* 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. [00:00:04] UH, COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER. [PRESENTATIONS] CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, AND TURN. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. I AM PROUD TO BE HONORING THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON FOR THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY. UM, THE GARDEN CLUB IS MADE UP OF SOME REALLY GO-GETTER, WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TO BEAUTIFY OUR ARE NOT ALWAYS SO BEAUTIFUL CITIES, SO THEY MAKE IT MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL. UM, SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO AND I'M JUST GONNA GET RIGHT AHEAD TO THE PROC. WHEREAS THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON WAS ORGANIZED IN 1924 BY SEVEN WOMEN WHO WERE DEDICATED TO HORTICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE CLUB GREW TO 40 MEMBERS. A CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED AND CLUB ACTIVITIES WERE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE GARDEN VISITS, HORTICULTURE PRESENTATIONS, PLAN EXCHANGES, A FLOWER SHOW AND EFFORTS TO ENLIST PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE CONSERVATION OF NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES. AND WHEREAS IN 1932, THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON BECAME THE FIRST GARDEN CLUB IN THE SOUTHWEST TO BE ELECTED INTO THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA IN RECOGNITION OF ITS SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN MANY HORTICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS. MOST NOTABLY THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON GROUNDS BETWEEN FUNDRAISING PROJECTS AND MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS. THE CLUB FINANCED THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW MASTER PLAN FOR THE MUSEUM SOUTH LAWN TO COINCIDE WITH THE FIRST NATIONAL MEETING OF THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA HELD IN HOUSTON IN 1939. THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON CURRENTLY HELPS MAINTAIN THE GARDENS OF ZI AND HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUM OWNED BY THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS IN 1942, THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON ESTABLISHED THE BULB AND PLANT MART. I'VE BOUGHT MANY A BULB AT THE BULB AND PLANT MART. Y'ALL NEED TO GO THERE. IT'S MAJOR FUNDRAISING PROJECT DESIGNED TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN GARDENING AND HORTICULTURE WITHIN THE GREATER COMMUNITY GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON. FUNDRAISING SUPPORTS ONGOING PROJECTS AT THE HOUSTON HOSPICE, THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON ZI AND URBAN HARVEST. THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON ALSO GRANTS FUNDS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT PUBLIC GARDENS, COMMUNITY GARDENS, CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION, CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF GARDENING. THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON RECENTLY DONATED FUNDS TO THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY FOR THE WELCOME PROMENADE, WHICH WAS SO PRETTY. THANK YOU. AND WHEREAS FOR 100 YEARS, THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON HAS MAINTAINED A MEMBERSHIP OF WOMEN VOLUNTEERS COMMITTED TO ITS ORIGINAL MI MISSION OF BEAUTIFICATION CONSERVATION AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON FOR 100 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SPACES VIBRANT AND EXTENDS. BEST WISHES FOR, FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. MAYOR, LEMME GET IN HERE AND DO MY JOB. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ALCORN AND, UH, THANK YOU TO THE GARDEN CLUB AND ITS LEADERSHIP THAT HAS FOR SO MANY YEARS IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF SO MANY HOUSTONIANS. AND I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT VEGETATION'S BEEN ON MY MIND SINCE, SINCE THE LAST STORM AND THE FOCUS ON RESPONSIBLE GARDENING AND, UH, TREE GROWTH AND DO THINGS RIGHT. SO LET ME JUST HOLD YOU OUT AS A MODEL THAT, UH, GARDENING IS TO COMPLIMENT SO MANY OTHER THINGS WE HAVE GOING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024 IS GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON, DAY 100TH ANNIVERSARY. CONGRATULATIONS. AND TODAY WE HAVE, UM, THREE GARDEN CLUB MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF MINE, ANGELA PETERMAN, CINDY WALLACE, AND JUDY LEE. AND I THINK ONE OF THEM I'VE RECRUITED TO SPEAK FOR A MOMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THANK YOU SALLY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION. UM, THE ALMOST 400 MEMBERS, CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON LOVE PARTNERING WITH, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE CITY TO MAKE, TO IMPROVE EVERYBODY'S LIVES THROUGH, UM, JUST ONE-ON-ONE TEACHING TO, UH, IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S JUST SO FUN FOR ALL OF US AND WE APPRECIATE THE DAY. GREAT, THANK YOU. PERFECT. [00:05:30] NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER HOUSTON DECLARING SEPTEMBER 10TH AS SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IN HOUSTON. THERE YOU'RE COMMENT. WELCOME CLOSER. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, AS YOU JUST HEARD, SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, AND TODAY SEPTEMBER 10TH IS WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY. UM, AND OUR HOPE WITH THIS PROCLAMATION IN THE WORK THAT MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA DOES IS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DESTIGMATIZE CONVERSATIONS AROUND SUICIDE SHARING VITAL RESOURCES. AND I, AT THE VERY OUTSET, WANNA SAY FOR THE PUBLIC LISTENING, UM, THE NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE THAT YOU CAN CALL OR TEXT IS NINE EIGHT EIGHT APPROXIMATELY 49,000 PEOPLE, UM, DIE BY, DIE BY SUICIDE IN 2022. THAT MEANS THAT A LIFE WAS LOST. EVERY 11 MINUTES, 3.8 MILLION AMERICANS MADE A PLAN TO COMMIT SUICIDE. 1.6 MILLION ATTEMPTED. IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY DIFFICULT AND DEVASTATING TOPIC TO NAVIGATE, BUT CONVERSATIONS AND EVEN STANDING UP HERE TODAY, OUR HOPE IS THAT THIS CAN SAVE LIVES. SO I AM SO PROUD TO BE JOINED, UH, BY OUR FRIENDS AT MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER HOUSTON, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL WORK THEY DO FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION EVERY DAY. I'M JOINED BY KEVIN PENSON. RENEE VANYA TOMAK, DID I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY? AND REBECCA FOWLER, MHA, UH, IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT C UH, IT WAS FOUNDED 70 YEARS AGO BY IMMA HOG, AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE LONGEST SERVING MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN OUR AREA. THEY OFFER A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING SPECIALIZATIONS WITH CHILDREN, VETERANS, AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. UH, WITH THAT, I AM SO PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY, WHEREAS EACH YEAR, SEPTEMBER IS RECOGNIZED AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, A TIME DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF SUICIDE AND PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF OVERALL WELLNESS WORLD. SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IS OBSERVED EVERY SEPTEMBER 10TH TO BRING ATTENTION, TREAT THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST, AND REMEMBER THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER HOUSTON. FOUNDED IN 1954 BY OUR BELOVED PHILANTHROPIST, I'M A HOG AND HEADQUARTERED IN DISTRICT C AS THE AREA'S LONGEST SERVING MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND CONNECTIONS TO CARE. THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA IS HOME TO MORE THAN 300,000 VETERANS, MAKING IT THE SECOND LARGEST VETERAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. AND MANY OF THEM FACE SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES DUE TO THEIR SERVICE. TEXAS RANKS LAST IN THE NATION FOR OVERALL ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. UNDERSCORING THE URGENT NEED FOR ENHANCED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE VETERANS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM AT MHA PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE REINTEGRATION OF VETERANS INTO CIVILIAN LIFE BY OFFERING OUTREACH, TRAINING, PEER SERVICES, AND DIRECT SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF VETERANS SERVING NEARLY 3000 OF OUR VETERANS IN 2023. THIS PROGRAM ALSO HOSTS AS PLUS K. SO ASK ABOUT SUICIDE TO SAVE A LIFE, TO TEACH PARTICIPANTS HOW TO RECOGNIZE WARNING SIGNS INDICATE RISK OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN THE INITIAL INTERVENTION STEPS TO SUPPORT THOSE AT RISK. MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA WORKS UNDER THE PREMISE THAT HEALTH IS PART OF EVERYTHING. THERE IS NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH, AND THERE IS NO OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT IS FAR MORE REACHING THAN MENTAL HEALTH. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THIS ORGANIZATION FOR ITS IMPACT AND SERVICE TO THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF SUICIDE AND THEIR LOVED ONES. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, SERIOUS TOPIC BEFORE US. MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT AND, AND, UH, EMOTIONAL [00:10:01] ISSUES ARE SO PREVALENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER WE'RE DEALING WITH HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, UH, ROAD RAGE, CERTAINLY OUR VETERANS. SO IT'S ONLY PROPER THAT WE SLOW DOWN AND RECOGNIZE WHAT'S GOING THROUGH THE MIND AND THE EMOTIONS OF OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. AND IT IS, IT'S UNFORTUNATE AS IT HAS BEEN, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE GREATER, BUT FOR THE OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE RECOGNIZE IN DAYS. SO LET'S JUST SLOW DOWN AND, AND THINK WHAT GOING THROUGH THE MIND AND EMOTIONS OF OUR COLLEAGUES, OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS AND EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TODAY. I THINK WE'D ALL HAVE TO AGREE. UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEE MENTAL HEALTH VICTIMS IN CASES THAT COME BEFORE COUNSEL. IN FACT, I'VE ACTUALLY SUGGESTED, AND WE, WE DO MOST DAYS HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CASEWORKER HERE. 'CAUSE PEOPLE COME BEFORE COUNSEL WHEN THEY'RE SO DESPERATE AND YOU CAN ALMOST IDENTIFY THROUGH THEIR MESSAGING AND THEIR EMOTIONS THAT THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND I THEREFORE, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024 IS SUICIDE PREVENTION DATE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. KEVIN, ARE YOU SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA? GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KEVIN PENSON AND I AM THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT PEER SERVICES COORDINATOR FOR THE VETERANS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR GATHERING HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS A TOPIC OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE, SUICIDE AWARENESS IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE, IT'S A CALL TO ACTION, A CALL TO EACH OF US TO STAND TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH COURAGE AND DEDICATION. OUR VETERANS ARE, ARE HEROES WHO HAVE FACED UNIMAGINABLE CHALLENGES IN THE BATTLEFIELD, BUT FOR MANY, THE MOST DIFFICULT BATTLES ARE THE ONES THEY FACE UPON RETURNING HOME. THE TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE CAN BE, UH, QUITE EMOTIONAL, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND HAVE SOCIAL CHALLENGES. FOR SOME, THE WEIGHT OF THESE CHALLENGES BECOMES OVERWHELMING, LEADING TO FEELINGS OF ISOLATION, DESPAIR, AND TRAGICALLY THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE. EVERY DAY, APPROXIMATELY 17 VETERANS TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES. THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ONCE STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THEIR COMRADES, WHO DEFENDED OUR FREEDOMS WITH UNWAVERING RESOLVE. NOW THEY FACE A SILENT ENEMY, ONE THAT WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THEM CONFRONT. SPREADING THE SUICIDE AWARENESS IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY IS VITAL FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, IT HELPS TO BREAK THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. TWO, OFTEN VETERANS FEEL THEY, THEY MUST SUFFER IN SILENCE. BELIEVING THAT ASKING FOR HELP IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS. BY OPENLY DISCUSSING THESE ISSUES, WE CAN CHANGE THE NARRATIVE. WE CAN SHOW OUR VETERANS THAT SEEKING HELP IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, BUT A COURAGEOUS STEP TOWARDS HEALING. SECOND, AWARENESS FOSTERS CONNECTION. MANY VETERANS STRUGGLE WITH FEELINGS OF ISOLATION, THINKING THAT NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCES. BY RAISING AWARENESS, WE BUILD A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT, RE REMINDING THEM THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE CAN CREATE SAFE SPACES. WE VETERANS FEEL UNDERSTOOD, VALUED, AND SUPPORTED, WHERE THEY CAN SHARE THEIR STORIES WITHOUT FEAR OR JUDGMENT. FINALLY, SPREADING AWARENESS IS A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS PREVENTION. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUICIDE OPENLY, WE EDUCATE OTHERS ON THE WARNING SIGNS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHERE TO GET HELP. WE EMPOWER FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITIES TO BE VIGILANT, TO REACH OUT AND TO INTERVENE WHEN THEY SEE SOMEONE IS IN CRISIS. EARLY INTER INTERVENTION CAN SAVE LIVES. OUR VETERANS HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION. NOW IT'S OUR TERM TO SERVE THEM. LET US COMMIT TO SPREADING SUICIDE AWARENESS, NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT IN ACTION. LET US BE THE VOICES THAT SPEAK UP, THE EARS THAT LISTEN, AND THE HANDS THAT REACH OUT TO THOSE IN NEED. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER, WE CAN SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC INTO THE GROUP. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND SO CRITICAL FOR ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU'RE HELPING EVERY DAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND DOES, DO Y'ALL WANNA SAY WHAT YOUR HOTLINE IS OR WHERE THEY CAN, PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT MORE RESOURCES? [00:15:01] SO WE INVITE Y'ALL. SO WE INVITE Y'ALL TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE@MHAHOUSTON.ORG. MANY RESOURCES ARE LISTED THERE, AND AS KEVIN MENTIONED, IF YOU'RE FEELING THAT IT'S TOUGH TO GO ON, UM, REMEMBER THAT NUMBER. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THE NEW 9 8 8 HOTLINE. IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE ABOUT TWO YEARS, VERY SIMILAR TO 9 1 1. BUT IF SOMEBODY HAS EXPERIENCED A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, NO JUDGMENT, JUST HELP. YOU CAN GET CONNECTED. BUT WE ALSO INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A LOCAL RESOURCE. AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN ALSO REACH OUT THROUGH 9, 8, 8. SO IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A LOVED ONE, YOU MAY BE THE PERSON THAT CAN SAVE THAT LIFE. SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO THEM AS WELL. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DR. SANDRA MCKAY TO RECOGNIZE DR. MCKAY AND TARGET SAFETY'S WORK WITH VETERANS AND SECURE TEMPORARY FIREARM STORAGE. SO AS THEY'RE WALKING UP, UM, I, I'M SO PLEASED TO INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THIS MORNING. WE ACTUALLY HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE. UM, AND I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE, COUNCIL MEMBERS PECK AND RAMIREZ. UM, CHIEF WAS THERE. UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA JOINED US. UH, WE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS INCLUDING CAMP HOPE, BUT COME UP CLOSER. UM, AS YOU JUST HEARD, BECAUSE IT IS, UH, SUICIDE WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY, THERE IS SUCH A STRONG NEXUS BETWEEN VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH AND UNFORTUNATELY WITH FIREARMS. AND TARGET SAFETY IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT IS WORKING ON SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SAFE, TRUSTED PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE IF A VETERAN IS IN NEED, THEY CAN SAY, HEY, I NEED YOU TO HOLD ONTO THIS SAFELY FOR A LITTLE BIT WHILE I GET THE HELP THAT I NEED. UM, BUT AGAIN, DR. MCKAY IS DOING A LOT. SHE'S ALSO, UM, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT UT HEALTH, UH, AT THE BAKER INSTITUTE AS WELL. UH, I WANT TO READ ONE STATISTIC WITH THIS. FROM 20 2001 TO 2021, NEARLY 87,087,000 VETERANS WERE LOST TO SUICIDE WITH A FIREARM THAT IS 16 TIMES THE NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE SAME PERIOD. UH, I'VE BEEN MEETING OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WITH PARTNERS, UH, INCLUDING DR. MCKAY, WHO IS, UH, JOINING US TODAY. BUT TARGET SAFETY IS A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS DEDICATED TO REDUCING FIREARM INJURIES, INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, RESEARCHERS, VETERANS, AND OTHERS. THEY'RE FOCUSING ON IDENTIFYING REAL RETAILERS ACROSS THE STATE, PRIMARILY IN HOUSTON, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING TEMPORARY OUT OF THE HOME. AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE TEMPORARY SAFE STORAGE THAT IS VOLUNTARY. UH, THEY HAVE LED THE CHARGE INTRODUCING STATE LEGISLATION LAST SESSION TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTING THIS AND MAY, I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH TO SEE THE PASSAGE OF THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A GRAY AREA WITH LIABILITY RIGHT NOW THAT'S PREVENTING THESE PROGRAMS FROM BEING IMPLEMENTED. UH, BUT WITH THAT, WHEREAS EACH YEAR, SEPTEMBER IS RECOGNIZED AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH BY MULTIPLE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS NATIONWIDE, AND OFFERS A TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE STIGMATIZED TOPIC TO SPREAD HOPE AND SHARE VITAL INFORMATION WITH THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. VETERANS MAY FACE CHALLENGES FROM A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS FOLLOWING THEIR SERVICE. IT WAS AS A RESULT OF TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES THEY MAY HAVE HAD DURING THEIR TIME. SERVING. VETERAN POPULATIONS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY DEPRESSION. PTSD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ANXIETY. AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THEY'RE ALSO TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM SUICIDE AS COMPARED TO NON-VETERANS. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS FOUNDED TARGET SAFETY UNDER THE MCGOVERN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND ENGAGES IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH DISTRICT C'S. RICE UNIVERSITY BAKER INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC POLICY. TARGET SAFETY WAS FORMED TO COMPLETE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH, [00:20:01] ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY AND DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE GAPS AND OPTIONS THAT ARE FEASIBLE AND EFFECTIVE. THEY'RE A COALITION DEDICATED TO REDUCING FIREARM INJURY BY PROMOTING SECURE FIREARM STORAGE RESOURCES WITH A VISION TO REDUCE FIREARM TRAGEDIES. THEY'RE ACTIVELY COLLABORATING TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, LOCAL FIREARM RETAILERS, VETERANS ADVOCATES, AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO INCREASE SECURE STORAGE INFORMATION AND TEMPORARY OUT-OF-HOME STORAGE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL TEXANS WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING UNINTENTIONAL INJURY AND SUICIDE. THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH TARGET SAFETY AND COMMENDS THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR KAMAN. AND, UM, STRONGLY URGENT IS TO HAVE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP AND YOU REFERENCE TO LEGISLATURE. WE DEFINITELY NEED A RED FLAG LEGISLATION WHERE WE TEXT SOMEONE HAVING AN EMOTIONAL, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE IN SENDING OUT ALL THE WARNINGS. WE DON'T HAVE A PROCESS FOR WHERE YOU CAN PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND THE INDIVIDUAL WITH RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP, DO A RED FLAG AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. SO THEREFORE, I JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024 IS TARGET SAFETY DATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND TO COUNCILMAN MCMAN FOR, UM, RECOGNIZING THIS WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THIS COALITION. AND IT'S REALLY A, A TESTAMENT TO HOW YOU CAN BRING MULTIPLE PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM, FROM VARIOUS AREAS. GUN VIOLENCE ADVOCATES, FIREARM RETAILERS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, ALL WITH THE SHARED VISION OF REDUCING FIREARM TRAGEDIES. AND LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WORK. WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, THEY'RE ASKING YOU THE QUESTION, WHERE CAN I TAKE MY GUNS SAFELY? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOMEONE IN MY HOME WHO'S STRUGGLING AND, OR MAYBE I'M STRUGGLING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TAKE MY GUNS. AND THIS IS LOOKING AT A COMMUNITY BASED OPTION, WORKING WITH OUR RETAILERS TO SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK. WE'VE GOT A SAFE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO, AND THEN YOU CAN GO GET STARTED WITH SOME HELP, AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE READY, YOU CAN COME PICK THEM UP AGAIN. AND SO THAT WAY WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO, AS A COALITION, GET TOGETHER FOR THOSE RESOURCES SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO TRY TO CALL TO A THOUSAND DIFFERENT PLACES TO BE LIKE, ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE PLACES? ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE PLACES? SO WE CAN MAKE THINGS EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT FOR FAMILIES, AND IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT OUR COALITION IS ABOUT, IS REDUCING FIREARM TRAGEDIES. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS AND APPRECIATE ALL YOUR DEDICATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THE CHAIR [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, YOU AND COUNCIL TO REVEREND THOMAS T. DAVIS JR. IF HE WILL, UH, COME FORWARD. IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, REVEREND THOMAS T. DAVIS JR. JOINED RICEVILLE MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH AS THE SENIOR PASTOR. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, RICEVILLE MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATED ITS 135TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY IN DISTRICT K. REVEREND DAVIS HAS SERVED AS THE ASSOCIATE MINISTER AT LILLY GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PASTOR TERRY KAY ANDERSON. HE IS LICENSE, HE WAS LICENSED BY REVEREND THOMAS E. RAY JR. UH, HE HAS A LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS. [00:25:01] UH, HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S IN ARCHITECTURE AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY A AND M COLLEGE, A MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES FROM HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, NOW HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, AND IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM AT ANDERSON UNIVERSITY. HE'S A MEMBER OF KAPPA ALPHA SIDE FRATERNITY. HE'S BEEN MARRIED TO RESHONDA BRIANNE DAVIS FOR 19 YEARS. THEY ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF THREE SONS, THOMAS T. DAVIS, THE THIRD, JOSHUA T. DAVIS, AND ASTON C DAVIS. REVEREND DAVIS, WE'RE SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE. UH, WE'RE READY FOR YOUR PRAYER. YES, MA'AM. BLESS YOUR HONOR. LORD, WE COME BEFORE YOUR THRONE OF GRACE ON TODAY, NOT TRUSTING IN OURSELVES OR IN OUR OWN ABILITIES, BUT IN THE MARVELOUS AND GRACIOUS LOVE AS IT SEEKS EXPRESSION AMONG US. THEREFORE, WE HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU COME OUR ANCIENT SPIRITS. REMOVE US OH GOD, FROM THE SELFISH DISTRACTIONS THAT WILL KEEP US FROM THE SERVITUDE OF OTHERS. WE ASK THAT YOU BREAK DOWN THE POLITICAL WALLS OF SEPARATION THAT WE'VE BUILT UP TO KEEP PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY, OF NOURISHING OUR FELLOW MAN TO ALL THAT YOU'VE CALLED HIM TO BE. ALLOW US TO HAVE JOY AND CELEBRATION OF THE ONLY REALITY WORTH KNOWING THAT YOU LOVE US AS WE ARE, AND THAT WE SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER AS, AS WE ARE STIR WITHIN OUR HEARTS AND OUR IMAGINATIONS SO THAT WE CAN SEE BEYOND PERSONAL APPEARANCES AND PHILOSOPHICAL OPINIONS OF THE REALITY OF WHAT CAN BE. WE ASK THAT YOU, YOU ENABLE OUR EARS TO LISTEN FOR YOUR STILL SMALL VOICE AS IT SPEAKS TO US TODAY. AND AS IT BOLDLY PROCLAIMS THE UNDENIABLE REALITY OF YOUR LOVE THAT WILL NEVER LET US GO. REMIND US OF YOUR PRO OF THE PROGRESSIVE PAST FROM ONCE WE HAVE TRAVELED. KEEP US CONSCIOUS, OH GOD, OF THE POTENTIAL POWER THAT AWAITS US IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BLESS THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST THROUGH THESE OH GOD, WHOM YOU HAVE DESTINED TO POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP CREATE IN US COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY AS SPIRIT OF UNISON THAT PROMOTES EMPATHY AND GRACE TOWARDS EACH OTHER. MAY OUR CODE, STATUTES AND POLICIES REFLECT YOUR EVERLASTING WORD AND YOUR EVER SOVEREIGN WILL. IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU REVEREND DAVIS. IF YOU'LL PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MR. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HERE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 30TH AND MAY 1ST MAY 7TH AND EIGHTH AND MAY 14TH AND 15TH. CAST A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NOW CHAIR [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MAYOR I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE THEODORE ROCHA TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA. UH, LIST. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES PER, UH, MAYOR PRO CAST SIX STATER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JACOB CLEMENTE TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA FOR ONE MINUTE. TOP OF THE THREE TOP. MOTION MADE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE RANDY HALL AND VANESSA COLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. VERY GOOD. MOTION MADE. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [00:30:01] PLUMMER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALL HAS HAS SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE TOMORROW. BELL AT THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. OH, AGENDA. OH, OKAY. YEAH. TOMORROW. TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. I DO. MOTION IS THAT NON AGENDA OR AGENDA. AGENDA OR NON AGENDA. AGENDA. AGENDA. AGENDA. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO MOVE, I'D LIKE TO ADD SERGEANT LOVE THE, A PAUL PRESIDENT TO THE AGENDA TO THE THREE MINUTE BELOW TOMORROW BELL. SO TOMORROW WILL FOLLOW JACOB CLEMENT? YES. 'CAUSE HE'S ALREADY BEEN MOVED. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. FOLLOWING JACOB CLEMENT. OKAY. GOT IT ALL IN. YOU HAVE A SECOND TO THAT. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? NOT MR. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER ALEXANDER SPIKE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALEXANDER SPIKE. I AM WITH AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON. WE ARE A NONPROFIT, UH, DEDICATED TO REDUCING THE IMPACT OF POOR AIR QUALITY. WE SUPPORT COMMUNITIES LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO COUNCIL TODAY AS THEY ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR AND FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS A CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE UNDER ITEM 47, WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR DEVELOPERS TO CONSTRUCT SIDEWALKS FOR NEW HOMES. SIDEWALKS ARE THE MOST BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE ONE CAN BUILD, AND YET HOUSTON STRUGGLES WITH SIDEWALK EQUITY WITH ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS LACKING QUALITY, COMFORTABLE, UNOBSTRUCTED SIDEWALKS. THIS HAS PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE, OLDER FOLKS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AIRLINES. HOUSTON IS ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON ENSURING SIDEWALKS ARE PRIORITIZED IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THEM THE MOST. SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT JUST A LUXURY, IT IS A NECESSITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WE NEED SIDEWALKS BE BUILT WITH EVERY NEW PROJECT, NOT JUST SUN. WE NEED A FEE SPECIFICALLY TO FUND SIDEWALK INFILL. AND WE NEED THE CITY TO TAKE OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING SIDEWALKS LIKE THE CITY DID FOR DRAIN DITCHES IN SUN, IN SUB IN SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY. WE URGE YOU GUYS TO VOTE NO AND SAID WORK TO STRENGTHEN SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALL COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD, SIR? UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. MR. SPIKE, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. UM, I WANTED TO GIVE SOME CLARITY ON ITEM 47. SO RIGHT NOW, UH, THE CITY IS FACING AN ISSUE CALLED SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND, UM, DUE TO SOME CHANGES IN THE ORDINANCE, WE CAME UP WITH A FEE IN LIEU OF SO THAT IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE FOR A DEVELOPER OR A NEW OR A HOMEOWNER TO CONSTRUCT A SIDEWALK BECAUSE IT EITHER LED TO NOWHERE OR IT JUST DIDN'T FIT WITH THE CONFIGURATION OF THAT PARTICULAR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY COULD PAY A FEE IN LIEU OF THE FEE IN LIEU OF WAS GONNA BE A DEDICATED ACCOUNT FOR, FOR MONEY TO PUT SIDEWALKS IN OTHER PLACES. BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE FEE IN LIEU OF COST, TWO AND A HALF TIMES MORE THAN WHAT IT COSTS TO PUT THE SIDEWALK. SO IT'S NOT MEETING ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. THE DEVELOPERS ARE JUST GOING AHEAD AND PUTTING THE SIDEWALK THERE. THAT LEADS TO NOWHERE MOST OF THE TIME. UH, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOES NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS, A NEW BUILD CONSTRUCTION WILL COME UP AND THERE'LL BE ONE SIDEWALK JUST IN FRONT OF THAT HOUSE THAT LEADS TO NOWHERE. SO THERE'S NO CONNECTIVITY. UH, AESTHETICALLY IT'S NOT PLEASING. IT'S NOT A GOOD PRODUCT FOR THE DEVELOPERS, AND THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T LIKE IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE THE PURPOSE. SO THE FEE IN LIEU OF HAS NOT, UH, BEEN ABLE TO REACH ITS POTENTIAL BECAUSE IT'S SO HIGH. SO A DISCUSSION COULD BE ON LOOKING AT THAT FEE AND SEEING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO AMEND THAT. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THE FEE IN LIEU OF ORDINANCE IS NOT WORKING. I THINK WE ALL CAN BE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WANT SIDEWALKS, WE WANT CONNECTIVITY, WE WANT SAFE PATHWAYS, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO PUT FORTH, UH, PRACTICAL AND COMMON SENSE ORDINANCES AND POLICY THAT MAKES SENSE, NOT ONLY FOR INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE WITHIN THEM. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOLD ON SIR. SIR EVAN CHABA. COUNCILOR EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A ANTI SIDEWALK ORDINANCE OR CHANGE. I PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED IT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS LITERALLY A PIECE OF CONCRETE GOING ACROSS A PERSON'S YARD WITH NO CONNECTIVITY. IT'S NOT EVEN IN [00:35:01] SOME CASES GOING FROM THE DRIVEWAY TO THE NEXT DRIVEWAY. IT LOOKS LUDICROUS. THERE ARE NO OTHER SIDEWALKS ON THE STREET, NOR ARE THERE ANY ANTICIPATED SIDEWALKS. I HAVE WALKED THAT STREET FOR, WELL, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE MY AGE, BUT FOR MANY YEARS. AND IT'S NEVER BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. ONE WAS A GLO HOME. AND IF YOU WOULD SEE IT, YOU WOULD SEE HOW RIDICULOUS IT LOOKS. THE OTHER ONE IS A BRAND NEW HOME. SAME THING IF YOU WOULD SEE IT, PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA GET OFF THE STREET AND GET ON THAT STRIP AND GET BACK ON THE STREET. IT'S TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. AND SO, AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, MAYBE THE FEE NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE OF COURSE, IF IT'S CHEAPER TO GO ON AND BUILD IT THAN TO FILE AND, AND THE, TO PAY THE IN LIEU OF, THEN CERTAINLY YOU'RE GOING TO CHOOSE THE CHEAPER ROUTE. AND SO IT, THIS IS NOT ANTI SIDEWALK. I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF SIDEWALKS AND WALKABILITY, BUT CERTAINLY IT MAKES NO SENSE TO JUST HAVE A STRIP, LITERALLY A STRIP. AND I HAVE PICTURES, LITERALLY A STRIP OF CONCRETE GOING ACROSS SOMEONE'S YARD. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, JACOB CLEMENT, UH, WELL, IT'S GOOD. UH, WELL RECOGNIZED SUICIDE, CLEMENT. OKAY, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS AS A CLUBHOUSE AND, AND THERE'S NO UTOPIA FROM MOMENT ONE. ALL MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO WORK TO DO SOMETHING AROUND THE HOUSE TO HELP CLEAN IT UP. BUT YOU ARE A MEMBER OF LIFE. AND FROM 2014 TO PRESENT, I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE ST. JOSEPH CLUBHOUSE. THERE IS NO GRADUATION FROM THE CLUBHOUSE. HOWEVER, THEY DO EMPHASIZE THAT EACH PERSON TRIES TO GET A JOB AND THEY AIM IN HELPING PEOPLE GET JOBS SUCH AS I WORKED AT TO RESTAURANT BAR AND GRILL, WHICH IS IN BLACKGROUND. I WORKED AT ARAMARK. I'M IN MY PARK AND I WORK AT MG PARK, WHICH IS, UH, I AM A SM. NOW I'M GONNA ASK, UM, TLA CARTER AND JOHN WILMAR TO, UM, READ THE LETTERS THAT I GAVE Y'ALL. UM, TLA CARTER. PLEASE READ THAT LETTER. AND THEN JOHN WILMAR. MAYOR WILMAR. YEAH. LET THE MAYOR GO FIRST. HMM? I SAID YOU WANNA LET THE MAYOR GO FIRST? MEETING BEFORE AGE MEETING BEFORE AGE. OKAY. THIS IS FROM THE ASTROS FOUNDATION. SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2024. ASTROS FOUNDATION SUPPORTER ON BEHALF OF THE ASTROS FOUNDATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2024 TO SUPPORT THE HOUSTON ASTROS CHARITY GAME. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR CHARITABLE TEAM. SINCERELY, PAULA HARRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ASTROS FOUNDATION. AND I WON'T READ THE 5 0 1 C3 STUFF. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT DONATION. AND YOU'RE WELCOME. HEY, I'M A ASK. THANK YOU JACOB. THANK YOU. JACOB MEYER? YES, SIR. AND YOU HAVE THE, THE LETTER FROM UM, RODNEY ELLIS. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE BALLGAME. AH, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE IT. HMM? YOU DON'T HAVE THE LETTER FROM, UM, MR. ELLIS, DO YOU HAVE A LETTER FROM MR. ELLIS? NOT, NOT IN MY POSSESSION. I'LL LOOK FOR IT. I DON'T HAVE THE ELLIS LETTER. HOW DID, HOW'D IT GET HERE? LET ME LOOK FOR IT. I'LL TALK TO STAFF WHEN WE ATTORNEY TO RECESS. OH, AND CAN I HAVE THAT LETTER BACK? I'LL GIVE A COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. TOMORROW BE WELL. HELLO. IT'S BEEN A MINUTE. I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE FIRST. UH, I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY FIRST CAME UP WITH THAT BECAUSE I WENT TO HELP A COMMUNITY FIGHT WHERE THEY WANTED THEM TO PUT A SIDEWALK THAT WAS GOING TO LITERALLY RUN INTO 120 YEAR OLD TREE. AND THE AR ARAR GUY TOLD THEM, [00:40:01] IF YOU PUT ANY CUTTING FOR A SIDEWALK NEAR THAT TREE, YOU'RE GONNA KILL IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULDN'T GET TO THE ROOT BECAUSE IT WAS SO MASSIVE. SO I WAS, I MEAN, I FOUGHT AND INITIALLY THEY WERE SAYING THEY HAD TO DO THE SIDEWALK AND THEN PLANTING BACK DOWN. SO THEN THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA COME UP WITH THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT IN AREAS LIKE MINES AND CAROLYN'S AND THEN, UM, ATON OAKS. AND THEN, UM, UM, WHAT'S THAT PERSON? UM, CHERYL, WHERE IT'S OLDER COMMUNITIES AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE SIDEWALKS. THEY WOULDN'T FORCE THEM TO PUT, AS SHE SAID, A PIECE OF CONCRETE. BUT THEN THEY PUT IN THE FEE AND I SAID, THIS IS TO FORCE PEOPLE TO PUT IN SIDEWALKS BECAUSE NO WAY SHOULD A DEVELOPER WHO'S BUILDING SEVEN HOUSES PAY THE SAME FEE AS A RESIDENT THAT'S BUILDING ONE HOUSE. SO I SAID, YOU SHOULD HAVE A FEE FOR ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND A FEE FOR DEVELOPERS THAT WOULD MAKE IT FAIRER. SO THEN YOU GO AROUND THE CITY AND YOU HAVE THESE SPORADIC LITTLE STRIPS LIKE CAROLYN SAID, AND IT, IT MAKES THE HOUSE UNATTRACTIVE. IT DOESN'T MAKE THE HOUSE ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE NEXT TO IT YOU DO HAVE A, A TREE THAT'S BEEN GROWING FOR 70, 80 YEARS, YOU MAY HAVE PLANTERS. SO I DON'T THINK YOU ALL SHOULD THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATH WATER. OKAY. I DO THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD TWEAK IT AND LOOK AT THE FEE AND MON AND CHANGE THE FEE AND MAKE IT SO THAT IT WON'T CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. 'CAUSE I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I LOVE IT AS IT IS. I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR FIVE MONTHS AFTER A CAR WRECK. SO I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO DO THAT. BUT PUTTING THAT IN THERE THAT WAY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE BECAUSE THEY SAID IN THE FUTURE IT MAY CONNECT. WELL, NOT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 'CAUSE THE PEOPLE DON'T TEAR DOWN THE HOUSES. THEY, THEY, THEY REDO AND REMODEL THE HOUSES. SO THAT WAS MY FIRST ITEM. NOW THAT SECOND ITEM FOR WHICH I PUT ON THAT AGENDA, THANK YOU, ABBY, FOR SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP THROUGH THIS. I'M GONNA SPARE THEM TODAY. I AIN'T LYING. OKAY. I'M GONNA SPARE THEM TODAY BECAUSE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING ME WORK SOMETHING OUT. BUT IF IT DON'T WORK OUT, I'LL SEE Y'ALL NEXT WEEK. HAVE A GOOD WEEK. NEXT. BRANDON. LOVE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS BRANDON LOVE. I'M A SERGEANT WITHIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO SERVE AS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT FOR THE AFRO-AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS LEAGUE. AND TODAY I JUST WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING TO YOU ALL ATTENTION TO SEE HOW APO CAN BE A VEHICLE IN HELPING US IN REGARDS TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION WITHIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I'D LIKE TO READ THIS EXCERPT 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK. SO APO IS A VITAL ORGANIZATION WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT DEDICATED TO PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION WITHIN THE POLICE FORCE. IT AIMS TO SUPPORT OUR MEMBERSHIP, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS TO ENHANCE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO ALSO GIVE YOU A, A, A HUGE SHOUT OUT AND THANKS TO I SAW YOU AT THE ACADEMY TALKING TO OUR CADETS RECENTLY ABOUT THE $10,000 PAY INCREASE AND ALSO THE $5,000 INCENTIVE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO GET MORE RECRUITS, LIKE THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED, TALKING TO THE CADETS AND ALSO WHAT OUR CHIEF CHIEF DIAZ AND HIS VISION IN REGARDING RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT. AND HE WOULD ALSO MENTION ABOUT, EXPLAIN TO YOUR BROTHERS AND YOUR SISTERS AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS HOW WE NEED MORE OFFICERS WITHIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SERVICE THIS EVER GROWING DEPARTMENT AND CITY. AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT APO CAN DO AS A RESOURCE IN THE VEHICLE TO HELP IN THAT FIGHT. APO PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE, A CRUCIAL ROLE IN BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE POLICE FORCE AND OUR COMMUNITY, FOSTERING TRUST, TRANSPARENCY AND MUTUAL RESPECT. AP PROVIDE APRIL PROVIDES MENTORSHIP PROGRAM LEADING, LEADING TRAININGS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ENSURING THE TOOLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED. ALSO WITH ABBY BECAME THE EFFECTIONATELY STATED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN REGARDS TO THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THAT AND REALLY, REALLY CAPITALIZE ON THAT. AND, AND SHE USED THE WORDS EARN WHILE YOU LEARN. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND WE CAN GET THESE 19 TO 20 YEAR OLDS AND HAVE THEM BECOME PSOS OR A CIVILIAN AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS NEEDED TO WITHIN HPD SO THEY CAN LEARN HOW OFFICERS WORK. AND THEN THEY CAN BE, THAT CAN BE A PIPELINE FOR THEM TO JOIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CAPITALIZE THAT ON, ON THAT ABY AS WELL. ALSO, UM, THROUGH EVENTS AND CONFERENCES AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS, APRIL PROVIDES VALUABLE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO MEMBERS TO CONNECT, SHARE EXPERIENCES AND COLLABORATE INITIATIVES. APRIL ENGAGES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH MENTOR PROGRAMS, SCHOOL [00:45:01] VISITS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS, INSPIRING NEXT GENERATIONS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER PUBLIC PUBLIC SERVICE ROLES. LIKE FOR MYSELF, I'M 35 YEARS OLD. I ONLY HAVE 10 YEARS ON, ON THE DEPARTMENT. SO I'M PART OF THE NEXT FUTURE. I'M PART OF THAT NEXT GENERATION, YOU KNOW, GOD WILLING I'LL BE HERE WITHIN THE NEXT 20 YEARS WHILE YOU ALL WILL BE RETIRED IN COSTA RICA IN, IN YOUR VILLA. SO I'LL STILL BE OUT HERE MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY IS STILL OPERATING EFFECTIVELY. ALSO, APO WORKS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE YOURSELF AND ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY STRATEGY POLICING PROGRAMS. SO I ASK YOU ALL TO SAY THIS. I KNOW MY TIME IS CUT SHORT. UTILIZE US. YOU KNOW, WE, I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT. YOU ALL ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS AS WELL. INVITE US OFF TO YOUR, YOUR, YOUR EVENTS, YOUR CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS, YOUR CHURCH GATHERINGS, YOUR UM, YOUR SCHOOLS THAT'S IN YOUR AREAS. INVITE US OFF SO WE CAN EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON DIFFERENT TOOLS TO HOW THEY CAN BECOME POLICE OFFICERS WITHIN THE CITY. WE CAN TEACH THEM ABOUT TRAFFIC STOPS AND SIT AND BILL 30 AND KNOWLEDGE, JUST POWER SEMINARS. SO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON YOU AND ON US TO LET US COME OUT TO BE THAT VOICE AND BE THAT RESOURCE AND THAT GUIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, BRANDON, I KNOW WE ALSO HAVE SERGEANT CARR IN THE BACK AS WELL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK APOL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. UM, I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOU ALL, BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY SHARING PUBLICLY AND TALKING PUBLICLY ABOUT THE WORK AND THE RESOURCES THAT APOL PROVIDES. NOT JUST IN GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS THAT Y'ALL DO. UH, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM TO HELP THOSE KIDS AND THOSE FAMILIES. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CASSY STADIUM. THANK YOU SERGEANT. LOVE FOR BEING HERE. IT IS, UM, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. AND I WANNA ALSO THANK YOU FOR, UM, DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB AS, UM, THE PRESIDENT AND REPRESENTING A O UH, THE COMMUNITY POLICING THE SCHOLARSHIPS, THE AVAILABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, THE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATION IN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SEE POLICE OFFICERS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM. THERE YOU GO. UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, DOES A A GOOD JOB OF RECRUITING A DIVERSE, UH, SPECTRUM OF, UH, POLICE OFFICERS. AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT Y'ALL DO. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. ABSOLUTELY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING SO WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, SERGEANT. YES SIR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALWAYS. WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT APOL. COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO, UH, OFFICER CAR AND I, WE MET, UH, A COUPLE MONTHS BACK ON THAT VERY THING. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT INITIATIVES FOR COMMUNITY BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE. MM-HMM . SEEING THE POLICE OFFICERS RESPECTFULLY IN RELATIONSHIPS AND RECRUITING. AND WE CALL WHAT WE CALL THE PPP. WE HAD A LUNCH AND HAD THAT MEETING SEVERAL BACK IN THE MONTH OF JUNE. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO BRING THAT UP. NOW. LET, LET ME ASK ONE THING. WHAT ELSE DO FROM YOU THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO HEAR COMING FROM, UH, THAT WE COULD BE DONE FOR APO ? I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T MEAN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CATCH YOU OFF GUARD, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WHY NOT? WHY NOT? YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A PLETHORA OF THINGS THAT YOU ALL CAN DO THAT CAN, THAT CAN HELP BENEFIT THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE A RESOURCE AND A VALUABLE ASSET IN REGARDS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD FRUIT ON OUR OWN BACKYARD. THAT'S ONE THING THAT, UM, CHIEF DIAZ MENTIONED IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD FRUIT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. AND APO NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THEIR RESOURCES, ACCE AND ACCESSIBLE CITYWIDE, AND BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE TOOLS AND THE CONTEXT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT A SEVERE HANDICAP BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. RIGHT. WELL THE REASON WHY I ASK THAT QUESTION, THIS IS A HISTORICAL ORGANIZATION. YES SIR. HISTORICAL, THE LONG HISTORY OF IT, I KNOW ABOUT IT, KNOWN IT FOR YEARS. THE HEADQUARTERS AREA, THE OFFICE AREA IS RIGHT THERE. WHY I PASSED FOR OVER 20 YEARS. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA MISS AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE ARE TRYING TO RESTRUCTURE AND MAKE SURE THAT POLICING IS RESPECTED AND THAT THE JOB THAT POLICE OFFICERS DO, THE ACTIONS THAT THE MAYOR HAS TAKEN TO PROMOTE MORALE AND THE INCREASE RECRUITMENT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE WANNA MAKE SURE, I, I JUST WANT TO SEE OUR CITY AS A WHOLE BE UNIFIED AND THAT WE GO FORWARD BECAUSE WHAT [00:50:01] YOU HAVE TO OFFER CAN BE VERY IMPORTANT TO US. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT ASK. SO WHAT I LIKE TO JUST PUT IT OUT THERE, WHATEVER WE COULD DO THAT YOU THINK, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DISCUSS IT EVEN MORE SO ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE APO THAT. NO, I WOULD, I WILL DEFINITELY HOLD YOU TO THAT AND WE DEFINITELY WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION. OUR TEAM AND I WILL GET TOGETHER, COME UP WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT BULLET POINTS THAT WE CAN BRING TO YOU AND PRESENT TO YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU SERGEANT. LOVE. I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY REAL CLEAR. YOU JUST WANNA BE TREATED FAIR. YES SIR. BECAUSE YOU AND I KNOW YOU AND MR. CARR AND OTHER ASSOCIATES OF YOURS WOULD COME TO AUSTIN AND THE SENATOR FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAD TO BURN YOUR TIME, UNLIKE OTHER EMPLOYEE GROUPS. AND THAT SENATOR WHO HAPPENS TO BE NOW THE MAYOR SAID THAT'S NONSENSE AND WENT TO WORK AND GOT YOU THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT YOUR MEMBERS FAIRLY LIKE THE OTHER EMPLOYEE GROUPS. AND THAT WAS UNDER PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. SO I'M GLAD YOU CAME TO SEE ME IN AUSTIN AND UH, WE'RE NOT FINISHED. YES, SIR. SO YOU CAN TELL THE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND OTHERS, YOU JUST WANT TO BE TREATED FAIR BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING YOUR PART. YOU'RE IN THE COMMUNITY RECRUITING AND UH, DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO MAKE THAT DEPARTMENT WORK AS WELL AS IT CAN FOR YOU STONE. SO THANK YOU. AND ERIC, THANK YOU FOR BEING A MENTOR FOR ME AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO FOR APRIL. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY AND LET'S GO TO WORK AND DO SOME SERIOUS RECRUITING. YES SIR. BE IT TSU, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EVERYWHERE AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS. ABSOLUTELY. I STILL THINK WE HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WE LOSE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND WE'VE GOT TO PUT THEM IN SOME PILOT PROGRAM OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THEM CONNECTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, IN THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BE SAFE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD KARINA BLESSED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTION. DID ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. KEVIN STRICKLAND AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR THIS EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY. I AM NOT FEELING DEMURE OR CUTESY TODAY. UM, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER HEIGHTS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, WE'VE SENT YOU A LETTER OPPOSING THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE. I'M ALSO CO-FOUNDER OF ROCK AND ROLL HOUSTON, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A CITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK AND ROLL SAFELY AND EASILY AS THEY NEED. Y'ALL ARE IN DIFFERENT SEATS. IT'S REALLY THROWING ME OFF. UM, THAT WE HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY TO MAKE THE CASE FOR SIDEWALKS IS SHOCKING. WE'VE LOST SO MUCH OF THE MODEST PROGRESS WE HAD MADE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN JUST THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. SO THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE IS, UH, REVERSAL AGAIN OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. LET'S FIRST DISPENSE WITH THE SILLINESS THAT SIDEWALKS ARE EXTRA UNNECESSARY OR EXPENSIVE. THESE ARE NOT SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE. THEY'RE SIDEWALKS TO SOMEWHERE. WHILE YOUR HOUSE MAY BE YOUR CASTLE, IT'S NOT AN ISLAND. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THE CITY DID DOES REQUIRES IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SIDEWALKS ARE INTEGRAL TO THAT. 50% OF HOUSTON IS UN WALKABLE. THIS IS BECAUSE HOUSTON IS SO GOOD AT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE CHANGE IS ESSENTIALLY SAYING WE GIVE UP. THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO. I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT THE PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMIT FOR RESIDENTIAL STREETS IS 30 MILES PER HOUR. DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THE MAYOR, UH, SAID HE WOULD WORK TO LOWER IT. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SIMPLY DOING A FAVOR FOR DEVELOPERS. NOW, UH, ONE LAST THING THAT'S NOT BEING DISCUSSED. THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS GONNA WORK IS THAT PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD BE ABLE TO REMOVE A SIDEWALK IN A BLOCK WHICH CURRENTLY HAS SIDEWALKS OR A MIX OF SIDEWALKS. SO WHEN YOU SAY THIS IS NOT ANTI SIDEWALK, THAT'S CLEARLY NOT TRUE. YOU'RE LITERALLY GIVING PEOPLE THE OPTION [00:55:01] TO NOT BUILD SIDEWALKS. LASTLY, BEFORE YOU VOTE TOMORROW, I NEED YOU TO LOOK DIRECTOR PON SAY THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE EYES AND TELL HIM YOU'RE WILLING TO CREATE WHOLE BLOCKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE HIS COMMUNITY CANNOT SAFELY ROLL. I NEED YOU TO TELL DIRECTOR GABE CASAREZ OF LINK HOUSTON, WHO'S VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO CREATE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BLOCKS WHERE THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CANNOT SAFELY WALK. TELL PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WALK THEIR KIDS IN STROLLERS TEACH THEIR KIDS TO RIDE THEIR BIKES. THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT IN THE STREET. AND LASTLY, LOOK AT YOUR PARENTS WHO MAY HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES AND TELL THEM YOU ARE WILLING TO VOTE AGAINST THEIR BEST INTEREST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, JOAN ALEXANDER. HELLO. OKAY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. WELL, MY NAME IS JOAN ALEXANDER AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTH UNION PROUD AND A PART OF SOUTH UNION PROUD DREAM TEAM. AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SIDEWALKS AS WELL. UH, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT I'M PRESENTING TODAY THAT HAS TO DO WITH MORE EQUITY. AND THE INFORMATION I'VE SENT OUT ADDRESSES THIS. IT SHOWS EQUITY RECOGNIZES THAT EACH PERSON HAS A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE AND ALLOCATES EXACT. WE NEED TO ALLOCATE EXACT RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO REACH EQUAL OUTCOMES. ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO NEED EXTRA ASSISTANCE IF THEY'RE TO HAVE THE E SAME EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. EQUALITY MEANS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OR PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THE SAME RESOURCES AND THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. AND IN THIS CASE, THERE'S AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU'LL SEE WHERE, UM, AN EXAMPLE WHERE EVERYBODY'S AT THE BASEBALL PARK HAS A BOX TO STAND ON, BUT ONE PERSON'S TALL DOES NOT NEED THAT BOX. SO, AND THE OTHER ONE IS A SHORT GUY. HE'S GIVEN THE SAME SIZE BOX. HE CAN'T EVEN REACH THE FENCE. BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SIDEWALKS. UM, IN RELATION TO EQUITY. IT'S BEEN A YEAR NOW THAT WE REPORTED SIDEWALKS IN SOUTH THE UNION WHERE WE HAVE SENIORS AT A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY THAT HAS GAPS IN THE SIDEWALK. UH, WHEN IT RAINS AND THEY USE THEIR WHEELCHAIRS TO GET TO THE BUS STATION OR TO THE NEAREST, UH, STORE, UH, THEY'RE STUCK. THEY HAVE MUD IN THEIR, ON THEIR CANES AND MUD IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS. I'VE WITNESSED IT, IT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES WHEN THEY BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION A YEAR AGO. UM, AND THIS ISSUE I'M PRESENTING TODAY, AGAIN, IS NOT ABOUT EQUITY IN THE SENSE OF THAT, BUT THE LACK OF IT IN SOUTH UNION. UM, I ALSO WANT TO, AGAIN, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS ASSISTANCE. THUS, THE PHOTO I'VE GIVEN YOU SHOWS IS THIS GENTLEMAN WHO'S IN A WHEELCHAIR. HE IS DRIVING, RIDING HIS WHEELCHAIR IN THE STREET, NAVIGATING TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE GROCERY STORE ON SCOTT STREET AND CORRIDOR. IT IS A SENIOR, UM, LIVING FACILITY THERE. AND BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS, HE HAS TO NAVIGATE THROUGH TRAFFIC. AFTER SEVERAL EFFORTS TO GET THIS DONE, WE, THE RESIDENTS THERE ASSIGNED, UH, WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, M-O-P-P-A-R FORMS, UM, INDICATING THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR CONCERNS. THERE ARE LARGE GAPS AND SUNKEN UNEVEN AREAS. AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH, MA'AM. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, I CAN FIND A MAP. THIS GENTLEMAN IS TRYING TO MAKE HIS TREK TO THE STORE AND I HAPPEN TO SEE HIM AGAIN. AND FOR, UM, EVERY MONTH I CALL TO FIND OUT WHY WE CAN'T GET THAT ONE LITTLE PATCH OF SIDEWALK FROM THEIR RESIDENT TO THE BUS STOP TO THE STORE. AND YET, I GUESS IT'S METRO HAS COME ALONG SCOTT AND PUT NEW SIDEWALKS IN. IT'S AN [01:00:01] WE'RE TOLD THAT OUR ISSUE IS IN QUEUE. AND MY QUESTION I LEAVE WITH THE COUNCIL AND WITH THE MAYOR IS WHAT ABOUT HIS QUEUE? THANK YOU MA'AM. EVAN, UH, COUNCIL MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MS. JOAN. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING. AND THE OTHER RESIDENTS JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT NOT CONSTRUCTING SIDEWALKS. THIS IS ABOUT A STRIP OF CONCRETE IN A FRONT YARD. NOBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR IS GONNA GO UP THAT DRIVEWAY, GET TO THAT STRIP, AND THEN GET TO THE END OF IT. AND THERE'S NOTHING THERE. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. NOW, FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED SIDEWALKS, THE DISABLED, THERE IS AN APPLICATION THAT CAN BE FILLED OUT AND SIDEWALKS WILL BE INSTALLED. CERTAINLY I HAVE PUT IN SIDEWALKS. SO THIS IS NOT TO STOP ANYBODY FROM HAVING AN EQUITABLE GETTING THE EQUITABLE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. THIS IS ABOUT A SIDEWALK THAT IS SERVING NO PURPOSE WHATSOEVER. CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU VERY WELL. I CAN STEP OUTSIDE AND SHOW YOU. EXACTLY. 'CAUSE SOMETIMES A VISUAL IS, IS IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE SPOKEN WORD. THIS IS LITERALLY A STRIP OF CONCRETE IN SOMEBODY'S FRONT YARD THAT NOBODY'S GONNA BE ABLE TO ACCESS. THEY'RE GONNA WALK OUT OF THE STREET, WALK ON THAT STRIP AND WALK BACK TO THE STREET BECAUSE THERE'S NO NETWORK. BUT THAT PIECE, THERE'S A PIECE ON, ON, ON SCOTT STREET THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY. AND IT'S A RAMP, IT IS A RAMP THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED PROPERLY ON SOUTHMORE AND SCOTT, I WAS ON THE PHONE 10 O'CLOCK THURSDAY NIGHT TALKING TO THE ENGINEER. ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IS TO REMOVE ELENA STREET. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, NOR IS IT NECESSARY. THEY JUST NEED TO CONSTRUCT THAT RAMP BECAUSE THERE'S A LADY THAT LEAVES THE, UH, WALLOP CENTER AND SHE COMES DOWN THAT SCOTT STREET AND THEY HAVE A RAMP GOING TOWARDS SCOTT. BUT THERE IS NO CONSTRUCTED RAMP GOING FROM SCOTT ACROSS THE STREET MAYOR. AND SO CERTAINLY, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT BECAUSE THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND WORKING ON. THEY SAID THEY WERE IN THE DESIGN PHASE. LET'S GET PAST NO, THE THE STUDY PHASE. I SAID, FORGET THE STUDY. IT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE, YOUR FACES. LET'S GET THE DESIGN DONE. AND SO CERTAINLY AGAIN, ANYBODY THAT NEEDS A SIDEWALK FOR A DISABLED PERSON, PLEASE, YOU CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE APPLICATION AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. OKAY. TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS AN EXISTING SIDEWALK. IT JUST HAS GAPS THIS BIG. OH YEAH. WELL THOSE CERTAINLY PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPAIRED. YES. BUT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS WALKING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THE PICTURE. I UNDERSTAND. AND YOU WILL SEE HOW CRAZY IT LOOKS. I UNDERSTAND TO HAVE THAT STRIP. AND I'M TELLING YOU, I HAVE WALKED THAT, THAT IS MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE WALKED IT, I WALKED, I DIDN'T WALK THIS MORNING, I WALKED YESTERDAY. BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT A SAFETY FACTOR. BUT I WOULD NEVER STEP OFF THE STREET, STEP ON THAT SIDEWALK AND STEP BACK ON THE STREET. IT'S, IT'S LUDICROUS. AND SO I WILL CERTAINLY, I'LL STEP OUT AND SHOW IT TO YOU AND ANYONE ELSE'S WILLING TO LOOK AT IT. BUT THANK YOU MS. JOAN. I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND ALL THE VOLUNTEER WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE OFFICE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILOR CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING. 'CAUSE IN DISTRICT C WE HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES WHERE RESIDENTS, UM, THERE ARE GAPS IN SIDEWALKS THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT AREAS WHERE WE REPRESENT SOME OF THE AREAS WITH THE OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED. A DA RAMPS. PART OF THE CHALLENGE IN THE MOPD PROGRAM THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED IS CRITICAL, BUT PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS MOPD DOESN'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO FUND ALL THE SIDEWALKS. SO THOSE APPLICATIONS REMAIN IN QUEUE. SO WHEN YOU ASK, WHAT ABOUT THE QUEUE, IT'S GREAT THAT WE KEEP REFERRING RESIDENTS TO THIS APPLICATION, BUT THERE'S NO FUNDING. AND THE FEE IN LIEU OF WAS MEANT TO HELP SUPPLEMENT IN AREAS WHERE THOSE SIDEWALKS NEED TO GO TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS TO HELP MOPD ADDRESS THAT. MY OFFICE HAS DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ACTUALLY GIVE MOPD ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO GET TO SOME OF THOSE IN DISTRICT C, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE FACT THAT THERE ARE GAPS IN SIDEWALKS. THERE ARE HUGE SAFETY RISKS. THERE ARE SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. BUT AGAIN, WITH MD'S PROGRAM, AND YOU, AND I'M SPEAKING DIRECTLY 'CAUSE YOU ASKED WHAT ABOUT THE QUEUE? THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DOLLARS [01:05:01] TO GET TO EVERYONE IN THE QUEUE AND THEY'RE JUST SITTING THERE. SO A YEAR IS A YEAR OF PATCHING A SIDEWALK WHERE SINGERS HAVE FALLEN IN THE MUD AND GET STUCK. WE JUST SIT AND WAIT IN THE QUEUE AND IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. IT, IT'S NOT. OKAY. WELL, ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR A DA SURELY. I MEAN, THERE ARE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE. ONE OF MY WARRIORS TEAM HERE HAS TO NAVIGATE THAT AS WELL. I, I, THIS PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS HERE AND IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A DISCONTINUED SIDEWALK. IT IS A SIDEWALK THAT HAS SUNKEN AND BIG GAPS. RIGHT. TRY TO NAVIGATE A WHEELCHAIR WITH THAT. YEP. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. COUNCILOR EVAN SHABBAT. AND ONE OTHER POINT, IF THERE ARE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE IN DISREPAIR, I'M ASKING CALL THREE ONE ONE AND CALL MY OFFICE. I KNOW I SAID CALL 3 1 1 3 1 1 I BELIEVE CAN SOMETIMES BE A BLACK HOLE BECAUSE THEY'RE SERVING THE WHOLE CITY. BUT IF YOU GIVE US THAT SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER, WE WILL GET THAT SIDEWALK ADDRESSED. SO USE 3 1 1 TO SO THAT WE'LL KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION AND THEN WE WILL SEE IF THE CITY WILL DO IT OR WHETHER COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS NEED TO DO IT. BUT CERTAINLY WE SHOULD NOT HAVE GAPS IN SIDEWALKS. UH, PEOPLE ARE PUSHING THEIR CHILDREN, THEY ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS. THE, ALL, THE WHOLE GAMUT. AND SO, BUT YOU HAVE TO HELP US BECAUSE I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING. WE SIDEWALK, WE, WHICH SIDEWALKS ARE IN APPEARED. WE SUBMITTED THIS A YEAR AGO AND FILLED OUT ALL THE FORMS. FORMS. OKAY. YOU JUST, YOU SUBMITTED IT TO THE OFFICE OR 2, 3, 1, 1. YES. OKAY. COREY. WELL I WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT TO FIND OUT WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. YEAH. STATUS. AND I CALL EVERY MONTH. IF YOU HAVE FOLLOWED, WE ASK YOU TO DO, THEN YOU CAN'T DO ANY MORE THAN THAT. YEAH. BUT CERTAINLY I WILL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, INGRAM OVER THERE IN, IN THE CORNER, UM, OR COREY OR ONE OF THEM, IF THEY RECEIVE THAT DOCUMENTATION, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS CAN DO. BUT AGAIN, FOR THE WHEELCHAIRS, WE CAN GET THAT DONE CERTAINLY THROUGH AN APPLICATION. I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. AND OUR MOTTO IN SOUTH UNION IS YOU SEE SOMETHING, YOU SAY SOMETHING AND YOU DO SOMETHING. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, MA'AM. EXCUSE MEAM. MS. ALEXANDER, UH, WE ARE RIGHT HERE. UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. UM, I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MAYOR KAMAN MENTIONED. WE DO HAVE GAPS IN, IN, UH, SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE AND DISTRICT I AS WELL. SO YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT. UH, I DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM A A RP. SO WHEN I SEE, UH, SENIORS STANDING WHILE YOU'RE SPEAKING, I LOOK AT MY MOM, I LOOK AT, UH, MY AUNT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO THEY GET TO POINT A TO POINT B? AND, AND, AND MAYBE THE QUOTE UNQUOTE SIDEWALK TO NOWHERE IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY, POSSIBLY. RIGHT. BUT IT WAS VOTED ON EVERYBODY THAT WAS ON COUNCIL LAST YEAR UNANIMOUSLY, UM, MAYBE RETHINKING IT, BUT TO SCRAP IT ALL TOGETHER. I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING. AND SO I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE MORE OF A CONVERSATION AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN REPLENISH THOSE DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FILLING THOSE GAPS IN SIDEWALKS AS WELL. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE, UH, COMING TODAY. AND, UH, MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE TO BRING COMMUNITY TO, UH, SO THAT THEIR VOICE IS BEING HEARD AS WELL. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, MS. ALEXANDER. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT CAME DOWN WITH YOU. THANK Y'ALL FOR THANK YOU. COMING TO CITY HALL NEXT, DIEGO DEGENHART. DEAR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY. I WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING ON ITEM 47, THE SIDEWALKS IN THE CONTEXT OF COURSE, OF THE SHORTCOMINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED SO FAR. I WILL FIRST START BY SHARING A STATEMENT FROM LINK HOUSTON, UH, TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION ON ITEM 47, THE ORDINANCE CEMENT REGARDING THE SIDEWALK REQUIREMENTS. FEW PARTS OF HOUSTON'S INFRASTRUCTURE ARE AS ESSENTIAL, YET AS NEGLECTED AS OUR SIDEWALK NETWORK, UH, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE COUNTLESS SIDEWALKS THAT ARE BROKEN. UNEVEN, OF COURSE, AS WE'VE HEARD AND VIRTUALLY UNUSABLE FOR PEOPLE USING STROLLERS OR WHEELCHAIRS. GIVEN THE SCALE OF HOUSTON'S SIDEWALK DEFICIT, EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY MUST BE TAKEN TO MAKE PROGRESS. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, A CRITICAL TOOL AT THE CITY'S DISPOSAL HAS BEEN THE REQUIREMENTS MADE ON NEW CONSTRUCTION, EITHER TO BUILD A SIDEWALK THEMSELVES OR MORE RECENTLY TO OPT OUT BY PAYING INTO THE FUND. WE'RE GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THIS AMENDMENT WILL DISARM THE CITY OF HOUSTON OF THIS CRITICAL TOOL WITH NO PLANS TO REPLACE IT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED AROUND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FEE IN LIEU OF SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION FIRST INSTITUTED IN 2022. WE BELIEVE THOSE CONCERNS ARE WORTHY OF A BROADER PUBLIC DISCUSSION AS COUNCIL MEMBER [01:10:01] MARTINEZ MENTIONED BOTH HOW TO MAKE THE FEE MORE EFFECTIVE, THE FEE PROGRAM, AND HOW TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON BUILDING AND REPAIRING SIDEWALKS IN EVERY CORNER OF HOUSTON. NOW, ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS CALLED THE HOUSTON AREA HOME FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS AND HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO EXPERIENCE HOUSTON AND ITS MANY FLAVORS, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO ALSO REPRESENT THE PERSPECTIVES OF HOUSTONIANS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHO NAVIGATE THESE CURRENT SIDEWALK NETWORKS. THESE HOUSTONIANS OFTEN DESCRIBE SIDEWALKS AND HOW THEY PROVIDE A SHELTER FROM THE STREET, PROVIDE A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY ON AND PROVIDE DIGNITY TO THOSE WHO USE THEIR FEET OR THEIR OWN TWO WHEELS TO NAVIGATE AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY DESCRIBE THAT THIS HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF HOW PATCHY SIDEWALK COVERAGE MAY BE. AS ONE MOTHER PERSONALLY SHARED WITH ME, YOU WOULD BE AMAZED, SHE SAID, AT HOW A SINGLE STRIP OF SO-CALLED SIDEWALK TO NOWHERE INSTINCTIVELY DRAWS ANYONE TRAVELING THROUGH HER STREET TO USE SAID STRIP OF SIDEWALK. THIS IN OUR EVER CHANGING CITY. I ASK THAT YOU VISIT WITH THESE HOUSTONIANS AND FOCUS ON PROVIDING THEM WITH A PATH TO COMPLETION, TO FILLING OUT THOSE NETWORKS, TO REDUCING THOSE SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE, AND INSTEAD, ENSURE THAT THERE'S A WAY FOR THESE HOUSTONIANS TO SEE THESE NETWORKS BE COMPLETED AND MAKE SURE THAT INSTEAD OF DISARMING ONE OF THE FEW TOOLS AT THE CITY'S DISPOSAL, WE HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILMAN P*****K? THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT YOU SAID, UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR PERSPECTIVE. I THINK, UH, IT DOES, UH, TAKE A BROADER DISCUSSION AND I THINK THAT'S WHY, UH, WE WANTED TO GET THE CONVERSATION GOING. UM, BUT WHAT WE CAN, UH, POINT OUT IS THAT THE FEE IN LIEU OF WAS A OPTION AND A TOOL GIVEN BY THE CITY IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE IT DID NOT MAYBE MAKE PRACTICAL SENSE TO PUT THE SIDEWALK IN THAT PARTICULAR PLACE. BUT THE FEE IN LIEU OF HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE IT IS SO EXPENSIVE THAT PEOPLE DON'T PAY THE FEE IN LIEU OF, THEY JUST PUT DOWN THE SIDEWALK, WHICH CONNECTS TO NOTHING IN AREAS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A NETWORK OR INFRASTRUCTURE TO COMPLETE IT. SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, WELL, THE INTENTION OF THE FEE IN LUA WAS TO HAVE MONEY IN A DEDICATED FUND FOR SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PLACES THAT NEED REPAIR OR CONSTRUCTION. BUT IF THERE'S NO MONEY IN THAT DEDICATED FUND BECAUSE NO ONE'S PAYING INTO IT BECAUSE IT'S SO HIGH, THEN IT'S NOT MEETING ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. SO I DO THINK THERE SHOULD BE A BROADER DISCUSSION ON MAYBE THE FEE, HOW IT COULD BE MORE PRACTICAL OR MORE INCENTIVIZED TO USE. UM, BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT MEETING ITS INTENDED PURPOSE, WHICH IS HURTING SOME HOMEOWNERS AND SOME DEVELOPERS BY PUTTING FORTH THE BEST PRODUCT FOR THEIR PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE DISCUSSION WITH YOU. IF I MAY ADD, UH, I THINK THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY POINTS THAT BOTH LINK HOUSTON AND MYSELF ARE, UH, PUSHING AT HERE. FIRST BEING THAT WE ARE LOSING THE TOOL WITHOUT QUITE GETTING A VIABLE WAY FORWARD. AND SO THEREFORE, WE DON'T SEE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS IMPROVED. AND SECONDLY, WE ARE MAINLY LOOKING AT THIS FROM A DEFICIT STANDPOINT RATHER THAN AN ASSET-BASED STANDPOINT. THOSE ARE EXISTING SIDEWALKS AS, AS, AS I MENTIONED, I'VE, AS I'VE HEARD FROM FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON, THEY DO RECEIVE USE DESPITE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THIS NOT BEING A A HUNDRED PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD. THEY DO SERVE A PURPOSE, AND WE WOULD RATHER SEE A WAY TO FINISH THOSE NETWORKS RATHER THAN MAKE THEM GO AWAY ALTOGETHER. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION AND JUST WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, JONATHAN BUSH TUTO. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MR. MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF, UM, MY LOCAL CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S CALLED BOULEVARD OAKS. AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE THE CITY REQUIREMENT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION MUST INCLUDE A SIDEWALK. UM, I'M NOT THE FIRST SPEAKER TO TO, TO DISCUSS THIS, AND THE ISSUE OF THE SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE HAS BEEN RAISED, WHICH, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THE, [01:15:01] THE PROBLEM, BUT I WANTED TO, TO EMPHASIZE WHY NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE, LIKE MINE AND, AND MANY OTHERS ARE SO CONCERNED, IS THAT IF FUNDAMENTALLY FOR A HOUSTONIAN TO HAVE ACCESS TO A WALKABLE SIDEWALK, TO DESTINATIONS IS AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS TO HAVE ACCESS TO, TO A ROAD, TO, TO, TO DRIVE THEIR THEIR OTHER CAR. AND, AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL THAT WE HAVE, AND WE, I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ISSUES WITH IT, BUT WE SHOULDN'T JUST ABANDON IT. SO A A FEW POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE IS THAT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE CITY THAT SETS THE RULES, UM, OF WHEN A DEVELOPER IS ALLOWED NOT TO BUILD A SIDEWALK. UM, IT SHOULDN'T BE THE DEVELOPER THAT DECIDES IF THEY SHOULD PAY A FEE OR NOT. IT SHOULD BE THE CITY THAT SETS RULES THAT ARE CLEAR, TRANSPARENT, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND IT MAKES SENSE. AND IT SHOULD BE APPLICABLE ONLY TO VERY, UH, ISOLATED CIRCUMSTANCES. BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, THE, THE, UH, SIDEWALKS THAT IS IN SUCH A STATE OF DISAPPEAR IN, IN, UH, IN MOST PARTS OF HOUSTON, MY NEIGHBORHOOD INCLUDED, THAT YOU COULD ARGUE THAT ALMOST ANY STRETCH OF A SIDEWALK LOOKS LIKE A, UH, LIKE A, UM, SIDEWALK TO, TO NOWHERE ON MY BLOCK, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF MY H HOUSE IS WORKABLE ON THE LEFT AND ON THE RIGHT. IT'S, IT'S SUCH A SET OF DISREPAIR THAT IS JUST COVERED WITH MUD AND ROCKS AND, AND, AND WEEDS. UM, BUT THE RULES THAT WE SET UP SHOULD BE IN SUCH A WAY TO WHERE WE FIX THE SIDEWALKS AND WE MAKE THEM TO WHERE THEY NO LONGER ARE, UH, SIDEWALKS TO, TO WHERE, TO KNOW WHERE. BUT INSTEAD OF, THERE ARE NETWORKS OF SIDEWALKS WHERE PEOPLE CAN, THAT PEOPLE CAN USE SAFELY, UM, AND THEY CAN, UM, UM, USE THEM TO, TO, UH, TO, FOR STROLLERS AND WHEELCHAIRS AND, AND SIMPLY TO, TO WALK. UM, THE REASON MY WHY MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS SO CONCERNED IS THAT WE ARE A, A OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, WE SHOULD BE VERY WALKABLE, BUT WE'RE NOT, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE SIDEWALKS ARE IN SUCH A SET OR DISREPAIR THAT, UM, YOU SEE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND EVERYWHERE, BUT THEY HAVE TO WALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS ARE, ARE COMPLETELY, UH, UNUSABLE. UM, AND, UM, AGAIN, WE, MY NEIGHBORHOODS, THE, UH, SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT ARE ADJACENT TO US, OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WILL, WILL SEND A LETTER SUPPORTING MY, MY VIEW, SHOWING THAT, AGAIN, I'M NOT REALLY JUST REPRESENTING MY VIEWS HERE, BUT I REALLY REPRESENT THE VIEWS TO MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU. YOU, ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. BRAD, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CIVIC CLUB, AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE'VE RECEIVED OTHER LETTERS FROM SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THEIR POSITION. SO, UM, WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN, UM, ESPECIALLY OUR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR 1, 2, 3 YEARS. AS THIS POLICY WAS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DONE, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL TO GET US TO THE COMPROMISE THAT WE DID. UH, SO AGAIN, I JUST, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT, AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR OUR EFFORTS TO HELP THE WALKABILITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, PATRICK PETERS. HELLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. UH, I'M HERE ALSO TO IMPLORE THAT YOU NOT VOTE TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT OF THE FEE, UH, FEE IN LIEU OF SIDEWALKS. AND ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 47 TOMORROW. MY NAME IS, AS YOU HEARD, IS PATRICK PETERS. UH, I'M A PROPERTY OWNER AND RESIDENT OF THE SOUTHGATE EDITION, A NEIGHBORHOOD ESTABLISHED IN 1929, UH, ON THE E OF DEPRESSION AND PLATTED IN THREE SECTIONS, BOUNDED ON THE NORTH BY RICE UNIVERSITY ON THE SOUTH BY, UH, HOLCOMB BEL AIR BOULEVARD ON THE WEST BY GREENBRIER AVENUE, AND ON THE EAST BY MAIN STREET IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. WE'RE ALSO A MEMBER OF, UH, SUPER OF THE, UH, UNIVERSITY OAKS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN ANCHORED BY ISDS ROBERTS ELEMENTARY, AN EXEMPLARY PUBLIC K THROUGH FIVE. AND SINCE THE RED LINE WAS BUILT, IT'S BEEN WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE OF LIGHT RAIL, ASSUMING YOU'RE WILLING TO WALK IN THE STREETS. I'M AN ARCHITECT AND URBAN DESIGNER AND A PROFESSOR, AND I SERVE AS MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHAIR OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHERE WE REVIEW EACH PROJECT OF RENOVATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR SIDEWALKS AND THAT THE CONSTRUCTORS FOLLOW THE CITY ORDINANCE, BUT WE CAN'T ENFORCE IT. ONLY THE CITY CAN ENFORCE IT. WE ARE TRYING TO COMPLETE A NETWORK OF SIDEWALKS THAT WAS LESS LEFT INCOMPLETE SINCE 1940, AND WE'RE DOING OUR JOB. WHEN THE LAST SECTION WAS BUILT IN 1940, WHICH IS SECTION THREE, HALF OF SOUTHGATE BOULEVARD WAS LEFT WITHOUT [01:20:01] SIDEWALKS, WAS BUILT WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, AND MOST OF THE STREETS SOUTH OF THERE, UH, WE SEEK ZERO PEDESTRIANS BEING STRUCK AND IN THIS BY DUE TO THEM BEING CAUSED TO WALK IN THE STREET. AND AGAIN, I IMPLORE YOU NOT TO TAKE AWAY THIS TOOL, AND IT'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW. WE HAVE TO IMPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CONNECTIVENESS, UH, UH, INTERCONNECTEDNESS, AND TO IMPROVE OUR WALKABILITY, TO IMPROVE OUR SAFETY, AND ESPECIALLY, UH, TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF OUR YOUNG SCHOOLCHILDREN SENIORS, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES WHO SEEK AND THOSE WHO SEEK TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PATRICK, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU MENTIONED YOU SIT ON THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD, UM, BUT I, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HAVE THE CITY ENFORCE, UM, OUR SIDEWALK REQUIREMENTS. SO I KNOW THAT THAT IS IN AND OF ITSELF A HUGE CHALLENGE, BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING WITH US AND ENGAGING WITH THE CITY TO DO WHAT YOU ALL CAN ON YOUR SIDE TO BRING MORE WALKABILITY, SAFE WALKABILITY TO THE AREA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE MORE SPEAKERS ON THIS. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE ON THE SIDEWALK ISSUE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING AND HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF SIDEWALKS IN OUR CITY. UM, IT'S AN ISSUE I'VE WORKED A LOT ON. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, AND WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF MILES OF SIDEWALKS, IT'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS TO CONSTRUCT A A MILE OF SIDEWALKS, AND ABOUT $400,000 TO REHAB A A MILE OF SIDEWALKS, A MILE'S A LONG WAY. BUT WE HAD THOUSANDS OF MILES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UM, THE MONEY IN THIS FEE IN LIEU OF, UM, WHEN WE PASSED IT WAS TO GENERATE ABOUT A MILLION, A A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY. UM, YOU CAN TELL THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE OUR SIDEWALK, UM, PROBLEM. UM, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN FAVOR OF, OF, OF EXPLORING A SIDEWALK BOND. I THINK IT WOULD PASS. OVERWHELMINGLY EVERYBODY KNOWS THE STATE OF OUR SIDEWALKS, BUT, UH, I'LL SAY MORE OF MY REMARKS FOR THE BUSINESS MEETING TOMORROW. BUT DID WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AND HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF SIDEWALKS, I THINK, AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE FORWARD. I DO THINK THERE'S A WAY WE CAN GET TO, UM, WHERE WE, WHERE WE NEED TO GET. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, COLLABORATION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALL KNOW THERE ARE SOMETHING, AND YOU'RE MAKING PROGRESS, AND WE'RE GONNA GET BEHIND THAT. BUT YOU DO KNOW THERE'S SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE, DENVER HARBOR WANTS ITS FIRST SIDEWALKS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF EQUITY INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION, SO THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. AND WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS WITH THIS ORDINANCE, THAT AS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS RENOVATED, HOMES ARE BEING REPLACED. WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO BUILD THIS WITHOUT USING CITY RESOURCES IF WE DON'T LOSE THAT TOOL. THANK YOU. AND, AND I KNOW YOU SHARE THE CONCERN ABOUT THE COM NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WANT THEIR FIRST SIDEWALK, BADLY NEED REPRESENTATION, AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THAT. THANK YOU. RANDY HALL. THANK YOU MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RANDY HALL. I'M THE CEO OF WENDY HILL DEVELOPMENT. UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 46. THAT'S THE CONSENT TO CREATE MUD 5 89 FOR OUR MESA VISTA PROJECT. YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL MAYOR THAT I WAS HERE ON THE 27TH OF AUGUST, AND WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE PROJECT. WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HAD. UH, WE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, WHERE WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30 RESIDENTS OF THE NORTH FOREST, UH, DISTRICT B, UM, AREA, UH, PARTICIPATE IN A A BUS TOUR. WE CHARTERED TWO BUSES. WE TOOK 'EM THROUGH OUR WAYSIDE VILLAGE PROJECT, WHICH IS NEXT DOOR TO THE MESA VISTA PROPOSED PROJECT, AND IS CURRENTLY, UM, ENJOYING HUGE SUCCESS. THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT WE STARTED SOME 330 ACRES, UM, PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPER IN 2017. UM, WE HAVE THREE BUILDERS IN THERE. I BELIEVE THERE ARE ABOUT 700 HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT. ALL OF THESE HOMES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, YOU CAN GO AHEAD. YES, WE, UM, AGAIN, MEA VISTA MUD 5 89 IS A REPLACEMENT PROJECT FOR THE WAYSIDE VILLAGE PROJECT. I REMEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK OFFICE. UH, OUR PARTNER IN THE PROJECT, KEVIN COLE, NOW THE MAYOR OF PARA LAND, CONTACTED YOU AND YOU SAID, WITH GREAT [01:25:01] ENTHUSIASM, WE SUPPORT THAT PROJECT. