* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] COUNCIL [PRESENTATIONS] TO ORDER, UH, ASSISTANT MAYOR PROTE PECK, WILL YOU TAKE OVER THE CHAIR? THANK YOU, MA'AM. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON AREA APPRENTICESHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO CELEBRATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK. THIS IS FOR NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN THE HOUSTON AREA APPRENTICESHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHEREAS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN HOUSTON IS OBSERVED FROM NOVEMBER 17TH TO 23RD, 2024, COMMEMORATING ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY BY THE HOUSTON AREA APPRENTICESHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THIS YEAR. THIS OBSERVANCE UNITES LEADERS FROM INDUSTRY LABOR EDUCATION EQUITY IN THE WORKFORCE TO EMPHASIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS AS A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH DEMAND SECTORS, WHILE ALSO FOSTERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATION. AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON AREA APPRENTICESHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN 2015 HAS EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH SINCE ITS INCEPTION NOW ENCOMPASSING EIGHT COMMUNITY COLLEGES, TWO UNIVERSITIES, EIGHT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 17 REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP COMPANIES AND FOUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF APPRENTICESHIPS AVAILABLE IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND ENCOURAGING K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS TO VIEW APPRENTICESHIP AS A VIABLE CAREER OPTION IN CREATING A SEAMLESS INTEGRATION BETWEEN REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE CURRICULA. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK SEMINAR WILL FEATURE PANELS REPRESENTING VARIOUS REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTING THE ADVANTAGES OF PARTICIPATING IN SUCH INITIATIVES. AND WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE BY COLLABORATING WITH REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RELATED TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR APPRENTICES. NOTABLY, SANTA CENTER COLLEGE IS ONE OF ONLY TWO COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE REGION, DESIGNATED AS THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR APPRENTICESHIP AMBASSADOR. THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO OBSERVE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK AND COMMENCES THE DEDICATION OF HOUSTON AREA APPRENTICESHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SAN STO COLLEGE TO THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. AND AT ONE TIME FRIENDS, I WOULD'VE SAID THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS ONE OF OUR BEST KEPT SECRETS, BUT NO LONGER DUE TO SAN JACK AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THEY'VE CERTAINLY MADE IT PART OF OUR, UH, RESUME, PART OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SO THANK YOU. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD. 2024 IS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS WITH THE HOUSTON AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE SAN CENTER COLLEGE. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. A YIELD TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THIS COULD NOT, WHILE SAN JACK LEADS THE EFFORT, IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT THE OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES, ISDS AND INDUSTRY IN THE AREA LED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. JUST TAKE, HERE GO. FRED. FRED, DO YOU WANT COME TAKE MY PLACE. TIM CASTEX [00:05:01] TATUM FOR PROCLAMATIONS TO JUDGE WANDA ADD WANDA ADAMS ON BEHALF OF VITA TAX, CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PROVIDING FREE TAX SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, FOR, UH, INTRODUCING THE PROCLAMATION TODAY. UH, I WILL BE JOINED AT THE PODIUM, UH, BY MR. GEORGE ANDERSON. UH, MS. MONICA RICHARDSON AND ALSO, UH, MS. JOE AUGUST, UH, DISTRICT A IS IN THE HOUSE TODAY. UH, TODAY WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH THE ACRONYM VITA. IT'S A TAX PREP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE CHURCH. UH, THE VITA PROGRAM AT THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE HAS BEEN PROVIDING TAX ASSISTANCE AIMED TO HELP HOUSTONIANS AVOID PREDATORY TAX PREPARING PRACTICES, RECEIVE MAXIMIZED REFUNDS WHILE COACHING THEM TO SAVE AND ACCUMULATE THEIR ASSETS WISELY. I'M PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE VITA PROGRAM AT THE FOUNTAIN APPRAIS WITH THIS PROCLAMATION AND THE PROCLAMATION READS. WHEREAS THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE VITA PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPLIMENTARY TAX PREPARATION, ELECTRONIC FILING, AND ASSISTANCE WITH W FOUR FORM PREPARATION FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. AND WHEREAS THE VOLUNTEERS OF TPS VITA PROGRAM CERTIFIED BY THE IRS COMPRISE A DIVERSE TEAM OF FORMER AND CURRENT IRS EMPLOYEES, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR VOLUNTEERS COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTING COUNTLESS HOURS OF EXPERIENCE TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY SERVICE. AND WHEREAS IN 2004, TFOP FORMED AN INITIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON ASSET BUILDING COALITION TO PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE BOTH SPACE AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PROGRAM. WHEREAS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, TPS VITA HAS SUCCESSFULLY PREPARED MORE THAN 13,000 TAX RETURNS DEMONSTRATING ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EARNING NOMINATIONS FOR BOTH THE IRS HALL OF FAME AND THE TFOP COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. AND WHEREAS THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE REMAINS DEDICATED TO ITS VISION OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH NOT ONLY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES, BUT ALSO FOSTERS COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT THE FOUNTAIN APPRAISED FOR ITS INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOUSTON TAXPAYERS AND EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT. CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU MAYOR STADIUM. AND I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THE FOUNTAIN OF PHRASE IS PROVIDING ANOTHER VITAL SERVICE. IT'S JUST, UH, A, UH, A CONGREGATION THAT JUST CONTINUES TO MAKE HOUSTON A GREAT CITY. AND NOW TO LEARN OF THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE RELIEF THAT Y'ALL PROVIDED PEOPLE TAKING SOME COMPLEX ISSUES AND MAKING CERTAIN THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT. SO THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 19TH, 2024 IS VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MAYOR PER TIM CASTEK TATUM, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. UH, WE ARE PLEASED TO SERVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I AM MOST PROUD THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS. UH, FOUR YEARS AGO WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST FUNDING FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, AND SO WE ARE A FULLY FUNDED SITE AND WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF OUR PASTOR, DR. REMUS WRIGHT, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, BROTHER, UH, FIRST OF ALL MAYOR PRO. TIM, THANK YOU FOR THE, UM, TAKING THE LEAD IN, ACKNOWLEDGING THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE AND, UH, TO MY GOOD FRIEND GEORGE AND HIS PASTOR AND CO-PASTOR, DR. ENSON MILL WRIGHT, A CHURCH THAT I HAVE KNOWN AND BEEN FRIENDED FOR 40 YEARS APPROXIMATELY. SO THANK YOU, JOY. YOU, YOU [00:10:01] ALL REALLY DESERVE IT. WHAT A PHENOMENAL OPPORTUNITY. AND THE MARRIAGE, RIGHT? AND TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, UH, THE LEADERSHIP. 'CAUSE IT ALL STARTS WITH LEADERSHIP AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY MAN, YOU ALL DESERVE IT. THIS CHURCH IS HISTORICALLY, UH, UH, A LITTLE A LIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU MAN, AND PLEASE PASS THAT WORD ON TO DR. WRIGHT FOR ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GEORGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THE NEW YOUTH POET LAUREATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK, UH, MEMBERS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL WERE DOING WHEN YOU WERE A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, BUT I CERTAINLY WASN'T HAVING THE IMPACT OF OUR GUEST TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MA'AM. SIR, MA'AM, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT A YOUNG PERSON THAT DEMONSTRATES DIRECTOR. GO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, LUCAS IS DEMONSTRATING WHY THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON IS IN SUCH GOOD HANDS, AND I MEAN THAT THAT'S NOT JUST ME DOING MY JOB UP HERE. THIS IS, UH, YOU'RE ILLUSTRATING. I FIND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AND I'M ENCOURAGING YOU TO GO FORWARD. YOU'LL GO OFF TO COLLEGE, GET YOU A GOOD DEGREE, AND, UH, WE NEED YOU TO COME BACK TO HOUSTON AND HELP US CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. BUT LUCAS FANG IS THE NINTH YOUTH PORT LORD, SINCE, UH, IT WAS CREATED NINE YEARS AGO. LUCAS DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS PART VIETNAMESE, PART TAIWANESE, AND A HUNDRED PERCENT TEXAN. A SENIOR AT KEN K. HE'LL HOLD HIS POSITION FOR A YEAR. HE'LL FACILITATE COMMUNITY PORTRAIT WORKSHOPS AND ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO SHARE THEIR UNIQUE STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES. AND AT THE END OF HIS TERM, HE WILL COMPILE A PUBLICATION FEATURE IN THEIR NARRATIVE. SO THERE'S SO MANY WAYS YOU'RE GOING TO HELP US, UH, BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND, UH, IT'S JUST EXCITING TO HAVE YOU AT CITY COUNCIL WITH YOUR PARENTS AND DIRECTOR GOFF. I ASSUME YOU PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN GETTING THIS YOUNG MAN RECOGNIZED. SO THANK YOU. AND HIS FAMILY HAS DONE SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND I'M PLEASED AS I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 17TH, UH, 19TH, ACTUALLY, 2024 IS LUCAS FENG DAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I'LL, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE READY FOR THIS, BUT I'LL YIELD, I'LL YIELD THE MIC TO YOU. YES. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, I'M TRULY HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE NAMED THE 2025 HOUSTON YOUTH POET LAUREATE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THE WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM FOR BELIEVING IN ME. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO PROMOTE YOUTH CREATIVE WRITING ACROSS HOUSTON. GREAT. SOUND LIKE A FUTURE CANDIDATE FOR SOMETHING . THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. THANK MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM, BEFORE WE TAKE A PHOTO. SURE. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, UH, AMPLIFYING OUR PORT LAUREATE PROGRAM. UH, THERE ARE SO MANY, UM, THINGS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COULD BE DOING, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HIGHLIGHT WHEN WE HAVE OUR YOUNG HOUSTONIANS WHO ARE USING THEIR TALENTS AND THEIR SKILLS FOR GOOD. UM, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN. I KNOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEMORIZED TOP OF MIND THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US. IF YOU ARE A POET LAUREATE, YOU HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED AND WE WOULD NOT WANT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM OUR 2025 POET LAU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, . I DO ACTUALLY HAVE A POEM PREPARED, AND SO THIS POEM IS IN HONOR OF [00:15:01] MY TAIWANESE HERITAGE, SAI SAI. CIRCULAR SIDE DISHES MEANT TO PREPARE YOU FOR THE MAIN COURSE. MY TAIWANESE NAME HAN DRAWS ME TO AMAZ CALMING AROMA. AMIDST THE STEAM OF SMALL CURDLING BROTH, THE TAIWANESE THAT FLIES AROUND MY GRANDPARENTS' DINNER TABLE IS OF THE MELODIES THAT BRUSH THE PETALS OF MY EAR OF THE MYSTERIES. I NUDGE MY FATHER TO TRANSLATE. DAD, DAD, WHAT DID A GO SAY? OH, THEY S SNAP FROM THE OTHER WORLD. NOTHING IMPORTANT. I FEEL HOMES SEAN SLIP OFF MY SHOULDERS. EVERY CUT CONTAINS COMPASSION. EVERY STRAND CONTAINS A PURPOSE. GBA ME THINLY LACED LOVE SWIMMING IN THE INCESSANT ROUND POOL, THE BLANKETING BRAISED BEEF, MIDDLE SOUP, CLEANSING, WARMTH, GUSHING DOWN OUR STEAMY THROATS. I CAN UNDERSTAND TAIWAN THROUGH A NON-COMPLEX SYSTEM OF MY OWN INVENTION. A STRANGER ENGAGES IN CONVERSATION WITH ME. YOU EAT MORE APPETIZER. GOOD. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WORDS I CAN FILL IN, IT'S ABOUT THE BLANKS, WHICH I CAN'T. IAN DOCIA. I DON'T WANT THAT. THANK YOU. I'M GUESSING I SWIVEL MY HEAD TO MY FATHER . HE CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. THE STRANGER WAS ASKING ME IF I THOUGHT THE FOOD WAS GOOD WHEN THEY SPEAK. IT SOUNDS LIKE LOVE AND I THINK I CAN TOUCH IT, BUT IT CAN'T HEAR ME. HEARING IS THE EASY PART. IT'S THE UNDERSTANDING THAT'S DIFFICULT. TAIWANESE AT ITS CORE, IS A SET OF STATIC VOICEMAILS. MESSAGES I CAN SPARSELY MAKE OUT BUT NEVER RESPOND TO. I'M MESMERIZED BY THE FLASHING LIGHTS. ILLUMINATING THE CRISP NIGHT MIST. THE SHRIMP SWIM CAREFULLY AROUND THE SHALLOW POOL. LAUGHTER DANCING AROUND THE MASSIVE BILLBOARDS SWIRLING TAPIOCA TRICKLES GRACEFULLY DOWN THE TONGUE. HAN EVERYWHERE I VENTURE LEADS ME BACK TO THIS ONE MARKET. I'VE ALWAYS SEEN TAIPEI AS A CIRCLE. THE CHARACTERS FLY ACROSS THE PAGE OF MY MENU. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING OF ORDERING? INDECIPHERABLE. THE CALLIGRAPHY ADORNS THE WALLS OF MY BEDROOM. GREEK GRANDPAPA WROTE THESE, AREN'T THEY INCREDIBLE? INCOMPREHENSIBLE. IT'S FUNNY WHEN SOMEONE SAYS YOUR LANGUAGE, ALL YOU CAN DO IS FORCE A SMILE AND NOD. THEY SHOVE IT AT YOU. THEY WANT YOU TO LOVE SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER EVEN YOUR OWN. BUT IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. I'M IN LOVE WITH SOMETHING I CAN HEAR, BUT NEVER TASTE MY GRANDMOTHER'S FREE FLOWING FINGERTIPS. BALLERINA HAS BLESSING THE ENDLESS SEAS OF BLACK AND WHITE. MY GRANDFATHER HUMMING PERFECTLY ON KEY IN BETWEEN HIS GRACIOUS CHOPS OF RED TOMATOES. MY BROTHER SCRIBBLING SOUNDS OFF KEY AS HE TACKLES THE MUSIC WITH HIS FIERCE VIOLIN. THESE ARE THE SOUNDS I CAN REMEMBER THE TAIWANESE FOR WHICH I NEED NO TRANSLATION. THE HEART, UNLIKE THE BOWL OF THE CHANTAI, IS NOT PERFECTLY CIRCULAR. TRIES AS IT MAY WILL NEVER ROLL, FLOAT, OR SPIN AWAY FROM YOU. AHAH RUNS HER FINGERS GENTLY THROUGH THE SOFT HAIR SHE GAVE ME. HON, IS ALWAYS A PART OF YOU, EVEN IF NOT IN YOUR TONGUE AND ONLY IN YOUR BLOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT, YOUR SKILL, AND YOUR CULTURE WITH US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR AS YOU REPRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS OUR 2025 POET LAUREATE. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. PARDON? [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] IF WE COULD PLEASE BOW OUR HEADS. DEAR FATHER, AS WE GATHER TODAY, WE PAUSE TO GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES. THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, FOR HEALTH AND STRENGTH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND FOR THE ABUNDANCE YOU PROVIDE EACH DAY. AS WE APPROACH THIS SEASON [00:20:01] OF THANKSGIVING, WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE AND THE RESPONSIBILITY WE CARRY TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL. WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED GUIDANCE. GRANT US WISDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT HONOR YOU AND REFLECT THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE. HELP US TO WORK TOGETHER AND UNITY AND RESPECT EVEN WHEN WE FACE CHALLENGES. FILL OUR HEARTS WITH PEACE, JOY, AND GRATITUDE. AND MAY OUR ACTIONS REFLECT YOUR LOVE. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME OF SERVICE AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR CITY. AND YOUR BLESSED NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. PLEASE RISE FOR THE LEDGE. COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] ROLL CALL MINUTES. HMM. ROLL CALL MINUTES PLEASE. THAT'D BE A GOOD IDEA. YEAH. ROLL CALL MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD AZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER PRESENT COUNCIL THOMAS COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. COUNCIL CASTILLO WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE POLLARD. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. HERE. COUNCILMAN CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCIL PLUM HERE. AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER SIX. NOVEMBER SIX. CAST MOVE. SECOND. MOTION BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE HARVEY CLEMENS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. AND I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JESSE BOWMAN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. VICE MAYOR PRO PECK. VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK, I MOVE TO SU SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD CORINA VELASQUEZ TO THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST AFTER HARVEY CLEMENTS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULE TO MOVE SHERRY BUTLER AND ANNA HARRIS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TWO MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. COUNCIL [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD ERICA HUBBARD AND KENDRA LONDON TO THE TOP OF THE NO, TO THE THREE MINUTE NONE. AGENDA LIST TO FOLLOW. KATRINA VELASQUEZ. MM-HMM . YEP. YEP. VERY GOOD. ALL IN, SECONDED. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, WHAT ELSE MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER. WILLIAM FRANKS. GOOD. WILLIAM FRANKS. MARK ALMA. GOOD DAY. MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS MARK ALMA. I'M AN ARCHITECT AND A RESIDENT OF THE HEIGHTS WHO LIVES AND WORKS THERE. AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR IN THE OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE SWIFT BUILDING AT 6 21 WAVERLEY STREET, HOUSTON AS A PROTECTED LANDMARK AS PART OF ITEM ONE TO BE VOTED TOMORROW. THE SITE IS A DECOMMISSIONED MEAT PACKING PLANT THAT IS SITUATED ALONG THE VIBRANT AND UNIFYING MKT HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, AND IS A VITAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS OF SHEPHERD DRIVE AND THE HEIGHTS BOULEVARD. THE BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1909 AND IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING VESTIGES OF THE HEIGHTS IN INDUSTRIAL PAST AS IT EMPLOYED NEAR NEARBY RESIDENCE AS PART OF THE IDEA OF A COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE COULD LIVE, WORK, [00:25:01] AND PLAY. AS A CURRENT RESIDENT OF THE HEIGHTS, I BELIEVE PLANS TO ADAPT AND REVITALIZE THIS BUILDING TO ONCE AGAIN SERVE AS A PLACE WHERE HEIGHTS RESIDENTS CAN WORK AND PLACE, NOT ONLY IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT AND HISTORIC INTENT OF THE BUILDING, BUT WILL ALSO HELP TO ADD YET ANOTHER PLACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE CAN BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND FOSTER A STRONG SENSE OF LOCAL ECONOMY. IT IS FOR THIS REASON, I'M IN FAVOR OF DESIGNATING THE SWIFT BUILDING IN THE HEIGHTS AS A PROTECTED LANDMARK, AND SO THAT IT CAN RETURN TO ITS FORMER GLORY SERVING THE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY AND HOUSTON AT LARGE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO PRESERVING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CURRENT COMMERCE ECONOMY OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT, TERRY ZER. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ACTUALLY CARRIE GELLER. UH, I'M AN ARCHITECT AND AMERICAN, UH, AND A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS. FROM THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE A I A AND I HAVE WOULD LIKE TO READ A LETTER OF SUPPORT THAT IS BEING SENT TO ALL OF YOU, I BELIEVE. UM, THE LETTER IS SAYS, DEAR MAYOR, WHITMEYER AND ESTEEM MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, I'M WRITING. THIS IS WRITTEN BY THE, UH, CHAIR OF OUR LOCAL COMMITTEE. I'M WRITING ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMITTEE, A DEDICATED GROUP OF ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND PRESERVATION ADVOCATES COMMITTED TO THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR RICH CITY'S RICH HERITAGE. WE URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADD THE PROPOSED PROTECTED AND LA UH, PROTECTED LANDMARKS AND LANDMARKS TO THE AGENDA FOR APPROVAL AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION, THESE NOMINATIONS ARE BACKED BY A THOROUGH PROCESS INVOLVING METICULOUS ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AND CAREFUL REVIEW BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OFFICE OF PRESERVATION. THE OFFICE OF PRESERVATION COMPRISES A KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM DEDICATED TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ENSURING THAT OUR LANDMARKS ACCURATELY REFLECT OUR SHARED HISTORY. THESE PROPOSED LANDMARKS AND THESE PROPOSED LANDMARKS AND PROTECTED LANDMARKS RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE HHCA DIVERSE 13 MEMBER COMMISSION OF PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING ARCHITECTS AND HISTORIANS, THEIR THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO ISSUING THE CERTIFICATES, APPROPRIATENESS, AND REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR HISTORIC DISTRICTS. LANDMARKS, PROTECTED LANDMARKS IN ARCHEOLOGICAL PSYCH DESIGNATIONS ILLUSTRATES THE DEPTH OF EXPERTISE AND COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING HOUSTON'S HISTORIC FABRIC. THE LANDMARK AND PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATIONS HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY. THE DESIGNATIONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE THESE STRUCTURES WHILE ALLOWING SOME MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE THEM RELEVANT TO CURRENT NEEDS OF THE USER. THE NOMINATIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU INCLUDE STRUCTURES OF DIFFERENT TYPES, SCALES AND STYLES. APPROVING THEM WILL PRESERVE HOUSTON'S VIBRANT HISTORY AND CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. WE APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND LEADERSHIP EACH OF YOU BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS SIGNED BY THE CHAIR OF THE A I A HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. NOT ON, NOT ON HER. WE'RE FINE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, I THINK SHE'S A PROCEDURAL COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD CANDACE, JOSEPH AND KOBE MCFALL OF THE TSU CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENT ASSOCIATION. TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST, CANDACE, JOSEPH, AND KOBE MCFALL. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU MAYOR. NEXT. MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY OF Y'ALL LISTEN TO THE MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC COMMISSION, BUT I REALLY SUGGEST THAT Y'ALL ALL DO. SO THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE REALLY, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING THE BEST JOB THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY DO. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE REALLY DEDICATED TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THERE'S NO REAL RULES WRITTEN OF WHAT THEY SHOULD APPROVE AND WHAT THEY SHOULDN'T APPROVE. AND THEY GO ON AND ON. SOMETIMES THEY'LL TALK HALF HOUR ABOUT IF A WINDOW SHOULD BE REPLACED ON A NON-CONTRIBUTING HOUSE OR NOT. AND THEN THEY'LL SAY THINGS LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THEM PUT IN ALUMINUM WINDOWS INSTEAD OF VINYL WINDOWS, WHEN REALLY THE ONLY ARCHITECTURAL THING WITH THE WINDOW WAS THE LITTLE SQUARES IN THE WAY THAT THEY WERE DIVIDED TO [00:30:01] BEGIN WITH. BUT THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, AT LEAST WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING. UM, IF SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING AND THEY START TO DO SOMETHING, LIKE SOMETIMES THEY TRY TO PUNITIVELY PUNISH THEM FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO. IT'S CRAZY. IF NONE OF Y'ALL HAVE EVER LISTENED TO THESE MEETINGS, Y'ALL REALLY, REALLY NEED TO DO THIS. UM, LAST WEEK THEY WERE, OR LAST MEETING, THEY MADE SOMEONE PUT IN ALUMINUM WINDOWS INSTEAD OF VINYL WINDOWS IN A NON-CONTRIBUTING HOUSE WHEN LIKE 90% OF THE NON-CONTRIBUTING HOUSES HAD VINYL WINDOWS. NO RHYME, NO REASON. WHEN THEY SAID, WELL, LAST MEETING, WE FOUND THE OTHER WAY. WHY IS THAT? AND THEY TRIED TO COME UP, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN EACH OTHER, BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S ABSOLUTELY INSANE. UM, AND ANOTHER THING THAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE NOW GOING OUT TO SITE. NOW THIS IS REALLY SCARY. SO THEY'RE GOING OUT TO THE SITE TO MEET SOMETIMES HOW EASY, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, WOULD IT BE TO MAYBE DO SOMETHING DURING THAT MEETING TO SWAY SOMEONE IN YOUR SIDE? I'M NOT SAYING THEY ARE DOING IT, BUT IT EASILY COULD HAPPEN. WHY ARE THE BOARD MEMBERS GOING OUT AND LOOKING? YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY NEED TO, I'M SORRY. LIKE, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMING ACROSS CLEAR WITH WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT YOU COULD EASILY BRIBE SOMEONE RIGHT TO VOTE IN YOUR FAVOR. IF YOU'RE GOING OUT ON SITE WITH THEM TO LOOK AT THEIR PLANS, THEY'RE GO, WE JUST, OKAY, WELL, THAT'S ABOUT IT. BUT I MEAN, Y'ALL JUST REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY'RE NOT DOING THINGS IN A UNIFORM MANNER. THEY'RE NOT DOING THINGS WITH ANY SORT OF RULES IN PLACE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING AND WHAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING. AND IT'S JUST, IT'S A HOT MESS. OKAY. THAT'S ABOUT IT, I GUESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, JOANNA STEVENSON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL OF CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS JOETTA STEVENSON AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY ITEM 31. IT'S THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO HOPEFULLY PUT A PERMANENT GENERATOR AT THE CASHMORE GARDENS MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. I CAME AND SPOKE BEFORE YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND I, I WAS SPEAKING AT THAT TIME ABOUT, UH, WARMING CENTERS. I ALSO SPOKE ABOUT COOLING CENTERS. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW CRITICAL IT IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT FACILITY. OF COURSE, MANY PEOPLE WOULD QUESTION, WHY DON'T I WANT IT AT THE FIFTH WARD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER? WELL, YOU HAVE A HUB ALREADY AT CASH MA GARDENS. WE WOULD LIKE THAT HUB COMPLETED, AND IN ORDER TO COMPLETE IT, IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE GENERATOR THAT CAN GENERATE POWER TO THAT ENTIRE FACILITY. I AM TIRED, FRANKLY, OF GOING SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE OF MY COMMUNITY FAR AWAY IN ORDER TO CHARGE A PHONE OR IN ORDER TO STAY WARM. SO I'M GOING TO BEG AND PLEAD WITH EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL TO PLEASE APPROVE THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS NECESSARY SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE NONE OF US KNOW WHAT THIS WINNER IS REALLY GOING TO BRING, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW SURPRISES, INCLUDING DARRYL, WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE POWER FOR A FULL, FULL WEEK. SO, UH, PLEASE, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY ALL THAT I CAME HERE TO ASK. THANK YOU. OH, WE HAD ALREADY, IT'S DONE. I WAS SITTING HERE THINKING WHAT MAYOR PRO, IF SOMEONE HADN'T TOLD YOU IT'S DONE. I'M SORRY. WE HAVE A GENERATOR THERE. NO, IT HASN'T BEEN. IT'S BEEN GIVEN. IT, IT'S ON OUR AGENDA. UH, TOMORROW, THE GENERATOR TOMORROW WE, WE WE'RE GONNA PASS THE MONEY TO, TO PAY FOR IT, BUT WE, WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT IS NEEDED. UH, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS INSTALLED. BUT WE WANTED TO JUST THANK YOU FOR COMING. I KNOW THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HAVE BEEN, UH, ALONG WITH OUR OTHER AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN, UH, ADVOCATING. UM, OUR WEATHER EVENTS HAVE TAUGHT US GREAT LESSONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR US TO GET ALL OF THE, UM, HUBS AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, UH, READY FOR MORE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MS. STEVENSON. MA'AM. MS. STEVENSON. MS. STEVENSON, MS. STEVENSON, COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR STEVEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING [00:35:01] HERE. UH, YES. SO WE WILL HAVE A GENERATOR AT THAT FACILITY. IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. UM, THERE'S A LARGE, YOU KNOW, LONG TERM PLAN OF HOW TO MAKE IT, MAKE KMA GARDENS INCREDIBLY RESILIENT, UM, AND REALLY BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE NAME THAT IT HOLDS AS A RESILIENCY HUB IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE EXCITED AND, UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL GET IT PASSED TOMORROW. THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. NEXT, IAN JOHNSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS. ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 21ST, THE MONTROSE TOURS VOTED THREE TO THREE AGAINST THE MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CITY'S VERSION OF SEGMENT ONE OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDESIGN PROJECT. RESULTING IN IT NOT PASSING OF THE ROUGHLY 26 PEOPLE WHO SPOKE DIRECTLY ON THIS AGENDA ITEM AT LEAST 17, SPOKE AGAINST THE CITY'S CHANGES WHILE ONLY EIGHT SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THEM. THESE REDESIGNS HAVE BEEN A WASTE OF T'S MONEY AND RESIDENTS STILL CARE ENOUGH TO SHOW UP AT THESE MEETINGS AND VOICE THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF CHANGES THAT APPEAR TO TOTALLY DISREGARD SAFETY FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS AND EASE OF ACCESS TO THE BOULEVARD DE TURDS THEN PROCEEDED TO HAVE A LAST MINUTE EMERGENCY MEETING AT 8:00 AM ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, WHERE THE COMMUNITY STILL SHOWED UP AND SPOKE OUT NEARLY EIGHT TO ONE AGAINST THESE CHANGES. STILL THE NEW DESIGN MOVE FORWARD. THIS WILL NOW COST AN ADDITIONAL $400,000 OVER A THIRD OF THE ORIGINAL PROJECT'S COST. IT'S SO INTERESTING HOW WE ALWAYS SEEM ABLE TO COME UP WITH MONEY WE CLAIM TO NOT HAVE WHEN IT'S TO RUSH A REDESIGN OF A PROJECT THAT A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT. WE WANT A, A SHARED USE PATH THAT PROTECTS THE BOULEVARD AND THE TREES FROM CENTERPOINT, SOMETHING THAT SIDEWALKS OFFER NO LEGAL PROTECTION FROM. WE WANT SAFER STREETS AND SAFER SCHOOL CROSSINGS. WE WANT A SAFE CONNECTION TO THE BAYOU AND WE WANT MONTROSE BOULEVARD OFF THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK. BUT ABOVE ALL, WE WANT THE TERROR TO STOP WASTING OUR MONEY TO ENDLESSLY DANCE AROUND REDESIGNS THAT MAKE THIS PROJECT CATEGORICALLY WORSE. I JUST WANT THE COUNCIL TO BE REMINDED ONCE MORE OF JUST HOW MUCH THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN MED WITH SINCE BEING SHOVEL READY EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING THE COMMUNITY IN BOTH MONEY AND ROADWAY INJURIES. PLEASE SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, CANDACE JOSEPH, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'D LIKE TO THANK CAROLYN SHABAZZ FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. UH, I'M SIMPLY HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND SHARE MY REFLECTIONS. I'M RECENTLY GRADUATING WITH THE FALL 2024 COHORT FOR THE BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION SIX WEEKS TRAINING PROGRAM. THIS SIX WEEKS TRAINING PROGRAM IS INITIATIVE THAT REPRESENTS A PROFOUND STEP TOWARDS OUR FUTURE, TOWARDS BUILDING TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING AND UNITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. MAYOR WHITMEYER, WE'D DEFINITELY LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE. THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH SENATE BILL 30. THAT HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND MY FELLOW GRADUATES. ITS MISSION TO BUILD A GAP TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CITIZENS BY EDUCATING PARTICIPANTS ON THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND FOSTERING OPEN COMMUNICATION IS VITAL FOR REDUCING FEAR AND INCREASING TRUST WITHIN TODAY'S CHARGE. POLITICAL CLIMATE, THE GRADUATION EVENT ATTENDED BY GREAT LEADERS SUCH AS OUR MAYOR, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JARVIS JOHNSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS AND COMMUNITY LEADER SANDRA HINES OF THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY, HIGHLIGHTED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROGRAM AND ITS POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM OUR CITY. YOUR INVOLVEMENT EMPHASIZED THE COMMITMENT TO HOUSTON'S LEADERSHIP, TO NURTURING A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN MUTUAL RESPECT AND COLLABORATION. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, I GAINED A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM, HOW TO ENGAGE CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTIVE ACTION AMONGST ACHIEVING A ME, ME MEANINGFUL CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THESE LESSONS ARE NOT JUST VALUABLE TO INDIVIDUALS, THEY'RE CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND EXPANSION OF THIS PROGRAM, B-L-B-L-E-A, ACROSS HOUSTON. BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE AND EDUCATION, WE CAN FOSTER A SAFER [00:40:01] AND UNITED CITY CITY WHERE ALL CITIZENS FEEL EMPOWERED AND RESPECTED. I URGE THE CITY TO PROMOTE THIS TRAINING AND ENSURE ACCESS FOR A BROADER AUDIENCE AS IT IS ALSO POWERFUL AND DEFINITELY A TOOL FOR CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT THE B-L-A-B-L-E-A HAS PUT INTO PLACE IN DEFINITELY SENATE BILL 30, WHICH PAVED THE WAY FOR PROGRESS AND UNDERSTANDING. I AM PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE OUR OTHER GRADUATES AS WE BRING WHAT WE'VE LEARNED BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES TO INSPIRE POSITIVE CHANGE AND REDUCE FEAR AMONGST POLICING HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE CONNECTED CITY IF WE ALL STEP IN TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WE, UH, WE THANK Y'ALL, THE CLASS GRADUATES FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT, COL. MCFALL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK FOR BEFORE YOU GUYS TODAY. UM, THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY. I'M EXCITED. . UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UM, MY NAME IS KOBE MCFALL. I'M THE 2025 PRESIDENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. UM, STANDING BEHIND ME EARLIER, UH, I HAVE A FEW UCJA MEMBERS ALONG WITH ME, AS WELL AS OUR CURRENT VP BRIANNA BOGS. UM, WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HOUSTON. SO FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE TO ENHANCE CURRENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT HOSTING TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WHICH COULD BE FACILITATED AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS THE LARGEST HBCU IN HOUSTON, AND HOLD LISTENING SESSIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BUILD TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY. WE SHOULD ALSO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AFRO-AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS LEAD TO FOSTER DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD COLLABORATE THROUGH EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS BY WORKING WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS LIKE TSU OR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS TO EVALUATE POLICIES AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS. SECONDLY, WE BELIEVE INCREASING THE RECRUITMENT OF BLACK OFFICERS WITHIN HPD INCREASING THE RECRUITMENT OF BLACK OFFICERS IS CRUCIAL TO STRENGTHENING DIVERSITY AND ENSURING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, ENGAGE WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, PARTICULARLY HBCUS TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATE PIPELINE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS. UCJA, THE UNIVERSITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION AT TSU ARE WILLING TO HOST FUTURE EVENTS TO PROVIDE HPD WITH THE PLATFORM TO ENGAGE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS. WE SHOULD ALSO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO ENTRY WITHIN HPD REVIS HIRING STANDARDS TO ENSURE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ENTRY TESTS DO NOT UNINTENTIONALLY EXCLUDE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. AN EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE IS ONE OF MY MEMBERS, UM, ENTERED FOR THE ACADEMY. AND BECAUSE SHE HAD A SMALL TATTOO, PROBABLY THE SIZE OF HER THUMB MAY A LITTLE BIT SMALLER. IT SLOW HER PROCESS DOWN, AND THAT COULD BE DISCOURAGING TO THOSE WHO MAY WANNA COME AFTER HER. SO, UM, WE SUGGEST THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THE TATTOO IS OR THE SIZE OF THE TATTOO AND MORE THINGS LIKE THAT. UM, WE SHOULD DEVELOP AND PROMOTE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS OR TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREES, CREATE FINANCIAL OR HOUSING INCENTIVES FOR RECRUITS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES WHILE HBC, OR EXCUSE ME, WHILE HPD DOES OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE, IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE AFTER HIRING. GO AHEAD AND FINISH , I'M SORRY. BY IMPLEMENTING THESE STRATEGIES, HPD CAN RECRUIT MORE BLACK OFFICERS TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AND BETTER SERVE THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION, WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THESE NEEDED CHANGES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ASSISTING IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. GOOD. UH, MAYOR PRO CAST TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. PRESIDENT KOBE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCI, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. UH, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE [00:45:01] IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGEMENT, AND TODAY YOU ARE SHOWING US WHY ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT. UM, I THINK THAT YOU, UM, HAVE BROUGHT FORTH SOME GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS. IF YOU COULD SEND THOSE TO US, UM, YES MA'AM VIA EMAIL, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. UM, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE, TAKE A BROADER LOOK AT THOSE AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE, UM, THE OFFICERS TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THESE SUGGESTIONS FORWARD. I THINK THAT THE ORGANIZATION AT TEXAS SOUTHERN IS, IS VALUE ADDED FOR US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. UM, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT, AND WE WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOUR VOICES ARE, ARE, ARE BEING HEARD. UM, AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY IS EXACTLY THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOR DOING THE WORK AND THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER AND THE PEOPLE, YOUR PEERS, QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD, SIR, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU ALL. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR COMING FORWARD. UM, I TOO WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR INFORMATION EMAILED OVER AND I'M SURE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL WOULD, BUT ALSO, UH, A MEETING. I WANT YOU ALL TO, UH, REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE. LET'S SCHEDULE SOME TIME TO SIT DOWN AND GO INTO MORE DEPTH ABOUT YOUR FINDINGS, SOME OF YOUR INSIGHT, AND SEE HOW WE CAN INCLUDE THAT, UH, IN SOME OF THE POLICY THAT WE PUT FORTH. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU COUNCILOR KAMAN. THANK I JUST ECHOING EVERYTHING. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY, UH, TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND YOUR COM, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY. UM, IF YOU, AGAIN, EMPHASIZING THAT COULD CIRCULATE ALL TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS, UH, WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS. THANK YOU COUNCIL. EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU KOBE. UH, CERTAINLY, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND I JUST, IT MAKES ME PARTICULARLY PROUD AS A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND I'M CERTAINLY GLAD THAT YOU ALL HERE ARE HERE REPRESENTING TEXAS SOUTHERN AND CERTAINLY THE DISTRICT D DISTRICT OF DESTINATIONS. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. YOU ALL JUST LOOK REALLY GOOD SITTING OUT THERE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE FUNCTION. WE HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE, SO THAT WE CAN STAY IN STEP AND, AND CERTAINLY HELP US TO BE ABLE TO BRING QUALITY OF LIFE. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, JESSE BOWMAN. HI. THANK YOU GUYS, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS JESSE BOWMAN. UM, I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE CURRENT PLANS FOR MONTROSE BOULEVARD. UM, I WALKED HERE TODAY FROM WEST DALLAS AND TAF, IT TOOK ME LESS THAN 20 MINUTES. UM, THE NOTION THAT CITIES LIKE OURS ARE UN WALKABLE IS NOT A REALITY. IT'S A CHOICE. UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT REVISION TO MONTROSE BOULEVARD PLANS PRIORITIZING CARS OVER PEOPLE, AND THAT IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR BUILDING A SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY. UM, I'M THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF FLATS, A COMMUNITY ART SPACE AT FAIRVIEW IN MONTROSE. WE CHOSE THIS LOCATION TO FOSTER WALK, UH, BECAUSE IT FOSTERS WALKABILITY AND CONNECTION, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE ARTS AND WITH ONE ANOTHER. THIS PLAN, UM, WITH ITS REDUCED SIDEWALK WISS AND REMOVAL OF SHARED USE PATHS IS A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. NARROW SIDEWALKS ARE NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT, THEY'RE UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO WALK THROUGH THIS AREA DAILY. OUR SPACE FREQUENTLY COLLABORATES WITH ARTLEY HOUSTON, JUST AROUND THE CORNER. UH, WE WALK TEEN STUDENTS BETWEEN THE TWO LOCATIONS FOR WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS. WITH THIS PROPOSED PLAN, UM, THIS WILL MAKE WALKS MORE DANGEROUS, NOT LESS SMALLER. SIDEWALKS FORCE PEDESTRIANS CLOSER TO TRAFFIC, AND THE REMOVAL OF SIDEWALK NEAR ALLEN PARKWAY. FURTHER ISOLATES WALKERS IN ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST HISTORIC AND VIBRANT AREAS. WE CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW VITAL, SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURES IS FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUR COLLABORATION WITH ART LEAGUE ENRICHES THE LIVES OF TEENS AND FAMILIES, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE ABILITY TO MOVE SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ARGUMENT FOR PRESERVATION OF OUR TREES IS IMPORTANT, BUT IRON GATES AND REDUCE SPACE NOT ONLY ALLOWS THESE TREES OR DOES NOT ALLOW THESE TREES TO THRIVE AND FURTHERS FLOODING INCIDENCES, UM, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COMPROMISE BETWEEN GREENERY AND SAFETY WHEN [00:50:01] THOUGHTFUL PLANNING CAN ACHIEVE BOTH OF THOSE. WE NEED WIDER SIDEWALKS, SHARED USE PATHS, AND A MORE EFFECTIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO MAKE MANTRAS. BOULEVARD IS SAFER AND MORE INCLUSIVE, OR SORRY, AND MORE INCLUSIVE FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND DRIVERS ALIKE, I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY AND RECOMMEND THESE REVISIONS TO PRIORITIZE OVER PEOPLE OVER VEHICLES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SHERRY BUTLER. GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. I HAD TWO OTHER THREE MINUTE DISCUSSIONS I HAD PLANNED TO ADDRESS WITH THE COUNCIL, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE POSTPONED. I'LL HAVE TO DO THOSE IN THE FUTURE, OR I'LL JUST HAVE TO COPY THEM AND REQUEST THE KINDNESS OF JAMES AND REBECCA TO DISTRIBUTE THEM. INSTEAD, I'M READING A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE TENANTS WHO IS AFRAID TO WRITE ANOTHER ANONYMOUS LETTER FOR DISTRIBUTION AT THE COUNCIL. SHE WROTE IT, THEN WANTED IT BACK AFTER WATCHING THE DISASTER AT THE MEETING WITH AMY PECK AND WILLIE DAVIS. I'M SO PROUD OF HER BRAVERY. SHE CHANGED HER MIND AND DECIDED TO ALLOW ME THE HONOR OF SHARING HER THOUGHTS. I AM READING THIS WITHOUT EDITING BY ANYONE. ATTENTION, MAYOR WHITMAR. DEAR SIR, ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES I HAVE IS NOW THE MANAGEMENT OFFICE WANTS TO CONTROL OUR LIVES. THEY DEMAND TO KNOW WHO IS COMING TO VISIT US. AND WHEN I FEEL THIS IS AN FRIENDSHIP UPON INDIVIDUALS PROTECTED RIGHT TO PRIVACY. AM I CORRECT ABOUT THIS STATEMENT? ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN OR PROBLEM AT CAMPAN IS THE NEED FOR US TO SUPPLY, TO SUPPLY US ANOTHER DUMPSTER. HOW DIFFICULT COULD IT BE WHEN RESIDENTS ARE MOVING IN AND OUT? OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE EXTREMELY EXTRA AMOUNT OF TRASH GOING IN AND ALSO AROUND THE OUTSIDE AND THE GROUND. NOW WE END UP WITH A NASTY, SMELLY MESS. I'M SORRY, A NASTY, SMELLY, UNHEALTHY SITUATION. I WAS THINKING THAT IF WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER TRASH PICKUP DAY, THAT MIGHT ALSO HELP. I FEEL SORRY. I I FEEL LIKE MOST OF THE RESIDENTS HERE AT CAMPAN NEVER ASK FOR VERY MUCH. SO WHEN ISSUES CONTINUE TO WORSEN, WE ARE ALL VICTIMS AND BEGIN TO CAMPAIGNS TO FEEL FEAR AND LESS IMPORTANT AND HELPLESS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HOPE EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS AT CAMPAN HILL OR JUSTICE PARK DRIVE OUR HOME, AND SHE CHOSE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU MA'AM. MA'AM, MA'AM, UH, MAYOR, ASSISTANT MAYOR, MAYOR PROAM. PAT, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TO ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME TO THE MEETING THAT WE HAD RECENTLY. AFTER THAT MEETING, WE DID HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD MEETING. THEY LISTENED TO ALL OF THE CONCERNS AND MADE COMMITMENTS TO SOME CHANGES THERE AS WELL. SO WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH, UM, BOTH THE OWNERS AND WITH THE RESIDENTS. UM, THIS MEETING JUST HAPPENED, SO WE HAVE TO GIVE 'EM A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, BUT WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP. THE, THE ISSUE IS THERE'S NO ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE MANAGEMENT EVER EITHER WRITTEN OR VERBALLY THAT THERE'LL BE NO RETALIATION. SO THERE'S ALREADY BEEN RETALIATION AFTER YOUR MEETING, SO NOW NO ONE WANTS TO COME UP. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN. WE JUST NEED SOME REAL ATTENTION ON THIS CON. CONGRESSMAN WILLIE DAVIS SAW HOW DEGENERATED AND NOW THE PEOPLE NO LONGER EVEN WANNA COME BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THERE WAS RETALIATION RIGHT AFTER THE MEETING. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS DAVIS. YEAH, I GOT IT. DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR SHERRY, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN. UM, I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER APAK, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD. IT IS THE CONCERN OF ALL OF US ABOUT YOUR CONDITIONS AND UH, AND AS NOTED, I ALWAYS MAKE IT A POINT TO WORK WITH THOSE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT YOUR CONCERNS ARE DEFINITELY SOMETHING [00:55:01] OF INTEREST TO ME. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ENCOURAGE YOU THAT WE WILL RESPOND TO THE, TO YOUR CONCERNS AND NOT TO THINK THAT ANYONE IS NOT GOING TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. AND ALSO RETALIATION. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY'S RETALIATED AGAINST BECAUSE THEY'RE BRINGING UP THE ISSUES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND, UH, OUR OFFICE IS ALWAYS OPEN ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN PECK TO HEAR THOSE ISSUES, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE THINGS. SO WE WILL STAY IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE MANAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL COUNCILOR CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MS. BUTLER. YOU KNOW, UM, I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S A TERRIBLE SITUATION THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT OTHERS HAVE TO SEND SOMEONE TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF BECAUSE THEY FEAR RETALIATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE SENIOR COMMUNITY. AND WHEN, UH, SENIORS ARE LIVING IN CONDITIONS AND THEY CAN'T SPEAK UP AND, YOU KNOW, UH, TECHNOLOGY'S NOT THEIR FRIEND AND THEY'RE RELYING ON OTHER FOLKS. YOU MENTIONED YOU WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE. OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL HAVE TALKED. WHAT, WHAT IS IT? YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HAS CALLED A, A MEETING AND, AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GIVING THEM TIME TO, TO CORRECT SOME OF THE ISSUES. BUT YOU FOLLOWED BY SAYING, THAT'S FINE, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE. DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION AS TO WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE? YES, THE POST, POST AND DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHEN THERE'S A DATE AND TIME THAT IT CAN EXPECT TO BE DONE AND POST IT ON, OR, OR SEND IT VIA ELECTRONIC OR EMAIL. THEY JUST PUT LETTERS. 144 PEOPLE GET LETTERS ON THEIR DOOR. SO COMMUNICATION IS KEY. YOU'D LIKE TIMELINES AND, AND JUST SOME FOLLOW UP ON THAT. I MEAN, IT'S IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IT'S INSANE. I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. ASSISTANT MAYOR, PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS, WE DID TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATION. THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE ADDRESSED WITH THEM. AND THEY ARE WORKING ON HOW THEY CAN BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH THE RESIDENTS THERE A SYSTEM. UM, THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAS LACKING PREVIOUSLY. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO WORK ON. SO I THINK MORE CHANGES WITH THAT ARE COMING. NO ONE'S LETTING US KNOW ANY OF THAT INFORMATION IS MY WHOLE POINT OF BEING HERE. I I'M GONNA SIT DOWN AND LET OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK. I JUST APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND ENERGY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT. ANNA HARRIS, WE ARE NICE TO SEE ALL Y'ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. I KNOW PROBABLY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS ASKED THIS QUESTION. WELL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST MOVE NUMBER ONE. THE SCARCITY OF AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS IS A CRISIS, NOT JUST IN OUR CITY, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY. I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD MY NAME ON MANY LISTS HERE IN HOUSTON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BLAZER IS NOT THE ONLY WEALTHY COMPANY MANAGING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BUT MANY OTHER RENTAL PROPERTIES MISTREAT THEIR RESIDENTS MUCH LIKE THE EXACT SAME WAY AS BLAZER. IN OTHER WORDS, THE AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES THAT ACTUALLY TREAT THEIR SENIORS WITH RESPECT AND THAT WE MATTER ARE TRULY FAR FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. MY NAME IS ON SEVERAL LISTS. NUMBER TWO, MOVING OUT IS NOT EASY, ESPECIALLY FOR A SENIOR. MOVING IS ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT FOR A SENIOR TO MANAGE ALONE. MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE ALONE, HAVE OUTLIVED MANY OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OR HAVE CHILDREN TOO BUSY IN THEIR OWN LIVES TO HAVE THE TIME FOR THEIR ELDERLY PARENTS. MOVING IS A LIFE CHANGING EVENT. THREE, OUR LEASE REQUIRES A 60 DAY NOTICE. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO PLAN AND FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE IN 60 DAYS? MOST OFTEN IT REQUIRES PAYING RENT IN BOTH PLACES IN ORDER TO HOLD AN APARTMENT FOR 60 DAYS IN ADVANCE. AND DON'T FORGET, THERE IS A DEPOSIT TO PAY AT A NEW LO LOCATION. APPLICATION FEES AND PET FEES. IF YOU HAVE A CHERISH COMPANION, MOVING IS EXPENSIVE. QUALIFYING FOR A STREET VALUE APARTMENT IN HOUSTON REQUIRES PROVING THREE TIMES THE RENT AND INCOME. YOU'LL GET A PACKET AND IN IT YOU'LL FIND A LIST OF CHARGES FOR NOT CLEANING. WHEN YOU LEAVE OUR BLAZER MANAGED PROPERTY, THERE IS NO WAY POSSIBLE TO EVER COUNT ON MY GETTING [01:00:01] MY DEPOSIT RETURNED. UM, I CAN SKIP AHEAD TO THE LAST STATEMENT THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO IMPRESS UPON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF Y'ALL TODAY. THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO COUNSEL TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND IS FOR THE EIGHT YEARS I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE BLAZER PROPERTY, WE HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OF EMS NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS OUR BUILDINGS WHEN PEOPLE NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. DOESN'T IT SEEM LIKE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO KNOWINGLY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT FAILS TO SAVE LIVES? THE SILVER CALL BOXES AT OUR DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BACKUP FOR EMS WHEN THERE IS NO KEY IN THE BOX BOX. THESE BOXES HAVE BEEN INOPERABLE THE ENTIRE EIGHT YEARS I HAVE LIVED AT CAMP. WHY ISN'T THE JUSTICE SYSTEM PROTECTING US? THAT'S ALL. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR LISTENING. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND I WANNA MAKE ONE LITTLE STATEMENT. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR REBECCA. SHE IS BEEN SUCH A SUPPORT AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. THAT'S NICE. AND I AGREE WITH YOU. NEXT, HARVEY CLEMONS. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL. I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER PERSON TO COME BEFORE ME. STEP IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MICROPHONES, EITHER ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER PERSON TO COME BEFORE ME THAN THIS SWEET, THIS SWEET LADY BECAUSE SHE REPRESENT THE PEOPLE IN WHOM WE SERVE, UH, THE SENIORS AT IN ONE OF OUR PROPERTIES AND OUR SENIOR PROPERTY, UH, PLEASANT HILL. I COME BEFORE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ON 11 SEVEN. LET ME BEGIN, FIRST OF ALL BY SAYING TO YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH FOR DISPATCHING YOUR TEAM TO US IMMEDIATELY TO GET TO THE FACTS AND THE BOTTOM OF THE MOMENT. THEY WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL, UM, VERY COMPETENT AND VERY THOROUGH. I APPRECIATE THEM. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR COMING OUT ALONG WITH THEM AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE WERE DEALING. TIME WILL NOT PERMIT ME TO GO INTO THE ENTIRE CONTEXT. SO WHAT I WOULD REQUEST OF YOU, MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD GRANT ME AN OPPORTUNITY ALONG WITH MY TEAM TO COME AND SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE PARTICULARLY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. LET ME ASSURE YOU OF THIS ONE FACT. THERE WAS SOMETHING ALLEGED THAT THE $3 MILLION SOFT LOAN THAT WAS GIVEN TO US IN 2019 MAY HAVE BEEN MISAPPROPRIATED. I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT, NOT A NICKEL, NOT A DIME OF ANY MONEY THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 40 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN PASTOR OF THIS, UH, UH, AND BEEN A MEMBER OF THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION HAVE MISAPPROPRIATED A DIME, QUITE FRANKLY. WE SPENT THE WHOLE $3 MILLION PLUS ANOTHER $250,000 WITH THE RENOVATION. AND WE KNEW CITY HOUSING DEPARTMENT KNEW, THE MAYOR KNEW NOT THIS MAYOR, THE OTHER MAYOR KNEW THAT THE $3 MILLION WAS GONNA BE INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE ENTIRE PROPERTY, UH, NEEDS OF THE PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY WAS BUILT AS 27 YEARS OLD AND WE $3 MILLION REPRESENT $20,000 A DOOR, LESS THAN $20,000 A DOOR ON A PROPERTY THAT IS 25 YEARS OLD. EASILY WE COULD HAVE SPENT 50 TO $60,000 MAKING THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS. WE SPENT THAT MONEY, UH, WITH PUTTING IN, UH, LANDSCAPING, IRRIGATION, CARPENTRY, ROOFING FLOORING, PAINTING, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, COOLING TOWER SYSTEM, AND ALL JUST LIFE SAFETY ISSUES TO BRING THE PROPERTY UP TO WHAT WE KNEW THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING BETWEEN 2020 WHEN THE PROPERTY [01:05:01] WAS COMPLETED WITH THE EXPENDITURES OF THE DOLLARS THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN. WE WENT OUT AND GOT PRIVATE FUNDING. GO AHEAD, HARVEY, BUT LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE. YOUR FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT WAS BEFORE I GOT HERE AND I JUST TRUST IT WAS DONE PROPERLY. AND IF IT WASN'T, IT'LL BE UP TO OTHERS TO REVIEW IT. BUT WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER TODAY IS THE CONDITIONS THAT HUMANS WERE LIVING IN LAST WEEK. HUMANS WERE NOT LIVING MAYOR IN THOSE CONDITIONS. WHAT HAPPENED ON 11 SEVEN AT APPROXIMATELY, AT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT 12, WE GOT A CALL THAT THERE WAS A SEWER BACKUP AT. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M TALKING ABOUT? THE PICTURES THAT WE SAW, THE MOLD, THE PICTURES THAT YOU SAW MAYOR WERE PICTURES OF ABANDONED, I MEAN OF VACANT UNITS THAT HAD, UH, MOLD AND NOT INDIVIDUALS LIVING IT. BECAUSE WE HAD TAKEN THOSE UNITS OFFLINE. WE'D TAKEN THEM OFFLINE BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A REOCCURRING SEWER BACK UP ON THE FIRST FLOOR. WE WERE NO LONGER GOING TO REPAIR THOSE UNITS AND PUT 'EM BACK ONLINE BECAUSE IF WE WOULD DONE IT WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANOTHER SEWER BACK UP AND ALL OF THAT MONEY WOULD'VE BEEN SPENT. WE COULD NOT PUT PEOPLE IN THOSE UNITS AND WE DID NOT PUT 'EM IN THE UNIT. SO WE TOOK 'EM OFFLINE. PASTOR, MAYBE NOT THAT UNIT. PARDON? ABOVE THEM. BELOW 'EM NEXT TO 'EM. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO DEBATE YOU THE CONDITIONS. ONE, I GOT A REPORT FROM PEOPLE I LISTENED TO. CERTAINLY THE CITIZENS THAT CAME FORWARD THAT THEY, I BELIEVE THEY WERE LIVING IN THAT UNIT. IF THAT'S A MISSTATEMENT, THAT THAT IS INDEED A MISSTATEMENT. OKAY. BECAUSE ALL, WERE THEY LIVING NEXT DOOR TO IT? DID THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE HORRIBLE CONDITIONS EITHER? NO, SIR. THEY DIDN'T EITHER AS A NEIGHBOR OR THEY DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE BECAUSE THEY WERE HAPPY. THEY CAME DOWN HERE WITH PHOTOS OF TERRIBLE CONDITIONS. THEY CAME DOWN HERE OF PHOTOS THAT I SAW THAT THEY SHOWED YOU. OKAY. OKAY. WERE, UH, UNITS THAT WERE NOT RENTING. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANCY OKAY. OF PEOPLE IN THOSE UNITS. WELL, LET'S GET TO WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. ARE PEOPLE LIVING IN SAFE CONDITIONS IN YOUR PRIMI IN YOUR FACILITIES? YES, SIR. BECAUSE, UM, WHEN THE CALL CAME IN ON EIGHT 11 AND FROM EIGHT 11 ON 11 SEVEN TO NOW, THERE HAS BEEN REMEDIATION AND REMEDIATION IS CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED, INDUCTED, PURSUE, AND ANY OTHER CONTAMINANTS. OKAY, I WOULD THAT HAVE HAPPENED. BUT FOR THE CITIZENS COMING HERE AND COUNCILMAN DAVIS AND MY STAFF AND EVERYBODY IMMEDIATELY GOING TO THAT SITE, I JUST, WE JUST DON'T NEED REPORTS OR PHOTOS OF THAT BECAUSE WE COULD DO BETTER. I WISH THERE WERE A WAY THAT YOU AND I COULD KEEP PEOPLE FROM CRITICIZING THE WORK THAT WE DO, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO THAT'S LESS THAN WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING, THEY OUGHT TO COME. BUT WHEN WE ARE DOING OUR JOBS WHERE THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC OFFICIALS OR WHETHER WE'RE PRIVATE OFFICIALS, WHEN WE ARE DOING OUR JOB, WE CANNOT STOP PEOPLE FROM COMING TO CRITICIZE OUR WORK. I UNDERSTAND. HAVE YOU RELOCATED THE, UH, THE RESIDENCE THAT WE STARTED IMMEDIATELY OF THE FOUR UNITS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY, AGAIN, TWO EVENTS, SUR BACKUP AND UNITS THAT WERE TAKEN OFFLINE, THE SUR BACKUP THAT OCCURRED ON 11 SEVEN, WE BEGAN IMMEDIATELY DEALING WITH THE SEWER PROBLEM, REMOVING, REMEDIATING, AND REMOVING THE WATER AND GOING THROUGH THE PROTOCOL OF RELOCATING THOSE INDIVIDUALS. OKAY. THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IF THEY WERE ON HOUSING, THEY COULD NOT BE RELOCATED BY US UNTIL WE GOT APPROVAL FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO . OKAY. SEE, THERE'S A PROBLEM THERE. WORDS MATTER. PARDON YOU WORDS MATTER. YOU SAID YOU RELOCATED 'EM. AND THEN YOU SAY, BUT WE COULDN'T DO IT UNTIL WE GOT APPROVAL FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. SO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THAT TIMEFRAME? BECAUSE WORDS MATTER AND IN UNDERSTANDING MATTERS, WE MADE THE UNITS THAT WERE CONTINUALLY BEING FLOODED BECAUSE OF SEWER BACKUP. WE TOOK THEM OFFLINE. OKAY. THEY WERE COMPLETELY OFFLINE. THAT'S THE SEWER BACKUP THAT WERE REOCCURRING. THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT THOUGH, WHEN WE HAD THE SEWER BACKUP, THOSE WERE D THAT WAS IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE FIRST FLOOR. WE IMMEDIATELY [01:10:01] SENT OUT CALL FOR A PLUMBER. THE PLUMBER CAME OUT, BEGAN TO REMEDIATE IT, AND AS THEY BEGAN TO REMEDIATE IT, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO GOT WATER INTO THEIR UNITS, WE BEGAN THE PROTOCOL TO RELOCATE THEM. THAT PROTOCOL INCLUDED IN CONTACT WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO GET PERMISSION TO MOVE THEM. WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MAKE UNITS READY. EVEN THE LADY THAT CAME DOWN AND BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION, WE OFFERED TO HER MOTHER THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE. SHE SAID THAT, NO, I'LL TAKE MY MOTHER HOME. THE OTHER THREE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN RELOCATED TO ANOTHER FLOOR. NO INDIVIDUAL WAS LIVING IN A UNIT THAT HAD MOLD OR MILDEW. THE NO, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE RELOCATED WAS RELOCATED ONLY BECAUSE THAT NIGHT'S EVENT ALLOW WATER TO COME INTO THEIR UNITS. SO YES, WORDS DO MATTER AND UNDERSTANDING WORDS IS QUITE IMP QUITE IMPORTANT. AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THOSE OF YOU MAKING DECISIONS ON SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF CONTEXT. I THINK IT IS OWED TO YOU AND TO THE COUNCIL THAT THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE ARE MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ENTIRE PACKAGE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN CARTER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU PASTOR FOR COMING DOWN TODAY TO DEFEND YOUR, THE PHOTOS AND, AND THE COMMENTS FROM LAST WEEK. BUT I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE RELOCATED, WHETHER THEY AREN'T AND, AND NOT THAT, AND, AND THAT DOES MATTER BECAUSE WORDS MATTER AND ACTIONS MATTER EVEN MORE. UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO GET AN IDEA IN A, IN A NORMAL ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU HAVE MOLD SPREAD THROUGHOUT AN AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING UNIT, YOU HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE RESIDENCE BECAUSE THE CONTAMINATION IN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS CAUSE SEVERE RE RESPIRATORY ISSUES, BACTERIA, ALL KINDS OF THINGS. THE PHOTOS THAT WE SAW AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO, TO YOUR SITUATION, THE PHOTOS THAT WE SAW, THE, THE MOLD DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THAT THAT DIDN'T JUST DEVELOP. AND SO MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR, YOUR, UH, AC UNIT, YOUR, YOUR HVAC BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A, AN APARTMENT BUILDING WITH INDIVIDUAL SEALED OFF UNITS PER APARTMENT. AND SO WITH RESPECT TO THOSE, THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS BEING RELOCATED, JUST BREATHING THAT ALONE IF YOU LIVE NEXT DOOR, IS A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, IT GOES BEYOND THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT. I MEAN, THESE ARE SENIORS WHO ARE ALREADY AT RISK WITH THEIR HEALTH ISSUES ANYWAY. UM, I THINK IT'S MORE OF A, MORE OF THE OVERALL PICTURE. YOU SAID YOU HAD LANDSCAPE AND, AND YOU KNOW, IRRIGATION AND ALL THAT, BUT IF WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE DOESN'T MATCH THE OUTSIDE, THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND YOU KNOW, TO BREATHE THAT, JUST TO BREATHE THAT ON A DAILY BASIS, WALKING DOWN A HALLWAY IS A PROBLEM. I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. I AGREE 100%. YOUR YOUR POINT, WE DIDN'T MOVE THEM BECAUSE OF MOLD. WE MOVED THEM BECAUSE OF ECONOMICS. THE ECONOMICS WERE IS THAT IF WE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE FIRST FLOOR WITH REOCCURRING SEWER BACKUPS THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO PREPARE, I MEAN TO REPAIR, WE HAD SEWER BACKUPS. THAT WAS SO THE BEST ECONOMIC DECISION FOR US IS TO QUIT LEASING THESE UNITS OUT UNTIL WE CAN COME BACK WITH REFINANCING TO REPAIR THE ENTIRE BUILDING. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE STOPPED LEASING. WHEN WE STOPPED LEASING. WE DIDN'T STOP LEASING BECAUSE IT HAD MOLD IN THE UNIT. WE STOPPED LEASING BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO KEEP REPAIRING A UNIT THAT SIX MONTHS LATER LINE TO HAVE A SEWER BACKUP. AND THEN YOU REALLY ARE KEEP RELOCATING PEOPLE. WHEN, WHEN WE MOVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT AND PUT THEM ON OTHER FLOORS, WE SEAL OFF THOSE UNITS AND SAID WE'RE NOT LEASING PEOPLE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. THE ONLY REASON WHY THE INDIVIDUAL SAW IT, BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED DOING THE RENOVATION THAT THE WORK, THAT NIGHT OF CLEANING AND SOPPING WATER OUT, WE HAD TO OPEN THOSE DOORS UP TO BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING OUT. CURRENTLY, AS WE SPEAK NOW IS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE NOW REMOVING MOLD, REMOVING ANY SHEET ROCK, ANY OF THE INDI, ANY OF THE STUFF THAT CAUSE TOXINS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT LIVING UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THAT NOW, WHICH FOR [01:15:01] ME, I THINK BRINGS A LARGER ISSUE. YOU, I KNOW YOU DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT WE SPENT GOING FORWARD. YOU CAN'T JUST, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT. THERE'S, WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M THROUGH WITH THAT PART OF IT. I WANT COUNCIL ABOUT 11 MEMBERS COUNCIL TO KNOW ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT, THAT NOT ONLY DID WE SPEND THE 3,000,002 TO GO DO MORE WORK IS WE WENT OUT AND PRO FOUND PRIVATE FUNDING TO THE TUNE OF $3.7 MILLION TO COME IN AND REDUCED THE MORTGAGE AND TO DO A ACQUISITION COST OF A 4% BOND DEAL SO THAT WE CAN RENOVATE THE ENTIRE PROPERTY. AS WE SAID TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WOULD DO, WE SAID THAT IF YOU GIVE US THE MONEY TO DEAL WITH THE IMMEDIATE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES IN 20, IN 19, AND THE WORK WAS FINISHED IN 2020, THAT WE WOULD LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE DID THAT TO THE TUNE OF $3.8 MILLION. WE GOT A NEW MORTGAGE AND DURING THE RENOVATIONS, UH, THE COST FOR A 4% BOND DEAL. SO HOW MUCH DID THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION GIVE YOU? THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL GAVE US $3 MILLION TO DO LIFE SAFETY ISSUES, EMERGENCY ISSUES, A NEW ROOF, A NEW CHILL, NEW CHILLER SYSTEM, NEW FLOWING, UM, UM, UH, PAINTING AND STUCCO OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT ORIGINALLY WAS TO DO A GENERATOR. IT WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE GENERATOR WE RAN. SO YOU DON'T HAVE A GENERATOR? PARDON? YOU DO NOT HAVE A GENERATOR? WE DO NOT HAVE A GENERATOR. WE RAN THE, WE WERE STRETCHING THE $3 MILLION AS FAR AS WE POSSIBLY COULD GET IT TO GO. AND THE GENERATOR HAD TO GET SCRATCHED OFF BECAUSE WE HAD OTHER LIFE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WERE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GENERATOR PASTOR SOUNDED ME LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE SPENT SOME ON YOUR PLUMBING, YOU KNOW, BRINGS US TOGETHER TODAY. YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT WE, WE DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW, WHAT, HOW BAD THE PLUMBING SITUATION WAS. WE DIDN'T, WE HADN'T IDENTIFIED WHERE THE TROUBLE WAS UNTIL WE RAN THE CAMERA AND A SCOPE DOWN THE SEWER. AND WHEN WE RAN THE SCOPE AND THE DOWN THE SEWER IS, THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THE FIRST PRIORITY IN THE 4% BOND COST HAS TO BE THE REPLACE THE, AND REPAIR THE, THE, THE SEWER. SO ONE OF THE HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS, UH, ON THE 4% BUN SCOPE OF WORK IS SEWER REPAIR, GENERATOR REPAIR AND, UH, THE, UH, UH, THE GENERATOR SEWER AND THEN THE UNITS ON THE INSIDE. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, BY THE WAY. THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, HARVEY, LET ME, I WANT TO, I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, UH, IN RESPONSE TO THE MAYOR'S REQUEST AND THE, THE FACT THAT I SAID THAT I WAS GONNA COME THERE ON THURSDAY TO IDENTIFY THESE ISSUES THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, BOTH WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. AND IMMEDIATELY WE RESPONDED TO IT BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN OF COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. NOW LET'S GO BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE MEETING. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE MONIES THAT WERE ALLOCATED TO YOU, THAT WAS, THAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO ME BEING THERE. THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION. BUT WITHOUT THE SPECIFICS AS TO WHAT THE 3 MILLION WENT TO IN REGARDS TO YOU SAYING THOSE THINGS THAT YOU DID IN OUR MEETING, WHAT DID COME UP WAS THE FACT THAT THE MANAGEMENT, YOU SAID TO US THAT THE MANAGEMENT THAT YOU HAD WAS NOT GIVING YOU THE PROPER INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHAT HAD BEEN OVERLOOKED. THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE, THOSE UNITS WITH THE MOLD IN IT FROM ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CEILING, THAT MOLD. I MEAN, YOU COULD, WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAN WALK IN, YOU CAN LITERALLY SMELL THE, THE EFFECTS OF THAT MOLD, YOU KNOW. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS HOW IS IT, WHAT IS IT IS THE ISSUE, IS IT THAT WHAT YOU SAID TO US THAT THE MANAGEMENT WAS, WAS NEGLIGENT IN INFORMING YOU [01:20:02] AS TO WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDING WAS AND YOU GOT RID OF THEM. RIGHT. THEY NO LONGER EXIST. CORRECT. WHAT I SAID TO YOU IN THAT MEETING WAS NOT A PUBLIC MEETING. WHAT I SAID TO YOU IS THAT WE HAD TO TERMINATE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY. AND I SAID THAT IN A PRIVATE MEETING. AND THE REASON WHY I DON'T SAY THAT IN THIS MEETING, I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR PROPERTIES AND HOW OUR PROPERTIES WORK. OKAY. AND I SAID TO YOU THAT WE HAD HIRED A, FOR A FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT TO LOOK AT THE WORK THAT THAT MANAGEMENT COMPANY WAS DOING. I'M NOT GOING TO RAISE THAT ISSUE HERE IN PUBLIC WHEN IT MAY VERY WELL BE BROUGHT UP IN A LAWSUIT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HANDLE OUR PROPERTY THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED. SO YES. OKAY. I DID TELL YOU THAT. OKAY. AND I STAND, I STAND BESIDE THEM. OKAY. BUT I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY DID AND DID NOT DO OKAY. AND WHAT I THINK THAT THEY DID OKAY. OR SHOULD HAVE DONE. OKAY. ALRIGHT, GOOD. WELL, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. I, I RESPECT THAT POINT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IN BEING ACCOUNTABLE, WE HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO WHETHER OR NOT THESE PEOPLE ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND THAT THEY'RE GETTING, UH, THE SERVICE THAT THEY NEED. THOSE PICTURES THAT WE SAW THAT EVERYBODY AROUND THIS HORSESHOE SAW WERE NOT VERY GOOD LOOKING PICTURES IN REGARDS TO THE PROBLEM OF MOLD AND OTHER THINGS IN THE BUILDING. SO LET ME GO TO THIS. SO LET ME, LET ME, LET ME SEE IF I CAN ASK THIS QUESTION. SO RIGHT NOW, YOU SAID THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE THAT ARE ACTUALLY TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE, THAT WE'RE ALLUDING TO, RIGHT? YES. SO, SO NOW DOES THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE HEALTH, UH, IN OF INVESTIGATION OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE? IS THERE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO WHERE IF, IF I HATE TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET CUT OFF, I WANT TIME, BE ABLE TO FULLY DISCUSS IT. HOW YOU HANDLE THOSE SITUATIONS ARE NOT UP TO US. THERE IS A PROTOCOL THAT IS ESTABLISHED. THE ONLY THING THAT IS UP TO US IS TO HIRE A COMPANY THAT IS CERTIFIED BY THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE ISSUES LIKE THAT. THAT IS LAID OUT AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND THAT IS HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. OKAY. WELL THAT WAS MY QUESTION. YES. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST ASKING THE QUESTION, IS THAT PART OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING ALONG WITH THE CONSTRUCTION, THE REMEDIATION THAT YOU'RE DOING, WAS THAT ALSO PART OF IT ABOUT THE HEALTH CONCERNS OF THE MOLD THAT MAY AFFECT PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE RESIDENCE? THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING CURRENTLY. OKAY. OKAY. AND, AND I JUST WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT QUITE FRANKLY, THIS PROJECT, HONESTLY, PLEASANT HILL IS THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE. IS THAT YOU YOU GOT, YOU, YOU, WE HAVE THAT PROPERTY WAS DONE IN 96, 97 IS WHEN IT WAS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN THIS CITY A NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ARE MATURING. AND THAT IS AT THE STATE WHERE OUR PROPERTY IS NOW. OUR INSURANCE HAS DOUBLED COST OF MATERIAL AND LABOR IS ESCALATED. OUR RENTS ARE CAPPED. WE CANNOT CHARGE ENOUGH RENT TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE, THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATIONS OF THESE PROPERTIES IF WE HAD NOT GONE OUT AND GOTTEN PRIVATE FUNDING TO THE TUNE OF $3.8 MILLION. QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD'VE BEEN AT THIS CURRENT TIME. I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCIL DID IN GIVING US THE 3 MILLION SOUTH LOAN. I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO GO AND FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF WHICH WE, WE ARE DOING AND HAVE DONE. OUR BOND NUMBERS ARE LOW. WE GET BOND COMMITMENT IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE 4% BOND DEAL IN COM AND START THE RENOVATIONS, UH, NO LATER THAN JUNE HARVEY. WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THE ECONOMICS WERE NOT GONNA WORK? DID YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU GOT THE $3 MILLION FROM THE CITY WHEN WHAT WE KNOW YOU, YOU JUST TOLD US THAT THE ECONOMICS DO NOT WORK AND IN FACT THERE'S GONNA BE OTHER FACILITIES THAT NEED RENOVATION AND 20, IF THE NUMBERS DON'T WORK, DID YOU LET THE CITY KNOW THAT? OR DID THE COUNCIL KNOW ABOUT IT WHEN THEY VOTED TO GIVE YOU $3 MILLION TO GIVE SOMETHING THAT WASN'T GONNA WORK? [01:25:01] ULTIMATELY, MS. MR. MAYOR, WHAT, WHAT DIDN'T, WHAT WAS WORKING THEN DOES NOT WORK NOW. I SEE. AND 20 IN 2019 INSURANCE RATES ARE NOT WHAT THEY ARE IN 2024. YES SIR. IN 2019, THE COST OF LIVING OF MATERIAL AND LABOR ARE NOT, WERE NOT THEN WHAT THEY WERE, WHAT THEY ARE NOW, YOU HAVE TO KNOW, AS ALL OF US DO KNOW, IS AFTER 2020, IS THAT WHEN THE SUPPLY CHAIN WAS MESSED UP, IS THAT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM THE IMPACT OF INFLATION AND THE COST OF LABOR AND THE COST OF MATERIAL. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MULTIFAMILY SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. IT'S THE SAME THING THAT YOU ALL HAVE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. THANK YOU MAYOR AND PASTOR, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. UM, I APPRECIATE THE BACK AND FORTH MAYOR IN GETTING ADDITIONAL ANSWERS AND CLARIFICATION. UH, THE FACT THAT RIGHT FUNDING HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING THAT SKYROCKETED. UM, THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, I THINK WE COULD SIT HERE ALL AFTERNOON AND HAVE A BACK AND FORTH. I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PASTOR'S TIME. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE WAITING, UH, TO ALSO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, PASTOR, I APPRECIATED YOUR REQUEST TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION. UM, I'M SURE THERE ARE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND A DIALOGUE THAT SHOULD BE HAD. UM, SO AGAIN, I I DEFER TO THE MAYOR, UH, ON THAT, BUT I DID WANNA JUST RAISE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER SPEAKERS AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT I KNOW COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON. I'M SORRY YOU WEREN'T HERE LAST WEEK TO SEE THE PHOTOS. DEPLORABLE UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS, WHICH REQUIRED US TO GO TO THE SCENE. THIS IS A FOLLOW UP IN RESPONSE TO ACTUALLY THE LADIES THAT ARE HERE, CITIZENS. SO HARVEY, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA CUT YOU OFF 'CAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER AND YOU'RE THE ONE THAT BROUGHT UP THE FINANCES CITY INVESTMENT THAT APPARENTLY IS NOT WORKED OUT. AND, UH, MR. MAYOR, ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU AND THANK YOU, I I WE, WE DON'T NEED A FOLLOW UP. WE'VE ALREADY MET. NO, I AND REBECCA'S DOING A FINE JOB. COUNCILMAN DAVIS IS DOING A FINE JOB. UH, WE JUST NEED YOU TO DO A FINE JOB AND BE PROACTIVE. AND AS COUNCIL WILLIAM CARTER EVEN MENTIONED, BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESPIRATORY CONCERNS. SO, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'LL LOOK AT THE OTHER FACILITIES. ONE THING THAT DID GET MY ATTENTION THOUGH, WHEN YOU SAID THAT YOU COULDN'T MOVE THEM WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. YES, SIR. WHAT, WHAT IF YOU DID IT AS YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE AUTHORITY, WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES? WELL, BECAUSE I WOULD BELIEVE IT'S A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER THAT YOU DON'T NEED PERMISSION FROM ANYONE. CERTAINLY NOT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO TAKE SOMEONE AWAY FROM HARM'S WAY, MR. A COUPLE OF THINGS. FORTUNATELY, WHEN OUR TEAM CONTACTED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEY RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY. THEY DIDN'T TAKE WEEKS. THEY RESPONDED AS IF, AS I REMEMBER. AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS, UH, THE DAY, THE DAY AFTER. THE OTHER THING IS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE BEING RELOCATED. NOT BECAUSE THERE WAS MOLD IN A UNIT, A MILDEW WAS IN THE UNIT. THEY WERE BEING RELOCATED BECAUSE THE SEWER, THE WATER THAT WAS IN THE HALLWAY WAS BEGINNING TO SEEP INTO THEIR UNITS. AND AS THE WATER WAS BEGINNING TO SEEP INTO THEIR UNITS, WE WANTED TO REMOVE THEM SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE WATER OUT AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER, YOU MENTIONED THE RENT ARE CAPPED. WHAT ARE THEY CAPPED AT? UH, OUR UNITS, IT'S A SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX. IT IS 60 40% OF AREA MEDIUM INCOME. AND SO THE RENTS ARE CAPPED AT THE 60% OF AREA MEDIUM INCOME FOR SENIORS. AND, AND WHAT IS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT? HOW, WHAT IS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT? UH, YOU HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY WITH A BIGGER BRAIN THAN MINE. UH, MY MANAGER FOUR. A FOUR WHAT? 8 7 4 OH A WHAT? BED? HURRY. ONE MINUTE. ONE BEDROOM IS EIGHT 30. 8 34. SOMEWHERE THEREABOUT. THANK YOU. THERE'S NO RENT THAT WE ON OUR PROPERTY. TWO BEDROOMS, UH, ONE BEDROOM EFFICIENCY. THERE'S NO RENT RATE ON OUR PROPERTY THAT IS ABOVE $1,200. [01:30:03] IMAGINE THAT. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU. UM, I DON'T KNOW. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO UNDERSTAND. IT REALLY IS BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY HAD THE, THE PROPERTY FOR QUITE A LONG TIME. UH, YOU MENTIONED 1996, THE PROPERTIES WERE BUILT, THEY'VE BEEN NEED IN NEED OF REPAIR, BUT IT SEEMS THAT A, A RED FLAG, WHITE FLAG, SOMEBODY HELP ME, SHOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN UP A LONG TIME AGO. AND PROBLEM. ABOUT WHAT MA'AM? JUST ABOUT THE ABILITY THAT, I MEAN, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S A CANARY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CANARY IN THE MINE. YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S, IT REQUIRES MORE THAN YOU HAVE, BUT YET IT'S STILL OPERATING AS A SENIOR LIVING HOW MANY? 200, 150 UNITS IN THE, IN THE, UH, COMPLEX MA'AM. IT'S 165 UNITS, 165 UNITS. AND YOU KEEP REITERATING YOU DIDN'T MOVE 'EM BECAUSE OF MOLD. I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA THAT YOU DID MOVE THEM BECAUSE OF MOLD. BECAUSE IT'S MOLD IN THE BUILDING, NOT JUST IN THE UNITS. AND I THINK THAT TO ME IS MOST CONCERNING IS, IS REALLY IT COMES DOWN TO, AND I RESPECT YOUR BUSINESS ACUMEN. I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT YOUR NINE 90 AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MONEY BEING SOMEWHERE MADE AND, AND WHATNOT, AND THE CITY KEEPS, KEEPS PONYING UP. IT JUST, IT SEEMS KIND OF HARD TO UNDERSTAND. AND, AND I, I HOPE, I HOPE THE NEXT TIME THAT, THAT I PERSONALLY HERE, IT'S THAT IT, IT'S CLEANED UP AND, AND IT'S BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE LAST WEEK, CLEARLY, UH, MS. TANYA ASHLEY, THE, THE, THE PHOTOS SHE HAD WERE JUST, I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU ALLOWING YOUR LOVED ONE TO LIVE LIKE THAT FOR 24 HOURS, LET ALONE DAYS, WEEKS, WHATEVER. IT, IT TAKES US. MY SISTER, MY IS 89 YEARS OLD AND SHE LIVES IN THAT PROPERTY. IF I THOUGHT IT WAS A PROPERTY THAT WAS UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY, THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT I LET MY ONLY SIBLING AT 89 YEARS OLD BE LIVING IN THAT PROPERTY. IT'S, SHE'S LIVING THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW IT TO BE SAFE AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE TAKING EVERY STEP THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN TO MAKE IT SAFE. AND WE DO IT NOT BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE MONEY, WE DO IT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE WORK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU. OH, SORRY. ONE MORE. JUST ONE QUICK THANK YOU. UM, PASTOR CLEMENTS FOR COMING IN AND CLEARING THINGS UP, UM, EXPLAINING WHAT'S GOING ON. AND AS I MENTIONED THE PHOTOS, IT KIND OF DISTURBED US ALL. UM, IT DISTURBED ME YEAH. WHEN I SAW ALL THE MOLD. YEAH. AND SO, UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY OVER IN THE AREA, LIKE WITH THE MSD AND SO FORTH. AND SO I WAS JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO INSPECTIONS DONE, UM, PRIOR TO THE MSD AND THE OVER IN THE AREA. THAT IS NOT TRUE EITHER. THERE WAS NO, NO INTERNAL LIKE THAT, THAT THE UNIT, FIRST OF ALL, TO CHECK THE UNITS. FIRST OF ALL, FIRST OF ALL, COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MUNICIPAL SET ASIDE A DISTRICT THAT IS ESTABLISHED NOT BY ME, BUT ESTABLISHED BY TEXAS, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT'S YOUR POLICY. THAT'S THE STATE'S POLICY. THAT'S NOT MINE. WE WENT AND ASKED AND DID A VOLUNTEER CLEANUP. WHEN WE WENT TO ASK FOR A VOLUNTEER CLEANUP, THEY RECOMMENDED TO US THAT WE APPLY FOR A MSD, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE GROUNDWATER IN THAT AREA WAS NOT BEING REDUCED IN TERMS OF ITS CONTAMINANTS. AND SO THEY SAID, SINCE THERE IS NO NEW SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION, AND SINCE THE PLUME HAS BEEN DELINEATED IS THEN FILED FOR MSD, WHICH WILL THEN ESTABLISH THIS IS THE NEW LIMIT FOR THIS ZONE, RIGHT? THAT I'S JUST SAYING LIKE THE, THE, THE, THE MOLD LOOKED LIKE IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. SO MOLD IS DIFFERENT FROM M MSS D. AND I'M JUST, JUST, I'M JUST ASSUMING THAT SOMEONE WENT IN TO INSPECT EVERYTHING BEFORE, UM, BRINGING THE MSDI KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. I I'M JUST SAYING THAT WAS MY CONCERN. M MSS D THE MOLD. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND, YOU KNOW, EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED. I KNOW THAT NO ONE ELSE IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR, RIGHT? NO DEPART. RIGHT? AND SO, UM, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO STAY INFORMED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE COMPLEX. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YES SIR. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD DAY. NEXT CORINA VELAZQUEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. UM, MEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE BRIEFLY. MY NAME IS CARINA VELAZQUEZ. I WORK FOR MS. VENITA JONES AS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE. I AM ALSO THE CMC COORDINATOR FOR C AND L. THIS YEAR GOAL WAS TO RAISE $3,000 [01:35:01] AND WE, THE TOTAL THAT WE RAISED WAS 5,418 WITH 3 CENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FROM DISTRICT, I SELECTED FIT HOUSTON AS A NONPROFIT CHARITY. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY A OCC TEAM FOR HELPING ME WITH THE CMC EVENTS AND ALL THAT THEY DID FOR ME. IT WAS THE C ROCKS. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY COMMITTEE TEAM FOR HELPING ME WITH THE EVENTS THIS YEAR. THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES ARE CHRISTINA, PRISCILLA, JUAN PABLO, CELIA VICENTE FROM DISTRICT I, ALAN AND JOSIE FROM DISTRICT A. GLORIA, UM, A LARGE ONE. OFFICER LISA GREEN YASMIN FROM DISTRICT B, BRIANNA AND DAVID FROM OUR A OTC OFFICE. ARI FROM DISTRICT E. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO DONATED FOR CITY COUNCIL THIS YEAR, EZ FOR DONATING 250 TACOS. HE BAR BRAVO FOR DONATING FOUR DOZEN PACKS OF CORN FOR OUR CORN AND A CUP DAY MAMBO SIFU STORE NUMBER SIX FOR DONATING TWO FAMILY PACKS. STARBUCKS STORE 62 78 FROM THE TENDER LOCATION FOR DONATING SEVEN TRAVELER COFFEES AND 20 MIXED PASTRY BREADS. ELEO BAKERY FOR DONATING 50 MIXED PIECES OF MEXICAN BREAD SALAD FOR DONATING 75 MIX SALADS. CHICK-FIL-A LOCATED AT 59 IN KIRBY, OPERATED BY JESSE FOR DONATING A HUNDRED CHICKEN BISCUITS RACING CANES FROM THE WESTHEIMER LOCATION FOR DONATING 40 CHICKEN SANDWICHES AND TWO GALLON OF SWEET TEA AND LEMONADES CHIPPY DONUTS FROM THE QUE LOCATION DONATING FOUR DONUTS, GLAZED DONUTS, AND TWO DOZEN OF GLAZED DONUTS. SHIPPING BE DONUTS FROM THE EDGE. BOOK LOCATION FOR DONATING FIVE DOZEN GLAZED DONUTS. HOME SLICE PIZZA FROM THE DOWNTOWN LOCATION FOR DONATING 11 DIFFERENT PIZZAS WITH A PARTY SIZED HOUSE SALAD AND ONE BOX OF THEIR GARLIC KNOTS POLAR BOWLING ALLEY, LOCATED AT 9 25 BUNKER HILL ROAD FOR ALLOWING US TO USE THEIR FACILITY FOR A BOWLING TOURNAMENT ON OCTOBER 29TH. KENDRA SCOTT, STORE NUMBER 26 51 16, HIGHEST LOCATION FOR A GIFT BACK EVENT ON OCTOBER 30TH AND A TWO DAY ONLINE GIFT BACK EVENT THAT ENDED ON NOVEMBER 1ST. KENDRA SCOTT, STORE NUMBER 26 50 34 PAPER LOCATION FOR DONATING THEIR NEW COLLECTION CALLED TRIP TRIPLE STRAND FOR SILENT LOCATION AUCTION, NOTHING BUT BUN CAKES, STORE NUMBER 1 0 7 FOR DONATING THREE DOZEN OF THEIR MINI BUNS AND ONE DOZEN OF THEIR MEDIUM BUNS. STORE NUMBER TWO FOR DONATING $150 WORTH OF SUPPLIES FOR OUR CMC EVENTS. SPACE CITY RIA FROM THE DOWNTOWN LOCATION FOR DONATING A HUNDRED MIXED TACOS WITH RICE AND CHAR BEANS AND FRIED BEANS. WALMART STORE NUMBER 2066 FOR DONATING THE SUPPLIES FOR OUR HOT DOG AND NOT YOUR DAY. WELL, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE DONATIONS. THANK YOU, CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR HERE. YOU READ A LOT OF NAMES, YOU DID IT QUICKLY, SORRY. BUT I THINK IT JUST SHOWS ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND THE TEAMS AND COUNCIL, BUT ESPECIALLY YOU KARINA, PUT IN TO THIS EFFORT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID, UM, ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT CAUSE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. ANYONE ELSE? UH, MAYOR PROAM, CAST STATE, THANK YOU CORINA FOR COMING AND GIVING US AN UPDATE. UM, DO WE KNOW WHEN THE LAST DAY IS TO CONTRIBUTE? BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M NOT THE LOWEST CONTRIBUTE ONE. YOU'RE OUTTA THE LIST. I AM. YES. . WHEN IS THE LAST YOU OUTTA THE LIST? YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE WHEN IS THE LAST ELIMINATED? WHAT IS, WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO CONTRIBUTE? UM, I WAS OUT OF TOWN, SO I'M, I'M GONNA NEED AN EXTENSION. NO, I'M A FEW PEOPLE FROM YOUR TEAM AND OTHER EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR BOX. SO YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY. I'M NOT THE LAST, I'M NOT THE LOWEST. NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE, UH, ENOUGH MONEY. I APPRECIATE ALL THE GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. YOU AND EVERYONE , YOU AND EVERYONE, UH, DID. AND I KNOW THAT THE ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, YOU AND, AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ CHOSE WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTRIBUTION. I I HEARD YOU SAY THE GOAL WAS 3000. WE RAISED OVER 5,418 WITH 3 CENTS. YES. THAT, THAT, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. UH, THANK YOU YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. AND WHAT WOULD THE LOWEST PERSON BE KISSING? I DON'T KNOW YET. YOU DON'T KNOW YET? NO, I JUST CAN'T SAY IT'S NO, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT. NO SNAKES, I PROMISE. NO. OKAY. . WHO WAS THE LOWEST? THE LOWEST. I CAN SAY . OKAY. OKAY. I'LL SAY IT WHENEVER THEY, THEY COME. BUT IT'S NOT ME. IT'S NOT YOU. I PROMISE IT'S NOT YOU. . THANK YOU. . SHE HAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. NEXT. ERICA HUBBARD. [01:40:07] WELL, MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL, UM, I'M HERE FROM FIFTH WARD FROM PROGRESSIVE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. WE WERE ON THE GROUND LAST THURSDAY WHEN YOUR TEAM SHOWED UP TO THE FACILITY. AND I DON'T WANNA BEAT THE DEAD HORSE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT I DO WANNA BRING SOMETHING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT HAPPENED BEFORE YOUR ELECTION. SO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATED, UH, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2018. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13 ON THAT PARTICULAR, AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING, PLEASANT HILL WAS ON THE AGENDA. AND AT THAT MEETING, IT WAS STATED, HOLD ON, LET ME GET IT. IT WAS STATED THAT THE PLEASANT HILL APARTMENTS WERE DEFICIENT AND THAT THEY WERE IN NEED OF, LET ME, LET ME ACTUALLY QUOTE IT. THEY NEED FINANCING DUE TO POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL SITE RISKS. AND IT'S ALSO STATED THE PROPERTY HAD SIGNIFICANT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT PRESENT HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS FOR RESIDENTS. THAT WAS IN 2018. SO THIS IS NOT NEW WHAT THE GOOD PREACHER SAID TODAY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT IT UP ABOUT MOLD. I DON'T THINK HE HAS A FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MOLD TRAVELS FROM FLOOR TO FLOOR. AND SO AGAIN, YOU HAVE MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS BEING EXPOSED TO HARMFUL MOLD. I PERSONALLY AM BEGGING FOR SOMEONE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO COME TO THE FACILITY AND DO AIR SAMPLING. WHEN I WALKED INTO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, THERE WERE PEOPLE IN HAZMAT SUITS AND THE MOLD SENT SMACKED YOU DEAD IN THE FACE. SO COULD YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE WE'VE ALL, WE'VE ALREADY ASKED THIS REQUEST THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UH, I'M PRESSING UPON YOU TO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ON SITE TAKING AIR SAMPLES AND DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY DO DURING AN INVESTIGATION OR JUST TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE ENVIRONMENT IS SAFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS THERE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IF IT HAS HAPPENED, I'M UNAWARE OF THE RESULTS OF IT, OR I DON'T KNOW IF, IF YOU ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT IF WE COULD KNOW THAT, THAT WOULD MAKE OUR, WE WOULD FEEL BETTER ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE. HARVEY CLEMONS HAS AN EGREGIOUS AMOUNT OF, THERE ARE A LOT OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH HIM. HE'S ON THE TURS, HE'S ON FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. HE'S ON FIFTH WARD, CRC, HE'S ON THE ENDOWMENT FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. HE'S ON BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERS. AND THE, THE LIST GOES ON. AND HE'S, SOME OF THOSE ROLES HAVE FIDUCIARY INFLUENCE ON THE APARTMENTS THAT HE PERSONALLY OWNS. SO I JUST BEG YOU TO PLEASE TAKE A REAL LASER FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT THIS PERSON IS NOT DOUBLE DIPPING. I DIGRESS. WHEN DID YOU SEE THE PEOPLE WEARING MASKS? UH, HE'S GONE, UM, LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE. YEAH, THEY, THEY WERE IN HAZMAT SUITS. THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WHO WAS HERE, I'M SORRY, NOT THOMAS DAVIS, WHO WAS HERE EARLIER, HE ALSO WITNESSED THAT TOO, AS WELL AS THE WOMAN FROM CHANNEL 11. THEY WERE IN HAZMAT SUITS WHILE THE RESIDENTS WERE MOVING THEIR THINGS IN, UH, CRATES OR BOXES FROM WHEREVER THEY WERE MOVING THEM TO. CLEARLY THERE'S A PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE PP PROTECTIVE, UH, EQUIPMENT ON, AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHER INDIVIDUALS BREATHING THE SAME AIR JUST IN NORMAL CLOTHING WITH NO MASK ON. SO I BELIEVE YOU TESTIFIED IN NOVEMBER, 2018. YES. THE ENVIRONMENT WAS DISCUSSED. IT WAS AT ONE OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEES. YOU CAN LOOK AT IT ON YOUR OWN ARCHIVE WHEREVER, BECAUSE I FOUND IT ON YOUR WEBSITE. WE'LL, ON THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER, 2018. IT WAS IDENTIFIED AT THAT TIME THAT THOSE APARTMENTS WERE IN A DISARRAY AND IT SAID HAZARDOUS TO RESIDENTS. SO THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. JUST SECOND, UH, MAYOR PROAM CAST SIX ITEM. NOPE. UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SORRY, MY BLOOD'S STILL KIND OF BOILING. I DIDN'T GET YOUR NAME. ERICA HUBBARD. ERICA, UH, DANELLE, UH, IN THE BACK IS GONNA GET WITH YOU AND GET SOME INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR, FOR CONTINUING TO SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I'M, I'M SORRY TO BREATHE. MOLD IS SUCH [01:45:01] A HEALTH HAZARD AND YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO MOVE OUT OF THE SEWER, BUT IT'S BETTER TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR TOO. I JUST, IT, IT KILLS ME TO THINK OF THIS MAYOR. I'M SO SORRY. I JUST, OUR SENIORS ARE JUST AT THE MERCY OF THOSE WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A GOOD SITUATION. AND WHEN YOU OWN A PROPERTY FOR MANY YEARS, IT'S PARTLY YOUR, UH, RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT. AND, AND THAT'S, I'M, I'M SORRY. WELL, I VISIT WITH YOU FURTHER. I WANTED TO SAY ONE THING. UH, ACCORDING TO THE EPAS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, UH, SCREEN WEBSITE, YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR WEB, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IT SHOWS YOU YOUR PROXIMITY TO TOXIC AIR RELEASES. THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO I 10 AND THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO FREEWAY DIESEL EMISSIONS, WE ARE IN THE 95TH TO 100 PERCENTILE FOR TOXIC AIR RELEASES. SO THAT EXISTS ALL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO MOLD. SO WHEN YOU COMPOUND THE TWO AGAIN, AND, YOU KNOW, AS YOU AGE, WE HAVE COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. SO YOU, YOU CANNOT SAY, OH, UH, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE MANAGING THE APARTMENTS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. OR, OH, MY SISTER LIVES HERE. YOU CANNOT SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY. THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO GETTING OUT OF THAT. DID YOU SAY THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WAS BEFORE THE CITY VOTED TO GIVE THE $3 MILLION? NO, NO. THE ENVIRONMENTAL, YOU TALKING ABOUT THE MSD THAT HAPPENED AFTER THIS 3.2, NOT QUITE THREE, $3.2 MILLION ACCORDING TO YOUR RECORDS. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT ROLANDA. GOOD AFTERNOON. I HAD, UM, I WROTE A SPEECH TO SAY, BUT I'M NOT, I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS IN 2022, RIGHT? WITH CLEM MANNA, UH, CLEM MANNA HOUSING AUTHORITY, I MEAN, CLEM MANNA HOUSING APARTMENT COMPLEX SEWER BACKUP MOLD AND ROACH INFESTATION. SO WE FOLLOWED PROTOCOL, LIKE I STATED LAST TUESDAY, AND WE DID, UM, PETITIONS THAT WERE TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH CITY COUNCIL, TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH THE DEVELOPERS, TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SITS ON CLEAR MAN PROPERTY. THIS, THAT'S GOING ON IN THE SENIOR LIVING. AND, UM, ON LYONS AVENUE FOR PLEASANT HILL IS THE SAME PATTERN THAT WAS DISPLAYED IN 2022 WITH CLEM MANNA HUB UNDER, UM, SYLVESTER TURNER'S ADMINISTRATION. RIGHT? WE CAME DOWN HERE, WE, THE RESIDENTS, THE EMPLOYEES, THE EMPLOYEES COULDN'T COME DOWN HERE. SO THEY, IN, THEY WERE OVER THE PHONE FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT. NOTHING HAPPENED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED. SO I CAME DOWN HERE AGAIN FOR THE FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THE PATTERN THAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE POSED AS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THEY'RE REALLY REAL ESTATE AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS, IF YOU LOOK ON THE PAPER AT THE PAPERWORK, WHEN I STARTED RESEARCHING NHP AND I FOUND OUT PLEASANT HILL, UH, REVEREND CLEMENCE GIVES DONATE TO IT IS JUST ALL EVERYBODY'S BUDDIES. AND THAT'S COOL. IF YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF WHAT YOU ARE ASKING, WHEN YOU ARE WRITING THOSE GRANTS, YOU ARE WRITING THOSE GRANTS STATING THAT YOU WANT TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. RIGHT? IF YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH YOUR GRANT, WHO'S GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE? WHO'S HOLDING THESE RES THESE, UM, ENTITIES ACCOUNTABLE, BUT NOBODY'S HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE. WE CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM GRANTS. WE CONTINUE TO LET THEM WRITE OUR NARRATIVE, AND WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO APPOINT PEOPLE TO THE BOARDS WHO ARE NOT IMPACTED. THERE'S NO IMPACTED COMMUNITY LEADERS ON THIS BOARD. THERE'S NO IMPACTED RESIDENTS ON THESE BOARDS. THERE'S JUST FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, BUSINESS PARTNERS THAT ARE ON THESE BOARDS. THAT'S IT. SO IF YOU CONTINUE TO DO THIS FOR 40 YEARS, ARE THE PEOPLE EVER GONNA BE HEARD? WE ARE NEVER HEARD. SO THEN IT'S LIKE, KENDRA, WHO DO YOU WORK FOR? I WORK FOR ME. I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR, I'M 43 YEARS OLD, SO I'VE BEEN LIVING TWO STREETS BEHIND REVEREND CLEMENTS FOR, SINCE I WAS BORN. WE'VE BEEN UNDER THE SAME INFLUENCE. IT IS KATHY PEYTON, REVEREND CLEMENTS, ALLISON HAYES, YOU BE HABITAT [01:50:01] OF HUMANITY FIFTH FOREST, CRC, REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO CALL NAMES. CALL A SPADE A SPADE AND HANDLE HANDLE BUSINESS. GRANTS MEAN YOU AGREE, TIME, TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE. WE NOT THE PEOPLE NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT. GAIL MARTINS. GAIL MARTINS, HAMBLES HAYES, GEORGE PITO. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. SO, UH, I REALLY HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS. UM, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH THIS MATTER FOR OVER A YEAR. UH, SO I'M TALKING ABOUT JENSEN PARK AND JUST REVIEWING THIS BEAUTIFUL CALENDAR KIND OF RE-ENERGIZES ME TO KEEP ON FOLLOWING UP ON THIS PARK. SO I JUST WANNA LAY OUT THE FACTS OF, YOU KNOW, THE TIMELINE. SO THE CITY BUILT A NAVIGATION CENTER, WHICH I KNOW IT'S NICE, IT'S BEEN DOING WELL. WE'VE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COMMUNITY. BUT TO BUILD THAT, THE CITY AGREED TO, UH, RENOVATE JENSEN PARK, WHICH THAT'S NOT THE CASE. IT HASN'T BEEN DONE, IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR. SO THEN ON ALL THIS DOES HAVE A WRITTEN TRAIL, MAYOR. SO I, I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY UH, IDEAS, BUT THIS IS ALL, HAS A PAPER TRAIL TO IT. SO THAT'S THE FIRST FACT. THE SECOND FACT IS, UH, MARK EICHENBAUM ON EMAIL SAID THAT THE CITY ALLOCATED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE RENOVATION OF THIS PARK. SO THAT'S THE, YEAH, SO THAT'S THE THIRD FACT, OR THE SECOND FACT. AND THE THIRD ONE IS THE CITY ALREADY ACQUIRED THE TWO NECESSARY PARCELS OF LAND FOR THIS RENOVATION. SO I MEAN, ALL THE, THE MATH IS ADDING UP. WHY HAS THIS PARK BEEN SO DELAYED? THE LAST TIME I CAME HERE WAS OVER A YEAR AGO WHEN, UH, THE OTHER MAYOR, I'M SORRY, I FORGOT HIS NAME, BUT THE OTHER MAYOR WAS STILL IN OFFICE AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. AND I REACHED OUT TO MANIRA, SHE'S PART OF YOUR OFFICE. I'VE REACHED OUT TO MARIA MORENO. UH, I CAN'T DO THIS ALL ON MY OWN. UH, I BROUGHT SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TOO, BUT I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE. YOU KNOW, THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO HOLD CITY OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE AND I JUST CAN'T KEEP ON FOLLOWING UP. I MEAN, I HAVE SCHOOL, I HAVE WORK, I HAD A TAKE OFF OF WORK WHEN I COULD USE THE HOURS TO BE STUDYING. SO YEP, THAT'S MY TED TALK. AND WHO TOLD YOU THE CITY PUT A MILLION INTO THE PARK? MARK EICHENBAUM, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF HOMELESS INITIATIVES. YEAH. YEAH. WHICH I'M GUESSING HE'S FORMER FOR A REASON, BUT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LET ME GET WITH PARKS DIRECTOR AND C UH, OKAY. SEE WHAT THE SO-CALLED MILLION DOLLARS WENT FOR. AND JUST TO, UH, MAKE SURE MAYOR WHITMORE OR WHITMEYER, UM, SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, IT WAS FEDERAL FUNDING THAT HELPED FUND THE NAVIGATION CENTER AND MONIES WERE BEING TAKEN FROM THAT FEDERAL FUND OR WHATEVER TO RENOVATE THE PARK. SO IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT MONEY? I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. IT'S BEFORE I GOT HERE. OKAY. AND WHO CAN FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH THOSE? MY STAFF IS TAKING, MAKING GOOD NOTES RIGHT NOW, AND I'VE ALREADY NOTICED THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA, SO THAT WAS ENOUGH TO GET MY ATTENTION THAT THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM FOR SURE. THAT, UH, YOU'VE BEEN KIND OF IGNORED FOR SURE. AND THEY STILL, I'M SURE THEY STILL WANT TO TALK AND GIVE YOU THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS TO WHY THE PARKING IS NO, THERE'S ABOUT A HALF A DOZEN FOLKS HERE TODAY FOR SURE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT. CARLA SOTO. CARLA SOTO, ABBY RAINA. HI CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS ABBY RENA, AND I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE SAME THING THAT, UH, GEORGE SPOKE ABOUT. MY HUSBAND AND I, WE'VE LIVED IN THE AREA FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AND THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL. THERE'S A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. THERE'S A LOT OF NEW FAMILIES MOVING IN AND HAVING THIS NEW PARK IS GONNA BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE OUTSIDE, SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH EACH OTHER, UH, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH LIGHTING RIGHT NOW, SO [01:55:01] JUST HAVING THAT PARK IS GONNA MAKE A REAL DIF DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR US. SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO KIND OF GET A TIMELINE OR ANSWERS IN REGARDS TO THAT. OF COURSE. THANK YOU. NEXT, ASHTON MARSHALL. ASHTON. MARSHALL APODACA. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DELAYS OF JENSEN PARK RENOVATION. UM, BEING SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE AREA AND AS HEARD OF THE PROPOSED PARK, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WERE. UM, THE PARK IS USED DAILY AND THERE'S WEEKLY EVENTS. THERE'S WEEKLY SPORTING EVENTS THERE ALL THE TIME. AND IT'S JUST SAD TO CONTINUE TO SEE PARENTS OR VISITORS HAVE TO DRIVE ONTO THE FIELD, TURN ON THEIR HEADLIGHTS TO SEE THEIR KIDS FINISH THEIR SOCCER GAME, THEIR FOOTBALL GAME. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING THERE, THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS THERE. SO IT'S JUST JENSEN PARK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SOMETHING GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I JUST THINK, UH, COMPLETING THE RENOVATION IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'VE ALREADY PLACED A CALL TO THE PARKS DIRECTOR, SO WE'RE ON IT. APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THANK YOU. NEXT, BRENDA DUOS. GOOD AFTERNOON CD COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BRENDA. UM, I'M HERE ALSO WITH, UM, NEW RESIDENTS AND FRIENDS TO SUPPORT THE JUDSON PARK RENOVATION. UM, I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO SHINE MORE LIGHT ON THE JUDSON PARK RENOVATION PLAN. AS A NEW RESIDENT IN THE AREA, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE MOTION BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS AND FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREA. GETTING THE PARK UP AND RUNNING WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMUNITY AS IT GIVES MORE DEVELOPERS MOTIVES TO MOVE INTO THE AREA AND GENERATE A BETTER COMMUNITY OVERALL. IT ALSO HELPS TO LESSEN THE VIOLENCE AND GIVES MORE BUSINESS OWNERS THE CHANCE TO CREATE A BETTER COMMUNITY WITH ENOUGH FAITH. I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HOPE FOR THE MOTION PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, ALEX REINA. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAYOR. COUNCILMAN, UM, I DON'T WANT TO BE A, A DEAD HORSE, AND SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PARK AS WELL. BEING A BUSINESS OWNER AND BEING A RESIDENT IN THERE FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS, THE PARK WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING THAT CAN IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND ALSO IMPROVE, UH, HAD BRENDA HAD MENTIONED MORE PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY TO JUST KIND OF CREATE A BETTER OVERALL EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE THERE. AND SO, UH, LIKE YOU SAID, I KNOW THAT MAYOR YOU HAD TALKED, YOU'RE GONNA GET IT GOING AND GET WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THE PARK STARTED. AND WE JUST, WE REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO US AS RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO AS BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREA TO GET THIS GOING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO, VERY GOOD. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. YEAH. NEXT, NORMA SIERRA. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A TAXPAYER WHERE ARE PAYING HOMEOWNERS TAXES FOR 30 PLUS YEARS, AND I EXERCISED MY BOAT AS A CITIZEN. I, I URGED YOU FOR A PLAN DATE TO BE GIVEN TO CLEAN UP THE GEY CHANNEL OR THE DRAINAGE, WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANNA CALL THEM. AND MAINTAIN AND MAINTENANCE SHOULD BE DONE FROM CONCORD STREET AND BROADWAY ALL THE WAY TO HIGHWAY THREE. VANESSA GUILLEN ROAD. WHAT HAPPENED ON JULY 29, I CALLED THE CITY OF HOUSTON 3 1 1 TO [02:00:01] REPORT A FALLEN TREE ON THE GOLY CHANNEL, OR DRAINAGE, WHICHEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT. THIS TREE IS BLOCKING AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S NOT ONLY ONE, BUT IT'S BLOCKING THE CHANNEL THAT PASSES THROUGHOUT OUR BACKYARD ON A PROPERTY WHICH WILL RESTORE A LOT OF TRASH. AND THIS IS CAUSED, THIS CAN CAUSE FLOODING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY OF HOUSTON PERSON TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL SINCE THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE CHANNEL IN THIS AREA. I IMMEDIATELY, THE SAME DAY I CALLED THE HARRIS COUNTY TO REPORT THE SAME THING, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAINTENANCE OF THE CHANNEL OR THE GEY OR DRAINAGE. I WAS DIRECTED TO CALL BACK CITY OF HOUSTON. I CALL ON THE 30TH OF JULY AND I AGAIN EXPLAINED THE SITUATION THAT REPRESENTATIVE OPEN, UH, SERVICE REQUEST. THE ONLY THING THAT I RECEIVE AN EMAIL, IT WAS AN EMAIL ON AUGUST THE FIFTH INDICATING, UM, THAT THE EMAIL SAYS IT WAS CLOSED WITH COMMENTS, INVESTIGATION COMPLETED, MAINTENANCE IS ON PLAN SCHEDULE. AFTER THAT, I MADE THREE PHONE CALLS, REQUE, UH, REGARDING THE SERVICE REQUEST. AUGUST THE 20TH, SEPTEMBER 4TH AND OCTOBER THE EIGHTH, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSPECTOR WAS AT THE AREA THAT IT WAS INSPECTION DONE AND I SHOULD WAIT FOR ANY PLANS. BUT THERE WAS NO PLAN DATE GIVEN FOR ME FOR THE CLEANUP OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE GALLEY. MS. JENNIFER KANE, PROPERTY MANAGER FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY, REPLIED TO ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON SEPTEMBER 17, INDICATING THAT CITY OF HOUSTON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING OF THE DRAINAGE. ON OCTOBER THE 12TH, I CALLED FOR THE FOLLOW UP AND A PERSON IN THE 3 1 1 MS. WILLIAMS INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE REQUEST WAS OPEN, CLOSED, INSPECTED ON THE SAME DAY, JULY 30TH, AND SHE HAD STARTED A NEW REQUEST. I EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO HER. SHE SAID THERE WAS NO NOTES POSTED IN THE SYSTEM, THAT SHE HAD NO INFORMATION ON ME CALLING ON SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER. AND SHE CREATED, I MEAN, I HAD NO OTHER OPTION THAT TO CREATE ANOTHER REQUEST. I DON'T DESERVE TO BE TREATED THIS WAY BECAUSE I PAY MY TAXES AND I EXERCISED MY BOAT AND I'VE BEEN PAYING TAXES, HOMEOWNER TAXES FOR 30 PLUS YEARS. THIS HAPPENED AT SHADY PARK AREA. LET ME, UH, LET YOU KNOW. IF YOU'LL TALK TO MS. WILSON, WE'LL GET YOU A STATUS REPORT. MY NOTES SHOW THAT A FILE HAS BEEN OPENED AND INSPECTION TEAM'S BEEN THERE AND THEY'RE COMING UP WITH A, UH, PLAN OF ACTION. YES, IT WAS REDONE. SO, BUT I WANT, BUT I WANNA VERIFY THAT WITH MS. WILSON. IT WAS REDONE ON NOVEMBER 12TH AFTER I CALLED THE LAST TIME. NO ONE HAD CON CONTACTED ME A, UM, SINCE THEN, AND TO TWO DAYS BE YESTERDAY, TWO PEOPLE, AND TODAY ONE PERSON. BUT BEFORE THEN, NO ONE HAD CONTACTED ME, ONLY AUGUST 5TH. I UNDERSTAND FOR THE EMAIL, I UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT YOU SAW THE FOLKS YESTERDAY AND TODAY MEANS YOU'RE FIXING TO GET SOME ACTION. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR IT TAKING SO LONG, BUT CHECK WITH MS. WILSON AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, MELISSA AIS. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MELISSA AES. I'M A PROUD NATIVE HOUSTONIAN MONTROSE BOULEVARD, RESIDENT ENTREPRENEUR, FORMER RESTAURATEUR, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER, AND A CO-FOUNDER, ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND OF AN AI STARTUP CALLED CRAYON. CRAYON IS AN IMAGE TOOL USED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO SOLVE LIFE'S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT DOES AN ASTRONAUT DOG EATING AN ICE CREAM UNDERWATER LOOK LIKE? , SPOILER. IT'S AS WEIRD AS IT IS FUN. BUT TODAY I'M HERE WITH A BIGGER QUESTION. WHY IS HOUSTON MAKING ITSELF LESS WALKABLE? I TALK TO BUSINESS OWNERS, LANDLORDS, FOUNDERS EVERY DAY, AND I KEEP HEARING THE [02:05:01] SAME CONCERN. HOUSTON'S LACK OF WALKABILITY IN RECENT BACKWARDS STEPS ARE HOLDING US BACK FROM GROWING OUR BUSINESSES AND IT'S DRIVING AWAY TALENT. LET ME SHARE TWO QUICK STORIES. FIRST, A FRIEND OF MINE WORKS FOR LIVE NATION IN THE MONTROSE COLLECTIVE. SHE BOUGHT A HOUSE IN MIDTOWN THINKING SHE COULD BIKE TO WORK, BUT BIKING ON MONTROSE TURNED OUT TO BE SO DANGEROUS THAT SHE GAVE UP. NOW SHE DRIVES THE 1.7 MILES WORSE. HER COLLEAGUES VISITING FROM LA TOLD HER POINT BLANK, THEY'D NEVER CONSIDER RELOCATING HERE BECAUSE HOUSTON ISN'T WALKABLE ENOUGH. ANOTHER STORY, WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I ATTENDED A GOOGLE CONFERENCE, OTHER FOUNDERS WERE SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT WE ARE BUILDING OUR STARTUP IN HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE COMPETING WITH THE BIGGEST TECH COMPANIES OF THE WORLD. WORSE VENTURE CAPITALISTS HAVE FLAT OUT TOLD US THAT IF WE RAISE MONEY, WE'D NEED TO MOVE AT A MINIMUM TO AUSTIN. THIS SENTIMENT FORCED THREE CUTTING EDGE STARTUP FOUNDERS THAT I KNOW TO LEAVE HOUSTON THIS YEAR ALONE. NOW HERE'S THE FRUSTRATING PART. MONTROSE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE WAS A PLAN TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER. 10 FOOT SIDEWALKS FOR WALKING AND BIKING, SAFER CROSSWALKS, SLOWER TRAFFIC. IT WAS REALLY EXCITING, BUT THAT PLAN WAS SCRAPPED. INSTEAD, THE CITIES DECIDED TO WIDEN THE STREETS FOR FASTER AND MORE DANGEROUS DRIVING. THE SIDEWALKS AREN'T GETTING BUILT IN SOME PARTS, AND THERE'S NO BIKE ROUTE. WALKABILITY ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE SIDEWALKS. IT'S ABOUT CREATING A CITY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN. STUDIES SHOW THAT WALKABLE CITIES SEE INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, HIGHER REVENUE FOR BUSINESSES, AND MAKE CITIES MORE DESIRABLE FOR TOP TALENT. YOUR FOCUS ON CARS ARE PUSHING HOMEGROWN STARTUPS TO LEAVE HOUSTON. HOUSTON CAN LEAD THE WAY IN CREATING A SAFER, MORE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE CAN WALK TO BUFFALO. BIO COWORKERS CAN GRAB LUNCH AT NICO NICOS WITHOUT DODGING TRAFFIC AND GRAB END OF DAY DRINKS. AT ANVIL MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO IMPACT HOW OUR CITY IS SEEN TO THE BEST TALENT AND HELP US WIN THEM FROM OTHER CITIES. YOUR LEGACY WILL BE ONE OF INNOVATION, SAFETY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED ECONOMIC GROWTH AND NOT MORE TRAFFIC AND ACCIDENTS. I LOVE HOUSTON. I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. LET'S JUST WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A CITY THAT REFLECTS THE BEST OF WHAT HOUSTON CAN BE, WHICH IS A PLACE WHERE CUTTING EDGE BUSINESSES LIKE MY OWN CAN GROW AND THRIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, CHRISTOPHER PALMER. MR. BAYER AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M CHRIS PARMA. I LIVE OFF OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD, UH, NEAR BUFFALO BAYOU. SO I WORK FOR NASA THAT MATTERS TODAY 'CAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF USING SCIENCE TO DRIVE OUR DECISION MAKING. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF ASTRONAUTS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS THAT ARE FLOATING ABOVE THE EARTH RIGHT NOW. YOUR JOB IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS ON THE ROADS ON THE GROUND. TODAY. LAST YEAR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAD ABOUT 80,000 CAR CRASHES, BUT IT SEEMS Y'ALL DON'T REALLY LISTEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BODIES. SO LET'S TALK DOLLARS PER TEXT. DOTS, CALCULATIONS. THE COST OF THAT TO OUR CITIZENS IS ROUGHLY $10 BILLION. THAT'S A BILLION WITH A B PER YEAR. AND YOU KNOW, THE CRAZY THING, THOSE COSTS ARE PREVENTABLE. TRANSPORTATION SAFETY IS A HIGHLY SPECIALIZED, SPECIALIZED DISCIPLINE. WE NEED EXPERTS MAKING DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS, AND YET, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE MANY TRAFFIC SAFETY EXPERTS WORKING IN OUR CITY. ONE YEAR AGO WE HAD AN EXPERIENCED CHIEF TRANSPORTATION PLANNER, LEADING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, EXPERIENCED DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE AT PUBLIC WORKS. NOW WE HAVE A NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR WHO IS NOT A PLANNER, A SCHEME TO ELEVATE AN ATTORNEY TO LEAD PUBLIC WORKS AND AN ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR WHO WORKS IN SECRET TO UNDERMINE COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLANS. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THE LAW REQUIRES THE HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, AND THAT THE NATIONAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS HAS WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE MAYOR TO CONDEMN HIS, HIS ATTEMPTS TO CIRCUMVENT THIS. AND TO THE POINT ABOUT THE MAYOR'S FAVORITE ADVISOR, MARLENE GAFFEY HAS REPEATEDLY UNDERMINED YOUR CITIZENS. HOUSTONIANS HAVE DEMANDED SAFE WALKING AND BIKING AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR YEARS, AND YET SHE HAS TALKED TO TXDOT ABOUT TAKING AWAY SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES, PROMISED TO THE THIRD WARD AND HAS WORKED WITH THE MAYOR TO PROPOSE A PLAN FOR MONTROSE BOULEVARD THAT REMOVES SIDEWALKS AND DECREASES DRIVER SAFETY ON A 35 MILE AN HOUR ROAD WHERE CARS ALREADY AVERAGED 10 MILES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. MS. GAFFER AND THE MAYOR ARE DEMANDING HIGHWAY WIDTH LANES THAT MATCH I 45. I INVITE HER AND THE MAYOR TO CONSULT WITH EXPERTS WITH ACTUAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD WHO HAS SHOWN FOR MANY YEARS THAT THAT JUST ISN'T SAFE. MOST RECENTLY, A 2023 STUDY BY JOHNS HOPKINS SHOWED THAT GOING FROM JUST 12 FOOT TO 11 FOOT LANE WIDTHS CAN DECREASE CRASHES [02:10:01] BY 50%. MONTROSE BOULEVARD SEES 150 PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CAR CRASHES PER YEAR, RESULTING IN NEARLY $10 MILLION IN LOSSES. CUT THAT IN HALF, AND THAT'S A HUGE SAVINGS. FURTHER, THE MAYOR HAS CLAIMED THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN 12 FEET COULD IMPEDE, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES. HOWEVER, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT SIGNED OFF ON ALLOWING 10 AND 11 FOOT TRAFFIC LANES ACROSS THE CITY IN 2016. AMBULANCES ARE EIGHT FEET WIDE. THE MAXIMUM WIDTH FOR AN AMERICAN FIRETRUCK IS EIGHT AND A HALF FEET WIDE. RIGHTSIZED TRAFFIC LANES ARE NOT AN IMPEDIMENT TO EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THE EXPERTS AGREE. IN CONCLUSION, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, OUR COLLEAGUES THAT WORK FOR AND WITH THE CITY ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE LACK OF EXPERT OF EXPERT DIRECTION. HOUSTON HAS A CATASTROPHIC TRAFFIC SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH DEMANDS MORE EXPERTISE THAN A POLITICAL OPERATOR CAN PROVIDE. PRESSING ON WITH WIDER AND FASTER STREETS IS HOW WE GOT HERE. IT'S KILLING OVER 300 HOUSTONIANS A YEAR. IT'S COSTING US $10 BILLION A YEAR. IF SAFETY FIRST ISN'T OUR TOP PRIORITY, THEN WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY PUTTING SAFETY FIRST CAMERAS EXPIRE. I ASK THAT THE CITY WORK WITH ACTUAL EXPERTS AND THE COMMUNITY SO THAT MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND OUR OTHER ROAD PROJECTS CAN BE TRULY ABOUT SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ALEXIA HERNANDEZ. HELLO, COUNCIL. UH, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SO BEAR WITH ME. UM, MY NAME IS ALEXIA HERNANDEZ. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HOUSTON, BORN AND RAISED. I LOVE THIS CITY. UM, I'M ALSO A CURRENT MONTROSE RESIDENT. UH, I MOVED TO MONTROSE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AFTER I GRADUATED FROM TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY. UM, ALL OF MY FRIENDS WERE TELLING ME, WHY DON'T YOU GO TO CHICAGO? WHY DON'T YOU GO TO NEW YORK? IT'S SO WALKABLE, YOU CAN GO TO EVERYTHING THERE. AND I WAS LIKE, NO. YOU KNOW WHAT? HOUSTON HAS SOME WALKABLE PARTS AND THERE'S A LOT OF CULTURE AND ARTS, SO I CAN SUPPORT MY FAMILY'S HERE, MY FRIENDS HERE. SO I MOVED AND I LANDED IN MONTROSE. UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A HEALTH CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY DUE TO, IN PART SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE DUE TO, IN PART, UM, CAR CRASHES AND, UH, HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS AS A RESULT OF HIGH SPEED RAIL AND, UH, URBAN SPRAWL. I MEAN HIGH SPEEDED, UH, CARS AND URBAN SPRAWL. UM, AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY MONTROSE NEIGHBORHOOD AS FAR AS WALKING AND BIKING. I LOVE ALLEN PARKWAY. IT'S ONE OF THE, HONESTLY, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS EVER DONE. UM, BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE BIKING FROM, UM, SOUTH MONTROSE ALL THE WAY TO ALLEN PARKWAY. UM, BECAUSE, UH, THERE ARE HIGH SPEED CARS. THERE'S NO DEDICATED BIKE LANES ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. MY PARENTS COME FROM THE SUBURBS AND THEY ACTUALLY PREFER TO COME HERE TO BIKE. THEY PREFER TO COME HERE TO MONTROSE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THERE. AND THEY LOVE BIKING. THEY LOVE THE WALKABILITY. THEY'RE, THEY, THEY CAN'T STAND JUST DOING BIKING BACK IN THEIR SUBURBS WHERE THEY CAN'T GET ANYWHERE. THEY CAN'T GO TO ANY SHOPS. THEY CAN'T MEET NEW PEOPLE. UM, THERE'S NO DEDICATED BIKE LANES. IT'S DANGEROUS FOR THEM. SO THEY DO COME HERE. SO I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST US THAT ENJOYS THIS. IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN HOUSTON. UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AS A, AS A RESIDENT, I THINK THE REDESIGN COST OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT IS A WASTE OF MONEY. I, I THOUGHT WE WERE BROKE. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE SPENDING, UH, ANOTHER, UM, ANOTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THIS. UM, THIS DECISION WILL HAVE GENERATIONAL IMPACT. ONCE THIS BREAKS GROUND, ONCE THIS IS DONE, UH, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE. MAYBE GEN, MAYBE A GENERATION, UH, OR DECADES BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER REDESIGN OF A PROJECT THAT CAN ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, SAFER STREETS, UH, SHARED USE PATHWAY. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT'S GONNA TAKE. MAYBE IT'LL BE WHEN I HAVE KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE TO WAIT THAT LONG? UM, 11 FOOT LANES ARE ALREADY APPROVED IN OTHER AREAS IN MONTROSE. AND, UM, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, EMERGENCY VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THESE LANES. UM, I ATTENDED MY FIRST TOURS MEETING, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO AT 8:00 AM ON A FRIDAY WHERE I HAD TO GIVE UP WORK AND LOSE MONEY BECAUSE THIS WAS FORCED THROUGH BASICALLY IN MY EYES, WITHOUT MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT. THIS REDESIGNED PLAN WHERE THERE IS OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND REGARDLESS, THE BOARD CHAIR COULDN'T LOOK US IN THE EYE WHEN HE MADE THIS DECISION TO, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REDESIGN. SO JUST TO WRAP UP, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UM, WE HAVE A STREET READY PLAN. UM, THERE ARE MANY OF MY PEERS WHO WANT TO MOVE OUTTA HOUSTON BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF WALKABILITY, UH, AND THE LACK OF SAFETY. AND MAYOR, I URGE YOU AS SOME OF THESE APPOINTEES WERE YOUR APPOINTEES TO, UM, URGE THEM TO RECONSIDER AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE SAY WE WANT SAFER STREETS AND WE WANT WALKABILITY AND BIKEABILITY, ET CETERA. THANK YOU. NEXT GIA LONGWORTH [02:15:07] WONDER WHO. HELLO. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GIA AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. SO I WAS AT THE PREVIOUS TWO TIERS BOARD MEETINGS. UM, I SAW THAT FIRST POWERPOINT THAT, UH, THE ONE THAT COMPLETELY ABANDONED THE GOAL OF SAFETY. LAY OUT A PLAN TO TURN MONTROSE BOULEVARD INTO BASICALLY A HIGHWAY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M NOT JOKING. YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS POWERPOINT AND SEE THAT SAFETY DIDN'T EVEN BRING, SORRY, DIDN'T EVEN BREAK INTO THE TOP THREE GOALS OF THE MAYOR'S OVERHAUL. THEN THE NEXT WEEK THEY COME BACK WITH A NEW POWERPOINT. MIND YOU, THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROJECT. THEY JUST ADDED THE WORD SAFETY TO THE POWERPOINT TO TRY TO SELL US ON LOSING A SHARE USE PATH AND 12 FOOT HIGHWAY SIZE LANES RUNNING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I SAW DOZENS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPEAK UP AGAINST THIS WITH AN OVER SIX TO ONE MAJORITY. AND I SAW ALL OF THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GO DOWN THE DRAIN AS THE TEARS BOARD FORCED THROUGH THE MAYOR'S PLAN. IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING TO WATCH. PEOPLE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PLAN. WE WERE EXCITED TO FINALLY HAVE A COMFORTABLE, SAFE PATH TO BUFFALO BAYOU PARK. THE OTHER DAY I WAS OUT PAINTING THE SCENERY AT BUFFALO BAYOU PARK WHEN A WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER STOPPED TO CHAT. AND, UM, LOOK AT WHAT I WAS PAINTING. THE WOMAN SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME. SHE SAID, I JUST LOVE THIS PARK SO MUCH. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S OUR BACKYARD. AND SHE'S SO CORRECT. MONTROSE IS SO BLESSED TO HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE GREEN SPACE, LITERALLY IN OUR BACKYARD. SO WHY THEN IS IT SO HARD TO GET TO THIS PARK? IT'S IN OUR BACKYARD. IT SHOULDN'T FEEL SO TREACHEROUS. IT SHOULDN'T REQUIRE A TEST OF COURAGE JUST TO ACCESS THIS PARK ON FOOT OR ON BIKE. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A PARK IN YOUR BACKYARD THAT'S HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED INTO IT IF YOU CAN'T EVEN GET TO IT SAFELY? THAT SHARED USE PATH WOULD'VE BEEN THE CONNECTION TO THE PARK THAT BRINGS US TO DOWNTOWN AND EVENTUALLY MEMORIAL PARK. UM, BUT THE MAYOR OR MARLENE GAFFER, WHOEVER HAD IT SCRAPPED AND FOR WHAT 12 FOOT LANES THAT DATA SHOWS WILL ENABLE SPEEDING AND RECKLESS DRIVING THAT WILL KEEP US LOCKED INTO OUR HIGH INJURY NETWORK STATUS AND JUST GIVE MORE WORK FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. THE COMMUNITY IS FRUSTRATED. WE'RE FRUSTRATED THAT WE'RE FORCED TO SPEND $400,000 TO PAY ENGINEERS OVER TIME TO RUSH A REDESIGN OVER THE HOLIDAYS. MIND YOU, UM, THAT'S BEEN FOR A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN SHOVEL READY FOR MONTHS. NOT EVERYONE CAN COME HERE TO EXPRESS THAT FRUSTRATION. SO WE'VE STARTED A POSTCARD WRITING CAMPAIGN, UM, TO SO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE ORIGINAL PLAN. UM, WE'VE GARNERED, WE'VE HAD OUR NEIGHBORS WRITE OVER, UM, 400, SORRY, I'M SORRY. GEEZ, NO. MY BAD. 200, OOPS. UM, , 200 POSTCARDS. UM, WE'LL BE MAILING THEM AS WELL, BUT I HAVE SOME HERE TODAY FOR YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. PLEASE, LET'S GET THE, THE SHARED USE PACK. IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT. THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS PARK, AND WE JUST WANNA ACCESS IT SAFELY. THANK YOU. JUST WANT COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THIS WAS THE LAST SPEAKER PERTAINING TO MANTRAS. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS MOMENTARILY. I WANNA THANK RESIDENTS FOR CONTINUING TO ENGAGE, AND I'D SAY THAT TO ALL RESIDENTS IN MONTROSE AND BEYOND MONTROSE, FOR ENGAGING WITH THE TOURS. MAYOR MEETING AFTER MEETING, UM, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AN OUTPOURING OF ENGAGEMENT FOR OVER A YEAR. UM, AND THAT'S HOW A TOURS IN TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPOSED TO WORK. UM, I PERSONALLY, UH, FULL DISCLAIMER WAS IN MY CAR, BUT EVEN WHEN IT WAS RAINING THE OTHER WEEKEND, UH, WHEN I WAS IN MONTROSE WALK, PEDESTRIAN AFTER PEDESTRIAN, AFTER PEDESTRIAN WAS WALKING THROUGH MONTROSE, UM, IN THE RAIN, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS SEE IN HOUSTON, AND LIKE IN HOUSTON TOO. SO, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THE COMMUNITY OF MONTROSE DOES WANT TO WALK, UH, DOES WANT TO TRAVEL SAFELY, DOES WANT TO GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY, WANTS THEIR BUSINESS TO THRIVE. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME AND ENGAGING ON THAT. AND IT'S A PARKING ISSUE TOO, WHEN THE WEATHER'S NICE. EVERYONE IN HOUSTON WANTS TO GO TO BUFFALO BAYOU PARK, AND THERE'S NO PARKING. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH PARKING FOR THEM. I COULD JUST BIKE. IT'S FINE. THEY CAN HAVE MY PARKING SPOT. . THANK YOU. NEXT. THIS NAME WAS LEFT OFF THE LIST. POV MAN, RESPECTED MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND TO SPEAK ABOUT MY CONCERNS ABOUT LUNG CANCER AND LUNG CANCER SCREENING IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS PNA MANDY, AND I'M AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT RICE UNIVERSITY AND A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE AMERICAN LUNG CANCER SCREENING INITIATIVE. LUNG CANCER IS A TOPIC THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE LUNG CANCER IS A NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF CANCER RELATED DEATHS IN THE, IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND IN THE UNITED STATES. THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ESTIMATES THAT THERE WILL BE 234,580 AMERICANS DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER IN 2024, AND AN ESTIMATED [02:20:01] 125,000 WILL NOT OF THESE PEOPLE, WILL NOT MAKE IT TO 2025. LUNG CANCER HAS GENERALLY BEEN A, HAS A, GENERALLY HAS A POOR DIAGNOSIS WITH ONLY 23% OF PATIENTS LIVING AT LEAST FIVE YEARS PAST INITIAL DIAGNOSIS. AND THE BEST WAY TO CATCH LUNG CANCER EARLY IS THROUGH LUNG CANCER SCREENING THROUGH A LOW DOSE CT SCAN. THIS SCAN IS LIKE A SPIRAL X-RAY THAT CREATES A DETAILED PICTURE OF THE LUNGS. AND RADIOLOGISTS CAN USE THIS TO FIND TUMORS AS SMALL AS A PUSHIN. HOWEVER, THE ONLY ISSUE IS THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AWARE ABOUT LUNG CANCER SCREENING. IN FACT, ALL THE, ALL THE HIGH, HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS WHO SMOKE SHOULD BE GETTING SCREENED EVERY YEAR, BUT ONLY 16% IN THE NATION ARE GETTING SCREENED IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THIS RATE IS EVEN LOWER FOR TEXAS WITH LESS THAN 10% OF PEOPLE GETTING SCREENED. AND THIS IS WHY WE BELIEVE LUNG CANCER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS IS CRUCIAL. WE NEED TO GET, GET, WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHO NEEDS TO GET SCREENED, WHY TO GET SCREENED, AND HOW TO GET SCREENED. RECENTLY OUR ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO HOST A LUNG CANCER AWARENESS WALK AT THE W RICE STADIUM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LONGEVITY FOUNDATION, WE INVITED STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, INCLUDING STUDENT ADVOCATES, PHYSICIANS AND LUNG CANCER SURVIVORS. AND WE WERE PROUD TO HAVE OVER 170 PEOPLE JOIN US TO RAISE AWARENESS AND LEARN ABOUT LUNG CANCER SCREENING. SO, FOR EVERYONE HERE, WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THE IMPORTANCE OF LUNG CANCER SCREENING. IN TERMS OF THE, IN TERMS OF THE LUNG CANCER SCREENING RATES, TEXAS RANKS 45TH AMONG, AMONGST ALL STATES, FACING IT IN THE BOTTOM TIER. BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO BETTER BY HOLDING COMMUNITY EVENTS AROUND LUNG CANCER. WE CAN EDUCATE EVERY SINGLE HOUSTONIAN AND THE STATE OF TEXAS CAN LEAD THIS EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES. WE'VE WORKED WITH OVER 104 HUNDRED AND 50 MAYORS ACROSS ALL US STATES AND CANADA TO ISSUE PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER AS A NATIONAL LUNG CANCER SCREENING, UH, NATIONAL LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF MAYOR, UH, WHITMEYER WOULD BE ABLE TO CONSIDER DOING THE SAME. ADDITIONALLY, WE WORKED WITH OVER A HUNDRED MAYORS, GOVERNORS, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES, DOCTORS AND PATIENTS TO FILL IN A SHORT ONE MINUTE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, ENCOURAGING CONSTITUENTS TO GET SCREENED. AND WE WOULD LIKE BE HONORED TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR AND ARE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN FILMING THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR HOUSTON HOUSTONIANS, OR, UM, FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU. NEXT JUNE SALES? YES. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NINE ONE ONE PHONE CALLS, PRANK PHONE CALLS THAT I'VE BEEN RECEIVING FOR SIX YEARS. UH, WHILE I LIVED AT 10, 700 FRON, THIS IS WHAT I HAD TO PRESENT AT THE DOOR. ALL THESE CITATIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS COMING TO MY HOUSE FOR SIX YEARS. YOU KNOW, UH, I HAD TO ALSO, THESE WERE MY PRANK PHONE CALLS THAT I HAD TO RECORD ON ANYTHING. I CAN RECORD IT ON. THIS IS MY POLICE CALENDAR FOR SIX YEARS THAT I HAD TO WRITE DOWN WHEN THE POLICE DID COME. AND DID I DO SOMETHING? YES. THESE ARE ALL MY, UH, VISIT. WELL, I WENT DOWNTOWN TO, UH, I'VE BEEN TO TSUU OF H I'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO CITY COUNSELORS. UH, I'VE BEEN THROUGH A MAYOR, CHANNEL 13, 11 26 TO TRY TO GET HELP. UH, POLICE CHIEFS. I'VE BEEN TO THEM. UH, I'VE ALSO HAD THREE CASES, WHICH WERE NO BILL BECAUSE OF THESE NINE ONE ONE PRANK PHONE CALLS, UH, WHERE I LIVE NOW. IT HAD STOPPED FOR ONE YEAR BECAUSE OFFICER GONZALEZ, HE DID GO AND, UH, SPEAK TO THIS PERSON, AND THEY STOPPED SENDING THE POLICE, AMBULANCE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT TO MY HOUSE. BUT WHERE I LIVE NOW, I'M IN A SENIOR CITIZEN ESTABLISHMENT, AND IT'S STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN. AND, UH, WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME TO MY HOUSE, THEY HAVE THE WHOLE EQUIPMENT ON. I MEAN, NOTHING'S BURNING, YOU KNOW, UH, AND I TELL THEM IT'S A PRANK COW. SO THEY TAKE OUT THE GARMENT AND EVERYTHING. UH, WHEN THE AMBULANCE COME, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S COSTING THE CITY. IT USED TO BE 500 TO 909 1,800. BUT WHEN THE POLICE AND, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME, THAT'S NO CHARGE. BUT I JUST GET TIRED OF AT 1, 2, 3 IN THE MORNING OF THESE PRANK PHONE CALLS. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, UH, HURRICANES AND DEATHS AND ALL THIS HERE, I COULDN'T MAKE IT. UM, [02:25:02] I'M HERE BECAUSE I WOULD LACK FOR IT TO STOP COMING TO MY HOUSE AND MAYBE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. I STARTED CALLING 9 1 1 AND ASKING THEM, I, THERE'S NO EMERGENCY. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY. I JUST TOLD YOU THAT THE POLICE JUST LEFT HERE. YOU KNOW WHY THEY HAVE TO COME? FIVE POLICE OFFICERS? I SAY, COME IN, WOULD YOU POLICE SHUT THE DOOR? NO. UH, THERE'S MANY MORE OUTSIDE. SO WHILE I LIVE IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT WHERE SENIOR CITIZENS, WHEN THEY FIRST CAME, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AMBULANCE, POLICE, EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE, LIGHTS JUST LIT UP. I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED TO GO OUTSIDE TO LET HIM KNOW PER SAY, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ME? YOU KNOW, BUT I'M JUST HERE TO, MAYBE IT CAN COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF SOLUTION WITH THESE PRANK CALLS, MS. SELLS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO WOULD BE PRANK CALLING YOU? YES, I DO. YES, I DO. OKAY. I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO TALK TO SERGEANT CARR. UM, AND HE, HE, YOU CAN TELL HIM WHO YOU THINK, UH, THAT IS, AND THEY CAN TAKE IT FROM THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. I APPRECIATE YOU. OKAY. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. ANTHONY BARON. ANTHONY BARRY, NEXT SPEAKER. SPENCER SWEARER. SPENCER SWEARER. HELLO SPENCER. UM, SPENCER SWEARINGEN. COUNSEL, WILL YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE UP TOO? I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT PROPERTY, BUT I NEEDED THE MAYOR TO BE IN HERE BECAUSE BE, SHE WAS MY AUNTIE. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE SQUATTING ON ALL OF OUR PROPERTY OUT THERE IN AKERS HOME. UM, AND SOME OF THE PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S BEING SOLD WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE EVERYONE'S SIGNATURE TO SELL THE PROPERTY. SO WE HAVE BRAND NEW HOUSE, BRAND NEW HOUSES ON OUR PROPERTY THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR, OR WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RENT 'EM OUT. UM, THAT'S BASICALLY IT. DO, DO YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY? I, I, I WENT, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR AN ATTORNEY. OKAY. SO I WENT TO SOUTH TEXAS LAW. MM-HMM . TSU, UM, ALL THE FREE LEGAL CLINICS, AND I COULDN'T GET ANY HELP. UM, THEY SAID THAT THEY HELPED MY FATHER, THE ONE THAT SOUTH TEXAS LAW SAID THEY HELPED MY FATHER, BUT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. SO I DON'T, I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO TALK TO THE MAYOR, BECAUSE HE KNOWS MY ENTIRE FAMILY, UM, SHEILA JACKSON LEE DID TOO. SHE PASSED AWAY. UM, AND IT WAS, IT'S JUST HARD FOR ME TO GET ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY. I WAS INCARCERATED WHEN I CAME HOME. EVERYBODY WAS DEAD. I MEAN, RIGHT. SO, LET ME, UM, ASK YOU TO TALK TO REBECCA. MAYBE SHE CAN HELP YOU DECIPHER, UM, WHO WE NEED TO TALK TO. UM, MAYBE, UH, SAUL AND PUBLIC WORKS TO TRY TO GET TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THOSE PROPERTIES. I THINK THAT HE'S GONNA NEED SOME LEGAL ASSISTANCE. OKAY. MAYBE YOU CAN TALK TO REBECCA. SHE CAN HELP YOU. ALL RIGHT. BEST WISHES TO YOU NEXT SPEAKER. ROGER BUTLER, BRO BUTLER. HELLO, MR. BUTLER. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS BRO BUTLER. I LIVE IN DISTRICT B, AND THAT'S NORTHEAST HOUSTON. UH, THERE'S A FAMOUS SAYING THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, YOU SAY SOMETHING. WELL, LAST TUESDAY NIGHT, ON NOVEMBER THE 12TH AT 11:45 PM WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WATCHED A VEHICLE DROP OFF. A YOUNG MAN DRESSED IN A BLACK T-SHIRT AND BLACK PANTS. THE INDIVIDUAL PROCEEDED TO, UH, THE CAR LEFT AND THE INDIVIDUAL DEFEATED TO CLIMB THE BRICK AND METAL FENCE OF A HOME. AND THEN HE CLIMBED BACK OVER THAT FENCE AND THEN DID THE SAME TO THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR. HE THEN WALKED DOWN THE STREET IN MY DIRECTION AND SPOTTED ME AND BEGAN TO WALK TO MY DRIVEWAY. AND I STOPPED HIM SHORT DUE TO HIS BEHAVIOR, AND I REFUSED TO BE OF ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE TO HIM. HE BECAME ENRAGED AND SCREAMED TO ME. HE WAS NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HE WAS TRYING TO FIND HIS MOTHER'S CHILD'S HOME. WHY COULDN'T I HELP HIM? AND OTHER ANGRY COMMENTS. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU TOLD ME TO HANG UP THE CALL AND CALL THE POLICE. I DID. SO SEEING THE TWO HOUSES THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ENTER WITH THE HOMES OF TWO SINGLE WOMEN OVER THE [02:30:01] AGE OF 55, THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE ON THE STREET, NO LIGHTS CAME ON. AS HE SHOUTED ONCE ON THE LINE, THE 9 1 1 OPERATOR INFORMED ME THAT, UH, HE WAS JUST LOST. AND I TOLD HER WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT THE MAN APPEARED TO BE LOST. THAT DISHEARTENED ME BECAUSE I DID NOT NEED THE JUDGMENT OF A PERSON SAFE IN A SECURE BUILDING THAT WAS MILES AWAY. AS I SPOKE WITH A TOTAL STRANGER FROM MY DRIVEWAY AT MIDNIGHT IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AFTER WATCHING HIM ILLEGALLY TRY TO GAIN ENTRY INTO TWO SINGLE OLDER FEMALES HOMES, I REPEATED MY REQUEST FOR A POLICE UNIT TO BE SENT OUT, WAITED TWO HOURS, WAITED THE NEXT DAY. NOBODY SHOWED UP. THE STRANGER LEFT THAT LAST NIGHT. I SAW THAT A 18-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE RAPES IN NORTH WEST HOUSTON. SO, SEE, SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. WELL, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'M DOING THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, IS IT THE POLICY OF 9 1 1 FOR THOSE WHO ANSWER THE CALL TO DECIDE WHETHER AS CITIZENS, UH, REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IS VALID? THE OTHER QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK IS, I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO WHY NO POLICE EVER ANSWERED THE CALL I MADE LAST TUESDAY NIGHT TO SEE IF IT FOLLOWED PROPER EMERGENCY SERVICES PROCEDURES. LASTLY, ON THIS POINT, AND I NEED TO BE CLEAR, AFTER I LEAVE HERE, I DO NOT WANT HPD OR ANYONE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO ME. THAT TIME HAS PASSED. WHY? BECAUSE AS A CITIZEN, I SAW SOMETHING AND I SAID SOMETHING, NO ONE CAME TO HELP. I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU AGAIN, BUT AFTER THIS, I'M DONE. YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION, DO WITH IT WHAT YOU WILL. AND BY THE WAY, NOBODY EVER ASKED WAS I OKAY AFTER I TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS THE NEXT DAY TO NOTIFY ALL OF THEM. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU FOR COMING. I, I THINK WHAT YOU'VE SAID IS, UM, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DO ASK RESIDENTS WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING, TO SAY SOMETHING. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TRANSPIRED ON THAT 9 1 1 CALL. BUT THOSE CALLS ARE RECORDED. UM, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THAT CALL IT MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN, SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR SOMETHING ELSE TO HAPPEN. UM, UH, I KNOW SERGEANT CARR STEPPED OUT, BUT IF YOU CAN MAYBE GIVE RENEE THE TIME THAT YOU CALLED. I'LL GIVE HIM THE, I'LL GIVE HIM THE INFORMATION. YEAH, NO, I'M, WE DON'T HAPPY TO DO THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR FRUSTRATION, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING FROM OUR 9 1 1 OPERATOR IF SOMETHING TRANSPIRED THAT WAS NOT, UM, SUPPOSED TO TRANSPIRE. UM, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING THAT INFORMATION. IF YOU CAN LET RENEE KNOW EXACTLY WHEN YOU CALL, THEN WE CAN TRY TO GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THAT RECORDING. UM, IT IS UNFORTUNATE, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DID CALL IF, IF NO ONE EVER CAME OR FOLLOWED UP WITH YOU, UH, WE, WE NEED TO DO BETTER. UH, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE. OKAY. UM, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE, ARE, UH, HAVE HEIGHTENED SENSE OF, UM, BEING AFRAID. UH, AND WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY CLIMBING OVER A WALL GOING INTO SOMEONE'S HOUSE, THAT IS DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALL THE POLICE, UM, BECAUSE THEY ARE, UM, GOING IN AND NOT GOING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, BEING WELCOMED IN, INTO THE HOUSE. SO, THANK YOU FOR BEING COURAGEOUS TO, UH, SEE SOMETHING AND SAY SOMETHING. UM, BUT WE DO WANNA FOLLOW UP, UH, ON THAT 9 1 1 CALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND, AND SERGEANT CARR JUST WALKED IN. IF YOU'LL JUST SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEM AND WE CAN, WE CAN TAKE A, A, A LISTEN TO THAT 9 1 1 CALL. THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER, NACIO. GOD, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I'M HERE TO, UH, SPEAK TO THE MAYOR DIRECTLY ABOUT AN ISSUE, UH, REGARDING THE PAKISTANI AMERICANS. AND ALSO, UM, I'M HERE TO USE THIS PLATFORM AS A, UH, AS A PLATFORM TO CREATE AWARENESS. UM, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER IN RON CON HAS BEEN, UH, ILLEGALLY DETAINED FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. UM, IT'S BASICALLY GOING AGAINST ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, UH, ISSUES. AND, UM, I URGE EVERYONE, UH, ON NOVEMBER 24TH TO COME OUT AND PROTEST AGAINST CORRUPTION, AGAINST, UH, AGAINST FOREIGN INTERFERENCE. AND ALSO, UM, WHAT I SAY NEXT, UM, I FORGOT MY SPEECH. I GOT NERVOUS. UH, , UH, SHOW THE WORLD FROM ISLAMABAD TO WASHINGTON, DC THAT PAKISTANI STAND FOR DEMOCRACY. UH, WE STAND FOR JUSTICE, AND WE ALSO STAND FOR THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. [02:35:01] UH, THIS IS A DO OR DIE MOMENT. SO, UM, YOU MUST BREAK THE CHAINS OF SLAVERY AND COME OUT AND FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM. UH, ALSO, UM, MAYOR, WHEN YOU WERE A, UH, SITTING, UH, STATE SENATOR, UH, THIS IS MY NAME, RON WAS REMOVED AS PRIME MINISTER. UH, YOUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS ACCUSED OF, UM, BEING INVOLVED IN HIS REMOVAL. AND YOU'VE NOT MADE A SINGLE STATEMENT AGAINST THIS. SO THE PAKISTANI AMERICANS IN HOUSTON BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, IGNORED THEM. OR, UH, DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT ALL? MR. MR. NAEL, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK, SO IF YOU WANNA MAKE YOUR COMMENTS RIGHT, BUT I, WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN NEXT, SEE IF THE MAYOR HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS INTERNATIONAL ISSUE HAPPENING AND PAKISTAN AMERICANS THAT CARE ABOUT IT. SILENCE, I GUESS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MARK LUTHER KING ONCE SAID, DON'T REMEMBER THE WORDS OF OUR ENEMIES, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER. CHRIS ANTE. HELLO, MR. ANTE. GO AHEAD. THIS MEETING HAS BEEN AWESOME. I'M GLAD I'VE BEEN HERE TODAY, . MY, UH, MY AREA OF RESEARCH IS IN MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS CONTROL FROM, UH, ALUMNI AND, UH, FACULTY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. UM, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE BEEN PURSUING, FIRST THROUGH THE FORESIGHT DEPARTMENT AND NOW THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UH, TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO REPURPOSE WATER AND AVOID THE SHORTFALL THAT'S PREDICTED OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. UM, I'M ONE OF THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED IN OUR SOCIETY, OR SOME OF YOU. UH, I RECENTLY MOVED INTO AN AREA THAT IS SERVICED BY HOUSTON WATER THAT DOES NOT RETREAT HOUSTON WATER BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO MY HOME. MR. ANTE, CAN I ASK YOU TO SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT IN THAT MICROPHONE? I'M HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFICULTY TO HEAR YOU. NO PROBLEM. OKAY. THE, UM, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO PRODUCE A, UH, GERM FREE WATER ENVIRONMENT COMING OUT OF EVERY FAUCET. UH, WE DISCOVERED A TECHNOLOGY USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THAT CONTROLS ANTHRAX, AIR AND GAS GBX, TO, TO PROTECT OUR SERVICE PEOPLE. THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS NOW BEEN REPURPOSED. WE'VE HAD IT IN SIX CITIES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. UM, I HAVE NOT APPROACHED HOUSTON BECAUSE YOU'RE THE BIGGEST IN THE NATION, AND WE NEEDED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DATA TO SHOW ITS VIABILITY HERE IN ALL OF THOSE CITIES. WE HAVE PRODUCED, UH, SAVINGS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENTS. WE NOW ESTIMATE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WERE IT TO UTILIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY WOULD SAVE APPROXIMATELY $200 MILLION A YEAR JUST IN CHLORINE COSTS. WHERE MY HOME IS, WE RECEIVE WATER FROM THE NORTHEAST TREATMENT PLANT. BY THE TIME IT GETS TO OUR PUMPING STATION ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, OR IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED AGAIN. BEFORE SENT ONTO MY MUD, UH, MY MUD IN MY PREVIOUS HOME RETREATED THE HOME I'M IN NOW, IT DOESN'T. SO AFTER THE SECOND TIME OF COMING DOWN WITH PNEUMONIA, I TESTED MY HOME. AND THEN IN PREPARATION TO COME HERE, I ALSO WENT OUT TO EACH ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND TESTED THE WATER THERE. WE DO IT USING A PROTOCOL USED IN HOSPITALS TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OR GERMS IN THE WATER. I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THESE EIGHT TO K THE, UH, BASICALLY LIKE EVERY OTHER TOWN THAT WE HAVE EXAMINED OR TESTED HERE ALONG THE I 59 CORRIDOR, WHILE THEY'RE TREATED AND WHILE THEY'RE COMPLIANT, THERE ARE GERMS IN THE WATER BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY BEING USED DO NOT ESTABLISH MICROBIAL CONTROL IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. THE MOLECULE, WHICH WE, WHICH WE FOUND WITH THE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, MY TIME IS UP. WHAT WE'D LIKE, IF YOU WANNA JUST GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. THANK AND THANK IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK, WE'LL, WE'LL HEAR THAT NOW. 20% OF MY TIME AS A FACULTY MEMBER WITH, UH, IS SHARING THE BENEFITS OF WHAT WE DISCOVER. WE'D LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE BEEN IN. I START WITH THE MAYOR BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE FEELS FREE TO ACTUALLY ROCK THE BOAT. BUT WITH YOUR BLESSING, WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S 200 MILLION IN CHLORINE ALONE, AND IT GOES ON FROM THERE. I WOULD [02:40:01] JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE DO THAT. SO YOU, IF YOU HAVE IT ELECTRONICALLY, YOU CAN EMAIL IT TO EACH OF OUR OFFICES, INCLUDING THE, THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION AND HIS TEAM. OR IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY, YOU CAN GIVE THAT TO RENEE AND HE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION GETS IT. WHO IS RENEE? RENEE? RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. I'LL TALK TO RENEE THEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, SIR. I JUST WISH MY STUDENTS HAD BEEN HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, . TAKE CARE. BEST WISHES TO YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. TARA WARD. HI, MS. WARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANNA SAY I AM A FOUNTAIN APPRAIS MEMBER. , YOU SAW THEM GET THE PROCLAMATION THIS MOR TODAY? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF, UH, WELL, MY MOM, SHE PASSED AWAY. TODAY IS THE DAY SHE PASSED AWAY. BUT MY MOM AND THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, IT'S AN EASEMENT BEHIND MY FENCE. MM-HMM . UM, I'VE CALLED THE CITY OF HOUSTON SEVERAL TIMES TO KNOW WHO OWNS THE, UH, EASEMENT. WELL, MY DAD TOLD ME TO CALL THE PLANTER, UH, FROM THE APPRAISAL, UH, DISTRICT. MM-HMM . SO I CALLED THE PLANTER AND THEY SAID THE EASEMENT BELONGS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I'M ASKING THAT THEY COME OUT AND MAINTAIN IT. THE TREES HAVE GREW UP IN MY FENCE. MY FENCE IS DOWN. NOW IT'S GONNA TAKE ME 5,000 TO GET MY FENCE FIXED. WHY DO I WANNA PUT MY FENCE BACK UP IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME OUT AND MAINTAIN IT? THE, UH, I HAVE PICTURES IF I'M ABLE TO SURE. SHARE YOU. YOU CAN GIVE IT TO REBECCA. SHE'LL, SHE'LL PASS IT AROUND. I, I'VE, UH, CALLED 3 1 1 3 1 1 SAID THE CITY, THE CITY SAID CENTER POINT. CENTER POINT SAID THAT, UH, IT BELONGS TO THE CITY. SO IT'S A BACK AND FORTH THING. CITY SAID IT BELONGS TO THE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION. SO THE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION, A HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION IS TELLING ME TODAY, WELL, WHAT'S THE NAME OF YOUR HOA, UH, BRI? BRI GATE. BRI GATE. OKAY. THAT, UM, THAT IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. HOW IS IT OUR RESPONSIBILITY WHEN WE HAVE NO ACCESS? WE CAN'T GET THROUGH THERE. OKAY. THEY JUST BUILT IT. THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT. UM, WE HAVE THE, THE PICTURES. UM, BUT WHAT I WANNA DO IS GIVE YOU THE, THE PHONE NUMBER TO MY OFFICE. MELVIN HOPKINS IS THE DIRECTOR OF JOINT SERVICES. SPOKE TO HIM. WE SPOKE WITH HIM. HE DID THAT. HE'S GONNA FIND OUT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WORKS IS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY. WELL, MR. SA, UH, SA RADER. RADER. MM-HMM . MM-HMM . I SPOKE WITH HIM TODAY AND HE WAS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY IS HELPING ME NOW. GOOD. AND BECAUSE I SAID THAT I'M COMING TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RIGHT. TO GET SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND. RIGHT. AND THAT'S UNFAIR TO ME. RIGHT. AS A SINGLE PARENT, PARENT WITH MY SON, WE'RE NOT AT HOME. I'M AT WORK, HE'S AT SCHOOL. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO COME IN MY HOME AND TAKE WHATEVER, BECAUSE MY GATE IS NOT UP AND MY DAD AND MY SON DOES NOT. SO IS THE, IS THE YARD PREVENTING YOU FROM PUTTING YOUR FENCE UP? YES. HE'S BEEN HAVING BEEN MAINTAINED IN OVER A DECADE. OKAY. OKAY. AND PROBABLY 20 YEARS IT'D PROBABLY BEEN MAINTAINED, BEEN CUT TWICE. AND DID I HAVE TWO? I HAVE TWO. UH, WHAT IS IT? MANHOLE. OH, TWO MANHOLES IN THE BACKYARD. AND LIKE THE, THE FENCE HAD TO BE THE FIRST TIME WHEN WE REDID THE FENCE. MM-HMM . MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ALIVE. WE HAD TO ACTUALLY PUSH THE FENCE UP INTO THE YARD. IT KIND OF SITS ON TOP OF THE MANHOLE, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OF THAT EASEMENT SHE WAS CALLING AND NOBODY CAME TO CUT IT. AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE FENCE BACK UP, IS TO SET IT ON TOP OF THE MANHOLE. EVEN THE BUSHES AND STUFF IS ALL OVER. UH, SO LET US FIND OUT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY AND THEN WE CAN DETERMINE WHO HAS THE ONUS ON, ON TAKING CARE OF IT. UM, 'CAUSE WE DEFINITELY WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR FENCE BACK UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO YOU NEED YOUR PICTURES BACK? YES, MA'AM. I DO. WE HAVE, WE SUBMITTED A COPY TO THAT, TO THE CITY ALREADY. OKAY. WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S JUST SAD TO ME THAT I HAD TO COME DOWN HERE. IT IS. TO JUST, TO GET SOME TYPE OF, OF HELP. AND THE LADY THAT CAME OUT TODAY SAID THAT, UH, SHE WOULD CUT IT, BUT THEY WON'T MAINTAIN IT. THEY WON'T MAINTAIN IT. WHO CAME OUT TODAY? UH, THE, UH, UH, THE DIRECTOR? NO. YEAH. PUBLIC WORKS. THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS CAME TO THE [02:45:01] PROPERTY TODAY. SHE CAME TO THE PROPERTY AND SHE SEEN IT. SHE SAID WITHOUT OF A SHADOW, A DOUBT. DO YOU HAVE HER NAME? HER NAME? UH, I DIDN'T GET HER NAME 'CAUSE I SEEN THEM TAKING PICTURES OUTSIDE, SO I WALKED BACK THERE. RIGHT. AND I DIDN'T GET A, UH, I DIDN'T GET HER NUMBER, BUT SHE GOT MY NUMBER. SHE GOT YOUR NUMBER? YES. OKAY. WE'LL FIND OUT WHO THAT WAS. AND THEN ONCE WE DETERMINE OWNERSHIP, WE CAN GIVE YOU A, A PLAN OF ACTION OF WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING IT MOVING FORWARD. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A BANDAID ON IT. WE WANT THE PROBLEM FIXED. ABSOLUTELY. AND ONCE WE FIND OUT OWNERSHIP, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE PLAN OF ACTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND IF IT'S THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, I WILL. I, I MEAN, IF IT'S THE, IF IT'S THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY, HOW AM I GONNA HAVE ACCESS TO GET BACK THERE? BECAUSE IT'S NO, IT'S NO ACCESS FOR IT. WHY DON'T WE DETERMINE WHO OWNS IT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL COME UP WITH A PLAN. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. SONYA LEWIS. SONYA LEWIS. WORKING. GOOD EVENING. UH, I HAVE A, A QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS, BY ME LIVING IN HOUSTON, I'VE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS. I MOVED FROM MEMPHIS, SO I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOW THINGS WORK, BUT I WOULD JUST, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EVERY, A LOT OF THINGS AND CALLING DIFFERENT PLACES, TRYING TO SEE WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL AS FOR, UH, HAVING A DRUG TEST, A DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST DONE WITH A BAD MACHINE AND GETTING FIRED FROM MY JOB. I, I MEAN, WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL? IF YOU HEAR THEM TALK, IF YOU HEAR, UH, THE FACILITY WORK WAS TALKING ABOUT THEY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MACHINE MM-HMM . AND YOU ACTUALLY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. MM-HMM . AND THEY TELL YOU YOU CAN'T, BUT THEY COME. WHO TOLD YOU YOU CAN'T. I HAD TO GO THE NEXT LEVEL TO TAKE A DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST. OKAY. I HAD TO TAKE THE, THE URINE TEST AND THE, THE BREATH ANALYZER TEST. OKAY. THE BREATHLY TEST THEY WERE SAYING WAS, WASN'T CALIBRATED. OKAY. WHEN I HEARD HER SAYING THAT I ASKED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, SHE TOLD ME NO. AND I ASKED HER WHY. SHE SAID, BECAUSE IT'D BE LIKE I WAS REFUSING THE ALCOHOL TEST, WHICH I WAS NOT. SHE HAD ME USE IT ANYWAY. AND IT CAME BACK AS A REAL HIGH NEGATIVE, I MEAN, HIGH POSITIVE ON THAT MACHINE. MM-HMM . AND THAT CAUSED ME TO LOSE MY JOB. SO I OFFERED FOR THEM TO TAKE BLOOD, YOU KNOW, THE HAIR FOLIC TEST, BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO IT. BUT YOU HAD A, YOU HAD A URINE TEST AND A BREATHALYZER TEST. YES, MA'AM. SO THE, THE TEST WAS ADMINISTERED IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. WELL, ACTUALLY THREE. 'CAUSE I PAID OUTTA POCKET TO GET THE HEALTH, THE TEST. OKAY. SO THE URINE CAME BACK NEGATIVE. MM-HMM . THE BREATH, THE BREATHALYZER CAME BACK 0.253, WHICH I DON'T DRINK, PERIOD. MM-HMM . AND, UH, THE HEALTH LIC TEST I TOOK, I HAD TO PAY OUTTA POCKET. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THEY CUT A CHUNK OF YOUR HAIR OUT, IT CAME BACK NEGATIVE. MM-HMM . SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HR IS GOING TO HAVE TO HANDLE AT METRO. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE HERE ON, UH, AT, AT THE DA. UH, BUT WE CAN, UH, SEE IF, UH, UH, MS. MS. WILSON, I THINK THIS, YOU, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO TALK TO, UH, METRO HR AND MAYBE GET SOME RESPONSE FOR HER. IF YOU, IF YOU, IF YOU'LL LET MS. WILSON HELP YOU REACH OUT TO THE HR DEPARTMENT AT METRO AND SEE WHAT THEIR PROCEDURES ARE, BECAUSE I, I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WAS JUST TRYING TO SEE IF YOU WOULD KNOW, LIKE THE PROCEDURE OF A COMPANY LIKE THAT, USING BAD EQUIPMENT ON SOMEONE. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T, UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT WAS BAD. I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IF, UM, HR FOR METRO WOULD HIRED THIS COMPANY TO ADMINISTER THE TEST, THEY WOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. THANK YOU. BEST WISHES TO YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. FELIPE WOODS. FELIPE WOODS. HELLO, MR. WOODS. HELLO. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UH, HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL. I WAS INITIALLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT DUE TO SOME RECENT NEWS THAT CAME OUT FROM IN THE WORLD, UH, I'M DECIDED TO CHANGE COURSE HIS HOLINESS. POPE FRANCIS MENTIONED IN AN UPCOMING BOOK TO BE RELEASED AHEAD OF THE 2025 JUBILEE. HE SAID THAT ACCORDING TO SOME EXPERTS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GAZA, THE CHARACT HAS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GENOCIDE. [02:50:01] IT SHOULD BE CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED TO BE DETERMINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT FITS INTO THE TECHNICAL DEFINITION FORMULATED BY JURIS AND INTERNATIONAL BODIES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A RELIGIOUS LEADER AS INFLUENTIAL AS POPE FRANCIS HAS OPENLY CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO THE ONGOING GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN THE GAZA STRIP THAT HAS SEEN AT LEAST 42,718, KILLED DIRECTLY FROM ISRAELI MILITARY VIOLENCE, WHICH OFFICIALLY SURPASSES THE LOWEST ESTIMATED DEATH TOLL IN THE BOSNIAN GENOCIDE THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN 1992 AND 95, AND ESTIMATED 62,000 DEAD FROM STARVATION, AT LEAST 5,000 DEAD FROM LACK OF ACCESS TO CRITICAL HEALTHCARE. AND THE FORM AND THE FORMULA PUBLISHED IN THE PRESTIGIOUS BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL OF THE LANCET IS ACCURATE INVOLVING THE COUNTING OF INDIRECT DEATHS. THE OVERALL DEATH TOLL STANDS TO, STANDS TO BE BETWEEN 186,000 TO AT LEAST MAYBE 330,000 OR MAY, OR PERHAPS EVEN MORE. WHAT POPE FRANCIS HAS DONE IS THE, IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS A CATHOLIC MYSELF TO CALL FOR AN INVESTIG TO, TO FIND OUT WHETHER THIS IS A GENOCIDE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GENOCIDE GOING ON IN GAZA RIGHT NOW. THE, THIS NEEDS TO STOP. AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONGOING GENOCIDE OF PALESTINE, GAZA STRIP NEEDS TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT THE CITY MUST STOP INVESTING IN BONDS THAT DIRECTLY FUND THE GENOCIDE AND STATE OF PALESTINE. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, TRUDY SAWYER. TRUDY SAWYER. TRUDY SAWYER. NEXT SPEAKER. BRUCE JACKSON JUNIOR. HELLO, MR. JACKSON. UH, GO AHEAD. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT A COUNCIL MEETING. OH, IT'S OKAY. UM, BUT I HAVE SOME, A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT A, UH, ONE OF THESE, IT'S, IT'S WRITTEN LIKE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, BUT IT'S ON THE, IT'S LIKE, LIKE IT'S ON THE, UH, HOUSTON PERMIT CENTER WEBSITE. IT'S, UH, ORDINANCE ORDER TWO 2020 2 234. AND I'M STARTING TO NOTICE THAT A LOT OF THESE ORDERS ARE ON SOME OF THE PROPERTIES OVER AT THE, UH, NORTH SIX 10 AREA RIGHT HERE. I'VE BEEN OVER THERE ALL MY LIFE, LIKE MY GRANNY'S BEEN OVER THERE, AND MY GREAT GRANNY'S BEEN OVER THERE, LIKE, REALLY SINCE LIKE THE 18 HUNDREDS. AND I'M STARTING TO NOTICE, BUT AS YOU LOOK THROUGH, I WAS FORCED TO MOVE BACK TO MY GRANNY'S, UH, PROPERTY. AND I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE ORDERS I WAS BEING HARASSED BY THE PERMIT CENTER. AND ON THIS ORDER HERE, IT SAYS IT'S WRITTEN BY SYLVESTER TURNER, BUT IT'S SIGNED BY DAVID MARTIN. AND I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE NOT LEGAL. AND ALSO, UM, IT SAYS HERE IN SECTION NUMBER NINE, IT SAYS THAT THERE EXISTS A PUBLIC EMERGENCY REQUIRING THAT THE ORDINANCE BE PASSED FINALLY ON THE DATE OF ITS INTRODUCTION AND SO FORTH. AND THAT IT IS AN EMERGENCY. I HAVE THE QUESTION TO ASK, WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY? I, I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOU AT ALL. OKAY. THERE'S AN THESE ORDERS. OKAY. IS THAT A CITY ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE HOLDING UP? I CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU'RE HOLDING UP WHERE IT WAS SAID IT WAS A MEETING ON 12 ONE 2021. OKAY. IT SAYS IT WAS HELD, I GUESS HERE, RIGHT BY SYLVESTER TURNER, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SIGNED BY DAVID MARTIN. AND I'M NOTICING THAT WHEN I WENT TO GO SIGN UP TO COME HERE, THERE'S PROBABLY OUT THERE, IT WAS ON ALL THOSE PROPERTIES THAT I'M, I KNOW THESE PEOPLE, THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T SIGN THOSE PROPERTIES AWAY. AND I'M NOTICING THAT THIS, SO THAT IS JUST AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES. I UNDERSTAND. AND I KNOW THAT, AND IF IT DOESN'T, I'M ASKING WHY IS IT ON ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE THERE THAT YOU'RE, THAT, UH, THE, UH, THREE STORY I CALL 'EM RICE KRISPY BOXES SURE. ARE GOING UP ON, BUT I ACTUALLY KNOW ALL THOSE FAMILIES RIGHT THERE. WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR OKAY. WELL OVER LIKE 150 YEARS. AND I, AND I'M STARTING TO REALIZE THAT THESE ORDERS ARE ON THERE, BUT THIS ONE WAS ON A FEW OF 'EM TOO. AND IT WAS PUSHED ON ME. AND WHEN I WENT TO READ IT, I ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THESE DOCUMENTS ARE. MOST PEOPLE DON'T. BUT WHEN YOU REALLY, AND YOU LOOK AT IT, WHEN YOU SEE THAT THIS IS WRITTEN BY THE MAYOR, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S S THATOR TURNER. I'M, BY THE WAY, I'M GLAD IT'S A NEW MAYOR HERE NOW, BUT THESE ARE BEING PUT ON ALL THOSE PROPERTIES, LIKE BEFORE THE BUILDINGS, ALMOST AS IF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE BEING PUT UP UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER. AND IF THAT BE TRUE, THIS RIGHT HERE BEING SIGNED NOT BY THE MAYOR, IS ACTUALLY ARE CRIME. IT'S NOT SIGNED BY THE MAYOR. SO IT'S SIGNED BY THE MAYOR PRO. IT'S SIGNED BY, BY DAVID MARTIN. DAVID MARTIN [02:55:02] WAS THE MAYOR PRO TEM. SO PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE MAYOR WAS ABSENT AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM PROBABLY SIGNED IN HIS STEAD. AND THAT'S PERFECTLY LEGAL. UM, SO THAT IT, IT DOESN'T CREATE A, A NOT EXACTLY MA'AM, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT TODAY WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY. I, YOU'D HAVE TO TELL ME, SIR, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE CONSTITUTING AS AN EMERGENCY FOR YOU TO TELL ME THAT PLEASE. BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HELD ME UP AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WROTE ME A BUNCH OF CITATIONS AND COST ME ALMOST $32,000. OH, IN ES BEHIND THIS. OKAY. NOW SEE, WE'RE GOING WITH THIS RIGHT HERE. THE CHARTER SAYS THREE READINGS UNLESS WE DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. SO WE, IT'S EXACTLY, IT IS THIS ORDER HERE. IT SAYS IT'S DECLAR AN EMERGENCY, UM, ORDINANCE, HOUSTON CITY ORDINANCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022. MM-HMM . DASH 2 34. I SAW IT YESTERDAY WHEN I CAME TO SIGN UP TO COME HERE. RIGHT. I WENT, UH, ACROSS THE STREET OVER THERE, AND I SAW A LOT OF THESE ON A LOT OF THOSE BUILDINGS THAT I SAW SOME FROM RIGHT THERE ON MY STREET. OKAY. SO THAT, THAT LANGUAGE IS IN OUR ORDINANCES. SO THAT'S NOT AN UNCOMMON, UM, LANGUAGE TO BE, I'M, I'M GONNA ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY IF HE'LL EXPLAIN WHY THAT LANGUAGE IS IN OUR ORDINANCES AND WHAT CONSTITUTES THAT EMERGENCY. AND IT'S NOT ASKING THIS IS BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO OPEN UP A FEDERAL SUIT. I'M, I'M BEING FORCED TO DO SO BECAUSE OUR, AT THE HOUSTON COURT OVER THERE ON MM-HMM . ON, ON LUBBOCK, THEY COST ME A LOT OF DAMAGES ONLY TO GET ME TO A SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DISMISS THE CITATIONS. AND I, IT DON'T PAY. SO, MR. JACKSON, WERE YOU DOING WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT? UH, NO. THERE'S NO, THERE'S, THERE'S NO PERMIT REQUIRED RIGHT THERE. THAT'S WHY THE CITATIONS WERE DISMISSED. DID YOU, DID YOU DO SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK? YEAH. WELL, THERE WAS A LITTLE 10 BUILDING THAT WAS PUT RIGHT THERE. BUT DID YOU HAVE A PERMIT FOR THE 10 BUILDING? NO. AND ACCORDING TO THE TITLE, TO TITLE SEVEN, CHAPTER TWO 12, THERE'S NO PERMIT REQUIRED FOR THAT TYPE OF BUILDING. MM-HMM . AND I WAS TELLING THEM THAT, AND THEY GOT ME ALL THE WAY AFTER 10 COURT APPEARANCES. MM-HMM . ONLY TO DISMISS. BUT THAT'S ONLY AFTER I HAD A PROPOSED ORDER ON FILE AND THE JUDGE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR IT. I THINK HE WAS ASSISTING THEM. SO YOU'VE ALREADY GONE TO COURT TO DEAL WITH IT? YEAH, IT'S, THE CASES ARE DISMISSED. UH, WHO IS IT? RUDY, UH, MARINO JR. MM-HMM . HE TOLD THEM TO DISMISS THE CITATIONS, BUT WHEN HE DID, THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE. RIGHT. I HADN'T BEEN TO COURT 10 TIMES ALREADY. OKAY. AND I, SO TELL ME WHAT YOUR ASK IS NOW. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAPPEN? I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY SO I KNOW WHAT TO PUT IN THE FEDERAL. SO, WE'LL, WE'LL ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY. UH, YOU WANNA SEE THE DOCUMENT, SIR? SO THAT'S OKAY. I UNDERSTAND. SO I CAN'T OBVIOUSLY SPEAK TO WHATEVER THE SPECIFIC EMERGENCY WAS THERE, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, UH, IF AN EMERGENCY IS DECLARED, IT ALLOWS THE ORDINANCE TO BE SIGNED AND PASSED ON THE ACTUAL DAY VERSUS BEING PASSED. AND I, I'D HAVE TO LOOK THE RULES, BUT I DON'T WANNA SAY 90 DAYS LATER, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT TIMEFRAME. BUT WHETHER IT'S PASSED ON THAT DAY OR, OR, OR IT GOES INTO EFFECT THAT DAY OR 90 DAYS LATER, IT'S STILL IN EFFECT. IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. IT'S JUST HOW QUICKLY GOES INTO EFFECT. I I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT ORDINANCE IS FROM, BUT IF IT'S FROM MORE THAN ESSENTIALLY 90 DAYS AGO, IT WOULDN'T REALLY MATTER. BUT I'M ASKING, SIR, WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY? THIS I WASN'T AT THE MEETING. I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT. SO AFTER, AFTER, AFTER THREE HEARINGS FROM THE MAYOR, THAT'S, THAT IS THE LANGUAGE FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY. AND NOBODY IN HERE KNOWS WHAT THAT EMERGENCY IS. THAT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE AFTER THREE HEARINGS. RIGHT. AND I'M ASKING TODAY, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. WHAT IS THE EMERGENCE? SO WE MUST HAVE ALREADY HAD THREE HEARINGS, AND SO IT WAS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PASSING THE ORDINANCE, BUT IT'S IN THE NEW ONES TOO. AND THE NEW MAYOR'S NAME IS NOT ON 'EM. TVE TURNER'S NAME IS STILL ON THOSE TWO. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A, A DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE AMENDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD, SIR. BUT IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS ALREADY, IS WHAT I'M SAYING, MA'AM. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING FISHY GOING, GOING ON. TWO YEARS FROM WHAT? IT'S, IT'S, I'M JUST SAYING IT'S SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON BECAUSE THE, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. NEW MAYOR, HIS NAME IS NOT ON THE NEW ONES. NEITHER SYLVESTER TURNER'S NAME IS STILL BEING USED ON THOSE. OKAY. WE DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ASKING WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY? THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT IT TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHT MAYOR'S NAME IS ON THOSE ORDINANCES. SO NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE WHAT THE EMERGENCY IS. THANK, WE'VE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT. THANK YOU. BEST WISHES WE'LL GO TO AND MAYBE THEY'LL TELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. DOMINIQUE MAZO. DOMINIQUE MAZO. I DIDN'T SEE HIM. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENT. JACOB CLEMENT. HEY, JACOB. OKAY. YOU THINK AFTER [03:00:01] MY TALK IS OVER THEN AND YOU'RE GONNA BE, IT WASN'T QUESTION FOOTBALL. THE TEXANS. YEAH. YOU WANNA MOVE TO THIS? MEMORIES WAS FOR ME. YOU HEARD YOUR TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. TIFFANY, I ASKED YOU, DOES, DO YOU THINK I'M WEARING ANYTHING? I'M LIKE, FOR MY HAT, DO MY TENNIS SHOES. BUT YOU'RE ALL, I MEAN, MY, MY SWEATS ARE ALL TEXAN AND JACKET AND WHO YOU ROOTING FOR JACOB. ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY WIN LAST NIGHT. YOU LOOK GOOD. . I, I WORKED WITH THEM ALSO. UH, ALL RIGHT. WELL, THEY'RE PART OF THE COMPANY OF, UH, YOU LOOK GOOD. I LOVE IT. OH, THANKS. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. JACOB. GO TEXANS NEXT SPEAKER. CAROLYN RIVERA. CAROLYN RIVERA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER. MAYOR PROTE CITY COUNCIL. I AM CAROLYN RIVERA. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO ME THESE MANY WEEKS OF, I'VE BEEN COMING UP HERE AND TAKING ACTION. ON JANUARY 10TH, GOLD STAR METAL RECYCLING IS GOING TO COURT FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY ABOUT A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. ARE THEY ALSO REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER ORDINANCE? IT'S PROVEN THAT METAL RECYCLING RUNOFF HAS HEAVY METALS LIKE LEAD, ARSENIC, CHROMIUM, AND MERCURY, WHICH CONTAMINATES THE SALT AND ENVIRONMENT AND CAUSES KIDNEY DAMAGE, NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM, RESPIRATORY ISSUE, AND CANCER. SEE, ATTACH PICTURE. TAKE A NOVEMBER 3RD, A PIPE UNDER A SHEET METAL FENCE, RUN OUT WATER GOING INTO DRAINAGE DESIGNATED DITCH DRAINAGE DESIGNATED FOR RAIN WATER TO PREVENT FLOODING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, MS. RIVERA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT? JUST REAL QUICK, MS. RIVERA, UM, DANELLE SITTING BACK THERE, GET YOUR INFORMATION AND WE'LL TALK TO YOU FURTHER ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT FALLS UNDER RESILIENCY AND KEEPING THINGS CLEAN. SO HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR YOU. THANK YOU. WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO GO, JUDGE, FROM THERE. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JOSEPH BALLARD. JOSEPH BALLARD, NEXT SPEAKER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. UH, WE STAND IN [RECESS] RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE. [03:05:02] THERE NOT A TWO. WE'VE GOT ENOUGH. WE'VE GOT TWO LEG CRIT CRITTERS HERE ALREADY, BUT WE'RE REALLY WAITING FOR A FOUR LETTER. NO, NO. DESERVE IT. TWO LEGGED CRITTER, FOUR-LEGGED. YOU CAN BRING THE CRITTER DOWN FRONT. MAKE A GOOD WITNESS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. WAIT, I HAVEN'T GATHERED A SIN [RECONVENE] YET. PROBABLY NEEDED TO MAKE THE, PROBABLY NEED TO MAKE THIS OFFICIAL, HUH? MY APOLOGIES, MAYOR. UM, GOOD, GOOD MORNING. WE ALSO COME TO ORDER, GO AHEAD. OKAY. SORRY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR MEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KARINA VELAZQUEZ. I WORK FOR MS. MS BERNITA JONES AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL. TODAY OUR, WE HAVE OUR, OUR FABULOUS HOUSTON ZOO, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE BLUE BIN FUNDRAISER. KISSES A CRITTER. SLOW DOWN JUST A LITTLE. OH, SORRY. THE HOUSTON ZOO HAS BROUGHT A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL, AND IT'S CALLED A, UH, PLANET LIZARD. HER NAME IS DIXIE. AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THE LEAST, THERE WAS TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAD, UH, WHO WERE TIED. IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ , SORRY. AND, AND WHERE'S COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO TODAY? I BELIEVE HE, I BELIEVE HE'S OUTTA TOWN SOMEWHERE ELSE. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE ARE SO HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH YOU. UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING A PIECE OF THE HOUSTON ZOO FOR YOUR KISS THE CRITTER, UH, TRADITION. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE FOR MANY YEARS AND YOU GUYS NEVER KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA BE. EVER SINCE WE STOPPED BRINGING A PIG TO CITY COUNCIL, UM, THIS MOMENT IS A FUN WAY FOR US TO CELEBRATE THE AMAZING WORK YOU GUYS ARE ALL DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND, UH, THE RECENT SUCCESS IN RAISING THE FUNDS. UM, WHILE NO ONE WILL ACTUALLY KISS DIXIE THE PLATED LIZARD, WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE THE SYMBOLIZATION OF A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE ARE ALSO THRILLED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS PAST OCTOBER WAS OUR BUSIEST OCTOBER EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSTON ZOO. THANK YOU. IT'S A CLEAR SIGN. OH, THANK YOU. IT'S A CLEAR SIGN THAT HOUSTON LOVES THEIR ZOO AND SEES IT AS A PLACE TO CONNECT WITH, UH, ANIMALS AND BE INSPIRED BY NATURE. WE ALSO HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE FROM OUR ANIMALS. LAST FRIDAY, UH, WE HAD A BABY ELEPHANT BORN. HER NAME IS KIRBY, AND THAT IS A NOD TO KIRBY OF HOUSTON. SO IT, SHE IS A DELIGHT. SHE WENT OUTSIDE WITH HER MOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY. WE'LL BE GOING OUT, UM, ALL MORNINGS UNTIL ABOUT NAP TIME 'CAUSE SHE IS A SMALL 315 POUNDS . UH, WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE WHAT MAKES HOUSTON A VIBRANT AND CARING CITY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS, OR CREATING A WELCOMING SPACE FOR EVERYONE. WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE WITH OUR PLATED LIZARD. DIXIE. ALRIGHT, WELL, I HAVE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF FOR GIVING ME THIS, THIS HONOR OF GETTING TO KISS DIXIE. I'M ACTUALLY NOT GONNA KISS DIXIE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, BUT I'M GONNA DATE MYSELF AND, AND MAYOR, YOU'LL PROBABLY REMEMBER, UH, THE OLD JOHNNY CARSON SHOWS WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE CRITTERS LIKE THIS. AND SO I KIND OF FEEL LIKE I'M ON THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW THIS MORNING. SO AT, WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO DO? UH, COME AND HANG OUT WITH HER. SHE'S HANG OUT WITH HER? YEAH. OKAY. . WHAT'S THAT? OH, OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO I'M ACTUALLY, THEY ACTUALLY WANT [03:10:01] ME TO KISS THE PIECE OF PAPER. . ALRIGHT. ONE, TWO. ALRIGHT. YEAH, FOR THE RECORD, DIXIE'S NOT INTERESTED IN ME. . THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR SHABA. COUNCILOR SHABA, EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING. I, I JUST WANT TO JUST POINT OUT THAT THE ZOO IS IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION AND YOU ALL ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME TO COME AND VISIT. BUT I, OUTTA CURIOSITY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER RAISED THE MOST MONEY. THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO RAISED THE MOST MONEY WAS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US OF THE, UH, LOCATION OF THE ZOO. AND I WISH YOU AND OTHERS WOULD WORK WITH ME TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS DISPLAY OF LIGHTS THAT MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS WILL NEVER GET TO SEE BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE. SO LET'S DO, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PARK DOES A GREAT JOB AND I APPRECIATE THEIR PROMOTION THIS MORNING. THEIR SPOKESMAN AND I HAVE COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE PRESS, WE KNOW WHAT A GREAT ASSET IT IS. BUT ALSO THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN HOUSTON THAT WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE ZOO BECAUSE IT IS SO EXPENSIVE. SO I UNDERSTAND YOU RUN A FIRST CLASS NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL ZOO, BUT IT BREAKS MY HEART WHEN I SEE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT. SO I THINK COLLECTIVELY WE NEED TO REMEMBER IT'S A CITY ASSET AND IT SHOULD BE OPEN, ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE OF MODEST MEANS, WHICH MEANS MOST HOUSTONIANS. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS. ALRIGHT, SO FIRST, NEXT WE'LL DO ITEM TWO AND THREE. OKAY. WHICH IS THE, LET ME ASK TO ASK HER TO CALL ITEM TWO FIRST, MA'AM. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL UP ITEM TWO. ITEM ITEM TWO IS AN ORDER. DOES THIS NEED A VOTE BEFORE WE VOTE? I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO, UH, PUBLICLY THANK RANDY MACKA FOR DOING SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB. I PRIDE MYSELF IN THE APPOINTMENTS THAT I'VE MADE, BRINGING PEOPLE, UH, COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. COULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS, PROBABLY MAKING MORE MONEY. I'VE, I'VE DISCOVERED IN MY CAREER, YOU FIND TALENT WATCHING THEM IN OTHER POSITIONS. SO WHEN I GOT HERE IN JANUARY, WE HAD AN ENGINEER RUNNING PUBLIC WORKS. THE DEPARTMENT WAS BROKEN, PERMITTING WAS TAKEN MONTHS, UH, THE WATER LINES WERE ON THE NEWS EVERY NIGHT. $10,000 BILLS GOING OUT, $20,000, WATER BILLS GOING OUT. THE PLAN AT THE CITY, THE DEPARTMENT I INHERITED, HAD A FIVE YEAR PLAN TO REPLACE THE SENSORS TO FIX THE OVERBUILDING OF WATER. AND I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINEER RUNNING PUBLIC WORKS, CAROL HADDOCK, HAD APPOINTED RIGHT AS I GOT HERE. THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND THE INDIVIDUAL OF RANDY MICAH. I KNOW EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAS OBSERVED HOW RESPONSIVE HE IS TO OUR OFFICES. I HEAR COMPLIMENTS ACROSS THE CITY. HE WOULD MAKE THE NATURAL AND HE WAS OPERATING AS THE PUBLIC WORKS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE FULL AUTHORITY OF THAT POSITION THAT WOULD EVEN MAKE HIM BETTER MAKE OPERATION. I RAN TO FIX THINGS AND RANDY WAS FIXING THINGS BEFORE MY LIVING EYES. HE QUICKLY BECAME MY GO-TO PERSON. WE HAVE GREAT TEAM MEMBERS, BUT WHEN YOU STARTED TALKING TO FOLKS, EVERYONE SAID, WELL, WHY DON'T WE? WELL, THERE WAS A CITY ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRED THAT POSITION TO BE AN ENGINEER. NOW, EXPERIENCE MATTERS. I'VE SEEN THE SAME DISCUSSION AT THE STATE LEVEL, TXDOT AND ITS HUGE OPERATION USED TO REQUIRE AN ENGINEER NORMALLY WAS AN AGGIE. I [03:15:01] MIGHT POINT OUT , BUT RICK PERRY HAD AN ADMINISTRATOR HE WANTED IN THAT POSITION, SO HE CHANGED THE REQUIREMENT. IT WORKED PERFECTLY. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT USED TO REQUIRE A DOCTOR. WE CHANGED IT. STEVE WILLIAMS, AN ADMINISTRATOR, DOES A GREAT JOB BARK, USED TO REQUIRE A VETERINARIAN. THE DIRECTION OF EFFICIENT CITY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PUT THE BEST PERSON IN THE POSITION THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE 400, UH, 26 LARGEST CITIES IN THE US. LARGER DEFINED BY OVER 400,000 INDIVIDUALS. 26 OF THE LARGEST CITIES, 15 OF THEM ARE RUN, THEY'RE PUBLIC WORKS BY A NON-ENGINEER. I COULD GO ON AND ON OF THE LOGIC AND WHY HOUSTON IS GONNA BE BETTER WITH HAVING JUST THE BEST ADMINISTRATOR. NOW, THE CONCERN ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING, WE HAVE 300 ENGINEERS CURRENTLY IN PUBLIC WORKS. WE'RE FIXING TO ANNOUNCE A NEW CITY ENGINEER THAT WE RECRUITED AND STOLEN FROM THE CITY OF BUFFALO. YOU'RE GONNA MEET THAT INDIVIDUAL OUTSTANDING. AND RANDY UNDERSTANDS HE'S AN ADMINISTRATOR. HE LISTENS TO US, BUT HE ALSO LISTENS TO THE CITY ENGINEER WHO WILL MAKE FINAL TECHNICAL ENGINEERING DECISIONS. SO I'M EXCITED TODAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE IN CHANGING THIS ORDINANCE, SOMEONE THAT WE'VE LEARNED TO DEPEND ON. IT'S SUPPORTED BY DIVERSE HOUSTONIAN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. HOUSTON AREA REALTORS, HOUSTON DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION, GREATER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, HOUSTON REGIONAL BUSINESS COALITION, A-F-L-C-I-O. BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN ON THE JOB CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, LIKE WE EXPECT PERMITTINGS IMPROVING THAT FIVE YEAR PLAN TO REPLACE ALL THE SENSORS IS GONNA BE DONE BY THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU, RANDY. A CAN-DO ATTITUDE. WE'RE HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE. SO I WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CHANGING THIS BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD FROM, BUT IT WAS IN THE PAPER THAT SAID THEY WERE RIPPING ME. WHATEVER IN THE HELL THAT MEANS. I GUESS IT MEANS BEING MAYOR, HE'S OPPOSED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS OUTTA WASHINGTON, DC BECAUSE THEY'RE PROTECTING THEIR TURF. THEY DON'T WANT AN EXAMPLE OF A NON-ENGINEERING CONDUCTING AN EXCELLENT OPERATION IN OUR DEPARTMENT. IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER. SO THAT'S REASON I WAS EXCITED TO COME TO WORK TODAY. I'M EXCITED FOR HOUSTONIANS. I'M EXCITED FOR CITY GOVERNMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE AND GIVE SOMEONE THE AUTHORITY TO WORK WITH A CITY ENGINEER, BE RESPONSIVE ON WATER BREAKS INFRASTRUCTURE. HE'S GOT A PLAN TO LAY OUT A SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION PLAN. HE'S THE REAL DEAL, AND I'M EXCITED TO OFFER UP THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HIM THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLE WHERE? ITEM TWO ON ITEM TWO. ITEM TWO. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. YES. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL, UH, KAMAN IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHABA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER PRESENT, YES OR NO? YES. I. SORRY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AB. ABSENT. GOOD ATTENTION GETTER. UH, COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT. COUNCIL POLLARD? YES. COUNCIL MCC CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? ABSOLUTELY. YES. COUNCIL CARTER? YES. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? YES. AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN? YES. 12. [03:20:14] GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. 12 TO ONE. 12 TO ONE. I MEAN 12 YESES. ONE A. THE MOTION PASSES. AND I THINK WHO WAS A NA NAY? THERE WAS NO NAY. THERE WAS NO NAY. THERE WAS NO NAY. OKAY. DON'T FUSS AT ME. I'M JUST REPEATING MY . NO NAYS. NO NAYS. NO NAYS. THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION AND, UH, I'M VERY PLEASED. AND THANK YOU MEMBERS. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW LET'S TAKE UP THREE. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION POLL, CAST CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND, MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR TO NAME MR. MICA AS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, RANDY, LEMME GO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU. IF, IF, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND, UH, SAY A WORD WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU, I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AND, AND TO SEE IT HAPPENING IS, IS GREAT FOR THE CITY AND I'M PROUD FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. I, I YIELD TO MR. MICHAEL MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'M, I'M HONORED AND I'M, AND I'M EXCEPTIONALLY GRATEFUL, EXCEPTIONALLY HUMBLED BY YOUR SUPPORT, UH, AS THE MAYOR LAID OUT. UH, WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND, UH, IT'S AN EXCEPTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN FRONT OF US. UM, I WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY REMISS IF THE FIRST THING I DIDN'T DO THOUGH WAS TO THANK THE 3,900 OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THEIR DEDICATION, THEIR SERVICE, THE THINGS THAT THEY DO TO BRING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT THEY'RE ON THE JOB IS WHAT REALLY SETS THAT STRONG FOUNDATION. THAT IS A PART OF OUR PURPOSE IN PUBLIC WORKS, IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO THRIVE. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND FOR THEIR SUPPORT. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT, UH, IN ADDITION TO YOU OF SO MANY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE COME FORWARD, WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR US TO DO BETTER. I PROMISE TO YOU THAT THE DESIRE TO DO BETTER IS THERE AND THE WILLPOWER TO DO BETTER IS THERE. AND WE'RE PUTTING IN PLAN THE ACTION STEPS THAT WE NEED TO DO SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER ON THAT. AND WE'RE GONNA DELIVER ON IT VERY SHORTLY. YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. HOUSTON IS HOME TO THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. AND IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE DO FROM THE DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES TO THE SIZE OF THE AREA THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, TO THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE, EVEN TO THE BUDGET THAT WE POSSESS. IT'S THE BIGGEST, BUT WITH THE BIGGEST COMES, THE BIGGEST SETS OF PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES AS WELL. AND, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY WELL, UH, UH, ACQUAINTED WITH WHAT THOSE CHALLENGES ARE. MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED MANY OF THEM. WE ROLLED OUT THE WATER BILL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THIS YEAR TO TACKLE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S BEEN PLAGUING US PUBLICLY ON THE NEWS. IT'S BEEN PLAGUING YOUR OFFICES. IT'S THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING TO ANSWER TO RESIDENTS FOR, FOR FAR TOO LONG. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THERE WEREN'T JUST RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WAS RELATED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE'D LOST OUR WAY IN TERMS OF HOW WE TREATED THE CUSTOMER WHEN THEY CAME TO US WITH THE PROBLEM. WE FORGOT THAT IN FACT, THAT WE WERE THERE TO SERVE THEM, NOT JUST TO COLLECT MONEY FROM THEM. AND WE NEEDED TO COURSE CORRECT IN ORDER TO GET RIGHT. INFRASTRUCTURE WAS A PART OF THAT SOLUTION. GETTING NEW REMOTE READING DEVICES IN THE GROUND TO REPLACE THE ONES THAT WERE BREAKING. ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. OR IT'D BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH UP. BUT WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO FIX OUR OWN HOUSE FIRST. THAT INCLUDED BRINGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND VISIT WITH US IN PERSON. A PRACTICE THAT WENT AWAY AFTER A WHILE SO THAT WHEN SOMEONE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEIR WATER BILL, THEY COULD PUT A FACE TO THE PERSON TRYING TO SOLVE IT AND WE COULD DO THE SAME THING. THOSE SORTS OF THINGS ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF ALL OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. AND WE'RE STRIVING TO DO IT. WE KNOW WELL THAT THE CONDITIONS OF OUR STREETS NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION. WE KNOW WELL THAT WATER LEAKS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE US ACROSS THE CITY. AND REGARDLESS OF THE FACT OF WHETHER WE INHERIT THOSE CHALLENGES OR NOT, WE STILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS IT AND WE WILL DO IT. I'M STILL PROUD OF THE TEAM [03:25:01] THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ALL ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW CITY ENGINEER, OJ MC FOY COMING TO US FROM BUFFALO. HE IS GONNA HELP BE THE CHANGE AGENT THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THOSE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING IN TERMS OF HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET PERMITS OUT THE DOOR, ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE NEED IN THE INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO REALLY DELIVER ON THE LARGE SCALE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US. WE KNOW THAT THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE WATER SYSTEM ARE EXCEPTIONAL. MANY OF YOU HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND VISIT US OUT AT THE EAST WATER PLANT, WHICH YOU NOW KNOW FIRSTHAND IS LITERALLY HELD TOGETHER WITH BAILING WIRE DUCT TAPE, AND IN SOME CASES BUBBLE GUM. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. AND THE THING IS, SOMETIMES WE REALIZE THAT MAYBE WE'RE SHORT ON THINGS, WE'RE SHORT ON TIME, WE'RE SHORT ON MONEY, WE'RE SHORT ON PEOPLE, BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT SHORT ON IS WE'RE NOT SHORT ON WILLPOWER AND INGENUITY. WE'RE NOT SHORT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CHANGE THAT WE'RE GONNA DO. AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT BY GOLLY, WE'RE GONNA DO IT. AND I'M SO EXCITED, MAYOR, I'LL STEAL YOUR LINE. I'M SO FIRED UP. I'M SO FIRED UP ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TO DELIVER ON SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE FOR THIS CITY AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. AND IT'S NOT JUST A HOUSTON PROBLEM SOMETIMES. I KNOW WE'RE SO INSULARLY FOCUSED ON HOUSTON AND THE TWO AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, BUT WE DELIVER SERVICES TO FIVE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH THE WATER UTILITY. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON HOUSTON FAR BEYOND JUST OUR 671 SQUARE MILES. THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE. AND I'M JUST SO, I'M SO EXCITED TO DO IT NOW. I, IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL OF ME IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON. AND MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE WHO, UH, WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY, I'M, I'M GRATEFUL TO MY WIFE KAYLA. THE, UH, NEARLY 22 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER. UM, SHE'S THE REASON THAT I'M ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO AND HER SACRIFICES ARE A GIFT TO THE CITY THAT ALLOW ME TO BE ABLE TO GO AND DO THOSE THINGS THAT I KNOW ARE IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT US. YOU KNOW, AS WE WENT THROUGH STORMS THIS YEAR, AND I SPENT MANY, MANY HOURS WITH YOU, MAYOR AND WITH YOUR TEAM OUT AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER ACROSS THE CITY, SHE WAS HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AT HOME BY HERSELF. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HER AND FOR HER SACRIFICES. I'M GRATEFUL TO MY CHILDREN. THREE OF MY SONS ARE HERE TODAY. ANOTHER ONE IS WATCHING REMOTELY AT SCHOOL IN IDAHO. UH, THEY'RE THE REASON THAT I BECAME INTERESTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS MORE AVAILABLE TO US, AND AS WE COME TOGETHER AND AS WE BUILD STRONG FOUNDATIONS IN OUR HOMES AND OUR FAMILIES, THAT WE CAN MAKE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR THE REST OF SOCIETY. AND SO WITH THAT, WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I THANK YOU FOR THIS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. WHAT DO YOU WANT THAT FOR? COUNCILMAN? YOU WANT, WHY DON'T YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FAMILY, JOIN YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW THE TEAM THAT, THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING ON, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE WANT TO THANK, THANK YOUR FAMILY AND, UH, NOT ONLY THE FAMILY, YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM. I SEE MOST OF OUR CITY DIRECTORS HERE THIS MORNING THAT RECOGNIZE YOUR COMMITMENT, UH, PEOPLE FROM THE INDUSTRY. I CAN START NAMING, UH, THE, THE ASSOCIATIONS AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU. AND I THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE TODAY. MS. MACA, YOU'RE, THIS IS MY WIFE, KAYLA, MY CHILD, INTRODUCE, AND THAT I, I DO THIS AS AN OBJECT LESSON. SO MY WIFE, KAYLA, THIS IS MY NUMBER TWO SON, JACK. UH, HE IS, HE'S 16. HE IS MUCH TALLER THAN I AM ALREADY. MY NUMBER THREE SON, COLIN. AND OUR YOUNGEST SON, HENRY, OUR OLDEST SON, WILL, IS, IS OFF AT SCHOOL IN IDAHO AT BYU. UM, BUT I SENT HIM THE LINK SO HE COULD WATCH IT. PERFECT. HE'S PROBABLY IN BED THOUGH. LET ME YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND DIRECTOR. CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU. I WANNA JUST PERSONALLY THANK YOU. I'VE CALLED YOU AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, UM, WHETHER IT BE THE GUSHING WATER, UM, COMING, YOU KNOW, IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, THE SINK HOLE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON THAT WE DEALT WITH THE, UM, THE SEWER BACKUP ON EMANCIPATION. EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE CALLED YOU, YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO ME WITHIN LIKE FIVE OR 10 MINUTES, AND THE ISSUE IS HANDLED AND THESE REALLY AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES. [03:30:01] SO THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'VE DONE BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN NAMED A DIRECTOR. UM, AND I KNOW THAT IN THIS POSITION, YOU'RE GONNA DO AN AMAZING JOB. YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE IN PUBLIC WORKS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, I MEAN, THEY, YOU GIVE THE INSTRUCTION, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT EXECUTE. AND SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THEM AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND I LOVE, I VOTE THE FAMILY. I'VE GOT THREE BOYS, SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT FOUR IS LIKE. , , THANKS AGAIN. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. RANDY, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UH, WE HAD SPOKE A COUPLE TIMES, UH, REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL. UM, I DID SPEAK TO MANY OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, UH, BECAUSE IT DID CATCH ME OFF GUARD TO MAKE THIS TYPE OF CHANGE AND WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY ON THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND HOW THEY FELT THIS CHANGE WOULD IMPACT THEM ON A PRACTICAL DAY TO DAY. UH, AND MANY OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, UH, WERE IN SUPPORT AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY OF NOT BEING LIVING IN A WORLD OF ABSOLUTES, WHICH YOU AND I ARE BOTH LAWYERS, AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME. AND SINCE YOU'VE COME ABOARD, UH, YOU'VE DONE NOTHING BUT, UH, BE FIRST CLASS WITH OUR OFFICE, BE VERY RESPONSIVE, UH, VERY ENGAGING. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, ASSISTANT MAYOR, PRO TEM PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND WHAT A GREAT PICK FOR THIS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND ALSO FOR OUR CITY AS WELL. UM, INFRASTRUCTURE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE DO HERE AT THE CITY. AND I KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO GO IN A GREAT DIRECTION UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. EVERY TIME I'VE CONTACTED YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S CRITICAL, I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GIVE IT ANOTHER THOUGHT. I KNOW IT'S TAKEN CARE OF AND TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, RANDY. UM, TERRIFIC PICK, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ORDINANCES THAT WE PASS ARE OUR LAWS. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, RANDY, WE CHANGED THE LAW SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE THIS TITLE. THAT'S HOW MUCH, UH, WE THINK OF YOU. THAT'S HOW MUCH THE MAYOR THINKS OF YOU. AND TO HEAR YOU SPEAK SO ELOQUENTLY AND TO MEET WITH YOU, I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR INTEGRITY, AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO GREAT THINGS IN PUBLIC WORKS, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR RANDY, I'M GOING TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND CONGRATULATING YOU BECAUSE, UH, I THINK THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO PICK BY THE MAYOR. BUT ALONG WITH THAT, IN YOUR OPENING, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU WERE THINKING ALL OF THE OTHERS WHO WERE PART OF THIS, UH, OF, OF HPW. AND IMMEDIATELY I COULD TELL YOU, I HAD EMPLOYEES TO COME UP AND, UH, IT WAS APPLAUDING YOUR EFFORT EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE, UH, YOU KNOW, PUT IN THE POSITION. AND THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO ME, TO HAVE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR CHANGES AND THE MOVES YOU'VE ALREADY APPOINTMENTS THAT YOU HAD MADE AND HOW IT AFFECTED THEM. BECAUSE MORALE AMONG THE EMPLOYEES IS SO KEY IN EVERYTHING WE DO, BECAUSE YOU DEPEND UPON THEM, THEY'LL DEPEND UPON YOUR LEADERSHIP AND A WELL DESERVED. CONGRATULATIONS, MY FRIEND. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHAMA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR. WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT YOU IS YOUR ATTITUDE AND YOUR DEMEANOR, AND CERTAINLY YOUR STATEMENTS REGARDING CUSTOMER SERVICE, BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO SERVE. AND, AND SO THAT OF COURSE, WILL GO AS THEY SAID IN THE BIBLE, FROM THE HEAD TO THE BEARD TO THE SKIRT, WHICH MEANS THAT WHATEVER ATTITUDE YOU HAVE WILL PERMEATE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE, UH, CITY, HOPEFULLY. AND SO, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOU HAVE WORKED SO WELL WITH MY OFFICE, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I THINK YOU KINDA STACK THE DECK BRINGING THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY UP HERE. 'CAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS TO TAKE THEM OUTTA SCHOOL TWO WEEKS IN A ROW OR HAVE, OR HAVE THEM DISAPPOINTED. BUT CERTAINLY YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL ROLE MODEL. BUT WE ARE GOING TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS JOB IS, IS A CONSUMING FIRE. AND CERTAINLY IT WILL ENTAIL A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM HOME AND AWAY FROM YOU. BUT CERTAINLY KNOW THAT HE IS OUT THERE DOING A WONDERFUL SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, NOT REALLY IN ADVANCE BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING THE JOB. AND I THANK YOU AND I THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THIS APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHAT A GREAT APPOINTMENT THIS IS. I'M VERY EXCITED, RANDY. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, UM, IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU. YOU REALLY DO LISTEN TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US, OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND I KNOW THAT MY CONSTITUENTS APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. I KNOW THIS DOES TAKE A TOLL ON YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE EVEN BEFORE THIS APPOINTMENT, [03:35:01] YOU'RE ANSWERING CALLS DURING BASEBALL GAMES ON THE WEEKENDS, UM, HOURS BEFORE STORMS ARE HITTING AND YOU ANSWER EVERY SINGLE TIME. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND RANDY, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. AS I TOLD YOU, I'M YOUR NUMBER ONE CHEERLEADER. UM, YOU WARNED ME OVER WHEN I HEARD THAT YOU WAS OVER THE YOUTH GROUPS WHEN YOU HAD ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT HELPING US DURING THE RECENT STORM. AND I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT. I MEAN, I DIDN'T MUCH NEED COMMUNITY OUT THERE PASSING OUT WATER AND ICE. YOUR TEAM WAS OUT THERE. AND SO THAT LET ME KNOW HOW YOU LEAD THE DEPARTMENT, HOW YOU GONNA LEAD THE CITY, AND HOW WE GONNA GET THE FLOODING UNDER CONTROL IN MY DISTRICT. MM-HMM . UM, YOU ALWAYS, YOUR, YOUR PHONE, YOU ALWAYS ANSWER THE PHONE. WHEN I CALL YOU. I CALLED YOU ABOUT THE OLD KMART SHOP SHOPPING CENTER. HE'S LIKE, I'M GOING OUT THERE. AND HE CALLED ME RIGHT BACK AND SAID, WE GOTTA TEAR IT DOWN. AND SO I JUST APPRECIATE YOU BEING RESPONSIVE, UM, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP. AND JUST AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND HELLO, BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THIS APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROTE TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. RANDY, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT, UM, NOT ONLY IS THIS A, A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I DO WANNA REITERATE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT THAT THIS IS GOOD POLICY. UM, I WANT US TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE POLICY, NOT NECESSARILY JUST ON THE PERSON, BECAUSE WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I THINK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE CITY, IS REGARDLESS OF WHOM SITS IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT, WHAT WE ARE OFFERING IS THE FLEXIBILITY TO HIRE THE PERSON THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WILL SEE AS THE BEST FIT TO LEAD THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. UM, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE POLICY THAT WORKS FOR OUR CITY, UM, AND THAT WE ALLOW FOR THAT TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE TODAY. UM, THE GOOD THING FOR US IS, UH, THE POLICY AND THE APPOINTMENT ARE BOTH, UM, GOOD CHOICES FOR US. UM, BUT I DID WANT TO REITERATE THAT, UM, WE ARE CHANGING THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT IS GOOD POLICY TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY. IT IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE ENGINEERING SUPPORT AND ALSO THE MANAGERIAL SUPPORT. I THINK WE HAVE THAT COMBINATION WITH OVER 300 ENGINEERS IN OUR DEPARTMENT. UM, BUT CITIES EBB AND FLOW. UM, AND THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN DEPARTMENTS AS WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UM, FORTUNATELY FOR US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING GOOD POLICY. AND THEN MAYOR HAS, UH, MADE A, A GOOD CHOICE. UM, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER. IT'S ALL BEEN GOOD. OUR, OUR COMMUNITY IS, UM, THRIVING AND MOVING IN A GREAT DIRECTION. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO US AS A, AS A CITY FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT POLICY. UH, MAYOR, I, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT, UH, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE WANTED TO MAKE THIS TYPE OF CHANGE IN POLICY AS WELL. UM, I THINK THAT WE ARE MOVING OUR POLICY, UH, INTO A MODERN AGE, UH, AND I HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WILL SEE THIS POLICY AS BENEFICIAL FOR WHOMEVER SITS IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT. THANK YOU. VERY WELL SAID. THANK YOU, RANDY. UNLESS YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO BREAKFAST, I'D SUGGEST WE GO TO WORK. . I AGREE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY PLEASE. OKAY, PUBLIC HEARING. ADAM, NUMBER ONE, MADAM SECRETARY. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF A LANDMARK PROTECTED LANDMARK OR SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE. SAY LOUIS, EXCUSE ME. GO TAKE PHOTOS FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE. THANK YOU. ITEM ONE [1.  9:00 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING regarding the designation of a Landmark, Protected Landmark or Significant Structure upon application by the property owner(s) ] IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF A LANDMARK PROTECTED LANDMARK ARE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE. MR. UH, MCALLEN, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT WILL NOW LAY OUT THE PROPOSAL. OH, MIKE, NOW. THERE IT GOES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. I AM ROMAN MCALLEN AND I'M THE CITY'S HISTORIC [03:40:01] PRESERVATION OFFICER, AND I'M HONORED. I'M REALLY HONORED THIS MORNING TO PRESENT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR PROPERTIES FOR PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION. ONE PROPERTY FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION, AND ONE PROPERTY TO BE RECLASSIFIED. HERE IS A MAP THAT INDICATES, UH, WHERE THE PROPERTIES ARE THERE, MOSTLY TO THE NORTHWEST AND THE SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, BUILT IN THE 1930S, THE HOU. THIS HOUSE, THE DELCO HOUSE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE HOMES ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. MANY OF YOU KNOW, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS IS RECOGNIZED AS BEING THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY INCORPORATED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. NELSON AND PAULINE DELCO ARE PICTURED HERE. THIS WAS THEIR HOME. THE DELCOS FAMILY HISTORY IS EXTRAORDINARY, AND THE CURRENT OWNER, WHO WAS A DEAR FRIEND OF THEIRS WISHES IS TO PRESERVE THE DELCO FAMILY LEGACY. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE DESIGNATION REPORT. INTERESTING AMONG THE HISTORY IS THAT NELSON HIMSELF WORKED AT HUGHES TOOL AND AS A LONGSHOREMAN, BUT HIS BROTHER EXALTING WAS THE BUTLER AND THE DRIVER FOR THE FERISH FAMILY, PARTICULARLY WILLIAM FERRIS II, WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF STANDARD OIL. AND THEY LIVED IN RE, UH, REMINGTON COURT OR REMINGTON PLACE BY RICE UNIVERSITY, THE VERY EXCLUSIVE ENCLAVE DOWN THERE ON SOUTH MAINE. SO YOU COULD IMAGINE HIS COMMUTE TO THE VERY FAR NORTH SIDE TO A PLACE THAT HE COULD OWN A HOME. THE NEXT HOME WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE JOHN S. STEWART HOUSE AT 1 0 9 STRATFORD STREET, CIRCA 1911. THE HOUSE IS CONSTRUCTED, UH, IS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IN THE AVONDALE EAST HISTORIC DISTRICT ALREADY. AND IT IS IN THE HIGH STYLE NEOCLASSICAL STYLE, AND IT IS A SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF THE ARCHITECT GH FRING. AND THERE HAVE BEEN THREE LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT ARE PROBABLY IN YOUR PACKETS THERE. ANOTHER ANGLE ON THE HOME HERE. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEOCLASSICAL HOME. THE NEXT HOME BUILT IN 1928 IS A GEORGIAN STYLE HOUSE. IT WILL BE KNOWN AS THE DOCTOR AND MRS. ROBERT A. JOHNSON JOHNSTON HOUSE AT SEVEN SHADOW LAWN. THE HOME IS A CONTRIBUTING HOME ALREADY IN SHADOW LAWN. IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT VANCE PHOENIX. DR. JOHNSON JOHNSTON WAS A PROMINENT PHYSICIAN HERE IN HOUSTON IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, SPECIALIZING IN OBSTETRIC OBSTETRICS. I NEVER HAVE TROUBLE WITH THAT STATEMENT. OBSTETRICS AND GYNE GYNECOLOGY. THE NEXT PROPERTY IS THE SWIFT AND COMPANY PACKING PLANT AT SIX 12 WAVERLY. IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1904 BY THE SWIFT COMPANY. THE MAIN BUILDING SEEN HERE IN A RATHER DETERIORATED CONDITION WAS CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1953 AND 1954. WE'VE RECEIVED 21 LETTERS OF SUPPORT, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK ON A NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS. THE SECOND BUILDING ON THAT SITE IS AN ORIGINAL BUILDING TO IT CONSTRUCTED IN 1917. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE BOILER IN THE ENGINE HOUSE, AND THIS SITE WAS IMPORTANT TO NOTE DEVELOPED ALONG WHAT WAS THEN THE MISSOURI, KANSAS, TEXAS, THE MKT RAILROAD. THESE BUILDINGS ARE ALSO BEING NOMINATED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THE NEXT PROPERTY IS 10, IS A BATTLE STAINS THE OLD HOME OF BATTLE STAINS. IT'S A 10 STORY MID-CENTURY MODERN BUILDING. CONSTRUCTED, STARTED ACTUALLY IN 1920, OR IN THE EARLIEST 20TH CENTURY. WE ACTUALLY DON'T EVEN KNOW THE DATE. IT SHOWS UP ON A SANDBORN QUITE EARLY. AND IT WAS ALTERED IN 37 BY JOSEPH FINGER, A FAMED HOUSTON ARCHITECT. AND IN 1952, IT'S PRESENT FORM BY GEORGE RUSTEE. THIS WAS A PROMINENT DEPARTMENT STORE FOR MOST OF THE 20TH CENTURY HERE IN HOUSTON. AND IT IS ALREADY LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. YOU RECEIVED SIX LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THAT BUILDING. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO IT. SO TO YOUR LEFT IN THIS IMAGE, YOU SEE THE BATTLE STEAM STRUCTURE. I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THIS STRUCTURE, THE SF CARTER SECOND NATIONAL BANK BUILDING IS ALREADY A LANDMARK AND IS OWNED BY [03:45:01] THE MARRIOTT CORPORATION. AND MARRIOTT HAS PURCHASED THIS BUILDING NEXT DOOR, AND THEY HAVE, UH, PUT THESE PROPERTIES TOGETHER AND THEY WANT THESE BOTH TO BE A LANDMARK. THE LAST ITEM TO CONSIDER IS THIS PROPERTY, AND THIS IS CALLED A RECLASSIFICATION IN THE HEIGHTS SOUTH HISTORIC DISTRICT OF FIVE 40 CORTLAND. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A GARAGE APARTMENT. AND WE'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR RECLASSIFICATION TO NON-CONTRIBUTING WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, WHICH SIMPLY MEANS THAT WHEN THE DISTRICT WAS CREATED, THERE WAS AN INVENTORY THAT PASSED BY THIS, BY THIS CITY COUNCIL. AND THAT, UH, THAT INVENTORY WAS DETERMINED TO BE INCORRECT BY THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND BY THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION. AND THEY'RE ASKING JUST TO REVISE THAT INVENTORY AND HAVE THAT, UH, BUILDING RECLASSIFIED AS NON-CONTRIBUTING. AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR CL SURE. THE OWNERS OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE THE ONES SEEKING THESE DESIGNATIONS. YES. WHAT EXACTLY DOES THIS PROTECT THESE PROPERTIES FROM? WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WHAT IT PROTECTS THE PROPERTIES PREDOMINANTLY FROM, IN THE CASE OF THE PROTECTED LANDMARKS, IS DEMOLITION AND ALTERATION, WHICH WOULD OBSCURE THE CHARACTER OF THAT BUILDING. SO IF YOU WANT TO DEMOLISH ONE OF THE PROTECTED LANDMARKS, THE SWIFT BUILDING, OR THOSE HOUSES THAT WE SHOWED YOU WOULD REPLY IN ORDER TO GET YOUR BUILDING PERMIT, YOU WOULD NEED A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS TO DEMOLISH THAT BUILDING. YOU WOULD ALSO NEED THE SAME, IF YOU WERE GONNA ALTER THOSE BUILDINGS, MAKE A BIG ADDITION TO THEM, SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THEM. AND THOSE CASES, YOU NEED A PERMIT FROM THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION KNOWN AS A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS. SO IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT ANY OF THOSE BUILDINGS, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL IN FAIR CONDITION, OPERABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR BEING DETERIORATED BEYOND REPAIR, THEY WILL NOT LIKELY GET A DEMOLITION, UH, UH, ORDERED. NOW, THEY CAN CHALLENGE THAT, THEY CAN APPEAL THAT TO THE APPEALS BOARD AND ON UP. UM, AND THERE'S ALSO THE CASE FOR MAKING A CASE FOR DEMOLITION ON ECONOMIC, ON AN ECONOMIC BASIS. UM, SO BOTH, THE MAIN THING IS THINK ABOUT IS THOSE BUILDINGS, THOSE BUILDINGS IN THEIR PRESENT FORM, GENERALLY SPEAKING, ARE GONNA BE DIFFICULT TO DRAMATICALLY ALTER OR TO DEMOLISH. DOESN'T THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO DEMOLITION UNIT? WELL, YES, THE PRESENT OWNER DOES. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CASE OF THE DELCO HOUSE, THAT CURRENT OWNER WANTS TO ASSURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HOUSTONS ARE NOT DEPRIVED OF KNOWING THE HISTORY OF THE DELCO FAMILY AND THEN HAVE IT NOT HAVING THAT FAMILY, THAT BILLING DOCUMENT. OF COURSE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO SELL IT EITHER, RIGHT? NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE PASS ON. WELL, OBVIOUSLY ONCE THEY DIE, THEY, THEY LOSE THEIR RIGHTS. IS THERE ANY PROPERTY TAX IMPLICATIONS ON THIS? THAT'S A REALLY EXCELLENT QUESTION. SO ACROSS THE NATION, ALL STUDIES INDICATE THAT PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS, UM, ARE GONNA HOLD THEIR VALUE MORE OR GO INCREASE IN VALUE MORE THAN PROPERTIES NOT WITHIN A DISTRICT. SO THOSE ARE THE DISTRICTS. NOW, THE INDIVIDUAL LANDMARKS I HAVE, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH SPECIFIC STUDIES ON THE VALUE AS A FORM OF IT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR 23 HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND COMPARE THEM TO PROPERTIES OUTSIDE THE DISTRICTS IN TERMS OF THE CITY, THE THE OWNERS ARE BENEFITING FROM HAVING THEIR ASSET INCREASING VALUE MORE THAN THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF A DISTRICT. AND OF COURSE, THE CITY'S DE BEEN BENEFITING IN THAT REGARD TOO. THE, TO THE, UH, TO THE INCREASE TO THE TAX BASE. IS THERE A PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT AVAILABLE TO THEM? THERE IS A SMALL TAX, UH, I SAY SMALL, THERE HAVE BEEN HOMES IN, LET'S JUST SAY UPPER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE USED THAT. AND IT, IT CAN ADD UP A LOT. BUT FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON ON A HOME, UH, THERE'S JUST A SMALL BENEFIT. UH, AND IT, IT'S A LITTLE, WHEN YOU SAY SMALL, DO YOU KNOW THE PERCENTAGE? WELL, IT'S SUCH, IT IS A LITTLE BIT, I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU, I'M GONNA TAKE A RISK AND TRY TO DESCRIBE IT BECAUSE I TALK TO DEBORAH, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALL THE TIME. BUT BASICALLY, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A HOME THAT'S WORTH $100,000. THE, THE STRUCTURE IS WORTH 100. YOU HAVE YOUR PROPERTY TAX, MAYBE YOU'VE GOT $200,000 VALUATION IN TOTAL, BUT MAYBE THE IMPROVED STRUCTURE IS WORTH A HUNDRED. WHEW. I'M GONNA TAKE A LEAP AT THIS. YOU, YOU, UH, IF YOU WORK ON THAT PROPERTY BEYOND A CERTAIN PERCENT ON THAT STRUCTURE, THEN YOU CAN QUALIFY. LET'S [03:50:01] SAY YOU SPEND $20,000 ON IMPROVEMENTS AND YOU GET A CERTIFICATE OF IMPROVEMENT. THERE, THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH KEEP THE HA CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT BUILDING HAVE ITS ITS VALUE. THEN YOU CAN APPLY THE DIRECT, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO HAVE YOUR CITY OF HOUSTON PORTION OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES REDUCED BY THAT $20,000 INVESTMENT, UH, FOR UP TO 10 YEARS. AND THEN WITHIN A LITTLE, I THINK ULTIMATELY FOR 15 YEARS, THAT ACCOUNTS TOWARDS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PORTION OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. SO THERE IS THAT, RIGHT? BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER TOO THAT ALL THAT PROPERTIES AROUND HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND AROUND PROTECTED PROPERTIES, AND AS YOU'LL SEE THESE TWO ITEMS, THE SWIFT BUILDING, IMAGINE THE VALUATION OF PROPERTIES THAT FACE THAT SWIFT BUILDING TODAY. YOU IMAGINE HAVING THAT INCREDIBLE EYESORE, DANGEROUS LOOKING BUILDING AFFECTING THE VALUE OF PROPERTIES ALL AROUND IT. SO WE HAVE INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE FOUND A WAY TO FINANCE THE RE THE REHABILITATION OF THAT PROPERTY TO BECOME A VALUABLE, USEFUL RESOURCE. AND THAT IS GONNA HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON ALL THE PROPERTIES AROUND IT. SO OVERALL, THERE IS A TAX IMPLICATION, BUT IT'S A POSITIVE ONE. WOULDN'T THAT BE THE EXACT SAME THING IF THAT BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED AND THE PROPERTY DEVELOPED? ABSOLUTELY NOT. EMPHATICALLY NOT ACROSS THE NATION. IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT PEOPLE LIKE PLACES THAT HAVE A SENSE OF CHARACTER, THAT HAVE A HISTORY TO THEM, UH, YOU COULD BUILD SOMETHING THERE AND IT WOULD, IT WOULD NOT PUT IN PLACE THE VALUE OF THE RESTORATION OF THAT, THIS VERY HISTORICAL PROPERTY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, UH, CURIOUS TO KNOW, UM, THIS, FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WE'RE NOT GONNA VOTE TO SAY YES OR NO THIS MORNING, BUT WHEN IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL, WILL ALL THESE PROPERTIES BE GROUPED TOGETHER OR WILL WE VOTE ON THEM INDIVIDUALLY? I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE AGENDA DIRECTOR HERE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. MARTA, INDIVIDUALLY. MARTA, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. MARTA'S INDICATED INDIVIDUALLY. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW ALSO, UM, WHAT PERCENTAGE WOULD YOU SAY ESTIMATE OF APPLICATIONS FOR THIS KIND OF STATUS GET APPROVED AND AND DENIED BY THE, BY THE PLANNING, UH, COMMISSION? I WOULD SAY A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY CLOSE TO A HUNDRED, BUT LET'S, BUT LET ME BACK THAT UP. BECAUSE WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS IN ORDER FOR A PROPERTY TO BECOME A LANDMARK, SOME PRO SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE CALLS OUR OFFICE AND SAYS, SORRY, I WASN'T LOOKING THIS WAY. OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS OVER HERE, UH, SOMEBODY CALLS OUR OFFICE AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, MY HOUSE MATTERS. MY PROPERTY MATTERS. IT MATTERS TO MY FAMILY. MY PARENTS LIVE HERE. MY GRANDFATHER BUILT IT. UH, WHICH IS IS OFTEN THE CASE IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. UH, THE, THE, UH, I WANT TO ASSURE THAT, THAT IT STAYS HERE FOR A LONG TIME. AND, AND, AND THEY'LL CALL OUR OFFICE AND THEY'LL SAY, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO? AND I'LL USUALLY, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BIG, BIG, BIG STAFF, I'LL SAY, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE PRESERVATION HOUSTON A CALL? SO PRESERVATION HOUSTON OFTEN WILL DO A BIG HISTORY SEARCH ON THAT PROJECT AND WHOEVER OWNED THAT HOUSE AND WORK ON IT AND WRITE THE REPORT. SO BY THE TIME IT ENDS UP ON AN AGENDA, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK WORK ON IT. AND, AND SO IT, IT COULD BE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE CALLED OUR OFFICE AND WE SAID, WELL, YOUR HOME'S NOT OLD ENOUGH. YOUR HOME IS LOST. IT'S ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY. THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT. SO, SO I THINK YOUR ANSWER THEN IS ALMOST ALL OF THEM, ONCE THEY GET ON AN AGENDA AT THE COMMISSION. YES. OKAY. UM, CAN YOU TELL US HOW MANY PROPERTIES HAVE THE CURRENTLY IN THE CITY HAVE THE DESIGNATION OF LANDMARK? THAT'S A HARD NUMBER THAT I'M GONNA PUT. I'M GONNA SAY IT'S BETWEEN FOUR AND 500. HOW ABOUT PROTECTED LANDMARK? OH, I'M SORRY. TOGETHER, COMBINED? FOR ME, IT'S FOUR TO 500. AND I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK BACK IT DOWN. ALL THREE CATEGORIES. BREAK IT DOWN. DOES THE TAX ADVANTAGE TO THE OWNER VARY? DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S A LANDMARK, A PROTECTED LANDMARK, OR A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO BE A PROTECTED LANDMARK IN ORDER TO GET THAT, UH, THAT BENEFIT OR A CONTRIBUTING BUILDING IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. I THINK THAT'S IT, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO, I'M JUST CURIOUS. I BET EVERYONE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS. WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND? I HAVE A MASTER'S OF ARCHITECTURE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, A PROFESSIONAL MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE, WHICH I GOT IN 2011, KINDA A SECOND CAREER. SO PRIOR TO THAT I WAS AT LAW SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AT ONE TIME AND WORKED FOR, UM, SOME LAWYERS. AND THEN I HAVE A BUSINESS DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN. AND, UM, NO, I REALLY, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE, UH, HISTORICAL DESIGNATION. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH PLANNING? UH, FIVE YEARS. OKAY. IT'S RELATIVELY NEW TO CITY GOVERNMENT. NO, 13 YEARS WITH CITY GOVERNMENT. I STARTED MY CAREER ON THE BORDER IN BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, WHERE I WAS STARTED IN PLANNING AS A PLANNER, ONE OR SOMETHING. IN 2011, I GOT OUT OF UT [03:55:01] AND, UM, BECAME THEIR HERITAGE OFFICER. WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A VERY LARGE T YEAH. BY MIND. BY MIND IS YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR PROCESS FOR FIVE YEARS? UH, YES. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU PUBLIC. NEXT SPEAKERS, MARK ALMA. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WAS HERE YESTERDAY TO SPEAK, SO RATHER THAN BORE YOU WITH THE SAME SPEECH THAT I GAVE YESTERDAY, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK IN, IN SUPPORT OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE SWIFT BUILDING AS A PROTECTED LANDMARK. AND THE REASON I'M SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING TO, TO THIS BUILDING AS AN ARCHITECT HERE IN HOUSTON THAT ALSO LIVES IN WORKS IN THE HEIGHTS. I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO REVITALIZE THIS BUILDING. AND I BELIEVE BUILDINGS LIKE THIS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF HOUSTON ITSELF. YOU KNOW, HOUSTON, PEOPLE LIKE HOUSTON, WE LOVE HOUSTON. WE LIVE IN HOUSTON BECAUSE IT'S AUTHENTIC, BECAUSE IT HAS GRIT, BECAUSE IT HAS A STORY. AND I BELIEVE BUILDINGS LIKE THIS ARE A PART OF THAT STORY. I BELIEVE PEOPLE APPRECIATE PLACES THAT HAVE AUTHENTICITY, THAT HAVE A STORY, THAT THEY HAVE A CONNECTION TO SOMETHING THAT'S IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT THEY SEE, THAT THEY'VE WALKED BY, THAT THEY'VE INTERACTED WITH. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN TAKE OUR PAST AND BUILD UPON IT AND TURN THAT INTO OUR FUTURE. AND TO ME, THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT HOUSTON IS ALL ABOUT. UM, I CAN THINK OF SOME OTHER PROJECTS WITHIN OUR CITY THAT HAVE DONE THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE POST OFFICE BUILDING RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A, A BUILDING THAT SERVED THE CITY WELL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT THEN BECAME DECOMMISSIONED. AND THAT WAS BE ABLE TO TAKE, BE TAKEN AND, AND TURNED INTO AN ASSET TO THE CITY THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THAT BRINGS ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE CITY, BUT ALSO BRINGS PROSPERITY AND IS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY. AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THE SWIFT BUILDING IS, IS AN EXAMPLE OF A BUILDING THAT CAN DO THE SAME FOR THE HEIGHTS. IT CAN BE TAKEN AS SOMETHING THAT WAS BUILT BY THE HANDS OF HOUSTONIANS. THAT IS A STURDY STRUCTURE THAT CAN BE BUILT UPON, THAT CAN BE RENOVATED AND TURNED INTO SOMETHING THAT CAN ADD ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE GREATER HEIGHTS AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. AMY V BROCO. YOU TRYING TO TAKE MY JOB? YOU TRYING TAKE MY JOB, . GOOD MORNING. CAREFUL COURSE. YOU LAY IN FRONT OF ME. GOOD MORNING, . I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE DELCO HOUSE IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE. UM, MY NEIGHBORS ARE THE GRANDCHILDREN AND THE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN OF BLACK AMERICANS WHO CAME TO HOUSTON FROM RURAL AREAS LIKE WHARTON COUNTY AND BRAZORIA COUNTY AND LOUISIANA, UM, TO SOMETIMES ON ROAD BUILDING CREWS OR, UM, IN LUMBER CAMPS, WORKING THEIR WAY TO HOUSTON IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY TO DEVELOP THIS TOWN, THE FIRST BLACK TOWN IN HOUSTON OR IN THE IN TEXAS. AND, UM, THEIR STORIES ARE IMPORTANT AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS CHANGING. WE HAVE THESE SMALL HOUSES, UM, GETTING TORN DOWN AND IN THEIR PLACE ARE THESE NEW TOWN HOMES GOING UP. AND AS THE HOUSES DISAPPEAR, THE STORIES DISAPPEAR. UM, THIS STORY I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST TO ME AND TO MY NEIGHBORS, BUT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S A STORY OF THIS CITY GROWING FROM A TINY 150,000 PERSON TOWN TO THE HUGE POWERHOUSE THAT IT IS TODAY. AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT OUR TOWN. SO, UM, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, UH, WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE A CASE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THIS HOME AND, AND WHY IT'S VALUABLE, I WAS LOOKING AT THE LAND VALUE ITSELF. SO IT'S NOW ON NORTH LOOP 8 0 7 NORTH LOOP, UM, AND GETS THAT NAME FROM THE NORTH LOOP OF THE SIX 10 FREEWAY. BUT WHEN IT WAS BUILT, IT WAS 30TH STREET. UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE VALUE OF THE LAND BELOW THIS HOUSE, IT'S 20, I DON'T KNOW, VERY FEW DOLLARS, $28 PER SQUARE FOOT. IF YOU GO DOWN A BLOCK TO 28TH STREET, THE LAND IS WORTH $70 A SQUARE FOOT. SO IF YOU INHERIT A HOUSE IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, YOU INHERIT A PIECE OF LAND THAT'S WORTH 140,000. IF YOU INHERIT A HOUSE, THE SAME HOUSE ON A PIECE OF LAND A BLOCK SOUTH, YOU INHERIT $350,000. WHY, WHY ARE, ARE THESE VALUES SO DIFFERENT? [04:00:01] WELL, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE RACIAL DIVIDE IN THE LANDSCAPE. AND ONE WAY THAT WE CAN SAY THAT THIS PLACE MATTERS AND REVALUE THIS PLACE IN THE LANDSCAPE IS TO MARKET AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE. AND, UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. THANK YOU. TERRY ZER. HELLO. THANK YOU. I SPOKE YESTERDAY AND I WAS GOING TO RE YESTERDAY. ACTUALLY, WHAT I DID IS I READ A, UH, SUPPORT LETTER FOR ONE OF THESE PROJECTS. I HAVE ANOTHER LETTER THAT I WAS GONNA READ TODAY, BUT I DECIDED IN LIEU OF THAT, THAT I'M GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT MY REACTION TO THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THE LETTER I WOULD'VE READ TODAY IS FROM HOUSTON MOD. IT'S IN SUPPORT OF THE BATTLE STAINS PROJECT, AND I BELIEVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DIS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF YOU. SO I THINK YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR PACKET. SO I JUST WANNA SAY I'M A SUPPORTER OF THE PROGRAM AND I HAVE SOME PERSONAL REASONS FOR DOING THAT. I LIKE GIVING WALKING TOURS. I DON'T LIKE CREATING THEM. SO I DO, I HELP OUT ON OTHER WALKING TOURS. AND THE REASON I LIKE DOING THAT IS I LIKE WALKING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WE HAVE AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT OUR CITY. AND I GET A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK. WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON PROJECTS, LIKE, WHY IS THAT THIS, AND WHY IS THAT ONE LIKE THAT? BUT THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE ARE REALLY ENGAGING TO ME, AND IT TELLS ME THAT HOUSTONIANS REALLY LIKE SEEING DIFFERENT TYPES OF AREAS WITHIN OUR CITY. SO PRESERVING HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND PRESERVING SPECIFIC BUILDINGS LEADS TO REALLY ENGAGING DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR CITIZENS. UM, SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE, AND THAT'S REALLY COOL BECAUSE THEN YOU GET TO SAY, WELL, WHY DO YOU LIKE THAT? AND I LIKE THIS. AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN CHANGE SOMEBODY'S MIND, BUT IT'S REAL ENGAGING. THE OTHER THING IS THAT, UM, SO THE DIALOGUES ARE FUN, BUT THE OTHER THING, AS A LONG TIME HOUSTONIAN, I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, SO I FIRST SAW THE CITY WHEN PARTS OF WHAT ARE NOW VERY VIBRANT NEW NEIGHBORHOODS WERE NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO THAT. I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE, THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR THERE. I'VE SEEN THEM CHANGE. I HAVE OTHER, I SEE OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY'VE NOW GONE INTO SORT OF A, A PAUSE IN WHAT THE STORIES WERE BEHIND THOSE AREAS. AND TO SEE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS HELP BRING THE STORIES THAT HOUSTONIANS HAVE HAD ABOUT THEMSELVES ALL ALONG. PEOPLE COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN TO WALK ON THESE WALKING TOURS. SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LOCAL HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE DOING THIS. UM, AND THE OTHER ASPECT I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS I THINK TODAY'S AGENDA FOR THE, FOR THE LANDMARKS IS PARTICULARLY CLEAR ABOUT WHY IT'S EFFECTIVE. THERE'S ALL, THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUILDINGS. I MEAN, YOU SAW THE WAREHOUSE, THERE'S SOME HOMES, SOME VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES, SOME VERY MODEST HOMES. AND THE PROGRAM REALLY ALLOWS ALL THAT WIDE RANGE OF DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON, INCLUDING IN OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU, EMILY WAN. GOOD MORNING MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'M EMILY WAN WITH PRESERVATION HOUSTON SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE LANDMARK AND PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATIONS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU TODAY. THE DESIGNATIONS PROPOSED TODAY, UM, AS CARRIE MENTIONED, REPRESENT A DIVERSE CROSS SECTION OF HOUSTON'S STORY RANGING FROM 1910 TO THE 1950S, A SMALL AND RELATIVELY UNASSUMING HOUSE THAT'S ONE OF PRECIOUS FEW REMAINING IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS TO ONE OF THE GRANDEST HOUSES IN AVONDALE. AND IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF HOUSTON'S INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL HISTORY THAT ARE UNDERGOING ADAPTIVE REUSE AFTER LONG PERIODS OF VACANCY AND WILL SOON BECOME ASSETS AGAIN. ALL CITIES CHANGE AND GROW OVER TIME AS THEY SHOULD. BUT HISTORIC PROPERTIES GIVE OUR CITY A SENSE OF CONTINUITY, SHARED HISTORY AND IDENTITY, HISTORIC LANDMARKS HONOR THE STORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSTON AND THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US. WHEN HOUSTONIANS CHOOSE TO DESIGNATE THEIR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, THEY'RE HELPING TO ENSURE THAT SOME OF THIS HISTORY IS PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS, BOTH AS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD AND IN A VERY TANGIBLE AND USABLE FORM ALONG WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT CONTINUES ITS STORY. THESE PROPERTIES ARE IRREPLACEABLE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION [04:05:01] OF THESE NOMINATIONS. THANK YOU LEE PERRY. I WAS IN HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO TALKING ABOUT BEING THE VERY FIRST PERSON TO TEST THE QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN 1974. AND Y'ALL MIGHT REMEMBER ME, I'M VETERAN, AND THE EPA USED A SOLDIER TO DO THE FIRST TEST ON THE DRINKING WATER HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT I'M NOT HERE FOR THAT. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TRYING TO HELP OUT WITH PUBLIC SERVICE AND I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS OVER IN ADRIAN GARCIA'S COMMITTEE, UH, DISTRICT. AND, UH, SO I'M ALWAYS OUT, BUT, UH, I HAVE A PROBLEM. UH, THE CITY OF NEW YORK JUST HAD TO ESTABLISH A NEW SECTION IN THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A, A HELL OF AN UPTICK OF SCAMS AGAINST OUR SENIOR CITIZENS TAKING THEIR HOMES, THEIR LAND, AND THEIR MENTAL RIGHTS. AND WE NEVER THINK ABOUT THAT. WE TALKING ABOUT YOUR MAMA AND DADDY TOO, AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND YOUR GRANDFATHER, AND WE, WE REPORT ROBBERIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT WE PLAY THAT DOWN LIKE IT'S NOT NO BIG THING. AND EVEN WHEN WE DO BRING IT UP, WE ONLY TALK ABOUT CIVIL COURT. SEE, I SPENT 52 YEARS DOING THIS. I USED TO TEACH THIS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. I SPENT THREE YEARS IN THE CENTER OF EXECUTIVE CENTER FOR EXECUTIVE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, TEACHING HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. BUT WE GOTTA UPTAKE RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. A LOT OF OUR SENIORS ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN THEIR WHOLE LIFE TO SCAMS YOU. ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS PICK UP THE PAPER, BUT YOU DON'T PUT ENOUGH EMPHASIS ON IT BECAUSE YOU ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE CIVIL PART. THERE'S A CRIME COMMITTED WHEN YOU DO A SCAM, YOU DON'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. YOU NEED TO DO MORE. YOU NEED TO SAY MORE CRIMINALS NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE GO AND WE PULL A SCAM ON A SENIOR CITIZEN AND TAKE HIS HOUSE, HIS LAND, HIS MENTAL RIGHTS, THERE'S A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR THIS. NOT JUST, WELL, OKAY, WE GOING TO GET HIS MONEY BACK FOR HIM BECAUSE ALL HE GOING TO DO IS KEEP DOING IT AGAIN. SEE, YOU LET SOMEBODY GO AND ROB A STORE. AND FIRST THING YOU GOING TO SEE ON THE FRONT PAGE THE NEXT DAY, OH, HE GOT SOLD $200. NOW YOUR MAMA'S HOUSE WORTH HALF MILLION DOLLARS. NOW SHE JUST LOST HER. SHE GO UNDER CIVIL COURT, BUT THERE WAS A CRIMINAL PART INVOLVED THERE, BUT YOU DIDN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING. LET'S GO HERE. AND I'M GOING, I'M GONNA BE QUICK ABOUT IT. SEE THIS CHECK RIGHT HERE? I GET 'EM ALL THE TIME. I OWN MENTAL RIGHTS. I DO. I'M IN FEDERAL COURT, RIGHT? NOT BEHIND ONE OF THESE CHECKS. SEE, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WAS COMING TO THE WRONG ONE, ONE OF THESE. SEE? AND WHAT IT'S SAYING IS, WE WILL PAY YOU THIS MONEY $300,000 FOR YOUR PROPERTY. NOW, YOU SIGNED THAT CHECK, YOU SIGNED THE DEAL SAYING, WELL, OKAY, I COULDN'T USE $300,000, BUT GUESS WHAT? YOU TAKE THIS TO THE BANK, IT AIN'T WORTH A PLUG NICKEL. DON'T YOU KNOW, HE ALREADY KNEW WHEN HE SAID THIS HERE, THAT IT WAS COUNTERFEIT. AND WHEN YOU GET TO THE BANK, IT AIN'T GONNA BE WORTH A PLUG NICKEL. SO NOW YOU, YOU STUCK, YOU SENT THE DEED BACK TO HIM, HE GOING TO IMMEDIATELY GO TO THE COUNTY CLERK AND FILE. SO NOW HE OWN IT. YOU GOT TO SPEND MONEY TO TRY TO FIGHT HIM BACK OFF. BUT HE AIN'T EVEN PAY THIS BECAUSE WHAT YOU GOING TO GET BACK FROM HIM? HE IS SAYING, I FOUND SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PLUMBING. I FOUND SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRIC AND I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH 300,000. I THINK IT'S ONLY WORTH 50,000. SO NOW YOU YOU ON SOCIAL SECURITY, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FIGHT, GO GET A LAWYER. MM-HMM . SO YOU GOING TO EITHER ACCEPT THAT 50,000 AND WALK AWAY AND YOU GOING TO GO SELL IT FOR HALF MILLION OR YOU GONNA HAVE TO GO TO COURT AND ALL YOU GOING TO GET IN COURT AND JUST WHATEVER YOUR MONEY IS, YOU DIDN'T EVEN BRING UP THE CRIMINAL PART. YOU ARE NOT DOING THAT. YOU'RE NOT EMPHASIZING THAT. AND I THINK THAT NEED TO BE SAID. IF ANY CRIMINAL BELIEVES THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO PRISON FOR DOING SOMETHING, HE'LL KEEP DOING IT. NEW YORK, ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS CHECK WITH HIM RIGHT NOW. IT'S SUCH AN EPIDEMIC THERE. THEY'LL SET UP A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT JUST ON SCAMS AGAINST SENIOR CITIZENS. I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN, I'M 73 YEARS [04:10:01] OLD, BUT THEY PICKED THE WRONG ONE THIS TIME. I'M RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET OVER THAT FEDERAL COURT WITH MINE TAKING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW. BUT I'M NOT JUST THERE. I'M ALSO REPORTING MINE TO THE FINANCIAL CRIMES NETWORK. YOU DON'T SAY THAT. ALL YOU SAY IS WELL IS THE SCAM. SO WHAT HE KNOW IF AIN'T NOTHING GONNA HAPPEN TO HIM, HE'LL JUST KEEP DOING IT AGAIN. AND YOU NEED TO DO MORE. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. SO I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT MINE ALL, I'M IN FEDERAL COURT RIGHT NOW. I'M OVER THERE IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT. YOU CAN GO OVER THERE AND SEE MY COURT CASE AND I GUARANTEE YOU. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. IN NEW YORK, IT'S EPIDEMIC. IT'S EPIDEMIC HERE, BUT YOU JUST DON'T TALK ABOUT IT. ANYWAY, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU MR. PERRY. IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU. I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN YEARS. YOU WERE A DEAR FRIEND OF MY BROTHER, MARK. THAT'S RIGHT. AND YOU HAVE BEEN BRINGING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO PEOPLE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU YEAH. AND LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS MAN IS, HE'S BRILLIANT, AND WHAT HE IS SHARING WITH YOU IS VERY RELEVANT. AND, UH, I, I CERTAINLY WISH YOU WELL AND I, WHEN I LOOKED UP, I SAID, THAT'S MS. BARRETT. THAT'S RIGHT. BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND I, I CERTAINLY WISH YOU WELL AND I KNOW BECAUSE OF YOUR WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND, AND WHO LEADS YOU, YOU WILL BE, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUCCEED AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP OTHERS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND GREAT TO SEE YOU. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP. UH, CHRISTY STEWART, GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS CHRISTY STEWART. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE FIVE 40 COURTLAND NON CONTRIBUTIVE STATUS. UM, I AM THE CLOSEST NEIGHBOR AND I'M ALSO THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY AND THIS PROPERTY. UM, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS, DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING A NEW GROUP OF PROPERTIES THAT WILL BE A BEAUTIFICATION AND FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. UM, BECAUSE OF THESE EFFORTS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT A 10 YEAR LEASE WITH TINIES MILK AND COOKIES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE ENJOYED THOSE COOKIES, BUT THEY'RE THE BEST IN THE CITY. UM, BECAUSE OF THIS BEAUTIFICATION EFFORT, UM, WE'VE ALSO GARNERED THE HISTORIC AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. I HAVE 14 LETTERS OF THE CLOSEST NEIGHBORS HERE THAT ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS RENOVATION PROJECT. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UM, GIVE THANKS TO THE HISTORIC, UM, COMMISSION THAT HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH US FOR TWO YEARS TO HELP BRING THIS TO FRUITION. UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION REST ON REMOVING THE DILAPIDATED GARAGE APARTMENT, WHICH WAS THE LAST ONE SHOWN IN THE PRESENTATION. AND WE'LL BE REPLACING THAT STRUCTURE WITH, UM, A NEW ONE THAT WILL CAPTURE THE HISTORIC ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE HEIGHTS. AND WE HAVE ALSO, UM, ALREADY GOTTEN THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS AND THE HISTORIC COMMISSION SUPPORT. AND FINALLY, UM, OH, I'D LIKE TO THANK SALLY ALCORN'S OFFICE TOO, THAT I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MANY TIMES TO HELP WITH THE PERMITTING PROCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE AND HELP. AND FINALLY, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND SERVICE AND, UM, TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BROUGHT TO THE CITY. AND I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR VOTE OF APPROVAL FOR THE NON-CONTRIBUTING STATUS. THANK YOU MA'AM. MA'AM. MS. STEWART. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANKS. GREAT, GREAT TO SEE YOU. WHAT, REMIND ME THE LOCATION OF THIS. CAN WE PUT THE, THE SLIDE UP WITH THE STEWART, YOU KNOW? OH, THERE, IT'S OKAY. OH, OKAY. THIS IS ON, UH, IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE HEIGHTS, IT'S ON THE CORNER OF CORTLAND AND WHITE OAK, SO IT'S KIND OF A BUSY THOROUGHFARE WITH SOME OTHER COMMERCIAL. OKAY. CORLAND AND WHITE OAK. AND SO THAT, THAT GARAGE APARTMENT YOU'RE, IS IN THE BACK. OKAY. SO IT'S ON THE CORNER AND THEN THE GARAGE APARTMENT'S ON THE BACK ON CORTLAND STREET. GOT IT. WHERE WILL THE TINIES BE? WHERE WHAT, WHERE WILL TINY MILK AND COOKIES. OH, THE, SO, UH, MILK AND HONEYS OR TINY MILK AND COOKIES ONCE THIS BUILDING. AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE SIGNED A LEASE FOR THE BIGGER BUILDING IN FRONT. SO THEY HAVE TWO PROPERTIES. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU BARTON KELLY. [04:15:06] GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME'S BARTON KELLY AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE SWIFT AND COMPANY, UH, PACKING PLAN ON WAVERLY STREET IN THE HEIGHTS AND IN SUPPORT OF ITS HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. I'M A SIX YEAR RESIDENT OF THE HEIGHTS, AND I'VE WORKED IN THE HEIGHTS FOR NINE YEARS NOW. I HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ALSO LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS, AND I CAN'T COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ACQUAINTANCES HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE SO GLAD THAT THESE BUILDINGS WILL BE PRESERVED AND REPURPOSED AND NOT, UH, EXCUSE ME, TORN DOWN. OUR FIRM SPECIALIZES IN BRINGING NEW LIFE TO OLD BUILDINGS, NOTABLY 32 0 1 ALLEN PARKWAY, WHICH IS THE FORMER STAR ENGRAVING BUILDING AND THE FORMER HOME OF STAGES THEATER, WHICH IS ALSO A HOUSTON PROTECTED LANDMARK. UH, THAT PROJECT, WHICH WE COMPLETED A FEW YEARS AGO, WAS A BIG SUCCESS FOR US IS NOW HOME TO RESTAURANTS AND ART GALLERY AND OFFICES ADJACENT TO SWIFT ON THE POPULAR, UH, MKT HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, THE FORMULA, MISSOURI, KANSAS, TEXAS RAILROAD LINE IS ANOTHER PROJECT OF OURS CALLED MKT, NAMED AFTER THE, THE TRAIL. UH, ALBEIT NOT HISTORIC, MKT IS THE REPURPOSING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS. THAT PROJECT HAS ALSO BEEN NOT ONLY A LOT OF FUN FOR US TO WORK ON, BUT ALSO A BIG SUCCESS AND A VERY WELCOME ADDITION TO THE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR PLAN AT SWIFT IS TO BEAUTIFY WHAT YOU SEE TODAY, WHICH ARE BUILDINGS IN NEED OF A LOT OF LOVE TO MAKE THESE BUILDINGS, ONE OF WHICH IS FROM 1917, UH, SAFER. AND TO REVIVE WHAT IS CURRENTLY ABANDONED INTO NEW PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN WORK AND PEOPLE CAN DINE. WE WILL BE PLACING SWIFT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED PRELIMINARY APPROVAL. IN ADDITION, HHC AND CITY STAFF HAS APPROVED THIS LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR SWIFT IN HOUSTON, WHERE WE HAVE SO LITTLE LEFT OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDING SOCK. WE SEE AS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE A VALUE NOT ONLY TO OUR TENANTS THAT WANT TO BE IN HISTORIC STRUCTURES, BUT ALSO TO VISITORS OF THESE BUILDINGS. AND WE AS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS ALSO SEE THAT SAME VALUE. WE THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN HOUSTON FOR BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW, AS MANY OF OUR PROJECTS ARE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MANY OUR ADAPTIVE REUSE, AND WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO GET THE PROJECT, UH, AT SWIFT BEGUN. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU. OLIVIA TERRACON. HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME'S OLIVIA TERRACON. I AM AN ARCHITECT AND A FORMER CHAIR OF THE A I A HOUSTON HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMITTEE. UM, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE, UH, LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM US. SO I FIGURED I WOULD JUST COME HERE AND OFFER MY PERSONAL SUPPORT FOR THE LANDMARKING, UM, PROCESS AND THE, UH, WORK OF THE HAHC AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PRESERVATION, UM, FROM TWO DIFFERENT, UM, ASPECTS OF MY LIFE. ONE IS THAT I'M A HISTORIC HOMEOWNER IN THE HEIGHTS, AND I RECENTLY WENT THROUGH THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL, CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS PROCESS, UM, THREE YEARS AGO TO DESIGN MY HOUSE. AND WE, I THINK WE HAVE A BETTER HOUSE FOR IT. UM, ADOPTED A HUNDRED YEAR OLD HOUSE TO A HOUSE THAT IS MODERN AND WONDERFUL ASSET TO THE, THE STREET, THE COMMUNITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO TO MY FAMILY, WHICH IS A, A FAMILY OF SMALL CHILDREN. UM, I ALSO LOVE LIVING IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE VALUE THAT I KNOW IT'S GIVING TO MY HOUSE AND HOW MUCH WE JUST ENJOY BEING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. MY OTHER PERSPECTIVE IS THAT OF, UH, MY FORMER ROLE AT THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, WHERE I WAS A PRESERVATION ARCHITECT FOR FIVE YEARS. AND, UM, I'VE SEEN THE VALUE OF PRESERVATION NATIONALLY AND EVERYWHERE. AND HOUSTON HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN BEEN LAGGING BEHIND IN THAT RESPECT. UM, AND I AM JUST VERY HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESS FORWARD THAT WE'VE MADE IN, IN THAT RESPECT THROUGH THE WORK OF ROMAN AND HIS DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THE EXPERTISE THAT'S ON THE HAHC. UM, ALL OF THEM BRING TO IT IN A LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND THOROUGHNESS THAT IS PROGRESSING US FORWARD AS A CITY FOR PRESERVATION. UM, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH LEFT TO PRESERVE AS MANY OTHER CITIES IN THE US DO. UM, SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HOLD ONTO THESE IRREPLACEABLE ASSETS. UM, AND JUST A REMINDER THAT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ENTRENCHED IN PRESERVATION THE WAY I WAS. UM, 'CAUSE MY ROLE THERE WAS TO HELP HISTORIC BUILDING OWNERS WHO MAYBE WEREN'T, UM, FAMILIAR WITH THE PRACTICE OF PRESERVATION, NAVIGATE THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR BUILDING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. BUT THE PROCESS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS NOT, UH, CASTING SOMETHING IN AMBER. IT IS RETURNING A BUILDING TO USE, IMPROVING IT. AND SO WE AS ARCHITECTS WHO ARE HERE ADVOCATING FOR PRESERVATION, BELIEVE IN THE IMPROVEMENTS WHOLEHEARTEDLY. UM, AND IT IS VERY MUCH POSSIBLE TO STAY TRUE TO THE HISTORY OF A BUILDING, [04:20:01] MAINTAIN IT, AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER. AND AS YOU'VE SEEN ARGUED HERE, I THINK THAT AN IMPROVED HISTORIC BUILDING PROVIDES MORE VALUE THAN A BRAND NEW BUILDING. UM, IN MANY WAYS THAT, UM, I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS FURTHER. BUT THE NATIONAL TRUST HAS DONE STUDIES ON THIS AND WE'VE SEEN IT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, NICK PINI. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NICK PINI AND I SERVE AS THE OWNER REPRESENTATIVE FOR 8 0 6 MAIN STREET, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH THE JW MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN AND THE BATTLE SCENES BUILDING LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. TODAY, I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY SEEK YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF THE BATTLE SCENE BUILDING. SIMILAR TO THE DESIGNATION CURRENTLY HELD BY THE JW MARRIOTT, WE TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN THE JW MARRIOTT, WHICH HAS BECOME A CORN, A CORNERSTONE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND DRIVE SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS INTO HOUSTON. NOW WE ARE EQUALLY EXCITED TO BREATH NEW LIFE INTO THE BATTLE STEAMS BUILDING. OUR VISION IS TO TRANSFORM THIS ONCE ABANDONED OFFICE BUILDING INTO ADDITIONAL GUEST ROOMS, MEETING SPACE, AND SUPPORTING AMENITIES, EXCUSE ME, SUPPORTING AMENITIES FOR THE JW MARRIOTT. THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE CITY'S GROWTH POLICIES AND REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. BY PRESERVING THE BUILDING'S HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, WE AIM TO HONOR ITS LEGACY WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO A VIBRANT FUTURE. THE LANDMARK DESIGNATION WILL NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE THE BALANCING BUILDING'S, ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT ALSO PRESERVE MARKETING ADVANTAGES, INCREASED PRESTIGE AND ENHANCED VISIBILITY. THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THIS DESIGNATION WILL DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED REVENUES, WHICH TURN, WHICH IN TURN WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL SALES AND OCCUPANCY TAX FOR THE CITY, AND NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS VARIOUS LEVELS, FROM MANAGERIAL ROLES INTO ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS, STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL WORKFORCE. ULTIMATELY, THIS DESIGNATION WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE RESULTING IN GREATER REAL ESTATE TAX PAYMENTS TO THE CITY. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS LANDMARK DESIGNATION REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE BUILDING TO SUPPORT THIS REQUEST. WE HAVE GATHERED WRITTEN STATEMENTS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS ALL WHOM STAND IN SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL FOR THIS DESIGNATION OF THE BATTLE SCENES BUILDINGS AS A LANDMARK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOMINIC MAZA. CORRECT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. DOMINIC MAZA. OKAY, I'M AT THE IN, IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. EACH FRIDAY I GO TO THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE AND I SEE WHAT THE AGENDA WILL BE FOR THE MEETINGS TO, AND I'LL LOOK AND SEE, WELL, MAYBE THIS IS GONNA BE INTEREST TO ME OR NOT. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE WAY THIS WAS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA IS THIS, IT WAS JUST LISTED THE ADDRESSES. THERE WAS NO POWERPOINT POWERPOINTS, THERE WERE NO MAPS, NO INFORMATION. AND MY THING IS, MAYOR, YOUR BIG WORD IS COLLABORATION. COLLABORATION DEPENDS ON COMMUNICATION, AND THAT'S COMMUNICATION EITHER VERBALLY, NON-VERBALLY, OR ELECTRONICALLY. AND I THINK FROM HERE ON OUT FOR SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE, I THINK THAT THESE POWERPOINTS NEED TO BE LINKED ONTO THE AGENDA SO THAT THE, I, YOU KNOW, IF I HAVE SOME INTEREST IN THIS ITEM OR SOMEBODY IS FOR OR AGAINST IT, THEY CAN DO THEIR HOMEWORK BEFORE THEY COME HERE. AND NOW MY THING IS, THE MORE TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT IS, THE MORE INFORMATION THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE. AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE GONNA ASK THE QUESTION, YES, I DID TAKE METRO, I DID TAKE THE 96 TO THE RED LIGHT AND USE THE TUNNEL SYSTEM WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. DON'T LEAVE ME AS YOU'RE TALKING, I'M RESEARCHING AS SMARTER TO CHECK WHY WE DO IT WITH THIS FORMAT. [04:25:01] IT SEEMS PARTLY USING YOUR LOGIC THAT IF WE HAD A COMMITTEE THAT COULD SPEND MORE TIME, MAYBE BE MORE TRANSPARENT AS YOU SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL. AND THEN THAT, MAYBE EVEN NAME A HISTORICAL DESIGNATION COMMITTEE WHERE THEY COULD REALLY BECOME MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE, TALK TO THE, UH, PROPONENTS, THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, AND THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL. ALWAYS ALLOWING COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS. BUT A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE COULD BE DONE IN A, UH, MAYBE A SPECIAL COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A COUNCIL SESSION. WE'VE GOT SCORES OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED, NOT ON THIS TOPIC, BUT OTHERS. SO I'M JUST SITTING HERE HOW WE COULD IMPROVE. AND, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DON'T SHARE THE MAPS AND OTHER DETAILS THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING. SO I'M, I'M UP TO SUGGESTIONS AND I CERTAINLY, I'LL BE TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. WHY, WHY ARE WE FOLLOWING THIS MODEL OTHER THAN IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE THIS WAY. SO, AND ONE OFF PIECE INFORMATION. THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES COUNCIL TO STOP AT NOON TO ONE 30 FOR LUNCH BREAK. I FOUND THAT OUT. WELL, THE GOOD NEWS AND OUR BAD NEWS, OUR CLOCK IS SO OLD , I DON'T, AND IT KINDA RESEMBLES WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN CITY TODAY IS FIX THINGS. BUT THEY TELL ME THEY CAN'T FIND THE PARTS OR SOMEONE THAT CAN REPAIR THE CLOCK. SO I THINK WE'RE PRETTY GOOD SHAPE OF HAVING TO STOP AT NOON BECAUSE WE'RE, THAT DARN CLOCK WILL NEVER REACH NOON TODAY. WELL, THIS BUILDING'S ALMOST A CENTURY OLD. YEAH. NO, NO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IT IS SERVED AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU. NEXT PLEASE AND LIST OF SPEAKERS. DOES ANYONE ELSE PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? IF NOT, UH, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. NEED A MOTION? NEED A MOTION? MOTION. CLOSE. CAST X TATE. A MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES HAS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ ON A MATTER OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I APPRECIATE THIS POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, BUT I JUST NOTICE SOME, SOME JACK YATES LIONS THAT WALKED INTO THE CHAMBER AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. THEY ARE THE GOVERNMENT CLASS FROM THE, THE JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL AND THEIR, UH, INSTRUCTOR IS DR. SHANE ELLIOT. AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO STAND, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I AM GY FOR LIFE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS LOVE TO SEE STUDENTS COME DOWN TO FIND OUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS BECAUSE THEY ARE CERTAINLY OUR FUTURE. AND I THINK THEY'RE GONNA MEET WITH YOU, MAYOR. AND SO CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM. AND THANK YOU, DR. ELLIOT, FOR BRINGING THEM. AND YOU ALL ENJOY CITY HALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WELCOME TO OUR STUDENTS. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, I DON'T CAUSE NO TROUBLE, BUT YESTERDAY YOU HAD WORDING. ARE YOU GONNA RECOGNIZE THE WORDING AT, AT THE, I DON'T WANNA START NO TROUBLE, BUT WE, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINY IS SHOWING ITS STUFF THIS WEEK. NEXT, [CONSENT AGENDA] MA'AM, THE CONSENT AG AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM FOUR, NEEDS AND MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. NEXT, UNDER THE PERSON AND TABULATION OF BS CATEGORY, ITEMS FIVE THROUGH NINE. NEED A MOTION CAST? STATE MOVE. SECOND. MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 26 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 14, 15, 22 AND 24 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 14, 15, 22, AND 24 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. NUMBERS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 21, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 39, 42 [04:30:08] AND 43. THOSE NUMBER, I'M SORRY, I SKIPPED THE RESOLUTIONS. CATEGORY RESOLUTION NUMBER 10 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES. CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 21, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 39, 42 AND 43. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. OPPOSED? OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. I IS [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM NUMBER 10 IS THE RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. WHOOP. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN . THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS THE, THE PAT WALSH MEMORIAL BIKEWAY. SO I KNOW WE'VE GOT LOTS OF PEOPLE HERE. Y'ALL WANNA STAND UP AND SHOW YOURSELF? WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON IT YET, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GONNA BE IN GOOD SHAPE. BUT JUST WANTED TO THANK LINDSAY, JULIAN, THE WALSH FAMILY. I WAS SURE, LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE AT CITY HALL WHEN PAT WALSH WAS HERE LEADING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND WHAT A GREAT LEADER HE WAS AND, AND JUST SUCH A, A FINE MAN AND REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM. AND THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING. SHE DEFINITELY WANTED TO CHIME IN ON THIS. SHE'S WORKED ON THIS TOO. AND WE'RE ALL REALLY EXCITED TO VOTE AND, AND HOPE THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT ON THIS. BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND, UM, GO. PAT WALSH. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THOMAS TAG. OKAY. TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN TAG. HUFFMAN WILL JOIN THE TAG. OKAY, CARTER WILL JOIN. OKAY. WHAT IS HUFFMAN CARTER? HUFFMAN CARTER HUFFMAN AND, UH, THOMAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS THOMAS HUFFMAN AND CARTER TAGGED BY CARTER, THOMAS AND HUFFMAN. YES, SIR. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. ITEM 25 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE TAG TAGGED BY COUNCILOR MEMBER INGER. UH, YOU STILL WANT, YOU WANNA SPEAK IF HE'LL RELEASE HIS TAG FOR DISCUSSION OR MOVE TAG? YES, SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, CERTAINLY WE'LL HONOR THIS TAG. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I AM CERTAIN I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS, OF THIS PAYMENT, AND I HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THIS FIREFIGHTER IS STILL AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF WHAT I FIND TO BE, UM, SOMETHING PRETTY EGREGIOUS. YES, I HAVE GOTTEN A RESPONSE. IT'S THE 180 DAY RULE THAT YOU OFTEN HEAR TALKED ABOUT WHEN, WHEN CONTRACTS COME UP AND, UM, APPARENTLY THIS, THIS, UM, IT, THE 180 DAY RULE, UM, ACTION CAN BE TAKEN ONLY AND SEE, ATTORNEY, HELP ME OUT IF I'M GETTING THIS WRONG. BUT ACTION CAN BE TAKEN ONLY AFTER THE, THE, UH, INFRACTION WAS DISCOVERED. DISCOVER, I MEAN, FROM WHEN IT HAPPENED, NOT FROM WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED. SO IT WASN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL LATER THAN 180 DAYS. UM, SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED WOMEN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THIS WAS A LONG TIME AGO, UM, WHEN THIS ALL STARTED, BUT WE NEED WOMEN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CERTAINLY STORIES LIKE THIS DON'T DO US ANY FAVORS. COUNCILOR FLICKING HERE. YEAH, I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR LEGAL. UH, OBVIOUSLY THE PLAINTIFF SUED, OR OUR FIREFIGHTER SUED THE OTHER FIREFIGHTER AND WAS AWARDED $200,000. IF WE HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT THAT COMES UP, AREN'T WE IN MORE LEGAL JEOPARDY BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE OF THIS BEHAVIOR? IF THIS INDIVIDUAL COMMITS ANOTHER EGREGIOUS ACT? [04:35:04] I THINK THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY UNDER THE MANAGEMENT HAS TRAINING IN OTHER ASPECTS IN PLACE. AND IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE FACTS THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY FOLLOWS, BUT THAT'S CLEARLY A CONCERN THAT BOTH LEGAL, HR AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL ADDRESS. WELL, WELL, I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ISSUE WE'RE WELL AWARE OF NOW. I MEAN, IN FACT, DOESN'T MEAN THERE ISN'T ANOTHER ACT THAT'S OCCURRED THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF YET. THAT'S TRUE. THE LIABILITY. THIS IS A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. SEX DISCRIMINATION. THE LIABILITY FOR WHICH THE CITY WOULD BE LIABLE DEPENDS ON THE MANAGEMENT RESPONSE. UH, SO THOSE ARE THE, THE, THE TRAINING AND, AND THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE THE DISTRICT WOULD FACE, UH, A LARGE MONETARY, UH, AWARD. DOESN'T RETAINING THIS EMPLOYEE ALSO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT RESPONSE? UH, IT, IT DOES, BUT AT, AT THIS STAGE, WE CANNOT DISCIPLINE SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE 180 DAY RULE. WHAT WOULD BE THE COURSE OF ACTION IF WE DID TERMINATE THIS EMPLOYEE? WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO SUE US CIVILLY? YES. THEY, THEY WOULD SUE AND THEY WOULD SEEK DAMAGES FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY WEREN'T, UH, PAID. FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD FIND A SYMPATHETIC JURY. UH, IT, IT COULD EASILY BE A SUMMARY JUDGMENT WHERE THE JUDGE IS APPLYING THE LAW. I, I AGREE WITH YOU. I I DOUBT VERY FEW JURIES WOULD BE, UH, SYMPATHETIC. YOU KNOW, I I THINK THIS ALSO MAKES A STATEMENT TO THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES ABOUT HOW WE HANDLE THIS COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. SO QUESTION FOR LEGAL, HAS, HAS THE, UH, EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BEEN CHANGED TO REFLECT A DISCOVERY RULE? OR IS DOES THE LANGUAGE REMAIN THE SAME SO THAT THIS KIND OF THING CAN HAPPEN AGAIN? IT IT REMAINS THE SAME. WE FALL UNDER STATE LAW. FOLLOWING STATE LAW, YES. SO STATE LAW PREVENTS US FROM THE HUNDRED 80 DEMAND A CHANGE. YES. THE 180 DAY RULE IS A, IS A REQUIREMENT OF STATE LAW ABSENT A CHANGE. THAT'S WHAT APPLIES. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE SHOULD WELL, IT'S A QUESTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, I GUESS MAYBE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. UH, I I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE OF PRIORITIES AND ASSESSING WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE LEGISLATIVE BODIES WILL SUPPORT THIS. BUT IT'LL BE A CONSIDERATION, I'M SURE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CLINTON HERE. ANOTHER QUESTION FOR LEGAL. ARE THE CONTRACTS WITH THE OTHER UNIONS THE SAME? I I THOUGHT HOPE IT, IT WAS AFTER DISCOVERY, NOT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO THAT CHAPTER OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE WITH POLICE. WE HAVE AN UPCOMING NEGOTIATION COMING UP. PROB WILL PROBABLY BEGIN IN JANUARY. SO, SO DOES STATE LAW ONLY PROTECT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, AND POLICE THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY UNITS? IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO O OTHER EMPLOYEES. OKAY, THANK YOU. ITEMS TAGGED BY COUNCILOR FLICKINGER ITEM IS TAGGED BY COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. COUNCILMAN POLLER. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. REGARDING THE 180 DAY RULE, DIDN'T WE MAKE SOME, UH, CHANGES TO THAT PROVISION WITH THE LAST HPOU CONTRACT? AND ARE WE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THOSE TERMS WITH A EMPLOYEE UNION GROUP OUTSIDE OF STATE LAW? IF IT'S A IF CONTRACT JUST BETWEEN THAT MUNICIPALITY AND THE GROUP? YES, YOU CAN. SO IF IT'S APPLICABLE TO POLICE AND FIRE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE THAT. AND WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO THAT. UM, HAVE NOT BEEN, HAD SUCCESS IN THE FIREFIGHTER NEGOTIATIONS TO DATE, BUT WE DID HAVE, WE DID HAVE SUCCESS WITH THAT. WITH THE POLICE? YEAH, TO SOME DEGREE, YES, BUT WE DID NOT WITH THE FIRE. THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT WAS ON THE LAST CONTRACT THAT WE THAT CAME BEFORE US, CORRECT? CORRECT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. ITEM IS TAG. 18. I MEAN, ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. CARTER. SORRY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY SHE SENT AFTER. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILOR CARTER. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK WE, UH, APPROVED 5.8 MILLION ON THE SAMSARA TRACKING GLOBAL, [04:40:01] YOU KNOW, EFFICIENCY MEASURES FOR, UM, FOR THE FLEET. AND, UM, WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS ALREADY, UH, YOU KNOW, UNDER, UH, I GUESS PILOT PROGRAM AND PUBLIC WORKS. AND NOW WE'RE MOVING TO A 4.8 MILLION, WHICH OVERALL 10.6 MILLION IN TRACKING ON, UM, THE FLEET AND LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES. I JUST RESTATE THAT AT SOME POINT WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE OUTCOMES BECAUSE AS WE PUT THESE TWO TOGETHER, 10.6 IS A PRETTY BIG NUMBER, UM, TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE ACROSS THE CITY, UM, USE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S GAS, WHETHER IT'S TIME AND WHATNOT. BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE ON WHAT OUR TRUE SAVINGS HAS BEEN ON THE 10.6, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THANK YOU. YES MA'AM. NEXT ITEM. NEXT ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 31 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M REALLY EXCITED, UM, ABOUT THIS AND I WANNA THANK SO MANY PEOPLE, BUT I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMAN JACKSON, UM, FOR HER ADVOCACY AND, AND JUST REALLY SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY. UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS HER DISTRICT AND SHE'S BEEN, UM, REALLY LEADING THIS WHOLE EFFORT. UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, KEITH DOWNEY, HUGH WILSON HAD BEEN HUGE INTERN IN, IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, THAT HAVE REALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS, UM, NEED NEEDS TO BE NOT ONLY NAMED A RESILIENCY HUB, BUT A RESILIENCY HUB FOR THE COMMUNITY. UH, IN JUNE, UM, I PUT FORWARD A BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, FOR THE FY 2025. IT PROPOSED THIS AMENDMENT FOR A PERMANENT GENERATOR AT CASHIER GARDENS RESILIENCY HUB. UM, THIS ITEM IS NOW IN FRONT OF US ALL FOR, UM, FOR A VOTE, AND I'M HOPING THAT ALL OF OUR, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT KME GARDENS HAS AN A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 67 YEARS OLD, WHICH IS 20 YEARS LESS THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THIS COMMUNITY'S ALREADY REALLY COMPROMISED AND NEEDS TO SUPPORT, UM, OF THIS GENERATOR. THIS ORDINANCE WILL ENSURE THAT WE EXPAND THE EMERGENCY POWER GENERATION CAPACITY TO ADDITIONAL CRITICAL SITES, INCLUDING CASHIER GARDENS MULTIPURPOSE CENTER. UH, THESE ENHANCEMENTS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND DURING EMERGENCIES, ENSURING ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AND REMAIN OPERATIONAL FOR ALL RESIDENTS DURING AN, DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAKING STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN THE RELIABILITY OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THE ADDITION OF THIS GENERATOR AT CASHMERE GARDEN'S MULTIPURPOSE CENTER REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AS WE PROVIDE RELIABLE, A RELIABLE HUB IN THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT IN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND POWER OUTAGES IN DISTRICT B. AND AS ALWAYS, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN MWBE GOAL ON THIS OF 11%. AND SO MAYOR ADMINISTRATION, UM, I WANNA JUST KIND OF GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR MESSIAH. HE WAS ON THE FIRST ON THE GROUND LEVEL OF THIS, MAKING SURE THAT WE KNEW LOGISTICS AND KNEW IF THIS WAS EVEN POSSIBLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. UH, ONE, ACKNOWLEDGE DIRECTOR BLANCHARD FOR SPEED BEING THIS THING FORWARD. THIS WAS ORIGINALLY POTENTIALLY A TWO YEAR PROCESS AND SHE REALLY GOT INNOVATIVE IN MAKING IT HAPPEN. AND OBVIOUSLY YOUR ADMINISTRATION. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN FOR THE COMMUNITY. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I WANNA THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMER FOR PUTTING THE AMENDMENT FORWARD, FORWARD, UM, HAVING WHAT, FIVE, UM, SERVICE CENTERS WITH NONE OF 'EM WITH GENERATORS. NOW WE HAVE ONE WITH GENERATOR. I KNOW THE MAYOR, UM, HAS BEEN ADVOCATING, UM, TRYING TO RAISE RESOURCES FOR GENERATORS AND I THINK THAT IS COMING TO THE OTHER FOR THE OTHER MULTI MULTI SERVICE CENTERS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. UM, I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT, UM, HUEY GERMAN WILSON AND MR. KEY DOWNING, WHO HAS BEEN FIERCE ADVOCATES, A A AROUND THE RESILIENCE HUB, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S OPEN AND IT'S TRUE, IT IS TRULY BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THIS IS A START LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING ALL OF OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS WITH GENERATORS, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT B, BUT ACROSS THE CITY. SO, THANK YOU. LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU COUNCILLOR JACKSON, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER FOR MAKING THIS SUCH A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY. UM, A LOT OF SHOUT OUTS AS COUNCILMAN PLUMMER DID TO CJ TO ANGELA BLANCHARD, OUR RESILIENCE, UH, DIRECTOR THAT REALLY WORKED HARD TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT, UH, UH, THAT [04:45:01] ENCHANTED ROCK UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND WORKED THE, UH, ARRANGEMENT WITH THEM. YOU KNOW, , IT'S, IT'S AMAZING DURING BARREL, UH, SOME WOULD'VE SAID WE WEREN'T PREPARED. WE WERE AS PREPARED AS THE INFORMATION ALLOWED US. WHO IN THE WORLD EVER DREAMED THAT A DESIGNATED CENTER CALLED A HUB BY THIS CITY IN PREVIOUS YEARS DESIGNATED AS A HUB, DID NOT HAVE A GENERATOR EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITIZENS WERE TOLD TO GO TO THE CENTER WHEN WE HAD AN, A SHORTAGE OF A COOLING CENTER, A HEATING CENTER WITH NO BACKUP, UH, POWER. SO THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD. IT'LL BE REPEATED AT ALL OF OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. I NEVER DREAMED WHEN I GOT HERE THAT A MULTI-SERVICE CENTER DESIGNATED AS A HUB DID NOT HAVE BACKUP POWER. SO WE PUT AN END TO THAT AT CASHMERE. IT'LL BE THE MODEL GOING FORWARD. AND I MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND SAY, WHO DREAMED THAT 10 FIRE STATIONS DIDN'T HAVE GENERATORS THAT WE DISCOVERED DURING THE STORM? SO, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY SAYS WE WEREN'T PREPARED. WE WERE SO PREPARED, WE SAT AROUND IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER AND WAITED FOR THE STORM TO GET THERE BECAUSE WE WERE PREPARED, BUT WE NEVER DREAMED THAT, UH, YOU DIDN'T HAVE A, UH, BACKUP CENTER OF POWER. AND WE WERE PUT AN END TO THAT ONE. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND THE SUPPORT. NEXT VOTE. WE NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 39 IS AN ORDER. DOES NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY PLUMBER. NO. 39 MA'AM. PLUMBER NO ON 39. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUM VOTING, NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 42, IS IT ORDINANCE THIS NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY, MADAM [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL A HEARING FOR JUROR 17? GONNA SET A DATE FOR THE HEARING CAST TATUM MOVED TO SET THE HEARING DATE ON NUMBER 52 FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER THE FOURTH, 2024. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES SECOND 53. ITEM 53, NEED A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2024. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 54, CASTEX TATUM. MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE, UH, FOR WEDNESDAY, 9:00 AM DECEMBER THE FOURTH. 2024. I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 55, CAST. MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER THE FOURTH, 2024 AT NINE. AM I SECOND? MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MAY. MOTION PASSES. MR. RUSHMORE. ITEM 56 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TAYLOR. MOVE. NEXT. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, CHAIR RECOGNIZES SHE'S ON THE NEXT ITEM. ON THE NEXT ITEM. SO WE'RE ON ITEM 56. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OH, YOU LIKE COUNCILMAN COPEMAN? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. THIS, UH, MOTION TO RECONSIDER IT. UM, THE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZES A LOAN AGREEMENT TO USE THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDS TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION OF A DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN 2021. THIS LOAN IS FOR $3 MILLION, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT COMPARED TO THE OVER 20 MILLION IN FUNDING AND CREDITS THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED. NOW, WHEN THIS ORDINANCE CAME TO COUNCIL [04:50:01] IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE COUNTY ARPA FUNDS ALREADY EARMARKED FOR THIS PROJECT WERE CONTINGENT ON THIS LOAN AND WOULD BE LOST TO THE CITY, UM, AND NOT NECESSARILY EVEN RETURNED TO PRECINCT FOUR TO USE. SO SINCE THEN, I HAVE SPOKEN EXTENSIVELY WITH COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND HER STAFF WHO SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS WHY I'M ALSO SUPPORTING THE RECONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM. ANYTHING ELSE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER? YOU WANNA MAKE THE MOTION? SO, YES, I MAKE TO RECONSIDER COUNCIL MEMBER MOVES TO RECONSIDER. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. MOTION PASSES. 58 IS THE ACTUAL ITEM. OKAY, NOW, NOW ITEM 58. DATE IS AN ORDINANCE. THE DATE IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. NOW WHERE ARE WE? [MATTERS HELD] X ITEM 59. ITEM 59 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM SIX IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. OKAY, MEMBERS [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] POP OFF. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANNA THANK THE JACK GATES, UH, GOVERNMENT CLASS. AND DR. ELLIOT AGAIN FOR COMING DOWN TO CITY HALL ON YESTERDAY. WE HAD A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION OF THE WORTHING COASTS WHO ARE 11 AND OH IN THE FOOTBALL SEASON AND CURRENTLY IN THE PLAYOFFS. IT THIS, IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EVENT. UM, OUR GUESTS WERE HERBERT SIMS, THE DIRECTOR, UH, PASTOR MAX MILLER, PASTOR KENNETH ROSE, AND CERTAINLY THE HONORABLE MAYOR, SANDRA MASSEY HINES, ALONG WITH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, TYRONE NORTH AND LINDA CALLOWAY. BUT, AND, AND ALSO DR. PIETA VANDERBILT STARWARS, WHO IS THE HCC DISTRICT NINE TRUSTEE. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT. AND MAYOR, I WANNA REALLY, REALLY THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT MEANT A LOT TO ME PERSONALLY, AS WELL AS TO THE TEAM FOR THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. TO COME DOWN AND MAKE IT THE WORTHY HIGH SCHOOL DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER. AND OF COURSE, I DO REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE AN ATHLETE YOURSELF. NOW YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE A SLOW PERSON. I'M NOT GONNA SAY , ALL THAT YOU SAID, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. AND IT WAS JUST PHENOMENAL. AND WE THANK, UH, THE TEAM AND CERTAINLY THEY ARE THE PRIDE OF SUNNYSIDE AND CERTAINLY DISTRICT D IS TOTALLY BEHIND THEM. AND I WILL BE THERE CHEERING LIKE A CHEERLEADER LIKE I WAS LAST WEEK. AND SO WE ARE GONNA CHEER THEM ON THE VICTORY. UM, ON YESTERDAY AS WELL, THERE WAS A SPARK PARK DEDICATION AT BEVERLY HILLS INTERMEDIATE, UH, WHICH IS ALWAYS A WONDERFUL EVENT AND A TRANSFORMATIVE SPACE WHERE THE CHILDREN CAN PLAY AND LEARN AND THRIVE. AND PARKS ARE LIKE THIS, ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE GROWTH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. AND AGAIN, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO TALK TO THE PARKWOOD DRIVE CIVIC CLUB LAST NIGHT. IT MEANT A LOT TO THEM AS WELL TO HAVE THE, UH, MAYOR OF THE CITY TO COME OUT AND ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR ISSUES. AND I THANK DIRECTOR SIMS, DIRECTOR TRAN, CHIEF DIAZ, REBECCA WILLIAMS, DR. CYNTHIA WILSON, AND MARY BENTON FOR COMING OUT AND LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY. UH, I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND. I WAS DOING A RADIO TALK SHOW AND I WASN'T ABLE TO CHANGE THAT DATE. SO, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I HEARD YOU SPOKE WELL OF ME AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. UM, I DIGRESS. UH, , UH, ALSO THE THIRD WARD COMMUNITY HOME CUNY HOMES. LORD, IMPLEMENTATION KICKOFF WILL BE ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST AT 6:00 PM AT THE EL DORADO BALLROOM. 2310 ELGIN STREET, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY INVITES YOU TO THIS CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPLEMENTATION KICKOFF. AND THIS IS AN INITIATIVE, UH, WHICH IS A BOLD STATE STEP TOWARD REVITALIZING OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOUR VOICE IS CRUCIAL TO A SUCCESS. AND THEN ON FRIDAY, THERE WILL BE A SPARK PARK DEDICATION AT WHAT I CALL TURNER LOCKHART. UM, ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER THE 22ND AT 9:30 AM UH, TURNER IS, UH, [04:55:01] EXCUSE ME, LOCKHART IS IN THE 3,200 BLOCK OF ROSEDALE. THE EVENT IS AT NINE 30. AND AGAIN, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM A TRANSFORMATIVE SPACE FOR OUR CHILDREN. UH, ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THE VICTORY COMMUNITY CHURCH WILL HAVE THEIR 38TH ANNIVERSARY AT 7:00 PM I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO COME AND SPEAK. AND THIS EVENT IS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE ROLE FAITH AND COMMUNITY PLAY IN BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEN THERE WILL BE A SORORITY ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED COMMUNITY WASTE REDUCTION EVENT ON SATURDAY THE 23RD FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM IT WILL BE IN THE SHEAR PARKING LOT OF THE JOHNSON NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY, 35 11 REED ROAD. AND THIS EVENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT CLEANING UP, IT'S ABOUT COMING TOGETHER AS NEIGHBORS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. CERTAINLY THE PARTNERS ARE THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED, THE OMEGA SCI-FI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SUBSCRIBE TO THE DISTRICT D EMAIL BY EMAILING DISTRICT D@HOUSTONTX.GOV. AND I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND SAFE THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU. NEXT WOULD BE, UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS GER. HE PASSED. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT, UH, HELPED US OUT WITH THE EVENT WE HAD LAST SATURDAY, CLEANING UP THE MEDIANS IN, UH, KINGWOOD. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN AND COUNCILMAN CARTER WERE BOTH OUT THERE HELPING AS WELL. UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THEM COMING OUT THERE. UH, HOUSTON TOOL BANK, UH, HPD, UH, CHICK-FIL-A, UH, PROVIDED A MEAL AS WELL. SO, I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY NICE. WE ENDED UP HAVING 50 VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE. UH, PARKS HAD ANOTHER 16 PEOPLE, MY STAFF, SO WE ENDED UP WITH REALLY A, A GOOD TURNOUT. GOT A LOT OF WORK DONE, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN. AND SPEAKING OF PARKS, I MEAN, THEY REALLY CAME THROUGH FOR US. UH, THEY HAD A CHIPPER OUT THERE. UH, THEY REALLY DID A GREAT JOB. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM. IN FACT, UH, LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO USE SOME OF OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT FUNDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO, UH, HELP OUT THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING, TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR PARKS THIS YEAR AS WELL. SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANNA THANK 'EM ALL. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST ONE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT. UM, WANT TO LET THE FOLKS THAT KNOW IN DISTRICT B, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN FOR OUR DISTRICT B YEAR END CELEBRATION. UM, IT WILL BE FRIDAY, DECEMBER THE 13TH AT 6:00 PM AT STUDIOS AT EAST RIVER, LOCATED AT 28 50 CLINTON DRIVE. UM, WE WILL HAVE FOOD, DRINKS, MUSIC, AND GIVEAWAYS. SO I'M ASKING RESIDENTS TO PLEASE RSVP BY CALLING 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 AND ALSO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER SO THAT YOU CAN STAY INFORMED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT. THANK YOU AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE. COUNCIL FLICK. UH, H THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE SPRING BRANCH MEMORIAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION, SBMA TEAMS THAT ARE HEADED TO THE TULLEY BALL THIS WEEKEND, WHICH IS HELD AT THE STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM, UM, FOR THE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS, MY SON'S TEAM, THE ROMO CREEK CHIEFS, WILL BE COMPETING FOR THE SECOND GRADE FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. SO GOOD LUCK TO THEM AND TO ALL THE TEAMS COMPETING THIS WEEKEND. UM, ALSO WE KNOW THAT, UH, THANKSGIVING IS AROUND THE CORNER AND THAT THE HOUSTON AIRPORTS WILL SEE RECORD TRAVELERS. THIS, UH, THIS YEAR, BUSH AND HOBBY EXPECT TO SERVE 2.2 MILLION TRAVELERS. AND ALTHOUGH THE AIRPORT IS READY, UM, JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE TO BE PATIENT AND SAVE TRAVELS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I WANT TO LEAD WITH SOME CONSTITUENT ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN OUR OFFICE, BUT ALSO COMMUNICATED IN THE NEWSLETTER. SO THIS IS FOR BROAD AWARENESS. WE HAVE A, A SERIES OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN WEST CHASE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SOME PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, OR WE ARE FULLY AWARE OF THAT. WE'RE WORKING WITH WEST SIDE COMMAND. UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A TARGETED TOWN HALL TO ADDRESS THAT. AND SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESIDENTS AND THE, UH, MANAGEMENT OF THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE. UM, A GOOD NEWS, BUT WITH THE SAD AND SOMBER NOTE, UM, WE DO HAVE 25 NEW STREET LIGHTS, UM, APPROVED. AND IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLATION IN DISTRICT F AS YOU KNOW, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE INITIATED A, UH, INITIATIVE CALLED DISTRICT F IS LIT, WHICH IS A PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE, UM, THROUGH IMPROVED STREET LIGHTING. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE UNABLE TO INSTALL STREET LIGHTING, UM, TO THE POINT ON SENATE AND CLEARWOOD LAST WEEK. WE, UM, LOST A 90-YEAR-OLD PEDESTRIAN WALKING DOWN SENATE, UH, CLEARWOOD. UM, HE [05:00:01] WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER BECAUSE IT WAS DARK AT THAT INTERSECTION. UM, AND SO, UM, OUR CONDOLENCES ARE WITH THAT FAMILY. UM, BUT, UH, WANNA REASSURE THE COMMUNITY THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE TOP OF THE YEAR, WHERE WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, THE LACK OF SIDEWALKS, THE LACK OF DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, STREET IMPROVEMENTS FOR FISCAL 26 FOR SENATE. UM, SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR, UM, INBOX OPENS OPEN FOR THOSE UPDATES. UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UH, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST WEEK ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT F. LAST WEEK I WAS IN TAMPA AT THE NATIONAL, UH, LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE, UM, AND WAS HONORED TO, UM, SERVE ON A PANEL GENERAL HOUSING, A GENERAL PANEL, UH, SESSION ON HOUSING WITH, UH, SAN ANTONIO MAYOR RON BERG AND TEMPE ARIZONA. MAYOR CORY WOODS. HONOR ALSO TO SERVE AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT WAS AN HONOR TO SIT, SIT AND STAND BEFORE 450, UH, BLACK ELECTEDS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. UH, ON FRIDAY, UM, AT THE LEGACY HALL, THERE WAS AN OPENING RECEPTION OF THE NIGERIAN EXHIBIT IN THE LEGACY ROOM. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DIRECTOR NICOLE IRVING AND HER TEAM, UM, AND THEIR VISION FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY. UH, AS, AS YOU KNOW, ON THE WEST SIDE, WE, UM, REPRESENT THE LARGEST WEST AFRICAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT. IF YOU HAVE NOT VISITED, UH, THE LEGACY ROOM CITY HALL DOWNSTAIRS OR THROUGHOUT, UH, P ONE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AND, AND, AND, AND NOTICE THE, UH, RICH CULTURE AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. ON SATURDAY MORNING, I CELEBRATED, UM, THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF ISLAM IN SPANISH IN SPANISH, CENTRAL ISLAMIC IN DISTRICT F. IT'S THE FIRST SPANISH SPEAKING ISLAMIC CENTER, UM, A FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES. AND IT WAS FOUNDED BY BORN ALE RESIDENT JAIME FLETCHER. UM, PLEASE VISIT, UH, THAT LOCATION AT 12 7 0 3 BRENT ROCK. UH, IT'S DEFINITELY A BEACON ON THE WEST SIDE, AND AS I MENTIONED, UM, IN MY REMARKS, THE ONLY PLACE ON EARTH THAT THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE IS SOUTHWEST ALE TEXAS. UM, ON SATURDAY, I JOINED SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, TO PRESENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE AFRO TECH, 38,000 BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN TECH ASCENDED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, SO I WAS ABLE TO STAND ON THE STAGE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND OTHER LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. AFRO TECH BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF BLACK PROFESSIONALS TO THE CITY TO, UH, NETWORK, COLLABORATE, AND TO INNOVATE. I'M EXCITED THAT THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED, ANNOUNCED HOUSTON AS THEIR 2025 LOCATION. LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORK WITH YOU. UH, YESTERDAY I SPOKE AT THE HOUSTON HOUSING COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCE, UM, DISCUSSING INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PANEL. I WANT TO THANK DR. ADRIAN HOLLOWAY, UM, AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH AN AWESOME CONFERENCE. YESTERDAY, THE SIERRA LEON COMMUNITY VISIT, UH, JOINED ME AT CITY HALL YESTERDAY, NOT ONLY TO PRAY AND OFFER A CHRISTIAN IN A MUSLIM PRAYER, BUT ALSO THEY ARE ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF THEIR HOUSTON SIERRA LEONE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MY OFFICE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THEM TO INTRODUCE THEM TO RESOURCES RELATED TO OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND MORE. I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A PUBLIC WORKS CONCERN. LAST WEEK, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, HAD HOSTED A, UH, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETING AROUND THE GESNER CIP, WHICH IS INCLUDED DISTRICT F AND DISTRICT G SOUTH OF WESTHEIMER. THEY'RE PROPOSING, UM, ENHANCING THOSE LANES FROM FOUR TO SIX. UH, RESIDENTS HAVE SENT EMAILS AND CONSTERNATION AND FRUSTRATION REGARDING THAT. SO I WANNA REASSURE YOU THAT, UM, FOR THOSE IN TANGO, WILD WESTMONT, CARBO CREST, AND ALL ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DISTRICT, I'M HAVING A DIRECT BRIEFING FOR MYSELF ON FRIDAY AT NOON. AND WE'LL PROVIDE UPDATES IN THE NEWSLETTER AND SHARE THIS WITH YOUR, UH, UH, UH, CIVIC CLUB LEADERS, UH, FOR THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT OCTOBER 16TH. UH, ROUND TWO IS COMING AT THE TOP OF, UH, QUARTER QUARTER 2025. UM, FOR THOSE WHO WERE REGISTERS, UM, CHECK YOUR INBOX FOR A DIRECT INVITATION. WE HAVE CURATED, UM, A FOLLOW UP TO THAT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE. UH, AND LASTLY, I WANNA WISH MY BIG BROTHER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. TROY DEMON THOMAS' BIRTHDAY WAS, UH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH. I LOVE YOU MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING MY FIRST FRIEND. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND COLLEAGUES. I WILL TELL YOU, I WAS IN THE GENERAL SESSION AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WHEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WAS ON THE PANEL SHARING HOUSTON'S STORY, AND SHE REPRESENTED AS WELL. SO WELL DONE. UH, ALSO, I HOPE THAT AFRO TECH WILL FIND HOUSTON TO BE THEIR HOME. I I UNDERSTAND. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. ALL RIGHT, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR PERIM. UM, FIRST WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OPERATION STOCKING STUFFER TOY DRIVE. AND SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, YOU CAN BRING AN UNWRAPPED TOY TO CITY HALL ANNEX FIRST FLOOR. WE HAVE BO UM, COLLECTION BOXES THERE, AND WE ARE COLLECTING IT THROUGH DECEMBER 6TH. AND THEN I WANTED TO ADDRESS THIS WITH THE MAYOR, BUT I'M SURE HIS OFFICE IS LISTENING. SO, UM, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH [05:05:01] HEAVY TRASH GETTING COLLECTED IN DISTRICT A AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S CITYWIDE. UM, LOTS OF AREAS ARE NOT GETTING HEAVY TRASH PICKED UP. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON OCTOBER'S HEAVY TRASH AND PROBABLY WILL NOT, UM, GET THROUGH IT UNTIL DECEMBER. AND SO NOW WE'RE GOING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHERE CONSTITUENTS HAVE, UM, HEAVY TRASH OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOMES AND IT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR SOME TIME. WE ALSO HAVE SOME AREAS OF THE DISTRICT THAT NEVER GOT THE SECOND PASS OF STORM DEBRIS, AND THAT IS STILL OUT THERE AS WELL. SO, UM, FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET THIS HEAVY TRASH COLLECTED, EVEN IF IT, IT MEANS HIRING OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS TO GET THIS DONE, IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, I TOO WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE AFRO TECH, UM, THAT WAS HERE LAST WEEK. UM, 20 TO 30,000 YOUNG BLACK TECH PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, MAYBE ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT CAME TO HOUSTON. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WHEN I WENT TO GEORGE R. BROWN. I SAW ALL THREE LEVELS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER FILLED WITH TECH PROFESSIONALS. I'VE, I'VE RARELY SEEN THE CONVENTION THAT CAN FILL ALL THREE FLOORS FROM EAST TO WEST AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN, BUT THEY DID. AND THE LOGISTICS THAT GO INTO IT, UM, ALL OF THE EFFORT, UH, THAT MADE THAT HAPPEN, UH, WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. SO EXCITED THAT THEY'RE COMING BACK, UH, NEXT YEAR. UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOUSTON FIRST AND THEIR ROLE, UH, AND FOR THE CITY TO PLAY AN EVEN LARGER, UM, ROLE IN OUR INVOLVEMENT AND OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH AFRO TECH. I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL BE WORKING WITH HOUSTON FIRST TO BRING STATS ON WHAT THEIR ECONOMICAL IMPACT WAS TO OUR CITY AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO EVEN INCREASE THAT, UH, NEXT YEAR, BUT TO ALL INVOLVED WITH THAT CONFERENCE. UM, IT WAS A GREAT, A GREAT CONFERENCE AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. SO, GEORGE AND I WERE DOWNTOWN FOR THE ASTROS FOUNDATION THING, AND WE SAW SO MANY, SO MUCH ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF AFRO TECH. I MEAN, IT WAS PACKED. IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE. SO I THINK THE ECONOMIC IMPACT'S PROBABLY BIG, LOOKED LIKE EVERY RESTAURANT WAS FULL. PEOPLE WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO, UM, WELL DONE ON THAT, UH, ON EVERYBODY. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR BFA. WE'VE GOT A BIG MEETING COMING UP ON DECEMBER 3RD. WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE BARK, LGC, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION. WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT TS REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED RECENTLY AND GET SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THAT. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE HOUSTON FIRST BUDGET. SO SEE YOU NEXT, UH, TU OR I GUESS AFTER THANKSGIVING ON, ON DECEMBER 3RD. AND HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING. ALRIGHT, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL WIND IT DOWN WITH OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM DISTRICT K DO WANT TO REMIND COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, UH, HERE AT 2:00 PM IN THE CHAMBERS. UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF WILL PRESENT ON AMENDMENTS TO TERMS 17, 20 AND 25. AND THEN THE OFFICE OF OBO WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S DISPARITY STUDY. SO I DO KNOW THAT THESE ARE IMPORTANT TOPICS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL WANT TO, UM, BE IN ATTENDANCE OR AT LEAST PARTICIPATING IN, UH, GAINING THAT INFORMATION. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF, UH, REPLACEMENT CONCRETE PANELS IN FRAN SOUTHWEST FRAN GREEN COMMUNITY THAT BEGAN THIS MONTH. I THINK THE RESIDENTS WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE THAT. IMPROVED MOBILITY ALONG BOB WHITE DRIVE FROM QUAIL METAL DRIVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH WEST AIRPORT. ALSO GOT SOME, UH, IMPROVED SIDEWALKS COMING SOON IN PIERCE JUNCTION VILLAGE COMMUNITY ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF 28 38 JUNCTION DRIVE. UH, WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THOSE RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE ALSO BEING MET. TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE THE ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPARK PARK RIBBON CUTTING AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT 1:30 PM IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT. UH, WE WILL SEE YOU THERE. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE, UH, WHEN WE RETURN AND WE ARE 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.