* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:07] CAST SIX STATE, WILL YOU PLEASE CHAIR, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR PROCLAMATION TO MEMORIAL HERMAN HOSPITAL NURSES TO RECOGNIZE 100 YEARS OF NURSING. WELL, LET ME JUST SAY MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER, A BETTER GROUP, UM, TO RECOGNIZE AND GIVE HONOR TO. AND I'M CERTAINLY HONORED, UH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY, UH, ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE, UH, NOT ONLY IN HOUSTON, IN IN TEXAS, BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. UM, THE, I WANTED TO, UH, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY IN THIS PRESENTATION, MAYOR, WHEREAS IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL NURSES WEEK OBSERVED FROM MAY 6TH THROUGH 12TH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACKNOWLEDGE MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND ITS NURSES AS THEY CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF NURSING. AND WHEREAS THE NURSES OF MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, INCLUDING CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HERMANN, AND MEMORIAL HERMANN ROCKETS ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL, HAVE COMPASSIONATELY SERVED THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON FOR A CENTURY. WHEREAS MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN DESIGNATED A MAGNET ORGANIZATION BY THE AMERICAN NURSES, UH, CREDENTIALING CENTER, AND THE COMMISSION ON MAGNET MARKING THE THIRD TIME, IT HAS RECEIVED THIS PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE. AND WHEREAS THE MAGNET DESIGNATION REFLECTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF NURSING PRACTICE AND EMPOWERS NURSES TO LEAD IMPROVEMENTS IN CLINICAL OUTCOME PATIENTS CARE AND THE CARE ENVIRONMENT. AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 3,900 NURSES ACROSS 150 DEPARTMENTS AT MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER ARE THE FOREFRONT OF CARE WITH 3,500 HOLDING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER IN NURSING, AND MORE THAN 1050, HOLDING ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATES A DEEP COMMITMENT TO CLINICAL EXPERTISE AND LIFELONG LEARNING. AND WHEREAS THESE NURSES COLLABORATE ACROSS DISCIPLINES WITH PHYSICIANS, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, NUTRITIONISTS, PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, SPEECH LANGUAGE, ISTS, PHARMACISTS, AND MANY OTHERS TO DELIVER SAFE, HIGH QUALITY, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE. AND WHEREAS MEMORIAL HARM NURSES EMBODIED THE CORE VALUES OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, KINDNESS, AND RESPECT, FOSTERING A CULTURE WHERE EVERY PATIENT, COLLEAGUE, COLLEAGUE, AND COMMUNITY MEMBER IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND CARE. AND WHEREAS THROUGH INNOVATION, CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE, THE NURSES OF MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER IMPROVE QUALITY OUTCOMES, INCREASED STAFF ENGAGEMENT, AND REDUCED EMPLOYEE TURNOVER, STRENGTHENING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE. SO MAYOR, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU ON TODAY. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND ALLOWING US TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES. AND I CONSIDER YOU PUBLIC SERVICE 'CAUSE WE COULDN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU FROM, UH, WHEN WE'RE BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD, . AND, AND MAYBE YOU'LL BE WITH US POTENTIALLY WHEN WE LOSE LEAVE THIS WORLD. BUT ANYWAY, THE MEMORIAL HERMAN STAFF IS SPECIAL. WE KNOW WHERE WE GO, WHETHER IT'S ON LIFE FLIGHT OR ANY REALLY CRITICAL CARE SITUATION. UH, BEN TO AND LBJ CERTAINLY BEN TODD IS, UH, CRITICAL CARE. BUT, UH, MEMORIAL HERMAN, UH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE TAKEN THERE, SO THANK YOU. BUT I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE STEP FURTHER THAN YOUR PROCLAMATION. SAY, WHEREVER A NURSE IS LOCATED IS PRETTY SPECIAL. I WAS RAISED BY A NURSE, MY MOTHER WAS LATER IN LIFE, WENT TO [00:05:01] LVN SCHOOL AND, UH, TOOK A PROGRAM. SO I'VE WATCHED HER THREE TO 11, UH, DIDN'T GET MANY HOME COOKED MEALS DURING THAT PERIOD. SO, UH, I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR THE NURSES, AND, YOU KNOW, DOCTORS, WE LEARN THEIR NAMES BECAUSE THEY TURN US OVER TO THE CARE OF NURSES. MM-HMM . SO WE NEED TO PAUSE AND MAY NOT EVER KNOW YOUR NAME, BUT, UH, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT CARE OF SOMEONE, YOU SURE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM COME BACK. AND CAN YOU HELP ME GO TO SLEEP? YOU KNOW, JUST , CAN YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING TO LET ME SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT? WHEREVER, WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES YOU FIND, FIND YOURSELF. I I REALLY DO THINK YOU'RE A PUBLIC SERVANT, OF COURSE. I THINK WE'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON A BALLOT OR NOT. AND SOMEDAY WE'RE GONNA BE JUDGED. WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE? SO I KNOW EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE VERY GOOD GRADES WHEN YOU'RE ASKED THAT QUESTION, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LET ME ASK LEAH BLACKWELL, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, AND, UH, EMILY WEBER, WHO IS THE CHILDREN'S CHIEF NURSING OFFICER TO COME UP, UH, PRESENTATION. SURE. WELL, LET ME FINISH MY BUSINESS HERE, MAYOR, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 6TH, 2025 IS NURSES OF MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER DAY IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOT IT. YOU KNOW WHAT, PERFECT CREW OUT HERE THAT, UH, IS