* 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. [00:00:07] COUNCILMAN [PRESENTATIONS] POLLARD FOR APPROXIMATION, AND ASK THE MAYOR PROTE TO PLEASE RESIDE. DID HE TAKE THAT? HE DID. I'LL REPRINT IT. JUST A SECOND. I'LL REPRINT IT. WELL, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. UH, MAYOR, I AM GOING TO BE PRESENTING A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP. THEY'RE A COLLABORATIVE OF CREATORS AND ARTISTS WHO ARE, UM, VISIONARIES AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON IS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE IN A VENUE, UH, FOR FILM ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. AND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, UH, THIS COLLABORATIVE HAS, UH, WORKED TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN PUSH POLICY, UH, ENGAGED WITH THE INDUSTRY, AND NOW ARE COMING TO CITY HALL NOT ONLY FOR RECOGNITION, UH, BUT FOR A CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT ON WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. UH, THERE'S ALWAYS A MISCONCEPTION THAT THE STATE AND THE STATE ONLY, UH, CAN PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND PATHWAYS FOR THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. UH, BUT WE WANNA ALSO FIND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN DO THAT ON A LOCAL LEVEL. AND SO WE'VE BEEN IN, UH, DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, UH, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEY HAVE, UH, BEEN ABLE TO GAIN A LOT OF MOMENTUM TO BRING US HERE. UH, TODAY. UH, THEY HAD A RECEPTION EARLIER WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT SOME KEY POINTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO STRESS, AND THEY WILL HAVE, UM, AN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC RECEPTION AFTER THIS PROCLAMATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED, UH, TO GO DOWN TO THE LEGACY ROOM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP. AND THE PROCLAMATION READS AS FOLLOWS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION, AND THE HOUSTON ENTERTAINMENT INITIATIVE, WHOSE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS INDUSTRY WITH OVER FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND INDUSTRY EXPANSION. AND WHEREAS THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THESE TWO ESTEEMED ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE YOUTH THROUGH ADULT CREATIVE COMMUNITY HAS FOSTERED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN HOUSTON'S ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR, OFFERING UNPARALLELED SUPPORT TO LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATORS, COLLABORATION WITH BUSINESSES, STAKEHOLDERS, AND CIVIC LEADERS, EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHING THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF HOUSTON'S ECOSYSTEM. AND WHEREAS THE ENTER INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP OF GREATER HOUSTON, IEPA, DISTINGUISHED 5 0 1 C SIX ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROPELLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FORWARD THROUGH STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS, JOB CREATION, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND FOSTERING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO EXPAND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FROM SECTORS, INCLUDING FILM, TV, ART, THEATER, ESPORTS, GAMING, MUSIC AND FASHION WITHIN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, IT AIMS TO PROVIDE TRAINING SO THAT INCOMING PRODUCTIONS KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS A VIABLE PLACE FOR FILMING. AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON ENTERTAINMENT INITIATIVE, HEIA RESPECTED 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING ECONOMIC GROWTH, PROVIDING INVALUABLE SUPPORT, AND FOSTERING MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND STEM FIELDS, ALL WITHIN THE SPHERE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACKNOWLEDGES AND CELEBRATES THE RELENTLESS DEDICATION AND VISIONARY EFFORTS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, INAUGURAL DIRECTORS, DEBORAH HUBBARD, JOHN SIMMONS, AND FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT REEL REED, AND ELEVATING HOUSTON'S ENTERTAINMENT LANDSCAPE, CREATING UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS WORKFORCE AND CREATIVE COMMUNITY, AND SOLIDIFYING OUR CITY'S POSITION AS A BEACON OF INNOVATION AND INCLUSIVITY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, FOR BRINGING THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT SHIP PARTNERSHIP TO OUR ATTENTION AND, UH, SHARING THEIR SUCCESS IN A SHORT FIVE YEARS. SO THANK YOU. UH, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOUR BEST DAYS ARE STILL IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON DEFINITELY WANTS TO BE YOUR PARTNER. SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN POLLARD FOR, UH, SHOWING ONCE AGAIN WHY OUR CITY IS SO GREAT. UH, WE HAVE ENTITIES SUCH AS THIS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND MAKING [00:05:01] THIS A GREAT CITY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 13TH, 2024 IS INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M INVITING OUR INAUGURAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS UP HERE AND OUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER, UM, JUST AS A SHOW OF SUPPORT, MY NAME IS RE REED AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP. AND I SPOKE TO YOU NOT TOO LONG AGO ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE THE CITY SUPPORT. THE IEP IS WHAT WE CONSIDER AN OVERSIGHT ORGANIZATION, ONE THAT HELPS TO CONNECT THE TISSUE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALREADY EXIST. THERE ARE SO MANY SECTORS OF ENTERTAINMENT THAT THEY ALSO NEED RESOURCES THEMSELVES. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, THOSE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PRODUCTIONS TO COME TO HOUSTON AND DO BUSINESS AND WORKING COLLECTIVELY WITH THE CITY TO DO THAT, WHETHER IT'S PERMITS OR LOCATIONS, OR IT'S WORKING WITH OUR HOUSTON FIRST, OUR FILM COMMISSION, SO THAT WE'RE BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE CITY AND IT'S DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH. THOSE THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT IEP WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP OUR MEMBERS WITH AND WILL HELP THE CITY WITH. SO I AM HONORED. I KNOW OUR BOARD IS HONORED. IT HAS BEEN A LONG FIVE YEARS. WE MADE IT PAST COVID AND OUR BEST YEARS, AS YOU SAID, MAYOR, ARE DEFINITELY AHEAD. ALLOW THIS TO BE OUR MOMENTUM IN OUR FUEL AND LET'S KEEP OUR FEET AND FOOT ON THE GAS. VERY GOOD. BEFORE YOU, BEFORE YOU TURN TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS, LET ME JUST SAY, UM, TO, UH, REEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS CAUSE. UM, THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT CREATIVES HAVE A SPACE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS REALLY IMPORTANT. UM, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR BOARD AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE FILMS TO BE MADE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, WE ALL LOVE TO SEE THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON, UH, IN MOVIES, ON TV SHOWS, AND ANYWHERE WE CAN AMPLIFY OUR GREAT CITY, WE WANT TO DEFINITELY PARTNER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, UH, THUS FAR. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, THANK YOU COUNCILOR POLLARD AND MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING THEM AND SUPPORTING, UH, IEP, UH, RO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HELP WELCOME THE REST OF YOUR BOARD AND, AND THE MEMBERS AND THOSE THAT ARE EVENTUALLY LOOKING TO PARTICIPATE EVEN MORE, UH, WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S UH, FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING. UM, AS AMER STATE, THE BEST BEST YEARS ARE YET TO COME. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IN THE EAST END, WE HAVE FOLKS LIKE STORYHIVE, UH, ABOVE ART. I MEAN UP ABOVE MEDIA WHERE THERE'S A MU MUSIC STUDIO, THERE'S PODCAST OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. SO THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF THESE, UH, ENTITIES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR, THE ENTIRE CITY. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH IEP, IT'S GONNA HELP COALESCE THOSE, THOSE, UH, THOSE, THOSE ASSETS AND REALLY STRENGTHEN WHAT, WHAT HOUSTON CAN DO FOR, FOR, UH, THE ENTERTAINMENT, UH, INDUSTRY. AND SO, UH, JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, I TELL YOU MY TIME AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAME, UH, IN TO JUST CERTAINLY TELL YOU THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. SHE AND I MET, UM, SOME YEARS AGO, AND WHERE DID WE GO? MONROVIA, LIBERIA. NO, WE MET BEFORE THAT WHEN I WAS AT HCC, BUT CERTAINLY SHE'S SUCH A PHENOMENAL PERSON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BRING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. OH, AND I, AND I DO HAVE ASPIRATIONS. I I DO HAVE SOME SKILLS I CAN ASK . YES. THANK YOU. YES. I'M JUST SAYING ABSOLUTELY. I'M JUST SAYING BEAUTIFUL SMILE. I'M JUST SAYING . THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM THAT IS HERE TO SUPPORT THE IEP. CAN YOU GUYS PLEASE STAND? YES. DON'T YOU, THE [00:10:08] TEXT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE TEXAS FFA ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION. YES. YES. IT'S MY HONOR TO MEET YOU. AND I HAVE NO, I WAS SUCH A BLESSING. I HAVE NO IDEA'S WHAT YOU DOING IN THE REAL WORLD. SO I'M BASICALLY MANAGER THIS TEXAS, TEXAS . SO BASICALLY I'M FROM INDIA, WHERE IN A SMALL TOWN BEFORE I MOVED HERE. HOW'S YOUR GREEN HANDLE? OOH, I KNOW WHAT Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT. IT'S A GREAT, GREAT INSTITUTION. TODAY I'M PRESENTING A PROCLAMATION TO TEXAS FFA. I HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH THE STUDENTS IN OUR LOCAL FFA ORGANIZATION. AND SO IT'S AN HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY. WHEREAS THE TEXAS FFA ASSOCIATION IS A DYNAMIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS BY DEVELOPING THEIR POTENTIAL FOR PREMIER LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND CAREER SUCCESS THROUGH AG, THROUGH AGRICULTURE EDUCATION. THE TEXAS FFA IS THE NATION'S LARGEST STATE, FFA ASSOCIATION WITH A MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 177,000 FFA GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY PRACTICAL CLASSROOM KNOWLEDGE TO REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE THROUGH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL COMPETITIONS. AND WHEREAS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS, THE TEXAS FFA CONVENTION HAS BEEN HELD IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND WHEREAS MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE HAVE SPENT THE YEAR COMPETING IN ACTIVITIES DISPLAYING THEIR LEADERSHIP WORK, WORK ETHIC, SOFT AND TECHNICAL SKILLS DURING THE ANNUAL CONVENTION, THE TEXAS FFA WILL RECOGNIZE MORE THAN 3,200 STUDENTS FOR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN TEXAS FFA PROGRAMS. WHEREAS THE TEXAS FFA RECOGNIZES STUDENTS AT ALL LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE FOUNDATION AMBASSADORS, TEXAS FFA MEDIA PROGRAM, COURTESY CORPS AND LOCAL AND FORD LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS. IN ADDITION TO INSTALLING NEW TEXAS FFA STATE OFFICERS AND CONDUCTING THE ANNUAL BUSINESS OF THE ORGANIZATION, THE TEXAS FFA WILL AWARD MORE THAN $2.3 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO MORE THAN 150 DESERVING STUDENTS. AND WHEREAS THE FIRST GENERAL SESSION OF THE 96 TEXAS FFA CONVENTION IS ON JULY 9TH, 2024, THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANT VALUE OF THE TEXAS FFA ORGANIZATION'S CON CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BECK WOULD MAR TO GO? MY MIKE, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION TO CITY COUNCIL. UH, AS I WAS MENTIONING TO YOU, MY FAMILY TOOK US TO THE COUNTRY FOR A FEW YEARS AFTER FAMILY DIVORCE. SO AS A RURAL RESIDENT, I GOT TO ENJOY THE FFA. IN FACT, THE JACKETS IN MY OFFICE TO REMIND ME OF MY ROOTS, THEY'RE NOT ONLY A LIVESTOCK EXHIBIT, UH, EXPERIENCE, BUT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, LEADERSHIP, AND QUALITY SKILLS. SO, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. IT'S, UH, EXCITING, EXCITING TO BRING THAT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY TO CENTRAL HOUSTON. AND I'M JUST GUESSING YOUR CONTACT PROBABLY, DO YOU HAVE PART OF CYRUS FAIRBANKS IN YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICT, WHICH HAS A VERY ACTIVE, UH, LIVESTOCK, UH, CLASSES AND F FFA. SO THANK YOU. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 13TH. SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY BY THE WAY. 2024 IS TEXAS FFA DATE. CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. THANK Y'ALL. ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND? WE'LL SHARE THE MIC. [00:15:01] HI Y'ALL. MY NAME IS EMILY HICK. I AM CURRENT SERVING THE PRESIDENT OF THE SPRING BRANCH, FFA CHAPTER AND ON THE LAKE HOUSTON DISTRICT OFFICER TEAM, AND SERVED AS A FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR THIS YEAR FOR THE 96 FFA CONVENTION IN TEXAS. AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT WE ARE THRILLED TO BE HERE, FINALLY IN PERSON, AND TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, TO THE MAYOR, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR HOSTING TEXAS FA. THERE'S, LIKE SHE SAID, THERE'S OVER 170,000 MEMBERS. TEXAS IS THE LARGEST STATE FFA ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION AND SOME OF THE LOUDEST AND PROUDEST STUDENTS THAT YOU'LL EVER SEE. AND LIKE I SAID, WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR POTENTIAL FOR PREMIER LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND CAREER SUCCESS. TEXAS FFA BELIEVES IN THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES AS WELL AND SPENDING OUR TIME HERE TODAY. WE ARE JUST SO EXCITED FOR WHAT IS TO COME AND TO JOIN HOUSTON AGAIN IN 2026 FOR ANOTHER CONVENTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, WE SEE, UH, WHY YOU ARE SO IMPRESSED WITH THE STUDENTS OF SFA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT. UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AT YOUR CITY HALL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE, UM, CONTINUED LEADERSHIP THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. BEST WISHES TO EACH OF YOU COME COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DAIKIN AIR CONDITIONING FOR RECOGNITION OF THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND, AND MAYOR, I THINK THE BEST PRESENT THAT ANYBODY CAN GET IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER, IS AIR CONDITIONING. SO WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT DAIKIN AND THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OF PROVIDING REALLY GOOD EFFICIENT HVAC FOR FAMILIES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I'LL GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY. WHEREAS DAIKIN'S COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY'S HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS BEING RECOGNIZED DURING AIR CONDITIONING APPRECIATION DAYS. MM-HMM . I THINK THAT'S EVERY DAY IN, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHEREAS THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE PARAMOUNT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ENSURING THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE AND ENERGY, EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONING IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS. AND WHEREAS DAIKIN, A GLOBAL LEADER, AN HVAC TECHNOLOGY CELEBRATES ITS REMARKABLE 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024, MAKING A CENTURY OF INNOVATION AND DEDICATION TO IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY. AND WHEREAS DAIKIN HAS GENEROUSLY DONATED ENERGY EFFICIENT HVAC EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR PROGRAM, PROVIDING ENERGY EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE A HEALTHIER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS DAIKIN'S INVESTMENT IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA IS A, IS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DAIKIN TEXAS TECHNOLOGY PARK IN WALLER, TEXAS. I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE DRIVEN BY IT REPRESENTING THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY'S A HUNDRED YEAR HISTORY. WHEREAS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, DAIKIN'S EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA EXCEEDS $1 BILLION. AND WHEREAS DAIKIN EMPLOYS MORE THAN 8,000 PEOPLE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION REFLECTING ITS DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS THIS COLLABORATION WITH KIN ALIGNS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S MISSION TO CREATE A THRIVING, RESILIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY, AND SERVES AS AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF HOW PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS CAN MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIETY. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENCED DAIKIN'S DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY'S SUSTAINABILITY AND WELLBEING AND CELEBRATES ITS POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. NOW SEE YOU AGAIN. YES. AND LET ME SAY THEIR NAMES REAL QUICK. I'VE GOT NAMES HERE. SATORI KANA, PRESIDENT AND CEO KURT HEIM, VP OF STRATEGY. AND WE ALSO JOINED BY MY FRIEND WENDY HALL, WHO'S THE COMMS DIRECTOR. WELL, THANK YOU. AND, UH, OF ALL THEIR GOOD DEEDS IN PROVIDING THIS PRODUCT. WHEN I THINK OF THE COMPANY, I THINK OF JOBS AND MORE JOBS BECAUSE I KNOW OF YOUR JOB FAIRS AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY COMING INSIDE OF THE CITY [00:20:01] OF HOUSTON TO EMPLOY FOLKS TO GO TO YOUR WALLER FACILITY, WHICH SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I GO BY IT'S GROWN. SO THANK YOU. WE WELCOME YOU AND UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS A PARTNER GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. AND MOST IMPORTANT, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 13TH, 2024 TO DOCKING AIR CONDITIONING DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. A SPEAKER. ANYBODY WANNA SPEAK? WENDY, ARE Y'ALL SPEAKING FOR MR? I CAN REMEMBER GOODMAN MANUFACTURER. OH YEAH. OH YEAH. OH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS SO ONE. I KNOW. GOODMAN, YOU WANNA SPEAK JAPANESE? OKAY. THE LAST ONE RIGHT HERE. TILT IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. PERFECT. YOU WELCOME. DO YOU WANT YOU GO MICROPHONE? FOR SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM, UH, AWA TO WITH THIS, UH, I SPEAK JAPANESE AND I BELIEVE I'M THE FIRST PERSON WHO SPEAKS IN FRONT OF ME IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE. AS MAYOR JUST INTRODUCED US, UH, WE KIN HAS A BIG FACTORY IN WALLER AND WHICH, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE WORKING IN THAT FACILITY HAS. SO I THINK WE ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO STARTED OUR, UH, AIR CONDITIONING BUSINESS IN HOUSTON, IN THIS COUNTRY, INTRODUCED, UH, ING NOT ONLY CREATING JOBS FOR LOCAL HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND ENLARGING THE SIZE OF THE ECONOMY. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GLOBAL, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION IN MORE FRIENDLY MANNER. AND WE ARE VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE PROCLAMATION AS A PART OF APPRECIATION TO OUR ACTIVITIES. SO FAR, UH, HOUSTON HAS, SO WE'D LIKE TO GROW BIGGER AS A CORE OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND TRY TO GROW AS A SOCIAL CITIZEN OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DR. JULIA LE, WHO WAS INSTALLED AS A SENIOR PASTOR FOR GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 2023. DR. LEH BRINGS A WEALTH EXPERIENCE AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO HER MINISTRY WHERE SHE PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PREACHING, TEACHING, AND GUIDING GRACE CHURCH THROUGH ITS MISSION. DR. LEE'S JOURNEY IS TRULY INSPIRING. SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, A MASTER OF DIVINITY FROM FULLER SEMINARY, AND A DOCTOR OF MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP IN CHANGING CHURCH CONTACTS FROM GORDON CONWELL SEMINARY. WITH OVER 21 YEARS OF PASTORAL EXPERIENCE, DR. LEH HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO HELPING OTHERS, PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE, DISCOVER A LIFE OF FAITH. DR. LITH HAS A PROFOUND PASSION FOR GUIDING HER CONGREGATION THROUGH LIFE'S CHALLENGES, ALWAYS EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF WALKING WITH GOD THROUGH EVEN THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES. [00:25:01] SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DR. JULIA LITH AS SHE LEADS US IN TODAY'S INVOCATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. I WANT YOU PRAY WITH ME DEAR ONES. GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS DAY WITH SUCH GRATITUDE AT THE WAYS THAT YOU'RE REVEALING YOURSELF TO US, THE WAYS YOU'RE PROVIDING FOR OUR CITY. AND WE'RE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL GOD FOR JUST THE RICH DIVERSITY OF OUR WONDERFUL CITY. PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS, PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT, UM, FAMILY SITUATIONS, PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT STORIES AND HISTORIES THAT HAVE BROUGHT 'EM TO THIS GREAT CITY THAT WE CALL HOME. AND SO WE PRAY, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD PUT YOUR HAND AND SHOWER YOUR BLESSINGS ON EACH PERSON HERE. WE PRAY FOR MAYOR WHITMORE WHITMEYER AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FOR ALL WHO ARE, UM, HERE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO MAKE HOUSTON THE BEST CITY IT CAN BE. AND GOD, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER IN THIS MEETING, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD REMIND US THAT THIS MEETING IS MORE THAN JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DO DURING THE WEEK. A CHECKLIST TO CHECK OFF THAT THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE, UH, IMPACT AND EFFECT AND BLESS FAMILIES. SO MAY WE NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT GREAT PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO STEWARD THOSE WHO CALL HOUSTON HOME. SO WE PRAY GOD FOR THOSE WHO ARE LEADING, FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE AND FOR THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE THAT THEY MIGHT BRING GLORY TO YOU. SO WITH CONFIDENCE AND HOPEFULNESS, WE PRAY, ASKING FOR YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO BE HERE. WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAID, AMEN. THANK YOU, MA'AM. WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE WORLD FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY, WHO NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED LOCAL. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PECK? HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. PRESENT, CONSTABLE EVAN AZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE, COUNCIL. HERE. . COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. HERE. COUNCILMAN CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PALMER WILL BE ASKING, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF MARCH 5TH AND SIXTH AND 19TH AND 20TH. CASTEX TM MOVE AND SECONDS. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES, UH, TO OUR FRIENDS. I'M SORRY, WHAT? COUNCILMAN CARTER. I'M SORRY. SHE SAID MARCH, BUT SHE REALLY IN AUGUST. SIDEBAR YOU SAID THE MINUTES. I SAID JUST, I JUST SAID JUST WHAT? I SAID MARCH TO MARCH 5TH AND SIXTH AND MARCH 19TH AND 20TH. YES. THANK YOU. CAN WE PROCEED ? OKAY. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] UH, WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY. UM, I KNOW MOST OF YOU'RE HERE TO WISH ME HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUT YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT IT, BUT WE HAVE 150 MINUTES WORTH OF HOLD ON. UH, MESSAGING THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE, EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR TWO OR THREE. SO MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER HUFFMAN? VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SPIN THE RULES TO ADD DOUG GRIFFITH TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON-AD AGENDA LIST. PREMIER. SECOND. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. CAYMAN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? NO, WE'RE GOOD. SOMEBODY'S USING, SOMEBODY'S USING YOUR LIGHT. UH, MARTINEZ. MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER I'D LIKE TO SPIN THE RULES TO MOVE TOM BRENTS TO THE TOP OF THE NON SPEAKER'S LIST BEHIND THE, OKAY. THANK YOU. SECOND. MOTION. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MARIAN WRIGHT TO FOLLOW TOM BRENT AND THE NON-AG AGENDA ITEM. LIST MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED [00:30:01] NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD GERALD BROUCHARD TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. MOTION SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? SECOND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SAVANT MOORE TO OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. SO, OKAY. GOOD. NO, NO MOVE. YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE FINE. ANYONE ELSE? NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE, SIR. OKAY. FIRST SPEAKER PLEASE. WHERE OTHER THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I MAKE THIS REAL QUICK ON NO, NO CALL. CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. FIRST SPEAKER. DOUG GRIFFITH. YEAH, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE LATER ON. THANK YOU SIR. BRENT SULLIVAN. MICROPHONE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. DOUG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS TALK. TALK TO MIKE TO ONE OF THE MICS, EITHER ONE AND I'LL TURN IT ON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME'S BRENT SULLIVAN. LIVED IN HOUSTON SINCE 1963. THE FIRST AMENDMENTS A FUNNY THING IN THAT THE ONLY THING THAT IT PROTECTS IS SPEECH THAT THE POWERFUL DO NOT AGREE WITH. IF PEOPLE GATHER IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME AND THEY ARE ROWDY, THEY HAVE NOISE MAKERS, THEY HAVE LIGHTS, THEY HAVE LASERS, THEY LEAVE TRASH IN YOUR YARD, THEY TRESPASS. WE HAVE LAWS THAT DEAL WITH THAT TODAY AND YOU CAN USE THOSE. THE CONSTITUTION SAYS YOU MAY NOT RESTRICT OUR RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE TO SPEAK AND TO PETITION FOR, UH, FOR PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS GRIEVANCES. YOU MAY NOT. AND THERE'S A PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE TO DO THAT. YOU MAY NOT DO THAT. THANK YOU. NEXT. OLIVIA EZ. HELLO. UH, SO WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE AND SPEAKING TO YOU OR AT YOU FOR OVER SEVEN MONTHS NOW AND NOTHING, NO DIALOGUE. ONLY MORE RESTRICTIONS. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T STOP? WE WILL STOP WHEN THE TERROR STOPS, WHEN THE BOMBS STOP, WHEN THE PEOPLE YOU'RE DEFENDING STOP ASSASSINATING CIVILIANS IN THE MOST BARBARIC WAYS. YOU SIT HERE WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN TRYING TO TUNE OUT OUR DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BRUTAL WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE GETTING EXECUTED AND NEVER SEEM TO SHED ON AN OUT OF HUMAN DECENCY. NEWSFLASH, PROTESTS ARE MEANT TO BE DISRUPTIVE. A PROTEST IS SUPPOSED TO INTERRUPT SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW WHY. I THINK PEACEFUL PROTEST MEANS WAITING PATIENTLY FOR OUR TURN TO SPEAK. PEOPLE ARE DYING. YOU'RE SAYING STOP BEING RUDE. WE'RE SAYING STOP THE GENOCIDE. THE TIME FOR BEING POLITE ABOUT IT HAS LONG SINCE PASSED, PROBABLY DECADES AGO. IF WE WANNA BE REAL. GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDERS DIDN'T GET CHARGED UNTIL AFTER PROTESTS. THE FAIR HOUSING ACT WASN'T PASSED UNTIL AFTER THE RIOTS, AFTER THE MURDER OF MLK. THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WASN'T PASSED UNTIL AFTER SELMA. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FREEDOM WITHOUT A RIGHT TO PROTEST. TIME HAS EXPIRED. I MEAN, IT'S REALLY TIME FOR ACTION. SO, 'CAUSE IT'S ALL ON THE LINE. THANK YOU. SO NEXT MU SHE ALMA MOOD, GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ. I AM WITH BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER, A MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE HEALTHY PORK COMMUNITIES COALITION. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF CLINTON PARK IN DISTRICT. I I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EROSION OF OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS WITHIN THE ORDINANCE PROPOSAL IN ITEM 67. I CAN'T HELP BUT TO DRAW A PARALLEL BETWEEN THE SAFETY AND SECURITY AFFORDED TO OUR CITY [00:35:01] LEADERS AND THE ALARMING LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF. THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE LIES IN THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SURROUNDING PROJECT 11, THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL EXPANSION. THE PROSPECT OF DREDGING EVEN MORE TOXIC SLUDGE AND STORING IT IN OUR ALREADY OVERBURDENED AREA IS A DIRECT THREAT TO MY COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THERE'S A DOUBLE STANDARD HERE. THIS ORDINANCE AGAINST PICKETING PRIORITIZES THE SAFETY OF THE FEW, WHILE IGNORING THE SAFETY OF MY COMMUNITY WHO LIVES WITH THE CONSTANT THREAT OF POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER. I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO REJECT ANY PROPOSAL THAT WOULD UNDERMINE OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO SAY TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST AND INSTEAD, PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. NEXT, CAROL ARCHER. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KARO CHAR AND I'M THE ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR WITH THE A CLU OF TEXAS. I'M HERE TO VOICE OUR ORGANIZATION'S. GREAT, GREAT WORRY ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE AND THE WAYS IN WHICH IT IS A CAUSE OF GREAT CONCERN. ONE, BECAUSE IT IS AN UNNECESSARY RESTRICTION ON FREE SPEECH. TWO, BECAUSE THE CITY SEEMS POISED TO ENFORCE IT SELECTIVELY AND PRACTICE VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION. AND THREE, BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE IS A POOR USE OF OUR TIME AND OUR RESOURCES IN A CITY THAT SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING DISASTER RECOVERY AND CARE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS. IF YOU BELIEVE IN FREE SPEECH, I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE. IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY LIKE OURS WITH GREAT DISPARITIES IN RACE AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND RELIGION AND ALL SORTS OF BACKGROUNDS, IT IS INEVITABLE THAT PEOPLE WILL DISAGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS ONLY DEFEND FREE SPEECH. WHEN WE AGREE WITH THAT SPEECH, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DEFEND FREE SPEECH WHEN WE VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE WITH IT, BECAUSE THAT IS THE NATURE OF DEMOCRACY AND THE CRUX OF IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, RANDY TREVINO. HELLO. UM, I HAD A WHOLE THING PREPARED, BUT OBVIOUSLY I DON'T HAVE THREE MINUTES TO GO OVER THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT HE'S TAKEN AWAY FROM US. THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT THAT THIS TAKES AWAY FROM US, OR ARTICLE ONE, SECTION 27 AND SECTION EIGHT OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. UH, WHAT I DO WANNA POINT OUT IS THE AMBIGUITY HERE THAT LEADS A LOT. I MEAN, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE INTENT? WHO, WHO'S THE PICKETED? WHO'S THE, WHO'S THE DIRECTED TOWARD? HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT? HOW DO YOU DETERMINE 200 FEET FROM THAT RESIDENCE? ARE ARE COPS GONNA BE OUT THERE WITH RULERS MEASURING THIS? HOW, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE ALL THIS? UM, ALSO, I MEAN, HE'S MADE IT CLEAR. HE'S CALLED, HE'S WENT INTO MYLAND AND SAID, I'VE JUST RENOUNCED A CEASEFIRE FROM YOUR ENEMIES. SO IF I GO DOWN HIS STREET WEARING THIS, AM I HIS ENEMY? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? BUT IF I GO DOWN HIS STREET WEARING THIS, THEN I'M NOT TARGETING HIM. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THIS? RIGHT. SO LIKE I SAID, I HAD A WHOLE THING PREPARED. I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH THAT. I MEAN, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DID NOT REPLACE, DID NOT REPLACE A TIRE 250 YEARS AGO. WE'RE NOT REPLACING KING GEORGE III WITH MAYOR WHI WHITMEYER THE LAST YEAR. THANK YOU. NEXT. NEIL AQUA AT CORE ITEM, UH, 67 IS A THREAT FROM COUNCIL TO THE PUBLIC. TED CRUZ CAN SUPPORT INSURRECTION, BUT DON'T YOU STAND OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE WITH A SIGN. COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN WORK FOR THE ELECTION OF REPUBLICANS WHO TAKE OUR FREEDOM BUT DON'T BUG 'EM OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS. DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S ABOUT DEMOCRACY. NOT ON OUR STREET THOUGH. DON'T LIKE IT. TELL IT TO THE OFFICER. THESE SYSTEMS YOU'VE NAVIGATED SO WELL. SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BRING BROUGHT US TO THE BRINK OF AUTHORITARIANISM ARE THE SAME SYSTEMS THAT SENT MY DAD AS A COMBAT MEDIC TO THE KOREAN WARD, WAS LIFELONG DETRIMENT. HE WAS PROUD ABOUT BRINGING DEMOCRACY TO SOUTH KOREA. YOU SIT HERE IN POSITIONS OF PRIVILEGE PROTECTING BY LEGIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS FROM UNIONS WHO SUPPORT THE TRAITOR TED CRUZ AND THE RIDICULOUS POLICE PRESENCE DOWNTOWN DOWNSTAIRS. YET STILL, YOU ARE NOT SAFER FROM THE THREATS OF THE POLITICAL RIGHT THAN ANY OF US OUT HERE. INSTEAD OF RISING TO THE OCCASION LIKE MY FATHER, YOU RUN FROM THE PUBLIC, THE CONSTITUTIONS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES YOU SIGNED UP FOR. IF YOU'RE AFRAID, THEN QUIT. LET'S FIND OFFICIALS UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC AND STANDING FOR DEMOCRACY. MR. MAYOR, THERE'S NO PUBLIC SAFETY WITHOUT DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU. NEXT [00:40:03] RA ROBINSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C. I'M URGING THIS BODY TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT PERTAINING TO THE, UM, TARGETED PICKETING. THE RESTRICTIONS THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD PLACE WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIR RESIDENTS ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN NEIGHBORHOOD PROTESTS AND TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. IN LIGHT OF THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING AT THIS TIME FROM A GROWING UNHOUSED POPULATION, UM, INCREASED, UM, HOUSING INSECURITY AND A LACK OF INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE. THE FOCUS ON IMPAIRING RESIDENTS RIGHT TO PROTEST AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES IS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS. UM, BY PLACING THESE UNNECESSARY BURDEN BURDENS ON THE RESIDENT'S ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN, THIS AMENDMENT WILL SERVE AS A ROADBLOCK TO THE TRUE IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITY CONTROL AND IDEAL, WHICH MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND LOCAL OFFIC OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT THEY BELIEVE IN. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UM, SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO RACIALIZED AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES BY THIS. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, RANDALL BAXLEY, ALL RANDALL BAXLEY, DISTRICT H UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO DO ALL THIS EXTRA AND NO IDEA WHY THE SOUND SENSORS SHOWED UP AT YOUR HOUSE WHEN THEY NEVER SHOW UP AT MINE. WE HAVE A LOT OF NOISE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE WHITE OAK AND WE HAVE NEIGHBORS AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAKE NOISE ALL THE TIME RACING UP AND DOWN THE STREETS. BUT YOU GET THE SOUND GUYS AND YOU GET THE POLICE PRESENCE YET CAN'T GO TO RIVER OAKS. KROGER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. THIS NAME WAS LEFT OFF THE LIST, BEATRICE GUZMAN. TODAY I IMPLORE THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 28 AND 30 OF THE HOUSTON CITY CODE, AS IT WOULD SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT TO FURTHER INFRINGEMENTS UPON FREE SPEECH AND THE STATE OF TEXAS. AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, I AM MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING MY STUDENTS TO USE THEIR VOICE AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES EVEN IF IT MAKES MY DAY HARDER, BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR RIGHT AND AS THEIR TEACHER, IT IS MY DUTY TO HEAR THEIR WORDS AND MEET THEIR NEEDS. BUT AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S REPRESENTATIVES, YOU DO NOT MAKE YOURSELVES READILY AVAILABLE TO LISTEN. THIS MEETING TIME IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A WORKDAY, GREATLY IMPACTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABILITY TO VOICE CONCERNS. YET EVEN WHEN CONSTITUENTS REARRANGE THEIR LIVES AND COME BEFORE YOU BEGGING THAT YOU CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA BEING FUNDED BY THEIR TAX DOLLARS, THEY ARE MET WITH BOARD FACES AND UNANSWERED EMAILS. SO CONSTITUENTS PROTEST AND DEMAND TO BE HEARD YET INSTEAD OF MOBILIZING FOR AID IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THIS BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON, THE COUNCIL IS ATTEMPTING TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON FREE SPEECH. NO GOOD CHANGE WAS EVER MADE BY STAYING COMFORTABLE. TEACHERS KNOW THAT I ASK THAT YOU LEARN THAT TILL YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT, ANGELA YAKI. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE AS AN ORGANIZER AND A MOTHER TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE PICKETING PROTEST ORDINANCE. THIS WOULD SET AN ANTI-DEMOCRATIC PRECEDENT IN HOUSTON WHERE ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT SPEECH THEY CAN PROTECT. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PROTESTED IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON SINCE 1999, I KNOW JUSTICE DOESN'T COME FROM CUTTING OFF THE PEOPLE'S VOICE, BUT FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS REPEATEDLY DISREGARDED HIS CONSTITUENTS DURING THESE MEETINGS, FORCING THEM TO TAKE THEIR GRIEVANCES DIRECTLY TO HIS DOORSTEP. THE MAYOR SAYS THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THERE ARE ALREADY LAWS IN PLACE THAT PROTESTORS FOLLOW TO ENSURE THAT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON HELPING HOUSTONIANS RECOVER FROM BARRELL OR HUMANELY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, THIS COUNCIL IS FORCED TO PRIORITIZE THE MAYOR'S COMFORT. OUR RIGHTS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE. HOUSTONIANS ELECTED YOU TO SERVE. PLEASE FOCUS ON WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS [00:45:01] TO US ALL. AS A MOTHER, I WANT MY CHILD TO GROW UP WHERE THEIR VOICE MATTERS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, PLEASE FINISH MY SENTENCE. NO MA'AM, WE'RE STRICT ENFORCEMENT TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT AB SAX. GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF HOUSTON AND JOHN WHITMEYER. IN THE 14 ODD YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED IN THIS CITY, I CANNOT BELIEVE I'M WITNESSING A BLATANT ATTACK ON AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES. THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE SERVES NO ONE ASIDE FROM JOHN JOHN WHIT MEYER'S. CONVENIENCE, AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE, RECORDING HIM DRINKING OUT OF A SOLO CUP BEFORE HE DRIVES OUT WITH POLICE ESCORT. YES, WE HAVE SEEN THE VIDEOS. UH, NEVERMIND THAT IT TOOK YOU LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO DRAFT THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE IN ALMOST A WEEK TO CALL FOR AID FOR THE THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS WITHOUT POWER DURING A HEAT WAVE. NEVERMIND THAT WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF HOUSELESS PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON DURING A RECORD BREAKING HEAT WAVE. NEVERMIND THAT THIS WILL HINDER THE HIV PROTESTS, FIGHTING AGAINST OUR RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, TEACHERS, BARBARIANS, AND PARENTS. YOU ARE NO, YOU ARE HARMING EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT SAYS THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. WE ARE THE CITY AND YOU ARE TAKING ALL RIGHTS AWAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT CAMERON HALL. CAMERON HALL. LAUREN SWEENEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, I BELIEVE IN THE SANCTITY OF OUR HOMES AS PLACES OF PEACE AND REFUGE. WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENJOY OUR PERSONAL SPACES WITHOUT INTRUSION OR HARASSMENT. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT THE VERY ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CHOSE A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE ARE NOW SEEKING TO SHIELD THEMSELVES FROM THE VOICES OF THE PUBLIC THEY VOWED TO SERVE. THIS ORDINANCE WOULD TREAT THE CONCERNS AND DEMANDS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS NOTHING MORE THAN UNWANTED SOLICITATION. LET'S BE CLEAR. IF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE TRULY FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES LISTENING TO AND ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED TO DISRUPT ANYONE'S TRANQUILITY. THE FACT THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMPELLED TO PICKET OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES IS A SYMPTOM OF A LARGER PROBLEM. A GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO ITS PEOPLE, WE SHOULD NOT NEED TO RESORT TO SUCH MEASURES. BUT WHEN ALL OTHER CIVIL FORUMS ARE IGNORED, THE PUBLIC MUST FIND WAYS TO BE HEARD. I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT. SO THAT DAY NOT HAVE THIS PAST SATURDAY MORNING, ISRAEL BOMBED ANOTHER SCHOOL SHELTERING REFUGEES DURING THEIR MORNING PRAYERS. FAMILY MEMBERS HAD NO WAY TO TELL IF THE MELTED BODY PARTS THEY WERE HANDED WERE THEIR CHILD OR NOT. HOURS LATER CONCERNED CITIZENS GATHER OUTSIDE WHERE WITT MEYER'S HOUSE TO PROTEST HIS REFUSAL TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. WHEN YOUR SHELTERED BY WEALTH AND POLITICAL POWER, IT'S EASY TO STAY INSULATED FROM THE ATROCITIES THAT AFFECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WHETHER IT'S THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BEING MASSACRED OR THEIR POWER BEING OUT FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW. THAT'S WHY WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THOSE IN POWER AND MAKE YOU AWARE OF OUR NEEDS. NOTHING IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAS EVER BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY QUIET PROTESTS THAT DON'T BOTHER ANYBODY. IF UNARMED, NONVIOLENT PROTESTORS, WEARING KAFIS MAKES YOU FEEL UNSAFE, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO REFLECT ON HOW YOUR RACIAL BIAS INFLUENCES YOUR POLICY. FOR THE MAYOR TO USE HIS POSITION OF POWER TO PAD HIS PRIVILEGE RATHER THAN TO SERVE HIS PEOPLE IS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC, ANTI-CONSTITUTION AND ANTI-AMERICAN. THANK YOU. NICK NALU FOR AZI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NZI AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND M GAGE ACTION, A C FOUR THAT REPRESENTS AND ADVOCATES FOR MUSLIM AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO URGE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE TO VOTE NO ON AGENDA ITEM 67. THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE RE SUPPOSED TO BE RESPECTED BY EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. AND IF WE ARE AT A POINT IN THIS CITY WHERE PROTESTORS FUEL LAB A NEED TO SHOW UP [00:50:01] AT THE HOMES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, THEN THAT JUST MEANS THEY FEEL THEIR VOICE IS NOT BEING HEARD OTHERWISE. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THIS SHOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO FURTHER INSULATE THEMSELVES FROM PUBLIC OPINION BYPASS PASSING THIS ORDINANCE. NOT ONLY IN THIS IS THIS ORDINANCE VAGUE IN HOW IT COULD BE IMPLIED. IT ALSO IS UNNECESSARY. WE ALREADY HAVE LAWS UNDER THE TEXAS PENAL CODE THAT HAVE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR OBSTRUCTING SIDEWALKS, CREATING UNREASONABLE NOISE AND OTHER TYPES OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT THERE IN CHAPTER 42 OF THE PENAL CODE. WE ALSO ALREADY HAVE CITY HOUSTON ORDINANCES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPLAINED THANK YOU. FIVE VOTE NO THANK YOU. NEXT JADA THOMPSON, JADA THOMPSON, SAE KAZEEM. I GUESS IT'S ALMOST DONE FOR A GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ALSO ASKED HERE, UH, I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE. I DO HAVE A LETTER FROM SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WAS EMAILED TO YOU ALL'S OFFICES EARLIER TODAY THAT I CAN PROVIDE YOU A PRINTED COPY OF. UM, BUT I WANT TO TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME TO, TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, A REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE SIR STATEMENT MADE BY BY YOU TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, CLAIMING THAT THESE PROTESTORS ARE PAID PROFESSIONALS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS THAT WAS PROVIDED BY YOU. THIS IS STRAIGHT OUT OF LIKE A DEMAGOGUES PLAYBOOK. THIS IS OUT OF THE TRUMP PLAYBOOK OF POLITICS. AND I THINK IT IS HIGHLY DIVISIVE, HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE. I THINK IT DEMONIZES PEOPLE. AND FRANKLY, SIR, I BELIEVE YOU OWE PEOPLE AN APOLOGY FOR MAKING A CLAIM LIKE THAT WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE. THESE ARE PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, ABOUT OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, AND IT IS FRANKLY, UH, SHAMEFUL FOR THEM TO BE DEMONIZED THIS WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, MY YELLOW BUSTOS, MAY YELLOW BUSO BOOSTO TIA GUTIERREZ, DANA O OMAR. I'M DANA O OMARI HARRELL. AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO ASK Y'ALL TO UPHOLD OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. MAYOR WHITMEYER, I'M INCREDIBLY CONCERNED THAT YOU ARE SO SHORTSIGHTED WITH THE SELF-SERVING LEGISLATION. WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS, YOU'RE EFFECTIVELY GUTTING OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST. AND HERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU ARE DOING SO. FIRST, THERE ARE VERY FEW PUBLIC SPACES IN HOUSTON THAT ARE NOT WITHIN 200 FEET OF A RESIDENCE. WE CAN THANK LAX BUILDING CODES FOR THAT. SECOND, FOR SOME OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS PROTESTING ON PUBLIC SIDEWALKS NEAR THEM IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THEM TO HEAR US. AND I'M SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO TED CRUZ, WHO RARELY HAS PUBLIC TOWN HALLS AND CLEARLY DOESN'T CHECK HIS MESSAGES. WITH DOZENS OF MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING HOUSTONIANS, SUCH AS IDS, MASS EXODUS OF TEACHERS, EVERYTHING HAPPENING WITH BERYL, YOU WOULD THINK THAT YOU HAD MORE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO THAN THIS CITY COUNCIL. VOTING THIS IN PLACE WILL SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT PUBLIC SERVANTS CAN RESTRICT OUR RIGHTS FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH INTERESTS. AND MAYOR, IF YOU'RE THIS BOTHERED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN LESS THAN A YEAR INTO YOUR MAYORSHIP, MAYBE YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE MAYOR. THANK YOU. NEXT ALI ARE FALLEN. NOW THIS NAME WE'RE GONNA CALL AGAIN, BUT THIS PERSON, SOMEBODY CAME UP AND SPOKE IN THEIR PLACE. SO YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF. I'M SAYING THAT FOR MY OWN SELF. THIS R TREVINO. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, UM, MAYOR AND UM, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S ANDINO AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE HEALTHY PORT COMMUNITIES COALITION. I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST HOUSTON, AND TODAY I WANNA SPEAK ABOUT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AS WELL AS PROJECT 11 AND HOW THAT RELATES TO, UM, TOGETHER. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS, UH, CITY ORDINANCE WOULD BE FOR SAFETY. AND I VALUE SAFETY HIGHLY, JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THAT ARE NOT SAFE ON A REGULAR BASIS. MY COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON AVERAGE LIVES 20 YEARS LESS THAN THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN. TWO ENTIRE DECADES. THAT'S NOT SAFE. YESTERDAY MY MOM WAS TELLING ME ABOUT HOW DIZZY SHE FELT. THAT'S NOT SAFE. OUR WATER IS DIRTY. THAT'S NOT SAFE. SO THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO [00:55:01] BE MAKING DECISIONS BASED OFF OF WHAT IS SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WHAT'S THE PRIORITY? WHAT'S THE GOAL? BECAUSE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY, IT SHOULD BE SAFETY FOR ALL. AND NOW GOING BACK TO THE POINT ON OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THERE'S A REASON WHY IT'S THE FIRST AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT'S THAT IMPORTANT. OUR VOICE IS THAT IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. JACK VALINSKI. OH, JACK MAYOR COUNCIL. I AM HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE OF PROTESTORS. I'M ALLOWED TO SPEAK BECAUSE OF PROTESTORS. IN 1969, STONEWALL CHANGED THINGS FOR GLBT PEOPLE. WE HAD TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR IT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, IN THE 1980S WHEN A LOT OF US WERE DYING, I SOMEHOW SURVIVED BECAUSE THOSE PROTESTORS WENT TO THE DRUG COMPANIES AND PROTESTED AND PROTESTED TO CHANGE PUBLIC POLICY. I'M ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT MEDICINE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP. WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE IN HOUSTON. NOISE IS A PROBLEM. MY FORMER CONSTITUENTS ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE AND IN MIDTOWN COULD NOT GO TO SLEEP BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. SO THINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROTEST ANYWHERE IN THE CITY AS LONG AS WE CAN DO IT CORRECTLY AND LAWFULLY, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE LAWFULLY. PLEASE ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO PROTEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JACK. NEXT I'LL PAUSE FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ EVAN SHABAZZ FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SAVANT. I KEEP SAYING ADD. MOVE SAVANT MORE, UH, AFTER MARIAN WRIGHT FOR THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ROSANNA A NOOR. SARAH CERTY. OOPS, SORRY. HI, MY NAME IS SARAH CERTI. I'M FROM DISTRICT G. UM, THIS IS ABOUT THE PICNIC ORDINANCE. YOUR RIGHTS ARE THE STRONGEST IN WHAT YOU KNOW AS TRADITIONAL PUBLIC FORUMS SUCH AS STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PARKS. YOU'RE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AT OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTIES LIKE PLAZAS IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT BLOCKING ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING OR INTERFERING WITH OTHER PURPOSES. THE PROPERTY HAS DESIGNED FOR REGARDLESS OF YOUR OPINION OF THE PROTESTORS, PROTESTORS MUST BE ALLOWED TO FEEL SAFE AND NOT HARASSED BY THE POLICE ABUSING THEIR POWER. FOR INSTANCE, ONLY LAST YEAR, I MEAN ONLY LAST MONTH, THERE WAS A PROTESTOR WHERE AT HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE THERE WAS FOUR TO FIVE POLICE OFFICERS THAT CAME INTO HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND HARASSED HER FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT AN A NUISANCE WHERE SHE WAS JUST GOING TO HER HOUSE TO SHOW HER FRIENDS WHERE SHE LIVED. UM, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOUR JOB IS TO FULFILL THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. WHEN COMMUNITIES IS BEING IGNORED AND USED AS SCAPEGOATS AND TO SILENCING THEM, IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC ACTION. AS ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE, CITIES AND THEIR LEADERS SHOULD MAKE AN EFFORT TO FOSTER AN EXCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND CITY HALL. MORE IMPORTANT GOAL OF DEMOCRACY IS TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. THIS ENABLES THE COMMUNITY'S WISDOM TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. STEPHANIE VALDEZ. STEPHANIE VALDEZ. JONAH ADLER. OH, HOLD ON. CAN YOU HEAR ME? GO AHEAD. SO AS WE KNOW, UM, THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTESTS TO RECTIFY A WRONG IN YOU, SIR, CONTINUALLY WRONG AND CAUSE GRIEVANCE. AMONG YOUR CONS, CONSTITUENCY, YOU'VE CALLED PROTESTORS, ENEMIES OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. WHEN SOME LIKE MYSELF ARE JEWISH, YOU'VE [01:00:01] IGNORED AND BEEN FLAT OUT RUDE TO PEOPLE PLEADING FOR YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ARE DEAD AND A WHOLE NATION IS BEING INDISCRIMINATELY BOMBED BY THE ZIONIST ENTITY. YOU PUT CITIZENS IN DANGER BY WAY OF EXCESS POLICE FORCE AND EVEN REQUESTED A $2 MILLION TAX BREAK. INSTEAD OF HAVING THAT MONEY GO TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BEYOND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU FAILED AT, OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY, THE CONCERNED CITIZENS THAT ASSEMBLE NOT ONLY ARE ASKING FOR PEACE, NOT ONLY ARE THEY PEACEFUL, BUT THEY LITERALLY BRING A BUBBLE MACHINE. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SCARED OF. UM, THE ONLY VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT 10 MONTHS OF PROTESTINGS FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATION. MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE SCARED BECAUSE AS YOU GET MORE AUTHORITARIAN, THE PUSHBACK WILL JUST BECOME MORE INTENSE. LIKE YOU'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH HASINA IN BANGLADESH. YES. TIME HAS EXPIRED. JONAH ADLER. THAT WAS IT. OKAY, CHERYL HENDERSON. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UM, I AM FOCUSING ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT, FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I WOULD LIKE ALL OF Y'ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THAT. OUR VOICE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US. I UNDERSTAND SOME PROTESTORS DO TAKE SAFETY AWAY FROM PROTESTING, AND YOU HAVE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING SAFE BY PROTESTING. WHEN YOU TAKE OUR VOICE AWAY, IT FEEL LIKE WE BEING PR, BEING PRISONERS, AND WHERE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING. AND THAT'S MAKING PEOPLE THINK THAT WHEN THINGS DO HAPPEN, WE CAN'T TELL Y'ALL WHAT'S GOING ON. THE ONLY WAY YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, IN THE CITY IS WITH OUR VOICE BEING SAID AND SPOKEN UP ABOUT THINGS THAT'S GOING ON THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THAT'S WHAT I FEEL AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT EVERYTHING. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, SONIA RAHEEM. HI, MY NAME IS SONYA RAHEEM. I'M, UH, THE BOARD MEMBER FOR CPRE. I KNOW MANY OF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR FACES. YOU'VE COME TO SOME OF OUR EVENTS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR THE CITY. WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS WOULD TAKE YOUR TIME OUT TO SERVE THE CITY IN THIS CAPACITY. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL TIRED AND OF THE PROTESTS OF ALL OF THESE THINGS. I UNDERSTAND I'M TIRED TOO. I THINK IT'S KIND OF RIDICULOUS THAT SOMEONE WOULD CLAIM THAT WE ARE PAID PROTESTORS. AND I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THIS ISSUE FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF PALESTINIANS AND FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF HOUSTONIANS OF, YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR, UM, CONSTITUENTS, MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE, HAVE LOST HUNDREDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS. ONE OF OUR, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION LOST 197 FAMILY MEMBERS HERSELF. I THINK THE IDEA THAT WE ARE LIMITING PROTEST, UM, SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ISSUE IS KIND OF ABSURD AND HONESTLY OBSCENE. UM, THERE'S SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY YOU CAN DO TO END THIS PROTESTING IS YOU ALL CAN REACH OUT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SAY THAT YOU DEMAND AN ARMS EMBARGO ON ISRAEL. UM, IT'S VERY QUICKLY, I MEAN, ALL OF YOU DO THAT. WE'RE DONE. WE'LL GO HOME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GERALD BRUCE, HARD ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 19TH, I WAS ON UP VISITING A FRIEND ON, UH, EAST OR EAST CO JUST ACROSS THE, THE WAY FROM YOU, UH, THE COURSE OF CONVERSATION THEY WANTED TO VISIT AND SEE YOUR HOUSE. AS I BACKED UP THE CAR TO GO TURN AROUND THE BLOCK, I NOTICED THE PATROL CAR, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS IN STRANGE POSSESSION, BUT SECURITY HAD BEEN PERIMETER HAD BEEN EXTENDED. AS I TURNED ONTO WEST COHEN, I SAW TWO PATROL CARS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS UNUSUAL. AND THEN I SAW HARD TO SAY 50 OR 70 PEOPLE PROTESTING GREEN LASER LIGHTS. MY REACTIONS WERE VARIED. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FRIENDS. UH, I WAS SCARED I CARRY A GUN, BUT THIS WASN'T GONNA HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION. I SAW THE POLICE THERE. ONE THING THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME, THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MANY, IF ANY OF THOSE PROTESTORS MIGHT BE ARMED. UH, SO MY, MY, MY FEELING WAS TO GET MY FRIEND OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE AREA. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN FREE SPEECH. I'VE SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD ON THAT. THIS IS IN THE ISSUE OF FREE SPEECH. THIS IS A VICTIM OF SAFETY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HA ARE PROTESTING AND THE PEOPLE THEY'RE [01:05:01] PROTESTING AGAINST. THERE HAS TO BE A WAY WHERE THOSE VOICES CAN BE HEARD AND THEY CAN BE WITHOUT ENDANGERING OTHER PEOPLE. THANK YOU. NEXT LETICIA GUTIERREZ. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LETICIA GUTIERREZ AND I AM WITH AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ORDINANCE TO PROTECT ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM PROTESTING. I, MYSELF HAVE BEEN A PART OF PROTESTING EFFORTS IN THE PAST. AND IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE OUR, OUR LEADERS AND OUR REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT LISTENING TO US. WE NEED BETTER WAYS OF COMMUNICATION. WE NEED BETTER AVENUES TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. 'CAUSE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WHENEVER WE DO SIT AT THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, IT REALLY KIND OF, SORT OF TAKES AWAY THAT NEED TO HAVE TO PROTEST OUR CONCERNS. WE HAVE COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT GET A CHOICE TO BE PROTECTED AND IS CONSTANTLY BEING BOMBARDED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS. COMMUNITIES LIKE PLEASANTVILLE THAT DID NOT CHOOSE TO LIVE THERE TO PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE CITY DID NOT ALLOW THEM BACK IN THE FIFTIES TO BE ABLE TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE. AND NOW THEY GET TO BE DUMPED ON CONSISTENTLY THROUGH THE PORT OF HOUSTON. AND NOW THROUGH THE PROJECT 11, WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCIES BY ABOUT 20 YEARS LESS IN THE WEST SIDE, IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PROTECTION, LET'S TALK ABOUT PROTECTION. ACROSS THE BOARD YOU HAVE TOM HAZARD. THANK YOU. NEXT, STEPHANIE VALDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON BENTHAM PROTESTING. I SEE THAT YOUR MAIN CONCERN IS SAFETY, SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT ARE UNSAFE. LIKE MAYOR WHITMEYER. YOU'RE ACTUALLY WORKING TO LOWER THE AGE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO CARRY. IT'S ALSO UNSAFE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS CONSTANTLY BEING DUMPED ON. IT'S UNSAFE TO BE A WOMAN IN HOUSTON. IT IS UNSAFE TO LIVE NEAR THE PORT OF HOUSTON, NEAR INDUSTRY, WHICH YOU OFTEN BACK. IT'S UNSAFE TO GO OUT AT NIGHT, AND YET YOU FEEL UNSAFE WHEN YOU'RE LIVING IN YOUR PROBABLY MILLION DOLLAR HOME IN RIVER OAKS. THAT MAKES NO SENSE. IF YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SCRUB YOUR PEACE, YOU SHOULD BE A BETTER LEADER. YOU SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT. YOU SHOULD ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TALKING TO YOU AND YOU WON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME. YOU WON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME. THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO THROW 'EM TO THE CURB. LET ME REMIND YOU, YOU ARE ELECTED. THIS IS YOUR FIRST TERM AND IF YOU KEEP IT UP, THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER ROOM. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MERRICK, THE NEXT SPEAKER, UH, I'M TOLD, IS ALREADY GONE. DOUG GRIFFITH, WE TAKE OFF A ALFONSO SMITH. I'M SORRY. NO, I'M SORRY. NO, NO, NO. UH, TOM BRENT. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL, EITHER ONE. I'M, UH, TOM BRENTS. I'M THE, UH, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF GARDEN VS. COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. I'M BRINGING A MATTER OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BEFORE YOU, UH, GARDEN VS. WAS FOUNDED IN 1926. UH, WE WERE A SEPARATE COMMUNITY. WE ANNEXED BY THE CITY IN 1951. UH, WE CONSTRUCTED A SCOUT HOUSE AND WE DONATED PROPERTY TO THE CITY THAT, UH, GARDEN V'S. PARK. UH, THE, UH, CITY'S PARKS DEPARTMENT WANTS TO TEAR DOWN THAT HOUSE. THAT HOUSE IS FOR OUR YOUTH. WE'VE HAD, UH, GARDEN V'S CHOIR. WE'VE HAD THE BOY SCOUTS TROOP, UH, 16, WHICH IS THE SECOND OLDEST, UH, BOY SCOUT TROOP IN, UH, IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE GIRL SCOUT, UH, 2, 2, 2 6, UH, THAT HAS OVER 300 MEMBERS. AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, LOTS OF, OF, UH, COMMUNITY. CAN I I, UH, I GOT YOUR LETTER LAST WEEK IN, UH, YES SIR. PARKS IS, UH, ADDRESSING IT. YES. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. SO WE'RE WAITING FOR, UH, THEIR FINAL REVIEW, BUT IT'S IN, IN THE, IT'S IN THE PROCESS. NO ONE WANTS TO TEAR THAT DOWN IF IT IS, UH, [01:10:01] SAFE AND USABLE. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, I DO WANT TO, I WISH TO THANK THE, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YEAH. AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO FOR YOUR, YOUR HELP ON THAT, COUNCILMAN AS WELL AS WILL DAVIS. WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR BRINGING, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD ON TOM BEFORE I, SAFETY WORDS? UH, YEAH. JUST, UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, ASSESSMENTS OF THE BUILDING. WE, UH, THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IS WILLING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX THE HOUSE. UH, THE, THE, THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS, UH, THE ROOF THAT WAS REPAIRED BY THE CITY OF, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT IN 2009 AFTER HURRICANE IKE. UH, THE DAMAGE THAT EXISTS, UH, FROM THAT, AND THAT IS MOST OF THE PROBLEM WE, THAT WE'VE HAD WITH, WITH THE HOUSE. UH, WE'VE HAD ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S FAIRLY STABLE. WE'VE GONE THROUGH 74 YEARS OF HURRICANES, FLOODS, NO PROBLEMS. AND WE RECENTLY HAD, UH, 98 MILE AN HOUR WINDS GO THROUGH HOBBY. THE HOUSE IS STILL STANDING. NO PROBLEMS. THE KIDS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEBODY WOULD TEAR DOWN THEIR HOUSE. WELL, THEY DON'T WANT TO. YEAH. IF IT CAN BE AVOIDED, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. SURE. AND WE'RE MEETING WITH THE, UH, COMMUNITY TONIGHT. CORRECT. AT AT 7:00 PM AT THE GARDENDALE COMMUNITY CENTER. 7:00 PM AND THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN IT AS BAD AS YOU DO, BUT IT HAS HAD SEVERE DAMAGE AND SO I PROMISE YOU THERE'LL BE A GROWNUP DECISION AND YOU CAN LET THE COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I KNOW IF YOU FIND ANY RELUCTANCE ON THEIR PART TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THEY WENT OUT LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO TEAR DOWN. THERE'S ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT THE VIABILITY AND THE SAFETY OF THAT, OF THAT CLUBHOUSE. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND. BUT, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE LOOKING FROM THE COMMUNITY TO BE A PARTNER IN, IN THAT'S READING THERE, THERE TONIGHT, I PROMISE YOU. YEAH. AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL MONITOR IT VERY CAREFULLY. I UNDERSTAND. LET ME JUST SAY ONE MORE THING. SURE. FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE HAD ZERO RESPONSE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ON OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. I CAN APPRECIATE IT. ZERO RESPONSE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND I HAVE BEEN HERE SEVEN MONTHS. YEAH. SO WE'RE NOT, UH, I KNOW . WE'RE, WE'RE NOT THE SINNERS. WE'RE JUST HERE TRYING TO HELP YOU. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND. I GOT IT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT. MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. UM, LAST SESSION THAT WE HAD, WE HAD A BIG ISSUE, UM, AFTER BEING TOLD BY MS. CAYMAN'S OFFICE THAT THEY WERE HAPPY TO ADD A SPEAKER TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST AT 1105, AT 1 38, SHE, THEY RECEIVED ANOTHER MESSAGE SAYING THAT THEY WERE SORRY, BUT THAT THEY COULDN'T BE ADDED TO THE LIST BECAUSE NONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHE CONTACTED WOULD ADD THEM. FORTUNATELY, WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT, WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM ADDED. AND SO I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER THAT DID THAT FOR US. MR. DAVIS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN RECENTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WAS BOASTING THAT SOME HAVE CALLED HER AND FIVE OTHERS. THE NEXT GENERATION OF DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN TEXAS. AS A LEADER, YOU SHOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND SPEAK AT OPEN SESSION. IF WE SPEAK HERE, THEN PEOPLE AREN'T PROTESTING. THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SPEAK. AND AS SOMEONE OF THAT STATURE, THAT'S ONE OF THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS. THANK YOU. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. GET THAT OUT. COUNCIL CAMAN? YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD THAT MS. WRIGHT DOES IS NOT IN DISTRICT C, UH, WE WERE APPROACHED BY A CONSTITUENT THAT DID ASK TO BE ADDED WHEN I WAS NOT PRESENT. UH, WE APPROACHED SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT WILLING AND THAT'S WHAT WE COMMUNICATED BACK. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. I DO OWN TWO PROPERTIES. THAT'S FINE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S. THAT'S FINE. DISTRICT TIME UP. BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT. I'M NOT GONNA HAVE A DEBATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SAVANT MOORE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ADDING ME. UM, I'M A I A CHURCH IN SUNNYSIDE AND ONE THING THAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR IS FOR MORE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS IN SUNNYSIDE. SO I BROUGHT AVENUE 360. THEY TRADITIONALLY, UM, HELP THOSE OF WOMEN OF COLOR CHILDREN AND THOSE LIVING WITH HIV, THEY'RE IN OTHER DISTRICTS IN HOUSTON. THEY NEED HELP WITH FINDING A BUILDING, A PURCHASE LEASE OR A PERMANENT MOBILE LOCATION. AND THEN ALSO FOR, UM, DISTRICT [01:15:01] B MAYOR, UNION PACIFIC TOLD ME AND MY STATE REP THAT WE HAD TO COME TO YOU TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN ESTABLISHING A QUIET ZONE AT THE RAILROAD CROSSINGS. LOCATED AT LIONS, DOT 7 5 8 2 0 3 B, AND MARKET DUT 7 5 8 2 0 4 H. THE RAILROAD GOES OFF AT 1:00 AM 3:00 AM 6:00 AM ALSO AT NORTH WAYSIDE. TIDWELL, LITTLE YORK, LITTLE YORK, BENNINGTON, CROSS TIMBERS, BENNINGTON WEAVER, GREG STREET. THE RAILROADS ARE THERE FOR HOURS AND IT IS HURTING THOSE IN MY COMMUNITY. AND SO THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE ONLY HELP THAT I CAN HAVE IS TO COME TO YOU. SO I HOPE THAT YOUR OFFICE CAN HELP CREATE A QUIET ZONE AND TALK TO UNION PACIFIC. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILOR MAYOR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. CAST SIX TATUM. THANK YOU, UH, MR. MOORE FOR BEING HERE. WE CREATED A QUIET ZONE IN DISTRICT K, UH, AND WE WORKED WITH UNION PACIFIC PACIFIC TO GET A QUIET ZONE, THE, THE, UM, TRAINS THAT GO THROUGH ALONG HIGHWAY 90. AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER CAN DEFINITELY WORK WITH YOU TO WORK WITH UNION PACIFIC TO GET, GET A QUIET ZONE AND IF, IF I CAN HELP, UM, I DEFINITELY WILL HELP BECAUSE WE HAD TO DO THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY TOO, BECAUSE THE TRAINS WOULD, UM, COME EARLY, EARLY IN THE MORNING OR, OR LATE IN THE EVENING. UM, BUT THEY DO HAVE A PROCESS, UM, TO GET A QUIET ZONE SO WE CAN HELP WITH DOING THAT. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'LL JUST ADD MY VOICE AS IT RELATES TO QUIET ZONES. THIS IS SOMETHING MAYOR, THAT SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS NEED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING LIKE GARDEN OAK, OAK FOREST. AND FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, UH, WE'VE APPLIED FOR GRANTS. WE'VE TRIED TO GET ON LISTS, IT COSTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, TO ADD AN, AN AREA INTO A QUIET ZONE. AND THAT JUST IS TOO MUCH MONEY AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO RESIDENTS. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE ON THIS. UM, AND EL ESCALATING IT AND ELEVATING IT BECAUSE THERE ARE AREAS MAYOR ALL OVER AND WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IT COSTS TO CREATE IT. QUIET TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION. AND CAN I MAKE ONE COMMENT ABOUT THAT? I HEARD YOU, I, I CLEARED UP SOME OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING. MY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SUFFERING WITH A TRAINING ISSUE SINCE 1955. I'M, AND THIS IS 2024. THERE HAS TO BE A, A RELIEF TO THAT BECAUSE THANK YOU. WE ARE BLOCKED IN AND IT'S HURTING OUR CONSTITUENTS. IT, I KNOW IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'RE OUR CURRENT MAYOR. YOU HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT YOU CAN DO IT. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU, APPRECIATE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. I APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT YOU AND I OUT CLEANING UP DEBRIS LAST SATURDAY. I SLIP YOUR MIND. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR CLEANING DEBRIS. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS SATURDAY. WERE DOING THE SAME THING. THANK YOU. AND I GOT ONE MORE STATEMENT, PLEASE. I, FOR MONTHS, I TOLD YOU THEY WERE GONNA CLOSE BLACK AND BROWN SCHOOLS AND HISD. SO PLEASE ADVOCATE THAT THEY AMEND THE CO-LOCATIONS ON THE BOND PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. YEAH. BE SAFE. NEXT. ALFONSO SMITH. HEY. AFTERNOON, HUH? THIS ONE AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THIS IS MY SECOND TIME COMING UP HERE FOR SOLID WASTE. UH, I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOUR TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY DENIED ME THE GENERAL, THEY WERE SPEAKING ABOUT PICKING UP TRASH. I'M READY TO PICK UP TRASH AGAIN. I RESIGNED IN 2017. AND, UH, I, THEY TOLD ME THAT, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM FOR ME. SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, COULD YOU OPEN UP AN INVESTIGATION, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, UH, I WAS TOP PERFORMER TWICE WHEN I WAS THERE. SO, UH, IT SHOULD SPEAK FOR ME, BUT IF YOU CAN, UH, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, JUST GET BACK WITH ME. I APPRECIATE IT. SO YOU WORKED, YOU WORKED AT SOLID WASTE? UH, STARTED IN OH SIX AND I ENDED IT AT 2017. WENT TO GO DO TRACTOR TRAILER FOR TWO YEARS AND CAME BACK. AND, UH, RIGHT NOW I'M AT METRO, BUT I, I PREFER, MY PREFERENCE IS AT SOLID WASTE. SO, UH, WHEN'S, WHEN WAS YOUR LAST DAY ON THE JOB? UH, SOLID WASTE, SIR. AT, AT SOLID WASTE? YEAH. OKAY. IT WAS OCTOBER, 2017. SO YOU'RE TRYING TO GO BACK TO WORK. TRYING TO GO BACK. WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR YOU LEAVING IN 17? WELL, I, I HAD A SEAT CLASS AC WHEEL AND, UH, THEY WOULDN'T GIMME THE TRAINING FOR THE REAR STILL. SO I, I, I RESIGNED AND WENT TO GO DO SOME TRACTOR TRAINING AND GET TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE. AND, [01:20:01] UH, WHO IS, OKAY, I TELL YOU WHAT, WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO MS. WILSON IN MY OFFICE AND WE'LL MAKE CONTACT WITH SOLID WASTE AND HUMAN RESOURCES OKAY. AND TRY TO OPEN SOME LINES OF COMMUNICATION, OKAY? OKAY. YES. WHAT, UH, JUST CURIOUS, WHAT, WHAT AREA OF TOWN DO YOU LIVE IN? UH, I'M IN SOUTHWEST HOP AIRPORT AREA. OKAY, GOOD. OKAY, MS. WILSON, WE'LL START THE PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION. OKAY. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. Y'ALL DOING A GOOD JOB, MAYOR. YEAH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT JOY ROTH DARNELL FLE, MADISON MERCER. HELLO, I'M STARTING HER YOUNG . I AM SPEAKING. I'VE REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE DRAINAGE ISSUE AFFECTING NORTHWOOD STREET AND BY EXTENSION OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UPON CONSULTATION WITH A 3 1 1 CASE MANAGER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NO DRAINS OR CULVERTS WERE IDENTIFIED ON OUR STREET THROUGH A CULVERT AND DRAINAGE MAP EXAMINATION. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MY PROPERTY FEATURES ONE SINGLE MAIN DRAIN, GREAT DRAIN IN THE BACKYARD, INTO WHICH THE WATER FROM EIGHT HOMES IS DIRECTED. OUR RESIDENCE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 2016 A YEAR PRIOR TO HURRICANE HARVEY. FOLLOWING THE AFTERMATH OF THE HURRICANE, RESEARCH INDICATES THAT A PROPERTY SHOULD NOT ACCOMMODATE MORE THAN FIVE HOMES DRAINING INTO A SINGLE MAIN DRAIN, REGRETTABLY DURING CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE BARREL. AND NOT TO MENTION, ONE DAY AFTER WE WERE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL WITH OUR THIRD BABY, OUR DRAIN BECAME OBSTRUCTED WITHIN ONE HOUR, RESULTING IN RAPID WATER ACCUMULATION THAT LED TO THE FLOODING OF OUR RESIDENT AND NEIGHBORING HOMES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YEAH. DID YOU FINISH? I HAVE A LITTLE MORE. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO FINISH? OH, YEAH. WASN'T MAKING MANY EXCEPTIONS TODAY, BUT I, I'LL GIVE THE BABY EXCEPTION . THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT HER. AND IN THE RAIN , UM, THE SITUATION POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT WARNS IMMEDIATE TENSION AND RESOLUTION TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF A MORE SEVERE HURRICANE. I HAVE SENT PICTURES TO DISTRICT EIGHT H FOR YOUR VIEW, AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS MATTER AS A PROPERTY, AS A PRIORITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S WELFARE. OKAY. WE WILL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP AND WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, I SAW THE PHOTOS. THERE'S CLEARLY SOMETHING GOING ON ON THE STREET. MM-HMM . UM, ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IS CALLED THE STORM WATER ACTION TEAM, UH, WHICH LOOKS AT LOCALIZED NEIGHBORHOOD FLOODING ISSUES LIKE WHAT YOU SENT US. OKAY. UM, AND SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS SEND THIS IN FOR AN ASSESSMENT OKAY. THROUGH THE STORM WATER ACTION TEAM, UM, AND GET A HANDLE ON WHAT IT IS THAT THAT IS GOING ON. OKAY. FIGURE OUT IF IT'S BLOCKED OR IF IT'S, UH, THE CONNECTIONS. AND THEN LET'S GO FROM THERE. OKAY? UM, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MY OFFICE, SO WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT PROCESS AND HOW THAT PROCEEDS MOVING FORWARD. OKAY? THANK YOU. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WILL YOU, UH, COUNSELOR YOU KEEP ME POSTED AND WE'LL TALK TO RANDY. THEY GOT CAMERAS OBVIOUSLY THAT'LL GO ON THE GROUND, SEE WHERE THE BLOCKAGE IS. OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. YOU AND THE BABY BE SAFE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT ROSE ABNEY, TIMOTHY GOS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE MONTE BEACH CIVIC CLUB AND ALSO THE GREATER HEIGHTS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD DELEGATE FOR OUR CLUB. AFTER MONTHS OF COMPLAINTS TO THE CITY REGARDING A DERELICT PROPERTY AT 6 0 7 MELWOOD, WHICH HAS TAKEN, BEEN TAKEN OVER BY SEVERAL HOMELESS PEOPLE, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD HELD A, A HEARING REGARDING CHAPTER 10 VIOLATIONS ON JUNE THE 18TH. THE ORDER CALLS FOR THE REPAIR OR, OR DEMOLITION AFTER 90 DAYS. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROMPT DEMO OF THIS PROPERTY AS STATED IN THE ORDER. HOWEVER, THAT IS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. APPARENTLY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REFUSES TO ENFORCE THE IMMEDIATE DEMOLITION PROTOCOL POWER GRANTED TO DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. [01:25:02] I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO IS GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THIS. AND WHILE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HIS ATTENTION, OF COURSE TO THE MATTER, WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR DEPARTMENT'S INVOLVEMENT AS WELL. MR. MAYOR, THIS POLICY APPEARS TO BE A HOLDOVER FROM THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT YOUR TIME HAS INVOLVEMENT CAN SPEED UP THE TIMELINE FOR THE DEMO. UH, MY INFORMATION SAYS THAT THE OWNER'S BEEN TOLD TO EITHER REPAIR OR THE BUILDING WILL BE DEMOLISHED. CORRECT? THE, THE OWNER WAS. SO IT'S A SLOW PROCESS, BUT IT'S IN THE SYSTEM. RIGHT. THE OWNER WAS A NO-SHOW AT THE ORDER AND NOBODY CAN REACH THE OWNER. WELL, I'M GONNA BET YOU I SAW A DEADLINE OF DECEMBER, WHICH WE'LL CHECK. SEEMS AWFUL LONG, BUT, UH, IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE OWNER, IT'LL BE DEMOLISHED. SATURDAY IS THE 60 DAY IN THE ORDER, AND THEY HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER THAT, SO, OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, COUNCIL CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, TIM, FOR BEING HERE TO, UH, BRING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE. UM, NOT TO MENTION EVERYTHING ELSE YOU DO, UH, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE ARE TRACKING AS WELL. WE ARE AWARE OF DECEMBER, THE SEPTEMBER 18TH DEADLINE, UH, TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE. AND, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS THAT THE ORDER TO VACATE, UM, IS NOT BEING ENFORCED. AND THAT IS A DIRECTIVE FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, UM, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ADD TO THE HOMELESS POPULATION FORCING FOLKS OUT. SO WE'VE GOT A SITUATION WITH SQUATTERS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY GOING ON AT THIS RESIDENCE. YOU KNOW, HP D'S BEEN OUT THERE, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE THE FOLKS THAT ARE CAUSING THE ISSUES. AND SO WE ARE MEETING WITH LEGAL THURSDAY. UM, I'VE ASKED SOMEONE FROM YOUR TEAM TO BE THERE SO YOU CAN BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED AS WELL. BUT YOUR HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE, THE DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 18TH, THE BUILDING ISN'T BROUGHT UP TO COMPLIANCE, THEN THERE'S ANOTHER 30 DAYS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE IT CAN GET DEMOED. BUT, UH, WE'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN FAST TRACK IT BECAUSE THE OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN RESPONSIVE AT ALL AND THEY, THEY ARE, UH, CAUSING A NUMBER OF, OF ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, FROM THE PROPERTY. WHAT, WHAT TIME IS THE MEETING? THURSDAY AFTERNOON, I BELIEVE FOUR OR FOUR 30. BUT I CAN GET THE INFO OVER IT. YEAH, GET WITH ME. WE'LL MAKE THAT A PRIORITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE ARE A COUPLE MORE SPEAKERS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE GONNA ADDRESS THE SAME ISSUE, JUST TO GIVE YOU FAIR WARNING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. MARVIN FREEMAN. CAROLYN TREHAN, KATHY GUNNER, DAVE JOHNSON, LINDA JOHNSON. MAURICE BELL. YES. THIS IS IN ORDER OF THE, UH, DEFUND THE POLICE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU DE YOU GET RID OF THE COPS. ALL WE GOT IS HOMELAND. NOW HOMELAND AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALL BEEN WORKING AGAINST IT. THEY WANNA BRING IN HOMELAND AS OUR NEW POLICE. NOW. WE'VE HAD, THEY'VE TRIED TO KILL ME TWICE OVER THIS NOW I WENT, I WANNA KILL YOU. YOU MUST KNOW SOMETHING. NOW, I'VE HAD BEEN HERE BEFORE. THEY'VE POISONED ME, FAKED MY GIRLFRIEND'S DEATH AND DID EVERYTHING FINANCIALLY AND TRIED TO BREAK ME. BUT I'M NOT GONNA BREAK BECAUSE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL NOT TAKE US INTO A NEW HOMELAND AREA BECAUSE HOMELAND IS ALREADY MAKING A LIST OF CHRISTIANS. CATHOLICS TIME HAS EXPIRED. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SIR. WILLIAM BENTLEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, I COME BEFORE YOU ECHOING, I'M SURE WHAT YOU HEARD A FEW WEEKS AGO FROM MR. LAUREN ROSE ABOUT THE HARASSMENT [01:30:01] AND BULLYING AND THE POOR PROCESS THAT WE GET FROM MUNICIPAL COURTS. WHEN WE TRY TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF BULLYING, HARASSMENT, AND IT GOES TO OIG OR GOES OVER TO HR, IT FALLS ON THE DEAF EARS. WE ARE GETTING NO RESULTS. UH, OIG TAKES TOO LONG IN ORDER TO PROCESS THROUGH COMPLAINTS AND AS THEY ARE COME PROCESSING THROUGH COMPLAINTS, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ISSUES, ADDITIONAL, UH, FACTS THAT THEY GET ADDED ON THE WHOLE TIME THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO ANYTHING. UH, MY SITUATION DIRECTLY DEALS WITH FMLA TO WHERE, UH, AT ONE POINT IN TIME, UH, JUDGE ELAINE MARSHALL TOLD ME MY APPOINTMENTS WERE NOT AUTHORIZED. I HAD TO GET SERGIO MARTINEZ COORDINATOR INVOLVED AND HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS EMAILS WITH ME AND EVEN ENCOURAGING ME TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MY COMPLAINTS AND EVEN POSSIBLY GOING OVER TO WAGE AND OUR DIVISION IN ORDER TO GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED WITH, UH, THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON. THE ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE NEED HELP. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, WHEN DID YOU BRING THIS TO HUMAN RESOURCES? UH, EVERY TIME I'VE SPOKEN WITH GIO MARTINEZ OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON FMLA, I CC HIM ON A MESS. EVERY SINGLE EMAIL THAT I, I SEND BACK AND FORTH AS FAR AS THE TIME THAT I HAVE TO TAKE OFF OF WORK, I DEAL WITH THE VA. SO, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, OKAY. FROM THERE, LAST SEPTEMBER FOR A WEEK STAY IN THE HOSPITAL, I HAD TO FILE AN IG COMPLAINT AGAINST MY MANAGER, JOHN ODOM. THAT CAME BACK AS AN INQUIRY. AND SPEAKING WITH ROBIN CURTIS, HE SAID THAT THAT JUST MEANS THAT JOHN ODOM NEEDS MORE TRAINING IN DEALING WITH FMLA, BUT THE INFORMATION NEVER GOT BACK TO ELAINE MARSHALL. SO IF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR'S NOT AWARE THAT OIG SAYS AN EMPLOYEE NEEDS MORE TRAINING, HOW DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN? THAT'S ANOTHER FLAW WITHIN THE PROCESS. WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR HOURS AT THE MUNICIPAL COURT? I WORK FROM 7:00 AM TO 4:00 PM I TOOK VACATION TO BE HERE TODAY. REALLY? YES, SIR. OKAY. WELL I'LL GET LEGAL AND, UH, MS. WILSON TO REVIEW IT, BUT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. YES, SIR. AND YOU'RE JUST CON YOU'RE GOING FORWARD. IT'S GOTTA BE UNPLEASANT, I WOULD THINK. AND I CURRENTLY HAVE A-A-O-I-G COMPLAINT IN AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT ALSO IS HOLDING UP ME BEING ABLE TO FILE E IP ABOUT OTHER THINGS. OKAY. WELL, LET US CHECK ON MS. WILSON, MAYBE EVEN MR. CARR WITH HPD. WE'LL SEE WHAT'S THE STATUS OF IT AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. YES SIR. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT REGINA CLORE. JOHN CARIUS. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME'S JOHN COBRA RUBIUS. I LIVE IN ON THE MICROPHONE. I LIVE IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA. THANK YOU. UM, UH, MAYOR, I ASKED A QUESTION AT THE BEHE MEETING. UH, IT, WE, I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CITY COULD DO CONCERNING THE RISING COST OF HOME INSURANCE. AND YOU, YOU REFERRED ME TO THE STATE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY HAS A, UH, AN INTEREST IN THIS. THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE CURRENTLY DOING INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS. THEY CALL 'EM INTERIM CHARGES. AND, UH, CONCERNING THE RISING COST OF INSURANCE, AS WELL AS WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE, TO THE COST OF INSURANCE. THESE ARE, UH, I'VE ALREADY BEEN TALKING TO THE STAFF MEMBERS THERE, BUT WHAT I, WHAT I'M DOING IS ASKING THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED. AND THERE'S A VERY GOOD REASON YOU'RE AFFECTED BY THIS. ALSO. THE, UH, BUDGET IS AFFECTED BY THIS ALSO, WHICH MEANS MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS ALSO. AND I THINK IN, AND THE OTHER REASON IS WHEN I CALL TO THE, UH, COMMITTEE, I COULD TALK TO A STAFF MEMBER. WHEN YOU CALL, YOU TALK TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. WHEN I GO TO A HEARING, I SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES. WHEN YOU GO TO A HEARING, YOU CAN SPEAK AS LONG AS YOU WANT. ANYWAY, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, DO YOU KNOW YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE? YES, I DO. IN FACT, HE LIVES RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM ME. UH, HE'S BEEN MISSING, UH, HE'S ON THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE AND I'M A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED IN THIS. AND, UH, OKAY. WELL OBVIOUSLY HE WOULD BE ONE AVENUE TO FOLLOW. RIGHT. AND I'M MEETING WITH HIM NEXT MONTH. AND, AND YOUR SENATOR TOO, BY THE WAY. YES. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. BEST OF LUCK. ONE SECOND FLICK, SIR. YEAH. HELLO JOHN. UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH OUR OFFICE AND, AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT DOES IMPACT US, ALTHOUGH IT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW, AND WE ARE WORKING TO SET UP THAT MEETING WITH DENNIS PAUL. OKAY. UH, YOU KNOW, STATE REP DOWN THERE. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE AND, AND LOOK, I FEEL YOUR PAIN. UH, IN FACT, I'VE GOT A COUPLE RENT HOUSES THAT THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO INSURE. RIGHT. UM, NEVER HAD A CLAIM OR ANYTHING. SO I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT, IT'S A PROBLEM. [01:35:02] OKAY. IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A WAY THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY, UH, IT SURE IT WOULD HELP US QUITE A BIT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE MINUTE, COUNCILOR ALCORN. JOHN, GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND, UM, MAYOR, HE HAD A MEETING RECENTLY, OR THERE WAS A MEETING OUT IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA RECENTLY ABOUT THIS. I, I HAD A STAFFER GO AND SAID IT WAS PACKED HOUSE. I MEAN, THIS IS A BIG ISSUE FOR PEOPLE, UM, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN. UH, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO SET UP A MEETING ALSO WITH, UH, PEOPLE IN YOUR GR A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, UM, UM, MAYOR, BUT JUST TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE NEXT SESSION ON, ON INSURANCE COSTS. BUT REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ELEVATING THIS, THIS TO US AND THANKS FOR COMING DOWN HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ON THAT NOTE, COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK THEY'RE RAISING THE WINDSTORM RATES BY 10% IS, IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT NOW. SO YEAH, IT'S A PROBLEM FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. NEXT. OKAY. THANK YOU ELIZABETH. MA COOKIN. HI. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. I HAVE A CONTRACT TO SELL MY HOUSE THIS MONTH AND I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO DEMO MY HOUSE BEFORE IT IS SOLD. I HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH ME AND ALSO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JULY, I GOT COVID, WHICH LASTED FOR OVER THREE WEEKS, WHICH INTERFERED WITH MY MOVING. SO I STILL HAVE THINGS IN MY HOUSE. I NEED TO MOVE. IF, IF FOR SOME REASON THE SALE FALLS THROUGH, IT'S, IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED ON, ON AUGUST 30TH OR BEFORE I FOUND A DEMO COMPANY THAT WILL DEMO MY HOUSE FOR 6,500. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIRE THEM INSTEAD OF PAYING WHAT I WAS TOLD IS MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT THE CITY WILL CHARGE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, OUR NOTES SHOWED THAT YOU HAVEN'T LISTED A PROPERTY FOR SALE YET. I, IT, IT WAS LISTED FOR SALES. I, I'VE, I'VE BEEN PROMOTING THE SALES SINCE LAST AUGUST. UH, A NEW HOME BUILDER, DAVID. I HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT WITH DAVID WEEKLY HOMES. AND THEY, THEY, THEY, UM, ARE, THEY'RE BUYING THE HOUSE AND THEY PLAN ON PUTTING LIKE ALMOST A MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE UP THERE. THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR IS WORTH OVER 850,000. THEY'RE IN THE OPTION PERIOD YET. AND THEY HAVE LIKE TWO, THREE MORE DAYS LEFT OF THE OPTION PERIOD. I RECEIVED AN OPTION CHECK. I HAVE THE NAME OF THE TITLE COMPANY THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND YOU KNOW, I, I CAN CALL BEFORE I LEAVE THIS AREA TODAY TO SEE IF THEY'VE GIVEN THE ESCROW CHECK. OKAY. OR THE EARNEST MONEY CHECK. WHEN WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU HAD CONTACT WITH THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION? I CALLED THEM YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE. YEAH. WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? I MEAN, DO, WELL THEY, DO YOU ASK THEM FOR MORE TIME? YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW. THEY, THEY SAID TO EMAIL A COPY OF THE CONTRACT HERE AND I WAS HAVING TROUBLE SENDING IT SO IT WASN'T SENT OUT UNTIL AROUND 7:00 PM YESTERDAY. I, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE RECEIVED IT OR NOT. I HAVEN'T SEEN A CONFIRMATION. OKAY. I COULD GO AND DROP IT OFF THERE WHEN I LEAVE HERE AND I'M GONNA HAVE, UH, REBECCA WILLIAMS IN MY OFFICE TO HELP FACILITATE THAT. OKAY. REBECCA, MS. WILLIAMS, WILL YOU HELP HER GET THOSE PAPERS TO THE RIGHT PERSON AND GET BACK WITH US WITH AN OUTCOME? THANK YOU. YEAH. THIS IS THE COPY OF THE CONTRACT. IT'S A STANDARD TRUCK CONTRACT. YEAH. ALRIGHT. PARTICULARLY GET THE NAME OF THE PERSON THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SO WE CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE. UHHUH . OKAY. I, YEAH. I RECEIVED OVER 25 OFFERS ON MY HOUSE. THIS BY FAR IS THE BEST ONE. WOW. AND YOU KNOW, I I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING TWO OTHER OFFERS. ONE, THEY, THEY NEVER GAVE THE EARNEST MONTHS MONEY [01:40:01] AND THEY HAD THREE DAYS TO DO THAT SO THAT THAT CONTRACT WAS CANCELED. BUT IT'S YOUR CALL, BUT I WOULD NOT DELAY RESOLVING IT IF IT'S ON THE DEMOLITION LIST. IN FACT, WE'LL TRY TO BUY YOU SOME TIME. BUT IT'S ON THE DEMOLITION LIST FOR A REASON. SO YOU NEED TO GET, THEY WANTED A NEW ROOF ON IT. THERE'S SPECULATING, THERE'S ONE OR MORE WARPING BEAMS IN THE ROOF, BUT THEY HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN ANY WARPING BEAMS. OKAY. AND I OFFERED TO HAVE A ENGINEER COME OUT AND THEY, THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T LOOK AT THE ENGINEER REPORT 'CAUSE IT WAS TOO LATE. AND THAT THAT WAS LAST YEAR. THAT WAS LAST AUGUST. OKAY. WELL WORK WITH MS. WILLIAMS. UH OH. OKAY. YEAH. NO ONE'S SEEN ANY WARPING BEAMS IN THE ATTIC. EVERYONE'S OKAY. WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH IT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT RUDY FRANCO. YEAH, HE'S NOT HERE. RAZZA PAGE. ANTOINETTE CANTU. ISHA ARCHER. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY STRONG DISAGREEMENT WITH ANY POLICY THAT LOWERS THE STANDARDS REQUIRED TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER AND PUTS GUNS IN YOUNGER HANDS. STUDIES SHOW THAT LOWERING THE ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENCE STANDARDS TO JOIN THE ACADEMY WOULD NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. FOR EXAMPLE, OFFICERS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION LEVELS USE FORCE LESS OFTEN, USE LOWER LEVELS OF FORCE, RECEIVE FEWER COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, AND WRITE BETTER INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS THAN THEIR NON-COLLEGE EDUCATED PEERS. FOR AN ARMED POLICE OFFICER, EVERY SITUATION HAS LIFE OR DEATH STAKES, OFTEN WITH SOMEONE HAVING THE WORST DAY OF THEIR LIVES. THESE ARE NOT CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOUTH IS AN ASSET. MAYOR. WHITMEYER, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO LOWER THE AGE TO ARMED OFFICERS, PLEASE USE YOUR EXTENSIVE LEDGE EXPERIENCE AND RELATIONSHIPS TO ADVOCATE FOR PROVEN GUN SAFETY LAWS, LIKE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON EVERY FIREARM SALE AND EMERGENCY RISK PROTECTION ORDERS. IN ADDITION, I RECOMMENDED THE CITY CONVENE A GE A GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE OF LOCAL PRACTITIONERS, ADVOCATES, AND RESEARCHERS TO PROVIDE DATA-DRIVEN PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, JERRY WADDLE. AMY GUTIERREZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I AM A RESIDENT WIFE, MOTHER VOLUNTEER OF BROOK BROOKSMITH, WHICH IS, UH, MONTE BEACH PARK, UH, LOCATED HERE IN THE GREATER HEIGHTS. UM, I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR PARK, HOW AMAZING IT IS, AND HOW WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE NOT JUST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALL OF GREATER HEIGHTS USE IT. UM, WE HAVE HAD A HUGE INCREASE IN CRIME, UM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO GUNSHOTS THROUGH A NEIGHBOR'S HOMES ADJACENT TO THE PARK. UM, KNIVES IN THE PARKING LOT, INCREASED PRE, UH, PROSTITUTION TRANSACTIONS, DRUG TRANSACTIONS DURING THE DAY AND THE EVENING. UM, AS WELL AS, UH, PEOPLE DEFECATING IN THE PARK DURING THE DAY, AS WELL AS USING OUR SPLASH PAD, UM, AS THEIR BATHING FACILITY. UM, THIS IS THE SAME SPLASH PAD THAT I TAKE MY KIDS TO. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, CLEARLY I DON'T TAKE THEM ANYMORE, BUT , UM, I WANT TO TELL YOU AS WELL THOUGH, WE AS A COMMUNITY DO MONTHLY CLEANUPS IN THAT PARK. WE FIND REGULAR USED CONDOMS IN THAT PARK. WE ALSO FIND ALCOHOLIC BOTTLES, BOTTLES EXPIRED. CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, AMY, IF YOU WANNA TAKE 30 SECONDS TO WRAP UP AND THEN I HAVE A, A COMMENT. YEAH, CERTAINLY. UM, WE FIND, UM, ALCOHOLIC BOTTLES IN THERE AS WELL AS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. UM, AS A COMMUNITY WE USE 9 1 1 ON A REGULAR, UH, TIME AS WELL AS WE USE THE NON-EMERGENCY. WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT H PATROL AS WELL. UM, THE MONTHLY CLEANINGS ARE HOSTED BY THE COMMUNITY, SO THESE ARE JUST REGULAR PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTEER. UM, AND WE JUST AS NEIGHBORS WATCH EACH OTHER'S BACK AND KEEP AN EYE OUT ON THE PARK. SO WE'RE JUST REQUESTING HELP ON REMOVING THE CRIME FROM THE PARK THAT WE LOVE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR, UH, RAISING AWARENESS TO THIS BECAUSE Y'ALL DO HAVE A GREAT PARK, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GOING THROUGH, UH, ITS OWN SORT OF MASTER PLAN AND THERE'S BETTER THINGS TO COME AS WELL ON THAT FRONT. UM, BUT [01:45:01] THE, THE ISSUES THAT YOU ARE RAISING ARE, ARE REAL AND THEY'VE BEEN INCREASING, YOU KNOW, UM, I WILL SAY ON SOME OF THE, UH, DEBRIS RELATED ISSUES MM-HMM . UH, THE STORMS HAVE IMPACTED MOWING SCHEDULES. THEY'VE IMPACTED DEBRIS PICKUP, UM, PARKS AND SOLID WASTE ARE BOTH WORKING, UM, TO GET BACK ONTO A REGULAR SCHEDULE. AND SO, UM, THE MOWING SCHEDULE FOR MONTE BEACH WILL BE BACK ON TRACK AS OF AUGUST 13TH. YES. UM, THE DEBRIS WILL BE REMOVED, GRASS WILL BE MOWED. THE POLES THAT ARE ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW, THOSE ARE GONNA BE REMOVED ON THE 13TH. UM, AND THE PARKS WILL BE FULLY CLEAR AND CLEAN WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS ON THE MOWING SIDE. UM, SO IT IS TAKING A LITTLE TIME. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY ARE WORKING TO GET BACK ON THAT SCHEDULE AND CONTINUE TO, TO WORK WITH, UH, THE DISTRICT H PATROL, MY OFFICE. WE WANT TO KEEP, UH, THE PRESENCE OUT THERE TO, UH, MITIGATE, UH, SOME OF THE MORE DANGEROUS, UH, ASPECTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AT THE PARK BECAUSE, UH, THAT'S A PARK THAT'S SURROUNDED BY A COMMUNITY THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO USE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY THERE. YES. UM, AND UTILIZE THAT PARK. AND THE MORE FAMILIES THAT UTILIZE IT, THE THE SAFER IT WILL BE AND THE MORE IT WILL, YOU KNOW, REPEL THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU DON'T WANT THERE. UM, SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THAT. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN HERE, UH, TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON IT BECAUSE IT DOES HELP. IT DOES. UM, MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YEP. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S A FUTURE PLAN FOR A PROACTIVE RESPONSE INSTEAD OF A REACTIVE RESPONSE IN REGARDS TO THE CRIME THAT'S, THAT IS OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU ON, ON THAT. OKAY. UH, BECAUSE I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL DO THE MONTHLY CLEANUPS. I'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THEM WITH YOU. UH, I'VE FOUND ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE DESCRIBED, UH, OUT THERE. AND, UH, I DO THINK THAT BEING PROACTIVE IS GOING TO HELP LONG TERM, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT Y'ALL HAVE COMING TO THE PARK. AND SO, UH, LET'S SIT DOWN. I'M HAPPY TO GO MEET YOU AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT THERE. UH, BRING PARKS, BRING HPD AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH. PERFECT. UM, 'CAUSE THE PARKS ARE A PRIORITY FOR ME AND THE SAFETY OF, OF THEM AND THE RESIDENTS. AND SO I WANNA DO WHAT I CAN TO BE HELPFUL. OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, CARRIE KEPLER. HOW MANY MORE WE GOT? HELLO, EVERYBODY. UH, MY NAME IS CARRIE KEPLER AND I'VE LIVED IN BROOK SMITH, THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, FOR OVER 24 YEARS. AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM A VERY DANGEROUS PROPERTY, MYSELF AND NEIGHBORS. WE'VE TAKEN ALL THE PROPER AVENUES TO HAVE ATTENTION BROUGHT TO THE SQUATTERS TRESPASSERS LIVING IN THIS FALLING DOWN HOUSE. WE'VE ATTENDED THE DAWN HEARING ON JUNE 18TH, CONTACTED OUR REPRESENTATIVE CITY COUNCIL, MS. CASTILLO, UM, HPD, AS WELL AS MOST NEIGHBORS FILING ALERT SLIPS FOR SUSPICIOUS AND DANGEROUS ACTIVITY. I'VE HAD, I MYSELF HAD THE PROPERTY BOARDED UP OVER 24 YEARS AGO DUE TO DRUG ACTIVITY. THE APARTMENTS HAD VARIOUS TENANTS AND THE LAST TENANT PASSING TWO YEARS AGO HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER ILLEGALLY EVER SINCE. I, MYSELF HAVE BEEN VERBALLY THREATENED. AND I FEEL LIKE MY SAFETY'S AT RISK. UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I DID LEARN THAT, UM, AT THE CIVIC CLUB MEETING THAT CITY PERSONNEL DID ATTEND THAT, UH, THEY TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO COME TO OUR CIVIC CLUB MEETING, WHICH WAS REALLY NICE, UH, TO INFORM US TO HOLD UP ON THE ACTION TO RESOLVE THIS RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING SAFETY CONCERN THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IS THE CITY ATTORNEYS, THEY'RE THE ONES KIND OF HOLDING IT UP. THEIR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UM, I I CAN, CAN I WRAP IT UP IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS? COOL. THANK YOU. UM, THE OBSTACLE RESOLVED WOULD BENEFIT BROOK BROOK SMITH, DISTRICT H 7 7 0 9, AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE CITY. THE DONNA IS READY TO TAKE ACTION. THEY'VE ALREADY DEEMED THE PROPERTY DANGERS AND THEIR WORK IS HALTED RESPECTFULLY. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SPEAK WITH THE ATTORNEYS TO HELP US TAKE CARE OF THIS DANGEROUS HAVENS OF CRIME DESTROYING THE FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT MEETING THURSDAY, AND I'VE ALREADY ASSIGNED, UH, STAFFER THAT WILL BE THERE. COUNCIL MAYOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, THANKS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO, TO HELP SUPPORT THERE BECAUSE THAT'S, UM, WE HAVE THE MEETING SET. YES. AND WE'RE GONNA DO WHAT WE CAN TO, TO SEE WHAT CAN BE, UH, DONE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS IT'S HAVING ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE SAFETY AND YES. AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. AND, UH, I'VE BEEN LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT FOR 24 YEARS PLUS. AND I THINK YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YEP. UH, I DO. UM, SO WE'RE GONNA BE IN TOUCH WITH UPDATES AFTERWARDS. WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AND, AND WE WILL WORK TOWARDS THE SOLUTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. TIME, THANK YOU. NEXT. THESE ARE SOME NAMES THAT WERE CALLED EARLIER THAT WERE NOT PRESENT. THEY ARE NOW PRESENT. ALI ARE FALL. [01:50:11] HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I WOULD LOG, I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE OF YOU TO VOTE NO ON AGENDA ITEM 67. IT'S IN THE FORM OF POETRY. AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, THE ONE WHO PASSED THE TEST ON A GOOD FRIDAY, HE CALLED FOR A PROTEST. IT WAS 1963 WHEN LAW GOT TO HIS ARREST. HE WROTE IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER IN THE PRESS INJUSTICE TO ACT AS A JUSTIFIED THREAT. WE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS WORDS AND WE SHOULD REACT WHEN IN ASIA'S WEST WE SEE THE UNREST. IT AFFECTS HIM DIRECTLY, INDIRECTLY AFFECTS ARREST. DR. KING WENT ON AND FURTHER SAID, FREEDOM MUST BE DEMANDED BY THOSE WHO ARE REPRESSED. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. TIME IS ALL SET. DON'T BE THAT MODERATE. WHO WILL FAIL THE TEST? DON'T SET TIME TO PUSH HEEL FROM OTHERS' CHEST. DO YOU KNOW HIS WORDS ABOUT WAR? AFTER THAT? HE CALLED OUT ON GOVERNMENT FOR VIOLENT IN CONQUEST. HE ALSO QUESTIONED THOSE LIVING IN THE WEST. WHY SOME LIVE IN LUXURY WHILE MIL, WHILE MILLIONS IN DISTRESS. I KNOW HE WAS POPULAR, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM NEXT? WHO GOT HIM KILLED? WHO WAS SO UPSET? WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS? STAND UP FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. STAND UP FOR SUPPRESS TO ALL HIS FOLLOWERS. THERE ARE NEW PROTESTS. IT'S NOT ABOUT COLOR BECAUSE WE ALL LEAD RED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAY I CONTINUE? THANK YOU. NEXT SANNA. SHAWANNA. OKAY, WELL I HAD A THREE MINUTE SPEECH WRITTEN EARLIER, BUT WE HAVE ONE MINUTE. UM, I JUST GOT BACK FROM EGYPT YESTERDAY AFTER VISITING MY FAMILY. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE I'M EXHAUSTED AND JET LAGGED RIGHT NOW, BUT MUCH RATHER BE AT HOME SLEEPING. BUT UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S MY CIVIC DUTY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE NEW THREAT, UM, REGARDING OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH. UM, AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY COME UP AND SPOKE TODAY REGARDING THE LEGAL ISSUES OF THIS, I WILL NOT REPEAT THE LEGAL ISSUES OF IT, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE IN HISTORY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND PASS THIS AMENDMENT, YOU WILL BE ON RECORD IN HISTORY. RESTRICTING THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO PROTEST AND OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. UM, I THINK PERSONALLY, MAYOR WHITMEYER, ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO YOUR HOUSE TO PROTEST IS BECAUSE YOU LEAVE EARLY OVER 15 TIMES. I'VE COUNTED YOU LEAVING EARLY. THESE PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD. THEIR FAMILIES ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. WHILE YOU ARE ALSO SUPPORTING THE VERY COUNTRY KILLING THEIR FAMILIES, THEY ARE, THEY ARE DESPERATE. THAT'S THE ONLY REASON THEY GO TO YOUR HOUSE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO IF YOU LISTEN HERE. TIME THIS FINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT TERRAZA PAGE. MAYBE YOU CAN SAY YOUR NAME WHEN YOU GET UP HERE. YOU CAN PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU GET UP HERE. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME TO PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT. QUEEN. IT'S RIVA. S SIRVA RIVA. YOU MAY, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO TURN OUT YOUR NAME. I'M FROM GERMANY. YOU'RE MINUTE IS STARTED. OH, Y'ALL GOT CABBAGE DEGREE PEOPLE. YOU CAN'T PRONOUNCE MY NAME. SIRVA. YOUR MINUTE IS GERMANY. GERMANY EXPECT TO BE THE SAME. I'M HERE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. DO Y'ALL GOT YOUR CHECKBOOK OUT THOUGH, MR. MEYER? UM, I'M LONG OVERDUE FOR MY REPARATIONS, BUT DUE TO ALL THAT YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR CHECK READY TO WRITE, WRITE ME OUT A CHECK. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF SEVERAL REASONS. I WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON BASED ON THE ELECTION, UM, OBAMA. SHE LIVES JACKSON LEE, BLESS HER SOUL, REST AND SOUL. BUT I AM DUE FOR A PAYMENT FOR HPD. WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I NEVER GOT PAID. THEY TOLD ME DON'T GET A LAWYER. I EVEN SPOKE WITH RAY RENEE. HE TOLD ME TO GET A LAWYER, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE CITY WAS GOING TO PAY ME OUT FOR THE DAMAGES THAT THEY DONE TO ME WHILE I WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON DURING THE ELECTION. FOR CANVAS. I NEED TO GET PAID. SO I NEED Y'ALL TO WRITE ME OUT A CHECK. ALSO, I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THE WRONGDOING OF HOUSING. ALL THESE NEW PEOPLE THAT JUST COME FROM HERE AND DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, THEY ARE GETTING HOUSED. AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN HOUSING YOUR OWN PEOPLE THAT'S FROM HERE, THAT NEED THAT BEEN WORKING HERE FOR THE CITY AND THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT. YOU HOUSING EVERYBODY FROM ALL THESE OTHER COUNTRIES. THAT'S YOUR TIME HAS HAD THREE MINUTES. YOU AIN'T TAPPED THAT OTHER LADY. SO DON'T TELL ME RIGHT NOW. SO MY THING IS, I YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I NEED MY HOUSING. I'VE BEEN HERE THREE YEARS. RAULS A HISPANIC, HE KNOW ABOUT MY SITUATION, BUT I JUST HEARD A CALL [01:55:01] FROM HIM FRIDAY. HPD JUST CALLED ME YESTERDAY AND ASKED ME, AM I GONNA SHOW UP TODAY? TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. BUT Y'ALL PAYING EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT YOU AIN'T PAYING THE ONES THAT BEEN HERE WORKING FOR YOU ALL. DID Y'ALL ASK ME TO WORK FOR YOU ALL? OKAY, THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. WHEN YOU GONNA PAY ME? YOU GONNA WRITE ME OUT A CHECK? NO MA'AM. NOT TODAY. BUT THE DAMAGE THAT YOU HAVE DONE. NOT TODAY. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR HOUSING. YOU HAD ME GO TO WASHINGTON SAYING THAT THEY GONNA GIMME MY SECTION EIGHT. I'M ALL THE WAY IN WASHINGTON STATE THAT I DON'T KNOW TO GET OUTTA TEXAS. OKAY. AND I STILL AIN'T GOT MY SECTION EIGHT. OKAY. BUT YOU HOUSING PEOPLE THAT WAS HERE YESTERDAY, NO. CORRECT. YESTERDAY GOT HERE YESTERDAY. YOU HOUSE THEM 150 OF 'EM. I GOT TWO CHILDREN STILL IN THE MILITARY. OKAY. YOU, YOU NEGLECT YOU NEW AND VETERANS. HOLD UP. DON'T TRUST ME. DON'T TRUST ME. TIME, TIME TO LEAVE, MA'AM. LET ME HELP YOU. HOW YOU GOING TO HELP ME? I'M GONNA GET YOU TO TALK TO A STAFFER SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE OTHER IN FRIENDS OF OURS. YEAH. 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH THEM EITHER. 'CAUSE YOU CAN LOOK AT MY RECORD. I WORK FOR YOU ALL. AND HPD PUT THEIR HAND. I UNDERSTAND. MY DAD WAS A CONSTABLE AND SHERIFF. LET I KNOW THE LAW. LISTEN, URGE ME, LET ME URGE YOU TO GO TALK TO MS. WILSON AND LET'S KIND OF DEESCALATE THINGS AND WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH YOUR ISSUES. OKAY? THE NEXT TIME I COME HERE, I'M GONNA PULL A SHIRT CURL ON EVERYBODY. WOULD Y'ALL DO Y'ALL DO THE SAME THING? I UNDERSTAND Y'ALL CAN'T GO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT Y'ALL GET UP. OKAY. THANK YOU. TALK TO MS. WILSON. THANK Y'ALL. UH, NEXT MARY REUS. UM, I AM HERE AS A RESIDENT OF THREE 12 ARCHER IN MONTY BEACH IN THE BROOK SMITH NEIGHBORHOOD. IN THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES, WE HAVE TWO ABANDONED PROPERTIES DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR PROPERTY, OCCUPIED WITH SQUATTERS, WITH A RESULTING INFLUX OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND DRUG USE THEFT. AND MOREOVER, THIS HOMELESS POPULATION IS ANNEXING VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS, ONE WHO IS A MINOR AT 3 0 9, VINCENT AND THE OTHER, AN ADULT AT THREE 10 ARCHER. WITH DIRE MENTAL ISSUES AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE GALVANIZED TO AFFECT CHANGE THROUGH REPORTING CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, ENDLESS PHOTOGRAPHS, TEXTS AND EMAILS. MY OWN SINGULAR PERSPECTIVE IS AS A NEWCOMER AND A DESIGNER WHO WANTS TO PRESERVE THE UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY OF HOUSTON. AND AFTER A SQUATTER INQUIRED ABOUT THE VICTORIAN ACROSS FROM ME, OWNED BY AN ELDERLY WOMAN, I REALIZED THAT THEY ARE CASING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO EXPAND THEIR FOOTPRINT. I CALLED THE COPS REPEATEDLY FRIDAY, AUGUST 9TH, AND FINALLY I DECIDED TO SEE THE BELLY OF THE BEAST, THE LOCUST OF DRUGS ASSAULT WHERE THE ODOR OF FECES AMPLIFIES IN THE SWELTERING HEAT. THE STAIRCASE WAS SHODDY AND I FELL 11 FEET FROM THE LANDING. AFTER ONE HOUR AND FIVE CALLS TO NINE 11 TO 9 1 1, OFFICER ALTMAN ARRIVED AND ARRESTED A PCP METH ADDED STRANGER STANDING WHERE I FELL WITH A SHOPPING CART FULL OF STOLEN GOODS. THE NEWCOMER HAD AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT. WE'D BEEN FAILED BY DAWN. AND I'VE NEVER LIVED IN FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. GOOD TOM HAS EXPIRED. AND I, I DO WANNA SAY THIS POINT, I HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED OWNING A GUN. IT WOULD BE A HUGE REVERSAL OF MY IDEOLOGIES AND VALUES. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE INVESTING. TEXDOT IS INVESTING AND, UH, WE LIVE IN FEAR COUNCIL. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MARY FOR BEING DOWN HERE, UH, TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE. UM, AS I'VE SAID TO SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS DOWN HERE, WE DO HAVE A MEETING WITH LEGAL AND, UH, WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WELL TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES WITH SQUATTERS. AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMED AND, AND WORK TOWARDS FIGURING OUT A WAY, UH, TO FIND A SOLUTION. BECAUSE I, I HEAR THE IMPACTS IT'S HAVING ON YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I UNDERSTAND. AND I, AND I WANT TO FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD HERE. I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THOUGH, THAT WHEN I CALLED THE COPS, THEY FINALLY ARRIVED AN HOUR LATE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOW GONNA ANNEX THIS TO DRT AND THAT OFFICER GRAHAM AND OFFICER ALTMAN WERE GONNA START BY PUTTING NO TRESPASSING SIGNS. I'VE SEEN NO, NONE OF THAT OCCUR THIS WEEK. AND AGAIN, I MEAN, I'M AT SACRIFICE. I DON'T HAVE AGENCY AND I'M INJURED. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANNA INVEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THIS IS REALLY SAD AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO RETURN WORK FROM HOME, FROM WORK AND BE SUBJECTED TO THIS LITERALLY ENCIRCLING JUST ME. I, I NEIGHBOR, ALL THREE OF THE PROBLEM PROPERTIES. MM-HMM . SO, AND THE, YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST ISSUE IS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT THE OWNERS. UM, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE BIG HURDLE HERE. BUT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS SOMETHING AND WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. YEAH. BUT THAT CORRELATION CAN BE SEPARATED. TAKE DOWN THOSE HOUSES. THEY'RE UNLIVABLE. THEY ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT JANETA EVANS THOMAS. [02:00:06] OH YEAH. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, ME UP WITH MY AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL. UH, OKAY. OKAY. UH, MY NAME IS JEANETTA EVANS THOMAS, AND I'M 69 YEARS OLD. UH, DISABLED. UH, A HARRIS SENT A CLIENT AND I'M HIV POSITIVE. I SPENT YEARS VOLUNTEERING AS RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL MEMBER, STARTING IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS UNTIL BECOMING TERM LIMITED AND SERVING ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES. I ALSO VOLUNTEERED AT BEN AND THOMAS STREET CLINIC. I WILL BE STARTING PROJECT LEAP CLASS TOMORROW TO UPDATE MYSELF AND, UH, WITH TODAY'S, UH, COUNCIL PROCESS AND RUN FOR ANOTHER TERM ON THE COUNCIL. I COME ABLY BEFORE YOU TO ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE NEED I KNOW IS IN SUNNYSIDE AND OVERALL HOUSTON NEEDING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO FALL IN THE CRACKS OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH INCOME OR NOT ON HOUSING. AND DO NOT MEET THE GUIDELINES FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIND HOUSING. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YOU WANNA WRAP IT UP PLEASE? OKAY. BECAUSE THEIR INCOME IS TOO LITTLE, I FALL IN THAT CATEGORY BECAUSE MY, UH, SOCIAL SECURITY IS JUST 4 39 AFTER MEDICARE PREMIUMS, UH, EXTRA DENTAL IS DEDUCTED. MY INCOME IS BASICALLY MY INHERITANCE FROM MY FATHER'S ESTATE. THAT'S HOW I'M ABLE TO PAY FOR MY NEEDS, COPAYS, FOOD, SHELTER NEEDS, ALTHOUGH I'M BUDGETING IT, WON'T LET, IT WON'T. LAST PAST DECEMBER, I'VE BEEN EATING, DRINKING, BATHING, AND, AND, UH, COOKING IN RUSTY WATER FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. AND THEN NEGLECTED BY THE PREVIOUS LANDLORD AND THE PRESENT LANDLORD WHO SAW THE GLISTERING, UH, GR AND BOUGHT ME A BRITTLE WATER PICTURE. THE CITY DID THEIR JOB IN COMING AND FLUSHING THE SYSTEM THREE TIMES, SAYING, NO, IT'S ON YOUR SIDE, MEANING THE LANDLORD'S SIDE. AND TO CALL THE LANDLORD. I WAS TRULY AFRAID THAT I WOULD BE MADE TO MOVE. I THOUGHT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO MOVE AGAIN AFTER LIVING IN ONE PLACE FOR 19 YEARS AND HAVING TO MOVE AND FINALLY FOUND A PLACE WHERE I COULD AFFORD THE RENT. BUT MY COMPLEX WAS SOLD MARCH 24TH, 2024. MY LEASE EXPIRED ON APRIL THE 29TH, 2024. AND ALTHOUGH I KEPT ASKING ABOUT A LEASE, HE SAID NO. A MONTH TO MONTH, I WAS, I WAS NEVER ON HOUSING PAYING MY OWN RENT BEFORE MY INHERITANCE. THEN HE TELLS ME, MA'AM, MA'AM, WHY DON'T I LET MS. WILLIAMS SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR CASE? MS. LET, LET US DRILL DOWN ON IT AT THIS POINT WHERE I'M HEARING YOUR DATA, BUT WE NEED TO WORK ON IT INDIVIDUALLY. OKAY, MS. MS. WILLIAMS, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT, NEXT. NIA COLBERT. NIKITA DOTSON, WILLIE WILLIAMS, THE SOLUTION MAYOR AND THE SOLUTION COUNCILMAN, HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS WILLIE WILLIAMS. I AM A VETERAN OF THE US ARMY. I HAVE STRADDLED IN MY HEAD FROM, I HAVE PTSD AND I HAVE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. I WENT TO ANDRE JOHNSON'S HALL OF FAME, UH, INDUCTION [02:05:01] AND COME BACK AT THE AIRPORT. AND THERE WAS A BOOT ON MY CAR. I WENT TO A CITY MUNICIPAL COURT WHO'S VERY TOXIC AND I WANTED TO TALK TO, UM, MILITARY LIAISON. THEY TOLD ME I COULDN'T TALK TO THE MILITARY LIAISON. AND I WAS TALKING TO, UM, A LADY BY THE NAME OF WHITE, HER LAST NAME IS WHITE. AND SHE WAS VERY, VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO VETERANS. AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THE BUCK STOPPED WITH HER. SO BASICALLY WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS, MAYOR, YOU HAVE NO POWER, OR THE COUNCILMAN HAVE POWER. I DON'T, I MY CAR STILL HAS THE BOOT ON IT AT THE AIRPORT. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS BOOT OFF MY CAR? BECAUSE PTSD CAN CAUSE GENERAL MEMORY PROBLEMS SUCH AS INCREASED FORGIVENESS, DECREASED WORKING MEMORY. PEOPLE WITH PTSD MAY ALSO HAVE REAL DISORIENTATION. I WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 25 YEARS. I'M A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER. WE HAD IEPS AND WHENEVER I WENT TO THE SI MADE SURE THAT THE KIDS HAD SOME MODIFICATIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR DISABILITY. THE LADY AT YOUR PLACE INCREASED THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP ME GET THIS BOOT OFF MY CAR SO I CAN GO TO MY, MY VA, UH, UH, OR MY VA DEALS. WE'RE GONNA HAVE KIM TALK TO MR. INBO, THE MILITARY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR AND HE WILL, UH, SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS. OKAY? AND, UH, I FOUGHT FOR THOSE, UH, UH, UH, AMENDMENT RIGHTS FOR NUMBER ONE. Y'ALL PLEASE, PLEASE BE SAFE OUT THERE AND DO NOT BOTHER THE MAYOR AT HIS HOUSE. HEY SIR, DO YOU NEED MORE TIME? ? OKAY, NEXT SIMA. SHANNON MUY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A WALK AND TALK 'CAUSE I KNOW MY MINI'S GONNA START. I DID PRESENT A PACKET. UH, MY NAME IS TIMA SHANNON . I'M NOT GONNA ACT LIKE THE OTHER LADY. ALRIGHT, . AND, UH, TO PUT IT PLAIN TO YOU ALL, I AM A HOUSTONIAN. I'VE BEEN BORN AND REARED HERE. UM, BUT SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IS THAT HOUSTON IS FILTHY AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD STEWARD OVER A GREAT CITY. UM, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS I'VE NOTICED THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS PREDOMINANTLY THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SERVICES THAT THE SOLID WASTE WEBSITE STATES ARE SCHEDULED ON A WEEKLY, MONTHLY, AND BIMONTHLY BASIS. AND THAT WAS BEFORE BURL THE CITY. SOLID WASTE MAN MANAGEMENT VISION STATES THAT THEY ARE TO CREATE A ONE CLEAN HOUSTON. WELL, WE ARE FAR FROM THAT VISION. WE HAVE, WE ARE ONE FILTHY HOUSTON RIGHT NOW. UM, THE FILTHIEST I'VE EVER SEEN IT IN ALL OF MY 51 YEARS OF LIVING. UM, OUR FAMILY'S HOMESTEAD IS LOCATED IN AKER HOME SINCE 1940. AND OUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS ON DEEP AND RINGO HAVE NEVER HAD TO FIGHT SO MANY REALLY CONTAMINANTS. OUR, I'LL JUST SAY THIS, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS IN ACRES HOME, BUT ALSO THOSE IN SUNNYSIDE. AND THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE LOCATED. THERE ARE RATS, THERE ARE RODENTS, THERE ARE SNAKES, THERE ARE MOSQUITOES BECAUSE THE GRASS IS NOT CLEAN. I DID COME WITH SOLUTIONS THAT I'M NOT A PERSON JUST COME UP HERE AND FUSS. I HAVE TWO SOLUTIONS, OKAY? THE, THE FIRST ONE MAYOR IS POSSIBLY, AND I KNOW WE HAVE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, BUT POSSIBLY IF WE CAN RUN SINCE WE'RE BEHIND, RUN BOTH THAT, BOTH WAYS AND THAT TREE WASTE TRUCKS SIMULTANEOUSLY AT THE SAME TIME TO TRY TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THIS, THESE MESSES. BECAUSE NOWHERE WHERE YOU GO THERE IS IF WE CAN RUN THOSE CONCURRENT. AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THAT MAYBE THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN GET, UH, COORDINATE WITH THE, UH, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL TO GET THE AREAS CLEAN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE THESE KIDS ARE BEING ATE UP BY MOSQUITOES AT THESE SCHOOLS. I AGREE. THANK YOU MA'AM. YES. MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER. JUST A SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, MAYOR MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR COMING BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I, AS ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE CONCERNED WITH THE, THE CLEANNESS OF OUR CITY. YES. AND IT, AND IT'S SHAMEFUL 'CAUSE WE LOVE ALL OF OUR CITY. MY CONSTITUENT SERVICE GUYS HERE, FREDDIE OLIVER, AND HE'LL SEE YOU AFTER. 'CAUSE I LIKE TO GIVE IT TO YOU. I HAVE SOME PICTURES IF YOU WANT THEM SINCE YOU ARE AT, AT LARGE POSITION. GOOD. IF YOU GET IT. AND I DID PROVIDE YOU A PACKET TO MAYOR TO LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES. THANK YOU MA'AM. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THIS IS WHAT OUR KIDS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. AMY JOHNSON, [02:10:08] BENJAMIN BROADWAY. MIKE, RIGHT IN FRONT. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, YES. UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR LETTING ME COME AND SPEAK TODAY. MAYOR, ONE THING, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE PLANTATION, SO PLEASE LET US SPEAK, LET US PROTEST WHEN WE NEED TO. SECOND THING IS THE PROJECT 11. UM, THE THING THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE PORT ON, THEY MAKE $1 TRILLION A YEAR. Y'ALL SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE MONEY, BUT IF THEY'RE MAKING A TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, SIR, WHY CAN'T WE GET $20 OR A HUNDRED DOLLARS OFF OF EACH 20 FOOT CONTAINER THAT TRAVELS ON OUR STREETS TO THE DIFFERENT STATES WITHIN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE? MAY YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MONEY, WITH DRAINAGE IN OUR STREETS BECAUSE OF THESE HEAVY TRUCKS COME THROUGH OUR AREAS, BREAK UP OUR CURVES, DESTROY OUR STREETS, INFECT OUR AIR. HOW ABOUT WE START GETTING SOME OF THAT MONEY? MAYOR? UM, THE THIRD AND FINAL THING IS, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TALK ABOUT, OH MAN, I'M DONE. FORGOT. UM, . YEAH. UM, BUT WORKING WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON ON THE PROJECT 11, GETTING SOME OF THESE TCEQ AIR MONITORS IN THESE DUMP SITES IN THESE AREAS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. AND ABOUT YOUR, UH, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, MA I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR NEW DRAINAGE PROJECT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT WAS USED TO BE, UH, A PART OF KATHY WHITMAN'S IDEA THAT ALL THE OTHER MAYORS OVERLOOKED. YOU NEED TO SEE WHERE THAT WATER'S GOING. IT'S GONNA FLOOD THIRD WARD. IT'S GONNA FLOOD SOUTHEAST. IT'S GONNA FLOOD CERTAIN PARTS OF NORTHEAST. I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, WE NEED TO WORK ON THE ALREADY OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND REMOVING THE DEBRIS AND WORKING ON THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. MAYOR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT I MAD FAISAL. I MAD FAISAL, I EEL ALICIA LEY. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT DOGS. IT'S A MUCH BETTER SUBJECT, RIGHT? WE ALL KNOW, AND I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THIS SHORT. I THOUGHT I HAD A MINUTE, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THIS SHORT. WE ALL KNOW THAT LOVE OF DOGS TRANSCENDS RELIGION, POLITICS, AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU WATCH A DOG PLAYING WITH A TOY AND YOU FEEL JOY IN YOUR HEART, YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON TO SEE THE STREET STRAYS THAT ARE SUFFERING AND STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE EVERY DAY. AND WHY IS THAT? THESE DOGS OUT THERE ARE STARVING AND THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED BY THEIR DOGS. THEY HAVE BEEN SHOT BY NEIGHBORS THAT ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THEM CHASING THEIR KIDS UP AND DOWN THE STREET. AND THIS AFFECTS THE IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE JUST LEFT OUT THERE TO BREED. AND WHY IS THAT? WHY IS THE CITIZENS NOT GETTING ANY HELP FROM THE CITY SHELTER? IT'S FROM FUNDS FOR SURE. IT'S A LACK OF ANIMAL CONTROL WORKERS FOR SURE. BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE IN 2018, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED BECAUSE FINISH, GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR COMMENT, BUT PLEASE WATCH YOUR TIME. OKAY. I I WILL DO IT REAL FAST. IN 2018, WE DID A EFFORT TO BE NO KILL. AND THE ONLY WAY TO IN, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WAS TO CLOSE INTAKE. AND JARED MAYORS HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT HE HAS BEING ATTACKED FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OUR NO KILL RATE ARE GOING DOWN. AND EUT NATION IS GOING UP. THE HOUSTON RESCUE COMMUNITY, WHICH I'M PART OF, WANTS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION WITH JARED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT HIM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT EUTHANIZATION IS PART OF THE SOLUTION. OKAY? [02:15:01] IT'S A HORRIBLE PART, BUT WE JUST CAN'T BE ATTACKING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND HAVING UNREALISTIC BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE LIVING WITH THE DOGS RUNNING THEIR COMMUNITIES. OKAY, THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, MICHAEL EGLIN. THANK YOU. UH, I WORK FOR SHELL OIL FOR 36 YEARS IN, UH, ACCOUNTING, FINANCE, ODDITY, AND A VARIETY OF POSITIONS. UH, WHEN I RETIRED IN 2008 WHILE AGO, UH, I MANAGED ALL OF THE DOMESTIC US, UH, UPSTREAM ACCOUNTING, GULF OF MEXICO AND OFFSHORE BRAZIL. SO I'VE GOT A GOOD FINANCE BACKGROUND AND HAVE HAD A SOLID EXPERIENCE IN AUDITING. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, I'VE DONE A VARIETY OF THINGS SINCE RETIREMENT, BUT ONE THING MY WIFE AND I HAVE RECENTLY DONE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS STARTING TO LOOK AT PUBLIC RECORDS FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLECT MONEY FROM AGENCIES. LOOKING AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I'VE IDENTIFIED ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $500,000 JUST IN A CURSORY OR REVIEW THAT IS DUE DUE THE, THAT BELONGS TO THE CITIZENS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT, UH, IS SPANS OVER 40 DEPARTMENTS AND SUB-DEPARTMENTS. IT'S, UH, OVER 1400 TRANSACTIONS. IT DATES FROM THE 1990S TO 2022. SO FROM MY EXPERIENCE, YOUR TIME HAS GONE ONCE IT GETS PAST A YEAR, IT'S NOT THAT. SO I'VE GIVEN RENEE SOME INFORMATION AND HE'S GONNA PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY, NEXT. THEODORE CARRERO. ALL RIGHT. I SIGNED OFF FOR THREE MINUTES. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ENOUGH TIME. I GAVE, THERE'S A PACKET GOING AROUND. IT HAS ABOUT 12 THINGS IN IT. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE VERY USEFUL TODAY. I'M HERE WITHOUT A MASK. I, I CAME HERE THE LAST, UH, SINCE JANUARY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ELECTED. SO I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE TIMES. I'VE SPOKEN ON SEVERAL STUFF. UM, TODAY'S, UH, DISCUSSION IS ABOUT DISABILITIES SUCH AS AUTISM, DYSLEXIA. HOW CAN WE ADDRESS TESTING DIAGNOSTIC IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS? HOW DO WE ADDRESS, UH, FOREIGN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO DON'T SPEAK OUR NATIVE LANGUAGE OR TONGUE? UM, THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT AUTISM, DYSLEXIA, IF, UM, WHAT'S THE FAIR MORAL TREATMENT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS? SO THIS IS RULES ON BEING HUMAN BEINGS. SO THIS IS GOOD STUFF. UH, AS A CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN, I, I, I DO AGREE WITH SOME OF THIS AND WOULD LIKE TO BRING HOME THE HOSTAGES I DO AS AN AMERICAN SIDE WITH THE ISRAEL. AND I THINK THAT HOSTAGES SHOULD BE FREED FROM BOTH SIDES. IF CAN DESCRIBE, UH, YOU GUYS, I GUESS IN FIVE WEEKS I'LL SPEAK ABOUT, UH, IMMIGRATION AND, UM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANKS FOR KEEPING US SAFE. THANK YOU. AND, UM, I'LL SEE YOU IN FIVE WEEKS. ALRIGHT. BE SAFE. COUNCILMAN CARTER, SIR? COUNCILMAN CARTER. I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE YOU MORE OF MY TIME, UM, IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO SAY. YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO THINGS FOR NICK ABEL. NICK ABELS. I HAVE TWO AFFIDAVITS FOR THE, THE, THE HISPANIC AND LATINOS. I HAVE ONE GENTLEMAN THAT, UH, IS SEEKING HIS BENEFITS FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. I ALSO HAVE A WILLIE WICKER. I, I ATTACHED IT TO YOUR, UH, TO THE MAYOR'S THING IN THE BACK. IT'S FOR NICK ABELS. THERE'S ONE LADY WHO MAKES ABOUT $700 A MONTH. YOU TOLD ME TO KEEP DOING WHAT I DO. I'M DOING AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. I GOT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, EVERYBODY. I'M DOING A LOT OF THINGS AND I HAVE EVERYTHING THAT I NEED. UH, I GOT MY, UH, CONSTITUTION. I GOT MY, I'M REGISTERED TO VOTE, GOT MY COVID LICENSES CLEAN RECORD IS CLEAN. SO, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THAT, I, I DID CONNECT THE STUFF FOR NICK ABELS AND FOR MR. MARTINEZ, MR. RAMIREZ AND CASTILE. THERE'S A LATIN GENTLEMAN THAT JUST WANTS HIS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. OKAY, SIR. SO I'M TRYING TO DO MORE AND THEN I'LL SEE YOU IN FIVE WEEKS. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THANK SIR. I APPRECIATE IT. I'LL BE ACOS OF JUAN DIEGO. ALRIGHT, BE SAFE. THANK YOU. NEXT BRIDGET LAND. MALIK LEC. MY NAME IS MALIK KU. I WAS RAISED IN PASADENA AND HAVE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR NEARLY A DECADE. AS A TRANSGENDERED MAN, I HAVE [02:20:01] FOUGHT FOR L-G-B-T-Q RIGHTS. AS A MUSLIM, I HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA, AND AS AN ARAB, I HAVE WATCHED THE SLOW EXTERMINATION OF MY PEOPLE FOR OVER THE LAST 34 YEARS, THE LANCET, ONE OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST RANKED ACADEMIC JOURNALS, ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST 200,000 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ZA 200 FEET IS THE ESTIMATED SPACE THAT JOHN WHITMEYER NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO IGNORE THESE FACTS. HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE TARGETED RESIDENTIAL PICKETING ORDINANCE IS IN ABOUT PEACE, TRANQUILITY, OR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S ABOUT SILENCING ACTIVIST AFTER JUST FIVE PROTESTS AT HIS HOME. WHITMEYER IS READY TO VIOLATE DEMONSTRATORS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WHILE IGNORING SIMILAR PROTESTS AT OTHER OFFICIALS HOMES FOR MONTHS. IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES, IT WON'T STOP PROTESTS. IT WILL JUST DISPLACE THEM TO INNOCENT PEOPLE'S DOORSTEPS, INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DID NOT CHOOSE TO BE ELECTED. INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DID NOT CHOOSE TO REPRESENT HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR OATH. PLEASE VOTE NO AND REJECT THIS AMENDMENT. AND IF YOU ARE UPSET ABOUT DOGS, STRAY DOGS ARE RUNNING AND GAZA EATING THE BODIES OF THE D COMPOSED. THANK YOU. NEXT, SOPHIA SAGER. HI. I'M HERE AS A PROTESTOR AND AN ORGANIZER TO SPEAK ON WHIT MEYER'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 28 AND CHAPTER 30 OF THE HOUSTON CITY CODE. UH, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A TARGETED AMENDMENT PROPOSED JUSTICE OUTSIDE MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S HOUSE. UH, SPECIFICALLY THIS AMENDMENT IS FOR WHIT MEYER'S BENEFIT. AND NOT ONLY WILL THIS NOT STOP PROTESTORS FROM EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, BUT IT WILL MOVE THEM 200 FEET TO YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. JOHN, UH, I'D LIKE YOUR NEIGHBORS TO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THIS AMENDMENT IS A VIOLATION OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT RESTRICT RESTRICTION ON YOUR CONSTITUENT'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THEM. THIS IS ALSO A DUE PROCESS CONCERN AND INTRODUCES NEW PROCEDURAL HURDLES TO SPECIFICALLY THE SHORTENED TIMEFRAMES AND INCREASE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING PROTESTS THAT MAY LIMIT YOUR DISADVANTAGED CONSTITUENTS, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PLAN AND EXERCISE OF THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. I URGE THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 39 THIS WEDNESDAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT CLOSING THE DOORS TO CITY HALL AND THE RAIN DOES NOTHING TO DETER US. WE'RE ALL STILL HERE. THANK YOU. WE'D LIKE YOU TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CEASE FIRE, JOHN. THANK YOU. NEXT, JOHN BEKO. YOLANDA ANDRADE. MIRIAM NASSER. GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY? THIS WORKS. COOL. MY NAME IS MIRIAM ABBAS NASSAR, AND I COME TO YOU AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, A DAUGHTER, A WIFE, AND A POSSIBLE PARENT. PROTESTING HAS BEEN THE WAY PEOPLE HAVE PUSHED FOR CHANGE THROUGHOUT HISTORY. IT'S OUR WAY OF HOLDING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE AND A WAY OF TO ENACT CHANGE THAT BETTERS OUR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND. THE PICKETING ORDINANCE IS A GRAVE HINDRANCE ON OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHERE MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS FAILED TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE, WE AS PEOPLE ARE ALSO BEING NEGLECTED. I'VE HEARD MANY STORIES IN THIRD WARD OF PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVELIHOODS, THEIR HOMES, THEIR JOBS ONLY TO BE DISMISSED AND BURIED IN PAPERWORK THAT NONE OF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT. BY VOTING YES ON THIS ORDINANCE, NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE SILENCING OUR VOICES, BUT YOU WILL BE DOING A GRAVE DISSERVICE TO THE CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU ALL CLAIM TO REPRESENT. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE 200 METER PICKETING PICKETING ORDINANCES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IN LISA, COOLER. SINCE OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, HOUSTONIANS THE PEOPLE OF YOUR CITY, YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE STOOD WHERE I AM STANDING NOW TO SPEAK ON PALESTINE 218 TIMES. SOME OF THEM ASKED YOU TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. MANY OF THEM ASKED YOU TO AMEND THE INVESTMENT POLICY. ALL OF THEM EXPRESSED A NEED TO NOT BE COMPLICIT IN THE MURDER OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PALESTINIANS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ALL, BUT [02:25:01] ABOUT FIVE OF THEM RECEIVED NOTHING IN RESPONSE, BUT A WALL OF SILENCE. I KNOW THIS NUMBER 218 BECAUSE I WATCHED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. BUT I ALSO WATCHED YOUR RESPONSES THE FEW TIMES THAT YOU DID RESPOND. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MANY OF YOU DO NOT THINK OF THIS AS A CITY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THIS INVESTMENT POLICY, AS LONG AS IT STANDS, AS LONG AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL IS AUTHORIZED AS ON THE LIST OF INVESTMENTS, IT IS A CITY ISSUE. MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS GONE ON RECORD AS SAYING HE WILL NOT INVOLVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. BUT AS LONG AS THIS LINE REMAINS ON THIS DOCUMENT IS INVOLVED EXPIRED. I HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS MORE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS MORE. WE DON'T GO BY YOUR CLOCK, WE GO BY THAT CLOCK RIGHT THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, HE'S GONE ON RECORD AS SAYING HE WILL NOT INVOLVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, BUT AS LONG AS THIS LINE REMAINS, HE IS INVOLVED BECAUSE WE ARE ALL INVOLVED. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WHOM I DON'T BELIEVE IS HERE, UH, IS AN ACTIVE, IS AN ACTIVIST AND AN ORGANIZER, AND SHE'S POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE PROCESSES IN PLACE. HOWEVER, AFTER 218 TIMES OF TRYING THE SAME PROCESSES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I WOULD ARGUE THAT EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY. SO PLEASE, I AM ASKING YOU WHAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO AMEND THIS POLICY? WHY IS IT THAT AFTER 208 19 TIMES OF COMING HERE, NO WORK HAS, NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO CHANGE IT. AFTER A DOCTOR HAS STOOD HERE AND TOLD YOU THAT HIS TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT TO MURDER MEMBERS OF HIS OWN FAMILY. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE? PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I DO NOT, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RAISE. HELLO, MY NAME IS HAMZA. I'VE BEEN COMING TO CITY HALL, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES TO SPEAK ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE CITY, ESPECIALLY FROM FLOODING. AND NOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THE GENOCIDE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES AND I URGE THE CITY TO VOTE NO ON THE ORDINANCE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, THAT'S ON TABLE FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE IT'S A VIOLATION OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS BEING VIOLATED AND THIS IS NOT OKAY. IT'S GOING TO SET A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER REGULATIONS IN FUTURE THAT WILL AFFECT US, AFFECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND YOU ARE HARMING THE CITY INSTEAD OF HELPING IT. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING FROM THE HURRICANE, FROM THE DERECHO INSTEAD OF FIGHTING BETWEEN OTHER, BETWEEN CENTER POINT OR CENTER POINTLESS AND FIGHTING BETWEEN THE COUNTY. WHERE WAS THE COHESION? AND, UH, LONG TIME PREPARATION FOR THE HURRICANE? NOWHERE. AND BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF, UH, PREPARATIONS, MORE PEOPLE DIED AFTER THE HURRICANE, NOT FROM IT FROM THE HEAT. THANK YOU. WE ARE DYING IN THE CITY AND PEOPLE ARE BEING AFFECTED FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THANK YOU. SAY NO TO THE PRE ORDINANCE FOR TOMORROW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, STEVE WILLIAMS. LINDA BURRELL. SHE'S FIRE NOW. SEA'S FIRE NOW CITY'S FIRE. NOW Y'ALL MAY NOT GO BACK ON THE LIST FOR ME. I I I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING MEMBERS, BUT THAT'S WHAT MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN ENDURING AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT THE CHANCELLOR OF U OF H-T-S-U-A, RABBI AND AMMAN. IT'S A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AND I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. BUT, UH, WE STARTED HEARING FROM STAKEHOLDERS AS SOON AS I GOT IN OFFICE [02:30:01] THAT THIS ISSUE HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. AND I HOPE, UH, I RESPECT YOUR VIEWS, BUT I HOPE WE TAKE IT AS SERIOUS AS IT IS BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. EVERYONE'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT IS BEING PROTECTED. UH, YOU CAN WALK UP AND DOWN THE SIDEWALK ALL YOU WANT, BUT TO TAKE THAT ACTION WITHIN FEET OF THE NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR OTHERS, IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE. LATOYA JONES SHAW, ANTHONY JOHNSON. HELLO, COUNSEL. UH, MY NAME IS ANTHONY JOHNSON. I COME TO YOU ON BEHALF OF SOUTHERN BROTHERS PROPERTIES. WE COMPLETED THE WORK ORDER OR THE, UH, WATER REPAIR LEAKS, UH, IN NOVEMBER, AND WE HAVE YET TO BE PAID. THIS IS MY FOURTH TIME COMING BEFORE COUNSEL. UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE STATUS REPORT ON THAT AGAIN. UH, WE'VE SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION SEVERAL TIMES. WE SUBMITTED AGAIN, UM, TOWARDS THE END OF JULY AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. UH, IT SEEMS LIKE THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE PUCK KEEPS GETTING PASSED AND WE PROVIDED A SERVICE FOR THE CITY, A HIGH QUALITY SERVICE. UM, THIS TIME WHEN I CAME, I BROUGHT A COPY OF A FEW OF THE WORK ORDERS THAT WERE SIGNED OFF FROM CITY INSPECTORS. SO NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE TO GET THE WORK ORDER SIGNED OFF FROM THE CITY INSPECTORS, BUT WE HAD THIRD, WE HAD TO, UM, UPLOAD PICTURES BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES FOR THE WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED INTO A THIRD PARTY APP THAT THE CITY PROVIDED US. SO WE HAVE THE, THE SIGNED WORK ORDERS, THE, THE UPLOADED PICTURES AS, AS FAR AS DOCUMENTATION. LET, LET ME SEE IF WE CAN HELP YOU. HAVE YOU TALKED WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL? I MEAN, YOU'RE CAUGHT UP IN AN INVESTIGATION, PROBABLY NOT OF YOUR MAKING IF YOUR INFORMATION'S ACCURATE. SO HAVE YOU BEEN TALKED TO BY AUTHORITIES? YES, SIR. WE, WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE TALKED TO, TO, TO, UM, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE. YES, SIR. WHERE DO YOU, IN YOUR MIND, WHERE DO YOU THINK, WHAT'S THE STATUS, SIR? I, I, I HONESTLY HAVE NO IDEA. OKAY. WE'VE, WE'VE SUBMITTED WELL THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF. TALK TO MS. WILSON AND WE'RE GOING TO, UH, SEARCH WHERE YOUR CONTRACT STANDS AND YOUR PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN, UH, EXPEDITE THINGS FOR YOU. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION AT THIS HORSESHOE TO DO THE LEGAL RESEARCH, BUT WE WILL. BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY, UH, HAD A HOLD ON MOST OF THOSE CONTRACTS SINCE THE, UH, DISPUTE OCCURRED. YES, SIR. AND IF YOU'RE NOT INVOLVED IN A DISPUTE, WE APOLOGIZE TO YOU. SO LET MS. WILSON, UH, AND I'LL GET INVOLVED TO NETWORK WITH YOU AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE AND ANY OTHER AUTHORITIES THAT ARE REVIEWING IT. THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. ALRIGHT, MS. WILSON, YOU WANT TO START THE PROCESS? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT, UH, JUST A SECOND. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO, NO, NO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK LINDA BURRELL'S NAME WAS CALLING. I THINK SHE CAME BACK. WHAT? LINDA BURRELL. YOU GOT HER. LINDA BURRELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M LINDA BURRELL AND I LIVE IN THE PAMELA HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION OF DISTRICT K. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE COUNCIL IN, AS IT RELATES TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE LIVING IN SOME FORM OF CONSTANT HEAVY TRASH IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, CONSTANT. WE DID NOT HAVE A PICKUP FOR MAY FOR THE TREE LIMBS AS IT WAS SCHEDULED. WE DID NOT HAVE A PICKUP FOR JUNE OF THE JUNK AND FURNITURE THAT WAS SCHEDULED IN JULY. WE HAD, UH, THE STORM, HURRICANE BARREL, AND OF COURSE IT JUST EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED THE TRASH THAT WAS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAD SOME PICKUP, BUT NOT ENOUGH. THE JUNE TRASH IS STILL SITTING THERE. WE'RE NOW TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY THROUGH AUGUST WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD LOADED WITH HEAVY TRASH. MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT RELATES TO LACK OF CI CITY SERVICES THAT WILL SERVE TO PREVENT MOSQUITO INFESTATIONS, UNSIGHTLY BLIGHT, RODENTS AND SNAKES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I AM AWARE OF THE NATURAL DISASTERS THAT OCCURRED, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS NOT A NEW ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE [02:35:01] THREE QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL. I HOPE I'LL BE ABLE TO ASK THOSE. I CAN DO IT IN 15 SECONDS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WILL WE HAVE THE SCHEDULED PICK UP FOR AUGUST, MONDAY, THE FOURTH MONDAY IN AUGUST AS IT IS TO PICK UP JUNK AND TRASH. WHAT IS, WHAT IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO EXPECT FOR OUR FUTURE SCHEDULING? WE HOPE IT'S NOT MORE OF THE SAME. AND DO YOU THINK WE HA WE HAVE A RIGHT FOR OUR EXPECTATIONS TO RECEIVE CITY SERVICES TO HELP US LIVE IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT? THANK YOU. MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PRO, COUNTY STATE, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE. AND I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING. UM, WE HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. WE HAVE, UM, TALKED TO DIRECTOR WILL FALK, UM, WE HAVE HIRED SOME ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS. UM, THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN SAY TO TAKE YOUR FRUSTRATION AWAY, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY WORKING ON IT. THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT HAS, UM, TEAMS THAT ARE WORKING 12 TO 14 HOURS A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK. THE AMOUNT OF TRASH THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON ALONG WITH THE DEBRIS IS INSURMOUNTABLE. AND IT IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING FOR US TO GET ALL OF THE DEBRIS PICKED UP. AND I, I, I RECOGNIZE YOUR, YOUR REAL CONCERN IS THAT THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN PICKUP. AND WE HAVE TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR ABOUT THAT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DRIVERS, NOT ENOUGH TRUCKS, AND WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS. AND WE UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION. IT'S, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE OUTCOME. BUT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PICK UP YOUR DEBRIS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO PICK UP THE DEBRIS IN THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN NOW AS A CITY. UM, BUT WE ARE CONSTANTLY, UM, TALKING TO DIRECTOR WILL FALK ABOUT HOW SOON EACH RESIDENT, UM, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD WILL GET THEIR DEBRIS PICK UP. UM, THEY ARE WORKING ON THE, UM, THE SCHEDULING AND THE MAPS, AND IT'S NOT JUST YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, AND IT PAINS ME WHEN RESIDENTS COME TO CITY COUNCIL OR THEY CALL OUR OFFICE AND THEY SAY, I FEEL LIKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALWAYS NEGLECTED. IT'S NOT. IT IS NOT JUST YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, IT IS NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS TYPE OF DELAY. AND IT'S AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF DRIVERS, THE LACK OF TRUCKS, AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO HIRE MORE CONTRACTORS TO HELP US WITH THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DEBRIS PICKUP THAT WE HAVE. NOW, I WILL, UM, REACH OUT TO DIRECTOR WIL FALK TO SEE IF THEY ARE ON SCHEDULE FOR YOUR PICKUP FOR THIS MONTH, UM, AND HOW SOON THEY EXPECT TO AT LEAST BE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE TRUCKS AND WHAT, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SOLID WASTE. WE HAVE THE MASSIVE TRUCKS THAT ARE, UM, TWO, UH, TRUCKS HOOKED TOGETHER THAT ARE PICKING UP THE TREE DEBRIS AND THEY'RE DRIVING IT TO THE WILLOW WATER HOLE IN SOME INSTANCES AND, AND, AND SOME LANDING SPACES WHERE THEY ARE MULCHING, UM, THE TREE DEBRIS AND HAVING TO GO BACK. AND SO SOMETIMES THEY GET ON THREE STREETS A DAY WITH THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS, UM, THAT THEY ARE PICKING UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION. PLEASE KNOW WE ARE PUSHING, PUSHING, PUSHING TO TRY TO GET TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, BUT DO EXPECT A CALL FROM OUR OFFICE TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE DIRECTOR SAID THEY ANTICIPATE TO BE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. HOLD ON ONE MORE. COUNCIL. THANK YOU MA'AM. MA'AM, MA'AM, MA'AM, COME BACK. COUNCILOR. FLICKING MA'AM, I JUST WANTED TO DOVETAIL ON THE MAYOR PRO TAM'S COMMENTS. UH, YOU KNOW, MY DISTRICT HAS GOT KINGWOOD AND CLEAR LAKE AND THE RESIDENTS TELL ME THE EXACT SAME THING YOU ARE MM-HMM . UH, ALTHOUGH I CAN ALSO TELL THE MAYOR PROAM THAT IN, IN, AT LEAST IN KINGWOOD, UM, THERE'S SOME HOMES THAT HAVE COMPLETELY FILLED UP THE TRUCK AND IT STILL ISN'T DONE. UH, IT'S JUST THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS IS INCREDIBLE AND, YOU KNOW, SOLID WASTE IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO, TO GET AS MANY RESOURCES THEY CAN. I THINK THEY'VE GOT OVER 300 OF THESE TRUCKS THAT ARE IN FROM OUTTA TOWN. UH, IT'S JUST THE AMOUNT, IT'S JUST DOESN'T, IT'S, IT'S HUGE. SO THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE STORM HAPPENED, BUT WE HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE THE STORM LAST YEAR, YEAR BEFORE THIS YEAR. SO I, I GET THE STORM THING, BUT I, I HOPE AS A, AS A WHOLE THAT THIS WILL BE CORRECT. YEAH, AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE PREVIOUS STUFF. ALL I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT IS, IS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE STORM. SO I'M SORRY TO HEAR. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. A ACTUALLY THEY WERE CATCHING UP MA'AM BEFORE THE STORM AND THEN THE BACK TO BACK STORMS WAS A MAJOR SETBACK, BUT AS MAYOR PROTE SAYS, IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL ANY BETTER, BUT IT IS A CITYWIDE ISSUE. AND UH, THEY CAN DOCUMENT FOR YOU. IT IS PROBABLY THE WORST EVER [02:40:01] IN TERMS OF DEBRIS BECAUSE THE GROUND WAS SOFT FROM THE FIRST STORM, THEN WE GOT THE SECOND STORM AND UH, THEY GOT A HECK OF A CHALLENGE AND IT'S EVERYONE DOING THEIR JOB. YOU KNOW, IF THEY WEREN'T, WE'D BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT. BUT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF YOUR GARBAGE PICKUP AND SAW AND THAT'S A SEPARATE SUBJECT, BUT IT'S DONE BY THE SAME INDIVIDUAL. SO THAT'S COM COMPLICATING THINGS, BUT WE AS MANY PROTEINS THAT WE HAVE THREE CONTRACTORS WITH 300 UH, VEHICLES ON THE STREET EVERY DAY. SO IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE TIME. BUT WE UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, JACOB CLEMENTE. I DON'T SEE, UH, ROBERT CHOKE. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS RECESS [RECESS] TO IN THE MORNING, THE WEEK, AUGUST 13TH, THE 14TH, 2024 ITEM ONE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF ARTICLE 12, CHAPTER 32, CODE AVOIDANCES CD HOUSTON. ITEM TWO, PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 16. CHAPTER FOUR, CODE AVOIDANCES. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION. THE APPOINTMENT OF ORLANDO THOMAS MUNOZ AS FIRE CHIEF. ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JOSE DO NOE DIAZ AS CHIEF OF POLICE. ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE. NUMBER 10, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS LAKE HOUSTON ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING TO THE LAKE HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY COUNCIL ONE RECEIVED THE ESTIMATED TAX YEAR 2024 APPRAISAL ROLL INFORMATION TWO. CERTIFY THE ANTICIPATED COLLECTION RATE AND THREE, APPOINT LATOYA STEVENSON AND AMAL ELLO TO CALCULATE AND PUBLISH THE CITY'S NEW NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATES. ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION FROM MAYOR'S OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS FOR PAVEMENT OF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TO THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION FROM MAYOR'S OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS FROM PAYMENT OF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TO THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS. ITEM 10, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 839,020 92001 CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FUTURE AND HARPER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION LLC FOR CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER 12, ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER 12 WITH HARPER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION. LLC. THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 10 ABOVE. ITEM 12, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $5,339,883 AND 42 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH CF MCDONALD ELECTRIC. ITEM 13, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL TO FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,305,548 53 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH D SEVEN ROOFING AND METAL LLC. ITEM 14, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $5,308,820 AND 18 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH T CONSTRUCTION LLC. ITEM 15, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $940,598 AND 67 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH ENVIRO WASTE SERVICES GROUP INC. ITEM 16 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $92,589 AND 40 CENTS FOR A LEASE OF A MODULAR BUILDING THROUGH THE END OF LOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM FOR THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM FOR NORTEX MODULAR LEASING AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY DBA BOX MODULAR ITEM 17 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 IN NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF FUEL FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT FROM MOFFITT HOLDINGS L-L-C-D-B-A MOFFITT SERVICES. ITEM 18 NATIONWIDE TRAILERS LLC FOR APPROVAL OF A ONE-TIME PURCHASE, A ONE TRAILER THROUGH THE BUYBOARD PROPERTY PURCHASING SUPPLY FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. ITEM 1972 HOUR L-L-C-D-B-A NATIONAL AUTO FLEET GROUP TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF BUCKET TRUCKS. ITEM 20 TECHNICAL LABORATORY SYSTEMS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF A TRAILER. ITEM 21 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE MILE C $496,514 NO CENTS FOR PURCHASING AND REPLACEMENT OF MOBILE INCAR RADIOS THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES SUPPLIER MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. ITEM 22 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $381,788 AND FOUR 74 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF [02:45:01] A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE SOFTWARE, SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL MAINTENANCE AND RELATED SERVICES FROM SHI GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS. ITEM 23, JACOBS TECHNOLOGY INC. SOLE SOURCE SUPPLIER FOR THE ONE TIME PURCHASE OF ENOBI RECEIVERS. ITEM 24 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,600,000 AND NO CENTS AWARDED TO BOYER INC. ITEM 25 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $89,100 AND NO CENTS FOR EXECUTIVE COACHING SERVICES FROM CORE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT LLC ITEM 26, AMEND MOTION 20 25 35 AWARDED TO VULCAN INC. DBA VULCAN SIGNS ITEM 27 APPROVED SPENDING AT 30 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500,000 IN NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY TRAFFIC SIGNAL REPAIRS AWARDED TO PFE FOR AND SUN LTD ITEM 28, MALVERN ANALYTICAL INC. FOR SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF ZETA SIZE ADVANCED CONFIGURED SYSTEMS. ITEM 29 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. ITEM 30 RESOLUTION EXTENDING AN INVITATION TO THE NATIONAL LEGAL CITIES TO ATTEND THE 2027 CITY SUMMIT. ITEM 31 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF PROJECT APPLICATION TO THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. ITEM 32 RESOLUTION ADOPTING RECOMMENDATION OF CITY ATTORNEY TO ASSIGN ACCOUNTS OVERLAPPING WITH ALL DEAN SPRING BRANCH ALEY, PASADENA, SFA CAIA, FORT BEND, UM, BRAD CREEK, CLEAR CREEK, GALENA PARK, HUFFMAN KLEIN, NEW KANEY, SPRING DEER PARK, SHELDON LAPORT, TOMBAUGH, GOOSE CREEK, STAFFORD CHANNELVIEW, CROSSVIEW WALLER, AND THOSE ACCOUNTS LOCATED IN MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. COLLECTIVELY PURDUE ASSIGNED ACCOUNTS. ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $12,803,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND 13,214,000 NO CENTS OUT OF FIRE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND. $9,111,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF POLICE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, 101 MILLION AND NO SENSE OUT OF FLEET CON FLEET EQUIPMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND $325,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR VEHICLES AND RELATED EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS. OUT 34 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $250,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION. CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR PLANNED RADIO TOWER SITE SECURITY SYSTEM PROJECT FOR HEAT DEPARTMENT. ITEM 35, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO ACCEPT TWO GRAND AWARDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. ITEM 36, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF CITY HEALTH, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR ITS TUBERCULOSIS PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROJECT. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROVING SUBMISSION OF FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2024. 2026 AREA PLAN TO THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION. ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PREVENTIVE INSTITUTE. ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT GRANT AWARD FROM THE CENTER OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR THE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND AWARD DIS AND LABORATORY CAPACITY FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE GRANT. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE CENTER OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR HIGH IMPACT, HIV PREVENTION AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. PROJECT ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR THE SUPPORT AND STATE SCALE UP FOR HIV PREVENTION SERVICES AND SEXUAL HEALTH CLINICS. PROJECT ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CIVIL AWARD AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN OUTBREAK ANALYTICS AND DISEASE MODELING MULTI-SCALE OUTBREAK DECISION SUPPORT TWO PROJECT ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR ITS DIABETES PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROJECT. ITEM 44 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING SEVEN MILLION THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND FIFTY CENTS. ITEM AIRPORTS RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND. AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO RESTON CORPORATION. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY HOUSTON AND JUAN JOSE PEREZ GARZA. ITEM 46 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE [02:50:01] AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES. LTD ITEM 47 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO CON CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AMERICAN UNITED LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. ITEM 48 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ASBESTOS ABATEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT WITH A A R INC. ITEM 49 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DEMOLITION SERVICES CONTRACT WITH RNDI COMPANIES INC. ITEM 50 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH EFI GLOBAL INC. ITEM 51 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND 1 19 19 ARCHITECTS PC AND TWO VCS ARCHITECTS, A LC ITEM 52 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JP MORGAN CHASE BAKE NA ITEM 53, ORDINANCE RATIFYING APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE DESIGNATION BY HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION. ITEM 54 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 9.00 ACRES OF LAND TO KINGSBRIDGE MINISTRY UTILITY DISTRICT ITEM 55 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE CREATION OF HARRIS COUNTY MINISTRY UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 8 9 ITEM 56. ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 0.164 EIGHTH OF ATLANTA HARRIS COUNTY MUD 64 ITEM 57 ORDINANCE APPROVING ISSUANCE AND INSTEAD OF COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY CONTRACT REVENUE BONDS ITEM 58 ORDINANCE. FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF BELL STREET. ITEM 59 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 2,505,000 AND NO CENTS ADDED WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND A AWARDING CONTRACTOR T CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 60 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON ITS NEIGHBORHOOD SEW SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS. PACKAGE SIX, PROJECT ITEM 61 ORDINANCE GRANTED TO AMERICAN COMBAT CANS LLC FIRST READING ITEM 62 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO FRONTIER WASTE TEXAS WHOLE CO LLC FIRST READING ITEM 63 ORDINANCE GRANTED TO KNS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. LLC FIRST READING ITEM 64, ORDINANCE GRINNING TO THE OUTHOUSE BOYS LLC FIRST READING ITEM 65, ORDINANCE GRINNING TO STERILE CYCLE INC. FIRST READING MATTERS HELD ITEM 66 APPROVED SCREEN AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 FOR PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES WITH JESSICA PELLA. PSYD TAB. I CAN'T REMEMBER IS P EVAN POLL DAVIDSON CARTER. THIS IS ITEM SIX ON AGENDA JULY 31ST. ITEM 67, ORDINANCE ADDING NEW SECTION TO CHAPTER 28, CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO TARGETED RESIDENTIAL PICKETING AMENDING SECTION 30 DASH NINE TAB COUNCILMAN WITH JACKSON THOMAS POLLARD AND PLUMBER. THIS IS ITEM 11 ON AGENDA OF JULY 31ST, 2024. THIS COMPLETES THE READING WITH ALL THE NOISE. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. FOR THOSE WHO CAN HEAR ME, I'D LIKE YOU TO HAVE A BLESSED AND WONDERFUL DAY. [RECONVENE] WE WILL BEGIN TODAY WITH THE ITEMS THREE AND FOUR COLLEAGUES. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE TAKE BOTH VOTES AND THEN I'LL MOVE DOWN TO THE PODIUM TO ADMINISTER THE OATH. MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL ITEM THREE. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION'S BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS. GO AHEAD, MADAM SECRETARY, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE THOMAS. SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NOW, AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA COME TO THE PODIUM TO SWEAR IN OUR LEADERSHIP, UH, TOM MUNOZ. I CAN SPEND THE MORNING [02:55:01] TELLING EVERYONE HOW CONFIDENT I AM IN YOUR LEADERSHIP. IN JUST A VERY SHORT WHILE, UH, YOU AND I HAVE VISITED OUR STATIONS. THE RANK AND FILE FAMILIES ARE SO EXCITED AND CERTAINLY YOU AND I SPENT MANY LONG HOURS. IN FACT, YOU WOULD STAY 24 AND SLEEP ON THE FLOOR DURING OUR MOST RECENT STORMS. SO YOU'RE SO EMINENTLY QUALIFIED AND, UH, I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH YOU MAKE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT THE BEST IN THE NATION. AND NO ONE AND NO ONE, NO ONE BETTER TO PIN YOUR BADGE THAN SUN, GARRISON GARRISON. SIR, WE COULD USE YOU IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. . WHERE'S HR? WHERE'S HR? YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND BRING YOUR WIFE UP? MAKE THIS A FAMILY OF AFFAIR. HOW ARE YOU? YOUR PARTNER? RIGHT HERE. RIGHT CHIEF, GO AHEAD. AND, UH, I YIELD FLOOR TWO. SAY THE OATH FIRST. MAYOR. UM, MY, MY STAFF'S SAYING I NEED TO SWEAR AGAIN. , PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. SEE, I ALREADY GOT YOU DOWN AS A CHIEF. YOU KNOW, , BUT LET'S MAKE IT OFFICIAL. YEAH. PLEASE STATE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, JOHN WHITMEYER. I THOMAS DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF FIRE CHIEF, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. HOUSTON, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HOUSTON FOR THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND THAT WILL DO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND THAT WILL DO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE AND PROTECT, PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION, THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, STATE OF TEXAS. STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME. GOD, YOU ARE OFFICIAL. THE OTHER LIST, THE OTHER PLAYERS. YOU HAVE IT? GOOD? YEAH. I, YOU, THIS IS WHERE I SAY MY STATEMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, MR. MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE AS THE FIRE CHIEF OF SUCH AN AMAZING FIRE DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT THAT IS FULL OF BRAVE AND AMAZING WOMEN WHO EACH AND EVERY DAY PUT THEIR LIVES ON LINE FOR OTHERS TO MY FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO TO MY SON GARRETT, WHO CAN'T BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR GREAT HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, I'M TRULY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AS YOUR FIRE CHIEF. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER, LOCAL 3 41 AND ALL HOUSTON FIRE ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A WORLD CLASS FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A DEPARTMENT ON THE FOUNDATION OF CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, COMMITMENT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER AND THE RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT CITY, MYSELF AND THE COMMAND STAFF PLEDGE TO WORK HARD FOR YOU AND WITH YOU TO ENSURE THAT YOU GET THE SUPPORT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BE A WORLD CLASS FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF FIREFIGHTERS TO FOLLOW. MOST IMPORTANTLY, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF TO ALL THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS ON DEPE, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COMMAND STAFF, WE GOT YOU TO THE LOVED ONES OF HOUSTON FIRE DE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS, WE GOT YOU AND SUPPORT YOU AND TO THE RESIDENTS ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE GOT YOU. AND I SPOKE TO SENIOR CAPTAIN BRAD HAWTHORNE THIS MORNING, AND I PROMISED [03:00:01] HIM THAT I WOULD SAY THIS STATION EIGHTEEN'S MOTTO IS TO TELL THE HOUSTON RESIDENTS WE GOT THIS TO THE COMMAND STAFF AND THE WORDS OF THE MAYOR THAT HE ALWAYS TELLS US, WE GOT WORK TO DO. LET'S GET TO WORK. AND MR. MAYOR AND TO THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK HOME. THANK YOU CHIEF MUNOZ. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU THIS MORNING. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. PRO TIP, UH, CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS. UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU WERE JUST SHARING, YOU KNOW, GOT, GOT ME TO FEEL A BIT MORE OF, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY CEMENT WHO YOU ARE. UM, OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, WEEK OR SO, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SOME OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL. UM, SOMEONE THAT, YOU KNOW, SERVES AS STATION 23 NOW, UM, JESSE SANTIANO, YOU KNOW, HE, HE MENTIONED HOW YOU'VE TAKEN HIM UNDER HIS, YOU KNOW, UNDER YOUR WING. UM, AND, AND I CAN SEE THAT IN YOU AND, AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO FOR THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. UH, DEFINITELY WANNA SAY JUST THANK YOU. AS AM MAYOR STATED. UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY ROUGH ON US HERE IN HOUSTON AND, AND YOU'VE BEEN THERE THROUGH, THROUGH THE THICK AND THIN. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL. I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND WITH YOUR COMMAND STAFF AND THE REST OF FIREFIGHTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR PERAM. CHIEF MUNOZ, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS AND SO WELL DESERVED. UH, YOU AND I GO WAY BACK, UH, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR SERVICE THROUGH OEM AND THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT THAT YOU SHOWED THERE, UH, IS EXEMPLARY IN THE WAY IN WHICH YOU WILL CONDUCT YOURSELF AS CHIEF OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. UH, I WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE WE HAVE CHIEF BUNICH ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE. AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU TODAY, INCLUDING YOUR FAMILY. I DID ALSO WANNA THANK CHIEF PENA FOR HIS SERVICE YES. AND HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CITY. UH, I SEE A LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, MAYOR, UH, IF I MAY ASK THEM TO STAND, JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW THAT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. COULD OUR ELECTEDS? YES. YOU'RE STEALING MY JOB. GO RIGHT AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. I'M, YOU GOT SI SEE SHERIFF PERSON SYLVIA GARCIA. THERE YOU GO. XAVIER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS, OUR SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ, A MONTH SHERIFF LEY IN STATE REPRESENTATIVE HONOR, I THINK IT DEMONSTRATES HOW OUR APPOINTMENTS ARE BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER, SO, GREAT MA'AM. I, SHERIFF AND, AND COMMISSIONER, UH, WE, WE DO HAVE A FEW MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, ARE YOU, UM, DONE? THAT'S ALL. MAYOR. THANK YOU. I JUST, AGAIN, TO SEE CHIEF MUNOZ IN THIS POSITION, UH, MEANS THE WORLD. THANK YOU. PERFECT. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIES. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, CHIEF MUNOZ. CONGRATULATIONS, MY FRIEND. UH, FOR SO MANY REASONS. IT'S FELLOW VETERANS AND, AND ALL OF WHAT YOU DO AND THE FIREFIGHTERS IS SO, SO IMPORTANT. AND CERTAINLY WE, WE, WE HOPE TO CARRY ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN OUR CITY. WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGED AND WE NEED, UH, LEADERSHIP IN THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT'S TAKEN US ON. WE DO CONGRATULATE CHIEF PENA FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY. AND, UH, I GREW UP, UH, ADMIRING FIREFIGHTERS. ONE OF MY GREAT, GREAT FRIENDS OF MANY YEARS, ELMO DALLAS BOARD, WHO WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER, GREW UP TOGETHER, WAS A GREAT FIREFIGHTER. WE LOST HIM YEARS AGO. BUT I CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE CERTAINLY, UH, WELL QUALIFIED. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU, UH, TAKING THIS ON. AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS, MY FRIEND. YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND, UH, JUST FYI, [03:05:01] WE HAVE OUR HR PERSON HERE IF YOU WANT TO APPLY. WE'LL, THANK I. YEAH. WELL, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT YOU SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO VICE, GO AHEAD AND INVITE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, WE GOT, WE GOT WAIVERS FOR YOU, SIR. EVERYONE, THOMAS, YOU MAKE A GREAT FIREFIGHTER. DON'T WANT THAT. Y'ALL DON'T WANT THAT SMOKE. Y'ALL DON'T WANT THAT SMOKE ASSIST TODAY. NO, NO. THANK, LEAVE ME OUTTA THAT. MAYOR PRO TIMM, VICE MAYOR, PRO TIMM. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIMM, UM, CHIEF MUNOZ. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR. THIS WAS A REALLY TREMENDOUS PICK FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE. UM, JUST SEEING THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, UM, IN OEMI KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT AS THE FIRE CHIEF. AND LIKE I SAID, JUST A GREAT, GREAT PICK FOR THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. UM, EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE OFFICIAL, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON GENERATOR ISSUES AND ALL KINDS OF ISSUES AT OUR FIRE STATION, SO I JUST, I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTERS AND I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH THEM. AND THANK YOU FOR ME MENTIONING OEM. THEY'RE AN AMAZING TEAM WHO DO SOME GREAT WORK. I SEE SOME IN THE CROWD AND I, I MISS HIM THE FIRST DAY, SO DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY MISS HIM. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, AND CONGRATULATIONS. SO TO YOU AND TO YOUR FAMILY CHIEF MUNOZ, THIS IS GONNA BE, UM, A GREAT CHOICE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CITY, UH, AS YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST WITH DISTINCTION, UH, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, RUNS DEEP. AND I CON LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM IN THE FUTURE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. YOUR FOR TIM. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAT ACROSS FROM YOU AND DURING, DURING BURL AND YOU LISTENED TO US AND YOU WERE SO ENGAGED WITH WANTING TO KNOW WHAT OUR THOUGHTS WERE, AND THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL. AND SO IF YOU RUN THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE WAY THAT YOU SAT DOWN WITH US AND LISTENED TO US, I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING. I CLEARLY WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE CHIEF FOR THE WORK THAT HE DID, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GONNA DO AN AMAZING JOB AND JUST CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WELCOME ABOARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. AND NO, I'M NOT APPLYING. OKAY. , COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, YOU NEED TO STOP ALL THAT, UH, . UH, BUT CONGRATULATIONS. AND LISTEN, JUST WHEN I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO MIX SOME MAGIC AT OEM, YOU ARE PROMOTED TO A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS CITY. SO I GUESS CHIEF SATELLITE GONNA GET THE SMOKE, UH, NOW. YEAH. UM, BUT IT'S ALL GOOD. UH, BUT CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THIS WAS A GREAT TURN FOR THE CITY, A GREAT TURN FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION. UM, AND ON THE WEST SIDE, ALL OF THE FIRE STATIONS, UM, ARE EXCITED, UM, AND WILL CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, DO THE, THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO. SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR LEADERSHIP, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR TITLE IS AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION OF THE CITY IS DEFINITELY NOTED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT YOUR NOMINATION AND YOUR APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU. AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING FOR YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. CHIEF MUNOZ. UH, WHEN WE MET AT OEMA FEW WEEKS BACK, AND LIKE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, THE NEXT DAY, YOUR CHIEF OR POINTED, AND I'M LIKE, WHOA, THIS IS A GOOD MOVE. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR SENSE OF SERVICE, YOUR SERVANT'S HEART, BUT YOUR COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT WAS VERY CLEAR. AND I KNOW THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME FOR HOUSTON AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE THANK, UH, CHIEF PENA FOR HIS SERVICE. BUT ABSOLUTELY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND, AND, UH, WORKING AS A TEAM TO MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI. AND CERTAINLY I WANNA WELCOME YOU AND TELL YOU THAT WE ALREADY KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A FANTASTIC JOB. YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE A SPIRIT OF SERVICE ON THEM, AND YOU HAVE SUCH A HUMBLENESS AND A SPIRIT FOR PEOPLE THAT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO HELP YOU IN, IN DOING, IN NAVIGATING, NAVIGATING THIS POSITION. AND CERTAINLY I ALSO WANT TO THANK CHIEF PENA. UH, HE WOULD REACH OUT TO ME ON A REGULAR BASIS TO LET ME KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND HOPEFULLY YOU AND I WILL, WILL MAINTAIN THAT SAME RELATIONSHIP. I EXPECT THAT TO, TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY ALREADY ON YOUR HEART, BUT SO WELCOME. UH, I THINK IT'S PHENOMENAL THAT YOUR FAMILY IS PARTICIPATING AND WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE GOING, WE GOING TO, I WAS GONNA SAY, WE GONNA KEEP IT HOT, BUT WE ARE NOT. WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET WARM AND COOL AND EVERYTHING, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. TAKE CARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. WELL, CHIEF, YOU CAN MOVE YOUR COT, I THINK. YEAH, I BE, YEAH, I'M GONNA MISS THAT. SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE SO WELL QUALIFIED TO HOLD THIS POSITION. UH, I'VE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW YOU AS YOU'VE HEADED UP OEM AND APPRECIATE THE LONG HOURS YOU PUT IN DURING OUR EMERGENCIES THIS YEAR. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO SOLVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S PROBLEMS. YOU GOT SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL, UH, WE'LL, MISS CHIEF PENA, UH, BUT, UH, I'M HERE TO HELP AND THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL IS HERE TO HELP YOU, UH, RAISE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS [03:10:01] CHIEF MUNOZ, I KNOW THAT YOUR FAMILY IS HERE. IF YOU WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR FAMILY, THIS WOULD BE THE GREAT TIME TO DO THAT. UM, WE'D ALL LIKE TO MEET THEM JUST AS WELL. YEAH, I GOT MY BROTHER, CASSIE, MY SISTER, MY BROTHER, SORRY, SORRY. . I GOT, UH, MY BROTHER OSCAR. DEFINITELY JESSICA, CASSIE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY SON, GARRISON MASON. UH, DEFINITELY MY TWO IN-LAWS THAT, UH, JUST AMAZING PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT, UH, THAT YOU CAN SAY HI IF YOU WANT. HE'S VERY QUIET, MAN. SO, AND, UH, MARY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND IF I MAY RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, UM, THAT IS NEAR TO HERE IN MY HEART. UM, I LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU BASICALLY, MAYOR. I SAID IN SPANISH THAT YOU BE GIVEN AS A RAISE. , WE BROKE. WOW. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. I TOO WANT TO THANK THE PREVIOUS CHIEFS AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT HAVE DONE SUCH A SERVICE FOR SO MANY YEARS. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THIS MORNING I WANT MY TEAM IN PLACE, WHICH IS WHAT MAYORS DO. AND AS I WENT ABOUT THAT, I KNEW NOT JUST PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT PUBLIC WORKS. YOU NAMED THE DEPARTMENT. I REALIZE THE APPOINTMENTS ARE PROBABLY MY HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY. I LOOK FOR EXPERIENCE, I LOOK FOR PASSION, COLLABORATION. YOU KNOW, IT'S NO MISTAKE THAT CHIEF MUNOZ CAN PICK UP THE PHONE. I'VE WATCHED HIM AND TALKED TO FEMA DURING A CRISIS, TALKED TO THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER DURING A CRISIS, REACH OUT TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND EACH OF YOU WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER. AND WHAT MY APPOINTMENTS BRING IS COLLABORATION, EXPERIENCE, AND THE PASSION TO GET IT DONE. THEY'RE WORKING WHILE HOUSTONIANS AND THOSE OF US ARE ABLE TO DO OUR OTHER WORK AND OUR OTHER REST. FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE PROBABLY IN NO SAFER PLACE IN HOUSTON TODAY, , BECAUSE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT BROUGHT HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES FROM FAR AND APART. WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A FIRE POLICE CHIEF, I USED MY EXPERIENCE OF 30 YEARS AS CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE STATE SENATE. I'VE WORKED WITH CHIEFS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FROM NOT ONLY ACROSS THIS STATE, BUT ACROSS THIS NATION BEING CALLED, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING IT IN TEXAS? HOW ARE YOU RUNNING A SMART AND TOUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM? I'VE BEEN WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT DURING THE GOOD DAYS, AND I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN WE LOST A HERO. SO AS I WAS TAKING MY SERIOUS APPROACH, FINDING THE BEST POLICE CHIEF I COULD FIND, PEOPLE KEPT SENDING ME BACK TO NO DIAZ. THEY DIDN'T KNOW. NO. AND I HAD BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR 20 YEARS IN HIS POSITION AS A RANGER AND ALSO FOCUSING ON HPD, PRIMARILY TASK FORCE, DEALING WITH NARCOTICS AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION. HE WAS A REGULAR IN MY STATE SENATE OFFICE. SO AS PEOPLE WOULD RECOMMEND HIM, AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM SOME IN A MOMENT, SHERIFF FAGAN, FORT BEN CALL ME AND [03:15:01] SAID, WOW, YOU GOT ONE OF THE BEST. THE RECOMMENDATION STARTED COMING IN. AND I ALREADY KNEW THAT, YES, HE'S FROM KATY, ONE OF OUR SUBURBS, BUT THAT WAS JUST 'CAUSE THEY WERE SMART ENOUGH TO GET A RETIRING TEXAS RANGER, INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, THE RANK AND FILE WANNA WORK FOR HIM. SO I'M EXCITED, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DRAW THAT HE AND CHIEF MOZ BROUGHT TOGETHER. THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE COME TO WORK. SO LET ME FIRST SHARE MY TIME WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO CALL ME TO TELL ME WHAT AN EXCELLENT CRIME FIGHTER AND ADMINISTRATOR I'D REACHED OUT TO. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I'LL YIELD SOME OF MY TIME TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO ALL THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS THAT ARE HERE. MAYOR, I THINK, UH, YOUR FIRE CHIEF'S FIRST ACTIVE DUTY IS GONNA BE TO ENFORCE THE FIRE CODE TODAY, . UH, BUT TO THAT END, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR, UM, FOR THE SELECTIONS THAT YOU MADE BOTH IN YOUR FIRE CHIEF AND IN YOUR POLICE CHIEF. UH, WHEN I WAS, UH, SHERIFF IN, IN THE ROLE THAT SHERIFF GONZALEZ, UH, TODAY RUNS AND RUNS IMPECCABLY WELL. UM, I NEEDED COLLABORATION. I NEEDED SUPPORT, I NEEDED, I NEEDED RESOURCES, UH, TO HELP ME, UH, GET MY JOB DONE AT EVERY TURN. UH, THE TEXAS RANGERS, BUT THE TEXAS RANGER IN PARTICULAR, NO DIAZ WAS ALWAYS THERE, UH, HANDLING SOME OF THE MOST COMPLICATED, I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THOSE CASES, BUT I THINK A POLICE CHIEF'S NUMBER ONE JOB AS I'VE TRIED TO DO IT WHEN I WAS IN THAT ROLE, WAS PROTECTING THE PUBLIC TRUST. AND NO ONE LIKES TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION. UH, BUT THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS ROLE. AND NO WAS ALWAYS THE PERSON THAT I COULD COUNT ON, UH, TO WORK WITH MY TEAM, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC TRUST. UH, BUT AS WELL AS THERE ARE OTHER ACTORS THAT TRIED TO VICTIMIZE OUR COMMUNITY, NOE AND HIS TEAM OF RANGERS, UH, COMPANY A I THINK IT IS, UH, WERE ALWAYS THERE, UH, TO SUPPORT, UH, MY MEN AND WOMEN, UH, TO DEAL WITH WHETHER IT WAS, UH, GANGS OR, UH, OTHER NEFARIOUS ACTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M ALWAYS, I AM ALWAYS IN DEBT, UH, TO NOE FOR THE SUPPORT THAT HE PROVIDED. SO I'M HONORED TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR TIME THERE. BUT JUST TO TELL YOU, YOU'VE MADE A PHENOMENAL CHOICE IN NOE. AND I KNOW THAT THE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE, 32 YEARS OVERALL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, THE TASK FORCE, THE, THE MULTI-AGENCY TASK FORCES, UH, THAT HE HAS WORKED ON AND BEEN A PART OF, ALL OF THAT COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT ANY ONE OF US WHO'VE EVER DONE THAT LEVERAGE IT, UH, TO THE LEADERSHIP ROLES THAT WE ULTIMATELY ASSUME TO. AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THAT COLLECTIVE, COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE WILL BE SEEN IN THE WORK OF, UH, NOE AS OUR POLICE CHIEF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE SEAT MR. DIAZ. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NO DIAZ. I THINK WE ARE GONNA ASK YOUR WIFE CAROL. SHE, AND, AND, UH, MY LITTLE ONES, THE LITTLE ONES JUST GO, THIS IS A FAMILY AFFAIR, . AND MY BIG ONES TOO. I KNOW THIS ONE. HE WAS A GREAT EMPLOYEE AT ONE TIME IN MY OFFICE. YES, SIR. TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. I'M PROUD OF YOUR SUCCESS. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. I GUESS YOU WANT TO, I THINK I'M A LITTLE THE SECOND TIME, SURELY I'LL HAVE IT DOWN. OKAY. UM, IF YOU'LL PIN IT ON, THEN I'LL DO OATH. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I STATE YOUR NAME. I NO. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE, OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. STATE OF TEXAS. STATE OF TEXAS. AND I WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE CITY [03:20:01] OF HOUSTON. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE. NO. OKAY. I CAN TALK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME TO VISIT. LET ME INTRODUCE MY FAMILY. THIS IS MY ADULT SON, JUSTIN, MY ADULT DAUGHTER, STEPHANIE. UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HERE TODAY 'CAUSE OF THEIR MOTHER DID A GREAT JOB WHILE I WAS SETTING MYSELF ON FIRE, WORKING, RIGHT? SO, I MEAN THAT, UH, THIS IS MY WIFE SHEILA, AND, UH, MY SON AARON, MY 9-YEAR-OLD, AND MY DAUGHTER CLOSE. SHE'S A LITTLE SHY AT THE . BUT, UH, UH, TO ECHO WHAT THE CHIEF OZ WAS SAYING, IT IS ABSOLUTELY MY, IT'S THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE TO BE HERE. BEFORE YOU HERE, WHY, WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK, FIRST OF ALL, DON'T SPEAK TO COUNCIL. I KNOW . SO IT'S A, IT IS A GREAT, I, I HATE TO NOT VISIT WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT, UH, IT'S THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE TO BE HERE, UH, AS A SON OF A MIGRANT WORKER WHO, UH, PUT HIMSELF THROUGH COLLEGE, WHO INSTILLED PASSION FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR, FOR THE PEOPLE, UH, ALWAYS FIRST, UM, FOR A DAD WHO WALKED WITH CESAR CHAVEZ, RIGHT? THAT'S HOW PROUD I'M OF BEING HERE. BUT FOR ME, IT'S, IT'S JUST MY DISTINCT PLAYER. IT'S MY DISTINCT PLEASURE, MAYOR. UH, WHEN WE COMMUNICATED, IT WAS EASY TO GET BEHIND YOUR VISION. AND I, AND I OWE YOU THAT. SO THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE, THESE, THESE POLICE OFFICERS, THESE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, DIFFERENT AGENCIES, STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL, THEY AREN'T A, THEY, THERE'S NO SECRET, THERE'S NO SECRET SAUCE. THE POLICE ARE WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY IN COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. 'CAUSE NO ONE AGENCY CAN DO IT ALONE. IT HAS TO BE COLLECTIVE. IT HAS TO BE TOGETHER, UH, IN EVERY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE EVERY COMMUNITY IS JUST VALUABLE, RIGHT? AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF INPUT AND BUY-IN. AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS TODAY, THE SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS EXCEPTIONAL. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, UH, WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'VE TOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE, I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AT EVERY LEVEL, AT EVERY LAYER OF MY POLICE DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER IN PATROL, WHETHER NARCOTICS OR POLICE CORRUPTION. I'VE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE WILLING TO SHARE. SO, AT THIS MOMENT IN MY LIFE, AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER, I WANT TO PAY THAT BACK. AND ABSOLUTELY GETTING TO WORK. LIKE THE MAYOR'S ALWAYS SAYING, WE GOT WORK TO DO. AND I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT. UH, SO FOR ME, I ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL MEET THE DAY, MEET THE CHALLENGES FIRST WITH KINDNESS FOR THE LOVE OF EVERY COMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY PROSPERS COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER. AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY'S OUR BIGGEST ASSETS. THE COMMUNITY IS WHO WE GET THE NEXT LAYER, THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF THE POLICE THAT ARE GONNA FILL THE RANKS OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THERE IS NO REASON THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE PINNACLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. UH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY WELL FUNDED, THANKS TO YOU. AND WE ARE GONNA MAKE IT BETTER. WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT THE SHINING EXAMPLE. AND I WANT TO JUST THANK CHIEF SATTERWHITE FOR HIS AMAZING SIDE. CHIEF, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, THANK YOU FOR DOING THE TOUGH STUFF, THE GOOD STUFF THE RIGHT WAY. BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE, RIGHT? THERE'S ONLY ONE KIND OF, RIGHT. AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT. SO AGAIN, UH, I'LL SAY, UH, CAN I SAY A FEW COMMENTS IN SPANISH? SURE. OKAY. SO FOR ME, UM, CHIEF, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE AND YOU WANNA SPEAK TO THE CROWD, BUT WE WANNA GET YOUR WORDS ON THE RECORD. ON THE RECORD. I'M SORRY. SO IF YOU WERE SPEAKING TO THE MIC, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. . I, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND ME, SO I'M NOT, NOT GONNA SAY ABOUT THE RAISE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO, , THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS, THAT WAS, THAT WAS, THAT WAS GOOD, THOMAS, BUT [03:25:56] THANK YOU. WE DO, WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE TO ADDRESS THE CHIEF. UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR TIM. UH, CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, YOU, I GOT TO MEET YOU, UH, BRIEFLY, BUT I KNEW THAT THERE WAS THREE COMMONALITIES, UH, FAITH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY AND THE WAY YOU WERE INITIALLY WANTING TO INTRODUCE, UH, YOU KNOW, SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I KNOW THERE'S FORMALITIES AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, SPEAK INTO THE MIC AND WHATNOT, BUT, UM, WHEN YOU LEAD, UH, WITH YOUR HEART REALLY FACING THE COMMUNITY, UM, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT 100%. UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL, AND, AND YOUR COMMAND STAFF, UH, TO ENSURE THAT NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS THERE, RIGHT? BUT RIGHT BEHIND THAT, OR RIGHT ALONG THAT ACTUALLY IS, IS ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITY, UH, TRUST IS THERE. YES. UM, YEAH. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, UH, FOR, FOR BRINGING, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TWO, TWO GREAT CANDIDATES. AND I'D BE REMISS TO SAY THIS, RIGHT? UM, AS A LATINO, A FAMILY OF 12, UM, TO BE A PART OF, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT IS HALF LATINO. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME, BUT ALSO TO, FOR MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS. AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UM, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. MR. THANK YOU, MR. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. I, UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL, UM, SHARE IN THE SAME SENTIMENT, MY APPRECIATION OF THE TIME YESTERDAY, ALTHOUGH BRIEF, UM, UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WALKED AWAY, UM, WITH A BETTER SENSE OF YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY METHODOLOGY. UM, AND IT'S NO SECRET, I'M VERY HANDS ON THE WEST SIDE. I TAKE PRIDE IN THE INTIMATE DETAILS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I WAS SO IMPRESSED WHEN YOU SHARED THAT YOU USED TO BE A BAGGER AT THE OLD OSAN THAT'S ON BELTWAYS AND ANYBODY FROM THE WEST SIDE. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEY GOT REAL CREDENTIALS. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE OLD OSAN. AND SO I THINK THAT TYPE GO, GO RAMS, RIGHT? THAT'S IT. MIGHTY MIGHTY. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU GOT IT. AND BUT I THINK ANYONE THAT, UM, UM, UNDER HAS BEEN A PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNDERSTANDS THE FABRIC. THAT'S THE TYPE OF SENSITIVITY THAT WE EXPECT IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT OUR DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND THOSE PRIORITIES, AS I SHARED WITH YOU, THE MIDWEST AND WEST SIDE COMMAND CENTER, THEY'RE PHENOMENAL. UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO DO JUST THAT. AND I THINK YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL JUST ONLY ELEVATE WHAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE WITHIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, I HOPE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR METHODOLOGY AND THE CULTURE THAT YOU BRING TO THE DEPARTMENT. AND I LOOK FORWARD, UM, TO HOSTING YOU ON THE WEST SIDE AND INTRODUCING YOU TO COMMUNITIES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NEVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU. UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A LONG TIME, PROFESSIONALLY. YES. UH, FROM MY DAYS AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHEN YOU WERE WITH DPS AND THEN YOU WERE A RANGER. YES, SIR. UH, FOR A LONG TIME, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED WITH YOUR WORK ETHIC, YOUR INTELLIGENCE, AND YOUR WORK PRODUCT. I KNOW YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I KNOW THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WILL GET TO KNOW YOU AS, AS I DO, AND AND RESPECT YOU AS I DO. AND I'VE BEEN THINKING WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT OUR PATHS WOULD CROSS HERE 25 YEARS LATER. BUT, BUT, BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY HAVE, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY HAS ACCESS TO A PERSON OF YOUR CALIBER TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T VIEW IT AS A STRIKE AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER WENT OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT. THERE IS TREMENDOUS TALENT WITHIN HPD. YES. AND I KNOW YOU WILL IDENTIFY IT AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO HELP AND GUIDE YOU, UH, THROUGH YOUR DIFFICULT JOB. NO ONE CAN DO IT ALONE, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF HELP. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE HELP HERE AT CITY COUNCIL. UH, YOU CAN COUNT ON THAT. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. IT'S A GREAT [03:30:01] DAY FOR HOUSTON, A GREAT DAY FOR YOU. AND I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT PERSONALLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, CHIEF. CONGRATULATIONS. UM, BOTH TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. UH, WE KNOW THAT BOTH FOR YOU AND CHIEF MUNOZ, IT'S YOU SIGNING UP, BUT IT'S ALSO YOUR FAMILIES YES. AND THE SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT. SO I WANNA THANK, ESPECIALLY YOUR KIDS. THANK YOU. UM, BOTH YOU AND CHIEF MUNOZ HAVE EXTRAORDINARY STORIES, UM, AND YOUR STORIES ARE THE AMERICAN STORY. YES. UH, SO TO SEE WHERE YOU'VE BEEN AND WHERE YOU ARE NOW, UM, IS WHAT HOUSTON IS ABOUT. SO, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THESE APPOINTMENTS. UM, AND AS WE SAID, AGAIN, MEETING BRIEFLY, BUT, UH, I KNOW WE WILL WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER. UH, BUT WHEN WE TALKED YESTERDAY, I SAID THAT, UM, HERE IN HOUSTON, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SETS THE STANDARD FOR THE NATION. WE LEAD THE NATION YES. WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS FOLLOW, UH, AND THAT WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF THAT. UH, SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE YOU. AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING CHIEF SATTERWHITE AS WELL AS CHIEF FINNER FOR THEIR SERVICE. AND, UH, I'M HONORED TO SEE THAT YOU'RE TAKING UP THAT MANTLE NOW. YES. UH, AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY, UH, COMMAND STAFF BEHIND YOU. YES. UH, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OUR PATROL LEVELS AND EVERY DIVISION. UH, BUT WE ARE A BIG FAMILY HERE. YES. AND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. THANKS FOR TAKING ON THIS REALLY TOUGH JOB. THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH JOB. AND WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND MAKE SURE WE GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE OUR HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT A SUCCESS. UH, YOU TOTALLY WON ME OVER YESTERDAY WHEN YOU SAID YOU'D GO PERSONALLY TO THE BARS THAT ARE CREATING ALL THIS NOISE IN THE NEIGHBOR. ABSOLUTELY. SO, I'VE GOT A LIST FOR YOU WORKING. I'VE GOT A LIST FOR YOU. HE'S GOING . YEAH. HE'S NOT GONNA GO TO THE BARN. I SHOULD, I SHOULDA HAVE MADE THAT A LITTLE MORE CLEAR. I SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT A LITTLE MORE CLEAR. HE'S GOING TO VISIT THE BARS IN WHATEVER. OKAY. AND ALSO, MAYOR, HE SAID HE WAS WILLING TO LOOK AT SOME LINE ITEM DATA IN THE BUDGET TO SEE WHERE WE CAN SAVE SOME MONEY YES. AND REARRANGE MONEY IN THE, IN THE POLICE BUDGET, WHICH WE KNOW IS OUR BIGGEST BUDGET. YES, MA'AM. AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING YOU, WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. CONGRATULATIONS. CHIEF DIAZ. THIS IS A HISTORIC DAY FOR THE CITY WITH, UH, THE MAYOR'S PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY APPOINTMENTS. AND I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU, UH, FOR STEPPING UP TO TAKE ON SUCH A VITAL ROLE. UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR FROM OUR CONVERSATION YESTERDAY, YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE. YES. UM, IS EXTENSIVE AND DEEP. AND, AND I'M EXCITED TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT. UM, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PER TIM, CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. THANK YOU. I HAVE NOT HAD THE HONOR TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU YET, BUT I AM BITING AT THE BIT. I CANNOT WAIT TO TALK TO YOU. YOU, UM, ONE THING THAT YOU SAID IN YOUR, IN YOUR SPEECH WAS BRINGING ALL COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. YES. AND BECAUSE HOUSTON IS INCREDIBLY DIVERSE, I BELIEVE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. UH, IF FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE ASKED, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NEW CHIEF? I SAID, ALL I NEED TO KNOW, KNOW IS HE'S A TEXAS RANGER . AND SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A HUGE WIN FOR HOUSTON. UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE OUR CITY. AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF US. AND THE SUPPORT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE FOR HPD, I THINK IS EVIDENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND, AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME, WELCOME HOME TO HOUSTON. THANK YOU COUNCIL. UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE. PAT. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST POLICE OFFICERS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND HPD AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU'LL HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU'LL BE A GREAT LEADER AND SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS. SO THANK YOU FOR, UM, TAKING ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PRO, TEM CHIEF. I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES AND CONGRATULATING YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME WE'VE SPENT ON YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES, UH, THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED ALREADY. WE'VE HAD GREAT POLICE CHIEFS IN HOUSTON OVER THE YEARS. YES, SIR. ALL OF THEM. I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET AND TO KNOW. AND, UH, I, I JOINED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, AND SHE WAS, UM, RELAYING THE ISSUE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. HOUSTON IS A WHOLE, IT'S NOT BY DISTRICT. WE ARE A WHOLE CITY. YES. AND YOUR COMMUNITY INTEREST [03:35:01] IS, IS NUMBER ONE. AND I LOVE THE FACT TO THAT FACT OF THAT. AND ALSO THE RANK AND FILE MORALE, AS I SAID TO YOU. YES. UH, WE HAVE THE FINES, POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND MORALE AND COMMUNITY IS, IS MY BIGGEST INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS, UH, IS GIVEN A SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE STILL HAVE THAT APPLICATION FOR YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYBODY WANNA PUT ME TO WORK, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR TIM. AND CERTAINLY CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I DID BRIEFLY MEET WITH YOU YESTERDAY, AND I'M GLAD TO MEET YOUR WIFE AND FAMILY. 'CAUSE I DID ASK FOR YOUR DIGITS . UH, SO IF YOU COULD GET A PHONE CALL LATE AT NIGHT. IT'S JUST ME, DIGITS. UH, 'CAUSE WE TAKE PUBLIC SAFETY VERY, VERY SERIOUS. UH, IT'S, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE. AND SO CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE IT. I MEAN, THIS ROOM, I FEEL SO SAFE. BUT I WANNA LET YOU ALL KNOW IF YOU SEE A LITTLE RED CAR RIDING THROUGH THE STREET SPEED, YOU JUST IGNORE HER . UH, SHE'S ON HER WAY TO WORK. AND WE WORK HARD HERE, DON'T WE, MAYOR? AND SO, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. CHIEF, I, I THINK YOU, IT IS EVIDENT TODAY, UM, HOW MUCH WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU. UM, WE FEEL YOUR HEART FROM YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. UM, I WILL TELL YOU AS, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT A, IT'S A, A COMMUNITY OF 96 CIVIC CLUBS AND HOAS. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY, UM, PUT A FLYER TOGETHER TO MEET THE CHIEF. SO NOW WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THE DATE. YES. UH, THAT WE CAN HAVE YOU AND INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THE WORDS THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN TODAY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO US WORKING TOGETHER AS A CITY. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY IN THE CITY. AND PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, AND THEY ENJOY THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR GREAT CITY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I GO TO WORK. THANK YOU. MEMBERS. UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, I PUT A VERY STRONG EMPHASIS ON EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE MATTERS. AND IN MY 50 YEARS IN LEGISLATURE, I'VE WORKED WITH NINE MAYORS. AND I WAS SITTING HERE TRYING TO COUNT MORE THAN THAT. POLICE CHIEF. ANYONE THAT REACHES THAT LEVEL OF ACCOMPLISHMENT DESERVES OUR APPRECIATION. CERTAINLY CHIEF FINNER, CHIEF SATTER, WHITE CHIEF PENA. I COULD GO BACK MY 50 YEARS, BUT TIME DOES NOT ALLOW IT. THERE IS ONE THAT IS STILL MY MENTOR IN CHIEF LEE BROWN. CHIEF LEE BROWN HELPED ME GET STARTED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD IN 93. HE WOULD NOT ONLY BE OUR CHIEF, BUT HE WOULD SEND MESSAGES FROM THE MAYOR. SOMETIME I LISTENED TO THAT MAYOR KATHY WHITMEYER. SOMETIME I DIDN'T. I USUALLY CAME DOWN ON THE SIDE OF HPD AND LEE BROWN. BUT NOT ONLY ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS ESSENTIAL TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO PROTECT US. FIRST, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE CHIEF MUNICH, WHO JUST RETIRED FROM HOMELAND SECURITY. THANK YOU. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE CHIEF, WHAT THE JOB ENTAILS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS WORLD. EVERY TIME WE HAVE MAJOR EVENTS, THE UP AND COMING WORLD CUP, WE HAVE TO HAVE HOMELAND SECURITY ON THE JOB AROUND THE CLOCK, LOOKING TO FILL THAT RESPONSIBLE POSITION. I DID NOT HAVE TO LOOK VERY FAR. LARRY, COME ON UP HERE. IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT. MEMBERS, FORMER ACTING CHIEF, LARRY SATTERWHITE, HAS ACCEPTED THE NEW ASSIGNMENT. AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY, HE HAS A VISION, NOT ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT HE HAS VISION TO BROADEN THAT RESPONSIBILITY INTO ASSISTING US WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND OTHER THINGS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND AS COMPLETE A COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND THE PASSION AND THE RESPECT YOU HAVE OF YOUR RANK [03:40:01] AND FILE IS WHY YOU'RE STANDING NEXT TO ME THIS MORNING. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. WE HAVE CHALLENGES AND NO ONE IS BETTER PREPARED AND EXPERIENCE THAN YOU ARE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU'RE WELCOME TO THANK HIM FOR YOUR . WELL, YEAH. WELL, FIRST, I, I WANT TO TELL CHIEF MUNOZ AND CHIEF DS CONGRATULATIONS. I'VE, UH, I'VE KNOWN CHIEF MUNOZ TOM FOR A LONG TIME, MANY, MANY YEARS. AND YOU GOT A GREAT GUY THERE. I LOVE SAN PENA TOO. THESE ARE GREAT MEN. EVERYBODY HAS A SERVANT'S HEART. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. HOW DO WE MAKE EVERYBODY BETTER? HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE, THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN US? AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS THE GOAL. AND I KNOW THAT TOM HAS THAT CHIEF DIAZ I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW A LOT, UH, HERE OF LATE. UM, AND, AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, HE IS SMART AND HE IS A GOOD MAN, AND HE IS GONNA DO A FANTASTIC JOB FOR US, UH, IN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, MY DEPARTMENT OF 34 YEARS, SIR. SO TAKE CARE OF IT. OKAY. UM, BUT I, I'M SO EXCITED. I MEAN, HE'S ALREADY COMING IN WITH IDEAS AND I'M LIKE, MAN, I WISH I'D THOUGHT ABOUT THAT ALREADY. AND, UH, AND SO THIS COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THEM BOTH. AND EVERYBODY I'VE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH, THANK YOU ALL FOR TRUSTING ME WITH THIS NEW ROLE. YES, WE HAVE A GREAT CITY. UM, PROBABLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I SAT IN A VERY HOT SEAT RIGHT HERE BEFORE YOU ALL. UH, AND, AND, AND, AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE. BUT WE HAVE A GREAT DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE, UH, IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A GREAT CITY AND LIKE ALL GREAT CITIES. THAT'S, THAT'S WONDERFUL THERE. IT STILL HAS ITS CHALLENGES. AND AFTER 34 YEARS, I'VE WITNESSED A LOT OF THEM. AND IT, MY MY COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL IS I WILL TAKE THIS NEW POSITION, UH, THAT I'M IN THIS ROLE, AND MAKE IT THE VERY BEST I CAN TO PROTECT THE CITY, TO MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT, TO FILL THE GAPS. UM, AND, AND TO COLLABORATE, BECAUSE I'LL BE MEETING WITH EVERY ONE OF YOU AGAIN IN THIS ROLE. UH, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN DO WITH, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY. I SEE THE CITY, I SEE THE REGION. IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE REGION, YOU DON'T, THE CITY'S GONNA SUFFER. SO I'VE GOTTA LOOK BROADLY ACROSS EVERYTHING. THE GOOD NEWS IS I'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS OUT THERE THAT ARE IN ROLES TO HELP. SO, WITH THAT, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU, LARRY. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. THANK YOU. CHIEF SATTERWHITE. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, DIRECTOR SATTERWHITE. IS THAT A NEW SUIT? , THIS IS A VERY STRANGE FEELING FOR ME. I MEAN, FOR 34 YEARS, I KNEW WHAT I WAS WEARING EVERY DAY. SO, UH, THIS IS, UH, ODD. BUT, UH, LET, LET ME SAY THAT THE CLOTHING MAY HAVE CHANGED, BUT THE JOB IS THE SAME, RIGHT? YEP. KEEP KEEPING HOUSTON SAFE. THAT'S, AND I'M SO GLAD WE HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR TALENT STILL, UH, TO, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, UH, KEEPING US SAFE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE A MEETING SET UP SOON, AND SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING HOUSTON. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEMP, UH, JUST, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. FIRST DIRECTOR. UM, AND YOU LOOK A LITTLE BIT RESTED , UH, WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE I THINK AS, AS WE SPOKE ON THE WAY UP HERE, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. UM, AND I'M, I'M JUST GLAD THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, BE ABLE TO POUR ALL THAT ENERGY, UH, EXPERIENCE, UM, KNOWLEDGE INTO, INTO THIS NEW ROLE. UH, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE RESILIENCY CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS, UM, AND READY TO GET TO WORK. THANKS, SIR. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LUKE. THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR. I OBVIOUSLY, I, I WAS EMPHASIZING THE CHIEFS AS WE'VE JUST APPOINTED OUR NEW ONE AND DEALING WITH CHIEF SATTERWHITE. THE FIRE CHIEFS HAVE BEEN JUST AS CRITICAL IN MY 50 YEARS. THE SAME EXPERIENCE. FIRE CHIEFS WOULD BRING THEIR MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR SOMETIME. THOSE PREVIOUS MAYORS WERE CORRECT. SOMETIME I HAD TO REPRESENT MY OAK FOREST DISTRICT. BUT ALL OF OUR FIRE CHIEFS GOING BACK 50 YEARS, AND CERTAINLY MOST RECENTLY, PENA DESERVE OUR PUBLIC THANK YOU AND APPRECIATION. WE COULD NOT MAKE IT WITHOUT THEM. SO THANK YOU. ALSO, CONTINUATION OF THIS COLLABORATION AND WHY WE ENJOY THE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY AS THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, VERY RESPONSIBLE. SO WE WERE FORTUNATE TO TALK BRIAN MASON FROM LEAVING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON TRANS STAR, WHICH MAKES THAT CRITICAL OPERATION WORK SO WELL, COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE AND THE COUNTY. SO BRIAN, I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS APPOINTMENT. I HEARD YOU'RE HERE. YOU JUST ARRIVED. COME OVER HERE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU, SIR. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MY ENERGY. THIS IS MR. ENERGY DURING THE STORM. HE'S ALWAYS MOVING AND SHAKING TO COVER ALL OF OUR BASES, AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR WHAT [03:45:01] YOU DID AT TRANS STAR AND BRING THAT SAME COMPETENCE TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER. AND I KNOW WE WON'T MISS A BEAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST A FEW THINGS. I'M, I'M NORMALLY NOT ONE THAT'S SHORT FOR WORDS, BUT I WILL KEEP THIS ONE SHORT TO RESPECT Y'ALL'S TIME. UM, EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE 2.3 MILLION RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON AND THE 6.5 MILLION RESIDENTS OF THE REGION. UH, WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM, UH, GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRE POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS, AND ALL THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL YOU, HAVING MEETINGS, WITH ALL YOU FINDING OUT WHAT ARE Y'ALL'S CHALLENGES, WHAT ARE Y'ALL'S HOT SPOTS? SO WE AS THE, UH, UM, AS A SIT, AS THE, UH, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS CAN WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU GUYS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING CITIZENS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, BRIAN. THANK YOU. I'LL SAY ALSO, WE ALL KNOW HOW CRITICAL 9 1 1 IS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND CERTAINLY DURING THE STORM TO BE ABLE TO GET SOMEONE WITH MY NEXT APPOINTMENT. RODERICK JACKSON IS OUR NEW 9 1 1 DIRECTOR IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST FINDS THAT I'VE FOUND DOING THE PROPER SEARCH. WORKED AT 9 1 1 BAYTOWN RECRUITED HIM, AND HE'S COMING BACK HOME TO RUN OUR 9 1 1. ROGER, WHY DON'T YOU COME SHARE WITH US YOUR EXPERIENCE. THANK, THANK YOU FOR, UH, STEPPING UP WHEN WE NEEDED YOUR EXPERIENCE AND PASSION FOR THE JOB SO MUCH. ONE OF THE ISSUES AT 9 1 1 HAS BEEN THE MORALE ISSUE. THEY SIT THERE, ACTUALLY SLEEP AT THE CENTER DURING STORMS. AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THE PAST RECENT PAST IS THANKED THEM. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN THERE YES, SIR. AS A RANK AND FILE AND WORKED YOUR WAY UP THROUGH THE SYSTEM, SIR. SO SIR, THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THIS CHALLENGE. AND I KNOW THE CENTER WILL ONLY GET BETTER. SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS, UM, VERY, VERY HUMBLED AND FOR THIS EXCITING EXPERIENCE. AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY GOOD MORNING. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY STATE SENATE COLLEAGUE WHO WORKS IN A COLLABORATIVE AS CAROL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS, TERRY. THANKS ALL. LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COMMUNITY THAT SPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, FIREFIGHTERS. IT'S A NEW DAY. THANK Y'ALL. I WILL MEET EVERYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO VISIT. CERTAINLY THESE OUT OF TOWN RANGERS IN THE LEGACY ROOM. UH, WE'VE GOT A SETUP DOWN THERE FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT AND, UH, CELEBRATE THESE APPOINTMENTS. THANK Y'ALL. I'LL SEE YOU DOWNSTAIRS. [03:52:54] IF I COULD HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. [MATTERS HELD - NUMBERING] UH, MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU CALL UP ITEM 67? MAKE THE MOTION. CASTEX MOVED TO PULL ITEM 67 OUT OF ORDER TO THE NEXT ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION. SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? THERE'S NONE. MEMBERS. UH, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD A FULL COUNCIL MEETING YESTERDAY. I LISTENED. I THINK THERE WAS A, UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF MISLEADING MISINFORMATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND, UH, THE SYSTEM. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY GIVE YOU THE HISTORY OF THE ITEM. WHEN I WAS BRIEFED, WHEN I GOT HERE IN JANUARY, THAT THIS WAS A CONCERN FOLLOWING THE OCTOBER 7TH TRAGEDY, WE WERE WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, ACTUALLY, THE NIGHT I WAS SWORN IN CONCERNS ABOUT CERTAIN GROUPS, PROTESTORS, AND SO RESPONDING TO PRIVATE CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. WE WENT TO WORK ON THIS TRYING TO FIND A WORKABLE SOLUTION. WE LOOK TO OTHER CITIES. DALLAS HAS AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. PASADENA'S HAD IT FOREVER. I COULD GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND GIVE YOU EXAMPLES OF WHERE IT WORKED. IT WAS MODELED AFTER DIALYSIS, NOT ABOUT ME. NOW, LEMME TELL YOU HOW I GOT INTRODUCED TO IT IN TERMS OF RESENTMENT BY EVEN ACTUALLY, SOME OF OUR FRIENDS WAS, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THE FIRST, AND EVEN THE SECOND COUNCIL MEETING, I CHAIRED, THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROTESTORS HERE WITH THEIR SIGNS, LARGE NUMBERS, TRYING TO DROWN US OUT. I ACTUALLY [03:55:01] TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE THEM THAT I WOULD CONTINUE GIVING 'EM MORE TIME IF THEY'D QUIT APPLAUDING AND WASTING TIMES. AND PLEASE PUT YOUR SIGNS DOWN. THE SIGNS ARE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART. I UNDERSTAND THE PASSION OF THE LEGITIMACY OF THEIR HEARTACHE. WE ALL SHARE IN SADNESS OVER TRAGEDIES ON BOTH SIDE IN GAZA. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO FOREIGN AFFAIRS. I MADE THAT PUBLICLY KNOWN. THAT IS NOT WHAT HOUSTONIANS ELECTED ME, NOR I BELIEVE YOU TO DEAL WITH. WHETHER IT'S THE UKRAINE, THE GAZA, TRAGEDY, OTHER CONFLICTS. I'M INTO PICKING UP GARBAGE, DEBRIS, PUBLIC SAFETY. I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST THAT I KNOW WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS. BUT BECAUSE OF MY DECLARATION THAT I WAS GONNA TAKE CARE OF CITY BUSINESS AND NOT FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE ATTORNEY ATTENTION WAS TURNED TOWARDS ME. I'M FINE. BUT MY NEIGHBORS AREN'T THE CHILDREN. THE SENIORS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE NOT FINE TO HEAR DRUMS BULLHORNS EXCEEDING THE SOUND ORDINANCE AT 1130 AT NIGHT, OR WHEN I TRIED TO GO TO KINGWOOD ON SATURDAY, JULY 4TH. ACTUALLY, IT WAS THURSDAY, JULY 4TH. MY DRIVEWAY WAS BLOCKED. BUT I'M FINE. I HAVE A EXCELLENT SECURITY DETAIL, AND I DON'T WANNA GO INTO OTHER SAFEGUARDS THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED ME, BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT FOR OUR RABBIS ACROSS THE CITY TO THE DILIGENCE THAT I'M GETTING. ONE OF MY COMMITMENTS WAS OUR COMMUNITY, CERTAINLY DURING THIS CRISIS, IS OUR MOSQUE WOULD BE PROTECTED. OUR SYNAGOGUES, OUR RABBIS, OUR IMAN, OUR CHANCELLORS. IF YOU REMEMBER, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE AN ENCAMPMENT AT U OF H THAT WAS CLOSED. THIS IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, . AND I THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE OPEN DISCUSSION YESTERDAY. AND I'M GONNA GET RIGHT TO THE POINT OF THE MISINFORMATION AND ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TELL US WHAT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE DOES NOT DO. ARTURO. THIS IS NOT, UH, AN ORDINANCE THAT PROTECTS A CERTAIN CLASS OF PEOPLE. THAT DOESN'T TARGET A CERTAIN CLASS OF PROTESTORS. IT APPLIES TO EVERYONE UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT. UH, IT'S OFTEN A BALANCING TEST IN TERMS OF THE INTERESTS. AND IF IT'S CONTENT NEUTRAL, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST, UH, ITEMS THAT HAS TO BE ESTABLISHED. AND IT IS CONTENT NEUTRAL FOR THOSE REASONS. YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE, AS THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, IT, IT, THE FOCUS IN THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION YESTERDAY WAS ON, UH, PEOPLE WHO HOLD POLITICAL OFFICE. BUT IT APPLY EQUALLY TO PEOPLE WHO TAKE SOCIAL STANDS, PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR LOOK AT, UM, FACT OF THE MATTER IS, UH, I'M A BIG 10 GUY, BUT I'VE COME TO LEARN IN MY NEAR 40 YEARS HERE THAT THERE'S A RIVALRY BETWEEN TEXAS UNIVERSITIES. AND IF AFTER A FOOTBALL GAME, A BUNCH OF LONGHORNS WENT TO AN AGGIE'S HOUSE AND STARTED PROTESTING AND INVADING THE PRIVACY, THIS WOULD APPLY EQUALLY. SO IT, THIS IS CONTENT NEUTRAL. I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT IS OVERLOOKED IN SOME OF THE, IN SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS HERE. THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL POLICY. UH, YESTERDAY WE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO SAID IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I THINK THAT REFLECTS MORE OF A, A POLICY PREFERENCE. THIS IS NARROWLY TAILORED. IT ONLY APPLIES TO FOCUSED PICKETING. IT'S A FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR RESIDENCE. UH, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE AMPLE, UH, CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE SHOWN. AND IT SERVES AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST. THAT INTEREST IS RESIDENTIAL PRIVACY. THE COURTS HAVE MADE VERY CLEAR THAT A PERSON'S HOME IS ENTITLED TO CERTAIN SANCTITY, UH, WHEN THAT HAPPENS. AND THIS IS ONLY FOCUSED ON THAT PEOPLE CAN OTHERWISE PROTEST ON THE STREETS IF IT'S NOT TARGETED, IF IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON A PARTICULAR RESIDENCE. SO THIS IS IN LINE WITH SEVERAL OTHER, UM, MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE MAYOR MENTIONED DALLAS, THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE IN DALLAS SINCE 1993. THANK YOU ARTURO. AND IT HAS BEEN RULED ON BY THE SUPREME COURT. THE OPINION BY JUSTICE O'CONNOR YES, MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE DIRECTION OF SOMEONE'S RESIDENCE. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S THE PRIVACY INTEREST THAT THAT WAS BEING PROTECTED AND ON BALANCE. I APPRECIATE IT. NOW, YESTERDAY, AFTER YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING A DIALOGUE, ALLOWING THE [04:00:01] STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY, SOUNDED LIKE A COMMITTEE MEETING. Y'ALL KNOW, I WANNA STRENGTHEN OUR COMMITTEE SYSTEM, NOT OVERBURDEN US WITH TOO MANY COMMITTEES OR SUBJECTS. BUT I UNDERSTAND IN RECENT YEARS, THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM WAS PRIMARILY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE DIRECTORS TO GET INFORMATION. I WANT SOME REAL RESEARCH AND INFORMATION GATHERING IN THESE COMMITTEES. THIS WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT SUBJECT TO HAVE A HEARING ON. AND SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO SEND THIS SERIOUS TOPIC THAT'S NOT GONNA GO AWAY. IT COULD BE YOU TOMORROW. IT COULD BE OUR CONSTITUENTS TO MARK. IT COULD BE THE NAACP, JAMES DIXON. I COULD GO ON AND ON. RESIDENCES ARE IMPORTANT, AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS CRITICAL, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE A SAFE, PEACEFUL HOME. NONE OF THE 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS SHOULD HAVE TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF SOME OF THE FOLKS AND SOME OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT WAS EXHIBITED AS THEY LEFT YESTERDAY. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, TO PLACE THIS ITEM IN PUBLIC SAFETY. IF I COULD GET MY, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM TO, UH OH. ARE WE HAVE MAKE THAT PROPOSAL DISCUSSION FIRST, SIR. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT IDEA. UH, THANK YOU. I'M JUST COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF THIS PROPOSAL, UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS OPPRESSING THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO HAVE CONCERNS, WHO ARE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF WHATEVER ISSUE THEY BELIEVE IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD HAVE A 200 FEET REQUIREMENT, UH, FROM A TARGETED HOME WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR OBSTRUCTION OR EXCITING A RIOT, OR DISTURBING THE PEACE THAT YOU CAN ALREADY UTILIZE IF PEOPLE GO BEYOND THE REALM OF A PEACEFUL PROTEST. UM, OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY IS FOUNDED UPON INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE ABILITY TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST, TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM. AND WITHOUT HAVING A PROTEST, SOMETIMES THE PRESSURE OR THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT THERE OR NECESSARY TO PUSH THOSE ITEMS. PEOPLE PROTEST BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING HEARD IN OTHER VENUES. SO THEY TRY FIRST TO HAVE MEETINGS, TRY FIRST TO CONVENE AND SPEAK AND DO LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGNS, OR SEND EMAILS OR CALLS. BUT IF THEY FEEL AS IF THEY'RE STILL NOT BEING HEARD, THEN THE PROTEST, MANY TIMES AS THE LAST RESORT AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH GIVES THEM THAT, RIGHT? AS LONG AS THEY'RE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT WILL, UH, CAUSE HARM. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL VALUE. IF ANYONE FEELS UNSAFE IN THEIR HOME BECAUSE OF ANY ACTIONS BY THOSE WHO ARE DOING THINGS. AS I STATED BEFORE, THERE ARE ALREADY PROTECTIONS FOR THAT. UM, THE PROTEST IS NECESSARY FOR ESPECIALLY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND LEADERS SO THAT WE CANNOT DUCK AND DODGE THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THEY'RE SAYING IS HEARD. SO THEY'RE GONNA CHANT, THEY'RE GOING TO, UM, BE A LITTLE LOUD AND, UM, SOMETIMES RAMBUNCTIOUS. BUT THAT'S JUST THE EMOTION OF THEM FEELING AS IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER WAY TO GET OUR ATTENTION. AND WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING THAT, UM, GETS IN THE WAY OF THAT. WHEN YOU PUSH 200 FEET AWAY FROM A TARGETED RESIDENCE, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS GONNA CAUSE ALL YOU'RE GONNA DO IS CAUSE THEM TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOMES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP PROTESTING BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE AND ADVOCATES AND ACTIVISTS ARE JUST GONNA FIND A WAY AROUND THAT. SO THEY'LL GO 200 FEET AWAY, AND THEN THEY'LL BE IN FRONT OF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOME, WHICH WILL MAKE THE NEIGHBORS EVEN MORE UPSET. SO I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS MAY BE AS WELL, AND FIND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN NOT SUPPRESS THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WHO PUT US IN THESE POSITIONS, BUT [04:05:01] FIND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN COLLABORATE AND ENGAGE WITH THEM SO THAT THEY ARE HEARD AND FEEL AS IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO WASTE THEIR TIME STANDING IN FRONT OF ANY HOMES JUST TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. I RESPECT THOSE VIEWS. I PROBABLY WOULD LISTEN TO SANDRA DALE O'CONNOR'S OPINION BEFORE I'D GO BY YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RULING. I'VE INVITED EVERYONE TO JOIN ME AT NINE O'CLOCK FRIDAY NIGHT, OR YOU CAN SHOW UP LATER. THEY'RE USUALLY THERE AT 1130. IT'S NOT THE HOUSE THAT THEY'RE PROTESTING. SO IF THEY'VE MOVED AND IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DALLAS, IF THEY MOVE FOUR HOUSES DOWN, THEY DON'T GET THEIR TARGET. I LEFT OUT LAST SATURDAY MORNING AT EIGHT 30 TO GO PICK UP DEBRIS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. AND ONCE I PULLED OUTTA THE DRIVEWAY, THEY LEFT, WHICH REFUTES MOST OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THEY WERE THERE TO PROTEST THE INDIVIDUAL. NEXT TIME. IT COULD BE A RABBI OR NOT IMAN, OR A CHANCELLOR OR YOUR HOUSE FOUR DOORS DOWN DOES NOT ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION. IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY'RE PROTESTING AGAINST. I WELCOME YOU, I'LL SERVE YOU REFRESHMENTS, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A REAL LIVE. PUT THE FACE ON THE PROBLEM AT NINE O'CLOCK FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER THIS EXCHANGE. I WAS SURPRISED THEY WEREN'T THERE LAST NIGHT, QUITE FRANKLY. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS. THE TOOLS YOU SPEAK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, AGAIN, THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTS THAT CAME TO ME JANUARY. ONE CONCERN, SAY DISORDERLY CONDUCT DOES NOT COVER IT. THE SOUND ORANGE DOESN'T COVER IT BECAUSE THEY'LL DISPUTE IT. BUT THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS. WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHO'S PAYING THEM. AND I'M NOT GONNA DISCUSS IT IN PUBLIC, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT THE REST OF THE STORY, MY STAFF OR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BRIEF YOU. I RESPECT YOU AS A MEMBER. I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU'RE OPPOSING WHAT I'M PROPOSING, BUT I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS AND I WILL YIELD TO THE, UH, COUNCIL RAMIREZ. DO YOU WANNA GO THIS WAY? COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, LET ME JUST SAY THAT I SUPPORT YOUR MOVE TO REFER THIS TO COMMITTEE. UH, IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF YOU MAYOR LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON WHEN THEY COME TO COMMENT AT OUR MEETINGS AND LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THE OTHER FOLKS ON THIS COUNCIL. AND SO I THINK THIS, THIS IS GOOD GOVERNMENT. UH, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW, UH, WE HAVE A COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND IT CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE PROPOSED ORDINANCES. AND I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I WELCOME IT. UH, I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR STAFF ABOUT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UM, AND, AND I'VE HAD SOME CONCERNS. EVEN THOUGH I WILL SAY I AGREE WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THAT RESIDENTIAL PICKETING ORDINANCES CAN BE CONSTITUTIONAL. A NUMBER OF CITIES ALREADY HAVE THEM. THE US SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY SAID THAT THEY CAN BE CONSTITUTIONAL. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE TAILORED VERY NARROWLY, UH, SO THAT WE DON'T, UH, OVERLY BURDEN SPEECH UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE, MAKE THIS ORDINANCE BETTER, AND SO THAT WE CAN PRE PROTECT, UH, THE P PETITE, BUT PEACE AND SECURITY, UH, OF, OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. ALSO, MAYOR, YOU SPOKE TO, UH, SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE TOOLS ON THE BOOKS TO, TO PROHIBIT, UH, BAD CONDUCT. AND WE'LL SEE IF THAT'S ACTUALLY THE CASE. WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THE DISTURBING THE PEACE STATUTE OR THE DISORDERLY CONDUCT STATUTE, OR THE NOISE ORDINANCE TO ATTACK, UM, UH, EGREGIOUS CONDUCT. I HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW OUR NOISE ORDINANCE IS INEFFECTIVE, AND I'M LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT NOISE ORDINANCE. AND SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL START A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE HOUSTON, UH, A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE FOR THE FOLKS WHO LIVE ALONG WASHINGTON, FOR THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN RIVERSIDE TERRACE, AS WELL AS EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSIBLE, UH, COMMENTS. DURING MY PASSION, I LEFT OUT THAT ONE OF MY PURPOSES WAS TO DEESCALATE THINGS. YES, LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD GO AND ARREST FRIDAY NIGHT DISORDERLY CONDUCT SOUND ORDINANCE WHEN THEY BRING THEIR METER, AND WE COULD CLOG UP THE COURTS. WE'RE WASTING OUR POLICE RESOURCES. WE TALK ABOUT HOTSPOTS. UH, I THINK COUNCILMAN POLLY, THIS WOULD QUALIFY AS A HOTSPOT. WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH A, UH, CIVILIZATION CIVIL DISTRICT LATER THIS MORNING. THIS [04:10:01] IS JUST NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION. IT'S TO MAKE IT CIVIL AND DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT GO FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION, DEALING WITH THE RESIDENCIES OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW SCARED THE ACADEMIC WORLD IS. OUR MINISTERS OF ALL FAITHS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DEESCALATE THINGS. SO ANYWAY, UH, THE SMART THING'S GONNA BE TO HAVE A GOOD PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC SAFETY. I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR CHAIR. I WOULD INVITE EVERYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD TO BE IN THESE HEARINGS. I'VE NEVER REMEMBER THIS. IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER ANOTHER THING. IN MY 50 YEARS OF PASSING LEGISLATION AND VOTING ON THOUSANDS OF BILLS, I'VE NEVER SEEN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT COULDN'T BE IMPROVED. AND THIS CERTAINLY FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY. I I URGE Y'ALL TO TAKE A RESPONSIBLE ROLE TO REPRESENT ALL OF HOUSTONIANS DAVIS. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I DO WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING THIS BACK TO COMMITTEE AND, UH, HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, REFLECTION OF WHAT DIRECTION OUR CITY GOING IN. I WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, I COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR CONCERNS AND INTERESTS IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS GIVEN THEIR RIGHTS AND PROTECTED THEIR RIGHTS. I, FOR ONE, AS OTHERS HAVE LOVED ONES FATHERS, MOTHERS, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY, GIVEN PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO UNDER THE CONSTITUTION TO, UH, PROTEST. BUT ALSO OUR CONSTITUTION GIVES PEOPLE RIGHT TO PROTECTION AND NOT TO BE HARASSED. AND, UH, THERE'S A, THERE'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN PROTESTING AND HARASSMENT. THERE'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN PROTESTING AND THREATS, UH, OF, UM, OF HARM TO PEOPLE. AND THIS IS NOT, I'M NOT NAMING OR, OR, YOU KNOW, PERSONALIZING ANYONE, BUT LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT PROTESTS HAVE TURNED VIOLENT, AND THEN PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. AND I, I WOULD WEAR THE UNIFORM AGAIN, AS I DID YEARS AGO DURING THE VIETNAM ERA TO GIVE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST. BUT I WOULD ALSO DO THE SAME AND GIVE PEOPLE THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO BE PROTECTED. SO IT'S NOT A COURSE OF RUNNING FROM ANYTHING. AND I RESPECT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH, UM, MINDS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT WE COULD COME UP AND, AND SUPPORT OF THIS. I'VE HAD MANY CALLS FROM MANY PASTOR LEADERS IN THIS TOWN ABOUT THE VERY EFFECTS OF WHAT THIS CAN CAN CREATE. AND SO I HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER WITHOUT CONFLICT OR CONFUSION, BUT THAT WE WOULD NOT SIDE. WE WITNESSED YESTERDAY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE THREAT OF THEIR PROTESTS AND RIGHTS AND FREEDOM TO SPEAK INTERRUPTED A PERSON WHO HAD A RIGHT TO SPEAK. AND I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND I'M PRAYERFUL IN THIS, PLEASE, I, I WOULD, THAT NO ONE MISREPRESENT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. BUT LISTEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN GIVE REASONS FOR FREEDOM. SOMETIMES FREEDOM CAN BE MISUSED IN A, IN A WHAT'S, WHAT'S, WHAT'S FREE AND RIGHT FOR ME, MAY SOMEBODY ELSE MAY THINK IT'S NOT FREE OR RIGHT FOR THEM. SO I RESPECT ALL OF THOSE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. WE HAVE SOME SMART, INTELLIGENT COUNCIL PEOPLE, AND I'M HOPING AND PRAYING THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER IN THIS COMMITTEE AND COME BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT SATISFIES THE COMMITTEE. WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. DO NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC MAYOR. AND, UH, I'VE BEEN IN CASES WHERE THAT'S BEEN IGNORED IN OTHER CASES WHEN THEY DIDN'T HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE RESULTS TURNED OUT A LOT DIFFERENT. SO I RESPECT YOU IN THAT. I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE. I MEAN, I JUST WISH WE WOULD STOP FOCUSING OR INTENTIONALLY OR OTHERWISE ACCUSING ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CAUSING THIS TO DOING THIS. [04:15:01] THAT'S THE PIECE I HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH. I'M A GRAND, I'M A GRANDDAUGHTER OF A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. I MEAN, HE'S A JUDGE. I MEAN, MY GRANDFATHER RIGHT NOW, HE WOULD BE REALLY UPSET WITH ME IF I SAID THAT WE NEED TO STOP PEOPLE FROM VOICING THEIR OPINIONS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY WANT. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO STOP MAKING IT SEEM LIKE IT'S ABOUT THESE PEOPLE. AND I, AND I, I APOLOGIZE, BUT IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT. I KNOW. SO WHEN I SAY THE PEOPLE, I MIND SEEING THAT MAYOR. BUT THAT'S THE, IT WAS THE FOLKS WHO WAS HERE YESTERDAY, I RECOGNIZED THEM. IT IS THOSE PEOPLE. I KNOW. THE, IT'S THE THEM AND THE PEOPLE. THAT'S THE PART THAT'S REALLY KIND OF INFURIATING ME BECAUSE WELL ACCEPTED, EVERYONE IN THE CITY HAS A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS. THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT. YEAH. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. AND SO THE, THE CONFUSION THAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THIS TO GO TO COMMITTEE. I WANT US TO VOTE ON THIS NOW AND BE DONE WITH IT ONLY BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND PICKETING ARE A WAY THAT HISTORICALLY THINGS HAVE MOVED FORWARD. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT, I BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR JOB IS NOT FOREIGN POLICY. I GET THAT PART AND I RESPECT THAT PART. WE HAVE TO JUST FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER TO HAVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. SURE. AND I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE WAY THAT WE DO A PUBLIC SESSION IS A WAY THAT THEY ENGAGE WITH US. BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY OF ENGAGEMENT. MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE A TOWN HALL WHERE, WHERE EVERYONE CAN COME IN AND JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO PREVENT NOT JUST WHO Y'ALL ARE REFERRING TO AS THE PEOPLE. THIS IS ALSO GONNA PREVENT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS TO COME AND TALK ABOUT AIR QUALITY AND CHO SOTE IN THE WATER AND BAD WAYS OF LIVING AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. IT JUST, IT JUST MURS THE WATER. AND SO I, I DON'T KNOW, MAYOR, I, I, I GET THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGING CONVERSATION. UM, BUT WE, I THINK THAT UNINTENTIONALLY WE ARE REALLY, UM, WE JUST KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND I, AND THAT JUST IS NOT FAIR BECAUSE I THINK THAT MURS THE WATER AND I THINK THAT IT REMOVES PEOPLE'S CIVIL RIGHTS TO DEMONSTRATE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. AND WE JUST NEED TO, WE, WE AS A COUNCIL, NEED TO FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO, TO LET THEM EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CREATING, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, BUT, UM, THIS IS, THIS IS, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S DONE IN THIS WAY. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S THE REASON IT'S GOING TO COMMITTEE. THANK YOU THOMAS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THOMAS. THOMAS. THOMAS. I'M SORRY. THANK, UM, I APPRECIATE THE, UM, UH, LEVITY FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT AGGIES AND LONGHORNS. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT LAGGY AGGIES AND LONGHORNS ARE NOT PROTESTING. RIGHT. , WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, THE ATTACK ON A TO OR SEVENTH VOTING RIGHTS AT TIMES, POLICE BRUTALITY AT TIMES, WORKERS' RIGHTS WITH WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT, WORKERS AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN HA THEM HAVING A PATHWAY TO DO THIS. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS GOING INTO COMMITTEE BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT WHEN THINGS COME ON THE AGENDA, WE SHOULD HAVE A DECISIVE, WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR IF WE WANTED PUBLIC INPUT, IT SHOULD HAVE NOT, IT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO COMMITTEE FIRST BEFORE COMING ON THIS AGENDA. UM, AND SO, ALTHOUGH, UH, JAMES CROW MAY BE, UH, ABOLISHED, UH, JIM CROW MAY BE ABOLISHED, JAMES CROW, ESQUIRE IS ALIVE AND WELL. AND I WILL NEVER BE ON THE SIDE OF USING LEGISLATION TO LIMIT ANYONE'S LIBERTIES. I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF IT BECAUSE AS SOMEONE THAT HAS CUT HER TEETH IN A PEACEFUL PROTEST, AS SOMEONE THAT HAS CUT HER TEETH, AND MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY, I NEVER WANT TO TAKE AWAY ANY TOOL WHERE A COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO LIFT THEIR VOICE. UM, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT. WE COULD TALK ABOUT DALLAS IN HOUSTON. WE DON'T MODEL AFTER DALLAS. WE PIONEER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE THE LARGEST CITY IN THIS STATE. AND SO IN THIS CITY, THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE THE REPUTATION WHERE PEOPLE COME HERE. I DO BELIEVE THAT, UM, ALTHOUGH YOU'RE MAKING A DECISION NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN NA IN INTERNATIONAL CONVERSATION, THAT'S YOUR RIGHT. AS MAYOR, AS YOU DECIDE YOUR PRIORITIES, WE HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, THIS IS MY HOUSTON TOO, THEY'RE LOOKING TO THEIR MAYOR TO SEE THEM, TO HEAR THEM, TO CREATE SPACE FOR THEM WHERE THEY HAVE CREATED SPACE IN THIS GREAT CITY. THAT'S ALL THEY'RE ASKING. YES, THERE ARE SOME LESSONS THAT THEY CAN LEARN AND HOW, HOW TO COMMUNICATE, BUT THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE, THEY'RE JUST GETTING INVOLVED IN WHAT JUSTICE MEANS FOR THEM AND WHAT'S ADVOCACY MEANS FOR THEM. AND THAT'S FOR THE OLDER GENERATION TO SHOW THEM ON HOW THINGS CAN BE DONE. RIGHT. SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN EITHER OR. AGAIN, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS GOING TO COMMITTEE. I'M READY TO VOTE, UM, ON THE ITEM AS IS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT I CHERISH THE RIGHT TO PROTEST, UM, WHICH IS A FUNDAMENTAL CORNERSTONE [04:20:01] OF WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS BUILT ON, BUT ALSO HIS WORK TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD AND THE LINE FORWARD, UH, IN OUR HISTORY TO RIGHT THE WRONGS AS WELL, AND TO DO BETTER AND TO PUSH FOR MORE, UM, FOR THE PEOPLE. I DO WANNA CAUTION ALL OF US IN THIS CONVERSATION OF FOCUSING ON ONE GROUP OVER ANOTHER GROUP. UH, THERE MAY BE PERSONAL AND LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT MANY OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH. UH, BUT YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, TO YOUR POINT, THERE IS A HISTORY OF PROTESTING AND CHALLENGES WITH THAT, INCLUDING, UH, WITH, WITH ABORTION AND WOMEN'S HEALTH RIGHTS. UM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH TODAY. AND NOW. SO WHEN THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE COME UP IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, IT HAS NOT BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS FOCUSED ON ONE GROUP, OVER ANOTHER GROUP. SO I WANNA CAUTION US. 'CAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, TO YOUR POINT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN THE RISK OF ISOLATING, UH, ONE GROUP ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING OVER ANOTHER GROUP. UH, AND I, I HOPE WE'RE ALL VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT. THAT BEING SAID, UM, I, I DO, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MOTION, UH, ON THE FLOOR AND WITH, THERE'S NO MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I HOPE IT SOME POINT, AS SOON AS EVERYONE'S DONE IN QUEUE, WE CAN VOTE ON, UH, THE REFERRAL ITEM SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON WITH THE REST OF AGENDA. BECAUSE MAYOR, AS YOU SAID, YOU HOPE FOR A MORE IN DEPTH CONVERSATION AT COMMITTEE. SURE. NOT NECESSARILY TODAY. UH, THAT BEING SAID, I DO HOPE WITH THOSE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS, SURE. THERE ARE CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS, UH, WITH EXPERTISE IN THIS, UH, THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ASK FOR MEETINGS TO ASK FOR ENGAGEMENT. SURE. AND I HOPE IN ADDITION TO, UM, THE PUBLIC COMMITTEE PROCESS, WE ARE SITTING DOWN WITH THOSE CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS TO COME UP WITH A, A SOLUTION AND BUY-IN FROM THE COMMUNITY IN THOSE THAT DO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE, UH, WITH THIS TYPE OF WORK, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. THANK YOU, MA'AM. MAYOR PRO, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I THINK THE, UM, PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION HAS BEEN, UH, FRUITFUL. AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE PRUDENT FOR US TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE ALL BRING A DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCE TO THIS TABLE. UM, THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON BRINGS A DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCE TO OUR GREAT CITY. AND AS WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THIS ORDINANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED STATEMENTS FROM THE NAACP. WE RECEIVED, RECEIVED STATEMENTS FROM ACL U. WE, WE SAW A STATEMENT FROM THE GLBT, UH, Q PLUS, UM, CAUCUS. UH, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED OUR OFFICES ABOUT THIS. AND SO IT, IT REALLY SPEAKS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND AS REPRESENTATIVES, MAYOR, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS ARE THEIR REALITIES. AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT, UH, RULING AND, UM, ANY OF WHAT HAS BEEN UPHELD FOR, UM, PICKETING IN FRONT OF TARGETED HOMES, PEOPLE'S REALITY IN WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING. NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE RULES. BUT I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTED PEOPLE IN WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ACL U, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. I'VE READ THE SUPREME COURT RULING. I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO BRING THESE PARTIES TOGETHER TO DETERMINE DO WE NEED THIS ORDINANCE? UM, CAN WE MAKE THIS ORDINANCE BETTER? BUT OUR STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION THAT WE MOVE HOUSTON FORWARD. I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT ARE CLAMORING FOR THIS PROTECTION THAT WANT TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. UM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT, BUT THERE ARE GROUPS WHO HAVE APPROACHED, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS TYPE OF PROTECTION. AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE NAMED, THEY DON'T WANT TO COME TO PUBLIC SESSION TO STATE THAT THEY WANT THESE PROTECTIONS. AND THEN MY LIVED EXPERIENCE IS THE POWER OF THE PROTEST. I REMEMBER READING ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING AND HIM SAYING THAT THE PROTEST IS THE LANG IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE UNHEARD. UM, AND SO WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERYONE'S LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO CONSIDERATION. UM, WE ARE A DIVERSE CITY, NOT ONLY IN ETHNICITIES AND CULTURE, BUT IN A DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT. AND ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE. I KNOW THE NAACP PUT IN A REQUEST FOR A MEETING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DID. UM, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION [04:25:01] THAT WE MOVE, UM, TO THIS ITEM TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN HOPES THAT THAT WILL ALSO GIVE US TIME FOR THOSE GROUPS, UM, TO MEET WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER AND DETERMINE DO WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON THIS ORDINANCE? DO WE NEED THIS ORDINANCE? SHOULD THIS ORDINANCE EVEN BE SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION BEFORE I FEEL READY TO MAKE THIS VOTE. CAYMAN SECOND. SECOND. VERY WELL SAID. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. AND MOST OF THE GROUPS YOU NAMED ARE MY FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS. GOING BACK TO THE DAYS THAT I WAS PART OF THEIR PICKETING EFFORT, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A SERIOUS AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION WITH MEMBERS. VERY WELL SAID BY EVERYONE. ALL IN FAVOR. WE HAVE, WE AND WE HAVE TWO MORE IN THE QUEUE. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. NOW WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL COUNCIL MEMBER. ABBA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MOTION TO MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I AM THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BRANCH OF THE NAACP. AND SO THEIR POSITION WEIGHED VERY HEAVILY WITH ME AS WELL, WELL AS THE OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. SO I WANT TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS CERTAINLY OF THE NAACP WAS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. I THINK THAT THAT COMMITTEE WILL SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO COME AND MAKE CO PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I WELCOME EVERYONE TO PLEASE USE THIS, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK. I CERTAINLY HAD A PROTEST AT MY HOME, NOT AT 11:00 PM BUT 3:00 AM. AND SO CERTAINLY I, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS TRYING TO STOP ANYBODY FROM, UH, GIVING, UH, THEIR OPINIONS, UH, AND MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS BEST. THAT IS THE AMERICAN WAY. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS ITEM TODAY. SURE. AND ASKING FOR, UH, APPROVAL OF A COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL GIVE THE NAACP PURE JUSTICE LGBTQ PLUS, AND ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. AND I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONTACT. YOU AND I HAVE HAD, UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND ON THIS MOTION, I DO, UH, SUPPORT THIS GOING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEM MADE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS ABOUT INFORMATION THAT WE'VE LEARNED, GROUPS THAT ARE SEEKING SOME PROTECTIONS THAT DON'T WANT TO BE MADE PUBLIC. UH, BUT IN THE PUBLIC'S EYE, THIS IS ABOUT US AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT A BIGGER PICTURE, UM, AND KEEPING FOLKS SAFE THAT ARE BEING TARGETED IN THEIR HOMES. AND IT'S, IT'S A SENSITIVE TOPIC. IT'S, UH, ONE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO GET RIGHT. AND HAVING MORE DISCUSSION, HAVING MORE RESEARCH DONE, HAVING A CONVERSATION AND, AND BRINGING MORE STAKEHOLDERS IN IS GOING TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO, TO ENSURE THAT THE DECISION WE MAKE IS THE BEST ONE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND A COMMITTEE MEETING IS THE, THE BEST PLACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. UM, AND SO I, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION TO SEND THIS TO THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. AND YOU AND I KNOW FROM OUR EXPERIENCE IN WORKING TOGETHER, THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE VERY, UH, ACTIVE PROMOTING EQUALITY, THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPPOSITION SHOWING UP AND, UH, DISTURBING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND YOU AND I KNOW THEY DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY BE NAMED, BUT IT'S REAL BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE FOREFRONT OF, UH, PROMOTING AND EXERCISING, EQUALITY, A LIFESTYLE PERHAPS, THAT PEOPLE AND PROTESTORS MAY NOT APPROVE OF. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CON EXPRESSIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER, PLUMBER, YOU'RE THROUGH. OKAY. UM, JUST NEED A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO REFER. ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. CALL. OH, ROLL CALL. APOLOGIES. ROLL CALL. OKAY. MADAM SECRETARY, MAY I ADMIRE? YES. YES. COUNCILMAN PECK? YES. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBA? YES. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL THOMAS? NO. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MARTINEZ? YES. COUNCILOR POLLARD? NO. COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCILOR DAVIS. YES. COUNCILOR MCC CARTER? YES. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. NOW COUNCILOR [04:30:01] ALCORN? YES. THERE'LL BE 13 AYES. THREE NAYS. THE MOTION IS APPROVED AND IT'LL BE REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR THE VERY RESPONSIBLE WAY WE'VE HANDLED THIS. UH, HOUSTON, IT'S GONNA BE BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS DIALOGUE AND WE WORK TOGETHER GOING FORWARD. THANK Y'ALL. I'M GONNA YIELD THE CHAIR TO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM SO I CAN GO, UH, CONGRATULATE, UH, THE APPOINTEES THIS MORNING. THANK Y'ALL. GOOD JOB. [1.  9:00 A.M - PUBLIC HEARING regarding the re-adoption of Article XII CHAPTER 32, CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF HOUSTON, regarding Standards of Care for the Houston Parks & Recreation Department Youth Recreation Programs ] WE'LL MOVE TO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL ITEM ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF ARTICLE 12, CHAPTER 32. WE HAVE MS. AKIA LEWIS, THE DIVISION MANAGER WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HERE TODAY FOR A PRESENTATION. IS MS. LEWIS HERE, MR. LEWIS? MR. LEWIS? MR. LEWIS, I'M SO SORRY MR. LEWIS FAULT. THEY HAVE IT WRONG ON THE SHEET. MR. LEWIS, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. UH, WE, WE ARE READY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YES, MA'AM. I FIRST WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND ALSO THE MAYOR AND HIS ABSENCE. AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, INTRODUCE TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, OUR NEWLY HIRED AND MY DIRECT LEADERSHIP, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RECREATION AND WELLNESS DIVISION, MR. PRENTICE CO. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. MORNING, YOUR HONOR. MY NAME IS NAKIA LEWIS AND I AM THE INTERIM DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR RECREATION AND WELLNESS COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATIONS AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. CITY ATTORNEY ARTURO MICHELLE IS ALSO HERE FOR ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEARING OF THE STATE CODE AND CITY ORDINANCE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO BRING THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO CITY COUNCIL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IS TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE 42 0 4 1 B 14. THE STANDARDS OF CARE ARE INTENDED TO BE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS. THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RIGOROUS AND DEPARTMENT WERE USED TO OPERATE THE SUMMER AND AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY 3000 CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM YEARLY, AND TYPICALLY 3,500 CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THE AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. ON THE PROGRAM OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES BASED ON OUR FOUR CORE COMPONENTS, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, FITNESS AND INSTRUCTIONAL SPORTS NATURE, EDUCATION, AND CREATIVE FUN. THE HOUSTON YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM STANDARDS OF CARE IS CODIFIED IN ARTICLE 12 OF CHAPTER 32 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CODE OF ORDINANCES, TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE 42 0 4 1 B 14 PROVIDES AN EXEMPTION FOR CHILDCARE LICENSING FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS SERVING ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN AGES FIVE TO 13 WITH THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA. A MUNICIPALITY OPERATES THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THESE STANDARDS OF CARE TO THE PARENTS OF EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT. THE ORDINANCE INCLUDES CHILD SLASH CAREGIVER RATIOS, MINIMUM EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS, MINIMUM BUILDING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS AND MECHANISMS FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCING THE ADOPTED LOCAL STANDARDS. THE PROGRAM INFORMS THE PARENTS THAT THE STATE DOES NOT LICENSE THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM DOES NOT ADVERTISE ITSELF AS A CHILDCARE OPERATION, AND THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY ANNUALLY ADOPT STANDARDS OF CARE BY ORDINANCE AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. WE ARE REQUESTING COUNSEL ACTION TODAY TO READ, ADOPT THE, THE HOUSTON YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM STANDARDS OF CARE WITH NO CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL AND OR THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. UM, I NEVER WANNA MISS AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN PARKS COMES BEFORE US ON OUR SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF SERVICES THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS PROVIDING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND [04:35:01] FOR ALL RESIDENTS. IT'S, I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR, IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER AT THE CITY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GO AFTER SCHOOL WHEN PARENTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD AFTERSCHOOL CARE. UM, THE COUNSELORS THAT ARE THERE, I HAVE BEEN, I WAS JUST TELLING MY COLLEAGUE, UH, I HAVE BEEN TO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AT NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, EVEN AFTER THE HOURS THAT THE PROGRAM'S RUNNING. AND A COUNSELOR WILL BE THERE WORKING WITH A ELEMENTARY AGE LITTLE BOY TEACHING THEM CHESS WHILE THEIR DAD IS SITTING THERE WITH THEM, BECAUSE THAT CHILD WANTS TO COMPETE ON THEIR SCHOOL'S TEAM. THE DEDICATION THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE, BUT THE ENRICHMENT, THE TUTORING, ALL OF THE SUPPORT, IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S WHAT OUR CITY IS ABOUT. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL, UH, AND PLEASE PASS ALONG OUR APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. SO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. JUST A, A COMMENTARY, UH, IN THE, A EAF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. JUST WANNA SHOUT Y'ALL OUT AND LET YOU KNOW JUST SOME OF THE FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF THE SURVEY. AND THERE'S JUST A, A GROWING, UH, A CONSISTENT COMMENT IS THAT IT'S TOO SHORT. PEOPLE WANT MORE OF THE PROGRAMMING. THEY WANT MORE. UM, THEY BOAST OF THE LEVEL OF EXCELLENCY FROM YOUR COACHES, THE STAFF, THE PROGRAMMING OF ONE COMMENT SAYS THAT ON THE FIRST DAY, MY SON MADE FRIENDS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, AND, AND THEN I THINK THE NEXT TIME Y'ALL COME FOR BUDGET, Y'ALL GOTTA ASK FOR, FOR MORE MONEY AND MORE PEOPLE, UH, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE EXTENDED OVER TIME. HE MAKING NOTES. HE, HE SAID, MAKE THAT NOTE. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, UH, WORKING WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, WORKING IN THE MIDST OF RECOVERY, STILL OPENING OUR PARKS, OUR POOLS, AND ALL OF THAT. BUT THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING AND, AND ADOPTING THE, THE CURRENT STANDARDS AS IT'S, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UM, AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AS WELL FOR ALL OF THE, UH, OUTTA SCHOOL TIME, UH, THAT Y'ALL PROVIDE SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES AS WELL. UM, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN, UH, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING. SO THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES. UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE START LOOKING AT HOW WE ARE RIGHT SIZING DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, AND FOCUSING ON, ON THE MISSION OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL. UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT VOTING ON THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPACE FOR, FOR FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SEE HOW WE'RE GONNA BE LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES, RIGHT? PARTNERS AS WELL, GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT AFTERSCHOOL AND NOT OF TIME CARE, BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT, UH, THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, UM, NOT EVEN IN OUR PARKS. AND SO, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO REALLY THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND NOT, LET'S NOT DO THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES. AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED MORE MONEY. THERE'S NO MORE MONEY, RIGHT? AND SO, HOW DO WE RIGHT SIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND LOOK AT THOSE, UH, PARTNERSHIPS, WHETHER IT IS NONPROFITS, UM, WHETHER IT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS THROUGH THE TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE TO, TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN WITH Y'ALL AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS CHAVEZ. THANK YOU. AM MAYOR PRO TEM. I CERTAINLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MR. COLLINS. UH, BUT I HAVE TO LIFT UP THE NAME OF NIKIA LEWIS. ABSOLUTELY. NIKIA HAS BEEN SO FANTASTIC IN WORKING WITH US AT DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT D UH, I MEAN, JUST PHENOMENAL. HE'S ALWAYS PRESENT. EVERYTHING'S ALWAYS RUNNING VERY SMOOTHLY. AND SO I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK HIM. AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE PARKS ARE. UH, CERTAINLY IN DISTRICT D. IT HELPS TO KEEP OUR SENIORS ENGAGED. IT HELPS TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY ENGAGED, BUT PARTICULARLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE CERTAINLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE THINGS TO DO, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO FALL INTO THE BAD AREAS OF LIFE THAT CERTAINLY CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES. AND SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR TO BOTH OF YOU, UH, FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT, UH, WE EXPECT YOU TO DO MORE OF. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY THAT'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE? IS ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE? MR. THOMAS AND MR. LEWIS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. COUNSEL. NEXT WEEK, THE ORDINANCE WILL BE ON THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? THOMAS MOVES TO OPPOSED THE HEARING. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY. WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, UH, IF YOU'LL CALL ITEM NUMBER TWO. [2.  PUBLIC HEARING regarding the amendment of ARTICLE XVI, CHAPTER 40 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES proposed extension of the Civility Ordinance to the Museum Park area ] ITEM TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER FOUR, THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE, UH, MS. LYNN HENSON HERE, THE DIVISION MANAGER WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND WE ARE READY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. [04:40:01] THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MUSEUM PARK TO AMEND CHAPTER 40 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO DESIGNATE MUSEUM PARK AS A CIVILITY ORDINANCE AREA. THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IS WITHIN CHAPTER 40, SECTION 3 51 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES. THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE ORIGINATED IN 2002 WITH THE CREATION OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT CIVILITY ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO BEST SERVE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE WITHIN THE AREA. NINE ADDITIONAL AREAS WERE PETITIONED AND APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL SINCE THAT TIME. UNDER THIS ARTICLE, RESIDENTS MAY PETITION CITY COUNCIL TO DESIGNATE ANY AREA WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHAT IS A CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND APPROVED CITY CIVILITY ORDINANCE DEEMS IT UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO SIT OR LIE DOWN ON A SIDEWALK OR ON A BLANKET STOOL, OR ANY OTHER OBJECT PLACED UPON A SIDEWALK BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 AM AND 11:00 PM IT IS ALSO UNLAWFUL FOR PERSONS TO PLACE OR DEPOSIT ANY ITEM OF, OF BEDDING MATERIALS OR PERSONAL POSSESSIONS ON A SIDEWALK. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO A BLANKET BAG, PACKAGE, OR CONTAINER OF PERSONAL POSSESSIONS. THIS ORDINANCE DOES ALLOW FOR USE OF SIDEWALKS AND OTHER INSTANCES SUCH AS PATRONIZING COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, ATTENDING A FESTIVAL OR PARADE WAITING TO ENTER A BUILDING OR IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. THE PETITION CREATION PROCESS DESIGNATED AREAS ARE ADDED THROUGH A CITIZEN LED PETITION PROCESS. PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 40 DASH 3 53, THE PETITION MUST DESCRIBE AND IDENTIFY THE PROPOSED BOUNDARIES. PETITIONERS MUST OBTAIN SIGNATURES OF SUPPORT FROM AT LEAST 20% OF PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES, AS WELL AS SIGNATURES OF AT LEAST 100 RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 18. THE SIGNATURES ARE COLLECTED ARE TO BE COLLECTED WITHIN A 60 DAY PERIOD. SIGNATURES MUST ALSO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE FIRST SIGNATURE. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SHALL INVESTIGATE THE PROPOSED AREA WITH REGARD TO THE EXISTENCE OF CONDUCT THAT WOULD VIOLATE THIS ARTICLE IF THE PROPOSED AREA WERE DESIGNATED BY CITY COUNCIL. THE MUSEUM PARK PETITION COMMUNITY LEADERS WITHIN THE MUSEUM PARK AREA APPROACH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PART DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S OFFICE SEEKING TO ESTABLISH A CIVILITY ORDINANCE WITHIN A DEFINED BOUNDARY. THE MUSEUM PARK CIVILITY ORDINANCE PETITION FALLS WITHIN DISTRICT D COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ'S, DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND SHE'S NOT HERE TO HEAR THAT. UM, THE BOUNDARY IDENTIFIED IS BOARDED BY PALM STREET AND SOUTHWEST FREEWAY, OR 59 69 TO THE NORTH SOUTHWEST FREEWAY, OR 2 88 TO THE EAST HERMAN DRIVE TO THE SOUTH AND MAIN STREET AND FANON STREET TO THE WEST. THE PETITIONED AREA ABUTS THE MIDTOWN AREA ON THE NORTH AND THE RIVERSIDE TERRACE AREA ON THE SOUTHEAST. NOW NOTE THAT HERMAN PARK IS TO THE SOUTH OF MUSEUM PARK PETITION AREA, JUST ACROSS HERMAN DRIVE. MUSEUM PARK HELD SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS. THE COMMUNITY SUBMITTED THE PETITION OF SUPPORT FOR MUSEUM PARK TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. ALL PETITION REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET PER THE ORDINANCE. THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS REQUESTED TO INVESTIGATE THE OCCURRENCE OF CONDUCT THAT WOULD VIOLATE THIS ARTICLE ONCE THE PROPOSED AREA WERE TO BE DESIGNATED. THE INVESTIGATION INCLUDES ANY INCIDENTS OF CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT WITHIN THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS INVESTIGATED THE EXISTENCE OF CONDUCT WITHIN THE PROPOSED AREA AND FOUND THE PETITION AREA MEETS ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS. THE REPORT RESULTS WERE INCLUDED AS A BACKUP TO THIS ITEM. I DO WANNA NOTE THAT THE APPLICANT AND SEVERAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND, UM, RESIDENTS ARE HERE TO SPEAK [04:45:01] TODAY ON THE ITEM. MAYOR PROTO, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ON JUST MAKING THIS, UH, ORDINANCE CITYWIDE? AND ANY RATIONALE ON WHY IT'S, IT'S DIVIDED AMONGST, UM, PARTICULAR SUBSETS OR COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING ONE UNIFORM RULE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY? YES, THE CURRENT, UH, CODE OF ORDINANCES ALLOWS ANY AREA THE RESIDENTS TO COME FORWARD AND PETITION AN AREA. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IF THEY COULD PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHAT THE STATE LAW PROVIDES AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE CITY'S CHAPTER 40 CODE OF ORDINANCES. THE, THE CASE LAW SUGGESTS THAT, UH, PART OF, UH, THEY LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF MOVING PEOPLE AWAY. THEY HAVE TO HAVE AVENUES WHERE THEY CAN GO. SO IF YOU DO THIS, UH, CITYWIDE, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AVENUES IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE SLEEP ON THE GROUND THE HOMELESS WOULD GO TO. THAT'S WHAT THE CASE LAW SUGGESTS AT SOME POINT, THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IF IT'S, UH, IF IT'S APPLIED CITYWIDE. BUT I'LL REVIEW THE CASE LAW TO MAKE SURE THAT, SO IT'S NARROWLY TAILORED, LIKE 200 FEET AWAY. UNDERSTOOD. UH, A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT SIMILAR CONCEPT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UM, I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO DEFER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHOSE DISTRICT, THIS ORDINANCE ISN'T IN THE RESIDENCE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS. UM, BUT I DID HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU. UH, MY CONCERN BEING THAT WE ARE CRIMINALIZING BEING UNHOUSED, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S QUESTION AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S RESPONSE, THIS IS A, THE REASON WE CAN'T DO IT CITYWIDE IS THEN THEY MAY BE JUST GOING OVER TO THE NEXT ZONE WHERE THIS ISN'T IMPLEMENTED. UH, WE HAVE EXTRAORDINARY TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL. HOUSTON HAS LED THE WAY IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, AND WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR THAT. UH, MY QUESTION SPECIFICALLY THOUGH, PERTAINS TO THE BACKUP DATA THAT WAS, UH, PROVIDED TO US RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL STATISTICS, UH, THAT WERE INCLUDED. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE CASES, UM, OF RAPE AND ASSAULT. AND MY QUESTION IS, AND MAYBE THIS IS DIRECTED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, ARE WE IN SHOWING THIS, THESE DATA AND STATISTICS IMPLYING THAT IT'S, UH, THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY THAT IS THE SOURCE OF ALL OF THIS CRIME? BECAUSE WE KNOW HISTORICALLY THAT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT TRUE. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION AS TO THAT. I KNOW THAT UNDER THE ORDINANCE, THAT'S ONE OF THE, UH, BOXES THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED, RIGHT? THAT WE LOOK AT. BUT AGAIN, THE IMPLICATION IS THAT THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE UNHOUSED POPULATIONS THERE. AND I, AND I KNOW THIS AREA VERY WELL. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE US, BUT WE NEED TO BE HAVING A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS. OH, I'M SORRY. QUESTION ARTURO. DO YOU WANNA RESPOND? I'M NOT SURE THE DATA SHOWS THE CORRELATION THAT THE HOMELESS ARE THE ONES COMMITTING THE CRIMES. YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME CORRELATION, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S, THAT THE DATA SHOWS ANYTHING THAT'S SPECIFIC. SO IT'S JUST A REQUIREMENT THAT WE SHOW THE CRIMINAL STATISTICS FOR THAT AREA. BUT WE'RE NOT IMPLYING OR SAYING THAT THIS IS THE GENERATED BY INHOUSE COMMUNITY. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEMS. I WANT TO SAY THAT I DO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. UH, CERTAINLY IT IS NOT TO CRIMINALIZE THE UNHOUSED, AND MORE OR LESS IT'S TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THEM AS WELL TO BE LAYING ON THE SIDEWALK. IT'S, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE LAYING THERE AND THEY'RE SLEEPING, SOMEONE COULD CERTAINLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. AND SO, CERTAINLY, UM, I DO SUPPORT IT IN HOPES THAT, UH, THE UNHOUSED WILL SEEK THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING. OF COURSE, WE CAN ALWAYS PROVIDE MORE, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THIS IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND CERTAINLY NOT TO CRIMINALIZE THOSE THAT ARE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. SO, THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MS. HENSON. WE APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND WE DO SEE THAT, UH, DIRECTOR TRAN IS IN THE AUDIENCE. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY AS WELL. WE DO HAVE THREE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO, UM, TALK. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, KATHLEEN O'REILLY. KATHLEEN O'REILLY. [04:50:05] GOOD MORNING ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND COUNCILMAN BREVIN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS. IT'S BEEN, UM, AN INVALUABLE TOOL. I, I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE REASON THAT MUSEUM PARK PURSUED THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE WAS WITH THE GUIDANCE OF OUR TRUSTED EXPERTS AT HPD. THIS IS THE LAST AREA IN THE CORE OF HOUSTON THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU, MIDTOWN DID A REALLY, REALLY GOOD VIDEO ON THE THRUST OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IS NOT TO CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS, BUT IT'S TO ALLOW HPD TO MORE EFFECTIVELY APPROACH PEOPLE AND OFFER THEM THE MULTITUDE OF SERVICES THAT HOUSTON HAS, THAT, UM, GET THEM OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND ALLOW THEM TO LIVE THE PRODUCTIVE LIVES THAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE WANT. THANK YOU. I I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL SUPPORT THIS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS CALLING ATTENTION TO OUR DISTRICT OF DESTINATIONS. AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS WAS NOT JUST RESIDENTS, UM, IN MUSEUM PARK, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE MUSEUMS, WE HAVE BUSINESSES, WE HAVE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, AND THERE WAS VIRTUALLY UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR PURSUING THIS. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR HOUSTON, AND THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING MORNING TO BE HERE, . THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BROWN CHAVE. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU KATHLEEN. KATHLEEN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PERSONS THAT I ENGAGED WITH WHEN I GOT AN OFFICE. I THINK SHE ACTUALLY CONTACTED ME BEFORE I WAS SWORN IN. AND SO I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT. IF YOU LOOK IN THE DICTIONARY UNDER LEADERSHIP, YOU WOULD FIND HER FACE, BUT YOU WOULD ALSO FIND A, A PISTOL BECAUSE SHE DOES NOT PLAY, AND SHE GETS BEHIND YOU, AND SHE WORKS VERY, VERY HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, KATHLEEN, FOR BEING THAT PISTOL THAT KEEPS US MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT SUPPORTING GUN CONTROL. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. WHAT'S GOING ON? NEXT SPEAKER? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BILL POWELL. BILL POWELL. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PRO TEB AT CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BILL POWELL. I'M A PROPERTY OWNER AND HAVE LIVED IN MUSEUM PARK FOR NINE YEARS. I SERVE ON THE MUSEUM PARK SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL AS, UH, ON THE BOARD OF THE MUSEUM PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I, I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF CIVILITY ORDINANCES IN THE MUSEUM PARK, BELIEVING IT WILL ENHANCE OUR SAFETY AND WILL BRING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, BRING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE ALLOWING HPD TO BETTER HELP THE UNHOUSED. I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE READY. ONE THING THAT, UH, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS WHEN A POLICE OFFICER SEES THE UNHOUSED, THEIR FIRST QUESTION IS GONNA BE, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? HIS SECOND, AND THEY MAY ISSUE, WELL, FIRST IT'S, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? SECOND IS THE SECOND TIME THEY ENCOUNTER THIS PERSON, THEY GIVE 'EM A TICKET. THE THIRD TIME IS WHEN SOMETHING MORE MIGHT HAPPEN. SO THE UNHOUSED HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ACCESS THE RESOURCES. THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE IN THE MUSEUM PARK HAS THE SUPPORT OF H-P-D-M-P-N-A AS WELL AS THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THE MUSEUMS, AND THE TUR, THE ALAMEDA OST TURS. UH, SO I ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE, BUT I THANK MR. POWELL. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, MR. PARK. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. THANK YOU. MAYOR PROTI, DID YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENT BEING MR. POWELL? THAT'S RIGHT. I I, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE TIME, BUT CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE YOU COMING. YOU ARE A QUIET VOICE, BUT YOU KEEP US MOVING FORWARD AS WELL IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. I WOULD ONLY ECHO THAT, UH, THIS DOES COMPLETE THE DONUT HOLE IN THE AREA. ALL OF THE AREAS AROUND MUSEUM PARK HAVE ALREADY ADAPTED THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. THANK YOU MR. POWELL. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, MIKE WOODS. MIKE WOODS, UH, MAYOR PRO CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON. AND STAFF ALSO, UH, BILL, KATHLEEN AND I WORKED TO GET THE, UH, SIGNATURES NECESSARY TO, UH, UH, BRING THIS ORDINANCE FORWARD. UH, WE DID, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, HAVE BROAD BASED SUPPORT FOR IT FROM EVERYBODY, UH, THAT WE SPOKE TO. WE HAD A VERY OUTSTANDING, UH, LEVEL OF SUPPORT. UM, WE [04:55:01] UNDERTOOK THAT WITH GETTING 1200, UH, HA ADDRESSES THAT WE HAD TO SECURE THE 2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SPACE FOR. IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING EFFORT THAT, UH, REQUIRED A LOT OF EFFORT OF TIME AND PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO, UM, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE UNHOUSED POPULATION NEAR THE WHEELER STATION HAS INCREASED, AND ENCAMPMENT, UH, HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND. AND, UH, NUMEROUS SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, INCLUDING, UH, THE MULTIPLE DAYCARE CENTERS WE HAVE IN OUR AREA. UH, AND, UH, RESIDENTS OF OUR AREA, PARTICULARLY ON THE NORTH, NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST CORNERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE PARTI, ARE EGREGIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEMS. UH, WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE IN MIDTOWN RIVERSIDE, THE POLICE FORCE THAT A, UH, HERMAN PARK HAS, WE ARE AN ISLAND THAT'S LEFT, UH, UNPROTECTED BY THIS ORDINANCE. WITH THE WORK ABOUT TO BEGIN ON 59, UM, ACROSS THE NORTH EDGE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE THAT WE WILL BE, UH, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE DISBURSEMENT OF, OF THAT POPULATION. UH, WITHOUT THE ORDINANCE, UH, MUSEUM PARK WAS GOING TO SUFFER FOR THAT REASON. UH, SIMPLY PUT, THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES BASIC TOOLS TO POLICE TO BE ABLE TO ASK PEOPLE TO ACCEPT SERVICES AND MOVE ON. AND I TALKED TO SEVERAL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE HAD TO, UH, TOLERATE SOMEBODY BEING CAMPED OUT IN FRONT OF THEIR FRONT DOOR, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE POLICE DO NOT HAVE A TOOL TO ASK THEM TO MOVE ON. THAT IS THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THIS ORDINANCE. UH, WE APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP US MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANNA ALSO THANK MR. WOODS, IF, AS YOU SEE, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH GREAT LEADERSHIP IN, IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND THEY HAVE WORKED EXTENSIVELY ON THIS, EDUCATED ME A GREAT DEAL, AND THEY'VE DONE IT WITH GREAT SENSITIVITY. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR COMING TODAY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. THANK YOU. UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE? WE DO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE FROM HPD IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD. MATTHEW SIMON, I THINK. HI, MATTHEW. I'VE MET ME BEFORE. IF YOU'LL SPEAK BEHIND THAT. MA UH, MICROPHONE. THANK YOU. EITHER ONE. , MATTHEW SIMON WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING DISABILITY ORDINANCE. JUST TO CLEAR UP SOME QUESTIONS. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, I THINK POLLARD ASKED WHY ISN'T IT APPLIED TO THE WHOLE CITY? IT'S UNFORTUNATELY WOULD BE TOO BROADLY APPLIED AND LITIGATION IN CASE THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT. UM, REGARD REGARDING THE CRIME ANALYSIS REPORT. AS ORDINANCE REQUIRES, YES, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATES A CRIME ANALYSIS REPORT. HOWEVER, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE DON'T TAKE CALLS THAT SAY, WHY ARE YOU SITTING OR RELYING ON THE SIDEWALK? THOSE CALLS COME IN AS PERSON LAYING ON THE SIDEWALK. WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEM. PERSON MAY NEED HELP. UH, THIS PERSON APPEARS TO BE INJURED. THERE WAS A FIGHT. THOSE CALLS ARE CATEGORIZED. AND WHEN AN OFFICER RESPONDS, THEN WHAT HAPPENS? WHAT WAS ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE AS A NEIGHBORS REPORT. SO UPON REVIEWING WITH OFFICERS, MY PARTNER, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, THE DECISION WAS TO INCLUDE THE MINOR OFFENSES WHEN PEOPLE REPORT SITTING OR LYING ON THE SIDEWALK, DRUNKENNESS, DISORDERLY CONDUCT. HOWEVER, THE MORE EGREGIOUS OFFENSES, SUCH AS SEXUAL ASSAULT, ROBBERY, MURDER, AND WHICH SITTING OR LYING ON THE SIDEWALK WAS A CAUSATIVE FACTOR, WAS ADDED TO THE REPORT. THANK YOU. YES, MAAM. COUNCIL MEMBER CAME. SORRY. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, JUST TO CLARIFY, IS THE, THE MAJOR OFFENSES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THAT IS RELATED TO CORRECT. THE, AN INITIAL CALL FOR SOMEONE ON THE SIDEWALK. CORRECT. THE CORRELATION BEING, HEY, SITTING OUR LINE ON THE SIDEWALK, IF MADE ILLEGAL, THIS ORDINANCE, IF MADE ILLEGAL, WOULD HAVE A DRASTIC EFFECT ON WHEN THE COMMUNITY CAUSING A REPORT OF SOMEBODY SITTING LINE ON THE SIDEWALK, ENCAMPMENT VIOLATIONS, DRUNK AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. HOWEVER, IT CAN HAVE A MARGINAL IMPACT ON CRIMES THAT ARE RELATED TO, AS I ALLUDED EARLIER, THAT THE MORE EGREGIOUS ROBBERY, SEXUAL ASSAULT, MURDER AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IS IT AN END ALL BE ALL FOR THOSE CRIMES? ABSOLUTELY NOT. OKAY. BUT WE CAN'T STATISTICALLY SHOW THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE THOSE THAT ARE, UH, IN PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. RIGHT. I THINK MY QUESTION I'LL, I'LL TRY TO CLARIFY, IS THE ONES THAT WERE LISTED. I DON'T HAVE THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I KNOW OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE SEEN IT AS WELL. UM, LET'S SAY THE, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT NUMBER WAS SIX. WERE THOSE SIX THAT WERE IDENTIFIED INCLUDED BECAUSE THAT [05:00:01] WAS IN THAT AREA, CORRECT. OR BECAUSE IT WAS CORRECT. CORRELATED TO A CALL THAT CAME IN SPECIFICALLY TO NO, IT WAS JUST, OKAY. NO, THE, THE, UH, ORDINANCE REQUIRES US THAT WE GET THE ENTIRE AREA AND TO APPEAR AS NON-BIASED AS POSSIBLE, IT'S ALL THE CRIMES IN THAT AREA. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE WELCOME, MA'AM. UH, IF THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? THOMAS, MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES. [CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM SEVEN AND EIGHT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEMS 5, 6, 9, AND 11. NEED A MOTION? ITEM 10 IS AN ORDINANCE. THOMAS MOVES SECOND. . UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. UH, ANY DISCUSSION IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEMS CARRIED SEPARATE. DO YOU SEPARATE? JUST NEED TO NO. NO. OKAY. WE DON'T NEED A SECOND VOTE ON 10. SHE'S SAYING SHE CAN USE THAT SAME VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEM 14 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM 13, 14, AND 15 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 12? UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I. ANY OPPOSED? THAT ITEM CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 12? DO WE NOT GET A MOTION? THANK MOVE. WE DIDN'T GET A MOTION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM THOMAS MOVES FOR 12 SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER IS IN THE QUEUE. YES. X-RAY IS WANTING TO SPEAK JUST A MINUTE ON ITEM FIVE AND SIX, UH, THE APPOINTMENT TO THE TURS BOARD. AND REALLY GLAD THAT CASEY'S HERE. SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S STILL HERE AFTER ALL THIS. BUT, UH, I THINK, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL DO A GREAT JOB ON THE TURS BOARD AND CERTAINLY CASEY AND AMY BERTRAND, UH, BRING A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE THAT, UH, IS REALLY GONNA HELP US OUT THERE. SO JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CASEY. THANK, THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR FLAGGING THAT THOSE ITEMS WEREN'T SQUARED, BUT I DO THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE OUR, UM, REINVESTMENT ZONE APPOINTEES. UM, KIMBERLY, UH, AND BRUCE, TORY CASEY, ELIZABETH RAMSEY CHRISMAN, PHILIP IVY, THOMAS BROAD, AND AMY BERTRAND. UM, FOR ITEMS FIVE AND SIX, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THESE BOARDS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, DEDICATION TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANNA SECOND WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER SAID. THESE ARE ALL ACCOMPLISHED PEOPLE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THEY'RE ALL BUSY, AND THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. THE, THESE ARE UNPAID, UH, POSITIONS, AND YET THEY'RE WILLING TO SERVE. AND SO APPRECIATE, ESPECIALLY, UH, CASEY, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND AMY AS WELL. SO, THANK YOU'ALL COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I CAN'T HELP BUT, UH, RECOGNIZE MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, AND A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT BRING A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, UM, TO THE TABLE. AND CERTAINLY WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, CASEY, AND THANKS FOR WAITING THIS OUT. ALL RIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU MOVE TO PURCHASING UNDER THE PURCHASING TABULATION, THE BID CATEGORY ITEMS 21, HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 21 WAS PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 19 23, 24, AND 25. THOSE NUMBERS, AGAIN, ARE ITEMS 19, 23, 24, AND 25. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 26, 27, AND 28, APPROXIMATELY. LEMME GIVE YOU THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN. 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 26, 27, AND 28. THOMAS MOVES SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THOSE ITEMS CARRY UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEMS 29 THROUGH 32 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES. CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, 33, 35, 38, 44, 48, 49, 50, 55, AND 58. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN, ARE 33, 35, 38, 44, 48, 49, 50, 55, [05:05:04] AND 58. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS MOVES SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN ? COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. SO COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT STARTS SETTING THE TAX RATE. SO I JUST WANTED TO DRAW A LITTLE ATTENTION TO, UM, KIND OF SOME OF THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AFTER THE, UH, POLICE, UH, DISCUSSION WHEN WE WERE RECOGNIZED THAT WE'VE LOWERED OUR TAX RATE, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST DECADE, WE, 10 YEARS AGO, HAD 63 CENTS PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION. WE'RE DOWN TO 51 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION. UM, DID A LITTLE LOOKING AROUND THE STATE AND WE, YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME, SOME TAX RATES FROM AROUND THE STATE. SAN ANTONIO. HIGHER AT 54 DALLAS, HIGHER AT 73 CENTS, FORT WORTH, HIGHER AT 67 CENTS. UM, EL PASO HAS LIKE AN 80 CENT. UM, I THINK BECAUSE THEY SAY 'CAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER, UM, VALUATIONS. BUT JUST WANNA DRAW. WE'RE WE'RE SET THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE, UM, OF, OF HOW WE DO THE TAXATION. WE, THERE'S, WE DO HAVE TO DO THE HEARING FIRST, THEN WE'RE GIVING, WE'RE GIVING POWER TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO CALCULATE THE NO NEW TAX REVENUE. THERE'S TWO, THE, THE, THE TAX RATES THAT THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT. THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE STATE, YOU KNOW, CAP. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR VOTER IMPOSED CAP, COMPLICATED COMP, UH, YOU KNOW, CALCULATIONS GO THROUGH THIS. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PROBABLY BE FACED WITH ANOTHER, UH, LOWER, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. WE'LL PROBABLY BE FACED WITH ANOTHER LOWER TAX RATE. UM, LAST YEAR'S LOWERING OF THE TAX RATE, UM, MEANT $38 MILLION. EVERY PENNY OF TAXES. $26 MILLION. UH, WE WILL JUST HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING AT THIS. I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL KINDS OF REVENUE SOURCES, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COMPARE US ACROSS THE STATE LIKE THAT, AND YOU SEE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERABLY A LOWER RATE AND A GROWING CITY, UM, WITH POPULATION AND, AND, AND A LOT OF NEEDS, , A LOT OF NEEDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIFICALLY. UM, JUST SOMETHING I WANNA KEEP, UM, EVERYONE AWARE OF, OF, OF THAT, THAT SITUATION. SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. AND TO THE CHAIR'S POINT, UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY MISSED THE DEADLINE TO BEGIN THOSE PROCEEDINGS TO ATTEMPT TO POTENTIALLY INCREASE, UM, THE RATE OR CONSIDER IT. UM, I DO WANNA SAY THAT, UH, THE CITY HAS LOWERED THE TAX RATE NINE OUT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. AND, UH, ACCORDING, UH, TO OUR NUMBERS RECEIVED BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 ALONE, THE CITY LOST $347 MILLION SINCE REACHING THE CAP IN 2015, THE FULL IMPACT OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CAP HAS BEEN $1.83 BILLION. UM, WE ALL WANNA KEEP TAX RATES LOW. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON CAN REMAIN. AND IT'S INCREASINGLY A CHALLENGE THAT HOUSTON IS AN AFFORDABLE CITY. BUT WITH ALL OF THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME ASKING FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICES AND JUST BASIC SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO LOOKING AT WHAT SOLUTIONS WE CAN COME UP WITH. UM, MADAM CHAIR, YOU'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB. UH, AND THAT THAT'S NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU. I'M JUST SAYING IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE AS A CITY ARE GRAPPLING WITH THE LOSS, THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, ACTUALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE LOST BECAUSE OF THIS REMAINS A BIG CHALLENGE. UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT REMAINING NEUTRAL THIS YEAR IS MADAM CHAIR. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? NO, I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE TO HONOR THE, THE STATE AND VOTER POST TAX. SO WE SO MAY HAVE TO LOWER UNITED. IT WOULD, IT WOULD TAKE A VOTE, UM, TO EVEN STAY THE SAME AND TO EVEN NOT LOWER, WHICH IS CERTAINLY A GOOD STARTING POINT JUST TO NOT LOWER ANYMORE. BUT, BUT THERE'S A PROCESS. THERE'S A, THERE'S A BALLOT, YOU KNOW, SITUATION. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO JUST BE MINDFUL OF THAT AS AS TIME GOES ON. AND WITH THAT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TIMELINES ARE THAT THE CITY DID NOT MEET? UM, WELL, I MEAN, THIS WASN'T EVER, THIS WASN'T EVER THE ADMINISTRATION'S, UM, [05:10:01] GOAL TO, TO MEET, TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE TAX RATE THIS YEAR. I THINK THE MAYOR MADE THAT VERY CLEAR. WHEN HE ROLLED OUT THE BUDGET, HE WAS NOT LOOKING AT, AT RAISING ANYTHING. I BROUGHT IT UP, UM, AFTER THE, THE RATHER LONG AND, UH, TELLING CONVERSATION WE HAD OVER THE POLICE SL CODE, UM, WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW ABOUT THIS SITUATION 10 YEARS AGO WHEN, YOU KNOW, AND WE KNEW WE NEEDED THOUSANDS OF MORE POLICE OFFICERS BACK THEN. UM, BUT EVER SINCE, HOW ARE WE GONNA MEET, MEET THAT GOAL? BECAUSE WE KEEP LOWERING THE TAX RATES. SO IT'S BASICALLY, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH IT. UM, I KNOW WE COULD REPRIORITIZE OTHER THINGS, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO ELIMINATE WHOLE DEPARTMENTS TO GET HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO, SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED MAKING INQUIRIES, HEY, IS THERE A WAY WE COULD MAYBE DO A PROPER, A SITUATION TO LOOK AT, AT JUST AT LEAST KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME? AND THAT'S WHEN, UM, WHEN I UNDERSTOOD, BECAUSE OF THE BREAK WEEK, UH, THERE'S THIS HEARINGS THAT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE. THERE'S NOTICES THAT HAVE TO GO IN THE PAPER. THERE'S DEADLINES TO MEET. THE DEADLINE TO GO ON THE BALLOT IS AUGUST 19TH. WE WERE JUST UP AGAINST THE WALL. UM, I WISH I WOULD'VE THOUGHT OF IT SOONER. YEAH. UM, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. AND I THINK THAT, UM, IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE UP IN THE FUTURE. NO, AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND JUST GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE, I'M NOT ADVOCATING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE, BUT THE FACT THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOWER IT, UM, AS WE'RE LOSING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS DOLLARS, OR EVEN STAY NEUTRAL, AND I, AND I'VE REALLY MET, UM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT. OKAY. ON, ON THE TAX RATE. IF, IF I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REVENUE CAP ITSELF IS A CHARTER AMENDMENT, SO THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A TWO YEAR WAITING PERIOD BECAUSE WE JUST HAD A CHARTER AMENDMENT PASS. CORRECT. SO, BUT YOU COULD ACTUALLY ADJUST THE TAX RATE BY GOING TO THE VOTERS WITHOUT, WITHOUT, WITHOUT ANY MENTION OF THE REVENUE CAP LIFTING THE REVENUE CAP. I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENT MECHANISMS. YEAH. ALL OF THE REVENUE CAPS TO WHICH THE CITY IS SUBJECT, INCLUDING THE STATE CAP, ALLOW IT TO BE EXCEEDED BY VOTER APPROVAL. OKAY. SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE A CHARTER CHANGE. CORRECT. OKAY. THE CHARTER WOULD BE TO ELIMINATE IT OR MODIFY THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT IN SOME FASHION, BUT THE CHARTER PERMITS, UM, VOTERS TO EXCEED IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PROTO. I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT IS VOTER APPROVED, AND I THINK THE VOTERS AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, WILL HAVE THEIR SAY, BUT IT'S, IT IS MORE SO LOOKING AT THE, THE APPRAISALS. UM, WE WE'RE LOWERING THE TAX RATE, BUT THE APPRAISALS ON PROPERTY GOES UP SO MUCH EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL PAYING MORE. SO THEY'RE STILL, THERE'S, THEY'RE NOT FEELING, UH, UM, THAT THEY'RE HAVING SOME TYPE OF ADVANTAGE. SO WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT. THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE ABOUT HOW CAN, HOW CAN RESIDENTS, HOW CAN HOUSTONIANS AND PROPERTY OWNERS FEEL LESS TAX BURDEN AND STILL RECEIVE QUALITY SERVICES? AND IF THE TAX RATE IS GOING DOWN, BUT THE APPRAISALS ARE GOING SO HIGH THAT IT DOESN'T EVEN OFFSET, THEN THEY'RE STILL FILLING THAT CRUNCH. SO WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YEAH. FOR LEGAL, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. WE'RE ABLE TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE ANYTIME WE WANT. WE JUST HAVE TO ASK THE VOTERS FOR PERMISSION. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE ASKED ONCE AND THEY APPROVED IT. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. YES. OKAY. OKAY. WE'RE READY. UM, IS THERE A MOTION? THOMAS MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO VOTE. OH, OKAY. JUST TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM CARRIES. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS MOVES SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR PROTE. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. UM, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS, UH, A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE FOR MUNICIPALITIES LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT SEVERAL OF US THAT ARE ON, UM, THE FEDERAL, UM, ADVOCACY COMMITTEES, UH, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO, UM, LEGISLATIVE LEAD LEGISLATIVELY AROUND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION, AND OF COURSE, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. UM, I'M EXCITED THAT ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, THIS IS THEIR 100TH YEAR. UM, AND SO WHEN WE WALK INTO THESE ROOMS AT DIFFERENT CITIES, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DOING. SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE STILL INVESTING, INVESTING IN THIS RELATIONSHIP. HAPPY TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. UH, JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM CARRIES. OH, HUFFMAN. NO. OH, SORRY. HUFFMAN VOTING? NO. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN VOTING NO. [05:15:01] NEXT. ITEM 13. ITEM 13. ITEM 13. I DON'T HAVE IT ON THERE. NEED THE MOTION? SECOND TAG. POLLARD. SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD TAGGING. ITEM 13. AND WE DID GET A MOTION. AND A SECOND. NEED A MOTION. SECOND. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEPEC WAS THE SECOND. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 14 NEEDS A MOTION. COUNCIL MOVE. NEXT. SECOND. TAG POLLARD. SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD TAGGING. ITEM 14. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS MOVED. NEXT. SECOND. POLLARD TAG. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. OH. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. SHOW POLLARD TAGGING. ITEM 15. NEXT ITEM. SECOND. OH, SORRY. ITEM 19 NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS MOVES. SECONDS. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 19 CARRIES. ITEM 23 NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS MOVES. SECONDS. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 23. 23 CARRIES. ITEM 24 NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS, MOVE I SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN BEFORE THE VOTE? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. UM, I, I'LL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, BUT I DID WANNA BRING UP THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE SINKHOLES, AT LEAST WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE IN DISTRICT C. I KNOW DISTRICT G HAD ONE THAT WAS IN THE NEWS. UM, I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR PUBLIC WORKS, UM, RELATED TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE SEEING MORE SINKHOLES AS IT RELATES TO THE INCREASING RAIN ON THE HEELS OF DROUGHT, UH, THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED. SO I, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS, BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE TWO THAT HAVE POPPED UP IN THE DISTRICT, WE HAVE ONE, UM, IN RICE MILITARY. FIRST REPORTED IN JUNE. AND NO WORK HAS BEGUN ON THAT SINKHOLE YET. THEY CONTINUE TO SAY, AND I APPRECIATE PUBLIC WORKS. UM, BUT THAT IT'S STILL BEING EVALUATED AND THE SINKHOLE IS GETTING BIGGER. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN UNIVERSITY PLACE AREA ON BISSONNET, UM, IN AN ALLEYWAY. AND NOW THE CARS CAN'T DRIVE IN, UH, TO ACCESS THEIR HOMES. AND SOLID WASTE TRUCKS HAVE STOPPED, UH, DRIVING THAT ALLEY BECAUSE OF THE SINKHOLE, THE SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK, GO TO EACH HOME AND CARRY THE TRASH BINS, UM, QUITE A DISTANCE IN ORDER TO SERVICE THOSE HOMES. SO I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON BOTH OF THOSE, UH, IF POSSIBLE, BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM. THANK YOU. UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 24, CARRIES. ITEM 25 NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS, MOVE. TAKE SECONDS. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DIS COUNCIL MEMBER? FLICKINGER? I DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THIS ITEM. I MEAN, THIS IS TO GIVE THE SUPERVISORS ANOTHER TOOL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE EMPLOYEES. WHAT I DO TAKE ISSUE WITH IS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE EXISTING TOOLS THAT WE'RE NOT UTILIZING. I'VE SPENT MY TIME FAMILIARIZING MYSELF WITH THE EMPLOYEE REVIEW PROCESS THAT THE CITY USES. UH, THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS WITH THAT. THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S AN EXCELLENT PROCESS. VERY THOROUGH, VERY ROBUST, VERY IS SIMILAR TO WHAT I'VE DONE FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES. IN FACT, SOME OF THE ACRONYMS WERE EVEN THE SAME. THE BAD NEWS IS WE DON'T UTILIZE IT TO DIFFERENTIATE THE PAY FOR THE EMPLOYEES. SO YOU HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES HIRED AT THE SAME TIME, THE SAME DEPARTMENT DOING THE SAME WORK. ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES CAN GET OUTSTANDING REVIEWS YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE OTHER EMPLOYEE CAN GET POOR REVIEWS YEAR AFTER YEAR. THEY'RE BOTH PAID THE SAME. THIS DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS IMMEDIATELY. THERE'S A MORALE IMPACT. NOBODY WANTS TO BE WORKING HARDER AND BETTER AND FASTER THAN THEIR COWORKER AND BE PAID EXACTLY THE SAME LONG TERM QUALITY PEOPLE. PEOPLE DO OUTSTANDING JOBS, HAVE OTHER OPTIONS. WHEN THEIR SUPERVISOR LEAVES AND GOES TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THAT BUSINESS THEY WORK FOR IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, DES ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES. WHO DO YOU THINK THEY CALL THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMER OR THE POOR PERFORMER? OBVIOUSLY THEY CALL THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMER, WHICH MEANS YOUR TURNOVER IS GONNA BE HIGHEST FOR YOUR BEST [05:20:01] EMPLOYEES AND IT'S GONNA BE LOWEST FOR YOUR WORST. NOT REALLY A SITUATION YOU WANNA BE INTO IN AN ORGANIZATION. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO DELIVER QUALITY SERVICES TO THE CITY, , THANK YOU FOR, WE'RE SPENDING PLENTY OF MONEY ON OUR EMPLOYEES. THE ISSUE IS WE'RE NOT SPENDING IT WISELY. AND ON THAT POINT, THE IDEA THAT THE EMPLOYEES CAN EARN UP TO 16 SICK DAYS PER YEAR IS UNHEARD OF. I'VE SPOKEN TO TWO EMPLOYEES, THE ONLY TWO I KNOW THAT LEFT THE CITY AND CAME BACK TO WORK FOR THE CITY, AND THEY BOTH SAID THE SAME EXACT THING. THEY WERE SHOCKED AT HOW LARGE THEIR EXIT CHECKS WERE. I DON'T THINK MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES EVEN UNDERSTAND THOSE ADDITIONAL SICK DAYS THEY'RE EARNING. HOW IS IT HELPING US RETAIN EMPLOYEES WHEN WE'RE SENDING 'EM A CHECK? AND THEY NEVER EVEN KNEW THEY WERE EARNING IT. I MEAN, IF YOU WANNA RETAIN EMPLOYEES, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR 'EM, THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. SO I CERTAINLY HOPE WE GET THIS ADDRESSED HERE IN THE NEXT CONTRACTS THAT COME UP. 'CAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. SO I, I GUESS WE, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AND I, IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHO YOU TALK TO BECAUSE I, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY KNOW VERY WELL, UM, WHEN THEY ARE EARNING THE SICK TIME AND THAT IF THEY LEAVE, THEY GET THAT PAID OUT. WELL, ALL I TELL YOU IS THE TWO I HAD, THE TWO I SPOKE WITH, THE ONLY TWO I KNOW WERE SHOCKED AT HOW BIG THEIR EXIT CHECKS FOR. RIGHT? OKAY. UH, DID YOU WANT TO TAG IT OR YOU WANNA JUST MOVE ON AND SUPPORT IT? NO, I, I'M FINE WITH IT. GO AHEAD. AHEAD AND SUPPORT IT. ALRIGHT. OKAY. IF NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THEN ITEM 25. PASSES. ITEM 29 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED TO VOTE. RAMIREZ TAGS SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ TAGGING ITEM 29. ITEM 30 IS THE RESOLUTION. JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN VOTE. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. UH, MAYOR PROAM, I'LL DEFER TO YOU IF YOU WANTED TO ALSO SEE. NO, GO AHEAD. OKAY. UH, I WANTED TO ALSO LIFT UP THIS ITEM. IT'S WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. IT'S OUR OFFICIAL INVITATION, UH, FOR THE 2027 CITY SUMMIT TO BE HOSTED HERE IN HOUSTON. A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS. UM, FOR THOSE OF US INVOLVED WITH NLC, I DO WANNA LIFT UP THE WORK THAT MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM HAS BEEN DOING ON THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF NLC. UH, BUT THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO SPOTLIGHT OUR CITY. AND WHEN IT COMES TO NLC, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO, BUT ALSO THE VOICE THAT NLC IS PROVIDING FOR CITIES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE OUR INTERESTS ARE BEING REPRESENTED IS CRITICAL. SO I'M SO EXCITED, UM, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOST, UH, AND WELCOME FOLKS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, LEADERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT HERE TO HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. AND, UM, AS, UM, THE VICE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE WORK THAT GOES INTO, UM, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. UM, WHEN THESE TYPES OF CONFERENCES COMES TO OUR CITIES, IT IS EXTREME VALUE ADD FOR US. UM, THEY ARE STAYING IN OUR HOTELS, THEY ARE EATING AT OUR RESTAURANTS. UM, AND THIS IS THE TYPE OF, UM, CONFERENCES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE TO HOST IN OUR GREAT CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 31 IS RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPLICATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SUBMIT, UM, TO HGAC. UH, THERE'S TWO PARTICULAR PROJECTS THAT, UM, I I KNOW AS A STAFFER 10 YEARS AGO THAT WERE, THAT WAS ON ALREADY ON THE CIP BUT WAS, BUT WAS BUMPED OFF, UM, POST HARVEY AND THEN ACTUALLY FELL OFF THE LIST. AND SO BROADWAY, UH, FULL RECONSTRUCTION. UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOMETHING HAPPEN THERE. UH, OF COURSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT, UH, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION LOOKS LIKE, POSSIBLY EVEN HAVING METRO, UH, PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT AS WELL. AND THEN OF COURSE, OATS ROAD, UM, UP IN THE NORTHEAST. I KNOW MANY OF Y'ALL HEARD, HEARD ABOUT OATS ROAD. UM, AND, AND JUST TO SEE THAT, THAT, UM, THAT PROJECT COME, COME TO FRUITION, UH, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY, UH, IT'LL EVEN, YOU KNOW, IT'LL PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE BUSINESSES ALONG THERE. WE GOT HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A TWO LANE ASPHALT ROAD. JUST CAN'T, CAN'T HANDLE THE HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC THAT'S UP IN THAT NORTHEAST PART OF, UH, DISTRICT EYE. AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS AND APPRECIATE SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, I ALSO WANNA APPRECIATE THIS ITEM, LOWER WESTHEIMER, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN ON THE CITY'S BOOKS FOR [05:25:01] YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THREE, AT LEAST THREE YEARS TO GET LOWER WESTHEIMER, THE FULL RECONSTRUCT FOR C AND D, UM, THROUGH H GS. AND SINCE THE CITY COULD NOT TAKE THIS ON, UH, THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE I'D LIKE TO THANK. DAVID WARDLOW, CATHERINE SUMMERLAND, TAYLOR CROSS, LENNI POPPAS, LUCY COR, SEAN JANE, MADU, DONALD, MICHELLE RAND, STEVEN WILLIAMS, BASIA, KHALIL, SHERRY KING. I PROBABLY MISSED A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN FINALLY SUBMIT THIS TO HGAC FOR THE LOWER WESTHEIMER RECONSTRUCT IS A VERY, VERY BIG DEAL. UH, SO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT ON THIS AS WELL AS FOR THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE SUBMITTING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN, THANK YOU. AND ALSO THANKS TO THE STAFF FOR DEVELOPING THIS GOOD LIST. UM, ON BEHALF OF THE, THOSE OF US THAT SERVE ON THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, AND THEN AS ALTERNATES, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. NO, YOU'RE ON IT. I GET CONFUSED BETWEEN HGAC AND TPC. YOU'RE ON TPC. YOU'RE ALTERNATE. OKAY. UM, UM, ANYWAY, WE HAD, THESE ARE ALL GREAT PROJECTS. I HOPE WE GET FUNDED ON ALL OF 'EM. CHANCES ARE WE WON'T. LAST YEAR. WE GOT ONE. WE GOT ANTOINE. UM, WE WILL GET NONE. WE COULD GET NONE. WE COULD GET A LOT, UM, YOU KNOW, CROSS YOUR FINGERS, SAY YOUR PRAYERS, DO 'EM WHATEVER YOU NEED. 'CAUSE THESE ARE ALL GREAT PROJECTS. UM, I WILL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT TPC AND THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US AT THE LAST MEETING BY TDOT. UM, KIND OF ALARMING. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE FAIRING AS A, AS A COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, AS A TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL. FARING A LITTLE BIT WORSE THAN OUR COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE STATE AS FAR AS GETTING MONEY, AS FAR AS SUBMITTING CORRECT APPLICATIONS. UM, THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THIS. IT'S NOT A CITY THING. IT'S MORE OF AN HGAC THING. AND TEXDOT DID A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION. THEY SENT IT OUT. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY. UH, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF ERRORS THAT GO INTO SOME, AND THAT'S WHY WE GET FUNDED. WE, WE CARRY OVER WAY TOO MUCH IN BALANCES, UM, FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT AT RISK IMMEDIATELY OF LOSING ANY MONEY. WE HAVE LOST MONEY IN THE PAST. UM, BUT JUST WANNA BRING YOUR AWARENESS TO IT. IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT, AT, AT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL. THERE WAS A LOT OF ALARM THROUGHOUT THE, THE EIGHT COUNTY REGION THAT'S REPRESENTED ON THAT BOARD. UM, MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THAT NEEDS TO CORRECT. SO, UH, THESE ARE GREAT PROJECTS. WE WANNA GET 'EM FUNDED AND WE WANTED TO GET 'EM APPLIED FOR CORRECTLY. SO WE DON'T, UM, WE HAVE SENT MONEY BACK IN THE PAST. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE NOT REALLY AT RISK OF ANY TILL ABOUT 2026. THEY ARE DOING GOOD PRESENTATIONS ON CARRYOVER BALANCES. I BELIEVE THAT CITIES SHOULD BE AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER SOME OF THOSE CARRYOVER BALANCES. IF OTHER PARTS OF THE REGION CAN'T SPEND THEM IN TIME, WE NEED TO GET THEM AND PUT 'EM ON PROJECTS FOR US. SO, I KNOW, UM, CITY STAFF KNOWS ALL THIS, BUT JUST WANTED TO LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT IT WAS A PRETTY, UH, PRETTY SERIOUS CONVERSATION AT AT TPC COUNCIL MEMBER EMBA WAS THERE. UM, I DO BELIEVE, RIGHT? YEAH, YOU WERE THERE ON THAT. IT WAS, IT WAS A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THAT. UM, SO ANYWAY, JUST KEEPING YOU UP TO SPEED ON THAT. THANKS. THANK YOU FOR THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 31, PASSES. ITEM 32 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 32 PASSES. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 33 PASSES. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 35 PASSES. ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, VICE MAYOR PRO TEPEC. SORRY ABOUT THAT. UM, SO ON THIS ITEM, THE CITY ACCEPTED SERVICES, UM, WITHOUT A CONTRACT IN PLACE WHEN IT EXCEEDED THE $50,000 THRESHOLD, I APPRECIATE THAT THE PROCESS HAS ALREADY STARTED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR STAFF, BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. UM, WE NEED TO HAVE MEASURES IN PLACE SO THAT THIS DOESN'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN WHERE WE ARE NOW KIND OF FORCED TO PAY A CONTRACTOR WHO DID WORK, UM, BECAUSE SOMEBODY THERE WEREN'T CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE. AND SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE, UM, WE CAN LOOK INTO HAVING CHECKS AND BALANCES OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 44 PASSES. ITEM 48 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE [05:30:01] ITEM PASSES. I DID WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT FOR 48, 49 AND 50, THIS IS, UM, SPRING VILLAGE APARTMENTS IN DISTRICT K. UH, RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THIS PARTICULAR APARTMENT COMPLEX. UM, WITH THE PASSAGE OF 48, 49 AND 50, WE HAVE, UH, MOVED TOWARDS GETTING THAT PROPERTY DI DEMOED. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU MAY REMEMBER THERE, THERE'VE BEEN TWO FIRES THERE. WE'VE PASSED AN EMERGENCY, UM, ORDERED TO, UM, SECURE IT. UM, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE, UM, BREAKING INTO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. UM, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE SIX ACRES OF, UH, VACANT LAND THAT CANNOT, UH, BE BUILT ON IN THE FUTURE. IT IS GOING TO BE COUPLED WITH THE OTHER FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS IN THE WESTBURY AREA WHERE WE SEE REPEATED FLOODING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND THESE PROJECTS HAVE ALL COME TOGETHER, UM, TO HELP WITH MITIGATING FLOOD WATERS FROM GETTING INTO THE HOMES OF THOSE RESIDENTS DURING HURRICANE BARRELL. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN PLACE, MANY OF THOSE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE HAD WATER IN THEIR HOMES. AND AS DIFFICULT AS THE RECOVERY FOR BARREL WAS AND AS MUCH, UM, YOU KNOW, TROUBLES THAT WE HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE, THE SHINING STAR IN THAT WAS THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO PREVENT THE FLOODING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA DID WORK. AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL TO PREVENT WATER FROM GETTING, UM, INTO FOLKS HOUSES. SO, UH, KUDOS TO THIS COUNCIL, TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO JEB AND HIS TEAM, THE HOUSING, UH, DEPARTMENT, AND EVERYONE WHO'S PLAYED A ROLE TO GETTING US TO DEMOLITION. AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE SIX ADDITIONAL ACRES OF DETENTION IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT HAS SUFFERED FOR SO LONG. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THOSE ITEMS. UH, 49 49 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 49 PASSES. ITEM 50 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 50 PASSES. ITEM 55 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. CAYMAN TAG ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. TAG ON SHOW CAYMAN TAGGING ITEM 55. ITEM 58 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. CAYMAN TAG SHOW CAYMAN TAGGING ITEM 58. ITEM 66, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PAC. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, THIS ITEM IS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR HFD, WHICH I COMPLETELY SUPPORT. UM, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, MY CONCERN WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS PAYING A VENDOR WHO IS NOT EVEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEY ARE IN AUSTIN. AND SO JUST CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THAT WILL WORK. UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S VIRTUAL OPTIONS, BUT IN MY OPINION WE SHOULD, UM, BE SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON COMPANIES WHO ARE SUPPORTING OUR HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYOR AND THE FIRE, UM, DEPARTMENT WANTED TO LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER, UM, TO SEE IF THERE WAS A VENDOR IN HOUSTON. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. EVAN SHABA. SECOND TO REFER BACK. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO REFER, REFER BACK. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THAT ITEM CARRIES. WE WILL BEGIN. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] OH, SORRY MS. DID YOU THIS COMPLETE THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA? I'M JUST TRYING TO DO IT ALL AND GET IT DONE. . WELL WE GET TODAY WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AND, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, IF YOU WILL, UM, HELP US WITH POPOFF, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK AND I HAVE A EVENT TO ATTEND AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TIP OUT IF WE CAN JUST HAVE YOU DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, WE JUST ADDED SLOAN SWEENEY TO OUR STAFF. UH, DISTRICT E SHE'S GONNA BE, UH, OVER THE SOUTH SECTOR. UH, SLOAN'S, A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, UH, PRETTY MUCH BORN AND RAISED IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA. UH, GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN 2020. UH, SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OUT IN CLEAR LAKE, SO OBVIOUSLY SHE'S, UH, WELL ACCLIMATED TO THE CITIZENS DOWN THERE AND CAN HELP THE CONSTITUENTS QUITE A BIT. UH, WE'VE SCHEDULED OUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS, UH, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH AT KINGWOOD. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND AT ONE MOVEMENT BIBLE CHURCH. AND I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ONE HAS BEEN DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DISTRICT. TYPICALLY IT'S ALWAYS KINGWOOD AND CLEAR LAKE AND, UH, THE, THE RESIDENTS IN [05:35:01] THE MIDDLE AREA FELT QUITE NEGLECTED. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, A TOWN HALL THERE AS WELL. AND THEN, UH, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24TH AT SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON AND CLEAR LAKE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. UH, WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF TREES IN OUR CITY FROM EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE CHANGE. UH, WHILE THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS PREEMPTED US AS A CITY FROM REGULATING VEGETATION, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T DO OUR PART. UH, I AM TEAMING UP WITH TREES FOR HOUSTON AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT FOR TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN TREES AROUND YOUR HOME PLANT VIABLE SPECIES, AND HELP PRESERVE OUR CRITICAL TREE CANOPY. UH, THOSE, THE FIRST ONE IS FOR THE DISTRICT C KIND OF NORTH REGION. IT'S THIS THURSDAY, AUGUST 15TH. IT'S 6:00 PM AT THE HEIGHTS FIRE STATION. AND THEN OUR SOUTH MEETING WILL BE NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 20TH AT 6:00 PM AT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OFF OF BRAYWOOD. UM, WE WILL BE SHARING OUT A RECORDING OF THE MEETING AFTERWARDS FOR THROUGH OUR DISTRICT REV WEBSITE. FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T ATTEND. UH, I ALSO WANNA SHARE, AND OF COURSE, ANY COUNCIL MEMBER IS WELCOME TO COME. UH, DISTRICT C AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS TEAMED UP TO DO A BIG CLEANUP OF OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY, HISTORICAL OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY. HAD A LOT OF DAMAGE FROM BOTH THE DERECHO AND BARREL. UM, SO WE'RE ALL COMING TOGETHER TO VOLUNTEER, UH, AND CLEAN UP THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH FROM SEVEN 30 TO 10:30 AM UH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THANK YOUS, BUT I'LL HOLD THOSE FOR AFTER THE EVENT. BUT TO SIGN UP AND VOLUNTEER, YOU CAN GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THAT. UH, LASTLY, TWO LAST THINGS. UH, THIS PAST WEEK, HOUSTON IS A CITY, UH, HOSTED THE MACABE GAMES AT DISTRICT C'S OWN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, THE MACABE GAMES IS AN INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT DATING BACK DECADES, AND IT'S AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNG JEWISH ATHLETES TO COMPETE, BUILD CONNECTIONS, AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. OVER 1700 ATHLETES, AGES 12 TO 17, REPRESENTING DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. I EVEN MET WITH SWIMMERS FROM THE UKRAINE. UM, JOINED US HERE IN HOUSTON FOR A WEEK AND TRAVELED TO OUR GREAT CITY. SO A SPECIAL THANK YOU, UH, FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, PARTICULARLY HPD AND HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE GAMES. UH, WE ALSO HAD RICE UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATING AS A VENUE WESTBURY, UH, PARTICIPATING AS A VENUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY 'CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY EVENTS TAKING PLACE. UH, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S EXTENSIVE CONTRIBUTION WAS WHAT MADE THIS EVENT SAFE AND POSSIBLE AND WE THANK THEM FOR THE COLLABORATION. UH, BUT THE JCC LEADERSHIP TEAM REALLY DESERVES CREDIT. AGAIN, THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT THAT THEY GOT TO HOST THIS YEAR AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY, UM, VERY SPECIAL AND, UH, A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR. LASTLY, I WANNA WISH MY HUSBAND MATT, A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. UH, I LOVE YOU. UH, YOU ARE AN EXTRAORDINARY PARTNER, FATHER, UH, AND BRILLIANT LAWYER. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. I HAVE A PRETTY LONG ONE. UM, I KNOW, I THINK TODAY, ON WEDNESDAY WE ARE WELCOMING OUR, UH, US OLYMPIANS, OUR HOUSTONIANS, BACK TO THE CITY. SO SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JEREMY LEWIS ON THE USA OLYMPIC BREAK DANCING TEAM. HE'S RIGHT THERE OUTTA SOUTHWEST ALEY, TEXAS. SO WELCOME HOME AND THANK YOU FOR WELCOME, UH, REPRESENTING US ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR CHOOSING TO COME TO SOUTHWEST A EAF TEXAS, UH, UM, THIS MONDAY AND TO YOUR STAFF FOR A PHENOMENAL EVENT. UM, YOU COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THE RESOURCES. GREAT FEEDBACK. IT LOOKED GOOD. UM, AND HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT YOUR LAST ONE. UH, ON MONDAY HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING, UH, CHIEF SAMUEL PENA'S RETIREMENT CELEBRATION. UM, HE WAS JOINED BY HIS WIFE AND HIS ELDEST SON. AND, UH, CURRENT AND FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS CAME BACK TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AN INCREDIBLE LEADER AND THEN ALSO HUMAN. UH, IT WAS A FITTING TRIBUTE, EVEN. I WANNA SHOUT OUR COUNCIL MEMBER POLL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP FOR HOSTING THAT RECEPTION. UM, IT WAS HOT IN THAT ROOM. UH, IT FELT LIKE THE ENTIRE CITY WAS IN THAT ROOM. UM, BUT IT WAS A GOOD DAY, AND WE WISH HIM WELL. I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT IS TO COME. UM, ALSO ON MONDAY, WHICH WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, WE, UM, HIT THE, UH, TRAIL EARLY THAT MORNING. UM, WE WERE STARTED OFF AT ALE ELSIK, UM, AND, UM, ALIEF ALBRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL TO WELCOME BACK THE STUDENTS TO AAF ISD WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT. AND THE ENERGY WAS PALPABLE. UM, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE READY FOR CHANGE. THEY'RE READY TO GET OUTTA SCHOOL, THEY'RE READY TO LEARN. AND IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT TO GREET THOSE PARENTS AND STUDENTS. UM, SHOUT OUT TO, UH, THE PARAPROFESSIONALS, THE TRANSPORTATION WORKERS, OUR NUTRITION STAFF THAT QUIETLY WORK IN THE BACKGROUND AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE CLEAN, SAFE, UM, AND READY TO RECEIVE OUR STUDENTS. UM, WE CLOSED OUT THE DAY AT HISD AT PINEY POINT, EMERSON ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER SCHOOLS, UM, DELIVERING 150 BACKPACKS EACH. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO MEET THE NEW ADMINISTRATORS [05:40:01] AND SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP FROM HISD. I LOOK FORWARD TO ESTABLISHING, UH, RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NEW PEOPLE ON THAT SIDE OF THE DISTRICT. UM, I, I WANNA RAISE, UH, FOR THE COUNCIL'S AWARENESS AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. UH, THERE'S A SUBDIVISION MEDITERRANEAN FOREST THAT WAS DEVELOPED CLOSE TO 2019, AND, UH, THEY WERE SCHEDULED FOR 88 LOTS. THERE ARE 33 LOTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES SINCE THEY WERE DEVELOPED. THE RESIDENTS ARE NOT RECEIVING THEIR WATER BILL. THE HOA IS NON-RESPONSIVE. UM, AND THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, AT THAT DEVELOPMENT, UH, WE HAVE BEEN, UH, BIRD DOGGING THIS WITH PERMITTING CENTER BIRD DOGGING THIS WITH THE RESIDENTS. AND SO, UM, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE'RE GONNA PLAN WITH THE 30 SOME ODD RESIDENTS, UH, THAT ARE IN CONFLICT. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ORDINANCE MAKING POWER AND ABILITY THAT WE FOCUS ON, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR CITY, UH, THAT THE DEVELOPERS IN OUR CITY, UH, ARE TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE AND, AND, AND OPERATING IN INTEGRITY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. AND SO, MORE TO COME ON THAT, UH, THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE, UH, WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION. UM, A SIMILAR ISSUE, UM, AFTER, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WINTER FREEZE IN 20 21, 1 ORLEANS PLACE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DISTRICT, THERE WAS A TOWN HOME COMMUNITY THAT, UH, HAD A DEVASTATING FIRE. SO CLOSE TO 13, UM, UNITS WERE RUINED. UM, SINCE 2021, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND PERMITTING TO GET THAT UNIT BACK TOGETHER. UM, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS, UH, AND, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN THE NEWS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE PAYING THEIR MORTGAGE AND TEMPORARY LIVING, UM, UH, UM, USING MONEY FOR TEMPORARY, UH, UH, TEMPORARY HOUSING. AND IT'S A FINANCIAL BURDEN. AND SO I'M CALLING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT, UH, SUPPOSEDLY THIS WEEK THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING THEIR KEYS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME. UM, AND I'M ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN ME AND, AND ALL, UH, PRESENTING THEM WITH WELCOME BASKETS FOR ALL OF, UH, THEIR, UH, TRIBULATION AND CHALLENGES. WITH THAT, WE ARE NOT OVER THE HUMP YET. UM, I DO PLAN ON HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH PERMITTING, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME CHALLENGES WITH THIS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR SENIORS AND THOSE WITH, UM, OF FAMILIES CAN GET BACK TO THEIR HOME. UH, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON BELLA WEST AND OUR PANEL REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A $1.2 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETE, UM, BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. AND I PERSONALLY WANNA LET MS. KEENAN KNOW THAT YOUR SPEED BUMPS ARE SOON TO COME, AND THAT'S A $79,000 INVESTMENT AS SOON AS THOSE PANEL REPLACEMENTS ARE DONE, MY FRIEND. UM, PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT, AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, UM, FOR UPDATING THE OFFICE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT MS. KEENAN GETS HER SPEED BUMP ON RUSE. UH, I ALSO, UH, WANNA JUST ANNOUNCE WE DO HAVE A SAVE THE DAY. WE'RE GONNA HOST A HOUSING SUMMIT. I, I SOFTLY ANNOUNCED THIS ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS, UH, A HOUSING SUMMIT, OCTOBER 12TH, THAT'S A SATURDAY. WE HAVE SOME AMAZING PARTNERS. UM, THEY'RE GONNA BASICALLY LET YOU KNOW HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LAND, INTERESTED IN DEVELOPMENT, INTERESTED IN THE PROCESSES, MORE TO COME. UH, AND BEFORE I CLOSE, I ALSO WANT TO, UH, LASTLY CONGRATULATE OUR FORMER MAYOR, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. UH, LAST NIGHT, HE, UH, CLINCHED THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION TO REPRESENT THE CONGRESSIONAL, UH, DISTRICT 18. IT WAS A NAIL BITING EXPERIENCE. UM, LOOK FORWARD TO HIS LEADERSHIP. AND I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT, UM, OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER, UM, FOR MAKING A POWERFUL STUMP SPEECH. AND I, I, I SURMISE THAT THERE IS MORE TO COME ON THE HORIZON IN A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM HER. UM, BUT THAT WAS, THAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. IT WAS GREAT TO WITNESS IN PERSON. UM, IT WAS GREAT TO, UM, CELEBRATE WITH HIM. I LOOK FORWARD TO HIS CONTRIBUTION AS A PART OF OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT HOUSTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I'LL MAKE IT BRIEF. UM, WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO NICOLE MENDOZA. SHE'S THE NEWEST, UH, TO JOIN OUR STAFF, AND SHE'S HANDLING, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION. SO IF YOU SEE HER AROUND, GIVE HER A, A FRIENDLY HELLO AND SURE WHERE THE WATER FOUNTAIN IS. UM, UH, THE OTHER, UH, ITEM IS WE'RE ROLLING OUT OUR, UH, COMMUNITY CONNECTION SERIES. FIRST STEP WILL BE UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT B, WHICH I HEAR IS THE DE THE DISTRICT TO BE IN. AND, UH, WE'LL SEE YOU AROUND. IT'S, UH, UH, UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY IS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY. AND, UH, WE WILL BE INVITING MANY TO COME OUT TO HAVE DONUTS AND COFFEE WITH HPD. SO, THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA, THANK YOU. ON THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE HAD A BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY AND FUN FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT THE CAREER RECOVERY CENTER. I WANNA THANK THE BOYNTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, PASTOR LINDA DAVIS, THE YWCA GISETTE THOMAS, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO, DOLORES LOZANO, WHO JUST LOOKS ADORABLE. SHE'S, YOU KNOW, PREGNANT RIGHT NOW WITH CHILD, AND SHE JUST, I TELL YOU, SHE HAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DIMPLE, AND SHE'S PRETTY, ANYWAY, [05:45:01] AND SUCH, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL PERSONALITY. UH, ROMAN AGUILAR, VICTOR GONZALEZ, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, DR. CYNTHIA WILSON, HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. UM, ON, UM, THE SUNDAY, WE HAD TOWARDS THE NIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL, BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT AT CUNY HOMES. THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT. UH, THE RESIDENTS WERE THERE, THEY REALLY ENJOYED IT. THEY GOT THEIR HAIR CUT, THEY GOT SCHOOL SUPPLIES. I WANNA THANK THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE LOCAL BARBERS AND STYLISTS, THE CUNY HOMES RESIDENTS COUNCIL. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR FORMER MAYOR, UH, SYLVESTER TURNER. I WAS JUST SO VERY EXCITED. YOU KNOW, MY OBJECTIVE IS ALWAYS TO HAVE PARTNERS FOR THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. HE HAS PROVED HIMSELF TO ALWAYS BE THAT PARTNER. I, I THANK THE PRECINCT JUDGES THAT SUPPORTED HIM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. YOU CAN NEVER REPLACE THE CONGRESSWOMAN, BUT CERTAINLY HE'S A GREAT PERSON IN HIS OWN RIGHT. AND I AM READY TO TO MOVE FORWARD WORKING WITH HIM. AND, UM, I, OH, TODAY THERE WILL BE A ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING AT 2:00 PM HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I AND MY, UH, VICE CHAIR, UH, MARIO CASTILLO WILL BE HERE, UH, WHERE WE WILL HAVE PRESENTATIONS FROM THE BLOOMBERG PUBLIC ART CHALLENGE AWARD, UH, THE HUGH SHELTER AND OTHERS. AND SO, WE INVITE YOU TODAY AT 2:00 PM TO ATTEND THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO START, UM, BY ENCOURAGING MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY TO, UM, GET INVOLVED IN CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA'S EFFORT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, UH, TO ADD EXTREME HEAT AS A FEMA, UH, DECLARED DISASTER. UH, WE HAVE SEEN THE INCREASING FREQUENCY IN WHICH WE'RE DEALING WITH EXTREME HEAT. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE, UH, ARE DYING BECAUSE OF EXTREME HEAT. AND WE HAVE HAD TO, AS A CITY, UH, OPEN UP COOLING CENTERS, UH, QUITE OFTEN TO, UH, HELP COMBAT THAT. UM, AND WHEN WE WENT THROUGH OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS, AND WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS, UH, WITH HURRICANE BARREL, WE LEARNED ABOUT, UM, FACILITIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE BACKUP POWER. UH, UNLOCKING FEDERAL DOLLARS. FEDERAL RESILIENCY DOLLARS CAN HELP US FILL THAT GAP WHERE WE KNOW WE NEED TO GET OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, WHICH COMMUNITIES USE, UH, IN TIMES OF CRISIS, TO, TO RECHARGE, UH, COOL OFF. UM, AND THERE'S, THERE'S A WAY TO, TO HELP MEET THAT NEED. AND, UM, WE HAVE HAD TO STAFF AND OPEN UP COOLING CENTERS, UH, OFTEN NOW. AND IF FEMA COULD REIMBURSE US FOR THAT, THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET SOME OF THOSE COSTS. UM, BUT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA GO AWAY. IT'S JUST GONNA KEEP BEING A PART OF, UH, HOW WE AS A CITY KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. AND SO, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO GET EXTREME HEAT ADDED, UH, AS A NATURAL DISASTER, UH, THROUGH FEMA, I THINK WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD, UH, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GONNA HELP US BE MORE RESILIENT, UH, IN THE FUTURE AND KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE. UM, ON THAT NOTE, I AM HOSTING TWO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY WORKSHOPS. ONE IS TONIGHT AT MOODY PARK, UM, AT 6:30 PM AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER ONE IS IN TWO WEEKS ON WEDNESDAY AT 6:30 PM AT HTX ART IN THE HEART OFF OF JENSEN. UH, WE WILL HAVE FEMA THERE. WE WILL HAVE THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION THERE. WE WILL HAVE, UH, REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON. UH, SO WE CAN HELP FOLKS, UH, PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, UH, WITH DISASTERS, AND ALSO RECOVER FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING LATELY. UM, I ALSO WANNA WELCOME OUR TWO DISTRICT H HORIZON INTERNS. UH, BRADLEY AND KRISTEN, UH, THEY CAME ON BOARD AUGUST 1ST. THEY ARE THE FIRST TWO, UH, INTERNS SELECTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. THEY WILL BE WITH US FOR SIX MONTHS. UH, THEY'RE VERY EXCITED AND, UH, I AM, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, ALL THEIR WORK AND, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISTRICT TO BE SURE TO SAY HELLO IF YOU SEE THEM. UM, AND FINALLY, MONDAY, I WAS ABLE TO VISIT A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT H FOR IDS, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, UH, CROCKETT ELEMENTARY, BOOKER T WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, MC REYNOLDS MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND, AND I STARTED THE DAY AT MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL, WELCOMING KIDS BACK, UH, WITH THE SAFE WALK HOME TEAM. AND, UM, I GOT TO VISIT SCHOOLS, GO IN THE CLASSROOMS, UM, VISIT WITH PRINCIPALS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I, THAT I PICKED UP ON IS THE COMMUNITIES ARE RALLYING AROUND THEIR SCHOOLS. PARENTS ARE INVOLVED, THEY ARE ENGAGED. THEY'RE WANT, THEY WANNA SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS, UM, [05:50:01] AND HELP MEET NEEDS WHERE, WHERE THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, UM, ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AND THROUGHOUT, EVERY DAY AFTER. AND SO THAT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, DESPITE WHAT WE ARE HEARING WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND, AND EVERYTHING AT HISD, UH, COMMUNITIES ARE COMING TOGETHER TO DO WHAT THEY CAN AND TO DO THEIR PART TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND, AND THAT THEY DO GET A QUALITY, UH, EDUCATION. AND, AND I'M ENCOURAGED BY THAT. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO, UH, STAY INVOLVED, UM, WITH THE SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY ARE VITAL PARTS OF THRIVING, HEALTHY, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND COLLEAGUES WITH THAT. OH, NO, WE'VE GOT, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. I'M SO SORRY. GOTTA GO BACK OVER THE OTHER WAY. . SORRY. CLOSE US OUT, PASTOR. NO PROBLEM, WILLIE. NO PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN LEFT OUT OF MANY THINGS BEFORE. NO, I JUST NEEDED TO LOOK BACK OVER. SORRY. I KNOW IT WASN'T INTENT. I KNOW IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I, I WANNA START BY SAYING I'M GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA, UH, WITH THE YWCA AND THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING WITH THEM. I'VE WORKED WITH THEM OVER THE MANY YEARS. UH, I PASTOR THE CHURCH. IT WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE YWCA, AND I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMAN FOR STEPPING UP AND WORKING WITH THOSE, UH, WITH THAT FACILITY. IT IS A HISTORICAL ONE, AND IT NEEDS ALL OF OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO WORK WITH HER AS WELL WITH OTHERS. WE HAD A GREAT TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE A LEAVE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER MONDAY NIGHT. UH, THIS WAS THE SECOND CITYWIDE TOWN HALL MEETING THAT I'VE HAD, UH, AND HELD THIS YEAR. AND, AND THEY ARE GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY TIME WE HAVE ONE. I COMMEND MY ENTIRE STAFF FOR THEIR WORK AND DILIGENCE. COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM. UH, I WAS REALLY, IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING TO BEHOLD WITH THE ATTENDANCE OF PEOPLE COMING OUT AT THE FIRST AND THE SECOND. UM, I WISH I COULD HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, WISH THE MAYOR COULD HAVE MADE IT. HE WAS OF COURSE, CAUGHT UP, BUT HE COULDN'T MAKE IT. BUT WE WAS GRATEFUL TO HIS OFFICE FOR ABLE, THEY ATTENDED THOSE THAT REPRESENTED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, INCLUDING REBECCA WILLIAMS. WE HAD OVER 70 PLUS RESIDENTS IN ATTENDANCE, MORE THAN 130, UH, PEOPLE ALTOGETHER IN THE ROOM. WE HAD OFFICIALS FROM SBA WHO DID A PRESENTATION. FEMA OFFICIALS ALSO ATTENDED, REMINDED EVERYONE OF THE DEADLINE FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION. WE HAD OFFICIALS FROM RED CROSS LAND COMMISSIONER DON BUCKINGHAM'S OFFICE, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANA'S, OFFICE METRO AND COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, WHO IS JUST A STAR IN THAT COMMUNITY. I WANT TO COMMEND HER FOR COMING OUT. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE PLACE TO GO. I GET THAT. I'M, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I WANT TO TAKE MY HAT OFF TO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN THAT COMMUNITY. UH, AND THEY LOVE HER. AND, UH, JUST DOING A MARVELOUS JOB. AND IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE HER PRESENCE. AND SHE CAME TO SPEAK, UH, TO HER COMMUNITY AND TO LET 'EM KNOW THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH ALL COMMUNITY. THAT'S MY GOAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THAT NIGHT. ALSO, WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CARTER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER'S OFFICE, UH, REPRESENTED AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, AT LARGE, UH, ALCORN'S OFFICE WAS THERE AND HAS BEEN AS BOTH OF OUR TOWN HALL MEETING. I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY, BOTH OF YOU, FOR THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO COME. WE HAD AN ATTENDANCE WORKFORCE SOLUTION, SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. UH, THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SHOWED UP A BIG FOR US, A LEAF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, ELDRIDGE, WEST OAK, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD HOPE CLINIC, AND A LEAF VOTES. I GOT TO PUT A PLUG OUT FOR A LEAF VOTES. THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS HAS PUT TOGETHER. THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO THAT COMMUNITY, THOSE WERE THE FIRST GROUP OF PEOPLE I MET WAS A LEAVE VOTE. JUST TOTALLY EXCITED. BUT JUST TO KIND OF CONCLUDE ON THIS, UM, THESE TOWN ALL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN AWAY, UH, BRINGING THE CITY HALL TO THE RESIDENTS. I'M APPLAUDING THAT. I LOVE IT, UH, IN DISTRICT B AND IN L AND ALL ACROSS THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. LASTLY, UH, I WANT TO THINK OF THOSE DEPARTMENT HEADS. THE OFFICIAL OFFICERS, HPD EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF, MEGAN HOWARD, HFD, ASSISTANT CHIEF RICHARD GALVAN, SOLID WAYS DIRECTOR, MARK WILL FAULK WAS THERE, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT [05:55:01] DIRECTOR VON TRAN WAS THERE. PUBLIC WORKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR RUDY MARINO, AND HR TALENT ACQUISITION MANAGER, LATONYA WELCH. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE GREAT PEOPLE AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSORS. WE HAD PEOPLE THAT FURNISHED US, THE FOOD, GREAT FOOD, GREAT FOOD FURNISHED ON OUR BEHALF. AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ALL OF OUR, MY COLLEAGUES FOR BUSINESSES AROUND. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE KIMBERLY ADVERTISING, MR. WIN AGENCY, AND WE INSURANCE. AND JUST THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S TWEET SAID THE FOOD WAS SLAMMING SLAM. I DID, I DID. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. AND THAT WAS TRUE. OH NO. ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, THIS MEETING'S ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.