* 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. [00:00:03] COME TO ORDER, [PRESENTATIONS] GIVE THE, UH, CHAIR TO THE MAYOR. PRO M CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE NONPROFIT WILD TUNES TO CELEBRATE WILD TOONS DAY. COME ON. SOUND SOUNDS WILD TO ME. . I TOLD THEM WE WERE SECOND, SO THEY GOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD. LOVE. HEY PARTNER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU BECOME STAND BY ME, DIRECTOR. ALL THE BARK FOLKS. A ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. LAST YEAR I GOT TO MEET UV BUDDY. IT'S YOUR DAY. COME HERE. AND HIS PARENTS, YOU'LL SEE IN A MOMENT WHY I HAD TO HAVE THEM BACK, TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU AND TO THE PUBLIC. WILD TUNES WAS FOUNDED IN 2023 WHEN UV WAS 10, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. HE HAS A LOVE FOR ANIMALS AND FOR MUSIC, AND HE PUT THEM TOGETHER TO PLAY AT ANIMAL SHELTERS TO HELP EASE THE STRESS AND ANXIETY OF ANIMALS AND TO HELP REESTABLISH THEIR CONNECTION WITH ALL OF US. IT'S A GREAT, IT'S ALSO REALLY GOOD PRACTICE FOR THE MUSICIANS THAT GET TO PARTICIPATE, RANGING FROM AGES SEVEN TO OVER 70. THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL, NO PUN INTENDED, WITH THE ANIMALS SPECIFICALLY AT BARK, AND I WANNA APPRECIATE THE ENTIRE BARK TEAM AS WELL. DIRECTOR CO. COREY, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WILD TUNES HAS MULTIPLE PROGRAMS, SOME WHERE STUDENTS GET TO GO AND PLAY, AND THIS YEAR THEY'VE STARTED STARS FOR PAUSE, WHICH FEATURES PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AS WELL. THEIR ANNUAL MELODIES OF GRATITUDE CONCERT HAS RAISED NEARLY $50,000 IN DONATIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SHELTERS WITH OVER 50 ARTISTS AND STUDENTS PERFORMING AT THEIR TWO CONCERTS. SO, A BIG, BIG THANK YOU BEFORE I READ THIS PROCLAMATION TO UV AND THE, AND TEAM WILD TUNES THE ENTIRE STAFF BEHIND US ALL. WHO AGAIN, IN THIS YOUNG MAN'S VISION HAS COME TO FRUITION AND TO HIS FAMILY FOR SEEING YOUR SON'S VISION THROUGH AND TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES PROVIDING, UH, PROVING THAT A CREATIVE IDEA CAN HAVE A LASTING IMPACT, ONE SONG AT A TIME. AND I DO WANNA DO A VERY PERSONAL PUSH. ANYBODY CAN GO TO WILD TOONS.ORG TO LEARN MORE AND TO SUPPORT. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS WILD TOONS WAS FOUNDED WITH THE MISSION OF COMBINING THE UNIVERSAL POWER OF MUSIC WITH THE COMPASSIONATE CARE OF ANIMALS, ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OUR SHELTER, ANIMALS, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY TOUCH. WILD TOONS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORTED THE BARK ANIMAL SHELTER BY HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL MELODIES OF GRATITUDE, PERFORMANCE FUNDRAISER, PROVIDING CRITICAL FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF HOUSTON'S ANIMALS. THE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF WILD TOONS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO REGULARLY PERFORM LIVE MUSIC AT THE SHELTER, BRINGING COMFORT AND ENRICHMENT TO ANIMALS AWAITING THEIR FOREVER HOMES. THE GROUP CONTINUES TO INNOVATE AND EXPAND THEIR IMPACT THROUGH THE LAUNCH OF STARS FOR PAW IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WHICH BRINGS ESTABLISHED ARTISTS TO PERFORM IN OUR SHELTERS AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PET ADOPTION, FOSTERING AND VOLUNTEERISM. THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE GARNERED WIDESPREAD RECOGNITION ACROSS TRADITION, TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE OF LOVE, CREATIVITY, AND CARE FOR ANIMALS. WILD TOONS IS UNWAVERING. DEDICATION HAS NOT ONLY ENHANCED THE WELLBEING OF ANIMALS AT BARK, BUT ALSO INSPIRED COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS TO VOLUNTEER, DONATE, ADOPT, ALL, HELPING TO REDUCE SHELTER OVERCROWDING AND INCREASING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR ANIMALS IN NEED. THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS OF WILD TOS, AND I'LL SAY ALSO [00:05:01] OF UV FOR THEIR VOLUNTEERS IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CITY COMMENDS WILD TOONS FOR THEIR COMPASSION AND USING THEIR TALENTS AND ADVOCATING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS AND FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING BARK. MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KAMAN, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED, . THANK YOU. EVERY TIME I THINK I'VE SEEN EVERYTHING, THEN I SEE A CONCEPT LIKE THIS, AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES OUR CITY SO GREAT. THANK YOU. AND, UH, WITH YOUR YOUTH AND YOUR, YOUR VISION, IT JUST SHOWS WHAT OUR BRIGHT FUTURE IS. SO THANK YOU. AND TO THE PARENTS, I KNOW YOU'RE PROUD AND TO BARK, WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. WE'RE, WE'RE FOCUSING ON IMPROVING YOUR WORKING CONDITIONS AND, UH, GIVING YOU SOME ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 11TH, 2025 IS WILD TOONS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. SO UV, DO YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? I THINK HE HAS SOME PREPARED REMARKS FOR US. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN AND ALL CITY OFFICIALS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. WALTERS IS A PROGRAM I CREATED WITH A SIMPLE THOUGHT TO COMBINE THE POWER OF MUSIC WITH MY LOVE FOR ANIMALS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF HARMLESS PETS. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY DOG, BOZO. WITHOUT WHOM IT WOULD'VE NEVER STRUCK ME, THAT MUSIC CAN HAVE SUCH A HEALING EFFECT ON ANIMALS. MY MISSION IS SIMPLE. I WANNA SAVE THE LIVES OF ANIMALS MUSICALLY. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PETS AND RUSH AREA SHELTERS, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WALTONS CAN HELP. LAST YEAR, BARK ALONE TOOK IN MORE THAN 21,000 PETS. WHEN ANIMALS EXPERIENCE A HUMAN PLAYING MELODIOUS MUSIC FOR THEM OVER TIME, IT CALMS THEM DOWN. THIS LIVE MUSICAL INTERACTION HELPS THE ANIMALS REBUILD THEIR BRIDGES WITH HUMANS, AND ULTIMATELY HELPS THEM GET ADOPTED FASTER. AND IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY BEAUTIFUL STORIES OF PUPS GETTING ADOPTED BECAUSE OF HER MUSIC, BOTH BY THE PUBLIC AND OUR VOLUNTEERS. WHILE TUNES UP OFFERS IS THE PERFECT WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL INVOLVED, THE ANIMALS THAT GET TO ENJOY MUSIC, PLAYED BY A HUMAN TAKING ALL THEIR ANXIETY AND STRESS AWAY, AND THE VOLUNTEERS GET TO PRACTICE THE MUSIC IN FRONT OF A NON-JUDGMENTAL AUDIENCE, UH, WHICH BOOSTS THEIR CONFIDENCE. AND THE SHELTERS GET A REALLY UNIQUE WAY TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND EVENTUALLY SEE THEIR ANIMALS GET ADOPTED. AND TODAY WILL NOT. THE, UH, WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF MY PARENTS. I LOVE YOU, MAMA AND PAPA TODAY WOULD NOT BE PO A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS, TEAM MEMBERS, UH, MY SCHOOL, THE VILLAGE SCHOOL, UH, WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME FROM THE START. UH, OUR DONORS AND SHELTER PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY BARK FOR BELIEVING IN OUR MISSION AND GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY GIVING ANIMALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY SOME HEARTWARMING MUSIC. THANK YOU. MOM, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO BE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UM, WHILE TUNES REALLY STARTED WITH THIS BOY'S VISION, ACTUALLY HE STARTED, HE THOUGHT OF THIS WHEN HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD. AND THROUGH HIS PERSISTENCE, THE PROGRAM HAS COME THIS FAR, THUS FAR, AND I AM JUST EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO ALL MY VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US. CAR BO SARAH, MY TEAM MEMBERS. IN FACT, BO IS THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN, BO BOTTOMS, TO JOIN STARS FOR PAW. AND WHEN WE WENT TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAM AT BACH, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PUP, AND SHE ADOPTED THE PUP, AND SHE'S NAMED THE PUP WILMA. UM, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO ALL MY TEAM MEMBERS AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND BARK. I MEAN, I THINK IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF, UH, IT TAKES FOR A FARSIGHTEDNESS AND VISION TO THINK THAT SUCH A PROGRAM WOULD WORK. AND BARK HAS WELCOMED US, UH, WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, TEAM BARK. WE ARE JUST VERY, VERY GRATEFUL. AND IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S MUSICALLY INCLINED, WHO WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, PLEASE JOIN US. THANK YOU. [00:11:24] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MONTOYA MURRAY IN HONOR OF HER BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE 2025 MLK ORATOR CONTEST. WINNER MAYOR. OH, SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROM. IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHERE YOU CAN CELEBRATE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I'M JUST, JUST SO VERY EXCITED. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR UH, TEAM WAS THIS WEEKEND, BUT I HAVE THE SUPER BOWL WINNER OF THE ORATORY COMPETITION OF THE 29TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CONTEST. UH, SHE WON LAST YEAR, AND SHE BLESSED US AND SAID, I WANNA ASK MATOYA MURRAY TO COME UP AND CERTAINLY COME UP WITH YOUR PARENTS, SEAN AND CHARDONNAY MURRAY AS WELL. OH, SHE'S SO PRECIOUS. OH MY GOD. MATOYA, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. MATOYA MURRAY, WINNER OF THE 29TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ORATOR COMPETITION. WHEREAS MATOYA MURRAY, A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT AT BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY, HAS EXHIBITED REMARKABLE TALENT AND DEDICATION BY SECURING FIRST PLACE IN THE 29TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR ORATORY COMPETITION THAT SHE ALSO WON LAST YEAR. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S DISTINGUISHED COMPETITION AMONG STUDENTS FROM HISD SCHOOLS FEATURED THE RELEVANT AND THOUGHT PROVOKING TOPIC, WHAT WOULD DR. KING TELL US ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS AND LEADERS IN AMERICA TODAY? MONTOYA MURRAY'S PERFORMANCE, ASKING STUDENTS TO CULTIVATE MEANINGFUL INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF THIS YEAR'S THEME. AND WHEREAS THROUGH HER PASSIONATE COMMITMENT IN HER ORATORY PIECE, MATOYA MURRAY HAS INSPIRED FELLOW STUDENTS, THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, EMPOWERING THEM TO EMBRACE THE PRINCIPLES OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND ARTICULATE THOSE IDEALS THROUGH THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING OR CONTRIBUTIONS, UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF FOSTERING CULTURAL DIVERSITY, CREATIVITY, AND LEADERSHIP AMONG YOUNG STUDENTS, ENSURING THAT DR. KING'S LEGACY CONTINUES TO RESONATE WITH THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY HONORS MATOYA MURRAY FOR HER DEDICATION, IN PROMOTING EXCELLENCE, IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, ADVANCING DIVERSITY, AND FURTHERING DR. KING'S MESSAGE OF HOPE, EQUALITY, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY. WE CELEBRATE HER ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTEND OUR SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MONTOYA. I, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE RIGHT THING TO SAY TO SOMEONE THAT IS SO TALENTED. I'M AFRAID YOU'LL SAY, AH, I CAN OUT SPEAK HIM , BUT YOU HAVE REALLY A SPECIAL SKILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING HOW GREAT OUR CITY IS, OUR PEOPLE, AND BRINGING US TOGETHER WITH YOUR EDITORIAL SKILLS. AND I JUST, WE ALL ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT SEEING WHERE YOU TAKE THIS GOD-GIVEN TALENT AND YOUR HARD WORK TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY, I THINK WE'LL LOOK AROUND HERE AND YOU'LL BE SITTING UP THERE WITH US BEHIND THE HORSESHOE OR MAYBE EVEN SOMETHING GREATER. SO THANK YOU. IT'S MY PLEASURE. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 11TH, 2025 [00:15:02] IS MONTOYA MURRAY DAY AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. WOO. AND MAYOR, UH, LATOYA'S GONNA BLESS US TODAY WITH HER SPEECH. UH, THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SAY IS THE OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE A CHANCE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE SHE'S AGED OUT. OH, REALLY? BUT CERTAINLY SHE HAS LEFT A REMARKABLE LEGACY AT BLACK BLACKSHEAR ELEMENTARY IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATIONS. AND SO, MONTOYA, IT'S, IT'S FOR YOU. THANK YOU. COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. THANK YOU. PREPARE Y'ALL TO BE AMAZED. GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE, STEP BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS FROM ABOVE. GOD, PLEASE BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME. SWEET HOME, AMERICA. AMERICA. WE STAND TODAY IN A NATION, NATION SATURATED WITH IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND BRAVERY. DR. KING ONCE SAID, IN AMERICA, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE DAILY THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. HE WOULD BE SO PROUD OF HOW FAR WE HAVE COME FROM SEGREGATION TO INTEGRATION, FROM RACISM IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, TO LIVING AS A BROTHERHOOD. YES, GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA. HOWEVER, DR. KING ACKNOWLEDGED DENNIS SPEECH, THE OTHER AMERICA. THE REALITY IS THERE ARE TWO AMERICAS, ONE, FLOURISHING OR PROSPERITY, THE OTHER PLAGUED BY POVERTY AND INEQUALITY. THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WHAT WOULD DR. KING TELL US ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS AND LEADERS IN AMERICA TODAY? DR. KING WOULD REMIND US THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO KEEP AMERICA'S HEART TO BE STRONG AND IN HARMONY WITH GOD, TO CREATE THE SOCIETY ROOTED INEQUALITY. LET'S BE SHARE MOMENTS FROM MY OWN LIFE THAT BREAKS THIS IDEA TOO LOT. WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN 2019, , AT THE END OF MY KINDERGARTEN YEAR, WE PERFORMED SING A SONG BY EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE. THE MESSAGE WAS SIMPLE. IF YOUR DOWN AND OUT SING A SONG AND IT'LL MAKE YOUR DAY. AT THAT TIME, AMERICA'S HEARTS BEAT WAS STEADY. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. THEN COVID-19 STRUCK THE NATION'S. HE BEATS RACED WITH PANIC. AS OVER 1.2 MILLION LIVES WERE LOST, AND THE RHYTHM OF AMERICA WEAKENED. SENDING US TO OUR KNEES CRYING. GOD, PLEASE BLESS AMERICA. DR. KING, A DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE KEPT THE RHYTHM OF THE HEARTBEAT OF AMERICA ALIVE. HE WOULD TELL US THE IMPACT OF CVID 19 CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR NATION'S. HEARTBEATS LOST THE RHYTHM, CAUSING US TO NEED BYPASS SURGERY IN OUR DEMOCRACY. WE MUST STABILIZE THE HEARTBEATS OF OUR NATION. BUT SHORTLY AFTER THE STARTS OF COVID, AMERICA CHOSE TO BYPASS JUSTICE AFTER THE MURDERS OF GEORGE FLOYD BREONNA TAYLOR AND AH, MAUD AUBREY. ON JANUARY 6TH AT THE INSURRECTION, WE BYPASSED PEACE. AND DURING THE 2024 ELECTION, RUDE COMMERCIALS FEATURED CANDIDATES LASHING OUT AT THE OTHER SIDE, CAUSING AMERICA TO BYPASS RIGHTEOUSNESS. JUST LIKE THE HEART NEEDS SURGERY WHEN IT IS DAMAGED OR WEAK, THE HEARTBEATS OF AMERICA REQUIRES CARE WHEN IT IS OUT OF SYNC, FILLED WITH HATEFUL RHETORIC. DR. KING AND VI IN AMERICA WERE JUST AS FLAW LIKE A MIGHTY RIVER, ENSURING EQUALITY FOR ALL HE DREAMED OF A NATION WHERE INNOCENT IMMIGRANTS FLING PAIN AND SORROW, FIND HOPE LEGALLY, AND WITH DIGNITY. TODAY, FACED WITH THE CHALLENGES OF DIVISION AND DESPAIR. WHEN INNOCENT CHILDREN ARE GUNNED DOWN AT SCHOOL, DR. KING WOULD CRY OUT, IS THERE IN THE ROOM? AMERICA NEEDS CP NOW BECAUSE OF THE PAIN AND GLOOM. SEE, CALL ON GOD TO UPHOLD JUSTICE. JUST AS A SURGEON MUST CAREFULLY RESTART THE AFTER SURGERY, AMERICA MUST ACTIVELY WORK TO RESTART ITS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE. P PROMOTES PEACE AMONG ALL PEOPLE IN A WORLD FRACTURED BY DIVISION, DR. KINGWOOD IMPLORES TO BUILD BRIDGES, NOT WALLS. FINALLY, R RIGHTEOUS LIVING REQUIRED. HE WOULD SAY, CHOOSE [00:20:01] FAITH AND FAMILY OVER FAME AND FORTUNE. CHOOSE PRINCIPLES OVER POLITICAL PARTIES. VOTE FOR CHARACTER OVER COLOR. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS MORE THAN THE LIKES. HE GETS ALL TIKTOK. I STOP BY TO TELL YOU ON MY WAY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT DR. KING WOULD SAY, AMERICA, YOU'VE MADE IT THIS FAR. NOW TRY. CPR. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. THANK YOU. OH MY GOODNESS. AWESOME. TURN AROUND. LET'S TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE MAYOR. WOW. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. COULD THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION TURN AROUND, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. OH, EXCUSE ME, MA'AM. AND MONTOYA MURRAY, IF Y'ALL CAN TURN AROUND, WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MY PROTOCOL. EXCUSE ME. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. CAN YOU TALK ME ? THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AMAZING. AS SOON AS I SAW YOUR NAME, I SAID, SHE'S ONE AGAIN. YOU ARE INCREDIBLE. AND I KNOW THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, MAYBE NOT, BUT ONE OF THE NEXT TIMES I WILL SEE YOU, YOU'LL BE DOING THAT IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR AN INAUGURATION. AND I TOOK PARTICULAR NOTE WHEN YOU STARTED SPEAKING AT YOUR MOTHER'S TEARS. AND THE TEARS ARE TEARS OF PRIDE, AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING SO, SO, SO TO BE PROUD OF, GOD BLESS YOU. YOU ARE AN AMAZING LITTLE ANGEL ON THIS EARTH. YOU JUST, YOUR WORDS ARE JUST INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD TWO EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY. IT BRINGS US SO MUCH HOPE, NOT JUST FOR OUR CITY, BUT OUR NATION. YOUNG LADY, YOU ARE EXCEPTIONAL. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. BUT MOM, AND TO THE WHOLE FAMILY. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW YOU WON. THIS IS YOUR SECOND YEAR WINNING, AND I THINK YOU'RE THE FIRST TO EVER WIN TWICE IN A ROW. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. WELL, WE GOT, WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR YOU, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO YOU TO LEAD US. OKAY, THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. GOSH, I'M JUST SITTING HERE JUST COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. YOU ARE SO GOOD. THANK YOU. I MEAN, YOU ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD. I, I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING THE WORDS, BUT I THINK YOU FEEL THE WORDS, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. I MEAN, YOU REALLY BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THAT'S WHAT RESONATES. WE JUST DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ADULTS LIKE THAT, MORE OR LESS KIDS. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR MAKING US ACCOUNTABLE, UM, TO BE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND BEING WHAT AMERICAN NEEDS. YOU'RE SO AMAZING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, YOU MOM AND DAD, Y'ALL ARE JUST, THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE CREATED A HU A WONDERFUL, AMAZING HUMAN BEING. THANK YOU. AND, AND SHE'S ALREADY DOING BIG THINGS, BUT THE FUTURE IS INCREDIBLY BRIGHT. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MONTA BEFORE US AGAIN. WE ARE HAPPY TO BE IN HER PRESENCE YET AGAIN. AND TO HER PARENTS AND ALL OF HER SUPPORTERS, WELL DONE. UH, SHE IS DEFINITELY THE EPITOME OF, UM, CHILDREN BEING OUR REAL FUTURE. AND SO WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR YOU. AND WE WISH YOU THE ABSOLUTE VERY BEST. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON HAVING A DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. TODAY WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR DAY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [00:25:11] YEAH. THANKS, CHAIR. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] UH, RECOGNIZE THIS COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF I CAN HAVE, UH, FATHER HENRY, PLEASE STEP FORWARD. UH, REVEREND HENRY B. WALKER WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON. HE WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST IN 1985 AT ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, LOCATED IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. HE'S, HE NOW SERVES AS THE PASTOR OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. IN THE, IN THE EAST END, UM, MAGNOLIA PARK, PART OF EAST END. UH, FATHER HENRY HAS, UH, BEEN A DEVOTED SERVICE IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS TAUGHT AND SERVED AS A MISSIONARY OVERSEAS IN AFRICA. UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, FATHER HENRY. I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A HARD FOLLOW UP, UH, BUT PLEASE GRACE US, UH, WITH YOUR PRAYER. OKAY. THE LORD OF HEAVEN. WE LIVE IN A TIME WHEN MANY ARE CONCERNED FOR THEIR FUTURE AND THAT OF THEIR CHILDREN. SO BLESS THESE LEADERS WITH COURAGE SO THAT THE TRUST THAT HAS GIVEN THEM MAY ALWAYS BE WELL PLACED. THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE. SO MANY DEMANDS THAT REQUIRE THEIR ATTENTION AND ENERGY. SO SEND GOOD AND WILLING PEOPLE THEIR WAY TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS AND TO PATIENTLY DEAL WITH THE MANY CONCERNS THAT COME THEIR WAY EACH DAY. AS MANY. LOOK TO THESE LEADERS FOR GUIDANCE. MAY THEY RECEIVE STRENGTH IN TIMES OF CRISIS. FIND INSPIRATION TO THE CHALLENGES THAT UNEXPECTEDLY ARISE AND BLESSING IN THEIR DECISIONS. THEY TOO HAVE LOVED ONES AND FAMILIES. THEY ALSO COUNT ON THEIR FELLOW SERVANTS. THEY HAVE THEIR DREAMS AND WISHES FOR A BETTER CITY AND A BETTER WORLD. AND WE KNOW, LORD, THAT THIS SIMPLE PRAYER WON'T CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT IT IS A HEARTFELT PRAYER THAT GOES OUT TO ALL. AND MAY IT FIND ITS END AND PURPOSE IN A SPIRITUAL RESONANCE THAT BROACHES ALL PEOPLE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES WHERE WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UP BRIDGES AND FORM ONE UNITED COMMUNITY AND FAMILY, UH, IN YOU. WE OFFER YOU THIS PRAYER, MIGHTY LORD HERE AND ANSWER US. MAY WE ALWAYS FIND CAUSE TO COME BEFORE YOU, NOT ONLY IN OUR NEED, BUT IN OUR REJOICING AS WE COME TO YOU THIS DAY FOR YOUR BLESSING. YES. THANK YOU. FATHER, WILL YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TWO, THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. I AM [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PECK? HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN EVAN BOSS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. HERE. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. PRESENT. COUNCIL CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS WILL BE OUT. COUNCIL CARTER PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE MEET A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 4TH AND FIFTH CAST TM MOVE I SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED A MOTION PASSES. PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. NO, NO. HOLD ON. UH, WE NEED, UH, CASTEX FIRST. I'M SORRY. UH, MAYOR, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] I RECOGNIZE TO AS MAYOR PRO TIM CASTEX TATUM. MM. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JOSE VEGA TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST BEHIND CARMEN N NUNCIO FOR THREE MINUTES. AND THEN I'D ALSO LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ROBERT GALLEGOS BEHIND MICHAEL MORENO FOR THREE MINUTES ON THE SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, THEN MARTINEZ COUNCIL, MAYOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I'D, I'D, UH, MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES [00:30:01] TO ADD THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS TO THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA SPEAKER LIST, UH, TO SPEAK AFTER THE LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 52, LENORE OLA PULLMAN, MARY RAMOS AND STEVEN ELA. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE LALU DAVIES BEFORE LAURA CONLEY ON THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES AS SUPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JACOB CLEMENTE TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND. SO THAT WOULD BE AHEAD OF SELENA T HEINA. UNDER TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, UH, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER C PATRICK MCVAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARSHA LISTER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINATION OF ROBERT GALLEGOS, UH, TO THE PORT COMMISSION. I HAVE KNOWN ROBERT FOR OVER 20 YEARS. OUR ROOTS ARE BOTH IN COMMUNITY ACTIVISM. I FROM SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22, WHERE I REPRESENTED RICE MILITARY AND, AND FIRST WARD. UH, WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN, IN MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS TOGETHER. I CANNOT THINK OF ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND SPEAKING WELL FOR NOT ONLY THE CITY, BUT THE COUNTY, UH, AND, AND THE PORT. WHEN I FOUNDED THE WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS 16 YEARS AGO, ROBERT THEN COUNCIL MEMBER WA GALLEGOS WAS A VERY STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE WALK, UNDERSTANDING THE NEED, UH, FOR LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS OUT IN THE OPEN. UH, IT IS NOW THAT I'M A MEMBER THAT I'VE MOVED TO THE EAST END IN MAGNOLIA PARK, I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER PERSON QUALIFIED TO REPRESENT, UH, THE AREA, UH, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ON THE PORT COMMISSION. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPOINT ROBERT GALLEGOS TO THE PORT COMMISSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, MARSHA LISTER. MARSHA LISTER. ETHEL TERRELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY GUADALUPE HERNANDEZ FE FERNANDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ETHEL TERRELL, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE SMITH EDITION CIVIC CLUB SERVING THE EAST END OF HOUSTON. THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE SMITH EDITION CIVIC CLUB NOT ONLY OFFER THEIR SUPPORT, BUT CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO SUPPORT THE HONORABLE ROBERT GALLEGOS, FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO THE PORT COMMISSION. MR. GALLEGOS LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY AND HE UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THOSE LIVING AND WORKING IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PORT. THE SMITH EDITION CIVIC CLUB SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOUND IN THE ZIP CODE 7 7 0 1 2, WITH THE BOUNDARIES THAT INCLUDE HIGHWAY 2 25 BROADWAY STREET, LAWNDALE STREET, AND CENTRAL AVENUE, AND HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1980. WE HAVE WORKED WITH MANY POLITICAL OFFICES AND THEIR STAFF TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND CONCERN THAT AFFECT THE LIVES AND WELLBEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. NO ONE HAS BEEN AVAILABLE AND SUPPORTIVE AS ROBERT GALLEGOS. THIS WAS BEFORE DOING AND FOLLOWING HIS TENDER. AS MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, ROBERT GALLEGO KNOWS THAT LIVING AND WORKING NEAR THE PORT IMPACTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND HE UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND OUR CONSTANT VIGIL THAT WE KEEP TO SAFEGUARD US FROM TOXINS AND OTHER POLLUTANTS THAT CAN CAUSE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. WE KNOW THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE AREA WILL HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART AND IS PRESENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND WILL STRIVE TO GET ANSWERS TO THE TOUGH QUESTION POSED TO HIM FROM NEIGHBORS HE ENCOUNTERS IN THE GROCERY STORES [00:35:01] AND ELSEWHERE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AMEN. WE THANK YOU. YOU WOULD SUPPORT HIM. I'M SORRY, MA'AM. DID YOU FINISH? YES, SIR. I SAID WE ASKED THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF FORMER OKAY. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR THANK YOU. THE POSITION COUNCIL. JUST A MOMENT. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ HAS TIME. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE YOU SOME MORE TIME, MS. TERRELL, IF YOU HAD ANY MORE, IF YOU HAD ADD ANYTHING ELSE, BUT, UH, IF NOT, NO, THAT WAS IT. WE JUST SAID THAT HE'S A HARDWORKING AND DEDICATED TO WORKING OUT THE BEST SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS, TO WHATEVER TASK OF PROJECTS HE UNDERTAKES. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING ROBERT GALLEGOS ON THE PORT COMMISSION REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITIES NEAR THE PORT. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. RELL. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, YOU COMING TO THE NEXT SENIOR DANCE THAT WE'RE HAVING IN A COUPLE MONTHS. OKAY, I WILL . THANK YOU. NEXT, GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ AND I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER, AND AS A RESIDENT OF CLINTON PARK FIDELITY LIVING JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT I I AM HERE TODAY REGARDING ITEM 52 ON THE AGENDA. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROSPERITY GENERATED BY THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL SHOULD BENEFIT ALL HOUSTONIANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE CLOSEST TO THE PORT AND BEAR THE BRUNT OF ITS ACTIVITIES. THESE COMMUNITIES DESERVE TRANSPARENCY AND A REAL VOICE IN THE PORT'S DECISION MAKING PROCESSES. WE'RE NOT HERE TO ENDORSE A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE TODAY. RATHER, WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES WE BELIEVE THE NEW COMMISSIONER SHOULD, SHOULD POSSESS. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL BE A CHAMPION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS ALONG THE PORT HAVE A GENUINE VOICE IN THE PORT'S DECISIONS. THIS MEANS ACTIVELY SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT AND INCORPORATING IT INTO THE PORT'S PLANNING PROCESS, AND PRIORITIZING TRANSPARENCY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. IT ALSO MEANS ENSURING THE DIVERSE VOICES, PARTICULARLY THOSE LIVING CLOSEST TO THE PORT, ARE HEARD AND VALUED. WE NEED A COMMISSIONER WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY MUST GO HAND IN HAND, WORKING TO BALANCE THE PORT'S CONTINUED SUCCESS WITH THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND PROSPERITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. FINALLY, THIS INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER TO ADDRESS SHARED CONCERNS AND WORK TOWARDS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL SOLUTIONS. WE AT BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH WHOEVER IS APPOINTED TO ENSURE THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON OPERATES IN A MANNER THAT PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND EQUITABLE BENEFITS FOR ALL. WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO SELECT A COMMISSIONER WHO SHARES THESE VALUES AND IS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE INTEREST OF ALL HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCIL MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, GUADALUPE, THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. I APPRECIATE, UM, THE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU'RE BRINGING 'CAUSE I A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WITH YOU. UM, THE OTHER THING, OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO ADD TO IT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT HAS BEEN CHOSEN RIGHT BY THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE, HAVE VOTED ME IN, IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WHAT YOU JUST ASKED FOR IS, IS OCCURRING. SO, UH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO LEAN ON ME. UH, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MARIO CASTILLO MM-HMM. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU. WHO ALSO, UH, WE WORK WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, HAND IN HAND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PORT IS, IS GETTING THAT SAME REPRESENTATION. SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, TOMORROW MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S QUALIFIED FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT THEN I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALSO, UM, UH, TAKE BACK WITH YOU THAT WE'RE HERE TO BE THAT COMMUNITY VOICE FOR YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, PATRICIA CABRERA TO BE FOLLOWED BY EUGENIA ALLMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I PROVIDED A, A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF, UM, THE APPOINTMENT NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR, UH, PORT COMMISSIONER. AND I'D LIKE TO READ THAT LETTER TO YOU. UH, I'M PATRICIA CABRERA. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE EAST END COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE. AS A COLLABORATIVE OF, OF MAGNOLIA PARK NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS FOCUSED ON PROMOTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR EAST END NEIGHBORHOODS. EAST END COMMUNITIES WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINATION OF FORMER COUNCILMAN ROBERT GALLEGOS. AS A CANDIDATE FOR PORT COMMISSIONER, WE ARE AWARE THAT THIS PROCESS FOR NOMINATION IS COMPLEX AND CONSIDERS MANY CRITICAL INTEREST AND FACTORS. HOWEVER, WE ARE STRONG BELIEVERS THAT THE BEST CANDIDATES POSSESS KNOWLEDGE AND LIVED EXPERIENCE FROM THE COMMUNITIES THEY REPRESENT. ROBERT GALLEGOS NOT ONLY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN MAGNOLIA PARK, A NEIGHBORHOOD IN PROXIMITY [00:40:01] TO THE PORT OF HOUSTON, BUT HE HAS DEVOTED MANY YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE AS KEY STAFF TO LOCAL ELECTED, ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND FOR 10 YEARS AS A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, HE IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE BENEFITS THAT THE PORT OF HOUSTON PROVIDES AND THE RELATED CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT THE RESIDENTS OF THE EAST END NEIGHBORHOODS. MR. GALLEGOS PROVEN COMMITMENT TO THIS KEY COMMUNITY, HIS PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND EXPERTISE RELATED TO THE INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT MAKE HIM A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE PORT COMMISSION'S GOALS AND EFFORTS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR FAV FAVORABLE CON CONSIDERATION OF ROBERT GALLEGOS CANDIDACY FOR PORT COMMISSIONER, AND TRUST THAT YOUR DECISION WILL ULTIMATELY BENEFIT THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE REGION. RESPECTFULLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, EUGENIA ALMAN, MAYOR WHITMAR, AND CITY COUNCILMAN. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH Y'ALL AND AN HONOR, THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS. UM, I'M REPRESENTING LATINO LEARNING CENTER FOR BY THE FOUNDER JOHN ALMAN AND MITCHELL CONTRERAS, AS WELL AS THE CEO RONALD GONZALEZ. AND, UM, THE LATINO LEARNING CENTER HAS BEEN IN OPERATION IN THE EAST END SINCE 1979. WE OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. MOST OF OUR CLAN TOWER RESIDENTS OF THE EAST END. WE ARE LOCATED NEAR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND DEAL WITH TRAINING, BLOCKING STREETS, CROSSING WIND, MOVING CARGO TO AND FROM THE PORT. WE ALSO MUST DEAL WITH NOISE POLLUTION AND INNER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CREATED FROM THE PORT. THE LATINO LEARNING CENTER SUPPORTS FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR THE NOMINATION AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE HOUSTON PORT COMMISSION. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THE PORT COMMISSION, BUT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT DEALS WITH DAILY BASIS. ROBERT GALLEGOS HAS LIVED IN THIS DN ALL OF HIS LIFE. HE'S A PROVEN LEADER, HAS REPRESENTED US AND THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE PORT 14 YEARS AS A HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. WE'RE CONFIDENT HE WILL REPRESENT US AND THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE PORT AS A PORT COMMISSION. MS. MR. GALLEGOS HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR ALL RACES AND, UH, RELIGIONS AND NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, HE'S ALWAYS US FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. MS. AMAN, JUST WANNA SAY IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN KIND OF GOING, OH, THE CEOS RUDOLPH GONZALES. YEAH. YEAH. I, HOW YOU DOING RUDOLFO? UM, I'M SAYING I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BY TO VISIT. I KNOW THAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, Y'ALL RECEIVED THE GRANT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO UPDATE OUR FACILITY. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BY TO VISIT, SEE ALL THE, UH, THE GOOD UPDATES SOON AS WELL. SO, OKAY. GREAT. LOVE TO HAVE YOU NEXT PLEASE. JOHN ALMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY AUGUSTINE PINEDO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR MEYER, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I COME TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF MR. GALLEGOS. I REPRESENT THE AMERICAN, I'M SORRY, AMERICAN, UH, A GIF. WE HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1947. HERE IN HOUSTON. WE HAVE THE CHAPTER OF THE, UH, A GIF. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROJECTS. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM MR. GALLEGOS SINCE DAY ONE. WE HAVE FOLLOWED HIS, UH, HIS ACTIVITIES HERE IN CITY COUNCIL AND WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT HE'S DONE. WE CANNOT IMAGINE HAVING SOMEBODY TO [00:45:01] REPRESENT PART OF HOUSTON COMMISSION BETTER THAN SOMEBODY THAT WAS BORN HERE IN THE AREA THAT WAS EDUCATED HERE IN THE AREA THAT HAS SERVED THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS. HE IS THE ONE TO SERVE THE AREA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT AUGUSTINE PINEDO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESUS MEDEL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME ISIN PINE, PAST LULAC, DISTRICT AGENT DIRECTOR. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, UH, FORMER COUNCILMAN ROBERT GALLEGOS, APPOINTMENT FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY. I HAVE A LETTER FROM OUR ACT FROM OUR PRESENT DIRECTOR, AND I'D LIKE TO READ IT TO YOU REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF PORT COMMISSIONER FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF MY OFFICE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL BE POSITIONED TO APPOINT A NEW COMMISSIONER TO THE PORT COMMISSION OF THE HOUSTON PORT AUTHORITY. AS AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE FOUNDATION IS THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS OF AND FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, IT IS OUR DESIRE TO, WHENEVER POSSIBLE ADVOCATE FOR A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH A PROVEN EXPERIENCE AND PASSION TO SERVE NOT JUST THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, BUT THE PUBLIC AS WELL. MANY LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY ARE WORTH IT OF CONSIDERATION. HOWEVER, ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS TIME AND AGAIN, BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE CONSERVATIVES OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR THE ECONOMIC AND PHYSICAL WELFARE OF THOSE HE HAS HAD THE HONOR TO REPRESENT IS NOT OTHER THAN FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. HE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WILL NOT NO DOUBT CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE. THE PORT COMMISSION FROM ITS INCEPTION HAS DONE MUCH TO MAKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON A MAJOR PLAYER OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. AND IN SO DOING HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INTERNATIONAL STATUS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY TO CONTINUE THE SUCCESS THAT TIME HAS COME TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO CONNECTS WITH A HUMANITARIAN RESOURCES THAT HAVE AVAILED THE PORT OF HOUSTON TO ACHIEVE SUCH PROMINENCE. THAT PERSON IS ROBERT GALLEGOS. HIS ADDITION TO THE PORT COMMISSION WILL REFLECT THAT COMPASSION OF OUR LOCAL LEADERSHIP HAS TO DO TO ITS CONSTITUENCY, WHICH IS SO REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK AT PORT DESERVE NO LESS THAN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO APPOINT A TRUE ADVOCATE OF THE PEOPLE. ROBERT GALLEGOS IS THAT PERSON. AND I WILL BRING A NEW, AND WILL BRING A NEW DIMENSION TO THE NEEDS OF THE PORT COMMISSION. YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT, UH, JUMPED OUT AT ME IS THAT THERE ARE SEVEN COMMISSIONERS TO THE PORT OF HOUSTON, AND NOT ONE OF THEM LIVES IN THE AREA. AND THAT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT. WE NEED SOMEONE, SOMEONE THAT HAS RECOGNITION, CONNECTION TO THE AREA AND OTHERS. ROBERT GALLIER WAS WHO WAS BORN, RAISED, AND CONTINUED TO LIVES IN THAT AREA. THERE'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THERE'S POLLUTION IN THE AIR, THERE'S CONTAMINATION, THE EARTH, HEAVY METALS. UH, THERE'S CA UH, CANCER CLUSTERS THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE ALTHOUGH, UH, THE PORT OF HOUSTON HAS BROUGHT YEAH, TO, HAS EXPIRED WEALTH TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE MUST LOOK AFTER THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. RAMIREZ. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ? NO, I WAS JUST GONNA OFFER ADDITIONAL TIME TO, UH, MR. PINERO IF HE NEEDS IT. THANK YOU. I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. JESUS MADE TO BE FOLLOWED BY GARETH MORGANS. I GREET YOU, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR LAN, A MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS SINCE 1994. WE ARE HERE, UH, TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF ROBERT GALLEGOS, HONORABLE ROBERT GALLEGOS. AND WE FEEL THAT MR. GALLEGOS IS SUPER COMPETENT, COMPETENT, EXCUSE ME. UH, SHOULD HE BE ELECTED TO BE ON THE PORT COMMISSION? MR. GALLEGOS [00:50:01] HAS PROVEN LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ASSETS THAT HE CAN BRING TO THE PORT COMMISSION. FOR EXAMPLE, HE HAS SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS. MOREOVER, MOREOVER, HE'S A LONGSTANDING RESIDENT OF HOUSTON'S EAST END COMMUNITY. HE HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR ITS GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING. HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS, COUPLED WITH HIS ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH AND UNDERSTAND THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, POSITION HIM AS AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO ANY BOARD SEEKING EFFECTIVE AND COMMIT COMPASSIONATE GUIDANCE. MR. GALLEGOS HAS DEMONSTRATED UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE EAST END COMMUNITY, FOSTERING COLLABORATION AMONG STAKEHOLD STAKEHOLDERS AND DRIVING INITIATIVES THAT HAVE A TANGIBLE POSITIVE IMPACT. IN CLOSING, UM, OUR MUSEUM'S BOARD MEMBERS, UH, AND, UM, ME AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WE, UH, OVERWHELMINGLY, UM, SUPPORT ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR, UH, THE PORT OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, GARETH MORGANS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CARMEN NUNCIO. GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. IT'S GOOD TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU AGAIN AFTER IT'S BEEN A WHILE. UM, I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A REPRESENTATIVE AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MAGNOLIA PARK CIVIC CLUB ON THE EAST END. UM, WE ARE HERE. WE HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER OR FOR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS THAT YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED. UM, I'M NOT GONNA READ IT VERBATIM BECAUSE YOU CAN ALL READ . UM, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIVERSE AND IT ABUTS THE PORT OF HOUSTON, UM, LITERALLY DOWN THE STREET FROM ME. WHEN I WALK MY DOG DOWN CANAL TO NAVIGATION, I CAN SEE THE BIG SHIPS COMING AND GOING IN AND OUTTA THE PORT. AND I LOVE IT. IT'S JUST A FABULOUS THING TO, TO SEE. UM, WHICH, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THE PORT OF HOUSTON IS THE THIRD ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE CITY AFTER THE MEDICAL CENTER AND THE ENERGY INDUSTRY. UM, I, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT, HAVING A LIFELONG MAGNOLIA PARK RESIDENT AS A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COMMISSION, WOULD NOT ONLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. UM, HE KNOWS AND HAS ADDRESSED MANY OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING THE EAST END AND HA HE HAS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE FORMER DISTRICT. I, AS, AS THE FORMER DISTRICT I REPRESENTATIVE FOR 10 YEARS. AS LONG AS I I, AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN ROBERT, HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REPRESENTED AT OUR, UH, COMMUNITY EVENTS. UM, AND AS SUCH, I BELIEVE HE'S THE BEST PERSON FOR THE POSITION. THUS, I SINCERELY AND RESPECTFULLY HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER HIS NOMINATION AND, UH, SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A LIFELONG EAST ENDER AS THE NEXT, AS OUR NEXT PORT COMMISSIONER. HE IS HARDWORKING, DEPENDABLE, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. UM, I'M GOING TO CLEAR UP THE REST OF MY TIME. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY, UH, GIVE MY RESPECTS TO MARTA CJO AND PAT DANIELS. SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU AGAIN AS WELL AS THE REST OF YOU LOVELY PEOPLE. SO, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I, THERE IS, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. HEY, GARETH, JUST WANTED TO SAY HEY, TO YOU AS A FORMER STAFFER. I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME HERE AT CITY HALL. WE APPRECIATE THE ACTIV THAT YOU'VE ALSO TAKEN, UM, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, AND BEING HERE TO, UH, SUPPORT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. I KNOW YOUR OFFICE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HIS OFFICE, CLOSE BY, AND Y'ALL SPENT A LOT OF TIME NOT ONLY, UH, WORKING HERE AT CITY HALL TOGETHER, BUT ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND TAKING YOUR TIME OUT TO SUPPORT. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. I APPRECIATE IT. AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY FRIEND. UH, CLASS 36 . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. HAVE A GOOD DAY. NEXT CARMEN NUNCIO [00:55:01] TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL MORENO. GOOD AFTERNOON TO OUR WONDERFUL MAYOR AND OUR AWESOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY MINE, MARIO CASTILLO. MY NAME IS CARMEN NUNCIO. I AM A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST IN HOUSTON. I HAVE VOLUNTEERED 51 PLUS YEARS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR, THAT OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES GET THE VERY BEST. IT IS VERY, IM IMPORTANT TO ME THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITY LEADERS WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS GET WHAT THEY DESERVE. IT'S VERY DEAR TO MY HEART THAT ALL KIDS FEEL LOVED AND STRONG KNOWING THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED BY OUR LEADERS. AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, I FIND IT VERY IMPERATIVE TO CALL ON COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR SUPPORT AND WORK TO GET TOGETHER WITH THEM. IN THE YEARS OF ROBERT GALLEGOS SERVING AS COUNCIL MEMBER OF HOUSTON, HE HAS PROVEN HIMSELF A WORTHY PERSON TO SHOW HIS CARING SUPPORT TO OUR CITY. HE HAS WORKED HARD AT BEING A LEADER THAT IS KNOWLEDGEABLE, SUPPORTIVE, AND STRONG TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE HE REPRESENTS. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT ROBERT GALLEGOS IS THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR PORT COMMISSIONER. THESE QUALITIES WILL GIVE THE CITY ASSURANCE THAT OUR PORT WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS. OUR PORT COMMISSION. OUR POOR COMMUNITIES ARE IN NEED OF STRONG REPRESENTATION BY SOMEONE WHO RESIDES IN THE AREA. HE KNOWS AND KNOWS DAY BY DAY WHAT HE NEED. WHAT WE NEED, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OF OUR QUALITY IS OUR AIR QUALITY IS DIRECTLY IMPACT IMPACTING OUR THE COMMUNITY. AND WITH ROBERT'S EXPERIENCE AND AWARENESS, IT WOULD BE BEST TO HAVE HIM SERVE IN THIS POSITION. IF AN OUTSIDER WITH NO TIES TO OUR COMMUNITY IS APPOINTED TO THE THE UPCOMING VACANT PORT COMMISSIONER'S POSITION, THIS PERSON CAN BE THERE FOR 12 YEARS. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE PORT COMMISSION WILL HAVE NO VOICE. WE WANT I VOICE HEARD, I SUPPORT THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT BY CITY COUNCIL OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS, TO PORT TO THE PORT COMMISSION. I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND VOTE FOR ROBERT GALLEGOS, WHO HAS SERVED OVER 40 YEARS OF, OF COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE OUR NEXT BOARD COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT MICHAEL MORENO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSE VEGA. GOOD MORNING, SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MIKE MORENO. I'D LIKE TO READ A LETTER THAT WAS WRITTEN BY THE MAGNOLIA PARK HARRISBURG, MANCHESTER SMITH EDITION SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 65 AND 82. DEAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE THE LARGEST SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD BY THE PORT OF HOUSTON. WE HAVE OVER 3000 HOMES. MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS NOT ONLY LIVE BY THE PORT, BUT THEY WORK AT THE PORT OR KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOES BUSINESS WITH A PORT HERE ON THE EAST END. WE HAVE A PROUD AND RICH HISTORY ALONG THE PORT. IT WAS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF 1826 THAT JOHN RICHARDSON HARRIS STARTED OCEAN COMMERCE ON THE GULF. HE CREATED THE TOWN OF HARRISBURG, WHICH IS NOW HARRISBURG BOULEVARD ON THE BANKS OF BUFFALO BAYOU. HE OWNED A BARGE AND NAVIGATED IT THROUGH GALVESTON BAY AND BUFFALO BAYOU TO MANAGE HIS IMPORT SUPPLIES WHILE EXPORTING COTTON AND ANIMAL HIDES AND LEATHERS. ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 1914, THE OPENING OF THE HOUSTON CHIP CHANNEL WAS LY CEREMONIALLY OBSERVED AT THE TURNING BASIN, AND THOUSANDS ATTENDED THE EVENT MARKED BY 21 GUN SALUTE. HOWEVER, LIVING BY THE PORT IMPACTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, THE FEAR OF EXPLOSIONS AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL LEAKS, TRANSPORTED ON RAIL AND CARGO TRUCKS TO AND FROM THE PORT, LONGER TRAINS BLOCKING OUR ROADWAYS, STUDENTS OF PEDESTRIANS CROSSING UNDER PARKED TRAINS AND OVER SLOW MOVING TRAINS, HEAVY CARGO TRUCKS [01:00:01] TEARING UP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE NOISE POLLUTION OF FREIGHT TRAINS CROSSING THE EAST END. WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SEVEN PORT COMMISSIONERS THAT MANAGE THE OPERATIONS OF THE HOUSTON CHIP CHANNEL AND NONE AND NO ONE LIVES OR IS ENGAGED WITHOUT WITHIN THE PORT COMMUNITIES. FOR THIS LACK OF COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION ON THE PORT COMMISSION SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 65 AND 82 IS IN STRONG SUPPORT OF FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION. AS YOU ALL KNOW, ROBERT WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE EAST END AND BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE HOUSTON SHIP TOWN. HE'S FORMERLY WORKED FOR FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER SYLVIA GARCIA, REPRESENTING THE PORT COMMISSION. HE'S A COMMUNITY ORIENTED COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAS SERVED WELL FOR 10 YEARS. WE ARE ASKING CITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, TO PLEASE SUPPORT THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GGO TO THE HOUSTON PORK COMMISSION. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT GALLEGOS. UH, IS THIS THE MIC? RIGHT. OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, I SEE A LOT OF FACES THAT I RECOGNIZE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN ROBERT GALLEGOS. WE ARE HERE, THE GATHERING OF EAGLES, A NONPROFIT 4 0 1 C3 THAT SERVES OUR VETERANS, NOT JUST WORLD WAR II, NOT JUST WORLD WAR I, NOT JUST VIETNAM, BUT POST NINE 11 VETERANS. AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. WE'RE HERE AND WE ARE POLICE TO EXPIRE AND ACTUALLY EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR FULL FORMER COUNCILMAN ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PORT AUTHORITY. MR. GALLEGOS HAS CONSIDERABLY ALLOWED, UH, A KNOWN CONCERN FOR, FOR BEING OF HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. OF COURSE, AND I KNOW ROBERT GALLEGOS PERSONALLY. SO A LOT OF TIMES WE SAY SPEECHES, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO SAY WHAT WE FEEL IN OUR HEART. AND THIS IS WHAT I FEEL. I DO WORK IN THE PORT OF HOUSTON. I TRAVEL FROM BROADWAY TO 2 25 LA PORTE AND I WORK IN THE REFINERIES. AND EVERY TIME THAT I NEED ADVICE, YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN CALL ON THIS MAN BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE SYSTEM. HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS TO GO AHEAD AND DO FLAMING RETARDANTS. IN FACT, I JUST CAME AND CHANGED MY WORK BOOTS AND PUT ON MY DRESS SHOES JUST TO LOOK PRESENTABLE IN FRONT OF YOU, IN FRONT OF YOU ALL COUNCILMAN. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, MR. GALLEGOS HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP CONSENSUS BUILDING ABILITIES AS COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON DUE TO LEADERSHIP ABILITIES. THE MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HAS DEPENDED ON HIM. IN MANY OCCASIONS, MR. GALLEGOS CAN EXPRESS LUCIDITY, COMMUNICATED CIVIC GOALS ENOUGH TO BUILD CONSENSUSES AS A COMMISSIONER IN THE PORT AUTHORITY, MR. GALLEGOS WILL BE AN ASSET DUE TO HIS EXCESSIVE EXPERIENCE. MR. GALLEGOS IS PUNCTUAL AND DRIVEN AND THE GOALS OF THE BOARD THAT HE SERVES AS A COMMISSIONER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PORT AUTHORITY, HE WILL PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS EQUALLY WITH THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO HELP MOVE THE IDEAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING GETS FUN FUNCTION. I THINK YOU'LL ALL OFFER CONCERNING FORMER COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS AS COMMISSIONER THE PORT OF HOUSTON. HE WILL BE THE RIGHT ANSWERS FOR THE PORT. PLEASE DON'T JUST REPRESENT THOSE PEOPLE THAT HE CARRY MERIT, THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE THOSE TITLES REPRESENT ME AS A WORKER THAT WORKS IN THE PORT AUTHORITY. 'CAUSE I WORKED THERE AS AN ELECTRICIAN AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S NOT EASY. IT'S NOT EASY TO FACE THESE THINGS THAT WE FACE. AND YES, I'M NOT COMING HERE AS AN EDUCATED PERSON. I'M COMING HERE AS SOMEONE THAT YOU ALL REPRESENT. SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS THANK YOU. AND I SEE A LOT OF ED FACES. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, MR. ROBERT GALLEGOS IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ROBERT GALLEGOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARY RAMOS. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS CHAMBER. UH, [01:05:01] BUT UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO HERE IN THE CITY. AND FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK EVERYONE THAT'S HERE, UH, ON MY BEHALF. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW IT WAS RAINING AND IT'S BAD OUTSIDE, BUT Y'ALL STILL MADE IT. THERE WAS A FEW THAT WERE GOING TO BE HERE, BUT DUE TO THE RAIN, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT. SO THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO CONTINUE A QUEST CHAMPION. DURING MY 10 YEARS ON THIS BODY REPRESENTATION ON THE HOUSTON PORT COMMISSION FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD ABUTTING THE PORT, THERE ARE SEVEN SEATS ON THE PORT COMMISSION. VOLUNTARY POSITIONS I MAY ADD, APPOINTED BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ALONG THE CHANNEL. DURING MY TIME REPRESENTING DISTRICT, I ADVOCATED FOR A RESIDENT FROM A POOR COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD, THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HOME TO OVER 85,000 RESIDENTS WHERE THEIR CHILDREN PLAY DESERVE A VOICE ON THE COMMISSION. THREE YEARS AGO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I NOMINATED FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE SIGNS A RESIDENT OF THE PORT COMMUNITY. AND YOU REMEMBER THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 'CAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO TO PLACE FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE PORT COMMISSION FOR A VACANCY. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE DID NOT RECEIVE THE MAJORITY SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL. I WAS BORN IN A PORT COMMUNITY AT PARKVIEW HOSPITAL, HARRISBURG AT 75TH AND RAISED IN MAGNOLIA PARK. MY PARENTS ARRIVED IN THE 1920S RAISING SEVEN CHILDREN IN A SMALL WOODEN FRAME HOUSE ON AVENUE K, A BLOCK FROM THE PORT. MY FATHER SUPPORTED OUR FAMILY UNLOADING CARGO SHIPS RETIRING AS A PROUD LONGSHOREMAN. I UNDERSTAND THE PORT'S IMPORTANCE AS A MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE PROVIDING JOBS FOR OUR CITY AND OUR REGION. AS A LIFELONG, A STANDER RAISED A BLOCK FROM THE PORT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND HOW LIVING NEARLY IMPACTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. THE RECENTLY RELEASED AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT, A YEAR LONG STUDY OF THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL STATES THAT ITS POPULATION DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE SHIP CHANNEL FENCE LINE COMMUNITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW INCOME, PREDOMINANTLY MINORITY, AND WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND ARE EXPECTED DAILY. MAY I HAVE SOME MORE TIME PLEASE? SURE. GO RIGHT AHEAD. ROBERT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND ARE EXPOSED DAILY TO A TOXIC COCKTAIL OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN THE AIR THEY BREATHE. FREIGHT TRAINS ARE GETTING LONGER. AND YOU KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, YOU KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? COULD YOU HEAR IT FROM THE COMMUNITIES? FREIGHT TRAINS ARE GETTING LONGER BLOCKING CROSSINGS WHERE RESIDENTS OFTEN WAIT 30 MINUTES OR MORE HEAVY CARGO TRUCKS GOING TO AND FROM THE PORT TEAR UP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT LIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. THERE'S THE DAILY FEAR OF HAZARDOUS SPILLS AND EXPLOSIONS. THIS IS WHY WE NEED A PORT COMMUNITY RESIDENT ON THE PORT COMMISSION TO BE OUR VOICE ADVOCATE, ADDRESSING OUR DAILY QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS. I ASK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TO RECTIFY THIS WHEN YOU VOTE. THE PORT COMMUNITIES FALL WITHIN FOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS, BEH AND I, AS WELL AS BEING REPRESENTED BY ALL FIVE AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER, RAMIREZ MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE CAN DO BETTER. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR MY CANDIDACY TO GIVE THE PORT COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS A VOICE ON THE PORT COMMISSION. AS I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT THIS EFFORT HAS GAR GARNERED SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT. I HAVE THE BACKING OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER AREA ADRIAN GARCIA, FORMER MAYOR IN EAST PARKER. MAYOR ALDA MOYA FROM GALENA PARK AND MAYOR ILLA FROM SINO CITY 'CAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE GO THROUGH. FURTHERMORE, THIS CAMPAIGN IS SUPPORTED [01:10:01] BY 11 CIVIC CLUBS, FOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, 23 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS BROAD COALITION DEMONSTRATES THE WIDESPREAD RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR POOR COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATION, WHICH YOU WILL FIND IN THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THESE PAST FEW MONTHS. AND THEY'RE IN THE WHITE BINDER THAT I LEFT IN FRONT OF YOU THAT YOU CAN REVIEW. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE GIMME A CALL. I URGE YOU TO JOIN THIS GROWING MOVEMENT AND VOTE TO GIVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS A VOICE. WE CAN DO BETTER. MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE CASTEX STATED, THANK YOU MAYOR COUN, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU BACK IN CHANGE. SAME MAYOR. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE I KNOW I SAT I SAT BESIDE YOU FOR MANY A YEARS, UM, AND I SAW HOW YOU ADVOCATED FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. UM, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN YOU STOOD ALONE FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU BELIEVED IN. UH, AND I RESPECT YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. AND I RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE WANTING TO CONTINUE SERVING. UM, ALTHOUGH YOUR TIME ON CITY COUNCIL, UM, ENDED, UM, I STILL SEE YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. I STILL SEE YOU AT THE CIVIC CLUB, UH, MEETINGS. I SEE YOU AT THE RIBBON CUTTINGS. UM, NOT TO MENTION HOW HARD YOU'VE BEEN WORKING TO GARNER THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, FOR THIS PARTICULAR POSITION. WE ALL SAT AROUND THIS, UH, DE AND, UM, FOUGHT FOR A COMMUNITY MEMBER, UM, TO BE ON THE PORT. AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A COMMUNITY MEMBER ON THE PORT. AND I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED THREE TIMES BY THE VERY PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THAT, UM, PORT. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR GRAY CITY. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE KIND WORDS. UM, ON MY FIRST ELECTION, I WON BY 180 VOTES. ON MY THIRD AND LAST ELECTION, I WON BY NEARLY 67% OF THE VOTE. THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. UH, AND AGAIN, MY SINCEREST CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR BROTHER MICHAEL, THANK YOU MEANS A LOT TO ME. BUT CERTAINLY WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT YOU IS THAT YOU WERE ALWAYS A STRONG AND PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU SPOKE TRUTH TO POWER. AND AS MAYOR VICE, UH, MAYOR PROTI SAID, SOMETIMES YOU STOOD ALONG ALONE. I YOU DIDN'T GO ALONG JUST TO GET ALONG. YOU ALWAYS SPOKE UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LIVE IN THAT AREA, WHICH MEANS YOU EXPERIENCE THE SAME THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AROUND YOU. AND SO, CERTAINLY I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE AND I CAN PUBLICLY SAY THAT I WILL SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK. THANK YOU, UH, AS ALWAYS. AND I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE AS MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, BOTH REFERENCED, UH, WHENEVER YOU SAT AT THE HORSESHOE, YOU ADVOCATED NOT JUST FOR YOUR DISTRICT, BUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT 'CAUSE YOU REFERENCED THESE BINDERS, UM, TO COMMEND YOU, BUT ALSO THANK ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THIS. UH, NOBODY CAN SAY YOU HAVE NOT YOUR ENTIRE CAREER FOUGHT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATION ON THE PORT COMMISSION. SO I, I WANTED TO COMMEND ALL OF THE, THE LISTS THAT WE HAVE OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. UH, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH EVERYTHING 'CAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY, BUT THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY ENGAGING THEM, BUT FOR THE RESIDENTS FOR ENGAGING IN THIS PROCESS. 'CAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE FOUGHT FOR YOUR ENTIRE CAREER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THAT, THAT BINDER WOULD EVEN BE THICKER. BUT DO THE PASSING OF MY BROTHER AND BE HIM BEING IN THE HOSPITAL AND, AND, AND THE GRIEF AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, FOR A MONTH AND A HALF, I DIDN'T CONCENTRATE ON THIS, BUT IT WOULD'VE BEEN THICKER. WELL, I, I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVED YOUR BROTHER, UM, HOW DEVOTED YOU WERE TO HIM AND HIM TO YOU. THANK YOU. AND, UH, THAT, THAT'S CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDABLE. AND AGAIN, OUR CONDOLENCES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK Y'ALL. NEXT MARY RAMOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY LENORA PULLMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UH, I'M SURE MOST OF YOU KNOW ME. UH, I'M A BIG COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS SITTING HERE ON THIS COMMISSION, ON THIS BOARD. AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. [01:15:01] UH, NOT ONLY DID I ACTUALLY SIT ON THE PORTS BOARD DIVERSITY BOARD, SO I KNOW HOW THE PORT OPERATES. I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THEIR MEETINGS FOR YEARS. I MEAN, I HAVE REALLY BEEN INVOLVED GROWING UP IN THAT AREA, BEING A FOURTH GENERATION HOUSTONIAN. IT, I DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T EVER WRITE ANYTHING DOWN. I THINK ABOUT IT FROM MY HEART AND SPEAK FROM MY HEART. SO LET ME SAY THIS, I'VE KNOWN ROBERT GALLEGOS AND I'VE KNOWN ROLAND GARCIA. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S NO COMPARISON. THERE'S A MAN THAT ALL MY LIFE, I HAS LOVED, I HAVE LOVED HIM MORE THAN MY HUSBANDS . AND THAT WAS REVEREND BILL LAWSON. REVEREND BILL LAWSON WAS MY LOVE WHEN HE PASSED, IT KILLED ME. BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. HE ALWAYS SAID, HONEY, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU VOTE FOR SOMEONE, IT CAN'T BE BECAUSE YOU OWE THEM OR 'CAUSE THEY'RE PUSHING YOU OR 'CAUSE THEY'RE PRESSURING YOU. YOU GOTTA VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S CAPABLE, COMPETENT, AND QUALIFIED. AND I LIVE BY HIS WORDS, WHETHER YOU'RE HISPANIC OR AFRICAN AMERICAN OR WHITE, I DON'T CARE. AS LONG AS YOU'RE CAPABLE, COMPETENT, AND QUALIFIED. AND THAT'S WHAT I DO. I VOTE FOR PEOPLE AND JUMP ON BOARD ON CAMPAIGNS THAT PEOPLE THAT I REALLY BELIEVE. AND YES, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT LIVE IN THAT AREA, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU WERE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OVER THAT AREA AND THEY STILL DIDN'T PUSH YOU FOR THE COMMISSION, THAT'S . YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE THERE TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. NOT ONLY IS ROLAND GARCIA CAPABLE, COMPETENT, AND QUALIFIED, BUT LEMME TELL YOU, THIS MAN HAS INTEGRITY SMARTER THAN A WHIP. AND YOU KNOW, HE'S A MARITIME ATTORNEY AND HE'S TRAVELED TO AT LEAST EIGHT DIFFERENT PORTS ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH THE PORT COMMISSION, EVEN THOUGH HE WASN'T EVEN ON IT. THIS MAN KNOWS WAY MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S ON THAT BOARD RIGHT NOW. SO LET ME TELL YOU THIS. AND ACCORDING TO I HEARD A WHILE AGO, I HEARD SYLVIA GARCIA. SYLVIA GARCIA IS DEVOTED TO ROLAND GARCIA. SHE SENT THE LETTER. CAROL BARDO SENT A LETTER FOR HIM. MARYANNE HERNANDEZ, CHRISTINA MORALES, ANNETTE RAMIREZ, MARILYN BURGESS, AND JOAQUIN MARTINEZ. THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS NOW, COMMUNITY LEADERS. YOU HAVE FRANCIS ES, LAURA MURILLO, RACHEL GONZALEZ, JUAN GARCIA, STEVE ADRIANNA, TAMEZ, HOWARD JEFFERSON, MY FRIEND, PAUL PUENTE, JUDSON ROBINSON, JR. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT KNOW ROLAND, THEY KNOW HIM. THEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF A MAN HE IS, HOW SMART HE IS. HE HAS GONE TO COURT AND DEFENDED THE PORT AND WON THAT CASE FOR THE PORT. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT BEING PRESSURED. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PRESSURES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SUPPORT ONE OR THE OTHER. NO ONE CAN PRESSURE ME 'CAUSE THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN TAKE FROM ME. NOTHING. YOU KNOW, I HATE PEOPLE THAT ARE BULLIES AND PUSH PEOPLE AROUND TO TRY TO GET YOU TO SUPPORT 'EM AND STUFF. BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK WITH ME. 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T GET ME FIRED. I'M RETIRED, YOU KNOW, I PAY MY TAXES. SO, I MEAN, PLEASE GUYS, DO THE RIGHT THING. VOTE FOR THE MAN THAT'S REALLY CAPABLE, COMPETENT, AND QUALIFIED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MARY. I HAVE LOVED MARY FOR A LONG TIME. SHE WORKED WITH ME ALONG WITH THE NAACP ON SOME EDUCATION ISSUES. AND I HAVE A DEEP AND ABIDING RESPECT FOR YOU. I HOPE THAT NO ONE EQUATES THE CHOICE THAT I WILL MAKE FOR, UH, ROBERT GALLEGOS AS, AS TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM ROLAND GARCIA BECAUSE I KNOW HIM TO BE A, A GREAT MAN AS WELL. BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, UH, BASED ON, ON YOUR GUIDANCE AND WHAT YOU HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN IN WORKING WITH SOMEONE PERSONALLY. AND SO, AGAIN, I HAVE A DEEP AND ABIDING RESPECT FOR YOU. I'M SORRY WE ARE NOT ON THE SAME [01:20:01] PAGE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, IN 2012, I WON THE NAACP WOMAN OF THE YEAR. I BELONG TO THE NAACP AND I BELONG TO LULAC. I'VE BEEN IN LULAC 44 YEARS. AND MY THING IS TO FIGHT FOR HISPANICS. BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DID I SAY EARLIER? NOT ME. I FIGHT FOR WHO REALLY NEEDS IT. KIDS, THE ELDERLY, THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO NEED OUR HELP. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR YOU ARE, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME. AND THAT'S ROLAND GARCIA. HE DOESN'T FIGHT FOR HISPANIC RIGHTS. HE FIGHTS FOR EVERYBODY'S RIGHTS. THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MARY, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONG YEARS OF ADVOCATING FOR ALL COMMUNITIES AND, UH, JUST AGAIN, CONTINUE TO DOING THE GREAT WORK. YOU'RE A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR A LOT OF US IN OUR, IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, NORA POMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVEN CASADA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A SECOND GENERATION NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, BORN AND RAISED IN THE EAST END, UH, IN THE HISTORICAL MAGNOLIA PARK JUST RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE PORT OF HOUSTON. AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ROLAND GARCIA, FOR PORT COMMISSIONER BECAUSE HE'S THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE ROLAND HAS, IS HIGHLY RESPECTED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND A CAREER SPANNING DECADES IN LAW, BUSINESS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP. ROLAND EXPERIENCE HAS INCLUDES WORKING AS MARITIME LAWYER, AS MARY SAID, WHERE HE REPRESENTED THE PORT OF HOUSTON. HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF PORTS COMMISSIONERS FOR HARRIS COUNTY. MOREOVER, ROLAND HAS TRAVELED TO EIGHT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, INTERNATIONAL TRADE MISSIONS WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON, DEMONSTRATING HIS GLOBAL AND UNDERSTANDING FOR TRADE AND COMMERCE. ROLAND HAS BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH LABOR, WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, CITY, STATE, NATIONAL, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS. HE IS WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED BY THE PORT LEADERSHIP, BY THE PORT COMMISSIONERS, AS WELL AS STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING OCEAN CARRIERS, OCEAN CARRIERS, SHIP OWNERS, RAILROAD SHIP AND LOGISTIC COMPANIES, TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE COAST GUARD. ROLAND VISION, LEADERSHIP AND DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COMMUNITY MAKES HIM THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALIFIED CANDIDATE TO SERVE AS PORT COMMISSIONER. HIS EXPERIENCE AND COLLABORATION APPROACH WILL ENSURE THAT THE PORTS CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE, BENEFITING THE ENTIRE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU TO GIVE HIS CANDIDACY YOUR FULL CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COUNCIL, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, LENORA. YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE YOU DEEPLY AND I'M JUST VERY GLAD TO ALWAYS SEE YOU. I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, THE WONDERFUL STORIES THAT YOUR LATE HUSBAND WOULD SHARE ABOUT HIS TIME WITH THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND SO CERTAINLY I HAVE A A VERY HIGH REGARD AND RESPECT FOR YOU AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL RAMIREZ, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU LENORA MARY AND EVERYONE WHO'S COME DOWN HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO SPEAK OUT ON THIS IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEM THAT WE WILL TAKE UP TOMORROW. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION ON THE PORT BOARD. THE PORT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY, NOT JUST OF HOUSTON, BUT TO THE ENTIRE REGION. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF YOU WHO CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR STATE HAVE COME FORWARD TO LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. THAT'S HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MAY I SAY ONE LITTLE THING? SURE. UH, JUST WE COULD HAVE, ROLAND COULD HAVE HAD 50 PEOPLE HERE REPRESENTING, BUT WE RESPECT YOUR TIME [01:25:01] AND WE UNDERSTAND AND AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WE DON'T HAVE, OR ROLAND DOES NOT HAVE MORE SUPPORT. HE DOES HAVE THE SUPPORT. AND MANY OF Y'ALL RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO SENT SUPPORT, BUT WANTED TO RESPECT YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, TO MARY, ALSO MY APPRECIATION, UH, LENORA AS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR NEVER LETTING UP IN TERMS OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND YOUR VOICE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES. UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. YOUR, YOUR WORDS ARE NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. AND IT, IT MEANS A LOT TO HAVE YOU AND MARY HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MARY. NEXT STEVEN ADA TO BE FOLLOWED BY LALU DAVIS, 900 MILLION OUTTA THE DEPARTMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS STEVEN CASA AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE EAST END. I GREW UP ON THE EAST END, WAS RAISED WITH A SINGLE MOTHER AND SISTER ON THE EAST END. WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MOSTLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL I CAN AFFORD. THEN I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER 'CAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY LAW SCHOOL THAT TOOK ME. SO I WAS ONCE BY, BY CHOICE AND THEN BY NEED. UM, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN ON THE EAST END MY ENTIRE LIFE. UH, I AM PROUD TO SAY I'M AN EAST END RESIDENT. I BELIEVE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. AND LISTENING TO THE WORDS SPOKEN HERE TODAY, AND, AND PARTICULARLY FROM THE YOUNG LADY WHO WAS, WHO WAS HONORED BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENT STARTED, IT MADE ME THINK OF THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD ALONG THE WAY. AND FOR ME, IT STOOD OUT, PARTICULARLY AS A POOR HISPANIC KID FROM THE EAST END. IT, IT'S NOT WHERE YOU'RE FROM. IT'S WHERE YOU'VE BEEN AND WHERE YOU'RE GOING. ROLAND GARCIA WAS RAISED BY PARENTS WHO WERE WORKING CLASS FOLKS. FATHER WAS A VETERAN, GRANDFATHER WAS A VETERAN. ROLAND HIMSELF IS A VETERAN, AND HE MADE IT FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, WORKED HIS TAIL OFF, OPENED THE OFFICE OF A LAW FIRM HERE IN HOUSTON, AND IS A PROMINENT PARTNER AT THAT LAW FIRM HERE IN HOUSTON. I MYSELF AM A YOUNG PARTNER AT A LAW FIRM HERE IN HOUSTON. AND LOOKING AT ROLAND BEING A POOR KID FROM THE EAST END, I KNOW YOU CAN MAKE IT. I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE. HIS QUALIFICATIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WE'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT ABOUT THOSE. I WON'T REPEAT THEM, BUT SOMEONE WHO DOES MARITIME LAW, WHO'S VISITED PORTS AROUND THE WORLD, REPRESENTED THE PORT, IS SOMEONE WHO IS IMMINENTLY QUALIFIED FOR THIS POST. HE'S A ROLE MODEL FOR FOLKS WHO LOOK UP AND SAY, I CAN DO THAT TOO. I THINK HE IS THE PREEMINENT CANDIDATE FOR THIS POST, AND I HOPE HE RECEIVES THE APPOINTMENT AND THE SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. AGAIN, IF IT WERE, IF IT WERE ONLY ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE FROM OR WHERE YOU LIVED, THERE WOULD BE NO ABILITY TO BE AN ALLY FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES. OUR AT LARGE MEMBERS KNOW THAT ARE ARE OUR FOLKS WHO, LIKE MARY, REACH ACROSS COLOR, REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND SAY, I SUPPORT THE FOLKS OF THE NAACP. WE WOULDN'T HEAR, NO, YOU CAN'T SUPPORT US BECAUSE YOU'RE HISPANIC. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR GAY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. ROLAND IS SOMEONE WITH AN OPEN PHONE LINE. HE'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS LET ME BOTHER HIM REPEATEDLY AND CONTINUALLY, AND HE LISTENS AND HE GETS STUFF DONE. THIS MAY BE A POSITION WITH VAST LOCAL INPUT IMPACTS, AND IT CERTAINLY IS, BUT THIS IS A NATIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALE AS WELL. AND ROLAND KNOWS THOSE FOLKS. ROLAND KNOWS HOW TO GET STUFF DONE AT THOSE LEVELS, AND I TRULY BELIEVE HE'S BEST FOR THIS POSITION. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, STEVEN, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, UH, AND GIVING A PERSPECTIVE OF, OF, OF WHAT IT IS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK AT QUALIFICATIONS AS WELL, RIGHT? UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I ALSO WANNA JUST GENERALLY THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN HERE. UM, WHAT I HAD MENTIONED WHEN, UM, UH, WHEN GUADALUPE CAME UP TO SPEAK, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, THIS SEAT THAT I'M IN RIGHT NOW, IT'S ALSO DIFFERENT AS WELL, RIGHT? UM, I AM VERY HANDS-ON CIVIC CLUB TOURS, COFFEE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M OUT THERE JUST AS MUCH AS I WAS WHEN I WAS A STAFFER. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT COMMUNITIES, WHETHER YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABUTTING THE PORT OR NOT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE HERE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT'S GONNA ADVOCATE FOR, FOR MAGNOLIA PARK, FOR SMITH EDITION, FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE EASTWOOD AREA FOR EAST LAWNDALE, [01:30:01] FOR ALL OF THOSE ABUTTING SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. UH, YOU HAVE OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT ARE AROUND HERE THAT ARE JUST AS ACTIVE. UM, I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO SEE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAVING HIS, HIS, UH, YOU KNOW, HIS, HIS I GUESS ALMOST WEEKLY, UH, TOWN HALLS THAT HE'S HAVING. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE ACTIVITY COMING FROM THIS HORSESHOE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE, UM, MAYBE AT ONE POINT THERE WAS NOT A STRONG VOICE, YOU KNOW, AROUND HERE THAT COULD HELP FACILITATE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, WITH CIVIC CLUBS. BUT BELIEVE ME, THAT ASIDE FROM WHO, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER GETS THIS POSITION, I AM HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS HEARD. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO I APPRECIATE, AGAIN, YOU COMING HERE AND EVERYONE ELSE COMING HERE, UM, TO, TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE PORT. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT THE PORT. IT'S NOT JUST THE EAST END. IT'S NOT JUST HOUSTON, IT'S NOT JUST TEXAS. IT'S NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES. WE'RE A LARGE PORT THAT WITH A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THAT DOES SO MUCH FOR JOBS, FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR, UH, FOR FOLKS WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF THINGS YOU WERE GETTING HERE IN AND OUT OF THIS, THE CITY AS WELL. SO AGAIN, JUST, UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AS WELL AS A FELLOW EAST ENDER GROWING UP IN, IN THE EAST END AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CATHERINE CAMAN AFTER CONCLUDES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. WE HAVE A VERY QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT THERE. IF YOU HEARD THERE WAS A DOG YELPING OUTSIDE. UH, THE DOG GOT LOOSE, SOMEBODY HAD TIED IT TO A TREE. IT'S A BLACK PUPPY WITH A PINK COLLAR. CITY STAFF HAS THE DOG. SO IF SOMEBODY IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND IT IS YOUR DOG, UH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE GO TO THE LIBRARY TO, UH, CLAIM YOUR PUPPY, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANKS. I'M GONNA GO CHECK THE DOG. LOU DAVIES'. CHECK. THAT'S HIS DOG. THAT'S HIS DOG'S. THAT'S YOUR DOG. MOTIONS WHEN HE'S DONE. ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. UH, I WAS GONNA SAY MAY, I'LL TAKE THE DOG IF YOU WANT, BUT, UM, I DIGRESS. MY NAME IS LALA DAVIES AND I'M HERE ON ITEM NUMBER 21. UH, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL, UH, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT FOR YOU. I REALLY WANNA START OUT BY THANKING THE WITH MY ADMINISTRATION, UH, CHAIRWOMAN TIFFANY THOMAS OF HOUSING COMMITTEE, UH, COMMITTEE TO THE STAFF AT HOUSING COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FROM DIRECTOR NICHOLS TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR SELLERS, UH, RYAN BIBBS, JUANITA MOORE. ITEM 21 DEALS WITH 9% TAX CREDIT RESOLUTIONS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS SORT OF OUR ANNUAL RITUAL OF TRYING TO, UH, ADVANCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HOUSTON. WE ARE ALL WELL ALL TO AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN HOUSTON THAT WE CONTINUE TO ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS. I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT FAIRWAYS AT FUQUA. FAIRWAYS AT FUQUA IS ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT'S INCLUDED AS PART OF ITEM 21. UH, FAIRWAYS AT FUQUA IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE GENERAL OCCUPANCY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ABOUT 120 UNITS, INCLUDING A MIX OF MARKET RATE UNITS. UH, WE CHOSE THE SITE, IT'S FIVE ACRE TRACK, NOT RIGHT ON FUQUA, BUT JUST OFF OF FUQUA. SO IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL LOT AND IT'S REALLY AT THE EDGE BETWEEN A HEAVILY COMMERCIAL AREA. RED ROOSTER IS ADJACENT TO IT, AS WELL AS THE POST OFFICE. THERE'S A FUNERAL HOME AS IT'S THE HI CLARK, UH, MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. THE SITE IS ABUTTED ON THE WEST SIDE BY ABOUT 12 RESIDENCIES, AND THEN EXACTLY ONE HOME UNDER NORTHERN BOUNDARIES. SO AS FAR AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS ARE CONCERNED, UH, IT TYPICALLY WOULD BE WHAT I CALL AN IDEAL SITE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT HCDD, UH, ADOPTED. UH, AGAIN, KUDOS TO DIRECTOR NICHOLS AND HIS STAFF. ON DECEMBER 5TH, THEY PUBLISHED WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE FOR DEVELOPERS WHO WERE GOING TO BE SEEKING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. AND AMONGST THOSE THINGS THEY STATED PRIORITIES LIKE BEING IN THE TOURS OR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AREA, LOW POVERTY CENSUS TRACKS, GOOD SCHOOLS, ACCESS TO TRANSIT, AND MIXED INCOME HOUSING [01:35:02] FAIRWAYS AT FUQUAY MEETS ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS. IN ADDITION, WE CHOSE THE SITE THAT'S OWNED BY A COMMERCIAL TRUCKING COMPANY WHOSE INTENT WAS TO RELOCATE THEIR HEADQUARTERS FROM RIGHT OFF THE FEEDER ROAD OF, BETWEEN FANNIN AND EDA ON SIX 10. THAT WOULD BRING MUCH, UH, UNDESIRED HEAVY TRUCKING TRAFFIC TO THAT AREA. SO WE WORKED WITH THIS, UH, PROPERTY OWNER FOR THE 2024 ROUND. WE APPLIED FOR RESOLUTION SUPPORT. WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. WE WAITED A YEAR AND WE CAME BACK AND WE HAD TO APPLY AS A GENERAL OCCUPANCY BECAUSE LAST YEAR, SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, NEW FATE VILLAGE WAS APPROVED IN THE SAME CENSUS TRACK. AND THE WAY THE T-D-H-C-A RULES WORK, YOU CANNOT, IN A SUBSEQUENT YEAR, REALLY THAT SITE WOULD NEVER GET ANOTHER 9% TAX RATE AS A SENIOR DEAL FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS OR SO BASED ON THE CURRENT RULES. AND SO WE CHOSE THE SITE. AND ONCE WE STARTED THE PROCESS, IT WAS AROUND SEPTEMBER, WE REACHED OUT TO DISTRICT CASE COUNCIL OFFICE STARTING IN OCTOBER, WE WERE MAKING ROUNDS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, REACHED OUT TO THE SOUTH HOUSTON CONSERVED CITIZENS COALITION. THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40 IS NO LONGER ACTIVE, BUT WE REACHED OUT TO TERRACE 25 5 CORNERS DISTRICT. AND AT VARYING POINTS BETWEEN OCTOBER AND JANUARY, UM, WE WERE ATTENDING COMMUNITY MEETINGS, GOT A CHANCE TO PRESENT BEFORE THE TOURS, SPEAKING TO DIFFERENT GROUPS, SOLICITING THEIR INPUT. WE HAVE A CHAIN OF EMAILS, TEXT MESSAGES WHERE IT WAS AN ACTIVE, UM, ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. UH, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT THE PROCESS REQUIRED. WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE CLARITY THAT, AND TRANSPARENCY THAT THE, THE PROCESS, UH, INVOLVES THE PREDICTABILITY IT'S PROVIDED TO THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY BECAUSE YEARS PAST, YOU JUST NEVER KNEW YOU APPLIED FOR RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT. IT WASN'T CLEAR. SO DISCOUNTS ARE SORT, FIT TO PROMULGATE RULES THAT SAID, HEY, HERE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS. IF YOU MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS AND YOU DO WHAT'S EXPECTED OF YOU, THOSE DEVELOPMENTS ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD BE ADVANCED. SO I WANNA THANK THE WHITMEYER ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY. UH, AND JUST THE LAST PART, NOTE FIVE WOODS HAS BEEN A LONG TERM. I MEAN, I'M A FORMER STAFFER HERE AT CITY HALL. I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL ABOUT HOUSING. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE YOU'RE GONNA TALK TO ME ABOUT, IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT HOUSING. SO THERE'S A LONGSTANDING PERPETUAL COMMITMENT TO HELPING US ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HOUSTON. LALU, THIS IS EXHAUSTING. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY. WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AD NAUSEUM. ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT YOU TALKED TO ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. I ASKED YOU TO GET SOME COMMUNITY SUPPORT. YOU WENT TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTING IT. I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT MY CONSTITUENTS FOR THIS PROJECT. AND I THINK IT'S VERY DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO STAND HERE AND ACT LIKE ALL OF THE WORK YOU DID WAS FOR THE GOOD BECAUSE IT WASN'T. AND I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO NOT SUPPORT THE PROJECT. WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID, WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT. THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT IT THE LAST YEAR WHEN YOU BROUGHT IT FORTH AND THEY DON'T SUPPORT IT THIS YEAR. YOU'RE ASKING FOR A WAIVER. THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO GIVE THE WAIVER. IN THE TWO MILE RADIUS, THERE WERE SIX PROJECTS PRESENTED TO DISTRICT A. NO OTHER DISTRICT RECEIVED SIX PROJECTS. YOU WENT TO THE TS SEVERAL TIMES. NEVER ONCE DID THEY TELL YOU THEY WERE SUPPORTING YOUR PROJECT. YOU TALKED TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE NOT SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. YOU TALKED TO ME AND I SAID, IF YOU CAN GARNER THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WE CAN TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE PROJECT. YOU DID NOT DO THAT. THE THE COMMUNITY IS LIVID. I HAVE EMAIL BOX FULL OF EMAILS FROM LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING TEXT MESSAGES SAYING, PLEASE, COUNCIL MEMBER DO NOT LET THIS GO FORWARD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAD A PROJECT IN MISSOURI CITY THAT BECAME PROBLEMATIC. WE DON'T WANT THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WAS HOPING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE JUST WITHDRAWN THE PROJECT. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB AND THAT YOU'RE A CONSULTANT FOR A GROUP TO BUILD THESE TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS. BUT YET AGAIN, WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT SUPPORT THE PROJECT. AND WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE YOUR TENACITY, WE STILL DON'T SUPPORT THE PROJECT. [01:40:03] MAY I RESPOND? SURE. THANK YOU. I'M NOT HERE ON BEHALF OF ANY GROUP. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FIVE WORDS TO USE THE TERM DISINGENUOUS IS IN FACT DISINGENUOUS IN MY INTERPRETATION. EVERY CONVERSATION THAT I'VE HAD WHEN WE MET IN SEPTEMBER, DISTRICT K COUNCIL MEMBER'S REQUEST WAS TO GO TALK TO THESE GROUPS AND ATTEMPT TO GARNER THEIR SUPPORT AT EVERY POINT THAT WE HAD CONVERSATIONS. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEIGHBORHOODS READILY SAY, OH, COME WITH OPEN ARMS AND COME DEAL WITH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS HERE. SO WHEN WE WENT OUT PER YEAR REQUIREMENT, WE IN GOOD FAITH, REACHED OUT TO EVERY ONE OF THOSE GROUPS. AT NO POINT DID THEY TURN 0.5, FOR EXAMPLE, EVER SAY, OH, YOU PRESENTED, WE THINK THIS TE WE, WE, I HAVE EMAILS IN OCTOBER ASKING, HEY, ARE THERE ANY ISSUES YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ADDRESS? DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION? WE, UH, WE SENT TO YOU? SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEING COMMUNICATED TO YOU, BUT WE COULD ONLY GO TALK TO THE GROUPS THAT WERE ORGANIZED THERE OF THE, OF THE OPPOSITION THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT. WE'VE NOT RECEIVED A SINGLE EMAIL. NOT A SINGLE EMAIL THAT SAYS WE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE EARLIEST WE LEARNED ABOUT OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT WAS LAST WEDNESDAY AFTER WE HAD THE CITY COUNCIL MEET MEETING THAT REVIEWED THE PRESENTATIONS. AND DURING THAT COMMITTEE MEETING, NOT A SINGLE PERSON FROM THE COMMITTEE SHOWED UP. WE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY PRIOR COMMUNICATION. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MIGHT FEEL THAT IT'S EXHAUSTING, BUT WE WERE NOT EVER ACTING IN BAD FAITH. AT NO POINT HAD TURS 25 SAID, OH NO, ABSOLUTELY DON'T DO THIS. THEY WERE CONSIDERING A LETTER. THEY ASKED US TO SEND THEM A DRAFT LETTER OF SUPPORT, WHICH WE DID. THEY WERE GOING TO APPROVE IT IN DECEMBER. THEN THEY COMMUNICATED, 'CAUSE WE WERE AT THE MEETING, HEY, WE'VE GOTTA PUSH IT BACK TO OUR JANUARY MEETING. WHEN WE PRESENTED AT THE JANUARY MEETING, THEIR FEEDBACK WAS, HEY, WE DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS, SO WE NEED TO SEND IT TO A HOUSING COMMITTEE, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO DESIGNATE. AND SO WE SAID, OKAY, FINE. AT THE TIME WE WERE TRYING TO MEET THE DEADLINE TO, UH, SUBMIT, UH, APPLICATION FOR RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. SO, CUT TO THE CHASE. DID THEY GIVE YOU A LETTER OF SUPPORT? THEY DID NOT. OKAY, THANK YOU. BUT WE DID RECEIVE A COUNCIL LETTER, COUNCIL SUPPORT FROM HIGHER CLARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH AMONGST, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS THAT WE REACHED OUT TO. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR . I'M NOT GONNA GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GREETINGS, LALU, AND PLEASE TAKE THAT BACK TO REAGAN AND TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE YOU SERVE AS TRUSTEE FOR DISTRICT. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON CAROLINE LAWS, WHICH IS IN YOUR DISTRICT AND IS THRIVING, UH, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET OF MIDTOWN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, LAURA CONNERY TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVEN LONGMEYER. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, MY NAME IS LAURA CONLEY. I'M A WIV AND A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF MONTROSE HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, FIRST LET ME SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO ALL OF YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. HAVING WALKED NEARLY EVERY STREET AND PATH INSIDE OF SIX 10 LOOP, I KNOW JUST HOW BIG THIS CITY IS. THE SIZE OF HOUSTON COULD MAKE IT REALLY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE CONCERNS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. LUCKILY, OUR CITY IS DIVIDED INTO AREAS. SO ALL OUR VOICES ARE FAIRLY HEARD THROUGH ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE ALL OF YOU, UM, THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND THOSE UNFAIRLY APPOINTED BOARDS LIKE THET BOARDS. I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS DEEP CONCERNS REGARDING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, THE THREE PERSONS SLATE NOMINATED FOR THE MONTROSE TOURS 27. THIS SLATE HAS CAUGHT THE COMMUNITY COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE. THE SLATE HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED AT ALL OF OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE 16 CIVIC ASSOCIATION OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE SLATE DID NOT INCLUDE CONSULTING OUR DISTRICT COUNSELOR. THE SLATE WAS SELECTED IN SECRET BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, A CURRENT LOBBYIST, NOT BY US OR BY OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS UNDEMOCRATIC AND CONTRARY TO THE CORE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE VERY BASIS OF THE MONTROSE ZONE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AUTONOMY, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, BE TAGGED AND BROUGHT BACK WHEN OUR COUNSELOR AND WHEN THE COMMUNITY GET A SAY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ANY APPOINTEES [01:45:01] TAKE THE TIME TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SPEAK WITH RESIDENTS AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO REPRESENT. ONLY THEN CAN WE ENSURE THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE TOUR BOARD ARE TRULY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MY NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF. I BELIEVE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE SELECTION PROCESS BE TRANSPARENT, BE INCLUSIVE, AND REFLECTIVE OF THE RESIDENT'S NEEDS AND INTERESTS. THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU AND I WANT YOU TO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY HOUSTONIANS WHO WALK, ROLL, BIKE AND TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION LIKE I DID TO GET HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY SOMETIMES CANNOT OR CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE. WE MUST, WE MUST PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS OVER SPEED OF CARS, PARTICULARLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS ON THIS, SO I WILL BE LISTENING TO THE, THE FEEDBACK AND THE INPUT THAT YOU ALL PROVIDING. YOU SAID ONE THING, WHICH WAS A REQUEST THAT IT BE MORE INCLUSIVE. YES. UH, AND RECOGNIZING PROCEDURALLY, UM, IT IS THE MAYOR'S, UH, DETERMINATION AS TO WHO HE SELECTS TO, TO PUT FORWARD TO COUNSEL AS A BODY, AS A NOMINEE. WHAT TO YOU LOOKS LIKE A MORE INCLUSIVE PROCESS? IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I, I THINK I CAN TAKE A SHOT AT IT. I THINK IF SOMEONE WHO TRULY UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, SOMEONE WHO, UM, WHO THE COMMUNITY OR COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO, TO FIND OUT IF THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, IT'S VERY, BEEN VERY COMBATIVE IN OUR TOURS. AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY DISINGENUOUS TO THINK THAT A LOBBYIST CAN, UM, CAN GIVE A NAME OR THREE NAMES TO REPRESENT US INSTEAD OF BOTH YOU AS OUR, UM, AS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS. I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE GONNA COME TALK TO ME, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHOM I TRUST IN MY COMMUNITY THAT CAN GIVE THAT VOICE. OTHERWISE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A SHAME THAT THIS WOULD BE DONE IN SECRET. A LOT OF MONEY'S AT STAKE. THANKS. WE DO HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE KATHY GUNTER. UM, UP TO THE TOP OF THE NONE AGENDA TWO MINUTES LIST SECOND WITH THREE MINUTES. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASS. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR PER, HE'S NOT HERE. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. STEVEN LONGMEYER BE FOLLOWED BY JILL LONGWORTH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENDURANCE THIS AFTERNOON. UM, I HAVE LIVED IN MONTROSE ALMOST AS LONG AS OUR MAYOR HAS BEEN A POLITICIAN. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IT. IT IS WHERE I CALL HOME. IT IS THE PLACE THAT TOOK ME IN AND MADE ME THE MAN AND THE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST THAT I AM TODAY. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, PLEASE LISTEN TO THESE COMMENTS. I'M HERE TO PUBLICLY COMMEND AND THANK TWO OF THE MOST ETHICAL AND ENGAGED PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER SERVED ON ANY BOARD. JEFF WATERS AND ABEY NOBLES WHO SERVED WITH CONSCIENCE HONOR AND DISTINCTION ON THE BOARD OF CHURCH 27 WERE THIS ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION, WERE THIS. ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WOULD'VE BEEN REAPPOINTED WITHOUT ANY OPPOSITION, WITH ANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY ETHICS AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF EACH ITEM. BUT INSTEAD, BECAUSE THEY VOTED AGAINST THE MAYOR'S PLAN, THEY WERE NOT CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. THE MAYOR APPOINTED FOUR BOARD MEMBERS OF HIS CHOOSING BACK LAST YEAR. WHAT HAS HAPPENED FOR US IN THIS YEAR, A SHOVEL READY PROJECT THAT WAS AT PERMITTING WAS KILLED. THE MAYOR PUT FORWARD ANOTHER PROJECT WHICH DOES NOT ADDRESS OUR NEEDS OR OUR DESIRES, WHICH SETS US BACK TO THE DESIGN GOALS OF THE 1960S, NOT THE 2020S IN THAT YEAR. THIS TOUR HAS COME UP WITH ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS STILL NOT PERMITTED, THAT WILL COST US MORE AND GIVE US LESS. WE IN MONTROSE HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME TO GET A TURS. OUR TURS IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT WAS PETITIONED BY THE PEOPLE CREATED BY COMMITTEES, ONE OF WHICH I SERVED ON TO DESIGN PROJECTS THAT [01:50:01] MET OUR COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE NEEDS. WE ARE NOW BEING THWARTED AT EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY. THE VERY THING THAT WHICH DISTINGUISHED OUR TURS, THAT IS IT'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO COME TO ONE OF OUR MEETINGS. THEY'RE NOT LIKE OTHER TURS. OUR MEETINGS ARE PACKED FREQUENTLY, STANDING ROOM ONLY. WE ARE TRUE GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY TURS THAT IS BEING THWARTED BY A PROPOSED APPOINTMENT OF YET MORE. YES PEOPLE. IF ALL WE HAVE IS YES PEOPLE ON BOARDS, WHY DO WE NEED BOARDS? LET'S SAVE THE MONEY AND LET THE MAYOR JUST DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO. THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. SO I CHARGE EACH OF YOU WITH YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OVERSEE THE APPOINTMENTS PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR AND ASK YOU AT A MINIMUM TAG THIS, IF NOT, REFER IT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS RUDE, IT WAS INCONSIDERATE TO PUT FORTH THESE NAMES ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHERE WE HAD TO SCRAMBLE THROUGH, THROUGH SITUATIONS LIKE LOOKING UP BIN VERIFIED TO FIND OUT WHO THESE CANDIDATES WERE. THE AGENDA WHICH WAS POSTED HAD A DEAD LINK TO THEIR RESUME RESUMES. SO HOW ARE WE BEING ABLE TO COME UP HERE AND SUPPORT THESE CANDIDATES? AS YOU HEARD FOR THE CANDIDATES FOR THE, UH, BOARD OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON, THIS IS FAR TOO IMPORTANT A PROJECT. AND TOO MANY OF US HAVE WORKED TOO HARD AND TOO MANY YEARS TO SEE MONTROSE GET A VENEER COAT OF CONCRETE PUT ON BY THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEES AT THE METRO, WHICH IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DESIGN DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY PROJECTS AND SAFETY PROJECTS. WE DO NOT WANT A SUPERHIGH THROUGH MONTROSE. WE WANT OUR BOULEVARD BACK. WE WANT IT DESIGNED FOR OUR PEOPLE AND FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS. I WON'T LIVE TO SEE THAT FINISHED, BUT I DAMN SURE WANT TO SEE MY CHILDREN, MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ENJOY WHAT I HAVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, GIA LONGWORTH. GIA LONGWORTH. DO YOU FOLLOW BY REVEREND LESLIE SMITH? YOU HAVE A MOTION? HELLO? GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM, WELL, AS LONG AS IT'S AN OPEN SECRET, I FEEL LIKE WE MIGHT AS WELL NAME NAMES. UM, IN IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, I AND THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT C RESIDENTS VOTED FOR COUNCILWOMAN ABBY CAYMAN AS HER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. IN CONTRAST, NO ONE VOTED FOR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER SUE LEVEL BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT. IF I HAVE AN ISSUE, I CAN CALL COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN'S OFFICE OR WRITE AN EMAIL BECAUSE THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IF I FELT INCLINED, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO FOIA HER OFFICE BECAUSE SHE'S A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. IN CONTRAST, I CAN'T DO THE SAME WITH FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER SUE LEVEL BECAUSE SHE'S A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, A LOBBYIST, AND NOT A CURRENT GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. COUNCILMAN'S CAYMAN, SORRY. COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN'S WHOLE JOB REVOLVES AROUND SHOWING UP FOR HER DISTRICT, SECURING FUNDING FOR PROJECTS IN DISTRICT C AND MAKING SURE HER CONSTITUENTS INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED AT THIS HORSESHOE. AND WHILE I'M SURE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, SUE LOVELL WORKED PLENTY HARD AND ACCOMPLISHED MANY THINGS DURING HER TENURE, SHE DOES NOT CURRENTLY REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. DESPITE ALL THIS, THE THREE NOMINEES TO THE MONTROSE TIER BOARD REP, UH, PRESENTED IN AGENDA ITEM EIGHT WERE NOT CHOSEN, UM, BY COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN. THEY WERE HANDPICKED BY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER SUE LEVEL, ALLEGEDLY WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY OR TRANSPARENCY. AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN WORKS TOO HARD FOR DISTRICT C TO BE DISRESPECTED IN THIS MANNER. IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE APPOINTEES ARE FINE PEOPLE AND WE WOULD'VE CHOSEN THEM ANYWAY. BUT, UM, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN WOULD'VE DONE IT THE RIGHT WAY BY ENGAGING WITH CONSTITUENTS, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. REPLACING BOARD MEMBERS IN THE FIRST PLACE IS A BAD IDEA BECAUSE WE'D BE LOSING THEIR VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. WE WOULD LOSE THE ONLY VOICES ON THE TIER BOARD ACTUALLY REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD INSTEAD OF JUST OBEDIENTLY CARRYING OUT THE MAYOR'S UNPOPULAR ORDERS. HOW UNPOPULAR ARE WE TALKING? WELL, AS ONE OF THE ONLY RELATIVELY WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN HOUSTON, MONTROSE TENDS TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN VALUES. WE ORGANIZE A POSTCARD WRITING CAMPAIGN WITH OVER 400 PEOPLE OPPOSING THE MAYOR'S PLAN TO PRIORITIZE RECKLESS SPEEDING DRIVERS OVER THE SAFETY OF, UH, PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND LAW ABIDING DRIVERS. BUT WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER, IT CAN OFTEN FEEL LIKE IF HE DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER SAVED, IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T EXIST. ONCE AGAIN, RESIDENTS WERE BLINDSIDED BY THIS OVERHAUL OF THE TEARS AND WE'RE FED UP WITH ALL THIS MICROMANAGING WHEN WE CAN'T EVEN GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO START A GOFUNDME SO WE CAN HIRE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LEVEL TO LOBBY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S ACTUAL INTERESTS? I DOUBT SHE'D AGREE TO THAT. SO THE BEST I CAN DO IS COME TO SPEAK HERE AND CALL ON THE REST OF COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON ITEM EIGHT UNTIL THE INTEREST OF MACHOS RESIDENCE THOROUGH ARE ACTUALLY REPRESENTED THROUGH COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK [01:55:01] YOU AGAIN. I APPRECIATE ALL THE RESIDENTS COMING HERE TODAY. I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING THIS ABOUT ME PERSONALLY OR ONE INDIVIDUAL PERSONALLY. UH, YOU KNOW, IF THAT IS, IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE, THAT IS VERY CONCERNING. UM, BUT MY FOCUS REMAINS ON LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THIS BEING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT. SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE IT. I JUST WANNA BE VERY CAUTIOUS WITH MAKING THIS ABOUT, UH, A PERSONAL AGAINST, AGAINST ME OR ANYONE ELSE. FOR ME, MY FOCUS REMAINS ON LISTENING TO YOU ALL TO THE RESIDENTS IN MONTROSE, TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT C, UH, AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INPUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE, THAT ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE IT IS SO PROFOUND, THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE DO HAVE THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT, BUT ESPECIALLY IN MONTROSE. UH, SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME TODAY IN PROVIDING THAT INPUT AND I AM LISTENING. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JENNIFER RUIZ TO FOLLOW MARIA AITA AT THE END OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. NEXT SPEAKER. REVEREND LESLIE SMITH. THAT'S ME. HELLO, REVEREND SMITH. HI ISS, EVERYBODY DOING WELL, THANK YOU. UH, GREETINGS. UH, WILL YOU STEP OVER TO THE MICROPHONE HERE? GREETINGS TO THE MAYOR IN HIS ABSENCE AND TO ALL OF YOU GUYS THAT SIT AROUND THIS WONDERFUL TABLE HERE. BUT, UH, GOD SENT ME TO THIRD WARD 42 YEARS AGO AND HE SENT ME THERE TO BUY CRACK HOUSES. AND IN 42 YEARS I BOUGHT UP CRACK HOUSES IN THIRD WARD, ABOUT 80 OF THEM, ABOUT THREE BLOCKS. I BOUGHT A PORTION OF CRACK ALLEY, BUT I'M HERE TODAY TWOFOLD. FIRST, AS A SENIOR, I'M 71 YEARS OLD AND AT 71 I'M COMING TO REPRESENT THE SENIORS IN THIRD WARD IN SUPPORT OF THE TRINITY EAST SENIOR AFFORDABLE PROJECT THERE IN THIRD WARD, A 90 UNIT PRO, A 90 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND SO WHERE THIS PLACE GONNA BE LOCATED IS IN A PRETTY TOUGH AREA, A THIRD WARD BEFORE ALL THE SPECULATIVE INVESTORS THAT HAVE COME TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO BUY THAT LAND, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE SENIORS. I REPRESENT THAT BABY BOOM POPULATION, NEVER AGAIN. WE GONNA HAVE THESE MANY FOLKS IN RETIREMENT. 55 PLUS. SO WE NEED TO SUPPORT MORE SENIOR. SINCE THEN, WE BUILT A SENIOR FACILITY 55 AND UP CALLED THE CITADEL THERE ON ELGIN. IT'S LOCATED RIGHT ON CRACK ALLEY THAT GUESS WHAT, . HEY, HEY, HEY. WE BOUGHT UP TO PLACE SOME SENIOR HOUSING ON. AND WHAT GIVES ME JOY IS TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND SEE THESE SENIORS THAT HAVE MOVED OUTTA THESE SHOTGUN HOUSES, ABSENTEE LANDLORDS THAT THEY DONE RENTED FOR 40 YEARS TO MOVE IN A NICE FACILITY. SO WHAT I TELL OUR SENIORS THAT LIVING IN THE CITADEL, I BOUGHT THE CARIBBEANS, HEY, HEY, HEY, TO THEIR WARD , THEY'LL NEVER GET TO GO TO A RESORT. THEY'LL NEVER GET TO GO TO SOME OF THE PLACES THAT YOU MIGHT VISIT, BUT WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY SUPPORTING THIS TRINITY EAST. AS YOU SUPPORTED THE CITADEL, WE WERE ABLE TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE CITY. FROM THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL HOUSING NHP, WHICH HAS BEEN GREAT PONDERS, AND WE GOT A 4% TAX CREDIT. SO LET'S CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE 55 AND UP THAT ARE IN MUCH NEED OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'VE WATCHED THIS TABLE CHANGE IN 42 YEARS AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET NO PREACHING, NO THREE MINUTES , BUT I'M DONE. LET EVERYBODY SAY AMEN. AMEN. DID YOU NEED SOME MORE TIME? YOU FINISH? I'M GOOD. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEMAN. THANK YOU, UH, REVEREND SMITH. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE. CERTAINLY THE CITADEL HAS DONE VERY WELL AND I WAS HONORED TO BE A PART OF THE RIBBON CUTTING [02:00:01] AND ALL OF THAT. AND YES, I DO KNOW YOUR STORY AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SO COMMENDABLE THAT YOU CAME IN AND REALLY CHANGED THAT AREA. AND SO CERTAINLY I HAVE LONG BEEN IN SUPPORT OF THE TRINITY EAST VILLAGE AND CERTAINLY I PLAN TO SUPPORT THAT AS WELL. REVEREND WHITE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE THAT HAS PUSHED FORWARD TO TRY TO GET THAT DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND JUST I WILL SUPPORT THAT. AND I THANK YOU FOR COMING. AMEN. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. YOU KNOW, UH, UH, THE PREACHERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE FORERUNNERS OF CHANGE. AND PASTOR WHITE, THERE IS A FORERUNNER. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PUMP YOUR GAS. WE PULLED UP THE SAMS ONE TIME. I GOTTA TELL THIS Y'ALL. I'M OH GOODNESS. I PULLED UP THE SAMS TO GET SOME GAS AND OUR COUNCILWOMAN WAS GETTING READY TO PUMP HER GAS. I JUMPED OUT OF MY CAR, SAID, COUNCILWOMAN, CAN I PUMP YOUR GAS PLEASE? . AND SHE SAID, ABSOLUTELY. SO SHI IS YOU GUYS, YOU PASTOR, I WILL PUMP YOUR GAS . THANK YOU. PASTOR SHI IS NOT DEAD, NOBODY. NEXT SPEAKER, NATHAN KELLY, MR. KELLY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTI. WELL, DON'T I FEEL UNLUCKY TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT . UM, THANK YOU ALL, UH, MAYOR PROTON, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR GIVING US, UH, GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 23, UH, WHICH IS THE, UH, RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS, BUT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. UH, OUR PROJECT IS IN THE ETJ. UH, AND SO AS THE RULES LAY OUT, UH, WE HAVE TO SEEK SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL, UM, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. UH, UH, A QUESTION WAS RAISED LAST WEEK BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ DURING THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEETING, UH, WITH RESPECT TO WHERE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER STOOD. AND SO I'M HERE TODAY AND HAPPY TO REPORT THAT LAST THURSDAY ON THE SIXTH, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER SUPPORTED TO, OR VOTED TO SUPPORT A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR OUR HEARTWOOD AT WINDSTONE, UH, DEVELOPMENT. UH, IT IS A MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT THAT, UH, WELL EXCEEDED THE THRESHOLD THAT HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAD LAID OUT FOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO WIN A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL. UH, AND SO I JUST, UM, HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL, UH, STAND WITH ME AND SUPPORT A, UM, A A A A NEEDED DEVELOPMENT, UH, IN THE K-D-I-S-D MARKET, A HIGHER OPPORTUNITY AREA WITH, UH, VERY LOW POVERTY AND, AND HIGH INCOMES AND, AND REALLY GREAT SCHOOLS. AND SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND, AND APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HEAR, UH, ME ON, ON THE SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO COME AND SPEAK WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND CIRCLING BACK AND LETTING US GET THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED. WE APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, JACOB CLEMENTI. THREE FIVE BY KATHY GUNNER. FOUR LIVE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET AT ANY RATE. UH, THIS FRIDAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY, AND SO I ASKED ALL OF Y'ALL, WILL Y'ALL BE MY VALENTINE'S? YES. THE, THE BOX BOX OF CHOCOLATES BELONG TO TIFFANY AND THOMAS. THANK YOU. SO IF YOU WANT THEM, YOU GOT TO SEE HER . THAT'S RIGHT. AT THEN RATE, UH, YOU KNOW, I GOT THE LETTER PRINTED OUT FROM JONES AND YOU KNOW, IT IS QUITE NICE AT THEN. RATE, IF YOU WANT A COPY OF IT, GO SEE MAYOR MEYER. HE'S GOT THE, THE ORIGINAL AT. THEN I GOT THIS TEXT DESCENDANT LETTER FROM BRIAN HUGHES, DISTRICT ONE DATED JANUARY 27TH, 2025. HE SAYS, DEAR MR. CLEAGE, THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY OFFICE TODAY AND FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL GIFT OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN BABE BASEBALL AND THE ALAMO REGION BOOK. I APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROSITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THINKING TO ME SINCERELY, BRIAN HUGHES, AND HE'S A STATE SENATOR, PRETTY POWERFUL ONE ALSO. OH, WELL I GOTTA GET TO WORK. SO I GOT A BOOKIE. AND THAT WAS THE NICKNAME THAT MAYOR WILMAR HAD WHEN HE WAS, UH, IN CONGRESS, UH, AND AS A REP AND AN SENATOR, IT WAS CALLED BOOGIE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. JAKE, MAYBE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS GONNA SHARE CHOCOLATES WITH US. NEXT SPEAKERS IN BOX KATHY GUNNER TO BE FOLLOWED BY SELENA T ARENA. HELLO, MS. KATHY. HELLO. [02:05:01] GREETINGS, UH, GO AHEAD COUNCIL. UH, AND GREETINGS TO THE MAYOR THAT IS ABSENT. UH, I'M HERE TODAY, UH, TO SPEAK OUT ON BE, UM, ABOUT THE, UH, THE RECYCLING AND THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. AND FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO MY CITY COUNCILMAN WOMAN FOR DISTRICT B, THAT'S MS. TASHA JACKSON, AND THANK HER FOR CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE HAD A, A DIS A CLEANUP THIS WEEKEND AND SHE SENT HER HIGH TEAM OUT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. TREE RATE. TREE WASTE IS CURRENTLY PICKED UP 12 MONTHS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UH, IN, IN HOUSTON, TRINITY GARDEN, WE ONLY GET HEAVY TRASH PICKUP THREE TIMES A YEAR. THREE TIMES A YEAR FOR HEAVY TRASH PICKUP IS NOT ENOUGH TIME BECAUSE DUE TO HOLIDAYS THEY GET BEHIND. IF THE WEATHER'S BAD, THEY GET BEHIND. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY PICK UP ALL THE STORM DEBRIS AND THEN THEY LEAVE ALL OF THE, THE HEAVY TRASH, THE WE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING PICKED UP EVERY OTHER MONTH. AND SO I THINK THAT POLICY NEEDS TO CHANGE BECAUSE WHEN I LEARNED THAT THE RECYCLING, WE ARE BEING PICKED UP FROM THE NORTHWEST STATION AND WE, WE GOT KELLY, WE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO KELLY, WE RIGHT ACROSS THE FREEWAY FROM THE KELLY SIDEWAY STATION. SO WHY THEY COMING FROM THE NORTHWEST STATION TO PICK UP OUR RECYCLING AND THEY DON'T PICK IT UP, BUT ONCE WE SUPPOSED TO GET ONE EVERY OTHER MONTH, I MEAN ONE EVERY OTHER WEEK. SO WE'RE GETTING SHORTCHANGED ABOUT 20 , WE PROBABLY GETTING SHORT CHANGED ABOUT HALF OF THAT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE REALITY. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS ALL THAT TRASH, ALL THAT RECYCLING, IT STARTS TO TURN INTO ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND SO THE PART OF THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE COMMUNITY, THEY SOME OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THE ROUTING AND SCHEDULING. SO WHEN I LEARNED THAT THE ROUTING AND THE SCHEDULING IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS DONE, UH, I DID SPEAK TO SOMEONE OVER 20 YEARS AGO, THE ROUTING AND SCHEDULING DEPARTMENT, UH, IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE LEGAL DUMPING 'CAUSE IT'S JUST NOT COMING FREQUENTLY ENOUGH. OR THEY COMING FROM THE DIFFERENT SIDE OF TOWN. AND THEN I LEARNED THAT THE NORTHWEST STATION DON'T EVEN PICK UP ANY ILLEGAL DUMPING. THEY DON'T PICK IT UP. SO I'M PROPOSING THAT WE GET THE TRASH PICKED UP. UH, THE HEAVY TRASH PICKED UP 12 MONTHS A YEAR, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. I DON'T THINK THAT'D BE ASKING TOO MUCH. AND I I'M ALSO PROPOSING IF I CAN GET A COUPLE OF MORE MINUTES, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR SENTENCE. AND I'M ALSO PROPOSING THAT WE GET THE, UM, THE, THE NORTHWEST STATION TO MAYBE ROTATE WITH THE OTHER STATION SO THEY CAN GET THE HEAVY TRASH PICKED UP. SO THAT'S A PROBLEM, THAT'S AN INTERNAL PROBLEM WITHIN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. AND WE'VE, WE'VE MET WITH, UH, WCO, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ABOUT THIS. SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN ONGOING. IT NOTHING CHANGED. IT'S THE SAME THING. SO, UM, TAKE A LOOK. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE ROUTING AND RESCHEDULING AND TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTION TO FIX THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALSO, UH, AND ALSO WANTED TO NOTE, WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT SINCE THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DIRECTORS TO SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK TO US. THEY ONLY CAN ANSWER TO THE MAYOR THEN, UH, AND THERE'S NO CHECK AND BALANCE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN I THINK YOU NEED TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THAT AS WELL BECAUSE THEY, WE, THEY REPORT DIFFERENTLY. THEY DON'T 3 1 1 ROUTE US TO THEM AND THERE'S NO CHECK AND BALANCE. WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO PLEASE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THOSE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MS. GUNTER. I'M SURE, UM, THE DEPARTMENT, UH, DIRECTORS ARE LISTENING. UM, BUT I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WILL DEFINITELY SHARE YOUR CONCERNS AS WELL TO EACH OF THEM. HAS YOUR RECYCLING BEEN PICKED UP? OH, THEY CAME OUT THEN WHEN I, THEY KNOW THAT'S GONNA BE ON COUNCIL, OF COURSE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. WANTED TO MAKE SURE. AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL WE AND, AND WE DO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH IT. AND I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WILL REACH OUT TO THE DIRECTORS ON YOUR BEHALF. YEAH, AT THE CITY, UM, AT HOUSTON GARDENS, UH, CIVIC CLUB VICE PRESIDENT. AND THEY BRING ALL THE CONCERNS TO ME. SO IN OUR LAST MEETING, THEY WERE CRYING OUT ABOUT IT, SO I THOUGHT I'D COME AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THANKS FOR BEING A GREAT CHAMPION FOR YOUR CIVIC CLUB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, LINA T ARENA. UH, DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, TODAY, I'M SPEAKING TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN IN OUR COMMUNITY. EXCESSIVE SPEEDING. AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, I URGE THE CITY TO CONSIDER INSTALLING SPEED BUMPS TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY [02:10:01] AND PROTECT AND PROTECT PEDESTRIANS SUCH AS OUR SENIOR CITIZENS CYCLISTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR KIDS. THE LACK OF SPEED CONTROL MEASURES ON RAINY MEADOW LANE. AND FINALLY, WHERE I RESIDE HAVE RESULTED IN FREQUENT SPEEDING AND POTENTIALLY ENDANGERING CHILDREN, ELDERLY RESIDENTS, AND OTHER PEDESTRIANS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS NEAR MISS INCIDENTS AND WE FEAR THAT WITHOUT INTERVENTION, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IS INEVITABLE. AS YOU ARE AWARE, SPEED BUMPS ARE A PROVEN TRAFFIC CALMING SOLUTION AND EFFECTIVELY REDUCES VEHICLE SPEEDS, MAKING ROADS SAFER FOR EVERYONE. SPEED BUMPS ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE DRIVING AND IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE. REDUCE SPEED LEADS TO QUIETER AND MORE PEACEFUL, CONVENIENT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS, WHICH WE ALL WANT. ALMOST SEVEN YEARS AGO TODAY, WHEN GALLEGOS WAS IN OFFICE, UM, I LISTENED TO MY NEIGHBORS OUTCRY FOR SPEED BUMPS AND TOOK THIS UPON MYSELF TO BE THE VOICE OF SONG WORD SONG WOOD WHERE WE LIVE. MY HUSBAND AND I KNOCKED ON EVERY DOOR AND SPOKE TO OUR NEIGHBORS REGARDING SPEED BUMPS. WE STARTED A PETITION 90 PER 97% AGREED, AND ONLY 3% OF THE RESIDENTS DECLINED SPEED BUMPS. THE RESIDENTS WHO DECLINED THE SPEED BUMPS WERE RESIDENTS WHO ALREADY HAVE SPEED BUMPS AND WHO HAVE SIDEWALKS, SADLY, WHERE WE LIVE, ALL OF THE TRAFFIC NOW DIVERTS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED IN SONG WOOD DIVERT, THE TRAFFIC DIVERTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW OUR STREET DOES NOT, LIKE I MENTIONED, HAVE SIDEWALKS OR THE SPEED BUMPS, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OUR PEDESTRIANS TO EXERCISE RIDE BIKES, WALK TO SCHOOLS, AND ATTEND CHURCH. OUR HOME IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF RAINY MEADOW LANE. AND FINALLY, WHICH ARE DESIGNATED CYCLE, UM, BICYCLE ROUTES. WHERE WE LIVE IS A LARGE HISD HIGH SCHOOL CALLED FUR. WE HAVE TWO CHURCHES AND TWO MAJOR CITY PARKS. I HAVEN'T STOPPED YET AND I WON'T STOP UNTIL WE RECEIVE THEM. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OUR COUNCILMAN NOW, MR. MARTINEZ, WHO HAS LISTENED TO OUR CONCERNS AND LAST WEEK SPOKE AT OUR HOA MEETING AND UPDATED US. HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ HAS VISITED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR HOME. WHILE MANY CONCERNS CITIZENS SHARED THEIR CONCERNS OUT LOUD, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OH, CAN I JUST HAVE LIKE A FEW MORE SECONDS? GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THE REASON I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, SO OUR RESIDENTS ARE AWARE I WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE VOICE OF THEM AND OUR KIDS. I WANT TO THANK OUR COUNCILMEN MARTINEZ AND HOPE WE CAN SEE THIS ISSUE TAKE ACTION TO INSTALL THE SPEED BUMPS SOON. WE WOULD APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER FURTHER IF NEEDED. BUT AS OF YET, I MEAN AS OF NOW, HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE GETTING THE SPEED BUMPS AS OF LAST WEEK. SO I JUST AGAIN, WANTED TO COME HERE BECAUSE I JUST WANTED MAKE SURE WE DO GET OUR SPEED BUMPS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I ALSO WANNA MENTION TOO, UM, WE NEVER SAW GALLEGOS WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE. NEVER. OKAY. SO THE WHOLE TIME DURING OUR HOA MEETINGS, I'M VERY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'VE ONLY EVER WITNESSED JOAQUIN EVER GOING TO THE MEETINGS WHILE, WHILE WAS IN OFFICE. SO HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS AND AGAIN, ALL OUR, THE SIGNATURES, WE HAVE PROOF AND EVIDENCE THAT I'M, I'M NOT GONNA STOP , SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PEARL. TAM. UH, SELENA, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR STAYING ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, WE ARE WAITING ON THE WORK AUTHORIZATION, UH, BUT IT'S ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR. WE KNOW WHERE THE SPEED CUSHIONS ARE. I DID RECEIVE AND I THINK, UH, YOUR HUSBAND'S SPEAKING NEXT, UH, WHERE WE SHOULD BE MOVING THEM, UH, TO SPEED CUSHION. SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WITH PUBLIC WORKS NOW. YES. UM, AND JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO, UH, WANT, WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED. UM, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU LAST WEEK AS WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THAT NORTHEAST PART OF, UH, DISTRICT HIGH. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT, IN THAT SPACE. YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ED RAINER TO BE FOLLOWED BY SERGIO LIRA. THANK YOU. UM, AS, UH, MY WIFE SPOKE BEFORE, UH, ABOUT THE SPEED BUMPS, UM, I WANTED TO GIVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, AS TO WHERE TO PUT 'EM, UH, BECAUSE, UH, WE HAVE SPEEDERS GOING THROUGH RAINY MEADOW AND FILING. SO I SPOKE TO COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ ABOUT IT AND, UH, HE'S WORKING WITH US. WE ALSO SPOKE TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS, UH, WHEN WE FIRST REQUESTED IT AND GOT THOSE SIGNATURES. SO WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE BACKSTORY. UH, THE REASON WHY WE WANTED 'EM IS BECAUSE WE SAW A LOT OF CLOSE CALLS ON THAT. UH, [02:15:02] IT'S NOT AN INTERSECTION, IT'S MORE WHERE THE TWO STREET SPEEDS, IT'S LIKE A, LIKE AN L SHAPE, 140 DEGREE OBTUSE ANGLE. SO IT'S A BLIND CAR BASICALLY, AND FOR SOME REASON CARS DECIDE TO SPEED THERE. UM, SO WE REALLY NEED THOSE SPEED BUMPS TO AVERT ANY COLLISIONS WITH PEDESTRIANS, UH, BIKERS. AND, UH, I'VE SEEN, WE'VE BEEN THERE 15 YEARS, SO I'VE SEEN, UH, AT LEAST FOUR CRASHES THERE, RIGHT ON THAT CORNER. UH, HIGH SPEED CHASE RIGHT ON THAT CORNER, UM, THAT ENDED UP IN THE PARK, UH, WITH HPD. AND, UH, SOMEBODY TOOK OUT THE, UM, THE LIGHT POLE, WHICH TOOK OUT THE REST OF THE, THE LIGHT POLES YEARS AGO. SO IT IS, UH, AN ONGOING ISSUE AND, UH, WE SIT OUT THERE, UH, AND WE ENJOY OUR, OUR HOUSE AND, AND WE SEE THESE THINGS HAPPENING AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE KIDS. UH, WE, A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, UH, A LITTLE KID IN THE SCHOOL ROOM ALMOST GOT RAN OVER. SO WE JUST WANNA BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEN THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, IF WE CAN EXPEDITE IT, THAT'LL BE GREAT. OR AT LEAST WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION, UM, ABOUT IT AND, AND, AND OUR TAKE BECAUSE, UH, A COUNCILMAN DOES HAVE, UH, EXPERTS THAT TELLS HIM WHERE, WHERE THESE SPEED BUMPS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE. BUT I JUST WANTED OUR INPUTS AS WE LIVE THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SERGIO LIRA TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIA LIRA. TRYING TO FIND A TIMER. DO Y'ALL HAVE A TIMER HERE? . YOUR TIME STARTED. OH, IT STARTED. I GOT MY OLD OSA PLACES HAVE A TIMER. UM, SO LET ME START. YOU READY, SIR? WE'VE ALREADY STARTED. HAVE WE STARTED? GO AHEAD. WELL, OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONOR BOARD MAYOR. HONOR BOARD. CAN YOU SEE COUNCIL MEMBERS? I SENT EACH OF YOU A DETAILED EMAIL THIS MORNING WITH MY CURRENTS AND PROVIDED PICTURES THIS SUNDAY MORNING AFTER. WHAT'S YOUR POINT ON FOX 26? I SAW A MAN IN FRONT OF MY YARD SMOKING MARIJUANA. I HAVE BROUGHT UP THESE CONCERNS NUMEROUS TIMES WITH OUR COUNCILMAN, BUT NOW I BRING IT TO YOU. HE IS ONLY ONE PERSON. HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB. HE'S DOING THE BEST HE CAN. HE HAS A LOT. HE HAS OVER A HUNDRED THINGS ON HIS PLATE. BUT LAST YEAR I WENT TO MONTEREY, MEXICO FOR A FAMILY REUNION. WE DROVE BACK AND I VISITED MY GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD. I NOTICED A NICE PLAYGROUND, KIDS ON THE NOT ON THEIR PHONES, KIDS BEING KIDS, HAVING FUN AND PLAYING. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I LOOKED AT THE TWO CLOSEST PARKS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, A COMPLETE CONTRAST. IRONICALLY, I FELT SAFER IN MEXICO THAN IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANNA ASK THE MAYOR TO PLEASE ASK THE PARK DEPARTMENT TO START WITH THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS WITH BASIC PLAYGROUNDS AND THEN MOVE UP TO THE WEALTHIEST NEIGHBORHOODS. BY THE WAY, MOST WEALTHY FOLKS ALREADY HAVE NICE PLAYGROUNDS IN THEIR BACKYARDS. CASE IN POINT, METRO. IT'S BACK TO THE BASIC APPROACH IN POOR AREAS IS EVIDENT. METRO CHAIRMAN, MISS ELIZABETH, UH, BROCK GONZALEZ IS DOING A GREAT JOB GOING BACK TO BUILDING SHELTERS IN OUR POOR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUS SHELTERS. CAN YOU PLEASE FURNISH A LIST OF PARTS THAT DO NOT HAVE A PLAYGROUND? NOW, CRIME, YES. GREYHOUND IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT I ASK THE MAYOR TO PLEASE CONSIDER A CONSER CONCENTRATED EFFORT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CITY TO CLEAN UP THE AREAS LIKE THEY DID ON HOWARD DRIVE BINET. IT CAN BE DONE ON FROM HARRISBURG TO 75TH TO CESA CHAVEZ FROM 16TH TELFORD ROAD TO LONG DRIVE. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ? COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEMP, UH, NO QUESTIONS. JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, DR. LITA, UM, AS, AS YOU KNOW, UM, EVEN ON WHEN ON STAFF, RIGHT? WE WORKED ON, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO AT LINDEN PARK. WE ARE, WE DO HAVE SOME PROJECTS COMING THROUGH THE TOURS, THE GULF GATE TOURS, UM, SPEAKING TO THE, THE GREYHOUND. JUST, JUST KNOW THAT, UM, WE'VE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OVERTIME FOR HPD. UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE DID PASS THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, UH, THERE AT, UH, ALONG HARRISBURG CORRIDOR. UH, IT'S, IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S, WE NEED THE STATE, WE NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN FOR HOUSING, FOR, FOR MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL. AND SO, UM, I JUST, I APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUING TO, YOU KNOW, BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE GOLF CREST COMMUNITY. UM, I WILL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THROW SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT I'VE TALKED TO JENNIFER AS WELL, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING IS, UM, HOPEFULLY AROUND, UH, MID TO LATE SUMMER. I'M LOOKING AT TRYING TO START CONSOLIDATING ALL THOSE, THOSE CIVIC CLUBS, THE ONES THAT ARE NOT ACTIVE, LIKE IN GOLF, GOLF CREST, TO START A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL. SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP BEING ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THAT, IN THAT SPACE TOO. THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU. YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. I COULDN'T FIND A PICTURE WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP TO CITY COUNCIL BACK IN FEBRUARY 26TH, 2015. YOU WERE ACTUALLY AN AID, AND I HAVE A PICTURE WHEN I SAW [02:20:01] IT BACK HERE, AND, UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT, I ALSO HAVE A PETITION FROM 2015, LITERALLY 10 YEARS AGO, DESCRIBING THE CONDITIONS OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD, 316 SIGNATURES. AND BACK THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA OR CELL PHONES. I LITERALLY WALKED THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND GET IN THESE PETITION SIGNS TO, TO, TO DEMONSTRATE, TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL DEMOCRACY WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL FOLKS AND THE MAYOR AT THE TIME. IS THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS SOME, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS. OH, OH, I'M SORRY. SO LET, LET, LEMME MOVE TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. I KNOW MY METER MIGHT RUN OUT, BUT GO AHEAD. . DR. LITA, I JUST WANT SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND FOR ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE SPENDING ACROSS THE CITY. WE HAVE NEEDS IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT TO YOUR POINT, WE'VE DELAYED IN MEETING AND I HOPE, UH, WE'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT. WE'RE, WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. BUT GO AHEAD AND, AND TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME AND FINISH WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY. YEAH, NO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN, I'VE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION TO CITY COUNCIL, TO FORMER MAYOR PARKER AND TO CITY COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS LACKING INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF FLOODING OUR DITCHES AS YOU, AS YOU READ IN THE EMAIL, BUT ALSO OUR PARKS, OUR AREA IS DECLINING. AND AS THE, UH, OUR TAXES CONTINUE TO GO UP, UH, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, HERE I AM 10 YEARS LATER TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND I JUST ASK ALL OF YOU TO, TO PLEASE, PLEASE BE EQUITABLE AND FAIR WHEN YOU DISTRIBUTE THE REFUNDS. AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU, YOU KNOW, STANDING ALONE ON THAT VOTE FOR THE LEVY PARK. AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES COURAGE TO STAND ALONE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND IF YOU READ MY EMAIL, THE AUDACITY OF COURAGE, ALL OF YOU HAVE IT. AND I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AS YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. BUT REMEMBER, WE HAVE AREAS THAT ARE REALLY NEGLECTED AND NEED MORE ATTENTION, AND HOPEFULLY THEY BECOME A PRIORITY. THANK YOU ALL. COUNCILMAN FOR SERVICE COUNCIL AND GOD BLESS YOU, SERGIO. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. SERGIO, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. YES, MA'AM. UM, AND THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR COMING IN. YOUR VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, IT'S PARAMOUNT ABOVE ALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND THEY GO HAND IN HAND. RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. UM, I DID WANNA SAY ONE THING. 'CAUSE YOU BROUGHT UP LEVY PARK AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION, AGAIN, WITH TS DOLLARS IN THE CITY COUNCIL DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE SPENDING OF ANY DOLLARS SO FAR. WE SAID FOR A TOURS THAT CAN ONLY SPEND THEIR MONEY THERE FOR A PRIVATE PARK THAT ALLEVIATES THE, UH, STRAIN ON OUR CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT TO THEN GO INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND INVEST THOSE DOLLARS RATHER THAN HAVING TO INVEST SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE SAID TOURS. YOU HAVE OUR APPROVAL TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY AND VIABILITY FROM AN ECONOMIC AND PARKS PERSPECTIVE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT A PIECE OF LAND ADJACENT TO THIS PARK WOULD BE VIABLE AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE TURS TO INVEST IN. THAT'S SEPARATE AND APART FROM WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OUR RESOURCES DO, THAT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE GOING INTO UNDERSERVED AND HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT, UH, TRYING TO MATCH APPLES AND ORANGES TOGETHER WHEN WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AND DESERVED IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILWOMAN. AND AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ISSUE OF PERCEPTION WHEN WE SEE IT IN THE MEDIA THAT THESE NICE PARKS HAVE EXTRA, ADDITIONAL PLAYGROUNDS AND ALL SORTS OF STUFF, WHEREAS OTHER PARKS DON'T EVEN HAVE A, A DECENT PLAYGROUND FOR KIDS TO PLAY ON. AND, AND MY QUESTION IS TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, JUST TO DO A, UH, A QUICK SIMPLE RANKING OF THE PARKS THAT NEED PLAYGROUNDS. YEAH, I MEAN, THAT IS NOT COMPLICATED. AND THEY, THEY'VE DONE THAT. WE HAD THIS, IF YOU ALL RECALL LAST YEAR, UH, AND THEY DID IT ALSO OF OUR LIBRARIES AND INCLUDING AS MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN COMPARE NEIGHBORHOODS, RIGHT? THERE ARE CRITICAL NEEDS. MANGO PARK, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT C ON THE NORTH SIDE TOWARDS DISTRICT A SO BAD. THEY LITERALLY HAD TO CONDEMN THE PLAYGROUND AND REMOVE IT. AND NOW IT'S JUST AN EMPTY FIELD IN AN AREA WITH NO OTHER PARKS. SO THERE ARE CRITICAL NEEDS AND I APPRECIATE YOU ESCALATING AND ELEVATING THAT CONVERSATION 'CAUSE IT'S NEEDED. ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE AGAIN, UH, TALKING ABOUT ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PARKS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT DISTINCTION. WELL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND, UH, ALL I ALL WE WANNA SEE IS JUST A NICE PARK [02:25:01] IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR KIDS TO PLAY AND BE KIDS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE ELEANOR TINSLEYS OF THE WORLD REALLY ADVOCATED FOR SPARK PARKS IN THE SCHOOLS AND THE AREAS. AND, UH, MR. LIRA, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ IS BACK IN THE QUEUE TWO ADDRESS. YOU. OH, YES. SO LET ME, LET ME STOP YOU TODAY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. JUST TO FOLLOW UP. YES. UH, DR. LIRA, UH, YOU GET IT. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. YES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TUR SYSTEM, THE WAY WE HAVE IT NOW, HAS BEEN USED TO PERPETUATE INEQUITABLE SPENDING IN SOME AREAS OF THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND YES, YOU DO DESERVE A NICE PARK IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. YES. YES. THAT'S, THAT'S IT FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. ANYMORE IN ANOTHER BOARD MEETINGS, THEY HAVE LIKE A LITTLE LIGHT SO YOU CAN SEE WHO'S, YOU KNOW, HAS THE NEXT QUESTION. YEAH. ? YES. THANK YOU, SPEAKER. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL SPEAKER, HAVE A GOD BLESS YOU. MARIA LIRA. MARIA LIRA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER RUEZ RUIZ. HELLO, MS. LIRA. GO AHEAD. UM, WHEN I STARTEDS, UM, I ASKED FOR A TRANSLATOR. OKAY. UM, UM, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA. I AM A MOTHER. I AM AN ACTIVIST. I'M SORRY, I THINK I MESSED A PART. THAT'S OKAY. UM, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, UM, THE, UH, YOUTH THAT SPOKE AND THE, UH, ATTENTION THAT THEY RECEIVED AND, UM, UM, THE, THE GIFT, GIFT AND THE, UH, THE, UH, RECOGNITION THAT WAS, THAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM. AND, UM, I, I NOTICED, UH, WHEN, UM, THE YOUNG LADY SPOKE, UM, THAT SHE SPOKE ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, RICH AND POOR. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS, UM, POOR AND IT IS NOT AS FORTUNATE AS THE RICH NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE, UH, 35 YEARS OF LIVING IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON, AND I HAVE 30 YEARS OF ADVOCATION FOR A NEW PARK FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR SIDEWALKS, AND FOR SEVERAL OTHER NEEDS THAT ARE, ARE NEEDED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, IT'S AFTER, UM, I'M SORRY. UM, ABOUT AROUND FOUR, UH, FOR ABOUT AROUND FOUR MONTHS NOW, UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN OVERRUN BY, UH, CERTAIN PEOPLE. UM, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE NOTICED AN UPTICK IN DRUG USE, ALCOHOL, ALCOHOL, VANDALISM, VANDALISM, ROBO ROBBERIES, OR, AND MEN, UH, URINATING ON THE WALLS OF, UH, BUSINESSES. I KNOW THIS ISN'T THE, UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT THE ONLY TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS THESE TYPES OF INSTANCES BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS MOVED THEM FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER. I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY A SOLUTION BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT, UM, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN DILUTED. UM, THE STATISTICS SAY THAT 3,280 CHILDREN, UM, ARE EXPERIENCING [02:30:01] LIVING WITHOUT A HOME. BUT MORE THAN 2 MILLION HISPANICS LIVE IN THE COUNTY OF HARRIS. AND WE ARE, AND WE ARE PART OF THAT. WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO THAT AREA, WE PAID $375 IN TAXES, AND NOW I PAID 3000 ON ONE PROPERTY AND 5,000 ON A SECONDARY PROPERTY, LIKE AN, UH, LIKE AN ACTIVIST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE INTEREST THAT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE SAME. THE CHILDREN ARE FUTURE, AND ALL OF OUR CHILDREN DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND TO HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES TO LIVE A, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE. AND I KNOW THAT IN, IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES. AND I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET HOME, YOU ALSO SEE THESE PEOPLE AND YOU'RE, AND IN YOUR AREAS. AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THEM, BUT THERE'S A FRUSTRATION THERE. AND OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING USED TO BEING IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ISN'T HEALTHY FOR THEM. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MARIA. UM, WAYSIDE. SO, OKAY. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JENNIFER RUIZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALEXIA HERNANDEZ. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL. UM, BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY, MY NAME IS JENNIFER REESE, AND I AM A THIRD YEAR PHD STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WHERE I TEACH INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY LABS AND CONDUCT RESEARCH ON WETLAND ECOLOGY FOR MY DISSERTATION. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M A PRODUCT OF HIC PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HAVING SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE LIVING IN DISTRICT I AND AS A MOTHER TO A 4-YEAR-OLD, THE STATE OF OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ME. BUT I'LL SAVE MY THOUGHTS ON THAT FOR ANOTHER TWO MINUTE OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE. I WAS INVITED TODAY BY MY NEIGHBOR, DR. HILTA, TO SHARE MY CONCERNS WITH YOU ALL ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. SO, UM, THE TWO PARKS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM MY HOME ARE CULLEN PARK, WHICH HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, UM, JUST NOW A PARK OF 44 ACRES PROTECTED UNDER THE CITY PARK'S, FORMAL NATURE PRESERVE ORDINANCE, AND JERRY SHARP PARK, A PARK OF HALF AN ACRE, [02:35:01] ONE OF OUR CITY'S FEW POCKET PARKS. TO BE BRIEF, OUR TWO PARKS LACK PLAYGROUND STRUCTURES, SECURITY, AND OTHER BASIC PARK FEATURES THAT OTHER AREAS HAVE. UM, IN THE CASE OF JERRY SHARP, THERE IS NOT EVEN A BENCH, MUCH LESS, MUCH LESS A PICNIC TABLE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY. RECENTLY, A TIRE SWING APPEARED ON JERRY SHARP'S LONE TREE, AND I WILL NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY THAT I KNOW THE ORIGIN OF THAT SWING. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, UM, LAST YEAR, A POCKET PARK IN THE THIRD WARD CALLED UNIVERSITY VILLAGE PARK UNDERWENT A MAJOR RENOVATION, AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE. AND, UM, I SEE GREAT POTENTIAL IN OUR PARKS, AND MY HOPE IS THAT EQUITY IN THE FORM OF ATTENTION AND FUNDS CAN BE BROUGHT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. VICE MEMBER PROAM. JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I'LL JUST, I'LL BE BRIEF, UH, WHAT I SAID IN SPANISH TO, UH, MS. LEETA. UM, FIRST I WILL JUST SAY THAT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOUNG FOLKS ENGAGED MM-HMM . UM, I KNOW FOR A LONG TIME, AND I'M SURE, UH, GIO SAYS THIS A LOT, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES. UM, THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO IT FOR DECADES ALONE. UH, SO TO HAVE YOU AS A, A FRESH BREADTH OF AIR TO SAY, HEY, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND WANTING TO GET INVOLVED. UM, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, MS. LITA, IS WE ARE FOCUSED IN THE HOBBY AREA, SPECIFICALLY THE GOLF CREST. UM, AND EVERYTHING SOUTH OF SIX 10, I CAN A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, AGREE THAT IT HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL RESOURCES THAT ARE BEEN PUMP IN, MAYBE INTO THE EAST END. MM-HMM . IT'S DOING GREAT. AND I, I'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR THE EAST END, BUT SOUTH OF SIX 10, UH, WE DO HAVE A DRAINAGE PROJECT, A SWAT PROJECT FOR GOLF CREST. WE ARE LOOKING AT CUING IN THROUGH THE TURS, UM, UH, MASTER MASTER, UH, PLAN FOR THE PARKS. UM, AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S WORK THAT WE ARE, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON IN THAT SOUTH OF SIX 10 IN BETWEEN 45 AND AWA GOING DOWN TO THE BELTWAY. UM, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. UM, I, I WILL BE HAVING A MEETING WITHIN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IN MID LATE SUMMER YEAH. TO ORGANIZE FOLKS SOUTH OF SIX 10, BETWEEN 45 MACAU AND, AND BELTWAY. I NEED TO LEAN ON YOU BECAUSE YOU KNOW, DR. LITA, LIKE I SAID, HE'S PROBABLY TIRED AS WELL, RIGHT. . UM, BUT I'M GONNA LEAD ON YOU TO HELP US GET MORE FOLKS INVOLVED AND ENGAGED, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GREAT. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ALEXIA HERNANDEZ, BE FOLLOWED BY EMMA ROGERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALEXIA HERNANDEZ. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I AM A SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE STUDENT WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE VOLUNTEERING TO SERVE THE HOMELESS IN HOUSTON. AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY OPPOSITION TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IN THE STATE CAMPING BAN. THE CITY OF HOUSTON WANTS TO END SLEEPING OUTSIDE, YET THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS CLAIMED THAT THE WAY HOME INITIATIVE STILL NEEDS TO FILL IN A $50 MILLION SHORTFALL TO HOUSE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS, OF WHICH THAT FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN FULLY SECURED. NOR DOES THE CITY SEEM TO HAVE A SOLID PLAN FOR ALTERNATIVES IF SAID, FUNDING IS NOT SECURED WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS NOT MAKING A MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY. AND THE EXP EXPIRATION OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS DESIGNATED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. AND THE CARES ACT MEANS THAT WE WILL SOON FACE A CRISIS IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HOUSTON. AS Y'ALL ARE AWARE, WITH ALL THIS BEING SAID, THIS INITIATIVE WILL COST THIS BROKE CITY, WHICH ARE THE WORDS OF THE MAYOR, UH, MORE MONEY TO WASTE THIS, UH, TO WASTE COURT AND POLICE RESOURCES. NOT ONLY ARE YOU ADMITTING THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF HOUSING PEOPLE, BUT ALSO PUSHING FORTH A POLICY TO PUNISHING PEOPLE WHO HAVE RAN OUT OF OPTIONS TO GET OFF THE STREETS. SO WE'RE ALSO REDUCING HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, BUT THEN INSPECTING THEM TO MIRACULOUSLY FIND SHELTER SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC VIEW. SO DO WE, WE JUST THINK THEY'RE GONNA DISAPPEAR OUT OF THIN AIR. WHAT DO WE EXPECT THEM TO DO BETWEEN 7:00 AM TO 11:00 PM EVERY SINGLE DAY? DO WE THINK THAT FINDING OR ARRESTING PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE IS GOING TO MAGICALLY SOLVE THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS? THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE MEANS THAT THE MOST PRIVILEGED AND WELL CONNECTED PEOPLE IN THE CITY CAN VOTE TO USE ENFORCERS OF STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST THE LEAST PRIVILEGE OF THIS CITY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. AND I SAY THAT IN QUOTES BECAUSE IT'S ANYTHING BUT CIVIL. IT'S NOT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S ABOUT THE REINFORCEMENT OF AN ANTIQUATED SOCIAL ORDER THAT PRIORITIZES THE COMFORT OF THE HAVE NOTS OR THE COMFORT OF THE HAVES OVER THE LIVE LIVELIHOODS AND THE DIGNITY OF THE HAVE NOTS. YOU NOT ONLY REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE MONEY AND INFLUENCE IN YOUR OFFICES, BUT YOU REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS [02:40:01] WHO HAVE NO MONEY, NO INFLUENCE, AND VIRTUALLY NO SAY IN THIS POLICY WHO ARE GOING TO BE HARMED THE MOST. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HOMELESS AT HEART, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE CITY'S HISTORY OF PROSECUTING THOSE WHO FEED THE HOMELESS. SEEKING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS POLICY WHEN THE FUNDS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN SECURED, IS NOT ONLY BAD POLICY, IT'S BAD GOVERNANCE. AND THIS POLICY COMBINED WITH REDUCING HOUSING SERVICES ARE A PERFECT RECIPE FOR FURTHER MARGINALIZING THE ALREADY MARGINALIZED. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK TODAY, MS. HERNANDEZ. UM, IF YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I'VE HAD A, A LARGE, PRETTY FAIR AMOUNT OF EMAILS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS ON THIS TOPIC, UM, AND I'VE OFFERED, AND I'M, I'M SURE YOU SOUND LIKE AS, AS THOUGH YOU'VE BEEN OUT IN THE ENCAMPMENTS AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. SO YOU ALSO, UM, I'M SURE UNDERSTAND THE DIRE SITUATION AND LIVING CONDITIONS AND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN. AND I THINK THAT REALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ADDRESS. UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S NOT ABOUT SOMEONE SLEEPING ON THE SIDE ON THE SIDEWALK. IT'S, IT'S ABOUT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE WORST OF CONDITIONS ON THE STREETS. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN, IN ALL FAIRNESS, I I DO KNOW THAT THE CITY IS WORKING ON, ON SOMETHING, UH, TO ADDRESS THAT, UH, THE WAY HOME IS FOR PERMANENT HOUSING. UH, WE, WE ARE CERTAINLY VERY ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR SUPPORT TO ADDRESS A TEMPORARY FIX, WHETHER IT'S A NAVIGATION CENTER, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH CAPACITY. UM, I, I, AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND YOUR CONCERNS, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE DIRE HEALTH, YOU KNOW, HAZARDS, SITUATIONS OUT THERE, AND YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. AND IF IT WAS E AS EASY AS JUST FLIPPING A SWITCH AND MAKING IT GO AWAY, TRUST ME, SOMEONE WOULD, AND I'M, I'M SURE YOU WOULD, I'M HAPPY TO, TO VISIT WITH YOU FURTHER, TO TO VISIT SOME ENCAMPMENTS WITH YOU, TO, TO, YOU KNOW, I, I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS A, A, A TERRIBLE SITUATION, AND IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A SLEEPING BAG ON THE STREET OR BEING A BOTHER ON THE SIDEWALK. SO, THANK YOU. MAY I RESPOND? UH, ONE SECOND. COUNSEL, PLUMMER ALSO HAS A COMMENT FOR YOU. OH, OH, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, . I I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. WHEN THE FREEZE WAS HAPPENING, UM, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FEEDER OF 2 88, AND THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS SAYING, I KNEW WHAT THE, THE WEATHER WAS COMING. I TYPICALLY ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN AND ASK, YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING UP? WOULD YOU WANT TO BE HOUSED? AND HIS ANSWER WAS, NO, I DON'T WANT TO BE HOUSED. I DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. UM, I HAVE TONS OF BLANKETS. AND, UM, AND I'M FINE. IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? SO, MAY I RESPOND TO BOTH? SURE, GO AHEAD. UM, SO I'LL RESPOND TO MS. CARTER. UM, SO ON THE QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, THIS BEING A DIRE SITUATION, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, I'M A SOCIAL WORK STUDENT. I'M INTERNING AT A SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION THAT DEALS WITH, UM, UNHOUSED PEOPLE AS WELL. UM, I, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR THIS, WHICH I KNOW THE CITY IS AWARE OF, BUT ALSO CRIMINALIZATION IS NOT THE ANSWER. UM, IF WE'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THESE FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING IN DIRE SITUATIONS, UM, I THINK WE WOULD NOT BE SEEKING TO CRIMINALIZE THEM OR FIND THEM, UH, OR EVEN POTENTIALLY JAIL THEM. I'M NOT SURE OF THE FULL IMPLICATIONS, UM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA HELP THEIR SITUATION ANY FURTHER. SO IT'S GONNA KEEP THEM DOWN A, A DARK PATH THAT, UH, WILL NOT HELP THEM GET TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. SO, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT CRIMINALIZATION IS THE ANSWER. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON GETTING THAT FUNDING FIRST. I KNOW THE CITY IS WORKING ON IT, BUT IT'S NOT THERE. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT THERE. AND THEN WE'RE FOCUSING ON, TO ME, ON THIS QUICK FIX THAT ISN'T, UM, GOING TO BE, UM, IT ISN'T GOING TO PRESERVE THE DIGNITY OF THE INHOUSE. AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, MS. PLUMMER, UM, I WOULD SAY, AND, AND CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION AGAIN? THERE ARE MUL, THERE, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN. I MEAN, THERE ARE MULTIPLE, I MEAN, I, I LITERALLY STOP, RIGHT? EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE SOMEONE MM-HMM . ESPECIALLY WHEN NO WEATHER'S COMING. AND I EVEN APPROACH HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE IN LIKE RESTAURANTS WHEN THEY'RE, AND I GIVE THEM MY BUSINESS CARD AND I SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANNA BE HOUSED, YOU KNOW, CALL MY OFFICE MOST OF THE TIME, WELL, ACTUALLY I'VE NEVER HELPED ANYONE. I MEAN, ALL OF THEM HAVE REFUSED ASSISTANCE. SO IN THAT SITUATION, THE, THE PARTICULAR QUESTION I'M ASKING YOU WAS, THE FREEZE WAS COMING. I KNEW IT WAS COMING, AND I ASKED HIM, WOULD HE BE OKAY WITH ME LETTING THE CITY KNOW THAT HE'S THERE TO BE PICKED UP TO BE IN A WARM ENVIRONMENT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COMING? AND HE SAID, NO, I'M FINE. UM, I'VE GOT PLENTY OF BLANKETS, BUT WE KNEW THE, WE, IT WAS GONNA BE WET, SO BLANKETS REALLY DON'T MATTER WHEN IT'S WET. RIGHT? UM, AND, AND HE REFUSED, RIGHT? AND SO, AND HE'S THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. [02:45:01] I MEAN, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, AT LEAST THAT I KNOW OF. I'VE SEEN HIM IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHEN SOMEONE DOES NOT WANT HELP AND THEIR LIVES COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN JEOPARDY, WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION? SO I KNOW THAT WORKING IN SOCIAL SERVICES, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE CAN REFUSE HELP. I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS COULD BE MAYBE PRIOR, UM, MAYBE UNFAVORABLE OUTCOMES WITH PAST SOCIAL SERVICES. MAYBE THEY DIDN'T GET THE OUTCOME THAT THEY HAD HOPED, OR MAYBE THE SYSTEM JUST FAILED THEM. UM, ALSO THERE ARE A LOT OF, UM, WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, UM, THAT I HAVE HEARD PERSONALLY THAT THE CONDITIONS OF SOME OF THESE SHELTERS ARE UNFAVORABLE, UM, THAT FOLKS FEEL UNSAFE. THEY CAN'T BRING ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU AND I HAVE BELONGINGS THAT WE WOULD NOT WANT TO PART WITH, THEY ALSO HAVE BELONGINGS THAT THEY WOULD NOT WANT TO PART WITH SOME OF THESE, UH, PLACES, UH, DO NOT ACCEPT THESE BELONGINGS. AND SO IT'S BASICALLY MEANING THROWING THAT IN THE TRASH, UM, AND GOING TO THIS PLACE OR TRYING TO HOLD OUT AND HOLD ONTO THESE BELONGINGS. UM, AGAIN, AND IT ALSO COULD BE MAYBE THAT THEY WERE FAILED BY, UM, MAYBE AN AGENCY THAT THEY FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. THERE COULD BE A NUMBER OF REASONS, AND I DON'T WANNA SPECULATE. UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT CRIMINALIZATION ONLY LEADS TO FURTHER PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE, NOT ONLY FOR, UH, THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED, BUT FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. CARTER COUNCIL MEMBER. CARTER, ARE YOU BACK IN THE QUEUE? GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UM, I'D LOVE TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE, HOPEFULLY YOU HAVEN'T EVER HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF TRYING TO GET SOMEONE OFF THE STREET WHO REFUSES TO AND THEN FINDING THEM DEAD A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS, IT IS A DIRE SITUATION. AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CRIMINAL CRIMINALIZING SOMEONE TAKING THEM TO JAIL BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO BE HOUSED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HELP WHEN THEY'RE LAYING IN THEIR OWN EXCREMENT AND VOMIT AND NEEDLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. IT'S A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE RATS RUNNING AROUND. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S FELT, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRIMINALIZATION AND, UH, BEING, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU, IT'S, IT'S AS THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO ARREST PEOPLE. THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT GETTING THESE PEOPLE HELP THAT DON'T WANT IT, THAT WANT TO BE THERE. AND YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IF, IF YOU'VE WITNESSED A, A FEW OF THEM DIE ON THE STREET, I THINK, WELL, WHAT, A FEW WEEKS BACK, RIGHT AFTER NEW YEAR'S COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, RIGHT AFTER NEW YEAR'S, YOU KNOW, ONE PASSED AWAY IN THE PARK WHO DIDN'T WANT HELP. AND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR SOCIAL SERVICES AND YOUR STUDIES AND ALL THAT. BUT, AND, AND WOULD LOVE, I HAVE A STAFF MEMBER IN THE BACK WHO WOULD GET YOUR NAME AND NUMBER AND FIND A CONVENIENT TIME. LOVE TO GO OUT AND VISIT SOME OF THESE PLACES WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW FIRSTHAND IT'S NOT A PLACE THAT ANYONE SHOULD BE. SO I, I, I HOPE TO TAKE YOU UP ON ANY, ANY KIND OF SUGGESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. MAYORS, JUAN, UH, WE, WE DO NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, BUT THANK YOU. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND, UH, PLUMMER FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE TODAY. OKAY, THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. EMMA ROGERS. EMMA ROGERS, WHAT SHE WANTS. EMMA ROGERS. ARI ANDERSON. ARI ANDERSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY KYLE ROGERS. HI. I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE I READ IN THE NEWS ABOUT MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S INTENTIONS TO EXPAND THE SO-CALLED CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND ENFORCE THE STATE CAMPING BAN. HE WANTS TO DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH NO CONCRETE PLANS AND RESOURCES IN PLACE TO PROVIDE MORE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THESE MEASURES ARE HINDERED FROM HAVING A VOICE HERE BECAUSE OF THE NEW REQUIREMENT TO GIVE AN ADDRESS BEFORE YOU SPEAK HERE AND TAKING TIME OFF WORK IS HARD ON EVERYONE WHO'S FACING HOUSING INSECURITY RIGHT NOW. ESSENTIALLY, THIS, UH, PROPOSED, UH, EXPANSION OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE MEANS THAT WE'LL PAY HPD TO SPEND THEIR TIME CHASING AROUND OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION, NEVER ALLOWING THEM TO SLEEP OR REST. WHILE WE HAVE NOT YET ADDRESSED THE ROOT HOUSING ISSUE, THE ONLY REASON THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS EVEN LEGAL NOW IS BECAUSE THE SAME SUPREME COURT THAT KILLED ROE V. WADE ALSO RULED THAT IT'S NO LONGER CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT UNDER THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO DENY UNHOUSED PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO SLEEP. WHILE WE, THE PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE THAT IT'S CRUEL AND UNUSUAL. WHENEVER MY SIBLING HAS NEEDED EMERGENCY SHELTER IN HOUSTON, I HAD MY PHONE AND MY LAPTOP AND I RESEARCHED ONLINE. I MADE ALL THE PHONE CALLS, I GOT IN ALL THE QUEUES, AND I COULDN'T GET HIM INTO ANY SHELTER HERE. UM, I AM MYSELF A DISABLED TRANS PERSON. AND [02:50:01] EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A FULL-TIME CORPORATE JOB, I AM IN SO MUCH CHRONIC PAIN EVERY DAY. I CAN BARELY WORK. MY MEDICAL EXPENSES COULD WIPE OUT MY BANK ACCOUNT ANY DAY. AND GETTING DISABILITY BENEFITS WOULD TAKE THREE YEARS IF I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO QUALIFY. EVERY PERSON I KNOW WHO IS TOO DISABLED TO WORK STILL GETS DENIED. AND AS WE FACE TRUMP TARIFFS, MIDDLE CLASS HOUSTONIANS ARE INCREASINGLY AWARE THAT MOST OF US ARE CLOSER TO LIVING IN THE STREET THAN IN RIVER OAKS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHATEVER YOU ALLOW TO HAPPEN TO OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS NOW IS WHAT YOU WILL DO TO US. THE MOMENT WE HIT HARD TIMES. AND I'M NOT GONNA STAND HERE AND TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT ALL THE UNHOUSED PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ARE ACTUALLY VERY LOVELY AND NOT THREATENING, BECAUSE HOW ARE WE STILL DEBATING WHETHER HUMANS ARE HUMANS AND WHETHER HUMANS DESERVE HUMAN RIGHTS? YOUR UNHOUSED CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT TRASH TO SWEEP OFF THE STREETS. THEY ARE PEOPLE. DO YOU THINK THAT UNHOUSED PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO SUFFER? THEY REFUSE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE MOST OF THEM, LIKE MY BROTHER, HAVE EXPERIENCED HORRIFIC ABUSE IN OUR SYSTEMS. AND YES, MOST SHELTERS MAKE PEOPLE THROW AWAY MOST OF THEIR BELONGINGS AND THEIR PETS THAT THEY DON'T WANNA PART WITH ANYMORE THAN YOU DO. SO AS TAXPAYERS, WE WANT TO SEE OUR MONEY USED TO OFFER RESOURCES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS NOT TO HARASS AND STEAL THEIR BELONGINGS. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING CRISIS IS MORE HOUSING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR TIM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE DEBORAH GLADYS AS OUR NEXT SPEAKER. UM, IF SHE COULD COME FORWARD. WELL HOLD ON SISTER. WE NEED A SECOND. SECOND. . I KNOW . I LOVE EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. NEXT SPEAKER. DEBORAH. GLADYS . MS. GLADYS, THANK. YEAH. OKAY. HELLO MS. GLADYS. THANK YOU FOR MOVING ME UP. ABSOLUTELY. MY NAME IS DEBORA GLADYS AND I'M A FOUNDER OF THE C UH, COMMUNITY RENTERS ASSOCIATION. AT THIS TIME, I LIKE TO EXPOSE WHERE I'M LIVING FOR TWO YEARS. IT'S A CONSTANT PROBLEM. SO I'LL JUST BASICALLY SPEAK ABOUT WHERE I'M AT NOW FOR TWO YEARS. NEW HOPE HOUSING, THEY NEED TO BE EXPOSED. I'M SURE THE CITY GIVES THEM RENT. MIGHT GIVES THEM HELP AND MONIES. UM, THEY CATER TO THE ADDICTED, UH, THE ALCOHOLICS DRUG ADDICTS. THEIR CAMERAS DON'T WORK. IT'S A VERY HOSTILE AREA TO PLACE TO LIVE AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE 12 BUILDINGS AND THIS YEAR THEY'RE GONNA OPEN FOUR MORE. AND A HEAD PERSON EXECUTIVE, UH, CORPORATE. I HAD A MEETING WITH HIM WHERE I LIVE ON BARRY. AND HE LAUGHED WHEN I SAID, WHY ARE THEY BUILDING MORE PLACES WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF WHAT THEY HAVE? AS AN EXAMPLE, THEY SAY THE CAMERAS NEVER WORKED. I WAS ACTUALLY ASSAULTED IN MY HEAD IN DECEMBER. THEY SAID THE CAMERAS DIDN'T SEE IT. IT WAS IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM. I HAVE TO STAY IN MY ROOM. I'M IN AN SRO SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE HOSTILITY AND WONDER WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME AT MY BUILDING. FOR SOME REASON, THEY DON'T ALLOW US TO DEADBOLT OUR DOOR WHEN WE LEAVE AND WHEN WE'RE INSIDE. SO WE'RE IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING THE LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE HAVE. WE CAN DOUBLE OR INSIDE, BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE, THEY EVEN DENY ME. I DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO IT. A THREE INCH SCREW. 'CAUSE ALL THEY COULD DO IS PUSH REALLY HARD. THEY CAN COME IN AND TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE. AND I SUFFER FROM PTSD FOR A WHILE. I WAS IN THE STREETS IN HOUSTON. I ONLY HOUSTON FIVE MY FIVE YEARS AND I WAS UNDER A BRIDGE. AND UH, SO I'M SO CONCERNED FOR MY WELFARE, NOT JUST FOR MINE, FOR OTHERS THAT LIVE THERE. 'CAUSE I'M COMMUNITY RENTERS ASSOCIATION. IT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL THERE IF YOU WANT THINGS FIXED, ESPECIALLY, UM, THE AIR CONDITIONING. OKAY? HALF THE TIME I'VE BEEN THERE, I ONLY GOT CLEAN TWO TIMES. SMELL OF MILDEW. IT GIVES YOU HEADACHES, IT GIVE YOU RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS. THEY DON'T LIKE TO CLEAN THEM. SO WHY BUILD MORE BUILDINGS WHEN YOU CAN'T TAKE OF THE TEAR? THE 12 YOU ALREADY HAVE. UH, THE ABUSE, THE VERBAL ABUSE SCREAMED AT BY WHO WORKS THERE. UH, LEAVE THE MAINTENANCE ALONE. WHEN THEY GOT MAD, WHEN I GOT MY AIR CONDITION CLEAN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN DECEMBER, THEY SAID, I'LL GIVE YOU A LEASE VIOLATION. I'LL PUT YOU OUT. SO THEY HAVE NOT RENEWED MY LEASE. I'M TRYING TO MOVE. I PUT A COURT CASE AND IT HASN'T BEEN HEARD YET. UM, BUT THEY'RE CATERING TO THE [02:55:01] ADDICTED. OKAY. AND PEOPLE OUTTA PRISON'S A SECOND CHANCE. I'M ONLY THERE 'CAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN AFFORD. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, AFTER THE STREETS THE WAY HOME, THEY PUT ME IN FIFTH WARD, PLEASANT HILLS. YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT PLEASANT HILLS. I WAS THERE A YEAR. IT WAS HORRIBLE THERE. THE SMOKING WHERE I'M AT NOW, THEY WON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT. I'VE CALLED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THEY DID NOTHING. I CALLED THE POLICE ABOUT THINGS. I DON'T LIKE TO CALL 'EM 'CAUSE THEY COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I, THE ONE GUY WASN'T EVEN SPOKE TO. I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED BY CIGARETTE SMOKE. THEY CAN FIND HIM $200. OKAY? THEY WON'T DO IT. EXCUSE ME, HAS EXPIRED ONE MINUTE. UM, MY CHAIR WAS HELD. I COULD NOT MOVE. I WAS AFRAID THE MAN WAS GONNA BEAT ME UP. THE POLICE COULDN'T EVEN TALK TO HIM. 'CAUSE NOBODY WILL TELL ME WHAT UNIT HE'S IN TO PROTECT HIM. SO WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. YES. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI. UM, MA'AM, WHICH OF THE PROPERTIES, UH, REFRESH MY MEMORY IS ON PAR PRAIRIE PERRY STREET. WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT? I'M ON PERRY. IT'S NEW HOPE HOUSING. YES. YES MA'AM. UH, WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE. UM, I HAVE A STAFF MEMBER IN THE BACK. I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH NEW HOPE, RAISED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEM, AND HAPPY TO HELP YOU WORK THROUGH THIS. UM, MY, UH, STAFF MEMBERS IN THE BACK HERE WHO WILL, UH, TALK TO YOU ABOUT CONNECTING AND, UH, SPECIFICS. NICK, WILL YOU HELP HER OUT? THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. AND I JUST WANNA, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, DID YOU WANT ADDRESS HER? YOU HAD A MOTION? I'VE WORKED WITH PLUMBER'S OFFICE QUITE A BIT AT PLEASANT HILLS. SHE, SHE HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE. I TALKED TO CECE A LOT. , THANK YOU. NO, I WAS GONNA TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR COMING AND YES, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HEAR THIS BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE SOONER. WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOME OF THESE PLACES WITHOUT PEOPLE SUCH AS YOURSELF COMING. I THINK YOU MAY HAVE SPOKEN WITH INGRAM FROM MY OFFICE. YES. IF NOT, WE WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH YOU ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT OH SIX. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. BUT IF I TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS, I WAS IN A CHAIR. I WAS UNDER THE BRIDGE ON COMMERCE ACROSS FROM THE ACADEMY. THE BIO, I WAS ALMOST RAPED. AND WHERE I'M LIVING NOW, THE POLICE DON'T EVEN WRITE A REPORT. I GOT ONE REPORT OF THE ASSAULT. UM, BUT THEY WON'T TAKE YOU IN TO SHELTERS 'CAUSE I HAVE A CHAIR. WELL, WE'LL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS REACH OUT. I'M JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, KYLE ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY TINA BRADY. UH, HELLO. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT AND SALE OF POLK STREET, A CRITICAL ARTERY THAT CONNECTS HOUSTON'S EAST END COMMUNITY TO DOWNTOWN FOR GENERATIONS. THANK YOU. JUST A SECOND. WE WANNA MAKE YOU A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE. APPRECIATE THAT. THERE YOU GO. UM, THE CLOSURE, UM, LET'S SEE. THE CLOSURE WOULD CREATE FAR MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT CLAIMS TO SOLVE. I URGE YOU TO, UH, TO RECONSIDER THIS DECISION. POLK STREET IS UNIQUE. IT'S THE ONLY STREET SOUTH OF NAVIGATION BOULEVARD THAT PROVIDES AN UNDERPASS BENEATH THE WEST BELT RAILROAD TRACKS. IT ISN'T JUST A CONVENIENCE, IT'S A LIFELINE FOR EAST END RESTAURANTS RESIDENCE. WHEN TRAINS BLOCK OTHER CROSSINGS, WHICH HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, POLK STREET REMAINS OPEN, PROVIDING RELIABLE ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN JOBS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES. UH, I WAS DISMAYED TO LEARN THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, JOAQUIN RE, UH, MARTINEZ, UH, WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PLAN UNTIL RECENTLY. UM, HOW CAN WE MAKE SUCH SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT PROPER CONSULTATION WITH OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE? THIS LACK OF COMMUNICATION SUGGESTS THIS DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT FULL CONSIDERATION OF ITS IMPACTS ON LOCAL RESIDENTS. THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER ALREADY ACCOMMODATES LIGHT RAIL, UH, OPERATIONS. EFFECTIVELY THE TRAIN FLOWS THROUGH SMOOTHLY WHILE MAINTAINING VITAL STREET CONNECTIVITY. THIS SHOWS THAT A BALANCE, UH, THAT SHOWS WE CAN BALANCE PROGRESS WITH PRESERVATION AND ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DON'T NEED TO SACRIFICE ONE FOR THE OTHER. THE EAST END HAS HISTORICALLY FACED CHALLENGES WITH CONNECTIVITY TO DOWNTOWN, OFTEN BEARING THE BRUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS, INCLUDING THE I 45 EXPANSION, UM, TO, [03:00:01] TO PRIORITIZE OTHER INTERESTS OVER OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. CLOSING POLK STREET WOULD CONTINUE THIS TROUBLING PATTERN, EFFECTIVELY CUTTING OFF ONE OF OUR MOST RELIABLE ROUTES TO THE CITY CENTER BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH TRAFFIC STUDY, ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY CONSULTATION, AND CONSIDER IT, UH, THE REAL WORLD IMPACT ON EAST END RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON THIS ROUTE DAILY. THE CONVENIENCE OF CONVENTION CENTER OPERATIONS CANNOT OUTWEIGH BASIC NEEDS OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. TIM. UH, KYLE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW TINA'S GONNA SPEAK ON THIS AS WELL. THE FIRST THING I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT WE'RE HAVING A MEETING, UH, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH AT THE EB CAPE CENTER. WE'LL BE SHARING IT AS WELL. I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE ALREADY STARTED SHARING IT. UM, AND IT IS TO DISCUSS ESSENTIALLY THIS, THE JRC PROCESS IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, UH, FOR POLK, WHICH IS TO ABANDON THE STREET. UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, I I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD AS WELL. I'M BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PROJECT FOR YEARS. UM, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT EAST WEST CONNECTION FROM THE EAST END HAS, HAS BEEN, UH, ELIMINATED OVER THE, YOU KNOW, OVER THE DECADES, RIGHT? WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER BEING BUILT AS WELL. UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A ECONOMIC IMPACT EXPANDING THE GEORGE R. BROWN TO SUPPORT THE, THE, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION AS WELL. BUT WHAT YOU'VE RAISED RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT, IS HOW, WHAT THE COMMUNICATION IS LIKE. I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL. UM, HE'S AGREED. COMMUNICATION IS BAD RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA START PUSHING HOUSTON FIRST, SPECIFICALLY, WHO IS THE, UH, THE APPLICANT FOR THE JRC, UH, TO COME OUT AND ALSO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL. UM, AS WE DO THAT, UH, WE WANT Y'ALL TO CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED. UM, I'M ALSO SPEAKING TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AS WELL AS TO HOW CAN WE INCREASE EAST WEST CONNECTIONS INTO DOWNTOWN, WHETHER IT'S LELAND PEACE, UM, NORTH OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN COMMERCE. UM, AND I THINK THERE'S ONE OTHER STREET AS WELL, I WANT TO SAY, UM, FRANKLIN, UH, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCREASE THAT, THAT, UH, ENTRANCE IN AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN. BUT AGAIN, JUST WANNA SAY, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. UM, WHEN I SHOWED UP TO YOUR MEETING ON LAST MONDAY, I WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON EITHER. UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL QUICKLY GETTING INFORMED, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OPEN CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. UH, COULD I JUST SAY ONE MORE THING? UM, RIGHT NOW THERE'S A TRAIN THAT GOES THROUGH PART OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T JUST MAKE THAT ACCOMMODATION FOR THE CURRENT ROAD THAT GOES THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER. TINA BRADY. BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN HOLMES. HI EVERYONE. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. STEP BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE. YOU CAN PULL IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. THERE YOU GO. I DON'T WANT IT TO ECHO AND RATTLE. NO, YOU'RE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, AND, AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCILMAN, UM, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP HERE. I ECHO WHAT KYLE SAYS. AND FURTHER TO THAT, MY NAME IS TINA BRADY. I'M A FELLOW HOUSTONIAN AND I LIVE IN EASTWOOD. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO ABANDON AND CLOSE A SECTION OF THE POLK NEAR CHARTRES AND AVENUE DE LOS AMERICAS. NEXT TO THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU PLEASE TO DENY THE REQUESTED ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET OR MODIFY IT AT THE LEAST MANY OF US IN THE EAST END. UH, THE POLK STREET IS THE PRIMARY ACCESS THAT WE HAVE FROM OUR HOMES TO DOWNTOWN. POLK SERVES THE EAST END FROM GUS WORTHHAM GOLF COURSE ON WAYSIDE DRIVE THROUGH EASTWOOD ACROSS LOCKWOOD DRIVE, WITH CONNECTORS TO THE UNIVERSITIES PASSING UNDER THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACKS ON THROUGH IDO AND DOWNTOWN ALL THE WAY TO SMITH STREET. POLK WILL TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY FROM WAYSIDE DRIVE TO SMITH STREET. IT'S THE ONLY STREET THAT CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THAT AND IT'S MAJOR BECAUSE IT HAS IMPLICATIONS TO THE FUTURE THAT THEN YOU'RE GONNA RELY ON AND POINT TO IN THE FUTURE, WHICH CONTINUES TO BUILD ON THE, ON THE DETRIMENT OF THE SOCI OF THE, OF THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE OF THIS CON CONTINUOUS ACCESS, ALONG POLK METRO BUSES ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT TRAIN STOPPAGES THROUGH THE EAST END AND THROUGH DOWNTOWN. NO OTHER STREET PROVIDES THE EAST [03:05:01] END WITH THIS BREADTH OF ACCESS TO THE, TO DOWNTOWN THAT POLK DOES. IN FACT, THE ONLY OTHER THROUGH STREET IS LELAND, WHICH PICKS UP AT LOCKWOOD IN EASTWOOD AND THEN APPROACHES DOWNTOWN. BUT PRIOR TO THAT, YOU HAVE TO START SWITCHING STREETS IN ETO. SO IT DOESN'T EVEN GO THROUGH, NOT, NOT IN AND OF ITSELF THAT DIRECTION. OR I GUESS MAYBE YOU COULD GET OFF TO I 45, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE MESSED UP TOO. AND IT'S EVEN MORE DANGEROUS THAN HAVING TO SWITCH UP IN IDO. SO I, AND I KNOW A LOT OF COMFORTABLE PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA FEEL COMFORTABLE AT ALL GOING ON THE HIGHWAY. FOR THE LITTLE BIT OF TIME WE EVEN HAVE THAT THE WHOLE THING IS GONNA MESS US UP. CLOTHING CLOSING POLK STREET WOULD FURTHER ISOLATE OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ISOLATED. I WOULD WISH I COULD ADDRESS TO MAYOR WHITMEYER, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I KNOW THAT YOU DO VALUE OUR INPUT. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT THE EAST END COMMUNITY IS AGAINST CLOSING POLK STREET. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THE MONEY BEING SPENT ON THIS PROJECT IS OUR MONEY TOO. PLEASE FIND A WAY TO EXPAND THE GRB WITHOUT RE RE RESTRICTING THE ACE IN EXCESS. POLK GOES UNDER THE HYATT REGENCY, AS KYLE POINTED OUT. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THROUGH THE GRB. LET'S BE CREATIVE HERE AND NOT CLOSE OUR MINDS TO THE DESIGN. LET POLK GO UNDER THIS EXPANDED GRB. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. TIM. TINA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE EASTWOOD EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, AS I MENTIONED TO KYLE, WE'LL BE HAVING A MEETING MONDAY, SIX 30 AT THE EB CAPE CENTER. UH, DEFINITELY, UH, SHARE THAT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BECOME HONEST, TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE, UM, ON POLK. AND THEN FROM THERE, SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN I JUST ASK YOU, WHAT IS OUR PROSPECT OF EVEN POSSIBLY MAKING A DESIGN CHANGE? SO THE THING COULD GO UNDER GRB RATHER THAN, RATHER THAN CLOSING IT COMPLETELY. DO WE EVEN HAVE, I MEAN, 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT'S THAT IT'S JUST A DONE DEAL. SO WHAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU, UH, WHAT WE HAD PRIOR TO, RIGHT, AND THIS WAS A, UM, AND I'LL BE VERY DETAILED, MAKING A RIGHT ON SAINT EMANUEL, TAKE IT TO LAMAR. LAMAR WAS GONNA BE A, A CURVE INTO THE FRONTAGE, THE NORTH SIDE OF THE EXPANSION AND STILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO POKE. THAT WAS GONNA BE THE WHAT WAS GONNA BE DETERMINED. NOW THEY WANT TO ABANDON THAT STREET. SO THE NEXT STREET OVER, WHICH IS BELL WOULD BE THE NEXT RIGHT. GOING INTO DOWNTOWN. THAT THAT IS. UH, SO THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY, UM, A CLOSURE. UH, IT WAS GONNA BE A CLOSURE. IT WAS GONNA BE JUST A, A DETOUR. WE BELIEVE IT WAS ALL THROUGH ACCESS FROM EAST END INTO DOWNTOWN. THAT'S THE GOAL. THAT'S THE GOAL AT THE END OF THE DAY. EVEN THIS LAST OF IT, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE DESIGN CHANGES THAT COULD TAKE PLACE, YEAH, THAT COULD HANDLE IT APPROPRIATELY. THANK YOU TINA. THANK YOU TINA. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER. KAREN HOLMES. KAREN HOLMES. KAREN HOLMES. NEXT SPEAKER. LINDA, P-I-G-G-E. PJ. LINDA. PJ. HELLO, MS. PJ. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL THE ELECTIVE MEMBERS. I AM HERE TODAY. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 20 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HIT DOWN HERE. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY. I HAVE SOME PROBLEM UNDER COUNCILMAN. I HAVE SOME PROBLEM WITH, UH, MY WATER BILL AND THANK YOU ALL FOR FIXING IT. AND IT'S NOT ALL THE WAY FIXED, BUT I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT. UM, MY OTHER PROBLEM, I LIVE ON YALE AND 45 AND HAMILTON, H-A-M-I-L-T-O-N. AND I HAVE A PROPERTY THAT'S EMPTY AND THEY JUST, EVERY SO OFTEN THEY'RE JUST BREAK IN THERE. THE HOUSE IS EMPTY. NOBODY LIVE THERE, NO LIGHTS BECAUSE UM, I WOULD SAY THE LAST TENANT WAS EVICTED. BUT MY PROBLEM IS, IS THIS PEOPLE THAT WALKED ON THE STREET, THEY, WHEN THEY WALK IN THE STREET, SOME OF THEM IS DON'T HAVE ANY CLOTHES ON. SOME OF THEM IS DRUG DEAL OR WHATEVER THEY DO. UM, I WAS WONDERING. AND THEN WE APPLY FOR A SPEED BUMP DOWN THERE. IT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. SO I HAVE, AND THAT STREET, PATRICK AND HAMILTON, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE STREET WALKER AND THE DRUG DEALER AND THE HOMELESS BECAUSE IF IT'S A PLACE'S EMPTY AND MY STREET, I'VE BEEN OVER THERE 40 SOMETHING YEARS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS AND MY STREET, THEY GONNA BREAK IN THERE AND FIND SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP. I [03:10:01] JUST WANT TO BRING THAT BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO SEE IS ANYTHING Y'ALL COULD DO ABOUT HAMILTON AND PATRICK, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL CLEAN UP THAT DEAD END STREET BY TWO MORE WEEKS. THEY DUMP. MM-HMM . AND MY HOUSE IS AT THE CORNER AT EDMONTON. AND PATRICK, I'M GONNA LET YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN HERE. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN, UH, IN TOUCH WITH YOU AROUND YOUR WATER BILL AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THROUGH, UH, AND MAKE SURE THAT IS CORRECTED. BUT ON THE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, UM, THE SPEED CUSHIONS, UH, MY OFFICE CAN GET YOU THE APPLICATION, UM, SO THAT WE CAN START THAT PROCESS ON SPEED CUSHIONS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEN WE WILL ALSO, UM, REACH OUT TO YOU ON THE ISSUES WITH, UH, CRIME SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH HPD AND, AND GET YOU SOME HELP THERE AS WELL. BUT WE WILL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN COMMUNICATION, UM, AROUND THE WATER BILL. AND THEN WE WILL, WE WILL ADD ON THOSE OTHER TWO ITEMS AS WELL. YEAH, BECAUSE IF I CALL THE HPD, THEY'LL COME AND BY THE TIME, MAYBE TWO HOURS LATER IT'S BACK OR THE NEXT DAY IT GOING TO BE THE SAME. AND I FILE FOR LIKE A TWO WEEK PATROL AND AFTER THAT THEY DON'T COME. BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT WORKED. THEY WAIT. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S GONNA KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU NEXT SPEAKER. ALEXANDER VARGAS. ALEXANDER VARGAS. NEXT SPEAKER. MARIAN WRIGHT. MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. UM, I WAS GONNA SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, BUT AFTER TODAY, SEEING THAT PEOPLE WERE HERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE THREE PEOPLE THAT THE MAYOR IS WANTING TO APPOINT TO THE MONTROSE TEARS BOARD, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE THREE PEOPLE, OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, SAYING THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS A PAID SOMEONE ELSE OR WHATEVER, OR AN EX COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAD PULLED THE LEVERS TO HAVE THEM NOMINATED IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. THE MAYOR DID HIS DUE DILIGENCE AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT 'EM. THEY'RE ALL LONG-TERM MANTRAS RESIDENTS. UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH 'EM AND TELL YOU ABOUT EACH OF, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT READING. I'M DYSLEXIC, SO IT TAKES ME A MINUTE TO FIND MY PLACE ON HERE. MY EYES JUMP AROUND. UM, ELIZABETH LARSON WORKS FOR CHEVRON AS A LEADERSHIP COACH. SHE IS ALSO THE PAST PRESIDENT OF AN HOA BOARD FOR COMMON, UH, WEALTH SQUARE. KATHY CADWELL WAS A CEO AND PRESIDENT OF LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH. SHE LED THE ORGANIZATION AND ONE OF THE 50 CLINICS OVER 50, UM, LOCATIONS IN THE GULF COAST REGION. AND IT'S THE LARGEST FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE CENTER. THE LEGACY CLINIC IN MONTROSE IS NAMED AFTER HER. DURING CONSTRUCTION, THEY SAVED THE TREES IN THE PARKING LOT, WHICH I THINK IS FABULOUS FOR THE MONTROSE AREA SINCE EVERYONE IN MONTROSE SEEMS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT TREES. RAY, UM, ER WAS FORMERLY VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OF COMCAST AND IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OF LEGACY HEALTH CENTER. UM, THEY ALL BRING A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE, AND IF ANY OF 'EM ARE NOT QUALIFIED, WELL THEN YES, Y'ALL SHOULD DEFINITELY VOTE AGAINST NOMINATE. I MEAN, APPOINTING THEM IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED. IF THEY ARE, THEN THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO TURN AROUND AND SAY, BECAUSE X BOARD MEMBERS OR BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE SHOULD BE REAPPOINTED. WHY SHOULD BOARD MEMBERS BE REAPPOINTED? JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE BOARD. IF THE MAYOR OR ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO AND IS IN THE POSITION TO NOMINATE NEW PEOPLE AND HAVE NEW PEOPLE APPOINTED, THEY SHOULD BE VOTED ON. THEY EXPERIENCED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, WHEN Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PORT AUTHORITY, ROLAND HAS EXPERIENCE. THERE'S A REASON TO VOTE FOR HIM. GALLEGOS HAS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY'S A REASON YOU VOTE ON PEOPLE WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE, WITH WHO YOU THINK IS GONNA DO THE BEST JOB AND A VOTE ON SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE AND BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA DO A GOOD JOB. GREAT. IF YOU DON'T THINK THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO A GOOD JOB, WELL THEN YOU VOTE AGAINST THEM. BUT YOU SHOULDN'T VOTE AGAINST SOMEONE IF THEY'RE QUALIFIED, IF YOU THINK THAT THEY CAN DO A GOOD JOB. AND THESE THREE PEOPLE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE NEEDED [03:15:01] TO DO A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT SPEAKER PAUL DANCY. PAUL DANCY. PAUL DANCY. NEXT SPEAKER. NIA COLBERT. NIA COLBERT. SHE'S NEXT SPEAKER. RONNIE HALTON. RONNIE HALTON. NEXT SPEAKER BERNADETTE. KEKE. PRAY THE LORD. PRAISE THE LORD. PRAISE THE LORD. YES. GO AHEAD AND STEP BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE FOR US. WE CAN HEAR YOU BETTER. GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS BONARD DE KIKI AND I'VE BEEN SENT HERE BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE HAS SENT ME THROUGH HIS MEGA ASIAN PROPHET ELIJAH IN THE BOOK OF MALACHI. HE'S ON THE EARTH AS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE AS THE PREPARER OF THE WAY FOR THE GLORIOUS COMING OF THE MESSIAH. SO I'M HERE TO INFORM YOU MY PRECIOUS COUNCILMAN. I AM A HISTONIA. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 35 YEARS. I DID ALL MY EDUCATION HERE. I'M A, I'M A NURSE BY PROFESSION AND I HAVE MY LITTLE HEALTHCARE BUSINESS. ALL MY ADULT CHILDREN. I BORN IN HOUSTON AND I LOVE HOUSTON. I LOVE TEXAS AND I LOVE AMERICA. AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE WILL MISS THE GREATEST REVIVAL ON THE EARTH BROUGHT TO US BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. WHY? BECAUSE HE LOVES THE ENTIRE HOUSTONIAN PEOPLE. HE LOVES OUR SOULS AND HE DOESN'T WANT US ANYBODY TO PERISH. I HAVE SAID HERE SO MUCH TODAY AND LISTEN TO THE MARATHON OF PROBLEMS. THE LORD JESUS SAID IS GOING TO GET WORSE. IN FACT, AS I'M TELLING YOU, HE HAS SENT ME TO TELL YOU AS IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW CHAPTER 28, VERSE 18, THAT THE AUTHORITY AND THE LEADERSHIP ME AND YOU ALL HAVE OVER THE SOURCE OF HISTONIA IS A DELEGATED AUTHORITY. IN OTHER WORDS, BLESS THE CONGRESS MAN AND WOMAN, THE LORD JESUS HAS GIVEN YOU AUTHORITY TO GATHER HISTONIA FOR REPENTANCE WITHOUT PEACE AND HOLINESS. NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD. AND AT THIS HOUR THE MESSIAH IS COMING. HE SENT AND ELIJAH TO JUDGE THE EARTH. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PREPARE EVERYONE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES AT THIS HOUR AND GATHER FOR THE REPENTANCE AND THE REVIVAL. AND I'M HERE TO NETWORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND SEEK YOUR SUPPORT THAT IN THE MINISTRY OF REPENTANCE AND HOLINESS, WE NEED TO INVITE THE MEGA ASIAN PROPHET. ELIZA, CAN I HAVE FEW MORE MINUTES? MS. KIKI, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. KIKI. I WANT TO, UH, GIVE YOU MY CARD SO YOU CAN BE IN CONTACT WITH MY OFFICE AND WE CAN BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU. UM, SO WE CAN, UH, LEARN MORE ABOUT, UH, INFORMATION THAT YOU WANNA SHARE. CAN I SHOW YOU? CAN I, CAN I GIVE YOU MY CARD? YES. OKAY, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. WE'LL BE IN TOUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU FOR US TO BRING REVIVAL, THE BIGGEST REVIVAL ON EARTH INTO HOUSTON. THANK YOU. YOU WILL REMEMBER TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS, NEXT SPEAKER, JESSE ESCALANTE. JESSE ESCALANTE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SOPHIA SEGER. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. HOPE YOU GUYS ARE HAVING A GREAT DAY. TELL THE MAYOR HE MISSED OUT . I'LL LET HIM KNOW. I'M JESSE. YES, I'M FOUNDER OF THANK HOUSTON. I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE. UH, FIRST OF ALL, APPRECIATE THAT LITTLE YOUNG LADY WHO CAME IN HERE AND JUST BLEW US ALL AWAY. SHE WAS, THAT WAS SOME GOOD STUFF. I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, AND YOU DO, WE [03:20:01] REMEMBER, UH, WHEN WE WAS YOUNG SERIES, I'M A LITTLE OLDER THAN SOME OF YOU GUYS. UH, THE MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. ANY OF Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND? AH, BINGO. THAT WAS IT. NO, I JUST PUT IT LIKE THIS YEAR MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING NOT TO WASTE. WHY IS IT FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS BEEN WAIT, WORKING ON A PROJECT CALLED THANK HOUSTON TOGETHER. HOUSTON IS NOW KICKING CRIME TOGETHER. HOW INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW KICKING CRIME TOGETHER. HOW ISD IS NOW KICKING CRIME BY SOWING THE SEED OF GREATNESS INTO THE MIND. WHO REMEMBERS? DARE WHERE'S DARE AT NOWHERE HAVE YOU FOUND? BLESS DARE. HEY, I APPRECIATE NANCY REAGAN. SHE THAT WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE DARE UH, ORGANIZATION BACK WHEN RONALD REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE REAGAN LOVED HIM, LOVED HIS HEART. UH, HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO, I LAUNCHED IT OFF AND WENT INTO ROSENBERG, ROSENBERG AND BRACELET. ON THE FIRST, ON THE FIRST SHOT, THEY SAID, THIS IS GOOD. THE GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF MR. ROOSEVELT NAVIN SAID, THIS IS POSSIBILITY TO GOING NATIONAL. WHY IS THAT? 'CAUSE HE SAYS, MR. JESSE, IT'S GOOD FROM YOU. LOOK, YOU LOOKING FROM FENTANYL TO THC TO VAPE, TO SCHOOL BULLYING, TO THREATS ON, ON TO PEOPLE'S LIVES, UH, TO PANTS ON THE GROUND, TO MAKE FAMILIES FR FROWN IT'S PREDICT, PREDICTED TO BE ADDICTED WITH GAMING MEN, YOUNG LADIES POSTING ON THE INTERNET TO BE DEPOST TOMORROW. WOW, THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, ISN'T IT? WELL, I CAME UP WITH A PROGRAM TO TO TO PEOPLE'S HEARTS AND MINDS AND SPIRITS TO THESE YOUNGSTERS. ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGSTERS. UH, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, UH, I'M EXCITED 'CAUSE UH, THE FACT OF THE MATTER FROM FIRST GRADE TO FIFTH GRADE, I HAVE THE STOP PROGRAM. SURRENDERING THOUGHTS, OFFENDING PARENTS, PEOPLE, AND POLICE. WHAT A GOOD DEAL. WHY WE HAVE TO SOW THOSE SEEDS AT A YOUNG AGE, DON'T WE? WHY NOT SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT POST IT POSITION OURSELVES TO INTELLIGENT TEACHING FOR THE STRIDENT FOR GREATNESS PROGRAM, FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AND FACULTY MEMBERS. WHAT AN EXCITEMENT TIME. AND THEN AS I, AS I'VE BEEN IN CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS, I'M EXCITED. 'CAUSE AS THE TEEN THINKS, A CURRICULUM FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS THAT THINK THE WAY THEY THINK IS SO WARPED UP ALL THIS VAPING, THIS, THIS, ALL THIS STUFF THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW FROM THC TO MUSHROOMS, UH, TO, I MEAN EVEN THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PUT IT TOGETHER IN THREE YEARS, BEEN CONSTRUCTION ON IT. AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND I RECOGNIZE AND REALIZE THAT THE STEPS OF THE TO THE FIRST, UH, TO ATTEMPT TO, I'M SORRY, TO THE, UM, THE POST I HAVE A POST-IT PROGRAM POSITION OURSELVES TO, UH, INTELLIGENT TEACHING, WHICH HAVE LITTLE POST-IT STICKERS THAT SAY OF THE PAIN OF DISCIPLINE IS GREATER THAN PAIN OF REGRET. LET YOUR LIFE BE YOUR MESSAGE. CAN YOU IMAGINE A LITTLE KID READING THAT EVERY DAY? JUST GIMME A FEW MORE MINUTES, PLEASE. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE TO POSITION OURSELVES. SIR, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO WRAP IT UP THOUGH. GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR THOUGHT. I'M THE LAST ONE ANYWAY, MA'AM. NO, YOU'RE NOT GPA MA'AM, GO AHEAD, GPA, GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR LAST TIME. GREAT PARENTS ASSIST. WHY NOT? WELL, THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY SAY. WHY, WHY NOT? LET'S HELP TO A PROGRAM THAT CAN BE VERY, VERY PROSPEROUS AND BLESSES TO A LOT OF YOUNGSTERS, ESPECIALLY TO, UH, THE GPA PROGRAM AND THE ART PROGRAM, WHICH I HAVE FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO GET INVOLVED IN GETTING A SCHOLARSHIP FROM, FOR THE ART CLASSES. I KNOW MY TIME IS UP, BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL Y'ALL I APPRECIATE BEING HERE AND, UH, I KNOW AND REALIZE THAT, UH, I HAVE SOMETHING GREAT HERE, GREATER THAN DARE, 10 TIMES GREATER, WHY THERE'S SO MUCH CONTENT THAT CAN REALLY HELP A LOT OF YOUNGSTERS AND YOUNG WOMEN AND OUT AND ALSO WITH THE, THE, THE, UH, THE ROAD RAGE PROGRAM, WHICH IS BASICALLY, UH, ALL, ALL THAT GOES THROUGH BILLBOARDS, THROUGH THE WHOLE CITY TO HELP, UH, MAKE PEOPLE THINK BEFORE MAKING IRRATIONAL DECISIONS. MR. ESCALANTE, THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WISH YOU BEST OF LUCK WITH THOSE PROGRAMS. WELL, MY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE MA'AM. MY, MY, MY WHOLE, I CAME IN HERE MA'AM TO UNDERSTAND AND RE RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT CAN'T WORK. MM-HMM . I'M HERE TO SERVE. HAVE, ARE YOU, UM, WORKING WITH ANY SCHOOLS? UH, ROSENBERG, MA'AM? I GOT ROSEBURG. YES, MA'AM. ROSE. OKAY. AND I'M WORKING WITH ALL YOU RIGHT NOW. AND THEN IF YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING IN HOUSTON, I KNOW THE, UM, CASE FOR KIDS, UH, PROGRAMS THAT A LOT OF OUR OFFICES PARTICIPATE IN WOULD BE A GREAT AVENUE FOR YOU ALSO TO WORK WITH SOME SCHOOLS IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. IF THAT'S AN INTEREST TO YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, MA'AM. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. Y'ALL HAVE A NICE DAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. BEST WISHES. NEXT SPEAKER, SOPHIA SAGER. SOPHIA SAGER TO BE FOUND BY, TO BE FOUNDED BY SARAH BELL EDWARDS. HEY, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS CONCERN AT MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S INTENTIONS TO EXPAND THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND ENFORCE THE TEXAS CAMPING BAN. UH, I WENT TO FIRST DRAW ATTENTION TO HOUSTON'S SHORTAGE OF AND LACK OF FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER. THREE WEEKS AGO, YOUR CONSTITUENTS LITERALLY [03:25:01] HAD TO CALL YOUR OFFICE AND BEG HOUSTON TO OPEN UP ITS EMERGENCY WARMING SHELTER FOR THE FREEZE. UM, AND THIS EMERGENCY SHORTAGE IS BAD ENOUGH. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD TO NAVIGATE HOUSTON'S PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME AS SOMEONE WHO IS PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO HAVE A CAR TO SLEEP IN AND FRIENDS TO HELP ME. SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT SOLUTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE UNHOUSED PEOPLE TO FIND GIVEN THE LACK OF RESOURCES THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS PROVIDED FOR THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. WHERE DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO GO AS THE CITY HAS DEPRIORITIZED RESOURCES, UH, AND EVEN TICKETED PRIVATE CITIZENS FOR TRYING TO FILL THE GAP AND FEED OUR NEIGHBORS? WHEN YOU EXPAND THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT PROVIDING MORE STRUCTURES AND FUNDING FOR HOUSING, YOU EFFECTIVELY RESTRICT THE ABILITY FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE TO SLEEP, MOVE AROUND THE CITY, AND PULL THEMSELVES OUTTA THE SITUATIONS THAT THEY'RE IN. THE ONLY TRUE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS IS PROVIDING HOUSING, ESPECIALLY IN THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS. I UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT HAVE CREATED A NEED FOR THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRULY PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM DRUG USE AND VIOLENCE, UM, AND HELP YOUR UNHOUSED CONSTITUENTS GET OFF THE STREETS, I WOULD SUGGEST INSTEAD OF PROVIDING MORE SUPPORT FOR HOUSTON'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND SHELTERS, AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M SUGGESTING THAT AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SERVICES WILL LEAD TO A DECREASED NEED FOR HOUSTON'S MASSIVE POLICE BUDGET. YOUR IDEA TO EXPAND THE CIVILIAN ORDINANCE IS A LOW EFFORT, PARTIAL SOLUTION TO A BIGGER ISSUE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON NEEDS TO FULLY ADDRESS. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND UM, FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL. WE HAVE A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE, UM, IN THE FUTURE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH BELL EDWARDS. SARAH BELL EDWARDS. NEXT SPEAKER, CAROLYN WEBSTER. CAROLYN WEBSTER, EDUARDO DURAN, WATER DURAN. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT CHO. ROBERT CHO. YEAH, LEFT COUNCIL. WE STAND IN [RECESS] RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, FEBRUARY 11TH AND 12TH 2025. ITEM ONE IS REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ROOFIE NA NATRAJAN HARRIS COUNTY APPOINTEE TO POSITION SIX OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ROOFIE NA RAJA HARRIS COUNTY APPOINTEE TO POSITION SIX OF THE ST. GEORGE PLACE, REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 20, ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 23, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HARRISBURG ZONE. ITEM SEVEN, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRISBURG WE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM EIGHT, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 27, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, MONTREAL ZONE ITEM NINE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MONTROSE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH RAY TECH CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES INC. FOR GREEN RIVER DRIVE AND CHATWOOD LIFT STATION DIVERSION. ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SETTLE A CLAIM OF BREACH OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE NT DOMAIN. PROCEEDINGS STYLE. CITY OF HOUSTON V VICTOR RE, REMEDIALS, LLC ETAL ITEM 12 HOLT CENTERS OF HOUSTON, LLC, FORMERLY TEXAS TRUCK CENTERS OF HOUSTON, L-T-D-D-V-A ISH TRUCK CENTERS OF HOUSTON FOR INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS, OEM GAS, DIESEL REPLACEMENT PARTS AND REPAIR SERVICES. ITEM 13 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF MULTIPLE PIECES OF CUSTODIAL FLOOR CLEANING EQUIPMENT AWARDED TO THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL SUPPLIER NEIL FIX INC. ITEM 14, TELEDYNE FLIR SURVEILLANCE INC. FOR PURCHASE OF REPAIR SERVICES FOR A FLIR DUAL SENSOR. I PROBABLY PROMISED THAT WRONG THERMAL IMAGING SYSTEM FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. ITEM 15, FERGUSON ENTERPRISES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF FIRE HYDRANT EXTENSION KITS. ITEM 16 GIP TECH LLC FOR PURCHASE OF A TRUCK, GAP CAP AND ACCESSORIES. ITEM 17, ABACUS QUALITY SYSTEM SERVICES, INC. [03:30:01] FOR PURCHASE OF ADAPTERS AND COUPLINGS. ITEM 18, ABACUS QUALITY SYSTEM SERVICES, INC. FOR PURCHASE OF SOLAR PANELS. ITEM 19 FERGUSON ENTERPRISE LLS. HE A PURCHASE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF VALVES. ITEM 20 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FROM SANTA CENTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE ITEM 21, RESOLUTION APPROVING ISSUANCE AND SALE BY HOUSTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVENUE NOTE. ALCOTT VILLAGE SERIES 2025. ITEM 22 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING EACH LOCATED IN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 23 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING EACH LOCATED IN THE EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 24 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTIES SUCH EACH OF WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND WITHIN THE CENSUS TRACK THAT HAS A POVERTY RATE ABOVE 40% FOR INDIVIDUALS. ITEM 25 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE ONE MILE THREE THREE YEAR RULE. ITEM 26 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTIES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE TWO MILE SAME YEAR RULE. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE CO CONFIRMATION AND DESIGNATION OF NEL TREVINO SANTOS AS A FULL-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE AND DIRECTOR AND PRESIDING JUDGE, THE MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT. ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT GRANT AWARD FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. ITEM 29, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 29 22 20 22 889 TO REFLECT CORRECT, CORRECT GRANT PROJECT NAME TO BE WELL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GRANT AND AUTHORIZED FIRST AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $8,703,754 AND 50 CENTS OUT OF APPLE'S IMPROVEMENT FUND AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO EAS CONTRACTING LP ITEM 31 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 66 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, UNDERGROUND STORAGE, TANK REMOVAL AND DEMOLITION SERVICES, TASK ORDER CONTRACTS. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $79,000 IN NO SENSE ITEM MISCELLANEOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS ACQUISITION CP SERIES E FUND. ITEM 33, ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE CONSOLIDATION OF FIRE STATION 1 0 1 AND FIRE STATION 1 0 4, PROJECT ITEM 34, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING GROUP BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WEAVER AND TIDWELL, LLP ITEM 35, ORDINANCE AMENING ORDINANCE 20 21 71 APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCCONNELL AND JONES, LLPM AND J AND BANKS FINDLAY WHITE AND CO BFW OF JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP, D-B-A-B-M AND J-B-F-W-T ITEM 36, ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 20 24 8 89 3 89 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOMETOWN VETERINARY SERVICES. DBA VIRGIN ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 19 6 5 0 5 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND UKG KRONOS SYSTEMS, L-L-C-F-K-A KRONOS INCORPORATED. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NOSY TECHNOLOGIES INC. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. SOLID WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RECYCLING GRANT PROGRAM ITEM 41 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 3,100 BLOCK OF PROSPECT STREET BETWEEN SAMSON STREET AND THE END OF PROSPECT STREET. ITEM 42 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 3,200 TO 3,300 BLOCKS OF BEND STREET BETWEEN SAMSON STREET AND BIRKHEAD STREET. ITEM 43, EXCUSE ME, ORDINANCE RENEWING AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 600 700 AND 900 BLOCKS OF WEST TEMPLE STREET BETWEEN MISAU AND MARS STREET AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 800 BLOCK OF WEST TEMPLE STREET BETWEEN JULIAN AND WATSON STREET. ITEM 44 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 6.1036 ACRES OF LAND TO BRIDGESTONE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 32.849 ACRES OF LAND TO FALLBROOK UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 46 ORDERS CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 26.6199 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT. DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 19 ITEM 47 ORDINANCE CONTINUED TO THE CREATION OF WALL COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 40, ITEM 48. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 [03:35:01] IN NO CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EPIC TRANSPORTATION GROUP, LP ITEM 49 ORDERS APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF METRO PROJECTS. CONSTRUCTION D-D-S-R-F APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AURORA TECHNICAL SERVICES LLC ITEM 50. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,343,559 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO EQU EQU INTEGRITY SOUTHEAST INC. ITEM 40 51 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 35,938,009 $691 AND 80 CENTS OUT AWARDING SEW SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, AWARDING CONTRACTOR AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS. ITEM 52, RECEIVE, SELECT AND CONFIRM NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO POSITION ONE OF THE PORT AUTHORITY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 53, MOTION BY COUNCIL MCC CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTING WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THIS WAS TAGGED BY, EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL. THIS WAS ITEM THREE ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY 5TH, ITEM 54, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX STATE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK TO APPROVE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR CONTRACTOR TO FIVE JOB ORDER CONTRACTS FOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH CHOICE PARTNERS HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR JOB ORDER CONTRACTS TO BRO AND ROOT INDUSTRIAL SERVICES. LLCE. CONTRACT IS U-S-A-L-L-C, HORIZON INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLCN INDUSTRIES INC. AND JT VAUGHN CONSTRUCTION, LLC. THIS WAS TAGGED BY CONSTABLE FLICKINGER. THIS WAS ITEM FIVE ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY THE FIFTH, 2025. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF FEBRUARY THE 12TH, 2025. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, WHICH IS MYSELF, PAT JEFFERSON. DANNY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSING. PEN TAB DAY. [RECONVENE] SEE COUNCIL COME. PLEASE COME TO ORDER TODAY. AN IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT. IS THERE A MOTION TO TAKE ITEM 27 OUT OF ORDER? CAST TA MOVE MOTIONS MADE IS THERE SECOND? SECOND. AND SECONDED THAT WE TAKE ITEM 27 OUT OF ORDER. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NO, IT'S SO DONE. NOW WE CALL ITEM 27. YOU PLEASE CALL [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] UP ITEM 27. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A, OH, I'M SORRY. A, A MOTION. NO, IT'S ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN POLLARD. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UH, JUST WANTED SOME CLARIFICATION ON THIS ITEM. I KNOW THAT, UM, JUDGE MARSHALL, CYNTHIA IN HER LETTER OF RETIREMENT WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 28TH. JUST WANT CLARIFICATION ON WHAT HER ROLE WILL BE IN THE INTERIM BETWEEN NOW AND THE 28TH. THERE'S BEEN A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION. ALL THE PARTIES ARE PARTICIPATING, SO IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO JUDGE MARSHALL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO, BUT, UH, I HAVE IN THE COURT'S OPERATION, IT'S BEEN A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION. THANK YOU. SO WHAT WILL, BUT WHAT WILL HER ROLE BE THAT THAT WILL BE BETWEEN HER AND THE, UH, RESIDING JUDGE THAT WE'RE SWEARING IN TODAY? SO SHE WOULD NO LONGER BE THE PRESIDING JUDGE UNTIL A, IF, IF THE VOTE, BECAUSE SHE, I'M GONNA TELL YOU ONE MORE TIME, YOU'D HAVE TO TALK TO THE TWO PARTIES AND THEIR, UH, ADMINISTRATION. THERE'S BEEN A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION. THERE'S NOTHING, UM, THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING, QUITE FRANKLY, EXCEPT, GO AHEAD. WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING IS I'M, LET ME, LEMME SEE, LET ME TRY AND THEN WE GOTTA MOVE ON BECAUSE YOU, YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SPEAK TO OTHER PEOPLE WHEN I'M ASKING. NO, I HAVEN'T ASKED YOU TO DO NOTHING. YOU JUST SAID SPEAK TO THE TWO PARTIES AND I'M, YOU'RE, YOU'RE THE ONLY PARTY I NEED TO SPEAK TO. THAT'S NOT CORRECT. IF YOU WANT THE BEST CURRENT INFORMATION IS I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU TALK TO JUDGE MARSHALL AND JUDGE SANTOS IF SHE'S CONFIRMED THIS MORNING BECAUSE THEY'RE IN CONSTANT, UH, COMMUNICATION. [03:40:01] AND THE BEST I CAN DO FOR YOU IS TO REFER YOU TO THE BEST SOURCES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. OPPOSED NAY UNANIMOUS VOTE. UH, JUDGE, UH, MS. SANTOS, I'LL MEET YOU IN, UH, MAKE THIS OFFICIAL. DO YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY? LET ME, UH, SAY TO ANYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE THAT I AM SO PROUD OF MY APPOINTMENTS SINCE I WAS SWORN IN LAST JANUARY. THE, UH, EXPERTISE, THE COMPETENCE, THE PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ACROSS THE BOARD. IF YOU START LOOKING AT THE DIRECTORS, OUR FIRE POLICE CHIEF, OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR ON TRAN, I COULD GO ACROSS MY TEAM. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE STRENGTHS IN THIS ADMINISTRATION IS THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF EXPERIENCED, COMPETENT, HONEST INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE POINTING THE CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO WHEN JUDGE MARSHALL WAS READY TO RETIRE, I GOT ADVICE IN COUNSEL WHO'S THE BEST EXPERIENCED, COMMITTED PUBLIC SERVANT. AND REPEATEDLY, MS. SANTOS IS NAME WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION OVER 30 YEARS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURTS. HIGHLY RESPECTED. AND THAT'S THE REASON I'M SO EXCITED TO SWEAR YOU IN THIS MORNING, COMES FROM A LONG LINE OF FAMILY THAT ARE PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE THANK YOU. HOUSTON IS A BETTER CITY BECAUSE OF TREVINO. AND, UH, I COULD GIVE YOU THE WHOLE LIST. BUT LET'S, LET'S GET YOU, SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO TALK TO JUDGE MARSHALL AND FACILITATE THIS SMOOTH TRANSITION. I STATE YOUR NAME, I NELLIE TREVINO SANTOS. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL F FAITHFULLY EXECUTE. THAT I WILL FAITH FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MUNICIPAL COURT, JUDGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MUNICIPAL COURT, JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. STATE OF TEXAS. STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, STATE OF TEXAS, STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, OFFICIAL. I'LL BE GLAD TO YIELD SOME TIME TO YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF WORDS I'D LIKE TO SAY. THANK YOU. SURE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I AM SO DEEPLY HONORED TODAY AND GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR CONFIRMING ME AS THE NEXT DIRECTOR AND PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. WE ARE THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL COURT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE HANDLE OVER 300,000 CLASS C MISDEMEANORS AND LOCAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS. WE, UM, COLLECT OVER THIR $30 MILLION IN COURT COSTS AND FINES AT THE COURTS. AND WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT VISIT OUR COURTHOUSES. THE TASK OF THIS JOB IS DAUNTING AND QUITE FRANKLY, A LITTLE OVERWHELMING. BUT WHEN THE MAYOR ASKED [03:45:01] ME IF I WOULD CONSIDER THIS POSITION, IT WAS SUCH AN EASY ANSWER, AND IT'S FOR ONE REASON ONLY. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE 270 DEDICATED, VERY HARDWORKING PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT WE HAVE AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS THAT WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE FOR ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WALK, WALK THROUGH OUR COURT. AND THEY ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY. UH, WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES AT THE COURT, BUT THEY NEVER COMPLAIN. THEY'RE A RESILIENT GROUP AND I AM SO HONORED AND PROUD TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THEM. MANY OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. THEY ARE THE TRUE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR COURTHOUSE. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND ASK THEM TO STAND. PLEASE STAND ALL MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE MUNICIPAL CHURCH. MANY OF THEM ARE BACK AT THE OFFICE WATCHING OR OBVIOUSLY IN COURT DISPENSING OF JUSTICE. I HEARD THAT OUR PARKING LOT WAS FULL TODAY. SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD DAY FOR JUSTICE. UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UM, TELL YOU JUST A QUICK TIDBIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND. I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW, BUT I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, UH, PROUD FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN AMERICAN. MY PARENTS IMMIGRATED WITH SIX OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THREE OF US WERE BORN HERE. I GREW UP IN THE EAST END AND SECOND WARD AREA, PROUD GRADUATE OF STEPHEN F. AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON BACHELOR OF BUSINESS DEGREE AND LAW DEGREE. I HAVE NEVER LEFT HOUSTON. I LOVE HOUSTON AND I HAVE DEDICATED MY CAREER TO WORKING AT THE COURTHOUSE WITH THESE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS. UM, I DO WANNA THANK A FEW OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. OF COURSE, YOU HAVE SEEN MY TWO AMAZING KIDS. THEY ARE THE MOST TWO MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. THIS IS VICTORIA AND JOHN. THEY HAVE MADE VERY, UH, BIG SACRIFICES SO THAT I COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AND DEDICATE A LOT OF MY CAREER TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I WILL SAY THOUGH, THAT I DID MAKE MOST OF THEIR, UH, GOLF TOURNAMENTS AND VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS. HOWEVER, THERE'S A RUMOR THAT SOMETIMES I MISSED POINTS WHILE I WAS LOOKING DOWN, RESPONDING TO AN EMAIL. BUT THAT'S JUST A RUMOR. AND JOHN AND VICTORIA, I DO NOT WANNA SEE YOU AT OUR COURTHOUSE UNLESS YOU'RE TAKING MOM TO LUNCH. THAT'S IT. THEY'RE PROUD TEXAS A AND M AGGIES, AND I'M HAPPY THEY, THEY WORK HERE IN HOUSTON SO THEY CAN SUPPORT ME EVEN MORE. UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY LATE HUSBAND TOM, WHO IS MY BIGGEST, UM, FAN AND I THINK CONTINUES TO BE MY BIGGEST FAN. UM, I KNOW HE'S NOT HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE, BUT I PROMISE YOU HE'S CHEERING THE LOUDEST FROM HEAVEN. UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY MOM AND DAD, VICTORIANO AND LUISA TINO, WHO WERE COURAGEOUS TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES TO SEARCH FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR US. UH, GRACIAS MOMMY. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ALL EIGHT OF 'EM AND THEIR SPOUSES AND MY AMAZING NEPHEWS AND NIECES, MANY OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY WHO SUPPORTED ME. I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT I'VE KNOWN SINCE CHILDHOOD. UH, ONE OF MY FRIENDS, WE WENT TO SECOND GRADE TOGETHER, UH, IN HIS HERE TODAY. BUT ALL OF MY FRIENDS, I'M SO ELATED THAT THEY'RE HERE TO SUPPORT ME. I'D LIKE TO THANK THAT THREE PRESIDING JUDGES THAT I WORKED FOR, JUDGE ELAINE MARSHALL, UH, JUDGE BARBARA HARDELL AND JUDGE BERTA MEJIA. I KNOW THAT JUDGE MEJIA IS HERE TODAY AND SHE'S THE REASON WHY I WENT TO WORK AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS MAYOR. MOST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. AND WITH THAT, I'M READY TO GET TO WORK. MAYOR, MAYOR, WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE TO ADDRESS THE JUDGE. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE JUDGE. UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. UH, FIRST I, I WANT TO THANK JUDGE, JUDGE MARSHALL FOR HER SERVICE, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS, THIS, UH, SMOOTH TRANSITION AS WELL. UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, UH, BRINGING, UH, SUCH A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL TO THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. AND I'LL SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, ABOUT, UH, OUR ON YOU PRESIDING JUDGE. YOU KNOW, FOR OVER 19 YEARS. SHE'S BEEN IN LEADERSHIP CAPACITY UNDER THREE DIFFERENT DIRECTORS, PRESIDING JUDGES THAT SHE'S MENTIONED. UH, SERVING AS A DEPUTY, UH, DIRECTOR AND CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER SINCE 2010. SHE'S ALSO AS AN ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY OF LEGAL LEGAL FOR FOUR YEARS. UH, NOT TO MENTION THAT AS SHE'S ALREADY SAID, UH, [03:50:01] GO MUSTANGS. I'M A MUSTANG AS WELL. SHE'S AN AUSTIN GRADUATE. AND THEN OF COURSE, U OF H AND U OF H LAW. UM, AND THEN JUST ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, UM, YOU KNOW, I I WAS ABLE TO BE HER ALTAR BOY FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AT BLESSED S SACRAMENT. SO, UM, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE SOMEBODY ANOTHER, ANOTHER ROLE MODEL, UH, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, DESERVEDLY RIGHT, UM, QUALIFIED AS WELL. AND SO I JUST, UM, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIDS, UH, THAT ARE SACRIFICING AS WELL TO YOUR FAMILY. UH, A GOOD FRIEND ACTUALLY, MY DAD COACHED, UH, JUDGE TINO BACK IN THE DAYS IN AT EAST END. AND SO, UH, THIS IS A, A, A GREAT, A GREAT FAMILY, UH, THAT HAS SERVED THE EAST END FOR DECADES. AND SO, UH, I'M, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING SERVICE FROM, FROM YOU, UH, ALONG WITH THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY, JUDGE. UM, ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED FROM, FROM ME AND MY TEAM, WE'RE HERE TO HELP. UH, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CONGRESS. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THAT NAME LOOKS VERY GOOD ON YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, I DO WANNA ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK JUDGE MARSHALL FOR HER NEARLY FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, SHE HAS BEEN SO INNOVATIVE IN BRINGING FORWARD NEW PROGRAMS THAT THE ENTIRE MUNICIPAL COURTS, UH, NOT JUST BENEFITS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BENEFITS FROM WHETHER IT'S TEEN COURT, AMNESTY COURT, AND JUDGE, I APPRECIATE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING THOSE AND CREATING AN EVEN BROADER REACH TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM UNNECESSARILY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. YOU ARE NO STRANGER, UH, TO THIS COURTHOUSE. YOU KNOW, IT LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE. UH, AND JUST BY THE SHOWING TODAY, I KNOW THAT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS REMAIN IN GOOD HANDS. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES AHEAD. UH, WE, WE'VE TALKED FOR YEARS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE COURTHOUSE, AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURT EMPLOYEES WHO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP TO WORK DESPITE THE DAMAGES OF THE BUILDING SINCE HARVEY, UH, SHARING AT TIMES LITERALLY CLOSET SPACE BECAUSE SOME OF THE ROOMS, UH, COULD NOT BE OPERABLE DESPITE ALL OF THE CHALLENGES. WHEN YOU HEAR A LOT OF RHETORIC ABOUT COURTS AND THE FACT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, AN INEXCUSABLE BACKLOGS IN OUR COURT SYSTEM, THE MUNICIPAL COURTS NEVER HAD THAT BACKLOG. AND Y'ALL CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH A CALIBER OF PROFESSIONALISM. SO JUDGE, THANK YOU. 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THAT AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO VICTORIA AND JOHN. Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY SACRIFICED A LOT, A LOT OF LATE NIGHTS WHERE YOUR MOTHER WAS WORKING AT THE COURTHOUSE, AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT HER AND FOR SUPPORTING THE CITY VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. AND JUDGE, CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU IN THIS POSITION. IT'S VERY RARE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE COMING INTO A POSITION LIKE YOURS, UM, WHO WILL HAVE NO LEARNING CURVE FOR THE JOB. YOU KNOW, THIS JOB SO WELL. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, JUDGE. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THIS APPOINTMENT. IT WAS SO GREAT TALKING TO YOU AND GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND LEARNING ABOUT WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES WERE AND THE CHANGES THAT YOU HOPE TO MAKE IN THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, AND I KNOW THERE ARE JUDGES THAT WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT THEY ARE, LIKE YOU SAID, RUNNING DOCKETS RIGHT NOW. YES. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. ANYTHING MY OFFICE CAN DO TO HELP, PLEASE REACH OUT. AND THEN OF COURSE, TO JUDGE MARSHALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR POAM. UH, CERTAINLY I WANNA CONGRATULATE, UH, JUDGE MARSHALL FOR HOPE, STELLA SERVICE. UH, WHEN I SPOKE WITH YOU THE OTHER DAY, I THINK I DID TELL YOU HOW I REALLY LIKED YOUR SPIRIT, AND SO I'M VERY ENCOURAGED THAT YOU WILL DO SO. WELL, I'VE ALREADY PUT YOU TO WORK, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE IT A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT PUTTING THOSE NIGHT COURTS IN THE EVENING TO HELP US HAVE TEETH FOR THAT NOISE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS COULD COME IN THE EVENING AND NOT HAVE TO WORK ALL NIGHT AND THEN COME TO COURT IN THE MORNING, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THEY MUST BE THERE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. AND SO I'M ALREADY PUTTING YOU TO WORK ON THAT. I, I CERTAINLY, UH, HOPE THAT THAT CAN BE FACILITATED BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICT D AND C, WE ARE VERY, VERY TROUBLED BY THE NOISE THAT COMES OUT OF THESE CLUBS. AND SO, UH, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M GONNA THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR FACILITATING THAT REQUEST. AND WE ARE JUST VERY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. I'LL BE HAPPY. MEMBER PLUMMER, I'LL GET A, A TEAM OF, OF OF STAFF TOGETHER TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK [03:55:01] YOU MAYOR PEM. AND I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AS WELL. I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE JUDGE MARSHALL. SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB. SO INNOVATIVE. THERE WAS ONE PROJECT, THE SAFE HAVEN, UM, COURTS THAT SHE DID WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, UM, TO SUPPORT, UM, PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'T WANNA COME TO THE COURTHOUSE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST AFRAID AND THEY WANNA BE, UM, TAKEN CARE OF IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. UM, AND I AM GOING TO KIND OF, UH, PIGGYBACK AND, UM, WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ AND SAY, I'M GONNA BE CALLING YOU TOO, . SOUNDS GREAT, SOUNDS WONDERFUL. UM, WE'VE GOT AN DEPARTMENT INSPECTION, REFORM ORDINANCE, AND WE REALLY WANNA PUSH FORWARD, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE IS IN PLACE. AND SO MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE HOUSTONIAN CAN LIVE IN A SAFE AREA AND SAFE PLACE. AND THESE SLUMLORDS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW THEY'RE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE. SO I'LL BE CALLING YOUR OFFICE, UM, AND, AND, AND SETTING UP A MEETING WITH YOU, BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND, UM, WE KNOW THAT YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. JUDGE, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE THE CITY AND STEPPING UP AND TAKING ON A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION. YOU HAVE A STRONG RECORD OF SERVICE, UH, AND QUALIFICATIONS THAT WILL LEAD THE COURTHOUSE IN A, IN A BIG WAY. AND YOU HAVE IDEAS ABOUT BRINGING NEW INNOVATION AND, AND TECHNOLOGY THAT, THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT ARE VERY EXCITING. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A KEY APPOINTMENT. YOU'RE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE, UH, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A FANTASTIC JOB. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS APPOINTMENT FORWARD. IT, I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU LAST WEEK AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING ON, UM, THE PROGRAMS THAT'S ALREADY IN COURT, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY. YES. UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE RUNNING HERE. I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP. WANT TO THANK JUDGE MARSHALL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE. YES. AND WHAT SHE'S DONE HAS TO LEAD INNOVATIVE PROJECTS TO KEEP PEOPLE, UM, OUT OF THE SYSTEM. SO JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE LEANING ON YOU. WE'LL BE CALLING, UM, TO SEE HOW WE CAN PARTNER AND JUST REALLY BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE NOT GOING INTO THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. WHAT A HAPPY OCCASION. UH, WE HAD A WONDERFUL MEETING THE OTHER DAY AND, UH, YOU ARE CERTAINLY WELL QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS FROM YOU AND THE MUNICIPAL COURTS UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. LET ME SAY AS WELL, I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED YOUR PARENTS. I FEEL LIKE WE STAND ON OUR PARENTS' SHOULDERS FOR ALL THE SACRIFICES AND HARD WORK THAT THEY WENT THROUGH TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT, THAT WE HAVE. SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL OCCASION. GLAD YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY IS HERE, AND ALL YOUR SUPPORTERS, AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, JUDGE. UM, I TOO WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UM, THANK JUDGE MARSHALL FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS OF SERVICE. HER INNOVATION IN MUNICIPAL COURTS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, THE VETERANS COURT, THE SAFE HARBOR COURT, THE TEEN COURT, UM, THERE WAS A, UH, A LOT OF INNOVATION, UM, AND A LOT OF MEETING THE NEEDS, UM, FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT. SO, UM, THANK YOU JUDGE MARSHALL FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. AND THEN AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UM, JUDGE TREVINO. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, THE GREAT WORK YOU'LL DO IN MUNICIPAL COURTS. CONGRATULATIONS TODAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO MENTION SOMETHING THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TOUCHED UPON THE, UH, DEMANDS ON OUR COURTS, CERTAINLY THE INNOVATIVE, UH, JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT JUDGE MARSHALL BROUGHT FORWARD. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND WE'RE ALREADY TALKING JUDGE MARSHALL AND I WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO KNOW THIS, WE'RE AWARE OF THE DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITIES THAT ALL OF YOU WORK IN. SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW HELPS ON THE WAY TO HAVE THESE INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND CONTINUE THE GREAT SERVICE OF JUDGE MARSHALL. AS WE SWEAR IN JUDGE SANTOS IS YOU DO KNOW THAT AT LEAST FOUR COURTS HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN SINCE HARVEY. I'VE ALWAYS INVITED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GO SEE THE CONDITIONS OF THE FACILITIES THAT THESE FINE JUDGES AND ADMINISTRATORS HAVE TO WORK IN. SO THAT'LL BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DO. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED MEETING WITH JUDGE MARSHALL AND JUDGE SANTOS TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE ON A FAST TRACK, TO GET IN A FACILITY THAT IS SAFE AND ABLE TO MAKE IT A FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY FOR WORKERS, BUT OUR RESIDENTS. SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LET EVERYONE KNOW UNACCEPTABLE THE CONDITIONS I WOULD URGE ANY OF IT TO GO TAKE BEFORE. AND THEN AFTER PICTURES THAT, UH, WE'RE ADDRESSING. AND, UH, THE LEADERSHIP'S GONNA COME FROM, UH, JUDGE MARSHALL AND, UH, JUDGE SANTOS TO FACILITATE THIS, THIS TRANSITION, UH, A FACILITY. CERTAINLY [04:00:01] THE LEADERSHIP'S THERE, BUT WE'VE GOTTA STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND GET 'EM IN A, UH, FUNCTIONING BUILDING RIGHT NOW. YOU GO, THERE'S LINES OUT THE DOOR IN THE MORNING. IN FACT, I CALLED IN THE OTHER DAY. IT'S 'CAUSE ONLY ONE OF THE METAL DETECTORS ARE ACTUALLY BEING OPERATED. SO WE GOTTA MAKE, NOBODY WANTS TO BE AT MUNICIPAL COURT. CERTAINLY THE DEFENDANTS . SO WE GOTTA MAKE IT USER FRIENDLY AND I KNOW YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THAT. AND WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT JUDGE MARSHALL. SO THANK YOU. WE WILL GO TO WORK. OKAY. DO WE NEED TO TAKE A PICTURE? SURE, WE ARE, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER. IS THERE A MOTION TO TAKE UP ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE CAST TO MOVE SECOND. MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED TO TAKE UP ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE OUT OF ORDER. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION CAST EXT A MOVE. ONE SECOND MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES IS COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THE ITEM THAT WE JUST PASSED IS FOR THE, UM, APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WE JUST APPOINTED IN THE AUDIENCE IF THEY COULD STAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS A REALLY, UM, TIME CONSUMING AND IMPORTANT BOARD. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE SERVICE THAT, UM, FOR THE CITY. AND, UM, ALSO BEN GILLIS DISTRICT, A CONSTITUENT WHO IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, HAS ALSO BEEN APPOINTED. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND EVERYONE ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO, UM, HAVE AGREED TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU. UM, I KNOW MR. HOWELL, A DISTRICT G RESIDENT. UM, YOUR PAST SERVICE, UM, AND EXPERIENCE WILL BRING VALUE TO THIS BOARD. ABSOLUTELY. BUT TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, TELL EVERY PERSON YOU MEET ABOUT THIS BOARD THAT YOU'RE ON AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT TO FRIENDS OR COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE SPECIFIC INTERESTS. THERE'S A LOT OF SPOTS OPEN, UM, ON MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOARDS. SO IT'S NOT JUST THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD. THERE'S SO MANY OUT THERE. SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I CAN'T WAIT TO, TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. MADAM SECRETARY. ITEM TWO, THREE. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION CAST TAPE TO MOVE. YOU'LL DO ITEM THREE. IT'S THE SAME PERSON CALL TAG. OKAY. POLLS TAGGING ITEM NUMBER TWO. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLER. TAG ITEM TWO, ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION CAST. T ITEM MOVE SECOND. POLLER TAG POLL TAGS. ITEM THREE. ALRIGHT, ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION CAST TATOR, MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, I'M SORRY SIR. POLL TAG. THOMAS TAGS. OKAY. OKAY, NEXT. SORRY. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST, ATE, MOVE. NEXT SECOND. POLLER TAG THOMAS TAGS. ITEM FIVE IS TAG. OKAY. [04:05:25] REMEMBER, BEFORE WE [MAYOR'S REPORT] GET INTO THE, UH, DEPTH OF THE, UH, MAYOR'S REPORT, I WANNA REPORT TO YOU THAT I KNOW IT'S ON, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MIND. THE LAWSUIT THAT THE SUPREME COURT SENT BACK DOWN TO THE APPELLATE COURTS, WHICH MADE IT, UH, A, UH, JUDGMENT AGAINST THE CITY WITH EXPOSURE TO TAKE A HUNDRED TO $150 MILLION INTO THE, UH, DRAINAGE FEE FOR BRIDGE AND DRAINAGE. UH, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT, UH, EVERYONE KNEW THAT WAS COMING. IN TERMS OF THE LAWSUIT, WHICH WAS FILED IN 2019. I THINK ABOUT 10 OF Y'ALL WERE CERTAINLY, UH, HAD BEEN ON COUNSEL SINCE THE LAWSUIT WAS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS. SO, UH, IT WAS DISCUSSED IN MY OFFICE, UH, WHEN WE AS FAR BACK AS JANUARY, BUT WHEN I WAS RUNNING, IT WAS AN ISSUE OF CONCERN. UM, WE REALLY THOUGHT QUITE FRANKLY, THAT THE SUPREME COURT WOULD ACCEPT IT. WE WERE LISTENING TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, BUT I DO SUPPORT THE PREMISE OF THE LAWSUIT. WE ALL KNOW WE'VE GOT TO PUT ADDITIONAL MONIES IN DRAINAGE AND ROADS AND, UM, WE WERE PREPARED TO, UH, RECEIVE THAT LAWSUIT. UH, OUTCOME. UH, WE HAD A GREAT MEETING MONDAY. MY STAFF, UH, CHRIS NEWPORT, AND I MET WITH ALAN WATSON, BOB JONES. I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS. GETTING BACK TO RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. EXPERIENCE MATTERS. SO WE HAD A TWO HOUR MEETING MONDAY. IT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE. THEY UNDERSTAND THE, UM, SITUATION OF THE CITY IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE CAP AND FACT THAT CITY'S BEEN RUN THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES ON ARPA MONEY, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE EFFICIENCY REPORT. BUT ANYWAY, WHAT THEY EMPHASIZED TO ME IS THEY WOULD LIKE TO FIX PERMANENTLY. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN, THE CITY'S FINANCIAL PICTURE, THEY LOVE THE CITY JUST LIKE WE DO. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND, UH, THEY'RE GONNA WORK WITH US. SO, UH, THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE SAID WE WEREN'T READY, WE WERE READY. AND NUMBER TWO, WE'VE GOT A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLAINTIFFS THAT UNDERSTAND, UH, THE CHALLENGES OF MEETING THAT, UH, TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS INTO WHERE THE DRAINAGE FEE INTENDED IT TO BE. SO I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT, BUT IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE MEETING AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET AGAIN VERY SOON. MR. WARREN, BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE URCH AND YOUNG REPORT OR THE EFFICIENCY REVIEW OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY OF WHY I RAN FOR MAYOR. I WAS ASKED BY HOUSTONIANS BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THEY WERE DISTURBED IN THE DIRECTION THE CITY WAS GOING. I COULD TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY OR INFRASTRUCTURE, CERTAINLY CITY FINANCES, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN. AND I'VE TRAVELED TO CITY, LISTENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS, AND MADE THE COMMITMENT THAT UNTIL WE DID THE BEST WE COULD TO ELIMINATE WASTE, DUPLICATION AND CORRUPTION, I WOULD NOT SEEK ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. AND WE'LL SPEAK TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY IN DETAIL IN A MOMENT. THE THREE ITEMS OF WASTE, DUPLICATION AND CORRUPTION ARE STILL A MAJOR CONCERN. THE CORRUPTION ASPECT, I DO NOT MENTION LIGHTLY. WE DO HAVE TWO MIDTOWN TOURS, ADMINISTRATORS UNDER INDICTMENT. WE HAD A CITY MANAGER PLEAD GUILTY LAST WEEK, UH, [04:10:01] TO STEALING FUNDS, TRANSFERRING THEM MILLIONS AWAY FROM CITY PURPOSES. SO I'M JUST PREPARED TO LEAVE THE CORRUPTION COMPONENT TO THE AGENCIES THAT ARE STILL REVIEWING MATTERS ACROSS CITY GOVERNMENT. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM. WE'LL CORROBORATE WITH INVESTIGATIVE BODIES TO ADDRESS THE CORRUPTION, BUT I WILL DEAL WITH, AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO JOIN ME TO DEAL WITH WHAT I CAN CONTROL. AND THAT'S THE WASTE IN DUPLICATION. GOING ACROSS HOUSTON AND LISTENING TO THOUSANDS HOUSTONIANS, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED SERVICES. SO WE STARTED DISCUSSING CITY OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCIES. REALLY IN MY OFFICE, BEFORE I WAS SWORN IN, AFTER BEING SWORN IN, WE STARTED WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS DIRECTORS, GETTING A LEADERSHIP TEAM IN PLACE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS MORNING, THAT I HAD CONFIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE WHERE IT'D BE PLANNING OR CERTAINLY CERTAINLY WENT TO A PUBLIC WORKS CHALLENGE WITH WATER BILLING. I THINK RANDY'S DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. SO WE'VE GOT A TEAM IN PLACE THAT'S BEEN WORKING SINCE DAY ONE TO INCORPORATE EFFICIENCIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN CITY GOVERNMENT. AND THEN IN JUNE, THIS COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO HIRE ERNST AND YOUNG TO DO A COMPLETE AUDIT. THEY HAVE JUST DONE A REALLY FINE JOB THAT WE'RE GONNA PRESENT TO YOU IN A MOMENT. , THEY COMPARED OUR OPERATION TO OTHER LIKE SIZED CITIES AND OPERATIONS. LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THE CITIES, THE DIVERSITY OF THE CITIES, HOW THEY'VE USED THEIR ARPA FUNDS, JUST REALLY A GOOD COMPARISON. THOSE WOULD BE CHICAGO, DALLAS, LOS ANGELES, PHILADELPHIA, PHOENIX, AND SAN ANTONIO. SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE FULL REPORT. IT IS SO REVEALING WHY HOUSTONIANS ARE FRUSTRATED AND WHY I WILL NOT GO TO THEM AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES UNTIL WE, IN MY JUDGMENT, GAIN THEIR CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE USING THEIR MONEY WISELY. OBVIOUSLY, I COULD SPEND THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GOT IN THIS SITUATION. IT GOES BACK YEARS IF NOT DECADES. BUT MOST RECENTLY, MOST RECENTLY, 80% OF THE ARPA FUNDS THAT CAME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, 493 MILLION WERE IT SPENT FOR OPERATIONS IN 22 AND 23. THE OTHER CITIES DIDN'T DO THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PHILADELPHIA. PHILADELPHIA SPENT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR ARPA MONEY. THERE AGAIN, WE'RE AT 80%. DALLAS SPENT 18% SAN ANTONIO, 35% PHOENIX, 15%. THE POINT I'M MAKING IS WE'VE HAD MISMANAGEMENT OF OUR FINANCES BECAUSE WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD IN TERMS OF USING CITY AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND TAXES TO FUND CITY GOVERNMENT. BUT THEN IT WENT A STEP FURTHER, NOT ONLY TO SEE HOW WE USED RECENT FEDERAL DOLLARS, THEY TALKED TO 12,000 CITY EMPLOYEES, 12,000. AND THE THE CONSTANT FEEDBACK WAS THEY SPEND SO MUCH, THIS IS THEIR OPINION, THE 12,000 THAT THEY GOT THEIR VIEWS, THEY SPENT THEIR TIME ON THINGS THAT DON'T MATTER. THEY SPEND THEIR TIME ON OUTPUT, NOT OUTCOME. AND THE REPORT'S GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. IN FACT, WE HAVE 606 KEY INDICATORS IN OUR CITY BUDGET, BUT 49% OF THEM, ONLY 49% OF 'EM ARE ON OUR OUTCOMES. SO THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROTECT HOUSTON'S FUTURE. I COULD MENTION THE REPORT SAYS OUR PROCUREMENT IS UNDERMANAGED INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENTS OR PURCHASING ITEMS THAT THEY COULD GET IF THEY CAME TOGETHER WITH A [04:15:01] CENTRALIZED SYSTEM. SO THERE'S SO MUCH IN THE REPORT THAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSTON'S FUTURE. I WILL WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE REPORT SAYS WE HAVE A GREAT FOUNDATION TO WORK FROM. THAT BEING OUR EMPLOYEES. THOUSANDS OF CITY EMPLOYEES COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND WORK HARD AND THEY'RE HONEST AND THEY DO SUCH A FINE JOB. BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE'RE RUNNING A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, A $7 BILLION BUSINESS, 23,000 EMPLOYEES. SO I WOULD CHALLENGE US TO TODAY TO COME TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW CITY GOVERNMENT LIKE NEVER BEFORE. NO OTHER CITY'S BEEN REVIEWED. IF WE CAN GET BETTER EFFICIENCIES, BETTER DELIVERY OF SERVICES, I'M CONFIDENT THAT THEN THE PUBLIC WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED THEIR ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE CHALLENGES LIKE ALL MAJOR CITIES, BUT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT CITY. AND IF WE FOLLOW THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE REPORTED IN THIS REVIEW, THE SUFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT, IF WE'LL ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, WE HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES THAN ANY OTHER CITY OF COMPARABLE SIZE PER CAPITA. WE HAVE 40% OF OUR CITY MANAGERS SUPERVISE AND MANAGE THREE OR FEWER PEOPLE. AND I'VE GOT MY LEADERSHIP IN A MOMENT THAT'LL GO DOWN A MORE ITEMIZED LIST. BUT THERE'S JUST BEEN GLARING INEFFICIENCIES AND DUPLICATIONS AND, AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR YEARS. BUT IT'S GOING TO END NOW. AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO JOIN ME. IT'S NOT A TIME TO PLAY POLITICS. WE DON'T NEED TO STUDY IT. WE NEED TO DO OUR JOBS. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD ASK CYNTHIA WILSON, CHRIS, STEVEN, TO COME WALK US THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE REVIEW OF THIS REPORT. IT WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC AND CERTAINLY THE PRESS. BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY, A VERY SOBER DISCUSSION OF WHAT WE FOUND IN A REVIEW AND HOW WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE AGAIN IN CITY GOVERNMENT. I, UH, YIELD MY TIME. I THINK. CHRIS, YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, GIVE US A REPORT. THANK YOU MAYOR AND GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. OUR EFFORT THIS MORNING WILL FOCUS ON PRESENTING A EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VIEW OF A COMPLETE REPORT THAT WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EY. UM, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DETAILS TO THANK EY FOR THE TALENT AND THE PERSONNEL AND THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY BROUGHT TO THIS PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US. UM, IT WAS COMMENDABLE. UH, THEY WITHSTOOD SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHALLENGING MOMENTS FROM US AND THEY BROUGHT THE A TEAM THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN, BUT THEY SHOWED UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS. PUT THE MIC IN FRONT OF YOU A LITTLE BIT. YES, SIR. I'D ALSO LIKE, UM, AND, AND THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY DONE, BUT I'D LIKE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND CITY EMPLOYEES TO HEAR OUR THANKS AS WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION. IT WAS FULL. UM, IT DID NOT TAKE A LOT OF CHASING, UM, AND WAS WILLING AND OPEN AND WE GOT CANDID FEEDBACK, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. AND AGAIN, THAT THAT WAS DONE ON A WILLING BASIS. THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR. SO THE WORK PRODUCT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE SUMMARIZING FOR Y'ALL AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THE FULL REPORT AT WWW.HOUSTONTX.GOV/EFFICIENCY STUDY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. BUT FOR, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE HARD DEDICATED WORK OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR LEADERS OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT WE WILL STEP THROUGH IS A SUMMARY OF THAT FULL REPORT. IT WAS POSTED ONLINE THIS MORNING. EACH OF YOUR OFFICES WERE PRESENTED WITH A HARD COPY [04:20:01] WITH TABS AND AND SO FORTH. BUT THIS WORK WAS CONDUCTED, UM, OVER THE COURSE OF, OF APPROXIMATELY EIGHT WEEKS OF FOCUSED EFFORT, UM, AND ADDITIONAL DURATION OF TIME DEDICATED TO REFINING THE WORK PRODUCT, ASKING FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND POLISHING THE OUTPUT. OUR, UM, OUR WORK, AS THE MAYOR INDICATED ON THIS EFFORT, BEGAN BEFORE SWEARING IN, WE STARTED PULLING TOGETHER THE, UH, THE DIFFERENT ANALYSES THAT WE MIGHT RUN. UM, WE STARTED THIS WORK IN EARNEST LAST OCTOBER. UM, IN JANUARY. WE FINALIZED THE SCOPE OF THIS EFFORT AND BEGAN SEEKING FEEDBACK FROM POTENTIAL PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN MAY, AS THE MAYOR SAID, YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO AUTHORIZE THE AGREEMENT WITH EY, UM, TO ALLOW US TO BEGIN THE ASSESSMENT THAT BEGAN IN EARNEST LAST AUGUST. AND INITIAL FINDINGS WERE PRESENTED IN A WORKSHOP FORMAT WITH OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. AND OF COURSE, WE STAND BEFORE YOU IN FEBRUARY. SO THE SCOPE OF THIS EFFORT FOCUSED ON FOUR KEY DIMENSIONS, UH, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CITY AND HOW WE MANAGE PERFORMANCE. UH, AN ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS THAT WAS BASED OFF OF, OFF OF TWO KEY THREADS OF WORK AND ASSESSMENT OF THE SHAPE AND SCALE OF OUR ORGANIZATION BY DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS AN ACTIVITY ANALYSIS, UH, ASKING THE EMPLOYEES TO TELL US HOW THEY SPEND THEIR TIME, UH, GIVEN THE DIFFERENT DEMANDS THAT THEY HAVE. UH, A SPEND ANALYSIS, WHICH WE'LL SPEND A GOOD BIT OF TIME ON, AND I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE COST SAVINGS THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE IMPACT TO PEOPLE. AND THEY'RE MATERIAL. IT IS A MATERIAL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, FORENSIC ACCOUNTING EXERCISE, EVALUATING INTERNAL CONTROLS AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MIGHT, MIGHT MAKE TO THEM. SO WE WILL MOVE IN THE ORDER THAT, THAT I JUST READ TO YOU. STEVEN WILL PRESENT PERFORMANCE. CYNTHIA WILL REVIEW THE FINDINGS FROM THE ORGANIZATION ASSESSMENT. I'LL SPEND SOME TIME ON SPEND. STEVEN WILL SUMMARIZE BUT NOT PRESENT DETAIL ON THE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING SECTION. AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE TOGETHER AND HAVE, UH, HAVE TIME FOR A GOOD DISCUSSION. SO WITH THAT, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU. UH, THE FIRST WORK STREAM THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE PERFORMANCE WORK STREAM. UH, THERE ARE THREE BUCKETS THAT WE LOOKED AT PERFORMANCE. THE FIRST BUCKET WAS UNDERSTANDING THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. YOU KNOW THEM AS THE OUTCOME BASED BUDGET PERFORMANCE METRICS. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE PRESENTED EVERY YEAR WITHIN THE, THE, THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. UH, THE SECOND THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT IS, UH, UNDERSTANDING HOW WE COMPARE AGAINST OUR PEER CITIES. WE ANALYZE, WE CREATED 54 NEW PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT ALLOW US TO GIVE A ROBUST UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITIES UP AGAINST OUR PEERS, THE CITIES THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER, AND HOW WELL WE, UH, STACK UP AGAINST THEM IN THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO, UH, RESIDENTS OF MUNICIPALITIES. AND THEN THE THIRD IS OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND, UH, WE DEVELOPED AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WELL WE DO PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT. IT'S ONE THING TO TRACK THE PERFORMANCE METRICS. IT'S ANOTHER THING TO MAKE THEM MEANINGFUL AND ACTIONABLE. SO WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD WITH THE 600, WE HAVE 606 KPIS WITHIN OUR BUDGET. UM, WHILE THESE METRICS TO BUILD THESE METRICS WAS AN EFFORT OF, OF LABOR, IT WAS GOOD WORK THAT WAS DONE. AGAIN, TALKING, UH, SPEAKING TO WHAT MAYOR WHITMEYER SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION. UH, WHAT WE FOUND, UH, AND THIS CAME FROM THE EMPLOYEES WAS THAT THOSE METRICS, THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM, UH, THEY DON'T ALWAYS FEEL LIKE, UH, THEY'RE AS MEANINGFUL AS THEY COULD BE. AND THEN THIRD, AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THAT ALMOST EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT WE SPOKE TO ABOUT THESE METRICS FELT THAT THEY WERE MORE OF A BOX CHECKING EXERCISE AT THE END OF EACH FISCAL YEAR AS OPPOSED TO A CONSISTENT CONTINUOUS LOOK AT THE WAY IN WHICH WE PERFORMED THE WORK THAT DID TO HOUSTONIANS. SO THE WAY THAT WE BROKE DOWN, UH, THE PERFORMANCE METRICS WERE IN FIVE CATEGORIES. WE BROKE THEM DOWN. UH, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER ALLUDED TO THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. WE BROKE THEM DOWN IN OUTPUTS, EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, OUTCOME, AND EQUITY. I'M GONNA FOCUS ON TWO OF THEM. UM, OUTPUT AND OUTCOME. SO 49% OF THE 606 KPIS ARE CONSIDERED OUTPUT KPIS. SO WHAT THIS IS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS IS WE COUNT THE THING THAT WE DO. A GOOD WAY TO COMPARE WOULD BE TO SAY, THIS IS THE NUMBER OF POLICE CALLS WE RESPONDED TO, THE NUMBER OF FIRE CALLS THAT WE RESPOND TO. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO KNOW VOLUME. IT'S NOT A GREAT WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ACHIEVING THE GOALS WE SET FOR OURSELVES. THOSE WOULD BE OUTCOME MEASURES. ONLY 6% OF OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS ARE OUTCOME MEASURES. AND SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OUTPUT MEASURE AND AN OUTCOME MEASURE WOULD BE THE NUMBER OF FIRES WE RESPONDED TO OR THE NUMBER OF FIRES WE RESPONDED TO IN UNDER EIGHT MINUTES. [04:25:01] IT IS A MORE MEANINGFUL METRIC. AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO, WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WE ARE ADDRESSING, IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE 606 METRICS, MAKE THEM MEANINGFUL, MAKE THEM PERTINENT TO THE WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES, AND THEN BE ABLE TO REFLECT ON THEM AND SAY, ARE WE ACHIEVING THE GOALS WE SET FOR OURSELVES? AND THAT LED TO ANOTHER FINDING THAT THEY HAD, WHICH WAS, UH, A, A BIFURCATED FINDING. THE FIRST IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE. AND THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS. AND I'LL TOUCH ON THAT IN A SECOND. BUT THE, THE OTHER POINT THAT IS WORTH MAKING IS THAT WHEN WE DO ACHIEVE BETTER THAN OUR STATED GOALS, WE DON'T ACTUALLY CHANGE OUR GOALS FOR OURSELVES. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN A REALLY IMPACTFUL AND MEANINGFUL WAY, WE HAVE RESPONSE TIMES TO PRIORITY TWO CALLS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, THE GOAL IS 12 MINUTES AND WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENTLY MEETING AT ABOUT 11 MINUTES. THE QUESTION THAT'S RAISED IS, WHY HAVE WE NOT DECREASED IT TO 11 MINUTES AND SET A NEW GOAL FOR OURSELVES? THAT'S A VERY COMPLICATED CONVERSATION TO HAVE. YOU CAN'T JUST SAY LOWER IT. YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A DETAILED CONVERSATION WITH EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED. BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THAT AREN'T ASKED NOW THAT WE ARE ASKING. THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, OR EXCUSE ME, THE SECOND POINT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS THE 54 UH, PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS THAT WE ARE USING TO COMPARE OURSELVES AGAINST OUR PEER CITIES. THESE ARE GONNA BE THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY THINKS ABOUT. UH, I'M SURE A LOT OF Y'ALL RAN ON THESE THINGS. POLICE RESPONSE TIME, FIRE RESPONSE TIME. HOW WELL ARE WE PICKING UP GARBAGE? ALL CITIES ACROSS THE US ASK THEMSELVES HOW WELL DO WE DO THAT? AND THE SIX CITIES THAT WE PICKED TO BENCHMARK OURSELVES OFF. WE DON'T PERFECTLY LOOK LIKE ALL OF THOSE CITIES, BUT WE DO HAVE SIMILARITIES THAT ARE WORTH LOOKING. SOME OF THEM, THEIR BUDGET IS THE SAME SIZE. SOME OF THEM WE HAVE ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE. SOME OF THEM WE STRUCTURE OUR GOVERNMENT IN THE SAME WAY AND OTHER ONES THEY HAVE THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC SPRAWL. THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KEY COMPONENTS OF US PICKING THE CITIES IS THAT HOUSTON, 650 SQUARE MILES WE'RE BIG. OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TO TRAVEL MUCH FURTHER THAN ANY OTHER CITIES. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE PICKED PHOENIX AND LOS ANGELES. LOS ANGELES HAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE, BUT THEY HAVE SPRAWL LIKE WE DO. AND SO WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOUND THOSE SIMILARITIES ACROSS THE MUNICIPALITIES. AND THOSE 54 METRICS ARE GOING TO BE A REAL TIME CONSISTENT LOOK AT THE WAY WE STACK UP AGAINST OUR PEERS. AND THEN FINALLY THE THING THAT I WANTED TO CLOSE ON WITH PERFORMANCE WAS WE ARE THIS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT THAT I TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IS A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AND THIS IS TAKING THE METRICS THAT WE HAVE AND HAVING A RATIONAL CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS IN A CONSISTENT WAY THAT SAYS, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PERFORMING DOESN'T MEAN IT'S PUNISHABLE, BUT IT DOES MEAN WE HAVE TO IMPROVE IT. AND SO WHAT WE'VE WORKED WITH WITH EY WAS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM USING A BOOK TITLED TRYING HARD'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. AND WE ARE ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM CALLED TURN THE CURVE AND WHAT TURN THE CURVE DOES, AND THIS IS A LOT OF CITIES, THIS IS HOUSTON'S NOT UNIQUE LIKE THIS, CITIES ACROSS THE NATION DO THIS. WE LOOK AT PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT WE DON'T MEET AS A SINGULAR CHALLENGE TO THE DEPARTMENT. IF WE ARE MISSING, IF WE HAVE MISSED HEAVY TRASH, IT'S SOLID WASTE FAULT. BUT WHAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A LOT THIS IS, THE FALLACY OF THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS IS YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE COMPONENT UNITS TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH YOU MOVE THAT IT'S NOT ONLY SOLID WASTE JOB, IT'S SOLID WASTE JOB TO PICK UP HEAVY TRASH. BUT FLEET ALSO IMPACTS THEM. FINANCE AND OVERTIME ALSO IMPACTS THEM. WE HAVE OTHER CHALLENGES WITH GAS AND GAS DELIVERY AND HR IS A PART OF IT TOO BECAUSE EMPLOYEES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DOING THE WORK. SO WE BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND WE SAY AS A GROUP, WE ARE SOLVING THIS PROBLEM TOGETHER. THIS IS NOT A YOU PROBLEM, IT'S AN US PROBLEM. AND SO BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ISN'T SITTING THERE AND SAYING, YOU'RE NOT DOING GOOD ENOUGH, TRYING HARD'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. WHAT IT'S SAYING IS, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. AND THEN ALL OF THESE THINGS CHA CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHALLENGES, UH, THAT THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR HAS SET AN EXPECTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THIS IN A ROUTINE WAY. YOU NEED, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK COLLABORATIVELY, NOT THROW BOMBS, NOT THROW STONES, NOT LOB STUFF OVER A FENCE. THIS IS US, WE ARE HOUSTON AND WE'RE SERVING HOUSTONIANS. SO THAT'S THE, THE PERFORMANCE PART OF THIS. I THINK WE'RE KICKING OVER TO ORGANIZATION NEXT. IF, UM, I MIGHT OFFER, I INTENDED TO, TO FRAME HOW THIS WILL, WILL GO BESIDES THE, THE WORK STREAMS. THE WAY WE'VE STRUCTURED THIS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS WHAT WE'RE OFFERING A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO WHAT, HOW THE WORK WAS APPROACHED. AND THEN THE SLIDE HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE KEY FINDINGS AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE AND THAT WHAT FOLLOWS ARE EXCERPTS OF WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE FULL REPORT. JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL A SENSE OF, UH, THE RIGOR AND THE DEPTH AS WELL AS THE TYPES OF INFORMATION THAT'S, THAT'S WITHIN THE REPORT. UM, SO YOU CAN SEE A, A FEW OF THESE FOR RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS DIMENSION. AND STEVEN HIT ON EACH OF THESE A 186 PROGRAMS. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE KPIS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PROGRAMS [04:30:01] ARE EVALUATED FOR COMPLETENESS AS STEVEN WAS WAS OFFERING. AND THEN THE 606 KPIS IN THE DONUT CHART JUST TO THE RIGHT. UH, AN EXCERPT OF, UH, AS YOU READ THE REPORT, WE HAVE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE, OF THIS CHART, WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT IS THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THEN THESE ARE THOSE, THOSE KPIS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE EVALUATED OUR PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE SIX PEER CITIES FOR EACH OF THOSE PRIORITY AREAS. EACH OF THOSE KPIS FEATURES A DEEP DIVE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. STEVEN ALLUDED TO IT ALREADY, SPECIFICALLY THE RESPONSE TIME FOR POLICE, HOW WE STAND UP NEXT TO THOSE PEER CITIES RESPONSE TIME USING 2023 DATA FOR FIRE RESPONSE. SO THE REST OF THE SEAT OF THE CATEGORIES, WE'LL PROCEED IN THAT MANNER. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHRIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND HOW IT'S STRUCTURED. AN ORGANIZATION CANNOT IMPROVE IF WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE COMPONENTS OF WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING, AND THEN HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN IMPROVING THOSE. SO THE MAYOR SOUGHT TO UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURES AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION AT A GRANULAR LEVEL. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THIS EXERCISE WE HAVE DONE GOTTEN A GREAT START ON THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT ALL OF THIS DATA AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS THAT OUR STRUCTURE IS BUILT ON SYSTEMS THAT DEFINE HOW THE DEPARTMENTS WORK. WE HAVE LAYERS AND WE HAVE SPANS LAYERS. THAT IS THE CONCEPT OF THE TOP OF THE DEPARTMENT DOWN TO THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND PIECE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT BECAUSE HOW YOU STRUCTURE THAT SYSTEM DEPENDS ON HOW EFFICIENT AND HOW EFFECTIVE WE'LL BE. WE HAVE TOO MANY LAYERS. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE SEEKING TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. IT WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY LAYERS, YOU CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I'D LIKE YOU TO REMEMBER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE, UM, OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE FOR IMPROVEMENT. ALSO, SPAN, SPAN OF CONTROL, PROBABLY ALL HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE. YOU LOOK AT IT IN YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE LOOK AT IT IN OURS, OUR SPAN OF CONTROL, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT IS THE WIDTH. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE REPORTING TO AN INDIVIDUAL MUST CHANGE IN ORDER FOR US TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE. SO WE WILL BETTER DEFINE WHAT THAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY. UM, THE CITY, LEMME MAKE SURE I'M ON TRACK HERE. THE CITY HAS TO LOOK AT THE MODELS, THE CITIES THAT WE BENCHMARKED AGAINST, WHAT ARE THEY DOING WELL AND HOW CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM? WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL, BUT WE DO NEED TO BE BETTER AT HOW WE BENCHMARK OURSELVES AGAINST OTHERS WHO ARE DOING SIMILAR WORK. SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON HOW DO WE IMPROVE THAT. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LAYERS, WE HAVE 11 LAYERS. AN IDEAL NUMBER OF LEVER LEVELS, LAYERS IS ABOUT FIVE. SO WE KNOW THAT FROM THE STUDIES THAT WE'VE DONE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT SPAN OF CONTROL, OURS IS AT EIGHT. WE SHOULD HAVE 25. THAT IMPROVES COMMUNICATION. IT IMPROVES THE MESSAGING. THE VISION IS CLEAR. IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY LEADERS, WE ARE A TOP HEAVY ORGANIZATION. IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY LEADERS WHO ARE GIVING A SMALL NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS, A MESSAGE, THE MESSAGE BECOMES CHOPPY. WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE WANNA BE MORE EFFICIENT IS CONSISTENCY OF MESSAGE. CONSISTENCY OF VISION, SO THAT WE HAVE COMMON LANGUAGE, COMMON KNOWLEDGE, COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE'RE GOING. THAT IS IMPORTANT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SAVINGS IN AN ORGANIZATION, THIS IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH YOU HAVE TO BUILD IN ORDER TO BECOME AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS SPENDING AND FOCUSING EVERY DOLLAR WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. SO THERE WERE SIX OUT, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT THAT WE UNDERSTOOD FROM THE REPORT. THE FIRST IS, EMPLOYEES SPEND OVER 30% OF THEIR TIME ON ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS. WHAT ARE THOSE? RESPONDING TO EMAILS, SCHEDULING, UH, ON PHONE CALLS. THAT IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE USE OF TIME. IF WE CAN GET OUR EMPLOYEES TO DECREASE THAT NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE DOING AND FOCUS ON THE REAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THE BIGGER VISION, THEN WE WILL HAVE BETTER EFFICIENCIES. UM, WE BELIEVE THAT TO STREAMLINE THIS, WE WILL [04:35:01] BE ABLE TO REALIZE SAVINGS IN THE PRODUCTIVE HOURS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SPENDING ON, ON OPERATIONS AS OPPOSED TO ACTIVITIES. THE SECOND ONE, UM, FINDING WAS HR, FINANCE, IT DEPARTMENTS ALL HAVE SHADOW POSITIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. SO YOU HAVE A CENTRALIZED EFFORT AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SHADOW EFFORTS THAT ARE TAKING PART IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. IT'S NOT JUST FINANCE, HR AND IT THAT HAVE THESE DEPARTMENTS, LIBRARY SERVICES. THEY HAVE COMMUNICATIONS, THEY HAVE GR. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SEPARATING THAT MESSAGE THAT'S GOING OUT, THAT WE ARE NOT SPENDING FUNDS ON DUPLICATE EFFORTS. THE MAYOR HAS SAID THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO US, DUPLICATION IS JUST A BOTTOMLESS PIT AND THAT CAN REALIZE REAL SAVINGS FOR US VERY QUICKLY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES HAVE EXCESSIVE LAYERS IN THE SPAN OF CONTROL. I DISCUSSED THAT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT SPAN OF CONTROL. SO 40% OF OUR LEADERS HAVE ONE TO THREE DIRECT REPORTS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IF YOU'RE ONLY IMPACTING AS A LEADER, YOU'RE ONLY IMPACTING THREE PEOPLE. IT'S VERY HARD FOR THREE PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN ORGANIZATION AS LARGE AS, AS OURS. THE MAYOR SAID IT. WE ARE A BUSINESS . WE ARE A $7 BILLION BUSINESS, AND WE HAVE TO BE THE MOST EFFICIENT WE CAN BE IN. GETTING THOSE MESSAGES TO THOSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS TO DO, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL WHEN YOU CAN BE CONSISTENT IN MESSAGE. UM, THE FOURTH ONE, LACK OF CLEAR PATHWAYS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE 12,000 INDIVIDUALS, THE EMPLOYEES WHO RESPONDED, UM, SO HONESTLY AND TRUTHFULLY TO THE SURVEYS THAT WE PUT OUT. AND WE WANNA THANK THEM BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY OF THIS, THESE FINDINGS IF THOSE EMPLOYEES DID NOT TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. THEY WANT TO IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE, AS MUCH AS YOU DO, AS MUCH AS WE DO. SO THEY PARTICIPATED AT A HIGH LEVEL AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT. SO THEY, UM, THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW WE COULD BETTER STRUCTURE THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A CLEAR PATHWAY FROM THE ENTRY POINT COMING IN. AS AN ANALYST, WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? WE DON'T HAVE THAT CLEAR PATHWAY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. THEY HAVE LOTS OF CONCERNS ABOUT NEW EMPLOYEES COMING IN AND THEIR SALARY MAY BE HIGHER THAN MY, THAN MY SALARY. I STARTED 15 YEARS AGO. WHY IS THIS PERSON MAKING MORE THAN I AM? WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE VALUING THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RETENTION BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE LIKE, I'M GONNA GO SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT GOING, THIS. I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR PATHWAY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. I HAVE A LOT TO OFFER. THE ORGANIZATION THEN ENDS UP RETRAINING, HIRING, GOING THROUGH THE ONBOARDING PROCESS. THOSE ARE ALL NOT EFFICIENCIES THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF. SO THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON. REALLY ALSO PROVIDING THEM WITH THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT, OUR STAFF DEVELOPMENT. SOME DEPARTMENTS GIVE STAFF DEVELOPMENT. OTHER DEPARTMENTS GIVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF STAFF OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, LEADERSHIP. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE VALUED AND THAT WE CAN, THEY CAN SEE THAT WE VALUE THEM. SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE'RE TACKLING. AND I KNOW SOME OF THAT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. UM, THE CHALLENGE IN INTERNAL SALARY EQUITY, I SPOKE TO THAT A LITTLE BIT. WE NEED TO DIG DEEPLY INTO THAT AT A GRANULAR LEVEL AND BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE AND ENSURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND THERE'S EQUITY AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE FOR US, AND WE'LL STAY WITH THE CITY AND WE'LL GIVE ALL THAT WE HAVE. SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT. ALSO, THE ABSENCE OF DEDICATED RESOURCES FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT. IT'S GREAT FOR US TO STAND UP HERE AND GIVE YOU ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WHEN YOU START TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER AND BUILD THE PUZZLE AND TRY TO MAKE IT, UM, COME OUT IN A WAY THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT CAN. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES. WE KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR, UH, EMPLOYEES IN A WAY THAT THEY WILL HELP US TO REALIZE ALL OF THIS, THIS VISION, BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY SAID IT. THEY'VE ALREADY SAID TO US, WE WANT CHANGE. WE WANNA BE A PART OF THIS CHANGE. WE WANNA ENSURE THAT THIS CITY [04:40:01] IS GREAT. AND I THINK ONE EXAMPLE THAT SORT OF BRINGS, UM, HOME THAT IDEA THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING ON TASK AND ACTIVITIES AS OPPOSED TO BEING FOCUSED ON THE OPERATION, UH, THAT THEY NEED TO BE. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SPENDS 42% OF THEIR TIME ON ACTIVITIES. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENDS 44% OF THEIR TIME ON ACTIVITIES. ARE THEY DOING A BADGE? NO, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. BUT WHEN THEY HAVE REPORTING STRUCTURES AND THEY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS NO LONGER UP TO DATE, THEN WE NEED TO HELP THEM AND ENSURE THAT THEY CAN DO THE JOB THAT THEY ARE ALL ALREADY DOING GREAT AND GETTING OUT THERE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ENSURE WE LIVE IN A SAFE CITY. IT'S OUR TIME TO HELP THEM BE BETTER AT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND TO, UM, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO LEARNED IS THAT WE NEED TO STREAMLINE AND AUTOMATE MANY OF OUR SYSTEMS BECAUSE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR US TO BE BETTER. I THINK I HIT EVERYTHING. CHRIS. DID I MISS ANYTHING? I THINK YOU GOT IT, . ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THERE. THERE'S MUCH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IN THE FULL REPORT. OF COURSE. UM, JUST HIGHLIGHT THIS AS IT REINFORCES A POINT THAT THE MAYOR MADE EARLIER. IF YOU THE CHART ON THE, ON THE LEFT, EVERYONE JUST DEPICTS THE, THE SHAPE OF OUR CURRENT ORGANIZATION AND WHAT YOU SEE IS IT'S GENERALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE A, A RECTANGLE GENERALLY, UM, A MORE COST EFFICIENT MODEL WOULD, WOULD REPRESENT MORE OF A, A, A PYRAMID, RIGHT? SO AS THE SPANS OF CONTROL THAT CYNTHIA WAS ALLUDING TO, AS THAT GOES FROM, UM, BETWEEN ONE TO FOUR, ONE TO FIVE ON AVERAGE TO ONE TO SIX, ONE TO SEVEN, ONE TO EIGHT, WE'LL START TO SEE THAT PYRAMID SHAPE START TO EMERGE. UM, BUT MUCH MORE INFORMATION THAN AND CHARTS AVAILABLE IN THE FULL REPORT. OKAY. UM, I'M GONNA SPEND SOME TIME WITH Y'ALL ON, ON THE, THE SPEND ANALYSIS. UM, SO BRIEFLY, WHAT WE WERE SEEKING TO DO IS, UM, WE STRUGGLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I STRUGGLED WITH, UM, IN A PREVIOUS ITERATION OF, OF THE ROLE THAT I'M, I'M SERVE THE MAYOR IN TODAY IS VISIBILITY IS VERY CHALLENGING, UH, TO OBTAIN PARTICULARLY AROUND HOW THE CITY IS SPENDING ITS FUNDS. THERE HAVE BEEN ADVANCEMENTS IN THAT THAT'S MADE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER. BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE ARE ASKED, Y'ALL ARE ASKED, DEPARTMENTS ARE ASKED TO LOOK AT SPENDING AND OPERATIONS THROUGH THE WAY THAT WE ORGANIZE OUR BUDGETS, WHICH IS TO SAY ROWS ON A PIECE OF PAPER. UH, UNDER THE GENERAL HEADINGS OF PERSONNEL SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, YOU CAN GO DOWN TO MORE DETAIL. SO GENERALLY, WHAT WE WERE SEEKING TO DO WITH SPEND, THIS IS TRUE FOR PERFORMANCE AND ORGANIZATION AND FORENSIC ACCOUNTING TOO, BUT, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH SPEND, IS TO REFRAME OUR SPENDING SO THAT WE CAN GET A CLEARER VIEW OF WHAT THE SPENDING BEHAVIOR IS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CATEGORIES OF SPENDING WE ARE PUTTING OUR DOLLARS INTO SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY TO THE MAYOR'S POINT WHERE WE ARE BEING LESS EFFICIENT, WHERE WE ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SCALE AND SPENDING POWER THAT WE HAVE WHERE THE SAME GOODS AND SERVICES ARE BEING PURCHASED FROM TWO DIFFERENT VENDORS IN TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, UM, SO FORTH AND SO ON. BECAUSE, UH, WIND SPENDING IS AS, UM, UNCOORDINATED AS IT HAS BEEN, UM, AT THE CITY FOR DECADES. UM, IT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US THAT IS LOW HANGING FRUIT. ONCE WE BEGIN MANAGING AND BEGIN COORDINATING OUR SPENDING, THEN THAT IS SAVINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT WE NEED TO GO GET, BUT THAT WE ESSENTIALLY THROUGH FOCUSED EFFORT, CAN PICK UP OFF THE TABLE AND PUT INTO OUR POCKET. UM, SO THIS IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY THAT, THAT WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY TO REALIZE COST SAVINGS. UM, SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, TO DESCRIBE THIS EFFORT, WHAT OUR PARTNERS PERFORMED IN TERMS OF THE, THE ANALYSIS IS, UM, BEFORE THEY EXAMINED CONTRACT SPENDING, OFF CONTRACT SPENDING, P-CARD SPENDING, WE TOOK ALL OF OUR SPENDING DATA AND THERE WAS A FAIR BIT OF GATHERING, ORGANIZING, CLEANSING, GENERAL WRANGLING IN THE PARLANCE THAT WAS PERFORMED. THEN TO CATEGORIZE OUR SPENDING INFORMATION, THEY CREATED REFERENCE CODES SO THAT WE COULD TAKE ALL THE DIFFERENT SPENDING THAT WE DO ACROSS THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENTS ALLOCATE IT USING NIGP CODES TO EIGHT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. SO OUR SPENDING THAT WE'RE GONNA GET INTO NOW, WE CAN NOW VIEW THROUGH THE LENS OF EIGHT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. IT DOESN'T MATTER IN WHICH DEPARTMENT A DOLLAR WAS SPENT, IT CAN BE ASSIGNED TO EIGHT NEW CATEGORIES AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF SUBCATEGORIES [04:45:01] UNDERNEATH THAT THAT ENABLES US TO EXPOSE CERTAIN INSIGHTS THAT ALLOWS US TO PRIORITIZE WORK FOR CONTRACT RENEGOTIATION, FOR OTHER ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO REALIZE SAVINGS AND PULL IT IN. SO THE, THE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, THAT WE HAVE IN THE, THE FINDINGS, THE CONTRACTING EFFICIENCY IS A, UM, WE HAVE NOT BEEN VERY EFFICIENT WITH OUR CONTRACTING EFFICIENCY. UH, SAY IT LIKE THAT. WE DO HAVE MANY INSTANCES OF DUPLICATIVE CONTRACTS THAT, THAT MANIFEST ITSELF IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT COULD BE, UH, ONE, ONE PARTICULAR VENDOR HAS MULTIPLE CONTRACTS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS WITH DIFFERENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS WITH DIFFERENT PRICING LEVELS. UH, IT COULD REPRESENT MANIFEST ITSELF AS MULTIPLE CONTRACTS WITH THE SAME VENDOR, ONE EACH ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. AGAIN, NOT HARMONIZED. COULD BE FOR A GIVEN CATEGORY, MULTIPLE VENDORS IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS FOR THE SAME GOODS OR SERVICES. SO A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR US THERE. NON-CONTRACT SPEND IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT IS SPEAKING TO, UH, TO TWO KEY EXAMPLES. WE EITHER HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR, YET WE SPEND FOR GOODS OR SERVICES OFF CONTRACT, NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PRE-NEGOTIATED PRICING OR OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS, OR WE ARE SPENDING ENOUGH OFF CONTRACT THAT WE SHOULD NEGOTIATE PRICING AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS, UH, WITH THOSE VENDORS TO REALIZE SAVINGS SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT IS THIS. NUMBER THREE HERE IS RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF VENDORS ACTIVE CONTRACTS THAT WE ASK OUR EMPLOYEES TO MANAGE, TO RENEW, UM, TO PAY INVOICES AGAINST. BUT WE SPEND THE VAST, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF OUR SPENDING IS WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL MINORITY OF THE TOTAL VENDORS THAT WE HAVE OVER 80% OF THE CITY'S SPENDING. THIS IS ACCORDING, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS EARLIER, EXCUSE ME. WE'RE RELYING ON, ON SPEND DATA FROM 2022, 2023 AND 2024. THE SIX 80% OF THE DOLLARS THAT THE CITY SPENT IN 2024 WAS WITH 6% OF OUR VENDORS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE COULD BE MORE STRATEGIC IN THE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THOSE VENDORS WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR MONEY. WE CAN CONSOLIDATE OUR SPENDING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS. THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY, AND THIS IS ONLY PRIMES Y'ALL TO CLARIFY, WE'RE ARE CARRYING A VERY LONG TAIL OF VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS FOR WHICH WE ARE NOT REALIZING A LOT OF STRATEGIC VALUE. SO WE CAN IMPROVE THESE THINGS WHILE MAINTAINING OUR FOCUS ON OUR MWBE PROGRAM WITHOUT COMPROMISING ONE BIT ON THE GOALS THAT WE SET FOR OUR SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SMALL BUSINESSES. THE POINT IS, IS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN DELIBERATE AS A CITY IN HOW WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE GIVE TO LARGE BUSINESSES, MEDIUM SIZED OR SMALL BUSINESSES. AND THAT CAN'T CONTINUE IF IT DOES NOT CONTINUE. WE STAND TO REALIZE A SIGNIFICANT AND MATERIAL AMOUNT OF SAVINGS FROM BRINGING DISCIPLINE AND INTENT. UM, ANYTHING ELSE THAT I MISSED HERE? UH, ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I, I WANTED TO KEY ON, IF YOU LOOK AT NUMBER, NUMBER SEVEN, DATA QUALITY AND THE CORRESPONDING OPPORTUNITY THERE, UH, ESTABLISH A DATA AND ANALYTICS TEAM. THIS IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY AND A, UM, A WAY FOR CITY LEADERSHIP TO INVEST IN EMPLOYEES IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THE, THE ORGANIZATION TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES ON ITS OWN AND START, UM, START CREATING INTERVENTIONS TO REALIZE EFFICIENCIES. WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE, UM, SKILLING PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS PEOPLE WITH A DATA ANALYSIS AND BUSINESS MODELING SKILLS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT IN 2024 OR 2025, UH, THAT, THAT ENABLES THEM WITH INTRODUCTORY LEVEL CAPABILITIES, INTERMEDIATE LEVEL CAPABILITIES, AND ADVANCED LEVEL CAPABILITIES. WE WILL CHANGE THAT. IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME. I'M GONNA SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BECAUSE I, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY, UH, THAT WE HAVE. SO I'D JUST LIKE Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE. I THINK Y'ALL, Y'ALL WOULD SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE FINANCIAL, UM, THE FULL REPORT. EXCUSE ME. I MENTIONED THE EIGHT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. THESE ARE, ARE THE CATEGORIES AND THERE ARE OBSERVATIONS IF, JUST TO, TO ORIENT YOU TO THE SLIDE. SO WE HAVE THE CATEGORY NAME FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION. AT THE TOP LEFT IN 2024, [04:50:02] THERE WAS $2.3 BILLION SPENT WITHIN THAT CATEGORY. THAT $2.3 BILLION REPRESENTED 56% OF THE TOTAL DOLLARS SPENT BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU CAN SEE THESE OTHER EXAMPLES. 80% OF THE SPENDING WITHIN THE FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION CATEGORY WAS WITH 74 OUT OF A TOTAL OF 1100, ALMOST 1200 VENDORS IN THAT CATEGORY. OTHER EXAMPLES, 45 OF THOSE VENDORS HAVE MORE THAN THREE CONTRACTS. THREE DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNT FOR 91% OF THE SPENDING THERE. SO IT'S EACH OF THE CATEGORIES IT EXPLAINS, AND THEN WE DIG DEEPER INTO, INTO EACH OF THOSE. EACH OF THE CATEGORIES NOW HAS A DASHBOARD THAT ALLOWS FOR EXPLORATION OF THE DATA IN A COORDINATED WAY SO THAT WE CAN MORE CLEARLY IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AT THE PRIME CATEGORY LEVEL. UM, THIS SLIDE, I'M, UH, POINTING OUT, UM, JUST SO YOU CAN SEE, I THINK THIS SLIDE DOES A DECENT JOB. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMN ON THE LEFT, THESE ARE REALLY, IF YOU WERE TO ASK THE QUESTION OR A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WERE TO ASK THE QUESTION, HOW WILL WE GO REALIZE THESE SAVINGS CONTRACT VERSUS NON-CONTRACT WITH THE SAME VENDOR? THESE ARE THE LEVERS THAT WE CAN PULL AS A CITY TO START REALIZING AND, UM, AND BANKING THOSE SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES. UH, A BRIEF NOTE. THERE IS ANOTHER AMOUNT, UM, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CONTENT THAT EY PRODUCED FOR THE CITY AND THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. AND THOSE ARE SUBCATEGORY DASHBOARDS THAT FEATURE A LOT OF THE SAME INFORMATION AT THE CATEGORY LEVEL. UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GO UNDERTAKE. SO WE'RE, WE'RE HOLDING THAT INFORMATION, UM, UNTIL THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE COMPLETE. BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO, TO VISIT WITH ANY OF Y'ALL AND, AND WALK THROUGH THAT IN PERSON FORENSICS, THE LAST WORK STREAM. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, THE FINAL CATEGORY THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IS OUR FORENSIC ANALYTICS WORK STREAM. UM, SO I WILL GO INTO, UH, TALK ABOUT THIS GENERALLY. WE'RE NOT GONNA GET INTO SPECIFICS, UH, 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA GIVE AWAY THE SAUCE, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT HUMAN BEHAVIOR WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE THERE IS POTENTIAL FRAUD, POTENTIAL WASTE AND ABUSE. UM, THE FORENSIC WORK STREAM WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE, THE WORK STREAMS THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER INSISTED ON, UH, TO BE A PART OF THIS ANALYSIS. UH, AND IN 2023, IT WAS A YEAR OF SOME PRETTY HIGH PROFILE AND SALACIOUS, UH, FRAUD AND THEFT, UH, CASES THAT CAME FOR THE PUBLIC. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER ALLUDED TO BOTH OF THEM EARLIER. UM, WE SAW MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES, AND IN FACT, UH, ONE FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE PLED GUILTY LAST YEAR AND IS GONNA BE IN PRISON FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. UH, WITH THESE CASES ON THE HORIZON, AGAIN, HE ASSISTED. WE DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING AND A PLATFORM THAT WE CAN USE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND FLAG THEM AND MAKE THEM, UH, UH, OP GIVE THEM US AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY THEM AHEAD OF TIME. UM, WHILE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, THE ANALYSIS ITSELF IS FINANCIAL IN NATURE. IT IS REALLY AN EXERCISE ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR. WHAT WE DO IS WE CREATE MULTIPLE TESTS THAT ARE CUSTOM TO AN ORGANIZATION, AND THESE TESTS LOOK FOR HABITUAL BEHAVIOR OUT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING MAYBE NOT ABOVE BOARD THINGS. UH, AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE TESTS THAT, UH, IS UNIQUE TO HOUSTON IS THE $50,000 THRESHOLD TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. WHAT WOULD FLAG A A, A TRANSACTION THAT WOULD FLAG IN THAT TEST WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S 49 9 9 5 THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY RAISE UP, THAT'S SUSPICIOUS, RIGHT? THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO SKIRT COMING TO COUNCIL. SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE TEST FOR. WE HAVE ABOUT 20 OR SO TESTS THAT WE'VE CREATED THAT ARE CUSTOM TO THIS. THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE STANDARD TO FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE VERY MUCH UNIQUE. WE ACTUALLY TAKE FROM PAST BEHAVIOR AND, AND TRY AND LEARN FROM IT. UM, THE, WHAT WE'VE DEVELOPED, UM, IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND TO HOUSTON PLATFORM THAT IS GONNA ASSIST IN FLAGGING THOSE TRANSACTIONS IN REAL TIME THAT ARE IRREGULAR AND WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION. UM, WE'VE CREATED A REALLY SMALL TEAM OF PEOPLE, UM, WHO WILL WORK TOGETHER TO QUICKLY TRIAGE ANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT RAISE THE FLAG ON, AND WE'RE GONNA DETERMINE, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE MERITORIOUS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. UH, THIS PARTNERSHIP, UH, THIS TEAM IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. UH, AND THE WAY THAT THE TRIAGE WORKS IS THAT THE, UH, FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL LOOK AT ANY TRANSACTIONS THAT HAVE, UH, BEEN RAISED, AND THESE ARE TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE ON CONTRACT, OFF CONTRACT PO, ALSO P CARD TRANSACTIONS. UM, AND WHAT WE DO IS THEY GO IN AND LOOK AT IT FIRST AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S WHAT WE WOULD CALL SIGNAL VERSUS NOISE. SO IS IT MEANINGFUL OR IS IT NOT MEANINGFUL? AND THEN IF IT IS MEANINGFUL, THEY KICK IT OVER TO OIG AND OIG, UH, INVESTIGATES IT. NOW WHAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, THE REASON WHY I CAN'T SAY FIRST OF ITS KIND ENOUGH. THIS [04:55:01] IS THE FIRST INSTANCE IN WHICH THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT ILLICIT FINANCIAL BEHAVIOR, POTENTIAL ILLICIT FINANCIAL BEHAVIOR OF ITS EMPLOYEES. EVERY OTHER TIME AN INSTANCE, WE HAVE EITHER WAITED TO BE TOLD THAT SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING OR WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE NEWS TO REPORT ON IT. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS. AND THIS IS NOT A THING THAT IS COMMON AMONG THE LARGE MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE US. UM, SO WHAT I WANNA BE ABLE TO DO, THE LAST THING THAT I'LL CLOSE ON IS GIVE YOU EXAMPLES OF WHAT WOULD BE, UH, NOISE VERSUS SIGNAL. THERE WAS A TRANSACTION THAT FLAGGED. WE ACTUALLY STOOD UP THIS DASHBOARD AND WITHIN ABOUT 48 HOURS, A TRANSACTION FLAGGED, AND IT WAS A $49,000 $249,200 SPEND THAT CAME OUT OF ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. IT FLAGGED AND SAID, HEY GUYS, THIS COULD BE POTENTIAL. WENT INTO IT. IT TURNED OUT THE THING THEY PURCHASED HAPPENED TO BE $49,200. IT WAS A NORMAL THING, IT WENT AWAY. THE OTHER THING THAT WE FOUND, AND THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT AFTER WE STOOD IT UP, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, UH, THROUGH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ANALYSIS. THIS IS CALLED AN ADDRESS ANALYSIS. WE LOOKED FOR COMMONALITIES AMONG BUSINESS NAMES, ADDRESSES, DUPLICATE VENDOR IDS, ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER HIGH RISK. WHAT WE FOUND WAS, UH, A, UH, A VIOLATION OF POLICY THAT WAS NOT CRIMINAL, BUT IT WHAT, THERE WAS A VENDOR WHO CREATED 13 UNIQUE VENDOR IDS AND WOULD SPEND CLOSE TO 50,000 AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT ID CLOSE TO 50,000. NEXT ID, WE LEGITIMATELY PURCHASED THINGS FROM THAT VENDOR, BUT IT IS A VIOLATION OF POLICY. IT DIDN'T GIVE THIS BODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, DELIBERATE AND SAY, IS THIS THE BEST CONTRACT? AND IT GOES TO EXACTLY WHAT CHRIS WAS SAYING EARLIER. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE THESE CONTRACTS AND BE ABLE TO, TO GET THE BEST DEAL. AND SO THE QUESTIONS THAT ARISE ARE, WAS THAT THE BEST DEAL THAT WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN? COULD WE HAVE GONE TO ANOTHER VENDOR? COULD WE HAVE NEGOTIATED A LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH THAT VENDOR TO GET BETTER RATES FOR OURSELVES? AND SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THIS TEAM IS GOING TO LOOK FOR. UM, THIS DASHBOARD IS AGAIN, GOING TO BE UPDATED REGULARLY WITH ALL OF OUR DATA. THERE IS A DIRECT STREAM FROM SAP, WHICH IS OUR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS DATABASE TO THIS DASHBOARD. WHEN THINGS SHOW UP, IT POPS UP IN THE DASHBOARD. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THIS. AND, UH, THAT CONCLUDES TALKING ABOUT FORENSIC ACCOUNTING. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE, WE'RE NEARLY DONE SPEAKING AT YOU. UM, I'D LIKE TO, TO GIVE SOME EXAMPLES. UM, WE HAVE NOT BEEN WAITING FOR THIS REPORT TO BE COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO TAKE ACTION ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES OR OPPORTUNITIES RAISED, UM, THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE ASSESSMENT. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW CHANGES THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN. UM, MOST OF WHICH WILL HAVE SAVINGS BENEFITS TO THE GENERAL FUND AND POSITIVE, UH, POSITIVE CHANGES TO OUR FUND BALANCE AS A RESULT. UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE, UM, WE DESIGNED AND THEN LAUNCHED THE INTEGRATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS WATER CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT CENTER AND OUR 3 1 1, UM, CONTACT CENTER. THEY WERE IN THE SAME BUILDING UP OFF OF MCKINNEY STREET, SEPARATED BY ONLY ONE WALL, BUT THE ACTIVITIES WERE SEPARATED BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS. WE ARE BRINGING THOSE TOGETHER AND, UH, AND PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE SUPPORTING THOSE ACTIVITIES GO FORWARD. UH, WE'VE DEVELOPED A SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT, UH, WHERE PUBLIC WORKS IS SUPPORTING SOLID WASTE ON ILLEGAL DUMPING MITIGATION AND HAS BEGUN SUPPORTING, UH, SOLID WASTE ON HEAVY TRASH MITIGATION AS WELL. UH, RANDY AND HERB SIMS HAVE A VERY MATURE CONVERSATION ON WHAT WILL BE THE INTEGRATION OR CONSOLIDATION OF, UM, THE SINGLE FAMILY HABITABILITY AND INSPECTIONS CODE ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS INTO PUBLIC WORKS WHERE MULTIFAMILY, HABITABILITY AND, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT CURRENTLY OCCURS. UH, WE HAVE BEGUN, UM, WE'VE BEGUN AN INFORMAL CONSOLIDATION, SO THIS DOESN'T INVOLVE ORG CHART CHANGES, BUT SPD HAS BEGUN SUPPORTING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO OUR OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, JED AND LENCIA WORKING TOGETHER, GIVEN THE COMMON WORK AROUND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE SO THAT WE CAN ACCELERATE THE TIME TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS WELL AS EAT INTO THE BACKLOG OF CONTRACT COMPLIANCE REVIEWS. AGAIN, THAT'S NOT A FORMAL ORG CHART CHANGE, THAT'S JUST SIMPLY COLLABORATION, HELPING EACH OTHER. UM, WE ANNOUNCED, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AND JED HAS BEGUN MEETING, HE'S NEARLY COMPLETED HIS MEETINGS WITH THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO CONSOLIDATE INFORMAL PROCUREMENT THAT IS NOT ALREADY CENTRALIZED IN SPD, UM, THAT WILL [05:00:01] REALIZE AT MINIMUM ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN, IN SAVINGS. WE EXPECT IT TO BE LARGER THAN THAT, BUT THAT'S OUR, OUR VERY CONSERVATIVE AND CONFIDENT ESTIMATE. AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE ALREADY REVISED THE PCARD POLICY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AP FIVE DASH SIX BASED ON THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUT OF THE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING REVIEW, AS WELL AS SPENDING, I'LL SPEND THE FINAL MOMENTS ON, ON WHAT WE PROPOSE TO DO NEXT. FIRST IS, UM, THIS REPORT PROVIDES A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT THE, THE MAYOR WILL ROLL OUT, UH, LATER THIS LATER THIS SPRING. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE EXPECTATIONS THAT, THAT I, THAT WE HAVE SET WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS IS THEY CAN EXPECT AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT THINGS. THE FIRST IS, IS THAT THERE WILL BE A CENTRALIZED EFFORT, UH, COORDINATED FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH SUPPORT AROUND SPEND AND CATEGORY MANAGEMENT FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT, THAT WE EMPHASIZED EARLIER. UM, SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THEIR SUPPORT, BUT THEY CAN EXPECT, UM, THEY CAN EXPECT US TO CARRY THE BULK OF THAT WATER AND, AND RELY ON THEM FOR COORDINATION AND, UH, WHICH EVERYONE HAS RESPONDED ENTHUSIASTICALLY ABOUT. THE SECOND IS THAT WE WILL ENABLE OUR DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP TEAMS WITH PROCESSES AND SOME INSTRUCTION FOR THEM TO REVISE AND REFINE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT THEY USE TO EVALUATE THE WORK THAT TRULY MATTERS, AND THEN CASCADE THAT DOWN INTO EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS SO THAT WE HAS A, HAVE A COHESIVE STRUCTURE. EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE TRULY IMPORTANT HIGH PRIORITY WORK IS BASED ON OUTCOMES, MAKING DIFFERENCES FOR HOUSTONIANS OR THE PEOPLE THAT INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS SERVE. ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LINE EMPLOYEES, EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS HOW THEIR WORK CONTRIBUTES TO THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE SEEKING TO PROVIDE. THE SECOND IS THAT WE MUST GET MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE. WE SIMPLY MUST, UM, HAVING MORE THAN 40%, UM, OF OUR SUPERVISORS SUPERVISE THREE OR FEWER IS JUST SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE MUST CHANGE. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US TO DO THAT. SO THAT REMAINS AN ACTIVE, UM, AN ACTIVE EFFORT. I'D JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE, AND THIS GOES TO A POINT THAT CYNTHIA WAS MAKING, THE REASON WE HAVE MORE THAN 40% THERE, PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE SUCH NARROW SPANS OF CONTROL IS BECAUSE THE CITY HAS FAILED TO ACT, AND THIS GOES OVER DECADES. CITY HAS FAILED TO ACT ON THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IT HAS HAD TO CREATE JOB PATHWAYS FOR TECHNICAL TYPE ROLES. IF YOU HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR THAT EXCELS AT, AT A TRADE, UH, AT A, AT A TECHNOLOGY RELATED JOB, UM, AT INSPECTIONS, THE CITY, BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE OF OUR, OUR JOB CLASSIFICATIONS, IN ORDER TO REWARD THAT INDIVIDUAL FOR THE THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY ARE MADE, WE HAVE HAD TO PROMOTE THEM INTO SUPERVISORY POSITIONS BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A TECHNICAL PATHWAY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT IN TECHNICAL CAREERS OR TRADES TO PROGRESS. WE MUST CHANGE THAT. THE DEPARTMENTS ARE LOOKING TO US TO COORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES TO BEGIN CHANGING THAT. UM, AND THE SOONER THAT WE DO THAT, THE SOONER WE'LL BE ABLE TO RATIONALIZE OUR REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS WHILE MAINTAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULFILLING AND PROGRESSIVELY MORE CHALLENGING AND REWARDING CAREER PATHWAYS. UM, THE THE IMMEDIATE NEXT STEP THAT WE WOULD ASK OF THIS BODY IS THAT ON SPEND MANAGEMENT AND, AND A FEW OTHER HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS THAT WE'VE EMPHASIZED THIS MORNING, THAT WE WILL PROPOSE A FOLLOW ON CONTRACT WITH EY, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON HELPING US DO TWO THINGS RELATED TO SPEND MANAGEMENT, GO GET, PUT HANDS ON KEYBOARDS AND HELP US GO WORK THROUGH THESE HIGH PRIORITY CONTRACT RENEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL, UM, THAT WILL DELIVER SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES FOR US, AS WELL AS DEVELOP THE CAPABILITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON SO THAT THIS LIVES LONGER. AND WE TAKE OVER THE RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL. SO YOU WILL SEE THAT ITEM ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. IT WILL INVOLVE THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, WE BELIEVE, [05:05:01] AND HOPEFULLY YOU DO AFTER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE FULL REPORT. AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO VISIT WITH ANY OF YOU AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE, THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST, THE WISEST INVESTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE TO REALIZE SAVINGS. UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER, THERE ARE, THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN WHAT WE HIGHLIGHTED AND SUMMARIZED IN THIS REPORT. UM, YOU CAN SEE THOSE. WE'VE LEFT THEM OFF. WE COULD SPEND THREE MORE HOURS TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM, BUT WE HAVE THEM INVENTORIED, WE HAVE THEM PRIORITIZED. UM, AND WE ARE USING THOSE TO INCORPORATE THEM AS GUIDANCE FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR 2026. UM, MAYOR BEFORE I, I TURN IT OVER, I, I WOULD, I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF, IF ANYONE SITTING AROUND THE HORSESHOE WERE PARTICULARLY SURPRISED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY, UM, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES, WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE IN FRONT OF US. IT'S PRESENTED IN THE CLEAREST WAY IN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IT HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PATH THAT WE CAN WALK TO BECOME A MORE EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION THAT REWARDS ITS EMPLOYEES MORE FOR THE WORK THAT IT DOES, UM, AND IT'S TIME TO GET GOING ON IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOW THIS WORK TO OCCUR. UH, WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THE NEXT STEPS, MOVING THROUGH THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 25 AND INTO FISCAL YEAR 26. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. AND, UM, A NUMBER OF MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO QUESTION AND OUR COMMENT, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS. UM, I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM THAT YOU DID THIS EFFICIENCY AUDIT. I THINK I'VE DONE A BUDGET AMENDMENT EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL TO DO, UM, AUDITS. UM, WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT ROLL INTO A SUNSET REVIEW PROGRAM, BUT THIS RIGHT HERE, I MEAN, IS JUST ABSOLUTELY HUGE. UM, MAYOR, YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE REASONS WHY YOU RAN FOR OFFICE. THIS IS WHY I RAN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO DISTRICT, A PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, QUALITY OF LIFE, IT ALL BEGINS WITH HOW DO WE PAY FOR THOSE THINGS AND HOW CAN WE GIVE THOSE SERVICES EFFICIENTLY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS? AND SO WITHOUT DOING THIS STUDY WITH, THERE WAS NO WAY TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGES TO OUR BUDGET AND TO EFFICIENCY. SO, I MEAN, THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY, UM, GREAT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS. UM, THANK YOU TO, UM, EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS. I KNOW THAT IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME, BUT ABSOLUTELY NEEDED. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO READING THE REPORT. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TODAY, BUT I'M SURE I'LL HAVE A TON AFTER I READ THIS. UM, SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. AND I'LL AGREE WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR THIS MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH STRONG WORK EY AND THE CITY TEAM THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER. THIS IS MUSIC TO OUR EARS. ABSOLUTELY. UM, REALLY APPRECIATE CHRIS, WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS FOR A LONG TIME. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE WAY WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT BUDGETS BY DEPARTMENT, BY LINE ITEMS, BY SPENDING, YOU KNOW, AND KNOCKING OUR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL. LIKE HOW CAN WE DO IT? THE, I LOVE THAT YOU, YOU, YOU TOOK IT CITYWIDE. YOU TOOK IT CITYWIDE, AND YOU LOOKED AT THE SPEND BY CATEGORIES, BY CONTRACTS. WE'VE NOT DONE THAT BEFORE. THANK YOU. CONSULTING WORLD. WE APPRECIATE IT. . UM, UM, I, I WANT, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, PERFORMANCE MEASURES. OKAY, WHAT THE HELL? I GAVE Y'ALL A A MEMO FEBRUARY 1ST, 2024 GOING THROUGH EVERY DEPARTMENT'S PERFORMANCE MEASURES. WHERE'S MY BIG CONSULTING CHECK? ? UM, YOU'RE RIGHT ON IT. THE SAME PLACE MINE IS. COUNCIL MEMBER. THEY WERE JUST, THEY WERE OUT, THEY WERE OUTCOME OR THEY WERE, WHATEVER YOU SAID, OUTPUT, OUTPUT, OUTPUT, NOT OUTCOME. SEE, I'M NOT A CONSULTANT, BUT WHATEVER. THEY, THEY WEREN'T MEANINGFUL TO THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GONNA HAVE, OR HOPEFULLY WE'RE ON THE WAY TO HAVING PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE SPENDING, WHERE WE'RE FALLING SHORT AND WHERE WE'RE WE'RE DOING WELL, THEY, THEY, THEY MAKE SENSE TO PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU SAID THAT BASICALLY EACH DEPARTMENT'S GONNA RUN THAT SHOW, RIGHT? THEY'RE GONNA WITH SOME HELP, I'M SURE, BUT THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GOING TO NARROW DOWN, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE FEWER OUT, FEWER PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT ARE MORE MEANINGFUL, CORRECT? YES. AND, UH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE DOING THIS ALONE. OKAY. THERE IS GOING TO BE CENTRALIZED SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS A BUNCH OF HANDHOLDING EXERCISES WITH EY. RIGHT. THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY'VE GIVEN US IS THEY'RE TEACHING US HOW TO DO PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, HOW TO DO TURN THE CURVE. AND SO WHEN THEY DO BRING THESE PERFORMANCE METRICS BACK, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A STAMP. YES. THESE ARE THE NEW ONES. IT'S [05:10:01] GONNA BE WORKSHOPPED AND WE'RE GONNA RATIONALIZE THEM AND MAKE SURE, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA INCLUDE ALL OF Y'ALL AS WELL. AND THEY WILL BE IN THIS FY 26 BUDGET. THAT IS THE EXPECTATION. YES. EXCELLENT. OKAY. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, IF, IF I MAY, SURE. I, I WOULD EXPECT THAT WORK, THAT WORK WILL BEGIN AND A GOOD PORTION OF IT WILL CONCLUDE, UH, FOR THE FY 26 BUDGET. BUT I'D ASK EVERYONE TO EXPECT FOR THAT WORK TO CONTINUE BEYOND PUBLICATION OF, OF THE BUDGET. IT'S NOT GONNA BE, YEAH. ALL THE WAY DONE. THAT'S SHORT TIME OKAY. ON ORGANIZATION. CYNTHIA, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LAYING THAT OUT. UM, THE SPAN OF CONTROL STUFF, THAT'S ALL VERY EYEOPENING. IT'S KIND OF SOMETHING WE'VE HAD IN THE BACK OF OUR HEAD. LIKE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S TOO MANY MORE MANAGERS. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE TOP HEAVY, BUT, BUT THIS REALLY LAYS IT OUT. SO, SO, UM, AGAIN, I I, THERE'S GOING TO, I, I'M, I'M, I'M INTERESTED IN THE, WHO IS GONNA WORK ON THIS AND THE TIMELINE OF THIS WORK ON ORGANIZATION. WHICH PART? UH, THE, THE, THE COLLECTIVE WE OKAY. WILL BE, WILL BE WORKING ON IT. UM, AS I SAID, WE, THE, WE OWE OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS STRONG AND CLEAR GUIDANCE AND A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO INTERPRET THAT GUIDANCE. UM, BUT WE MUST REORGANIZE OUR STRUCTURE. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AND THINK ABOUT AS THEY PRIORITIZE TOGETHER WITH THAT PERFORMANCE REEVALUATION AND REFINEMENT EXERCISE. THESE ARE COMPLIMENTARY ACTIVITIES, RIGHT. SET THE GOALS FOR THE ORGANIZATION, THEN SET THE ORGANIZATION AGAINST THOSE GOALS ON HOW YOU DELIVER IT. OKAY. OKAY. SO THAT'S, AGAIN, ONGOING, BUT WE'LL GET RIGHT ON THAT, ON THE SPEND, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE MEAT OF THIS, OF THIS REPORT AND THE STUFF THAT WE'RE ALL MOST INTERESTED IN, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL MOST INTERESTED IN A $330 MILLION BUDGET GAP. RIGHT. UM, I KNOW YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO PUT, WELL, I'M ALL FOR HIRING ADDITIONAL WORK ON THIS EFFORT. I KNOW IT'S GONNA TAKE PEOPLE LOOKING THROUGH EVERY CONTRACT AND FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN RENEGOTIATE. I DON'T EVEN, THAT'S GONNA BE A VOLUMINOUS TASK. UM, I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE NUMBERS OR, OR HOW THAT'S ALL GONNA PAN OUT, BUT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE AS IN THE CONSULTING WORLD, WHEN, WHEN ENTERPRISES DO THIS KIND OF DEEP DIVE ONTO THEIR CONTRACTING, UM, WHAT KIND OF PERCENTAGE, UH, YEP. YOU KNOW, SAVINGS, DO THEY, DO THEY REALIZE ON AVERAGE? I I'M SURE IT VARIES. SO TYPICALLY IN, IN THIS VARIES A LITTLE BIT AND A LITTLE BIT BY INDUSTRY OR BY SECTOR, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHEN ORGANIZATIONS MOVE FROM UNMANAGED, UNCOORDINATED SPENDING TO BEGIN TO DELIBERATELY MANAGE AND COORDINATED SPENDING, YOU CAN EXPECT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND 15% SAVINGS. OKAY. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IN OUR BUDGET. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT. YES. UM, IT IS A MATERIAL OPPORTUNITY. THE MATH. YEAH, I'M DOING THE MATH. IT'S IN MY HEAD, MAN. AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, MAY I INTERJECT? SURE. ONE POINT THAT I NEED GO TO, TO MAKE EARLIER, UM, TYPICALLY IN MY PAST EXPERIENCE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE'S A GENERAL FUND SHORTFALL, TYPICALLY THE, THE FOLKS THAT CARRY THE WATER ON ADDRESSING THAT AND FEEL THE BURDEN OF IT ARE THOSE THAT ARE IN GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS. MM-HMM . OR GENERAL FUND COST CENTERS ACCEPTING POLICE AND FIRE. THAT'S TYPICALLY, THAT'S IT. THAT THAT'S WHAT HAS HAPPENED. THAT IS NOT THE, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT PRESENT IN THIS REPORT. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR ENTERPRISE FUND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE EAGER TO ADDRESS IN FLATTENING THEIR ORGANIZATION, IN REFINING THE, THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT THEY USE. AND I JUST WALKED THROUGH FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION AS AN EXAMPLE CATEGORY THAT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. THAT MEANS THAT EVERY ENTERPRISE DOLLAR WILL BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE, THE MORE THAT WE COORDINATE AND MANAGE THE SPENDING, RATIONALIZE THE ORGANIZATION, GET CRISP ON THE OUTCOME RELATED, UM, GOALS THAT WE SET FOR THE ORGANIZATION. THERE IS SOMETHING IN THIS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. THERE IS SOMETHING IN THIS THAT THE MAYOR EXPECTS FROM EVERY SINGLE DIRECTOR. I, I'LL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING I'M IMPRESSED AND I'M GRATEFUL, AND WE GOTTA HURRY. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, I APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION AND, AND I'M, I'M CLEAR ON RECORD WHEN THE EY CONTRACT CAME UP, I TAGGED IT. I HAD, UH, RESERVATIONS ABOUT ANOTHER STUDY. HERE WE GO AGAIN. WILL, YOU KNOW, WILL WE EVER SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS? AND SO WHAT YOU PRESENTED TODAY, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THAT BOOK THAT I LIKE THAT TYPE OF PRESENTATION. THE, THE CONTENT, UH, THE CLEAR DIRECTIVES, THE RATIONALE, IT MAKES SENSE. AND MY PERSPECTIVE REALLY IS WE HAVE TO GIVE OURSELF AS A CITY, [05:15:01] EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE TO, TO WIN RIGHT. TO GET IT RIGHT, UM, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS. AND I THINK WHAT'S PRESENTED GIVES US, AT LEAST ME A CLEAR PATHWAY ON WHAT THE POSSIBILITY CAN BE IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY, HOW WE TALK ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENTS, HOW WE INVEST, AND WHERE WE INVEST FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT. UM, IF IT DOESN'T WORK, LISTEN, WE STILL LEARN ABOUT HOW TO GET IT RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S MORE INFORMATION THAT'S RIGHT. UM, TO RUN THIS, UH, ENTITY. YEAH, WE ARE A HUGE CITY. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKEN IT TO A BUSINESS, BUT WE HAVE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE RELY ON. UM, AND I REALLY LIKE THE POINT AROUND CREATING PATHWAYS FOR THE TECHNICAL TRADE IN TERMS OF OUR, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE REAL WORK IN THIS CITY, UM, UH, AND NOT JUST, UH, UH, REWARDING THEM WHAT THEY RAISE, BUT REALLY A CLEAR PATHWAY FOR CAREER, UM, AND KEEPING THAT COMMITMENT HERE. SO I APPRECIATE THIS. I WILL DEFINITELY SUPPORT A FOLLOW UP, UH, CONTRACT SO WE CAN SEE HOW WE DO THAT LIFT AND HOW WE GET IT RIGHT, AND THE, AND THE SAVINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER TO THE CITY AND TO RESIDENTS. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY DETAILED PRESENTATION. UM, I LIKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU MUCH. CA COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I MAY, UH, ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO, TO POINT OUT THAT YOU SAID, AND I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING, AND CHRIS AND CYNTHIA HAVE DEFINITELY TALKED ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE, WE HAVE A RISK THAT WE LOSE PEOPLE TO POACHING, RIGHT? WE HEAR, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A TON OF STAFF AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHO'VE LEFT AND GONE TO HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE THEY CAN PAY MORE. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A FACT THAT, ONE, WE ALL VALUE OUR CIVIL SERVANTS. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO EXPECT GOOD PERFORMANCE OUT OF. I WAS ONE OF THOSE CIVIL SERVANTS WHEN I LEFT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I WASN'T A POLITICAL STAFFER, I WAS A CIVIL SERVANT. AND THE COMPANY THAT I WENT TO DOUBLED MY SALARY IMMEDIATELY. THAT'S THE PROSPECT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY QUALITY EMPLOYEES ARE LOOKING AT AND GOING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AND SO BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH CAREER PATHWAYS AND SKILLING AND UPSKILLING IN THOSE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAN GIVE, WE, WE STAND TO LOSE A LOT BY NOT DOING ANYTHING. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT, I LOVE THAT YOU SAID THAT, AND I APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LET ME START BY THANKING THE THREE OF YOU. CHRIS, STEVEN, CYNTHIA COUNCIL KNOWS THIS, BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T. YOU GUYS ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES HERE AT CITY HALL, OR AT LEAST THREE OF 'EM. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING THE ENTIRE THING. I'VE JUST HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR, UH, PROPOSING THIS AND, UH, COUNSEL FOR PASSING IT. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL, I THINK, TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, IF WE FOLLOW THROUGH. AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD THAT NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF, UH, UH, ISSUES TO BE CORRECTED, OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX THEM, BUT ALSO A SCHEDULE TO PUT THESE SOLUTIONS INTO PLACE. UM, AS I MENTIONED, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND REGARDING MEASURING OUTPUT, NOT OUTCOMES. CHRIS, YOU, YOU ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SURPRISING. THE THING ABOUT THIS THAT'S SURPRISING IS THAT ONLY SEVEN OF 606 PROGRAM KPI MEASURES MEASURE OUTCOMES. THAT IS A HUGE DEFICIENCY. AND THANK YOU FOR IDENTIFYING THIS ERNST AND YOUNG. THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE. MY OFFICE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST YEAR LOOKING AT ARE WE MEASURING TRUE, TRULY MEASURING OUTPUT AND NOT JUST WHERE WE'RE THROWING OUR DOLLARS. BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT MEASURING, UH, CORRECTLY, THEN WE RUN THE DANGER OF JUST THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM. AND, AND WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE ARE COLLECTING QUALITY DATA THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED. UM, AND LET ME JUST THROW IN THERE. AT TIMES WE'VE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING SOME OF THAT DATA FROM CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, BUT I HOPE THAT WILL IMPROVE BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE US A BETTER COUNSEL, UH, IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT DATA. AS FAR AS THE ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS, 4,000 VACANT POSITIONS, FAKE PROMOTIONS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE HUGE FINDINGS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR WORKING ON THAT SPEND ANALYSIS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PROMISE IN THERE AS WELL. ONE THING I NOTICED THAT, THAT STUCK OUT AT ME WAS THE EMERGENCY ORDERS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, IN EMERGENCIES, WE DON'T PAY THE BEST PRICES. WE PAY PREMIUM PRICES. AND SO I THINK OF THAT IN TERMS OF ITEM 54 THAT WAS TAGGED, UH, LAST WEEK, THAT WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON, UH, TODAY AS AN AREA, UH, WHERE WE CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND PREPARE FOR, FOR THOSE EMERGENCIES, FORENSIC ACCOUNTING ANALYSIS, UM, HIGH RISK TRANSACTIONS. I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU SHINE LIGHT ON THIS. UM, I WOULD ASK THAT WE GO A LITTLE FURTHER IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT HERE AND LOOK AT AS THE, AT, AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY [05:20:01] TO UPGRADE OUR OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND BECOME, UH, MORE, MORE EFFICIENT AND ACCOUNTABLE IN THAT WAY. BUT ON THE WHOLE, VERY, VERY HAPPY AND PLEASED WITH THIS REPORT. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING IT AND TRYING TO IMPLEMENT ITS, ITS, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOLUTIONS. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FOR SPEARHEADING THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS REPORT. YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF ANTICIPATION FOR THIS. UH, I THINK WE ARE ALL SATISFIED WITH THE THOROUGHNESS, UH, OF WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED HERE AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING DEEPER. YOU KNOW, IT, IT ABSOLUTELY MAKES SENSE TO CHECK WHAT WE'RE MEASURING, THE METRICS WE'RE USING, TWEAKING THE GOALS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO IN A PERIODIC WAY. AND SO, UH, I FULLY AGREE WITH ALL OF THAT. YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO IT, SOME OF THE, THE THINGS THAT JUMP OUT HITS, UM, FROM FY 23 TO 24, OUR IT SERVICES EXPENDITURES INCREASED 100%. FROM 23 TO 24, THE SOFTWARE SERVICES INCREASED 98%. AND ONE OF THE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS LOOKING AT OUR CONTRACTS AND, AND SEEING WHERE WE HAVE MULTIPLE AND TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE, WAS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION TO LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL EFFECTIVENESS AND, AND THE, THE SOFTWARE ITSELF IN A, YOU KNOW, IN A FIVE YEAR INTERVAL TO SAY, OKAY, IS THIS STILL THE BEST SOFTWARE FOR THE CITY? YOU KNOW, WE KNOW TECHNOLOGY'S CHANGE AND IMPROVE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME. SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS WE'VE HAD FOR QUITE A WHILE. UM, AND I I, I WANT TO KNOW IF WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, IS THIS STILL THE BEST SOFTWARE? IS THIS STILL THE BEST TECHNOLOGY FOR WHAT WE AS A CITY NEED COUNCIL MEMBER? UH, PRECISE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION WAS THAT, UH, TECHNOLOGY, UM, WAS NOT IN AND OF ITSELF A DISTINCT LOOK AT THE APPROPRIATENESS. THE, UM, THE TECHNICAL AND FUNCTIONAL FIT OF THE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS THAT WE USE WAS NOT PART OF THIS INITIAL SCOPE OF WORK. WE DID SEE SOME OF THAT COME THROUGH IN THE FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYEES. UM, WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, THAT THE REVIEW DOES OCCUR CURRENTLY, GENERALLY AS, AND NATURALLY AS, UH, WE COME TO THE END OF CONTRACTS WITH GIVEN VENDORS. THOSE EVALUATIONS ARE, ARE MADE. AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S COMPETITIVE PROCESSES TO RENEW, THOSE EVALUATIONS ARE DONE. UM, I AM, I'M NOT AWARE, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE CORRECTED OF, OF THIS ASSUMPTION, BUT I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE THE CITY HAS TAKEN A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW, SOMETHING CALLED A RAD IN THE INDUSTRY AND APPLICATION RATIONALIZATION. UM, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS THAT OUR OFFICERS ON PATROL ARE FORCED TO INTERACT WITH JUST IN THE COURSE OF GOING ABOUT THEIR SHIFT. UM, SO WE, WE, WE RECOGNIZE, WHILE THAT WAS NOT A PRIME INTENT OR IN THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK, WE RECOGNIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY STILL, THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR THE CITY TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AS WELL AS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN BE USED TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE DONE MANUALLY TODAY, OR TO AUTOMATE THOSE AS WELL AS JUST DELIVER A BETTER EXPERIENCE THAT FOLKS GET IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES IN 2025. I WOULD AGREE. AND, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF THESE, THESE TECHNOLOGIES AREN'T COMPETITIVE 'CAUSE THEY'RE SOLE SOURCE OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. MM-HMM . UH, SO THERE THAT OPPORTUNITY IS, IS LOST IF IT IS IN A COMPETITIVE PROCESS. THERE IS THAT, THAT REVIEW. SO THERE'S, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO, TO LOOK AT THERE IF IT WASN'T A PART OF, OF THIS, UH, PURVIEW. BUT I DO LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TALK OF INCORPORATING DATA ANALYTICS, UH, INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THINK THAT'S GONNA GO A LONG WAY AND INTO HELPING US BECOME MORE EFFICIENT. IT'S ALSO A LONG OVERDUE. UH, SO THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING, UH, TO HEAR. AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING UP WITH Y'ALL ON, ON SOME OF, OF THE MORE SPECIFICS. BUT, UH, THIS IS A GREAT REPORT. THANK Y'ALL FOR, FOR THE WORK AND THE WORK WITH E UH, ERNST AND YOUNG. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, THANK YOU, UM, ALL THREE OF YOU ALL FOR THE WORKING, THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU THAT HELP WITH THE WORK AS WELL. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME, UH, THAT I APPRECIATE WAS THE EMPLOYEE SURVEYS THAT YOU ALL DID. UH, WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED IS MANY TIMES, UH, ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS COME FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE ISSUE. AND MANY TIMES THE [05:25:01] EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE ISSUE, UH, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT IN SENIORITY POSITIONS, ARE ABLE TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR MORE EFFICIENCIES AND BETTER OUTCOMES. AND, UM, THAT'S HOW I KIND OF LOOK AT MY DISTRICT AS WELL. AND I SPEAK TO THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, RECEIVED IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER. AND AS THE MAYOR STATED, UM, THE CITY IS BASICALLY A $7 BILLION SERVICES CORPORATION. PEOPLE PAY TAXES. THOSE TAXES GO TO US PROVIDING A SERVICE TO THEM, RIGHT? AND SO THE WAY I LOOK AT THINGS IS, AND, AND MANY OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS PROBABLY IS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY, WE CAN COME UP WITH PROGRAMS TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THESE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENTS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE STRETCHED WITH CAPACITY. THEY ONLY CAN DO, BUT SO MUCH. SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO USE OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL VENDORS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THE WORKLOAD, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY. AND SO WHAT I'VE TRIED TO ROLL OUT OR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST THESE DEPARTMENTS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT. AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING FROM YOU ALL IS AS WE GO THROUGH, UH, THESE STUDIES AND WE TRY TO FIND WAYS TO STREAMLINE AND BE MORE EFFICIENT. SO ALSO AS YOU DID WITH THE 12,000 EMPLOYEES, TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND HOW, UM, THE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR DISTRICTS CAN ALSO LEAD TO MORE EFFICIENCIES AS WELL. AND SO, UM, MY OFFICE HAS ROLLED OUT SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO LOOK AT AS WELL, AND TO GET BACK TO ME ON, UM, WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE. BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, IT'S, IT IS A US THING, RIGHT? AND SO IF WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD, THEN OUR CONSTITUENTS, WHICH ARE THE TAXPAYERS, GET THESE SERVICES MUCH QUICKER. SO, UM, THIS, THIS REPORT I THINK WAS WELL PUT TOGETHER. I'M ALWAYS FOR, UM, LEADING WITH DATA. AND SO THE SAME WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE UTILIZING THE EMPLOYEES AND ERNST AND YOUNG, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ME SPECIFICALLY WHEN I HAVE THINGS THAT I WANNA ROLL OUT THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE EFFICIENT AS WELL TO HELP WITH THIS, UM, WITH SOME OF THE METRICS THAT YOU HAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE GET DONE AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN CADEN. UH, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, UH, FOR THE HARD WORK. UH, WE HAVE BEEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THIS, UH, AND WHILE WE JUST GOT THIS REPORT LAST NIGHT, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT TO SIFT THROUGH. UH, BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THUS FAR THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS. UH, I HAD A FEW SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE, I GUESS FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE THIS IS SO DENSE, UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU ALL ARE AFFORDING TO HAVE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS TO DEEP DIVE INTO IT. UH, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPECIFICALLY SPEAK WITH THE AUDITORS, UH, TO EY TO ASK THEM QUESTIONS AS WELL. CHRIS IS LAUGHING, SO I'M ONLY LAUGHING AT, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE USED THE PHRASE AUDIT SEVERAL TIMES, APOLOGIES. WHAT WORD WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO USE? I THINK I CAN HEAR MY FRIEND MICHELLE FROM EY SQUIRM. EACH TIME WE USE THE WORD AUDIT REVIEW ASSESSMENT, EFFICIENCY, STUDY EFFICIENCY STUDY, WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY ONE TO ACTUALLY SPEAK WITH THOSE? I THINK WE CAN ARRANGE THAT. THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND AGAIN, UH, LOOKING TO OUR FINANCE CHAIR, HAVING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION AROUND THIS WHERE WE CAN ASK MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ONCE WE'VE REALLY LOOKED INTO THE FI THE LINES OF THIS, UH, STEVEN, YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPARISON, BUT REALLY THERE'S NO MATCH TO, THERE'S NO IDENTICAL COMPARISON TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, AND FIND, TRYING TO FIND THOSE COMPARISONS. WAS THERE ANY LOOK AT FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE? UH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ALSO A CITY THAT COMPARES TO US WITH THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. UH, YEAH, THAT RIGHT? WE ARE IN A VERY UNIQUE POSITION THAT NO OTHER CITY, I BELIEVE IN THE COUNTRY FACES. HOW WAS THAT INCORPORATED OR IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK AT THAT? IT'S A TWO PART QUESTION. I'M GONNA ANSWER THE FIRST PART. SO THE, THE EASIEST WAY TO RATIONALIZE OUR OURSELF AGAINST OTHER CITIES IS TO, TO DO THE PER CAPITA CALCULATION, RIGHT? THAT'S WHERE YOU DIVIDE IT INTO A HUNDRED THOUSAND, UH, RESIDENTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY THAT GIVES YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES. TO YOUR POINT, LA, CHICAGO, HOUSTON, VERY BIG CITIES. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN POPULATIONS. SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, PHOENIX, SMALLER THAN US, RIGHT? THOSE ARE, SO WE DO HAVE TO DO THOSE CALCULATIONS THAT NORMALIZES THE PERFORMANCE SIDE OF IT TO BE ABLE TO COMPARE [05:30:01] APPLES TO APPLES. I THINK WHAT THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS, IS ABOUT THE, UM, FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AROUND, UH, BOTH THE, UH, LACK OF DIVERSITY OF REVENUE STREAMS INTO THE, THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS, UH, THE UNIQUE COMPONENT THAT HOUSTON FACES WITHIN TEXAS, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TWO AVALOR PROPERTY OR AD VALOREM TAX TAX CAPS. UM, IT IS A CONSIDERATION, IT IS A THING THAT WE DISCUSS, UH, ROUTINELY. THE, THE PRACTICAL EFFECT IS THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN THE EGGS IN A BASKET METAPHOR, WE HAVE FEWER EGGS IN OUR BASKET, UH, THAN OTHER CITIES DO. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK TO, UH, AUSTIN OR SAN ANTONIO, THEY CAN BRING IN THEIR, UH, UTILITY ELECTRICITY, UH, COMES INTO AS A REVENUE STREAM, THE FRANCHISE AROUND THAT. UM, ADDITIONALLY, UH, THERE ARE, UH, WATER UTILITY, UM, EFFECTIVELY RIGHT OF WAY RENT PAYMENTS THAT GO INTO OTHER THOSE, THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, AND IT DOES PUT HOUSTON AT A, UH, A DISADVANTAGE, UM, WITH REGARD TO HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OURSELVES IN A CASH STRAP THING. THE IMPORTANT THING TO TALK ABOUT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS TALKED ABOUT, I KNOW CHRIS AND CYNTHIA AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS AD NAUSEUM, UH, PROBABLY FOR TOO LONG NOW, IS THE FACT THAT, UH, WHILE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO DIVERSIFY REVENUE AND TO CREATE MULTIPLE REVENUE STREAMS, IT IS QUITE CLEAR IN THIS REPORT THAT WE ARE NOT AS EFFICIENT AS WE SHOULD BE. RIGHT? IT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR US AND FOR MAYOR WHITMEYER TO SAY, WE ARE EFFICIENT AND WE USE TAX, THE TAX DOLLARS WE CURRENTLY RECEIVE AS, UM, EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THAT WE ARE THE BEST STEWARDS OF THOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THE QUESTION THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ASKED WAS THE, THE RANGE AND THE, THE RANGE THAT, UH, CHRIS GAVE WAS, UH, FIVE TO 15% COST REDUCTION. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT CAVEAT TO THAT, YES, THAT'S A TON OF MONEY, A TON OF MONEY. UH, IT IS EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT BEING BETTER WITH HOW WE CATEGORIZE OUR MONEY AND HOW WE CONTRACT OUR MONEY. IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT REORG, IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT, UH, PERFORMANCE. IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER LEVERS THAT WE CAN STILL PULL. WE HAVE A REVENUE ISSUE. WE NEED, WE HAVE A REV CAP, AND THAT CREATE, WE HAVE TWO REV CAPS, AND THAT CREATES A UNIQUE ISSUE FOR US. BUT WE ARE LOOKING, MAYOR WHITMEYER IS DIRECTED VERY CLEARLY. WE ARE LOOKING INWARD, AND WE ARE FINDING THAT THERE IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS FIRST. OKAY. WHICH IS GREAT NEWS. AGAIN, IT'S JUST, THAT'S THE GREAT NEWS, BUT IT'S GREAT NEWS. AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS. I KNOW IN THE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MANY CITY PROGRAMS ARE EXCEEDING THEIR METRICS, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT MEANS WE CAN EVEN RAISE THOSE TARGETS, RIGHT? SO I I, IT'S NOT DOOM AND GLOOM. THESE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND RECOGNIZING WE HAVE VERY UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT TOTALLY NO OTHER CITY IS FACING TO THAT POINT. UM, AND CYNTHIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONVERSATION AROUND, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYMENT DUPLICATIVE EFFORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY, RIGHT? THEY MAY NOT BE LISTENING RIGHT NOW, BUT THE WORD IS OUT ABOUT THE REPORT. IT'S A GREAT THING. WHAT, WHEN I, WHAT I HEAR YOU SAY, AND I JUST WANNA CLARIFY BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T WANT MISINFORMATION FROM EMPLOYEES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REORGANIZATION INEFFICIENCIES, WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT, UM, LAYOFFS AND OTHER COMPONENTS AND PEOPLE, THERE'S NO NEED FOR CONCERN RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF MORALE FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. YEAH, THAT'S 100% CORRECT. OUR EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT LISTEN TO THIS REPORT AND THINK, OH MY GOSH, MY JOB IS BEING THREATENED TOMORROW. I'M GONNA GET A PINK SLIP. NO ONE SHOULD THINK THAT THIS IS ABOUT US ALL BEING BETTER, GETTING INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THE WORK ENVIRONMENT BETTER FOR EVERYONE SO THEY CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE EFFICIENT. YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE, SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR OVER A YEAR. AND SO WE CAN LOOK TO THOSE FIRST BEFORE WE LOOK AT ANY FILLED POSITION TO DO ANY TYPE OF DOWNSIZING, REORGANIZING, ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF POSITIONS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. SO THIS IS NOT AN ALARM FOR EMPLOYEES TO LOOK AND SAY, OH MY GOSH, THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN TOMORROW. THIS IS A LONG TERM STRATEGY. WE COULD HAVE A SHORT TERM STRATEGY AND SAY, TOMORROW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET IS, IS IN PEOPLE. AND SO THAT WOULD BE AN EASY SOLUTION. BUT WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR EASY SOLUTIONS. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN CITY GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. LAST QUESTION. UH, WHEN WILL WE SEE, AND AGAIN, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT UNDER EACH RECOMMENDATION, OR IS THERE A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT WE WILL SAVE [05:35:01] IN THEORY BASED ON X? NO, MA'AM. WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN? OR IS THAT INCORPORATED AT SOME POINT? YOU CAN EXPECT, WE WILL ESSENTIALLY, UM, THE MAYOR WHEN HE RELEASES HIS PROPOSED BUDGET, SORRY, I CAN SAY LITTLE LOUDER. THE, WHEN THE MAYOR RELEASES THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION WILL EFFECTIVELY BE SIGNING UP FOR SAVINGS TARGETS OR REALIZING SAVINGS TARGETS BASED ON EACH, EACH OF THOSE INITIATIVES. THE CLEAREST ONE THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO REPEAT, I DIDN'T DO IT PROACTIVELY. IT IS IN SPEND MANAGEMENT. UM, THE SOONER WE GET STARTED ON THAT, THE SOONER WE WILL HAVE A CLEARER ESTIMATE FOR WHAT THE FY 26 SAVINGS WILL BE. UM, SO THIS REPORT, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ASSUME, UH, LAYOFFS OR TERMINATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, DOES NOT PROJECT SAVING TARGETS ASSOCIATED WITH PERSONNEL REALIGNMENT, NOR DO WE, WE CAN EXPECT THAT THAT FIVE TO 15% SPEND REDUCTION ACROSS GENERAL FUND, ENTERPRISE FUND ON SPEND MANAGEMENT. I HOPE WE ALL HEAR AS THE FLOOR. WE KNOW AND EXPECT THAT THERE SHOULD BE PRODUCTIVITY AND COST SAVINGS FROM HAVING A CLEARER FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT MATTERS, REORGANIZING THE DEPARTMENT, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CURRENTLY VACANT POSITIONS OR POSITIONS AS THEY BECOME VACANT TO LOWER THE, UM, THE OVERHEAD COST OF SUPERVISING WORK THAT HAS BEEN REORGANIZED. BUT THERE ARE NOT SPECIFIC SAVINGS TARGETS OUTLINED IN THE REPORT. I THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE, AS WOULD MOST OF THE INFORMED READERS THAT YOU ARE, I THINK YOU'D BE ABLE TO FORM REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE AS THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES ARE IMPLEMENTED THOUGH. OKAY, SO GENERAL, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT, OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, OTHER DIMENSIONS OF ANALYSIS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMING THAT ARE INFORMED BY THIS REPORT THAT WILL HAVE SPECIFIC DOLLAR SIGNS NEXT TO THEM. JUST GIVE, TO GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE THAT WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN THE, UH, THAT TOP TEXT BOX FROM THE, WHERE ARE WE? NEXT STEP SLIDE, WE'D EXPECT, UM, GENERAL FUND BENEFIT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, WE'D EXPECT A, A GENERAL FUND BENEFIT ON THE ORDER OF FOUR AND A HALF TO 5 MILLION FROM THE 3 1 1 CONSOLIDATION WITH CIS. WE'D EXPECT A NET GENERAL FUND BENEFIT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL INSPECTION INTO MULTIFAMILY OF A NET, AROUND $5 MILLION, A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE INFORMAL PROCUREMENT CONSOLIDATION. THAT'S AS WE GET STARTED, AS THAT WORK PROGRESSES AND AS IT MATURES, WE BELIEVE MORE SAVINGS IS AVAILABLE AS WE REPURPOSE, UM, AS WE REPURPOSE THE WORK. SO YOU CAN EXPECT MORE SPECIFIC DETAIL ON INITIATIVES LIKE THAT AS, AS THE MAYOR PREPARES, UM, HIS PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT'S TERRIFIC, AND THAT'S WHAT WE APPRECIATE. 'CAUSE AGAIN, I, I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT WHEN WE GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES, WE'RE INFORMING, MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT SHOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EFFICIENT. AGAIN, NOT ALL OF IT IS A DOLLAR AMOUNT, RIGHT? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IT DOES HELP TO BE ABLE TO CONVEY HERE IS HOW WE ARE USING YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS WISELY AND EFFICIENTLY IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER. AND HERE THE SAVINGS AND, AND I THINK JUST EVERYONE SHOULD, I DON'T KNOW IF REST ASSURED IS THE RIGHT THING, BUT WE HAVE A TRACKER THAT HAS 240 MILLION, 340 MILLION, AND WHAT ARE WE EATING BACK AGAINST IT LATE? GOT IT. , WE GOT IT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN PLU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I REMEMBER A YEAR INTO MY FIRST TERM, AND I WAS MEETING WITH DIRECTORS AND NO, NO FAULT TO THE DIRECTORS. UM, BUT I, I REMEMBER TELLING THEM IF WE WERE A PRIVATE ENTITY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE WOULD BE BANKRUPT. LIKE WE WOULD BE SHUT DOWN. WE JUST WERE RUNNING EVERYTHING SO IMPROPERLY. AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS WRONG TO ANYONE SPECIFICALLY, IT'S JUST THE CULTURE OF WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR SO LONG. IT'S SO HARD TO BE KIND OF CHAOTIC AND HAVE AN END RESULT. I MEAN, IT JUST, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. AND IT'S JUST, THANK YOU. LIKE THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A BUSINESS, BECAUSE IT IS, AND EMPLOYEES, THEY WANT SUPPORT. THEY WANT DIRECTION, THEY WANT GUIDANCE, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY'RE DOING WELL, SO THEY HAVE A CLEAR LINE OF HOW THEY COULD ADVANCE IN WHATEVER SYSTEM THEY'RE WORKING IN. I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS SO INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL. IT'S GONNA HELP MORALE, IT'S GONNA HELP ACCOUNTABILITY, IT'S GONNA OBVIOUSLY CREATE EFFICIENCIES, UM, AND, AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO REALLY LOOK FURTHER ON HOW THEY CAN ADVANCE. [05:40:01] SO THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS DIFFERENTLY. THANK YOU. EY, UM, FOR THIS EFFICIENCIES REPORT, , UM, AND JUST MAKING SURE, AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR JUST THE, FOR FORESIGHT TO JUST, UM, REALLY LOOK AT THIS DIFFERENTLY. WE ARE IN A ROUGH SPACE FINANCIALLY, AND I THINK THAT, UM, IF WE CAN STREAMLINE, UM, JUST THE WAY THAT WE WORK IS GONNA BE BENEFICIAL. I WOULD ASK, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I ASKED FOR THIS, UM, IT WAS FIVE YEAR, FOUR YEARS, FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO, UM, TO LOOK AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HOW THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN DO SHARED SERVICES WITH THE COUNTY. MM-HMM . UM, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT BE A SHARED SERVICE THAT WE RE-LOOK AT. AGAIN, I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REPORTS OUT THERE THAT I'M GONNA BE GETTING FROM PRECINCT TWO, UM, TO LOOK AT HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE. I, I BELIEVE THAT'S, UM, THAT'S ONE SPACE. AND ALSO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT SPECIFIC SYSTEMS, I'M JUST GONNA BRING UP THE REBA SYSTEM. WE INVESTED TONS OF MONEY IN THE REBA SYSTEM. IT'S FALLEN FLAT. WE WERE USING, UM, WE WERE USING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SYSTEM, UM, TO GET, UM, MWBES AND EVERYONE JUST KIND OF GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. WE'RE NOT USING THAT ANYMORE. UM, AND SO I THINK THAT ONE ASK I WOULD HAVE IS, AS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING NEW SYSTEMS, MAYBE IF WE COULD DO SOME TYPE OF BETA TESTING ON HOW IT LOOKS, MAYBE LET YOU KNOW 15, 20, 30 PEOPLE, UH, IN THE INDUSTRY, USE IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE WE MAKE THIS HUGE INVESTMENT OF SOMETHING THAT ISN'T WORKING. UM, AND THEN ALSO THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS, ARE WE GONNA INCORPORATE ANY AI INTO HOW WE LOOK AT THESE METRICS? UM, BECAUSE I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT IS A VERY EASY WAY. UM, IT'S NOT TASK RELATED, SO WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE TO DO IT. WE'RE DUMPING DATA IN AND LETTING AI GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH MORE WE CAN BE EFFICIENT. AND THAT'S A QUESTION. OKAY. SO CHRIS AND I ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS, WE EACH HAVE THE NERD HAT THAT HAS THE LITTLE PROPELLER ON THE TOP THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SPIN FOR YOU. SO, UH, I THINK THAT THE BIG THING, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AI, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF GENERALIZATIONS, UM, OF WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT CAN DO. UM, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR PREVIOUS LINE OF WORK THAT WE HAD TO SPEAK ABOUT AS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COMPANIES THAT WERE TRYING TO PUSH AI AND THE GOVERNMENTS THAT WERE ON THE RECEIVING END OF THAT PUSH IS YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO. YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, TURN ON THE SWITCH OF AI FOR A PURPOSE. UM, THERE ARE AUTOMATION OPPORTUNITIES. THERE IS A SYSTEM RIGHT NOW. UH, SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, UH, THERE ARE NIGHTTIME THREE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS THAT WILL GO AND ANALYZE THE EMAILS THAT WENT TO311@HOUSTONTX.GOV AND SAID, I'D LIKE TO CREATE A CASE DOING THIS. AND A HUMAN BEING ASSIGNS THAT CASE. THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AI. THERE'S AN AUTOMATION COMPONENT TO IT. YOU CAN USE NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING THAT READS THAT EMAIL FIGURES OUT WHAT IT NEEDS AND GOES FORWARD. THOSE ARE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE TO FIND. BUT THAT THING, THAT STUFF HAS TO BE RATIONALIZED VERY HEAVY BECAUSE YOU'LL SPEND WAY MORE MONEY THAN YOU EVER ANTICIPATED ON INCORPORATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. ANOTHER USE CASE IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF US. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, UTILIZING, UM, AI TO UNDERSTAND TRAIT, TAKE LANGUAGE AND PUTTING IT INTO, UH, INTO WORDS. BUT THIS IS ONLY IN ENGLISH. AI CAN ALSO DO AUTOMATIC TRANSLATION FROM ENGLISH INTO ANY OTHER LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO USE IT. ADDITIONALLY, TAKING MEETING MINUTES. UM, EVERY COMMITTEE HERE, YOU EITHER HAVE TO HAVE A PERSON DOING THE MEETING MINUTES OR IT DOESN'T OCCUR. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIDEO TO BE DECOMPOSED, AND AI WILL PROCESS IT AND PUT OUT MEETING MINUTES FOR IT SO THE PUBLIC CAN CONSUME. THOSE ARE ALL HIGHLY SPECIFIC USE CASES THAT IN A LOT OF TIMES OFFER A BETTER SERVICE TO A CUSTOMER, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE COST OF BUSINESS ITSELF. SO I AGREE WITH YOU, YES, THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT AI. WE'RE HAVING THEM NOW, RIGHT? THAT FUNCTION IS CALLED STREAM, AND IT IS BRINGING IT ON BOARD RIGHT NOW. SO WE, WE ARE DOING THOSE THINGS. BUT THE THING THAT I CAUTION ALL OF US ON, AND THIS IS ME PUTTING THE PROFESSIONAL HAT FORMER LIFE BACK ON, IS SOMETIMES IT WILL BE SOLD AND IT IS OVERSOLD ON WHAT IT CAN DO. WE THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE A, A, ONE OF THE BETTER AI USE CASES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT'S BEEN DEPLOYED BY OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. UM, WE USED TO HAVE OUR CAMERA INSPECTION OF OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER, UM, DISTRIBUTION LINES, TV CAMERAS GO THROUGH THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE BY PEOPLE SITTING AT A DESK LOOKING AT THE FOOTAGE AS IT GOES. UM, IT USED TO TAKE HOURS TO, TO FULLY DIAGNOSE AND CAPTURE THE DIFFERENT FISSURES OR, OR, UM, VULNERABILITIES WITH THAT GIVEN SEGMENT OF PIPE. UH, HOUSTON WATER IMPLEMENTED AI FOR THAT USE CASE, STILL REINFORCED, UM, AND MANAGED BY A HUMAN SET OF EYES THAT'S QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THOSE INSPECTIONS. [05:45:01] BUT THE TIME TAKEN HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM HOURS TO SECONDS. RIGHT. KILLER, KILLER USE CASE. OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MAYOR, CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING? AND I, AND JUST, JUST, 'CAUSE I'M ALWAYS, I'M ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WANNA LIST, WANNA MAKE SURE I'M SENSITIVE TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING. UM, PEOPLE THINK THAT AI REPLACES JOBS, AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE, RIGHT? IT JUST MAKES YOU MORE EFFICIENT AT WHAT YOU DO. AND SO I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS THINK, OH MY GOSH, WE'RE GONNA IMPLEMENT SOMETHING AND I'M GONNA LOSE MY JOB. IT'S NOT THAT. UM, SOMETIMES YOU COULD BE DOING SOMETHING A LOT MORE PRODUCTIVE AND THE AI CAN DO THAT TEDIOUS STUFF THAT YOU JUST DON'T WANNA HAVE TO DO. COUNCIL MARTINEZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND, AND YOUR TEAM FOR, FOR THIS REPORT. UM, ONE QUICK QUESTION BEFORE I ASK, UH, SOME SPECIFIC, UH, QUESTIONS IS, WHAT, HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE, UH, THE PFM REPORT? UH, THE, IT'S BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE I'VE READ THE PFM REPORT, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE PFM REPORT, UM, SOUGHT SIMILAR INSIGHTS, USED DIFFERENT METHODS, UM, AND TOOK A MORE, UH, A LENS EMPHASIZING FINANCIAL POLICIES. UM, WHEREAS THIS HAS TAKEN MORE OF A, A, UH, COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE OPERATIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION AND HOW THE WORK GETS DONE, SEEKING TO PROVIDE CITYWIDE VISIBILITY AND CATEGORIZATION OF THOSE ACTIVITIES SO THAT YOU CAN DO INTERNAL COMPARISONS OF, THIS ACTIVITY IS EFFICIENT HERE, BUT NOT HERE. WHAT CAN WE BRING TO THIS LESS EFFICIENT OPPOR, UM, FUNCTION OR ACTIVITY THAT'S BEING DONE MORE EFFICIENTLY OVER HERE, GENERALLY SPEAKING MAKES SENSE. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE ALSO GONNA TAKE NEXT STEPS FROM THIS REPORT TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOME, UH, EFFICIENCIES. UH, ONE THING THAT MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD MENTIONED, WHICH, UH, WAS THE SURVEYS, WHICH I, I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. UM, NO ONE KNOWS MORE THAN THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND, RIGHT? UH, BACK IN 20 21, 1 OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TASKED WITH IS, WAS IDENTIFYING HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT SOLID WASTE, HEAVY TRASH, RIGHT PICKUP. UM, AND WE WENT THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT, UM, UM, UM, PROPOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, PICKUP SERVICES. AND IT WAS DONE BY SOMEBODY, ME AND DEREK, UH, MEBA BACK AND FORTH FOR MONTHS, UH, GIVING HIM IDEAS OF WHAT, WHAT IT WAS WE TOOK THAT, UM, IT WAS A NON-SCIENTIFIC SURVEY, BUT WE UNDERSTOOD THAT FOLKS WEREN'T PUTTING OUT THEIR TRASH EVERY MONTH FOR GREEN, UH, TREE WASTE OR FOR, UH, HEAVY TRASH. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE OPERATIONAL CHANGES AS WELL. UM, I'M, I SUBMITTED A BUDGET, A, UH, AMENDMENT LAST YEAR, UM, WHICH IS ON CALL, UM, THAT HELPS, MAKES, IT, MAKES IT MORE EFFICIENT. I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THAT, UH, BE PUT INTO, UH, IT BE IMPLEMENTED AS WELL. UM, AND THEN I KNOW ONE OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT ME AND, UH, UH, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALCORN SUBMITTED WAS, UM, HOW DO WE, UM, MAKE, UH, BRING IN REVENUE AS WELL FOR OBO. UM, AND SO LOOKING AT THOSE, THOSE, UH, TYPES OF REVENUE GENERATING AS WELL, ASIDE FROM THE SAVINGS, UH, I THINK IT'LL HELP US REALLY, UH, CLOSE THAT GAP THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHETHER THE 200 OR 300 MILLION. UM, AND, AND I JUST WANNA, UM, SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, I STARTED AT MY CIVIC CLUB TOUR AGAIN LAST MONTH, UH, LAST WEEK. AND I'M HAVING THESE REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, RIGHT? UM, I WAS AN ANTICIPATING, UH, THIS, THIS REPORT TO BE SHARED WITH FOLKS, UH, WITH US TODAY. AND SO ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M PAY ATTENTION, RIGHT? THERE'S SOME HARD DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE. AND WHEN I RAN, I RAN ON THOSE HARD DECISIONS THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE. YOU KNOW, I WAS WORKING HERE AT CITY HALL FOR 10 YEARS, UNDERSTANDING WHERE, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE KNOW WHAT SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE, CULTURE, RIGHT? RIGHT. SIZING DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO REALLY COURSE CORRECT WHERE THE CITY NEEDS TO GO. AND SO, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE, WHERE WE CAN GO. UM, KIND OF PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, UM, UM, CAYMAN'S, UH, REQUEST GOING TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING. ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO PAINT THAT PICTURE A BIT MORE BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THESE MEETINGS, TO BE ABLE TO SAY, LOOK, ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE IS WE, WE'VE DECREASED THE TAX RATE, RIGHT? EIGHT, NINE OUT OF THE 11, UH, YEARS, THESE PAST 11 YEARS, 64 CENTS TO 51 CENTS. UM, AND THEN ADD IN ALL THESE INEFFICIENCIES, REDUNDANCIES, WASTE, FRAUD. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND, AND FOLKS NEED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT. AND SO, TO THAT, I WANNA ALSO, UH, OPEN UP, UH, THE ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE, UM, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING. UM, I'D LIKE TO GET ANY, UH, LIST OF QUESTIONABLE INSTANCES WHERE THINGS WERE REFERRED TO OIG. AND THE REASON WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST, AND, YOU KNOW, GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS, I THINK PRIOR TO ME BEING THE CHAIR NEVER MET FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, RIGHT? UM, BECAUSE IT, IT, IT IS HO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT NOBODY HAS TO BE AT THAT COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE FOUND EVEN WITHIN MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, [05:50:01] AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO ON CHA THROUGH CHAPTER 18. AND I THINK THERE'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT CITY EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT POLICY AS WELL, THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE INFORMING THEM. SO, UM, I THINK WE HAVE A MEETING, WE WANNA HAVE A MEETING IN FEBRUARY, AND I'D LOVE TO KIND OF, UH, PUNT SOME OF THESE THINGS INTO THAT COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CITY EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT BE DOING, UM, PCARD, RIGHT? AND SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD BE HAD AT THE GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE. UM, AND I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH THAT. THANK YOU. YOU COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, WELL, YOU STARTED OFF BY, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THIS AND GETTING TO THE END OF THE ROAD ON IT. AND CERTAINLY I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, TO READ. BUT YOU STARTED WITH A SIMPLE STATEMENT OF, OF, OF LOOKING AT RUNNING THE CITY LIKE A BUSINESS. THE CITY IS A BUSINESS, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY BELIEF THAT INTENTIONS DEFINE OUTCOMES. AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT THE INTENTIONS OF GETTING THE CITY TO RUN LIKE A BUSINESS, AS A BUSINESS. AND SO, UM, REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING, YOU KNOW, JUST NEXT STEPS. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING AND KIND OF ECHOING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUE SENTIMENTS ON DIFFERENT THOUGHTS. I MEAN, WE'RE ALL EXCITED, I THINK, FOR OPPORTUNITIES, BUT, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEIR JOB, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUR JOB? AND THEY GIVE YOU THE TASK. THEY PERFORM FROM MAKING COFFEE IN THE MORNING TO ANSWERING THE TELEPHONE TO, AND IT'S LIKE, NO, THAT'S A, THAT'S A TASK. THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB. THAT'S NOT YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR OUTCOME? SO REALLY EXCITED FROM THAT STANDPOINT. UM, AND JUST OVERALL, BUT I, I WOULD SAY, UM, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CITY, COUNTY, A COMBINATION THEREOF WOULD BE GREAT, AS WELL AS THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. I THINK THAT'S JUST REPETITIVE. AND, UH, CERTAINLY A WAY THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT COMBINING THOSE TWO EFFORTS WITH THE CITY, UH, WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WORKING TOGETHER. AND THE OUTCOME, I THINK WOULD BE, UM, WOULD BE REALLY A COST SAVINGS. COST SAVINGS. ANYWAY, UH, EXCITED FOR THE REPORT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL Y'ALL'S WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. UH, I HOPE IT ISN'T LOST ON ANYBODY. THAT THIS WAS NOT DONE IN A VACUUM THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH DERECHO, WE WERE DEALING WITH HURRICANE BARREL, ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD, AND YOU GUYS HAVE MANAGED TO GET THIS DONE AS WELL. UH, LOVE TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION ABOUT EFFICIENCY. UH, THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WAS SPENT 27 YEARS WITH WAS LOGISTICS. WE DID THE SAME PROCESSES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES. 'CAUSE THOSE REPETITIVE TASKS, IF YOU CAN FIND WAYS TO DO 'EM BETTER, YOU, IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SAVE MONEY. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I'LL SUPPORT Y'ALL WITH WHATEVER WE CAN DO AND LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING. IT IS OBVIOUSLY, DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT'S THE IMPLEMENTATION, THE EXECUTION, THAT IS THE KEY. THAT'S RIGHT. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EASY PART IS OVER . THANK Y'ALL, UH, SO MUCH. THANK ALL THE MEMBERS FOR THEIR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE MAYOR'S REPORT. MADAM [CONSENT AGENDA] SECRETARY, PLEASE PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM SIX AND SEVEN, NEED A MOTION CAST T MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE, AND SIGNAL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. THE MOTION PASSES. AND THE NEXT, UNDER THE ACCEPT BOARD CATEGORY, ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ, AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK, UH, ITEM SIX HAS ALREADY PASSED. AND I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, YOU KNOW, RICK NORIEGA, WHO'S HERE, UH, HE'S HERE, HE'S BEEN SITTING HERE PATIENTLY AND LEARNING A LOT ABOUT ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY. UM, BUT HE'S GONNA BE, HE'S GONNA BE SERVING ON THE, ON THE HARRISBURG TOURS. HE'S A DISTRICT EYE RESIDENT. HE ACTUALLY WAS A STATE REP WHEN THIS TOUR WAS CREATED. SO I'M DEFINITELY GONNA BE LEANING ON HIS LEADERSHIP, UH, WITH THIS TOURS, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO FIND OTHER PROJECTS, UH, THAT WE CAN SUPPORT, LEVERAGE DOLLARS WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER ENTITIES AS WELL. UH, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM AND RECOGNIZE 'EM FOR BEING HERE PATIENTLY. UH, ALSO ANOTHER MENTOR IN THE, IN THE EAST END. SO THANK YOU. YOU EVER ASK HIM, ANYBODY WHO HE USED TO WORK FOR ? RICK WAS AN OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE OF ME, OF MINE BACK IN THE NINETIES. TAKES FULL CREDIT FOR ME BEING ON THE BEST LIST THAT YEAR. , THANK YOU, RICK. BE CAREFUL. BE SAFE. NEXT, ITEM 11 NEEDS A MOTION. TAYLOR MOVED. SECOND. MOTION [05:55:01] MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY. ITEM 20 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEVERAL CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 12 THROUGH 19? CAST TM. MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEMS 21, 22 AND 26 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED OF VOTE ON ITEMS 23, 24, AND 25. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED, NAY MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 31 HAS BEEN RECEIVED, BUT ITEM 39 HAS NOT, WILL, HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED. IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING, I IS REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, WE HAVE ALREADY DONE. NUMBER 27, ITEM 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40 AND 46. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 32 THROUGH 35, 37, 39, AND 40 AND 46. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY, I, HOLD ON, I'M COMING. ITEM 20 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TM, MOVE SECOND. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS ITEM IS FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING AT SAN JACINTO COMMUNITY COLLEGE. UH, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON, UH, WHY WE WERE, UM, PARTNERING WITH SAN JACINTO ON THIS WHEN IT'S IN THE SERVICE AREA OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I DID GET AN ANSWER BACK FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ON THIS, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. UM, SO I'M GOING TO TAG THIS, UH, FOR A WEEK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD TAGS. ITEM 20, NEXT. ITEM 21 ISN'T RESOLUTION, JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME PLUM. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU. AND I'M, THIS, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. UM, WE DID PULL THE THREE ONE REPORT ON THIS, AND THERE WERE SOME SERIOUS VIOLATIONS IN THE LAST DECADE. UH, SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE, UM, THE HOUSTON HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION REHABILITATE THIS MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITY. UM, SO THIS IS, I I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THIS. I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FIND OWNERS THAT REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN LIVE IN A SAFE AND HABITABLE PLACE. OKAY, VERY WELL JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. YES. WINS PASSES. ITEM 22 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. HAS THE MOTION? MAYOR PROTE, CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. UH, I WANNA MOVE TO REMOVE FAIRWAYS OF FUQUA FROM THE LIST, UM, THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING TODAY FOR, UH, THE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS. AND MOVE TO POSTPONE THAT SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MADE POLLARD. NO. SO, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD VOTING NO. MOTION PASSES. SO, 22. BEEN BACK TO THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED TO REMOVE FAIRWAY. IF YOU, WHICH NUMBER? 21. 2022. YOU NEED TO VOTE ON 22. 22 2 FOR 22. WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE MAIN ITEM FOR 22 ON THE MAIN ITEM NUMBER 22. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA POLLARD. NO. SO COUNCILMAN POLLARD, NO. MOTION PASSES ON THE MAY 9TH. YES, MA'AM. WELL, DON'T ASK ME. COUNCILMAN THE PLUMBERS IN THE NO COUNCILOR PLUMBER IN THE CASE? NO, I DID NOT VOTE. NO. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT. UM, I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE SITUATION AROUND ALL OF THIS, BUT I WANNA, I, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE'S A PROCESS THAT THESE ENTITIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH, AND IT'S A GRUELING PROCESS. UM, AND ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO BE APPROVED, TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT. I MEAN, WE ARE IN A SITUATION TO WHERE PEOPLE [06:00:01] JUST DON'T HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE. AND I KNOW THAT EVERY, AND BELIEVE ME, I AM ALL EYES ON ANYONE THAT'S DOING BAD STUFF IN THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO MULTIFAMILY. UM, BUT THERE IS A PROCESS THAT EVERYONE HAS TO FOLLOW, AND WHEN THEY GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, BE SENSITIVE TO THAT AND TRY TO, UM, CREATE AS MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY WITH THE GOALS THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS PUT FORWARD. UM, AND WITH THE HUGE ADVOCACY AND DIRECTION OF COUNCILOR THOMAS. UM, I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS A BIT CLOSER. I'M SAD THAT THAT ITEM IS NOT PASSING HONESTLY, TODAY, UM, OR THAT'S BEING PULLED OUT. I RESPECT THE DISTRICT MEMBER ON THAT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS A PROCESS IN THIS HAPPENING AND, AND WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT AND, UM, AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE. THANK COUNCILMAN CAMAN. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE PROCESS. ONE. UM, AS MUCH HOUSING AS WE CAN GET, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT'S AFFORDABLE. I, I SUPPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE IN DISTRICT C. WE DON'T HAVE ANY HERE GOING INTO DISTRICT C, WHICH IS INCREASINGLY ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE AREAS TO LIVE. WE ARE SEEING FAMILIES PUSHED OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MONTROSE. IT'S THE HIGHEST EVICTION RATE IN THE CITY, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO LIVE THERE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY THAT'S LISTENING, PLEASE COME TO DISTRICT C. WE WOULD LOVE, LOVE, LOVE TO HAVE YOU. UH, AND TO THE SCORING CRITERIA, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. UM, WE WORKED IN MY FIRST TERM ON PUTTING IN, UH, SCORING CRITERIA FOR RESILIENCY, INCLUDING RECYCLING, LEAD CERTIFICATION, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEY'VE CONTINUED TO INCREASE, UH, THOSE PERSPECTIVES THIS YEAR. I THINK EVEN SOME GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS LIKE THAT, HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS OPTIONS FOR SCORING, AGAIN, NOT REQUIRED, BUT INCENTIVIZING, UH, THAT TYPE OF BUILDING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO, AGAIN, HUGE, HUGE PROPS ON THAT, UH, AND WANTED TO LIFT UP THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD ON THE LOFTS, UH, LOFTS AT LIDAR. UM, THEY HADN'T MET WITH THE COMMUNITY YET. THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THEM ON MONDAY. UM, I DID GET AN EMAIL, THE COMMUNITY, UM, REQUESTING THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT IT. UM, BUT WE DO NEED SENIOR HOUSING IN THE COM IN THAT AREA. AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THIS, UM, ENTITY IS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HEAR THE COMMUNITY OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS PART OF, OF THE PROCESS. SO I'M GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH SUPPORTING IT. UM, BUT I WILL BE WATCHING IT CLOSELY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY DO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY ON MONDAY. AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, FLOODING, UM, THAT WE, YOU ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS. UM, AND SO JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD WITH THAT. BUT THESE DEVELOPERS DO NEED TO, THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE APPLYING FOR TAX CREDITS, AND SO THEY NEED TO TAKE THE TIME OUT TO GO OUT AND MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY. DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE AND THEN HAVE US TRYING TO RUSH TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM WHEN THEY KNOW IT WAY IN ADVANCE THAT THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO PUSH CERTAIN PROJECTS. SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DEVELOPERS BE MORE RESPONSIBLE, UM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING AFTER THESE TAX CREDITS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS GO THROUGH. WE HAVE ONE IN DISTRICT. I ACTUALLY, THE NEW PART OF DISTRICT GUY SOUTH OF ALAMEDA, GENOA, UH, IT'S A SENIOR HOUSING, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN, UH, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S POINT, I'M GONNA FOLLOW THIS ONE AS WELL, BECAUSE, UM, AS DEVELOPERS START BUILDING, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THERE'S A TIER ONE, TIER TWO AROUND THE AIRPORT. AND SO THERE'S A, A SOUND, UH, A SOUND, AND LET ME MAKE SURE I SAY THIS RIGHT, ANTI CONTINUATION. SO WHERE YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BETTER DOORS, BETTER, UH, WINDOWS, SO THAT WAY YOU CAN, UH, REDUCE THE, THE NOISE LEVEL INSIDE OF THESE APART, UH, APARTMENTS. SO AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL BE, UM, YOU KNOW, MEETING WITH THE DEVELOPER CONSISTENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE MEETING THEIR FINANCIAL GAPS WHEREVER THEY NEED. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY MY NO VOTE. UM, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROCESS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, AS WE MENTIONED, TO GET TO A CERTAIN POINT TO WHERE CERTAIN DEVELOPERS GET GRADED, UM, TO A LEVEL TO WHERE IT COMES TO US FOR A RECOMMENDATION. AND, UM, ALTHOUGH I RESPECT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS, UH, THAT COULD BE MEANINGFUL AND BENEFICIAL, UM, TO THAT AREA. UM, THERE IS A PROJECT, UM, IN MY DISTRICT, UH, WHICH IS CONNECT, UH, CONNECT HILLCROFT THAT I DO BELIEVE WILL BRING, UH, TRUE IMPACT TO JAY CITY. AND SO I'M, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEVELOPERS KNOW, UM, THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM TO CONTINUE BRINGING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO JC. THANK YOU. NEXT B CITY COUNCIL, COUNCILOR THOMAS. UH, UH, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR, UH, YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. UM, [06:05:01] ALL OF THE PROJECTS, WE WENT THROUGH THIS EXTENSIVELY. UH, WE HAVE THE MOST IN DISTRICT UP ON THE WEST SIDE, UM, WHICH REALLY SPEAKS TO OUR, UH, APPETITE TO HAVE FAMILY, HOUSING, SENIOR HOUSING, ALL OF THAT. AND I DEFINITELY WOULD WELCOME DEVELOPERS TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, UH, THE WEST SIDE AS GROWTH CONTINUES TO TRANSITION OVER THERE. I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE CRITERIA, UM, AND OUR OBLIGATION, WHICH WE MET TODAY. AND THAT THIS IS JUST LEVEL ONE PROCESS. THIS STILL HAS TO GO TO THE STATE. THEY STILL HAVE TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE. AND SO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE MEETING WITH DEVELOPERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, FEEDBACK IS STILL ACCEPTED. UM, AND, AND SO WE CAN STILL ENGAGE WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, OUR STATE SENATORS, UH, THE AGENCY THAT PRESENTED TO US. UM, SO THEY CAN, IDEALLY WE'LL RECEIVE MAYBE SIX TO EIGHT OF THESE PROJECTS. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 13, INCLUDING THE ETJ, UH, 14, INCLUDING THE ETJ. SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, SHOOTING OUR BEST SHOT TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UM, OUR HIGH OPPORTUNITY DISTRICTS, UH, CGE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY, UH, PROJECTS. AND SO, UH, JUST REALLY SPEAKS TO AFFORDABILITY, HOW WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT GAP. AND THEN ALSO THE REQUEST THAT WE'RE MAKING TO THESE DEVELOPERS ABOUT GENERATORS IN PUBLIC SPACES. AND, AND, AND MAYOR TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION, IF THERE IS ANY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING THAT CAN GO TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS, ONCE THEY ARE APPROVED TO MEET THOSE GOALS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UH, PRIORITIZE THAT WITH THE ADDITIONAL TERMS DOLLARS, OUR HUD ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND OTHER HUD DOLLARS, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MEET THE DEMAND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR, UM, SUPPORTING THESE PROJECTS INTO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND TO THE DEVELOPERS THAT, UH, SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. EVAN SHIVA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE TRINITY EAST PROJECT. I AGONIZED LAST YEAR 'CAUSE THEY WERE NOT ON THE, UH, APPROVAL LIST, BUT I'M CERTAINLY BEHIND THAT PROJECT, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT IT IS MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. YOU'RE NEXT. ITEM 26 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? NO. UH, MAYOR PRO CASTING STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO DIVIDE THE LIST, UH, TO REMOVE FAIRWAYS AT FUKE WAY, UM, OUT OF THE TWO MILE, SAME YEAR RULE AND MOVE FOR POSTPONEMENT. I SECOND. MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. DOES OPPOSED NAY POLL, NO. PLUMBER? NO. UH, SHALL POLLARD? NO. PLUMBER. DIDN'T YOU SAY NO? MM-HMM . YEAH. AND COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HAD A VOTE ON A, ON A, ON A REMAINDER ON THE ITEM. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. POLL. NO, I DUNNO. SAY ALLOW. POLL. NO. OKAY. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR CAYMAN. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL. I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS AND RECOGNIZE GSD AND, UH, OUR LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. UM, BOTH DIRECTOR MESSIAH AND DIRECTOR GO ARE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB. UH, IF YOU, THIS ITEM WAS ON THE HEIGHTS LIBRARY THAT SUSTAINED WAS ALREADY IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR, UH, RANKED AS THE WORST CONDITION SLASH HIGHEST NEED PER THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S ASSESSMENT. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, CONSISTENTLY RANKED IN THE TOP FIVE FOR CIRCULATION DURING DERECHO, THE DERECHO AND BARREL, IT SUSTAINED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. SO I WANNA THANK RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENTS FOR WORKING TOGETHER. THIS WILL DO SOME OF THE REPAIRS SPECIFICALLY FROM THE STORM, BUT I DO WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THIS LIBRARY AS LISTED AS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. UH, SO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PARTNERSHIP, CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS, AND GLAD THAT THESE REPAIRS ARE GETTING DONE. NEXT, ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. FLICKINGER. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER EACH LATER THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED A MOTION PASSES. MAYOR, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THIS. UH, THIS HAS BEEN COMING FOR A LONG TIME. UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN WORKING OUT OF VOLUNTEER FIRE STATIONS FROM BACK WHEN THE ANNEX KINGWOOD FOREVER. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE NEW MODULAR HAS HELPED OUT QUITE A BIT, BUT THIS IS REALLY NEAT, AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR IT. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCILOR POLLARD. COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, [06:10:01] I JUST WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON ITEM 34, WHICH KIND OF TIES INTO ITEM 35. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I ALWAYS LOOK AT THE MWBE PORTION OF THESE, UH, ITEMS, AND I'M SEEING ON 34 THAT THERE IS A, UH, I BELIEVE A 6% MWBE, UM, GOAL. UH, THIS IS FOR, UM, PROFESSIONAL AUDITING SERVICES. WHAT, WHAT I, WHAT I NOTICED IS, UM, THIS FIRM HAS A 6% MWBE GOAL, UH, BUT IN ITEM 35, MCCONNELL JONES, WHO CURRENTLY HAS THE CONTRACT, WHICH IS A MINORITY FIRM, SINCE 2020, THEY HAD A 24% MWBE GOAL. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GETTING AWAY FROM ASPIRATIONAL GOALS AND JUST PUTTING 24% FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. BUT IF WE'RE PUTTING OUT A BID FOR SERVICES, AND WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THERE ARE MINORITY FIRMS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT CAN DO THE WORK, I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S AS LOW AS A 6% GOAL WHEN THE CURRENT VENDOR IS A MINORITY FIRM AND THEY ARE THE PRIME. SO I KNOW WE USE CALCULATIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAY BE THE RIGHT GOAL GOING FORWARD, BUT I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DISCRETION WITHIN THAT WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MINORITY FIRMS THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THE WORK THAT SHOULD RATE FOR A HIGHER GOAL PERCENTAGE. AND SO, I'M, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THESE. I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA TAG 'EM AND, AND, AND PROLONG 'EM, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT VENDOR WHO IS A MINORITY FIRM HAD A 24% GOAL, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO A NON-MINORITY FIRM, AND THEY ONLY HAVE A 6% GOAL. SO, UH, WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. THANK YOU. WELL, I'LL TAG IT. COUNCILMAN TAGGED BY, UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS, AND 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS ITEM IS FOR A CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR KRONOS. UH, OUR SOFTWARE WE USE TO TRACK OUR TIME. WE'RE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH KRONOS. UM, I WANT TO USE THIS AS A, AS A POINT TO REITERATE, UM, AS WE GO THROUGH OUR IT CONTRACT EXTENSIONS, THAT, THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT DETERMINES THAT KRONOS IS STILL THE BEST SOFTWARE OUT THERE FOR US TO USE. UM, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST EXTENSION, IT'S A FIVE YEAR EXTENSION INCREASING JUST ABOUT, UH, $6 MILLION. AND SO INSTEAD OF EXTENDING FOR THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE, WHICH I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE DOING HERE, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE EVALUATING OUR SOFTWARES TO MAKE SURE THIS IS STILL THE BEST OUT THERE AND WE'RE GETTING THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT SERVICE FOR THE DOLLARS WE'RE SPENDING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT? NO, WE NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY COUNCILOR CAYMAN AFTER THE VOTE. MAYOR AFTER THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS WAS, UH, THIS IS A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE EPA, UH, FOR THE RECYCLING GRANT PROGRAM. UH, WANNA TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RECYCLING PROGRAM, BUT ALSO REMIND COLLEAGUES. UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE PASSED A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON ASSESSING AND ANALYZING, UH, AND MOVE MOVING FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTI-FAMILY RECYCLING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, MORE THAN 50% OF RESIDENTS NOW LIVE IN MULTI-FAMILY AND DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO RECYCLING. AND THIS MEANS THAT EVEN MORE IS GOING INTO OUR LANDFILLS AND SHORTENING THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF OUR LANDFILLS, WHICH IN TURN COSTS MORE MONEY. UH, SO MAYOR, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A PUSH, UH, FROM THE DEPARTMENT. AGAIN, AS WE'RE FOCUSING ON RECYCLING AND EFFICIENCIES, MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THAT AS WELL, AND I APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT HOW TO IMPLEMENT. UM, BUT IT'S BEEN VERY SLOW TO GET OFF THE GROUND. UH, BUT WE'LL DO A WORLD OF GOOD FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE A SUSTAIN VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. C? YES. CAYMAN TAG CAYMAN TAG CAYMAN TAGS. YES. ITEM 46. NUMBER 46. YEP. NEXT [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM 52. [06:15:02] SO THIS IS THE COURT ITEM. HERE ARE THE TWO NOMINATION LETTERS. MAYOR PRO, AND THEN FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. CAN I, CAN I GO? PEE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO CASTEX TATUM, DO WE ALREADY CALL THE ITEM? YES. YES. OKAY. UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. POSITION ONE, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE, UM, THE LETTER AND HIS RESUME, ALONG WITH, ON YESTERDAY, HE SUBMITTED A BINDER OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR REVIEW. UH, WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS FOR POSITION ONE OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY, SECOND NOMINATION. OBJECTION. MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M PLEASED TO NOMINATE MR. ROLAND GARCIA FOR POSITION ONE ON THE PORT COMMISSION OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY FOR A TERM EFFECTIVE UPON HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE BOARD OF THE PILOTS COMMISSION. UM, AND I JUST WANT TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE IF I COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYOR PRO TIM MENTIONED A, A BINDER THAT WAS SUBMITTED. UM, I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE BINDERS, THAT BINDER THAT WAS SUBMITTED, I REACHED OUT TO MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. UM, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, I AM DOING MY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THIS, THIS, UM, THIS POSITION IS BEING REPRESENTED BY THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? MAYOR RAMIREZ, SECONDS. THE NOMINATION OF GARCIA. SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE TO VOTE. MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL ALL OVER? MAYOR, I, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. ROLL CALL VOTE. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, BEFORE WE VOTE, I WANT TO THANK THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT. UH, BOTH OF THESE CANDIDATES ARE WELL RESPECTED, UM, AND HAVE DONE EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. I DO WANNA POINT OUT ON THE CITY SIDE, THERE IS NOT A SINGLE, UH, CITY APPOINTED MEMBER TO THE PORT AT THIS TIME. THAT IS A WOMAN AND BEFORE US, WE DO NOT HAVE A FEMALE CANDIDATE AS WELL. AGAIN, THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT EITHER OF THESE CANDIDATES ARE NOT FULLY CAPABLE WHATSOEVER. UH, AND I'M, I'M FRIENDS WITH BOTH OF YOU. UH, BUT I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT THERE IS NO WOMAN SITTING ON THE PORT OF HOUSTON COMMISSION THAT IS A CITY APPOINTEE. THERE IS ONE COUNTY APPOINTEE, AND SHE'S DOING A TERRIFIC JOB. BUT AS WE TALK ABOUT REFLECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND REFLECTING THE VOICES OUR OF OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT IS, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY WANTING AT THIS TIME. AND I, I WOULD HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, UH, WE ARE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I BELIEVE THE RULES SAY THAT A VOTE IS TO BE TAKEN AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE NOMINATIONS HAVE CLOSED. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S SO THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR INPUT ONCE THE NOMINEES HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC AS THEY HAVE IN THIS SYSTEM. SO I BELIEVE IT REQUIRES SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A VOTE. SPECIAL MOTION. CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TAKE THE VOTE TODAY. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND, TO SUSPEND THE RULES THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO WAIT. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA I'D ASK FOR ROLL CALL. I'M SORRY. WHAT? ROLL CALL. SURE. WE HAVE TO GET TWO THIRDS. TWO THIRDS. SO A YES VOTE WOULD BE, WOULD, WOULD ALLOW US TO VOTE TODAY? WOULD ALLOW US TO VOTE TODAY? YES. POINT OF INFORMATION. MAYOR, IS THERE A REASON TO VOTE TO SUSPEND THE RULES OF VOTE ON THIS STATE? ARE WE AT JEOPARDY OF LOSING THIS APPOINTMENT IF WE DO NOT DO THIS TODAY? NO, SIR. THE APPOINTEES ARE ALREADY HERE. NO. AND THEY PROBABLY TIRED. OKAY. A YES VOTE WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE WITH THE VOTE TODAY. ALL IN FAVOR? THERE WAS A ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. JOE WHITMEYER VOTING? YES. COUNCILOR OPEC? NO. COUNCILOR JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MCMAN? YES. COUNCIL. EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL FLICKINGER? NO. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? YES. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MCC CASTILLO? NO. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL RAMIREZ? NO. COUNCIL [06:20:01] DAVIS. COUNCILMAN CARTER? YES. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? YES. COUNCILOR ALCORN? YES. 12 TO FOUR. SO WE DID REACH TWO THIRDS, 12 TO FOUR. THERE ARE TWO THIRDS OF US THAT WOULD, UH, VOTE IN AFFIRMATIVE TO PROCEED TODAY. AND THEN POLLER NEXT. YEAH. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND I TOO WANT TO, UH, JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND, AND THANKING BOTH OF THESE, UH, CANDIDATES, UH, FOR OFFERING TO SERVE, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE PORT IN THIS CAPACITY. UH, BOTH OF YOU ALL ARE EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS WHOSE RESUME SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY HAVE BEEN FELT WELL BEYOND TODAY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, BOTH COLLECTIVELY, UH, FOR OFFERING TO SERVE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH. COUNCILOR ALCORN, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT SAME THING. WE ARE ALL FRIENDS WITH BOTH OF YOU. WE RESPECT YOU BOTH VERY, VERY MUCH. I RESPECTED YOU BOTH SO MUCH. I TOLD BOTH OF YOU I'D SUPPORT YOU, BUT NOW I SO I'M IN TROUBLE. BUT, UM, BUT JUST THANK YOU, THANK YOU BOTH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS CITY. AND MAN, THESE THINGS ARE NEVER EASY. THESE ARE NEVER, EVER EASY. AND, UH, WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE LIVE IN A CITY WITH SUCH AN ECONOMIC DRIVER THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE INVOLVED. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS. AND, AND JUST THANK YOU BOTH AND LET'S GO. GOOD LUCK CUSTODY. YOU COUNCILOR, TOO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANNA SAY THANKS TO BOTH OF THE, THE CANDIDATES AND, AND THEY'RE BOTH QUALIFIED AND, AND I DO HAVE A, A RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH AND RESPECT BOTH. AND, AND, UM, I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE FOLKS LIKE YOU THAT ARE WILLING TO SERVE THE CITY IN SUCH A SIGNIFICANT WAY. SO THANK Y'ALL BOTH FOR, FOR WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? NOPE. THAT'S IT. IF NOT, MADAM SECRETARY, CALL ALL THE NAMES AND MEMBERS WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED. SAY THE NAME OF YOUR NOMINEE OR YOUR VOTE. MAY I WOULD. ROLAND GARCIA. COUNCILMAN PECK. ROLAND GARCIA. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. ROLAND GARCIA, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, ROBERT GALLEGOS. COUNCILMAN EDWARD SHABAZZ. ROBERT GALLEGOS. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. ROLAND GARCIA, COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ROBERT GALLEGOS. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN ROLAND GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. ROLAND GARCIA. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. ROLAND GARCIA, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. ROBERT GALLEGOS, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM, ROBERT GALLEGOS. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. ROLAND GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER ROLAND GARCIA, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, ROLAND GARCIA AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN, ROBERT GALLEGOS. SIX RESULTS ARE 10 FOR ROLAND GARCIA, SIX FOR COUNCILLOR GALLEGOS. UH, ROLAND GARCIA HAS SUFFICIENT VOTES TO WIN WIN. CONGRATULATIONS, UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MY, UM, I SUPPORTED ROBERT GALLEGOS, UH, CLEARLY. UH, EVERY WEEK FOR FOUR, FOR FOUR YEARS. I SAT, UH, NEXT TO HIM AND HE FOUGHT FOR RESIDENCE, UH, DAY IN AND DAY OUT UNDER NO ONE CAN CAN CHALLENGE THAT, UM, TO YOU, MY FRIEND. UM, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT BE SITTING AT THAT TABLE, I KNOW [06:25:01] THAT THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY CAN COUNT ON YOU TO SHOW UP TO THE PORT AND HOLD THE APPOINTED MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE. AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS IN OUR ADVANTAGE WHEN WE'RE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HORSESHOE. RIGHT? UM, AND, UH, YOUR CREDIBILITY, YOUR REPUTATION, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE, THE LEAST OF THESE, UH, IS VERY EVIDENT. UH, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, NOT JUST IN YOUR INTEREST IN THIS, BUT ALSO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, AS WHAT WAS SAID YESTERDAY, UH, OFTENTIMES YOU WERE A LONE VOICE IN RAISING ISSUES OF EQUALITY AND JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS. AND I CONTINUE TO SEE THAT, UM, MOVING FORWARD. AND THEN, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, MR. GARCIA, LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRIBUTE, CONTINUED SERVICE. UH, AND, AND, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF THE EXPERTISE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD MENTIONED AND, AND, AND, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRIBUTION. UM, SO, BUT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I, I SEE YOU. I HEAR YOU. I'M WITH YOU, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TATUM. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ALSO WANTED TO, UM, TELL FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UM, WE DEFINITELY SAW YOUR HARD WORK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, WE SAW YOU AND THE COMMUNITY PULLING TOGETHER. UH, WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO GET A VOICE FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR A LONG TIME. AND, UM, I COULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF A BETTER PERSON WHO HAD THAN ONE WHO HAD BEEN ELECTED THREE TIMES BY THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY. UM, HOWEVER, UM, IT DIDN'T FALL THAT WAY, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU STILL DON'T HAVE A VOICE. UH, I, I LOVE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR THE COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NO LONGER SERVING AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF THAT DISTRICT. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE. UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR THE MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY. AND TO MR. GARCIA, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I KNOW YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB, UH, AT THE PORT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR TAKING THIS TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY. UM, WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE THANK, UH, YOUR WIFE, KAREN, AND YOUR CHILDREN, SCOTT AND KRISTEN. KRISTEN, I THINK LEFT ALREADY, UH, FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE AND LOANING YOU TO US. UM, I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE AND FAITH IN, IN THE, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO, UH, ROLAND. UM, AND, AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, UM, THE EXPECTATION OF BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY THERE, UM, FROM MYSELF, BUT THEN ALSO FROM MY COLLEAGUES THAT REPRESENT THE PORT. UH, I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYONE ELSE REALLY UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE QUALITY, UM, THAT ROLAND WILL BRING TO THE PORT. UM, COUNCILOR, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL. UM, IT IS NOT UNSEEN. UM, AND I SAY THIS WHOLEHEARTEDLY, UM, WOULD BEING ABLE TO BE IN THIS SPACE, I APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND YOU AND THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND I HOPE THAT I CAN REALLY DEPEND ON YOU TO SUPPORT THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, I'M READY TO HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE WITH YOU TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S GOOD FOR, UH, THINGS TO BE PASSED ON AS WELL. UM, I'M HERE TO DO THE WORK WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN KAMAN? OH, SURE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND AGAIN, ROLAND, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, I KNOW YOU'LL BRING YOUR EXPERTISE AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY. AND TO ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION, YOUR FRIENDSHIP. UM, BUT JUST YOUR STAND. AND I THINK WHAT'S VERY CLEAR, UH, I DON'T THINK THIS IS LOST ON EITHER OF YOU, THAT THIS VOTE FOR MANY OF US IS ALSO ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. UH, THE PORT AS AN ENTITY HAS A VERY CRITICAL ROLE AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR OUR ENTIRE NATION. AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE LIVES IMPACTED EVERY SINGLE DAY DOWN THE STREET. UH, WHETHER IT'S THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, UH, THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS, THE SAFETY CONCERNS, ALL OF THAT. AND, UH, I, I HOPE THAT THAT CONVERSATION IS CARRIED TO THE PORT THROUGH THE WORK AND CONTINUING. AND WE'RE COUNTING ON ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS TO CONTINUE THAT, BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONTINUE THAT. SO AGAIN, I, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID AND EMPHASIZE. I THINK TODAY WE ELEVATED MORE ROBERT SOMETHING YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO FOUGHT FIGHT FOR, RIGHT? EVEN WHEN YOU PUT GRACIE'S NAME FORWARD, UH, THIS IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS JUST AS MUCH AND NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN THAT WAY. THANK YOU. [06:30:03] ANYONE ELSE? MEMBERS, BEFORE WE START POP OFF, WE HAVE A COUPLE WATERS. , WE STILL GOT MORE. I SAID BEFORE WE START, POP OFF CALL THE NEXT ITEM. . [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 53. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLL. OKAY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I TAGGED THIS ITEM LAST WEEK. THIS WAS, UM, AN ITEM FOR SEWER STOPPAGE CLEANING. UM, THE MWBE GOAL ON THIS WAS 17%. UM, AND THIS VENDOR RECEIVED 0%. MMBE, UM, OBO HAS RATED THIS ITEM AS UNSATISFACTORY DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS, GOOD FAITH EFFORTS WERE NOT ACHIEVED IN MEETING THE MBE GOAL, NOR THE UTILIZATION OF ALL GOLD CREDIT SUBCONTRACTORS. ADDITIONALLY, GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, DOCUMENTATION WAS NOT PROVIDED TO OBO WHEN REQUESTED, UH, FOR THE REASONS LISTED. UM, THE PERFORMANCE METHOD WAS NOT MET AND THE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS REQUIRED BY, UH, THE CITY, UH, WAS NOT MET. NOW WE GET INTO THESE ISSUES FROM TIME TO TIME, AND WE VOTE ON THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN BREACH OF CONTRACT AFTERWARDS. WHAT I'M GONNA BE ASKING AND SPEAKING TO OBO ABOUT TODAY IS SINCE WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE PUTTING OUT THE CONTRACT FOR BID, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A PROVISION WITHIN OUR CONTRACT THAT STATES THAT YOU MUST FOLLOW THE DEVIATION PROCESS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET YOUR GOALS FOR WHATEVER REASON, THINGS CHANGE, SCOPE OF WORK VARIES. BUT IF YOU DON'T AT LEAST GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO DEVIATE TO CHANGE, THEN YOU WOULD BE IN BREACH OF CONTRACT. OKAY? AND THAT WILL THEN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SOME LEVERAGE, AND THAT WE DON'T JUST CONTINUE TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING OVER AND OVER. AND SO, UM, WHEN OBO PUTS FORTH THEIR COMPLIANCE AND IT SHOWS A 0% AND A, AND A RATING OF UNSATISFACTORY, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE SUBCONTRACTORS WHO WERE RELYING ON THIS WORK, RIGHT? THEY PUT THE SUBCONTRACTORS ON THE BID, AND THEN AFTER THE FACT, THEY DON'T USE THEM AND THEY DON'T FOLLOW THE DEVIATION PROGRAM. THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION TO OBO. THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO ENGAGEMENT AND THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCE. AND SO I THINK SINCE WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PUTTING OUT THE CONTRACT, THEN WE SHOULD SET THE PARAMETERS FOR THE PROVISIONS THAT THEY MUST FOLLOW. AND IF THEY DO NOT FOLLOW THE DEVIATION PROCESS THAT'S SET FORTH BY OBO, THEN THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PENALTIES FOR THAT. SO I'LL BE TALKING TO, UH, THE DIRECTOR LATER ON TODAY REGARDING THAT, AND I WILL FOLLOW BACK UP WITH YOU ALL ON, UH, HER RESPONSE. UM, BUT I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON THIS. AND I, AND, AND I THINK WE NEED TO START ALSO SENDING A MESSAGE THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF LITIGATION AND WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF, OF, OF GOING BEFORE A JUDGE, AND USUALLY JURY, WHICH IS A JURY OF OUR PEERS, OTHER HOUSTONIANS THAT SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND SET AN EXAMPLE FOR CERTAIN VENDORS, AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONE THAT'S IN FRONT OF US TODAY, UM, TO SAY, IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA FOLLOW THE DEVIATION PROGRAM AND PROCESSES, THEN WE ARE NOT GOING TO JUST GO FORWARD AND, UH, APPROVE THE ITEM. AND SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS, AND I WOULD INVITE THE LITIGATION. THANK YOU, PLUMMER. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILOR POLLARD SAID, I A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS PARTICULAR, UM, COMPANY HAS NINE OPEN CONTRACTS. THREE OF THEM ARE BELOW THE GOAL, UM, CURRENTLY. AND SO, UM, I WOULD BE VOTING NO ON THIS AS WELL. WE JUST REALLY NEED TO STOP HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS EVERY SINGLE WEDNESDAY AND TAKE 'EM TO COURT. MAYOR PROTE, CASTOR STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THE, UM, CONVERSATION IS DEFINITELY WORTHY. UH, THE DIRECTOR IS WORKING ON HOW WE ACTUALLY, UM, CAN LEGALLY HOLD THESE, UM, VENDORS RESPONSIBLE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN, UH, LOTS OF CONVERSATION. THIS ONE, UH, UNFORTUNATELY I THINK IS A, A LITTLE MORE EGREGIOUS THAN THE ONES THAT WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, UM, IN THE PAST. UM, BUT DIRECTOR HORDE IS VERY WELL AWARE OF, UM, THE REPEAT VIOLATORS. UM, AND BASED ON OUR CURRENT, UM, STANDARDS, WHEN, UH, THESE VENDORS VIOLATE WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD, [06:35:01] THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR IS STILL MEETING THE CRITERIA. UM, HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS OVER AND OVER, AND WHEN YOU JUST HAVE A ZERO, UM, UTILIZATION AND NOT GO THROUGH THE DEVIATION, IT, IT DOES SEEM TO SAY, I DON'T CARE. UM, AND SO I KNOW WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IF WE WANT TO PREVENT LITIGATION. I'M, I'M NOT LOOKING NECESSARILY TO, UM, GO TO LITIGATION. UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SET OUR STANDARDS AS A CITY, UM, SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT THESE TYPES OF EGREGIOUS, I DON'T CARE, UM, VENDORS FROM MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE SYSTEM. CAN YOU, UM, ATTORNEY MICHELLE SPEAK TO, UH, THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION? AND IF EVERYONE VOTED NO, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF EVERYONE VOTED OR IF NINE PEOPLE VOTED NO. IF EVERYONE VOTED NO, THEN THEY WOULD PROBABLY BRING A BREACH OF CONTRACT CLAIM. BUT WE HAVE LANGUAGE IN OUR CONTRACTS THAT REQUIRES THEM TO COMPLY WITH OUR PROGRAM. MM-HMM . MEANING GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, IT'S, IT'S INSUFFICIENT FOR US TO MAKE A CLAIM IF WE'RE SAYING THEY DIDN'T MEET THE GOAL, BUT IF THEY DIDN'T MAKE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, WE HAVE LANGUAGE THAT PROVIDES THAT AS A BREACH OF CONTRACTS. SO IT'D BE DUELING BREACH OF CONTRACTS. CLAIMS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT I, I, I INVITE THE LITIGATION. UH, I, I DO THINK WE HAVE A LEGAL CLAIM BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THE VENDOR. AND, AND EVEN IF FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT WE ARE NOT, UM, ON THE WINNING SIDE, LITIGATION TAKES TIME. UH, IT HAS TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH DISCOVERY. IT HAS TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH, UH, THE COURT SYSTEM AND THE INCONVENIENCE THAT IT WILL PLACE ON THIS VENDOR WILL BE A STRONG MESSAGE, NOT ONLY TO THIS VENDOR, BUT OTHER VENDORS AS WELL. THAT WHEN YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE PROCESS AT ALL, THAT, UH, YOU RUN THE RISK OF THE, OF THE CITY JUST, UH, PURSUING THE LITIGATION AND NOT BEING AFRAID OF IT. AND I THINK WE HAVE A, A DECENT CHANCE BASED ON, ON THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE. AND WE HAVE A LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AND SO I DON'T WANT TO PUT MORE ON YOUR, ON YOUR ATTORNEYS ARTURO, BUT I MEAN, THEY ARE THERE. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO. AND THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY COUNSEL AND, UH, ADVISE AND LITIGATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND I THINK THE TAXPAYERS ARE OWED BETTER. I THINK THAT, UM, IT WOULD SEND A STRONG MESSAGE IF THIS BODY VOTES NO TODAY ON THIS VENDOR. AND I THINK WE STAND A CHANCE, AND IF WE DON'T, WE STILL ARE GOING TO PROVE A POINT THAT I THINK IS NEEDED. AND SO I'M ASKING, UH, YOU ALL TO VOTE? NO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR APPROACH CAST SIX TATUM. THE O OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS OUR CURRENT CONTRACT HAS PENALTIES IN IT. UM, THIS IS THEIR FIRST UNSATISFACTORY. SO I'M, THIS WOULD PUT THEM ON PROBATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT. IT, IT'S, IT, IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE INCIDENTS FOR THE THREE YEAR PERIOD. BUT THE THREE YEAR PERIOD RELATES TO, UM, BASICALLY BARRING THEM FROM DOING BUSINESS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN SAYING THEY BREACHED THE CONTRACT. OKAY? AND I KNOW THAT THE OBO DIRECTOR IS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO DELAY, MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY MOTIONS MADE DELAY. IS THERE A SECOND PAYMENT? SECOND, MA'AM. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND TO DELAY. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ITEM 54 IS WE, WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. AND WE HAVE RECEIVED ITEM 39. SO ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WHAT IS THAT? MM-HMM . ALL IN FAVOR? CHAIR. COUNCILMAN SECOND CHAIR AFTER THE VOTE. COUNCILOR P*****K. OH, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS LOOKING AT THIS. I DID SPEAK WITH DIRECTOR TILLESON ON THIS, AND, AND THEN SHE DID GIMME SOME GUIDANCE. YOU KNOW, I, I WAS WONDERING WHY, UH, WE WOULD NEED THIS ENTITY WHEN WE HAVE HOUSTON FIRST. UM, AND THIS, THIS, THIS ENTITY HAS RECEIVED THIS CONTRACT SINCE LIKE 1999. AND SO IT'S LIKE THIS REOCCURRING, UH, I'M SURE COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU MAY [06:40:01] HAVE SOME, SOME INSIGHT FOR US ON THIS, UH, BUT, UM, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE HOUSTON FIRST AS AN ENTITY, COULD BE DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK. AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS, MAYBE THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO. BUT, UH, I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR AND, UH, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS AS WE GO FORWARD. THANKS. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER? YES. AND TO COUNCILMAN POLLARD'S QUESTIONS, THEY'VE CERTAINLY GOT A DIFFERENT AREA OF RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERTISE, UH, ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH THE SPACE PROJECTS, A LOT OF THE, THE PROJECTS, UH, HAVING TO DO WITH THE GULF AND THE BAY. UM, AND I THINK BAY A ABSOLUTELY DOES A FANTASTIC JOB OF, UH, WHAT THEY DO. THERE'S, YOU SPEND SOME TIME DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE. YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A LOT OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY GOING DOWN THERE, AND A LOT OF THAT BAHA'S ACTUALLY BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR LANDING. THANK YOU. THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND CAN TAKE MOST OF THE CREDIT FOR THE IKE D**E AND OTHER RESILIENCY EFFORTS IN THE GREATER GULF COAST, QUITE FRANKLY. SO, THANK YOU. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA MOTION PASSES. THAT'S IT. NOW, NOW, BEFORE [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] WE DO POP UP, , I WOULD Y'ALL JOIN ME? I'VE WATCHED OUR, UH, CITY SECRETARY MANEUVER SOME REAL CHALLENGES, AND SHE JUST IS SO STEADY, AND I DON'T THINK WE EVER STOP AND THINK SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT MAKES THIS, MAKES THIS WORK. AND I'VE WATCHED YOU THIS MORNING, SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPECIAL. AND, UH, WE, WE APPRECIATE YOU. OKAY, UM, COUNCILOR THOMAS. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES. I, UM, HAVE HAD A VERY ACTIVE, UH, WEEK REPRESENTING DISTRICT F ON SATURDAY. I WAS WITH, UH, REPRESENTATIVE AL GREEN. HE CONVENED, UH, A COMMUNITY BREAKFAST TO JUST ADDRESS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DC HIS, UM, HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THAT, AND CALLING ON, UH, NOT JUST ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT COMMUNITY LEADERS, UH, FOR US TO CRAFT A, PAINT A PLAN, AND BE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THAT. UH, REPRESENTATIVE GREEN REPRESENTS A PORTION OF DISTRICT F, AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, UM, OFFERING, UM, SOME TYPE OF PATHWAY FOR SOLUTION. ALSO, ON SUNDAY, I WAS HONORED TO ATTEND THE RETIREMENT OF PASTOR WALTER K. BERRY, UH, THE SENIOR PASTOR AT MCGEE, UH, CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH. AND AFTER 50 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICES TO, TO THE CHURCH, UH, WE LAUGHED, HUGGED, PRAYED. IT WAS A GREAT TIME, AND I WISH HIM WELL, UM, IN HIS WELL DESERVED, UH, RETIREMENT. I WANNA, UH, BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MEDIA SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. UM, AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE A, I HAVE A, A, A REMNANT OF A FREEDMAN'S TOWN, UH, PINEY POINT IN DISTRICT F. AND ON THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS OVERTAKEN, UH, WITH QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, UH, SQUATTERS, UNPERMITTED DEVELOPMENTS, COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES OPERATING ON ILLEGAL ON RESIDENTIAL LAND. AND, UM, THESE, THESE, UM, ISSUES ARE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AND IT'S REALLY ERODING THE FABRIC OF THAT COMMUNITY. AND I HAD A TWO AND A HALF, THREE HOUR MEETING WITH THEM LAST NIGHT TILL 10 O'CLOCK. UM, AND SO I REALLY NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AROUND THIS, WORKING WITH PERMITTING AND THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. BUT, UH, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. AND THEN ALSO LAST NIGHT, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE EFFORTS AROUND THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN PAUSED WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND, AND, AND THE PILOT NEIGHBORHOODS. PINEY POINT WAS, UH, THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HOSTED A COMMUNITY MEETING TO ENGAGE ON CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING, UH, THAT THE SENIORS, 75 YEARS OLD AND, UH, MORE, UM, HAVE, UH, LABORED TO ORGANIZE, ONLY TO BE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF PROTECTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, TOMORROW I'M HAVING A, A, A PUBLIC WORKS BRIEFING WITH, UH, AROUND THE HACKBERRY AND BOONE DETENTION POND IS AN $8 MILLION MITIGATION PROJECT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THIS INFORMATION, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN ALSO IN CLOSING, IT IS FEBRUARY AND IT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND I KNOW WE ARE IN A CULTURE IN A TIME, UM, WHERE, UH, BEING BLACK MAY BE, UH, UH, LOOKED AT AS NEGATIVE, UM, AND REDEFINED IN THIS ENTIRE CULTURAL SPACE. UH, BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO HONOR OUR RESILIENCE, OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS AND BLACK HOUSTONIANS THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR NATION. UH, IT'S NOT JUST A, A CELEBRATION OF HISTORY, BUT A CALL TO ACTION, PARTICULARLY IN THESE TIMES. AND A REMINDER TO FIGHT FOR EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND THE RIGHT REPRESENTATION, UM, SHALL CONTINUE. I'M REMINDED OF PINEY POINT THAT I JUST MENTIONED, UH, SETTLED IN 1865 AFTER THE EMANCIPATION OF FREED SLAVES, THE ORIGINAL CEMETERY. THE CHURCH, UH, STILL EXISTS. PINEY POINT ELEMENTARY AND HISD SCHOOL. THAT LAND WAS DONATED TO HISD, UH, FOR, [06:45:01] UH, THE FOCUS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A GREAT PART. AND I'M REMINDED OF DAVID LEY SR. UM, THE FIRST BLACK TEACHER IN LEY FIVES D THAT WAS, UH, BORN IN 1886 AND HAD A ONE, UH, ONE ROOM BUILDING THAT TAUGHT 25 BLACK KIDS. UH, WE NOW HAVE A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HIM. I'M REMINDED OF DR. ANTHONY MAYS, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SUPERINTENDENT OF ALE, FISD, UM, OUR HARRIS COUNTY CLERK, TANISHA HUDSPETH, AND EVEN MYSELF, THE FIRST BLACK HOUSTONIAN BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE, TO REPRESENT DISTRICT F, WHICH IS NOT LOST ON ME. UH, IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE WHERE HISTORY IS OFTEN CHALLENGED, DISMISSED, ERASED, AND MET WITH RESISTANCE, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER TO PRESERVE TRUTH, UPLIFT OUR VOICES, AND INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF OUR BLACK COMMUNITIES AND OUR BLACK PEOPLE FROM EDUCATION, POLICY, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, CULTURAL PRESERVATION THIS MONTH REMINDS ME, AND HOPEFULLY YOU, THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY, AND IT MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED, PROTECTED, AND CELEBRATED ALL YEAR LONG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT. I KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPRING VILLAGE APARTMENTS. UH, WE ARE AWAITING DEMOLITION. WE DO HAVE UPDATES ON THAT. UH, THE TEMPORARY POWER POLES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. CENTER POINT IS INSTALLING THE METERS, AND THAT ABATEMENT PROCESS WILL BEGIN THIS WEEK. AND ONCE THAT ABATEMENT PROCESS IS COMPLETE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE TOWARDS DEMOLITION IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS. UH, AND WE'LL HAVE SIX ACRES OF, UM, ADDITIONAL DETENTION IN THAT WESTBURY AREA THAT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME. SO ONCE WE DEMOLISH THOSE APARTMENTS, I THINK BRIGHTER DAYS ARE AHEAD IN THAT AREA. UH, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. THE KESWICK PLACE, RAMBLEWOOD COMMUNITY NEW SIDEWALKS AND RAMPS ALONG TRAIL LAKE FROM STANCLIFFE TO PLAYER. UH, THIS WORK IS TO EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED THIS SPRING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE, UM, MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS, CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENTS, UM, HAPPENING ALONG M CLARK. UM, THOSE, UH, STREETS ARE IN, UM, TOTAL DISREPAIR. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, IMPROVE THAT WOULD BE EITHER FOR TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION OR THESE, UM, CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENTS. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, HARAM CLARK AT US 90, UH, WORK BEGINNING ON NEXT WEEK. UH, AND THAT SHOULD LEAD TO A SMOOTHER DRIVE DOWN HARAM CLARK, BECAUSE IF YOU DRIVE DOWN NOW, YOU'LL HAVE TO GET SOME NEW SHOCKS ON YOUR CAR. UH, THE SPELMAN DETENTION BASIN PROJECT IS MOVING ALONG. UH, I RODE BY THERE THIS WEEKEND, TOOK SOME VIDEO FOOTAGE OF IT. UH, THAT MITIGATION PROJECT IS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR 23.73 ACRE FEET OF STORM WATER TO BE HELD IN THAT AREA. THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP US TO PREVENT STORMWATER FROM GOING INTO HOMES, UH, IN THAT WESTBURY, UH, AREA, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESSES AROUND THAT AREA. SO WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS AND MOBILITY PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UH, FRIDAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY. Y'ALL DO IT IN LOVE. UM, THIS MONTH IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. I'M CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY 365 DAYS A YEAR, BUT ALSO AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES THIS MONTH AS THE WORLD CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU, VAST MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MAYOR, WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE JUST DISCOVERED IN MY OFFICE. SO WE STARTED HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO PLACED 3 1 1 SERVICE REQUEST FOR CONTAINER REPAIR OR REPLACEMENTS. UM, AND THEIR CASES WERE ALL CLOSED, AND 3 1 1 WITH NO CANNED DELIVERY. SO SARAH IN MY OFFICE STARTED RESEARCHING IT AND FOUND OUT THAT 145 CONSTITUENTS, UM, HAD THEIR 3 0 1 CASES CLOSED BETWEEN JANUARY 21ST AND JANUARY 22ND, WHICH OF COURSE IS WHEN WE HAD THE SNOW. UM, AND THEN SHE STARTED DIGGING INTO IT MORE AND FOUND OUT THAT THAT HAPPENED TO OVER 600 PEOPLE IN THE CITY DURING THOSE TWO DAYS. SO BASICALLY, ALL THE CASES WERE CLOSED OUT BECAUSE OF THE SNOW, AND NO ONE ACTUALLY GOT THEIR, UM, THEIR TRASH CANS. SO I CAN UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, DELAYING IT WHEN IT'S NOT SAFE TO DELIVER THE CANS, BUT JUST TO CLOSE EVERYONE'S REQUEST OUT AND JUST HAVE THEM HAVE TO TRY TO TRY IT AGAIN, IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO REQUESTED CANS GET THEM, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. A SUGGESTION, SUGGESTION THAT WE'VE MADE TO THE SALT WASTE DEPARTMENT BEFORE IS TO ALLOW OUR, UM, HOT TEAM, OUR LEGAL DUMPING TEAM TO DELIVER THE TRASH CANS TO PEOPLE WHEN THE SALT WASTE DEPARTMENT CAN'T DO THAT. AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. SO, UM, WE'RE WILLING TO HELP OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET THEIR CANS [06:50:01] TIMELY, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT HAPPENS. AND THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SARAH SINGLETON IN OUR DISTRICT A OFFICE. UM, HER BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW, AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE HER IN OUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. CATHERINE POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN LAST NIGHT'S KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, VIRTUAL TOWN HALL. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES MY OFFICE HAS DONE A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE, WHERE WE WERE, UM, SPEAKING ON, UM, SOME OF THE IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND TOPICS THAT MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, WAS SURPRISED THAT WE HAD ALMOST CLOSE TO 2000 VIEWS ON THAT. AND, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO MORE VIRTUAL MEETINGS NOW THAT WE SEE THAT, UM, IT CAN BE A BENEFIT TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING AND DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE FOR THE INFORMATION. UM, MAYOR, I'M STILL WAITING ON SOME OF MY CDSF, UH, PROGRAMS TO BE APPROVED. UH, THE, THE THREE THAT ARE, ARE MOST DIRE TO ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS. UM, THERE'S A, A PRIVATE TRASH PROPOSAL. UM, THERE'S A HOME REPAIR FOR SENIORS PROPOSAL, AND THERE'S A PROPOSAL, UH, ON A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM. UM, THESE ARE, THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT I THINK WILL BRING MORE EFFICIENCIES, UH, TO THE CITY. UH, THEY SUPPLEMENT, UH, THE DEPARTMENTS, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE THAT WE BELIEVE, UH, REMAIN BENEFICIAL. UH, AND SO IT JUST TAKES THE APPROVAL OF YOUR OFFICE TO GET THOSE DOLLARS FLOWING SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THESE PROGRAMS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. UM, TO CONTINUE WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT, UH, 1200 TRAVIS. THAT'S WHERE OUR HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS ARE. AND WHEN YOU GO TO 1200 TRAVIS, YOU MAY NOTICE THAT THE BUILDING IS NAMED AFTER EDWARD A. THOMAS. AND ONE DAY, I, I LOOKED UP EDWARD A. THOMAS, AND I WAS, I WAS SURPRISED TO, TO, TO SEE HIS RESUME, BUT I THINK, UH, WE ALL SHOULD KNOW WHO HE IS. UH, BUT EDWARD A. THOMAS WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, TO WORK AS A POLICE OFFICER, UH, FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND HE WAS BORN IN 1919. THOMAS JOINED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1948. HE INITIALLY EXPERIENCED, UH, SUBSTANTIAL DISCRIMINATION AS THE SOLE AFRICAN AMERICAN ON THE FORCE. AT FIRST, HE WAS NOT PERMITTED TO ATTEND ROLL CALL IN THE SQUAD ROOM. HE WAS NOT PERMITTED TO USE THE CAFETERIA. HE WAS NOT ISSUED A SQUAD CAR, AND HE WAS EMPLOYED TO POLICE THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND COULD ONLY ARREST NON-WHITE SUSPECTS. UH, HE SLOWLY GAINED RESPECT, UH, AMONGST HIS PEERS, AND ROSE TO BE A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER. UH, THOMAS SERVED FOR 63 YEARS, THE LONGEST PERIOD OF ANY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE. HE JUST RETIRED ACTUALLY IN 2011 WHEN HE WAS IN HIS NINETIES. AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE MR. THOMAS, UH, WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY, UH, TO THE PROGRESS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, UH, WE SHOULD TAKE THIS TIME DURING BLACK HISTORY A MONTH TO DO ALL WE CAN TO REMEMBER THEM AND TO CELEBRATE THEM. AND, UM, REST IN PEACE TO EDWARD A. THOMAS. AND, UM, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO YOU ALL. GOD BLESS YOU, AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. COUNCILMAN ALCORN PASS. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA PASS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO, AGAIN, RECOGNIZE MATOYA MURRAY, WHO REPRESENTED BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY WITH EXCELLENCE. WE WISH HER NOTHING BUT THE BEST AS SHE CONTINUES TO THRIVE. AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS IN A ROW, SHE IS PHENOMENAL. LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE HONOR OF HOSTING THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS AT WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH IN DISTRICT D AND A SUB SUBSEQUENT REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE AT THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH. THEIR VOICES AND LEGACY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE, REMINDING US OF THE DEEP CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, HBCUS AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY THIS MONTH. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT THE NAACP HOUSTON BRANCH AND THEIR UPCOMING FREEDOM FUND ADVOCACY AND AWARDS GALA ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE 21ST, 2025 AT HILTON AMERICAS. THEIR WORK REMAINS VITAL IN ADVANCING EQUAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. LET'S CONTINUE HONORING AND UPLI UPLIFTING BLACK EXCELLENCE, NOT JUST THIS MONTH, BUT EVERY DAY. AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND MARTINEZ FOR, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO GAVE US THE CANDY, BUT WHOEVER YOU ARE. OH, YOU DID THAT TOO. OH, WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY, IT, IT [06:55:01] WAS, OH, OKAY. I DIDN'T SAY THAT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH , AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, AND HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK NEXT WEEK, UH, WORKING IN YOUR OFFICES AND IN YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, . COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, A WEEK FROM THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR SECOND MEDIAN MADNESS, MADNESS, WHERE WE'RE RESTORING THE MEDIANS UP IN KINGWOOD. UM, SAFETY IS OF THE UTMOST CONCERN, SO PLEASE, UH, WEAR GLOVES, BRING CLOSED TOED SHOES. WE'LL ALSO BE CLOSING OUT A, A LANE OF KINGWOOD DRIVE TO HAVE A BUFFER. UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS ON THE PRESENTATION TODAY THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE WAS THE SU SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS, UH, WHICH I THINK IS FANTASTIC. WHICH KIND OF LEADS ME INTO ANOTHER POINT. I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE KIND OF DISMAYED AT THE RESOLUTION FOR THE WATERLINE CASES THAT HAS JUST OCCURRED WITH THE, THE THEFT THAT HAD GONE ON THERE. UH, ONLY ONE OF THE SEVEN ACTUALLY GOT ANY JAIL TIME. UH, ONE OF THE SEVEN HAD TO PAY BACK ANY OF THE MONEY THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED. UM, A COUPLE OF THE DEFENDANTS ACTUALLY GOT DEFERRED ADJUDICATION, WHERE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE, THEY'LL HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS WHATSOEVER. UM, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE REALLY, AND IT'S HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY. THE CITY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THIS IS REALLY A DETERRENT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE. SO JUST WANT TO KIND OF EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EXCITING ACTION ALONG BRAS BAY IN DISTRICT C MAYOR. WE, UH, CAME TOGETHER WITH COMMISSIONER BRIANIS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING, UH, ALONG RAISED BAYOU THE UNDERPASS TRAILS THAT SHE IS FUNDING, UH, AND WORKING WITH MY OFFICE AND OTHERS. AGAIN, HUGE COMMUNITY TURNOUT THERE, AND WE APPRECIATE HER INVESTMENT. UH, THE NEXT WEEK WE HAD, UH, THE CELEBRATION OF THE COMPLETION OF THE MEYER GROVE DETENTION BASIN, WHERE CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER, UH, SECURED 10 MILLION. UH, I FUNDED OVER A MILLION IN DRAINAGE DOWN THE STREET. COMMISSIONER ELLIS FUNDED, UH, THE TRAIL CONNECTORS IN GREEN SPACE AROUND THE DETENTION. AND THEN LAST WEEK WE CELEBRATED THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE RABBI CARF MEMORIAL BRIDGE, FARTHER DOWN BRAS BAYOU, WHICH IS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, UH, GOING OVER THE BAYOU, UH, IN EFFECT, NOT JUST CONNECTING DISTRICT K AND DISTRICT C, AND THOSE ARE IMAGINARY LINES, BUT REALLY AT THE HEART OF THIS, CONNECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HONORING, UM, A RABBI, ONE OF THE THREE AMIGOS, UH, WHO DID SO MUCH WORK, LITERALLY BUILDING BRIDGES IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS, UH, FOR THAT INVESTMENT. AGAIN, EACH OF THESE INSTANCES ALONG RAISED BY YOU, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE INVESTMENTS IN A COMMUNITY, UH, THAT DESERVES IT AND HAS LONG NEEDED. THIS I, ON THE SUBJECT OF BRIDGES, I DO WANNA BRING UP, UM, MAYOR I, I THINK IT'S NOW TWO WEEKS AGO, TREMENDOUS OUTPOURING. UH, AND WHAT WERE VERY PEACEFUL PROTESTS, UM, AROUND IMMIGRATION. UH, THEY OCCURRED IN DISTRICT C. THEY STARTED AT THE MONTROSE BRIDGES. THEY WENT TO THE MUSEUM AND BACK, BUT IT WAS SUCH A LARGE OUTPOURING. AGAIN, VERY, VERY PEACEFUL. BUT IT DID CREATE CHALLENGES FOR THE RESIDENTS THERE. AND I'M SURE FOR HPD AS WELL, TRYING TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN, UH, WORK WITH THE ORGANIZERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE EXPECTING SUCH A LARGE CAPACITY, THAT WE'RE HELPING THEM ORGANIZE IN SUCH A WAY TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND NOT HAVE, UH, UH, CHALLENGES CREATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ITSELF. UH, RESIDENTS DID HAVE CHALLENGES GOING OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. UH, BUT AGAIN, OVERALL VERY, VERY PEACEFUL. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, HOWEVER, IS AGAIN, ON THE BRIDGES, UH, AS THE PROTESTS WENT INTO THE NIGHT, THE STREET LIGHTING, UH, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION OF THE MONTROSE BRIDGES, I'M TALKING ABOUT BASIC LIGHTING. THOSE BRIDGES WERE EXTREMELY DARK. UH, I HAVE SPOKEN TO SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. THEY HAVE CONCERNS. WE HAVE IRVIN CHU PARK LITTLE LEAGUE, THEY PLAY INTO THOSE HOURS. SO I DO WANT TO LIFT UP THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE SEEING THAT ARE PLAYING OUT, INCLUDING PRIMARILY THE SAFETY AROUND THOSE BRIDGES. UH, AND EXCITING NEWS. UH, WE ARE HAVING OUR ANNUAL E RECYCLING EVENT. THIS IS A FREE E ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT FOR DISTRICT C RESIDENTS. WE PARTNER, UH, I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR PARTNERING WITH ALL SAINTS CHURCH IN THE HEIGHTS. AGAIN, IT IS THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH FROM 9:00 AM TO NOON. UH, WE PUT UP DISTRICT C FUNDS. THESE ARE RESIDENT FUNDED EFFORTS, UM, BUT IT'S A [07:00:01] GREAT PRACTICE IN SUSTAINABILITY TO RECYCLE OLD ELECTRONICS RESPONSIBLY. IT ALSO IS A GREAT WAY TO CLEAR OUT THOSE DRAWERS. I KNOW I WILL BE DOING THE SAME, UH, BUT YOU CAN VISIT THE DISTRICT C WEBSITE FOR A LIST OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT RECYCLE. LASTLY, AS WE CONTINUE TO COMMEMORATE, UH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN DISTRICT C, THE FREEMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY IS HOSTING SEVERAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS AT THE VISITOR'S CENTER. YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, UH, AND THEN HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES IS HOSTING BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS IN DISTRICT C. THERE'S A FULL LINEUP ON THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE AS WELL. UM, BUT WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE ATTENTION IN LIFTING UP THE HISTORY, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT C WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU, JACKSON. YEAH, I KNOW WHO'S NEXT, BUT EVAN SHAMA YOUR LIGHT. SO YES, MAYOR, I WAS REMISS. I DID NOT OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO FORMER SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE PAULA HARRIS. UH, HER FATHER PASSED AND HIS SERVICES ARE TOMORROW AT GOOD HOPE CHURCH AT 11:00 AM SO I CERTAINLY WANTED TO EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA START OFF BY INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBERS FROM, UM, TO MY TEAM. UM, THEY'RE IN THE AUDIENCE. YEAH, I'LL STAND UP. UM, WE, TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS JOINED BY MARQUEE POSEY AND GISELLE HERNANDEZ FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, THEIR REENTRY PROGRAM. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE OUT MY VALUES OF, UM, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WITH SECOND CHANCES TO HAVE THOSE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO MARQUEE WILL BE ASSISTING THE BE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE, HELPING CONNECT PEOPLE TO JOBS, UM, AND RESOURCES. AND HE WILL ALSO OVERSEE THE BE CLEAN TEAM. GISELLE WILL BE LEADING OUR SMALL HOME REPAIR PROGRAM AND OUR SPEED CUSHION EFFORTS. UM, ON TOP OF THAT, THEY WOULD DO, UM, GENERAL CONSTITUENT SERVICES, UM, UM, FOR DISTRICT B. SO THANK YOU ALL. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE. UM, YES, AND THEN ALSO WE, TWO WEEKS AGO WE WERE JOINED BY ANTHONY COLLIER. HE WAS HERE EARLIER STANDING BEHIND ME. HE'S A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LAW STUDENT GRADUATE. UM, HE IS OUR FIRST DIRECTOR OF POLICY. AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH HIM TO START DIVING INTO, UM, FIXING CODES AND, AND MAKING POLICIES MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO, UM, AND ALSO WE HAVE THREE COLLEGE INTERNS THIS SEMESTER, AND TWO OF 'EM ARE FROM UNIVERSITY OF, UM, I'M SORRY, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. AND WE HAVE ONE FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE TEAM. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN DISTRICT B. AND SO, UM, HAPPY ABOUT THE ADDITIONS TO HELP US MOVE DISTRICT B FORWARD. UM, ALSO LAST WEEK WE HAD SEVERAL CLEANUPS IN DISTRICT B. I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT, A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR AND YOUR TEAM, UM, ON OUR TREES AND TREES, NOT TRASH. UM, WE ACTUALLY PLANTED A TOTAL OF 112, UM, 12 TREES. WE HAD 78 VOLUNTEERS. AND SO IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE ALL THE COMMUNITY OUT, UM, WORKING REALLY HARD TO, UM, CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. IN FACT, WE HAD KIMBERLY SADDLE WHITE OUT OF FIFTH WARD. SHE ACTUALLY SAW SOME PEOPLE ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THEM, CONFRONT THEM, UM, AND REPORT THEM. AND SO THAT WAS LIKE, YEAH, WE WAS LIKE, KUDOS TO HER. AND SO, UM, THE NEXT TREES NOT TRASH EVENT IS GONNA BE MARCH THE FIRST AT HUTCHINSON PARK. AND SO, UM, YOU CAN GO TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE OR REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THESE EVENTS. AND OF COURSE, UM, CIVIC CLUB, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, IF YOU WANT TO DO A CLEANUP EVENT, REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE. WE'RE ENCOURAGING THIS PARTNERSHIP. UM, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CLEAN, IS BY WORKING TOGETHER. SO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 TO, UM, SIGN UP AND WE'LL, YOU KNOW, GET OUR HOT TEAM AND, UM, OUR RESOURCES FROM THE TWO BANK, UM, TO YOU SO THAT WE CAN CLEAN UP YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND THAT'S IT. YOU GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THERE. I KNOW, HUH? WELL, THEY ACTUALLY, SOME OF 'EM ARE WORKING IN THE MULTI SERVICE CENTERS TOO. YEAH. SO, WHICH IS GREAT. YEAH, UNDERSTAND. * 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.