* 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] OKAY. COUNCIL, PLEASE COME [PRESENTATIONS] TO ORDER. CHAIR TURNS OVER GAVE TO OUR MAYOR PROTE CAST SIX TATUM, WHO I APPRECIATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND EVAN SHABAZZ FOR PROCLAMATION TO HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, AND DECLARING OCTOBER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. HEY, HOW ARE Y'ALL, MAYOR? GOOD TO COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT ARE HERE? UM, PRESENTATIONS FROM PREVIOUS. HMM. PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS. WHY DON'T WE JUST PLEASE WE HAVE THE WHOLE HOK TEAM. GOOD. YEAH. AND BOARD. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UH, TODAY IS, UH, THE START OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO BE STANDING ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE AND GOOD FRIEND, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, AND OF COURSE, OUR MAYOR, UH, AS WELL AS HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, UH, WHO IS ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY SINGLE DAY, FIGHTING FOR WOMEN, MEN, AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WE CONTINUE TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OF THE NEARLY 5,000 WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO WERE MURDERED IN 2021, AT LEAST 34% OF THOSE WOMEN WERE KILLED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER. AND TO BRING THAT CLOSER TO HOME, THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE REPORTED THAT IN TWENTY TWENTY TWO, TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN TEXANS WERE KILLED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER ACROSS 63 COUNTRIES. IT WAS, IF YOU HAVE THE BREAKDOWN, 179 WOMEN, 37 MEN. IT WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDES IN THE LAST DECADE. AND WE KNOW FROM THE PANDEMIC, UH, AND I'M ACTUALLY GONNA PAUSE. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US AS WELL, PLEASE. UH, AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, UH, IN MY FIRST TERM, UH, WE SAW AN EXPONENTIAL RISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAUSE SO MANY SURVIVORS WERE TRAPPED AT HOME WITH THEIR ABUSERS AND HAWK. UH, MYSELF, MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAME TOGETHER WITH THE CITY TO CREATE A CAMPAIGN, NO COVID ABUSE, AND IT WAS AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. AND MAYOR, OUT OF THAT WORK, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ACTUALLY BECAME THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT EACH ONE OF US CAN DO, AND THAT IS TO DESTIGMATIZE CONVERSATIONS AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SO THAT, UH, THOSE GOING THROUGH IT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE NOT VICTIMS, THEY ARE SURVIVORS, AND WE MUST LIFT THEM UP. SO, TO GET HELP, PLEASE SHARE OUT, TO HELP OTHERS. I'M ASKING EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT ALSO THOSE LISTENING TO SHARE OUT RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE 24 7 NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE. YOU CAN CALL 807 9 9 SAFE, SAFE, OR TEXT BEGIN TO 8 8 7 8 8. AND IN A MOMENT WHEN WE HEAR, UM, FROM EMILY, THE CEO OF HAWK, SHE WILL ALSO SHARE OUT RESOURCES FROM, UH, HAWK. YES, MA'AM, PLEASE. HAWK PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE ADVOCATING FOR AND ASSISTING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UH, AS I MENTIONED, I AM JOINED BY MY FRIEND WHO HAS STOOD ALONGSIDE ME FOR ALL OF THIS IN THIS FIGHT, UH, AND THE NEW HAWK FACILITY, WHICH IS OPENING THIS YEAR. WE ARE SO EXCITED, UH, WILL NOW NO LONGER BE IN DISTRICT C, BUT IN DISTRICT D. ABSOLUTELY. AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. UH, SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THESE PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUING TO GROW, UM, AND THE CITY'S SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE EXPANSION THAT HELPED ALL OF THIS COME TO FRUITION. UH, I DO WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL CONNECTION AND PARTNERSHIP MAYOR WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. UH, HAWK HAS PARTNERED WITH OUR DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM UNDER HPD SINCE ITS INCEPTION, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE SHELTER AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO SURVIVORS IN DANGER. THEY SUPPORT HPD IN TRAINING AND COLLABORATION, ENSURING SURVIVORS PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES, AND THE [00:05:01] EMPHASIS IS ON PREVENTION, INCREASING ACCESS TO SAFETY RESOURCES THROUGH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND PROVIDING CRISIS INTERVENTION AND LONG-TERM SUPPORT. UH, BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I JUST LASTLY WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT ALL SERVICES AT HAWK ARE FREE AND THEY ARE CONFIDENTIAL. SO YOU CAN GO TO HAWK HWC.ORG TO LEARN MORE AND CONNECT RESOURCES. AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN I WILL HAND IT OFF TO BOTH OF YOU. OKAY. OKAY. WHEREAS IN 1989, CONGRESS DESIGNATED OCTOBER AS NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, A TIME WHEN ADVOCATES UNITE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC ABUSE AND PROMOTE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THOSE IN NEED. STATISTICS SHOW THAT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AFFECTS OVER 12 MILLION INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. IN TEXAS, ONE IN THREE INDIVIDUALS WILL ENCOUNTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING THEIR LIFETIME. IN HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER HAS BEEN A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1977, ASSISTING COUNTLESS WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. TODAY, HAWK EMPLOYS 190 STAFF MEMBERS OPERATES. A RESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY CENTER MAINTAINS A 24 7 HOTLINE AND TEXT, RIGHT? YES. TEXT, AND IS SUPPORTED BY A VOLUNTEER BASE OF OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS. IN RESPONSE TO THE PREVALENCE OF VIOLENCE, HAWK IS ENHANCING ACCESS TO SAFETY RESOURCES THROUGH EMPOWERMENT HUBS, SAFETY PLANNING, SHELTER SERVICES, AND RESOURCE EXPANSION. HAWK PROVIDES CRISIS INTERVENTION AND LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, ENCOMPASSING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, LEGAL SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY HAWK ARE EFFECTIVE AND SAVE LIVES. THIS YEAR MARKS THE INAUGURATION OF HAWK'S NEW HEADQUARTERS, WHICH TRIPLES THE CAPACITY AND INCREASES THE CENTER'S RESOURCES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON URGES ALL RESIDENTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND COMMENDS THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER FOR ITS DEDICATED AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CAMAN. UM, I WANT TO DECLARE ZERO TOLERANCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UH, HAWK HAS ALWAYS COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN OUR SUSPENDED CASES THIS SPRING, PROVIDING COUNSELING FOR THE BACKLOG SUSPENDED CASES. SO LET ME JUST ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR, UH, DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES, BUT YOU REALLY STEP UP WHEN THE CITY NEEDS YOU, AND I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND, UH, I CAN PERSONALLY SAY THAT DOMESTIC ABUSE IS NOT ALWAYS PHYSICAL, BUT OFTEN IT'S VERBAL. MANY OF US, UNFORTUNATELY, HEARD THAT DOMESTIC ABUSE, AND IT'S VERY TRAUMATIZING AND UNHEALTHY FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. WITH THAT STATEMENT, I'M PROUD TO, UH, RECOGNIZE PAUL HOUSTON WOMEN'S CENTER. I'M JOHN WHITMEYER MAYO, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I'M CERTAIN WE'RE JOINED BY ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES, AND CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, AND I'M SURE IT'S UNANIMOUS BECAUSE WE ALL ARE UNITED IN THIS STATEMENT. ABSOLUTELY. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, OF COURSE, UM, HAWK USED TO BE IN DISTRICT C, UH, AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPACE IN DISTRICT D, , THEY, THEY ARE SO VERY WELCOME, AND I'M SO VERY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT. AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I DO CALL DISTRICT D THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A DESTINATION OF SAFETY IN DISTRICT D AND WE ARE JUST VERY, VERY PROUD. AND I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TELL PEOPLE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOPS YOU FROM GOING TO GET HELP IS SHAME. PLEASE, PLEASE, WE ARE GONNA JUST LET THAT GO BECAUSE YOUR SAFETY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND THINGS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE IN THEIR LIFETIMES. AND SO DO NOT LET SHAME CRIPPLE YOU. THERE ARE RESOURCES FOR YOU. AND THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WELCOMING PLACE, AND I'VE BEEN THERE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO LET GO. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO LET , BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME. BUT CERTAINLY, UH, AGAIN, I THANK YOU. UM, AND AGAIN, JUST JUST KNOW AND IT'S [00:10:01] VERY EASY TO GET TO. UH, WE REALLY DON'T LIKE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE FOR THEIR SAFETY, BUT CERTAINLY, I, I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND HAVE DONE FOR SO MANY ABUSED PEOPLE IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE EMILY WHITEHURST, CEO OF HAWK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. UH, WE HAVE COME SO FAR AS A COMMUNITY IN BEING REALLY WILLING TO LISTEN TO SURVIVORS, TO CENTER THEIR STORIES IN THE STRATEGIES THAT WE DEVELOP TO RESPOND AND ACT TO MIRROR THEIR COURAGE WITH OUR OWN. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON REALLY HAS DONE THAT. UH, THANKS TO THEIR INITIAL INVESTMENT, UH, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF OPENING A FIVE AND A HALF ACRE CAMPUS THAT WILL BE REALLY BE ONE SAFE PLACE FOR DI SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, AS WELL AS SEX TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. UH, THIS REGION HAS NOT YET HAD THE BENEFIT OF A CAMPUS THAT IS A DISCLOSED LOCATION. UH, THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, WE ARE CONFIDENT WE CAN BE A SECURE, SAFE LOCATION, BUT ALSO A LOCATION PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT AND KNOW WHERE TO GO. UH, THE LAST THING WE WANT IS FOR SURVIVORS TO FEEL LIKE THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING HOMELESS OR BEING SHOT, OR BEING KILLED OR STRANGLED IT, UH, WITH NO OTHER OPTION. IT, THAT, THAT DAY IS GOING TO BE DONE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONE SAFE CAMPUS, 24 HOUR ACCESS. IT'S GONNA HAVE ALL THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT ANYBODY COULD EVER WANT AND NEED. AND WE REALLY INVITE YOU. I, I JUST WANNA ECHO THIS. PUT DOWN THE SHAME. WE ARE A LOVING, HEALING DESTINATION. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET LIBERATED FROM VIOLENCE, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO STAND HERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY THE DAY WHEN SURVIVORS DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO. IS DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DID YOU WANNA INTRODUCE YOUR TEAM? I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM. . THANK YOU. I GOT A LITTLE PASSIONATE. UM, BUT LISTEN, WE, THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT, AND MY COLLEAGUE SONYA CORRALES, IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE ARY WOMEN'S CENTER. SHE'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. SHE'S OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. EVERYTHING WE DO IS, UH, GUIDED BY HER COUNCIL. WE HAVE THE CHAIR OF OUR BOARD AND STAFF AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. UH, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE, UM, WE ARE ON THE CASE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO PUT AN END TO DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE TO COMMEMORATE THEIR HOME SAFE HOME GALA AND THEIR 44 YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I HAVE LEFT MY NOTES, UH, BUT I'M GOING TO JUST WING THIS ONE. UH, WE ARE HERE ALSO IN HONOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, UH, TO RECOGNIZE ABDA AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. MANY OF YOU KNOW THEM, UH, FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, ADVOCATING THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO PROTECT SURVIVORS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN SURVIVE. UH, THEY ARE ALSO WORKING TO EDUCATE AT EVERY LEVEL, AT EVERY AGE ABOUT THE SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE AND HOW TO BREAK THAT CYCLE. UH, I'LL, I'LL SHARE MY PERSONAL STORY VERY BRIEFLY, BUT MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING ABDA EVER SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN. AND TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND HOW THEY HAVE GROWN TO SEE, UM, THEM ADVOCATED EVERY LEVEL, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY, UH, THE FIFTH CIRCUIT DECISION IN USB RAHIMI, UH, WHICH THEN PRECLUDED THE ABILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO IN AND OBTAIN A, UH, PROTECTIVE ORDER TO TAKE A GUN AWAY FROM A KNOWN [00:15:01] DOMESTIC ABUSER. AND, UH, ABDA WAS INSTRUMENTAL, AS WAS HAWK IN ADVOCATING AT THE SUPREME COURT TO STRIKE DOWN WHAT WAS A NONSENSICAL RULING. AND THAT HAS NOW BEEN, UH, WE WON IT. WE WERE OVERTURNED INTO THAT PROTECTION IS NOW IN PLACE. UH, AND AGAIN, THANKS TO ABDA AND OTHERS FOR THAT, I'M JOINED BY CEO MAISHA COULTER, WHO IN A MOMENT WILL, UM, INTRODUCE HER TEAM. WERE ALSO JOINED BY LEE VELA. UH, THIS MORNING WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH MANY OF YOU JOINED FOR THE START OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. THIS IS THE 10TH YEAR THAT CLEAR CHANNEL AND ABDA HAVE PARTNERED TOGETHER ON A BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN TO BRING AWARENESS ABOUT RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. UH, SO WE HOPE, I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE THE MINI BILLBOARDS AROUND, BUT YOU'LL START TO SEE THEM THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE THANK CLEAR CHANNEL AS WELL FOR, UH, THEIR PARTNERSHIP. ALWAYS LEE. SO, THANK YOU. ABDA AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE BEGAN IN 1979 AS A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN OF GREATER HOUSTON SECTION, WHO WERE DETERMINED TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE BY PROVIDING SURVIVORS WITH FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH THE RATIFICATION OF ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. ON AUGUST 18TH, 1980, THAT DREAM BECAME ABDA THANKS TO FOUNDING MOTHERS, RHONDA GERSON, TOBY MEYERS, AND DIDI FELD, AND A HOST OF OTHER FIERCE VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING JUDGE DOUG WARREN. THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST ATTORNEY ABDA IS A STATE ACCREDITED AGENCY WITH OVER 40 PAID STAFF SERVING EIGHT COUNTIES, AND PROVIDES GROUP COUNSELING FOR OVER 15,000 ABUSERS THROUGH ITS BATTERING INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM. IT ALSO OFFERS TRAUMA COUNSELING FOR ITS CLIENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN EDUCATES YOUTH ON ABUSE PREVENTION AND RAISES COMMUNITY AWARENESS. ABDIS LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM HAS ASSISTED OVER 100,000 SURVIVORS IN PROTECTIVE ORDERS, DIVORCE, CHILD CUSTODY OR SUPPORT AND ADOPTION CASES OF PARENTAL FATALITY, AND COVERS THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES OF FORT BEND, AUSTIN GRIMES WALLER, AND WASHINGTON ABDA WAS PIVOTAL IN THE CREATION OF THE FAMILY CRIMINAL LAW DIVISION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DA'S OFFICE. HARRIS COUNTY'S FIRST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT, THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S FIRST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM. ABDA IS TRANSFORMING LIVES AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BY CREATING SAFER HOMES FOR FAMILIES TO REBUILD WITHOUT FEAR AND PROVIDE HOPE, HEALING AND OPPORTUNITY, ENABLING SURVIVORS TO THRIVE AND REGAIN INDEPENDENCE. ABDIS WORK IS CRUCIAL IN BREAKING GENERATIONAL ABUSE CYCLES AND ENSURING LASTING CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY. ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2024, ABDA WILL HOST THEIR HOME SAFE HOME GALA AND HIGHLIGHT THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS ABDA STAFF, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND VOLUNTEERS AS THEY CELEBRATE 44 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES AS THEY REDEDICATE THEMSELVES TO BLAZING NEW TRAILS TOWARDS A FUTURE WITHOUT VIOLENCE. AND MAYOR, I NEGLECTED TO MENTION, I KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE FOR THIS AS WELL. UH, SHE IS ON CITY BUSINESS, BUT I PROMISED HER THAT I WOULD ALSO ECHO HER APPRECIATION. VERY GOOD. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. AND THANK AFTA FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO SAFER HOMES DEMONSTRATES WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AFTA, SAFER HOME STATE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAYMAN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE FOR THE LAST 44 YEARS, SERVING OUR COMMUNITY IN THE WAYS THAT ABDA DOES. UM, WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY ON MANY DIFFERENT INITIATIVES IN REGARD TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES WHO, UM, WE BELIEVE ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE HOMES WHERE SAFETY IS PRIORITIZED. UH, WE PROVIDE FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN FAMILY COURTS, AND WE ALSO PROVIDE THE CONTINUUM OF CARE TO THOSE WHO ABUSE. BATTERING INTERVENTION IS A CRITICAL PART OF HOW WE CAN END THIS EPIDEMIC, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT IS VITAL THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS HELP FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. AND SO I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT TODAY, BUT I ALSO [00:20:01] WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING BESIDE ME, UM, WHO INCLUDE MY BOARD CHAIR, STEPHANIE BON STEIN, HER HUSBAND, WHO'S BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR STAFF, UM, AND ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, FORMER, UH, CLIENTS, UM, WHO SPOKE EARLIER TODAY WHEN WE HAD OUR PRESS CONFERENCE. MEGAN, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE HAVE DONE ON BEHALF OF OTHER SURVIVORS. UM, IT IS JUST IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE WHO IS A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHARE THEIR STORIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE, UM, RE REVEAL THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, IT HELPS THOSE WHO ARE STILL HIDDEN AND WHO HAVE NO VOICE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, CONSIDER SPEAKING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY TOO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET TO SAFETY AND ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO THRIVE IN HOMES WHERE VIOLENCE IS NOT HAPPENING. SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, AND WE'RE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY. OH, AND OUR BILLBOARDS, THE CORRECT NUMBER IS 7 1 3 2 2 4 9 9 1 1. THOSE WILL BE AMENDED, UM, WITH THE PROPER NUMBER, BUT AGAIN, 7 1 3 2 2 4 9 9 1 1. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR PLUMBER COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. AND CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMAN BERKE, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND MAISHA, I JUST, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE THAT IS A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOUR BIT PROGRAM, I MAYOR, I DON'T JUST, SHE KIND OF RAN THROUGH IT VERY QUICKLY, BUT THIS PROGRAM HELPS PEOPLE THAT ARE BATERS. I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, AND WE TALK ABOUT GIVING THEM RESOURCES, AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. BUT GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE PROBLEM OF HELPING THAT PERSON UNDERSTAND THAT BEING ABUSIVE IS NOT THE WAY IN WHICH YOU'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. AND WHEN THEY ABUSE ONE PERSON AND YOU DON'T HELP THEM, THEY ABUSE ANOTHER ONE, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER ONE. AND I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO TO BRING MORE ATTENTION AND FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO THAT PROGRAM, BUT I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND FOR, FOR YOUR BOARD AND FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. AND, AND MAYOR, I KNOW WE'RE BROKE , BUT IF THERE ARE ANY WAYS TO SHAPE OR FORM THAT WE CAN SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, I WOULD JUST, UM, ASK FOR US TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO. YOU ARE REALLY HANDLING THE ROOT CAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND I AM SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND EVERYONE CAN SUPPORT BY JOINING AND ATTENDING THE SAFE HOME GALA. YOU'LL BE THERE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE GONNA DO LEE, DID YOU? NO, NO, NO. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHO WILL PRESENT THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARD IN ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ELVA TREVINO. THANK YOU MEMBERS. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T TAKE THIS RECOGNITION OF, UH, A MAYOR'S SPONSORED PROCLAMATION LIGHTLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO CLEAN SOMETHING. AND CERTAINLY THE MAYOR'S, UH, HISPANIC HERITAGE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT WARD IS TO SUCH A WELL-DESERVING HOUSTONIAN THAT IS, UH, SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS. AND CERTAINLY HER LIFE STORY IS ONE THAT SHOULD, UH, INSPIRE ALL OF US BEING A, A, UM, IMMIGRANT, ITINERANT MIGRANT WORKER. AND IT'S JUST COME SO FAR, SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW EVEN THE GREATEST IS YET TO COME, , SO THANK YOU. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR, UH, ACHIEVEMENTS AND HOW YOU'RE PAYING BACK OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UH, . HELLO, YOUR DAUGHTER ARIAN. [00:25:04] SEE YOU. SO HERE IT IS. TAKE A PICTURE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY AT WORK? UM, YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I'M FAMILIAR WITH SO MANY OF YOU BECAUSE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE ARTS. AND I JUST REALLY AM HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL TODAY, AND ALSO ACCOMPANIED WITH SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE LOCKED ARMS WITH ME OVER THE LAST DECADE. UM, FOR ME, NOTHING I DO, IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE MY NAME ON A PROCLAMATION BECAUSE EVEN FOR MY OWN BRAND CHAMPIONS CLUB SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IT, IT'S NEVER REALLY ABOUT ME. IT'S ABOUT JUST REALLY HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND SERVING AND LEADERSHIP AS BEST AS I CAN. AND IN BEING, IN BEING HERE, I KNOW PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BUILT ME FROM MY DAUGHTER BEING A VIOLINIST IN SPRING BRANCH, TO GROWING UP IN ALE AND IN MACALLEN, TEXAS. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE GEMS IN THE CITY, BOTH IN THE ARTS, BUT ALSO THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION. AND GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING TODAY, IT'S POETIC JUSTICE THAT THE OTHER AWARD TODAY IS FOR EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS. AND WE CAN KEEP MAKING THESE THINGS COEXIST AND WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES. YOU KNOW, I'M HERE WITH PEOPLE FROM ALI THEATER, UM, BALTIMORE RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS ALSO A NOMINATION, UM, HERE WITH IEP, THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP. ANDERSON, TRELL REED, LARISSA JACOBS FROM FIT HOUSTON, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING LATER TODAY. BLANCA . WE HAVE BRIAN LOPEZ. EVERYBODY HERE, IF YOU CAN JUST STAND UP. 'CAUSE EVERY TIME YOU SEE MY NAME, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME. THERE ARE COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ARTS FROM FILM TO MUSIC, TO THEATER TO DANCE, AND JUST HELPING TO HEAL THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS. AND SO IF WE KEEP WORKING TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR MISSIONS ARE ALIGNED TOGETHER, WE'RE GONNA MAKE HOUSTON STAND OUT FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR SO LONG. BUT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER LIKE NEVER BEFORE, UM, THROUGH ALL THE INDIFFERENCES, CULTURAL INDIFFERENCES, UH, GENERATIONAL, AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, SELFLESSNESS. NONE OF WHAT WE DO SHOULD BE ABOUT US, BUT ABOUT THE KIDS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT BEHIND US THROUGH ALL OF OUR EFFORTS COMBINED. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE, SINCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THERAPY EARLIER TODAY YEAH. ART THERAPY IS HELPING SO MANY FAMILIES. YES. SO WE WANT TO INCLUDE THAT, SPREAD THAT WORD. UH, I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S A PSYCHOLOGIST, AND THAT SHE'S DOING WONDERS AS YOU KNOW, WHAT ART CAN DO TO ASSIST THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED AND NEED ASSISTANCE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION. YEP. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU GUYS. I WOULD, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WE DO HAVE A, A COMMENT FROM THE, FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, ELBA. UM, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU JUST DID, WHICH IS RECOGNIZE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. AND AS YOU CAN TELL, IT IS A VERY DIVERSE GROUP AS WELL. MM-HMM . UM, AND I THINK IT, IT, IT'S, UH, TELLING OF, OF WHAT THE LATINO AND THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY CAN BRING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT, THAT SHINING LIGHT OF WHAT, WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE AS, AS WE ARE A PART OF THIS FABRIC OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AS, AS WELL AS COUNCIL, UH, TIFFANY THOMAS, AND SO MANY OF YOU, EDWARD POLLARD. EVERYBODY'S BEEN REALLY JUST ADVOCATING FOR ALL OF THESE CAUSES. I MEAN, JUST LEARNING ABOUT EACH DISTRICT AND ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE HELPED OUR EFFORTS SO MUCH MORE. AND IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE EACH OF YOU HAVING YOUR OWN MISSIONS AND FOLLOWING YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEEING THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS, WE CAN REALLY ALIGN TO YOUR CAUSES TO GET THE WORD OUT EVEN STRONGER. SO, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. A SECOND. YEAH. [00:30:30] NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHO WILL PRESENT THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT TO IRMA DIAZ. GONZALEZ. THANK YOU. AND, AND, AND THANK YOU. HELL, I LITTLE APOLOGIZE. I HATE YOU WORKING IN THE FIELD. OH, IT'S OKAY. HEY, I MEANT FOR FIELDS OF ART. IT'S OKAY. . I'M GETTING MY, I'M GETTING, I'M GETTING MY HEROES. SO WHERE'S OUR EAT US HERE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO AGAIN, THE DISTINGUISHED HONOR OF THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECOGNIZES EDMA GONZALEZ FOR SO MUCH THROUGHOUT HER LIFE, AND CERTAINLY BRINGING US TOGETHER TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE HARDSHIPS THAT SO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS GO THROUGH. BUT, UH, WITH PERSEVERANCE AND THE LORD AND AND YOUR FAMILY, ABSOLUTELY. ALL, ALMOST ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND LETTING US RECOGNIZE YOU. AND WE HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION THAT GOES, QUITE FRANKLY, LENGTHY STORY ABOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AS AN IMMIGRANT AND NOW HELPING OTHERS THAT REALLY NEED A SHOULDER LEAN ON. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS, ROLAND AND OTHERS THAT, UH, BRING THIS ACHIEVEMENT TO OUR ATTENTION. SO THANK YOU. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THE BEST IS YET TO COME. 'CAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT. TELL MY DAUGHTERS THE BEST. WELL, YOU'RE CERTAINLY A GREAT ROLE MODEL, SO THANK YOU. AND I'M PROUD TO GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION, AND THANK YOU. WE'LL YIELD TO YOU TO, UH, SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW BLESSED WE ALL ARE TO, UH, KNOW EACH OTHER. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER. THANK YOU. COMMITTEE. UM, UH, FOR THIS HONOR, I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS RECOGNITION, UM, AND, UM, ESPECIALLY THAT I GET TO SHARE WITH MY FAMILY. SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY. I'M VERY HONORED AND VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. I HAD TO REC, I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IMA, UM, JUST DEFINITELY, UH, IT'S WELL DESERVED, UH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT, AND I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE, UM, TO DO. UH, BUT I APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR COUNSEL THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, UM, WHILE I WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE TRENCHES, UH, WAITING TO GET ELECTED. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I STILL LEAN ON YOU, UH, TO THIS DAY. IMA THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP, UM, AND FOR LEAVING A LEGACY AS WELL, UH, TO CONTINUE DOING THE GOOD WORK. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MONICA. SO THAT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS YOU SO MUCH. SEE YOU SOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BE SAFE. HOW ARE YOU? ANOTHER HONOREE TODAY, UM, OVIA KING LA [00:35:01] UM, BRINGS HER SKILL IN THE TECHNICAL FIELD TO HELP OTHERS. THANK YOU TO THE ADVISORY GROUP FOR ONCE AGAIN. I SEE YOU. YES. HOW ARE YOU CHOOSING SOMEONE THAT IS GIVING BACK SO MUCH THE ELECTRICAL TECHNICAL SKILLS, HELPING FOLKS WITH THE WORKFORCE, AND REALLY DEMONSTRATING WHAT MAKES HOUSTON SO GREAT? YES, SIR. AND, UH, OFTENTIMES GOVERNMENT CANNOT PROVIDE THE SERVICES NEEDED, BUT CERTAINLY YOU DO NOT ALLOW THAT TO HOLD YOU BACK WITH YOUR SKILL AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR SO MANY. IT'S MY HONOR. YES, MA'AM. AND I'LL, I'LL YIELD TO YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, ONE OF THE ONLY LATINAS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS TO OWN A TRADE SCHOOL FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION SCHOOL AND COLLEGES. I'M VERY PROUD. UM, BUT I'M NOT JUST PROUD OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I'M PROUD OF MY FAMILY FOR GETTING ME HERE, FOR ALWAYS BELIEVING IN ME. THE PARTNERS THAT I HAVE HERE THAT ARE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE NON-PROFITS THAT WE WORK WITH, THE STUDENTS THAT I SEE SUCCEED EVERY DAY. I WAS ONCE A YOUTH HOPE BY THE SAME SYSTEM THAT I'M NOW BEING ABLE TO HELP MY STUDENTS. WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I'M ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE INITIATIVES THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS BRINGS DOWN TO US, TO OUR GRAY CITY. AND I SERVICE THE 13 COUNTIES SURROUNDING HARRIS COUNTY. SO I'M UNDER H GAG, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SCHOLARSHIP 90% OF MY STUDENTS TO PAY ZERO COST, TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, TO BE AN HVAC TECHNICIAN. AND WE PARTNER WITH BIG COMPANIES LIKE DAIKIN NORTH AMERICA. WE JUST PARTNER WITH THEM. THEY DONATE THE MATERIAL TO TRAIN THE STUDENTS. AND THAT IS WHAT I LOVE TO DO. AND I'M THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND THE BUREAUCRACY WITHIN ALL THESE INITIATIVES THAT I CAN GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY. AND I CAN GO TO HIGH SCHOOLS AND TELL THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN SAY, YOU WANT A JOB? YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE. YOU CAN'T GO TO COLLEGE. IT'S NOT FEASIBLE. THERE'S A SCHOLARSHIP. THERE'S FAST TRACK COURSES, THERE'S, UM, SKILL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS THAT WE CAN DO. AND THAT IS WHY I AM HERE. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M ALWAYS SO BUSY THAT SOMETIMES I DON'T GET HERE ON TIME ON THINGS, BUT THAT IS WHAT I'M WORKING. WE ARE WITH THE TEAM NOW, AND WE HAVE GROWN THE SCHOOL FROM 1,200 SQUARE FEET, BEING ABLE TO SERVE 10 STUDENTS PER MONTH TO NOW 8,000 SQUARE FEET NOW SERVING 50 STUDENTS A MONTH. AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ME IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE. AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST ASK FOR ME, IS LET ME SPREAD THE WONDERFUL NEWS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO WE CAN GO INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND REALLY SEE EMPOWERMENT, NOT JUST ME SAYING IT. THESE ARE TANGIBLE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT TAPPING INTO ANY OF OUR RESOURCES. AND THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. AND I SO THANKFUL TO RECEIVE THIS BECAUSE GOD HAS SEEN MY, MY HEART, MY, MY HARD, UM, TIME GETTING HERE. AND IT'S NOT EASY BEING A SINGLE MOM. AND I DID IT. MY SON WAS SIX YEARS OLD WHEN I MOVED TO HOUSTON, TEXAS. BUT I WAS BORN HERE. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND I CAME FROM FORT WORTH AND THAT I WAS A YOUTH GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING THAT MY STUDENTS GO BEING YOUNG WITHOUT RESOURCES, COMING FROM A HOUSEHOLD THAT UNFORTUNATELY OUR PARENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR US. YOU THINK YOU'RE STRUGGLING. YOU THINK THAT THERE'S NO A WAY OUT. YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE POOR. YOU THINK THAT THERE'S NO WAY OUT. SO WHENEVER THIS WAS PRESENTED TO ME, WHEN I MOVED TO HOUSTON 2013, I WENT TO WORK FOR A SCHOOL AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WHO GOT ME HERE. THEY GAVE ME A GRANT. I WENT TO HCC TO BE A PETROLEUM TECHNICIAN, UM, ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN. AND FROM THERE, THAT'S WHERE I OPENED MY EYES AND SAW THERE'S SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THIS 100% COVERED THAT'S NOT FAFSA. AND THE STORY IS JUST CONTINUES TO GO FROM THERE. IN 2020, I OPENED MY SCHOOL AND WE'RE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING TRADE SCHOOLS HERE IN, IN HOUSTON, BUT WE WILL BE IN TEXAS. AND THAT IS OUR GOAL. SO THANK YOU. AND MY ASK IS FOR YOU GUYS TO JUST COME VISIT THE SCHOOL. WE WANT EMPLOYERS, WE HAVE INTERNSHIPS FOR THEM. THE GAP IS SO HIGH IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT IN 10 YEARS, WE ARE GONNA BE CONSUMERS THAT PAY EVEN MORE MONEY FOR ELECTRICITY, FOR SERVICES. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST THE STUDENTS THAT GET HELP HERE. IT'S FOR EVERYBODY THAT LIVES HERE BECAUSE IT IMPACTS DIRECTLY OUR LIVES. SO THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTED ME HERE. THANK YOU FOR MY PARTNERS, MY, MY FAMILY, MY PARENTS, MY FIANCE, MY SISTERS, MY DAD. I COULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT HIM. ALL. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR HAVING ME HERE. THANK, THANK YOU. PLEASE, MAYOR, HANG ON. HANG ON. MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER, WE DO HAVE [00:40:01] A COUPLE OF CO UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS TO MS. TON HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WE'LL START WITH YOU. THANK MEMBER PROAM AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. UM, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT IS OUR STORY. UM, WORK HARD. UM, REALLY PAY TRIBUTE TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND FAITH. AND, AND SO YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE BECAUSE OF THAT. AND JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR FILLING THAT GAP THAT WE, WE KNOW WE NEED HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, I TALK TO FOLKS ALL THE TIME IS, UM, IN ORDER FOR THOSE HOMES TO BE, UH, FILLED, THEY NEED TO HAVE SKILLED, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE SKILLED LABOR, UH, WHEN THOSE HOMES ARE FILLED, AND WE CAN START TAXING, RIGHT? TO GET, UH, YOU KNOW, GET A PROPERTY TAXED WHERE WE CAN START PROVIDING SERVICES. AND SO IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, CIRCULAR, RIGHT? AND, AND SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE PART IN THAT, IN THAT CIRCLE. UM, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S VITAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS SUCCESSFUL. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND, AND WORK, UH, STAFF. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. IT DEFINITELY CAN'T BE DONE ALONE, SO KEEP LIFTING HER UP. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. AND WE SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, THAT GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE. AND YOU ARE A SHINING STAR IN OUR CITY. UH, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, UH, FOR A WOMAN TO START A TRADE SCHOOL THAT IS A PREDOMINANTLY MALE INDUSTRY, THAT YOU TOOK YOUR SKILL SETS AND YOU ARE SHARING THEM WITH, UH, YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS THE CITY SO THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BEST WISHES TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S AN HONOR CHAIR. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE RICHARD PONSE TO THE MIC, PLEASE. THERE, HE'S COMING UP AS HE'S APPROACHING. RICHARD PONSE STARTED HIS CAREER WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 2004, UM, EARNING THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. HE'S CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE CHAPLAIN. UM, A ROLE IN WHICH HE PASSIONATELY CARES FOR FROM A SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF ACTIVE AND RETIRED MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WELCOME, AND WE'RE, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE CHIEF TOM MUNOZ, UH, IT IS MY HONOR TO BE HERE. AND I NEVER WANNA MISS AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS, BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY, UM, I WANNA ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU, OBVIOUSLY, YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION IS A DIRECT REFLECTION ON WHAT WE SAW TODAY. AND SO WHEN THE DIFFICULTIES BECOME HARD THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY AND THROUGHOUT YOUR TIME AND THROUGHOUT YOUR SERVICE, I KNOW THAT GOD HAS PURPOSED YOU, PASSIONED YOU, AND THEN GIVEN YOU THE ABILITY TO PERSEVERE. AND SO I'M SURE YOU HEAR IT MORE OFTEN THAN NONE, BUT I SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU'LL PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER. LORD, WE COME TO YOU WITH AN APPRECIATION IN OUR HEARTS. LORD, I WANNA THANK YOU NOT ONLY FOR THIS COUNCIL ROOM, LORD, BUT [00:45:01] FOR THE MAYOR, FATHER, FOR THEIR FAMILIES. LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THEM RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE, MUCH LORD, AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED NOT ONLY TO THE CITY, BUT TO THE NATION. LORD AND GOD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TODAY, FATHER LORD, AS WE RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LORD, GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO REACH UP AND REACH OUT FOR HELP. LORD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM, THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THEM CONSTANTLY, FATHER AND LORD, AS THEY GO ABOUT THE BUSINESS THAT YOU HAVE CALLED THEM TO DO. MAY THEY CONSTANTLY JOIN TOGETHER TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE, PURPOSE THEM FOR FATHER. AND WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR HOLY NAME. AMEN. THANK YOU. WE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE. MADAM, WHAT WE GOT TODAY, MADAM, GOOD TO SEE, MADAM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PECK HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? COUNCILMAN CAMAN. PRESENT? COUNCILMAN EVAN CHAVAR? HERE. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT. COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. COUNCILOR MC CASTEX. SAD. HERE. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCILOR DAVIS DAVIS. YOU CONSTABLE CARTER WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE PLUMMER HERE AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. HAS T MOVE I A SECOND? MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, PROCEDURAL MOTIONS [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] BY CAYMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE GARY RUBY. TO FOLLOW MAURICE BELL ON THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST, PLEASE. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE PASTOR, UM, MONTIER MORRISON AND LALU DAVIES MANN, UM, BELOW AFTER GARY RUBY ON THE THREE MINUTE NON-AD AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MARK GBE, UM, TO FOLLOW MONTA MORRISON. SECOND. MOTION MADE THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? NO, SIR. WILL YOU CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE? MADAM SECRETARY. THE FIRST SPEAKER. TIFFANY SCALES. HOW Y'ALL DOING? SO HAPPY NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. HAPPY ART TO HUMANITIES AWARENESS MONTH. I KNOW A FEW MONTHS AGO SOMEBODY SAID ART WAS LIKE GRAVY. I WANNA SHOW YOU SOME POTATOES. SO IF YOU'LL COME BY BEFORE YOU START YOUR TOUR THIS EVENING, THE 2311 WIND BURN STREET IN THIRD WARD, THE EMANCIPATION FOOD TRUCK PARK, YOU'LL EXPERIENCE ARTS AND HUMANITIES BEING CELEBRATED. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY. NEXT. MAURICE BELL. MAURICE BELL IS NOT PRESENT. GARY RUBY. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MICROPHONE. I'M SORRY. OKAY. UH, THIS IS MY SECOND OR THIRD TIME COMING HERE ON THE SAME SUBJECT, BUT I'VE LIVED AT MY HOUSE AT 29 0 3 VIRGINIA STREET FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. AND IN THAT TIME, I'VE WRESTLED WITH THE PARKING NON-COMPLIANCE AT 27 36 VIRGINIA STREET, WHICH IS KNOWN BY FIVE CENTRAL. UM, AND 2011, THE OWNER OF THE LOCATION HAND WROTE A LETTER TO ALL THE NEIGHBORS ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. SO THIS PREDATED ANY OF THE, UH, CITY PROBLEMS. BUT IN 2014, THE OWNERS OF THE LOCATION SUBMITTED A PARKING VARIANCE, WHICH WAS, UM, IT, IT FAILED. AND AT THAT TIME, THE [00:50:01] PLANNING DIRECTOR, PATRICK WALTZ, ISSUED A MANDATE THAT THE, THE LOCATION EITHER COMES INTO COMPLIANCE OR HAS TO REDUCE 3,300 SQUARE FEET. SO FAST FORWARD IN 2019, AN UNPERMITTED, UM, SHIPPING CONTAINER WAS PUT THERE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE PARKING, UH, VALET ZONE WAS TAKEN AWAY. NUMEROUS EMAILS WITH THE CITY. MARGARET WALLACE BROWN SAYS IT'S A COMPLICATED SITUATION. UM, MRS. CAYMAN WRITES IN AN EMAIL, AND I'M GONNA PARAPHRASE IT, THAT SHE'S MET WITH, UM, PRESIDING, UH, JUDGE ELAINE MARSHALL, AS WELL AS ARTURO MICHELLE DISCUSSING ENFORCEMENT AND ISSUES. UH, SHE SAYS THAT MRS. ALCORN IS INVOLVED TOO AS WELL. AND MR. MICHI, UH, MR. MICHELLE WITH US BOTH ARE PUSHING FOR A COORDINATED EFFORT TO BRING A RELEVANT CITY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS OTHER RESOURCES TO TARGET THE WORST DEFENDERS OF WHICH FIVE CENTRAL IS ONE OF THEM IN JANUARY 22. SPOKE WITH THE SAME GROUP AND COUNCILMAN POLLARD IN REFERENCE TO THIS SAID, WHY IS THE CITY COUNT COWERING TO THESE, THESE, THESE BUSINESSES? IN 2023, THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS THERE SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE OWNERS AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE. ULTIMATELY, UH, THE CITY'S IN POSITION TO SET THE PARAMETERS. UH, IN 2024, JENNIFER OLIN SAYS, WE, WE AGREE THE PARKING LOT, LOTS BIKE RACK PATIOS ARE OUTTA COMPLIANCE AND WILL BE DOING A SITE VISIT SOON IN MARCH. UH, MARLENE GAFF SAYS THAT SHE AGREED THAT 50% ALCOHOL SALES WOULD RESULT IN 14 PARKING PLACES FOR THOUSAND. UH, MET WITH STEVEN DAVID IN JULY, AND HE SAYS, YEAH, I'M AWARE OF THAT PROBLEM. THAT GOES BACK FOR YEARS LAST WEEK. VRAN SAYS, WE ARE WORKING ON IT. SO IT APPEARS THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM THAT GOES BACK FIVE YEARS. MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR NINE MONTHS, YOU'VE PASSED THE CITY BUDGET, YOU'VE RESOLVED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS. YOU'VE DONE ALL THIS IN FIVE YEARS. CAN WE NOT DO SOMETHING HERE? MY ONE AND ONLY ASK IS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. WE'LL CERTAINLY REVIEW IT AND THANKS FOR YOUR APPEARANCE. CAN, CAN I DO MY ONE ASK 20 SECONDS HERE. GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR COMMENT. I'M ASKING FOR A CLEAR AND SPECIFIC EQUITABLE DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH PARKING AT THIS LOCATION. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION. OKAY. NO COMMITMENT. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, MONTE MONTE MORRISON. AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU. I'M ARI MORRISON. UH, I'M A PASTOR IN THE CITY GAS AREA OF, UH, HOUSTON, HISTORICALLY BLACK AREA. I'M COMING ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF NOT ONLY MY CHURCH, BUT UH, PRETTY MUCH THE MAJORITY OF BLACK CHURCHES IN THAT AREA, UH, TO, UH, HAVE SOME SILENT ZONES, SOME QUIET ZONES, UH, ON TWO RAILROADS IN THE AREA, UH, ONE ON, UH, LITTLE YORK AND MESA ROAD AND THE OTHER ON NORTH WAYSIDE IN BETWEEN, UM, LITTLE YORK AND TIDWELL. UM, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE. UH, THE COST HAS BEEN FIGURED, AND FROM WHAT I'M TOLD, UH, THE MONIES ARE THERE. AND SO WE'RE COMING ADVOCATING FOR COMPLETION OF THESE QUIET ZONES. OF COURSE, MANY OF YOU, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF QUIET ZONES. UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, THE REST THAT, THAT, THAT COMES WITH THOSE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND EVEN FOR OUR WORKING ADULTS. UH, CITY GAS IS THE AREA OF HOUSTON. IT HAS THE LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THE PROBLEMS ARE ENORMOUS. THIS WILL NOT FIX ALL OF THEM, BUT IT WILL HELP. OF COURSE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CHILDREN PERFORM, UH, TOWARDS THE LOWEST IN THE CITY. AND SO THE COMPLETION OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THOUGH IT SEEMS SMALL, BUT HAVE ENORMOUS IMPACT. UH, AND THEN I'D LIKE FOR OUR CONSULTANT, MR. MARK GOBY TO, UH, SHARE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER BEFOREHAND. OKAY. CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO ADD HIM TO THE LIST, ADDED ALREADY. MOTION, MOTION MAINTENANCE. SECONDED ANY, HE'S ALREADY ON THE LIST. HE'S ON THE LIST. GO AHEAD, SIR. GO AHEAD. MARK . VERY GOOD, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I DO HAVE THESE, UH, SPEAK [00:55:01] INTO THE MIC HANDOUTS THE MIC IN FRONT OF YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, UH, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS MARK GLEBE. I AM, UH, UH, INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, POLICY ISSUES AND ONE THAT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION ARE THE RAILWAY QUIET ZONES, WHERE THEY EXIST, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHERE THEY DO NOT. UH, BEFORE YOU USE THE DOCUMENT PUT TOGETHER BY TC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, MY COMPANY THAT ESTABLISHED FOR SUCH ENDEAVORS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT I FIRST GIVE PARTICULAR APPRECIATION AND COMMEND THE EFFORTS OF JANICE LAKEY AND ELANY PAPPAS AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS MULTIMODAL SAFETY AND DESIGN BRANCH. THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN BOTH INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AS WE'VE DELVED INTO THIS MATTER. IN THE HANDOUT, I HAVE DOCUMENTED A RAIL CORRIDOR RUNNING NORTH FROM ALTERNATE 90 TO APPROXIMATELY I 10. IT'S ROUGHLY 13 MILES AND HAS 12 RAIL CROSSINGS. THIS ENTIRE LENGTH IS A QUIET ZONE. IT RUNS PAST MANY COMMUNITIES, WHICH INCLUDE BEL AIR WEST UNIVERSITY, RIVER OAKS, AND THROUGH MEMORIAL PARK. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I WAS GIVEN A MYRIAD OF CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET FOR QUIET ZONES TO BE ALLOWED IN. THE PACKET ARE PICTURES FROM A NUMBER OF THE CROSSINGS IN THIS CORRIDOR. THE PHYSICAL BARRIERS IN THIS PLACE SUPPOSEDLY QUALIFY THIS CROSSING OR THAT ONE TO MEET THE QUIET ZONE THAT SEEMED SOMEWHAT RANDOM TO ME. I'LL ADMIT, I DO NOT HAVE A COMPLETELY TRAINED EYE ON THESE MEASURES, BUT I DO HAVE EYES. WHILE I'M MORE THAN EXCITED TO SEE THE FULFILLMENT OF HAVING THESE TWO CROSSINGS CONVERTED TO QUIET ZONES, I CAN ONLY WONDER WHY A 13 MILE CORRIDOR IS A QUIET ZONE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY A STRONG COMMITMENT BY ALL THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE RAIL. CAN WE NOT MAKE A MORE THOROUGH EFFORT TO BRING MORE QUIET ZONES ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA? FORTUNATELY, THE TWO CROSSINGS MENTIONED BY MONTE, UH, TODAY ARE MET MANY OF THE PREREQUISITES THAT MEANS THEY WERE, UH, UH, FAIRLY EASY TO FIX AND FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE TO BRING INTO COMPLIANCE. IT DOES BEG THE QUESTION, ARE THERE MORE QUE CROSSINGS? RIGHT? SIMILAR TO THIS SITUATION, MAINTAINING THE SAFE OPERATION INTEGRITY OF THESE CROSSINGS ARE IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES TO EVERYONE. A REPORT ON RAILROAD CROSSINGS, PU PUBLISHED BY HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, COPIES IN THERE SOUNDS SLEEP IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF A HEALTHY AND ESSENTIAL AND A MAINTAINING PROPER GROWTH, LEARNING MEMORY AND EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE. SIR, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WRAP IT UP, SIR. I SAY TRY TO DO A SUMMATION OF, OF YOUR POINT. I'M RIGHT THERE. I'M RIGHT THERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. IF 13 MILES OF RAILWAY CORRIDOR IN 12 CROSSINGS WITH EVERY FORM OF BARRIER IN PLACE CAN BE A QUIET ZONE, I ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THIS ESTEEM COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MANY OTHER AREAS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AND A QUIET ZONE. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? YES, PASTOR MORRISON. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. I WILL, I'LL VISIT WITH, UH, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AND SEE WHERE WE ARE ON, ON THAT PARTICULAR ONE. THANK YOU. YES, COUNCILOR KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANTED TO THANK YOU BOTH THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET AND BRING MORE QUIET ZONES. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR RAISING AND ELEVATING THE ISSUE AND CONTINUING TO EDUCATE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, WHILE SOME OF THE, WHAT THE CITY WOULD DO ON THEIR SIDE TO IMPLEMENT, WRITE A BARRIER OR SIGNAGE, THINGS LIKE THAT, TO IMPLEMENT THE ENTIRE QUIET ZONE CAN COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, VERY WELL WORTH IT. BUT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, ONE OF THE THINGS THE CITY HAS BEEN REALLY TRYING TO DO IS GO AND SEEK FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR SUPPORT THROUGH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. UH, SO I DUNNO THE STATUS OF THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR THAT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, ALL OF US AS WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE IN OUR RESPECTIVE AREAS TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE'RE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT MORE QUIET ZONES HERE IN THE CITY. YES, SIR. PASTOR? YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT, UH, ACCORDING TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, THE COST HAS BEEN CONFIGURED AND FROM WHAT WE'RE TOLD, THE FUNDS ARE THERE AND SO UNDERSTOOD. SO THEN THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING IT. AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE. I JUST, I WANNA MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, SINCE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, I KNOW SHE, I HAVE NO DOUBT IS FIGHTING FOR YOU ALL, UM, AND PUSHING TO SEE THIS THROUGH. YES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND WAS THESE TWO PARTICULAR LOCATIONS, ALRIGHT, OF WESTVILLE, YORK AND NORTHWEST SIDE OKAY. HAD ENOUGH BARRIERS THAT IT'S VERY MINIMAL. [01:00:01] WE'RE TALKING BOTH LOCATIONS FOR LESS THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE MADE INTO QUIET ZONES. AND THAT'S OUR QUESTION HERE IS, IS ARE THERE MORE OF THESE TYPES OF CROSSINGS THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE MILLIONS? I UNDERSTAND THERE'S MILLIONS AND NOBODY WANTS TO SIT THERE AND, AND ERASE THE SAFETY FACTORS AND THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GO THROUGH AND SAY, WELL, HERE'S ONE THAT'S IN THE INVENTORY, THE EASY, THAT'S FAIRLY EASY TO FIX. WE COULD NOT INEXPENSIVE. HOW MANY MORE COULD QUALIFY IF WE JUST STARTED LOOKING INTO THAT? YES, SIR. WELL, THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN. UH, IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW OUR RESIDENTS REALLY CARE ABOUT. MARTINEZ, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE BOTH OF Y'ALL COMING TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE. UM, IF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE EAST END, THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING ESSENTIALLY COMES TO RIGHT TOWARDS THE PORT. AND SO, UM, WE ARE WAITING CURRENTLY ON A EAST END THREE QUIET ZONE. UH, IT'S BEEN, WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON IT FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS. IT'S ALREADY PAID FOR. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER KAY MENTIONED, IT'S ABOUT HALF A MILLION PER INTERSECTION TO UPGRADE THE, THOSE BOXES, RIGHT? AND SO, UH, COST IS A BIG THING. UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE A, A MORE, UH, IN DEPTH CONVERSATION, UH, IS SEPARATION OF GRADE. UH, IF YOU SEPARATE THE GRADE, THEN QUIET ZONES, CAN THEY NATURALLY HAPPEN, UH, AS WELL. AND SO THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF Y'ALL CAN START PUTTING SOME EFFORTS IN, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS WELL? IT'D BE HELPFUL. UH, A LOT OF IT'S GONNA BE FEDERAL DOLLARS, OF COURSE. UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST A, A CONCERTED EFFORT WITH ALL OF HOUSTONIANS TO SEE HOW WE CAN SEPARATE GRADE ALONG LOCKWOOD UH, ALONG, UH, GRIGGS, UH, YOU KNOW, I CAN LIST THEM ALL AND ON ALL IN THE EAST END. UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND AGAIN, SHIFTING OVER TO SEPARATION GRADE WOULD BE, UH, IT'S A HEAVIER LIFT, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A MORE MEANINGFUL IMPACT, HONESTLY. YES, IT ABSOLUTELY IS. AND IN FACT, UH, UP THERE ON THE NORTH WEST SIDE, UH, WHERE THESE TWO INTERSECTIONS ARE, THERE ARE NO NORTH SOUTH, UH, SEPARATION OF GRADES. SO THAT MEANS THAT ANY TYPE OF SITUATIONS WHERE THOSE TRAINS CROSS, BOTH THOSE INTERSECTIONS, AND SOMETIMES THEY DO THAT, PEOPLE HAVE NO WAY TO COME FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH. AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF THEY'RE FIRE TRUCKS, AMBULANCES, ET CETERA. SO I'D BE LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT NORTHWEST SIDE CROSSING. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PASTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. YES, AS WELL. AND MANY BROTHER MARK, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN SPREAD OUT A LONG TIME. THE FIRST CHURCH I PASTOR WAS ON THE CORNER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING AND BEEKMAN, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RAILROAD CROSSING AS WELL AS THE BLOCKAGE. UH, WE WAS IN A MEETING SOME MONTHS BACK WITH HAROLD DUTTON, STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT THAT. SO, UM, I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON GOOD HELPING IN THIS PROCESS TO MOVE IT ALONG. AND I'M SURE THE, UH, MAYOR AND THE COLLEAGUES WILL DO THE SAME. WONDERFUL APPRECI, YOU WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU PASTOR. THANK Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. NEXT LE LE LOU DAVIS OMALU, YOU CAN ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME, HOWEVER, AS A FORMER STAFF OF MY HEART BREAKS. NO, ABSOLUTELY. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. I'M LALU DAVIES HAMILTON. MOST OF YOU KNOW ME AS A LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER. I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM. I'M HERE TODAY AS A NATIVE BORN NIGERIAN TO CELEBRATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY MARKS THE 64TH CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, ONE OF OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, NIGERIAN AMERICAN MULTICULTURAL COUNCIL, WHO I JUST ASKED THE MEMBERS TO PLEASE STAND, UH, THIS YEAR MARKS 13 YEARS OF REALLY BEING A LEAD IN CIVIC ORGANIZATION, UH, HERE IN HOUSTON. I, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT. AND, UH, WANNA START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, AND MAYOR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR SU UH, SUPPORTING THE PROCLAMATION DEDICATING TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NIGERIAN AMERICAN MULTICULTURAL COUNCIL, AS WELL AS, UH, THE INDEPENDENCE DAY. WE'RE REALLY HERE TO SAY THANKS, THANKS TO THIS CITY OF HOUSTON FOR BEING INCREDIBLE, FOR BEING SUCH A WELCOMING CITY. THAT TO DATE IT IS, IT, IT FEATURES THE LARGEST POPULATION OF NIGERIANS IN THE DIASPORA OUTSIDE OF NIGERIA ITSELF. AND I THINK THAT'S REMARKABLE. IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE EMBRACE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR GREAT CITY. THAT POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NIGERIANS HERE. EVERYTHING FROM ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE ONE OF THE HIGHEST, UH, MOST EDUCATED, UH, MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. UH, WE ALSO HAVE NOTABLE, UH, FEATS IN SPORTS LIKE HAKEEM OLA, MICHELLE ALO, AND MECCA . UM, AND WE ALSO DO A FANTASTIC JOB IN THE ARTS. TOBY AND WING, UH, VERY OWN AS WELL AS THE AFROBEAT SCENE. UH, [01:05:01] WE'RE REALLY HERE JUST TO AGAIN, SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING US ON THIS DAY. THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT AS A COMMUNITY, THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY WANTS TO LEAN IN MORE FROM A CIVIC, UM, AND A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE. WE ALSO THINK THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US, US TO CONSIDER REALLY LOCATING A CONSULATE, UH, FOR NIGERIA HERE IN HOUSTON IS ONE IN ATLANTA, BUT WE THINK HOUSTON MAKES A BETTER CASE FOR THAT, AS WELL AS SISTER CITY OPPORTUNITY. SO WITH THAT, I SAY THANK I YOU'LL BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. OH, BY THE WAY, WE HAVE OUR AFRI FEST COMING UP ON, UH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH. I HAVE SOME FLYERS. IT'S GONNA BE AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TO PASS OUT. JUST A MOMENT. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE, UH, LALU TO YOU AND THE REST OF NMS. CI WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. UH, IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING WITH YOU ALL, UH, BEFORE THIS SESSION, UH, TO COMMEMORATE AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON, UH, CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY, AS WELL AS CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF NIGERIAN AMERICANS ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, AND TO YOU LALU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, LEARNED TODAY THAT YOU'RE ONE OF TWO, UH, NIGERIAN AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS. UH, WHICH IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I THINK, UH, SHOWS PROGRESS AND HOPEFULLY ON YOUR SHOULDERS MORE WILL COME, UH, AND WILL COME AND BE ABLE TO SERVE AS WELL. SO I WANNA, UH, WISH YOU ALL AGAIN, A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AND MAYOR, I WAS ABLE TO PRESENT THEM WITH A PROCLAMATION ON YOUR BEHALF EARLIER. AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE DAYS AHEAD. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, COUNCILOR EVANS SHAVA, THANK YOU MAYOR AND, AND HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AND CERTAINLY GREETINGS TO LALU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN MY FORMER SEAT AT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. AND SO , I, BUT MORE, MORE THAN THAT JUST FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT, UH, THROUGH THE YEARS. THANK YOU, YOU AND REAGAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. ALRIGHT, AND, AND YOUR, UH, FRIENDS. THANK Y'ALL. COME BACK ANYTIME. ABSOLUTELY. NEXT, JAMES TO JAMES PAT ENO. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. MY NAME IS DR. PAT LINDSAY, C CATALIA BUSCANO, ALSO KNOWN AS DR. PINKY. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE FILIPINO AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, TEXAS CHAPTER, A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT, FOUNDED IN 2015, WHOSE MISSION IS TO DOCUMENT AND PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HOUSTONIANS. I'M ALSO HERE AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OF A PUBLISHING COMPANY CALLED QUANTICO. I'M HONORED TO KICK OFF THE FIRST DAY OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH OF OCTOBER IN HOUSTON IN THE STATE OF TEXAS SINCE 1992. THE FILIPINO AMERICAN NATIONAL CIRCLE SOCIETY, KNOWN AS FOND, HAS CELEBRATED THE RICH HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF FILIPINO AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS COUNTRY FOR OVER 400 YEARS. TODAY, I REPRESENT ONE OF 16,000 FILIPINO AMERICANS LIVING IN HARRIS COUNTY WITHIN GREATER HOUSTON. I WANNA SEND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO VICE MAYOR PRO, MARTHA , UM, TANDEM WHOSE DISTRICT ENCOMPASSES OUR FILIPINO COMMUNITY CENTER ON WEST BELFORT. AND ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, WHOSE DISTRICT IN A EAF HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST FILIPINO AMERICAN POPULATIONS IN THIS CITY. THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL HISTORY MONTH THEME IS STRUGGLE, RESISTANCE, SOLIDARITY, AND RESILIENCE. UNDERSCORING THE POWER OF OUR STORIES, OUR QUINTOS, MANY CONFUSED THIS MONTH AS FILIPINO AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. THE REASON WHY WE CALL IT FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IS BECAUSE WE MUST HONOR EXPERIENCES, STORIES, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FILIPINO AMERICANS THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED THROUGH OUR STRUGGLES. WE FIND RESILIENCE BY SHARING OUR STORIES AND OUR COMMUNITY WILL ALWAYS BE REPRESENTED IN CELEBRATION. WE ARE LAUNCHING THE TASTE AND TURNOUT CHALLENGE, A MONTH LONG INITIATIVE, ENCOURAGING THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY TO TASTE ALL THINGS FILIPINO AMERICAN BY SUPPORTING FILIPINO OWNED BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, ARTISTS, AND EVENTS. THIS CHALLENGE ALSO AIMS TO EMPOWER FILIPINO AMERICANS TO TURN OUT TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, LET'S VISIT FONS HGX.COM/TASTE AND TURNOUT. WE INVITE YOU MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, OF COURSE, WE WOULD LOVE ONE OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS TO COME OUT THIS AFTERNOON TO OUR TASTE AND TURNOUT LAUNCH PARTY AT FLIPPING PATS DOWNTOWN AT [01:10:01] UNDERSTORY, A BELOVED FILIPINO AMERICAN RESTAURANT FROM 4:00 PM TO 8:00 PM ENJOY FILIPINO FOODS LIKE CHEN ALI, THAT'S DELICIOUS FRIED PORK AND LUMPIA LIKE FILIPINO EGG ROLLS AND MANY MORE. THROUGHOUT OCTOBER, WE'LL HOST TASTE AND TURNOUT EVENTS AT VARIOUS FILIPINO ESTABLISHMENT, BLENDING CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS WITH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. MOST NOTABLY, THE FILIPINO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF HOUSTON WILL BE HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL FILIPINO STREET FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 19TH, THE LARGEST FILIPINO FESTIVAL IN THE STATE. WE HAVE SOME FLYERS FOR YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILOR POLLARD. MA'AM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR COMMENT. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND SHARING WITH US THAT, UH, AS WE ALL CELEBRATE FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, UH, I'M EXCITED THAT I'M GOING AND TAKING A TRADE MISSION TO THE PHILIPPINES. YES, UH, IN A COUPLE WEEKS THROUGH THE FILIPINO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO STRENGTHENING TIES, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. SO I, I WELCOME THAT. I WELCOME YOU ALL TO YOUR CITY HALL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND UPLIFT THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER, WE DO HAVE ACTUALLY OUR CHAIR BOARD. I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM AND OUR COMMUNITY TO PLEASE STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED TODAY. THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS FOR COMING TO CITY HALL. UM, LISTEN, I LOVE YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL GENERAL. JUST OPEN, ALWAYS WELCOMING, ALWAYS WILLING TO PARTNER. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION. WE'D LOVE TO PUT THIS OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND SHARE ABOUT IT. I'LL MENTION IT DURING POPOFF TOMORROW AT COUNCIL, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT WHAT MAKES OUR CITY GREAT ARE INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU THAT CHOOSE TO COME HERE, RIGHT? THAT CHOOSE TO OPEN BUSINESSES, CHOOSE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILIES, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN SHOUT OUT TO VICTOR. I SAW VICTOR IN THE BACK. YES. UH, HE'S ALSO A FILIPINO DESCENT, UH, WORKS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND SO, UM, TO SHOUT OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TODAY THAT, UH, WISHES TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR MONTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU. OH, ONE MORE. SURE. UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAST SIX TAYLOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THE FILIPINO CENTER, UM, AND ALWAYS, UM, OPENING THE DOORS TO THE FILIPINO CENTER. WE'VE HOSTED SEVERAL EVENTS THERE AND GONE TO SEVERAL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HOSTED THERE. AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE, UM, APPRECIATE YOU BEING A VALUE ADDED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO, BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER SPEAKERS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO TALK, BUT WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. MUCH APPRECIATED. GET READY, . UH, ONE MORE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. OH, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I'M GOING TO CERTAINLY MAKE MY WAY BY THERE. I GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS IN MINDEN NOW. OH, ON DEVAL ISLAND. YEAH. SO I, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE, THE FOOD MENU THERE, SO I'M GONNA MAKE SURE, UH, I DO WORK WITH A MINISTRY IN MINDEN NOW, SO WONDERFUL. GOOD TO HAVE YOU. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. YOU ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT. CHRISTIE POAT GREETING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS TIME TO CELEBRATE INE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, TO RECOGNIZE THE LONG HISTORY OF THE FILIPINOS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES. MY NAME IS KRISTI PANIS POZO, ALSO CLASS OF 37 A LF MEMBER, THE AUTHOR OF THE FILIPINOS OF HOUSTON BOOK, VICE PRESIDENT OF FILIPINO AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY. BORN AND RAISED A TEXAN, MARRIED TO A TEXAN MOTHER OF TEXANS, EMPLOYED BY SHELL. MY HARD WORK AND MY HARD WORK I GIVE TO THIS GREAT CITY I CALL HOME HISTORY. LESSON TIME, FOUR THIRTY SEVEN YEARS AGO. OCTOBER 18TH, 1587. THE FIRST FILIPINOS SET FOOT IN CALIFORNIA HAVING JUMPED SHIP OFF SPANISH GALLIONS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH HAS BEEN CELEBRATED SINCE 1992 AND 2009, US CONGRESS DECLARED OCTOBER AS INE FILIPINO-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. AND IN 2015, THE HOUSTON CHAPTER WAS FOUNDED. BOY DID WE HAVE A STORY TO TELL AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD THIS SUMMER WHERE ALMOST 500 FILIPINOS FROM ALL OVER THE NATION CAME TO SEE WHAT THE BIG DEAL WAS WITH ALL THESE 16,000 FILIPINOS IN HOUSTON. FOLKS ONLY THOUGHT FILIPINOS LIVED IN THE EAST COAST AND THE WEST COAST. LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THE FIRST FILIPINOS IN TEXAS WERE LIKELY SAILORS AND SHIP HANDS WHO LANDED IN MEXICO, LOUISIANA, AND CALIFORNIA. THEY MADE THEIR WAY TO WHAT IS NOW TEXAS. THE FIRST FILIPINO KNOWN [01:15:01] TO HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS WAS A GUY BY FRANCISCO FLORES, WHO ARRIVED AT THE MEXICAN STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH WAS ONCE KNOWN AS NOVAS FILIPINOS. IN 1822, AS A CABIN BOY ABOARD A MERCHANT SHIP AS US SERVICEMEN RETURNED HOME FROM THE SPANISH AMERICAN AND FILIPINO AMERICAN WAR TO SAN ANTONIO'S, FORT SAM HOUSTON AND EL PASO'S FORT BLISS. MANY BROUGHT THEIR FILIPINO EMPLOYEES WITH THEM, CREATING THE FIRST LARGE WAVE OF FILIPINO IMMIGRATION TO TEXAS IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS. SO LET'S TAKE A TOUR OF HOUSTON WITH THE LENS OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN HISTORY, SHALL WE? THE FILIPINOS ARTISTS OF HOUSTON'S HAVE BEAUTIFIED OUR CITY WITH MURALS ALL OVER TOWN AND OF COURSE, FED HOUSTON. HOUSTON IS ALSO HOMED TO JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNING CHEF TOM KANEN. THE TOYOTA CENTER, JALEN GREEN IS HALF FILIPINO PLAYS FOR THE HOUSTON ROCKETS. THE COUNTLESS FILIPINO HERITAGE NIGHTS STARTED BY OUR ANTHONY GUEVARA AND SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY DESIRABLE SWAG THAT SELLS OUT THE BUST OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO. DR. JOSE ROSALES INSTALLED AT HERMAN PARKS MCGOVERN CENTENNIAL GARDENS, THE HOUSTON MEDICAL CENTER METHODIST HOSPITAL, WHERE I WAS BORN TO A NURSE WHO CAME TO HOUSTON ALONG WITH MANY NURSES IN THE 1960S AND SEVENTIES TO WORK THE SECOND LARGE WAVE OF FILIPINO AMERICANS TO HOUSTON. PRIOR TO THAT, THERE ARE 1965. THERE WERE ONLY 800 FILIPINOS IN TEXAS. DR. STEVEN KLEINBERG, WHO LED THE FIRST HOUSTON ASIAN AMERICAN SURVEY SAYS THERE WERE SO MANY FILIPINO FEMALE NURSES THAT IMMIGRATED TO WORK IN THE HOUSTON MEDICAL CENTER, THAT TO THIS DAY, FILIPINO WOMEN OUTNUMBER FILIPINO MEN. SO WE NOW HEAD TO RICE UNIVERSITY, WHERE WE TAKE A VIEW OF THE METHODIST HOSPITAL ARCHITECTED BY A FILIPINO ARCHITECT BY THE NAME OF MANOLA DE PERIO. RICE UNIVERSITY'S FIRST ASIAN GRADUATE ENTERED RICE. THANK YOU. YEP. CATHERINE CAMAN. THANK YOU. CHRISTY. IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. MM-HMM . DID YOU WANNA USE SOME OF MY TIME TO FINISH UP, UM, WITH YOUR REMARKS? UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S, I GOT ONE MORE SENTENCE. GO FOR IT. OKAY. APPRECIATE IT, . WELL, WE HAD THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN RICE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE WHO IS A FILIPINO, AND HE CAME HERE BY AN UNUSUAL PATH TO HOUSTON. AND HOWEVER HE GOT HERE, WE THANK YOU FOR SEEING US AND RECOGNIZING US AND OUR CONTRIBU CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS. GOD BLESS AMERICA. . THANK YOU CHRISTIE. UH, IT NOT ONLY FOR THE HISTORY THAT YOU SHARED AND THE ENTIRE DELEGATION FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO LIFT UP WHAT IS HOUSTON'S HISTORY, TEXAS'S HISTORY, AND AMERICAN HISTORY. UH, I KNOW YOU'RE ALSO A DISTRICT C RESIDENT AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING. I'M SO GLAD YOU GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO DR. KLEINBERG AS WELL FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT HE HAS DONE TO SPOTLIGHT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY AND WHAT MAKES IT SO UNIQUE. AND THAT INCLUDES THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. YEP. HE'S BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE HIS RESEARCH. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, EILEEN. DEON. BLESS YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. CITY COUNCILS. UH, MY NAME IS AILEEN LIGA DESIGN. I, UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON FOR OVER A DECADE NOW. I AM, UH, I HAVE A LAW. UH, I HAVE A HOUSTON BASED LAW PRACTICE AND LAST YEAR I CO-FOUNDED THE ALLOWING MEDIA NETWORK WHERE, UH, WE PRODUCE SHOWS, UH, VIA LIVESTREAM AND PODCASTS. UH, WE HAVE DIFFERENT PODCASTERS AND TALENTS FROM DIFFERENT, UM, COMMUNITIES. WE PROVIDE THESE SHOWS, UM, UH, TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY. AND THIS YEAR WE JUST STARTED OUR LAB ONLINE NEWS, WHICH IS LOVING THAT NEWS. SO WE FEATURE WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN HOUSTON, AND ALSO TO CATER TO OUR FILIPINO COMMUNITY. WE ALSO HAVE NEWS FROM THE PHILIPPINES, GLOBAL AND INTERNATIONAL. AND WE ALSO CATER THE OTHER FIVE REGIONS OF, UH, TEXAS. I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, STATE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF TEXAS. AND, UM, WE, THIS YEAR IS ESPECIALLY, UH, UH, UM, IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. UH, WE, SINCE OUR FOUNDING, WE HAVE NOW FIVE REGIONAL CHAMBERS. WE HAVE ONE IN, UH, DALLAS FORT WORTH. WE HAVE HERE, OF COURSE, IN, UH, HOUSTON REGION. WE HAVE, UH, RIO GRANDE VALLEY, GREATER SAN ANTONIO AND GREATER AUSTIN REGION. AND, UM, WE ARE STILL GROWING AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO OUR MISSION. AND WE STRIVE TO CONTINUE CULTIVATING, UH, BUSINESS GROWTH, PROMOTING CULTURAL, UH, EXCHANGE, AND ALSO ENHANCING COMMUNITY TIES. THE, THOSE ARE PART OF OUR, WHAT WE DO, OUR INITIATIVES AND, UH, ARE DESIGNED ONLY TO PROMOTE FILIPINO AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS. BUT ALSO, UH, WE TRY TO HELP, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO UPLIFT THE, UH, HOUSTON COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP. OUR CHAMBER IS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, [01:20:01] WHICH INCLUDES, UM, ABOUT 950 COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND ALSO RUN A BUSINESS. AND, UH, THIS YEAR WE ARE PROUD TO COLLABORATE, UH, WITH THE, UH, AND SUPPORT THE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS OF, OF AND INITIATIVES OF THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, PROGRAM. UM, WHICH THEY STARTED, I THINK THIS YEAR. SO, AND ALSO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING STRONG TRADE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON AND THE PHILIPPINES. NOW, THIS OCTOBER, AS THEY ALREADY, THEY ALREADY HAVE MENTIONED WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. AND SO OUR CHAMBER, UH, WE ARE EXCITED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORICAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND THE OTHER 45 PLUS FILIPINO AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN HOUSTON. SO, UM, PLEASE JOIN OUR FESTIVITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, THINGS, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES GOING ON THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER. UH, IT'S A WONDERFUL, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND ALSO TO, UM, SUPPORT EACH OTHER. SO THANKS SO MUCH. ARE YOU TOO, DID YOU FINISH? I'M GOOD, YES. I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M GOOD. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT JOHN JULAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUNE HOON AND I'M THE CURRENT REGIONAL VICE CHAIR OF THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TEXAS GREATER HOUSTON REGION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR HELPING US CELEBRATE OCTOBER AS OUR FILIPINO HISTORY MONTH. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, FILIPINOS FOR THE FIRST ASIANS TO SET FOOT IN CALIFORNIA ABOARD THE SPANISH GALLION SHIP SENIOR DE ESPERANZA. THOSE FILIPINOS CALLED THEMSELVES IANS. I CAN VI VIVIDLY. REMEMBER WHEN MY FAMILY FIRST SET FOOT IN AMERICA BACK IN DECEMBER, 1978. MY DAD PICKED US UP FROM THE AIRPORT, FORMERLY CALLED IAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF HOUSTON. ON THE WAY TO THE APARTMENT ON ESELLA LINK ROAD. IN SIX 10, WE STOPPED BY A SMALL STRIP CENTER WHERE WE SAW A BIG SIGN CALLED RICE. WE WERE SO EXCITED 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RICE AT THE APARTMENT. SO MY MOM AND MY SISTER WENT TO THE STORE TO BUY A SACK OF RICE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THEY CAME RIGHT BACK COMPLAINING THAT ALL THEY SAW WERE SMALL BOXES OF UNCLE BEN'S RICE. A FEW YEARS LATER CAME DIEGO SUPERMARKET ON BEL AIR LONG BEFORE THE SAM HOUSTON BELTWAY WAS BUILT. NOW WE HAVE SO MANY VIBRANT PRO, UH, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE FILIPINO AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE FILIPINO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, THE FILIPINO AMERICAN UNITY FOR PROGRESS, AND THE INE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON. WHICH BY THE WAY, UH, MY UU OF H STUDENT GROUP WERE THE FIRST ONE THAT ESTABLISHED THE FIRST FILIPINO INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON LONG TIME AGO. BUT I'M MOST PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE PACC CHAMBER. OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE THE SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG FILIPINOS AND FILIPINO AMERICANS AND FRIENDS TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS AND TO BE OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE GREAT NETWORKING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE HAVE OUR SPEAKER SERIES EVENTS WHERE WE INVITE QUALIFIED SPEAKERS TO EDUCATE OUR MEMBERS ON FINANCIALS, INCLUDING TAXATION, RETIREMENT, LIFE INSURANCE, ANNUITIES, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND MEDICARE, AND ALSO HEALTH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING. OUR LAST SPEAKERS SERIES FOR THE YEARS ON OCTOBER 29TH AT THE VINNEY HALL OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL OFFICE IN HOUSTON AM BANK IS PARTNERING WITH US IN THE CONSULATE OFFICE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS ROUND TABLE LUNCHEON. AND OUR LAST EVENT FOR THIS YEAR IS OUR AWESOME DINNER AND AWARDS NIGHT GALA TO BE HELD AT THE ROYAL SUNO HOTEL ON NOVEMBER 9TH. YOU ALL ARE INVITED TO DINE AND CELEBRATE WITH US. GOD BLESS OUR CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. THANK YOU. AND ING, VERY NICE. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT VO OPAN , LARISSA JACOBS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, [01:25:01] MAYOR WHITMEYER. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, I'M ACTUALLY FILIPINO . I KNOW, I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE MY FILIPINO SISTERS AND BROTHERS HERE. UM, I'M HERE TODAY, SORRY, I'M A LITTLE OUTTA BREATH, WHICH IS FUNNY 'CAUSE UM, I'M WITH FIT HOUSTON, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT FITNESS, SO I NEED TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER ON MY CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS. BUT, UM, I'M HERE TO TODAY TO, TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE, UM, THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION, THE EMPLOYEE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CHANGING LIVES BUILDING FUTURES CAMPAIGN. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ WAS KIND OF HEADING UP, UM, FIT HOUSTON BEING CHOSEN AS A NONPROFIT TO BE THE RECIPIENT, A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THE COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN IS, UH, DOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MISSION. UM, OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE VIBRANT, UH, MINDS, BODIES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT WILL STAVE OFF CHRONIC DISEASE AND CONTROL, UH, SOME OF THE CHRONIC DISEASES THAT GREATLY IMPACT THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS. UM, AS I LOOK ACROSS THE BENCH, I SEE A FEW OF YOU WHO HAVE WALKED WITH US. UM, SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN TODAY. AND SO, UH, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE DEPTH OF THE WORK THAT WE DO. UM, IT'S NOT JUST WALKING. WE'RE REALLY BONDING NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER. UM, I'M ACTUALLY WEARING OUR HEALTH CAMPAIGN SHIRT, HASHTAG WALK 30 IN SPANISH . BUT WE, WE STARTED TO ACTUALLY TRANSLATE OUR, OUR, UH, HEALTH CAMPAIGN INTO OTHER LANGUAGES SUCH AS AMHARIC, KECHI, AND WHATEVER LANGUAGE THE PEOPLE OF, OF HOUSTON ARE SPEAKING, WHERE WE'RE WALKING. SO, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE FINAL THING. UH, WE WALK IN MANY OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND WE WERE ABLE TO RECENTLY EVEN SUBMIT SOME REPORTS AND DATA BECAUSE WE DO COLLECT DATA ON ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS, UM, AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN WALKING SO THAT WE CAN BE SCIENCE DRIVEN. UH, WE SUBMITTED THAT FOR A $50 MILLION APPLICATION THROUGH HUD FOR CUNY HOMES, AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO SEE THAT, UM, THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT GRANT. SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS STRONGER COMMUNITIES. IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT US. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT, UM, WHATEVER THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE, ARE WORKING ON. SO, EXCITED TO SEE SOME CHANGES. AND, UM, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. COME WALK WITH US. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AND FIRST, UH, HAPPY FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY. WELL, THANK YOU. I WAS WAITING FOR THE LAST SPEAKER, BUT I, I'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU. AND I JUST APPRECIATE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS YOU TOO ARE A FABRIC OF, OF THIS CITY. SO, THANK YOU, UH, LARISSA. UM, AND, AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO, TO HELP KICK OFF CMC HERE WITH CITY COUNCIL. UH, FOR THOSE THAT DID NOT GET A BREAKFAST TACO THIS MORNING, KNOW THAT TOMORROW WE'LL HAVE EL LOTES, UM, THE SAME EL LOTES THAT CAME ABOUT A MONTH AGO. UM, AND ALL THIS IS, IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST IN DISTRICT. I, BUT IN EVERY DISTRICT THAT YOU'RE IN, DEAI KNOW THERE'S SEVERAL, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE SOUTHWEST AS WELL. UH, AND, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FITNESS. UH, WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND WHAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE WHEN WE'RE WALKING WITH YOU IS, UH, RESIDENTS ON THE GROUND REPORTING THREE ONE ONES, RESIDENTS ON THE GROUND, UH, BUILDING RELATIONS WITH HPD, UH, RESIDENTS ON THE GROUND, BUILDING RELATIONS WITH, UH, THEIR NEIGHBORS. UM, AND SPECIFICALLY THE ONE THAT'S AT THE, UH, BROOKDALE VILLAGE APARTMENTS. UM, I'VE BEEN VERY, UM, VERY SATISFYING, HAPPY TO SEE THAT THEIR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY, ILE WOOD, ARE COMMUNICATING NOW, UH, SHOWING SOME EMPATHY, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE AT THE BROOKDALE VILLAGE APARTMENTS, UM, DON'T WANNA LIVE IN CRIME. YEAH. UM, AND, AND, AND BRIDGING THE, THAT TYPE OF COMMUNITY IS, IS REALLY WHAT IT, UH, HAS, UM, YOU KNOW, PUSH ME EVEN MORE TO SUPPORT YOU AND WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. LARISSA. UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION AS WE CONTINUE CMC, UH, THIS MONTH, PLEASE, UH, SUPPORT EVERY FUNDRAISER. UM, AGAIN, TOMORROW IS EL AND I THINK WE HAVE, UH, SEAFOOD ON FRIDAY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. UH, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE. UM, THANK YOU AGAIN, LARISSA. THANK YOU. YEAH, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WALK WITH THE RESIDENTS. WE LOVE TO SEE THE HOMEOWNERS WALKING WITH APARTMENT, UH, RESIDENTS. UM, EVEN IN THIRD WARD AS WELL AT CUNY HOMES WITH SOME HOMEOWNERS NEARBY. SO, UH, SEEING SOME REALLY EXCITING RELATIONSHIPS BEING BUILT. OF COURSE, PITNER ROAD AND SPRING BRANCH AS WELL. SO COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. WELL, HELLO LARISSA. AND, UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WALKING WITH, UH, YOU AND FIT 30 HOUSTON, FIT HOUSTON, UM, IN THIRD WARD. UH, WE STARTED OUT AT CUNY HOMES. WE WALKED PART OF THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL, AND THEN WE SAW OTHER SITES IN THIRD WARD. AND, UH, WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM. IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO BE HEALTHY. IT GETS THEM OUT OF THEIR HOUSE, MEETING THEIR NEIGHBORS AND BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS WHERE THEY CAN THEN ADVOCATE FOR THEIR [01:30:01] NEIGHBORHOOD'S NEEDS. AND SO, GREAT PROGRAM ALL AROUND. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO, UH, WHAT YOU DID TO ESTABLISH THIS AND SPREAD IT AROUND HOUSTON. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT JUST IN THIRD WARD. NOW YOU'RE IN SPRING BRANCH AND YOU'RE IN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ DISTRICT, AND WHERE, WHERE ELSE ARE YOU? WE HAVE THREE WALKING GROUPS IN GULFTON, AND THEY LIKE TO GO TO EACH OTHER'S WALKING GROUPS, WHICH IS KIND OF NICE. THEY VISIT EACH OTHER NOW IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, SO. YEAH. YEAH. WELL, YOU FORT BEND AS WELL. GREAT PROGRAM. YOU'VE PERFORMED A GREAT SERVICE FOR HOUSTON, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE M MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND LARISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN DISTRICT DAY, ESPECIALLY ON PITNER ROAD. IT'S SUCH A JOY TO SEE ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER BECAUSE OF FIT HOUSTON AND ARE, THEY'RE WALKING AROUND PITNER NOW AND, UM, REPORTING THINGS TO US AND TO 3 1 1. AND SO IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT TO SEE. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. WE JUST, WE LOVE OUR GROUP ON PITNER. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH. NEXT, DALE SINGLETARY. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MA'AM. WITH MY AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBER. EVERYBODY GOT A HAPPY STORY TODAY, BUT MY, MY, MY STORY AIN'T SO HAPPY SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE. EITHER ONE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. OKAY, EVERYBODY, UM, HAVE A HAPPY STORY TODAY, BUT MY STORY IS NOT HAPPY. I'VE BEEN, UM, BATTLING GOING THROUGH, UM, UP AND DOWN WITH, WITH, WITH, UM, ALL MY SUPERIORS ON MY JOB. I, I WORK IN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, WESTWAY WASTEWATER. AND, UM, UNFORTUNATELY I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN WITNESSING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY GOING ON IN MY ORGANIZATION. I'VE BEEN FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAIN TO THE TOP OF THE CHAIN TRYING TO GET THIS ADDRESSED AND GET IT STOPPED. BUT ONCE IT GET THE OIG IT GET ROLLED OUT. UM, I'M WATCHING THESE PEOPLE GET PROMOTIONS, GETTING REWARDED FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. PEOPLE SHOULD BE WALKED AWAY IN HANDCUFFS. UM, I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO, TO HELP ME ADDRESS THE SITUATION BECAUSE THE, THE, THE, THE PUBLIC IS IN GREAT RISK AND I, I REALLY BELIEVE IN MAKE, MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS SAFE. SAFETY IS FIRST. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. OKAY. WHAT YOUR NAME IS, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. I NEED HELP WITH THIS. I'M AT A STANDSTILL WITH IT. I'M STILL WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE ON THE PREMISES. I NEED HELP. I WITNESSED A MANAGER TAMPERING WITH THE WATER SYSTEM. UM, THE DIRECT, WE HAVE WHAT YOU CALL A, A MACHINE THAT SAMPLES THE WATER. WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH THAT MACHINE. I WITNESSED A MANAGER MESSING WITH THAT MACHINE. AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME AND IT, IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. I NEED HELP. DID YOU SAY YOU REPORTED IT? I REPORTED IT TO MY SUPERVISOR. MY SUPERVISOR REPORTED IT TO HIS MANAGER. WHEN IT GOT TO HIS MANAGER, HE REPORTED IT TO HIS MANAGER. AND THAT'S WHERE A BUCK STOPPED. OKAY. AND I WENT TO OIG WITH IT. I ALSO CALLED OUT TCEQ. THEY CAME OUT AND PUT CAMERAS ALL OVER THE PREMISES, ALL IN THE TREES. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN ONE YEAR. I WENT TO OIGA COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY SAID, I'M SORRY, WE FORGOT TO INFORM YOU. UH, YOU KNOW WHAT OUR CONCLUSION WAS. AND WROTE ME A LETTER RIGHT THEN AND THERE SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, WHICH IS, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. THAT SAYS A CRIMINAL ACT. IT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY 22 YEARS. I'VE NEVER BEEN DOWN HERE. I'M HERE FOR A REASON. THIS NEED TO STOP. OKAY. LET ME GET YOU TO TALK TO MS. WILSON. OKAY. AND SHE WILL, UH, REVIEW THE CASE WITH YOU AND ALSO OFFICER CAR STANDING THERE. SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF 'EM, THEY'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STATUS OF IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. NEXT LOUIS DARLING LOUIS, DARLING LARRY, ANTHONY, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR GIVING A BRIEF MOMENT. I'M HERE TO BRING AWARENESS AND HOPEFULLY A PREVENTION TO SOMETHING THAT'S COMING, ALMOST A PANDEMIC IN THE NATION COUNCIL'S NATIONWIDE. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT, UM, IF YOU CAN GIMME A MOMENT. I'M LI TRYING TO, UH, GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, UH, [01:35:09] WHAT'S GOING ON NOW. YOU CAN GIVE ANYBODY YOUR PHONE OR YOUR APP AND THEY CAN COME UP TO YOUR HOUSE AND BE A SPARK DRIVER. NO BACKGROUND CHECK, NO DOCUMENTATION, NO ANYTHING. AND WE ALL KNOW CRIME IS A, UH, OPPORTUNITY. YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY THERE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR LOVED ONES OR JUST ANYONE AND WALMART THAN ANYBODY THAT CAN COME UP WITH A, UH, A APP COME TO YOUR HOUSE. AND I'M PRETTY SURE PEOPLE IN HERE HAVE WORKED WITH SPARK OR DIFFERENT DELIVERY, UH, PLATFORMS. SO THAT'S, IT'S EVERYWHERE. AND ME AND MY COWORKER, WE HAVE TRIED AND WENT TO DIFFERENT, UH, MANAGERS AND EVERYTHING TO TRY TO GET SOMEBODY TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT ANY RE WITHOUT ANY HELP BASICALLY. AND AGAIN, WE TRYING TO PREVENT SOMETHING FROM HAPPENING. YOU DON'T WANT TO GET A CALL SAYING SOMEBODY'S BEEN HURT. THAT'S MY MOM. SHE'S 80 YEARS OLD, BUT, AND SHE'S PRETTY GOOD FOR 80. BUT A GUY LIKE MYSELF COULD GO THERE AND DO ANYTHING AND BE GONE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE, LIKE I SAY, ARE UNDOCUMENTED, NO BACKGROUND CHECK. AND WE'LL BE GONE BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW ANYTHING. THEY'LL BE GONE. OR YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET ANY JUSTICE FOR IT OR ANYTHING. SO I AM HERE TODAY HOPING SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE HERE JUST TAKES THE EAR AND SAY, LOOK, WE NEED TO MAKE A STOP. DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE ENDS UP AT A FUNERAL OR JUST LET'S GO WITH SOMETHING SIMPLE. YOUR YOUR PROPERTY. THESE PEOPLE HAVE, WE HAVE ONE CASE WHERE SOMEBODY HIT SOMEBODY CAR COST $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND THEY HAD TO, UM, BASICALLY GO TO EVERYTHING JUST TO FINALLY GET WALMART TO SAY, OKAY, WE'LL PAY FOR THE DAMAGE $4,000. THAT WOULD'VE CAME IN MY BEST PERSON'S POCKET. SO HOPEFULLY TODAY SOMEBODY WILL SAY, LOOK, LET'S DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. BECAUSE AGAIN, I COULD GET HIM THIS APP, HE COULD PASS IT ALL THE WAY AROUND. YOU ALL COULD BE SPORT DRIVERS WITH NO BACKGROUND CHECK, NO ANYTHING. 'CAUSE YOU GO IN THE STORE, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE APP, THEY LET YOU OUT. YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. AND THAT'S WHO'S SHOWING UP AT YOUR HOUSE. SOME PERSON, YOU DON'T HAVE NO IDEA WHO HE IS OR SHE IS. I'VE BEEN TO MANY HOUSES WHERE KIDS OPEN THE DOORS, ELDERLY PEOPLE OPEN THE DOORS, ASK ME, YOU KNOW, COULD I BRING IT IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY UNABLE TO OR WHATEVER. THIS NEEDS TO STOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE STOPPED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT OR SOMETHING ELSE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT RACHEL REYNOLDS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNSEL, UH, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LIST OF APPROVED SHRUBS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ORDINANCES. UM, IT'S FROM CHAPTER 33, AND THIS IS JUST A LIST OF PLANTS THAT IF YOU DEVELOP A BUILDING OR A LAND AREA, YOU HAVE TO PLANT THINGS FOR CITY BEAUTIFICATION PURPOSES. UM, AND YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM THIS LIST OF APPROVED SHRUBS. UH, IF I'M CORRECT. SO, UH, FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, IS THIS LIST STILL BEING ENFORCED? UM, BECAUSE IN LOOKING AT THE LIST, UM, I'M A BIG ADVOCATE FOR NATIVE PLANTS AND NATURALIZED PLANTS AND BENEFITING CITY BEAUTIFICATION OF COURSE. UM, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE LIST AND I'M SEEING ONLY FOUR NATIVE PLANTS ON THIS LIST. AND SEVERAL OF THEM ON HERE ARE ACTUALLY INVASIVE PLANTS, UH, INCLUDING NINAS, UH, WHICH ARE TOXIC TO BIRDS. THE BERRIES ACTUALLY CONTAIN CYANIDE. SO I JUST WANTED TO START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, CAN WE UPDATE THIS LIST BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE PLANTS ON THIS LIST, UM, REFLECT LANDSCAPE STYLES OF, UH, A STYLE THAT NO LONGER FITS OUR CLIMATE. AND, UM, I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE TO GO ABOUT GETTING THIS LIST UPDATED. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER, UH, OUR OFFICE CONTACTED YOU TODAY. SLOAN SPOKE WITH YOU. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BEFORE TODAY, I HAD NO IDEA. WE HAD A LIST OF SHRUBS TO, TO PLANT AND, AND WE WENT AND CHECKED AND YEAH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT'S ON THERE. SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AT. I MEAN, I KNOW THE BAMBOO IS ON THERE AND I WAS TOLD YOU ONLY PLANT THAT IF YOU HATE YOUR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT TO GO INTO THEIR NEIGHBOR'S YARD. UH, SO WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT MAYOR AND SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH IT. I UNDERSTAND. SENATOR REVIEW BY LEGAL AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. SO LET'S SEE WHAT THEY RECOMMEND. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR STARTING THE CONVERSATION. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK WE NEED TO ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT JUST THE, THE TREES TOO, NOT JUST THE SHRUBS, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU'RE PLANTING. WE HAD, UM, A HOMEOWNER LAST YEAR HAD TO REMOVE SOME TREES AND THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW, GROWN [01:40:01] TREES AND, UM, THEY HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR PROPERTY, BUT WERE WILLING TO DONATE THEM TO THE CITY TO PUT IN AN ESPLANADE OR, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE ELSE TO, TO BEAUTIFY THE AREA. UM, BUT THEY WEREN'T ONE OF THE ACCEPTED TREES. UM, AND SO INSTEAD THEY, YOU KNOW, WE CUT THE TREES DOWN AND THEY DIED. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE LISTS, YOU KNOW, NEED TO BE REVISITED OVER TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD. YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UH, ANY INFORMATION OR ADVICE THAT I CAN OFFER, I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. I OWN A LANDSCAPING COMPANY HERE IN HOUSTON, AND I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF NATIVE PLANTS EVERYWHERE, AND I THINK WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MANDATE THAT PEOPLE PLANT THINGS THAT ARE WELL ADAPTED TO THIS AREA AND WILDLIFE. THANK YOU. AND WHAT, WHAT'S THE NAME OF YOUR LANDSCAPING? IT'S RACHEL REYNOLDS DREAMSCAPES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CUSTODIAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU. UM, IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING, BUT MAYBE SOMETHING WE MIGHT MISS IN OUR DAY TO DAY WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S POINT ON THE, THE TREE LIST, UM, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ADVOCATE FOR THAT TO GET REVIEWED AND UPDATED. UM, WHEN WE DID A TREE PLANTING WITH TREES FOR HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED THAT THAT TREE LIST, UH, MIGHT NOT BE AS WELL SUITED FOR OUR CLIMATE NOW THAT IT'S WARMED. UM, AND MAYBE THERE ARE BETTER TREES SUITED FOR, FOR HOUSTON AND, AND FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT. UM, AND WE KNOW ALL THE BENEFITS THAT WE GET FROM THEM, UH, FROM OUR CITYSCAPES TO, TO HOMEOWNERS AND, UH, OUR ESPLANADES. SO THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS UP AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF, OF WHATEVER WE DO ON, ON UPDATING THESE LISTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ROBERT FINLAND. ROBERT FINLAND IS NOT PRESENT. KATERINA CO. CATERINA COSO, MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. UM, I'M HERE TO BRING AWARENESS AGAIN TO 11TH STREET, WHICH STILL HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. WE'VE JUST RECENTLY LOST TWO MORE BUSINESSES. LAST TIME I WAS HERE I TALKED ABOUT REVOLUTION COFFEE. THEY DID CLOSE. IT'S ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT YOU CAME OUT TO SEE. UM, DADDY'S CHICKEN THAT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET RIGHT NEXT TO THE DONUT SHOP THAT EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT. THEY'VE BEEN CLOSED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. LAST TIME I SPOKE, I BELIEVE YOU SAID IN AUGUST. I KNOW A LOT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN THAT YOU WERE GONNA TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND LOOK INTO IT. AUGUST IS COME AND GOING. I KNOW WE'VE HAD THE DERECHO AND WE'VE HAD BARREL AND ALL THIS STUFF, BUT WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT 11TH STREET. WE NOW HAVE TWO BUSINESSES THAT WERE BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOW PARKING LOTS. THE REASON THAT THEY TURN 'EM IN PARKING LOTS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BY PUTTING A PARKING LOT THERE, EVEN THOUGH NO ONE REALLY USES 'EM, THEY GET SOME SORT OF A TAX BREAK. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW. SO THEIR BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING, THEY'RE MAKING 'EM PAID PARKING LOTS, THEY'RE GETTING A TAX BREAK AND I GUESS THEY'LL DEVELOP IT MAYBE SOMEDAY. UM, ONE MORE THING BEFORE, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL DO SOMETHING SOON. UM, ON THE LIST, SPEAKER'S LIST, I WAS TOLD BY THE CITY SECRETARY IN ORDER TO SIGN UP THIS TIME, I HAD TO GIVE MY NAME AND MY ADDRESS, WHICH I AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, WHICH I DID IN THE PAST BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SOME PUSHBACK ON MY PHONE NUMBER WHEN I GIVE IT HERE FROM SOME OF THE, UH, ANYWAY, UM, I WAS TOLD THAT IT ABSOLUTELY HAD TO BE PUT ON THE LIST OR I COULD NOT BE AT IT. I GAVE MY NAME AND MY PHONE NUMBER AND MY ADDRESS. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAS TO BE PUBLISHED OUT FOR THE PUBLIC. AND THERE ARE OTHER NAMES ON HERE WHOSE PHONE NUMBERS ARE LISTED AS NO PHONE NUMBER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE CITY SECRETARY'S MAKING ME PUBLISH. YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU. THE PHONE NUMBER'S NOT NECESSARY. THANK YOU. WE WERE TRYING TO ESTABLISH WHETHER YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON OR NOT, WHICH I THINK IS RELEVANT, BUT I THINK WE CAN, UH, REVISIT THE PHONE NUMBER. I CAN SEE THE PRIVACY ISSUE THERE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND WE ARE REVIEWING 11TH STREET. ANY IDEA OF ABOUT SOME SORT OF A TIMEFRAME BECAUSE WE'RE JUST LOSING BUSINESSES LESS THAN RIGHT, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S A SHAME. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING. I'M AWARE OF IT AND WE'RE REVIEWING IT. OKAY. AND UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, JUST, UM, MY MOM WAS JUST INVOLVED IN A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE HIT HER, UM, ACTUALLY I THINK IT WAS IN MARYANNE HUFFMAN'S, UM, AREA. IT WAS RIGHT BY MEMORIAL CITY MALL ON THE FEEDER ROAD. SOMEONE WAS BEHIND HER AND WAS UPSET. SHE WAS GOING ANYWAY, THEY HIT HER. IT WAS A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT. THE POLICE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA MONEY THAT YOU'RE GIVEN TO THE CADET CLASSES. THEY MADE A POINT OF SAYING THAT THEY NEED MORE HELP AND THEY GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. SO THANK YOU. [01:45:01] THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BE SAFE. NEXT, JOSEPH BELL. GREETINGS. WHAT I HAVE HERE BEFORE ME IS A PLAY TRACKER. UH, 3 1 1 IS NOT, UH, PROPERLY TRANSPIRED WITHIN THE PLATFORMS FOR OPEN RECORDS FOR OPEN PUBLIC MEDIA OUTPUT. OKAY. WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS THAT, UH, 3 1 1 IS NOT PROPERLY TRANSPIRED FOR THE PLATFORMS FOR OPEN, UH, PUBLIC OUT MEDIA. UH, PRETTY MUCH. WELL THE SAFETY AND WHAT I'M ASKING FOR FROM THE MAYOR IS THIS IS THE SAME, UH, OCCUPATION THAT SHOULD, UH, REGARDLESS IT'S AN OCCUPATION THAT GIVES A NAME AND PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY BY, UH, ALLY UNIVERSAL. SO, I MEAN, I ONLY HAVE LIKE A THREE MINUTE AND RETAIN MY QUESTIONS. OKAY. OKAY, WELL GO AHEAD. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS BASED ON THE, UM, PROPOSITION TYPE AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS BASED ON THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARD AND HOW THAT CARD IS IDENTIFIED BY THE PRECINCT ON WHO'S HIRED TO DO THE JOB FOR 3 1 1 MEANING THE SUPERVISORS. OKAY. VERY FINE. WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO MS. WILSON AND SHE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. ALRIGHT. I ONLY MADE ONE COPY FOR YOU. OKAY, I'LL BRING IT BACK. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IKA. NO. HELLO, WELCOME AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS IKA GUM AND I'M THE OWNER OF UNIQUE PRIVATE CARE CENTER. I WANNA START OFF BY TELLING YOU GUYS I'M HOMELESS. HOMELESS HAS IN NO PLACE TO STAY. UNIQUE PRIVATE CARE CENTER HOUSES THE HOMELESS. I STARTED HOUSING THE HOMELESS IN 2016, TAKING 'EM HOME IN MY OWN HOUSE. AN INVESTOR SHOWED UP AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE SURE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL THE WORD ENTREPRENEURSHIP, NOR DID I KNOW WHAT IT WAS. THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME BUSINESS. I WAS NOT A BUSINESS OWNER. I'M FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. I WAS BORN IN ILLINOIS. MY CITY AND STATE DID NOT TEACH ME ANYTHING. EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE LEARNED, I'VE LEARNED FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS. I AM UPSET AND I BROUGHT YOU EVIDENCE TO SHOW YOU WHAT A BAIT AND SWITCH LOOKS LIKE. THEY TRAINED ME UP AND THEY GAVE ME THE MONEY. THE FIRST THING I GAVE YOU IS THE DOCUMENTATION FROM LONG FROM LONE STAR LEGAL AID. THIS FROM THE LAWYER IN 2019. FROST BANK GAVE ME $10,000. I WON IT IN A PROGRAM. AFTER THE SURE PROGRAM, I INVESTED THIS MONEY INTO THE PROPERTY AND TURNED IT INTO AN ASSISTED LIVING. THIS COMPANY TOLD ME TO SHOW UP. I GAVE YOU TWO DOCUMENTS. I GAVE YOU THE DOCUMENTS OF THE MAN THAT SHOWED UP TO GIVE ME THE PROPERTY, AND I ALSO GAVE YOU THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE LAWYER SHOWING YOU THAT THE JUDGE WAS INVOLVED IN TAKING THE PROPERTY. AND IT WAS A BAIT AND SWITCH AND THE PROPERTY WAS NOT, THEY DIDN'T EVEN OWN POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY TO TAKE IT FROM ME. AND WE'RE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF IT RIGHT NOW TO THIS DAY BECAUSE WHEN YOU GOOGLE MY NAME, I HAVE AN EVICTION ON MY RECORD FOR POSSESSION OF PROPERTY. FIVE COCA, FIVE CAUCASIAN WOMEN SHOWED UP ON MY DOOR IN OCTOBER WHEN I GOT BACK FROM GETTING THE PLAQUE ON THE WALL, TURNING THIS PROPERTY INTO AN ASSISTED LIVING. THEY TOLD ME IF I DID NOT PARTNER WITH THEM, THAT THEY WOULD TAKE POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY. THEY DID IT IN LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS, THREE DAYS BEFORE MY DAUGHTER BIRTHDAY. I DIDN'T GET TO PROVIDE MY DAUGHTER A PROM, A BRAND NEW CAR OR ANYTHING. I AM IN TEXAS BY MYSELF. ME SYLVESTER TURNER IS THE ONLY ONE THAT LOCATED ME AND GAVE ME AN AWARD FOR MY WORK AND MY SACRIFICES. LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK HE KNEW THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION. THE LAWYER TOLD ME I WOULDN'T HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN MYSELF. THIS IS WHY IT HAS TAKEN ME SO LONG TO COME DOWN HERE AND TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T EXPLAIN MYSELF. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I [01:50:01] THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE THE JUDGE DID IT. IT WAS RIGHT, IT WAS WRONG. THE EVICTION WAS WRONG. THEY DIDN'T OWN THE PROPERTY AND THEY WERE ALL FRIENDS. I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVIDENCE OF EVERYBODY. I HAVE WENT TODAY BEFORE I CAME DOWN HERE TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T LIE. I HAD THE CORRECT NAMES OF THE INSPECTORS AND THE BOARDS THAT YOU HAVE HIRED AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT THAT'S OVER THIS. HIS NAME IS THE SENIOR INSPECTOR. THE SENIOR INSPECTOR NAME IS DAVID ALLAH. HIS NAME IS SPELLED A-L-L-M-E. THE ASSISTANT CHIEF I, WHEN THE LAWYER GAVE ME THIS INFORMATION IN APRIL, I CALLED HIM MYSELF AND TOLD HIM, I'M GOING TO COME DOWN HERE AND TELL ON YOU YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I I, ONE LAST THING, EXCUSE OUR BACKGROUND THAT YOU'VE DONE LONE STAR LEGAL FOR ASSISTANCE. AND THEY GAVE IT AND THEY GAVE IT TO ME AND FOUND OUT THAT THE EVICTION WAS WRONG AND THEY GAVE ME ALL THE EVIDENCE AND THEY, I'M SORRY. AND THEY CLOSED YOUR CASE. THEY CLOSED THE CASE FOR THE EVICTION. UM, HE TOLD ME IT WAS THREE THINGS. YOU NEED TO OVERTURN AN EVICTION. I HAVE TWO OF 'EM. THE THIRD THING IS, WHY DIDN'T I APPEAL IT? AND I DID. I TOLD 'EM BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THEY OWN POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY. I DIDN'T HAVE A RIGHT TO, OKAY, WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? SOMEBODY VERY SPECIAL. ONE OF Y'ALL PEOPLE, ONE OF Y'ALL TYPE OF PEOPLE BOUGHT ME A CAR CASH AND I'M SLEEPING IN MY CAR. BUT I JUST WANNA TELL YOU ONE LAST THING. THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF THE BOARDING HOMES, HE QUIT AND RESIGNED AFTER MY PHONE CALL. I ALREADY CALLED THE CITY. I'VE ALREADY LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY. AND I WENT DOWN THERE TODAY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS TRUE. HE RESIGNED AFTER MY PHONE CALL AND ONLY THING THAT HE TOLD ME WAS HE'S SORRY. AND THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT DID THIS TO ME HAVE BEEN USING MY BUSINESS STILL SINCE 2020 ALL THE WAY UNTIL MAY OF 2024. AND HE RESIGNED. HE SAID HE'S SORRY AND NOW I'M HOMELESS. ONCE YOU, YOU TALK TO MS. WILSON, HAVE YOU, UH, HAD ANY, ANY CONTACT WITH I DON'T MR. STAR. DON'T BE THE SUNNYSIDE MA'AM. EXCUSE MAYOR. MA'AM, I WANT TO LIVE IN COUNCIL MS. POWELL DISTRICT. I DO NOT WANNA LIVE IN THE SUNNYSIDE DISTRICT EVER AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED TO ME HERE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CASE. I'M NOT THE ONLY VICTIM. I'M THE FIRST ONE THAT'S WILLING TO COME SHOW YOU. I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE DISTRICT OF SUNNYSIDE. I WANNA BE IN, IN HIS DISTRICT. IF YOU PUT ME ANYWHERE, IF YOU DECIDE TO HELP ME, I UNDERSTAND AND WE'RE SORRY ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, BUT YOU PROBABLY NEED TO WORK WITH YOUR ATTORNEY. AND ALSO, IF I WAS YOU, I'D ADVISE YOU, TALK TO MS. WILSON, SEE IF WE CAN PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH STAR HOPE WOMEN'S CENTER AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU. AND THE, AND THEY DID, AND THE, AND THE CITY DID GIVE ME THEIR LEGAL TODAY. THEY DID GIMME THEIR LAWYER BECAUSE HE, HE DIDN'T GIMME THE LAWYER. HE JUST APOLOGIZED AND RESIGNED. BUT THEY DID GIMME THEIR LAWYER TODAY FOR ME TO CONTACT HIM WHEN I LEAVE HER. OKAY. SO THEY AREN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. SO I, I CAN'T, I CAN SAY THAT FOR RIGHT NOW. THEY GAVE ME THE LAWYER BEFORE I CAME HERE. OKAY. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN HERE? HAVE YOU BEEN TO CITY HALL BEFORE? I'VE BEEN TO THE CITY HALL INVITED BY THE MAYOR, BY THE COUNCILMAN. MY NAME. I HAVE A LOT OF, UH, AWARDS FOR MY WORK. I HAVE A LOT OF, I HAVE A LOT GOING ON. OKAY, WELL TALK TO MS. WILSON AND THAT'S WHY I JUST, I JUST NEVER MET YOU, BUT IF YOU TAKE SOME TIME OUT BESIDES THIS, I'M NOT, I'M NOT A POLITICS PERSON LIKE THIS. I MEAN, BUT I UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND. I CAN GET, I CAN GET, I CAN TRAIN FOR IT, BUT I, I JUST, I'M JUST NOT THIS I UNDERSTAND. TALK TO MS. WILSON AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU A REFERRAL. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT. CLEMENT MATHIS. CLEMENT MATHIS IS NOT PRESENT. ROSINA CARA. ALL RIGHTY. IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME HERE BEFORE YOU GUYS, BUT I'M HERE TO ONCE AGAIN URGE OUR CITY TO TAKE A FIRM AND PRINCIPAL STAND IN ADVOCATING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THE ONGOING GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS, WHICH WITHOUT OUR NATION'S BILLIONS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY REPRESENTING A DIVERSE AND COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY LIKE HOUSTON, IT IS YOUR JOB AND YOU HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY IN DEMANDING AN END TO THE VIOLENCE AND THE SUFFERING OF INNOCENCE. CIVILIANS, GENOCIDES ARE BY DEFINITION A SYSTEMATIC AND DELIBERATE EXTERMINATION OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE. THE ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED ARE NOT ONLY A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT A STAIN ON OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE. THE ROLE OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND ITS FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS PLAY IN PERPETUATING. IT MAKES THIS TRAGEDY EVEN MORE DISTRESSING. AS [01:55:01] CITIZENS OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO RAISE OUR VOICES AND DEMAND THAT OUR LEADERS WORK TOWARDS PEACE. IT'S COMING UP ON ONE YEAR OF THE CURRENT GENOCIDAL ESCALATION IN THIS HORRIFIC DECADES LONG CYCLE OF COLONIAL VIOLENCE. AND IT IS PAST TIME THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL NEED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF US ARMS AND FUNDING TO ISRAEL. IT IS NO LONGER ENOUGH TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. WE MUST ACTIVELY PUSH FOR AN END TO MILITARY AID AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT MAKES THE VIOLENCE POSSIBLE. OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND WEAPONS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEATHS OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN A CONFLICT THAT VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW AND JUST THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN DECENCY. LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND A RESOLUTION CALLING NOT ONLY FOR A CEASEFIRE, BUT FOR AN NCUS ARMS AND FUNDING TO ISRAEL IS A POWERFUL STATEMENT THAT THIS CITY VALUES HUMAN LIFE ABOVE GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS. WHILE HOUSTON MAY SEEM DISTANT FROM THE EPICENTER OF THESE ATROCITIES, OUR INVOLVEMENT THROUGH FEDERAL POLICIES MEANS WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY COMPLICIT IN THE DESTRUCTION UNLESS WE TAKE A STAND FOR CHANGE. I JUST ASK YOU TO CONSIDER DOING THIS NOT ONLY AS A CITY OFFICIALS, BUT AS HUMAN BEINGS AND HISTORY WILL JUDGE HOW WE RESPOND TO THE SUFFERING OF THOSE IN NEED. LET HOUSTON BE A BEACON OF MORAL COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP. LET US STAND ON THE SIDE OF PEACE AND HUMAN HUMANITY AND SILENCE IS NOT NEUTRALITY. IT'S A CHOICE TO IGNORE THE CRIES OF THE OPPRESSED AND TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING KILLING BABIES AND INNOCENT HUMANS. OR IN THE WORDS OF OUR MAYOR, IGNORE THE ENEMIES OF HIS POLITICAL BUDDIES BECAUSE IT'S SO VILLAINOUS TO WISH THAT INNOCENT CHILDREN NOT BE PAWNS IN THESE SO-CALLED WARS. IT'S A GENOCIDE. I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT Y'ALL'S BIBLE DON'T SAY FOR GOD SO LOVED AMERICA OR THE US OF ISRAEL OR WHITE PEOPLE THE MOST LIKE HOW THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON. IT SAYS, FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD. AND I'D LIKE YOU GUYS TO TRULY THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN YOU GO TO CHURCH AND YOU SAY YOU'RE CHRISTIAN AND ALL THAT, AND YOU IGNORE ENEMIES. THANK YOU. NEXT. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER VIDAL IS NOT PRESENT. EDUARDO DURAN. HELLO Y'ALL. HOW YOU DOING? HOW, HOW Y'ALL DOING? GOOD. OKAY. SO, UM, I GUESS I GOT A Q AND A FOR Y'ALL REALLY QUICK. UH, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST WE DO ABOUT RESTAURANTS LIKE BURGER S**T OR BUN S**T? IF RESTAURANTS KEEP PROLIFERATING WITH THESE NAMES LIKE THIS, WE WON'T HAVE THE INTEGRITY OF THIS COUNTRY. IT WILL BE COMPLETELY RUINED, UM, BY PROMOTION OF NOT ONLY IGNORANCE, BUT DEPLORABLE ON THE FINEST LEVEL. CAN I SUGGEST THAT RESTAURANTS NAMES SUCH AS THESE OR ANY, THAT IF YOU CALL SOMEONE THEY WOULD AT LEAST THROW WATER IN YOUR FACE OR AT THE MOST BE ASSAULTED FOR DIRECT NON-LINEAR INSULT. UH, THESE RESTAURANTS NEED TO BE BOYCOTTED AND PROTESTED OR BY PROTESTED BY ANYONE WHO STILL BELIEVES IN THIS COUNTRY, UH, FOR BY ANYONE WHO STILL BELIEVES IN THIS COUNTRY, BELIEVES IN GOD AND CALLS HIMSELF A CHRISTIAN OR CALLS HIMSELF A CHRISTIAN. REALLY, UH, THIS IS NOT ONLY, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE, BUT THAT, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST WE DO? THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, I ALREADY HEARD THERE'S ONE, ONE COMING UP, YOU KNOW, SHOWING UP IN KATY. I TALKED TO A POLICE OFFICER. HE'S, AS YOU KNOW, AS ANGRY AS I, I AM UPSET ABOUT THAT. AND, UM, , THE OTHER THING I GUESS REALLY WOULD BE, UM, YOU KNOW, TENNESSEE GOVERNOR BILL LEE HAS NOW SIGNED LEGISLATION TO LAW THAT BANS ANY FORM OF CLIMATE ENGINEERING. YOU KNOW, GEOENGINEERING THE, I GUESS THE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, METAL TEARING WINDS THAT CAME IN THROUGH JU UH, JULY 3RD AND JULY 8TH. UM, I WON'T, I WON'T EVEN MENTION MAUI BEING BURNED TO A CRISP. BUT ANYWAYS, UM, OPERATIONS OVER THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, COURAGEOUS TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS AND THE STATE AND HOUSE HAD PREVIOUSLY PASSED THE LEGISLATION, WHICH PUT IT ON THE GOVERNOR'S [02:00:01] DESK. IT HAS NOW BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW, THOUGH OTHER STATES HAVE TRIED. TENNESSEE HAS SUCCEEDED DUE TO THEIR SOLID, STRAIGHTFORWARD AND, AND SIMPLE BILL. NOW, OTHER STATES CAN FOLLOW SUIT BY UTILIZING THE LEGISLATION AS A TEMPLATE FOR THEIR OWN. THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE LEGISLATION THAT IS NOW IN THE LAW FROM GEOENGINEERING WATCH.ORG, UM, DISCUSSING THE, UM, ENGINEERING OF WHETHER MODIFICATION COLLECTING. I THINK THESE THINGS ARE BEEN, BEEN MORE THAN REPORTED AND SOME OF US ARE AWARE OF AND AT LEAST KNOW ABOUT IT. SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, JUST A SECOND. COUNCILLOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT. UM, AND YOU ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU, WE SUGGEST, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, CONTACTING YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UM, TO LOOK AT SOME TYPE OF LEGISLATION, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, INTERESTED IN, UM, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START. OKAY. UM, I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE PASSING BY THAT ALL THE TIME. AND THE THING IS THAT AS AN INSULT TO EVERYONE WHO PASSES BY THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I I'M NOT GONNA GO AHEAD AND USE KIDS AS A REPRIMANDING SORT OF, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, RHETORIC OF SOME SORT. I'M GONNA SAY IT'S LIKE, I MEAN, ONE THING IS TO GO AHEAD AND, AND DO ONE THING LIKE, BUT JUST TO CALL SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE, ARE EATING AND, AND THEY'RE COMPLETELY CHANGING THE ENTIRE SENSE OF WHAT IT IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE A BLESSING OR APPRECIATE SOMETHING AND TO BEING PROUD OR AS SOMEONE WOULD SAY, BEING I GUESS THAT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF JUST AN INCLINATION TOWARDS PROSTITUTION AND, AND THE LOWEST LEVELS OF ACY. I MEAN IT'S IS I'M, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. YEAH, GOD BLESS. ALSO YOU TD TOTAL. I'LL LEAVE AT THAT. THANK YOU. NEXT ALIEN. MONYA REVIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, UH, MAJOR WITH MAR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, THIS AFTERNOON I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. I'M LIVING WITH AN OLD LADY, MRS. CARMONA IN 47 42 JAIL STREET. I'M NOT RELATED TO HER. UH, I'M JUST RENTING. UH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY KNEW THAT I'M IN THE AREA. SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. I'M NOT A A PS WORKER. I'M NOT A CPS WORKER. I CANNOT ASSIST NOBODY MEASURE WITH MY, MY QUESTION IS, DURING THE TIME THAT YOU WERE IN AUSTIN, WHAT DO YOU DO? BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THESE, UH, IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE CITY AND IT HAS BECOME LIKE BORDER TOWN. IT'S HECTIC. THE STREETS ARE DIRTY. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE MONEY? UH, WHY YOU'RE NOT TAKING CHARGE? I MEAN, YOU ARE THE CITY MAYOR NOW AND I KNOW YOU WERE IN COMMUNICATION WITH MRS. GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY'RE A HEADACHE. THEY MIGHT BE MY PEOPLE, BUT I WENT THROUGH UH, LOTS OF PAINFUL SITUATIONS TO BE HERE LEGALLY AS A US CITIZEN. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. AND WHO IS MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER? NO MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT. JACOB CLEMENT, HERE HE IS AT THE GAME. JOSEPH SMITH, JOSEPH SMITH, LEAH ANGLE. OH, TO EVERYONE THAT IS HERE. STEP INTO THE MONTHS. YEAH. SPEAKING OF THE MIC, I DO, I DO APOLOGIZE. THANK YOU. I WANT TO UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT IS HERE. UM, I FIRST WANT TO GIVE HONOR TO GOD FOR, UH, US BEING HERE AND BEING ALIVE 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. WE ARE LIVING IN A SPIRITUAL WARFARE RIGHT NOW AND THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT AND YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. I CAME TWO WEEKS AGO AND MS. INGRAM MITCHELL AND, UH, MR. ISAIAH HAD BEEN DOING, DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN REGARDS TO ME AND MY SON BEING HOMELESS. THEY HAVE BEEN CONTACTING ME BY PHONE AND EMAIL AND CONTACTING [02:05:01] EVERYBODY THAT THEY CAN CONTACT BY, UM, VIEWING MY PAST HISTORY OF BEING A FELON. I HAVE BEEN, UH, SERVED, I HAVE SERVED TIME AND IT HAS MADE ME HOMELESS. UM, BY ME HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF SERVING TIME AND UH, THINGS BEING FALSIFIED. YOUR TIME HAS COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA, COUNCIL MAYOR EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MS. ENG, IF YOU WANT FINISH, UH, THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TO WORK WITH YOU TODAY AND I'M GLAD THAT INGRAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOU. RIGHT. UH, BUT THERE'S ALSO A GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THANK YOU. WHO IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU AS WELL. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. BLESS. THAT'S ALL. ANYONE ELSE? [RECESS] IF NOT, WE STAND RECESS TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE. GOOD MORNING. I'M COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ROSA COUNCIL. COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION, OUR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, OCTOBER ONE AND 2, 20 24. WE HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY. ITEM ONE IS REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE AUGUST 31ST, 2026. ITEM TWO HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM THREE IS RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2023 MAJOR THOROUGH FAN FREEWAY PLAN ITEM FOURS RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH STATEWIDE TRAFFIC COMPANY. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE DG MEDINA CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM SIX, APPROVED SCREENING AUTHORITY, A PURCHASE OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES FROM BFI. WASTE SERVICES OF TEXAS DBA, REPUBLIC SERVICES OF HOUSTON. ITEM SEVEN, APPROVED SCREENING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF ONLINE CONTINUED EDUCATION COURSES FOR EMTS AND PARAMEDICS FROM CAREER STOP DBA LEXIPOL HOLDING COMPANY ITEM HS ST. ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H TANG FORD FOR PURCHASE OF FORD EXPLORER POLICE PURSUIT VEHICLES. ITEM NINE, DUNHILL DEVELOPMENT AND CO CONSTRUCTION LLC FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS OF THE UNDERGROUND PLUMBING SYSTEMS AT BELL YANKEE TRAINING FACILITY. ITEM 10 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF PURCHASE FOR CONSTRUCTION SITE WORK AT THE VAL YANKEE TRAINING FACILITY FROM HORIZON INTERNATIONAL GROUP LLC ITEM 11 APPROVED PRINTING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF AND SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL OF VIDEO MANAGER L EL CLOUD STORAGE SOLUTION FROM MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. ITEM 12 APPROVED SCREENING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF PRINT AND MAIL SERVICES FROM LEVEL ONE LLCA DOCKS COMPANY. ITEM 13, TEXAS TRAFFIC LLC FROM EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL EQUIPMENT. ITEM 14, CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC CONTROLS INC FOR PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL CABINETS. ITEM 15, MOTION INDUSTRIES INC FOR PURCHASE OF WELL MOTORS AND BACK DRIVE MOTORS. ITEM 16 AMEND MOTION 20 24 9 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF DISPOSABLE PAPER PRODUCTS AWARDED TO BUCKEYE CLEANING CENTER HOUSTON ITEM 17 RESOLUTION APPROVING HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND MERIT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CHILDCARE COUNCIL OF GREATER HOUSTON INC. FOR CONTINUING ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF CITY'S CHILDCARE PROGRAM. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CHILDCARE COUNCIL OF GREATER HOUSTON FOR CONTINUING ADMINISTRATION OF CITY'S JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PRO PREVENTION PROGRAM. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF FY 20 23 20 24 CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS IMPLEMENTATION GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AS CO-APPLICANT HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AS LEAD APPLICANT AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO RECEIVE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS IMPLEMENTATION GRANT ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FINAL SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PIERCE GOODWIN ALEXANDER AND LINVILLE INC. ITEM 22 [02:10:01] ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EVERYBODY TEXAS IN CONNECTION WITH WOMEN'S HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS UNDER TITLE 10 SUB-AWARD ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 101,000,020 $200,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR FLEET SHARE PURCHASE ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,326,307 AND 40 CENTS OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND TO EXISTING CONTRACT WITH ELEVATOR REPAIR SERVICE INC. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN A MGD OAKS APARTMENTS LLC ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO ENTER A LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR PAYMENT OF MONTHLY FULL SERVICE GROSS RENT FOR LEASE SPACE LOCATED AT 100 GLEN BOROUGH BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THE NORTH HOUSTON DISTRICT. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NA ITEM 28 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 6 70 18 INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN C OF HOUSTON AND THOMPSON CONSULTING SERVICES LLC ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN C OF HOUSTON AND NTUS P-T-Y-L-T-D FOR TRAINING. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF REINVESTMENTS ZONE NUMBER SIX, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS EAST SIDE ZONE ITEM 31 ORDINANCE RELATED TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF SOUTH POST OAK REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER NINE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE RELATED TO FISCAL AFFAIRS. UH, FOURTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 14, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOURTH WAR ZONE ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FY 24 BURN DISCRETIONARY COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING GRANT, CRIME PREVENTION AND VIOLENCE INTERVENTION. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE FY 25 MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE DESIGNATING A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE TANGLE TANGLE WALL SUBDIVISION SECTION ONE DASH FOUR ONE DASH EIGHT ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT INDEMNITY AGREEMENT AND RELEASE BETWEEN CITY PEACE AND IQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC ITEM 37 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 14.2614 ACRES OF ATLANTA TO HARRIS COUNTY FRESHWATER SUPPLY DISTRICT NUMBER 61 ITEM 38. ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 8.99967 ACRES OF ATLANTA TO HARRIS COUNTY MUD 4 80 39 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 6.352 ACRES ATLANTA NORTH HAMPTON MUD ITEM 40 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 38.199 ACRES OF ATLANTA TO HARRIS COUNTY MUD 33 ITEM 41 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE CREATION OF HARRIS COUNTY MINISTRY UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 85 ITEM 42 MAXIMUM I MEAN ORDINANCE ALTERING MAXIMUM PREMIUM FACING SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN SCHOOL ZONES IN CITY OF HOUSTON. ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 71,000 505 92 OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 44 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING TWO HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND FORTY ONE CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,500,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RC US INC. ITEM 46, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $20,969,051 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, AWARDING CONTRACT TO R CONSTRUCTION LLC. THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF OCTOBER 2ND, 2024. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM I'D LIKE TO FIRST COMPLIMENT AND CONGRATULATE MY ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY FOR A JOB WELL DONE WHILE I WAS OUT HAVING DENTAL WORK DONE IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENCY SECRETARY, WHICH IS ME, PAT JEFFERSON. DANNY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY [02:15:04] COUNCIL. PLEASE [RECONVENE] COME TO ORDER NOW FOR OUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. CHAIR RECOGNIZES THIS IS CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS [ADMIN REPORT] AND FINANCE DIRECTOR MELISSA DEBOWSKI, TO PLEASE GIVE US A REPORT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED AUGUST 31ST, 2024. IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $302.1 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. THIS IS $18.6 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 111.8 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING DEBT, SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO IN RESERVE. THE FY 2025 BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS $35.6 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE FY 2024 ENDING FUND BALANCE REPORTED IN THE JUNE 30TH MOER. THAT INCREASE IS DUE TO YEAREND ADJUSTMENTS TO REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL THE FY 2024 ACT FOR IS PUBLISHED. WE'VE INCREASED OUR REVENUE PROJECTION BY $0.9 MILLION FROM THE JULY, 2024 MO TO REFLECT A HIGHER CHARGEBACK FOR POLICE SERVICES AT BUSH INTER CONTINENTAL. OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION INCREASED BY $8.2 MILLION FROM THE JULY, 2024 MONTHLY REPORT DUE TO THE FOLLOWING, AN INCREASE OF 5.4 MILLION IN POLICE FOR CADET SALARY SERVICES, UH, AND PARDON ME, CADET SALARY INCENTIVES AND OVER TIME FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL AT BUSH AND CONTINENTAL, AN INCREASE OF $2.3 MILLION FOR THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO REFLECT FUNDING FOR THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PROGRAMS, AND AN INCREASE OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO REFLECT FUNDING FOR THE MOBILE TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY PROGRAM FOR ENTERPRISE FUNDS. THE ONLY CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTHS, UH, ARE IN AVIATION. WE SAW OPERATING REVENUES INCREASE BY $0.9 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED GARAGE PARKING REVENUES AND OPERATING EXPENSES INCREASED BY $0.9 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED POLICE SERVICES FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE. AS OF AUGUST 31ST, 2024, THE RATIO OF UNHEDGED VARIABLE RATE DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF OUTSTANDING DEBT WAS WELL BELOW THAT THRESHOLD. MAYOR, IF YOU'D ALLOW ME A BRIEF MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UH, IN MY REMARKS YESTERDAY AT BFAI REMINDED COUNCIL THAT MY OFFICE WILL BE HOSTING THE NINTH ANNUAL CITY OF HOUSTON INVESTOR CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 22ND. WE'LL BE JOINED BY YOU MAYOR FOR OPENING REMARKS, AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE STEVE KEEN FROM GHP AS OUR LUNCH KEYNOTE, ALONG WITH OTHER PUBLIC FINANCE LEADERS WHO WILL SHARE INSIGHTS ABOUT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON. I HOPE THAT COUNCIL AND STAFF WILL CONSIDER JOINING US AS WELL AS WE TURN THE CORNER TO THE SECOND HALF OF A MONTH COMMEMORATING HISPANIC HERITAGE. WE'RE REMINDED OF THE CON THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY HOUSTON'S HISPANIC HEROES. OUR CITY IS BETTER OFF BECAUSE OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEY'RE WORTHY OF CELEBRATION NOT JUST THIS MONTH, BUT YEAR ROUND. IT'S IN THAT SPIRIT THAT THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE HOSTED ITS FIRST HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION THIS PAST MONDAY. ATTENDEES ENJOYED TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AND WE HONORED FOUR LOCAL HEROES, SEIU, TEXAS PRESIDENT ELSA FLORES, CHEF HUGO ORTEGA, ASTROS, LIVING LEGEND, JOSE ALTUVE, WHO I HOPE BRINGS HIS BAT THIS AFTERNOON. AND FORMER HOUSTON FIRE CHIEF SAM PENA. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE OCCASION, AND I WANNA AGAIN, THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS CARTER DAVIS AND RAMIREZ FOR JOINING US. MAYOR, UH, YOU AND I BOTH VISITED THE PORT OF HOUSTON YESTERDAY. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LONG STORMS ASSOCIATION FOR ALL THAT THEY DO, AND WE WISH THEM THE BEST AS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE. PORT HOUSTON IS NOT ONLY AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR OUR REGION. UH, WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT PORT PUTS FOOD ON OUR TABLES, BUT THAT'S EVEN MORE TRUE FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS THERE AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE LONGSHOREMEN OF THE BACKBONE OF OUR SUPPLY CHAIN AND THEIR HARD WORK KEEPS OUR ECONOMY MOVING. TO HAVE A STRONG CITY, WE NEED A STRONG WORKFORCE, AND WORKERS DESERVE A FAIR SHARE OF THE WEALTH THAT THEY HELP GENERATE. I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT BOTH SIDES CAN COME TOGETHER AND REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL AVOID A MASSIVE DISRUPTION OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, BUT THAT AGREEMENT HAS TO BE ONE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF WORKERS. WE WISH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WELL AND WE'RE HERE, UH, IN FULL SUPPORT OF THEM. AND FINALLY, MAYOR, AS YOU'RE AWARE, UH, S AND P STANDARD AND POORS REVISED HOUSTON'S GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT OUTLOOK FROM STABLE TO NEGATIVE BACK IN JULY, CITING STRUCTURAL BUDGET SHORTFALL DECLINE, SEEN IN FUND BALANCE RESERVES, INCREASED DEBT SERVICE AND PERSONNEL COSTS, AS WELL AS NO PLANS [02:20:01] OUTLINED TO INCREASE REVENUE. SINCE DELIVERING MY LAST FINANCIAL REPORT, FITCH RATINGS HAS ALSO REVISED HOUSTON'S CREDIT OUTLOOK FROM STABLE TO NEGATIVE. IN ITS RELEASE, PHISH STRUCK A SIMILAR TONE, CITING A DECLINE IN GENERAL FUND RESERVES, INCREASES IN LONG-TERM LIABILITIES AND STAGNANT ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE REGION. MAYOR AND COUNCIL HOUSTON NEEDS A PLAN TO RETURN TO FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY. CONTINUED INACTION POSES REAL RISK TO OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY, AND THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE THAT'S KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR AND ALL EYES ARE ON HOUSTON TO SEE HOW WE ANSWER THE CALL. IT'S A TOUGH CHALLENGE, NO DOUBT, BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE WERE ELECTED AND PUT HERE TO DELIVER ON. THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE TWO PLUS 10 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING AUGUST 31ST, 2024. FISCAL YEAR 2025. PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON TWO MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND 10 MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 3.1 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 882,000 HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH PROJECTION IS PRIMARILY IN THE DIRECT INTER FUND SERVICES, AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED DUE TO THE HIGHER CHARGE BACK FOR POLICE AIRPORT SERVICES. THE EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 8.1 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND THE PRIOR MONTH, THE VARIANCE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH PROJECTION IS DUE TO A $5.4 MILLION INCREASE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE CADET SALARY INCREASE AND INCENTIVES AND THE POLICE OVERTIME FOR THE TRAFFIC CONTROL. AT IAH. UM, TO TOUCH ON THE ECONOMY, THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY WERE $75 MILLION, WHICH IS 3.6% HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, AND 5.8% HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED TO MEET THE CURRENT ESTIMATE ON THE SALES TAX. THE REMAINING PERIODS WOULD NEED TO COME IN APPROXIMATELY 1% ABOVE THE PRIOR YEAR. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS REVENUE STREAM. WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING, OH, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. SORRY. WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE TO BE 320.7 MILLION, WHICH IS 5 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH, AND STILL REMAINS ABOVE 12% OF EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THAT FUND BALANCE REPRESENTS 130 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT. AND AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED, THE ONLY ENTERPRISE FUND CHANGE IS IN THE AVIATION FUND, UH, WHERE THE OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 850,000 DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED PARKING GARAGE REVENUES, AND THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY THE 850,000 FOR THE POLICE SERVICES AT THE AIRPORT. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. THE QUESTION IS FOR YOU BOTH. UM, WHAT IS THE IMPACT, UH, FOR THE CITY REGARDING OUR CREDIT RATINGS GOING FROM STABLE TO NEGATIVE? SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S, UH, THIS IS AN AN OUTLOOK. IT'S NOT THE RATING, RIGHT? SO IF THE RATING CHANGED, THAT WOULD BE CALLED A DOWNGRADE. AND WHAT THIS NEGATIVE OUTLOOK STATES IS THAT, UH, BY MOVING US FROM STABLE TO NEGATIVE, THESE RATINGS AGENCIES ARE TELLING US THAT THERE'S A GREATER THAN ONE IN THREE CHANCE THAT THEY WILL DOWNGRADE US. SO, SO THE THE OUTLOOK CHANGE IS JUST A WARNING SHOT, RIGHT? UH, A DOWNGRADE WOULD, UH, TELL THE MARKET THAT, THAT THIS DEBT IS IS NOT AS RELIABLE, UH, AS, AS OTHERS, RIGHT? THAT YOU WANNA THINK TWICE BEFORE, UH, YOU TAKE ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S DEBT. AND, AND ONCE THAT RATING COMES INTO PLAY, THEN IT BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE FOR US TO GO TO THE MARKET. UH, YOU KNOW, A WEEK FROM NOW WE'RE GONNA GO AND PUT OUT $145 MILLION IN TRANS NOTES, RIGHT? IF THAT INTEREST RATE GOES UP, WHICH IT WON'T RIGHT THIS MOMENT, BUT IF WE'RE DOWNGRADED, IT CERTAINLY WILL, UH, THEN IT BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE FOR US TO BORROW. THAT'S MORE MONEY COMING OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, GOING TO DEBT SERVICE. AND INSTEAD OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS, UM, OR ESSENTIALLY MORE MONEY THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO AND ASK HOUSTONIANS FOR. SO AS THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED, THIS IS A OUTLOOK CHANGE. SO TYPICALLY THE RATING AGENCIES WILL HAVE AN OUTLOOK CHANGE ON, FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN ONE TO TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY MAKE A CHANGE TO THE RATING ITSELF. AND SO THE RATING AGENCIES ARE LOOKING, UM, YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ERNST AND YOUNG STUDY, THE CITYWIDE STUDY ON THE EXPENDITURES, UM, LOOKING FOR THE DUPLICATION, LOOKING FOR THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE CAN FIND. SO THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR, CERTAINLY OUR ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR RATING AGENCIES IS REIGNING IN OUR EXPENDITURES, REDUCING THE DUPLICATION, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO SOLVING OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET CHALLENGE IN THE COMING YEARS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN FOR A MOTION. COUNCILMAN [02:25:01] ALCORN, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT ENDING AUGUST 31ST, 2024. SECOND CASTILLO, MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA? HOLD ON FOR SECOND. OH, YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST TALK TO I COULD, AND I'VE GOT [MAYOR'S REPORT] IT. UH, MENTION LATER IN THE SESSION. REVEREND WILLIAMS SERVICES SATURDAY. UH, I'M VERIFYING THE, UH, TIME AND LOCATION. THEY'RE STARTING OUT AT ANTIOCH, WHICH HE'S PASTORED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT IT WILL NOT ACCOMMODATE, UH, THE ATTENDANCE. SO WE'RE GONNA VERIFY THE NEXT LOCATION. BUT OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT HE WAS TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO KEEP HIS FAMILY AND OUR PRAYERS. FM WILLIAMS, HE WAS TRULY AN ICON IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. F WILLIAMS, UH, JUNIOR MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS NAMED AFTER HIS FATHER, WHO WAS ALSO A LONGTIME PASTOR. AND, UM, I JUST DON'T THINK THEY MAKE HIM LIKE REVEREND WILLIAMS ANYMORE. HE WAS SUCH A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY ACROSS HOUSTON. MATTER OF FACT, I'M SURE COUNCILOR DAVIS HAS SPENT MANY DAYS WITH HIM. HE WAS ONE OF A, CERTAINLY ONE EXCEPTIONAL LEADER. SO, YOU READY TO GO? MADAM SECRETARY? YES. YOU'LL NOW [CONSENT AGENDA] PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM TWO HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM ONE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. EITHER A MOTION FOR ITEM THREE, CASTEX K TO MOVE SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPTABLE CATEGORY. ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. EITHER A MOTION FOR ITEM FIVE, CAST T MOVE SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION ABUSE CATEGORY. ITEMS EIGHT AND 16 HAVE BE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE CAST MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS REIGN. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEM 17. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES. CATEGORY ITEMS RULE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 18, 19, 22, 23, 32, AND 41. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 18, 19, 22, 23, 32, AND 41. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM NUMBER ONE, NEED A MOTION PASS. . MOVE. MOVE. POLLARD. TAG. CAN WE GET A SECOND? FIRST I SECOND. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. MOTION MADE AND SECOND TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. NEXT, ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION CAST. TA, MOVE I SECOND. MOTION IS MADE IN SIGNAL. IN FAVOR. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION CAST. SAY A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION'S MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 16 NEEDS A MOTION CAST ITEM MOVE. SECOND. MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. MEMBER CAMAN. AFTER, AFTER, AFTER THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. CHAIR RECOGNIZES. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. UH, I WANTED TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION AND SPECIFICALLY GSD FOR THIS ITEM. UH, THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO INCLUDE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS. [02:30:01] UM, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH GSD, UH, TO EXPAND, UH, PERIOD PRODUCT AVAILABILITY IN CITY FAC CITY FACILITY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE'S AN ESTIMATED 16.9 MILLION WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES THAT FALL INTO THE LOW INCOME BRACKET. AND TWO THIRDS OF THOSE WOMEN, UH, CANNOT AFFORD PERIOD PRODUCTS. AND HALF OF THOSE WOMEN HAVE HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND FOOD. UM, AS OF NOW, FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN A TOTAL OF, UH, 25 OF OUR CITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING OUR HEALTH CENTERS. UH, BUT I WANNA THANK KAREN RES, EBONY BARNES, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PRODUCTS, UH, STAY WITHIN OUR CITY FACILITIES, BUT ALSO AS WE WORK TO EXPAND ACCESS, UH, FOR ALL WOMEN IN NEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT VOTE. ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, COUNCIL AND PAYMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. UM, I HAD A QUESTION FOR LEGAL ON THIS ITEM. IF ARCHER, IF YOU'RE READY FOR ME. UM, MAYOR, THIS ITEM INCLUDES LANGUAGE. UH, THIS IS A RE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND LIFE PLANNING PROGRAM FOR WOMEN AND MEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE, THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROVIDES A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. HOWEVER, THERE'S LANGUAGE, UH, IN THIS ACTUAL ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT THESE FAMILY PLANNING PROVIDERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PROVIDING SERVICES. NOT ONLY THAT WOULD, UM, SERVICES SUCH AS PROVIDING AN ABORTION, BUT SPECIFICALLY THAT THE RECIPIENTS MAY NOT PROVIDE PREGNANCY OPTION COUNSELING THAT REFERS OR PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO ACCESS TO AN ABORTION. UM, OR SUGGEST THAT A PERSON MAY BE ABLE TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. AND IS IT ACCURATE THAT, UH, UNDER STATE LAW, SB EIGHT PRECLUDES WOMEN HEALTH PROVIDERS FROM PROVIDING LIFE SAVING MEDICATION INFORMATION AND RESOURCES PERTAINING TO AN ABORTION, UH, WHICH IS WHAT IS CAUSING THIS LANGUAGE TO BE SO RESTRICTIVE? THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S THE STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES THAT. AND IT, THAT REMAINS THE CASE, EVEN THOUGH FROM, UH, THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS SHOW THAT THE RATE OF MATERNAL MORTALITY CASES IN TEXAS HAS RISEN BY 56% COMPARED WITH JUST 11% NATIONWIDE. IT'S, WE DO IT TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. NO OPPOSED NAY. SHOW COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER VOTING NO. MOTION PASSES. UH, NEXT ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAD SUBMITTED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. UM, I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANNA HOLD IT UP AND I'M GOING TO BE DEFERRING TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I'LL BE VOTING NO, AS WE DID NOT, UM, GET RESPONSES BACK. THANK YOU. NEED A VOTE? WE JUST NEED A VOTE? YES, SIR. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. GOT IT. CAME VOTING. NO. SO COUNCILMAN CAYMAN VOTING? NO. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. 9 32. CONGRATULATIONS. START WITH MAYOR PRO. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR, PROTO MAYOR, PRO TEM, CAST STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I, I'M GLAD TO SEE EVERYONE HERE. LOOKS LIKE WE ALL SURVIVED NATIONAL NIGHT OUT LAST NIGHT. WE ALL HAD, UM, LOTS OF PLACES TO GO TO AND CELEBRATE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE CITY. UH, DISTRICT A TEAM HAD, UH, 58 SCHEDULED EVENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, UH, AND WE DIVIDED THOSE UP AND HAD A GREAT TIME VISITING WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS. UH, LAST NIGHT WAS DEFINITELY A GOOD TIME. AND, UM, SHOWING OUR UNITY ACROSS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, COLLABORATING WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, [02:35:01] UM, MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO I HOPE Y'ALL HAD A GREAT TIME. UM, AND WE, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS WHO MADE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS ON LAST NIGHT. AND THEN, UH, COUNCIL, WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT THE TML CONFERENCE WILL BE IN HOUSTON NEXT WEEK, OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH THE 11TH, UH, IN 2021. IF YOU'LL REMEMBER WHEN THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN HOUSTON, UH, GHP REPORTED A TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $7 MILLION. AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM TML, WE'RE EXPECTING MORE THAN 7,000 TOTAL ATTENDEES, UM, AT THE CONFERENCE WITH A DIRECT SPEND OF APPROXIMATELY $6 MILLION AND AN OVERALL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MORE THAN $9 MILLION. SO I HOPE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AS YOUR TIME ALLOWS, UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU, VAST MAYOR, PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO PARTICIPATED IN NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THE DISTRICT A TEAM, AND I WERE OUT AT MANY NEIGHBORHOODS LAST NIGHT, AND I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PUT THESE TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS WHO PUT THAT TOGETHER. UM, TO THIS COMING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH AT 10:00 AM WE ARE HAVING THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. AND, UM, DR. PER WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ABOUT THE ETHAN PROGRAM. SO THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. SO I HOPE EVERYONE CAN JOIN US FOR THAT COMMITTEE MEETING. AND THEN FINALLY, UM, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13TH IS PET DAY AND DISTRICT A, AND IT'LL BE AT 10:00 AM AT FREED PARK. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH HOUSTON PET SET TO OFFER, UM, LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES AS WELL FOR YOUR PETS. YOU DO HAVE TO REGISTER FOR THOSE, UM, SERVICES. AND THE LINK IS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. AND IF ANYONE NEEDS FREE PET FOOD, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE PET FOOD. THANK YOU. VERY WELL, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ALSO WANNA, UM, THANK ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, UH, PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. UM, MY TEAM AND I, UH, WE, WE DEFINITELY VISITED SEVERAL OF, OF OUR, OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, I DO WANNA ALSO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THIS PAST YEAR, UM, START WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, UH, HELP INCREASE THAT, THAT, UH, COMMUNITY RELATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALSO WITHIN YOUR NEIGHBORS. UM, I ALSO, UM, SINCE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ABOUT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS CONTINUED ABOUT THE TAX RATE. UM, I CONTINUED TO HEAR THE FRUSTRATIONS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT DELAYED SERVICES. UM, I CONTINUE TO REMIND THEM THAT THE BUDGET SHORTFALLS OUR CITY FACE, UH, IS NOT ANYTHING NEW. UH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INFORM THEM, MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, HAVE AN ADEQUATE TAX REVENUE, UH, TO SUSTAIN OUR CITY SERVICES. AND, AND BASICALLY THE, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT, UH, OUR CITIES CONTINUE TO GROW. AND THE LAST, UH, NINE OUTTA 10 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN, UH, DECREASING THE TAX RATE, AND IT'S BASICALLY NOT SUSTAINABLE. UH, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR, UH, LACK OF TRASH SERVICES. UM, THE LATE SERVICES, UH, PARKS NOT BEING MOWED. UH, WE JUST INCREASED THE CADET CLASS'S $3.1 MILLION. UH, PUBLIC SAFETY'S TOP PRIORITY. UM, I KNOW THIS, THIS CONVERSATION IS UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES, UH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE NEED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, UH, BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT, UH, WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, UH, KNOWING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY JUST AFTER THIS, UH, UH, BUDGET, UH, REPORT THIS MORNING, UM, REAL CONVERSATIONS NEED TO HAPPEN. AND SO, UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT TRYING TO MOVE OUR, OUR CITY TO THAT DIRECTION. UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US, UH, COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION, SO, UH, CONTINUE TO HAVE, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS. UH, LASTLY, UH, REMINDING EVERYONE THAT THE BLUE BIN FUNDRAISER STARTED YESTERDAY, UH, YOUR BLUE BIN WITH YOUR COUNCIL, UH, YOUR FACES ON THERE. AND, AND SO THE, THE FOLKS THAT GET THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY, UM, I KNOW SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA WANNA KISS THE CRITTER, BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S HOLD TRUE TO IT. IT'S GOING TO A GREAT, IT'S GOING TO A GREAT ORGANIZATION FIT HOUSTON. UM, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HEARD, UH, UH, LARISSA JACOBS SPEAK TO IT AND, AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. AND SO, UM, LET'S CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF CMC TO, UH, TODAY. UH, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE GROUND FLOOR. UH, THERE'S ELTE BRAVOS, WE'LL BE HAVING CORN IN THE CUP. UH, AND ON OCTOBER 4TH, WE'LL HAVE MAMBO SEAFOOD STARTING AT 1230. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TOO WANT TO THANK THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL THEIR COORDINATION FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. UM, AND DISTRICT J WE, WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION REGARDING THE POSSIBLE TAX RATE OR TAX INCREASE PROPOSALS. YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE CONSTITUENTS WITHIN MY DISTRICT DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT. UM, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TAXES THAT THEY PAY PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THEY GET, AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING, UH, HAVE BEEN MEETING SOME CHALLENGES. UM, BUT AT [02:40:01] THE SAME TIME, THAT'S WHY THEY PUT US HERE IN THESE SEATS TO FIGURE OUT THOSE CHALLENGES. AND THEY DON'T, UH, NECESSARILY WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO PAY MORE. UH, I THINK THEY WANT US TO TRY HARDER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT. UM, SO, UM, I TOO LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I THINK, UH, THEY'RE NECESSARY. UM, BUT THE TONE IN DISTRICT J IS NOT TO INCREASE THE TAXES. UM, I WANNA SHOUT OUT TO THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR THEIR EFFORTS WITH OUR OFFICE TO DO, UM, PARK RESTORATION FOR BRAEBURN GLEN PARK. WE WERE THERE THIS PAST SATURDAY, UH, WITH COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AS AS LONG AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. UH, WE PICKED UP DEBRIS, WE DID MULCHING OF THE TREES, DID SOME, SOME, SOME PAINTING. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THE POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. UM, LASTLY, TSU HOMECOMING IS THIS WEEKEND. THE PARADE STARTS AT 9:00 AM THE GAME IS AT 2:00 PM UH, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT TIME TO COME OUT TO THE, UH, TAILGATE AND, UH, GO TIGERS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE, THE TAX RATE AND MORE TO COME. AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE. UH, LAST NIGHT WAS GREAT. WE WENT, WHEN YOU'RE AT LARGE, YOU GOTTA KIND OF PICK AN AREA AND GET US TO AS MANY PLACES AS YOU CAN IN THAT AREA. SO I KIND OF STAYED IN CENTRAL HOUSTON. STAFF, WENT TO LIKE FREEWAY, MANOR AREA, MONTE BEACH, WE WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT, UH, NEIGHBORS ARE OUT THERE JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME, JUST MEETING EACH OTHER AND GREAT TALKING TO 'EM AND FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR AREA AND WHAT THEY NEED. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS LIKE, OH GOSH, NATIONAL NIGHT. BUT I, I REALLY AND TRULY HAD FUN LAST NIGHT. , IT WAS REALLY FUN. THEY, THEY HAD A LOT OF GOOD PARTIES. AND JAMES CONEY ISLAND AT, AT MIDTOWN, SO THERE YOU GO, . UM, AND YESTERDAY, MAYOR, WE HAD A, A NATIONAL EXPERT ON ARTS, UM, AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY, UH, TALK AT BFA ABOUT THE IMPACT IN THE HOUSTON AREA. THE FULL REPORT IS ONLINE. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THAT. AND, UM, IT'S INTERESTING TO GO THROUGH AND JUST KIND OF BROAD ANALYSIS OF WHAT PEOPLE PAY WHEN THEY GO TO AN EVENT AND HOW THESE, HOW THE ARTS AND CULTURE ARE, AS WE ALL KNOW, VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY. WE ALSO DID A DEEP DIVE INTO THE REBUILD HOUSTON PROGRAM. THE AMOUNT OF DEBT, UM, THAT USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO 2 BILLION, WE'RE DOWN TO 500 MILLION. UM, MORE MONEY GOING TOWARDS PROJECTS. AND, UH, I APPRECIATED THAT DISCUSSION AS WELL. AND, UM, THAT'S IT FOR ME. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YES, LAST NIGHT, UH, FOR, UM, OUR, UH, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. WE HIT FIVE DISTRICTS. NEXT TIME WE'LL TRY TO HIT A FEW MORE, BUT A LOT OF FUN AND CERTAINLY GREAT TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, UH, VISIT WITH INDIVIDUALS. AND IT JUST REMINDED IT HOW HOUSTON WORKS TOGETHER AND, AND REALLY JUST A FEEL GOOD MOMENT, BUT WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING ABDA AND, UM, HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER. YESTERDAY, I, UH, WAS ACTUALLY IN AUSTIN AT THE TEXAS TRIBUNE AND, UH, RELEASING THE DATA FOR THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE HAD A TEXAS TOWN HALL AND, UH, NO SURPRISE, HARRIS COUNTY CAME IN FIRST. ONCE AGAIN. UM, I WILL INVITE YOU ALL NEXT, UH, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH TO AS WE LAUNCH A, A POWERFUL INITIATIVE. I'M SUPER EXCITED. I'VE GOT COMMISSIONER, UH, BRIANIS AND PRECINCT FOUR ON BOARD, THE HOUSTON APARTMENTS ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS CLEAR CHANNEL. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S A CITY PROGRAM, BUT IT WILL, IT WILL GO STATEWIDE. I MEAN, IT'S SUPER EXCITING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO, UH, HOSTING EVERYONE THERE, UH, NEXT WEDNESDAY IN THE LEGACY ROOM AT NOON. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I'VE CERTAINLY ENJOYED NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, UH, GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE. UH, BUT THE MOST HEARTWARMING, UH, TIME FOR ME WAS TO SEE MRS. CLARE FREEMAN, WHO, UH, IS 103 YEARS OLD, WAS WALKING ON HER OWN STEAM MINE, VERY SHARP. AND SHE WAS ACTUALLY MY PIANO TEACHER BACK IN THE DAY. AND JUST SO ALWAYS VERY HAPPY TO SEE HER. AND SHE WAS A, UH, TRAILBLAZER, UH, WHEN, BACK IN THE DAY WHEN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN PARTICULAR DID NOT OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. AND SHE WAS A BUSINESS OWNER AND VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND I JUST LOVE MRS. FREEMAN. AND SHE'S ALSO, UH, THE WIDOW OF DR. THOMAS F. FREEMAN, THE, UH, CERTAIN ICON, UH, AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. UH, I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR APPROVING AGENDA ITEM 20, THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS IMPLEMENTATION GRANT, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT KNOW, THIS MEANS A GREAT DEAL [02:45:01] FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIRD WARD. UH, CERTAINLY. UM, THERE WILL BE A RELOCATION OF 553 CUNY HOMES RESIDENTS, AND THE DEMOLITION OF THE ONSITE STRUCTURES, WHICH WILL RESULT IN 885 NEW APARTMENTS. THIS GRANT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT, UH, AND WILL LEVERAGE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS AND WILL, UH, SPUR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN THE THIRD WARD, WHICH WILL INCLUDE ADDITIONAL HIGH QUALITY MIXED INCOME HOUSING, UPGRADED AND RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATIVE HUMAN SERVICES INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE LIFE OUTCOMES FOR THIRD WARD RESIDENTS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. UM, WE HAD A PARK AND RESTORE RECOVERY WEEK, UH, WHERE WE WENT TO VARIOUS PARKS AND DISTRICT DA HUGE KUDOS AND THANK YOU TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, KENNETH ALLEN, AND KOREAN RECOVERY RESOURCES, ALONG WITH ALL THE INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS WHO CAME OUT LAST WEEK ON SATURDAY FOR PARK AND RESTORE RECOVERY. TOGETHER, WE REVITALIZED SEVERAL GREEN SPACES ACROSS DISTRICT D CREATING SAFER AND MORE WELCOMING AREAS FOR RESIDENTS TO ENJOY. AND YOUR HARD WORK IS TRULY APPRECIATED. AND THE COMMUNITY THANKS YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THESE IMPORTANT EFFORTS. UH, SATURDAY WAS PRETTY BUSY FOR ME WITH TWO BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND TWO GALAS. UM, ONE WAS AT THE HOBBY CENTER, THE COMMUNITY ARTIST COLLECTIVE, ANOTHER ONE. UH, AND THAT WAS WITH MICHELLE BARNES. AND ALSO, UM, IT'S, UM, AT THE BAYOU PLACE WITH CENT REED. THERE, THERE WAS ALSO A WONDERFUL GALA. AND THEN I HAD A BRIEF STOP WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS LEAGUE, WHERE THEY HAD A, UH, A, A SMALL PARTY IN DISTRICT D NO LESS. AND SO, UH, THAT WAS, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE, UH, OUR, OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE WHO SERVE US TO TRY TO KEEP US SAFE. ALSO, UH, ALONG WITH, UM, MY ANNOUNCEMENT WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL, IT IS THE HOMECOMING WEEK AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. I LOOK TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE. THE HOMECOMING GAME WILL BE AT THE DURLEY STADIUM AT 2:00 PM ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE FIFTH. UH, AGAIN, THE PARADE WILL BE SATURDAY MORNING AT 9:00 AM AND IT'S GONNA BE A VERY BUSY WEEKEND IN THAT AREA. AND WE ARE GONNA TRY TO NAVIGATE AROUND THOSE BIKE LANES AND, AND HAVE A GREAT TIME AT THE TSU HOMECOMING. HINT, HINT. UH, MOVING ON TO , THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ARTS, UH, JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN CASTILLO AND JORDAN FRAZIER FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN ORGANIZING A JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING WITH BFA TO HIGHLIGHT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ARTS. AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT'S A DRIVER FOR ECONOMICS AND WANT TO THANK, UH, RANDY COHEN, UH, FOR HIS INSIGHT, UH, AND PRESENTATION. AND THIS IS A CRITICAL CONVERSATION, AND IT REALLY EMPHASIZES HOW THE ARTS NOT ONLY ENRICH OUR CULTURE, BUT ALSO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR CITY. AND SO, WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. OH, THANK YOU. ONE OTHER THING, AND IF YOU NEED TO, UH, SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER, PLEASE EMAIL US AT DISTRICT D@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARK CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. DISTRICT H HAD A SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT YESTERDAY. UM, WE HAD NUMEROUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UH, MAYOR, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU AND, UH, POLICE CHIEF AT THE LEON CASTILLO COMMUNITY CENTER. I KNOW FOLKS WERE, WERE REALLY EXCITED BY Y'ALL STOPPING BY THERE. UM, AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT NIGHT FOR GETTING OUT, MEETING YOUR NEIGHBORS, UH, BUILDING, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, INTERACTING WITH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND, UH, AND, AND SPENDING SOME TIME OUTSIDE. UM, THIS SATURDAY, THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP WILL BE HOSTING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE NEW LOCKWOOD HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UH, FROM 10:00 AM TO ONE. THIS IS A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY, UM, OVER IN SECOND WARD, RIGHT ALONG THE BAYOU, ALONG THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'RE DOING, UH, WITH BAYOU EAST. UH, SO COME OUT AND SEE IT, SEE HOW THINGS ARE COMING ALONG. IT'S A, IT'S GONNA BE A FANTASTIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK, UH, ALL THE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE, THE DANGEROUS BUILDING THAT WAS AT IRVINGTON AND FRALEY. UH, ALONG WITH PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAVE, UH, BEEN, YOU KNOW, HELPING TO, UH, SEE THAT PROCESS THROUGH IT HAS BEEN QUITE A PROCESS. BUT ON, ON SATURDAY, THAT BUILDING, UH, WAS DEMOLISHED. IT HAD BEEN ABANDONED AND VACANT FOR QUITE SOME TIME, UH, ATTRACTING, UM, UNWANTED, UH, ATTENTION AND, AND SOME NUISANCE ISSUES DIRECTLY NEXT TO, UH, A COMMUNITY AND A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO THE RESIDENTS WERE VERY EXCITED. [02:50:01] UM, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON, ON THESE TYPES OF, UH, DANGEROUS, VACANT, ABANDONED, UH, STRUCTURES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, UH, TO HELP, UH, KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY. UH, THEY'VE BEEN, UH, CALLING, REPORTING, DOCUMENTING THESE, UH, ISSUES FOR QUITE SOME TIME. UM, AND THEN, UH, FINALLY, I, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE, THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR ON, UM, UH, POTENTIALLY, UH, SETTING A NEW TAX RATE AND, AND LOOKING AT WHAT THAT, UH, WOULD MEAN FOR OUR CITY NEXT YEAR. AS WE KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE GONE THROUGH, UH, SOME HARD TIMES WITH DISASTERS. UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, BILLS TO PAY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO, UH, KEEP OUR RATE, UM, AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT WHERE WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING IN, UH, LESS MONEY THAN WE NEED TO PAY OUR BILLS IS GONNA BE A CONVERSATION THAT, UM, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. AND, UH, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SOME, SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ON. BUT LOOK FORWARD TO IT. AND, UH, THAT CONCLUDES WITH MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO, UH, JOIN, UH, OUR MAYOR IN, UH, GIVING THE CONDOLENCES TO, UH, THE WILLIAMS FAMILY IN, IN THE, UM, PASSING OF OUR DEAR BELOVED LEADER AND LEGACY, UH, REVEREND DR. FN WILLIAMS SR. AND, UH, BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM DEARLY, AND I SO KIND OF REFERRED TO HIM AS POP BECAUSE OF ALL OF HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THIS CITY, AND CERTAINLY TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT MANY MAY NOT KNOW OF HIS LEGACY, BUT HE WAS ONE OF THE GREAT LEADERS OF OUR ENTIRE CITY. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE LOST ONE EARLIER THEN, DR. WILLIAM A. LAWSON. SO NOW WITH DR. FLOYD, UH, FN WILLIAM SENIOR, GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO, UH, HIS SON, REVEREND DR. FLOYD, UH, WILLIAM II AND, AND THEN ALSO REBECCA WILLIAMS HERE, WHO'S A PART OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. UM, THIS IS A GREAT LOSS TO OUR CITY, PARTICULARLY TO MINISTERS AGAINST CRIME, WHICH HE FOUNDED, AND HE LED IT, AND HE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THIS CITY AS SO MANY OTHER OF OUR RELIGIOUS LEADERS DO. SO, UH, CERTAINLY WE WANT TO GIVE OUR CONDOLENCES, AND I CERTAINLY INTEND TO, UH, PARTICIPATE AND TO WORK WITH HIM. UM, I WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, TO, UH, OUR CHIEF OPERATING DIRECTOR, RANDY, UH, AND THE FOLKS IN, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES FOR THEIR, THEIR, UH, WORK WITH SOME ISSUES PERTAINING TO WATER BILLS WITH SOME OF THE, UM, CONSTITUENTS. AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR TAKING LEAD ON THAT. ALSO, AS, AS MANY OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK ALL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION OUTTA MY OFFICE TO, TO THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. WE SPLIT OURSELVES UP. WE HAD 14 EVENTS, SO WE TRIED TO MY TEAM WITH US, WE TRIED TO SPLIT 'EM UP AND GO AS MANY AS WE CAN. UM, AND, BUT, UH, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY ACTUALLY SEE AND HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY TO, UH, SHOW OUR SUPPORT, NEW SPONSORS OF OUR TOWN HALL. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY TOWN HALL MEETING, WHICH I'VE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT IN DOING IT. UM, AGAIN, I'M GOING INTO THE SOUTH SIDE. I WAS IN THE WEST SIDE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE HER PRESENCE AS WELL AS HER LEADERSHIP IN THAT DISTRICT, WHICH WAS A GREAT GATHERING. UH, WE ARE GOING TO MEET THIS MONDAY, UM, AT THE OCTOBER 7TH. WE KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGING DAY FOR MANY, BUT WE CERTAINLY GOING TO BE PREPARED. UH, WE HAVE SOME NEW SPONSORS WITH, UM, SUPPORTING US CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL STAR, WHICH IS EMPHASIZES SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, SUPPORT, WHICH WE ALL SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. BOTH OF THEM HAS JOINED AS WELL AS SOUL FOOD BY CATHERINE, WHICH WILL BE PROVIDING THE FOOD, UH, AT OUR EVENT. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, US HAVING A GREAT TIME. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE TOWN AT THE TOWN HALL. OBO WILL GIVE WOULD BE GIVEN A PRESENTATION ON THE CITY'S CERTIFICATION PROCESS TO EDUCATE THE ATTENDANCE ON, ON, UH, WHO OWN BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND THE BENEFITS OF BEING CERTIFIED AS A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE. UH, AND SO WE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT AT OUR TOWN HALL. I WANT TO, I WILL BE INTRODUCING THE HPL DIRECTOR, SANDY GAR, FOR [02:55:01] EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT SHE WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT. SO WE EXCITED ABOUT HER PRESENCE. UM, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTED AT OUR VENUE AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, AND EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT HPL CURRENT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES, A GREAT NONPROFIT DOING YEOMAN'S WORK IS THE CENTER FOR CIVIC AND PUBLIC POLICY IMPROVEMENT. UH, WE'LL BE AT OUR TOWN HALL, HELP REGISTERING WHO WOULD LIKE TO VOTE, BUT HAS NOT REGISTERED YET TO VOTE. AND WE WANT TO PUSH THAT, UH, CERTAINLY ON OUR MEETING. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WILL BE BRINGING VOTING MACHINES TO OUR TOWN HALL FOR FOLKS TO GET COMFORTABLE, UH, WITH AND WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE SO THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE VOTING MACHINES BEFORE YOU STEP INTO A BOOTH. UH, WE ARE OVERWHELMED BY OUR SUPPORT WITH 15 CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, AND OFFICES, AS WELL AS OUR 10 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD KINDLY AND, UH, WOULD JOIN WITH US IF YOU CHOOSE TO. SEEING THAT EVERYONE, UH, ON MONDAY, OCTOBER THE SEVENTH WOULD BE A BLESSING AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, 1 4 0 8 3 SOUTH MAIN STREET. COME GRAB A PLATE AND, UH, AND, UH, ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND ENCOURAGE AS MANY AS YOU CAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UH, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, LAST NIGHT MY STAFF AND I ATTENDED, UH, 10 DIFFERENT NATIONAL NIGHTS OUT AND HAD A GREAT EVENING. IT WAS FROM KINGWOOD TO CLEAR LAKE AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN. UM, THE FIRST PLACE WE WENT TO WAS CIMARRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND, UH, THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT. UH, GOT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND HER HUSBAND, WHO ACTUALLY IS ON THE GALENA PARK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD. UH, THEY HAD A BUNCH OF, UH, HIGH SCHOOL KIDS THAT WERE THERE HELPING OUT WITH THE PROGRAM, AND ABOUT HALF OF 'EM ARE GONNA GRADUATE WITH A TWO YEAR DEGREE FROM SAN JACINTO COMMUNITY COLLEGE. UH, AND, UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING THE KIDS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND, AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING. AND IT, IT WAS NICE. IT, IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DEAL. UH, I ALSO WANNA INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO, UH, OUR TOWN HALLS IN EDGEBROOK AND CLEAR LAKE. THEY WE'RE HAVING OCTOBER 22ND AND 24TH. UH, THE 20 SECOND'S GONNA BE, UH, FOR EDGEBROOK AT THE ONE MOVEMENT BIBLE CHURCH. AND THEN THE, UH, 24TH WE'RE GONNA HAVE AT, UH, BEHA DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, OUR HOUSTON JEWISH COMMUNITY IS ENTERING THE HOLIEST AND MOST SOMBER TIME OF THE YEAR THIS EVENING, THE HIGH HOLIDAYS OF RUSH HASHANAH AND YOM KIPPUR. UH, THIS ALSO TRAGICALLY OVERLAPS WITH THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE OCTOBER 7TH TERRORIST ATTACK, AN ATTACK BY HAMA SO HORRIFIC. SOME MAY NOT FULLY GRASP THE BRUTALITY AND EVIL THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE OUTFALL THIS PAST YEAR. THE COMPLEXITIES, THE PAIN, THE SUFFERING OF SO MANY, INCLUDING INNOCENT LIVES IN GAZA, HAS BEEN UNIMAGINABLE. HIRSCH GOLDBERG, POLAND'S MOTHER SAID RECENTLY, IN A COMPETITION OF PAIN, THERE ARE NO WINNERS. SO IT'S INEXPLICABLE TO ME THAT PROTESTS I HAVE LEARNED ARE BEING PLANNED TO COINCIDE WITH THE JEWISH HIGH HOLIDAYS TARGETING JEWS. THAT'S JUST FLAT OUT ANTISEMITISM LEADERS, BUT ESPECIALLY ELECTED LEADERS, HAVE AN OBLIGATION NOT TO CREATE FURTHER PAIN OR FAN THE FLAMES DURING AN EXTREMELY TRYING TIME. IT'S WHY RESPONSIBLE LANGUAGE AND NUANCE MATTER, AND IT'S WHY WORDS MATTER. I REPRESENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE, WHOSE SIBLINGS WERE MURDERED THAT DAY, AND MANY OTHER COUNTLESS STORIES TO THEM. I SAY, WE WILL NOT FORGET AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT YOU UP. FOR MANY OF US TIME STOPPED 360 DAYS AGO TODAY, AND IT HASN'T MOVED SINCE. UH, AS WE GATHER OVER THE HIGH HOLIDAYS, I HOPE, AND I ASK THAT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WILL BE GIVEN THE COURTESY OF A SAFE AND TRANQUIL SPACE TO MOURN, TO COME TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF PEACE AND NOT BE FACED WITH THE THREATS OF EXTREMISM, MISINFORMATION, AND HATE. EVERYONE IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES DESERVE RESPECT AND THE TIME TO OBSERVE BOTH THEIR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS [03:00:01] AND THEIR DAYS OF MOURNING. I SAY TO EVERYONE, SHANA TOVA, UM, UME, UH, FOR THE YEAR 5,785 IN THE JEWISH YEAR, AND, UM, ISRAEL HIGH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, DISTRICT G WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING OUR CONVERSATION ON CRIME WITH THE NEW CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, NO DIAZ AND THE COMMAND STAFF, UM, OUT ON THE WEST SIDE, IT'S GONNA BE FROM SIX 30 TO 8:00 PM AT THE COURTYARD MARRIOTT OFF OF I 10 IN THE ENERGY CORRIDOR. YOU CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, UM, AND WE JUST ASK THAT THOSE ARE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 14TH, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL JOIN US FOR THAT. UH, WE LOVE SEEING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. LAST NIGHT AT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, UM, MOUNTED PATROL WAS ON THE WEST SIDE AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTABLES. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, FROM VISITING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AS WELL AS WHAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN RECEIVING, THAT THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH DEBRIS PICKUP IN THE CITY, UM, FROM BARRELL. AND I KNOW THAT PUBLIC, UM, SOLID WASTE SENT OUT AN EMAIL SAYING THAT THE SECOND PASS WAS COMPLETED. HOWEVER, UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAD PUT IN REQUESTS THAT STILL HAVEN'T BEEN PICKED UP BEFORE THEY PUT OUT THE EMAIL SAYING THE SECOND PASS WAS COMPLETED. SO IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS CONSIDERED EXTENDING DEBRIS PICKUP OR, UM, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING A CONTRACT FOR THAT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR IN OUR OFFICE. AND THEN LASTLY, THIS WEEK, UM, WE GOT TO VISIT LIFEHOUSE. UM, WE PARTNERED WITH UNION PACIFIC WHO DONATED GIFT CARDS FOR THE FILL THE FRIDGE INITIATIVE AFTER BARREL. AND THIS WEEK I WENT WITH UNION PACIFIC TO THE NEW LIFEHOUSE CAMPUS TO PRESENT THOSE GIFT CERTIFICATES. UM, THIS IS SUCH A GREAT ORGANIZATION, LIFEHOUSE IT, UM, PROVIDES HOUSING FOR, UM, PREGNANT WOMEN THAT, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. THEY DO HOUSING HELP, UM, DURING THE PREGNANCY AND FOR OVER A YEAR AFTER THE WOMEN GIVE BIRTH. THEY DO 30 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION ABOUT LIFE SKILLS, HOW TO UTILIZE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, UM, ALL SORTS OF THINGS. AND SO CHECK IT OUT. IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM LIFEHOUSE, GIVE THEM A CALL. THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, AS AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS ALLUDED TO, THE NEXT MONTH IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT REGARDING SETTING THE APPROPRIATE TAX RATE. I HOPE THAT AS WE DISCUSS THIS ISSUE, WE WON'T JUST TALK ABOUT TAX RATE, BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WHAT IS MY TAX BILL? THAT'S WHAT I REALLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY. YOUR TAX BILL IS DETERMINED NOT JUST BY THE TAX RATE, WHICH CAN GO UP OR DOWN, BUT BY PROPERTY VALUATIONS AS WELL. AND IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD IF THE TAX RATE CONTINUES TO GO DOWN WHILE VALUATIONS CONTINUE TO GO UP. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE PAY MORE IN TAXES FROM YEAR TO YEAR, REGARDLESS THAT THE TAX RATE IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN. AND SO, AS WE CONSIDER THESE ISSUES, I HOPE WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER GOVERNMENTAL TAXING ENTITIES ARE DOING. UH, I KNOW THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS FELT THE NEED TO RAISE TAXES THIS YEAR. A RECENT COLUMN BY BILL KING POINTS OUT THAT TAXES, UH, FROM HARRIS COUNTY HAVE ACTUALLY GONE UP CLOSE TO 30% IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND SO WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF WHAT OTHER TAXING ENTITIES ARE DOING AS WELL, AND WHAT ISSUES ARE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, WHICH INCLUDES A $4 BILLION, UH, BOND ISSUE BY HISD, POTENTIALLY PASSING, UH, AN IMPORTANT, UH, BOND ISSUE PUT FORTH BY THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND SO FORTH. AND, UM, I WOULD TELL YOU RENTERS OUT THERE THAT IT'S NOT JUST PROPERTY PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT GET A TAX BILL AT THE END OF THE YEAR, RENTERS, YOUR LANDLORD DOES, AND YOUR LANDLORD, UH, WILL PAY INCREASED TAX, WILL ACTUALLY PASS ON INCREASED TAXES TO YOU IN THE FORM OF INCREASED RENTS. SO, INCREASE TAXES, INCREASE HOUSING COSTS IN THE CITY, AND MAKE HOUSING LESS AFFORDABLE. AND SO, AS WE TALK ABOUT THESE DECISIONS, I HOPE WE'LL ALSO CONSIDER WHAT EFFECTS, UH, OUR DECISIONS HAVE ON, UH, THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UH, I WILL JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN JUST ACKNOWLEDGING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A WEST SIDE PARTY. 'CAUSE THE WEST SIDE PARTY DON'T STOP. UH, IT DON'T STOP. WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME. THE DJ WAS JAMMING, THE [03:05:01] FOOD WAS ROLLING, THE PEOPLE WERE OUT, AND IT WAS GREAT. UH, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER EVEN POPPED UP ON, ON THE WEST SIDE, Y'ALL, HE SHOWED UP. I WAS AT TANGO WILD LAST WEEK, AND THEY SAID, OH, MISS TIFFANY, ARE YOU GONNA HAVE A RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH THE NEW MAYOR LIKE YOU HAVE WITH THE PREVIOUS MAYOR? AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT YOU MEAN? I SAID, JOHN MEYER LOVES ME. HE JUST WANT ME TO LOVE HIM BACK SOMETIMES. OKAY. AND I LOVED HIM BACK, AND HE CAME TO THE WEST SIDE. THEY LOVED IT, THEY APPRECIATED IT. I GOT ALL THE TEXT MESSAGES, I GOT ALL THE PHOTOS. SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING LOVE TO THE WEST SIDE. I WANNA ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITIES. IF YOU HAVE NOT, LOOK, HE LAUGH AND LOOK, SEE, I SAID HE JUST WANT ME TO LOVE IN BACKYARD. THAT'S ALL IT IS. SO WE WANNA ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITIES THAT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS MORE THAN JUST A PUBLIC SAFETY TOOL. IT'S A WAY FOR YOU TO CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS. UM, PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT CONNECTING. TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT. MY OFFICE IS MORE THAN WILLING TO CONTINUE TO FACILITATE THAT, UM, FOR YOU. UH, TONIGHT I'LL BE AT, UH, WEST CHASE DISTRICT AT TRACY G, THE WESTCHASE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THEY'RE DOING TRANSFORMATIONAL THINGS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE ENTERTAINMENT, UM, SPACE. AND SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREA TO PARTICIPATE AT A TOWN HALL. WE'RE GONNA BE DIS DISCUSSING, UM, ACTUALLY OFFERING A SURVEY OF A NEW ENTERTAINMENT SPACE. SO THINK LIKE MILLER OUTDOOR WEST. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE WEST SIDE. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU, THERE'S A SURVEY IN THE NEWSLETTER. THERE'S A SURVEY ON THEIR WEST ON THEIR WEBSITE. WE REALLY NEED YOUR INPUT TO PARTICIPATE SO WE CAN CONTINUE INVESTING IN COMMUNITY ASSETS TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY. ON SATURDAY, I WILL CELEBRATE, UH, AT THE NIGERIAN CULTURAL PARADE FESTIVAL. THIS IS AN ANNUAL, UH, FESTIVAL CELEBRATING OUR NIGERIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. UH, THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY. IT'LL BE AT, UH, MEMORIAL SQUARE FROM 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM I WILL SEE YOU AT THE PARADE. AND THEN LAST WEEK, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT WE CELEBRATED OUR VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE WITH US DURING HURRICANE BARRELL. YOU KNOW, WE ASK A LOT OF RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT US, AND SO ON SATURDAY, WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS, AILEY VOTES, SAYA INTERNATIONAL, AILEY, ISD, HEADS UP HOUSTON CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS, ELDRIDGE AND MOORE, AND MY INCREDIBLE DISTRICT OF STAFF. IT WAS A, A MORNING OF, UH, REFLECTIONS, UH, AND NOT JUST ME TALKING OR PARTNERS TALKING, BUT PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED SHARING WITH EACH OTHER ON WHY THEY SHOWED UP FOR, UH, THEIR NEIGHBORS. AND FOR THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL. UM, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE, UM, ARE STILL HOSTING OUR INAUGURAL FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12TH. WE ARE GETTING READY TO CLOSE THE LIST BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED SPACE. WE HAVE CLOSE TO A HUNDRED PEOPLE REGISTERED. AND SO ANY FAITH LEADER, IF YOU'RE AN IMAM PASTOR, RABBI REVEREND, CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR, LAY LEADER, AND YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MEETING YOUR MISSION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALLOWING US TO INCREASE INVENTORY ON HOUSING, I WANNA INVITE YOU TO COME. WE HAVE, UH, LEADERS, UH, WE HAVE, UH, LEADERSHIP FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, DEVELOPERS. EVERYONE'S GONNA BE AT THE TABLE TO GIVE YOU THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO HELP US INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY. IF, UH, MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY SUPPORT TO YOU, DON'T FORGET TO REACH OUT AT DISTRICT F@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALCORN FOR ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. ONE MORE THING AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ JUST LEFT. BUT, UH, I WANNA SAY CLEARLY WE ABSOLUTELY ARE CONSIDERING WHAT OTHER ENTITIES ARE DOING, BUT WHAT OTHER ENTITIES ARE DOING ARE TAKING CARE OF THE SERVICES NEEDED IN THE CITY. COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND COMMISSIONED A REPORT BY THE KINDER, KINDER INSTITUTE IN 2022, WHICH SAID, WE ARE DIS THE DISPROPORTIONATELY TA CITIZENS OF HOUSTON THAT ARE PAYING TAXES TO HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT GETTING THE SERVICES BACK TO THAT, TO THE IMPACT THAT THEY ARE PAYING. I WANNA POINT OUT AN, AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY. ITEM 24, JUST ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. WE APPROPRIATED $1.3 MILLION TO ELEVATOR REPAIR SERVICES AT 8,000 NORTH STADIUM DRIVE. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE DRIVEN BY 8,000 NORTH STADIUM DRIVE, YOU KNOW THAT THAT BUILDING IS FALLING APART. WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY FIXING UP OUR FACILITIES. I ASKED, WHAT ARE THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NEEDS AT AT, AT 8,000 NORTH STADIUM DRIVE? $42.4 MILLION WORTH OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. WE'LL BE SPENDING $8 MILLION NEXT YEAR JUST ON THAT ONE BUILDING. THESE ARE OUR CITY FACILITIES. THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. I MORE TO COME NEXT WEEK, COUNCIL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR FIRING US UP REAL QUICK. , SALLY. UM, ANOTHER THING, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, RIGHT? UH, YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY VALUE AND THE VALUATION, WE DON'T CONTROL THAT. THE STATE CONTROLS THAT. SO YOU NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR STATE REP AND YOUR STATE SENATOR AT THAT POINT. AND, AND, AND WHEN WE START GRUMBLING ALL OF THIS, THE HIZ, THE COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL, WE, WE, WE ARE PART OF THAT, THAT, UH, PROBLEM WHEN WE'RE CONFUSING RESIDENTS ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CITY SERVICES, WHERE ARE [03:10:01] THE TAX RATES OR WHERE THE TAXES COME FROM. YES, THE TAX BILL IS GOING HIGHER, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, COUNTY IS NOT PROVIDING ANY SERVICES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR TRASH, WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PARKS, WHEN IT COMES TO MOST OF YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T BECOME PART OF THAT PROBLEM AND CONFUSING RESIDENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HID BOND, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S, IT'S NOT GONNA INCREASE TAXES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE FLOOD CONTROL, THAT ONE WILL, WE NEED TO BE HONEST, TRANSPARENT, ON, ON EVERY FRONT AND STOP, STOP TRYING TO SHOVE EVERYTHING DOWN, RESIDENT'S THROAT, CONFUSING THEM. SO THAT WAY THEN WE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, FOR THE LACK OF TAX RATE THAT WE HAVE, WILL PROVIDE LESS AND LESS SERVICES, CUTS AND SERVICES. SO, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT FOR FIRING ME UP, POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO ALSO REALIZE, AND REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS THE BUDGET SEASON PUT FORTH A BUDGET WITH NO ADDITIONAL REVENUE. NOW WE'RE COMING BACK AND WANT TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE OR, OR, OR TALKING ABOUT IT. WE CAN'T KEEP SPENDING AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS AND ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. WHEN I'M SURE WHEN YOU ALL WENT TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT LAST NIGHT, MANY PEOPLE WERE SAYING BECAUSE OF INFLATION, COST OF LIVING, YOU KNOW, OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES. WHY ARE YOU ALL DOING THIS NOW? NOW, ULTIMATELY, WE ONLY CAN WORK WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE, RIGHT? AND IF WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS WE WOULD LIKE, YEAH, MAYBE THE SERVICES WON'T BE AS GREAT, BUT THAT'S THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE. AND IF THEY WANT TO VOTE ON THAT, MAYBE ON THE BALLOT, THEN THAT IS, THAT IS THEIR PREROGATIVE. BUT FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, RUSH THROUGH SOMETHING RIGHT NOW AT THE LAST MINUTE WITHOUT GIVING A LOT OF FOREWARNING, THERE'S A LOT OF MISSED MESSAGES COMING OUTTA CITY HALL RIGHT NOW REGARDING THE TAX RATE. I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TONE OR THE, OR THE FIELD IS OR THE TEMPERATURE IS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MIS MESSAGING COMING FROM CITY HALL ON, ARE WE DOING THIS OR THIS, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IT IS THE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOWERING THE TAX RATE EACH YEAR, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL PAYING MORE ON THEIR TAX BILL BECAUSE OF THE APPRAISALS. UM, NOW WHAT WILL THE PROPOSED INCREASE BE? HOW MUCH PERCENT, I MEAN, HOW MUCH SENSE IS THAT? UH, SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU RAISE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES OR THE TAX RATE, THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT GETS, UH, MUCH MORE DISCUSSION THAN I THINK THAT WE'RE ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO HAVE. NOW, IF I BRING SOMETHING FORWARD ON SPEED BUMPS AND IT NEEDS TO HAVE ALL THIS PUBLIC DISCUSSION, OR WE BRING SOMETHING FORWARD ON, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE SMALLER ITEMS, THEN WHAT ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING AS AS IMPORTANT, UM, AS, AS THE TAX RATE. SO YES, WE ALL ARE IN AGREEMENT. THE MORE MONEY WE HAVE, THE MORE WE CAN DO, RIGHT? WE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL THE BRUNT OF A TAX INCREASE. THEY'RE ALREADY FEELING IT WHEN WE DECREASE THE TAX RATE. SO, UM, PUTTING THAT ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON THEM WITHOUT A LOT OF EDUCATION, WITHOUT A LOT OF, UM, STRONG MESSAGING THAT REALLY CAN EDUCATE THEM ON WHAT SOME OF THE BENEFITS OR HIGHLIGHTS MAY BE, I THINK IS, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO RECONSIDER. SO, UH, I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS, UM, DISCUSSION ONGOING OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. AND I DO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UM, UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THE CITY AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE UPON THEM. UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE, UH, FORTHCOMING AND TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL. THANK YOU DAVIS. COUNCILLOR DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I WANT TO, UH, SAY THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN REGARDS TO THE DISCUSSION THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. WE REALLY DO NEED TO DO A DEEP DIVE IN ALL CREDIT TO COUNCILMAN ALCORN. SHE AND I WERE BOTH TOGETHER AT THE RA LEAGUE COM CIVIC CLUB, AND SHE BROUGHT OUT SOME, SOME VERY GOOD POINTS. SHE, SHE PUT OUT THE, ON BOTH SIDES IN RECOGNITION OF THE ISSUES. AND THERE ARE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT WE, THE NEW ONES THAT HERE HAVE INHERITED BASED UPON PREVIOUS, YOU KNOW, BUDGET ISSUES. BUT, UM, AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD SAID, WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO PUT A BANDAID, UH, ON A SHOTGUN WOUND. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE DEEP DISCUSSIONS ON THIS MATTER, BUT I WANT TO BE ON RECORD IN SAYING THAT. I, I THINK, AND GIVEN THE CONSIDERATION, AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT, BUT I BELIEVE [03:15:01] WE OUGHT TO GIVE THIS ADMINISTRATION, UH, OUR MAYOR, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO UNFOLD AREAS BY WHICH HE CAN, CAN, CAN, CAN SATISFY THIS CITY PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP. AND WE KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIP. YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THE PREVIOUS RELAT UH, ADMINISTRATION DID, YOU KNOW WRONG, BUT I'M JUST SAYING EVERYBODY AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, INCLUDING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF, UH, OF, OF THIS CITY. YES, WE NEED MORE MONEY. WE NEED IN AREAS NECESSARY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET, STREAMLINE THAT BUDGET, LOOK DEEPLY AT IT BEFORE WE MAKE THAT DECISION AND PUT THAT BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER. I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN, AGREE WITH MY FRIEND, COLLEAGUE, MARK JOAQUIN, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT ALL OF US LOOK AT IT VERY SERIOUSLY BEFORE WE TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY. WE ALL CAN COME UP WITH AN ISSUE ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO DO IT, AS WELL AS WHY WE SHOULD DO IT. BUT, UH, I AGREE. I THINK THIS NEED A DEEP DISCUSSION, MAYOR, AND, UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE GIVE OUR MAYOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND FIND OTHER METHODS AND OTHER MEANS BY WHICH WE CAN AVOID ADDING THAT BURDEN OF TAX UPON THE TAX, UH, PAYERS OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, WE DID HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING TO DISCUSS ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, AND DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI WAS THERE. SHE PRESENTED ON THEM, SHE PRESENTED WHAT THE RATES WOULD BE. SHE PRESENTED WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO OUR REVENUES. SO WE'VE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING, WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, ANY PROPOSAL TO ALTER THE RATE WOULD COME WITH ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON TOP OF THE COMMITMENT FOR EVEN MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO GO OUT AND HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RESIDENTS. I'VE TALKED TO RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR BETTER AND MORE CONSISTENT SERVICES, BUT THIS IS ABOUT PAYING OUR BILLS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE $40 MILLION THAT WE OWE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF OUR DISASTERS FOR OUR FEDERAL MATCH. WHERE IS THAT GOING TO COME FROM? UM, YES, WE NEED AUDITS. YES, WE NEED EFFICIENCY, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO HELP MEET OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. UM, ARE WE GONNA FIND $40 MILLION WORTH OF SAVINGS IN AUDITS AND EFFICIENCY TO BE DETERMINED? BUT THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY NOT. UM, THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO HELP PAY THE BILLS WE OWE BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED EXPENSES, UNEXPECTED EXPENSES THAT IF WE HAVE TO CUT SERVICES FOR, THAT'S GONNA IMPACT OUR TRASH SERVICES. THAT'S GONNA IMPACT OUR LIBRARY SERVICES, OUR PARK SERVICES, WHICH ARE ALREADY STRETCHED VERY THIN. SO WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS. UM, THERE WILL ABSOLUTELY BE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND WHATEVER COMES FROM THIS. UH, BUT THIS IS THE START OF A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE AS A CITY MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS BECAUSE THE, THE COUNTY IS NOT GONNA COME IN AND PAY OUR FEDERAL MATCH TO FEMA. UH, IF THEY ARE, I'M SURE WE'D BE WILLING TO LISTEN. UM, BUT THAT'S ON US. WE OWE THAT 25% MATCH. SO, SO THAT FEMA COVERS THE 75% FOR BARREL AND FOR THE DE THE DERECHO. UM, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT AND CONTINUE TO DISCUSS, UH, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE, WE HAVE TO PAY OUR BILLS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS GREAT DISCUSSION. I THINK THAT , YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, BUT, UM, I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE I KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT THE BURDEN OF OUR, OUR TAXES. UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN ALL OF THESE TAXING ENTITIES CAN RAISE THEIR TAXES, WHAT RESIDENCY IS, UH, THE CITY RAISED MY TAXES. IF HISD RAISED THE TAXES, THE COUNTY RAISES THE TAXES, RESIDENTS WILL SAY THE CITY RAISED MY TAXES. AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE, UM, ENTITIES THAT ARE AFFECT THE TAXES RATE, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. UM, AND THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE WITH HOW WE, UH, RECOMMEND THE PERSON FOR OUR HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT. AND I WANNA GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING ON THAT PROCESS. WE, WE GOT A MEMO AND I THINK THE STATE LEGISLATURE CHANGE HOW WE SELECT [03:20:01] THE PERSON ON OUR HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THAT, UM, OUR, OUR TAX VALUES WILL ALSO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THE, IN THE TAXING OF OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCIES. CAN YOU JUST KIND OF TALK US THROUGH WHERE WE ARE WITH TIMELINE? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE SUBMITTING NAMES FOR THE PERSON THAT WE WANNA SEE ON OUR HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD FOR THE CITY AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE? YEAH, I'D HAVE TO, I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC TIMELINES IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THE LAW DID CHANGE. UH, THERE ARE DIFFERENT, UM, CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAN BE ON THERE IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS. I THINK IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT. UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS AS A COMMITTEE, INCLUDING GENERALLY THE APPRAISAL PROCESS, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE HEARD AROUND THE HORSESHOE MANY TIMES IN TERMS OF THE LIMITATION YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF CONTROLLING THAT. BUT IT, IT IS, UH, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE, UH, OF WHAT ULTIMATELY A TAXPAYER LOOKS AT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT I, I, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THAT NEXT APPOINTMENT THAT WE HAVE TO THE APPRAISAL BOARD MAYOR, UM, UH, INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BECAUSE WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR TAXING ENTITIES AND TALK TO THOSE, UM, ENTITIES ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT ALL OF OUR TAXES ARE HAVING ON OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCIES. THANK YOU COUNCILOR THOMAS. SURE. SINCE WE'RE ON THE, UH, A NON AGENDA ITEM, UH, AND LET ME CHIME IN TOO. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THE MAYOR'S BEEN CLEAR THAT HE SAID NO NEW TAXES, RIGHT? RIGHT. NOW, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR DID COME BEFORE US TWICE, I BELIEVE, AND OFFER PATHWAYS OF WHAT A TAX AND CREATE A TAX RATE INCREASE WOULD MEAN. SO I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE HIT AND IF HE REALLY WANTS IT AND WANTS Y'ALL TO CARRY THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. BUT ON DISTRICT F, WE DID A SURVEY PER ZIP CODE, AND WE ASKED HIM, ARE YOU INTERESTED? DO YOU HAVE AN APPETITE? WE PROVIDED THEM THE BFA MEETING, WE PROVIDED THEM THE ARTICLES, WE PROVIDED THEM, ALL OF THAT. UH, AND OVERWHELMINGLY THEY SAID, NO. SEE, HERE'S THE DEAL. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ELEVATOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT SEE SOMEONE LIKE ME THAT HAS SIX LEAKS IN MY HOUSE FROM A STORM, RIGHT? WE STILL HAVE HOMEOWNERS THAT IMPACTED FROM HARVEY AND THE RIGHT. WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT WERE IMPACTED FROM DIRETO AND NO ONE'S TAKING CARE OF THEIR HOME, RIGHT? SO I THINK RIGHT, IT'S NOT JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION AND OH, IT'S THE COMMITTEE. 'CAUSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER PAULA'S POINT, WE TALK ABOUT SPEED BUMPS. THIS WHOLE ROOM'S SPLIT IN HALF ABOUT A SPEED BUMP. SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A TAX BILL, WHEN, UM, HURT, UH, FLOOD INSURANCE, WE GOT FREEZE INSURANCE, YOUR PREMIUMS HAVE GONE UP. YOU'RE LITERALLY PRICING PEOPLE OUT. POTENTIALLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION. WE HAVE HISD ALE HAS A REFERENDUM ON THE BOND AS WELL. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS COOKING UP IF Y'ALL ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT HIT, UH, AND IF Y'ALL ARE WILLING TO BE THE FACE OF A TAX RATE INCREASE, AND SO HE CAN, YOU KNOW, SLIDE AND SAY THE COUNCIL DID IT, BUT I'M NOT WILLING TO TAKE THAT. 'CAUSE ON THE WEST SIDE, WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT COMMUNICATING WHAT THAT IS. WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THIS IS WHAT'S PROPOSED. WE KNOW WHEN THE DELAYS ARE, WE KNOW WHAT IT IS. AND I REALLY THINK THAT IF HOUSTONIANS, IF WE WERE REALLY GOING TO DO IT, WOULD'VE BEEN, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AT STATE OF THE CITY. IT SHOULD HAVE SAID, HOUSTON, IN MY FIRST EIGHT MONTHS, I'VE BEEN, I'VE HAD TWO FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS THAT I NEED YOUR HELP, I NEED YOU TO PITCH IN. RIGHT? WE WOULD'VE WARMED UP HOUSTONIANS, BUT TO HAVE A ISOLATED CONVERSATION BETWEEN 16 OR 17 OF US, IT'S NOT FAIR. RIGHT? IT'S NOT THOUGHTFUL. UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL GOT GOING ON. I I'M GONNA JUST SHOW UP AND VOTE MY PEOPLE . BUT Y'ALL CAN, Y'ALL CAN DO WHAT Y'ALL GOT GO. Y'ALL CAN DO WHAT Y'ALL DO AND I'M GONNA DO WHAT I DO. BUT I, I JUST THINK THAT, LISTEN, IF PEOPLE HAD TRUST THAT WE WERE GOING TO EXECUTE CITY SERVICES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, YES, BUT WE HAVE TO FRONT LOAD THAT OUT. WE HAVE TO WARM PEOPLE UP. WE GOTTA, THAT'S LIKE, YOU GOTTA RUN A WHOLE CIP PROGRAM ON A TAX RATE INDUSTRY. WE HAVE NOT VISITED 11 DISTRICTS TALKING ABOUT WHAT A TAX RATE INCREASE WOULD MEAN IN TERMS OF YOUR BOTTOM LINE IN TERMS OF CITY SERVICES. SO WE NEED TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL IN, IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF THAT. 'CAUSE I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I AIN'T GOT IT. I WORK FOR THE CITY. Y'ALL DON'T PAY US NO MONEY, OKAY? SO, UM, I CAN'T THANK YOU. I CAN'T, I'M JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA. YOU WON'T DO SOME, SOME INCREASES. YOU NEED TO INCREASE COUNSEL. BUT I, BUT, BUT IN ALL SERIOUS SERIOUSNESS, UM, I DO THINK LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING COOKING IN THE AIR AND WHATEVER'S COOKING, LET'S JUST BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT SO WE CAN DO, AT LEAST I CAN DO WHAT I NEED TO DO ON THE WEST SIDE TO COMMUNICATE WHAT THE REAL INTENTION IS, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS OR NOT. IF THE ADMINISTRATION'S FOR THIS ARE NOT, LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, CALL A THINK A THING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO PAINTING A PICTURE. THIS IS NOT AN NT P THAT WAS JUST PUT ON THE AGENDA WITH NO CONVERSATION. THIS IS NOT A METERED PARKING THAT WAS PUT [03:25:01] ON THE AGENDA WITH NO CONVERSATIONS. WE HAD A-A-B-F-A AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, 10 COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THE SAME ISSUE WAS AN ISSUE. SO IF YOU'RE NOT HAVING THAT CONVERSATION FOUR YEARS AGO AND YOU'RE NOT HAVING IT NOW, THAT'S ON YOU. YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR THE LAST, THE LAST THREE TO FOUR WEEKS. I'M GOING OUT TO THE CIVIC CLUBS. I'M GOING OUT TO CIVIC CLUBS AND LETTING HER KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. SO THIS IS NOT A NEW CONVERSATION. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S SURPRISING, FOLKS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT MY TRASH ISN'T GETTING PICKED UP ON TIME. IF WE'RE HERE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THEN LET'S BE RESPONSIBLE AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS TRANSPARENT, HONEST CONVERSATION WITH EVERYONE. THERE IS A, THERE'S GONNA BE A PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE SURE FOLK FOLKS SHOW UP TO IT AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT AROUND HERE. THANK YOU. WE, EVERY, EVERY TIME WE DO THE TAX RATE, HEY, WE'VE HAD OPEN CONVERSATIONS. LISTEN, WE HAVE NOT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO WILL BE, WAS CLEAR ON RECORD. MAYOR TURNER, DON'T INCREASE THAT TAX RATE. AND IF NOTHING ELSE, DON'T YOU INCREASE THAT TAX RATE. SO, AND LISTEN, WE HAD SIX OR SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS. MM-HMM. WE HAVE WINTER STORM BUREAU. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO LIKE, DON'T, BUT DON'T GET UP HERE. LIKE, WE OVER HERE JUST WAKING UP TO THE FACT OF, OH, WE HAVE DEBT TO PAY. LISTEN, WE JUST PASSED A $16 MILLION ITEM ON THE GENERAL FUND. NOBODY SAID NOTHING. THAT'S GENERAL FUND MONEY. WE DID $10,000 INCREASE. NO ONE SAID NOTHING. SO YOU, SO YOU WE SPEND IT, WE GOT $269 MILLION DEBT. NO, DON'T HIT THAT. GAVE NOW, UH, HIT THAT. I'M JUST TEST, I'M TESTING. I'M, I'M TESTING IT. I'M TESTING IT. I'M LET YOU MAKE IT. I'M GONNA LET YOU MAKE THIS WEEK. THANKS FOR COMING TO THE WEST SIDE. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. COULD I HAVE, COULD I HAVE EVERYBODY'S STITCH FOR A MOMENT? I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I WISH REVEREND WILLIAMS WAS HERE. I'D ASK HIM TO DO A CLOSING PRAYER AS WE DELIBERATE. IT WAS A PERSONAL LOSS FOR ME. HE'S BEEN A MENTOR OF MINE SINCE I WAS ABOUT 22. YOUNG STATE REPRESENTATIVE. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW HE CONSTANTLY WORKED ACROSS HOUSTON TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. CERTAINLY STARTING THE MINISTERS AGAINST CRIME. BUT HE WAS SUCH A CALMING EFFECT. AND I HAVE TO MAKE THIS PART OF HISTORY. IN 1968, AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING'S TRAGEDY KILLING COMMUNITIES ACROSS HOUSTON WERE OUTRAGED AS THEY WERE ACROSS THE NATION. WATTSBURG, HARLEM, CHICAGO. IT WAS REVEREND WILLIAMS AND REVEREND LAWSON AND OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT KEPT THE COMM IN HOUSTON. YES, WE HAD PROTESTS. TSU HAD A RIGHT. UH, I WAS ACTUALLY THAT SUMMER WORKING AT BEN TOP HOSPITAL AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. AND THEY LET US OUT EARLY AT THREE IN THE AFTERNOON IN ANTICIPATION OF VIOLENCE IN DOWLING AND UH, WHICH NOW ANTICIPATION STREET. SO WE JUST HAVE TO STOP AND PUT A FACE ON WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN MEANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. HE LITERALLY HELPED US TRANSITION TO A DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND WE DID IT PEACEFULLY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MY COMMENTS AT HIS SERVICE. IT WILL START ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10TH. THERE'LL BE A SERVICES AND RECOGNITION IN THE COMMUNITY AND AMONG MINISTERS ON THE 10TH, 11TH. AND THEN HIS SERVICE WILL BE ON SATURDAY THE 12TH, UH, CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT 10:00 AM AT THE GOD'S GRACE CHURCH. 99, 44 MONTGOMERY ROAD. PASTOR MATHIS IS SERVICE. SO I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHAT REALLY IMPORTANCE IN LIFE IS OUR RELATIONSHIPS, OUR FAMILY, AND GIVE PEOPLE THE CREDIT THAT HAVE MADE THIS A GREAT CITY. CERTAINLY IN REGARD TO CIVIL RIGHTS, REVEREND LAWSON, REVEREND WILLIAMS, OTHERS THAT WE COULD NAME, UH, MADE THE GREAT CITY WE, THAT WE ENJOY POSSIBLE WITH, WITH HIS PEACEFUL A TRANSITION. YOU KNOW, I COULD GO ON AND TALK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED US. LENORA PULLMAN, OFFICER PULLMAN, WHO JOINED THE FORCE IN THE SEVENTIES. WE HAD NO BLACK OFFICERS IN 81. WHEN LEE BROWN CAME TO HOUSTON, GETTING THE N WORD OFF OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AT HPD WAS THE FIRST THING HE ADDRESSED. [03:30:01] SO LEE BROWN, I CAN NAME OTHERS, HAVE REALLY MADE THIS A GREAT CITY. SPECIFICALLY FM WILLIAMS, REBECCA, HIS GRANDDAUGHTER, WORKS IN THE ADMINISTRATION, I HOPE WILL SAY SOMETHING TO HER CONSOLE, HER AND THE FAMILY AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S A PERSONAL LOSS FOR ME. AND HE TO THIS DAY, MOTIVATES ME TO DO THE JOB I'M DOING BECAUSE I KNEW HE HAD HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE. AND IT MADE ME A BETTER STATE REP, STATE SENATOR, AND CERTAINLY A BETTER MAYOR. SO I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE IN HIS HONOR AND ASK EVERYONE TO BE RESPECTFUL IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR REVEREND WILLIAMS. THANK YOU. AMEN. THANK Y'ALL. * 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.