* 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. [00:00:01] MAYOR, UH, [PRESENTATIONS] WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THE COUNCIL TO ORDER, AND THE CHAIR WOULD RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND RECOGNITION OF THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THERE WE GO. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON AS WELL. IF I COULD HAVE, OH, FABULOUS. OUR LADIES ARE HERE. UH, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO HOLLOWAY AS THEY CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY ACTUALLY CELEBRATED IN MARCH, BUT WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE ALL YEAR FOR THEM. , UH, THEY'RE A WOMAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONSULTING FIRM RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT C, UH, AND THEIR FIRM BRIDGES ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING, UH, EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UH, THEY HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS, BOTANISTS, WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS. THEY WORK ALONGSIDE COUNTLESS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND MAJOR COASTAL PLANNING PROJECTS FROM TDOT, UH, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, MAYOR, GLO. UH, THEY ASSIST IN FEASIBILITY STUDIES, FLOOD HAZARD PROJECTS. THE LIST GOES ON, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL. UH, AND WE ARE RISING TO MEET THE CHALLENGE HERE IN HOUSTON. AND HOLLOWAY THROUGH THEIR MISSION AND ALL THE PROJECTS THEY DO ARE PROACTIVE, UH, IN BOTH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. SO, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE, UH, AND HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING SMALL WOMAN OWNED BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC. A DISTINGUISHED CONSULTING FIRM HAS BEEN HEADQUARTERED IN HOUSTON FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION SERVICES THAT UNIQUELY BRIDGE THESE INTERCONNECTED FIELDS. THEY ARE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FIRM OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, REGULATORY PERMITTING, AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTISE, SERVING HIGH PROFILE CLIENTS WITH PROJECTS THAT DELIVER SUBSTANTIAL REGIONAL BENEFITS AND IMPACTS. THEY EXEMPLIFY EXCELLENCE AS A CERTIFIED WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, A HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS AND WOMAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS. THAT'S A LOT . THE FIRM'S PROACTIVE AND COMPASSIONATE APPROACH ENSURES SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR ALL INVOLVED, REFLECTING A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIG PICTURE AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS, HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES, INC. FOR ITS DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND THE BROADER GULF COAST REGION. MAYOR, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN AND THANK YOU HOLLAND, UH, ASSOCIATES FOR HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR WORLD AND IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT. AND I'M SURE THE BEST IS YET . THANK YOU. AND IT'S MY HONOR. UH, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 24TH. IT'S HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC. DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED THEM AT THE BEGINNING, BUT WITH US, WE HAVE LESLIE, THE CEO, AND OWNER CLAIRE, OUR COO, AND ALSO OWNER, AND TARA, UH, WHO'S MARKETING AND CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? YES. OKAY, FABULOUS. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF HOLLOWAY ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES, UM, I EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR THIS RECOGNI RECOGNITION OF 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. SINCE 1994, WE'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING OUR REGION'S NATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES WHILE FOSTERING MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OUR JOURNEY BUILT ON SIGNIFICANCE, COURAGE, ACCOUNTABILITY, LEADERSHIP, AND EMPATHY IS DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH THIS MONUMENTAL CITY. WE ARE HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK TO SUPPORT HOUSTON'S GROWTH AND ITS RESILIENCE ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT HOLLOWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROAM. CERTAINLY. I WAS GIVEN MY MARCHING ORDERS BY, UH, KEN ROGERS, WHO IS THE FATHER OF TAR DAVIS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, UH, YOU MAY KNOW KEN AND DOLORES. THEY'RE VERY, VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT CERTAINLY I'VE KNOWN HER SINCE SHE, UH, WAS A BABY. LOOKS JUST LIKE HER MOM, RIGHT? HER MOM WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE, BUT I I, I WAS VERY GLAD TO MEET, UH, THE OTHER LADIES. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT. YOU'RE [00:05:01] GONNA HEAR A LOT ABOUT TARA. SHE'S JUST A WONDERFUL YOUNG, YOUNG PERSON WHO MAKES US ALL PROUD. SHE'S NOT JY FOR LIFE, BUT SHE'S, SHE'S A LEGACY OF JY FOR LIFE. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO OVERCOME A RECOGNITION OF TEAL TALK DAY AND OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. ALL RIGHT. AND AS ROSIE'S COMING UP, I GOT, SHE GAVE ME A GREAT TEAL SHAWL THAT I GOTTA PUT ON. SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT EVERY YEAR WE PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, IN SEPTEMBER FOR OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH RUN SEN IS THE FOUNDER. UH, SHE FOUNDED, OVERCOME, IN HONOR OF HER MOTHER UHHI, WHO LEFT A LASTING LEGACY AFTER PASSING AWAY PEACEFULLY, 11 MONTHS AFTER FIRST BEING DIAGNOSED WITH ADVANCED OVARIAN CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES, UH, EXCUSE ME, WOMEN'S RISK OF OVARIAN CANCER IS ONE IN 87 IN A WOMAN'S LIFETIME, AND OVARIAN CANCER IS THE EIGHTH MOST COMMON CANCER IN WOMEN WORLDWIDE. UH, BUT THANKS TO OVERCOME, THEY HAVE ASSISTED OVER A THOUSAND PATIENTS SINCE 2014 SINCE THEIR FOUNDING AND HAVE REACHED ANNUALLY WORLDWIDE VIA AWARENESS AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS. AND YOU EACH HAVE A CARD, UH, IN FRONT OF YOU. THEY HAVE REACHED OVER 2.5 MILLION, UH, INDIVIDUALS WORLDWIDE TO RAISE AWARENESS, UM, OF THIS, THIS VERY TRAGIC, UM, CANCER THAT DOESN'T JUST IMPACT WOMEN BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY. SO, UH, RECIE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SHOWING UP, UH, AND FOR ENSURING THAT YOUR MOTHER'S LEGACY CARRIES ON THROUGH THIS. UH, REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE SAVING WORK COME CLOSER. WHEREAS OVERCOME IS AN OVARIAN CANCER FOUNDATION WITH THE MISSION TO RAISE AWARENESS GLOBALLY, FUND RESEARCH IN SEARCH OF A CURE, AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO UNDERSERVED OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS IN NEED. IT WAS FOUNDED BY SEN IN 2012 IN MEMORY OF HER LATE, BUT ALWAYS CHERISHED MOTHER. THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BENEFITED FROM EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT, PROVIDED BY OVERCOME THEIR ABILITY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS DEADLY DISEASE THAT CURRENTLY HAS NO SCREENING AVAILABLE. SEVERAL WOMEN HAVE BEEN BENEFICIARIES OF THE OVER CARE PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT OFFER LIFESTYLE PACKAGES AND GRANTS TO OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS IN NEED. ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, OVERCOME HOSTED TEAL TALK DAY TO HONOR ALL WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH OVARIAN CANCER. DURING THIS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, TEAL TALK DAY WAS CREATED TO ENGAGE A LARGER AUDIENCE IN COMING TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR OVARIAN CANCER BY TALKING TO THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AND HOSTING EVENTS FURTHERING THE ALTRUISTIC MOVEMENT OF GOODWILL AND SAVING LIVES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS OVERCOME, AND ALL OTHERS INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT OVARIAN CANCER AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESSFUL OBSERVANCE OF OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MINE. MA'AM, THANK YOU, COUNCILOR AND KAMAN, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR MOTHER'S TRAGEDY, YOUR LOSS BACK ALL HOUSTON TODAY. PROUD OF YOU AS WE ARE. AND I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2024 IS OVERCOME TILL TALK DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR AND ALL OF YOU FOR GIVING US THE STAGE TO TALK ABOUT OVARIAN CANCER. AS COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED, SEPTEMBER IS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AND IT IS THE DEADLIEST OF ALL GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS WITH NO EFFECTIVE SCREENING. THERE IS STILL NO SCREENING FOR THIS DISEASE, WHICH TAKES THE LIVES OF TOO MANY WOMEN. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED. SO IT'S OUR EARNEST ENDEAVOR AT OVERCOME TO RAISE GLOBAL AWARENESS, AND NOT ONLY JUST [00:10:01] LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, BUT GLOBALLY BY SHARING THE BEACH SYMPTOMS. AND I HAVE MANY OF THESE BEACH CARDS AVAILABLE FOR, UH, USE BECAUSE EVERY MONTH, EVERY DAY WE TAKE EVERYONE TO THE BEACH TO KNOW THE FIVE KEY SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER. SO THE DETECTION HAPPENS EARLIER THAN LATER. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL. ON BEHALF OF OVERCOME MY SINCEREST GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RIVER OAKS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA IN HONORING ROCOS 20TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU. TODAY, I AM HONORED TO HONOR THE RIVER OAKS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA ROCO 20TH ANNIVERSARY. HERE WE GO, . WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2024, ROCO IS CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON. AND WHEREAS ROCO WAS FOUNDED BY JULLIARD TRAINED OBOIST, ALICIA LAWYER, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE, SHE'S VERY GOOD. UM, HOLD ON. WITH 40 MUSICIANS FROM THE US AND CANADA, AND GUEST CONDUCTORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND DEBUTED ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2005, WITH A MISSION OF SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC. AND WHEREAS ROCO HAS REACHED OVER 620,000 STREAMS THROUGH AUDIO AND VISUALS STREAMING PLATFORMS ON ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS. AND WHEREAS ROCO HAS BEEN LIVE STREAMING CONCERTS FOR FREE TO THE WORLD SINCE 2013, AND WHEREAS ROCO HAS BEEN BROADCAST NATIONALLY OVER 320 TIMES ON AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA'S PERFORMANCE TODAY. AND WHEREAS ROCO IS IN AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ORCHESTRA AND RANKED AS THE NUMBER TWO ORCHESTRA IN THE ENTIRE WORLD PERFORMING WORKS BY WOMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WHEREAS ROCO HAS PERFORMED IN OVER 70 DIFFERENT VENUES IN THE HOUSTON AREA, AND THEY'RE REALLY GOOD IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO A CONCERT. AND WHEREAS ROCO WILL HAVE PERFORMED OVER 150 COMMISSIONED WORLD PREMIERES BY THE COMPLETION OF ITS 20TH SEASON, BECOMING ONE OF THE TOP THREE COMMISSIONING ORCHESTRAS IN THE UNITED STATES, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CONGRATULATES AND COMMENDS ROCO ON ITS 20TH SEASON, AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR ALCORN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU TO THE FOUNDER AND PARTICIPATING MEMBERS, AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOU SOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, I THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2024 IS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROLL CODE DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALICIA. LAWYER, NOT A LAWYER. THAT'S MY NAME. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ALCORN AND CAYMANS AND . WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACCESS, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY VALUES. YOU CAN SEE OUR CHILDREN'S BOOK PASSING AROUND WITH EVEN THE BRAILLE INSIDE OF IT, AND IT'S A COMMISSION THAT WE DID AND PREMIERED ALSO AT MILLER LAST YEAR. SO IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL TO BE HAVING BEEN IN 70 VENUES IN THIS CITY, ADDING FOUR MORE THIS YEAR. SO ALL SOUTHERN CULTURAL DISTRICTS HAVE EXPERIENCED ROCO INSIDE IT WITH THOSE 70 CONCERTS. AND IT'S EASY TO BE DIVERSE HERE IN HOUSTON, THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION. YES, WE'RE CLASSICS, BUT WE HAVE LIVING COMPOSERS BECAUSE WE DISCOVERED OVER CO YOU CAN'T ZOOM WITH BEETHOVEN. SO WE NOW KNOW THAT WE CAN TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WRITE OUR MUSIC. SO TO EXPLORE AND, AND EXPERIENCE US, PLEASE LOOK AT THE ROCO AND THE GO MAPS THAT WE HAVE. WE ARE IN 25 DIFFERENT PARKS IN PRECINCT TWO WITH OUR QR CODES. WE'VE RECORDED EVERY CONCERT WE'VE EVER PLAYED, THOUSANDS OF MUSICAL TRACKS. WE'RE KIND OF LIKE SPRINKLING QR CODES OF MUSIC ACROSS THE WORLD LIKE LADY BIRD JOHNSON, AND FLOWERS. AND THAT IS OUR MISSION, TO BE THE BEST VIRUS YOU POSSIBLY CAN BE AND REALLY TAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH MUSIC. SO JOIN US THIS FRIDAY AT MILLER. IT'S A FREE CONCERT, LIVE STREAMS, AND WE HAVE A, A PIECE THAT HOUSTON FIRST GAVE US VIDEO OF THE CITY, AND WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A 13 MINUTE VIDEO ABOUT OUR CITY WITH MUSIC TO GIVE TO YOU GUYS FOR FREE, AND THEN SATURDAY AT FIVE. BUT ENJOY YOUR FANS. YOU WILL NEED THEM AT MILLER, AND YOU'LL NEED THEM IN. NO, IT'S GONNA GET COLD, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS IS OUR TEAM. THERE'S NO WAY WITHOUT A TEAM OF ADMIN. AND IT'S, WELL, THE 40 MUSICIANS, HALF OF WHOM ARE NOT FROM HERE, THEY'RE FROM ALL OVER THE US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER [00:15:01] MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TE THANK YOU. UH, JUST BRIEFLY, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO AND MAYOR FOR, FOR BRINGING ROKU UP. UH, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT ONE OF THOSE PARKS IS MASON PARK THAT'S BENEFITED FROM THE QR CODES. UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, BUT FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT NOT EVER BE EXPOSED TO THAT TYPE OF MUSIC, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THEY'RE IN PLACES THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CARS, AND WE HAVE ONE IN JAMES DRIVER PARK, THAT'S A FULL ACCESS PARK THAT'S THERE TOO. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SOMEBODY COME DOWN HERE NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR AN AWARD PRESENTATION TO TED IRVING AND THE, HIS ADVANCEMENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE DIRECTOR PONTE JOINING US, AND IF WE CAN ALSO HAVE DIRECTOR IRVING CARL JOHAR, WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW AS THE CEO OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE, UH, I SHOULD SAY JOAN AND SANFORD ALEXANDER, JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE, EXCUSE ME, AND RHONDA ABBOTT, THE CEO OF TIER MEMORIAL HERMAN. UH, ALL OF THE PEOPLE STANDING UP HERE WITH ME, UH, IN THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL WAYS AND THROUGH THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES, UH, HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE, UH, DISABILITY COMMUNITY. UH, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE TO CELEBRATE, UH, AND RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF DIRECTOR TED IRVING, UH, FOR HIS WORK TODAY. SO IT'S MY PLEASURE, UM, TO THANK ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT ARE UP HERE. UH, AS I SAID, ACTUALLY, UH, JUST LAST FRIDAY, MAYOR AT WEST GRAIN MULTI-SERVICE DURING THE DISABILITY CELEBRATION, WHICH WAS PACKED TO CAPACITY, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIES TOGETHER, BUT OUR CITY'S STRENGTH LIES IN OUR DIVERSITY, AND IT INCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT MEANS PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES. AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ACCOMMODATING, BUT EMBRACING EVERYONE, UH, IN THEIR UNIQUE WAY. UH, SO AS WE KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY, ENSURING EQUAL AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE. AND THAT STARTS RIGHT AT HOME, AND THAT'S RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WITH THAT DIRECTOR, PONTE, I BELIEVE I'M PASSING IT OFF TO YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. OH, THANK YOU. SEE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ACCESSIBLE. . UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AT THE HOUSTON DISABILITY CELEBRATION COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN WAS ALSO, UH, AWARDED WITH A, UH, RECOGNITION WITH THE CHAMPION OF INCLUSION AWARDS. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO WITH, FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. UM, I WILL SHARE THAT THE HOUSTON CIVIC AWARD FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR IN 2023, AND IT WAS CREATED BECAUSE WE SOUGHT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALS IN PUBLIC SERVICE WHO ARE ALSO ADVOCATES FOR THE HOUSTON DISABILITY CELEBR, UH, COMMUNITY. AND IN COLLABORATION WITH MOPD, TIER MEMORIAL HERMAN AND ALEXANDER JFS, WE MADE THIS A REALITY FOR HOUSTON. THIS MEANS, UM, IN, IN ADDITION WITH THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION, THE AMERICANS WITH DIS DISABILITIES ACT, IT ALLOWS US TO BECOME A MORE ACCESSIBLE FORM OF GOVERNMENT. AND IT HAS MOVED US IN CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE, VIBRANT, AND COMPASSIONATE CITY WHERE EVERY RESIDENT HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED AND PARTICIPATE FULLY IN ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LIFE. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AN INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE CITY, UM, FOR ALL IS A DIFFICULT TASK. WE ALL KNOW THAT THROUGH THE WORK THAT WE DO, BUT WITH THE SUPPORT OF YOU AND PARTNERS LIKE ALEXANDER JFS AND TIER MEMORIAL HERMAN, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS. ALEXANDER JFS AND TIER MEMORIAL HERMAN HAVE BEEN LONG LASTING PARTNERS OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF AGENCIES LIKE THEM WHO ARE DEDICATED IN TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AND SO MUCH MORE. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE MICROPHONE, UH, CARL JOELS HART WITH UM, JFS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE, THE HOUSTON CIVIC AWARD FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION AND WHY [00:20:01] DIRECTOR TED IRVING IS THE SERVING OF THIS AWARD. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NCEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR. THE MISSION OF ALEXANDER, UH, INSTITUTE FOR INCLUSION AT ALEXANDER JFS IS TO LOWER STIGMAS AND INCREASE ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE, PLACES OF FAITH COMMUNAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE, EDUCATION, ARTS, AND ADVOCACY. I AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH TWO LONGSTANDING ALLIES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR FULL INCLUSION AND ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. MY DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, RHONDA ABBOTT, CEO OFT MEMORIAL HERMANN AND ANGEL PONCE, DIRECTOR FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AS PARTNERS IN THIS WORK, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WORK CAN ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO JOIN TOGETHER WITH ALLIES AND CHAMPIONS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. IN PARTNERSHIP, WE CREATED AN AWARD TO HONOR THOSE IN PUBLIC SERVICE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO BRING US CLOSER TO OUR VISION OF FULL INCLUSION. THE HOUSTON CIVIC AWARD FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION. THE AWARD IS GIVEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR PUBLIC SERVICE ENTITY WORKING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR THAT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS IN STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP AND DISABILITY INCLUSION AND ACCESS AWARD. RECIPIENTS HAVE DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO CREATING AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF VISIBILITY AND INCLUSION THROUGH ACTIONS TO CREATE A MORE DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, AND ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD THAT THE AWARD HAS A PERMANENT PLACE IN THE LEGACY ROOM WHERE THOSE WORKING IN THIS BUILDING AND THOSE IN THE PUBLIC WHO VISIT THIS BUILDING CAN SEE OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO DISABILITY INCLUSION ON PROUD DISPLAY. WE HOPE IT WILL BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO THOSE WHO SEE IT, TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DO THEIR PART, TO ADVANCE INCLUSION WITHIN THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE. TODAY WE ARE EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO STAND TOGETHER TO PRESENT THE 2024 HOUSTON CIVIC AWARD FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION. TO DIRECTOR TED IRVING, DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON TELEVISION, HTV DIRECTOR IRVING HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITMENT TO DISABILITY INCLUSION. YES, DIRECTOR IRVING HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITMENT TO DISABILITY INCLUSION THROUGH INVESTING IN AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENERS THROUGHOUT HTV, INCLUDING THE RESTROOMS AND ALL OF THE STUDIOS. AND HE MENTORS AND EMPOWERS THE STAFF TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS AND CREATIVITY TO FOSTER A COLLABORATIVE AND INCLUSIVE WORK CULTURE, SPECIFICALLY AUTISTIC ADULTS IN MEDIA PRODUCTION. IN FACT, DIRECTOR IRVING WAS RECENTLY ALSO HONORED AS WELL BY SPECTRUM FUSION WITH THEIR MENTORSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR PROVIDING AUTISTIC ADULTS IN MEDIA PRODUCTION WITH TOOLS TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS AND CREATIVITY. WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO ADD DIRECTOR IRVING'S NAME TO THE AWARD ALONGSIDE OUR PAST RECIPIENTS. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OFF TO, UH, RHONDA ABBOTT. HELLO EVERYONE. I LOVE THE PAUSE FOR APPLAUSE. YES. YEAH, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS NEED TO DO THAT, DON'T WE? UM, WHAT AN EXCITING DAY TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY. I ALMOST WORE TEAL AND I SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT. . I LOVE THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY INCLUSION CELEBRATIONS THAT HAVE COME EVEN, EVEN BEFORE WE HAD TO SPEAK TODAY. SO, UH, I DO WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES, CARL AND ANGEL, BOTH FOR BEING ALLIES IN THIS SPACE WITH US. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW I THINK THE CITY OF HOUSTON REALLY SHINES AND CREATES A MAP FOR INCLUSION FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT SMALL IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE TO GO BIG, OF COURSE, . SO AS CARL SHARED, MY NAME'S RHONDA ABBOTT. I'M THE CEO FOR TIER MEMORIAL HERMANN. WE ARE LOCATED IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, OF COURSE, THE HEART OF HEALTHCARE HERE IN HOUSTON. OUR VISION IS TO CHAMPION INCLUSION, OFFER HOPE, AND REDEFINE REHABILITATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. AND THAT OCCURS THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND RESEARCH WORK THAT WE COUPLE INTO OUR REHAB CARE. WITH AN OVER 60 YEAR LEGACY OF SERVING THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, TIER IS A SIGNIFICANT SUPPORTER OF LIFTING INDIVIDUALS UP OUTSIDE OF OUR HEALTHCARE WALLS. HEALTHCARE IS AN AVENUE TO HELP PEOPLE GET HOME AND RECOVER, BUT IT'S NOT THE END ALL BE ALL, AND IT IS INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SO SIGNIFICANT. WITH THIS IN MIND, IT'S PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL TO SEE AND HEAR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT DIRECTOR TED IRVING HAS SEEN THROUGH SERVING AS A MENTOR, AS WELL AS AMBASSADOR FOR ACCESSIBLE CHANGE WITHIN THE BUILDING. SO THAT'S ADDRESSING BOTH THE BEHAVIORAL COMPONENTS OF STIGMAS RELATED TO DISABILITY AND THOSE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS THAT EXIST. HE IS ALSO CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIM AS [00:25:01] I FILMED, UM, UH, AN EPISODE OF FOCUS ON ABILITIES WITH LEX FRIEDEN, WHO'S ALSO AN ADVOCATE FOR DISABILITIES, AND, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE HIS EXPERTISE IN HIS HOUSTON TV ROLE. SO NOW WE'D LIKE TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE AWARD ITSELF, WHICH IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS TO GIVE ME THIS, THIS PARTICULAR TASK, BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, I THINK WE'LL ALL AGREE, A BEAUTIFUL AWARD. AND THIS WAS CREATED WITH ARTWORK FROM CELEBRATION COMPANY, WHICH IS AN ALEXANDER JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE PROGRAM THAT HELPS TO TEACH LIFE SKILLS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, SO EXTRA SPECIAL. AND THEN INSIDE THE BOX, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LOVELY ENGRAVED, ENGRAVED, UM, STATEMENT FOR DIRECTOR IRVING AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO THIS WONDERFUL AWARD, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLACE DIRECTOR IRVING'S NAME IN THE CITY HALL LEGACY ROOM ON THE PLAQUE THERE AS WELL. SO REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT. SO IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THIS AWARD TO DIRECTOR IRVING FOR YOUR DEDICATION YEAR COMMITMENT TO FURTHER INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. I'M SUPPOSED TO SPEAK NOW. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK, TAKE OUT THE PHONE. I HAVE A SCRIPT. IT ONLY TAKE A COUPLE HOURS, . OH, WOW. I'M, UM, HONORED, HUMBLED, UH, BY THE AWARD. UM, REALLY THANKFUL. UM, AND LET ME JUST SAY, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT. AND I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING REALLY, UH, THE MEMBERS OF MY TEAM AT HTV. UH, OUR TEAM IS, UH, VERY DEDICATED TO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STUDIO, UH, ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF CITY HALL. SO MY TEAM IS REALLY DESERVING OF THIS AWARD AS WELL. LEMME ALSO THANK DIRECTOR PONTE, WHO ACTUALLY CAME DOWN, UM, TO HTV SURVEYED. IT WORKED WITH US, ANALYZED EVERYTHING AND SAID, OKAY, YOU'RE GONNA PUT THIS HERE. YOU NEED TO PUT THIS HERE. I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK, UH, THE NATIONAL GURU ON A DA WHO ACTUALLY WROTE, OR WAS ONE OF THE WRITERS, WHICH IS LEX FRIEDEN. AND LEX HAS BEEN A MEMBER OR PARTNER OF HTV SINCE 1990. SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK LEX FRIEDEN. LEMME ALSO THANK DIRECTOR CJ MESSIAH, WHO GSD WORKS WITH US ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS, AND THEY WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE INSTALLATION HERE AT HTV WHERE ALL THE A DA ACCOMMODATIONS. UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK VALERIE BARRY WITH A RA AND FINANCE. WITHOUT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH US, WE, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT GET THESE PROJECTS PUT IN PLACE. . UH, AND LASTLY, I HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS I WANNA THANK, UH, THAT LEFT AN INDELIBLE IMPRESSION UPON ME IN MY CAREER AS A TEACHER IN FORT BEND, ISD AND DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHTOWER HIGH SCHOOL DIGITAL MEDIA ACADEMY. I HAVE TO THANK ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS, KELLY LEACH AND HER FAMILY. KELLY WAS A DISABLED STUDENT, AND WE HAD NO A DA ACCESSIBLE TELEVISION STUDIOS. IT'S BECAUSE OF HER FAMILY THAT REALLY, UH, SPARKED WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY. AND LASTLY, LOCAL JOURNALIST, WHO SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW OF, UH, MS. LYDIA BREW, UH, WAS ALSO A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON, UH, THE UPGRADES FOR HTV STUDIOS. SO, UH, AGAIN, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, DIRECTOR EY AND YOUR TEAM, HTV, EVERYONE, UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. ANYONE FURTHER? COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TIM AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS AWARD COME FORWARD, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT DIRECTOR IRVIN, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS IN THIS SPACE, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, THIS AWARD, I THINK IS, IS FITTING FOR THE RIGHT PERSON. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND TO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. VERY GOOD. [00:30:17] NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHO WILL PRESENT THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARD IN HEALTHCARE TO DR. ANDREA T. CRUZ AND VOLUNTEERS. ANYONE ELSE COULDN'T TAKE IT? UH, MEMBERS LET ME, UH, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TO DR. CRUZ AND HER, UH, COHORT ROLAND, WHO NEEDS, GARCIA NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, BUT DR. CRUZ HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO, UH, MY ATTENTION AND, UH, HOUSTONIANS FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY. SHE'S GONNA RECEIVE THE MAYOR'S 2024 HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARD IN HEALTHCARE NEXT MONTH. SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT DOCUMENTS YOUR LOAN INVOLVEMENT, FOOD BANK, HELPING EVERY SECTOR OF OUR PARTICULARLY HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WHICH YOU'VE BEEN, UH, A MEMBER OF AND, UH, PARTICIPATED IN AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES. AND I'LL JUST, UM, REPEAT THAT. DR. CRUZ IS A TENURED AND MULTI AWARDED PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN THE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. SHE'S WORKED DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY TO IMPROVE THE CARE OF CHILDREN WITH TB FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND HAS BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC TB CLINIC AT THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SINCE 2012, AND SHE HAS DELIVERED 28 INTERNATIONAL TOXIN CARE, PEDIATRIC TB AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASE, MANY, MANY MORE, UH, RECOGNITIONS. AND I'M JUST PROUD THAT, UH, YOU'RE A HOUSTONIAN AND YOU'RE GIVING BACK SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BILL AWARD. SO IT'S, UH, MY PRIVILEGE AS THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON TO DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024 AS DR. ANDREA T CRUZS, DAN HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. UM, MY FAMILY AND I MOVED TO HOUSTON IN, UM, 20, UH, 2001, UM, ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE TROPICAL STORM ALLISON HIT. UM, AND IN ONE FELL SWOOP SORT OF INTRODUCING ME TO SOME OF THE WORST PARTS OF HOUSTON, WHICH ARE, ARE SUMMERTIME WEATHER, AND THE ABSOLUTE BEST PART OF HOUSTON, WHICH ARE HOUSTONIANS. UM, AND I FEEL SO FORTUNATE THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN SO WELCOMING TO FOUR GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY, UM, IN THE TWO PLUS DECADES SINCE THEN. AND, UM, I FEEL THAT THIS AWARD IS VERY MUCH A REFLECTION OF THE TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE WHO HELP US TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSTON AREA, FROM OUR PARAMEDICS AND OUR NURSES, AND OUR RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, AND OUR PHYSICIANS TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, CONTACTS WHO PROVIDE SUCH WONDERFUL CARE TO THE DIVERSITY OF KIDS THAT I'M SO FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. VOCATION [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THEIR VOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF WE CAN BOW OUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM, AND SUPPORT. AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING, HELP US ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. ALLOW US TO GROW CLOSER AS A GROUP AND NURTURE THE BONDS OF COMMUNITY. PUT US WITH YOUR GRACE, LORD GOD, [00:35:01] AS WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT MIGHT AFFECT OUR CONSTITUENTS. GIVE US A FRESH SUPPLY OF STRENGTH TO DO OUR JOB AND CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. GUIDE US WHEN WE ARE CONFUSED. ENERGIZE US WHEN WE ARE WEARY, AND INFUSE US WITH, INFUSE US WITH THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN WE ARE BURNED OUT. MAY THE WORK WE DO AND THE WAY WE DO IT, BRING FAITH, JOY, AND SMILE TO ALL WE ENCOUNTER TODAY. I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POWER OVER ALL THAT WILL BE SPOKEN, THOUGHT, DECIDED, AND DONE WITHIN THESE WALLS. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE GIFTS YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH AND COMMIT TO USING THEM RESPONSIBLY IN YOUR HONOR, IN THE NAME OF JESUS I PRAY, WHICH MUCH LOVE AND THANKSGIVING. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR MEYER. UH, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT, 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 DELAY THE MINUTES. ALL IN FAVOR, UH, CAST MOVE. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. UH, PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. MR. SECRETARY? COUNCILMAN ALCORN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. I MAY HAVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD A SPEAKER. JOSE SOTO TO FOLLOW SONYA RICO ON THE THREE MINUTE, UM, NON-AG AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSING NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE RANDALL BAXLEY TO FOLLOW CHERYL BAXLEY FOR THREE MINUTES. AGENDA. AGENDA? YES. SECOND, SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION'S BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ALL I HAVE. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] UH, FIRST SPEAKER, MR. SECRETARY EMILY. EMILY WAN. IS IT ON? OKAY, . GOOD AFTERNOON, BAYER WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL. UM, MY NAME IS EMILY ARW. I'M WITH PRESERVATION HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTED LANDMARK NOMINATION OF 56 13 ALAMEDA ROAD, THE BRASWELL BUILDING. UM, THE BUILDING IS, UH, AN IMPORTANT REFLECTION OF THE COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF ALAMEDA ROAD. UM, IT ALSO WAS HOME TO SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES IN HOUSTON, INCLUDING COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER OF HOUSTON AND THE AMISTAD BOOK PLACE. UM, WE BELIEVE IT'S WORTHY OF PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. EMILY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AS WHEN, AS A DISTRICT C CONSTITUENT, BUT ON BEHALF OF PRESERVATION HOUSTON FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THE ORGANIZATION DOES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . NEXT, MICHAEL PITMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAYOR MEYER, YOU'RE ALSO MY FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU FAMILIAR FACES, UH, AND, UH, I MAY BE A NEW FACE TO SOME OF YOU. I'M THE DEVELOPER SLASH OWNER OF 56 13 ALAMEDA, THE BRASWELL BUILDING. UH, I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER IT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONCERNS FOR TODAY. OTHERWISE, UH, NO NEED FOR ME TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR PATIENCE. UH, NEXT THANK YOU. MALCOLM LEE. MALCOLM LEE. NEXT IS NOT PRESENT. DOMINIQUE MAZAK PRESENT. COME ON DOWN. DOMINIQUE MAZA. [00:40:02] BINGO. NEW MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M WANTED TO, I WAS TALKING LAST WEEK AT A MEETING AT HIS HOUSTON GALSON AREA COUNCIL WITH DEXTER, UH, HANDY. AND I AGREE WITH HIS PROPOSALS ABOUT THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE THAT WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK ON THE TABLE FOR THIS, THIS MEETING AS A, I'M TWO, TWO PEOPLE HERE. I DO WALK AND I'M A HOMEOWNER. AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMITTEE OF VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO ARE NOT CONNECTED WITH ANYTHING. SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE A VERY GOOD EYE TO LOOK AT THINGS. THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT THESE, THE CITY SIDEWALK ORDINANCE, THOUGH GENERALLY I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, I CAN UNDERSTAND KEEPING THE SIDEWALK CLEAN, KEEPING THE GRASS OFF OF IT, UH, AND DON'T BLOCK WITH YOUR CAR. BUT TO ME, IF I HAVE TO MAINTAIN SOMETHING ON CITY THAT'S ACTUALLY CITY PROPERTY, I HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM WITH THAT. THAT'S ALMOST THE, UNDER THE TAKINGS POSITIONS OF THE US CONSTITUTION. SO I THINK WE NEED, AS A CITY, AS A COUNCIL, AS PEOPLE THE CITY, WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A PLAN NOW, BECAUSE HOUSTON'S BIG, IT'S GOT ALL SORTS OF GEOMETRY, UH, WITH THE STREETS AND STUFF. ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY, UH, CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND COUNCILMAN EDWARD, I'M GONNA HAVE TO GIVE YOU CREDIT THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAD THE TENACITY TO SEE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS NOT WORKING AND TO BRING IT TO CITY COUNCIL. AND MAYBE WE NEED TO MODIFY, MY IDEA WOULD BE MAYBE SUSPEND THE COUNCIL, THE, THE ORDINANCE TILL WE HAVE A MEETING. WE HAVE ALL THIS DISCUSSION AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE. I THINK SUSPEND THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE A GOOD THING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT. CHERYL BAXLEY. THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SPOKEN TO Y'ALL, SO I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS. UM, I HOPE YOU'LL LISTEN TO ME WITH YOUR HEART TODAY. THE IDEA OF NOT HAVING SIDEWALKS ON PROPERTY WHERE A HOUSE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR ME TO HEAR. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF DISABILITIES SOMEONE MAY HAVE. DISABILITIES ARE NOT ALWAYS IN PLAIN SIGHT. ARE YOU TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT FOLKS IN POWER CHAIRS, MEDICAL SCOOTERS, CANES, WALKERS, CHILDREN PLAYING OR JUST WANTING TO WALK IN THE STREETS, SIDEWALKS, OR IN NECESSITY IN THE CITY? NOT EVERYONE CAN RIDE BIKES AND BIKE TRAILS. TO HAVE TO RESORT TO WALKING IN THE STREETS IS INHUMANE. I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF A PROPERTY AND THE STREET RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH IS A STRAIGHT SHOT FROM IRVINGTON TO FULTON WITH THE CROSS STREETS WITH STOP SIGNS. THERE ARE NO CUSHIONS, NO SPEED BUMPS, AND CARS COME DOWN 40 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR, AND FOLKS IN WHEELCHAIRS AND POWER CHAIRS AND MEDICAL SCOOTERS HAVE TO RIDE ON THAT STREET. THERE IS A SIDEWALK ON ONE SIDE, BUT IT IS SO TORN UP AND PEOPLE PARK THEIR CARS ACROSS THE SIDEWALK THAT THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO RIDE IN THE STREET. THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IN POWER CHAIRS, SCOOTERS, THO THOSE OF US WHO ARE SENIORS AND CHILDREN SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. WHETHER IT IS ONE HOUSE BEING BUILT OR 10 HOUSES BEING BUILT, SIDEWALKS ARE NEEDED. OUR HOUSE HAS A SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF OUR PROPERTY LINE AND STOPS MAYBE 20 FEET DOWN THE OPPOSITE SIDE WHERE THERE IS AN OPEN DITCH THAT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, WHEN I WAS, WAS GROWING UP IN THIS HOUSE, THERE WAS A DITCH ON THE FRONT SIDE AND THE, AND THE SIDE. AND SOME 45 YEARS OR SO AGO, POOF, A SIDEWALK APPEARED. THE BLOCK SOUTH OF US HAS SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES AND CURBS ON BOTH SIDES. BUT JUST THAT ONE BLOCK PLANNING DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A BENEFACTOR. IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE DID HAVE [00:45:01] PLANNING. WE CERTAINLY WANT SIDEWALKS TO ALLOW US TO ACCESS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, JUST SAYING TO THE ENTIRE CITY, BUILD NEW HOMES WITHOUT SIDEWALKS IF YOU WANT TO, IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND LEAVES NOT WITH SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE, BUT NO SIDEWALKS TO ANYWHERE FOR THOSE PROPERTIES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON A PROPOSAL TO BETTER FIT THE ENTIRE CITY, AND THAT THE MAYOR MAY BE ABLE TO TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE HOPE SO. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. DID YOU WANT TO, UH, WRAP UP YOUR STATEMENT, CHERYL? I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT EACH ONE OF YOU, WHEN YOU WALK INTO THIS CHAMBER, AND I JUST REALIZED THIS, THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. THINK OF ALL OF US. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SHARING YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED TO ME, UH, THIS WEEKEND YOU WERE A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT YOU DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE, UH, TO COME DOWN HERE AND, AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, RANDALL BAXLEY. RANDALL BAXLEY, THANK YOU FOR HEARING CHERYL AND FOR, UH, HEARING ME AND FOR NOT HOLDING, UH, OUR SPOUSAL ARRANGEMENT AGAINST CHERYL. UH, I I THINK INDEED THE MAYOR HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH PLANNING. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE READY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE READY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. AND I DO THINK THAT THE ORDINANCE DOES NEED CHANGING AND THAT, UH, BUT I, I THINK WE'RE READY TO HAVE PLANNING COME FORWARD WITH SOMETHING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE CORRECT, IT WILL BE BY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. PLANNING HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A YEAR, EVEN IN THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR. SO THE CURRENT DIRECTOR IS FINISHING UP, UH, THE WORK AND, UH, WE WANT PLENTY OF PUBLIC INPUT. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE NOT GOING BACK. THANK YOU. NEXT, RALPH EDWARDS. RALPH EDWARDS IS NOT PRESENT. MICHELLE IBO IS NOW PRESENT. SONYA RICO, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS SONYA RICO AND I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR HOPE AFSCME LOCAL 1, 2, 3. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, WE HAVE FINALLY REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT AND WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME. THIS NEW MEETING CONFER WILL ALLOW US TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS, AND HOPEFULLY HELP TO BRING SOME CHANGES IN DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS SOLID WASTE, HECK LEAK, MAINTENANCE AND HEALTH. WE HAVE MANAGED TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT IS GOING TO GREATLY BENEFIT SOME OF OUR HARDEST WORKING MEMBERS, SUCH AS THE JANITORIAL STAFF AND AVIATION, OUR PARK MAINTENANCE CREWS, AND OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF IN GENERAL, SERVICES AND LABORERS AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS JUST TO NAME A FEW. EACH ONE OF THEM MATTERS BECAUSE WITHOUT THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RUN AS EFFICIENTLY AS IT DOES. MOST OF US NOT ONLY WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT WE ALSO LIVE HERE AND OWN OUR HOMES HERE. SO WE CARE ABOUT THE WORK WE DO. MR. WHITMEYER, NOT ONLY ARE YOU THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT YOU ARE ALSO OUR BOSS. AND YOU SHOWED UP FOR US IN A BIG WAY DURING THESE NEGOTIATIONS. YOU HAVE HEARD US OUT EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE MAYOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DISCUSSED OUR CONCERNS ABOUT CERTAIN DIRECTORS LIKE DR. LAWSON FROM THE LIBRARY AND MR. MOCK FROM THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER. YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU WILL NOT TOLERATE BULLYING AND HARASSMENT OF ANY CITY EMPLOYEE. WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO HERE BECAUSE OUR CONCERNS WITH BULLIES ARE BEING IGNORED. LIKE AT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AT THE BUR FACILITY AND IN SOLID WASTE AT THE LAWNDALE FACILITY, WE HAVE NAMED THE BULLIES AND HAVE ASKED THE DIRECTORS TO HANDLE THE CONCERNS, AND WE'RE STILL NOT SEEING ANY CHANGES. IF ANYTHING, THE RETALIATION ON THOSE THAT THINK THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE COMPLAINTS HAVE COME DOWN HARD. NOW THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE OVER. WE WILL BE BACK IN THESE LOCATIONS AND WE'LL BE MEETING WITH YOU SOON REGARDING THIS. AS YOU [00:50:01] KNOW, I AM A 3 1 1 TELECOMMUNICATOR AND I, ALONG WITH AMETHYST, MY DISTRICT REP FOR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, HAVE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE MULTIPLE LEAK THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CALL CENTER. WORK IS BEING DONE AS WE SPEAK TO HOPEFULLY FINALLY LOCATE THESE LEAKS THAT HAVE BEEN SO HARD TO FIND. HOWEVER, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TREATMENT WE GET AS CITY EMPLOYEES WHEN WE COMPLAIN ABOUT BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS LEAK. AMETHYST WAS AT THE THREE ONE ONE CALL CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT WE WERE COSTING HIM A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE WE KEPT COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE LEAKS. THE GENTLEMAN WHO MADE THESE COMMENTS IS UPSET BECAUSE HE'S HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS NOT OUT OF HIS POCKET, BUT HE HAD TO SAY SOMETHING. ALL WE WANT IS TO WORK IN A PLACE WHERE THE CEILING WON'T HAVE TO CAVE IN AGAIN, OR TIER ONE EMPLOYEES AS TIER ONE EMPLOYEES, WE MAY HAVE TO LOCATE DURING ANY CITY RAIN EVENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE TO WORK IN OUR OWN CALL CENTER. WHY ARE HIS COMMENTS NECESSARY AND WHY IS OUR COMPLAINT LOOKED AT NEGATIVELY WITH YOU? AS OUR MAYOR, WE KNOW WE WILL SEE GREAT AND BETTER CHANGES FOR ALL, AND WE KNOW OUR MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. AND TO YOU, OUR CITY COUNCIL, WE HOPE WE CAN GET YOUR SUPPORT ON VOTING IN FAVOR OF OUR AGREEMENTS IN THE COMING WEEKS AS IT COMES BEFORE YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR AND CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR SONYA. AND I'M, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TO EVERYONE THAT SIGNED UP, BUT I KNOW MICKEY RUSSELL, JOHN AMETHYST, BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHERS STANDING HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS WORK, UM, THAT NOT JUST HELPS AND SUPPORTS EVERY CITY, EVERY SINGLE CITY EMPLOYEE, BUT IN TURN HELPS OUR ENTIRE CITY. YES. UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK AND I DID WANNA SAY THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MAYOR THE CONTRACT COME BEFORE COMMITTEE THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 21ST. UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND WORKING HAND IN HAND ALONGSIDE SO MANY OTHERS. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SONYA AND ALL OF YOUR, UH, MEMBERS. NEXT. JOSE SOTO. THANK YOU MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOSE SOTO. I'M A 21 YEAR CITY HOUSTON EMPLOYEE SERGEANT. I BELIEVE 21 YEARS HAVE COME BY SINCE I WAS A COUNCIL AIDE AND DISTRICT GUY'S OFFICE FOR THE IN CARROLL ALVARADO. UM, I'VE BEEN A PART OF HOPE SINCE ITS INCEPTION. BACK THEN, I WAS CHIEF OF STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER SUE LOVELL ON A TASK FROM THEN MAYOR BILL WHITE TO BRING AFSCME AND SEIU TOGETHER. AND HENCE HOPE 1 2 3 WAS MADE. HOPE HAS HAD ITS CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE STILL HERE. WE'RE GROWING EVERY DAY AND WE ARE STILL STRONG. IS THIS A PERFECT CONTRACT? NO, BUT IT IS A FAIR CONTRACT. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND CITY OF AUSTIN STILL PAY MORE PER HOUR, BUT THIS CONTRACT IS GETTING US CLOSER. I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO REMIND HOUSTONIANS AND TO USE CITY COUNCIL THAT HOPE MEMBERS AND THE 12,000 CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES ARE A PART OF YOUR DAILY LIVES. FROM THE MOMENT YOU WAKE UP, YOU RELY ON THE CLEAN DRINKING WATER WE PROVIDE. WE MAKE SURE THAT THE SEWAGE AND WASTEWATER IS PROCESSED. OUR CITY EMPLOYEES PICK UP THE TRASH IN THIS GREAT CITY. AND BY THE WAY, WE STILL HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES WORKING 12 TO 16 HOURS A DAY AND MANY OF 'EM ARE DRIVING TRUCKS WITH NO AC. OUR NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS ARE HOPE MEMBERS. AND YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE SOME OF THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THEY GO THROUGH WHEN THEY GO HOME AFTER WORKING A LONG SHIFT IN A NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER. FLEET MAINTENANCE ARE THE PEOPLE WE RELY ON TO MAKE SURE HPD AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE TRUCKS TO MAKE THOSE EMERGENCY CALLS. AS MAYOR WHITMEYER OFTEN SAYS, I COULD GO ON AND ON. THAT IS WHY AS SOON AS HOPE RATIFIES THIS CONTRACT, WE ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO VOTE FOR IT. I WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS CONTRACT. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, YOU INVITED MANY HOPE MEMBERS RANK AND FILE MEMBERS WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE INTO THERE TO SEE WHERE THE MAGIC QUOTE UNQUOTE HAPPENS IN RUNNING THIS GREAT CITY CITY COUNCIL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FIND ANY INEFFICIENCIES AND HELP MAKE THIS CITY GOVERNMENT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND FINALLY, MAYOR WHITMEYER, JUST AS YOU SAY, YOU HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S BACK. WE HAVE YOUR BACK. WE'RE READY TO GET BACK TO WORK AS SOON AS THIS CONTRACT HAS PASSED AND TO HELP CONTINUE TO MAKE CITY OF HOUSTON A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOSE. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR JOSE. UM, SINCE YOU CALLED OUT DISTRICT, I GOTTA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS WELL, MAN. UM, NO, ACTUALLY EVERYONE THAT'S STANDING WITH YOU, UH, JUST DEFINITELY WANNA SAY, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING. YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO DAY IN, DAY OUT. I'VE HAD SEVERAL [00:55:01] CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL PRIOR TO JA JANUARY AND, AND EVEN MORE SO OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS. UM, DEFINITELY KNOW THAT, THAT I SUPPORT WHAT THE MAYOR'S BEEN DOING WITH YOU ALL, UH, WORKING TOWARDS A, A FAIR CONTRACT, UH, WORKING TOWARDS BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT AS WELL. UM, AND, AND YOU SAID IT BEST, RIGHT? THE CITY DOES NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT THE BASIC SERVICES THAT ARE, THAT ARE DONE BY OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. UM, AND THAT'S ALWAYS TOP OF MIND, RIGHT? BASIC CITY SERVICES. THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE TALKS TO US ABOUT WHEN WE'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, SO WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T GO OUT THERE AND AND SELL THIS CITY WITHOUT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO. SO, UM, WE GOT YOUR BACK A HUNDRED PERCENT AS WELL. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NEXT, MICKEY HOLMAN. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MICKEY HOLMAN. I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR 15 YEARS AT, AND ALSO I'M AN ACTIVE UNION STEWARD AS WELL AS A TENURED EMPLOYEE. I HAVE SUSTAINED ON THE JOB HARASSMENT, REPEATEDLY IMAGINE REPORTING TO WORK, TO ENDURE WORKPLACE HARASSMENT, BULLYING, INTIMIDATION, FAVORITISM, RETALIATION, DISCRIMINATION, NEPT AND PASSOVER FOR PROMOTION, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO TOO MANY OF EMPLOYEES THAT REPORT TO WORK EVERY DAY WITHIN THE CITY. ALTHOUGH EMPLOYEES HAVE EXERCISED THEIR RIGHT TO FOLLOW A GRIEVANCE OR TO DISPUTE WITH HOPEFULLY GETTING A RESOLUTION. BUT IN A LOT OF CASES THIS HAS FAILED TOO BECAUSE TOO MANY DEPARTMENT HAVE INCONSISTENT PRACTICES OF NOT ABIDING TO THE POLICY. BUT WITH OUR NEW MAYOR, JOHN WHITMEYER AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ASSURED US THAT THIS TYPE OF UNFAIR TREATMENT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED NO MORE. WHILE HE HAS TAKEN OVER OFFICE, I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS UNION THAT TOOK A STAND TO NEGOTIATE OUR NEW 2024 MEETING CONFER AGREEMENT THAT WILL HOLD EACH DEPARTMENT AND ITS MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS TO THEIR, UM, INCONSISTENCY. LASTLY, I ASK THAT THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN AND SUPPORT ALL OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ALONG WITH THE MAYOR THROUGH HOPE BY RATIFYING OUR NEW 2024 MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND BEING, TAKING A STANCE. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU. NEXT RUSSELL HARRISON. GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS RUSSELL HARRISON. I AM THE DISTRICT REP OF SOLID WASTE OF HOPE. 1, 2, 3. AND I HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THREE YEARS. THE 10 HOUR RISK RULE IS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH. THERE ARE MANY DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK THERE WORKERS ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 14 HOURS A DAY AND HAVE THE WORKERS TO BE BACK ON THE CLOCK FATIGUED. A LOT OF TIMES ATTENDANCE IS NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS. WE ARE OVERWORKED. SAFETY PLAYS A BIG PART IN PEOPLE'S WORKING, MAKING IT TO WORK SAFELY AND GO GETTING HOME SAFELY. THE 10 HOUR RULE GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO HOME AND GET 10 HOURS OF REST BEFORE HAVING TO BE BACK ON THE CLOCK. GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP CAN DETERMINE HOW PRODUCTIVE THE WORKDAY IS GOING TO BE. THIS RULE WILL HELP THE EMPLOYEES FIGHT BEING FATIGUED. IT IS BENEFICIAL TO ALL EMPLOYEES THAT WORK LONG HOURS. SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US CITY WORKERS BECAUSE THE CITY ALWAYS SAY THE WAY YOU COME TO WORK IS THE WAY WE WANT YOU TO GO HOME WITH THIS. IN THE MEETING CONFER, WE MADE SAFETY A PRIORITY. WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD THE CITY TO THEIR WORDS. AGAIN, THE 10 HOUR RITUAL WILL HELP US TO BE ABLE TO REF BE REFRESHED AND READY FOR WORK. IT HELPS WITH SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL. THANK YOU. NEXT, JOHN SCOTT. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOHN SCOTT. I'M A DISTRICT REP FOR FMD FOR FLEET. UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR 10 YEARS. UM, FLEET IS WHAT KEEPS [01:00:01] THE CITY OF HOUSTON RUNNING. WITHOUT THEM, NONE OF YOUR VEHICLES WILL OPERATE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. BUT NOW WE HAVE THIS THING AND IT'S CONTRACT THAT I'M PROUD OF, AND THAT'S THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT DAYS OF WORK. AFTER SEVEN STRAIGHT DAYS OF WORK. AT THE END OF THAT SEVENTH DAY IS WHEN DOUBLE TIME KICKS IN. I'M PROUD OF THAT IN THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY OVERWORKED. UM, I KNOW THAT WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF IN FLEET AND THE SEVEN DAY WORK RULE WITH THE, WITH THE DOUBLE TIME THING, THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES DONE BEFORE THAT COULD BE ENACTED. MAYOR AND I HAS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT. UH, SONYA AND I HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT. WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOME CHANGES IN IT, BUT I PRAY AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE, UH, GETS ON BOARD WITH US WITH THIS RATIFICATION BECAUSE IT'S WELL OVERDUE. AND OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, MY MEMBERS OF FLEET, WE NEED THE HELP. YOU GUYS GOT THE HANDLE. WE CAN MAKE IT WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT AMETHYST JONES. JAMES, IT AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS AMETHYST JAMES. I'M THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOPE LOCAL 1, 2, 3, AND A PROUD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT 3 1 1. SO TODAY I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES WHO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE EMERGENCY AND SPECIAL EVENT ACTIVATIONS FROM THREE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS LIKE MYSELF AND PRESIDENT SONYA RICO, WHO ANSWER THOUSANDS OF CALLS FROM CITIZENS, PEOPLE WHO MAY BE WORRIED, AFRAID, OR SEARCHING FOR GUIDANCE. TO THE HARDWORKING CUSTODIANS WHO ENSURE THAT OUR OFFICES REMAIN CLEAN, SAFE, AND FUNCTIONAL DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES. FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY. WHETHER IT'S A NATURAL DISASTER OR A LARGE SCALE EVENT, WE STAND READY PROVIDING CALM, REASSURANCE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. OUR EFFORTS, WHILE OFTEN BEHIND THE SCENES, ARE INDISPENSABLE TO OUR CITY'S ABILITY TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY UNDER PRESSURE TIER ONE EMPLOYEES. THOSE OF US AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR EMERGENCY ACTIVATIONS WORK AROUND THE CLOCK. OUR COMMITMENT ENSURES THAT WE AS A CITY NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE THROUGH ANY CHALLENGE THAT COMES OUR WAY, WHETHER IT'S KEEPING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE RUNNING, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES, OR HELPING CITIZENS NAVIGATE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. WE ARE THE BACKBONE OF HOUSTON'S RESILIENCE. WE SERVICE THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON FROM KINGWOOD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ALE. EVERY CENT WE EARN IS HARD EARNED AND WELL DESERVED. AND IN TRUTH, WE DESERVE EVEN MORE. OUR LABOR IS NOT JUST A JOB, IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE CARRY IT OUT WITH PRIDE AND UNWAVERING DE DEDICATION. SO TODAY, LET US NOT FORGET THE IMMENSE VALUE OF US WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO GET THIS CITY THROUGH EVERY STORM, EVERY EVENT, AND EVERY CHALLENGE THAT COMES OUR WAY TO ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR SACRIFICE, AND YOUR STRENGTH. AND I ASK ALL OF YOU TODAY TO PLEASE VOTE YES, PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF OUR CONTRACT COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR AMETHYST. UH, THANK YOU FOR PAINTING A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE HARD WORK DEDICATION THAT CITY EMPLOYEES, UH, CONTRIBUTE TO REALLY WHERE WE ARE. UM, AND OF COURSE, UNDERSTANDING AND SEEING YOU ALL FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF OR SO, UH, CONSISTENTLY. UM, MM-HMM WHERE Y'ALL WANT TO GO, AS WELL AS, AS PART OF THIS, THIS FABRIC OF WHAT WE CALL A CITY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA MISS Y'ALL. I SAW Y'ALL CONSISTENTLY , UH, [01:05:01] YOU KNOW, COMING, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THE, THE TALKS. AND SO, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT Y'ALL ALL READY TO GET TO WORK AS WELL MM-HMM . KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FIGHT WITH YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, HANEY, KHALIL HANNEY KHAL. ACTUALLY, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST, A FFL CIO. AND ON BEHALF OF THE 90 UNION AND 62,000 UNION MEMBERS THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH US, WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS TE AGREEMENT THAT HOPE HAS WORKED OUT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE'D LIKE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPEDITIOUSLY APPROVE IT. UM, THESE HOPE, ALL THESE FOLKS, THEY WORK OUT OF OUR HALL AT THE F-L-C-I-O. AND SO I SEE SO MANY OF THEM ON A DAILY BASIS. AND I CAN TELL YOU HOW HARD THEY HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO PUT TOGETHER BOLD BUT RESPONSIBLE PROPOSALS OF HOW THIS CITY CAN BE IMPROVED. THE LIVES OF OUR EMPLOYEES CAN BE TREATED MORE FAIRLY, THAT OUR WORKPLACE CAN BE BETTER. AND THEY, THEY WORKED HARD TO TALK WITH THE OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES WERE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS REFLECTED IN WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE CITY. AND THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION SAID, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO WORK FAIRLY WITH YOU. AND THEY DID. HE ALSO MADE SURE, HOWEVER, THAT IT WASN'T JUST A GIVEAWAY TO WHATEVER THEY BROUGHT FORWARD, RIGHT? SONYA. AND, AND SO, BUT WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO WAS TO COMPROMISE ON A SET, ON A CONTRACT THAT ADVANCES THINGS, MOVES THINGS, MOVES THE BALL FORWARD FOR THE CITY, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT THE CITY HAS FISCAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE STRUCTURAL AND THAT NEED TO BE WORKED THROUGH AS WELL. THIS IS A FAIR PROPOSAL FOR THESE EMPLOYEES. IT IS A FAIR PROPOSAL TO THE CITY. IT IS FAIR FOR THE TAXPAYERS AS WELL. AND SO WE, WE ASK YOU, WE URGE YOU IF WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD ONTO THESE IMPORTANT EMPLOYEES THAT WORK SO HARD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THEY'RE TREATED FAIRLY SO THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THESE JOBS AND BRING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BEAR. THEY WANT TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. THEY WANNA BRING MORE PEOPLE TO WORK FOR THE CITY, BUT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR, THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS ARE ONES THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES ON. AND SO WE ASK YOU TO PASS THIS CONTRACT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AT THE LABOR COMMITTEE, BUT WE WANNA SEE CITY COUNCIL PUT THIS FORWARD. WE WERE HERE FOR, I THINK FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO IN SUPPORT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS CONTRACT. TOOK A LOT LONGER THAN THE SIX MONTHS THESE FOLKS HAVE WORKED ON TO GET THIS THROUGH. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS. THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS A FAIR AND EXPEDITIOUS, UH, PROCESS. AND HERE WE ARE TODAY. SO THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO KNOCK THIS OUT VERY QUICKLY. AND WE'RE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT HAPPENING. THANK YOU HANEY. UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR HANEY. AS I THANKED OUR HOPE MEMBERS. UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK JUST GULF COAST, A-F-L-C-I-O FOR STANDING WITH HOPE. UH, NOT ONLY HOUSING THEM, BUT AGAIN, STANDING WITH HOPE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THROUGH THIS PROCESS. UH, IT IT, IT MEANS A LOT TO SEE YOU HERE. UH, I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE ELSE, UH, BUT VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AND WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT ALL THE UNIONS ARE PLAYING IN UNITING BEHIND HOPE. UH, AND AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AT COMMITTEE AS WELL. BUT, UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. NEXT, DAVID BURRIS. DAVID BURRIS, IVY SPIVEY. IVY SPIVEY, IVY SPIVEY, ANN WATKINS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER. COUNSEL, I'M HERE TODAY TO I'M ANNE WATKINS, THE OWNER OF THE WATKINS GROUP REALTY, LOCATED AT 84 0 9 WEST MONTGOMERY. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WAS DONE IN 2022. THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ALLOCATED $6.4 MILLION TO FIX THE STREET AT WEST MONTGOMERY AND VICTORY TO STOP THE FLOODING. THIS INTERSECTION REPEATEDLY FLOODS IN A FISHBOWL. NOT ALL OF WEST MONTGOMERY, NOT ALL OF VICTORY, JUST THAT [01:10:01] CORNER. MY OFFICE IS ON THAT CORNER. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO DISTRICT B TARSHA JACKSON, UM, BACK IN 2020. UM, WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER TO TRY TO GET THIS RESOLVED. HOWEVER, I HAVE FLOODED TWO TIMES SINCE THEN. THIS MAKES THE THIRD TIME OUR OFFICE HAS FLOODED. I AM A SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS IN ACRES HOMES, THE WEST SIDE OF I 45. MY OFFICE HAS CONTINUALLY FLOODED. MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS NOW, UM, FLOODED AS WELL. SO WE ARE NOW RELOCATING THIS $6.4 MILLION THAT WAS ALLOCATED. I WAS TOLD JUST BEFORE COMING TO COUNCIL THAT UM, IT WAS NOT $6.4 MILLION, IT WAS ONLY 500,000. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW 500,000 WAS ONLY SPENT OUT OF A $6.4 MILLION BUDGET TO FIX THE STREET. THAT WAS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. MY OFFICE FLOODED IN THE EXACT SAME WAY. SO, UM, I HAVE THIS INFORMATION FOR YOU, I'D LIKE TO SHARE IT. SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE HERE BEFORE ALREADY. THEY'RE AWARE OF IT. UM, I WAS ALSO TOLD RECENTLY BEFORE COMING TO THIS MEETING THAT THIS WAS PLANNED TO FLOOD EVERY TWO YEARS. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE IS NO REASON A BUSINESS SHOULD BE FLOODING EVERY TWO YEARS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHERE WE PAY TAXES. WHO TOLD YOU THAT? MARY MARINO WITH DISTRICT B? SAY WHAT? IT IS NOT IN A FLOOD PLAIN. IT IS NOT IN A FLOOD PLAIN. NO. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHO TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS PLANNED CLARK JACKSON'S OFFICE. THAT IT WAS PLANNED TO, THAT IT WAS GOING TO FLOOD EVERY TWO YEARS. THAT THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE TOLD BY PUBLIC WORKS. OKAY. WELL WE, WE, I THINK THEY PROBABLY MEANT A TWO YEAR LEVEL OF SERVICE. NO, THEY SAID IT WOULD FLOOD EVERY TWO YEARS. WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. THE AREA WOULD FLOOD. WE'LL, WE'LL WORK WITH THE COUNCIL PERSON AND GET PUBLIC WORKS ON TOP OF IT, BUT YEAH. AND MAYOR, JUST LIKE SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT. YEAH. AND JUST LIKE ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS DISTRICT B WHO FLOOD, WE SUBMITTED THE AREA AS A, UM, SWAT PROJECT AND THEN THEY CAME IN AND THEY DID WHAT THEY CAN DO. IT'S STILL FLOODING. PUBLIC WORKS IS AWARE THAT IT'S STILL FLOODING. THEY KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE PART OF A CIP. WELL, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER, WHAT, 14 PROJECTS THAT WE SUBMITTED THAT ARE NOW HAVE TO BE PART OF CIP BECAUSE THE SWAT DIDN'T MEDIATE THE FLOODING. SO WE ARE WORKING ON IT. UM, AND SO WE WOULD CONTINUE TO TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ON WHAT PUBLIC WEBSITE. I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE THAT I BEG TO DIFFER. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS LOOKED INTO TO SEE WHERE THE MONEY ACTUALLY WENT. I KNOW WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS BEFORE WHERE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED AND HAS NOT GONE TOWARD THE PROJECT. I WAS OUT THERE EVERY DAY IN 2022. WHILE THIS INFOR, WHILE THIS WORK WAS BEING DONE, I ASKED THEM REPEATEDLY, WHERE ARE THE LARGE CULVERTS YOU PROMISED WOULD BE PUT UNDER THE STREET? WHAT THEY TOLD ME THAT INSTEAD YOU'RE GONNA GET INLETS. INLETS ONLY GO INTO THE EXISTING CULVERTS. SO MY PROPERTY HAS CONTINUED TO FLOOD. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DISCHARGE PUBLIC WATER ONTO PRIVATE PROPERTY. I'M COMING BEFORE COUNCIL NOW TO ASK FOR HELP TO STOP MY BUSINESS FROM FLOODING. I WANT TO BE IN MY OFFICE WORKING. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS. I'M NOT GARY GREEN. I'M THE WATKINS GROUP REALTY. I WILL GET ALL THE PARTIES TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ROBBIE WARD ATTACHMENTS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S ROBBIE WARD AND I'M HERE TO WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR HEARING ME. ALL OF THE DECISION MAKERS OF HOUSTON. I'M A MOTHER OF SIX AND HERE TO REPRESENT OUR THIRD GENERATION COMPANY, WHICH WE'VE HAD SINCE 1964. WE'VE BEEN HERE IN HOUSTON AND SINCE THE EARLY EIGHTIES, WE'VE BEEN LOCATED ON CHESTWOOD STREET BLOCK 50 AND DISTRICT I, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. UH, IN 2012, WE WERE GRANTED A REPL ON LOT SEVEN THROUGH 22. COMBINING OUR PROPERTY, THE CITY SIGNED AND APPROVED THE COMMERCIAL RESERVE. AND IN 2019, WE PURCHASED ONE THROUGH SIX LOTS ON THE SAME BLOCK UPON WHICH SET FOUR DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS WE BUILT ON TOP OF THEIR FOOTPRINT WITH ONE BUILDING. WE WRONGLY WERE ADVISED AND WOULD THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE GRANDFATHERED UPON PERMITTING. INSTEAD, WE HAVE [01:15:01] REPEATEDLY BEEN DENIED PERMITS BECAUSE THE BUILDING CROSSES LOT LINES. JUST AS THE ORIGINAL BUILDING DID, SEARCHING FOR A SOLUTION, WE RECENTLY APPLIED FOR ANOTHER RELA. WE WANTED TO COMBINE OUR ENTIRE PROPERTY SO THAT LOT LINES WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. THIS TIME, WE WERE DENIED ON THE BASIS OF AN UNCLEARED RESIDENTIAL DEED RESTRICTION FROM 1931. THIS WAS ON PAGE SIX THROUGH NINE. THE AERIAL VIEW ON PAGE B SHOWS THAT OVER THE LAST 93 YEARS, THIS FORMAL RESIDENT, FORMER RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION HAS TRANSFORMED INTO AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX OF OVER 200 BUSINESSES, VALUED AT 125 MILLION BY THE H-C-A-A-D. PAGE C GIVES A LIST OF THE MOST VALUABLE OWNERS FOR FOUR YEARS NOW, OUR BUILDING HAS SET VACANT, NO INTERIOR, NO AIR CONDITION, AND NO PRODUCTION. WE ARE AT OUR WITS END, WHICH IS WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A VARIANCE TO THE 1931 DEED RESTRICTION ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS. NUMBER ONE, KING'S COURT BUSINESS PARK IS AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, NOT A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. C, ATTACHMENT B. NUMBER TWO, THIS RESTRICTION IS DAMAGING TO OUR BUSINESS. WE ARE UNABLE TO EXPAND AND CREATE JOBS. NUMBER THREE, DEED RESTRICTIONS HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN VIOLATED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY MUST BE CONSIDERED ABANDONED. AND NUMBER FOUR, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HARRIS COUNTY CLASS CLASSIFIES AND TAXES KING COURT BUSINESS PARK AS COMMERCIAL WITH THE STATE CLASS CODE F1 ATTACHMENT E. CUSTOM THREADING HUMBLY. THANKS YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, MA'AM. YOU CAN HAVE SOME MY TIME IF YOU WANNA FINISH. AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT. I WAS SAD THAT MR. MARTINEZ WAS NOT HERE TO HEAR. HE IS MY COUNCILMAN. OKAY. UH, COUNCILOR THOMAS. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. UM, MS. WARD, CAN I REPEAT WHAT I HEARD JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M TRACKING. SO, UM, THIS IS AN INDUSTRIAL, A BUSINESS PARK RIGHT. COMMERCIAL AREA. YOU WENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A REPL. THEY SAY, OH NO, THERE'S A RESIDENTIAL PLOT AND THERE'S DEEP RESTRICTIONS THAT RESTRICTS US FROM DOING THIS. BUT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ALREADY ON AN EXISTING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT? YES. UM, THE ENTIRE AREA IS INDUSTRIAL. UM, AND IN 2012, AS I STATED, LOT SEVEN THROUGH 21 ON THE SAME BLOCK WAS GRANTED A COMMERCIAL RESERVE. REPL. UH, I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE, UH, INVESTIGATING. BUT I WANTED TO COME HERE AND SPREAD THE SITUATION BECAUSE THIS INVOLVES, UH, I ACTUALLY, IN ORDER TO HAVE A STRATEGY TO HELP COMBAT THIS, I SUBMITTED 177, UM, DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS. AND WHY I DID THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL BUSINESSES, NOT RESIDENCES. SO I TRIED TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE ENTIRE AREA. OKAY. I, I WANNA RECLAIM SOME OF MY TIME BECAUSE I'VE GONE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ABOUT THIS VERY, THIS SIMILAR ITEM. IT'S HAPPENING IN MIDWEST HOUSTON, BUT IT'S AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS. BUT YOU HAVE A DECLARATIONS, THERE'S NO ACTIVE HOA, JUST D JUST THE COVENANT. RIGHT? RIGHT. OKAY. THE DEED RESTRICTION I HAVE ON PAGE SIX THROUGH SEVEN, UH, THROUGH NINE, UH, ACTUALLY IS UNCLEAR. IT STATES THAT WAS SOLD FOR A RESIDENTIAL PURPOSE AS ONLY, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT STATE A RESTRICTION LIKE THE PREVIOUS RESTRICTION ON THE SAME DEED. RESTRICTIONS WERE SO BAD THAT THEY DID NOT ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO SELL TO OTHER THAN CAUCASIANS. SURE. RIGHT. THE RESTRICTED COVENANTS. I'M CLEAR ABOUT THAT. UM, MR. MAYOR, IS THIS A, A POSSIBILITY WE CAN, UH, DRAFT A MEMO TO YOUR OFFICE TO KIND OF SUM, 'CAUSE THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE TOO. SO, AND WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON, ON MY END, I'M MORE CONCERNED WITH THE HOUSING INVENTORY. AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS ARE TAKING OVER, BUT THIS IS ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. IT'S DIFFERENT. CAN, UM, WE, WE DRAFT THIS 'CAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THIS AND, AND I COURSE OUR LOOPING COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, BUT FOR YOUR OFFICE TO REVIEW. 'CAUSE IT IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT'S HAPPENING AND WE NEED SOME TYPE OF EYE ON THIS OR SOME TYPE OF GUIDELINE NEED DECENT, SOME COMMON SENSE, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE. RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. AND IT'S, IT IT'S NOT USED THAT OFTEN HERE. RIGHT. SO I'M GONNA ASK HER TO GET WITH MS. WILSON IN BETWEEN PLANNING AND LEGAL. YEAH. WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GIVE HER SOME RELIEF. YES, [01:20:01] SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SEEING US. SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY IN LEGAL OR WHOEVER YOU TALKED TO LAST IS FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF THE LAW, BUT THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. AND CERTAINLY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, MRS. IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO YOU, BUT YOU HAVE, UH, CERTAINLY DONE IT YOURSELF WELL BY BRINGING IT DOWN HERE. AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER NOW WILL ADDRESS IT IN A LARGER SCALE. SO I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. TALK TO MS. WILSON, GIVE YOU YOUR DOCUMENTATION. GET DIRECTOR TRAN ARTURO AND ALL, ALL THE PLAYERS AT THE TABLE. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO USING OUR BUILDING, WHICH WE'VE HAD FOR FOUR YEARS. ? YES MA'AM. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. YEAH. GOOD LUCK TO YOU. THANK YOU. FLICKING JURY. THAT'S FINE. SORRY, ONE MORE, ONE MORE SPEAKER, MA'AM. THAT'S FINE. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER? NO, THAT'S FINE. YOU WANNA ENDORSE COMMON SENSE? NO, GO AHEAD, . I WASN'T GONNA GO AGAINST IT. NO, WE'RE GOOD. OKAY, WE'RE FINE MA'AM. , YOU COULD PUT COMMON SENSE ON A BALLOT AND IT'D BEAT EVERYBODY. . ALL RIGHT. NEXT. GEORGE LE BLANC. GEORGE LE BLANCHE. UH, HAROLD SCOTT, JUST SAY NO ONE IS NOT PRESENT. BARBARA REDLING NOT PRESENT. ROYCE KENNEDY NOT PRESENT. BRENDA VENABLE NOT PRESENT. CAROLYN RIVERA NOT, IT IS NOT PRESENT. ANTHONY JOHNSON NOT PRESENT. MARY STALIN. HONEY, WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. SHE WAS JUST MOVING. WILLIE DREW. OKAY. YES. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO TODAY. UM, I WANNA ALSO THANK, UH, MS. UH, JACKSON'S OFFICE FOR BEING DILIGENT AND COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING TO ME THIS MORNING AND, UH, PASSING OUT THE INFORMATION THAT I, UH, PASSED TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, JUST TO MAKE THIS QUICKLY, UM, I'M A SMALL DEVELOPER. I'M A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER OF 28 YEARS WITH HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. UM, I'M BUILDING 134 UNITS IN THE COUNTY. AND I CAME TO CITY COUNCIL TO GET A NON OBJECTION RESOLUTION. I KNOW THERE'S A PROCESS FOR THIS. AND I APPLIED THROUGH THE PROCESS. UH, YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL AND IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME. I'M SORRY, BUT THAT THE RESOLUTION WAS GONNA BE DENIED. AND OF COURSE I SHARED WITH Y'ALL IN THE LETTER WHY IT WAS DENIED. BUT THIS PROJECT IS IN THE COUNTY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID, AND I'VE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS WITH MY NONPROFIT IS HELPING THE COMMUNITY. WHEN I BUILT SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSES, HELPING THE COMMUNITY USE MY OWN MONEY, I, I'M BUILDING 134 UNITS FOR SENIORS THAT'S NEEDED IN THE COUNTY NEEDED DESPERATELY AS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, I SEE THAT. AND I RAISED MY OWN MONEY. I DIDN'T COME TO THE, TO COUNTY AND THAT FOR ANY MONEY. I RAISED MY OWN CAPITAL AND DID MY TAX CREDITS MYSELF WITH MY DEVELOPMENT TEAM. AND I'M JUST COMING TO CITY COUNCIL TODAY. THE, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVED MY RESOLUTION. SINFONIA THOMAS SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT AND I'M COMING TO CITY COUNCIL TODAY TO JUST GIVE ME A NON, A NON-OBJECTIVE RESOLUTION. THAT'S IT. I AIN'T ASKING FOR NO MONEY. I'M CREATING 200 JOBS. WE SUPPOSED TO CLOSE ON THIS PROJECT IN NOVEMBER. I'M CREATING 200 JOBS. I'M, I'M TRAINING STUDENTS IN CONSTRUCTION WORK. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. LET ME, LET ME, UH, NOT INTERRUPT YOU, BUT HELP YOU. WHAT IS YOUR ISSUE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON? YOU KEEP REFERRING TO THE COUNTY. WELL, WHAT YOU DO IS, ARE YOU WITHIN CITY BOUNDARY? ETJ, THE COUNTY? WHERE ARE YOU? IT'S A, IT IS THE, THE PROJECT IS IN THE, IN THE COUNTY WHERE WHEREABOUTS OFF KIRKIN [01:25:01] AND ELLA AT DOMINION PARK CHURCH OF CHRIST. I'M WORKING WITH A CHURCH, SO IT'S IN THE COUNTY, BUT BECAUSE IT'S IN AN ETJ, YOU HAVE TO GET A NON-OBJECTIVE RESOLUTION. AND THAT'S ALL I CAME TO Y'ALL FOR. WHEN I WENT TO THE CITY, THEY WAS GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEY SAID, OH, YOU OWE SOME MONEY. I DON'T OWE ANY MONEY. I DEALT WITH THAT DISPUTE 10 YEARS AGO. 10 YEARS AGO. I DEALT WITH THAT AND THEY TOLD ME, BECAUSE THEY WERE SAYING, OH, HEY, IT IS A LOT OF LEAKING. I I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT IN THIS CHAMBER. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THOUGH, THIS PROJECT IS IN THE COUNTY AND THAT'S NEEDED A NON-OBJECTIVE RE RESOLUTION. THAT'S IT, THAT'S ALL I WAS ASKING FOR. I UNDERSTAND. LET ME, ARE YOU, UH, WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL? IS THERE SOME CONTEST BETWEEN YOU AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON OVER FUNDS? 10 YEARS AGO, MAYOR, AND WE RESOLVED THAT ISSUE. I RESOLVED THAT ISSUE WITH THEM. AND THE THING ABOUT IT THOUGH, I EVEN HAD DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT THAT ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS THOUGH, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT POPPED BACK UP. HOW WAS IT RESOLVED? IT WAS RESOLVED BY ME SIGNING AN AGREEMENT NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY FOR FIVE YEARS. AND I DIDN'T DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY FOR FIVE YEARS. THE CITY THINKS YOU OWE HIM SOME MONEY. BUT MAYOR, THE THING ABOUT IT THOUGH, WHEN I THIS RESOLUTION, WHEN I CAME THROUGH THERE AND TR AND RESOLVED THIS, THEY TOLD ME SOME OF THE DIRECTORS HERE 10 YEARS AGO, SEVERAL DIRECTORS CAME IN AND SAID, DREW, WE KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT WAS BOTCHED FROM THE BEGINNING. SURE. I SPENT MY OWN MONEY AND I GOT DOCUMENTATION. I PROVED IT TO, WELL, LEMME TELL YOU WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE CAN'T RESOLVE IT HERE AT THE TABLE TODAY. NO, SIR. I UNDERSTAND. SO LET ME ASK YOU TO GET IN MY OFFICE TO FACILITATE YOU GETTING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BUT UNTIL THIS LEGAL ISSUE'S CLEARED UP, OUR HANDS ARE KIND OF TIED ON. A NON-OBJECTIVE RESOLUTION DON'T MATTER. LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT TO ALLOW THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO GIVE US ADVICE AND COUNSEL AND LET US GET THE REST OF THE STORY. OKAY. BUT MAYOR, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN PROCEED. BUT I, WE SUPPOSED TO CLOSE ON THIS PROJECT IN, IN, IN NOVEMBER. AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS THOUGH THE PROJECT IS IN THE COUNTY, IT'S NOT A CITY PROJECT. OKAY. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU. YES, SIR. AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COOPERATE AND LET NO MAYOR, I, I RESPECT YOU. I RESPECT THIS COUNSEL. NO, NO, WE RESPECT YOU. AND THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE GOING FORWARD. BUT WE HAVE LEGAL ISSUES IN FRONT OF US THAT HAVE TO BE RESOLVED. SO STEVEN WOODS AND THE ATTORNEY'S, UH, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOU. WHY DON'T WE SET UP A MEETING, WE'LL GET INVOLVED AND WE'LL COME BACK BEFORE COUNSEL IF WE CAN CLEAR UP ANY QUESTIONABLE LEGAL ISSUES. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. GOOD LUCK TO YOU. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THOMAS IS IN THE QUEUE. MA'AM, SIR, SIR. COUNCILOR THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE, ONE QUESTION. WHO ARE YOU DOING THE 4% DEAL WITH? T-T-D-C-H MA'AM, T DETECTIVE DEPART. WHEN DID YOU APPLY TO THE CITY FOR YOUR RESOLUTION? UM, MRS. UM, NO, WHEN, WHEN, MM-HMM . ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. MS. BIBBS, I MEAN MR. BIBBS AND BRIAN. HIS MS. JUANITA MOORE MULTI-FAMILY DIVISION. RIGHT. AND, AND LIKE I SAID, I I WANTED TO COME TO YOU, MS. THOMAS, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU OVER THE HOUSING CHAIR AND TALK TO YOU. I MEAN, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ISSUES. I DIDN'T WANT TO JUMP CHAIN OF COMMAND. I YEAH, NO, I I READ YOUR BRIEFING. UM, BUT THE MAYOR'S CORRECT, UH, THERE'S SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES WITH THIS. AND SO, UM, THAT 4% WOULDN'T COME BEFORE COUNCIL. UM, WITHOUT THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES BEING CLEAR. AND YOU SAY WHAT THE FOUR, THE 4% RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING, IT WOULDN'T COME BEFORE US UNTIL THOSE CHALLENGES ARE CLEAR. THE MAYOR'S CORRECT? YES. AND SO CITY LEGAL WILL HAVE TO ADVISE AND THEY'LL OFFER ADVISEMENT TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, TO HIS OFFICE AND TO COUNSEL. HOW WE DO THAT. UH, WE HAVE A, A, A, A CRITICAL EYE ON ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT COME BEFORE THE CITY. WE'RE HYPERFOCUSED ON THE INTEGRITY OF DEVELOPERS. WE'RE HYPERFOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY. LIKE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S RIGOROUS, RIGHT? SO ANY 4%, NINE, ANY DEAL THAT COMES BEFORE HERE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS CLEAN, RIGHT? SO BECAUSE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT, WE DON'T WANNA JUST APPROVE SOMETHING. 'CAUSE SOMEONE APPLIES AND THEN THEY COME BEFORE THIS BODY SAYING, OH, THERE WAS AN ISSUE. RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. SO YOU, SO ALTHOUGH YOU ARE CLOSING, WE STILL HAVE TO RUN NO, I I, I CAN'T CLOSE RIGHT. OUR, OUR PROCESSES. YES. RIGHT. AND SO YOU HAVE TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT MORE THAN WILLING TO MEET WITH YOU AFTER YOU, UM, HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND, UH, CITY LEGAL ABOUT NEXT STEPS. OKAY. IS THAT FAIR? Y NO, MS. THOMAS. THAT'S FAIR. I MEAN, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT IS NOT A CITY PROJECT THOUGH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. BUT THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT DEBORA. ELAINE ALLEN [01:30:03] IS NOT PRESENT. QUEEN PAGE NOT PRESENT. DE DEANNA WILSON. MAYOR, I'M SORRY. STEVE WILLIAMS IS NOT PRESENT. JACOB CLEMENTE. HI GUYS. NO MEETING TODAY. NO MUSIC TODAY. AND ANYWAY, I WENT TO THIS CHURCH THAT I SOMETIMES GO TO CALLED , AND THEY HAVE THIS AARON GENIUS, AND THAT'S HIS NAME, ACTUALLY. GENIUS. AND HE'S, HE DOES CONSCIOUS, UH, UH, MARGINALIZED PEOPLE LIKE PRISONERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS. AND SO I I I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM THIS INFORMATION ABOUT HIS PROGRAM MAY AND, AND THAT YOUR OPINION, DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH IT. AND THEN WHEN I, I BROUGHT A COPY OF THAT, JOHN, I MEAN RODNEY ELLIS LETTER FOR OUT HERE. HE SAYS TO ME, DEAR JACOB, I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR INITIATIVE IN KENDO AND SPEAKING IN COMMISSION'S COURT. I LOOK FORWARD TO CARRYING YOUR INSIGHT WITH ME. OUR DEMOCRACY IS UTTERLY ENRICH BY ENGAGED CONSTITUENTS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THAT'S OKAY. LET HIM GO. I VALUE THE FIRST ADVOCACY ING COMMISSION'S COURT. DENNIS. GOOD JOB, JACOB. GOOD JOB. WE'LL TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. BE SAFE. NEXT. EDUARDO DURAN IS NOT PRESENT. AND THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. HI DOG. PRAISE THE LORD. WE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, MAYOR, KEEP AT IT. WE DOING LISTEN. OKAY. RECESS. UH, WE STAY [RECESS] RECESS AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MM-HMM . I'M BEFORE YOU TO READ THE CAPTIONS OF THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 24, 25, 2024. ITEM ONE, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC. ITEM TWO, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $354,982 39 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH DNB ENTERPRISES INC. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT OF AMOUNT OF $2,483,377 42 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH LEM CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC. ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY IN CONNECTION WITH IMMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDING STYLE, CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS ALM HOLDINGS, LLC ET AL FOUR, THE 48 INCH WATERLINE FROM 2 88 TO CULLUM BOULEVARD ALONG EAST ORUM DRIVE. PROJECT ITEM FIVE, HIGHLIGHT AIRFIELD SERVICES LLC FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF RUBBER REMOVAL SERVICES. ITEM SIX, APPROVE SPEND AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $692,094 26 CENTS FOR SHOP KEY SOFTWARE LICENSE RENEWAL FROM THE CORPORATE COOPERATIVE SOURCE. WELL SNAP ON INDUSTRIAL A DIVISION OF IDSC HOLDINGS. LLC ITEM SEVEN APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,089,838 90 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF PETERSON AND NEW WAY REPLACEMENT PARTS AND REPAIR SERVICES FROM TEXAS PACKER AND LOADER SALES INC. DOING BUSINESS AS TEXAS PACK PLUS LOAD ITEM EIGHT APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF FUEL FROM SUNCOAST RESOURCES. LLC. ITEM NINE SIGHTINGS SITS MARTIN EMERGENCY GROUP LLC FOR MAGNIS FOR MAGS FU REFUSE BODY REPLACEMENT PARTS AND REPAIR SERVICES. ITEM 10 SEALS BEFORE FOR PURCHASE OF FORD MAVERICK HYBRID TRUCKS. ITEM 11 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $139,293 FOR PURCHASE OF NETWORK APPLICATION SERVICES AND [01:35:01] HARDWARE FROM CREED GLOBAL MEDIA LLC DOING BUSINESS AS CREED GLOBAL MEDIA. ITEM 12, HELENA AGRA ENTERPRISES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF FERTILIZER. ITEM 13, SIMPLOT AB RETAIL INC. AND HAROLD'S LLC FOR PURCHASE OF FERTILIZER AND HERBICIDE. ITEM 14 BWI COMPANY'S INC. FOR PURCHASE OF FUNGICIDE AND INSECTICIDE. ITEM 15, HERITAGE PPG FOR PURCHASE OF GRASS SEED ITEM 16, KUCK POWER INC. FOR SIGNPOST AND ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATED HARDWARE. ITEM 17, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. CASTING THIS VOTE FOR JOE ZIMMERMAN, MAYOR CITY OF SUGARLAND, TEXAS FOR REGION 14. DIRECTOR ON THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM 18 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 19 RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZE AN ISSUANCE OF LETTER OF APPROVAL TO BNN EXPRESS EMS INC. ITEM 20 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF LETTER OF APPROVAL TO IMPACT EMS. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $100,000 OUT OF FY 25 EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR ANALOG PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SYSTEM SERVICE REPLACEMENT PROJECT ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE AND $100,000 OUT OF FY 25 EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR CAD INFRASTRUCTURE. REFRESH. PROJECT ITEM 23 ORDINANCE PROVEN AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO EXTEND CONTRACT TERM BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND 20 VENDORS FOR AGING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SENIOR ADULTS THROUGH THE HARRIS COUNTY AR AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVED IN A WARDEN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MASTERSON ADVISORS. LLC ITEM 25 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ASPIRA LLC ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THANKS AGAIN. LLC DOING BUSINESS AS GLIDE PATH CX ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP. ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $17,245,906 3 CENTS OUT OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. TAX INCREMENT FUNDS FOR REINVESTMENT ZONES TWO MIDTOWN ZONE THREE MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE ZONE 11 GREATER GREENS POINT ZONE 15 EAST DOWNTOWN ZONE, AND 25 M CLARK FORT BEND ZONE FOR PAYMENT TO HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $27,102,306 OUT OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. TAX INCREMENT FUNDS FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBERS. ONE ST. GEORGE PLACE, ZONE TWO MIDTOWN ZONE THREE. MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE ZONE SIX, EAST SIDE ZONE SEVEN, OLD SPANISH TRAIL ALAMEDA CORRIDOR, ZONE EIGHT GULF GATE ZONE 12, CITY PARK ZONE 1306 WARD ZONE 14, FOURTH WARD ZONE 15 EAST DOWNTOWN ZONE 16 UPTOWN ZONE. AND 18 FIFTH WARD ZONE. CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR PAYMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COSTS. PAYMENTS TO HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY MUNICIPALLY KNOWN AS 56 13 ALAMEDA ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 4. AND ALSO KNOWN AS BRASWELL BUILDING BEING LOCATED WITHIN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A PROTECTED LANDMARK. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 34.1226 ACRES OF LAND TO PORT MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 0.717 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 4 7 7 ITEM 34, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT INDEMNITY AGREEMENT AND RELEASE BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON IN EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC ITEM 35. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,412,558 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM TAX APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR RIGHT OF WAY UTILITY ADJUSTMENTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, SUNNY CO PIPELINE PIPELINE, LP AND ETP CRUDE LLC ITEM 36 ORDINANCE AWARD AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO TANGO STREET LIGHTING, INC FOR NA, NATIONWIDE STREETLIGHT OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE PLAN. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROPRI AND $4,454,854 [01:40:03] OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LOCKWOOD ANDREWS AND NEW NAM INC. ITEM 38 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $33,740,000 OUT OF WATER AND SUE SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, AWARDING A CONTRACT TO PAINT GARVER LP. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,418,247 50 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOREM TAX AWARDING CONTRACT TO TRAFFIC SYSTEMS CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO APPLY, ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GRANT AWARD FROM ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. AND THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ AND PLUMBER AND WAS ITEM EIGHT, ITEM 17 ON THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024. ITEM 42, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,440,000 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD A CONTRACT TO GRAVA LLC. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND WAS ITEM 34 ON THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024. ITEM 43 IS A PROPOSITION A COUNCIL MEMBER. ITEM ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 40 DASH 5 53 AND 40 DASH FIVE 60 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS, RELATING TO THE REQUIRED APPROVAL OF A SIDEWALL PLAN OR PAYMENT OF A FEE IN LEW THEREOF FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE OTHER THAN A SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND WAS ITEM 36 ON THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024. THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE CAPTION OF THE AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 24 AND 25, 2024. AND AS I CLOSE IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, I WISH EVERYONE TO HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. COUNSEL, PLEASE COME TO [RECONVENE] ORDER, UH, [MAYOR'S REPORT] BRIEF MAYOR'S REPORT. FIRST, UH, WE LOST A REAL ICON, CERTAINLY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BUT ACROSS HOUSTON AND JUDGMENT, ZT BURNING. SHE AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS AS YOUNG LAWYERS AND, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS. UM, SHOULD BE WE, WE KEEP HER FAMILY AND OUR THOUGHTS. SHE CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTED AND WAS A KIND OF A MENTOR TO SO MANY YOUNG, CERTAINLY THIRD WARD, UH, STUDENTS. SO SHOULD BE GREATLY MISSED. UH, AND LET ME BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, 'CAUSE THE NEXT ONE'S GONNA TAKE, UM, A LITTLE MORE TIME, BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE JASMINE EDWARDS. MS. EDWARDS, ARE YOU WITH US? YES. SHE GOES, HEY, YOU'VE GOT A FAN CLUB UP HERE THAT HAS TOLD ME THAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON FINISHING LAW SCHOOL. SO GET THAT BAR BEHIND YOU AND THEN WE'LL, UH, PARTNER WITH YOU AND YOU CAN COME DOWN HERE AND HELP US RUN THE CITY. , THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALSO, THE BIG TOPIC, OBVIOUSLY THIS MORNING IS I WANT TO THANK THE ASTROS FOR KEEPING US ON THE EDGE OF OUR, OUR SEAT UNTIL THE NINTH INNING. WHAT A GREAT CELEBRATION, UM, FOR OUR CITY. IT BRINGS US TOGETHER. IT IS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO WATCH HOW THE ASTROS SUCCESS MAKES US ALL HOUSTONIANS PROUD WHILE THEY'RE DOING SO WELL, I IF YOU, IF YOU'D ASKED MOST OF US IN JUNE INTO OF MAY, THEY KEPT US ON THE EDGE OF OUR SEATS BECAUSE THEY WERE 10 GAMES DOWN. SO I'M GONNA DO A LITTLE RESEARCH. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S COME BACK FROM 10 GAMES TO WIN THE DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT THEY DID IT. SO WE'LL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM AND FOLLOW 'EM AND HAVE A CELEBRATION AT THE RIGHT TIME. WITH THAT SAID, [CONSENT AGENDA] UH, MR. SECRETARY, WILL YOU NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION, CASTEX T MOVED ON THE SECOND. MOTIONS MADE IN SECOND IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [01:45:01] COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND JUST WANNA OF COURSE, CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY THAT'S BEING APPOINTED. BUT, UH, WE REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT SONYA CUALES, WHO'S A DISTRICT I RESIDENT. UH, ALSO, UM, IS THE C DEPUTY, CEO FOR HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S, UH, CENTER. UH, SHE'S, SHE'S DONE A A GREAT DEAL, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH WHEN WE SPEAKING TO THE, UM, SUSPENDED CASES. UH, BUT SHE CONTINUES TO BE A, A, AN ASSET TO THE, TO OUR DISTRICT, BUT ALSO TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, RECOGNIZE SONYA. CONGRATULATIONS. VERY GOOD. NEXT, UNDER MISCELLANEOUS NUMBER ONE YES, THE APPOINTMENT TO THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. UH, ELLEN COHEN WILL SERVE AS CHAIR PHIL HILDER REAPPOINTED SONYA CORRALES APPOINTED MR. CHI CHUNG, YOU APPOINTED ASMA RA AND VICKI HUFF. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOW I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE, UH, NEW BOARD MEMBERS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. IF WE COULD MAYBE HAVE 'EM STAND UP AND GET AN INTRODUCTION. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET, I KNOW MR. STOUTS HERE, JUMP THE GUN THERE, MAYOR, IF YOU'RE PRESENT, YOU CAN STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. EXCELLENT. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND, UH, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT, UH, LET'S STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT. WHAT YOU DO IS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY GETS FAIR AND, UM, EXPEDITED JUSTICE. SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR CAMAN. COUNCILMAN CAMAN, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR, UM, STEPPING UP IN THIS VOLUNTEER CAPACITY, BUT ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE STAFF, UM, UNDER PETER STOUT FOR ALL THAT THEY DO. UH, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY WORK IN, UH, WE CONTINUE TO RECRUIT MORE STAFF. UM, BUT THE WORKLOAD IS A LOT. UH, THE WORK IS IMPORTANT AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THE STAFF DOES IN A VERY, VERY HIGH CALIBER AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR. RAMIREZ CA, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE WITHOUT PAY IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT POSITION. UM, AS SOMEONE WHO'S WORKED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MY ENTIRE CAREER, I JUST HOPE, UH, YOU GUYS TAKE SOME, UH, EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL REALITIES OF, OF HOW THINGS ACTUALLY WORK IN THE COURTHOUSE. UM, IT'S OBVIOUSLY ESSENTIAL THAT OUR LAB WORK IS, IS ACCURATE AND FAIRLY DONE, AND ALL THE, UH, T'S ARE CROSSED AND I'S ARE DOTTED. BUT I HOPE WE, UH, KEEP IN MIND THE PRACTICAL REALITIES OF WHAT IT TAKES TO PROVE CASES IN COURT SO THAT, UH, JUSTICE CAN BE HAD AND, UM, HOW BACKLOGGED OUR COURTS ARE. I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON INCREASING THE STAFFING LEVELS AT THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, AND, UH, HOPE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT IN THE, IN THE COMING, UH, COMING TIME. AND SO THANK YOU AS WELL, DR. STOUT, FOR BEING HERE IN YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. AND THANK YOU THE FFR FORENSIC SCIENCE LEADERSHIP. WE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MS. SECRETARY. NEXT ITEM. UNDER THE ACCEPT WORD CATEGORY, ITEMS TWO AND THREE NEED A MOTION, CASTEX, TA, MOVE SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO YESES HAVE UNDER THE, UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY ITEMS 10 AND 15 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE CASTEX TO MOVE. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY. ITEM 18 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 17 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEMS 19 AND 20. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE POST NAY MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS 25 AND 38 HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 34 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONS, BUT WILL, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT'S RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. [01:50:01] ITEMS 29, 30, 31, 35 AND 37 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN, 29, 30, 31, 35, AND 37. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ALRIGHT, ITEM [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] 10 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TELL YOU TO MOVE SECOND AFTER, AFTER THE VOTE, UH, MOTION HAVE BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. MAYOR, JUST WANTED TO THANK THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, AND YOU FOR THIS ITEM. UH, FOR HI ADDITIONAL HYBRID TRUCKS. WE JUST PASSED EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDERS FOR MORE FUEL DURING EMERGENCIES UNDER ITEM EIGHT FOR VEHICLES. SO THIS HELPS REDUCE THAT NEED AND EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS IN SAVING COSTS. THANK YOU. VERY WELL. NEXT ITEM 15 NEEDS A MOTION CAST STATE TO MOVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 17 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE, UM, SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION, UH, TO VOTE FOR MAYOR JOE ZIMMERMAN, UH, FOR REGION 14, DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. UH, WE, SEVERAL OF US HAVE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH MAYOR ZIMMERMAN, UH, THROUGH HGAC ON TPC. SO, UH, VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING HIM AND APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION THAT HE PROVIDES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, COUNCIL MEMBER CA CAME AND COVERED IT. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. VERY GOOD. MAYOR PROTE TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST FOR A LITTLE, UM, BACKGROUND, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CHANGED THEIR PROCESS FOR ACTUALLY VOTING ON THOSE REGION DIRECTORS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. UM, SO TO KIND OF FORMALIZE THE PROCESS, UH, SO WE ARE DOING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME ACTUALLY ON OUR AGENDA. UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF TML. AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ALSO REPRESENTS US ON THE BOARD. SO HAVING, UH, SOMEONE, UH, WHO HAS BEEN AN ALLY FOR US IN SUGAR LAND AS THE MAYOR, UH, JOE ZIMMERMAN, ALSO ON THE BOARD, IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR US, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE, UH, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE PRIORITIES. SO VERY MUCH, UM, IN SUPPORT OF US, UH, SUPPORTING JOE ZIMMERMAN FOR REGION 14, DIRECTOR OF TML. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVINGS ON THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. THAT'S WHEN I FIRST HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU, AND YOU CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. VERY GOOD. UM, NEXT ITEM, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. FOR THE RECORD, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, UM, THAT WE ARE NOW THROUGH OURT AS THIS IS A REQUIRED PASS THROUGH. UH, SO THERE'S NO DISCRETION WITH THIS. BUT, UH, THROUGH OUR TOURS, AS WE ARE PASSING THROUGH OVER TWO $20,700,000 TO PAY HISD FOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, PROJECT COSTS. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO HEAR CONVERSATIONS FROM RESIDENTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE BOND AND OTHER FACILITIES, I DO WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT HISD IS RECEIVING OVER $20 MILLION TODAY, UH, FOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. VERY WELL. MARTINEZ, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I THINK IT WAS LAST MONTH AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. UH, WE HAD, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR JENNIFER CURLY COME IN TO SHARE ABOUT THE S BUDGETS. I'M STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN AND REVIEWING EACH OF THOSE, SPECIFICALLY THE ONES THAT ARE IN DISTRICT. I, UH, SO, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE STILL KEEP THAT ON OUR RADAR, UH, IN THE COMING WEEKS. THOMAS? THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UM, MY COMMENTS ARE RELATED TO 29. THE ITEM WE JUST PREVIOUSLY PASSED, UH, JUST TO BUMP UP AND BEFORE YOU, THIS IS THE $17 MILLION ALLOCATION OFTS THAT SUPPORTS HOUSING PROGRAMS AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENTS. THIS ITEM WAS NOT BRIEFED BEFORE COMMITTEE, SO I WANNA FLAG IT. UM, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT, AND TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE TURS ALLOCATION COMES BEFORE COMMITTEE. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN SEE HOW THEY BREAK DOWN THE 17 MILLION. SOME OF THAT GOES TO DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, SOME OF THAT, THE 17 MILLION PAYS FOR SALARIES ON FEDERAL [01:55:01] PROGRAMS WHERE WE HAVE A VERY LEAN ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET. AND IT OUTLINES ALL OF THAT WORK. THAT WAS NOT DONE FOR 29, ALTHOUGH THE ITEM WAS PASSED. I DO THINK IT MAY BE A AND CHANGES FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO, UM, BE AVAILABLE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DISCUSS THIS ALLOCATION AS IT MOVES FORWARD VERY WELL. THEY'LL CERTAINLY BE AVAILABLE. MM-HMM . UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE HAVE VOTE. OKAY. NEXT. NO, WE STILL NEED TO VOTE. WE STILL NEED TO VOTE ON 30. ON 30. YEP. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON 30. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, DAVIS. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. COUNCILMAN DAVIS FLICKINGER. I CLEARED THE QUEUE. I APOLOGIZE. NO, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. I'M SORRY. IT'S HER FAULT. IT IS. IT'S MY FAULT. YEAH, GO AHEAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS MINE. PROBABLY. NO MINE. THANK YOU, MAYOR, YOUR HONOR. SO REMINDS YOU THAT, UH, THIS PROPERTY WAS THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS IN HERE, AND YOU ASKED HIM WHAT HIS MOTIVATION WAS IN SEEKING THIS DESIGNATION. AND HE SAID IT WAS FOR TAX PURPOSES AND REDUCING HIS TAXES. UM, THIS IS A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. I DON'T REALLY SEE WHY WE WANT TO GIVE FAVOR TREATMENT TO ONE OVER ANOTHER. I MEAN, I'D LIKE EVERYBODY'S TAXES TO BE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. I THINK REMOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE TAX BASE AND REDUCING THEIR TAX BASE JUST MAKES THE BURDEN ON EVERYBODY ELSE A LITTLE HEAVIER. SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM. EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I DON'T REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION THAT THAT WAS WHAT HIS DESIRE WAS TO DO. HE HAS SOME THINGS THAT HE WANTS TO PUT IN THAT BUILDING. ONE OF THE IDEAS IS A RESTAURANT. AND SO CERTAINLY, UM, HE'S WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO CLEAR THIS PROPERTY. HE HAS BEEN HELD UP WITH FALSE CLAIMS OF OWNERSHIP AND I CERTAINLY, UH, SUPPORT THIS ITEM. AND HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUES WILL DO THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. JUST A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. WE NEXT. NO SHOW FLICKING AT YOUR VOTING. NO SHOW. COUNCILMAN FLICKING YOUR VOTING NO. NEXT ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. ALL OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES FOR 41. WE HAVE THE TABLE AMENDMENT YOU ON. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 41. ITEM ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. AND THEN WE HAVE PLUMBERS SLOW DOWN. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMS RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, UM, ON THIS ITEM. OBVIOUSLY REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS, THAT THIS GRANT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE EPA OR GIVEN, UM, OFFERED BY THE EPA. UM, AND TODAY WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS $20 MILLION GRANT. UM, I JUST WANNA KINDA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF WHY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THIS ITEM. UM, THE CONTAMINATED BOUNDARIES OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CANCER CLUSTER. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF UNCERTAINTY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF WHEN WE'RE CLEAR WHERE THE BOUNDARIES ARE, BUT THEIR CONCERN IS THAT IT'S IN CORRELATION OF SOME SORT WITH THE RELOCATION PLAN. AND IT'S REALLY JUST US EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE. UM, THIS IS, UM, THE DETERMINATION OF WHERE THIS, THIS GOES IS A PORTION OF IT WILL BE ON THE UPS PROPERTY. UM, AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO TIE IN THAT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT IS A THIRD PARTY THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. SO WE DON'T WANT UP TO HOLD UP THE PROCESS, UM, IN ACQUIRING THAT PROPERTY, THE ADDITIONAL ACREAGE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE TO SPECIFICALLY SECTION FOUR, UM, BY INCORPORATING A PROVISION THAT REQUIRES CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE FOR, UM, FOR ANY LAND THAT WILL BE UTILIZED AS A PART OF THIS GRANT PROJECT. UM, THIS AMENDED SECTION WILL READ AS FOLLOWS AND YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU. SO BASICALLY THIS WILL ALLOW US WHEN THEY DETERMINE WHICH LAND, WHICH, UM, ACREAGE WILL BE CHOSEN. UM, IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S ALREADY ALLOCATED ON THE UP PROPERTY. IT'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL, UH, TO ALLOW FOR, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ALSO FOR ALL OF US TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHERE THIS WILL BE. AND ALSO TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE THAT, UM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ACQUIRE THEIR LAND IN THE DOMAIN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. UH, SO THEY CAN PREPARE AS WELL. AND SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, COUNSELOR ON THE TABLE. NEVERMIND. YOU NEED A SECOND. I'M WITH YOU. I'M WITH YOU. I'M WITH YOU IN ANY, ANY DISCUSSION. AND LIKE I SAID, THIS, THIS ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE MONEY. [02:00:01] 'CAUSE WE NEED TO GET THE MONEY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT ALSO ALLOWS, UM, THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHERE THIS ACREAGE WILL BE CHOSEN. VERY GOOD. GOOD JOB. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, MY COMMENT IS NOT ON THE AMENDMENT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WANT TO, MY COMMENT IS NOT ON THE AMENDMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT UP NOW OR NOT. AMENDMENT. YES. AMEN. THE AMENDMENT. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. GO FOR IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU FOR LAYING THIS OUT AND THE CLEAR EXPLANATION OF IT. I HAD SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT, UH, MAYBE SOME OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES MAY BE OF THIS. I DON'T FORESEE ANY, BUT I'D LIKE MAYOR TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF LEGAL, IF I MAY. UH, CITY ATTORNEY, BASED ON THE LANGUAGE, AGAIN, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, PROVIDED THAT ANY LAND BE UTILIZED AS PART OF THIS GRANT PROJECT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PRIOR APPROVAL BY CITY COUNCIL. ONE, IS THERE PRECEDENT FOR THIS? AND TWO, IS THERE ANY, UH, RISK THAT THIS COULD HOLD UP A, A PROJECT THAT WOULD, UH, DISQUALIFY US FROM THE EPA GRANT ITSELF? WELL, IT, IT'S A FAIRLY SHORT TIMELINE. UH, I THINK THREE YEARS TO DO THIS HO HOWEVER, ANY LEASES WOULD COME BACK TO COUNSEL ANYWAY. SO I DON'T THINK THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE ANY UNDUE DELAY. OKAY. THANK YOU THOMAS. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UM, MAY, AND THIS IS ALSO, UM, A CITY LEGAL QUESTION. MAY I ADDRESS THE CITY ATTORNEY? UM, SO SIMILAR HOW WE DO, YOU KNOW, UH, LITECH DEALS AND RESOLUTIONS IS THIS WOULD BE THE SIMILAR WAY, RIGHT? SO IF WE KNOW THAT WE'RE APPLYING FOR EPA GRANT AND THERE'S A CLOCK ON IT, WILL WE SET THE RESOLUTION TO COME TO COUNCIL WEEKS PRIOR OR, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WHEN WE DO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON HOUSING PROJECTS, THERE'S A CLOCK, RIGHT? AND WE KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY WEEKS SO WE CAN HAVE ENGAGEMENT AND MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. ARE WE GONNA FOLLOW THE SIMILAR PATTERN OF THAT? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YES. OKAY. THAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. ANYONE ELSE? UH, THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE AMENDMENT TO ITEM 41. ALL IN FAVOR ON THE AMENDMENT BY PLUMBER? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. GOOD JOB NOW. 41 AS AMENDED RAMIREZ. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS. IT IS $20 MILLION, $15 MILLION OF WHICH WILL GO FOR A, UH, SOLAR FARM. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS. THIS IS THREE YEAR DEAL. WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT AND SOMETHING HAPPENS? HOW MUCH IS THE CITY GONNA BE ON THE HOOK FOR TO REPAIR, MAINTAIN, ET CETERA? AND SO I HOPE THAT IN THIS PROCESS WE'LL GET SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THANK YOU, JACKSON. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I WANNA THANK DIRECTOR WILLIAMS AND HIS TEAM FOR PROACTIVELY APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR FOCUS IS HELPING US ADVANCE OUR GOAL OF BEING A MORE RESILIENT CITY. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT THE CANCER CLUSTER AND, UM, FIFTH WARD, AND WE HAVE AVAILABLE LAND IN FIFTH WARD. AND SO WE ALWAYS ASK, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THIS LAND? THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS BY PUTTING SOLARS ON THIS LAND THAT'S GONNA HELP RESIDENTS. IF WE HAVE ANOTHER STORM WITH POWER OUTAGE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE SOLAR FARM RIGHT THERE. I KNOW THEY GOT SOMETHING SIMILAR IN, UM, SUNNYSIDE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. SO, YES, SO THIS IS, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING OUR CONSTITUENTS ON HOW TO INSTALL THESE SOLID FORMS, BUT ALSO HAVE A JOB AFTERWARDS. SO AGAIN, UM, EXCITED ABOUT IT. SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU DIRECTOR WILLIAMS AND YOUR TEAM FOR JUST YOUR PROACTIVENESS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET WHAT WE NEED IN DISTRICT B AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY, NOT JUST DISTRICT B, BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO WEIGH IN. CERTAINLY I SUPPORT THIS, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, HAVE TO, UH, REITERATE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RAMIREZ STATED AS THE SITUATION IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA. UH, FUNDING AS WE KNOW NOW WAS NOT IN PLACE WHEN THAT WAS ANNOUNCED FIVE YEARS AGO. AND SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK MY NEIGHBOR HERE AND I ARE GONNA LOOK TO BUY SOLAR FARM, AREN'T WE? WE'RE SAVING OUR MONEY BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY NEED TO, I'LL SAY CLEAN THAT UP OVER THERE, BECAUSE CERTAINLY THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WERE SET FOR THAT COMMUNITY WERE, I THINK, UM, WASN'T, UH, IT WAS WELL INTENDED, BUT SURE IS A GOOD POINT. I THINK, UM, OUR RESPONSIBILITY DOESN'T END BY JUST VOTING AS THROUGH COUNCIL TODAY. UM, CERTAINLY THE SUNNYSIDE SOLAR FARM HAS SERIOUS CHALLENGES ON FINANCING AND, UH, OTHER RESOURCES. SO WE'RE WORKING, UH, TO BE SUCCESSFUL, RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, GENTLEMAN THAT'S RUNNING THE SUNNYSIDE FARM. I WOULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE SAME CONCERNS TO THE FIFTH WARD SOLAR FARM. SO WE'LL ALL MONITOR. I THINK COUNCIL [02:05:01] AMER RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THE EPA TO SEE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE AND MAKE IT A REAL SUCCESS. SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR EVAN SHABAZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNOW THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE SUNNYSIDE SOLAR FARM, BUT CERTAINLY JUST WANT TO CLEAR UP. THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME PLANS. GOOD. AND I THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HAD A, A CONVERSATION, UH, JUST THE OTHER DAY, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING, UH, BECAUSE I'M VERY ENCOURAGED THAT IT WILL MOVE FORWARD. AND AS FOR HER, US BUYING IT, SHE'S GONNA PAY FOR IT. BUT SHE'S GONNA PUT ME ON THE TITLE. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY, VOTE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. NUMBER 40. ITEM 41 AS AMENDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. GOOD JOB. NEXT ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. SORRY FOR THAT. UM, FOR THE DELAY, I MEAN, I WANTED TO, BECAUSE WE HAD CHALLENGES WITH NOVUS, UM, PUBLIC WORKS I MET WITH, AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER INVOLVEMENT AS WELL. WE MET WITH PUBLIC WORKS IN METRO JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THIS WORK THAT'S OCCURRING RIGHT NOW ALONG THE METRO CORRIDOR FOR WESTHEIMER AND THIS CONTRACT FOR WATERLINE REPLACEMENTS DOES NOT IN ANY WAY JEOPARDIZE THE OVERALL INTENTION OF THE LOWER WESTHEIMER RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT'S BEEN IN THE CIP FOR DECADES. WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD. WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST SCORING PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO TPC AND HGA, UH, FOR FUNDING FOR THAT. SO, MAYOR, THE, UH, THE DEPARTMENT WORKED WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE RECORD THAT CONFIRMED AND REASSURES THE COMMUNITY THAT THAT IS THE INTENTION. AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO READ A PORTION OF THAT INTO THE RECORD, GIVEN THE CHALLENGES WITH BACKUP. SURE. UM, THE PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION OF LOWER WESTHEIMER ROAD BETWEEN MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND MAIN STREET REMAINS A CITY PRIORITY. AND IN COMPETITION FOR FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH THE HGAC TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, CALL FOR PROJECTS, IF SELECTED FOR FUNDING THE TASKS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND SAT SATISFY FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WILL CONSUME A SIMILAR PERIOD OF TIME. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PAVEMENT REHABILITATION AND WATERLINE REPLACEMENT WORK NOW DOES NOT JEOPARDIZE CONSIDERATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR FEDERAL FUNDS. AND THIS IS A MEMO DATED SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024, UM, FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, UH, RANDY MCKAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY WELL. JUST IN DIFFERENT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. STIPULA TO VOTE? YES, MA'AM. MAYOR, THAT'S READY TO RUN. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS ITEM IS REGARDING, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO OUR SIDEWALK ORDINANCE. UM, THIS AMENDMENT IS BROUGHT FORTH BASED ON CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, UM, INDUSTRY GROUPS ON THE ISSUE OF SIDEWALKS TO NOWHERE THAT WE'VE ALL SEEN IN OUR DISTRICTS WHERE WE CREATE A SIDEWALK, UH, AFTER A NEW BUILD RESIDENTIAL HOME GOES UP AND IT HAS NO CONNECTIVITY. SO IT'S NOT PRODUCING ANY SAFE PATHWAYS. IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF, UH, PRACTICAL SENSE. UH, IT'S NOT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO WE WANTED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO RECTIFY THAT. THE CITY IS ALWAYS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND CREATED A FEE IN LIEU OF A YEAR OR TWO AGO, WHICH I VOTED FOR, BUT ALSO EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M NOT A PROPONENT OF, MAYOR IS ANY POLICY THAT BASICALLY SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THIS MAY NOT BE NECESSARY, BUT UNLESS YOU PAY ME FOR IT, YOU'RE GONNA DO IT ANYWAYS. AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY WHAT THE, THE, THE FEE IN LIEU OF IS. IT'S A FEE TO NOT HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. AND ALTHOUGH THAT FEE GOES INTO A DEDICATED ACCOUNT THAT WILL PUT SIDEWALKS IN OTHER PLACES, UH, IT STILL RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT YOU CAN PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE, UH, NECESSARY OR PRACTICAL OR COMMON SENSE. AND YESTERDAY YOU SAID IF COMMON SENSE WAS ON THE BALLOT THAT IT, IT WOULD WIN. AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE AS MUCH COMMON SENSE AND PRACTICALITY IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. AND SO WE BROUGHT FORTH THIS AMENDMENT, UH, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES, UH, THAT WERE CREATED SPECIFICALLY THE SIDEWALK TO NOWHERE, AND OUR AMENDMENT BASICALLY, UH, TOOK AWAY THAT REQUIREMENT AND PUT THINGS BACK AT SQUARE ONE. UM, THIS MORNING, MAYOR, I DID RECEIVE A EMAIL THAT YOU SENT OUT, UH, THAT REALLY LAYS OUT, UM, MY PERSPECTIVE AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUE'S PERSPECTIVE, WHO SIGNED IT ON, UM, ENSURING THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, WHILE THE, [02:10:01] WHILE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS PUTTING TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE, THAT, UM, AND YOU SAY IN YOUR LAST SENTENCE, YOU HAVE DIRECTED THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO USE DISCRETION AND WAIVE SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS WHERE IT IS TECHNICALLY INFEASIBLE TO CONSTRUCT A SIDEWALK OR WHERE REQUIREMENTS CREATE A SIDEWALK TO NOWHERE, WHICH I THINK IS VERY SMART AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. UM, THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED AROUND CITY HALL IS PRACTICALITY. WE NEED TO HAVE COMMON SENSE AND WE DON'T NEED TO WORK IN ABSOLUTES. THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE DISCRETION TO UNDERSTAND A CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE OR DYNAMIC IN A COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO USE THAT DISCRETION TO DO THINGS THAT, UM, JUST MAKES SENSE OVERALL. SO, UM, I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH, WITH THAT MEMO THAT YOU PUT FORTH. I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, WITH STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT WITH, UM, YOUR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION CONTINUING TO MAKE THIS PRIORITY THAT BY DECEMBER, UH, WHEN IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL, IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CAN EXPLORE AND CONSIDER. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, DIRECTOR TRAN. UM, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS WITH THE PLANNING, UH, COMMISSION AS WELL AS ANNA CILLO. THEY, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE A LOT ON THIS. THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF ENGAGEMENT. WE, WE TAG THIS ITEM SEVERAL TIMES, SO IT GAVE EVERYONE ON COUNCIL AN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. I DIDN'T HEAR FROM SOME OF YOU ALL, BUT I KNOW OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, UH, EVERYONE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THIS. AND IT'S ALL FOR ENSURING THAT WE HAVE SAFE PATHWAYS, UH, WE HAVE REAL CONNECTIVITY, BUT WE ALSO DO THINGS THAT MAKE PRACTICAL AND COMMON SENSE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND IN ALL DUE RESPECT, I THINK THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE IN THE MEMO THAT I PUT OUT. AND I'VE ALREADY TAKEN ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, INITIATIVES TO MAKE CHANGES AND EMPHASIZE COMMON SENSE. AND ANYONE THAT HAS WORK OR PERMITTING IN THE PROCESS, UH, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND HER STAFF WILL USE COMMON SENSE. UH, THE MEMO EMPHASIZES THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR EVEN IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. SO WE'VE EMPHASIZED, LET'S GET IT DONE. YOU HAVE TO GUARD AGAINST IN GOVERNMENT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. IT'S THE WORST THING THAT YOU HAVE TO, UH, BE CONCERNED WITH. SO THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. SO LET'S, UH, WELL, I MAKE A MOTION TO REFER BACK BASED ON THE MEMO. WELL, I THINK, I THINK I'M FIXING TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEMP. UH, I THINK WE'VE GOT THIS UNDER CONTROL. WE'RE GONNA COME BACK BY THE END OF THE YEAR WITH A REALLY GOOD PRODUCT, OUR URGE, PUBLIC INPUT, AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. SO WE HAD A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A COMMITTEE HEARING IN COUNCIL LAST WEEK. SO, UH, JUST SHOWS IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WHAT WE CAN GET DONE. I RECOGNIZE, UM, THE MAYOR PROTE CASTING STADIUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I THINK THAT IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE NEED MORE PUBLIC INVESTMENT ON SIDEWALKS. WE'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'VE HEARD FROM, UM, SEVERAL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS. UM, WE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THAT SIDEWALK ORDINANCE. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO SEE MORE SIDEWALKS, THEY WANT TO SEE IMPROVED SIDEWALKS. UM, AND THIS WAS JUST ONE VEHICLE FOR US TO RAISE MORE DOLLARS TO PUT MORE SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I THINK THAT, UM, WE'VE HAD PRETTY ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK WE'RE ALL SAYING THE SAME THING, THAT WE DO WANT TO IMPROVE ON THE POLICY THAT IS THERE. UH, I KNOW THAT THE, UM, PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, THEY'VE, THEY'VE ALL BEEN DISCUSSING HOW WE IMPROVE ON WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE. UM, THE MAYOR, YOUR YOUR MEMO CAME OUT, UH, THIS MORNING, AND I THINK THAT WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR COMMON SENSE. UM, AND THE FACT THAT WE, YOU HAVE GIVEN, UH, DISCRETION TO WAIVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS TO KNOW WHERE, PUTS US ALL WHERE WE WANT TO BE, UM, AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY. AND WE MOVE FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD TO A MORE BROADER, UM, ENGAGEMENT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON OUR SIDEWALK ORDINANCE. WE ANTICIPATE THAT TO COME FORTH IN DECEMBER. UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, UM, REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION VERY WELL. SECOND, EVAN SHABBATH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE TO SPEAK. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE MOTION? OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. BUT THERE WAS A MOTION ALREADY ON THE FLOOR. YES. [02:15:01] AND I, RIGHT, SO JUST, WE CAN VOTE. I'M PROCEDURAL PENNY. SO LET ME, LET ME JUST MAKE, MAKE THAT FOR THE, FOR THE RECORD. BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT, UH, THE MEMO IS A WIN. AND THEN SOMETIMES, AND I THINK, UM, THE MORE ELEVATED CONVERSATION IS SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BRING PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS TO THE PUBLIC SQUARE. UH, WHEN WE ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES WITH DEPARTMENTS AND DOING THESE THINGS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS NO IDEA, RIGHT? AND SO, UM, UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE POLITICAL FORTITUDE TO TAKE HITS AND, AND FEEL PRESSURE AND, AND HAVE PEOPLE COME TO PUBLIC SESSION BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIRMLY SHAPE A CONVERSATION. MAYOR, YOUR MEMO IS SPOT ON. IT'S A WIN. UH, SO ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCATES, A A RP LINK, HOUSTON, EVERYONE WILL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. AND THEN IT ALSO ALLOWED US TO EDUCATE HOUSTONIANS ON THEIR MULTIPLE WAYS TO GET A SIDEWALK, RIGHT? IT'S NOT JUST SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE CIP, WE HAVE METRO, WE HAVE COUNCIL, DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, SAFE SIDEWALKS INITIATIVES. SO HOUSTON'S ROBUST, WE'RE SOPHISTICATED AT TIMES. UH, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT GIVES THE DEPARTMENT, UH, THE LATITUDE TO MAKE VERY SMART COMMON SENSE DECISIONS. SO I APPRECIATE, UH, THE LEADERSHIP OF MY COLLEAGUES OF, AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PUT, UH, THESE TYPE OF SENSITIVE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TO FORCE THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION. SO WE CAN GET SOME TRACTION ON THIS. AND I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT IN DECEMBER. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND, AND I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. THERE'S NO ONE, I THINK, AT THIS HORSESHOE THAT DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT WE NEED LESS SIDEWALKS. WE NEED MORE SIDEWALKS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SIDEWALK BOND, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH WHATEVER TYPE OF FUNDING MECHANISM, SIMILAR TO, UH, HOW WE'VE TREATED DITCHES AND TAKING BACK OVER THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR OPEN DITCHES. THE CITY NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SIDEWALKS. UH, BUT AGAIN, THERE IS A MASSIVE COST THAT COMES WITH THAT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING NOT JUST THESE CONVERSATIONS, BUT TAKING ACTION ON IT. I DID WANT TO, UH, MAYOR, ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS PER, I KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS AGGRESSIVELY WORKING ON THE NEWER PROPOSALS, AND THEN IT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL AND FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND THE LAST ITERATION WHEN WE CREATED, WHEN THE CITY CREATED THE SIDEWALK FEE IN LIEU OF PROGRAM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OCCURRED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN CRAFTING THOSE POLICIES. SO IS THAT ENGAGEMENT CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE, AND WILL THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MODIFICATION BASED ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK, OR IS IT SOLELY THE DEPARTMENT WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW? WELL, OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU'RE A STAKEHOLDER, WHICH MEANS, UH, A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL OR ONE OF THE, UH, A-A-R-P-I WOULD WELCOME. AND I'M CERTAINLY, I'M, I'M SO PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND HER STAFF AND MARLENE'S CONTRIBUTED. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD SOME OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST WORKING ON IT, AND THEY'RE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND UNDERSTAND THEY WORK FOR THE PUBLIC, WHICH MEANS THOSE OF US THAT HAVE DISTRICTS AND REPRESENT THE CITY AT LARGE. SO I THINK, UH, YOU CAN HAVE AS MUCH INPUT AND CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITY AS, AS THEY WELL, I THANK YOU. SO CAN'T I, I'M ASKING FOR INPUT FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE COMMITTEES FORMED BY THE COMMUNITY THAT WORKED HAND IN HAND SURE. WITH THE DEPARTMENT. SO I WOULD JUST ASK IF THAT MODEL BE FOLLOWED. EXCELLENT PROCESS. UM, AND AGAIN, THAT'S IN CRAFTING IT, NOT JUST THE FEEDBACK PORTION ONCE IT'S DONE, UM, THE, I WOULD ALSO ASK, BECAUSE THE, AGAIN, THIS MEMO IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD. I THINK WE CAN ALL SUPPORT THE MOVE. UM, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE DISTRICT REPORTS ON WHERE THAT DISCRETION IS BEING UTILIZED. SO WHETHER THAT IS TO COME TO A COMMITTEE, UM, QUARTERLY, OR WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT CAN MEET WITH OUR DISTRICT OFFICES, OR AT LEAST THOSE DISTRICTS THAT ARE REQUESTING IT. IF THERE IS A WAIVER OR A SCENARIO WHERE THERE'S A WAIVER BEING REQUESTED, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, AT LEAST IN DISTRICT C, WHERE THIS IS A VERY, UH, PASSIONATE UNDERSTAND ISSUE. UNDERSTAND, TO BE AWARE OF WHEN THESE WAIVERS ARE OCCURRING AND WHAT THOSE SITUATIONS AREN'T, HOW IT'S BEING APPLIED. I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND HER STAFF. UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE VERY TRANSPARENT AND PARTICULARLY DISTRICT C. AND YOU CAN BE AS INVOLVED AS YOU'D LIKE, LIKE THEY PROBABLY PUT YOU A DESK DOWN THERE IN THEIR OFFICE IF YOU WANT. I ABOUT THAT'LL. I LIKE MY DESK WHERE IT IS. THANK YOU. BUT I'LL TO IT. I MEAN, WE REPRESENT THE PUBLIC. IT'S VERY DIVERSE. IT'S GONNA BE A CITYWIDE POLICY, BUT CERTAINLY THEY WELCOME, UH, EVERYONE'S INPUT AND WE'LL, WE'LL RUN THE CHECKLIST, MAKE SURE THERE'S, WE'VE THOUGHT OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I MEAN, I, OBVIOUSLY, THIS CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT'S BRINGING ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION HAD SOME FLAWS. AND, UH, WE'RE GOING TO APPLY COMMON SENSE. LET [02:20:01] 'EM USE THEIR DISCRETION. THOSE THAT ARE IN A PIPELINE NOW WILL BE PROTECTED, AND WE'RE GONNA ONCE AND FOR ALL HAVE A, UH, AN ORDINANCE THAT'S WORKABLE. ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR LEGAL. UH, AGAIN, IN SUPPORTING THIS POLICY CHANGE, UH, WE DID AS COUNSEL PREVIOUSLY VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE THAT SPECIFIED THE SCOPE OF THIS PROGRAM. UH, DOES THAT COM, DOES THIS POLICY CONFLICT WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BY COUNSEL GIVING AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE? OR IS THIS ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE, UH, PREVIOUSLY ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THE ORDINANCE? I BELIEVE IT'S ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THE ORDINANCE, BUT I'LL, I'LL CONFIRM THAT. QUAN COUNCILMAN ALCORN, WHO HAS MADE SIDEWALKS AND ISSUES AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, REMEMBER MY SIDEWALK SUMMIT? I HAD MY FIRST TERM . UM, WHAT I, I'M ALL ABOUT COMMON SENSE. UM, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS DISCUSSION TO THE FOREFRONT. UH, WE NEED COMMON SENSE, BUT WHAT WE ALSO NEED IS MONEY. WE NEED MONEY FOR SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE 5,167 LANE MILES OF SIDEWALKS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF THEM, YOU KNOW, THE CONDITION OF, YOU KNOW, I, GEORGE AND I ARE DOING SOME WORK ON OUR HOUSE. OUR WATER'S OFF RIGHT NOW. WE'RE REPLACING PIPES. SO WE'VE BEEN STAYING IN MEYERLAND. EVERYBODY HAD TO REDO THEIR HOUSE IN MEYERLAND, JUST NORTH OF THE BAYOU. YOU KNOW WHAT, MEYERLAND HAS BEAUTIFUL SIDEWALKS BECAUSE THEY'VE ALL REBUILT THEIR HOUSE OR SUBSTANTIALLY REMODELED THEIR HOUSE DUE TO HARVEY. SIDEWALKS ARE BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE FIVE FEET. THEY'RE CONNECTED. THEY'RE IN GREAT SHAPE. THEY'RE NEW. THE SIDE REQUIRING SIDEWALKS. IT IS, IS IMPORTANT. IT IT, IT GIVES US NICE SIDEWALKS. UM, WE HAVE 3,963 LANE MILES WITH NO SIDEWALKS AT ALL. SOME NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T WANT 'EM. A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DESPERATELY CLAMORING FOR THEM, IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A, A LA A LANE MILE OF SIDEWALKS. IT'S $440,000 TO IMPROVE OR REPAIR, UM, A MILE OF SIDEWALKS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, THIS ADMINISTRATION AND EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO GET ON BOARD, UM, A SIDEWALK BOND, UM, LET'S DO IT. OTHER CITIES DO IT. THAT'S HOW THEY GET GREAT SIDEWALKS. THAT'S HOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NEW MATERIALS WE'RE USING FOR SIDEWALKS THAT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OUR, OUR CLAY SOIL, OUR OUR TREES. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON WITH SIDEWALKS, BUT, UM, WE NEED MONEY. SO LET'S, UM, LET'S WORK ON GETTING SOME MONEY UP IN HERE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK I FOUND OUT YOU WERE A QUARTERBACK, AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THE HAIL MARY THIS MORNING, UH, SO THAT WE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, AS THEY SAY, WITH COMMON SENSE. BUT I WANNA DISPEL ANYBODY THAT THINKS THAT THE DRAFTERS OF THAT ARE AGAINST SIDEWALKS AND SIDEWALK SAFETY. IN FACT, I PUSH FOR SIDEWALKS RATHER THAN BIKE LANES. I DIGRESS. UM, BUT CERTAIN , CERTAINLY, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS CAME UP AND SPOKE ABOUT, UH, SOUTH UNION, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT D. I WANTED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO, TO, TO REPAIR THOSE SIDEWALKS. AND AGAIN, WE DO NEED THE MONEY, BUT I DO THANK YOU. AND I DID SECOND THAT, UM, MOTION TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, AND I'M READY TO VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THIS MORNING AROUND, UH, WHAT IS TO COME FROM THE, THE PLAN DEPARTMENT AND, AND THE PROCESS THAT'S GONNA PLAY OUT. I DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, WE DON'T EXPECT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO BE PEOPLE COMING TO US, BUT THAT WE ALSO GO OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND INTO OUR, OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS TO GET FEEDBACK AND INPUT. UM, YOU KNOW, WE SAW A LOT OF FOLKS COME TO SESSION, UM, TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS PROPOSAL AND, AND THAT THEY WERE NOT ENGAGED. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE DO THAT ON THE FRONT END, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND CRAFT, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA WORK FOR THE CITY, UH, BECAUSE CLEARLY WE DO NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THIS ORDINANCE. AND, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO, UM, THIS ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SIDEWALK ISSUE. I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD BRINGING THIS, THE FOREFRONT, BECAUSE GENERALLY, OFTENTIMES, WE, WE DEAL WITH ISSUES THAT KIND OF A SILO, THAT SOME ACTIVELY, UH, HAVE ISSUES THAT THEY TREAT AS A SILO, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ALL OF THE CITY. I WAS JUST IN DISTRICT IOWA YESTERDAY, UH, WITH COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE NO SIDEWALKS AT ALL. AND THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE SENDING EMAILS, NOT ONLY ONES [02:25:01] THAT WAS EXPRESSING IT PUBLICLY. SO I WANT TO COMMEND ALSO, YOU MAYOR, FOR COMING UP WITH THE PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE COUNCIL AND THE UNIFIED AGREEMENT, UH, SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US CAN, CAN COME TOGETHER ON, BUT CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THOSE COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING IT TO THE FOREFRONT, BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE THAT CERTAINLY, THAT THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT. SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE, UH, COMING TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, I APPRECIATE YOU REELING THIS BACK IN. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES SOME, SOME GRIT TO PUT SOME STUFF ON THE AGENDA, BUT I, I, FOR ME, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, FROM STEP ONE. UH, IT CREATES CONFUSION, FRUSTRATION, UH, UH, A SENSE OF DISTRUST. UM, I, I DON'T WANT, UH, VEER OFF TOO MUCH, BUT, UM, I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT IN THE COMMITTEE, UH, RIGHT OFF THE BAT. UH, THERE'S FOLKS THAT WERE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO OR WHAT WAS BEING, WHAT WAS THE INTENDED, UH, WHAT WAS INTENDED. YOU KNOW, AS COUNCILOR SHABAZZ SAID, FOLKS THINK THAT THERE'S COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT DON'T WANT SIDEWALKS, BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ENGAGE THEM INITIALLY. AND SO, UM, I HOPE THAT, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WE UTILIZE EVERY TOOL, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AND UTILIZE IT IN THE WAY WHERE WE ARE VERY, UH, VERY, UM, INTENTIONAL ABOUT BRINGING COMMUNITY TO THE TABLE. UH, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T, UH, I DON'T THINK IT IS WORTH TO ANYBODY'S BENEFIT TO, YOU KNOW, RILE UP FOLKS FOR, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT REALLY, UH, INFORMING THEM ON WHAT THE, UH, THE INTENTION IS. AND SO, UH, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF REFERRING IT BACK TO, TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION AS WELL. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS TO REFER BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION ITEM 43. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] THAT'S IT. OKAY. MEMBERS POP OFF. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. OKAY. UM, I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY. GO FOR IT. UM, OKAY. SO, QUITE A FEW THINGS HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE. UH, UH, LAST WEEK I MET WITH THE HOUSTON FIELD OFFICE WITH HUD AND, AND, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO THIS OPPORTUNITY IN ATLANTA. UH, THE, UM, UH, ATLANTA FIELD OFFICE OF HUD HOSTED A DEVELOPERS OF COLOR WORKSHOP. UH, HOUSTON IS INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON GETTING THAT, UH, STAGED. UM, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS CRITICAL IN OUR CITY. UH, AND THE MAYOR IN ATLANTA OFFERED WELCOME REMARKS. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE A PART OF THAT AS WELL. I THINK IT WOULD BE ENCOURAGING FOR, UH, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPERS, UH, BLACK BROWN, UM, A-A-I-P-I TO HEAR FROM THEIR MAYOR AROUND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE FOR THAT. UM, LAST WEEK, I WANNA THANK VICE MAYOR, UH, PECK, VICE MAYOR, PROTON PECK, UM, FOR COORDINATING A MEETING WITH HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, AS YOU KNOW, UH, UH, I'VE INTIMATED, UH, MY INTEREST AROUND POKER CLUBS ON THE WEST SIDE THAT I'M INUNDATED WITH. I'VE SHARED THIS WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AS A MAJOR PRIORITY. UH, UM, VICE MAYOR, UH, PAT COORDINATED A MEETING WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO, TO TALK WITH VICE. WE'RE GONNA STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT IN THAT AREA AND THEN ANTICIPATE THAT INFORMATION COMING BACK TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, AND GIVING HPD THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED WITH VICE AND DRT FOR BETTER ENFORCEMENT. AND I THINK WE HAVE, UM, PRELIMINARY SOLUTIONS THAT'S GONNA YIELD SOME FRUIT FOR US IN THE FUTURE. SO, MORE TO COME ON THAT. UH, I WANNA THANK THE TANGO WILD CIVIC CLUB FOR HAVING ME OUT. LAST WEEK, WE HAD AN AMAZING TIME. WE TALKED EVERYTHING, TRASH, PROHIBITED YARD PARKING ORDINANCE TO PROPO, A POSSIBLE PROPOSED TAX RATE, UH, INCREASE. AND SO I WANNA, UM, KEEP YOU INVOLVED IN ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS. UH, THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO, UH, TAKE UP SPACE WHEN YOUR CIVIC CLUB MEETING. UM, THEY ARE HOSTING A, UH, A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT. MAYOR, I WANNA INVITE YOU TO THE WEST SIDE FOR THAT. THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU. UM, SO, UM, GET READY FOR THAT. UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY ON SATURDAY, UH, WE CELEBRATED AND I WELCOME RESIDENTS AT, UH, 2,800 JEANETTA ONE ORLEANS PLACE. THEY WERE OUTTA THEIR HOMES FOR THREE YEARS. I'VE MENTIONED THAT IN THIS HORSESHOE, UH, FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. UH, IN 2021, THE WINTER FREEZE, THEY BURNED THEIR, THEIR UNIT BURNED DOWN. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GREET THEM, UM, WITH KEYS AS THEY ENTERED THEIR NEW UNIT WITH GIFT CARDS THAT OUR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, UM, LED THAT ISSUE WITH KROGER AND UNION PACIFIC AND HTMB. AND SO WE WERE THERE WITH MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND SOME OTHER RESIDENTS. SO I JUST WANNA WELCOME THEM HOME OFFICIALLY AND, AND, AND JUST, UM, EXTEND TO THEM, UM, SOME COMPASSION, UM, WHILE THEY'VE BEEN OUT PAYING THEIR MORTGAGE AND TEMPORARY HOUSING. UM, I WANNA SHOUT OUT HOUSTON FIRE. WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF FIRES ON THE WEST SIDE, AND WE'VE BEEN AGGRESSIVELY WORKING [02:30:01] WITH COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THEM ON FIRE PREVENTION. UM, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS OUT ON TWO DAYS AGO, CANVASSING THE PARK GLEN WEST NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE ONE PERSON LOST HIS LIFE, UH, A GENTLEMAN IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE HOME. UM, AND SO WE HAVE SECURED, UH, UP TO A LITTLE MORE THAN A DOZEN FIRE SMOKE DETECTORS TO BE REPLACED. HOUSTON FIRES WORKING WITH THOSE RESIDENTS. I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE BEEPING IN YOUR HOME. PAY ATTENTION IF YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR NEEDS TO BE UPDATED BECAUSE, UH, ONCE A FIRE HAPPENS, IT, IT, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE. AND ON PROPERTY LOSS AND SOMETIMES LIFE. UH, MAYOR, I DID, UH, PUT A, A, A QUICK EASY SURVEY IN THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, JUST TO GET A PULSE CHECK ON WHAT PEOPLE ON THE WEST SIDE WAS. WERE SAYING WE INCLUDED, UM, PREVIOUS ARTICLES. WE INCLUDED THE BFA MEETING WHERE THE INFORMATION WAS PROPOSED SO THEY COULD, UM, MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION. WE HAD 35 RESPONSES. THIS WENT OUT ON FRIDAY. WE HAD 35 RESPONSES. 69% OF THE 35 DO NOT SUPPORT. UM, SO, UM, WE'RE JUST WANTING TO GET A PULSE CHECK ON WHAT'S HAPPENING. UM, WE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED ALL OF THE BACK, UH, BACKUP INFORMATION. AND SO I'LL CONTINUE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS, BUT ALSO COMMUNICATING TO THEM, THERE'S A HIGHER DEMAND ON OUR SERVICES AFTER WE HAVE A DISASTER. PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY WANT THEIR TRASH PICKED UP THE DAY AFTER THE, THE, THE HURRICANE IS OVER. THEY WANT EVERYTHING TO RESUME AS IF THERE, WE HAVE NOT HAD A DISRUPTION IN OUR CITY AS IF OUR BUILDINGS HAVE NOT BEEN IMPACTED, AS IF WE DON'T HAVE POWER, AS IF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE NOT DEALING WITH POWER OUTAGES AS WELL. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE REALITIES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CITY AND THE TYPE OF QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT THEY WANT. UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT FOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION, UH, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THAT IS MORE THAN A PUBLIC SAFETY TOOL. IT IS A WAY TO CO CREATE COMMUNITY, UM, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE 10 ON THE WEST SIDE THAT WE ARE SCHEDULED FOR. WE ARE IN HIGH DEMAND. UM, AND WE HAVE, UM, OFFERED, UM, OUR POLICE CHIEF TO JOIN US IN DISTRICT F AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH CO CONFIRMING WITH THAT IN, IN WEST CHASE, WEST PARK VILLAGE. UM, BUT IF, UM, IF YOU HAVE NOT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, CONFIRM NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, PLEASE DO SO. WE WON'T WANT TO GET OUT TO YOU, GET SOME INFORMATION TO YOU. THE MAYOR MAY JUST POP UP ON THE WEST SIDE, Y'ALL. I DON'T KNOW. UH, MAYBE, MAYBE. SO. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT. IT'S THE INAUGURAL ONE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT F IN WEST CHASE AT FIRST METHODIST WEST. I WANNA THANK OUR SPONSORS AND OUR PARTNERS FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, HAR, THE LAND BANK, SO FORTH AND SO ON, FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT. WE HAVE NEARLY A HUNDRED REGISTER, UH, REGISTER, UH, PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE REGISTERED FOR THAT, FROM DEVELOPERS TO FAITH LEADERS, FROM MOSQUE TO CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SETTING A, UH, SETTING A TONE IN THIS CITY AND ASKING OUR FAITH COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE WITH US AS WE MEET OUR MISSION OF CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UM, AND, AND OUR CLOSE WITH THIS, UH, MR. MAYOR, YOU KNOW, OUR MULTIFAMILY TEAM HAS COME BEFORE, UM, THE HOUSING, UH, DEPARTMENT WITH NOFA S AND A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING ABOUT YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT SENIORS THAT ARE RAISING GRANDKIDS. THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT, UH, THOSE THAT ARE, UM, UH, THE REENTRY PROGRAM, RIGHT? MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE STABILIZED, THAT THEY CAN BE STABILIZED SO THEY DON'T REENTER THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE. AND I JUST REALLY THINK WE HAVE TO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON, UH, POPULATIONS IN ADDITION TO OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY. UH, WE HAVE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT NEED, WE NEED TO INSERT THE SAME WAY AROUND HOUSING, UH, VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE HOUSING FOR THEM AS WELL. SO, I THINK THERE'S A, A BROADER CONVERSATION. I THINK THE FAITH COMMUNITY IS A, A BEST PLACE TO START. MANY OF THEM HAVE, UH, ACRES AND LAND, AND THEY'RE WILLING, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. SO I INVITE Y'ALL TO JOIN ME WITH THAT. UM, AND IF I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THAT'S IT. IF MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY SUPPORT TO YOU, PLEASE REACH OUT AT DISTRICT F AT HOUSTON, TX DO GOV. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IS HOSTING A TURNAROUND HOUSTON JOB FAIR ON, UH, THURSDAY, TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER THE 26TH AT 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT THE HARM CLARK MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IN DISTRICT A. IF YOU KNOW OF HOUSTONIANS OR RESIDENTS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES, UM, PLEASE SHARE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TURNAROUND HOUSTON JOB FAIR ON TOMORROW, FROM 10 TO ONE AT THE HERM CLARK MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. ALSO, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAIN IS OCTOBER THE FIRST. IF YOU ARE HOSTING A BLOCK PARTY IN DISTRICT KA COOKOUT OR COMMUNITY GATHERING, WE'D LOVE TO BE PART OF THAT CELEBRATION. UH, WE WILL BE KICKING NATIONAL NIGHT ALL OUT OFF AT THE, UM, HAROLD L. PRESTON [02:35:01] SOUTHWEST POLICE STATION FROM FOUR TO SIX, AND THEN HEADING OUT TO THE DIFFERENT, UH, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UH, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR EVENT TO JOE GATSON@HOUSTONTX.GOV, OR YOU CAN CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND LET US KNOW ABOUT THE EVENTS YOU'LL BE HOSTING, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. REMEMBER THAT THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS OCTOBER THE SEVENTH. AND EARLY VOTING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION BEGINS OCTOBER THE 21ST. UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON, UM, KNOW THAT, UM, THEY CAN GO TO FORT BEND COUNTY VOTES, AND HARRIS COUNTY CAN GO TO HARRIS VOTES.COM. MAKE SURE YOU ARE KEEPING UP WITH DISTRICT CASE SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, AND IF WE CAN BE OF ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE, CONTACT US IN THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE HAVING A PET DAY IN DISTRICT A. THAT WILL BE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13TH AT 10:00 AM AT FREE PARK AT 6 8 1 8 SHADY VILLA LANE. UM, WE ARE GOING TO OFFER LOW COST SERVICES, UM, FOR SPAY AND NEUTER, ECO HEARTWORM TESTS, RABIES VACCINE MICROCHIP, AND MORE. UM, THANKS TO HOUSTON PETSET. UM, YOU MUST REGISTER FOR, UM, THESE SERVICES. WE'LL BE PUTTING, UM, THAT INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN REGISTER, AND THEN THERE WILL ALSO BE, UM, FREE PET FOOD AVAILABLE FROM THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ANYONE WHO NEEDS THOSE SERVICES, UM, ON OCTOBER 13TH. AND THANKS TO COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR HOSTING US AT FREED PARK. UM, AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK CRIME STOPPERS FOR HOSTING THEIR NATIONAL NIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE EVENT ON SUNDAY. UM, THEY DO THIS EVERY YEAR TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT WAS SUCH A MOVING CEREMONY, AS IT ALWAYS IS. UM, AND I'M JUST SO APPRECIATIVE TO CRIME STOPPERS FOR THE WORK THEY DO, UM, TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. MAYOR, MEMBER MARTINEZ MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO FIRST START OFF BY SAYING, UH, JUST THANKING YOU FOR NEGOTIATING GOOD FAITH WITH HOPE. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL. UM, SECONDLY, WE HAVE A PARK CLEANUP. UH, JOIN THE DISTRICT EYE OFFICE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 28TH AT 9:00 AM UH, FOR PARK CLEANUP WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING TO HOST THESE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE'LL BE AT ALGO PARK, WHICH IS AT 7,000 AVENUE Q, UM, WHICH IS NOT TOO FAR FROM COUNCIL, OR COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WAS, UH, YESTERDAY IN MAGNOLIA PARK. UM, ALSO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, FINALLY JUST SAY THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO KICK OFF CMC, UH, NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY, OCTOBER, THE FIRST, AND IT RUNS THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. UH, A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 1ST, WE'LL START WITH THE BLUE BIN FUNDRAISER. UM, AND FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE NEW TO THE HORSESHOE, ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS, IS THERE'S A BLUE BIN IN THE, UH, LOBBY AT ANNEX. UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT DOES NOT, THAT RAISES THE LESS AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, WILL HAVE TO KISS THE CRITTER AT THE END OF THE MONTH. SO, TRY AND PUT MONEY IN YOUR BINS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. ON OCTOBER 1ST, WE'LL HAVE BREAKFAST TACOS FROM TAAS OCTOBER THE SECOND WE'LL HAVE CORN AND A CUP DAY FROM ELTO BRAVOS. THAT WAS THE, THE ORGANIZATION THAT, OR THE COMPANY THAT WAS HERE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THEY'RE DONATING THEIR SERVICES OCTOBER THE FOURTH. WE'LL HAVE SEAFOOD DAY WITH PLATES FROM MAMBO SEAFOOD. UH, REMEMBER THAT ALL OF THESE EVENTS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. SO IF YOU SHOW UP LATE TO LUNCH, THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYTHING LEFT FOR YOU. UM, UH, ALSO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE, UM, HOPEFULLY HAVING YOUR, YOUR TEAM ALSO SUPPORT IN VOLUNTEERING. UH, SO IF ANY OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS WANNA VOLUNTEER DISTRICT, I IS GONNA BE ALL HANDS ON DECK. UH, BUT WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. UH, SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO KARINA OR MY OFFICE TO VOLUNTEER. AND THEN, UH, LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY A HEADS UP. THE PROCEEDS WILL BE GOING TO FIT HOUSTON. MANY OF Y'ALL PROBABLY HAVE ENGAGED WITH FIT HOUSTON IN YOUR DISTRICT. IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITIES. AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FIT HOUSTON, AND YOU CAN VISIT FIT HOUSTON.ORG. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TOO WANT TO SHARE MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE, TO THE FAMILY OF JUDGES, ANNETTE BERNIE. MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, AND MANY OF US KNOW, UH, NOT ONLY WAS SHE A GREAT ATTORNEY, UH, GREAT ACTIVISTS, SOMEONE WAS ON THE FRONT LINES, BUT, YOU KNOW, DURING MY TIME AS PRESIDENT OF HB AND ALL OF OUR TIMES BEING, UH, COMING TO THOSE MEETINGS ON TUESDAY NIGHTS, THEY WERE MAINLY HELD AT HER COURTROOM. AND SHE WOULD STAY LATE TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS. SHE WOULDN'T SPEAK, BUT SHE WOULD SIT IN THE BACK AND SHE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD A SPACE AVAILABLE FOR NECESSARY CONVERSATIONS. UH, WHETHER SHE AGREED WITH THINGS OR NOT, SHE MADE THAT SPACE AVAILABLE. UH, AND SHE WAS ALWAYS AN ENCOURAGER OF, OF, OF A LOT OF [02:40:01] US. AND SO SHE WILL BE MISSED. SHE WAS PETITE IN SIZE, I ALWAYS SAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A GIANT IN IMPACT. SO, UH, MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY. UM, TODAY WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SIDEWALKS. YOU KNOW, THE, THE VOTERS GAVE US THE ABILITY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS THROUGH PROPOSITION A TO PUT THINGS ON THE AGENDA. I DO THINK IT'S A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN SPUR CONVERSATION, UM, WAY IN WHICH WE CAN MOVE ITEMS OR ISSUES TO THE FOREFRONT. UH, IT CAN SHOW WHAT OUR PERSPECTIVES ARE ON THOSE. AND, UH, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT TOOL THAT WE CAN UTILIZE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ORDER TO, UM, HAVE A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN RAISE AND ELEVATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. AND, UM, THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WHETHER IT GOES TO A COMMITTEE, MORE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, MORE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, OR WHATEVER IT IS, UH, IT GOT SPURRED BY PUTTING IT FORWARD. AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, I TRULY APPRECIATE THE VOTERS BY GIVING US THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO. UM, A LEAF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE HAVING A TREE PLANTING EVENT THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY, NINE TO 12. UH, IT'S GONNA BE AT THE 7,900 BLOCK OF WILCREST BETWEEN HAZING AND VILLAGE BEND. UH, SO ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELPING, UH, PLANT TREES, PLEASE COME AFTER THAT. UH, THE PARK RESTORATION, WE'LL HAVE A PARK RESTORATION EVENT AT BRAEBURN GLEN PARK, WHICH IS NEAR 59, AND GESNER, UH, FROM 9:00 AM TO 12 AS WELL AT 9 5 1 0 SOUTH GESNER ROAD. SO THOSE ARE TWO VOLUNTEER EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND, AND TOO, MAYOR, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR THE INPUT AND THE ENGAGEMENT, UH, ON THIS POLICY DISCUSSION, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL, UH, IN THE DAYS AHEAD. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN ALCORN, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, WE'LL HAVE A JOINT BFA AND ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING. IT'LL BE OUR REGULAR BFA WITH THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND ALL, BUT IT, UM, ALSO, WE'RE HAVING A NATIONAL EXPERT ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ARTS, AND THAT'S WHY, UM, ARTS AND CULTURES INCLUDED IN THIS. HE'S GOING TO BECOME, UM, COME AND TALK TO US IN DEPTH ABOUT HOW, UM, HOW IMPORTANT THE ARTS ARE TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO A CITY. AND ALSO AN UPDATE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T HAD IN A LONG TIME, ON THE REBUILD HOUSTON PROGRAM, BUILDING HOUSTON FORWARD PROGRAM. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING ALL THE MONEY FROM THE DRAINAGE FEE AND THE VALOREM, AND THE PAYING DOWN OF THE DEBT, UM, SO YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THOSE, THOSE FUNDS AND, AND ADVOCATE FOR MORE. UM, PLEASE ATTEND ON OCTOBER 1ST. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I TOO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE, UM, MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. UM, JUDGE BERNIE IS GOING TO DEFINITELY BE MISSED. UM, AND I'LL, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY WANNA KEEP HER FAMILY IN PRAYERS. UM, ALSO, MAYOR, I WANNA GIVE CONDOLENCES TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT PASSED AWAY, UM, DUE TO A TRAIN THAT DISMEMBERED HIM. UM, THIS WEEK. THERE WAS A TRAGIC DEATH AT LYONS AVENUE AND ST. ELMO STREET IN FIFTH WARD, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS DANGEROUS CONDITIONS CREATED BY UNION PACIFIC'S TRAINS BLOCKING CROSS, UM, CROSSINGS FOR HOURS, DESPITE YEARS OF COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS AND MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY SIGNIFICANT ACTION TAKEN ON THIS UNION PACIFIC. AND OTHER RAILROADS ARE NOW RUNNING MONSTER TRAINS THAT STRETCH OVER THREE MILES, BLOCKING, BLOCKING VITAL ROADWAYS. AND THIS HAS LED TO BLOCK CROSSINGS IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE FIFTH WARD AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES, UM, FORCING RESIDENTS TO TAKE DANGEROUS RISKS, SUCH AS CROSSING BETWEEN STATIONARY CARS, UM, OR CRAWLING UNDER TEXAS HAS, HAS MORE BLOCKED RAIL RAILROAD CROSSINGS IN ANY OTHER STATE, WITH OVER 8,000 REPORTED IN THE PAST YEAR IN HOUSTON. THESE BLOCKAGES PREVENT PEOPLE FROM REACHING WORK, ACCESSING MEDICAL CARE, GETTING TO SCHOOL, AND EVEN JEOPARDIZING LIVES BY DELAYING EMERGENCY VEHICLES. IN FIFTH WARD, RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRAINS BLOCKING STREETS, O UM, OVER HOURS. AND THESE DELAYS HAVE LED PEDESTRIANS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, TO RISK CROSSING THESE TRACKS, SOMETIMES WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES, IS WHAT WE NOTICED THIS WEEK. THIS RECENT TRAGEDY HIGHLIGHTED THE SYSTEMIC ISSUE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE RESIDENTS ARE FORCED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE RISKS DAILY. UM, I, WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UM, REP DUTTON AND MANY OTHERS, UM, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOLUTIONS. UM, I'VE MET WITH UP, I'VE ASKED THEM TO CONSIDER PUTTING DIGITAL SIGNS, UM, TO WARN DRIVERS WHEN TRAINED CROSSINGS ARE BEING BLOCKED A MILE PRIOR. UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PEDESTRIAN CROSSOVERS, OVERPASSES [02:45:01] AND TUNNELS. THESE ARE ALL VERY EXPENSIVE, AND THEY, BUT THEY'RE NECESSARY TO SAVE LIVES. MY CONCERN IS THAT, UM, IN TALKING TO UP, UM, THEY'RE LOOKING AT FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. THERE'S A MINIMUM, SUPPOSEDLY, OF WHAT U UP CAN, CAN CONTRIBUTE. UM, AND IN MY OPINION, IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND THEY NEED, THEY'RE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND THEY NEED TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE, UM, ACTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE PRESERVE THESE COMMUNITIES. UM, THIS COMMUNITY IS SUFFERING CUMULATIVE EFFECTS, CANCER CLUSTERS, THE PLETHORA OF HAZARDOUS FACILITIES, FOOD DESERTS, AND THESE RAIL CROSS, AND JUST ADDING AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF PROBLEMS. AND I'M REALLY ASKING THE ADMINISTRATION IN OUR COUNCIL, UM, TO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, ASSIST US WITH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT FEDERAL FUNDING, LOOKING AT STATE FUNDING, UM, THAT HAS TO COME FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT CANNOT, CANNOT BE INITIATED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, BUT THE FUNDS ARE THERE, IT'S EXPENSIVE. BUT, UM, IT IS INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'VE LOST AN ELDER IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, BECAUSE OF THIS, OF THIS RAIL CAR IN INCIDENT. AND THE COMMUNITY'S HAVING TO WORK AROUND THIS AND CROSSING THROUGH THESE TRAINS THAT HAVE STOPPED IS A BIG ISSUE. WE HAVE, UM, WRITTEN LETTERS TO THE, UM, TO THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION. UM, THERE IS AN APP THAT, UM, THAT CONSTITUENTS CAN ACTUALLY PUT ON THEIR PHONE TO SEE AND REPORT WHEN A RAIL CROSSING, UM, IS, IS THERE. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DO BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF UP IS REPORTING THESE CROSSINGS, THESE, UM, TO THE FEDERAL, THE FEDERAL, UM, RAILROAD COMMISSION. BUT THIS WOULD BE, THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT AND CONTINUE, UM, TO PUT FORWARD COMPLAINTS. BUT, UM, WE DON'T NEED TO LOSE LIVES OVER THIS. AND THIS IS REALLY AFFECTING AND, UM, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THESE COMMUNITIES NEGATIVELY. AND I'M REALLY ASKING, UM, FOR SOME SUPPORT ON THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. I THANK YOU. SPEAK FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION, AND, UM, IT'S BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT ENOUGH'S ENOUGH. SO THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THAT I TOO ATTENDED THE CRIME STOPPERS REMEMBRANCE, UH, CEREMONY OF THE VICTIMS, UH, FOR THE PAST YEAR THAT WERE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, HOMICIDE VICTIMS, THE LARGEST NUMBER TO DATE YET, WHICH SPEAKS TO CRIME IN OUR CITY, UH, WHICH GOES BACK TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AND, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA GET THAT RIGHT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING, UH, WHEN YOU TURN ON THE NEWS, AND WE'RE, WE'RE FOCUSED ON VICTIMS. IT'S ANOTHER TO BE IN A ROOM FULL OF SURVIVORS, UH, FAMILIES OF THOSE VICTIMS, AND TO LOOK IN THEIR EYES AND, AND SEE THE PAIN, AND TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST GOT TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE CRIMINALS THAT ARE OUT THERE WALKING THE STREETS. AND WE'VE ALSO GOTTA HOLD OUR, UH, COURT SYSTEMS ACCOUNTABLE. BUT I ALSO, UH, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE AMAZING WORK THAT CRIME STOPPERS HAS DONE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SO MANY AGENCIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC FUNDS, UH, CRIME STOPPERS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH CORPORATE DONATIONS AND SUCH. AND IT'S SUCH A NECESSARY, UH, NONPROFIT IN OUR CITY. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY DO, AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE BEING THE PART OF IT. BUT REALLY A, A, YOU KNOW, JUST A, A SICKENING THOUGHT TO THINK THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF HOMICIDES YET, AND WHEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK THAT CRIME IS GOING DOWN. SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART TO WORK ON THAT. THANK YOU. EXCUSE MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN . THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE GATHERED FOR THE WORD ON THE STREET, UH, FAMILY FIRST FAIR, WHERE WE WERE AT THE WESLEY SQUARE APARTMENTS, UM, OFFERING THEM RESOURCES ADDRESSING CRIME AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT WAS A VERY FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT WITH FOOD AND INFORMATION AIMED AT EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY TO STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE AND CREATE SAFER, SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. I WANNA CERTAINLY EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO HPD, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, HOUSTON TOOL BANK, AND ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT WERE THERE IN THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS IN ORGANIZING THIS IMPACTFUL EVENT. UM, ON THIS PAST MONDAY, WE HAD A COMMUNITY TOWN HALL ON THE $50 MILLION HUD GRANT FOR CUNY HOMES. I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, WHO BROUGHT HER CLASS FROM PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY. AND I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO BRING YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE CREATE AND EDUCATE, UH, NEW LEADERSHIP. AND SO IT WAS A CRITICAL TOWN HALL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE $50 MILLION GRANT ALLOCATED FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF CUNY HOMES. AND THIS MEETING WAS HOSTED BY SANKOFA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UH, DR. ASDA RICHARDS. AND IT ADDRESSED PRESSING CONCERNS SUCH AS THE FUTURE OF CUNY HOME RESIDENTS AND HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CR TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. [02:50:01] I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ WHO CAME, WHO CAME OUT FOR THAT IMPACTFUL DISCUSSION AS WELL. UH, AND CERTAINLY I WANNA THANK, UH, ROXANNE LAWSON FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR HER ONGOING SUPPORT. UM, LET'S SEE. WE HAD THE NEW BEGINNINGS AT PURIST PARK. I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THIS, UH, YOUNG DEVELOPER. HIS NAME IS SPENCER HUCK, AND HE'S 23 YEARS OLD, AND HE ACTUALLY HAS AN INITIATIVE, UH, TO REVITALIZE PEERLESS PARK, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE OFF IN THAT OST AREA. THAT WHOLE AREA HAS CHANGED. NOW WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF TOWNHOUSES, BUT IT HAS REALLY PICKED UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, TO SEE THIS REVITALIZATION. ALSO, THE TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WILL HAVE THEIR FRESH, FRESH PRODUCE MOBILE MARCH ON THIS SATURDAY FROM 10 TO ONE AT 2,600 HOLMAN STREET. ALSO, ON SATURDAY NIGHT, WE'LL HAVE A FESTIVE AFFAIR WITH A COMMUNITY ARTIST COLLECTIVE IT. UM, IT'S GONNA BE SATURDAY NIGHT FROM SIX TO 11 AT THE HOBBY CENTER, 800 BAGBY STREET. AND, UH, THEY'RE CELEBRATING 37 MAGICAL YEARS OF THE COMMUNITY ARTIST COLLECTIVE. MICHELLE BARNES IS THE OWNER OF THAT PARTICULAR, UM, ESTABLISHMENT. UH, IT IS A ECLECTIC CELEBRATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, CITY LEADERS, AND THE COMMUNITY TO FURTHER ENRICH HOUSTON'S CULTURE. SO IT'S GONNA BE A WONDERFUL EVENING, AND, UM, CERTAINLY IF, UH, YOU WANT TO SUPPORT IT, IT IS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE HOBBY CENTER. UH, I ALSO, UM, WANT TO, THERE, THERE'S A MAN, UH, BY THE NAME OF SAM PUTNEY, WHO PROBABLY MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT HE WAS A GRADUATE OF JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966, AND HE WAS A RADIO PERSONALITY IN THE DALLAS AREA, BUT HIS FAMILY STILL LIVES HERE. AND I WANNA CERTAINLY GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO, TO THE SAM PUTNEY FAMILY, JUST A WONDERFUL GUY I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE, AND HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED. ALSO, OF COURSE, I, I HAVE TO MENTION MY CONSTITUENT, MY FRIEND TTA BERNIE. UM, SHE LIVED RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME. SHE WAS ALWAYS SUCH A SUPPORT AND SUCH A MENTOR TO SO MANY PEOPLE THAT IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. SHE HAD THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S LAW FIRM, AND SHE WAS JUST AN AWESOME PERSON. AND SO, CERTAINLY, I WANNA GIVE MY CONDOLENCES, IN PARTICULAR TO SHARON BERNIE, WHO WALKED INTO HER MOTHER'S FOOTSTEPS AND IS NOW THE JUDGE OF THE SAME COURT. BUT I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW THE WHOLE FAMILY, HOW MUCH SHE WAS LOVED. EVERYBODY LOVED. I DON'T, I NEVER HEARD A BAD WORD AT ALL ABOUT, UH, JUDGE TTA BERNIE, JUST SO WELL LOVED. UH, I ALSO WANT TO HER SERVICES, I BELIEVE, UH, I, I WILL GIVE THAT INFORMATION, UM, NEXT WEEK, UH, IN REGARDS TO HER SERVICES. UM, IF YOU NEED TO GET INFORMATION FROM DISTRICT DD, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT DISTRICT D@HOUSTONTX.GOV AND ALSO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW UP FRONT, DISTRICT D IS FAR AND WIDE, BUT I WILL TRY TO COVER AS MUCH AREA AS I CAN FROM SAGEMONT ALL THE WAY TO THE MUSEUM DISTRICT IN THE MIDTOWN. BUT I'M GONNA MAKE IT, LIKE THEY SAY, DO WHAT IT DO AND KEEP IT MOVING. AND CERTAINLY, IF YOU WANT TO INVITE ME, UH, TO THE, UM, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO CORY, C-O-R-E-Y, DOT GLEN, G-L-E-N-N, AT HOUSTON TX.GOV. AND IF YOU DON'T WANNA INVITE ME, DON'T SEND AN EMAIL. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS PAST SATURDAY, I HELD A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH EAST SUNSET HEIGHTS, AND, UH, THEY HAD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS. I WANT TO, ESPECIALLY THANK PUBLIC WORKS AND, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR SENDING REPRESENTATIVES THERE, UH, TO SPEAK ON THEIR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, IT WAS EIGHT 30 ON A SATURDAY MORNING. I KNOW THEY PROBABLY HAD A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THEY COULD BE DOING, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY APPRECIATED, UH, THEM BEING THERE, UM, AND ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS. AND SO, UH, TO PUBLIC WORKS, TO, UH, URBAN FORESTRY SPECIFICALLY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING REPRESENTATIVES THERE. UM, I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SOUTH CENTRAL, UH, HPD COMMANDS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH EVENT. THEY HAD, UM, THIS PAST SATURDAY AT THE ESPLANADE ON NAVIGATION BOULEVARD. UH, THEY HAD A GREAT TURNOUT, UH, A NUMBER OF, OF RESOURCES AND, AND DEPARTMENTS WERE REPRESENTED. UM, THEY HAD LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPLORERS OUT THERE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE SOME FOLKS FROM, FROM MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL OUT THERE. UM, AND, UH, A LOT OF, A LOT OF FUN WAS HAD OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. [02:55:01] THIS COMING MONDAY, I'LL BE PARTNERING WITH HPD CENTRAL COMMAND. WE'LL BE DOING A, UH, FIREARM SAFETY WORKSHOP AT MOODY PARK COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 6:30 PM ON, UH, WE WILL HAVE GUN SAFES AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS WILL BE THE START OF REESTABLISHING, UH, HPD CENTRAL'S PIP MEETING, UM, WHICH WILL, WILL BE, UM, MONTHLY MOVING FORWARD. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, INTEREST, UH, FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THAT. AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE, UH, THIS COMING BACK ONLINE. UM, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AS A COUPLE OF, UH, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED IS COMING UP. UH, PLEASE SEND YOUR EVENTS TO DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV. WE'VE RECEIVED A NUMBER ALREADY. UM, BUT WE DO WANT TO KNOW, UH, IF YOU ARE HAVING ONE SO THAT WE CAN COME BY AND PARTICIPATE. AND I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING, UH, BFA ART AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY. UH, A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED, UM, AND, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DIVE INTO, UH, THE DETAILS ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT DIRECTLY IMPACTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, FROM THE ARTS AND CULTURE, UM, PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANT TO GIVE DITTOS TO MY COLLEAGUES IN RECOGNITION OF JUDGE NETTE BERNIE, WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND, UM, I, I DO WANT TO SAY I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING, UH, THAT I PRAYED WITH HER, UM, IN THE FACILITY IN PEARLAND, UM, AT THE REQUEST OF FLO COOPER, WHO WORKED WITH HER QUITE A BIT. SO, UH, IN HER LAST DAYS, HAD A CHANCE TO GO BY AND TO, UM, HAVE A WORD OF PRAYER WITH Z. SO CERTAINLY PRAYING FOR HER FAMILY. UH, AS AN ADDITION, UM, TO, I WANTED TO, UM, RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND, DIRECTOR ROBERT DEMBO OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR ROBERT DEMBO III FOR BEING SELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE ARNOLD FLIGHT HOUSTON THAT DEPARTED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH. HONOR FLIGHT. HOUSTON RECOGNIZED AMERICAN VETERANS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT AND SACRIFICES WHILE SERVING DURING WORLD WAR II, KOREAN, VIETNAM, COLD WARS, AS WELL AS TERMINALLY ILL VETERANS FOR OTHER CONFLICTS BY FLYING THEM TO WASHINGTON DC TO VISIT THE MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS CREATED IN THEIR HONOR. AND CERTAINLY, UH, JUST WANT TO, TO, UH, RECOGNIZE HIM FOR THAT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN AND, UM, OUR CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLANDS, FOR JOINING WITH US, UH, ON THE PRESENTATION. THAT WAS THE PROCLAMATION PRESENTED BY OUR MAYOR, UH, TO POWS AND MIAS. AND OFTENTIMES, PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE, OR, UH, WE TEND TO FORGET, UH, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, AND SOME OF THEM WERE PRISONS OF WAR, THOSE THAT THEM ARE MISSING ACTIONS. SO I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCILMAN ALCORN AND, UM, CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS FOR JOINING WITH US. UH, IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR, UH, I WANT TO SEND A BIG THANK TO SOLID WAYS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR MARK WIL AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF MARK ANDERSON FOR ASSISTING, UH, OUR OFFICE AND DISTRICT L OFFICE BY GETTING STORM DEBRIS PICKED UP FROM THE SHADOW LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, IN WEST HOUSTON. EARLIEST WEEK THEY HAD BEEN SENDING SO MANY EMAILS IN, IN CONCERNS OF THAT. SO I WANT TO THANK OUR DIRECTOR. WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A HARD AND HUGE JOB TO TRY TO DEAL WITH ALL THIS DEBRIS. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING, MAYOR, WHICH IS A EYE OPENING STATISTIC. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CRIME STOPPERS, UH, TO PROPERLY ILLUSTRATE A HUGE PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND IT INVOLVED GUNS AND OUR YOUTH. UH, HERE'S A STATISTIC THAT CAME TO US, UM, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 179 INSTANCES OF STUDENTS BEING CAUGHT WITH WEAPONS IN THE SCHOOL, NOT RIFLES, BUT PISTOLS, WEAPONS, UH, YOU KNOW, AND HISD 179. AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES WHO WERE CAUGHT NOT TALKING, CONSIDERING THE ONES THAT WERE, WERE NOT. I'M WORKING CLOSELY WITH SIDNEY ZUCKER, WHO IS REALLY GOD SENT AT CRIME STOPPERS. SHE AND HER TEAM ARE ASSISTING ME WITH COMPILING DATA TO PRESENT TO YOU, MAYOR AND THE PUBLIC. MY GOAL IS TO SHOW HOW [03:00:01] MUCH WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR YOUTH CRIME PROBLEM. WE HAVE TO BECOME A CITY THAT IS PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE OF WAITING TILL SOMETHING GETS WAY OUTTA CONTROL OUR YOUTH. AND IT'S TWO SIDES TO THAT. WE NEED TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING, UH, APPROACH WITH OUR YOUTH WITH GUNS, BUT ALSO TO TRY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OUR YOUNG, UH, UH, YOUTH BEING ARRESTED AND HAVING THIS RECORD OVER THEIR LIVES, WHAT WILL CAUSE HARM TO THEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO, BUT I CERTAINLY WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THAT WITH HPD. THAT'S PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE WANT TO INITIATE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PASTORS IN THE CITY. LASTLY, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT, UH, OUR OFFICE TO IS HOLDING OUR THIRD TOWN HALL MEETING OF, OF, UH, 2024 MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, UH, 1 4 0 8 3 SOUTH MAINE FROM SIX TO SEVEN 30. FOOD AND DRINK WILL BE PROVIDED BY FRENCHES CHICKEN AND ONE WORLD STRATEGY GROUP IS SPONSORING. UH, WE HAVE OFFICIALS FROM 15 CITY, UH, 15, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON DEPARTMENTS OFFICES, WHO WILL BE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS. WE ALSO HAVE 10 ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL BE THERE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCE, INCLUDING FEMA, SBA, THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT, A A RP, HOUSTON LAND BANK, AND HOUSTON HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. WE ALSO HAVE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO ATTEND, INCLUDING CHIEF DIAZ, CHIEF MUNOZ, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR, SADDLE WHITE, TRANS STAR, OEM, DIRECTOR, BRIAN MASON, CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE, VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, DEBO, OBO, UM, DIRECTOR, UH, LENCIA HART. AND WE JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU AND, UH, YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR PREVIOUS TOWN HALL MEETINGS, AND WE HOPE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE OF GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERYBODY CAN'T COME DOWN HERE. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT EVAN HAS A LIGHT ON, SHE'LL COME BACK AT THE END. PERFECT. COUNCIL, MAYOR, SECOND CHAIR. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S MY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS BIRTHDAY TODAY, DEMAR PEREZ. I GUESS SHE'S GIVEN HERSELF HER OWN BIRTHDAY PRESENT, AND SHE'LL BE GETTING ON A PLANE GOING TO EUROPE TODAY. OH, NICE. SO, UH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE CRIME STOPPERS EVENT. IN FACT, THERE WAS FIVE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE OUT THERE. UM, I, I THINK IT WAS NICE THAT WE WERE WELL, WELL REPRESENTED. UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE THE FAMILY OF, OF THE VICTIMS, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A SOCIETAL ISSUE, AND IT'S GOOD TO SHOW UP TO AT LEAST SAY I'M SORRY. UM, SO I, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT. UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST TOWN HALL, UH, LAST WEEK. UH, PROBABLY 300 TO 350 PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE, SO IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. UM, REPRESENTATIVE CUNNINGHAM WAS OUT THERE, ALONG WITH FORMER REPRESENTATIVE DAN HUBERTY, WHO'S NOW ON THE COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY BOARD. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, TWILA AND JULIAN RAMIREZ, WERE OUT THERE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, WE ALSO HAD THE POLICE CHIEF, UH, SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR, WILL FOLK, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. IT, UH, IT ALL WENT VERY WELL. WE'RE HAVING OUR NEXT ONE IN, UH, CLEAR LAKE AND THEN IN EDGEBROOK. UM, SO THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR AND CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'LL START OFF WITH JUST A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE THAT WE SAVED THE RIVER OAKS THEATER. UH, WE GOT A SNEAK PEEK OF IT, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND, AND IT OPENS UP TO THE PUBLIC ON OCTOBER 3RD, UH, WHETHER IT WAS KIM COE THAT STEPPED IN SARS CINEMA, CULINARY CONCEPTS, THE RESIDENTS SAVE RIVER OAKS THEATER, THE MOVEMENT, UH, PHOEBE TUDOR MINNET BELE, THAT THE LIST GOES ON. ANDY IKEN, THIS THEATER IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE FROM A HISTORICAL PRESERVATION PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO, UH, FROM AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT IN, THE ENGAGEMENT, THE ARTS, THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENJOYED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, UH, TO GET TICKETS. I KNOW MOST OF THIS YEAR IS ALREADY SOLD OUT, BUT PLEASE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE THEATER. AND IN THE SAME VEIN AS WE SAVE THEIR ROGUES THEATER. UH, MAYOR, KUDOS TO YOU. UH, YOU DEFINITELY HAD A HAND IN, UH, SAVING THE TRIP, UH, FOR OUR WALL TRIP RAM BAND, UH, GOING TO THE SUGAR BOWL. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE STUDENTS CAN ENJOY WHAT IS A WELL DESERVED ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. UH, THIS BAND, [03:05:01] FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THE ROARING RED RAM BAND THAT WE'RE SO PROUD OF WAS THE LAST BAND TO PERFORM FOR PRESIDENT KENNEDY, UH, IN 1963, UH, THE FIRST HOUSTON ISD BAND TO ADVANCE TO AREA IN 1997. UH, THEY'RE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE TITLE ONE MUSIC PROGRAMS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. UH, SO MAYOR, THANKS TO YOU, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO STEP UP AND ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING. UH, THESE STUDENTS STILL NEED AND ARE STILL FUNDRAISING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GO, UH, THE DELAYS WITH HISD AND AUTHORIZING THE TRIP DELAYED, THEIR EFFORT TO FUNDRAISE. AND THEY'RE ON A VERY QUICK TIMELINE NOW. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO TO WALTRIP RAM BAND.ORG TO DONATE FOR THEIR TRIP, UH, AND MAYOR USING DISTRICT FUNDS, AGAIN, JUST A SMALL PORTION, I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN EXPEDITING THAT AUTHORIZATION SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE DO OUR PART TO GET THEM TO THE SUGAR BOWL. BUT THANK YOU, UH, FOR STEPPING IN. I HAVE A FEW OTHER REMARKS, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING ON THAT. WE'RE JUST VERY APPRECIATIVE. THE, UH, AS A REMINDER, UH, FAMILIES WITH PRIDE IS ONE MONTH AWAY, SO PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS. ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES, STAFF, YOUR FAMILIES ARE INVITED OCTOBER 26TH FROM EIGHT 30 TO 1130 AT DISCOVERY GREEN. UH, AND ALSO ANOTHER INVITATION AND REMINDER ON OCTOBER 1ST, UH, THIS COMING TUESDAY AT 1130 IN THE LEGACY ROOM, YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL RECEIVED INVITATIONS. I WE'RE SUPPOSED TO WRAP UP BY NOON, UH, BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ABDA AND CLEAR CHANNEL FOR THEIR ANNUAL BILL BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN, UH, FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. SO PLEASE JOIN US IF YOU CAN FOR THAT. UH, I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK MAYOR, THE, YOUR OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DIRECTOR NCEE, UH, MEREDITH SCO WITH THE HOUSTON COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, ARIEL SIMS, HANNAH WALKER, AND CHUCK FRENCH. ALL THE STAFF AT WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AND H PART STAFF, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS ON FRIDAY. HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES JOINED US AT WEST GRAY, UH, FOR THE DISABILITY CELEBRATION. IT'S AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION, UH, AND MAYOR, WHEN WE SAID THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WEST GRAY REALLY NEEDS A FACELIFT. UH, EVERYBODY CHEERED. SO THE, THE MOMENTUM IS THERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY FURTHER IN EFFORTS, UM, TO GROW AND IMPROVE THE FACILITY. UH, AND I WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE CHAMPION OF INCLUSION AWARD, BUT REALLY, THE CHAMPIONS ARE THE FOLKS THAT WORK THERE AND VOLUNTEER THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. LASTLY, I WANT TO WELCOME BACK CRUZ. UH, SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY WORKING PART-TIME IN OUR OFFICE AND JUST RETURNED BACK FROM AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM OUT OF THE COUNTRY, AND SHE'S NOW FULL-TIME IN OUR OFFICE AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR. WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER, AND WISHING A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, TO ANNA SMITH. UH, PLEASE WISH HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY IF YOU SEE HER. SHE'S CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ALS I WANT TO ALSO TOUCH ON THE DEATH OF THE SENIOR WHO WAS KILLED IN, UM, FIFTH WARD, UM, BY THE TRAIN. UM, I KNOW THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER MENTIONED, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UM, THE TRAINS BEEN SITTING ON THE TRACKS FOR HOURS, UM, UM, IN FIFTH WARD AND ACROSS DISTRICT B. UM, THAT TRACK ON LOWNDES IS NOT THE ONLY, UM, TRACK THAT WE HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH. WE HAVE WACO, WE HAVE LOCKWOOD, UM, RIGHT NEAR, UM, ST. ARNOLD'S. YOU HAVE THE TRAIN SITS ON THE TRACK IN THE MORNING, AND YOU HAVE, UM, IT, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE. FOLKS, IT'S COMMUNITY WORK. THEY'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY ON THE ROAD TO, UM, AVOID THE TRAINING. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT. WE NEED TO IDENTIFY, UM, GETTING COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL SUPPORT TO, UM, PROVIDE GRADE SEPARATIONS AT THESE, UM, LOCATIONS. AND THAT SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY. I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE. WE ALWAYS SAY IT'S EXPENSIVE, UM, BUT, UM, THESE ARE PEOPLE LIVES THAT ARE IN DANGER. AND SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL, UM, IN TRYING TO ADDRESS AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE. UM, SECONDLY, LAST WEEK, UM, I TOOK A DELEGATION OF 30 CREDIBLE MESSENGERS TO DC, UM, TO DO A PEER EXCHANGE. UM, THE CREDIBLE ME, THEY, WE ACTUALLY GOT A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM IN DC. UM, SAW IT IN ACTION. WE HAD, UM, CONVERSATIONS WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS AND ALSO, UM, THE GOAL WAS TO GET OUR CREDIBLE MESSENGERS THAT'S BEEN TRAINED, UM, HERE, EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM. UM, IT WAS A CREDIBLE, IT WAS A GREAT TRIP. UM, WE LEARNED ABOUT, UM, VARIOUS THINGS. UM, WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR OF OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, MS. LIZ RYAN. AND THAT WAS A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION, UM, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO REFLECT [03:10:01] ON OUR JOURNEY TO D UM, DC BUT ALSO SHARE INSIGHTS INTO THE CHALLENGES OF SECURING FUNDING TO KEEP OUR WORK GOING. UM, WE SHARED IDEAS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE AND HOW THIS IMPORTANT WORK SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ON VOLUNTEERS. WE ALSO, UM, TOURED VARIOUS SITES, UM, WHERE CREDIBLE MESSENGER WORK IS HAPPENING, UM, FROM THE LARGEST HOUSING PROJECT TO, UM, GROUND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. UM, WE ALSO GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK OF THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM, HOW IT WORKS AT, UH, SCHOOLS AND HOMES. UM, IT WAS VERY EXCITING, UM, IN A FEW WEEKS, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, UM, WE WILL BE, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT TO GET THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD HERE IN HOUSTON. SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR FOUR YEARS NOW. UM, I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED THAT IT'S FINALLY, UM, MOVING FORWARD. UM, AND AS I ALWAYS SAY, WE CANNOT RELY ON POLICE ALONE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, WE NEED FOLKS THAT CAN CONNECT WITH OUR YOUNG FOLKS, UM, FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE, UM, CRIMINAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT CAN MEET THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT. UM, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA REALLY TACKLE THESE ISSUES. UM, AND SO, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND YEAH, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. YEAH. UM, ALSO ON THIS PAST SATURDAY, UM, I WANT TO THANK OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, UM, NOEL DE CHIEF DE DIAZ. UM, HE CAME OUT AND SPOKE WITH THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. UM, HE SPENT , HE SPENT, LOOK, HE SPENT QUITE SOME TIME THERE ENGAGING WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, ANSWERING QUESTIONS. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. UM, HE WAS ABLE TO ASSURE US THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING WITH OUR PREVIOUS CHIEF. WE'LL CONTINUE, UM, UM, HE'S OPEN TO HAVING ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH THE CIVIC CLUBS AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT B-H-I-S-D-D SCHOOLS. I GOT A REPORT FROM HISD, SO I WANT TO, UM, GO OVER THIS. UM, SO IN 2023 THROUGH 2024, SCHOOL YEAR, DISTRICT B HAD ZERO A RATED CAMPUSES, UM, FOR THE 20 24, 20 25 SCHOOL YEAR. DISTRICT B NOW HAS THREE A RATED CAMPUSES. HILLARD ELEMENTARY, YES. MCGOWAN ELEMENTARY, SCARBOROUGH AND SCARBOROUGH ELEMENTARY. UM, HILLER ELEMENTARY ROSE FROM AN F TO AN A RATING. SO ALL SCHOOLS ARE A'S, UM, AT THE SAME TIME, NINE CAMPUSES WENT FROM A, FROM F RATING. IN 2023 TO 2024 SCHOOL YEAR, THERE ARE NOW B RATINGS. SO WE HAVE NINE SCHOOLS THAT ARE B THAT WAS ONCE F'S, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. UM, AND THESE SCHOOLS ARE DOGAN ELEMENTARY, CASHMERE, UM, GARDEN ELEMENTARY, SHADY, DALE ELEMENTARY, FLEMING ELEMENTARY, FORESTS, BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL, HOLLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, KEY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY ACHIEVED A B RATING. SO I'M REALLY WANT TO COMMEND THE SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS AND JUST ADMINISTRATION FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF CHAOS RIGHT NOW WITH THE TAKEOVER, BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH THESE, UM, SCORES, IT SHOWS THAT IT'S WORKING. I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THE TEACHERS. THEY, THEY, THEY SAY THEY LIKE THE NEW STRUCTURE. UM, I TALKED TO MY SISTER AS A COUNSELOR AT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS. SHE'S LIKE, THEY LIKE THE STRUCTURE. AND SO I'M JUST PROUD OF THE STUDENTS AND I WANT TO DO WHAT I CAN TO SUPPORT, UM, THEM IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST OFF, I WANNA LEND MY VOICE TO THOSE EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF, UH, TTA BERNIE. I MET, UH, JUDGE BERNIE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BABY PROSECUTOR HANDLING MISDEMEANOR CASES. WE HAD SEVERAL CASES TOGETHER. SHE WAS ALWAYS, ALWAYS KIND AND GRACIOUS AND JUST A COMPLETE AND TOTAL CLASS ACT. AND SO, UM, CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY. SHE LATER BECAME AN IMPORTANT, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVIST AND, UH, ACTIVIST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND A JUDGE AS WELL. I ATTENDED THE, UH, REMEMBRANCE EVENT AT CRIME STOPPERS, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. AND, UH, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE THAT WE'VE LOST DUE TO VIOLENCE. UM, I KNOW THE CITY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. WE TALK ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL THE TIME. BUT I WANNA REMIND FOLKS THAT ELECTIONS MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO SELECTING OUR JUDGES WHO PRESIDE OVER CRIMINAL CASES IN OUR FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR COURTS. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EVALUATE ALL OF THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATES. IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT, UH, IT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE THESE JUDGES DETERMINE WHAT THE BAIL IS AND WHETHER OR NOT THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN BAIL IS SET. THEY DETERMINE WHAT PUNISHMENT IS ON CASES, AND THEY ALSO FACTOR IN THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY OR NOT. AND SO, UH, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO TAKE THE TIME THAT IS NECESSARY TO [03:15:01] EVALUATE OUR JUDICIAL CANDIDATES. YOU CAN GO TO THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION WEBSITE LATER ON. THEY'LL HAVE THE RESULTS OF A JUDICIAL POLL WHERE, UH, THE LAWYERS WHO ACTUALLY PRACTICE BEFORE THESE JUDGES WILL WEIGH IN ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. I KNOW THE, UH, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ALSO DOES A VOTER GUIDE WHERE CANDIDATES ARE ALLOWED TO ANSWER CERTAIN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THEIR OFFICE. LASTLY, MAYOR, I WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE MOVES YOU'VE MADE TO ADDRESS HOUSTON'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES. BY, FIRST OF ALL, APPOINTING MIKE NICHOLS TO HEAD OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. UH, I, I VERY FORTUNATE TO GET TO WORK WITH HIM. I SUPPORT HIM AND, UH, WHAT HE'S DOING THERE. ALSO, MAYOR, YOU, YOU MADE A GREAT PICK IN PUTTING, UH, JODY PERLER IN, UH, AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS WELL. UH, HE IS, UH, HIS HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND HE WANTS TO DO SOME GOOD FOR HOUSTON IN TERMS OF PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. I WOULD ALSO NOTE, UH, MAYOR, THAT, UM, UH, I'M, I'M GLAD THE ADMINISTRATION PULLED, UH, THE ITEM REGARDING THE PFCS. UM, THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN CITY COUNCIL IMPORTANT AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT EACH INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION, PFC IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC. AND, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER EACH AND EVERY ONE SEPARATELY. AND SO I'M GLAD WE'LL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN THAT REGARD. WE ARE DEPENDENT AS A CITY COUNCIL IN, IN DETERMINING WHETHER THESE, THESE, UH, PROPOSALS ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO HAVE ACCURATE AND FULL INFORMATION. AND, UM, I LEARNED YESTERDAY DURING A MEETING THAT WAS ORGANIZED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, FOR ORGANIZING THAT AND INCLUDING ME IN, IN ON IT, THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE'D RECEIVED WAS NOT ACCURATE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CONSULTANT. AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF IF CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, THEN THE DOCUMENTATION AND THE ADMIN, THE, UH, INFORMATION PROVIDED US NEEDS TO CHANGE AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. UM, PFCS UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION BECAME A SORT OF A, A, A THREE DIRTY WORDS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE ABUSES AND PRACTICES THAT OCCURRED. THE LEGISLATURE STEPPED IN AND ADDRESSED THIS AND MADE SOME, SOME ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH, WHICH I APPLAUD AND I THINK WILL, UH, HOPEFULLY PREVENT SOME OF THESE ABUSES. BUT I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU MADE BIG CHANGES AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH THIS IN MIND, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THESE DECISIONS. I ALSO HOPE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD, OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, CAN HAVE GREATER INPUT IN THESE PFCS BEFORE THEY COME TO COUNCIL, SO THAT, UH, WE CAN MAKE SURE, UH, THESE, THESE PROPOSALS ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THAT THEY DO IN FACT PROVIDE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON NEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CERTAINLY WANT TO ALSO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO MR. PRESTON ROWE, UH, WHO IS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LASETTE CIVIC CLUB ON THE PASSING OF HIS WIFE, LATRELL FORD ROWE. HER SERVICES WILL BE TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE FIRST AT 11:00 AM AT THE LILY GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 70 34 TILL WESTER. UM, MRS. ROWE WAS CERTAINLY THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MAN. AND SO WE WANNA CERTAINLY GIVE OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE GROVE FAMILY. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ FOR, UH, MENTIONING THE MEETING ON YESTERDAY. THE DEVELOPER INDICATED ON HIS OWN THAT THERE WAS SOME ERROR, SO IT WASN'T AN AHA MOMENT. UH, AND HE WAS WILLING TO, CERTAINLY, HE'S GONNA PROVIDE THE CORRECT INFORMATION, UH, IN THE MEETING, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY FRUITFUL MEETING AND THEY WERE VERY FORTHCOMING, EVEN IN ADMITTING THAT THERE WAS A MISTAKE IN THE DATA THAT THEY PRESENTED. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S HOW WE WORK TOGETHER. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU COME TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE ARE READY AND WILLING TO ADDRESS, UH, THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.