HERE, AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR LEADERS. AND I, I SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM BACK THEN, BUT, UH, ALL OF THEM. OH, YES. RIGHT. YEAH. , WE WILL YELL TO, UH, THE REPRESENTATIVE. WHICH ONE Y'ALL? YEAH, I'LL DO I NEED THAT. WE GOT THE PICTURES TAKEN CARE OF. LET'S GO THIS WAY, LET'S GO THIS WAY. PERFECT. AND THEN, AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A LARGE GROUP PICTURE. YEAH, YEAH. OUT THE HALL OR SOMETHING. SORRY. GO AHEAD. ALL THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION. THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, REALLY RECOGNIZES NOT ONLY EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT OUR NURSES DO, BUT OUR THIRD MAGNET DESIGNATION, UM, AND OUR A HUNDRED YEAR LEGACY OF HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE. SO, I KNOW, UH, THE COUNCILMAN SAID IT, BUT WITH 3,900 NURSES, WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE VISION OF, UM, CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE FOR MANY MORE YEARS AND PROVIDING EXCELLENT PATIENT CARE TO THE GREATER HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. SO THANK YOU. I I JUST HELPED MAKE IT POSSIBLE. THERE'S A, THERE'S A SPONSOR. THANK YOU. I DO THE BEST I CAN. THANK YOU GUYS. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS. SURE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL. UM, BUT I, I REALLY WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK OUR NURSES, UH, WHETHER IT WAS THE PANDEMIC AND THEN IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, MULTIPLE NATURAL DISASTERS, AND Y'ALL STILL SHOWED UP EVERY SINGLE DAY DESPITE WHAT WAS GOING ON AT HOME. Y'ALL SHOWED UP TO SAVE LIVES, UH, AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO SO. THE WORK OF OUR NURSES IS A BEAUTIFUL GIFT. I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN A LOT, BUT WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU. SO AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU, BUT A HUGE HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO MEMORIAL HERMAN, ESPECIALLY NOW. SO WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE PREVIOUS CHALLENGES, AND NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH, UH, POTENTIAL FUNDING CHALLENGES, RIGHT? FOR ALL OF THE MEDICAL CENTER. AND THAT IS NOT LOST ON US AS WELL. AND WE WILL DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. INSIDE THE SHOE, INSIDE THE [00:13:32] NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON CHAPTER TO CELEBRATE CRYSTAL AWARDS DAY IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, IF THEY'D LIKE TO COME UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO SEE YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED TODAY TO, UM, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION. THEY ARE HAVING THEIR CRYSTAL AWARDS COMING UP ON MAY 15TH AT THE 7 1 3 MUSIC HALL. UH, MORE THAN 100 COMPANIES SUBMITTED WORK TO WIN THIS COVETED AWARD, SO GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THE, THE PEOPLE WHO ENTERED, WHEREAS ON MAY 15TH, 2025, THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION, A MA WILL HOST THE CRYSTAL AWARDS GALA AT THE 7 1 3 MUSIC HALL HELD EACH SPRING. THE SIGNATURE EVENT IS REGARDED AS A CROWN JEWEL OF MARKETING IN HOUSTON, HONORING NEARLY 100 OF TEXAS'S MOST EXCEPTIONAL MARKETERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS. AND WHEREAS A MA HOUSTON HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THE MARKETING PROFESSIONALS FOR OVER 70 YEARS, GROWING INTO THE LARGEST MARKETING ASSOCIATION IN THE REGION, IT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING MARKETERS STAY COMPETITIVE IN TODAY'S DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT BY OFFERING REAL WORLD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND NETWORKING EVENTS, ALL DESIGNED TO FOSTER INNOVATION AT ADAPTABILITY AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH. AND WHEREAS A MA HOUSTON [00:15:01] ENVISIONS A VIBRANT AND ENGAGED MARKETING COMMUNITY, POSITIONING ITSELF AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR ALL THINGS MARKETING IN THE CITY, THROUGH ITS CONTINUED EFFORTS, A MA HOUSTON ENHANCES HOUSTON'S REPUTATION AS A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR MARKETING TALENT AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP. AND WHEREAS THE CRYSTAL AWARDS GALA CELEBRATES THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND LASTING IMPACT OF HOUSTON'S MARKETING COMMUNITY, BRINGING TOGETHER THE INDUSTRY'S MOST INNOVATIVE AND INFLUENTIAL PROFESSIONALS, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION, UM, FOR ITS ENDURING CON CONTRIBUTIONS TO GROWTH, CREATIVITY, AND EXCELLENCE OF THE BAYOU CITY'S MARKETING LANDSCAPE, THE CITY EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CRYSTAL WARD HONOREES AND WARMLY WELCOMES ALL GUESTS AND ATTENDEES TO THIS DISTINGUISHED EVENT. THANK YOU, UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK FOR ALLOWING US TO RECOGNIZE THE, THE MARKETING ASSOCIATION THAT DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB. AND PARTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT AND BRAG IN THIS GREAT CITY. SO THANK YOU. UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND, UH, SPREADING THE WORD THAT HOUSTON'S A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, WE HAVE CHALLENGES, BUT WE MEET OUR CHALLENGES HERE. AND WITH THAT MESSAGING, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY. SO I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 15TH, 2025, IS CRYSTAL AWARDS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU UP? GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HENRIE DASA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON CHAPTER. AND ON BEHALF OF A MA HOUSTON, I WANT TO THANK YOU THE MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR RECOGNIZING THE 2025 CRYSTAL AWARDS. WE ARE DEEPLY, DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HOUSTON'S VIBRANT MARKETING COMMUNITY. WE WOULD, UM, WE'VE HAD THE CRYSTAL AWARDS FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND IT HAS ALWAYS REPRESENTED THE PINNACLE OF MARKETING EXCELLENCE IN OUR GREAT CITY. AND WHAT MAKES THE AWARD SO SPECIAL IS THAT THEY GO BEYOND CREATIVITY. THEY MEASURE IMPACT. SO ALL THE FINALISTS AND WINNERS ARE JUDGED NOT JUST ON THEIR STYLE, BUT ALSO ON RESULTS ON HOW EFFECTIVELY THEIR STRATEGY, THEIR EXECUTION AND INNOVATION DRIVES SUCCESS FOR BRANDS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON. SO FROM STARTUPS TO GLOBAL CORPORATIONS, FROM NON-PROFITS TO ENERGY, HEALTHCARE, YOU NAME IT, HOUSTON MARKETERS ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY'S ECONOMY. AND THEY CONNECT PEOPLE TO, UH, IDEAS, THEY INSPIRE ACTION, AND THEY DO IT IN ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC CITIES IN OUR COUNTRY. SO THIS PROCLAMATION IS NOT JUST A RECOGNITION OF THE CRYSTAL AWARDS, BUT IT'S ALSO A RECOGNITION OF ALL THE THINKERS, THE STORYTELLERS, THE CREATORS, THE STRATEGISTS THAT POWER OUR CITY'S PROGRESS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF HOUSTON'S MARKETING COMMUNITY. WE APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE A MA HOUSTON CHAPTER. UM, MOST PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT HOUSTON METRO IS ACTUALLY UP FOR SOME CRYSTAL AWARDS ON, UH, CRYSTAL AWARD DAY. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE IMPACT THAT, UH, THEIR MARKETING IS HAVING AROUND THE REGION. AND SO WE WANNA WISH THEM SOME LUCK. I WANNA WISH GOOD LUCK TO TO LOVE ADVERTISING ON THEIR 11 CRYSTAL AWARD NOMINATIONS. UH, HOPEFULLY THEY CAN PULL OFF SOME WINS, BUT THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING, UH, THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON THE REGION, UM, FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR AS WELL, UH, BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED, AND THAT JUST HELPS US GET, UH, GOOD QUALITY MESSAGES OUT TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [00:20:05] CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE ANNUAL BRAVO AWARDS. THANK YOU. UH, EVERYONE KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. WE OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT MAKE A DAY WITHOUT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, AND I CONSIDER EVERYONE A FIRST RESPONDENT. CERTAINLY OUR POLICE CAN FIRE EMS GET RECOGNITION, BUT, UH, TO GET US THROUGH A STORM, YOU OUGHT GO TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER, SEE CITY EMPLOYEES SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW, AS THE MAYOR, I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE VALUE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES IN EVERY DEPARTMENT TO EVERY LEVEL, THE HOUSEKEEPERS, I COULD GO ON AND ON. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, MS. TES, TO RECOGNIZE FIVE AMONG OUR THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES THAT REALLY INSPIRE BEYOND THEIR CITY RESPONSIBILITY. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY THEIR COWORKERS, THEIR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, FAR GOING BEYOND THEIR CITY DUTIES AND HELPING IN THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO BE INCLUSIVE, BUT ALSO JUST REALLY ROLE MODELS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND, UH, EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE. SO I'LL YIELD TO YOU TO RECOGNIZE THESE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT, UH, ALLOWS US THIS OPPORTUNITY. AS I LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS SELECTED, THEY REALLY ARE ROLE MODELS FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR COUNCIL STAFF AND EVERYONE THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE THE DATE BETTER FOR HOUSTONIANS. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO, BEFORE I GET STARTED, JUST A A A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. JUST ALLOW MY COMMUNICATIONS TEAM JUST WANNA TELL THEM THANK YOU, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, VICTOR AND, UH, ELLA AND SONYA, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE TEAM BECAUSE THEY PUT THIS TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'M GONNA TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, TO THANK YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT. WE HAD 1,050 RETIREES PROCESS LAST WEEK. IT WAS MADE SO EFFICIENT FOR THEM TO COME FORWARD. IN FACT, THEY WERE HIGH FIVING AND CELEBRATING THE PROCESS. THEY WERE READY FOR RETIREMENT. WE GAVE 'EM A VERY GENEROUS INCENTIVE PROGRAM, MAINTAINED THEIR HEALTHCARE AT CURRENT RATES. SO THANK YOU. WE COULD HAVE NOT DONE IT WITHOUT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND, AND, AND JUST SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE TEAM, UH, LED BY MY CHIEF OF STAFF THAT, THAT GOT THE JOB DONE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY SAID IT SO WELL, UM, HOW THESE INDIVIDUALS JUST TAKE A SENSE OF SERVICE IN REFERENCE TO, UH, WHAT THEY DO. SO, UM, WE WANT TO THANK THEM. YOU NOT ONLY DO A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU DO A GREAT JOB FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. AND FOR THAT, WE SAY BRAVO, AND WELL DONE. SO WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR FIRST PERSON WHO IS CYNTHIA BAILEY FROM SOLID WASTE. SHE'S A SOLID WASTE SUPERVISOR, NORTHEAST DIVISION. ALRIGHT. CYNTHIA BAILEY HAS DEDICATED OVER TWO YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES IN HU IN HOUSTON'S NORTH SIDE COMMUNITY. AS FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMPACTING HOUSTON INC. HER NONPROFIT