING CONVERSATIONS, BUILDING TRUST, UH, WITH METRO AND THE COMMUNITY. UH, I WAS AT A, ALL THOSE MEETINGS THAT YOU DISCUSSED IN THE EASTWOOD AREA WHERE IT WAS VERY CONTENTIOUS, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THAT COIN. YES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS PROMISED TO FOLKS WAS A SEPARATION OF GRADE. UH, WHAT WAS PROMISED TO FOLKS WAS CONNECTIVITY. UM, AND SO WHERE I STAND IS, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED TOO, ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEDESTRIANS, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S SAFE CROSSWALKS AS WELL. AND, UH, METRO'S, AGAIN, THEY'VE, I'VE REACHED, I'VE REACHED OUT TO, UH, TO METRO. UH, CHAIRWOMAN BROCK HAS ALSO, UH, RETURNED PHONE CALLS, AND SHE'S INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT WHAT THOSE, UH, PEDESTRIAN, UH, SAFETY, UM, INITIATIVES CAN HAPPEN AS WELL. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, I THINK AGAIN, MOST IMPORTANT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INFORMING YOU ALL ON WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY. IF IT DOESN'T, IF WE CAN'T, IF IT CAN'T HAPPEN, ALL RIGHT, THE METRO NEXT PLAN, THEN HOW CAN WE PRIORITIZE SOME OF THOSE, UH, CONNECTIONS? YEAH, IT, AND I DON'T SAY IT HAS TO BE BRT, BUT AT LEAST MORE BUS SERVICE. CURRENTLY THE 50 THAT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF OUR DISTRICT, EVERY 30 MINUTES USED TO COME EVERY 12 MINUTES. AND ALL I'M HEARING FROM THIS METRO BOARD IS MICRO TRANSIT. WHAT, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO BRING BACK MORE SERVICE? YEAH. NOTHING. IT'S JUST MICRO, MICRO. SO THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN. THANK YOU, MAN. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND JUST KNOW THAT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA HAVE MY OFFICE REACH OUT TO YOU, UH, BECAUSE SOME OF THE, THOSE THROUGH YOUR LENSES AS FAR AS HOW DO YOU GET FROM, YOU KNOW, THE EAST HAVEN NEIGHBORHOOD UP TO U OF H. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR YOU AS WELL. ALRIGHTY. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT THOMAS, SIR, COME BACK, MA'AM. I'M SORRY. COUNCILOR THOMAS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, SO I JUST WANNA RESPOND TO YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT LEAVING THE CITY. AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TO STAY IN THE CITY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF ALL OF US LEAVE, BECAUSE WE CAN LEAVE, THEN WHO FIGHTS ON BEHALF OF THOSE, AND FOR ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. AND SO, UM, YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE A TOUR IN ANOTHER CITY, BUT I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER STAYING IN HOUSTON AND PUSHING THE ENVELOPE FOR THE ISSUES THAT MATTER. THERE [01:25:01] ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY, DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT PUBLIC SESSION IS AVAILABLE TO THEM, BUT WILL BE DEEPLY IMPACTED BY THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UM, IN TERMS OF TRANSIT AND ACCESSIBILITY. UM, AND JUST WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, THE GROWTH AND ECONOMIC ENGINE OF OUR CITY, HOW CRITICAL THAT INVESTMENT WILL BE. SO I KNOW IT'S LIKE THE EASY THING IS TO, TO GIVE UP. THE EASY THING IS TO SAY, I AM OUTTA HERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS, I WANT YOU TO SAY, AND THEN I, AND I ALSO, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA VISIT THE METRO BOARD MEETING, BUT I, I THINK THIS IS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN. UM, BUT WE HAVE APPOINTED POSITIONS, UM, THAT DON'T COME WITH THAT SAME ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO NOT ONLY COME HERE BECAUSE THEY COME BEFORE THIS BODY FOR APPOINTMENT, BUT THAT YOU ALSO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS THERE. AND I'M SURE YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING THAT. BUT I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY IN THE FIGHT, UM, AND THEN KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THEN ALSO CONTINUE TO SHARE, UH, THE ISSUES THAT MATTER WITH YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH, I, I'VE BEEN HERE, I KNOW I WAS BORN IN BENTO, LIVE IN THE EAST END, SOUTHEAST, UH, AND I STILL LIVE THERE AND I DON'T WANNA LEAVE. BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST FEELS LIKE WE'RE LOSING BATTLE, UH, UH, THIS, THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR, BUT, UH, YOUR ACTIONS HAVE SPOKEN A LOT LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS. AND YOU HAVE AN INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS PEOPLE WHO WALK. I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE AGAINST PEDESTRIANS OR BICYCLES, BUT YOU TELL US NOT TO USE BIKE LANES, BIKE LANES, PE UH, BICYCLISTS SHOULD BE IN BIKE PATHS THEN. AND NOT JUST YOU, BUT THE MAJORITY OF, OF COUNCIL VOTED TO SELL, UH, THE BAYOU FOR MORE HIGHWAY EXPANSION. UH, UH, NOR, UH, SHE, THE SHEPHERD PART, WHICH IS MOVING FORWARD. UH, THERE WAS A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY. UM, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, SOME OF THE TOURISTS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO STOP WITH ANY PROJECTS THAT WOULD INCREASE, UH, SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS. IT, IT'S JUST SO FRUSTRATING LIVING IN A CITY. WE JUST, AS I, I WAS THINKING OF WHAT YOU SAY, I AM, LIKE, WE JUST WANT A LITTLE PIECE OF HOUSTON AS A PEDESTRIAN. WE DON'T WANT EVERY LANE TO BE TURNED INTO A BIKE LANE. WE DON'T WANT EVERY SIDEWALK TO BE 10, 10 FEET LONG. WE JUST WANT TO FEEL SAFE. WE JUST WANT OUR LITTLE PIECE OF HOUSTON. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO, TO WALK HOUSTON AS, UH, UH, MS. ALCORN, YOU DO THE, THE NO CAR FRIDAY. I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO DO THAT, MAYBE NO CAR FOR A MONTH. AND YOU'LL SEE HOW, HOW, UH, HOW, HOW INCONVENIENT IT CAN BE. IF YOU LIVE IN DOWNTOWN, YOU GOT ACCESS TO THE LIGHT RAIL, THAT'S AWESOME. BUT IF YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE, UH, WHERE THE ONLY BUS BAR COMES EVERY 30 MINUTES, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND HOW INCONVENIENT IT CAN BE. SO IT IS FRUSTRATING TO LIVE IN A CITY LIKE THAT. AND I, AND I LOVE LIVING HERE. UH, EVERY TIME I, I GO TO MEXICO FOR A FEW MONTHS, LIKE, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK. IT FEELS LIKE HOME. AND, UM, IT'S JUST SO FRUSTRATING. UM, FRUSTRATING LIVING IN A CITY. THE HIGHWAYS ARE GETTING BIGGER, AND NO ONE CARES ABOUT THAT. OBVIOUSLY IT'S TEXAS. I UNDERSTAND. DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION. THEY'RE ABOUT TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, HUN, TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO WIDEN THE FREEWAYS AND METRO'S JUST GONNA COST $2 BILLION. I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT COMPARED TO HOW MUCH THE HIGHWAYS ARE GONNA COST, LET ME, UH, EXCUSE ME IF I INTERRUPT, BUT COUNCIL MAYOR PLUMMER, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND JUST BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN YOUR PERSPECTIVE. IT, IT, I MEAN, I DO BELIEVE IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, TO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS' POINT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE. UM, I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND IS THAT THERE'S A BALANCE. WE CAN, WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND BE ABLE TO GET AROUND THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO. AND, AND IT DOES, IT DOES, IT DOES COME DOWN TO RESILIENCY. BECAUSE IF WE ALL CAN'T GET TO WHERE, AND IT, AND IT, AND IT OPENS OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT? IF YOU, IF, AND, YOU KNOW, AND ONE THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT OFTENTIMES WAS THEY LOOK AT RIDERSHIP, BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT PEOPLE DON'T RIDE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ON TIME. YES. THE CURRENT BOARD, SHE'S LIKE RIDER. SHE SAID, RIDERSHIP IS THE NORTH STAR. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON RIDERSHIP. AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THIS PROJECT WAS CANCELED WAS BECAUSE OF RIDERSHIP. BUT THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DO TO BRING BACK THAT RIDERSHIP? YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TOO. NOT JUST EXPECT THEM TO COME TO YOU. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THEM. UH, WHICH IS SO FRUSTRATING. THAT'S ONE OF THE POINTS I WANTED TO BRING THEM TO METRO AT THE BOARD MEETING, WHICH I UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT FORGOT TO SIGN UP FOR. BUT, UH, I'M GONNA WRITE THEM A LETTER. UH, JUST MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT. YEAH, NO, WE, NO, WE, HONESTLY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND THEN FOR MANY OF US ON THE HORSESHOE, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SOMETHING WE CAMPAIGNED ON. WE CAMPAIGNED ON METRO NEXT, AND WE CAMPAIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD TRANSPORTATION EQUITY AND THAT WE HAD COVERED, YOU KNOW, COVERED, UM, BUS STOPS AND, AND, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR COMING UP HERE AND [01:30:01] SHARING YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS AND, UM, IDEAS WITH US. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. AND, AND I WELCOME YOU TO COME WALK HOUSTON WITH ME. MM. UM, I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I HEARD THIS, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FEEL FOR YOUR CITY, GO FOR A WALK. 'CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING 40 MILES PER HOUR, YOU MISS A LOT OF THINGS. SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MEET THE PEOPLE, UH, LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS, GO FOR A WALK, AND THEN YOU, YOU WILL SEE WHAT HOUSTON'S REALLY LIKE, AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I HAVE TO EXPERIENCE SOMETIMES AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR TENAYA. DANIEL. HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMAR, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS, VENERABLE LEADERS OF THIS GREAT CITY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TANYA DANIEL, AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVES FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS BASED HERE IN HOUSTON. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING EDUCATIONAL NONPROFITS SPECIALIZING IN FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. OUR FOUNDING AND FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IS THE JA COMPANY PROGRAM, AND IT ENABLES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CREATE, LAUNCH, OPERATE, AND EVEN LIQUIDATE THEIR EARLY STATE STARTUPS. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAMS RANKED BY FORBES AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE GLOBAL PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS. I PROUDLY STAND HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT HOUSTON IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE NATIONAL LEADERS FOR THE JA COMPANY PROGRAM. SINCE 2020, WE HAVE SEVERAL NATIONAL RANKING STUDENT LED EARLY STATE STARTUPS THAT HAVE WON MULTIPLE ACCOLADES AT OUR NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE COMPETITION IS GRUELING AND EVEN FEATURES A TRADE EXPO AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR THE US SENATE. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE FIVE NATIONAL RANKING EARLY STATE STARTUPS EMERGING FROM HOUSTON, THE GREATEST NUMBER OF STUDENT LED BUSINESSES FROM ANY US REGION FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT. THAT IS 20% OF ALL COHORTS IN OUR NATIONAL SUMMIT. FROM 102 J REGIONS IN THE USA, WE WON MANY OF THE TOP AWARDS, AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM OUR AMAZING STUDENTS SOON. IN NOVEMBER, 2023, I WAS AWARDED THE SORAYA SALTY AWARD FOR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP BY OUR HEAD OFFICE J WORLDWIDE. THIS IS A GLOBAL AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP. AND IN MY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, I GR GIVE CREDIT TO OUR GREAT CITY WHERE I SAID THAT THIS AWARD IS A CELEBRATION OF HOUSTON AND EVERYTHING THAT HOUSTON REPRESENTS. AND WITH THAT, A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR CREATING THE MOST AMAZING ECOSYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND MY SUIT STUDENTS CAN TRY. I REALLY WISH WE HAD MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU DEAR COUNCIL AND I WELCOME THEM IN THE FUTURE, AND ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S, UM, MAYOR'S DEPARTMENT ON EDUCATION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL COUNCILOR JACKSON? HERE GO. MA'AM. MA'AM, MA'AM. SO COUNCILOR JACKSON, THANK YOU. AND MS. DA, MS. DANIEL, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE, ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH? ABSOLUTELY. AND IF YOU WANT, I CAN SHARE IT, UH, WITH YOU OFFLINE IN AN EMAIL, BUT YES, WE ARE ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES, STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION, BECAUSE HOUSTON IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THE US AND WE WANNA CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PIONEERING AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS BECAUSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP KNOWS NO BARRIERS. MM-HMM . AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS A GREAT PATHWAY TO UPWARD SOCIAL MOBILIZATION. AND WE TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN BEING FROM HOUSTON, BEING IN DC AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE TEXAS FLAG, THAT IS LIKE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF OUR LIFE SO FAR. SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION AND WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ADVANCE WORKFORCE READINESS EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION. OKAY. I FEEL YOUR PASSION. MY, UM, CONSTITUENT SERVICE REP IS IN THE AUDIENCE. JOEL, YOU CAN GET YOUR INFORMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, OH, YOU MIGHT, AUDI AIRY. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR ATTENTION. I'M GRATEFUL TO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO [01:35:01] SPEAK TODAY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUE DAMIR, WHO IS WITH US TODAY AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR JOURNEY TO NATIONAL SUCCESS. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LUMIERE ADDRE. EARLIER THIS MONTH, I PARTICIPATED IN THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT WITH MY TEAM OF FOUR IN WASHINGTON DC REPRESENTING MY COMPANY AL ALONG. AL ALONG IS A TYPING GAME MADE FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS TO TEACH BOTH READING AND TYPING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A NATION WHERE CHILDHOOD ILLITERACY HAS BECOME NORMALIZED. IT'S A PROJECT I'VE BEEN DEDICATED TO FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS, AND SOMETHING I HAD BECOME QUITE FAMILIAR WITH. HOWEVER, WHAT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE WAS THE PROFOUND SENSE OF COMMUNITY AT NATIONALS, WHICH BECAME MUCH MORE APPARENT DURING THE EVENT AS OUR TEAMS WENT UP ONE BY ONE SWEEPING THE AWARD STAGE AND CLAIMING AN ASTOUNDING HALF OF THE AWARDS AVAILABLE FOR TEAMS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. I REMEMBER THINKING IN OUR LITTLE HOUSTON CORNER OF THE ROOM, WOW, THIS IS WHAT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IS, THE ABILITY TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR SKILLS, OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR SKILLS, AND COLLABORATE TO MAKE AN IMPACT BIGGER THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE. JUST BY BEING MEMBERS OF THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT COMPANY PROGRAM. MY TEAM HAS GAINED A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM FROM MS. TANYA DANIEL, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF OTHER TEAMS LIKE THE ONES WHO HAVE JOINED ME TODAY. WHILE THESE TEAMS WERE OFTEN OUR COMPETITORS, THEY ULTIMATELY BECAME OUR FAMILY. ALTHOUGH WE STILL DON'T THINK OUR FIRST PLACE NATIONALS WIN HAS SETTLED IN YET, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK AND MAKING EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITY, MY FELLOW TEAMS, AND I ONLY HOPE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL LEND THEIR EVERLASTING SUPPORT TO US ON OUR JOURNEY TO DO SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, SEBASTIAN PAN. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN PAN AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR LUCK. UH, BEFORE I BEGIN, IF I MAY, I WOULD LOVE TO SHOWCASE MY WONDERFUL TEAM THAT GOT US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UH, CHRISTINE BUCO, OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ETHAN JANG, OUR CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, UH, REASONING LU, UH, WHO UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T MAKE IT, OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, UM, AND SALEM PENN, OUR FINANCIAL OFFICER, WHO ALSO CANNOT MAKE IT TODAY. THIS REMARKABLE GROUP OF YOUNG INDIVIDUALS CULMINATED INTO THE BEST TEAM I COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR. THIS YEAR, OUR TEAM DECIDED TO CREATE AN APP THAT AIMED TO ELIMINATE PROCRASTINATION WITHIN STUDENTS. THIS DECISION WAS DRIVEN BY OUR DISCOVERY OF THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF STUDENTS AFFECTED BY THIS PERVASIVE ISSUE. PROCRASTINATION IS NOT A MINOR CONCERN. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO SIGNIFICANTLY HARM THE MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELLBEING OF THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH IT. WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE PROCRASTINATION IS THE LIFE THAT YOU COULD HAVE LIVED WITH OUR FIVE CORE FEATURES, A TASK LIST, A TIMER, A CUSTOMIZED MUSIC PLAYER, OUR OWN CUSTOMIZED AI CHATBOT AND OUR CENTER FEATURE, THE STUDY SPOT LOCATOR. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A TOOL THAT HAS FEATURES TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE USER, ELIMINATING THEIR PROCRASTINATION HABITS. AND WITH THIS PRODUCT THROUGH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE PROUD CITY OF HOUSTON IN WASHINGTON DC THIS YEAR. AND OUR, AND NOT ONLY BE A FINALIST FOR THE JOHNSON JOHNSON STEM INNOVATION CHALLENGE, BUT ALSO TAKE HOME SECOND PLACE IN THE SOCIAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE, MEANING THAT OUT OF THE HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, OUR SMALL TEAM OF FIVE FROM SOUTHEAST TEXAS WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A NATIONAL RANKING, NOT JUST ANY NATIONAL RANKING, BUT THE FIRST NATIONAL RANKING THAT OUR SCHOOL HAS RECEIVED IN SEVEN YEARS. HOWEVER, OUR SUCCESS DOESN'T JUST APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT FOR THREE YEARS, AND I STILL VIVIDLY REMEMBER MY FIRST PITCH COMPETITION, WHERE I WAS THE SOLE PRESENTER BECAUSE MY ENTIRE TEAM WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND. SHORTLY AFTER ALL THAT ALL MY TEAMMATES GRADUATED, LEAVING ME TO CONTINUE ON MY OWN. THREE YEARS LATER, I'M PROUD TO BE SURROUNDED BY A PASSIONATE GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO I NOW CONSIDER FAMILY THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION TO NATIONAL RANKING, OUR COMPANY HAS BEEN HONORED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL AWARDS, INCLUDING THE TOP COMMERCIAL AWARD AND THE FIRST RUNNER UP COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD. I ALSO HAD THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF BEING NAMED A RECIPIENT OF THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNALS, CEO OF THE FUTURE AWARD. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH HAS PROVIDED ME INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEIR SUPPORT. MY LIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED IN SUCH A PROFOUND WAY. BEFORE I END THE SPEECH OFF, I WANNA SHARE SOMETHING THAT MY PARENTS ALWAYS TOLD ME. JUST AS A SINGLE C CAN GROW INTO A MIGHTY TREE, YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS WITH DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE. THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH. ANYONE CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT AND DETERMINATION. THANKS TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO REALIZE OUR POTENTIAL AND SEE OUR EFFORTS COME TO FRUITION. [01:40:01] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. UH, COUNCIL MAYOR, PRO STATE, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU REPRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TO ALL OF THE YOUNG, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE REPRESENTING JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, AND TO THE, UM, TEACHERS AND THE LEADERS WHO HAVE, UM, HELPED YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR STELLAR REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I, I THINK THAT, UM, YOUR, YOUR APP LOOKS VERY INTERESTING. THAT ONLY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO PROCRASTINATE. UM, ADULTS, UM, SOMETIMES PROCRASTINATE AS WELL. UM, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A WAY TO MOVE PAST THAT PROCRASTINATION AND YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP OTHERS TO MOVE PAST THEIR PROCRASTINATION IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS. SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE. CONGRATULATIONS ON SECOND PLACE AND YOUR NATIONAL HONOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR SERVING THIS TODAY OF HOUSTON. NEXT, JERRY ZING. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE ESTEEMED COUNCIL. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AND MY PEERS TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. I'M JERRY ZANG, THE INCOMING CEO AND FORMER CSO OF THE FLYNN COMPANY, AND A PROUD JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS MEMBER. LAST YEAR, AMERICANS LOST $436 BILLION DUE TO POOR FINANCIAL DECISIONS. THIS MAY SEEM SHOCKING UNTIL YOU REALIZE THAT 67% OF TODAY'S YOUTH ARE FINANCIALLY ILLITERATE WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. WE, AS A TEAM, REALIZE THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN ONLY GET WORSE. THUS, WE CREATED THE FINANCIAL LITERACY INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOK OR FLYNN, A TOOL THAT PROVIDES A GAMIFIED LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT EMPOWERS FINANCIAL LITERACY FROM AN EARLY AGE WITH INFORMATION VERIFIED BY EXPERTS IN INTERACTIVE GAMES LIKE MAZES AND WORD SEARCHES, AND OUR ADORABLE MASK OFF FLYNN THE FROG. WE WANTED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN REALIZE THAT FINANCIAL LITERACY CAN BE YOUR FRIEND, JUST LIKE FLYNN THE FROG. WITH OVER 100 BOOKS SOLD AND OVER $850 PLANNED TO BE DONATED TO THE FINANCIAL LITERACY OF FINANCIAL LITERACY ORGANIZATION MONEY. THINK US AT THE FLYNN COMPANY TRULY FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN NOT JUST THE HOUSTON AREA, BUT ACROSS THE US AS OUR PRODUCT IS TARGETED TO THE YOUTH AUDIENCE OF UPPER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HOUSTON. WE WANT TO SINCERELY THANK THE PARENTS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OUR MISSION AND THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED THROUGH OUR BOOK AND HELP US IMPROVE IT TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED US MAKE, MAKE IT THIS FAR. FIRST IN THE AUDIENCE, WE HAVE ZIA KJA, OUR FORMER CEO, AND OUR TEACHER SPONSOR, MR. BRA, BOTH HAVE, WHICH WHO HAVE HELPED OUR TEAM REACH OUR GOALS. IN FACT, IN FACT, THE HELP FROM THEM AND OUR CONSUMERS HAVE PROPELLED US TO WIN LOCAL COMPETITIONS SUCH AS THE WCE THINK TANK COMPETITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, BUT ALSO GIVEN US THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON AT THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON DC. THIS SUMMIT ALLOWED THE FLYNN COMPANY TO COMPETE AGAINST THE TOP 15 JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT COMPANIES IN THE NATION, WHERE WE ARE AWARDED THE DELTA SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD, PRESENTED BY DELTA AIRLINES FOR OUR MISSION OF SUPPORTING FINANCIAL LITERACY TO YOUTH ACROSS THE US. AS MY TIME COMES TO A CLOSE, I'D ONCE AGAIN LIKE TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND ALL THE LIVES YOU'RE ABLE TO IMPACT. WE AS, AS A COMPANY, WE AS A COMPANY, TRULY HOPE TO MAKE AS BIG OF AN IMPACT AS THIS COUNCIL, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS DONE FOR US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, DAVID CHU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I BELIEVE Y'ALL ALREADY HEARD THE INTRODUCTION FROM BOTH PAA DANIEL AND THE OTHER JA TEAMS. SO I'M GONNA KEEP IT PRETTY BRIEF AND JUST TALK ABOUT THIS COMPANY SPECIFICALLY. BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'M DAVID CHU. I'D LIKE TO GIVE A BRIEF THANK YOU TO MY TEAMMATES. SO ARANA, ANWAR, AND AION TO BONNIE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MS. HOLIDAY, BUT LET'S GET INTO WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT. SO OUR COMPANY THIS YEAR IS PITCH, IT'S A PERSONAL SELF-DEFENSE ALARM. IT HAS FOUR FEATURES, A LIGHT, A KEY CHAIN, A SELF-DEFENSE TOOL, AND ALARM. SO ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS THAT HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND THE UNITED STATES FACES IS THAT THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, WE HAD AROUND 400,000 CASES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHICH IS A HORRIBLE STATISTIC THAT TAINTS OUR IMAGE AS BOTH A CITY, A STATE, AND A COUNTRY. WE WANTED TO MAKE A CHANGE AND WE WANTED TO MAKE A TANGIBLE IMPACT. SO [01:45:01] WE CREATED THIS PRODUCT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME, YOU KNOW, ACHIEVEMENTS THAT OUR COMPANY MADE. THIS YEAR, WE HAD A COUPLE THINGS. SO WE ATTENDED OUR MEMORIAL CITY MALL TRADE FAIR, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO SELL AROUND 900 UNITS, OR RATHER, $900 IN SALE TO A PRODUCT. WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND VARIOUS PITCH COMPETITIONS LIKE THE RICE PITCH COMPETITION, THE BAYLOR PITCH COMPETITION, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO WIN AROUND $4,000 IN GRANT MONEY. NOW YOU'RE PROBABLY ASKING YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHY ARE YOU TELLING ABOUT TELLING US ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS? WELL, I'M HERE TO GAIN, YOU KNOW, PUBLICITY FOR THE JA PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE. WE GO TO A MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, A HIGH SCHOOL IN SPRING BRANCH, ISD THAT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. BUT THERE'S A TON OF OTHER HIGH SCHOOLERS OUT THERE THAT DON'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN BUSINESS COMPETITIONS OR OTHER COMPETITIONS THAT ACTUALLY ALLOW YOU TO BUILD A BUSINESS. JAY SPECIFICALLY COMBINES THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WITH A PUBLIC SPEAKING ASPECT. AND I JUST WANT REALLY WANTED TO PUT THIS COMPANY OUT THERE AND TELL ALL YOU ABOUT IT, THAT PEOPLE WATCHING ON THE TV, UH, WHEN THEY'RE AT HOME, UM, YOU KNOW, TELL THE PARENTS ABOUT IT. TELL Y'ALL CITY MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THIS COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TODAY, ALL OF YOU, FOR COMING FORWARD. IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING AN INTEREST IN, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE DIFFERENT IDEAS. YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY ARE OUR FUTURE. YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD WITH THESE IDEAS. AND SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT JA, UM, UNTIL YOU CAME HERE TODAY. OH, GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. SO THANK YOU. I, I APPRECIATE IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. LET'S REMEMBER AFFLICT YOU. YES. UM, MS. DANIEL, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER, THESE KIDS, BUT YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. YES, MR. CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON YOUR AWARDS. I'VE WORKED WITH, UH, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT ON THE, UM, ELEMENTARY GRADE SCHOOL LEVEL. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS, AND THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE REALLY GET THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF LIFE AND, AND, UM, YOU DO A, A GREAT PROGRAM. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND IT'S A GREAT SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK REPRESENTING HOUSTON. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU ALL. NEXT, JASMINE SIF SY. HI, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE ESTEEMED COUNCIL. I'M SO PROUD TO ALSO BE HERE FROM JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, AND YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF THE AMAZING REMARKS SAID BY EVERYONE WHO'S HAD AN AMAZING IMPACT BY THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM. JUST LIKE MYSELF HERE, AND I'M GONNA BE THE LAST ONE MAKING REMARKS. SO, UH, YOU'VE ALL HEARD THE AMAZING THINGS THAT THEY'VE SAID, AND I'M HERE FROM ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL. WE WERE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE 15 TEAMS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE IT TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL COMPETITION. AND I'M SO PROUD TO SAY THAT WE PLACED SECOND AS THE SECOND COMPANY, UH, THE SECOND RANKED COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES WITH OUR PRODUCT EVO CAB. AS YOU KNOW, HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND FROM ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL, ALSO ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE SCHOOLS IN THE NATION. WE FOUND THAT 77% OF STUDENTS GREW UP WITHOUT SPEAKING ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, WHICH IS WHY WE WANTED TO CREATE A REALLY FUN AND ENTERTAINING WAY TO PRACTICE ENGLISH FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGES STUDENTS JUST LIKE MYSELF AND LIKE THE REST OF MY TEAM HERE TODAY. UM, WHICH IS WHY WE CREATED A FUN AND INTERACTIVE GAME CALLED E VOCAB SPLIT INTO THREE CHILD FRIENDLY FUN CATEGORIES BASED OFF OF OUR FAVORITE GAMES WHEN WE WERE KIDS, SUCH AS PICTIONARY CHARADES AND I SPY. AND WE'VE BEEN SELLING OUR PRODUCT AT VARIOUS EVENTS IN VARIOUS MARKETS AND RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEEDED THIS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS WITH THEIR CHILDREN. AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE HELPED REDUCE THE 33% ACHIEVEMENT RATE GAP THAT HAS OCCURRED BETWEEN NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS, DOWN TO 9% IN THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR FOUR MONTHS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE SO EXCITED TO CONTINUE AS WELL. UM, OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO THIS JUST BY MYSELF. I HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM OF PEOPLE AT ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL THAT HAVE HELPED ME ALONG WITH ALEXANDRA MORALES AND RAYA ANI THAT WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS BACK HOME. AND I'M SO PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REPRESENT HOUSTON AT NATIONALS, AND IT'S REALLY JUST BEEN SUCH AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. I'M VERY HAPPY THAT HOUSTON HAS A REALLY FOSTERING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS SUCH AS MYSELF AND MY TEAM. AND I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE OFF BY SAYING, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THIS TEAM COUNCIL, WE WOULD LOVE ALL OF US HERE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU, UH, IF AVAILABLE AFTER THE COUNCIL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN POSSIBLE, UH, FOR HOUSTON AND FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PROAM CAST. JUST A SECOND MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. NOT ONLY YOU, BUT TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN JA. [01:50:01] I REALLY LOVE THIS IDEA AND I THINK THAT, UM, IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING CITY COUNCIL, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LANGUAGES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN, UM, PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE MYRIAD OF HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE HERE, THAT ENGLISH WAS NOT THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE OR THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. AND SO, UM, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE IDEA. I SEE WHY YOU WON SECOND PLACE. I'D BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHO WON FIRST . UH, BUT I DID WANNA JUST TELL YOU CONGRATULATIONS, AND I LOVE THE ENERGY AND THE IDEAS THAT, UM, EACH OF YOU HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD. UM, YOU'RE MEETING NEEDS IN THE CITY, AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANT A CONGRATULATIONS, BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT HIGH SCHOOL DID YOU SAY YOU WENT TO? UH, WE'RE FROM ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS LOCATED, UH, PRETTY CLOSE. IT'S IN MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS AT ELKINS, UH, ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL. LAWRENCE C ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL. YES. . OKAY. I THOUGHT SO. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ART SMITH. HELLO, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. UM, I'M HERE TODAY. UH, I ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR 42 25 LOWES AVENUE, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, SOMETIME AT THE CITY, THEY JUST PUT DOWN WHAT THEY WANNA PUT DOWN. SO THAT'S WHY THEY PUT 40 19 CHAPMAN MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GETTING A CHANCE TO DO WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU WAS ELECTED AND CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE TO DO WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT OUT SO MANY FIRES AROUND THE CITY. MAN, I KNOW YOU THEN CAME INTO A HAND OF A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT WAS ALREADY TAKING PLACE, AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. AND I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE SAYING IT, BUT, UM, I DID GET A CALL FROM, UM, CITY COUNCIL, UH, CHARLES JACKSON, MISS JACKSON'S OFFICE, AND, UM, UH, MR. CASTILLO'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. RIGHT NOW. MY WIFE AND I ARE IN A HOTEL DUE TO THE, SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE TORNADO AT OUR HOME. AND, UH, FEMA HAVE CAME OUT. THEY BOUGHT THE EXECUTIVE TEAM OUT, AND THEY SEE THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT JUST TOOK PLACE WITH THIS NATIONAL DISASTER. I'VE GONE BEFORE, MAYOR, FORMER MAYOR, ATTORNEY, HAVE GONE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL WHEN, UM, FORMER MAYOR, I MEAN, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, DAVE MARTIN, THEY BASICALLY SAID, HEY, ART MAN, WE LOOKED AT THE PAPERWORK. WE'RE NOT GONNA KEEP COMING OUT THERE TO THE PROPERTY. UM, WE REMOVE ALL RESTRICTIONS. WE, WE ARE NOT GONNA BE INVOLVED WITH ANYTHING. IT'S A CIVIL MATTER. WE DON'T WANT TO GET SUED BY THE CITY. SO THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CALLED RENEE THE OTHER DAY IN MY WIFE AND I PRISONS. ALL RENEE HAD TO DO IS BE HONEST AND SAY THAT HE DID THAT. I DID COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR TURNER SAID, ASKED FOR SOME DOCUMENTS, ASKED ME TO GIVE 'EM TO RENEE. RENEE CHOSE TO LIE. HE CHOSE TO LIE. AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED MY WIFE AND I GOING, UH, UH, BEFORE, UH, GOING LIVE ON OUR FIFTH ONE LIVE TV PAGE, UH, IN FRONT OF THE SAWYER LOCATION AT DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN FRONT OF THE PRECINCT PERMIT CENTER. IT'S NOT, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME THAT PRIOR TO ME BEING IN POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY, THAT THE CITY I GO THROUGH ALL OF THE PAPERWORK, THEY READY FOR ME TO PAY THE MONEY TO GET PERMITS SO I CAN BRING CONTRACTORS OUT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SO FEMA CAN GET ME OUT THE HOTEL. YET THEY WANNA SAY THAT IT WAS A BLOCK ON THE PER ON THE PROPERTY FROM APRIL OF 2022. YET SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEPARTMENT, UH, OF PLANNING IS SAYING, ALL THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY OLD. IT'S JUST THAT I THINK I'M BEING RETALIATED AGAINST DUE TO THE FACT THAT I'VE COME DOWN HERE MULTIPLE TIMES AND CALLED OUT PUBLIC WORKS FOR BEING CORRUPT. NOW IT'S IN THE MEDIA THAT THEY ARE CORRUPT. I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE MULTIPLE TIMES SAYING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS CORRUPT. I WAS WITH, UH, ATTORNEY, UH, HAROLD TON AND MY WIFE AND I WAS AT A HEARING HERE AT THE ANNEX OVER THERE WHERE I SAW A LAWYER REPRESENTING THE CITY, COACHING A DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD INDIVIDUAL TO LIE AND SAY THAT A WOMAN'S, THE, UH, GARAGE WAS BURNT DOWN. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, AND HER GARAGE WAS NOT BURNT DOWN. AND SO I HAVE PROOF, MA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH ME AND MY WIFE IN PERSON. SO YOU CAN SEE THE PROOF THAT I HAVE, THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU JUST HIRED THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS, THERE'S STILL SO MANY CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS AND THEY ARE INCOMPETENT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED HELP WITH. BECAUSE ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN THAT I SPOKE WITH BEFORE HE CALLED RENEE, HE HAD RENEE ON SPEAKER PHONE. AND SO WHEN HE CALLED OUT THE ADDRESS AND SAID, HEY, I'M HERE WITH, UM, UH, [01:55:01] THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE AT, UH, 42 25 LOWNDES, RENEE SAYS, IS ART SMITH THERE? SO HOW YOU KNOW THE ADDRESS? BUT THEN RENEE TURNS AROUND AND CHOOSES TO LIE OF THIS MAN AND SAY THAT I DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE TO SPEAK BEFORE MAYOR TURNER AND, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SO WHY IS IT THAT FEMA IS WORKING WITH THE CITY, BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY CUT CHECKS TO GET SOMETHING DONE TO GET THE PROPERTY FIXED, BUT YET THEY WANNA SAY, OH, THERE'S A HOLE ON THE PROPERTY FROM 2022. I WASN'T EVEN THERE ON THE PROPERTY. I WASN'T IN POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY, SO IT SHOULD BE DELETED. AND THEN THE, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT I TALKED TO, ALEJANDRO, HE SAID, MAN, ALL THESE CASES ARE ALREADY CLOSED OUT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WON'T RELEASE THE WHOLE, THEY JUST PLAYING HARDBALL FOR NO REASON. AND I JUST FEEL THAT SO MUCH CORRUPTION IS GOING ON UNDER THEY UNDER THEY WATCH. I KNOW YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, MAYOR, UM, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, MAN, BUT IT, IT'S ONLY ONE OTHER THING THAT I'M GONNA HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO. PLEASE TAKE OUR TIME TO DO A MICROSCOPIC CLEANUP OF THE APARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE CORRUPT, MAN. THANK YOU. NEXT COFFEE BAY. HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH EVERYTHING THAT MY HUSBAND JUST SAID. AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAD TO RETURN ABOUT $45 MILLION OF UNUSED FUNDS FOR APPROVED HOUSING RIGHT TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH GOES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. NOW WE HAVE FEMA THAT HAVE CUT US CHECKS TO FIX OUR HOME THAT WE ARE IN POSSESSION OF. AND THEN WE HAVE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN CORRUPT WITH PUBLIC, UH, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HOUSTON MENTING CENTER. THEY DONE CUT US A CHECK, A GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION, AND NOW THEY'RE STANDING IN THE WAY. AND IT IS SAID WITHIN THE LAW WITH ADVERSE POSITION THAT NO ONE CAN INTERFERE WITH THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD IS DOING WITH THE HELP OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSTON PERMANENT CENTER AND WITH CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CORRUPT. EVERYBODY'S BEING NEGLIGENT. THEY'RE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND EVERY TIME PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND SPEAK BEFORE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYORS THE ONE BEFORE YOU, EVERYBODY JUST LOOK AT EVERYBODY LIKE THEY CRAZY. NOBODY HAVE NO IN INPUT. NO ONE WANNA SAY ANYTHING UNLESS IT'S AFFECTING THEM IN THEIR HOME. BUT THEY GOT A LOT TO SAY WHEN THEY WANT PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THEM. SO WE'RE BRINGING IT TO Y'ALL ATTENTION SO YOU CAN'T SAY, YOU DUNNO. SO WHEN WE'RE FORCED TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL, THEN WE'LL DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. THANK YOU. NEXT. CLEMENT MATHIS. CLEMENT MATHIS, LAUREN JONES, CHARLES CADE, EVELYN PASSIONATE THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY. TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THE CITY TO BLOCK 33 0 2 MERCER STREET IN THE GREENWAY PLAZA AREA FROM REOPENING AS A BAR. THIS WAS A SITE OF A PROBLEM AFTER HOURS BAR OPERATING UNDER THE NAME OF STORY ULTRA LOUNGE THAT THE CITY SHUT DOWN IN FEBRUARY OF 2023. IT WAS A SITE OF SIGNIFICANT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY FOR YEARS, INCLUDING GUNFIRE, AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, ASSAULT, SEXUAL AND OTHERWISE, A SUICIDE, ILLEGAL ALCOHOL, SALES, DRUG, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, FIGHTS DRUNK DRIVING, SEVERAL VEHICULAR CRASHES, ALL OF WHICH THREATEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND REQUIRED ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CITY RESOURCES. THIS VERY SAME PROPERTY OWNER WHO LEASED TO THIS BAR IS NOW APPLYING TO REOPEN THE BUILDING AS A BAR. THE BAR WAS WELL KNOWN TO HBD, VICE NARCOTICS, TABC, PERMITTING PUBLIC WORKS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND CITY OFFICIALS. DUE TO ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS AND VIOLATIONS IN THE BAR'S. FINAL 10 MONTHS OF OPERATIONAL LOAN, THERE WERE OVER 174 CALLS FOR HPD. THE BAR WAS FINALLY SHUT DOWN THROUGH A COORDINATED EFFORT OF MANY DEPARTMENTS IN FEBRUARY OF 2023. AND NOW, DESPITE THE VERBIAGE AND RENDERINGS ON HIS WEBSITE AND INTERGRA INSTAGRAM PAGE, THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RECENT PERMIT APPLICATION WAS FOR A 120,000 RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING. AND HE HAS ALSO POSTED A NOTICE FOR TABC MIXED [02:00:01] BEVERAGE LICENSE. THE RENOVATION PERMIT WAS VERY RECENTLY REJECTED AND HE HAS INDICATED HE WILL REAPPLY. MY CONCERN IS THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO REAPPLY UNTIL HE GETS IT APPROVED AND WE WILL WRITE, BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE. WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CANNOT SUPPORT A BAR OF THIS PROPOSED NATURE. IT'S FOUR SQUARE BLOCKS OF NARROW DEAD END STREETS WITH NO CURBS OR SIDEWALKS, AND SEEMS TO BE THE PERFECT HAVEN FOR LATE NIGHT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. IT'S LIMITED INGRESS AND EGRESS RESULTED IN SMASHED GATES, DANGEROUS BURNOUTS, AND NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS ON PUBLIC STREETS. IN ADDITION, THE CITY, THE PROPERTY IS LESS THAN 50 FEET FROM A SOCIAL SERVICES FACILITY, THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER, AND WITHIN 300 FEET OF RESIDENCES, MANY OF US WERE IN OUR HOMES TRYING TO SLEEP WHILE TRYING TO, WHILE LISTENING TO LOUD MUSIC CARS BURNING OUT, YELLING AND GUNSHOTS MERE FEET FROM OUR HOMES. THIS LOCATION HAS A VERY RECENT HISTORY UNDER THIS PROPERTY OWNER OF BEING A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY AND A TREMENDOUS WASTE OF CITY RESOURCES. THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING THE CITY TO PROACTIVELY BLOCK THIS LOCATION FROM REOPENING AS A BAR. THANK YOU. NEXT MANUEL LAZO. GEORGE GEORGE LEBLANC. GEORGE LE REGINA CLORE. REGINA NO, NO. JOSEPH SMITH. DANA JONES. HELLO, MR. HELLO, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I COME ON BEHALF OF MY SISTER, EUGENE DORY, WHO WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS CALLED UP. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT 'CAUSE SHE'S ILL, BUT MY NAME IS DANA. JONAH AND MOST OF YOU KNOW ME AS THE LADY WHO EVERY TIME IT RAINS, MY HOUSE FLOODED, FLOODS. I APOLOGIZE. MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF WHO I AM, ESPECIALLY MY COUNCIL PERSON. AND THEN THE AT LARGE, UH, COUNCIL PEOPLE, THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THE NOTICE. UH, MAYOR THAT I SENT OUT ON LAST YEAR THAT I'VE GIVEN TO YOU, THEY ALREADY RECEIVED THAT, SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION. WHAT I AM ASKING IS FOR DRAINAGE HELP FROM THE CITY THAT ARE BEGAN TO OCCUR DURING THE NIECE PARK ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE PAST, UH, ADMINISTRATION. BUT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN, BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY HELP. I HAVE ENDURED A LACK OF ATTENTION CONCERNING MY HOUSE. IF THE PREDICTION OF FUTURE STORM REPORTS ARE CORRECT, I WILL BE HOMELESS. THE HOUSE WILL BE ON LIV ON LIVABLE DUE TO REPEATING FLOODING OF SEWAGE WATER, IT HAS ENDURED MY NEIGHBORHOOD. MARYROSE PARK IS DESIGNATED TO GET $19 MILLION IN 2026 FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILDING. YET MY HOUSE HAS RUN OUT OF TIME AND I NEED HELP. I'M NOT ALONE IN MY SITUATION. AS I MENTIONED, MY SISTER, EUGENE DORY, HER AND HER HUSBAND HAVE THE SAME DRAINAGE ISSUES AS WELL. THEIR HOUSE IS LOCATED AT 96 23 EDGEWORTH, AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IT FLOODS. YESTERDAY THEY WERE TOLD IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DIG A TRENCH UNDERNEATH THE SIDEWALK TO CREATE A DRAINAGE DITCH IN ORDER TO GET THE WATER TO THE THE DITCH. MY SISTER IS A RETIRED ELDERLY CITY WORKER, AS WELL AS HER HUSBAND BEING A RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT. HE IS ALSO A MILITARY CANCER SURVIVOR. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO DIG UNDER THE SIDEWALK AND DO THIS TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION. WHERE IS THE HELP FROM THE CITY TO HELP CITIZENS WITH ISSUES ON THEIR PROPERTY THAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO IMPLEMENT OR REPAIR? WE, THE NORTH SIDE HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR HELP, ASKING FOR MONEY TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE DITCH MAINTENANCE. THE LAST ADMINISTRATION VOTED FOR 20 MILLION AND THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION ONLY GAVE EIGHT. THIS MONEY WOULD HELP US PROTECT OUR HOME FROM THE WATER REPAIR AREAS, AND, AND DO OTHER NECESSARY DEER MAINTENANCE COME OUT ON THE NORTH SIDE. MAYOR, COME ON THE NORTH SIDE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. COME ON OUT THERE AND [02:05:01] VISIT US. YES MA'AM. YOU WANT ME TO WAIT ON YOU WITH MY, WHAT I HAVE TO SAY? , YOUR TIME IS RUNNING. YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GONNA MAKE THE KIDS WAIT ON. OKAY. YOU GO AHEAD. WELL COME OUT ON THE NORTH SIDE MAYOR AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. SEE HOW WE ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT. I'M PLEADING WITH YOU TO HAVE MERCY ON ME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR THAT MY HOUSE HAS NOT FLOODED. AND THE REASON BEING IS NORTH STREET, WEST STREET RECOVERY NAP BY YOUR WATER KEEPERS AND TEXAS HOUSES. I WANNA FINISH PLEASE. AND TEXAS HOUSES MAYOR, CAN I FINISH? SURE. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND TEXAS HOUSES, THEY REFUSE TO STAND BY AND CONTINUE TO LET MY HOUSE FLOOD WITH SEWER WATER. THEY CAME OUT AND DUG TRENCHES TO ALLEVIATE THE WATER FROM FLOODING MY HOUSE, WHICH IS SEWER WATER. MY HOUSE IS SO DAMAGED THAT DURING THE DIRECTING I WAS VERY, VERY AFRAID OF MY OWN HOUSE. I'M AFRAID TO GO BACK NOW. I'M JUST AFRAID TO STAY IN THERE BECAUSE THE HOUSE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE WHOLE HOUSE. I WAS TOO AFRAID TO GET IN THE TUB BECAUSE WHEN IT FLOODS LIKE THAT, THE WATER COMES UP IN THE TUB SO I COULD POTENTIALLY DROWN IN THE TUB. AND I WAS TOO AFRAID TO LAY ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE IF I FELL OR PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR, THEN I COULD DROWN THAT. SO I JUST GOT ON MY KNEES AND THAT'S ALL I COULD DO. I HAVE, I DON'T HAVE TIME. I HAVE NOT EVEN RECOVERED FROM YURI ILDA NOR HARVEY IN WHICH I LOST MY DENTAL BRIDGES. SO I DON'T EVEN HAVE, I HAVE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD TIME TO, OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. THE STORMS HAVE GRADUALLY AND CONTINUED TO DETERIORATED MY HEALTH. I AM NOW SUFFERING FROM ASTHMA. I NEED SOME HELP AND ATTENTION FOR WHAT MY, MY SITUATION, OUR HOMES, MY SISTER AND MYSELF ARE IN BAD CONDITION, NOT DUE TO THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE, BUT TO A CITY WHO HAS CHOSEN GENTRIFICATION, ELIMINATION IN CERTAIN AREAS OF ITS POPULATION. WE NEED TO HAVE SEATS AT THESE MEETINGS THAT ARE DECIDING HOW OUR MONEY IS. MS. JONES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING. WE'RE GONNA GO TO A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE QUEUE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO YOU HERE. YOU COPY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM. DANA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, UH, FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY. UM, I DO, I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR BEST TO HELP. UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME PLANS TO HELP TO GO AND REESTABLISH THE FLOW AND THE DITCHES IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, UM, WHICH WAS DONE PRIOR TO, THEY RE EVALUATED IT AND DETERMINED, UM, THAT THERE WILL BE MORE WORK DONE THERE TO HELP, UH, WHICH SHOULD HELP YOUR SITUATION. UM, AND IF IT DOESN'T, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO FIND A SOLUTION. UM, BUT WE DO STAND HERE READY TO WORK WITH YOU, READY TO ASSIST YOU, UM, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, NOBODY SHOULD FEEL LIKE WHEN IT RAINS, UH, EVERY TIME THEIR HOUSE IS GOING TO FLOOD OR WATER'S GONNA BACK UP. UM, AND SO I WANNA DO WHAT I CAN TO ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. MAY I FINISH? I'M ALMOST THROUGH. OH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY APOLOGIES. NO, I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU MORE TIME TOO, BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE. WHAT I WAS JUST GONNA SUGGEST IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SEATS AT THESE MEETINGS THAT DECIDE HOW OUR MONEY IS SPENT. I'M SORRY, MICROPHONE. I'M SORRY. WE NEED TO HAVE SEATS IN THESE MEETINGS THAT DECIDE HOW, THAT DECIDES HOW OUR MONEY IS SPENT BECAUSE IT AFFECTS OUR LIVES MORE TRANSPARENT. AND INCLUSION IS NEEDED FOR PEOPLE TO REGAIN TRUST IN THE, IN THE IN HOUSTON'S GOVERNING BODY. WE NEED HELP FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS NEEDED ON THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY. THE CITY COULD OFF COULD CONSIDER THINGS LIKE OFFERING INCENTIVE TO HOUSTON COMPANIES TO DO WORK ON PRIVATE CITIZENS PROPERTY. AND THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WOULD BE NONPROFITS AND REGULAR CITIZENS OVERSEEING THE PROJECT WITH FULL TRANSPARENCIES. WE WILL NOT STAND BY AND CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED. WE NEED HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, COUNCILOR PAUL HERRERA. SORRY, HOLD ON. COUNCIL, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. THANK YOU. UH, PAUL HERRERA WANTS TO WAIT SO THAT HE COULD SPEAK DIRECTLY TO MAYOR WHITMEYER. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR'S COMING BACK. [02:10:01] I DON'T KNOW. YOU DON'T KNOW? I DON'T KNOW. WE ARE NOT SURE IF HE'S COMING, COMING BACK. COULD MOVE TO THE END OF THE THREE MINUTE TO GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK SO THAT HE COULD SPEAK WITH HIM. THANK YOU. YOU'RE MAKING MOTION. YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION. I'M MAKING A MOTION. YES. SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT SPEAKER. EDUARDO DURAN. EDUARDO DURAN. NEXT SPEAKER. JASON SMITH. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. I'M JASON SMITH. I'M, UH, COMMISSIONER ON THE IN THE HOUSTON CLEAN CITY COMMISSION. GOOD TO SEE YOU, YOU ALL AGAIN. UM, I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A, UH, AN UPDATE, UH, FROM AN EVENTS STANDPOINT AS WELL AS A QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE, THE HOUSTON CLEAN CITY COMMISSION. UH, FROM AN EVENT STANDPOINT, WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL APRIL SPRING CLEANUP WITH OVER 32 EVENTS, OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS. AND I WANNA THANK ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE IN, UH, UH, THAT PARTICIPATED IN IN MANY OF THOSE EVENTS. UM, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, AND I THINK I STILL HAVE YOUR T-SHIRT. I DIDN'T GET IT DELIVERED FOR YOU AT THE TIME, AND WE DEFINITELY WILL GET THAT TO YOU. UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE PARTNERED WITH COCA-COLA SOUTHWEST ING OVER IN EAST HOUSTON, AN AREA THAT NEEDED A LOT OF SUPPORT. UM, WE HAD OVER 130 VOLUNTEERS, 60 CUBIC YARDS OF WASTE WERE REMOVED, AND COCA-COLA DONATED $5,700 TO KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL. UH, BIG THANKS TO, UH, HOUSTON, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMANDER CANT, COMMANDER CANTU, AS WELL AS SOLID WASTE, UH, MR. UH, WILLOCK, AND THEN ALSO, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER JACKSON'S OFFICE, UH, FOR HELPING OUT AND PROVIDING SOME RECOGNITION. SO, UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, MOVING FORWARD IN THE FALL, WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S PROUD PARTNERSHIP THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING, UH, MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY THAT ARE DOING GREAT WORK FROM A CLEAN CITY PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN ALSO OUR FALL CLEAN SWEEP, WHICH WE'LL KIND OF RECYCLE WHAT WE DID IN THE, IN THE SPRING. OUR QUARTERLY REPORT, UH, THIS, THIS QUARTER WAS ON E-WASTE. AND WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING, UH, OUR DETAILED DISCUSSION, UH, ON OUR QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UH, JUST TOMORROW. SO, APPRECIATE ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO US AND HAVE GIVEN US SOME, SOME TIME THERE. UM, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW, SINCE I DO HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES. UH, E-WASTE DOES PROVIDE CERTAINLY A LOT OF CONCERNS, BUT ALSO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AS WELL FROM A CONCERN STANDPOINT, THE TOXIC WASTE, THE WASTE THAT IT, THAT IT, THAT IT PUTS INTO OUR LANDFILL. UH, HEAVY METALS, OVER TWO THIRDS OF ALL OF OUR HEAVY METALS IN LANDFILLS COME FROM E-WASTE AND ALSO, UH, DATA SECURITY. UH, FROM AN OPPORTUNITY STANDPOINT, THEY DO PRESENT, UH, REAR AND PRECIOUS METALS, UH, THAT CAN BE PROPERLY RECYCLED IN THIS VALUE IN THAT EVEN THOUGH THAT THERE IS THIS ECONOMIC INCENTIVE, UH, THE LOGISTICAL AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES ARE COMPLEX. UH, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, ONE PARTICULAR, UH, UH, RECYCLING CENTER, UH, HERE IN HOUSTON. AND THAT'S COMPU CYCLE OVER IN KEMP WOOD DRIVE. REALLY GOOD, UH, WORLD LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO COLLECTION, REUSE, AND RECYCLING OF E-WASTE, UH, RIGHT DOWN TO BASE METALS, UH, FOR STEEL, ALUMINUM, COPPER AND PLASTICS. UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, OUR OWN, UH, SOLID WASTE, UH, WEST PARK CENTER. AND THEN, UH, A MONTHLY EVENT THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY HOLD IN, UH, KINGWOOD, UH, WAS EXEMPLARY. UH, FROM A RECOMMENDATION STANDPOINT. MOVING FORWARD, IF THE CITY CAN PARTNER WITH A LOT OF THE THIRD PARTY OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE, DELL CONNECT, UH, GOODWILL AND BEST BUY TO NAME A FEW ARE GOOD, GOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE CAN RECOMMEND FROM A CITY STANDPOINT. SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE 9 3 1 1 CALLS, UH, ON THESE QUESTIONS. IN ADDITION, UH, AS ALWAYS, UH, WE, WE, WE LOOK FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES THE CITY CAN PROVIDE FOR RECYCLING PROGRAMS, UH, HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. MAYOR, UH, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, JASON. I MEAN, MAYOR, THIS IS THE KIND OF PERSON WE WANT SERVING ON A BORDER COMMISSION. I MEAN, HE HAS TAKEN THIS CLEAN CITY COMMISSION FROM LIKE THIS SLEEPY LITTLE THING THAT HELPED OUT WITH KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL TO LIKE WHOLE NEW LENS. HE'S DOING BASICALLY THE CITY'S WORK FOR US. HE'S FINDING OUT WAYS WE CAN SAVE MONEY. HE'S FINDING OUT WAYS WE CAN PARTNER WITH PEOPLE. THEY'RE, HE'S DOING THE LEGWORK AND HE AND HIS TEAM, THERE'S OTHERS INVOLVED TOO, ARE FINDING THEY'VE DONE SCRAPPED TIRES NOW. THEY'RE DOING E-WASTE. I MEAN, THEY'RE COMING UP WITH REAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CAN DO. THIS IS GOLDEN. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION TOMORROW AT SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE. I WANNA MAKE SURE WE ACT ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'RE PUTTING IN ALL THE WORK. AND, UM, THERE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL, TURN IT INTO ORDINANCES IF WE NEED TO TURN IT INTO INITIATIVES, IF WE NEED TO, AND, AND REALLY FOLLOW THROUGH. AND JUST THANK YOU. I MEAN, MAYOR, HE USED TO RUN THE COAST GUARD NOW. HE'S SO NICE. HE DIDN'T EVEN ASK ANY OF US TO MOVE HIM UP ON THE, ON THE LIST. HE SAT BACK THERE. HE USED TO RUN THIS REGION'S COAST GUARD FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I MEAN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND NOW YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. HE'S NOW RUNNING [02:15:01] SHIPPING FOR ONE OF THE BIG ENERGY COMPANIES. YOU'RE GIVING ME WAY TOO MUCH CREDIT. I THINK THE PRESIDENT OF SHIP MIGHT NOT APPRECIATE THAT. WHATEVER. LOOK FOR MORE PEOPLE LIKE, LIKE THIS GUY ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. HE'S JUST A, A SHINING STAR. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. YOU KNOW, HE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SERVICE OVER SELF. YOUR ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN LIKE THAT. AND NOW, UM, YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE JUST, WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UH, APPRECIATE THOSE KIND OF WORDS. IT DOES TAKE A TEAM AND ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M PART OF AND CERTAINLY CLEAN CITY COMMISSION. WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM. APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR JACKSON? OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, JASON. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I KNOW WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A CLEANUP ON JUNE 6TH AND NORTHEAST HOUSTON, AND SO, UM, AN AREA THAT WAS DEEPLY NEEDED SOMEHOW VERY MUCH SO ATTENTION. SO, UM, YOU BROUGHT YOUR TEAM OUT AND REALLY APPRECIATED AND JUST ENJOYED THE PARTNERSHIP. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. GREAT. THANK YOU. SEE COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO HAVE YOUR TEAM THERE TO GIVE SOME RECOGNITION TO THE COCA-COLA FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? YOU GOT EVERYONE FIRED UP? I DID. I DIDN'T BRING A SONG WITH ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. GREAT. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL. NEXT CLARENCE WILLIAMS. HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING? HOW YOU DOING? I'M HERE WITH MY AND ALL OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. OKAY. UH, MY NAME IS CLARENCE WILLIAMS AND I'M HERE TO SHARE AND, AND SEE WHAT KIND OF HELP I CAN GET WITH MY SITU MY PARKING SITUATION. OKAY. UM, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THIRD WARD EVER SINCE TROPICAL STORM. ALLISON FLOODED OUT MY HOME ON THE NORTH SIDE. I MOVED FROM THERE AND I MOVED TO THIRD WARD. I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE ON, UH, 24 10 RUTH EVER SINCE THEN. SO I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR, UH, 24 YEARS. SO, UH, WHAT MY PROBLEM IS, MY PROBLEM IS WITH UH, UH, THE, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN FRONT OF MY LOCATION WHERE, WHERE I LIVE AND WHERE I PAY MY TAXES AT, THEY SAY THAT I CANNOT PARK MY VEHICLES ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. AND I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ABUSED THAT AND LAWS AND RULES IS PUT IN PLACE TO GOVERN AND CHANGE WHERE SOMEBODY TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. SO MY VEHICLES, I MADE SURE THAT THE TIRES ARE AIRED UP. I MAKE SURE THEY ARE CLEAN AND I MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN UPPER CON CONDITION. I CAN MOVE 'EM AROUND. AND THE TWO, THE TWO, UH, OFFICERS THAT NORMALLY, UH, UH, WRITE THE CITATION OR PATROL THAT AREA FOR THAT, UM, THE TWO FEMALES. AND, UH, I'VE TALKED WITH BOTH OF 'EM AND, UM, THEY, THEY BOTH EXPLAINED SOMETHING TO ME AND TOLD ME, AS LONG AS MY VEHICLES, MY TIRES ADD UP, AND AS LONG AS I MOVE MY VEHICLES EVERY OTHER DAY, IT'S ALL RIGHT. BUT, UM, HERE LATELY, UH, THEY, UH, THEY THEY'VE BEEN TALKING AND THEY'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE OTHER NEIGHBORS AND, UH, I'M WELL KNOWN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS HAVE COME BACK AND TOLD ME WHAT THEY SAID. AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD BEEN WRITING ME CITATIONS AND THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET BOOTS PUT ON MY CARS OR GET MY CARS TOWED. BUT THE PAST 24 YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO THAT. SO NOW THEY RAMPING IT UP AND THEY, THEY RODE ME CITATIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN NO LONGER PARK MY CAR IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE ANYMORE. AND THEN THEY DON'T CARE NOTHING ABOUT ME MOVING THEM AROUND, MOVING AROUND. THEY DON'T WANT ME TO PARK MY CAR IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE ANYMORE. AND THEY GOING TO KEEP RIDING ME CITATION UNTIL THEY DO GET YOUR TIME [02:20:01] HAS EXPIRED. THEY DO GET, UH, MY CAR'S BOOTED OR TOWED. SO I TOLD 'EM THAT I WAS, I WAS COMING DOWN HERE TO TALK WITH THE MAYOR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DO THAT. AND I TOLD 'EM THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY NOT RUNNING NOTHING AND THEY WORK, AND THE JOB THAT THEY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IS SUPPOSED TO HELP THE NEIGHBORS, NOT TO, NOT TO, UM, REFRAME US OR NOT TO SCARE US OR NOT TO TRY TO STOP US FROM DOING SOMETHING OR FOR THEM TO MAKE A RULE OR DO WHAT THEY WANT TO, WHOEVER, WHOMEVER THEY WANT TO. SO, LET ME ASK SOMETHING. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT HPD WROTE YOU CITATIONS A TICKET? NO, THIS IS A, A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY, UH, HER NEIGHBORHOOD, YES. UH, BUT, BUT, BUT THE, UH, UH, ONE OF THE LADY NAME IS OFFICER BRAD KNOX, THAT'S HER NAME. AND, UH, SHE'S NOT A POLICE OFFICER. SHE, UH, SHE'S WITH THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, UH, PUBLIC, UH, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LUCKY, DAVE. 'CAUSE I'M LOOKING AT A REAL FINE EMPLOYEE, THE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBOR RASHAD CAVE. WOULD YOU VISIT WITH THIS GENTLEMAN AND SEE WHAT SPECIFICALLY WE CAN DO TO HELP? IT'S HER DISTRICT EVANS COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ. I WAS TRYING TO RECRUIT SOME HELP, BUT YOU WANT TO TAKE THE LEAD? GO RIGHT, GO FOR IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY YOU, YOU CALLED THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO COULD PERHAPS GIVE HIM ASSISTANCE. UH, DO YOU HAVE A NO PARKING SIGN OR ANYTHING IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE? IT'S JUST, SAY THAT AGAIN. WHAT'D YOU SAY? I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN. WHAT'D YOU SAY? IS THERE A NO PARKING SIGN OR SOMETHING IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME? NO, MA'AM. NO MA'AM. YES. SO ARE THEY, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE IS WHY THEY ARE WRITING THESE CITATIONS? NO, MA'AM. NO, MA'AM. UH, I'VE BEEN LIVING, I'VE BEEN LIVING AT THIS LOCATION FOR, UH, ALMOST 18 YEARS. WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO THIRD WARD, I, I, I STAYED, I STAYED, UH, UH, AT ANOTHER LOCATION FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS, WHICH I FORGET THE NAME OF THE STREET. IT'S, IT'S, UH, UH, THREE BLOCKS FROM, IT'S THREE, THREE BLOCKS FROM WHERE I LIVE NOW, FROM ROOT GOING TOWARDS SOPHOMORE. RIGHT. UH, THE STREET, UM, UH, JUST PASSED, UH, UH, UM, WELL, I CAN'T, I CAN'T REMEMBER IT RIGHT NOW. BUT ANYWAY, UH, I'VE BEEN LIVING WHERE I LIVE FOR, FOR UH, UH, WHAT, 16? 16 AND, WELL, 17 AND A HALF YEARS. IS THAT ON THE CORNER OF EMANCIPATION AND RUTH? YES. OKAY. YES. AND, AND IF YOU KNOW THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, MY HOUSE. 'CAUSE MY HOUSE, I HAVE SEVERAL POLICE CARS, EX POLICE CARS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. YES, YES. AND I OWN AND OPERATE A SECURITY, UH, BUSINESS, BUT I MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE CARS THAT'S PARKED ON THE STREET IS CLEAN AND, UH, TIRES THAT ADD UP AND I MOVE 'EM AROUND. BUT THEY HAVE TALKED TO OTHER NEIGHBORS AND THE NEIGHBORS TALK, THEY COME BACK AND, AND, AND TELL ME WHAT THEY SAY. THEY SAY THEY GONNA CONTINUE TO WRITE ME CITATION. NOW, THEY NO LONGER WANT ME TO PARK MY CARS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE NO MORE. AND SO THEY GOING TO, THEY GONNA GET 'EM BOOTED UP AND GET 'EM, UH, GET 'EM HAULED AWAY. AND SO I, I I, I'M, I'M HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY CANNOT DO THAT. THERE'S NOT A LAW AGAINST YOU PARKING YOUR CAR IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. THE RULES IS TO MOVE IT AROUND AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE AUDIBLE AND I KEEP 'EM CLEAN TOO. AND SO I'M, I'M, I'M COMING HERE, UH, UH, BEFORE Y'ALL TO EXPLAIN MY PROBLEM TO Y'ALL, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY CANNOT DO ME LIKE THAT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM DO ME LIKE THAT. OKAY. AS, AS THE MAYOR SUGGESTED, IF YOU COULD SPEAK WITH RASHAD CAVE OVER THERE AND THEN MY CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR, UH, INGRAM MITCHUM, THEY CAN BOTH, UH, GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT'S GOING ON. OKAY. AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. ALRIGHT. AND THANK YOU ALL AND Y'ALL HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THAT SUGGESTION. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, JAN SIMONS, CHARLES CHARLES GOFORTH. PAUL HERRERA. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE DRAFT REPORT ON THE 11TH STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. I REALIZE IT'S ONLY A DRAFT, BUT ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS [02:25:01] WE HAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROJECT WAS THAT IT WAS GONNA CUT CAUSE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC ON THE NEARBY STREETS. AND THE REPORT EVEN ACCEPTS THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACT THAT SAYS, ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROJECT NOT INTRODUCE SAFETY CONCERNS OR SHIFTS SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC VOLUMES TO NEARBY LOCAL STREETS. BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT THE REPORT AND THE DATA IN THE REPORT ON TABLE SEVEN, IT SAYS THERE'S BEEN A DECREASE IN VOLUMES ON WEST 11TH STREET OF 6% AND AN INCREASE ON 10TH OF 37 AND A HALF, AND ON, UH, 1236 AND A HALF. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, LOOK AT THE EAST SIDE FROM HEIGHTS TO STU WOOD, THERE WAS A 25% DECREASE ON 11TH STREET AND A 98% INCREASE ON 12TH STREET. THAT'S DOUBLE THE VOLUME. AND DURING PEAK TIMES, IT'S EVEN WORSE. IN THE MORNING, THERE WAS A DECREASE OF 34% ON 11TH STREET AND 127% INCREASE ON 12TH STREET. THIS IS WHEN KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL AND RIDING THEIR BIKES ON 10TH STREET. THEY DIDN'T HAVE COMPARATIVE DATA. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOLUMES AFTERWARDS, THEY'RE COMPARABLE TO THOSE ON 12TH STREET. SO I'M SURE THE INCREASE ON 10TH STREET WAS JUST AS BAD. SO IF THIS IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN TRAFFIC VOLUMES FROM 11TH STREET TO NEARBY STREETS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS, BUT THE AUTHOR'S REPORTS DISMISS THIS INCREASE. IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE 10TH AND 12TH STREET WOULD LIKELY FALL INTO HIGH DENSITY LOT OR RESIDENTIAL MAIN STREETS. 12TH STREET IS 33 FEET WIDE. 10TH STREET IS 28 FEET WIDE. SO NEITHER ONE OF THESE FALL INTO HIGH DENSITY OR RESIDENTIAL MAIN STREETS. I WENT OUT AND MEASURED, THEY DID NOT MEASURE. THEY JUST SAID IT WOULD LIKELY THEY WOULD FALL INTO THESE HIGHER CATEGORIES. ALSO, THEIR DISMISSAL DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THESE STREETS ARE WIDELY USED BY KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL ON 10TH STREET. YOU CAN GO OUT THERE IN THE MORNING ANYTIME THERE WILL BE 20, 30 KIDS GOING TO HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND ON 12TH STREET, PEOPLE GOING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL PEOPLE USED TO RIDE THEIR BIKE ON 12TH STREET TO GET TO HOG SCHOOL. THEY DON'T ANYMORE. SO ANYWAY, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE TAKING A, A NEW LOOK AT THIS. AND THERE ARE MORE FALSE STATEMENTS AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS IN THIS REPORT THAN I COULD DISCUSS TODAY. BUT I COULD GO ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH, BUT, BUT YOUR COMMENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT. ARE YOU AWARE THAT FIRE APPARATUSES ARE NOT GOING DOWN 11TH ANYMORE? THEY GO 10TH STREET AND THE PROBLEM WITH 10TH STREET IS THERE'S, UH, ON STREET PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. SO THE FIRE TRUCKS ACTUALLY SLOW DOWN SO THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR MIRRORS HIT THE PARK CARS, AND, UH, IT'S REALLY CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. I AGREE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, TINA BRADY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TINA BRADY. I'M A FELLOW HOUSTONIAN AND I LIVE IN EASTWOOD. I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU THAT IN 2019, VOTERS APPROVED A LIST OF PUBLIC TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVEN AREAS, NOT BRT PARTICULARLY. UM, UM, EXCUSE ME. AT THAT TIME, METRO'S DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR, BRT WAS UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR BETWEEN WEST CHASE AND TIDWELL. NOT SPECIFIC, RIGHT. METRO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ITS COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC IS POOR OR HAS BEEN POOR, ESPECIALLY WITH SEGMENT FOUR OF THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR, BBRT, WHICH WOULD HAVE DUG A TON, DUG A TUNNEL DIVIDING EASTWOOD AND FOUR AND FIVE WOULD BE CEMENTED INTO HOUSTON THROUGH A ROUTE THAT LACKS POPULATION DENSITY AND GOES THROUGH THE CANCER CLUSTER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GET OUT OF. I VOTED FOR PROFIT. PAM HAS EXPIRED. YOU CAN GO AHEAD, BUT I VOTED FOR PROP A BECAUSE I AM PROB TRANS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND I TRUST THAT METRO AND CITY OF HOUSTON WILL SPEND MY MONEY WISELY. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR ROUTE IS [02:30:01] POORLY PLANNED. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT. MAYOR MARTINEZ. HOLD ON. MAYOR, YES. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, TINA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING, UH, THE POOR COMMUNICATION THAT'S HAD BEEN HISTORICALLY FOR METRO. UH, I REALLY WANT TO CROSS THOSE HURDLES AND CROSS 'EM WITH, WITH YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY IN EASTWOOD, UM, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING AS FAR AS POOR PLANNING, BUT ALSO THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION. UM, ALLOW MY OFFICE TO REACH OUT TO YOU AS WELL. AS WE SIT DOWN WITH METRO, UH, THE NEW CHAIRWOMAN, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP IN REACHING OUT, UH, REACHING OUT AND WANTING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. SEE WHAT IS IT THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE HAPPEN? OKAY? UH, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, WHICH IS NOT BEING TRANSPARENT, NOT BEING HONEST, UM, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY, UH, I THINK IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BELIEVE IN WHAT METRO IS GOING TO BE DOING, UH, THEY NEED TO BE PUTTING THE BEST FOOT FORWARD. AND SO I I HAVE FAITH IN, UH, CHAIRWOMAN BROCK IN, IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS AS WELL. SO, UH, WE NEED YOUR VOICE. AND SO I APPRECIATE AGAIN, YOU, YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I DID REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I ALSO JUST WANNA MAKE, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE EASTWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION COVERS, UM, AN AREA THAT ROUGHLY IT'S EQUIVALENT TO SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 64 AND 88. AND THEY ARE NOT ADVOCATING FOR THE EASTWOOD SUBDIVISION. IN FACT, THEY, THEY PUT IT UNDER THE TABLE SOMEWHAT. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT TO YOU SO THAT YOU'LL BE AWARE OF THAT. YES. UM, BUT MANY, BUT, BUT THE PEOPLE OF EASTWOOD ARE, ARE STEADFAST IN THIS. AND WE HAVE NUMBERS THAT I CAN, THAT I COULD SHOW YOU YEAH. THAT STAND BEHIND THAT AS WELL. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT. I WAS AT THOSE MEETINGS WHEN YOU WERE, UH, BEING VERY OUTSPOKEN, THANKFULLY, UH, TO, TO THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE THERE FOR METRO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ADVOCATING FOR THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE NEXT MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. UM, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING DISSEMINATED TO THE PUBLIC. YOU JUST HAD A LEAKED DRAFT DOCUMENT THAT CAME FROM SOMEWHERE BEFORE IT WAS VETTED, BEFORE STEVE AND DAVID AND THE REST OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAD TIME TO LOOK OVER IT. AND NOW THEY HAVE AN ARTICLE IN AXXIS ABOUT THIS USED IN PUBLIC MEDIA, HAS HAD IT ALL OVER TODAY SAYING THAT 11TH STREET IS WORKING PERFECTLY AS DESIGNED AND THAT IT'S FABULOUS, WONDERFUL, AND TERRIFIC. THE DOCUMENT, AND I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH EVERYTHING WITH YOU RIGHT NOW, THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THE WAY THAT THINGS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION THAT AREN'T INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE PUBLIC. THEY'RE PUSHING AGENDAS, THEY'RE PUSHING PERSONAL AGENDAS. THIS HAS TO STOP. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR A LEAKED DOCUMENT TO GET OUT TO THE MEDIA AND FOR THE MEDIA TO BE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAY I FINISH? THERE'S NO REASON FOR A LEAK DOCUMENT TO GET OUT AND FOR THE MEDIA TO TURN AROUND AND SAY SUCCESS. SUCCESS SUCCESSES ISN'T ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD WAVE A PIECE OF PAPER IN THE AIR SAYING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS PROJECTS WHEN THEY ONLY GO TO A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE TO GET IT. TODAY. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT, I HAVE MY LIST AND ACTUALLY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHAVA HAS MY PAPER. 'CAUSE COREY GAVE IT TO HER. WHEN WE ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO BE MOVED BACK, AND I HAD MY TALLY ON THE TOP. YOU HAD, I THINK THREE PEOPLE FROM BIKE HOUSTON, THREE PEOPLE FROM LINK HOUSTON AIR ALLIANCE WAS HERE. SOMEONE FROM THE BIKE ADVISORY COUNCIL, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS ON A TIER BOARD THAT IS NO LONGER GONNA BE REASSIGNED TO THE TIERS BOARD THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR A GENTLEMAN THAT, I'M NOT GONNA SAY HIS NAME, BUT MS IS HIS LAST NAME, SC, AND YOU CAN FILL IN THE REST OF IT. THEY'RE ALL TOGETHER IN THIS LITTLE GROUP DOING THINGS TOGETHER. AND IT JUST, IT HAS TO STOP. I MEAN, ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE GREAT. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT ADVOCATE, DO WHATEVER. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE ADVOCACY GROUPS WORKING WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEN WORKING WITH SOME OF YOUR ENGINEERS IN YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY ISN'T BEING HEARD. AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON IT, BUT NO WORRIES. THE DOCUMENT THAT CAME OUT, THE DOCUMENT THAT CAME OUT, THE LEAK DOCUMENT, IS THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTING WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT 11TH STREET IN THAT DOCUMENT. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DOCUMENT. IT JUST AS YOU SAID YESTERDAY. WELL, IT'S ALL [02:35:01] OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY REPORTED ON IT TODAY ON PUBLIC, UM, USED PUBLIC. I'LL SEE IT. I'LL SEE IT BEFORE I LEAVE HERE TODAY, BUT I'VE BEEN SITTING RIGHT HERE, SO, YOU KNOW, UH, YEAH, IT STARTED A COUPLE DAYS AGO, BUT, UM, SOMEONE FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATION, I'M ASSUMING, 'CAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW ELSE A DOCUMENT THAT'S BEING UNDER REVIEW WOULD'VE GOTTEN OUT. WELL, YOU'RE VERY WISE IN YOUR OBSERVATION AND, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. NEXT. CAROLYN RIVERA. WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE TALKING? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TARSHA JACKSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM CAROLYN RIVERA, A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER 40 YEAR SET GAS RESIDENT. SET GAS IS ABOUT TWO SQUARE MILES WITH ABOUT 5,000 PLUS RESIDENTS. I AM HERE ABOUT THE SET GAS TRUCK ROUTE PILOT THAT COULD POSSIBLY BEGIN IN AUGUST. TRUCK BUSINESSES ARE PHYSICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY DEADLY TO OUR COMMUNITY. TWO PEOPLE KILLED BY TRUCKS LAST YEAR. TRUCKS SPEED POLICE WARRANTS US THAT THEY CANNOT ENFORCE FROM CITY GAS GUIDELINES FROM CITY GAS PILOT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE STAFF OR THE TOWN DIESEL EXHAUST ENGINE FUMES CAUSE CANCER. PLEASE SEE THE HANDOUT AND THANK YOU JACKSON. COUNCILMAN MA'AM? JUST A SECOND MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU MS. CAROLYN, UM, FOR JUST ALWAYS BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. SO DO YOU SUPPORT THE TRUCK REROUTING ORDINANCE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM? BECAUSE LET ME JUST, WHEN I, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE WAS TO GET THE 18 WHEELERS OUT OF THE NORTHEAST SIDE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY RIDING UP OUR STREETS. RIGHT? AND SO ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO ESTABLISH A TRUCK REROUTING ORDINANCE, WHICH CREATES A PLAN, LIKE PLAN FOR TRUCKS TO TRAVEL. 'CAUSE WE CAN'T STOP THE TRUCKS FROM TRAVELING BECAUSE THEY'RE ON INTER INTERSTATE. I, UM, 16 AND I I 10, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ALREADY GOING THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, PREVENT THEM FROM GOING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTIAL STREETS, ET CETERA. AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, DO YOU, YOU NOT, DO NOT WANT THE, UM, TRUCK REROUTING ORDINANCE BECAUSE I'M GETTING FROM SOME RESIDENTS, LIKE THE NORTHEAST CIVIC CLUB THAT THEY WANT THE TRUCK REROUTING ORDINANCE. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR POSITION? THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION. MM-HMM . AND THE REASON WHY IT'S LOADED IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO OPENNESS WITH INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THE PILOT PROGRAM ENTAILS. EXACTLY. AND SO THE PILOT, WE, WE ARE, WHEN THE MS. CAROL, THE, THE PILOT IS BASICALLY TO ESTABLISH THE ACTUAL ROUTE. NOW I CAN GO AND SAY, HEY, UH, MAY I FINISH ANSWERING? WELL, IT'S MY TIME NOW. I'M JUST TRYING I WAS ASKING YOU. IT'S MY TIME, RIGHT? OH, WELL, I I WAS ASKING YOU PERSON PLEASE ACCEPT MY, I'LL LET YOU, I'M LEARNING. OKAY. YEAH. SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED THE TRUCK REROUTE ORDINANCE AND NOW YOU GUYS ARE ADVOCATING AGAINST IT. AND SO, UM, I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THE, ON THE TR THE, THE ORDINANCE, THEY CAN'T REALLY ESTABLISH A ROUTE UNTIL THE PILOT PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED. THE PILOT PROGRAM. IT'S, IT'S HOW WE GONNA EX, YOU KNOW, BUILD OUT THE PROGRAM. SO IT'S NOT ALL FINALIZED, BUT IT'S HOW THE PROGRAM WILL BE BUILD OUT. SO, UM, JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I MEAN, JUST AT THE END OF THE DAY, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS ASKED ABOUT. IT'S A LOADED QUESTION. MM-HMM . BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED LIKE YOU REMAPPING AND ALL OF THAT, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ALL THE TRUCKS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S LATE AND I KNOW EACH OF YOU ARE TIRED AND I WILL RETURN WITH MORE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. OKAY, MA'AM. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ? YES. YES. SORRY. UH, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE DID GET YOUR EMAIL AND WE DID, [02:40:01] UM, READ IT AND, UH, SO WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT QUITE READY TO GET THIS THING STARTED. UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. AND, UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE, UH, THIS COME BEFORE THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, UH, FOR, FOR SEVERAL WEEKS YET. OKAY? AND SO WE'LL BE IN TOUCH, UH, WITH YOU BEFORE THAT MEETING AND WE WILL BE ADDRESSING SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS WITH, UH, SOME OF THE STAFFERS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. OKAY? I APPRECIATE THAT. AND OF COURSE, I KNOW YOU'RE OPEN TO QUESTIONS AND AS I BEGIN TO, OR AS WE AS A COMMUNITY AND CGA CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, I'M ON. I I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION. AND ALSO ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS GIVING THESE PERMITS TO 18 WHEELER TRUCKING COMPANIES TO COMING IN WITH THESE 18 WHEELERS. I CAME DOWN HERE AND SIT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN OUR PERMITS AND APPROVAL. IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT THEY DO? HUH? THEY WILL ASK, IS ANYONE HERE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT OBJECTS TO THIS? NOBODY SAYS ANYTHING. THIS IS NOT THE TRUCK ROUTE. THE PROBLEM. WE WANNA GET TO THE PROBLEM. NOBODY ANSWERS. YOU KNOW WHY? WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU GOING TO ANSWER WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW. THANK YOU. NEXT. PHIL SEGER. PHIL SEGER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. VERY GOOD. [RECESS] ANYTHING ELSE? NOT WE STAND RECESS UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO DESIGNATE LANDMARKS, PROTECTED LANDMARKS AND SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES. ITEMS TWO AND THREE HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM FOUR, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $936,217 AND 20 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALONE TAX AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SER CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS, LLC FOR CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER 19 FOR SHEPHERD AND DURHAM PAVING AND DRAINAGE DIXON TO WASHINGTON AT WASHINGTON. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER 19, AWARDED TO SER CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS LLC FOR CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER 19 FOR SHEPHERD AND DURHAM PAVING AND DRAINAGE DIXON TO WASHINGTON. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM FOUR ABOVE. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025. 2029, CAPTAIN IMPROVEMENT PLAN. ITEM SEVEN, APPROVED FEEDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT ON TO EXCEED 3 0 9 9 6 90 FOR PURCHASE OF VARIOUS RESCUE AND EXTRICATION TOOLS FOR THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT OF WATER TO ADVANCE RESCUE SYSTEMS. ITEM EIGHT, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISE HOUSTON, L-C-D-B-H, CHASTAIN FORD FOR PURCHASE OF HYBRID VEHICLES THROUGH BOB COOPERATIVE. ITEM NINE, APPROVED SPRINTING AUTHORITY AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $537,103 AND NO CENTS THE PURCHASE OF NICE EMERGENCY RECORDING SYSTEM UPGRADE LICENSES AND SERVICES, EXCUSE ME, AWARDED TO VOICE PRODUCTS INC. ITEM 10, EXCUSE ME, FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF COUP COUPLINGS. ITEM 11, COBURN SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. FOR PURCHASE OF FEEDINGS AND PURCHASES. ITEM 12, ITEM 12, BRENT TAG SOUTHWEST INC. FOR SUPPLY OF LIQUID GASEOUS CHLORINE. ITEM 13, AMEND MOTION 20 22 26 TO INCREASE FOR AUTHORITY TO FOR PURCHASE OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICAL AND SPECIALTY GASES FOR VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS. THE WATER TO AIR GAS U-S-A-L-L-C ITEM 14 RR DONNELLEY AND SONS COMPANY AND AMTEC SALES INC. DBA PRINT MEDIA FOR BARCODED TRAFFIC, NON-TRAFFIC PARKING CITATIONS FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. [02:45:01] ITEM 15 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. ITEM 16 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING EACH LOCATED IN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND WITHIN A CENSUS TRACK THAT HAS GREATER THAN 20% HOUSING TAX CREDIT UNITS PER TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS. ITEM 17 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF A PARTNERSHIP APPLICATION FROM HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT. 4 20 24 PLACES FOR PEOPLE CALLED FOR PROJECTS FOR THE CULLEN PARK TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. ITEM 18 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT PROJECT APPLICATIONS TO HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT. FOUR FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS UNDER THE ORDINANCE CATEGORY. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE RELATING TO RETAIL ELECTRIC WASTE OF CENTER POINT ENERGY, HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC ITEM 20, ORDINANCE APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZING AND LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, PORT OF HOUSTON, AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DBA HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND HOUSTON LAND BANK. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AN HONOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION JOINED BY NHH AVENUE CLTD ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND DAIKIN COMFORT TECHNOLOGIES, NORTH AMERICA INC. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR THE FY 2023. ASSISTANCE OF FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUB SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $500,000 AND NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR PLAN, PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO REPLACEMENT PROJECT ITEM 27, ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT TO RENTAL KILL NORTH AMERICA INC. DBA AMUS FOR INTERIOR PLANTS MAINTENANCE SERVICES. ITEM 28, ORDINANCE OF MANY ORDINANCE 20 19 2 10 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ROBUST ROBUST SYSTEMS INC. ITEM 29, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 20 10 98 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR MASTER EQUITY LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ENTERPRISE FM TRUST. ITEM 30, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 29 23 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT. APPRO WE AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JSM AND ASSOCIATES. LLC FOR BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE PROVE WE AN AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HIGHLIGHT AIRFIELD SERVICES LLC THROUGH SOURCE WELL PURCHASING ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 3,917,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING DESIGN BUILD AGREEMENT WITH TIMES CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $700,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF FIRE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND 1,500,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PARKS. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND 100,000 OUT OF AND NO CENTS OUT OF SOLID WASTE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND $1,050,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF POLICE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND 700,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, $900 AND 900,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND $950,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 12.474 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUD 1 91 0 4 ITEM 35 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 3 1 3 1 8 0.47 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUD 5 35 ITEM 36. ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 61.519 ACRES OF LAND TO THE WOODLANDS METRO CENTER MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $500,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND ADV DURUM TAX APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TRANSCEND ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS. LLC ITEM 38. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING TWO MEANS $615,000 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND IDS ENGINEERING GROUP INC. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,820,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LJA ENGINEERING INC, EXCUSE ME. [02:50:01] ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,896,800 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPRO AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RPS INFRASTRUCTURE INC. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,435,724 AND 40 CENTS OUT METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AWARDING CONTRACT TO BROWN STERLING BUILDERS INC. IT'S THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MATTER SALE CATEGORY. ITEM 42 IS A WRITTEN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PEC TO AMEND. ITEM 79. PASSAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON PASSAGE OF ITEM 43 BELOW. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. DELAYED BY MOTION 20 24 5 0 8. THESE WAS ITEM 78 AND 79 ON AGENDA OF JUNE 12TH, 2024. ITEM 44, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 23 MILLION AND NO SENSE OUT OF BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND TRANSFERRING THAT SUM TO THE DISASTER RECOVERY FUND. ITEM 45, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 53 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, CONTRACT FOR DISASTER RECOVERY AND CONSULTING SERVICES BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WITT O'BRIEN'S, LLC TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THIS, THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASTOR. ITEM 44 ABOVE THESE WERE ITEMS 15 AND 16 ON AGENDA OF JUNE 18TH, 2024. ITEM 46, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING AIR SERVICE INCENTIVE PROGRAM. NINE FOR HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM PROVIDING A MAXIMUM PROGRAM AMOUNT TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THIS WAS ITEM 19 ON AGENDA OF JUNE 18TH, 2024. ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING, AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN SEAT OF HOUSTON AND PURDUE, BRANDON FIELDER, COLLINS AND MOTT, LLP AND GREENBERG TRA LLP DELAYED BY MOTION 20 24 5 21. THIS WAS ITEM 49 ON AGENDA OF JUNE 18TH, 2024. ITEM 48, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CD HOUSTON AND LINEBERG OF GOGGIN, BLAIR AND SAMPSON, LLP DELAYED BY MOTION 20 24 5 22. THIS WAS ITEM 50 ON AGENDA OF JUNE 18TH, 2024. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF JUNE 26TH, 2024. STATE TEMPLE. NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENCY SECRETARY, WHICH IS ME, MAYOR JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY FOR WHAT OR ELSE WHAT CATCH THESE HANDS. COUNSEL, PLEASE COME [RECONVENE] TO ORDER. UH, WE'LL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. [1.  9:00 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING to designate Landmarks, Protected Landmarks and significant structures - DISTRICTS B - JACKSON; D - EVANS-SHABAZZ; G - HUFFMAN; H - CASTILLO and I – MARTINEZ ] MADAM SECRETARY, ITEM NUMBER ONE. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS THE PUBLIC HEARING TO DESIGNATE LANDMARKS, PARTICULAR LANDMARKS AND SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES. YES, JENNIFER OLIN, WE RECOGNIZE YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M JENNIFER OLIN, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. UH, THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S HEARING IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED DESIGNATION OF TWO LANDMARKS FOR PROTECTED LANDMARKS AND THE COMBINATION OF ONE PROTECTED LANDMARK AND SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE. THESE DESIGNATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED BY THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTIES. ALL SEVEN ARE RECOMMENDED FOR LANDMARK STATUS BY THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC COMMISSION. LANDMARKS AND PROTECTED LANDMARKS ARE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, OR ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. THERE ARE ALREADY 35 LANDMARKS AND 192 PROTECTED LANDMARKS IN THE CITY. YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF THESE, UH, AT HOUSTON PLANNING.COM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS MAP SHOWS THE LOCATIONS OF THE SEVEN APPLICATIONS. THE TWO LANDMARKS ARE SHOWN IN BLUE. FOUR PROTECTED LANDMARKS ARE SHOWN IN RED, AND THE ONE PROTECTED LANDMARK AND SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE IS SHOWN IN GREEN. A LANDMARK DESIGN DESIGNATION MEANS THAT ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS AND MAINTENANCE TO THE BUILDING STRUCTURE OR SITE MUST FOLLOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE. THIS DESIGNATION DOES NOT PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT PROTECTION FROM DEMOLITION OR INAPPROPRIATE ALTERATIONS. A PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION DOES ALL OF THE ABOVE AND IT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT PROTECTION AGAINST DEMOLITION AND PERPETUITY. A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE TO DESIGNATION ALLOWS FOR EXEMPTIONS FROM THE CITY'S A VALOREM TAXATION. TO QUALIFY A STRUCTURE MUST BE AT LEAST 50 YEARS OLD, WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT AND USED FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, AND NOW CONTAINS AT LEAST FOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS. THE STRUCTURE MUST ALSO HAVE RECEIVED A CITY PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A RECORD RECORDED TEXAS HISTORICAL LANDMARK OR IS INDIVIDUALLY LISTED IN [02:55:01] THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. AND I'LL PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SEVEN, UH, PROPOSED LANDMARKS. NEXT SLIDE. THE FIRST IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT B. THIS IS THE ALEXANDER Z AND JULIUS C HESTER HOUSE LOCATED AT 1703 WEST STREET. THIS IS A ONE STORY WOOD CLAD RAISED QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED CIRCA 1903 IN THE FIFTH WARD FOR COTTON SAMPLER, ALEXANDER Z. HESTER AND HIS WIFE JULIA C. HESTER. UH, JULIA HESTER WAS A TEACHER AND DEVOTED COMMUNITY LEADER. SHE WAS REGARDED AS BEING INFLUENTIAL FIGURE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS. HESTER DEVOTED HER CAREER TO TEACHING AND HELPING OTHERS. THEIR HOME ON WEST STREET SERVED AS ESSENTIAL GATHERING PLACE TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS. THE HOUSE IS SIGNIFICANT FOR ITS ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AS WELL AS ASSOCIATION WITH JULIUS C HESTER. NEXT SLIDE. THIS ONE IS LOCATED IN, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT D. IT'S THE BRASWELL BUILDING AT 56 13 ALAMEDA ROAD. THIS IS A ONE STORY CONCRETE MASONRY COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND AN ATTACHED TWO STORY WOOD FRAME STUCCO CLOUD APARTMENT BUILDING. CONSTRUCTED IN 1950 AS A SHOP FOR LOCAL FLORISTS, BW AND BRA BLANCHE BRASWELL. THE BUILDING IS A RARE SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF THE SMALL COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS THAT MADE UP ALAMEDA ROAD FROM THE LATE 1920S TO 1960S. AFTER SERVING AS A FLOWER SHOP, THE BUILDING CONTINUED TO BE A LOCAL DESTINATION, SERVING AS A BAR, AN ARTS AND CULTURE HUB, A BOOKSTORE, AND A BARBERSHOP. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. TWO PROTECTED LANDMARKS ARE PROPOSED IN DISTRICT H. ON THE LEFT SCREEN IS THE NAP CHEVROLET BUILDING AT 1230 HOUSTON AVENUE. THIS IS A ONE STORY BRICK VENEER COMMERCIAL BUILDING BUILT IN 1940 AND THE MA ART MODERN STYLE. THE KNAPP CHEVROLET BUILDING HAS BEEN A PROMINENT PRESENCE ON HOUSTON AVENUE SINCE IT OPENED IN APRIL, 1940, ACTIVELY SERVING ITS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 80 YEARS. THE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED AS AN AUTOMOBILE SHOWROOM FOR NAP CHEVROLET, A LOCALLY RECOGNIZED COMPANY THAT'S STILL IN BUSINESS TODAY. THE BUILDING'S FRONT FACADE CONTINUES TO REFLECT CHEVROLET'S INDUSTRIAL IDENTITY OF THE TIME, A TYPICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ART MODERN STYLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OH, I'M SORRY. KEEP, GO BACK. WE GOT TWO ON THIS ONE. UM, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, LOCATED AT 75 0 6 MAIN STREET. THE STRUCTURE WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT IN 1951 FOR CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH BY JAMES M. THOMAS, A BLACK CONTRACTOR WHO SPECIALIZED IN DESIGNING AND BUILDING CHURCHES FOR THE LOCAL AFRICAN AMERICAN CONGREGATIONS. CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WAS FOUNDED IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS IN 1917. INITIALLY THE CHURCH MET IN THE HOME OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS RESIDENT MR. ARTHUR MCCULLOUGH, WHO LATER SERVED AS MAYOR OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. CONCORD CHURCH IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW SURVIVING CHURCH STRUCTURES THAT SERVED THE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. UH, ONE LANDMARK IS PROPOSED IN DISTRICT I. THIS IS THE UMBEL EXXON BUILDING AND GARAGE AT 800 BELL STREET AND 1616 MILAM STREET. THE OWNER IS REQUESTING A DESIGNATION AS BOTH A PROTECTED LANDMARK AND A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE. THE SITE INCLUDES TWO BUILDINGS, A 45 STORY INTERNATIONAL STYLE SKYSCRAPER WITH A FRONT SUNKEN COURTYARD BUILT CIRCA 1962 AND A CONNECTED GARAGE PLACED INTO SERVICE IN 1963. THE TWO BUILDINGS ARE EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF HOUSTON'S MID 20TH CENTURY CORPORATE MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN THE INTERNATIONAL STYLE. THE PRIMARY BUILDING IS A DISTINCTIVE PART OF HOUSTON SKYLINE AND WAS THE TALLEST BUILDING WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI FROM 1962 TO APPROXIMATELY 1965. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. UH, TWO LANDMARKS, UM, ARE PROPOSED FOR DISTRICT G. ON THE LEFT OF THE SCREEN IS THE MANIL HOUSE AT 33 63 SAN FELIPE. THE BUILDING IS A LINEAR ONE STORY, BRICK CLAD FLAT ROOF MODERN DESIGN, A SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUILT CIRCA 1949 TO 1951. THE HOME WAS DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT PHILLIP JOHNSON AND CORTIER CHARLES JAMES FOR INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ART COLLECTORS, JOHN AND DOMINIQUE DE DE MENIL. IT REMAINED IN THE DE MENILS PRIMARY RESIDENCE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIMES. THE HOUSE IS A KEY MONUMENT IN THE HISTORY AND UNDERSTANDING OF 20TH CENTURY MODERNIST CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS THE FRANK A. WATTS HOUSE AT 25 29 STANMORE [03:00:01] DRIVE. THE BUILDING IS A TWO STORY WOOD FRAME, BRICK VENEER, SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING, AND A TWO STORY GARAGE WITH LIVING QUARTERS. IT WAS, WAS DESIGNED IN 1934 BY ARCHITECT CAMERON FAIRCHILD, WHO IS WELL KNOWN IN HOUSTON, GALVESTON, AND ACROSS THE STATE FOR HIS RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE. THIS EXAMPLE IS IN THE ECLECTIC STYLE WITH COLONIAL REVIVAL DETAILS LOCATED ON A HORSESHOE SHAPED COURT MADE UP OF FIVE OTHER RESIDENCES. UM, THAT CONCLUDES, UM, MY PRESENTATION. UM, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS WE CAN COUNCILS, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAST STADIUM. AS A QUESTION. COMMENT, CAN YOU GO BACK TO, UH, DISTRICT I, THE ONE THAT HAD THE EXXON BUILDING ON IT? MM-HMM . KARA, CAN YOU, UH, CAN WE HAVE THE SLIDES BACK UP? THERE WE GO. CAN YOU TE TELL ME WHAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS STRUCTURE ENTAILS? I'M, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, REITERATE THE PROTECTED LANDMARK AND THE LANDMARK AND WHY THERE'S A SIGNIFICANCE WITH THE UMBLE EXXON BUILDING AND GARAGE FOR PROTECTED LANDMARK. I THINK THIS WAS, UM, AND I'M NOT THE EXPERT SO I MAY HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU AFTER THIS ON IT. UM, IT'S, UM, THE SIGNIFICANCE IS THE PERIOD IN WHICH IT WAS BUILT AND THE STYLE AND THAT IT WAS, UM, SIGNIFICANT IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY IN THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS A GATHERING SPOT. I THINK THE PETROLEUM CLUB WAS LOCATED THERE. UM, SO IT'S JUST OVER TIME IT'S BEEN AN ICON. IT'S NOW, I BELIEVE BEING PRESERVED, UM, FOR RESIDENTIAL USE AND OTHER USES. SO THAT'S THE SUMMARY. I CAN PROVIDE YOU MORE DETAILS, UM, AFTER THE MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. COULD I HAVE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THAT FOR THE MEMBERS? UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S EMPTY CURRENTLY MM-HMM . SO ARE WE RESTRICTING FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS STRUCTURE AND, AND HOW IT WOULD COMPLEMENT DOWNTOWN? THIS WOULD, IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE DEMOLISHED. IT COULD BE, UM, ALTERED IF IT CONFORMED IF THE ALTERATIONS WOULD CONFORM TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE. SO, SO IT'S, SO WHAT'S THE DRIVING FORCE TO, UM, RESTRICT IT? UH, YOU SAID, YOU SAID THE OWNER APPLIES, THE OWNER APPLIES. DOES HE, DOES HE OR SHE GET TAX, UH, BENEFITS FROM THIS DECLARATION? IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THEY'RE APPLYING FOR, YES, FOR THE ABILITY. CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO GRANT THOSE EXEMPTIONS, BUT HAVING THE STATUS AS A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE AND A PROTECTED LANDMARK QUALIFIES THEM FOR A TAX EXEMPTION. BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THIS BODY TO GET THROUGH. WHO? I'M SORRY? IT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY WHOM? BY CITY COUNT, BY CITY COUNCIL, BY THIS BODY. OKAY. WHAT ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING? WHAT, WHAT CONCERNS MAY I GET YOU WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE TO ELABORATE? UH, WE SEE HIS OR HER MOTIVATION MM-HMM . BUT IS THAT AN OVERRIDE CONSIDERATION FOR WHAT'S PROBABLY BEST FOR CENTRAL HOUSTON? OR OTHER CONSIDERATIONS? HOW IT WOULD COMPLIMENT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO IT WAS CONSIDERED IN PARKER ADMINISTRATION IS A POTENTIAL MUNICIPAL COURT FACILITY. MM-HMM . OR A CENTRAL POLICE STATION. SO I THINK, UH, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THE HISTORIC HOMES RESIDENCES. I THINK EVERYONE WOULD APPLAUD THAT. BUT A VIABLE BUSINESS STRUCTURE IN THE CENTRAL PART OF HOUSTON, I THINK, UH, WE OUGHT TO BE CAUTIOUS. SO WHAT KIND OF DUE PROCESS OR PROTOCOLS DOES YOUR OFFICE GO THROUGH TO WEIGH THAT? I MEAN, IS THERE A VOICE, LIKE MIND RAISING CONCERNS? WE, UM, I, I'M JUST SURPRISED THAT THIS STRUCTURE WOULD QUALIFY UNDER OUR SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AS THESE 1850 HISTORICAL RESIDENCES. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A NEW DISCUSSION. RIGHT. BUT YOU'RE THE ONE STANDING THERE PROPOSING IT. SO I JUST THINK IT'S NOT APPLES AND APPLES WITH THE OTHER STRUCTURES THAT YOU LAID OUT THIS MORNING. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, BE HONEST WITH YOU, EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE BY IT OR YOU'RE ON PIERCE ELEVATE, YOU LOOK OVER THERE AND YOU JUST START HAVING VISIONS OF WHAT IT COULD BE. MAYBE, UH, CONDOMINIUM AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ON AND ON AND ON. SO, ARE WE FIXING [03:05:01] TO BIND OUR HANDS OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVEN FUTURE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING? SO I WOULD LIKE TO QUITE FRANKLY, HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS BUILDING. MM-HMM . I THINK, UM, IT'S, SO THE PROCESS IS THE OWNER APPROACHES THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. UM, THEY PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION ON THE HISTORY THAT THE AGE OF THE STRUCTURE. UM, WE REVIEW THAT. WE PRESENT IT TO THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC COMMISSION. THEY CONSIDER IT, THEY TAKE TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION OF IT. OKAY. LET'S, I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU, BUT OKAY. BUT I THINK WE CAN'T JUST RUN BY THAT YOU HAD A PUBLIC HEARING. I MEAN, WHAT WAS THE, THE SYSTEM OF HAVING, OR THE PROCESS TO HAVING A PUBLIC, I MEAN MM-HMM . I WOULD GUESS MOST OF US MISSED OUT ON THAT PUBLIC HEARING. HOW, HOW MUCH DUE DILIGENCE IS, IS EVEN PLACED IN A PUBLIC HEARING TO, WELL, I THINK THIS IS WHAT PART OF THE, WAS IT THE CENTRAL BUSINESS? WAS IT ACROSS HOUSTON? WAS IT IN THE CROLE? I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF PUBLIC NOTICE, IF YOU HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT PRESERVING THE EXXON BUILDING, ARE HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THE HEARING? UM, I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT. IT WASN'T A LOT. AND I, AND I DON'T WANNA BE UNFAIR ASKING YOU NO. THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED, BUT MM-HMM . I JUST THINK IT, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT STRUCTURE AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. IT'S ON YOUR LIST, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE UNLIMITED GOING FORWARD. AND ARE WE PREVENTING SOME OPTIONS FOR FUTURE OWNERS OR EVEN THIS CURRENT OWNER OR THE CITY OF HOUSTON? RIGHT. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ONLY LIMITATION THAT THE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE DESIGNATION PLACES ON IT IS THERE MUST BE AT LEAST FOUR, AT LEAST FOUR DWELLING UNITS IN IT. SO IT CAN BE MIXED USE, IT COULD BE ALL RESIDENTIAL. IT COULD, IT JUST COULDN'T BE. YEAH. THERE JUST HAS TO BE AT LEAST FOUR DWELLING UNITS THAT, SO THAT WAS THE OTHER IN TERMS OF USE. YES, MA'AM. AND WHAT IT'S USED FROM, MA'AM. SO, BUT WE, THIS IS JUST THE HEARING, SO IT WON'T, WE CAN TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME. UM, TO CA YOU KNOW, FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOW MUCH TIME DOES HE WANT BEFORE IT COMES BACK, UH, TO BE VOTED ON? EACH ONE OF THESE WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY, UM, FOR ACTION AT SOME EITHER NEXT WEEK OR IN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. AND I UNDERSTAND EVERY STRUCTURE IS UNIQUE, BUT THE TIME PERIOD THAT MAKES IT, I THINK HISTORICAL, DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD WHAT, WHEN IT WAS BUILT? I THINK IN THE SIXTIES, 60, AROUND CIRCUIT 62. SO IT'S GENERALLY IT'S A 50 YEARS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER HISTORIC. SO, UM, THAT MAKES ALL, THAT MAKES SEVERAL OF US UP HERE AT THE HORSESHOE. HISTORICALLY. YEAH. SO THAN OTHERS. , YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WERE THESE RULES AND IN AND ORDINANCES AND DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TIMETABLE, DOES IT, DOES IT CHANGE? UM, YOU, YOU, YOU JUST SAID GENERALLY A 50 YEAR PERIOD. I MEAN IT'S, YEAH, 50 YEARS IS THE, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO QUALIFY, CONFER WITH MY TEAM TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANOTHER DESIGNATION THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT. COUNCIL, UH, OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. I THINK I THANK YOU MAYOR. I QUALIFIES AS HISTORIC THIS MORNING. I I DO, I DO. I I CERTAINLY DO. ABSOLUTELY. IN THIS TOWN. ABSOLUTELY. UM, WHAT THIS, THIS OUT OF THE OTHER FIVE LANDMARKS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, DO I UNDERSTAND ON THE RULING OF THE LANDMARKS, YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE, RIGHT? THOSE OTHER FIVE, ONCE THEY BECOME LANDMARKS, THEY CANNOT CHANGE ANYTHING WITHIN THE INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING, CORRECT? MM. MOST INTERNAL CHANGES ARE OKAY. UM, THERE'S CERTAIN TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION, SO, UM, AND THE ONE I'M MOST FAMILIAR WITH IS, SAY A BUNGALOW WITH THE SHIPLAP, UM, STRUCTURE. IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION THAT OCCURRED WAY BACK THAT WE DON'T DO ANYMORE. THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON THAT. BUT OTHERWISE YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT ON THE INTERIOR OF A STRUCTURE. IT'S THE EXTERIOR THAT THE, UM, HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE MOSTLY GOVERNS. SO IF, IF THIS FACILITY WERE TO BECOME A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE RENTING OR THERE'S SOME RESIDENTIAL IN THERE, THAT WOULD, TO ME, THAT WOULD ERADICATE THE WHOLE, UM, LANDMARK STATUS, WOULDN'T IT? NOT, [03:10:02] UM, IF IN THE, IN THE EXXON BUILDING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, OR JUST THE BUILDING IN, SPEAKING OF THE EXXON BUILDING? NO, THAT WOULDN'T, IT'S, IT'S THE CHANGE IN THE USE, UM, ISN'T A PROBLEM. THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE DOESN'T GOVERN USE. IT'S REALLY TRYING TO PRESERVE, UH, A STRUCTURE, THE EXTERIOR OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE, UH, OKAY. SO MY LAST POINT. SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE ASK FOR THE TAX CREDIT? UM, I CAN'T SPEAK ENTIRELY FOR THE APPLICANT, BUT I BELIEVE TO ASSIST WITH THE RENOVATION, YOU KNOW, TO GET SOME TAX CREDITS TO, FOR, FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE EXXON BUILDING AND OR INTERNALLY WE TALKING ABOUT THAT. WOULD THE TAX CREDIT WOULD BE FOR THE INTERNAL, THE, THE, THE, OR EXTERNAL? IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THEY, I'M NOT, I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON WHETHER THE, HOW MUCH EXTERIOR REPAIRS OR RENOVATION IS NEEDED. BUT LET ME, UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET ME SURE. GET BACK TO YOU AFTER, WITH THE SPECIFICS ON THE, UM, THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE OKAY. THE TAX. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MM-HMM. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND I THINK, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT I THINK WE ALL WANT SOME MORE INFORMATION. YEP. I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE DOWNTOWN BUILDING BEING KEPT. I THINK A LOT OF OUR DOWNTOWN ITIES ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING, BEING DEMOLISHED AND THEN WE SEE A HOLIDAY INN BEING BUILT. SO I THINK PRESERVING SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS IS, IS IMPORTANT. AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT TAX CREDITS, HISTORICAL TAX CREDITS ARE A PART OF THIS, THIS TYPE OF PROCESS. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIALS BEING NEEDED AS WELL. UH, WE CAN DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, DO SOME LASAGNA KIND OF FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SEE SOMETHING, SOMETHING SUCCESSFUL HERE. SO, UM, EXCITED ABOUT IT BEING ON, ON THE LIST AS WELL. UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE AS WELL. MAYOR PRO COUNCIL, STATE? STATE? NO. EVAN SHABO. OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA. EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAD A QUESTION, UM, ABOUT THE BUILDING IN DISTRICT D 56 13 ALAMEDA. MM-HMM . COULD YOU TELL ME WHO MADE THE APPLICATION FOR THAT? SHE INITIATED IT. UM, THE CURRENT OWNER, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS MIKE PITMAN. OKAY. I'M, I'M INTERESTED. UM MM-HMM . I MEAN, I'VE OF COURSE LIVED THERE FOREVER AND THAT BUILDING NEVER REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME. I MEAN, OTHER THAN IT DID HOUSE A FEW SIGNIFICANT, UH, BUSINESSES. RIGHT. AMISTAD AND, UH, THE COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER. RIGHT. BUT THEN THERE'S SOME OPPOSITION. I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, UH, WHO WILL SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THAT APPLICATION. RIGHT. AND I, I'M, I'M GONNA ASK THEM MORE QUESTIONS WHEN THEY COME UP, SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. GREAT. MM-HMM . THAT'S FINE. ALL GOOD. I, I WILL MENTION, I CAN RECALL I WAS PRETTY YOUNG, BUT IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING WHEN THE EXXON BUILDING, IT WAS KINDA LIKE OUR FIRST SKYSCRAPER, IF IT WOULD STILL BE REFERRED TO AS A SKYSCRAPER , BUT IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING TIMES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC SPEAKER APPLICATION? UH, MARLENE WEEKLY. MS. WEEKLY. PETE, GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARLENA WEAKLEY, AND I'VE LIVED IN THE HOME AT 1703 WEST STREET SINCE MAY OF 2011. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS HOME BECAUSE OF ITS CHARM AND BEAUTY. IT'S ALWAYS FELT LIKE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO ME, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR THAT I FOUND OUT HOW SPECIAL IT WAS. AFTER A CALL TO KARA QUIGLEY AT THE HOUSTON'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, I LEARNED THAT TWO VERY HEROIC PEOPLE, JULIA AND ALEXANDER HESTER BUILT THIS HOME AND OPENED IT TO HOUSTON, THE COMMUNITY. NOW, WHEN I LOOK AROUND MY HOUSE, I DON'T JUST SEE THE DETAILED ORNATE WOODWORK AND WINDOWS IN MY MIND'S EYE. I IMAGINE CHILDREN AND TEENS TALKING AND LAUGHING OR MAYBE FINISHING SOME HOMEWORK. I SEE YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING THE LOVE AND ATTENTION THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET AT HOME, BUT NEEDED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL ADULTS. JULIA AND ALEXANDER HESTER GAVE FREELY THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY AND TOUCH THOUSANDS OF LIVES. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HISTORY, AND IT FAILS AND I FEEL IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND MY DUTY TO PRESERVE THEIR LEGACY AND HOME. I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO BE GETTING ASSISTANCE FROM THE [03:15:01] GENERAL LAND OFFICE IN REPAIRING THIS HOME AND BRINGING IT UP TO CODE. THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MALCOLM LEE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MALCOLM LEE, AND I OPPOSE THE, UH, PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR 56 13 ALAMEDA. MY SISTER KAREN LEE IS LOCATED TWO DOORS DOWN ON EWING STREET, AND SHE HAS BEEN AN OWNER ON THE EWING BLOCK FOR OVER 40 YEARS. WHEN THIS APPLICATION CAME BEFORE THE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION, MY SISTER WAS GIVEN NOTICE OF THIS APPLICATION ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS ONLY THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS AND THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE MULTIPLE NOTICES FOR SUBSEQUENT HEARINGS. YET HERE IT APPEARS BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND AGAIN, SHE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. ONLY BY ACCIDENT DID I FIND THAT IT WAS ON YOUR AGENDA. TODAY, A CLOUD EXISTS OVER THE TITLE OF THIS PROPERTY STARTING IN THE 1980S. MY SISTER HAD PART OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROPERTY, AND THERE REMAINS AN UNRESOLVED CLAIM. THIS APPLICATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY BASED ON A SO-CALLED COMMUNITY HUB FOR ARTS AND CULTURE. HOWEVER, THE COMPLETE STORY OF THIS WAS NOT RESEARCHED OR TOLD MY SISTER, ALONG WITH HER OTHER PARTNERS, TRIED TO CREATE SUCH A CULTURAL HUB FOR THE ARTS. HOWEVER, IT FAILED AND NEVER MATERIAL, NEVER WAS NEVER ESTABLISHED. MOREOVER, THE OTHER TWO PARTNERS HAVE CLOSE TIES TO A DARK HISTORY, WHICH HANGS OVER THE HISTORY OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH MY SISTER FEELS SHOULD NOT BE MEMORIALIZED. THE APPLICANT FOR THIS LANDMARK DESIGNATION HAS JUST ARRIVED ON THE SCENE A FEW MONTHS AGO, EVEN THOUGH HE APPARENTLY HAS PURCHASED THE PROPERTY, HE DOES NOT OWN THE HISTORY. UH, WILL YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC, PLEASE? OH, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. NO, NO PROBLEM. I JUST, WE CAN HEAR YOU BETTER. OH, I'LL, I'LL TRY TO. I'M SORRY. UM, THIS HISTORY IS OWNED BY MY SISTER AND OTHERS, AND THIS APPLICANT IS APPROPRIATING OTHER PEOPLE'S HISTORY FOR MONETARY GAIN. IN FACT, EVEN THOUGH THIS APPLICATION IS ONLY BEING PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL TODAY FOR A VOTE, THEY HAVE ALREADY MONETIZED IT BY ADVERTISING IT IN THEIR BROCHURE THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY APPROVED IT AND THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THIS DESIGNATION. IT'S RIGHT THERE. THEY'RE ALREADY ADVERTISING IT. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS APPLICATION. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING FORWARD. WHAT IS YOUR SISTER'S OWNERSHIP? I-I-I-I-I COULDN'T HEAR A LOT OF WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT, DOES YOUR SISTER OWN PART OF THE BUILDING? YES. SO SHE'S A PARTIAL OWNER OF THE BUILDING. SHE WAS OWNER AND SHE'S OPPOSING THE DESIGNATION. THIS, I'M SORRY. AND SHE'S OPPOSING THE DESIGNATION? YES. AND SHE'S A PARTIAL OWNER OF THE BUILDING? YES, IT WAS UNRESOLVED OWNERSHIP AND, UM, UH, SHE IS, SHE WAS PARTNERS WITH TWO OR THREE OTHER PEOPLE. AND, UM, THERE IS A CLOUD OVER THE TITLE. OKAY, THANK YOU. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND THANK YOU MR. LEE. I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE YES, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE HERE IS THE OWNER OF THAT BUILDING. MM. SO I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO ANY PARTIAL OWNERSHIP BY YOUR SISTER. AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU INDICATED SOME, SOME, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH ROBERT E. LEE AND THE GERMAN NAZI PARTY. THAT'S CORRECT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT OR WHAT, HOW THAT IS SUBSTANTIAL REGARDING THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP. UM, ARE YOU SAYING THAT THEY HAVE SOME, SOME TIES WITH THE GENTLEMAN OUT HERE? NO, I, UH, I'M NOT SUGGESTING MR. PITTMAN IS, UH, IS CONNECTED TO THAT. OKAY. SO, SO WHAT ARE YOU, I CERTAINLY NOT, WHAT ARE YOU ALLEGING NOT DOING THAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ROBERT E LEE'S FAMILY AND THE NAZI PARTY? WHAT, WHAT ARE YOUR ALLEGATIONS REGARDING THAT? WELL, BACK IN THE 1980S, UM, WHEN MY SISTER AND, UH, THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER PARTNERS CAME AND THEY PURCHASED, UM, THAT PROPERTY, UM, TWO OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SOME DARK HISTORY CONNECTED. THERE ARE CONNECTIONS TO THAT. ONE OF THEM IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE ROBERT E. LEE CLAN. SHE WAS A PHILANTHROPIST, AND SHE FUNDED IT PRIMARILY. AND, UM, MY SISTER, I MEAN, IT JUST FEELS THAT THIS, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WHEN WE'RE TRYING NOT TO, WE'RE [03:20:01] TRYING TO CORRECT OUR HISTORY, OR AT LEAST WE DON'T WANNA CELEBRATE THESE KINDS OF THINGS. UM, THIS PAST, UH, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO THIS NOW IN THIS CITY, OTHER CITIES ARE NOT DOING THIS OKAY. CELEBRATING THAT. WE, WE CERTAINLY DON'T CELEBRATE THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONFEDERACY. THEY WERE MEMORIALIZING IT AND THE NAZI PARTY. BUT I JUST CLEARLY DON'T SEE ANY INDICATION HOW THIS IS A RELATIONSHIP TO THE CURRENT OWNER, AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANTS THAT I KNOW WERE HISTORICAL, THE AMISTAD AND THE COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER, WHICH AGAIN, WOULD, WOULD QUALIFY, I THINK, AS A, UH, CULTURAL, UH, LOCATION. THIS WAS ALL DURING THE TIME WHEN, UH, MY SISTER AND THE OTHER PARTNERS WERE TRYING TO ESTABLISH, UM, TRYING TO ESTABLISH SOME SORT OF A COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, CULTURAL HUB. AND IT FAILED. WHAT HAPPENED IS, IS THAT, UM, THE MONEY DRIED UP AND THEY HAD TO GO. SO, UM, WHEN THE, UH, THE MONEY DRIED UP FOR, UH, THE LADY WHO IS PART OF THE MEMBER OF THE ROBERT E. LEE CLAN, WHEN SHE WITHDREW HER MONEY, UM, MY, UH, THE OTHER PARTNER, UM, UH, ASKED MY SISTER TO TRY TO HELP FUND THIS, AND SHE DID. SHE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL, CALIFORNIA, AND SHE WAS HAVING TO FUND ON HER JOB WITH HER JOB FUND THIS, BUT EVENTUALLY IT JUST DRIED UP. UM, THEY, UM, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY IT. IT DIDN'T REALLY GET ESTABLISHED VERY WELL. SO, WAS YOUR SISTER TRYING TO DO SOMETHING IN THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING AND SHE WAS DENIED? IT FAILED. UH, THEY WERE, THEY WERE PARTNERING, WANTING TO CREATE LIKE A GALLERY AND, AND AN ART, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL ARTISTS OR CONNECTED TO THE ARTS. MY SISTER'S AN ARTIST. AND, UH, IT JUST, IT FAILED, ESPECIALLY, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE MONEY DRIED UP. THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THEIR APPLICATION, THEY NEVER PAID ANY RENT AS FAR AS, UH, WE ARE AWARE THAT THEY NEVER PAID ANY RENT. SHE BROUGHT THEM IN. UM, THE LADY, UH, WHO WAS, UH, THE PHILANTHROPIST BROUGHT THEM IN, UM, TO, TO BRING AND TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THIS THING, THIS GALLERY, THIS ART, ART GALLERY. YOUR SISTER, YOUR SISTER'S HERE TODAY AS WELL, RIGHT? NO, MY SISTER IS NOT HERE TODAY. SHE'S HAVING SOME GENERAL HEALTH ISSUES. UM, I KNOW SHE SIGNED UP, BUT SHE, SHE, UH, SHE'S NOT WELL TODAY. OKAY. SHE DID, UH, HAND ME HER STATEMENT AND ASKED ME IF I COULD READ IT WHEN THEY CALL HER. SO ANYWAY, UM, OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. OH, OKAY. OKAY, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROTE MCCM. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. OH, YES, MA'AM. ASKED THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION IF THERE ARE SOME OWNERSHIP ISSUES. WELL, UH, WE WERE GIVEN, THEY DID NOT DO ANY RESEARCH. THEY DID NOT FULLY RESEARCH AND REALLY FULLY VET THIS. MY SISTER WAS NEVER CONTACTED, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THESE OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT CONTACTED THAT WERE CONNECTED AT THE TIME. UM, SHE RECEIVED NOTICE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING. WE WERE GIVEN, WHAT, A MINUTE OR TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND WE WERE TRYING. SO IT SAYS THAT THE PROTECTED LANDMARK WAS APPROVED BY HAHC? YES. IN DECEMBER OF 2023. YES. SO YOUR SISTER DIDN'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF NO. THAT APPROVAL AT THAT TIME. AND SHE'S A PARTIAL OWNER? NO, SHE, SHE, SHE, OH, WE, WE, SHE RECEIVED A NOTICE LIKE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING, BEFORE THE COMMISSION. OKAY. AND WE SCRAMBLED TO TRY TO, LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON. AND, UM, AND WE SPOKE AT THAT MEETING AND, UM, UH, BUT WE HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE, HARDLY ANY TIME TO PREPARE. THEY DID NOT GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE. THEY DID NOT GIVE THE ADEQUATE NOTICE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE. OKAY. AND SO WE WERE RUSHED TRYING TO DO THAT. OKAY. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING. UH, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO LET ME ASK YOU, WERE YOU PRESENT AT THE HEARING? I'M SORRY? WERE YOU PRESENT AT THE HEARING WHERE THIS WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION? I, I, I BELIEVE WE DID IT ON ZOOM OR WHATEVER IT WAS CALLED AT THE MEETINGS, OR, UM, SO THAT WAS A PUBLIC MEETING. IT WAS A PUBLIC MEETING, I BELIEVE ON ZOOM. I BELIEVE IT WAS ON ZOOM. IT WAS ON, OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. UM, TEAMS, TEAMS, [03:25:01] TEAMS, TEAMS. DID YOU EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS THEN? ABSOLUTELY DID. ABSOLUTELY DID. HOW LONG DID YOU HAVE TO SPEAK? DID YOU HAVE A TWO MINUTE TREATMENT? I THINK IT WAS, UH, TWO MINUTES. I, I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHAT THEIR LIMIT WAS, BUT, UH, WE WERE SPEAKING VERY FAST, . OKAY. BUT WE HAD NO, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE PROBLEM, THE MAIN PROBLEM THERE WAS THAT WE GOT NO NOTICE UNTIL THE VERY, VERY, RIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING. AND, UM, SO WE HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO, YOU KNOW, UH, TO GET PREPARED FOR IT. WERE THERE AT THIS HEARING, WERE THERE MULTIPLE, UH, BUILDINGS CONSIDERED, OR WAS IT JUST FOR YOUR PURPOSE, OR DO YOU RECALL? I BELIEVE, IF I RECALL, THERE WERE OTHER BUILDINGS. I BELIEVE THERE, MAYBE I WOULD BE ASKING THE DIRECTOR. I BELIEVE THERE WERE, IF I RECALL. YEAH. I'M, I'M, THANK YOU. YOU'VE DONE A, A GREAT JOB. OH, THANK YOU, SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HEARING FROM THE DIRECTOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'VE HEARD THAT GENTLEMAN'S CONCERNS. UH, IS THAT THE EXTENT OF THE HEARINGS, LIKE A JOINT HEARING ON MULTIPLE BUILDINGS AND MAYBE A TWO MINUTE LIMIT? I MEAN, YEAH, THIS, UM, SO THIS PROPOSED LANDMARK WAS HEARD AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC COMMISSION MEETING IN DECEMBER. IT WAS, I BELIEVE, THE ONLY LANDMARK CONSIDERED AT THAT MEETING, ALONG WITH ALL OF THEIR, UM, REGULAR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATIONS. SO, UM, YES, SO IT WOULD FOLLOW THE NORMAL, UM, TWO TO THREE MINUTES WITH DISCRETION OF THE, UH, CHAIR TO LET THEM GO LONGER. AND AT THE TIME, WE ARE NO LONGER, WE'RE ALL IN PERSON NOW, BUT AT THE TIME, UH, LAST DECEMBER, WE WERE, UH, HYBRID. SO SOME SPEAKERS WOULD, WOULD TUNE IN ON TEAMS. SO I BELIEVE I HEARD IT WAS DECEMBER 23 MM-HMM . YEAH, DECEMBER, 2020. SO WE COULDN'T HAVE LIKE A FACE-TO-FACE PUBLIC HEARING. UM, WE COULD, PEOPLE HAD THE OPTION TO EITHER COME IN PERSON OR IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COME IN PERSON, THEY COULD, UH, SPEAK VIA TEAMS. YEAH, SURE. DOESN'T SEEM VERY RESPONSIVE, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN AND HIS FAMILY. UM, WE, I HAVE, UM, SPOKE WITH THEM YESTERDAY WITH, UM, MR. LEE AND HIS SISTER BOTH, UM, TO TRY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS. WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND BACK IN DECEMBER, UH, THE CONCERN ABOUT OWNERSHIP. SO I'VE SPOKEN, UM, WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND WE CAN DO A, WE WILL DO A, UM, TITLE SEARCH JUST TO CONFIRM OWNERSHIP. UM, THE, UH, WE FOLLOW STATE LAW GOVERNS PRETTY TIGHTLY OUR NOTIFICATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGNATIONS. SO WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THOSE RULES. I THINK DO THE APPLICATION, YOU JUST NEED ONE OWNER TO SIGN, BUT IT IS A CONCERN IF, IF WE DON'T KNOW WHO ALL THE OWNERS ARE. SO WE WILL BE INVESTIGATE THAT. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE IF THERE'S A DISPUTE THAT SHOULD RAISE A RED FLAG IN YOUR DEPARTMENT. MM-HMM . I MEAN, THERE'S NO URGENCY TO THIS MATTER THAT I'VE DETECTED. SO IT SEEMS LIKE DUE DILIGENCE AND A THOROUGH RESEARCH AND GIVEN DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW, PLENTY OF TIME TO REPRESENT THEIR, UH, INTEREST. I MEAN, TWO, TWO MINUTES, YOU KNOW, THAT DRIVES ME NUTS IN ANY GOVERNMENT HEARING. MM-HMM . UH, IT'S REASON, IF Y'ALL HAVE NOTICED, I'M PRETTY GENEROUS LETTING FOLKS GO OVER, BUT THIS OUGHT TO BE VETTED A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN WE'VE WITNESSED THIS MORNING. WE DID, UM, THE ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT AND OUR STAFF DID SOME, UH, NOT I WOULD SAY A DEEP DIVE, BUT DID, UM, DO SOME RESEARCH TO, UM, LEARN ABOUT THE, UM, WHO THE PARTNERS WERE THAT WE HADN'T HEARD OF PRIOR, AND ANY CONNECTIONS TO ROBERT E. LEE OR TO OTHER, UM, HISTORICAL FIGURES IN THE PAST. UM, AND WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, ANYTHING TO CONFIRM, BUT, UM, WE, I PROMISED MR. LEE AND HIS SISTER, WE WOULD TAKE A SECOND LOOK, UM, IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. UM, BEFORE IT COMES TO, UH, COUNSEL FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION, WOULD IT BE FAIR TO BE KIND OF SUSPECT OF THE HEARINGS ON ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY? WE CERTAINLY HEARD THE HOMEOWNER ON THE HESTER HOUSE IN FULL SUPPORT, BUT LET'S GO BACK TO THE EXXON BUILDING. MM-HMM . WAS THAT HELD BY ZOOM FOR THE PUBLIC, IF THEY WANNA EXPRESS A CONCERN OR [03:30:01] INTEREST IN THE EXXON BUILDING. AND, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WAS? YEAH. THAT HEARING WAS LAST AUGUST. SO WE WERE ALLOWING PARTICIPATION, IT WAS A HYBRID, SO YOU COULD COME IN PERSON OR SPEAK BY TEAMS. YEAH. YOU, AND OBVIOUSLY IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO ASK YOU HOW MANY FOLKS PARTICIPATED IN THAT HEARING SPECIFIC. THAT ONE WAS SPECIFICALLY THE EXXON BUILDING. YEAH. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER, BUT I DO RECALL IT WAS, UM, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OWNER. AND, UM, YEAH, THERE WAS MAYBE THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE, BUT I CAN GET YOU THOSE, I CAN GET YOU THE SPECIFICS ON ALL OF THESE IF LIKE, YEAH. MAYOR PROTE STADIUM, AND SHE DID ANSWER MY QUESTION. I WAS JUST CONCERNED AT HOW THIS ONE, UH, PARTICULARLY THE ONE ON ALAMEDA, GOT PAST THE COMMISSION IF THERE WAS AN OWNERSHIP DISPUTE. BUT YOU DID SAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GO BACK AND TAKE A SECOND LOOK YEAH. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD TITLE SEARCH AND THAT WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHO THE REAL OWNERS ARE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. AND IF WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEARING PRIOR TO IT COMING BACK ON, UH, THE AGENDA, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. WILL DO, UH, ER, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, I ASSUME THAT A TITLE SEARCH IS NOT PART OF THE NORMAL PROCESS. CORRECT. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT A PART OF THE NORMAL PROCESS? UM, I WILL, YEAH. I'LL CON OKAY. BECAUSE I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IN THIS POSSIBLE, SO YES, WE, WE COULD PROBABLY ADD THAT IN THIS CASE IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE. RIGHT. I, I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN THAT WOULD COME UP, BUT YOU KNOW, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEBODY COULD, YOU KNOW, APPLY FOR THIS WHEN REALLY THERE WAS OTHER PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE INVOLVED AS WELL. RIGHT. YEAH. WE TYPICALLY USE THE, THE TAX APPRAISAL DISTRICT INFORMATION. SO, BUT I WILL WORK WITH, UH, LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND I AGREE, THIS CERTAINLY IS A PROBLEM WHEN OWNERSHIP IS NOT ESTABLISHED, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GIVE ADEQUATE NOTICE TO THE OWNERS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS IT. SO I'M, UH, ALONG THE LINES OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS NOT A STANDARD PRACTICE. UH, AGAIN, THE GENTLEMAN IN THE, UM, AUDIENCE INDICATES THAT HE'S THE OWNER, BUT IF, IF A DISPUTE AND OWNERSHIP COMES UP, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED BEFORE YOU BRING IT TO COUNCIL FOR A VOTE, UH, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO U YOU KNOW, EX, UH, USE ALL OF THIS TIME TO TRY TO ESTABLISH WHO OWNS IT AND WHO MADE THE APPLICATION AND ALL OF THAT. MM-HMM . SO IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND, AND, AND DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE REGARDING THAT, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, BECAUSE I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT ISSUE THAN I AM ANY PREVIOUS AFFILIATION. AND I'M GOING REITERATE PREVIOUS OR PAST AFFILIATION, ALLEGEDLY BY, UH, SOME, UH, CONFEDERATE FAMILY OR A NAZI PARTY. SO IF WE COULD GET THAT ESTABLISHED, THEN PERHAPS WE COULD GET ON ONE ACCORD AND MAKE A DECISION AS TO HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS APPLICATION OR DEAL WITH IT ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. UH, OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS, LAURA CARRERA. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS, UH, OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON. MY NAME IS, UH, LAURA CARRERA, AND I'M AN ARCHITECT THAT SPECIALIZES IN HISTORIC RESERVATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR CITIES AT LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS. UM, LANDMARKS ARE NOT JUST STRUCTURES. THEY ARE SYMBOLS OF OUR SHARED, UNIQUE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND IDENTITY. THEY TELL THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US AND REMIND US OF THE STRUGGLES AND THE TRIUMPHS THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR CITY. IN HOUSTON. WE HAVE SEEN A DISTURBING TREND OF DEMOLITION AND DESTRUCTION OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS. THESE LANDMARKS ARE IRREPLACEABLE, AND ONCE THEY ARE GONE, A PIECE OF OUR HISTORY IS LOST FOREVER. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THESE BUILDINGS AND WORK TO PRESERVE THEM FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. PRESERVING OUR LANDMARKS NOT ONLY HONORS OUR PAST, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE VIBRANCY AND THE CHARACTER OF OUR UNIQUE CITY OF HOUSTON. THESE BUILDINGS ARE AN, AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, ATTRACTING TOURISTS, FOSTERING A SENSE OF HOUSTON [03:35:01] PRIDE, UM, AND CONTRIBUTING TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINATION PREPARED BY PRESERVATION HOUSTON, UM, ON THE BRASSWELL BUILDING. UH, PRESERVATION. HOUSTON HAS BEEN WORKING ON NOMINATIONS AS A NONPROFIT SINCE THE LATE 1970S, AND THEY DO DILIGENT WORK AS A NONPROFIT. UM, I AM THE ARCHITECT REPRESENTING MIKE PITTMAN, THE OWNER OF BRASSWELL BUILDING AT 56 13 ALAMEDA ROAD, 56 13. ALAMEDA ROAD IS A RARE, SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF SMALL COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS THAT WERE REPRESENTATIVE IN THAT AREA OF THE, UM, EARLY TO MID-CENTURY, UH, MID 20TH CENTURY. AND AS YOU ALREADY HEARD, ALL THE USES, ALL THE USES THAT TOOK PLACE, ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT COMMUNITY. UM, AND, UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UM, EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE KNAPP CHEVROLET BUILDING AT 1230 HOUSTON AVENUE. I, I WAS ALSO THE ARCHITECT FOR THAT BUILDING. IT'S BEEN RESTORED. THAT ONE ALSO TELLS THE STORY OF SMALL BUSINESSES. KNAPP CHEVROLET THAT CAME IN 1940. IT WAS THE SHOWROOM. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT BUILDING, IT REPRESENTS CHEVROLET TRUCKS FROM THE LATE 1930S DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION WHEN SIMPLICITY OF DESIGN, UH, CREATED A STYLE CALLED MODERN. UM, AND, UM, AND I ALSO, UH, IT'S ALSO THE STORY OF MONTALBANO LUMBER WHO BUILT THAT BUILDING. SO BOTH OF THOSE TWO BUILDINGS, UH, WERE DONE BY SMALL FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES. AND, UM, IT TELLS THE STORY OF OUR PAST. AND I URGE A CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR LANDMARKS AND OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PRESERVED FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. DO YOU KNOW WHY NAPP WAS LOCATED THERE AS A SHOLAY DEALERSHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE IN, IN 1940? NO. DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS THERE? BECAUSE I'LL HELP YOU IF YOU WEREN'T, I WASN'T THERE EITHER, BY THE WAY, , FOR THE RECORD, YES. BUT I WAS GOING DOWN WASHINGTON AVENUE WHEN IT WAS THE EXIT, AND IT WAS THE HIGHWAY, THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE TO GET OUT OF HOUSTON, UH, BEFORE I 10 OR 45, OR ANY OF THE FREEWAYS. SO YOU WOULD COME THROUGH HOUSTON CENTRAL DISTRICT, CERTAINLY IF YOU LIVED IN SOUTHEAST, OR I DID IN PASADENA IN THE FIFTIES TO GO TO WACO TO VISIT YOUR GRANDMOTHER, YOU WOULD GO OUT WASHINGTON AVENUE AND UP AND DOWN WASHINGTON AVENUE WERE CAR DEALERS. YEP. AND, UH, LATER EVEN USED CAR DEALERS. BUT THAT WAS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE OUT OF HOUSTON. ABSOLUTELY. IF ONE OF OUR FIRST FOUR FORWARD OF HOUSTON, AND, AND WE'VE LOST A LOT OF BUILDINGS, THEY'D GET THE HEMPSTEAD HIGHWAY AND YOU WOULD BLOW AND GO. THANKS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, MAYOR, THE MAYOR PROTE HAS A QUESTION. MY QUESTION IS PRESERVATION HOUSTON, WERE Y'ALL AWARE OF THE OWNERSHIP DISPUTE BEFORE YOU SUPPORTED THE BRACEWELL BUILDING? YEAH. JUST TO CLARIFY, I'M THE ARCHITECT WORKING FOR URBANO ARCHITECTS AND I RIGHT. BUT I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT PRESERVATION HOUSTON WAS IN SUPPORT OF IT. I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT. WERE YOU YEAH. SO PRESERVATION HOUSTON, HOUSTON WROTE THE NOMINATION FOR BRASS WELLS. AND, UM, I WORK, UH, I'M AN ARCHITECT WORKING FOR THE OWNER, UH, PRESERVATION HOUSTON PREPARED THE APPLICATION. I ACTUALLY DID, I WAS PRESENT AT THE, AT THE HISTORICAL, UH, COMMISSION, AT THE COMMISSION IN MEETING IN PERSON WITH MIKE PITMAN, THE OWNER. UM, AND I DID DO SOME BRIEF RESEARCH ON WHAT THE CLAIMS BECAUSE, UH, WERE MADE. UM, AND I COULD READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. SURE. UH, BUT I, I, I DID NOT WRITE, JUST TO CLARIFY, I DID NOT WRITE THE NOMINATION PRESERVATION HOUSTON DID, AND I AM IN FULL SUPPORT. UM, SO, UH, WHAT I WROTE, THE LETTER THAT I WROTE BACK THEN SAID, WE UNDERSTAND THAT MR. MALCOLM LEE HAS PROVIDED A STATEMENT REGARDING IRENE LEE PEGAN AND CONFEDERATE CONFEDERATE MONEY IN THE 1980S. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST SOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ON MR. LEE'S STATEMENTS. BELOW IS SOME INITIAL INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED BY, I I, I, I CONDUCTED RESEARCH WITH TWO RENOWNED HISTORIANS HERE IN THE CITY. AS SOON AS I HEARD THE, THE INFORMATION, WE MADE SOME PHONE CALLS. UM, AND HERE ARE THE STATEMENTS THAT I FOUND OUT. IRENE LEE PEGAN, UM, IS NOT A DESCENDANT OF ROB, ROBERT E. LEE, AND I HAVE THE LINK UNDER FIND A GRAVE. HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER, PETER LEE, 1815 TO 1906, SERVED IN A UNION REGIMENT, THE SIXTH WEST VIRGINIA INFANTRY. DURING THE CIVIL WARD, IRENE LEE PAGAN'S GRANDFATHER, WE LEE, AND HER GREATUNCLE TPE LEE WERE HOUSTON OILMAN TPE LEE'S HOUSE AT 3,800 MONTROSE IS NOW THE ADMINISTRATION [03:40:01] BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS. MARK RO ROWAN'S MOTHER WAS, OR 'CAUSE THERE WERE SOME CLAIMS ABOUT NAZI AND, AND, AND CONFEDERACY MONEY. SO THESE ARE JUST, UH, MARK BRUIN'S MOTHER WAS SULA. SORRY, MY GERMAN'S NOT VERY GOOD. SO IT IT'S OKAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THROUGH ALL OF THAT. OKAY. BUT BASICALLY WHAT I'M JUST TRYING TO DECIPHER IS WERE YOU AWARE OF THE DISPUTE? SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL WERE, I FEEL LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I HAD, BEFORE IT COMES TO COUNSEL FOR A DESIGNATION, THE ONLY THING I HAVE, SO OUR CLIENT SENT US THE TITLE THAT HAS HIS OWNERSHIP. OKAY. SO WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT, UH, AND, AND BELIEF THAT HE'S THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND THE SOLE OWNER, SOLE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY. THE YES, THE, SO OWNER, HE IS ON THE TITLE. UM, AND WE HAVE THE TITLE PROOF. AND THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WE DO WHEN WE WORK WITH, UM, WITH, WITH OWNERS ON ALL OF THESE APPLICATIONS. I DO THINK THE PRESERVATION OFFICE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB, UM, AT DOING, UH, RESEARCH. ALTHOUGH, UM, MAYBE THAT, THAT THAT WASN'T PORTRAYED. I DO THINK THAT THEY DO A GOOD JOB. WE, I, I WORK ON A LOT OF NOMINATIONS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. GOT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. OH, NO. COME BACK. COME BACK, PAM. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW REFRESHING IT IS TO SEE A YOUNG PERSON INTERESTED IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION MM-HMM . UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT CERTAINLY THE, UH, DIRECTOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICATION IS PROBABLY A BIT ANTIQUATED AND MAYBE, UH, THE, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT COULD, COULD WORK WITH YOU ALL TO COME UP WITH AN APPROPRIATE APPLICATION, UH, ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SIDE. UM, AND JUST CURIOUS ON THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE INTENDED USE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT REPURPOSING. MM-HMM . WHILE YOU CAN HAVE A HISTORIC HOUSE, I'D SIT IN MY OFFICE AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AT SEVERAL OF THEM IN THE PARK NEXT DOOR. YOU KNOW, TO DRAW ATTENTION AND TO BRING PEOPLE TO THESE LANDMARKS IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO, JUST CURIOUS, WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE INTENDED USE OR IS THERE ONE PROPOSED? YEAH. SO I KNOW OUR CLIENT IS, UM, IN THE SEARCH FOR TENANTS. AND, UM, AND THEN THE, IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A COMMERCIAL BUILDING. UM, AND THE, THE DREAM WOULD BE FOR IT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. UM, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. AND THAT'S WHAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ABOUT ALL THESE, UH, PROTECTED LANDMARKS THAT THEY BRING THE PUBLIC IN AND THEY TEACH ABOUT. THEY GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE ABOUT OUR PAST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. UH, EMILY ARD. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M EMILY WAN WITH PRESERVATION HOUSTON, A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE, UM, SAVE THE PLACES THAT MATTER TO HOUSTONIANS. UM, PRESERVATION HOUSTON IS IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE NOMINATIONS UP FOR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING. UM, BUT I DID WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE BRASSWELL BUILDING AT 56 13 ALAMEDA ROAD. UM, WE, UH, PREPARED THIS NOMINATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. UM, THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE THAT WE OFFER, UM, FREQUENTLY FOR, FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO, UH, WHO REQUEST IT. UM, THE, UH, THE BRASSWELL BUILDING IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF THE COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF ALBEA. UM, IT ALSO WAS HOME TO, UM, A FEW REALLY IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS LATER IN ITS HISTORY. UM, ITS HISTORY IS VARIED AND COVERS MUCH OF THE DEVELOPED HISTORY OF ALAMEDA ROAD. UM, SO IT TELLS THE STORY OF THAT PART OF HOUSTON IN A UNIQUE WAY. UM, AND, UH, WE BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S WORTHY OF LANDMARK RECOGNITION, UM, AS ARE ALL OF THE, THE BUILDINGS PRESENTED TODAY. AND, UM, I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF ALL OF THESE NOMINATIONS. CAN, CAN I ASK YOU, OTHER THAN THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, WHICH IS, IT'S IMPORTANT, WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. WHAT ARE THE OTHER, WHEN YOU TALK TO OWNERS, WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THE OTHER BENEFITS OR CONSIDERATIONS OF WHY THEY WANT TO BE DESIGNATED? WELL, UM, I MEAN, THE, THE REASONS VARY. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, IF, IF AN OWNER WANTS TO, UH, KEEP A HISTORIC BUILDING AND REUSE IT, UM, THERE ARE SOME INCENTIVES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT COME ALONG WITH HISTORIC DESIGNATION THAT CAN HELP TO MAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, RENOVATION, UH, MORE FINANCIALLY VIABLE OR EASIER. UM, SO SOMETIMES THAT DOES FACTOR INTO THE DECISIONS. UM, A LOT OF TIMES THE OWNERS ARE JUST REALLY PROUD OF THEIR PROPERTY. SURE. YOU KNOW, WE, WE GET OWNERS WHO AREN'T PLANNING A MAJOR RENOVATION OR ANYTHING. THEY JUST, UM, THEY'RE JUST VERY PROUD OF THE HISTORY OF THEIR BUILDING AND THE STORY THAT IT TELLS ABOUT HOUSTON. UM, AND THEY, THEY WANT IT TO BE RECOGNIZED. NO, THAT MAKES SENSE. I'M JUST LOOKING FOR TAX ADVANTAGES OR MM-HMM . COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE BUILDING OR YEAH. [03:45:01] OTHER ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT MIGHT GIVE IT A DIFFERENT CONSIDERATION THAN THE NATURE OF IT BEING HISTORIC. YEAH. THERE ARE, UM, THERE IS A TAX EXEMPTION AVAILABLE FOR PROPERTIES, UM, WITH CITY LANDMARK DESIGNATION. UM, THERE IS ALSO, UM, A STATE AND A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT, UM, FOR REHAB OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT CAN, UH, CAN GET YOU BACK A PORTION OF, WELL, UP TO 45% OF THE RENOVATION COSTS BACK IN THE FORM OF A TAX CREDIT. UM, AND FOR THAT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SPECIFIC REVIEW PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING THE, THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE BUILDING. UM, THE STATE TAX CREDIT IS AVAILABLE FOR INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTIES AND ALSO NON-PROFITS. UM, SO WE'VE, UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME LOCAL CHURCHES AND OTHER NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS, UM, WHO ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, USE THIS EVEN THOUGH IT'S TRANSFERABLE. SO EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE TAX LIABILITY THEMSELVES, THEY CAN SELL THE CREDIT. UM, AND SO IT, IT HELPS THEM TO, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN AND IN, IN OTHER CASES, REVITALIZE THEIR, THEIR BUILDINGS. AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA PROBABLY WHAT THE TAXES TO THE CITY PROPERTY TAXES ARE ON THE EXXON BUILDING. WOULD YOU? AND IF WE LOSE SIGNIFICANT, I GUESS PLANNING WOULD GIVE US THAT. AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE KIND OF QUESTIONS AT LEAST WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER BEFORE WE GO FORWARD. BUT, UH, CERTAINLY THE CHURCH, THE PRIVATE RESIDENCES, I CAN GO ON ON. YEAH. BUT I THINK INDIVIDUALLY, I THINK WE OUGHT TO EXAMINE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DESIGNATION, CERTAINLY IN ECONOMIC TERMS. MM-HMM . YEAH. THERE ARE. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING A FINE JOB REPRESENTING. SURE. YEAH. UH, THERE ARE OTHER, UM, HISTORIC OFFICE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO RESIDENTIAL HOTELS WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX TAX CREDITS. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THEIR, UM, STATUS AS FAR AS PROTECTED LANDMARKS, UH, WITH THE CITY. UM, BUT THE OLD TEXACO BUILDING WAS CONVERTED INTO RESIDENTIAL. SURE. UM, THE MELROSE BUIL BUILDING, LA MERIDIAN HOTEL. SO IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN A LOT OF CASES WITH, WITH COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS OF THIS ERA DOWNTOWN. SURE, SURE. THE COTTON EXCHANGE BUILDING, I CAN NAME OTHERS YEAH. THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, PRESERVED, RECOGNIZED, BUT ALSO STILL UTILIZED. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? YES, SIR. I SEE YOUR HAND. OH, I FORGOT. THIS IS NOT Y'ALLS SYSTEM, IS IT? NO, NO. IT'S OKAY. BUT I'M GONNA DO IT ANYWAY. COME ON. TESTIFY. I'M, I'M SORRY. I'M USED TO A SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW CITIZENS TO SHOW UP THE DAY OF THE HEARING AND TALK. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL PITMAN. I'M, I'M THE PROPERTY OWNER OF 56 13 ALAMEDA ROAD. UH, AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AND MAKE A SMALL STATEMENT AS WELL TOO. UM, I PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. I DO HAVE CLEAN FEE, SIMPLE INTEREST TITLE IN THIS PROPERTY THAT WAS DONE THROUGH OLD REPUBLIC TITLE, WHO WAS BACKED BY FI, FIDELITY TITLE, ONE OF THE MOST REPUTABLE TITLE COMPANIES IN THE NATION THAT WE, THAT WE KNOW OF, UH, AND HAVE NO ALSO HAVE HIRED URBAN BONO ARCHITECTS WHO SPECIALIZES IN HISTORIC REDEVELOPMENT AND ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HEARD, YOU HEARD A STATEMENT FROM PRESERVATION HOUSTON TODAY, WHO ALSO SPECIALIZES IN THESE EFFORTS. AND OVER AND ABOVE THAT, I'VE ALSO WENT, WENT TO THE DIFFERENT RESIDENTS WHO ARE ON EWING, WHO ARE ON, UH, ALAMEDA AND THE OTHER NEARBY AREAS, AND HAVE COMMUNICATED TO THEM MY DESIRES TO, OF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO FOR THIS PROJECT. AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. DID YOU MAKE THE APPLICATION FOR THE DESIGNATION? UH, I'M THE, I'M THE OWNER OF THE APPLICATION. THE APPLICATION WAS MADE ON MY BEHALF WITH, UH, BY PRESERVATION HOUSTON THEMSELVES. OH, THAT'S INTERESTING. DID THEY CONTACT YOU OR YOU CONTACT THEM? I, I CONTACTED THEM. YOU CONTACTED THEM, CORRECT. AND THEY ASSISTED YOU? THAT'S CORRECT. WERE YOU AWARE OF ANY QUESTION OF THE TITLES BY MR. LEE AND HIS FAMILY? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THAT HAS BROUGHT UP. THERE'S BEEN NO LEGAL CONSEQUENCES, NO LEGAL RECOURSE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. AND THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME, AND I FIND THAT OFFENSIVE. DO YOU BELIEVE GIVEN ADEQUATE TIME YOU COULD MEET WITH THEM AND TRY TO RESOLVE THIS SERIOUS, UH, CLOUD OVER THE TITLE I, I WOULD BE WILLING TO SHOW MY, TO SHOW MY FEE, SIMPLE INTEREST TITLE REPORT. SURE. UH, MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER. BUT I, I WOULD NOT WANT TO DELAY THE PROCESS MORE FOR SOMETHING THAT, UM, IN MY OPINION IS BASELESS AND I CAN PROVIDE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION OF THAT. OKAY. VERY FINE. UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAST STATE, THANK YOU MR. PITMAN FOR BEING HERE. I'M GLAD YOU'RE [03:50:01] HERE. 'CAUSE THAT DEFINITELY CLEARS UP SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD. SO, WHEN DID YOU BUY THE PROPERTY? IN OCTOBER OF 2023. AND YOU WENT THROUGH THE TITLE COMPANY AND THERE WAS THE TITLE COMPANY DID THE SEARCH AND YOU, YOU BOUGHT A, A CLEAR TITLE AND YOU ARE THE SOLE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY? THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU SAID THAT YOU SHARED WITH THE NEIGHBORS, UM, YOUR DESIRES FOR THE PROPERTY. WHAT, WHAT DO YOU DESIRE TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY OTHER THAN THIS HISTORICAL DESIGNATION? WHAT, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THAT PROPERTY? JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY? UH, GREAT QUESTION. SO, AND WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO FIND SOME HISTORICAL PHOTOS THAT SHOWED THAT THAT PROPERTY HAD A BEAUTIFUL GLASS STOREFRONT THAT WAS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, THAT IS DEPICTED IN SOME OF THE, MAYBE THE MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE, MY PROGRAM IS TO TAKE THAT BACK AND DO THAT EXACT SAME TYPE OF PROGRAM, UH, THAT YOU SEE THERE, TO UPDATE SOME OF THE DAMAGES THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO THE, THE PROPERTY STRUCTURALLY TO REINFORCE THAT, UH, COMPONENT TO PAINT IT AND TO BRING, BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO IT, THAT PROPERTY. BUT EVERYTHING THAT'S WITHIN MY PROGRAM ESSENTIALLY CENTERS AROUND THE ORIGINAL INTENT AND ORIGINAL BUILDING OF HOW IT, IT WAS DEPICTED IN 1950. WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO INSIDE THE PROPERTY? SO, I, I'M PLANNING TO FIND A TENANT, A COMMERCIAL TENANT, TO LEASE THAT SPACE. UH, UM, I DON'T HAVE A LEASE SIGNED LIKE MAY A CLUB MAYBE. DEFINITELY NOT A CLUB. UH, NO, NO, NO. NOT A CLUB. JUST WANNA MAKE SURE. NOT A ALRIGHT. NO, JUST, NO. EXCUSE ME. JUST, JUST CHECKING. JUST CHECKING. I'M A RESIDENT. SEE NEXT WE'LL GET THE CALLS ABOUT THE NOISE. RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER. SO JUST, JUST CHECKING. I MEAN, IT'S YOUR PROPERTY CLOSE AND YOU'RE AT LIBERTY TO DO WHAT YOU CHOOSE, BUT JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, UM, BUT YOU ANSWERED, YOU'RE GONNA PUT A COMMERCIAL THAT'S RIGHT. BUSINESS IN THERE. DON'T HAVE ME BUSINESS. YOU JUST TO GIVE THANK YOU COUNCIL. AND I SAY COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, YOU, YOU KNOW ABOUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, BUT I LIVE IN, I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL TOO. AND, UH, WANT TO SEE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT BEGIN TO BOLSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICT AND, AND OUR CITY OVERALL. AND SO ANYTHING THAT I WOULD, THAT I WOULD PUT OUT WOULD BE UNDER THAT SAME ETHOS. THANK YOU. UH, ONE MORE COUNCILING CLERK. CAN YOU, IF YOU DON'T GET THIS DESIGNATION, DOES IT PREVENT YOU FROM DOING ANYTHING YOU WANNA DO? IF WE DON'T GET THE DESIGNATION? THERE IS, UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE ITEMS FOR HISTORIC PROTECTED LANDMARK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THERE'S AN ASSISTANCE ON THE PARKING REQUIREMENT. UH, THERE'S ALSO, IF WE WERE TO PURSUE ANY FEDERAL OR FEDERAL OR STATE, UM, UM, TAX CREDITS IN THE FUTURE, THEY WOULD WANT, IT HELPS IF THEY CAN SEE FROM A LOCAL LEVEL THAT THERE WAS SUPPORT FROM A HISTORICAL COMPONENT. BUT I WOULD SAY FROM PARKING, THAT IS THE MAIN, THE MAIN COMPONENT THAT WOULD BE SLIGHTLY DIFFICULT. AND THE CITY'S PARKING REGULATIONS WOULD PROHIBIT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO OR BE A HURDLE TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. IT, IT, IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME, SOME FORM OF VARIANCE IF THE, IF FOR SOME REASON THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE, TO BE DONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE MODIFIED, EXEMPTED, OR WHAT? UNDER THIS DESIGNATION? UNDER THIS DESIGNATION, WE GET A 40% REDUCTION IN OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR WHATEVER THEIR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IS FOR THE, THE END TENANT, UH, THE END USER RATHER. UM, SO IT REALLY JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CUMBERSOME FOR WHOEVER IS THE BUSINESS THAT, THAT OCCUPIES THE SPACE. WOW. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. I, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT DOES TO THE PARKING AT THE EXXON BUILDING. A BUNCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU MR. PITTMAN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WHEN YOU MADE YOUR APPLICATION, YOU SAY YOU MADE IT IN OCTOBER 23? UM, I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN OCTOBER, 2023. RIGHT. AND THEN YOU MADE THE APPLICATION WHEN, UM, THE APPLICATION, WE WENT BEFORE THE, THE COMMISSION IN DECEMBER OF 2023. 1223? YES, SIR. OKAY. UH, IN THAT, UH, APPLICATION PROCESS, DID THEY DO, WHAT WERE YOU MADE AWARE OF ANY HISTORICAL TIES TO THIS, UH, PRIOR? I MEAN, DID THEY INFORM YOU THE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, PRESERVATION HOUSTON? DID THEY EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO YOU OF THE HISTORICAL, UH, HISTORY OF THAT? THE, THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT THAT CAME UP WAS FROM THE ALLEGATIONS OF MR. LEE. AND THEN AT THAT TIME, UH, PRESERVATION HOUSTON AND URBANO COMMENCED THEIR WORK TO REFUTE THOSE CLAIMS. SAID, REFUTE THOSE CLAIMS TO SHOW THEIR RESEARCH THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE. OH, THAT IT WASN'T TRUE? YES, SIR. [03:55:01] THAT WAS, IT WAS NOT TRUE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE LEASE OR LET YOUR ATTORNEY VISIT WITH THE LEASE. HAPPY TO DO SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO TESTIFY? ANY MEMBER? IF NOT, UH, I'M GONNA, LEE'S TRYING TO COME BACK. WHO? MR. LEE'S TRYING TO COME BACK. UH, MY SISTER SIGNED UP YEAH. TO SPEAK, BUT SHE YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE. GO AHEAD. SHE'S ILL. SHE HAS SOME DENTAL, UH, HEALTH PROBLEMS. SHE HANDED ME A STATEMENT. COULD, COULD I READ HER STATEMENT SHE HANDED TO ME? IS IT, IS THAT ALLOWED? IS IT SHORT? HOW LONG IS WE'VE GOT THE TWO AND A HALF MINUTES. WELL, I KNOW GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. TWO PAGES. I'M TIMING IT. I'VE GOT MY STOPWATCH. TALK INTO THE MIC FOR, OKAY. OKAY. YOU'RE ALLOWED. TWO MINUTES, MS. KAREN LEE. THIS IS ABOUT THE BRASWELL BUILDING. THE IS 56 13 MS. KAREN LEE. UH, AND THIS IS HER STATEMENT, HAS AN OWNERSHIP CLAIM IN 56 13 ALAMEDA. THAT WAS NOT SATISFACTORY OR SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A GROUP ASSEMBLED BY MR. MARK ROUND. MS. LEE HAD AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST AT THE TIME, DECADES AGO, THAT BOTH THE GALLERY AND BOOKSTORE WERE OPERATING. BOTH THE GALLERY AND BOOKSTORE WERE MENTIONED IN THE HISTORIC LANDMARK APPLICATION. BECAUSE OF THIS, MS. LEE RECALLS THAT THE HISTORY BEING REPORTED IS NOT ACCURATE. IT IS A HISTORY WHOSE DARK TIES WOULD CONFER CONTROVERSY TO THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS, WHICH WOULD DILUTE HER OWNERSHIP VALUE. HISTORIC LANDMARK, BY ITS VERY NATURE, DERIVES ITS AUTHORITY FROM THE IDEA THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN REST ASSURED THAT THIS DESIGNATION IS NOT BASED ON PROPAGANDA, BUT ON SOLID VETTED HISTORY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE. THE HISTORY WAS NOT FULLY VETTED. IT WAS NOT FULLY DISCLOSED. THIS APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS HAS BROUGHT TO THE FOREGROUND THE ISSUE OF OWNERSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THE SITE. WE ASSERT THAT THIS IS A CATEGORY OF OWNERSHIP THAT IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY CONFERRED TO THE NEW OWNERS, INCLUDING MR. PITTMAN, THE APPLICANT. WE ASSERT THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF SOME OF THE KEY HISTORY MENTIONED IN THE APPLICATION INCLUDE MS. LEE, WHO RETAIN RIGHTS TO HER OWN HISTORY IN RELATION TO THE GALLERY IN THE BOOKSTORE. THESE HISTORIES DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY ATTACH TO OR TRANSFER WITH THE SALE OF THE PHYSICAL BUILDING AND LAND. THIS APPLICATION OF HISTORIC STATUS HAS OPENED THE DOOR, HAS PUSHED ISSUES OF RIGHTS TO ONE'S HISTORY TO THE FOREGROUND SO THAT MY SISTER'S, MS. LEE'S HOVERING CLAIM TO THE TITLE IS UPDATED TO A REALTIME CLAIM OF THE OWNERSHIP TITLE OF 56 13 ALAMEDA SINCE MR. PITTMANS HAS MONETIZED HI THIS PAST HISTORY. SO MY SISTER, MS. LEE, SAYS HER OUTSTANDING CLAIM TO 56 13 ALAMEDA IS UPDATED SINCE THIS CATEGORY OF OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN HISTORIES WAS TRIGGERED BY THIS APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS. SO IN HER CAPACITY AS AN OWNER OF HER OWN HISTORY, SHE RETAINS THAT OWNERSHIP IN VETO'S APPLICATION 'CAUSE MR. PITTMAN DID NOT BUY HER HISTORY. RIGHTS THEN INCLUDE WHEN BOTH THE GALLERY AND BOOKSTORE WERE OPERATING. SINCE MR. PITTMAN HAS MONETIZED THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION, WE CHALLENGE HIS OWNERSHIP IN HER HISTORY AND RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED THIS APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS BE DENIED. VERY GOOD. THAT WAS HER STATEMENT. SOUNDS LIKE A LAWSUIT TO ME. BUT ANYWAY. OKAY. UH, MR. LEE, I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU THIS. YES. MAYOR PO YOU SORRY ABOUT HISTORY, RIGHTS ARE PROPERTY RIGHTS BECAUSE I'M SORRY HE PURCHASED. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, RIGHTS OR PROPERTY RIGHTS? BECAUSE SHE'S ALSO TALKING ABOUT HER HISTORY, RIGHT? IF HE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND WENT THROUGH A TITLE COMPANY AND THEY DID A TITLE SEARCH AND THEY, THEY HAVE THE INSURANCE, THE TITLE COMPANY IS INSURED AND THEY DO ALL THE PROPER VETTING FOR SOLE OWNERSHIP FOR THE NEW OWNER WHO PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN STILL CLAIM THAT THERE ARE SOME PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE THIS TODAY. RIGHT? SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR STATEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. I GOTTA GET BACK TO A LITTLE MORE STRUCTURED HEARING HERE. UH, MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S STRONG OBJECTION, I'LL LEAVE THIS PENDING AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS. WE ALL SUPPORT THE LANDMARK AND HISTORICAL PROTECTION, BUT I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR US TO GET MORE INFORMATION. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING CAST? MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. THOMAS SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, IS THERE ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION PASSES. WE WILL REVISIT THAT SOON. SOON, SOON. MEMBERS, UH, [MAYOR'S REPORT] WE NEED TO BE AWARE, AND I'M SURE WE ARE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO ADVISE OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE'RE UNDER A HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8:00 PM TODAY. UH, THE FORECAST THAT THE INDEX VALUES WILL EXCEED 108 DEGREES, UH, WE'LL MONITOR IT THROUGH THE WEEK. ADDITIONAL ALERTS COULD BE ISSUED AT THE CITY. IN VIEW OF THESE STREAM CONDITIONS HAVE OPENED 57, UH, COOLING CENTERS, COMBINATION [04:00:01] OF CITY LIBRARIES, 44 LIBRARIES, 13 MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. UH, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO LOOK AT HOUSTON OFFICE OF ECO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.ORG TO SEE THE HOURS. SOME ARE CLOSING AT FIVE NORMAL WORKING LIBRARY HOURS, OTHER EXTENDING TO 8:00 PM SO, UH, I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHARE THIS WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ALSO, OBVIOUSLY, ON A SIDE NOTE, AND WE'RE ALL SO ANGRY OVER THE SENSELESS MURDER AND SEXUAL ASSAULT OF JOCELYN NUNGA, WHOSE SERVICE IS THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH AT EARTHMAN CEMETERY ON 45 FROM ONE TO THREE OF SERVICE, FOLLOWED BY BURIAL, AND THEN THERE'LL BE A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT GALLERY FURNITURE SHORTLY THEREAFTER. UH, THIS, UH, TRAGEDY HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC AND IN THIS HORSESHOE. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DEVASTATED THE FAMILIES ARE. KEEP 'EM IN YOUR PRAYERS. UH, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE ACT OF CRIME. DOESN'T GET ANY WORSE. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURSUIT AND BRINGING THE SUSPECTS TO JUSTICE. UM, IT'S AS BAD A SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND CRIME THAT I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME. 12-YEAR-OLD IS JUST REPREHENSIBLE. AND, UM, I'M SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU TO, UH, THERE'LL BE RECOGNITION OF THE TRAGEDY AND A CELEBRATION OF HER SHORT LIFE. UH, GOD WORKS IN STRANGE WAYS. THIS YOUNG LADY HAS, HAS BROUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF IMMIGRATION. HAS BROUGHT THE SERIOUSNESS OF CRIME SOLVING AND ALSO THE BAIL BOND SYSTEM. THE JUDGE PLACED A MILLION DOLLAR, $10 MILLION BOND, WHICH MAKES IT PRETTY PROHIBITIVE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO POST BOND AND, AND BE THE FLIGHT RISK THAT THEY ARE. THAT SAID, KEEP THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY IN YOUR PRAYERS. UH, MA'AM, SECRETARY OF THE [CONSENT AGENDA] CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE AND ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TM, MOVE ALL MS. SECOND MOTION'S MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES UNDER THE, I'M SORRY, UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS TWO AND THREE HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM SIX HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEM UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY ITEMS 10 AND 11 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON ITEM 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, AND 14. T MOVED A SECOND. MOTION BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY, ITEMS 15 THROUGH 18 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY, I REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, AND 32. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, AND 32 NEED A VOTE ON THE BALLOT? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. [04:05:09] ITEM SIX. UH, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. IS THIS CONSIDERATION? HOLD ON. HOLD ON. SHE'S GOTTA GET HER PAPER. HMM. SHE'S GOTTA GET HER PAPER. OH, I'M SORRY. ITEM SIX [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX STATE A. MOVE ON THE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. C, DO THE AMENDMENT. WE DON'T WANNA VOTE ON CIP. WE WANT TO TAG ON MOVE TO RECONSIDER. YEAH. LET, UH, CAST A MOVE TO RECONSIDER. SECOND FAVOR. VOTE ON RECONSIDER PLEASE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. BACK BEFORE ITEM SIX. SO IT'S THE CIP. SO WE HAVE A, THIS IS THE ANNUAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. SO OF YOU HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED OUT. DOES SEE ANYONE HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN HANDED OUT? ALRIGHT, IS THERE A TAG ON THE AMENDMENTS IN THE MAIN ITEM? CAST. TAG. TAG. THOMAS TAGS. ITEM'S BEEN TAGGED. JACKSON'S IN THE QUEUE LIVE FOR DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE AN, AN AMENDMENT TO MY AMEND MY AMENDMENTS THAT I NEED TO PRESENT. SO CAN I TURN IT IN? IT'S OKAY. WHEN WE BRING IT BACK, YOU'LL, IT'LL BE CONSIDERED. OKAY. SO SIX WAS TAGGED BY WHO? COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS MAYOR PROM. ARE WE GOING TO SUBMIT OUR AMENDMENTS TODAY? AND THEN THERE WILL BE A MATRIX AND WE'LL REVIEW 'EM NEXT WEEK? YES, MA'AM. THAT'S THE PLAN, MA'AM. YEAH, THAT'S THE PLAN. OKAY. SO IF EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED THEIR AMENDMENT WILL BE IN THE MATRIX, IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING ADDITIONAL, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SUBMIT THAT? SURE. BEFORE NEXT WEEK? SURE. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. MADAM SECRETARY. 10 AND 11. SO WE'LL DO 10, 11. AND THEN ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. MOTION TAG. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE POSTS. MOTION. WAIT. A TAG. OH, BACK UP. TAG BY PLUMBER. PLUMBER. ITEM TENS. TAG BY I HEARD SOMEBODY ELSE SAY PLUMBER. AND WHO ELSE? PLUMBER. MULTIPLE TAGS. THOMAS. POLY. PLUMBER. NO, JUST PLUMBER. PLUMBER. . I. ME LEFT. I I HEARD YOU SAY TAG. AND WHEN SOMEBODY SHOUTS OUT TAG, I'M JUST RESPECTING YOUR, YOUR THANK YOU. I ADMIT. PUT ME IN IT. ITEM 11 NEEDS A MOTION. HAS SEX EIGHT. A MOVE. HOLD A SECOND. I'M IN THAT TAG. OKAY, ITEM IS TAGGED. OKAY. MEMBERS? ITEM 15. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. I MEAN, A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? OH, COUNCILOR THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. I'M IN IT FOR REAL THIS TIME. UH, UM, I SUPPORT OF 15 AND SUBSEQUENTLY 16. UH, THE, UM, APPLICATION FOR RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, UM, SPEAKS TO OUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN MAKING SURE THE UNHOUSED, UM, UM, HAVE A PLACE TO SAY, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS. UM, AND SO COLLEAGUES, YOU SHOULD, UM, UM, HAVE RECEIVED THE BACKUP ON THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE, UM, HOUSING DEPARTMENT THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH 4%, UH, 4% APPLICATIONS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THIS IS SENT TO, UH, THE COMMITTEE, UM, SEPARATE OF COMMITTEE BRIEFING, UM, JUST SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING A LOT OF 4% APPLICATIONS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ITEM 15, NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 16, ITEM 16 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEEDS A VOTE. ALL IN [04:10:01] FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 17 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, ITEM 17 AND 18. IT'S THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE, UM, PLACES FOR PEOPLE CALL FOR PROJECTS WITH COMMISSIONER BRIANIS. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR, UM, EVEN DOING THIS PROJECT, UM, TO CALL FOR DIFFERENT, UM, PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE PRECINCT FOUR COMMUNITY. UM, ITEM 17 IS AN APPLICATION FOR THE CULLEN PARK TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, UM, CULLEN PARK IS THE LARGEST PARK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S 9,269 ACRES AND 9.6 MILES OF TRAILS. AND SOME OF THE TRAILS ALONG MAID CREEK WERE DAMAGED IN THE STORM IN MAY. AND SO THIS APPLICATION IS TO, UM, REPAIR THOSE TRAILS. AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY THAT I SUPPORT THIS APPLICATION AND AS WELL AS THE PROJECTS IN THE NEXT ITEM AS WELL. AND, UM, JUST WANTED TO ADD ADVOCATE FOR THOSE PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. JUST NEED A VOTE. ITEM 17. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 18 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SIMILAR ALI TO ITEM 17. I WANT TO, UM, EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF ITEM 18. UM, UM, FROM DISTRICT F, WE HAVE SUBMITTED CATALINA SQUARE, WHICH IS A LONG STANDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UM, FOR STREETS AND DRAINAGE IN THE, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR CALL FOR PROJECTS ALIGNS WITH, UH, LOCAL STREET DRAINAGE PROJECTS, WHICH THIS WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IF AWARDED. AND I ALSO WANNA SPEAK TO, UM, UM, INDIVID OTHER, UM, UH, PROJECTS WITHIN THIS PACKAGE SUCH AS, UH, STREETLIGHTS AT RICHMOND AND STONY BROOK, UH, AND BRIAR MEADOW AND SOME OTHER, UM, ACTIVATION. SO I APPRECIATE, UM, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UH, BRIES, UH, FOR HER LEADERSHIP AROUND THIS AND THIS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW GOVERNMENTS WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE THE SAME POPULATION. SO HOPEFULLY, UM, ONCE WE PASS THIS ITEM, UH, A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, HER TEAM WILL LOOK AT THIS AND, UM, WE'LL GET SOME PROJECTS DOWN THE LINE. THANK YOU MUCH. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. THERE ARE, UH, THREE, WELL, MORE THAN THREE, BUT THREE VERY IMPORTANT PROJECTS FOR DISTRICT G. UM, AS PART OF THIS ITEM. ONE IS, UH, A GROUP OF HOMES THAT CONTINUE TO FLOOD EVEN WHEN RAINFALL ISN'T THAT EXTRAVAGANT. UM, WE HAVE SOME, ANOTHER ONE. THERE'S SOME EROSION ISSUES BECAUSE OF HURRICANE HARVEY. UM, AND PART OF THIS DRIVE IS GOING NOW INTO TURKEY CREEK. UM, AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO, TO SEE THESE BE DONE. AND WE THANK COMMISSIONER BRIAN. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I TOO, UH, WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR, UH, HER ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR OFFICE. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS ITEM. UM, THE SIDEWALKS FOR PEOPLE, ALSO INTERSECTION PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL REBUILDS, NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROJECTS, THE RENWICK TRAIL IMPROVEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY, AS WELL AS THE BOB WHITE AND BIRDWOOD STREET INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION. SO THESE ARE ALL, UH, PROJECTS THAT OUR SHARED CONSTITUENTS HAVE REACHED OUT WANTING TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS AND FOR THEM TO BE ADDRESSED. AND I WANT TO THANK HER AND HER ENTIRE TEAM, UH, FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THAT'S ALL. ADAM? UH, 18. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. THIS ITEM PERTAINS TO 83 LOTS, UH, CURRENTLY HELD BY THE LAND BANK, WHICH SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN IN INVENTORY DATING BACK TO 2003 AND OFF THE TAX ROLLS. UM, I'M GOING TO BE TAGGING THIS ITEM, UH, TO ALLOW OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE LAND BANK, UH, TO WEAVE THEM INTO OUR OVERALL HOUSING, UM, PLAN. WE WANT TO KEEP THESE PROPERTIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THEY REMAIN, REMAIN AFFORDABLE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED EARLIER THIS YEAR, MAYOR, WAS THAT WHILE HOUSEHOLDS THAT PURCHASED ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES, IF THEY GET DEVELOPED, UH, HAVE TO MEET THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS THEREAFTER, THERE'S NO PERIOD OF TIME AT, UH, DURING WHICH THE, THE HOUSING, UH, MUST REMAIN AFFORDABLE. AND SO THIS BOTHERS US AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE LEARNED. SO I'M GONNA BE TAGGING THIS ITEM TO ALLOW US TO WORK A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY WITH THE LAND BANK. RAMIREZ AND JACKSON HOLLY POLLARD [04:15:01] RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBERS JACKSON JACKSON HAVE TAGGED. ITEM 20. OKAY. ADAM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE THIS NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PROJECT. IT'S A NEW HOPE HOUSING PROJECT, 120 UNITS FOR SENIORS. UM, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT, UH, THIS PROJECT AT BELIEVE THEY'RE LOOKING AT CLOSING IN ABOUT A MONTH. UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF IT. UH, THE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS GONE OUT TO CIVIC ASSOCIATION TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AND WE START LOOKING AT HOUSING STOCKS SPECIFICALLY FOR, FOR SENIORS. UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT ESPECIALLY OUT IN DISTRICT HIGH, IN THE EAST END MAGNOLIA PARK AREA. SO I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT ON THIS ONE. COUNCIL THOMAS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I, I'M GONNA VOTE IN AFFIRMATIVE OF THIS ITEM, BUT I DO WANNA CAUTION, UH, NEW HOPE IN TERMS OF THEIR EVICTION POLICIES. UH, WHEN, AND THEN JUST TO LEVEL SET WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THE CITY IN TERMS OF, UH, THE UNHOUSED AND GETTING PEOPLE PLACED, OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, NEW HOPE IS ONE OF OUR SHINING STARS IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT. UM, BUT ONE OF THE, UH, POLICIES THAT THEY HAVE IS THAT IF YOU'RE EVICTED FROM ONE PROPERTY, YOU'RE EXCLUDED FROM HAVING, UH, A LEASE WITH ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES. AND SO WHEN YOU ARE A LEADER IN THIS INDUSTRY, IN THIS CITY, UM, AND YOU HAVE A A LOT OF INVENTORY, IT LIMITS YOUR ABILITY TO FIND ADEQUATE HOUSING. SO, UM, SENIOR HOUSING IS IMPORTANT, IT'S GONNA SERVE THE APPROPRIATE A MI 30 TO 60% A MI. UM, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE AS A CITY, UM, TO SUPPORT DURING THE EVICTION CRISIS, COVID, WE'VE DONE A MILLION DOLLARS JUST WITH, UM, OUR HOME FUNDS. THAT'S NOT INCLUDING, UM, CARES ARPA, UM, OR THE ENTITLEMENT DOC DOLLARS DIRECTLY FROM THE DEPARTMENT. AND SO I THINK WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, THE, UM, HOUSING FIRST MODEL, UM, THE INITIATIVES WITHIN THE CITY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING TO THIS BODY FOR AN APPROVAL THAT THEY ALIGN WITH OUR INITIATIVES AND OUR VALUES. AND SO WHEN WE, UH, IT'S ALMOST COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR US TO INVEST DOLLARS IN, UH, MITIGATING, UH, EVICTION AND RENT RELIEF. AND THEN IF SOMEONE IS UNSTABLE AND THEN THEY ARE EVICTED, THEY NO LONGER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LEASE AT ANOTHER PROPERTY. UM, BUT THIS IS A, UH, A GOOD PROJECT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ HAS EXPRESSED HOW THEY'VE DONE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IT'S DEFINITELY NEEDED. UM, AND I, HOPEFULLY THAT THIS BODY MOVES FORWARD, BUT I THINK THIS AGAIN, JUST SPEAKS TO HOW WE NEED TO, UM, JUST INTERROGATE SOME OF THE PRACTICES AND POLICIES SO AS AGENCIES COME BEFORE US FOR SUPPORT THAT THEY ALIGN WITH OUR INITIATIVES. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO, UH, AFFIRM THAT, UH, THIS PROJECT NEED TO GO FORWARD. UH, AFTER HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HOUSING, I THINK THIS IS VERY VITAL THAT OUR SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE RENTAL HOUSING AND, BUT, UH, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO ALWAYS HAVE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD. AND, UH, WE HAD A FEW DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT, SO I'M CERTAINLY IN AFFIRMATIVE OF THIS PROJECT. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? ITEM 21. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. GOOD JOB. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ALL IN. NO. COUNCILOR THOMAS. SHE'S AFTER ALCORN TO ALCORN FIRST. OH, I, I CAN GO AFTER TOO. AFTER. OKAY, AFTER THE VOTE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. YOU WANNA GO AFTER PLEASE? UH, OKAY. TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. ITEM 22, VOTE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NO. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU MUCH. UH, THIS ITEM CAME BEFORE THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, I WANNA SAY MAYBE TWO MONTHS AGO OR A MONTH AGO. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW CORPORATIONS ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM. AND SO, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, AIR CONDITIONING UNITS EVEN KNOW, BEAT THE HEAT. OUR SENIORS NEED IT. MANY OF OUR APPLICANTS FOR THIS PROGRAM, THEY'RE 68, 70 PLUS YEARS OLD, AND WE KNOW IN THIS CITY AND TODAY WITH A, UH, HEAT ADVISORY, THIS TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT. UM, I KNOW THEY'RE INVESTING, UH, CLOSE TO 20 UNITS AND ARE WORKING TO SECURE MORE. SO THIS IS, UM, A SHOUT OUT TO DAIKIN FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND WORKING WITH US AND LOOKING FOR, UH, PRIVATE INDUSTRY SUPPORT AS WE SUPPORT OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILOR ALOR? YES. JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS. UM, THANK YOU, DAIKIN. THIS IS A BIG INVESTMENT. UM, THANKS TO WENDY HALL AND KURT HEIM. I THINK THEY'RE WATCHING ONLINE. UH, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD A REALLY GOOD, EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONED. IF THEY WERE GONNA GO BUY THIS ON THE MARKET, IT'D BE LIKE $20,000 EACH ONE. [04:20:01] SO THIS IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTING HOW, UH, WE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE NEED TO EMPHASIZE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HELP PEOPLE OUT GETTING THE EFFICIENT ENERGY, UH, TO THEM, BECAUSE THAT, THAT LOWERS THEIR BILLS OVER TIME. KEEPS THEIR, UH, THEIR HOMES AFFORDABLE. AND JUST, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO DAIKIN FOR THIS GENEROUS DONATION. VERY GOOD. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 24. ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN ALL IN FAVOR. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, COUNCIL, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS QUITE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT IN REPAIRING THIS SPACE, REPLACING THE ROOF, REPLACING THE HVAC, REPLACING THE WATER HEATERS, THAT IT WOULD ALSO OBLIGATE US TO SPEND $62,000 FOR ART. UM, I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS. THEY'RE ALL IN SHOCK, UH, THAT, THAT THIS WOULD BE REQUIRED. I MEAN, I UNDERSTOOD ON THE NEW PROJECTS THAT THIS WAS DONE. I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS DONE FOR REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS. UM, I, I REALLY THINK WE'VE GOT TO SPEND OUR MONEY ON NEEDS VERSUS WANTS. AND I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS APPROPRIATE. AND I WANTED TO TAG THAT ITEM BECAUSE OF IT. VERY WELL. FLICKINGER, I'D LIKE TO JOIN. I'M 30 TWOS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AND CARTER JOINS. AND CARTER. ANYONE ELSE? DAVIS MEMBER DAVIS TAX. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 42. [MATTERS HELD - NUMBERING] COUNCIL. COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I SUBMITTED THIS AMENDMENT TO BASICALLY REMOVE PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES FROM PAYING IN THE CIVIC ARTS, UM, CONTRACT WITH THE ARTS ALLIANCE. I AM GOING TO WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT AMENDING THE CONTRACT AT THE TABLE. AND ALSO IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT THE WHOLE ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN. IT HASN'T BEEN REALLY LOOKED AT SINCE 2006, I BELIEVE. AND THAT WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE TIME TO BRING THIS, UM, FOR AN ORDINANCE CHANGE. AND SO I WILL DO IT AT THAT TIME. BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT THERE ARE NEEDS AT THE, UM, IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE NEED MORE AMBULANCES. THERE ARE NEEDS AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT, OBVIOUS NEEDS THERE. I EVEN SUBMITTED A CIP AMENDMENT TO MOVE UP THE NORTHWEST POLICE STATION, UM, TO GET THAT GOING FASTER BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR EVERY PENNY AVAILABLE, UM, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE MONEY AROUND, TO PUT INTO PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE IT IS MY TOP PRIORITY. EVEN IF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WERE TAKING MONEY FROM ARE ALSO IMPORTANT. PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. AND SO I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET EVERYTHING FUNDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO I WILL WITHDRAW THIS AMENDMENT, BUT DO INTEND TO BRING IT UP AGAIN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE, SIR? 42 IS WITHDRAWN. ITEM 42 IS WITHDRAWN. NEXT ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. YESTERDAY AS I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AFTER MEETING WITH THEM, I HAD MORE QUESTIONS WHEN I STARTED. FIRST THING I ASKED THEM WAS, WALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WE APPROVE THIS. YOU GET YOUR 1.75%. HOW IS THE ART PROCURED? THEY TOLD ME, WELL, IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE PROCURED. THEY MAY NOT USE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE ART. THEY MAY USE THE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN ART. THEY MAY USE FUNDS TO CONSERVE ART. THEY MAY NOT USE THE FUNDS AT ALL. IT MAY BE USED WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THERE WAS ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE SAID, HEY, THIS IS MONEY TO BUY ART, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO ACTUALLY BUY THE ART. THEY DID BASICALLY, WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO, AS LONG AS IT HAD TO DO WITH ART. SO WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE AND WHATNOT, I'M LIKE, OKAY, HOW MUCH INVENTORY DO YOU HAVE? [04:25:01] 'CAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE IS BEING SPENT ON HOW MUCH ART? AND THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME, WE DON'T HAVE AN INVENTORY. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DONE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. UM, I I FIND THAT QUITE SHOCKING. UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE RECENTLY HAD WITH OUR ISSUES WITH THE EMERGENCY PO FOR THE WATER LINES, WHAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE TOURS, WHAT IS TO PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM AFTER THIS ART BEING PURCHASED, WALKING OUT THE DOOR WITH IT, AND THAT NEVER EVEN KNOWING THAT IT'S GONE. THEY KNOW. THEY DID SAY THE AIRPORT HAD AN INVENTORY. THEY SAID THE LIBRARIES HAD AN INVENTORY, BUT ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS DID NOT. UH, ALSO GOT SOME INFORMATION THIS MORNING FROM THEIR REPORT FROM 2023, AND THEY HAD $14 MILLION ON HAND THAT WE HAD ALREADY. IT HAD BEEN IMPROVED PREVIOUSLY. 6 MILLION OF THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR PROJECTS THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE QUEUE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WAS BEING ASSIGNED TO $8 MILLION WAS JUST SITTING THERE. NOW I UNDERSTAND PROJECTS WILL BE COMING UP, BUT WE'RE TALKING $5 MILLION A YEAR. THAT'S OVER A YEAR AND A HALF WORTH OF APPROVALS THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYTHING ASSIGNED TO IT. UM, I MEAN, I KNOW YOUR OFFICE IS WORKING ON IT. LIKE AMY ALLUDED TO, COUNCILMAN PECK ALLUDED TO EARLIER THAT TO TIGHTEN THIS UP, I, I APPLAUD THOSE EFFORTS. YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE DOING THE INVENTORY, I ASSUMED THAT WAS YOUR OFFICE THAT HAD INITIATED THAT SEEING THE SAME THING I DID. I JUST REALLY THINK WE NEED TO TIGHTEN THIS UP BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH IT. AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, A MOTION TO REFER IT BACK, GET IT TIGHTENED UP, AND, AND THEN COME FORWARD SECOND. I'M SORRY, REFER IT WHERE? TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO, TO, YES. BACK OVER HERE. ADMINISTRATION. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO REFER BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR A, UH, WE STILL HAVE SOME DISCUSSION. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ, YOU'VE MADE A MOTION, BUT CAN WE GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM OUR COLLEAGUES ON, ON THE MOTION TO REFER BACK OR ON THE MAIN ITEM ON THE MOTION TO REFER BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION RAMIREZ? YES. YES. UH, SORRY. YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. LISTEN, I, I APPRECIATE SO MUCH WHAT THE ARTS ALLIANCE DOES. WE NEED THE ARTS. WE ALSO NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. UM, IN, IN MEETING WITH THE ART ARTS ALLIANCE AND THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, COME TO FIND OUT THAT, THAT THE LAST CONTRACT WE HAD WAS FIVE YEARS, $18 MILLION. AND WE ARE ASKED TO APPROVE A NEW CONTRACT, FIVE YEARS, $25 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 30% IN SOME PRETTY DIRE FINANCIAL TIMES. AND, UM, SUGGESTED TO STAFF THAT PERHAPS, UH, THERE COULD BE A, A MORE FINANCIALLY, UH, BENEFICIAL WAY TO STRUCTURE THIS THAN, THAN A FIVE YEAR DEAL FOR $25 MILLION. AND IT WAS PRESENTED AS A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT KIND OF THING. UM, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER, UH, AND ACHIEVE BOTH GOALS OF, UH, ACQUIRING AND, UH, CONSERVING THE ART THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL AS BEING GOOD FINANCIAL STEWARDS OF OUR LIMITED RESOURCES. AND THEREFORE, I'M SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TO REFER BACK IN THE HOPES THAT, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE A BETTER DEAL, UH, PRESENTED TO COUNSEL. OKAY. UH, MAYOR PROTE. COUNCIL TATUM. SO I, I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT I THINK WE NEED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO HAVE A, AN INVENTORY THAT THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE DOES HAVE AN INVENTORY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY HAVE A COLLECTOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, UM, THAT KEEPS THE INVENTORY OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S MANAGED BY MOCA. UH, SO I, I THINK THAT IT, IT WOULD BE UNFAIR FOR US TO SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN INVENTORY. UM, AND I THINK THIS CONTRACT IS FOR, UM, NOT TO EXCEED THE 25 MILLION. UM, I, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO REFERRING IT BACK TO GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE TO BE CAREFUL IN, IN SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN INVENTORY. I KNOW WHEN WE WORKED ON THE POLICE STATION IN DISTRICT K AND WE PROCURED THE ART, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BID PROCESS. THERE'S A, AN ENTIRE PROCESS THAT GOES THROUGH, UM, ACQUIRING THE ART FOR POLICE STATIONS OR ANY OTHER FACILITIES THAT WE USE. UM, EVEN THE, UM, AIRPORT. UM, AND THEY DO HAVE AN INVENTORY OF WHAT WAS PURCHASED. UM, AND THEN, UH, THEY, THEY KEEP AN INVENTORY [04:30:01] OF, OF WHAT IS PURCHASED AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SEE IT WHEN THEY COME IN AND OUT OF THE FACILITY. SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO REFERRING IT BACK SO PEOPLE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION. BUT I DO THINK THAT, UM, I DO KNOW THEY HAVE AN INVENTORY SYSTEM. LET ME, LEMME JUST SAY THAT I, I, I DON'T WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE. SO PEOPLE THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE INVENTORY OF THE ART IN THE CITY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A COLLECTOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THAT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAD THAT MAYBE, UM, GOT A LITTLE DISTORTED. BUT, UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE DO HAVE A COLLECTIVE SYSTEM, UH, IN MOCA, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THERE'S TWO ENTITIES THAT'S JUST BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT, HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE AND MOCA. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTH OF 'EM, BUT ALSO THEIR RELATIONSHIP AS WELL. MM-HMM . SO THIS CONTRACT IS GOING THROUGH MOCA, RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE HOLDING HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE TO THIS STANDARD FOR THIS, THIS, UM, THIS LEVEL WHERE WE SHOULD REALLY BE TALKING ABOUT MOCA AS WELL. AND WHAT IS MOCA DOING, RIGHT? SO THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT THEY WILL, WILL THEN, UH, MOVE FORWARD ON. AND WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM, WE, WE THINK ABOUT AN, AN ART PIECE, OR WE THINK ABOUT, THINK ABOUT CONSERVATION OR MAINTENANCE, BUT ALSO THE ARTISTS. AND SO, WHEN THE LAST FEW YEARS, UH, A BIG PART OF, OF THIS CONVERSATION WAS HOW DO YOU BRING THESE DOLLARS NOT JUST TO THE, TO THE, UH, THE BIGS AS WHAT AS WHAT THEY CALL 'EM, WHICH IS THE THEATER DISTRICT, BUT THEN TO THE LOCAL ARTISTS WITHIN EACH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I, WE JUST HELD A, UH, A GRANT WORKSHOP AND WE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN FOLKS FROM THE EAST END AREA THAT WERE THERE THAT WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS. AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS. I UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS IMPORTANT. I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF, OF, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON THOSE THINGS. BUT WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUAL ART PIECE, START THINKING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS THAT IS ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, WE'RE NOT JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THROWING OUT TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, BEING DISCONNECTED FROM, FROM THE, THE ENTIRE PROCESS THAT, UH, THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE MANAGES, BUT IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, BEING LED BY, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AS WELL. SO, UM, I, I'D ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH, WITH, UH, WITH MOCA, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE HAS BEEN, UH, VERY, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, GENEROUS WITH THEIR TIME WHENEVER I'VE HAD QUESTIONS. UH, WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY IN THE FONDLY PARK AREA IN REGARDS TO A, A SCULPTURE THAT'S GONNA GET THAT. WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING PUT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING UP AT A, AT A LOCAL PARK AROUND THE, THE SIMS BAYOU, UH, GREENWAY TRAILS. SO, AGAIN, UH, UM, UNDERSTANDING EVERYBODY'S PRIORITIES. I THINK IT'S ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO LOOK AT, UH, THIS CONTRACT IN A WAY WHERE WE'RE IMPACTING, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO RE THEN, UH, RETURN BACK THOSE DOLLARS BACK INTO, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL. SO, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. UH, I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN DELAYED, UH, FOR SOME TIME. AND SO THERE'S PROJECTS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT NEED TO GET PAID OUT. AS YOU MENTIONED, COUNCIL MEMBER, FLICKING JURY, THERE'S FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD, BUT BECAUSE WE KEEP DELAYING IT, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE QUESTIONS, UH, WITH THIS CONTRACT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, WE'RE DOING, UH, A DISSERVICE TO, TO THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THESE PROJECTS FOR MONTHS. AND SO, UM, UH, I, I DEFINITELY WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS. BUT A FURTHER DELAY JUST CONTINUES TO, YOU KNOW, PUT A, PUT A PREDICAMENT ON ARTISTS, ON CONTRACTS, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS. THANK YOU. SO MEMBER ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ REALLY SAID WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. THIS HAS, UH, BEEN DELAYED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE ARE, UM, PEOPLE WAITING, UM, FOR THIS FUNDING. THEY ARE OPERATING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MOCA, UH, THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, THE 1.75% THAT'S SET BY ORDINANCE. THIS IS A CONTRACT TO DEAL WITH THOSE FUNDINGS. IF WE WANNA TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO, THEN, UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CONTRACT. UM, THIS IS, THERE IS AN INVENTORY. I AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM. I, THERE IS AN INVENTORY. WE ARE WAITING. I THINK WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS, UM, AN APPRAISAL. THEY'RE GETTING VALUATIONS. AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD. UM, BUT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, MOVING PARTS TO THIS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON THIS, UH, CONTRACT, UM, GOING FORWARD. AND I, IF WE WANNA TAKE A A, A STRONGER LOOK AT THAT 1.75%, UH, I'M ALL WILL, UM, CERTAINLY BE INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. BUT, UM, I'M, I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CIVIC ART CONTRACT. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT TO, UM, IN REGARDS [04:35:01] TO THIS ITEM, UM, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM FOR CLARIFYING THE INVENTORY ASPECT OF IT, UH, FOR ME PERSONALLY. AND THEN, UH, BUT I DO WANT TO DEFER, WE HAVE SOME PRIORITIES. I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE STATEMENTS COMING FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ IN REGARDS TO, UM, THE, THE CONTRACTS AND, AND, AND CERTAINLY ONE WHO SUPPORTS ART. BUT I ALSO SUPPORT THE PRIORITIES. WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, UNIQUELY DIFFERENT NOW ISSUES IN THE CITY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE PRIOR. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TAKE, UH, IN CONSIDERATION OF $25 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY BASED UPON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN REGARDING TO CONTRACTS BEING, UH, PEOPLE NOT GETTING PAID. THERE ARE OTHER AREAS IN OUR CITY AREA WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN PAID. SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE CONSIDERED. BUT, UH, I, I JUST, UH, I'M NOT IN, IN, UH, IS IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE ARTS AND GOING FORWARD, BUT I THINK, UH, IT SHOULD BE DEFERRED THAT WE WILL LOOK AT IT VERY CLOSELY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE, UM, IN RESPONSE TO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, I MET WITH THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE ON THURSDAY AS WELL AS, UH, NICOLE IRVIN WITH, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS. AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LIST OF ALL OF THE, THE DIFFERENT ART PIECES THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON A LIST, BUT DIDN'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS IN STORAGE, WHAT WAS OUT IN THE PUBLIC, AND, AND COULDN'T GIVE ME, UM, A LIST. SHE SAID THEY ARE WORKING ON IT, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, SHE SAID THERE, THERE WASN'T A LIST SHE COULD POINT TO. COUNCILMAN P*****K, THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT US TO ALL BE, UH, CLEAR ABOUT THE ITEM AS WELL. I HAD QUESTIONS ON IT, BECAUSE ANYTIME YOU SEE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT THIS IS JUST TO APPROVE THE VENDOR, WHICH IS HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. WE'RE NOT APPROVING ANY DOLLARS IN THIS ITEM. THESE DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED. NOW WE ARE CHOOSING A VENDOR TO, UH, BE THE ONE UNDER CONTRACT TO DECIDE HOW THE DOLLARS ARE, ARE, ARE UTILIZED, AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE. AND SO WE'RE NOT, AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, WE'RE NOT SPENDING UP TO $25 MILLION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AS AN ALLOCATION. THIS IS JUST A CONTRACT, UH, TO SELECT THE VENDOR. VICE MAYOR PRO VICE MAYOR, PROTO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO REFER IT BACK. AND MY SUGGESTION, IF IT IS REFERRED BACK TO REWORK THE CONTRACT FOR A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE CONTRACT, UM, TO EITHER ONE OR TWO YEARS WITH NO OUT YEARS UNTIL THE ORDINANCE IS REVIEWED. BECAUSE WE ARE, UM, I MEAN, THIS CON THIS ORDINANCE REALLY HASN'T BEEN REVIEWED IN 18 YEARS, AND WE'RE BASING THIS CONTRACT ON THAT ORDINANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED. AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD COMPROMISE TO STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THE QUEUE AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET PAID AND, YOU KNOW, MOVING, MOVING THAT FORWARD IN YEAR ONE, BUT THEN TAKING THE TIME ALSO TO REVIEW THE ORDINANCE IN THAT INTERIM AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW CONTRACT AFTER THAT. VERY GOOD. FLICKINGER COUNCIL MEMBER, FLICKINGER. YEAH, JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE INVENTORY. AND MAYOR PRO TEM MAY BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT THERE, IT MAY BE AN INVENTORY, BUT IN MY OFFICE YESTERDAY, AND BOTH MOCA AND THE HOUSTON ALLIANCE WERE THERE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT. THEY SAID THEY HAD ONE FOR THE AIRPORT, THEY HAD ONE FOR THE LIBRARIES. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE OTHER, THEY WERE WORKING ON IT AND WOULD HAVE IT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY'RE WORKING ON ONE IS THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION. YEAH. SO, UH, I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND REFER IT BACK. UH, SEE, UH, INFORMATION WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S, THE ISSUE IN FRONT OF US HAS A CAP FOR THE 25 MILLION, BUT IF THERE'S UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, I THINK INFORMED VOTES WOULD BE, UH, WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. SO, MAYOR PROM, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAST STAND. I'M GONNA STATE AGAIN THAT THERE IS A, AN INVENTORY LIST. UM, BUT, UH, AND I, AND I KNOW IT FOR A FACT, SO , I JUST, I'LL JUST SAY IT. YOU CAN, YOU CAN FIND IT ONLINE. UM, AND THEN ALSO I WANNA SAY THAT THIS CONTRACT, UM, IS A TWO YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THREE ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS MM-HMM . AND SO IF THE PROCESS IS FOR US TO REVIEW IT, I THINK THAT IT, IT WOULD BE A, A, A TWO YEAR CONTRACT WITH THREE POSSIBILITIES OF ONE YEAR [04:40:01] EXTENSIONS. THAT SAID, COUNCILOR CASTILLO, COUNCILOR, AND CONTINUE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND TO THE MAYOR, PRO TEMS POINT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA POINT OUT, IS THAT WE HAVE A TWO YEAR CONTRACT, WHICH IS WHAT VICE MAYOR PRO TEM WAS SUGGESTING BEFORE RENEWING. WE HAVE THAT ABILITY WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TODAY. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN GET WHAT'S IN THE QUEUE GOING. WE CAN GET FOLKS PAID. WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT HERE FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS. WHILE WE HAVE TIME TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THE ORDINANCE, I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE, UH, IS PLANNING ON DOING ALREADY. UM, AND SO IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A PATH FORWARD HERE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE ALL THE GOALS WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. YOUR HONOR, VOTE THE MOTION TO REFER BACK. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL ON THE MOTION TO REFER BACK, REFER ADAM 43 BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MAYOR WHITMEYER? YES. CONSTABLE PECK. YES. CONSTABLE JACKSON? YES. CONSTABLE EVAN CHAVAR. YES. CONSTABLE FLICKINGER. YES. CONSTABLE THOMAS. NO. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCILOR CASTILLO? NO. COUNCILMAN FOR MARTINEZ? NO. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? NO. COUNCILOR CAST? NO. YES. NO, NO. NINE SEVEN. BE NINE YESES. SEVEN NO'S. THE MATTER'S REFERRED BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. OH, I WANT, I WANTED TO CHANGE MINE TO NO, I CAN RECONCILE IT. YEAH. TO RECONSIDER GET YEAH. TO NO. YEAH. I JUST MOVE TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE. SECOND, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MONEY, RIGHT? SO AGAIN, THIS IS THINGS THAT WE CAN DO RESEARCH. YEAH. SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, VOTE NO. THANK YOU. UH, MO MOVE TO RECONSIDER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, MOVE TO RECONSIDER NO SECOND MOTION OR SECOND TO RECONSIDER MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND, TO RECONSIDER THE MOTION TO RETURN ADMINISTRATION RAMIREZ ON DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER, UH, QUESTION FOR A CITY ATTORNEY. I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PROCEDURAL MOTIONS THAT REQUIRE MORE THAN YES. HE SAID WHEN HE HIT THE A, HE SAID HE AIN'T HIT THE GAVEL. SO THEY REQUIRE MORE THAN A SIMPLE MAJORITY ON, ON A VOTE LIKE THIS. WHAT'S THE, UH, WHAT'S THE REQUIREMENT? I THINK, UH, OUR COUNCIL RULES PROVIDE A PASSAGE OF 90 DAYS. SO YOU'D HAVE TO OVERRIDE THE COUNCIL RULES, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE, UH, TWO THIRDS VOTE. BUT LET ME CHECK THAT. SO YOU'RE CHECKING TO SEE WHETHER A MOTION TO RECONSIDER WOULD REQUIRE TWO THIRDS VOTE. YES, SIR. I NEED, SO, ORIGINAL VOTE STANDS, AND WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM. LET'S GO FORWARD. MEMBERS ORIGINAL VOTE STANDS, AND WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 44. NO, NO. ITEM 44. POINT OF ORDER. MR. MAYOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS NOT RESPONDED YET TO THE INQUIRY. I UNDERSTAND. SO WE PASS TWO MOTIONS AS A BODY TO RECONSIDER WITH A MAJOR. SO UNLESS WE ROLL, CALL EACH MOTION FOR TO HAVE THE TWO THIRDS MAJORITY, WHY WOULD WE JUST RESPECT THE PERSONS VOTE? RIGHT. RESPECT THE PERSON'S VOTE. BECAUSE IT'S EARLIER STATED THAT IF A MEMBER WANTS TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE PRIOR TO THAT G BEING HIT, THEY COULD CHANGE THEIR VOTE. SO WE, I KNOW, BUT WE WEREN'T, WE WEREN'T IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT CHANGING VOTES. WE WERE IN THE EFFORT OF RECONSIDERING THE VOTE. AND ACCORDING TO YOU, THERE WASN'T EVEN A VOTE FINAL. BUT YOU DIDN'T HIT THAT GAVEL. YEAH. WELL, I'M NOT GONNA GET TECHNICAL WITH YOU ON THAT. WELL, THAT, [04:45:01] SO THAT'S NO LONGER EXTENDED TO A MEMBER IF THEY CHOOSE TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE BEFORE I HIT THE GAVEL ANYWAY. 44. LET'S GO. ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUSTINE, A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE POSTS. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE POSTS. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL, MAYOR ALCORN. COUNCIL ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR AND MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. I, I DELAYED THIS A COUPLE, UH, UH, TAGGED IN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. WE DELAYED IT LAST WEEK. UM, JUST TO, UM, GET SOME FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON THIS CON, THESE CONTRACTS, THESE ARE OUR TAX DELINQUENT CONTRACTS. UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE DIVIDE THOSE UP BETWEEN LINEBARGER AND PURDUE. UH, YEARS AGO, PROBABLY AROUND 20 13, 20 14, WE WENT TO THIS CHAMPION CHALLENGER MODEL WHERE WE BASICALLY GAVE, WE BREAK UP THE ACCOUNTS. THEY'VE ALWAYS TRADITIONALLY BEEN BROKEN UP BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. YOU KNOW, THAT THOSE, THE BOUNDARIES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ONE, ONE LAW FIRM WILL, YOU KNOW, COLLECT THE TAXES IN THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THE OTHER LAW FIRM WILL COLLECT THE TAXES OVER THERE. AND WHOEVER THE, THE WAY THE CONTRACTS ARE WRITTEN, AND THE WAY IT WAS REWRITTEN AND REINFORCED AGAIN IN 2019, WAS THIS MODEL WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, UH, CAN PROVE YOU COLLECT MORE, A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF THE, OF THE DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS, YOU GET OTHER ACCOUNTS REASSIGNED. AND THAT WAS GOING ALONG FOR YEARS. IN 2014, I GOT A LIST OF THEIR, ALL THE REASSIGNMENTS AND, AND, UM, SO 2014, THERE WERE, UH, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS REASSIGNED TO PURDUE. NONE IN 2015. IN 2016, THERE WERE SOME REASSIGNED. IN 2017, THERE WERE SOME REASSIGNED, NONE IN 2018, DID A NEW CONTRACT IN 20 19, 20 20, THERE WAS SOME REASSIGNED TO PURDUE. ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN REASSIGNED TO PURDUE. NOTHING'S BEEN REASSIGNED TO LINEBARGER. AND THEN SINCE 2020, THERE'S BEEN NO REASSIGNMENTS WHATSOEVER. NOW, WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME IS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT EVERY DAY OF ALL, EVERY MEETING. AND THAT'S MONEY, MONEY IN THE BANK. SO A 1% DIFFERENCE, A 2% DIFFERENCE, A 5% DIFFERENCE MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, TAX COLLECTIONS. SO IN 22, I, SO I ASKED FOR, AND, AND I'M NOT TALKING TO ALL THESE LOBBYISTS. I AM NOT, I DID THIS ALL ON MY OWN. THEY START CALLING AFTER I TAG THE VOTE. BUT, BUT I'M, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS LIKE, I DON'T CARE WHO'S WORKING FOR WHOM. I WANT MORE MONEY IN OUR COFFERS. I WANNA GIVE LESS MONEY OUT TO, TO THE LAW, TO THE LAW FIRMS. HARRIS COUNTY, AS YOU KNOW, DOESN'T EVEN HIRE THE LAW FIRMS ANYMORE. STARTING IN 2022. THEY'RE DOING IT THEMSELVES, NOT SO SURE IT'S BAD IDEA. AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY DO IT THEMSELVES. NOT SO SURE IT'S A BAD IDEA TO HAVE HARRIS COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO COLLECT 'EM OURSELVES. BUT THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY. AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE, RENEWING THESE CONTRACTS IN ANOTHER YEAR SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, WHICH I THINK IS A FRUITFUL DISCUSSION. BUT I ASKED FOR THE PERCENTAGE COLLECTIONS. THEY DO THIS, THEY DO LIKE A SEVEN MONTH, UM, AVERAGE SEVEN MONTH COLLECTION RATE OVER THE TOTAL AMOUNTS COLLECTED, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE IN THE YEAR, FROM JANUARY THROUGH JULY, THAT'S WHEN THE ACCOUNT, OR FROM JULY THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. THAT'S WHEN THE ACCOUNTS ARE TURNED OVER EVERY JULY, UM, 2021. AND THESE ARE NUMBERS FROM OUR, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, 2021 PURDUE, 18.9%, LINEBARGER, 16.4 2 22 PURDUE 18.4%. LINEBARGER 14.9%. 2023 IS DISPUTED. BUT PURDUE REPORTING 25% LINEBARGER, 20%. PURDUE'S REPORTING 20% LINEBARGER 15%, 2024. PURDUE 17%. LINEBARGER 15%. SO AGAIN, FOLLOWING THIS PATTERN OF PURDUE OUTPERFORMING LINEBARGER, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T CARE WHO'S WHO, I JUST WANT MORE MONEY. THEY GET 20%, THEY GET 20% OF WHAT THEY COLLECT, RIGHT? SO THAT COMES, YOU KNOW, COMES TO US AND THEN WE PAY IT OUT. UM, LINEBARGER HAS GOTTEN $19 MILLION OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. UM, PURDUE'S GOTTEN ABOUT $4 MILLION. THERE ARE STILL ACCOUNTS WITHIN THE, UM, CITY OF HOUSTON. I UNDERSTAND. HISD IS HUGE. LINEBERGER HAS HISD. UH, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THEN THAT, THAT, AND, AND UNDERSTANDABLY, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE LOWER INCOME ACCOUNTS THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT ARE IN THAT BIG SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THE HARDER TO COLLECT, WE DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PURDUE HISD ACCOUNTS FOR WHATEVER REASON. BUT, BUT THERE'S ALSO, THERE ARE SOME REMAINING ACCOUNTS THAT DON'T, THAT COULD BE REASSIGNED. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY NOTHING'S BEEN REASSIGNED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. BUT THERE, THERE'S THE ALDING SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT'S REASSIGNED AND ALSO MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGES OF CITY OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS IN CY-FAIR, HUFFMAN, [04:50:01] NEW KANEY, SPRING DEER PARK, KATY, SHELDON, TOMBALL, GOOSE CREEK, CHANNELVIEW CROSBY, LAPORTE, AND WALLER. SO, UM, THIS IS A, THESE CONTRACTS 47, 48 ARE FOR ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS. I'M CERTAINLY IN FAVOR, I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT TAX COLLECTIONS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION BASED ON THIS INFORMATION THAT I'VE FOUND TO REASSIGN, UM, ALDEN AND THOSE OTHER SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UM, TO PURDUE. UH, IT WILL HAVE TO COME AS A SEPARATE MEASURE, UM, UH, WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, UH, BY LEGAL. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEN THIS WILL GO FOR ONE YEAR BEFORE WE DEAL WITH THE NEW CONTRACTS. SO THAT'S MY PROPOSAL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MOTION AND THEN WE DO SOMETHING NEXT WEEK. I'D HAVE TO ASK CITY LEGAL HOW THIS IS DONE, UM, THAT ANY REASSIGNMENTS HAVE TO BE DONE SUBJECT TO COUNSEL APPROVAL. AND, UH, THAT'S MY STORY. SECOND. IS IT? VERY GOOD. WHAT'S THE NEXT, THE MOTION IS REASSIGNED. FIRST CLARIFICATION. OKAY. FROM LEGAL. I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT'S ALL LAID OUT IN THE CONTRACT, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THIS MORNING. THE, THE CONTRACT AND, AND SECTION F AND I JUST ARTURO TO CLEAR THAT UP. OKAY. WELL, I'VE GOT SECTION F PULLED UP. HOLD ON. ARTURO IT, BA . SO HOLD ON. IT'S, UM, WE'LL GO AHEAD, ARTURO UNTIL I FIND IT. COUNCILMAN POWELL, DO YOU SURE. CLEAR THAT UP. I THINK THE MECHANISM IS YOU SHOULD APPROVE THIS AND THEN COME BACK AND AMEND IT, BECAUSE THIS WILL EXPIRE, UM, ON THE 30TH OF THIS MONTH, AND YOU CAN'T AMEND A CONTRACT THAT IS, THAT HAS EXPIRED. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU WANT, COUNCIL MEMBER. RIGHT. UM, BUT AS THAT, AS THE ACCOUNTS ARE TURNED OVER ON JULY 1ST, UM, IS THERE, UM, WHAT, UM, AND I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH RAH HOT IN YOUR OFFICE, IT WOULD TAKE A A, AN ORDINANCE TO BRING A REASSIGNMENT BACK, LIKE NEXT WEEK. MM-HMM . UH, YES. OKAY. YES. SO CAN YOU DO IT ADMINISTRATIVELY? WE, THE WAY THE CONTRACT WORKS IS IT'S ADMINISTRATIVELY AND THEN IT'S APPROVED BY COUNSEL. SO IT'S EFFECTIVELY THE SAME MECHANISM. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, WE GLOSSED OVER SOMETHING THAT I THINK WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I, I DON'T WANT US TO MISS AN IMPORTANT, UM, DISCUSSION AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF, AS, AS A BODY. ONE, WHAT VOTE IS NEEDED FROM THIS BODY FOR THOSE TO BE ABLE TO RECONSIDER OR PUT A MOTION FORWARD TO RECONSIDER A VOTE. AND THEN TWO, JUST THE OVERALL NOTION OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE A VOTE IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO IN THE FAIRNESS WITHIN THAT, THAT WE ALL WOULD HOPE TO HAVE AS BODIES AND AS COLLEAGUES. AND SO, UH, I BELIEVE THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS AN ANSWER FOR THE QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ HAD, SO THAT WE CAN BE AWARE OF THAT FOR TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. AND FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE ASKED TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE IMMEDIATELY, AND FOR US TO AT LEAST GIVE SOME THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION TO THAT. SO I WANTED TO POSE THAT QUESTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A RECONSIDER A VOTE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE SPOKE A, UH, A LITTLE BEFORE. THE FIRST THING, BECAUSE THE COUNCIL RULES REQUIRE 90 DAYS PASSAGE. YOU HAVE TO SUSPEND, UH, THE, THE COUNCIL RULES. AND SO THAT IS TWO THIRDS VOTE IS, IS WHAT'S REQUIRED. THEN COMES THE MO UH, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER, WHICH REQUIRES A SIMPLE MAJORITY. AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, IF THOSE PASS, THEN YOU RECONSIDER THE, THE ACTUAL ITEM. TELL US HOW MANY VOTES IS NEEDED WITH THE TWO THIRDS. I THINK TWO THIRDS ARE, I THINK IT'S 12 OR 11. I THINK IT'S 12. YOU GO ON WITH 12 OR 11. 12 . 12. OKAY. AND THEN AFTER, IF THAT PASSES WITH 12, THEN YOU JUST NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY. CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT YOU HAD. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE TWO COLLEAGUES THAT WERE WANTING TO CHANGE THEIR VOTES, SO THEY WERE, THEY WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION. THEY WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION OF CHANGING. I DON'T THINK IT WAS DEFINITIVE. WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ABOUT THAT. AND I THINK, I THINK I HEAR YOU. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUGGESTION. UH, THIS VOTE ON THE CONTRACT ITEM 47. [04:55:02] ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. WAIT, WE HAD THE MOTION FROM ? NO, SHE HAD A MOTION ON THE ISLAND. I, I BELIEVE THAT THE, I THINK IT WAS CLEARED UP BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE. OKAY, SO IT'S GONNA COME BACK NEXT WEEK. SURE. OKAY. ITEM 48. ITEM 48 IS AN ORDER. YOU SEE THE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. GIVE THE LINEUP. UH, START. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 45. SECOND. SECOND. SUSPEND THE RULES. IS IT ITEM 40? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RE RECONSIDER ITEM 43. WHO, WHO'S NOT RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME? COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. WE'RE IN THE POPOFF. THERE WAS A MOTION. AS A MOTION. I JUST SAID WE'RE IN THE POP-OFF. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. YOU'RE OUTTA ORDER POINTER CLARIFICATION. WE'RE IN YOU OUTTA ORDER. OKAY. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. YOU WANNA PROCEED WITH POP-OFF POINT POINTER CLARIFICATION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. CAN A BODY, CAN A MEMBER OF THIS BODY MAKE A MOTION FOR A RECONSIDERATION DURING ANY POINT OF THE MEETING? GOTTA BE RECKON, UH, UH, YES, THEY COULD. BUT THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY RULED THAT IT'S IN POPOFF. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A POINT OF ORDER THE WAY YOU RAISE IT. YOU WOULD HAVE TO RAISE IT VIA POINT OF ORDER. CHALLENGING THE MAYOR'S RULING THAT YOU'RE IN POPOFF NOW. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] ALCORN. YOU WANNA PROCEED? MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES? I'D LIKE TO DEVOTE MY POP-OFF TO MY GOOD FRIEND, MY MENTOR, THE BEST BOSS I'VE EVER HAD, DRAINAGE AND ENGINEER EXTRAORDINAIRE, OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT, AND ALL AROUND GREAT GUY, STEVE COSTELLO. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, STEVE WILL BE LEAVING THE CITY THIS WEEK AFTER 15 PLUS YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE. STEVE IS A NATIVE NEW YORKER, GREW UP IN LONG ISLAND, WENT TO COLLEGE IN BUFFALO, MET HIS WIFE DEBBIE, IN A GROCERY STORE. SHE WAS A CHECKER, AND SHE WAS A, AND HE WAS A, SHE WAS A CHECKER AND HE WAS A SACKER, AND IT WAS LOVE. STEVE GOT A JOB WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND WAS ASKED TO CHOOSE FROM A LIST OF SEVERAL US CITIES WHERE HE'D LIKE TO START HIS CAREER. AFTER LOOKING AT A QUESTIONABLY PRODUCED BROCHURE SHOWING PRISTINE BEACHES, BLUE WATER, AND DOLPHINS LEAPING ABOUT, HE AND DEBBIE CHOSE GALVESTON. AND WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT THEY DID. THEY DROVE TO TEXAS IN THE 1970S IN A PINTO WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING WITH DEBBIE, SIX MONTHS PREGNANT AND SET UP HOUSE IN GALVESTON WHERE HE BEGAN HIS CAREER. FOLLOWING HURRICANE CLAUDETTE, STEVE WAS TASKED WITH MAKING HIGH WATERMARKS IN PEOPLE'S HOMES THAT HAD FLOODED. THIS EXPERIENCE SHAPED HIM. HE SAW THE FAMILIES THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTED, THE PAIN, ANGUISH, HASSLE, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIT THESE FAMILIES. TOOK THERE, STARTED HIS LIFELONG PASSION AND WORK TO KEEP WATER OUT OF PEOPLE'S HOMES. STEVE THEN MADE HIS WAY TO HOUSTON, WHERE AFTER WORKING FOR TWO ENGINEERING FIRMS, HE AND SOME PARTNERS WENT ON TO FOUND AND BUILD THEIR OWN FIRM, COSTELLO, INC. A WELL-RESPECTED CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM IN HOUSTON. THERE HE SPENT 27 YEARS GROWING HIS FIRM AND EARNING A REPUTATION AS ONE OF OUR CITY'S FOREMOST DRAINAGE EXPERTS. HE BECAME ACTIVE IN THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES AND ADVOCATED LOCALLY AND AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT. COSTELLO WAS RECRUITED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL IN 2009, AND HE RAN SUCCESSFULLY FOR AT LARGE POSITION ONE AND WON THREE TERMS. THE LIST OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON CITY COUNCIL IS LONG. HIS BIGGEST AND MOST LASTING ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS ESTABLISHING A DRAINAGE UTILITY CHARGE AND SETTING UP DEDICATED REVENUE FOR STREET AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. HE LED THE CHARGE WITH SOME OF HIS FEDERAL FELLOW ENGINEERS CALLING THE INITIATIVE RENEW HOUSTON, WHICH BECAME A PETITION DRIVE, WHICH BECAME PROP ONE, WHICH BECAME REBUILD HOUSTON, WHICH BECAME BUILT HOUSTON FORWARD, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED, HOWEVER YOU SLICE IT. BECAUSE OF STEVE, THE CITY NOW HAS A STREAM OF REVENUE FOR DRAINAGE FROM THE FEE BRINGING IN A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR. THE CITY HAS ALSO DEDICATED AVALOR REVENUE, WHICH HAS PAID OFF $1.9 BILLION OF STREET AND DRAINAGE DEBT, AND HAS TRANSFERRED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR MUCH NEEDED STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2012, ALSO, WHILE ON COUNCIL CHAIRED, STEVE CHAIRED THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. IN THIS ROLE, HE HELPED ESTABLISH THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE, WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY MIKE NICHOLS, WHICH EXPOSED MANY OF THE WEAKNESSES OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STRUCTURE AND MADE NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS. AND STEVE ADVOCATED STRONGLY FOR PENSION AND OPE REFORMS. HE ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY'S WITH THE CITY'S FINANCE DIRECTOR TO AUTHOR THE SET OF FINANCIAL [05:00:01] POLICIES WE NOW OPERATE UNDER. STEVE CHAIRED HD'S TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL LENDING HIS STEADY HAND TO THE SETTING OF POLICIES AND DIRECTING FUNDING FOR THE REGION'S TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY NEEDS. A RUNNER AND MEMORIAL PARK DEVOTEE. HE SERVED ON THE CONSERVANCY'S BOARD FOR MANY YEARS. HE WORKED ON SEVERAL EFFORTS TO INCREASE HOUSTON'S PARKS AND GREEN SPACE, INCLUDING THE PARKS BA, YUB BOND INITIATIVE, AND THE BAYOU GREENWAY'S 2020 PROJECT. HE HELPED ESTABLISH A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR GROCERS, WHICH LED TO THE OPENING OF THE PIPEBURN STORE IN SOUTH UNION, THE CITY'S FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR FOOD DESERT PRO PROJECT. USING HUD EDI FUNDS, COSTELLO CHAIN, THE CITY'S PREDATORY LENDING RULES, LIMITING PAYDAY LOANS, AND PROTECTING RESIDENTS FROM UNFAIR PRACTICES. HE ALSO CHAMPIONED COMPETITION AND WAS A VOCAL SUPPORTER FOR BRINGING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO HOBBY AIRPORT AND ALLOWING UBER AND LYFT TO OPERATE IN HOUSTON. ALTHOUGH TERM LIMITED, COSTELLO DID NOT STOP SERVING OUR CITY AFTER HE LEFT. AS YOU WELL KNOW, FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, HE HAS SERVED AS THE CITY'S CHIEF RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY OFFICER. HE HAS BEEN AT THE HELM ON ALL MATTERS RELATED TO RECOVERING FROM HOUSTON'S DEVASTATING FLOODS. I AM CONVINCED THAT ONLY STEVE COULD HAVE NAVIGATED THE COMPLEX RULES, BUREAUCRACIES, FUNDING MECHANISMS, PERSONALITIES, AGENCIES, AND ON AND ON TO MAKE SURE HOUSTON GOT THE FUNDS, NOT JUST TO RECOVER, BUT ALSO TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS FROM FUTURE FLOODS. HE SECURED FUNDING FOR TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS LIKE THE NORTH CANAL AND LAKE HOUSTON GATES AND DREDGING PROJECTS. HE'S MADE SURE WE GET REIMBURSED FOR DAMAGES ACROSS CITY FACILITIES. AND HE HAS, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, ELIMINATED FLOOD RISK FOR THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS. HE CREATED THE EVER POPULAR STORMWATER ACTION SWAT PROGRAM. ASK ANY DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. THIS PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT DRAINAGE FIXES AND REAL RELIEF TO NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY. HIS LIST OF CITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS GOES ON AND ON. SUFFICE IT TO SAY STEVE SEES A PROBLEM, HE GETS CREATIVE, AND HE MAKES SOLUTIONS HAPPEN. STEVE, I KNOW YOU'LL BE MAD AT ME FOR THIS. YOU HAVE TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT YOU WANNA SLIP OUT THE DOOR QUIETLY, BUT I COULDN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT A GREAT BIG THANK YOU. WE ALL THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. YOU ARE A CLASS ACT, A MAN OF INTEGRITY, KINDNESS, AND INTELLIGENCE. WHEN I SAID YOU WERE THE BEST BOSS, I MEANT IT. YOU GAVE CREDIT TO THE STAFF WHEN THINGS WENT RIGHT, AND YOU TOOK THE BLAME WHEN WE SCREWED THINGS UP. YOU ARE A TRUE LEADER, A NORTH STAR WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD GOVERNMENT. GODSPEED ON YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR. I KNOW YOU ARE NOWHERE NEAR FINISH IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE, BUT PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO CELEBRATE A JOB WELL DONE WITH YOUR BELOVED FAMILY. DEBBIE, STEVEN, MINA, CHRISTOPHER, ERIN, AND GRANDDAUGHTERS, ELIANA, GIA, DEVANY, AND MCKENNA. YOU, WE ARE ALL INCREDIBLY PROUD FROM YOU AND FROM A VERY GRATEFUL CITY. THANK YOU. NICE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I'M GONNA PASS, BUT I'M GONNA TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY, WELL DONE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE AND TO A GREAT MAN. ALL BEST TO YOU. STEVE COUNCILS MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANT TO INDICATE THAT THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT GRADUATION CEREMONY, C CADET CLASS 2023 WILL BE TOMORROW FROM THREE TO 4:00 PM AT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CENTRAL CAMPUS. AND, UM, I WILL BE THERE IN LIEU OF GOING TO THE FUNERAL TOMORROW TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO, UM, I ALSO, UM, I GUESS I'M KINDA SITTING HERE 'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO WONDER WHY I CAN'T CHANGE MY VOTE, UH, BEFORE THE GAVEL. AND SO I GUESS I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET TO A FUNERAL RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY. AND SO I'M, I'M KIND OF AT A, A STATE OF FLUX, UH, BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT ANY COLLEAGUE HERE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE, UH, BEFORE THE GAVEL. BUT THAT HAS BEEN DENIED TO BOTH ME AND MY COLLEAGUE. AND SO I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THAT AT SOME POINT. UH, BUT I KNOW WE ARE IN POPOFF NOW, BUT, UM, THAT'S MY POPOFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY WELL, COUNCILOR AND CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO, UH, ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT LIVE, WORK, OR STUDY IN DISTRICT H TO APPLY FOR THE DISTRICT H HORIZONS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THE APPLICATION, UH, WILL RUN THROUGH JUNE 30TH, AND, UH, YOU CAN FIND IT ON HOUSTON TX.GOV/COUNSEL/H. UM, THIS IS A SIX MONTH PAID OPPORTUNITY TO INTERN IN THE DISTRICT H OFFICE AND, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND GET THEIR APPLICATIONS IN BEFORE THE 30TH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO TAKE THIS PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY, UM, ON, UM, THIS IN MY POPOFF TIME. ON FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH, THE CITY WEBMASTER, MY GOOD FRIEND BOB NOACK, CELEBRATED HIS 30TH ANNIVERSARY AS A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE. BOB WAS HIRED BY [05:05:01] MAYOR BOB LANIER, CO-CHIEF OF STAFF, THE LEGENDARY, AND RECENTLY DEPARTED JIMMY SHIDER WOLF. BOB WROTE SPEECH LIST AND HANDLED CITIZENS CORRESPONDENCE IN THE PRE-INTERNET AND THE PRE 3 1 1 DAYS FOR SHIN WOLF'S OTHER POSITIONS AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING. IN 1996, BOB CO-WROTE THE ESSAY THAT WON NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE EXCELLENCE FOR MAYOR, UH, LANIER'S TO STANDARD PROGRAM, PUBLISHED IN AMERICAN CITY AND COUNTY MAGAZINE IN 1997, PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING WAS THE FIRST DEPARTMENT TO ADMINISTER ITS OWN CONTENT ON THE CITY WEBSITE WITH BOB AS THE PUBLIC WORKS WEBMASTER. AND IN OCTOBER, 1998, IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LEE BROWN ADMINISTRATION, BOB BECAME ONLY THE SECOND CITY WEBMASTER IN OUR HISTORY. TO DATE, BOB HAS ADMINISTERED WEB SITES FOR FIVE MAYOR ORIAL ADMINISTRATIONS, FIVE CITY CONTROLLERS, AND 76 COUNCIL MEMBERS. IN 2023, BOB COMPLETED 2,443 SERVICE REQUESTS FOR 1,449 UNIQUE WEB PAGES AT CITY WEBMASTER IN AN OFTEN CHANGING PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT. BOB IS A CONSTANT, HE'S HAD ONLY TWO JOBS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT HE'S REPORTING NOW, UH, TO HIS 30TH SUPERVISOR, AND HE IS CURRENTLY IN HIS 17TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY GOOD FRIEND, BROTHER BOB NOACK, WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY, BOB. AMEN. I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU, MY FRIEND, AND GOD BLESS YOU, MAN. WHAT A WONDERFUL HERE EVERYBODY. LOVE BOB. THANK YOU. BOB, WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP BACK THERE. THANK YOU, BOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE. 30 YEARS COUNCIL FLICKING TO, UH, THE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS IS HAVING A CONNECTIONS FORUM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY TOMORROW IN THE OAK MEADOWS COMMUNITY. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING THERE IS SIGNING UP PEOPLE TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR WILLS AT A SUBSEQUENT EVENT. UH, WE'RE DOING THIS SPECIFICALLY TO TRY AND AVERT SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'RE HAVING WITH SQUATTERS, TAKING OVER THE HOMES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY. SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A GOOD ATTENDANCE OUT THERE AND, UH, ANY OF THE NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS THAT WOULD WANT TO HAVE THEIR, UH, RESIDENTS COME AND SIGN UP MORE THAN WELCOME TO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HUFFMAN RAMIREZ. I'LL PASS THIS WEEK. WOW. ROLL. NOT ME A MINUTE. YOU READY? UH, SO LAST WEEK I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS A PANELIST AT THE 44 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED, AND I WAS HONORED TO SERVE WITH CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMING OUT OF FLORIDA AND CONGRESSWOMAN JOYCE BEATTY OUT OF OHIO, MODERATED BY SIMONE SANDERS. UH, REALLY JUST REMINDING, UH, THE COMMUNITY THAT WE MUST VOTE OFTEN AND STAY ENGAGED AROUND VOTER INFORMATION, EDUCATION, ACTIVATION, AND REGISTRATION. AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO MY PART IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DO THAT. UH, THE MARINE CORPS IS COMING TO THE WEST SIDE, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TEXAS MARINE CORPS LEAGUE. THEY'RE HOSTING THEIR 54TH STATE CONVENTION IN DISTRICT F AT THE WEST CHASE MARRIOTT FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY. I WILL JOIN THEM ON TOMORROW, UH, TO WELCOME THE MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE. I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND I WILL BE THERE WITH THEM TOMORROW. UH, YESTERDAY I RELEASED MY STATEMENT AND MY COMMENTARY REGARDING METRO'S DECISION TO CANCEL THE UNIVERSITY BRT, WHICH IS BEYOND DISAPPOINTING. I ALSO SHARED MY, UH, METRO STORY, AND, UH, I WANNA BRING BACK TO THE ATTENTION THAT WHEN, WHEN THE CHAIRWOMAN WAS APPOINTED, I, UH, QUERIED ABOUT HER POSITIONING ON THE UNIVERSITY BRT. UM, SO, UH, UM, I WANNA ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS THAT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS TO BE SHARED. UH, YOU CAN ATTEND THEIR MEETING TOMORROW, JUNE 27TH AT 10:30 AM AND YOU CAN EMAIL THEM DIRECTLY AT BOARD OFFICE@RIDEMETRO.ORG. THE SUMMER OF SAFETY CONTINUES IN DISTRICT F. TOMORROW, ON THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH, THE DISTRICT F TEAM WILL JOIN FORCES WITH HOUSTON FIRE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION. UH, WE ARE GONNA, WE'RE GOING TO CANVAS CUNNINGHAM PARK APARTMENTS. WE HAD A RECENT FIRE THERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND ESPECIALLY IN PREPARATION OF JULY 4TH, AS WE KNOW WITH FIREWORKS [05:10:01] AND AND GUN ACTIVITY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE INFORM RESIDENTS OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM IN TERMS OF RE UH, RESOURCES, BUT ALSO PROTECTIONS. UH, WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE NEIGHBORS. FIRE ABOUT FIRE SAFETY. WE'LL HAND OUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BAG FROM O-E-O-E-M AND HOPEFULLY, UM, GET FIRE, UH, SMOKE DETECTORS INSTALLED IN THOSE APARTMENTS THAT THEY NEED REPLACING. UH, BARK IS WRAPPING UP THEIR ANNUAL STRAY ANIMAL SWEEP IN DISTRICT FI WANNA REMIND SUBDIVISIONS THAT SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, UH, FUNDED INITIATIVE THAT THEY HAVE A COUPLE MORE DAYS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE IN HUNTINGTON VILLAGE, WILDFLOWER GREEN. UM, AND SO IF YOU ARE A PET OWNER, RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER, AND YOUR ANIMAL IS CHIPPED, PLEASE BRING YOUR ANIMAL AT HOME AS THEY SWEEP THE COMMUNITY. UM, BARK WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE OF THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS COLLECTED, AND WE'LL SHARE THAT OUT WITH YOU IN THE DISTRICT NEWSLETTER. I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR SENDING OVER SOME INFORMATION AND FOR OUR NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH CAREER AND RECOVERY SOURCE, UH, SERVICES, UH, WE ARE SERVICING OUR SENIORS, OUR VETERANS, OUR DISABLED RESIDENTS. WE'RE GONNA HELP THEM WITH DITCH AND DRAINAGE CLEANING. WE'RE TRIMMING TREES. UH, WE ARE SECURING DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS AND MORE. WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS FUNDED BY THE COUNCIL OFFICE. SO PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY. REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HANDS-ON PROJECT. UH, LASTLY, I DO WANNA BRING TO ATTENTION, UH, THE FLEA MARKET ISSUES I'VE BEEN RAISING AT THE HORSESHOE AT BI BISSONNET AT HUNTINGTON PLACE NEAR COOK ROAD. WE DO HAVE SOME VENDORS POPPING UP, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY ARE PERMITTED. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THEY'RE LEAVING TRASH AND DEBRIS, UM, IN THE, UM, IN THE AREA, AND WE ARE RECEIVING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. I WANNA ENCOURAGE, UM, THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO YOUR PART IF YOU'RE GONNA PERMIT AND ALLOW VENDORS TO USE YOUR COMMERCIAL SPACE THAT THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE, UH, UH, PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY. UM, SO WE'RE NOT OBLIGATING OUR HOTSPOT TEAM TO CLEAN UP MESS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. I DO WANNA SHOUT OUT THAT JUNE 27TH IS, IS MORE THAN, UH, UH, A REGULAR DAY ON THE SCHEDULE. IT IS HOUSTON'S HIP HOP HOLIDAY. AND SO, UM, AS JUNE IS BLACK HISTORY, BLACK MUSIC MONTH, JUNE 27TH IS SIGNIFICANT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO SHOUT OUT TO THE LEGENDARY PRODUCER DJ SCREW AND HIS LEGENDARY 38 MINUTE FREESTYLE TRACK CALLED JUNE 27TH, IN HONOR OF HIS FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY. EXPECT TO HEAR THIS FREESTYLE ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALL NIGHT. AND I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR THEIR JUNE 21ST MAKE MUSIC MONTH THAT WAS HELD LAST WEEK. UM, AND SO HOPEFULLY WE ARE CELEBRATING, UH, MUSIC OF ALL FASHIONS INFORMED THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAST STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANT TO, UM, REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEAT ADVISORY AND TO ALSO, UM, LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THE, UH, COOLING CENTERS IN DISTRICT K INCLUDE BLUE RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY ON WEST FUKE WAY, THE HARM CLARK MOR SERVICE CENTER AND THE VINCENT BRANCH LIBRARY AT 38 10 WEST FUKE WAY, AND THE NEW DR. SHANNON WALKER NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY. SO IF PEOPLE DO NEED, UM, TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT, UM, THOSE LOCATIONS IN DISTRICT K ARE AVAILABLE FOR RELIEF. AND THEN WANT TO, UM, REMIND RESIDENTS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PLAT APPLICATION 20 24 0 7 2 5 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ON LO CREST PLACE IN THE FONDANT COMMUNITY. UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WISH TO ATTEND AND MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS DEVELOPMENT SHOULD, UH, DO SO ON TOMORROW, JUNE THE 27TH AT 2:00 PM THEY CAN CONTACT THE DISTRICT A OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM. P THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, FIRST MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE FUNERAL FOR 12-YEAR-OLD JOCELYN NARY. UM, AS A MOM, AS A HOUSTONIAN, AS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ON SO MANY LEVELS, I'M MAD THAT SHE'S NO LONGER WITH US. THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. UM, I'M GLAD THAT THE TWO SUSPECTS ARE IN JAIL, BUT THEY WERE GIVEN A $10 MILLION BOND. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO BE IN JAIL. JOCELYN CERTAINLY WASN'T GIVEN A CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO BE MURDERED. WE NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW JUDGES TO DENY BAIL IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR PEOPLE CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES LIKE THIS ONE, SJR 44 IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY SENATOR HUFFMAN. UM, DIDN'T PASS, BUT, UM, IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR CITY, AND I HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT THEY BRING THIS UP AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AGAIN FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS AND FOR HOUSTONIANS FOR SUPPORTING JOCELYN'S FAMILY AND, UM, FOR SUPPORTING POLICE OFFICERS WHO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO DEAL WITH CASES LIKE THIS FAR [05:15:01] TOO OFTEN. UM, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK STEVE COSTELLO FOR HIS SERVICE. I THINK COUNCILMAN ALCORN SUMMED IT UP VERY NICELY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE IN DISTRICT A, UM, IN PARTICULAR, UM, THE INWOOD PROJECT. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING THE GRANT FOR THE HAZARD MITIGATION FUNDING. A THOUSAND ACRE FEET, UM, OF DETENTION IS HAPPENING IN INWOOD BECAUSE OF THAT APPLICATION. AND HE'S DONE, UM, SO MANY OTHER THINGS, ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT A HE HAS HAD A HAND IN. SO, THANK YOU, STEVE, FOR EVERYTHING. NICELY DONE. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE N THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, POLICY INSTITUTE FOR, UH, HOSTING, UH, THE 41ST NATIONAL, UH, NAL O CONFERENCE. AND I WAS ONE OF THEIR IN, UH, INVITES TO ATTEND, UH, SEVERAL OF THE DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS, UH, STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION OF LA UH, FOR LATINO ECONOMIC GROWTH, INNOVATIVE HOUSING STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS FOR VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION SOURCES. SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD, UH, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, UH, OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND, AND, UH, STATE LEGISLATORS FROM, UH, THE WEST COAST TO THE EAST COAST. AND, UM, WANNA ALSO GIVE 'EM A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE COMING TO SEPT IN SEPTEMBER. UH, AND IT'S GONNA BE A POLICY INSTITUTE, UH, WORKSHOP, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE. SO NO BETTER PLACE TO COME HERE TO REALLY GET PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE. UM, WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO NAVI BARRIO? UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND I ATTENDED THEIR YOUNG AT HEART SENIOR, ANNUAL SENIOR PARTY. UH, PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 300 SENIORS FROM AROUND, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT ATTEND THAT EVENT. UH, THEY HAVE AN, UH, ANNUAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UM, AND THE NEXT ONE'S GONNA BE IN AUGUST. I'M, I'M GONNA BE PARTICIPATING IN THE FASHION SHOW, AND IT'S FEATURING OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, THAT, UH, THAT EVENT. UM, AND THEN LASTLY, JUST WANT A, AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT ON A FOUNDING, UH, COMMUNITY MEETING. I EARLIER SAID, UH, THIS WEEKEND, BUT ACTUALLY I WAS REMINDED THAT IT'S GONNA BE JULY THE 13TH AT 10:00 AM AT FONDE PARK. UM, AND THEN ACTUALLY ONE MORE, I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, UH, INTERIM DIRECTOR, UH, RANDY, UH, WITH PUBLIC WORKS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR, OUR RIDE ALONG. UH, THIS, THIS COMING FRIDAY. UH, OUR GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY OR CONTINUE TO, UH, PUSH FORWARD ON, UM, UH, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT I'VE BEEN, UH, UH, DILAPIDATED, NEEDING SOME WORK, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH, UH, DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT ALSO CODE EN, CODE CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, AT PUBLIC WORK. SO, UH, LOOKING AT SEEING SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS GET ADDRESSED. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I, I WANTED TO, UH, WISH MY CHIEF OF STAFF RUSSELL ETHERTON A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY. UH, AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DID THAT BEFORE WE GAVELED OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HERE WE STAND AND RE ADJOURN. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.