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, UH, LET US KNOW. WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT. SO WE, WE TRIED TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS AND THE CONCERNS WE'VE HAD ABOUT MUD 5 89. WE'VE, UH, ONE THING WE DIDN'T DISCUSS LAST TIME AT FULL BUILD OUT OF WAYSIDE VILLAGE AND MESA VISTA, THESE PROJECTS WILL GENERATE ABOUT $3.2 MILLION ANNUALLY TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND AVALOR TAXES, THEY'LL GENERATE ABOUT $5.1 MILLION TO HISD. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY SALES TAX IN THE LOCAL AREA. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE GROCERY STORES, MEDICAL OFFICE, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE THAT'LL BE BUILT TO REVITALIZE THE NORTH FOREST AREA. I'LL REMIND EVERYONE AGAIN, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR $1 IN CITY PARTICIPATION. WE'VE INVESTED OVER $52 MILLION IN WAYSIDE VILLAGE, AND OUR INVESTMENT OF $33 MILLION IN, IN MESA VISTA IS READY TO GO. SO WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IF THERE ARE CONCERNS, I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THOSE. WE, WE FEEL WE HAVE A GREAT PROJECT THAT IS NOT PROPOSED. THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING WAYSIDE VILLAGE COMMUNITY THAT IS ENJOYING HUGE SUCCESS, REVITALIZING AND REBUILDING THE NORTH FOREST AREA ON ACREAGE THAT WAS NEVER DEVELOPED. AND I WANNA POINT THAT OUT. THERE'S NO GENTRIFICATION HERE. THERE'S NO DISPLACEMENT OF ANY RESIDENCE. THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF GENTRIFICATION. THIS IS AN AREA THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED SINCE HOUSTON WAS FOUNDED AS A CITY A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. SO WE'RE DEVELOPING AREAS AND REBUILDING NORTH FOREST AREA ON VACANT LAND THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE, OF THE BUS TOUR IN THE FALL IN THE MEETING THAT FOLLOWED UP VOICED GREAT ENTHUSIASM BECAUSE IT WILL DO THE THINGS THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT DOES. IT, IT ATTRACTS BUSINESSES, IT ATTRACTS RETAIL, IT ATTRACTS GROCERY STORES. SO ONE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED, UH, WHY DIDN'T THIS GO THROUGH HOUSING? UM, I CONTACTED THE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, MIKE NICHOLS, WHO EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANY CITY CONTRIBUTION, THAT THE MUD CREATION PROCESS GOES THROUGH PLANNING. I THEN EXPLAINED TO, TO DIRECTOR NICHOLS, THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE DOING, OR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE DOING, AND WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY CITY DOLLARS, UH, AS ROBIN'S LANDING DID VERY CLOSE TO US, THAT I BELIEVE RECEIVED ABOUT $7 MILLION FROM THE CITY. UM, OF COURSE, WE WOULDN'T NEED A MUD EITHER IF WE HAD $7 MILLION, BUT WE REALIZE THAT'S NOT THE REALITY OF THE CITY'S POSITION TODAY. SO I EXPLAINED TO DIRECTOR NICHOLS, UM, HE JUST VOICED HIS, HIS, UH, APPRECIATION THAT AS A DEVELOPER WE'RE COMING INTO THE CITY PREPARED OR CURRENTLY INVESTING HEAVILY IN THE CITY. AND IF WE CONTINUE TO DO SO, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO WORK WITH US, TO SEE HOW OTHER DEVELOPERS COULD COME IN AND DO THE SAME THING WE'RE DOING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE. UM, I HAVE A COUPLE FOR YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. HALL FOR COMING FORWARD AND YOUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS. I, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR CREATIVITY ON THIS. UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON OBVIOUSLY NEEDS AS MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS POSSIBLE IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR CITY. UH, WHEN WE CAN HAVE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ABLE TO BE CREATIVE TO UTILIZE, UH, DIFFERENT TOOLS TO BRING FORTH THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS WITHOUT USING ANY CITY DOLLARS, UH, ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO GET BEHIND. UH, I BELIEVE THE TWO PROJECTS PUT FORTH ABOUT A THOUSAND HOMES STARTING AT $180,000. UM, YOU CAN'T FIND THAT IN ANY OTHER MAJOR METROPOLITAN CITY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. AND SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPTION, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO CHAMPION. YOU CANNOT HAVE A THRIVING AREA WITH THRIVING AMENITIES LIKE GROCERY STORES AND BANKS, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY DESERVES IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FOOTPRINT OF DEVELOPMENT. AND, UM, GOING THROUGH A MUD TO BE ABLE TO USE THE BOND FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, HELPS US BE ABLE TO BRING FORTH THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A, IN A VERY, UM, EFFICIENT AND SMART MANNER. SO I WANNA, UH, AGAIN, COMMEND YOU ON THAT. AND I, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR, THE PROJECT, BOTH WAYSIDE VILLAGE CURRENTLY HAS SIDEWALKS, MESA VISTA WILL HAVE SIDEWALKS, AND THOSE SIDEWALKS WOULD BE BUILT BY THE DEVELOPER AND BUILDERS, AND MAINTAINED BY THE HOA, THE MUD AS WELL AS THE STREETLIGHTS. NONE OF THIS WILL BE PAID BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO PROVIDE ANY FUNDING FOR ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING. YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S CALLED OLD SCHOOL SOMETIMES, BUT WE DIDN'T USED TO LOOK FOR THE CITY FOR, FOR SUBSIDIES. AND I KNOW THAT'S STILL IMPORTANT AND IT HAS TO HAPPEN IN CERTAIN AREAS. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. SO I WANTED TO POINT OUT ABOUT THE [01:30:01] SIDEWALKS. EVERY PROJECT WE DO, THAT'S A VERY CRITICAL COMPONENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND COMING BACK. AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, I HAD SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT THE FLOODPLAIN. UH, YOU SAY THIS AREA HAS NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED, BUT A PORTION OF IT RESIDES IN THE FLOODPLAIN. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ONLY 20% WILL BE REMOVED OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN. THAT'S ACCORDING TO CITY DEPARTMENT. SO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, OR FOR YOUR, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US, FOR THE RECORD, COULD YOU PLEASE SAY WITHIN THE AREA OF THE MUD, HOW MUCH IS IN THE 100 AND 500 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, AND HOW MUCH WILL BE REMOVED OUT OF THOSE FLOODPLAINS? SO THE TOTAL PROJECT TO BE DEVELOPED IS APPROXIMATELY 177 ACRES. UH, 65 ACRES ARE DEDICATED FOR THE DETENTION FACILITY, THE DETENTION BASIN. SO THAT LEAVES A HUNDRED AND WHAT, 12 ACRES? OF THE 112 ACRES, APPROXIMATELY 30 OF THOSE ACRES WERE RECLAIMED WITH COMP, THEY CALL IT COMPENSATING STORAGE. IT PROVIDED FOR IN THE DETENTION BASIN. AND LET ME JUST POINT OUT, I THINK EVERYONE'S WELL AWARE. HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL IS THE GOVERNING AGENCY THAT CONTROLS AND, AND HANDS DOWN ALL THE DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA FOR FLOOD PLAN ADMINISTRATION, THOSE RULES CHANGED AS YOU GUYS WERE PROBABLY WELL AWARE AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY WITH CITY HOUSTON CHAPTER NINE. CORRECT. AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL DETENTION REQUIREMENTS. SO YES. SO EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT. AND ONE THING, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, BECAUSE WE WERE REQUIRED UNDER FLOOD CONTROL TO PROVIDE ABOUT 95 ACRE FEET OF DETENTION. WE PROVIDED ABOUT 140 ACRE FEET OF DETENTION. RIGHT. WE FAR EXCEED THE CRITERIA. I I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT WA NO, THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION THOUGH. SO UNDERSTAND, YOU'RE ADDING IN DETENTION AND THAT'S REQUIRED, THAT'S STANDARD THAT ANY DEVELOPER NEEDS TO DO. MY QUESTION WAS HOW MUCH OF THE MUD THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING IS IN THE 100 AND 500 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, AND HOW MUCH IS BEING REMOVED OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN? NOTHING BY THE MITIGATION. NOTHING'S BEING REMOVED OUTTA THE 500. THE RULES DON'T ALLOW THAT. UH, 30 ACRES, I BELIEVE, IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE'RE RECLAIMING AND, AND DEVELOPING BY PROVIDING COMPENSATING STORAGE IN THE DETENTION BASIN. I, NO, I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF, IF Y'ALL COULD ALL FOLLOW UP WITH A WRITTEN QUESTION THAT WILL HOPEFULLY CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE SAYING, THAT'D BE, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE MUD THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. WHAT, WHAT IS WITHIN THE 100 AND 500 YEAR FLOODPLAIN? THANK YOU. SO LET, SO LEMME TRY TO, IT'S EASY. IT'S 177 ACRE DEVELOPMENT, 65 ACRES. IS THE DETENTION BASIN IN LOCATED IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND OR FLOODWAY OF THE REMAINING ACREAGE? 30 ACRES WAS IN THE FLOODPLAIN, BUT WILL BE FILLED TO REMOVE IT FROM THE FLOODPLAIN. OKAY. DOES, DOES THAT ANSWER, DOES THAT HELP YOU? IT'S ONLY PART OF THE WAY THERE. WE'LL, WE WILL SEND AN EMAIL. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU MR. HALL AND YOUR TEAM FOR, UM, COMING OUT TO THE MEETING, UM, THAT I HOSTED, UM, LAST WEEKEND DURING THE TOUR, UM, THE COMMUNITY WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN COME IN THE AREA, BUT THEN OF COURSE, THE COMMUNITY STILL HAD SOME CONCERNS. UM, WE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE MEETING ON SATURDAY AND THE COMMUNITY GENERATED A LIST OF, UM, ASK, UM, AND OF COURSE WE GAVE THAT LIST TO THE MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT WE CAN, I KNOW I TALKED TO YOU AT THE MEETING, YOU SAID, YOU GUYS SAID THAT YOU WERE OPEN TO, UM, COMING UP WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THESE PROPERTIES, THESE HOMES ARE AFFORDABLE. UM, THE OTHER ISSUE, SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THEY HAVE IS, UM, WITH THE INCREASE OF HOMES COMING IN THE AREA AND POPULATION, UM, RIGHT NOW, HPD IS KIND OF SCARCE, UM, THE RESOURCES SCARCE OVER THERE. HOW ARE WE, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE AREA'S COVERED. I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HOA, WHICH WE LEARNED ABOUT THE HOA, UM, NORMALLY HOAS COVER SECURITY, UM, IN THE AREA. BUT WE WANT TO KNOW IF, UM, HPD WILL BE, IF YOU'RE GONNA, UM, YOU KNOW, PAY FOR OVERTIME OR ET CETERA TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AREA'S PROTECTED. AND THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL. UM, BUT WE WILL SHARE THE, SHARE THE LETTER WITH YOU. I WISH WE WOULD'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS BEFOREHAND. I KNOW WE TALKED IN PASSING A FEW YEARS, FOUR YEARS AGO. UM, BUT I WASN'T CLEAR. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A MUD. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A MUD THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE MUD IDEA CAME UP. AND SO, UM, WE LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THIS. UM, WE REALLY DO WANT THE DEVELOPMENT, I'M GONNA SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, HOWEVER, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS PROTECTED, UM, PROTECTED FROM, UM, HIGH PRICE HOMES, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BE SELLING THE LAND TO A DEVELOPER TO BUILD. SO YOU'RE NOT THE BUILDER, YOU'RE THE LAND DEVELOPER. CORRECT. WE'RE SELLING DEVELOPED LOTS TO THE BUILDER AT A PRICE THAT WILL DICTATE CLEARLY WHAT THE SALES PRICE WILL BE. BUT AS I TRIED TO EXPLAIN, AND I, AND I'LL RECAP, UH, IN THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT, AND HABITAT [01:35:01] FOR HUMANITY IS A GREAT PROGRAM. AND THERE ARE CONDITIONS FROM PRICING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE'VE, WE'VE HELPED HABITAT IN THE PAST. UM, WE ARE A PRIVATE DEVELOPER WORKING WITH A PUBLICLY TRADED HOME BUILDER WHOSE OBJECTIVE IS TO GENERATE SALES. NOW, THEY CAN'T GO INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD ANYWHERE IN HOUSTON OR TEXAS OR THE UNITED STATES AND SAY, I'M GOING TO GUARANTEE YOU WHAT THE PRICE OF THIS HOME'S GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR. NO MORE THAN I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WHAT YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR A TANK OF GAS NEXT YEAR. MM-HMM . THAT'S NOT HOW THE FREE MARKET WORKS. NOW, SUBSIDIES, I GET IT. YOU GUYS CAN IMPOSE CONDITIONS. YOU CAN SAY A NUMBER OF THESE HOMES HAVE TO BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE OR DEEPLY DISCOUNTED, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW OUR WORLD WORKS. WE CAN'T RUN DEFICITS. WE CAN'T DO THAT. SO I, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT ANY REQUEST ABOUT GUARANTEEING OR LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR, AND AGAIN, MESA VISTA IS NOT JUST A PROPOSED IDEA. WAYSIDE VILLAGES IS, IS SHOWING HOW THIS CAN BE DONE. EVERY DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANT PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE LAND TRUST, AS WAS EXPLAINED AT THE MEETING THE OTHER DAY, IS BEING USED. THERE ARE 23 HOMEOWNERS IN WAYSIDE VILLAGE THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS OUTTA 99 TOTAL HOMES IN YOUR DISTRICT. AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF OUR BUILDERS. SO THESE HOMES ARE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRICE. ALL OF THEM IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS $334,000. LENNAR HOMES IS GOING TO OFFER HOMES STARTING IN THE 100 EIGHTIES. THAT IS UNHEARD OF. AS COUNT POLLER SAID, YOU CAN'T FIND HOMES LIKE THAT ANYMORE. AND OUR HOMES HAS, HAS FOUND A WAY TO DO THAT, BUT WE'VE GOTTA MAKE IT AFFORDABLE AND EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR COUNTS. RIGHT. AND YOU'RE, AND YOU'RE SAYING AFFORDABLE, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AFFORDABLE. YOU'RE SELLING THIS AS IT'S BECAUSE IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT THEN YOU'RE SAYING YOU CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THESE HOUSES WILL BE AT THAT PRICE POINT. AND SO THAT'S ALL WE WANNA DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A GUARANTEE. WE TALKING ABOUT DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE DOLLARS FROM TALKING TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THERE'S NO DOLLARS. I KNOW, UM, FROM TALKING TO, UM, CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, SHE SAID SOME DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE MONEY WILL BE COMING, BUT RIGHT. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO DOWN PAYMENT, VERY LITTLE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE DOLLARS. SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE HOMES CAN BE SOLD TO THE FOLKS IN THE AREA. AND THEY'RE AFFORDABLE. AND THEY REMAIN AFFORDABLE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY IT. AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A VOICE. AND IF YOU HAVE A THOUSAND HOMES COMING INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, SO I MEAN, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO HAVE A, A VOICE AND AN OPINION ABOUT THIS PROJECT. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ASKING FOR OUR APPROVAL FOR A MUD. AND, AND I SO WISH YOU WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO JOIN US ON THE BUS TOUR AT THE MEETING THAT YOU REQUESTED BE, BECAUSE WHEN WE WENT THROUGH WAYSIDE VILLAGE, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE, THE SALESPEOPLE FROM ONE OF THE BUILDERS COME ON BOARD THE BUS AND EXPLAIN TO THE RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THE PRICE POINTS OF THE HOMES ARE, ABOUT WHAT THE MUD PROVIDES, ABOUT WHAT THEY GET IN THE HOA AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE VOICING, THE CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN WAYSIDE VILLAGE. AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS NEW TO US. AND MR. HALL, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU, YOU GUYS HAVE NOT EVEN MUCH, YOU DIDN'T SPOKE, SPEAK TO THE, THE, UM, UM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS MUCH KNOW ABOUT THESE PROJECTS. WE ARE JUST LEARNING ABOUT THIS. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. WE'RE JUST LEARNING. IF WE HAVE MORE TIME FOR YOU TO EDUCATE, 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE EXPERT, EDUCATE US ON THE COMMUNITY ON IT, THEN WE CAN MEET HALFWAY. BUT AT THIS POINT, I MEAN, YOU HADN'T REALLY COMMUNICATED WITH THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER. I, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. I MET WITH YOU ALMOST A YEAR. IT'LL BE IN TWO DAYS FROM A YEAR AGO. AUGUST 30TH OF 23. I FOLLOWED UP EVERY MONTH WITH AN EMAIL. OKAY. I SENT THOSE EMAILS TO YOU AND COUN AND YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF. OKAY. TWO MONTHS LATER, I SENT ONE SPECIFICALLY AND SAID, HERE'S THE LINK TO MUD FIVE 80 N APPLICATION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I, I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. SIX. YEAH. WE SIXTH SEARCHED FOR THE EMAIL. AND IT'S NOT IN THE, IT'S NOT IN OUR EMAILS. WELL, SHE, SHE RESPONDED TO ME THE OTHER DAY WHEN I ASKED IF SHE WERE COMING TO ME. YEAH, BECAUSE YOU GUYS JUST SENT IT AGAIN. YOU JUST SENT IT. SO, I MEAN, I'M AGAINST, I'M NOT AGAINST THE PROJECT. WE WANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE HOMES ARE TRULY AFFORDABLE. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S IT. AND I, AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT. BUT IN THE FREE MARKET, WE CAN'T GUARANTEE A HOME'S NOT GONNA BE 180, BUT PERHAPS 180 5. ALRIGHT. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, UM, I, I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK YOU MR. HALL FOR COMING BACK TO GIVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAD. AND CERTAINLY I I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I THINK THE POINT IS THAT IN, IN WITH THE, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, IN HER CONCERNS OF BEING MET, AND THAT'S JUSTIFIABLE, BUT ALSO WHAT COUNCILMAN POLL WAS SAYING IS THAT, LISTEN, WE WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NOW, I WAS SATISFIED ON THE DETENTION 65 ACRES, RIGHT? CORRECT. THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE DETENTION. THAT'S CORRECT. ALSO, I WON'T APPRECIATE THE FACT YOU SPOKE TO DIRECTOR NICHOLS. CORRECT. EXPRESSED HIS INTEREST IN THE FACT OF THE PROCESS BY [01:40:01] WHICH YOU'RE GOING FORWARD. YES, SIR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I'VE HAD A CHANCE OF HIS, WITH HIM NOW. OKAY, GOOD. 'CAUSE I, I HAD TALKED TO HIM ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAD AS WELL, SO I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION AND, UH, I THINK THE COUN THE COUNCILMAN SAID SHE SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I I THINK IT'LL BE A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY IF ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE, UH, SATISFIED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. HALL FOR BEING HERE. AND I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AS WELL, AND WE'LL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT. UM, I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A 4% TAX CREDIT DEAL OR A 9% TAX CREDIT DEAL OR A PFC WHERE SOME GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY IS LOSING OUT ON TAX REVENUE. THIS IS AS CLOSE TO A FREE MARKET, MAYBE NOT SOLUTION, BUT MEASURE IN ORDER TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WE'RE GONNA GET. SO I LIKE TO SEE THAT. I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT IT WILL CREATE HUNDREDS OF ROOFTOPS, WHICH IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO CONVINCE BIG GROCERS LIKE HEB AND WALMART TO LOCATE THE GROCERY STORES THAT PEOPLE WANT IN THIS AREA. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY IF THIS COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A FOOD DESERT CURRENTLY, BUT THE MORE ROOFTOPS YOU, YOU PUT IN THAT AREA, THE, THE, THE GREATER, UH, CHOICES RESIDENTS WILL HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO SHOPPING AT GROCERY STORES AND ACCESS TO GOOD, HEALTHY FOOD. UM, SO I I ALSO LIKE THE FACT AS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS POINTED OUT THAT, UH, HOUSING DIRECTOR NICHOLS, UH, APPROVES OF THIS PROJECT AND HOPES TO SEE MORE LIKE IT. AND SO WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS, TO ME, IS A NO-BRAINER BECAUSE THIS PROJECT, UH, APPEARS TO CREATE A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HOUSTON NEED. I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS IS UNDEVELOPED LAND CURRENTLY. WHEN IT, WHEN IT IS DEVELOPED, IT WILL ADD TO OUR TAX BASE AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THE FINANCIAL TROUBLES THAT WE'RE IN. AND SO, UH, I SUPPORT THIS AND WILL BE VOTING. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, VANESSA COLE, ALL HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMEYER ESTEEM MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. UH, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON AGENDA ITEM 46. UM, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AGAIN FOR HOSTING THE MEETING LAST WEEK. IT, IT MADE FOR A VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION AND WE GOT TO HEAR IN REAL TIME SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY, UM, WHICH WAS JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE LACK OF GROCERY STORES AND MEDICAL OFFICES. AND AS WE ALL KNOW, ROOFTOPS BRING THAT IN. WE ALSO DISCUSSED COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S CONCERN REGARDING DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABILITY. WE HAD THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, CEO COME IN AND SHOW HOW BUYERS CAN ACHIEVE THE DEEPEST LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY IN RANDY'S SUBDIVISION NEXT DOOR. I HAVE A REDACTED SETTLEMENT STATEMENT THAT'S SHOWING THE BUYERS PAYING $1,150 A MONTH ON A BRAND NEW HOUSE, BRAND NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, THREE BED, TWO BATH, TWO CAR GARAGE. GO AHEAD. ANOTHER REDACTED SETTLEMENT STATEMENT SHOWING THE ESTIMATED TOTAL MONTHLY PAYMENT AT $884. LIKE WHERE WHEREIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ARE YOU GETTING A BRAND NEW HOME AT THAT LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY? THE PLAN WE PRESENTED PLAN A ALLOWS US TO SERVE APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND FAMILIES AROUND $1,500 A MONTH. AND IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE, AND THE MUD IS A PROVEN SOLUTION, AND PLAN B CURRENTLY DOES NOT EXIST. UM, SERGEANT LED THOSE UP HERE EARLIER. HE'S PATROLLED SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND A LOT OF THE BUYERS THAT WE SERVE ARE HPD. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT, THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. I THINK WHEN WE ALSO LOOK AT HOME OWNERSHIP, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, FOR MANY PEOPLE, THIS IS THEIR BIGGEST INVESTMENT. SO YOU WANT SOMETHING TO APPRECIATE OVER TIME. YOU, YOU DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT JUST STAYS LEVEL FOREVER, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU ACTUALLY GET WEALTH FOR YOUR FAMILY. AND I THINK THAT'S THE WHOLE PUSH FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM IS THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP TO HAVE THAT ASSET TO GROW OVER TIME. BUT WHILE YOU'RE HERE AND YOU ARE, UM, A LAND DEVELOPER AND HOME BUILDER FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS, IS IT REQUIRED, UH, TO HAVE SIDEWALKS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON? YES. SO FOR ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION NEIGHBORHOODS, IT AUTOMATICALLY COMES WITH, [01:45:01] IT HAS TO BE, IT HAS TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITH SIDEWALKS. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. AND I JUST BRING THAT UP BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE ISSUE IS MOSTLY ADDRESSING NEIGHBORHOODS WHO CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS. THAT YOU HAVE A NEW BUILD AS ONE HOME IN AN AREA WITH NO SIDEWALKS TO CREATE THE SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE. BUT IT DOES NOT STOP NEW DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS REQUIRED TO HAVE FOR NEW NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE SIDEWALKS AS A PART OF THEIR PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT TARINA. BLESSED. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCILMAN AND WOMAN. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAIN ABOUT, UH, SIDEWALK ORDINANCE. ITEM 47. SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE ARE A REALITY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FONDLY ONLY BECAUSE OUR HOMEOWNERS DON'T HAVE THE CASH AND THE RIGHT OF WAY TO BUILD THOSE SIDEWALKS. WHAT'S ALSO A REALITY IS THE POOR STATE IN WHICH THE SIDEWALKS USED BY THE CHILDREN IN MY AREA ARE IN ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL. SO I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FEE, NOT TO BE ABOLISHED, BUT INSTEAD AMENDED TO BE LOWERED FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE BUILDING THEIR OWN HOMES AT FOND. THAT'S HOW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS IMPROVING. AND ALSO FOR PUBLIC HOUSING NOT TO HAVE TO PAY THE FEE. SO THEIR SIDEWALK WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE SIDEWALK FUND. AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MA'AM, FOR COMING FORWARD. I THINK YOU MAKE SOME EXCELLENT POINTS AND I THINK THAT IS MERIT FOR, UH, FURTHER DISCUSSION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU FOR COMING. CORINA, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU EARLIER TODAY AT SENATOR ALVARADO'S, UH, SENIOR, SENIOR FALL FEST. UM, AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN FONDA AS WELL, AND DISTRICT GUY. UH, AND, AND AGAIN, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THE TABLE IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BEING PROPOSED CURRENTLY. AND SO THAT FURTHER DISCUSSION IS DEFINITELY NEEDED. UM, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, UH, CONNECT SIDEWALKS, UH, THROUGHOUT FOND AND THROUGHOUT OTHER, OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN DISTRICT ISLAND. AND SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FURTHER AS WELL. UM, AND HOPEFULLY NOT A DECISION HAVING TO BE MADE TOMORROW. THANK YOU. RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS CHAVEZ. THANK YOU. AM MAYOR PROAM. I, I AGREE, UH, BASICALLY WITH WHAT YOU SAID, BUT YOU SAID THE ONLY REASON THAT THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE SIDEWALKS IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEM. I CAN ASSURE YOU 99.9% THAT IN SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, IF YOU ATTEMPT TO PUT SIDEWALKS ACROSS THEIR FRONT YARDS, YOU WILL HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY THE OLD ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, THEY DO NOT WANT THE SIDEWALKS GOING IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES. THE SAFETY, THERE'S NO SAFETY ISSUE IN, IN MOST CASES BECAUSE THE STREETS ARE NOT REALLY HEAVILY TRAVELED. SO I WOULD JUST CAUTION YOU TO JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THROW EVERYTHING IN A BARREL AND SAY, THAT IS THE ONLY REASON. BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE REASON, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY, INCLUDING ME, UH, WHO HAVE, UH, PROPERTIES IN AREAS THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT WANT A SIDEWALK. AND NOR THERE HAVE THERE BEEN, AND THOSE HOMES WERE CONSTRUCTED, I THINK LIKE 1958. MM-HMM . THEY DON'T WANT THE SIDEWALKS. AND SO THAT IS THEIR REASON. SO EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT REASONS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. AND SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D THROW IN THAT PERSPECTIVE. MM-HMM . AND I'M HERE. THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU. COMING. AND I'M HERE ALSO AS AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WALKABILITY. AS WE KNOW, FIT HOUSTON IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB OF RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE BENEFITS AGAINST COMORBIDITIES AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH WALKING AND THROUGH GOING ON WALKS AND HAVING OTHER FITNESS, UH, PROGRAMS. I'M A MEMBER OF MANY RUNNING CLUBS IN THE CITY, AND, UH, WE HAVE OTHER ADVOCATES FOR BIKING AS WELL. AND THOSE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE BEING USED, AND ARE HE VERY HEAVILY TRAFFICKED? UH, THEY REALLY DO NEED SOME IMPROVEMENT. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY, UH, INSTANCES WHERE WE'LL GO OUT IN THE RUNNING CLUB, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF RUNNERS, AND WE'RE TAKEN TO THE STREET BECAUSE THE SIDEWALK BECOMES A TRAIL WITH BARRIERS. AND WE'RE NOT THERE TO BE DOING ANY KIND OF, UM, OBSTACLE COURSE. WE JUST WANT TO RUN THROUGH THE STREETS AND USE OUR SAFE SIDEWALKS TO DO SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, RALPH KIRBY, THEODORE ROCHA. [01:50:16] UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS THEODORE ROCHA. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS. ONE PERSON. OKAY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS. WHO ARE THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS, THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS, OR THE OLDEST LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE DECAL. THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS HAVE BEEN AROUND, NOT JUST FOR ME AND MYSELF FROM MY 1980 JACKET, BUT ALSO FROM, UH, THEY WERE AROUND FOR MISS CAR ALVARADO. SHE SAT PROBABLY IN THAT CHAIR OVER THERE. JAMES RODRIGUEZ SAT PROBABLY IN THAT CHAIR OVER THERE. AND NOW MR. MARTINEZ, OUR NEXT CONGRESSMAN HAS A SON WITH THE ORGANIZATION. SO WE'RE NOT AN ORGANIZATION THAT JUST SHOWED UP LAST WEEK ASKING FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE. WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS AND THAT PRODUCES, PRODUCES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF THE FUTURE, PEOPLE LEADING CAROL, JAMES JOAQUIN, UH, THE MAYOR KNOWS WHO I AM. HE JUST WENT TO MY PARTY FOR MY 38 YEARS OF SERVICE PROUDLY WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH THE A O GUY ON THE WAY OUT. SOME OTHER THINGS WE COULD DO ON THE HFD SIDE. AND A FUNNY STORY WITH ME AND THE MAYOR, WE TALK ABOUT RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HE SAYS, HE GOES AROUND AND TALKS TO PEOPLE, PEOPLE LIKE ME. WHERE DO YOU LIVE, KATIE? I'M LIKE, NOT ME, MAYOR. CITY OF HOUSTON. OF MEADOW CREEK. MEADOW CREEK VILLAGE. SO I'M ASKING FOR HELP AND GETTING OUR LIGHTS FIXED. I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY, EVERY DISTRICT'S FIGHTING FOR MONEY IN THEIR DISTRICT AND GET, GET, GETTING THINGS DONE. BUT LIKE I SAID, OUR ORGANIZATION'S BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS. WE HAVE 120 KIDS RIGHT NOW. WELL, NOT TODAY, BUT TOMORROW THAT WE'LL BE PLAYING AT MASON PARK. MASON PARK IS IN DISTRICT I, MASON PARK IS A FOUNDING PARK. IT'S WITH MEMORIAL, IT'S WITH HERMAN, IT'S WITH MCGREGOR, IT'S MASON PARK. UH, WE HAVE 50 VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP COACH FIVE YEAR OLDS, FIVE TO 13 YEAR OLDS, BOYS AND GIRLS. WE HAVE 120 ON THE BOY PROGRAM. WE HAVE 40 IN THE GIRL PROGRAM. UH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS RIGHT NOW. I UNDERSTAND. WE HAD A HURRICANE. CAN I GO BACK? CAN I STILL GO? NO, GO AHEAD. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND WE HAD A H BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE TO GETTING SOME LIGHTS. OKAY. , WE, WE, WE HAVE, IF YOU JUST TALK FOR ANOTHER MINUTE, I'M GONNA GET YOU SOME LIGHTS. , WE, WE HAVE A PURCHASE ORDER. WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR, AND THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR TALKING TO PURCHASE ORDER. BUT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE HERE TO HELP EXPEDITE THE, THE EXPEDITE THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR SEASON AND IT'S, WE PRACTICE FROM SIX 30 TO EIGHT 30 AND IT'S GETTING DARK AT 7 45. AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR A HUNDRED, 140 KIDS AND ALL THEIR PARENTS, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME LIGHTS SO WE CAN FINISH FINISHING OUR PRACTICE TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THE LEADERS OF THE FUTURE. UM, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE IT. UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN INVITATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE RIGHT BEHIND ME. HE'S GONNA, UH, TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE A PRESENTATION AND THEN, AND GIVE YOU AN INVITATION. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, PATRICK, COACH PATRICK, I SHOULD SAY. UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO ELEVATE THIS CONVERSATION SOME MORE. UH, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PARENTS SUBMIT THREE ONE ONES, UH, FOR THE PAST, UH, AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR WEEKS. UM, I KNOW AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, BARROW HAS CAUSED SOME DAMAGE ACROSS, UH, CITYWIDE. UH, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE CONVERSATION THAT I'VE HAD WITH THEM AS WELL, AND, AND Y'ALL ADVOCATING FOR, FOR SOME, SOME EXPEDITED, UH, PROCESS, WE CAN SEE THE LIGHTS. UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, UM, IT'S STARTING TO GET DARK AROUND 7 45. AND SO JUST TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE, UH, THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR THOSE KIDS. UM, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S 50 YEARS OF, OF, OF HAVING THIS HISTORY IN, IN THE, IN THE EAST END MAGNOLIA PARK AREA. UM, WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IS SOMETHING VERY COMMENDABLE AND IS BRINGING FORTH A LOT OF LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO, UH, A QUICK UPDATE. UM, THEY HAVE STARTED DOING SOME WORK AS OF MONDAY. UM, I DO NOT HAVE A TIMELINE THOUGH, 'CAUSE WE'RE WAITING ON SOME MATERIALS. SO I'M ASKING THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO LET ME KNOW, TO GIVE ME A MORE REALISTIC TIMELINE ON WHEN THOSE MATERIALS CAN COME IN, WHEN WE CAN SEE IT START, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FIXTURES BEING, UH, ATTENDED TO AS WELL. UM, HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT FOUR WEEKS, 'CAUSE THEN THE SEASON'S OVER. AND SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. WE'LL GET ON TOP OF IT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT, JUAN AVILA. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS, UH, GILBERT AVILA. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS. I DO WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH A HAT AND A, A HELMET FOR YOUR, UH, YOUR MAN CAVE THERE. UH, SO YOU COULD ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION. 'CAUSE I'VE, I'VE [01:55:01] SEEN YOU AT SEVERAL EVENTS AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SHOOK HANDS AND TALKED A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, TODAY I'M ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE LIGHTS. UH, I KNOW THINGS ARE HAPPENING, THINGS ARE ROLLING. UH, I DO WANT YOU TO GO AND WITNESS FOR YOURSELF ON OCTOBER 26 TO, UH, TWO GREAT TEAMS, A GREAT RIVALRY BETWEEN EASTON AND MAGNOLIA PARK. SHARKS. EASTON IS PART OF THE, UH, WAS PART OF THE MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS. UH, AT ONE POINT. THEY, YOU KNOW, THE NFL AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON GRANTED THEM TO GET ANOTHER TEAM. AND THEY'RE ON THEIR 20TH YEAR. WHILE WE ARE ON OUR 50TH, BOTH ORGANIZATION IS JUST AS STRONG AS, UH, THEY WORK TOGETHER. UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU AS ALONG WITH ANYBODY ELSE TO COME WITNESS SOMETHING REALLY GREAT, REALLY AWESOME, REALLY AMAZING, UM, FESTIVITIES. WE HAVE GAMES STARTING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK ALL THE WAY TO OUR LAST GAME. STARTS AT THREE DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ALL WE GOT GOING ON, SOMETIMES ALL THE WAY TO FIVE O'CLOCK, UH, IN THE EVENING. SO THAT IS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH AT GREG PARK, WHICH IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE, UH, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECS DEPARTMENT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY, JUST A SECOND. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND GILBERT, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AS WELL. UM, AS, UM, I THINK AS, AS WE START SEEING HOW FOLKS ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UP AND HAVE THIS SPACE AND, AND FOR YOU ALL TO COME HERE TODAY, UH, EXPRESSING YOUR, YOUR LOVE FOR THE GAME, RIGHT? BUT ALSO FOR THE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES CAN SEE THAT. AND, AND THE MAYOR AS WELL. UH, THAT OCTOBER 26 GAME, AGAIN, IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE. UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. AND IT'LL BE AT GREG PARK AGAINST THE EAST END. EAGLES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT PHASIA. GALES, NOW PRESENT. AMA SIMS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UH, MAYOR COUNCILMAN, UH, THIS IS MY FIFTH TIME HERE. UH, THE FIRST TWO TIMES I CAME HERE, I WAS, I SPOKE ON, I SPOKE TO STER TURNER. THIS IS MY THIRD TIME TALKING TO Y'ALL. I WAS TOLD THAT I'LL HAVE SOMEONE TO CALL ME. UH, MAYOR, I, I, I REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT, DID YOU GET THE, UH, EMAIL THAT I SENT YOU? I SENT YOU AN EMAIL FROM, UH, REESE BRADLEY. YOU TOLD ME TO SEND YOUR EMAIL, BUT I NEVER GOT A ANSWER BACK. IT'S CONCERNING THE ORGANIZED CRIME WITH HPD THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH HISPANIC OFFICERS AND HOMOSEXUAL OFFICERS. UH, IT'S THAT, IT'S AN ONGOING, I HAVE EVIDENCE OF EVERYTHING I HAVE. I TRIED TO TALK TO, UH, CHIEF TROY, BUT HE NEVER DID GIMME A CALL. I GOT PAPERWORK FROM THE, THE AFFAIRS IN MY BAG TO PROVE THAT, UH, HE SIGNED THE PAPERWORK FROM A SERGEANT VOS, BUT HE NEVER DID GET BACK WITH ME. ALL MY EMAILS BEEN STOLEN. SO, UH, I HAD TO CRE KEEP ON CREATING EMAIL AT THE EMAIL DUE TO THE ORGANIZED CRIME BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SNATCHED. SO THEREFORE I'M ASKING THAT SOMEONE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SOMETHING THAT I'M TRYING TO STOP, UH, TRYING NOT TO PREVENT. YOU DID HELP ME OUT WHEN YOU WAS THE SENATOR. UH, WHEN I WAS IN PRISON, YOU HELPED ME GET OUTTA PRISON. THAT WAS ONE REASON WHY I VOTED FOR YOU BECAUSE I FELT LIKE YOU'LL BE A GOOD MATCH THAT, UH, THAT HELPED CHANGE THE CITY AROUND. AND I'M, I'M PRAYING AND HELP, PRAYING TO GOD AND HOPING THAT YOU WILL HELP ME CHANGE THE SITUATION SOON AS BECAUSE I'M, I, I'M STILL HOMELESS. AFTER TWO YEARS, I'M STILL FIGHTING FOR MY HOUSING. I'M STILL FIGHTING FOR MY DISABILITY TO WHERE I CAN WORK. I'M WORKING PART-TIME, BUT I'M BARELY WORKING PART-TIME NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T USE MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. SOMEONE THAT SNATCHED MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER NOW, NOW I'M FIGHTING FOR MY SOCIAL SECURITY AND MY UNEMPLOYMENT. SO I'M, I'M UNDER PRESSURE RIGHT NOW AND I'M REALLY, REALLY NOT TRYING TO SUE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 'CAUSE THIS IS MY HOME. THIS IS WHERE I WAS BORN AND I WAS RAISED. SO I'M ASKING THAT JUSTICE BE DONE AND SOMEONE PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. I CAN GET SOMEONE MY NUMBER, MY NEW NUMBER AND MY NEW EMAIL TO WHERE SOMEONE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. BUT I HAVEN'T DID THAT YET BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE. OKAY. VERY, VERY WELL. I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED TO SERGEANT CARS. LET ME TALK. NO, I TALKED TO TALK, UH, UH, HPD. YEAH. OFFICER CARR, UH, HAS A REPORT THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH YOU. SO LET ME CHECK WITH HIM. NO, I HAVEN'T SPOKE WITH ANYONE SINCE IDENTITY THEFT. SOMEONE ELSE BEEN GOING IN. SO, BUT I TALKED TO UH, UH, UH, SERGEANT VOUT ONE TIME. WELL, LET ME GET, GET IT STARTED [02:00:01] THEN. UH, HERE'S MR. CARR WITH HPD. DON'T YOU VISIT WITH HIM AND THEN I'LL VISIT WITH HIM. ALRIGHT. SO YEAH, HE'S, HE'S A FINE OFFICER. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT MY NEXT TAHIR CHARLES IS NOT PRESENT. MAURICE DALE COUNSEL. YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO PUSH THIS ELECTION TO WHERE WE CAN WORK. PROBLEM IS WE GOT TOO MANY DEMOCRATS TRYING TO PUSH US INTO SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM. I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT A BANKER, A MEMBER OF THE, UH, OH GOD THAT'S COMING THROUGH COMMUNISM. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF, UH, WHENEVER SHE WAS IN, UH, A MEMBER WHENEVER SHE WAS IN RUSSIA, SOVIET UNION. NOW THEY TRIED TO PUT HER INTO, UH, CONTROLLING OUR BANKING. AND I NOTICED WITH ALL THE JUDGES THAT WE'RE GETTING IN HERE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO APPOINT WHO ARE GOING TO BE BEHOLDEN TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR APPOINTING THEM TO CONTROL. AND EVERY TIME JOHN KENNEDY CUTS 'EM DOWN. SO THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE BASICALLY THE NEW WORLD ORDER COMING. AND IT'S NOT THE CRAZY STUFF, IT'S THE HOMELAND. SINCE THE HOMELAND TOOK OVER, I TRIED TO WARN BEFORE NINE 11 HAPPENED. AND NO ONE WANTED TO PAY ME ANY ATTENTION. I KNEW ABOUT HOMELAND SINCE I WAS 16. I'VE BEEN WORKING MY WHOLE LIFE TO LOOKING OUT FOR THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT WOULD START. AND AT THIS POINT, IF THIS ELECTION DOESN'T SWING RIGHT, ESPECIALLY IF KAMALA HARRIS BECAUSE SHE IS A COMMUNIST AND A SOCIALIST, WHICH WE'VE WATCHED IN CALIFORNIA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, IF WE DON'T KEEP HER OUT AND WE GET TO HAVE AN AUDIT OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO TRACE DOWN? THAT'S JUST GOING INTO BLACK PLACES, DISAPPEARING INTO MOVEMENTS THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE. NOW WE GOTTA PUT A STOP TO THIS. NOW WE CAN AVOID THE FUTURE REVOLUTION THAT'S GONNA COME IF IT HAPPENS BY GOING BY THE LAW AND PAYING ATTENTION TO OUR SIMPLE POLITICS. YOU SEE THE LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY DO. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T BE BLINDED. I MEAN, WHENEVER YOU SEE SOMEONE TRY AND COME IN FOR FEDERAL COURT AND THEY CAN'T EVEN HARDLY TALK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, MUCH LESS ANY COURT CASES AND HAVE NO EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, ALL YOU GOTTA, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE PHONE, WATCH SENATE, WATCH THE SENATE WORK AND YOU WILL SEE ALL THESE JUDGES WHO CAN'T ANSWER A QUESTION, CAN'T TURN AROUND AND GET ANYTHING RIGHT. AND THEY'RE ALL DEMOCRATIC APPOINTED. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A ROUGH DAY TODAY. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT JEANIE NELSON. GOOD EVENING. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. UM, TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS, I WOULD LOVE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE BAD FAITH VIOLATION OF SECTION 92.201 THROUGH 92.204 OF THE US PROPERTY CODE. MY NAME IS JEANNIE NELSON AND I AM AN ACTIVE LEASEHOLDER WITHIN THE RE CITY LOSS APARTMENT. I AM ALSO TENANT OF HOUSTON HOUSING SECTION EIGHT. UM, I HAVE BROUGHT WITH ME SOME COPIES OF SOME CERTIFIED LETTERS THAT I CERTIFIED MAIL TO FDI MANAGEMENT, [02:05:01] UM, AND MY LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I ALSO SENT LETTERS TO MR. TOM MCALLISTER WITH UM, FAIR HOUSING. I HAVE STRIVED TO RESOLVE THIS JUDGMENT WITH T-R-E-C-T-D-L-R AND I ALSO EVEN WENT THROUGH LONE STAR LEGAL AID AND BACK TO THE COURTS FOR ENFORCEMENT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SUCCESS IN MY ATTEMPTS SO I COME HERE TODAY BEGGING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH SUB CHAPTER H RETALIATIONS BY LANDLORD OF SECTION EIGHT OF SECTION 92 PER 33 1 DASH 92 PER 33 33 IN THE TENANT REMEDIES, UM, AND ENFORCEMENT OF INSECT OF SECTION 92 PER 3 54 LIABILITY OF THE LANDLORD. IT WILL BRING GREAT PEACE AND ENJOYMENT IF I CAN REMAIN AT THE RE REGENCY LOFT UNTIL MY REQUEST FOR TENNESSEE APPROVAL PACKET IS COMPLETED BY THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. I HAVE HAD ONE VEHICLE ILLEGALLY TOW, I HAVE HAD MY OTHER VEHICLE VANDALIZED AND PARKING TICKETS. . I HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO POSSESS TANGIBLE THINGS. LIVING HERE DOESN'T GIVE ME THAT PEACE AND ENJOYMENT TO PROTECT MY PROPERTY. I HAVE BEEN OVERCHARGED FOR RENT AND THEY'VE ACCEPTED FULL RENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND HAVE ACCEPTED RENT FROM ME AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. UM, HERE IN MARCH OF 2024, UH, I HAVE HAD MY ARM TWISTED FOR MY $300 TO JUMP INTO A STORAGE UNIT. SO YES, I ADMIT TO YOU 'CAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THAT I HAD A RIGHT UNTIL I DONE MY HOMEWORK. ONCE I DONE MY HOMEWORK, I SEEN THAT THERE'S NO WAY THAT A LANDLORD IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND TAKE MONEY FROM ME. I HAVE BROUGHT PAPERWORK FROM SECTION EIGHT TO SHOW AND PROVE THAT THEY PAID MY FULL RENT AND THAT I HAVE, UH, MONEY ORDER RECEIPT TO SHOW AND PROVE THAT THEY TOOK MONEY FROM ME AS WELL. I'M HERE TODAY ASKING IF YOU GUYS COULD PLEASE HELP ME SAVE MY SECTION EIGHT. 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO WORK WITH ME. NOW THEY'RE IN RETALIATION AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY WON'T DO MY CONTINUANCE. I AM LOOKING FOR ANOTHER APARTMENT TO MOVE AND I HAVE CONNECTED WITH THE KIND, UH, APARTMENT CONER AND THEY ARE HELPING ME. I HAVE WENT TO THE COURTS AND CONTESTED THE TICKETS THAT ARE PUT ON MY CAR. COME TO FIND OUT. IT'S THE PEOPLE, MS. MONICA GONZALEZ, WHO IS CALLING AND PUTTING COMPLAINTS ON MY CAR. AND THE COURTS HAVE THROW THOSE TICKETS OUT AND TOLD ME THAT I KNOW I'M NOT, THEY DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO TOW MY CAR AND REPOSSESS IT. SO I'M HERE BEGGING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TODAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, DR. MR. CARR, EVIDENCE RESPONSE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, ACTUALLY, WE HAVE DONNA RICKENBACKER, WHO'S THE DEVELOPER OF THE REGENCY LOSS. UH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH HER OUTSIDE, SHE'S VERY RESPONSIVE AND SHE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR CONCERNS. AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE INGRAM OVER IN THE CORNER AS WELL. AND SO IF YOU WOULD STEP OUT TO SPEAK WITH THEM RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, HER COMING PUBLICLY TO SPEAK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION. CERTAINLY, UM, THEY'RE HERE. UH, SHE MADE HERSELF AVAILABLE BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT YOU WERE COMING AND YOU HAD A CONCERN. SO IF YOU'LL STEP OUTSIDE, THEY'LL, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A JUDGMENT WHERE I CONTESTED THEM TOWING MY CAR AND WE HAD A TOW HEARING. NO, NO. I, I, I CAN'T RESOLVE IT. SHE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. UM, I, I HAVE EXALTED ALL THAT AND, AND I HAVE, HAVE YOU EVER SPOKEN WITH MS. RICKENBACKER? I HAVE SPOKEN WHEN I TELL YOU. T-R-E-C-T-D-L-R AND LEGAL ED. MM-HMM . AND THESE PEOPLE. AND I HAVE A JUDGMENT WHERE THE JUDGE TOLD THEM TO GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK AND COURT. I UNDERSTAND. BUT DON'T, IF YOU WANT TO GET A RESOLUTION, GO TO THE TOP. THAT IS DONALD RICKENBACKER IN THE BAG WAITING TO SPEAK WITH YOU. OKAY. SO IF YOU COULD STEP AND SPEAK WITH HER, WE'LL SEE. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THAT'S WHY, UH, SHE CAME SO THAT SHE CAN DIRECTLY ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT, MARCUS RE YEAH, KEEP ME GOING. IS NOW PRESENT CHANEL MCCALL. [02:10:01] I, GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND JOHN WHITMEYER. MAYOR. UM, I'M HERE TO BRING ATTENTION TO SERIOUS AND UNLAWFUL ACTIONS BY CAPSTONE MANAGEMENT AT 35 33 NORTH MCGREGOR WAY, HOUSTON, TEXAS. THIS PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED BY NEW OWNERS IN OCTOBER OF 2023. SINCE THEN, MY FAMILY HAS ENDURED FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES, UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS, AND RETALIATORY CONDUCT THAT PUT OUR SAFETY AND WELLBEING AT RISK. FIRST, THE MANAGEMENT PLACED FRAUDULENT EVICTION RECORDS ON MY HUD HOUSING FILE, FALSELY STATING THAT I WAS EVICTED TWO YEARS IN A ROW. NOVEMBER, 2022 AND NOVEMBER, 2023. THESE VIOLATIONS GOES AGAINST THE TEXAS PENAL CODE 37 POINT 10 TAMPERING WITH GOVERNMENT RECORDS. AS A RESULT, MY RENTAL APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN REJECTED ELSEWHERE, SEVERELY DAMAGING MY REPUTATION. IN MAY, OUR AIR CONDITION FAILED. AFTER, UH, SEVERAL REPAIR REQUESTS, MANAGEMENT SENT UNCERTIFIED MAINTENANCE WORKERS WHO FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEIR INADEQUATE SOLUTION WAS A SMALL WINDOW UNIT, WHICH LEFT A WINDOW OPEN FOR MONTHS, COMPROMISING MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. THIS NEGLIGENCE END DANGERS MY 11-YEAR-OLD CHILD, AND MY UNBORN BABY VIOLATING TEXAS PENAL CODE 22.04. WE'VE ALSO SUFFERED BURGLARIES AND I FILED POLICE REPORTS. DESPITE THIS, MANAGEMENT HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS MY SECURITY CONCERNS. ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE BEEN HARASSED BY OFFICE STAFF WITH FALSE EVICTIONS, AND THE BEHAVIOR MEETS THE DEFINITION OF HARASSMENT UNDER TEXAS PENAL CODE 42.07. THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL, THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HELPED US IS YOLANDA JEFFRIES FROM FAIR HOUSING. WITHOUT HER HELP, THESE ISSUES WOULD'VE GONE COMPLETELY UNADDRESSED. AND I'M URGENTLY REQUESTING YOUR INTERVENTION TO HOLD THIS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR UNLAWFUL ACTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND SUPPORT SPEAKERS. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU. UH, DO YOU HAVE CITY HOUSING OR COUNTY? I BELIEVE IT'S, UM, CITY. IT'S A SUBSIDY, THE HUD PROGRAM. ARE YOU OKAY. UM, SO, AND YOU'VE LIVED AT THIS RESIDENCE FOR HOW LONG? I'VE LIVED THERE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2021. UM, WHAT I'LL DO, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL HAVE, I'LL HAVE MY OFFICER CONTACT YOU. OKAY. AND, AND FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE, UH, REACHED OUT TO THE DIRECTOR OF HUD, UH, THE, I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS, HIS LAST NAME IS KURTON. UM, I STILL HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING TO BE RESOLVED. AND AT THIS POINT, ME AND MY CHILDREN ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THEY FILED AN ILLEGAL EVICTION. COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. AND THANK YOU MS. MCCALL. UH, INGRAM IS OVER IN THE CORNER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH HER. YES, I'VE SPOKEN WITH HER. BUT SHE'S GONNA HELP NAVIGATE YOU THROUGH THIS. AND YES. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, IT IS CITY. SHE'S, SHE'S ON NORTH MCGREGOR. AND SO CERTAINLY WE WILL, WE WILL TRY TO HELP YOU TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED FOR, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE COMING TO SPEAK. THAT'S SOMEHOW IT COMES TO THE FOREFRONT AND WE CAN BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER VIDAL, NEXT SPEAKER. CYNTHIA FARMS. CYNTHIA FARMS. HELLO MS. FARMS. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CYNTHIA FARMS. I AM THE, UH, VICE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT [02:15:01] FOR COUNCIL NUMBER 72. I'M ALSO, UH, CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT FOR PRECINCT NEIGHBORHOOD PRECINCT 2 39 NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC CLUB. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT OUR COMMUNITY, SOUTH PARK COMMUNITY IS THE LEAST THE LAST AND THE LOST. AND THE REASON WHY I'M STRESSING THAT IS THE LEAST THE LAST AND THE LOSS. 'CAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET TAKEN CARE OF FOR YEARS. AND WE'VE JUST BEEN GOING ON DEAF EARS. I HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER. SHE HAVEN'T HELPING WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES, BUT ONE OF MY MAIN ISSUES, I HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO GO THROUGH 'EM PRETTY FAST. BUT ONE OF THEM IS, UH, 6,100 VASSAR ROAD THAT'S OVER THERE OFF IN, UH, UH, SOUTH PARK, UH, RIGHT THERE WHERE FM LAW PARK IS ON THE SAME STREET LEADING UP TO THAT. THE PARK IS BEAUTIFUL AND IMMACULATE. BUT IF YOU COME FROM MADDEN ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, GOING DOWN TO VASSAR ROAD, WHICH IS THE NEXT STREET, THAT STREET IS TERRIBLE. THE GRASS IS TALLER THAN THE KIDS. THE GRASS IS ALMOST TALL AS ME. AND, AND THE, AND THE, UH, AND THERE'S SO MUCH DEBRIS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT THAT YOU CAN'T, THE KIDS CAN'T EVEN WALK ON THE SIDEWALK HOME FROM SCHOOL. MY CONCERN IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CHILDREN, IT'S A PRIORITY TO ME. SO I'VE PUT IN SEVERAL, UH, I DID PUT IN SEVERAL, SEVERAL, UH, UH, COMPLAINTS THROUGH THREE. ONE ONE. I WAS TOLD NOT TO PUT ANY MORE FROM, UH, UH, UH, MR. STEVEN JAMES THAT WORKED FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ'S OFFICE. HE SAID, UNTIL I GET AN UPDATE, WELL, I DID GET THE UPDATE. THE UPDATE SAID TWO WEEKS LATER FROM 3 1 1, FROM AN EMAIL THAT IT WAS CLOSED. SO I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBER, JUST ASKING HER, CAN WE GET SOMEBODY TO LEAST KEEP THAT STREET CLEAN ROUTINELY FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY? IT'S A PRIORITY FOR OUR CHILDREN. SO THAT'S, THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, UH, THE CUPBOARDS, THE, THE DITCHES ON MLK ON BELFORD BETWEEN MLK AND RA ROAD. WHEN THEY COME OUT AND CUT THOSE DITCHES, CUT THE GRASS AROUND THOSE DITCHES, THEY JUST CUT THE, ON THE OUTSIDE. BUT INSIDE OF THE DITCHES, THE GRASS IS SO TALL THAT SHOWS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING IN CLEANING THE CUPBOARDS. SO WE HAVE A A, A GOOD RAIN. WE'RE GONNA FLOOD OUT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT FLOOD. SO WE, I'M ASKING ALSO FOR HELP FOR THAT. UH, THIRDLY, OUR COMMUNITY CENTER, EDGEWOOD PARK, OUR CENTER, BEEN ON THIS LIST SINCE 2007. GO AHEAD. SINCE 2007, THAT'S WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER WANDA ADAMS WAS IN THE OFFICE. OUR MONEY GOT SWITCHED AROUND EVERY WHICH WAY. AND I DID REACH OUT TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER. SHE DID COME OUT TO SPEAK, YOU KNOW, UH, AFTER I HAD TO MAKE PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE ATTEMPTS, UH, FOR YEARS TO GET 'EM TO COME OUT, TO GET, LET US KNOW WHY, WHERE IS OUR MONEY? UH, AND WHEN WILL WE GET OUR CENTER? IF YOU GO TO EDGEWOOD PARK, WE HAVE OVER 150 KIDS THAT'S OUT THERE EVERY DAY WITH THE LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL. EVERY DAY THEY'RE THERE. BUT ON THE INSIDE OF THAT CENTER, IT IS HORRIFIC. I MEAN THE, THEY DONE PASTOR SO MANY TIMES FOR ME CALLING SO MANY TIMES, THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT DONE. BUT THEY PATCHED IT SO MANY TIMES THAT THE, UH, THE CEILING WERE FALLING IN ON US. 'CAUSE WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY MEETING THERE WITH OUR SENIORS AS WELL. UH, THE, THE FLOORS LEAKING UP FROM THE BOTTOM. AND IF YOU GO IN THE BATHROOM, IT'S REALLY TERRIBLE. THEN YOU GO OUT OUTSIDE. THE PARKING LOT IS TERRIBLE. BUT THEY PUT A NEW PLAYGROUND OUT THERE AND IT HAD A RIVER CUTTING. WHERE'S THE PRIORITIES HERE? YOU KNOW, IT DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. THE INSIDE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE THE OUTSIDE. THEN YOU LOOK AT THE FIELD GOAL OUT THERE, THERE'S A BIG OLD YELLOW, UH, CRIME SCENE TAPE ON THE KIDS FIELD GOAL. SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, WHEN I PUT IN MY COMPLAINTS THROUGH 3 1 1, IT EASY TO GET IGNORED. EITHER WE, THAT'S WHY I SAY WE THE LEAST THE LOSS AND THE LAST 'CAUSE IT GET IGNORED. IT GET FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. THEN WE FORGOTTEN ABOUT. THEN I HAVE THEN SECONDLY, I MEAN LASTLY, I HAVE SOME SENIORS THAT'S BEEN CALLING IN THROUGH 3 1 1. WE GO THROUGH PROTOCOL. WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO AND THEN SEND IT TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE. WE DON'T GET THE HELP THAT WE NEED. THEY HAVE THINGS THAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR BLOCKS. UH, UH, UH, 1, 1, 1 OF 'EM IS, UH, SOMEBODY PAINTING THEIR CAR, CARS IN THE YARD NEXT DOOR, UH, [02:20:01] TO ONE OF THE SENIORS THAT HAD THAT. THAT'S BEEN VERY ILL. A LOT OF SENIORS GETTING SICK FROM SMELLING THE PAIN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE AIN'T GETTING NO HELP FOR THAT. WE GOT ANOTHER SENIOR WHO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO JUST PUT A TRAILER HOUSE ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE AND GOT PLENTY CARS IN THE YARD AND THEY PARTY OUT THERE NIGHT. THESE PEOPLE BEEN PUTTING THESE THREE ONES, ONES IN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. WE GOING ON DEAF EARS. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? WE GETTING A TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. I MEAN, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE NEED HELP OUT HERE. WE NEED REAL HELP OUT HERE. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR HELP. WE NEED HELP. UH, ONE SECOND, UH, COUNCILOR EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. FARMS. I GUESS I'M CONCERNED THAT YOU'RE SAYING THIS ON DEAF EARS. YOU TEXT ME AND WE HAVE ADDRESSED JUST ABOUT EVERY ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE, UH, SPOKEN OF. I THINK VASSAR ROAD MAY HAVE BEEN CUT THIS MORNING. IT DOES TAKE TIME. I THINK IT'S BEEN ONLINE TO BE DONE SINCE AUGUST THE 28TH. AND IT WAS COMPLETED AS FAR AS I KNOW. AND IN REGARDS TO THE COMMENT THAT YOU WERE TOLD NOT TO MAKE ANY MORE COMPLAINTS, I THINK THE, THE PROBLEM WAS YOU WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND GETTING NEW SR NUMBERS, WHICH CERTAINLY IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU HAVE ONE SR NUMBER AND YOU SEND IT TO US, WE DO TRY TO ABATE THOSE ISSUES. CERTAINLY, UH, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES. AND IF YOU SPEAK OF THE PARK ITSELF, YOU MENTIONED 2007. I GOT IN THIS OFFICE IN 2020. YOU HAVE NOT MADE AS MUCH PROGRESS ON THAT ISSUE SINCE I GOT HERE. AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, EDGEWOOD PARK, UH, IS SLATED FOR A NEW CENTER. IT, IT'S GOING TO BE THE INTENT TO REWARD, EXCUSE ME, AWARD HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT OUT TO THE CIP AND WE EXPECT THE DESIGN CONTRACT TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN EARLY OCTOBER. SO, UH, ALSO THERE'S A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, UH, RISK SELECTION PROCESS THAT IS SET TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER. I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, BUT YOU CANNOT STAND THERE AND TELL ME, SINCE 2020, YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN MORE MOVEMENT OUT OF THIS OFFICE REGARDING EDGEWOOD PARK THAN YOU GOT PREVIOUSLY. WE JUST 'CAUSE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER GOTTEN TO THE DESIGN PROCESS AND THE, AND THAT STAGE, CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE, THE EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE, BUT WE WANNA BE ABLE TO SERVE THE CHILDREN IN THE MEANTIME. I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY, AND I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF DELAYING THIS PROJECT AT ALL, BUT I HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO YOU AS WELL AS TO THIS OFFICE. THE RE THE RESPONSE YOU GAVE ME FOR VASSAR ROAD NUMBER ONE WAS, UH, THAT WE NEED TO AMEND. WE WE NEED TO ADOPT THE BLOCK AND DO IT OURSELF. NO, THAT'S WHAT YOU TOLD ME. SPOKEN. YOU SAID I HAD NO, NO FUNDING FOR IT. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH YOU. YOU, YOU PUT IT, YOU PUT IT IN, YOU PUT IT IN THE TEXT. YOU SAID Y'ALL HAVE TO ADOPT A BLOCK. WELL, SOMETIMES YOU DO HAVE TO ADOPT A BLOCK FORM. YOU SAID DO YOU SAID Y'ALL HAVE TO BLOCK THE ADOPT THE BLOCK. WE HAVE SENIORS. THESE SENIORS CANNOT GET OUT THERE AND PICK UP NO HEAVY TRASH. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, YOUR PERSON CALLED TEXT ME THIS MORNING WITH ALL OF THIS STUFF ABOUT VASSAR ROAD. 'CAUSE I SPOKE TO, TO, WHEN I DIDN'T SPEAK, I TEXT YOU STEVEN JAMES. WHAT I, WHAT I'VE ALWAYS PUT YOU ON A TEXT WITH, WITH EVERYBODY. THEN I SPOKE WITH MS. INGRAM ABOUT VASSAR ROAD WHEN IT'S A PRIORITY FOR OUR KIDS THREE WEEKS LATER. BUT I GOT THE, THE, THE EMAIL FROM 3 1 1 SAYING THAT IT WAS CLOSED AND THEY COULDN'T CUT THE GRASS OUTSIDE OF HIS REGULAR DATE. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO. 'CAUSE SEE NUMBER TWO I'M GONNA TELL STRAIGHT LIKE IT IS. I'M NOT GONNA SUGARCOAT NOTHING. NUMBER TWO, WHAT? I HAD TO CALL YOU AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE TIMES TO GET YOU TO COME OUT TO GIVE US INFORMATION ABOUT EDGEWOOD PARK. WE HAVEN'T SEEN GOTTEN NOWHERE YET. 'CAUSE NOW YOU'RE STILL SAYING THAT WE NOT GONNA GET OUR SENATOR TO 2025. 2025. BUT OUR MONEY BEEN MOVED AROUND. UH, UH, WHEN, WHEN WE SAW IT, UH, UH, UH, FOUR YEARS AGO, OUR MONEY WAS MOVED AROUND. WE JUST WANNA KNOW WHERE WAS OUR MONEY, WHY I KEEP GETTING MOVED AROUND. WHY IT'S NOT A PRIORITY FOR OUR KIDS TO GET WHAT WE NEED IN THE AREA WHERE WE'RE AT. THAT'S IT. BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ATTEMPTS, BUT YOU NEVER FOLLOW UP. YOU ALWAYS SAY CALL MY OFFICE AND THEN WHEN I GO TO YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CIVIC, YOUR YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS FOR SOMETHING AND, AND I DO DO PROTOCOL, YOU HAVE US TO FILL OUT A LITTLE CARD. THEN YOU PLAY THE GAME IN THE END AND PLAY LIKE TIME RAN OUT AND CALL YOUR OFFICE AND THEN WE'LL GET THE HELP. THE LAST TIME I HAD TO THROW A LITTLE TANTRUM IN YOUR LITTLE OFF IN YOUR LITTLE TOWN HALL MEETING BECAUSE Y'ALL PLAYED THE GAME WITH ME THREE TIMES. THIS THE THIRD TIME Y'ALL DID THAT. BUT THEN WHEN WE HAVE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, WOULD YOU WANNA COME AND PRESS UP IN OUR NATIONAL [02:25:01] NIGHT OUT, WHICH WE BEEN TO SPEND OUR OWN MONEY AND OUR OWN TIME WITH OUR OWN CIVIC CLUB MONEY AND COME PRESS AROUND. LIKE WE DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA, NOT BE RESPECTFUL WITH HOW WE DO OUR AGENDA. WE DON'T MIND YOU COMING, BUT WE HAVE AN AGENDA. SO WE, WE WE, WE EXPECT THE SAME THING THAT YOU DO. YOU KNOW, TO US THAT YOU KNOW THE SAME RESPECT, BUT IT'S JUST A LOT, LOT. WE NEED HELP. IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, MAYBE WE CAN GET TO AT LARGE PEOPLE TO HELP US. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HELP US. YOU BEGGED US AT THOSE POLLS. GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE. WE GETTING THE SAME RESULTS. NO MORE CADILLAC KING. OKAY? JUST, JUST, JUST TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL. BUT CERTAINLY I'M GONNA SAY THIS TO YOU. YOU SENT MESSAGES TELLING ME NOT TO COME TO YOUR NATIONAL NIGHT. I DID SAY NOT. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE THAT GOT THAT MESSAGE, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S A PUBLIC PARK AND I DID ATTEND AND THE PEOPLE SEEM TO BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE ME. BUT OF COURSE YOU SUPPORTED ANOTHER CANDIDATE AND SO YOU'RE BRINGING THE SAME VENOM IN HERE. THAT'S THE REASON. BUT IT'S OVER AND DONE. THAT ELECTION HAS PASSED THAT NOT HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED. BUT CERTAINLY I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU, NOT BECAUSE WE ARE FRIENDS, BUT BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE NEED TO BE REPRESENTED AND THAT I HAVE DONE THAT. AND I THINK THAT I HAVE SHOWN MY HEART AND MY CONSISTENCY AND THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO. I DON'T THINK THAT YOU HAVE INVITED ME FIVE TIMES TO GO ANYWHERE. YOU HAVE UNINVITED ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SO CERTAINLY YOU HAVE HAD YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU MS. FARMS. BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO BE HONEST AND SAY I'M BEING HONEST, THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS TRAIL THAT ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED Y ARE NOT GONNA RESOLVE CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THEM. NO, WE WILL NOT. MAYOR. AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THIS IS NOT PERSONAL. PLEASE CUT OFF BOTH. OH, IT'S VERY PERSONAL MA'AM. VERY PERSONAL. OKAY. IT'S NOT PERSONAL. VERY PERSONAL. WHEN YOU SAY OUR PRANCE INTO YOUR MEETING, THAT MADE IT VERY PERSONAL. SO YOU CAN PRANCE RIGHT ON OUT. YOU'RE WELCOME THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. WELCOME SO MUCH. AND YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY. BUT WE AN AGENDA. KEVIN, YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU, YOU SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW? YOU SURE? THAT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL. PRAYER. IT IS APPROPRIATE. AND THEN SHE JUMPS UP AND, AND HUGS ME IN A MEETING LAST WEEK. COME ON NOW. STOP PRETENDING. OKAY. IT, IT IS APPROPRIATE AT THIS COUNCIL HONOR. FINE JOB. FINE JOB. THANK YOU. I'M TRYING VERY HARD. OKAY. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR CYNTHIA, LOOK, FIRST, MY FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT VASSAR ROAD. UH, IT IS SIDEWALKS DOWN VASSAR, CORRECT? YES. BUT YOU CAN'T SEE EM THE GRASS. I KNOW. IT'S THE GRASS HAS BLOWN OVER. YES. OKAY. THAT'S THE ISSUE. LET ME, LET ME JUST, IF I MAY, WE WENT TO, I WENT TO THE EDGEWOOD UH, PARK MEETING AND I THINK THAT NIGHT THAT I WAS THERE AND, UH, BROTHER JAMES WAS THERE, COUNCILMAN, HE WAS THERE TOGETHER. MAYOR I, I LIKE, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PRIOR TO COMING ON COUNCIL. I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT OVER THE YEARS AS MS. FOREMAN. SOME OF THOSE WOULD KNOW I ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE FROM WANDA TO DWIGHT ON TO NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST MAYOR SINCERELY TOWARD COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THAT THE CITY WOULD REALLY CONSIDER GETTING THE FUNDS AND THE DOLLARS THAT IT NECESSARY. THIS PARK NEEDS IT. THAT THE PARK IS DARK AT NIGHT. UM, THE THE, THE CONDITIONS ARE, AS SHE SAY, ARE HORRENDOUS. THEY ARE HORRENDOUS. AND, AND I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE, WE, IF, IF ANYTHING, MAYOR, I'M PLEADING THAT THAT ALONG WITH ASSISTANT COUNCILMAN SHABA IN MEETING THAT OBLIGATION TO GET THIS DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, I'M, I'M MAKING THAT REQUEST. 'CAUSE I 'CAUSE NOT BECAUSE OF ANY OTHER ISSUE THAN THAT IT BE DONE. I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A, AN A SERIOUS APPROACH TO THE CONDITIONS AND THE SITUATION AT HAND. AND UH, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UH, THAT BEING DONE. AND I THINK THAT WILL RESOLVE A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN, IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR THIS AND FOR THIS LEADERS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT FOR SURE, BUT OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS SHUTTLED WORKERS TO AND FRONT PROJECTS. THEY'RE SO UNDERFUNDED. I KNOW. NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE YOU UP THE LIST. 'CAUSE FIRST TIME MOST OF US HAVE LEARNED OF THIS. WE ARE GONNA WORK WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT WE'LL GET WITH THE DIRECTOR AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN OUR LIMITS. OKAY? SO YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, WE DID GET A REPORT THAT SOME OF THAT GRASS [02:30:01] HAD BEEN MOWED AND COMPLETED TODAY, BUT ENTIRE IN, IN TERMS OF THAT FACILITY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRST TIME. MOST OF US HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT AND WE'LL REDEDICATE OURSELF TO IT. AND WE JUST, I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE BEST NEWS YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT YOU'VE, YOU'VE GOT US ALL FOCUSED ON IT. OKAY? BUT ON VAS ROAD, LIKE I ASKED HER BEFORE, IS THAT SOMEBODY THAT CAN LIKE EVERY TWO WEEKS OR UM, A MONTHLY, YOU KNOW, GET THAT ROAD, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S KEPT UP FOR THE SAKE WE, FOR THE CONVERS, WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST WE CAN. BUT MA'AM IT'S LIKE THAT IN MANY, MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS HOUSTON. YEAH, I MEAN MANY, MANY COMMUNITIES. SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO GET ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO FIX HOUSTON. IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME. IT DIDN'T GET LIKE THIS OVERNIGHT. IT'S AMAZING. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 2007. UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE MOST OF US WERE IN 2007, BUT WE WEREN'T DEALING WITH YOUR ISSUES. SO CITY HAS RESPONSIBILITY. YOU'VE DONE YOUR JOB, YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT ARE WITH YOU. BUT YOU'VE GOT OUR ATTENTION AND WE'RE GONNA DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN WORKING WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I WILL YELL TO MA'AM MAYOR PROM CASTEX TATUM, THANK YOU MS. FARMS FOR BEING HERE. AND I, I SEE YOUR, YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE HERE AND ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS WE HEAR A LOT AROUND THE HORSESHOE IS ABOUT 3 1 1 CLOSING YOUR CONCERN. AND I WANNA REITERATE THAT THREE ONE ONE IS A CALL CENTER. AND SO EVERY TIME SOMEONE SUBMITS A REQUEST OR A CONCERN TO 3 1 1, THEY CLOSE IT. ONCE THEY ROUTE IT TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR ISSUE HAS BEEN CLOSED AND YOUR ISSUE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. IT JUST MEANS THEY AND I, WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT TERMINOLOGY TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE I THINK IT GETS PEOPLE CONFUSED AND THEY THINK THAT THE CITY HAS CLOSED THEIR ISSUE AND IT STILL HASN'T BEEN DONE. BUT 3 1 1 AND I WANTED TO JUST REITERATE THAT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL, IS A CALL CENTER. AND THAT'S HOW WE ACCEPT ALL OF THE CONCERNS OF THE CITY. AND THEN ONCE YOU GET YOUR SR NUMBER, WHAT WE ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO DO IS GET THAT SR NUMBER TO YOUR COUNCIL OFFICE. SO, SO YOU CAN, SO THEY CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE. BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU SEE THAT YOUR UM, SR NUMBER, YOUR ISSUE HAS BEEN CLOSED THAT IT'S DONE WITH. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE THREE ONE ONE CALL TAKER HAS ROUTED IT TO PARKS OR ROUTED IT TO PUBLIC WORKS OR ROUTED IT TO THE CORRECT DEPARTMENT. AND THEN YOUR COUNCIL OFFICE CAN WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS TO HELP EXPEDITE AND MAKE SURE THAT ISSUE GETS TAKEN CARE OF. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE FRUSTRATED BY THAT PROCESS 'CAUSE THAT'S OUR CITY'S PROCESS AND THAT'S THE BEST ONE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. BUT WE DO NEED TO CHANGE THAT TERMINOLOGY BECAUSE IT DOES FRUSTRATE A LOT OF PEOPLE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, Y'ALL. THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE. YOU SURE? YEAH. JUST ONE MORE THING I WANNA REITERATE. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP, MAYOR PROAM SAID, I PERSONALLY HAVE SAT HERE AND ASKED THEM TO CHANGE THAT TERMINOLOGY BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE SEE CLOSE, IF THE PERCEPTION IS THIS IS DONE AND THEY'RE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND THEY'RE SAYING IT IS NOT DONE. SO MAYOR, MAYBE YOU CAN GET TECHNOLOGY. ACTUALLY SOME OF YOU MORE EXPERIENCED CLOTHES TO ME MEANS FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD THIS ISSUE. WELL WHAT IN THE WORLD? I'M SORRY. AND THANK YOU MS. SWANS FOR BRINGING WHAT, WHEN YOU WRECK, I HAVE SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES ASKING THAT THAT TERMINOLOGY BE CHANGED. OKAY? PROBABLY FROM THE FIRST WEEK I WAS HERE WHEN I HEARD THE COMPLAINT CLOSE TO ME YEARS AGO. CLOSE IS NOT DONE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ROUTED TO A DEPARTMENT. BUT THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AS WELL. WELL, SOMEDAY WE NEED TO VISIT. YOU GET 3 1 1 SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER. SOME WE OUGHT TO VISIT WHERE THE COUNCIL MEMBER GETS THE CALL DIRECTLY LIKE A STATE REP OR STATE SENATOR. NOW I UNDERSTAND. WELL, THAT'S WHY WE USE THREE FOR THEM TO CALL OUR OFFICE STAFF. IT REQUIRES COMMITTEES, IT REQUIRES A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AT THE CITY. BUT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET A CROSSWALK ON WESTCOTT, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT MOTIVATED ME TO RUN MY COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE SAID CALL 3 1 1. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL 3 1 1 WAS. AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE SENATOR, WE'D PICK UP THE PHONE, CALL TDOT AND GET SOME RESULTS. SO I DID THAT, A RETRAIN. AND I GAVE UP, GAVE UP A RETRAIN. I GAVE UP AS A CITIZEN. HOLD ON. SO THEN I CALLED PUBLIC WORKS MYSELF AS A SENATOR AND THEY SAID, SENATOR, WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT CROSSWALK. AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO THIS DAY, MATTER OF FACT. AND I SAID, WHAT'S IT GONNA COST? HE SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. I SAID, I'LL HELP YOU RAISE THE MONEY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. THEN YOU WEREN'T KNOW WHAT THEY TOLD ME. WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH ACCIDENTS YET. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'M SITTING IN THIS CHAIR. I GOT A TASTE OF CITY BUREAUCRACY. [02:35:01] SO LET'S KEEP THIS ON OUR TO-DO LIST. YOU'VE DONE WONDERS. JUST WANNA SAY, BUT WE GOTTA QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT AND MAKE THREE ONE ONE. IF IT'S A CALL CENTER RESPONSIVE, CHANGE THE TERMINOLOGY SO THE CITIZENS WILL KNOW WE GOT YOUR MESSAGE. WE JUST SENT IT TO PUBLIC WORKS OR PARTS. AND THEN THAT'S WHY MY OFFICE IS NOT SATISFIED THAT THEY'RE JUST CALLING 3 1 1. THAT'S WHY WE SET UP A SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN BRING THOSE COMPLAINTS TO US DIRECTLY SO THAT WE CAN SERVICE THEM DIRECTLY. BECAUSE 3 1 1 IS A BIG SYSTEM. BUT IF YOU CHANGE THAT TERMINOLOGY, THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW PEOPLE I'LL FIND OUT PERCEIVED, IT'LL GET WHETHER THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE STILL BEING HEARD. DO DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE TERMINOLOGY PENDING? REFER ROUTED TO PARTY REFERRED. REFERRED, YES. HOLD ON. BUT NOT, BUT NOT CLOSED. MAYOR, PLEASE HOLD ON. GRAB THE SEAT OF YOUR BRITCHES. DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, BUT NOT CLOSED. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE HEARING ON THE WAY. YES, THANK YOU. PRAISE. ABSOLUTELY. GO REVEREND DAVIS, WHATEVER IT TAKES. BUT CLOTHES IS NOT THE WORD THAT PEOPLE, OKAY, WE'VE HAD A GOOD SESSION AND NOW WE'VE GOTTA DO OUR JOB AND FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL. THANK YOU. PRAISE THE LORD. AND AND MAYOR. I'M THE ONE WHO DID THE DOG BITE BILL BACK IN, UH, UH, 2020, UH, 22. I THINK. I, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR, BUT I'M THE ONE THAT GOT THE TEXAS DOG RIGHT LONG WHEN MY AUNT WAS KILLED IN SUNNYSIDE AND CAME THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE. GOOD JOB. YES. SO THE LAW IS PASSED IN TEXAS BECAUSE OF THAT. YOU STILL GOTTA WATCH THOSE STRAIGHT DOGS THOUGH, 'CAUSE THE DOG DON'T KNOW THERE'S A LAW. YES, THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. SO NOW IT'S UP TO THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THEM TRUCKS OUT TO GET 'EM OFF THE STREETS. OKAY? BE SAFE. ALRIGHT. WOW. NEXT TRAVIS MCGEE, . ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. UH, YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON. 3 0 1 CAN USE SOME, UH, SOME IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S BASICALLY JUST ACCOUNT MECHANISM. IN 2010, 2011, WE HAD OVER 30,000 CALLS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME CALLS WHEN WE DID A OVER OPEN RECORD REQUEST. SOMETIMES CLOTHES REALLY DO MEAN CLOSED. UH, WE DONE HAD MANHOLE COVERS MISSING FOR THREE YEARS NOW. SO SOMETIMES CLOTHES DO MEAN CLOSED EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UH, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, THE, SOME OF THE BAD ORDINANCE IS, WE WAS TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALKS EARLIER, BUT IF YOU LOOK IN THE ORDINANCE OF, UH, UTILITY DRAINAGE ARTISTS FOR CHAPTER 42, THAT INCLUDES SIDEWALKS. SO WE, THEY, THE MONEY'S ACTUALLY THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL THERE, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN A LOCK BOX. SO IF YOU LOOK AT CHAPTER 42 AND I, I GAVE SOME ONE TO YOU, MAYOR, IT, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. UH, I MEAN, REBUILD HOUSTON. EXCUSE ME. SO REBUILD HOUSTON WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX OUR DRAINAGE ISSUES. INFRAS, UH, AND SIDEWALKS ARE, ARE PART OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT YET. AND I'M GO TO, UH, CHAPTER 42 ALSO. CHAPTER 42 IS A HORRIBLE ORDINANCE. IT'S THAT ORDINANCE WILL ALLOW THEM TO PUT EIGHT STRUCTURES ON ONE LOT, SIX STRUCTURES ON ONE LOT THAT'S NO GOOD FOR AREAS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. SO IF YOU GOT A STRUCTURE GETTING PUT UP AT $300,000 PEACE TIMES EIGHT, THAT'S, THAT'S BAD BUSINESS. THAT'S, UH, 300,000 PIECE TIMES EIGHT. THAT'S $2.4 MILLION NEXT TO A REGULAR RESIDENTIAL LOT. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT HANDLE THAT. WE HAVE PREHISTORIC INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE DRAINAGE, WITH THE LIGHTS. WITH THE SEWAGE. WE CANNOT HANDLE THAT. IT ALSO RAISES OUR TAXES UP. IT ALSO MAKE OUR INSURANCE. WE, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INSURANCE IN THE, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS NOW, BUT IT DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. SO WE NEED TO REDEFINE WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEAN. IS IT, SHOULD IT BE AFFORDABLE FOR THE DEMOGRAPHICS OR THE PEOPLE THAT'S BUILDING THEM? THAT'S, THAT'S THE QUESTION I NEED TO ASK WITH THAT. UH, HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. WE GOT TO GRADUATE FROM TURNAROUND ON DROWN AND FREE FALLS BEFORE THE STORM AND FREE FALLS AFTER THE STORM TO AN ACTUAL PLAN. TWO MONTHS BEFORE BARREL HIT, WE WAS TWO MONTHS BEHIND IN HEAVY TRASH PICKUP. TWO MONTHS LATER, WE STILL HAVE TRASH EVERYWHERE AND ANOTHER HURRICANE COMING. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. I ALSO SUBMITTED A PLAN BECAUSE THE CITY ALL ALWAYS ASKS US FOR A SOLUTION AFTER THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT US. SO WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GOTTA STOP SAYING, WITH HOUSTON STRONG, WE JUST HOUSTON FED UP AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT. WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF DEBRIS OUT THERE. PLENTY. AND WHEN IT COME TO CUTTING GRASS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THE REASON IT DON'T GET CUT IS FOR THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM. BECAUSE IF YOU PUT THAT ADDRESS IN THE TRACTOR GONNA KEEP THE BLADE UP UNTIL IT GETS TO THAT PARTICULAR ADDRESS. IT'S PASSING UP THE, UH, GRASS, SIX FEET TALL. THE CITY ARTIST IS [02:40:01] ANYTHING OVER NINE INCHES. EVEN WHEN THE, UH, INSPECTORS GO OUT, THEY WILL PASS UP A EIGHT FOOT LOT, A 10 FOOT LOT AND GO OUT TO AND GIVE A CITATION FOR NINE INCHES OF GRASS. THAT'S A WASTE OF MONEY. THAT'S A WASTE OF MANPOWER. OKAY, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. NO SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN POLLARD, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANNA MENTION OR ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR COMMENTS? NO, I, I, I HAVE SOME MEALS I WANNA MENTION. I WANT, I WANTED TO FIND THAT, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING THING THOUGH. SANDY SIZE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. SOUTH PARK'S BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, THIRD WARD'S BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, FIFTH WARD'S BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, BUT YET IT STILL, WE ARE GETTING STRUCTURES $400,000, UH, SIX, EIGHT OF 'EM AT ONE TIME ON SINGLE FAMILY LOTS. UH, CHAPTER 42 IS A HORRIBLE ORDINANCE. NOW, THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE HAVE TO ASK OUR PERMISSION TO REBUILD HOMES FOR PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE AREA FOR 50 YEARS. BUT DEVELOPERS THAT DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS COULD COME DUMP $4 MILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY NEXT TO A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO, WHO CAN'T AFFORD THOSE, UH, THAT INSURANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE. UH, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A ONE SIZE FIT ALL ANYWAY. SOME AREAS HAVE LOTS 5,000 SQUARE FEET, SOME HAVE 7,500 SQUARE FEET, SOME HAVE 20,000 SQUARE FEET. SO THIS IS NOT DOING US ANY GOOD. IT DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD TO US. YOU ALL RIGHT? COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES, I THINK WE'RE FINE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT, THANK NEXT. KIMBERLY BAKER. CAN I GIVE HIM MY TIME? BECAUSE I'M FROM THAT SAME COMMUNITY, SUNNY SIDE, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT RESOURCES AND LACK OF AND LACK OF RESULTS. CAN I SEED MY TIME TO MY CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT? I DON'T CARE. OKAY. I'M GLAD YOU DON'T CARE, MAYOR . I CARE. COME ON TRAVIS. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I, I'VE GLAD, BUT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. WE'VE HAD A GOOD SESSION. TRY TO BE MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE, UH, KIMBERLY BAKER'S TIME TO MR. TRAVIS MCGEE. ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. SECOND, UH, WE BASICALLY, IT IS UNANIMOUS. GO AHEAD. WE, WE BASICALLY JUST NEED TO BE, BE HEARD AND BE A PART OF THE DECISION MAKING. BASICALLY. UH, IT IS DOING, IT IS A LOT OF BAD THINGS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. SOMETIME WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THESE ARTIES. JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS WRITTEN DON'T MEAN IT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY. AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD. AND THIS CHAPTER 42 THING. CAN YOU IMAGINE WALKING OUT AND HAVE A BUILDING 75 FEET IN THE AIR NEXT TO YOUR SINGLE DWELLING, UH, DWELLING HOME IS, AFFECTS THE DRAINAGE. IT ALSO RAISED OUR DRAINAGE FIELD BECAUSE THAT'S MORE CONCRETE. THE CONCRETE, THE DRAINAGE FIELD IS ASSESSED BY HOW MUCH CONCRETE AND ROOF AREA YOU HAVE ON YOUR PROPERTY. SO ALL THIS IS DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD TO COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE. AND THAT AGAIN, THE, THE THE 3 0 1 SYSTEM, MY SUGGESTION FOR THE 3 0 1 SYSTEM GO BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO STANDARD NEIGHBORHOOD TO STANDARD WAS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. YOU DID NOT HAVE TO CALL 3 1 1. THEY WAS OUT THERE CUTTING THE DITCHES, GRADING THE, UH, GRADING THE DITCHES, BLOWING THE COVERS AND ALL THAT. IT WAS A VERY GOOD PROGRAM. AND WE NEED THAT BACK. WE, WE NEED THAT BACK BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 3 1 1 IS NOT AS GOOD AS Y'ALL THINK IT IS. IT'S BASICALLY JUST ACCOUNT MECHANISM. BECAUSE EVEN WHEN SOME OF THE INSPECTORS COME OUT, THEY COME OUT AND TRY TO BE LAWYERS VERSUS JUST INSPECTING A PROBLEM LIKE WE ASKED THEM TO DO. UH, THE NUISANCE ORDINANCE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE TREES THAT HAVE TORE UP OUR HOUSES AND KNOCK THE ELECTRIC LINES DOWN, THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A NUISANCE BECAUSE IT'S DESTROYING PROPERTY. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU, IF YOU ARE, UH, DEFINE WHAT NUISANCE MEAN. SO IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO DIFFERENT, BUT COUNCIL HAVE TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENT, TO THE RESIDENTS TO GET THAT DONE THOUGH. BUT, UH, AND, AND THE DEVELOPERS COME IN OUR AREA, THEY ACT LIKE THEY'RE DOING US A FAVOR BY PRICING US OUT OUR AREA. THEY, THEY REALLY DO. IT'S NO GOOD FOR OUR DRAINAGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT REBUILD, HOUSTON, THE CITY FOR YEARS BEEN SAYING THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DITCHES AND THE SIDEWALKS AND THE COVERAGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT REBUILD HOUSTON, YES, THEY ARE 2011. SO IT SUPPOSED TO BE SOME DEDICATED FUND SINCE 2011. THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BEEN BUILDING UP SPECIFICALLY FOR DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE. OKAY. AND WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT IN OUR AREA. GOOD JOB. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR. REAL QUICKLY, BROTHER MCGEE, HAVE YOU, UH, PUT YOUR NAME DOWN FOR QUALITY LIFE COMMITTEE. HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED A QUALITY LIFE COMMITTEE? NO. I, I PUT MY NAME DOWN FOR ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA HELP HELP US BE A PART OF THE PROCESS. WHAT I'M JUST SAYING, SOME OF YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, THEN WHENEVER THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETS, THEN I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU WOULD COME AND SUBMIT SOME OF [02:45:01] YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS TO THAT. UH, THAT'S A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HEAR THAT. AND AND FURTHER WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COUNCIL FOR US MEETING IN YOUR CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING. RIGHT? WELL, THAT, THAT'S WHY I GAVE THAT PLAN THERE. IT WAS DRAFTED BY ME AND TRACY STEVENS A VETERAN THAT, UH, THAT USED TO WORK FOR THE CITY FOR OVER 20 PLUS YEARS. AND, UH, A LOT COULD BE DONE WITH THIS COMMON SENSE ARTISTES, BUT CALLING HAVE TO CONTINUE TO CALL THREE ON ONE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. THAT'S NOT COMMON SENSE. LIKE WE GOT A STORM OUT THERE NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT INSURANCE IS HARDLY TO GET IN TEXAS INSURANCE, UH, RAISES OUR MARKET UP. THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS SO-CALLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR AREA. IT JUST TAKE ONE TO RAISE THE TAXES UP EVERYWHERE. AND AT CHAPTER 42 ORDINANCE, IF YOU COMBINE TWO OR MORE LOTS, YOU CAN NAME THAT ANOTHER WHOLE SUBDIVISION. BUT WE CANNOT EXCLUDE OUR OURSELF FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. SEE HOW THAT WORK? YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT, MAYOR, WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU PERSONALLY ALSO AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. WE'LL, WE'LL ARRANGE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT. THADDEUS COOKS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS, UM, THADDEUS COOKS. I'M WITH, UM, SUNNYSIDE GARDEN. AND, UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU MR. TRAVIS MCGEE FROM TAKING ALL MY TALKING POINTS. NOW I GOTTA COME UP WITH SOMETHING ON THE FLY. UM, BASICALLY I THINK MY, MY AREA, MY COMMUNITY IS UM, SORT OF LIKE, I THINK A DUMPING GROUND. AND, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS IN MY, IN MY COMMUNITY, A LOT OF RETIREES. SO THEY CAN'T NECESSARILY BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK UP AND REPRESENT. SO I'M KIND OF SPEAKING ALSO ON, ON THEIR BEHALF. UM, ONE OF THE MAIN TALKING POINTS THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE IS THE SIDEWALK. I HEARD BOTH SIDES SINCE I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE. A LOT OF GREAT POINTS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE HERE AND A GREAT, AND SOME POINTS MADE BY US BACK THERE. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT FUNDING IS LOAF TO GET THESE SIDEWALKS AND THINGS DONE, BUT CAN WE SAY, WE CAN JUST START WITH THE ONES THAT ALREADY EXIST THAT NEEDS REPAIRS AND WE CAN'T GET TO BECAUSE OF BRANCHES AND BRUSHES THAT'S HANGING OVER. AT LEAST LET'S JUST START WITH CLEANING UP THE ONES THAT DO EXIST UNTIL WE CAN COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS FOR THE ONES THAT WE WANT TO EXIST. UM, ALSO, I AM WHAT YOU CALL FEET ON THE GROUND, SO I JUST DON'T WANNA LOOK AT YOU GUYS AS THOSE WHO WORK FOR US. BUT AS WE, WE WORK WITH EACH OTHER. SO AS FAR AS SOLUTIONS, I CAN BE THAT FOOT ON THE GROUND IF WE CAN MEET AT SOME TIME AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW A FEW THINGS THAT, IDEAS THAT I HAVE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY, A LOT OF YOUNGSTERS WHO DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WE CAN ORGANIZE SOMETHING FOR SMALL FUNDS AND KIND OF TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF OUR OWN CLEANUP ISSUES THAT THE CITY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR OR THEY TOO OVERWHELMED FOR, OR ISSUES THAT, UM, THAT THEY JUST, UM, CANNOT GET IN THE DUE TIME. IF, IF THERE'S SMALL FUNDING THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND I CAN MAKE SOME, I CAN GET A LOT OF KIDS OUTTA THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE CAN CLEAN UP BEFORE THE CITY EVEN GET THERE. THINGS THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE BIG PROFESSIONALS. SO WE CAN KIND OF MAKE A START. THAT, THAT, THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TRY TO MAKE A START. AND, UM, ONE OF THE OTHER LAST POINTS THAT I HAD, UM, UM, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THAT, UM, THE STORM PREPARATION, I'VE, I'VE BEEN A VICTIM OF IT. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF IT. I THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR THIS CLEANING BECAUSE IT TAKING, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY PICKING OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS OVER US, BUT IT'S BECOMING A BIG PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BECOMING TWO SOCIETIES IN HOUSTON, REALLY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WE BECOMING TWO SIDES IS THE MIDDLE CLASS WE BEING ELIMINATED. THERE'S NO IN-BETWEEN YOU EITHER THE HAVE OR THE HAVE NOTS. SO THE THINGS I JUST WANT TO GET TOGETHER AND MAYBE SIT ON A PERSONAL TANK THING AND SEE WHAT IS IT THAT I CAN DO WHO COLLECTIVELY WITH SOME PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET OUR COMMUNITY, OUR DISTRICT IN, IN, IN, IN, IN A, IN A BETTER PLACE. BECAUSE I GOT PEOPLE THAT'S, THAT'S READY TO GO. COUNCILOR AND EVIDENCE SPONSOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MR. COOKS. YOU HAVE BEEN A [02:50:01] VERY RATIONAL AND REASONABLE VOICE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. I CERTAINLY WANT TO SAY THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO UI KNOW 3 1 1 IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A A HORROR TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A TOOL AND IT HELPS US WITH THE DATA AND HELPS US TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO LOCATE THE AREAS. SO THE BROKEN SIDEWALKS, AS I SPOKE EARLIER, PLEASE, IF YOU SEE BROKEN SIDEWALKS, PLEASE CALL 3 1 1 AND GIVE US A SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO ABATE THAT BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS ARE PUSHING THEIR STROLLERS AND WE WANNA REPAIR THEM. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TRY TO CLEAN UP THE AREA. YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE WISH PEOPLE WOULD STOP TRASH IN THE AREA. YOU KNOW, UH, IT USED TO BE DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS AND WHATEVER. I'VE RUN UP AGAINST PEOPLE AND PULLED UP TO 'EM AND THEY'LL THROW A WHOLE BAG OF TRASH. AND I SAY, WHY YOU DOING THAT? YOU KNOW, OF COURSE I HAVE TO DO IT REASONABLY BECAUSE OF ROAD RAGE. I DON'T NEED ANYBODY TRYING TO TAKE ME OUT. 'CAUSE I'M TALKING TO THEM ABOUT DUMPING THE TRASH. BUT I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN IT. BUT I WANNA LET YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE SUPPORTS CLEANUPS. WE WILL GIVE YOU, UH, EQUIPMENT, WE WILL GIVE YOU TRASH BAGS, WE WILL GIVE YOU PICKERS. WE WILL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU NEED. WE DO NEED THE MANPOWER. AND WHEN WE SAY ADOPT A BLOCK, SOMETIMES THE CITY CAN'T GET TO EVERY AREA, BUT CERTAINLY I KNOW THERE'S AN AREA LEADING UP TO THE DUMP THAT IS HORRIBLE. SO WE NEED TO MAYOR ALSO LOOK AT THE GUIDELINES, BUT DUMPING, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING UP THERE, THEY DON'T MAYBE HAVE A WATER BILL AND THEN THEY'RE NOT TAKING THAT TRASH BACK HOME. THEY'RE GOING TO DROP THAT TRASH RIGHT THERE ON THAT ROAD. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT MAYBE NOT BEING SO STRINGENT IN REGARDS TO THAT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN APARTMENTS NECESS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A WATER BILL. AND SO I THANK YOU. I THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU JUST REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TREMENDOUS IT IS, UH, A JOB TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE TO JUST CLEAN UP, UP. WE'LL CLEAN UP AND THEY'LL THROW IT RIGHT BACK DOWN. SO IF YOU WANNA DO A CLEANUP, GIVE 'EM MY OFFICE. WE WILL CERTAINLY SUPPORT YOU AGAIN, WE WILL, WE WILL, UH, DO THE DUMPSTERS. WE'LL GET WHATEVER YOU NEED. OKAY? IF YOU CAN GET THE MANPOWER, THERE ARE SEVERAL YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME AND THEY HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS JOBS AND WE WELCOME YOU TO COME THANK YOU AND BE ONE OF THOSE MANY WHO HAVE REALLY TAKEN PRIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THE SENIORS HAVE PAID THEIR DUES. THEY CERTAINLY CAN'T GET OUT THERE AND DO ALL OF THAT. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO COME OUT THERE AND CHEER US ON OR SOMETHING ON A COOLER DAY, BUT WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO BE OUT THERE DOING THAT. IT'S TIME FOR US AND, AND TO, TO, UH, SEE THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR THROUGH THE YOUNG PEOPLE SUCH AS YOURSELF. RIGHT? SO I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. RIGHT? AND IF YOU NEED MORE TIME, PLEASE GO RIGHT AHEAD. NO, IT JUST, YES. ONE, ONE LAST THING. I DON'T WANNA OVER EXCEED, UH, MY TIME THAT'S ALLOWED. UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT . I DO, I DO, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MONIES THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR SPECIFIC THINGS, CORRECT? THERE ARE CERTAIN FUNDS SET UP FOR SPECIFIC THINGS, OKAY? BUT AT THE END OF EACH YEAR, NOW I PREFERENCE THIS WITH WHAT DO I KNOW? REMEMBER I PREFERENCE THIS, WHAT DO I KNOW SO I STAND TO BE CORRECTED. BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, ISN'T THERE A SURPLUS OF FUNDS THAT'S ALWAYS LEFT OVER? AND ONCE, IF THERE'S A SURPLUS IN ONE AREA, CAN SOME OF THOSE MONIES BE TAKEN AND ALLOCATED TO OUR FUNDS WHO DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP OTHER FUNDS? THAT THAT DOES HAPPEN, SIR? UH, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN, WHEN THE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS ARE NOT USED, WE DO GIVE THOSE FUNDS TO OTHER AREAS. SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. UH, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY, UH, WE CAN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT YOU ARE CORRECT IT, THERE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE REMAINING SOMETIMES. OKAY. I TRY NOT, I TRY NOT TO LEAVE A DIME ON THE TABLE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. BUT, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE TRY TO USE EVERYTHING WE CAN, BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF. OKAY? OKAY. BUT I, I DO LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, MEETING WITH MAYBE YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE TO TRY TO COME TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT WE CAN WORK ON UNTIL THE CITY CAN CATCH UP. SO IT'S IN BETWEEN TIME. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS RIGHT THERE, COREY AND INGRAM. OKAY? PLEASE BE SURE AND ENGAGE WITH THEM. AND WHENEVER YOU WANT TO DO A CLEANUP, JUST LET US KNOW AND WE'LL SUPPORT THAT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. OKAY? THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR COMING NEXT. MILLICENT HOLIDAY. HI. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND TO ALL OF, UM, [02:55:01] THE COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS. UH, I'M, I'M, I'M HERE, UM, TODAY PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN GET ANYONE TO HEAR ME. UH, I NOTICED THAT, UH, WHEN I PUT MY NAME, UH, TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, UM, MY MAIL STARTS TO COME, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS, DEVELOPMENT STOPS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, APPARENTLY IT'S VERY POLITICAL. IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS. BUT WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS MY SAFETY, MY BROTHER'S SAFETY, AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. AND TODAY SEEMS LIKE A GOOD DAY, UH, TO HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE, THE SCHEDULE IN TERMS OF EQUITY. ALL I'M ASKING IS TO BE TREATED FAIRLY JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. AND I'M HERE, UH, BECAUSE I'VE TRIED TO MEET WITH, UH, THE COUNCIL PERSON FOR, UH, INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS. UM, THERE A WHOLE LOT OF GAMES. THE THE LAST TIME THE MEETING WAS SCHEDULED, IT WAS CANCELED. IT HAS NOT BEEN RESCHEDULED. SO, UM, I'M NOT ABLE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE, UM, THAT I NEED TO. AND EVEN TODAY, UM, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT UTILITY PROJECT IS GOING ON IN THE 800 BLOCK OF EAST 38TH STREET. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THAT OUT SINCE THIS WEEKEND. MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT, UM, IT'S SCHEDULED TO RAIN. UH, UH, I MEAN, A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE, STREET CUTTING, EVERYTHING. I MEAN, DIGGING REAL DEEP, PUTTING IN ALL KIND OF STUFF IN THE DITCHES. AND IT SEEMS LIKE A TRIAL RUN TO ME. UH, BECAUSE THE ONLY DITCHES THAT WERE, THAT HAD WATER IN IT WERE THE DITCHES THAT SURROUNDED MY MOTHER'S PROPERTY. SO, UM, I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO COME OUT IN REAL TIME. AND I MEAN, 3 1 1 IS A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE. WE CAN TALK ABOUT, WE CAN ALSO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POLITICS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT, UM, THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON. I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IT IS. BUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME IS THAT IT'S A LOT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES OUT THERE, IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT ARE LANDOWNERS, INVESTORS, DEVELOPERS. IT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I'VE TRIED, I BROUGHT THIS UP TO, UH, UH, UH, DISTRICT GATE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE. AND, UH, IN FACT, TODAY I CAME EARLY TO TRY TO FIND OUT, UM, WHAT WAS GOING ON SO I COULD BE MORE PREPARED. AND, UM, THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING. UH, SECURITY. I CHECKED IN, UM, BY THE TIME I GOT DOWN TO THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE, I WAS GREETED BY SECURITY. UH, THEY SAID I COULD NOT, I COULD NOT GO INTO THE OFFICE. I HAD TO STAND OUTSIDE. SOMEONE CAME OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. AND ANYWAY, UM, I PROVIDED, UH, THREE ISSUES AT THAT TIME. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO RESEARCH IT AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION BY THE TIME, UH, UH, COUNSEL TODAY, UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IT. OKAY. I ALSO, I ALSO INCLUDED, UM, A FRAUD CASE, UH, THAT I FILED WITH HPD. AND I FOLLOWED UP ON IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO UPDATE IT. FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN ASSIGNED TO ANYONE, UH, TO ANY, UH, DETECTIVE. AND THEN, UH, WHILE I WAS IN THE MARRIAGE ASSISTANCE OFFICE, UM, UH, RE UH, WHAT IS IT, UH, RETALIATION OR SOMETHING, OR TREATED DIFFERENTLY OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT, MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE INTERVIEW THAT I GAVE ON CHANNEL 13 ABOUT MY BROTHER BEING ASSAULTED OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT ALL I'M, I'M HERE TO ASK TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. THINGS ARE GOING ON AND THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I'M ASKING THAT THEY BE ADDRESSED. OKAY. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL ON CASTILLO. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR AND MILLICENT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MM-HMM . ROSE, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE, THE SCHEDULE MIX UP, BUT I'M WILLING TO MEET WITH YOU, UM, WHENEVER WE CAN GET THAT SCHEDULED AS I WOULD WITH ANY CONSTITUENT. I KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE CONTACT SOMETIMES IT'S BEEN A LITTLE DIFFICULT, BUT I DO HAVE A STAFF MEMBER HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, UM, MY DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, WHO'S GOING TO VISIT WITH YOU, UM, WHEN YOU'RE DONE AT THE PODIUM, SO THAT WE CAN ONE, UH, GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, OF THE, THE THINGS THAT YOU LISTED THERE. BUT, UH, WE'LL ALSO GET THE MEETING RESCHEDULED, UH, FOR YOU AND ME. AND, UH, I'M ALSO HAPPY TO COME OUT AND, UH, DO A SITE VISIT, UM, AT YOUR PROPERTY AS WELL, IF THAT IS A BETTER TIME FOR US TO, TO VISIT AND SEE IT ALL. WELL, I, I INVITED YOU AND THE MAYOR OUT A VERY LONG TIME AGO, UM, PROBABLY AROUND THE TIME I WAS ASKING FOR A HOUSING SURVEY TO [03:00:01] BE DONE. AND SINCE THAT TIME, UM, WELL THIS WAS, UM, AFTER THE MEETING WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND ALL THAT STUFF. BUT ANYWAY, SINCE THAT TIME'S BEEN A LOT OF ACCELERATION OF DEVELOPMENT, UH, ALL THIS STUFF, UM, YOU, I MEAN, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE JUST BEEN STALLING AND STUFF, AND YOU CAN SAY ALL THE, YOU KNOW, WORDS THAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, UM, I FIT IN RIGHT NOW. AND THAT'S FINE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND AS FAR AS THE ME WELL, I'M GONNA JUST, I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA STICK, I'M GONNA STICK TO THE FACTS 'CAUSE I HAVE ALL THE EMAILS, ALL THE STUFF, THE SCHEDULING, ALL THAT STUFF. IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON, SIR. 'CAUSE I MEAN, Y'ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I'M SORRY. WELL, HE'S GONNA COME UP AND VISIT WITH YOU. WHO, WHO IS WHO, RIGHT OVER THERE IN THE GRAY SUIT. UH, AS SOON AS, AS SOON AS YOU'RE DONE THE PODIUM. OH, OKAY. OKAY. . YES. AND WE'RE, WE ARE HERE TO HELP. AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING WITH YOU. OKAY. HELP WITH WHAT YOU LISTED QUITE A FEW THINGS, SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA GET THOSE ALL DOWN. UM, WELL, NO, I'M, I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR IN WHICH I PUT IN THAT REQUEST A VERY LONG TIME TOO. UH, A LONG TIME AGO, MAYOR, I WOULD, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO MEET WITH YOU FOR A VERY LONG TIME. UH, EVERY TIME I LEAVE HERE, NOTHING GETS DONE. OKAY. AND, UM, WHEN I TRY TO CALL, UH, 9 1 1 OR THE POLICE, THEY DON'T SHOW UP. WHEN THEY DO SHOW UP, UM, THEY DON'T, UM, FILE THE, UM, POLICE REPORT. AND, AND I HAVE EVIDENCE OF ALL THAT STUFF. UM, I'VE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, FILING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS, GOING THROUGH THE PROCEDURES, ALL THAT STUFF LIKE THAT, IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE, UM, THAT, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE, ARE UP. AND, UM, IT'S VERY DARK. UM, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, BORDERING ON, UM, ORGANIZED CRIME AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION BECAUSE ALL OF THIS GOES BACK TO, UH, IN MY OPINION, THE INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, WHERE YOU HAVE, UH, TANYA DEBO, WHO IS, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I BELIEVE SHE'S AN EMPLOYEE OF THIS, UH, UH, UH, UH, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. UH, I MEAN, I CAN JUST GO ON AND ON WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. AND I, UH, MENTIONED THAT TO THEM. THEY HAVE NOW, YOU KNOW, TAKEN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, UM, YOU KNOW, FORM OFF OF THEIR SITE. AND NOW THEY'RE GONNA HELP ME. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE. OKAY. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT SOMEONE THAT'LL, THAT'LL VISIT WITH HER RIGHT NOW. MAYOR, I'LL, UH, I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, JEREMY SOTO IS NOW PRESENT NET OR TREHAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UH, WOULD MY IN THE COUNCILS. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. UM, I'M HERE, UH, TO, UH, I'M, I'M A MEMBER OF THE EAST HOUSTON CIVIC CLUB SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, 49 50 EAST HOUSTON, WHICH COVERS CITY GAS IN EAST HOUSTON. I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU BECAUSE WE'RE REQUESTING THAT YOU ALL PLEASE HELP US WITH THE, UM, WITH THE, TO THE REPAIRS TO THE LAKEWOOD LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER. IT'S, I GOT PICTURES, BUT IT SAYS RIGHT BY, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL, I'M, I'M SORRY, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND THE KIDS COME OVER, WOULD COME OVER AND THEY WOULD EAT, WE HAVE LIKE LITTLE LUNCHES AND STUFF THERE FOR THEM WHERE IT'S CLOSED AND THERE'S TREES AND STUFF THERE. AND WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S BEHIND. SO, BUT WE ASKING THAT, THAT, THAT, UM, LIBRARY BE OPEN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, IT'S, IT'S LIBRARY COMMUNITY, UH, AT 88 15 FEELING STREET, WHICH CAN PROVIDE ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES SUCH AS BOOKS, FREE CLASSES, UH, PROGRAMS FOR OUR CHILDREN, ADULTS, OR NEW SKILLS AND CRAFTS. ALSO PROVIDING WIFI, WHICH CAN PROVIDE A QUIET AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDYING, UH, FOR THE, UH, SECONDARY AND COLLEGE SCHOLARS. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU ALL WOULD HAVE PLANS ABOUT REPAIRING THE LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER ON 88 FEELING, WHICH IS A PLACE WHERE LOCAL PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER, SHARE RESOURCES, WORK TOWARDS, UH, COMMON GOALS OF BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY CENTERS ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, [03:05:01] PROMOTES HEALTH AND WELLNESS, OFFERS, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS. UM, WE HAVE BEEN, ACCORDING TO THE COH SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE ASSESSMENT SHEET, WE HAVE EAST HOUSTON. THE POPULATION WAS, UH, 19,469. AND FOR THE CITY GAS IT WAS 3002, UH, 255. SO WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU GUYS PLEASE HELP US. 'CAUSE WE TRY TO HELP ALL THE KIDS, ANYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, UM, WE TRY TO, WE ARE ASKING YOU GUYS TO OPEN THAT, OPEN THAT COMMUNITY CENTER. TRY, TRY TO FIX THAT COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE THE KIDS CAN COME BACK AND WE CAN FEED THEM. WE DON'T KNOW, SOME KIDS MAY NOT HAVE FOOD DEED, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE TRY TO, THE, THE EAST HOUSTON CIVIC CLUB AND CITY AS AND, AND GLENWOOD, THEY ALL USE THOSE, THAT LIBRARY AND SOME OF THOSE KIDS COME THERE IN PEACE. UM, WE FEED THEM AND WE TRY TO HAVE LIKE, ACTIVITIES, ACTIVITIES FOR THEM, BUT IT'S BEEN LIKE A LOT OF TREES SEAL THERE. THEY MOVED SOME OF THEM, BUT ALSO THE ROOF IS, IS LEAKING, SO THERE'S NOBODY THERE. IT'S CLOSED RIGHT NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MS. NETTA FOR COMING IN AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR LAKEWOOD LIBRARY. UM, I'VE ACTUALLY PUT THE LIBRARY ON, UM, SEVERAL CIP REQUESTS AND, UM, WE STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT ON CIP, BUT THAT'S ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES. YOU KNOW, I GREW UP OVER IN THE AREA AND, UM, THE LAKEWOOD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ACTUALLY AS A KID. THAT'S WHERE WE GOT OUR LUNCHES AND BREAKFAST DURING THE SUMMERTIME. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, UP AND RUNNING, UM, AND, AND IN GOOD CONDITION FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WELCOME CONTINUED ADVOCACY. UM, TELL THE FOLKS AT NORTHEAST, UM, CIVIC CLUB. THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, MARIA GRACIA IS NOT PRESENT. DARL HARPER. DARL HARPER IS NOT PRESENT. MONICA JOHNSON? YES. HMM. OKAY. I AM HERE WITH THE HOUSTON TEXANS IN, UM, THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE. UM, I HAVE A THANK YOU SPEECH, TEXAS, UM, DEAR WHITE HOUSE SECRET SERVICE, UM, CITY COUNCIL IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A FEW MOMENTS OF YOUR TIME. YOUR INSIGHTS AND ADVICE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE THEM WITH ME. I'M SORRY I HAVE THE BUBBLE GUPPIES. UM, YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT, I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AND I AM HONORED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU. WILL LOVE FOREVER. I ALSO TECHNICALLY WANT SUPPORT FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS SUPER BOWL IF UPCOMING. WITH MOST OF MY HELP TO WORK US IN ITS MOST DESIRE, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TO REACH YOUR DREAMS WITH FIELD GOALS, TO TOUCHDOWNS TO GET THE HOUSTON, TEXAS TO THE SUPER BOWL EASILY. AND, UM, I WANNA LEARN MORE IN CLASS AND I AM PROUD TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN TO GET MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE. AND I HAVE ONE MORE THING I WANNA ADD. UM, DRAKE TOLD ME SIX YEARS AGO THAT I WAS HIS WIFE AND I DON'T WANNA BE HIS WIFE 'CAUSE HE KEEP GOING TO STRIP CLUBS SCREAMING THAT I GET NO MONEY. AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEAN, BUT I DON'T WANNA BE A PART OF IT. AND I WANNA THANK THE WASHINGTON DC AND THE POLICE AND, UM, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOU GUYS ENDEAVORS. YES, THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, VIOLET DUNHAM. OH, I TOLD MARY I TALKED TO IS NOT PRESENT. RONNIE HAMPTON. IT IS NOT PRESENT. PAULA SMITH NOT PRESENT. SANDRA ALLEN, IT IS NOT PRESENT. STEVE WILLIAMS, ARE YOU OKAY, SANDRA? [03:10:03] GOOD EVENING. UH, CITY COUNCILMAN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WHITMEYER. HOW ARE YOU TODAY, SIR? GOOD ON, UH, AUGUST THE, UH, FOURTH I TOOK THE METRO BUS CITY BUS TO GO AND PICK UP MY MAIL OUT IN CY-FAIR. THE BUS ONLY LETS YOU OUT AT, UM, HIGHWAY SIX AND, UM, I 10 AT THE ATTICS PARKING RIDE. SO I HAVE TO WALK TWO HOURS AND A HALF INTO CY-FAIR AT HIGHWAY SIX AND CARAWAY AT THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE TO GET MY MAIL OUT. MY PO BOX. MY SON AND I, HIS NAME IS NATHAN ALLEN. WE HAD ALREADY WALKED TWO HOURS INTO CY FAIR. WE MADE IT TO HIGHWAY SIX AND CLAY ROAD. WHEN TWO HPD POLICE UNIT CARS SWD UP ON THE SIDE OF US, IT HAD TWO OFFICERS IN EACH VEHICLE. SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF FOUR MEN. AND THEY SAY, WE NEED HIM TO GET IN THE CAR. I SAY, GET IN THE CAR. I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO THE POST OFFICE. WE, WE, WE JUST GOT OFF THE BUS. HE, THEY SAY, NO, WE NEED TO PICK, WE GOT A CALL TO PICK HIM UP BECAUSE HE HAS A TIRE IRON. I SAY, MY SON DOESN'T HAVE A TIRE IRON. I SAID, MY SON IS 19 YEARS OLD. HE'S, HE'S AUTISTIC. HE HAS EPILEPTIC SEIZURE AND HE DOESN'T HAVE A TIRE IRON. SO THEY FORCED HIM TO GET IN THE CAR. THEY KIDNAPPED HIM, THEY PUT HIM IN THE CAR. THEY SAID, WE'RE GONNA GIVE, GIMME YOUR ID. SO I GAVE THEM MY TEXAS DRIVER'S LICENSE. AND WHEN I GAVE THEM MY TEXAS DRIVER'S LICENSE, THEY WROTE INFORMATION DOWN. THEN THEY HANDED IT BACK TO ME AND THEN THEY DROVE OFF. SO THEY SAID WE ARE TAKING HIM TO CY CYPRESS AND I 10 AT METHODIST KATY HOSPITAL. SO THEY TOOK HIM THERE ON AUGUST THE FOURTH. HE REMAINED THERE FROM AUGUST THE FOURTH UNTIL AUGUST THE EIGHTH. AUGUST THE EIGHTH, THE METHODIST TOLD ME THEY TRANSFERRED HIM TO, UH, THE HARRIS COUNTY SOCCER AT WARD, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE 2,800 SOUTH MCGREGOR WAY. HE'S IN THE DUN BUILDING ON THE THIRD FLOOR. AND I SAID, OKAY, WHY Y'ALL SWITCHING IN THERE? HE'S A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. SO I'VE BEEN GOING OVER THERE TRYING TO GET MY SON OUTTA THERE AND THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME NO INFORMATION. THEY SAY, YOU CAN'T SEE HIM, YOU CAN'T VISIT HIM. I SAID, WELL, WHO'S THE JUDGE? SO I CAN GO AND TALK TO THE JUDGE. I SAID, YOU CANNOT HOLD MY SON IN HERE ON, ON KIDNAPPING CHARGES. THEY SAY, WELL WE CANNOT RELEASE HIM TO YOU BECAUSE A PS IS INVOLVED. NOW I SAY A PS IS INVOLVED. I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN A PS ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICE? I SAID, LOOK, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. MY SON, MY CHILDREN, I GOT TWO KIDS. NONE OF MY KIDS HAS NEVER BEEN IN CHILDREN PROTECTIVE SERVICE CPS OR A PSI RAISED MY KIDS. I BROUGHT THEM HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL. I GAVE THEM T***Y BREAST MILK. I GAVE THEM INFAMIL, I GAVE THEM, UM, UH, WHAT'S THE OTHER MEAL? UH, SOY SOYBEAN MILK. I GAVE THEM, UH, FIESTA MILK. I'VE BEEN ON WIC. I GAVE THEM THE JUICES, THE EGGS. I DIDN'T PLACE THEM AT NO, UH, DUMPSTER SITE. LIKE YOU HEAR THESE MOTHERS IN THE NEWS. I SAID, YOU GOTTA RELEASE MY SON. OKAY, YOU GOTTA RELEASE MY SON. HE'S A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT ALE HASTING HIGH SCHOOL. HE'S A SENIOR. I SAID MY SON IS SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE THIS YEAR. WAIT A MINUTE, SLOW DOWN. HE WAS A STUDENT WHERE? AIE HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL. HIS IS OUR STUDENT STUDENT BADGE IN CYPRESS? NO, AIS A LEAF. ISD COOK COOK. I GO TO CYRUS TO GET MY MAIL. I GOT A PO BOX OUT THERE. 'CAUSE I WHY I TO TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR PROBABLY. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY YOU GOT YOUR PO BOX IN CYPRESS? BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LIVING ON SONATA IN ALE, THE, MY APARTMENT HAD BURNT DOWN IN 2000 AND, UH, 10 WE, WE HAD MADE THE NEWS AND THE PROPERTY. SO YOU PLACED US AT A APARTMENT OUT THERE? ONE OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN CYPRESS AND CYPRESS. OKAY. WHEN YOU WERE WALKING, ARE YOU SURE THE HPD OFFICER, YOU WERE INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON? NO. CLAY ROAD. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAD, THEY CAMERAS ON TOO. I SAID, CLAY ROAD AND HIGHWAY SIX, YOU ARE OUTTA JURISDICTION. MAYOR MEYER DOESN'T COME OUT HERE. THEY SAY, WELL YOU RIGHT MAYOR MEYER DON'T COME OUT HERE, BUT WE, WE GOT A CALL TO GET YOUR SON. I SAID, YOU'RE KIDNAPPING MY SON. I SAID, YOU CANNOT DO THAT. SO MY SON IS OVER THERE AND HE'S MISSING SCHOOL. HE DONE MISS TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL FROM A LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF, I'M GONNA GET YOU TO TALK TO OFFICER CARR, MY OFFICE. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTED YOUR SON AND SEE HIS STATUS TODAY. 'CAUSE WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN HERE. BUT I'VE GOT SOME, UH, OFFICIALS THAT CAN HELP YOU. AND YOU ACTUALLY WALK TWO MILES. I'LL DO, I MEAN TWO HOURS. I DO IT EVERY MONTH BECAUSE THEY [03:15:01] CUT MY CAR OFF. I HAD A CAR. WOW. AND THEY CUT MY CAR OFF. 'CAUSE SOMEBODY WANTED IT. THEY CUT MY CAR OFF. THE WHOLE COMPUTER JUST WENT BLANK. I HAD A 2020 TRACK. WHERE YOU LIVING NOW? WHERE I LIVE AT NOW? I LIVE OUT HERE ON, ON WESTHEIMER. OKAY, WELL YOU SHOULD MOVE AROUND, OKAY? MM-HMM . LET'S SEE IF WE CAN HELP YOU ALSO. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, THEY, THEY PUT THE BILL IN MY NAME FROM WHERE MY SON AND THEY GOT MY SON ON HIS SON NATHAN ALLEN, PATIENT $12,421 AND 25 CENTS. YEAH, I SAY, I SAY I I ASKED YOU, Y'ALL NOT TO TAKE HIM THERE. Y'ALL ARE KIDNAPPING MY SON. SO WHY WOULD THEY PUT THIS BILL IN MY NAME? I DON'T KNOW MA'AM, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT. TALK TO CYNTHIA WILSON. MR. CARR WILL ASSIST YOU WITH THE HPD MATTER? YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. I NEED, I NEED TO KNOW, CAN I GET MY SON? HE HAS TO GRADUATE. THEY'RE GONNA FIND OUT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. BE SAFE. HE HAS TO GRADUATE SO HE CAN FURTHER HIS ENDEAVORS. YES, MA'AM. BE SAFE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY, OKAY? HOW'D YOU GET HERE TODAY? BUS. BUS. WOW. SOMEBODY WANTED MY CAR. YOU KNOW, I HAD A 2020 CHEVROLET TRACK. I HAD THREE YEARS TO GO ON IT. I HAD ALREADY HAD IT THREE YEARS. THEY JUST CUT THE WHOLE SCREEN OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME, OH, YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE. I SAY A NEW ENGINE. IT'S A NEW CAR. I'M THE ONLY ONE DRIVE IT THAT'LL COST $7,000. I SAID, I DON'T HAVE 7,000. OKAY, WELL, LET'S LOCATE YOUR SON AND, AND LOOK INTO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. BE SAFE. THANK YOU, SIR. Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY, ALL OF YOU. ALL, ALL YEAH, YOU TOO. NEXT STEVE WILLIAMS IS NOW PRESENT. LY MONTOYA RIVAS. YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON. MAJOR, UH, GOOD. A, UH, KNOWN, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MOST RECENTLY, UH, MY CASE WITH FEMA HAS ENDED. I LIVE IN 47 42 JAIL STREET. UH, I BROUGHT YOU A PACKAGE. UH, THEY HAVEN'T HARASSED ME IN THE COUNTY IN QUEDA. KINGWOOD HUMBLE. THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE I HAVE FILED EOC COMPLAINTS. I HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST MY MOTHER. UH, WE'RE TRYING TO RETRY MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS. I HAVE ALSO FILED A CHARGE AGAIN, THE MASON BROTHERS, UM, UH, BECAUSE, UM, THEY DID, UM, WELL, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, RIGHT, UH, TO BRING THEM TO, UM, TO JUSTICE. UH, IF THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY WANNA CUT MY TONGUE, LIKE AS A SISTER, I, I, I CAN ALSO DO THAT, RIGHT? TO BRING TO JUSTICE. UH, I MEAN, I HAVE FILED CHARGES WITH THE FBI. UM, I HAVE FILED, UH, BASICALLY PAPERWORK AND THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT, UH, THEY'RE RETALIATED AGAINST MY DAUGHTER, ANDREA KA, UM, UH, IS IN THE PACKAGE THAT I BROUGHT YOU. UH, THE FBI BASICALLY, UH, OVERSEES, UH, HATE CRIMES, WHITE UH, CRIMES, HUMAN TRAFFICKING CRIMES, AND THE INTERPOL ALSO INVESTIGATE SITUATIONS HAVING TO DEAL WITH SITUATIONS THAT AFFECT CONSTITUENTS. UH, I'M A US CITIZEN. I HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP. I HAVE ALSO, UH, BASICALLY, UH, COMPLAINED TO, UH, THE MEXICAN CONSULATE. AND NO, I'M NOT WILLING TO BACK DOWN. UH, SIR. UH, I, UH, ACCORDING TO THE FAMILY, UH, YOU HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT, UH, BECAUSE YOU WERE IN COMMUNICATION WITH MRS. GUADALUPE AND OVAL FERNANDEZ AS WELL AS, UH, A FAMILY FEW THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON. I HAVE NOTHING PERSONALLY AGAINST YOU. UH, AND I WILL ASK YOU TO PLEASE CEASE AND DISEASE. I'M A US CITIZEN, AND I SIMPLY WANT WHAT I DESERVE AS A A US CITIZEN. I CONFESS THAT I DID ALL OF THAT. AND, UH, IF THERE IS NO MERCY COUNSEL, THERE SHOULD BE JUSTICE AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR WHATEVER THEY HAVE DONE TO ME AND MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN. THANK YOU. THEODORE CARRERO. OKAY, SO I HANDED OUT, UM, ALL THE PAPERS TO EVERYBODY. I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THREE MINUTES. I GOT ONE, SO I'LL GO QUICK. TODAY'S, UH, AGENDA IS ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND, UH, ALL OF US BEING THE BEST VERSION [03:20:01] OF OURSELVES. AND, UH, ASKING OURSELVES A QUESTION AS TO WHERE WE MIGRATED FROM. UM, IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, UH, WHO'S MIGRATING TO HOUSTON, UH, WHAT ARE WE COMPRISED ABOUT? WHAT'S OUR PURPOSE? YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUITY AMONGST OUR MIGRANTS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, ATTENTION. I GOT WITH, UM, THOMAS, UH, NERRICK, WHO'S, UM, WHO WAS, UH, SUGGESTED BY MR. UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. I WENT TO THE LIBRARY, READ HIS BOOK, UM, ON THE MEXICAN ODYSSEY ON THOMAS KENRICK. IT WAS ABOUT THE, UM, ONE OF THE, UH, RICHEST MEXICANS THAT BECAME A MILLIONAIRE HERE, UM, BRINGING SOCIETY TOGETHER. UH, HOUSTON WAS FOUNDED IN 1836. WHAT IS THE FAIR MORAL TREATMENT OF HUMAN BEINGS? JUST ONE MORE MINUTE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY. WE OBSERVED THE STRUGGLES OF THE LANDOWNERS AND ENFORCEMENT OF PERSONAL WHO SEEK TO PRESERVE THE COMMON GOOD WITHOUT VIOLATING DIGNITY. AND THE MIGRANT, I'VE BEEN HEARING TODAY A LOT OF STUFF ABOUT WHAT NOBODY CAN AFFORD. MONEY, IMMIGRATION COST, AMERICAN TAXPAYERS A HUNDRED $0.5 BILLION. OUR BUDGET'S ONLY 3.7. UM, SO I, I PRESENTED YOU GUYS WITH THE PRESENTATION. YOU GUYS COULD LOOK AT IT. IT'S TWO PAGES. THEN YOU HAVE THE AGENDA. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING IN THE COMMUNITY? THEN YOU HAVE A REFERENCE LIST. I GUESS I'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN, UM, SIX WEEKS. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANKS A LOT. JACK BALINSKI. HOLD JACK. HOPEFULLY BEFORE YOU TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. UM, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT 3 1 1 BEFORE YOU TOOK OFFICE. UH, 3 1 1 IS A GOOD SYSTEM, BUT IT'S WHERE, WHEN IT GETS TO THE DEPARTMENTS. BUT I CAME HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SUNDAY. I WENT OUT TO THE CAUCUS FUNDRAISER COMING BACK AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. IT WAS A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DAY. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. PEOPLE WERE WALKING, THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME. ON THE WAY BACK, I CAME UP SAN PHILIPPINE AND AFTER THE TRAIN STOPPED AND WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE TRAIN, SO THE TRAIN'S NOT JUST IN YOUR DISTRICT. UM, THE CAR STARTED MOVING AND THEN IT SLOWED DOWN AGAIN ON SAN PHILIPPI. AND THE REASON WHY WAS A GENTLEMAN WAS WALKING OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SIDEWALK. SO WE GOT TWO LANES COMING THIS WAY, TWO LANES GOING THAT WAY. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. WE NEED SIDEWALKS IN THIS CITY. I KNOW THE ORDINANCE PROBABLY DOESN'T WORK, RIGHT? WE CAN TUNE IT UP, BUT LET'S NOT GET RID OF IT. PEOPLE WANNA WALK IN THIS CITY. YOUNG PEOPLE WANNA WALK IN THIS CITY. OLD PEOPLE LIKE ME NEED TO WALK IN THIS CITY. SO PLEASE KEEP THAT ORDINANCE THERE. LET'S FIX IT. SET NEXT. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OH, [RECESS] OKAY. THANK Y'ALL. WE STAYING RECESS TILL NINE IN THE MORNING. NUMBER 11 FOR GROUNDWATER FACILITY. REPU STATION, HVAC AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO LIMB CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $8,392,427 63 CENTS ON CONTRACT WITH TYCON GROUP INC. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $3,722,976 56 CENTS ON CONTRACT WITH MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES, LTD ITEM SEVEN, TURING INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR PURCHASE OF AIRFIELD MARKING PAINT. ITEM EIGHT, METRO FIRE APPARATUS SPECIALIST, INC. FOR PURCHASE OF PARATECH AIRBAG AND VARIOUS ACCOMPANYING ACCESSORIES. ITEM NINE, AMEND MOTION NUMBER 2020 DASH 2 31 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM $1,793,749 31 CENTS TO $2,242,061 64 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF CHRYSLER DODGE OEM REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR SERVICES AWARDED TO MAC HIKE DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP. ITEM 10, APPROVE OF SPINNING APPROVE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PROFESSIONAL HELICOPTER PILOT AND MAINTENANCE TRAINING SERVICES AWARDED TO MD HELICOPTERS LLC ITEM 11, FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF FIRE HYDRANTS. ITEM 12, CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC [03:25:01] CONTROLS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC EQUIPMENT. ITEM 13, ASSOCIATED SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. FOR PURCHASE OF PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSORS. ITEM 14, AMEND MOTION 2019 DASH 3 94. PREVIOUSLY PREVIOUSLY AMENDED BY 2023 DASH 1 56 TO EXTEND THE AWARD AND TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FROM $18,322,703 TO $25,651,784 20 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF LIQUID SODIUM BY SULFITE CHEMICAL AWARDED TO SOUTHERN IX INC. ITEM 15 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,095,000 FOR PORTABLE RESTROOM RENTALS AND SERVICES AWARDED TO TEXAS OUTHOUSE INC. ITEM 16, ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 40 CODE OF ORDINANCES HOUSTON, TEXAS BY ADDING AN AREA WITHIN AND SURROUNDING MUSEUM PARK AREA. ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AIDS FOUNDATION HOUSTON INC. DOING BUSINESS AS ALLIES AND HOPE ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES INC. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE SALVATION ARMY. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NORTHWEST ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AN AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EVERYBODY TEXAS IN CONNECTION WITH WOMEN'S HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS. ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BRACEWELL LLP ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GREENBURG RIG LLP ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION, A COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT RELEASE, AN INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN POR FURIO RODRIGUEZ AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $150,000 OUT OF FY 25 EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR CS SMART INFRASTRUCTURE MITIGATION PROJECT ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $60,000 OUT OF FY 25 EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR NICE RECORDING SYSTEM UPGRADE. ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,250,000 OUT OF FY 25 EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR CITYWIDE PC REFRESH PROJECT ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHOR ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AWARD AND SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND STRYKER SALES. LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS STRYKER SALES CORPORATION FOR STRETCHER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE, UH, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND VICAR. STAFF HEATH DELGADO ACOSTA, LLP ITEM 31. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 8 57 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALWAYS IN SEASON DECORATING SERVICES INC. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND GULF GATE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,500,000 OUT OF PARTS CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO MCGREGOR PARK RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND CONCESSION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1200 BLOCK OF CAVALCADE STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 1200 BLOCK OF ARLINGTON STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT BLOCK SIZE. ITEM 36 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE SOUTH POST OAK INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT ITEM 37 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 19.2632 ACRES OF ACRES OF LAND TO WOODLANDS ROAD UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY BACKUP SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SPANISH COAL [03:30:01] PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,500,000 OUT OF WATER AND SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 2 32 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR LAKE HOUSTON DAM SPILLWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,720,791 56 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND, A VALOREM TAX APPROVING, AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LIQUIDITY ENGINEERING LLC ITEM 42. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $880,000 OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COBB FINDLEY AND ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,834,431 7 CENTS OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION, D-D-S-R-F AWARD AND CONTRACT TO GRAVA LLC ITEM 44. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $23,448,956 75 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK WITH JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS JACKSON AND MARTINEZ AND, AND WAS ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA OF AUGUST 28TH, 2024. ITEM 45, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENTS TO REIMBURSE ALDEN ISD ALE, ISD AMIGOS, PORT VITA ANNUNCIATION, ORTHODOX CLEAR C CREEK, CLEAR CREEK, ISD FORT BEND, ISD PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL, RIVER OAKS, BAPTIST SPRING BRANCH ID ST. ANNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL, ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL AND ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SCHOOL FOR PAYMENT OF SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS FOR CHILD SAFETY. AND THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND WAS ITEM 32 ON THE AGENDA OF AUGUST 28TH, 2024. ITEM 46 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE CREATION OF HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 89. THIS WAS DELAYED BY MOTION. 2024 DASH 6 79, UH, ON THE AGENDA, AUGUST 28TH, 2024. AND THIS WAS ITEM 52 ON THE AGENDA OF AUGUST 28TH, 2024. UH, ITEM 47, UM, ORDINANCE AMENDED SECTIONS 40 DASH 5 53 AND 40 DASH FIVE 60 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO THE REQUIRED APPROVAL OF A SIDEWALL PLAN OR PAYMENT OF A FEE IN LIE THEREOF FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOOSE USE OTHER THAN A SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS OF THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 10 AND 11 20 24, AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, I WISH YOU A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. THANK YOU COUNSEL, [RECONVENE] PLEASE COME TO ORDER. UH, [ADMIN REPORT] FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. CHAIR RECOGNIZES CONTROLLER HOLLANDS AND, UH, CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR MELISSA DEBOWSKI. MORNING CONTROLLER. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. UH, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDING JULY 31ST, 2024. IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $307 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. THIS IS $18.6 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $117.3 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO IN RESERVE. THE FY 2025 BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS $33.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE Y 2024 ENDING FUND BALANCE REPORTED IN THE JUNE 30TH, 2024 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. THE INCREASE IS DUE TO YEAREND ADJUSTMENTS TO REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL THE FY 2024 FER [03:35:01] IS PUBLISHED. LATER THIS FALL, WE'VE INCREASED OUR REVENUE PROJECTION BY EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM OUR FY 2025 TRENDS REPORT. THE DRIVERS OF THIS INCREASE ARE PROPERTY TAX REFLECTING AN INCREASE OF $6.3 MILLION DUE TO THE REVISED POPULATION ESTIMATE FOR THE CITY RECENTLY RELEASED BY THE CENSUS BUREAU, AS WELL AS THE SALE OF CAPITAL ASSETS, WHICH INCREASED BY $2.2 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED LAND SALES. OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE FY 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET FOR OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS. WE'RE PROJECTING NO CHANGES FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS, WE REMAIN WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD FOR UNAGED VARIABLE RATE DEBT WITHIN EACH OF THE CITY'S FOUR CREDITS. MAYOR, IN MY REMARKS AT THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING, I WELCOME CHIEF NO DIAZ TO THE POSITION OF HPD CHIEF AND CONGRATULATED CHIEF LARRY SATTERWHITE ON HIS NEW POST. AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY, I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE MAJOR UNDERTAKING BY MEMBERS OF THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, LEGAL AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY MET ITS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS IN DISTRIBUTING SETTLEMENT CHECKS TO HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS. THOSE EFFORTS LED BY CITY TREASURER OF VERNON MIDDLETON LEWIS RESULTED IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN 5,000 PRINTED CHECKS TO HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS, RETIREES, AND THEIR FAMILIES. MY APPRECIATION GOES TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF WHAT WAS A TRULY SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING AND AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT ON THE DISASTER RECOVERY FRONT. MY OFFICE IS CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE RECOVERY EFFORTS, FOLLOWING THE, THE RETRO STORM AND HURRICANE BARRELL, AND WE APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE THAT DI DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI OPENED UP ON MONDAY MORNING. PRIOR TO BARROW'S LANDFALL, COUNCIL APPROVED THE TRANSFER OF $23 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND TO THE, TO THE DISASTER RECOVERY FUND TO RESPOND TO THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS FROM THE DICHO STORM. THIS FOLLOWED THE USE OF NEARLY $200 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE RESERVES TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S STRUCTURAL BUDGET SHORTFALL. NOW, THE CITY IS PREPARING FOR FUTURE DISASTERS WITHOUT THE RESERVES WE HAD HEADING INTO HURRICANE SEASON AND THE ESTIMATED COST TO THE CITY OF RECOVERY, EVEN AFTER FEMA ASSISTANCE IS EXPECTED TO BE NORTH OF $50 MILLION. WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT HOUSTON HAS AVOIDED THE WORST OF HURRICANE FRANCINE, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHAT HAS BEEN A ROUGH HURRICANE SEASON TO DATE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NOVEMBER. WE OWE IT TO HOUSTONIANS TO BUILD A PLAN THAT GUIDES US THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES BECAUSE EVEN IF WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THESE STORMS ARE COMING, WE DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE COMING AND WE KNOW THAT OUR PREPAREDNESS TODAY WILL DETERMINE HOUSTON'S WELLBEING TOMORROW. MAYOR, IN CLOSING, I WANNA PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LIVES LOST ON AMERICAN SOIL 23 YEARS AGO. TODAY, NEARLY 3000 SOULS WERE SNATCHED FROM US THAT DAY, NINE 11 2001. AND IN THE WARS THAT FOLLOWED, 15,000 AMERICANS PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ON THE BATTLEFIELD. TODAY, THEIR LOVED ONES AS WELL AS SURVIVORS, CONTINUE TO BEAR THE WEIGHT OF THE UNIMAGINABLE HORROR THAT UNFOLDED THAT DAY IN NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA. WE REMAIN INDEBTED TO THE HEROES WHO PREVENTED AN EVEN GREATER CATASTROPHE ON NINE 11, AND WE CHERISH THE MEMORY OF THOSE LOST, NOT JUST ON DECEMBER ANNIVERSARY, BUT EVERY DAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND, UH, IT'S GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THE LEGACY ROOM AT 1130 WHERE WE'RE GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE OUR LOST HEROES, UH, THEIR FAMILIES, AND, UH, HAVE A MOVING CEREMONY DISCUSSION. I THINK IT'S ALSO AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO TALK ABOUT OUR, OUR LOCAL HEROES. I THINK IT'S WRONG OR NOT THE BEST POLICY TO WAIT FOR A TRAGEDY. WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS BEFORE THERE'S A TRAGEDY, AND, UH, IT'LL ALSO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT, UH, EACH AND EVERY DAY OUR FIRE POLICE, EMERGENCY CENTER WORKERS ARE PROTECTING THEM. AND FOR SURE, IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION BY SOME THAT THE FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT CAUSED OUR DEFICIT, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS INACCURATE POLITICAL TALK AND WE SHOULDN'T TRY TO DRAG DOWN THE FIREFIGHTERS, UH, CONTROLLER OVER 150 FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE LEFT THE DEPARTMENT HAVE APPLIED TO COME BACK. SO, UH, IT'S WORKING. IT WAS LONG OVERDUE AND, UH, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND I, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION OF, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT WITH FINANCE AND FIRE AND OTHERS TO GET THOSE CHECKS OUT. [03:40:01] IT WAS A MAJOR, MAJOR TASK, AS YOU KNOW. YES, MA'AM. YES, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE ONE PLUS 11 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JULY 31ST, 2024. FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON ONE MONTH OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND 11 MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED. UM, THERE'LL BE SOME ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS ON THE FISCAL 24 REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AS WE REACH THE YEAR END CLOSE. AND THE AUDIT IS UNDERWAY. SO YEAR TO DATE, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THE CURRENT PRELIMINARY UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IS 517 MILLION, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 31 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE JUNE MOFA PROJECTION. BUT AS I MENTIONED, THE RESULTS ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL THE PUBLICATION OF THE FY 24 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH TYPICALLY COMES AROUND DECEMBER. MOVING ON TO FISCAL YEAR 25, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS THE FIRST MONTH, UH, REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. BASED ON THE FIRST MONTHS, OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS $2.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND THAT REFLECTS HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED LAND SALES BASED ON A, A LAND SALE THAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL BACK IN APRIL. THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTION FOR FY 25 REMAINS AT BUDGET. WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE TO BE 325.6 MILLION, WHICH IS 2.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET DUE TO THE LAND SALE I MENTIONED AND REPRESENTS 12.9% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THAT FUND BALANCE IS $135.9 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO TRANSFERS. WE ARE NOT PROJECTING ANY CHANGES TO THE ENTERPRISE SPECIAL FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OR OTHER FUNDS DURING THIS REPORT. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALCORN? COUNCILMAN ALCORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE REPORTS. UH, DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI, THE AMOUNT, UM, THAT YOU STATED YESTERDAY OR MONDAY AT OUR BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING, THAT THE DERECHO THE LOCAL SHARE, THE ANTICIPATED LOCAL SHARE OF DERECHO AND BARREL EXPENSES IS WHAT? YES. UM, SO BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE TOTAL ESTIMATE ESTIMATED COST OF THE TWO STORMS TOGETHER IS ABOUT $211 MILLION. AND THE LOCAL SHARE, THE LOCAL SHARE IS ABOUT 53 MILLION, AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING A 75% FEDERAL SHARE AND A 25% LOCAL SHARE. OF THE 53 MILLION, ABOUT 39 MILLION OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE GENERAL FUND. OKAY. $39 MILLION HIT TO THE GENERAL FUND, UM, DEFINITELY OVER THE 23 MILLION THAT WE'VE TAKEN. AND WE HAVE TO REPLENISH THE, THE, THE BUDGET STABLE STABILIZATION FUND. YES. OF WHICH WE'VE TAKEN 23 MILLION MM-HMM . SO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW OUR, HOW OUR TAX BOTH AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL ARE AFFECTED, UM, BY A DISASTER. WHAT, WHAT ARE WE ALLOWED TO RECOVER? WHAT, HOW ARE WE ALLOWED TO ADJUST OUR TAX RATE BASED ON DISASTERS? SURE. UM, SO OUR LOCAL PROPERTY TAX CAP, UM, PROPOSITION ONE INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN, UM, GO ABOVE THE TRADITIONAL CALCULATION OF CPI PLUS POPULATION, OR 4.5%, WHICHEVER IS LOWER I THE CASE OF A FEDERAL OR STATE DECLARED DISASTER. UM, IN THE PAST, WE'VE, WE'VE USED THAT PROVISION TO RECOVER FROM THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD, THE TAX DAY FLOOD AND TROPICAL STORM AMELDA. WE'VE USED THAT PROVISION IN THE PAST, UH, ON THE STATE CAP CALCULATION SIDE. IN THE CASE OF A DISASTER, THE STATE CAP, INSTEAD OF USING THE 3.5% MULTIPLIER, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE AN 8% MULTIPLIER. UM, SO THE TAX RATE THAT YOU ADOPT UNDER THE STATE GUIDELINES IS ALLOWED TO BE HIGHER IN THE YEAR THAT YOU HAVE A DISASTER. RIGHT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, MAYOR, WE HAD A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION ON MONDAY AT, UH, THE BUDGET FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF KIND OF THE OPTIONS ON, ON TAX RATES. AND WE MUST SET THE TAX RATE BY LAW BY THE END OF OCTOBER. IT HAS TO BE 60 DAYS ROUGHLY AFTER THE, AFTER THE, UM, AFTER THE TAX ROLLS. UM, NUMBERS COME IN. I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS, HAS GONE TO THE FULL 8% OR PROPOSED. THEY, UM, THEY, THEY'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GOING TO THE FULL 8% TO RECOVER, UM, NOT TO RECOVER THEIR SHARE OF DISASTERS AND, AND BEYOND. UM, YOU LAID OUT AT THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS MEETING, UH, FIVE SCENARIOS FROM STAYING AT OUR, OUR SAME TAX RATE AT 51 CENTS ALL THE WAY UP [03:45:01] TO, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER SCENARIO FOR 53 CENTS, 55 CENTS, 56 CENTS, AND THEN 58 CENTS, UM, SCENARIOS, WHICH GIVE US DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, AND I WON'T GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PRESENTATION SHE DID, BUT, UM, I, I REALLY ASK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO REVIEW THAT AGAIN. UM, IF WE STAY AT THE AMOUNT NOW, WE'RE, WE'RE $86 MILLION IN CUTS. IF WE RAISE IT 3.20 CENTS, WE COVER OUR LOCAL SHARE OF THE DISASTER. IF WE GO, IF WE RAISE IT 4.50 CENTS, WE HAVE $33 MILLION BEYOND WHAT IT IS TO COVER THE EX THE DISASTER AND 6.20 CENTS MORE, $79 MILLION MORE. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DISASTER, BUT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER NEEDS AND EXPENSES OF THE CITY, THE FIREFIGHTER DEAL BEYOND, BEYOND WHAT'S, WHICH IS COVERED THIS YEAR, BUT BEYOND THE ADDITIONAL RAISES THAT WILL COME FOR POLICE AND MUNICIPAL, THE AMBULANCE STAFF THAT'S NEEDED, THE POTENTIAL OF THE REBUILD HOUSTON LAWSUIT THAT COULD ADD TO OUR, UM, ADD TO OUR EXPENSES. UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK DURING THE BUDGET ABOUT NO REVENUE SOURCES TO COVER SOME OF THE, THE ONGOING EXP EXPENSE EXPENSES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO RAISE REVENUE, TO COVER THESE EXPENSES THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE. WE'RE NOT PICKING UP THE TRASH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A TRASH FEE. YOU HAD A COMPARISON OF EVERY OTHER CITY. THEY ALL HAVE HIGHER TAX RATES AND THEY HAVE THESE EXTRA FEES. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. WE CAN'T HAVE GREAT CITY SERVICES AND THE LOWEST TAX RATE IN THE STATE. UM, I THINK THERE WAS ONE LOWER ONE, IT WAS IN AUSTIN, SORRY, BUT THEY HAVE HIGHER VALUATIONS. UM, IT'S NOT POPULAR TO RAISE THE TAX RATE. IT IS NOT POPULAR TO DO IT, BUT I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE IN THIS CHAMBER AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND AS A STAFFER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND, AND THE SAME STRUCTURAL DEFICITS PREVAIL. AND I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY. THE, THE, THE COUNTY IS CERTAINLY DOING IT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO THE VOTERS WITH, WITH A MEASURE FOR FLOOD CONTROL. AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS, IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND BEYOND. SO I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE IN THE UNIVERSE. UM, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, THE STATE ALLOWS IT. UM, WE CAN COVER OUR EXPENSES ON THE DERECHO AND WE CAN COVER ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING. AND MAYOR, I RESPECT THAT YOU'RE DOING AUDITS. I RESPECT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THE STATE, UM, FOR SOME FUNDING AND, UM, WE'LL CERTAINLY RESPECT WHAT, WHAT, UH, YOU DECIDE TO DO ON THIS. BUT I, UM, I SEE THIS AS A WAY TO PUT US ON A MORE SOUND FINANCIAL FU FUTURE. AND I WILL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE 10 YEARS AGO WAS 63 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION. WE ARE AT 51, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IS SAVINGS TO HOMEOWNERS. THAT IS NOT LOST ON ME. I UNDERSTAND INFLATION, I UNDERSTAND THIS HURTS, BUT I CAN'T. I WILL RE I WILL SAY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. IF WE WANT MORE COPS ON THE STREET, IF WE WANNA COVER THESE SIX ADDITIONAL, UM, THE, THE SIX CADET CLASSES, IF WE'RE GONNA PAY POLICE OFFICERS $30,000 LESS THAN NEIGHBORING POLICE DEPARTMENTS, $30,000, I'M NOT GONNA WORK HERE. I'M GONNA GO TO THE ONES THAT'S GONNA PAY ME $30,000 MORE IF WE WANT MORE POLICE, IF WE WANT MORE AMBULANCES, IF WE WANT MORE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE AMBULANCES, IF WE WANT BETTER STREETS AND DRAINAGE. IT COSTS MONEY. IT ALL COSTS MONEY. THANK YOU. WELL, LET ME JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I ACTUALLY OBSERVED IT BEFORE I WAS SWORN INTO JANUARY. YOU'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS. IT'S PROBABLY MORE RELEVANT TODAY THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO, OR EVEN TWO YEARS AGO, EIGHT YEARS AGO. UH, WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE A SHORTFALL. UM, THE CITY ESSENTIALLY HAS BEEN FUNDED BY ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDING, THE LAST TWO FINANCIAL BUDGET CYCLES. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT WE ALL KNOW WE'RE FACING A SERIOUS ISSUE. IT WAS MY DESIRE, STILL MY DESIRE TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE PUBLIC THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK. UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF A ERNST AND YOUNG ASSESSMENT. I WANTED TO WAIT FOR IT TO BE COMPLETED. I'VE CONTINUED TO SAY REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC, THEY [03:50:01] WANTED TO BE ASSURED THAT WE'D CUT OUT WASTE DUPLICATION, AND QUITE FRANKLY, SOME DISHONESTY, UH, REFERENCING, UH, THE $80 MILLION WATER DRAINAGE CONTRACTS THAT LED TO SOME INDICTMENTS WITH GHOST BUSINESSES RECEIVING THOSE CONTRACTS. SO I DO BELIEVE STILL TIMING IS EVERYTHING. AND ALSO TO BE ACCURATE WITH OUR MESSAGING, I DON'T THINK WE CAN LABEL IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY AS MUCH AS A RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO REBUT YOUR COMMENTS. IT, IT, OBVIOUSLY OPPORTUNITY MEANS TIMING, THE PROPER TIMING. AND I STILL THINK THAT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE COME TOGETHER, SEE WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS, ALMOST THAT OPPORTUNITY AND COME UP WITH THE PROPER NUMBER. UH, THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS VERY COMPLEX RIGHT NOW WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ASKING FOR THE LARGEST EVER BOND ISSUE AND THE STATE, THE COUNTY MOVING ON DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE FUNDS AND INCREASE IN TAXES. AND NOW THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THE SAME, UH, EXCEPTION REVENUE CAP FOR THE DEBRIS PICKUP AND THE STORM DAMAGE. SO I WOULD URGE ALL OF US TO BE, UH, COLLABORATIVE. I DO STILL PLAN TO GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM OTHER AGENCIES, AND WE'RE IN GREAT CONTACT WITH THE STATE. I COULD SPEND THE WHOLE MORNING AS YOU HAVE, I THINK LAST I HEARD, YOU AND I ARE THE ONLY ONE ON COUNCIL THAT'S BEEN OUT TO THE WATER PLANT. AND I WOULD REALLY URGE EVERYONE TO GO LOOK AT THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICE WITH NO REDUNDANCY FOR HOUSTON'S WATER SYSTEM STRIKING NOT ONLY HOUSTON, BUT THE REGION. OVER 5 MILLION FOLKS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS DEPEND ON OUR WATER SUPPLY. SO WE COULD SPEND THE MORNING ON OUR NEEDS. UH, I DID REFERENCE THAT NO ONE SHOULD BLAME THIS RESPONSIBLY, SHOULD BLAME THIS ON THE FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT. UM, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DEFEND THEM IN THAT PLAN ON NINE 11. BUT, UH, WE HAVE CRITICAL NEEDS. WE'RE GONNA FINANCE THE CITY, AND I THINK HAS BEEN DONE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. THE REVENUE CAP DOES ALLOW THE CONSIDERATION FOR REPAIRS AND RECOVERY FROM A STORM. SO, UH, I THINK YOU AND I, AND I HOPE MOST OF THE COUNCIL IS ON THE SAME PAGE. I HOPE WE'LL KEEP POLITICS OUT OF IT, BUT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PLAY POLITICS, UM, PROBABLY IS NOT TOO UNEXPECTED. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'VE GOT A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AND WE'RE GONNA LISTEN THAT THAT MEETING YOU HAD MONDAY WAS EXCELLENT. AND, UM, THAT'S ACTUALLY BEING REPORTED ON TODAY. I DON'T AGREE THAT RAISING TAXES SHOULD BE THE ONLY OPTION OR MAYBE EVEN THE FIRST OPTION. I DO THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE BEING AS RESPONSIBLE AS WE CAN WITH THE AVAILABLE FUNDS, AND THEN GO TO 'EM AND BE ABLE TO SAY, WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN. NOW WE HAVE THIS TOOL THAT THE STATE ALLOWS. AND CERTAINLY, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, YOU WERE SO CORRECT IN TODAY'S PAPER. WE NEED TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITIES. SO I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. UH, THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER, BUT IT'S NOT A NEW ONE. BUT NOW WE HAVE THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THE ENTIRE TOOLKIT. UH, IT'S NOT JUST, UH, STORM RECOVERY, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE'RE STILL NOT COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS FOR FIRE AND POLICE, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS THE POLICE RETIREMENT. WE'RE BEGINNING TO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOT NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW ENERGY, THEY'RE DOING GREAT RECRUITMENT, BUT WE'VE GOTTA DEAL WITH THOSE SENIOR OFFICERS THAT ARE BEGINNING TO LEAVE AFTER 20. WE'RE BACK INTO THAT, UH, SERIOUS CHALLENGE, NOT ONLY RECRUITING, BUT HOW DO YOU RE RETAIN YOUR SENIOR OFFICERS. SO WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT I, UH, APPLAUD YOUR BOLDNESS AND, AND LEADERSHIP. I MEAN, EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE TALKING LIKE YOU, PARTICULARLY INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS. SO THANK YOU. AND I'LL YIELD TO THE MAYOR PROTE CASTEX STADIUM. THANK [03:55:01] YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, DIRECTOR DEBOSKY. THE PRESENTATION WAS, UM, WELL DONE ON MONDAY. I THINK THE ON PAGE EIGHT OF THE PRESENTATION, THE TAX AND FEE COMPARISON. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN, UM, IS FAMILIAR WITH THE TAX AND FEE COMPARISON. UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF, UH, A GARBAGE FEE, THE TRANSFER FROM, UH, A WATER OR, UH, UTILITY FEES. SO MANY OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK TO COMPARE OURSELVES WITH DO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THOSE DOLLARS. UH, AND WITH US BEING AT A 51, UH, CENTS TAX RATE, UH, AS OPPOSED TO 63 CENTS 10 YEARS AGO, UM, WE'VE LOWERED THE TAX RATE NINE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. SO YES, QUITE FRANKLY, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO PAY, YOU KNOW, HOUSTONIANS HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THAT LOWER TAX RATE. UH, BUT THE, THE CONCERN THAT WE CONTINUALLY HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, THOUGH THE PUBLIC HAS HAD THAT BENEFIT OF THE LOWER TAX RATE, UM, THE IMPACT OF SERVICES HAS BEEN QUITE DEVASTATING. AND I THINK WE HAVE COME TO THE CROSSROADS WHERE PEOPLE SEE, YES, WE'VE BEEN PAYING A LITTLE LESS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LOWERING OUR TAX RATE NINE OF THE 10 YEARS, BUT GEEZ, WHO'S GONNA PICK UP THIS DEBRIS? AND WE'VE SAID, WE'VE DONE THE FIRST PASS. WE STILL HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE NOT HAD THEIR DEBRIS PICKED UP BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CONTRACTORS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES, WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE TRUCKS. WE DON'T HAVE, UM, SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN CITY SERVICES AS WE HAVE LOWERED THIS TAX RATE, NINE OF 10 YEARS. UM, WHAT I WANT US TO DO IS BE ABLE TO PUT REAL NUMBERS TO THIS. UM, CAN YOU TELL US FOR, UH, AN AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, UH, IF WE ARE AT, UM, ON THE, ON THE CHART THAT YOU HAD 56 CENTS, THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WITHOUT DISASTER, WHAT WOULD BE THE INCREASE FROM OUR 51 CENT TAX RATE TO THE 56 50 6 CENT TAX RATE FOR AN AVERAGE HOMEOWNER FOR THE YEAR? OKAY, SO YOU, YOU'RE ON THE STATE CAP, NOT INCLUDING THE DISASTER EXPENDITURES, RIGHT, THE 56 CENTS. YES. UM, SO BASED ON THAT TAX RATE, UM, IT WOULD BE AN IMPACT OF $144 A YEAR, UM, FOR THIS YEAR. AND I THINK, AS YOU ALLUDED TO, WITH DECREASING THE TAX RATE IN NINE OUTTA THE LAST 10 YEARS, UM, THAT THEIR TAX BILL WOULD STILL BE APPROXIMATELY A HUN TWO, SORRY, $240 LOWER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THE TAX RATE WAS 63 CENTS AS IT WAS, UM, BEFORE WE HIT THE CAP IN 2015. UM, I THINK ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, AS YOU ARE MENTIONING THE, UM, SOLID WASTE AND THE TRASH PICKUP AND THE DEBRIS, IS THAT WE ARE, UM, UNDERGOING A STUDY WITH BURNS AND MCDONALD ON THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS, WHICH IS STILL IN PROGRESS. AND JUST A, A VERY BRIEF UPDATE ON THE ERNST AND YOUNG, CIRCLING BACK TO THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S COMMENTS ON LOOKING FOR ALL OF THE WASTE, THE EFFICIENCIES, THE DUPLICATION, UM, THAT PROCESS WITH ERNST AND YOUNG WAS KICKED OFF, I BELIEVE WE'RE IN THE SECOND WEEK, UM, OUT OF THE SIX WEEK INFORMATION GATHERING PERIOD. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS FROM THAT ERNST AND YOUNG STUDY YET, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ONGOING THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD TO THIS BODY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO, UH, FIND DEFICIENCIES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SEEK TO FIND SAVINGS IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. BUT, BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, I THINK, UM, YOU CAN SEE THE OVERALL IMPACT, THE SAVINGS TO THE HOMEOWNER. IF YOU GO TO SLIDE 16 FROM THE SLIDE, UM, THE HOMEOWNER OR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER HAS HAD AN ESTIMATED SAVINGS OF A CUMULATIVE $1,900 SINCE WE HIT THE REVENUE CAP SINCE 2015, THE SAVINGS HAS BEEN $1,978 AND 40 CENTS. YES, MA'AM. AND THAT VALUATION FOR HOME WE'RE USING IS WHAT, UM, WE BASE IT ON THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD TAXABLE VALUE. SO IN THIS YEAR IT'S $320,000. SO IF YOUR HOME VALUE IS NOT $320,000 THAT THERE'S A VARIABLE THERE. CORRECT. IT COULD BE LESS OR MORE. MAKE SURE YES. THAT, THAT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THAT VARIABLE. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS WHAT'S THE CORRELATION OF OUR APPRAISAL TAX ROLES, UM, TO OUR, [04:00:01] OUR TAX RATE? BECAUSE I KNOW, UH, IN 20, FROM 2023 TO 2024, I THINK IT WAS WHEN OUR, OUR VALUATION SPIKED 13%. YES. AND WHEN WE HAVE A SPIKE OF 13%, AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF SPIKE IN VALUATION MM-HMM . IT REALLY AFFECTS, UM, OUR TAX RATE. SO HOW DO WE WORK WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO AVOID US HAVING THOSE TYPES OF SPIKES IN THE APPRAISAL VALUES? MM-HMM . UM, YOU'RE RIGHT. SO LAST YEAR WE SAW AN APPRAISAL INCREASE THAT WAS HIGH, AND THAT RESULTED IN US LOWERING THE TAX RATE FROM 53 CENTS DOWN TO 51 CENTS LAST YEAR. UM, AND TO YOUR QUESTION OF HOW CAN WE WORK WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT THERE AT INDEPENDENT BODY OF THE CITY, UM, THEY ARE TASKED WITH APPRAISING THE VALUE, THE WAY THEY SEE THE MARKET, UM, FOR THE MARKET VALUE AND THE TAXABLE VALUE. UM, SO IT'S AN INDEPENDENT BODY THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH, BUT WE CAN'T DICTATE HOW THEY SET THE VALUES. I, I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE, THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF CONVENING OF EVERYONE THAT PLAYS AN IMPACT ON OUR, OUR TAX RATE. BECAUSE IF WE ALL OPERATE IN SILOS, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, HISD HAS THEIR PART IN OUR TAX ROLES OR ANY OF THE ISDS HAVE THEIR PORTION OF THE TAX ROLL, THE COUNTY HAS THEIR PORTION OF THE TAX ROLL, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED A CONVENING OF EVERYONE. UM, BECAUSE IF EVERY INDIVIDUAL TAXING ENTITY IS LOOKING, UH, TO RAISE AT THE MAX, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HIT THE CONSUMER AND WE HIT HOUSTONIANS, UM, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. BUT IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF CONVENING WHERE WE SAID, THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS, AND WE CAN COME UP TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT IS PALPABLE FOR HOUSTONIANS, UM, BECAUSE THEY WANT THE SERVICES, THEY WANT THE SERVICES NOT JUST FROM THE CITY, BUT THEY WANT IT FROM THE SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY WANT IT FROM THE COUNTY. UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, TO PAY FOR IT. AND SO WE FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST A ISD BOND, WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST, UM, A COUNTY BOND. WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST APPRAISAL VALUATIONS, UM, AND BEING EMPATHETIC ABOUT THAT TO HOUSTONIANS, BUT WE'RE ALSO GETTING HAMMERED ON NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF CITY SERVICES THAT HOUSTONIANS NEED. YES, MA'AM. IF I COULD FOLLOW UP YOUR EXCELLENT. PUTTING A FACE ON IT. EVERYONE WANTS BETTER SERVICES. THE, UH, MOST OF THE WITNESSES THAT COME IN PUBLIC SESSIONS, SO CERTAINLY THE, THE INFORMATIVE DISCUSSION THAT MS. FARMS HAD WITH OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUE EVAN GIOS, THEY WAS ABOUT THE LACK OF SERVICES FACILITIES. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO FACE IS, THAT'S THE STATUS QUO. DID NOT USE THE TOOLKIT THAT IS AVAILABLE WOULD REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT CUTS. SO WE ARE RUNNING THE NUMBERS WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR YESTERDAY. IT WOULD REQUIRE HUNDREDS OF LAYOFFS. SO EVERYTHING THAT WE HEAR ABOUT REGULARLY, THE LACK OF SERVICES, THE STREETS WE DRIVE ON THE PARK, STAFFING SOLID WASTE STAFFING, YOU CAN GO ON AND ON. IF YOU DON'T LIKE TODAY'S, IF WE DON'T USE THE TOOLKIT, IT'S GONNA GET WORSE. AND, UM, I SHOULD GO AHEAD AND APPLAUD YOU AND COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND ALCORN. A MONTH OR TWO AGO, Y'ALL HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT COULD WE DO SOMETHING THIS NOVEMBER AND WE RAN OUT OF TIME. UM, I STILL HAD THE STUDIES IN THE FIELD, BUT THIS ISN'T A DISCUSSION ABOUT REALITY, ABOUT NOT HAVING THE SERVICES THAT A GROWING CITY DESERVES TODAY. BUT WITH THE NEW NUMBERS, IT WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE A REDUCTION OF STAFFING AND SERVICES, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY IS UNACCEPTABLE. UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MA'AM. AND ONE LAST THING. I THINK IT WOULD BE RELEVANT. I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AS SEVERAL OF YOU SAID, IT IS NOT, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST OPTION RAISING TAXES, BUT BECAUSE OF MY LONGEVITY SENIORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE, I PROBABLY VOTED ON MORE TAX INCREASES AT THE STATE LEVEL THAN ANYONE. PUBLIC SAFETY [04:05:01] EDUCATION HIGHWAYS, I CAN GO ON AND ON IF YOU DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASON AND DOCUMENT IT. THERE'S LIFE AFTER RAISING TAXES. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY BE PORTRAYED AND UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, BUT YOU GOT TO LET YOUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT IT WASN'T THE FIRST OPTION. YOU'RE ACCEPTED, BUT IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO. AND THEN AS COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ MENTIONS IN TODAY'S PAPER, YOU'VE GOTTA GET IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU GOT TO MAKE THIS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. AND CERTAINLY AS THE MAYOR PRO JUST MENTIONED, UM, WE NEED TO BE IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. UM, COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE COME OVER AND URGED US TO SUPPORT THEIR, UH, INCREASE IN, IN DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE. AND OF COURSE, I ASKED OUR FRIENDS OVER THERE, DID Y'ALL CONSIDER THE HISD REQUEST? DID YOU CONSIDER OTHER LEVELS, UH, THAT ARE BEING USED? AND OF COURSE, THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS CONSIDER THAT. SO WE'RE NOT IN, WE OFTEN ACT LIKE SILOS, BUT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. AND, UH, WHETHER TOLL ROAD, METRO COUNTY, WE NEED TO GET AS MUCH FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AS WE CAN GET. SO ANYWAY, GROWNUP DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. GOOD MORNING. UH, AS IT RELATES TO, AND DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI. CONTROLLER HOLS, THANK YOU. UH, I BROUGHT THIS UP DURING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT, UH, IN THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE TAXES ON THIS, ON THE SENSE SCALE THAT WE LOOKED AT, THERE WERE, UM, PROPOSALS THAT WOULD SURPASS WHAT OUR LOCAL MATCH WOULD REQUIRE TO MEET THAT. SO WE WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS. MY QUESTION, UH, AND I JUST WANNA SAY IT FOR THE RECORD, WAS ALSO TO LEGAL MAYOR AS TO WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THOSE DOLLARS FOR, BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING IT'S FOR DISASTER RECOVERY. SO WHAT ARE WE BY LAW PERMITTED TO DO, AND WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING WITH THOSE DOLLARS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT MONEY? UH, GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EARNING THE TRUST, UM, OF OUR CONSTITUENTS WITH THAT. SO HAVING GUIDANCE ON WHAT IS PERMISSIBLE TO BE USED FOR THOSE DOLLARS, UH, WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD A QUESTION FOR CONTROLLER HOLLINS, UH, CONTROLLER. YOU HAD SUBMITTED SEVERAL QUESTIONS TO, UM, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, UH, AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR APPROPRIATELY SAID THAT WE HAVE A VERY DETAILED PRESENTATION COMING. UH, WE'LL, WE'LL ADDRESS THOSE. AND DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR THAT. IT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. CONTROLLER, DO YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS AS OF NOW? UH, YEAH. WE'RE, WE'RE IN WAIT AND SEE ON THAT. DIRECTOR, DEBOWSKI SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO HER VERBAL PRESENTATION, THAT SHE WOULD REPLY IN WRITING. AND SO OF COURSE, UH, WE'RE EXPECTING HER TO DO THAT, AND THEN WE'LL, UH, BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION THEREAFTER. UNDERSTOOD. UH, MAYOR, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE STUDY, UM, THAT YOU'VE PUT OUT INTO THE FIELD ABOUT THE REDUNDANCIES, WE'RE GONNA GET TO SOME OF THAT ON THE, ON THE AGENDA TODAY. UH, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE A LOT OF, LET'S SAY, AS IT PERTAINS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE GOING BACK AND ASKING FOR NEW STUDIES, NEW ASSESSMENTS, NEW ENGINEERING, UH, AND TRAFFIC STUDIES, THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS. WHEN STUDIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE, IS WHAT WE HAVE ASKED THE FIRM TO LOOK AT. ARE THEY INCLUDING THOSE TYPES OF ADDITIONAL COSTS, UH, THAT ARE STARTING TO ADD UP, BE CONSIDERED? THANK YOU. UH, UM, I HAD A POINT. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CONTROLLER. CONTROLLER AND DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION ON MONDAY. UH, IT WAS, IT WAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. UM, AND I DEFINITELY WANNA THANK, UH, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR ALQUAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP, THE PAST, THE PAST YEARS AS A STAFFER AS WELL. UM, AND AS A FORMER STAFF STAFFER, UH, TOO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE REALIZED WHERE WE'VE BEEN FOR THE PAST, AT LEAST FOR ME, 10 YEARS. UM, IT'S, IT'S NOTHING NEW. UH, WE'VE HAD ONE TIME TRANSACTIONS TO CLOSE, UH, THE DEFICIT THAT'S AVERAGED ABOUT 140 ALMOST EVERY YEAR. UM, AND, AND SO THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN DEFINITELY LONG OVERWEIGHT IT, LONG, LONG TIME COMING FOR FOR SURE. UM, JUST TO GET SOME CLARIFICATIONS, YOU SAID THAT IF WE WERE TO DO THE 56 CENTS, IT WOULD BE 140, UH, DOLLARS, UH, IMPACT PER HOUSEHOLD, WHICH WOULD COME OUT TO ABOUT $12 ESSENTIALLY A MONTH, CORRECT. FOR [04:10:01] ON AVERAGE, RIGHT? YES. AND AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AVERAGE HERE, SO, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE HAVE, UM, WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, PAINT THE PICTURE WELL. UM, I'VE, I'M DEFINITELY, UH, FOR EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY, AS I MENTIONED ON MONDAY. UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO, TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. I'VE STARTED MY CIVIC CLUB TOUR THE PAST THREE WEEKS, AND THIS IS, THIS IS THE CONVERSATION I'M HAVING. AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND OUT IS THAT, UH, THIS IS NOT A, A ABOVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR REGULAR CITIZENS. WHEN YOU START TALKING TO THEM ABOUT, UH, WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE HAD THE TAX RATE, WHERE WE ARE NOW, UH, WHAT SERVICES THEY WANT. YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I FLAG IS THAT IN JANUARY WE PASSED, UH, A PURCHASING FOR 17,000 NEW REFUSE CARTS FOR NEW RESIDENTS NOT TO REPLACE, BUT FOR NEW RESIDENTS. THAT'S INCREASING ROUTES. THAT'S IN, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW TO REALLY COURSE CORRECT THE CITY FROM WHERE IT'S BEEN, UH, RIGHT SIZING DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. AND, AND I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO HAVE THIS OPEN, HONEST, TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION. I HAVE BEEN MET WITH. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND. UM, WHY HAVEN'T ANYBODY, WHY HASN'T ANYBODY SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT THIS BEFORE? UH, THE ONE THING THAT THEY ALWAYS DO ASK IS IF WE TRUST YOU WITH THIS, WE WANT TO SEE RESULTS. WE WANT TO SEE OUR TRASH PICKED UP. WE WANT THE MOWING SCHEDULE TO BE 14 DAYS AGAIN, AND NOT 21 OR 28. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO SEE, UH, SERVICES WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY. AND SO, UH, FOR, FOR ME, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M WAITING FOR THESE AUDITS AS WELL. UH, I'VE BEEN TELLING FOLKS AUDITS ARE HAPPENING. I, I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. UM, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE'RE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WITH COMMUNITY. UH, SHOW THEM WHERE WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, AT, AT BASELINE. AND THEN WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED. AND SO, UM, I, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COLLEAGUES TRUST THAT COMMUNITY, UNDERSTAND THIS, UH, IT'S NOT ABOVE THEM. UH, HAVE THIS HONEST CONVERSATION AND YOU'LL, YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ON BOARD FOR THIS, UH, $12 A MONTH. AND, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO MINIMIZE WHAT $12 A MONTH IS FOR ANYONE. AGAIN, I GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF 12, I UNDERSTAND WHAT $12 A MONTH MEANS. I CAN SAY IT NOW IN MY PERSPECTIVE. IT COULD BE A COFFEE WITH ME AND MY SON NOW THAT I HAVE TO GIVE UP. UM, AND, AND AGAIN, WE'RE, WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS DISCUSSION MORE AS WE COME TO THAT OCTOBER DEADLINE. AND, AND MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE, WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY, RIGHT, THAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, PUT IN THIS POSITION FOR, TO, TO, TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT'S GONNA, UH, REALLY STABILIZE OUR BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR TO SOME EXTENT. UM, AND, AND STAND TALL. STAND TALL, AND TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, OPENLY, TRANSPARENTLY AS POSSIBLE. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL, MAYOR, FOR, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING THESE AUDITS. UH, I AGREE. YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SHOW FOLKS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WAYS AND THERE ARE INEFFICIENCIES. THE ONE THAT I SPEAK TO ALL THE TIME IS, YOU KNOW, HEAVY TRASH. WE ARE GOING OUT EVERY MONTH, BULK WASTE, TREE WASTE, UH, WHEN FOLKS AREN'T PUTTING OUT TREE WASTE EVERY, EVERY OTHER MONTH. AND IF FOLKS AREN'T PUTTING OUT HEAVY TRASH EVERY OTHER MONTH, UH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A WASTE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXING LONG TIME AGO. WHY HASN'T IT BEEN FIXED? I DON'T KNOW. BUT WE NEED TO START MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RIGHT SIZING THESE DEPARTMENTS. UH, THANK YOU AGAIN, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. VERY INSIGHTFUL. UM, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE, UM, THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSIONS REGARDING, UM, THE APPRAISALS OF OUR PROPERTY, RIGHT? AND THAT WE CANNOT DICTATE WHAT THOSE APPRAISALS MAY BE AND WHAT THOSE SPIKES MAY LOOK LIKE. AND I THINK ANYTIME THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT TAXES, WHETHER WE'RE LOWERING THE TAX RATE OR WHAT THE APPRAISALS ARE, THE THE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE TO THE END USER, WHICH ARE THE TAX PAYERS? AND EVEN WITH LOWERING THE TAX RATE, ARE THEY STILL PAYING MORE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE OF THE APPRAISAL OF THE PROPERTY VALUE? RIGHT? SO, UM, THAT IS THE MESSAGING THAT I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO GO OUT INTO OUR DISTRICTS AND TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS SEND MIXED ME MISSED MESSAGES AND MIXED SIGNALS REGARDING LOWERING THE TAX RATE, UH, WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY STILL FEELING MORE OF THE, THE, THE HIT TO THEIR POCKETBOOK EVERY SINGLE MONTH. AND IF THEY'RE FILLING IT NOW BASED ON THEIR CURRENT TAX RATE AND HAVE BEEN FILLING IT EACH YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN DECREASING IT, WHAT WILL THEY FEEL WHEN WE INCREASE IT, RIGHT? BECAUSE NOW WE'RE INCREASING THE TAX RATE, AND THEN THEIR PROPERTY VALUES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS WELL, BASED ON [04:15:01] THE FREE MARKET. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT DICTATE, AS YOU ALL MENTIONED. AND SO WHAT WILL THAT IMPACT ULTIMATELY BE? SO, UM, WE HAVE TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT, OPEN, AND HONEST WITH THE CONSTITUENTS. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN, UM, YOU LISTENING OR BE LISTENING TO THEM ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THEIR MONEY, UH, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT'S, IT SHOULD BE THEIR CHOICE. UM, AND SO THEY SHOULD HAVE THE LOUDEST VOICE IN THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M CERTAINLY THANK BOTH YOUR PRESENTATION CONTROL AND FINANCIAL DIRECTOR. UM, AS I STATED ON MONDAY, WHEN YOU WERE GIVEN YOUR PRESENTATION, UM, THAT WE HAD TO CONSIDER THE 8% TAX INCREASE THAT THE COUNTY WAS DOING, UH, HAD TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AND ANYTIME YOU TALK ABOUT RAISING TAXES, PEOPLE, UM, ARE ALWAYS SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RAISING TAXES, BUT ALSO, UM, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MEET THE SERVICES SHOULD BE ANOTHER ISSUE OF CONCERN. SO, BUT I DO WANNA, MAYOR, I, I ASKED THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR THAT A LOT OF THE DOLLARS BACK THAT WE WERE TO PAY, THAT'S DUE BACK FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THOSE DOLLARS. AND THAT'S A NUMBER I ASKED HER FOR, AND SHE WAS GOING TO GET BACK TO ME WITH THAT. IN REGARDS TO EXPENDITURES FOR HARVEY AND OTHER STORMS, WE PAY IN THE MATCH, THE DOLLAR THAT WILL TO PAY, BUT ALSO WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED A LOT OF THOSE DOLLARS. AND ALSO, I WANT TO COMMEND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE AUDITED AND LOOKED AT AREAS WHERE MISMANAGEMENT OF MONEY HAS BEEN DONE. AND, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE TAX INCREASE SHOULD NOT BE DONE. I THINK THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HERE BEEN HERE FOR SOME TIME UNDERSTAND IT. UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO WHAT COUNCILMAN POLL JUST SAID, WE CAN LOWER THAT TAX RATE, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN'T CONTROL. APPRAISAL OF PROPERTY AND OTHER THINGS, WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. BUT I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY'S REQUIRED TO DO. WE CAN'T MINIMIZE THAT. IT'S A GREAT NEED. AND SO I'M, I'M HOPING THAT WE DO A DEEP, DEEP DIVE INTO THIS. UH, I WANT TO COMMEND YOUR STATEMENT ON WHEN YOU SAID, WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS THE CURE ALL, BUT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND OTHER WAYS BY WHICH WE CAN GET THAT DOLLARS. AND I'M, AND I'M, AND I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT POINT, AND SO, UH, JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT NUMBER ABOUT THE MONIES THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED BACK FROM PREVIOUS, UH MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, ISSUES IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU, RN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION VERY MUCH ON, ON THE PUBLIC INPUT. I TOTALLY AGREE. I WANNA, I WANNA GET A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE, UH, WITH THE AUDITS. MAYOR, I KNOW WE'RE IN WEEK TWO. IS THIS A SIX WEEK ENGAGEMENT OR, OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT AN OCTOBER 28TH, WE WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOME DECISIONS. OKAY. SOONER THAN LATER. OKAY. SO WE'LL HAVE MORE, YOU HAVE CUT OUT AND I'M NOT SURE THERE'LL BE PIECES OF THE STUDY THAT'LL BE COMPLETED THEN. OKAY. SO WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THESE RATES IMPACT OUR VERY TRANSPARENT OUR BUDGET WITHIN THIS OCTOBER 28TH TIMELINE. WE ALSO, I KNOW, UM, DIRECTOR DEBOSKY, WE TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE IT, IT'S AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, NOBODY COMES, WHATEVER. CAN WE HAVE THAT HEARING? IS THERE ANYTHING, MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD PRECLUDE US FROM HAVING A, A HEARING IN, IN, UH, AT A MORE OPPORTUNE TIME IN THE EVENING OR WHATEVER TO HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE? YOU CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL HEARINGS. OKAY. SO YOU CAN ADD ADDITIONAL HEARINGS. AND I THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE THE APPROPRIATE, UM, VENUE TO GET OUT AS, AS AN ORGANIZED EFFORT IN THE PUBLIC. I KNOW, UM, CERTAINLY MORE EFFECTIVE IS WE ALL GO TO CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AND WE TALK TO, WE TALK TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY, AND I'M HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS ALL OVER THE CITY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS TOO. UM, SO THAT'S ONE WAY TO GET THE WORD OUT. BUT I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE, UM, US TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE EVENING OR, OR SOMETHING WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE CAN, CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS. AND, AND IS THAT OCTOBER 28TH? UM, LIKE A HARD DEADLINE? I MEAN, DO WE HAVE EXTRA TIME? HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? NO, IT'S A HARD DEADLINE. SO THE TAX CODE SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE RATE WITHIN 60 DAYS OF WHEN WE RECEIVE THE CERTIFIED ROLE. SO OCTOBER 28TH. OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I LOOK FORWARD [04:20:01] TO GETTING MORE INFORMATION FROM THE AUDITS AS MUCH AS WE CAN, UM, TO MAKE THE MOST INFORMED DECISION WE CAN ON THIS TAX RATE. AND THERE'S SO MANY EXAMPLES OF, UH, REDUCTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE DUE TO THE REVENUE CAP. I'M TALKING ABOUT CITY SERVICES AS RECENTLY AS THE, UH, POLICE REVIEW ON THE SUSPENDED CASES AND THE INDIVIDUAL REVIEW GROUP. THEY KEEP POINTING TO THE 900 CIVIL EMPLOYEES OVER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. NOT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT UNIFORM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SUPPORT STAFF. IT'S GONE FROM 2300 DOWN TO 900 IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SAFE CITY THAT WE ALL ENDORSE, UH, WE GOTTA STEP UP THE PLATE. NOW. I FEEL THE CONSENSUS HERE AND THE TIME TIMING IS EVERYTHING, BUT THERE IS A DEADLINE THAT WE'RE AGREEING NOT TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANY LONGER. IT'S JUST THE SIZE OF THE CAN. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. VERY SHORT SPAN. AND LORD KNOWS IF WE WANTED TO REVISIT, UH, HISTORY, UH, SOME OF YOU WERE HERE, IT WAS LONG BEFORE MOST OF US WERE EVEN HERE SELLING A PROPERTY, UH, ADJUSTING THE PHYSICAL DATES FOR REPORTS. I RE I'VE SEEN 'EM ALL AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IN JANUARY WHEN WE ALL TOOK OUR OATH, WE WERE $160 MILLION SHORT. UH, AND ALL THE, UM, REDUCTIONS THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE IN THE SELLING OF PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN USED. AND SO NOW IT GETS DOWN TO TIME TO QUIT KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS DISCUSSION. WE'LL DEFINITELY, UH, CONTINUE TO HAVE A RESPONSIBLE DISCUSSION, AND I WILL GET THAT EARLY REPORT FROM THE, UH, ASSESSMENTS DONE BY ERNEST AND YOUNG. BUT, UH, I'VE LOOKED AT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. I'VE TALKED TO DEPARTMENT HEADS. UH, WHAT COULD YOU, WHAT COULD YOU CUT CALLBACKS, UH, CALLBACKS. IT'S JUST, WE'RE FACED NOW WITH THE, THE UNEXPECTED BACK TO BACK STORMS, THE KINGWOOD FLOODING, THE ICE STORM, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF THINGS THAT WE'VE GOTTA CONSIDER ALL OF OUR OPTIONS AND MAYBE MOVE SOME OF OUR TIMETABLES TO BE MORE, UH, SOONER, CERTAINLY SOONER THAN LATER. 'CAUSE WE WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT DEADLINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHAT? AND, AND DIRECTOR DKI? SORRY, DID I INTERRUPT? NO, GO AHEAD. UM, WHEN WE, UM, USE THIS TOOL, THIS RESPONSIBILITY, NOT OPPORTUNITY, UM, WHEN WE USE THIS RESPONSIBLE TOOL IN AMELDA AND IN, UM, THE TAX DAY AND MEMORIAL DAY FLOODS AT, AT WHAT RATE DID WE GO? I, I'LL HAVE TO GIVE TO WHAT RATE DID WE GO? YEAH, I'LL HAVE TO GIVE THOSE FIGURES TO YOU. IT'S ALL THE RATES ARE ON SLIDE 17 FROM THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. BUT I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO PINPOINT WHICH SO FAR. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE. YEAH, I, I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW OF THOSE KIND OF FIVE OPTIONS MM-HMM . WHICH ONES WE DID IN THE PAST. SURE. THANKS. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT, UH, FINANCIAL REPORTS? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND AND ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. UH, THANK OUR FRIENDS. OKAY. MEMBERS ON [MAYOR'S REPORT] THE MAYOR'S REPORT, UH, I MENTIONED EARLIER THE, THE, UM, REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY AT 1130 IN THE LEGACY CLINIC. I WOULD THEN PROVIDE EVERYONE TO, TO BE THERE AND PARTICIPATE. UM, ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, UM, CONSENT. CONSENT. [CONSENT AGENDA] CONSENT. AGENDA? YES, SIR. AGENDA, PLEASE. UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS ONE, TWO, AND FOUR. NEED A MOTION, CASTEX, STATE A, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM THREE IS AN ORDINANCE. JUDGE JUST NEEDS A, JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEMS FIVE AND SIX HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY ITEM SEVEN HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. NEED A VOTE ON THE, I'M SORRY. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE [04:25:01] CASTEX TO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SAME. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCE CATEGORY. ITEM 22 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 17, 21, 31, AND 41 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, THOSE ITEMS ARE 21, I'M SORRY, 17, 21, 31, AND 41. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM FIVE IS A MOTION. I'M SORRY. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. T MOVE. MOTION IS MADE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. A COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ COUNCIL ON THIS ONE OR THE NEXT ONE? THIS ONE. THIS ONE. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THIS, THIS ONE PROJECT. IT'S THE, IT'S A LONG, UH, IT'S IN THE EAST ENDS POLK. UM, IT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY IS A'S A GOOD WAY TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING BIKE LANES IN A POSITIVE WAY. IT'S A VERY NARROW STREET. IT ALREADY HAD, UH, BIKE LANES, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, FOLKS ARE STILL ABLE TO CYCLE SAFELY. UM, CARS ARE SLOWING DOWN, UH, IN THAT STRETCH. AND SO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR HELPING PUSH THIS THROUGH. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE PROJECTS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE. COUNCILMAN ALCO? NO. NO, THAT'S ALL. NEXT ITEM SIX. NEEDS A MOTION CAST A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY FOLKS WITH YOU. COUNCILMAN PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM IS FOR THE WINFERN ROAD, UM, PROJECT, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ABSOLUTELY NEEDED TO BE DONE. UM, SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO DIRECTOR MACKAY ABOUT, UM, AND HE WAS COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE OF IT, IS WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE PROJECTS, IF, UM, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE A, A BIGGER LOOK AT SOME OF THESE, THERE'S ONE INTERSECTION THAT WE COULD HAVE EXPANDED THIS PROJECT THAT WOULD HAVE REALLY JUST PRETTY MUCH COMPLETED THIS WHOLE PROJECT. BUT WE COULDN'T JUST DO ONE MORE INTERSECTION BECAUSE OF THE COST. WE WERE EVEN WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE SOME COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO IT, AND IT JUST WAS A NO GO. AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH IN SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WHEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BLOCKS AND BLOCKS AND BLOCKS TO ADD, BUT IF ONE INTERSECTION WOULD REALLY FIX THE WHOLE THING, THEN WE SHOULD REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. UM, WE HAVE, UM, THE HEB WAREHOUSE RIGHT THERE ON WINFERN. AND MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, UM, MANY RESIDENTS IN CARDALE USE WINFERN TO GET, UM, TO PLACE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD, UM, TIRES THAT ARE GETTING, UM, BROKEN BECAUSE OF THE PAVEMENT. SO JUST WANTED TO, UM, MAKE A POINT ABOUT THAT, UM, PROJECT. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE PROJECT. IT WAS VERY MUCH NEEDED. COUNCIL ALCORN, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, ON THIS, I'VE BEEN, UH, TALKING TO PEOP CONTRACTORS, AND ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS IS, UM, THE TIME FROM SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION TO CLOSEOUT. MM-HMM . UM, THIS ONE WAS ALMOST A YEAR, AND WE KIND OF GOT INTO THE WEEDS OF IT. YOU KNOW WHAT? ALL IT TOOK, UM, SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION WAS 9 21, 23, FINAL COMPLETION, 10 26, 23. OBO CLOSEOUT WASN'T UNTIL 5 13, 20 24, UH, SUBMITTED TO GRO FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND FINAL PROCESSING. 8, 14, 24. I MEAN, WE HOLD RETAINAGE 5%, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LIKE, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO COMPANIES. AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF ONE, I THINK THEY'RE, THEY TRY TO MAKE IT IN, LIKE IT'S A LONG PROCESS. IT HAS TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS. UM, THEY'RE, THEY SHOOT FOR FIVE MONTHS, WHICH SEEMS LONG TOO TO ME, BUT THIS ONE WAS 11 AND A HALF MONTHS. SO JUST SOMETHING, UM, I'VE TALKED TO THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ABOUT IT TOO, BUT SOMETHING THAT I KIND OF HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN INGER. JUST KIND OF TO DOVETAIL IN THE COUNCILMAN ALCORN'S COMMENTS, THIS MAKES US LESS DESIRABLE TO OUR VENDORS, WHICH MEANS OUR COSTS GO UP. SO WE'VE GOTTA FIND A WAY TO BE MORE FRIENDLY TO OUR VENDORS AS WELL. AND I AGREE. I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT. UM, I CERTAINLY, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF THAT THERE'S CONTRACTORS OF ALL AREAS THAT JUST WON'T DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ROAD CONTRACTORS, HOME BUILDERS. AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AROUND HERE, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA STEADILY GET BETTER. DIDN'T GET LIKE THIS OVERNIGHT, BUT COUNCILMAN ALCORN [04:30:01] HAS, UH, MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT. WE ALL AWARE OF IT, THAT IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR PEOPLE TO PROCESS THE, UH, WINNING BID TO ACTION. AND THEN, UH, I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER CONCERN IN THIS FIELD IS GETTING PAID. I HAVE SOME, UH, CONTRACTORS CONTACT ME ABOUT TRYING TO GET 'EM INVOLVED IN CITY STREET REPAIRS. THEY SAID WILLIAMS BROTHERS, THE BEST AND LARGEST ROAD CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE SAYS, I'M NOT GONNA DO WORK IN CITY OF HOUSTON. I WANT 'EM TO COME IN AND DO A SURGE OF FIXING OUR STREETS, UH, OR BE CONSIDERED FOR THAT. UH, THEY DON'T GET PAID, BUT THAT'S OLD, UH, EXPERIENCES. AND I THINK WE CAN, WE WILL DO BETTER. I MEAN, LET ALONE THE DISCOUNTS WE'RE MISSING OUT FOR TIMELY PAYMENTS. I MEAN, THIS ALL IMPACTS OUR PARTIES PAYMENTS, UH, LEGAL, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY GET AWARDED AND THEN, UH, THEY'LL SAY IT TAKES TOO LONG AND LEGAL. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS ALL HANDS ON DECK THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER BECAUSE WE REALIZE IF IT DON'T GET BETTER, THERE'LL BE NEW LEADERSHIP. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCIL CARTER, COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT. I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RARE OCCASIONS WHERE YOU SEE IT CAME IN UNDER THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT. AND TO BE HOLDING OUT ALL THIS TIME FOR THEIR MONEY IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL WHEN MOSTLY WE SEE THEIR OVER TIME. I MEAN, OVER BUDGET AND NOT ON TIME. UH, YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE, WE WOULD, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME INCENTIVE FOR FINISHING OUT THE PROJECT IN A TIMELY AND, YOU KNOW, COST EFFECTIVE MANNER. SO NO TEXDOT ACTUALLY BUILDS ALL TYPE OF INCENTIVES. THAT'S REASON YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE WORK WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK THAT SOME OF THESE CONSTRUCTION SITES, IT'S SIGNIFICANT, UH, INCENTIVE PAY IF THEY KNOCK IT OUT, ONE OF OUR MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, IT JUST COMPLICATES THE MOBILITY. UM, IF WE CAN GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN REWARD FOLKS FOR THEIR EFFICIENCIES OR ADDITIONAL STAFFING, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THERE. PRIVATE SECTOR ON TIME AND ON BUDGET MATTERS, AND THERE IS A COST INCENTIVE TO YES, MA'AM DOING THAT. THANK YOU. VOTE ON SIX. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON 17. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. HONOR CARTER. COUNCILMAN CARTER, AFTER THE VOTE, AFTER THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, UH, ON THIS ONE, MAYOR, JUST NOTING THAT, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WE'VE SEEN GRANT FUNDING COME ACROSS FOR, UH, TO ADDRESS, UH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, POPULATIONS FOR, UH, WITH AIDS AND SUCH. I WAS WONDERING, IS THERE ANY, UH, COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THAT? IT SEEMS LIKE A, THERE'S PRETTY BIG NUMBERS AND I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT OUR COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS COUNTY WOULD BE. VERY GOOD QUESTION. UM, WE, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THAT, BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH, UH, THE COUNTY'S EFFORTS. I HISTORICALLY, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AS, AS, UH, AGGRESSIVE. AND, UH, IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT THE CITY HAS LED THE WAY ON THIS ISSUE, UH, BECAUSE OF OUR CONCERN FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THIS IMPACTS MOST. SO I'LL CERTAINLY, UM, MAKE THIS PART OF OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY. THEY, WE, WE DO HAVE FRIENDS AT THE COUNTY THAT TAKE THIS SUBJECT AND THIS DELIVERY OF SERVICE VERY, VERY SERIOUS. BUT, UM, I THINK HOUSTON IS, IS KIND OF LED THE WAY AND WE'LL CONTINUE. SO THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, NEXT ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE POST NAY. MOTION PASSES. WHERE ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE? ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES OF COUNCILMAN CARTER. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU. UH, JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, CUTTING COSTS AND, AND YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT FUNDING ACROSS THE BOARD AND, UH, UH, CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WHILE I AM ALL IN FAVOR, KINDA LIKE THAT ART DISCUSSION. BA HUMBUG, BA HUMBUG. WE GOT PRR OVER HERE SOMEWHERE. . SO, UH, [04:35:01] NO . SO I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, AT, AT IAH WE'RE LOOKING AT THREE TERMINALS, THE ADMIN BUILDING, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE OFFICE, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE TERMINAL. AND THE FAA BUILDING AT HOBBY, UM, SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY BIG NUMBER FOR CHRISTMAS DECOR TO BE UP FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T, IT'S, I, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THAT'S, UH, BY ANY MEASURE, THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. I GO FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, 9 57 TO 1.14. SO BIG CONTRACT AND I THINK ANNUAL REVENUE FOR, FOR THE, UH, THE, UM, CONTRACT, THE SEASONAL INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES, UH, FOR ALWAYS IN SEASON. BEST I COULD FIND THEIR ANNUAL REVENUE IS 8.1. SO WE'RE A BIG CHUNK OF THEIR BUSINESS JUST SAYING VICE MAYOR BOT. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I AGREE. I MEAN WITH, YOU KNOW, OH, SHE'S ABOUT TO FALL HUNDRED AGAIN. OKAY. UM, SAY YOUR PEACE . I MEAN, A LOT OF THESE, UM, BUILDINGS THAT THE, THE DECORATIONS ARE GOING IN ARE NOT EVEN PUBLIC FACING BUILDINGS. AND SO I THINK KIND OF A COMPROMISE THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANNA DECORATE THE AIRPORT, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY STICK TO THE AREAS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PUBLIC FACING, WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO COME IN AND OUT OF, AND NOT JUST OFFICE BUILDINGS. UM, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD COMPROMISE TO REDUCE THE COSTS HERE. COUNCILMAN ALCORN, SAME THING. AND Y'ALL COME TO MY HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS, IT IS LIT UP LIKE THE 4TH OF JULY. I LOVE CHRISTMAS, BUT I AGREE, THE TERMINALS RIGHT ON. I LOVE THE DECORATIONS AND THE TERMINALS, BUT THE, THE, THE BUILDINGS, THE LIKE SUPPLY CHAIN BUILDING, I THINK IS GONNA BE VACATED 'CAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND STUFF. SO, I MEAN, WHO'S LOOKING AT THE DECORATIONS THERE? SO I'M GREAT WITH THE PUBLIC FACING TERMINALS. LOVE CHRISTMAS, LOVE THE HOLIDAYS. LET'S GET OUT THERE AND MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL WELCOME AND COZY AND HAVE ALL HAVE HAVE A HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON. AND, UM, AND LET'S JUST, MA I'M JUST FINE IF MAYBE WE DON'T DO THE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO ADJUST THIS TO NOT DO THE, THE CERTAINLY NOT THE BUILDING THAT'S GONNA BE VACATED, YOU KNOW, BUT WHATEVER. THAT'S, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS. I'M NOT GONNA DIE ON THIS HILL. BUT, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING COSTS. YOU KNOW, WE, WE DECORATE OUR OWN, OUR OWN CUBICLES AND AT LARGE FIVE WITH OUR OWN HARD EARNED CASH. SO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. UH, JUST LIKE WHAT THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, I MEAN, CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE A LUXURY WHEN WE HAVE REAL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO PAY FOR. AND I KNOW ORIGINALLY, YOU KNOW, THE BULK OF THIS, UH, MONEY, UM, IT WAS AN ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2019. AND SO WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA SEE THIS NEW CONTRACT COME UP BECAUSE THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH A, OR YEAH, WITH THE TWO YEAR EXTENSION. I THINK I HAVE THAT RIGHT. UM, SO WE'LL PROBABLY SEE IT NEXT YEAR, BUT, SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE'RE PASSING, UM, ORDINANCES IN THE FUTURE LIKE THIS. I MEAN, $1.1 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY, EVEN IF IT'S BROKEN UP OVER, UM, A COUPLE DIFFERENT YEARS. AND FURTHERMORE, I'D LIKE TO MENTION WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE RENDERINGS, THERE WAS NOT ONE MENORAH IN, IN ALL THE DECORATIONS. SO JUST THOUGHT I'D POINT THAT OUT. THANK YOU, POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. I ACTUALLY LIKE WHEN WE, UH, DIVE DEEP INTO, UH, THE NUMBERS, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE SAME ENERGY ON BIG TICKET ITEMS AS WELL. SOMETIMES WE HAVE THE CONTROLLER FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE GIVE US NUMBERS ON THESE BIG TICKET MILLION MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DEALS, AND IT'S NOT THE SAME PASSION. AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS THE ENTERPRISE FUND, SO IT'S NOT THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. YES, IT'S TAX DOLLARS, UM, BUT IT'S NOT THE, IT, IT, IT IS NOT OUR, OUR GENERAL FUND BUCKET. UM, SO, UM, I'LL WAIT TO SEE HOW EVERYONE VOTES AND GO AT, AT THE END. BUT, UH, THESE TYPE OF DISCUSSIONS OVER DIVING DEEP INTO THE NUMBERS AND HAVING A PRIVATE SECTOR MINDSET OR, OR, OR ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ROBUST FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, I THINK NEEDS TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD AND NOT JUST ON, UH, THESE TYPE OF ITEMS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, ALTHOUGH COUNCILMAN POLLARD'S, ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, THIS IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND IT'S NOT REALLY GONNA IMPACT. ITS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE FOUND MANAGING FINANCES FOR AN OPERATING DIVISION IS A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT A CULTURE. AND WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A CULTURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING [04:40:01] TO REDUCE EXPENSES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. AND I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC SEES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THIS. AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS A SMALL ITEM THAT'S THE ENTERPRISE FUND, I THINK THIS DOES MAKE A STATEMENT TO THEM. RAMIREZ, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER SAID. YOU KNOW, MAYOR, A COUPLE, COUPLE, FEW MONTHS AGO, YOU SAID, WE REALLY NEED TO START TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS. PERFECT EXAMPLE. AND, UH, IT REALLY SHOULD START WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE CULTURE THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS. THE, THE AIRPORT SYSTEM HAS A TON OF MONEY BECAUSE IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULDN'T EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND BE MINDFUL OF, UH, THE, THE TAX DOLLARS OR THE, THE REVENUE THAT IS BEING GATHERED AND THEN SPENT. AND SO I JUST HOPE AT THE, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS, WE ST START TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE KINDS OF THINGS. THANK YOU COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WAS GONNA SAY THIS FOR POP-OFF, BUT UM, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH, WITH CONS, COUNCILOR RAMIR MENTIONED, RIGHT? UH, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, SO, YOU KNOW, JUST DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT, RIGHT? BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN THERE'S PRICE ESCALATIONS THAT THE AIRPORT IS NOT LOOKING AT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, THEN STUFF LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, IT, IT BRINGS A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO, YOU KNOW, WANNA SUPPORT THIS. AND I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, AND LET'S MAKE 'EM FRONT FACING. NEED A VOTE. LET'S NOT HAVE IT AT A, AT A, UH, YOU KNOW, STORAGE FACILITY. THAT'S, NO ONE'S GONNA BE AT AS WELL. THAT'S ALL. JUST NEED A VOTE. , JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW, I DO LISTEN TO YOU. UH, AND IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR EARLIER DISCUSSION, UM, I CAN EITHER PULL IT OR LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL OR HOW ABOUT, JUST A, A SHOW OF HANDS, WHAT IS REFER BACK IS, IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK AT JUST THE PUBLIC CHANGE? BECAUSE I'M GONNA VOTE NO BASED ON, UH, OUR EARLIER DISCUSSION AND, UH, THE COMMENTS THAT BE MADE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED, SMALL ITEM ENTERPRISE FUND, I STILL THINK IT MAKES A STATEMENT. AND, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO USE TO DECORATE, I THINK IT'LL BE PRETTY ALREADY. SO, UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO, UH, REFER THIS ITEM BACK AND HAVE IT REVIEWED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR, UM, PUBLIC FACING SECOND AND BRING IT BACK, UM, ONCE WE'VE GOT A A, A FINE TUNED, UM, I THINK SO AND PROPOSAL BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL. AND I THINK COUNCILMAN POLLARD MAKES SOME EXCELLENT POINTS. I HOPE WE USE THE SAME REVIEW, UH, ON BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT WE DO ON A RELATIVELY SMALL ITEM, BUT I THINK, I THINK WE WOULD BE MAKING A MISTAKE TO, TO GO FORWARD WITHOUT A REVIEW. SO THANK YOU. UH, MOTIONS MADE AND WE HAVE A SECOND. NO, SHE DOES NOT. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY RAMIREZ. NO SIR. RAMIREZ VOTES, NO. YEAH. OH, I, THE REFERRAL BACK. Y'ALL WANNA ROLL CALL? NO, WE'RE JUST GONNA VOTE FOR THE REFERRAL BACK. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES, THOSE. OH, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. IT'S A DONE DEAL TO THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. SHOW ME VOTE. THE VOTE WAS TO REFER BACK. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. WELL, I BET HE DOESN'T KNOW YOU'RE MARRIED. RANCH ON THIS, THE MOTION WAS TO GO BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, REFER BACK, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A READ BRANCHES. WHAT ELSE? UH, 41. NEXT ITEM IS 41 ADAM. 41 I. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. VICE MAYOR. PROTO VICE MAYOR. PROTE PICK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS FOR, UM, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE ANTOINE DRIVE DRAINAGE AND PAVING PROJECT. UM, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS FOR 2 92 ACORN STREET. UM, BUT MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT GOES ALL THE WAY FROM TWO 90 ALL THE WAY TO WEST MOUNT HOUSTON. AND THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT EXPANDING THE LANES, UM, FROM FOUR TO SIX LANES. AND MAYOR, THIS IS IN YOUR FORMER SENATE DISTRICT, SO I'M SURE YOU KNOW THE AREA REALLY WELL AND KNOW THE ISSUES THERE THAT, UM, PEOPLE DO NOT WANT IT TO BE WIDENED TO SIX LANES. UM, AND I KNOW THAT THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR ISN'T ABOUT, UM, EXPANDING THE LANES, BUT THERE'S ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT WE'RE DOING NOW TO SEE IF IT WARRANTS BEING SIX LANES THAT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M ALL ABOUT USING NUMBERS AND DATA TO DETERMINE WHAT WE SHOULD DO. BUT WHILE THIS IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, THIS IS ACTUALLY IN PEOPLE'S FRONT YARDS TOO. SO THIS ISN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE THAT WE NEED TO GET TRAFFIC MOVING. THIS DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR FRONT YARDS. ANTOINE IS, IS A RESIDENTIAL STREET JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS A MAJOR [04:45:01] THOROUGHFARE. SO JUST WANNA BE SURE THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC STUDIES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPENDING ALL OF THIS MONEY TO SHOW WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD BE FOUR OR SIX LANES. WE SHOULD NOT WIDEN IT TO SIX LANES NO MATTER WHAT IT SHOWS, BECAUSE THIS IS DIRECTLY IMPACTING OUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S UNDER REVIEW. YEAH, ACTUALLY HEARD IT DISCUSSED THIS MORNING. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, YES. THIS PROJECT IMPACTS BOTH CNA AND COUNCIL MEMBER. PECK AND I HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY OVER THE YEARS WITH RESIDENTS. UM, WHEN THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKED, 91.4% ASKED TO REMAIN FOUR LANES, AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE THERE, UH, WE WERE TOLD WE WERE THERE. UH, WE SPENT SIX, THE CITY SPENT $61,000 ON A TRAFFIC STUDY TO AFFIRM IT DID NOT NEED TO GO TO SIX LANES. NOW THAT IS ALL BEING QUESTIONED AGAIN IN A NEW TRAFFIC STUDY ORDERED, WHICH IS WHAT I HINTED TO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COST ADDING UP, WE'VE NOW ORDERED ANOTHER TRAFFIC COUNT. UH, AND I'VE ASKED THE DEPARTMENT, WELL, HOW MUCH IS THAT GONNA COST US WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE THE DATA TO SHOW IT? SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE EITHER TO TAG THIS ITEM OR ASSURANCES THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS THE FOUR LANE MAINTAINING FOUR LANES. WE'RE NOT REDUCING LANES MAINTAINING THE FOUR LANES, UH, ON THIS ITEM. WELL, I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT. UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE 91% POLLING WAS DONE, BUT OBVIOUSLY I, I ACCEPT THAT, UH, YOU ALSO NEED TO POLL THE PEOPLE IN ACRES HOME AND, UM, KLEIN AND EVERYBODY THAT COMES DOWN THAT STRETCH. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT IT'S, IT'S NOT, WE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, SO WE NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING. CORRECT. AND THE TRAFFIC STUDY WILL STILL MAINTAIN THAT SAME SCOPE. SO I'M HAPPY TO TAG THE ITEM, BUT THAT'S FINE. WE DON'T HAVE A, AGAIN, I DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ANSWER ON HOW MUCH THE COST OF THAT I UNDERSTAND IS GOING TO BE I'M SO, SO I'D LIKE TO TAG, SO, SO I'D TAG SOUNDS GOOD. YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO TAG IT. AND MAYOR, THERE'S ONE THING I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS IF I MAY. UM, I WAS WORKING ON THIS ITEM YESTERDAY. I WAS WORKING ON THIS VERY ITEM YESTERDAY. I HAD TO STEP OUT OF PUBLIC SESSION, UH, TO TRY AND GET MORE ANSWERS FOR RESIDENTS ON THIS. 