HAS IMPACTED 2000 CHILDREN WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 85% ATTENDING COLLEGE AND 60% GRADUATING WITH DEGREES. HER COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE INCLUDES AFTERSCHOOL MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS AND ANNUAL DEBUTANTE BALL FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED GIRLS AND SEASONAL SPRING FREE AND SUMMER SWING EVENTS, PROVIDING POSITIVE ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. CYNTHIA ORGANIZED MULTIPLE COLLEGE TOURS AND SUMMER TRIPS ANNUALLY AND RECENTLY LED A BACK TO SCHOOL FESTIVAL SUPPLYING 500 CHILDREN WITH ESSENTIAL SCHOOL MATERIALS AS A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE. HER COLLEAGUES DESCRIBE HER AS THE HEART OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR HER COMPASSION, COMMUNITY FOCUS, COMMUNITY FOCUSED [00:25:01] APPROACH, TREATING EVERYONE WITH EXCEPTIONAL CARE, PARTICULARLY WHEN HANDLING SENSITIVE ISSUES AND CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH BOTH CITY AND EXTERNAL SUPPORT SERVICES. HER DEDICATION HAS EARNED HER RECOGNITION FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, MEDIA OUTLETS, AND MOST RECENTLY, THE PRESTIGIOUS OUTSTANDING TEXAN PRESENTED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD DUTTON IN MARCH OF 2025. SHE SERVES ON THE ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE FOR THE YOUTH MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY SAFETY MODELING SERVICE IS NOT A RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER, IT'S HER CALLING. THANK YOU, MS. BAILEY, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUTH PRESENT AND FUTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, FOR ALLOWING ME TO BECOME AN EMPLOYEE, TO BECOME A ROLE MODEL. IT'S BECAUSE OF SOME OF Y'ALL THAT MAKE THIS GREAT. AND IT'S BECAUSE I THINK MY COWORKERS, MY DIRECTOR, UM, MS. BSO, MY WORKERS, MY COLLEAGUES, AND NONE OTHER THAN THE, UH, CHAIRPERSON OF, UH, IMPACTING HOUSTON AND ALSO MY FAMILY. THANK YOU. I JUST ONE WITH THE CITY, BUT NINE WITH THE, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT RECIPIENT, NO STRANGER TO COUNCIL, UM, PITA, BUT DIDI. DIDI DAVIS CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT K MS. CHAVIS EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF COMPASSIONATE SERVICE, WEAVING CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WHILE STRENGTH AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION. AS A CO-FACILITATOR OF THE MOSAIC WOMEN'S MINISTRY AT THE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS, SHE LEADS BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS THAT EMPOWER WOMEN ACROSS HOUSTON, OFFERING SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP THAT TRANSCENDS AGE AND BOUNDARIES. THOSE SOFT SPOKEN, HER COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP SHINES THROUGH IN MULTI IN MULTIFACETED COMMUNITY WORK. HER COMMITMENT TO THE ANGEL TREE MINISTRY BRINGS JOY DURING THE HOLIDAYS TO CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS, WHILE HER REGULAR VOLUNTEER WORK WITH THE NEW FAITH CHURCH AND WORD OF FAITH CHURCH ADDRESSES FOOD INSECURITIES BY DISTRIBUTING ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO FAMILY THROUGHOUT DISTRICT K. SINCE 2023, MS. DAVIS HAS BEEN LEADING THE PET FOOD PANTRY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY AND DISTRICT K. DISTRICT K COUNCIL OFFICE. FAMILIES IN NEED HAVE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PET SUPPLIES, ALLOWING THEM TO CARE FOR THEIR BELOVED PETS. DESPITE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN BOTH HER PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER ROLE, SHE BRINGS EXCEPTIONAL WARMTH, PROFESSIONALISM, AND A SOLID FOCUSED APPROACH TO EVERY INTERACTION. HER REMARKABLE FOLLOW THROUGH BUILDS TRUST WHILE HER ABILITY TO LEAD WITH EMPATHY CREATES A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT. THANK YOU, MS. CHAVIS, FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, DIRECTOR CHEEKS, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, AND, UM, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU COUNCIL AND, AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO NOMINATED ME FOR THIS AWARD. I AM DEEPLY, DEEPLY HUMBLE. UM, I, I LOVE WHAT I DO, AND I'M THANKFUL TO MAYOR PROTE FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HER DISTRICT AND ALSO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, FROM THE DAY I MET HER, SHE INSTILLS IN EACH, EACH AND ONE OF US THAT WE MUST RESTORE PEOPLE'S FAITH IN GOVERNMENT. AND THAT IS [00:30:01] SOMETHING THAT I REMEMBER DAILY, UM, AND COMING TO OFFICE AND, AND REALLY WANT TO DO THAT. AND IT GOES, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST IN GOVERNMENT, BUT JUST BEYOND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HAVE THAT COMPASSION. BUT I'M SO HUMBLE AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS AWARD, AND I THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I'M DD WAIT, WAIT. GET IT RIGHT HERE. YOU GET RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE. OKAY. NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DR. LASANDRA JONES. WOO. DR. JONES STANDS AS A TALLEST ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS ACTIVE DUTY, MIDDLE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH HER EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, HER VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES SPAN NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE WELLBEING OF THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. WHETHER LAYING REEFS TO THE, TO HONOR FALLEN SOLDIERS WITH REEFS ACROSS AMERICA, PROVIDING HOLIDAY MEALS TO THE ELDERLY VETERANS, OR HELPING ORGANIZE CHRISTMAS LUNCHEONS FOR ACTIVE DUTY TROOPS. SHE DE DEMONSTRATES AN UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE MILITARY COMMUNITY. HER INVOLVEMENT EXTENDS TO PRACTICAL, I'M SORRY, PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH OPERATION TURKEY, THE THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE, AND FITTING SHOES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN THROUGH THE SHOES FOR KIDS NON-PROFIT. BEYOND HER EXTERNAL VOLUNTEER WORK, SHE SERVES AS A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S EMPLOYEE VETERANS. AND I, THIS IS NOT SCRIPTED. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HUMAN RESOURCES. WITH RESPECT TO HIRING VETERANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SHE COLLABORATES WITH HBD MILITARY LIAISONS TO COORDINATE ANNUAL RESOURCE FAIRS AND VETERAN DAY CELEBRATIONS, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING HFD AND THE HFD UNION WITH SIMILAR INITIATIVES. IN 2024, SHE MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AT THE HOUSTON'S VETERANS STAND DOWN, PROVIDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND CRITICAL RESOURCES TO HOMELESS VETERANS, BRINGING HOPE TO THOSE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, ENSURING NO ONE WHO SERVES IS LEFT BEHIND HER COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT MAKE HER AN INVALUABLE ADVOCATE FOR THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, BOTH WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND BEYOND. THANK YOU, DR. JONES, FOR BRINGING THE CHAMPION FOR THE VETERAN COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. I, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU ALL WHEN YOU ALL CALL ME AND WHEN I CALL YOUR DEPARTMENTS, YOU GUYS, UM, WELCOME ME AND WELCOME MY IDEAS. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY VETERAN COMMUNITY. THEY CAN STAND UP MY ACTIVE DUTY, MY VETERAN COMMUNITY, MY FAMILY MEMBERS. Y'ALL CAN STAND UP. OKAY. UM, I'M EXCITED. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, MR. DEMBO RETIRED. UM, MOVING ON TO A NEW DI UNDER A NEW DIRECTOR, NEW DEPARTMENT. I'M VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT I'M DOING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON VETERANS ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS AWARD. YOU'RE RUSHING THE DIME IN FRONT OF YOU. OKAY, [00:35:03] NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DEPUTY ASSISTANT DI DIRECTOR TIM JANNIK. TIM IS FROM THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. MR. JANNIK EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH HIS TIRELESS ACCU ADVOCACY AND VOLUNTEER WORK AS A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER WITH DESTINATION IMAGINATION, TIM SERVES AS A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE MASTER AT BOTH REGIONAL AND STATE LEVELS, NURTURING CREATIVITY, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS IN HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN. HE HAS TRAINED OVER 40 VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY AND SERVES ON THE BOARD OF FOUR DISTINCTION DESTINATION IMAGINATION IN THE SOUTHEAST SIX REGION, HELPING YOUNG MINDS DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING ABILITY AND CONFIDENCE. BEYOND HIS WORK WITH YOUTH, TIM HAS IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PER PARA PERIAL WILLY SYNDROME. DRAWING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. AS A PARENT OF A CHILD WITH PWS, HE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH LAW MA LAWMAKERS TO ADDRESS GAPS IN SUPPORT SERVICES. HIS EFFORT CONTRIBUTED TO DRAFTING HOUSE BILL 38 91, WHICH AIMS TO EXPAND SAFETY MEASURES AND SERVICES FOR THOUSANDS OF TEXANS AFFECTED BY THIS RARE GENETIC ORDER. HE ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LEADERSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, WHICH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, HE CREATED THE FIRST PUBLIC PARK IN CEDAR CREEK, A 100% HABITAT FOR HUMANITY COMMUNITY. TIM, ALSO, TIM IS ALSO THE CHAIR FOR THE TEXAS COMMERCIAL AIRPORT ASSOCIATION, A BOARD MEMBER OF NORTH HOUSTON ASSOCIATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE HEART, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, MONTGOMERY COUNTY SURVIVORS NETWORK, AND A US NAVY GULF WAR VETERAN. HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MAKES TIM A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY LEADER AND A CHAMPION FOR THOSE NEEDS. THANK YOU, TIM, FOR PREPARING OUR CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE AND BEGINNING THE VOICE OF AWARENESS. SIR, APPRECIATE. THANK, UH, THANK, THANK YOU FOR THIS NOMINATION. AND FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY SUPERVISOR, UH, MS. SABA ABHA, CHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER. SHE'S HERE TODAY FOR HER NOMINATION. I'D LIKE TO THANK DIRECTOR SNYK FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGING US TO NOT ONLY WORK HARD AT THE AIRPORT, BUT ALSO WORK HARD IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE LIVE IN. UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNIZING ME IN THIS NOMINATION. BETTER RECOGNIZE YOUR BOSS, . AND, AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY WIFE FOR GIVING ME THE FREEDOM TO GET OUTTA THE HOUSE. AND I SUPPORT ALL THESE COMMUNITY ENDEAVORS. I THINK SHE LIKES WHEN I'M OUT OF THE HOUSE. DESIREE HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE BT WASHINGTON COURT, NUMBER 99, SINCE 2021, WHERE SHE EXEMPLIFIED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP THROUGH UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. AS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND NUMEROUS IMPACTFUL [00:40:01] INITIATIVES, DESIREE INSPIRES THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER WORK THROUGHOUT HOUSTON AND BEYOND. UNDER HER GUIDANCE AT BT WASHINGTON COURT, NUMBER 99 HAS FLOURISHED INTO A COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PARTICIPATING IN DIVERSE SERVICE PROJECTS, INCLUDING HEALTH AWARENESS WALKS, FOOD BANK, VOLUNTEERING, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, DRIVE AND HOLIDAY GIVING PROGRAMS, MOBILIZATION, MOBILIZATION, HER COURT AND EXTERNAL VOLUNTEERS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON METRO ADOPT A STOP PROGRAM, DESIREE HAS TRANSFORMED 25 BUS STOPS ACROSS UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, CREATING CLEANERS, SAFER PUBLIC SPACES, AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY PROFESSIONALLY, SHE EXCELS IN HER ROLE COORDINATING THE MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIAL CERTIFICATION PREP PROGRAM FOR OUR CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES. SHE GOES BEYOND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION BY PROVIDING PERSONAL RESOURCES AND MAINTAINING THE CITY'S COLLABORATION WITH MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE SKILLS INITIATIVE, SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCING DIGITAL LIT DIGITAL LITERACY ACROSS AMERICA AND THE DEPARTMENTS DISTINGUISHED BY HER ABILITY TO MOBILIZE OTHERS THROUGH THOUGHTFUL TRAINING, CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION, GENUINE COMPASSION. SHE CREATES A PATHWAY FOR MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT THAT WELCOMES PARTICIPANTS OF ALL BACKGROUND. HER APPROACH TRANSFORMS VOLUNTEER WORK FROM SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES INTO A POWERFUL COLLECTIVE MOVEMENT. HER TITLELESS EFFORTS STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY WHILE EXPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF CIVIC-MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO UNDERSTAND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF SERVICE. THANK YOU, DESIREE, FOR INSPIRING, MOTIVATING, AND ENCOURAGING OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. I'LL SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS AWARD, MAYOR AND DIRECTOR CHEEKS. UM, TWO DIRECTOR CHEEKS. I WANTED TO TELL YOU, AS OF TODAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS NOW CERTIFIED 205 MICROSOFT SPECIALISTS IN EXCEL, WORD OUTLOOK, AND POWERPOINT. THAT'S TO MAKE OUR CITY MORE EFFICIENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO, THANK YOU. [00:45:03] ANNUAL COLLEGE TOUR STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO HER. THIS SIGNATURE PRO PROJECT GUIDES 40 TO 50 HOUSTON YOUTH THROUGH EXPLORING OF PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES, COMBINING ACADEMIC DISCOVERY WITH NATURAL, NATURAL IMMERSION AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. HER COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP EXTENDS TO FACILITATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL CHURCHES AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENGAGE YOUTH IN MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE, THOUGH PARKS, I'M SORRY, THROUGH PARKS CLEANUP, FOOD BANK SERVICES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS. SHE INSTILLS CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IN THE NEXT GENERATION. THANK YOU EBONY, FOR NURTURING AND CREATING PATHWAYS FOR HOUSTON'S YOUTH. I'M NOT MUCH OF A TALKER, BUT I DO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING THIS PLATFORM TO HIGHLIGHT THE HOUSTON LAMPLIGHTERS. THEY'RE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION, UM, WITH AMAZING CHILDREN. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. CHAIR [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE, UH, TO INVITE UP PASTOR TIFFANY TERRANCE. SHE IS THE SENIOR PASTOR AT, UH, OUR ICONIC ST. JOHN'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DOWNTOWN ON CRAWFORD. PASTOR TIFFANY IS A PROUD HOUSTON NATIVE AND HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE ST. JOHN'S COMMUNITY SINCE SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. UH, I BELIEVE PASTOR YOU ANSWERED THE CALL TO MINISTRY IN 2009, WORKING WITH YOUTH AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. UH, AND THE WORK CONTINUES TODAY. YOU'RE KNOWN FOR YOUR INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP, YOUR PASSIONATE PREACHING, AND YOU CONTINUE A LEGACY OF HOPE AND JUSTICE AS YOU BOLDLY LEAD, UH, YOUR CHURCH. UH, AS A REMINDER FOR THOSE, UH, ST. JOHN'S HAS A VERY LONG LEGACY OF ALSO GIVING BACK AND CONTRIBUTING, UH, THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE. UH, THEY'RE A KEY CITY PARTNER, UH, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THEIR BREAD OF LIFE PROGRAM, WHICH STARTED WITH 500 MEALS A DAY, I BELIEVE NOW Y'ALL ARE OFFERING NINE TONS OF FRESH PRODUCE, WEEKLY, UH, THE KNOLLS TO MEOS APARTMENTS FOR PERMANENT HOUSING FOR FORMERLY UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. THE LIST GOES ON. UH, BUT PASTOR, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU TODAY. THANK YOU TO THE GREAT, UH, CITY OFFICIALS AND LEADERSHIP OF THIS GREAT CITY. UM, I LOVE WEARING GRAPHIC TEES, UH, SHALL I SAY POSITIVE AFFIRMATION, GRAPHIC TEES. AND TODAY I DECIDED TO WEAR ONE THAT SAYS, LOVE NEVER GIVES UP TO ME. THAT'S NOT JUST A STATEMENT, BUT IT'S A CONVICTION AND A TIME WHEN DIVISION, FEAR AND FRUSTRATION SEEM LOUDER THAN UNITY. THIS REMINDER IS VITAL. A LOVE THAT NEVER GIVES UP IS A KIND OF LOVE THAT SHOWS UP AND NOT JUST IN OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDSHIPS, BUT LOVE SHOULD SHOW UP IN HOW WE GOVERN AND HOW WE SERVE AND HOW WE LEAD. AND THIS CLIMATE OF UNCERTAINTY AND URGENCY. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HOPE FOR CHANGE. WE MUST BE THE CHANGE. EACH OF US PLAY A VITAL PART IN CREATING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE VOICE IS VALUED, EVERY PERSON IS RESPECTED, AND EVERY DECISION IS MADE WITH COMPASSION AND COURAGE. SO LET'S JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE AND REFLECT AND CENTER OURSELVES TO BREATHE IN OUR CREATOR'S LIGHT LOVE AND PRESENCE. THIS IS A GREAT DAY THAT WE WILL NEVER GET BACK, AND IT SHOULD BE MADE WITH A DAY OF PURPOSE. AND SO WE GATHER TODAY AS A COMMUNITY OF MANY BELIEFS, BACKGROUNDS, AND [00:50:01] TRADITIONS, UNITED IN OUR SHARED HOPE FOR JUSTICE, PEACE, AND THE COMMON GOOD. MAY WE APPROACH THIS SESSION WITH OPEN MINDS AND COMPASSIONATE HEARTS. MAY THE DECISIONS MADE HERE REFLECT WISDOM, FAIRNESS, AND A DEEP RESPECT FOR ALL. MAY WE LISTEN DEEPLY, SPEAK TRUTHFULLY, AND WORK TOGETHER WITH INTEGRITY. AND MAY GREAT BLESSINGS CONTINUE TO COVER OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND THIS GREAT CITY LOVE, PEACE, AND BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR A PLEDGE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL? MR. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] UH, SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. OH, SHE IS HERE. OKAY. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 8TH AND NINTH AND APRIL 15TH AND 16. CAST , MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, PROCEDURAL [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SPECIAL, UH, GUEST TODAY FROM OUR BAKER MONTESSORI GIRL SCOUT TROOP. UH, I, SO I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE EMILY MOORE TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. AND, UH, MAYOR PROM. MAYOR PROTE, CAST SIX. TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE, UM, THREE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PUT INTO THE RECORD. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD ANGELA RAVEN ANDERSON TO, UH, THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST BEHIND DOMINIQUE CALHOUN. AND THEN, UH, MOVE PASTOR JAMES DIXON, UH, BEHIND ANGELA RAVEN ANDERSON. UH, FOR ONE MINUTE. AND THEN I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE PUBLIC SPEAKER TIM SULLIVAN TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE LORI ROBINSON UNDER TIM SULLIVAN AT THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AD AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? COULD I ASK THE, UH, I BELIEVE THIS IS GIRL SCOUT TROOP THAT CAUGHT ME ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND I BOUGHT SOME, UH, GIRL SCOUT COOKIES. IS THAT NOT WHO WE HAVE WITH US? Y'ALL PLEASE STAND, MS. MOORE. THANK YOU LADIES. THANK YOU. AND, AND WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED ON OUR BUSINESS, BUT BEFORE Y'ALL GET TOO FAR, I'LL, I'LL, UH, LET THE MAYOR PRO TIM CHAIR AND I'LL COME TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU. THAT WAS PRETTY SPECIAL. AND MAN, I WAS EATING SOME OF THOSE MINTS LAST NIGHT. AND, UH, SO Y'ALL ARE BAD. , THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING WITH US AND I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK. UH, FIRST SPEAKER, MR. SECRETARY CLINTON CRADOCK CLINTON CRADOCK, ROGER HARRIS. [00:55:04] GOOD AFTERNOON. SO AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON WMWB PROGRAMS, I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND TO CITY COUNCIL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FOR THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. SO I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE DECISION ON THE AGENDA IS TO ACCEPT THE STUDY AND SERVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND KEEP INTACT THE CURRENT MWBE PROGRAM WITHIN IN MIND OVER THE NEXT WEEKS END OR MONTHS, THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION ON THE PATH FORWARD ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. SO I WOULD ASK TODAY THAT THOSE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PATH FORWARD AND EXPLANATION TO SIMPLY REACH OUT TO DIRECTOR HOR WITH OBO AND GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION. AND AGAIN, SEEK WISE COUNSEL FROM THE HARDWORKING, UH, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, AS THERE ARE SO MUCH INCORRECT INFORMATION BEING PRESENTED AND ADOPTED AS THE GOSPEL. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP AND MOVING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND ONGOING DISCUSSIONS SO SMALL BUSINESSES CAN LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT'S AT STAKE. AND WHAT IS AT STAKE IS HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS, THIS BODY RIGHT NOW, TODAY IN ORDER TO MOVE US FORWARD. BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, MAYOR, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAST ACT TATUM TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING EFFORTS OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. AND LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE, COUNCILMAN MCCARTER, AND JUST TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR US AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ON THE PATH FORWARD. NOW, THERE MAY NOT BE SOME PEOPLE WHO AGREE, MAYOR WHITMEYER, BUT EVERYBODY MAKES, HAS TO MAKE COMPROMISES AND WE'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND, UM, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO A POSITIVE VOTE ON TOMORROW. THANK YOU. WELL, MR. HARRIS, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSIBLE STATEMENT. UM, I'LL CALL YOU ROGER, IF I CAN. ABSOLUTELY. WE THANK YOU. THERE, THERE IS SO MUCH MISINFORMATION THAT'S ALMOST DEAFENING. UH, WE HAD SOME OF OUR FRIENDS PREACHING YESTERDAY ON OLD INFORMATION, BUT THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR AND OUR MAYOR, PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, EVERYONE'S CONTRIBUTED. I I LOOK AROUND THE SHOOT, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO BE INCLUSIVE, REPRESENT, UH, RECOGNIZES SOME HISTORICAL DISPARITY IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DATA TO GO TO COURT. SO WE'VE MADE SUCH