* 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. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:06] FOR A PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. UM, TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING, UM, MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK. SO JUDGE MARSHALL AND ANYONE ELSE FROM COURTS YOU CAN COME UP. HI, JUDGE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WHEREAS MUNICIPAL COURTS PROVIDE, PROVIDE CITIZENS OF TEXAS WITH A LOCAL FORUM WHERE QUESTIONS CAN, CONCERNING LAW AND FACTS CAN BE RESOLVED REGARDING ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF STATE LAW AND MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES. AND WHEREAS THE MISSION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT IS TO PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE LEGAL PLATFORM THAT ENSURES COURT MATTERS ARE ADDRESSED FAIRLY AND EFFICIENTLY, WHILE UPHOLDING HIGH STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. MCD SERVES AS THE LOCAL JUSTICE CENTER RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING CITY OF HOUSTON ORDINANCES FINE ONLY STATE OFFENSES AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BEYOND FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATIONS MANDATED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. MCD IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A POSITIVE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF TEXAS, OF THE TEXAS JUDICIAL SYSTEM WITHIN A POPULATION EXCEEDING 4.7 MILLION IN THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY REGION. MCD ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN OUTREACH INITIATIVES AIMED AT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT SAFETY, HOSTING EVENTS SUCH AS MINI COURT CLINICS AND COURT TOURS, AND COLLABORATING WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE AWARENESS DURING ALCOHOL AND DISTRACTED DRIVING MONTH. NOTABLY, ONE OF MCDS MOST IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES IS THE TEAM COURT PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 15 MEMBERS AND HAS SINCE EXPANDED TO PROUDLY ACCOMMODATE 118 STUDENTS FOR THE 2024 TO 2025 PROGRAM YEAR. AND WHEREAS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER, MCD HAS OVER 300 EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDE JUDGES, CLERKS, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, PROSECUTORS, JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS, BAILIFFS AND WARRANT OFFICERS. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO IMPROVE COURT OPERATIONS BY PARTICIPATING IN JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THEIR STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. AND WHEREAS FROM NOVEMBER 4TH TO NOVEMBER 8TH, 2024, THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS ITS, ITS COMMENDATION TO ALL INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE'S MUNICIPAL COURTS, AND ENCOURAGE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND UM, I'M GLAD I MADE IT. THANK YOU, . 'CAUSE Y'ALL DEFINITELY DESERVE THE RECOGNITION. IT'S A VERY TOUGH JOB. UH, WE COULDN'T BE THE CITY WE ARE WITHOUT YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 4TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH. 2024 IS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU, JUDGE MARSHALL. THANK Y'ALL. DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? JUST WANTED TO JUST THANK ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO COULDN'T BE HERE WITH ME. THEY CONTINUOUSLY EVERY DAY SHOW UP AND DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO GIVE THE PERFECT CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT'S NECESSARY FOR ALL THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. SO, YAY, TEAM. THANKS AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND MAYOR FOR THE PROCLAMATION. UH, JUDGE MARSHALL, JUST WANT TO ALWAYS CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. UH, WE KNOW THAT, UH, THE MUNICIPAL COURTS IS A, UH, SOMETIMES A CHALLENGING ATMOSPHERE AND, UH, YOU ALL DO A GREAT JOB OF SERVING THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICE IS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR A PROCLAMATION TO JEFFREY LEWIS FOR REPRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT THE 2024 SUMMER [00:05:01] OLYMPICS. HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD. YOU? WHAT'S GOING ON? OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT, IF I COULD HAVE SUPERINTENDENT MAYS JOIN ME, SUPERINTENDENT OF ALE, ISD. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND I, UH, HAVE THE HONOR OF BOTH REPRESENTING ALE AND, UH, SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, UH, TODAY FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. SO ON HER BEHALF, I'M BRINGING IT FORWARD. I READ THIS PROCLAMATION EARLIER AND IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THAT WITH EVERYONE. JEFFREY BBOY, JEFF ROW LEWIS. WHEREAS JEFFREY B BOY, JEFF ROW LEWIS, A NATIVE OF ALE HOUSTON, DISCOVERED THE ART OF BREAK DANCING AT THE AGE OF 12, DILIGENTLY PURSUING HIS PASSION WHILE PRIORITIZING EDUCATION AND HONORING THE VALUES OF HARD WORK AND ACHIEVEMENT INSTILLED BY HIS HAITIAN FAMILY. AND WHEREAS AFTER COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL AND EARNING A COLLEGE DEGREE WITH HONORS, JEFF ROW EMBRACED HIS DREAM EMERGING AS A WORLD RENOWNED BREAKER, WHOSE STYLE REFLECTS THE RICH CULTURAL TAPESTRY OF HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS JEFF ROW HAS REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES AS A MEMBER OF THE INAUGURAL OLYMPIC BREAKING TEAM, GARNERING INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM THROUGH NUMEROUS ACCOLADES, INCLUDING A GOLD MEDAL AT THE FISE MONTPELIER WORLD FINALS, AND BREAKING FOR GOLD IN MONTREAL, AS WELL AS A SILVER MEDAL AT BOTH THE PAN-AMERICAN GAMES AND THE WORLD GAMES, THEREFORE, SOLIDIFYING HIS POSITION AMONG THE TOP FIVE BREAKERS GLOBALLY. AND WHEREAS JEFF ROSE'S COMMITMENT EXTENDS BEYOND THE DANCE FLOOR, HE ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTES TO COMMUNITY THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS REVISION HOUSTON, EMBODYING THE HIP HOP PHILOSOPHY OF EACH ONE, TEACH ONE BY PROVIDING CRITICAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS JEFF ROSE'S INNOVATIVE STYLE, WHICH BLENDS ELEMENTS OF HIP HOP, SALSA, MERENGUE, AND BTA SHOWCASES HIS CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, HIS ADVOCACY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE INCLUSION OF BREAKING IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES. AND WHEREAS JEFF ROSE'S LEGACY CONTINUES TO FLOURISH AS THE FIRST BREAKER INDUCTED INTO THE HIP HOP HALL OF FAME, SERVING AS AN INSPIRATION TO ASPIRING ARTISTS AS A PROUD AMBASSADOR OF THE ALE COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, COMMENDS AND CONGRATULATES, JEFFREY BBOY, JEFF ROW LEWIS ON HIS EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTENDS ITS BEST WISHES FOR HIS CONTINUED SUCCESS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING B BOY A AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO COUNCIL TODAY. UH, I'M GONNA MAKE EXCEPTION TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER STATE THAT HE AND COUNCILMAN THOMAS REPRESENTING LEY I'M PRETTY PROUD OF REPRESENTING LEY , ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN ALCORN PLUMBER, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. UH, WHO AM I LEAVING OUT? RAMIREZ. SO EVERYBODY WANTS TO CLAIM AILEY AND WE WANT TO CLAIM YOU AS HOUSTON PROUD. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, REPRESENTATION YOU'VE GIVEN US, AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 29TH, 2024, IS B BOY JEFFERY DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S, UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS PROCLAMATION. UH, EVERYTHING I'VE DONE HAS BEEN PAVED BY THE GENERATION BEFORE ME. AND THIS, MY CITY, MY FAMILY, MY PARENTS, THEY'VE INSTILLED SOME OF THE GREATEST QUALITIES THAT I'VE, I'VE I'VE HAD AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE TO OTHERS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST VERY PROUD OF ONE, MY PARENTS, MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, WHO'S ALL BEHIND ME. 'CAUSE, BECAUSE WITHOUT ALL OF THEM, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE WHERE I'M AT TODAY. SO, UH, SO I WANNA GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MY FAMILY. UH, THANK YOU. CITY HOUSTON, I'M A PRODUCT OF MY CITY. UH, ALL THE CULTURAL, UH, TIES, THE COMMUNITIES, THE DIVERSE, UH, JUST CULTURES IN HOUSTON IS, IS WHAT BILLED ME. SO I JUST THANK YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR, FOR LETTING ME HAVE THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU [00:10:02] AGAIN. AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF AILEY FIVE TY, WE BRING A LOT OF PRIDE AND BEING ABLE TO STAND HERE WITH YOU, UH, AND CELEBRATE, LIKE YOU SAID, THE MELTING POT THAT WE HAVE IN ALE. AGAIN, WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW PROUD WE ARE OF YOU, UH, AND ALL THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED, NOT JUST FOR AILEY, BUT LIKE, UH, MAYOR WHITMAN, I JUST SAID FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING BACK ON SATURDAY AT A EAF PROUD AND SHOWING US SOME OF YOUR MOVES COME. YES, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I DID WANNA, I DID WANNA TELL YOU, I MEAN, ATHLETES DREAM ABOUT GOING TO THE OLYMPICS AND TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM ALEY FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON STANDING HERE THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT US AT THE OLYMPICS IS INCREDIBLE. I MEAN, HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU PRACTICE BREAKING, THINKING ABOUT HOW ATHLETES TRAIN TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS, HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU PRACTICE BREAKING? YEAH, IT'S NONSTOP. IT'S A LIFESTYLE, REALLY. SO, UH, FROM THE MINDSET, THE PHYSICAL TRAINING, IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU GOTTA EMBODY FROM THE START. SO THERE'S REALLY NO START TO FINISH. IT'S JUST, IT'S A LIFESTYLE. NONSTOP TRAINING, NON NONSTOP BEING CREATIVE AND, AND JUST PUTTING YOUR ALL, YOU'RE ALL OUT THERE. SO THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT BREAKING WAS INTRODUCED TO THE OLYMPICS, RIGHT? YEAH, IT'S THE FIRST TIME. SO I SAW A COUPLE OF LITTLE SEGMENTS OF THE BREAKING, SO THERE WAS KIND OF LIKE A BATTLE. SOMEBODY DID A BREAK DANCE AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE HAD TO COME AND KIND OF RESPOND BACK WITH THE BREAK DANCE. SO YOU'VE GOTTA BE IN INCREDIBLE SHAPE TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND, UH, QUICKLY THINK ABOUT THOSE MOVES. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US SO WELL IN SUCH A UNIQUE CATEGORY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. BEST WISHES TO YOU NICE'S MAYOR PRO TIMM CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO LISC TO CELEBRATE 35 YEARS OF BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON. WHAT THE, I'M GETTING THERE. GOT YOU. GOT IT. HEY, HOW Y'ALL THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROTE. TODAY I AM PLEASED TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. WE ARE JOINED BY LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LAURA HAMER AND THE LISC TEAM FOR PROCLAMATION THAT CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF LISC BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024, LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATIONS, LISC WILL HOST AN ANNIVERSARY EVENT COMMEMORATING 35 YEARS OF FOSTERING [00:15:01] SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS LISC FOSTERS RESILIENT AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES IN COLLABORATION WITH RESIDENTS AND PARTNERS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIVING, WORKING, VISITING, CONDUCTING BUSINESS AND RAISING FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS LISC CHAMPIONS VARIOUS PACE BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS TO FOSTER TARGETED INVESTMENTS AND SUPPORT THAT ENHANCES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLANNING AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. WHEREAS LIS ADDRESSES THE FULL SPECTRUM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS THROUGH A RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PER UH, PRESERVATION, ACCESS TO HOME OWNERSHIP, AND DISASTER RECOVERY. REHABILITATION LISC PROVIDES LOANS, LINES OF CREDIT, RECOVERABLE GRANTS AND EQUITY INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT HOUSING PROJECTS REACH COMPLETION. AND WHEREAS SINCE 1989, LISC HAS INVESTED $592 MILLION, LEVERAGING AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 BILLION RESULTING IN THE CREATION OF OVER 11,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES AND 2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY SPACES IN HOUSTON. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, COMMENDS AND CONGRATULATE LISC ON ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. MAYOR, THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROAM, CAST TATUM, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024 IS THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. YOU DEFINITELY GO ABOUT MAKING HOUSTON A GREAT CITY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN I SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY? YES, ABSOLUTELY. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YES, WE ARE A 30 5-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION. WE'RE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. WE'RE A NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. UM, SO AS PART OF THAT, WE HAVE OTHER RESOURCES OTHER THAN OUR LOCAL ONES, BUT 35 YEARS OF IT HERE IN HOUSTON, THANKS TO THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE CREATED. AND ALTHOUGH WE'RE 35 YEARS, WE'RE BASICALLY A NEW TEAM HERE IN HOUSTON. UM, BUT WE ARE RETHINKING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE HAD GOING ON FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS. WE'RE, WE'VE GOT A GREAT FOUNDATION AND A GREAT NEW TEAM THAT THIS WORK COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT ALL OF THEM. SO THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AS WELL. AND I INVITE YOU TO OUR 35TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON NOVEMBER 6TH. GO OUT AND VOTE ON THE FIFTH AND COME OUT ON THE SIXTH TO, UH, LARA ON EAST RIVER NINE. UM, WE WELCOME YOU ALL THERE TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, VICE PRO. UH, LAURA, CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LISC. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, KANSAS TATUM, AND OF COURSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR BRINGING, BRINGING YOU ALL HERE TO CELEBRATE 35 YEARS. UM, PRIOR TO TAKING OFFICE, WE, I KNOW I HAD MET WITH LIS SEVERAL TIMES, AND A, A BIG PUSH WAS TO COME INTO THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA EAST END. UM, WE, SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD AT LEAST A FEW MEETINGS, TWO OR THREE MEETINGS, LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, SPECIFICALLY IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 35 YEARS IN THE EAST END, UH, AND THEN MOVING INTO THE HOBBY AREA AS WELL. SO, , CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICE. IS MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON DYNAMO TO CELEBRATE DYNAMO DAY. THANK YOU. NOW, THE EXCITING PART OF MY DAY. OH, COME ON. YES, WE HAVE SPECIAL GUEST, SPECIAL DIESEL. YES, HE'S HERE. YES, SIR. , YOU CAN, YOU CAN TAKE MY ROLE. , HOW ARE YOU? HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE YOU. YOU GONNA READ THAT BABY CRYING? LISTEN, TODAY IS DYNAMO DAY. ACTUALLY, WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE THEM THIS COMING FRIDAY BECAUSE WE WANT TO BUILD SOME ENTHUSIASM AND MOMENTUM AND A WINNING ATTITUDE FOR THE PLAYOFF GAME SUNDAY AT SHELL STADIUM. SO THE DYNAMO, [00:20:02] UH, BRINGS US TOGETHER AND, UH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE THEY PLAY THEIR GAMES. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND EVEN IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD CUP, THEY'RE GONNA BE OUR FULL-TIME PARTNERS WELCOMING THE TEAMS, AND, UH, BRINGING HOUSTON TOGETHER PROCLAMATION POINTS OUT HOW SPECIAL THEY ARE TO INTRODUCING SOCCER TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. HAVING FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL MANY YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INTRODUCTION TO SOCCER THAT OUR, UH, HIGH SCHOOL AND, UH, EVEN SMALL, UH, TODDLERS ARE INTRODUCED TO NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING SOCCER TO HOUSTON AND THE SOUTHWEST. AND, UM, I'M GONNA YIELD YOU IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST I WANT TO CONCLUDE THIS PROCLAMATION THAT THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER ONE, FRIDAY, 2024 IS DYNAMO DAY IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO WEAR ORANGE THAT DAY AND REMIND EVERYONE TO GET THEIR TICKETS AND GO EARLY. AND THANK YOU FOR THE TOWELS. UH, THE HORSESHOE LOOKS VERY, UH, ATTRACTIVE TODAY, SO THANK YOU. OF COURSE. NO, AND I, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND WE GOT DIESEL HERE. WE GOT DIESEL HERE. THAT'S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU ALL. UM, WE ARE ARE BULLISH ON THE DATA MOON, THE GROWTH OF SOCCER AT SHELL ENERGY STADIUM, JUST DOWN THE STREET. IT'S A, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GAME. IT'S THE WORLD'S GAME THAT SPEAKS ALL LANGUAGES. AND THIS IS BACK TO BACK PLAYOFF APPEARANCES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 YEARS FOR THE HOUSTON DYNAMO. SO WE WANNA MAKE HOUSTON PROUD SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD. WE'RE HOME AT SHELL ENERGY STADIUM. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. THANKS AGAIN, MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER, UH, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO TO LEAD US IN PRAYER. THANK YOU, [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] MAYOR. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP, UH, PASTOR GEORGE CARIO TO THE PODIUM. UM, IN 2019, UH, GEORGE AND HIS WIFE TOOK A BOLD STEP IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND FOUNDED VIIV CHURCH IN HOUSTON. UM, A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE CHURCH THAT SERVES IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT H AT THE, UH, MD ANDERSON, YMCA ON CAVALCADE AND, AND HAVE MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND, AND THE COMMUNITY. AND, UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS TO PRAY OVER OUR CITY TODAY. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR TODAY. GOD, WE THANK YOU IN THESE MOMENTS THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER. AND GOD, WE BELIEVE THAT YOU PROVIDE WISDOM, STRENGTH, UNDERSTANDING. GOD, WE BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE THE ANSWER TO EVERY PROBLEM THAT IS, THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IN THIS CITY, IN OUR STATE AND NATION, LORD, THAT WE CAN LEAN TOWARD TO YOU, LORD, BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR SAVIOR. YOU ARE OUR LORD. AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH TODAY. WE PRAISE YOU TODAY IN THIS PLACE. GOD, IN THIS CITY COUNCIL, GOD, WE PRAY OVER OUR, OUR MAYOR. WE PRAY OVER OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, GRANT THEM THE WISDOM AND FAVOR IN ORDER TO HELP PROVIDE FOR THIS CITY, AND TO MAKE THIS CITY A CITY ON A HILL. AS MATTHEW FIVE 14 SAYS, LET IT BE A LIGHT TO THE WORLD THAT IN THIS CITY, LET IT BE KNOWN, NOT NOT FOR CRIME, NOT FOR ANYTHING ELSE, LORD, BUT LET IT BE KNOWN AS A CITY OF REFUGE, A CITY OF HOPE, A CITY WHERE PEOPLE, UH, CAN LIVE THEIR LIVES, LORD, IN FREEDOM AND, AND UNDERSTAND, AND, AND, AND KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD AS WELL IN THIS CITY. LET THIS BE A CITY OF GRACE, A CITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN, AGAIN, FIND THE LOVE. LORD GOD, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THIS CITY. CONTINUE GROWING AND PROSPERING THIS CITY, LORD, IN THIS ULOUS TIME, LORD, RIGHT [00:25:01] NOW, AS WE'RE ONE WEEK AWAY FROM PIVOTAL ELECTIONS IN THIS NATION, STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, LORD, WE PRAY, LORD FOR FAVOR. LORD, WE PRAY FOR GOD WISDOM IN ALL THINGS GOD, WE THANK YOU, LORD FOR THIS DAY. GOD, I ASK OF YOU, LORD, IN THIS CITY, CONTINUE BLESSING AND PUTTING YOUR HAND ON THIS PLACE. AND YOUR NAME IN THE, IN THE NAME OF OUR SON OF YOUR SON, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WE PRAY. AMEN AND AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. UH, PLEASE STAND TILL PLEDGE I OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC NATION INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. DRAW IAM. MADAM SECRETARY, YOU [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PECK HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MC KAMAN COUNCILOR, EVER ADVISOR WILL BE ASKED. COUNCIL FLICKINGER HERE. COUNCIL THOMAS WILL BE ASKED. COUNCIL HUFFMAN COUNCIL. COUNCIL CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. MARTINEZ. I'M SORRY. MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. CONSTABLE DAVIS, CONST CARTER WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE PLUMMER HERE AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JUNE 4TH AND FIFTH. JUNE 11TH AND 12TH. JUNE 18TH, JUNE 25TH, AND 26TH. JULY 10TH. JULY 16TH AND 17. JULY 23RD AND 24TH. AND JULY 30TH AND 31ST. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES, AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. MAYOR, RECOGNIZE COUNSEL. MAYOR PROM, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ANNABEL RIOS TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA MOTION PASSES. NEXT WOULD BE, UH, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] NO ONE. THAT'S ALL. FIRST, FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE. ANNABELLE RIOS. HELLO. YES, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ANNABELL AND I PROBABLY REPRESENT THE, THE HOUSTON SINGAPORE INDEPENDENT LIVING, WHICH IS A NON-PROFIT OREGON ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR THE NEEDS AND RIGHTS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PROVIDING THE RIGHT AND CHOICES TO BECOME IN, TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND FULLY INCLUDED IN SOCIETY. AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AND JUST LIKE HCIL, JUST LIKE THE HOUSTON CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING METRO LIVE HAS ALSO BEEN AROUND ABOUT THE SAME TIME. AND THAT'S HOW I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK ON A DAILY BASIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, STRUGGLING WITH THE ISSUES OF LATENESS. I HAVE TO GET UP AND TO COOK IN THE MORNING, BE READY BY FIVE 30 TO ENSURE THAT I MAKE KIDS TO WORK BY EIGHT O'CLOCK, IF NOT EARLIER. AND THAT'S HAS BEEN MY SCHEDULE FOR THE LAST 20 YEAR. AND SO ME BEING THE, UM, PROMPTED INDIVIDUAL THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, I DON'T LIKE TO BE LATE AND I'M, I ALWAYS TRY TO BE ON TIME AT WORK, BUT TODAY I AM COMMITTED TO BRINGING THIS, THESE ISSUES UP BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE METRO LIFT HAS IMPROVED OVER THE 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A WRITER [00:30:01] FOR THAT SERVICE, AND THERE'S STILL IS, THERE'S STILL ISSUES ON THE TABLE THAT WE HAVE TO BRING BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY, MOSTLY EVERYBODY HERE TODAY HAS RENT THE RENT IN THEIR CAR TO COME HERE AND TO GET TO WORK TO WHEREVER THEY THEY NEED TO GO. BUT WITH US, WE HAVE TO LIKE, GET UP IN THE MORNING, MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME, AND IN THE EVENING IT'S THE SAME THING. WE HAVE TO, WE GET OUT AT FIVE, WE DO, AND WE SOMETIMES WAIT TILL LIKE THEY COME TO US, GET US INTO ABOUT SIX, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE TRAFFIC AND RUSH HOUR AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND AGAIN, YES, MY TRUTH HAS IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE I REMEMBER, UH, WHEN I STARTED RIDING THE WAVE PERIOD WAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THREE HOURS TO THE MAX. I REMEMBER I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE AND I WOULD HAVE TO SIT IN THE DARK WAITING FOR THE RIDE TO GET THROUGH. NOW IT'S A SMOOTH KIND OF DEAL, BUT NOW I LEARNED TO MANAGE THE SYSTEM A LITTLE BETTER, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S, IT IS STILL THESE CONSTANT, UH, ISSUES ABOUT LATE PICK UP OR A TWIRLING OF ARRIVAL. EITHER GET THERE TOO LATE OR TWIRLING IF YOU SCHEDULE A RIDE TO BE THERE FOR EIGHT O'CLOCK SOMETIME, THEY WON'T GET YOU THERE TOO EARLY. DON'T, MY URGE IS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO, I WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO GET TO KNOW ME BECAUSE NOW IT'S THE TIME TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON THESE S AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE S ARE LOOKED IN A WAY THAT IT IS, IN A WAY THAT IT IS TALKED ABOUT IN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE DISABILITY DISABILITIES SYSTEM, WHERE WE SEE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE RIGHT MOTHERS FOR DISABILITIES. YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THERE'S INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY COUNCIL WITH DISABILITIES, BUT WE NEED TO SEE MORE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT AFFECT US AS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IT'S ONLY WHEN WE WILL BEGIN TO WORK, WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT BE AFRAID TO SAY AND TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES. AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER, COMING, COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS AS A COMMUNITY. BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE PROBABLY THINKING, WELL, THERE'S, THERE'S THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. NO, BUT WE DON'T WANNA BE INCLUDED, EXCLUDED TO ALTERNATIVE, UH, SECTOR OR BE SEEN AS SOMETHING SPECIAL. WE WANNA BE PART OF A TABLE WORLD AND COLLECTIVE POWER IN MAKING DECISIONS AS A COLLECTIVE C COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, WE ARE WHAT I COME TO YOU BEFORE YOU TO URGE THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS COLLABORATIVE IS GOING TO TAKE TIME AND CHANGE IS NOT EASILY HAPPEN. AND IT MAY NOT HAPPEN BEFORE MY LIFETIME, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE AS CITIZENS DESERVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. YES, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS. YOU SEE ALL THESE BEATING BUSES, ALL THE NEW BUSES BEING PLACED, ALL THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE PUTTING PLACE INTO ACCESS. BUT MORE ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE PUT IN COLLABORATIVE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF, OF DRIVERS SO THAT THEY HAVE SENSIBILITY TRAINING ON HOW TO TREAT FEED WITH, FEED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND SO THEY CAN LEARN THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT A [00:35:01] COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER. ONLY THEN WHAT WE WILL BE LIVING MS. RIOS ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY, MS. RIOS, LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY MIDDLE NAME IS COLLABORATION. OKAY? YES. YOU CAN JUST START CALLING ME COLLABORATIVE RIGHT? WITH YOU. YES. AND I SPEAK FOR THIS COUNCIL. I TALK, I WANT YOU TO LEAVE HERE KNOWING YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE, OKAY? BECAUSE YOU WENT USE YOUR TIME AND YOUR COLLEAGUES' TIME. UH, YOU'RE GONNA BE REAL IMPRESSED WITH THE NEXT MEMBER OF METRO. WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE PERSON NEXT WEEK. IN FACT, I'LL, I'LL GET YOU TO CALL, CALL ME AND TELL ME WHAT A GREAT APPOINTMENT. YEAH. BECAUSE I WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN TRULY REPRESENT THE DISABLED COMMUNITY. DEFINITELY NO NONSENSE. GET THE JOB DONE. IF YOU HAVE THE, UH, TIME AND MOTIVATION TO BE HERE, IT'S GONNA WORK. YES. AND WE HAVE IMPROVED THINGS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. YES. WE HAVE A NEW METRO BOARD LEADERSHIP. YES, NO NONSENSE. THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT YOUR SCHEDULE AND MAKE PLANS ACCORDING TO YOUR PLANS. I'M GONNA TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT, LOOK FORWARD TO IT. IN FACT, I'D ALMOST SAY COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND LET'S ALL BE CELEBRATING THE NEXT APPOINTMENT BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A STRONG, EXPERIENCED VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU REPRESENT TODAY. SO, LIKE I SAID, I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO BE HERE NEXT WEEK, BUT WE'LL BE IN CONTACT DEFINITELY. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW, I KNOW. IT'S A, IT TAKES COURAGE AND TIME TO GET DOWN HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR FRIENDS AND, AND THE FELLOW RESIDENTS. SO LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. MS. RIOS, I WANNA, UH, AS WELL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, TAKING THE TIME TO COME DOWN HERE TO SPEAK WITH US. UH, YOUR VOICE DOES MATTER. HEARING YOUR TESTIMONY MAKES THINGS VERY REAL FOR US, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HEAR YOU AND WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE BEHIND YOU. UH, I KNOW YOU REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION, UH, COLLECTIVELY, IF YOU ALL CAN EMAIL US ABOUT SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE FACING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF, UH, TO THE METRO BOARD, UH, I'M SURE WE WILL TAKE THAT UP AND MAKE IT A PRIORITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. UM, AND WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN, UH, TO TRY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS WITH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES. GOD BLESS YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. MISS RIEL, I, WHERE DO YOU WORK? I'M FASCINATED THAT I WORK AT THE HOUSTON CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING COALITION FREE LIVING. OKAY. OKAY. VERY NICE. VERY NICE. THANK YOU. AND STAY IN TOUCH. WE'LL BE IN BACK, WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH NEXT. DOMINIC WALSH. EXCUSE ME. DOMINIC, MAY, I'M IN THE, IN THE CHAMBERS. ONE THING, UH, MAYOR, YOUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS ARE DOING SOMETHING. THEY'RE ACTUALLY WRITING. I HAVE PROOF OF IT ON THIS PHONE RIGHT HERE COMING THROUGH. SO I'M GONNA CHANGE NOW TO, WHAT I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT IS LAST FALL WE VOTED FOR PROP B, WHICH CALLED FOR A REORGANIZATION OF HOW THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL OF TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, REDONE ACCORDING, I THINK BY POPULATION VERSUS BY JUST, UH, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE A ENTITY AND IT HASN'T BEEN DONE. AND MY CONCERN IS, OKAY, THERE MIGHT BE A GOOD REASON, THERE MIGHT BE A LAW SOMEWHERE YOU CAN'T DO THIS OR A, OR A COURT ORDER OR WHATEVER. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT NOW. AND IF, IF THAT CAN BE EXPLAINED TO ME, I CAN ACCEPT THAT I'M AN ADULT, I CAN ACCEPT IT. OKAY. BUT MY THING IS, I'M A BARBARA JORDAN TYPE CONSTITUTIONALIST, I BELIEVE IN OUR CONSTITUTION. AND MY THING IS ONE OF THE RE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHTS THAT THAT DOCUMENT AND THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION GIVES US, IT'S THE RIGHT TO VOTE. AND I HAVE ALREADY VOTED. SO, UH, AND I, AND ANOTHER THING IS PRESENTING GRIEVANCES BEFORE COUNSEL, LIKE COUNSEL LIKE THIS, AND I DO JURY DUTY. MY THING IS [00:40:02] NO GOVERNMENT AGENCY, UNLESS IT'S A, IT'S VIOLATES A COURT ORDER OR A LAW OR A CONSTITUTION, CAN, I'LL TAKE IT. CAN, YOU KNOW, SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, THE VOTE IS VOTED ON THIS, BUT NOW WE GOTTA HOLD OFF. WE CAN'T DO THIS. MY THING ON THIS IS, UNLESS IT'S A GOOD REASON, NOW IF IT'S A GOOD REASON, I CAN, I CAN, I CAN DEAL WITH THAT. OKAY. SO MY, MY THING IS THOUGH, WHEN PEOPLE REALIZE, OR START THINKING, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS PAST THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH PEOPLE ARE THE CITY, AND NOW IT'S NOT BEING APPLIED, PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAY, WELL, WHY SHOULD I TAKE 15 MINUTES OR AN HOUR TO GO VOTE? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, UH, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE JUDGMENTAL HERE, BUT MAYOR ME, MAYBE THERE IS A GOOD REASON. SO, UH, AGAIN, I DON'T MIND DISCUSSING THINGS. THAT'S FINE. ANOTHER THING, TOO, I AM HAPPY THAT YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THE, THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS MOBILITY ISSUES. I'VE BEEN ON METRO'S CASE ON THAT FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS. AND, UH, WE'VE MISSED SOMEBODY WITH DR. FRIED, UH, TIMING OUT. SO IF YOU GOT SOMEBODY THAT'S, IF HIS CALIBER COMING IN, I'M FOR IT. BUT THAT I HAVE NO OVERCOME AND SENDING IT BACK TO YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. COUNCILMAN POLL. COUNCILMAN POTTER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND DOMINIC, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND FOR YOU BEING HERE, I I TAGGED THAT ITEM LAST WEEK BECAUSE I WANTED MORE CLARIFICATION ON, UH, WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF US NOT, UM, APPROVING THE MEMBERSHIP DUES TO SERVE AND BE A PART OF HGAC. UH, WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT, UH, IT WOULD TAKE A VOTE OF 75% OF THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP AND APPROVAL FROM THE GOVERNOR TO LEGALLY, UH, DISBAND FROM HG. UH, BUT MY BELIEF IS SINCE THE VOTERS VOTED ON HAVING A MORE PROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION AROUND THAT COUNCIL, AND THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE'S BEEN NO MOVEMENT OR ACTION, UH, TO, UM, FURTHER THAT, UH, WHICH IS A PART OF NOW OUR CITY CHARTER THAN THE ONLY I, I GUESS, AVENUE WE HAVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS TO VOTE AGAINST THE MEMBERSHIP DUES TO AT LEAST SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE HEAR YOU, WE UNDERSTAND, UH, THE ISSUE AND THE CONCERN. WE VALUE YOUR VOTE. AND IF THAT'S OUR ONLY RECOURSE, THEN LET'S DO IT. AND IF WE STILL ARE A PART OF HGAC REGARDLESS, THEN AT LEAST IT SHOWS THE PUBLIC, UH, THAT WE'RE ON THEIR SIDE AND THAT THEIR VOTE MATTERS. AND SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THAT ITEM TOMORROW BECAUSE I DO THINK WE SHOULD AS A CITY, UH, UPHOLD THE VOTE THAT HAS COME FROM THE PEOPLE. AND IF WE'RE GONNA BE A PART OF HA REGARDLESS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE LAW IS WRITTEN, THEN THIS IS OUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST SHOW SOME LEVERAGE AND AT LEAST SOME, UH, FEEDBACK TO THE PUBLIC ON HOW WE FEEL AND HOW THEY VOTED. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S HIGHLY IMPORTANT 'CAUSE I GO TO THOSE, UH, TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNSELING, ASK SALLY. SO THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. AND I HAVE TWO PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD YOLANDA ANDRE TO THE END OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LISTS TO FOLLOW HAR SINGH SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. JACKSON. COUNCILOR JACKSON. COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JOSEPH BOLLARD UP TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NONE AGENDA, THIS HUFFMAN SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT, ROBIN ZER. HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBIN HOLZER AND I'VE LIVED A BLOCK FROM MONTROSE BOULEVARD FOR 25 YEARS. FIRST A STORY. MY PARENTS' HOUSE, THE HOME I GREW UP IN FLOODED DURING HURRICANE IKE AND LIKE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, WE HAD TO STOP AND DROP EVERYTHING TO CLEAN UP. MY FAMILY WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT WE HAD INSURANCE AND WE WERE ABLE TO REBUILD. LIVING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION IS NEVER [00:45:01] EASY. THE ONE IDEA THAT KEEPS YOU GOING IS THE SURE TRUST THAT WE WILL GET BACK SOMETHING BETTER THAN WE STARTED WITH. DESIGN IS REGULATED. MY FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT SR VALUES FOR HVAC OR PEX MANIFOLDS FOR PLUMBING OR MINIMUM GUIDELINES FOR GAS VENTS, OR HOW MANY AMPS THE ELECTRICAL PANEL COULD HANDLE SAFELY. DESIGN STANDARDS IN THE FORM OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE AND OUR PERMITTING PROCESS ENSURE THAT OUR HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS WILL BE SAFER AFTER WE REBUILD. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR STREET DESIGN. ENGINEERS ARE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WHO HOLD THE PUBLIC TRUST. MODERN STREET ENGINEERS UNDERSTAND HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN WAYS THEIR PREDECESSORS SIMPLY DID NOT. NOW, IT WOULD BE EASY AND HELPFUL IF ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE ALREADY UNDERSTOOD THAT OUR PUBLIC STREET RIGHTS OF WAY ARE LIMITED. THAT CITY LEADERS MUST MAKE THE BEST USE OF THIS SPACE WE CAN. AND THAT RIGHT SIZING TRAVEL LANES IS A STRATEGIC DECISION THAT BENEFITS ALL HOUSTONIANS. WHETHER YOU CARE MOST ABOUT TREES OR FLOODING OR SAFETY FROM TRAFFIC CRASHES OR THE VITALITY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES OVER MORE THAN TWO YEARS, MONTROSE RESIDENTS SHAPED THE A HUNDRED PERCENT DESIGN FOR A MONTROSE BOULEVARD BUILT FOR OUR FUTURE TO CAPTURE ALL OF THOSE BENEFITS AND MORE, NOT WITH 12 FOOT LANES, BUT WITH 11. THANK YOU. THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A STREET FOR OUR FUTURE. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU MUST GET THIS DECISION RIGHT. PLEASE BUILD THE MONTROSE SAFE STREET WITH 11 FOOT LANES. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. NEXT, TELL A BALLOT. GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MS. JACKSON. TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY AND I HAD TO COME DOWN HERE TO A RASH OUT A LITTLE BIT. TURN 60 TODAY. UH, MAYOR, WE STILL OUT THERE IN HUMBLE AND WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING CITY SERVICES 'CAUSE THEY GET US CONFUSED THINKING WE'RE IN HUMBLE. WE PAY CITY TAXES. MM-HMM . WE PAY CITY UTILITIES, WE PAY CITY EVERYTHING. OUR COMMUNITY BEEN THERE SINCE 1978. UH, OF COURSE THEY DONE BUILD UP AROUND US. WE AT THE DEAD END AND EVERYBODY JUST BLOCKS US OUT. WE HAVE THE CHURCH UP ON THE CORNER WHEN THEY HAVE WHATEVER THEY HAVE ON, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN DAYS ON SUNDAYS OR SPECIAL OCCASIONS, THEY BLOCKS THE WHOLE STREET. EVEN THE TURNAROUNDS, THEY BLOCK THEM OUT. SO PEOPLE HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND TURN AROUND JUST TO GET INTO THE CHURCH. SO WHEN WE COMING OUT, WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS COMING OUT, WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR HOURS FOR THEM TO GET INTO THE CHURCH. SO WE HAVE HHPD OFFICERS OUT THERE WITH BAD ATTITUDES, UH, TELLING US IT'S A STATE LAW THAT THEY CAN BLOCK THE STREET. THEY PARK ACROSS THE STREET. THEY GOT A NEW TRUCK STOP UP THERE WHERE THEY PARK, PARK ACROSS THE STREET. THE TRUCK STOP. AND THEY WALKED FROM, FROM THEIR PARKING LOT TO THE TRUCK STOP TO GET IN THEIR CARS. SO THEY GOT THE BLOCK. WE GOT TO WAIT UNTIL THE, THEY LET OUR CHURCH TWO, TWO, UH, SERMONS OR WHATEVER. WE HAVE TO WAIT. UH, MY COMMUNITY, I'M, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION. WE, WE GOT A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD, 240 HOUSES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WE HAVE NO, NO CRIME, NO POLICE ACTIVITY FOR CALLING JUST, JUST TODAY. THEY HAD EMERGENCY, UH, UH, THE ELDERLY LADY, THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET IN BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS AT THE DEAD END. GOT THE WHOLE STREET BLOCKED. THEY GOT, THEY GOT HALL STREET AND THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD GO THROUGH HALL STREET. HALL STREET IS A DEAD END. SO THEY HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK AROUND THE FREEWAY JUST TO GET BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FIRE STATION 19 HAD TO COME OUT THERE. FIRE STATION 19, IT WAS IN FIFTH WARD, HAD TO COME TO BLE BECAUSE THAT AMBULANCE COULDN'T GET IN. I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW, WE STILL OUT THERE AND UH, EXCUSE ME TO INTERRUPT, YOU HAVE AN BLE ADDRESS, BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EXACTLY. OKAY. AND WE JUST BEEN FORGOT. AND, AND SOMETIMES I GO TO PIP MEETINGS [00:50:01] AND, YOU KNOW, COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND HALF OF THOSE OFFICERS OUT THERE DON'T EVEN KNOW WE BACK THERE. THAT'S HOW QUIET IT IS. WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. 90% OF THE KIDS THAT GREW UP SINCE I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, THE 30 YEARS I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, HAVE WENT TO THE MILITARY. THAT'S JUST HOW QUIET AND PEACEFUL AND RESPECTFUL OUR COMMUNITY IS. WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, I, I WEARS HER OUT AND SHE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DUMPING, UH, THE TRASH, EVERYTHING. SHE EVEN GOING TO GONNA SEND US SOME STUFF OUT. WE CLEAN OUR, WE CLEAN OUR OWN STUFF UP, BUT SHE GONNA SEND SOME STUFF OUT WHERE WE CAN CLEAN, YOU KNOW, TRASH BAGS, PICK UP STUFF, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THAT WE GOT TO DO. AND, AND WE SPEND THE COMMUNITY MONEY TO KEEP THE STREET. YOU KNOW, YOU GOT DIRT PILE UP WHERE IT COME OUT, WHERE THEY COME OUT THIS TRUCK'S TRUCK PLACE AT THE END TO PILE UP OVER THE CURB. IT RUNS OVER THE SIGNS, IT RUNS OVER OUR FLOWER BEDS. WE GOTTA PAY TO FIX THAT UP. WE DON'T CALL AN EXTRA CITY FOR TO DO MUCH OUT THERE 'CAUSE WE PRETTY MUCH DO IT OURSELVES. BUT IT'S A TIME NOW, MAN. IT, IT IS. SOMETHING GOT TO, YOU KNOW, WE STILL OUT THERE, WE GOT SOMETHING GOT TO BE DONE. YOU KNOW, THE TRUCKS BLOCK THE, THE AT THE DEAD END RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THEY BLOCKS THE WHOLE STREET. THE CHURCH IS DISRESPECTFUL. AND I HAD THIS, THIS, THIS HPD OFFICER TOLD ME HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANT TO DO 'CAUSE HE'S CERTIFIED TO STOP THE TRAFFIC. AND IT'S A STATE LAW, BUT IT'S NOT A WALKWAY FROM FROM DRIVEWAY TO DRIVEWAY TO GET IN. THEY CARS NOT A WALKWAY. AND YOU, WHEN WHEN OUR COMMUNITY TRYING TO GO TO CHURCH OR DO THEY SUNDAY CHORES OR WHATEVER THEY GOTTA DO WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEY GOT TO WAIT 'CAUSE THEY GOT THE WHOLE STREET BLOCKED. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT. SO I NEED, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON GONNA DO FOR US OUT THERE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU MR. BALLARD FOR JUST YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR, UM, YOUR RESIDENT, YOUR COMMUNITY, UM, IN THE AMBO AREA. UM, MAYOR, ONE OF THE ISSUES IS BECAUSE THIS AREA IS NX IN AND HAS MIXED SERVICES, UM, THE CITY SERVICES AND THE COUNTY SERVICES. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH TWO AGENCIES, EVERYBODY'S POINTING A FINGER AT EACH OTHER OR IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU CALL SOMEONE OUT, UM, IT'S HARD TO GET A RESPONSE, BUT I KNOW WE'VE SENT THE HOT TEAM OUT THERE, UM, MANY TIMES. YEP. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SIGNS PUT UP, NO PARKING SIGNS PUT UP FOR THE, UM, 18 WHEELERS THAT BASICALLY TAKE UP THE TR STREET. UM, AS FAR AS THE CHURCH, I'M JUST HEARING ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH. UM, I GUESS SINCE IT STARTED BACK UP AND IT'S MORE POPULAR, YOU HAVE MORE, UM, CHURCH DOORS NOW. AND SO I MEAN, WHAT I CAN DO IS AS YOU CALL US, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET IN CONTACT WITH HPD AND WITH AS AGAIN, WITH THE DUMPING. UM, I SAID I WAS GONNA GET YOU THE TOOLS FROM THE TOOL BANK PARTNERING WITH YOU TO DO SOME CLEANING UP AROUND THERE. BUT THAT'S BASICALLY, UH, WHAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING TO SUPPORT THIS ISSUE. AND SO I GUESS WE'RE GONNA NEED TO LEAN MORE ON THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, TO RAMP IT UP. YEAH. I HATE TO KEEP LEANING ON YOU BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU NOT, YOU'RE NOT THE CLEANUP TRASH LADY. NO, I, WHAT I LIKE, I'M THE TRASH LADY. , AND, AND WE TRY TO DO WHAT WE, WHAT WE CAN DO WITH, WITH, WITH OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE CAN'T KEEP SPENDING COMMUNITY MONEY. THAT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY TO, TO, TO KEEP RANKING CLEAN OR KEEP THE TRUCKS FROM BLOCKING THE STREET OR KEEP THE CHURCH FROM, YOU KNOW, WELL, HEY, THIS IS A CHURCH. OKAY, THIS IS A COMMUNITY. WE BEEN, WE WAS HERE BEFORE THE CHURCH WAS THERE. MM-HMM . SO HE, HE'S KIND OF DISRESPECTFUL AND WE TRIED TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH HIM. YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANNA DO IT ON THE ZOOM. WE WANNA MEET YOU IN PERSON. WE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. YEAH. WE DON'T WANNA DO NOTHING IN ZOOM. WELL, MAYBE WE CAN GET THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO REACH OUT TO THE PASTOR OF THAT CHURCH AND SEE IF WE CAN GET AN IN-PERSON MEETING WITH PASTOR. YEAH, I'M TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. YEAH. SO THAT'S ALL. ARE WE GONNA GET, WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH COUNCILMAN JACKSON, SEE WHAT RESOURCES WE CAN BRING TO IT, BECAUSE I, I CAN'T KEEP COMING TO, YOU KNOW, TO ADDRESS THE SAME ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND. FRUSTRATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT, PATRICK DROOP, SR. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMEYER, CITY CONTROLLER, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS JUSTIN SCHRAMM AND I PREVIOUSLY APPEARED IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON AUGUST THE 20TH, 2024, REGARDING MAINTENANCE ISSUES AT A [00:55:01] NEIGHBORING ADDRESS, WHICH I HAD BEEN PURSUING REMEDY SINCE AUGUST OF 2023. FAR TOO MANY TIMES CITIZENS APPEAR BEFORE THIS CITY COUNCIL TO VOICE ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS WHILE REQUESTING THE ASSISTANCE OF YOU, OUR CITY'S LEADERS. SOME ITEMS MAY OBTAIN PROMPT RESOLUTION, WHILE OTHERS MAY REQUIRE A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THEY ARE ADDRESSED. YOU WOMEN AND MEN RECEIVE MANY COMPLAINTS WITH ONLY A LIMITED AMOUNT OF THANKS IN RETURN. THEREFORE, BECAUSE I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE AN EARLY SPEAKER ON TODAY'S AGENDA, I HOPE TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE TONE FOR THIS MEETING. THUS, MY APPEARANCE BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON WILL NOT BE A REPETITION OF MY PREVIOUS SPEECH REQUESTING INTERVENTION. INSTEAD, I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL REMEDIATION OF THE NOTED DEFICIENCIES IN A POSITION OF HIERARCHY. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION OF COUNCIL EDWARD POLLARD, THE FIRST COUNCILMAN. YOU'RE LUCKY THAT I'M DOING THIS ON A POSITION OF HIERARCHY, BECAUSE IF IT WAS ALPHABETICAL, YOU'RE AT THE BOTTOM FOR HIS INTEREST AND FOCUS ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD SITUATION. HIS INVOLVEMENT HELPED TO SPUR THE ACTIONS OF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, WHICH CONCLUDED WORK EFFORTS IN THE COMPLETION OF NECESSARY TASKS. COUNCILMAN THE SHARPSTOWN COMMUNITY AND CONSTITUENTS ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION OF OUR DISTRICT. HOWEVER, MAYOR, I RESERVE THE STRONGEST ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FOR ONE OF YOUR ASSISTANCE. MR. DAVID ALEXANDER ELA FOR THIS LENGTHY INTERACTION. DAVID HAS BEEN THE POINT MAN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE OUT OUTSET AND WAS THE PRIMARY INTERFACE BETWEEN MYSELF, OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND BUSINESS ENTITIES. DAVID WAS IN FAILING, POLITE, CONSTANTLY INVOLVED, EXPRESSED CONCERN, AND A VERY CONSISTENT, TIMELY AND THOROUGH COMMUNICATOR. HE VISITED MY RESIDENTS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THIS ENDEAVOR. I REGARD MR. BOUE AS A HIGHLY VALUED MEMBER OF THE RESOLUTION TEAM. THERE ARE 12 POINTS OF THE BOY SCOUT LAW BY WHICH WE LIVE. A SCOUT IS TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL, HELPFUL, FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS, KIND, OBEDIENT, CHEERFUL, THRIFTY, BRAVE, CLEAN, AND REVERENT. IF DAVID WAS NOT A SCOUT, THEN PERHAPS HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, OR HE HAS EXEMPLIFIED ALL OF THESE QUALITIES DURING OUR INTERACTIONS. IN MY VIEW, HE HAS CERTAINLY EARNED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN OTHER COMPLEX AND SENSITIVE ISSUES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAY PRESENT TO HIM AS SHOWN IN THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 25, VERSE 21. HIS MASTER SAID TO HIM, WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A LITTLE. I WILL SET YOU OVER MUCH ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER. WE MEAN THAT IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH TALENTS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOWARDS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. PARDON? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY, COUNCILOR, AND WELL, IF YOU CAN SEE FROM MY, UH, NOTES, THERE ARE OTHERS I WISH TO THANK BESIDES HIM, BUT, UH, AND I WANTED IT TO BE A SURPRISE. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T GIVE A TITLE FOR MY MAINTENANCE ISSUES. COUNCIL MAYOR COUNCILMAN POLLARD. PROBABLY GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN POLLARD SHRIMP. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE OF MY TIME BEFORE I RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL TO FINISH UP YOUR, YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO, YOU COULD, YOU COULD TAKE A MINUTE OF MY TIME TO FINISH UP ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS THAT YOU HAVE, AND THEN I HAVE A COMMENT FOR YOU. OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO FINISH, PLEASE? SURE. OKAY, BECAUSE I, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE OTHERS THAT HAVE HELPED. UH, BEFORE I NOMINATE MR. BOUE AS THE NEXT MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE VERONICA HERANDEZ OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR INITIAL RELATIONS WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY POSITIVE, BUT OVER TIME AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS AND EMAILS, SHE MANAGED TO CORRAL THE PROBLEM UPGRADE INTERFACE AND CULMINATED AND PUTTING THE FINAL NAIL IN THE LID OF THESE OBSTACLES. HER SERVICE AND ABILITIES [01:00:01] WERE KEY IN COORDINATING AND COMMUNICATING THE EVENTUAL CLOSURE OF THE MULTIPLE FACETS OF THE MAINTENANCE CONCERNS. I'M INDEBTED TO HER FOR HER SERVICE. WHILE IRONING OUT THESE DIFFICULTIES, I WISH TO APOLOGIZE TO SHERRY STRONG, DIVISION MANAGER OF DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND SAL OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. SAL CALLED ON FRIDAY AND SHERRY CALLED ME YESTERDAY TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF THIS SPEECH. AND I DIDN'T RETURN ANY OF THEIR CALLS, BUT THAT WAS BY DESIGN, NOT A MISSION UNTIL I WANTED THIS THANK YOU TO BE A WELCOME SURPRISE INSTEAD OF A TREPIDATION IN THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT. I DID NOT WISH TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. IN CONCLUSION, I WISH TO THANK ALL OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON STAFFERS, PERSONNEL, AND OTHERS WHO HAD A HAND IN CONCLUDING THIS TRANSACTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THIS IMPORTANT MATTER, AND GOD BLESS YOU. WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR DILIGENCE ON THIS MATTER. I'M SURE, UH, DAVID IS WATCHING ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW. DAVID SERVES AS MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF IN OUR OFFICE, AND HE'S THE POINT PERSON FOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES AND DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT J. SO I'M GLAD THINGS WORKED OUT FOR YOU. CONTINUE TO LEAN ON MY OFFICE FOR, FOR ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE WORDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF NOT ONLY DAVID, BUT THE REST OF THE STAFF AS WELL. GOD BLESS YOU, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ELIZABETH TON. HI. UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BACK. OKAY. ORIGINALLY THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE PAPERWORK ON MY HOUSE. THEY PUT THE WRONG NAME ON IT, SO I DID NOT RECEIVE THE TWO YEAR NOTICE THAT I WAS TOLD THE STATE LAW HAS. AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY NEIGHBOR. HER HOUSE WAS KNOCKED DOWN WITHOUT HER BEING NOTIFIED. THEY SENT A NOTICE TO THE PREVIOUS HOUSE OWNER IN CALIFORNIA, AND HER HOUSE WAS KNOCKED DOWN. SHE'S A PHARMACIST. HER HOUSE WAS KNOCKED DOWN WITH HER FURNITURE AND EVERYTHING IN THERE. AND, UM, I, I WAS AT A CITY MEETING AUGUST 2ND OF LAST SUMMER, AND THERE WERE TWO PARTIES THERE WHOSE HOUSES WERE KNOCKED DOWN. AND THE CITY DID NOT TRY AND NOTIFY THEM AT ALL BEFORE THEIR HOUSES WERE KNOCKED DOWN. YOU KNOW, IF, IF I WOULD'VE RECEIVED A TWO YEAR NOTICE, YOU KNOW, I, THE HOUSE WOULD BE SOLD ALREADY AND I I WOULDN'T BE GONE AND THE HOUSE WOULD EITHER BE, WOULD ALREADY HAVE A NEW ROOF OR, OR BE KNOCKED DOWN. BUT THERE, THERE'S KIND OF A PATTERN FOR PEOPLE NOT RECEIVING PROPER NOTICE. UM, A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS AGO, MY DOCTOR SENT ME TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THE ER DOCTOR HAD TOLD ME THAT I'VE HAD THREE MINI STROKES SINCE THE SUMMER. IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ROOM IS SPIN AND STUFF LIKE THAT HAPPENS, SO I CANNOT REALLY DRIVE OVER TO MY HOUSE. IT'S, IT'S ALMOST 20 MILES AWAY. I HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER AND IT'S REALLY BEEN SLOWING MOVING DOWN FOR ME. UM, ALSO WHEN, WHEN I AM AT THE HOUSE MOVING, I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I'M OUTTA BREATH WITHIN 20 MINUTES. WHEN, WHEN I, I'VE BEEN MOVING IT, MOVING'S BEEN REALLY SLOW. I, I HAVE BEEN GETTING THINGS OUT OF THE HOUSE, BUT IT, IT'S BEEN GOING REALLY SLOW. THE CONTRACT I HAD WITH THE NEW HOME BUILDER, THEY CAME OUT, THEY DID A SURVEY, THEY DUG 30 FEET DOWN AND TOOK SOIL SAMPLES, AND THEN THEIR TITLE GAVE THEM THEIR TITLE COMPANY GAVE THEM THE WRONG INFORMATION. THEY SAID THAT NOTHING CAN BE BUILT THERE, WHICH ISN'T TRUE, AND THEY CANCELED THE CONTRACT. I I WENT ON TO ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR $35,000 LESS AND THEY, THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN THE EARNEST MONEY, SO I'M MOVING ON TO ANOTHER CONTRACT. UM, IT'S TAKING TIME. THEY'RE, THERE'S AN, I'VE RECEIVED OVER 30 OFFERS FOR THE HOUSE. THERE'S A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS OFFERED ME $50,000 LESS, BUT THERE'S, [01:05:01] THERE'S ABOUT LIKE THREE MORE, THREE OR FOUR MORE CONTRACTS IN BETWEEN THE ONES I'VE ALREADY SIGNED AND, AND HER, HER OFFER FOR, FOR $50,000 LESS. UM, YOU KNOW, IIII WOULD GO WITH THAT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED IF I HAVE TO. OH, OKAY. IF ANYTHING, IF, IF NONE OF THESE CONTRACTS WORK, WORK OUT, I FOUND A DEMOLITION COMPANY, THEY'LL DEMOLISH MY HOUSE FOR $6,500, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT THE CITY WOULD CHARGE ME. I, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DEMOLISH THE HOUSE IF NEED BE, RATHER THAN PAYING MORE THAN DOUBLE TO HAVE THE CITY HIRE SOMEONE. NO SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. PLEASE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. RIGHT? OKAY. YEAH, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE ME PUT IN THE PAPERWORK. THE, THE EXTENSION THAT THEY GAVE ME IS, IS UP. YOU KNOW, I, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR ANOTHER EXTENSION. OKAY. HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THE HOUSE WILL GET SOLD WITHIN THREE WEEKS AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE FINISHED MOVING BY THEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT BENJAMIN BROADWAY. WE HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD SARAH SAEED TO, UM, THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA UNDER RALPH KIRBY. VERY GOOD. MOTION MADE. SECOND. GIMME A SECOND. SECOND. CASTEX TITLE. MOTION. THANK YOU. MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES TO OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, BENJAMIN BROADWAY, ELIZABETH PETRI. HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LIZ PETRI. I WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON LEGAL DEPARTMENT CONTRACT SECTION, AND I AM THE CMC COORDINATOR FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. OCTOBER IS THE MONTH OF THE COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN, CMC, WHERE WE RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES IN HOUSTON. IT IS A GREAT HONOR THAT WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE CAN GIVE BACK TO THE LOCAL CHARITIES IN HOUSTON THIS YEAR. THE CHARITY WE PICKED IS AUTISM MOMS OF HOUSTON. THE ORGANIZATION WAS CREATED DURING THE PANDEMIC TO HELP MOTHERS AND THEIR ARTISTIC CHILDREN TO COPE WITH THE ISOLATION THEY CAME ABOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC. IT GREW QUICKLY FROM TWO PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK TO 5,000 MEMBERS. AS OF TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORTED OUR FUNDRAISERS WITH DONATIONS, AND THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS, RUSSO'S PIZZA LOCATED IN THE HEIGHTS AND ALSO IN MIDTOWN STARBUCKS COFFEE AND SUMMER WOOD SUBDIVISION, CHRISTIE'S COLCHIS AND DONUTS AT THE CORNER OF MONTROSE AND WEST DALLAS VILLAGE BARBECUE, LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN TUNNELS ACHE FACTORY. ALSO LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN TUNNELS, SOUTHERN MADE DONUTS. LAKESHORE IN ATAS. CASITA JOVI'S LOCATED I 45 AND LITTLE YORK ROAD AND SHIPLEY'S DONUTS LOCATED AT 59 AND CROSS TIMBERS. AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, ESPECIALLY THESE TWO YOUNG LADIES END UP , UH, SAN JUANNA LIMOS AND ANGEL VASQUEZ, WHO GRACIOUSLY VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE ON THE TASK OF ORGANIZING ALL THE FUNDRAISERS FOR LEGAL. IF WE COULD GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEIR SUPPORT, WE'D GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT, NICK COOPER. GOOD AFTERNOON. AT THE END OF SOUTH AFRICAN APARTHEID, THERE WAS A QUESTION OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO HAD PERPETRATED THIS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. AND A BEAUTIFUL AND CREATIVE SOLUTION WAS BORN, UH, TO GENIUSES FROM GENIUSES LIKE NELSON MANDELA AND ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU. [01:10:01] IT WAS CALLED TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION. THOSE WHO WERE GUILTY OF THESE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY WOULD NOT BE IMPRISONED AND WOULDN'T FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF THEY METICULOUSLY AND OPENLY DETAILED ALL OF THE CRIMES THAT THEY HAD COMMITTED. THE RULE OF LAW WOULD EFFECTIVELY BE SET ASIDE SO THAT HEALING COULD BEGIN. THIS WAS THE TYPE OF OPTION THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OPEN TO ISRAEL WHEN ITS CRIMES OF APARTHEID AND ETHNIC CLEANSING WERE PERHAPS STILL FORGIVABLE BY ITS VICTIMS. THEN AFTER OCTOBER 7TH, ISRAEL INSTITUTED AN OFFICIAL AND UNEQUIVOCAL POLICY OF GENOCIDE. THEY DECIDED TO CUT OFF FOOD AND WATER AND USING THEM AS WEAPONS OF WAR AGAINST A CIVILIAN POPULATION. AND THEY SPOKE OPENLY, COMPARING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF GAZA TO TERRORISTS AND ANIMALS. GENOCIDE IS THE CRIME OF CRIMES. AND IT, ALONG WITH THE RALLYING CRY OF NEVER AGAIN WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER THE HOLOCAUST BY SURVIVORS AND OTHERS. THEY ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL BURDEN THAT WAS PUT ONTO ALL JEWISH PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY. ALTHOUGH WARS WOULD CONTINUE, GENOCIDE WOULD NOT, THE GENOCIDE CONVENTION CONSTITUTED THE HIGHEST LAW. IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW, THEN YOU HAVE TO AFFIRM THAT THE CRIME OF CRIMES ISN'T REWARDED BY THE END OF THE YEAR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A TINY CHANGE TO THE CITY'S INVESTMENT POLICY REGARDING ISRAELI BONDS, TO SIGNIFY THAT HOUSTON WILL NOT BE COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE. RIGHT NOW, ISRAELI BOND PURCHASES ARE STILL AUTHORIZED. NOTHING IS STOPPING THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE FROM BUYING THEM. SO IT'S UP TO Y'ALL TO CHANGE THE INVESTMENT POLICY TO AFFIRM THAT HOUSTON STANDS FOR NEVER AGAIN, AND THAT HOUSTON STANDS AGAINST GENOCIDE. I'M A CYNICAL PERSON, BUT I NEVER IMAGINED THAT JEWISH AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF FINANCIALLY AND MILITARILY SUPPORTING AN ACTIVE GENOCIDE. THERE IS NO EXCUSE THAT ISRAEL IS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE. THERE'S NO SELF-DEFENSE EXEMPTION TO THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE. THERE'S NO EXCUSE OF SAYING WE DIDN'T KNOW. THE IMAGES OF STARVATION AND DEVASTATION ARE EASY TO FIND. VIDEOS OF ISRAELI POLITICIANS AND MEDIA FIGURES CALLING FOR THE DEATH OF ALL GOINS ARE EASY TO FIND. INTERVIEWS OF DOCTORS AFFIRMING THAT CHILDREN WERE INTENTIONALLY TARGETED BY SNIPERS WITH HEAD SHOTS ARE EASY TO FIND. INTERVIEW TO WITNESSES OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND JOURNALISTS BEING ROUNDED UP ARE EASY TO FIND VIDEOS OF PATIENTS BURNING IN THEIR HOSPITAL BEDS. EASY TO FIND. DON'T TELL ME LATER. WE DIDN'T KNOW, WE DIDN'T REALIZE. YOU KNOW, NOW TIME HAS EXPIRED. X OH, COUNCILOR POLLARD HAD A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE LEE PERRY BE THE NEXT SPEAKER ON THE AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND CAST. NEXT ITEM. MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. LEE PERRY. YES. UH, MY NAME IS LEE PERRY. I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN, 73 YEARS OLD, BUT I'M ALSO A US VETERAN. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS A VETERAN WAS I WAS THE ONLY SOLDIER PICKED IN 1974 WHEN THEY PASSED THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT TO BE THE TESTER, TO TEST THE QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER IN THE TOP 10 MOST POPULAR CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. HOUSTON WAS ONE OF THEM. I WAS THAT SOLDIER. I'M THE ONE THAT DID THE TEST AT PEACH CREEK, CANYON CREEK AND LAKE HOUSTON, AND SENT SAMPLES IN TO THE, UH, EPA OFFICE AND FOR IN THE LABORATORY. AND FOR A WHOLE YEAR I DID THAT. AND AS A SOLDIER, THAT WAS THE, I GUESS THAT'S MOST THE BEST THING I CAN REMEMBER. I DID A LOT. I STAYED IN SIX YEARS, BUT THAT JUST HELPING MY COMMUNITY, HOUSTON. AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AROUND. I RAN INTO A BAD TIME JUST RECENTLY THERE. I, UH, HAD SOURCE INCOME. OIL AND GAS IS TIED UP IN COURT RIGHT NOW. I WAS LIVING IN A, SUPPOSEDLY A VA FACILITY AND I HAD TWO SOURCES OF INCOME. NOW I ONLY HAVE ONE, WHICH IS MY SOCIAL SECURITY. AND, UH, I TOLD THEM I CANNOT AFFORD IT ANYMORE. AND IF YOU RELEASE ME, I HAD OTHER PLACES THAT WOULD LET ME GO. THEY WOULDN'T RELEASE ME. A LADY CAME TO ME AND SAID, WELL, LOOK, UH, WE DIDN'T CHECK YOU IN HERE AS A HOMELESS VETERAN. [01:15:01] WE CHECKED YOU IN HERE AS A HOMELESS PERSON. HOW YOU CHECKING ME IN AS A HOMELESS PERSON? I'VE BEEN A VETERAN EVER SINCE. I'VE BEEN, UH, GOT RELEASED BACK IN 1976. IN 74. I'M THE ONE, THE FIRST PERSON TO TEST THE QUALITY OF, UH, OF DRINKING WATER HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I, I LIKED, I LIKED MY CITY. I'VE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME. SO WHEN I RAN INTO THAT HARD TIME, INSTEAD OF THEM, UH, FILING IN COURT TO HAVE ME EVICTED, I CAME IN AND THEY CHANGED THE LOCKS. AND, UH, I COULDN'T GO IN. THEY WOULDN'T LET ME GO IN. THEY, UH, SENT TWO TWO SECURITY GUARDS OVER THERE TO PUT ALL MY STUFF OUT. AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD GOTTEN EVICTED. NOW, I STOOD THERE, THEY THREW ALL MY STUFF OUT. THEY THREW MY MATTRESSES FROM THE THIRD FLOOR ON THE GROUND. I HAD TO PICK EVERYTHING UP AND PUT ON MY CAR AND TAKE IT AWAY. NOW I STILL ONLY GET SOCIAL SECURITY. MY BIG CHECK THAT WAS OIL AND GAS IS TIED UP IN THAT FEDERAL COURT RIGHT OVER THERE. THAT'S RIGHT. A SCAM. BUT I'LL GET THAT. I, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT. I, I WILL GET THAT. BUT I WAS SCAMMED OUT OF MY OIL AND GAS CHECK. I'LL GET IT BACK. AND ALL I WAS ASKING FOR WAS FOR THEM TO LET ME GO TO ANOTHER PLACE. I WENT TO FIVE PLACES, 55 AND OVER, AND EACH ONE OF 'EM SAID, IF YOU BRING ME A VOUCHER, WE'LL LET YOU IN TOMORROW. NOW, OUTTA THOSE FIVE PLACES, THEY STILL CALLED ME ASKING ME, BECAUSE SEE THE RENT BE LOWER THAN EIGHT 50 A MONTH IF I DON'T CLEAR. BUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH ON SOCIAL SECURITY, HOW YOU THINK I'M GONNA PAY YOU EIGHT 50 OUTTA THAT EVERY MONTH YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO ANYWAY, I GOT KNOCKED OUT AND, UH, THEY LOCKED ME OUT AND THEY DID NOT GO TO COURT. I WENT TO THE COURTS AND ASKED HIM, DID YOU HAVE, DID THEY HAVE ME EVICTED? THE COURT SAID NO. SO THEY CHANGED MY LOCKS, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. BUT RIGHT NOW, UH, I'M IN THAT POSITION OF VA, UH, JUST TALKED WITH HER LADY. SHE SAID THEY GONNA TRY TO FIND ME A FACILITY THAT I CAN STAY IN, BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW, HOW DOES THIS HOUSING PROGRAM WORK FOR VETERANS? I'M A VETERAN RIGHT NOW. I'M ABOUT THE VA HOSPITAL I JUST CAME FROM NOW, BEFORE I CAME HERE, I WAS A VETERAN. WHEN I TESTED THE DRINKING WATER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE VERY FIRST PERSON, THAT'S THE MOST THING. I'M MORE PROUD ABOUT THAT THAN ANYTHING ELSE I DID WHILE I WAS IN THE MILITARY. I CAN SAY I AM THAT SOLDIER THAT DID THAT, BUT FOR ME TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS, NOW I'M 73 YEARS OLD, I HAD TO PICK UP ALL THAT STUFF ON MY OWN AND PUT IT ON MY CAR AND HAUL IT AWAY. AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN GO TO COURT TO DO IT. BUT ANYWAY, UH, I TALKED TO A LADY HERE, UH, THAT HELPS VETERANS, AND I THINK WE HAVE, IT KINDA WORKED OUT, BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL MY STORY AND WHAT, AND IF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AROUND HERE TREAT VETERANS LIKE THIS. WELL, WE GOT A PROBLEM. WE GOT A PROBLEM. I, I, I KNOW HOW MUCH I GET EVERY MONTH, BUT I CAN'T PAY ALL OF IT. I STILL HAVE TO EAT OR SOMETHING. AND YOU GOT, YOU JUST LOCKED ME OUT AND THREW MY STUFF FROM THE THIRD FLOOR. I'M STANDING THERE AND I GOTTA PICK IT UP. YES, SIR. LEMME HAVE, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S IT. JUST A MOMENT. COUNCILMAN PAUL? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MR. PERRY, FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. OKAY. I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR THE TREATMENT THAT YOU RECEIVED. YEAH. UM, UM, YOU DESERVE BETTER AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO LET US KNOW AND NOTIFY US OF WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. UH, WE'RE SYMPATHETIC TO THAT. MM-HMM . AND WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP YOU. MAYOR. UH, AS HE STATED, HE'S A HOMELESS VETERAN, AND I THINK WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE HOMELESS VETERANS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE PROPER HOUSING. I SPOKE WITH DR. JONES IN YOUR, YOUR OFFICE, MAYOR, AND SHE SEEMS TO BE ON TOP OF THIS ISSUE. AND MY OFFICE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH HER AS WELL TO SEE HOW WE CAN ALSO ASSIST. BUT WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN, UH, FOR YOU TO GET ADEQUATE HOUSING AND TO ENSURE YOU HAVE, UH, ENOUGH RESOURCES TO WHERE YOU'RE NOT SPENDING YOUR ENTIRE CHECK OKAY. ON, ON JUST THE RENT. SO, OKAY. WE WILL WORK WITH YOU, UH, YEAH. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING MM-HMM . UH, TO LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU. RIGHT. AND WE WILL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. OKAY. AND BEING THE FIRST TO TEST THE DRINKING WATER, UH, THAT'S SERIOUS, MAN. I GOT MY LETTER RIGHT HERE, THOUGH, YOU KNOW? THAT'S YEAH, I BET YOU DO THAT. THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN ALL MY METAL I GOT WHILE I WAS IN THERE. YES, SIR. THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM THE EPA. WHEN THEY PULL PAST THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT, THEY ONLY PICK ONE PERSON FOR EACH MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR 12 MONTHS. [01:20:01] YES, SIR. I'M THE ONE WHO WENT TO PEACH CREEK, CANDY CREEK AND LAKE HOUSTON TO GET TO AND SEND THAT, ALL THOSE SAMPLES TO THE EPA TO TEST TO SEE HOW SAFE OUR WATER WAS. AND HERE'S THE LETTER RIGHT HERE. WELL, WE, WE THANK YOU MR. PERRY. AND, AND, AND HEY. I, I, I'M PROUD OF THAT. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT AND, UH, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU. OKAY? OKAY. GOD BLESS. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILOR MAYOR, COACH JIM CAS SIX TATUM. MR. PERRY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US. UM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. UH, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UM, WE, WE DO, UM, DESER YOU DO DESERVE FOR US TO, UM, PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE GOOD THING IS THAT YOU DID COME HERE AND YOU DID MEET DR. JONES. YEAH. UH, WE, I'M SO CONFIDENT IN HER ABILITY TO HELP, UM, GET THIS RESOLVED FOR YOU. UH, SHE IS INCREDIBLE. ALONG WITH, UM, DIRECTOR DEBO IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, UH, THEY DO HAVE A PLETHORA OF RESOURCES TO HELP, UH, VETERANS. OKAY. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE YOU A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN, UM, A DEBT MM-HMM . UM, OF SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY. AND IT'S THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HELP TO IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE, UM, YOU HAVE BETTER TREATMENT AND WE CAN HELP WITH YOUR CONCERNS THAT YOU SHARE WITH US TODAY. OKAY. BEST WISHES TO YOU. OKAY. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND MR. PERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I, I, I, I, AGAIN, WITH MY COLLEAGUES, APOLOGIZE FOR THE TREATMENT THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED. WERE YOU ON A VOUCHER BEFORE? UH, I, WHAT WERE YOU, WERE YOU ON A VOUCHER BEFORE WITH HIS NO, NO. I, I WAS ALWAYS AN INDEPENDENT PERSON. I NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING. OKAY. I, I, I MEAN, IT JUST, I'M JUST IN THAT SITUATION RIGHT NOW. MY MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME IS TIED UP IN COURT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. I, I THE CHECK THAT I NORMALLY GET, BUT I DON'T GET ANYMORE. SO NOW I'M ONLY GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND IF I'M GETTING EIGHT 50, AND, UH, I ONLY CLEAR USUALLY ABOUT NINE BECAUSE I ALWAYS OWE SOMETHING. I, I CAN'T MAKE THAT. YEAH. NO, NO, WE UNDERSTAND. DR. JONES WILL DEFINITELY TAKE CARE OF YOU. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT REALITY. YEAH. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU. AND IF YOU'LL TALK DR. JONES BY THE DOOR, SHE'S GOING TO ASSIST YOU EVERYWHERE. POPS THIS LADY RIGHT HERE. OKAY. THE VETERANS AFFAIRS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. NEXT. GEORGE LEBLANC. JOCELYN BABIN, NICOLE NEWTON. I, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS IN MICROPHONE. I'M SORRY, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? MY VOICE IS LOUD SO I DON'T WANNA SCARE EVERYBODY. SO, UH, I'M A THIRD MEMBER, A THIRD GENERATION PROPERTY OWNER, AS WELL AS PROPERTY INVESTOR AND BUSINESS OWNER AND DISTRICT H, SPECIFICALLY ZIP CODE 7 7 0 9 3. I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THAT MY HEAVY TRASH HASN'T BEEN COLLECTED SINCE AUGUST. AS I'VE DRIVEN AROUND OTHER AREAS AND IN CLOSE TO THIS DISTRICT, I'VE NOTICED THEY'VE RECEIVED CER CITY SERVICES OF TRASH COLLECTION. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, MR. MICHAEL FAIR, UM, HE'S THE SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, ACTUALLY MET WITH ME TODAY AND ASSURED ME THAT MY HEAVY TRASH WILL BE COLLECTED ON TOMORROW. THE ONE CONSISTENT ABOUT HEAVY TRASH IN THAT AREA IS THAT IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY INCONSISTENT. IT'S SCHEDULED FOR THE SECOND FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S COLLECTED ON THE THIRD SATURDAY. FOURTH TUESDAY ARE SKIPPED ALTOGETHER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THESE INCONSISTENCIES HAPPENED PRIOR TO ANY STORM. ALSO, I REPORTED MY CAR BEING BEING STOLEN LAST THURSDAY AT 5:34 PM AN OFFICER DIDN'T COME OUT TO OR CONTACT ME UNTIL 12:30 AM. UM, SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK HOW CAN WE RECEIVE THESE BASIC CITY SERVICES IN THIS DISTRICT? COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, NICOLE, FOR BEING DOWN HERE. UM, I KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING THIS IS WHEN YOU'RE SITTING THERE EVERY DAY AND DAYS GO BY AND THE TRASH JUST DOESN'T GET PICKED UP. AND THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT. UM, I DO WANT MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE [01:25:01] TODAY, UH, SOMEBODY FROM MY STAFF IS GONNA COME UP AND VISIT WITH YOU SO THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF MY INFORMATION AND HOW TO GET AHOLD OF THE OFFICE BECAUSE, UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES, UH, TO HELP GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP A HOT TEAM TO GO OUT AND ADDRESS THESE THINGS THAT ARE CHRONIC OR THAT ARE LINGERING FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, BECAUSE IT DOES IMPACT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S QUALITY OF LIFE DIRECTLY. AND, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S A PRIORITY, SO WE'RE WORKING ON WAYS TO GET IT ADDRESSED. YOU KNOW, ON THE CITY SIDE, WE'VE GOT SOME STUDIES THAT ARE GOING ON, EFFICIENCY STUDIES TO HELP US LONG TERM. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHILE THOSE THINGS WORK OUT, I WANNA WORK WITH YOU ON THE SHORT TERM SO THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH TIME AND TIME AGAIN. EXACTLY. AND I DO ATTEND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING. SO I DID SPEAK WITH CELIA CECILIA. CELIA. CELIA, OKAY. SO, YEAH, SHE'S AWARE. I, I SPOKE WITH HER BRIEFLY LAST THURSDAY ABOUT IT. SO SHE IS AWARE OF, UM, MARIAH FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DID REACH OUT TO ME ON FRIDAY, UM, BECAUSE OF THE MEETING AND SAID THAT SHE HAD REACHED OUT TO, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHY MR. FAIR CAME OUT AND SPOKE WITH ME TODAY. WELL, WE, WE WILL, WE WILL HELP WHERE WE CAN. AND, AND I KNOW THIS IS ONE THING THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN COMMUNICATION WITH SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT ABOUT, AND, UH, DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. UM, SO I, I, CELIA WAS THERE TO COVER. I DO WANNA MAKE SURE YOU MEET MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR. SO HE'S GONNA COME UP AND VISIT WITH YOU. THIS IS WHAT HE, YOU KNOW, HANDLES DAY TO DAY. OKAY. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. BYE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, NATASHA JOHNSON. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE MAYOR, TO ALL THE COUNCILMEN. MY NAME'S NATASHA JOHNSON. I'M FROM INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS. THE BEST PLACE IT IS TO LIVE RIGHT NOW. WE ARE PREPARING FOR, UM, ANNUAL FIREFIGHTERS, IS OUR 20TH EVENT WE GIVE BACK. WE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO. THEY'RE OUR HEROES. SO WE HAVE EXACTLY SEVEN FIRE STATIONS THAT WILL JOIN WITH US ON TOMORROW FROM SIX TO EIGHT. THE ADDRESS IS 2 2 2 WEST CROSS TIMBERS. THAT'S THE STATION 31. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD OUR MAYOR TO SUPPORT US. HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US. HE'S BEEN THE BEST SUPPORT WHEN WE HAD THIS EVENT. AND I THINK HE'S BEEN WITH US ALMOST EVERY EVENT WE HAD. AND THIS IS OUR 20TH. AND SO WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING ALL THE COUNCILMEN THAT WE CAN HAVE. WE'RE EVEN GONNA HAVE 67. THAT'S FROM MAKERS HOME. WE HAVE INVITED THEM. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM ALSO. AND WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR COUNCILMAN WHO IS SUPPORTING US IN THIS EVENT. AND WE WISH EACH ONE OF YOU WOULD COME OUT AND JOIN US. THANKS. COUNCIL CASTILLO. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, NATASHA, FOR BEING DOWN HERE, UM, AND PROMOTING A FANTASTIC EVENT. UM, I'M PROUD TO, TO BE SUPPORTING Y'ALL IN THIS. UM, IT'S THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY. YES, IT'S A MILESTONE CELEBRATION. Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING A, A LOT OF GOOD, AND IT'S A GREAT CAUSE. UM, AND I THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE EFFORT TO COME DOWN HERE AND, UH, TO INVITE EVERYBODY ELSE TO BE THERE. PLEASE. AND PLEASE REMEMBER, WE'RE SERVING DINNER. EVERYTHING'S FREE. JUST COME OUT AND ENJOY YOUR EVENING WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MS. JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND WOULD YOU TELL JOHN BRANCH I SAID HELLO? AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'LL DEFINITELY BE THERE TO CHECK ON JOHN. UH, MAYOR, YOU ARE AWARE THAT, UH, JOHN AND I HAVE PUT THIS ON FOR 20 YEARS. I KNOW YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS GONNA BE OUR LAST ONE. AND JOHN IS FIGHTING STAGE FOUR CANCER. I UNDERSTAND. AND, UH, TELL HIM HE'S IN OUR PRAYERS. I WAS GONNA BE THERE, BUT I HIGHLIGHTED IT ON MY SCHEDULE BECAUSE I WANNA HOLD HIS HAND AND LET HIM KNOW WE APPRECIATE HIM AND ARE PRAYING FOR HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, BERNARD MCBRIDE. LAUREN SWEENEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I APPEAR TO BE ON THE LIST TWICE. DOES THAT MEAN I GET TWICE AS MUCH TIME? NO, I SCRATCHED IT OFF ALREADY. OKAY. JUST THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK. [01:30:01] . UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON PUBLIC RECORD AS A TAXPAYER, WHICH IS TO SAY SHAREHOLDER IN THIS CITY'S BUDGET. AS A SHAREHOLDER, I DO NOT APPROVE OF ANY INVESTMENTS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, RATHER THAN OUR OWN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEOPLE, IT IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF IMAGINATION THAT UP TO $10 MILLION CAN BE INVESTED IN A FOREIGN ENTITY WITHOUT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT. YOU WHO SIT ON THIS COUNCIL ARE OUR TRUSTEES OF OUR MONEY AND ALLEGEDLY REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE A LEGAL AND CIVIC OBLIGATION TO OUR WILL AND I, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T APPROVE A LINE ITEM OF GENOCIDE. THIS IS NOT OUR WILL, AND NO AMOUNT OF SMEARING US WITH UNDOCUMENTED CLAIMS OF IRANIAN BACKING WILL SILENCE US. YOU REPRESENT US, NOT ISRAEL, AND WE DEMAND DIVESTMENT. I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON MY TAX PAYING WATCH. ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, A CITIZEN AND FRIEND WAS BRUTALLY ASSAULTED BY SEVERAL OFFICERS WRESTLED TO THE GROUND, HER NECK GRABBED AND HAD HELD DOWN. HER CRIME WAS STANDING ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK, EXERCISING HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WHICH IS OF COURSE, NO CRIME AT ALL. NO CHARGES WERE BROUGHT AGAINST HER BECAUSE NO CHARGES APPLIED. BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP. HPD, WHO NOT ONLY SUBJECTED THIS WOMAN WHO MADE NO THREATENING MOVES, WHO SAID NO HOSTILE WORDS, AND WHOSE STATURE IS QUITE SMALL TO WANTON BRUTALITY. THEY CHOSE TO INVOLUNTARILY COMMIT HER TO THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD. INSTEAD OF HAVING HER INJURIES THAT THEY CAUSED EXAMINED BY MEDICAL STAFF AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL, SHE ENDURED HORRIFIC TREATMENT AND WAS HANDCUFFED TO A HOSPITAL BED FOR HOURS ONLY TO THEN BE RELEASED. I DO NOT APPROVE OF MY TAXES BEING SPENT TO BRUTALIZE PEOPLE HERE OR ABROAD. AND I BESEECH THIS COUNCIL TO VOTE ON OUR BEHALF, NOT A FOREIGN ENTITY. THANK YOU. NEXT, MAYOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ROSE AL SHAR TO THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST AFTER LAURA CONNOLLY, CAST TATUM. SECOND. MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MARK RODRIGUEZ. OH, MARK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S MARK RODRIGUEZ. I HARDLY EVER WRITE STUFF DOWN, BUT THIS IS A VERY TOUCHY DEAL FOR ME. MY NAME'S MARK RODRIGUEZ. I'M A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN. I FILED A CASE AGAINST A FAMILY MEMBERS WHO PUT THEIR NAMES ON MY PROPERTY DEEDS WITH THE FINANCIAL CRIME DIVISION. I MEAN, UH, PROPERTY AND FINANCIAL CRIME DIVISION. OFFICER PERRY WILSON WAS LOOKING INTO OUR CASE. IT WAS AGAINST TWO OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS. I WAS THE VICTIM. THEY PUT THEIR NAMES ON MY PROPERTY. THEY FILED THE PAPERWORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY'S REAL PROPERTY DIVISION. NEVERTHELESS, AFTER THEY FOUND OUT I FILED A POLICE REPORT, THEY TOOK THEIR NAMES OFF OF MY DEEDS. I TOLD OFFICER PERRY WILSON, I WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE CHARGES. HE, HE MADE SEVERAL COMMENTS TO ME THAT THEY'RE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. I, I TOLD HIM, IF YOU ROB A BANK AND YOU GIVE BACK THE MONEY AFTER YOU GET CAUGHT, YOU'RE STILL ROB THE BANK, EVEN IF YOU SHOPLIFT A $20 SHIRT. WELL, OFFICER PERRY WILSON THEN MADE A COMMENT TO ONE OF MY BROTHERS ABOUT ME. HE SAID, MARK'S NOT VERY TRUSTWORTHY. HE WENT, HE HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD. WELL, I TOOK THAT TO A HIGH OFFENSE. I'M ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT OF MY CIVIC GROUP. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MY DAUGHTER'S PTO AT HER SCHOOL. I WENT TO PRISON ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO FOR OFFICER PERRY WILSON TO USE THAT KIND OF COMMENT AGAINST ME. THAT'S HIGHLY OFFENSIVE. I PAY TAXES. I OWN TWO BUSINESSES IN MY COMMUNITY. I'M VERY A, I'M VERY A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN. UM, THE DAY AFTER PERRY WILSON, DETECTIVE PERRY WILSON TOLD THAT, MADE THAT COMMENT TO MY BROTHER, HE PRESENTED THE CASE TO THE DA. HE SAYS, HEY, MARK DA, DON'T WANT TO TAKE CHARGES. AFTER I FOUND OUT WHAT HIS THOUGHTS WERE ABOUT ME, I WONDER IF HE TOLD THE DA, WELL, MARK'S A CONVICTED FELON. I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DONALD TRUMP HAS 34 CONVICTED FELONS. HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENCY. MY, MY MISTAKES HAPPENED WHEN I WAS YOUNG. NEVERTHELESS, THE STORY GOES ON. MY FATHER'S A 91-YEAR-OLD KOREAN WAR VETERAN, WHO MY [01:35:01] SISTER AND NIECE MANIPULATED HIM ON ALMOST $3 MILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY. SIGN HERE. THIS IS FOR YOUR FUNERAL SIGN HERE. THIS IS SO WE CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF YOU. MY FATHER HAD TWO CATARACTS IN HIS EYES. HE COULD NOT READ THE PAPERWORK. HE TOLD DETECTIVE PERRY WILSON THAT PERRY WILSON COMES BACK AND TELLS ME, WELL, MARK, THEY WERE HUGGING EACH OTHER. I SAID, NEVERTHELESS, MY FATHER WANTS HIS PROPERTY BACK. HE SAYS, THERE'S NOTHING CRIMINAL IN THERE. I GO, WHEN YOU EXPLOITATE PROPERTY FROM AN ELDERLY, THAT'S CRIMINAL. UM, MM, THIS IS PUTTING A BIG STRESS ON MY 91-YEAR-OLD CAREER VETERAN FATHER AND ALSO MY 87-YEAR-OLD MOTHER. THEY'RE KIND OF IN A FINANCIAL BIND BECAUSE ALL THEIR PROPERTIES ARE IN A, IN A LOCK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEIR NAMES ARE ON THEIR DEEDS BECAUSE OF MY SISTER AND NIECE. UM, WHEN WE ASK HPD IF THEY COULD TRY TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO ME ON MY CASES, 'CAUSE MY TWO CASES ARE DIFFERENT FROM MY $3 MILLION OF MY FATHER'S HPD REFUSES TO GIVE US ANY ANSWERS. THEY SAY, YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE DA'S OFFICE. WE NEED HELP. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MARK, THANKS FOR, UH, COMING DOWN HERE. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO ALWAYS COME DOWN AND, AND TO BE VOCAL AND ALSO SHARE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT, UH, YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. BUT CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DEALING WITH HPD IN THIS SITUATION AND, UM, THEY'RE PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE FULL DETAILS FROM YOU AND THEN, UH, SIT DOWN AND, AND DISCUSS IT WITH HPD MYSELF AND, UH, JUST SEE IF, IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MARK. THANK Y'ALL. NEXT, RALPH KIRBY. SARAH SAEED. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SARA SAYED. I'M NOW THE ORGANIZING MANAGER OF JUNTOS. I ALSO SERVE ON YOUR ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER BOARD. THE AIM IN ASSA COMMUNITY, ARAB MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT PAIN ON EVERY SIDE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR BELIEF SYSTEM. IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THE NEED FOR HOLISTIC SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND THOUGH WE HAVE MADE SMALL STRIDES IN INCREASING LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY, COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING FOR MORE POLICY CHANGE AND EQUITABLE RELIEF. THIS BODY HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO REMOVE ANY FOREIGN ENTITY FROM THEIR POLICIES, ESPECIALLY COUNTRIES PROSECUTED FOR COMMITTING MORE CRIMES REGARDLESS OF EXISTING TEXAS BDS LAWS. THIS BODY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A COMMUNITY MUTUAL AID FUND, ESPECIALLY FOR DIRECTED, DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES FIND SAFETY AND LEGAL SUPPORT. THIS BODY ALSO, ALSO THIS BODY ALSO HAS RESOURCES FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION THAT IS CULTURALLY RESPONSIBLE WITHOUT CAUSING HARM OR FURTHER TRAUMA. I'M SURE WE SHARE A REASONABLE COMMITMENT TO A MORE JUST WORLD AND RESPECTING THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF ALL INDIVIDUALS. AND OUR HOPE IS THAT YOU TAKE THESE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU HEAR FROM FOLKS TODAY, EVEN AFTER 387 DAYS OF SIGNIFICANT PAIN. NEXT, AISHA. GOOD MORNING AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO, UM, RELATE A PIECE OF NEWS THAT I READ THIS MORNING. UM, NEWS THAT IS USUALLY NOT ON. SO SOCIAL MEDIA ON, ON RARE ON, UM, UH, MAIN MEDIA BECAUSE IT'S ALL HIDDEN AND WE HAVE TO SEARCH OUT FOR IT. BUT THE NEWS THIS MORNING SAID, SCORES OF PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE ON A CROWDED BLOCK OF FLATS IN CAZA. AND 93 [01:40:01] PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 40 WERE STILL MISSING. MANY OF THE VICTIMS WERE MEMBER OF ONE EXTENDED FAMILY, AND MANY OF THEM HAD BEEN DISPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. ONE OF THE WITNESSES WHO IS A 34-YEAR-OLD MA, YEAR OLD MAN WHO HAD BEEN DISPLACED ALMOST 15 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, SAID WE WERE AWAKE AND ACTUALLY WAITING FOR THE BOMB TO COME, THE MISSILE TO COME THAT WOULD CRUSH OUR LIVES UNTIL HALF PAST FOUR IN THE MORNING WHEN OUR NEIGHBOR HOOD BUILDING WAS BOMBED. AND THE SCENE WAS HORRIFIC. MOST OF THE VICTIMS I SAW WERE CHILDREN. THE CORPSES WERE MUTILATED. AND WHAT HURT MY HEART THE MOST WAS THE SIGHT OF THE CHILDREN'S BODIES THAT WERE COLLECTED AND PLACED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THEIR, THEIR CLOTHES WERE TORN GRAY BECAUSE OF THE RUBBLE. AND AT HE ALSO SAID IN, ALSO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STRIKE, THE NEIGHBORS CON WERE CONFRONTED BY SCENES OF POWER AS THEY DUG THROUGH THE CONCRETE RUBBLE. AND LO BODIES WERE WRAPPED IN BLANKETS ON THE TOP OF THE BUILDINGS. THEY WERE LOWERED DOWN WITH ROPES AND THE, AND THEY WERE, UH, LAID ON A BLOODIED GROUND. LIMBS POKED OUT THROUGH CHUNKS OF DUSTY MASONRY AND TWISTED WIRE. THIS WAS THE SCENE TODAY, MORNING. OVER THERE IN ZA THE DEAD INCLUDED A MOTHER AND HER FIVE CHILDREN, AND ANOTHER MOTHER, A SECOND MOTHER, WITH HER SIX CHILDREN. AND VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE STRIKE HOSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SHOWED BODIES WRAPPED IN CARPETS AND BLANKETS AND, UH, ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. WHILE THE SIGNS SOUND OF ISRAELI DRONES WERE AUDIBLE AT THE SITE, THERE ARE STILL BODIES BURIED IN THE RUBBLE, AND THE REST OF THE BODIES WERE REMOVED FROM THE SITE TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL IN DONKEY CARTS AND HOS HOUSE CARTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN IMAGINE THE SCENE HAPPENING WITH ME THERE OR WITH ANY OF US THERE. AND THAT HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WERE BEING TRANSPORTED WAS ALREADY UNDER SIEGE. ALL THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL THERE WERE DETAINED. THE, THERE WERE NO MEDICAL FACILITIES. SO WHY WERE WE TRANSPORTING THESE PEOPLE THERE? THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE LAST, ONE LAST SENTENCE. CATHERINE, CAN I FINISH? SURE. UM, I'M JUST HERE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THINKING FOR MANY DAYS, WHAT AM I, WELL, THIS IS HAPPENING. WHAT, WHAT AM I DOING? WHERE AM I, WHAT CAN I DO FOR THIS? AND I CAN PRAY, I CAN DONATE TO HELP THEM. BUT I, MY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WHICH FOR ME IS TO COME HERE TO MY REPRESENTATIVES AND, AND RE REQUEST THEM TO PLEASE NOT INVEST IN THIS, NOT INVEST IN THESE BOMBS, NOT INVEST IN THIS GENOCIDE. AND WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE. MAJORITY OF THE, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING BURIED OVER THERE LIKE THIS ARE CHILDREN. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MA'AM, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS YOU. I, I WANT YOU TO ENSURE THAT YOU KNEW THAT WE HEARD YOU. I WANT TO ADDRESS YOU. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU AND THE, UH, THE EVENTS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, SPOKEN ABOUT ARE TRAGIC. AND WE DO MORE WITH THOSE FAMILIES. WE ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THOSE FAMILIES, AND WE, AND WE PRAY FOR THE ALL THOSE AFFECTED. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT YOUR WORDS AND YOUR EFFORTS OF BEING HERE, UH, HAVE FELT FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. BUT WE DO HEAR THE REQUEST AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT, MUSTAFA RAMADAN. HI, MY NAME IS MOHAMMED RUSTAM. I'LL BE SPEAKING ON, ON BEHALF OF, UH, MUSTAFA. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. HE'S NOT THE SPEAKER THAT'S SIGNED UP. I'M SORRY. IS THERE SOME DISPUTE ABOUT HE IS NOT MUSTAFA RAMADAN, YOU'RE NOT THE GENTLEMAN THAT SIGNED UP. I'M NOT, NO. WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? MY NAME IS MOHAMED RUSTAM MOHAMAD. I LIVE AT 7 7 0 1 8. MOHAMED RUST, I DON'T THINK THE RULES ALLOW FOR YOU TO SPEAK. THAT'S FOR YOU TO INFORM ME, SIR, THAT'S FOR YOU TO INFORM ME. IS THAT THE RULE? YES. [01:45:01] OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW MR. MUHAMMAD TO SPEAK SECOND VERY WELL. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MAY PROCEED, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I'M, UH, I'M PART OF, UH, DISTRICT H. SO MARIO, THAT WOULD MAKE YOU MY, MY COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU'VE HEARD THE, UM, YOU'VE HEARD NOW THE MORAL AND THE ETHICAL ARGUMENT TODAY ABOUT THE ISRAEL BONDS. AND I'M NOT HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT. I'M CERTAINLY SYMPATHETIC TO THOSE. BUT I'M ALSO COME AT IT FROM A, FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE. I'M A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT. I'M A PARTNER AT A MAJOR CONSULTING FIRM HERE IN HOUSTON. ALTHOUGH I DON'T COME HERE IN THAT CAPACITY, I COME HERE IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY. AND ONE OF THE, UM, ONE OF THE CORE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS COUNCIL IS TO ENSURE THAT HOUSTON IS ON THE BEST FINANCIAL FOOTING AND THAT WE SPEND THE CITY BUDGET IN THE WAY THAT IS MOST RESPONSIBLE, RIGHT? THERE'S A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY. AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT. WHEN I LOOK AT IT FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, WHEN I LOOK AT THESE ISRAEL BONDS, YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT ISRAEL HAS BEEN RATED BY MOODY'S, RIGHT? ONE OF THE CREDIT AGENCIES AS THE LOWEST LEVEL OF INVESTMENT GRADE. IT'S ACTUALLY VERY CLOSE TO BEING SPECULATIVE, OTHERWISE KNOWN COLLOQUIALLY AS JUNK BONDS. AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT COUNTRIES TO INVEST IN, AND I LOOK AT US TREASURIES, WHICH IS THE MOST CREDIT WORTHY NATION IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, AND I LOOK AT THE ISRAEL BONDS, THE ACTUAL RATES ARE VERY SIMILAR. YOU GET 4.27% FOR INVESTING IN A TWO YEAR ISRAEL BOND. YOU GET 4.1% FOR INVESTING IN A TWO YEAR TREASURY. SO THE QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD WE INVEST IN SOMETHING WHICH IS CLOSE TO A JUNK BOND RATING TO GET A SIMILAR RETURN? ACTUALLY, IF YOU WANTED TO GET A RETURN OF A, IF YOU WANTED TO GET A RETURN OF SOMETHING, WHICH IS SIMILARLY RATED TO WHAT ISRAEL IS RATED BY MOODY'S, YOU COULD GO TO KAZAKHSTAN TODAY AND YOU WOULD GENERATE 13% RATHER THAN THE 5% OR THE 4.27%, ACTUALLY, RIGHT? THAT YOU GET AN ISRAEL BONDS. SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS. THANK YOU. NEXT, LAURA CONLEY. HELLO. UM, MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW ME AS THE FOUNDER OF URBAN PATHS, A WALKING WELLNESS COMPANY WHERE I'M A HEALTH AND A MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACH TO MY CLIENTS AND NEIGHBORS IN HOUSTON. BUT TODAY I'M HERE AS YOUR NEIGHBOR AND I'M NERVOUS. AND, BUT I WANNA REMEMBER THAT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND ANXIOUS AND FEELING UNSAFE, MY CHURCH, MY PARENTS, AND MAYBE MOST OF ALL, MR. ROGERS, WHO'S ON MY SHIRT, ALL TAUGHT ME NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD. AND AS A WAY GROWN UP NOW, FAR FROM THAT TIME, I STILL BELIEVE THAT. AND I TRUST THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHO STEPPED AWAY, UM, ARE ALL GOOD PEOPLE AND WILL LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS TODAY. I MOVED TO HOUSTON IN 1986 FROM THE CHICAGO AREA AS A YOUNG IDEALIST. WHEN ANOTHER MAYOR WHITMEYER WAS IN OFFICE, I FOUND A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LOVED IN NORTH MONTROSE WHERE I STILL LIVE. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS QUIET AND SURROUNDED WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND DUPLEXES. I COULD EASILY CATCH THE BUS AT THE CORNER OF MONTROSE AND WEST DALLAS AND TRANSFER TO WESTHEIMER, TO HEAD TO U OF H WHERE I WAS A STUDENT. AND LATER I COULD WALK AND TAKE METRO TO MY JOB AS A TEACHER WITH HISD IN THE THIRD WARD, THE SIDEWALKS AND STREETS WEREN'T THE BEST, BUT IT WAS OKAY BECAUSE THERE WAS SO VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. ON THE WEEKENDS, WE COULD EVEN ROLLER SKATE DOWN WEST DALLAS TO DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THERE WERE SO FEW CARS. BUT AS THE YEARS WENT BY, THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE DRAMATICALLY AT THE, THAT INTERSECTION OF WEST DALLAS AND MONTROSE. THE WHERE THE SMALL BUNGALOWS, ANDRO HOUSES ONCE STOOD WERE REPLACED BY A BIG GAS STATION, TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND A BUSY CAR WASH. THE NEAR AND NEARBY. THE SMALL PRINTING COMPANY WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX. THE OLD RICE SILO REPLACED BY A HUGE HIGH RISE APARTMENT TOWER. THE EMPTY FIELD WHERE I WOULD FLY KITES WITH MY BOYFRIEND BECAME A WHOLE FOODS AND ON AND ON AND ON. YET THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS ALL STAYED THE SAME. I FELT LIKE THE OLD MAN IN THE MOVIE UP SURROUNDED BY TRAFFIC EVERYWHERE I WENT TO GET OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AS THIS WAS HAPPENING, THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAME ALSO PART OF THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK WITH HUGE INCREASES IN INJURIES AND FATAL CRASHES FOR PEOPLE IN CARS, CYCLISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS. [01:50:01] BUT THEN AROUND 10 YEARS AGO, I WENT TO RICE UNIVERSITY HERE SPEAKER, AN AUTHOR, A CITY PLANNER, JEFF SPECK, TALK ABOUT HIS BOOK, WALKABLE CITY. AND I STOOD IN LINE AFTERWARDS TO TELL HIM, WELL, WHAT ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD? WHEN WILL IT BE DENSE ENOUGH? OR WHAT, WHAT WILL I DO TO GET WALKABILITY? AND HE SAID, WHEN IT GETS DENSE ENOUGH, WHEN WALKABILITY WILL RETURN, IT'LL BECOME EASIER TO WALK, BIKE, AND TAKE THE BUS WHEN TRAFFIC IS SLOWED BY CAR CONGESTION. SO I WAITED AND I WAITED, AND THEN THAT DENSITY DID GET THERE. AND I REJOICED WHEN THE CITY AND THE MONTROSE TOURISTS CAME UP WITH A FUNDED AND WELL RESEARCHED PLAN TO MAKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE AGAIN. AND I WAS SEEING THIS ALL ACROSS THE CITY. INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS EQUITABLE. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL PRIVILEGE, PHYSICAL ABILITY, OR DESIRE TO DRIVE THINGS THAT CALM THE FACTS, CARS LIKE RAISED CROSSWALKS AND SAFETY ROUNDABOUTS LIKE THE ONE ON IRVINGTON, THAT VERY ROUNDABOUT CAN REDUCE FATAL CRASHES BY 90%. I FINISH. THEN IT ALL CAME TO A PAUSE. AND INSTEAD OF THE SLOW PROGRESS WE'VE BEEN MAKING THINGS STARTED TO SLIP BACKWARDS. I'M AFRAID OF VIOLENCE AND DEATH FROM CARS, FROM MY NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE CITY. MR. ROGERS FAMOUSLY TOLD CHILDREN AND ADULTS, WHEN THINGS ARE SCARY, LOOK FOR THE HELPERS. YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE HELPING. PLEASE BE HELPERS AND PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE OVER CARS. RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL MONTROSE IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH A SAFETY BASED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HOUSTON. AND I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT TOMORROW I'M LEADING A WALK IN THIS VERY PLACE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THEIR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONTH. SO COME WALK WITH ME AND FEEL WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A PEDESTRIAN WALKING ALONG THESE BUSY STREETS. THANK YOU. NEXT ROSE AL SHAW. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ROSEANNA CHAR, A HOUSTONIAN AND AN ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. THIS MORNING I TOOK TWO PALESTINIAN CHILDREN FROM GAZA TO SCHOOL RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. THESE CHILDREN BROUGHT HERE FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT HAVE SUFFERED UNIMAGINABLE INJURIES FROM US FUNDED ISRAELI ATTACKS. ONE HAS LOST BOTH LEGS AND ARM, AND PART OF HIS HAND. ANOTHER HAS UNDERGONE, UNDERGO A DOUBLE HIP REPLACEMENT. AND ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL HERE IN HOUSTON LOST HER LEG AND AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE THAT ALSO KILLED BOTH HER PARENTS AND ALL SIX OF HER SIBLINGS. THESE ATTACKS AREN'T ISOLATED AND THEY ARE A PART OF A BRUTAL PATTERN TARGETING CIVILIANS. A PATTERN FUND, A PATTERN FUNDED IN PART BY OUR TAX DOLLARS. SO SPEAKING OF TAX DOLLARS, HOUSTON HAS AUTHORIZED UP TO $10 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO BE INVESTED IN ISRAELI BONDS. THIS IS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL CHOICE, IT'S A MORAL ONE. BY INVESTING IN ISRAELI BONDS, OUR CITY DIRECTLY SUPPORTS A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT NOTORIOUS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, WAR CRIMES, AND AN ONGOING GENOCIDE. THESE BONDS, FINANCE, MILITARY OPERATIONS THAT DEVASTATE CIVILIANS, INCLUDING CHILDREN LIKE THE ONES HERE IN HOUSTON, SEEKING MEDICAL CARE IN OUR CITY. IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT THIS INVESTMENT IS NOT ABOUT THE INTEREST OF INTEREST OF HOUSTONIANS. IT'S ABOUT ENABLING VIOLENCE, PERPETRATING SUFFERING, AND ENDORSING A CYCLE OF OPPRESSION. SO WE'RE CALLING FOR A CHANGE. OUR CITY HAS URGENT NEEDS FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT HOUSTON RESIDENTS, NOT INVESTMENTS IN A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COMMITTING ATROCITIES. CITIES LIKE AUSTIN HAVE ALREADY REFUSED TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS. THAT WAS THREE MINUTES. YEP. OKAY. WELL, I HAD MORE BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. CITIES LIKE AUSTIN HAVE ALREADY REFUSED TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS IN THIS TIME. HOUSTON DOES THE SAME. IF COMPASSION FOR PALESTINIAN CHILDREN ISN'T ENOUGH TO SWAY YOU, CONSIDER THAT ISRAELI BONDS ARE ALSO A POOR FINANCIAL CHOICE. THEY OFFER A LOW RETURN AND HIGH RISKS. THERE ARE MORE, THERE ARE FAR MORE RESPONSIBLE WAYS TO UTILIZE HOUSTON'S FUNDS TO BENEFIT OUR OWN COMMUNITY. SO TODAY I URGE ITS COUNSEL TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF HOUSTONIANS WHO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPASSION, AND CHANGE IN OUR FINANCIAL DECISIONS. IT'S TIME TO AMEND HOUSTON'S INVESTMENT POLICY, WHICH CURRENTLY PROHIBITS A PURCHASE OF ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ISRAEL. THIS EXCEPTION MUST END. LET US ENSURE THAT HOUSTON'S TAX DOLLARS ARE NEVER USED TO HARM ANOTHER CHILD ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. LET'S COMMIT TO INVESTING IN HOUSTON AND OUR PEOPLE, AND A FUTURE DEFINED BY JUSTICE, PEACE, AND HUMANITY. THANK YOU. NEXT, JASON HARTMAN, [01:55:06] MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE GARDENDALE RESIDENCE REQUEST TO RESTRICT STREET PARKING ON PORTIONS OF THAT STREET DURING DESIGNATED TIMES. UH, AS WE SENT HERE, WE'RE SYMPATHETIC TO THE CONCERNS OF MR. BOLLARD MUMBLE. OUR CONCERNS SOUND A GREAT DEAL LIKE THE ONES THAT HE EXPRESSED TODAY. I'LL TELL YOU THAT IN 2020, A DEVELOPER PURCHASED A PORTION OF LAND OFF OF 34TH STREET IN DISTRICT C, WHERE WE'RE LOCATED WITH THE INTENT TO BUILD A MULTI-STORY, MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENT BUILDING WITH A PARKING STRUCTURE NEXT TO IT. UH, THE, UH, GO BACK TO WHAT GARDENDALE DRIVE IS. IT'S A VERY SHORT, VERY NARROW DEAD END ROAD IN DISTRICT C. IT'S 20 FEET WIDE AT THE OPENING. UH, IT EXTENDS EASTWARD TO A DEAD END SPOT. THERE IS ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S THE ONLY INGRESS AND EGRESS POINT. IN LATE 2023 OCCUPANTS OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING STARTED PARKING THEIR CARS AND USING GARDENDALE DRIVE ESSENTIALLY AS A PARKING LOT. UH, WE HAD OVERHEARD, UH, APARTMENT MANAGERS DESCRIBE THAT ROAD AND THE DESIGNATED EMERGENCY VEHICLE TURNAROUND AS A, AS AN OVERFLOW PARKING AS A PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, THAT DEVELOPER HAD EXPANDED PORTIONS OF GARDENDALE TO NEARLY 30 FEET AND ADDED AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TURNAROUND AT THE EASTERN TERMINUS. THAT TURNAROUND'S NOW USELESS BECAUSE IT'S BLOCKED BY PARKED CARS. THAT BRINGS US TO THE EFFECTS OF SOME OF THIS PARKING SITUATION. YOU CAN SEE IN SOME OF THE BRIEFING MATERIALS THAT I'VE HANDED YOU, THERE IS AN, AN AERIAL OVERVIEW BEHIND TAB B IN THE MATERIALS THAT YOU'VE GOT, WHICH MAY HELP TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM AN OVERHEAD VIEW. BUT THE EFFECT OF THE BLOCKED ACCESS IS THAT SUB, UH, SOLID WASTE APARTMENT TRUCKS CAN'T ACCESS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO DEAL WITH TRASH. UH, WE HAVE NOT HAD A, UH, WE HAVEN'T HAD A HEAVY TRASH PICKUP SINCE THE APARTMENT WAS BUILT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT A SOLID WASTE ISSUE. THE STREET IS BLOCKED, IT'S INACCESSIBLE TO VEHICLES OF THAT SIZE. THAT INCLUDES EMERGENCY VEHICLES LIKE FIRE DEPARTMENT TRUCKS OR AMBULANCES. UH, AND WE'RE SYMPATHETIC TO THAT ISSUE AS WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A DEVASTATING FIRE ON THAT STREET WHERE A STRUCTURE BURNED TO THE GROUND IN 2018. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THAT TIME, AND THAT WAS BEFORE WE HAD A PARKING PROBLEM. UM, WE'VE, UH, SOUGHT THE APPROVAL OF DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT OUR REQUEST FOR RESTRICTED PARKING. WE'VE SPOKEN TO, UH, UH, CHIEF INSPECTOR BOBBY GEORGE OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. UH, WE'VE SPOKEN TO THE HI, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS WHO'VE HAD TO RESPOND TO PROBLEMS OUT THERE BECAUSE OF THE PARKING. UH, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE, WHO DOES SUPPORT OUR PETITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT SHE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. UH, AND WE DID HAVE A HEARING IN FRONT OF THE, THE, UH, THE RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING PROGRAM COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS MONTH, WHO ALSO SUPPORTS OUR REQUEST. I WILL POINT OUT AS WELL THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR STREET, EVERY RESIDENT ON GARDENDALE DRIVE, 100% SUPPORTS OUR PETITION AND OUR REQUEST. AND SO WE HAD ASKED THE RPP PROGRAM TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN PARTS OF GARDENDALE DRIVE AS PERMIT PARKING ONLY DURING THE DESIGNATED TIMES AND HOURS. UH, AND ALSO HAD ASKED THAT THAT COMMITTEE TO RESTRICT PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GARDENDALE DRIVE TO NO PARKING AT ALL DUE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED BEFORE THAT COMMISSION. I APOLOGIZE FOR RUNNING OVER, UH, UNDER THE, UH, THE MUNICIPAL CODE PROVISIONS SECTION 45 1 17 AND ONE 19. THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THAT REQUEST. AND JUST TO CLOSE, I'LL POINT OUT THAT OUR REQUEST HAS BEEN, UH, UH, SIGNED OFF ON AND AGREED TO BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SOLID WASTE DRIVERS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT PROBLEM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE, UH, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO RECOGNIZES AS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. AND SO WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. I'M OPEN TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE MIGHT HAS, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MICHAEL WILLIAMS TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE. I MEAN HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMORE, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. AND I HAVE A FAMOUS COUSIN THAT WAS A STATE SENATOR, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN, UH, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BY THE NAME OF EDWARD WILLIAM BROOK II THAT WROTE THE 1967 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M HAVING HOUSING PROBLEMS. MY ADDRESS IS 600 EAST TWA ROAD AND WHEN I MOVED THERE, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE BUNCH OF DRUG ACTIVITY GOING ON. BUT NOW IN THE PLACE OF THE TOWER CRACK HOUSE SHOOTOUTS IN THE BACK PARKING LOT, PROSTITUTION, [02:00:01] RESIDENTS SELLING CRACK, COCAINE OUT APARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRUGS. AND IT'S JUST BECOME A CESSPOOL ON MAY 8TH, VANDALISM A CAR BROKEN INTO MAY 10TH, THE SHOOTOUT AT BEST FOODS ACROSS THE STREET WITH CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ, RODRIGUEZ AND, AND HPD, WHICH STEMMED FROM 600 EAST TIP. WELL, I'M GONNA COME IN TODAY TO ASK MR. MAYOR IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE WITH THIS CHRISTIAN HOMES POLICIES AND THE WAY THEY'RE TREATING PEOPLE, NOT ANSWERING GRIEVANCES AND JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE. AND IT'S JUST TURNED INTO A CESSPOOL. JUST RECENTLY, I HAD AN INCIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND. I ACTUALLY HAD A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION AND I'M NOT REALLY IN THE FRAME OF MIND TO BE DOING PHYSICAL ALTERCATION 'CAUSE I TOO AM A US AIR FORCE MILITARY VETERAN AND THE SPECIAL UNIT FORCES AND MY HANDS ARE FEET ARE LETHAL AND I DON'T LIKE FIGHTING. I DON'T WANNA SEE, I DON'T WANNA KILL NOBODY. AND I'M HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AT THIS PLACE. SO I'M ASKING MR. MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THERE COULD BE AN INQUIRY AND INVESTIGATION OF THEIR PRACTICES AND ALL THIS STUFF GOING ON. I'VE GOTTEN IN CONTACT WITH, UM, MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE SYLVIA A GARCIA, THE 29TH DISTRICT, UH, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. I'VE GOTTEN IN CONTACT WITH, UH, BISHOP JAMES DIXON, WHO IS THE HEAD OF NRC PRESIDENT, NRC, UM, SPORTS COMPLEX. AND HE'S A PASTOR AT PINE MOUNT CHURCH. I'D HAVE GOTTEN IN CONTACT WITH MY ATTORNEY, BROCK WHITE, THAT WAS STAND BY MY SIDE. HE ALSO CAME TO WOODLAND CHRISTIAN TOWERS. AN INCIDENT I HAD WHEN I HAD A FIGHT OVER THERE. I FEEL LIKE MY CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED. I FEEL LIKE MY, OH GOD. CIVIL LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN VIOLATED AND UNDER TEXAS LAW ACT, OF WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE IN TEXAS HERE CALLED THE, UH, IF I COULD JUST HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS PLEASE. KEY POINTS ABOUT TEXAS LAW REGARDING THE PEACE AND THE APARTMENT COMPLEX QUIET ENJOYMENT AND LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITY. AND I FEEL THE LANDLORDS TO MANAGE THERE ARE NOT HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITY. AND NOW THERE'S AN OUTBREAK OF DRUG USE, CRIME, PROSTITUTION, AND WE CAN'T REST HIGH PEACE IN THAT PLACE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND SIR MICHAEL, DO YOU, UH, THANKS FOR BEING DOWN HERE. UH, DO YOU LIVE AT THE COMPLEX? YES, I DO. OKAY. SO YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS FIRSTHAND AND I'M SURE A NUMBER OF OTHER RESIDENTS AS WELL. UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING DOWN HERE TO, TO RAISE THE CONCERNS. 'CAUSE I'M SURE A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING ON THAT PREVENT THEM FROM COMING DOWN HERE AND LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THIS. UM, I DO WANT, UH, I'M GONNA HAVE MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR COME UP AND VISIT WITH YOU. I BELIEVE Y'ALL SPOKE ON THE PHONE, BUT THERE, THERE ARE, UH, SOME, SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO HELP SORT OF IN THE SHORT TERM. BUT, UM, THIS WE NEED TO HAVE A, A IN DEPTH CONVERSATION ON, GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT, ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING, ESPECIALLY FROM, UM, THE MANAGEMENT SIDE OF THINGS. UM, AND THEN START THIS PROCESS. BUT, UM, YOU BEING DOWN HERE IS, IS WHAT WILL GET THE BALL ROLLING, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY, THANK YOU. IN TOUCH. COUNCIL PLU, SIR. COUNCILOR SIR. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M SO SORRY IF YOU MENTIONED IT. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE COMPLEX? DO YOU MIND SHARING THE, IT'S CALLED WOODLAND CHRISTIAN TOWER 600 EAST TIWA ROAD. WOODLAND. WOODLAND CHRISTIAN TOWERS. OH, GOT IT. OKAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THEY CALL IT WOODLAND CRACK TOWERS NOW. THANK YOU. ROBBIE WARD. MEGAN CLARK. HELLO, MY NAME IS MEGAN CLARK. I LIVE ON GARDENDALE DRIVE. JASON'S MY NEIGHBOR WHO JUST WENT A FEW BEFORE ME. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT EXACTLY WHAT HE SHOWED. UM, I KNOW I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES, SO I PRINTED A BUNCH OF PICTURES BECAUSE I THINK PICTURES SPEAK A THOUSAND WORDS. SO IF YOU SEE THESE PACKETS WITH ALL THESE PARKING THINGS, THAT'S FOR ME. UM, FIRST OF ALL, JUST A LAYOUT JUST TO GET YOURSELF ACQUAINTED WITH OUR STREET. UM, IF YOU GO UP ELBA HERE IN GREEN, ON TURN ON, RIGHT, IT'S GARDENDALE DRIVE. IT'S A VERY SMALL DEAD END ROAD. UM, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THIS GIANT APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT THEY BUILT, WHICH [02:05:01] HAS COMPLICATED A LOT OF OUR PARKING. UM, IF YOU FLIP TO PAGE ONE, WHICH LOOKS LIKE THIS, IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL DUMPSTER ON THE FRONT COVER. UM, THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THE FACILITY SERVICES THAT THIS APARTMENT COMPLEXES USES ON GARDENDALE DRIVE. UM, SO OFTEN THERE'S BIG DUMPSTERS AND WITH IT DUMPSTER TRUCKS, UM, THESE BIG MOVING VANS, IF YOU FLIP TO PAGE TWO, UM, YOU'LL SEE THEIR LANDSCAPE TRUCKS WHO OFTEN GET STUCK. THAT BOTTOM PICTURE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALMOST WEEKLY. UM, AND LIKE JASON POINTED OUT, OUR STREET'S A DEAD END ROAD. THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IN AND OUT. SO WHEN WE'VE GOT STUFF LIKE THIS, NO ONE CAN GET IN OR OUT, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES, GARBAGE, BASIC ESSENTIAL, UM, SERVICES. ON PAGE THREE, UM, SOME EXAMPLES OF WHEN WE'VE HAD EMERGENCY SERVICES. UM, THAT BIG TRUCK WITH ALL THAT WAS FROM, UH, HURRICANE BARREL, OUR STREET WAS HIT PRETTY BAD. UM, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF SPACE TO GET VEHICLES IN AND OUT OF THERE. UM, THE LOWER PICTURE SHOWS A FIRE TRUCK. UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. WE CALLED 9 1 1 WITH HER. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S REALLY JUST NO SPACE FOR THERE TO BE PARKING ON BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THIS ROAD FOR A FIRE TRUCK TO GET THROUGH. UM, THE NEXT PAGE YOU'LL SEE, UM, JUST SOME SPACE ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHERE THE PARKING IS. YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT 20 FEET ACROSS THIS ROAD. AND A TRUCK IS ON AVERAGE SIX AND A HALF FEET, WHICH MEANS A 10 FOOT FIRETRUCK IS NOT GETTING THROUGH THERE. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, THAT'S ACTUALLY MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK, UM, TRYING TO GET TO WORK IN THE MORNING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS, UM, CAN SEE THIS ONE WITH THE WHITE TRUCK AND THE CARS. IT'S REALLY TIGHT, REALLY, REALLY TIGHT. UM, ON THE NEXT PAGE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE A LOT OF THE, UM, APARTMENT FOLKS WILL PARK. THEY BLOCK THE FIRE HYDRANT EVERY DAY. UM, ON THE NEXT PAGE YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY TURNAROUND, UM, WHICH DOESN'T WORK IF PEOPLE PARK IN IT. SO UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU FLIP TO THE NEXT PAGE, THIS IS ACTUALLY OUT OF JASON'S HOUSE. ALL OF THE DUMPSTER COLLECTION SERVICES ARE USING PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS, WHICH I KNOW Y'ALL AT SOME POINT HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC BEHIND ONE OF THESE TRUCKS AND HAVE SEEN THE GARBAGE JUICE. HAVING THAT IN YOUR PERSONAL DRIVEWAY EVERY DAY IS PRETTY GROSS. UM, AND IF YOU CONTINUE ON ON PAGE NINE, UM, OUR GARBAGE GETS MOVED ALL THE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO PARK THERE INSTEAD OF HAVING OUR WASTE COLLECTED. SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. UM, AND THAT JUST CONCLUDES KIND OF MY PLEA FOR YOUR HELP TO SUPPORT US IN GETTING PERMIT PARKING ON GARDENDALE DRIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, LOUIS WHITE MAYOR, COUNSEL. UH, MY NAME IS LOUIS WHITE. UH, NICE TO MEET EVERYBODY. UH, SECOND TIME DOWN HERE, UH, VISITING THE COUNCIL. UH, VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PROCEEDINGS, HOW EVERYTHING'S WORKS OUT. BUT, UH, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT SPRING FOOTBALL. SPRING FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN PARTICULAR, I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE SPRING FOOTBALL LEAGUE. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL OPPORTUNITIES. I KNOW, UM, IT'S ANOTHER LEAGUE, IT'S ANOTHER FOOTBALL LEAGUE. UM, BUT OURS IS NONPROFIT. WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND EXISTING NONPROFITS. UH, COMING HERE TODAY AND COMING TO THE LAST MEETING IS JUST CONFIRMATION FOR ME THAT, UM, SOME OF THE ORG THE RE OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO FUND EXISTING NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS. SO IT'S CONFIRMATION FOR ME THAT HAVING A FOOTBALL LEAGUE DEDICATED TO SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK, THAT'S OUR, THAT'S MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S OUR MOTTO. YOU PLAYED A GAME, BUT YOU LIVE A LIFE, LIVE A LIFE OF SERVICE, LIVE A LIFE OF GIVING BACK. SO THAT'S OUR MISSION, THAT'S OUR GOAL OF OUR FOUNDATION TO CREATE ANOTHER FOOTBALL LEAGUE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WORK FOR THE STATE AS WELL. THAT'S MY DAY JOB. THE STATE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR OUTCOMES. HOW ARE WE GONNA GET OUTCOMES? HOW ARE WE GONNA GET THIS PERSON FROM, UH, UH, TRANSITIONAL SERVICES, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, UH, JOB RETENTION, EMPLOYMENT? HOW ARE WE GONNA GET THESE RESULTS FROM INTRODUCING THIS PROGRAM? SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO, UH, TALK ABOUT. UM, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT, UH, OUR PROGRAM IS WE WANTED TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GUY TO NOT ONLY TO PLAY, BUT MAY BE A WELL-ROUNDED ATHLETE. UM, CERTIFICATIONS OF ONE IS A PART OF IT. UH, NOT ONLY THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY, BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO BE CERTIFIED IN YOUR DEGREED AREA. WHAT ARE WHAT YOU WENT TO SCHOOL FOR? UH, COME WORKING WITH SOME OTHER LEAGUES THAT, UM, WHEN GUYS DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, DIDN'T HAVE AN ENOUGH STEP TO GO TO, THEY DIDN'T MAKE A TRAINING CAMP, THEY DIDN'T MAKE, UH, UH, UH, UH, DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, WANTED TO CREATE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM, [02:10:01] BUT AT THE, AT THE SAME TIME, PLACED THEM WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WITH THE FORT WORKFORCE BOARD, CHAMBER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PLACE OUR PLAYERS IN AS SORT OF LIKE AN APPRENTICESHIP AND GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR DEGREED AREA. SO THEY'RE GETTING A REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE SKILLS AND THEN ALSO GETTING CERTIFIED. AND THEN THAT'S THE PLAY THE GAME PART OF OUR MISSION. THE LIVE THE LIFE PART OF OUR MISSION IS, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE TRANSITIONAL SERVICE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, GETTING PEOPLE, UM, THE WORKFORCE, UM, INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY THAT CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN THAT IT'S HARD TO PLACE AND THERE CERTIFICATIONS THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE THROUGH, UM, AND IN, IN THE SPORT. ALL THESE JOBS THAT ARE CREATED WITH, WHEN THE TEXAS PLAY, ALL THOSE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, WHY NOT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SPRING AT AN EMPTY STADIUM? AND FOR THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY, CAN I SAY ONE LAST THING? THIS IS NOT ANYTHING NEW. THERE IS A LEAGUE CALLED X LEAGUE JP OVER IN JAPAN. THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR 53 YEARS, IMPLEMENTING WHAT I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW. IT'S, IT'S BEEN, AND THE NFL KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT. IT'S CALLED X LEAGUE, JP, LOOK IT UP. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 53 YEARS AND THEY'RE PLAYING AMERICA FOOTBALL SPONSORED BY COMPANIES IN MITSUBISHI TO SEEBA. UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING WHAT WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE OUR KIDS GOING OVER TO, UH, ANOTHER COUNTRY WHEN THEY COULD DO IT RIGHT HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO HAVE YOU, I SUBMIT HOPEFULLY, UH, MY INFORMATION WAS SUBMITTED ALREADY. YOU CAN HAVE IT IN YOUR EMAIL. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT I JUST REALLY ARE PROUD OF YOU GUYS. UH, THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO REMEMBER WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? THE, THE, AND HEBREW SAYS, CALL TO TO REMEMBER, IT'S THE FORMER DAYS WHEN YOU WAS FIRST ILLUMINATED, ILLUMINATED WITH WHAT YOUR GIFT, YOUR PURPOSE, WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR? SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR WE GIVING PEOPLE THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THEIR, WHAT'S PASSIONATE TO THEM, THEIR HEARTS. BUT I, I REALLY HAVE, IT'S ACTUALLY CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE COMING DOWN HERE, WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND WHAT YOU GUYS DEAL WITH EVERY DAY. SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS TODAY. SO, UH, COUNCILOR JACKSON AS A COMMENT, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. UM, MR. WHITE. YES. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM. YES, MA'AM. AND SO YOU'RE IN THE SPRING AREA, AND SO HOW DO WE, YOU SAID YOU SENT AN EMAIL, I DIDN'T GET THE EMAIL, OR IT MIGHT BE IN MY BOX, BUT HOW DO WE GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR SERVICES? I, I ACTUALLY LIVE AT POST OAK IN SIX 10. OKAY. YOU LIVE IN POST OAK IN 16? 16, YEAH. POST OFFICE IN 16, BUT THE PROGRAM IS IN SPRING. THAT'S THE NAME OF MY LEAGUE. THE SPRING FOOTBALL LEAGUE. OH, OKAY. I GET IT NOW. SPRING. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, LIKE I I, I REPRESENT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE SOME OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN SPRING DURING 1960. LIKE THE KANEY HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S SPRING, ISD. SO I ASSUMED THAT YOUR PROGRAM WAS IN SPRING. YEAH, BUT THIS, THAT'S THE NAME, THE PROGRAM. OKAY. BUT STILL, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SIGN UP. SO THAT'S, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M REALLY THANKFUL. UM, UH, I, I SOUGHT THE, UH, THE SYMMETRY AND, BUT I WANTED TO GO THROUGH MY COUNCILMAN FIRST , UH, AND SHARE, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WE WANT WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THAT'S, I'M ALL ABOUT ORDER. I'M ALL ABOUT DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, AND I REALLY HAD THIS DOWN, BUT THE COMMENTS FROM EVERYBODY ELSE WAS JUST CONFIRMATION FOR ME THAT I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING TO BE A SERVICE AND MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S, I I, I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING OVER, BUT, UH, YOU GOT ME SOMETHING THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT. , THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, THANK YOU. NEXT, OUR PREACHING. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS HART SINGH. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO CHANGE IN BOUNDARY WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF NOR HILL. I RECENTLY BECAME A HOMEOWNER THIS YEAR IN JUNE, AND QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THESE AMBIGUOUS ORDINANCES ARE WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT SETS THE COMMON CONSTITUENT UP FOR FAILURE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS PUBLIC WORKS AND MY STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS PROPERTY NEEDS TO BE DEMOLISHED. SO I'VE APPLIED AND PAID A FEE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE FOR A CHANGE IN BOUNDARY PER THEIR ORDINANCE SECTION 33 DASH 2 27. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER 60 DAYS, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE [02:15:01] A WRITTEN RESPONSE ON WHETHER MY APPLICATION WAS APPROVED OR WHY IT'S BEING DENIED. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE ORDINANCE IS THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING HAS TO RESPOND BY A CERTAIN TIME. AND I BELIEVE WE'RE PAST THAT TIME. I'VE CALLED EMAILED DIRECTOR TRAN'S OFFICE MULTIPLE TIMES, TRYING TO GET A RESPONSE REGARDING MY APPLICATION FOR A CHANGE IN BOUNDARY. BUT AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, NO WRITTEN RESPONSE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME AT THIS TIME. I'M HERE TO, I'M HERE TODAY TO SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE ON HOW I CAN ACHIEVE MY GOAL, WHICH IS GETTING PERMISSION FROM DIRECTOR VRAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE, AND MR. CASTILLO, UH, TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION STATUS OF THIS GINGERBREAD HOME IN THE NOR HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT BEFORE IT DIMINISHES MY FINANCES. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK REGARDING THE CHALLENGES I'M FACING AS A HOUSTONIAN COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR COMING DOWN HERE. UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND, AND COMMUNICATING WITH, UH, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, THEIR CONCLUSION IS THAT AN APPLICATION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED, UM, FROM, FROM YOUR END, AND THAT WOULD BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE HAHC. SO HAVE YOU DONE THAT PROCESS YET? SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS. ONE IS FOR A CHANGE OF DESIGNATION, WHICH, UH, ACCORDING TO ME, UH, AFTER READING THE ORDINANCES, IT, IT DOES QUALIFY FOR THAT. SO I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE ON THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. GOT IT. UH, THE OTHER APPLICATION, UH, THAT'S WHY I SAY THESE ORDINANCE ARE VERY AMBIGUOUS AND, UH, THEY CAN BE, UH, DEFINED AND, UH, MISINTERPRETED VERY EASILY. BUT I'M STILL WAITING ON AN ANSWER FROM, UH, NICOLE BROUCHARD. AND, UH, SHE SAID THEY WERE GONNA GIMME A WRITTEN RESPONSE, AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT. OKAY. UM, WE'LL LET MY OFFICE WORK WITH YOU. UH, MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR IS GONNA COME VISIT WITH YOU. WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THE APPLICATION, UM, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH YOU TO, TO GET THAT BACK TO PLANNING AND KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT PROCESS. AND THEN WE'LL WORK TO CLEAR UP THE, THE CONFUSION THERE THAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS SITUATION DIRECTLY. THANK YOU. NEXT ALI KHAN. I WANTED TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO SPEAK TO THE DELUSION OF NEUTRALITY, THE RULES OF OBJECTIVITY, OR SIMPLY THE NOTION OF NOT TAKING SIDES. IT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE IN WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO AVOID PASSING JUDGMENT OVER A SEEMINGLY COMPLEX MATTER. IT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO AVOID THE MATTER ALTOGETHER AND SIMPLY SAY, HEY, THE ISSUE'S TOO COMPLICATED. THE REALITY IS THAT ANY INJUSTICE TODAY AND IN THE PAST HAS REQUIRED AN OBLIGATION TO ACHIEVE MORAL CLARITY. IT TAKES MORAL COURAGE TO REALIZE THAT NEUTRALITY PRIVILEGES OUR OWN COMFORT ABOVE THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS. THE REALITY IS THAT THE MORAL, THE SAME MORAL COURAGE WAS NEEDED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST JIM CROW. LAWS THAT KEPT BLACK AMERICANS SEGREGATED FROM THE REST OF SOCIETY. THOSE SAME LAWS ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY DISENFRANCHISED BLACK AMERICANS FOR GENERATIONS. IT'S EASY TO LOOK BACK IN HISTORY AND ASSUME THAT WE WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE CAMP OF MALCOLM XA ROSA PARKS. THE REALITY IS THAT WE'RE LIVING IN ANALOGOUS HISTORY WITH PALESTINIANS IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR SELF-DETERMINATION AND THEIR DIGNITY AGAINST A BRUTAL OCCUPATION OF THE ISRAELI REGIME. THE REALITY IS THAT MORAL CLARITY IS QUITE SIMPLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THESE CRIMES HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1948 WITH THE NAKBA, GAZA IS THE LARGEST OPEN AIR PRISON IN THE WORLD. A BRUTAL CONCENTRATION CAMP RUN BY THE ISRAELI REGIME THAT HAS CONTINUED TO DISENFRANCHISE DISPOSSESS AND DEHUMANIZE PALESTINIANS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE REALITY BECOMES QUITE CLEAR WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO NOT IGNORE THE FACT THAT 43,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE. THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, DOCTORS WHO ATTEMPT TO UH, TREAT THE INJURED SURVIVORS ARE ANNIHILATED JOURNALISTS WHO ATTEMPT TO REPORT THOSE CRIMES ARE ANNIHILATED, AND THEN AID WORKERS THAT COME TO ATTEMPT TO RESCUE ARE ALSO KILLED. AND SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO DO? ISRAEL HAS BOMBED SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, MOSQUES, CHURCHES, REFUGEE CAMPS, DESTROYED ALL ASPECTS OF CIVILIAN LIFE IN THE GAZA STRIP, AND NOW IS FACING A CRISIS LEVEL STARVATION. THE REALITY BECOMES QUITE CLEAR WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GENOCIDAL INTENT FROM THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT THEMSELVES, WHO HAVE DELIVERED ON THEIR PROMISE TO COLLECTIVELY SILENCE AND BRUTALIZE THE PALESTINIAN POPULATION. [02:20:01] THE REALITY BECOMES QUITE CLEAR WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CT SCANS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY DOCTORS WHO SHOW THAT CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SHOT IN THE HEADER CHEST. MAYOR WHITMER IN PARTICULAR, HASN'T SAID A WORD ABOUT DIVESTING THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ENTANGLEMENTS, NOR HAS MADE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. TRUE NEUTRALITY, LIKE IF YOU WANT TO BE TRULY NEUTRAL, WOULD MEAN NOT MAKING AN EXCEPTION FOR ISRAEL AS THE ONLY FOREIGN ENTITY THAT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY'S THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S INVESTMENT POLICY. MORAL COURAGE WOULD MEAN REMOVING THAT AUTHORIZATION AND REDIRECTING THOSE INVESTMENTS LOCALLY. TRUE COURAGE WOULD MEAN CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. TRUE COURAGE WOULD MEAN REALIZING THAT NEUTRALITY IS NOTHING MORE THAN A FARCE. AND SO TO CONCLUDE, WHAT I WANT TO GESTURE TOWARDS IS HOW CAN WE HELP YOU REMOVE THAT AUTHORIZATION OF THE ONLY FOREIGN ENTITY? THANK YOU. THAT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOUR TOWN. THAT IS MY QUESTION. THANK YOU, SOPHIA SEGER. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR THAT PRO-PALESTINE AND ANTI GENOCIDE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ATTENDED HOUSTON CITY HALL TO ASK FOR A COMPLETE DIVESTMENT IN ISRAEL, INCLUDING REMOVING THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS. IT HAS BEEN AN UNNECESSARY STEPPING STONE, AND I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN MADE INTENTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE NO CURRENT INVESTMENTS IN ISRAEL BONDS, AND WE ARE ADVOCATING THROUGH FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE OPTION ENTIRELY SO THAT NO FURTHER HARM CAN BE DONE BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO PALESTINIANS WHO ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING GENOCIDE. AND IT CAN'T GO WITHOUT MENTIONING THAT ISRAEL IS EXPANDING ITS GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE LEBANON, WHICH IS NOW EXPERIENCING A LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION SIMILAR TO GAZA AND OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW. AS LONG AS ISRAEL HAS THE UNITED STATES FINANCIAL BACKING TO DO SO. AFTER OVER A YEAR, WELL OVER 200,000 PALESTINIANS AND 3000 LEBANESE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS ONGOING GENOCIDE. AND BEFORE THEN, WHILE HOUSTON HELD A $10 MILLION ISRAEL BOND, 2023 WAS A DEADLIEST YEAR FOR CHILDREN IN THE WEST BANK. ON RECORD. MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS CLAIMED IN THE PAST THAT HOUSTON DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH FOREIGN AFFAIRS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, PLEASE AMEND HOUSTON'S FINANCIAL POLICY TO REMOVE THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS TO ELIMINATE FURTHER INTERNATIONAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY A FOREIGN COUNTRY WITH OUR MONEY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SAIF KA. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, I JUST WANNA TELL YOU ALL, UH, A REALLY AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND ABOUT CITIZENS, UH, GETTING INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT, UH, GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY. AND THAT STORY STARTS A YEAR AGO WHEN MANY CONCERNED CITIZENS STARTED TO, UH, OUT OF SHOCK, OUT OF ANGUISH, OUT OF PAIN. THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD DO, UM, UH, TO ADVOCATE FOR, FOR PEOPLE ABROAD THAT WERE SUFFERING. UM, AND A LOT OF FOLKS CAME HERE. THEY, THEY STARTED ASKING THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE STATEMENTS, TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE TO SEE IF WE COULD INFLUENCE THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION. SOME OF YOU ALL DID THAT, SOME OF YOU ALL DIDN'T. MANY OF YOU ALL WHO DIDN'T SAID THAT. WE DIDN'T WANT THAT. YOU ALL DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. IN THAT PROCESS, MANY OF US STARTED LEARNING MORE ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT, ABOUT CITY INVESTMENTS. WE STARTED LOOKING INTO HOW THE CITY MAY BE INVOLVED IN THIS CONFLICT WITHOUT REALIZING IT. AND WE LEARNED THAT THE CITY, SINCE I THINK THE MID TWO THOUSANDS, HAS HAD THE OPTION TO INVEST IN ISRAELI BONDS. IT'S THE ONLY GOVERNMENT THAT THE CITIES CAN INVEST IN. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN PERIODIC INVESTMENTS, SOME SOMETIMES $5 MILLION, SOMETIMES $10 MILLION PRETTY MUCH EVERY COUPLE YEARS LEADING UP TO 2021. I THINK YOU ALL DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT EITHER. I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, YOU ALL FOUND OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND YOU'VE BEEN RENEWING THAT INVESTMENT POLICY EVERY YEAR, AND I THINK YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW. SO IT'S, IT'S A 15 PAGE INVESTMENT POLICY ON PAGE SEVEN, SECTION 9.10. IT'S LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUNCH OF STUFF ABOUT MUNICIPAL BONDS. BOOM, THERE IT IS. THE ISRAELI BONDS. SO THIS HONESTLY COULD BE A REALLY BEAUTIFUL [02:25:01] STORY ABOUT CITIZENS GETTING INVOLVED, LEARNING ABOUT GOVERNMENT RAISING THE ISSUE, AND YOU ALL DOING THE RIGHT THING. THAT THE THING THAT MAKES SENSE. IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE FOR THE CITY TO HAVE THIS OPTION. THESE BONDS ARE KIND OF JUNK BONDS. IT'S A LOW INVESTMENT, IT'S A LOW INVESTMENT RETURN. IT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CREDIT RATING OF ISRAEL HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE MORAL REASONS THAT, THAT A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HAVE TALKED ABOUT. UM, THERE'S NO SERVICE BEING DONE HERE. HOUSTON IS NOT BEING, UH, HELPED. UH, THERE ARE MANY OTHER PRIORITIES THAT THESE $10 MILLION OR $5 MILLION CAN GO TO. AND UNLESS YOU ALL MAKE THAT CHANGE, THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE CAN MAKE THE INVESTMENT WHENEVER THEY WANT. UM, SO THAT INVESTMENT POLICY IS UP FOR RENEWAL. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ANNUAL. LAST YEAR WAS RENEWED ON NOVEMBER 29TH, SO IT'S COMING UP. IT'S HARD FOR US TO KNOW WHAT DATE THAT'S GONNA BE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO KIND OF FLAG THIS ISSUE FOR YOU ALL AGAIN, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, OPEN TO TALK AND, AND TO LEARN MORE FROM YOU ALL AND TO HOPEFULLY, UH, INFORM YOU ALL OF OUR PERSPECTIVE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN DO THE RIGHT THING AND, AND FINISH OFF THIS AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL STORY OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, UM, AND, AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU. VIC. ANUSHA, SADIQUE, VIX BROWN, RUDY FRANCO. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RUDY FRANCO. I JUST MET MS. MIKEY COLTON. SHE'S A DISABLED VETERAN AND SHE NEEDED HELP IN TAKING THINGS OUT OF HER HOUSE, SO I DOING IT ON MY OWN, HELPING HER OUT, AND SHE'S TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE GONNA DEMOLISH THE HOUSE. ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS FOR TIME TO MOVE THINGS OUT OF THE HOUSE OR LET HER DEMOLISH THE HOUSE WHEN EVERYTHING'S OUT OF THE HOUSE OR THE HOUSE WOULD BE SOLD. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UM, MR. FRANCO. SO IS THIS HOUSE IN FIFTH WARD? UH, NO MA'AM. IT'S OFF OF SIX 10. CELL LINK AND STELLA LINK. 16 WARD, UH, MINE, NEAR MINE PLAZA. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT THE LOCATION OF THE HOUSE. IS IT THE 6 6 7 25 LOS ANGELES? NO, MA'AM. OKAY. MY HOUSE. OKAY. IT'S, UH, 40 21 MCDERMOTT STREET. OKAY. JUST TRYING TO SEE WHERE IT'S LOCATED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS IN, IF IT'S IN DISTRICT B, I CAN TAKE IT, BUT WE NEED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE ADDRESS IS, KATE. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH, I JUST MET HER AND SHE ASKED ME TO HELP HER OUT SINCE SHE'S A VETERAN, A DISABLED VETERAN THAT'S DOING THE RIGHT THING TO DO. OKAY, THANK YOU. DO Y'ALL HEAR THE PROTESTORS? I STILL GET 'EM EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT AT NINE O'CLOCK. NOT GOOD FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT NEXT, I MEAN, YOLANDA ANDRATI. HELLO? UH, MY NAME IS YOLANDA ANDRATI. UH, I'M A NATIVE HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, [02:30:01] I'M 67 YEARS OLD. I, UM, I HAVE BEEN, UH, I'VE HAD A SERIES OF EVENTS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO RESPOND, UM, WHEN I CALL THEM, UH, I'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE NEIGHBORS WITH MY MAIL, ONGOING HARASSMENTS ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, ISSUES WITH FEMA, WITH THE HOTELS, CAR ACCIDENTS, THAT'S, THEY'RE NEVER INVESTIGATED. UM, IT'S JUST AN ONGOING, A SERIES, SERIES OF EVENTS AND I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO LISTEN TO ME. UM, SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THESE, THIS, THESE SERIES OF EVENTS AND I'VE GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES, SIR. UM, AND, UM, I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT STOP? I AM 67 YEARS OLD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, AND I AM UPSET TO SAY THE LEAST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THERE'S NOT AN ATTORNEY THAT WILL TALK TO ME. THERE WILL NOT, I MEAN, LET ME ASK SOMETHING. DO YOU HAVE FAMILY? FAMILY? YES. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT CLOSE, MA'AM. WE ARE NOT CLOSE. OKAY. MY MOM PASSED AWAY. I'M LIVING IN THE HOUSE. DO YOU HAVE SIBLINGS, CHILDREN, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY THAT COULD ASSIST YOU? MY SIBLINGS AND MY CHILDREN AND MY MOTHER. THEY HAD SOMETHING GOING ON AGAINST ME AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING THING. SO AS FAR AS MY FAMILY'S CONCERNED, UH, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEHIND THIS. I KNOW THAT. OKAY. AND, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PAPERS, UH, THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU, UM, BACK, ARE YOU A MEMBER OF A CHURCH? I'M SORRY? ARE YOU A MEMBER OF A CHURCH? YES, I AM. YOU THINK THE PASTOR COULD HELP YOU? MY PASTOR. I'VE BEEN TALKING TO ONE OF THE ELDERS AT THE CHURCH, AND, UH, I'VE GONE TO THE FBI MAYOR. I'VE GONE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND THIS IS WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO COME. OKAY. SO I'M BEING, I'M GOING BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH. OKAY. I WANNA KNOW WHEN IT'S GONNA STOP. HOW DO I GET THIS TO STOP? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DETAILS OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. WE CAN'T DO IT HERE IN COUNSEL TODAY. I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO MS. WILSON WHO WORKS FOR ME RIGHT OVER THERE AND LET'S SEE IF THERE'S NOT A, UH, COUNSELING SERVICE, LEGAL AID NOT, OR SOME GROUP THAT CAN BETTER ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS THAN WE CAN. OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL MONITOR IT AS WE GO FORWARD. OKAY? OKAY, MS. WILSON, BE GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU AND, AND SERGEANT CARR IS ALSO VERY RESOURCEFUL TOO, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY? ALRIGHT. BE SAFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT MAURICE VALE. HOW ARE WE DOING TODAY? UH, WELL, WE'VE GOT, UH, ROUGHLY FIVE, SIX DAYS BEFORE OUR VOTE. NOW I ALREADY PRETTY SURE THAT TRUMP'S HAS IT. I MEAN, SO FAR TRUMP'S SHOWED A BE BIT OF A RUN SO FAR, SO MOST LIKELY HE HAS IT. NOW, AS FAR AS Y'ALL BEING COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU DON'T WANT A SINGLE PART OF MARXISM WITH KAMALA, I MEAN, THE SAME WAY. I'M TOLD NOT TO BELIEVE WHAT I'VE SEEN WHENEVER I'VE SEEN THAT. UH, HOMELAND ADMITTED TO MAKING LIST OF PEOPLE FBI ADMITTED MAKING LISTS OF PEOPLE AND THEY CONSIDER 'EM TERRORIST. NOW THEY'RE PART OF THE MARXIST CROWD. AND ONE THING WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER, YOU DON'T WANT TO GET ON THAT LIST BECAUSE THERE'S A BREAKING POINT. JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR ELECTIONS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND GET TOGETHER ON HAVING TERM, TERM LIMITS IN CONGRESS BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE STAYING THERE TOO LONG, THEY CAN'T RESPECT ANYTHING ANYMORE. BUT WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO COME TOGETHER ON THAT BECAUSE DEMOCRATS NEED US. YEAH. TAM NEED US. THANK YOU LOUIS. DARLING. [02:35:03] LEAH ANGLE. JACOB. CLEMENTE. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. YES. I WAS WORKING IN THE LAB LATE, MY EYES BEATEN SAYING GUYS THERE ONE TIME. HE DOES. IT'S HALLOWEEN TIMES. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? TRICK OR TREAT, TRICK OR CHANGE. TRICK OR CHAIN. TRICK OR TRAIN. TRICK OR TRAIN. TRICK OR GENE. TRICK OR TRAIN. TRICK OR CHANGE. TRICK OR TRAIN. CHECK OR TRAIN. TRICK OR CHAIN. UH, AT RATE, UM, YOU ARE HEARING MORRIS PICK IT. AND, UM, WELL, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS I ASKED WAS PLANNING ON PLAYING . LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING NEW, UM, SOMETHING WE WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GONNA CALL MAYOR MEYER. UH, YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING WEIRD IN NEIGHBORHOOD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED UP. UP. OH, LIKE A CHRISTMAS GIFT, BUT THAT'S ABOUT TWO MONTHS AWAY. OKAY. THANK YOU YOU FOR BEING HERE. SINA CARA? YES. OKAY. YEP. I'M HERE TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT THE END TO THE KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN GAZA AND OCCUPIED PALESTINE. A MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND A MAJORITY OF HOUSTONIANS SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE, AN ARMS EMBARGO. I'M YOUR CONSTITUENT. AND I, I SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE ALSO, AS Y'ALL HEARD MANY TIMES TODAY, OUR CITY'S INVESTMENT POLICY DOES. POLICY DOESN'T AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF BONDS ISSUED BY ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OR ENTITY EXCEPT ISRAEL. ISRAEL BONDS ARE DIRECT, UNRESTRICTED, LOW INTEREST LOANS TO THE GOVERNMENT TO BE USED AT ITS DECRE DISCRETION. BOND INVESTMENTS PROVIDE ISRAEL WITH THE CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY NEEDED TO CONTINUE ITS GOVERNMENTAL POLICY OF APARTHEID. THE MONEY FROM BOND PURCHASES FEEDS INTO ISRAEL'S GENERAL FUND. THE MONEY IS FUNGIBLE, MEANING IT CAN BE USED AS THE GOVERNMENT PLEASES. BOND PURCHASES ARE THEREFORE INEVITABLY TIED TO ISRAEL'S CRIMES OF OCCUPATION AND ETHNIC CLEANSING. I STRONGLY OPPOSE CONTINUED INVESTMENT INTO A FOREIGN ENTITY THAT CONTINUES TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES AND VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW. IF YOU DO NOT AT THE VERY LEAST, SUPPORT REMOVING THIS AS AN OPTION, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY YOU SUPPORT THE CONTINUED SLAUGHTER AND STARVATION OF PAIL PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS. YOUR TIME HAS ON A POPULATION THAT'S HALF CHILDREN. THANK YOU. YEAH. CAROLYN RIVERA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL. I AM CAROLYN RA, A RESIDENT OF CITY GAS. I AM HERE IN REFERENCE TO GOLD STAR METAL RECYCLING COMPANY. IS THERE A CITY ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS FROM A RECYCLING COMPANY, FLUSHING TONS OF TOXIC WASTEWATER INTO THE COMMUNITIES DITCH DRAINAGE SYSTEM. WHY ARE THEY GOING TO COURT? THAT'S GOLD STAR METAL GOING TO COURT IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY. WILL THEY BE IN COMMISSIONER'S [02:40:01] COURT IS A PERMIT OF OCCUPANCY THE ONLY REQUIREMENTS FOR A METAL RECYCLING TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. WHY IS GOLD STAR METAL PERMIT PERMITTED TO EXPAND AFTER YEARS OF COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT VISIBLE DETERIORATION AND POLLUTION OF OUR LIVING ENVIRONMENT? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, PRO ICK STATE. YES, SIR. THANK. COMING DOWN AGAIN, I DO WANNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION. UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS COMPANY BEFORE AND THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO GO TO COURT. UM, IS THERE A WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS RECYCLING COMPANY? BECAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS, HAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE FLUSHING TONS OF TOXIC WASTEWATER INTO THE COMMUNITY'S DITCH DRAINAGE SYSTEM, BUT IF THAT'S THE REPORT, WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T CONTINUE. YES. COUNCILMAN RON? I'M NOT FAMILIAR, I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT ALLEGATION. I WAS ONLY AWARE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AND SO THAT IS WHAT IS THAT CASE IS SET IN JANUARY. UM, WE CAN, I CAN THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY COURT DATE IS IN JANUARY. THAT IS CORRECT, YES. FOR THE, THE ISSUES THEY RECEIVED IN TERMS OF THE, THE, UH, TOXIC WASTEWATER. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THOSE ALLEGATIONS. I CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO HBW AND SEE IF THEY CAN HAVE SOMEONE GO THERE AND INSPECT. UM, I THINK THAT'S WHO WOULD HANDLE THAT, BUT I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT. OKAY. CAN YOU LET US KNOW, UM, WHEN THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GO, GO THERE BECAUSE THAT, THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT SHOULD BE AN EMERGENCY ABSOLUTELY. FOR SOMEBODY TO GO AND THEY, THEY MAY BE AWARE OF IT. I'M JUST NOT, BUT I'LL FIND OUT FOR YOU AND LET YOU KNOW. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. YES. ANYTHING ELSE? WE STAND AND [RECESS] RECESS TO NINE O'CLOCK. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK OCTOBER 29TH AND 30TH, 2024. ITEM ONE IS THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 40 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM TWO PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION OF ENCLAVE ON LUTA. THEN WE HAVE THE MONTHLY REPORT FROM CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF LENCIA HORDE AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JUAN C. GARCIA AS CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT AREA IN THE 1000 BLOCK OF GARDENDALE AND THE 2,900 BLOCK OF BAMBOO. ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORK FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH BADNESS TRENCHLESS SERVICES INC. ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORK FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB L-L-C-D-B-A-I-P-R SOUTH CENTRAL FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM REHABILITATION AND RENEWAL. ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORK FOR APPROVAL OF CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH PM CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB L-L-C-D-B-A-I-P-R SOUTH CENTRAL FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM REHABILITATION AND RENEWAL. ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION FROM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SCR CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS. LLC ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY TO SETTLE THE CONDEMNATION MATTER OF CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS GREENS 69 OWNER, LP ET AL. ITEM 11, BERNARD CONTROLS INC TO REMOVE, FURNISHING AND INSTALL ELECTRIC ACTUATORS. ITEM 12, POLARIS SEALS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF POLARIS ALTERRA VEHICLES. ITEM 13, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISE HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-V-H, CHASTAIN FORD SEAL FORD AND SEABURY TOYOTA FOR PURCHASE OF FORD POLICE INTERCEPTIVE VEHICLES. ITEM 14, LAKE COUNTRY CHEVROLET, SALSBURY FORD SALSBURY TOYOTA FOR PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES. ITEM 15 RESOLUTION I APPRO AN AUTHORIZING DENOMINATION OF INTEGRA MISSION CRITICAL LLC ITEM 16 ORDINANCE I APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVER 2017 FUNDS TO PAY PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION FEES TO CITY PARK COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION INC. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY HOUSTON AND HTG RUSHMORE, LLC ITEM 18 ORDINANCE [02:45:01] AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF AIRPORT SYSTEMS, SPECIAL FACILITIES REVENUE BONDS. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 345,915. 9 59 15 OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND DE APPROPRIATE AND 25,000 APPROVED UNDER ORDINANCE 20 23 20 94 FROM AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING APPRO AMENDED AND RESTATED DESIGN BILL CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FLINTCO LLC ITEM 20. ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CREATION AND EXECUTION OF FORM INTERNATIONAL FACILITIES AGREEMENT AMENDMENTS NUMBER ONE ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL FUNDS OUT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT WITH AN BRYAN CONSTRUCTION LTD ITEM 22 ORDINANCE DECLARING SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZING SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING PARCELS, APPROXIMATELY 1.248 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 20 84 18 AND 84 22 JENSEN DRIVE, HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS 7 7 0 9 3 AND IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL P 9 9 0 0 2 AND TWO APPROXIMATELY 0.64 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 71 31 CULLEN BOULEVARD, HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS 7 7 0 2 1 AND IDENTIFIED AS PARTIAL PP 7 7 0 0 1 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING REAL ESTATE AND MARKETING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND WOMAC DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT REALTORS INCORPORATED. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE FOR EXPENSES PARKING LOT LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SP PLUS CORPORATION. ITEM 24, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 22 TO 20 22 6, EXCUSE ME, TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND STRYKER SALES CORPORATION. ITEM 25, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PM AM CORPORATION. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF ST. GEORGE PLACE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENTS ZONE NUMBER ONE. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE RELATING TO PHYSICAL AFFAIRS OF MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DBA DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER THREE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MAIN STREET MARKET SQUARE ZONE ITEM 28 ORDINANCE RELATING TO PHYSICAL AFFAIRS OF UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 16, EXCUSE ME, ITEM, UH, ITEM 29, ORDINANCE OF MANY ORDINANCE 20 24 1 18 FOR ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FY 2025 SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, COMPREHENSIVE MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE MEETING ORDINANCE 20 24 1 19 FOR ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FY 2025 SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT GRANT, COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT. ITEM 31 MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION ORDINANCE PROHIBITING USE OF DESIGNATED GROUNDWATER BENEATH TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING 0.412 ACRES, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1733 WORD ROAD AT THE REQUEST OF COBB INTEREST INC. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,314,889 87 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AOR TAX, IMPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TRANS SYSTEMS CORPORATION, DVA, TRANS SYSTEMS CORPORATION CONSULTANTS. ITEM 33, ORDINANCE AWARDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO GOODMAN CORPORATION. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE AWARDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO W-S-P-U-S-A INC. ITEM 35, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 24 7 83. PASS. SECOND READING. OCTOBER 23RD, 2024. ALL THESE WERE PASSED. SECOND READING. AND THESE ARE THE THIRD AND FINAL READINGS. THIS WAS ORDINANCE 20 24 7 83 A EVERGREEN VACUUM SERVICES 36, ORDINANCE 20 24 7 84. BUCK WASTE, LLC ITEM 37, ORDINANCE 20 24 7 85. PAST SECOND READING CONTROL WASTE SERVICES, LLC ITEM 38, ORDINANCE 20 24 7 86, DANIEL SMART, SHARP, SMART INC. ITEM 39, ORDINANCE 20 24 7 87 GB RECYCLE, LLC ITEM 40 SET 20 24 7 88 GFL OF TEXAS LP ITEM 41 20 24 7 89 GFL PLANT SERVICES LP AND ITEM 42 20 24 7 90. HERITAGE CRYSTAL CLEAN LLC. THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM 43 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WITH INTEGRA MISSION CRITICAL [02:50:01] LLC. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE IS 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 13TH. ITEM 44 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF A LANDMARK PROTECTIVE LANDMARK OR A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE HEARING DATE. 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2024 UNDER THE MATTERS HELD CATEGORY ITEM MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CTECH TATUM, SECONDED BY PECK TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLL. THIS IS ITEM ONE ON AGENDA OF OCTOBER 23RD. ITEM 46 IS A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CTECH TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PECK TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL TO FIND A CONTRACT AMOUNT OF AND ACCEPTING WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THIS WAS ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA OF OCTOBER 23RD, 2024. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF OCTOBER 30TH, 2024. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR INFAMOUS CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED BLESSING, FANTABULOUS DAY COUNCIL. [RECONVENE] COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER PLEASE. FIRST, [ADMIN REPORT] UH, THE MAYOR RECOGNIZES, UM, CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR MELISSA DSKY, FOR OUR FINANCIAL MONTHLY REPORT. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $251.9 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. THIS IS $64.8 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THE DIFFERENCE IS DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $61.2 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET, UPHOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO AND RESERVE. THE FY 2025 BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS $35.6 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE FY 2024 ENDING FUND BALANCE REPORTED IN THE JUNE 30TH, 2024 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. THE INCREASE IS DUE TO YEAR END ADJUSTMENTS TO REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL THE FY 2024 FER IS PUBLISHED. WE'VE DECREASED OUR REVENUE PROJECTION BY $46.1 MILLION FROM THE AUGUST, 2024 REPORT. TO REFLECT THE RECENTLY ADOPTED TAX RATE, WE'VE INCREASED OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION BY $4.1 MILLION FROM THE AUGUST, 2024 REPORT. THAT INCREASE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO AN INCREASE OF THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT TO REFLECT FUNDING FOR THE HOUSTON NAVIGATION CENTERS OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE OF $0.6 MILLION IN ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS TO REFLECT A TRANSFER TO THE BARC SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES. MOVING TO THE CITY'S ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM FUND, OPERATING REVENUES DECREASED BY $159 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECENT WATER BILL REFORMS. OPERATING EXPENSES INCREASED BY $14.1 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CLAIMS AND JUDGMENTS. OPERATING TRANSFERS DECREASED BY $14.1 MILLION DUE TO LOWER TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND AT VALOREM. TOTAL REVENUES INCREASED BY $1 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST ON POOLED INVESTMENTS. WE'RE PROJECTING NO CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S AMOUNTS IN THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING FUND, THE STORM WATER FUND OR THE OTHER DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUNDS 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 SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, THE RATIO OF UNH VARIABLE RATE DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF OUTSTANDING DEBT WAS WELL BELOW THAT THRESHOLD. MOVING ON TO OUR QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, THE CITY HAD $5.6 BILLION INVESTED IN OUR GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL. THE CHARACTER OF THIS POOL IS THAT OF A SHORT TERM BOND, PARDON ME, A SHORT TERM BOND FUND THAT HOLDS INVESTMENTS OF [02:55:01] VERY HIGH CREDIT QUALITY. FITCH RATINGS REVIEWED THIS POOL AND ASSIGNED THE POOL ITS HIGHEST RATING. AAA, OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY IS TO MATCH ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR A TIME PERIOD OF ONE YEAR INTO THE FUTURE AND TO EXERCISE DISCRETION FOR THE BALANCE OF REMAINING FUNDS. INVESTMENTS ARE $84 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR. THIS IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCES IN THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL WAS YIELDING 3.74%, WHICH IS DOWN FROM THE 3.7800000000000002% YIELD IN THE PRIOR QUARTER. IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL, WE HAVE TWO SMALL INVESTMENT POOLS THAT TOTAL ABOUT $16 MILLION. THOSE POOLS EXIST TO COMPLY WITH TAX REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. A DETAILED LISTING OF ALL THE SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CITY APPEARS AT THE BACK OF THE INVESTMENT REPORT. ALONG WITH OUR INVESTMENT REPORT, WE'VE INCLUDED THE QUARTERLY SWAP REPORT AS IS REQUIRED BY THE CITY'S SWAP POLICY. THE WRITTEN SWAP REPORT THAT APPEARS IN THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF OUR TWO SWAP POSITIONS. THE CITY HAS NEGATIVE RECEIPTS FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024 FROM ITS SWAPS VALUED AT $2.3 MILLION. THE FAIR VALUE FOR THE SWAPS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024 WAS NEGATIVE $94.7 MILLION, WHICH IS $9.2 MILLION LESS THAN LAST QUARTER. THE CITY SWAPS ARE FAIRLY COMPLEX, SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE. MAYOR, IF I MAY HAVE A BRIEF MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AT THIS MOMENT, WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MIDST OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ELECTION OF OUR LIVES. POLLS ARE OPEN ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE EXERCISE OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT AS AMERICAN CITIZENS TO VOTE. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY IN OUR COMMUNITY'S ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, THE QUALITY OF OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND A FAIR JUSTICE SYSTEM. ALL OF THESE AND MORE ARE ON THE BALLOT. AND REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU PLAN TO VOTE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. HARRIS COUNTY HAS 87 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND YOU CAN VOTE AT WHICHEVER IS MOST CONVENIENT FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE A LONG WORKDAY. POLLS ARE OPEN UNTIL 8:00 PM TONIGHT AND 9:00 PM TOMORROW BEFORE CLOSING. AT 7:00 PM FRIDAY, WHICH IS THE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING. FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY, THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS MADE USE OF 24 HOUR VOTING. THAT AND OTHER INNOVATIONS LED TO RECORD TURNOUT. AND ALTHOUGH CHANGES IN STATE LAW HAVE MADE VOTING HARDER SINCE THEN, THE OBSTACLES ARE NOTHING THAT HOUSTON CAN'T HANDLE. MY HOPE IS THAT WE SET RECORDS ONCE AGAIN AND IN DOING SO, DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY OF THOUGHTS AND IDEAS. ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, AND POLLS ARE OPEN. 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM THAT DAY. TO SEE YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT OR FIND A VOTING LOCATION, VISIT HARRIS VOTES.COM FOR HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS.MCX.ORG IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY OR GOOGLE FORT BEND VOTES TO ACCESS EASY LINKS TO KEY INFORMATION ABOUT FORT BEND COUNTY ELECTIONS. NOW, AS YOU'VE UNDOUBTEDLY HEARD FROM ME, MY TEAM OR THE MEDIA AT THIS POINT LAST WEEK, MY OFFICE HOSTED THE NINTH ANNUAL CITY OF HOUSTON INVESTOR CONFERENCE. AND LET ME SAY THAT IT WAS A SUCCESS BY EVERY MEASURE. THE ANNUAL EVENT PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR DISCUSSING HOUSTON'S FINANCIAL FUTURE AND CONVENES THOUGHT LEADERS AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HIGHLIGHT THE INVESTMENT POTENTIAL OF NOT JUST OUR CITY, BUT OUR REGION AND OUR STATE. AND THIS CONFERENCE COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME. DESPITE RECENT DOWN REVISIONS TO THE CITY'S CREDIT OUTLOOKS, LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OUR GROWING STRUCTURAL BUDGET SHORTFALL CONFERENCE, ATTENDEES HEARD CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT HOUSTON'S FUNDAMENTAL VALUE PROPOSITION REMAINS STRONG. I'D LIKE TO COMMEND CONTROLLER'S, OFFICE STAFF FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO SHOWCASE THE BEST OF OUR CITY, WITHOUT WHOM THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK PANELISTS AND MODERATORS FROM ENERGY LEADERS LIKE CHEVRON, OXY, AND WILLIAMS PENSION BOARD MEMBERS FROM HOUSTON, ATLANTA, AND THE STATE TEACHER'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM NUMEROUS OTHER CITIES, COUNTIES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE'RE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE SHARED BY GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP PRESIDENT AND CEO STEVE KEEN, AND THE GREETING PROVIDED BY FORMER MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. THE STRONG ENGAGEMENT AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED REINFORCE OUR CONFIDENCE IN BUILDING EVEN GREATER MOMENTUM FOR NEXT YEAR. WHEN MY TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO PUTTING ON THE 10TH ANNUAL CITY OF HOUSTON INVESTOR CONFERENCE. FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO RETURN TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF ELECTIONS ON EM. ON NOVEMBER 7TH OF LAST YEAR, HOUSTONIANS WERE ASKED TO VOTE ON SEVERAL ITEMS, INCLUDING A NEW MAYOR, A NEW CONTROLLER, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER [03:00:02] PROPOSITION B ON THAT BALLOT, FOCUSED ON HOUSTON'S MEMBERSHIP AND THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. MORE SPECIFICALLY, OUR CITY'S LACK OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION WITHIN HGAC. AND WHILE I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUAL REPRESENTATION IN A DEMOCRACY, THE ISSUE WITH HGAC WENT BEYOND JUST THE CONCEPTUAL NOTION OF FAIRNESS. THERE WERE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL VOTED TO SUPPORT THE I 45 EXPANSION PROJECT, EVEN THOUGH THE PROJECT TAKES PLACE ENTIRELY WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EVERY SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE FROM HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY VOTED NO ON THE PROJECT. AND HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY REPRESENT A 60% MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION REPRESENTED ON THE COUNCIL. THAT'S JUST AN UNJUST OUTCOME, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. SIMILARLY, WHEN IT TAKES TIME TO ALLOCATE NEARLY $500 MILLION FOR CRITICAL FUND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, HOUSTON RECEIVED LESS THAN 2% OF THE FUNDS WHILE REPRESENTING 30% OF THE POPULATION. PROPORTIONAL FUNDING WOULD'VE RESULTED IN AN ADDITIONAL $140 MILLION FOR HOUSTON FLOOD PROJECTS, WHICH I THINK EVERY HOUSTONIAN WOULD AGREE IS NEEDED. AND SO WHEN PROPOSITION B WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT REQUIRING THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO EITHER RECEIVE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION WITHIN HGAC OR WITHDRAW ENTIRELY, HOUSTONIANS SUPPORTED PROP B IN A LANDSLIDE. PROP B GOT MORE VOTES THAN YOU MAYOR. IT GOT MORE VOTES THAN ME. IT GOT MORE VOTES THAN EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS HONORABLE COUNCIL. IT WON IN MORE THAN 95% OF PRECINCTS, WHICH IS A TRULY REMARKABLE OUTCOME, UH, IN TODAY'S, UH, ELECTION ATMOSPHERE. AND BECAUSE PROP B PASSED, OUR CITY CHARTER NOW STATES IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION WITHIN HGAC, WE MUST WITHDRAW FROM HGAC. IT'S PUZZLING THEN THAT CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TODAY TO RENEW THE CITY'S MEMBERSHIP IN HGAC IN BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE CITY CHARTER AND THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WENT TO HGAC AND REQUESTED PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL BEING FULLY AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES, REJECTED THE CITY'S PROPOSAL. WE AS A CITY ARE NOW LEFT WITH NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO WITHDRAW. NOW, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ATTEMPTING TO WITHDRAW WILL PUT FEDERAL FUNDS AT RISK FOR HOUSTON. THAT'S NOT TRUE. FEDERAL LAW IS CLEAR THAT EVEN IN THESE SITUATIONS, THE CURRENT DESIGNATION WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL OFFICIAL RE-DESIGNATION HAS BEEN MADE. YOU MAY HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT HOUSTON CAN'T WITHDRAW UNILATERALLY AND THUS THAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY POWERLESS. THAT'S ALSO FALSE DECISIONS THAT HGAC HAS ALREADY MADE WILL TRIGGER A RE-DESIGNATION PROCESS. AND FEDERAL LAW IS AGAIN CLEAR HERE, THAT RE-DESIGNATION CANNOT TAKE PLACE WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE LARGEST CITY IN THE AREA, WHICH IS HOUSTON. AND SO WE DO HAVE POWER. SO TO PUT IT PLAINLY, THE CITY'S NOT POWERLESS IN THIS SITUATION. IN FACT, IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE. BY REFUSING TO RENEW THE CITY'S MEMBERSHIP IN HGAC, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO HONOR THE DECISION OF THE VOTERS TO ENABLE PROPORTIONAL CITY REPRESENTATION. AND IN DOING SO, RESTORE THE BELIEF THAT CITY LEADERS RESPECT THE WILL. MR. CONTROLLER OF HOUSTONIANS, I I WOULD ASK, ASK YOU TO WRAP UP YOUR PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. I THINK YOU'RE REALLY ABUSING OUR TIME AT THIS POINT. I DON'T THINK I AM MAYOR, BUT I'M ALMOST DONE. NUMBER TWO, YOU'RE NOT PUTTING THE CITY AT RISK OF LOSING FEDERAL FUNDS BY USING THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE. THE CURRENT DESIGNATION IS PRESERVED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. THE ONLY THING HOUSTON HAS TO LOSE IS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS BY NOT HAVING FAIR REPRESENTATION. NUMBER THREE, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN THE MATTER. THE CITY CHARTER SAYS THIS, IT'S VERY CLEAR AND THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN BECAUSE FAIR REPRESENTATION HAS BEEN REJECTED BY OTHER HGAC MEMBERS. THE CITY HAS TO WITHDRAW. THAT'S WHAT OUR CHARTER SAYS. OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH. AND NUMBER FOUR, I'M SERIOUS. THAT'S ENOUGH. AND NUMBER FOUR, CHRIS, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU'RE BEING, YOU'RE ABUSING OUR TIME. MAYOR, YOUR POSTED MATTER IS FOR THE FINANCIAL REPORT. I'VE BEEN, I'M FINISHED. I'VE VERY, VERY GENEROUS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ON SHOULD ON BEHALF FOR THE PRIVILEGE, I'VE ASKED YOU TO WRAP UP YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT. I'M NEARLY DONE OF VI UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD WE PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF VIOLATING OUR OWN CITY CHARTER AND OF IGNORING THE WILL OF MORE HOUSTON VOTERS THAN VOTED FOR LITERALLY ANY OF US RENEWAL WITHOUT PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. DISHONORS THE HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE ENDURED HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO HGCS ANTIQUATED FUNDING METHODOLOGY. HOUSTONIANS DESERVE BETTER INVESTMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING AROUND THE REGION'S GROWTH. AND YOU HAVE THE POWER AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER IT. [03:05:01] THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. NOW FOR THE STATED PURPOSE OF WHY WE'RE HERE, WOULD THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY GIVE US A REPORT AND WE WILL, UH, CALL ON THE CITY ATTORNEY IN A MOMENT TO DEAL WITH MISINFORMATION. UH, GO AHEAD, MELISSA. GIVE US WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE THREE PLUS NINE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON THREE MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND NINE MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. THE REVENUE PROJECTION IS 3.1 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH DURING THIS MONTHLY REPORT. WE ARE NOT MAKING CHANGES TO THE REVENUES, UH, IN THIS REPORT, BUT WE WILL BE ADJUSTING THE PROPERTY TAX ESTIMATE DOWN IN THE OCTOBER REPORTING PERIOD TO REFLECT THE TIMING OF THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE, WHICH OCCURRED IN OCTOBER FOR SALES TAX. UH, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES TO SALES TAX REVENUE AT THIS TIME, BUT JUST TO UPDATE THIS BODY SALES TAX, UH, RECEIPTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, WERE $73 MILLION, WHICH IS 1% HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, AND $1.7 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE BUDGETED AMOUNT. IN ORDER TO MEET THE CURRENT ESTIMATE OF $893 MILLION, THE REMAINING PERIODS NEED TO COME IN ABOUT 0.9% ABOVE THE PRIOR YEAR. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THESE REVENUES. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE PROJECTION IS 12.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 4.1 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH. THE VARIANCE IS DUE TO THE 3.5 MILLION INCREASE FOR THE HOUSING NAVIGATION CENTER AND THE $563,000 INCREASE, UH, FOR A RA FOR THE TRANSFER TO THE BARK FUND FOR THE SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES. WITH THAT, WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE TO BE 316.7 MILLION, WHICH IS 4.1 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PRIOR MONTH, AND REPRESENTS 12.5% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. THAT FUND BALANCE IS 126 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUND. THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM OPERATING REVENUE DECREASE BY ONE POINT, SORRY, 159 MILLION DUE TO THE DECREASE IN WATER AND SEWER SALES. AND THIS IS RELATED TO THE WATER BILLING RELIEF PROGRAM. OPERATING EXPENDITURES INCREASED BY 14 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CLAIMS AND JUDGMENTS FOR THE D-D-S-R-F FUND OUT OF ALARM TAX REVENUE INCREASE BY $1 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INVESTMENTS. AND, UH, YESTERDAY'S BFA COMMITTEE, I GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE HOUSTON ECONOMY, UH, ON THE EMPLOYMENT ENERGY AND HOME SALES. UH, SO I WON'T GO OVER ALL THOSE DETAILS TODAY AND YESTERDAY I ALSO GAVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE DISASTER FINANCES WITH WHERE WE ARE WITH THE, UH, ADVANCED FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT CAME THROUGH OUR STATE PARTNERS, UH, AND THE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE ONGOING WITH THE STATE TO ASSIST WITH OUR LOCAL SHARE FOR THE DEBRIS REMOVAL. THAT WAS DISCUSSED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. SO I GAVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THAT YESTERDAY. UH, BUT I WON'T GO OVER ALL THOSE DETAILS AGAIN TODAY UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A REPORT? COUNCILMAN HOR, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S IN THE QUEUE. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. I DIDN'T SEE IT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I WANNA THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE EXTENDED DIALOGUE, UH, CONTROLLER REGARDING INSIGHTS, UH, THAT ARE HELPFUL FOR US TO, UH, KNOW ABOUT AS A BODY. UM, FEW QUESTIONS. UH, FIRST ONE, UM, TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RECENTLY, UH, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE RECEIVING $50 MILLION, UH, FOR DISASTER RECOVERY. UM, OUT OF THAT 50 MILLION, HOW MUCH IS COMING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON? OUR ESTIMATE IS THAT 33 MILLION OF THAT WE'LL COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THAT 33 MILLION REPRESENTS 25% THE LOCAL SHARE OF THE DEBRIS REMOVAL COST. OKAY, GREAT. UH, CURRENTLY, WHAT IS OUR ANTICIPATED BUDGET SHORTFALL FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR? BASED ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY? MM-HMM . BASED ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IT'S 229,000,229 MILLION. AND, AND IS, IS THAT INCLUDING THE, THE 33 MILLION THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATED TO RECEIVE FOR OUR MATCH OR NOT INCLUDING? SO THE 33 MILLION, THOSE, THAT THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE INCURRED AND EXPENDED ALREADY IN THIS FISCAL YEAR? UM, BECAUSE THE DEBRIS REMOVAL WORK IS LARGELY COMPLETED AND INVOICED. SO IT'S, IT'S FACTORED IN. OKAY. YEAH. SO, SO 229 MILLION IS OUR ANTICIPATED CURRENT SHORTFALL FOR FY 26? YES. OKAY. AND, UM, RECENTLY, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION PUT FORTH [03:10:01] $10,000 TO HPD CADETS, UH, FOR I THINK CLASS 2 67. UM, THE CLASSES OF 2 65 AND 2 66, I DON'T BELIEVE RECEIVED THE 10,000. ARE THEY BEING CONSIDERED FOR THAT AS WELL SO THAT IT'S FAIR? BECAUSE NOW WHAT WE HAVE IS CADETS WHO HAVE, ARE GRADUATING MAKING LESS THAN THE RECENT CADETS. AND HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE? MM-HMM . SO I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THE INTENTION WAS THAT, UH, WHEN THE ARPA MONEY, UM, WE HAD ARPA MONEY THAT WE HAD PUT TOWARDS THE CADET INCENTIVE PROGRAM, AND THE INTENTION WAS THAT THE GENERAL FUND WOULD, UH, PICK UP THE CADET INCENTIVES AFTER THE, YOU KNOW, ARPA MONEY CONCLUDED. ALRIGHT. IF YOU CAN KEEP ME POSTED ON THAT. SURE. AND LASTLY, TO THE CONTROLLER, I KNOW RECENTLY YOU REPORTED THAT CREDIT RA CREDIT RATING AGENCIES GAVE, UH, HOUSTON A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK. WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING AS A BODY TO, TO CHANGE THAT? WHAT, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA OR THE MECHANICS THAT THE CREDIT AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT TO ENSURE THAT WE NO LONGER GET A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK? SURE. UH, I CAN GIVE YOU A MORE COMPLETE ANSWER BECAUSE THEY, THEY HAVE CLEAR RUBRICS ON WHAT THEIR STANDARDS ARE FOR THE VARIOUS LEVELS, AAA, AA, AND ON DOWN. UM, BUT LARGELY WHAT THEY HIGHLIGHTED IN THEIR NEGATIVE OUTLOOKS, UH, WAS THE INCREASING DEBT OF THE CITY, UH, LOWER RESERVES AND RESERVES THAT ARE TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION IN A STRUCTURALLY AND BALANCED BUDGET. SO, I MEAN, THE SHORT VERSION OF WHAT WE COULD DO TO RIGHT THE SHIP, UH, WOULD BE HAVING A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. UH, BUT THERE ARE OTHER, YOU KNOW, I WON'T WANNA SAY MORE TECHNICAL ASSETS, BUT, BUT MORE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF IT THAT WE COULD SHARE WITH YOU, UH, AND, AND JUST, UH, MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF COUNCIL HAS, HAS ACCESS TO IT. UH, LOOK, WE'D LOVE TO BE GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND, AND STRIVING FOR, YOU KNOW, THE AAA WAY AND, UH, SOME OF THOSE RATING AGENCIES WERE DOWN HERE LAST WEEK FOR THE INVESTOR CONFERENCE AND WE SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THAT, AND WE'LL BE HAVING FOLLOW UP MEETINGS SOON. THANK YOU. CAMAN. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN? UH, NO. YEAH. CAYMAN. OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. GOOD MORNING. UM, FIRST DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UH, GOING BACK TO THE, UH, STATE FUNDING, I THINK YOU SAID NOW, 33 MILLION, UM, AND THAT'S BEING APPLIED TO THE 25% MATCH FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL. MM-HMM . HOW MUCH IS LEFT THAT WE, UM, ARE IN THE RED ON FOR OUR 25% MATCH OVERALL IN TERMS OF DISASTER RECOVERY? SURE. FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UM, THE, THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND SHARE OF ALL THE COSTS AND THE DEBRIS REMOVAL, IT COMES TO ABOUT $7 MILLION THAT OUR LOCAL SHARE WILL BE FOR NON DEBRIS REMOVAL ITEMS. OKAY. SO WE'RE STILL, WE STILL OWE 7 MILLION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE UP THAT, BUT THAT'S AGAIN, IN PART OF A BIGGER PICTURE OF OVER 200 MILLION, UH, THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW. YES. THANK YOU. UH, CONTROLLER. I ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MAYOR, SINCE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S GONNA BE COMMENTING ON SEVERAL THINGS, I'M GONNA ASK A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I HOPE THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN ALSO RESPOND TO, UM, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DOLLARS INVOLVED AS IT RELATES TO HGA, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT IS GERMANE TO, UM, THESE PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE THAT HAS TO DO WITH CITY-BASED FUNDING AND THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED. UM, CITY CONTROLLER, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, UM, MAY NOT BE PUT AT RISK BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE, UH, THERE WOULDN'T YET BE A FORCED RESTRUCTURING. IT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE RESTRUCTURING, AND THEN WE COULD STILL GET THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS. WHAT ABOUT STATE DOLLARS THAT COME THROUGH HGAC? SO THERE'S STATE GRANTS AS WELL. AGAIN, THE, THE, THE, ACCORDING TO FEDERAL LAW AROUND NPOS, UH, THE STATUS QUO REMAINS INTACT UNTIL EVERY DESIGNATION PROCESS, UH, IS COMPLETE. THAT TAKES INTERACTION WITH THE GOVERNOR. IT TAKES VOTES BY THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. UH, BUT IT ALSO, AGAIN, TAKES THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN 75% OF THE POPULATION, UM, OF THE, THE REPRESENTED AREA, WHICH, UH, IN THIS CASE, EITHER LACK OF SUPPORT BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR LACK OF SUPPORT BY HARRIS COUNTY, UH, WOULD, WOULD NOT ALLOW RESIG RE DESIGNATION TO BE COMPLETE. SO THE CITY HAS LEVERAGE IN THAT REGARD AND THAT A RE-DESIGNATION IS ALREADY HAPPENING BECAUSE OTHER COUNTIES ARE BEING ADDED TO THE AREA. AND A A YES VOTE ON THE NEW RE-DESIGNATION COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE CITY VOTING. YES. RIGHT. AND, AND I WILL SAY FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE, SITTING ON TPC IS AN ALTERNATE. I KNOW THE CITY HAS FOUGHT LIKE HELL, UM, AT HAC FOR, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, I WOULD SAY THE DEMANDS THAT VOTERS HAVE HAVE SAID SO. SO I DO WANNA GIVE CREDIT MAYOR, UM, TO THE WORK THAT HAS, HAS BEEN DONE TRYING TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE, UM, WITHIN HA IN THE MAKEUP. BUT [03:15:01] THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. AND I TRIED TO COVER THAT IN, IN MY COMMENTS. WE DID GO, UH, AND, UH, TO HGAC DIRECTLY AND TRY TO NEGOTIATE THESE, I BELIEVE SUBCOMMITTEES WERE SET UP TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR WORK THERE. UH, BUT WITH WHAT, IN MY OPINION, WERE VERY REASONABLE, UH, PROPOSALS. AGAIN, THOSE WERE REJECTED. AND SO NOW WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AND, AND ABSOLUTELY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN DESERVES A LOT OF, UM, KUDOS FOR ALL THE HOURS AND EFFORTS THAT SHE PUT IN SPECIFICALLY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, CONTROLLER, YOU TOOK OUT THE $46 MILLION THIS ON THIS REPORT, UM, THAT WE WERE, UH, IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A TAX RATE ADJUSTMENT. UM, I BELIEVE ON THE SEPTEMBER 9TH PRESENTATION THAT DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI DID, UM, SHE INDICATED, UH, THAT A 1.7 INCREASE WOULD, WOULD, UH, 1.70 CENT INCREASE, WOULD KEEP THAT. AM I RIGHT? KEEP THAT 46 MILLION WHERE WE ARE. UM, I UNDERSTAND DIRECTOR, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THAT $46 MILLION OUT, UM, NEXT MONTH. CORRECT. THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN NEXT MONTH'S MOER. MY QUESTION IS ON THE $230 MILLION, UM, SHORTFALL, WILL THAT INCREASE BY 46 MILLION? UM, WHEN YOU MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT, OR, OR, I, I KNOW ADJUSTMENTS ARE COMING BECAUSE OF THE ERNST AND YOUNG THING. I KNOW OTHER THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN, BUT THAT $230 MILLION SHORTFALL DOES NOT REFLECT THE DECREASE OF $46 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE. SO THE $229 MILLION SHORTFALL IS BASED ON CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR FY 26. UM, SO WE OF COURSE, WILL LOOK AT WHAT THOSE, UH, ASSUMPTIONS ARE MOVING TOWARDS THE PREPARATION FOR THE BUDGET. UM, IT'S NOT, IT DOESN'T IMPACT IT, IT'S NOT A DOLLAR TO DOLLAR THING. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. THAT, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. OKAY. UM, I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, BUT THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I HAVE A QUESTION I'VE ASKED, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS BACK ON THE PRESENTATION FROM MY FINANCE DIRECTOR AND LOOKING AT BOTH LISTED, BOTH CONTROLLING YOU AND YOUR NUMBERS MM-HMM . AND GOING OVER, UM, FINANCE DIRECTOR, THE DISASTER RECOVERY UPDATE. WHERE IS I, I, I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE WHO GOES OUT TO THE A HUNDRED, WHAT, 93 POINT OR $5 MILLION THAT FEMA OWES THE CITY FROM THE DISASTER RELIEF. WHAT, WHO GOES PUT THAT PROCESS IN PLACE TO ASK FOR THAT MONEY? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE, THE DI DICHO AND THE BARREL DISASTERS? YES. YES. OKAY. SO, UM, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE STATE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FEMA. UM, WE PUT THE REQUEST IN WITH THE STATE AND WITH FEMA, WE WORK WITH THE, THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT THE CITY TO PROVIDE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY NEED. OKAY. AND WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. OKAY, GOOD. SO NOW THE STATE HAS STEPPED UP WITH 50 MILLION. SO NOW FOR THE A HUNDRED MILLION, IT, WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS. SO THAT MEANS WE SHOULD ADVOCATE AND, OR PROBABLY TO OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE, WHATEVER, TO EXPEDITE THIS MATTER BECAUSE IT IS THE MONEY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OWES US FROM BOTH OF THE STORMS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN PAID. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE DEBRIS REMOVAL, WE PUT IN REQUESTS FOR, THEY'RE CALLED EXPEDITED PROJECT WORKSHEETS. YEAH. AND WE WERE, UM, IN WORKING WITH THE STATE AND FEMA, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS THE FIRST, UM, AND UP TO A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE ONLY, UM, JURISDICTION THAT HAD THOSE PROJECT WORKSHEETS OBLIGATED FOR THE DEBRIS REMOVAL SPECIFICALLY. UH, SO WE WERE, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE, UH, $48 MILLION IN CASH FROM FEMA THROUGH TDO TO ASSIST WITH PAYING THE DEBRIS REMOVAL INVOICES AS AN EXPEDITED PROJECT WORKSHEET. SO THE MONEY IS, IS FLOWING, THE PROCESS IS UNDERWAY. IT IS, IT IS FLOWING, YES, SIR. OKAY. YES. ALRIGHT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE GET WHAT'S DUE US, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEBT AND OTHER ENTITIES, BUT WE DEFINITELY, I MEAN, IF THEY OWE US, THEY ALL TO PAY US. YES. IT'S SIMPLE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WE APPRECIATED, UH, THE PRESENTATION FROM FINANCE YESTERDAY, GIVING US AN UPDATE ON DISASTER FUNDS. MM-HMM . UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN YEARS PAST, PARTICULARLY AROUND HARVEY, THAT IN, IN SORT OF SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE MOER, THERE WAS A SPECIFIC REPORT THAT KIND OF CAME MONTHLY THAT JUST LAID OUT THOSE FINANCES AND MADE 'EM CLEAR. AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH FINANCE TO, UH, ENSURE THAT EXISTS IN MONTHS GOING FORWARD. GOOD. GOOD. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. ANYONE ELSE? [03:20:01] COUNCILMAN ALCORN. I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. SECOND CASTILLO MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. ITEMS THREE [MISCELLANEOUS] AND FOUR, PLEASE. WHY ARE WE SKIPPING THERE? DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE IT OUTTA ORDER? YEAH. YOUR PRO CAST SIX SEVEN. YOU ALLOW US TO GO OUT ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE OUR GUEST. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TM, MOVE MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MEMBERS, UH, THIS MORNING WE HAVE KEY APPOINTMENTS. CERTAINLY WE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. UM, IT'S A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SUCH AN IMPACT ON CITY'S BUSINESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY TO DO WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE IT. UM, IT TAKES, HAS BEEN TAKEN LIKE EIGHT, 10 MONTHS TO CERTIFY SOMEONE. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD PEOPLE ON MY STAFF AND OTHERS THAT COULDN'T GET CERTIFIED IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME SCHEDULE. WE, WE HOLD, UH, CONTRACTORS AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MWB GOALS. AND IT ALSO UPON REVIEW OF THE OFFICE, UH, WE JUST DON'T HAVE LARGE ENOUGH POOL IN MANY INSTANCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED. WE'RE DOING CERTIFICATION FOR MANY, MANY JURISDICTIONS IN OUR REGION. SO IT'S ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT, UH, FUNCTIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENT. I'VE HAD DISCUSSION WITH THE INTERIM DIRECTOR, MS. HORDE. I'VE BEEN TOTALLY, UH, IMPRESSED WITH HER KNOWLEDGE, HER PASSION FOR THE JOB, AND TO GET THINGS DONE. SO IT'S WITH A GREAT DEAL OF, UH, RELIEF THAT I'M LIKE TO APPOINT MS. HORDE, IT'S DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. UH, SO I PUT THAT FOR US IN THE FORM OF A MOTION, UM, WHICH IS PASSED SECOND. AND THAT WAS A WELL DONE JOB. AND I WOULD LIKE TO LET MS. HORDE COME UP AND, AND RECOGNIZE HER FAMILY FOR US. SHE, SHE HAS A HISTORY OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE MS. HORDE WITH US. IS IT OVER THERE? IN THE RED IS HER. IF, IF IT'S MORE CONVENIENT, MS. HORDE, WE JUST RECOGNIZE THEM. BUT I THINK IT'S A PRETTY SPECIAL DAY FOR YOUR RECOGNITION. I I YOU CAN GO AHEAD. YOU, YOU CAN SPEAK IN THE MIC, BUT MS. WRIGHT, I BELIEVE IS YOUR MOTHER. YES, I KNOW YOU'RE PROUD. YES. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AND WE'RE REALLY COUNTING ON YOUR DAUGHTER TO, UH, IMPROVE THE LIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. SO AM I BEG YOUR PARDON? I SAID SO AM I. . AND THEN, AND THEN MS. HOARD. YOUR, YOUR DAUGHTER. UM, MS. CLARK. HELLO. AND WHO'S THAT FRIEND BEHIND YOU? THIS IS MY GODMOTHER. [03:25:01] SHE ACTUALLY GAVE ME MY FIRST JOB. OH, GREAT. , THIS IS A GREAT DAY. I'M, I'M PLEASED TO GIVE YOU THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND YOUR WORK AND COMMITMENT TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE CITY. HOUSTON, IT'S ONE OF OUR KEY AND IT DOES NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION. WE DISCUSSED IT ROUTINELY HERE IN THE HORSESHOE. UM, SO I'LL YIELD TO YOU TO, YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOUR GUESTS OR SAY YOUR PIECE OR WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO. THEN I'M GONNA LET YOU GO BACK TO WORK. YES, SIR. , GOOD MORNING. UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT AWAITS THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE IT FORWARD, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST CERTIFYING FIRMS, THAT WE ARE MAKING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ON CITY CONTRACTS AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION. SO I'M VERY EXCITED. THIS IS MY MOM, MY DAUGHTER, MY GODMOTHER. SHE GAVE ME MY FIRST JOB, MY GODMOTHER DID, UM, BACK IN ILLINOIS AS A PROGRAM AUDITOR. SO SHE IS WHY I AM HERE AS WELL AS MY MOM AND MY DAUGHTER. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I HOPE THAT I'M ABLE TO MOVE THINGS THE WAY IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY WANTS 'EM TO GO. VERY WELL. COUNCILMAN COUNCILLOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. DIRECTOR AND, AND TO YOUR FAMILY. UH, THANK YOU FOR LENDING HER TO US JUST A BIT MORE. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN A FEW TIMES, UH, AS AN IN, AS AS INTERIM. UH, AND I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKING ON THIS ROLE. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS. THE PRESENTATION YOU PRESENTED, UH, YOU HAD YESTERDAY WAS GREAT. UM, YOU, YOU'VE LISTENED. I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF THAT STUFF THAT WAS ALREADY KIND OF IN QUEUE, BUT I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE GONNA JUST, YOU KNOW, PICK IT UP AND ACTUALLY GET, GET TO WORK WITH IT AS WELL. UM, AS THE MAYOR STATED, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS, THIS, UH, THIS NOMINATION AND, AND, AND APPOINTMENT. UM, DIRECTOR HOARD, UM, HAS BEEN LISTENING. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE, YOU'VE SHARED SEVERAL TIMES, WHY DON'T YOU JUST TALK TO THE DIRECTORS? AND, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT SEVERAL TIMES, WHETHER IT'S, UH, REALLY GAINING A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR CERTIFICATION PROCESS MEANS TO THE REGION, UH, WHERE WE SHOULD BE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO STAFFING, UM, PAY. UH, BUT THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, AS WE START MOVING FORWARD, UH, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HEAVY LIFT THAT Y'ALL DO IN THE OFFICE IS BEING SUPPORTED BY THOSE, THOSE, UH, AGENCIES THAT DEPEND ON US FOR CERTIFICATION. UM, AND THEN ALSO JUST LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE MOVE, MOVE THINGS FORWARD. WE, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR DECADES AROUND THE CITY, AND I, AND I HAVE, UH, I FEEL A FRESH OF BREATH AIR WITH, WITH YOU COMING ON, UH, DIRECTOR AND YOUR TEAM THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW, KNOWING THAT YOU'RE STILL UNDERSTAFFED. I THINK YOU'RE LOSING A HANDFUL OF FOLKS SOON, OR HALF LOST A HANDFUL OF FOLKS. AND SO WHATEVER WE COULD DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING YOU, UH, WE'RE HERE TO DO, UH, AS WELL. UM, WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT, UH, CHARGING THOSE AGENCIES, UH, SOME MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE WORK THAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO, UH, WE'RE HERE TO GO TO BAT FOR YOU AS WELL. SO, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS APPOINTMENT, UH, TO DIRECTOR. UH, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, WELL DESERVED. UM, GLAD TO SEE YOU IN THIS ROLE. UM, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EXPECTATIONS AND VISION AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT AND, AND WHAT YOUR, YOUR OUTLOOK IS. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU, UH, TO ACHIEVE THOSE. UH, THE BIG THING FOR ME IS JUST ACCOUNTABILITY, ENSURING THAT, UH, THE PRIME CONTRACTORS THAT, UH, GET THE WORK ARE BEING FAIR TO THE SUBCONTRACTORS, UH, THAT GOALS ARE BEING MET, UM, AND THAT, UH, WE ARE VERY, UM, STRICT ON THE DESIGNATION OF GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, RIGHT? UH, AND, AND FOR IT NOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, LIGHTLY GIVEN, UM, BUT IN, UM, THIS VERY NECESSARY SITUATION. SO, UM, I'M LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND KNOW THAT MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN TOUCH ON THESE MATTERS AS I, I TRY TO ALWAYS PRIORITIZE LOOKING AT THE MWBE, UH, GOALS ON OUR ITEMS. AND, UH, ALSO A SHOUT OUT TO FORMER DIRECTOR MURRAY, WHO IS ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE. I WANT TO, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT SHE AND HER TEAM, WHICH IS NOW YOUR TEAM, UH, KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED ALL THE WORK YOU ALL DID. YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW DIRECTOR DOING THE SAME. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX STADIUM DIRECTOR HOR, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. UH, I LOVE WHAT YOUR MOM SAID, SHE SAID, I AM TOO. UH, IT IS, IT IS EXTREMELY, UM, MEANINGFUL TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY BE HERE TO SUPPORT [03:30:01] YOU IN THIS NEXT, UM, LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU WILL CARRY ON WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, WE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN DRIVING INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMPOWERING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND AS, AS THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE BEEN, UH, WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL TO DO THAT. UH, I SAY IT ALL THE TIME THAT WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON OUR BEST. AND I LOVE THAT YOU ARE OPEN, UM, TO IDEAS AND THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, THE RULES. THIS IS COMPLICATED WORK. THERE ARE A LOT OF RULES AND EVERY, UM, FEDERAL DEPARTMENT HAS A DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. UM, AND THERE'S CAUSE AND EFFECT IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE RULES, YOU, YOU BRING A LEVEL OF COMPETENCY THAT WE CAN ALL BE COMFORTED WITH. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT NOT ONLY IS DIRECTOR MURRAY, UM, IN THE CHAMBER, BUT, UH, FORMER OBO DIRECTOR CARIA WRIGHT IS ALSO IN THE CHAMBER. AND, AND WE, WE HAVE, UM, HAD A, A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD DIRECTORS IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY. UH, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF HOUSTON'S ECONOMY, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN THE GROWTH AND THE WEALTH THAT RESIDES IN OUR CITY, IN OUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND MAKING THE CITY OF HOUSTON BUSINESS LANDSCAPE EVEN BETTER. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR FAMILY, TOO. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR. UH, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, MAYOR. I'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE MEETINGS IN THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT SHE'S, UM, PRESIDED OVER, AND SHE CLEARLY, CLEARLY LAID OUT HOW MANY APPLICATIONS THEY GO THROUGH, HOW MUCH IT COSTS, MM-HMM . THE CRUMMY SALARIES OR THAT WE'RE PAYING OVER THERE, HOW PEOPLE ARE LEAVING TO GO TO THE PORT AND OTHER PLACES THAT PAY HIGHER, HOW IT TAKES EIGHT MONTHS TO GET SOMEBODY TRAINED TO DO THIS JOB. UM, SHE CLEARLY LAID IT OUT, AND SHE DIDN'T JUST TELL US THE PROBLEMS. SHE TALKED ABOUT SOLUTIONS, WHICH ARE APPLICATION FEES, WHICH ARE CHARGING THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE USING OUR SERVICES FOR THEIR CERTIFICATIONS FOR FREE. WE HAVE A PATH FORWARD. UM, OF COURSE, THIS, THIS PATH NEEDS TO BE VETTED BY, UH, THE STAKEHOLDERS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. AND, UM, WE'RE ON TO BIGGER AND BRIGHTER DAYS. THANKS TO YOU AND EVERYONE WHO PROCEEDED YOU AND EVERYONE ON YOUR STAFF, AND CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS. AND JUST ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAS SAID, UM, I WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, AND I, I DID LOVE HOW YOU TOLD US NOT ONLY THE PROBLEMS, BUT HOW WE CAN FIND THE SOLUTIONS. AND SO KNOW THAT OUR OFFICE IS INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. WHATEVER YOU NEED FROM US, I MEAN, WE, UM, WE SUPPORT THE REGION, AND, UM, AND YOU'RE ONLY ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THE MONEY THAT YOU HAVE. AND SO FINDING OTHER WAYS OF CREATING RESOURCE AND FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR YOUR PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, I, I BELIEVE IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND SO, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT, HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT AND PUT THAT INTO PLAY. UM, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EQUITY AND, UM, AND FAIRNESS WITHIN THE OBO DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND BEST OF LUCK, AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, DIRECTOR, HARD CONGRATULATIONS. UH, MAYOR, THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING APPOINTMENT, AND I CERTAINLY COMMEND MS. MURRAY AND THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, UM, A SHORT TIME. I'VE BEEN HERE WITH MS. MURRAY. I DON'T KNOW THE PREVIOUS MS. WRIGHT, BUT, UH, YOU HAVE PRESENTED YESTERDAY IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING A TREMENDOUS, UH, LEADERSHIP IN TERMS OF WHAT DIRECTION YOU WANT TO TAKE. THERE'LL BE AN OFFICE, AND WHAT IS THE MAYOR EXPECT AND THE CITY EXPECTS? AND IT'S SO CRITICAL AS IT WAS BEING STATED ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY. I'M CERTAINLY AN ADVOCATE FOR BRINGING MORE AND MORE BUSINESS INTO OUR CITY, AND CERTAINLY THROUGH OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. SO YOUR, WHAT YOU LAID OUT WAS JUST TREMENDOUS. I THINK THE TEAM BEHIND YOU IS GREAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO HELP YOU AND WHATEVER AREA THAT WE CAN. BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UH, IN YOUR EFFORT. I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL CHOICE. GOD BLESS YOU. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO, UH, IMPROVE THIS OFFICE. WE ALL KNOW IT HAS STRUGGLED IN THE PAST. CERTAINLY THE EVIDENCE IS BY THE LENGTH THAT IT WOULD TAKE SOMEONE TO BE CERTIFIED WHEN THEY COULD BE OUT HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY. [03:35:01] AND, UM, THEREFORE, THE POOL IS SHORT THAN IT SHOULD BE FOR PRIME TO CHOOSE A SUB. SO YOU GOT GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I THINK YOU'RE THE EXACT RIGHT PERSON BASED ON YOUR, UH, EXPERIENCE AND YOUR PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO THE JOB. SO THANK YOU TO YOUR MOTHER FOR DOING A GREAT JOB IN, IN RAISING, UH, YOU AND TO YOUR DAUGHTER AND YOUR GODMOTHER. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, UH, MOVING HOUSTON FORWARD. IT'S REALLY A KEY POSITION, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. AND NOW YOU CAN GO TO WORK. . ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE. ITEM NUMBER FOUR NEEDS A MOTION, CASTEX, TA MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR. CAYMAN'S GOING TO TAG CAYMAN'S GOING, COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M HAPPY TO RELEASE THE TAG, BUT I'LL BE TAGGING. COUNCILMAN CAN MARTINEZ SPEAK? COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? OH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR RELEASING THE, RELEASING THE TAG. I WAS ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT. MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, JUAN HAS DEFINITELY BEEN SOMEBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, UH, HAS, HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY, UH, NOT JUST WITH THE RODEO, UH, BUT ALSO HE'S, UH, HE WAS THE PRESIDENT FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. UM, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT QUESTIONS ARE ARE NEEDED, BUT, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET HIM TO START WORKING AS WELL AS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, APPOINTMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, FIFA COMING INTO TOWN. AND SO, UH, BUT AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR, FOR THIS APPOINTMENT. IT'S A GREAT APPOINTMENT CONVERSATION I HAD WITH JUAN OVER THE WEEKEND. WAS THAT, UH, HE'S, I'VE ASKED HIM HAVE HE, HAS HE EVER SERVED ON A BOARD? AND HE SAID, NO, HE'S NEVER SERVED ON A BOARD. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SOMEONE LIKE HIM HAS BEEN OVERDOG. SO THANK YOU. AND MAYOR, IF HE'S, UH, IF MR. GARCIA IS PRESENT TODAY, I DON'T WANNA, UH, OUT OF RESPECT FOR HIS TIME. IF HE'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TODAY, I'M SURE THIS WILL PASS NEXT WEEK. UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BRING HIM UP FOR COMMENTS OR WE CAN WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK, BUT I, I DEFER TO YOU. IS HE HERE? NO. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN TAGS. NEXT. LET'S GO BACK TO [1.  9:00 A. M. - PUBLIC HEARING regarding the amendment of ARTICLE XVI, CHAPTER 40 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, proposed extension of the Civility Ordinance to Magnolia Park ] ADAM ONE HERE. OKAY. ITEM ONE, MADAM SECRETARY. ITEM ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 40. THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAIR, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, UH, MS. BROUSSARD. GOOD MORNING. I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY. I'M NICOLE BROUSSARD, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF THE MAGNOLIA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD REQUESTING THE DESIGNATION OF A CIVILITY ORDINANCE AREA. THIS DESIGNATION WOULD MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO SIT OR LIE DOWN ON A SIDEWALK OR, OR ON ANY OBJECT PLACED ON A SIDEWALK. THE MAP YOU SEE, SHOWS THE 11 EXISTING DESIGNATED AREAS AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED NEW ONE, WHICH IS MAGNOLIA PARK, AND THAT'S THE HATCHED AREA ON THE MAP. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CREATION PROCESS. THE PETITION WAS REVIEWED FOR ACCURACY AND COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS, AND ALL PETITION REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONERS. HPD HAS INVESTIGATED THE PROPOSED AREA AND FOUND SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THE TYPE OF CONDUCT THAT WOULD VIOLATE THIS ARTICLE IF DESIGNATED IN THIS AREA. THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS, UM, APPROVAL OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE MAGNOLIA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AS A CIVILITY ORDINANCE AREA, AND I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. AND WE DO ALSO HAVE SERGEANT SIMON AND ASSISTANT CHIEF RODRIGUEZ FROM HPD HERE WITH US AS WELL. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NO QUESTIONS? FINE. GOOD, GOOD PRESENTATION, MA'AM. SECRETARY, WILL YOU CALL OUR, UH, FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE? THE FIRST SPEAKER, MARY, BE PICAZO. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT MYSELF FOR MY COMMUNITY, UM, MY GRANDCHILDREN. UM, SO I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE REASONS WHY WE MUST ENDORSE THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IN MAGNOLIA PARK. AS A HISTORIC MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHERE THE ORIGINAL CITY HALL WAS ESTABLISHED, WE DESERVE THE SAME PROTECTION AFFORDED TO THE OTHER [03:40:01] HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN HOUSTON. OUR RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR AND THE DECLINING QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S DISTRESSING. IT'S NOTEWORTHY THAT 51% OF OUR COMMUNITY COMPRISES OF CHILDREN. HOWEVER, A LACK OF SAFE OUTDOOR SPACES IS EVIDENT AS ONE RARELY SEES CHILDREN PLAYING OUTSIDE ANYMORE. YOU DON'T SEE THEM RIDING BIKES, YOU DON'T SEE 'EM USING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, AND IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING. FURTHERMORE, ACCESSING OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES OFTEN INVOLVES HARASSMENT FOR MONEY, VERBAL ASSAULT, OPEN DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE. PROSTITUTION AND PANHANDLING ARE VERY PERSUASIVE ISSUES AND ENCAMPMENTS OR PREVALENT IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS. RESIDENTS WALK IN FEAR OF BEING ASSAULTED, DIMINISHING THE SENSE OF SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF GREYHOUND SERVICES IN OUR AREA, OUR SAFETY HAS BEEN FURTHER COMPROMISED. MAGNOLIA PARK HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR FAR TOO LONG. IT IS TIME TO RE REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITY AND RESTORE ITS BEAUTY AND SAFETY. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO WELCOME SIGNS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, NO BEAUTIFUL MAGNOLIA TREES THAT YOU USED TO SEE. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT OUR ELDERS CAN ENJOY THE REMAINING YEARS IN PEACE AND SAFETY. IN THE PAST 14 DAYS, THERE HAS BEEN 31 THEFTS AND 21 ASSAULTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. PLEASE HELP US AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, VERONICA GOSKY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS VERONICA CHAPPA GOSKY, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT FOR THE EAST END DISTRICT. WE ARE GRATEFUL TODAY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN PASSING A CIVILITY ORDINANCE FOR THE EAST AND HARRISBURG CORRIDOR MAGNOLIA PARK. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY CONCEDING THE PREMISE THAT WE DO NOT FEEL THIS IS GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE EAST END. AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPERT WITH OVER 20 YEARS IN THE FIELD, I UNDERSTAND THAT HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES NUANCED SOLUTIONS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND CARE. HISTORICALLY, HOUSTON HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB IN ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF HOMELESSNESS. WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING TODAY ON OUR SIDEWALKS ARE THE MOST COMPLICATED CASES WHERE PEOPLE ACT INAPPROPRIATELY OR ILLEGALLY. IT IS RARELY ONLY A STORY OF A PANHANDLER. TODAY, WE ARE WITNESSING WHAT HAPPENS TO A POPULATION WHEN PEOPLE REFUSE TO OR CAN'T STAY SOBER. THE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED IN THE EAST END, DUE TO TWO ISSUES. ONE, THE PUSHING OF A POPULATION OUT OF DOWNTOWN, MIDTOWN, AND OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS INTO THE EAST END. AND TWO, THE RELOCATION OF A GREYHOUND TERMINAL INTO A BUILDING THAT IS MUCH TOO SMALL, GIVEN THE VOLUME OF PASSENGERS. MAGNOLIA PARK, AS YOU MAY KNOW, IS A WORLD IS A WORKING CLASS, PREDOMINANTLY LATINO NEIGHBORHOOD. THE COMMUNITY IS PROUD OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, MANY OF WHICH ARE ALSO HISTORICAL AND FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES. OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, THE DISTRICT HAS HEARD INCREASING COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE RELIEVING THEMSELVES IN PUBLIC, PUBLIC EXPOSURE OF VARYING DEGREES AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTBURSTS. EXAMPLES OF THE CHALLENGES INCLUDE A PERSON REPEATEDLY SLEEPING ON A SIDEWALK AND WAKING TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES BY URINATING ONTO AND UNDER A BUILDING'S FRONT DOOR FOR THE BUSINESS. A DISTURBED PERSON THROWING A BOTTLE THROUGH A PANE GLASS WINDOW, SERIOUSLY INJURING A STORE MANAGER WHO WAS TAKEN OFF SITE AND THEN GETTING SURGERY. AND A MAN WHO WAS SO UPSET HE COULD NOT GET A BATHROOM KEY THAT HE PUSHED OVER A FOOD WARMER, SPILLING FOOD OFF OF A COUNTER INTO A RESTAURANT. DURING A LUNCH RUSH. WE OFTEN SEE PEOPLE SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY INEBRIATED. AND WE HAVE HUMILIATING STORIES THAT I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE UNDRESSING THEMSELVES AND NAKED AS SHOPPERS OR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ARE WALKING BY AND VIEWING BEHAVIORS SUCH AS WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN OTHER HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN OURS. IT IS UNFAIR. IT IS INEQUITABLE. THE DISTRICT REQUESTS A CIVILITY ORDINANCE AS A TOOL TO HELP US CHANGE THE STANDARD OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. WE ARE AT RISK OF HAVING BUSINESSES CONSIDER CLOSING AND RELOCATION, [03:45:01] AND WE CANNOT FIND THE SOLUTION ALONE. WE NEED YOUR HELP. COUNCILOR CAMAN, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UM, VERONICA, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE HATS THAT YOU WEAR. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE DIFFERENCE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MAKE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, DAN JOYCE. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAN JOYCE, AND I HAVE THE SINCERE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EAST END DISTRICT. BACK IN MARCH OF 2023, WE RECEIVED COMMENT TO OUR BOARD FROM MS. NELLY HANNO, THE OWNER OPERATOR OF MCDONALD'S AT THE 6,800 BLOCK OF HARRISBURG BOULEVARD. SHE CAME TO US WITH EXTREME CONCERN OVER THE LOITERING AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT SHE WAS WITNESSING IN FRONT OF HER BUSINESS FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION, PUBLIC INDECENCY, UM, OPEN CONSUMPTION OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. IT BECAME AN INCREASING PROBLEM FOR HER BUSINESSES, FOR HER BUSINESS, AND HER CUSTOMERS BEGAN TO FEEL UNSAFE. WE NEEDED TO HELP FIND A SOLUTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE WERE AT RISK OF LOSING BUSINESSES IN THE EAST END DISTRICT DUE TO THE INABILITY TO OPERATE SAFELY. SINCE THEN, WE'VE TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS AND IMPLEMENTED NEW MEASURES TO HELP COMBAT THE LOITERING, THE HOMELESSNESS, THE ACTS OF CRIME THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ON THE HARRISBURG CORRIDOR. THESE INCLUDE AMENDING OUR CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT SIX TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES PATROLLING OUR AREA. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE TAKEN ON EXTRA MEASURE TO ENSURE THAT ONE OF THOSE DEPUTIES IS CROSS-TRAINED IN MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE. WE'RE CURRENTLY PROVIDING FUNDING TO HAVE A SECOND DEPUTY TRAINED WITH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. WE'VE DONE ROUTINE SIDEWALK CLEANUPS, RIGHT OF WAY MAINTENANCE, NEW LANDSCAPING, AND AN EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE THAT WERE SPENDING THEIR TIME THERE IN FRONT OF THOSE BUSINESSES KNEW THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY SOMEBODY THAT CARED. WE ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT CARE. WE ALSO BE BEGAN INVESTIGATING WHAT OTHER TOOLS WE COULD ADD TO ASSIST IN OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE EAST END DISTRICT WAS SAFE FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ALIKE THROUGH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. WE LEARNED OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE ZONE WITH PLANNING FOR OVER A YEAR, NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEETINGS, MEETINGS WITH BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES, AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO REPRESENT OUR AREA. WE ARE FINALLY HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO JOIN THE OVER 500 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND RESIDENTS WHO JOIN THE PETITION PROCESS AND SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAGNOLIA PARK CIVILITY ORDINANCE ZONE. AS YOU MAY KNOW, AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, A VERY SECRETIVE REAL ESTATE DEAL, WHICH WAS QUITE FRANKLY SHOCKING. GREYHOUND MOVED THEIR OPERATIONS FROM MIDTOWN TO 7,000 HARRISBURG. AS YOU MAY RECALL, THERE WAS A MCDONALD'S DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE MIDTOWN GREYHOUND THAT WAS FORCED TO CLOSE DUE TO ONGOING PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND GREYHOUND. THE OWNER OPERATOR OF THAT MCDONALD'S WAS NONE OTHER THAN MS. NELLY HANNO. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, HER CONCERN THAT THE SAME THING WAS GONNA HAPPEN HERE IN THE EAST END IS WARRANTED. LET ME BE CLEAR. HOMELESSNESS AND BEING HOMELESS IS NOT A CRIME. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS. WE ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE OUR TOOLKIT STOCKED WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SAY, I WANT TO COMMENT TO YOU, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IN FACT, ALL THE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES, BUT FOR THE RECORD, TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BLOCK THE GREYHOUND RELOCATION WAS DONE PRIOR TO MANY OF US BEING HERE. YES, SIR. IT WAS QUIETLY DONE TO PREVENT OPPOSITION, AND I'M DISAPPOINTED. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR OFFICE IS TO PROHIBIT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO. NOW, THAT BEING SAID, IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND NOW WE'VE GOTTA WORK TOGETHER. THIS IS A, A HUGE STEP, BUT NOT THE FINAL STEP. I WROTE DOWN WHILE YOU WERE TALKING COLLABORATION. WE'VE GOTTA GET HPD, THE CONSTABLE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I KNOW IT'S INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT WE ARE COUNTY RESIDENTS. SO THE ONLY WAY MS. KOZINSKI AND OTHERS IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE AND RESPOND TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES. UH, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A PRIVATE CONCERN LIKE GREYHOUND RELOCATE BECAUSE [03:50:01] THEY DID WHAT WAS ASKED OF THEM BY THE PREVIOUS DEAL MAKERS. SO LET'S GET OUT OF THIS SESSION. AND I WROTE DOWN, WE'LL GET WITH THE CHIEF. WE'VE GOT SOME HIGH HPD OFFICIALS HERE TODAY, AND JUST COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ MAKE THAT ZERO TOLERANCE AREA. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE HOMELESS WILL BE PUSHED TO ANOTHER LOCATION, SO VERY SOON, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CITY SPONSORED ENCAMPMENT THAT'LL BE ROLLED OUT IF NOT THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK, UH, BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, HOMELAND SECURITY, WHERE THE HOMELESS AND PUBLIC SPACE IS JUST NOT GONNA BE ACCEPTABLE. WE HEAR THE SAME MESSAGE ACROSS HOUSTON. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S, IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE, MENTAL HEALTH. UH, I KNOW WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT TDCJ, UH, RELEASE OF FOLKS THAT COME THROUGH GREYHOUND. WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH THEM. THEY'VE GOT PAROLE OFFICERS OVER THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY ON THEIR BUS TO GO TO THEIR ASSIGNED LOCATION. IF YOU COMMIT A CRIME IN CORPUS, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PAROLED TO CORPUS. AND WE DON'T WANT 'EM GET OFF THE BUS AT THIS GREYHOUND STATION AS THEY SWITCH BUSES AND NOT GET BACK ON. SO THE ONLY WAY I KNOW HOW TO ATTACK A PROBLEM IS CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE ONE AND WE'VE GOT ENOUGH COLLABORATION IN THE AREA. GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, LET'S GET EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT INVOLVED BECAUSE THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE IT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. AND WE CAN DO BETTER. SO, THANK YOU. THERE'S A, THERE'S A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TESTIFY, BUT IT'S JUST TIME FOR ME TO SPEAK UP AND SAY, I'LL USE MY OFFICE IN COLLABORATION WITH COUNSEL. UH, BUT REALLY EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, I MEAN, THERE'S NO REASON IN THE WORLD THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD NOT JOIN US IN SOME ENFORCEMENT AND RELOCATION. BUT I'M, I'M AS FRUSTRATED AS YOU ARE. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOWN HERE TO FIX THINGS. SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS, THIS WORK. YOU, IT'D BE INTERESTING. I WROTE DOWN ALSO, YOU SAID YOU WERE SPENDING MONEY ON PRIVATE SECURITY. WELL, LET'S SEE. YOU GOTTA HAVE PEOPLE TALKING TO EACH OTHER. OKAY. WE, YOU CAN'T HAVE THE DUPLICATION OF YOU DOING SECURITY AND H HP D'S DOING THEIR THING, AND LET'S, LET'S JOIN HANDS AND, AND GET IT DONE. AND I WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ TO SEE THAT IT GETS DONE. BUT THE, THE DARN, UH, STATION SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PUT IN. A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON ONE OF OUR FREEWAYS OR THOROUGHFARES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO CATCH THE BUS OR COME IN ON THE BUS AND KEEP, UH, KEEP GOING FORWARD AND NOT, UH, BEING LOCATED IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. I'M JUST FIRED UP WHEN I HEARD YOU TALK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR WHITMEYER. NEXT. ROBERT RUIZ. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. HEY, ROBERT. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I APOLOGIZE. I'M NOT AS WELL SPOKE AS MY, UH, PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, 40 YEARS OF POLICE. AND I JUST, JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM. SO, UH, I'M ONE OF THE, OH, MYSELF, ALONG WITH JOAQUIN, OR COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WHO WAS IN A COUNCIL. I WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY ON THIS PROJECT. UH, WE TOOK A LOT OF THINGS IN CONSIDERATION, AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE ME, WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE HOPELESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS WITH THIS ORDINANCE. IT'S ONLY TO HELP IMPROVE CIVILITY WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR WITHIN THE AREA OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE ZONE. AS THEY'VE SAID, WE HAVE PEOPLE SLEEP ON A SIDEWALK. WE HAVE PEOPLE CONGREGATING DRINKING AND SUCH. AND AS I SAY, OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND GODMOTHERS, OR THE RAS AND THE ADAS CAN'T WALK DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT HAVING TO BYPASS THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T MOVE OUT OF THE WAY FOR THEM. SO I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS. UH, ALSO LET YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WE'RE LITERALLY WORKING WITH HPD TO TRY TO DEVELOP, UH, AN ORDINANCE, OR I SHOULD SAY A STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS NON HPD TO ENFORCE CITY CODE. UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ IS ALREADY DRAWING UP SOMETHING. SO HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO PRESENT TO YOUR OFFICE AND TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE HAVE THIS, EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON THE LANGUAGE OF THIS BILL AND PRESENT IT BEFORE, UH, THE STATE NEXT YEAR. SO WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON SOMETHING. HOW WOULD, HOW ROBERT, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? CURRENTLY? [03:55:01] RIGHT NOW, I THINK YOU HAVE NON, NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT. NO, NO. ENFORCING IT'S CONSTABLES LIKE PRECINCT SIX, AS WE KNOW YOU, WE HAVE A CONTRACT PRECINCT SIX, THEY CANNOT ENFORCE CITY CODE. OKAY. OR CITY ORDINANCE. REALLY ALL, UH, THERE SEEMS TO BE A, SOMETHING IN THE STATE LAW ACCORDING TO HPD THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM DOING SO. SO WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS THAT WITH A NEW BILL OR MAYBE A CHANGE IN OR TWEAKING THE LAW, MAYBE THROUGH AN MOU THAT WILL ALLOW CONSTABLES COUNTY, UH, OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, UH, TO ENFORCE CITY ORDINANCE SO THAT THEY CAN HELP OUT WITH PREVENTING OR HELP OUT ENFORCING SOME OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, UH, OR ZONE. SO, BUT IT'S, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. I, I'LL CHECK ON THAT. I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT, THAT, UH, THAT CONCEPT COULD BE ACTUALLY A CLASH BETWEEN URBAN CONSTABLES AND RURAL CONSTABLES. YOU KNOW, YOU GET IN RURAL TEXAS AND CONSTABLE IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF SMALLER COMMUNITIES, UH, WOULD PUSH BACK ON THAT. BUT IN OUR DENSE COMMUNITIES, I JUST TOLD COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AFTER I'M MENTION BEING UPSET, WE JUST GOTTA BREAK DOWN THE AREA AND GET COUNT. CONSTABLE TREVINO. I MEAN, WE'RE ALL INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE PROBABLY ORGANIZED TO THE POINT THAT EVERYONE TAKES THIS SECTION, THIS SECTION, AND REALLY APPLYING. AND OBVIOUSLY WITH YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND, YOU'D BE A, PER THE PROPER PERSON TO HELP US MAP THIS OUT. BUT I, I THINK I'M PREPARED TO HAVE A WORKING GROUP. I MEAN, IT'S TOO PROUD A NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S, WE JUST CAN'T LET IT CONTINUE UNDER THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES. AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE COULD GO TO OTHER AREAS OF HOUSTON AND IT WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR. YES, SIR. ULTIMATELY, ULTIMATELY, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A PLACE FOR, UH, THE HOMELESS. IT'S A TWO-PRONG, A VERY HUMANE EFFORT TO GET 'EM IN RESIDENTIAL. AND THEN NUMBER TWO, AND ENFORCEMENT NOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT'S RULED THAT YOU CAN, UH, REQUIRE SOMEONE TO LEAVE AN AREA AND, UH, KEEP 'EM RESTRAINED FROM GOING BACK TO THAT AREA. AND IT'S NOT A, WE DON'T WANT LOCK ANYBODY UP, BUT WE WANT 'EM TO KNOW WE MEAN BUSINESS. AND IT'S, IT'S ACROSS THE CITY, BEEN THIS WAY FOR SOME TIME. YEAH. COMPLIANCE IS, IS BEING A PROPER POLICE OFFICER. COMPLIANCE IS THE FIRST STEP. WE JUST WANT THEM TO COMPLY. NO ONE'S THERE TO WRITE TICKETS OR PUT ANYBODY IN JAIL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IF YOU SEE 'EM VIOLATING THE LAW, THAT THAT'S, THAT SHOULD, THAT SHOULD ALLOW SOME ACTION. BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW. I'LL WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND BRING IT TO YOUR OFFICE. OKAY, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ROBERT. NEXT, COUNCILOR ALCORN. THANK YOU. UM, REAL QUICK, UH, YEAH. I'M ALL IN ON THIS STATE LAW ON THE CONSTABLE DEAL. I RAN INTO THIS ON THE NOISE. WE WERE LIKE, CONSTABLES ARE EVERYWHERE. THEY CAN HELP US DO THE NOISE THING. AND WE GOT THE WHOLE THING BACK FROM HPD LEGAL THAT NO, THEY CAN'T. SO WE NEED TO WORK ON THIS, LETTING THE CONSTABLES ENFORCE SOME OF THESE, UH, RULES AROUND TOWN. EXCELLENT. 'CAUSE MOST GIVEN DAYS, THE CONSTABLES HAVE MORE RESOURCES. YEAH. THEY'RE MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND IF THEY COULD AFFORD STUFF THAT LIKE THIS AND LIKE THE NOISE ORDINANCE, IT WOULD REALLY HELP US OUT AND, AND MORE COLLABORATION ACROSS THE BOARD. SO WHATEVER'S GOING ON WITH THE BILL, LET ME KNOW. I'LL GO UP THERE. WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL BE INVOLVED. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT. DOMINIC MAZO. HERE. DOMINIC WALSH. I KNOW I HAVE MY THREE MINUTES. I DO NOT LIVE IN THE EAST END, BUT LISTENING TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HERE AT GAC GULF COAST RAIL, I FEEL SORRY FOR THESE END IN THE SENSE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING SLAMMED BY ONE THING OR THE OTHER. THE BUILDING OF THE GREEN LINE, UH, RAIL, UH, RAIL TRAFFIC. NOW THIS, UH, I DON'T SEE THIS HAPPENING. NEVER INTO THE SEA, NOR, AND I GUESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY, WHICH MEANS LESS POWER. THAT'S PROBABLY HAPPENING. I AM COMING HERE AS A TRANSIT USER, AND THAT IS ONE STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT MEET TO BE DISCUSSED. THE GREEN LINE GOES THROUGH THERE, IT'S ENDS AT MAGNOLIA PARK. YOU HAVE A TRANSIT CENTER, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS GREYHOUND STATION. AND YESTERDAY I CAME ON THE 1 0 8 YESTERDAY AND THE 1 0 8 TODAY ON NORTH SHEPHERD MAYOR. I WAS PANHANDLED RIGHT HERE IN THE REFLECTION POND, LEAVING THE MEETING YESTERDAY, GOING TO GET BY BUS. SO IT'S, IT'S, [04:00:01] AND PEOPLE WHO ARE RIDING TRANSIT MOSTLY IN THE CITY DO NOT HAVE MONEY. THEY DON'T DESERVE IT. THERE ARE, THEY'RE PROBABLY A LEVEL OR TWO FINANCIALLY HIGHER THAN, THAN THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS THERE. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. THAT'S FOR POOR CRIME. AND I, YOU, YOU SAID YOUR MIDDLE NAME WAS, UH, COLLABORATION . I HAVEN'T NEVER GROUPED THAT BECAUSE METRO HAS ASSETS IN THIS AREA. MAJOR ASSETS IN THIS AREA, THE GREEN LINE AND THE TRANSIT CENTER. I THINK YOU NEED TO TALK TO CHIEF BUMPERS. I THINK YOU NEED TO CHIEF TALK TO CHAIRMAN BROCK, WHICH IT, IT'S, IT'S BEING DONE AS YOU TALK AND YOU'LL SEE SOME, UH, MUCH MORE MOTIVATED METRO POLICE VERY SOON. IF WE DO NOT SOLVE PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE RAIL AND BUS LINES, WE'LL NEVER INCREASE RIDERSHIP. THANK YOU. I'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE RED LINE THANKS TO MARIO'S. WORK WITH WORKING TOGETHER, FIXING GET A LOT BETTER, FIXING GET A LOT BETTER. SO, NO, I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD YOU'RE TAKING THIS APPROACH. AND IN FACT, AS YOU TALK, I WAS THINKING ABOUT METRO COULD HELP US WITH A SURGE ALONG HARRISBURG AND MAGNOLIA. I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY WE JUST GOT, WE JUST GOTTA GET TO ZERO TOLERANCE AND WE'RE GOING DO IT WITH A DISH. OH, A SURGE OF OFFICERS. IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN? SURGE? YEAH. YEAH. PUT SOME OFFICERS OUT THERE, DEAL WITH IT ALSO, TOO, ON THE RED LINE. THIS MIGHT BE A HELP HERE. NO, HOW ABOUT ALL OF OUR LINES? WELL, NO, I'VE NOTICED, WHEN I WAS VOTING THE OTHER DAY, I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S BEEN A, A METRO CRUISER GOING UP AND DOWN FULTON EVERY FIVE TO 10 MINUTES. THAT WOULD HELP. SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE, YOU'RE BEATING ME TO THE PUNCH ON THIS. THANK YOU A LOT. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. OH, WHAT, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? WHEN ARE YOU GONNA, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA NAME THAT NEW, UH, METRO BOARD MEMBER? IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE, UH, ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. I'LL BE HERE. THANK YOU. I I THINK YOU'LL BE REAL PROUD. THANK YOU. I KNOW WHERE I AM. UH, NEXT. PRISCILLA ARGUETA. GOOD MORNING, ENO. I HAVE SOME, UH, HANDOUTS. OH, YEAH, I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS, UM, FOR YOU ALL. CAN I, HOW DO I GET THAT TO YOU? JUST TO THANK YOU. MY NAME IS PRIS ATA. I AM CURRENTLY THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS 65 AND IN 82. UM, I AM A LONG-TERM RESIDENT IN MAGNOLIA PARK. I AM ALSO THE PRECINCT CHAIR AND PRECINCT JUDGE IN MAGNOLIA PARK, UM, AS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 65 82 MANCHESTER SMITH EDITION, HARRISBURG MAGNOLIA PARK. WE PUBLICLY OPPOSE THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IN MAGNOLIA PARK, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ORIGINALLY, ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED UNDER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND IS A CHARTERED ORGANIZATION UNDER THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS OF NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY, PRIORITIZE, AND ADDRESS NEEDS AND CONCERNS FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES. OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS REGARDING THIS CIVILITY ORDINANCE INITIATED BY A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND NOT RESIDENTS. AS THE ORDINANCE INSTRUCTS, OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DECISION MADE BY THIS COUNCIL. THE MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE LOWER INCOME BRACKET THAT SUFFER FROM HISTORICAL DISINVESTMENT. THE PROPOSED CIVILITY ORDINANCE IS A TOOL TO BE USED IN A LAST RESORT SCENARIO AND ULTIMATELY DOES NOT ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES FACED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUCH AS LACK OF INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES IN THE EAST END. RATHER, THE ORDINANCE UNDULY FOCUSES ON POLICING AND SURVEILLANCE OF THE UNHOUSED. THE ATTEMPTS TO SOW DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND BLAME THE UNHOUSED FOR DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT ARE DANGEROUS. AND AS SUCH, WE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS SUPPORT. THIS ORDINANCE, UNLIKE OTHER ORDINANCES, DISABILITY ORDINANCE IN MAGNOLIA PARK, DID NOT COME FROM ANY OF THE AREA CIVIC GROUPS OR THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, INSTEAD OF A SOLUTION THAT IS THE PRODUCT OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CITY. [04:05:01] THIS IS A CAMPAIGN FROM THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO DISTRACT FROM THE FACT THAT BUSINESS OWNERS ALONG THE HARRISBURG CORRIDOR HAVE REQUESTED HELP FROM THE DISTRICT SINCE 2015 WHEN THE METRO GREEN LINE OPENED. WE THANK OUR COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ABSTAINING FROM TAKING A PUBLIC POSITION ON THE ISSUE, AND INSTEAD LISTENING AND CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY VOICES, INCLUDING OUR ORGANIZATION, WHICH HE PERSONALLY HELPED LAUNCH IN 2022. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR CITY AND FEDERAL RESOURCES, INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, LOW INCOME HOUSING OPTIONS, AND POLICY CHANGES THAT SUPPORT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, DESPITE WHATEVER THEIR CURRENT HOUSING SITUATION IS. PENDING PIT COMMUNITIES AGAINST EACH OTHER ONLY BENEFITS THE STATUS QUO. THE ONLY WAY FORWARD IS IN COLLABORATION AND SOLIDARITY. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THIS COUNCIL TABLE THIS ITEM INDEFINITELY AND ALLOW FOR TRUE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION TOWARDS FINDING LONG TERM SOLUTIONS WITH AN AGREED UPON FRAMEWORK. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. NEXT, DAVID, A GOOD MORNING. HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TODAY? IS EVERYBODY GOOD TODAY? I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, READ FROM A WRITTEN STATEMENT IF I COULD. UH, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING MEMBERS OF THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY TO COME FORWARD AND DISCUSS A GROWING PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I'M A BUSINESS OWNER. I AM A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND CONTINUE TO BE A PROPERTY OWNER ON THE EAST SIDE. I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, AND DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, I HAVE WATCHED AN AMAZEMENT AS THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY WORKED TOGETHER, AND THEN IN MY OPINION, BECAME AN IMPORTANT BACKBONE OF THE CITY, WHICH HELPS BLEND THE DIVERSE POPULATION OF THIS CITY. IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL PLACE, AND ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE FEEL WELCOMED AND INCLUDED HERE. UH, PREVIOUSLY I'VE ALSO DONE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK FOR MISSOURI CITY AND WAS THEIR CONSULTANT FOR YEARS. AND SO I'VE OFTEN WATCHED GENTRIFICATION FROM AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE, BUT WHAT I HAVE WATCHED IN THE GENTRIFICATION IN A LOT OF AREAS AROUND HOUSTON IS DISPLACEMENT OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE THAT IS NOT OCCURRING ON THE EAST SIDE. THAT IS ANYTHING BUT WHAT'S OCCURRING ON THE EAST SIDE. . YOU KNOW, I HAVE WATCHED THIS COMMUNITY, IN MY OPINION, NOT ONLY WELCOME NEW RESIDENTS FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO EMBRACE THE RETURN OF SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION RESIDENTS THAT HAVE ALLOWED DAUGHTERS, MOTHERS, DADS, GRANDPARENTS TO LIVE TOGETHER ON THE SAME STREETS ON THE EAST SIDE. I FEEL THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS DONE A LOT TO HELP STRENGTHEN AND REINFORCE THIS COMMUNITY WITH GREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, PARKS, GOLF COURSES, HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS, AND MANY OTHER PROJECTS TO BE NAMED, UM, THAT I JUST CAN'T COME UP WITH RIGHT NOW. THESE CITY PROJECTS HAVE STRENGTHENED, ENRICHED OUR COMMUNITY AND BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH MANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. HOWEVER, ALL THESE EFFORTS AND COMMITMENTS BY THE COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HAVE RECENTLY COME UNDER ATTACK BY AN EVER-GROWING HOMELESS PROBLEM, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE RESIDENTS TO BECOME MORE GUARDED, MORE FEARFUL, WHICH IS NOT HOW TO RUN A COMMUNITY. IT IS MY OPINION. THE HOMELESS PROBLEM HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY RECENT RECENTLY FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST ONE IS THERE'S BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MOVE THE HOMELESS FROM AREAS UNDER THE PIERCE ELEVATED AND NEAR THE MINUTE MADE BASEBALL FIELD. THESE EFFORTS OF RELOCATION HAS SIMPLY PUSHED THE HOMELESS POPULATION ONTO THE METRO RAIL LINES AND INTO OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT, THE MIDTOWN AREA FOR YEARS HAS BEEN A, HAS HAD THE BUS STATION, UNFORTUNATELY, AND WITHOUT LITTLE COMMUNITY WARNING, THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION WAS RELOCATED TO OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY ON THE EAST SIDE. IT IS MY OPINION, THESE TWO ACTIONS HAVE GOT COMBINED TO OVERWHELM OUR COMMUNITY WITH A SIGNIFICANT HOMELESS POPULATION. THIS WAS WAY TOO MUCH AND WAY TOO MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE BROUGHT ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY TO THE FRONT YARDS OF OUR HOMES. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED, AND THE EAST SIDE MUST NOT BE UNFAIRLY BURDENED WITH THE CITYWIDE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE COME TODAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND ASK US, HELP US SAVE OUR CITY THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE. IF I CAN DIGRESS. ONE SECOND. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE DONE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS HEARING, I HEARD ALL OF Y'ALL BATTLING WITH A, WITH AN ECONOMIC CRISIS. OKAY, $229 MILLION SHORT. THAT'S A NUMBER. AND WHAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE IS I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT BUSINESS CAN HELP IMPROVE THESE THINGS. AND WHEN I LOOK AT HARRISBURG AND I SEE THE OLDER STRUCTURES THAT ARE VACANT ALONG THIS RAIL [04:10:01] LINE, IT JUST AMAZES ME THAT WE DON'T RECOGNIZE PROTECTING THIS AS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ALMOST LOOKS IDENTICAL TO THE HEIGHTS. AND YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS FOOTHOLD THAT'S BEING CREATED WITH FOLKS COMING IN AND BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND STAYING IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THIS AREA AND NOT ONLY IMPROVE THE LIFE THERE, BUT BRING MONEY TO THE CITY. 20 YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS AGO, WHEN I TRIED TO BUY A BUNGALOW OVER ON EAST SIDE, IT WAS $25,000. YOU TRY TO BUY THAT BUNGALOW TODAY, UNREPAIRED, IT'S 50 TO, I MEAN, IT'S OVER A HUNDRED. WITH IT REPAIRED, IT'S OVER 400,000. I'M TELLING YOU, THIS INVESTMENT WILL PAY NOT ONLY DIVIDENDS IN ALLOWING THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE TO BE SAFE, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA ENRICH THIS CITY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT, LUCIA MORENO, SHE SVA SHIVA, AND THEN I MISS THEIR NAME. OR IF YOU COULD SAY YOUR NAME. HELLO. UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON THIS. MY NAME IS SHIV SHAVA. I'M PART OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 65 AND 82. WE REPRESENT HARRISBURG MAGNOLIA SMITH EDITION IN MANCHESTER. AND, UM, THE WORD COLLABORATION HAS BEEN USED SEVERAL TIMES TODAY, AND I CANNOT, UM, PROVIDE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO THAT. COLLABORATION IS IMPORTANT. AND I ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER WORDS THAT START WITH C THAT ARE IMPORTANT AS WELL. AND THAT'S CONSULTATION AND CONS, UH, CONSULTATION AND CONSENT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CIVILITY ORDINANCE DID NOT FOLLOW ANY OF THOSE THINGS. THIS IS THE PRODUCT OF THE EAST END MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. UNLIKE OTHER CIVILITY ORDINANCES THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WERE THE PRODUCT OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS OR THEIR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS REQUESTS, THIS FOLLOWED A OPAQUE TRAJECTORY IN WHICH COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY DID NOT OCCUR. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ECN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UM, WHO WAS JUST UP PREVIOUSLY STATED NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHICH STRUCK ME AS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE THE EAST END MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HAS BEEN ABSENT AT OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS FOR TWO YEARS. THEY APPEARED ONCE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS DURING THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION. THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION HAS BEEN MENTIONED MANY TIMES BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT SAME PATHWAY FORWARD. MAGNOLIA PARK RANKS IN THE 81ST PERCENTILE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES. THAT MEANS ONLY 19% OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE COMMUNITIES WITH A LARGER AMOUNT OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES. WE DO NOT NEED TO CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS. OFTENTIMES, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS CAN BE SEEN AS, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRY TO REPRESENT ALL OF THE VOICES OF A COMMUNITY WHILE BEING UNABLE TO DO SO, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, DEMOCRACY IS MESSY. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPETING PROPOSALS AND COMPETING PLANS THAT SOMETIMES ARE IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION WITH EACH OTHER. WHAT WE POSIT IS NOT THAT WE HAVE THE ANSWER THAT EVERY RESIDENT OF MAGNOLIA PARK OR THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE, BUT RATHER THAT SOLUTIONS HAVE TO COME THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. THAT WAS THE POINT OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD BEING ESTABLISHED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS HAS BEEN A SYNTHETIC PROCESS THAT CAME FROM THE TOP DOWN FROM THE EAST END MANAGEMENT DISTRICT THAT HAS THUS FAR BEEN QUITE DEFICIENT IN OUR AREA IN PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE BEAUTIFICATION THAT WAS EARLIER MENTIONED WERE PLASTIC PLANTS IN FRONT OF A, THE DDS OFF OF HARRISBURG THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR. WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS THE RESULT OF SEVERAL YEARS OF A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEGLECT. WHAT WE HAVE NOT HAD A DEFICIENCY OF IS POLICE PRESENCE. I CAN PROVIDE A PERSONAL STORY FROM JUST TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN HARRISBURG AT NIGHT, GOT PULLED OVER FOR NOTHING, NO REGISTRATION, NO SPEEDING, NOTHING. TWO OFFICERS APPROACHED ME AND SAID, SIR, YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO HAVE ANY DRUGS ON YOU OR GUNS. NO, I DON'T. WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. AND INSTEAD, WE WOULD REQUEST THAT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS COME TOGETHER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY GAUGE WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS THROUGH PUBLIC MEETINGS, RATHER THAN TRYING TO DICTATE TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WANT. LET'S GO TO THEM AND ASK PUBLICLY AND TRANSPARENTLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, YVETTE ARIANO. [04:15:05] MM-HMM . THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS YVETTE ANO. I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF MAGNOLIA PARK. I AM ALSO GONNA BE WORKING THE POLLS NOVEMBER 5TH. I AM ACTIVE IN THE MAGNOLIA CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND I'M SECRETARY TWO SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 65 AND 82. OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY YOUR DECISION, AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THE PROPOSED CIVILITY ORDINANCE DOESN'T, UH, ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES FACED BY OUR COMMUNITIES. EAST END MANAGEMENT DISTRICT DIRECTLY SET. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE HOMELESSNESS. HOW WILL POLICING DO THAT? RATHER THAN AN ORDINANCE THAT UNDULY FOCUSES ON POLICING ALREADY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS THE UNHOUSED, THE ATTEMPTS TO SOW DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND BLAME THE UNHOUSED FOR DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT IS DANGEROUS. WE HAVE, AGAIN, TO AN EARLIER SPEAKER, THE ONLY PIECE I AGREED WITH HER ON WAS, WE HAVE NO WELCOME SIGNS. WE HAVE NO MAGNOLIA TREES IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED MAGNOLIA PARK, WHERE HISTORICALLY WE HAD SO MUCH FLORA AND FAUNA. INSTEAD, THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE EAST END, CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN HAS NUMEROUS INVESTMENT PROJECTS, SOME THAT TOTAL OVER $847,000 FOR, UH, 4K BARRED AND TUMBLE OFF OF MCKINNEY, ONE THAT TOTALS 400 AND OR $848,228. PROPONENTS OF THIS ORDINANCE WILL SAY THAT CONSULTATION HAPPENED, AND YOU JUST HEARD, UH, PRISCILLA, THE PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 65 AND 82. ALSO, UH, A COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR, THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION OF MAGNOLIA PARK, SAY, THIS ISN'T TRUE. FIVE SPEAKERS THAT ARE, UH, FOR THIS ORDINANCE DO NOT EVEN LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ACCORDING TO THE SPEAKER SHEET. SO WE ARE HERE SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF ENFORCEMENT WE WANT. HOUSTON HAS SO MANY POSITIVE ORDINANCES, SUCH AS THE NO IDLING ORDINANCE. OUR AREA ALSO SUFFERS FROM BEING A MANUFACTURING AREA FROM VALERO, REFINING, FROM THE PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS, FROM SHIPPING, UH, AND BARGES. AND WE HAVE NUMEROUS 18 WHEELERS. WE DO NOT SEE THE SAME KIND OF PASSION, THE SAME KIND OF ENFORCEMENT FOR ORDINANCES THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP SAVE OUR LIVES AND BETTER THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING CHILDREN IN OUR PARKS. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT INVESTMENT AND POSITIVE RESOURCES LOOKS LIKE. ADDITIONALLY, WE REFUSE TO CRIMINALIZE THOSE FACING THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THEIR LIVES. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT THIS ORDINANCE ONLY AFFECTS THE COMMERCIAL AREA OF HARRISBURG. MEANING IF UNHOUSED OR OTHER FOLKS MOVE FURTHER INTO THE COMMUNITIES, THAT JUST FALLS UNDER REGULAR CITY RULES AND LAWS. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING DONE TO REPRESENT PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE SAFETY THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING US TO SPEAK AND REPRESENT OUR VOICES FROM THOSE OF US WHO ACTUALLY LIVE, WORK, VOLUNTEER, AND SHARE OUR TIME AND LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY. AS ALSO THE FOUNDER OF FENCELINE WASHINGTON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION. I CANVAS THIS COMMUNITY ON AND ON, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS BITS ARE SOMETIMES STRAY DOGS AND THE INCREASING TRAFFIC WE HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO LESS INVESTING TO PROTECTED CROSSINGS SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY DISABLED AND THOSE WHO ARE ALSO AGING POPULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT, THAT COMPLETE SPEAKER, COUNCILLOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND YOU USUALLY, I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOU USUALLY OPEN UP FOR ANY OTHER FOLKS, IF YOU WANNA SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE, AND THEN I'LL MAKE ANY COMMENTS. YEAH, NO, I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK, MA'AM. WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO BEFORE I MAKE COMMENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S WILLING TO SPEAK. UM, IF YOU'RE IN ATTENDANCE, WANNA STEP UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AS WELL. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MA'AM. LET US COUNCIL STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. OKAY. MY NAME IS BLANCA BLANCO, AND I AM THE, I AM A RESIDENCE OF THE EAST END, AND I LIVE IN THE HARRISBURG WAYSIDE MACARIO GARCIA DRIVE AREA MAGNOLIA PARK. I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ALL THE AREA [04:20:01] RESIDENTS WHO SIGNED THE, AND BUSINESSES WHO SIGNED THE PETITION, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE CIVIL CIVILITY ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL MAKE OUR PUBLIC SPACES SHOPPING MALLS, SIDEWALKS, AND AREAS AROUND MAGNOLIA PARKS, SAFER, MORE WELCOMING AND ENJOYABLE FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS, INCLUDING OUR CHILDREN AND VISITORS. OVER THE PAST YEARS, RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE INCREASE IN LOITERING, DISORDERLY BEHAVIOR, NUANCES, NUISANCES IN THAT AREA, SUCH AS AGGRESSIVE, PANHANDLING, PUBLIC DISTURBANCE, PUB, PUBLIC NAKEDNESS, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, URINATING IN PUBLIC, UH, NEXT TO THE BUILDINGS, AND GETTING HIGH ON DRUGS AND SLEEPING OFF THEIR HIGH ON THE SIDEWALKS. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND HARASSMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THAT AREA. THESE BEHAVIORS NOT ONLY MAKE OUR SHOPPING MALLS, SIDEWALKS, OUR TRANSIT CENTERS AND BUSINESSES FEEL UNSAFE, BUT ALSO DISCOURAGES THEM FROM VISITING OR DISCOURAGES OTHER PEOPLE FROM VISITING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AIMS TO STRIKE A BALANCE BY ENSURING THAT EVERYONE, WHETHER THEY ARE RESIDENTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, VISITORS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS, CAN ENJOY THIS AREA. FROM DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS AND NUISANCES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEE SEEING HAPPENING THERE, IT WILL CREATE A SAFER, MORE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO VISIT AND SPEND TIME IN THE AREA BOOSTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND MEN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH COMPASSION. THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ABOUT CRIMINALIZING POVERTY OR HOMELESSNESS, BUT IN, BUT ENSURING THAT THIS AREA REMAINS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THE EAST END. WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO PASS THIS ABILITY ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN FOSTER A SAFE AND MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS AND THE EAST END. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, BLANCA. THANK YOU BLANCA. AND, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. UM, MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN HARRISBURG, AS THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED. UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THAT PREDATED ME BEING HERE IN OFFICE, UM, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. ALTHOUGH I, YOU KNOW, I'M AFFORDED SOME, UH, SOME KNOWLEDGE AND SOME EXPERIENCE, UH, BECAUSE I WAS ON STAFF, UM, AND EVEN ON STAFF, WE DID NOT KNOW THAT GREYHOUND WAS COMING INTO THE EAST END. IT'S UNFORTUNATE, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THAT PROCESS TO HAVE GONE, UH, WITHOUT REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CHALLENGES ALONG THE HARRISBURG CORRIDOR ARE NOT JUST THE GREYHOUND. UM, AND MANY FOLKS, SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAD MENTIONED AS WELL. UH, AS WE BEGIN TO SEE DEVELOPMENT IN, ON THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN, UM, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES CHALLENGING WITH THE GR THE GREEN LINE COMING INTO HARRISBURG, WHERE WE DEFINITELY SEE FOLKS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, TRANSITING OVER TO THE EAST END. UM, I WANT TO THANK THE METRO. FIRST OF ALL. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE, THE, THE CHALLENGE, BUT ALSO PART OF THE SOLUTION. I'VE SAT DOWN WITH, UH, CHAIR CHAIRWOMAN BROCK AND A FEW OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. UH, THEY HAVE BEGUN TO DO SOME WORK WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE SPACE ALONG THE, THE GREEN LINE IS CLEAN, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE BEEFING UP, UH, OF COURSE, UM, ENFORCEMENT AS WELL. UH, ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT THAT WAS HERE. UH, THANK YOU PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR THE, UH, THE TIME THAT Y'ALL PUT INTO THIS. THIS IS NOT DONE, YOU KNOW, IN SILOS. Y'ALL, Y'ALL PROVIDED A LOT OF GUIDANCE TO FOLKS, UH, ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, THAT THE, UH, CIVILIAN ORDINANCE PROCESS WAS DONE, UH, CORRECTLY. UH, EVEN CANVASSING, WHICH I PARTICIPATED IN A FEW MONTHS BACK, UH, I WANNA THANK, UH, OF COURSE THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, THE RESIDENTS, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR BEING HERE AND VOICING, UH, YOUR PERSPECTIVES ON IT. AND AS IT'S BEEN NOTED, THIS IS NOT AN EASY FIX. THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE THAT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO IT, UH, HISTORICALLY AS WELL. UM, THIS STATE ISSUE AS WELL, THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE AS WELL. UM, IT'S IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT WHEN WE START TALKING TO, UH, SPEAKING TO, UH, UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS, UH, EVEN TDCJ, UM, IT'S IN OUR BACKYARD. BUT THIS IS NOT A, A, A, A CHALLENGE THAT WE SHOULD BE TACKLING ALONE. UH, AS HAS MENTIONED, UH, THERE'S BEEN, UH, A GREAT, GREAT, UH, [04:25:01] UH, UH, WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ, UH, STATE SENATOR CAROL ALVARADO, UM, IN SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO ULTIMATELY ADDRESS WHAT IS HAPPENING ALONG THE HARRISBURG CORRIDOR, WHICH HAS BEEN A, YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILLOR POLLARD HAS MENTIONED AS WELL, AND SEVERAL, SEVERAL AROUND HERE. THIS IS NOT A EAST END ISSUE, IT'S A CITY OF HOUSTON ISSUE. AND SO I WOULD URGE EVERYONE THAT CAME TODAY AS WELL TO BE A PARTNER IN THE STATE LEGISLATION THAT'S COME, LEGISLATOR THAT'S COMING UP TO ASK FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH DOLLARS TO ASK FOR, YOU KNOW, MORE, MORE, UH, SUPPORT IN, IN WITH TDCJ AND WHAT DOES REENTRY REALLY LOOK LIKE IF THEY NEED MORE FUNDING, UM, SPEAKING TO, UH, CONGRESS AS WELL, UM, WHEN WE START ASKING FOR, TO DRAW DOWN DOLLARS FOR MUD, UH, FOR HOUSING. AND SO, UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO THIS. UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE I DON'T FORGET FOLKS THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE BEEN COMING, YOU KNOW, AND I, AND SPEAKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. UH, I DO WANNA CLARIFY. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, I'VE EVEN SAT DOWN WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PERSONALLY AS WELL. UM, BUT MEETINGS HAVE HAPPENED. UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE WAS A TUESDAY OR A WEDNESDAY. AND, AND THAT SATURDAY I HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT HAD 200 RESIDENTS, UH, NOT JUST SPEAKING ON GREYHOUND, BUT ON, ON SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE EAST END. UM, AFTER THAT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL SMALLER MEETINGS, UPDATE MEETINGS. UH, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE, WITH THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AS WELL, WITH THE BUSINESSES ALONG THE CORRIDOR THAT, UM, ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT ALL LIVE THERE, BUT THEY ALL ARE STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSTITUENTS AS WELL THAT I'M LISTENING TO. AND SO I, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE, UH, YOU LISTENING IN, UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE EAST END, UM, AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE HEARING EVERYONE'S VOICES. SO, THANK YOU. OKAY. VERY GOOD. UM, LET ME INCLUDE THIS IN THE DISCUSSION. OUR DIRECTOR OF, UH, SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY LIVES IN THE EAST END, AND THAT BEING CHIEF SATTERWHITE, WHO HAS YEARS AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY. AND, UH, I'M GONNA GET HIM INVOLVED AND LET HIM HEAD UP THIS, THIS COLLABORATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO WE CAN HAVE A TWO-PRONG ATTACK, ONE BEING VERY HUMANE, WORKING WITH MIKE NICHOLS AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, BUT CHIEF SATTERWHITE, UH, NOW OUR DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY, NOT ONLY, UH, WANTS TO GET INVOLVED, BUT I'M ASKING HIM TOO, TO BRING, UH, ALL THE PARTIES TOGETHER AND JUST HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN OF ONCE AND FOR ALL. WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE IT COMPLETELY BECAUSE WE'RE GROWING IN NUMBERS, BUT TO AT LEAST HAVE A PLAN WORKING WITH ALL THE PARTIES, AND, UH, DO AS MUCH, UH, PREVENTION AS POSSIBLE AND THEN HAVE A, A COMPLETE PLAN. SO I'M IN TOUCH WITH HIM AS WE'RE TALKING, AND HE'LL BE GETTING ALL THE PARTIES TOGETHER, WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THOSE THAT OBJECT, I, I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD, UH, ATTEMPT TO, TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. AND, UH, I THINK IT DESERVES A, A CHANCE TO SEE IF THIS COULDN'T BE ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE USE TO IMPROVE THE WHOLE EAST SIDE. UH, FOLKS DON'T STAY AT ONE END OF HARRISBURG OR ONE SIDE OF WAYSIDE IN THE WAYSIDE, YOU KNOW, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS JUST THAT, THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, AND, AND LORD KNOWS METRO NEEDS TO PLAY A REAL PROMINENT ROLE. 'CAUSE THEY'VE GOT RESOURCES, THEY'VE GOT VIDEOS, THEY'VE GOT LAW ENFORCEMENT. UH, I'M REAL DISAPPOINTED THAT, UH, THAT THEY'RE NOT MORE INVOLVED AS WE TALK. SO THAT'LL GET FIXED. ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL? IF NOT, UH, TO HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING. PASST TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THIS ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. YOU ALREADY DID THAT. WE'RE GOOD. AND THOSE BILL NAME MOTION PASSES AGAIN. UM, PUBLIC ITEM NUMBER [2.   PUBLIC HEARING to provide a Resolution of No Objection for the 4% tax credit application of Enclave on Louetta ] TWO. ITEM TWO IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION OF ENCLAVE ON LUTA. DO WE HAVE ANYONE? DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? NO, SIR. TODAY, HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE [04:30:01] HEARING CAST? MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. 10 SECONDS. MOTION MADE AND SIGNAL MOTION. ALL OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THOSE IN FAVOR? YES. MOTION PASSES. BETTER GET MY MIND BACK MEMBERS QUICKLY. ON THE MAYOR'S [MAYOR'S REPORT] REPORT, I'VE BEEN ASKED TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO START INVITING PEOPLE TO THE VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION ON NOVEMBER 11TH. IT'S A CITY HOLIDAY. UH, IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION HAVING NOT BEEN HERE FOR A VETERAN'S DAY CELEBRATION, THAT IT'S NOT HEAVILY ATTENDED. SO THAT'S THE REASON I'M MENTIONING IT TODAY. I THINK IF WE GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MAKE IT MORE USER FRIENDLY, MAYBE NOT A LONG PARADE, BUT MORE FOCUSED ON THE RECOGNITION OF OUR VETERANS, MAYBE HERE AT CITY HALL, UH, WITH BOOTHS AND CELEBRATIONS AND RECOGNITION. BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT THIS YEAR. BUT IT'S AMAZING TO ME WHEN THINGS ARE BROUGHT TO ME AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE A MODEL THAT I'M TOLD BY THE VETERANS DEPARTMENT. WE JUST DON'T GET THE PARTICIPATION WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SO LET'S MAKE THAT A PRIORITY AS WE GO FORWARD. UH, MENTION EARLIER TODAY, UH, THE HOUSTON GALVESTON COUNCIL, UH, LEGAL STANDING, UH, I WOULD ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AGAIN, UH, TO ADDRESS OUR LEGAL STANDING, UH, AFTER FAIR HOUSTON PASSED. I, I WOULD ASSUME THE LEGISLATURE IS GONNA CLEAR THIS UP, ADDRESS IT. SO, UH, I THINK WE'LL HAVE A MORE, MORE CLARITY AFTER THE LEGISLATURE LOOKS AT IT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GONNA ALLOW US TO WITHDRAW. UH, OUR BEST LEGAL ADVICE FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL IS THAT WE WON'T, BUT BEFORE I ACTUALLY ASK HIM, NO, LET'S DO THAT FIRST, BECAUSE THEN I WANT TO GIVE THE RESULTS TO THE MOST RECENT MEETING AND HOW FIND OUR COUNCIL APPOINTEES, UH, REPRESENTATIVES THERE, OR TWO. YOU WANT TO AGAIN, EXPLAIN TO FOLKS, UH, YOUR BEST LEGAL ADVICE. YEAH. AND WHAT, WHERE THE, WHERE THE CITY STANDS AFTER FAIR HOUSTON. AND, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF FAIR HOUSTON, CERTAINLY WE WANNA RESPECT THAT VOTE. I'M SURPRISED THE VOTE WASN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT THE WAY IT WAS LABELED FAIR HOUSTON. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK THE PROPONENTS, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DIALOGUE AS TO WHAT IT WOULD DO OR NOT DO TO REMEDY THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF HOUSTON IN SOME OF THE SPENDING AND PROJECTS. BUT WHERE DO YOU, WHERE'S YOUR BEST ADVICE OF WHERE WE ARE? UH, MAYOR, WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS SINCE LAST YEAR. UH, BOTH OUR LITIGATORS AND GENERAL COUNSEL SECTION. AND UNDER THE HIERARCHY OF LAWS, UH, WE, OUR CHARTER OR OUR ORDINANCES, REGARDLESS OF HOW CLEAR OR HOW EQUITABLE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE, CANNOT OVERRIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF LAWS, WHICH WOULD BE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW HERE, THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS A FEDERALLY, UH, REQUIRED, UM, COALITION OF, UH, OF URBAN GOVERNMENTS. THAT IS FEDERAL LAW. AND THAT DOES NOT ALLOW US TO LEAVE WITHOUT GUBERNATORIAL APPROVAL AND THREE-FOURTHS OF THE MEMBERSHIP TO DO THAT. THE MPO IS PART OF, UH, HGAC, WHICH IS A COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, UH, UNDER STATE LAW. IT REALLY, WITH, WITHOUT IT BEING PART OF HGAC, IT DOESN'T EXIST THE WAY IT, IT'S CONSTITUTED RIGHT NOW. I THINK WHAT YOU'VE HEARD BOTH, UH, FROM THE PROPONENTS OF THIS AND WHAT YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY, THAT IF WE LEAVE IT FORCES A RE-DESIGNATION. I THINK THAT'S PUTTING, UH, THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. UH, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IN THE STATUTE THAT RE-DESIGNATION OCCURS ONLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL IN THREE-FOURTHS. I DON'T THINK BY LEAVING YOU FORCE A RE-DESIGNATION. I DON'T THINK THE STATUTE READS THAT WAY, THAT THAT CONCEPT IS ABSENT FROM THE STATUTE. SO, AND THE CHARTER PROVISION DOES NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF SEVERABILITY CLAUSE THAT YOU SEE IN CONTRACTS THAT SAY IF SOMETHING IS NOT LEGAL, IT, UH, AND THE REST CAN STAND, THEN THE REST STANDS. SO OUR BEST LEGAL ADVICE IS THAT WE CANNOT LEAVE ABSENT THOSE TWO CONDITIONS, THE GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL, AND THREE FOURTHS OF THE MEMBERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION. AND, UH, WE WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT AND ALSO INFORM HOUSTONIANS [04:35:01] WHAT'S AT STAKE. BUT LET ME JUST TELL YOU THE, THE, THE TIMEFRAME IN WHICH WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. LAST FRIDAY, THE COUNCIL MET AND APPROVED $335 MILLION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. 151 MILLION OF THAT WENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVES. ALCORN, EVAN SHABAS, MARTINEZ CAYMAN, RANDY , PUBLIC WORKS, STEVEN DAVID IN MY OFFICE. I THINK IT DEMONSTRATES, AGAIN, MAYBE ADA WASN'T AS BROKEN AS THE RELATIONSHIPS WERE BROKEN. ONCE AGAIN, RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. SO HOUSTON WAS DOWN THERE. THEY WANTED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND I'LL SAY AGAIN, THEY BUDGETED 335 MILLION LAST YEAR. LAST FRIDAY. LAST FRIDAY, 151000000.7 IS GOING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROJECTS. 103 MILLION OF THE PROJECTS ARE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY FOCUSED, WHICH INCLUDES 78.8 MILLION GOING TOWARDS THE CAPS AND THE BRIDGES FOR THE 45 EXPANSION THAT WILL RE UNITE NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'LL DEVELOP THE CAPS IN A PEDESTRIAN BIKE FRIENDLY SETTING. UH, ALSO WE GOT 33.9 MILLION FOCUSED ON ROAD IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS THE MILLING AND OVERLAYING OF 80 BLOCKS OF ROADS IN DOWNTOWN. IT'LL COST A 9.2 MILLION RECONSTRUCTION OF HARDEN AND HILLCROFT INTERSECTIONS FOR 5 MILLION PAYMENT OF THE REHABILITATION OF INTERSTATE 69 FROM BINET SOUTH RISE FOR 19.9. I COULD GO ON AND EMPHASIZE HOW WE GOT THERE. OBVIOUSLY OUR PARTNER WAS TXDOT. STEVE ALVIS HAS MET WITH US, AND HE'S OUR LOCAL TXDOT COMMISSIONER LIVES LOCALLY, AND HE'S BECOME A REAL PARTNER IN, UH, ASSISTING HOUSTON GET ITS FAIR SHARE AND NOT TO MENTION PARTNERING WITH TXDOT. SO I JUST THINK WE, WE NEED TO, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KEEP THE POLITICS OUT OF IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE COLLABORATION AND HOW WE'RE IMPROVING HOUSTON'S INFRASTRUCTURE IN A VERY SAFE AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, UH, METHOD. AND WE WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO GET SOME CLARITY OF CAN WE FOLLOW THE, UH, FAIR HOUSTON MATTER OR, UH, HAVE MORE DISCUSSION. THAT SAID, COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ARE WE TAKING UP THIS ITEM RIGHT NOW IN DISCUSSION? I'M HAPPY TO HOLD MY QUESTIONS UNTIL WE GET TO THAT ITEM. I DIDN'T KNOW. OH, MY MAYOR'S REPORT. OKAY. SO I'LL, I'LL HOLD MY QUESTIONS FOR LEGAL UNTIL WE GET TO THAT ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PROTO, YOU WANNA ASK A QUESTION? GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UM, WHO YOU WANNA ASK A QUESTION? YEAH. UH, CREW. SURE. SO, CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO LEAVE CURRENTLY? YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. AND COULD YOU REFERENCE WHAT THAT'S UNDER AGAIN? 'CAUSE WHAT I STRUGGLE WITH IS, I, I AM LOOKING AT THE CITY CHARTER. MM-HMM . IS PASSED BY THE VOTERS, AND I'M BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE MAYOR. WE HAVE MILLIONS COMING INTO THE CITY, INCLUDING PROJECTS IN DISTRICT C, UM, THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS. UH, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THE PROPORTIONALITY EFFORTS CRASHED AND BURNED. UH, THE LANGUAGE SAYS IN THE EVENT THAT A COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT OR MPO DOES NOT COMPLY WITH SECTION A, THE REAPPORTIONMENT, THE CITY SHALL WITHDRAW ITS MEMBERSHIP FROM THE BODY IF THE VOTING SYSTEM IS NOT CORRECTED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE DATE OF ADOPTION OF THE CHARTER. THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR LANGUAGE TO ME. THAT IS VERY CLEAR. UM, THE REASON YOU CAN'T IS THE HIERARCHY OF LAWS. WE CANNOT, UH, OVERRIDE STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW. FEDERAL LAW IS WHAT BINDS THE CITY TO REMAIN IN HAC. AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD THOSE FEDERAL OR STATE LAWS BE? CAN, UH, IT'S THE FEDERAL LAW THAT, UH, ADDRESSES, UH, THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION IN LARGE URBAN AREAS. AND IT REQUIRES WHAT I SAID BEFORE, THE GUBERNATORIAL APPROVAL AND THREE FOURTHS OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MPO TO ALLOW THAT TO, TO ALLOW HOUSTON TO LEAVE. UM, AND YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT THAT THE MPO IS PART OF HGAC, THERE'S NO SEPARATION. [04:40:01] SO WHEN WE'RE, I'LL, I'LL GET BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND. WHEN WE HAVE, UH, THE ITEM THAT'S COMING UP IS FOR MEMBERSHIP DUES, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND DO THOSE MEMBERSHIP DUES GO SPECIFICALLY TO HAC FOR THE BOARD PARTICIPATION TO TPC? OR WHAT DOES THAT MEMBERSHIP REFER SPECIFICALLY TO? IT, IT, IT REFER, IT, IT, IT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT IS PART OF H CAC, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE MPL, HOW PROPORTIONATELY THAT'S DIVIDED. I'M NOT SURE. OKAY. UH, MAYOR, I'LL, I'LL HOLD FURTHER QUESTIONS UNTIL THE ITEM. THANK YOU. VERY WILL. IN THE MEANTIME THOUGH, IF THERE IS SOMEONE CITY ATTORNEY ON YOUR STAFF, 'CAUSE THAT'S AT THE BACK OF THE AGENDA, IF ANYBODY COULD PROVIDE US WITH THE ACTUAL CITATIONS FOR STATE AND FEDERAL LAW THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU. SURE. COUNCIL MAYOR PROAM, CAST SIX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY QUESTION IS ALSO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. CAN YOU REMIND ME, WHEN, WHEN THE PROPOSITION WAS MOVING FORWARD, DID WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT, OR WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION PUBLICLY ABOUT THE HIERARCHY AND THAT IT HAD TO BE, UM, APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR? WAS WAS THAT IN THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AT ALL? UH, I, I BELIEVE IT WAS BECAUSE I SAW A FAIR FOR HOUSTON, UH, ADDRESSING THE RE-DESIGNATION PROCESS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS INCORRECT IN HOW THEY LOOK AT THAT LEGAL ANALYSIS, BUT THEY DID ADDRESS THAT PUBLICLY. OKAY. I, BECAUSE I, I, I'M, I'M TORN WITH EVERYBODY'S INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW. UM, SO I, I KNOW WE NEED TO GET SOME CLARITY ON, YOU KNOW, WHICH INTERPRETATION IS REAL INTERPRETATION, UH, OF, OF THE LAW. UM, SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I HEAR THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING. UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS, CAN WE DEDUCT FROM THE LEVEL OF HGAC DISBURSEMENTS THAT WE ARE NOW RECEIVING THAT MAY BE THE PUSH FROM, UH, THE PROPOSITION AND THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE RECEIVING A LARGER DISBURSEMENT FROM HGAC? YOU MEAN IN TERMS OF FUNDS THAT FLOW FROM HGAC TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON? YES. UM, I, I THINK EVERY YEAR THE DOLLARS ARE BIGGER, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER A COMPARISON, I'M PROBABLY NOT THE PERSON WHO WOULD HAVE THAT DATA. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE PERHAPS A FINANCE DEPARTMENT OR PLANNING WOULD KNOW BETTER. MAYOR, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S A, A GOOD LOOK BACK FOR US TO, TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PROPOSITION PASSING, ARE WE NOW RECEIVING A LARGER, UM, PORTION OF THE DISBURSEMENTS? UM, MAYBE FROM, I THINK QUITE FROM, IF I CAN SPEAK TO IT, IF YOU HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND MEMBERS, THEY'LL TELL YOU, BECAUSE NOW THEY FEEL THE CITY WANTS TO WORK WITH 'EM. AND, AND I THINK OUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB, BUT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME NETWORKING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGES AND MAYORS THAT SERVE THERE, AND THEY ARE VERY OPEN ABOUT, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAVE NOW. CERTAINLY NOT. RIGHT. I, I GUESS WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THE DATA ON THE DISBURSEMENTS. SURE. ARE WE RECEIVING MORE OF THE HGAC DISBURSEMENTS? I MEAN, WE GET CONFLICTING INFO. SOME SAYING YES, SOME SAYING NO. WHAT ACTUALLY ARE THE NUMBERS? SURE. AND WE'LL GET THERE. IS, IS IT AN IMPROVEMENT? BECAUSE I'M THINKING IF WE PULL OUT OF THE, IF WE PULL OUT OF HGAC MM-HMM . SO NOW WE WOULD GET LESS ZERO, RIGHT? YEAH. MOST LIKELY THEY, IS IT COMPLEX? HEAC COULD STILL GIVE US MONEY, BUT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE IT IF WE DON'T HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. OKAY. OKAY. THEN THAT, I THINK THE, THE DATA WOULD, WOULD HELP TO GET US IN, IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR ME. POLL COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS. UH, THERE THERE'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT LEGAL OPINIONS ON THIS. UH, YOU'LL HAVE A PERSPECTIVE, OTHERS WILL HAVE MAYBE A COUNTER PERSPECTIVE, UM, REGARDING STANDING. IF WE WERE NOT TO APPROVE THE MEMBERSHIP DUES TODAY, UH, A CITIZEN OF THE OF HOUSTON WOULD NOT HAVE STANDING TO SUE US. BUT IF WE DO PASS THIS ITEM TODAY, IT COULD LEAD TO STANDING FOR A CITIZEN OF THE, OF HOUSTON TO SUE US BASED ON VIOLATION OF THE CITY CHARTER. AM I CORRECT? UH, [04:45:01] I, I THINK THERE'S MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THAT. THERE'S THE CONCEPT IN TEXAS OF A TAXPAYER LAWSUIT TO PREVENT THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS. YOU SHOW YOU'RE A TAXPAYER AND YOU SHOW THAT THERE ARE FUNDS THAT MAY BE EXPENDED. YOU CAN ALSO DO IT IF YOU HAVE PARTICULARIZED INJURY. SO A PETITION SIGNER, SOMEONE COULD ALSO SUE UNDER BOTH OF THOSE SCENARIOS. IF THERE'S NO EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, THEN THE FIRST ONE DROPS OUT. IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF WE WERE NOT TO APPROVE THE MEMBERSHIP DUES TODAY MM-HMM . WHO WOULD HAVE STANDING OTHER THAN HGAC POSSIBLY, UH, HJC? IT, IT'S POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, THE LAW IS VERY FACT SPECIFIC. IT'S POSSIBLE A PETITION SIGNER TO PUT IT ON THE CHARTER AMENDMENT. COULD IT? IT JUST DEPENDS. BUT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE SINCE FOR ANY CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE. AND YOU WERE, UM, NOTING STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS THAT COULD BE IN CONFLICT OF THE CITY CHARTER. MM-HMM . AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THAT COMES DOWN TO LITIGATION. RIGHT? A JUDGE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FINAL, UH, DECISION MAKER ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT PARTICULAR LAW. AND I THINK AS A BODY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE, UH, SIDE OF THE CHAMBER SAYS PEOPLE ARE THE CITY, IF THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN ON WHAT THEIR, UM, WISHES WOULD BE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO NOT BE INVOLVED, AND WE HAVE A CITY CHARTER THAT SAYS THAT WE MUST WITHDRAW, THEN YOU LEAVE IT UP TO A COURT, IT, IT, IT SHOULD NOT COME DOWN TO THIS BODY. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT BY NOT PAYING THE DUES, WE STILL GET THE FUNDING. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME INFLUENCE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE INFLUENCE AS IT IS. AND THAT'S WHY THE PROPOSITION CAME IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO IT LOOKS LIKE, IN MY OPINION, NOT PAYING THE DUES IS OUR ONLY LEVERAGE AT THIS POINT, UH, TO FOLLOW THE CITY CHARTER AND AT LEAST, UM, LET IT MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP OF POSSIBLE LITIGATION ON THE MATTER TO GET FURTHER CLARITY. AND I'LL, I'LL SPEAK MORE ABOUT IT ON, ON THE ITEM, WOULDN'T YOU, UH, COUNCIL, YOU SAY WE WOULD GET THE FUNDING THAT'S PRETTY SPECULATIVE IN IT. WELL, WE SHOULD BECAUSE I KNOW WE SHOULD. AND, AND LAST, AND THIS FRIDAY WE GOT OUR SHARE, WHICH SHOWS ONE, I THINK THE VOTE OF FAIR HOUSTON HAD AN IMPACT. I THINK A CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIPS HAD A MAJOR INPUT. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT ACCURATE. WHEN YOU ASK THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, IF WE, IF WE WITHDRAW, WE'LL STILL GET THE FUNDING. I DON'T WELL, WE, WE SHOULD GET THE FUNDING BECAUSE IT'S DON'T BELIEVE. IF YOU TALK TO ANYONE THAT WORKS WITH THE MEMBERS, THAT WOULD NOT BE THE CASE. WELL, THEN THE MEMBERS, THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PULL OUT, BECAUSE THE MEMBERS, WELL, WE SURE AS HELL WON'T GET ANY MONEY IF WE PULL OUT. OKAY. CAN WE, CAN WE? WELL, I, I DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GETTING, WE'RE NOT GETTING NO, WE JUST GOT YOU'RE, YOU'RE APPLAUDING, YOU'RE APPLAUDING WHAT WE SHOULD ALREADY GET. I'M NOT GONNA APPLAUD WHAT WE SHOULD ALREADY GET. I KNOW. NO. WELL, LET'S TAKE IT OUTTA THE POLITICAL ARENA AND DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HOUSTONIANS. I JUST READ YOU A LIST OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. YOU CAN, YOU CAN POINT TO HOW IT HAPPENED. UH, WE HAD GREAT COUNCIL REPRESENTATION. HOUSTON WAS HEARD. WE GOT OUR FAIR SHARE. SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THAT IN YEARS PAST, BUT IT WASN'T 'CAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT TALKING. YOU KNOW IT, AND I KNOW IT. SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY CATCH UP AND BE A PART OF A REGIONAL PLAN. EVERYTHING THEY DO IMPACTS HOUSTON. WE'RE GONNA GET CLARITY IN AUSTIN WHEN THE SESSION MEETS AND WE'RE GONNA GET OUR FAIR SHARE. BUT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT TODAY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES IS WRONG. WE'VE GOT TO HOLD ON TO WHAT WE GOT AND CONTINUE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP. AND THAT'S, IN MY JUDGMENT, WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU WITHDRAW YOUR MEMBERSHIP, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE SEVERE. AND I WOULD EXPECT THEM NOT TO BE USER FRIENDLY. ARE OUR PARTNERS, IF WE DO NOT PAY OUR FAIR DUES, SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE. I THINK, UH, WHAT'S ON THE TABLE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP REBUILD OUR COMMUNITY. I RESERVE MY COMMENTS FOR WHEN THE ITEM COMES BACK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ALCO. SINCE WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT IT, I MOVE THAT WE PULL [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 45 AND GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS IT NOW. SECOND TO TAKE ITEM 45 OUT OF ORDER. THAT'S THE H. ANY, UH, EVERYONE'S HEARD A MOTION ON FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY BEFORE US. THANK YOU. I'VE JUST BEEN CHOMPING AT THE BIT, THE ITEM WASN'T CALLED, SO IT WAS HOLDING ON, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT IT. LET, LET'S, LET'S [04:50:01] CALL THE ITEM. HOLD ON. OH, CALL THE ITEM 45. ITEM 45 HAS A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES TO OPPOSED IN THE QUEUE. MOTION PASSES. DISCUSSION. ALCORN. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. OH, THE MOTION. OKAY. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THIS DISCUSSION. UM, YOU KNOW, LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT PROP B AND WHY IT HAPPENED. PROP B HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A VOTE ON THE I 45. IT WASN'T A VOTE ON THE WHOLE PROJECT. IT WAS A VOTE CONCERNING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT. AND, UH, UH, I WASN'T ON TPC THEN, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, THE HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY REPS, YOU KNOW, WORK ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSTON GETTING, UM, FAIR CONSIDERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF I 45. SO THERE WAS THAT FIGHT. THEN THERE WAS A FIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, UH, HUD MITIGATION FUNDS AFTER HARVEY, THE $488 MILLION. AND I WAS IN THAT FIGHT . AND, AND THAT WAS HARD BECAUSE WE ARE OUTNUMBERED ON THE BOARD. AND THE FACT THAT THE, THAT THE GOVERNOR OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID PROVIDE THE $750 MILLION DIRECT TO HARRIS COUNTY CLOUDED THE CITY'S THE CITY'S ASK BECAUSE IT WAS THE OPINION OF SOME OF THE RURAL AND SUBURBAN LEADERSHIP THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY'S GETTING $750 MILLION, SO YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING. OUR COUNTIES AND CITIES NEED SOMETHING TOO. UM, WE ALL KNOW AT THIS TABLE THAT THAT URBAN DRAINAGE IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE, WHAT THE COUNTY GETS TO IMPROVE CAPACITY IN THE BAYOU. WE HAVE TO GET THAT WATER TO THE BASE. SO THAT WAS A FIGHT, AND THAT WAS A FIGHT I LOST, AND THAT WAS HARD. UM, SO THESE TWO THINGS IN CONJUNCTION KIND OF, I, I, I THINK, AND I WASN'T PART OF PROP B, BUT I THINK WERE KIND OF THE IMPETUS FOR GETTING PROP B GOING, UM, TO THE MAYOR PRO TEMS POINT, IT WAS NOT AN OVERALL, WE DON'T GET ANY MONEY. WE HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN LOTS OF MONEY THROUGH THE FEDERAL AND STATE PASS THROUGH MONEY THAT COMES FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. PROBABLY THE BULK OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF TEXT PROJECTS THAT GO THROUGH HOUSTON. SO WE GET A LOT OF MONEY, AS THE MAYOR SAID LAST WEEK, LAST FRIDAY, AND CARRY DOWN SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT MONEY. CITY PROJECTS WERE AWARDED $151 MILLION. ALMOST HALF OF WHAT THAT CARRY DOWN SPEND WAS, AND A LOT WAS FOR NON-TRADITIONAL NON ROAD PROJECTS. MORE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. THE MAIN STREET 2.0 PROJECT, ALL THAT WAS INCLUDED. WE ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $347 MILLION ALDI IN WESTFIELD BROADWAY, DAIRY ASHFORD, HOR OATS ROAD, LOWER WESTHEIMER WA DRIVE UNDER CONSIDERATION, UM, UM, IN FOR THIS LATEST TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, CALL, CALL. BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD PROP B, WE SAW THAT OVER 60% OF VOTERS SUPPORTED IT. WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED MEETING, UM, WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. HOW DO WE APPROACH THIS? WE WANNA HONOR THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. WE WORKED WITH HGAC STAFF, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE WORKED WITH, I WORKED WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE AND WE KIND OF HAD THEM ON THIS WEIGHTED VOTE. IT WAS WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY FAR FAIR WAY TO HANDLE IT. HOUSTON WILL GET A WEIGHTED VOTE ONLY ON CONTROVERSIAL VOTES, NOT ON EVERY VOTE, BUT THERE WAS A FEELING THAT AROSE AFTER INITIAL SUPPORT THAT, THAT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY AND METRO WOULD, WOULD SOMEHOW USE THAT TO THWART AND, AND STOP THINGS. AND THAT WAS A REAL FEAR BY THE SUBURBAN AND RURAL AND, UH, NON-URBAN CORE MEMBERS. SO AGAIN, WE LOST THAT, THAT FIGHT AS WELL. WE DID NOT LOSE THESE FIGHTS BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THE PEOPLE ON THE, THE BOARD. WE DID NOT LOSE THESE FIGHTS. WE LOST THESE FIGHTS BECAUSE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IS TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST TO REPRESENT THEIR AREA. SO LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS THIS, THIS IS A RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS. THIS IS A PEOPLE BUSINESS. WE GO IN THERE AND WE SIT DOWN AND WE TALK TO THE RURAL AND SUBURBAN CITIES AND COUNTIES AND LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WE NEED THEM TO PASS THESE, THESE, THESE PROJECTS. AND WE REALLY, PART OF THE CHARGE OF HGAC IS TO KIND OF STEP OUT OF YOUR, YOUR ROLE REPRESENTING YOUR AREA AND THINK REGIONALLY. AND IT'S HARD TO DO THAT SOMETIMES. IT REALLY IS HARD TO DO THAT SOMETIMES, BUT, BUT THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL OF IT. UM, WAS I UPSET WHEN WE LOST ALL OF THESE THINGS? ABSOLUTELY. BUT I DO THINK THAT BY MAKING [04:55:01] A STATEMENT BY NOT PAYING THE $92,000 PUTS ME IN A REALLY BAD POSITION AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF, OF HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. 'CAUSE AGAIN, I'M GOING IN THERE AND TRYING TO PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE LEADERS OF, OF THESE ENTITIES TO, TO DO WHAT'S BEST, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY OF THE HOUSTON, BUT FOR THE REGION. SO I WOULD ASK YOU FOR THAT REASON. AND, AND THIS IS ALL BASED ON, IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ARTUR MICHELLE ABOUT THIS. I'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL THROUGHOUT THIS FIGHT ANTICIPATING, UH, A POTENTIAL LEGAL ACTION THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, UM, FOR, FOR THE VOTERS. AND SO BASED ON, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY ON WHOSE ADVICE I RELY ON, UM, I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN VOTING FOR, UM, THIS DUES AND, AND HOPE WE GET SOME, GET BETTER CLARITY FROM THE STATE OR WHATEVER. BUT THIS IS IN NO WAY, MY VOTE FOR THIS IS IN NO WAY, UM, A SLAP IN THE FACE TO PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED PROP B UH, OR, OR ANYTHING. IT'S, IT'S, IF ANYBODY, I I, WE'VE ALL FOUGHT REALLY HARD FOR IT. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UM, I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE WORKED HARD TO, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY THE VOTERS. AND HERE WE ARE TODAY, AND I'M TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT MOVING FORWARD. AND ALL I WANT IS A LOT OF PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I WANT MONEY AND THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AT THAT TABLE, AND I WANNA PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD TO SIT DOWN THERE AND WORK WITH OTHERS TO GET IT. SO THANK YOU. I MIGHT FOLLOW YOU BY SAYING I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD WORDS ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PEOPLE SKILLS AND YOUR TRANSPARENCY. UH, AS THE CHAIR, YOU DO HAVE A CHALLENGE WORKING WITH ALL THE JURISDICTIONS. I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOUR GOOD WORK AND OUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES. WE RESPECT THE FAIR HOUSTON VOTE. IT'S ACCOMPLISHING THE GOAL TO GET EVEN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, BUT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND IF YOU TAKE POLITICS OUT OF IT, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR HOUSTONIANS, BECAUSE WE NEED THIS MONEY. WE HAVE TO GET READY WITH THE CAPS OVER 45 AND 59. IT'S UNITING, REUNITING COMMUNITIES IS GONNA HAVE A PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK, LIGHTING BIKES, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT IN AN URBAN SETTING. THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY. WORDS MATTER. THEY'RE WATCHING US AS WE TALK. AND I APPLAUD YOU AND THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES. I'VE MET WITH THE SURROUNDING MAYORS AND COUNTY JUDGES. THEY KNOW HOUSTON CONTROLS THEIR FUTURE IN DESTINY. AND IT WAS A 45 DISPUTE. WE'VE MOVED PAST THAT NOW, AND I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COLLABORATION AND THE PARTNERSHIP WE'RE ESTABLISHED REESTABLISHING WITH THE HOUSTON ALLISON COUNCIL. AUSTIN WILL BE WATCHING IT AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SHOOT OURSELF BY SAYING WE'LL GET IT ANYWAY. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. IT'S GONNA BE THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS AND MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I TOO WANNA, UM, COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S LEADERSHIP, UH, THROUGHOUT, UH, HER TENURE YEAR SERVING ON THAT COUNCIL. UH, I, I RECALL, UM, WHEN I WAS SERVING, UH, WITH YOU AND AN, AND SITTING THERE, UH, AT THE COUNCIL, UH, FOR A VERY IMPORTANT VOTE AND FELT AS IF THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS NOT BEING HEARD. AND THE PUSHBACK THAT WE DID GET FROM OTHER MEMBERS WHEN WE WERE JUST TRYING TO REPRESENT OUR CITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE GOT THE FAIR AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, UH, FOR OUR PROJECTS. AND THEY DO REPRESENT THEIR AREAS. THEY REPRESENT THEIR AREAS VERY WELL. WE ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT OUR AREA. OUR CITY CHARTER SAYS ONE THING. I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT OUR CITY CHARTER SAYS, AND I'M SURE THERE'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT LEGAL OPINIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS ON WHERE THAT LEADS TO, AND WE WILL FIGURE THAT OUT. BUT THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON OVERWHELMINGLY SAID, WE WANT A PROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF REPRESENTATION ON CERTAIN MATTERS. AND AS THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, WE ARE TO CARRY OUT, UH, THEIR VOTE AND THEIR WISHES. AND WE ARE NOT A COURT OF LAW TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS OURSELVES, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME LEVERAGE IN THIS ONE PARTICULAR ITEM ON MEMBERSHIP. THE DOLLARS THAT WE GET FOR PROJECTS ARE THE DOLLARS THAT WE DESERVE, BECAUSE AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEY UTILIZE OUR POPULATION, UH, THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, DIFFERENT METRICS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHAT IS FAIR FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. [05:00:01] SO WE ALL SHOULD GET DOLLARS FOR PROJECTS, UM, THAT THE MAYOR HAS LAID OUT, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS FAIR. BUT IN THE PAST, THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. AND THAT IS WHY THE VOTERS HAVE PUT FORTH THEIR, UH, VOTE TO SAY THAT THEY WANT MORE REPRESENTATION, BECAUSE IT HAS NOT SHOWN TO BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD. SO WE HAVE TO REPRESENT OUR CITY JUST LIKE THE OTHER REPRESENTATIVES ARE REPRESENTING THEIRS. AND OUR CITY CHARTER SAYS THAT IF WE DO NOT GET THE PROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF REPRESENTATION THAT WE SHOULD WITHDRAW. AND UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER ALCON'S LEADERSHIP AND OTHERS, THEY HAVE APPROACHED HGAC ON WHAT WILL BE THE DIRECTION OR THE TRANSITION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANYWHERE YET. SO REGARDLESS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS FAIR IS FAIR, AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED. I DO RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE SAID AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED IN YOUR TENURE, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ON THAT. BUT I DO BELIEVE AS IF THE WILL OF THE VOTERS SHOULD BE HEARD, THEIR VOICES SHOULD BE HEARD, AND WE ARE THE ONES TO CARRY THAT OUT. AND SO THAT'S WHY I CANNOT SUPPORT THE MEMBERSHIP. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, I, I DO WANNA SAY THAT IT WASN'T JUST I 45. UH, IF WE RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UM, WITH HARVEY FLOOD ALLEGATIONS, UH, THIS YEAH, YOU MENTIONED THAT. SORRY. YEAH. UM, I'M JUST EMPHASIZING IT'S NOT JUST THE, THE POLITICS DU JOUR, IT'S THE, UM, FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY WE ONLY AS A CITY RECEIVED 2% OF THE ALLOCATING ALLOCATED FUNDING, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD OVER 50% OF THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED FROM HARVEY. UM, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE WE ARE MAKING EFFORTS AND STRIDES AT HAC, UM, TO COUNT NUMBER ALCORN'S POINT, UH, INCLUDING IN DISTRICT C. WE HAVE CRITICAL DOLLARS WRITING ON, UH, THE PARTICIPATION IN RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, UH, THROUGH HGAC, THROUGH TPC, LOWER WEST TIMER, THE CAPS W UH, THE LIST GOES ON. SO THAT WORK IS CRITICAL. AND AGAIN, MAYOR, WE'RE SOMEWHAT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. UM, GOING BACK SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE MY VOTE DETER IS WHAT IS BASED ON LAW. AND WE HAVE A S****Y CHART, CITY CHARTER DIRECTIVE THAT SAYS, WE MUST WITHDRAW IF SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN. UM, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU REFERENCED, UH, THE FEDERAL, UH, CODE. UH, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A, A BRIEFING OR CITATIONS FROM YOUR OFFICE. WE ACTUALLY, AS WE WERE SPEAKING, HAD A RESIDENT, UH, EMAIL OUR OFFICE AND SAY THAT, UH, THERE'S 23 CFR FOUR 50.3 10 SUBSECTION H UH, BUT THAT REFERS TO RE-DESIGNATION, UH, NOT NECESSARILY WITHDRAWAL. SO I THINK FOR CLARIFICATION, IS THERE ANY LAW, AND MAY I UNDERSTAND THE STATE LEGISLATURE COULD SUPERSEDE THE CITY CHARTER, BUT THEY HAVEN'T ACTED ON THAT YET. IS THERE ANYTHING PERTAINING TO WITHDRAWAL? I THINK THE LAW, THE FEDERAL, THAT FEDERAL REFERENCE IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT TO, IF YOU'RE GOING, YOU HAVE TO BELONG TO AN MPO GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE CITY. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THERE HAS TO BE A RE-DESIGNATION. SO IT'S PART AND PARCEL OF A WITHDRAWAL THAT CANNOT HAPPEN UNLESS YOU GET GUBERNATORIAL APPROVAL. AND ALSO THREE FOURTHS MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL. AND, UH, POINT OF CLARIFICATION. WHEN ARE THE DUES DUE TO HCC THAT I DO NOT KNOW, MAYOR, THE ONLY REASON I ASK IS TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THE LAW. UM, IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO DEFINE, WE'VE GOT A STATEMENT IS ALL I WAS GOING TO. IT WAS SOME A MOMENT. NO PROBLEM. THEY'RE PROBABLY PASSED DUE . SO I'LL, I'LL GO BACK IN QUEUE AND WAIT ON THAT RESPONSE. THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND THE BLACK LETTER OF THE LAW THAT, THAT YOU'RE DEPENDING ON. I JUST, FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, UH, I THINK PEOPLE EXPECT US TO LEAD, USE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GATHER AND THEN, UH, LOOK OUT FOR THEIR BEST INTERESTS AND THEN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. DID YOU, UH, LOOK OUT FOR THEIR BEST INTEREST? LAST FRIDAY, WE GOT 43% OF THEIR APPROVED PROJECTS. SO I THINK THE, THE REAL MISSION IS, IS WHAT'S [05:05:01] IN HOUSTON'S BEST INTEREST. DO DO A PHONE RECEIPT. AND IT WAS RECEIVED DECEMBER 31ST, AND IT WAS DUE LAST YEAR OF, UH, DECEMBER 31ST, 2023. IT WAS DUE LAST DECEMBER 31ST. SO WE'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, BEING PRETTY PATIENT WITH US, I'D SAY. AND I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST ELECTIONS MATTER AND NEW RELATIONSHIPS DEFINITELY MATTER ANYWAY. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO VOTE THEIR, THEIR CONVICTION. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'VE BEEN VERY CONFLICTED ABOUT THIS VOTE BECAUSE I'M NOT IN THE HABIT OF VOTING AGAINST THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. UM, I THINK THE ONLY TIME THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER, UM, MAKING A CHANGE WHEN THE VOTERS HAVE GIVEN US A CLEAR DIRECTIVE IS IF IT, UM, IF THERE'S A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW. AND SO THAT'S WHY I AM FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS ONE. UM, I DO THINK THAT WHAT THE VOTERS WANT FROM US IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS FAIR ON HGAC. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, BEING ON THE BOARD OF HC I'VE SEEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S WORK ON THIS, AND SHE FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR US TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE THAT, THAT, UM, FAIR SAY ON THAT BOARD. UM, SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE THERE QUITE YET TO WITHDRAW FROM HCI DO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE, UM, THE LEGISLATURE IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. AND IF THEY DON'T ACT ON IT, THEN WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'VE KIND OF EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR OPTIONS. AND THEN MAYBE NEXT TIME AROUND WE NEED TO RETHINK THIS. BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE THERE YET. I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME MORE STEPS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE WE AUTOMATICALLY JUST WITHDRAW RIGHT NOW. SO I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THAT ADVICE, BUT I DON'T LIKE THIS VOTE AT ALL BECAUSE AGAIN, I'M NOT IN THE HABIT OF VOTING AGAINST HOW THE VOTERS WANT US TO VOTE. I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE THERE YET. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. AND, AND JUST WANT TO ECHO SOME OF, UH, MY COLLEAGUES, UH, SENTIMENT AS VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, PECK, BUT ALSO OF COURSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT IS A, IT IS A TOUGH VOTE, RIGHT? BECAUSE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, RELATIONSHIPS DO MATTER AND THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, AND YOU'VE MENTIONED 150, UH, $1 MILLION THAT ARE COMING TO, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND THEN COUNCIL COUNCILMAN ALCORN LAID OUT A FEW MORE THAT ARE OATS ROAD BROADWAY THAT ARE IN DISTRICT I AS WELL. UH, SOME OF THE AIR QUALITY PROJECTS, UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, A LEAF TRAIL, BRIDGES AND TRAIL EXTENSIONS. UM, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE COMING TO HOUSTON AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND, UM, LAYING OUT THE HISTORY OF IT. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORE, I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING OUR FAIR SHARE AND PROBABLY EVEN MORE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO PROJECTS. NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S 45 OR THE FLOOD MITIGATION, UH, I GET IT AND I GET WHY FOLKS WANT, WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WANT US TO HAVE A STRONGER VOICE. BUT AGAIN, RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. I'VE BEEN DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT MARICO AND, AND PARA LAND, UH, MAYOR ZIMMER, ZIMMERMAN AND SUGARLAND KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO IN IT TOGETHER. UM, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO, TO BUILD, BUILD UP SOME RELATIONSHIPS THAT, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, IT WENT SOUR FOR. UM, AND SO, UH, THERE IS A LACK OF TRUST, UM, THAT WE'RE HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON AS WELL. UH, BUT I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE, THERE IS SOME COMPLEX, UH, CONVERSATIONS IN WAITING ON THE STATE, UH, TO GIVE US SOME FURTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, FURTHER GUIDANCE. BUT, UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AROUND, AROUND THAT, THAT TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON SEES, UH, ITS FAIR SHARE OF PROJECTS THAT ARE NEEDED. UM, WE SPEAK OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR DECADES. UH, WELL, THIS IS, THIS WILL ADDRESS SOMETHING IN, UH, BROADWAY THAT HAS BEEN FELL OFF THE CIP FIVE YEARS AGO. AND SO, UH, AGAIN, I, YOU KNOW, AS, UM, AS WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD, KNOW THAT, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS BEING REPRESENTED AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE BEING BUILT AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I TOO AM NOT PRONE TO ALWAYS VOTE AGAINST THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT, BUT OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD STATEMENT REGARDING WHAT THE CHARTER QUOTES IS, IS VALID BECAUSE THAT'S OUR JOB AND OBLIGATION UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I'VE SEEN MANY THINGS. I VISIT HG NOT REPRESENTING THE CITY THERE, BUT I'VE GONE TO THE MEETINGS AND I KNOW [05:10:01] SOME OF THE MAYORS PERSONALLY THAT SERVED THERE. BUT I THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY ALWAYS TO LEAN UPON RELATIONSHIPS. AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHAT RELATIONSHIPS CAN DO. AND I GUESS MY QUESTION ALSO TO YOU CITY ATTORNEY IS IF, WHAT WOULD BE THE LEGAL, AGAIN, MAYBE I MISSED PART OF, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN AGAIN, WHAT WOULD BE THE LEGAL, LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS IF WE WERE NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH THE DUES? GO? WE COULD FACE A CLAIM BY HJAC FOR THAT, THAT WE'RE PART OF IT. IT WOULD BE THE POSITION THAT WE CAN'T LEAVE UNLESS THERE'S A, UH, THE PROCESS I'VE DESCRIBED BEFORE THAT IS WHAT, WHAT WE MAY FACE IF WE DON'T PAY THE DUES, AND WE MAY ALSO NOT, UM, LEGALLY THEY MAY BE ABLE TO KEEP US OUT, WHETHER WE CONTINUE TO GO TO THE, TO THE MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATE. UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HCA COULD, COULD BORROW OUR MEMBERS FROM BEING THERE. SURE. WELL, I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CITY. I, I, I REALLY DO TO THE FUTURE WHERE WE TRYING TO GO. SO I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, I WOULD CERTAINLY BE IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING HELP PROTECT, UM, THE FUTURE, WHAT THE VISION OF HOUSTON CAN BE, NOT TO HAVE, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN IN REDUNDANT PROCESSES OF PEOPLE OF SPENDING MONEY THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE SPENT. YOU LOST STUFF. SO I JUST, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TELL YOU. , THANK YOU, COUNCILOR KAMAN. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. I, I DID NOT MEAN TO BE BACK IN Q MAYOR. UM, BUT IF, IF WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED, IF DUES ARE ALREADY OUTSTANDING, IS THERE ANY HARM IN DEFERRING FOR A WEEK SO THAT CITY, THE CITY ATTORNEY, CAN PROVIDE US WITH THE LEGAL MEMOS THAT THEY'RE BASING THIS OFF OF? I PERSONALLY THINK WE'VE HAD A PRETTY FULL DISCUSSION THIS MORNING. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST A FOLLOW UP ON COMMENTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. IF, IF, IF PROP B WAS FOR IN THE CITY CHARTER, IT SAYS THAT, BUT FOR, UH, THE PROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION BEING MET THAT WE SHOULD WITHDRAW, AND YOU JUST STATING THAT IF WE DO NOT PAY OUR MEMBERSHIP DUES, IT MAY FORCE US NOT TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS, THEN EITHER WAY IT IS ACHIEVED. IF THE, IF THE, IF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY DO NOT WANT US TO BE A PART OF THE COUNCIL UNLESS WE GET PROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION AND CURRENTLY WE'RE NOT GETTING IT, THEN WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE BY NOT PAYING THE MEMBERSHIP DUES? EITHER? WE, EITHER WE DON'T PAY THE MEMBERSHIP DUES AND WE STILL GET TO PARTICIPATE, OR WE DON'T PAY THE MEMBERSHIP DUES AND THEY DON'T ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE, WHICH WAS WHAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS SAID DO IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE. THE, THE ONLY LEVERAGE YOU HAVE IS NOT TO, NOT TO PAY FOR THE DUES E EITHER WAY, YOU GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED. IF WE DON'T PAY THE DUES, WE ARE STILL A PART OF IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET OUT OF IT WITHOUT 75% RE DESIGNATION AND APPROVE ABOUT A GOVERNOR. GREAT. OR THEY SAY THAT WE CAN'T BE A PART OF THE MEETINGS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PAY OUR DUES. WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE VOTER SAID IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO WHEN YOU SAY TAKE POLITICS OUT OF IT, I THINK THE POLITICS IS WHAT'S KEEPING US IN IT. 'CAUSE THE VOTERS HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN IN OUR CITY CHARTER IS EXTREMELY CLEAR. SO I, I DON'T SEE THE PUSHBACK ON WHY WE WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO NOT PAY THE DUES. WE HAVEN'T, I DON'T THINK WE PAY THE DUES IN A YEAR AS IT IS ALMOST. AND WE'RE STILL THERE. WE'RE STILL GOT, WE STILL HAVE ALL THIS MONEY THAT'S COMING IN BASED ON WHAT THE MAYOR SAID. SO WE HAVE TO START USING OUR LEVERAGE AS A, AS A BODY AS WELL, AND REPRESENT OUR CITY AND, AND THE VOTE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. I THINK THAT MATTERS BECAUSE THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE ALSO DOING THAT. THE MEMBERS OF HGC ARE ALSO DOING THAT TO REPRESENT THEIR CITIES AS THEY SHOULD. AND I KNOW THEY'RE WATCHING YOU ALL SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO TO REPRESENT YOUR CITIES. AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, [05:15:01] UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. I'M TORN WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHARTER AND THEN WHAT YOU HAVE ADVISED US AS THE HIERARCHY OF THE STATE LAW AND THE FEDERAL LAW. UM, AND THEN I'M ALSO TORN WITH H-G-A-C-I, I FEEL LIKE IF WE GET, IF WE DON'T PAY THE DUES AND WE GET OUT, THAT DEFINITELY WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE OTHER MEMBERS. MM-HMM . UM, HOW DO WE REPRESENT OUR CITY IF WE ARE NOT AT THE TABLE? I AGREE. I I THINK CLEARLY YOU WOULD NOT HAVE A VOICE. A VOICE. AND, AND, AND MY CONCERN IS, I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO COMPLY WITH THE CHARTER IS TO LEAVE HGAC. THAT INCLUDES LEAVING THE MPO. AND WE CANNOT DO THAT EXCEPT THROUGH THE RE DESIGNATION PROCESS THAT REQUIRES THOSE APPROVALS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE. SO IF THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND THEY DON'T WANT US TO BE A PART, BUT THE ONLY WAY WE CANNOT BE A PART IS THROUGH THE STATES, THROUGH THROUGH THE GOVERNOR AND THE THREE-FOURTHS VOTE BY THE MEMBERS OF IT, IT'S ACTUALLY THREE FOURTHS OF THE POPULATION OF THE EXISTING, UH, OF THE EXISTING MPO. AND HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY DON'T REACH THAT LEVEL ALONE. WE, YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE OTHER MEMBERS, UM, JOIN IN ON THAT. AND THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY MOVEMENT AS FAR AS I KNOW, PERHAPS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WOULD KNOW BETTER. WELL, I'M CONCERNED THAT IF, IF WE GET OUT MM-HMM . WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY REPRESENTATION AT THE TABLE. MM-HMM . MM-HMM . TO FIGHT. SO DO WE GET OUT, BECAUSE THE VOTER SAID FOR US TO GET OUT MM-HMM . WHEN I FEEL LIKE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CHAIR, UH, FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS FOR US TO GARNER MORE OF THE DISBURSEMENTS, I THINK THAT I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE ADVISED US, THAT WE ARE AT THE TABLE THAN IF WE JUST GET OUT AND SAY, WELL, WHATEVER THEY GIVE US, THEY GIVE US. IS THAT A FAIR, WHAT? IT'S, IT'S HARD TO INFLUENCE ACTION IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE DISCUSSION. I AGREE WITH YOU. BUT THEN DO WE, OKAY. I'M, I'M GOOD. COUNCILMAN GUILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY THOROUGH DISCUSSION AND AN ITEM THAT, UH, A LOT OF US ARE WEIGHING CAREFULLY. UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CHARTER AND WHAT IT STATES AND, AND THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO HONOR IT. UM, IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. SO, MY QUESTION, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, IF WE MOVE FORWARD PAYING THESE DUES, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP WITH HONORING THE CHARTER? YOU KNOW, WE HEAR ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND THE LEGISLATURE. WHAT, WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING TO HONOR? THAT'S, THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION. I THINK WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE'RE DOING IT TODAY TO SHARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF GETTING OUT. THAT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED BY THE PROPONENTS LAST YEAR. I KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT PROPOSED IT, I KNOW THEIR OBJECTIVE. IT WAS PRIMARILY TO BLOCK 45 PEOPLE WERE NOT EVEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER. THE COUNTY JUDGE WOULD NOT EVEN GO TO THE MEETINGS. IT WAS A DYSFUNCTION. IT'S BEEN FIXED. WE HAVE A CHAIR FROM HOUSTON. WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS. I'VE SAT DOWN AND HAD LUNCH WITH COUNTY JUDGES AND MAYORS. THEY KNOW HOUSTON NEEDS TO BE A MEMBER. SO WHAT YOU DO AFTER 51 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE, IF I CAN SHARE MY EXPERIENCE, YOU BE TRANSPARENT AND YOU BE HONEST, AND YOU QUIT PLAYING POLITICS AND TALK ABOUT PROP B, NO ONE TOLD YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. WE'RE SITTING HERE LOOKING AT $151 MILLION OF BENEFITS FOR THE THINGS THAT WE CAMPAIGN ON AND CARE ABOUT. THAT'S HOW YOU GET OUT OF THIS DILEMMA. WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAN WE HAD A YEAR AGO. WE'VE GOT STATE AND FEDERAL LAW THAT ARE BLOCKING US. SO YOU JUST BE HONEST, TRANSPARENT, VOTE YOUR CONVICTIONS, AND THEN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WE'RE NOT GOING AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. WE'RE REPRESENTING THEM WITH NEW INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE NEVER HAD SHARED WITH THEM. IT'S A NEW DAY. ELECTIONS MATTER, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW IT'S A TOUGH VOTE, BUT IT'S A RESPECTABLE VOTE IF YOU'RE HONEST AND TELL PEOPLE YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR BEST INTEREST, THAT'S ALL PEOPLE EXPECT [05:20:01] YOU TO DO. BE HONEST, TRANSPARENT, AND VOTE WHAT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TODAY. THERE. IT'S, IT'S IRREFUTABLE WHAT'S IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. WE'VE GOTTA GET BUSY WORKING ON THE DRAINAGE AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS THAT THEY FUNDED LAST FRIDAY. WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE MOST CAPABLE PERSONS IN CITY GOVERNMENT DOWN THERE CHAIRING HCAP. YOU CAN'T ASK FOR MUCH MORE. THAT WASN'T THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN PEOPLE WERE VOTING ON PROP B, THEY HEARD A SLANTED ONE SIDE THAT WE WERE NOT BEING REPRESENTED PROPERLY AND GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE. THAT'S OLD INFORMATION. SO I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE. I JUST SIMPLY SAY, RISE ABOVE POLITICS AND VOTE WHAT WE'RE SWORN TO DO. LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF HOUSTONIANS. WE WILL THEN DEAL WITH IT IN THE LEGISLATURE. WE'LL DEAL WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE A PROBABLY FIXED IT NOW. LET'S GET THE NEW INFORMATION AND LOOK OUT FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE A ROLL CALL. VOTE AND VOTE YES AS THE FIRST PERSON. DO YOU HAVE, I I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF. I JUST THINK IT'S TIME TO FISH OR CUT BAIT. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION THAN WE EVER HAD BEFORE. UH, AND WE NEED TO GO FORWARD AND, AND CONTINUE THIS DIALOGUE, DEPEND ON OUR REPRESENTATIVES ON HVAC, DEAL WITH THE LEGISLATURE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, LESS FIX HOUSTON'S INFRASTRUCTURE. NO, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO GET OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND ON THE RECORD THAT I BET ARE, ARE THINGS MOVING FORWARD TO SATISFY PROP B. AND, AND WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL HAVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WE'LL HAVE AN EDUCATION PROCESS. WE'LL SEPARATE THE POLITICS FROM GOOD GOVERNMENT AND THE FOLKS WILL UNDERSTAND. I PROMISE YOU THAT. AND I, I I'LL BET MY 51 YEARS OF EXPERIENCING GOVERNMENT, YOU MAKE TOUGH VOTES ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY YOU DO IT. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHEN YOU SAY YOU MAKE TOUGH VOTES ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN. THE PEOPLE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE ON THIS, ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. NOW WITH NEW INFORMATION, YOU CAN GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO MAYBE PUT IT BACK ON THE BALLOT AT A SUBSEQUENT TIME TO VOTE DIFFERENTLY. BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY VOTED ON THIS MATTER. SO WE DON'T WANT TO ASSUME JUST BECAUSE YOU CLAIM TO HAVE NEW INFORMATION OR NEW RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY WOULD AGREE TO STILL NOT WANT THEIR PROPORTIONATE SHARE. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED OUR PROPORTIONATE SHARE. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY ACTION OR MOVEMENT TOWARDS GETTING OUR PROPORTIONATE SHARE. AND THAT IS WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR. AND THEY SAID, IF THAT DOES NOT GET ACCOMPLISHED, THE CITY SHOULD WITHDRAW. AND NOW THE CITY CHARTER SAYS THAT WE MUST WITHDRAW. SO WHY ARE WE GOING AGAINST OUR OWN CITY CHARTER AND OUR OWN VOTE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS? THAT WAS OVERWHELMING. I THINK THE CONTROLLER SAID 95% OF THE PRECINCTS VOTED IN FAVOR OF PROP B MORE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON ON THIS HORSESHOE. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE PUSHING SO HARD AGAINST THE WILL OF THE VOTER. YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ANY PUSHBACK FROM THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST FOLLOWING THEIR VOTE. SO IT, I THINK IT'S WRONG TO ASSUME THAT JUST BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NEW PEOPLE IN PLACE OR, OR NEW INFORMATION, THAT THEY WOULD NOT STILL WANT US TO HAVE THE PROPORTIONATE VOTE. WE DO NOT HAVE THE PROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION. THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY MOVEMENT TOWARDS THAT. SO THERE'S BEEN NOTHING MORE ACCOMPLISHED FROM THAT VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. AND YES, I DO CALL FOR A ROLL CALL WITH YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. NO. SECRETARY CALDER ROLE PLEASE. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCILMAN PECK? YES. COUNCILOR JACKSON? NO. COUNCIL MC KAMAN? NO. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? NO. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILOR DAVIS? [05:25:01] YES. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. NO. CONSTABLE ALCORN? YES. THERE BE NINE YESES AND FOUR NAYS. THE MOTION PASSES. PLEASE [CONSENT AGENDA] MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGREEMENT UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION. SAY TO MOVE. 10 SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF VOTE? YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPTABLE CATEGORY. ITEM 6, 7, 8, AND NINE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEVERAL CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION? YES. NEXT STATE MOVE. NEXT SECONDS. ALL, UH, MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE. YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BS CATEGORY. ITEM 13 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, EITHER MOTION OR ITEM 11, 12, AND 14 HAS T MOVE SECOND MOTIONS MADE AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEM 15 IS REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEMS 29 AND 30 HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 17, 18, 22, 25, 27, 28, 32, 33 AND 34. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 17, 18, 22, 25, 27, 28, 32, 33, AND 34. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM SIX, I BELIEVE. OKAY, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. LEMME GET THAT OTHER SET. TAKE YOUR TIME. WE MAY HAVE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION TO KEEP WORKING IN A MINUTE. , WE ALREADY TOOK THAT UP. WE DID. WE CHANGED THAT. YES, SIR. OH MAN. WE'RE GETTING MODERN, SO WE GOTTA KEEP GOING NO MATTER WHAT. WE CAN KEEP WORKING PAST NOON WITHOUT PERMISSION. YES, SIR. A HECK OF A DEAL. ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT. UM, AS DISCUSSED WITH THE, WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW OBO DIRECTOR. YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THESE ITEMS, UM, WEEKLY AND ON THESE THREE ITEMS AND, AND A MATTERS HELD ITEM THAT'S COMING UP LATER. UM, THE NBE AND NWBE PORTIONS OF THESE CONTRACTS WERE NOT MET, BUT THEY STILL WERE GRADED, UH, SATISFACTORY DUE TO GOOD FAITH EFFORTS. AND I'VE BEEN SEEING ROUTINELY THE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, UM, DESIGNATION ON MANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE COMING FORTH BEFORE COUNCIL. AND ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THERE IS, UH, GOOD REASONING FOR THAT, I THINK THAT HAS TO BE AN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE GOOD FAITH EFFORT WHEN YOU'RE NOT ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS. AND IN SOME OF THESE INSTANCES, THE PARTICIPATION IS VERY LOW, RIGHT? AND I, UH, AM A PROPONENT OF ENSURING THAT THERE'S ENOUGH ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIME VENDORS ARE MEETING THEIR GOALS AND MEETING THEIR GOALS WITH THE SUBCONTRACTORS THAT THEY PUT ON THEIR ORIGINAL BID, RIGHT? SO IF WE PUT OUT WORK THAT THEY BID ON AND THEY PUT FORTH, UH, A PACKAGE THAT LISTS VENDORS AND SAYING THAT THEY CAN MEET THIS PERCENTAGE, THEN FOR THE MOST PART, THEY NEED TO DO THAT. AND THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY, UH, TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN SEEING ITEMS COME BEFORE US THAT THESE VENDORS ARE STILL GETTING THE GOOD FAITH EFFORT, SATISFACTORY DESIGNATION, BUT THEY'RE NOT MEETING THEIR GOALS. SO THAT'S WHY I'LL BE VOTING NO ON 6, 7, 8, AND THE MATTERS HELD. AND I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR COUNCIL, MAYOR PROTE, CAST STADIUM. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. I, I KNOW THAT YOU LOOK AT THESE EVERY WEEK, BUT WE ALL LOOK AT 'EM EVERY WEEK. AND I THINK THAT, UM, THE POINTS YOU MAKE ARE VERY VALID. HOWEVER, I DON'T WANT US TO BE SO EXTREME THAT WE DON'T REALIZE THAT FOR A LOT OF THESE, UM, THE DIVISIBILITY, THERE ARE SO MANY INTRICATE FACTORS, AND WE GO OVER THIS WITH [05:30:01] THE DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE DIRECTOR. WE'VE AUGMENTED THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THIS. THE NUMBER OF, UM, PRIMES THAT COME THROUGH THAT ARE HAVING A PATTERN OF ABUSE AND NOT MEETING, UH, THEIR MWB OR THEIR GOALS, UM, IS LESS THAN 0.5%. I MEAN, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF CONTRACTS THAT COME THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT ARE MEETING THE GOALS. UM, I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE STRICT AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT MEETING THEIR GOALS. UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, UM, THERE ARE SOME RULES IN PLACE THAT WE ARE WORKING ON AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE SET THESE GOALS, IT IS THE APPROPRIATE GOALS. UM, AND THAT WHEN PEOPLE DON'T MEET THE GOALS, THAT THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM. BUT I THINK THAT WE, WE ALSO NEED TO BE FAIR AND NOT MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THE NUMBER OF, UH, EACH TIME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS, THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF ABUSE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE THE OPPOSITE. UM, SO I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, THAT THEY ARE MEETING THEIR GOALS, AND THAT WE ARE ALLOWING ALL OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE. I THINK WE'VE SEEN GREAT STRIDES WITH, UM, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE, UM, BEING PART OF THE, THE BY BOARD AND, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THE, UM, PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT HAS DONE. UM, BUT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, UM, MAKING IT SEEM EACH WEEK THAT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE ABUSING THE MWBE, UM, MEETING THEIR GOALS THAN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY MEETING THEIR GOALS. BUT I AGREE, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HOLD PEOPLE UP ACCOUNTABLE IF THERE IS A PATTERN OF ABUSE. THESE, UM, CONTRACTORS HAVE A SATISFACTORY RATING. UM, THEY, WE ALL LOOKED AT HOW THEY GOT TO THE SATISFACTORY RATING AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A PATTERN OF ABUSE. UM, AND THEY MET THE QUALIFICATIONS. SO, UM, I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE. ALSO, ECHOING THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT ABUSING AND THAT THEY ARE MEETING, MEETING THEIR GOALS. WELL SAID. AND WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BY BEING REASONABLE, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE, BUT LOOKING AT THEIR COMPLETE RECORDS. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I, I AGREE WITH YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. THERE, THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN I SEE GOALS NOT BEING MET, THAT I I DON'T SAY ANYTHING AND I LET IT SLIDE. AND THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER TIMES WHEN I SPEAK TO THE, UH, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE VERY VALID REASONING ON WHY A GOOD FAITH EFFORT WAS DESIGNATED, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T MA MAKE THEIR GOALS. I, I TAGGED AN ITEM LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF THIS, THAT WAS WOEFULLY SHORT. AND THEN I GET TO THIS YEAR, THIS WEEK'S ITEM AND THREE OUT OF THE FOUR ACCEPT WORK, UM, ITEMS DON'T MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS. SO AT, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU JUST HAVE TO CALL IT OUT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT THAT GETS PUT FORTH BY OBO TO SET THE GOALS TO SET THOSE. UH, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON CHANGING THAT. I UNDERSTAND. BUT AT THE MOMENT, THESE GOALS WERE PUT FORTH TO THE VENDOR. THE VENDOR DID, AND SAID, I CAN DO THIS. NOT ONLY DID THE VENDOR SAY I CAN DO IT, IT LISTED THE SUBCONTRACTORS THAT COULD DO IT. RIGHT? AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO ACCEPTING THE WORK AND PAYING OUT ON THAT WORK, THEY DON'T MAKE IT. SOME OF 'EM, IT'S, IT'S TO WHERE THEY, UH, WERE CLOSE BUT DIDN'T GET OVER THE HUMP. AND THEN IN OTHER TIMES, UH, WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON THE I, UH, THE AGENDA TODAY, THEY'RE NOWHERE CLOSE, BUT THEY STILL GET THE DESIGNATION OF, UH, GOOD FAITH EFFORT. SO, UH, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE OBLIGATION OF THE CITY. I UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF OBO AND I UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND SOME OF THE, THE VENDORS. BUT, UH, WHEN I SEE THREE OUT OF THE FOUR ITEMS, UM, THAT DON'T MEET THE, THE GOAL AS WELL AS THE ITEM FROM LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS WOEFULLY SHORT, UH, AT TIMES I'M GONNA HAVE TO SPEAK UP IN A LEAST LET THE, THE PUBLIC KNOW AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE M-B-E-M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM. UM, AND THAT THE VENDORS WHO EXPECT THE WORK, ESPECIALLY THE SUBCONTRACTORS [05:35:01] WHO ARE EXPECTING THE WORK, UH, UM, KNOW THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND WANT THEM TO GET THEIR FAIR SHARE AS WELL. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY. POLLARD. NO. POLLARD, NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION CAST. NEXT, STATE A MOVE. 10 SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. UH, THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. POLLARD, NO. 30, NO BALLARD, NO. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. POLLARD. NO SHALL COUNCILMAN POLLARD. NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 13 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. SHE SAID AFTER THE VOTE. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS. AND ITEM FOR, UH, 14, UH, WE ARE GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL HYBRIDS IN. UH, AND THIS TIME FOR HPD IS PART OF A SPECIAL PRI PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST THOSE OUT AND HOPEFULLY SEE SOME BIG BENEFITS IN TERMS OF COST SAVINGS, UM, FROM FUEL CONSUMPTION. UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM. ALSO FOR ITEM 14, WE'RE GETTING SOME ELECTRIC TRUCKS. YES, MA'AM. NEXT ITEM 15 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM AS WELL. UM, THIS IS A, UM, WE ARE APPROVING THE NOMINATION FOR A ENTERPRISE PROJECT, UM, WITH INTEGRAL AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH THEM. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THEM COMING INTO THE, UM, NEAR GREENS POINT AREA. THIS IS THE LOCATION THAT, UM, WAYFAIR WAS SUPPOSED TO COME, BUT, UM, COMING TO THE CITY BUT THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP. AND SO THIS, UM, COMPANY IS, UM, TAKING THAT SPACE AND THEY'RE CREATING, UM, 169 JOBS, SECOND CHANCE JOBS. I'M SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT WITH GOOD PAY, $25 AN HOUR STARTING. UM, AND SO THEY WILL BE TRAINING, UM, THE, UM, JOB SEEKERS. AND SO JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. YOU KNOW, JOBS IS MY PRIORITY AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, THIS PROJECT COMING INTO THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDER. THIS NEED A VOTE. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM WAS ORIGINALLY A HOUSING PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, UM, BACK IN 2021 BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE. NOW THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIGHWAY SIX AND IT BACKS DIRECTLY UP TO THE BARKER RESERVOIR. THIS WAS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT FLOODED DURING HURRICANE HARVEY AND IS STILL CURRENTLY IN A FLOOD PLAIN. NOW THIS PROJECT, UM, IT WAS PART OF THE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. AND WHEN IT ORIGINALLY CAME ON THE AGENDA IN FEBRUARY, 2021, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THEN WE ARE STILL IN THE HEIGHT OF COVID, YOU KNOW, IN MARCH, 2020 IS WHEN KIDS STOPPED GOING TO SCHOOL. BUT BY FEBRUARY, 2021, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL IN IT AND THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED, BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PROGRESS. THERE'S BEEN NO, THEY HAVEN'T BUILT ANYTHING YET ON THE LAND AND IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS NOW. UM, WITH SPEAKING WITH THE DEVELOPERS, IT SEEMS LIKE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, UM, COSTS HAVE GONE UP ON MATERIALS AND YES, THERE WERE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATED BACK IN 2021. UM, AND SO TO, YOU KNOW, USE THAT LATER ON NOW, UM, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS FORESEEABLE, UM, AND STILL, BUT THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, NO MOVEMENT, UM, ON THIS NOW, UM, WITH THE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT, UM, THEY RECEIVED ABOUT 15 MILLION AND THEN RECEIVED ANOTHER ALMOST 6 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS. AND NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE COMING BACK, UM, WANTING TO BE A RECIPIENT OF THIS HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUND, WHICH WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILLION. AND SO I REACHED OUT TO THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO [05:40:01] SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY RECIPIENTS DO WE HAVE? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS A LOT OR JUST A LITTLE? AND, UM, FROM THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED, IT LOOKS LIKE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THERE'S ONLY BEEN SIX THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, UTILIZED. SO, YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE OTHER PROJECTS THAT MAY BE WORTHY OF THIS, YOU KNOW, $3 MILLION? UM, THIS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MOVEMENT. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS. UM, AND BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT, UM, I AM OPPOSED TO THIS ITEM. COUNSEL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THE 9% CREDITS ARE WILDLY OVERSUBSCRIBED. UM, WE CALL THE LIST HERE AT THE CITY. IT GOES UP TO THE STATE, ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE'S IN THE STATE, THEY CALL THE LIST QUITE A BIT AS WELL. AND I THINK WE ONLY END UP WITH TWO OR THREE OUT OF ALL OF 'EM THAT ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED. AND THE REASON IT'S SO OVERSUBSCRIBED IS 'CAUSE THE 9% CREDITS ARE VERY LUCRATIVE. YET HERE WE HAVE THIS DEVELOPER COMING BACK TO US AND SAYING THEY NEED MORE MONEY. AND I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GIVEN THE SAME CHOICE, UH, LIKE WE WERE WITH, UH, THE HOUSING WE TALKED ABOUT JUST LAST WEEK, WHERE, WELL, IF WE DON'T GET THE EXTRA MONEY, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BUILD IT AT ALL. UH, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THESE DEVELOPERS ARE NOT REALLY HELD TO ACCOUNT. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE TIME TO HOLD 'EM TO IT OR NOT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH PRO PROJECTS ALSO, WHERE THEY'VE GOT EXISTING PROJECTS, THERE'S SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH THE EXISTING PROJECTS THEY HAVE, YET THEY'RE COMING FOR NEW, NEW ONES AS WELL. AND JUST AT SOME POINT IN TIME, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HOLD THE DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABLE. COUNCILLOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I'VE HEARD THE STORY OF YOU, YOU DON'T ASK, YOU CAN'T RECEIVE, UH, COUNCILLOR HUSMAN. I, I APOLOGIZE, UH, THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS WITH THIS DEVELOPER AND THIS 9% TAX CREDIT. BUT IF THE HOUSING DIRECTOR IS LISTENING, UH, WE COULD DEFINITELY USE THIS AT ANDOVER VILLAGE APARTMENTS IN THE HOBBY AREA WHERE IT'S NEEDED. UM, THERE'S A CHILD CHILDCARE FACILITY STANDALONE THAT WILL BE BUILT AS WELL, WHERE IT WILL BE, UH, PROVIDING ANY, UH, SUPPORT FOR THOSE THAT ARE, UM, AGES THREE TO FOUR, THREE TO FIVE. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW, HOW Y'ALL WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. IF I JUST WANNA, UM, IF WE'RE VOTING IT DOWN, VOTE IT DOWN. UH, BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE THIS MONEY IN THE HOBBY AREA. NO OTHER COMMENTS. JUST NEED TO VOTE, SIR. ANYONE ELSE? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME, MOTION PASSED. NO, NO, NO, NO. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. DID SOMEBODY REQUEST FOR ROLL CALL? YES, I CALLED ROLL CALL SECOND. OKAY. IS IN NUMBER 17? YES MA'AM. MAYOR WHITMEYER? YES. COUNCILMAN PECK? NO. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KAMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? NO. MEMBER POLLARD. YES. OH, MARTINEZ. I'M SORRY. MARTINEZ. NO. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? NO. COUNCILMAN ALCORN? NO. BEING, UH, FOUR YESS. NINE DAYS. MOTION FAILS. OKAY. OKAY. ITEM 18 NEEDS A VOTE TAG. I THINK EIGHTEEN'S BEEN TAGGED. COUNSEL, I'M WILLING TO RELEASE MY TAG, UM, FOR DISCUSSION IF NECESSARY, BUT JUST A FRIENDLY TAG FOR MORE INFORMATION. MAYOR? YEAH, THERE'S NO DISCUSSION. NO DISCUSSION. EIGHTEENS TAGGED BY PLUMBER. MM-HMM . NEXT ITEM 22. COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN CAMAN, DO YOU MIND RELEASING YOUR TAG? YES, I RELEASE MY TAG. UM, MAYOR, BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO, UH, BONDS, IS THERE ANY TIME CONCERN WITH THE DELAY OF THIS THAT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE AGREEMENT? OKAY. YES. NEXT, [05:45:01] ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM CAYMAN ON 25. YEP. OKAY. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. REALLY QUICKLY, WE DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT A RA PROVIDES WITH ALARM SERVICES AND THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM. I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT WE'RE OFFLOADING SOME OF THE STRAIN HERE. UM, BUT A FRIENDLY REMINDER. A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR BURGLAR ALARM COMPANY, YOU ACTUALLY ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IF YOU HAVE AN ALARM SYSTEM, WHETHER THAT'S RESIDENTIAL OR BUSINESS. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT IF YOU DON'T REGISTER, THE CITY CAN'T RESPOND, UH, WHEN AN ALARM GOES OFF. SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT ALARM SYSTEMS, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF CRIME, A LOT OF BUSINESS BREAK-INS, A LOT OF HOMES ARE SECURED THROUGH ALARM SYSTEMS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RESIDENTS ARE ACTUALLY REGISTERING WITH THE CITY, UM, SO THAT THAT PROCESS CAN RUN SMOOTHLY. AND AGAIN, JUST WANNA LIFT UP THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT THE REGULATORY SCHEME AROUND BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEMS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. UM, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON THIS. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN OPTION THOUGH, INSTEAD OF HOMEOWNERS HAVING TO PAY, YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AN OPTION TO DO, YOU KNOW, A FIVE YEAR, UM, ALARM PERMIT OR A THREE YEAR. AND MAYBE THAT COULD CUT DOWN ON, YOU KNOW, SOME WORK AND PROCESSING OF, OF THINGS IF PEOPLE PLAN TO BE IN A PLACE FOR LONGER THAN A YEAR. NEXT, ADAM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. UH, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, UH, UH, FOR SITTING DOWN AND SHARING SOME OF THE UPDATES, BUT ALSO, OF COURSE, UH, CHRIS LARSON, UH, WITH, UH, WITH DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. WE'VE SAT DOWN A FEW TIMES. UH, AND THESE ARE GREAT PROJECTS. SOME OF 'EM ARE GONNA BE, BE SUPPORTED BY HGAC, UH, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH TPC AS WELL. UH, WE'VE MENTIONED, UH, THE MORE SPACE, MAIN STREET 2.0, THE CAP AS, UM, AS WELL. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS. OF COURSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEN SENATOR WHITMEYER PASSED THE BILL TO HELP, UH, EXPAND SOME OF THOSE, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN EAST DOWNTOWN, AND IT'S EXCITING TIMES OVER THE NEXT HANDFUL OF YEARS. AND SO, UH, APPRECIATE WHEN COLLEAGUE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, GO AHEAD. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SO WE JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 28 IS AN GO AHEAD ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. UM, THE UPTOWN TURS HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE, THEY'VE DONE INCREDIBLE THINGS AROUND THE GALLERIA AREA TO IMPROVE OUR CITY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE APPROVAL OF THIS BUDGET SO UPTOWN CAN CONTINUE THEIR WORK, JUST LIKE THE COMMITMENT THEY MADE TO MEMORIAL PARK, UM, TO BE PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW, MASTER PLAN, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT MEMORIAL PARK REMAINS BEAUTIFUL. AND, UM, ESPECIALLY WE HAVE, UM, OTHER EXCITING THINGS COMING UP LIKE THE, UH, MEMORIAL. I THINK IT'S A TRAIL THAT, UM, YEAH, THE MEMORIAL PARK, UPTOWN MEMORIAL TRAIL AND BRIDGE. UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BEING APPROVED. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UH, I ECHO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S, UH, SENTIMENTS. I DID WANNA LIFT UP ALSO THE UPTOWN MEMORIAL PARK TRAIL AND BRIDGE THAT'S GOING TO CONNECT THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF SIX 10 WITH A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY BRIDGE AND TRAIL THAT WILL BE FUNDED WITH TDOT AND FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING. UH, AGAIN, BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE PARK, GIVING THEM SAFE ACCESS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, UM, CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON, BUT THE COMMITMENT TO OUR GREEN SPACES THAT, UH, THIS TOURS IN PARTICULAR, UH, IS PROVIDING IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. AS WITH OUR OTHER TOURS IS, UH, ESPECIALLY THE ONES INCLUDING DOWNTOWN THAT WE PASSED TODAY. UH, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED CHRIS. I THINK ALAN WAS HERE EARLIER AS WELL, SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THEIR HARD WORK. COUNCILOR ALCORN. COUNCILOR ALCORN. THIS CHURCH BUDGET INCLUDES, UM, MONIES FOR GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT AT MEMORIAL PARK. I MEAN, THE CITY DOESN'T PUT IN GENERAL FUND MONEY FOR THE GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT. IT'S ABOUT 67% OF THE $3.7 MILLION THAT IT TAKES TO, OR $3.4 MILLION, UM, COMES FROM [05:50:01] THE TURS. THAT'S ALL. JUSTIN, DO YOU VOTE ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ADD 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. YES. MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. I'LL BE BRIEF. UM, THIS IS A, A GREAT PROJECT IS SEPARATION OF GRADE AT COMMERCE YORK SAMPSON. UM, AND JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT. OF COURSE, EVERYBODY, ALL THE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THAT, THAT PARTICIPATED, UH, INCLUDING, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, BUT, UH, EASTWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION. THEY'VE BEEN HERE. YOU'VE HAD FOLKS COME IN, TALK ABOUT THE, THE CHALLENGES WITH, UH, BLOCK CROSSINGS. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH, UH, WE'RE SHARING, UH, THIS, UH, BOTH, UH, COUNCILOR CASTILLO AND I, UH, JUST WANT TO DEFINITELY ELEVATE THE EAST END EASTWOOD RESIDENTS, UH, FOR HELPING WITH THIS. FOR A LONG TIME, WE WERE HITTING OUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL AS HOW DO WE ADDRESS A BLOCK CROSSINGS? AND UNTIL THEY REALLY STARTED KIND OF GETTING INTO THE SPACE AS WELL, UH, DID WE START SEEING MORE COVERAGE, YOU KNOW, STARTED DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK. AND SO, UH, THIS IS A AMAZING PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST RESPONDERS OF COURSE, BUT ALSO JUST COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH, UH, C UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO I'M SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MOVING FORWARD. UH, UH, QUICKLY, THANK YOU. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES, AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE TO VOTE. 10 VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, ITEMS 33 AND THREE FOUR ARE THE GRANT CONSULTING SERVICES FOR PUBLIC WORKS. UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THESE ITEMS. IN THE PAST, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY GRANTS THAT WE HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR, AND WE'RE JUST LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE, UM, BY NOT APPLYING FOR IT. SO THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO SAVE CITY FUNDS BY GOING AFTER THESE GRANTS. SO, THANK YOU FOR THESE ITEMS. OKAY. JUST STATE ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 43, MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] HEARING. CASTEX TATU MOVED TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 2024. I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 44, MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING. CASTEX SADA MOVED TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2024. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES NOW. OKAY, 46. COUNCILOR POLLARD, DO YOU WANNA CALL FOR THE SIX ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE MOTION. I MEAN, IT'S A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND THIS IS TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION OF THE COMMENTS I MADE EARLIER. UM, UH, TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT, X, THE M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM STARTED OFF AS THE MBE PROGRAM, OKAY? MBE PROGRAM. THEN IT EXPANDED TO MWBE PROGRAM, THEN IT WAS THE M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM. SO A LOT OF TIMES I'M LOOKING NOT ONLY AT THE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE LETTERS M-W-S-B-E, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE M BECAUSE THE M IS THE FOUNDATION OF THIS ENTIRE PROGRAM. NOW, THIS IS FOR A, A $6 MILLION CONTRACT FOR SANITARY SEWER PREVENTION MAINTENANCE. UH, IT WAS ADVERTISED FOR A 17% MBE AND A 7% WBE, AND IT WAS APPROVED FOR A 17% MBE 3% WBE, AND A 4% SBE. NOW, 17% OF 6.1 MILLION IS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. OKAY? IT'S ABOUT A ALMOST A MILLION $40,000. THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY FOR A, A SUBCONTRACTOR. UM, BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE 17% GOAL WAS ONLY ACHIEVED AT A 1.45% FOR MBE. NOW, THE, THE WBE AND THE SBE WENT OVER THEIR GOAL REQUIREMENT, BUT THE MBE BARELY GOT ANYTHING. AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, YOU'LL, YOU'LL KNOW THIS, THAT IT, IT WAS THE, THE BLACK PASTORS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT PUSHED SO HARD FOR THE MBE PROGRAM AND GOT IT OFF THE GROUND. SO WHEN I SEE THAT THE M PORTION OF THE M-W-S-B-E PROGRAM IS FALLING REALLY SHORT, BUT, BUT THE W AND [05:55:01] THE S IS BEING ACHIEVED THAT, UM, IS A RED FLAG FOR ME AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO AT LEAST ENSURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND THAT WE ADDRESS. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, UH, I WILL BE VOTING. NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND IN ADDITION TO COUNCILMAN POLLARD'S COMMENTS, UM, I THINK MAYOR PRO TIMM MENTIONED A PATTERN OF ABUSE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, RIGHT? UM, FROM WHAT I'M SEEING HERE, PREVIOUS CONTRACTS 22 0 GOAL, UM, 23 0 GOAL, 24 UNSATISFACTORY. AND THEN IN 24, SATISFACTORY GFE, UM, CURRENTLY ON THE 2023 CONTRACT, THEY'RE AT 72 PROGRESSION AND THEY'VE ONLY ACHIEVED 2.61 OF THE 17. SO THIS, IN MY OPINION, UM, IS A PATTERN OF ABUSE. OKAY? AND SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ON THE AGENDA, HONESTLY. UM, THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT WE SEE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW BAD PLAYERS TO COME TO THE TABLE AND ASK FOR MORE RESOURCES. I'M A HARD NO ON THIS, AND I WOULD INCUR, I WOULD ASK MY OTHER COLLEAGUES TO FOLLOW DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I AGREE. I, THE NWBE BENEFIT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN FROM A PUBLIC OPINION, AND PARTICULARLY FROM THOSE OF US IN THE, UH, MINISTRY WORLD. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING OF A CONCERN. SO, UH, WITH THAT, I THINK, UM, FOR US TO REALLY LOOK AT THE NWBE PROCESS VERY CLOSELY IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO GOING FORWARD. THE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY, UH, IS ALWAYS PUT THE EMPHASIS. AND MAYOR, YOU HAVE ALWAYS, AND WHEN IT COMES TO EQUAL AND TRANSPARENCY. AND SO, UH, I, I, I TOO WILL, UH, BE LOOKING AT THE VOTE KNOWING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST LOOK AT VERY CAREFULLY. MAYOR PRO TEAM MCC, CAST SIX, DAVID. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, YES, I, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE JUDGE EACH INDIVIDUAL CON UH, CONTRACT ON ITS OWN MERIT. UM, THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS WITH THE SATISFACTORY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MEET, UM, THE ACTUAL GOAL. AND THERE IS A PATTERN. UM, BUT THE, THE RULES DO ALLOW, UM, WHEN THEY DON'T MEET THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE LOOK BACK FOR THREE YEARS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION TO SEE IF THAT IS APPROPRIATE AS WE ARE WORKING IN OUR, UM, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS CREATING AN INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE. UM, THE, THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I HAVE NOW, AND IT IS MY QUESTION TO OUR ATTORNEY, MICHELLE, IS, UM, THEY DIDN'T MEET THE GOAL. HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE A SATISFACTORY RATING, UM, AS A CITY, IF WE ALL VOTE NO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MEET THE GOAL, AND WE WANNA SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PRIME CONTRACTORS, WE ARE STILL OBLIGATED TO PAY THE CONTRACTOR THAT DID THE WORK. THAT'S CORRECT. YES. AND SO IF EVERYONE VOTES NO, WHAT HAPPENS, UM, TO THE PAYMENT, UH, UH, THEY MAY LITIGATE AND WOULD LIKELY WIN IF THAT HAPPENS. I MEAN, I, I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO WANNA SEND A MESSAGE TO THE, TO THE, TO THE PRIME CONTRACTORS. HOWEVER, I, I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ANOTHER EXPENSIVE LITIGATION. UM, CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE 229 MILLION, UH, IN, IN THE HOLE ALREADY. UM, THERE IS A MESSAGE TO BE SENT, UH, LOOKING TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE, , LET ME, UH, CHIME IN. WE, WE ALL SHARED A CONCERN. IT DID NOT GET THIS WAY OVERNIGHT. IT'S BEEN BUILDING, IT'S BEEN A BROKEN SYSTEM SINCE I GOT HERE. WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR THAT WE'RE ALL PROUD OF AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN. ONE OF THE DIRECTIVES I HAD WHEN I VISITED WITH HER WAS FIX THE SYSTEM AND BE VERY TRANSPARENT, HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, CREATE THE POOL OF POSSIBLE SUBS AND PRIMES BY IMPROVING THE CERTIFICATION. [06:00:02] UH, SHE'S ALSO, AS YOU WELL KNOW, COMING UP WITH A FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE OTHER JURISDICTIONS. BUT I THINK WE CAN SEE IMPROVEMENTS JUST IMMEDIATELY WITH NEW LEADERSHIP AND, UH, MOTIVATION TO GET IT RIGHT. SO IT'S, IT'S AMAZING TO ME HOW MUCH TIME WE'VE SPENT IN THE, IN THE LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW. WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE WAY IT'S BEING HANDLED. YOU'RE SO CORRECT THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, THE GLOBAL PICTURE OF IT. IF NOT, WE'RE GONNA START NOT HAVING PEOPLE WANTING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A REASONABLE APPROACH TO HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR NEW DIRECTOR. I, I MEAN, YOU GET PAST THE, THE POLITICS OF IT. I'LL TELL, I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WERE SOME GOING AROUND TOWN I WAS GONNA DO AWAY WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. I MEAN, JUST NONSENSE. IT'S ACTUALLY FICTION TO BE ONE OF OUR BETTER DEPARTMENTS IF WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK HIM TOGETHER. SO, NO, I, I, I AGREE. I THINK THAT, UM, I JUST GOT A MESSAGE THAT SAID HPW JUST SENT A RESPONSE. THERE WERE CONTRACT CHANGES THAT AFFECTED THE SCOPE. THEY DEVIATED TWO MBES OFF AND ADDED ONE THAT THEY COULD UTILIZE. SO I, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DEFINITELY HOLD THESE PRIMES RESPONSIBLE. UH, THE, WHAT I STRUGGLE WITH IS THE ABSOLUTES. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU CAN SAY IF YOU DON'T MEET, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T MEET. BUT NONE OF THIS IS ABSOLUTE THERE. THERE'S SO MANY MITIGATING FACTORS TO MAKE THESE CONTRACTS WORKS. THESE ARE, THESE ARE, THESE ARE BIG CONTRACTS. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARTICIPATION IS SET, UH, IN A FAIR WAY AND THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO DO. BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ARE FOLKS WHO WILL TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROCESS, UM, TO ONLY BENEFIT, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT TO BENEFIT. BUT I KNOW THAT 94% OF THESE CONTRACTORS ARE MEETING THEIR GOALS, UH, AND WE, WE HAVE THE RULES IN PLACE. UM, AND I THINK THAT WITH THE, THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT THEIR HBW IS SAYING THAT THE CONTRACT CHANGES, UM, AFFECTED THE SCOPE. UM, IF THE CONTRACT SCOPE CHANGES AND THEY MET THE DEVIATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TWO MBES AND ADDED ANOTHER MBE THAT THEY COULD UTILIZE, IT'S HARD, IT, IT'S HARD NOT TO, UM, BECAUSE THE SCOPE CHANGES NOT THE CONTRACTOR'S FAULT, THAT THAT IS THE CITY THAT CHANGED THE SCOPE. SO THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, THE NEED FOR THE DEVIATION. WELL SAID. AND LET ME JUST ALSO CAUTION US, IF YOU DON'T SHOW SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHANGE ORDERS, AND IF WE DO NOT LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF THE RECORD, YOU'RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, GOING TO ATTACK THE PROGRAM IN THE COURTS. YOU HAVE TO SHOW SOME REASONABLENESS TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE TOTAL TRACK RECORD IN YOUR PICTURE. ONE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WE KNOW DO NOT LIKE THE MWBE PROGRAM. SOME ACTUALLY AVOID THE CITY BECAUSE OF OUR GOALS. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS LET'S BE SMART, LET'S HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. BUT IF THEY HAVE A TRACK RECORD THAT SHOWS IT'S SATISFACTORY, YOU'RE THE ONE SHOWING THE VOICE OF REASON RIGHT NOW. AND I, AND I, I THINK, YEAH, I HEAR FROM FOLKS THAT, UH, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE GOT DO OBO DEAL. WE HAVE A GOOD PUBLIC WORKS. UM, BUT ANYWAY, OKAY. COUNCIL DAVIS, IT'S IMPORTANT. GO AHEAD. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. I'M SORRY, I WAS JUST READING THROUGH, CAN I ASK AGAIN, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM IN YOUR EXPLANATION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, UM, REALLY SPARKED MY TIP. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? 'CAUSE YOU ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY WHAT WOULD BE THE, THE PENALTY TO US IF WE DID, IF WE VOTED NO, NO VOTED IS DOWN. NO, WELL, WELL, THE MESSAGE I JUST GOT SAID THAT THERE WERE CONTRACT CHANGES THAT AFFECTED THE SCOPE. OKAY. UM, AND THEY DEVIATED TWO MBE OFF AND ADDED ONE THAT [06:05:01] THEY COULD UTILIZE. SO, UM, IF THE SCOPE CHANGE, MY, MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT'S NOT THE CONTRACTOR'S FAULT FOR THE NEED FOR THE DEVIATION IF THE SCOPE CHANGED. RIGHT. UM, HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SCRUTINIZE THESE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE HAVE M-B-A-M-W-B-E GOALS THAT THEY ARE MEETING ALL OF, OF THE SAID GOALS. UM, WITH THAT EXPLANATION, I'M A YES, UH, TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, A HARD NO ON IT. YEAH. WELL, IT, IT, WELL, IF THE CONTRACT CHANGES, THEN THAT CHANGES A LOT OF THINGS. AND, AND, AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, WE, WE, WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS. RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. AND I, AND I MADE MY STATEMENT EARLIER ABOUT OUR NEW DIRECTOR AND THE GOALS AND THE OBJECTIVES THAT SHE HAVE, AND I'M CERTAINLY FOR THAT. SO LONG AS WE CAN SEE SOME, SOME PROGRESS MOVING IN A, IN A PART OF DIRECTOR I'M FOR IT. I, I, I, I TOTALLY AGREE WE NEED TO SCRUTINIZE WHEN IT COME TO MWBES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO BE ASSURED THAT WE DO BUSINESS AND DO IT FAIRLY. BUT IF THE SCOPE CHANGED ON THE CONTRACTOR, UM, THAT THAT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE CONTRACTOR, UH, IN, IN THAT REGARD. SO YES. SO THEN I CAN, I CAN, I CAN SEE THIS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER QUESTION FOR LEGAL. IF WE DO NOT PAY, WOULD THAT STRENGTHEN OTHER PLAINTIFF'S CASE IN SAYING THAT THIS IS NO LONGER A GOAL AND IS IN FACT A QUOTA? I COULD SEE THAT. SO IF REFUSE TO PAY, WOULD IT? YEAH, IT, IT, IT WOULD LIKELY MAKE ITS, I MEAN, THIS ENTIRE AREA IS, IS A BALANCE, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK TO IMPROVE YOUR SYSTEM, BUT FLEXIBILITY IS REQUIRED BY THE, BY THE FEDERAL COURT PRECEDENT ON THIS. THANK YOU. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. GIVE US JUST A SECOND. MAYOR WHITMEYER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? NO. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. OKAY. 7, 7 3. VOTE BEING SEVEN AYES. THREE NAYS. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. THAT'S IT. MEMBERS POP OFF. LED BY COUNCILMAN HOR. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] NOT HERE. NOT COUNCIL MEMBER. PLUM. YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED? PASS DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HEAR YOU JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT, UM, THAT WE ASKING THAT THEY WILL COME DOWN TO THE ANNEX GROUND FLOOR TODAY AT NOON FOR THE, UH, THE, UH, NOTHING BUN CAKES AND THE FUNDRAISER. UM, UM, ALSO, UH, ON BEHALF OF, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN KENDRICK SCOTT HEIGHTS LOCATION HAS DONATED A KINDRED SCOTT GIVE BACK EVENT WHERE 20% OF PURCHASE GOES TO FIT HOUSTON FROM ONE TO 3:00 PM UH, USE CODE GIVE BACK H-H-G-I-C FOR ONLINE SHOPPING. DON'T FORGET TO ADD MONEY TO YOUR BLUE BOXES, UH, THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN CHALLENGED TO DO, TO AVOID KISSING THE CRITTER. UH, CMC ENDS ON OCTOBER 31ST AT 5:00 PM THAT'S IT FOR ME. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? THANK YOU. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE [06:10:01] WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF INPUT. UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION GOING ON RIGHT NOW ABOUT MONTROSE BOULEVARD. UM, I HAVE ASKED THE TURS, THERE'S A MEETING AT 8:00 AM ON FRIDAY FOR THE BOARD. THEY'RE GONNA BE TAKING A VOTE AGAIN, UM, BECAUSE IT'S AT A DIFFERENT TIME. I DID ASK THAT THE TURS, UH, PUT THE PRESENTATION UP EARLY. UH, THE TURS BOARD IS WORKING TOWARDS THAT AGAIN, SO PEOPLE CAN, UH, LOG IN, VIRTUALLY CAN PROVIDE COMMENT AHEAD OF THE VOTE. UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR THE PUBLIC'S INPUT AND FEEDBACK ON THAT AT THE SAME TIME UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSAL. UM, WHILE I DON'T SUPPORT SOME OF THE CHANGES WE ARE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE GETTING THE DRAINAGE COMPONENT INTO THE MONTS BOULEVARD AND MAYOR. UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION WE HAD YESTERDAY. I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES TO THE PLAN, UM, CURRENTLY THE TURS CANNOT RELOCATE THE UTILITIES AS WE TALK ABOUT TREE HEALTH. BUT ALSO AS WE ON THE HEELS OF BARREL, UM, AND THE DERECHO, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THOSE UTILITY LINES OUT OF THE WAY OF TREES. UH, SO I SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. WE ARE GONNA BE ASKING CENTER POINT, IF THEY ARE WILLING TO ELEVATE THE UTILITY LINES ABOVE THE TREE LINE TO, UM, HARDEN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION LINES, AND THEN INCREASE THE, UH, THE HEALTH OF THOSE TREES AND ALLOW THEM TO GROW, UH, IN A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY. SO MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THAT CONVERSATION. I DO WANT RESIDENTS TO KNOW WE ARE ENGAGED ON THIS. AND THOSE TWO UPDATES SPECIFICALLY AND PRIMARILY ABOUT THE UTILITY LINES. UH, I DO HAVE A FEW THANK YOUS RELATED TO FAMILIES WITH PRIDE. IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EVENT. UH, OUR THIRD ANNUAL, THERE'S A LOT OF THANK YOUS TO GO THROUGH. UM, BUT APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT TURNED OUT ALL THE FAMILIES, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS. MY STAFF MAYOR, YOUR OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, THE LGBT CHAMBER, DISCOVERY, GREEN HOUSTON FIRST, UH, MEGAN BAILEY PR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WAS OUT THERE. OTHER ELECTEDS AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT WERE THERE. I DID WANNA SHARE, MAYOR. UM, WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY CRIME UPDATE, UH, THAT WE RECEIVED FROM HPD. UH, WE ALSO ARE GETTING A LOT OF INPUT FROM RESIDENTS AS NEW BARS ARE GOING UP IN DISTRICT C. UH, THIS ISSUE CONTINUES, UH, HEIGHT, SOCIAL, AND SHADY ACRES. WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY, MANY RESIDENTS REGARDING NOISE CONCERNS. UH, CALLS WERE PLACED THIS PAST WEEKEND. THERE ARE CITATIONS BEING ISSUED. MY CONCERN IS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT THE SAFETY, UH, AROUND THOSE AREAS. AS MORE BARS ARE COMING IN, WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE STRAIN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHEN HPD HAS TO GO OUT, CALL AFTER CALL, ESPECIALLY, WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE HALLOWEEN WEEKEND. UH, IT'S, IT'S GETTING A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL AND WE NEED TO BE PUTTING ALL OUR RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THE BARS ARE PUTTING A HUGE STRAIN ON THAT. UH, I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT IN SEVERAL DISTRICTS, UM, WHILE CRIME IS GOING DOWN CITYWIDE SEVERAL DISTRICTS, I, INCLUDING DISTRICT C, THAT PERCENTAGE IS GROWING, GOING UP. UM, NOW I CAUTION EVERYONE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERCENTAGES, BECAUSE YOU COULD GO UP ONE, UH, POINT, RIGHT? HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL INCIDENT AND IT THROWS IT UP A HUNDRED PERCENT. SO I CAUTION EVERYBODY ABOUT LOOKING AT PERCENTAGES. UM, BUT I HAVE ASKED HPD, UH, TO MEET WITH ME AGAIN TO GO OVER THESE NUMBERS AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THEM. LASTLY, UH, PROPUBLICA THIS MORNING AS PART OF THEIR INVESTIGATION SERIES, UH, ON DRACONIAN ABORTION BANS JUST RELEASED THE NAME OF A YOUNG WOMAN, GISELLE BARICA, UM, WHO IS A MOTHER, 28 YEARS OLD, WHO LANGUISHED IN A HOSPITAL. UM, WHILE SHE WAS MISCARRYING FOR, UH, 40 HOURS, UH, THE DOCTORS, UH, WOULD NOT ACT TO SAVE HER LIFE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE LAW. SHE THEN LANGUISHED FURTHER THREE DAYS LATER BECAUSE OF THE INFECTION THAT SHE RECEIVED. UH, SHE IS NOT THE ONLY WOMAN TO DIE AS A, AT THE HANDS OF THESE TYPES OF, AGAIN, INHUMANE, UH, MEDICALLY UNSOUND LAWS. BUT I RAISED THIS MAYOR, OR SEVERAL DAYS AWAY FROM A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HERE IN TEXAS. WE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, UH, BUT WOMEN ARE DYING. UH, FAMILIES ARE BEING IMPACTED. AND I WANT TO LIFT UP JUST SALLY AND HER FAMILY TODAY, UH, BECAUSE THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY AVOIDABLE. AND WOMEN IN TEXAS SHOULD NOT BE DYING. WE NOW HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES, AND IT'S GETTING HIGHER AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND IT'S NOT OKAY. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. UH, COUNCILMAN JACKSON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, [06:15:01] IN DISTRICT B. WE WILL CONTINUE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE VOTE TODAY. UM, WE'LL BE AT THE CASHEL GARDEN MULTI SERVICE CENTER. UM, WE ACTUALLY STARTED AT 1130 WITH THE HOT DOG DRINK AND A VOTE. AND SO WE ENCOURAGE THE DISTRICT B RESIDENTS TO COME ON OUT, UM, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR DUTY TO VOTE. UM, AND ON ELECTION DAY NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE AT THE NORTHEAST MULTI SERVICE CENTER, STARTING AT, UM, 1130. AND WE WILL BE THERE UNTIL WE RUN OUTTA HOT DOGS. UM, THIS EVENING I WILL BE AT THE FIFTH WARD, UM, GRAND OPENING OF THE MEOW WOLF, THE, AN INTERACTIVE MUSEUM THAT IS NOT ONLY BRINGING GOOD JOBS, BUT WE'LL BE PLATE. WE'LL BE A PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO GO FOR EXCITEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT. UM, MEOW WOLF IS THE KIND OF PLACE THAT PEOPLE COME FROM FAR AWAY JUST TO ENJOY. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. UM, GOT A CHANCE TO VISIT, UM, THE MEOW WOLF, UM, IN LAS VEGAS WITH A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES. UM, UM, MAYOR PRO TIM, UM, TATUM, AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. AND SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD WITH THIS, UM, MEOW WOLF TO OPEN UP TOMORROW. BUT TONIGHT IS THE GRAND OPENING. AND ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, I ENCOURAGE ALL THIS TO BE RESIDENTS TO JOIN ME AT THE ACRES HOME BARBER COLLEGE FOR A SAFE NIGHT OF FUN. WE WILL BE, UM, ACTUALLY HAVING A TRICK. A TRUNK, A TRUNK, A TREAT. AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT, UM, FREE GIFTS FOR KIDS. UM, FREE HAIRCUTS. YOU BRING YOUR VOTER, I VOTED STICKER. YOU GET YOUR FREE HAIRCUT AND A HOODIE. AND SO WE HOPE YOU BRING OUT THE KIDS FOR A SAFE NIGHT OF ENJOYING HALLOWEEN. THANK YOU. NEXT, UH, HUFFMAN COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU. SO I'M GONNA KEEP BEATING THE DEBRIS DRUM. UM, I CAN THINK OF AT LEAST FOUR ADDRESSES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHERE, UM, THAT DEBRIS PICKUP REQUESTS TO 3 1 1 PRIOR TO SOLID WASTE ANNOUNCING THEIR LAST PASS. UM, AND SOLID WASTE STILL HASN'T PICKED UP THESE LOCATIONS. UM, ONE OF THEM TODAY THAT IS BEING PICKED UP RIGHT NOW, NOT BY SOLID WASTE, BUT BY VERY GENEROUS PARTNERS. IT'S A LADY IN HER LATE EIGHTIES. SHE LIVES BY HERSELF. SHE HAS NO WAY TO GET RID OF THIS DEBRIS. SHE LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT THE KIDS GETTING HIT, UM, GETTING HURT. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST NOVEMBER. AND THESE RESIDENTS, THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE AT THEIR WIT'S END. DO YOU HAVE THE DIRECTOR'S PHONE NUMBER? YES, MAYOR. BUT IT HASN'T. I BET YOU A HUNDRED DOLLARS YOU'D CALL HIM. HE HAD, WELL, THE LAST TIME WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET, HE STOOD ME UP FOR OUR MEETING, AND THEN WHEN HE CAME LATE, UM, HE TOLD MY STAFF TO SAY LESS SO. OKAY. I'LL GET INVOLVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR PROAM, CAST STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANNA THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO ATTENDED OUR FORT BEND TOWN HALL MEETING ON MONDAY. WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT. UH, WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK. REALLY APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS ENGAGING, UM, SHARING THEIR CONCERNS. AND IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS IN ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN FORT BEND. UM, WE'RE WRAPPING UP BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH THIS EVENING AT OUR YOGA EVENT. UH, IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE AT SIX 30 AT THE BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE FOR THIS YOGA EXPERIENCE. YOU CAN CONTACT OUR OFFICE IF YOU WOULD WANT TO PARTICIPATE THE HARM CLARK REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UH, AND UP ART STUDIO WILL HOST A COMMUNITY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENT ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH, DISTRICT K COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THE FUTURE PROJECTS. UH, ALSO LAST EVENING, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE COMCAST RISE DAY AND CONGRATULATE THE 2024 RECIPIENTS OF THAT GRANT. REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO RECEIVED THAT GRANT FROM COMCAST. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE RECIPIENTS. THERE WERE EIGHT BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT A WHO RECEIVED THE GRANT, BUT THEY WERE FROM, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE CITY. BUT KUDOS TO COMCAST FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN MAKING SURE OUR MICRO BUSINESSES IN THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY, UM, CAN GET A HAND UP. UM, MAKE SURE YOU ARE RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR? UH, VICE MAYOR PRO? YES. OKAY. AND ONE, UH, STAND IN RECESS. NO ADJOURNED. ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.