'CAUSE AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. UH, WHILE I WAS OUTSIDE WORKING ON THIS VERY ITEM DURING PUBLIC SESSION, YOU BROUGHT UP MY OFFICE IN A NON-DISTRICT MATTER WITH ANOTHER RESIDENT. AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN ADDRESSING ISSUES BEHIND CHAMBERS. BUT YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS CATEGORICALLY FALSE, UH, PUBLICLY ABOUT MY OFFICE AND MY STAFF THAT YOU HAD REACHED OUT PREVIOUSLY AS A SENATOR TO MY OFFICE AND WE'RE TOLD TO CALL 3 1 1, WHICH IS NOT ACCURATE. THIS WAS RELATING TO THE BLOSSOM WEST SCOTT CROSSING THAT WE FUNDED WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I, I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT PRIVATELY, BUT AGAIN, I HAD MULTIPLE CONSTITUENTS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT. WELL, I APOLOGIZE IF YOU AND I HAVE A DIFFERENT RECOLLECTION OF THINGS. I RESPECT YOU GREATLY. YOU DO A FINE JOB. I'M ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND, UH, I'VE SAID NUMEROUS TIMES, ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT IN THE MAYOR'S RACE WAS MY EXPERIENCE WITH DEALING WITH A STILL VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING AT WEST SCOTT AND BLOSSOM. YOU AND I DISCUSSED IT AT THE TIME, BUT I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE AS NOT A SENATOR OR EVEN CERTAINLY A MAYOR. I COULD NOT GET RESULTS. YOU KNOW IT. AND, UH, I DON'T RETRACT ANYTHING. I SAID THE EXPERIENCE WAS UNFORTUNATE. IT'S WHAT A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS GO THROUGH. YOU GET BACKED UP ON 3 1 1. THEN I TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO CALL PUBLIC WORKS MYSELF USING MY OFFICIAL POSITION, AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX SOMETHING. LET ME TELL YOU HOW BAD IT IS. MY SECURITY PEOPLE SAID THEY WOULD USE RED LIGHTS TO GET ACROSS IT IF I WOULD ALLOW THEM TO. AND I DON'T BECAUSE I WANNA BE TREATED LIKE OTHER HOUSTONS 'CAUSE IT MOTIVATES ME TO FIX THEIR PROBLEMS. SO I APOLOGIZE IF YOU HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT NEIGHBORS ARE STILL GOING THROUGH. FACT, YOU KNOW HOW IT'S GONNA GET FIXED QUICKER THAN THAN LATER. COMMISSIONER BNIS IS GONNA DO IT. AND WE'RE GONNA PUT A HAWK LIKE THERE. WHAT I SAID WAS ACCURATE WHEN I SAID IT, AND STILL TODAY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO GO LOOK AT A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. SIR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, THAT MY FACTS WERE WRONG. I SAID I DIDN'T EVEN CALL YOU OUT BY NAME. THAT'S HOW CURTIS FELLOW NO, YOU SAID YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT CITY AND I AM YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF 3 1 1 HAS TO BE IMPROVED AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS. AND QUITE FRANKLY, [04:50:01] I THINK THE CONSERVANCY MADE A HUGE MISTAKE MAKING THAT THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE INTO MEMORIAL PARK. DANGEROUS. GO STAND OUT THERE, MAYOR. YOU CAN'T GET ACROSS WESTCOTT AND I'M GONNA FIX IT. MAYOR, MY PUBLIC WORKS DID NOT HAVE FUNDING. I CAME INTO OFFICE AND I SAID WE WOULD HAVE A FIX FOR THE WOW ROUNDABOUT. AND RESIDENTS SAID, CAN WE ALSO WORK IN BLOSSOM? I SAID, ABSOLUTELY. MY OFFICE, I KNOW ABOUT IT. I'M SPEAKING RIGHT NOW. MY OFFICE FUNDED THE SOLUTIONS THAT WERE PERMISSIBLE BASED ON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS FROM RICE MILITARY, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, GRACEWOOD, GLEN, CLOVE, MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY, PTO CAMP LOGAN WOODCREST, WEST END. THEY, THE DEPARTMENT WANTED TO CLOSE OFF THAT INTERSECTION, WHICH THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T WANT. WE SAID NO. WE SAID, CAN WE PUT A HAWK THERE? THE COST OF THAT AND THE WIRING MY OFFICE DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDING FOR WHEN I CAME TO YOU. I SAID, GREAT, IF WE CAN BUILD UPON THE PROGRESS AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER, FANTASTIC. BUT TO CATEGORICALLY SAY THAT WE DID NOT WORK ON IT. WE DID NOT. THE INTERSECTION, I DIDN'T SAY THAT. I SAID I DIDN'T GET RESULTS. I WAS REFERRED TO 3 1 1. YOU WERE NOT REFERRED. YOU'RE PUTTING WORDS IN, AND I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE WITH YOU. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT INTERSECTION. YOU'RE A FINE COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOU DID WHAT YOU WERE CAPABLE OF DOING AT THE TIME. I USE IT AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I GOT IN THE MAYOR'S RACE, MAYOR DID. I SAW THE LACK OF CITY SERVICES. DID WE DID NOT REFER YOU TO THREE THREATENING SITUATION. KNOW WE DID NOT EVER REFER YOU, YOU TO 3 1 1. WE GONNA DOWN AND FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. WE NEVER DID. AND I KNOW BECAUSE WHEN WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE, I WASN'T THE MAYOR. THEN. WHEN WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE, YOU CATEGORICALLY SAID, DO NOT IMPROVE THIS INTERSECTION. WHO SAID THAT YOU DID TO ME? AND I SAID, RESPECTFULLY. NO. I SAID, OKAY. NOW LET'S, LET'S BE FACTUAL. I SAID, WHY DON'T YOU WAIT AND LET ME BECOME THE MAYOR AND WE'LL DO IT RIGHT. I DID NOT SAY, DO NOT FIX THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE INTERSECTION WAS BEING FIXED AS WE WERE TALKING. 'CAUSE YOU TOOK THE LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION, WHICH TODAY IS STILL DANGEROUS. I ASKED YOU SIX MONTHS FROM THE ELECTION DAY, WOULD YOU TAKE A CHANCE ON ME BEING ELECTED AND WE'LL DO IT RIGHT. I DON'T RETREAT FROM TRYING TO PROTECT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AS A NEITHER DO I CONSTITUENT. AND ALSO AS A SENATOR. AND NOW WE'RE GONNA FIX IT AS THE MAYOR. WE'RE GONNA PUT A HAWK LIKE THERE, WHICH IS AT SIX IN YALE STREET. IT WORKS. YOU PUSH A BUTTON AND THE BIKERS, JOGGERS, BABY CARRIAGES, AND EVERYTHING'S GONNA SAFELY CROSS IT. AND A HAWK IS A TERRIFIC ADDITION. BUT MY OFFICE UPDATE, I'M ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE GONNA FIX IT. AS AM I. THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHAT ELSE? NEXT ITEM, HUH? MATTERS HELP, RIGHT? SAY WHAT? UH, SO ITEM 41 HAS BEEN TAGGED, 40 ONE'S TAGGED. NEXT, JOIN THE TAG TOO. 44. I'M SORRY, WHO? I'LL JOIN. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, ALSO PECK ALSO TAGS. MM-HMM . ITEM [MATTERS HELD] 44 IS A MOTION. JUST NEEDS A VOTE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I GUESS TWO WEEKS AGO I TAGGED THIS. UM, AND THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT, UH, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON. UH, THE FIRST WAS, UH, THE, THE LACK OF THE PRIME, ACCEPTING A CHANGE ORDER, UH, IN, IN A TIMELY MANNER TO SEE A SUB GET PAID. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, PRACTICE IS THAT WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT AS A CITY, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD PRIMES ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR SUBS ARE GETTING PAID SUBS DON'T HAVE THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO FLOAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING AS, AS MUCH AS MAYBE EVEN $50,000 THEY NEED TO PAY. UH, THEY NEED, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF PAYROLL AND AND WHATNOT. THE OTHER THING IS, UM, I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT TECH DOT HAS GUIDELINES ON PRICE ESCALATIONS SINCE COVID. AND I THINK A, UH, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT HAS REALLY NOT TAKEN HEAT TO IT. OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE, UM, AGAIN, WHEN WE START WORKING ON, ON THESE PROJECTS, WHETHER IT'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT OR AT THE AIRPORT, WE SHOULD DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO KEEP THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE. I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, NO ONE WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. AND IF WE'RE NOT PROVIDING THE, THE SUPPORT THAT SMALL BUSINESSES NEED, UM, YOU KNOW, TO ENSURE THAT, THAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID OR THEY'RE AT LEAST LOOKING, TAKING CONSIDERATION THE PRICE ESCALATION, UM, YOU KNOW, TEXTILES DOING A GOOD JOB. AND I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT CONTRACTORS ARE, ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVING A GOOD, GOOD, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY. UM, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL NEED TO GET IT, GET IT DONE, BUT JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I'M, I'M GONNA BE VOTING. NO, THANK YOU. NO OTHER DISCUSSION. JUST STATE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE SUPPOSED NAY. NO OBJECTION. NO. JACKSON MARTINEZ. NO. MOTION PASSES. [04:55:01] NEXT, ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE JUST NEEDS TO VOTE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I REFERRED THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE MUD AND JUST, AND TO ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE HOMES WERE ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE DEVELOPER WAS SELLING THIS MUD, THAT IT WAS GONNA BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND SO, MAYOR, FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR TAKING IT BACK AND ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE THEIR INPUT. UM, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A MUD IN THE AREA THAT NO ONE KNEW, KNEW ABOUT, INCLUDING MYSELF. AND SO THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN REALLY A PART OF DISCUSSION. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, DID HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE COMMUNITY IN A MEETING THAT I HOSTED LAST WEEK. AND OUTTA THAT MEETING, THE COMMUNITY GENERATED A LIST OF ASK QUESTIONS, UM, THAT I SHARED WITH MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS AS YOUR OFFICE MAYOR. AND, UM, AND OF COURSE I SHARED IT WITH THE DEVELOPER ON YESTERDAY. WE SAT DOWN AND WE TALKED. UM, I ALSO APOLOGIZED TO HIM BECAUSE HE DID SEND ME AN EMAIL LAST YEAR, UM, THAT OUT THE TITLE WAS MUD, BUT I DID, IT WAS IN MY CAMPAIGN EMAIL, SO I DID NOT GET THE EMAIL. SO I DID, UM, APOLOGIZE TO HIM. HOWEVER, OUT OF THIS, WE DID GET A GOOD DISCUSSION, UM, WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AND OUT OF THE, UM, QUESTIONS AND ASK FROM THE DEVELOP, UM, FROM THE COMMUNITY, UM, WE ASK THE DEVELOPER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERCENTAGE, THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OF HOMES UNDER $200,000 AND THAT THEY FOLLOW HUD AFFORDABILITY GUIDELINES. WELL, WE LEARNED THAT BECAUSE HE'S NOT WORKING UNDER THE, UM, CITY OF HOUSTON'S HOUSE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, IT'S MARKET RATE. SO THEY CANNOT, YOU KNOW, APPROVE THAT OR COMMIT TO THAT BECAUSE, UM, IT'S OPEN MARKET. BUT LANNER HOMES DO HAVE PROGRAMS WHICH ARE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA BE THE BUILDER. THEY DO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT CAN SECURE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UM, TO SET ASIDE SOME DOLLARS FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. RIGHT NOW, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ONLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED HOUSES, UM, ON DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. THAT'S FOR THE WHOLE CITY. AND SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH GLOW TO GET MORE MONEY IN, AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT $12 MILLION, AND THAT'S GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR, UM, MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, UM, ON THIS PROGRAM. UM, ALSO, UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE COMMUNITY WAS BECAUSE WE'RE BRINGING IN OVER A HUNDRED, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, OVER A THOUSAND HOMES PLUS, UM, HPD, UM, SECURITY, UM, SERVICES. UM, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE, YOU'RE GONNA REQUIRE MORE SERVICES, NOT JUST WITH HPD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO OUR SCHOOLS. AND SO THE DEVELOPER, THEY COMMITTED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH, UM, THE COMMUNITY, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS 40. WE HAVE 47, 49, AND 53 SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS OVER IN THAT AREA. THEY'RE GONNA WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM AS THEY MAP OUT THEIR BYLAWS FOR THEIR HOA. AND SO, UM, AND SO THAT, AND OF COURSE, HOA WILL COVER THOSE EXPENSES AND THEY WILL WORK WITH THE COUNTY OR THE, THE COUNTY OR THE CONSTABLES. UM, IN REGARDS TO SECURITY, FLOODING WAS ANOTHER ISSUE. UM, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND PUBLIC WORKS HAS APPROVED THEIR PLAN. IN FACT, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND FROM WHAT, UM, THE DEVELOPER SENT TO ME LAST NIGHT, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY EXCEEDED THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, UM, ON THEIR PODS AND ON THE, UM, THE POND AND OTHER THINGS. SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FLOOD, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE ON TRACK IN REGARDS TO FLOODING. UM, WE WANTED A SEAT ON THE MUD. AND SO BECAUSE IT'S A DEVELOPER, UM, ESTABLISHED MUD, THE, THE SEATS ARE APPOINTED, AND SO THEY WILL APPOINT AN COMMUNITY PERSON TO THE MUD. THEY COMMITTED TO THAT, AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEVELOPER AGREED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, AS I SAID, OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO ESTABLISH THE BYLAWS AND WE WOULD HAVE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION. SO I REALLY FELT THAT GOOD ABOUT THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH THE DEVELOPER YESTERDAY. AND AGAIN, IT WASN'T ABOUT NOT WANTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS PART OF THE PROCESS. AND I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND I THINK WE'VE SET PRECEDENT ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE ESTABLISHING MUDS IN THE CITY LIMITS. SO, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P*****K. OKAY, THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR HER, HER LEADERSHIP AND DILIGENCE ON THIS. I THINK, UM, SHE REPRESENTED HER CONSTITUENTS WELL AND GETTING ANSWERS, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS WAS A DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO HER DISTRICT. AND CONGRATULATIONS, UH, ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE GETTING ALMOST A THOUSAND AFFORDABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. UM, THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IN, IN DISTRICT J. AND I'M SURE MANY OF US AROUND THE HORSE, YOU WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, [05:00:01] UM, A THOUSAND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. ALSO, WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE DEVELOPER BECAUSE THIS IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, USING PRIVATE DOLLARS, UM, ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TO BE CREATIVE, TO FIND A WAY TO BRING AFFORDABILITY INTO OUR CITY, UH, WITH NO PROGRAMS, NO, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, SET ASIDES. UM, BUT JUST PEER PASSION, UH, UNDERSTANDING FOR THE IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY AND BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE CONSTITUENTS ON, ON MAKING THAT HAPPEN. WE NEED MORE DEVELOPERS LIKE THAT MAYOR, UH, THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE AND A PRODUCT WITHOUT US AS A BODY HAVING TO USE TAX DOLLARS TO DO SO. AND IT FREES US UP TO USE THOSE TAX DOLLARS FOR SERVICES IN OTHER AREAS. SO, UM, I'M EXCITED FOR YOUR DISTRICT TO HAVE THIS. HOPEFULLY, UM, WE CAN HAVE MORE DEVELOPERS BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY, VERY WELL SAID. UH, IT JUST SHOWS WHAT COLLABORATION CAN DO. UH, HOPEFULLY IT'LL ENCOURAGE, UH, OTHER DEVELOPERS TO COME SEE SUCH A GOOD OUTCOME. AND YOU WERE REALLY RIGHT ON WITH YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO DO A SHOUT OUT. STEVE AND DAVID IN MY OFFICE HAS SPENT, UH, A LOT OF TIME ON THIS. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO SEE THAT THE DEVELOPER, UH, DOES HIS PART AND THE POSITION FOR YOU TO HAVE AND THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MUD IS, UH, CERTAINLY WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY FACTOR AS WELL. SO IT'S A HECK OF AN OUTCOME. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. TOTALLY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID. AND, UM, KUDOS TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. UM, THIS IS A WIN-WIN. I THINK IF ALL PARTIES, UM, PERFORM AS THEY HAVE REPRESENTED THEY WOULD, PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HOUSTON HAS TO TAKE MANY FORMS. AND THIS IS AN EXCITING, UH, WAY OF DOING IT. I HOPE IT SERVES AS A MODEL FOR DEVELOPING OTHER PORTIONS OF HOUSTON THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT DEVELOPED, UH, AND WILL LEAD TO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO, THANK YOU. JUST NEED A VOTE ON, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY CAY IN NO MOTION PASSES. GOOD JOB. NEXT [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE POLL. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM IS TO ADDRESS THE SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING OVER THE PAST WEEK, BUT ALSO HEARING OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, UM, AFTER PUBLIC DISCUSSION YESTERDAY AND HEARING FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES. I'M GONNA TAG THIS WITH NO DISCUSSION. UM, AND HOPEFULLY OVER THE NEXT WEEK, UM, WHATEVER QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE, UH, AND WHATEVER CONSTITUENT OUTREACH OR INDUSTRY OUTREACH IS NECESSARY FOR EVEN MORE INSIGHT WE CAN GET AND WE WILL REVISIT NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU, KEVIN SHABAZZ JOINS THE TAG HERE, CHOICE TAG, UH, TAG BY COUNCILMAN SHAMA POLLARD. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE ALL KNOW THERE'S UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE CURRENT PROCESS, SO I HOPE THIS GETS WORKED OUT. THANK YOU. NEXT, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. OKAY, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] POPOFF, COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR WORKING SO HARD WITH ME AND WITH DISTRICT G ON MOSQUITO ABATEMENT IN THE DISTRICT. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES OF WEST NILE AND, UM, WE JUST HEARD ON THE NEWS THIS WEEK, FORT BEND COUNTY ANNOUNCING THAT THEY'VE HAD CASES OF WEST NILE. AND SO I THANK COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR WORKING WITH ME TO HELP WITH THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. AND NOT ONLY DOES SHE WORK WITH US ON HARD, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT ALSO FUN THINGS. SO THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, WE ARE HAVING, UM, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER ESS, UH, OUR SUMMER MOVIE SERIES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE SUMMER ANYMORE, IT GOT PUSHED BACK WEATHER PERMITS. IT'S GOING TO BE SPORTS NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 13TH, IT'S 6:00 PM AT NOTTINGHAM PARK. IT'S TOTALLY FREE. THERE ARE GONNA BE, UM, SHOOTING STARS FROM THE ASTROS. YOU CAN TAKE YOUR PICTURES WITH THOSE GIRLS. THEY'RE GONNA BE SOCCER DRILLS WITH HOUSTON DYNAMOS FACE PAINTING, FOOD TRUCKS, UH, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND IT'S ALL FREE. SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT NOTTINGHAM PARK. AND THEN AFTER ALL OF THAT, WHEN IT GETS DARK, WE'RE SHOWING THE MOVIE AIR BUD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANT TO REFLECT ON, UH, THIS DAY, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 11TH, 23 [05:05:01] YEARS AGO, UM, WHEN THE TOWERS WERE ATTACKED AND FELL, WHEN THE PENTAGON WAS ATTACKED, AND WHEN, UH, THE PLANE WAS HIJACKED AND CRASHED IN PENNSYLVANIA. HEARING, UH, THOSE EVENTS, UH, I THINK CHANGED US, SAUL, AND IT IS RIGHT TO REMEMBER THE LIVES THAT WERE LOST, UM, AND ALSO HOW IT BROUGHT, UH, THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AND CONTINUES TO DO THAT. AND SO I HOPE WE TAKE A MOMENT TODAY TO REFLECT ON, ON, ON THOSE THINGS. ALSO, IN REGARDS TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD EARLIER ABOUT THE TAX RATE, UM, I RESPECT ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AND UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR REVENUE, BUT I ALSO HOPE THIS LARGER DISCUSSION WILL ALSO REFLECT ON WHETHER OR NOT, UH, THE CITY GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE SMALLER. IT JUST SEEMS THAT THE ONLY DIRECTION THE GOVERNMENT GOES IS TO GROW AND GROW AND GROW REQUIRING MORE AND MORE REVENUE. UH, AND THIS DOESN'T OCCUR IN A VACUUM. WE AREN'T THE ONLY OTHER ONLY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY THAT SEEKS FUNDS FROM THE TAXPAYERS. THERE'S A FLOOD CONTROL BOND ISSUE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, UH, THROUGH THE COUNTY THAT IS NEEDED. THERE'S AN HISD BOND ISSUE, $4 BILLION THAT'S ON THE BALLOT, UH, IN NOVEMBER. THERE IS TALK ABOUT A GARBAGE FEE, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS SAYING, WELL, THIS IS ONLY $12 A MONTH, AND THAT'S NOT TOO MUCH FOR OUR RESIDENTS. UH, IT, IT ALL ADDS UP. AND WHEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, THE INCREASES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UH, THE INCREASES THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE, UH, SOON, IT, IT ALL ADDS UP. NOT TO MENTION, UH, THE INFLATION WE SEE IN THE ECONOMY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK. MANAGEMENT STUDIES ARE GREAT, AUDITS ARE GREAT, AND I APPLAUD THEM. UH, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT, UH, THIS IS THE RIGHT SIZE OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND WHETHER, UH, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO, TO KEEP ON GROWING IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE GROWING. THANK YOU MAYOR. PER COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PROM, CAST SIX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, FROM THE DISTRICT A OFFICE, UH, MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT THE CITY PURCHASED, UM, SIX FLOOD PRONE PROPERTIES IN WESTBURY BECAUSE OF THE REPETITIVE FLOODING THERE. WELL, ONE OF THOSE, UM, PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE, UM, PUT THE BIOSWELLS ON 'EM, UH, WE WILL BE PLANTING OVER 800 PLANTS IN THAT BIO SWELL TO HELP WITH THE, THE WATER, UM, GOING INTO, UM, THE RIGHT PLACES. AND WE NEED SOME HANDS ON DECKS. SO, UH, WESTBURY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CIVIC CLUB, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AND REPRESENTATIVES, UH, ALONG WITH HOUSTON WILDERNESS WILL BE MEETING AT 56 59 CARTENA, UH, NEAR ANDERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER THE NINTH FROM NINE 30 TO 12:30 PM IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE SOME MORE HANDS ON DECK TO HELP WITH THAT PROJECT. UH, SO WE'LL SEE YOU THERE. UH, THEN ON SATURDAY, I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT I AM THE HONORARY CHAIR OF THE 39TH ANNUAL UNCF WALK FOR EDUCATION. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND PECK HAVE JOINED. TEAM MARTHA, UH, WE WILL BE RAISING MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. UM, AND REMEMBER, OUR MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND FOR SUPPORTING, UH, THE UNCF UH, WALK FOR EDUCATION. OCTOBER 1ST IS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL BUSY ON THAT NIGHT VISITING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, NOW'S THE TIME FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO START ORGANIZING THEIR BLOCK PARTIES COOKOUTS THEIR GATHERINGS. UM, IF YOU ARE A DISTRICT, A NEIGHBORHOOD AND PLANNING AN EVENT, PLEASE SEND THAT INFORMATION TO JOE GATSON IN OUR OFFICE. UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, HAVE A SCHEDULED OFFICER OR SOMEONE FROM THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE TO VISIT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT, UM, WITH CERTIFICATES. AND THEN I, I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME, UH, ONE OF OUR INTERNS WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, BAYLA KOHI. UH, SHE IS HERE. SHE IS A RICE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC SERVICE PRACTICUM INTERN. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING BAYLA IN THE DISTRICT K OFFICE. UH, SHE'LL BE WORKING ON A COUPLE OF PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND DOING SOME GREAT WORK FOR US, UM, IN THE DISTRICT K OFFICE. SO THANK YOU BAYLOR FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, CHIP INTERN, UH, FROM U OF H, KAYLEE ALDO. AND SHE'S HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE OF BEING [05:10:01] IN DC FOR THE ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE, UH, WITH THE WORLD YOUTH FOUNDATION. SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE BOTH OF THESE INTERNS WORKING IN OUR OFFICE. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MELVIN HOPKINS, OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES. Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PRO, TIM PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WANNA WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOSIE DAON IN THE DISTRICT A OFFICE. UM, WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT SHE'S WITH US IN THE OFFICE AND THANKFUL FOR ALL THE WORK SHE DOES EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO THANK TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM PUBLIC WORKS WHO HAVE RETIRED RECENTLY. UM, KING GWYN, THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER, AND MARIA GARCIA FROM THE NTMP OFFICE. UM, THEY'VE DONE SO MUCH WORK FOR DISTRICT A AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM. AND TODAY I WANT TO CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS, UM, JUST IN REMEMBRANCE OF SEPTEMBER 11TH AND FOR ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT, UM, ARE STILL IMPACTED TO THIS DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, FIRST, UH, HAD A LIST, BUT I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMENT ON THE REV CAP AS WELL. UM, AS WE THINK ABOUT SHRINKING GOVERNMENT, LET'S ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE ALL DEPARTMENTS INTO CONSIDERATION. UH, WE JUST ADDED A NEW CADET CLASS, SO THAT'S ACTUALLY GROWING GOVERNMENT AS WELL. UM, AND SO LET'S, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT AS, AS WE LOOK AT THESE CADET CLASSES, THAT OUR $3.4 MILLION, UH, WE REALLY HAVE THIS VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION. AGAIN, UM, AUDITS ARE COMING. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, INFORMING COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR, THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL, THIS BODY, UH, PASSED ANOTHER INCREASE IN TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR SENIORS. THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT WHEN, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TAX RATE. AND AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THOSE SENIORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING IMPACTED, I THINK EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS TO HAVE THAT SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. UM, I'M ALSO, UH, WANTING TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THE, UH, SIDEWALK PROP. A I WISH WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO JUST VOTE ON IT. UM, I I REALLY FEEL LIKE, UM, A VOTE NO, UH, BECAUSE IT WASN'T REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH, UH, CLEARLY, UH, A TAG FOR ONE WEEK IS NOT GONNA GET US AN ANSWER. UH, THIS IS WHY I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE, UM, PROPER CONSIDERATION OF PROP A COMMITTEE. UH, IT WAS CREATED FOR A REASON NOT TO BE A GATEKEEPER, BUT TO ALSO HAVE DISCUSSIONS THAT CAN FLUSH OUT IDEAS. UM, I REALLY DON'T SEE ONE WEEK TAG, UH, REALLY DOING ANYTHING FOR THIS PROP A, UM, SIDEWALK, UM, ORDINANCE. AND SO, UM, I'LL NOW MOVE INTO MY COMMENTS. UH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, MAYOR. UH, I SAT DOWN WITH THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY, UH, TO HEAR SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH, UH, TIER ONE AND TIER TWO CONTRACTORS ON BUILDING BONDING CAPACITY. UM, OF COURSE, UH, ALONG WITH COUNCILOR RAMIREZ AS WELL. AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING SOLUTIONS, UH, THAT ENSURE THAT MBE MWBE PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT, UH, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WHERE WE'RE ANTICIPATING ABOUT $2 BILLION OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THAT THOSE, UH, COMPANIES HOMEGROWN IN HOUSTON CAN PARTICIPATE? AND WE HAVE TO START THINKING CREATIVELY ON HOW WE CAN BUILD BONDING CAPACITY FOR TIER ONE, TIER TWO, UH, CONTRACTORS. UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, I SAT WITH SIR JOBS, UH, I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK. OF COURSE. UH, THERE'S A COUPLE OF, UH, PROGRAMMING THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOW INITIATING PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST STEP STAFFING, UH, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROGRAM, CITIZEN, UH, CITIZENSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. UM, SIR JOBS WAS AWARDED A, A HOUSING, UH, OR A GRANT THAT HOUSING IS, IS, UH, MANAGING. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THAT HOUSING, UH, DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT, THAT THEIR FUNDING IS BEING, UH, UM, GIVEN TO THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER. NONPROFITS CAN'T FLOAT MONEY EITHER, UH, AND WHEN WE, UH, GUARANTEE THEM THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE PROVIDED, UH, YOU KNOW, $2 MILLION TO IMPROVE THEIR FACILITIES, TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS GREAT WORK, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AS A CITY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT, UH, HINDERING THEM BY DELAYING THE, THE PAYMENT OF THESE, UH, GRANT FUNDING. SO, UM, WITH, WITH THAT, JUST WANTED SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, FIESTA IS AROUND THE CORNER, UH, AND THAT'S, UH, INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR NOT JUST MEXICO, BUT CENTRAL AMERICA AND SOUTH AMERICA. LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE CELEBRATIONS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT MONTH. BE HAPPY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. I THINK I'VE SAID QUITE ENOUGH TODAY. I'LL PASS. GOOD JOB. COUNCILOR CARTER. THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND, UH, REFLECT ON THE VICTIMS OF 9 1 1 AND THEIR FAMILIES, OF COURSE, BACK IN SEPTEMBER 11TH. THAT WAS A, A DAY IN HISTORY THAT WE'LL ALL REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. I WAS HONORED TO PARTICIPATE THIS PAST SATURDAY AT THE HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY WITH, UH, JUST SERVE HOUSTON, BUT ALSO DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, HOUSTON, TOOL BANK, AMERICAN, UH, RED CROSS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS, AND WAS CERTAINLY, UM, SURPRISED, BUT ALSO, UM, LISTENING TO DIRECTOR SIMS TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE BECAUSE HE WAS ACTUALLY, UM, IN NEW YORK, IN BROOKLYN, UH, ON NINE 11. AND, AND JUST WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE FIRSTHAND DESCRIBE WHAT THAT DAY MEANT TO BE THERE [05:15:01] AND TO SEE, AS HE DESCRIBED, FOLKS RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH AWAY FROM TOWARDS TO HELP AND AWAY FROM IT FOR SAFETY. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT THAT CERTAINLY CHANGED THE, YOU KNOW, OUR HISTORY FOREVER. BUT, UH, WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED OUR FREEDOMS AND ALSO TO THOSE WHO PROTECT US. SO TODAY, IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE, TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND BUY 'EM A CUP OF COFFEE, BUY 'EM DINNER. BUT JUST BE SURE TO SAY THANK YOU. THANKS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN, UH, LIFTING UP THE HEARTS OF THE FAMILIES WHO, UH, WERE IMPACTED BY THE DEATHS, UH, UM, ON SEPTEMBER THE 11TH, WHICH WE ALL WERE, WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE WERE. I'M SURE AT THE TIME WE HEARD THE NEWS, BUT CERTAINLY WANT, WE WANNA LIFT THEM UP BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT IT'S JUST AS FRESH TODAY AS IT WAS THEN. UM, AND CERTAINLY WE NEED TO ALWAYS LIFT UP OUR FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE THEY PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY. UM, ON THIS PAST SATURDAY, I ATTENDED THE RICE AND TSU GAME. I'LL JUST SAY TSU WON THE HOME, WON THE HALFTIME . OKAY. AND I'M GONNA LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE SCORE WAS A LITTLE, UH, UM, ONE SIDED. BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THE HEARTS OF THE PLAYERS, UH, WERE THERE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A WONDERFUL COMPETITION WAS THERE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AS WELL AS THE PREGAME AT THE, UH, PRESIDENT'S HOME. AND, UH, BEING JOINED BY THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WAS SUCH A HIGHLIGHT. UH, ON, ALSO ON THIS SATURDAY, THERE WAS THE HOUSTON LAWYERS ASSOCIATION BACK TO SCHOOL LEGAL READINESS CLINIC, WHICH, UH, WAS AT THE SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND I WAS THE, UH, MODERATOR. UM, AND WE HAD SOME GREAT GUESTS, UH, OUR STATE REP, JOLANDA JONES, UH, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, REPRESENTATIVE STACEY CHOWS AND EDUCATION LAW ATTORNEY GENEVA JONES. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND VERY INFORMATIVE FOR PARENTS WHO ARE, UM, HAVING DIFFICULTY PERHAPS NAVIGATING THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT NECESSARILY THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT ALL SCHOOLS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY, UM, THE LAWS THAT PEOPLE CERTAINLY DON'T UNDERSTAND. ALSO, ON SATURDAY, I EN I, I HAD A BUSY DAY SATURDAY. I WENT TO THE GRANDPARENTS' DAY AT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL. THERE WERE A LOT OF, UH, GRANDPARENTS THERE. UH, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE OUR GRANDPARENTS. SOME OF THEM ARE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS, AND WE CERTAINLY THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY POUR INTO THEIR GRANDCHILDREN. UH, ALSO WANNA SAY THAT TONIGHT, THE MUSEUM PARK SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND CIVIC ASSOCIATION, UH, WILL HAVE THEIR MEETING TONIGHT. UH, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT MEETING AND VERY INFORMATIVE. ALSO, TODAY, THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE AT 2:00 PM AND WE CERTAINLY, UH, INVITE YOU TO COME BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. UH, I ALSO WANT TO ASK PEOPLE IN DISTRICT D AND ANYONE, ACTUALLY, IF YOU, UH, WANT TO GET THE NEWSLETTER FOR DISTRICT D, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL, UH, REQUESTING THAT YOU ARE SIGNED UP AT DISTRICT D@HOUSTONTX.GOV. AND I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND I'M GONNA PRANCE ON OUT. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO . THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO A DISCUSSION TODAY AROUND THE PROPOSAL TO MODIFY OUR, OUR SIDEWALK ORDINANCE. AND, UH, I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS TAGGED, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD A LOT YESTERDAY FROM, FROM FOLKS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE THOUGHTS, UM, THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY ENGAGED AROUND THIS PROPOSAL AND THIS IDEA, I KNOW, UH, A A RP REACHED OUT, UH, TO MY OFFICE TO LET ME KNOW THEIR CONCERNS AND OPPOSITION TO THESE CHANGES. UM, AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE IDEAS BEING BROUGHT BEFORE US, UH, THIS ONE CLEARLY NEEDS, UH, MORE WORK, MORE ENGAGEMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR TOOL THAT WE USE TO, TO GET SIDEWALKS INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT DON'T HAVE THEM, AND A FEE THAT COULD BE USED TO DO THAT IN A WAY, UH, THAT BRINGS THEM INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT AREN'T EXPERIENCING REDEVELOPMENT AT THE RATE THAT OTHERS ARE. UM, AND SO WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE MODIFY THIS AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS NOT HARMING THE ONE ABILITY WE HAVE AS A CITY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PUTTING MONEY INTO SIDEWALKS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THEM. AND THAT, UH, WE BRING A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE TO NEIGHBORHOODS. WE BRING SAFETY TO NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT NEED THEM AND THAT WANT THEM. AND SO, [05:20:01] UM, IF IT'S LOOKING AT ADJUSTING THE FEE AND, AND MAKING IT BELOW MARKET RATES, SO WE'RE INCENTIVIZING FOLKS TO PAY INTO IT, LET'S EXPLORE THAT. UM, BUT A WEEK ISN'T GONNA GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO, TO DO THAT IN A PROPER WAY. SO I, I HOPE WE CAN GET MORE TIME WITH IT TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO MAKE THIS BETTER. UH, 'CAUSE CLEARLY THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WITH IT AT THE MOMENT, BUT DOING AWAY WITH IT, UM, AND, AND NOT HAVING THAT ONE TOOL IS GONNA BE DETRIMENTAL TO FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, ISN'T SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM DISTRICT H THAT I WANNA SHARE. ONE, UH, THIS SATURDAY I'M HOSTING A VOTER REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LULAC COUNCIL 60 AT THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FROM 10:00 AM TO NOON, UH, SATURDAY. UH, THIS WILL GIVE FOLKS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER, TO VOTE, TO CHECK THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS, UH, TO GET INFORMATION ON, UM, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. IF THEY ARE, THEY DO FIND THEMSELVES, UH, IN A SUSPENDED STATUS AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE THIS COMING NOVEMBER. UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE TREES FOR HOUSTON AND AIR ALLIANCE. THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE PLANTED 20 TREES OVER IN SHEPHERD PARK. UH, WE HAD A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT, UH, SHOWED UP AS WELL TO HELP. UM, WE KNOW OUR PARKS WERE HIT HARD AFTER OUR STORMS. UH, WE LOST A LOT OF TREES, AND IT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO, TO REPLACE THEM AND KEEP THEM, UH, COMING FOR YEARS, YEARS AND YEARS TO COME, BUT ALSO TO, UM, MAKE SURE WE'RE UTILIZING GREEN SPACE AND TREES PROPERLY AS A, AS A WAY TO COMBAT EXTREME HEAT, WHICH WE ARE EXPERIENCING MORE AND MORE OF, UH, FOR LONGER DURATIONS OF TIME. AND SO, UH, WE ALSO GAVE TREES AWAY TO RESIDENTS AND, UH, MADE SURE THEY KNEW HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR THEM, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN HELP, UH, THEIR OWN HOMES STAY COOL. THEY TREES CAN COOL A STRUCTURE, UM, ON AVERAGE ABOUT 10 DEGREES. SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR, UH, EXTREME HEAT PROBLEM. AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HELP REBUILD OUR PARKS AND HELP, UH, GET TREES TO FOLKS WHO WANT THEM THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER PINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, WANTED TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBER ONTO THE TEAM IN DISTRICT E, HAVE MO NEY, WHO'S HERE WITH US IN, IN THE CHAMBERS. UM, ALSO, UH, EXCITED TO SHARE THAT, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME, UH, SOME A DA RAMPS AT OAK MEADOWS PARK. UH, OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS WILL BE PAYING FOR THAT. UH, WE'RE HAVING THE MONTHLY ELECTRONIC ELECTRONIC RECYCLING DOWN AT CLEAR LAKE AT, UH, THE ELLINGTON, UH, AIR FORCE BASE. AND, UH, ALSO WANTED TO, UH, KIND OF CALL ATTENTION TO ITEMS 39 AND 40 THAT WE PASSED TODAY. UH, GETTING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT OVER TO THE COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY. THAT'S A HUGE DEAL FOR THE LAKE HOUSTON DAM. UH, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT, BUT APPARENTLY, UH, THE PREVIOUS MAYOR HAD, UH, PROMISED EVERYONE UP IN KINGWOOD IN 2019 THAT THE GATES WOULD BE OPERATIONAL BY 2022. UH, SO HERE WE ARE, 2024, AND WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING READY TO SEND THIS OUT TO BE THE FINAL DESIGN. SO IT'S, IT'S A BIG DEAL TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS UP THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. UH, I, I TOO WANNA, UM, OFFER REMARKS, UH, RECOGNIZING AND REMEMBERING NINE 11, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKER, FLICKINGER AND I WERE JUST REFLECTING ON EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE. AND I KNOW FOR EVERY AMERICAN ALIVE DURING THAT TIME, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE. UH, BUT ONE OF THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF A VICTIM OF NINE 11 THIS MORNING, UH, SAID THAT IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO REMIND THE NEXT GENERATION AND TALK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE AND WHAT OUR EXPERIENCES WERE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION THAT WAS NOT ALIVE. SO, UH, I TAKE THAT TO HEART AND HOPE OTHERS WILL JOIN ME IN THAT, UH, SOME REALLY EXCITING NEWS IN THE DISTRICT. THE RIVER OAKS THEATER IS FINALLY REOPENING. UH, WE WORKED TO SAVE THE RIVER OAKS THEATER, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SO MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING THE GROUP SAVE OAKS THEATER. UH, BUT A LOT OF THANK YOU GOES TO KIMCO. I MENTIONED FRIENDS OF RIVER OAKS THEATER STAR CINEMA GRILL. THE OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING IS GOING TO BE ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3RD. UH, BUT AS OF YESTERDAY, THE MARQUE IS LIT UP AGAIN, AND THAT FOR HOUSTON IS SO SPECIAL. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE OUR RIVER OAKS THEATER BACK IN [05:25:01] THE HEART OF DISTRICT C. I ALSO WANTED TO CONGRATULATE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ON RECEIVING ONE OF THE AWARDS AT THE CAUCUSES, UH, BRUNCH ON SUNDAY. HER AND I WERE BOTH RECOGNIZED. I WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE ANISE PARKER AWARD, UH, AND HER NAMESAKE. AND THAT JUST MEANT THE WORLD TO ME IN THAT SPIRIT. UH, I WANTED TO ALSO REMIND EVERYONE THAT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, UH, IS THE RESCHEDULED FAMILIES WITH PRIDE CELEBRATION. SO I HOPE COLLEAGUES, ALL OF YOU WILL JOIN US. UH, SHARE IT OUT WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IT WILL BE AT DISCOVERY GREEN. ITS NEW HOME THIS YEAR. UH, SO OCTOBER 26TH, MARK YOUR CALENDARS. LASTLY, I WAS, UH, ASKED BY A FEW FRIENDS TO MENTION THAT THE TURTLES HAVE BEEN SAVED IN OUR BACK, UM, AT, IN TURKEY GULLY, UH, OUTSIDE OF CEDAR CREEK. SO THANK YOU TO THE, UH, RESIDENT. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING SOME TURTLE SOUP, BUT WE IN SHADY ACRES LOVE OUR TURTLES. UH, APPRECIATE THEM BEING PUT BACK, UH, SO THAT FAMILIES CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY ALL THE WILDLIFE, UH, THAT IS THERE. SO, TURTLE GATE HAS BEEN RESOLVED, UH, AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, COUNCIL STANDS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.