* 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. [00:00:03] RECOGNIZES [PRESENTATIONS] COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, SOMETIME CALLED PASTOR DAVIS. CERTAINLY, UH, GRATEFUL TODAY TO, UH, AND I'M APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, MYSELF AS BEING A VETERAN, UH, DURING THE VIETNAM ERA. TODAY, WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITH AN AWARD. JOINING US ARE THE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, UH, ANNA BAKER AIR FORCE VETERAN, THE GULF COAST DISTRICT MANAGER, JOE ICARD, MARINE AND VETERANS EMPLOYER LIAISON, JAY ZIMMERMAN, UH, ARMY VETERAN. EACH YEAR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE, UM, TEXAS VETERAN COMMISSION RECOGNIZES, UM, PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN HIRING, UH, VETERANS AND ESTABLISHING PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT ENSURE THE WELLBEING OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. UH, SO NOW I WANT TO INVITE MS. BAKER TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND, UH, AND AS WE RECOGNIZE HER AND ALL THESE WONDERFUL KIND PEOPLE. THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE WELCOME. I BLESS YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS ANNA BAKER AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AT THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION. TODAY, WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RESOURCES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO HIRING VETERANS. EACH YEAR, THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION HONORS PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES WHOSE EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFECT ON TEXAS VETERANS AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THE EMPLOYER DOES BUSINESS VETERANS MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY 16% OF THE CITY'S EMPLOYEE POPULATION. SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RESOURCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY INVOLVING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE ACCESS, COORDINATION, AND DELIVERY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO VETERANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE METROPOLITAN SERVICE AREA. THEY ASSIST QUALIFIED VETERANS IN RESOLVING THEIR OUTSTANDING CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURT CITATIONS SO THAT THEY MAY OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, AND THEY EMPLOY A STRINGENT VETERANS PREFERENCE HIRING PRACTICE AND COORDINATE WITH THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, OTHER VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE OUR MISSION OF ENSURING THAT ALL VETERANS OBTAIN LONG-TERM AND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. WE ARE SO VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION TO YOU FOR HIRING VETERANS AND HELPING US FULFILL OUR MISSION. IT IS WITH GRATITUDE THAT WE PRESENT TO YOU THE TBC LARGE GOVERNMENT ENTITY AWARD, AND MS. ICART IS GONNA PRESENT THE AWARD TODAY POSSIBLE ARE SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE. WE NEED SOMEBODY BEFORE Y'ALL GET ALL SET UP FOR PHOTOS, WE DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS, UH, MAYOR AND UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, IF Y'ALL WILL TURN THIS WAY BEFORE WE GET SET UP FOR PHOTOS, WE DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD, UH, MAYOR, LIKE TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE. MAYOR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO START WITH YOUR, WE'RE KIND OF NEW AT THIS. IT, IT IT, OKAY. THE TRUTH IS ADD CAMERAS THAT WAY, THIS WAY. YOU, YOU GOTTA GO TO [00:05:01] THE CAMERAS THIS WAY FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL SET UP FOR A PHOTO OF THE OTHER ONE. LET US TAKE THESE PICTURES. WE'LL BE, WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. ALRIGHT, SO, UH, MAYOR, UH, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UM, OFFER CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS INCREDIBLE AWARD. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO. TIM MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS EXTRAORDINARY GROUP DIRECTOR DEBO DR. JONES, AND I SEE DIRECTOR CHEEKS. THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PRIORITIZING OUR VETERANS. UH, MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, I DON'T HAVE MANY REGRETS IN LIFE, BUT MY ONE REGRET, REGRET WAS NOT GOING TO THE MILITARY, UM, UH, BECAUSE I WAS IN JUNIOR ROTC AND IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS REALLY, UM, IT'S REALLY SHAPED MY LEADERSHIP. YES. UM, AS A YOUNG PERSON. YES. UM, IN ROTC IN COLLEGE. AND SO, UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR PRIORITIZING VETERANS IN OUR CITY. YES. HOUSTON'S, UH, WE HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VETERANS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO THIS AWARD JUST EXEMPLIFIES HOW, HOW EVERY DEPARTMENT IS PRIORITIZING NOT JUST EMPLOYMENT, BUT ALSO DISASTER RECOVERY, ALSO RESOURCES, CAREER READINESS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. HOUSING IS A PRIORITY AROUND OUR VETERANS. THAT'S RIGHT. SO, THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS WORK. UM, AND WE, AND WE HOPE, UM, PARTICULARLY AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS'S VICE CHAIR, THE WORK OF THE, OF VETERAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO ELEVATE THROUGH OUR CITY RESOURCES. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU, REPRESEN. I, I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRETTY MUCH SPOKE FOR ALL OF US. UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER. UH, WE WOULDN'T BE MEETING TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT VETERANS HAVE PROVIDED US AND GUARANTEE US AROUND THE WORLD AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY. SO THE VETERANS WILL ALWAYS BE HIGH ON OUR PRIORITY LIST. UH, WE CAN'T THINK 'EM ENOUGH. AND, UM, I'M JUST, I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT A REAL PICTURE ON WHAT VETERANS MEAN TO US. WE JUST LITERALLY WOULD NOT BE HERE. THAT'S RIGHT. BUT FOR VETERANS SINCE THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT. THANKS TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, CERTAINLY EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT. AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES, RANK AND FILE, UH, WE ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS. THANK YOU, . RECEIVING THIS AWARD IS A MOMENT OF IMMENSE PRIDE AND JOY. I AM GRATEFUL TO BE SURROUNDED BY A TEAM OF VISIONARIES AND THINKER WHO SHARED A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. TO SAY THAT HOUSTON OFFER MAY OFFER THE VETERAN MILITARY AFFAIRS CONSISTS OF MYSELF AND DR. JOHN, WHO PROVIDE A SYSTEM TO ACTIVE DUTY VETERANS, NATIONAL GUARD AND FAMILY MEMBER, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE THE CARE AND SUPPORT THEY EARN FROM SERVING OUR NATION ARMED FORCES. RECEIVING THIS AWARD IS A TESTAMENT TO THE AMAZING SUPPORT SUPPORT WE HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, IT SERVED AS A REMINDER OF THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY IN HOUSTON AND THE UNIQUE SKILL SET THAT OUR VETERAN VETERANS AND SERVING MEMBER BRING TO THE WORKPLACE. WE WANT OUR VETERANS TO KNOW THAT THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON IS A GREAT PLACE OF WORK. MM-HMM . YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS. AND IF I MAY, MAYOR PRO TEM, I WANT TO THANK OUR MAYOR AND ALL OF THE COLLEAGUES, PARTICULARLY AS ALL OF EACH AND ONE OF YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, SAID IT AS THE MAYOR INDICATED, UH, MANY OF YOU HAVE BROTHERS, SISTERS, FATHERS, AND MOTHERS WHO'VE GIVEN THEIR LIFE. AND AS A VIETNAM VET, I, I MUST SAY, I'M VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE A, A MAYOR THAT ENDORSES THE WORK THAT VETERANS, MEN AND WOMEN ARE DOING. GOD BLESS Y'ALL. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, PLEASE. OH MY GOD, MINISTER. NO, I JUST WANTED TO, TO THANK FIRST OF ALL, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HIS SUPPORT. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COLLABORATION THAT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAS WITH THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. YEAH. IT TAKES COLLABORATION TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A MONUMENTAL TASK. THIS IS A WONDERFUL DAY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, EXCUSE ME. AND WE ARE JUST SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. I WANNA THANK MY TEAM, HR OPERATIONS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME THAT CONTINUE TO LOOK AT VETERANS AS A PREFERENCE AS WE HIRE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. [00:10:01] THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING THIS TO, TO, TO US. AND, UH, WE JUST APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS AWARD, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VERY WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. AND JUST REAL QUICK, I WANNA PRESENT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS COIN, I'M GONNA PRESENT IT TO THE MAYOR. UM, SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US. THAT IS OUR SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE COIN, AND IT'S THE ONE THAT WE GIVE TO OUR PARTNERS THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH AND THAT WE GREATLY APPRECIATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I'M GONNA GIVE IT APPRECIATE, BLESS YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. RECOGNIZES THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO INTUITIVE MACHINES FOR THE IM ONE LUNAR MISSION. WOOHOO. THE INTUITIVE MACHINE STORY IS A NEAT STORY. UM, THE BACKGROUND STORY'S, I THINK JUST AS NEAT. SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE WERE TRYING TO GET BLUE ORIGINS OUT HERE AT THE SPACEPORT, AND WE DIDN'T ACHIEVE THAT. AND RICE SAN JACINTO JUNIOR COLLEGE, THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM AND BAAB GOT TOGETHER TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO IN ORDER TO BRING AEROSPACE INDUSTRY OUT TO OUR SPACEPORT. AND THEY SUCCESSFULLY WERE ABLE TO GET INTUITIVE MACHINES OUT HERE. UM, SAN JATO COLLEGE HAS A FACILITY ON SPACEPORT, THE ED CENTER. UH, ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS ABOUT SANTO JUNIOR COLLEGE IS NOT ONLY HAVE THEY BEEN ONE OF THE TOP RANKED JUNIOR COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY FOR YEARS NOW, EVERY IN-DISTRICT STUDENT IS ABLE TO ATTEND FOR FREE. SO WITH ALL THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW COLLEGE IS UNAFFORDABLE AND STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND ALL THIS, YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY OUT THERE DOING SOMETHING TO REALLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, WHEREAS ON JULY 20TH, 1969, NEIL ARMSTRONG FIRST STEPPED FOOT ON THE LUNAR SURFACE DURING THE APOLLO 11 MISSION ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024 INTUITIVE MACHINES, I AM ONE MISSION RETURNED TO THE LUNAR SURFACE AFTER A HIATUS OF SEVERAL DECADES. FROM ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS ON A NAPKIN, INTUITIVE MACHINES HAS EVOLVED INTO A DIVERSIFIED SPACE EXPLORATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANY PREPARED TO PIONEER THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE OF SPACE. INTUITIVE MACHINES BECAME THE FIRST COMMERCIAL SECTOR COMPANY TO SUCCESSFULLY LAND AND TRANSMIT SCIENTIFIC DATA TO AND FROM THE MOON. AND WHEREAS I AM ONE IS A TRAILBLAZING MISSION AIMED AT CREATING A COMMERCIAL LUNAR ECONOMY, DELIVERING COMMERCIAL PAYLOADS AND NASA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PAYLOADS THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE HUMAN [00:15:01] PRESENCE ON AND AROUND THE MOON. THE I AM ONE MISSION ORCHESTRATED BY AN INTUITIVE MACHINES MARKS A MONUMENTAL STEP IN LUNAR EXPLORATION, REKINDLING HUMANITIES QUEST TO THE MOON. THIS MISSION SIGNIFIES A BOLD LEAP INTO A NEW ERA OF COMMERCIAL LUNAR SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION. I AM ONE MISSION IS THE NOV SEA LUNAR LANDER, DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY AN INTUITIVE MACHINES. THIS MISSION'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS DELIVER A VARIETY OF PAYLOADS TO THE MOON SOUTH POLE REGION, A PART OF THE MOON THAT REMAINS UNEXPLORED. 18 STUDENT INTERNS FROM THE SAN JACINTO ED CENTER LOCATED AT THE HOUSTON SPACEPORT WORKED ON THE LUNAR LANDER. AND WHEREAS INTUITIVE MACHINES SUCCESSFULLY LANDED THE COMPANY'S NOVA SEA CLASS LUNAR LANDER ODYSSEY ON THE MOON MARKING THE UNITED STATES FIRST LUNAR LANDING IN OVER 50 YEARS SINCE APOLLO 17, THE COMPANY LANDED ODYSSEY FARTHER SOUTH THAN ANY VEHICLE IN THE WORLD HAS EVER SOFT LANDED ON THE MOON, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT. GIVEN NASA'S $93 BILLION, ARTEMIS CAMPAIGN IS TARGETING THE REGION FOR HUMAN MISSIONS. ODYSSEY TRAVELED 600,000 MILES AND SOFTLY LANDED LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM ITS INTENDED MALLER, A LANDING REGION. WHEREAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE IM ONE EXTENDS BEYOND THE MERE ACT OF LANDING ON THE LUNAR SURFACE. IT REPRESENTS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE ONGOING NARRATIVE OF SPACE EXPLORATION, WHERE PRIVATE ENTERPRISES PLAY AN INCREASINGLY VITAL ROLE. MOREOVER, THE IM ONE MISSION SUCCESS WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A BURGEONING LUNAR ECONOMY, OPENING NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR RESEARCH, COMMERCE, AND EXPLORATION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS INTUITIVE MACHINES FOR ITS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPACE EXPLORATION AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. AND BEFORE I CLOSE OUT THIS PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING INTUITIVE MACHINES TO COUNCIL TODAY. YOU KNOW, WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME MEMBERS AND FRIENDS RECRUITING BUSINESSES TO HOUSTON, WHICH IS A PROPER ROLE, BUT WE CAN'T OVERLOOK OUR PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE DOING SUCH A FINE JOB AND HAVE FOR SO LONG. UH, I JUST THINK WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT. IT'S AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, AND THEN YOU BRING THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY THROUGH SAN JS. SO IT'S JUST REALLY, I WOULD SUGGEST ANYONE, CERTAINLY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, BUT ANYONE THAT HASN'T BEEN TO THE SPACEPORT REALLY, REALLY NEEDS TO DO IT. IN FACT, I THINK IT SHOULD BE ON THE LIST FOR OUR VISITORS TO THE CONVENTION CENTER TO GO VISIT CLEAR LAKE SPACEPORT, THE MUSEUM, AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN CLEAR LAKE, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GER, AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PRO CLAIM JULY 20TH, 2024 AS INTUITIVE MACHINE STAY IN HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK SO MUCH. THANK, THANK. WHERE'S LOUIS? HERE YOU GO. HOLD IT. [00:20:19] MAYOR PROAM, CAST SIX TATUM. UH, FOR THE FOLKS THAT RUN CITYWIDE, I KNOW THEY KNOW WHO MS. FLICKINGER IS. THOSE WHO WANNA RUN CITYWIDE, UH, THIS IS A MAYOR OF SOUTH BELT . WE WOULDN'T HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS FINE LADY. OH, THANK YOU. YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE. A WORD THIS MAYOR'S DOING FANTASTIC. WE LOVE HIM, AND THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GONNA SAY WHEN YOU GOT UP. NO, YOU DIDN'T. , WHO IS YOURS? MR. MAYOR, UH, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF INTUITIVE MACHINES AND ALL THE MECHANICS BACK AT SPACEPORT HOUSTON, WE WANNA GIVE YOU A SHIRT TO WEAR ON SATURDAY, JULY 20TH AS INTUITIVE MACHINES DAY. WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS SHIRT HERE IS THE MOON COMMEMORATING RETURN TO OUR ROOTS OF SPACE CITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH THE SKYLINE OF HOUSTON. AND THEN, UH, INTUITIVE MACHINES DAY JULY 20TH. IT'S IS A GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER THAT GETS US TO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON. AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE OF YOUR PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU, STEVE. YOU WANT TAKE A PHOTO NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD MISSION SOCIETY, CHURCH OF GOD, HOUSTON, TO CELEBRATE THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY. SEB, IF YOU CAN COME UP AND AS MANY OF Y'ALL CAN AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA BE TAKING A GROUP PICTURE WITH EVERYONE AS WELL. SO, UH, JUST, UH, MAYOR, UH, COLLEAGUES, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, WORLD MISSION SOCIETY, CHURCH OF GOD VOLUNTEERS. SOME OF Y'ALL MIGHT RECOGNIZE THEM BY THEIR VESTS. UH, THEY'VE BEEN OUT DURING THE DERECHO. THEY WERE OUT IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES, UH, TAKING DOWN TREES, MOVING, YOU KNOW, MOVING THEM OFF THE STREETS. UH, AS YOU PROBABLY, UH, KNOW, THEY, THEY'VE PROBABLY BEEN OUT ALREADY DURING THIS PAST STORM AS WELL. AND SO I'VE HAD THE, THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM. WE WERE CONNECTED TO THE, TO THEM THROUGH, UH, ROMAN AGUILAR, WHO'S WITH DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, DOES A GREAT JOB OF CONNECTING FOLKS. ALL OF US WITH VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN DOING, WHETHER IT'S FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, CLEANUPS, UH, YOU NAME IT. UH, LIKE I SAID ABOUT LESS, ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OVER A MONTH AGO DURING THE DE I WAS OUT WITH THEM AT THE, UH, NORTHEAST PART OF THE DISTRICT. AND SO, UM, REALLY WANNA, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE TO HONOR OUR VOLUNTEERS, THOSE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT, UH, THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DISASTER, UH, RECOVERY. AND SO, UM, I'M GONNA READ, UH, THE, THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN, UM, AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR CLOSED. AND THEN I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SSAB BEHIND YOU. . HI, COUNCIL MEMBER. HOW YOU DOING? I'M DOING WELL TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL. WHEREAS THE CHURCH OF GOD WHO BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE MOTHER, HAS GROWN TO OVER 3.7 MILLION MEMBERS IN NEARLY 7,500 CHURCHES THROUGHOUT 175 COUNTRIES. IT IS CARRYING OUT A MISSIONARY WORK IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE WORLDWIDE, WITH THE GOAL OF PREACHING SALVATION AND HAPPINESS TO ALL PEOPLE. THE CHURCH OF GOD IS CELEBRATING ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024. AND WHEREAS THE CHURCH OF GOD LOCATED IN HOUSTON HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN VARIOUS VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES, IMPACTFUL PROJECTS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, DEDICATING OVER 5,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS THROUGH ITS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. AND I'M GONNA DO THIS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE, EZ. AND WHEREAS ZEISS VOLUNTEER SERVICES SERVICES EXTENDED TO BLOOD DRIVES, HEART TO HEART CAMPAIGNS, CLEAN WORLD MOVEMENTS AND DONATION, AND DONATE DONATIONS, SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE GREATER HOUSTON ALSO PARTNERED WITH OUR LOCAL CITY OFFICIALS AND DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT THEIR CAUSES WHILE, WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERISM THROUGH THESE ACTIONS, VOLUNTEERS AIM TO EMBODY VALUES OF COMPASSION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THE LOVE, LOVE OF GOD, THE THE MOTHER. [00:25:01] AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMANDS WORLD MISSION SOCIETY, CHURCH OF GOD, HOUSTON, FOR ITS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, I REGULARLY REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT DURING OUR CHALLENGES, AND CERTAINLY WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CHALLENGE, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR FAITH COMMUNITY, AND OUR FAITH WORKERS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN EVERYONE I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS A PUBLIC SERVANT. WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT, EVERY ONE OF US HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COLLEAGUES. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. AND NO ONE DISPLAYS THAT MORE THAN THE WORLD MISSION SOCIETY, CHURCH OF GOD IN HOUSTON. AND WITH THAT THOUGHT IN MIND, I WANT TO SAY THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 16TH, 2024, IS WORLD MISSION SOCIETY, CHURCH OF GOD, HOUSTON DAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND ALL OF OUR FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR THIS AWARD AND PROCLAMATION ON THIS DAY. WE'RE VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS, AND WE'RE VERY TOUCHED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AS ALL OF OUR MEMBERS FROM ALL OF OUR CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, TO COLLECTIVELY BRING AWARENESS TO VOLUNTEERISM THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND BY BEING THE FIRST ONES, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO IGNITE VOLUNTEERISM THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO WE'RE VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD TODAY. AND WE HAVE A MESSAGE FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR MAYOR MEMBERS READY? 1, 2, 3. WE LOVE YOU. WE LOVE YOU. WE LOVE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU. YEAH, I'M TRYING TO THINK. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO INSIDE THE HORSESHOE. YEAH. . BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE MOVE FOR THE PICTURE, WE DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS. I, I, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED A REFRESHER ON THE , UH, OF MAYOR AND, UH, TO, TO THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. UM, WE SAY THIS ALL THE TIME FROM COUNCIL, THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS WORK ALONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTIVATED AND ENGAGED IN VOLUNTEERISM IS EXTREMELY EXPIRING. UM, YOU WILL HELP US TO CONTINUE TO BE BETTER AND AT A TIME WHEN THE ENTIRE CITY IS STRUGGLING, A MESSAGE OF WE LOVE YOU, WE CAN ALL EXHALE. AND WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE AND, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND TO THE CHURCH OF, OF, UH, THE WORLD MISSION SOCIETY CHURCH OF GOD. I DITTO WHAT OUR MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, YOU CAN NEVER, EVER BUY THE VOLUNTEERISM, THE HEARTS OF WHAT PEOPLE DO. NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, JUST FROM A COMMUNITY, BUT EVEN ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE FAKE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS SO, UH, VALUABLE. AND TO SEE ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IS JUST PHENOMENAL. AND, UH, GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. UH, AND JUST KEEP IT UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, . CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TRY TO FIT IN. CAN WE TAKE A PHOTO WITH THIS? YES. IS THAT OKAY? OH, I CAN BRING IT. OKAY. AWESOME. [00:31:18] UP NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES ACCOUNT, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DR. TONY LIN IN HONOR OF THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. TODAY WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING KELSEY SIBO CLINIC, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK DR. TONY LYNN AND HIS TEAM TO JOIN US. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. KELSEY SIBO CLINIC WAS FOUNDED IN 1949 BY DR. MAVIS KELSEY, AND HAS BEEN PROVIDING COORDINATED CARE TO HOUSTONIANS FOR 75 YEARS. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THEY HAVE EXPANDED TO 41 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA AND OPERATE THE LARGEST FREESTANDING AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. KELSEY SEA BOWLES 850 PHYSICIANS REPRESENT 65 MEDICAL SPECIALTIES. THEY OPERATE FOUR STATE-OF-THE-ART CANCER CENTERS, OFFERING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY. UH, KELSEY SIBO IS RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE AS THE NATION'S FIRST ACCREDITED ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION. AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS KELSEY SIBO CLINIC CELEBRATES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF ITS FIRST CLINIC IN THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER ON MARCH 15TH, 1949. AND WHEREAS THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF GREATER HOUSTON AREA FAMILIES CONTINUE TO BE MET THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF KELSEY SIBOS ACCOUNTABLE VALUE-BASED CARE HEALTH SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS KELSEY SIBO CLINIC DELIVERS WORLD-CLASS PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING, CLOSER TO HOME AND WORK FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS THE THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED PROVIDERS AND PROFESSIONALS AT KELSEY SIBO CLINIC CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE VISION OF THEIR FOUNDER, DR. MAVIS P KELSEY, TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED AND COLLECTIVE CARE TO PATIENTS. AND WHEREAS A 75TH ANNIVERSARY IS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION AND AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO CONSIDER ALL THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH HOPE AND ANTICIPATION. AND WHEREAS THE CELEBRATION OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT ALLOWS THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY TO SALUTE THE DEDICATION OF THE KELSEY SIBO PROVIDERS AND STAFF. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND FRIENDS OF KELSEY SIBO CLINIC, EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR A MEMORABLE ANNIVERSARY. MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASSICK TATUM. I WAS SAYING HERE, THINKING I CAN'T, I CAN'T RECOGNIZE ANYONE THAT WOULD HAVE BETTER NAME ID THAN KELSEY SIBO. I MEAN, MOST ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR NAME ID AND POSITIVE AND POSITIVE RECOGNITION THAT GOES WITH IT, 'CAUSE YOU PROVIDE EXCELLENT HEALTHCARE. SO I'M PLEASED TO SAY THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 16TH, 2024, IS KELSEY SIBO CLINIC DAY, 75 YEARS OF CARING, INNOVATION, AND GROWTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR BEING HERE. CONGRATULATIONS. YES, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU MAYOR PORTEN. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BEHALF ALL OUR DOCTORS, OUR NURSES, AND OUR SUPPORT TEAM, AND THE KELSEY TEAM, MANY OF 'EM ARE HERE TODAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT IS AN HONOR TO TAKE CARE OF HOUSTON, THE HOUSTONIANS, THE COMMUNITIES, BUT ESPECIALLY YOUR EMPLOYEES AND YOUR THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS AN HONOR TO US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. 75 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, BUT WE'RE GONNA GROW [00:35:01] WITH HOUSTON. WE'RE GONNA GROW TO SERVE EVEN MORE COMMUNITIES THAN DO THE CARE THE RIGHT WAY. UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 75 YEARS WITH HOUSTON. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, MY HUSBAND IS A PODIATRIST AT KELSEY SIEBEL, SO I KNOW HOW HARD EVERYONE WORKS THERE. SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. UM, FIRST UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROAM, UH, MAYOR PROAM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING KELSEY UP TO, TO, UH, CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, AN ANNIVERSARY. UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT HEALTHCARE IS DEFINITELY A PRIMARY, UM, YOU KNOW, NEED FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES. KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, PARENTS GET TO GO TO WORK, INCOME COMES IN. AND SO WHAT Y'ALL DO DAY IN, DAY OUT, UM, I'M ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO JUST, YOU KNOW, LOVE GOLF GATE KELSEY SIEBEL. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED, UH, A FEW TIMES ALREADY ABOUT HOW CAN WE EXPAND AND, AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR, UH, HEAR TONY, THAT YOU KNOW, YOU WANNA EXPAND WITH HOUSTON HOBBY AIRPORT, NORTHEAST HOUSTON. WE'D LOVE TO SEE MORE KELSEY SIEBEL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO. UM, LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, FUTURE GROWTH WITH KELSEY SIEBEL HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE, MAYOR AND TO THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS PROCLAMATION TO KELSEY. AS I'M RE, IF I'M LISTENING TO THIS PROCLAMATION, THE, UH, WHAT STRUCK OUT TO ME THE MOST WAS WORLD CLASS. 'CAUSE YOU ALL ARE WORLD CLASS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. UH, I, I CAN TELL YOU AS A, A PATIENT, TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHEN I'VE GONE TO YOUR FACILITIES, IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT, UM, GREAT SERVICE, UM, HIGH QUALITY INFORMATION THAT'S COMING BACK. YOU FEEL WARM AND WELCOME AND YOU GET IN AND OUT REALLY QUICKLY. SO, YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT TO THE, TO THE, UH, THE HOLCOMB LOCATION. TANGLEWOOD MEYERLAND, YOU ALL ARE THE BRANCHES THAT I GO TO, BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE IN THE FUTURE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. STAY RIGHT HERE. IS THAT EVERYBODY? OH, WE TAKE A PICTURE PERSON NOW MEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CELEBRATION OF THEIR SILVER JUBILEE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. HOW YOU DOING? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK I SAW SANJAY. YEAH, HE DID. SIR, SIR. PRESIDENT MADAM CHAIR. UH, I THINK THIS IS A FIRST PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION. I'M PROBABLY STARTING SOMETHING WHERE NOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO DO MANY, MANY MORE. BUT, UH, WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ITS MEMBERS IN THE CITY LEADERSHIP, I, UH, JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY. UH, WE'VE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE TO BRING, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS AND CERTAINLY MY COLLEAGUES HERE AT COUNCIL. THE INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF GREATER HOUSTON IS A DYNAMIC INDO AMERICAN ORGANIZATION THAT FURNISHES AND COR [00:40:01] COORDINATES AND COLLABORATES EVERY FACET OF THE INDO AMERICAN GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY. WHETHER IT'S ACADEMIC, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, MEDICINE, SCIENCE, YOU NAME IT, THE LEADERS COME FROM THE INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OUR GREATER INDO AMERICAN COMMUNITY. SO WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, THE INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER WAS FOUNDED IN 19 99, 25 YEARS BY A GROUP OF LOCAL INDO AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN AND PROFESSIONALS WHO CAME TOGETHER AND WORKED WITH THE GUIDANCE OF THE COUNCIL GENERAL OF INDIA IN HOUSTON TO ADDRESS AN INCREASING NEED TO EDUCATE THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDO AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT LARGE ABOUT THE INDIA ADVANTAGE IN DOING BUSINESS WITH INDIA. WHEREAS THE FOUNDING BOARD CONSISTENT OF DR. DURKA AGR, PRESIDENT SECRETARY SHA TREASURE SINCE THE FOUNDING 25 YEARS AGO, THE INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER HAS SINCE EVOLVED INTO A VEHICLE OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, EDUCATING AND ENABLING MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS TO UNDERSTAND AND BENEFIT FROM PROGRAMS TARGETED AT SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES. THE CHAMBER ALSO PROVIDES ACCESS TO DOING BUSINESS WITH THE LOCAL INDO AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND TO THE LARGEST EMERGING MIDDLE CLASS MARKET IN THE WORLD, INDIA. WHEREAS THE UNDER THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP, PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, AND TREASURER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAMBER FOCUSES ON GROWING LOCAL JOBS BY ENCOURAGING THE EXPORTS TO INDIA AND ON BILATERAL TRADING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING HIGHLIGHTING THE HOUSTON ADVANTAGE PORT OF HOUSTON, A HOUSTON AIRPORT, THE MEDICAL, HEALTHCARE, ENERGY, AND TECHNOLOGY SECTORS. WHEREAS ON THIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING, THE CHAMBER'S EFFORTS HAVE STAYED TO IT MISSION OF FACILITATING COMMERCE BETWEEN THE US AND INDIA, FACILITATING ACCESS TO THE INDO AMERICAN MARKET, BEING THE VOICE OF THE INDO AMERICAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND ENABLING THE GREATER HOUSTON PROFESSIONALS BUSINESS AND CORPORATIONS, AND TO SUCCEED AS AN INCLUSION PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES IN SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE BUSINESSES TO DELIVER MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF INDIA MOVING UP THE RANKS TO BE THE NINTH LARGEST TRADING PARTNER FOR HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS WE CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY AND OUR ECONOMY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES THE CHAMBER FOR 25 YEARS OF CONNECTING PEOPLE AND PROMOTING BUSINESSES. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIMED JULY 16TH, 2024, IS INDO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF GREATER HOUSTON DAY 25TH ANNIVERSARY. AND TO GET OFF THE PROCLAMATION AND JUST SPEAK FOR MY HEART, HOUSTON WOULD NOT BE THE GREAT CITY IT IS TO DATE WITHOUT THE INDO AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT. AND I THINK OUR GREATEST DAYS FOR THE INDO AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND INDIA IS IN FRONT OF US. SO THANK YOU GENTLEMEN AND ALL YOUR FAMILY, FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR BEING HERE. THANK, THANK YOU. YOU ACCEPT IT, PLEASE, WILL ACCEPT IT ON. AND I'LL MAKE SOME REMARKS IF I MAY. SIR MIKE IS YOUR, YOU'D LIKE YOU'VE NEVER TURNED ONE DOWN BEFORE FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JADI ALIA, I'M THE FOUNDING SECRETARY OF THE INDIAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND FROM MY COWBOY HAT, YOU CAN TELL I'M A TRUE BOND TEXAN . I'M JOINED BY PAST PRESIDENT SANJAY RAMBO, PAST PRESIDENT , PAST PRESIDENT ASH GAR, AND OUR CURRENT BOARD CHAIR AND PRESIDENT RAJIB HAAR TO BE PRESENT TODAY TO ACCEPT THIS HONOR. ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE VERY HUMBLED THAT YOU CONSIDERED US WORTHY OF THIS HONOR. WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE INDIAN AMERICAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND OUR MISSION IS TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE BUYING POWER OF THE INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BOTH IN OUR REGION AND IN INDIA. OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE LOCAL JOBS, EMPOWER THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY LEVERAGING THE INDIA ADVANTAGE, WHETHER IT IS EXPORTS TO INDIA, IMPORTS FROM INDIA, OR DOING BUSINESS WITH THE INDIAN COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT THE BILATERAL TRADE BY SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH LEADERSHIP, PHILANTHROPY, SERVICE, AND MORE. DR. DURAL, THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT, HAD TO LEAVE FOR INDIA. HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO JOINING US TODAY. HE'S CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. WE LEVERAGE THE HOUSTON ADVANTAGE ENERGY, HEALTHCARE SPACE MANUFACTURING, AND WE WERE PRIVILEGED NOT SO LONG AGO OF HOSTING THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA, NARIN MODI, AT ONE OF [00:45:01] THE LARGEST GATHERINGS OF INDOOR AMERICANS IN HOUSTON, WHERE THE THEN PRESIDENT FLEW IN TO JOIN US. IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE, UH, TO BE HERE TODAY, AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR CHAMBER FOR TODAY'S HONOR. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, JACK. WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS, UH, THE AWARDEES TODAY. START FIRST WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TEM, AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I KNOW MANY OF YOU ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU TRULY EMPOWER HOUSTON AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, BUT BEYOND JUST THE BUSINESS, WHAT YOU ALL DO WITH YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND MANY OF OUR EVENTS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE DISTRICTS AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU'RE PRESENT, UH, NOT ONLY YOURSELVES, BUT YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR CHILDREN, GETTING THEM INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, FINDING WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN, UH, INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TRULY APPRECIATE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR YOUR SERVICE, NOT ONLY, UH, FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT AS WELL, AND I WISH YOU WELL. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS GROUP. UM, SANJAY, GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK IN THE CHAMBER AND INGREDIENTS TO ALL OF THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTS. UM, THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT IS WORTHY OF YOUR STATURE. I REMEMBER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I WAS MEETING WITH HOUSTON FIRST, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND YOU KNOW, MEXICO IS A STAUNCH PARTNER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT, UM, BUT THEM CONSIDERING LOOKING AT INDIA BECAUSE OF THE EMERGING PLACE IN THE MARKET IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND BECAUSE HOUSTON'S SUCH A GLOBAL CITY, UM, IT WAS, UM, IT WAS, UH, GOOD NEWS TO ME TO HEAR THAT, THAT WE ARE EXPANDING OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND DEEPENING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. SO HOPEFULLY Y'ALL CAN HOST A TRADE MISSION AND WE CAN GET TO INDIA AND REALLY SEE, UM, THE GOOD CURRENCY THAT YOU PRODUCE ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD. AND SO, UH, AGAIN, MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK Y'ALL FOR, UM, COMING IN AND JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YEP. NOT SURE. EVERYONE REALIZES THAT INDIA IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN THE WORLD. SO YOU GUYS CAN CERTAINLY HELP LEAD A PATHWAY INTO THAT FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, . UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] UH, FLICKINGER FOR THE INVOCATION. IF EVERYONE COULD BOW THEIR HEAD. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, DURING THIS TIME OF SUFFERING IN OUR COMMUNITY, PLEASE HELP EASE THAT SUFFERING. PLEASE GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE THROUGH THESE TROUBLED TIMES. PLEASE GIVE, GIVE EVERYONE HERE THE WISDOM TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, TO REDUCE THE SUFFERING DURING OUR FUTURE EVENTS. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. MADAM SECRETARY, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. CONSTABLE PECK. HERE. CONSTABLE JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA. HERE, COUNCIL. COUNCIL FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. HERE. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? HERE. COUNCILOR DAVIS. HERE. COUNCILOR CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCILOR PLUMMER HERE. [00:50:01] AND CONSTABLE ALCORN NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 30TH AND 31ST AND FEBRUARY 6TH AND SEVENTH, CAST, MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. TATUM FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAST TATUM? UH, YES. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JACOB CLEMENTI TO THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR THREE MINUTES. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO, UH, MOVE KENDRA WALKER AND TIFFANY SCALES TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA. SECOND MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UM, CHAIR RE THAT HAVE MORE? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE ARE. JACKSON. COUNCILOR JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] I MOVE TO SUSPENDER RULES TO, UM, MOVE RAINMAN UP TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. AND THEN I MOVE TO SUSPENDER RULES TO MOVE TO FOLLOW. WE MOVE PEOPLE AFTER, YEAH. AFTER THE TIFFANY SKILLS. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. MM-HMM . AND WHAT ELSE? AND THEN JOSEPH BOLLARD AFTER RAIN. EATON SECOND MEMBERS. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? NO. STRIKE. DAVIS. DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULE TO REMOVE MS. DONICA SIMPSON. UH, UP IN THE THREE MINUTE, UM, UH, LIST MOTION'S MADE. AND SECOND. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. YEAH. BE THIRD. I THINK SECOND. YOU GOT THAT WITH NUMBER FIVE? YEAH. AFTER JOSEPH BROWN. OKAY. SO WE HAVE THE MOTION IN THE SECOND. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON HERE. MOTION MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS MOTION. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. AND THEN PLUMMER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE FRED WOODS TO THE TOP OF THE NON AGENDA. ONE MINUTE LIST. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JULIE PAYNE UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SEGMENT. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ONE MORE. SECOND. SECOND. JACOB? YES. YEAH. YOU READY? JACOB CLEMENTI. HI GUYS. HEY, JACOB. OKAY, HERE'S, UH, SOME REASON FOR, UH, FOR OUR ILLUSTRIOUS MAYOR. JACOB, YOU'RE ONE GAME OUT OF FIRST PLACE. YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. BUY ME SOME PEANUT. [00:55:01] IT'S, IT'S 1, 2, 3. STRIKE. YOU'RE OUT AT THE OLD BALL. TAKE BE OUT TO THE BALL. TAKE BE OUT WITH THE CROWN. BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKER. I DON'T CARE IF I NEVER GET BACK THE, IT'S 1, 2, 3. STRIKE. OKAY. UH, AND NOW FOR MR. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLAN, UM, UH, THIS COMES FROM, UH, DOMINIC VARNER. SHE, SHE'S SAYING YOU'LL LIE FOR THAT AUTOGRAPH, UH, PHOTOGRAPH OF YOURSELF AT THE ON, UM, UM, NEWSPAPER. AND SHE SAYS THE LIGHTS ON HER NEIGHBORHOOD ARE SHEER HELL AND THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ASAP BECAUSE, UM, SHE WAS AT THE BUSY INTERSECTION OF AND BEL AIR THIS MORNING, AND THEY WERE DEAD AT THE DOORNAIL. AND, UM, WELL, UH, TOLA CARTER, PLEASE READ THAT LETTER. COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. I'M UP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, UH, JUST WANTED, WAIT, YOU'RE READING THIS AT JACOB'S REQUEST? I'M SORRY. NO, THE SOURCE OF YOUR, OF YOUR MESSAGE. IT'S A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, UH, THAT JACOB HAS BROUGHT. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS CURIOUS. DID JACOB ASK YOU READ THAT? SO, YES. IT'S A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT DATED FEBRUARY 22ND, 2019. DEAR JACOB, WE GREATLY APPRECIATED BACK THEN AND CERTAINLY STILL DO TODAY, YOUR $40 CONTRIBUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN. CLASSIC FIRST PITCH LUNCHEON HAD A FAIR MARKET VALUE, BUT THANKS HIM FOR ALWAYS STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO SUPPORT OUR TRA CHARITABLE EFFORTS. WE'RE GONNA MAKE GREAT STRIDES AND THERE'S STILL MUCH WORK TO DO, LIKE IN OUR CITY. WE ARE PROUD FOR, TO HAVE YOU IN OUR CHARITABLE, ON OUR CHARITABLE TEAM. AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT MINUTE MAID PARK. GO, ASTROS. SINCERELY ME. YOU HAVE MY AUTOGRAPH. . THANK YOU. WHAT ELSE, JACOB? WELL, UM, ALL I CAN SAY IS TODAY I DIDN'T SEE ME AT MINUTEMAN PARK, BUT YOU WILL SEE ME AT, AT NNG PARK, WHERE I'M GONNA BE WORKING MY TAIL OFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PARTNER. BE, UH, BE SAFE. NEXT, ELIZABETH. GOD, FIRST I WANNA SAY I'M A DIEHARD ASTROS FAN, IF THAT'S A QUALIFICATION TO SPEAK TODAY. UH, BUT WITH THAT SAID, UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT ART VERSUS NECESSITY. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING $25 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR ART SPENDING AND TO DIVULGE SOMETHING. TRUTHFULLY, I WALKED IN TODAY AND THERE'S TWO SCULPTURES THAT ARE ON EITHER SIDE OF YOUR DOOR THAT MY BEST FRIEND MADE. I WATCHED THEM BE MADE FROM SCRATCH. SO I AM ALL FOR ART, BUT I'M NOT FOR ART WHEN IT COMES TO SEWAGE IN THE CITY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GENERATORS TO RUN OUR LIFT STATIONS THAT I HAVE SEWAGE COMING UP INTO NEIGHBORHOODS OUT IN KINGWOOD. UM, I KNOW WE ALL, YOU KNOW, KINGWOOD TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, WHATEVER, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WE DESERVE TO HAVE, UH, PROPER SPENDING. I JUST THINK THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS HAS HAD ITS PRIORITIES OUTTA WHACK. AND I'M HOPING, MAYOR, YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'RE A STRAIGHT UP GUY AND YOU WANT TO HELP EVERYBODY. I'M HOPING THAT THIS COUNCIL AND EVERYBODY HERE IS MORE THAN WILLING TO PUT PRIORITIES OF CITIZENS' NEEDS OVER ART SPENDING. AND AGAIN, LIKE I LOVE THOSE STATUES. I WATCHED THEM BEING BUILT. SO I'M NOT A, I'M NOT A ANTI-ART PERSON, BUT I AM AN ANTIS SEWAGE PERSON, AND WE DO HAVE A REALLY BIG PROBLEM GOING ON RIGHT NOW. SO YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, BARBARA DENSON. BARBARA DENSON SPEAKING WITH REGARD TO ITEM 16, WHICH STATES THAT 1.7% OF ALL ELIGIBLE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MUST GO TOWARDS CIVIC ART. I LOVE PUBLIC ART. I SPENT SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS OF MY SATURDAYS AS AN ARTIST AT SMITHER PARK. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, YOU SHOULD [01:00:01] GO SEE IT. IT'S A RECYCLED ART PARK JUST SOUTH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. I'M ONE OF OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS THAT WORKED AT, WORKED THERE. IT IS FABULOUS. AS MUCH AS I LOVE ART AND WANT TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO BEAUTIFY HOUSTON, I FIND IT UNFATHOMABLE THAT THE CITY MIGHT SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ART. WHILE WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF LIFE SAVING INFRASTRUCTURE, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND NEGLIGENT TO SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING AS SUPERFLUOUS AS ART WHEN DUE TO THE LACK OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIVES ARE THREATENED. HOUSTON HAS BEEN IN DIRE NEED OF GENERATORS. I WAS THRILLED TO HEAR THAT THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY PURCHASED SOME GENERATORS. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER. AS YOU HAVE NOTED, DUE TO THE LACK OF GENERATORS, 10 FIRE STATIONS, 179 LIFT STATIONS, 20 WATER PLANTS AND SEVERAL MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS WERE DOWN DURING A BARREL. WE HAD RESILIENCE HUBS WITH NO BACKUP GENERATION UNLESS, AND UNTIL ALL THESE GENERATORS ARE IN PLACE, LIVES ARE AT STAKE. PLUS OUR STREETS ARE STILL FLOODING. PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE OF THAT. THIS MONEY COULD GO TOWARDS THAT. HOW MANY LIVES IS IT WORTH TO HAVE ARTWORK ON OUR CITY BUILDINGS? PUBLIC FUNDS AREN'T AN ENDLESS SPIGOT. SPENDING HAS TO BE PRIORITIZED. OUR ECONOMY IS FRAGILE. BERYL HIGHLIGHTED THAT CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IS CURRENTLY NOT RESILIENT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE. WE MAY HAVE TO LAY OFF WORKERS A YEAR FROM NOW. THIS ITEM 16 IS THE EPITOME OF FIDDLING WHILE ROME IS BURNING, THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF THE CITY IS TO KEEP ITS RESIDENTS SAFE. DO YOUR JOB, PROTECT THE PEOPLE, INVEST IN LIFE-SAVING INFRASTRUCTURE. IF YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND PUT HOUSTON ON THE RIGHT PATH, SPENDING OUR FUNDS WISELY, THE CITY WILL GET WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER, FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO TURN THIS ALL AROUND. I HOPE WE CAN GET ALL OF CITY COUNCIL ON BOARD. THANKS. THANK YOU. MAY MA'AM. JUST A SECOND. UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAST STATE, I HAVE A A QUESTION AND A COMMENT. UM, BECAUSE WE, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND TALK ABOUT, UM, THE NEED TO NOT SPEND MONEY ON ART IN OUR CITIES. AND I WANNA GIVE, UH, A LITTLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE ARTISTS WHO WORK IN OUR CITIES AND THEY DEPEND ON THE WORK, UM, TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. UM, THERE ARE ARTISTS WHO, UM, HAVE BEEN HIRED TO DO THIS WORK IN OUR CITY. IT IS A SMALL FRACTION OF DOLLARS. UM, AND I THINK FOR US TO ALL PILE UP ON PULLING THE ART MONEY AWAY FROM THE ARTIST COMMUNITY TO FIX THE DRAINAGE AND THE SEWAGE IS KIND OF LIKE, UM, A DROP IN THE BUCKET PER SE. AND I, I ASSUME THAT YOU WOULD SAY, BUT I WANT ALL THE DOLLARS TO GO TO FIXING MY SEWAGE. UM, THE WORK THAT WE ARE PROVIDING FOR THOSE ENTREPRENEURS AND THAT ARTIST COMMUNITY, UM, THAT'S HOW THEY SEND THEIR KIDS TO BALLET. THAT'S HOW THEY SEND THEIR KIDS, UM, TO DO THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT SO MANY OF US, UM, DO FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND SO I DON'T WANT US TO PIT THE ARTIST COMMUNITY AGAINST A SEWAGE OR A DRAINAGE OR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT BECAUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ALSO AS JUST AS IMPORTANT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT UTILIZING MORE DOLLARS FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND FOR THE SEWAGE, BUT IT FEELS LIKE, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PULLING, WANTING US TO NOT FUND, UH, A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND INSTEAD OF, UM, PITTING ONE SIDE AGAINST THE OTHER, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ARTIST COMMUNITY ALSO HAS WAYS TO FEED THEIR FAMILY AND PROVIDE FOR, UH, THEIR COMMUNITIES. JUST LIKE, UM, PEOPLE THAT MAY WORK IN THE, IN THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY. SO I I, I DON'T WANT US TO JUST THINK THAT WE ARE JUST FUNDING ART TO PUT ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS. WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MAY I SPEAK TO THAT? SURE. SO I AM PART OF THAT ARTIST COMMUNITY. I KNOW A LOT OF THEM. UH, ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THAT 99% OF US DO OUR FOR FREE AND THEN WE GET JOBS WHERE WE MAKE MONEY ON THE SIDE. UM, I'M ALL FOR, AS A MATTER OF FACT, SMITHER PARK AS A PRIVATELY FUNDED PARK. IT'S NOT GOVERNMENT MONEY THAT WENT TO MAKE THAT PARK [01:05:01] HAPPEN. I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL GO SEE IT. IT'S FANTASTIC. HUGE SUPPORT OF THE ARTS. I WOULD JUST RATHER SEE IT DONE IN NON WITH NONPROFITS LIKE THE SMITHER FOUNDATION THAT DID THAT ONE. AND ALSO, PLEASE NOTE, I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT, UH, HAD TWO HOMES FLOOD DURING HARVEY. SO THE FLOODING ISSUE TO ME, WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY WORKING AS AN ARTIST OR HAVING TO CHOOSE THEIR SECOND FAVORITE, YOU KNOW, OCCUPATION VERSUS SEEING MY HOMES FLOODED AND, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN THE CITY FLOODED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TAKEN CARE OF AND PRIORITIZE THAT. AND LIVES ARE AT STAKE FROM THAT. AND TO ME, LIVES ARE AT STAKE ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I REALLY FEEL YOUR FRUSTRATION. SO I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, TRACY SHANNON. TRACY SHANNON. GREETINGS COUNCIL. UM, I'M HERE TO SAY THAT BASIC CITY SERVICES SHOULD COME FIRST BEFORE, UM, SPENDING MONEY ON ART. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO VISIT HOUSTON, THEIR COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OFTEN REFLECT, UM, WHAT THEY SEE IN HOUSTON AND WHAT THEY SMELL. THEY OFTEN SAY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DIRTY. THAT'S A REFLECTION OF THIS CITY NOT MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC FOR SEWAGE HOOKUP AND TRASHES AND TRASH PICKUP. THE ISSUES HAVE PLAGUED THE CITY FOR YEARS AS THE CITY ANNEX MANY AREAS, IT HAS A SYSTEM THAT IS NOT SEAMLESS FOR SEWAGE. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED RATE INCREASES THAT WILL AMOUNT TO UP TO 78% AND INCREASES OVER SEVERAL YEARS. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE ARE HOMES THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE CITY SEWAGE. INSTEAD, WE HAVE A, A LINE THAT GOES TO NOWHERE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEWAGE OVERFLOWING INTO THE STREET AS A REMEDY. THE CITY SENDS BUMPER TRUCKS OUT TO SUCK THE SEWAGE OUT, UH, TWICE DAILY. AND I KNOW AT ONE POINT THIS WAS COSTING UP TO $800,000, BUT I'M TOLD THIS THAT THE COST TO RUN THE LINE IS NOT ENOUGH, UH, TO BE APPROVED FOR A, UH, CIP UH, UH, CAPITAL AGREEMENT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. WE PAY THE SAME FOR THE SAME SERVICES EVERYONE ELSE DOES IN THE CITY, AND WE CAN'T GET A SEWAGE HOOKUP. ONE NEIGHBOR HAD TO SPEND $50,000 TO INSTALL A SEPTIC TANK, A LAWSUIT OVER THIS MATTER HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE BECAUSE THE CITY TOLD A BUYER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THE LOT DID HAVE A SEWAGE HOOKUP. AND IT DIDN'T. THE CITY SENDS THE TWO PUPPER TRUCKS TO SUCK OUT THE POOP. NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA IS MAKING IT WORSE. AND THE CITY IS NOT A CHARITY PROGRAM FOR ARTISTS WHO AREN'T MAKING MONEY WITH THEIR TRADE. A DROP IN THE BUCKET. SURE. I WAS TOLD THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR OUR PROJECT TO GET A A LINE IN PLACE WAS NOT, NOT THAT MUCH MONEY. I WAS A SINGLE MOM TOO WHO COULDN'T AFFORD BALLET FOR MY DAUGHTER AND, AND OTHER THINGS FOR MY CHILD. BUT ALL CHILDREN NEED TO BE ABLE TO FLUSH THE TOILET AND KNOW THAT SEWAGE ISN'T GONNA RUN INTO THE STREETS. BASICS FIRST. NO MORE SPINNING ON THE ARTS UNTIL EVERYBODY HAS TRASH PICKUP AND SEWAGE HOOKUP. THAT'S A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER, CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE CITY HAVING TO COME OUT AND PUMP OUT THE SEWAGE? IS THIS THE WAY IT IS ALL THE TIME? OR IS THIS THE WAY IT WAS JUST DURING THE STORM? WHAT'S THIS IS ALL THE TIME. THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR OVER A DECADE. UH, THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS, OVER 20 YEARS. AND IT'S BEEN THIS WAY SINCE THE DEVELOPER INITIALLY DID NOT, UH, FINISH THE, THE COMMUNITY OUT LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE. HE SHOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT THAT HAD SEWAGE. BUT THE CITY HAS NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOOKED US UP. I MEAN, YOU'RE MOVING IN THERE, YOU THINK EVERYBODY'S GONNA HAVE SEWAGE. YOU DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE RIDING ON THE STREET WITH YOUR KID AND RAW SEWAGE IS RUNNING INTO THE STREET. 'CAUSE IT'S OVERFLOWING BECAUSE WE'VE NOW GOT SO MANY HOUSES ON IT, ENOUGH HOUSES WHERE PEOPLE ARE FLUSHING, BUT SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY SUCKING THAT OUT IS NOT ENOUGH. AND IT'S RUNNING INTO THE STREET EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING. SO THEY COME IN WITH A VACUUM TRUCK AND SUCK THE SEWAGE OUT. YES. OKAY. IT'S JUST, IT'S DISGUSTING. WE SHOULD HAVE IN, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY SEWAGE THAT WORKS. IT HOOKS UP TO THE CITY. AND YEARS AGO WHEN I WORKED AT AN ENGINEERING FIRM, THEY COMPLAINED AND MADE FUN OF HOUSTON FOR PUMPING SEWAGE ALL AROUND THE CITY, THE LIFT STATIONS. AND, UH, BUT NOW IF WE HAVE A CRISIS LIKE WE JUST HAD, EVEN THOSE DON'T WORK. AND SO WE SEE, LIKE MY NEIGHBORS IN KINGWOOD WERE HAVING [01:10:01] SEWAGE BACK UP INTO THEIR HOMES AND IN THEIR YARDS. RIGHT. I KNEW ABOUT THE LIFT STATIONS. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I'M GONNA BEGIN TO IT FURTHER. WE'VE BEEN TRYING GET HELP FOR THIS FOR MANY YEARS FROM THE CITY. AND WE ARE NOT GETTING HELP. IT'S ONE IN ONE OF HOUSTON'S NICEST COMMUNITIES THAT I CURRENTLY LIVE IN. AND WE CAN'T GET A, A CITY HOOKUP FOR OUR SEWAGE. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED. WE PAY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE PAYS WHERE, PLUS AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TAXES PROBABLY 'CAUSE OF THE HOMES WE LIVE IN AND WE PAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FEES. AND A FEW OF OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T GET THE SERVICES THAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS. THANK YOU. UH, ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU FOR COMING. TRACY, UH, REMIND ME, WHAT SUBDIVISION DO YOU LIVE IN? I LIVE IN DEER RIDGE ESTATES IN DEER RIDGE. WOW. UH, SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO GIVE IT SOME CONTEXT, I THINK MOST RECENTLY, UH, THE, UH, FIELDS HOUSE ON THAT STREET SOLD FOR WHAT? UM, ALMOST $3 MILLION. YEAH. LIKE TWO, 2.9. YEAH. IT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR SALE FOR FIVE OR SEVEN OR NINE. ANYWAY, MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HOMES WITH SEWAGE RUNNING THROUGH THE YARDS. JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT ON, ON WHAT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, LIVE IN, JUST SOME OF THE HOMES. NOT ALL THE HOMES, JUST SOME OF THEM. NO, JUST SOME OF THEM. BUT IN OUR CITY WHERE YOU PAY TAX DOLLARS, I'M EMBARRASSED FOR US TOO, BY THE WAY. BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AND THAT'S WHY THE MAYOR'S HERE TO HOPEFULLY ADDRESS IT. AND, AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN YEARS, BUT, UM, THE MAYOR'S LISTENING, I KNOW. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. JUST A SEC. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM TATUM, THANK YOU, UH, TRACY FOR BEING HERE. AND AND I, I DEFINITELY HEAR YOUR FRUSTRATION AND I, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE FRUSTRATED IF I HAD SEWAGE, UH, COMING INTO MY HOUSE. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I KNOW ANYTIME RESIDENTS REPORT RAW SEWAGE, IT'S CONSIDERED A HIGH PRIORITY. UM, AND I'M VERY SHOCKED TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN REPORTING THIS FOR 10 YEARS. UM, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE DEVELOPER. DEVELOPER DID SOMETHING THAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE I'M HARD PRESSED TO BELIEVE THAT IN A HOME, A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE DEVELOPER DIDN'T. WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY EXACTLY ABOUT THE DEVELOPER? 'CAUSE IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVELOPER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO MAKE SURE THE HOOKUPS ARE CORRECT, UH, I THINK THAT THAT ALSO NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF. THE, THE COMMUNITY WAS DEVELOPED OVER TWO DECADES AGO. IT WAS DEVELOPED THAT DEVELOPER'S NOT DEVELOPING THERE OR ANYWHERE THAT I KNOW OF NOW. UH, SO THE TIME TO GET HIM TO DO MORE HAS PASSED. BUT THAT WAS ATTEMPTED LONG AGO AS WELL FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT SITUATION. AND, UM, THE CITY'S SOLUTION WAS TO COME PUMP OUT THE SEWAGE. AND INITIALLY IT WAS ONE TIME A DAY, AND NOW IT'S TWO TIMES A DAY BECAUSE THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS GOING INTO THE STREET. BUT EVEN WITH TWO TIMES A DAY, UH, I FOUND, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD REPORT THIS TO TCEQ. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT TCEQ WHEN I, WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AND WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. IT IS IN, THERE'S CURRENTLY NOT A HOUSE LIKE WHERE THEY'RE GONNA WITNESS THAT EVERY DAY. WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT IT WHEN WE WALK OR, OR RIDE OUR BIKE DOWN THERE AND SEE IT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS. PROBABLY MORE THAN WE SEE IT. I WAS JUST RIDING MY BIKE WITH MY SON, HE'S NINE AND, OR AT THE TIME WAS, THE FIRST TIME WAS NINE WHEN I SAW IT. AND, UM, I'VE CONTACTED MY FORMER, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DAVID MARTIN ABOUT IT. AND SO DID OTHER PEOPLE, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM MY COMMUNITY. AND OVER THE YEARS, JUST NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THIS. AND TO ME IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD, THIS SHOULD BE DONE AND IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE DONE FOR THE LARGE STUFF. ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. BUT I, AND, AND WE CAN TALK OFFLINE BECAUSE MAYOR, I, MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WHEN RESIDENTS HAVE CALLED ABOUT SEWAGE IN THEIR HOMES, THEY'VE GOTTEN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. UM, SO I, IT IT IT BAFFLES ME THAT, UM, YES, THIS IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THOUGH. IT BAFFLES ME THAT YOU'RE SAYING 10 YEARS THAT YOU, I MEAN, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE'VE GOT OUR CONSENT DECREE IN, IN PLACE AND WE ARE REQUIRED WHEN THERE IS SEWAGE, UM, TO RESPOND, UM, WITH IT HASN'T MADE IT ON THE CONSENT DECREE. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD IT, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT. AND THEY ALREADY DID THE ONE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO LAST TIME THAT THE CITY, UH, SOMEONE FROM THE CITY RESPONDED TO ME. UM, IT HADN'T AND IT JUST WASN'T MAKING IT, IT WASN'T HIGH PRIORITY ENOUGH, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, OH, IT'S IN SOMEONE'S HOUSE. WELL, I THINK TCEQ WOULD THINK THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY, THAT WE GOT SEWAGE GOING OUT, DOWN INTO THE STORM DRAINS, RIGHT. AND EMPTY INTO OUR, OUR FRESH WATER WASTE. SO IT, IT IS, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING WHAT PERSPECTIVE YOU'RE LOOKING AT, IT MAY NOT BE IN MY HOUSE. THAT WOULD REALLY, REALLY BOTHER ME, BUT IT IS AFFECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT. NO, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO US, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, REQUEST [01:15:01] IF WE COULD HAVE, UM, PUBLIC WORKS TO, TO GO OUT AND TAKE A NO, I'M GONNA BE WITH THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FIELD TRIP, MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND I WORK WITH ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, CERTAINLY YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOUR, YOUR NEIGHBOR, CERTAINLY THE MAYOR PROTE. BUT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS IS LISTENING TO YOU AND HELPS ON THE WAY. UH, I'M SORRY THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD TOO LONG. UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID THAT WE ALL EXPECT BETTER AND, UH, IS SURPRISED. I'M NOT QUITE FRANKLY SURPRISED 'CAUSE I'VE SEEN IT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THERE'S A LOT OF NEGLECT, UH, AND WE HAVE CHALLENGES. SO YOU BEING HERE TODAY IS GONNA MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS. AND WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. AND, UH, PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE ON TOP OF IT. AND WE'LL SEE THAT THEY ARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IN FACT, NOT ONLY THIS ITEM, BUT I TALKED TO, UH, SOLID WASTE THIS MORNING ABOUT DEBRIS PICKUP. THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA LOCATE AS OF THIS MORNING, THERE'S A PLAN TO DO A, UH, A, UH, WHAT THE HECK YOU WOULD CALL IT, A STATION IN KINGWOOD. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH WITH LOADS OF DEBRIS. UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER GER, AS OF, UH, TODAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE TRUCKS PICKING UP DEBRIS AT A CENTRAL LOCATION SO IT CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT. SO I UNDERSTAND KINGWOOD AND OTHER COMMUNITIES, QUITE FRANKLY, MOST OF OUR COMMUNITIES FEEL NEGLECTED. AND, UH, WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO HOUSTONIANS. WE'RE BEING VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. SO YOU BEING HERE TODAY IS MAKING A IS MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE. DON'T GIVE UP. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT. COUNCIL, COUNCIL COURT. THANK YOU MAYOR TRACY. JUST ONE MORE QUESTION. RE REFRESH MY MEMORY. WHEN WAS THAT SUBDIVISION BUILT? PRIOR TO ANNEXATION OR AFTER? UM, IT'S PRIOR. I THINK THEN THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. THINK PRIOR. YEAH. I THINK ANNEXATION WAS LIKE 1997 AND, UH, THIS COMMUNITY WAS ALREADY STARTED AT THAT TIME. 94, THEY'RE SAYING IN THE BACK. AND IT WAS THERE, IT WAS STILL BACK. OH YEAH. SO SORRY. ANYWAY, I THINK THE PROBLEM HERE, MAYOR, IS THAT THE, IT WAS PRIOR TO ANNEXATION WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND SO IT BECAME CITY OF HOUSTON AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE SINCE. YEAH, THERE'S BEEN UPGRADE VERY MUCH LIKE OUR FIRE STATIONS IN KINGWOOD. YEAH, LIKE THE STEPCHILD OVER THERE OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH WE ANNEX. AND IT, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BETTER SAY IT, IT WOULD MAKE A GOOD DEER BLIND HOLES IN THE FLOOR, HOLES IN THE CEILING REALLY BEEN NEGLECTED. SO THANK YOU. UH, WE'LL LOOK AT OUR SCHEDULES, UH, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER, ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, CERTAINLY PUBLIC WORKS. WE'LL GET RANDY OUT THERE AND WE'LL MAKE SOME NOISE AND GET THINGS DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. NO, BE SAFE. WE APPRECIATE YOU. IT'S A PRETTY GOOD TRIP FROM KINGWOOD DOWN TO CITY HALL, BUT IT'S GOING, IT'S GONNA WORK FOR YOU, I PROMISE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT. TIM CROCKETT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D FIRST PICK ONE, . GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO FIRST SPEND A COUPLE SECONDS OF MY TIME JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AS A CITIZEN OF HOUSTON AND REALLY APPRECIATE IT. Y'ALL ARE CALLED TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON COMPLEX ISSUES THAT RANGE FROM A TO Z, SO THANK YOU. IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. KEEP AFTER IT. GLAD THE TEAM IS HERE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF PACE FINANCING. PACE, PACE, PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY. THANK YOU. CITY OF HOUSTON FOR ADOPTING PACE. SEVERAL YEARS AGO I STOOD AT THIS PODIUM, UH, NIECE PARKER WAS MAYOR AND WAS ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THIS PASSED. UM, ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT WORKED THAT WEREN'T HERE TO TALK. ELLEN COHEN, WHO WAS PROUDLY THE MOST LIBERAL PERSON ON COUNCIL AND JACK CHRISTIE, PROUDLY THE MOST CONSERVATIVE PERSON ON CITY COUNCIL WERE SINGING KUMBAYA, BOTH STRONGLY ENDORSING IT. IT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. THE FIRST PACE PROJECT PACE PROVIDES A HUNDRED PERCENT LONG-TERM FIXED RATE FINANCING TO PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, NEW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS. IT'S BEEN ADOPTED BY 40 STATES, INCLUDING TEXAS. INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES VOTE TO OPT IN AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. THE FIRST PACE PROJECT IN TEXAS WAS DONE BY A SMALL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE IN AUSTIN THAT HAD NO ACCESS TO CAPITAL. PACE WAS A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR THEM. THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH PROJECTS IN TEXAS WERE DONE BY [01:20:01] SIMON PROPERTIES, THE WORLD'S LARGEST OWNER OF RETAIL WHO HAS UNLIMITED ACCESS TO CAPITAL. THE POINT IS PACE WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. ELLEN LIKED IT BECAUSE IT SAVES ENERGY, IT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, IT'S GREAT. JACK LIKED IT BECAUSE IT REDUCED OPERATING COST AND INCREASED ASSET VALUES. IT WORKS FOR, UM, ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL AND NON-PROFIT PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU HAVE ENGAGED TEXAS PACE AUTHORITY, A NONPROFIT TO BE THE ADMINISTRATOR. IT COSTS US AS A CITY NOTHING TO OPERATE OR RUN. THERE'S NO GOVERNMENT MONEY INVOLVED. IT'S ALL PRIVATE MONEY. TEXAS PACE AUTHORITY TAKES A VERY SMALL, I THINK IT'S EIGHT BASIS POINTS IN A FEE TO OPERATE AND PROMOTE AND AND MANAGE THIS. AND THEY'RE HIRED BY ALMOST ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE STATE. NATIONALLY, PACE IS FUNDED $7 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS. THIS IS NOT A REALLY SMALL DEAL. DALLAS, AUSTIN, MANY OTHER CITIES IN HOUSTON IN THE STATE ARE REALLY EMBRACING THIS AND IT'S REALLY HELPING PROPERTY OWNERS. HOUSTON, WE'VE DONE SEVERAL. I HELPED FACILITATE THE FIRST PROPERTY OFFICE BUILDING IN THE STATE WAS HERE IN HOUSTON. UM, BUT HOUSTON NEEDS TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT DOING THIS. YOU'VE PROBABLY READ THE PAPER. UM, MONEY IS EXPENSIVE AND HARD TO GET. LENDERS THAT USED TO LOAN 80 OR 90% ON LOANS ARE NOW DOING 50 OR 55%. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU THROUGH, SIR, ARE YOU THROUGH? YES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. TIM, I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES OF MY TIME IF YOU HAD WANTED, UM, BUT I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING, UH, NOT ONLY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO TO HELP EDUCATE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC, UM, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A, UH, CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR EVERYONE. IT DOES. THANK YOU. I I'VE BEEN IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN HOUSTON FOR 40 YEARS. IT IS THE SINGLE BEST CHANGE IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY I'VE SEEN IN MY CAREER. IT IS A POWERFUL, POWERFUL TOOL AND IT COSTS NO GOVERNMENT MONEY. IT'S ALL PRIVATE MONEY. IT IS A PHENOMENAL TOOL. UM, IF YOU LOOK AT DETROIT, WHERE YOU'VE GOT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S DECAYING BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT ANTIQUATED MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND DON'T HAVE THE ECONOMIC ABILITY TO UPDATE THOSE, IT'S A, IT'S A DOWNHILL SLIDE THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO GET IN. THIS GIVES PROPERTY OWNERS ACCESS TO LONG-TERM FIXED RATE FINANCING TO PAY FOR NEW AIR CONDITIONING AND LIGHTS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. UM, I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN, IN HOUSTON AND AROUND THE STATE AND WOULD STRONGLY THANK YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, SUPPORT TEXAS SPACE AUTHORITY, THE ADMINISTRATOR THAT YOU'VE ALREADY CONTRACTED WITH. I THINK THE CONTRACT IS, YOU KNOW, JUST RENEWED OR ABOUT TO, UM, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TINY LITTLE BIT OF MONEY. I THINK SOMEBODY WAS ASKING THAT THE CITY GET THAT TEXAS PACE AUTHORITY NEEDS THAT MONEY TO KIND OF STAY IN BUSINESS AND KEEP DOING IT. AND IT'S A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM TO EMBRACE THAT AND, AND SHOW THAT TO PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE IT IS A, A GREATLY UNDER PUBLICIZED, UNDER, UM, UTILIZED KNOWN, UNDERUTILIZED, UH, FINANCING TOOL THAT REALLY IS BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY, TO THE COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, IN, IN ALL ASPECTS. RIGHT? AND AGAIN, YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD WITH THE RESILIENCY COMPONENT. WE'RE, UM, STILL IN THE AFTERMATH OF BARREL. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE, UM, INCREASED EXTREME WEATHER AND THE TYPE OF RESILIENCY THAT WE CAN PUT INTO, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NONPROFITS THAT WE RELY ON, RIGHT? OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROVIDERS, IF THEY CAN KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN, UH, AND STAND UP VERY QUICKLY AFTER A STORM, ALL OF US ARE IN A BETTER PLACE, RIGHT? SO I, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SID ISLAM. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE. IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW UP AFTER TIM. UH, BUT THAT FIRST OFFICE BASED PROJECT THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS MY PROJECT. SO I'M JUST GONNA ADD THIS STORY. UH, BACK IN 2016, I GOT, AFTER 10 YEARS OF WORKING IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, I GOT MY FIRST CHANCE OF BEING A PROPERTY MANAGER. AND I WAS MANAGING A BUILDING WITH MAJOR ISSUES. THE MAIN ISSUE WAS THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT WEREN'T KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND. TENANTS WERE NOT HAPPY. OCCUPANCY WAS GOING DOWN, INCOME WAS GOING DOWN. SO THAT BECAME MY FIRST CHALLENGE. I NEEDED TO FIND A SOLUTION AND THE OWNERS DIDN'T WANT TO GET A LOAN. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BRING IN ANY MORE MONEY. I DID [01:25:01] SOME RESEARCH AND PAY SEEMED TO BE THE MOST LOGICAL PLAN WE WENT THROUGH IN 2017. WE DID A $1.3 MILLION PROJECT. WE PUT NEW CHILLERS. WE, UH, INSTALLED A NEW BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM, LED LIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. TURNED OUT TO BE A TURNING POINT FOR THE BUILDING. BACK THEN, THE BUILDING WAS ABOUT 60% OCCUPIED LAST YEAR. I MANAGED THE BUILDING TO BE 99.5% OCCUPIED. IT. THE INCOME GOT BETTER. OCCUPANCY WENT UP, AND THE BUILDING GOT BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER. AND EVER SINCE, WE'VE DONE A MAJOR PROJECT EVERY YEAR. THAT'S IT. GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT DUB TAYLOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNSEL, UH, MY NAME'S DUB TAYLOR. I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TEXAS PACE AUTHORITY. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR CONSENT AGENDA ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO THE CITY'S PACE PROGRAM. AND SINCE PACE IS ON THE AGENDA TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A REFRESHER ON ITS HISTORY IN HOUSTON AND THE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY GOING FORWARD, PACE, AS YOU'VE HEARD OR PROPERTY ASSESSED, CLEAN ENERGY IS AN INNOVATIVE FINANCING STRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES A HUNDRED PERCENT FINANCING FOR ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, MULTIFAMILY, AND NONPROFIT BUILDINGS. IN 2013, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE TEXAS PACE ACT, WHICH GIVES CITIES AND COUNTIES SPECIFIC AUTHORITY TO CREATE LOCAL PACE PROGRAMS, TO PRESERVE ENERGY AND WATER RESOURCES AND TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT. IN NOVEMBER, 2015, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ADOPTED PACE AND THE TEXAS PACE AUTHORITY. UH, MY GROUP, UH, WAS BROUGHT INTO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AT NO COST TO THE CITY. PACE IS ESSENTIALLY LONG TERM LOW COST ASSESSMENT, SECURED PRIVATE LOAN FOR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT AND UPGRADES THAT DECREASE ENERGY AND WATER CONSUMPTION FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. IN HOUSTON, ALMOST 35 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED THREE YEAR PACE PROGRAM RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT POWER, GAS AND WATERED WASTEWATER SAVINGS FOR BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED HVEC AND LIGHTING UPGRADES, ADVANCED BUILDING CONTROLS, ADDED INSULATION ONSITE SOLAR AND PLUMBING FIXTURE UPGRADES TO COMMERCIAL NON-PROFIT, SENIOR LIVING, WORSHIP, HOSPITALITY, AND PRIVATE RECREATION FACILITIES. BUT WE'VE REALLY JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE HERE. ACCORDING TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THERE ARE 31,000 PACE ELIGIBLE BUILDINGS IN HOUSTON. THIS REPRESENTS A $3.2 BILLION INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY VIA PACE WITH LIFETIME SAVINGS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS OF $5 BILLION, TEXAS PACE AUTHORITY IS HONORED TO SERVE AS YOUR PACE ADMINISTRATOR. AND WE NEED YOUR HELP IN GETTING THE WORD OUT AND CONNECTING WITH MORE PROPERTY OWNERS, CONTRACTORS, LENDERS, ACROSS THE CITY. WE'RE HAPPY TO SET UP WORKSHOPS, TRAINING AND PROVIDE OTHER SUPPORT TO HELP BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS ACCESS PACE AND BEGIN SAVING. WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU IN THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, SIR FOR BEING HERE. NEXT, JULIE PAYNE. OH, JULIE. RAW SEWAGE COMING UP IN HOUSTON STREETS IS DUE TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH MOBILE GENERATORS FOR OUR SEWAGE LIFT STATIONS. I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IN THE PICTURE FOR YOU. TAKEN TWO DAYS AGO IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SOME FIRE STATIONS HAD NO POWER BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH MOBILE GENERATORS. WE NEED TO PURCHASE MORE GENERATORS, AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS. WE NEED MAYOR TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS. WE NEED TO FUND MANY DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, INCLUDING FLOOD MITIGATION. THOSE ITEMS ARE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MEAT AND TATERS OF HOUSTON'S BUDGET. RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR GRAVY PROJECTS. I'M SORRY MA'AM, BUT ART IS GRAVERY. PLEASE DO NOT FUND THE $25 MILLION FOR ART. PLEASE USE IT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU CAN IMPROVE HOUSTON BY SPENDING OUR LIMITED MONEY WISELY. YOU DID NOT CAUSE OUR CITY'S DILEMMA, BUT YOU ARE OUR HOPE TO FIX HOUSTON'S PROBLEMS. MAYOR, YOU'RE OUR HOPE. YOU CITY COUNCIL ARE FUNDING MEAT AND TATERS NOW MAY ALLOW US TO AFFORD TO FUND GRAVY LATER. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A PICTURE FOR EACH OF YOU [01:30:01] MAY. JUST SECOND. MAYOR PROCEDURAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD MARIAN WRIGHT TO THE TWO MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST FOLLOWING MICHAEL SPATES. UH, SECOND MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. WE NEED A SECOND. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. AYE. HAVE IT NEXT. FRED WOODS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS FRED WOODS. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NORTHWOOD MANOR CIVIC CLUB. AT THIS TIME, I ASK THOSE WHO CAME IN SUPPORT TO STAND OR RAISE THEIR HAND IN SOLIDARITY IF POSSIBLE. THE MAJORITY OF NORTHWOOD MANOR REMAINS WITHOUT POWER. NOW A WEEK AFTER HURRICANE BUR HIT, THERE ARE MANY IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY WHO THE WORD RECOVERY WILL NEVER APPLY WHILE STILL AWAITING RELIEF. AND I DON'T JUST MEAN FROM BURL. YOU SEE, THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN SEEKING RELIEF AND RECOVERY BEFORE HURRICANE HARVEY AND KEEP GETTING KNOCKED BACK DOWN. IT'S NOT FOR A LACK OF AWARENESS. COMMUNITY LEADERS KEEP BRINGING IT UP TO YOUR ATTENTION AS IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE ARE THAT MORE THAN ONE. HOUSTON EXISTS SEPARATING THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS IN TERMS OF RESILIENCY. GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING, IT'S BEEN CALLED THE ARROW. AND IF YOU KEEP PLAYING BY THE OLD PLAYBOOK OR RUNNING THE SAME PLAYS, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ARROW. WE STILL CAN'T SEE WHERE THE LEAST RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HOUSTON ARE A PRIORITY BEFORE THE STORM HITS. AND IF WE KEEP USING A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MODEL, A STATIC APPROACH FOR RESCUE RELIEF AND RECOVERY, YOU HAVE TIME HAS EXPIRED. HE HE CAN. YEAH. IN RESPONSE TO DYNAMIC STORMS, NONE OF WHICH HAVE AFFECTED US IN THE SAME WAY, THEN WE KNOW OUR FATE IS SEALED. TO BE CLEAR, AS LONG AS THE LIGHTS ARE OUT FOR OUR LEAST RESILIENT, THEY'RE IN NEED OF DAILY MEALS. ICE WATER COOLERS, BATTERY OPERATED FANS, BATTERIES, CANDLES, LOANER GENERATORS, TARPS FOR ROOFS DAMAGED BY DOWN TREES, INCLUDING TREE REMOVAL. AND WHEN THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, THEY NEED CLEANING SUPPLIES, GIFT CARDS FOR GROCERIES, GIFT CARDS FOR GAS, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. I'M SPEAKING ABOUT OUR LOW INCOME, OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, THE DISABLED, AND ANY HOMEOWNER WITHOUT HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE. THE CITY CREATED SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS UNDER MAYOR BROWN TO BE A SOUNDING BOARD FOR AREAS COMPRISED OF SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES. USE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, THE CITY HAS A DIRECTORY OF REGISTERED CIVIC CLUBS REACH OUT TO SEE WHAT CAPACITY THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TO SUPPORT RELIEF AND RECOVERY. MAYOR TURNER HAD A VISION TO CREATE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. AND WITHIN THAT, A PLAN THAT COULD ADDRESS EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND COORDINATION WITH THE CITY DURING TIMES JUST LIKE THIS. AND IN EDUCATING COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE MYSELF ON HOW TO DO THE WORK, ON HOW TO DO THIS WORK THROUGH THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES UNIVERSITY PROGRAM, OF WHICH I'M AN ALUMNI, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MUST STEP UP THEIR GAME. CAN WE GET A ONE PAGE FLYER UPDATED EACH DAY WITH ALL RESOURCES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, SEPARATED BY SINGLE LETTER DISTRICTS? CAN THIS BE MAILED TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND REGISTERED CIVIC CLUBS FOR DAILY DISTRIBUTION TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES? STOP RELYING SO HEAVILY ON THE SINGLE LETTER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF. GO DIRECTLY TO THE LEADERS AT OR NEAR THE GROUND LEVEL IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. OR BETTER YET, BRING THEM TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER. LET'S REVIEW THE AFTER ACTION REPORTS TOGETHER SO WE KNOW WHAT WORKED FROM WHAT DIDN'T, AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION NEXT TIME. I DO WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO A NUMBER OF YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSIVENESS AND PARTNERSHIP OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HELPED DIRECTLY IN EXECUTING A DISTRIBUTION OF THREE TRUCKLOADS OF RESOURCES [01:35:01] RIGHT IN THE HEART OF NORTHWOOD MANOR. IT PROVED THAT WE CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WORKING TOGETHER BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BOTH CITY AND COUNTY, TO OFFER MUCH NEEDED AID TO OUR LEAST RESILIENT. THANK YOU COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR BROTHER WOODS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND LET ME, UH, SAY TO YOU THAT WE, WE HOPE TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN. I GOT A TEXT TODAY IN REGARDS TO RESOURCES THAT WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO AS MANY COMMUNITIES AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE MAYOR, HIS OFFICE, AND MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SPREAD OUT EVERYWHERE AND TRYING TO MEET THAT GOAL. BUT WE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO IGNORE YOU. UM, COUNCILMAN JACKSON AND I, WE TALK, WE WORK IN AS MANY AS WE CAN AND WE ARE GONNA DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ASSURE THAT NO COMMUNITY BE OVERLOOKED. IT'S A HUGE TASK AND I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT LET ME JUST PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS NOTIFYING US, CONTACTING US TO MAKE SURE. 'CAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW UNLESS SOMEBODY HELP THEM TO KNOW THAT. AND, UH, AND SO I COMMEND YOU ON THAT AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BRINGING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. PASTOR DAVIS FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP FOR HAVING A COUPLE OF YOUR STAFFERS OUT THERE. YEAH. THEY WORK VERY HARD. WELL, LEMME TELL YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT YOU SAID. WE'RE LOOKING FOR PRIORITIZATION. YEAH. UH, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE LOW ON THE TOTEM POLE. WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE IF WE WERE HIGHER. UH, AND UNLESS WE SEE THE PRIORITIZATION, UH, IN A PLAN YEAH. AHEAD OF TIME, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND HELP, THAT'S ALL WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS TO SEE THAT WE ARE A PRIORITY. THAT, THAT WE WE'RE KNOWN AND THAT WE'RE NOTICED, SEEN, HEARD, AND AND WHAT TO DO. WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO TO CALL. WE DIDN'T KNOW TRASH WOULD BE PICKED UP. AND, AND ALL OF US WITHIN DISTRICT B CANNOT, UH, WILL EXHAUST THE RESOURCES OF OUR, OF OUR GREAT COUNCILWOMAN. OKAY. UM, 3, 1 1 IS NOT AN OPTION. RIGHT. WE CAN'T JUST CALL 3 1 1 BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A DIALOGUE. ALL THAT IS, IS ONE WAY REPORTING. AND OFTENTIMES WHEN PEOPLE ON THE PHONE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE REPORTING OR HOW OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. YEAH. SO THERE HAS TO BE MORE DONE. OKAY. I, I AND I, AND I AGREE. AND I, AND I I AGREE. AND I LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, REALLY IN THAT REGARDS TO PRIORITIZING AS WELL WITH COUNCILMAN JACKSON AND SEE TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER THAT RELATIONSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITY. 'CAUSE THAT, THAT'S IMPORTANT. YES. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. SO LET, LET'S DO THAT TOGETHER. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU MY FRIEND. THANK YOU. SURE. COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. WOODS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, NORTH, UM, YOUR NORTHWOOD MANNA IS LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS A, UM, CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT. UM, UM, YES. GIVE HIM A HAND BECAUSE HE WORKED, I MEAN, MR. WOODS WAS ACTUALLY ON MY, WE WERE TEXTING AS THE HURRICANE WAS HAPPENING. HE WANTED TO KNOW WHERE WAS THE WATER, THE FOOD, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA NEED AFTER A HURRICANE. AND SO WHAT I WANNA DO IS JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE HURRICANES, WE KNOW THAT A HURRICANE IS COMING. YEAH. JUST GO GET YOUR TWO CASES OF WATER THAT'LL GIVE US A FEW A DAY OR SO TO DO, ASSESS THE SITUATION, ASSESS WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. AND SO, OF COURSE, MY OFFICE, WE PUT OUT A RESOURCE LIST BASED UPON WHAT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TOLD US TO DO. UM, A CALL 9 1 1 AND THREE ONE ONE. AND WHAT WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING, MAYOR, IS THAT MOST OF OUR, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR DISASTER RECOVERY, THEY TOO WAS WITHOUT POWER. SO EVERYONE WAS DOWN ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY AND FOLKS STARTED COMING UP, AND EVENTUALLY WE GOT DISTRIBUTIONS AND ICE. AND IN FACT, I HAVE, UM, SOME, SOME CAMP LIGHTS IN THE BACK OF MY TRUNK. I STARTED BUYING CAMP LIGHTS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY, I WANT EVERY RESIDENCE TO HAVE ONE CAMP LIGHT IN THEIR HOUSE. THAT WAY IF POWER GO OUT, YOU HAVE A CAMP LIGHT THAT YOU CAN PULL OUT AND, AND, AND YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE LIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE FOLKS AT NORTHWOOD MANOR AND THE FOLKS ACROSS DISTRICT BI MEAN, BECAUSE EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER FROM VICKI MARTIN FROM, UM, RAIN EVENING, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE MAY HORNS, THEY SICK AND THEY STILL ON THE PHONES MAKING CALLS. SO EVERY, IT WAS LIKE A COORDINATED EFFORT AND IT WAS VERY POWERFUL. AND SO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PREPARE ALL DAY LONG, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT EACH STORM IS GONNA BRING. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S RESILIENT, AND WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND NOT BEAT EACH OTHER UP IN THE TIME OF THE STORM. WE HAVE TO HOLD HANDS AND LITERALLY LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE FOLKS IN NORTHWOOD MANOR IN TIMES TO COME. THANK YOU. [01:40:01] MAY I, MAY I SAY A FEW THINGS. UM, IN THE GAP, THERE ARE GAPS THAT EXIST. I WANT TO GIVE, UH, CREDIT TO WEST STREET RECOVERY AND NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE BECAUSE THEY WERE THE FIRST TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF. THEY WERE THE FIRST TO IDENTIFY SENIORS THAT NEEDED BATTERIES TO CHARGE THEIR PHONES, THEIR MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS. THEY REACHED OUT TO MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES IN OUR LEAST RESILIENT AREAS TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE. UM, AS WELL AS THEY WERE THE FIRST, AFTER THE STORM PASSED, TO BRING IN A-A-F-L-C-I-O, TEXAS GULF COAST TO, UH, TO, UH, CUT TREES DOWN OFF OF HOUSES TO, UH, MOVE DEBRIS FOR SENIORS AND THE DISABLED, THAT THEY COULDN'T MOVE THEIR CELLS TO THE CURB. WE NEED MORE OF THAT. WE NEED YOU TO FUND MORE OF THAT, UH, MORE OF THAT WORK, MORE OF THAT NONPROFIT WORK. BECAUSE WE ARE OVERWHELMED. WE'RE OVERWHELMED. SO I, GO AHEAD. NO AND NO. AND I, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, WEST STREET RECOVERY, IN FACT, MY DISTRICT B GIVE THEM RESOURCES TO CUT TREES. SO EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY'S COLLABORATING. SO WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, A-F-L-C-I-O, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THAT'S, WE ARE COLLABORATING. SO IF YOU DON'T SEE A COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU DON'T SEE THE MAYOR, JUST KNOW WE ARE THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SENDING, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PART OF THE WHOLE COLLABORATION. SO I JUST, I'M, AND I WANT TO THANK WEST STREET RECOVERY. YES. AND KNOCK BECAUSE THEY WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD AND REALLY APPRECIATE THEM FOR CUTTING TREES OFF OF HOUSES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. WOOD, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO COME DOWN AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR OPINIONS, UH, TO EVERYONE HERE, I JUST WANT TO STEP UP AND SAY THAT THERE ARE NO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE TRULY OVERLOOKED. YOU KNOW, I, I STATED YESTERDAY, OUR, OUR HOSPITAL GOT POWER SATURDAY NIGHT, EIGHT, NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. OUR, OUR, OUR TRAFFIC LIGHTS RECEIVED GENERATORS WITH GAS CANS SITTING BY THEM ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE FROM THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY WHO WE HAVE A LACK OF GENERATORS THAT CAN KEEP THE SEWAGE OUT OF THE STREETS. SO IF WE WANNA COMPARE COMMUNITIES IN WHAT GETS OVERLOOKED, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT. AND ALSO TOO, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER REACHED OUT TO ME, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS, OR WAS LOOKING FOR LIGHTS AND RESOURCES FOR HER COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL UP TO HERE IN ALLIGATORS AND IT CONTINUES. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A DELIBERATE OVERLOOKING ANYTHING. WE ARE ALL HOUSTONIANS AND HOUSTON IS A REALLY BIG PLACE, BUT PEOPLE STEP UP TO HELP EACH OTHER. AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WE'RE OUT THERE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE US DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT THERE. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE ME IN YOUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT MEAN I'M NOT SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW? AND, AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO TO HELP GET THINGS DONE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. AND CERTAINLY YOU'RE WELCOME IN MY COMMUNITY ANYTIME, BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS USE AN EXTRA EXTRA SET OF HANDS. AND YOU LOOK STRONG. MAY I, UM, I'M A BLACK AMERICAN. I'M A DESCENDANT OF SLAVES IN HOUSTON. BLACKS COULD NOT LIVE EVERYWHERE. WE DEFINITELY COULDN'T LIVE IN KINGWOOD. AND LEMME TELL YOU THIS. UH, AND THAT'S INDEED RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE, UH, AMENDED AND CHANGED WHEN WE STARTED TO PROGRESS. I LIVE IN THE HOUSE OF MY GREAT, MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER. MY GREAT-UNCLE OWNED IT. WE STARTED TO PROGRESS AND WE STILL FIND OURSELVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE. AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE'S ARROW THAT SAYS WHERE THE LEAST RESILIENT ARE. AND NORTHEAST HOUSTON'S PRETTY WIDE ON THAT. SO MA'AM, I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH YOU. I KNOW MY LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND OUT OF ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ HAS BEEN TO MY AREA. HE WORKED ON THE DRIVE VERY DILIGENTLY, AS LONG AS HIS STAFF. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS HAS BEEN IN MY AREA, HAS, UH, HAD HIS TOWN HALL THERE. HE'S LISTENED TO MY, MY NEIGHBORS COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER CONTINUES TO COME TO MY AREA, UH, AS SERVICING MY NEIGHBORS. ONE TOLD ME SHE WAS THERE THE OTHER DAY. MS. STEWART, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN DOES AS WELL. BUT THE ONLY AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IS MISSING HAS BEEN YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD LOVE TO TOUR YOU AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AT A CIVIC CLUB MEETING SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR DIRECTLY FROM MY NEIGHBORS WHAT'S GOING ON. AND THEN YOU CAN TELL WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE. MR. WOOD. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS WITH YOU. UH, COUNCILOR JACKSON. YES. SHE, YES. THANK YOU. YEAH. UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BE SAFE. OKAY. NEXT. NEIL GOSS. NEIL GOS. JANIE BRENHAM. [01:45:08] THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING SO VERY HARD. I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE CALLED ME TO SEE IF I'M OKAY, EVEN IF HE WAS THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES. I AM SO ENCOURAGED TODAY BY EVERYBODY'S DEMEANOR HERE AND HOW GRATEFUL YOU ARE AND HOW ATTENTIVE YOU ARE TO OUR NEEDS. I CAME HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE SEWAGE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE I JUST HEARD THE MAYOR THAT HE IS GOING TO TAKE HIMSELF AND SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OVER THERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WERE ELECTED AS LEADERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I AM SO PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU. AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. NEXT SPES, MICHAEL SPATE. MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. UM, I JUST WANNA SAY NOTHING MAKES ME SADDER THAN SEEING WHAT I JUST SAW DISPLAYED. FRED WOODS IS ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS. WE GRADUATED FROM CCU TOGETHER. I'VE BEEN TO HIS HOUSE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR MULTIPLE MEETINGS, AND HIS COMMUNITY DOES A FABULOUS JOB OF COMING TOGETHER AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. HAVE THEY BEEN UNDERSERVED? ABSOLUTELY. HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BEEN UNDERSERVED? ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER HAS BEEN FABULOUS SINCE SHE'S BEEN ELECTED. I HAVE GONE TO HER WITH SO MANY THINGS AND SHE HAS HELPED OUT SO MANY TIMES. THE TWO OF THEM NEED TO GET TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER. IF Y'ALL WOULD DO, IF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES COULD DO HALF OF WHAT FRED WOODS IN HIS DISTRICT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS COMING TOGETHER AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, WE ALL NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK TOGETHER. AND THIS PIT AND THIS AGAINST, THIS HAS TO STOP. IT HAS TO STOP COUNCIL. I MEAN, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS BEEN DOING A FABULOUS JOB WITH GETTING TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND GETTING SUPPORT THAT HAS TO CONTINUE. AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT AREN'T SUPPORTING US, THAT AREN'T CONTRIBUTING TO THINGS, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT Y'ALL ALL HAVE TO GO OVER AND GET ON THEIR REAR ENDS AND GET HELP FROM THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THIS HORSESHOE THAT AREN'T HELPING US. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER BRIANIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, RAMSEY ARE DOING A FABULOUS JOB OF WORKING WITH THE CITY AND GETTING THINGS DONE. WE CAN'T BE FIGHTING BETWEEN OURSELVES AND WE DEFINITELY CAN'T BE FIGHTING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AGAINST THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALL NEED THE RESOURCES AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET 'EM. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT. KENDRA WALKER. HELLO, I AM KENDRA WALKER AND I AM HERE FOR PRIDE HOUSTON. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON JUNE 29TH FOR THE 46TH ANNUAL HOUSTON PRIDE PARADE. IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE SUCCESSFUL EVENT. AND IF YOU WERE THERE, YOU KNOW, THE STREETS WERE PACKED. , THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE. HOWEVER, I MUST ADDRESS THE PRESSING CONCERN THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT IS THESE SEPARATE PRIDE EVENTS. AND IT WAS, UM, DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THAT THIS YEAR AGAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PERMITS FILED A, A WEEK APART. AND THAT IS A WASTE OF RESOURCES AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE TWO EVENTS. THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR. UM, WE HAVE TRIED EVERY ATTEMPT. WE HAVE TRIED EVERY ATTEMPT, AND THE WORD HAS COME BACK. WE DON'T WANNA WORK WITH YOU, WHICH IS FINE THAT YOU KNOW THAT, THAT'S FINE. BUT THIS NARRATIVE OF DUELING PARADES OR BREAKAWAY GROUP, I MEAN, IT MAKES FOR MEDIA FODDER, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WITH THIS ORGANIZATION IN OVER 10, 15 YEARS. SO I AM COMING TO YOU TO ASK FOR THE GOOD OF THE [01:50:01] COMMUNITY THAT IF WE WANT BOTH EVENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, PUT 'EM WEEKS APART. IT, IT, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE LOGICAL SENSE. IT'S NOT SAFE, IT'S NOT A GREAT USE OF RESOURCES. SPONSORS ARE CONFUSED. THE COMMUNITY WAS VERY CONFUSED. AND IT CAUSES US TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO ACTUALLY AND IDENTIFY OURSELVES. AND I DON'T THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT DID NOT SHOW AN OPPORTUNITY OR AN ALTERNATIVE. IT JUST SOLD MORE DIVISION. SO I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BOTH AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, BUT I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE. 'CAUSE WE'VE EXHAUSTED EVERY OPPORTUNITY ON OUR END AND THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR US TO DO. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU KENDRA FOR BEING HERE. UM, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND PRIDE 365 ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL PARADE. UM, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. LIKE YOU SAID, THE STREETS WERE PACKED AND PEOPLE WERE, WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME. UM, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE PARADES AND, AND NOW THAT WE ARE BEYOND, UH, JUNE, UM, I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE AS A CITY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD. UM, I WAS ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT, UM, PERMITS WERE REQUESTED FOR TWO PARADES BACK TO BACK NEXT JUNE. SAME LOCATION, SAME ROUTE. UM, IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. AND AS WE GO THROUGH ANOTHER STORM AND AS WE RECOVER AND AS WE SEE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL WITHOUT POWER, WE ARE DEALING WITH REAL ISSUES, UH, STRUGGLING HOUSTONIANS, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES. UM, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS ARE PRIORITY. EXACTLY. UM, THERE THERE ARE DISTRACTION AND THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T NEED IT. THE COMMUNITY DIDN'T EVEN SUPPORT IT. SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, ONE THING THAT THAT I WANT TO KNOW IS IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SIT DOWN, UM, WITH THE NEW FACES, UH, AND, AND TRY AND HAVE A CONVERSATION, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MYSELF, THE CHAMBER, THE MONTROSE CENTER, WE'RE INTERESTED IN, IN BRINGING BOTH GROUPS TO A ROOM AND HAVE A DISCUSSION TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE FORWARD. UH, BUT IN ALL OF THOSE TALKS, YOU KNOW, RUMORS FLY AROUND AND WHATNOT. AND, AND WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT Y'ALL ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. SO ARE YOU WILLING TO DO IT? SO LET ME SET THAT STRAIGHT. AND WE HAVE THE LETTER TO PROVE IT. AND WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON OUR SIDE. WE DON'T HAVE HEARSAY. WE ASK THAT THERE IS NO DISPARAGEMENT IN THE MEDIA BECAUSE THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO DISPARAGE EACH OTHER. THEY WOULD NOT AGREE TO THAT. THEY WOULD NOT AGREE TO THE MEETING WITH US. AND WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENTED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE COALITION. WE HAVE SINCE TRIED CONTACTING THE COALITION THREE TIMES, AND WE HAVE TRIED CONTACTING COMMUNITY. I JUST DISPUTE THAT. AND BEFORE WE GET INTO RUMORS, ASK FOR THE RECORDS, THE DOCUMENTATION THAT HAS LITERALLY BEEN A SENSE OF FRUSTRATION FOR OUR GROUP IS THAT WE REPEAT ANYTHING THAT WE HEAR WITHOUT ASKING FOR A SINGLE SHRED OF EVIDENCE OR DOCUMENTATION. WHERE DID WE REJECT THIS OFFER? CAN YOU SEND ME THE EMAIL? WE WILL SEND YOU THINGS TO THE OPPOSITE. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IS TOTALLY NOT TRUE. AND I HAVE SAT HERE NOW TWICE TELLING YOU WE ARE OPEN. I HAVE SAT IN YOUR OFFICE TELLING YOU WE ARE OPEN. I'VE SENT YOU EMAILS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. WE'RE, WE'RE WILLING TO BE A PART OF, OF ANY MEETING AND BRING BOTH PARTIES TOGETHER ALONG WITH STAKEHOLDERS. UM, BECAUSE IT, IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. UM, WE'VE GOT A LOT THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AS A COMMUNITY MM-HMM . AND WE ARE GONNA GO THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEXT YEAR. YEP. AND WE KNOW WHAT'S GONNA COME. AND HAVING THE DIVISION, HAVING THE BICKERING, THE BACK AND FORTH IN THE PUBLIC, IT'S GONNA DO NO GOOD FOR, FOR ANYONE. THE QUESTION IS BICKERING. THEY'VE NEVER WORKED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION. AND LIKE I SAID, WE SUPPORT, LIKE, I, I HOPE THAT IF SOMEONE SAYS WE'RE GONNA THROW A THIRD PARADE THAT THEY GET, I I'M STILL WONDERING HOW THIS EVEN HAPPENED AND NO ONE WAS AWARE THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. . YEAH, I HEAR YOU. I I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO TONE THE TEMPERATURE DOWN. UM, THERE ARE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE PRIDES, RIGHT? AND IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT BACK AND FORTH. IT'S NOT BICKERING, IT'S NOT DEFENSIVE. OTHER, THERE ARE MULTIPLES HAVE IT S IN DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, NOT IN THE SAME LOCATION ON THE SAME ROUTE. RIGHT? YOU'RE TRYING TO GO FOR THE SAME SPONSORS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD, I SAY DOWN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN, BUT LOOK AT THE RECORD AND TELL ME WHAT DISPARAGING STATEMENTS HAS DISORGANIZATION MADE. YOU WON'T [01:55:01] FIND THEM. AND THAT IS MY PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ALL SIZE ISSUE. THIS IS, AND I, I, I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS, BUT JUST FROM THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN BACK, WHEN YOU'RE REBUFFED AT EVERY TURN, I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING. I'M SORRY. I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT COEXISTENCE AND I THINK THE WAY WE COEXIST IS LET'S SET LIKE A WEEK APART. IT MAKES NO, NO SENSE. THIS HAS BEEN ON THE LAST WEEKEND IN JUNE FOR 46 NOW GOING ON 47 YEARS. AND WE HAVE NOT HAD COMPLAINTS FROM THE CITY. WE HAVE RUN A GREAT EVENT. THERE WAS NO, NO CHARGES, NO DAMAGE, NO SECURITY FLAWS. NOTHING IN THE 47 YEARS. WHY? WELL, I THINK STEP ONE IS A CONVERSATION. OKAY. UM, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING WILLING TO DO THAT. YEAH. UM, WE'RE STILL WILLING. AND, UH, LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. YEAH. THANK YOU MAR. I, HENRY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO. UM, AND THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL THE WORK. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER, UH, SUCCESSFUL YEAR, UH, IN LINE WITH, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WAS ASKING. I DON'T WANNA LOOK BACKWARDS. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SOLUTION ORIENTED AND THAT WE'RE BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER. YEAH. UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS. WHAT I HEAR YOU SAY AND WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAD ASKED IS, YOU ARE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND MEET. YES. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND OTHERS ARE WILLING TO FACILITATE. I OF COURSE HAVE SAID FROM DAY ONE, I'M HAPPY TO HELP IN SUPPORTING THOSE EFFORTS. I BELIEVE WHEN, UM, THE OTHER ENTITY DID COME TO COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES HAD SAID, THEY ARE ALSO WILLING TO SIT DOWN, UM, AND MEET. SO AGAIN, LIKE LOOKING AHEAD, RIGHT? LET'S, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE AND HOW WE CAN BE, UM, UNITED AND CELEBRATING AND LIFTING UP THE COMMUNITY, UH, IN THAT RESPECT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, I'M DONE. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT TIFFANY. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO PRIDE TO HOUSTON IS CELEBRATING 47 YEARS OF PRIDE ON SATURDAY JUNE 28TH, 2025. YOU HAVE 347 DAYS. I KNOW WE WERE HERE IN APRIL AND IT WAS MADE, UH, PUBLICIZED INFORMATION THAT YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE TWO CELEBRATIONS. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYBODY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS ARE AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE EDUCATED ON OPPORTUNITIES TO RIDE WITH PRIDE IN DOING SO. WE HAVE AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION SUPPORT SYSTEM CALLED RISE PROGRAM, AND I'D LIKE EACH OF YOU TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION. SO MY PHONE NUMBER IS (832) 683-6470. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I'M STILL AN ACTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF PRIDE HOUSTON 365. AND I'M HOPEFUL TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU BECAUSE I WANNA LOOK FORWARD AND SEE HOW WE'RE ABLE TO DO THINGS MORE APPROPRIATELY IN SUSTAINING A MORE COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES TO ENJOY THEIRS. THANK YOU. UH, LET ME ASK ONE QUICK, QUICK QUESTION. DOES THE TWO RESPECTIVE GROUPS KNOW THEY'RE ONLY HARMING THE COMMUNITY IN, IN THE EFFORT TO CELEBRATE PRIDE? WELL, MAY I'M NOT ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF ANOTHER ORGANIZATION WITH WHOM I'VE NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION. HOWEVER, PRIDE HOUSTON IS AWARE OF THE DETRIMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. YES. OKAY. WELL, I MEAN, I, WE GOTTA QUIT TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND GET DOWN TO THE LEADERSHIP, BUT I JUST DO THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE NOT HELPING THE GREATER COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK BULLIES CARE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THEIR INFLUENCE. YOU WHAT? I DON'T THINK BULLIES CARE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THEIR INFLUENCE. OH, OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, BUT THOSE AFFECTED BY THE BULLYING AND THE HARASSMENT, I'M VERY CONCERNED. OKAY. KNOWING THAT ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS GRAND MARSHALS, A 77-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, IS HEARTBROKEN AND STRESSED ABOUT THE TORMENT THAT SHE HAS SEEN ON MEDIA AS A PERSON IN MEDIA AND RADIO FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THAT'S FRIGHTENING. SURE, SURE. OKAY. UH, IT WAS JUST A POINT OF INQUIRY THAT, UH, IT'S REALLY A SETBACK. YES, IT'S, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED FOR THE PRIDE COMMUNITY TO, BUT IN HONESTY TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE OUR YOUTH BEING BULLIED TO BE HAVING COMPETING, UH, PARADES IS JUST HARMING THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT. ON YOUR WEBSITE, IT SAYS THAT SOMEONE CAN MOVE FOR THE, UM, PERMIT TO BE REVOKED. I WOULD MOVE FOR IT TO BE CHANGED LIKE A DIFFERENT DAY. [02:00:01] OPEN PRIDE WITH THE SMALLER CELEBRATION OF LESS THAN 5,000 AND GROW AS WE HAVE FOR 46 YEARS. BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE HAVE OUR YOUTH BEING BULLIED FOR BEING THEMSELVES, AND WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TEACH TEACHERS HOW TO ADDRESS AND, AND EMBRACE THEM, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST. AND SO THE, THE MATTERS AT HAND ARE NOT COMPETING OR DUELING ASSOCIATIONS OF ASSUMPTION, BUT MORE SO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE COMING NATIONAL. COMING OUT DAY IS COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WE HAVE A FESTIVAL AT NIGHT COMING UP. AND THEN THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO BE PROGRESSIVE AND POSITIVE, NOT TALK ABOUT THE HEARSAY OF NAYSAYERS WHO ARE NOT SHOWING UP AND DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. COUNCIL KAMAN, THANK YOU. UH, JUST A SECOND. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. I'D LIKE TO, I, THERE'S BEEN A, I'M SORRY. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT PERMITS. AND AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I'LL DEFER TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, EVEN WHEN SOMETHING IS, LOOK, IT'S A STRAIN ON THE CITY'S RESOURCES. AND WE'VE ALL RECOGNIZED THAT, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS A CITY TO DENY ONE ORGANIZATION A PERMIT OVER ANOTHER OR TO SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. AND IT'S NOT SOLELY WITH, UH, PRIDE. UH, WE DEAL WITH THIS CHALLENGE MAYOR, UH, EVEN ON WHITE LINEN NIGHT, WHERE WE HAVE ALL OVER, AT LEAST IN DISTRICT C, THAT'S KIND OF THE HOME FOR WHITE LINEN NIGHT, MORE AND MORE EVENTS POPPING UP. AND THAT'S A STRAIN ON HPDS RESOURCES. AND WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T. BUT YOU CAN. WELL, CONTRARILY YOU CAN SAY WHEN YOU CAN BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE ARE STIPULATIONS THAT ARE IN EFFECT FOR NOT DOING THINGS WITHIN A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME OF THE CELEBRATIONS BECAUSE OF THE STRAIN. AND FOR LIKE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION, WE'VE NEVER HAD TO IN THIS IN SEVEN DAYS. SO I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I, I'M HAPPY TO DEFER TO LEGAL, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I'M, AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE IF I'M WRONG. WE DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY SUBJECTIVELY TO SAY WHO CAN HAVE A PERMIT OVER ANOTHER ENTITY LIKE THAT. BECAUSE WE TRIED TO HAVE A NIGHTTIME CELEBRATION PROCEEDING OUR PARADE. AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULD NOT BE WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE, THE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION. THAT'S WHY I'M REFERRING TO THAT. UNDERSTOOD. AGAIN, THERE, THERE, THERE'S VERY LIMITED SCOPE TO WHICH THE CITY CAN, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF CITY LEGAL CAN OPINE ON THAT. UH, WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, UH, ORDINANCE ITSELF. BUT GENERALLY YOU APPLY FOR THE PERMIT THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS. AND THEN BASED ON THE CRITERIA, IF YOU MEET THE ELIGIBILITY, THAT'S WHEN WE ISSUE THE PERMIT. BUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S POINT, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SELECTIVELY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MEET THE CRITERIA, THEN YOU'RE GONNA GET A PERMIT. THAT WASN'T WHAT I SAID THOUGH. I'M REFERRING TO THE STRAIN ON THE RESOURCES FOR THE CITY. AND IF WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING WITHIN 72 BUSINESS HOURS BECAUSE OF THE STRAIN ON THE CITY, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TWO, I'D RECOMMEND YOU CONSIDER EXTENDING THEM TO NOT HAVE THE STRAIN ON ANY OF US. NOT SAYING THAT IT'S AN ILLEGAL PROBLEM, BUT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE THIS YEAR, IT MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. THAT'S MY SUGGESTION. YOU COULD COUNCILMAN CAMAN IF THERE'S TWO PARADES OF THE SAME PURPOSE AND ALL THAT WOULD'VE TO BE DEFINED, UH, ALLOWS, ALLOW THOSE SPONSORS TO HELP THE CITY WITH RESOURCES. THE LAST PARADE TOOK 300 POLICE OFFICERS OUTTA SERVICE, I MEAN, OUT OF SERVICE IN TERMS OF, UH, THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ABOUT $250,000. SO WE JUST LITERALLY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TWO PARADES FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. AND ALL THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT. BUT IT'S ONE IT POSSIBILITY YOU HAVE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HELP SUPPORT THEM. NO WHOLLY AGREE. I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO DISCLAIM THE SLIPPERY SLOPE. 'CAUSE WE ALSO HAVE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES WITH PARADES ON THE VERY SAME DAY OCCURRING AS WELL. AND WHEN THE CITY STARTS TO SAY, YOU CAN, BUT YOU CAN'T. THERE'S A A OH, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AT THEIR CELEBRATIONS. AND I KNOW ONCE YOU HIT A CERTAIN NUMBER, WE JUST REQUIRE SOME MORE SUPPORT. AGAIN, I OF ALL PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE STRAIN ON RESOURCES, ALL OF THE ABOVE. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ALSO ADDING TO THAT CONVERSATION. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS THE CITY JUST SAYING. CORRECT. YOU CAN, THE REAL SOLUTION IS FOR THE PARTIES SIT DOWN AND, UH, GO TO MEDIATION AND RESOLVE IT LIKE GROWNUP SHARED. AND AS, AS MY, UH, PREVIOUS PRESIDENT DID SHARE, WE, WE HAVE REQUESTED, UH, UNBIASED AND OBJECTIVE MEDIATOR FOR THIS MEETING THAT WE'VE BEEN INVITED TO. NOW WE'RE TALKING, WE, WE, WE, WE REQUESTED THAT WE'VE HAD NO RESPONSE. OUR RESPONSE WAS A KICKBACK OF IT'S PRIDE SEASON. WE'LL RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER. SO WE'RE WAITING. WELL KEEP TRYING AND WE KEEP TRYING AND WE WILL NOT ONLY GET INVOLVED, BUT JUDGE WHETHER PEOPLE ARE DEALING IN GOOD FAITH OR NOT. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. NEXT RAIN EATON. [02:05:14] GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING I AM VERY INVESTED IN YOUR SUCCESS AS OUR MAYOR BECAUSE IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SUCCESSFUL AS A WHOLE. THAT BEING SAID, I REALLY DO HAVE ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT THE NORTHEAST MULTI-SERVICE CENTER CONTINUES TO BE CLOSED DURING TIMES OF NEED. THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER ACTUALLY OPENED IN 2008, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN, UM, FOR AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN, HAS NOT BEEN ACTIVATED AS A COOLING CENTER, NOR HAS IT BEEN UTILIZED AS A PLACE OF REFUGE IN THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY. UM, FOR AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, THIS IS IN WINTER STORM URI. THIS IS IN EMELDA. THIS IS IN IKE. THIS IS IN THE RECENT STORMS THAT WE'VE HAD. IT WAS A DISTRIBUTION CENTER. IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE A DISTRIBUTION SITE, BUT RESIDENTS STILL COULD NOT UTILIZE THAT CENTER. FURTHERMORE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM REALLY FINDING AND HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IS WHY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT ABLE TO VOLUNTEER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE COOLING CENTERS AND WITH THESE, UH, UH, DISTRIBUTION SITES. UM, THE ACRES HOME MUL, UH, THE ACRES HOMES COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUP ACTUALLY TRIED TO DONATE WATER TO THE ACRES HOME MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IN PREPARATION FOR THE COOLING CENTERS THAT WERE GOING TO BE OPEN. AND WE WERE DENIED BECAUSE THERE WERE PROCESSES THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD THAT DID NOT ALIGN WITH A VISION OF HAVING PEOPLE ACTUALLY READILY DONATE THINGS. UM, DURING THE STORM, THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT HAD TO BE VETTED OUT BY A VENDOR VETTED OUT BY, UH, THE CENTER ITSELF. AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ONCE AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO THE AT LARGEST AND OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A GREAT PLACE IN HELPING THEM SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE REGULARLY ENGAGE WITH ON A DAILY BASIS. BUT AS OUR MAYOR, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO GET THEM UNDER THAT SAME AUSPICE OF UNDERSTANDING? BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE NOT REALLY, UM, OPERATING IN THAT SENSE OF SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE NONPROFITS, NOT THE, THE TOP FIVE THAT ARE ALWAYS CALLED FOR DISASTER RELIEF. BUT THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, THESE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, ARE LIKE OURS, ARE DOING THE WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. MAKING SURE THAT THEY, WE UNDERSTAND WHETHER THEIR NEEDS ARE, AND WE'RE DOING THE DOUBLE WORK OF BEING THE LIAISON IN SOME CASES BETWEEN THE NEW RESIDENTS AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON ALL LEVELS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE MET. BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT SAME LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION DOESN'T HAPPEN FROM DEPARTMENT DEPART TO DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE READILY AVAILABLE LIKE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE EAGER TO HEAR HOW WE CAN ASSIST WITH THEM. BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER PROCESSES, WE ALWAYS GET A SENSE OF THIS IS HOW THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE. THESE ARE THE PROCESSES THAT HAVE ALWAYS WORKED FOR US IN THE PAST. BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BOLDER IN HOW WE ENGAGE WITH OUR RESIDENTS. WE'RE NOT EXPECTING YOU TO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS. SOME OF US ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWERS OF HOW OUR COMMUNITIES CAN BE SERVED. WE JUST NEED YOU TO AT LEAST RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE US AS EXPERTS SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR THE LONGEST. VERY GOOD. EXCUSE ME. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU RAIN FOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, I SHARE YOUR YOUR CONCERN ABOUT, UM, JUST HAVING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, MAN, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS WHEN THEY ARE UP. MM-HMM . I DID HAVE SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH DIRECTOR WILLIAMS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING NONPROFITS TO, UM, MAN, AND BECAUSE I KNOW LIKE THE REASON WHY THEY'RE SOMETIMES SHUT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE STAFF. AND SO, AND NONPROFITS ARE, UM, 16 YEARS OF NO STAFF. BUT YES. AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR DISTRICT IS, IS EAGER AND READY TO PITCH IN. AND SO HE'S, HE'S THINKING ABOUT IT AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE PROCESS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND I'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT JOSEPH BALLARD. BEHIND THESE PEOPLE HERE, IT'S TOUGH. GOOD. EVEN HOW Y'ALL DOING? AND THEY TELLING THE TRUTH. ESPECIALLY TO MY BROTHER FROM, FROM, UH, NORTHWOOD MAN. NORTHWOOD MAN. LIKE A GHOST TOWN. ARE YOU SPEAKING TO THE MIC? IT LOOK LIKE A WAR ZONE. EVERYTHING THAT BROTHER SAID IS TRUE. I'VE HAD PEOPLE CALL ME AND IT'S NOT EVEN MY, WHAT I COME TO SPEAK ON, IT'S JUST SO MUCH THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE TO DEAL WITH. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WE AGREED [02:10:01] TO DISAGREE. SHE CALLED ME I THINK AT 12 O'CLOCK, ONE O'CLOCK ONE NIGHT. HELL, I WAS TIRED. I HAD TO LEAVE MY HOUSE, GO TO FIFTH WARD TO HELP CUT TREES FOR FREE, SPEND FIVE, $600 ON, ON CHAINS GAS TO GO DO SOMETHING. I HADN'T EVEN DONE MY HOUSE YET. FENCE GONE TREE GONE ROOF TORE UP. SHE CALLED ME, WHAT CAN I DO? I WAS SO TIRED. I COULDN'T EVEN ANSWER LIGHT'S. BEEN OUT A WHOLE WEEK. HIDE IN THE HOUSE. I TOUGHED IT OUT. ATE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE. I DON'T EAT TO TO LIVE. I ATE TO SURVIVE. UH, GOT A TREE, FELL DOWN ACROSS THE STREET. MY NEIGHBORS, I GOT MY CHAINSAW, I GOT THERE AND CUT THE, SO JUST IN CASE EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAD TO COME THROUGH, IT WOULDN'T BE BLOCKED. IT'S A LOT. AND LIKE I I, I'VE, I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE SO MANY TIMES AND I'VE SAID, ONLY WAY IT GONNA MAKE Y'ALL SUCCESSFUL IN THIS HORSESHOE. YOU GOT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY LIAISON. NOT A COMMUNITY LIAISON THAT WORK FOR Y'ALL IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY THAT GIVE Y'ALL INFORMATION WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. WE DON'T NEED Y'ALL TO COME OUT THERE AND, AND PASS OUT WATER TO, TO GET ON THE CAMERA. WE PASS OUT WATER EVERY DAY. YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET WITH THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU CAN TRUST, THAT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU. AND THEN YOU COME OUT AND, AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. WE CAN HELP NEIGHBORS. HELP NEIGHBORS. IN MY COMMUNITY, IT'S LIKE 200 AND SOMETHING HOUSES, MAN. I'VE BEEN CUTTING TREES. LOOK AT MY HANDS. I I DON'T EVEN HAVE BLISTERS ON MY HANDS. I GOT BLISTERS ON MY HAND NOW FROM WORKING, CUTTING TREES, MOVING DEBRIS, FENCES, TRAMPOLINES, WHAT YOU NAME IT, I'VE DONE, I GOT A BOX SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN, CAN DUMP IN THE BOX THAT I GOT TO PAY FOR $700 SITTING FOR. I I SHOW YOU ON MY CAMERA. YOU THINK I'M LYING? SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR THE, FOR MY COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND DUMP THEIR TRASH. BUT THAT WHAT, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT I, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I I DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE FOR THAT. I JUST, I WANTED, I WANTED, THERE'S SO MUCH. I WANTED TO THANK TASHA FOR CALLING. 'CAUSE WE HAD, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SEWER TOO RUNNING. I'M TALKING BLACK FECES IS RUNNING IN ALL THE YARDS. SHE CAME OUT, SHE SENT A CREW OUT. THE WHOLE CREW CAME OUT. THEY PUT A GENERATOR IN THE PUMP STATION. THEY WASHED THE STREET DOWN WITH, WITH DISINFECTED. I, I STILL SMELL LIKE IT. I I, I DIDN'T USE IT. BUT HERE'S WHAT I COME, HERE'S WHAT I COME DOWN HERE FOR. I HAD TO STOP DOING WHAT I WAS DOING YESTERDAY. 'CAUSE MY SISTER GOT SICK. KATHY, KATHY DANGS, BLUFORD, SHE GOT SICK AND SHE NEEDED, SHE CALLED, SHE CALLED ME. I COULDN'T GET TO HER 'CAUSE I WAS DEEP INTO A TREE. THREE I SAY CALLED EMS. SHE CALLED EMS 'CAUSE MY, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, HE'S GOT COUNSELOR, YOU KNOW, HE CAN'T DO NOTHING. HE, HE'S GOING TRYING TO HELP HER. SO WHEN I FINALLY GOT OUT THERE, EMS IS THERE. THIS GUY WAS SO DISRESPECTFUL. SO, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T CATCH THE WIND OF IT UNTIL I GOT TO, TO METHODIST HOSPITAL. HE TOLD MY SISTER HE COULDN'T TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL. THAT'S WHAT YOU SUPPOSED TO DO. I SAID, JUST TELL HIM THAT. WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE HER. WE GOT PLENTY OF CALLS, WE'LL TAKE HER. BUT I'M THINKING, WHAT IF SOMETHING, SHE HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR SOMETHING, THEN WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO? SHE GONNA DIE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SO THIS GUY WAS REAL RUDE. SO WHEN WE GET, WHEN I GET TO METHODIST, THE WHOLE STAFF, THE WHOLE EMERGENCY ROOM STAFF, EVEN, UH, MOLLY COOK. YOU CAN, YOU CAN ASK HER THIS GUY MOLLY COOK THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S, I THINK SHE'S TAKING YOUR SPOT FROM, FROM WASHINGTON, AUSTIN OR WHEREVER, WHEREVER IT IS. MOLLY COOK. SO, UH, THE WHOLE STAFF IN THE MEDICAL IN ER COULD NOT STAND. THIS GUY, THIS GUY IS SO DISRESPECTFUL. DO YOU HAVE HIS NAME? I I'VE GAVE IT TO MY COUNCIL PERSON. WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO MY STAFF AND WE'LL MAKE A REVIEW. THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. [02:15:01] YOU'VE DONE YOUR JOB. GIVE US HIS NAME AND WE WILL, UH, CONTACT THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD NO, THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR IT. IT, IT'S NOT. AND, AND I, I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN THEY GO OUT AND DO STUFF, THEY, YOU, YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT'S, THAT'S EITHER ON DRUGS OR, OR GOT A MENTAL ISSUE. NO, NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT. BUT, BUT LISTEN IS WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THEY, THAT THEY GO THROUGH IT, THEY, IT TAKE A LOT OF CRAP. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT WHEN YOU SEND SOMEBODY TO YOUR HOUSE OR EMERGENCY VEHICLE TO YOUR HOUSE, BUT YOU COULD PICK A PERSON UP ON THE STREET WITH NO PROBLEM AND TAKE 'EM TO THE HOSPITAL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE. OKAY. IF YOU'LL GIVE MY ASSISTANT THE NAME, WE'LL REVIEW IT. OKAY. AND SEE IF HE WAS HAVING A BAD DAY OR NO, IT, IT IS NOT A BAD DAY FOR, FOR I WAS GONNA SAY A BAD DAY OR DOES HE NEED MORE TRAINING OR IS HE IN THE WRONG JOB? HE IN THE WRONG JOB. WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. IT'S DEFINITELY THE WRONG JOB. 'CAUSE HOW, HOW MANY, HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HE DONE DID LIKE THAT, SIR? HOW MANY, HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE? HE DID LIKE THAT? I DON'T KNOW. YOU BRING THEM TO OUR ATTENTION. WE'LL DEAL WITH EVEN, EVEN HIS, EVEN HIS, HIS COWORKER WAS, WAS, YOU KNOW, WELL WE WON'T TOLERATE THAT. OKAY. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU, UM, MR. BALLER FOR COMING IN. I DID, UM, FORWARD YOUR COMPLAINT TO CHIEF PENA. PENA. OKAY. AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE FOLLOWED UP WITH YOU GUYS YET. I GUESS NOT. BUT HE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP AND I'LL BE MONITORING THAT AS WELL. UM, AND THEN ALSO MAY I WANTED TO BRING UP, AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SEWER. YES. UM, UM, YOU ACTUALLY LET US KNOW ABOUT THE SEWER THE VERY NEXT DAY. AND I, I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE NEXT DAY. UM, RANDY HAD THE TEAM OUT THERE. MS. MARY. YEAH. WELL, SO WE, WE, WE, YOU LET US KNOW THAT'S A PROBLEM AND WE GET IT TO THE DEPARTMENT. YEAH. AND THE DEPARTMENT GOT RIGHT OUT THERE AND TOOK CARE OF IT. AND HE SENT ME A TEXT MESSAGE. I WANT TO THANK SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO YES. WENT OUT AND TOOK CARE OF THE SIT THE SITUATION. WE HAVE LORENZO SEALS, DEVON RAIN. YES. OUR STANLEY, JOSE ZO. HE SAID HE WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY DID A GREAT JOB. AND SO THAT'S HOW IT WORKED. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. YEAH. WE GET INTO THE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND THEN THEY GET ON THE SITUATION. AND SO SOMETIME IT'S NOT AS FAST AS YOU GUYS, BUT THIS WAS PRETTY FAST. AND SO WAS, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED THAT THEY, I WAS MOVING THAT FAST, YOU KNOW, AFTER POST, UM, POST STORM. SO, UM, JUST KNOW THAT I'M HERE AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH CHIEF FINNER, NOT CHIEF FINNER PENA. OKAY. ON YOUR, UM, SITUATION. OKAY. CAN WE HELP? OKAY. AND YEAH. KATHY, HOW'S SHE DOING? SHE, THEY, THEY KEEP ME UP FOR ONE MORE NIGHT. SHE'S OKAY. YEAH. SHE, THEY RUNNING SOME MORE TESTS ON HER. OKAY. LET HER KNOW. SHE'S IN OUR PRAYERS. BUT I, YOU KNOW, MAY I, I APPRECIATE IT. LIKE WHEN, IF WE CAN GET TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR WHEN WE, WHEN WE KNOW WE GOT STORMS COMING, WE GOT DISASTERS COMING, WHATEVER, WHATEVER'S COMING THAT WE CAN BE PREPARED THAT WE CAN HELP OUR NEIGHBORS. WE GOT A LOT OF ELDERLY NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT NEED HELP OR OXYGEN OR, OR INSULIN OR, OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, NEED GENERATORS. I, I LOAN MY GENERATORS OUT SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, USE 'EM. BUT WE, WE NEED TO, WE NEED, WE NEED TO STEP IT UP, MAN. VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCILMAN FLICKER. JUST WANTED TO DOVETAIL ON COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON'S COMMENTS. UH, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SEWAGE RUNNING OUT. YEAH. UM, PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE. THOSE GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN. OH, MANY JOHNNY ON THE SPOT, JUST A MATTER OF HOW MUCH EQUIPMENT AND HOW MANY LIFT STATIONS. SO YEAH, THEY, JOHNNY ON THE SPOT. I I CAN, I CAN, I CAN AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. YEAH. SAD NEWS IS IT DIDN'T JUST START. BUT ANYWAY, WE'LL BE ON TOP OF IT. IT'S PART OF NATURE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IT'S, IT IS NOT LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON WENT OUT THERE AND CUT THE GENERATORS OFF. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YEAH. YEAH. AND PEOPLE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY WE NEED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN STUFF LIKE THIS HAPPENS, WE CAN HELP IN THE COMMUNITY OURSELVES UNTIL THE CITY CAN GET TO US. SURE, SURE. UH, WHATEVER. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YES, SIR. YES, SIR. WE, WE NEED THAT. GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT. UH, GIVE US THE, THE NAME OF THE, UM, OFFICER. THANK YOU. I, I SENT IT TO MY C LADY. SHE OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILOR JACKSON HAS A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPENDED RULES TO MOVE CRYSTAL MOHAM. UM, UP IN, IS IT IN FRONT OF, HUH? FOLLOWING DAKA SIMPSON. WE NEED A SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT DANICA SIMPSON. GOOD. A GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I AM [02:20:01] HERE BECAUSE OF HURRICANE BARREL, AND I'M NOT GONNA VENT THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT I HAVE 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. BUT WHAT I DO HAVE FOR YOU ALL IS A RECOMMENDATION OR A PROPOSAL THAT SOME TYPE OF COMMISSION OR PANEL BE CONVENED WITH NONPROFIT LEADERS, CITY LEADERS, COUNTY LEADERS, AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HAVE A DISASTER PLAN IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN DO THE COLLABORATION THAT EVERYONE IS SPEAKING ABOUT THAT IS NEEDED. I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO DRAFT SOME OF MY OWN THOUGHTS, AND I WILL BE SENDING IT TO EACH OF YOU VIA EMAIL AFTER THIS MEETING. BUT JUST A QUICK, UH, A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT I'VE PUT DOWN. I FIRST OF ALL THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE EVACUATIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MOST NEED. WHEN IT WAS, WHEN IT WAS EVIDENT THAT CENTERPOINT WAS LYING TO US ABOUT WHEN THESE LIGHTS WERE GONNA BE BACK ON, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME TYPE OF PLAN IN PLACE TO EVACUATE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON LIFE-SAVING DEVICES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NURSING HOMES, OR WHO HAVE LIMITED MOBILITY AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. WE NEED TO COORDINATE THAT WITH METRO. WE CAN COORDINATE IT WITH VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO USE THEIR BUSES. AND WE CAN ALSO COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTY TO USE THE COMMISSIONER'S BUSES TO GET PEOPLE, IF IT IS, IF THEY ARE STAYING IN TOWN, TO GET THEM TO THE COOLING CENTERS OR IF THEY NEED TO GO OUT OF TOWN TO GET THEM OUT OF TOWN. WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF COORDINATED EFFORT TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO COOLING CENTERS AND TO DISTRIBUTION CENTERS. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THIS SET UP, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET THERE, THAT'S NOT REALLY HELPING YOU. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME WAY TO DO THAT. WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT A WAY TO PROVIDE FOOD AND WATER TO COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THESE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS. WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF FOOD TRUCKS AROUND HERE. WE CAN WORK WITH THE FOOD BANKS. AND I KNOW THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION NAMED TARGET HUNGER THAT HAS SOME MOBILE, UH, GROCERY STORES, AND I THINK THEY HAVE SOME MOBILE COOKING THINGS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE TO TAKE TO AREAS SUCH AS NORTHWOOD MANOR THAT MAY BE IN, UH, DIRE NEED. I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO FIND SOME KIND OF EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE WHAT IS AVAILABLE, WHAT, WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE AND WHERE IT IS AVAILABLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET IN MY CAR AND CHARGE MY PHONE TO BE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION, BUT THE INTERNET WAS SPOTTY AND PHONE SERVICE WAS VERY DISRUPTIVE DURING THE HURRICANE. SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PLAN IN PLACE TO WORK WITH COMMUNICATIONS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE MEDIA, USING SATELLITE RADIO OR WHATEVER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED. AND THEN WE ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE, UM, IF THERE'S A NEED FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING, WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN TEMPORARY HOUSES, SHELTERS, OR HOTELS. UM, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THIS, WE'RE THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE THIRD MOST POPULOUS COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT OUR ENTITIES SEEM TO BE OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY. THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER CONVENING THIS PANEL TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. . OKAY. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SESSION, WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WE WERE HONORING AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MOON LANDING AND EVERYTHING. AND I THINK IT IS KIND OF EMBARRASSING FOR US THAT WE ARE IN THE CITY WHERE THE ENGINEERS WERE ABLE TO PUT A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE TO SAVE THE ASTRONAUTS ON APOLLO 13. BUT WE CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP OUR CITIZENS HERE IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, JUST A MOMENT. SORRY. MAYOR PROTE CASTEX TATUM. MS. SIMPSON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK THAT YOU'VE, UM, GIVEN US, UH, SOME, SOME REALLY GOOD VALUE ADDED, UH, CONVERSATION. UM, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TAKEAWAYS FROM, UH, WHAT HAS HAPPENED THROUGH TROPICAL STORM BARREL. UM, I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HURRICANE, UH, BARREL. I KNOW THAT, UH, PEOPLE HAVE, UM, TALKED ABOUT WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING FOR THEM, WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE. AND ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK IS VALUE ADDED FOR, FOR US. OKAY? WE WANT TO WORK WITH MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A COHESIVE, UM, PREPAREDNESS PLAN. UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS ALL HAVE HOSTED, YOU KNOW, HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS EVENTS. UM, WE HAD, UM, 3 1, 1 WAS AVAILABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEEDED TO MOVE. UH, WE'VE GOTTA WORK ON OUR MESSAGING. WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON COMMUNICATION, UM, SO THAT IT CAN BE SEAMLESS FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND WE NEED HELP FROM PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE, UM, FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT ALL OF THE COMMUNICATION [02:25:01] THAT WE SENT OUT, UM, ALMOST EVERY DAY FROM OUR OFFICE. I STILL HAD PEOPLE SAYING I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND MY, AND MY PHONE SERVICE WAS SPOTTY ON AT T AND MY INTERNET SERVICE WAS, WAS SPOTTY. UM, SO IT IS, IT IS DEFINITELY, UH, A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO, TO FIGURE OUT. UM, AND WE NEED TO BE BETTER PREPARED. AND THE WAY THAT WE WILL BE BETTER PREPARED IS THROUGH COLLABORATING, ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE WHO LIKE YOURSELF, WHO, WHO CAN BRING, YOU KNOW, VALUE ADDED SUGGESTIONS FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE, UM, ALL THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DO TO HELP US BE A BETTER CITY. OKAY? UH, COUNCIL MCC CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MS. SIMPSON FOR COMING. AND, AND ALSO TOO, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE ON YOUR NONPROFIT AND SERVICE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HAVE REALLY PARTNER WITH EVERYONE IN THE CITY TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR, UH, WHAT I CALL A RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY PLAN, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS. AND WHEN I CAME TO THE TABLE, I THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN PLACE, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT WE DON'T, AND WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY CENTERS AND RESILIENCY CENTERS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT HAS NO GENERATOR POWER, AND WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, PLUGS TO PLUG TWO PHONES IN. AND IT'S LIKE, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED. AND I THINK THERE'S NOT A SINGLE SOUL AROUND THE HORSESHOE THAT, THAT WOULD NOT AGREE WITH THAT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO HEARING YOU OUT AND, AND ACTUALLY, UH, LISTENING TO YOU AND, AND HELPING GET SOME OF THIS IN PLACE. SO THANKS FOR COMING DOWN. MM-HMM . VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE NEXT, DONALD. RIGHT? MAYOR, I'M NOT FINNA GET ON YOU. I'M ACTUALLY GONNA ASK YOU TO HELP WITH YOUR, UH, CONNECTION WITH THE STATE. WE HAVE A SOLUTION THAT'S GONNA ENCOMPASS EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT, THIS PACE PROGRAM. IT CAN BE EXPANDED BEYOND COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL AS WELL. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT CALIFORNIA HAZARD. IT, THIS WOULD ALLOW HOUSTON TO TRAIN ABOUT 100,000 WORKERS ON HOW TO DO SOLAR. WE CAN DO, WE, WE NEED TO HAVE, EVERY HOUSE NEEDS TO HAVE SOLAR PANELS AND GENERS. YOU'RE GONNA TRAIN THE WORKFORCE. WE HAVE AN UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. WE NEED TO TRAIN THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED ON HOW TO INSTALL SOLAR. HOW TO DO THOSE. THIS IS GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PLUMBING TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE GAS LINES TO DO THE GENERAC. WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT PACE PROGRAM BY EXECUTIVE ORDER TO RESIDENTIAL, NOT JUST COMMERCIAL, BECAUSE THAT, AND THAT'S GONNA BRING TAX DOLLARS TO THE CITY AS WELL, BECAUSE PACE IS NOT A LOAN. THEY GET PRIVATE FUNDING AND THEN IT PAYS BACK THROUGH THE TAXES OVER 30 YEARS. THIS WAY, WE CAN GET JOBS FOR PEOPLE, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED, WE WILL HAVE 100,000 WORKERS. I DID THE MATH 1200, I MEAN 12,000 UTILITY PEOPLE COMING FROM, UH, AMARILLO, ALL THESE PLACES. WE COULD HAVE HAD PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON ALREADY TRAINED, READY TO GO IN 48 HOURS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING YEAR ROUND INSTALLING THE SOLAR OR, OR IN THE GENERAC SYSTEMS, WHEN THE DISASTER COMES, THEY CAN GET IN THERE AND FIX THOSE PROBLEMS. I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS, 2 MILLION PEOPLE, UH, 12,000 WORKERS. IT TOOK THEM 68 AT THAT. THE RATE THEY WAS GOING, IT WAS GONNA TAKE 17 TO 14 DAYS. WE STARTED THAT MATH IN THE BEGINNING. WELL, IF YOU GOT A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO HAVE SKILLS THAT COULD GET IN THERE, WE WOULD, WE CAN HAVE OUR POWER UP IN 48 HOURS BECAUSE IT'S NOT, IF IT'S WHEN THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY BUSY HURRICANE SEASON, IT SAYS IT'S GONNA BE DOUBLE THAN WHAT THEY EXPECTED. THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN START IMPLEMENTING NOW AND EXECUTIVE ORDER, GETTING AT PACE TO GO, NOT JUST TO THE COMMERCIAL, BUT ALLOW TO EVERY PROPERTY OWNER. AND YOU CAN START WITH THE CITY. LIKE THE CITY BUILDINGS WE'VE IDENTIFIED, WE GOING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND EVERY YEAR IS A HURRICANE. WE, WE, THE LAST PLACE IN SOUTH PARK, SUNNYSIDE, I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S GETTING IT, BUT I KNOW RIGHT NOW AN ELDERLY LADY AND AN ELDERLY MAN IN WHEELCHAIRS BEEN SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS TO TODAY. AND THEY JUST GOT A TEXT TALKING ABOUT THEY MIGHT GET POWER ON FRIDAY. THAT'S TWO WEEKS IN THE WHEELCHAIR WE WAS AT. WE HAVE COMMON SENSE. I'M LOOKING AT THE POWER LINES NOW. WE, WE HAVE COMMON SENSE WHERE WE CAN SEE, EVEN IF YOU CLEAR THE TREES, WHAT ABOUT THE TREES THAT'S KNOCKED DOWN IN SOMEBODY'S BACKYARD? WE, THEY KNOW WHAT THE TREES ARE KNOCKED ON THEIR BACKYARD. EVERYBODY ELSE GOT POWER AROUND THEM. HAVE THEM SIGN A WAIVER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND CUT THE TREES AND AND, AND GET THEY POWER BACK UP. IT'S TOO MANY PEOPLE, EVERYBODY SITTING HERE HAD SOMETHING THAT, UH, A SOLUTION. BUT YOU COULD MAKE [02:30:01] THAT CHANGE BY, BY GETTING THE, THE LETTER ELECTED OFFICIALS TOGETHER AND MAKE THAT PACE PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS, NOT JUST COMMERCIAL. AND THOSE WITH BIG BUSINESS. AND WE WOULD, WE COULD BE A SOLAR CITY. WE HAVE OUR OWN GRID EVERY, IMAGINE IF EVERYBODY GOT SOLAR AND A GENERAC IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE WHOLE GULF REGION. BUT LET'S START RIGHT HERE. PACES ALREADY EXIST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS YES. THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. GO TO THE RESTROOM. OKAY. MEMBER CARTER, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. NO, I, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND THE CITY ALSO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATING MICROGRIDS AND A LOT OF OTHER INNOVATIVE THINGS THAT WE CAN BE DOING. SO THANK YOU. I BELIEVE, AND I COULD BE MISTAKEN, I DON'T WANNA SAY SOMETHING ON THE RECORD THAT'S NOT ACCURATE, BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTUALLY AUTHORIZES THE PACE PROGRAM, AND IT IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND IT IS AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL, HOWEVER, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND THE STATE HAS TO AUTHORIZE IT FOR CITIES. AND UNDER THE TEXAS PACE ACT, UH, I DON'T THINK IT YET APPLIES TO INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL. IT'S FIVE OR MORE HOMES. IT COULD, BUT IT CAN BE. IT COULD BE BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN CALIFORNIA DID IT, SEE I WAS, WE WERE MONITORING THIS YEARS AGO. YEAH. AND SO I SO THE LEGISLATORS CHOSE TO ONLY MAKE IT FOR COMMERCIAL. EXACTLY. THAT'S WHY I SAY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR CAN MAKE IT FOR RESIDENTIAL. RIGHT. AND I ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S AN EMERGENCY. YES, MA'AM. AND THAT'S WHY I WANNA, ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY, UM, EVEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF VEGETATION HAS BEEN PREEMPTED UNDER STATE LAW FOR THE MOST PART. SO IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT AS A MUNICIPALITY TO ADD IN CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE THE RIGHT FIT FOR HOUSTON WHEN AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THAT AUTHORITY. SO ANY, LOOK, I I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WANT THIS TYPE OF INPUT AND VALUE ADD AND ARE ALIGNED. AND I'M, I'M, I'M, HEY, YOU STILL GOT 2 MILLION PEOPLE. I'M WITH YOU. THERE'S 2 MILLION VOTERS. THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE STATE NEED TO HEAR OUR VOICE. YES. IF EVERY LAST ONE OF Y'ALL HAVE A INPUT, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, AND THEN THE PEOPLE GONNA BE BEHIND IT, I MEAN, IT MAKES SENSE. WE CAN'T LOOK ONE DEATH IS TOO MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. AND, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S, IT IS GONNA GET WORSE. AND WE'VE KNOWN IT'S GONNA GET WORSE. SO WHAT IS THE STATE DOING TO IMPROVE THAT? SO I, I ASK EVERYONE HERE, WE'RE WITH YOU AND WE WANNA WORK WITH YOU AND COME UP WITH HOUSTON SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS, BUT WE ALSO, WE ARE ADDING OUR VOICE TO AUSTIN, BUT WE NEED YOU ALL TO BE ADDING YOUR VOICE THERE AS WELL. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE. DON'T, DON'T TALK. DON'T PUT IT BACK ON ME. I'M HERE TO PUT IT ON Y'ALL. WE ARE DOING IT. WE'RE HERE. OUR VOICE. CERTAINLY. I SAYING Y'ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, THE CAPACITY. WE GOT IT. I APPRECIATE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, LIKE RIGHT NOW, JUST IMAGINE WE TAKE, JUST SAY JUST ROUND 10, 10 COMMUNITIES AND YOU GOT ONGOING JOB TRAINING THAT'S GONNA CUT THE CRIME. NOW IT'S STUFF THAT CAN GET DONE RIGHT NOW AND WE GONNA INCREASE THE, THE, UM, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, THE INCREASE THE PROPERTY. I MEAN, THE POVERTY LEVEL WILL GO DOWN. I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA KILL SO MANY BIRDS WITH ONE STONE WITH THIS. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I AGREE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BARBARA BAZAR. BARBARA BAZAR. HELLO, MS. BAZAR. HELLO. MY MOTHER IS A RESIDENT AT SHARPVIEW RESIDENCE AND REHABILITATION CENTER. AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON HER BEHALF AND ON THE BEHALF OF THE VULNERABLE SENIOR CITIZENS OF THIS CITY WHO ARE CONTINUING TO SUFFER FROM THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA AND THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION REGARDING PRIORITIZED POWER RESTORATION AFTER THE STORM. SPECIFICALLY UNACCEPTABLE AS THE SENSE OF ABANDONMENT FELT BY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SPENT HOURS ON HOLD WITH CENTER POINT AND 3 1 1. THE MENTAL ANGUISH FELT BY THE ADULT CHILDREN AND NURSES AND THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AFTER BEING DISCONNECTED FROM CALLS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. I MYSELF CALLED AND EMAILED ENDLESSLY UNTIL I FELT INVISIBLE. AND SO I THEN OUT REACHED OUT TO ALL LOCAL NEWS STATIONS AND MY ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PAUL POLLARD FOR YOUR FOLLOW UP WITH ME. I NAIVELY THOUGHT THAT SHARPVIEW HAD JUST BEEN SIMPLY OVERLOOKED AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MISTAKE. I THEN LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS SENIOR CARE FACILITIES IN THIS CITY HAD RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION FROM CENTERPOINT. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL TO SHARPVIEW, I FOUND THAT THE NURSING STAFF AND ITS DIRECTOR WERE WORKING [02:35:01] TIRELESSLY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD TO CARE FOR ITS 86 RESIDENTS, THE DIRECTOR, ITS HEAD OF NURSING, AND SEVERAL OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WERE SLEEPING AT THE NURSING HOME IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RESET THE BREAKER THAT WAS BEING TRIPPED FROM THE STRAIN OF THE GENERATOR. I MYSELF CHARGED 15 CELL PHONES OF RESIDENTS WITH MY JACKY SOLAR POWER GENERATOR. AND ALTHOUGH THE NURSES AND THE ADMINISTRATORS PUT ON THEIR SUPERHERO CAPES AND THEY WORKED MIRACLES, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO DO SO UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. IT IS NOT OKAY TO INFLICT THIS TYPE OF STRESS UPON THE ELDERLY, THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THEIR LOVED ONES. IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF ELDER ABUSE. DURING THE JULY 7TH HURRICANE BARREL WEATHER ALERT, UM, PRESS CONFERENCE, OUR MAYOR EXPRESSED HIS EXPECTATION THAT THE SENIOR CITIZENS OF HOUSTON BE CHECKED ON AND TAKEN CARE OF. WE MUST ESTABLISH A DEDICATED HOTLINE PROTOCOL BETWEEN NURSING HOME CITIES, CITY OFFICIALS, AND UTILITY COMPANIES. WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT NURSING HOMES RECEIVE PRIORITY ACCESS TO FUEL SUPPLIES FOR THEIR GENERATORS. ALLOCATE CITY RESOURCES TO ASSIST WITH GENERATOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE OUTAGES. NURSING HOMES MUST RECEIVE PRIORITIZED RESOURCE ALLOCATION. PLEASE INVEST IN MOBILE POWER UNITS THAT CAN BE QUICKLY DEPLOYED TO SENIOR FACILITIES UNTIL POWER IS RESTORED. THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF CENTER POINT TO PRIORITIZE OUR CITIES, NURSING HOMES, HOSPICE CARE NURSES, HOME HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND OUR CITIES SICK, ELDERLY, AND VULNERABLE IS CRIMINAL. RED RHETORIC WILL NOT RESTORE OXYGEN OR HEART MONITORS, CPAP MACHINES, ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS, OR THE SENSE OF WELLBEING AND SECURITY THAT COMES FROM OUR SENIOR CITIZENS KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABANDONED OR FORGOTTEN BY OUR CITY OFFICIALS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. BALTAZAR FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM AND MS. BALTAZAR. UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, ON BEHALF OF SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP, I APOLOGIZE TO YOU AND MANY OF THE OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAD TO SUFFER THROUGH WHAT THEY DID NOT NEED TO SUFFER THROUGH OR HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH, UH, THIS PAST WEEK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SENIORS, UM, AND THOSE WHO ARE LESS VULNERABLE. IT'S BEEN A FRUSTRATING WEEK FOR ME. UM, NOT ONLY NOT HAVING POWER, BUT LEARNING OF THE MANY SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES WITHIN MY DISTRICT THAT WERE NOT BEING PRIORITIZED. AND IT WAS JUST NOT MY DISTRICT LEARNING THAT ALL OVER THE CITY, THERE WERE SENIOR LIVING CENTERS, UH, IN PLACES THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE PRIORITIZED THAT WERE NOT. UH, AND THEN SENIORS WHO ARE ACTUALLY LIVING IN HOMES IN PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION OR MAY NOT HAVE SMARTPHONES OR SOME OF THESE AMENITIES, UH, THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. UH, IT WAS A FAILURE ON MANY LEVELS. UM, AND TOMORROW I'LL PROBABLY SPEAK TO IT. UH, WE NEED TO DO BETTER. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. LIVES ARE COUNTING ON US TO DO BETTER. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE. TELL YOUR FAMILY THAT, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. I'M GLAD THAT ONCE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SITUATION, WE WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE COULD TO GET RESTORATION, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THAT LIMIT JUST FOR THAT SERVICE. SO, UM, CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, UH, WHEN YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH TO 3 1 1, UH, WHICH FOR WHATEVER REASON IS, IS, IS FACING SOME CHALLENGES. UH, HAVE US BE YOUR FIRST POINT OF CONTACT AND WE'LL DO ALL WE CAN TO SERVICE YOU. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR FOLLOW UP. UM, OUT OF THE COUNTLESS PHONE CALLS, YOUR CALL WAS ONE OF TWO THAT WERE RETURNED. WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO DO BETTER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. BALTAZAR, AND BEST WISHES TO YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. RONALD BENITEZ. RONALD BENITEZ. NEXT SPEAKER, JOY FITZPATRICK. JOY FITZPATRICK. NEXT SPEAKER. PETER CONTRERAS. PETER CONTRARE. NEXT SPEAKER ANN MARIE SMITH. HELLO, MS. SMITH. HI. YOU CAN PULL THAT DOWN. YEAH. 'CAUSE I'M SURE. THERE YOU GO. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER EX EXERCISING [02:40:01] THIS CIVIC. RIGHT. UM, BUT I'M HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUYING EXTRA GENERATORS, ALL OF THESE NONPROFITS THAT NEED TO BE STEPPING IN, IN CASE OF THESE EMERGENCIES HAPPENING. BUT I THINK THE FOCUS IS NOT ON WHAT IT SHOULD BE. CENTER POINT SHOULD BE THE ONE HELD RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE FREEZE HAPPENED. THEY UPPED OUR COST TO COVER THE REPAIRS. WHEN THEY ARE A BILLION DOLLAR PRIVATE COMPANY. A PUBLIC, LIKE A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT IS PROFIT FOCUSED, SHOULD NOT BE IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC SERVICES. THEY SHOULD NOT HOLD THE KEYS TO THE ELECTRICAL KINGDOM AND THEN CHARGE US FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROFIT, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROFIT GOING JUST TO THEIR CEO, JUST JUST TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS. AND THEY'RE MORE BEHOLDEN TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS THAN THEY ARE TO US SITTING IN THE DARK, IN THE HEAT. AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR US TO BE GOING ON A WEEK WITHOUT POWER. ELDERLY, SICK, YOUNG CHILDREN IN HOUSTON, HEAT WITHOUT POWER WHILE THEIR BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY HOARDS THEIR PROFITS IS NOT, NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT, OH, THIS WAS A HORRIBLE HURRICANE. IT WAS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE, AND IT WAS A B HURRICANE. IT WAS, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A HURRICANE SEASON, GUYS. WE ARE NOT NEW TO THIS. RIGHT? ALL OF OUR BIG HURRICANES, KATRINA, IKE, HARVEY, THEY ARE DOWN THE ALPHABET. WE ARE IN B IN A CATEGORY ONE, IT SHOULD NOT TAX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THIS MUCH. IF A, IF A COMPANY IS ACTUALLY TAKING CARE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROPERLY, THEN A CATEGORY ONE WOULD NOT DECIMATE IT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT SEEMS TO, THEY DON'T PAY FOR OR CARE FOR THE, THE LINES AND THE TREES THAT ARE HINDERING OUR LINES AND LIKE THE TREES THAT ARE FALLING ON OUR LINES AND KEEPING THEM FROM FIXING THINGS, AND THEY'RE RAKING IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PROFIT. I THINK THAT IT IS MORE THAN PAST TIME THAT A PRIVATE COMPANY CONTROLS OUR ENERGY. AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP. AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW, LIKE, LIKE I SAID, FIRST TIME DOING THIS, JUST, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THIS WOULD WORK, BUT I, I VAGUELY REMEMBER US HAVING A COMPANY CALLED HPN AND LHL, YEAH. HLMP. AND THEIR PROFITS WERE REQUIRED TO GO BACK INTO CARING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THAT I FEEL LIKE NEEDS TO BE REVISITED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO DISMANTLE A PROFIT FOCUSED COMPANY FROM OUR ENERGY, BUT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. IT WOULD SOLVE ALL OF THIS. WE SHOULDN'T BE THE ONES WHO ARE PAYING FOR GENERATORS AND EMERGENCIES. WE SHOULDN'T BE THE ONES THAT ARE LIKE ORGANIZING ALL THESE, THESE ABILITIES TO SAVE PEOPLE IN THESE, IN THESE, IN THESE HURRICANES GETS FIRED. IT SHOULD BE THEM. THANK YOU MS. SMITH. YEAH. YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON YOUR FIRST TIME COMING TO PUBLIC SESSION. THANKS. UM, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION AND WE, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CENTER POINT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF, UM, TRAUMA FOR, UH, HOUSTON RESIDENTS. AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. AND IT'S WORRISOME THAT THE VERBIAGE IN THE EMAILS THAT THEY SEND US ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THE HURRICANE DAMAGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN IT, AND I'M REALLY AFRAID THAT THEY'RE GONNA BACKTRACK THE COST OF THE REPAIRS TO US. AND I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. THE PUC WHO, UM, IS HOSTING A MEETING, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, IT IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY THE 25TH AT 9:30 AM OKAY. WE WERE LOOKING UP THE ADDRESS OF THE BUILDING. IT'S GONNA BE IN AUSTIN. OKAY. UM, BUT I THINK THAT IF RESIDENTS WANT TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A PLACE, UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE. UM, BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN, HAVE ASKED, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO? UM, THE PUC MEETING IS ON JULY 25TH AT 9:30 AM IN AUSTIN. IN AUSTIN. OKAY. AND IF WE PULL UP THIS ADDRESS, I'LL, I'LL SHARE IT. YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE MY COUNCIL MEMBER. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. AWESOME. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, I WAS JUST GONNA PIGGYBACK ON THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS AND THE FOCUS ON THAT. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO BEGIN WITH. RIGHT. UH, WE SHOULDN'T BE ASKING RESIDENTS TO BE OR EVEN, UH, EXPECT THAT SOMEONE CAN AFFORD A BACKUP GENERATOR FOR THEIR HOME. MM-HMM . UH, BUT IF YOU AREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO AUSTIN, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN YOUR STATE SENATORS AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE THERE, UM, IN AUSTIN AS WELL. MM-HMM . ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PUC MEETING. OKAY. SO I, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE BECAUSE WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, CAN BE AS RESPONSIVE IN THE AFTERMATH IN A [02:45:01] DISASTER AND TO BE AS RESILIENT AS POSSIBLE. BUT AGAIN, IT, IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THIS TO BEGIN WITH. YES. SO PLEASE, IF YOU CAN'T BE IN AUSTIN, WHICH I KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING FOR SOME MM-HMM . YOU HAVE WORK, OTHER THINGS REACH OUT AT YOUR STATE LEVEL TOO. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. LINDA SCURLOCK. LINDA SCURLOCK. HELLO, MS. SCURLOCK. HI. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LINDA SCURLOCK AND I'M A 75-YEAR-OLD WIDOW WHO HAS LIVED THROUGH HURRICANES, CARLA, ALICIA, IKE, AND HARVEY. I DID NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY FOR NINE DAYS DURING IKE. I HAD NO ELECTRICITY FOR THREE DAYS DURING ICE STORM URI. HOWEVER, I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE BY ELECTRICITY RESTORED ON JU JULY 8TH. AFTER I SPENT THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL. MANY OF MY SENIOR CITIZEN FRIENDS WERE NOT AS FORTUNATE. UH, MY GRANDMOTHER SAID WE SHOULD PLAN FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. HURRICANE SEASON BEGAN JUNE 1ST. MY QUESTIONS ARE THESE, DID THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE A PLAN TO UTILIZE PLACES LIKE THE, UH, UH, THE STOREFRONTS AND STOREFRONTS, THE SUBSTATIONS, AND ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE POWER? UH, DID THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNICATE WITH CENTER POINT BEFORE THE HURRICANE? DID THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLAN FOR THE WORSE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. SCURLOCK. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, SUGGESTIONS. UH, I KNOW THAT WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A, A, A COMMUNITY MEETING IN THE DISTRICT AND TALK ABOUT SOME TAKEAWAYS AND, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE. UM, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND, AND SHARING YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS. OKAY. UH, AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET SOME RESPONSES FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE MIGHT WANT TO USE THE, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ABSOLUTELY. AS, UH, I THINK WE JUST COME UP WITH A PLAN TO USE THOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY. MM-HMM . UH, I AGREE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. RIGHT. I'VE BEEN A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. I HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN HERE IN PROBABLY 10 YEARS. I USED TO BE HERE ALL THE TIME, SO, BUT, UH, I'M 75 AND A HALF AND I'M SORT OF STEPPING BACK BECAUSE OF MY AGE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. TRACY TIMMONS. TRACY TIMMONS. HELLO, MS. TIMMONS. HI. HOW ARE YOU? I'M NOT GOOD. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M SICK. UM, BUT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I DID THE RIGHT THINGS. AS I NOTED BEFORE I BROUGHT MY HOUSE IN 2006, I PURCHASED A BACKUP GENERATOR BECAUSE OF WINTER STORM, BECAUSE YOU KEPT CUTTING OFF MY POWER. YOU HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO ME. UM, THIS IS WHAT CENTERPOINT DID. YOU DIDN'T BILL BACK BETTER. THE POLE LINE SNAPPED. YOU LEFT IT IN THE STREET. I CALLED 3 1 1 AND YOU SAID, MA'AM, LET ME TRANSFER YOU TO THAT. SEVEN ONE THREE TWO ZERO SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN. NOBODY ANSWERS THE PHONE. I LIVE IN NORTHWEST PLACES, STATES. I LIVE ON WEST LITTLE YORK. I'M ON THE OPPOSITE END OF NORTH MANOR. SO YOU GO FROM SFA TO NORTH FOREST. I DRIVE DOWN THE STREET TO GO TO WORK. HCC, YOU'RE NOT A GOOD NEIGHBOR. I GOT PICTURES. YOU'RE NOT A GOOD NEIGHBOR. WHEN THE RECHO HIT, THEY HIT CY-FAIR, VERY HARD. IT BROKE THE POLE IN HALF. THE POLE IS STILL THERE. THE CLOSEST PARK TO ME IS COAL CREEK PARK. I CALLED YOU AND TOLD YOU THE TREE FELL DOWN. I'M DISABLED. I WAS BORN THIS WAY. I DID NOT ASK FOR THIS. THE TREE IS THERE. YOU BUILT ALL THESE TREES. 1958. I DON'T WALK IN THAT PARK BECAUSE I CANNOT MOVE FAST ENOUGH. IF THAT TREE FALLS ON ME, IT'S GOING TO KILL ME. LIKE, MISS, I'M SINGLE. I'M 50 YEARS OLD. I PURCHASED MY HOME BY MYSELF. I PAY MY TAXES 17 YEARS. YOU ARE NOT A GOOD NEIGHBOR. YOU HAVE NOT TREATED US PROPERLY AT ALL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUILD THOSE TREES. YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. WE HAVE ANOTHER TREE FALLING DOWN. THIS PARK IS NEXT TO A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SCHOOL IS STARTED IN AUGUST. THOSE LITTLE KIDS RUN AND PLAY AT THAT PLAYGROUND. IF SOMEBODY CHILDS DIE OR IF IT FALLS ON SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T MOVE FAST ENOUGH, OR IF THEY TRIP AND THINKING, OH, I CAN JUMP OVER THE [02:50:01] TREE. NO, BABY, YOU CAN'T JUMP OVER THAT TREE. I CAN'T JUMP OVER THAT TREE. I CAN'T EVEN WALK OVER THE TREE. I'M LIKE, I'M NOT YOUNG ANYMORE. I NEED YOU TO DO BETTER. I NEED YOU TO DRIVE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NORTHWEST PLACES, STATES, WEST, LITTLE YORK, HOLLISTER, LANGFIELD. I KNOW THE PARK WAS THERE BEFORE THE SCHOOL WAS THERE, BUT YOU BUILT, YOU ALLOW A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BE BUILT NEXT TO A PARK. THAT MEANS THERE ARE FIVE YEAR OLDS TO 10 YEAR OLDS. THEY DON'T KNOW BETTER. THEY THINK EVERYTHING IS AN ADVENTURE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT BUGS ARE IN THAT TREE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THOSE KIDS. I NEED YOU TO GO TO THAT PARK. I NEED YOU TO GET ALL THOSE TREES UP. I NEED YOU TO GET ALL THAT DEBRIS UP BECAUSE SCHOOL IS STARTING IN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL NEXT TO A PARK LIKE THAT. YOU DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU. AND MS. TIMMONS, UM, THAT PARK IS IN MY COUNCIL DISTRICT. WE WILL, THERE ARE TREES UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT NOW IN ALL OF THE PARKS THAT HAVE FALLEN FROM THE HURRICANE. BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO GET THOSE TREES CLEARED UP. BUT THEY'RE NOT NEXT TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THAT'S THE WHOLE THING. IF IT WASN'T NEXT TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THAT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. BUT I SEE THOSE LITTLE KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WITH THEIR MOMS AND DAD. THAT'S A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. REMEMBER, OUR GOVERNOR IS PARALYZED TODAY BECAUSE A TREE FELL ON HIM. THAT IS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. YOU'VE GOT TO DO BETTER. THANK YOU. THAT'S WHERE I LIVE. THANK YOU. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT CLEARED UP. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JOSEPH NIA. HI, MS. DANIA. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I WAS GONNA JUST TELL YOU THAT, UH, I KNOW THE WAY THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND, UH, SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF OZONE. AND, UH, IT IS NOT IN THIS COUNTRY. IT'S IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MR. MAYOR SO I CAN TELL HIM ABOUT THAT. AND, UH, WE CAN DO THAT. AND WE'RE GONNA SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS GOING WORSE AND WORSE. BUT WE, WITH THIS WAY THAT I, I CAN DO AND THINK ABOUT IT, WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. AND THAT SAVED THE PROBLEM AND ALSO SAVED THE LIFE OF THE WHOLE WORLD. BUT RIGHT NOW, I CAN SEE MR. MAYOR GONE. SO THANK YOU. ANYBODY YOU GO TO. THANK YOU MR. NIA. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AMBER FANNING. AMBER FANNING. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AMBER FAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT G. I WANNA THANK THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WERE OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITY ACTIVELY HELPING DURING THE STORM. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND YOU KNOW, EXCEPTIONAL WORK DURING THIS TIME. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A FEW CONCERNS. UM, THERE'S A TOTAL OF 13 DEATHS IN HARRIS COUNTY DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER AND THE HEAT. I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TALKING ABOUT THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ALTHOUGH THAT OUR MAYOR HAS EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE PREPARED FOR HURRICANE SEASON, IT HAS SHOWN COUNTLESS OCCASIONS THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE PROCEDURES AND THE, UH, PREPARATION FOR HURRICANE SEASON. BECAUSE AS A 34-YEAR-OLD HOUSTONIAN, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE HURRICANE SEASON, IT IS ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. SO IT'S NOT A SITUATION THAT WE WERE CAUGHT WITH OUR PANTS DOWN BECAUSE WE HAD NO IDEA THE HURRICANE SEASON WAS HAPPENING. IT WAS SIMPLY THAT WE WERE JUST NOT PREPARED. ANYTIME WE HAVE A HURRICANE THAT COMES INTO THE GULF, CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD BE PREPARED REGARDLESS IF WE'RE IN THE CONE OR NOT. THIS IS A COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS TIMES WE HAVE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FIX OUR ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE, BEING PREPARED BEFORE A STORM HITS AND COUNTLESS [02:55:01] OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE. I BELIEVE IT WAS MR. POLLARD WHO STATED IN AN EARLIER MEETING, EITHER LAST WEEK OR THIS WEEK, THAT WE HAVE 2.2 BILLION 27 BILLION. 27 MILLION, BILLION, BILLION, EXCUSE ME, WITH A B 27 BILLION IN A RAINY DAY FUND. AND THAT MONEY HAS NOT BEEN USED. IT'S A RAINY DAY IT DAY FOR THE NINE DAYS THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT HAD ELECTRICITY. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES ON NATIONAL TELEVISION SAYING, WE ARE PREPARED. WE WERE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. WHERE IN FACT, AS THE CONSTITUENT, I JUST GOT MY LIGHTS BACK YESTERDAY. I LIVE IN THE ENERGY CORRIDOR, WHICH IS COMMON COMICAL BECAUSE WE HAVE NO LIGHTS. EVERY TIME WE HAVE A STORM, A LIGHT BREEZE COME THROUGH. THE ENERGY CORRIDOR IS THE FIRST ONES TO LOSE LIGHTS. AND WE'RE THE LAST ONE TO GET OUR ELECTRICITY RESTORED. WE HAVE A SENIOR CITIZENS LIVING FACILITY WITHIN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, ADJACENT FROM A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND A VERY NICE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE NICE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THEIR LIGHTS AND HAD THEIR LIGHTS AFTER THE THREE DAYS WE'VE LOST OUR LIGHTS. THE SENIOR CITIZEN NEIGHBORHOOD DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING. PRIORITIZING OUR CITIZENS IS IMPORTANT. TELLING US THAT WE MATTER AND THEN TURN AROUND AND TREAT US LIKE WE DON'T MATTER. IT, IT IS ALMOST LIKE AN OXYMORON, LIKE JUMBO SHRIMP. YOU CARE, BUT THEN YOU DON'T CARE. YOU ASK US TO VOTE FOR YOU AND PUSH YOU FORWARD IN YOUR PLATFORMS. BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO US NEEDING YOU, WE GET WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. AND IF IT'S A SITUATION WHERE YOU NEED SOLUTIONS, AGAIN, MY NAME IS AMBER FANNON. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME AND I HAVE A LOT OF SOLUTIONS FOR YOU TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR PROBLEMS. BUT FIRST, WE NEED TO PUT OUR CITIZENS FIRST. AND NOT JUST GIVE US LIP SERVICE, BUT ACTUALLY SHOW US THAT WE CARE. SO WHEN ELECTION SEASON COMES BACK AROUND, WE WILL INVEST IN YOU LIKE YOU'RE INVESTING IN US. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER LINDA MURRAY. I DON'T WANT TO BE CALLED SENIOR CITIZEN AND GET ANY MORE OF THOSE COVID BEANS THAT YOU GAVE OUT BEFORE. I DON'T WANT ANY MORE OF THOSE CHICKEN SAUSAGES THAT YOU GAVE OUT BEFORE, DURING COVID OR ANYTHING. I AM A PAYING CITIZEN WHEN I CAME. THANK YOU MR. POLLARD. I DON'T FORGET WHEN YOU WERE PRESIDENT OF HBA, YOU STILL KEEP THE POKER FACE . I LOVE YOU. BUT, UH, ANYWAY, AND, UH, OF COURSE MY COUNCIL PERSON, THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS. YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT, UH, HURRICANE BARREL. THE ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IS, THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU NEED TO PUT IT DOWN. GO BACK TO, UH, HOUSTON CHRONICLE. READ CHRIS TOMLINSON IS HIS NAME. READ WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THE GRID. NO, SOMETHING'S WRONG. IF YOU'RE SPENDING $20 MILLION ON A CAMPAIGN AND FUNDING TRYING TO FUND VOUCHERS, TAKE OUT YOUR FUNDING VOUCHERS, SOMETHING'S WRONG. AND WHO FUNDED THAT? CENTER POINT HAS TO BE ONE OF HIS CONTRIBUTORS. MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS. ANYWAY, UH, MOVING ON. THERE'S TWO THINGS YOU HAVE, YOU OF COURSE YOU KNOW ABOUT. YOU HEARD ENOUGH, YOU HOLD CENTER POINT ACCOUNTABLE. DON'T TELL HIM I DON'T WANT ANYMORE. UH, YES. I'M, I'M OLD. YES, I'M 74. BUT I AM A WORKING, EDUCATED AND, UH, PERSON AND, UH, NO, AND HOMEOWNER. AND I CAN SEE RED LINING COMING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I ALSO AM TIRED OF PEOPLE WANT COM PITTING ONE THING AGAINST ANOTHER NORTHWOOD MANOR. I LIVE IN RIVERWOOD. NO, I REMEMBER WHEN NIA THOMPSON CAME TO OUR MEETING AND SHE SAID AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, I THINK IT WAS HURRICANE HARVEY, SHE SAID, YOU HAVE US GOING TO THESE 35 BAZILLION MEETINGS. ALL OF US GET IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON HAD NO SERVICE, NO COOLING CENTER NORTHEAST. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST WHAT HAPPENED IN RIVERWOOD. I'M TALKING ABOUT TAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN. TAKE IT DOWN TO CHARLES. I DO STILL DO NOT HAVE LIGHTS. OKAY. NORTHEAST HOUSTON. AND WE ARE TAXPAYERS. AND MY HUSBAND IS A RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEE FROM THE AIRPORT. YOU NEED TO ALSO HAVING THESE CENTERS. DON'T FORGET. I DON'T, I DIDN'T HEAR IT. SAID THEY WERE GONNA BRING IN WIFI. MORENO TOLD ME IT WASN'T UNDER BOB WHITE. UH, UH, UNDER WHITE. THE MAYOR WHITE. YES, IT WAS BECAUSE [03:00:01] I WAS COMING DOWN HERE. 'CAUSE TEACHING. THEN FORGET ABOUT YATES. WHERE'S YATES? CAROLYN SHABAZZ. SHE COMES TO OUR, UH, COMES TO, SHE'S, IN FACT SHE'S HEAD OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE I WAS TEACHING THEN. AND THEY WERE GONNA BRING WIFI, BUT THEY DECIDED NOT TO BECAUSE THEY WERE COMPANIES THAT FELT THAT THEY HADN'T MADE ENOUGH MONEY FOR IT. WELL, THIS IS THE CITY THAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO HAVE, UH, UH, UH, UH, ACCESSIBLE WIFI BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHILDREN. YOU HAVE A POPULATION OF CHILDREN THAT ARE, UH, 80%, WHAT IS OUR FIGURE? 80% ARE UNDERPRIVILEGED IN HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE WORLD. AND YOU HAVE, SOMEONE CAME HERE AND TOLD YOU THAT OUT OF 80, HE HAD TO TAKE IT OVER 87% OF THE SCHOOLS OVER SOME NIGHT OVER. NO, I'M GONNA FINISH THIS. 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN SITTING ON HERE ALL DAY. OVER SOME, OVER SOME 2019 SCORES. 87% OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FINE. AND YOU'RE GONNA GO BEAT UP THE WHOLE SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER, OVER 2019 SCORES IN 2024. AND YOU LISTENED TO IT. YOU HAVE DR. WILSON. I THINK HE BROUGHT IN OVER HERE. CYNTHIA WILSON. HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING NEW. AND HE'S RUINED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HE'S RUINING OUR CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LINDA BURRELL. LINDA BURRELL, NEXT SPEAKER. BRENDA VENABLE. BRENDA VENABLE. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHELLE EIGEN BAR. MICHELLE EVAR. NEXT SPEAKER, SHARON VANCE. SHARON VANCE. NEXT SPEAKER, PAULA SMITH. PAULA SMITH. NEXT SPEAKER, STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER, THORIN. GERSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. YES. WELL SPEAK ON THIS MICROPHONE. OH, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHTY. UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. UH, WE'RE CIRCLING BACK TO SEWAGE. I LIVE, UH, AT, LET ME BACK UP JUST A SMIDGE. UH, I'M GONNA GO OFF SCRIPT 'CAUSE I'M MAKING IT SHORT. I CAN TELL EVERYBODY'S GONE HOME AND THEY WANT TO GO HOME. UM, I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 500 FAMILIES. ALRIGHT. UM, I'M THE HOA PRESIDENT FOR OUR CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX. THE CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX NEXT DOOR, ASK ME TO REPRESENT THEM AS WELL. UM, SO THIS IS NOT A NEW THING. AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE HAVE SEWAGE BACKUP DURING HIGH RAINS. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A STORM. HOWEVER, DURING BARREL, BARELY CATEGORY ONE BARREL, WE HAD SEWAGE, RAW SEWAGE, CITY OF HOUSTON SEWAGE BACKING UP INTO OUR BUILDING. UM, THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE. WE WENT ON A LITTLE RECONNAISSANCE MISSION TO SEE HOW FAR THIS BACKUP WAS GOING BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS A SIMPLE ISSUE. UM, WITH THE LIFT STATION AT BRAYWOOD. YEAH. BRAYWOOD. UM, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE BACKFLOW WAS SO GREAT THAT THERE WERE SEWER MAINS OVERFLOWING FROM KIRBY STREET ALL THE WAY THROUGH STELLA LINK THAT IS OVER TWO MILES OF CITY STREET WITH RAW SEWAGE ON THEM. THIS RAW SEWAGE HAS NOT BEEN ATTENDED TO AS YET. UM, IT WAS FLOWING FOR THREE DAYS. IT BEGAN WHILE THE STORM WAS STILL ONGOING. UH, THE BACKUP INTO OUR BUILDING BEGAN AT 10:00 AM ON MONDAY. UM, THE FLOW INTO THE STREET DID NOT HALT UNTIL FOUR 30 ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIFT STATIONS WERE OUT. I ACTUALLY HAD AN ENGINEER CALL ME LAST NIGHT FROM CITY OF HOUSTON SAYING, WELL, WE LOST POWER AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE SOME DIESEL GENERATORS. UM, YEAH, OKAY, I GET THAT. UM, BUT THE FORCE WITH WHICH THIS WATER CAME OUT OF THE SEWAGE MAINS TELLS ME IT IS NOT JUST SEWAGE, RAW SEWAGE TRYING TO MAKE ITS WAY TO THE SEWER STATION. IT TELLS ME THAT THERE ARE LEAKS IN THOSE SEWAGE MAINS AND YOU'VE GOT RUNOFF COMING INTO THE SEWER MAINS. UM, THE VOLUME WAS SO GREAT THAT THERE WAS A WHOLE LANE OF TRAFFIC BLOCKED OFF. CARS WERE [03:05:01] TRYING TO COME AROUND, UM, ON BREEZEWOOD, A HIGHLY TRAFFICKED STREET IN HOUSTON. UM, THIS WAS A MONUMENTAL FAILURE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING. UH, IT DOES NEED TO BE ATTENDED TO, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THESE SEWER MAINS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THAT'S A HUGE JOB. I UNDERSTAND IT. UM, BUT EVERY TIME YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH WATERS, IT WILL CONTINUE TO SPILL OUT INTO THE STREET AND IT WILL CONTINUE BACK YOUR BACK UP. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR IS THIS JUST SO DONE? COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. YOU SAID THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. IT HAS. HOW LONG? UM, I KNOW FOR A FACT, UH, THAT THE, DO YOU REMEMBER THE TAX DAY FLOOD? YES. ALRIGHT. UM, WE HAD SEWAGE BACK UP INTO OUR BUILDING THAT DAY. HOWEVER, THE BRAISED BAYOU DID NOT OVERFLOW ITS BANKS. UH, IT OCCURRED, UH, 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO HARVEY. UH, AND THE, UH, 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO BRAISED BAYOU COMING OUT OF ITS BANKS. WE WERE HAVING S**T INSIDE OUR BUILDING. IT WAS DREADFUL. UM, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH THIS ONE LAST IMAGE TOO. UM, THERE WERE CHILDREN PLAYING IN THIS WATER AND IT WAS, IT WAS JUST VERY SAD. MM-HMM . UM, AFTER HARVEY, I WENT TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. I WAS AT THE ONE AT THE JCC AND I SPOKE WITH AN ENGINEER AND I SAID, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS SUCH A BACKUP. UM, AND, UH, THE VOLUME, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S THE FORCE WITH WHICH IT'S COMING OUT. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE SEWAGE PASSIVELY COMING THROUGH THE LINES. AND SHE SAID, OH, YEAH, THERE'S A BREAK IN THE LINES. THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN NEW CONSTRUCTION. AND SOMEBODY DIDN'T SEAL THE SEWAGE LINE PROPERLY, THE SEWAGE MAIN. SO YEAH, I WAS INFORMED OF ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN WHERE IT'S BY A RESIDENCE'S HOME. AND HE WILL ACTUALLY PARK HIS VEHICLE WHEN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A RAIN EVENT ON TOP OF IT, ON TOP OF THE MANHOLE TO WHERE OR MANHOLE COVER DOESN'T COME OFF. AND THAT'S, AND THAT DID HAPPEN. UM, WE COUNTED, THERE WERE 10 MANHOLE COVERS. UM, IF THEY HAD THE HOLES IN THEM, THEY WERE LITTLE SPRITES COMING THROUGH THE HOLES. IF NOT, THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT IT LIFTED THE MANHOLE OFF THEIR COVERS. UM, SO THIS IS, I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT THE HEALTH ISSUES HERE. WE'RE TALKING LIVE VIRUS, LIVE BACTERIA. UH, IT'S A BAD DEAL. SO, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, FOR YOUR TIME. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. OH, OH, YES. YES. THANK, THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO CHIMP. MS. THORAN, YOU, YOU LIVE BETWEEN, YOU SAID STELLA LINK AND KIRBY. I DO. I LIVE RIGHT OFF OF KELVIN. THERE'S A SMALL STREET, KELVIN. AND THEN YOU GET TO KIRBY, WHICH IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT, RIGHT? YES. RIGHT. SO YOU SAID IN YOUR BUILDING, ARE YOU SPEAKING OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR YOU NO, THESE ARE CONDOMINIUMS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED. YES. RIGHT, RIGHT. I I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO YEAH, I KNOW THE AREA WELL, I, SO IS THIS STILL GOING ON NOW? UH, NO. TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, WE, UM, OPENED OUR ACCESS CAPS SO THAT THE SEWAGE WOULD NOT COME INTO OUR BUILDING ANYMORE. UM, IT WAS, UH, COMING INTO OUR BUILDING, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO RELEASE OUR ACCESS CAPS. OKAY. NORTH BRAYWOOD, RIGHT ON BRAYWOOD. NORTH BRAYWOOD, YES. YEAH. SO WHEN THE MAYOR IS DOING HIS, UM, UH, LITTLE RECONNAISSANCE TRIPS, PLEASE COME RIGHT INTO THE CENTER OF TOWN AND ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOWS. NONE OF IT HAS BEEN MITIGATED, REMEDIATED AT ALL. THE SMELL IS HORRENDOUS. OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU, SIR. YES, SIR. NOTED. THANK YOU. WE'LL DEFINITELY GET PUBLIC WORKS OUT THERE A SAP. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT SPEAKER DON TRAN DONTRE. NEXT SPEAKER, SHARONDA HARDY. SHARONDA HARDY. NEXT SPEAKER AS MARK. AS MARK. NEXT SPEAKER, KIMBERLY ALEXANDER. KIMBERLY ALEXANDER. NEXT SPEAKER ANTHONY JOHNSON. ANTHONY JOHNSON. HELLO, MR. JOHNSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. UM, THIS [03:10:01] IS MY THIRD TIME COMING TO CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY SECOND TIME COMING BEFORE YOU GUYS ABOUT, UH, COMPENSATION FOR WORK COMPLETED FOR THE DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE INVESTIGATION. UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING ON EIGHT MONTHS WITHOUT BEING PAID. UH, WE'VE CONTINUOUSLY TALKED TO PEOPLE, REACHED OUT. UM, WE WERE IN, UH, ASSIGNED AN INVESTIGATOR WHO WE'VE TALKED TO ROUGHLY 30 DAYS AGO. ON THE 19TH, IT WILL BE 30 DAYS TO WHERE THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE SCHEDULING SOMEONE, UH, TO GET WITH US TO COME IN TO DO PAY ESTIMATES. UH, AGAIN, THIS ISSUE HAS AFFECTED MY BUSINESS AND MY BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS IN SUCH A WAY TO WHERE IT, IT'S, I MEAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. UH, AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY MAYBE TO, IN, IN A GOVERNMENT SCALE OF THINGS. IT WOULD BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. BUT TO SMALL BUSINESSES SUCH AS MYSELF AND MY COUNTERPARTS, UH, IT AFFECTED US GREATLY. UM, EXCUSE ME. UH, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO WHERE IN, IN REGARDS TO HOW IT'S AFFECTED OUR BUSINESS, IS THAT THE GUYS THAT WE HAD THAT WERE FOR STEADY WORK, IT'S AFFECTED THAT AS FAR AS OUR PAYROLL. THEN NOT ONLY THAT, SOME OF OUR SUBS, RIGHT, WE'RE IN LITIGATION WITH SOME OF OUR SUBS. SO WHEN WE'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR OTHER GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, RIGHT? AND WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING OUR, THE BACKGROUND HISTORY OF OUR COMPANY, AND IT COMES UP, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE IN LITIGATION. WELL, WHY ARE YOU GUYS IN LITIGATION? SO THIS ISSUE HAS AFFECTED US DRASTICALLY AND DRAMATICALLY. AND I COME AGAIN BEFORE YOU GUYS TO SOME TYPE OF RESOLUTION OR SOME TYPE OF END GOAL TO, TO THIS, BECAUSE HOW IT'S LOOKING IS WE'RE WONDERING, YOU KNOW, ARE ARE WE GOING TO GET EVER GET PAID? ARE WE JUST GOING TO GET STUFF WITH THE BILL FOR THIS A SIX FIGURE BILL? YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, AGAIN, I, I, I CAN'T, I CAN'T, UM, DESCRIBE TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE, THE CALLS THAT WE WERE RECEIVED FROM, YOU KNOW, OUR SUBCONTRACTORS AND THE GUYS THAT WORK FOR US BECAUSE THEY ENTRUSTED US, YOU KNOW, WITH COMING ON BOARD WITH US FOR THESE CITY CONTRACTS. AND WE FULFILLED OUR OBLIGATIONS SEVERAL TIMES. WE'VE SUBMITTED THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS REQUESTED. UM, WE'VE TALKED TO EVERYONE I'VE REACHED OUT, EMAILED, UH, I'VE HAD PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY TRY TO REACH OUT AND, AND SPEAK WITH SOMEONE, UM, IN, IN, UM, OBO, ALL TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE'VE WENT THROUGH TO TRY TO GET THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. AND YET STILL HERE I AM FOR A THIRD TIME. AND MR. JOHNSON, LET ME, I WANNA ASK A QUESTION TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. ARE WE STILL IN THE OIG INVESTIGATION AND DO WE HAVE ANY TIMELINES FOR FOLKS THAT ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHEN THEY WILL GET THEIR FUNDS? I UNDERSTAND IT'S STILL UNDER THE OIG INVESTIGATION. I DON'T HAVE TIME. DO WE HAVE ANY AND APPARENTLY KNOWLEDGE OF HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO TAKE? I'M HAPPY TO CHECK BACK WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF TIMEFRAME THAT WE CAN, I THINK WE DO NEED, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS. IF WE COULD GET, UM, TOMORROW, MAYBE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT COULD LET US KNOW, UM, WHERE WE ARE IN THAT OIG INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT, UM, FOLKS HAVE TO WAIT EIGHT MONTHS. IT WAS A TERRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, HONEST PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE BRUNT OF WHAT DISHONEST PEOPLE HAVE DONE. AND, UM, I KNOW THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A, A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND, AND ALL, UM, PARTIES WILL BE CLEAR TO, SO THAT THEY CAN DISPERSE THE PAYMENTS. AND IT'S BEEN A COMPLICATED WEB, UM, OF DISCOVERIES. SO I, LET US TRY TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH MORE TIME THE INVESTIGATION WILL NEED, UM, AND TRY TO GET YOU SOME TYPE OF ESTIMATION ON WHEN UH, PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE. YES, MA'AM. AND, AND AGAIN, UM, ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED, UM, REPEATEDLY, RIGHT. OUR THING IS WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING BUT WHAT WE WORK FOR. ABSOLUTELY. UM, BECAUSE, SO WITH THE DOCUMENTATION, WE HAD TO HAVE SIGN OFFS FOR CITY INSPECTORS. AGAIN, I STATED THIS PREVIOUSLY SIGN OFF FROM CITY INSPECTORS AS WELL AS PITCH BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, EXCUSE ME, BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF THE WORK AS IT WAS PERFORMED ON JOB SITE THROUGH A THIRD PARTY APP THAT WAS REQUIRED BY THE CITY. SO IF, AGAIN, IF THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON, [03:15:01] I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT. RIGHT. BUT WHY NOT PAY US IF WE'VE ALREADY SHOWN AND PROVIDED THE WORK OR SHOWN THAT THE WORK THAT WAS REQUESTED OF US WAS DONE RIGHT. TO AND I, AND I'M NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE THIS RIGHT NOW. YEAH. YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS BECAUSE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT'S STILL IN AN OIG INVESTIGATION AND I, I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A THIRD PARTY THAT HAD TO GO OUT AND VERIFY THE WORK, THAT IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED WEB THAT I, I HATE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS IN. UM, LET US TRY TO GET A, AN, AN ANSWER FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON WHEN WE CAN AT LEAST EXPECT WHEN, UM, THE CITY CAN START TO PAY PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN CLEARED. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? YEAH, MAYOR PROTE, I'M KIND OF FOLLOWING UP ON YOUR COMMENTS. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. DIDN'T WE FILE CHARGES AGAINST SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ALREADY? AND HAVE WE DONE ENOUGH INVESTIGATION TO BE ABLE TO FILE CHARGES YET NOT TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHO ACTUALLY DID THE WORK AND WHO DIDN'T? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW UP WITH LEGAL TO TRY TO GET AN, AN ANSWER ON HOW SOON WE CAN, UM, START GETTING THE PAYMENTS OUT. BECAUSE I, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WERE GONNA DRIVE OUTTA BUSINESS. MM-HMM . IT'S, IT'S A, IT IS A DREADFUL SITUATION. I MEAN, I, AS A, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, UM, YOU, YOU'VE HAD TO FLOAT FOR EIGHT MONTHS, UM, WAITING ON PAYMENTS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE PAYROLL AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE DO NEED TO BE, UM, ASKING HOW SOON THAT FOLKS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN CLEARED CAN RECEIVE PAYMENTS. YES, MA'AM. AND, AND AGAIN, IT IS NOT JUST THE PAYROLL ISSUE, RIGHT. IT'S BECAUSE OF SOME OF OUR ABSOLUTELY. SOME OF OUR SUBCONTRACTORS. RIGHT. AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE PUTTING, AND, AND WE DON'T BLAME THOSE GUYS, RIGHT. BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY NEED THEIR MONEY TO, TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES AFLOAT. I, I RUN A SMALL BUSINESS. I GET IT. RIGHT. IT'S, THIS IS A, A HUGE PROBLEM. SO, SO WHEN WE GO TO TRY TO, UM, APPLY FOR, AGAIN, OTHER GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, RIGHT? AND IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE IN LITIGATION FOR NOT PAYING OUR SUBS, THAT LOOKS HORRIBLE ON US. IT, IT BASICALLY PUTS US OUT OF CONTENTION. WELL, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANT TO HIRE YOU AS A CONTRACTOR BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GONNA PAY THE SUBS FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, SIR. WE, I, I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT YOU'RE IN, AND THEN I'M HOPING THAT, UM, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH LEGAL TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING AFTER THE INVESTIGATIONS AND, AND PAYMENTS ARE BEING MADE THAT THEY'RE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR US TO MAYBE HAVE SOMETHING THAT SAYS THAT THERE YOU WERE NOT INVOLVED, OR THAT THIS HAS, SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY BEARING ON YOU DOING BUSINESS. THAT, THAT IT WAS A COMPLICATED WEB. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEGAL JARGON WOULD BE, BUT, UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK ON THAT. LET US TRY TO GET A, AN ANSWER FOR YOU, PLEASE. AND THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I ASK IS THAT ONCE I LEAVE, I WOULD HONESTLY, AND I BEG AND PLEAD OF YOU GUYS TO, FOR THERE TO BE SOME REAL FOLLOW UP BESIDES, YOU KNOW, ALL IT'S BEEN IS ALL THE, THE ONLY INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED, OR A FOLLOW UP THAT WE RECEIVED IS IT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION. RIGHT. AND THAT'S BEEN, THAT'S BEEN SINCE BEFORE I CAME IN MARCH TO CURRENTLY. RIGHT. SO, UH, WE, WE, IT'S, IT'S, AGAIN, THIS IS A, THIS IS AFFECTING OUR BUSINESS, OUR FAMILIES, RIGHT. AND GOING INTO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR OUR KIDS' LEISURE TIME, NOT OUR KIDS' LEISURE TIME, BUT HOW WE PAY, PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES. ABSOLUTELY. AND LET US TRY TO GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. YOU TOO, SIR. LARIN ROSE. LARIN ROSE. HE'S VISUALLY IMPAIRED, SO HIS DAUGHTER IS GONNA READ THE STATEMENT THAT HE'S HIS STATEMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO, MR. ROSE? YEAH. I'M MR. ROSE. GOOD AFTERNOON. YES. MY UNCLE HAS VISION ISSUES, SO I'M GONNA READ HIS STATEMENT FOR YOU, MS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPROPRIATE. UM, MY NAME IS IKA ROSE, AND MY UNCLE'S NAME IS LARRY ROSE. UM, HE'S BEEN A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. UM, HE FIRST MET THE MAYOR AT HIS GRADUATION, UM, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN THE CLASS OF 2022, WHERE HE WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, AND HE KNEW THAT HE WAS A MAN OF HONOR AND INTEGRITY, ANYTHING TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT INJUSTICE AND WORKPLACE BULLYING, HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE, LAW, BREAKING AND COVERUPS. I AM A HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURT SECURITY OFFICER, BAILIFF FORMER POLICE OFFICER, AND I'M CURRENTLY UNDER SUSPENSION WITH PAY FOR OUTRAGEOUS AND FALSE INFRACTIONS. I'M BEING BULLIED AND HARASSED BY MY SUPERVISOR, VETE OSBORNE, MANAGER JOHN ODOM, AND DIRECTOR ELAINE MARSHALL. THIS STEMS FROM [03:20:01] AN OIG COMPLAINT I MADE BECAUSE WHEN I WAS THREATENED BY VET OSBORNE WITH, UH, PHYSICAL HARM WHILE ON DUTY, UM, SHE WOULD LATER BE APPOINTED AS MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR. SINCE THAT COMPLAINT, I HAVE BEEN MADE TO ENDURE SOME REALLY AWFUL THINGS, THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN A TOLL ON MY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. UH, I AM A DEDICATED CITY WORKER AND A MEMBER OF HOPE WITH ALMOST TWO DECADES OF SERVICE. I LOVE MY JOB, AND IT IS IN JEOPARDY OF BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. UNJUSTIFIABLY MAYOR, YOU SAID BULLYING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION. I AM COMING TO YOU NOW ASKING TO MEET WITH YOU OR YOUR MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM TO EXPRESS AND FULLY EXPLAIN THE UNSETTLING, NATURE AND TOXIC STATUS OF THE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT, AS IT STANDS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CURRENT DIRECTOR AND PROCEEDING JUDGE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UH, MR. ROSE, THANK YOU FOR COMING. UM, AND I, WE CAN'T SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO, I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF IT FROM AN HR PERSPECTIVE, BUT I DID WANNA ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING WITH, UM, YOUR UNION TO REACH OUT TO HOPE, UM, WHO CAN ALSO ASSIST IN, UH, ADVOCATING ON YOUR BEHALF. SO, AGAIN, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THOSE DETAILS, BUT I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT. COULD I SPEAK? YES, SIR. YES SIR. PLEASE. AND TAKE YOUR TIME. I'VE REACHED OUT TO E-A-S-O-I-G. THIS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW. AND, AND EVERY TIME I REACHED OUT TO OIG, IT SEEMED LIKE THE SITUATION GET WORSE. I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY. I DO MY JOB TO THE BEST OF MY, I'M BLIND AT ONE TIME. TAKE YOUR TIME. THESE PEOPLE THAT MAKE FUN FOR ME, I, I HAVE A PICTURE, I HAVE A PICTURE OF, LIKE, THEY DID A, A, UH, BAILIFF, THEY CALLED IT TEAM BUILDING, BUT ONE OF THE BAITERS SAID, NO, TOLD JUDGE MARSHALL, WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S INSENSITIVE AND IT'S, IT DEMEAN, IT MAKES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT TAKE IT THE WRONG WAY. I'M BLIND IN MY RIGHT EYE. AND THEY GAVE ME AWARD, LIKE, OH, TAKE THE STAIRS AWAY. AND HADN'T HAD A PICTURE. TOOK A PICTURE OF ME GOING DOWN THE STEP TO MY WATCH YOUR STEP OR BE CAUTIOUS. YOU KNOW, I, I LIVED FIVE MINUTES FROM THE, FROM A CAR AND, AND, AND I EXPRESSED TO THEM, I SAID, WHAT IT BRINGS, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY TO GET HOME. YES, SIR. THE NEXT DAY I TOLD 'EM THAT OLDHAM AND MY SUPERVISOR, THEY SHIPPED ME WELL OUT THE DAIRY ASH STREET. AND I LIVE FIVE MINUTES FROM MY CAR, AND WHEN IT RAINS, IT'S A 45. IT'S LIKE 45 MINUTES OR AN HOUR DRIVE. IT TAKE ME THREE HOURS TO GET HOME. IT TAKES THREE HOURS BECAUSE NOW WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I CAN'T SEE NOTHING TO MY RIGHT. AND I REACHED OUT TO THEM FOR HELP. IT'S LIKE, IF YOU'RE NOT A PART OF JUDGE MARSHALL LITTLE CLIQUE, AND IF YOU SPEAK UP, YOU HAVE A TARGET ON YOUR BACK. I WAS THREATENED BY THAT SAME PERSON THAT THEY, UH, PROMOTE TO BE MY SUPERVISOR. I MADE A COMPLAINT WITH OIG HOPE TOLD ME TO ALSO, THEY TOLD ME TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE COMPLAINT TO OIG AND SEND JUDGE MARSHALL AN EMAIL ON WHAT I DID. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED. YES, SIR. WHEN I SENT HER THE EMAIL, THE NEXT DAY WHEN I CAME TO WORK, SHE HAD ME ESCORTED OUT THE BUILDING LIKE A CRIMINAL AND SUSPEND ME WITH PAY FOR A MONTH AND A HALF, JUST BECAUSE THIS PERSON IS A PART OF HER CLIQUE. THEN WHILE I WAS SUSPENDED, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES, THEY CALLED ME AND SAID TO COME OVER TO SIGN SOME PAPERS. WHEN I WENT THERE, THEY SAID I GOT GOOD NEWS AND I GOT BAD NEWS BECAUSE WHEN THEY SUSPENDED ME, I ASKED HIM THE QUESTION, WHY AM I BEING SUSPENDED? YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. AND, AND MR. PRATER FROM HR, HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, WELL, WE DON'T KNOW YET. I SAID, BECAUSE I FILED [03:25:01] A COMPLAINT SAYING SOMEBODY THREATENED ME, THREATENED TO HIT ME IN MY MOUTH AND KNOCKED MY TEETH OUT MY MOUTH. AND THEN JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A PART OF JUDGE MARSHALL LITTLE CLIQUE, I GET SUSPENDED AND SENT HOME. AND THEN WHILE I'M THERE, HUMAN RESOURCE CALLED ME AND SAID, WELL, NOW THEY WANT YOU TO GO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST. AND I'M ASKING A QUESTION, WHY I HAVE TO GO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST? OH, IF YOU WANNA KEEP YOUR JOB. SO I DID THAT. I WENT TO A PSYCHIATRIST. WHEN THEY CLEARED ME, THEY CALLED. I WENT BACK TO WORK. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE I'M AT WORK, HR CALLED ME BACK AND SAID, OH, JUDGE MARSH, YOU DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE, UH, PSYCHIATRIST REPORT? SO THEN SHE SENT ME TO HER PSYCHIATRIST. THEN A AFTER, AFTER THAT PSYCHIATRIST DIDN'T PASS ME. NOW, UH, UH, THE CIVIL SERVICE GET INVOLVED. RIGHT. BECAUSE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, EACH, THE PSYCHIATRIST THAT THEY, SHE SENT ME TO, THEY SENT HER A LETTER. SHE SENT HER, SENT THEM A LETTER SAYING, I'M ON TOP OF THE ROOF RUNNING AROUND ABOUT TO JUMP OFF. AND I ASKED THE PSYCHIATRIST, I SAID, WELL, SIR, WHY IS THIS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING THIS? I SAID, DON'T YOU, DO YOU THINK IF I WAS ON THE ROOF RUNNING AROUND, I'M BLINDING ONE EYE NOW ON THE ROOF AT NIGHT, RUNNING AROUND ABOUT TO JUMP OFF. I SAY, DON'T YOU THINK THE CITY WOULD TRY TO GET ME SOME KIND OF HELP? RIGHT. AND I SAID, THAT NEVER HAPPENED. YEAH. SO, AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR JUST CAME BACK AND I'M SURE HE HAS SOME WORDS, BUT MAYOR, I'M HOPING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT ON OUR END WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THIS FOR YOU. YES. BECAUSE EXCUSE ME. BECAUSE, UH, HOPE THEY WENT THROUGH ALL THIS STUFF WITH ME. OKAY. I, EVEN, EVEN SOME OF THE JUDGE SAY, ROSE, YOU NEED TO CROSS YOUR I'S AND DOT YOUR T BECAUSE MANAGEMENT, THEY ARE PUTTING STUFF IN YOUR FILE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. AND I'M LIKE, OOH, Y'ALL JUDGES AND Y'ALL DO STUFF LIKE THAT. THEY SAY, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT MANAGEMENT DO. AND, AND ALL THESE HEARINGS I WENT THROUGH, IT WAS ALL READ. IT MADE, YOU KNOW, NO DISRESPECT TO THE CITY. 'CAUSE I LOVE MY JOB AND I LOVE THE CITY, AND, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, YOU KNOW, NO DISRESPECT. THESE PEOPLE PUT STUFF IN MY FILE THAT I NEVER EVEN SEEN BEFORE. WHEN I HAD MY HEARING, EVERY HEARING I HAD, THEY WAS PEOPLE THAT JUDGE MARSHALL APPOINTED. AND I'M LIKE, WHAT? JUST LIKE HOPE TOLD ME, WELL, STEP ONE AND STEP TWO, WE NOT GONNA WIN STEP THREE. THIS LAST HEARING I HAD, I HAD MY WITNESSES, ALL MY WITNESSES, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LET MY WITNESSES TALK. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LET, AND HOPE. AND HOPE WAS LIKE, IT'S NOT ONE PERSON DECISION. OR RATHER, IF THESE WITNESSES TALK WE ALL SUPPOSED TO MAKE AND THEY JUST CUT 'EM OFF THE PHONE. THE WAY THESE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY OVER THE MUNICIPAL COURT, I'M JUST NOT, NOT SPEAKING FOR MYSELF. I'M SEEING THEY ARE SO TERRIFIED FOR THEIR JOB. IT'S LIKE, IF YOU SPEAK UP, YOU GOT A TARGET ON YOUR BACK. IF YOU'RE NOT A PART OF JUDGE MARSHALL LITTLE CLIQUE, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A TARGET ON YOUR BACK RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, I'M SUSPENDED, YOU KNOW, AND I'M LIKE, FOR WHAT I BEEN, IT IS LIKE, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OIG BECAUSE AS I GO TO OIG, BEFORE I GET ACROSS THE STREET, JUDGE MARSHALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I SAY IF I FILED A COMPLAINT, I FILED A COMPLAINT DECEMBER 22 ON JUDGE, JUDGE MARSHALL, JOHN ODOM AND CT OSBORNE, OIG, THEY, AND, AND, AND THEY CALLED ME TWO WEEKS AGO SAYING, OH, I NEED YOU TO COME SIGN SOME PAPERS BECAUSE WE FIXING TO CLOSE OUT THIS CASE. AND I'M LIKE, HOW COULD Y'ALL CLOSE OUT THE CASE? AND HAVEN'T NOBODY EVEN SPOKE TO ME. Y'ALL HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED TO NOBODY. OR EVEN ASK ME, DO I HAVE ANYBODY TO WITNESS THIS? IT IT, IT JUST MAKE THE WHOLE CITY JUST LOOK CORRUPT. AS, AS, AS I MAKE A COMPLAINT. THE COMPLAINT, THE PERSON I MADE A COMPLAINT ON, YOU KNOW, OIG SAID, OH, WELL WE SAW THE TAPE, BUT IT'S NO SOUND ON IT. WELL, YOU CAN SEE HER GOING TO HER CAR, TAKING HER RADIO OFF, GETTING IN MY FACE. AND I RAISED MY HAND UP AND THIS THE SAME PERSON YOU PUT IN CHARGE OF ME WHEN YOU SUSPEND ME. I'M SITTING IN JUDGE MARSHALL'S OFFICE. SHE TOLD ME, SHE SAID, TAKE A LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM JUST BECAUSE YOU BACK TO WORK, THAT DON'T MEAN ANYTHING GOING TO CHANGE. I TOLD HER, I SAID, MA'AM, ALL I JUST WANNA DO IS COME TO WORK AND DO MY JOB. I WORK FOR THE, I WORK FOR JUDGE FATHER, AND THEY DON'T EVEN ASK HIM ANYTHING ABOUT MY JOB PERFORMANCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I'M CONSTANTLY BULLIED. DID THEY LAUGH AT ME? ONE OF 'EM PUT THEIR EYE TO THE CLOCK AND LOOK AT THE NEXT PERSON. THEY LAUGH BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I GOTTA DO SOMETIMES JUST TO EVEN TRY TO SEE IT. [03:30:02] AND SHE KNOW ALL THIS AND SHE'S DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I ASKED HER, I LIVE FIVE MINUTES FROM MACKAY AND I ASKED, HEY, COULD I GO TO MACARO? BECAUSE THAT WAY I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE, YOU KNOW, SO FAR. BUT I JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO BECAUSE I NEED MY JOB. I SUPPOSED TO HAVE EYE SURGERY. LAST YEAR I HAD FOUR EYE SURGERIES ON MY RIGHT EYE. AND RIGHT NOW, IF I CLOSE MY LEFT EYE, I DON'T SEE NOBODY. I DON'T SEE NONE OF YOU GUYS. I HAVE FELL DOWN THE PLANE OF STAIRS AND THESE PEOPLE, I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY. I DO MY JOB. I USED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, SO I KNOW HOW TO ADAPT. I KNOW HOW TO WORK AND DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE TO MY, TO MY BLIND SIDE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I KNOW HOW TO DO ALL THAT. BUT ALL THEY DO IS PUT OBSTACLES IN MY WAY. HOPE, HOPE ME AND HOPE BEEN GOING THROUGH ALL THIS WITH THEM. OKAY. LET ME, UH, KNOWS ABOUT IT. EX EXCUSE ME. UH, I HAD TO STEP OUT. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION AT THE CITY? I'M A BAILIFF. I WORK IN THE COURT. I'M A BAILIFF. A BAILIFF? YES, SIR. AND YOU'VE EXPLAINED ALL THIS CIRCUMSTANCES TO JUDGE MARSHALL. SHE'S A PART OF IT, SIR. SHE WHAT? SHE'S A PART OF IT. TALKING TO THE MIC. I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR YOU. I SAID SHE'S A PART OF IT IN THAT BECAUSE, BECAUSE THE, UH, MANAGER, THAT'S HER, HIS KIDS JUDGE MARSHALL. IS, IS, IS, IS THEY GODMOTHER. THEY WHAT? THIS OTHER LADY, I HAVE HEARD JUDGE MARSHALL TOLD THIS LADY, OH, I TOLD YOU MAMA, I WAS GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU AND HAVEN'T I BEEN TAKING CARE OF YOU. SO IF I MAKE, SO ANYTIME I MADE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THEM, NOW IT'S LIKE, OKAY, ALRIGHT. SLOW DOWN. WHAT'S THE NATURE OF YOUR COMPLAINT? THEY, THEY, THEY BULLIED ME. I, I I, I ALSO MADE A COMPLAINT THAT OKAY, SLOW DOWN. WHO BULLIED YOU? MY SUPERVISOR. RICHARDS ETTE OSBORN, JUDGE MARSHALL. ANOTHER BAILIFF. THE MANAGER OVER THE BAILIFF BULLIED YOU? YES. AND ALSO JUDGE MARSHALL. BECAUSE EVEN WHEN SOME OF THE JUDGE TRIED TO HELP ME, ONE, THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS WHAT, AND SO YOU FILED A COMPLAINT AND YOU'RE SAYING YOU DIDN'T GET IT, IT WAS NOT FOLLOWED UP ON, OR YOU DIDN'T, WEREN'T TREATED FAIR IN THE COMPLAINT, SIR, I WOULD. I'VE BEEN FILING COMPLAINTS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS TO OIG. EVERY TIME I FILE A COMPLAINT TO OIG DEALING WITH JUDGE MARSHALL, THESE PEOPLE, BY THE TIME I GET BACK ACROSS THE STREET, SHE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT IT. THEN NOW IT MAKES MY JOB EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY HARD. IT'S LIKE I'M WALKING ON PIN THIS NEEDLE, EVERYTHING THAT I DO. OKAY. LET ME ASK YOU, WHAT'S YOUR STATUS RIGHT NOW? RIGHT NOW I'M ON SUSPENSION. HOW LONG YOU BEEN ON A SUSPENSION? IT, THIS HAPPENED ABOUT, ABOUT A WEEK AGO. A WEEK? YES, SIR. IT, IT, IT, I GOT THE LETTER THAT SO HOW LONG, HOW LONG WERE YOUR SUSPENSION LAST? I DON'T KNOW. THEY JUST SAY I'M SUSPENDED WITH PAY. I DON'T KNOW. I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO OVER TO THREE 11 WALKER TO SIGN SOME PAPERS. YOU SAID WITH PAY? YEAH. YEAH. SO YOU'RE BEING PAID AS WE TALK? YES, SIR. AND WHAT'S YOUR EXPECTATION FOR GOING BACK TO WORK? I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO BECAUSE OKAY. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. YES, SIR. BUT YOU GOTTA HELP ME. YES, SIR. WHEN'S THE LAST CONTACT YOU'VE HAD WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON? I HAVE TO CALL, I HAVE TO CALL THEM EVERY DAY AT TWO O'CLOCK BECAUSE I CANNOT LEAVE MY HOUSE FROM TWO TO 11 BECAUSE THEY SAID I'M BEING PAID. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. SLOW DOWN. WHO TOLD YOU YOU CAN'T LEAVE YOUR HOUSE? OH, THAT'S MY SUPERVISOR. SAY IN THE LETTER THEY GAVE ME, I GOT THE LETTER IN THE CAR. THE LETTER THEY GAVE ME SAID, OKAY, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME GET TO THE BOTTOM. CAN YOU YOU BE IN MY OFFICE 11 O'CLOCK THURSDAY? YES, SIR. BRING YOUR PAPERS. I'LL MEET WITH YOU 11 O'CLOCK THURSDAY AND WE'LL RESOLVE THIS FAIRLY. YES, SIR. BECAUSE I BET YOU THERE'S THE REST OF THE STORY. YES. YOU KNOW WHAT? HOPE, HOPE, KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. I'LL TALK, I'LL TALK TO SONYA. WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. BUT IF YOU COOPERATE WITH THEM IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE FROM YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, SIR. I AGREE. I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANNA GET IN THERE THURSDAY MORNING. FIND OUT THAT THE REST OF THE STORY MIGHT DESCRIBE A DIFFERENT, SIR, SIR, YOU, I'M NOT QUESTIONING, I UNDERSTAND YOUR INTEGRITY, HONESTY, YOUR, YOUR, I'M JUST SIMPLY SAYING THERE'S GOTTA BE THE REST OF THE STORY. AND I'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. THURSDAY. YES, SIR. YES SIR. THANK YOU. BUT HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SUSPENDED BEFORE? YEAH. YEAH. UH, WHEN I FILED, WHEN I FILED A COMPLAINT THAT THIS PERSON THREATENED ME WHEN THIS WAS LAST YEAR, AROUND THIS TIME, I FILED A COMPLAINT THAT SHE THREATENED ME. THE NEXT DAY I CAME, THE NEXT DAY I CAME TO WORK. THEY ESCORTED ME. I DIDN'T DID YOU BRING THIS TO THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL? I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO SAY HOW DID IT GET FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, SIR? I HAVE WROTE, I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER AT THE TIME, GALLEGOS WAS MY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER IN MY DISTRICT. YEAH. WE WROTE A LETTER TO HIM AND EVERYBODY [03:35:01] KEEP ROUTEING ME BACK. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT A RESPONSIBILITY ON ANYBODY. WE WROTE A WHETHER THEY'RE HERE OR NOT HERE. I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT PATH YOU'VE FOLLOWED AND IT HADN'T WORKED. I HAVE A BAG BACK THERE WITH, WITH, WITH EVERYTHING. OKAY. I I'M GONNA MEET YOU THURSDAY AT 11 O'CLOCK. YEAH. 'CAUSE I, I WROTE A LETTER TO MAIL TURN. CAN YOU DRIVE, SIR? CAN YOU DRIVE? YES. OH, I THOUGHT YOU SOMETIMES IT'S, SOMETIMES IT'S HARD WHEN IT RAINS. SIR, I CANNOT TAKE THE FREEWAY BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE THE LINES TO THE ROAD. OKAY. WELL, COME THURSDAY AND BRING YOUR PACKAGE. YES, SIR. AND WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MARTINEZ. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MR. ROSE RIGHT HERE. YES. UM, SO AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU, UH, FORMER, FORMER COUNCILOR GGO WAS IN OFFICE DURING THAT TIME. PLEASE. UH, I'M GONNA BE REACHING OUT TO YOU AS WELL. YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. I SAID, UM, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GGO WAS IN THE IN OFFICE AT THAT TIME. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT EMAIL WAS SENT, BUT WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO TRY AND FIND THAT EMAIL. IT, IT WAS, IT WAS A LETTER, SIR. AND HE ANSWERED ME BACK. OKAY. I I, I HAVE A COPY. I HAVE A, I HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER TOMORROW, BUT, BUT I HAVE A COPY OF THAT LETTER ME THURSDAY. AND I'M GONNA INVITE COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ TO BE A PART OF YEAH. A COPY OF THE LETTER. EVEN YOU STILL LIVE IN HIS DISTRICT? YES. YEAH, I STILL LIVE IN HIS DISTRICT. YES. PERFECT. PERFECT. DON'T LET ME INTERRUPT. BUT WE, WE ARE GONNA GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT THURSDAY. YES SIR. OKAY. AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE THERE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. WE'LL SEE YOU THURSDAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. HEY. AND HOPE KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS, SIR. HOPE KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS HOPE. KNOW, HOPE. KNOW THE WHOLE THING. YES. YES, SIR. I, I FIRST MET YOU, YOU WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT MY GRADUATION, UH, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MAY 15TH, 2022. YOU WAS OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER. 2222 AT THE TIME. YOU WOULDN'T THE MAYOR THEN. AND I TOLD EVERYBODY THAT WAS SITTING THERE, I SAID, THAT'S GONNA BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON . AND THEN I FOUND OUT YES, YOU'RE THE MAYOR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I I I'M LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU GRADUATED IN 22. YEAH, I GRADUATED IN 22. I GOT MY, I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL UNTIL THE SITUATION WITH MY 22. THAT'S JUST TWO YEARS AGO. YES. I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL. OKAY. WELL, I LOST A SAFE MIND. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WELL BE SAFE AND I'LL SEE YOU THURSDAY, CYNTHIA, WHOEVER LOUIS SOMEBODY, MAKE SURE THAT'S ON MY CALENDAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BE SAFE MARGO WILLIAMS. ENJOY THAT PART OF THE WORK. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARGO WILLIAMS, DESCENDANT OF KANE NELSON, BURIED AT HISTORIC OLIVE CEMETERY. I AM ALSO PRESIDENT OF DESCENDANTS OF HOLLYWOOD INCORPORATED, THE 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS GUARDIANSHIP OF HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, THE OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN INCORPORATED CEMETERY IN HOUSTON. IN 2015, THE CITY OF HOUSTON SIGNED A THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH STUDENT VENTURE LP TO GRANT TAX INCENTIVES, INCENTIVES FOR UP TO $860,000 IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DEVELOPER PERFORMING INFRASTRUCTURE WORK RELATED TO THE CONVERSION OF THE FORMER INDUSTRIAL AREA THAT ONCE SURROUNDED HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY ON THREE SIDES INTO COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT COMPLEXES. WHEN THE AGREEMENT WAS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER THE SIXTH, 2015, THE SUMMARY OF THE AGREEMENT PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS READ AS FOLLOWS. THE DEVELOPER WILL CONVEY AN APPROXIMATELY POINT 15 AC ACRES SITE TO ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE ADJACENT CEMETERY AND CONSTRUCT A PUBLIC PARKING LOT TO BENEFIT THE CEMETERY VISITORS AND WORKERS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE DEVELOPER'S INVESTMENT. AND TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE ENHANCEMENT TO THE CEMETERY, THE ADMINISTRATION PURPOSES, TO PROPOSES TO OFFER AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE OF THE LESSER OF ACTUAL EXPENDITURES, OR $860,000 FOR THOSE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS DIRECTLY BE BENEFITING THE CEMETERY. AND THE FINAL VERSION OF THE DOCUMENT, HOWEVER, THE AGREEMENT SIMPLY STATES DEVELOPER WILL CONVEY TO THE CITY LAND TO BE USED AS PUBLIC PARKING IN THE VICINITY OF HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, A SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL AND HISTORIC ASSET WITHIN THE CITY, WHICH WILL BENEFIT FROM THE ADDITIONAL OF PARKING, PUBLIC PARKING. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT [03:40:01] CHANGE FROM THE SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF A PARKING LOT SPECIFICALLY BUILT TO BENEFIT THE CEMETERY. INSTEAD, THE CEMETERY NOW AT BEST SHARES AN ADDITIONAL PARKING WITH THE NEIGHBOR AS A WHOLE. ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL, THIS MEANS CEMETERY VISITORS AND WORKERS MUST COMPETE FOR 10 PARKING SPACES WITH THE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS AND THREE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES JUST ACROSS THE STREET. FURTHER, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN THE FINAL AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE CITY'S OFFER, ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR IMPROVEMENT DIRECTLY BENEFITING THE CEMETERY ACCORDING TO THE SUMMARY PROVIDED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF SILENCE AND STOVE, THERE MAY BE AS MUCH AS $860,000 OF, OF FUNDS AVAILABLE TO HELP PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN ALL IT. BUT THERE'S NOT A WORD IN THE FINAL AGREEMENT CONCERNING ANY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR THE CEMETERY. THE END RESULT OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT THE CEMETERY HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY DIRECT BENEFITS FROM THE THREE 80 AGREEMENT, DESPITE THE FREQUENT USE OF ITS NAME BY CITY OFFICIALS AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THE TAX BREAK. INSTEAD, WE HAVE A PARKING LOT LOCATED JUST A FEW FEET FROM MY FRONT INTEREST THAT IS TYPICALLY FILLED WITH CARS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD MA'AM. SOME THAT HAVE BEEN PARKED FOR A MONTH AND A HALF OVERNIGHT, BELONGING TO THE RESIDENTS NEARBY TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS. WE HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING IN AND OUT OF OUR PARKING LOT BECAUSE CARS ARE PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR ENTRANCE, BLOCKING THE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE. WE WOULD LIKE SOME SIGNAGE, NO PARKING TO CORNER. WE COLLECT SEVERAL BAGS OF TRASH A WEEK DUE TO RESIDENCE DUMPING TRASH ON THE STREET. ALONG OUR FENCE ON SUMMER STREET, WE ARE ASKING FOR PERMITTED CEMETERY PARKING SIGNS ON THE PARKING LOT. UH, MAYBE A GATE WE CAN OPEN AND CLOSE SOME CEMETERY PARKING SIGNAGE ALONG OLIVE WOOD FENCE ON SUMMER STREET FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS. AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP WITH THE LITTERING, UH, DESCENDANTS OF HOLLYWOOD BELIEVES HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY BEING A UNESCO SITE OF MEMORY FOR THE SLAVE ROUTE PROJECT. IT, UH, BEING ON THE 11 ENDANGERED PLACES LISTED FOR THE NATIONAL TRUST IN 2022, DESIGNATED AS A TESTED HISTORICAL SITE, HOUSTON PROTECTED HISTORIC LANDMARK. AND WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS A NATIONAL HISTORIC DESTINATION. AND AS MENTIONED IN THE 20 15 8 800 $60,000 THREE 80 AGREEMENT, A SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL AND HISTORIC HISTORIC SITE WITHIN THE CITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE SMALL, UH, THINGS TO ASKS, SMALL ITEMS TO ASK. LEMME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, WHO WILL BE, GIVE US SOME RELIEF ON THIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MARGO, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE. AND I KNOW I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, THE DERECHO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE CEMETERY AS WELL. UM, AND MAYOR, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH, I, I THINK TEAM RUBICON TO SET UP A BIG CLEANUP AND THEN THIS STORM HITS THAT MAY GET DELAYED. BUT IN ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING TO PRESERVE THE CEMETERY, UM, I AM GRATEFUL AND THE CITY IS GRATEFUL AND MAYOR, THERE'S HUGE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF EROSION, UH, THAT IS TAKING AWAY FROM THE CEMETERY AS WELL. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PARKING, IT'S THAT THE LITTLEST THING WE CAN DO. UH, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S SAID. UH, WE HAVE, AND I'M JUST SAYING THIS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND MAYOR, YOU HAVE THE BACKGROUND ON THIS, BUT, UH, IN WORKING WITH, UH, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHO'S BEEN GREAT, UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING TO DO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH OLIVE WOOD SO THAT THAT PARKING LOT ITSELF, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BECOMES WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE, WHICH IS FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THOSE WORKING, UH, AROUND OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, MARGOT, WAS WE HAD SAID IT CAN BE ONE OR THE OTHER. IF WE PUT UP SIGNS SAYING YOU CAN ONLY PARK FOR X NUMBER OF TIME, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN THEN GO IN AND ENFORCE IT, BUT IT'S STILL PUBLIC PARKING. SO WE OPTED, UH, YOU ALL OPTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THAT. UM, I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVE, UH, AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE EMAIL, UH, THAT CAME IN THIS MORNING WITH THE UPDATE BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SOME SLOWDOWNS. BUT IN THE NEXT, UH, WE EXPECT VERY SHORTLY, AND LEGAL IS HELPING TO COORDINATE ALL OF THIS WILL GET THAT AGREEMENT GOING. AND THEN LEGAL IS ALSO COORDINATING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS ON SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THAT. UM, I KNOW WE'RE HAPPY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO ENFORCE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP, UH, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SMALL PARKING LOT AS IT IS WHEN WE HAVE THESE CRITICAL CLEANUPS AND [03:45:01] THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO WEEKLY THERE. YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE A CAR THAT'S JUST POSTED UP FOR A MONTH AND A HALF. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE USE OF THAT LOT IS. UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. I THINK WE DO HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM, UH, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEFT, SO THAT WORKLOAD, RIGHT, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, IT ADDED TO THEIR LIST. UH, BUT WE'VE ESCALATED THAT YOU OF COURSE, AND YOUR ELOQUENCE AND YOUR DILIGENCE HAVE ESCALATED IT. AND WE DO HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM THEM THAT THAT LEASE AGREEMENT IS MOVING FORWARD. UH, AND WE WILL STAY ON TOP OF THAT. I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. AS IT RELATES TO THE DAMAGE WITH THE DERECHO. I KNOW Y'ALL HAD APPLY FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING? UM, IT'S NOT GOING, WE JUST GOT DENIED. UH, AND IT IS UP TO US IF WE WANT TO, UH, APPEAL THAT. BUT, UH, AS A CEMETERY, WE'RE NOT, UM, THERE'S NO ASSISTANCE FROM FEMA AS US BEING A CEMETERY. UH, WE WERE ASKED TO PROVE THAT WE WERE A MUSEUM, AND I WAS LIKE, THE CEMETERY'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1875. WHO TOLD YOU THAT? UM, AND PROBABLY IT WAS A FORMER, PROBABLY A SLAVE CEMETERY AT ONE POINT. SO, UM, I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT MORE, AND WE'LL, WE'LL TRY MAYOR, THAT'S RELATED TO FEMA AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO RECOVER, HELP THE PROPERTY RECOVER FROM THE DERECHO. BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE. AND I KNOW Y'ALL ARE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN IN OUR OFFICE. UM, WE'LL BE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN ANY WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND MAYOR AS WE DISCUSS. UM, I 10, UH, AND THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH TXDOT, ONE OF THE ASK HAS BEEN THAT THEY HELP SUPPORT AND PROTECT THE CEMETERY FROM FUTURE, UM, EROSION THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING, AND THAT THEY ADD IMPROVEMENTS ON THEIR END, UH, AS IT MOVES CLOSER AND CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION. SO THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE COMMUNITY BASED ASKS, UH, TO HELP PROTECT ALL OF WOOD THAT I, I WANNA SPOTLIGHT AS WELL. 'CAUSE AGAIN, TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING, BUT THERE ARE JUST SO MANY NEEDS TO PRESERVE SUCH A HOLLOWED, UM, AND SACRED SITE. THANK YOU MS. WILLIAMS. NEXT. DANA JONES. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. ONCE AGAIN. HERE I AM. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WALK AWAY WITH MY, I WANNA START BY TO SUSPENDING THE, THE RULE AND AND PROTOCOL. I WANT TO ADDRESS EVERYONE. JUST IF AS IF YOU'RE JUST A REGULAR CITIZEN. ON JUNE THE 26TH, MAYOR, I GAVE YOU A LETTER STATING WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME AT MY HOUSE AND IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AT THAT TIME, YOU WALKED AWAY WHEN I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT IT. SO NOW HERE I AM HERE. EVERYTHING HAS REALLY, IT'S LIKE A BALL THAT'S NOW HAS BURST AND EVERYTHING HAS OOZED, OPEN AND OUT. STENCH IS OUT AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON. EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED ALL AROUND HOUSTON. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT FOR OVER 20 YEARS. A GRADUAL DETERIORATION. NOW, THE FIRST THING IS, I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPEAKING RIGHT AFTER I SPOKE WITH YOU ON THE 26TH. I WAS SUPPOSED TO SPEAK THAT NEXT TUESDAY, BUT I DIDN'T GET THE MEMO THAT COUNSEL WAS GOING TO BE MEETING AT NINE 30 IN THE MORNING. I DIDN'T GET THE MEMO. SO I CAME HERE AT TWO O'CLOCK. SO I'M ON THE PHONE SAYING, HEY, WELL, WHAT HAPPENED? OH, THEY MET THIS MORNING. SO I DIDN'T GET THAT. SO THE NEXT, I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT THEN THAT WAS WHEN THE HURRICANE CAME THROUGH. SO HERE I AM AGAIN, AND I'M THE VERY LAST ONE. WELL, I'M GONNA WAIT. I, BECAUSE NOW THANKS TO EVERYONE HERE, I'M HOMELESS. MY HOUSE IS GONE. OH, IT'S STILL STANDING A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE RAIN'S COMING IN. IT, IT, IT FLOODED DURING BARREL AND THEN IT FLOODED AGAIN WEDNESDAY. SO I'M HOMELESS. IT COMES IN THE TOP, IT COMES IN THE BOTTOM. BEFORE I LEAVE HERE, I HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM BECAUSE I CAN'T, I CAN'T TRUST THAT THE RESTROOMS AT MY HOUSE ARE GOING TO FLUSH. THERE'S NO COOKING BECAUSE I CAN'T WASH MY HANDS IN MY SINK. SO IT'S NONE OF THAT. SO ALL I HAVE NOW [03:50:01] IS A BUILDING WHERE MY THINGS ARE STORED. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE MY GENERATOR. IT'S OUT. IT'S GONE. IT BLEW OUT. MY REFRIGERATOR IS OUT. I AM OUT. I'M OUT. I'M ABSOLUTELY, MY SISTER IS STILL WITHOUT LIGHTS. WHY? WHY IS SHE WITHOUT LIGHTS FOR THIS LONG LENGTH OF TIME? AND THEN SHE'S OUT TRYING TO, THE, THE PEOPLE ARE OUT TRYING TO TRYING TO GET THE DEBRIS. I'M GONNA FINISH. 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE A HOME TO GO TO. I DON'T HAVE A HOME. THE PEOPLE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET THE DEBRIS OUT OF THEIR YARD. I SAW A 90-YEAR-OLD WOMAN OUT TRYING TO GET THE DEBRIS OUT OF HER YARD BECAUSE SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ANYBODY TO DO IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING IN MY HOUSE. AT MY HOUSE. WE COMPLETELY FLOODED. WE WENT, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. IT'S JUST A MESS. AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE OR SHOULD NOT BE. AND NOW FEMA IS ANOTHER DISASTER. THEY'RE DENYING EVERYBODY. WHY, WHY SOMEBODY HELP ME AND MAKE ME UNDERSTAND. WHY ARE PEOPLE BEING DENIED THE ONE, THE VERY VULNERABLE ONES, THE ONE THAT NEED IT? I MYSELF WENT ON THE 3RD OF JULY AND SPENT OVER $500 FOR FOOD AND THINGS IN MY HOUSE. IT IS GONE. THERE IS NO MORE FUNDING COMING IN UNTIL THE 3RD OF AUGUST. SO WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT DO I DO? I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SITTING HERE. I'M GONNA ENJOY THIS AC RIGHT HERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE PLACE. MY SISTER, EUGENE DORY, THAT LIVES AT 96, 23 EDGEWORTH IS IN THE HEAT. WHY IS THAT? ALL OF NORTHWOOD MANOR IS IN THE HEAT. WHY IS THAT? MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT IN ARE IN NORTHWOOD MANOR ARE RAISING THEIR GRANDKIDS OR THEY HAVE THEIR KIDS WITH THEIR KIDS LIVING WITH THEM. AND TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THEM, IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. IT IT, IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THE CITY, A CITY THE SIZE OF HOUSTON, A LITTLE DI A LITTLE BARREL BOTTOM TO THEIR FACE, NOT TO THEIR KNEES, TO THEIR FACE. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. AND NOW WHAT DO WE DO GOING FORWARD? WHAT DO WE DO? I DON'T HAVE A GENERATOR ANYMORE. I WAS PREPARED. I HAD WATER. I HAD ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I NEEDED, BUT I'VE LOST EVERYTHING. NOW WHAT DO I DO? MAYOR, YOU TELL ME WHAT I DO. 'CAUSE THE LAST TIME I TRIED TO TALK TO YOU, YOU WALKED AWAY FROM ME. WHEN I WAS TRYING TO TELL YOU BY MY HOUSE, YOU WALKED AWAY. SO NOW YOUR LEGACY WITH ME IS WALK AWAY WITH MINE, . OKAY? WELL, IF YOU'LL TALK TO MY ASSISTANT, MS. WILSON, I HAVE TALKED TO, I DID THAT WITH TURNER. I DID IT WITH PARKER. I'M TIRED OF TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING NOTHING. WELL, I'M SORRY. LET'S, LET'S HIT THE RESTART BUTTON IF YOU'RE WILLING. LET'S HIT THE RESTART BUTTON AND IT'LL START WITH YOU TALKING TO MY ASSISTANT AND WE'LL TALK TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. WE'LL TALK TO SOCIAL AGENCIES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU. IF YOU WANT HELP. UM, MAY I, BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WITH MY, UH, WITH MY I SAW YOU WITH BUCKINGHAM. YOU WHAT? OKAY. BUCKINGHAM, UH, DON, WHATEVER HER NAME. BUCKINGHAM. YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S, I I ON THE NEWS IT SAID THAT SHE WAS GIVING YOU SOME ADDITIONAL TIME WITH THE MONEY OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND. I DON'T KNOW. BUT WHAT I KNOW IS WHEN I TRIED TO GET HELP FROM THEM, THEY FOUND OUT THAT I HAD BEEN A VICTIM OF, UH, PRICE GOUGING. YES, MA'AM. AND THEN THEY, THEY BACKED AWAY FROM THAT. SO SURE, SOMEBODY ASKED ME, OKAY, I, SOMEBODY, ONE MORE THING I NEED TO TELL YOU. SOMEBODY ASKED ME, WELL, WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE IN THE PAST? BECAUSE ONCE YOU OPEN UP THAT HOLE IN MY, IN MY, ON MY PROPERTY, THEN YOU ARE GONNA FIND OUT THAT IT HAS BEEN MISMANAGEMENT, NEGLECT, AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, MY DRIVEWAY IS SINKING AND MY STORAGE HOUSE IS SINKING. SO OF COURSE MY HOUSE IS SINKING. OKAY? SO ONCE I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, ONCE THAT SINKHOLE OPENS UP AND MY STORAGE HOUSE IS NO LONGER THAT, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY SAYING THEY DIDN'T KNOW. 'CAUSE I TOLD EVERYBODY AND THEY KNOW. OKAY, I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS IN THE MESS. IF YOU'LL TALK TO MS. WILSON, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOU. AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN DO IS SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WE START OVER. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE, SOME OF YOUR, UH, MENTIONING OF CERTAIN EVENTS ON CERTAIN DAYS, BUT [03:55:01] WE'RE HERE TODAY AND MS. WILSON ASSIST YOU. I GAVE YOU A LETTER, MA'AM, YOU DON'T RECALL? I CAN, I CAN JUST HONESTLY TELL YOU I DON'T RECALL. BUT THAT'S NOT ANYTHING I DO ABOUT TODAY. HUH? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. UM, SO WHAT SHOULD I DO? SHOULD I GO TO A HOTEL OR WHAT SHOULD I DO? MS. WILSON'S GONNA TALK TO YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, IS THAT IT? EDUARDO DURAN. ALL RIGHT. UH, WHILE WRAPPERS ARE, UH, SIGNALING TO THE 2020 RIOTERS AS TO WHAT THEIR NEXT CRIME WILL BE, UM, UM, OCULAR DEEPFAKE, OCULAR DEFECT TECHNOLOGY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED NEAR 2030 OR AFTER 2030S. UM, YOU KNOW, BEGIN, UH, A GENETIC CATACLYSM IS ON THE RISE AS HARARI FROM WEALTH ECONOMIC FORUM SAID THERE WOULD BE ONCE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO, TO DIE, AS STATED IN REVELATION, WHICH I MEAN, BY ALL MEANS, YOU CAN LOOK AT JUST, UH, LONGEVITY OR, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSIONS ON TRANSHUMANISM MEAN. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM HAS BEEN DISCUSSING, AND ELON MUSK, ET CETERA. SO LET'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, PLEASE. UH, ONCE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO DIE, AS STATED IN REVELATION, IF A BIOLOGICAL WEAPON, RABIES VIRUS IS PUT OUT, THEN THERE WILL BE A POTENTIAL ACTUAL ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE. UH, THERE'S ENGINEERED NANO MATERIALS IN OUR FOOD. SHE EDITORS ENTERING INTO THE PRODUCE. WE'VE BEEN SEEING THE EFFECTS OF WEATHER WARFARE AS OF LATE. UH, 2030S WILL BRING AN UNVEILING OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL TURN, HAS FIRE. UM, PLEASE GIMME SOME MORE TIME. UH, TRY TO WRAP IT UP. YEAH. CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING? TWENTIES. TWENTIES. WHAT, WHAT CAN I ASK YOU WHAT YOU DO? WHAT'S YOUR PROFESSION? I'M JUST INTERESTED IN YOU AS A PERSON. WHAT DO YOU DO? I HAD A PROFESSION, BUT THEN, UH, 2020S HAPPENED AND MOST OF THE INDUSTRIES WHICH I WAS WORKING AS NOT BEING ANYTHING GREAT WERE GENERALLY WIPED OUT. SURE. DO YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE? I HAVE FAMILY, BUT I'M KIND OF SPEAKING TO YOU ON A RATHER OBJECTIVE LEVEL INSTEAD OF JUST QUESTIONING MY PSYCH PSYCHOLOGICAL, UH, STATE. OKAY. AND WHETHER I NEED TO BE INSTITUTED AND PROVIDED WITH, UM, UNDER A PROVISION OF MEDICATIONS, WHICH I'M TRYING TO GET TO THAT, THAT ACTUAL POINT THERE OF THE ISSUE THERE AS TO, WELL, MOST OF IT IS MEDIATED UNDER BRIBES, UH, BY THE PHARMA, THE PHARMACY COMPANIES THEMSELVES. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET AS TO HOW MUCH THESE MENTAL INSTITUTES GET IS, UH, PENDING ON HOW MUCH DRUGS THEY DISPENSE. SO, OKAY. THERE'S A MAJOR ETHICAL ISSUE AS TO THE, THE WHETHER PEOPLE GOING TO THE MENTAL INSTITUTE WILL ACTUALLY GAIN, GET ANY KIND OF ACTUAL HELP BECAUSE THEY EVEN, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE PREGNANT WOMEN PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS THERE. SO, OKAY. WELL GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP YOUR, I'M TRYING TO JUST GET THROUGH THIS AND, AND YEAH, GO AHEAD. OKAY. UH, 2030S WILL BRING AN UNVEILING OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL TURN MOST INTO ABIDING TECHNOCRATS AND ACCEPTED TRANSHUMANISM, AND LIKELY PART OF THE RED HORSE PROPHECY AS PEOPLE ARE TECHNOLOGICALLY CONSCRIPTED, CONSCRIPTED POST SPIRITUALITY FUTURE, THE APOSTASY IS ALREADY OCCURRING AND THE AGE OF GRACE IS RECEDING. UM, REMEMBER THAT I DID MENTION, UM, YOU KNOW, ENGINEERING NANO MATERIALS IN OUR FOOD GENE EDITORS ENTERING INTO THE PRODUCE, WHICH CAN BE FULLY, I I, OKAY, I'VE BEEN GENEROUS. I IN ONE MORE MINUTE. OKAY. OKAY. UM, SO THE SOLIDARITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS BEING LEVELED IN ORDER TO USHER IN A MUSLIM WORLD ORIENTATION. DUE TO ITS ABIDING ANTI-RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES OF MURDER OF NON-CON CONVERTS, PHARMACOLOGICAL ALTERATION WILL BECOME THE END TIMES RELIGION. WISDOM ONE 14, GOD CREATED ALL CREATURES WITH LIFE THAT CONTINUES, ALL LIVING BEINGS SHOULD KEEP ON LIVING UNTOUCHED BY DEADLY POISON OR OTHER STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW, REFERRED TO DRUGS. SO, UH, [04:00:01] THERE'S THAT IN NAHAM THREE, FOUR, REVELATION 1823, WHICH BASICALLY DESCRIBES THE SAME THING ABOUT PHARMACIA, UH, PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS BEING USED, UH, EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. LIKE IT SAYS, PHARMACOLOGICAL ALTERATION WILL BECOME THE END TIME RELIGION. UM, THIS IS WHY THE CALENDAR ANTHROP ANTHROPOMORPHIZATION ARE ALL CHIMERA OR AMALGAMATIONS, EXCEPT THE ONLY ONE BEING THE VIRGIN, WHICH IS NOT HONORED TO BE SO ANTAGONISM OR GENTILE ESTABLISHMENT HISTORICALLY CHARACTERIZED. SO ANOTHER THING, THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION AS THEY KEEP ON STATING IT, RIGHT? IT'S NOT SEVEN YEARS, IT'S SEVEN, SEVEN YEARS. OKAY, LET ME SUGGEST, UH, WE WRAP IT UP. WE'VE HAD A LONG DAY AND, UH, WE'LL VISIT AGAIN WITH YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE. YEAH. SO, SO WHEN THEY, THEY KEEP ON REITERATING, YOU KNOW, THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION, IT'S ACTUALLY SEVEN SABBATH YEARS AS IN, AS IN 49 YEARS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETING THE JUBILEE. OKAY? UH, THE REASON WHY THEY, THEY KEEP ON REITERATING A SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION IS SO THAT WAY PEOPLE ARE ONLY HOLDING OUT ON THE SEVEN YEARS WHEN REALLY THAT IS ACTUALLY THE GREAT DECEPTION AT THE END OF IT WILL ACTUALLY, OKAY, THERE'S STILL 42 MORE YEARS TO GO. LEMME TELL. WE'VE GOTTA, WE'VE GOTTA GET TO OUR NEXT CITIZEN. OKAY? ALRIGHT. UM, BESIDES THAT, UH, THE JANUARY 6TH CAPITOL HILL STORM WAS, WAS ALSO CONCERTED REAL LAW ABIDING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS DO NOT ACT THAT WAY. OKAY, SIR, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO END OR BE ESCORTED. THANK YOU. BE SAFE NEXT. I CERTAINLY WOULD'VE BEEN IF, IF, IF YOU WOULD READ THESE DOCUMENTS OR AT LEAST READ WHAT I, I HAD SENT THEM BECAUSE, SO, SO FAR, UH, I DO THANK YOU. NEXT SAVANT MOORE, ON LAST WEEK, I TOLD YOU THIS WILL HAPPEN. WE LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU AS DAY NINE PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER A HUNDRED DEGREE WEATHER. ME AND MR. WOOD, WE ARE GOING THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY HELPING, DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL, BUT MY FATHER WAS A COACH AT FOREST BROOK. WE WOULD GO TO KINGWOOD AND THE WHOLE STANDS WOULD CALL US THE N WORD WHILE WE'RE PLAYING FOOTBALL. SO THAT'S WHY IT IS OPEN WOUNDS WITH US BEING SO CLOSE TO KINGWOOD. MR. BALLARD JUST CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT HIS SISTER. BUT ON AMBOY, THERE'S A POLE DOWN RIGHT NOW, THE REASON THEY DON'T HAVE POWER, I'M A PERSON THAT USES 3 1 1. I'VE COME TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA. I HAD TO USE TIKTOK TO HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND, 70,000 VIEWS JUST FOR THE, UM, MEN THAT CAME FROM NEW JERSEY TO HELP BECAUSE BRAD, WHO IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR PERSONAL FRIEND, 'CAUSE YOU CALLED HIM BRAD LAST WEEK, HAD POWER. MR. JASON, THE CEO HAD POWER NINE DAYS. AND I TOLD YOU IT WOULD BE NORTHEAST HOUSTON. THAT WOULD BE LAST TO GET HELP. THE OTHER REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I TOOK MY TIME TO GO TO EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT AND MAKE A PERSONAL VIDEO. MR. MILES IS GOING TO CLOSE 15 SCHOOLS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND HISPANIC. IT'S NOT A GAME. THIS IS SERIOUS. MY WHOLE EMERGING FUND IS GONE. WE'RE HELPING EVERY DAY. 'CAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE, SENIORS, THEY DON'T HAVE FOOD, THEY DON'T HAVE OXYGEN. MY WIFE IS AN ELDERLY SOCIAL WORKER. LIKE THERE ARE REAL ISSUES FOR EVERY HOUSTONIAN. IF YOU WANT TO COMBAT CENTER POINT BY THE STOCK, IT'S $30. WE CAN BE AT THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING. I'LL BE THERE ON AUSTIN AND I'LL GO TO PUC BECAUSE I GRID IS ALWAYS UNFORTUNATE. MY ONLY PROBLEM WITH YOU, MR. WHITMEYER, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NOTHING ABOUT WHAT MR. TURNER DID ANYMORE. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. BECAUSE I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. I SERVE MY COUNTRY. I, I LIVE IN MY HOOD. PEOPLE ARE STEALING FROM MY HOUSE AND WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE'S NO POWER. I CALL HPDI CALL CONSTABLES OF HELP. I'M NOT MOVING. I'M GONNA KEEP DOING MY JOB. OKAY? IN TWO YEARS, I WILL BE THE NEXT STATE REP. SOUNDS GOOD. AND ONE DAY I'LL BE THE FIRST BLACK SENATOR OF TEXAS. 'CAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP 'CAUSE I DO THE RIGHT THING. SOUNDS GOOD. I PREACHED ON SUNDAY. I SAID CENTER POINT HAS NO POWER. THANK YOU. BUT GOD DOES. YOU JUST DISRESPECTED THAT, THAT LADY, SHE GAVE YOU A LETTER. LIKE, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN, MAN. SOMEONE ASKED ME TO HELP. I CAME. YEAH, I'M ELECTED. THANK YOU. BUT I CAME TO THE MEETING AND I CONTINUED TO SHOW UP. YOU, YOU ASSUME I GOT THE LETTER, BUT THANK YOU. I'M NOT ASSUMING THAT YOU GOT THE LETTER. I'M TELLING YOU LIKE THEY WERE SAYING, WE'VE GIVEN YOU COMMUNITY LAYOUTS. THANK YOU. IF YOU USE COMMUNITY, UM, LIAISON, WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH YOU. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WHITE PEOPLE. ANY, I SERVE MY COUNTRY. MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS ARE RAN HERE AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT [04:05:01] AND LET'S HAVE A NICE EVENING. OKAY? LET'S GO TO WORK. THANK YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP THE PEOPLE? THEY DON'T HAVE POWER. YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. YOUR DAUGHTER WAS A LOBBYIST. CENTER POINT. CALL THEM BECAUSE WE'RE ON DAY NINE. IT'S NOT, THIS IS, YOU CAN LAUGH. WE GOING POWER. THANK YOU. [RECESS] I AM ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OF CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK JULY 16TH AND 17TH, 2024. ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF VON TRAN AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. ITEM TWO, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE OTHER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, HOUSTONIAN PUBLIC WORKS TO AMEND MOTION 20 24 1 17 TO REFLECT THE APPROVAL OF THE REVISED FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR THE FY 2022 CITYWIDE ASPHALT OVERLAY PACKAGE NUMBER TWO ON CONTRACT WITH MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES, LTD ITEM THREE, ORDINANCE ADMITTING CHAPTER TWO OF THE CODE OF AVOIDANCES HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM FOUR ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 4 0 7 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HUSH BLACKWELL, LLP ITEM FIVE, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BRENTWOOD ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DBA BRENTWOOD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. ITEM SIX, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND A CARING SAFE PLACE INC. ITEM SEVEN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY. ITEM EIGHT, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 24 3 90 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND APPROVE FIRST AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENTS WITH ASH BRIT, INC. DRC, EMERGENCY SERVICES, INC. TFR ENTERPRISES INC. AND C-E-R-E-R-C-E-R-E-S ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. ITEM NINE ORDERS CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 25.815 ACRES OF LAND OR CHIMNEY HILL MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT FOR INCLUSION IN THIS DISTRICT. ITEM 10, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION TO FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION. ITEM 11, AMEND MOTION 20 24 5 14 TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ORGANIZATION FROM BY BOARD PURCHASING ER TO TEXAS SMART BUY AWARDED TO MIDWEST LIBRARY SERVICES. ITEM 12 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CERTIFICATION OF A MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. FOR THE SITE, FOR THE SITE. LOCATED AT EIGHT ONE OH INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD, SUGARLAND, TEXAS, TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THIS WAS ITEM THREE ON AGENDA OF JULY 10TH, 2024. ITEM 13, RESOLUTION, ADOPTING RECOMMENDATION OF CITY ATTORNEY TO ASSIGN ACCOUNTS OVERLAPPING WITH CLEAR, CLEAR CREEK, SPRING BRANCH, PASADENA, ALEY, ALENA PARK KLEIN FOR BEING IN ALDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND THOSE ACCOUNTS LOCATED IN MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. COLLECTIVELY, PURDUE ASSIGNED ACCOUNTS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVAN SHABAZZ, DAVIS, AND CARTER. THIS WAS ITEM FOUR ON AGENDA OF JULY 10. ITEM 14 ORDERS APPROPRIATING $1,291,523 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AWARD AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO HARBOR BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THIS WAS ITEM NINE ON AGENDA OF JULY 10. ITEM 15 ORDERS DECLARING SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING PARCELS. ITEM ONE, APPROXIMATELY 5.89 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 46 0 5 WILMINGTON STREET AND 93 14 BOULEVARD HOUSTON. AND TWO, APPROXIMATELY 1.248 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 84 18 AND 84 22 JENSEN DRIVE, AND THREE APPROXIMATELY 0.64 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 71 31 CULLEN BOULEVARD AND WOMACK DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT REALTORS INCORPORATED FOR MARKETING AND STELLAR SURPLUS PROPERTY TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THIS WAS ITEM 10 ON AGENDA OF JULY 10TH, ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN CASTILLO, MARTINEZ, AND DAVIS. THIS WAS ITEM 14 ON THE AGENDA OF JULY 10TH AND ITEM 17, A SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS CONTAINING PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCILS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND BEFORE WE SIGN OFF, WE WANT TO WISH YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SITTING RIGHT [04:10:01] NEXT TO ME, MY NUMBER ONE FAN COUNCIL MEMBER, TIFFANY THOMAS STATE, IT'S HER BIRTHDAY. YAY, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. WE ALSO WANNA WISH YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY STAFF MEMBER, LARRY BOROUGH. HIS BIRTHDAY WAS JULY 13TH, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF, LOT OF JULY BABIES, BUT HAPPY BIRTH TO ALL THOSE WHO WERE BORN IN THE MONTH OF JULY. IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON, DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSING FANTABULOUS DAY. UH, COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER [RECONVENE] STARTING, UH, WITH [MAYOR'S REPORT] THE MAYOR'S REPORT. I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SERVICES FOR RUSSELL RICHARDSON, THE, UH, HPD CIVIL EMPLOYEE. THAT LIFE WAS TAKEN ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE STORM AS HE EXITED 45 STREET, UH, 45 HIGHWAY ONTO HOUSTON AVENUE AND WAS, UH, SWEPT UP BY 14 FEET OF WATER. UH, VERY SAD, UH, SITUATION. AND I WILL BE WORKING WITH COUNSEL TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF BETTER PROTECTION. UH, CONES HAD BEEN PUT OUT, WHICH HAD BEEN DONE IN PREVIOUS STORMS, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER RAILROAD TYPE CROSSING. UM, AT WE'VE IDENTIFIED 49 SITES ACROSS HOUSTON THAT REPEATEDLY FLOOD WITH HIGH LEVELS. UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN AN ATTEMPT IN PREVIOUS YEARS TO PUT WARNING, UM, SIGNALS AND OUR CONES AND IT JUST DIDN'T WORK. IN THIS INSTANCE, HIS VISITATION WILL BE HELD AT THE FORT BEND CHURCH, 1900 ELDRIDGE ROAD SUGARLAND ON MONDAY, JULY 29TH AT 8:00 AM SERVICES WILL BEGIN AT 11:00 AM FOLLOWED BY BUR BARREL AT THE HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. UH, KEEP HIS FAMILY IN IN OUR PRAYERS. WE ALSO HAD A HORRIBLE AMBUSH OF DEPUTY SHERIFF FERNANDO ESCADA, UH, TERRIBLE SHOOTING AS HE WAS WORKING TO PROTECT US. HIS VISITATION WILL BE THURSDAY, JULY 18TH, STARTING AT 5:00 PM AT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH ON NAVIGATION. A ROSARY WILL ALSO OCCUR FROM 7:00 PM TO 8:00 PM A FUNERAL MASS WILL OCCUR FRIDAY, JULY 18TH AT 10:00 AM AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART. 1111 ST. JOSEPH PARKWAY, FOLLOWED BY THE BARREL AT FOREST PARK LAWNDALE CEMETERY. I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP THE OFFICER AND HIS FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT AND, AND GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE FIELD WITH HOUSTON FIRE AND HOUSTON PD. UH, THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE DURING SOME OF THE WORST PARTS OF THE STORM AND WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK. WE DID MOBILIZE HPD AND, UH, AS I RIDE DURING THE NIGHT WITH THE CHIEF AND MAKE CALLS, YOU GET THERE INSTEAD OF THE ONE OR TWO NORMAL, UH, OFFICERS MAKING A CALL, THERE WOULD BE 10 15. AND THEN I'LL MENTION THE COLLABORATION WITH OUT OF TOWN OFFICERS. AND AS I WAS COMMENTING TO THE CHIEF, THE PRESENCE OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS, HE SAID THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE IF WE WERE FULLY AT THE NEEDED PERSONNEL. SO INSTEAD OF GOING TO A MURDER SCENE WITH ONE OR TWO OFFICERS AND ONE OR TWO HOMICIDE, I MADE LOCATIONS THAT'D BE 15 OR 20 OFFICERS. NOT ONLY MAKING THE PUBLIC SAFER, BUT CERTAINLY BETTER PROTECTION FOR OUR HPD OFFICERS. WHAT I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT IS ACTUALLY QUICKLY BECOMING A MODEL ACROSS TEXAS AND THE NATION WHERE WE COLLABORATE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS. WE, UH, RECEIVED LAST FRIDAY, A HUNDRED ADDITIONAL OFFICERS FROM 16 DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE. THEY PARTNERED WITH HPD, UH, I WAS THERE TO WELCOME THEM AND HEAR THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AT THEIR ROLL CALL. HPD WAS TO MAKE THE OFFICIAL ARREST, DO THE PAPERWORK, MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE OUT OF TOWN OFFICERS [04:15:01] WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMUNITY. UH, WE ALSO HAD 40 DPS OFFICERS ON EACH SHIFT. AND, UM, WE ASSURED THE OUT OF TOWN OFFICERS THAT WE WOULD DO THE SAME FOR THEM. AND IT'S BEING RECOGNIZED AS, UH, TRULY A MODEL FOR COLLABORATION. WE'VE SHARED H WE'VE SHARED PUBLIC WORKS, HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER CITY SERVICES WITH OTHER CITIES, BUT NEVER, UH, SHARING PEACE OFFICERS. SO I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING TO, UM, TO RECOGNIZE. AND, UH, IN THE DARK COMMUNITIES, UH, THEY PROVIDED ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND, UM, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WE KNOW BECAME A SERIOUS MATTER. SO, UH, THANK YOU TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 16 DEPARTMENTS THAT SENT AS FEW AS FOUR OFFICERS AND AS MANY DALLAS CENTERS. 12. SO IT WAS A GOOD, UH, PILOT PROGRAM THAT'S GONNA BE REPEATED ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION. WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE, WE HAD OTHER LOSS OF LIVES DUE TO BARREL, UH, LOSS OF LIFE BY A TREE FALLING ONE FIRE. AND, UH, OUTTA RESPECT FOR THOSE FAMILIES. I'M NOT DISCLOSING THEIR NAMES, THEY'RE STILL CONTACTING FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVEN'T HEARD OF THOSE INCIDENTS. UM, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. WE HAD EMPLOYEES AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER STAYING 24 HOURS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR. UH, OUR DEPARTMENTS WOULD GIVE US HOURLY REPORTS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, CERTAINLY OTHERS WERE PRESENT, UH, FOR LONG HOURS. AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE RESPONSE TEAM. UM, AND WE WILL DO AN ACTION REVIEW NEXT WEEK. UH, THIS WEEK WE'RE FOCUSING ON FEMA LOCATIONS, UH, SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER NEEDED INFORMATION SERVICES. SO WITH THAT SAID, UM, WE ALL KNOW WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY CHALLENGED, BUT HOUSTON, AGAIN, DEMONSTRATED WHY WE'RE SPECIAL. WE, UH, COME TOGETHER AND GET THROUGH, UH, OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UH, MAYOR IS, IS YOU RIGHT? AS YOU RECOGNIZED AND HONOR THE PEOPLE THAT PASSED IN THE IME DURING AND IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM, UM, I'M CONTINUING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING LOSS OF LIFE. I BELIEVE ANOTHER, UM, ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL, I BELIEVE IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT, UH, DIED YESTERDAY. UH, I BELIEVE IN KINGWOOD. WE ALSO LOST ANOTHER LIFE HE RELATED, AND THAT THIS COULD BE SO AVOIDABLE AT THIS POINT THAT THE LOSS OF LIFE CONTINUES TO GROW AND IS SO, UM, IT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN LIKE THIS. AND I KNOW THAT AS A CITY, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AND WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO REACH OUT IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. UH, BUT WITH THE TEMPERATURES RISING THIS WEEK AND POWERS STILL OUT, I JUST WANT TO VOICE MY CONCERN THAT WE ARE NOT OUT OF THIS YET. UH, AND FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE, THAT ARE VULNERABLE, I APPRECIATE ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE CHECKING IN ON ONE ANOTHER. SURE. BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO BE CHECKING IN ON ONE ANOTHER LIKE THIS WHERE WE HAVE TO BE, UH, STILL GOING ON GENERATORS THAT AREN'T MEANT TO WITHSTAND THIS LONG WITHOUT POWER. THE LIST GOES ON. SO I, I DO WANNA EMPHASIZE, UM, THE ONGOING LIFE SAFETY RISK, UH, THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, AND EMPHASIZE AND ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE ZIP RIDES TO COOLING CENTERS, UH, THE FREE WATER DISTRIBUTIONS, ICE DISTRIBUTIONS, BUT WE NEED POWER BACK ON AND WE NEEDED IT YESTERDAY. DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO, I KNOW FEMA IS NOW ON THE GROUND, SBA HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND, UH, BUT THE DRCS, THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS THAT WERE STOOD UP DURING THE RECHO. DO WE HAVE, UH, ANY INFORMATION? I SAW SOME HEADLINES THAT THOSE WERE BEING STOOD UP, BUT DO WE HAVE THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE ARE DRCS WHERE PEOPLE CAN BEGIN TO COME IN TO GET, UM, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? I WOULD SAY OUR MULTI SERVICE CENTERS, UH, WITH POWER RETURNED OR SERVING AS CHILLING CENTERS. IN FACT, I THINK 69 CITY FACILITIES INCLUDING OUR LIBRARIES. SO, UM, THAT'S BEING COMMUNICATED. UH, THERE'S [04:20:01] 36,724 HOUSTONIANS STILL WITHOUT POWER THIS MORNING. UH, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW IT ALL THE SERVICES ARE DRIVEN, UH, BY ENERGY. SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY AFFECTS PUBLIC SAFETY, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, LIFE SAFETY. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, INDIVIDUALS, UH, THAT HAVE SUFFERED DEATH DUE TO LACK OF ENERGY. AND, UM, THEY HAD HEALTH CONCERNS THAT WERE COMPLICATED BY THE HEAT. AND, UH, WE'RE GOING, WE'RE, UH, THAT'S A, OBVIOUSLY IF YOU POINTED OUT THE STREET, AND TOM MUNOZ IS NOT HERE THIS MORNING. HE'S ON THE JOB AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER. AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A, UH, REPORT ON THAT VERY SOON. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, IF, IF WE CAN FOR FEMA, THE DA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS GET THOSE, THAT'S WHATS OF TODAY IS THE FEMA LOCATIONS. WE'VE HAD MORE, UH, ALREADY APPLIED THAN ANY OTHER PREVIOUS STORMS. SO IT SHOWS THE MAGNITUDE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UH, FIRST I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE, UM, CITY WORKERS AND THE LINEMEN AND EVERYONE WHO, UH, WERE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO HELP US RESTORE POWER. UM, THE CONCERNS I HAVE, MAYOR, ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ONE, WHAT THE CITY'S PLAN WAS, WHAT THE CITY'S PLAN WILL BE GOING FORWARD, UH, THAT THE COUNCIL CAN UNDERSTAND, THAT THE RESIDENTS CAN UNDERSTAND ON WHEN WE GET HIT WITH THESE TYPE OF STORMS. WHAT IS THIS ADMINISTRATION'S COURSE OF ACTION? UM, AT TIMES IT FELT AS IF WE WERE NOT AS PREPARED AS WE NEEDED TO BE. UM, CENTER POINT, MOST, MOST CERTAINLY WAS SAYING THAT AFTER THE FACT THEY WERE BRINGING IN ALL THESE CREWS FROM ALL THESE OTHER STATES. UM, THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WERE THEY NOT ANTICIPATING THE WORST? AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEWS OR WE, WE TALKED TO SOME OF OUR EXPERTS, YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT HAVE, UM, ALERTED US THAT HOUSTON WOULD GET HIT THIS HARD WITH THIS MANY OUTAGES. BUT FOR THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST. AND, UH, IT DIDN'T SEEM AS IF WE WERE PREPARED FOR THE WORST. IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE PREPARED FOR A STORM, BUT NOT ONE OF THE WORST STORMS. AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS A CAT ONE, IT CAME THROUGH AND IT HIT PRETTY HARD. WHEN I READ IN THE CHRONICLE THE OTHER DAY, IT, IT, IT STATED THAT, YOU KNOW, HPD WASN'T FULLY MOBILIZED BEFORE, UM, THE COMMUNICATION, UH, WAS CENTERPOINT WAS VERY POOR. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO WORK WITH THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNICATION SO THAT RESIDENTS HAVE MORE INSIGHT AND CLARITY INTO WHAT'S GOING ON? I SAW MANY PRESS CONFERENCES WITH STATE LEADERSHIP. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO WORK WITH THEM TO BRING IN RESOURCES, UM, IN THE IMMEDIATE, UM, WHAT, WHAT CAN THEY DO, UH, TO HELP HOUSTON? UH, NOW AND ESPECIALLY GOING INTO THE, UH, THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. UM, BUSINESSES CANNOT SURVIVE WITH A WEEK PLUS LONG OUTAGE. RESIDENTS ARE IN SUFFERING CONDITIONS. CORPORATIONS WILL NOT WANNA MOVE TO HOUSTON IF THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, BACK TO BACK STORMS WITH OUTAGES THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS. AND SO, UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE WILL LEARN A LOT FROM THIS SITUATION. BUT I THINK TO GIVE THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE RESIDENTS SOME COMFORT AN A ITEMIZED, UM, PLAN THAT WE ALL KNOW AND CAN REGURGITATE TO THEM. AND WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE PROPER STEPS AND PROCEDURES THAT THIS CITY WILL TAKE, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. AND THEN ON A LONG-TERM FRONT, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE STATE AND THE CENTER POINT TO IMPROVE OUR OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE? UH, BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS CITY HAS, HAS BEEN PROVEN TO NOT BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SOME OF THESE, UH, FREQUENT STORMS THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING. AND SO, UM, I'M SURE MANY OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE THE THINGS YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT. UM, BUT IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE JUST EXPERIENCED, UM, BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY DEVASTATING FOR MANY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [04:25:01] COUNCIL PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN DISTRICT A WITHOUT POWER. NOT JUST A FEW, YOU KNOW, ONE-OFF SITUATIONS OF, OF ISSUES, BUT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS, ENTIRE STREETS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STILL WITHOUT ELECTRICITY IN DISTRICT A. AND THE ESTIMATED RESTORATION TIME IS MAYBE FRIDAY. AND THAT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENIOR CITIZENS, KIDS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS HAS GONE ON TOO LONG. UM, SO ANYTHING MAYOR THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT IT'S ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT A AND ALSO IT'S THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE OUT OF ELECTRICITY FOR A WEEK IN MAY FROM THAT STORM TOO. SO IT'S NOT JUST A ONE-TIME SITUATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND A HURRICANE. IT'S THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS AGAIN, AND THEY ARE REALLY UPSET, REALLY MAD. I'M UPSET AND MAD FOR THEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN POSSIBLY DO. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO CENTERPOINT EVERY SINGLE DAY TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS, BUT THIS IS NOT OKAY FOR THEM. UM, I DO WANT TO THANK THE HFD, UM, WILDLAND GROUP FOR THEIR HELP. WE'VE HAD ENTIRE TREES THAT WERE DOWN FROM THE STORM, UM, IN MAY. A LOT OF TREES WERE ALREADY LEANING AND THEN THIS, UM, HURRICANE JUST SET THEM OVER THE EDGE AND WE HAVE STILL TREES DOWN IN POWER LINES. AND SO THE HFD WILDLAND GROUP HAS REALLY HELPED CLEAR UP A LOT OF THOSE TREES, UM, FOR ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND ALSO ACCESS FOR CENTER POINT. SO I DO WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK. BUT MAYOR, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET CENTER POINT MOVING IN DISTRICT A WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I SHARE, I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ALL DISTRICTS. YEAH. I DON'T THINK, UH, DISTRICT A IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT I, THE 36,000 THAT ARE LEFT, UH, ARE ACROSS THE CITY. SO OBVIOUSLY EVERY COMMUNITY IS A PRIORITY, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING YOUR DISTRICT'S ATTENTION TO THE, UH, HORSESHOE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR KAMAN. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, RESIDENTS, I, I HAD FORGOTTEN, HAD ASKED ME TO RAISE, UH, TWO OTHER THINGS. ONE WITH, AS IT RELATES TO DEBRIS PICKUP, I DO KNOW CREWS ARE WORKING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE AUTHORIZED EXTENDED, UH, AND EXPANDED THOSE CONTRACTS AND GONE OUT TO EVEN MORE CONTRACTORS. UH, BUT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GIVE RESIDENTS INSIGHT INTO WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE WHERE, UH, IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME FOR A CREW TO MOVE DOWN ONE BLOCK BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH DEBRIS, UH, IN DISTRICT C AS WELL AS MANY OTHER DISTRICTS. A LOT OF THAT DEBRIS IS, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP DURING THE DERECHO, BLOCKING THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN OPEN DITCHES, DITCHES ESPECIALLY. SO BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, EVEN IF IT'S TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, WOULD BE, UH, EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR RESIDENTS. I, I BELIEVE, THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, LASTLY, I HAD ALSO REQUESTED, I HAD ASKED THIS OF CENTER POINT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A ROLE THAT THE CITY CAN PLAY. UM, AFTER THE DERECHO, THERE WERE MANY POLLS THAT WERE LEANING, AND I HAD ASKED CENTER POINT, WHAT THEY DID TO SURVEY AND CHECK ON THOSE WEAKENED POLLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE STABLE ENOUGH FOR THE NEXT STORM. WE HAVE EVEN MORE LEANING UTILITY POLES NOW. WE HAVE ENCOURAGED RESIDENTS TO REPORT DOWN SIGNS AND DOWN LIGHT POLES, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN DO. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO REPORT TO 3 1 1. BUT I HAVE ASKED ONE IS CENTER POINT, GOING TO DO A SURVEY OF THE AREA AND CHECK THE STABILITY OF ALL OF THOSE STRUCTURES, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING OF HURRICANE SEASON, NOT THE BACKEND. I DO KNOW THAT VERIZON IS DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. UM, BUT IF THERE'S A WAY TO INCLUDE A BUTTON ON 3 1 1, OR A WAY TO, FOR RESIDENTS TO REPORT UTILITY POLLS THAT ARE LEANING THROUGH 3 1 1, SO THAT WE ARE COLLECTING THAT DATA AS WELL, THAT MAY BE HELPFUL, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO HARDEN AND PROTECT FROM FUTURE DISASTERS. THANK YOU. GOOD INPUT. UH, MAYOR PRO, CAST STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I THINK THAT WE ALL WANT TO, UM, ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT HAS HAPPENED HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN DREADFUL. AND IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT WE NEED TO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR. WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON, ON OUR PROCESSES. UM, THE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE ENSURING THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN HAS POWER RESTORED. UM, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION SO THAT ALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN PUSH OUT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THE REMAINING, UH, HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE WITHOUT POWER, SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE TO REPAIR THEIR WEATHERHEAD ON THEIR PERSONAL HOMES. UM, CENTER POINT AND, UH, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, UM, ARE WORKING TO REPAIR THOSE WEATHERHEAD [04:30:01] FOR HOUSTONIANS, SO THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS. ORIGINALLY, UM, WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT WEATHERHEAD WAS A HOMEOWNER EXPENSE BECAUSE IT TYPICALLY IS IN THIS SITUATION. UM, HABITAT IS WORKING TO REPAIR THOSE WEATHERHEAD SO THAT CENTERPOINT CAN GET THE AIR, UH, UH, THE POWER RESTORED FOR THOSE PROPERTIES. UM, RESIDENTS WHO ARE WITHOUT POWER AND NEED THEIR WEATHERHEAD REPAIRED SHOULD EMAIL CONSTRUCTION@HOUSTONHABITAT.ORG, AND YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND A CONTACT PHONE NUMBER IN ORDER TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED. SO, I HOPE THAT THE, UM, MEDIA WOULD HELP US PUSH THAT INFORMATION OUT SO THAT THOSE RESIDENTS WHO NEED TO HAVE THEIR WEATHERHEAD REPAIRED CAN GET ACCESS TO PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP THEM. SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN GETS THEIR POWER RESTORED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE CONCERNS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AND I THINK ALL OF 'EM ARE VALID, BUT MY QUESTION IS ARE, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE CENTER POINT PRESENT TO, UH, ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING BILLS, UH, WHEN THEY POWER WAS DOWN? THERE WERE SEVERAL REPORTS OF PEOPLE LITERALLY, YOU KNOW, BEING CHARGED DURING THE PROCESS WHEN THEY HAD NO POWER. I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT COME ABOUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW WIDESPREAD THAT IS, BUT OBVIOUSLY ONE'S TOO MANY. SO WE'LL GET A REPORT ON THAT. YEAH. YOUR CLAIM, YOUR, YOUR CONCERN IS, IS PEOPLE BEING BILLED FOR ELECTRICITY WHEN THEY WEREN'T RECEIVING IT. EXACTLY. DURING, DURING THE TIME IT WAS, IT WAS LITERALLY PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPRESSING THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BEING BILLED WHEN THEIR POWER WAS DOWN, AND THEN THAT IT WAS, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GET, HOW DID THEY GET THE BILLING IF BILLS HAVEN'T BEEN SENT OUT SINCE THE STORM? WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M THINKING THAT SOME, SOME, MAYBE IT'S YOUR CONCERNS THAT THEY MIGHT BE RIGHT, RIGHT. AND THEN, AND SOME POINT GOOD SUPPORTING THAT. AND I, I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS AS WELL, HOW COULD YOU GET THE BILL WHEN THE POWER WAS DOWN? I KNOW AT THE SAME TIME, AND MAYBE THEY, MAYBE THEY REMEMBERING THE WATER BILL DAYS. WELL, THAT COULD BE, WELL, LET'S HOPE, LET'S HOPE THE POWER DON'T THAT YOU BILL FOR WATER WHEN YOU WEREN'T GETTING ANY WATER. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE FIX IT PEOPLE. SO WE'LL CHECK ON THAT TOO. YEAH, YEAH. PLEASE LET, LET'S DO THAT. 'CAUSE I, I WOULD HATE TO SEE YEAH, NO, THAT SITUATION, THAT WON'T BE ALLOWED, I CAN ASSURE YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU. KINDA LIKE $10,000 WATER BILL WHEN YOU WEREN'T GETTING IT. YEAH. ANYWAY. WRITTEN. GREAT POINT. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS' COMMENTS, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH CENTER POINT. I KNOW THEY HAD A REPRESENTATIVE HERE A WEEK AGO. UH, NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN PAST THE STORM AND WE'RE IN THE RECOVERY PHASE, I THINK THERE'S MANY QUESTIONS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE FOR THEM. SURE. UH, THAT THEY FEEL THROUGH US, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM PUBLICLY. UM, SURE. AND I, I THINK IT, IT'S, IT WOULD BE PRUDENT OF THEM TO COME BEFORE US. UM, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU NOT EVEN WAIT TILL THEN. I THINK YOU OUGHT TO CALL 'EM DIRECTLY. NO, I DON'T WANT CALL 'EM DIRECTLY. I GIVE YOU A GOOD PHONE NUMBER. I DON'T WANNA CALL 'EM DIRECTLY. YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS, AND SURELY YOU'VE TALKED TO 'EM IN FOUR YEARS. I WANT THEM TO COME TO COUNCIL OKAY. TO SPEAK TO US. WE'RE, WE'LL, WE'LL CERTAINLY ADDRESS THAT. YEAH. WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THAT. WHEN WILL WE BE EXPECTING TO DO THAT? DID I THINK I BROUGHT 'EM LAST WEEK WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THAT'S EVER OCCURRED. YOU ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT WHAT, SO WE WAS SAYING THE CLOSE, WE'RE PUT, WE'RE PUTTING PRESSURE ON THEM. I HAVE SAID IT WILL BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROM, COUNCIL SIX DATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I DO, UM, THINK THAT THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK TO CENTER POINT. UH, AND, AND I ALSO DID, UM, TALK TO SOME REPRESENTATIVES AT CENTER POINT. AND FOR ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THEY HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY WILL COME TO OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY WILL COME TO OUR CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS. THEY WILL COME TO OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, UM, ONCE WE GET PAST, UH, RECOVERY TO TALK ABOUT, UM, VE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. UM, SO THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THEM IN THE COMMUNITIES TO TALK DIRECTLY TO CONSTITUENTS IN ADDITION, UM, TO US AS A BODY. UM, HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF CENTER POINT, BECAUSE I AGREE THAT I THINK RESIDENTS WANT TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS. MM-HMM . THEY DO WANT TO KNOW, UM, ABOUT THE MAPS AND ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION. UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL ALL SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY IMPROVE, UM, ON THE SERVICE THAT WE ALL WANT TO PROVIDE TO HOUSTONIANS. VERY WELL SAID. AND I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, WE'RE GONNA HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. I THINK THAT MEANS [04:35:01] ALL OF US WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. TODAY, I WANT 'EM TO BE ADDRESSING THE 36,724, UH, RESIDENTS AND USERS OF ELECTRICITY THAT HAVE NO POWER. UH, ONE'S TOO MANY. AND THAT'S, UH, WHERE I'VE DIRECTED THEIR ATTENTION. GET THE POWER ON EVERYWHERE I GO. WHEN WE SET UP A FUND AT THE UNITED FUND THE OTHER DAY, I SAID, IT'S NICE OF CENTER POINT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT RECOVERY FUND. BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS THE POWER ON. SO WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR STATE OFFICIALS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, THE P PUCS, UH, DIRECTLY INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, AS A REGULATORY BODY, AND THEY'LL HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE. WHAT WE NEED TO DO WHILE WE'RE HOLDING 'EM ACCOUNTABLE IS GET READY FOR THE NEXT STORM. THAT OUGHT TO BE A REAL FOCUS AT THIS POINT. HOW DO WE GET PREPARED FOR THE NEXT ONE? I'M PROUD OF THE CITY'S ATTENTION TO MATTERS. UH, WE OPENED UP THE EMERGENCY CENTER ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE STORM HIT, DURING THE NIGHT ON MONDAY MORNING. SO ALL HANDS ON DECK. UH, LET'S HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD, YOU'LL DO A REALLY FINE JOB OF, OF DRILLING THEM. AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL COUNCILMAN COURT, AND WE WILL GET INTO THE COMMUNITIES. THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCILMAN CARTER. WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. CERTAINLY, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT CENTERPOINT'S WILLING TO COME TO THE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE WE CAN SIT HERE ALL DAY AND TALK ABOUT WHAT CENTERPOINT TELLS US AND WHAT CENTERPOINT SAYS. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO GET THEM IN THE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR FROM CENTER POINT. THE OTHER, UH, JUST TOPIC IS ON, WHEN WE LOOK AT RESILIENCY PLANS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A RESILIENCY PLAN. AND CERTAINLY WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK BACKWARDS, WHAT WAS THE RESILIENCY PLAN? YOU KNOW, NOW, I MEAN, UP UNTIL NOW, BECAUSE CERTAINLY IF THERE WAS A SOLID PLAN IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST 4, 8, 10, 12 YEARS, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THE SITUATION. YOU KNOW? SO WE, WE NEED A PLAN. WE HAVE A PLAN, BUT WE NEED A PLAN THAT ACTUALLY WORKS. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, WITH YOU MAYOR, AND AS FAR AS THE, UH, RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT RESILIENCY, WE'RE LOOKING AT RECOVERY AS WELL. THANK YOU. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM, WE WERE MEETING AND GETTING REPORTS FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD TWICE A DAY, VERY INFORMATIVE. UH, THE COMMITMENT AND PROFESSIONALISM OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND ITS DEPARTMENT HEADS. I COULD JUST START GOING THROUGH THE LIST, ALL HANDS ON DECK WORKING. UH, TOM MUNOZ WAS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR. HIS EMPLOYEES WERE NOT GOING HOME. SO WE STILL HAVE 36,724 WITHOUT POWER ONE'S. TOO MANY. LET'S FOCUS ON THAT, THEN. HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, DO AN ASSESSMENT, UH, ACTION REVIEW AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT, UH, CENTER POINT KNOWS THAT IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THEIR COMMUNICATIONS FROM, FROM THE FIRST DAY THEY WERE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY STILL HAVEN'T HAD THEIR FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT'S INVOLVED, WHAT THEIR CHALLENGES ARE, AND HOW WE CAN PARTNER BETTER. IT'S, IT'S GOOD THAT WE DO OUR JOB, BUT WE NEED OUR ENERGY COMPANY TO BE PROACTIVE. AND CERTAINLY, UM, IT DRIVES ME NUTS WHEN I HEAR THEM SAY, BY FRIDAY, SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN. UH, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THEY OUGHT TO BE DOING, IF THEY THINK IT'S FRIDAY'S REALISTIC, THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A GOAL OF DOING IT WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, OR, AND MAYBE FRIDAY. SO, I, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS COMMUNICATION ISSUE AND HOLDING 'EM ACCOUNTABLE. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER, REAL QUICK. MAYOR, YOU REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT STORM. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TREAT THESE LINEMEN AND OUT OF TOWN LINEMEN WELL, SO THAT IF WE HAVE THE NEXT STORM, THEY WANT TO COME BACK. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST THING WE STARTED OUT ON. IN FACT, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD BE TALKING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. I'VE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMMUNICATING AND WORKING WITH THE, UH, POLICE CHIEF AND THE, UH, CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE COME TO TOWN. SUNDAY MORNING EARLY. I GOT A CALL THAT 6,000 WE'RE GONNA LEAVE. THEY WERE PACKING UP. I'VE TALKED TO 'EM OUT OF IT. WE PUT HPD AT THE STAGING AREAS. WE SEND HPD ON THEIR SERVICE LINES. WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE, AND I HOPE EVERYONE WILL JOIN [04:40:01] ME. THE LINEMEN ARE OUR FRIENDS. THEY VOLUNTEERED IN THEIR COMPANIES TO COME HERE. THEY WANT TO HELP US. BUT WE'VE HAD GUNS PULLED ON THEM. WE HAD BUFFALO SPEEDWAY IN 59. SOMEONE TRIED TO BLOCK 'EM. THEY WANTED TO LEAVE, AND WE TURNED, TURNED THEM BACK, AND KEPT THEM FROM LEAVING. SO THE LINEMEN ARE NOT THE PROBLEMS. THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS. HOWEVER MAD WE ARE AT CENTER POINT. THESE GUYS DIDN'T DO IT. YEAH, EXCELLENT POINT. AND, UH, WE GOT, WE HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THAT TO OUR NETWORK OF CONSTITUENTS, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS. THE LINEMEN ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT POINT. AND WE DID GIVE THEM A QUICK RESPONSE. UH, THE OUT OF TOWN OFFICERS ASSISTED WITH THAT. WE PUT THEM AT THE STAGING AREAS AND THEY ACCOMPANIED THE LINEMAN. I SAW ONE PICTURE WHERE A NEIGHBORHOOD WAS GIVING THEM WATER, THANKING THEM. AND THAT OUGHT TO BE THE MODEL. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND TO THAT POINT, THERE ARE ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT. AND THIS HAPPENS IN MANY DISASTERS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD TO STATE, UH, AND I WAS NOT ON COUNCIL YET, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS EVEN WITH THE CAJUN NAVY DURING HARVEY, UM, HPD OFFICERS WERE IN THOSE BOATS. SO THERE ARE ALWAYS SOME ISOLATED, BUT NOT ALL OF THOSE INCIDENTS THAT ARE BEING REPORTED HAPPENED IN HOUSTON WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT. LIKE YOU'VE SEEN PEOPLE GIVING OUT WATER. I'VE SEEN CHILDREN GOING UP AND THANKING THEM. I'VE PERSONALLY GONE UP TO LINE WORKERS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, AND SAID, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE. AND THEY'VE SAID, EVERYONE OVERWHELMINGLY HAS BEEN WELCOMING. THEY HAVE BEEN KIND. AND I DON'T WANT HOUSTON TO GET A BAD RAP FOR SOME OF THESE BAD ACTORS. AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO CONTINUE TO MESSAGE OUT HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE OF OUR LINE WORKERS, BECAUSE WE ARE. AND THOSE INCIDENTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE. BUT IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE, I AM GOING INTO, UH, FOLKS ARE NOTHING BUT KIND AND APPRECIATIVE. AND WE KNOW HOW HARD THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE WORKING. EVEN I, WHEN I, I SPOKE TO ONE CREW FROM INDIANA AND, UH, THE CAMP WHEN THEY CAME IN, THE CAMP CENTER POINT WAS SETTING UP, HADN'T BEEN SET UP YET. SO FOR AT LEAST ONE OR TWO NIGHTS, THEY WERE SLEEPING IN THEIR TRUCKS AND THEN GOING OUT INTO THE FIELD. AND I THINK, AGAIN, EMPHASIZING COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE EMPHASIS ON HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE IS IMPORTANT. BUT I DO WANNA LIFT UP ALL OF THE KINDNESS THAT HOUSTON HAS SHOWN AS WELL THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU. UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AT EIGHT O'CLOCK SUNDAY, I GOT AN URGENT CALL FROM ONE OF THE COMPANIES, NOT CENTER POINT, BUT ONE OF THE PROVIDERS THAT 6,000 WERE PACKING UP AND LEAVING. AND OF COURSE, WE GOT BUSY AND KEPT 'EM HERE. UH, COUNCILOR MCC CARTER, JUST A, A COMMENT ON THAT. UH, SUNDAY MORNING, OR AT MID, I GUESS MID-MORNING, WE HAD A PALLET OF ICE. WE WERE TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH QUICKLY BECAUSE IT WAS MELTING. AND I WENT OVER TO THE STAGING AREA WHERE OUR LINE CREW, BIG GROUP OF THEM WERE OUT IN KINGWOOD. AND I SAID, LOOK, WE'VE GOT ICE FOR YOUR COOLERS. CAN WE HELP YOU? AND HE SAID, MA'AM, I APPRECIATE IT. UH, BUT WE CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING FROM THE PUBLIC ANYMORE. AND THAT AMAZING. AND I SAID, BUT WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE, AND HE SAID, NO. HE SAID, WE, WE WERE GIVEN BAD WATER. AND HE ELABORATED ON THAT. AND YOU KNOW, LIKE THESE PEOPLE, THESE PEOPLE HAVE COME TO HELP US. AND, YOU KNOW, AN EMBARRASSMENT. I APOLOGIZED. AND YOU KNOW, I SAID, I'M ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY. I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S NOT EVERYWHERE. AND YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU'RE BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROBLEM. AND, UH, MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF THEM. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE. AND I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NOW HAVE POWER ARE AS WELL. BUT WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE CITY TO THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PULLING GUNS AND, YOU KNOW, DISTRIBUTING ANYTHING LESS THAN THAN HELP. RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. WELL SAID. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR. UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY ON THE HEELS OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL AROUND THIS HORSESHOE IS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CITY AND ALWAYS THE IMAGE OF OUR CITY. SO LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR, UH, REITERATING TO THE PUBLIC, UH, THAT I SAW YOU AND HEARD YOU TO TELLING CITIZENS NOT TO ACT OUT, NOT TO BE VIOLENT AGAINST A LINEMAN. UM, AND SOME OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE THE SAME THING IN REGARDS TO THAT. AND WE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AT THE TIME OF THESE TYPE OF EMERGENCY, BUT WE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHOW A BETTER IMPRESSION OF HOUSTON. 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE. [04:45:01] BUT I THINK ON THE HEELS OF THAT TOO, MAYOR, MAY I ASK YOU MADE THE, YOU MADE THE, UH, UH, A SUGGESTION A MINUTE AGO THAT CENTER POINT HAS NOT MADE A PUBLIC, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE. AND I THINK ALONG WITH THAT, UH, THEY NEED TO DO THAT ALONG WITH OUR MAYOR AND OTHERS TO HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AND, UH, AND, AND EXPRESS TO THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, UH, AND I'M, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN ON PHONE WITH THEM AND THEY BRIEFING BRIEFINGS AND THEY'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR PROBLEMS. THEY'VE ACKNOWLEDGED IT. I WAS ON THE BRIEFING WITH THEM. BUT I THINK, UM, IF THEY, UH, I THINK IT WAS, UH, CONGRESSMAN, UH, AL GREEN BROUGHT UP THE POINT ABOUT THE LACK OF, YOU KNOW, CENTER POINT, NOT COMING FORTH AND GIVING DAY TO DAY UPDATES ON THEIR PROGRESS. SO I THINK MAYOR, UH, I, I WANT TO SUPPORT YOU AND THE OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT CENTER POINT WOULD DO THAT. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD IMAGE AS WELL AS WE WANT OUR CITY TO HAVE A GOOD IMAGE. AND WE WANT LET THE, THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEIR SITUATION. SURE. NOBODY'S IGNORING THEIR PROBLEMS. WELL, THEIR COMMUNICATIONS HAS BEEN TERRIBLE FROM DAY ONE, NO DOUBT AND NEVER DID DESCRIBE WHAT THEY DID TO BE PREPARED OR A LIFE SAFETY PLAN. I CAN GO ON AND ON. THEIR COMMUNICATIONS, UH, HAS BEEN TERRIBLE. AND, UH, THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN SOME REAL STRICT GUIDELINES, UH, DEADLINES BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. YEAH. THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY REGULATE THEM IN THE PUC AND THE GOVERNOR'S BEEN VERY DIRECT. SO WE WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE STATE, UH, WILL ALL WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME REAL CHALLENGES. WE MUST LEARN FROM THIS AND, UH, USE BEST PRACTICES. AND WE WILL CERTAINLY HOLD CENTER POINT ACCOUNTABLE. WE'LL LEARN FROM OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS HOW WE CAN ASSIST THEM. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW WELL OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS PERFORMED. MOST SAID THEY HAD LIMITED RESOURCES, LIMITED STAFFING, BUT THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE STORM. SO WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC. WE WERE DOWN THURSDAY, LAST THURSDAY TO 4% OF OUR AVAILABLE AMBULANCES WERE ACTUALLY IN CALL IN ACTION BECAUSE OF THE HOSPITALS BACKED UP NOT SENDING PEOPLE HOME TO UN COOL RESIDENCES. THEY WERE KEEPING 'EM AT THE HOSPITAL. SO WHEN THE AMBULANCES GOT TO THE MED CENTER, THEY COULDN'T ENTER THE EMERGENCY ROOMS. THE HALLS WERE FULL. I WAS THERE. SO WHAT HAPPENED IS WE GOT DOWN TO 4%. WE CALLED THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER AND THEY SENT US 25 AMBULANCES. SO I CAN GO ON AND ON WHAT OUR CITY DID TO RESPOND. SURE. THE A HUNDRED ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, THE, UH, THE STATE RAN OUT OF ICE, THEIR EMERGENCY CENTER THAT THEIR STAGING NRG RAN OUTTA ICE. I AUTHORIZED THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BUY 18 WHEELERS, COOL TRUCKS FROM ALABAMA, KENTUCKY. $30,000 PER 18 WHEELER TO GET ICE TO OUR COOLING CENTER. YEAH. WE DID EVERYTHING HUMANLY, POSSIBLY POSSIBLE TO RESPOND. ABSOLUTELY. FIRST TIME EVER, THE CITY STARTED PURCHASING ICE DIRECTLY FROM VENDORS FROM OTHER STATES. AND THEY WERE SHIPPING THEM IN HERE AT ONE TIME. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE STATE HAD THE ICE, THEY NEEDED DRIVERS. SO WE GOT BUSY AND GOT DRIVERS THERE. SO THERE'S A LOT THAT WILL BE REPORTED IN DAYS TO COME. BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE CITY OF HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER OPENED ON FRIDAY THE FIFTH. RIGHT WHEN WE WERE STILL BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO MEXICO OR SOUTH TEXAS. IT'S TRUE. BUT, UH, PEOPLE'S GEARED UP ALL HANDS ON DECK. THE MOBILIZATION OF THE POLICE OFFICERS HAS TO BE VERY TIMELY. 'CAUSE YOU, YOU DON'T WANT BURNOUT. YOU WERE WORKING TWO SHIFTS, 12 HOUR SHIFTS. YEAH. THEY HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAD CHALLENGES, BUT THEY SHOWED UP. WE LOST ONE OF OUR BEST COMING IN AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HURRICANE. SO YES, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WILL BE IMPROVED ON TRANSPARENCY'S THE KEY AT CENTER POINT. BUT I WANT THE HOUSTONIANS TO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER TWICE A DAY, GOT REGULAR REPORTS, HOW WE CAN SHIFT RESOURCES. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS DIDN'T HAVE BACKUP GENERATORS. WHO IN THE HELL EVER CAN IMAGINE A FIRE STATION NOT HAVING BACKUP? WE LOST 10 FIRE STATIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE POWER AND NO BACKUP GENERATORS. THAT'S WHAT MANY OF US INHERITED. WHAT WE COMMITTED TO FIXING WHEN WE GOT DOWN HERE. AND A STORM SHOWS YOU YOUR VULNERABILITIES, UNDERSTAFFING UNDER RESOURCES, NO GENERATION. [04:50:01] WE'LL FIX THAT. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL, MA'AM. SECRETARY, [CONSENT AGENDA] IF YOU'LL NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEMS ONE AND TWO, NEED A MOTION CAST MOVE SECOND. MOTIONS ARE MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY YAYS HAVE IT. SO I THINK SHE'S OUT THERE WITH HER HUSBAND ALLEN, IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THEM. DO DO YOU WANNA MISS, MISS, UH, TRAN? I UNDERSTAND YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND ARE THERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UH, YOU, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD AND, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR APPOINTMENT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE, CERTAINLY I'VE WORKED WITH YOU FOR 20 YEARS. I DON'T KNOW OF A SMARTEST OR SMARTER PERSON AND CERTAINLY EXPERIENCED IN, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, GOOD MORNING MS. TRAN. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, INITIALLY I DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS 'CAUSE I WAS COVERED UP IN A DISASTER RECOVERY, BUT IT DAWNED ON ME BECAUSE MY REALLY GOOD FRIEND IS THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. AND THEN WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR RESUME, I NOTICED THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CERTIFICATION IN A ICP, WHICH MOST OF OUR TEXAS CITIES DO. SO ARE YOU, UM, INTERESTED OR ARE YOU COMMITTED TO PURSUING, UM, THE CERTIFICATION THAT OUR PREVIOUS DIRECTOR HAVE THAT MOST OF OUR TEXAS CITY OR MORE, MOST OF OUR MAJOR US CITIES, UH, PLANNING DIRECTORS, THEY HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION. UH, YES. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR THAT QUESTION. AND CERTAINLY I'VE LOOKED INTO THE CERTIFICATION AND, UH, IT IS, UH, IN LINE WITH, UM, WHAT WOULD BE AN, UM, CONTINUING, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MYSELF. AT THE SAME TIME, I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT COMING ON BOARD AS I AM RIGHT NOW WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD, UH, WILL ALSO QUALIFY ME TO DO THE JOB. OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD NEED TO GET INTO THE JOB AND, UH, BEGIN TO, UH, REALLY DIG INTO IT. BUT CERTAINLY THE CERTIFICATION IS ONLY HELPFUL. AND I AM SO COMMITTED TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY RESUME. AND, UH, ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES HAS, UH, REALLY BEEN FOCUSING ON CONTINUING TO BE BETTER AND BETTER, UM, AT WHAT I DO AND RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, UM, BECAUSE WITHIN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WE, YOU, YOU WILL BE LEADING INDIVIDUALS THAT ALREADY HAVE THE CERTIFICATION. YOU'LL BE LEADING INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE A BODY OF WORK IN PLANNING, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, LAND DEVELOPMENT, UNDERSTANDING PLAT, AS SOMEONE THAT TEACHES IN THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AT PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M, THAT'S CURRENTLY, UM, ASSISTING IN WRITING A PHD PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING. I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT. AND ALSO WITH THE A PA ASSOCIATION, THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE WITH LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REWRITE THE BAD PRACTICES OF MANY CITIES, UH, FROM REDLINING POOR PLANNING POLICIES. AND SO, UM, I HOPE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO EARN, UH, THE RESPECT OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THE CERTIFICATION THAT WERE NOT CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. I'VE BEEN IN ROLES AS A PROFESSIONAL WHERE I'VE HAD CERTIFICATIONS AND I'VE DONE THE JOB AND I'VE HAD THE BODY OF WORK AND SOMEONE ELSE WAS HIRED. RIGHT. AND I KNOW HOW THAT FEELS. UM, AND SO, BECAUSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS CITY WERE VERY SENSITIVE TO THEM IN TERMS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, GENTRIFICATION, REVITAL, REVITALIZATION, CONSERVATION, I, I, I WANNA SUPPORT YOU IN MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE, UH, PRIORITIES AT THIS COUNCIL AND IN THE CITY AND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LIVED OUT THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO I WANNA SUPPORT YOU IN THAT. UM, UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON REMAINS A PLAYER AND THAT WE HAVE, UH, LEADERSHIP, UH, THAT, THAT IS CERTIFIED AND HAVE THE BODY OF WORK TO DO THIS, TO DO THIS JOB. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT FEEDBACK. AND CERTAINLY I AM COMMITTED, UH, TO WORKING WITH ALL OF MY TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED. IT IS A DEF UM, A PROFESSIONAL GROUP. UH, THERE ARE ETHICS AND CODES AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT AS WELL. UM, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME ASSURANCE, ALSO, I DO HAVE A BACKGROUND AND ARCHITECTURE. AND PART OF THAT BACKGROUND, UM, IS AN URBAN, UH, ALSO TRAINING IN URBAN, UH, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. THOUGH IT IS NOT A FULL BLOWN, UH, URBAN AND DEVELOPMENT DEGREE, BUT WE DO TOUCH ON THAT. AND I DO HAVE KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR THAT. NOT ONLY THAT EXPERIENCE. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. TRAN, [04:55:01] FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR CITY. UH, YOU ARE THE MAYOR'S PICK FOR THIS, UH, TO LEAVE THIS DEPARTMENT. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU YESTERDAY. I'M SURE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ME AND ANSWERING IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. UH, AS YOU KNOW, YOU DO HAVE A BACKGROUND IN ARCHITECTURE. I WISH YOU SUCCESS, UH, IN YOUR, IN YOUR NEW POSITION. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW YOUR HUSBAND'S PRESENT. WE, UH, WE APPRECIATE HIS SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SIR. YES. BE SAFE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING FORWARD. ALRIGHT? AND I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU, MAYOR AND TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL AND GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR CONCERNS AND, UH, WHAT YOUR DISTRICT'S CONCERNS ARE. AND, UH, LOOKING FOR COMMON GROUND SO WE CAN START, UH, DOING PROJECTS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UNDER THE, UNDER THE [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, 3, 5, 6, AND EIGHT ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 3, 5, 6, AND EIGHT ITEMS. FOUR, SEVEN, AND NINE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE POSTS, NAY YESS HAVE IT. SO MOVED HERE. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE TAG TO INCLUDE COUNCIL MEMBER PECK'S AMENDMENT. OKAY. VERY WELL. SO BOTH THE MAIN ITEM AND THE AMENDMENT THAT SHE HAS PASSED OUT IN WRITING OUR TAG. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, I TAG IT FOR DISCUSSION. YOU TAG IT, THAT'S FINE. MATTERS BEEN TAGGED. DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT, I INCLUDED THE TAG WITH YOUR AMENDMENT. I, I, YOU GOOD? YOU'RE FINE. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU MA'AM. ALRIGHT, SO THE MAIN, THE MAIN ITEM AND AMENDMENT ARE TAGGED. MAIN ITEM. AND THE AMENDMENT IS TAGGED BY MEMBER THOMAS. NEXT, ITEM FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM SIX IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, MAYOR THOMAS. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. UH, CAN YOU CLARIFY? EXCUSE ME. UM, I KNOW THIS IS JUST A, UM, INCREASING THE AMOUNT MM-HMM . UM, WE'RE CHANGING, ADDING OTHER VENDORS AND I THINK IT'S NECESSARY AND WE NEED TO DO IT. SO BECAUSE THERE'S NO FISCAL NOTE, ARE WE, UM, IS THIS A FEMA REIMBURSEMENT? YES. AND IT DOESN'T SPEND MONEY, IT JUST ALLOWS 'EM TO REACH A HIGHER CEILING, BUT THEY'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL WITH THE FEMA FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, WE STILL NEED A VOTE ON THAT VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ITEM [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] 10 NEEDS A MOTION TAG. MOTION, UH, ITEM TEN'S TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS. OKAY, ITEM [PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS] 11. LEMME SEE SPECIFIC HERE. ITEM 11 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX T MOVE SECOND. I'M SORRY. WE NEED THREE MOTIONS. THIS IS THE THREE. MOTION. HONOR A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. T MOVE TO RECONSIDER. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? YES. OPPOSED? NO RECONSIDERATION. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. AND THEN THE MOTION TO, THERE WAS A MOTION TO BRING BACK, NOT CASTEX. TATU MOVED TO BRING BACK THIS ITEM. I A SECOND. CASTEX TATUM. OH, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. NO, YOU GO AHEAD AND WE'LL MAKE IT ALL ONE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. CASTEX TATU MOVE TO RECONSIDER THIS ITEM. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS AN ITEM JUST FOR US. IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE [05:00:01] ITEM FOR US TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE PURCHASING ORGANIZATION FROM BY, BY BOARD PURCHASING COOPERATIVE TO TEXAS SMART BUY. SO THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE. SO CASS X TATUM. MOVE, UH, FOR THIS ITEM. THOMAS. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. GOOD. GOOD. YES. GOOD. ITEM 12 [MATTERS HELD] IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE TAG. MOTION 13 IS TAGGED. I WASN'T HEAR. ALRIGHT, THANK BY COUNCIL. NEXT ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE WILL REFER BACK. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. MAYOR, THANK YOU. UH, THIS PERTAINS TO AUTHORIZATION OF THE, A SALE OF, UH, CERTAIN PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE CITY, INCLUDING ONE TRACK FOR, UH, ALMOST SIX ACRES. DOES THAT REQUIRE MOTION? AND UH, I'M GONNA MOVE TO REFER THIS BACK, MAYOR, SO THAT OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS, THIS TRACK ESPECIALLY TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BE SUITABLE TO, UH, PUT SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON. I DON'T THINK THEY WERE GIVEN, UM, ENOUGH TIME TO EVALUATE THAT. AND I BELIEVE THEY WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. SO I'M GONNA MOVE TO REFER ITEM 15. BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. VERY WELL. MOTION BEEN MADE TO REPORT BACK TO ADMINISTRATION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HAS AN AMENDMENT ON THE PAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. WANNA MAKE A MOTION? MR. MAYOR, MAYOR, SEAT THROUGH YOU THROUGH. IF I MAY, AFTER COUNCILMAN FLICK, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT I WAS GOING BY THE LIST. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 16 TO READ AS FOLLOWS. SECTION FOUR OF THE ORDINANCE IS DELETED AND REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRETY TO READ AS FOLLOWS. THE TOTAL ALLOCATION OF THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT OR OTHER UNDERTAKING APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED HEREBY SHALL NEVER EXCEED 15 MILLION UNLESS AND UNTIL THIS SUM IS INCREASED BY ORDINANCE OF CITY COUNCIL. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A, A PRETTY GOOD COMPROMISE CONSIDERING I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH IT. SO I THINK IT KIND OF SHOWS THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER TO, TO TRY TO COME TO SOME CONCLUSION. I HOPE THIS PASSES. THANK YOU VERY WELL, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. I'LL SECOND THAT AND YEAH, I WAS JUST INFORMED IT DOESN'T NEED A SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WORK ON THIS. I HAD ONE, UM, CLARIFICATION. 'CAUSE USUALLY WE SEE SHALL NOT EXCEED, NOT SHALL NEVER EXCEED. SO THE WORD MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT I, I WANTED JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THE LANGUAGE DOES PERMIT THAT SHOULD ADDITIONAL FUNDING BE REQUIRED THAT THIS CAN COME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT. AND AS YOU WELL KNOW, WE'RE ALL GONNA WORK ON THIS GOING FORWARD TO, UH, RECONCILE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES, SEE IF WE CAN BUILD A CONSENSUS ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND, UH, THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE ARTS AND HOW THEY CAN BE USED AND FUNDED. SO, UH, THANK COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER FOR HIS BRINGING PARTIES TOGETHER. AND, UH, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A REASONABLE COMPROMISE. UH, WHO ELSE? RAMIREZ HAVE YOU SPOKEN? UH, YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I MOVED TO REFER THIS BACK, SO, UH, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE, UH, A MODIFIED PROPOSAL. AND THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN MODIFIED AND, UH, I THINK IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT. AND I APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH US. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS GONNA CONSIDER REVISING THE, UH, ORDINANCE AS IT STANDS NOW. I'VE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN THAT, UH, WHAT WE HAVE NOW ON THE BOOKS IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW AND LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THAT ISSUE UP AS WE ARE CONSIDERING REWRITING THAT ORDINANCE. SO, THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. WE'LL DO IT TOGETHER. DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I JUST WANTED [05:05:01] TO, UH, DITTO THE, UH, STATEMENTS REGARDING THIS, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM BECAUSE LISTENING TO, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, ON THE IN CONCERNS OF ARTS AND PEOPLE INVOLVED, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHEN I TAGGED THIS WAS THE FACT THAT THE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND I'M GLAD THAT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION, UH, THROUGH YOUR OFFICE IN REGARDS TO ACCEPTING A LOW AMOUNT OF MONEY, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY, UH, AND I WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD, FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT AGAINST ART. I THINK IT'S VERY VIABLE AND IT'S NECESSARY IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN TOP CITY. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THE TERMS AND WHAT WAS WRITTEN UP IS, UH, IS AMENABLE AND, UH, CERTAINLY SUPPORTED ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. IF NOT, UH, VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. ALL IN FAVOR? ROLL CAUSE. ROLL. MAY I WHITMEYER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? YES. COUNCIL JACKSON. COUNCIL KAMAN? YES. COUNCIL AZZ? YES. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCILOR THOMAS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCILMAN DAVIS? YES. COUNCILOR CARTER? YES. COUNCILMAN UH, ALCORN? OH NO, NEITHER. ONE. 1, 2, 3, 4. YES. CARRIE BEING 12? YES. IS TWO NAYS. THE AMENDMENT PASSES NOW A VOTE ON ITEM 16 AS AMENDED. ALL WAIT, WHO WAS THAT? CARTER? YES. NO, I MEANT SOMEBODY QUEUED IN AND I COUNCILMAN POLLARD. I'M SORRY, I CLEARED IT. COUNCILMAN POLLARD, PLEASE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S, UH, ATTENTION TO WANT TO SAVE MONEY IN THIS CITY. UH, WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME FISCAL CHALLENGES. UM, ANYTIME WE CAN FIND A COMPROMISE, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD, A GOOD THING. WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT WHEN BOTH SIDES KIND OF WALK AWAY, NOT THE HAPPIEST, THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE. UM, BUT 15 MILLION AS OPPOSED TO 25 MILLION IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S NOT GONNA, IT'S NOT GONNA DO MUCH. THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS COST MUCH MORE THAN THE, THE $10 MILLION WE'RE GOING FROM MAYBE NOT TO EXCEED 5 MILLION A YEAR TO 3 MILLION A YEAR. SO EVERY EVERY DOLLAR DOES HELP. BUT I WANT US TO, TO KEEP IN MIND IF, IF WE DO PUSH THINGS, WE HAVE SOME REAL, UM, PURPOSE BEHIND THEM, THAT THAT IS MEANINGFUL. AND, AND, AND, UH, WE CAN SHOW REAL IMPACT. SO, UH, SUPPORTED, BECAUSE I'M ALL FOR SAVING MONEY, BUT, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESIDENTS THAT COME BEFORE US ON TUESDAYS ASKING FOR THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS COST MUCH MORE THAN THE $10 MILLION THAT WE'LL BE SAVING ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? YOU ON ROLL CALL? I'M READY. YES. DO YOU WANT A ROLL CALL? ROLL CALL? LET'S, LET'S DO IT. ALRIGHT. DO ROLL CALL? YEAH. WE WANT TO MAKE MARTA WORK EXTRA HARD. YOU WANT TO PLAY? LET'S PLAY ROLL CALL IN THERE. MAD. I'M HAPPY. LET'S DO IT. ADAPT AS A AMEN. MAYOR, A ROLL CALL ITEM AS A AMEN. MAYOR PRO, MAYOR MAY, UH, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ADMIN, UM, THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMENDMENT. UM, AND THAT I DO ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THE ECONOMIC POWER OF, OF PUBLIC ART. UM, I DO AGREE THAT WE HAVE, UH, REACHED A COMPROMISE, BUT I DON'T WANT US AS A COUNCIL TO, UM, PUSH ON THE THINGS THAT ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE ARTISTS WHO ARE HIRING ENGINEERS, WHO ARE HIRING PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK THAT IMPACT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. UM, SO I DO THINK WE'VE REACHED A, A COMPROMISE. UM, BUT EVERY INDUSTRY ALSO HIRES PEOPLE AND MAKES AN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHILE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, I DON'T WANT US TO NITPICK THE [05:10:01] SMALL THINGS THAT WON'T MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR THE ECONOMY AND THE ECONOMICS FOR THE PEOPLE IN ANOTHER INDUSTRY THAT MAY NOT BE AS IMPORTANT TO YOU. UM, SO I DO THINK WE'VE REACHED A COMPROMISE, UM, WITH LOWERING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. UM, BUT WE DO NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THE ARTS HAS IN OUR COMMUNITY. VERY WELL SAID. I WOULD, UH, ALSO MENTION THAT NOT HAVING GENERATORS IN A FIRE STATION ARE GONNA AFFECT OUR ECONOMY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT, WELL, YOU DIDN'T PUT IT IN A BILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE FROM FIRE. THE GOOD NEWS IS, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE REACHED A VERY REASONABLE COMPROMISE. THANK OH, YOU DIDN'T PUT IT IN THERE THREE WEEKS AGO. NEXT, UH, VOTE ON THE ITEM AS A ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. THOSE. NOW YOU ROLL. CALL NOW. HE WANT ROLL CALL. YOU WANT TO PLAY? HE CAN PLAY. YOU WANT ROLL CALL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. LET'S GO. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCILOR PECK? YES. COUNCIL JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MCCAIN? YES. COUNCILOR EVAN CHABA. YES. COUNCIL FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL THOMAS? YES. COUNCIL CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL RAMIR MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL POLLARD? YES. COUNCIL CAST TAYLOR? YES. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCILOR DAVIS. YES. COUNCILOR CARTER? YES. COUNCIL VOTE. THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. 14 ZERO. 14? YES. IS ZERO NAYS. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU'LL SEE THE VOTE BEFORE WE VOTE, I WANT EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON HAVE AGREED TO A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT. IT IS INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT IT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN PRIOR YEARS, BUT APPARENTLY THE COUNTY FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED THIS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE INSIDE CITY LIMIT AND ALLOW THE COMMISSIONERS WHO THREE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN OUR PARTNERS DURING THE STORM AND ON INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THE CONTINUING COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY THAT, UH, THIS MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT IS GONNA ALLOW THE COUNTY RESOURCES TO BE USED INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, WHICH EXPLAINS THE LIABILITIES AND THE FACT THAT, UH, WE ARE SITTING IN HARRIS COUNTY THIS MORNING. SO, UH, WITH THAT SAID, I THINK IT'S A PRETTY HISTORICAL VOTE THAT WE'RE MAKING A STATEMENT THAT WE ARE PARTNERS WITH HARRIS COUNTY. THAT SAID, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. WHAT ELSE? POPOFF. POPOFF. COUNCIL [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANT TO FIRST, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK AND THEIR WORK SUPPORTING RECOVERY EFFORTS SINCE HURRICANE, HURRICANE BURL, UM, MADE LANDMARK MADE THEIR, UM, LANDFALL LAST WEEK. UH, LIKE MANY DISTRICTS, DISTRICT D HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOOL BANK, AND TOGETHER WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY DEPLOY TOOLS TO KEEP OUR CONSTITUENTS, UH, IN A POSITION TO REMOVE DEBRIS AND SUPPORT CLEANUP EFFORTS. THE TOOL BANK IS A CRITICAL, UH, PARTNER OF THE CITY, AND I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO FURTHER INVEST IN THE TOOL BANK BECAUSE AGAIN, IT HELPS US TO BE MORE RESILIENT. I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO AT AND T UH, EVEN THOUGH I AM STRICTLY, STRICTLY ON BOARD TO HAVE THE VEGETATION ADDRESSED BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAS CREATED THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. AND AGAIN, I MADE A REQUEST A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE STORM AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND SO CONSEQUENTLY, A WIRE WAS BROKEN, UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT. BUT I'M SURE THAT THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT IS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I KNOW RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS TO GET PEOPLE BACK ONLINE. UH, BUT AT SOME POINT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO STOP AND ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS. UH, BUT I WANNA THANK TANYA RIVERA AND HER TEAM WHO WERE BOTH VERY RESPONSIVE AND WORK DILIGENTLY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS EFFICIENTLY. UH, AND AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S JUST CENTER POINT THAT'S, THAT'S CLEANING THIS VEGETATION, BUT IT'S ALSO AT AND T BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE WIRES ARE AT AND T LINES. AND SO JUST WANT TO LET THEM KNOW, UH, TANYA AND THE TEAM, THAT THEIR EFFORTS [05:15:01] HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED. AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT TO RESTORING SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND THEN FINALLY, I'M GONNA SAY WHILE I RESERVE, YOU KNOW, SOME WORDS MAYBE FOR HOW THIS WAS HANDLED, UH, I MUST SAY THAT PAUL LOCKE AND JASON FABRE WITH CENTERPOINT, UH, HAVE MANAGED THE OBS OBSTACLES. AND I WAS ABLE TO CALL ON THEM TO GET THINGS DONE, UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING WHERE THEY MADE THEM A PRIORITY TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE TO GET BACK ONLINE. AND I'M AGAIN GONNA, I'M AGAIN GOING TO REEMPHASIZE AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CREATE AN, AN, UH, ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THESE BACKUP GENERATORS. YOU CANNOT JUST ACCEPT THE MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE AND NOT GIVE THEM THE TOTAL, TOTAL SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WERE STUCK, WERE STUCK, STUCK UPSTAIRS AND ELEVATORS AND, AND SUCH. AND SO THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND SO I KNOW THAT, UH, PAUL LOCKE AND JASON FABRE WERE, WERE INUNDATED, ESPECIALLY BY ME AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. BUT I WANNA SAY THAT THEY WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND RESPONSIVE AND COMMITTED TO GETTING ISSUES RESOLVED FOR RESIDENTS. AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR THOSE THAT PROVIDED THE ICE AND THE RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT D ALONG WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT. AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE OPERATION LOVE AND BOYINGTON, UH, METHODIST CHURCH AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT STEPPED UP TO ASSIST THOSE IN DISTRICT D. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE'RE GONNA DO BETTER THE NEXT TIME. UH, I KNOW HINDSIGHT IS 2020, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY GONNA HAVE A BETTER VISION AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OVER THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF, UH, DISTRICT H THE STAFF, WE'VE BEEN IN RECOVERY AND RESPONSE MODE. UM, AND I WANNA START OFF BY JUST THINKING SO MANY WHO CAME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE AID TO THOSE THAT WERE IN NEED AND ARE STILL IN NEED. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET RESOURCES AND HELP FROM, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT. UM, CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA, SENATOR CAROL ALVARADO, REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLY, REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ AND MARTINEZ. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A BIG HELP IN, UH, HELPING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER IN DISTRICT H UH, WEATHER THE STORM. I WANNA ALSO THINK THE HFD WILDLAND TEAM, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CLEARING TREES, UH, THAT WERE BLOCKING STREETS THAT WERE, UH, DOWNING, UH, LINES, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS PUBLIC WORKS. UH, THEY HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL, UM, HELPING THE DISTRICT RECOVER THE FOOD BANK, HEB AND, UH, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. UH, THEY HAVE PROVIDED SO MANY VOLUNTEERS MULTIPLE TIMES AND SOMETIMES AT THE DROP OF A HAT TO HELP HAND OUT SUPPLIES, UH, AT RELIEF EVENTS WE WERE DOING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. AND, UH, THE COMMUNITY HAS, HAS BEEN VERY GRACIOUS. YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS THROUGHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, UM, THAT WE CAN'T LET THIS BECOME OUR NEW NORMAL. AND HOUSTON STRONG CANNOT MEAN THAT WE EXPECT OUR CITIZENS, UH, TO JUST BE ABLE TO ENDURE WEEKS PLUS WITHOUT POWER IN THE SUMMER AND, AND BOUNCE BACK AND EXPECT EVERYTHING TO BE OKAY AND IT HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY PERSPECTIVE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS IS THAT WHAT WE CAN CONTROL AS A CITY, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON TO BE MORE RESILIENT. YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE TO GET GENERATORS AT OUR CRITICAL FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS ARE ABLE TO BECOME COOLING CENTERS THE SECOND OUR POWER GOES OUT, UH, BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND ON IT. AND SO, FROM THE COUNCIL SEAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW I WILL BE LOOKING AT WHAT WE DO AS A CITY. UM, HOW WE BUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT WE CAN CONTROL TO BE MORE RESILIENT. UH, BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T WANT TO HEAR, WELL, WE, WE DON'T REGULATE CENTER POINT AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. UH, THEY WANT KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. AND, AND I THINK THAT IS THE PERSPECTIVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. THAT'S THE PERSPECTIVE I WILL HAVE MOVING FORWARD, UH, BECAUSE CITIZENS DEPEND ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK [05:20:01] SOME FOLKS WHO STEPPED UP, UH, TO HELP OUT THEIR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS IN NEED. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, OEM. UH, UH, I KNOW TOM AND OTHERS SLEPT, UH, AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER OVERNIGHT. ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED TO KEEP THE CITY RUNNING, I WANT TO THANK THEM EVEN WHILE THE POWER AT THEIR HOMES WERE WERE NOT RUNNING. UH, MY STAFF PARTICULARLY WHO WORKED TO KEEP MY OFFICE RUNNING EVEN WHILE THE POWER WAS OUT AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, I WANT TO CERTAINLY THANK THEM. UH, REBECCA WILLIAMS, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR COORDINATING WATER PICKUPS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. UH, MARY OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, PASTOR SHANKS LIVING FAITH, UH, UH, CHURCH, BAPTIST CHURCH, PASTOR KING, UH, FRED WOODS, AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE NORTH WOOD MANNER, WATER, ICE, AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION ON MONDAY. I ALSO LIKE TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO PUBLIC WORKS AND SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT FOR CLEARING DEBRIS OFF OUR STREETS AND ROADS. THEY ARE STILL HARD AT WORK AND, UH, OUT THERE IN THE SUN. I ALSO, UH, WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING ON OUR POWER LINES, AS I SAID EARLIER, WHO RESTORED OUR POWER DAY AND NIGHT AND STILL ARE. AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST TWO OTHER GROUPS. I WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANKS TO FIRST RESPONDERS, H-F-D-H-P-D, AS WELL AS THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE AND ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM NEARBY COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT CAME TO HOUSTON TO SUPPORT AND KEEP US SAFE, FAITH-BASED, DENOMINATIONAL, ALL THE MULTIPLE DENOMINATIONS WHO STEPPED UP, THE PASTORS WHO GAVE THEIR FACILITIES AS COOLING CENTERS, UH, STEPPING UP TO ASSIST IN DISTRIBUTING FOOD. UH, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS GOING FORWARD. I HOPE TO, UH, COLLABORATE MANY OF OUR PASTORS ACROSS ALL DENOMINATIONS TO ASSURE THAT WE BE A PART OF EMERGENCY PRACTICES, UM, HEARTFELT. I WANT TO GIVE MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE CREDIBLE LAW ENFORCERS WHO ASSISTED HPD IN THE AFTERMATH, UH, FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS. COURAGE AND COMPASSION, UH, HAVING MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND CERTAINLY, UH, THANKS TO SAN ANTONIO PD, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, FOLK WORTH, CORPUS CHRISTI ALLEN, UH, PD, GRAND PRAIRIE, PLANO TROPHY CLUB, PD MCKINNEY PD, UH, THE, UH, CARLTON PD, MESQUITE PD, IRVING PD GARLAND WILEY, AND HUDSON ARKS PD. AND MAYOR, I JUST WANT, AGAIN, SAY I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. IT HAS BECOME PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD PRECISE PREPARATION BEFORE NOW. UH, I MEAN, IT'S EASY FOR US TO, UH, ASCERTAIN WHAT OUR PROBLEMS ARE NOW, BUT THESE PROBLEMS JUST DIDN'T GET STARTED, UH, SEVEN MONTHS AGO. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND I THINK IT'S NOW TIME FOR US TO COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER AS A COUNCIL AND, UH, AND, AND, AND ADD TO WHAT WE NEED TO BE DONE, UH, AND USE OUR HEART TO COMPASSION TOWARD OUR CITY. UH, AND I WANT TO THANK YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR, FOR TAKING THE TOLL ON WHAT IS IS BECOME OBVIOUS IN TIMES LIKE THIS. IT BECOMES PRETTY, OBVIOUSLY, WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE AS WELL AS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND I THINK THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. AND, UH, THAT'S MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, WANTED TO THANK ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT THAT HELPED OUT WITH EVERYTHING WE HAD, UH, DISTRIBUTIONS DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE AND DISTRIBUTIONS DOWN IN KINGWOOD. UH, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF PARK EMPLOYEES THAT WERE OUT THERE QUITE A BIT, AND I WANTED TO ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THEM BY NAME. UH, ROBERT JONES, JR. BRADLEY JOHNSON, FRED GREEN, STERLING BARARD, RONALD BARNETT, DEMETRIUS WATKINS, JOHN PUGH, KELSEY CUOMO, ANTHONY GLOSTER, THEODORE QUINTANA, STEVEN CURRY, SHELTON DIXON, ANTHONY JORDAN, JASON CUNNINGHAM, EDUARDO VALDEZ, JUAN MATA, JASON DAVIS, BRIANNA GALINDO, ZALIE, AP POLLAR, HOPE GALINDO, ROBERTO GONZALEZ, MICHAEL LEVINS. SO REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ALSO, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND STATE SENATOR KAREN AL. UH, CAROL ALVARADO HELPED US OUT QUITE A BIT WITH THE DISTRIBUTION WE DID DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE, ALONG WITH, UH, KATIE SHELTON FROM COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN'S [05:25:01] OFFICE AND SCOTT ODEGAARD, WHO WAS DOWN THERE ASSISTING US. UH, ALSO, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO USE THE BIBLE WAY FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH AND WANTED TO THANK, UH, FIRST LADY MARY VARNER FOR THAT DOWN IN FREEWAY MANOR. THAT WAS A HUGE HELP AS WELL. UM, COMCAST AND AT AND T CAME OUT TO THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER AND ACTUALLY SET UP THERE. SO EVERYBODY HAD INTERNET AND CHARGING STATIONS. UH, IN FACT, UH, COMCAST BROUGHT OUT A PALLET OF, OF WATER AND ALSO ICE CREAM, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY I MISSED OUT 'CAUSE I WAS HERE AT THAT TIME. THEN THEY ATED ALL BEFORE I GOT HERE. SO, UM, ALSO WANTED TO JUST THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WE HAD OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, A NUMBER OF MY BROTHER KNIGHT CAME OUT AND HELPED OUT ONE DAY. WE ALSO HAD THE L-D-L-D-S CHURCH OUT IN OUR AREA THAT, THAT CAME AND, AND HELPED OUT. UH, ON A MORE SOMBER NOTE, WE'VE STILL GOT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE IN KINGWOOD WITHOUT POWER, SPECIFICALLY THE TRAIL WOOD SUBDIVISION, THE BARRINGTON, UH, THEY'RE, THEY AND, UH, FOREST COVE HA HAVE NOT HAD ANY POWER RESTORED. AND THEY'RE BASICALLY THE WORST, UH, YOU KNOW, AND CENTER POINT WORKS THE EASIEST TO GET THE MOST PEOPLE BACK ONLINE, WHICH MAKES PERFECT SENSE. UH, IT JUST IS KIND OF TOUGH IN THE AREAS THAT HAVE GOT ALL THE TREES 'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONES THAT ARE MOST HARDEST. SO, AND UH, ALSO, WE, WE HAD A, A, AN ELDERLY WOMAN PASS AWAY AT ONE OF THE CENTERS. YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW CENTER POINT HAS WORKED REALLY HARD TRYING TO GET THE LINE BACK OR POWER BACK ON. UH, I THINK WE REALLY HAVE GOTTA GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE PRIORITIZATION. I KNOW, UH, COUNCILWOMAN CARTER AND I, AND ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE, WORKED FOR ALMOST A WEEK TRYING TO GET A POWER TO A HOSPITAL. UH, THE HOSPITAL HAD GENERATORS, BUT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO FULLY OPERATE WITHOUT THE POWER. UH, THEY ACTUALLY HAD, UH, OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES THEY HAD TO PUSH OFF. UH, IT WAS KIND OF A, A ZOO OUT THERE. SO ANYWAY, IF WE CAN, UH, GET THAT DONE, THAT'D BE A HUGE HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND YOU KNOW, HOUSTON HAS BEEN TESTED TIME AND AGAIN, UH, WE HAVE HAD HOW MANY FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS AND HOW MANY YEARS FROM THE PANDEMIC TO THE FREEZE. UH, HARVEY, THE LIST GOES ON AND WE ARE HOUSTON STRONG. UH, BUT THE LIGHTS, IT'S TAKING TOO LONG. UH, AND IN TEXAS, IN OUR STATE, THE POWER GOES OUT TOO MUCH. UH, SO I APPRECIATE THAT THE PUC IS HOSTING A IS HOLDING A HEARING, BUT IT CAN'T STOP THERE. AND I KNOW MAYOR, WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM, WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING HARD TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO ALLOW US, UM, TO REGULATE, TO ALLOW US TO HAVE OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE IT HAPPENS FAR TOO OFTEN. THAT BEING SAID, IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE STEPPED UP, UH, TO HELP ONE ANOTHER AND TO SUPPORT OUR CITY. UH, I DO WANT TO, UH, FROM EVERYONE THAT HAS HELPED REPORT ON SENIOR CENTERS AND CHECKING IN ON PEOPLE AND WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE AND MAYOR, AS WE LOOK AT, UM, DEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN, THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE BACKUP GENERATION. THE SAME FOR DIALYSIS CENTERS. ONE OF THE BACKUPS THAT WE HAVE HEARD IN ADDITION TO ELECTIVE PROCEDURES IN HOSPITALS, WAS THE FACT THAT DIALYSIS CENTERS DO NOT AND ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE BACKUP GENERATIONS. SO ALL OF THOSE THAT NEED THAT TYPE OF CARE THAT IS LIFESAVING HAVE TO THEN GO TO HOSPITALS. UH, SO THE LIST GOES ON, BUT I DO WANNA FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO HELP ASSIST BECAUSE THERE ARE THOU HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF EXAMPLES ACROSS THE CITY FROM SETTING UP COOLING CENTERS TO COMPANIES CONTRIBUTING. MAYOR, WE WERE OUT AT WEST GRAY WITH CISCO AS THEY DROPPED OFF WATER AND SNACKS. I WAS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER THE DAY BEFORE BRINGING WATER IN THERE. UM, BISHOP DIXON AND THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH CHURCH AND THE DISTRIBUTIONS THEY WERE DOING THAT WE HELPED SUPPORT LAKEWOOD CHURCH, UH, AND THE COOLING CENTERS THAT THEY PROVIDED AND THE SUPPORT THEY PROVIDED. UH, EVEN WHEN AN HPD OFFICER LEARNED OF A NEED, LAKEWOOD CHURCH STEPPED IN WITHIN MINUTES, UH, TO HELP DELIVER FOOD TO, UH, A SENIOR FACILITY, UH, THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF. UH, THE TOOL BANK CONTINUES TO HELP EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS. BUT FOR DISTRICT C, SPECIFICALLY MARLEY, JOHN AND NANCY CROWDSOURCE RESCUE, MATT MARCHETTI AND VICTOR, UH, IN PUBLIC WORKS, BRIAN MASON, JASON CUMMINGS, ROY RUDY, AND TOMMY PERSONALLY BROUGHT OUT GAS TO, UH, POWER THE GENERATORS AND AC UNITS THAT WE HAD BROUGHT IN TO SOME OF THE SENIOR CENTERS WITH THE HELP OF, UH, [05:30:01] PASTOR JOHNSON AND FOURTH WARD, UH, HD'S WILDLAND DIVISION, ASSISTANT CHIEF, MIKE MEYER, CAPTAIN MALL PASS AND CREW ON THE GROUND, WORKING, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DAYS TO HELP US CLEAR SOME OF THOSE TREES OUTTA THE WAY. AND OF COURSE, CHIEF PENA, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND ROMAN AGUILAR, UH, CAREER AND RECOVERY RESOURCES, NIKKI, AND THERE WERE VOLUNTEER CREWS. I DID ALSO WANNA PUT OUT THAT THE WORK IS CONTINUING. SO STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES IS HAVING A FOOD DISTRIBUTION TOMORROW. UH, AND WE'RE SHARING INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THAT. AGAIN, THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT IN THE FOURTH WARD COMMUNITY. UH, THE LIST GOES ON AND I'M MISSING A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I DO ALSO WANNA THANK MY STAFF, UH, EVEN BEFORE THE STORM, ALL OF OUR OFFICES MOBILIZED, UH, REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES AHEAD OF THE STORM AND THEN AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO, DRIVING INTO THE DISTRICT, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, EVERY SINGLE DAY, MEETING WITH RESIDENTS, FLAGGING ISSUES, ESCALATING THEM, HUNDREDS OF CASES, HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICES. UH, BUT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH WORK TO DO, AND I CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT THIS HAS TAKEN TOO LONG. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. THIS FEELS MORE LIKE A MANMADE DISASTER THAN A NATURAL DISASTER. AND WE HAVE TO HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT TO PROPERLY HARDEN, UH, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR UTILITIES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YEAH, I WANNA START OFF BY THANKING, UM, MANY PEOPLE FOR, UM, JUST THEIR SUPPORT DURING THIS, THE TRYING TIME, THE STORM. UM, MAYOR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU, UM, CHRIS, JOSH FOR BEING RESPONSIVE. YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE CALLED, UM, THEY WAS ABLE TO DIRECT US IN THE RIGHT, SEND US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UM, GETTING US THE RESOURCES WE NEED. WE HAD LIKE THREE OR FOUR TRUCKS AT THE ACRES HOME MULTI SERVICE CENTER AND NORTHEAST. EVEN THOUGH NORTHEAST DIDN'T HAVE POWER, WE WERE STILL THERE MAKING SURE FOLKS HAD ICE ON WATER. SO I APPRECIATE, UM, YOU FOR THAT. I THOUGHT YOU PURCHASED ALL THE ICE. 'CAUSE I PURCHASED SOME ICE AND THEY WAS LIKE, UM, WELL, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, THEY PRETTY MUCH JUST TOOK ALL THE SUPPLIES IN THE TRUCK. SO I WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT. BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET A COUPLE OF PALLETS OF ICE, ACTUALLY FIVE, UM, FROM THE ICE COMPANY HERE IN HOUSTON. AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM. UM, WANT TO THANK DESTIN FOR EMPOWERMENT, WHO DID SOME BARBECUING AND DELIVERING IT TO COMMUNITY. UM, UM, COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, UM, PASTOR DIXON WITH COMMUNITY OF FAITH, UM, PUBLIC WORKS. THEY WERE AMAZING. UM, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT RANDY AND, UM, JEDI WAS, UM, MISSIONARIES AND SO THEY HAD ALL THESE MISSIONARIES OUT THERE. WE HAD MORE VOLUNTEERS THAN I'VE EVER SEEN. AND SO IT WAS LIKE REALLY GREAT, UM, JUST TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT. UM, ALSO CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, OF COURSE, DOING HER THING. SHE'S ALWAYS ONE THING. SHE IS THE QUEEN OF DISASTER. SHE KNOW HOW TO GET THESE THINGS SET UP. SO I JUST SIT BACK, I'M LIKE, OKAY, CONGRESSWOMAN GOT IT. AND WE JUST GO OUT AND SUPPORT, UM, WHAT SHE'S DOING. WEST STREET RECOVERY WAS CUTTING TREES OFF OF PEOPLE HOUSES AS THE CITY WAS CUTTING TREES, UM, IN THE STREETS. UM, THE CIVIC CLUB SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS REALLY SHOWED UP. I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM. THEY ACTUALLY, IT WAS LIKE A REALLY COORDINATED EFFORT. THEY LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY NEED, WE GET THEM THE RESOURCES, AND, UM, THEY BASICALLY, UM, WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY, MY STAFF. UM, THE DAY AFTER, UM, THE STORM, MY STAFF WAS OUT DELIVERING GENERATORS, UM, THAT WE'VE GOT FROM, UM, THE TOOL BANK. UM, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR EVERY AND THE HOT TEAM, UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY WERE DOING, GETTING THE FOLKS WHAT THEY NEED, UM, IN THE COMMUNITIES. UM, VICKI MARTIN, HUEY, JEREMY WILSON, OF COURSE, MR. FRED WOODS. UM, THE MAY HORNS, EVERYONE JUST CAME TOGETHER AND, AND DONE WHAT WE COULD TO KEEP, UM, THE DISTRICT, GET THE DISTRICT IN ORDER. SO FOLKS ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT WE ARE JUST GONNA WORK WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE, GET THEM GENERATORS. UM, I PURCHASED A LOT OF, UM, CAMP LIGHTS. WE'RE DELIVERING CAMP LIGHTS OUT TO FOLKS, AND SO, UM, WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP THE EFFORT, UM, MOVING. UM, THERE IS, THERE ARE SOME EVENTS THAT'S HAPPENING, UM, THIS WEEK THAT PEOPLE CAN STILL GET SUPPLIES. UM, TRINITY GARDEN CHURCH OF CHRIST WILL BE HAVING A FOOD DISTRIBUTION ON TODAY, JULY THE 17TH, THE 24TH, AND THE 31ST FROM FOUR TO 7:00 PM THE ADDRESS IS 7 7 2 5 SANDRA STREET. UM, AND IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MY OFFICE AND WE CAN GET THE FLYER OUT TO YOUR WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU NEED. UM, HARVEST TIME CHURCH IS HAVING A FOOD DRIVE AS WE SPEAK. UM, THEIR ADDRESS IS 1 7 7 7 0 IMPERIAL VALLEY, VALLEY DRIVE FOR THE FOLKS OUT IN GREENSPOINT. UM, IF YOU NEED SOME FOOD AND WATER AND SUPPLIES, GO OUT TO HARVEST TIME. AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE JOURNEY OF FATE CHURCH, WHICH IS AT 1 3 0 ATCA CEDAR DRIVE IN HUMBLE, TEXAS, 7 7 3 9 6. UM, AND THAT [05:35:01] DISTRIBUTION START KICKS OFF AT 3:00 PM. UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A MEETING TOMORROW, UM, THAT WE HAVE LIKE ATTEMPTED TO GET COUNSEL, UH, POSTPONED WITH TDOT. UM, THEY'RE STILL GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, UM, MEETING TOMORROW AT 24 0 5 NAVIGATION IN DISTRICT H, BUT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ASKING THEM TO HOLD OFF ON A MEETING, POSTPONE. THEY SAYING NO. UM, THERE'S A 15, 15 DAY NOTICE THAT TEX DOT HAVE TO GIVE. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA CANCEL THE MEETING, BUT WE FEEL THAT THEY NEED TO CANCEL THE MEETING OR POSTPONE IT, UM, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK. 'CAUSE WE STILL HAVE RESIDENTS JUST GETTING UP. UM, IN FACT, ALAN JUST TEXTED ME THIS MORNING, HIS LIGHTS JUST CAME ON. SO GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO GET BACK IN THE GROOVE OF THINGS. I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING, MAYOR, SO IF ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO, UM, GET THEM TO, UM, JUST SHIFT IT, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YEAH. UM, AND I THINK THAT IS, UH, COUNCILMAN MCCARTER, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL. APPRECIATE YOU, UM, WORKING WITH ACADEMY, TRYING TO GIMME SOME LIGHTS, UM, SOME CAMP LIGHTS, AND YEAH, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAMAN? NO, I, AFTER THE, I JUST, I, I, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE TEXT DOC, BUT I'LL DEFER. I THOUGHT, I UNDERSTAND YOU GO AROUND, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS TIMELY AND OUTTA COURTESY. I THOUGHT SURELY YOU COULD FOLLOW UP IF IT'S, THAT'S, NO, I RELATED TO WHAT I VERY QUICKLY, MAYOR, SOME OF US HAVE BEEN TALKING, WE DID ASK TEXDOT. YEAH, I'M FAMILIAR ABOUT, UM, JUST POSTPONING AGAIN, ONLY BECAUSE IT'S STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DISASTER. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. VERY GOOD. AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA SAY, I KNOW WE'RE NOT OUT OF THIS YET. WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER, AND THERE'S STILL MANY NEEDS IN TERMS OF FOOD AND ICE, AND, UM, AND SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO TRY TO HELP HOUSTONIANS HEART WHO ARE IN NEED. BUT I DO WANT TO COMMENT THAT, UH, IT'S A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE. UM, ONE OF THE MOST GRATIFYING THINGS ABOUT THE JOB IS, IS BEING ABLE TO TAKE PHONE CALLS AND TEXTS, AND THEN PUTTING, PUTTING FOLKS IN, IN TOUCH WITH THOSE WHO CAN ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. UH, MYSELF, UH, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE REAL SUPERSTARS OF THE RESPONSE HAVE BEEN, I THINK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ACTIVISTS AND VOLUNTEERS, TEARS, OUR COUNCIL STAFF WHO HAVE RESPONDED AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND PIVOTED. AND, AND IN THE CASE OF MY OFFICE, ALL OVER TOWN, UH, 'CAUSE WE DON'T REPRESENT JUST A SINGLE DISTRICT. UH, MY FOLKS HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ALL OVER, UM, ANSWERING EVERY REQUEST FOR HELP, EVERY CHALLENGE. AND, UM, I'VE APPRECIATED BEING ABLE TO WATCH, UH, HOW OUR, OUR CITY GOVERNMENT LEADERS GET TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE AND TRY TO COME TOGETHER AND PUT THE BEST RESPONSE POSSIBLE. I'VE APPRECIATED THE, UH, SUPPORT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM OUR GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP MAYOR IN, UH, FACILITATING THAT AND REQUESTING THAT. UM, I KNOW WE HAVE ISSUES. WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO ADDRESS THEM. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THEM AT LENGTH, INCLUDING THE LACK OF GENERATORS AS WE TRY TO IMPROVE ON WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT RESILIENCE AND, UM, OUR, UM, NEED TO IMPROVE IN THAT CATEGORY. BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, THE REAL RESILIENCE LIES IN OUR PEOPLE, IN THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN HOUSTON WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UH, TIME AND AGAIN, UH, EVENTS LIKE THIS. WE'VE ALREADY HAD THREE WEATHER EVENTS THIS YEAR. WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE MORE, AND EACH TIME WE HAVE ONE, OUR PEOPLE GET TOGETHER, THEY HELP EACH OTHER, THEY LIFT ONE ANOTHER, AND, UH, WE'RE BETTER FOR IT. SO, VERY PROUD OF THIS CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WHO ACT TO HELP EACH OTHER. AND WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR HOUSTONIANS TO TRY TO IMPROVE ON OUR RESPONSE. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR THOMAS. THANK YOU. I WANNA SPEND MOST OF MY TIME ACKNOWLEDGING, UM, HOW WE GOT IT RIGHT ON THE WEST SIDE IN TERMS OF RESPONSE. UM, INSTEAD OF SPENDING TIME OF WHERE WE GOT IT WRONG IN RESPONSE TO BARROW. SO POST 2021, WITH THE WINTER YEAR, UH, WINTER URI STORM IN 2021, I REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOMETHING DISTRICT SPECIFIC IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE WEST SIDE. SO WHEN YOU STAY READY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET READY. WE HAD A DISTRICT F DISASTER PLAN THAT WAS ACTIVATED. I'M GOING TO NAME [05:40:01] ALL OF OUR PARTNERS OUT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED. UH, WE ALSO ACTIVATED OUR DISTRICT F VOLUNTEER CORPS AND OUR DISTRICT F TRANSLATION TEAM, UM, WHICH WAS SIGNIFICANT. SO THE STORM HIT ON MONDAY. BY WEDNESDAY, WE WERE ALREADY ACTIVATED WITH OUR PARTNERS. I WANT TO THANK FOR THE WEDNESDAY ACTIVATION, A LEAF ISD WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS, ELDRIDGE, UH, TEEN INC. THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, HOME DEPOT, AND MORE. UM, ON SATURDAY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL JOINED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AL GREEN, SENATOR BORIS MILES, COUNTY ATTORNEY, CHRISTIAN MENIFEE, AND SO MANY OTHERS. UM, AND PARTNERSHIP WITH WALMART OFF THE BELTWAY IN BINET, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE, UH, PRODU, UH, OFFER 2000 CASES OF WATER, 200 WALK-UPS, AND DO DELIVERIES AT FOUR APARTMENT COMPLEXES AT THE SAME TIME, DIRECTING, UH, RED CROSS TO, UH, INDEPENDENT SENIOR FACILITIES WHERE THEY PROVIDED FOOD AND HOT MEALS. WE'RE CURRENTLY MOVING TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE DISTRICT. TO DO THAT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOT ONLY, UM, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT THE DISTRICT F TEAM, UM, THEY, UH, WE WERE ALL IN SYNC, UM, ALL THROUGHOUT THE STORM. AND WHILE MANY OF US EXPERIENCED NO POWER, I HAD NO POWER FOR SIX DAYS AND SIX WEEKS IN MY HOME AND HAD TO CLEAN UP MY ENTIRE ICE BOX. THEY WERE ON THE STREET READY AND PREPARED TO SERVE. UM, SOME OF THE LEAST OF THESE, UM, HEADS UP HOUSTON, CAREER RECOVERY SERVICES, SAYA INTERNATIONAL, A E VOTES, A-E-I-S-D, ATHLETICS, THE PR TEAM, DR. MAYS, THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE ELSIK BASKETBALL TEAM, THE HASTINGS JV FOOTBALL TEAM, UH, MCGEE CHAPEL, THE WEST SIDE COMMAND. THANK YOU, COMMANDER CLINTON AND SERGEANT PARKINSON FOR WORKING WITH US, A COALITION FOR PEACE RELEASE, E RELIEF IN EQUITY, AND SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT SHOWED UP BECAUSE THEY ANSWERED THE CALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND SO, UM, UH, FOR ME, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT F USED TO BE CALLED THE FORGOTTEN DISTRICT. AND EVERY TIME THERE'S A DISASTER, REMNANTS OF THAT, UH, OF BEING FORGOTTEN SHOWS UP BECAUSE THERE WAS NO, UH, THERE'S NO MSC, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE WAS NO, UM, ICE AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER, UM, ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN. AND DISTRICT F GOES ALL THE WAY TO CINCO RANCH, WHERE THE EYE OF THE STORM CAME IN. UM, AND THEN THERE WAS NO COORDINATION FROM OEM IN TERMS OF THE WEST SIDE. AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, THE CONCEPT IS TO DECENTRALIZE OUR DISASTER RESPONSE. WE HAVE TO BE HYPER LOCAL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESPONDING TO NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE DISASTER IS HYPER LOCAL. IT IS NOT OKAY TO SAY, CALL 3 1 1 AND WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO PICK YOU UP TO HOLD ICE IN A SIX PACK OF WATER AND THEN HAVE LANGUAGE ISSUES. AND SO THERE, THERE HAS TO BE A WAY THAT WE, WE CAN DO THIS DIFFERENTLY, BUT ON THE WEST SIDE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN PEOPLE. AND WE ARE DOING THAT, AND WE'RE DOING THAT VERY WELL. THERE IS MORE TO COME. I DEFINITELY WANNA SHOUT OUT WALMART AND HOME DEPOT AND ALL THE PARTNERS THAT ANSWERED THE CALL TO ALLOW US TO BE PREPARED, UH, FOR THIS MOMENT AND NOT IN PANIC. UM, THERE ARE DISTRICT, THERE ARE POCKETS IN DISTRICT F THAT STILL DO NOT HAVE, UH, POWER. UH, WE HAVE, UH, WESTHEIMER NEAR DAIRY ASHFORD AND KIRKWOOD, THE COMMERCIAL AREA. WE HAVE POCKETS NEAR GESNER IN WESTCHASE, AND THEN ALSO PINEY POINT AND CARVER CREST. THEY ARE ENERGIZED AND SCHEDULED TO BE ONLINE. IT'S SOMEWHERE FOR TOMORROW, AND THEN THE OTHERS BY JULY 19TH. UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS I HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT WORKS FOR CENTERPOINT, AND SO SHE'S WORKING WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT F ARE ALIGNED. WE ALSO IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL APARTMENTS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO US. UM, AND SO WE ARE COORDINATING OUR SENIOR LIVING FACILITY. SO IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE PROACTIVE WITH HIM. UH, I, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH, UM, HOW COMMUNITY SHOWS UP AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ POINT ABOUT THE US BEING RESILIENT. I THINK THE RESILIENCY IS STARTING TO TAKE A TOLL ON US. UM, EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IT THUNDERS, UH, THE ANXIETY, UM, SHOWS UP IN HOUSTONIANS, AND I KNOW IT SHOWS UP IN ME. AND SO, FOR TIME, AFTER TIME OF DEPLOYING RESOURCES, WE HAVE TO BECOME SMART BECAUSE WE ARE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. WE ARE THE FOURTH LARGEST AMERICAN CITY, AND WE CAN DO BETTER IN TERMS OF THIS. BUT, BUT MY REMARKS IS REALLY ABOUT THE THANK YOU, UM, THE UNLIMITED LOVE THAT WAS, UH, SHOWN BY RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THANK YOU TO THE MEDIA FOR COVERING THIS AND GETTING THE WORD OUT. THANK YOU TO THE COLLEAGUES. AND THEN SHOUT OUT TO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, EVERYBODY WHO WAS IN THEIR DISTRICT DOING WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. NOT WAITING ON, UM, ANYTHING BUT TAKING CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE. IT IS DEFINITELY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'LL, I'LL SAVE ALL THE THANK YOUS, UM, UH, FOR WHEN WE HAVE ALL OF OUR, UH, HOUSTONIANS BACK IN LIGHTS. BUT FOR EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN OUT THERE DOING THE WORK, WE KNOW WHAT A HEAVY LIFT THIS HAS BEEN FOR ALL OF US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, I, I CHECKED IN ON THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS WEEK TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL WERE DOING OKAY, BECAUSE WE CANNOT POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP. SO STAY ENCOURAGED. UM, WE'VE ALL BEEN ELECTED TO DO THIS WORK, AND I HOPE THAT, UM, WE CONTINUE TO RAISE EACH OTHER UP AND [05:45:01] DO WHAT WE CAN FOR EVERY HOUSTONIAN, AND THAT EVERYONE WILL BE RESTORED, UM, ASAP. BUT I DID WANT TO, UM, REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TODAY AT ONE. IT WILL BE RECORDED. IT'S AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING. THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR, JIM SNIA, WILL GIVE US THAT UPDATE. AND THEN WE ALSO WILL RECEIVE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AN UPDATE ON OUR TAX ABATEMENT RENEWAL GUIDELINES. I'LL MAKE SURE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS COPIES AND CAN SEE THE VIDEO. IF YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO BE HERE IN CHAMBERS TODAY, WE WILL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS BEING PULLED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TODAY. BUT WE STILL NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH, WITH OUR, OUR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, UM, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT K AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER TODAY, RIGHT NOW, THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS AT THE FORT BEND CHURCH, UH, REVEREND BYRON C UH, STEVENSON AND HIS WIFE, SONYA STEVENSON, THEY DID PURCHASE SOME, UH, DISINFECTANT WIPES AND TRASH BAGS. BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, UH, SO MANY RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO CLEAN OUT THEIR REFRIGERATORS AND, UM, THEY'VE LOST, UH, THE FOOD IN THEIR REFRIGERATORS, IF IT'S A, IT'S A, UM, SMALL WAY FOR US TO TRY TO ASSIST, BUT WE DEFINITELY WILL SEE THE BIG IMPACT OF THAT. I WANT TO THANK, UM, PASTOR STEVENSON FOR HELPING US IN THAT RECOVERY EFFORT, TOO. YOU CAN GO TO THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER AND PICK THOSE, UM, SUPPLIES UP. AND THEN PLENTIFUL HARVEST WILL DISTRIBUTE FOOD ON FRIDAY, JULY 19TH AT 3:00 PM THEY'RE LOCATED AT 38 31 WEST F WAY. UM, YOU CAN CONTACT THE DISTRICT K OFFICE FOR FURTHER, UH, RESOURCES, AND I HOPE YOU SIGN UP FOR OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER. IT'S BEEN A, A TREMENDOUS WAY FOR US TO COMMUNICATE, UM, WITH RESIDENTS. AND YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL US AT (832) 393-3016. GOD BLESS US ALL. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. VERY GOOD. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HAVE A FEW ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE I WANNA THANK, BUT I AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM THAT IT IS NOT DONE, BUT I WANNA THANK THEM, UM, FOR THEIR ONGOING WORK. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE DISTRICT A TEAM. THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE DOING WATER, ICE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND I CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH, UM, FOR, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF MANUAL LABOR ON THEIR END AND A LOT OF COORDINATION AND REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK. UM, AND OUR HOT TEAM AS WELL, OUR LEGAL DUMPING COLLECTION TEAM, THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE WITH US AS WELL, HAULING WATER TO DIFFERENT PLACES, AND, UM, VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM. MEMORIAL SYSTEMS MINISTRIES, CROWDSOURCE RESCUE, HOPE CITY CHURCH, THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK, ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND COMMISSIONERS, BRIANIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR OPENING COOLING CENTERS IN OUR AREA. UM, MAYOR, AS WE CONTINUE THE DISASTER RECOVERY, UM, IF WE COULD GET A PLAN FOR THE DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. AND THERE, UM, IF THERE ARE DELAYS IN RECYCLING AND REGULAR TRASH PICKUP AS WELL, IN MY DISTRICT, MOST OF US ARE ON, UM, SCHEDULE A WEEK FOR RECYCLING, AND A WAS COMPLETELY SKIPPED, AND SO NOW THEY'RE ON B AND, UM, WE JUST NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE EXPECTATIONS OF WHEN THEIR TRASH AND RECYCLING WILL BE PICKED UP, AND WHEN THE STORM DEBRIS WILL BE PICKED UP AS WELL. PEOPLE STILL HAD, UM, STORM DEBRIS FROM THE STORM IN MAY STILL SITTING OUT THERE TODAY, AND NOW THEY'VE ADDED TO THOSE PILES. AND SO WE JUST NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE EXPECTATIONS OF WHEN ALL OF THAT WILL BE, UM, REMOVED. SO IF WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION, MAYOR, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MY FIRST THANK YOU. DEFINITELY WANT, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM TATUM. UM, AS SHE MENTIONED, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T POUR HER INTO, UM, FROM AN EMPTY CUP. AND GETTING HER TEXT ACTUALLY HELPED ME GET A LITTLE RE-ENERGIZED. UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT PERSONAL, UH, AND IT WASN'T TO SEE WHAT I NEEDED. IT WAS MORE, UM, LIKE FOR MY COMMUNITY. IT WAS MORE ABOUT JUST CHECKING IN ON ME. SO, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM, APPRECIATE IT. UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE START TALKING ABOUT RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY, UH, I, I REALLY FEEL LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH STORMS, WE'VE GONE THROUGH HURRICANES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO REPEAT THE SAME, THE SAME CONVERSATION. AND AT THE STATE LEVEL. UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE, UM, STATE REPS AND STATE SENATORS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE, UM, FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY ALSO, UM, BEGIN TO BEGIN TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HO HOLD, UH, SOME OF THESE AGENCIES THAT ARE NOT AT THE CITY LEVEL ACCOUNTABLE. UM, AND SO JUST WA WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE HAVE THIS HEARING, UH, THIS COMING COMING DAYS, UH, ABOUT A WEEK OR SO, UH, THAT IT JUST DOESN'T STOP THERE. AND WE FIND WAYS THAT COMMUNITY CAN STAY ENGAGED WITH THOSE, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL. UH, I DO WANNA THANK, UH, SENATOR ALVARADO. UM, WE'RE, UH, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER SEVERAL, UH, DISTRIBUTIONS, UM, AND WANNA [05:50:01] MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE TO, TO SEE, UH, THIS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. UM, THE, A LOT OF THANK YOUS AS WELL. UH, DEFINITELY OEM, UH, OF COURSE, UH, TOM MUNOZ. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK, UH, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS COME OUT TO DISTRIBUTIONS WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE POWER AS WELL. UH, SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT, THAT SHOWED UP. UM, I ECHO, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN SHABAZZ MENTIONED AS FAR AS, UH, SENIOR HOUSING FACILITIES HAVING A PLAN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT, UH, UH, ON THE, ON THE HEELS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UM, DO SOME REAL WORK. UM, AND NOW, AND NOW, UH, IN WITH THIS, UH, WE HAVE A RESOURCE FAIR, UH, THIS SATURDAY. IT'S AT HCC NORTHEAST, UH, FROM 10 TO ONE. AND AT THAT RESOURCE, IT'S, UH, AT NORTHEAST CAMPUS, 5 5 5 COMMUNITY COLLEGE DRIVE, 7 7 0 1 3. UM, WE WILL BE PROVIDING SOME, UH, DISASTER RECOVERY, UH, INFORMATION, BUT ALSO SOME SUPPLIES, UM, AND IN HOPES OF MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITIES STAY, STAY PREPARED AS WELL. UM, AND, AND MAYOR, UM, WE CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, AS WE START GETTING THESE AGENCIES TO COME TO US, UM, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THESE OPEN, UH, CONVERSATIONS, TRANSPARENT CONVERSATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AS A, AS A COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT WE LOOK FOR, LOOK TOWARDS OUR COMMUNITY FIRST, UM, IN THESE RESPONSES. SO, UM, EVERYONE THAT'S OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, STAY BLESSED, BE SAFE. WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TO GET THOSE NESTED OUTAGES, UH, IN DISTRICT I AS WELL. SO BE SAFE. VERY GOOD. COUNCILOR POLLARD, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES, TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AS ALWAYS FOR, UH, YOUR HARD WORK DURING THESE NATURAL DISASTERS. UH, SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FROM THE DIFFERENT NONPROFITS, UM, TO THE HIGHER DIMENSION CHURCH, UH, WHICH SERVICE, THE BRAEBURN WESTWOOD AREA WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS. THANK YOU TO WALMART OUT IN THE ALE AREA WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, WE THANK THEM, UH, THE SOUTHWEST MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, WHICH SERVICES GOLFED IN SHARPSTOWN OF DISTRICT J. WE THANK YOU, UH, TO EVERYONE WHO IS OUT THERE DOING ALL THAT THEY COULD. A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE LINEMAN WHO CAME IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, UH, TO HELP US. THANK YOU. UM, WE ARE KNOWN AS BEING HOUSTON STRONG, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT FEELS LIKE HOUSTON'S TIRED, HOUSTON'S HOT, HOUSTON'S FRUSTRATED. UM, WE TELL THEM THAT WE ARE WELL PREPARED, WE ARE PREPARED FOR THIS. AND THEN THEY GO A WEEK. SOME PEOPLE A PLUS WITHOUT POWER, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT YOU'RE WELL PREPARED. AND THEN YOU GO A WEEK WITHOUT POWER FROM A CAT ONE. WHAT IF IT WAS A CAT TWO? WHAT IF IT WAS A CAT THREE? SO WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE DID NOT DO ALL THAT WE COULD DO FROM A CITY STANDPOINT. WE'RE NOT FULLY MOBILIZED FROM A CENTER POINT STANDPOINT. WE WERE NOT FULLY MOBILIZED. WE WERE SCRAMBLING AFTER THE FACT AND THE CITY FELT IT. AND THAT'S WHY YOU SAW SUCH FRUSTRATION. THAT'S WHY YOU SUCH SAW ANGER. PEOPLE WERE HOT. PEOPLE WERE HAVING TO GO INTO SURVIVAL MODE JUST TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER DAY. YOU, YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOT ONLY DO THE RESIDENTS SUFFER, THE SMALL BUSINESSES GO OUTTA BUSINESS, IF THEY HAVE A WHOLE WEEK WITHOUT ANY REVENUE, MAJOR CORPORATIONS DON'T WANT TO COME TO HOUSTON. IF EVERY OTHER MONTH OR SO WE'RE GETTING THESE STORMS THAT KNOCK OUT POWER FOR MULTIPLE DAYS, WE KNOW THAT THESE STORMS ARE STRONGER, THEN WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE MORE FREQUENT. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING, UH, TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE? WE CAN'T DO IT ALL HERE AT THE CITY. THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE MAGNITUDE THAT IT NEEDS TO RESIST THESE NATURAL DISASTERS. WE NEED OUR PARTNERS FROM THE STATE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE MAYOR WE'RE HAVING PRESS CONFERENCES WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE OFFICIALS BECAUSE WE DO NEED THEIR HELP. AND I APPRECIATE THEM COMING AND WANTING TO FIND WAYS TO, UH, HELP US BECAUSE WE NEED THE HELP. AND THEN ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, UH, I'M HOPING THAT FEMA DOES ALL IT CAN FOR REIMBURSEMENT, LOOKS AT, UH, WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN BE EFFICIENT IN GETTING THOSE RESOURCES OUT TO THE PUBLIC. BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHERE CAN WE IMPROVE? WHAT PLAN DO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT WE PREPARED FOR THE WORST. I THOUGHT IT SEEMED AS IF WE PREPARED FOR A STORM, BUT NOT THIS. AND SO WHEN YOU'RE NOT FULLY MOBILIZED AND WE HAVE TO GET CENTER [05:55:01] POINT TO BRING IN MORE AND MORE CREWS EACH DAY, THEY'RE BRINGING IN MORE AND MORE CREWS. 'CAUSE THEY'RE SAYING, OH, THIS IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT. AND THEIR COMMUNICATION WAS ABYSMAL BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND WHEN YOU'RE IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOU'RE HOT AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND A PHONE CHARGER, AND YOU FINALLY GET IN FRONT OF, UH, SOMETHING THAT SHOWS YOU A PRESS CONFERENCE AND CENTER POINT, AND OTHERS ARE NOT GIVING YOU ACCURATE INFORMATION YET, YOU'RE GONNA LOSE IT. AND SO, I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC, YOU DESERVE AN APOLOGY FROM YOUR CITY FOR THE WAY THAT WE HAD TO ENDURE OVER THE PAST WEEK. WE ARE TRYING, THERE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, WE DID DO WELL, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE FAILED AT, AND WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO FIND OUT WAYS IN WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN, BECAUSE LIVES ARE AT STAKE AND WE ARE TOO GREAT OF A CITY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN OVER AND OVER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, ON THE, ON THE, UH, TAIL END OF A STORM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON DAY SIX TO CALL 9 1 1 WHILE, UH, CLEANING OUT A NEIGHBOR'S FREEZERS. THERE WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN, 76, WHO TOOK A FALL IN A DRIVEWAY. THAT DRIVEWAY WAS 1.2 MILES FROM A FIRE STATION. SHE FELL DOWN, HIT HER HEAD, WAS OBVIOUSLY BLEEDING. I WAS ON THE SCENE AND DON'T MOVE, LET ME CALL 9 1 1. SO NINE ONE ONE AT 8 25, AT 8 49 WHEN THEY STILL HAD NOT SHOWN UP, THANK GOODNESS WE HAD A NURSE THAT CAME FROM DOWN THE STREET AND A FORMER EMS WORKER WHO WAS WORKING ON THE LINES OUT THERE, WHO DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS BROKEN. SHE DID HAVE A HEAD INJURY AND NEEDED A CAT SCAN, AND IT WOULD BE OKAY TO TRANSPORT HER TO THE EMERGENCY CLINIC. SO AS I CALLED 9 1 1 BACK TO DISPATCH TO SAY, WE DON'T NEED THE AMBULANCE, WE'RE MOVING ON AND TRANSFERRED HER, TOOK HER TO THE EMERGENCY CLINIC AND DROPPED HER OFF. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE LOCATION, THEY SAID, OH, THE FIRE TRUCK JUST CAME, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 10 AFTER NINE. SO AT EIGHT, FROM 8 25 TO 10 AFTER NINE, YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU WERE LYING THERE WAITING FOR HELP, WHAT THAT WOULD FEEL LIKE. ALL THAT TO SAY, IT BROUGHT HOME THE, YOU KNOW, BACK TO THE BACK TO THE BACK TO IT BROUGHT BACK HOME. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT FIREFIGHTERS, E-M-S-H-P-D, THAT IS OUR FRONT LINE. ASIDE FROM ALL OF THAT, EVERYBODY SAT HERE AND THANKED EVERYONE. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY TO THANK. HOUSTONIANS IS WHO WE REALLY NEED TO THINK BECAUSE THE HOUSTON WORKS. AND TOGETHER WE DO WORK TOGETHER. AND YES, I AGREE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD HOUSTON IS TIRED, HOUSTON STRONG, BUT HOUSTON TIRED TOO. I SAW THAT IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST AND I THOUGHT, YEAH, I CAN, I CAN RELATE. THAT'S CERTAINLY HOW I, I FEEL. BUT I, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF NOT ONLY THE FRONTLINE WORKERS, ALL OF THE, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, H-P-D-H-F-D, AND ALL THE OBVIOUS, AND CERTAINLY YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED, UM, UH, THE LDS CHURCH ANSWERS THE CALL SEND VOLUNTEERS OUT. BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS. HEB WAS FIRST TO ASSIST IN REALLY GETTING A COOLING CENTER THAT WE OPENED, SET UP. YOU CAN'T OPEN A COOLING CENTER IF YOU DON'T HAVE WATER, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FEW SUPPLIES THAT YOU NEED. SO ALWAYS HEB STEPS UP. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, WE CAN ALL BE A, A PART OF THE PLAN AND PART OF THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD. AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO BE BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION THAT MOST IMPORTANTLY MANAGES THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IT IS. IT'S, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THOSE EXPECTATIONS AND MANAGE WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DELIVERING. AND MOST OF ALL, AS WE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE RECOVERY AND THE CLEANUP, IS EVERYONE, PACK YOUR PATIENTS. KEEP IT WITH YOU BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE ON, JUST ON THE EDGE OF, OF WHO KNOWS WHAT. I MEAN, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME SITUATIONS THAT HAVE JUST PUSHED PEOPLE TO THE LIMITS. SO PACK YOUR PATIENTS, BE KIND AND, AND JUST BE PATIENT WITH THOSE AROUND YOU BECAUSE WE TRULY DON'T KNOW WHAT ONE ANOTHER'S GOING THROUGH. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YOU STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.