* 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. [00:00:02] PLEASE COME TO ORDER. I'M [PRESENTATIONS] GONNA ASK THE, UH, MAYOR PRO PROAM PROAM TO, UH, PRESIDE. THANK YOU, MARK. YOU GOT IT. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE FAMILY OF RODOLFO VITO TIS TO HONOR HIS LIFE AS A MUSICAL LEGEND. ARE YOU DOING WELL? IF I CAN HAVE THE FAMILY, IF I COULD HAVE THE FAMILY TO COME UP, UH, ALEJANDRA OLIVAREZ, JUAN PABLO OLIVAREZ, UH, HIS WIFE, ZELDA OLIVAREZ AND SON, OLFO OLIVAREZ JR. YOU KNOW, UM, AND BEFORE I BEGIN WITH A FEW WORDS, I JUST WANNA, UH, REFLECT ON SOME OF MY MEMORIES. UM, AND IF YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IF I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK OF A BACKYARD PARTY, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUR CONSISTENT MUSIC THAT HAPPENS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S THIS ONE MUSIC THAT HITS, AND THEN THE PARTY REALLY STARTS. SO FOR ME, IT'S RAMALA, FREDDIE FINDLER. WE LISTENED TO THAT, AND THEN WHEN VITO CAME ON, THAT'S WHEN THE PARTY WAS REALLY GONNA HAPPEN, RIGHT? THE KUMBIA, UH, CAME ON. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TRUE HONOR FOR ME TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THE SONS AND DAUGHTER AND WIFE OF THE LATE VITO OLIVARES, UH, KNOWN FOR HIS UNFORGETTABLE HITS LIKE JUANA LAJUANA VITO'S UNIQUE SOUND AND VIBRANT ENERGY LEFT AN UNDENIABLE MARK ON, ON LATIN MUSIC. HIS SAXOPHONE, MELODIES, AND INFECTIOUS RHYTHMS BROUGHT JOY TO COUNTLESS CELEBRATIONS FROM QUINCEANERAS TO THE DANCE FLOORS, TO BACKYARDS AROUND THE WORLD. VITO'S LEGACY LIVE LIVES ON THROUGH THE JOY OF HIS MUSIC, AS HIS MUSIC CONTINUES TO BRING, UH, AND INSPIRE, UH, THE THINGS THAT FOR, FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS TO COME AS ARTISTS AND FANS LIKE ALIKE. UM, AND SO I'M GONNA READ A FEW, UH, OF THESE, THESE, UH, PARAGRAPHS FROM THE PROCLAMATION. UM, WHEREAS APRIL 15TH, 2025, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS THE ENDURING LEGACY OF RUTO OLIVARES, THE CELEBRATED MEXICAN KUMBIA MUSICIAN WHOSE INFLUENCE HAS RESONATED THROUGH THE GENERATIONS INSPIRING DANCERS AND MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS ACROSS HOUSTON AND THE GLOBAL LATINO COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS BORN IN ON APRIL 19TH, 1947, FI OLIVA BEGAN HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY AT A YOUNG AGE MASTERING THE SAXOPHONE AND WRITING SONGS THAT WOULD GO ON TO DEFINE THE GENRE OF CUMBIA. AFTER MOVING TO HOUSTON, OLIVAREZ BECAME A KEY FIGURE IN BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SCENES WITH HIS BAND FI OLIVARES IS GRUPO KNOWN FOR THEIR SIGN SIGNATURE, ENERGETIC STYLE AND SOUND, AS WELL AS THEIR DEEP COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL EXPRESSION. AND WHEREAS OLIVAREZ GAINED WIDESPREAD ACCLAIM WITH HIS HITS, JUAN LA LESINA, EACH BECA BECOMING STAPLES OF LA LATINO CELEBRATIONS WORLDWIDE. HIS INFECTIOUS RHYTHM, HU HUMOR INFUSED LYRICS AND UNMISTAKABLE MELODIES HAVE MADE HIS MUSIC A CHERISHED PART OF COUNTLESS FAMILY GATHERINGS, WEDDINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. AND WHEREAS THOUGH OLIVA PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 17TH, 2023, HIS MUSIC AND LEGACY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE JOY, CONNECTION, CELEBRATION IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HONORS, HIS ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS, ENSURING THAT HIS RHYTHM WILL RESONATE IN, IN THE HEARTS OF HOUSTONIANS AND BEYOND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. MAYOR, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS RECOGNITION TO COUNCIL THIS MORNING. UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE VITO'S LEGACY AND, UH, CREATING, CONTRIBUTING TO THE GREATNESS OF HOUSTON FROM A, UH, CULTURAL STANDPOINT AND THE JOY AND PLEASURE THAT THIS, UH, MUSIC BROUGHT TO SO MANY OF US. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 15TH, 2025 IS RODOLFO VITO OLIVERES DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:06:06] JOSE CAN MAKE IT. WE'LL BE DOWNSTAIRS AT THE LEGACY ROOM AROUND TWO O'CLOCK. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MARK KISKY FOR, TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MS. TEXAS ONE 50 CYCLING TEAM. I, IF I COULD ASK DIRECTOR CHEEKS AND SEAN FROM WELLNESS AND GREG BELL TO COME UP FOR THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE ENTIRE MS ONE 50 CITY OF HOUSTON TEAM. UH, TO COMMEMORATE THIS YEAR'S RIDE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL TODAY, WE ARE VERY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S MS ONE 50 CYCLING TEAM. THEIR EFFORTS HAVE HELPED TO RAISE AWARENESS AND CRITICAL FUNDS IN THE FIGHT TO END. MS I'M VERY PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THIS YEAR'S CYCLING TEAM, AND IT READS, WHEREAS THE BIKE MS. TEXAS MS ONE 50 IS A TWO DAY FUNDRAISING CYCLING EVENT ORGANIZED BY THE NATIONAL MS. SOCIETY LONE STAR CHAPTER. SINCE ITS ITS INCEPTION IN 1985, THE EVENT HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND, RAISING NEARLY $300 MILLION TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RESEARCH PATIENT SERVICES AND ADVOCACY. EACH YEAR, IT BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 13,000 CYCLISTS AND 3,500 VOLUNTEERS COLLECTIVELY RAISING MORE THAN $20 MILLION ANNUALLY. WHEREAS FUNDS RAISED THROUGH BIKE MS DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE NATIONAL MS. SOCIETY'S MISSION TO ADVANCE CRITICAL MEDICAL RESEARCH, EXPAND ACCESS TO CARE, AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. WHEREAS THE 40TH ANNUAL TEXAS MS ONE 50 WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 26TH THROUGH 27TH, 2025, CONCLUDING AT KYLE FIELD AND COLLEGE STATION. THIS YEAR'S EVENT WILL FEATURE STARTING LOCATIONS AT HOUSTON'S ENERGY CORRIDOR, WALLER COUNTY'S ROYAL SCHOOL COMPLEX, AND AUSTIN'S TEXAS STATE CAPITOL WITH ALL FIRST STATE ROUTES CONVERGING AT THE FAYETTE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN LA GRANGE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE TEXAS MS ONE 50 FOR THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, HAVING RAISED MORE THAN $300,000 FOR THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY DURING ITS FIRST DECADE OF INVOLVEMENT, THE TEAM PROUDLY REPRESENTS THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MS ONE 50 CYCLING TEAM FOR THEIR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT TO END MS, THE CITY EXTENDS ITS SINCEREST APPRECIATION AND BEST WISHES FOR A SAFE, SUCCESSFUL AND MEANINGFUL RIDE. MAYOR, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE, CAST TATUM, LET ME LET EVERYONE KNOW I HAVE PARTICIPATED FOR YEARS BEING AT THE STATE CAPITOL, , WAITING FOR YOU. SO I OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A BIG DISCUSSION WHEN HOUSTONIANS SHOW UP AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND WE WAIT AND, UH, SHARE THE EXPERIENCES OF OVERNIGHT STAYS ON THE ROADS TO AUSTIN. SO IN SUCH A WORTHY CALL, THANK YOU FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE ORGANIZERS, THE PARTICIPANTS YOU REPRESENT HOUSTON SO WELL, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMAR, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 15TH, 2025, THE CITY OF HOUSTON BIKE, MS. TEXAS MS. ONE 50 CYCLING TEAM IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU'ALL. THANK, WE JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE CASTEX STADIUM FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS [00:10:01] WHO ARE GOING TO BE EMBARKING ON THIS HISTORIC RYE. UM, IT'S A BIG PHYSICAL UNDERTAKING TO SUPPORT, UM, UH, WE'RE VERY WORTHY CAUSE. UM, AND LASTLY, DEFINITELY WANNA THANK CIGNA FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THE MS ONE 50 TEAM THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. IF WE COULD GET ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM TO COME UP FOR A PHOTO, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE. FIRST, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROAM, UH, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING THE MS ONE 50. THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROCLAMATION THAT'S WELL DESERVED. UM, JUST PAST, UH, WEEKEND, WE DID TOUR THE HOUSTON, I ONLY DID 45. I'M NOT DOING ONE 50 . UM, BUT WHAT, WHAT I WILL SAY IS AS THIS, AS THE REST OF, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES COME UP, UH, HISTORICALLY, COUNCIL HAS HAD FOLKS PARTICIPATE. UM, I, I PARTICIPATED, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR IT WAS. I DON'T KNOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 2016 ISH, 17. UM, BUT I THINK IT'S, IT SHOULD BE A CHALLENGE TO THE COUNCIL FLOOR AGAIN TO START PARTICIPATING. SO I'LL LEAVE THAT CHARGE. I'LL LEAVE THAT CHARGE. HE CAN REPRESENT US. THANK YOU. YEAH, I'LL WAIT FOR YOU. THE CAPITOL COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. I'VE ALREADY DONE THAT, SO WE CAN, WE CAN CHECK THAT BOX OFF. WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT AGAIN. MAYOR PROM HAS DONE IT AS WELL. COUNCIL, WHAT? UM, WE HAVE ONE MORE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROTI AND I, I'VE DONE IT TWICE. AND THOSE HILLS, I ASKED SOMEBODY, I SAID, IS THAT THE LAST ONE? THEY'RE LIKE, OH, YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S THE LAST ONE. AND THERE WAS LIKE EIGHT HOURS MORE OF THIS . UM, IT, KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU. I WISH I COULD RIDE WITH Y'ALL THIS YEAR, BUT I CAN'T. I JUST CAN'T DO IT. I'M NOT TRAINED WELL ENOUGH, BUT HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR I RIDE WITH Y'ALL. BUT NO, IT'S A GREAT RIDE. IT'S A, IT'S FOR A GREAT CAUSE. AND, UM, I'M REALLY JUST GRATEFUL, THANK YOU, CIGNA, FOR, FOR, FOR BEING ONE OF OUR SPONSORS AND FOR Y'ALL JUST BEING CONSISTENT. MM-HMM . UM, VICE MAYOR PERM, I MEAN, MAYOR PERM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. CONGRATULATIONS. THE BEST OF LUCK. THANK YOU. UP NEXT, THE CHAIR [00:15:01] RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS GROUP FOR PROBABLY ABOUT A DECADE NOW. UM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY IN JOAQUIN'S DISTRICT. UH, THEIR, THEIR FACILITY OUT THERE. SO BOTH OF US, WERE GONNA BE GIVING OUT THE PROCLAMATION. JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH IT. CHARLES BLAINE HAD INVITED ME TO COME UP TO THE PRISON, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A SHARK TANK UP THERE. UM, THEY HAVE TO SEND IN PAPERWORK, JUST THEY CHECK YOUR BACKGROUND, MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY TO GO INTO THE PRISON. YOU GO UP TO THE PRISON, YOU GO THROUGH SECURITY, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY QUITE EXTENSIVE SECURITY GOING INTO THE PRISON. AND THEN YOU WAIT THERE IN ANOTHER ROOM WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE UNTIL SOMEBODY COMES AND GETS YOU. AND THEY CAME AND GOT US, AND THEY STARTED TAKING US BACK TO WHERE ALL THE, UM, PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WERE. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMOTION. AND AS CLOSER, WE GOT THE LOUDER, IT GOT LOUDER IT GOT, AND I WAS STARTING TO GET A LITTLE WORRIED, KIND OF LOOK AROUND, AND BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE ROOM AND OPEN UP THE DOOR, YOU FIND ALL THESE PEOPLE CELEBRATING. AND THE, THE YELLING AND THE HOLLERING WAS HOW HAPPY THEY WERE. UM, HAD A COUPLE OF THE GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM THAT SPOKE, AND, AND ACTUALLY IT'S ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT PEP. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE PROGRAM ARE ACTUALLY PREVIOUSLY GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM. A LOT OF THE DONORS WERE PREVIOUSLY IN THE PROGRAM AS WELL. UM, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN GOT UP AND SPOKE, AND I THINK HE WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST, UM, PEP GRADUATE DONOR. HIS GOAL WAS TO BE THE HIGHEST THE NEXT YEAR. AND THEN HE TOLD A STORY ABOUT WHEN HE GOT OUT OF PRISON, HE HAD NO DRIVER'S LICENSE AND NO SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. AND I'M JUST LIKE, HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE DO THIS? YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE EXPECT? AND PEP DOES A FANTASTIC JOB OF WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE GREATLY REDUCING THE RECIDIVISM RATE. SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, WANTED ONTO THEM. THEY'VE GOT A, THEIR BIG EVENT IS COMING UP, UH, THE 29TH. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. AND, UH, NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'VE GOT A TABLE, A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONNA BE JOINING ME AT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REALLY WANNA SUPPORT THIS ORGANIZATION. LIKE I SAID, I REALLY BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING GOD'S WORK. SO, UH, I'LL BE BRIEF. UH, BUT YOU KNOW, FRED, AS FRED MENTIONED, UH, YOU KNOW, PIP IS IN DISTRICT. I, BUT, UH, HE INVITED ME TO HAVE BREAKFAST WITH HIM AND CHIP AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE SHARED SOME STORIES I'VE SHARED AROUND THE HORSESHOE THAT MY BROTHER, WHO'S NOT WITH US NOW, WAS, UH, UH, IN THE PENITENTIARY FOR SEVEN YEARS, UM, BUT CAME OUT AND EVENTUALLY WAS A LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL COACH. UM, WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, HE, HE FOUND THE SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT HE NEEDED. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AS I WAS, WAS SPEAKING TO CHIP, UH, JUST BEFORE COME, YOU KNOW, WELL, WHEN I CAME IN, YOU KNOW, HE, HE SAID SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL AROUND THIS HORSESHOE SHOULD REALLY, UH, HOLD NEAR AND DEAR TO US, AND REALLY TRY AND CLAIM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IS HOUSTON SHOULD BE THEIR SECOND CHANCE CITY. UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UNHOUSED FOLKS, WE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT FOLKS GO THROUGH, BUT IF, IF NOT FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PIP AND LEADERSHIP AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, THEN IT REALLY BECOMES, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE JUST LOST. UM, AND SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO JOIN THEM ON THE 29TH FOR SURE. CHIP, , GOOD TO HEAR. AND I WANNA THANK, UH, MY COLLEAGUE FRED. UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, WHEN WE HAD, WHEN WE HAD THAT BREAKFAST, UM, SEEING, SEEING HIS PASSION TO, TO REALLY SEE, UH, FOLKS BE SUCCESSFUL, UM, AND, AND NOT JUST THE, THE HANDOUT, RIGHT? IT'S ACTUALLY TEACHING THEM, GIVING THEM SKILLS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM AS WELL, WHICH WE ALL NEED. AND SO, I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANTED TO DO THIS. UM, WHEREAS FOR 20 YEARS, THE PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH SKILLS, TRAINING AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES, RE REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AND MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE, TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS PIP HAS SERVED NEARLY 10,000 INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, GRADUATED OVER 4,000 MEN WITH CERTIFICATES IN, IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR, FROM THE BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, HANDCAR HANDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, AND PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE REENTRY SERVICES TO NEARLY 4,000 RETURNING CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS PIP'S TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT IS AMPLIFIED THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF OVER 8,000 EXECUTIVE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED NEARLY 175,000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME OFFERING MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT TO PART, TO PART PARTICIPANTS AS THEY PREPARE TO FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVES POST-INCARCERATION. AND WHEREAS THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, PIP COMBINES RIGOROUS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS TRAINING, AND MENTORSHIP, CULMINATING IN GRADUATES WHO ACHIEVE EXCEPTIONAL POST-RELEASE OUTCOMES, INCLUDING LOW RECIDIVISM RATES, [00:20:01] STABLE EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS. WHEREAS PIP'S PARTI PARTICIPANTS HAVE LAUNCHED MORE THAN 700 BUSINESSES, INCLUDING SEVERAL, GENERATING OVER 5 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE, WHILE PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO HUNDREDS, MANY OF WHOM ARE RETURNING CITIZENS, SECURING THEIR FIRST JOBS AFTER ITS INCARCERATION. AND WHEREAS PIP HAS RECEIVED PRESTIGIOUS ACCOLADES THROUGH INCLUDING THE TEXAS GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND RECOGNITION AS A RISING STAR BY FAST COMPANY MOTOR GROUP SOCIAL CAPITALIST AWARDS, DEMONSTRATING ITS EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENCES PIP FOR ITS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMING LIVES, PROMOTING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH ITS PIONEERING REENTRY INITIATIVES. THE CITY EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM FOR PLAYING A PIVOTAL ROLE IN MAKING HOUSTON A NATIONAL LEADER IN SECOND CHANCE A CITY, PROBABLY KNOWN AS THE SECOND CHANCE CITY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND, UH, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER FOR BRINGING BEFORE THIS COUNCIL. YOU KNOW, WE, THIS PROGRAM, WE DEAL WITH PROBLEMS MOST DAYS. WE, WE GATHER AND TRY TO FIX THINGS TODAY, WE'RE CELEBRATING SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE FIXED, THAT NEEDS TO BE CELEBRATED AND RECOGNIZED. AND I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM AND THE INMATES THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. SECOND CHANCE WORKS, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. YOU HAVE TO GIVE INMATES A SKILL SET. AND I'VE BEEN RAISING HELL ABOUT NO DRIVER'S LICENSE AND SOCIAL SECURITY. WE MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF HAVING PEOPLE PAPER READY. THAT MEANS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, YOU GOT ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED. AND QUITE OFTEN YOU SIT OVER THERE WHILE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO GATHER ALL THAT. SO I CAME UP WITH A CONCEPT YEARS AGO OF BEING STREET READY, STREET READY, AND NOT THE DAY THAT YOU'RE RELEASED, BUT MONTHS AND YEARS BEFORE. AND THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF MONEY WELL SPENT, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, PUBLIC SECTOR COOPERATING. I'VE BEEN TO THEIR GRADUATIONS, I'VE WATCHED THEIR FAMILIES, SOME OF THESE INMATES, THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE COMPLETED A PROGRAM AND IT WORKS. AND OF COURSE, THEN THEY ASSIST THEM IN REENTRY, WHICH WE NEED TO DO MORE WITH. BUT I'M, I'M EXCITED. I COULD ACTUALLY, YEAH, I'M, I'M HAVING FLASHBACKS TO WHERE I SPENT MANY OF MY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE. SO I'M EXCITED, THEREFORE, AS I, THE JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 15TH, 2025, 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THIS STARTED AS A NATIONAL PROGRAM, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO PENETRATE THE TEXAS PRISON SYSTEM, BUT THEY HAD THE CREDIBILITY AND THE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO LET'S ALL CELEBRATE THIS PROCLAMATION. GOOD AFTERNOON, I'LL BE QUICK. MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, HONORABLE COUNCILMAN AND WOMEN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. UM, WE'RE EXCITED, MAYOR, TO HAVE YOU AS ONE OF OUR SHARKS AT THIS UPCOMING EVENT ON APRIL 29TH. IT'S GONNA BE WONDERFUL, AND WE HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU THERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH 15,000 RETURNING MEN AND WOMEN COMING HOME FROM PRISON EVERY YEAR TO HOUSTON, IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE FOR US. AND AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO EMBRACE THESE RETURNING CITIZENS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT COMMUNITY IS THE ESSENTIAL PIECE OF THIS. YES, SECURITY, SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS AND JOBS AND HOUSING IS IMPORTANT, BUT WE REALLY NEED A CULTURAL SHIFT, A CULTURAL PARADIGM, AND I THINK EMBODIED IN THIS PROCLAMATION IS THIS IDEA THAT HOUSTON COULD ACTUALLY BECOME THE FIRST, SECOND CHANCE CITY IN THE NATION, THE FIRST OF WHAT IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE MANY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING US AND, UH, AND JOINING WITH US IN THIS ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALOR. COUNCIL MEMBER ALOR, THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. I'VE BEEN TO THAT SHARK TANK EVENT BEFORE, AND IT'S, IT'S GREAT FUN. AND I'LL SEE YOU ON THE 29TH. I SPENT A COUPLE YEARS DOING A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM CALLED BRIDGES TO LIFE WITH, UM, WITH, UH, AT THE DARRINGTON UNIT. AND HEARING, HEARING STORIES OF, OF THE GUYS, I MEAN, THEY NEED A CHANCE WHEN THEY GET OUT BECAUSE IT WASN'T THEIR FIRST TIME IN NOBODY. EVERYBODY HAD BEEN IN AT LEAST TWO MANY MORE TIMES BECAUSE THEY GET OUT, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILL SETS, THEY DON'T HAVE, AND THEY, THEY DON'T, CAN'T GET A JOB, AND THEY WANDER BACK TO THE SAME LIFESTYLE THEY HAD BEFORE. SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS SO CRITICAL. THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE 29TH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. [00:25:01] THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AND, UM, JOAQUIN FOR BRINGING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, FOR BRINGING THAT I STILL SEE HIM AS A LITTLE BOY, UH, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I EMBARRASSED TO SAY THAT I DID NOT KNOW, UH, A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THE PROGRAM UNTIL MOST RECENTLY. BUT I LOVE THE SOUND OF THE SECOND CHANCE CITY, AND CERTAINLY MY OFFICE HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET, BECOME MORE INVOLVED BECAUSE THE, THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING EVERY DAY MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE. YOU'LL NEVER TRULY KNOW WHAT IT, WHAT IT MEANS TO SO MANY. BUT THANK YOU FRED, FOR BRINGING IT, AND IT'S JUST A, A GREAT, GREAT, GREAT PROGRAM. I'M SORRY I'M NOT GONNA BE WITH Y'ALL ON THE 29TH. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER COMMITMENT, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AND MARTINEZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. UM, SECOND CHANCE IS MY NUMBER ONE, THE NUMBER ONE WORD THAT I LIKE TO USE. SECOND CHANCE, UM, I JUST RECENTLY LAUNCHED, UM, PAST THREE YEARS AGO TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THAT FOCUSES ON WORKING WITH OUR AT-RISK YOUTH. AND I CAME INTO THIS MOVEMENT, UM, BECAUSE OF MY SON BEING INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE SYSTEM. AND SO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE YOUNG FOLKS WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE SYSTEM BEFORE THEY COME OUTTA THE SYSTEM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED IS, IS, IS CRITICAL FOR THEM BEING SUCCESSFUL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE NEED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURSELF TO SUPPORT, UM, THESE FOLKS THAT COMING OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO JUST THANK YOU, UM, COUNT ME IN AS A PARTNER. ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO SUPPORT, I'M HERE. JUST HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT'S FOCUSING ON HELPING PEOPLE GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR A PROCLAMATION TO 9 1 1 PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHERS FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY. TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IS PECK. SO COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS, HOW YOU DOING? IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, TO OUR TELECOMMUNICATORS. WE OFTEN THINK SOMETIMES ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS JUST POLICE AND FIRE, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR DISPATCHERS PLAY A CRITICAL PIECE IN, IN THIS AS WELL. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY. WHEREAS EVERYDAY PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS SERVE AS THE UNSEEN YET ESSENTIAL FIRST RESPONDERS IN TIMES OF CRISIS, DEMONSTRATING UNWAVERING DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND RESILIENCE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON. [00:30:01] AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER, 9 1 1 TELECOMMUNICATORS AND SENIOR NINE ONE ONE TELECOMMUNICATORS ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, ANSWERING THOUSANDS OF EMERGENCY CALLS, SERVING AS THE CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN THOSE IN DISTRESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE, CALM REASSURANCE, AND LIFESAVING INSTRUCTIONS. AND WHEREAS THEIR DEDICATION OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED, YET THEIR VOICES PROVIDE HOPE AND SECURITY IN THE DARKEST MOMENTS, MAKING THEM THE LIFELINE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK OBSERVED ANNUALLY DURING THE SECOND FULL WEEK OF APRIL IS A TIME TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THESE EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS WHO EMBODY COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER 9 1 1 AND SENIOR 9 1 1 TELECOMMUNICATORS ON THIS AND NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY, TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK AND EXPRESS PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SELFLESS SERVICE IN PROTECTING LIVES, ENSURING THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL VAS, MAYOR PROTE, AND AS YOU SAID, BUT I'LL EVEN AMPLIFY, WE COULDN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT WE ALL KNOW TO PAUSE AND THANK YOU AND NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE SHOW OUR APPRECIATION IN YOUR WORKING CONDITIONS. I'VE BEEN OUT TO EMERGENCY CENTER DURING CRISIS, AND I DO SEE YOU BRING IN YOUR BED ROLLS. I MEAN, HOUSTONIANS DON'T KNOW WHO KEEPS THAT GOING. WHILE WE'RE ASKING EVERYBODY TO STAY AT HOME AND BE PREPARED, Y'ALL ARE ALREADY PREPARED. AND, UH, AS A MAYOR, I, AND, AND AS A HOUSTONIAN, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. YOU HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP. UH, I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S TOUGH AND I KNOW THE BURNOUT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT YOU JUST KEEP PUTTING THAT YOUR FOOT FORWARD AND HOUSTONIANS OWE YOU A GREAT GRATITUDE. AND YOU ARE VERY MUCH FIRST RESPONDERS. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 13TH TO APRIL 19TH, 2025 IS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO FOR IT. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND PRESENT, UH, THIS GREAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS HERE. THAT'S DAY IN, DAY OUT. THEY'RE HERE THROUGH THINKING THEN. AND, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THIS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. TAKE A COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCTOR. STRIKE THAT. COUNCIL [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] MEMBER DAVIS FRIEND, VOCATION FOR THE INVOCATION. LET US PRAY. E ETERNAL GOD, WE DO THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL BLESSING THAT YOU RESTORED UPON US, THAT WE MAY BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THIS GREAT CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE AROUND THIS TABLE, OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS THAT ALL OF US WOULD BE WELL IN OUR FAVOR. IN YOUR FAVOR, SHINE UPON US TO DUE DILIGENCE OF THE CITY OF BUSINESS. WE PRAY THAT WE BE LISTENERS AS WELL AS SPEAKERS, AND ALL OF US WILL [00:35:01] BE CONSIDERATE OF EACH OTHER. BLESS OUR EFFORTS ON THIS DAY. KEEPS US ALL SAVED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR GREAT CITY. AND WE'LL BE SO KIND AND CAREFUL TO GIVE YOU THE PRAISE, THE HONOR, AND THE GLORY. IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, OUR PLEDGE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED. MR. SECRETARY, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IN THE BUILDING, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER PRESENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 15 AND 16. CASTEX T MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION IS PASSED. UH, [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE LINDA MURRAY AT THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. MY OTHER LIST. I'M JUST GONNA LEAVE IT. VERY GOOD. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SEBASTIAN LONG, UM, TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION IS APPROVED. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT MR. SECRETARY, WILL YOU CALL ON FIRST SPEAKER TOMORROW? BE SEBASTIAN LONG, HUH? SHE CAME. SEBASTIAN, SEBASTIAN, LONG. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS, UH, OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN LONG AND I'M THE CEO OF LODGER, A SHORT TERM RENTAL AND CORPORATE HOUSING OPERATOR. SINCE 2019, WE'VE SAFELY HOSTED OVER 10,000 GUESTS. I'VE SPOKEN WITH OPERATORS REPRESENTING NEARLY 1000 LISTINGS IN HOUSTON, AND I'M HELPING TO FORM A STATEWIDE TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR RESPONSIBLE OPERATORS. WE'RE PROUD MEMBERS OF BOTH THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND THE CORPORATE HOUSING PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION. OUR COMPANY CONVERTS VACANT APARTMENTS IN CLASS A COMMUNITIES INTO SAFE, PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED FUR FURNISHED RENTALS. WE OPERATE IN MIDTOWN, THE TMC AND SOON IN THE ENERGY CORRIDOR NEAR THE TMC WEST CAMPUS. WITH MORE LOCATIONS IN THE PIPELINE. OUR GUESTS INCLUDE CANCER PATIENTS, BUSINESS TRAVELERS, INTERNS AND FAMILIES IN TRANSITION. WE'RE NOT PARTY HOUSES, WE'RE PART OF HOUSTON'S HOSPITALITY AND HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DON'T WANT BAD ACTORS GIVING US A BAD NAME. THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT ITEM 44, ALSO KNOWN AS AMENDMENT TWO. IN PRINCIPLE, THIS AMENDMENT HELPS THE CITY AVOID CHASING INDIVIDUAL LISTINGS ONE BY ONE. HOWEVER, IT UNFAIRLY TARGETS MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ONLY. WE URGE TWO KEY CHANGES. ONE, APPLY THIS EQUALLY ACROSS ALL OPERATORS AND PROPERTY TYPES, AND ALLOW THE CITY TO ROGUE LICENSES ACROSS AN OPERATORS IN TYPE PORTFOLIO, NOT JUST ONE BUILDING. TWO, REVISE SECTION 28 DASH 7 33, A EIGHT OF THE ORDINANCE TO REMOVE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OF OCCUPANTS, THE GUESTS AS GROUNDS FOR REVOCATION. THIS DOESN'T APPEAR IN HOTEL OR APARTMENT ORDINANCES AND COULD DISCOURAGE OPERATORS FROM CALLING THE POLICE WHEN NEEDED. WE SUPPORT ITEM 45, REQUIRING FREE TRAINING FOR OPERATORS ON IDENTIFYING REPORTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. A RECOMMENDATION WE MADE LAST DECEMBER ON ITEM 46, DEFINING PLA. OKAY, YOU CAN, UH, WRAP IT UP IF YOU OH, UM, YEAH. BROADEN THE DEFINITION O OF PLATFORMS TO EXCLUDE WEBSITES THAT DON'T HANDLE BOOKINGS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA, SEARCH ENGINE ADS OR DIRECTORIES LIKE HER AND JOE'S HOUSE. UM, RECOMMEND EXTENDING PERMIT TERMS TO THREE YEARS AND ADDING POST JANUARY 1ST. SAFEGUARDS FOR THE NEW LISTINGS [00:40:01] FROM LICENSED OPERATORS TO BE DEEMED AS APPROVED SO THEY DON'T SUFFER FROM ANY POTENTIAL BACKLOGS. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER, WE HAVE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE BY EMAIL AND WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS A RA LEGAL ON ANY OF THE MINUTIA THAT ARE KIND OF REQUIRED TO PASS A A FAIR ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. NOW, TOMORROW. BE, AND I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE. JIMMY KING. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. UH, MY NAME IS JIMMY KING AND I'M A, UH, CITIZEN OF PLEASANTVILLE, UH, HERE IN THE INNER CITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS. UH, I'M REPRESENTING A, UM, UH, SUPPORT COMMUNITY LED STORM WATER DRAINAGE PROJECT. UH, WE'RE HAVING A, WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM. UH, WE, IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM. UM, THERE, THERE'S A DRUDGE IN THE BACK OF THE COMMUNITY. ANYTIME WE HAVE A, UH, HURRICANE, UH, IT, IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT IS AWFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. WHAT CAUSE IT, IT CAUSES A DRUDGE. IT, IT OVERFLOWS THE WATER COMES INTO THE COMMUNITY. IT IS CATASTROPHIC, UH, DAMAGE ON HOUSES. UH, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD FLOOD DAMAGE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE. SO, LONG STORY SHORT, UH, PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. UH, THE PORT HAS, UH, THEY'VE RECEIVED $25 MILLION, SOME OF THE MONIES TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROJECT. THE CITY HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AS WELL. THERE'S A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN NAMED TO THIS. SO WHAT WE ASK IS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT, THAT YOU GIVE US, UH, GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TIME SUPPORT ON THIS PROJECT. WE WON'T BE, WE, WE DON'T WANNA BE FORGOTTEN. WE ARE PLEASANTVILLE. WE SUPPORT YOU GUYS WHEN YOU COME OUT AND WANT OUR VOTES. HAPPY TO SUPPORT YOU IN TURN. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. UH, WE ARE COMMUNITY IN NEED. WE'RE JUST SIMPLY TRYING TO MITIGATE, TRYING TO FORECAST AND LOOK AHEAD SO THAT WE CAN, UH, RESOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT THE WEATHER WILL CAUSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT, BRIDGET MURRAY. HELLO AGAIN, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE, THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT MR. KING JUST REFERENCED. UM, THIS WILL PROVIDE SOME FLOOD MITIGATION RELIEF TO THE PLEASANTVILLE COMMUNITY. FLOODING IN PLEASANTVILLE IS COMPLEX BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE ENTITIES CONTRIBUTING TO A MANMADE ISSUE. WE HAVE TEXT DOT WHERE A SIX 10 FREEWAY CUTS OFF THE NATURAL FLOW OF DRAINAGE FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THE CITY, MANY YEARS AGO ENCLOSED THE DITCHES OF PLEASANTVILLE, WHICH WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR, BUT IT HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS AS WE LOOK AT HIGHER RAIN, UH, VOLUMES. AND OF COURSE, THE PORT HOUSTON DREDGE SITE THAT'S NEAR OUR COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM PLEASANTVILLE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE PORT INCLUDED AN INFRASTRUCTURE DRAINAGE PROJECT AS PART OF THEIR GRANT APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. AND THE PORT ANNOUNCED THAT, THAT THEY DID RECEIVE THE GRANT IN NOVEMBER OF 2024. AND THIS IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE CH FOR THE PORT. ITS LEADERSHIP CHAIRMAN CAMPO TO DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR NEAR PORT COMMUNITIES. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HERE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS COMPLETED MULTIPLE STUDIES DOCUMENTING THE FLOODING ISSUES IN PLEASANTVILLE. THE CITY PRIORITIZED AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN PLEASANTVILLE AFTER HARVEY, WHICH WAS DENIED OF COURSE, BY THE STATE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES PARTICIPATED IN THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY, THE PORT AND ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. AND AS A RESULT, PUBLIC WORKS SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR FUNDING OF THIS PROJECT. SO BASICALLY, THIS PROJECT RECEIVES FUNDING FROM BOTH THE PORT AS POTENTIALLY FROM THE CITY FOR COMPLETION TO MITIGATE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CITY GENERALLY IDENTIFIES AS A WIN. SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON BENEFITS FROM A COLLABORATION WITH THE PORT TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, AS WELL AS REDUCE THE BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS BY THE CITY. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAS A QUESTION. THANK YOU BRIDGET, FOR COMING. AND MA'AM, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PLEASANTVILLE DRAINAGE. I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN THE APPLICATIONS WERE PUT INTO THE GLO. I MEAN, WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON IT I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IN 2020. SO HERE WE ARE FIVE YEARS LATER. UM, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES THESE PROJECTS AND, AND THANKS FOR COMING. IF YOU WANTED TO FINISH UP YOUR REMARKS, THE ONLY THING THAT I, [00:45:01] UH, I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY IS THAT THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, UM, HAS PRIORITIZED THE PROJECT, BUT OF COURSE, NO FUNDING HAS BEEN ALLOCATED AT THIS POINT. AND SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY, UH, VIEWS THIS PROJECT AS A PRIORITY AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OBJECTION. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU BRIDGET AND MR. KING FOR YOUR, UM, ADVOCACY FOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE FOLKS IN PLEASANTVILLE VOICE IS HEARD. UM, I APPRECIATE OUR UPDATE THAT YOU GAVE ME THIS MORNING. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UM, PUBLIC WORKS. I WILL TALK WITH RANDY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICATION THAT THEY SUBMITTED, UM, FOR THE SUPPLEMENTARY FUNDING MOVE FORWARD. UM, AND SO I KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, EVERYONE IS GONNA DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT WE NEED THEM. UM, FLOOD MITIGATION, UM, HAS BEEN A, A BIG A PRIORITY ACROSS THE CITY, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT B. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, UM, FOR KEEPING UP, UM, THE GREAT WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT KIVA ST. FORD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KIVA ST. FORT AND I'M A RESIDENT OF CLINTON PARK IN DISTRICT. I REPRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITIES OF JACINTO CITY AND PLEASANTVILLE. OUR AREA IS HEAVILY IMPACTED BY FREQUENT TRAIN TRAFFIC, WHICH NOT ONLY DISRUPTS DAILY LIFE AND TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT HAS ALSO BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS ON RESIDENTS. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT ADDRESSING THE BROADER CONCERNS RELATED TO TRAIN OPERATIONS MAY BE COMPLEX, I'M HERE TO REQUEST A PRACTICAL AND MEANINGFUL CHANGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUIET ZONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 40% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN CLINTON PARK HAVE CHILDREN, AND WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF, OF, OF OLDER ADULTS, MANY OF WHOM WHO HAVE LIVED HERE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. THE CONSTANT SOUNDING OF TRAIN HORNS AT ALL HOURS IS DISRUPTIVE AND UNNECESSARY, ESPECIALLY WITH FLASHING LIGHTS AND GUARDRAILS. ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, TRAIN, HORNS ARE NOT REQUIRED AT CROSSINGS THAT MEET THESE SAFETY STANDARDS, PROVIDED THE AREA IS DESIGNATED AS A QUIET ZONE. ESTABLISHING A QUIET ZONE WOULD MEAN THAT TRAIN HORNS ARE NOT ROUTINELY SOUNDED AS TRAINS APPROACH PUBLIC CROSSINGS. EXCEPT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THIS CHANGE WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, ALLOWING CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND OLDER ADULTS TO ENJOY A QUIETER AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO INITIATE THE PROCESS OF DESIGNATING CLINTON PARK AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AS A QUIET ZONE. THIS ACTION WOULD DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, LINDA MURRAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH BELL EDWARDS. IT'S NOT MORNING, IT'S AFTERNOON. UH, I HAVEN'T BEGUN TO TALK YET. YET. YEAH, BUT I HAVEN'T I WILL SHIFT. I WILL SHIFT, BUT GIMME A MINUTE. SO WHEN I TALK INTO THE MICROPHONE, ALTHOUGH YATES HIGH SCHOOL OVER THERE KNOWS THAT WE TEACHERS HAVE VOICES THAT YOU CAN HEAR IN KENTUCKY. HOW YOU DOING COUNCILWOMAN? OKAY. YOU READY TO START? ME? MY HUSBAND RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FROM THE AIRPORT AFTER 33 YEARS OF SPLENDIFEROUS SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MINISTER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I REMEMBER EVERY TIME WE TEACHERS MARCHED TO AUSTIN, YOU WERE ONE OF THE ONES THAT STAYED TO SEE US. TEACHERS. I'M GLAD FOR MY COUNCILWOMAN. SHE IS NEVER ABSENT. THANK YOU WILLIE DAVIS. AND THANK YOU. OF COURSE. [00:50:01] MR. BAZ, WHO I SEE AT THE VARIOUS MEETINGS AROUND THE CITY. I WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE, BUT I WAS DENIED THE RIGHT. AND ABDUL POLLARD FROM HOUSTON, BLACK AMERICAN DEMOCRATS ASKED SEBA ABOUT IT. YOU GO WAY BACK. YOU OLDER THAN YOU LOOK. OKAY. UH, I WOULDN'T IF I WEREN'T DENIED. WELL, HE IS YOUNG LOOKING. OKAY. I WOULDN'T BE IF I WEREN'T DENIED ELDERLY ABUSE. I WAS AT THE YMCA. I GO THERE BECAUSE I HAVE, I HAVE A HUSBAND WHO SPENDS HIS DAYS AFTER HE RETIRED FROM THE CITY AS IF I DIDN'T WORK. UH, WATCHING MISS KITTY GET KIDNAPPED, WATCHING FESTA. FIND THE GHOST TOWN FESTA. FIND THE GHOST TOWN. WATCHING THOSE THREE BOYS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY IN THE FAMILY AND THE WIVES OR MEN. THAT'S WHAT HE DOES ALL DAY. HE'S GOT THAT OLD MAN DISEASE FROM THE CITY. 33 YEARS. HE HAD WHAT? HIS TIME, HIS SICK TIME, HIS VACATION TIME. AND I WORKED TOO. OKAY. I WAS AT THE Y THERE WAS NO, THERE ARE NO SIGNS POSTED. I KNOW WELL ENOUGH AFTER WORKING CPS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS ELDERLY ABUSE. AND THE PEOPLE AT THE Y ARE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE THERE BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECAUSE YOU HAVE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS. BUT THERE'S GRANT FUNDING. I'M SURE IT COMES FROM CITY OF HOUSTON. I'M SURE IT DIDN'T COME FROM ABBOTT IN THE STATE. FOR THOSE THAT ARE HOMELESS. WELL, I WAS MISTAKEN FOR A HOMELESS PERSON AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET DRESSED IN THE HALLWAY NAKED. I MOVED MY HAND BECAUSE THE GIRL, SHE'S NOT A GIRL, SHE'S 30 YEARS OLD, SHE SHOULD KNOW BETTER. UH, SHE, I MOVED MY HAND 'CAUSE SHE CAME TO KNOCK OUT THE SHOWER BECAUSE I WAS, I ADMITTED THE GREAT OFFENSE OF BEING THERE 1 31 27. AND THEY SAID, NOT PUBLICA, NOT PUBLICIZED, NOT LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITE, NOT ANYWHERE. AND I HAD GONE TO THE FRONT DESK AND ASKED THEM, ARE YOU NOW GONNA SHUT DOWN THE, THE SHOWER BEFORE YOU SHUT DOWN THE POOLS? TWO TO FOUR? NO, WE ARE GONNA HAVE IT ALL DONE. TWO TO FOUR. THEY GAVE ME THAT ORAL THING OR THAT ORAL, UH, ASSASSINATION AND TOLD ME THAT NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT. AND THE GIRL DID NOT. WHAT ENSUED AFTERWARDS, SHE TOLD ME I WAS A BULLY. SHE TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO BE A THING MAJIG. BUT WHAT REALLY GOT ME WAS WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER CAME, HE TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO JAIL. THERE WAS THREE MEN, MR. DANIEL, CITY SECRETARY. I WAS QUITE A LOOKER. 20 SOMETHING YEARS AGO. BUT I DON'T FE EVEN THEN, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE EXPOSED TO THREE POLICE OFFICERS. I'M THERE NAKED, SITTING ON THE BENCH. SHE TOOK MY CLOTHES, SHOVED THEM INTO A PLASTIC BAG. CAN YOU THINK OF EVER HERING OF SUCH ATROCITIES? IF YOU HAVE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, WHAT'S THE RULES? WHAT'S THE LAW? YOU MUST MAKE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEM. SO WHAT? I'M THERE IF, IF YOU WANT ME OUT, 'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO CLEAN OR WHATEVER IT IS, GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES I CAN PUT ON, I'M RINSING OFF THIS BECAUSE I HAVE, I CAN'T COME OUT OF THE POOL AT 70 SOMETHING YEARS OLD AND NOT RINSE IT OFF. THEY HAVE RE I THERE IS, I WANT, I ASKED THE OFFICER RIOS, I SAID, SHE, SHE SAYS, WELL, IF YOU COME OUTSIDE WITH ME AND YOUR CLOTHES, SHE COMES. 'CAUSE BEFORE THEY TOLD ME I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE TO PUT MY CLOTHES ON IN THE HALLWAY. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT MR. DAVIS? THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME. OFFICER HOLMES. I HAVE HIS NUMBER. THE OTHER ATROCITY IS YOUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS REPORT, WHICH I TOOK OUT TIME TO GO AND FILE IN THE, UH, AT THE NORTHEAST POLICE PRECINCT. NOW LET ME ASK SOMETHING IF I CAN, IF I COULD. WHICH WIRE MCA ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? DOWNTOWN? 8 0 8 P STREET. DID YOU TALK TO THE MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR OR ANYONE? SHE SAID SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF ADMISSIONS AND SHE SAID THAT SHE, UH, SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS MAKING A POINT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA WHEN THEY WERE USHERING ME OUT THAT, UH, I WAS DENIED ADMISSION. SHE TERMINATED MY MEMBERSHIP. I AM A PAID MEMBER. I DON'T DO SILVER SNEAKERS OR ANYTHING. I'M A PAID MEMBER. SO LET ME ASK YOU, UH, AND I'LL HAVE MY OFFICE FROM EVERY WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANT AN APOLOGY? YOU WANT YOUR MEMBERSHIP? NO, I WANT TO [00:55:01] BE ABLE TO FILE AS I TOLD THE, AS I TOLD OFFICER RIOS, SERGEANT RIOS, I RIOS, I WANTED TO FILE ADULT ABUSE. YOU SEE, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT I HAVE ADULT ABUSE. ELDERLY ABUSE. OKAY. MY HAND IS BANGED. I THINK I'M LOSING MY NAIL. I HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T USE YOUR MEDICARE. WELL, YOU CAN'T USE YOUR . OKAY. LET PROCESS THAT FOR YOU. REBECCA. IS OFFICER CARR HERE TODAY? WOULD YOU FACILITATE? I WAS CALLED BY NOT CARR, I WAS CALLED BY AN OFFICER. WAS IT NOT WILLIAM? I'M SORRY, WHAT? I WAS CALLED BY AN OFFICER WILLIAMS AND HE TOLD ME SOMEBODY WOULD BE HERE TODAY. OKAY. SO MY OFFICE WILL MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU GET TO TALK TO HPD. I WANT TO FILE MY INTERNAL AFFAIRS REPORT. INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICE. IT'S CLOSED. WE'RE GONNA ALL OF THE, THIS IS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, CHARGE PEOPLE FOR THE GARBAGE AND LET US GO ON AND HAVE A CITY AGAIN. COME ON. YES, MA'AM. SINCE IT'S NOT WORKING, YOU'RE JUST SHOVELLING MONEY. YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT. IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. I I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU THE ONLY, YOU WERE THE ONE. WELL, WE DID HAD SO FEW THAT MET US. I'VE BEEN TO YOUR OFFICE AND EVERY TIME WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SHIFTED TO YOUR DISTRICT, WE NEVER GOT SHIFTED. WE GOT SHIFTED SOMEPLACE ELSE. WELL, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT GREGORY MURRAY YOU SEE IS, BUT WE CAN HELP YOU ACCESS HPD UH, INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND INVESTIGATIONS. YES. AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO REBECCA, MS. WILSON, WE'LL DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN. ALL RIGHTY. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MY COUNSEL PERSON, I HAVE THE WATER BILL FROM MR. LEWIS. I, THEY CLAIM I'M SUCH A BILL I WATER BILL FROM MR. LEWIS. THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TRUCKS PARKED ALL UP AND DOWN THE STREETS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY DON'T EVEN AFTER WE GIVE THEM HUNDREDS OF MILLION DOLLARS TO FIX THE, UH, UH, THE GRID, THEY CAN'T EVEN HIRE A FLAG PERSON. THEY SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE STREET AND THEY SHUT DOWN ONE LANE OF THE STREET. PLEASE, MR. WOODS HAS THE INFORMATION. I HAVE THE PICTURES, BUT MR. WOODS HAS THE INFORMATION. YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY. DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY GOODS? COME ON, MR. DAVIS. I'VE SEEN YOU SEVERAL TIMES TODAY. FAITH, THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MS. MURRAY, LET ME, LET ME SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I'M, I'M SORRY OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, UH, THAT YOU, UH, ENCOUNTERED. AND, UH, IF I MAY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR SITUATION AND I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO ALSO EXTEND WHATEVER THAT CAN BE DONE. I DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. HOW LONG HAS YOUR MEMBERSHIP, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN GOING TO THAT WATER? I'VE BEEN GOING THERE WHEN THEY OPENED BACK UP AFTER COVID. I CONTINUE GOING THERE BECAUSE IT'S FOR MY, UH, ARTHRITIS. I NEED TO GET A KNEE OPERATION. YES MA'AM. BUT MY HUSBAND IS ILL. YEAH. AND HE'S THE ONLY MAN CAN LIE TO ME. AND HIS LIE IS, YOU STILL LOOK LIKE YOU DID 40 SOMETHING YEARS AGO WHEN I MARRIED YOU. . BUT WELL, HE, HE MAY, HE, THAT'S THE ONLY LIE EXCEPT FOR MEN. OKAY. WELL, WELL, HE, HE, WELL, MR. WELL, MS. MURRAY, HE, HE MAY NOT BE LYING IN HIS EYESIGHT. HE MAY NOT BE LYING IN HIS I KNOW HE'S NOT LYING. . HE MAY BE, HE STILL LOOKS THE SAME. HE MAY BE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW IN HIS HEART MM-HMM . IT IS WHAT HE SEE, YOU KNOW. BUT I BET THAT'S, AND PARTICULARLY I HAVE TO GO THERE BECAUSE HE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET THEM, YOU CAN'T PICK HIM UP AND THROW HIM IN FRONT OF THE, HE WON'T IF HE GOES TO THE DOCTOR. WATCH THAT THING ON PPS ABOUT CAREGIVERS. IT'S VERY GOOD. IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE. ALL OF US ARE GOING THROUGH IT. ALL OF YOU WOMEN THAT HAVE THESE MEN, THEY GO THROUGH THAT OLD MAN DISEASE BABY. IT'S A COMING COUNCIL MEMBER. AND MR. YOUNG, MR. MURRAY IS YOUNGER THAN I, HE'S YOUNGER THAN MY FIRST HUSBAND. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MS. MURRAY, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, REITERATE THAT MY OFFICE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP AND JUST FOLLOWING UP, MR. I GAVE IT TO HIM BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, $45 PARKING. YEAH. BUT ANTHONY IS RIGHT THERE. HE'S GONNA FOLLOW WITH YOU. AND THEN JUST, UM, KEEP A LOOKOUT. OUR TIDWELL POOL WILL BE UPGRADED TO A YEAR ROUND INDOOR POOL. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, UM, THE YMC. NO, I HAVE TO DO THE Y BECAUSE, UH, THE TIDWELL POOL. I NEED THE SAUNA. NO, WE, IT'S GONNA, I'M GONNA LET YOU KNOW IT'S GONNA BE UPGRADED. REALLY NICE. AND THEN THE WHY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS HORRIBLE SUPERINTENDENT BABY OKAY. WHO HAS TAKEN OUT THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND HE DOESN'T PAY THE COACHES ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL. UH, SHABA UH, YATES HIGH SCHOOL KNOWS [01:00:01] ABOUT THAT. OKAY. BECAUSE SHE COMES TO THE MEETING. CAN I KEEP YOU POSTED? OKAY. WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. SHE NOT FROM WHEATLEY. YOU MA'AM, KIDDO. GOOD JOB. TAKE CARE OF THE KNEES. OH KIDDO. MR. WILLIAM. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH. SARAH BELL EDWARDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY VALERIE JAMES. MS. VALERIE JAMES TO BE FOLLOWED BY RADU OV. HELLO, MS. JAMES. HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? DOING WELL, THANK YOU. GOOD. I, UH, COME UP AND I TALKED TO YOU AS A, AN EVENTUAL, I WASN'T BORN HERE BUT AN EVENTUAL DAUGHTER OF TEXAS BECAUSE THE SECOND TIME I WAS HOMELESS AS A HOMELESS VETERAN, TEXAS DID MORE THAN JUST HOUSE ME. Y'ALL GOT ME MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT WAS 17 YEARS AGO. AND NOW I'M A BIG PART OF Y'ALL COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. WHAT I WANT TO DO TODAY IS ASK FOR SUPPORT, NOT FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT SUPPORT FOR A SOLUTION. UH, VAST. WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 2018. WE WORK WITH THOSE WHOSE MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH KEEPS THEM IN JAIL OR KEEPS THEM ON THE STREET. WE WORK OFF THE PREMISE THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHOSE EMOTIONAL STATE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE. THEY'VE NEVER REALLY DEVELOPED A GROWN PAST AGE OF 10 YEARS OLD. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE ROAD RAGE. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE PEOPLE, UH, AND FIGHTS FOR THE SMALLEST ARGUMENTS. UH, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT SOLUTION AND WE'VE PROVEN IT'S SUCCESSFUL. WHEN YOU APPROACHED THROUGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, IT WORKS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN A HARRIS COUNTY JAIL FOR SIX, SEVEN YEARS NOW. WE'VE TAUGHT A SIX MONTH COURSE IN THE JAIL TO MAYBE, I BELIEVE NOW TWO OVER 2000 INCARCERATED. WHAT WE TEACH IS WHY WE ACT THE WAY WE DO. WE TEACH A COURSE CALLED AUTHENTIC MAN AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING THEM FROM GOING BACK INTO THE JAIL. NOW THAT'S IN THE JAIL. OUTSIDE THE JAIL WE TEACH AT. THERE'S A CAMPUS CALLED CLOUDBREAK. IT'S A HOUSING FIRST. IT WENT FROM A BARELY SURVIVING PLACE OF VIOLENCE TO, WITH THE HELP OF THE CLOUDBREAK STAFF AND VAST, IT IS NOW A THRIVING COMMUNITY. UH, I WOULD INVITE YOU ALL TO COME DOWN AND LOOK AT IT. IT IS AT, UH, 46 40 MAIN STREET. IT NOW, IT HAS NOW, I BELIEVE, OVER 450 TO 500, UH, MOSTLY VETERANS, BUT SENIOR DISABLED, UH, CAPACITY IS 600. BUT HERE WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING EVEN, EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE. WE'RE GONNA BE OPENING UP THE, AT THAT FACILITY ITSELF, THE FIRST HOMELESS, MOSTLY VETERAN, BUT ANYONE ELSE WHO IS THERE, ADULT DAYCARE. AND WHAT THAT WILL DO IS ALLOW US TO COOK THEM MEALS, GET THEM OUT OF THEIR ROOMS FOR LIKE EIGHT HOURS, COOK THEM HOT MEALS, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER, AND DIRECTLY SEE TO THEIR NEEDS. IT'S GONNA BE THE FIRST DAYCARE FOR THE HOMELESS. AND IT FIRST DAYCARE OPENED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A FACILITY, EXISTING HOUSING FACILITY. UH, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME SEE WHAT WE DO AT VAST, UH, IN THE JAIL OR, UH, AT CLOUDBREAK HOUSTON. AND I WANTED TO HAVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR, UH, MS. P THERE 'CAUSE SHE GOT US OUR PROCLAMATION FOR VAST . SO, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T DO IT CORRECTLY. I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE RESIDENTS, WE TAKE THE RESIDENTS FROM THE COMPLEX IN THE JAIL. WE GET THEM, UH, TAUGHT AS MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALIST STATE CERTIFIED AND PUT THEM BACK IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. AND IT'S BEEN MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I BROUGHT ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WITH ME WHO IS WENT FROM A CLIENT TO NOW ONE OF OUR STATE CERTIFIED. SORRY, MS. JAMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND LETTING US KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEMP. THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR SUCCESS STORY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. AND, AND LET ME JUST, UH, INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS, UM, A TOWN HALL MEETING IS GONNA BE DONE. UH, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE VETERANS, UH, OFFICE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, MILITARY VETERAN AFFAIRS? UH, YOU MEAN WITH DR. CHANDRA JONES? YES. YES. OKAY. WELL, WE GOING TO, THERE'S, THEY'RE HOSTING A, UH, TOWN HALL MEETING THIS MONTH ON THE 28TH. AND I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE AND GET MORE INFORMATION AND THEN SO THAT WE COULD HEAR IT AND THEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO ASSIST AND DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP YOU IN YOUR PROJECT. BUT, UH, GOOD FOR YOU, UH, AS VETERAN, [01:05:01] I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. I, I APPRECIATE THAT SPECIAL WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'VE FOUND YOUR WAY AND YOU, YOU'RE DOING FOR OTHERS. CERTAINLY. UH, YOUR ORGANIZATION IS GREAT AND MY OFFICE WILL BE REACHING OUT. I THINK YOU COULD PROBABLY FIT INTO SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, SO WE'LL BE IN CONTACT. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PRO TEMPE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO. IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN HERE AND SHARING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER DU TUDO TO BE FOLLOWED BY SAM WAGNER. HELLO, MR. TUDO. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS RADU TUDOS. I'M WITH THE BOULEVARD OAK CIVIC ASSOCIATION. UM, I RIDE MY BIKE EVERY DAY AND IT'S NOT FOR RECREATION, IT IS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO STAY SAFE. I RELY ON TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING OR RIDING A BIKE. I'M DISMAYED TO SEE THAT BEING TAKEN AWAY AND WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT. THE PROTECTION ON THE BIKE LANES ON AUSTIN STREET AND HEIGHTS BOULEVARD IS GONE. AND SO IS THE RACE CROSSING AT WESTHEIMER AND CROCKER STREET. ALSO GONE ARE TRAFFIC SAFETY FEATURES ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD THAT THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UH, CURRENTLY UNDERWAY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE. AND THERE ARE THREE MAIN POINTS I WOULD LIKE TO, TO RAISE WITH YOU. UM, FIRST SIMPLE PAINT ON A BIKE LANE OR A STREET CROSSING IS NOT PROTECTION. TO THOSE THAT HAVE DOUBTS TO, I WOULD INVITE THEM TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW SAFE THEY FEEL RIDING ON AN UNPROTECTED BIKE LANE DURING RUSH HOUR OR CROSSING A MAJOR ROAD AT A CROSSING THAT DOESN'T HAVE A STOPLIGHT. OR IMAGINE YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD GOING TO SCHOOL THAT WAY. HOW SAFE DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD BE IF YOU THINK THEY WOULDN'T BE SAFE? YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT BECAUSE BIKE LANES AND STREET CROSSINGS NEED REAL PROTECTION. UM, SECOND BIKE LANES, JUST LIKE CAR LANES ARE CITYWIDE PUBLIC GOODS. WE ALL NEED THEM. WE ALL USE THEM. UM, I LIVE NEXT TO ROADS WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC AND MOST OF THE DRIVERS THAT CREATE THE TRAFFIC ARE NOT FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE COMMUTERS FROM ALL OVER HOUSTON. AND I MIGHT NOT ENJOY THE POLLUTION AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION THEY BRING, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE TO CLOSE DOWN THOSE ROADS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE. AND IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME WITH CRITICAL BIKE LANES, UM, SUCH AS THE ONE ON OCEAN AVENUE. PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY DEPEND ON THAT BIKE LANE TO GET TO WORK TO SCHOOL OR WHEREVER THEY NEED TO BE. AND IT WAS THE ONLY PROTECTED BIKE LANE, UM, THAT GOES NORTH SOUTH IN TOWN TOWN AND IN MIDTOWN. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE THIRD POINT, HOUSTONIANS THAT DEPEND EVERY DAY ON THESE BIKE LANES WERE NEVER CONSULTED WHEN THEIR PROTECTION WAS TAKEN AWAY. THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAT I BELONG TO. AND MANY OF THEM ARE BI COMMUTERS, NOT NOT JUST MYSELF. UM, SOME OF THEM LIVE RIGHT NEXT ON MY BLOCK. THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO OTHERS THAT, THAT LIVE ON MY BLOCK. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, NONE OF THEM HAD ANY VOICE IN THIS MATTER. SO I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROTECTS ALL HOUSTONIANS AND, UH, INVOLVE THE CONSTITUENTS, THE CONSTITUENTS IN MATTERS THAT, UM, AFFECTS THEIR SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS IN BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SAM WAGNER. SAM WAGNER TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMANDA FLORES. UH, HELLO. UH, MY NAME IS SAM WAGNER. I'M A MIDTOWN RESIDENT. I'M HERE JUST TO SPEAK AT MY, UH, I GUESS I'M JUST, I'M SADDENED THAT WE'RE LOSING AUSTIN STREET BIKE LANE. UH, IT'S KIND OF WAS MY ROUTE TO GET TO THE WEST OR THE, THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN TO EDO TO HERMAN PARK WEEKLY ESSENTIALLY. UH, AND I JUST, I THINK IT'S, IT'S JUST DISAPPOINTING THAT WE'RE LOSING GOOD CITY INFRASTRUCTURE. LIKE I KIND OF HAD THIS THOUGHT. IT'S, IT'S MIDTOWN IS RIGHT NEXT TO DOWNTOWN. IT TAKES ME 10 MINUTES TO GET HERE ON A BIKE. AND YOU KNOW, MIDTOWNS NOT KINGWOOD, RIGHT? WE ALL SOLUTIONS THAT WORK IN ONE PLACE MIGHT NOT WORK IN OTHER PLACES. AND SO BY INHIBITING OUR ABILITY TO JUST GET AROUND THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CITY, WE'RE MAKING IT A LOT HARDER TO DO THINGS. YOU KNOW, I WAS REMINDED OF THAT RIGHT NOW WHEN I SPENT, YOU KNOW, 20, 15 MINUTES CIRCLING THE BOX LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE, REMINDED WHY I NEVER DRIVE DOWNTOWN. 'CAUSE IT SUCKS. AND SO, LIKE I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE LOSING THAT ABILITY TO, I'M LOSING THE ABILITY TO GET INTO DOWNTOWN EASILY BECAUSE AUSTIN STREET WAS MY WAY IN, RIGHT? AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS OR NOT MAYBE MISUNDERSTANDINGS. [01:10:01] 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T USE BIKE LANES THAT OFTEN, BUT LIKE AUSTIN STREET, FOR ME AT LEAST, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE, LIKE A LIGHTHOUSE, RIGHT? UM, SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE RIDING A BIKE TO GET AROUND HOUSTON, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO HAVE THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD, YOU KNOW, HOW DO I GET THERE IN A WAY THAT I'LL GET THERE ALIVE, RIGHT? AND SO AUSTIN STREET WAS BASICALLY NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT IT WAS BASICALLY A HUNDRED PERCENT GUARANTEED THAT YOU WOULD GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO ALIVE. IF YOU CAN MAKE IT TO AUSTIN STREET, YOU CAN MAKE IT TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GET TO GO, RIGHT? THAT'S HOW I THOUGHT. SO IF I, IF I'M GOING OUT INTO EDO, RIGHT, LIKE COMMERCE IS A LITTLE SKETCHY TO RIDE ON, BUT LIKE I WAS AT, I WAS AT CADE AND THE COMING BACK AND IT'S LIKE, I KNOW IF I CAN GET TO AUSTIN STREET, I CAN GET TO MY HOME. AND SO, LIKE I THINK THE COMP COMPROMISE THAT THE CITY IS PROPOSING IS NOT REALLY A COMPROMISE 'CAUSE WE'RE LOSING ALL OF THAT SAFETY PROTECTIONS THAT WE HAD BEFORE. AND I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT, THAT WE'VE LOST IS, IS JUST KIND OF HOW NICE AUSTIN STREET WAS. UH, IT, IT WAS, IT'S A RELATIVELY QUIET STREET. IT'S SHADED, IT'S FULLY PROTECTED. AND IT, IT WENT THE FULL LENGTH FROM HER, FROM BUFFALO BAYOU TO HCC. AND IT WAS A REALLY NICE PLACE TO BE. RIGHT? SO WHEN I WAS RIDING AROUND, I WOULD OFTEN SEE, YOU KNOW, PARENTS WITH STROLLERS, PEOPLE WALKING DOGS. A COUPLE TIMES I SAW PEOPLE IN MOBILITY SCOOTERS AND, AND LIKE, THERE'S A JOGGER. I MEAN, AXELRAD HAS A JOGGING CLUB THAT USED THAT BIKE LANE BEFORE IT WAS RIPPED AWAY. AND IT'S KIND OF FUNNY, WHEN I WAS COMING BACK, UH, FROM HERMAN PARK AFTER HAD BEEN REMOVED, THERE WERE THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT BRUNCH, UH, YOU KNOW, WALKING AROUND AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE, THE NOW DESTROYED BIKE LANE BECAUSE THE SIDEWALK JUST ENDS. RIGHT? AND SO, LIKE, THE NICE THING ABOUT AUSTIN STREET WAS YOU COULD DEPEND ON IT BEING THERE AND BEING SAFE, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, NOW YOU, WE CAN'T DEPEND ON THE SIDEWALKS, RIGHT? THEY, THEY'RE CRACKED, THEY'RE BROKEN. THEY'RE TOO SMALL. THEY, THEY, THEY JUST END, LIKE, IF, IF YOU ACTUALLY GO TO, SORRY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. OKAY. I WAS JUST GONNA FINISH BY SAYING THAT, UM, UH, WE CAN'T DEPEND ON THE SIDEWALKS. UH, THEY SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T EXIST. IF YOU ACTUALLY LIVED IN MIDTOWN OR WALKED AROUND MIDTOWN, YOU'D KNOW THAT AT LEAST TWO BLOCKS ON THE EAST SIDE OF AUSTIN STREET DO NOT HAVE A SIDEWALK. LIKE, IT JUST DOESN'T EXIST, RIGHT? IT, IT'S NOT THERE. AND SO, LIKE THE PROTECTED BIKE LANE ALLOWED EVERYONE THE ABILITY TO WALK UP AND DOWN MIDTOWN FREELY, ESSENTIALLY. SO THAT'S MY COMMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER, AMANDA FLORES. AMANDA FLORES TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARGO RIDGE. HELLO. UM, CAN I ASK WHERE THE MAYOR HAS GONE AND IF HE'S GOING TO BE BACK ANYTIME SOON? UH, HE STEPPED OUT. OKAY. AND HE'S NOT GONNA, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL, HE'LL BE BACK SOON, BUT WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO WAIT TO DO MY COMMENTS UNTIL HE RETURNS? NO, YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS ARE BEING RECORDED, SO HE WILL HEAR 'EM. OKAY. IF YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE 'EM NOW. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AMANDA FLORES. I AM A HEIGHTS RESIDENT AND A VOLUNTEER WITH A TALE OF TWO BRIDGES IN THE I LOVE 11TH STREET FESTIVAL. THE I LOVE 11TH STREET FESTIVAL WAS STARTED TWO YEARS AGO AS A WAY TO CELEBRATE THE VIBRANCY OF THE BUSINESSES ON 11TH STREET AND TO HELP FOSTER COMMUNITY AS ONE OF THE FESTIVAL'S VOLUNTEER ORGANIZERS. I'M PROUD OF HOW THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING MANY WHO HAD DIFFERING OPINIONS ON THE 11TH STREET REDESIGN. DESPITE THESE DIFFERENCES, WE FOUND COMMON GROUND IN OUR SHARED LOVE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE STARTED PLANNING FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL I LOVE 11TH STREET FESTIVAL. HOWEVER, AROUND THAT SAME TIME, RUMORS STARTED SWIRLING THAT THE CITY WAS PLANNING TO REMOVE THE SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE ON 11TH STREET. AS A RESULT OF THESE RUMORS AND UNCERTAINTY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ONCE AGAIN FEELING DIVIDED, AND QUITE FRANKLY, FEELING TIRED. WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN CONSTANT UPHEAVAL. RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE HAVE STARTED ADAPTING TO THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WHAT WE NEED IS STABILITY, NOT, YOU KNOW, CONSTANT DISRUPTION. UM, TODAY I'D LIKE TO SHARE A LETTER SIGNED BY 11TH STREET BUSINESSES AND OTHER LOCAL GROUPS WHO SUPPORT KEEPING 11TH STREET. AS IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M PROVIDING COPIES OF THE LETTER RATHER THAN READING IT ALOUD. UM, BUT I DO WANNA READ THE LIST OF SIGNATORIES. THE 11TH STREET BUSINESSES WHO SIGNED THE LETTER INCLUDE SOMBERG EIGHT ROW, FLINT, BESPOKE BUNGALOW, REVIVAL HEIGHTS CLINIC, BICYCLE SPEED SHOP, AVAYA ARTISAN CHOCOLATE THREE DOG BAKERY, SEAD IN LAW FIRM, THE GYPSY POET, [01:15:01] HOUSTON VINEYARD, CHURCH HEIGHTS CONNECTION, MORE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS, AND A NEW LEAF SCHOOL. OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO SIGNED THE LETTER ARE HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL, PTA, FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE AND MILROY PARKS, WOODLAND HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND TEXAS STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 1 45. TO CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS, I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO COME WALK 11TH STREET WITH US AND TO EXPERIENCE THE SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE IN PRACTICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AMANDA, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND, UH, SHARING THAT INFORMATION. UM, I WILL ACCEPT YOUR INVITATION TO GO OUT AND WALK THE, THE PROJECT WITH Y'ALL. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE 26TH, UM, AT 10:00 AM AT THE CHURCH TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS, UM, THAT UTILIZE THIS PROJECT, WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. UM, YOU KNOW, MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IS CO-HOSTING THAT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, TO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS, AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE IT TO PUBLIC SESSION TO, TO, TO SHARE THOSE COMMENTS. SO, UM, WE'LL BE GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR THAT. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHARED A, A PRETTY BROAD LIST OF BUSINESSES ON THE STREET THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. UM, YOU KNOW, A-P-T-O-A CHURCH, RESTAURANTS A BAKERY, UH, YOU NAME IT. THESE ARE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE PROJECT. SO, UM, I'M ALSO GONNA BE CANVASSING SOME OF THE BUSINESSES MYSELF, UH, TO HEAR FROM THEM AS WELL IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY MEETING. BUT, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN HERE AND, UH, SHARING YOUR COMMENTS. YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THE TOWN HALL LATER THIS MONTH. BEST WISHES TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, MARGO RIDGE. ALLIE WARREN BERGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY WILL HILL. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MY NAME IS ALLY WARREN BERGER, AND I'M HERE TODAY AS A HEIGHTS RESIDENT. UH, A MOM OF A 2-YEAR-OLD WITH ANOTHER BABY ON THE WAY. MY FAMILY AND I LIVE TWO BLOCKS FROM 11TH STREET, JUST NEAR HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL. UM, WE DRIVE ON 11TH STREET MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY TO TAKE MY SON TO AND FROM DAYCARE. AND WE ALSO REGULARLY BIKE AND WALK ON 11TH STREET TO SUPPORT THE MANY BUSINESSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, MY FAMILY AND I REALLY ENJOY 11TH STREET, JUST AS IT IS, AND WE FEEL SAFEST IN ALL MODES OF TRANSPORT. WITH ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION, WE'VE BEEN REALLY DISCOURAGED TO HEAR ABOUT POTENTIAL CHANGES TO 11TH STREET, AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR DAILY LIVES. IT FEELS LIKE CONSTRUCTION JUST BARELY ENDED. UM, REMOVAL OF THE 11TH STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE HUGELY DISAPPOINTING. ANOTHER LONG SPELL OF DISRUPTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND A REDUCTION IN LIVABILITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AS I LOOK AHEAD TO MY FAMILY'S FUTURE IN HOUSTON AND THE HEIGHTS AND THE WAYS I HOPE THAT MY CHILDREN CAN INTERACT WITH THEIR COMMUNITY AS THEY GROW, IT'S CHANGES LIKE THE 11TH STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE ADDED TO MY LOVE FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND HELPED ME FEEL LIKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS A SAFE PLACE TO RAISE MY FAMILY. I HOPE THE CITY CHOOSES TO KEEP THESE CHANGES IN PLACE AND CAN CLOSE THE DOOR ON THIS UNCERTAINTY AND CONFUSION. THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. NO, NO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. WILL HILL. WILL HILL. I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. MARY BRADFORD. MARY BRADFORD. HELLO, MS. BRADFORD TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDRA FLOWERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, TO THE MAYOR IN THE AFTERNOON TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MARY BRADFORD. I THANK YOU SO MUCH, FIRST OF ALL, FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME. I'M HERE SELFISHLY TODAY. I'M HERE ON MY BEHALF. UH, MY HOUSE BURNED MARCH THE FIRST, 2023. I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR OVER 50 SOME YEARS. I MADE A FOOLISH MISTAKE THAT I CANNOT CORRECT OR GO BACK ON. I DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE. [01:20:01] I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR HELP. I'VE TRIED EVERYONE THAT I KNOW. I'VE CALLED EVERYONE I KNOW. AND YEAH, I KNOW THAT IT WAS A FOOLISH THING ON MY BEHALF, BUT I CAME HERE TODAY AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME. I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS. UH, I'VE LIVED IN MY HOUSE FOR OVER 50 SOME YEARS. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE A FIRE AND IT WAS ELECTRICAL FIRE AND I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK HOME. AND SO I COME TO YOU TODAY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING OUT THERE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, UH, TO LEAN ON. IS THERE ANY HELP THAT I CAN ASK FOR TO HELP ME GET BACK HOME? UH, I LIVE RIGHT NOW WITH MY DAUGHTER AND TWO GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. AND, UH, I'M GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR JUST BEING HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOME HELP. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE FOR ME? AND IF SO, WOULD YOU HELP ME PLEASE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, UH, SISTER, YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. WE CAN HELP YOU. WE CAN HELP YOU. ALRIGHT? WE CAN HELP YOU. SO, UM, WITHIN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE, UH, A REPAIR PROGRAM, UM, AND, UH, YOUR BY AGE AND I'M SURE THE CONDITION OF YOUR HOME, YOU WOULD MEET THE THRESHOLD. YES. UM, AND SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS, IS THIS BB 26. SO, UM, I'LL MAKE SURE HER, HER STAFFER IS RIGHT HERE BEHIND YOU AND HE'S GONNA GET YOUR FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR INFORMATION. AND I'M GONNA WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET YOU ON THE FAST TRACK FOR HOME REPAIR. TYPICALLY NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE DOING A, A SIMILAR PROJECT FOR A SENIOR IN MY DISTRICT. SHE'S GETTING AN ENTIRELY NEW HOME, UM, BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. AND SO YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US TO RESPOND TO YOU, AND WE'RE GONNA GET YOU HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MM-HMM . UH, I FEEL I DON'T WANNA WASTE YOUR TIME, BUT I SURE. THANK YOU ALL. OH, YOU'RE NOT WASTING OUR TIME. THIS IS OUR, THIS IS THE WORK WE DO. THIS IS WHAT WE SHOW UP HERE TO DO FOR RESIDENTS JUST LIKE YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOU BACK HOME. GOD BLESS YOU. MM-HMM . COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST ONE MINUTE MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO COME UP AND, UH, BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON SUCH A PERSONAL ISSUE. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MENTIONED THE PROGRAM AND YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER ON HOPEFULLY RECEIVING THOSE RESOURCES. I, I TOO HAVE SOME RESOURCES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN, UM, ALLOCATE TO HELP HER AS WELL WITH HER HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, UH, UH, I JUST WANT YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHATEVER DID HAPPEN, UM, THINGS HAPPEN THINGS, SO DON'T CARRY THAT WITH YOU. UH, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT YOU. AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING, UH, YOU HAVE A NEW HOME SOON. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. GOD BLESS YOU. HANG ON, WE GOT ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU. AND MS. BRA. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND, UM, POLLARD FOR STEPPING UP. AND MY OFFICE WILL WORK WITH, UM, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID THAT AS A PROGRAM, SHE'S THE EXPERT ON HOUSING, HOUSING CHAIRS, SO SHE KNOW WHERE THE MONEY AT. UM, SO WE WILL, YOU KNOW, GET WITH YOU TO TRY TO GET YOU, GET YOU BACK. THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA GET YOU BACK HOME. WE'RE NOT GONNA TRY, WE'RE GONNA DO IT. YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, UM, BUT THANK YOU AND, AND WIPE THOSE TEARS AND WE ARE GONNA GET YOU BACK IN YOUR HOME. OKAY? THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. GOD BLESS YOU. WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE SAFE. BLESS YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOD BLESS YOU. YEAH. NEXT SPEAKER, SANDRA FLOWERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY DARRYL HARPER. HELLO, MS. FLOWERS. GOOD EVENING. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MAYOR. I WANTED HIM TO BE HERE AS WELL, BUT YOU REASSURED ME THAT HE WOULD, UH, GET THE INFORMATION. LET ME KNOW WHEN THE CLOCK STARTS. THERE'S SOME PICTURES THAT ARE GOING AROUND RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE BOTH SIDES. PLEASE, I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A MINUTE IF YOU WILL, SECOND AND PERUSE THEM PLEASE. AND I'M JUST GOING TO TALK FROM THOSE VISUALS AND I'M, HOPEFULLY THE THREE MINUTES WILL BE, UH, ENOUGH. UM, PLEASE, IF YOU WILL, JUST LOOK AT THEM BRIEFLY. YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS IS A 4,700 BLOCK OF MY THREE MINUTES, STARTING 4,700 BLOCK OF K STREET. UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE NEED HELP. UM, I'D LIKE TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, COUNCIL, UH, PERSON EDWARD POLLARD. UH, I WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR MOTHER WAS THE CATALYST IN MY [01:25:01] EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. SHE TOOK ME UNDER HER WING. SHE WAS MY MENTOR. SHE CARED ABOUT ME, AND SHE SAW THAT I RECEIVED A DEGREE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR MOTHER. AND, UH, SHE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON, A COUNCIL PERSON, PLUMBER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE HERE, BUT SINCE SHE ISN'T, I WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE MY CONNECTIONS. CONNECTIONS AND MY HELP THAT HER FAMILY GAVE ME AS A STUDENT AT PHYLLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE FIFTH WARD. I LIVED THERE PRESENTLY. I WENT OTHER PLACES TO THE SUBURBS AND EVERYWHERE ELSE. AND I FOUND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THE FIFTH WARD. I DON'T REALLY LIKE IT BEING CALLED THE FIFTH WARD BECAUSE WE ARE A SUBURBAN AREA. THERE ARE SUBURBS WITHIN THE SOUTH FIFTH WARD, BUT SOMEHOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE WARDS AND THAT'S ALL WE KNOW IS THE WARDS. I LIVE IN PINE CREST. IT'S A SUBDIVISION. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SUBDIVISIONS ALL AROUND THIS PARTICULAR AREA. WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT NOW IS THE 4,700 BLOCK OF COKE STREET. AS YOU CAN SEE, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ANYTHING. I'M ASKING FOR HELP. WE HAVE SENIORS ON THIS BLOCK. I'M THE YOUNGEST. I'M 74. SO CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE OTHERS AGES ARE? WE HAVE THEM FOR 80 NINETIES, AND THEY'RE SITTING IN THEIR HOMES AMONG THESE, THESE, THESE TRAGEDIES. THEY'RE SITTING IN THEIR HOMES WAITING TO DIE. I'M NOT. I WANT TO HELP THEM. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON KNOWS, I'VE WORKED WITH HER EXTENSIVELY IN THIS AREA. I'VE GONE TO AUSTIN WITH HER. I'VE WORKED FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING INITIATIVES. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GROUNDWORK, BUT THE WORK IS NOT DONE. SHE KNOWS. AND YOU MAY SAY, WELL, WHY HAVEN'T YOU COME? WE DO. WE, SHE'S OVERLOADED. SHE'S INHERITED JUST LIKE THE MAYOR HAS INHERITED. AND WE ARE SITTING THERE, I'M ASKING FOR SPEED BUMPS. LET ME QUICKLY SAY FRIDAY MORNING, I HEARD A LOT OF COMMOTION. I LOOKED AT MY CAMERAS. THERE WAS A CAR IN A DITCH. OKAY, LOOK AT THE PICTURES. YOU'LL SEE THAT CORNER. IT'S A STOP SIGN. THERE'S A, THEY TURN THERE ON, THEY, THE PUBLIC BUSES, 18 WHEELERS, TRUCKS, EVERYBODY NIGHT AND DAY, THEY TURN ON THAT CORNER FROM SCHWEIKERT AND THEY COME AROUND THAT CORNER SO FAST. THEY END UP ON MY FOUNDATION. THEY END UP IN A DITCH LAST FRIDAY MORNING. AND THE ONLY REASON THAT THEY DIDN'T DO ANY DAMAGE IS BECAUSE GOD SAT THEM IN THAT DITCH. AND HE, HE DIDN'T HIT THE POLE THAT WAS SITTING NEXT TO THE DITCH. HE WOULD'VE D DIED. MY, MY, MY ANSWER AND MY PRAYER NOT ANSWER MY, MY ASKING AND MY PRAYER IS THAT WE NEED SPEED HUMPS RIGHT THERE. TARSHA, MS. JACKSON COUNCILWOMAN. SOMETHING NEEDS, I, I'M, I'M RIDING ON YORK STREET. I RIDE AROUND, I RIDE ON MY BIKE, I RIDE EVERYWHERE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP, AND I KNOW IT'S MY TIME IS UP. JUST LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES. WE NEED SPEED BUMPS, THAT'S ALL I ASK. SPEED BUMPS BECAUSE CHILDREN LOOK AT THOSE SIDEWALKS. THERE'S A SCHOOL AT THE END OF THOSE PICTURES, RIGHT? MS. JACKSON, NAT Q HENDERSON, WHERE I ATTENDED, THERE'S A SCHOOL THERE AND EVERY MORNING THOSE KIDS WALK BY ALL THIS STUFF. YOU SEE THE ABANDONED HOUSES. WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS FOR 15, 20 YEARS AND NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING. PLEASE HELP US. I'VE ALREADY SENT EMAILS TO THE MAYOR. I'VE SENT THE PICTURES TO THE MAYOR. I'VE ASKED EVERYTHING. MY SENIORS CANNOT COME HERE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THOSE, THESE FEW SECONDS, IS THAT WE ARE A CHA UH, ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 42 ORDINANCE. I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT. THAT BLOCK IS PROTECTED. BUT I'M THINKING IN MY THINKING THAT WE ARE BEING SOMETHING BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY SERVICES. AND THOSE TOWERS AND THINGS CAN'T BE BUILT OVER US. THAT'S WHAT CHAPTER 42 IS. AND SO I THINK WE ARE BEING PENALIZED BECAUSE WE ARE CHAPTER 42. AND I MAY BE TOTALLY WRONG, BUT WE ARE TAXPAYERS. WE NEED HELP. I'M NOT, I A SIDEWALK. I HEAR THESE PEOPLE SAYING THE SIDEWALKS AND THE DOGS WALKING AND ALL. I WISH WE COULD DO THAT. I CAN'T EVEN RIDE MY BIKE DOWN THE STREET. PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS ARE IN THE STREET. THE CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL IN THE STREET. LOOK AT THE SIDEWALKS, LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS. I BEG YOU, I PLEAD WITH YOU. HELP US JUST PUT A SPEED BUMP THERE BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING AROUND THAT CORNER. THEY COULD HIT PEOPLE. THEY HIT THE KIDS, HIT THE PEOPLE IN THE WHEELCHAIRS. IT'S HORRIBLE. AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED. THEY'RE GOING TO THE COKE STREET APARTMENT, OTHER, THE REAL NAME IS CLEMMY MANOR. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST. I GREW UP IN THAT AREA. MY PARENTS' HOMESTEADS IN THAT AREA AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME. I LOVE WHERE I LIVE. YOU CAN CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO. IT'S OUR HOME. BUT WE WANT SOME SIDEWALKS SO WE CAN WALK OUR DOGS TOO. WE WANT SIDEWALKS SO WE CAN RIDE OUR BIKES. WE WANT THESE ABANDONED HOUSES. AND I HAVE SOME NUMBERS. I'VE BEEN CALLING 3 1 1 AND CALLING ON THESE PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T COME. YOU SEE ALL THOSE ABANDONED LOTS ON THAT STREET? WELL, WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? WE DO [01:30:01] MS. JACKSON, PLEASE. ANYBODY ELSE THAT CAN HELP US? WE NEED A SPEED HUNT AROUND THAT CORNER. BUSES COME THROUGH THERE JUST LIKE GANGBUSTERS. YOU SHOULD SEE IT. YEAH, I, IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS. AND I'M SO AFRAID SOMEBODY'S GOING TO JUST ONE MINUTE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. PLEASE HELP US PRO MS. FOWLERS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. I'M RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS ADVOCATING. YOU STILL FIGHTING, BUT BABE, I'M TIRED. YOU HAVE TO, I KNOW, BUT YOU DON'T GET TIRED BECAUSE WE STILL NEED YOU. BUT LET ME JUST, I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE. UM, I'M GONNA HAVE MARY FOLLOW WITH YOU ON THE SPEED BUMPS. WE HAVE TO GET A APPLICATION, UM, GOING SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE PLEASE, WE WE'LL TAKE IT TO SPEED BUMPS IN, IN REGARDS TO THE SIDEWALKS. I GAVE MONEY TO THE TURS TO LIKE FIX SOME OF THOSE SIDEWALKS AROUND THERE. I'LL GET WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT THE STATUS IS. TERRA 18. IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. I KNOW, BUT WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THEM. , YOU KNOW, TERRA 18. I KNOW, I KNOW. BUT YEAH, SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP AND LET'S JUST CONNECT, PLEASE. WHAT ABOUT THE WHOLE MONEY? CAN YOU USE ANY OF THAT? WE CAN'T USE THAT MONEY, BUT WE'LL, I'LL FOLLOW WITH YOU ON EVERYTHING. PLEASE DON'T, ON YOUR CHECKLIST, PLEASE. DO YOU HAVE MY NUMBER? IF YOU DON'T, I'LL GIVE IT TO HIM. GIVE IT TO ANTHONY AND THEN WE ARE GONNA, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE NOTHING CHANGED. YOUR CAN CHANGED. AND I, HER, HER COMRADES HERE, SHE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER. Y'ALL DOG WORKING TOGETHER. I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, DR. SHABA OR AT THE SHRINE. I BEAT IT WITH YOU. YOU REMEMBER ME? MAYBE NOT. BUT THE DEAL IS PLEASE, P PLEASE PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. WE'RE GONNA GET DONE. FLOWERS. THANK YOU MS. FLOWERS. OKAY. THANK WE APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, WHO DO I GIVE THE NUMBER TO? YES, MA'AM. AND I THANK DARRELL HARPER. DARRELL HARPER. DARRELL HARPER. NEXT SPEAKER. CLEMENT MATHIS. CLEMENTE MATHIS. NEXT SPEAKER, REBECCA STRO. REBECCA TROTH TO BE FOLLOWED BY RENEE KENNEDY. OH, I DON'T NEED MY GLASSES. UM, MY NAME IS REBECCA TROTH AND I'M AN EAST DOWNTOWN RESIDENT. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE POLK STREET ABANDONMENT PROJECT, WHICH I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT. UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND TRUST THAT A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL SOLUTION CAN BE FELT. AS YOU KNOW, USIN FIRST, CEO MICHAEL HACKMAN PUBLICLY STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE INVOLVED THE COMMUNITY WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT WAS FIRST PROPOSED. SO WE, YOU, THE CITY, WE THE RESIDENTS, AND AS WELL AS THE CONVENTION CENTER. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HOMEWORK TO DO RETROSPECTIVELY TO GET THIS RIGHT. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE EAST END RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO BIKE, WALK, OR TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. IT, OR SHOULD I SAY, WHEN POLK STREET IS ABANDONED, THE OPTIONS FOR TRAVELING WEST INTO DOWNTOWN ARE UNSAFE TO THE SOUTH. THE NEAREST THOROUGHFARE THAT GOES INTO TOWN IS LELAND, WHICH ROUTES INTO BELL. MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I URGE YOU TO WALK, BIKE, OR EVEN DRIVE THIS ROUTE AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES HOW PROBLEMATIC AND UNSAFE THIS PASSAGEWAY CURRENTLY OPERATES. THERE ARE NO BIKE LANES, LIMITED SIDEWALKS, AND THE MERGING FROM LELAND TO BELL IS CONFUSING, EVEN FOR DRIVERS. IN SHORT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT CURRENTLY SUPPORT THE ABANDONMENT PROJECT FROM THE NORTH. YOU'LL HAVE TO GO FIVE BLOCKS TO WALKER STREET WHERE THERE ARE SIMILAR CONCERNS. THESE CONCERNS ARE ONLY COMPOUNDED BY THE TRAFFIC THAT WILL BE DIVERTED FROM POLK TO THESE ALTERNATIVE THOROUGHFARES. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A TRAFFIC STUDY ISN'T REQUIRED FOR A ROAD ABANDONMENT APPLICATION YET, I URGE YOU TO COMMISSION ONE SO THAT WE TRULY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THIS ABANDONMENT PROJECT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW THIS PROJECT IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECT. YES, THERE'S A PARK IN SOMEONE'S VISION, A VERY COOL PARK THAT I HOPE TO SEE ONE DAY, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE MUST HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR HOW EAST END RESIDENTS ARE TO ACCESS DOWNTOWN SAFELY FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS. LASTLY, I APPRECIATE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF BRINGING MORE AND LARGER CONVENTIONS TO THIS CITY, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE AT THE EXPENSE OF CITIZENS WHO LIVE HERE 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. REBECCA, ARE YOU DONE OR I JUST WANTED NO, NO, NO, IT'S, YEAH. OKAY. [01:35:01] THANK YOU FOR CALLING. UM, AND JUST AS, UH, UH, SOME INSIGHT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR NEXT MEETING SOON. UM, WE HAD OUR MEETING ABOUT A, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, OR A LITTLE BIT OVER A MONTH AGO. UH, SO WE'RE WAITING ON SOME OF THE, THE, THE RESPONSES, UM, TO GET, YOU KNOW, FROM HOUSTON FIRST IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU ALL. SO IF NOT, AT THE END OF THE MONTH, IN EARLY, EARLY MAY. SO APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, RENEE KENNEDY TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAROLINE CAROLINA BUSTOS. RATHER THAN LET BARK SHELTER LEADERSHIP POLICE THEMSELVES, PLEASE APPOINT A SPECIAL TASK FORCE OR COMMITTEE OR OPEN AN INVESTIGATION TO LOOK INTO THE DAY-TO-DAY PRACTICES OF THE SHELTER. DON'T RELY ON MR. JARED MAYS OR MR. CORY ALTMEYER TO POLICE THEMSELVES. WHAT'S GOING OVER ON, OVER THERE IS ABSOLUTELY SCANDALOUS AND POTENTIALLY CRIMINAL. UM, BARK USED TO PUBLISH EUTHANASIA LIST, BUT THEY STOPPED, UM, IN FEBRUARY OF 2025. HARRIS COUNTY STOPPED LAST YEAR, BUT BARK STOPPED IN FEBRUARY. NOTICE OF WHICH ANIMALS WILL BE KILLED, IF ANY NOTICE AT ALL IS GIVEN IS OFTEN IN THE LATE EVENING HOUR. YESTERDAY, THEY HAD A LIST FOR TODAY THAT CAME OUT SUPPOSEDLY AT SEVEN IN THE EVENING. THEY'RE ONLY OPEN FROM NINE UNTIL ONE WHEN THEY KILLED THEM AT ONE. SO, AND THE ADOPTION CENTER IS ONLY OPEN AT NOON, SO PEOPLE HAVE 60 MINUTES. AND THEN WHEN YOU GO THERE, AND I WENT THERE TODAY MYSELF, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING I ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND. SO THEY HAVE ONE HOUR, AND THEN WHEN I ASKED, OKAY, WHICH ANIMALS ARE YOU GONNA KILL TODAY? SO IF I WANNA ADOPT, I CAN PICK. AND WE CAN'T TELL YOU THAT. SO THERE'S NO DISCLOSURE, THERE'S NO NOTICE. THEN WHEN I ASKED CORY, 'CAUSE I SPOKE WITH HIM YESTERDAY, HE CALLED ME AT THE REQUEST, I GUESS, OF CITY COUNCIL. SOMEBODY HAD INFORMED HIM. AND, UM, HE SAID THAT THE LISTS ARE NOT PUBLISHED. THEY'RE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THEY'RE NOT EVEN OPEN. THEY'RE ONLY OPEN TO SELECT RESCUES. THERE ARE 14,000 RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ONLY A TINY MINUSCULE, LIKE 20 ARE LISTED ON BARC. AND I STARTED CALLING THEM THESE FOSTER, THESE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPOSEDLY ON THEIR WEBSITE, DISCONNECTED NUMBERS. THERE'S NO NUMBER. THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE FULL. THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, SO ONLY A FRACTION MAYBE ON THAT LIST IS EVEN AVAILABLE TO HELP IF PEOPLE ARE EVEN INTERESTED. IT'S FALLACIOUS. EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM IS A FALLACY. IF YOU TRY AND GET CHIPPED, GO ON THERE AND TRY AND LOOK AND SEE ABOUT GETTING SOMETHING CHIPPED. IT'S FIVE YEARS. YOU HAVE TO WAIT FIVE YEARS FOR AN APPOINTMENT. GO SCROLL THROUGH AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. THEY ARE A FARCE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A TASK FORCE IN A COMPEND, UM, MADE. THEY'RE NOT EVEN WAITING 24 HOURS BEFORE EUTHANIZING. THERE'S CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WAIT. THEY'LL COME IN AND THEY'LL EUTHANIZE. ANIMALS ARE DISAPPEARING. WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF, UM, NUMBERS OF THE IDENTIFIERS OF THE ANIMALS. WE CAN WORK WITH YOU AND GET THIS CORRUPTION UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE INNOCENT ANIMALS' LIVES ARE BEING, THEY'RE BEING VICTIMIZED. MAKE THE LIST PUBLIC. TELL, TELL COREY AND, UH, MR. MAYORS TO PLEASE MAKE THE LIST PUBLIC SO THAT WE AS CITIZENS CAN SELECT ANIMALS POTENTIALLY BASED ALSO ON WHEN THEY'RE GONNA PASS. AND RESCUES CAN HELP. THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP IF THEY KNOW WHICH ONES ARE TARGETED. LAST YEAR, DECEMBER, 2020 4, 64 DOGS WERE EUTHANIZED THIS YEAR WHEN THEY STARTED THIS NEW PROGRAM WHERE THEY'VE MADE IT SO THAT IT WENT FROM A 48 HOUR PERIOD OF NOTICE, SUPPOSED NOTICE TO 24 HOURS THEY EUTHANIZED. IT STARTED, MIND YOU, FEBRUARY 15TH, 170 DOGS IN ONE MONTH IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. 43 DOGS IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, 186 DOGS. AND THEY, AND THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING CATS. AND THESE ARE ADOPTABLE PETS, PEDIGREE PETS. THESE ARE LOVING SWEET, BEAUTIFUL PETS. ONLY A MINUTE. FACTION ARE NOT. MAY I PROCEED? GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. OKAY. UM, IT COSTS THE CITY ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HAVE BARKS LIKE THE DOGS AND CATS TO BE EUTHANIZED AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE. AND TO PROVIDE THE RESCUES NETWORKERS IN PUBLIC WITH THE LIST, PUBLISH THE LIST ON THE WEBSITE LIKE IT USED TO BE. THIS IS NOT A BIG ASK. YOU CAN EUTHANIZE RESPONSIBLY STILL COMPLETE YOUR GOALS OF SWEEPING THE STREETS WITHOUT THE UNNECESSARY AND RECKLESS DESTRUCTION OF INNOCENT ANIMALS. WHERE THE VICTIMS OF UNCONTROLLED AND UNREGULATED BACKYARD BREEDING FUNDING SHOULD ALSO BE ALLOCATED TO SPAY AND NEUTERING INITIATIVES AND TO EDUCATION. INSTRUCT YOUR SHELTER TO EXPAND OUT THE ACCEPTABLE GEOGRAPHIC REACH FOR FOSTERING, UM, PEOPLE EVEN IN AUSTIN OR WHEREVER. THEY'RE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO FOSTER YOUR ANIMALS. WHY NOT? THERE'S SO MANY WONDERFUL HOMES THAT ARE BEING REJECTED. ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND THE GEOGRAPHIC REACH OUT. CALL SHELTERS. I CALLED A SHELTER IN AUSTIN. I SAID, WOULD YOU HELP HOUSTON OUT AND TAKE SOME OF THEIR ANIMALS? THEY SAID, SURE. I SAID, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO? THEY SAID, THEY JUST NEED TO CALL US 14,000 ORGANIZATIONS AT YOUR DISPOSAL. YOU JUST NEED [01:40:01] SOMEBODY OVER THERE TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO MAKE CALLS, TO HELP PLACE THE ANIMALS. IF YOU'RE, IF THE CITY IS SO OVERRUN, DON'T BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE. THIS IS ALL ON YOU. NOW. YOU ALL HAVE NOTICE. PLEASE, ANIMALS ARE BEAUTIFUL INNOCENT SOULS. I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE PETS. THEY'RE BEING EUTHANIZED ALL DAY. THANK LONG I MS. WE, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY, AND WE, WE FEEL YOUR PASSION AND WE GOT THE MESSAGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. AND I'M AT YOUR DISPOSAL. I'M AN ATTORNEY. MY NAME'S RENEE KENNEDY. YOU CAN LOOK ME UP ON THE STATE BAR AND I WON'T CHARGE YOU IF YOU NEED ME TO LIKE GO AND VOLUNTEER IN SOME CAPACITY, THAT'D BE GREAT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CAROLINA BUSTOS. OH, WRONG LADY TO BE FOLLOWED BY IRANI. TREVINO, ARE YOU MS. BUSTOS? YES. HI. GOOD MOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU? CITY COUNCIL, HOW ARE WE? UH, I HOPE EVERYONE'S DOING WELL TODAY. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, EARTH DAY. UM, EARTH DAYS COMING UP NEXT WEEK. AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT EARTH DAY MEANS TO ME. UM, I HAVE A, I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS. I HAVE, UM, AN 11-YEAR-OLD AND A 6-YEAR-OLD. AND, UM, MY 6-YEAR-OLD NEVER FAILS TO REMIND ME THAT EVERY DAY SHOULD BE EARTH DAY. UM, SHE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CARE ABOUT OUR EARTH. UM, WE TRY TO PROTECT IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN. UM, AND SO I JUST I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN EVENT. I'M HERE WITH, UH, RAAS COLLABORATIVE. UM, IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT, UM, DOES SOME COMMUNITY WORK HERE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. UM, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO JOIN US. IT'S A FREE EVENT FOR THE FAMILY, AND WE WILL BE GIVING AWAY SOME TREES, UM, DUE TO, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING OUR EARTH DAY AND, UM, HOPEFULLY HAVE THOSE TREES BEING PLANTED IN, IN OUR CITY, UM, TO HELP WITH ANY FLOODING. AND, YOU KNOW, UM, TREES ALSO GIVE OUT, UH, OXYGEN. SO I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO JOIN US, UM, IF YOU ALL GET THE CHANCE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UH, CAROLINA, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UM, I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO AAND AS WELL AND LETICIA ABOUT THIS EVENT. LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING THERE. YES. UM, AND I ALSO WANNA EXTEND THE, THIS INVITATION TO MY COLLEAGUES. IF YOU'RE AROUND IN THE EAST END AT MASON PARK, IF YOU CAN ATTEND, UM, SHARE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENCY AS WELL. CIO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A WONDERFUL THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. IRANE TREVINO. IRANE TREVINO. NEXT SPEAKER, DEBORAH MORAN. DEBORAH MORAN. HI, UH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME YET, I'M DEBBIE MORAN. I AM YOUR LOCAL LIGHTING ADVOCATE FOR HOUSTON, AND WHICH I'VE BEEN WORKING AT FOR 10 YEARS. WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS. DOES EVERYBODY HAVE A PICTURE OF THE LIGHTING THAT I SENT AROUND? OKAY. SO WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS. WE DO HAVE A LIGHTING CODE TO MAKE LIGHTING LOOK LIKE THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM. SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT ASKS PEOPLE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES TO SHIELD THEIR LIGHTING AND TO USE A WARMER COLOR. AND THERE'S REASONS FOR THAT. WE STILL HAVE LIGHTING THAT'S NOT COVERED BY THAT CODE, AND I HAD HOPED THERE WOULD BE EDUCATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE CODE ABOUT WHY WE DO THAT. AND I'VE SEEN ZERO, I'VE BEEN DISMAYED THAT WE NOW HAVE A LOT OF ATTENTION PAID TO OUR GREATLY INCREASING AUTO PEDESTRIAN, AUTO PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT RATE. IT'S 50% HIGHER IN THE UNITED STATES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. IT'S 125% HIGHER IN HOUSTON, AND THAT, UH, RISE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY AT NIGHT. SO OUR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE HASN'T CHANGED. UM, SURELY CELL PHONES AREN'T BEING USED A LOT MORE AT NIGHT THAN DURING THE DAY. WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THE USE OF HIGH GLARE WHITE LED LIGHTING AND TO, IN ORDER TO FIX THAT, WE HAVE A VISION ZERO PROGRAM, BUT IT'S ONLY FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. WE NEED TO FIX THE ZERO VISION WE HAVE FROM MISS AIMED WHITE LED LIGHTING. AND THAT COMES FROM EDUCATION. AND IT'S FINALLY OCCURRED TO ME THAT PEOPLE CANNOT LIST HEAR THIS FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS IF THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THEIR SAFETY ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I'VE HAD POLICE OFFICERS ADMIT TO ME AFTER I SHOW THEM THE PROBLEM, WE RECOMMEND VERY BRIGHT LIGHT. UM, BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU SEE THE LIGHTING IN THE TOP LEFT WHERE YOU HAVE THE WHITE LIGHT POINTED OUTWARD, THIS IS A WORST CASE SCENARIO WHERE THE LIGHT'S [01:45:01] DIRECTLY IN YOUR EYES ON, ON NORTH BRASSWOOD. UM, AND IN THAT CASE, THE STREET COMPLETELY DISAPPEARS, BUT THE PERSON WHO'S PUTTING UP THE LIGHTING FROM HIS BUSINESS IS LOOKING OUTWARD. THE LIGHTING'S NOT IN HIS EYES. HE SEES HOW GREAT THE LIGHT LOOKS ON HIS BUSINESS. HE HAS NO IDEA THAT THE PEOPLE WHO FACE IT CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. THEY CAN'T SEE HIS PARKING LOT, AND THEY CAN'T SEE THE, THE, UH, LIGHTING ON THE, ON THE STREET, EVEN THOUGH HE'S LIGHTING THE STREET. THE PEDESTRIAN WHO TURNS SIDEWAYS TO THE LIGHTING SEES HIMSELF AS LIT AND, UH, ASSUMES THAT HE CAN BE SEEN NOT REALIZING THAT THE SAME LIGHT THAT'S LIGHTING THE PEDESTRIAN IS BLINDING THE ONCOMING DRIVER. SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS LIGHTING NOT ONLY MAKES CARS MISS PEDESTRIANS, MAKES, GIVES PEDESTRIANS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT THEY'RE WELL LIT. A STRIKING EXAMPLE IS DESIRE POOL, WHO WAS KILLED BY THE WOMAN POLICE OFFICER ON ANTOINE IN SEPTEMBER. WE DROVE THAT ROUTE AND WE, WHAT WE SAW WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD'VE EXPECTED TO SEE FROM THE DASH CAM. THE DASH CAM, UH, VIDEO IS NOT EXACTLY THE WAY A HUMAN EYE SEES IT, BUT WHAT WE NOTICED IS THAT THE STREET LOOKED VERY DARK, AND THEN WHEN WE CAME TO WHERE SHE WAS CROSSING FROM A A BUS STOP, SHE WAS FLANKED BY, UM, BY VERY HIGH GLARE, UH, BUSINESSES. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SHE COULD BE SEEN ONE SECOND. WELL, SHE COULD BE SEEN, WELL, ONE SECOND BEFORE SHE WAS HIT. SO THERE WAS NO ADVANCE NOTICE. MS. MORAN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS INFORMATION. YOU ALWAYS, UM, KEEP US UP TO DATE AND ABREAST OF THE LIGHTING CHANGES AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD. UM, THIS IS GOOD INFORMATION FOR US AS WE ARE MEETING WITH OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION AS WELL. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT SPEAKER, FAYE K FAYE, KU TO BE FOLLOWED BY LEAH BLANKENSHIP. GO AHEAD. HELLO, COUNSEL. I AM ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT, UH, THE MAYOR IS NOT HERE. UM, FOR MY, UM, SPEAKING, UM, MY NAME IS FAYE K AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN, UH, KATY, TEXAS. I MOVED THERE FROM, UH, UVALDE RANCH APARTMENTS, UH, WHICH IS A, UM, LOW WELL USING A, UH, HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING VOUCHER. AND, UH, BOTH OF THOSE ARE, I BELIEVE PFCS THAT ARE, UM, UH, BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY PARTIALLY OWNED. UM, I'M HERE TODAY, HOWEVER, AS THE CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE WORKING GROUP IN THE HOUSTON PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, AND AS A VOLUNTEER, UM, I WORK WITH VARIOUS GROUPS AROUND THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THE, UM, SUNRISE MOVEMENT, HOUSTON HUB, AND A, A YOUTH LEADERSHIP GROUP THAT DEALS WITH, UM, ALL KINDS OF, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE, JUSTICE ISSUES, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUES. UM, IT'S INTIMIDATING TO COME HERE TO SPEAK TO EVERYONE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU, UH, APPRECIATE THAT IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME TO DRIVE HERE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY. HOUSTON IS VERY BIG AND THAT I'VE, I'VE FELT VERY, UH, DISAPPOINTED IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HEARD, UM, THE MAYOR HAVE BEEN MAKING, UH, WHILE HE'S DOING, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEWS WITH THE CI WITH, UH, VARIOUS MEDIA OUTLETS. UM, IT MAKES ME FEEL THAT HE DOESN'T VALUE THE ACTIVISTS AROUND THE CITY WHO ARE SPENDING OUR TIME WITHOUT PAY TO BE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER ALL AROUND TOWN, HELPING WITH PHYSICAL PROJECTS SUCH AS ACTUALLY RESTORING, YOU KNOW, UH, PLACES BY REMOVING POLLUTION. I SAW THAT HE ALSO VOLUNTEERED, UM, THIS RECENTLY AND HOPEFULLY THAT, THAT THAT HELPED HIM TO FEEL, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH, UH, ENERGY PEOPLE LOVE HOW MUCH WE LOVE THE CITY AND WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, HELP EACH OTHER, BUT HELPING EACH OTHER IS NOT ENOUGH. SO I WAS INVITED HERE BY THE BAYOU CITY, UM, WATERKEEPERS, UM, WHO ARE, WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSENT DECREE ACTION DAY. UM, AND THIS IS RELATED TO, UM, SEWER, UM, REPAIRS IN OUR CITY. THEY ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN HAVE, UM, MORE, UH, ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY ON THE REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE FOR PRIVATE CITY SEWER LATERALS, AS WELL AS, UM, THE, THE, UH, REST OF THE SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE NORTHEAST ACTION. UH, UH, PEOPLE OUT HERE. I SEE SOME OF THEM IN RIGHT HERE BEHIND ME. UH, I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING [01:50:01] AROUND TOWN. WE GOT 10 RICE STU RICE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO COME WITH US, UM, TO VISIT SADE HOGUE AND HER, UM, AND HER HOME IS BEHIND HER FENCE, IS RIGHT UP AGAINST A, UM, METAL RECYCLER. AND, UM, THE INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR HOME COULD BE CAUSING THEIR SEWERS TO BE GOING BAD. UM, THERE'S, UH, PODCASTS AROUND TOWN WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, THE UNCONVENTIONAL. MAY I FINISH? UM, GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. OKAY. THE UNCONVENTIONAL JOURNALIST, UM, HAS A PODCAST ON SPOTIFY. UM, SHE'S, UH, HER NAME IS SAM AND SHE HAS BEEN, UH, INTERVIEWING PEOPLE AROUND TOWN TO TALK ABOUT THE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, UM, THAT ALL CONNECT TO THE SEWAGE AND THE DRAIN, UH, SEWAGE AND DRAINAGE ISSUES AROUND TOWN. AND I HOPE THAT, UM, EVERYBODY HERE REALLY DOES VALUE THE KIND OF WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO BRING PEOPLE'S OPINIONS TO YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET HERE. JUST ONE PERSON HERE. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT I'M REPRESENTING MORE PEOPLE THAN JUST MYSELF AND MY SON, AND THAT WE'RE, THAT, UM, THEIR ASPIRATIONS FOR BEING ABLE TO BE HERE, UM, HAVE RESULTED IN ME AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO COME BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE AT SCHOOL. THEY HAVE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON A REGULAR BASIS JUST TO SURVIVE. SO, UM, ANYWAY, I HOPE THAT THIS, THIS IS VALUABLE TO YOU. THANK YOU, MS. KUH. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE JOURNEY TO COME HERE AND SHARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH US. IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN SPEAK WITH ME AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE THREE MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY TALK ABOUT ANYTHING. SHE LIVES IN KATY, UM, JAMES, JAMES FROM THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION IS, HA IS HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. NEXT SPEAKER, LEAH BLANKENSHIP TO BE FOLLOWED, FOLLOWED BY CLARA GOODWIN. HI LEAH. HI. HELLO, MY NAME IS LEAH BLANKENSHIP. I LIVE IN THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. UM, PRIOR TO LIVING IN HOUSTON, I ENJOYED SWIMMING, KAYAKING, WALKING MY DOG AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL LAKES IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. THAT IS THE STATE THAT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN, AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT TAUGHT ME THE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF NATURE. AFTER MOVING, MOVING TO HOUSTON FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL, I QUICKLY NOTICED THE LACK OF CLEAN WATER. THIS REALIZATION PRESENTED ITSELF AND THE SMELLS I UNWANTEDLY BREATHED IN AND WALK AS WHY AS I WALKED MY DOG ALONG THE BAYOU OF HOUSTON AND IN THE TAP WATER THAT I COULD NOT DRINK, I FURTHER FURTHER LEARNED THE HOUSTON'S POOR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. DURING MY TIME AS A FELLOW AT BAYOU CITY, WATERKEEPER, A WATER JUSTICE ORGANIZATION IN HOUSTON. SO MANY OF HOUSTON'S RESIDENTS AND LOWER INCOME BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES LOOK OUT THEIR WATERS, THEIR WINDOWS WHEN IT RAINS AND SEE FLOODING IN THEIR YARDS. AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY WILL HAVE WASTEWATER BACKUPS. THEY KNOW THIS BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TIME AFTER TIME, EVEN AFTER PLUMBING FIXES WERE PAID FOR. WELL, THE 2021 CONSENT DECREE WAS A HISTORIC INVESTMENT. THE WASTEWATER ISSUES ARE CONTINUING TO GROW PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS. THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL HOMES AND THE MAIN SEWER LINE ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. YET IT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE 2021 CONSENT DECREE. THIS IS A HUGE MISSTEP SINCE THE DAMAGE TO THESE PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS CAN LARGELY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LACK OF INVESTMENT AND HOUSTON'S MAIN SEWAGE LINE. THEREFORE, I URGE THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CREATE A 20 MILLION PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL FUND PROGRAM TO ENSURE ALL HOUSTONIANS FROM ALL HOUSTONIANS BENEFIT FROM THE 2021 CONSENT DECREE. THERE ARE TWO EXISTING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN BAYTOWN AND AUSTIN, TEXAS THAT STAND AS PROFICIENT EXAMPLES OF WHAT HOUSTON CAN DO TO UPLIFT ITS CONSTITUENTS OUT OF DISASTROUS SITUATIONS THAT GREATLY IMPACT THEIR LIVES. SUGGESTING FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE THE CONSENT DECREE, IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ITSELF BY ENSURING ONGOING AND IMPLEMENTATION CLOSES THE SEWAGE GAP FOR HOMEOWNERS AT OR BELOW THE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE STATE'S AVERAGE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME. ADDITIONALLY, LEVERAGING EXISTING FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING SOURCES LIKE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY USED FOR LOWER IN FOR LOW INCOME [01:55:01] HOMEOWNER REPAIRS. THANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR HOUSTON'S WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. THANK YOU, UM, FOR SHARING YOUR COMMENTS THAT WERE VERY WELL ORGANIZED AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER, CLARA GOODWIN. CLARA GOODWIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CLARA GOODWIN. UH, I WORK FOR BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER. UM, AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADDRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF A PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL FUND FOR OUR, UH, LOW INCOME REPAIRS OF PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS. UM, I LIVE IN MONTROSE NOW, BUT I GREW UP IN WESTBURY, UM, AND MY PARENTS STILL LIVE THERE. AND WHILE MONTROSE HAS PLENTY OF SEWAGE ISSUES AND WATER ISSUES, I GET HUGE FLOODS IN MY STREET EVERY SUMMER. UM, MY PARENTS' NEIGHBORHOOD IS BASICALLY AN ISLAND SURROUNDED BY THE FLOOD PLAIN. THEY HAVE A 500 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN LINE THAT COMES ACROSS THEIR FRONT YARD AND THE END OF THEIR BLOCK IS THE ONLY, UH, SECTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT FLOODED DURING HARVEY. UM, THERE'S ALSO A BAYOU THAT BASICALLY BACKS UP ON THEIR STREET. SO EVERY TIME THERE'S A LARGE RAINFALL EVENT, THE BAYOU GETS REALLY HIGH OVER TOPS THE BAYOU AND THE WATER PRESSURE FOR THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE WHOLE STREET AT LEAST, IS AFFECTED. UM, IT ALSO SEEMS TO AFFECT THE STORM SEWER DRAINS BECAUSE THE WATER LEVEL WILL END UP HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL DRAINS THEMSELVES. THIS CAN RESULT IN PEOPLE'S TOILETS NOT FLUSHING PROPERLY, WATER PRESSURE DROPPING, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF THE SORT OF ISSUES THAT COME. AND ANOTHER SIDE EFFECT OF THIS IS THAT WE GET SEWER OVERFLOWS. THE HOUSES AND THE FLOOD END OF THE STREET ALL TEND TO HAVE OVERFLOWS IN THEIR BACKYARDS DURING FLOODING EVENTS, UM, AND OFTEN RIGHT AFTER FLOODING EVENTS. AND THE RESULT OF, YOU KNOW, THESE SORT OF FLOODING EVENTS IS THAT WE END UP WITH SEWAGE IN THE FLOOD WATER. THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOING OUT TO CLEAR THE STORM DRAINS AND MAKE SURE THAT WATER CAN CONTINUE TO FLOW OR BEING EXPOSED TO HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS. AND THOSE OF US WHO WERE ALSO GOING OUT, LIKE DURING HARVEY, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THAT END OF THE BLOCK FLOODED AND HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSES WALKING THROUGH FLOOD WATER THAT WAS ALSO FULL OF RAW SEWAGE. SO THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT'S CLEARLY CONNECTED TO FLOODING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS NEIGHBORS IN WESTBURY, THEY CAN AFFORD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THEY MAY HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO DO IT, THEY MAY HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LINE OF CREDIT, LIKE IT'S A VERY PROHIBITIVE EXPENSE EVEN FOR A MIDDLE CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE WESTBURY, BUT THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY MANAGE TO DO IT. IF THEY COULDN'T MANAGE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR THESE SEWER PROBLEMS, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WOULD IMPACT OUR, OUR STREET. IT WOULD IMPACT ANYONE WHO'S DRIVING AROUND OUR STREET. IT WOULD IMPACT THE BAYOU BEHIND IT. AND THE PARK WILL A WATER HOLE THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE WALK IN BECAUSE YOU'RE ENDING UP WITH A LOT OF RAW SEWAGE THAT'S GOING TO GET INTO THE WATERWAYS AND THE WATER GOES EVERYWHERE. UM, I THINK THAT MOST OF THE NEIGHBORS IN MY PARENTS' NEIGHBORHOOD AREN'T AWARE THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED TO CITY SEWER LINES OR FLOODING. LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE AWARE, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S WAYS TO REPORT THAT. THEY JUST ARE LIKE, OH, IT'S A PRIVATE SEWER LINE, I'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT, AND THEY FIX IT. UM, SO THESE ARE ALSO REPAIRS, YOU KNOW, OVERFLOWS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING REPORTED INTO THE CITY'S, UH, DATA ON SEWAGE OVERFLOWS. UM, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT'S CAUSING SEWAGE REPAIRS AND WHY WE NEED A SEWAGE FUND TO SUPPORT THESE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ. GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHAQUITA RIVERS COUNSEL, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GUADALUPE FERNANDEZ, REPRESENTING BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT I. THIS MONTH MARKS THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOUSTON WASTEWATER CONSENT DECREE. A CRUCIAL INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY'S LONG NEGLECTED INFRASTRUCTURE. FOUR YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE FEDERAL JUDGE APPROVED THE LANDMARK AGREEMENT REQUIRING THE CITY TO INVEST $2 BILLION IN OUR SANITARY SEWAGE UPGRADES OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD. HOWEVER, IT LEFT OUT FUNDING FOR PRIVATE LATERAL REPAIRS RESULTING IN AN UNJUST BURDEN ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. LIKE MS. RIVERS, WHO WILL SPEAK SHORTLY. THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ARE BEING FORCED TO COVER PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIR COSTS THAT STEM FROM DECADES OF CITYWIDE NEGLECT. OUR DATA ANALYSIS AND MAPPING FINDS THAT THE BURDEN FALLS HARDEST ON OUR COMMUNITIES ALREADY FACING FLOODING, ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND UNDERINVESTMENT. WE HAVE A REALLY NEAT MAP ON OUR WEBSITE THAT SHOWS THE DIRECT CORRELATION TO ENSURE THE CONSENT DECREE BENEFITS ALL HOUSTONIANS. WE NEED A DEDICATED 20 MILLION PROGRAM TO ASSIST THESE LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS WITH THESE REPAIRS. IN THE PAST, PUBLIC WORKS HAS CLAIMED THAT SUCH A PROGRAM IS IMPOSSIBLE, CITING SOME STATE STATUTE CONSTRAINTS THAT [02:00:01] WE FOUND TO BE INACCURATE. AUSTIN AND BAYTOWN HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN OUR STATE FOR PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE HU HOUSTON HAS AN EXISTING HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS THAT NEED HELP USING CDBG FUNDS. WE ARE WELL AWARE OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET REALITY. A PROGRAM LIKE THIS IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE WITHOUT WATER RATE HIKES, THE CITY CAN DIRECT DECREE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIR NEEDS FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OR EARMARKED NON-COMPLIANCE PENALTIES FOR THESE REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY CAN MAXIMIZE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AFTER YESTERDAY'S SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE, WE ARE PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS COMMITMENT TO UPDATE THE EAST WATER PURIFICATION PLAN BY LEVERAGING STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THESE UPDATES. IN ORDER TO CREATE A PRIVATE LATERAL PROGRAM, WE RECOMMEND THE CITY ACTIVELY PURSUE AND CONTINUE LEVERAGING EXISTING FUNDING SOURCES SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, CDBG, WHICH THE CITY AGAIN HAS USED FOR LOW INCOME HOMEOWNER REPAIRS. FINALLY, THE CITY CAN EXPLORE UNCONVENTIONAL COLLABORATIONS WITH FOUNDATIONS OR EVEN PARTNERING WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT EXIST LIKE IN EAST TEXAS TO PROVIDE SKILLED LABOR FOR PRIVATE LATERAL REPAIRS. WE WANNA WORK WITH Y'ALL. WE WANNA WORK WITH HOUSTON WATER AND THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A PROGRAM BEYOND ASSISTANCE FOR PRIVATE LATERAL REPAIRS. WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN THE CONSENT DECREE. HOUSTON'S DESERVE CLEAR INFORMATION ON FUND ALLOCATION AND PROGRESS. WE ASK FOR REGULARLY UPDATED PUBLIC BREAKDOWNS OF PROJECT LOCATIONS, TIMELINES, BUDGETS, AND METRICS. COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONSTANTLY ASK US WHERE THESE INVESTMENTS AND REPAIRS ARE GOING. UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HOPE Y'ALL CAN HELP US RAISE, UH, WITH PUBLIC WORKS. SO THERE IS TRUE VISIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ON HOW THE CONSENT DECREE IS BEING UPDATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE THAT LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU AND THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ISSUE. UM, IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. I CERTAINLY NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH THERE. I'LL BE ASKING PUBLIC WORKS. I MEAN, CERTAINLY AS WE'RE ENTERING THE, THE BUDGET PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT FUNDS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER GRANTS AND THINGS THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE TO GET SOME OF THIS DONE. SO, UM, I NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND ABOUT THESE LETTERS, I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR, UH, OR IN RECENT YEARS, NOT EVERY YEAR, BUT, UH, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT I'LL BE ADDRESSING THIS WITH PUBLIC WORKS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS SO WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND WHAT'S HOW WE'RE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED THE ASSISTANCE TO GET THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. ABSOLUTELY. WE WANNA WORK WITH ALL OF Y'ALL TO IDENTIFY THOSE FUNDING SOURCES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. GUADALUPE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR FOLKS, UH, NOT JUST IN THE C CLINTON PARK AREA, BUT ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M, I'M INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. YOU KNOW, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, UH, COUNCIL OF DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE USED. AND SO I'M INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT HOW, HOW SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS COULD BE USED AS WELL. EXCELLENT. WE WANNA WORK WITH YOU. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. SHAQUITA RIVERS. SHAQUITA RIVERS. NEXT SPEAKER. IS SHE HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JUDITH NAITO? OKAY, THANK YOU. HELLO, MS. RIVERS. OH HI. HOW ARE YOU? DOING WELL. HI. I AM LOW VISION AND VISION IMPAIRED, SO I, I MIGHT NOT SEE ALL OF YOU, BUT HELLO TO YOU, YOU GUYS ON THE BOARD. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT MY PERSONAL ISSUES WITH THE SEWER, UH, SEWER ISSUE AND HOME ISSUES. UM, OUR SEWER ISSUES ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF HOUSTON, TRINITY GARDEN ARE SO BAD TO WHERE HOUSES HAVE BEEN JUST PUSHED DOWN AND TORE DOWN BECAUSE SEWER LINES HAVE EXPLODED IN HOMES AND THESE ARE JUST BASICALLY OLD ABANDONED HOMES, BUT SEWER LINES HAVE GOTTEN JUST THAT BAD TO WHERE RATS, RATS UPON RATS UPON RATS HAVE CAME IN FROM WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME, COME THEIR IN FOLKS' HOMES, THEY'RE IN MY HOME. THEY'RE TEARING UP MY HOME. THE SEWER LINE, THE SEWER IS UNDERNEATH OUR HOME RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK. IT'S SO BAD TO WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN FLUSH TOILET PAPER DOWN THE TOILET. WE HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE TRASH CAN SO WE WON'T HAVE AT LEAST, WE'LL YOU WON'T SEE WHITE STUFF UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE. UM, IT'S JUST HORRIBLE. IT'S A SMELL. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. I'M ON DISABILITY SO I CAN'T PAY FOR A LOT OF THE PLUMBING THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO FIX OUR HOUSE. WE'VE BEEN HAVING PLUMBING ISSUES SINCE I WAS 10. I'M 38 NOW. [02:05:01] THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER HOUSE. SHE LEFT IT TO ME AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES. I'M ALSO HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES HOME HEALTH WISE. UM, FLOORS ARE KIND, FALLING IN. WALLS ARE JUST CAVING IN. OUR KITCHEN IS ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THE FLOOR AND I JUST NEED YOU GUYS HELP. THANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, ANTHONY, UM, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND THEN WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT THE SITUATION IS. I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DECREE, BUT THEN ALSO THERE ARE SOME, YOU HAVE SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE SOME HOUSING ISSUES WHERE YOU NEED YOUR HOME REPAIRED IS YES. OKAY. AND I'VE, I'VE TRIED TO GO THROUGH MULTIPLE, UM, OTHER, UM, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS MM-HMM . TO GET LIKE A HOUSE REBUILT MM-HMM . AND OR WE ARE CLOSED AND WE CAN'T DO YOUR SIDE OF YOUR SIDE OF TOWN. WE'RE NOT IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS ANYMORE AND YOUR ZIP CODE. OKAY. YEAH. SO I WOULD HAVE ANTHONY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND THEN WE WILL, YOU KNOW, GET YOU WITH, CONNECT YOU WITH THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT, UM, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OR JUST TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU. OKAY? OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JUDITH NIETO. JUDITH NIETO TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH LUMIA. HELLO EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME IS YDI NIETO. UM, I'M HERE AS A HOUSTON RACE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZER AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER TEAM. I'M HERE TODAY AGAIN, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES. TODAY'S THE, OR THIS YEAR MARKS THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY'S CONSENT DECREE TO ADDRESS SEWAGE. BUT WE STILL HAVE A MAJOR POO PROBLEM ALL OVER THE CITY, AS YOU ALREADY HEARD FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE HERE. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BRIEF STORY ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD GROWING UP IN THIS CITY. MY FAMILY IMMIGRATED FROM HERE, UH, FROM MEXICO HERE IN THE NINETIES. MY SIBLINGS AND I STARTED SCHOOL AND GREW UP ALONG THE PARKS IN BAYOU IS LOCATED IN THE EAST END, OR RIO ONE PARK IN PARTICULAR. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN WAS THE MASON PARK AND THE BRACE BAYOU, WHERE WE GOT ACQUAINTED WITH THE RIELLO. I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE THIRD GATOR. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL EVER SEEN HIM. UM, HE CREEPS UP UNEXPECTEDLY, ESPECIALLY AFTER RAIN EVENTS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Y'ALL DON'T GET TOO CLOSE. IT'S NOT A HAPPY STORY, BUT WE KNOW TOO WELL AS RESIDENTS OF THE CITY THAT IT HAS NOT PRIORITIZED THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE BODIES OF WATER AROUND US. HOUSTON RESIDENTS HAVE TO TRAVEL VERY FAR TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS WATERS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SWIM IN FISH, UM, AND, AND USE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE SEEN SOME KAYAKING AND FISHING ALL OVER THE CITY, UM, DON'T ALWAYS RECOMMEND IT. WE ARE KNOWN AS THE BAYOU CITY, YET RESIDENTS CAN'T TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF OUR BAS EXCEPT TO STAY OUT OF THE S WAY. THIS RI STORY IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT CHILDREN HAVE TO TELL OURSELVES, THEIR SIBLINGS TO STAY VIGILANT OF WHAT LIES JUST UNDER THE WATERS OF OUR BAYOU STREAMS, RIVERS, AND SOMETIMES EVEN LAKES. IT'S BEEN DECADES. I'M STILL SCARED OF THE RI AND RUNNING INTO IT AND CONTINUE TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE SEWAGE PROBLEM THROUGHOUT OUR CITY THAT HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED. THIS IS WHY THE WASTEWATER CONSENT DECREE COULD BE A LIFE CHANGING AND CRUCIAL INVESTMENT IN, IN HOUSTON'S SEWAGE SYSTEM, WHILE NOT OVERLOOKING THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE OF FAILING PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS, WHICH YOU ALL HEARD ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS, HOMES AND THE MAIN SEWER LINE, WHICH MANY ARE IMPACTED DUE TO THE MAIN SEWER LINE ISSUES CONNECTED TO PETROCHEMICAL, METAL RECYCLING FACILITIES AND OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE FAILING SEWAGE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THIS GAP IN THE DECREE HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE NEGATIVE IMPACT IN LOWER WEALTH BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WHO OFTEN DON'T HAVE THE MEANS. THE FINANCIAL MEANS FOR EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIRS PERPETUATING ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE. SUPPORTING THE 20 MILLION PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CAN ENSURE THAT THE CONSENT DECREE BENEFITS ALL HOUSTONIANS AND RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO FUND THIS, POTENTIALLY CREATE, CREATING A PROGRAM THAT COULD BE MODELED AFTER OTHER CITIES THAT MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED, LIKE AUSTIN AND BAYTOWN TOWN. ESTABLISHING A STIPULATED PENALTY FUND CAN CREATE A DEDICATED FUND FOR SEWER LINE REPAIRS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY USING STIPULATED PENALTIES OR SUPPORTING A SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT, UH, TO DO, TO REDIRECT THOSE PENALTIES FROM ONGOING SEWAGE OVERFLOWS [02:10:01] THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, PROJECT PROVISIONS CAN SUPPORT IN RESTORING THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERWAYS SO THAT PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN ACTUALLY LEARN ABOUT THE DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS THAT ONCE THRIVED ALONG IN OUR BAYOU. AND WE ACTUALLY GET TO EXPERIENCE THEM IN REAL TIME. I HOPE MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR OF RUNNING INTO THE RIELLO AND I HOPE THE CHILDREN IN YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES DON'T EITHER. I ALSO SHARED SOME STICKERS WITH YOU ALL. UH, WE WORKED WITH A LOCAL ARTIST, UM, TO, TO CREATE WHAT THE RI KIND OF LOOKS LIKE SO YOU'LL NEVER FORGET ABOUT 'EM. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE STICKERS. THANK YOU. IT'S VERY MEMORABLE. ? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU. I MOVED TO, UH, HAVE URSA JESSE TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE SPEAKERS. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. URSULA, JESSE? NO, NO. TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. ELIZABETH LUMIA. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. HELLO. UH, MY NAME IS BETH LUMIA. I AM A CO-DIRECTOR OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AT WEST STREET RECOVERY AND A DIS UH, AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C I'M HERE TODAY ALSO, UM, TO SPEAK ON THE FAILING, UM, SEWER LATERALS, THE PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS. IN 2021, HOUSTON ENTERED INTO A CONSENT DECREE TO MAKE A LONG OVERDUE INVESTMENT IN OUR SEWAGE SYSTEM. WHILE THIS WAS A NECESSARY STEP FORWARD, THE DECREE LEFT OUT A MAJOR COMPONENT. THE PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS. THESE LINES MAY BE CONSIDERED PRIVATE, BUT THEIR FAILURE IS PUBLIC. WITH, WITH HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND EQUITY CONSEQUENCES, THIS GAP IN POLICY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS LOWER INCOME, BLACK AND BROWN, UH, COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON, PSL OR OF COURSE, PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIRS, UM, CAN COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND WHEN HOMEOWNERS CANNOT AFFORD REPAIRS, THAT MEANS RAW SEWAGE BACKS UP INTO HOMES AND YARDS CREATING PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS AND FURTHER DEGRADING QUALITY OF LIFE. WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT PIPES. IF YOU HADN'T NOTICED, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIGNITY, SAFETY, AND OF COURSE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. THAT'S WHY I, AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS HERE ARE CALLING ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CREATE A $20 MILLION PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ENSURE ALL HOUSTONIANS BENEFIT FROM THE 2021 CONSENT DECREE, NOT JUST THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD REPAIRS. THIS KIND OF PROGRAM IS NOT NEW, JUST LIKE MY FRIENDS HAD SAID. IT IS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN AUSTIN AND BAYTOWN. UM, THEY'RE RUNNING PSL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. UM, SO, SO HOUSTON, HOUSTON CAN ABSOLUTELY MODEL OUR BASED ON WHAT'S ALREADY WORKING. AND IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT RAISING RATES. IT'S ALSO BEEN MENTIONED THAT WE CAN USE CDBG FUNDS. UM, THIS HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN DONE. MOST RECENTLY IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN, THEY WERE USING C-D-B-G-D-R FUNDS, UH, TO LAUNCH PS LPO, UH, REPAIR PROGRAMS, OFFERING GRANTS, FORGIVABLE LOANS TO RESIDENTS AND FLOOD AFFECTED LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. IF DETROIT CAN DO THIS IN THE WAKE OF THEIR MOST RECENT CRISIS, SO CAN HOUSTON PROACTIVELY AND EQUITABLY, WE URGE YOU TO ESTABLISH A FUND OF A $20 MILLION PRIVATE SEWER LADDER REPAIR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THE GAP IN THE 2021 CONSENT DECREE TO INVEST IN HEALTH AND DIGNITY, AND TO AFFIRM THAT REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO SAFE AND FUNCTIONING SANITATION. THANK YOU. SO, MEMBER ALCORN, YOU STILL IN THE QUEUE? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, ERIC GONZALEZ. ERIC GONZALEZ, NEXT SPEAKER DAVID ESPINOZA. DAVID ESPINOZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROGER HERD, ALEXANDER, OTHER CITY COUNCIL. HELLO, NAME IS DAVID ESPINOZA. I'M A CO-DIRECTOR AT WEST STREET RECOVERY AND A RESIDENT OF, UH, EAST ALDING, UH, NORTHEAST HOUSTON HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL REPAIR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. UH, LIKE MY FOLKS, MY FRIENDS HERE THAT CAME, UH, BEFORE ME THROUGH MY WORK AS A VOLUNTEER, UH, IN THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, AND LATER AS A CO-DIRECTOR OF WESTERN RECOVERY, WE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH, UM, THE HEADACHE OF SEWAGE COMING BACK UP INTO THEIR YARDS BECAUSE OF PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS THAT HAVE FALLEN INTO THIS REPAIR. JUST IMAGINE [02:15:01] THE SMELL OF SEWAGE IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD. BACON IN THE HOT SUN IN THE PEAK OF SUMMER. IT'S, IT'S AWFUL. I DON'T THINK I, I CAN DESCRIBE HOW UNPLEASANT IT IS. SOME OF Y'ALL MAY HAVE VISITED, UM, RESIDENTS OR JUST DRIVEN PAST SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S BAD. BUT I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT THAT THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD THAT PUTS FAMILIES WHO WORK AND PLAY WITH THEIR PETS AND CHILDREN AT RISK ILLNESSES THAT PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY CAN ILL AFFORD, ESSENTIALLY TURNING AREAS LIKE, LIKE MINE INTO TOXIC BROWNFIELD THAT WILL CAUSE SO MUCH MORE TO FIX IN DOLLARS. AND THEN THE LIVES THAT GET PUT IN DANGER BY EXPOSING THEM TO THIS WASTE O OVER TIME AND ON TOP OF THE MEDICAL COSTS THAT THIS COULD, UH, COULD CAUSE FAMILIES AND SET THEM BACK EVEN FURTHER THE COME YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH THESE COMMENTS, UM, ASKING THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING AND IT GETS BRUSHED OFF BECAUSE APPARENTLY HANDS ARE TIED, UH, BECAUSE DRAINAGE FLOODS CANNOT BE BUDGETED FOR, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND PROP, UH, PROPERTY LINES. SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS HERE TO THAT VERY PROBLEM. UM, MY COWORKER BETH DID MENTION, UH, THE, THE PERSON I WAS GONNA, UH, BRING UP, UH, FROM CITY THAT ALSO SUFFERED A HUGE ECONOMICS AT BACK, UH, DETROIT AND DETROIT'S DETROIT. RIGHT? UM, NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE WAS FROM THERE, BUT IT'S SIMILAR TO US IN THAT THEY'RE A MAJOR CITY WITH DECAYING INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, WITH VERY FEW FUNDS TO REPAIR IT. HOWEVER, DETROIT ANNOUNCED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, A PRIVATE SEWER REPAIR PROGRAM TO HELP 75 NEIGHBORHOODS, OR ABOUT 1500 HOMES FROM, UM, FROM FLOODING. THEY WOULD BE PROVIDING REPAIRS AND UPGRADES THAT HOMES HIT IN THE JUNE, 2021 FLOODS. IT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, UM, TO REPAIR DAMAGE PORTIONS OF SEWER LINES THAT FALL WITHIN PROP PRIOR PROPERTY LINES. THEY, THIS, THEY DID THIS BY APPLYING C-D-B-G-D-R FUNDS, WHICH I KNOW THAT CITY HOUSTON'S ALSO, UH, UH, APPLYING FOR. AND THAT WE CAN, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO VERY MUCH THE SAME. AND THIS WILL HELP OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, MANY OF WHOM, UH, I KNOW ARE ON FIXED INCOMES LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY, UH, AND JUST DON'T SIMPLY, OR JUST DON'T SIMPLY, UH, EARN ENOUGH TO AFFORD THE, UH, THE REPAIRS. AND SO FAR, THAT PROGRAM IN DETROIT HAS SUCCESSFULLY HELPED OVER 400 FAMILIES, AND THAT LIST IS GROWING. WE CAN HELP SO MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THE, UH, AND THE EFFECTS THAT THIS WILL IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE LIVING ON IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU ERIC AND BETH, BEFORE, UH, YOU ERIC, UM, CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW THEY DO THIS IN, IN AUSTIN. DO THEY JUST USE THE CDBG UH, FUNDS TO, TO PAY FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS? I BELIEVE SO. I, I, I LOOK MORE INTO DETROIT MYSELF. OKAY. UM, BUT YES, I BELIEVE THAT, UM, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THE ONES BEFORE THEY WERE EAR, THEY WERE EARMARKED FOR, UH, DISASTER RELIEF. RIGHT. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY, I MEAN, IF WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS AFFECTED BY HARVEY AND, UH, BARREL AND OKAY. SHOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD PROBABLY LOOK INTO. ALRIGHT. UM, QUESTION FOR OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE, UH, RANDY. HAVE, HAVE, UH, HAVE YOU GUYS EVER LOOKED AT THIS SORT OF PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, COUNCIL COULD DO IT IF WE HAD THE VOTES TO? UH, I, SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE WHETHER OR NOT YOU COULD USE THE CD BG SERVICE FUNDS OR GRANT MONEY, ALTHOUGH I DO KNOW THAT OTHER UNI, UH, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO, DO USE THAT MONEY. AGAIN, I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT PRESUMABLY OF OTHER, UH, JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING IT. YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE LEGAL, BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY. OKAY. GOOD. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ROGER HEARD ALEXANDER ROGER HEARD ALEXANDER TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. HOW YOU DOING? DOING WELL, THANK YOU, SIR. MEMBER OF CITY, UH, THE FELLOW CITIZENS. MY NAME IS ROGER HUR ALEXANDER. UM, I'VE BEEN RECENTLY, UH, RELEASED FROM PRISON, UM, ON THE DAY THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED. UM, THE DOORS DIDN'T OPEN. THEY DIDN'T OPEN UNTIL A YEAR AND A HALF LATER AFTER I FILED, UM, THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, WHICH WAS DENIED. AND I HAD A RIGHT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UM, BEFORE I WAS RELEASED. AND, UM, DURING THAT, DURING THAT YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, I WAS BRUTALLY ASSAULTED BY THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. UM, I WAS IN A CELL WHERE THEY GASSED THE CELL, STRIPPED ME BUTT NAKED AND GASSED THE CELL AND LEFT ME IN THE CELL FOR OVER 24 HOURS. UM, WHEN I, WHEN I WAS TAKEN OUT AND SENT TO MEDICAL, MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS 200 OVER A HUNDRED SOMETHING. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBERS. UM, BUT TTDC RECOGNIZED THIS, THIS, UM, INCIDENT AND, AND THEY FIRED THE OFFICERS. AND, UM, BUT SINCE THEN, SINCE [02:20:01] I'VE BEEN RELEASED, MAN, I'VE BEEN HOMELESS, UM, UNDER TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL, UM, I THINK CRIMINAL REMEDIES, UM, IT STATED THAT, 'CAUSE THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY, UM, THROUGH A, UM, THEY SAID IT WAS A, A CLERICAL ERROR THAT CAUSED ME TO DO A EXTRA YEAR AND A HALF IN PRISON. AND THEY ADMITTED THIS IN, IN, IN, TO THE, TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THEY, THEY HURRY UP AND LET ME OUT BEFORE THE JUDGE RULED ON THE CASE. BUT UNTIL THE JUDGE RULED ON THE CASE, I CAN'T GET ANY KIND OF COMPENSATION OR NOTHING. WELL, I WENT TO THE COMPTROLLER. UM, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PAY ME FOR THE YEAR AND A HALF, I DID OVERTIME. AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT, UM, UNTIL THE JUDGE FINALLY RULES ON THE CASE. BUT THE CASE HAS BEEN OPEN FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW, A YEAR AND A HALF NOW. I FILED IT WAY BACK IN 2 23. AND, UM, I, I FILED A MOTION TO, UM, A MOTION TO RULE. IT IS JUST SITTING THERE. AND, UM, RIGHT NOW I'M HOMELESS. I HAVE NOTHING, UM, BUT MY MEDICAL, I NEED MEDICAL. AND LIKE I SAID, ON THE, ON THE, UM, TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PRACTICES AND REMEDIES, 1 0 3 POINT 51, IT SAID ONCE I WAS RELEASED, I WAS SUPPOSED TO BEEN GIVEN OR ASSISTED WITH UP TO $10,000 TO HELP ME, UM, TO BE BACK IN SOCIETY. AND JUST TO TELL YOU, MAN, THE LAST, TO BE HONEST, LAST 30 YEARS, I'VE BEEN GONE 27 YEARS OF IT. UM, I'M, I'M HAVING TROUBLE. I, I'M REALLY HAVING TROUBLE, MAN, TRYING TO RE REINTEGRATE. UH, I PRAY THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS ME, KEEP ME ABOVE WATER, YOU KNOW? UM, I JUST COME IN. I DON'T WANT, I JUST WANT WHAT, I JUST WANT JUSTICE. YOU KNOW, I, I WANNA BE COMPENSATED FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TIME I DID. AND MY MEDICAL, UH, THEY, THEY SAID THEY FOUND SOME BLACK, A BLACK MEDIATION IN MY CHEST WHEN I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ABOUT, LIKE FOUR MONTHS AGO. AND THEY SAID, UM, POTENTIALLY CANCEROUS. AND THIS IS DIRECTLY ST. STEMMED FROM WHEN I WAS IN THAT CELL IN FRONT OF THE CHEMICAL AGENTS ALL THAT TIME. HANG ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTO, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND, AND SHARING SUCH A PERSONAL TESTIMONY. UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A, A SERIES OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO, UH, LOOK INTO FURTHER. UH, THAT'LL TAKE MORE TIME THAN WE HAVE HERE TODAY. BUT, UH, I'LL PASS YOU MY CARD. THERE'S SOME ENTITIES AND, UM, SOME PROFESSIONALS I THINK WILL BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT TYPE OF, UH, RESOURCES WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU. YES. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOU SHARING WITH US. I JUST, WITH, UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES, UH, THAT YOU'RE HAVING. MY CONCERN IS TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP YOU IN REGARDS TO THE HOMELESS SIDE. YOU ARE HOMELESS NOW, CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY. AND, AND OF COURSE, ALL THIS HAPPENED. YOU'VE BEEN OUT OF INCARCERATION HOW LONG NOW? A YEAR. OVER A YEAR? YEAH, JUST A YEAR. OKAY. WELL, COUNCILMAN POLLARD HAS ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO HELP ON THE LEGAL SIDE. I'M GOING TO, HE'S MY, UH, CONSTITUENT SERVICE PERSON. MR. OLIVER'S GOING TO MEET WITH YOU AND GET YOU A CARD, OKAY. SO WE CAN KIND OF FOLLOW UP AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO HELP YOU OUT IN THE HOMELESS SIDE OF THE ISSUE. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AMER PRO TEM. UM, I WANT YOU TO SEE THE LADY OVER THERE, INGRAM, RIGHT THERE. AND WE'LL SEE YOU. YOU DO HAVE A, A LOT OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I, I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR MONEY YET EITHER. AND SO, UM, SHE'S GONNA TALK TO YOU TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP NAVIGATE YOU SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A, A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, FIRST AND FOREMOST. AND CERTAINLY TO SEE HOW WE CAN, CAN HELP YOU TO, YOU KNOW, BE ON YOUR WAY. YOU'VE SERVED YOUR TIME MORE THAN THE TIME YOU SHOULD HAVE SERVED. YES. AND SO CERTAINLY WE WANNA DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU AND MY COUNSELOR WO I THINK THIRD WARD. YES, SIR. I AM SAMPSON STREET, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM THE JY , I HAVE TO SAY THAT RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE. IRANE TREVINO TO BE FOLLOWED [02:25:01] BY URSULA. JESSE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNSEL. UH, MY NAME'S ANDINO. I'M RESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST HOUSTON NEAR THE HOBBY AREA, AND I'M ALSO CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RAS COLLAB PROJECT, A REGIONAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, UM, THAT FOCUSES ON, ON REALLY HELPING FORTIFY COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, UM, TIES AND, UM, BUT ALSO HELP US CONNECT THROUGH, THROUGH THE REGION ON ISSUES THAT TIE US. UM, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE HOSTING A LOT OF, UM, COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, TO HELP PEOPLE, UM, GAIN USABLE SKILLS, SKILLS THAT MAYBE WE'VE LOST AS A COMMUNITY. UM, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE BAKING BREAD OR MAKING, YOU KNOW, UM, NON-TOXIC SOAP. UH, IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE VERY CASUAL THINGS, BUT, UM, IT TAKES PRACTICE, I THINK, TO, TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND TO HELP US BECOME STRONGER TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO, TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD. UM, I THINK YOU GUYS PROBABLY KNOW THIS, UH, BUT A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURAL ISSUES LIKE, UM, EXTREME POVERTY, UM, EXTREME POLLUTION, UH, MAYBE CRIME IN SOME SITUATIONS AND ARE STRUGGLING WITH OTHER TYPES OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS. MAYBE, UM, MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE UNDOCUMENTED OR THEY DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. AND SO ALL THESE THINGS MAKE IT HARDER FOR COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY WITH GOVERNMENT. AND I THINK THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE BARRIERS SHOULD NOT EXIST. AND, UM, IT'S REALLY THE COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES IN COMMUNICATION. AND SO, THE NEXT THING I WANTED TO SAY IS, AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THIS ALREADY, WE'RE HOSTING EARTH DAY IN MASON PARK. THIS IS THE SECOND EARTH DAY IN THE EAST, UH, SOUTHEAST AREA THAT WE HOST LAST YEAR WAS AT, AT IGO PARK. BUT REALLY THE VISION HAS BEEN TO DO IT AT MASON PARK. 'CAUSE, UH, IN A VERY HOUSTON MANNER. I GREW UP ACROSS THE BAYOU FROM THE PARK. AND SO, UM, ONE OF MY CORE MEMORIES WAS GOING AND ATTENDING AN EVENT, A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WAS SORT OF LIKE A FAIR LIKE ENVIRONMENT. AND IT JUST WAS VERY IMPACTFUL TO ME. YOU KNOW, WE, WE WERE LOW RESOURCES, WE WERE AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY, AND, AND THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WERE TRYING TO SORT OF JUST POUR INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP STRENGTHEN THOSE TIES. SO I HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU GUYS, UM, IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, YOU CAN STOP BY. WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOGA AT 11:00 AM AND MARIACHI AT NOON DANCERS, ET CETERA. SO IT'S GONNA BE REALLY FUN. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. MEMBER PROAM. IRANI, THANK YOU FOR COMING. I THOUGHT I HAD MISSED YOU. UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, YOU, YOU SPOKE TO FOLKS THAT, UM, WE KNOW WE HAVE CIVIC CLUBS, WE HAVE SUPER NEIGHBORS, BUT THERE'S FOLKS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT, THAT SPACE, RIGHT? AND FOLKS THAT YOU'RE CONNECTING WITH. AND WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION SEVERAL TIMES. UM, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT WORKS, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THEN INVITING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BE ENGAGED SPECIFICALLY LIKE AT THIS EVENT AT MASON PARK, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, UM, DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A VOICE, RIGHT? AND SO BRINGING THEM TO BE ABLE TO CLAIM THEIR SPACE AS WELL IS IMPORTANT. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LIFTING THEM UP, AND I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON SUNDAY AS WELL. OKAY, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN. BEST WISHES FOR A GREAT EVENT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, URSULA, JESSE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALAN WHEEL. HI EVERYONE. UM, HELLO. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON THE STR ORDINANCE. UM, I GUESS I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'VE, UM, BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A FEW OF YOU ON, UH, SECTION 28, 7 33, SECTION EIGHT, WHICH IS ABOUT THE, UM, CRIMINAL CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING, YOU KNOW, THE TENANTS WITH POTENTIAL CRIMINAL LIABILITIES AND ALSO SPECIFICALLY, UH, DISORDER REGARDING DISORDERLY CO. HELLO? GO AHEAD. REGARDING DISORDERLY CONDUCT, I WANTED TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY UPDATES ON THAT LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU, URSULA. UM, COLLEAGUES, URSULA IS ONE OF MANY OF THE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND OTHERS. AND HER INPUT WAS, UH, THEIR INPUT WAS, WAS VITAL. AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE CUMBERSOME STUFF THAT WE HAD IN AT THE FIRST, THE INSURANCE, THE PARKING, ALL OF THAT KIND OF THING. SO WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THAT. BUT SHE STILL, UM, RANDY HAS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT KNOWING, LIKE THERE'S A, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT RENTS YOUR, YOUR STR AND THEY DO SOME NEFARIOUS THING, AND YOU MIGHT END UP, YOU KNOW, DOWN THE ROAD, LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO RENT YOUR STR. SO CAN YOU ADDRESS SOME OF HER CONCERNS? I KNOW I'VE FORWARDED THOSE TO YOU. UM, CAN YOU ADDRESS [02:30:02] HOW, HOW AN OWNER WITH NO KNOWLEDGE, AN OWNER THAT'S GOT, THAT HAS RULES PRINTED AND RIGHT. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T DO THIS OR THAT, AND THE PERSON STILL VIOLATES THEM, HOW THAT WILL BE HANDLED AND, AND KNOW THERE'S AN APPEALS PROCESS AND ALL OF THAT. BUT IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT. WELL, THE ORDINANCES WRITTEN, UM, WOULD ALLOW, UH, IF YOU HAD A, AN OWNER, AN OPERATOR, AN OCCUPANT OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL WHO WAS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES, COULD IN THEORY HAVE THE, UM, THE PERMIT REVOKED. IT'S NOT AN ABSOLUTE, IT'S A PERMISSIBLE, SO MAY BE REVOKED. UH, I WILL TELL YOU, UH, JUST SPEAKING IN A SORT OF PRACTICAL WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, UM, I, I FIND IT UNLIKELY, I CAN'T SAY IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN, BUT UNLIKELY THAT A ONE OFF CONVICTION WOULD LEAD TO IT, ONLY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT LIKELY TO KNOW ABOUT IT. I THINK AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT IS THIS, UH, PROVISION WAS PUT IN FOR THE VERY SMALL, I SAY SMALL, BUT IT'S NOT A, I DON'T THINK A LARGE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE CAUSING SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO EITHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF CANDIDLY, IF YOU HAD, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO FOR SOME REASON COMMITTED A CRIME THERE, THE DA'S OFFICE WOULD PRESUMABLY, UH, PROSECUTE IT. I DON'T KNOW, UNLESS YOU BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION OR WE FOUND OUT SOME OTHER WAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN HPD AND THE COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO BE HELPING US WITH THIS, UH, REGISTRATION PROCESS. SO, UH, I JUST DON'T SEE A ONE-OFF EVER HAPPENING AGAIN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THINK USING COMMON SENSE THAT IF YOU HAD A ONE-OFF CONVICTION, UH, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE INTENTION OF A RA AND YOU HAD AN OWNER THAT SAID, LOOK, I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I DON'T RENT TO NO KNOWINGLY RENT TO CRIMINALS, AND I WOULDN'T RENT TO THIS PERSON AGAIN. AND I'VE TRIED TO REMEDIATE, OR, YOU KNOW, I FIND IT UNLIKELY THAT A RA WOULD REVOKE THAT WE DON'T REVOKE A LOT OF PERMITS, EVEN NOISE VIOLATIONS. WE DON'T REVOKE A LOT OF PERMITS. SO, UH, IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S THE OWNER OF A, A PARTICULAR UNIT THAT IS SO CONSISTENTLY CAUSING PROBLEMS THAT IT IS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY, THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE. BUT THE ONE-OFFS, CANDIDLY, I'M NOT SURE HOW WE WOULD EVER KNOW, AND THAT I DON'T THINK IT WAS WRITTEN FOR THOSE ONE-OFF SITUATIONS. YEAH, NO, AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BALANCE, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO DO. UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY OUR CONCERN WOULD BE, GOD FORBID, SOMEONE YELLS AT, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'VE USED THE EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE YELLS AT A POLICE OFFICER, YOU HAVE NO IDEA THAT IT HAPPENED. YOU HAVE ALL THESE RULES, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S REVOKED. RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE'VE EMPHASIZED IS WE RECOGNIZE THAT IN PRACTICE, THINGS MAY NOT ACTUALLY TURN OUT, BUT WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THE ORDINANCE CAN ALSO BE A, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LETTER OF THE LAW, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OUR CONCERN. I'VE PROVIDED SOME ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE. I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT AGAIN AND JUST WANTED, UH, TO CONSIDER THAT JUST QUICKLY. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER AMENDMENT WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET, BUT WE HEARD SPOKEN OF DURING THE LAST SESSION, WHICH WAS IF YOU HAD TWO OR PROPERTIES OR TWO PROPERTIES THAT HAD, UM, GIMME ONE SECOND. I THINK IT'S TWO. YEAH, IT WAS THE YEAH, I, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND, AND THE LEGAL, AND THEY'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE ON HOW THAT MIGHT, I KNOW A COUPLE POINTS WERE BROUGHT OUT IF YOU WERE A SINGLE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU RENTED OUT SINGLE FAMILY PLACES OR MULTIFAMILIES AND YOU'RE A, A PROBLEM OWNER, AND THAT, THAT NUMBER, WE HAD 25% IN THERE, AND THAT WAS MAYBE GONNA BE TWO OR MORE. I THINK THAT'S ALL STILL BEING WORKED OUT. I THINK LEGAL DOESN'T REALLY LIKE IT THAT MUCH, UM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO, TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING FOR, TO, TO HELP THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE KIND OF NEARBY PROBLEM OWNERS WITH TOTALLY UNDERSTAND NUMEROUS. UM, SO I THINK WE'RE, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT OF SAUSAGE MAKING ON THAT TOMORROW. OKAY. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN FINALIZED. I WILL SAY, UM, RANDY, ON YOUR PREVIOUS ANSWER, I DID TALK SOME WITH, UH, CITY ATTORNEY BEFORE ABOUT IT, AND IT WAS THAT THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED, THE, THE CR THE CRIMES THAT ARE LISTED ARE ALL FROM CHAPTER 1 25, WHICH DOESN'T REQUIRE NOTICE TO THE, AND THAT THAT WAS BORROWED FROM THAT. AND THAT, THAT'S ONE ANOTHER REASON THAT I'VE GOTTEN FOR, FOR THAT THING. YEAH. BUT I, BUT I AGREE WITH RANDY IN THAT THERE IS, THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE, I MEAN, WE KNOW THE 30 PROPERTIES THAT ARE PROBLEMS, RIGHT. YOU KNOW, AND THOSE, THOSE ARE THE ONES REALLY THIS IS BEING WRITTEN FOR. I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN, RIGHT. AND HOPEFULLY, BUT, BUT I ALSO, A RAI, WE WORK WITH A RA ON THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS. AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'VE, I'VE SAT THROUGH SOME OF THOSE AND, AND A RA DOES NOT JUST REVOKE, I MEAN, THEY GIVE PEOPLE CHANCE. THEY LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO MITIGATE, I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT LIKE WILLY-NILLY REVOKING PERMITS. YEAH. SOMETIMES WE WISH THEY WOULD, BUT , BUT THEY, THEY REALLY, THEY REALLY GIVE THE, UH, DUE PROCESS TO, TO THE SITUATION. RIGHT. OKAY. UH, I MEAN IT, THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, YOUR LOOKING [02:35:01] INTO IT. MY, I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION IS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHANCE TO REVIEW THE AMENDMENTS TO THE AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE VOTED ON TOMORROW, IS THAT CORRECT? I THINK THEY'RE ALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THAT, UM, SOME OF THE LANGUAGE MIGHT BE TWEAKED ON THAT AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, BUT I THINK THE OTHER ONES, UM, I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I MEAN, WHO KNOWS IF IT'S GONNA GET DELAYED AGAIN TOMORROW? I DON'T KNOW IF EVERY, EVERYBODY WAS HERE, BUT WE, WE HOPE TO BE WORKING THROUGH THESE TOMORROW. MAYBE THE, UM, SOMEONE ELSE KNOWS MORE THAN I DO ABOUT THAT. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UH, THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. URSULA, I, I WANNA ASSURE YOU, WE READ EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEND US AND, UH, WE, WE TAKE IT UNDER CONSIDERATION TO RANDY'S POINT, UM, IT'S NOT MANDATORY THAT SHOULD THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PERMITS WOULD BE REVOKED. IT'S DISCRETIONARY. AND, UM, I THINK THAT ALLOWS THE DIRECTOR TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND THE OPERATOR OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. SO IT'S NOT MANDATORY. UM, THAT'S A GOOD CLARIFICATION, THANK YOU. JUST BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN THE ORDINANCE, IT JUST SORT OF INDICATES, AND AGAIN, SORRY FOR NOT KNOWING THE EXACT WORDING, BUT IT'S SORT OF SAID IT COULD, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE REVOKED VERSUS DISCRETIONARY. RIGHT. AND, UM, AS FAR AS THE DISORDERLY CONDUCT, YOU'RE RIGHT, UM, THERE IS SOME VAGUE LANGUAGE IN THE, IN THE PENAL CODE, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN UPHELD, UH, OVER THE YEARS. UM, BUT MY, MY BELIEF IS THAT, UM, DISORDERLY CONDUCT IS NOT FREQUENTLY PROSECUTED IN MUNICIPAL COURTS. IT'S MORE OF A STATE COURT, UH, JP COURT TYPE OF CHARGE. I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT. UM, I CAN ASK. BUT, UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TO SAL TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S POINT, I MEAN, UH, PART OF THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE WE DON'T GET, UH, CONVICTIONS ON, YOU KNOW, NOISE VIOLATIONS AND OTHER TYPES OF VIOLATIONS. SO, UM, I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING VERY, VERY WORST CASE SCENARIO, BUT, UM, I, I, I THINK THE, THOSE KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE HIGHLY IMPROBABLE. SO THAT'S KIND OF MY TAKE ON IT. OKAY, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, ALAN WHEEL, LAURA GALLAGHER, ROY HIRSCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTI, UH, MAYOR PROAM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ROY HIRSCH, I LIVE IN THE EAST END. I'M FOLLOWING UP ON, UH, REBECCA ENSWORTH RUN LTRO STATEMENT FROM EARLIER TODAY REGARDING THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET AND THE PROPOSED CONVERSION OF LELAND TO A TWO-WAY ALTERNATIVE. ACCORDING TO A TRAFFIC ENGINEER THAT I SPOKE WITH ON THE MATTER, EVEN HAVING A SOUND PLAN IN PLACE AND FULLY FUNDED A CONSERVATIVE TIME ESTIMATE FOR COMPLETION IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 15 MONTHS. AND THIS IS WITHOUT ANY GRADE CROSSING CONSIDERATIONS. SO PLEASE VOTE NO TO THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK UNTIL WE CAN HAVE A FIRM PLAN IN PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENT. JACOB CLEMENT. OH, OH, I'M OLD . I'M OLD, PLEASE EXCUSE ME, BUT I'M OLD. I MEAN, I MEAN THEY CLOSER TO 58 L AND THEN THEY'LL FEEL LIKE M 85. NO, BUT UM, OKAY, MAYOR, PUT HIM, YOU'RE NOT PUT THEM, YOU'RE AN AMATEUR AND YOU'RE FOREVER GET IT PRO. YOU'RE NOT A PRO, YOU'RE AN AMATEUR AND YOU'RE NOT THEM. UH, TEMPORARY. YOU'RE FOREVER. OKAY, PRO TIM AMATEUR FOREVER DID THE OPPOSITE. PRO AND THEN TWA AND YOUR, YOUR ZONE. YOU'RE LIKE THE TWA ZONE, THE TWILIGHT ZONE. OKAY. MARIELLE, DO YOU WANT YOUR AGGIE JOKE? YES. HERE. OKAY. WHY DID THAT AGGIE ATION MAKE A HORRIBLE WEATHER, [02:40:01] MAN? WELL, THAT'S ONE. HE THOUGHT OF A CIRCLE 360 DEGREES. HE AT 359 DEGREES IS CLOSER TO ONE DEGREE THAN IT IS TO 179 DEGREES VERSUS 181 DEGREES. BUT, UM, THANKS JACOB. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. BRINGING SO MUCH JOY. . NEXT SPEAKER. JOSHUA WILLIAMS. JOSHUA WILLIAMS, EDUARDO DURAN. EDUARDO DURAN. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS. [RECESS] WE STAND AT RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM OF A SOFTWARE UPGRADE TO THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM. ITEM SEVEN, FACILITY SOLUTIONS GROUP FOR PURCHASE OF SECURITY LIGHTING PRODUCTS. ITEM EIGHT APPROVED SPIN AUTHORITY FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROLLERS AND ANCILLARY COMPONENTS WITH CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC CONTROL INC. PARADIGM TRAFFIC SYSTEMS INC. AND TIGER TRAFFIC, INC. ITEM NINE, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR OFFICE AND CLEANING SUPPLIES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITH STAPLES CONTRACT AND COMMERCIAL LLC ITEM 10 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING EACH LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 11 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING EACH LOCATED IN THE EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 12 RESOLUTION, CONFIRM AND NO OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF CERTAIN RENTAL CERTAIN PROPERTIES, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE ONE MILE THREE YEAR RULE EACH LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 13 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT AND CONFIRMATION, UH, OF A MUNICIPAL COURT'S ASSOCIATE JUDGES FOR TO SERVE A TWO YEAR TERM. ITEM 14 ORDINANCE RELATING TO RETAIL GAS UTILITY RATES OF UNIVERSAL NATURAL GAS LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS UNIVERSAL NATURAL GAS INC. ITEM 15 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EDISON ARTS FOUNDATION. ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCH DIOCESE OF GALVESTON HOUSTON. ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY, 2015 ACTION PLAN ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE RENAMING TERMINAL E AT GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT IN HONOR OF SHEILA JACKSON LEE. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING, I'M SORRY, ORDINANCE OF WARDEN CON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO GRANITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCCALL, PARKHURST AND HORTON LLP ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FROST BROWN. TODD, LLP ITEM 23, ORDINANCE TO A DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT WITH DUNHILL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, LLC ITEM 24, ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO SPA GLASS CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, ITEM 25, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO AGREEMENT AGREEMENTS FOR ON-CALL AIRPORT, FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LEE FISHER INC. AND RECCONDO AND ASSOCIATES, INC. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIVE FIRST AMENDMENTS TO MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN VARIOUS, UH, COMPANIES, VARIOUS VENDORS FOR COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. ITEMS 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COM CO TWO SYSTEMS COMPANY ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UTILITY SYSTEMS SCIENCE AND SOFTWARE INC. ITEM 29, ORDINANCE, AMENDMENT ORDINANCE 2019 DASH 7 99 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PROPERTY ROOM.COM. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST SIDE OF THE 1100 BLOCK OF EAST SEVENTH AND HALF STREET, THE NORTH SIDE BETWEEN NOR HILL BOULEVARD AND STUDIO WOOD STREET ITEM 31 ORDINANCE RENEWING, RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 600 TO 900 BLOCKS OF WEST MELWOOD STREET BETWEEN MOSS AND MISHAW STREET. [02:45:02] ITEM 32, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 18.9 59 ACRES OF LAND TO BRIDGESTONE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 64.383 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 1 64, ITEM 34 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 2.913 ACRES OF LAND TO NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 1930, ITEM 35, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FORT BEND COUNTY. ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BINKLEY AND BARFIELD INC. DOING BUSINESS AS CONSULTING ENGINEERS. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND A GEARY AND FIELDS LP ITEM 38, ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT TO TEX CODA ENTERPRISES, LLC ITEM 39, DONALDSON HUMPHREY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, DOING BUSINESS AS SILSBEE TOYOTA FOR PURCHASE OF ONE TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND WAS ITEM 55 ON THE APRIL 9TH AGENDA. ITEM 40 TRANS TRANSEX TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS OF TEXAS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC PARTS AND EQUIPMENT. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS CAYMAN PLUMBER ANN ALCORN, AND WAS ITEM 17 ON THE APRIL 9TH AGENDA. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE. FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF THE SOUTHERN FIVE FOOT WIDE PORTION OF A 10 FOOT WIDE UTILITY EASEMENT AND AN ADJACENT FIVE FOOT, FIVE FOOT WIDE AERIAL EASEMENT, BOTH SITUATED WITHIN THE WP MORTON SURVEY, ABSTRACT NUMBER 5 39 AND BEING OUT OF LOT 69 70 AND 71 OUT OF THE BUYING HORN. ADDITIONAL SECTION NUMBER THREE, ITEM 42 WAS A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ TO AMEND ITEM 47. AND THIS WAS TABLE AMENDMENT ITEM ONE A AND THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND WAS ITEM 46 ON THE APRIL 9TH AGENDA. ITEM 43 WAS A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ TO AMEND ITEM 47. AND THIS WAS TABLE AMENDMENT ITEM ONE B. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND WAS ITEM 46 ON THE APRIL 9TH AGENDA. ITEM 44, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ TO AMEND ITEM 47. THIS WAS TABLE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, AND THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND WAS ITEM 46 ON THE APRIL 9TH AGENDA. ITEM 45 WAS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN TO ADD A NEW SECTION EIGHT IN SECTION 28 DASH 7 31 OF EXHIBIT A ON ITEM 47. AND THIS WAS TABLE AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR, ITEM 46, A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ TO AMEND ITEM 47. AND THIS WAS TABLE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND WAS ITEM 46 ON THE APRIL 9TH AGENDA. AND ITEM NUMBER 47, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 28 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS, ADDING ARTICLE 23, ESTABLISHING A REGISTRATION BASED REGULATORY FRAMEWORK RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION AND A FEE, THEREFORE, FOR THE OPERATION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND WAS ITEM 47 ON THE APRIL 9TH AGENDA. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA CAPTIONS FOR THE AGENDA APRIL 15TH AND 16TH 2025. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE AS YOU WISH TO BE TREATED. AND WITH THAT, HAVE A BLESSED AND FAN TABLET DAY [RECONVENE] MEMBERS. UH, WE WANNA WELCOME OUR GUEST. TODAY IS AN EXCITING DAY TO BE AT HOUSTONIAN. WE'RE GONNA DEMONSTRATE PUBLICLY WHY WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT CITY, THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NOT ONLY TEAMS, BUT INDIVIDUALS AND AND PUBLIC SERVANTS. SO IT'S AN EXCITING DAY FOR US TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. AND BEFORE WE GET TO OUR SERIOUS BUSINESS, THIS IS DOWNRIGHT SERIOUS AS WELL TO SEE THAT THE ROCKETS HAVE OUR FULL SUPPORT AS THEY ENTER THE PLAYOFFS. SO TODAY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, A LOT OF TIME PEOPLE WANT TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. AND I LOVE THE, THE WHAT WAS GRAFFITI AT ONE TIME IS NOW BECOME A SLOGAN THAT IN HOUSTON YOU CAN STILL [02:50:01] BE SOMEONE, WHICH I REALLY LOVE. BUT WHAT'S BETTER THAN DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION. SO LET, LEMME ASK THE MAYOR PRO TIM TO PRESIDE FOR A MOMENT, AND I GO OUT AND HAVE THE HONOR OF GIVING THE, UH, PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING THE ROCK. IS THIS OFF? HOW YOU DOING? I'M GREAT, HOW ARE YOU? THANKS FOR HAVING US BRING UP SUE EDWARD, YOU. WELL, THIS IS CALVIN AND CALVIN AND ALVIN, AND, AND THEY GOT CLUTCH. YOU KNOW, CLUTCH. ARE YOU CLUTCH? WELCOME TO CITY HALL. WHO'S YOU? WHAT? WHO'S A YOU'RE GOOD. HOW ARE YOU SIR? THANKS FOR BEING HERE, ELLEN. OKAY, GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? I'M GREAT. HOW ARE YOU MEMBERS? AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE THE PRACTICE OF DOING PROCLAMATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY SPECIAL. THEY COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. IT'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE SUCH A CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CITY. AND TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO RECOGNIZE THE ROCKETS IN A PROCLAMATION. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A MISSION OF LOVE. I, I HATE TO SAY I GREW UP WATCHING THESE HEROES, CALVIN MURPHY, WHO IS A HOUSTON INSTITUTION, ELVIN, WHEN HE WAS DOING MARVELOUS THINGS WITH U OF H, WE DIDN'T HAVE HINE OR FOR PAVILION. THEY PLAYED IN HIGH SCHOOL HISD FACILITIES. SO AS A WALTRIP STUDENT, I WOULD GO SIT IN THE AISLE TO WATCH THE COUGARS PLAY IN, UH, DELMAR STADIUM. WHAT AN EXCITING TIME. AND THEN TO WATCH ELVIN AND CALVIN COME TO THE ROCKETS AND GIVE US SUCH PLEASURES YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO, AND IT'S ONLY GETTING BETTER. IT'S ONLY GETTING BETTER AND UNITES THIS CITY AS STRONG AS ANYTHING THAT WE COULD EVER WITNESS. SO TODAY WE RECOGNIZE THE TEAM, LEADERSHIP, COACHES, MANAGERS, OWNERSHIP, AND PARTICULARLY WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PLAYERS THAT'LL BE TAKEN ON THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS SUNDAY NIGHT. SO IT'S MY HONOR, YEAH. ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 17TH, TOMORROW, TOMORROW, EVERYONE, AS HOUSTON ROCKETS DAY AND HOUSTON RED STATE, LET'S ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO WEAR RED TOMORROW AND SUPPORT THIS TEAM SO WE CAN CELEBRATE WITH A CITYWIDE PARADE. THANK Y ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MA. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. IF WE CAN, UH, TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO RECOGNIZE OUR GUESTS THAT ARE HERE. CERTAINLY WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND TO THE ENTIRE ROCKETS FAMILY, UH, WHO IS HERE AND ASSEMBLED. UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED, UH, ABOUT NOT, NOT ONLY, UM, MAKING IT TO THE PLAYOFFS, BUT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION FROM THE OWNERSHIP, UH, TO THE FRONT OFFICE, TO THE STAFF, UH, ESPECIALLY THE PLAYERS. UH, WE'VE SEEN A TRANSFORMATION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND AS FANS, UH, TO SEE THE CULTURE, UH, CHANGE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND, UH, THE PUBLIC, UH, BE SO RESPONSIVE, UH, TO THE TEAM, UH, HAS BEEN GREAT TO SEE. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG PLAYOFF RUN. AND WITH A YOUNG TEAM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. SO, UM, ELVIN AND CALVIN, UH, MANY OF THESE PLAYERS STAND ON YOU ALL'S SHOULDERS, AND, UM, FOR YOU ALL TO STILL BE A PART OF THE CULTURE, STILL BE A PART OF THE ORGANIZATION MEANS A LOT. AND AS A CITY, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL. SO GOOD LUCK. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE, BECAUSE WE KNOW SUNDAY'S GONNA BE A BIG VICTORY FOR US. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE? THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND CERTAINLY, UH, THIS IS JUST AWESOME. AND I HAVE TO SAY, [02:55:01] I HAVE KNOWN CALVIN MURPHY FOREVER, OF COURSE. UM, BUT, BUT CERTAINLY CALVIN, NOT ONLY WAS HE A WONDERFUL BASKETBALL PLAYER, BUT I THINK HE CAN STILL TWIRL THE BATON BECAUSE HE POURED INTO SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. AND MY, MY, UH, SISTER WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THEM. AND SO, UH, JUST AN HONOR AND THEN TO SEE BIG E MY, MY, MY AND, AND JUST THE OTHER DAY THE ROCKETS ACTUALLY, UH, WORKED WITH US TO ENHANCE A PARK AND A AND I TOOK PICTURES WITH CLUTCH AND I JUST HAD A GREAT TIME. BUT CERTAINLY WELCOME HERE. AND CERTAINLY WE ARE SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP, THEY REALLY, REALLY, UH, WARM MY HEART AS WELL, CERTAINLY. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MAYOR FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. YOU BET. CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF WI BEST WISHES ON SUNDAY. READY? AND WE, WE HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RED IN YOUR WARDROBE, . THIS IS, WE EXPECT IT TO BE WORN AT A PARADE ONE DAY. PERFECT. PERFECT. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PROTE CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO TAKE ITEM 13 AND 19 OUT OF ORDER, STARTING WITH ITEM 13 TO FOLLOW BY ITEM 19. EVAN SHABAZZ. SECOND MOTION MADE IN SIGNAL, IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MR. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BRING UP ITEM 13, PLEASE? YES. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. UM, BEFORE WE VOTE, JUDGE SANTOS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, COME FORWARD AND, UH, SPEAK TO THE JUDGES THAT ARE BEFORE US AT THIS TIME? CERTAINLY THE NOMINEES BEFORE WE VOTE, UH, YOU MIGHT, UH, OBVIOUSLY SPEAK TO THE, UM, QUALIFICATIONS AND THE DIVERSITY AND THE COMPETENCE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEFORE US. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. YES, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT, UH, THE REAPPOINTMENT OF, UM, SEVERAL JUDGES AS WELL AS THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW ASSOCIATE JUDGES. UM, THEY, UM, THEY'RE AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE, UH, APPLIED AND, UH, WERE RECOMMENDED. AND, UH, I'M JUST VERY EXCITED WITH THE DIVERSITY OF THE GROUP AS WELL AS THEIR QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS ASSOCIATE JUDGES. UM, SO MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO START WITH THE NEW ASSOCIATE? I, I UNDERSTAND NOT ALL ARE PRESENT, BUT THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT, UH, YOU CAN DO IT INDIVIDUALLY OR ASK 'EM TO YEAH. STAND AS A GROUP. IT'S, AND, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW ASSOCIATE JUDGES FIRST, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. IT'S YOUR CALL. SO YES, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ONES THAT ARE HERE. THEY COULDN'T ALL BE HERE TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, [03:00:01] BUT, UH, I HAVE, UH, TWE LEE, JANET MARTIN, LAUREN JACKSON, VINCENT V GRACE LEE CONNOLLY, AND ELON MOORE JONES. DID I MISS ANYONE THAT CAME IN? UH, ALRIGHT. THESE ARE, THESE ARE OUR NEW ASSOCIATE JUDGES THAT WE'RE, UH, PRESENTING FOR YOU TODAY. VERY WELL. WOULD YOU LIKE ME, UH, TO WAIT ON THE REAPPOINTMENT, SIR? JUST ASK HIM TO STAND WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. YES. UH, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? IT'S HEIDI WILLIAMS, WASHINGTON OMA, OR SUZIE? SARAH GOLDBERG. JOHN NA, JOE AL AND CATHERINE DIAZ GARCIA. OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU. THANK EACH OF YOU. UM, I ALSO HAVE PARKING ADJUDICATION, HEARING OFFICERS THAT CAME. OKAY. UM, AND, UH, SOME OF THEM ARE NEW AND, UH, ONE IS A REAPPOINTMENT AND THAT IS ADRIANA AL, ALICIA PEREZ, RASHANDA ATKINSON, AND CASSANDRA MCGEE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU JUDGE SANTOS, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND WE REALLY WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND GIVING OF YOUR TIME AND, AND LEADERSHIP FOR THIS GREAT CITY. SO THANK YOU. WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS FROM THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE FOUR COURTROOMS THAT ARE BOARDED UP FROM HARVEY, WHICH I FIND OUTRAGEOUS, AND WE'RE MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TO FIND YOU A NEW FACILITY AND EXPEDITE THE COURT PROCESS. AT ONE TIME, TRAFFIC COURT WAS THE SECOND REVENUE, THE SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT IN RECENT YEARS, DUE TO COVID, DUE TO THE FACILITIES, AND QUITE FRANKLY, SOME OF THE MORALE ISSUES OF HPD, WHICH HAS ALL BEEN FIXED, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS FROM OUR MUNICIPAL COURT TO DO A BETTER JOB AND PARTICIPATE IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, PROTECTION OF PEDESTRIANS, WALKABILITY, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT A GREAT CITY PROVIDES. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUDGE SANTOS, AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR JUDGES. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO WATCHING YOUR PROGRESS AT THIS TIME. MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND IN FRONT OF US TO APPROVE THESE. UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS VERY WELL. MR. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BRING UP ITEM 19, PLEASE FOR CONSIDERATION? ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. I WOULD, UH, ASK AT THIS TIME THE FAMILY OF, UH, SHEILA JACKSON LEE TO COME FORWARD IF THEY'RE PRESENT. CERTAINLY ELLEN AND, AND GERALD GERALD'S, PART OF THE FAMILY ADOPTED, NO DOUBT, . I I, GOOD MORNING, EACH OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS SPECIAL OCCASION AND CITY BUSINESS THAT WE'VE TAKEN UP OUT OF ORDER AS A PRIORITY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND, AND CERTAINLY BEFORE WE VOTE, UH, TO EXPRESS WHAT IT MEANS TO THE FAMILY AND CERTAINLY HONORING THE LEGACY AND PUBLIC SERVICE FOR SO MANY YEARS OF SHEILA JACKSON LEE. SO ELLEN, I, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU OR IN WHICHEVER ORDER YOUR FAMILY WOULD CHOOSE. OKAY. I KIND OF LOOK TO SENIORITY, . THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANNA THANK FIRST, UH, UH, ED POLLARD AND TIFFANY THOMAS AND THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL FOR PROPOSING, UH, NAMING THIS, UH, THIS GREAT HONOR FOR SHEILA. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND HIS STAFF FOR HIS SUPPORT IS REALLY CRITICAL. AND I WANT TO ADD MY GRATITUDE, WHICH EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, I DO FOR THE GRACIOUSNESS, HE SHOWED, AND SHEILA PASSED, ALLOWING HER TO LION STATE AT CITY HALL. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR. MY REMARKS WILL BE VERY BRIEF. UM, O SHEILA WAS KNOWN [03:05:02] WIDELY AS A SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR, AND AS AN UNLICENSED FIRST RESPONDER DOING WHAT DURING WEATHER AND HEALTH EMERGENCIES. I SAY THAT BECAUSE ONE TIME, UM, A FIRETRUCK CAME RIGHT UP TO THE HOUSE TO PICK HER UP, I MEAN, RIGHT UP, I MEAN, RIGHT UP TO THE DOOR . UM, AND ALSO KNOWN FOR ATTENDING FUNERALS LESSON. NOW KNOWN WAS HER PASSION FOR THE AIRPORT, WHICH SHE LEARNED WHEN SHE WAS ON CITY COUNCIL. SO SHE CARRIED THAT PASSION TO WASHINGTON. AND SO SHE BECAME A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR THE AIRPORT AND OTHER TRANSFORMATIONS NEEDS OF THIS CITY, WHICH SHE DEARLY LOVED. SHE FIERCELY AND EFFECTIVELY BROUGHT MILLIONS FOR THE AIRPORT AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. SHE CERTAINLY KNEW ABOUT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE SHE ACCUMULATED OVER 3 MILLION MILES FLYING IN AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT. UM, FINALLY, I, I WANNA THANK, UH, THE STAFF AND THE PERSONNEL AT THE AIRPORT. THEY ALWAYS TREATED HER GRACIOUSLY, HELPED HER CARRY THE MANY BAGS THAT SHE HAD, MAKE SURE THAT SHE COULD GET ON QUICKLY. AND SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THEM. AND AGAIN, THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THIS GREAT HONOR THAT YOU'RE BESTOWING ON, ON SHEILA. AND THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO YIELD, AS SHE WOULD SAY. SURE. ERICA. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THIS HONOR TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TENACIOUS LEADERSHIP IN SPONSORING THIS LEGISLATION. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND I ACTUALLY WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE AT RIVALS, BUT I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THAT BEHIND US, UH, FOR THIS, FOR THIS EFFORT. UM, ALL I WANNA SAY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPIEST WAS WHEN MY SISTER, UM, HAD HER TWINS BECAUSE MY MOTHER GOT TO BE A GRANDMOTHER. AND THAT WAS SOMETHING, UH, THAT SHE REALLY LOVED, UH, MORE THAN PROBABLY ANYTHING. AND TOWARDS THE END OF HER LIFE, I STARTED THINKING, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS GREAT, BUT I REALIZED I DIDN'T DO MY PART. I'M NOT MARRIED, I DON'T HAVE KIDS. AND I STARTED THINKING, IF I DO GET MARRIED AND I DO HAVE KIDS, I'M REALLY GONNA HAVE A TALL TASK TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHO MY MOTHER WAS. UM, IT'LL BE EASIER FOR ME TO EXPLAIN WHO SHE WAS TO ME, BUT I'D HAVE TO REALLY WORK TO EXPLAIN ALL SHE MEANT TO EVERYONE ELSE. UM, AND WITH THIS HONOR, UH, WITH THIS TERMINAL BEING NAMED AFTER HER, IT MAKES THAT A LOT EASIER, UH, BECAUSE I THINK JUST THAT HONOR WILL ITSELF EXPLAIN TO SOME EXTENT WHO SHE WAS AND WHAT SHE MEANT. SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS. UH, IT MEANS IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. GOOD MORNING, I AM HERE KLEE CARTER, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW HER DAUGHTER, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSTONIANS, UH, FOR THIS HONOR, IT WAS WITH DEEP GRATITUDE THAT WE STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TO CELEBRATE THIS HISTORIC AND HEARTFELT DECISION TO NAME TERMINAL E AT THE GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT IN HONOR OF OUR MOTHER AND HIS LATE WIFE, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. UM, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS, UH, SENDS AN IMPORTANT UNIFYING MESSAGE TO OUR CITY. TO COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD AND COUNCILMAN TIFFANY THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT WITH PASSION, WITH PURPOSE AND PRECISION, AND YOU HELPED ELEVATE A LEGACY THAT HAS SHAPED THIS CITY AND THIS NATION FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. MY MOTHER WAS A PUBLIC, UH, SERVANT WHO WAS A FIERCE DEFENDER OF HOUSTON'S INTEREST. SHE BEGAN THAT RIGHT HERE ON CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE, POSITION FOUR AS ONE OF TWO FIRST BLACK WOMEN TO WIN IN 1989. BUT ACTUALLY SHE BEGAN AS A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. AND SO THANK YOU JUDGES THAT YOU JUST, UH, PUT BACK ON THAT, ON THAT BENCH. UM, SHE LOVES, SHE BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THIS AIRPORT SYSTEM, ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN THE WORLD. AS A MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY, UH, COMMITTEE, SHE CHAMPIONED INVESTMENTS AND AVIATION SAFETY AND NATIONAL, UH, SECURITY, INCLUDING FEDERALIZING, UH, THE TSA TO ENSURE THAT EVERY TRAVELER WORKER IN HOUSTONIAN HAD A STRONGER, SAFER AIRPORT TO DEPEND ON. SHE KNEW THAT OUR AIRPORT WAS NOT JUST A TRANSIT HUB FOR COMMERCE, BUT IT CONNECTED US TO OUR GLOBAL, UH, FRIENDS, LIKE OUR SISTER CITIES THAT ARE HERE. SO TODAY, AS YOU ALL HOPEFULLY VOTE TO NAME TERMINAL E, RENAME TERMINAL E, WE ARE NOT JUST AFFIXING A NAME TO A BUILDING, WE ARE TELLING THE WORLD THAT SHEILA JACKSON LEE MATTERED TO HOUSTON, AND THAT HER LEGACY LIVES ON BOLDLY, VISIBLY, AND PERMANENTLY ON BEHALF OF HER GRANDCHILDREN, ELLISON AND ROY, HER [03:10:01] BROTHER MICHAEL, AND IN MEMORY OF HER PARENTS, EZRA AND IITA JACKSON. I THANK YOU ALL EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. THANK COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LEE FAMILY, DR. LEE, UH, MY FRIEND AND SISTER CONGRESSWOMAN LEE CARTER. AND JASON, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO TO JOIN US, UH, THIS MORNING. AND ALSO TO THOSE WHO LOVED HER DEARLY. WE HAVE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON, TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS, LORRAINE, BARBARA SEYMOUR, CAMIL KENNEDY, JANICE WEAVER, GERALD WOMACK, TAMARA BELL, DANIELLE BEST, LINDA, I SEE YOU BACK THERE AND I SEE EVERYONE ELSE. SO I, I THINK THIS IS JUST A SNIPPET OF THE DEMONSTRATION TO YOUR REMARKS ON HER IMPACT. I'M HAPPY TO, UH, LEND MY NAME, UM, TO THIS EFFORT. UM, AND I, AND I, I, I AM, UH, SENSITIVE TO JASON'S REMARKS BECAUSE I THINK FOR ALL OF US, WE WILL STILL STRUGGLE TO TALK ABOUT HOW, HOW MUCH SHE MEANT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF HER WORK. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS ITEM MOVING FORWARD. UH, MAYOR PROTE, MCC TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY EXCITING DAY AT CITY HALL. UM, DR. LEE AND FORMER, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN ERICA LEE. SO GOOD TO HEAR YOU SPEAK, UM, BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY REMINDS ME OF YOUR MOTHER, UM, TO JASON LEE. I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE ATTENDED YOUR MOTHER'S FUNERAL, THERE WAS ONE POINT IN THE FUNERAL THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. AND THAT WAS THE PART IN THE FUNERAL WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT BEING IN THE ROOM WITH YOUR MOM. AND SHE ASKED YOU, WAS SHE A GOOD MOM? AND YOU SAID YOU WERE A GREAT MOM. AND BESIDES BEING A WONDERFUL CONGRESSWOMAN AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND MUNICIPAL JUDGE, TO ME, THE GREATEST JOY IS BEING A MOTHER. SO, WHEN YOU STOOD AND TALKED ABOUT YOUR MOM BEING YOUR MOM, THAT RESONATED SO DEEP WITH ME BECAUSE THE GREATEST THING WE CAN DO AS PARENTS IS TO RAISE INCREDIBLE CITIZENS AND CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. SO TODAY I AM VERY HONORED TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF NAMING TERMINAL E AFTER YOUR MOM, YOUR WIFE, AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER, AND OUR HERO IN HOUSTON AFTER THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. UM, I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH, UM, DIRECTOR SNIA ON YESTERDAY, UH, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AFTER THE VOTE. UH, AND HE DOES WANT TO, UH, MEET WITH THE FAMILY TO TALK WITH THE FAA SO THAT WE CAN PLAN A FORMAL CEREMONY. SO LOOK TO HEAR FROM HIM. UM, BUT IT'S AN INCREDIBLE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HOUSTON WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT A PLACE THAT SHE COULD BE PROUD OF AND WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR HERE, UH, TO DR. LEE, CONGRESSWOMAN LEE CARTER, JASON, THE ENTIRE EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE. UH, THIS IS, THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY. UM, WE BROUGHT THIS AS A, AS A RESOLUTION THROUGH PROP A, WHICH ALLOWS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING FORWARD AN ITEM. AND WE HAD EIGHT SIGNATURES ON THAT, UM, RESOLUTION. THE ONLY REASON WE ONLY HAD EIGHT IS 'CAUSE THAT WAS THE MAX AMOUNT THAT WE COULD GET. UH, WITHOUT VIOLATING THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, UH, I BELIEVE WE WOULD'VE HAD EVERYONE'S SIGNATURE ON THERE. AND THERE WAS A TIME IN WHICH SOMETIMES I GO FORWARD WITH THESE PROP A PROPOSALS, AND IT'S HARD TO FIND SIGNATURES, . BUT FOR, FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION, UM, EVERYONE SAID YES IMMEDIATELY. AND I THINK THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO, UM, WHO CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE WAS. AND REGARDLESS IF YOU AGREED WITH EVERYTHING SHE EVER DID OR SAID, YOU KNEW THAT SHE WAS AN IMPACTFUL PERSON WHO WAS EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT HER COMMUNITY AND HER CITY. AND SHE WAS AN ICONIC FIGURE. AND SO I'M EXCITED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS NAMING. UM, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS AN IDEA OF A, A PUBLIC SPEAKER WHO CAME FORWARD ONE DAY NAMED SHEA JORDAN. AND HE, HE MENTIONED THE IDEA OF NAMING TERMINAL E AFTER CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. AND WE HAD ALREADY BEEN THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAY CAN WE, UH, PAY TRIBUTE AND COMMEMORATE HER AND MAKE SURE THAT HER LEGACY LIVES ON FOREVER? AND I THOUGHT HIS IDEA, UH, WAS FITTING AND SO TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY. UM, I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE ALLOWING US TO DO THIS, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE VOTE. GOD [03:15:01] BLESS YOU ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY, UH, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING OF YOUR MOTHER, YOUR WIFE, YOUR GRANDMA. UH, SHE MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE, I THINK, FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. UH, AND ALSO FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT. UH, DR. LEE, I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID, AN UNLICENSED, FIRST RESPONDER. FIRST RESPONDER, BUT SHE DIDN'T NEED A LICENSE. SHE PAVED HER OWN WAY AND MADE ROOM FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW HER. UH, AND THAT IS THE, THE SYMBOL OF A TRUE LEADER. UH, AND WHAT A GIFT. SHE ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS SHOWED UP. THERE WAS NEVER A TIME SHE DID NOT SHOW UP WHEN IT WAS HARVEY AT 2:00 AM SHE'D BE IN THE FIELD IN THE DISTRICT THE ENTIRE TIME. AND I WAS AT GEORGE R. BROWN, I SAW IT. SHE'D BE THERE FOR THE 2:00 AM BRIEFING. SHE WAS THERE FOR THE 6:00 AM BRIEFING, AND THEN SHE WAS BACK OUT. IF IT WASN'T A NATURAL DISASTER OR AN EMERGENCY, SHE WAS FIGHTING LIKE HELL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SHE REPRESENTED. AND THAT TAKES NOT ONLY THAT TOOK A SACRIFICE ON HER PART, BUT IT ALSO TOOK GENEROSITY IN GIVING ON YOUR PART. AND CONGRESSWOMAN LEE CARTER, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT HAS BEEN TO WATCH YOU STEP IN. UH, YOUR VOICE ALONE IS HER, BUT YOU ALL HAVE ALSO PUT YOUR OWN STAMP ON THAT AS WELL, ON YOUR REPRESENTATION, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE WOULD'VE WANTED FOR YOU. SO TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU, UH, TO HER EXTENDED FAMILY, HER STAFF, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALWAYS HAVING HER BACK. AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT'S BACK AND HOUSTON'S BACK, UH, SHE SHOWED UP FOR US, AND THIS IS ONE WAY OF MANY IN WHICH WE CAN NOW SHOW UP FOR HER. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CERTAINLY. UM, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HER COUNCILWOMAN AS WELL AS SHE WAS MY CONGRESSWOMAN. SO WE HAD A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER. OF COURSE, SHE SET THE BAR VERY HIGH. MY, MY SLOGAN WAS, SHEILA SHOWS UP, AND I'M SAYING, FROM THE SMALLEST ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY TO THE LARGEST, SHE WOULD STOP ON HER WAY TO THE AIRPORT FOR SOMETHING EVEN ABOUT A SCHOOL NAME. UH, SHE STOPPED TO TRY TO HELP US TO MAKE THE NAME WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. AND SO I THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR SHINING A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE REST OF US, UH, BECAUSE THIS WAS A NO-BRAINER WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT TO ME. I, THERE WAS NO EVEN NO THOUGHT AS TO WHETHER I WAS GOING TO SUPPORT IT. I REMEMBER ONCE WE WERE ON THE TRAIL AND SHE SAW I HAD ON SOME RED TENNIS SHOES, I SAID, I'M GONNA BUY YOU SOME RED TENNIS SHOES. SO WHEN YOU FIND THOSE RED TENNIS SHOES, YOU'LL KNOW THAT THEY CAME FROM ME AND FROM MY HEART. MM-HMM . AND SO, AND, AND ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADD, SHE AND I AND TAMARA BELL, WE WERE LINE SISTERS FOR THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY. AND SO WE HAD A VERY CLOSE KINSHIP AND MANY A NIGHT. I GOT MANY A LATE NIGHT PHONE CALL, WHICH EVERYBODY DID CERTAINLY, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW SHE WAS. I DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE EVER WENT TO SLEEP, YOU KNOW, AND YOU WERE GOING TO ANSWER THE PHONE WHEN SHE CALLED. AND SO I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. MOST OF YOU ARE MY CONSTITUENTS STILL. AND SO I, I AM JUST VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS. AND I, I JUST, I'M, I'M GONNA STOP BEFORE I GET ALL CHOKED UP BECAUSE I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO STOOD WITH HER. JULIA, LINDA, CARL, JUST, JUST PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE AND, AND CERTAINLY MR. GERALD WOMACK. UH, WHAT CAN YOU SAY? UH, JUST, JUST STELLAR LEADERSHIP. DANIELLE, I THINK TIFFANY ALREADY CALLED ALL OF THE NAMES, BUT CERTAINLY KNOW THAT WE LOVE YOU AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICE BECAUSE AS PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED, WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT BY OURSELVES. AND SO THE SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT YOU ALL HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE IS SO VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, PARTICULARLY IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS, DR. LEE, CONGRESSMAN LEE, JASON, UM, AND EVERYONE THAT'S STANDING BEHIND YOU ALL. UM, I MEAN, ONE THING THAT THIS REALLY EXUDES IS A LOYALTY, BUT IT WASN'T ONE WAY. IT WAS, IT WAS BOTH WAYS. YOU KNOW, YOU ALL PROTECTED HER AND SHE PROTECTED YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY. [03:20:01] UM, I JUST KNOW WATCHING HER, THERE WAS NEVER A STRANGER THAT SHE MET EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WALKED UP TO HER. SHE DIDN'T JUST KINDA SHAKE THEIR HAND AND, AND MOVE HER EYES A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. SHE FOCUSED ON THEM. SHE MADE THEM FEEL LIKE, UM, THEY WERE BEING HEARD EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT COULD BEEN ONE PERSON OR 50 PEOPLE, IT DIDN'T MATTER. UM, I THINK DE DOING THIS DEDICATION TO THE AIRPORT ALLOWS NOT ONLY HOUSTONIANS TO KNOW WHO SHE IS, BUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT FLIES INTO THAT TERMINAL, IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS, THEY'RE GONNA GET THEIR PHONES OUT AND THEY'RE GONNA GOOGLE HER, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA SEE WHY WE NAMED THAT TERMINAL AFTER HER. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER HERE, BUT OUT OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE, AND I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE THE, THE MOST PROFOUND VOTE THAT I'M EVER GONNA DO. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THE NAME. WE WILL ALL DO THE SAME THING, AND SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. AND, UM, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN SHARING HER WITH US. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, TO THE LEE FAMILY. CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS BECAUSE THIS SETS A LOT TO HOUSTON, AND CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECOGNITION OF CONGRESSWOMAN LEE, UH, IN A HOMEGROWN AND A CELEBRATION. I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE NOR THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE MANY TIMES SHE COME TO MY CHURCH AS A PASTOR AND THE MANY PASTOR, AND THE PHONE CALLS I'VE GOTTEN FROM HOUSTON TO CHICAGO, UM, THE HALLS AT THE GREATEST ST. PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, THAT SHE FREQUENT OUR CHURCH IN ME QUITE OFTEN. THERE'S A LOT OF STORIES I COULD TELL SPITE OF MANY OF THOSE AROUND THIS SHOE WHO DON'T KNOW THE KIND OF WORK, BECAUSE CONGRESSMAN LEE WAS A SERVANT AND SHE SERVED HIGHLY. AND IF NOTHING ELSE, IT GIVES THE CITY OF HOUSTON THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE REST OF THE NATION THAT WE COULD DO, ASIDE FROM WHETHER WE AGREE ALWAYS OR NOT, BUT THAT WE CAN STOP AND PAUSE AND CELEBRATE THE SERVANT OF A PERSON'S LIFE. AND I'M PROUD TO BE SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE DURING THE MANY YEARS OF HER WORK, I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MINISTRY WORKING WITH HER. BUT TO BE HERE TODAY TO SEE THIS HONOR IS A GREAT HONOR TO ME. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE. AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS. I HAD SUCH RESPECT FOR SHEILA JACKSON LEE. HER WORK ETHIC WAS UNPARALLELED. IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE WORK, AND IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE PEOPLE. I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT HER. I LOVE THE AIRPORTS TOO, SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY COOL THING THAT, THAT SHE'S GONNA BE AT THE AIRPORT AND ALL THE MONEY SHE BROUGHT TO THE AIRPORT, SO CRITICAL. SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE EXCITED TO MOVE THIS ALONG AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S NEXT. ANYONE ELSE? VERY WELL. MOTION'S BEEN MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. MOTION ORDINANCES PASSED. THANK Y'ALL. SAY, UH, CHRIS, WOULD YOU ESCORT ALAN WATSON AND, AND BOB JONES? FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU NEED? I'M JUST LOOKING FOR OKAY. MEMBERS. [MAYOR'S REPORT] THE, UH, MAYOR'S REPORT IS GOING TO, UH, SHARE AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS HOUSTONIANS IN 2010, AND AGAIN, IN 2018, VOTED ON LANGUAGE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO REBUILD HOUSTON. DEDICATING 11.8% OF THE PROPERTY TAXES, CREATING A DRAINAGE FEE, [03:25:01] MAKING CERTAIN THAT METRO'S FOURTH ASCENT WENT FOR GENERAL MOBILITY. AND THE TRUTH IS, IT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE DOWN OUR STREETS AND YOU SEE THE RESULTS OF NOT FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC'S SUPPORT FOR REBUILD HOUSTON MEASURE THIS MORNING, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND BROKEN WATER MAINS THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. WE'RE CERTAINLY ADDRESSING THE STREETS COLLABORATING WITH, UM, THE METRO PROCESS, CERTAINLY THE COUNTY. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TWO HOUSTONIANS THAT REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC WENT TO COURT AND CHALLENGED THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT THEY WEREN'T KEEPING THE AGREEMENT. AND THE CITY FOUGHT THEM. DISTRICT COURT, CIVIL COURT. AND THEN RECENTLY THE SUPREME COURT SAID, WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA TAKE IT UP. DO WHAT THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE INSTRUCTED AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON WITH THE INTENT OF THE VOTE. SO OBVIOUSLY, I'VE KNOWN THE PLAINTIFFS FOR YEARS. I KNEW THAT THEY WERE SERIOUS. I KNEW THEY LOVED HOUSTON, BUT THEY JUST WANTED THE VOTERS INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWED AND QUIT SPENDING THE MONEY FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE MONEY'S NEVER BEEN PLACED IN ACCOUNTS TO REBUILD HOUSTON. IT WAS USED FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS OF ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. IT'S CERTAINLY THIS RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE AND FOLLOWING THE VOTER'S MANDATE WAS PART OF MY CAMPAIGN TO FIX HOUSTON AND BE TRANSPARENT. WHAT WE'RE WITNESSING THIS MORNING IS TRANSPARENCY. SO WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS FOR MONTHS. WE ALL KNOW THAT IT WAS IMPACTING THE SHORTFALL FROM A $220 MILLION SHORTFALL THE FIRST YEAR IT JUMPED TO 300 AND MILLION. AND CERTAINLY MY CRITICS HAVE SAID, NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? WELL, WE'RE GONNA FIX HOUSTON. WE'RE GONNA BE TRANSPARENT, AND WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL TODAY. THIS WILL TAKE A GIANT STEP FORWARD IN ADDRESSING OUR SHORTFALL. AND IN FUTURE YEARS, PUTTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO REPAIRING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT MY OFFICE LEADERSHIP CHIEF OF STAFF, CHRIS NEWPORT, MYSELF. OUR TEAM HAS BEEN MEETING FOR WEEKS, IF NOT THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WITH THESE TWO HONORABLE MEN. AND I WANT TO TODAY ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD THAT WILL NOT ONLY ADDRESS OUR SHORTFALL, BUT PUT THE DRAINAGE FEE AND 11.80 CENTS OF OUR PROPERTY TAX, AND ALSO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE METRO MONEY IS USED FOR IT INTENDED PURPOSE. UH, AT THIS TIME, ASK CHRIS TO ADDRESS THE PROCESS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND THE RAMIFICATIONS THAT WILL HAVE FOR EACH AND EVERY HOUSTON. I THINK MAYBE AS SIGNIFICANT A MEASURE AS WE'VE TAKEN UP AROUND THIS HORSESHOE SINCE WE WERE SWORN IN IN JANUARY OF 24. CHRIS, THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MAYOR, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FIRST IS TO EXTEND MY PERSONAL THANKS TO, TO MR. JONES AND, AND WATSON FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION WITH US. UH, YOU DID NOT HAVE TO DO THAT, UH, BUT YOU WERE WILLING TO DO THAT. THE, THE NATURE OF OUR CONVERSATION REALLY REVOLVED AROUND, UM, TWO KEY POINTS. UH, THREE, I SUPPOSE. THE, THE FIRST IS THAT, UH, THAT THE COURTS AGREED WITH THE POINT OF VIEW THAT, UH, THAT WAS ARTICULATED BY, UM, BY BOB AND ALLEN. UM, SECOND, THAT, UM, THAT THE CITY, THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION AND THIS COUNCIL WAS COMMITTED TO FULLY FUNDING AND MEETING, UH, THE COMMITMENTS THAT WERE MADE WITH THE BALLOT PROPOSITIONS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS. AND THIRD, THAT, UM, THAT YOU GENTLEMEN BELIEVE THE MAYOR'S COMMITMENT TO, UM, TO CONTINUE FORWARD THE, THE TRANSFORMATION EFFORT, UM, SEEKING TO MAKE THE CITY ORGANIZATION MORE EFFICIENT, UM, [03:30:01] AND THAT THAT REQUIRED TIME TO IMPLEMENT. SO WITH THOSE THREE, UH, KEY ELEMENTS IN PLACE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'VE ENGAGED TOGETHER THE CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT FIND AGREEMENT. UM, AND I'D LIKE TO DESCRIBE THAT, UH, THERE WILL BE COMPONENTS OF THIS THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE. SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS, UH, WITH ANY OF YOU THAT, THAT WOULD LIKE THAT. UH, SO I'LL LIMIT MY REMARKS TO SUMMARIZING THE ELEMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE COME TO AND THEN YIELD, UH, TO MR. WATSON AND MR. JONES. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF THE ARRANGEMENT THAT WE'VE REACHED THAT, UM, THAT REQUIRE THE CITY TO REEVALUATE THE WAY IN WHICH IT, UM, IT HAS GOVERNED OR ADMINISTERED, UM, D-D-S-R-F THAT RELATES TO ACCOUNTING PRACTICES THAT, UH, THAT RELATES TO, UH, HOW IT DEVELOPS FORECASTS AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME OVER WHICH WE WILL PLAN FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, UM, HOW WE INCORPORATE AVAILABLE FUNDS IN THE OUT YEARS, UH, TO DO THAT AND PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE, UM, THE MEANS BY WHICH THE, THE CITY GOVERNS THE PROGRAM AND ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM ON A DAILY BASIS. THERE ARE, UM, PROVISIONS IN, IN THE AGREEMENT THAT REQUIRE THE CITY TO, UM, TO ADOPT. AND WE DO SO WILLINGLY CERTAIN TRANSPARENCY MEASURES AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES, UM, A A TRUST, A FRIENDLY TRUST, BUT VERIFY, UM, SET OF MECHANISMS, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, RECOGNIZING, UH, I THINK MAYOR, I CAN REPRESENT YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON THIS FAIRLY, BUT RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT, UM, THAT TWO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON NOT, NOT HAD TO INCUR THE LEGAL EXPENSES THAT THEY DID FOR THE CITY TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE THIS MORNING. UM, THEN FINANCIALLY, AND, AND THIS, I THINK, UH, I'VE DESCRIBED THIS TO YOU, MAYOR AS, AS EXCEPTIONAL NEWS FOR THE STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE STREET AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, TODAY, UH, OVER THE PAST, PAST SEVERAL YEARS IN, IN THE NUMBER VARIES DEPENDING ON WHICH FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. UM, BUT ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND. UM, THE PROPERTY TAX OR A VALOREM COMPONENT HAS BEEN THE NATURE OF THE, UH, THE LEGAL DISPUTE. UM, THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY CONTRIBUTED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50 TO 55% OF, OF THE FULL 11.80 CENTS OF PROPERTY TAXES. UM, THAT WILL BE INCREASING, UM, OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AND WILL, UM, WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE CITY BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2028. AND THAT IS THE PRIMARY CONCESSION, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2028. I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL AS WE GO, BUT THAT FLEXIBILITY ON THE PROPERTY TAX COMPONENT IS, UM, THE PRIMARY AGREEMENT, UM, OFFER THAT, THAT BOB AND ALLEN PROVIDED. UM, WHAT IT REQUIRES THE CITY TO DO IS MAKE INCREMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS BEGINNING IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR, UH, GREATER CONTRIBUTION FROM PROPERTY TAXES IN FY 27, AND THEN FULL COMMITMENT IN FY 28. AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER, WE WILL, THE CITY IS REQUIRED. WITH THE UPCOMING, UH, UPCOMING BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE THE, THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET, THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE QUARTER CENT FROM THE METRO GENERAL MOBILITY PLAN INTO D-D-S-R-F. THE CITY HAS REVISED ITS FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS, UM, MODESTLY FOR THE AMOUNT THAT WILL BE COLLECTED FROM DRAINAGE CHARGES THAT WILL BE FULLY, UH, DEPOSITED. THE, THE REVISED AMOUNT WOULD BE FULLY DEPOSITED INTO D-D-S-R-F. SO NET NET, WHAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT IN THE, THE, THE NET FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET BUDGET YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, WOULD BE THAT, UM, THE CITY WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING AT, AT MINIMUM APPROXIMATELY $75 MILLION MORE FROM ALL FUNDING SOURCES INTO D-D-S-R-F. THAT NUMBER, UH, RELIES ON A NUMBER OF, UH, ASSUMPTIONS OF, UH, OF WHAT OUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS GONNA BE, WHAT PROJECTIONS ARE AND WILL BECOME FOR THE, [03:35:01] UH, SALES TAX THAT METRO COLLECTS. BUT, UM, 460 MILLION WOULD BE THE TOTAL COMMITMENT THAT INCLUDES, UM, THE CITY IS CURRENTLY JUST SPEAKING TO THE PROPERTY TAX COMPONENT ONLY. THE CITY IS CURRENTLY CONTRIBUTING ABOUT 57% OF THE FULL 11.80 CENTS. THE MAYOR WILL PROPOSE, UM, THAT IN FY 26, WE TAKE THAT TO 67% OF THE FULL 11.80 CENTS. IN FISCAL YEAR 27, THE CITY WILL CONTRIBUTE 77% OF THE FULL 11.80 CENTS. SO THE NET BOTTOM LINE IMPACT, WHICH, UM, WHICH I'VE LEARNED FROM THESE TWO GENTLEMEN, IS WHAT MATTERS MOST, I THINK, UM, IS THAT IN, IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, THERE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY, THIS RELIES ON PROJECTIONS, UH, BUT APPROXIMATELY $459 MILLION FROM ALL FUNDS INTO D-D-S-R-F FOR STREET AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND THEN BEGINNING IN 2027, FISCAL YEAR 27 AND ONWARD, WE HAVE MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS GOING EVERY SINGLE YEAR INTO D-D-S-R-F WITH THE ASSURANCES AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES IN PLACE, UH, FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THAT IS WHAT IS BEING, THAT WHAT IS COMMITTED IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. UM, SO THAT IS, THAT IS THE AGREEMENT AT A, AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, THAT FAIR. AND I'D INVITE YOU ALL TO REMAND ANYTHING THAT THAT REQUIRES FIXING, I WILL YIELD TO, UH, BOB, UH, THE MIC THAT'S ON, OR TURN YOURS ON. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND, UH, LOOKING OUT FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS AND DOING THE RIGHT THING AND, AND MAKING CERTAIN THE CITY DOES THE RIGHT THING. THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THANK, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL. LEMME SAY, THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, AND IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BUT THE VOTERS VOTED ON A CHARTER AMENDMENT, AND THERE'S BEEN ALL KIND OF CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, WHAT ALL THE COURT RULINGS AND EVERYTHING SAID, BUT THE REALITY IS, COURT RULING SAID THE CITY SHOULD FOLLOW THE CHARTER. AND, UH, THE REALLY REFRESHING THING IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS, UH, IS WHEN WE GOT APPROACHED BY THE MAYOR SAYING, LET'S QUIT THE LITIGATION. LET'S SOLVE THIS THING. LET'S RIGHT THE SHIP AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. UH, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH PRIOR ADMINISTRATION WITH NOBODY WILLING TO TALK TO US ABOUT ANYTHING. AND THE REALITY IS, UH, THE CITY HAS SHORTED MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO STREETS AND TRAINING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROHIBITS THE CITY FROM SELLING DEBT FOR STREETS AND DRAINAGE. SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT ALL THE REVENUE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE FUND BE IN THE FUND, OR YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE OF, OF FIXING ALL THE STREETS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO. WHEN WE STARTED THIS EFFORT BACK , ACTUALLY IN LATE 2008, 2009, BEFORE THE FIRST, UH, BEFORE THE PETITION DRIVE IN THE FIRST ELECTION, UH, THERE WERE TWO PRIMARY GOALS THAT WE HAD. ONE, ONE OF 'EM WAS TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT MECHANISM TO FULLY FUND STREETS AND DRAINAGE. THE SECOND WAS TO SEPARATE THE FINANCING FROM STREETS AND DRAINAGE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY FOREVER. ALRIGHT? AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A NEGATIVE WAY, BUT EVERY TIME CITY COUNCILS OR MAYORS OR, OR COUNTIES OR ANYBODY ELSE HAVE TROUBLE WITH ANYTHING, UH, THEY GO BACK AND BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WE TOOK THE 11.80 CENTS, WHICH WAS HOW MUCH MONEY THE CITY WAS SPENDING FOR STREETS AND DRAINAGE. WE ADDED $125 MILLION IN DRAINAGE FEE, WHICH WE HELPED GET BECAUSE OF THE VOTE. UH, AND THEN WE AGREED THAT WE WERE GONNA BE CAPTURING THE FULL QUARTER CENT OF METRO MONEY. SOMEHOW THAT GOT DERAILED OVER THE YEARS. UH, REGARDLESS HOW IT GOT DERAILED, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, WELL, LET'S FIX IT. AND WHEN HE WAS WILLING TO FIX IT, THEN THAT'D BE JOHN WHITMEYER. WHAT DID I SAY? I SAY THINGS, I NEVER KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. I'M OLD. UH, YES, MAYOR CHOCOLATE. I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE TAPE AND SEE WHAT I SAID. UH, BUT ANY RATE, UH, WE, WE NOW HAVE ON THE TABLE, UH, AN AGREEMENT THAT ESSENTIALLY FIXES THE, THE WHOLE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND FINANCING GOING FORWARD. AND, AND THAT'S A HUGE WIN. UH, AND IT'S THE REASON THAT, THAT WE SAY IF WE NEED [03:40:01] A COUPLE YEARS TO PHASE IN THE TAX COMPONENT, BUT WE START GAINING A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT WAS DROPPED OUT OF THE FUND, UH, THAT, THAT IT IS A BIG WIN FOR THE CITY. I MEAN, THE REALITY IS, UH, AS, AS CHRIS TALKED ABOUT THE MONEY, UH, WE GET LOST A LITTLE, BUT THE REALITY IS, FROM WHAT YOU PUT INTO THE D-D-S-R-F THIS YEAR, IN 2028, YOU'LL BE PUTTING IN $200 MILLION MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD. UH, THAT, THAT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN SAYS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE ENTRANCE TO MY SUBDIVISION, MAYBE THE ENTRANCE TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S SUBDIVISION ACTUALLY GETS FIXED. OR MAYBE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE MAJOR DRAINAGE PROBLEMS, UH, WE GET 'EM FIXED. SO THE REALITY IS, MAYOR, WE CAN'T, UH, UH, THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR APPROACH. UH, LITTLE TOUGH DEALING WITH, UH, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A TOUGH BUDGET TO FIX. UH, SO WE, WE DIDN'T GET HERE EASILY, BUT, UH, I THINK, UH, ALL OF Y'ALL, PARTICULARLY THE DISTRICT COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE GONNA APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE MONEY IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS, UH, GOING FORWARD TO FIX SOME OF THESE STREETS AND THINGS THAT YOU'VE WANTED, UH, THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN FUNDS FOR. AND IT'S A MATTER OF JUST TAKING THE MONEY YOU HAVE AND GETTING IT IN THE RIGHT BUCKET. SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND THANK YOU, BOB MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, SITTING DOWN QUICKLY, UH, AFTER THE COURT RULING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN OF ACTION. UH, WE ALL KNEW, WE ALL KNEW THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT WERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND THIS COUNCIL, UM, BUT, UH, AS YOU SAID, WE WERE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT IT. WE'RE BOTH HOUSTONIANS, WE LOVE THE CITY. SO WE DID. AND I THINK WE CAME UP WITH A REALLY GOOD IDEA AND A GOOD PLAN. UM, I WANNA THANK CHRIS. UM, I KNOW ARTURO WORKED ON THIS, SOME, MELISSA OTHERS WHO REALLY PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER TO HELP US COME OUT TO A, TO AN END, UH, THAT I THINK THIS COUNCIL CAN GET THEIR HANDS AROUND. AND AS BOB SAID, EVERY EVERY DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SHOULD BE LOOKING FORWARD TO A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN THEIR, IN THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX SIX ROADS AND DRAINAGE IN THEIR AREA. SO, UM, I WANNA COMMEND, UM, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. UM, HE HAS TAKEN ON SOME HARD, HARD CASES SINCE HE'S COME ON AS MAYOR. AND, UM, I LOOKED AT THIS THE OTHER DAY ABOUT IT. HE'S, HE'S FIXED, HE'S FIXED A FIRE DEPARTMENT PROBLEM HE'S WORKING WITH TO FIX THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROBLEM. AND NOW HE'S FIXED THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM. SO, AS ENGINEERS, WE ALL KNOW THAT THREE POINTS MAKES A PLANE, THE PLANE MAKES A TABLE. SO WE'VE GOT A STURDY TABLE FOR THE CITY TO WORK OFF OF GOING FORWARD. AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF AT, UH, COME A LONG WAY, MAYOR. SO THANK YOU. UM, I KICKED THE CAN. AS BOB HAS KIND OF MENTIONED, UH, WE, WE KIND OF KICKED THE CAN FOR A LOT OF YEARS HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, WAS ALWAYS STRUGGLES WITH BUDGETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT. UH, BUT PAST COUNCILS KIND OF LED SOME OF OUR STREETS AND DRAINAGE KIND OF FALL INTO DISREPAIR. THE CITIZENS BACK IN 2010, AND THEN AGAIN IN 2018, SPOKE UP AND SAID, ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. WE, WE NEED DRAINAGE. WE NEED NEW STREETS. UH, ALL THAT PASSED IN THE REFERENDUM. WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. AND WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE MAYOR PLEDGES TO MORE MONEY, MORE MANPOWER, AND MORE PROJECTS TO, TO RE TO REBUILD WHAT'S BEEN LOST HERE IN HOUSTON, AND TO MAKE HOUSTON ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. I COMMEND THE MAYOR, I COMMEND HIS STAFF, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WE GO FORWARD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN, BOB AND ALAN. WOW, WHAT A DAY. THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSISTENCE. THANK YOU. IN GETTING TO THIS DAY, MAYOR CHRIS, EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS, THIS IS A GREAT DEAL. A LOT OF US WERE ON YOUR SIDE, , IT, WE REALLY WERE. IT WAS JUST SO DIFFICULT WHEN WE HIT THAT REVENUE CAP. I MEAN, THERE WERE TOUGH CHOICES, TOUGH TIMES, BUT TO EVERYONE'S CREDIT FOR STICKING WITH IT, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARTICULARS, BUT THIS ISN'T THE TIME. THIS IS A, A DAY TO CELEBRATE ALL THE MONEY. STEVE COSTELLO, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING ON TV RIGHT NOW. JEFF ROSS. I WAS INVOLVED IN THIS. I GOT PETITIONS SIGNED, I WENT DOOR TO DOOR ON PROP ONE. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR THE BEGINNING, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT ALL THE MONEY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO THIS FUND WILL BE IN THIS FUND FOR THE PURPOSES THAT, THAT THE PUBLIC WANTED IT TO GO. SO, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ALCORN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP [03:45:01] FOR COUNCILMAN VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS FOR SO LONG. UM, WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN FULLY FUNDED. I REMEMBER MY PREDECESSOR SIG TRIED WITH AMENDMENTS TO TRY TO FULLY FUND THIS, AND TWO DIFFERENT MAYORS SAID THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT, BUT CLEARLY IT CAN BE DONE. AND YOU, YOU SAID IT RIGHT, THAT WE CANNOT BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE TO FULLY FUND THIS. IT'S ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES. WHEN I'M GOING OUT IN MY DISTRICT, PEOPLE ARE ASKING, WHERE'S MY FLOODING MITIGATION PROJECT? THAT AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE THE TOP TWO THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT. UM, AND, UM, WE DO THOUGH, MAYOR, OR NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY, BECAUSE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE MONEY THAT'S LEFT OVER IN THIS ACCOUNT THAT ISN'T ACTUALLY GOING TOWARDS PROJECTS. IT'S JUST KIND OF SITTING THERE. AND WE HAVE PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN DISTRICT A THAT ARE SHOVEL READY, WE'RE READY TO GO, WE HAVE FUNDING, AND IT JUST DOESN'T GET DONE YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THIS MONEY. I HAVE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACTUALLY PUT THAT INTO THE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD AND HOW TO EQUALLY DISTRIBUTE THAT MONEY TO PROJECTS IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS WHERE IT'S NEEDED. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, WE CAN SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL. UH, AND I WANNA THANK THE TWO OF YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN HOUSTON THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO, NOT JUST THAT WE'RE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO, BUT THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD BE. AND THAT IS GOING TO DRAINAGE IN PROTECTING RESIDENTS FROM FLOODING AND INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, I, I MAY, I WANT TO COMMEND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, UH, FOR GETTING TO THIS DAY. I KNOW IT CANNOT BE EASY, UH, AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGETARY CHALLENGES, AND, UH, I RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGE OF COMING TO THE TABLE AFTER SO MANY YEARS, UH, AND THAT IS A GREAT, GREAT THING FOR THE CITY TO SEE, UH, FOR HOUSTONIANS TO SEE. I DID, OH, AS HE'S GETTING UP. SORRY, ARTURO, I APOLOGIZE. UM, ONE THING, IT'S OKAY. THE, BUT ONE QUESTION I HAD IS WHERE WE WERE WITH THE STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT. IF THE STATE, IF THE SUPREME COURT HAD PRETTY MUCH ISSUED A FINAL RULING, THERE'S A FINAL JUDGMENT. HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE COURTS YET? UH, OBVIOUSLY IF THIS HAD BEEN A SETTLEMENT AND WE HAD BEFORE A FINAL JUDGMENT REACHED AN AGREEMENT, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING. BUT SINCE THERE WAS A FINAL JUDGMENT, HOW DOES THAT WORK? AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN THAT? WHY DON'T WE, UH, RECOGNIZE ARTURO MICHELLE? UH, IT WOULDN'T, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURTS. IF, IF THERE'S A NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING, A TRIAL COURT RETAINS JURISDICTION, UH, OF THE CASE. BUT WE THINK WE CAN PROCEED WITHOUT HAVING TO GO BACK AND, AND GET A COURT ORDER APPROVAL OR MODIFICATION. PERFECT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND WANNA THANK YOU, YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AT SOME OF THESE, UH, KIND OF, UH, FIRESIDE CHATS AT, AT, UH, EVENTS. AND I WANT TO AGAIN, JUST SAY THAT UNDERSTANDING AS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, THESE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO COME INTO OUR DISTRICTS, UM, PRIOR TO BEING ON, ON COUNCIL, I'VE SEEN PROJECTS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, PUSHED OFF A YEAR, TWO YEARS, AND THEN JUST FALL OFF. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, START SEEING, YOU KNOW, THESE DOLLARS GO INTO WHAT, WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR. UH, I WANT TO THANK OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM, CHRIS, UH, FOR, FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT DOING A DEEPER DIVE OF, OF HOW WE CAN SEE, UH, THESE PROJECTS AS MY COLLEAGUE, UH, TO MY RIGHT MANION, RIGHT? WE WANTED TO SEE WHERE THESE DOLLARS ARE GONNA GO TO, UM, HOW CAN THEY BE, UH, EFFECTIVE. AND, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS A, A TALL ORDER OF, OF, UH, PROJECTS TO ADDRESS. UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE IMPACTS FOLKS ARE FEELING. AND SO, AGAIN, JUST, UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR STICKING WITH IT. THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, SEEING HOUSTON DO BETTER. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR ALL THESE YEARS SEEKING TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. WE ONLY HAVE TO DRIVE OUR STREETS AND WE WALK OUR SIDEWALKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN SHORTCHANGING THESE PROJECTS FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE IN, IN PERSEVERING UNTIL YOU CARRIED OUT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. MAYOR, I HAVE TO APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOU INHERITED A MESS. YOU INHERITED A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT, A FIREFIGHTER LAWSUIT THAT HAD BEEN PENDING FOR YEARS, THIS DRAINAGE LAWSUIT THAT HAD BEEN PENDING FOR YEARS. AND YOU, YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL THESE, THESE PROBLEMS. I APPLAUD YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THAT LEADERSHIP. YOU GET A LOT OF CRITICISM AROUND THIS TABLE, UH, FOR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WERE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL. BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN [03:50:01] WORKING TO CARRY THIS OUT. I'M INTERESTED AS WELL, IN THE TRANSPARENCY GOING FORWARD, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT EVERY ADMINISTRATION GOING FORWARD CONTINUES TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. BUT THANK YOU GENTLEMEN, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I ADMIRE YOU TOO FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR DILIGENCE ON THIS. UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE, THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND, UH, HAD TO GO FORWARD WITH LITIGATION. AND SOMETIMES LITIGATION IS NECESSARY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING A BUSINESS UP HERE, AND YOU ONLY HAVE LIMITED DOLLARS WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE LIMITED DOLLARS. SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO BALANCE A BUDGET. AND, UM, THERE'S DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON HOW YOU CAN SPEND, UH, THE MONEY. AND THERE'S, UH, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF NEEDS AROUND THIS CITY THAT HAVE TO BE MET. AND SO WE'RE SHIFTING NOW, UH, SOME OF THE MONEY, UH, FROM ONE BUCKET TO THE NEXT, AND IT WILL BE FOR MORE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE THING AND THE CHALLENGE THAT WE WILL FI THAT WE WILL FIND, AND YOU ALL WILL SEE, IS THE CAPACITY ISSUE. BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE MONEY SITTING IN A BUCKET, IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO IT. WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING, UH, IN OUR, UH, PORTALS FOR YEARS THAT, THAT, THAT ARE READY TO GO, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT THE CAPACITY. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE THAT PART OUT BECAUSE THERE'S NO POINT TO MANDATE THAT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DOLLARS ARE IN ONE BUCKET, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING FULLY UTILIZED. WE NEED THOSE DOLLARS MOVING AND FOR PROJECTS TO BE WORKING, UM, AND FOR US TO HAVE THE CAPACITY, UH, TO ACTUALLY DO THAT. AND SO, AS A, A GOVERNMENT BODY, WE ARE LIMITED WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE. AND IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A STRUCTURAL BUDGET THIS YEAR EITHER. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UH, THAT HOW DO YOU BALANCE A BUDGET WHEN, WHEN CERTAIN MONIES ARE, HAVE TO BE IN FIXED BUCKETS, AND YOU CAN'T SHIFT OR HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO FIGURING HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THAT. I'M SURE WHOEVER'S SITTING IN THE CHAIR IN 2028 IS GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT ON A LARGER SCALE, UH, AND WE'LL HAVE TO GET THE JOB DONE. UM, BUT I DO ADMIRE YOU ALL'S DILIGENCE, UH, IN THIS REGARD. AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. UH, LET ME ALSO SAY THAT, UH, WE ARE, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE GOT HERE TODAY. THANK BOTH OF YOU IN THIS EFFORT. AND MAYOR, LET ME JUST SAY OFF THE SET, ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE SEEING STUFF BEING DONE. NOW WE COULD TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE BUDGET WISE. YES, WE ARE, BUT WE CAN'T OMIT TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME OF THESE FIXES HAS HAPPENED. WE CAN'T KEEP IGNORING IT. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT 2028, BUT I KNOW ONE THING, WE, WE GOTTA DEAL WITH STUFF NOW. AND THE REALITY IS, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU, YOUR STAFF AND THE GENTLEMAN FOR DOING THIS. I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE WHEN THIS DRAINAGE FEE CAME UP FOLLOWING THE LAW. SEE, WE, WE TEND TO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SEEN CANS GET KICKED DOWN THE ROAD. NOW MOST OF 'EM ARE BARRELS. AND WITH SOME PROCESSING, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP, WE'D HAVE STILL BEEN KICKING CANS. BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT WHEN YOU TELL THE PERSON, YOU, YOU GET THE VOTERS TO VOTE, AND THEN YOU GET THE VOTERS TO VOTE, THEY VOTED ON IT, AND THEN YOU GOING TO SAY, WE GOING TO LOCK THE, PUT THE MONEY IN A LOCKBOX, THEN YOU'VE LIED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND YOU, YOU IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILDING. SO, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS DAY COME AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE GO FORWARD, AND I JUST WANNA BE ON RECORD, MAYOR, THANK YOU. BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL ISSUES COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL THAT SEEM TO BE IMPOSSIBLE. BUT FOR SOME REASON, YOUR LEADERSHIP HAVE WORKED IT OUT. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS COMING. I THINK THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GONNA BE PROUD TO SEE THAT SOME OF THESE DOLLARS WILL GO WHERE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MOST OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, BRINGING UP AND AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN, HONESTLY, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR THIS BEING FOCUSED AND INTENTIONAL ON, ON COMING TO SOME TYPE OF DECISION. I THINK IF YOU ASK ANY HOUSTONIAN WHAT THE TWO ISSUES ARE THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, IT'S GOING TO BE, AM I GONNA FLOOD WHEN WE HAVE ANOTHER STORM? AND HOW CAN YOU KEEP ME SAFE? I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE TWO BOTTOM LINES. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S LARGE AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS FRACTURED, AND WE HAVE A GOAL HERE TO EXECUTE WHAT THE VOTERS WANTED. AND REGARDLESS OF [03:55:01] OUR FUNDING, REGARDLESS OF THE INABILITY TO FIND THE RESOURCES WE'RE, IT DOESN'T, NONE OF THAT REALLY MATTERS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN PEOPLE VOTE FOR SOMETHING, WE HAVE TO DELIVER THAT, AND THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES, I ARE GONNA BE INCREDIBLY HAPPY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD. UM, A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE WORKED WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO KIND OF PUT TOGETHER SOME OFFICIAL WORST FIRST KIND OF LAYOUT AND, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS, UM, IS DELIVERED IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON THAT AGAIN. UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR AT LEAST BRINGING THIS TO THE TABLE AND GETTING OUT OF LITIGATION AND COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? UH, COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, UM, GETTING THIS MOVING FORWARD, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND I GUESS FILING A LAWSUIT. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO FILE LAWSUITS TO GET THINGS DONE AROUND HERE. UM, SINCE I GOT IN OFFICE EVERY, UM, UM, BUDGET CYCLE, I'M, I'VE, UM, SUBMIT A BUDGET AMENDMENT AROUND FLOODING, YOU KNOW, UM, LDP. AND SO, UM, THIS IS EXCITING TO KNOW THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS A LOT OF ISSUES IN DISTRICT B. UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ALWAYS DOWN HERE OF TALKING ABOUT FLOODING, UM, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THE LACK OF INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO THIS IS, I'M, I'M EXCITED, UM, THAT WE CAN FINALLY MOVE FORWARD ON A LOT OF THE PIPE, UM, PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE. AND AGAIN, THIS IS BECAUSE OF YOUR ADVOCACY AND MAYOR FOR BEING OPEN TO DISCUSSION, UM, WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO, WITH, WITH YOU GUYS WHO FILED THE LAWSUIT. UM, BUT I'M EXCITED THAT WE CAN FINALLY MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP COUNCILOR, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY EXCITED THAT, UM, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DOLLARS TO DO THE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I DON'T THINK IT'S A SECRET, OR NO ONE DOES NOT KNOW THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. I MEAN, IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, CURRENTLY IN THE PAST. UM, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE UNTIL WE ARE ON A SYSTEMATIC WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T LET OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FALL INTO DISREPAIR. AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF, UM, A MYRIAD OF REASONS, YOU KNOW, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN DISREPAIR. UM, I SEE THAT OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IS IN THE ROOM. UM, AND I KNOW THAT HIS, UH, LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN NEXT IS GOING TO BE IMMENSE, BECAUSE WE CAN, THE FIRST STEP IS TO HAVE THE MONEY. MM-HMM . THE REAL ACTION WHERE PEOPLE WILL REALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IS WHEN WE START DIGGING UP THE ROADS AND MAKING SURE THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE CITY. SO WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THE MONEY. SO THIS IS A GREAT, UM, FIRST STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COFFERS ARE WELL-FUNDED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS TYPE OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. UM, RANDY, OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, AND WE ARE GONNA ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICTS, THAT EACH OF THE DISTRICTS CAN REASONABLY SHARE IN THESE FUNDS, UM, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE FOLKS. I MEAN, I'VE GOT A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, MY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD MY PARENTS LIVE IN FOR 40 YEARS, IT FLOODED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I REMEMBER IN 12TH GRADE WHEN IT FLOODED THAT WE HAD TO PARK OUR CAR ON PLAYER STREET AND WALK BECAUSE WE HAD ONE CAR. MY MOTHER DIDN'T WANNA FLOOD THE CAR. MM-HMM. AND WE HAD TO WALK THROUGH THE FLOOD WATERS, UM, TO GET TO OUR HOUSE. AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT 40 YEARS TO GET DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR SITTING DOWN AND MAKING SURE THAT, UM, WE CAN MOVE TO THIS STEP ONE. UM, AND AS A COUNCIL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ENTIRE TEAM TO, SO THAT HOUSTONIANS CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE FRUITS OF THIS LABOR WITH IMPROVED STREETS AND DRAINAGE. VERY WELL SAID. BOB ALLEN. THANK YOU, CHRIS. THANK YOU, RANDY. LET'S GO TO WORK. MR. SECRETARY, WILL [CONSENT AGENDA] YOU GET US BACK FROM THE AGENDA IN ORDER UNDER THE EXCEPT WORK CATEGORY? ITEM ONE IS A MOTION. I'M SORRY. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION CAST ACT TELL YOU TO MOVE MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES [04:00:01] UNDER THE PURCHASE AND, AND TABULATION OF BIDS, CATEGORIES, ITEMS FOUR, EIGHT, AND NINE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE CAST, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY. ITEM 12 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A VOTE ON ITEMS 10 AND 11? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEMS 13 AND 19 HAVE ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON. ITEM 24 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED SHOULD IT IF IT'S RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. OKAY. ITEMS 27, 28 AND 29 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, THOSE ARE 27, 28, AND 29. 2019. UH, NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION CAST. TATUM, MOVE I SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION BY COUNCILOR, TAGGED BY COUNCILOR CARTER. NEXT, ITEM 12 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. RAMIREZ. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ AFTER THE VOTE. COUNCILOR CASTILLO COUNCILOR AFTER THE VOTE, ALSO BOTH AFTER THE VOTE. OKAY. UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANNA POINT OUT, THIS WAS A MATTER OF SOME CONTROVERSY A FEW, UH, MONTHS AGO. THIS PERTAINS TO THE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS TWO, UH, HOUSING PROJECTS IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. UM, THE PREVIOUS AU AUTHOR, UH, LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD ESSENTIALLY CUT A BAD DEAL, UH, MAYOR. AND DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP, WHICH YOU APPOINTED A NEW BOARD, THEY TOOK A SECOND LOOK AT THIS AND, AND DETERMINED THAT THE, UM, COSTS WERE TOO HIGH. AND, UH, AS A RESULT, THEY MOVED TO TABLE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN EXISTENCE, UH, PERTAINING TO COLUMBIA RESIDENTIAL, THE, THE, UH, DEVELOPER, UM, THAT, THAT CAUSED A LOT OF CONSTERNATION IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, HOWEVER, UM, ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL, UM, THE, THE EFFORT BY THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY RESULTED IN A REBID OF THE PROJECT. AND, UH, THE RESULTS WERE A SAVINGS OF $10 MILLION, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT. AND THAT'S DUE TO, UH, THE LEADERSHIP OF JODI POER, THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHOM YOU APPOINTED MAYOR. AND, UM, THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO, UH, JAMIE BRYANT, WHO WAS SELECTED BY, UH, THE BOARD. AND SO I JUST WANNA APPLAUD THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING OVER THERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THEM CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES FOR THE SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. UM, THIS ITEM HAS, HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR THE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY, AND WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS, UH, HERE WHEN THIS, UH, WAS ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES AGENDA, UH, THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK, UH, TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION. TANYA DUBOSE, WHO, UH, RECENTLY PASSED AWAY, PUT A, PUT IN A LOT OF TIME AND WORK, UM, ON THIS, UM, THIS, THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. AND, UH, I WA I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR STEPPING UP. I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS WELL. UM, THE NEW CEO JAMIE, UH, WAS AT A TOWN HALL, I THINK, BEFORE HE EVEN SIGNED HIS CONTRACT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST TIMES THAT I SAW, UH, CONGRESSMAN TURNER OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL. AND, UH, TO SEE IT NOW, UH, GET, UH, THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND, AND TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION PASS, I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GONNA BE HAPPY AND IT'S GONNA PROVIDE A AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS IN AN, IN A COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS THEM, [04:05:01] UM, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR, UM, WORKING WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO GET THIS TO THE LINE AND UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE. UM, AND IN THE SPIRIT OF, UH, THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, SHE WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT BEING ON RECORD. SO, JUST ON RECORD, I WANT TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS 'CAUSE THE LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT. THERE WAS NOT A REBID OF, OF, OF THE DEVELOPER. COLUMBIA RESIDENTIAL IS STEEL. THE DEVELOPER, THERE WAS A ONE ROUND REBID OF THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, THE LOWEST BID WAS SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT. SO JUST ON RECORD, SO WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT, UM, WHAT THAT PROCESS IS. AND SO I'M GLAD THAT IS MOVING FORWARD. NEVERTHELESS, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT WE GET TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND THE HOUSING, UH, AUTHORITY WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN, UM, STAY IN THEIR BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, NEXT ITEM. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES, THIS ITEM IS FOR, UM, INTELLIGENT SEWER MANHOLE MONITORING EQUIPMENT. MAY SOUND KIND OF MUNDANE, UH, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR, UH, CONSENT DECREE TO MONITOR SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS. UM, THIS IS GONNA MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF MONITORS THAT WE HAVE, UH, OUT IN THE FIELD. AND IT'S, UH, TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS STREAMLINE AND, AND EFFICIENT AND MAKE MORE EFFICIENT OUR, OUR ABILITY TO MONITOR, UM, WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR SANITARY SEWERS. UH, I, IN MY OPINION, IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK FOR TECHNOLOGIES LIKE THIS THAT CAN MONITOR, THAT CAN ALERT, THAT CAN STREAMLINE, UH, SO WE CAN IMPROVE OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR EFFICIENCIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS ITEM PERTAINS TO, UH, THE SALE OF ITEMS THAT BOTH THE AIRPORT SYSTEM AND HPD HAVE THAT ARE NOT CLAIMED. SO IT'S UNCLAIMED PROPERTY THAT WE'RE TURNING OVER TO SELL, UH, FOR THE AIRPORT SYSTEM. I HAVE NO ISSUE. AND FOR HPDI MAY NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES, BUT THERE'S A NO TAG, UH, LETTER ASSIGNED TO THIS ITEM BECAUSE IF THE CONTRACT ISN'T, UH, PASSED TODAY, THERE'S SOME ISSUES SO THAT IT NEEDS TO BE PASSED TODAY. UH, HOWEVER, I HAD ASKED A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER HPDS, UH, PROPERTY INCLUDED ITEMS PERTAINING TO ASSET FORFEITURE. UH, ASSET FORFEITURE IS LEGAL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. UH, IT'S PERMISSIBLE, UH, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS AROUND IT. AGAIN, ASSET FORFEITURE IS THE LEGAL PROCESS THAT AUTHORITIES USE, SEIZING PROPERTY THAT WAS OBTAINED OR USED ILLEGALLY, BUT THERE'S NO SEARCH WARRANTS INVOLVED. ALL OF THAT'S TO SAY, UM, THAT I'M GONNA BE VOTING, NO, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT THIS, BUT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION YET AVAILABLE TO ME, THAT WAS REQUESTED OF ME. SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS AND WOULD APPRECIATE HPDS FOLLOW UP TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THIS PERTAINS TO ASSET FORFEITURE. COUNCILMAN ALCORN? I DID ASK SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, MAYBE THIS WILL HELP. I, I, UM, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE AIRPORT SYSTEM STUFF, BUT I ASKED HOW MUCH REVENUE WE GET FROM THESE SALES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. 22. WE GOT 63,000, 23, 16,000, AND LAST YEAR, JUST 7,000. SO, LOOKS LIKE A, DOESN'T, DOESN'T INCLUDE, I MEAN, I WOULDN'T THINK $7,000 WOULD INCLUDE THE ASSET FORFEITURE STUFF, BUT I DON'T KNOW. VERY GOOD. THAT'S ALL ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. SHOW. JACKSON. NO. AND CAYMAN. AND CAYMAN. NO. MOTION PASSES. NEXT OBJECTION. NEXT ITEM 30. [MATTERS HELD - NUMBERING] ITEM 39 IS A MOTION. JUST NEED ME. NEED A MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, COUNCILOR PECK. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I MOVE TO REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. OKAY. MOTIONS MADE AND SECOND RETURNED TO ADMINISTRATION. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION [04:10:01] PASSES. NEXT I. ITEM 40 NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE. MOTION MADE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. COUNCILOR KAMAN. COUNCILOR KAMAN. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO ISSUE WITH THIS ITEM, BUT IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ON THIS ITEM, THE APPLICANT HAD ALREADY RENDERED PAYMENT. SO THE DEAL WAS ALREADY DONE, UH, FOR THE ABANDONMENT PRIOR TO IT. COMING TO COUNCIL. UH, I I DO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO DEALS BEING FINALIZED BEFORE THEY'RE COMING TO COUNCIL. IF COUNCIL, COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO AUTHORIZE THEM, UH, IT, IT JUST CREATES A LOT OF CHALLENGES, UH, AND GOES TO WHETHER OR NOT COUNCIL HAS DISCRETION ON THESE. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ALL ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ITEM 42 NEEDS A MOTION CAST T MOVE. I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? UH, MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. WE WERE DEALING WITH AMENDMENT. WAIT, WE NEED TO GO BACK ON 42. LET'S GO BACK TO 42. MOTION MADE RECONSIDER ITEM 42. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. I OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 40 TWOS BACK BEFORE US. UH, HAVE TO DO A MOTION RE COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. NO, THAT WAS AUTOMATIC. SO WE'RE BACK ON THREE TWO. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. 42. MOTION TO RECONSIDER TEST, MOVE, MOVE TO RECONSIDER. ITEM 42. WE JUST HAVE THAT VOTE. YEAH. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 42. YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED. MAYOR PROM. DOES, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CAST STATE, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS AN AMENDMENT. UM, AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS, I THINK THE, UM, SECTION 28 7 21 SAYS, AN APPLICANT MEANS THE OPERATOR OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL WHO APPLIES FOR A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ARTICLE. UM, AND ITEM 43 SAYS THE APPLICANT MEANS THE OWNER OR OPERATOR. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DETERMINE IF OUR PREFERENCE IS JUST THE OPERATOR OR THE OWNER OPERATOR. UM, I THINK THE OWNER OR OPERATOR. SO, UM, I'M, I'M GONNA BE OPPOSED TO ITEM 42. 43 IS, OR 42 JUST SAYS OWNER OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL. SO WE NEED TO OPPOSE 42 AND NO. OKAY. THERE ARE AMENDMENTS. WE OPPOSE 42 IN SUPPORT OF 42. WE DON'T HAVE, SO WE JUST NEED TO A VOTE ON ITEM 42. OKAY. A VOTE ON ITEM 42. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, UH, 42 THROUGH 46 ARE AMENDMENTS. 47 IS THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE. SO, UH, 42 IS AN AMENDMENT THAT I OFFERED, AND IT WOULD, SO FIRST OFF, THE ORIGINAL, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT A RA PUT FORTH, UH, PLACED, UH, THE REQUIREMENT TO REGISTER ON THE OWNER. AND, UH, FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS, THE OWNER IS NOT ALWAYS THE PARTY THAT'S ACTUALLY OPERATING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL. IN MANY CASES IT IS, IN SOME CASES IT IS NOT. IN SOME CASES THE OWNER CAN BE A LARGE REAL ESTATE COMPANY, LIKE A, A GRAYSTONE OR THE LIKE, OR IT COULD BE A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST IN ANOTHER STATE. AND SO IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UH, GETTING ACTION RELATED TO DISTURBANCES, UM, NOISE, BAD BEHAVIOR BY, UM, TENANTS OF RENTALS, IT MAKES SENSE TO, UM, [04:15:01] GO AFTER OR TO ACCESS THE, THE, THE PARTY THAT'S MOST LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE RELIEF IN THE SHORT TERM, WHICH IS NOT, IN MANY CASES GONNA BE THE OWNER. AND FOR THAT REASON, I SUBMITTED, UM, ITEM NUMBER 42, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY TITLED AMENDMENT ONE A. THIS WOULD PUT THE REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICATION ON THE OPERATOR BECAUSE THE OPERATOR IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE ENTITY THAT'S CLOSEST TO, UH, THE SITUATION AND WHAT'S GOING ON. THE OPERATOR IS OFTEN GONNA BE THE OWNER, BUT NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE THE OWNER. AND SO, UM, I PUT FORWARD, UH, NUMBER 42. UM, THERE IS A COMPETING ITEM THAT'S NUMBER 43 THAT WOULD PLACE THE, UM, REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRATION ON THE OWNER OR OPERATOR, WHICH, UH, IN MY MIND WOULD CREATE AMBIGUITY BECAUSE SOMEONE READING THE ORDINANCE, IF IT WERE WORDED THAT WAY, COULD NOT TELL WITH CERTAINTY WHO HAD THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE APPLICATION. AND WORSE, WHEN WE TRY TO ENFORCE A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, WE CREATE, UH, A, UM, A DEFENSE RIGHT OFF THE BAT. UH, IF, IF THE OPERATOR'S CHARGED, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WELL, THE OWNER WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IT. IF THE OWNER IS CHARGED, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THE OPERATOR WAS IN CHARGE OF IT, AND HE'S THE ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE, UH, DONE THE REGISTRATION. SO FOR THAT REASON, I PUT FORWARD AMENDMENT, UH, OR ITEM NUMBER 42, WHICH IS AMENDMENT ONE A. SO WE COULD HAVE SOME CERTAINTY AND, UM, UH, BETTER ENSURE ENFORCEMENT WHEN THERE ARE VIOLATIONS. YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T THINK THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY IS THE OWNER, OBVIOUSLY. WELL, IT, IT, IT DEPENDS. I MEAN, SOMETIMES, UH, A PROPERTY IS YEAH. IS LEASED AND, AND THEN THE OPERATOR THEN MANAGES THE SHORT TERM RENTAL AND THE, THE OWNER IS NOT REALLY A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON UNLESS YOU WANNA MAKE BOTH OF THEM RESPONSIBLE. THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, ANYWAY, I RESPECT, I RESPECT, SIR. I, I UNDERSTAND YOUR VIEWPOINT, MAYOR, BUT, BUT 43 AGAIN CREATES AMBIGUITY AS AS TO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. OKAY. SO WE'LL GET THE BOTTOM OF IT. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST I WANNA THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THIS ORDINANCE. YOU HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH SO MANY OF US ON AMENDMENTS, MEETING WITH GROUPS, MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC, UH, SO I REALLY WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BECAUSE AS A, AS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WE'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS THAT WANNA ENSURE THAT PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ALSO, UH, MADE RESPONSIBLE. AND I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, UH, AS A FORMER LITIGATOR AND PROSECUTOR, UM, ABOUT CONCERNS RELATED TO AMBIGUITY, HOWEVER MANY OTHER CITY ORDINANCES REFER TO BOTH. SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CITY LEGAL, BECAUSE I BELIEVE CITY LEGAL AND A RA BOTH WORKED WITH ALL OF US ON THESE. UH, WOULD THERE BE AMBIGUITY IF WE HAVE OPERATOR OR OWNER AS IS LAID OUT IN ITEM 43? I, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE AMBIGUOUS. IT'S, IT'S JUST A, IT'S THE CHOICE THAT'S BEING DEBATED HERE. I THINK IT WOULD BE CLEAR THAT THE CITY COULD, UM, ENFORCE IT AGAINST EITHER. SO IT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO, TO USE ITS DISCRETION BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE. AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD OWNERS MM-HMM . UH, BUT IT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY'S DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR OR POTENTIALLY BOTH IF THE SITUATION CALLED FOR THAT. YEAH, IT WOULD BE A CHOICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HAVE A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING, UH, THIS CHARGE BETWEEN OWNER OR OPERATOR. UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO PUT THE WEIGHT UPON? EITHER THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OR OWNER OR OPERATOR? SO IF THE PROBLEM, THE APPLICATION, WHO DO YOU, WHO DO YOU GO TO? WHAT, WHAT IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH YOU HOLDING, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE? EACH ONE COULD DODGE THE RESPONSIBILITY. IF, IF IT WAS TAKEN, ONE COULD SAY, WELL, I'M NOT THE OWNER. THE OTHER WOULD SAY, WELL, I'M, I'M NOT THE OPERATOR. SO, I MEAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE TERMINOLOGY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO, TO GO FORWARD WITH. WELL THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS IS IF YOU SAY THE OWNER OR OPERATOR IS RESPONSIBLE, THEN UH, THEY CAN GO INTO COURT AND SAY, UH, IT WASN'T MY OBLIGATION, IT WAS THE OTHER PARTY'S OBLIGATION. IF YOU WANNA HOLD BOTH ACCOUNTABLE, THEN YOU WOULD SAY [04:20:01] OWNER AND OPERATOR. BUT FORMULATING IT AS OWNER OR OPERATOR, AGAIN, CREATES AMBIGUITY AND UNCERTAINTY WHEN YOU TRY TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE IN COURT. BUT I THINK THAT I, I THOUGHT I MADE THE POINT BY SAYING, AND OWNER AND OPERATOR VERSUS OWNER OR OPERATOR. SO WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD BE THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER THE VIOLATION, THE WHOLE RESPONSIBLE FOR? WHO WOULD IT BE? BOTH PARTIES COULD ARGUE, WELL, IT'S NOT ME. THAT'S WHAT I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO, I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING REGARDING THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IN YOUR TERMINOLOGY, WHO ARE YOU HOLDING RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? I, I, I AND, AND IF I MAY, UH, YES. AND, AND IN, I THINK WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING HERE. YES. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ITEM, UH, 43, WHICH DOES SAY MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. I, I PUT THIS FORTH BECAUSE THIS WAS A LANGUAGE FAVORED BY A RA, NOT, NOT BY MYSELF. I DON'T FAVOR 43, I FAVOR 42. EXACTLY. FOR THE RE FOR THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING IS 43 CREATES AMBIGUITY. AMBIGUITY, UH, WHEN YOU SAY THE OWNER OR OPERATOR HAS TO DO IT, IT CREATES CONFUSION. SO, SO YOU, YOU CAN'T REALLY ADOPT 42 AND 43. YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON VOTE YES ON ONE OR THE OTHER IF, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU WANT AN ORDINANCE. THAT MAKES SENSE. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. OH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THIS SAYS GET TO BE BIT CONFUSING IF I WOULD DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UM, AND REALLY CAME IN AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR JUST ALL THE HARD WORK IN THE, IN IN THE DISCUSSION. UM, I DO SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. COUNCIL MEMBER BUR DAVIS, I WILL SAY THAT FROM WHAT I AM HEARING AND TALKING TO MULTIPLE OWNERS AND OPERATORS IS THAT THE OWNERS OFTENTIMES DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THEIR PROPERTIES. THEY'RE MANAGED BY A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND THERE IS A CLEAR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THAT'S NOT TAKEN THE OWNERS AWAY FROM THE OWNER. IT'S JUST THAT THERE IS AN AGREEMENT. SO MANY PROPERTY OPERATORS WILL OPERATE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES AND THEY ARE REALLY THE PROBLEM. AND WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT A LOT OF THESE OWNERS DON'T WANT ISSUES 'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA CLOSE THEIR PROPERTIES DOWN. THEY WANNA KEEP A GOOD REPUTATION. AND SO IF THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIRE AN OPERATOR AND GET A NEW OPERATOR IN, AND THEN THAT OPERATOR LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING ABLE TO OPERATE OTHER SHORT TERM RENTALS, IT REALLY SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO BAD OPERATORS. AND SO I DO, I DO SEE THAT THERE COULD, IT COULD BE A BIT AMBIGUOUS BETWEEN IF YOU'RE HAVING THE, AND THE OPERATOR AND THE OWNER, I, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE MORE THE OPERATOR BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE THERE EVERY DAY. THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING SURE COMPLIANCE IS HAPPENING. UM, IT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT OWNERS THAT HAVE CHOSEN AN OPERATOR AND, AND BASED ON THEIR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT, THE EXPECTATION IS TO KEEP IT SAFE AND KEEP THINGS QUIET AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE RESPECTING, UM, THE CITY ORDINANCES IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, NOISE AND CRIME, ET CETERA. SO, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO BELIEVE THE ONUS SHOULD BE ON THE OPERATOR BECAUSE ONE BAD OPERATOR IS TYPICALLY MANAGING MULTIPLE BAD PROPERTIES. MM-HMM . YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? AND, AND IF WE GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY AND WE SEND THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE, OPERATE COMMUNITY OR OPERATOR A DEVELOPMENT, IF YOU DON'T ABIDE BY OUR RULES, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE PROPERLY, THEN YOU, YOU GET YOUR, YOU GET YOUR LICENSE REGISTRATION REVOKED FOR ENTIRE, WHICH, WHICH IS ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, UM, AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PUT FORWARD, BUT NOW THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND FIX THEIR WAY IN WHICH THEY DO THEIR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, UM, TO PROTECT THE PARTICULAR, UM, AREA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. I, I, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT AND I, I, I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPLANATION, BUT I THINK AT THE SAME TIME, YOU, YOU ARE, IF WHO, WHO ARE WE MAKING THE PRIMARY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CAUSE OF VIOLATION? IS IT THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OR OWNER AND OPERATOR OR THE OWNER, RIGHT. YOU, YOU, YOU, I MEAN YOU COULD IF YOU SAY AND OWNER OR RIGHT. THAT, THAT'S WHY I'M AGREEING WITH YOU. I BELIEVE THAT. RIGHT. I'M, I'M MORE SUPPORTIVE OF I FOR NUMBER 42 BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE, I I DO BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE OPERATOR, [04:25:01] THE PERSON THAT IS ON THE GROUND, THE PERSON THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THAT'S WHO THEY'RE GONNA CALL. THE PERSON THAT'S ON THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF YOU DON'T CALL THE OWNER OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WON'T PICK UP THE TRASH. YOU'RE CALLING THE, THE PROPERTY MANAGER BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA GET A BETTER RESPONSE. RIGHT. IT'S YOU'RE GONNA HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. YEAH. THEY'VE BEEN DEEMED RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. YEAH. SO THAT'S JUST MY, OKAY. YEAH. I DON'T DIS DISPUTE, THAT'S JUST MY, I'M NOT TRYING TO, I'M NOT, I'M NOT DISPUTING AS TO WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. I'M JUST DISPUTING IN THE LANGUAGE. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THE LANGUAGE IS WHAT I'M MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH IS HIGHEST WORDED. YOU KNOW, ARE WE, I MEAN, SINCE WE HAVE TO VOTE UPON IT, WE ARE THE ONES WHO DETERMINE WHAT'S IN THE LANGUAGE POINT OF INFORMATION. OKAY. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. YEAH, I'D LIKE FOR US TO MAYBE CONSIDER USING THE LANGUAGE AND OR, UM, TO COUNCILWOMAN PLUMBER'S POINTS. THE OPERATOR OBVIOUSLY IS THE FRONTLINE PERSON THAT IS THERE DEALING WITH IT, YET ALSO WITH THE OWNER, THE OPERATOR HAS BEEN ENGAGED BY THE OWNER AND THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR. I THINK IF WE USE THE LANGUAGE AND, OR IT WOULD GIVE US FLEXIBILITY TO WHERE MAYBE YOU HAVE AN OPERATOR THAT HAD BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB AND THEN STARTS DOING A POOR JOB AND WE'VE GOT THESE VIOLATIONS AND THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, AFTER NOTIFYING THEM AS SUCH, TAKES ACTION AGAINST THE OPERATOR. WELL THEN WE CAN SAY, OKAY, YES, THIS IS AN OPERATOR ISSUE. THE OWNER IS DOING HIS DUE DILIGENCE OF WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO. I JUST THINK MAYBE AND OR WOULD GIVE US FLEXIBILITY IN ENFORCING IT POINT OF, OF INFORMATION. I'M SORRY, WHAT POINT OF INFORMATION? SURE. CITY ATTORNEY, BASED ON COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER RECOMMENDATION, WOULD IT BE LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE TO SUPPLEMENT LANGUAGE, LET'S SAY IN ITEM 43 TO ADD THE WORD AND TO PROCEED, OR, SO IT WOULD BE OPERATOR AND OR OWNER. YOU COULD AMEND IT IN THAT FASHION. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. YEAH, I, I WAS GONNA SAY THE SAME THING. UM, ULTIMATELY, YOU, YOU ALWAYS WANNA GO AGAINST THE OWNER. I, I, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE IT IS, THE OWNER IS THE, THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY. ALL RIGHT? BUT SOMETIMES, LIKE IN SOME INSTANCES, YES, THE OWNER IS, IS, IS REMOVED, SO THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, BUT ULTIMATELY THE OWNER'S THE ONE THAT MAKES FINAL DECISIONS. BUT IF YOU GO TO OWNER OR OPERATOR BASED ON WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE FACTS AND SAY, OKAY, THEY BOTH SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE, OR ONE OR THE OTHER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. BUT, AND, OR GIVES YOU THE FLEXIBILITY TO LOOK AT ALL OF, OF THE SCENARIOS AND BE ABLE TO THEN DECIDE AS WHOEVER IS THE GOVERNING BODY ON THAT, UM, DECISION CAN THEN CHOOSE WHICH ROUTE TO GO. YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT BOXING YOURSELF IN. WE, WE, I, I REALLY NEVER LIKE WHEN WE JUST PICK ONE THING, IF, IF YOU WANNA DO, OR WHICH YOU PUT IN 43, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. BUT, AND OR KIND OF, I THINK GIVES US EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED. AND, UM, ULTIMATELY I GIVE, IT GIVES YOU THE FLEXIBILITY, UH, TO HOLD EVERYONE OR ONE PERSON ACCOUNTABLE. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU. THE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET. I'M LOOKING AT SAN ANTONIO'S APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT. THEY WANT THE NAME OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. WE NEED TO KNOW WHO, WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY, WHO IS THE APPLICANT, MIGHT BE THE OWNER, MIGHT BE THE OPERATOR, AND WHO'S THE 24 7 DESIGNATED OPERATOR. SO WE NEED ALL THE INFORMATION. IT'LL BE IN HOW THE PERMIT'S WRITTEN. WE WILL GET ALL THE THAT INFORMATION AS FAR AS WHO APPLIES, YOU KNOW, THE, IT'S ALL GONNA BE IN THE APPLICATION. WE'VE GOTTA HAVE WHO OWNS IT, WHO OPERATES IT. SO I, I THINK, I THINK IT'S, WE'RE GOOD WITH BOTH. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. OKAY. BEFORE, THIS IS ITEM ONE A, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ, YOU STILL WANT TO VOTE ? SO, UH, PROCEDURALLY, I MEAN, I CAN CALL IT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAYMAN AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, UM, AMENDING 43 WHEN WE GET TO IT TO SAY AND OR, AND, UH, I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT. AND SO I DUNNO, PROCEDURALLY IF I, WITH ASK THAT 42 BE WITHDRAWN OR THAT WOULD BE WISE MOTION TO WITHDRAW AND IT'S APPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE ON YOUR PART, MOVE TO WITHDRAW. 42 THEN SECOND. SECOND, SECOND. OKAY. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION TO WITHDRAW, UH, 42. IS THERE OBJECTION. UH, I'M PLUMMER. I'M SORRY, MAYOR. I HAVE A, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH. UM, CAN I AS LEGAL, OH, THERE, YOU'RE, OKAY. UM, IF WE'RE [04:30:01] PUTTING AND OR IN THERE, JEEZ. AND THERE'S NO EXPLANATION OR CLARITY UPON HOW THEY'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WE HAVE NO CLARITY ON THE TRUE APPEALS PROCESS. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF AMBIGUITY IN TERMS OF, I MEAN, THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS. UM, HOW DO WE NAVIGATE NOW THAT WE'RE SAYING IT COULD BE, AND OR ON BOTH OF THEM. AND WE ARE, I BELIEVE, PUTTING THE CART IN FRONT OF THE HORSE IN A WAY BECAUSE THE PROCEDURES OF HOW THE PROCESS IS GONNA HAPPEN HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED. HOW DO WE, WHEN WE'VE, WHEN, WHEN THIS GETS VOTED ON TODAY, HOW DO WE GO BACK AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS OF HOW WERE THEY HELD ACCOUNTABLE? AT WHAT POINT DO YOU DECIDE IF IT'S THE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR? I MEAN, THERE'S, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING TO ME IN TERMS OF WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND, AND, AND IT'S NOT REALLY THE OWNER OR THE OPERATORS IS A REALLY BAD PERSON THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT RENTED THE, THE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE OWNERS AND OPERATORS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES TO A THIRD PARTY RENTAL, UM, PLATFORM. UH, CAN, CAN THE MAYOR PROAM SPEAK TO YOUR CONCERN? I I THINK THE APPEALS PROCESS IS PRETTY CLEAR. UM, IT'S A STANDARD ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. IT'S HELD IN MUNICIPAL COURTS. UM, SO THE APPEALS PROCESS IS THE STANDARD HEARING. SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO NOW IS MAKE SURE WE GATHER ALL OF THE INFORMATION, UM, IN OUR, OUR PERMIT, AND WE KNOW WHO TO HOLD RESPONSIBLE. BUT THE APPEALS PROCESS IS THE STANDARD ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. NO, NO, I, I AGREE WITH THAT PART AND I, I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH GETTING ALL THE, ALL THE INFORMATION. I'M NOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL. UM, I JUST THINK THAT IT'S GONNA, IF YOU'RE NOW WE'RE PUTTING THE AND IN THERE AND THE, OR, I JUST THINK IT'S GONNA GET TO BE REALLY CONFUSING. BUT IT'S, IT'S FINE. I THINK THE, AND OR GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER EITHER THE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR. THE OWNER AND THE OPERATOR, GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO LOOK AT WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING. I KNOW. AND DETERMINE WHO THE, THE PERSON IS THAT IS CREATING THE PROBLEM. AND IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE PUNITIVE EXCEPT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE CHALLENGE BECOMES BECAUSE IT'S THE GOING AFTER PART. SO, SO LEMME JUST SAY, IF I'M IN A HOTEL AND I'M STAYING IN A HOTEL AND I PULL OUT A GUN ON SOMEONE AND I SHOOT THEM IN THE HOTEL, IS HOTEL ZAZA RESPONSIBLE FOR ME KILLING THEM? YEAH. AND, AND IT'LL BE A FACT, FACT SITUATION WHERE, SO, SO, SO THE HOTEL THAT YOU'RE IN, IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED, THE HOTEL IS NOW HELD LIABLE FOR SOMEONE GET KILLED WITHIN THE HOTEL. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU CAN LOOK AT HOW WE GO AFTER BARS. WE CAN'T GIVE A CITATION TO THE DJ MM-HMM . BECAUSE HE'S PLAYING THE MUSIC IN THE BAR. WE GIVE THE CITATION TO THE OWNER. WE SHOULD, SHOULD, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ACCOUNTA. ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE BOTTOM LINE. WE'LL BE FINE. AND THE DJ TOO FOR THE NOISE ORDINANCE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND JUST TO KIND OF CLARIFY, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS LEGALLY, AND TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THREE GIRLS THAT GET INTO A FIGHT, RIGHT? ONE OF THE GIRLS IS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. THEY GO TO TRIAL AND THE GIRL SAYS, WELL, I'M NOT THE ONE THAT CAUSED BODILY INJURY. IT WAS THIS OTHER GIRL. WELL, WE TRY THEM AS A PARTY BECAUSE THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE. SO EITHER WAY, I THINK THAT WE'RE FINE. YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD STILL BE A PARTICIPATING PARTY. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILOR RAM ME, SHE MOVED TO WITHDRAW. 42. I THINK WE DID THAT. AND IT WAS, UH, IT WAS SECONDED AS WELL. OKAY. I JUST, I THINK WE JUST VOTE ON IT. ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES, PLEASE CALL UP 43. ITEM 43 IS AMENDMENT ONE B. RAMIREZ. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. OKAY, FOLLOWING, UH, THE DISCUSSION WE JUST HAD, I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 43 TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OWNER OR OPERATOR TO OWNER AND OR OPERATOR. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION [04:35:01] PASSES. GOOD JOB. SO THEN 43 AS AMENDED. NOW, 43 AS AMENDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, MR. KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. ON ITEM 44. HAVE WE CALLED? 44? OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, COLLEAGUES BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE A TABLE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, UM, AT COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE BEEN, UH, WORKING THROUGH THIS WITH LEGAL AND A RA, UH, AND TO THE EVENING HOURS JUST THIS EVENING, JUST LAST NIGHT. UH, WHAT THIS TABLE AMENDMENT DOES IS IT CHANGES SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WHEN THE CITY IS ABLE TO, AT A CERTAIN POINT WHERE THERE'S A PATTERN OF REPETITIVE BEHAVIOR, ALLOWS THE CITY TO GO IN, UM, AND ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW, TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS, NOT ATTEMPT, FOLLOW THE PROCESS TO SEEK REVOCATION OF ALL OF, UH, THE OWNER AND OR OPERATORS, UH, REGISTRATIONS FOR A PARTICULAR PROPERTY. THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEFORE YOU, RATHER THAN SAYING 25% OR MORE, UH, IT WAS LEGAL'S, UH, RECOMMENDATION THAT WE CHANGE LANGUAGE TO IF THREE OR MORE CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION ISSUED TO THE SAME OWNER OR OPERATOR ARE REVOKED. IT ALSO PROVIDES A TIMELINE. SO IT'S NOT JUST IN PERPETUITY, IT'S WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME OF, UH, A 24 MONTH PERIOD. SO TWO MONTHS. AND AGAIN, THIS PROVIDES DISCRETION BY THE CITY. THE DIRECTOR MAY INITIATE PROCEEDINGS TO REVOKE ALL REMAINING CERTIFICATES, UH, THAT IS AT THE DISCRETION AGAIN, AND THERE WOULD STILL BE A LEGAL PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THAT WOULD NEED TO BE FOLLOWED. UH, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LANGUAGE IS ALSO SIMPLY CLARIFYING LANGUAGE TO RENUMBER OR RE-LET, UH, VARIOUS ITEMS IN THE ORDINANCE TO MATCH WHAT THIS IS DOING. SO IT'S CLEANUP LANGUAGE, PLUS ADDING IN AN ADDITIONAL TOOL BASED ON, UH, RESIDENTS CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, BAD ACTOR, UH, PROPERTIES. UH, I'M SO THEREFORE MOVED TO WITHDRAW. TABLE AMENDMENT TWO IS PREVIOUSLY ALTERED AND SUBSTITUTE THE REVISED TABLE AMENDMENT TWO, UH, BEFORE COUNCIL SECOND. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ALOR, JUST WANNA SAY, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND LEGAL FOR WORKING ON THIS. I THINK THIS, UM, IS A GOOD MOVE TOWARD GOING, UM, HAVING SOMETHING IN PLACE TO GO AFTER BAD, REPETITIVE, BAD OWNERS, UM, THAT ARE, OR OPERATORS THAT ARE LETTING THESE HAPPEN, UM, THROUGHOUT. AND THERE'S NOT THAT MANY OF 'EM, BUT WE NEED SOMETHING IN THERE FOR, FOR THOSE OWNERS THAT ARE WORRIED, THEY'LL HAVE AN OPERATOR IN, ON A ONE OFF. YOU CAN DEFINITELY READ THE DISCRETIONARY LANGUAGE IN THERE. THERE WILL BE DUE PROCESS, THERE WILL BE A HEARING. THIS ISN'T GONNA BE RUNNING AROUND REVOKING PERMITS. THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING WE'VE GOT TO PUT IN PLACE TO GET GO AFTER THE PROBLEM OWNERS OR OPERATORS. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I AGREE AS WELL. THIS IS VERY FAIR. I THINK THAT IT, UM, IT SUPPORTS THE FOLKS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, 10 OR LOWER UNIT. I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS VERY FAIR AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO, UM, NEGATIVELY AFFECT ANY OF THE SMALLER OPERATORS AND OWNERS. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON, ON WHY WE, UH, DECIDED ON LIKE A 24 MONTH TIMELINE AND JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS, UM, A LITTLE MORE STRINGENT TO PROVE A POINT. UM, I MEAN, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WITH THE 24 MONTHS, HEY, IF YOU, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T DO IT WITHIN THESE 24 MONTHS, UH, BUT IF IT HAPPENS BEYOND 24 MONTHS, THEN THERE ISN'T GONNA BE THE SAME PENALTY. SO I, I JUST WANTED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON HOW, WHY YOU ALL DECIDED TO WANT TO EVEN PUT A, A TIMELINE ON IT. YEAH, WE'RE, UM, WE, WE DON'T, WE'RE TRYING TO STRIKE A, A BALANCE, UH, ONE WE DON'T WANNA SAY IN PERPETUITY, RIGHT? OVER FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS. UH, THAT, THAT PUTS THE, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY FAIR. UH, WE'RE TRYING TO NARROWLY TAILOR THIS WHILE GIVING THE CITY SOME LEVERAGE. ONE YEAR MAY PROVE NOT TO BE SUFFICIENT, PERHAPS, BUT GOING BEYOND TWO YEARS. SO AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, STAB AT THIS ORDINANCE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO TREAD AS LIGHTLY AS POSSIBLE, UH, WHILE STILL ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THIS IS WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO US. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. [04:40:02] I ALSO THINK THAT IF THE 24 MONTHS DOESN'T PROVE TO BE SUFFICIENT, WE COULD ALWAYS GO BACK AND ADDRESS IT AGAIN. VERY GOOD. OKAY. MOTIONS MADE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. 40 ITEM 45. ITEM 45 IS AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. EXCUSE ME. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR, THAT THIS LANGUAGE, UH, JUST CODIFIES, UH, A REQUIREMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN A HUMAN OR AND SEX TRAFFICKING TRAINING. THERE'S A FREE ONLINE COURSE. UH, THIS WILL BE MANAGED BY A RA, BUT I THINK MAYOR, TO OUR FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, UH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL'S SUPPORT ON THIS. VERY GOOD. JUST VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NA. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 46 IS AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I MOVE TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF PLATFORM IN SECTION 28 DASH 7 21 AS FOLLOWS, PLATFORM MEANS A LISTING SERVICE, INTERNET WEBSITE, MOBILE APPLICATION, OR OTHER DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT RECEIVES A FEE OR OTHERWISE FINANCIALLY BENEFITS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FOR FACILITATING, FACILITATING SHORT-TERM RENTAL BOOKING TRANSACTIONS. THE TERM PLATFORM SHALL NOT INCLUDE A MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INTERNET, WEBSITE, MOBILE APPLICATION, OR OTHER DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR LICENSED REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS THAT DOES NOT FACILITATE SHORT TERM RENTAL BOOKING TRANSACTIONS. AND A LITTLE BIT OF READ THE REASON WHY IS THIS CHANGE ENSURES THAT ONLY A MOTION. YEAH, THAT'S A MOTION. SECOND. OKAY. OH, THANK YOU. AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS, UM, THE CHANGE ENSURES THAT THE ONLY PLATFORMS INVOLVED IN ACTUAL BOOKINGS ARE SUBJECT TO STR REGISTRATION REGULATIONS AND NOT THOSE USED SOLELY FOR ADVERTISING OR INFORMATION SHARING. OKAY. MEMBERS, UH, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ, MS. MAYOR, I, I THINK, UH, ARAS POSITION ON THIS IS THAT IT WOULD NOT BE A WISE AMENDMENT TO, UM, 46 BECAUSE IT WOULD CREATE LOOPHOLES, UH, FOR, FOR ENFORCEMENT. AND, UM, I, I, I'M SORRY, BUT I, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT TO ADD THAT LANGUAGE. 'CAUSE I THINK IT CREATES LOOPHOLES IN THE, IN THE ORDINANCE. OKAY. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN ARE, GO AHEAD. I'LL DEFER TO I'LL YIELD. YEAH, NO, A RA IS SUPPORTING THIS WHAT A RA IS SUPPORTING THIS. AND WE RAN THIS LEGAL ALREADY. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, MS. BAEZ IS HERE, BUT, UH, SO MAY I CLAIM ANY, ANY, DO WE NEED ANY QUESTIONS ANSWERED? YEAH, I, I HAD A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. UM, BECAUSE THIS LANGUAGE, I DON'T BELIEVE WAS PRESENTED AT COMMITTEE AND THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE THAT I BELIEVE, NOT TO PUT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK ON THE SPOT, BUT THAT WE HAD RECEIVED, UM, HAD COME DIRECTLY FROM SOME OF THE OTHER PLATFORMS. HAVE THEY BEEN ENGAGED AT ALL? FOR EXAMPLE, HOUSTON AREA REALTORS WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO US IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS? UH, I, I DON'T DOUBT THE INTENT OF THIS. I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED IF WE'RE NOT HA GIVING THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS OR MEET WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT THIS WOULD, WOULD IMPACT. SO IS HAR UH, THAT'S WHAT'S INCLUDED? YEAH, I MEAN, WE CAN, IF YOU WANNA LIST HAR IN THERE, YOU CAN. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I, BUT I'M, THIS, THAT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S CLEARLY HERE OR OTHER DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR LICENSED REAL ESTATE AS PROFESSIONALS. I MEAN, THAT'S WHO HAR IS. SO, I, I'M COMPLETELY, I MEAN, I AGREE WITH YOU. I MEAN, RIGHT. BUT IF THEY HAD TIME TO REVIEW THIS. 46. OKAY. UH, RAMIREZ BEFORE COUNCILOR RAMIREZ? YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. SO, AS OF 3:52 PM YESTERDAY, THE INFORMATION I HAD FROM A RA WAS THAT, UM, WE DO NOT SUPPORT, OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE. SO WE HAVE LEGAL, AND WE HAVE A-R-A-A-R-A HERE. TINA, ARE YOU, IF THAT IS CHANGED, I'D LIKE TO UP ANY MISUNDER. THERE YOU GO. FLOOR IS YOURS, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ OR TINA BEEN LISTENING? I WAS SAYING THAT AT, AT 3 52. THAT'S FINE. TINA, WHY DON'T YOU [04:45:01] SPEAK TO ANY AMBIGUITY? YEAH. SO THE, WHERE YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR POSITION, THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ON THIS ONE BEFORE JUST NEEDED TWEAKING AFTER THE DISCUSSIONS WITH HAR. SO NIGEN WENT BACK AND SPOKE TO THEM AGAIN AND CLEARED IT UP. AND SO THIS SUBSTITUTION LANGUAGE IS WHAT CLEARS UP THE AMBIGUITY THAT WAS IN THERE BEFORE. SO THIS IS, WE SUPPORT THIS LANGUAGE. THE, THE NEW PLUMBER LANGUAGE WOULD CLEAR UP IN YOUR MIND. YES. YEAH. LEGAL WORKED EXTENSIVELY ON THIS ONE WITH HAR TO FIX IT. OKAY. TAKES CARE OF IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, DR. RAMIREZ. OH, YEAH. I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU GUYS WORKED OUT THIS CLARIFICATION. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF ME, SO I, I CAN'T MAKE AN INFORMED JUDGMENT. SAME ONE EVERYONE ELSE HAS. I HOPE. THANK YOU. YEAH. FOR SOME REASON THESE AMENDMENTS WERE NOT PLACED AT, AT MY, UH, PLATFORM AT MY DESK. SO, OKAY. SO, SO THE, AS I READ THIS, UH, THE MOST RECENT LANGUAGE IN THE AMENDMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE, UH, UM, WHAT IS, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM YOUR ORIGINAL AMENDMENT THEN, IS THAT RIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU FINE. THANK YOU, TINA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND LEGAL FOR HARD WORK. NOW THE VOTE IS ON COUNCIL MEMBER'S PLUMMER'S LANGUAGE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY MOTION PASSES. NOW, BEFORE US IS THE AMENDED VERSION MAY ITEM AS AMENDED. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF 47 AS AMENDED ON COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT. BUT A RA, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL. WE'VE JUST LAYERED ON A TON OF WORK FOR YOU ALL. I THINK YOU NEED A, A, UH, ENFORCEMENT TASK GROUP. YOU NEED A TASK TEAM TO ADDRESS THIS. UM, YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT, I REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL ASKING ABOUT THE, UM, CITATIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, 834 AS REPORTED, 834 CALLS WERE MADE TO 149 OUT OF 786 MULTIFAMILY ST. THERE'S NO RECORD OF CITATIONS BEING ISSUED. YOU KNOW, WE'VE PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED ALL OF THIS PIECE BY PIECE, BUT WE'VE REALLY NOT ENFORCED IT. SO IF THIS ALLOWS YOU A RA MEANS OF ENFORCEMENT, GOD BLESS YOU AND GOOD LUCK. BUT I THINK IF HPD COULDN'T ADDRESS THE NOISE AND THE LEWD BAD BEHAVIOR, PROSTITUTION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING SHOOTINGS AND ALL THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM. BUT NOW I BELIEVE IT'S YOUR PROBLEM. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT, BUT I, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOW CREATED ANOTHER LAYER OF HEAVY LIFT ON A PREVIOUSLY STRAPPED DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY. BEFORE, THIS IS ITEM 47 AS AMENDED COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO, I JUST WANNA COMMEND, UH, EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS. THERE'S BEEN WAY MORE ENGAGEMENT THAN, THAN NORMALLY OCCURS. AND, UH, I, I'VE SAID BEFORE THAT PART OF THE REASON WE'RE AT THIS POINT IS BECAUSE THE CITY HASN'T BEEN ADEQUATELY ENFORCING ITS NOISE ORDINANCE AND OTHER ORDINANCES. SO WE CAN PASS THIS, I HOPE WE DO. UH, THERE'RE GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T, AREN'T SATISFIED WITH IT ENTIRELY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY THE PROCESS WORK WORKS. THIS IS NOT FINAL. WE CAN ALWAYS AMEND IT. WE AMEND THINGS EVERY EVERY COUNCIL MEETING. AND SO IF WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS, WE CAN. BUT, YOU KNOW, TO COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER'S POINT, WE HAVE TO ENFORCE THIS NOW. AND SO WE CAN PASS THIS. BUT IF WE DON'T TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ENFORCE IT, THEN UH, PEOPLE WILL STILL BE UNHAPPY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I, I DO WANNA ONCE AGAIN, COMMEND TO EVERYONE AND ESPECIALLY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT KIND OF REACHED OUT ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU FOR VOICING YOUR OPINIONS AND, AND TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU EITHER FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE OR A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE. UM, I WILL SAY THAT MOVING FORWARD, UM, IT MAY NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO CREATE A TASK FORCE THAT HAS COMMUNITY LEADERS ON THERE, BUT ALSO HAS OWNERS AND OPERATORS ON THERE. UM, JUST SO THEY'RE LIVING THE EXPERIENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND, AND NOT HUGE, BUT MAYBE SEVEN PEOPLE, EIGHT PEOPLE. BUT JUST TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S CAN, CAN SHARE WITH [04:50:01] US WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING ON THE BACK END OF THIS AND HOW IT'S EITHER POSITIVELY AFFECTING THEM OR NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THEM. I, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE, IT WOULDN'T BE A BAD IDEA TO HAVE THAT CONTINUAL SUPPORT. UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. UM, JUST KIND OF MOVING FORWARD, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION. VERY GOOD. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. I OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, WE DID IT. UH, I, I TOO WANTED TO THANK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PUT A LOT OF HOURS INTO THIS. UH, OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE AS CHAIR, YOU REALLY SHEPHERDED THIS THROUGH. UH, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OF COURSE THE VICE CHAIR AS WELL. UM, BUT TO MY COLLEAGUE AND PARTNER COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, MAN, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ON THIS FOR YEARS. UH, SO IT, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION. UH, MAYOR, YOUR TEAM, THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, SPECIFICALLY A RA AND LEGAL, AND A RA DIRECTOR. PIAZ, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE IN SACRIFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENED THIS WEEK. UH, BUT OF COURSE ALSO, CATHERINE BRUNING, BILLY RUDOLPH, THE LIST GOES ON. I'M MISSING A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND THEN IN LEGAL, UM, ARTURO, YOUR TEAM, TYRONE, RASHAD, AND OF COURSE NERIA, UH, RESPONSE AFTER RESPONSE. HASHING OUT WORDS. JUST THANK YOU. BUT ABOVE ALL, I WANNA THANK OUR RESIDENTS, UH, DISTRICT C RESIDENTS AND RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, WERE THE VOICE THAT DROVE THIS, AND FROM THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS THAT ARE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY, UH, TO HOUSTON FIRST, BUT TO OUR CIVIC CLUBS. EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER TO WORK ON THIS. AND, BUT IT WAS THE RESIDENTS THAT REALLY INITIATED AND DROVE THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. SO TO ALL OF THEM, I THANK THEM FOR THEIR VOICE AND THEIR PARTICIPATION. VERY GOOD. MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA. LET ME THANK EVERYONE FOR A PRODUCTIVE DAY, , AND I'D LOVE TO SHARE POP-OFF WITH YOU, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] BUT I'VE GOTTA GET TO CRIME STOPPERS. SO THANK Y'ALL. I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE GOTTA HEAD TO CRIME STOPPERS TOO. SO I'M GONNA PASS. COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW REASONS WHY DISTRICT D CONTINUES TO BE THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. FIRST, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF JOINING THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON FOR THE HOBBY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. CEREMONIAL, GROUNDBREAKING. THIS WAS A PROUD MOMENT FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP IN OUR CITY. AND WE PAID TRIBUTE TO GARNET COLEMAN, UH, WHOSE VISIONARY, HONORABLE STATE REP, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE GARNET COLEMAN, WHOSE VISIONARY WORK HELPED MAKE THE SCHOOL A REALITY. ALSO, IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND BRADLEY FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN'S OFFICE. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE PROCLAMATION. I KNOW YOU'RE A PROUD UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ALUM. THAT EVENING, I WAS HUMBLED TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE MUSIC MATTERS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER DINNER HOSTED BY TOUCH OF KEYS, MUSIC, FINE ARTS. THEIR MISSION UPLIFTS YOUTH THROUGH ARTS, EDUCATION, AND SCHOLARSHIPS. AND I WAS PROUD TO BE HONORED AMONG SO MANY DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND, UM, ENTERTAINMENT ARTISTS WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF MUSIC, MENTORSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY. AND IN DISTRICT D, WE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF ROSEMARY'S PLACE, A NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COMMUNITY IN MIDTOWN. THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL SERVE 149 RESIDENTS EXIST, EXITING HOMELESSNESS WITH ACCESS TO WRAPAROUND SERVICES, STABILITY, AND A TRUE SENSE OF HOME. IT REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY TO HOUSING WITH DIGNITY AND PURPOSE. AND THANK YOU TO MAGNIFICAT FOR THEIR LONG STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF HOUSING. AND THIS WEEKEND, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN. WE INVITE FAMILIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO JOIN US FOR THE 11TH ANNUAL SOUTH PARK EASTER EGG HUNT ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 19TH, FROM ONE TO 4:00 PM AT CRESTMONT PARK COMMUNITY CENTER, LOCATED AT 5,200 SOLINSKY STREET. THIS IS A FREE EVENT, WHICH WILL SERVE OVER 700 FAMILIES WITH GAMES, FOOD, AND, UM, CERTAINLY A SOURCE OF EGGS. IT WON'T BE EGGS THIS YEAR, I'M SURE, WITH THE PRICE OF EGGS, BUT CERTAINLY IT WILL BE A FUN TIME . AND FINALLY, I WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE HONORABLE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE GARNET COLEMAN. HIS MOTHER, GLORIA COLEMAN, TRANSITIONED THIS WEEKEND. HER SERVICES WILL BE ON TUESDAY. DISTRICT D IS ACTIVE, [04:55:01] ENGAGED IN MOVING WITH INTENTION, AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT, UH, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION AND HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY AND WEEK FOR, UH, MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. THIS, UH, PAST MONDAY. I WAS HONORED TO REPRESENT DISTRICT H AT THE SMART CITIES CONNECT EXPO AND SAN ANTONIO ON THE FUTURE CATASTROPHE. TODAY, WHY RESILIENCY IS KEY PANEL. UM, I WAS JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER FOR PEACHTREE CORNERS, GEORGIA. AND, UH, WE HAD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION ON THE RESILIENCY EFFORTS, UH, FROM BOTH A SMALL CITY AND A LARGE CITY. HOW WE HAVE RECOVERED FROM DISASTERS. AND EVEN THOUGH, UH, I'VE ONLY BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR JUST OVER A YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXAMPLES TO PULL FROM, FROM FREEZES TO HURRICANES TO DICHOS AND WHATNOT. UM, SO IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE, UH, BUT ALSO TO LEARN AND TO, UH, VISIT WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND, UH, VENDORS THAT ARE OFFERING WAYS THAT CITIES CAN BE MORE RESILIENT, UH, FROM DIFFERENT ALERT TECHNOLOGY TO DIFFERENT AIR MONITOR TECHNOLOGY. YOU NAME IT. UH, THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE. AND IT WAS, UH, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO NOT ONLY SHARE, BUT TO ALSO BRING THOSE THINGS BACK, UH, TO THE DISTRICT AND TO THE CITY. UH, I WANT TO INVITE DISTRICT H RESIDENTS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH AT 10:00 AM I'LL BE, UH, CO-HOSTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, A COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION ON THE 11TH STREET PROJECT. UH, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, GOOD, BAD, INDIFFERENT, UH, WITH US DIRECTLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW A LOT, A LOT OF FOLKS CAN'T ALWAYS MAKE IT TO PUBLIC SESSION. UM, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO HEARING FROM YOU AND, UH, TO ALSO VISITING, UH, SOME OF THE BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN THE CORRIDOR AS WELL. THAT'LL BE, UH, AT 10:00 AM 10 35 EAST 11TH STREET. UH, THIS SATURDAY, THE WESTCOTT CEMETERY ASSOCIATION WILL BE, UH, GETTING A HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY MEDALLION AND NAME PLAQUE DEDICATION. UM, THAT THIS IS A HISTORIC CEMETERY UP IN THE, UH, EAST TEXAS JENSEN AREA. I WANNA CONGRATULATE THEM, UH, AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT DESIGNATION. AND FINALLY, UH, I DO WANNA WISH MY HUSBAND, JOEL, A VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY. IN FACT, WE GOT MARRIED IN NEW ORLEANS. UM, IT HAS FLOWN BY, BUT IT'S BEEN A, A FANTASTIC JOURNEY THUS FAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS IN ANNIVERSARIES AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO DINNER TONIGHT. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S CELEBRATING, HAVE A GREAT EASTER WEEKEND AND STAY SAFE. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, I'D LIKE TO, UM, TO INVITE EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN TO OUR SECOND TOWN HALL MEETING OF 2025, TAKING PLACE THIS MONDAY OF APRIL 21ST IN THE SPRING BRANCH AREA AT TRENDY MENDEN HALL COMMUNITY CENTER, STARTING AT 6:00 PM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE HAVE BEEN VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, EXCITED AND ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL FOR THE ATTENDANCE FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WE LIKE TO EXTEND THAT TO EVERYONE AS WE DO EACH TIME. I RECENTLY HAD LAUNCHED WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS OF SPRING BRANCH CENTRAL, GREATER INWOOD MEMORIAL, EDGE RIDGE, WEST OAKS. UM, EACH PART OF THE CITY HAS THEIR SPECIFIC CONCERNS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO BY HOLDING THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS. AND THAT'S THE TAPE THAT, THAT INFORMATION AS WELL AS LISTENING FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND SO FAR, IT HAS WORKED VERY WELL, AND WE'RE PLEASED WITH THAT. UM, AND THAT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE ADDRESS THESE COMMUNITIES AND AWFULLY TO OFTENTIMES, IN ORDER TO GET MORE INFORMATION OUT TO THEM AND TO ALSO TO GET INFORMATION FROM THEM. AT THIS TOWN HALL MEETING, WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR Q AND A, UH, CHIEF DIAZ, CHIEF MUNOZ, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY. UH, CHIEF LA UH, CHIEF LARRY SADDLE, WHITE PUBLIC WORKS. UH, RANDY MAIE, OEM, DIRECTOR BRIAN MASON, SOLID WASTE. DEPUTY DIRECTOR STEVEN RALPH, HOUSE HOUSING DIRECTOR MIKE NICHOLS. UM, VETERAN OF MILITARY [05:00:01] AFFAIRS DIRECTOR LASANDRA JONES, OBO DIRECTOR, MS. LENCIA, HARD AND METRO'S PRESIDENT, CEO, THOMAS, JASON. SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. OUR TEAM HAVE WORKED HARD AS WE DO EACH TIME. WE WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY FOR PROVIDING US THE VENUE. AND TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO, TIM, TIM, UH, UH, AMY PEG. UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE IN YOUR DISTRICT ON THAT NIGHT. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN THE COMMISSION, RAMS IN ATTENDANCE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CERTAINLY THANK YOU AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I DO WANT, AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW, I AM A PROUD VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, DOING VIETNAM AND ALL OF MY FELLOW SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, WE ALWAYS TRY TO HONOR THEM AND GIVE RESPECT TO THEM. HOUSTON, UH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE, UH, THE VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE AND THE, UH, AT LARGE TWO, UH, I WANT TO EXTEND, THIS IS A VETERAN'S TOWN HALL, A VETERAN'S TOWN HALL. I OFTEN HAVE CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, POLLARD, WHO HIS FATHER IS A VETERAN, VERY HONORED TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY FOR THE SERVICE OF HIS DAD, WHO ALWAYS, UH, IS A COMMENDABLE VETERAN. BUT WE GONNA HOLD A TOWN, THE VETERANS TOWN HALL, APRIL 28TH, 2025. THE DOORS WERE OPEN AT 5:00 PM THE TOWN HALL BEGINS AT SIX AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK CONSERVANCY COMMUNITY CENTER, 3 0 1 8 EMANCIPATION AVENUE. UH, WE WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO JOIN US TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES CONCERNING OUR LOCAL VETERAN AND ACTIVE DUTY COMMUNITY RESOURCE VENDOR. TABLES WILL BE THERE, VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND VETERAN CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE THERE. AND SO WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I THINK WE ALL OWE AND DESERVE ALL OF OUR FREEDOM AND RESPECT TO VETERANS TO ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEMS, I THINK OUGHT TO BE A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US AS AMERICAN CITIZENS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET THERE BE LIGHT. UH, AS OF NOW, UH, ALL OF THE MONTROSE BRIDGES SHOULD BE LIT. UH, THIS IS NOT WITH THE DECORATIVE LIGHTING THAT IS A TRADEMARK, UH, AND STAPLE OF OUR CITY, UH, KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BUT IT IS THE SAFETY LIGHTING. SO THE STREETS ARE LIT. AND I REALLY WANNA THANK, UH, HOUSTON FIRST, AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO BRING, UH, SAFE CROSSINGS AND SAFE ROADS, UH, FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA AND ALL THOSE WHO USE THOSE BRIDGES. SO, A BIG, BIG WIN IN DISTRICT C. UH, WE HAVE TWO COMMUNITY, UH, INPUT SESSIONS COMING UP. THE FIRST IS NEXT WEDNESDAY, UH, APRIL 23RD AT WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AT FIVE 30. THIS IS A WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER COMMUNITY INPUT SESSION. WEST GRAY NEEDS A LOT OF LOVE. UH, THE CITY HAS RETAINED SPECIALISTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, TO LEAD THIS PROCESS FOR RE-IMAGINING AND RE-ENVISIONING WHAT RUSS GRAY CAN BE TO BRING ALL OF THE SERVICES, UH, THAT RESIDENTS THAT USE THE FACILITIES, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY USE THERE. UH, AGAIN, PART OF THIS PROCESS IS THIS COMMUNITY MEETING FORMAT. UH, I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL ONES, BUT THE FIRST ONE, NEXT WEDNESDAY, FIVE 30 AT WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. SO PLEASE, PLEASE ATTEND. UH, 'CAUSE YOUR INPUT IS VERY VALUED. AND THERE WILL BE, UM, A SL INTERPRETATION AVAILABLE. OTHER REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS CAN BE SENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UH, MOPD MAIL@HOUSTONTX.GOV. OR YOU CAN CALL THEIR NUMBER. OF COURSE. I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP AS WE ALSO SCHEDULE, UM, HAVE SCHEDULED AN 11TH STREET COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION NEXT SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH. AND WE THANK VINEYARD CHURCH FOR HOSTING US AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, UH, THAT CAN MAKE IT OUT THERE. UH, OUR RAIN BARREL SALE, UH, THE DISTRIBUTION IS THIS WEEKEND, UH, PICKUP WILL BE HAPPENING. I WANNA THANK OUR FRIENDS AT IBEW FOR HOSTING US. HOPE IS VOLUNTEERING. WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER VOLUNTEERS. UH, WE'LL DO A RECAP AFTER THE EVENT, BUT ALWAYS VERY POPULAR. I WANNA WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CRUZ IN OUR OFFICE, WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING THIS WEEK OR THIS WEEKEND, EXCUSE ME. AND ALSO, UH, TO OUR CHIEF [05:05:01] OF STAFF, KATE LER. PLEASE STAND, I GET TO EMBARRASS KATE. KATE, UH, IS JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, CELEBRATED FIVE YEARS IN OUR OFFICE. AND FOR THOSE AT THE CITY, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT THAT FIVE YEAR MARK IS. BUT KATE, THANK YOU FOR BEING, UH, SUCH A BADASS CHIEF OF STAFF. WE LOVE YOU. LASTLY, UH, AT A TIME WHEN JOURNALISM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, I WAS VERY, UH, DISHEARTENED BUT ALSO CONCERNED TO LEARN THAT THE LANDING IS WINDING DOWN. UH, AND WE ARE ABOUT TO LOSE INVALUABLE JOURNALISTS THAT HAVE COME TO OUR CITY AND DEDICATED THEIR TIME, THEIR ENERGY, AND SACRIFICED A LOT TO REPORT ON HOUSTON. FOR HOUSTON. AND I WANNA THANK YOU, HANNAH, UH, FOR BEING HERE EVERY SINGLE WEEK FOR FOSTERING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS MANY OF YOU ARE BEING SNATCHED UP BY LOCAL HOUSTON, EITHER STATIONS OR OTHER PAPERS, BECAUSE WE CANNOT ALL AFFORD TO LOSE JOURNALISTS AT A TIME WHEN REPORTING IS IMPERATIVE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. UH, THERE'S A REASON WHY THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND YOU ALL ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THAT. SO, TO EVERYONE AT THE LANDING, UH, WE'RE WITH YOU. WE WANNA SEE YOU LAND ON YOUR FEET. UH, BUT THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON EVERYTHING THAT IS HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. WE'RE READY TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY. I APPROACH HIM. THANK YOU. UM, FIRST I WANNA START OFF BY, UM, SENDING MY DEEPNESS CON CONDOLENCES TO MR. ALBERT COLEMAN, UM, FAMILY. UM, WE LOST MR. COLEMAN THIS ACTUALLY SUNDAY. HE'S A TRUE, UM, PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY, A FIERCE ADVOCATE, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, MOVE FORWARD. AND SO WE'RE SADDENED TO LOSE HIM. UM, BUT I WILL KEEP THE COMMUNITY INFORMED ON WHEN HIS SERVICES WILL TAKE PLACE. UM, AND SO THOUGHTS OF PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY. UM, HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT B. AS I SAID, DISTRICT B UM, IS MAKING MOVES IN EAST IN DURING, UM, APRIL. UH, I LOVE APRIL, UM, BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT WE HAVE EASTER. UM, AND SO WE HAVE THE EAST HOUSTON CIVIC CLUB, ANNUAL EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA THAT'S HAPPENING ON THIS FRIDAY, APRIL THE 18TH FROM 11:00 AM TO NOON. UM, IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE NORTH WAYSIDE SPORTS, SPORTS AND RECREATION CENTER. UM, LOCATED AT 9 5 5 1 NORTHWEST SIDE. AND THEN ALSO TODAY, UM, UM, UM, FAST FORWARD, UM, ALSO, UM, AND TODAY HPD IS HAVING A SPRING CELEBRATION, WHICH IS TAKING PLACE AT 4:30 PM TODAY. UM, THEY'RE HAVING A EASTER EGG HUNT FOR THE KIDS SNACKS, FOOD. UM, YOU CAN, UM, CHECK THEM OUT AT 8 3 0 1 LEE ROAD, UM, AT THE NORTHEAST DIVISION. UM, AND ALSO IMPACTING HOUSTON IS HAVING THEIR SPRING BLAST, UM, ON FRIDAY AT 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM AT HARBOR TAYLOR PARK, UM, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 8,100 KENNAN DRIVE. UM, AND THIS IS TAKING PLACE, UM, AT AGAIN, 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM. UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE EASTER EGG HUNTS, TURKEY LEG, UH, FOOD, FACE PAINTING GAMES, YOU NAME IT. YEAH, NO, THEY FREE . YEAH. AND THEY'RE FREE. AND THEY NORMALLY GOOD. YEAH. AND THEN I WANT TO, UM, MARK YOUR CALENDARS ON APRIL THE 26TH, DISTRICT B UNITED. WE'LL BE HAVING A COMMUNITY FORUM, UM, TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. AND THIS IS GONNA TAKE PLACE AT BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THIRD 73 0 4 HOMESTEAD ROAD. UM, AND ALSO ON APRIL THE 30TH, WE WILL BE HAVING A COMMUNITY RESOURCE BLOCK PARTY EXPLOSION. AND THIS IS PART OF OUR OCCUPY CONVENIENCE STORES, WHERE WE'RE TAKING THE RESOURCES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY VERSUS, UM, BRINGING THEM, HAVING THEM COME TO THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. WE ARE GONNA GET ON THE BLOCK AND, UM, JUST HANG OUT WITH THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, FOLKS THAT IS PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR JOBS AND OTHER RESOURCES. AND SO THIS IS GONNA TAKE PLACE AT BUSBY PARK, UM, AT 6,700 HIRSCH ROAD, APRIL THE 30TH, FROM FIVE TO 7:00 PM AND THAT IS IT. EVERYONE HAVE A HAPPY EASTER, AND I WILL, MY PLAN TO GO CHECK OUT THE ROCKETS GAME. UM, SUNDAY IS MY BIRTHDAY, FOUR 20. UM, SO I AM GOING TO, WHAT I'M GONNA DO, I'M GONNA GO WATCH THE ROCKETS WIN. WE'RE GONNA WIN . THANK YOU. EVERY, EVERYONE HAVE A, A A A BLESSED WEEK. WELL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ON SUNDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. AMEN. AMEN. UM, , [05:10:01] UM, FIRST I WANNA START OFF MY POP-OFF REMARKS, UH, WITH SOME THANK YOUS. I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE, UH, CONGREGATION EMMANUEL FOR, UH, INVITING ME TO THE PASSOVER SEDER. UH, IT WAS A MULTI-FAITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, UH, SEDER MILL, AND IT WAS GREAT, UH, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH, UH, NOT ONLY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND OUR VICE MAYOR, BUT, UM, OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS. UH, AND THEN, UM, ON THE WEST SIDE, THE INDIAN MUSLIM ASSOCIATION OF GREATER HOUSTON. AND WE CELEBRATED E WITH E MILAN GALA RIGHT THERE AT MARRIOTT WESTCHASE. SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE CELEBRATION AND, AND, UM, UM, ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THAT SPACE WITH YOU. UM, JUST SOME UP, UP UPCOMING, UM, HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE ON SATURDAY, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND MYSELF AND A HOST OF OTHERS, WERE HOSTING HIS VERY FIRST EXPUNCTION CLINIC AND JOB FAIR AT THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AT 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT REMOVING CRIMINAL BARRIERS, BUT WE'LL ALSO HAVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE, JOB RESOURCES, UM, AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS. I ALSO BELIEVE THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE WILL HAVE PRESENCE THERE WITH BANK ON HOUSTON. UM, SO FINANCIAL LITERACY. SO GET THERE EASTER WEEKEND AND ALLOW US TO HELP YOU RESURRECT A NEW LIFE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, ALSO ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH, I'LL BE AT THE EL FRANCO LEE HEALTH CENTER HEALTH FAIR. IF THERE'S SOME RESOURCES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NEED, PLEASE GET TO 89 0 1 BOONE ROAD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH, UM, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. UM, AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A WEST SIDE PARTY. 'CAUSE A WEST SIDE PARTY. DON'T STOP. I WAS ABLE TO JOIN THE RIBBON CUTTING AT CAMDEN PARK. UM, SO SHOUT OUT TO WESTCHASE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND COLLEAGUES. AS YOU RECALL, UH, THE THREE 80 DEAL CAME BEFORE THIS BODY, OR A YEAR AND A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN WE ALL RAVED ABOUT, UM, WHAT THE WESTCHASE MANAGEMENT, UM, DISTRICT WAS DOING WITH THAT THREE 80 AGREEMENT. UM, IT WAS, UH, VICE CHAIR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WAS THERE, UH, UH, DIRECTOR GWEN TILLSON FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ALL OF THE PARTNERS, UH, I WANT TO ESPECIALLY SHOUT OUT IRMA SANCHEZ, THE PRESIDENT OF, UH, WEST CHASE, HER ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND EVERY STAFF MEMBER, UM, THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT. AND ALSO RICK CAMPO, UM, AND HIS, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS, HEB AND THE, THE LIST CAN GO ON. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO CAMDEN PARK, PLEASE GET THERE. THERE'S A BAR, THERE'S A RESTAURANT THERE, Y'ALL. SO GET THERE, BE SQUARE. IT IS OUR, UH, DISCOVERY GREEN ON THE WEST SIDE. AND SO DISTRICT F HAS SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME BITTERSWEET NEWS. WE ARE WELCOMING, UH, GOOD NEWS. LAMBDA GREEN TO THE DISTRICT F TEAM. LANDA, CAN YOU STAND UP FOR US, PLEASE? LANDA IS OUR DISTRICT'S F NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF. ALRIGHT, WELCOME. SO WE WELCOME HER BACK TO THE WEST SIDE, AND, UM, THIS IS HER FIRST WEEK, SO IF YOU SEE HER, UM, UM, GETTING TURNED AROUND IN THE TUNNELS, PLEASE DIRECT HER BACK, UH, TO THE OFFICE. UH, AND UM, ALSO, THIS IS MY CHIEF OF STAFF'S LAST COUNCIL MEETING. UM, AS CHIEF OF STAFF. ISAAC HAS ACCEPTED A NEW, UH, POSITION, UM, BUT DON'T WORRY, HE'S STILL WORKING FOR THE WEST SIDE, UM, WITH HARRIS COUNTY. UM, SO WE ARE EXCITED, UM, UH, ABOUT HIS ELEVATION HE'S GONNA MAKE, UM, AND WHAT HE WILL BE DOING, UM, FOR THE PEOPLE. UM, ISAAC HAS DEEPLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORK, UM, IN DISTRICT F FROM NATURAL HURRICANES TO JUST SUPPORTING EVERY INITIATIVE, UM, FROM THE WEST SIDE, SUMMER SAFETY TOWN HALLS, UH, ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WEST. ISAAC IS RIGHT THERE BY MY SIDE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO IN HIS NEW ROLE. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING HIM. UH, AND SO NEXT WEEK IS HIS BIRTHDAY, APRIL 22ND, AND THEN HIS LAST IN-PERSON DAY IS APRIL 23RD. SO YOU'RE GONNA JOIN US FOR CAKE AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS, AND WE'LL SEND SOMETHING OUT. SO SHOW LOVE TO ISAAC. UM, AND HE DEFINITELY WILL BE MISSED, BUT WE'LL STILL BE A PART OF THE TEAM. UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. OH, AND THEN LASTLY, LET ME SAY THIS MOLINA'S RESTAURANT RIGHT THERE OFF OF WESTHEIMER WAS JUST HONORED BY THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION AFTER 84 YEARS OF SERVICE, UM, AS HOUSTON'S OLDEST FAMILY TEXMEX RESTAURANT WITH THE T TREASURES TREASURE BUSINESS AWARD. AND SO WE ARE EXCITED. WE LOVE MOLINAS, UH, WE LOVE MOLINAS, AND WE HOSTED OUR INTERNS THERE, UH, UH, LAST YEAR. AND SO WE, UH, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UH, FAMILY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE GOOD FOOD ON THE WEST SIDE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. WELCOME TO YOUR NEW DEPUTY CHIEF, AND, UM, SAD TO SEE YOU GO ISAAC, BUT WE KNOW GOOD THINGS. AWAIT VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP. I'LL PASS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, FIRST I JUST WANNA, UH, INVITE FOLKS. UH, THIS SATURDAY, APRIL THE 19TH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL WATER WORKS FESTIVAL AT DISCOVER GREEN IN, IN DISTRICT I, IT'S HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, OF COURSE, DISCOVER GREEN AND CITIZENS ENVIRONMENT COALITION. THE EVENT IS GONNA BE RUN FROM 12 TO FIVE AND WILL FEATURE OVER 60 EXHIBIT EXHIBITORS, INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY AND WATER CONSERVATION AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS. UM, ALSO, IF YOU'RE GONNA BE ATTENDING THAT EVENT AT DISCOVERY GREEN, JUST WANNA MAKE FOLKS AWARE THAT AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN, UH, WE'RE ALSO, UH, HOSTING A FIRST [05:15:01] ROBOTICS COMPETITION. UH, THE ROBOTICS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN IN, UH, IN HOUSTON FOR ABOUT EIGHT, EIGHT YEARS. UM, IT'S GONNA BE RUNNING FROM APRIL 16TH TO THE 19TH. AND JUST AS A HEADS UP, AGAIN, THERE'S OVER 50,000 ATTENDEES COMING. UM, ALSO, I JUST WANNA, UH, TAKE A MOMENT, UH, TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF MARTIN RAS. HE WAS A DEDICATED CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE WHO PASSED AWAY OVER THE WEEKEND. UH, MARTIN FAITHFULLY SERVED US WITHIN THE GSD DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR 15 YEARS. AND I WANT TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO, UH, DIRECTOR MESSIAH AND, AND THE REST OF THE GST TEAM. UM, MANY OF US SAW 'EM COME INTO OUR OFFICES, UH, WHETHER IT'S MOVING, MOVING FURNITURE, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, WORKING, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING UP THINGS AS WELL. AND SO, UM, MANY, MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, UM, WHEN WE SEE FOLKS JUST COMING IN AND OUT OF OUR OFFICE, WE DON'T REALLY LOOK INTO WHAT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENED OR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM. AND I JUST ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER IT IS THAT COMES INTO THE OFFICE, JUST HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. UH, MARTINA QUIET GUY, BUT, UH, HE WAS VERY RESPECTFUL, UH, HONORABLE GUY AS WELL. UM, AND WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY WARM WISHES TO EVERYBODY OBSERVING GOOD FRIDAY. UH, AND MAY IT BE A TIME FOR PEACE AND REFLECTION FOR, FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. HAPPY EASTER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, I TOO WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. I, I CALLED HIM MR. MARTIN. HE, HE USED TO COME IN OUR OFFICES ROUTINELY. HE JUST PUT UP, UH, SOME SHELVING IN MY OFFICE, HELPED ME WITH, UH, AN ISSUE I HAVING WITH MY DOOR. HE, HE HELPED ME WITH, I'M NOT SURE WHY MY OFFICE IS ALWAYS EXTRA COLD. MINE TOO, JUST THAT WHOLE SIDE. BUT HE, I FEEL LIKE THEY TRYING TO FREEZE ME OUT HERE, . BUT, UM, ANYWAYS, UH, MY CONDOLENCES TO HIM, HE WAS, HE WAS, HE WAS A GENTLEMAN OF A MAN, AND, AND HE WILL BE MISSED. UH, I DO WANT TO MENTION, UH, AGAIN, THAT, UH, MANY OF MY CDSF UH, PROPOSALS ARE NOT BEING APPROVED. MR. NEWPORT, I SEE YOU HERE. I'M ASKING FOR, UM, MY ITEMS TO BE APPROVED. THEY'VE ALL GONE THROUGH LEGAL. UM, THEY HAVE BEEN DEEMED, UH, A PERMISSIBLE USE OF FUNDS. UH, YOU KNOW, MY PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS WAS, WAS SUBMITTED ON, UH, JANUARY 9TH, $40,000, NOT APPROVED. PRIVATE HEAVY TRASH SUBMITTED ON 4 14, 1 14, 20 25, 30,000, NOT APPROVED. MY GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UH, TO HELP WITH EXTERIOR MINOR HOME REPAIRS FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND SENIORS. SUBMITTED ON JANUARY 22ND, 50,000 NOT APPROVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRO AND PREVENTION PROGRAM WITH HPD, UH, 50,000 ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025, NOT APPROVED. UM, JUNETEENTH BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT, 24,000, SUBMITTED ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025. NOT APPROVED. THE JUNETEENTH MURAL BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT, 10,000 SUBMITTED ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025. NOT APPROVED, UM, MONEY TO, UM, THE LATIN LATINO MUSEUM OF CULTURAL AND VISUAL ARTS. UH, 25,000 NOT APPROVED. UM, I'M, I'M, I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THIS IS TAX PAYER MONEY THAT MY, UH, CONSTITUENTS ARE DEPENDING ON. UM, I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OTHER OFFICE IS DEALING WITH THIS, BUT, UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE MY ITEMS GET APPROVED. THEY'VE ALL BEEN, UM, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS, UM, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY MY OFFICE IS NOT GETTING THEM APPROVED. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PRESS ON THAT ISSUE. UH, MY, MY CONSTITUENTS DESERVE IT, AND I HOPE TO SEE THESE ITEMS GET APPROVED, UH, THIS FISCAL YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THEN, UH, COLLEAGUES, I'LL WANT, UH, FINISH IT UP WITH A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR DISTRICT A THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON ITEM 15 FOR THE EDISON ARTS FOUNDATION. UM, THE $5 MILLION FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS, UM, A GREAT SUPPORT OF THAT INCREDIBLE TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON. UM, THEY WILL COMPLETE PHASE TWO, UH, THIS SUMMER AND THEN MOVE TO PHASE THREE OF, UH, THE ACTUAL, UM, ARTS FACILITY THERE WITH A, A STAGE AND A 400 SEAT THEATER THAT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL IN THAT COMMUNITY. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO RIDE DOWN WEST FUQUA AND SEE THE BUILDING GOING UP, I THINK YOU'LL BE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THAT COMMUNITY. UM, WE DO HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY AT 2:00 PM UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL PRESENT A PROPOSAL, UH, A TEZ PROGRAM, [05:20:02] UM, FOR JOB CREATION AND INVESTMENTS. UM, I THINK IT'S IN DISTRICT I. AND THEN WE WILL ALSO, UM, HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE 2023 DISPARITY STUDY FROM THE, UM, DIRECTOR OF OBO. WE DID HAVE A, UM, MEETING AT THE ION ON MONDAY. IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. WE HAD A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS THERE ASKING, UM, VERY GOOD QUESTIONS, GIVING US THEIR INPUT ON THE STUDY. UM, SO THAT ENGAGEMENT WAS EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE AND WORTHWHILE. BUT THIS WILL GIVE US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE DIRECTOR ON THE 2023 DISPARITY STUDY, UM, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, OUR HPD SOUTHWEST PIP MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL THE 22ND. UH, AND THIS MEETING WILL BE AT THE WINDOR VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTER ON CROQUETTE LANE. AND THIS PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON BOARDING HOME ENFORCEMENT. WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, IN THE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT, UM, GROUP HOMES AND BOARDING HOMES AND, AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE AND WHO DO WE CALL? THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FOCUS ON, UM, BOARDING HOME ENFORCEMENTS AND GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED AROUND, UH, THAT, AGAIN, THAT IS ON THE APRIL 22ND AT WINDSOR VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTER. UM, YESTERDAY, I, I, I TOOK, UH, SOME, SOME PICTURES, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY AT BUFFALO SPEEDWAY AND HOLMES ROAD OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DUMPING THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN THERE. UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH MAJOR OFFENDERS, UM, AND SO MANY OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, THE SOUTH HOUSTON CONCERNED CITIZENS COALITION. THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH ELECTRICITY IN THAT AREA. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET SOME MORE GAME CAMERAS UP TO REALLY CATCH THESE CULPRITS. WE HAVE PICTURES OF PEOPLE DUMPING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND I WILL TELL YOU, I POSTED, UM, SOME OF THE PICTURES OF THE DUMPING AND EVERYBODY'S LIKE, HEY, POST THEIR PICTURES, POST THEIR PICTURES AND SHAME 'EM. UM, IT'S TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE REALLY GOT TO MAKE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN. WE ARE CITING PEOPLE $300. THEY GO TO MUNICIPAL COURT, THEY PAY THE CITATIONS. UM, BUT SOLID WASTE IS SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY, TIME AND EFFORT EVERY WEEK OR EVERY TIME WE CALL THEM TO GET OFF OF THEIR ROUTES AND COME CLEAN UP AT BUFFALO SPEEDWAY AND HOLMES ROAD. UM, IT EXACERBATES OUR ALREADY BEHIND SCHEDULE, UM, ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. UM, AND SO I'M WORKING ON A TASK FORCE WITH MAJOR OFFENDERS, UM, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO START POSTING THE PHOTOS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE CATCH ON OUR GAME CAMERAS. UM, WE NEED SOME MORE ENFORCEMENT, AND I'M TAKING IT TO THE STREETS, TAKING IT TO THE PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK, MY FACEBOOK FAMILY. THEY'RE READY TO START. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE, BUT SINCE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT'S OKAY TO BREAK THE LAW AND ILLEGALLY, UM, DUMP IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, WE'RE GONNA TRY ALL WE CAN TO TRY TO DETER THAT BEHAVIOR. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET THESE PICTURES OF FOLKS ON OUR GAME CAMERAS, WE'RE GONNA JUST START BLASTING THEM OUT ALL OVER, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STOP THIS, THIS DETRIMENTAL BEHAVIOR THAT IS REALLY CAUSING A BIG NUISANCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'D APPRECIATE ALL OF THE NEWS OUTLETS TO HELP US, YOU KNOW, GET, GET THE WORD OUT THAT WE DO HAVE CAMERAS ACROSS THE CITY. WE'RE GETTING MORE CAMERAS ACROSS THE CITY. WE'VE GOT TO STOP, UM, THIS BEHAVIOR OF ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OUR CITIES. UM, ON A BETTER NOTE, LOOKING FORWARD TO A BREAK WEEK NEXT WEEK. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL, UM, SPEND SOME GREAT QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR FAMILIES, UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. * 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.