PROGRESS. AND LIKE YOU SAY, IT WON'T PLEASE EVERYONE, BUT CERTAINLY WE BELIEVE IT REPRESENTS ALL HOUSTONIANS. SO THANK YOU HERE WITH YOUR RESPONSIBLE REMARKS. AND I WILL YIELD TO THE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM WHO'S JUST PROVIDED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE WITHOUT HER LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ROGER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. UM, YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH US AND SO HAVE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT, UM, YOU ARE GETTING FACTUAL INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR SUPPORTING, UH, DIRECTOR HORDE AS SHE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION, NOT ONLY IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, ENGAGING FURTHER AS WE MOVE OUT OVER THE NEXT THREE TO SIX MONTHS TO, UM, COME BACK WITH SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. AND THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO ADD TO THAT, UH, I WOULDN'T BE PUSHED LIKE THIS IF IT WASN'T FOR ARGENTINA. EVERYBODY KNOWS ARGENTINA, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TALL ORDER FOR ME, SO I GOTTA MAKE SURE I RECOGNIZE ARGENTINA. CAN I GET A WITNESS? THANK YOU. THAT'S A FINE HUSBAND THERE. THANK YOU, ROGER. WE, WE HEARD HER PREACH LAST WEEK. OKAY. OKAY. WELL, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT, NEXT. DONALD NAOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOMINIQUE CALHOUN. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER TO MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASS TATUM. UH, MY NAME IS DONALD NAER. [01:00:01] I'M REPRESENTING THE GREATER HOUSTON BLACK CHAMBER, WHICH THIS YEAR WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY REPRESENTING BLACK BUSINESSES IN THE GREATER HOUSTON METROPOLITAN ERA ERA. THANK YOU TO AGAIN, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, AND TO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, AS HAS BEEN SAID INTO DIRECTOR HORDE. WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS AND THE QUALITATIVE DATA GATHERING THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE FOR THE MWBE STUDY THAT'S BEEN DONE. WE APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS THE NAACP AND OTHERS. WE ARE HERE AS GREATER HOUSTON BLACK CHAMBER TO SUPPORT MAYOR WHITMEYER, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WHO SUPPORT WORKING TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR MWBE PROGRAM. WE KNOW THIS PROCESS HASN'T WORKED PERFECTLY, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS INVOLVED IN THE DATA GATHERING PROCESS HAVE BEEN DONE IN GOOD FAITH AND WITH SINCERE EFFORT. CLEARLY, THE DISPARITY STUDY SHOWS THAT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, NATIVE AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES ARE LAGGING BEHIND. LET ME STATE THAT CLEARLY. CLEARLY WE UNDERSTAND THAT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, AND NATIVE AMERICAN BUSINESSES HAVE NOT REACHED PARITY AND ARE LAGGING BEHIND. THEREFORE, WE MUST FIX THE PROBLEM AND WE MUST DO IT TOGETHER. OUR ORGANIZATION, THE GREATER HOUSTON BLACK CHAMBER, AND ALL OF ITS MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WITH THIS COUNCIL, WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE OVERCOME THE BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE, OUR COMMUNITIES COLLECTIVELY THRIVE. WE THEREFORE LOOK FORWARD ALSO TO THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE AND TO MOVE THIS ISSUE FORWARD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HOUSTON AND ALL OF ITS CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, DOMINIQUE CALHOUN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANGELA RAVEN ANDERSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND TO MADAM PRO TEMP, MY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT A I BRING YOU GREETINGS. UH, MY NAME IS DOMINIC CALHOUN. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE GREATER HOUSTON BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION, AND I COME URGING YOU TO CONTINUE IN THE EFFORTS FOR THE MWB PROGRAM, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT WORK OF THE DISPARITY STUDY. UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE STUDY REVEALED THAT FOR MANY OF US IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THAT FOR YEARS AFRICAN AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE STRUGGLED WHEN IT COMES TO CONTRACTING. IN PART, ACCORDING TO THE DISPARITY STUDY, BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES MADE UP 7.7% OF THE AVAILABLE FIRMS ACROSS CITY PROCUREMENT, YET ONLY RECEIVED 5.5% OF THE CONTRACT DOLLARS. THE STUDY'S DATA ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT WE KNOW. BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN CONTRACTORS FACE ABSOLUTE DISPARITY IN UTILIZATION RELATIVE TO THEIR AVAILABILITY AND TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS. BUT THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONLY PARTICULAR TO AFRICAN AMERICANS, ALTHOUGH IMPERFECT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROGRESS THAT THE PROGRAM HAS MADE OVER THE YEARS IN ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THE DISPARITY, THE STUDY REFLECTED MEANINGFUL GAINS, UH, PARTICULARLY AMONG HISPANIC AND ASIAN AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY IN CONSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. TO THAT END, WE ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYTHING THAT HAS, UH, WORKED AND ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU HAVE ENGAGED INTO ENHANCE THE PROGRAM. AND ON BEHALF OF THE FOUNDATION, WE COMMEND YOUR EFFORTS AND WE STAND BY. SO I'M HERE TO URGE YOUR CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING WHEREVER WE CAN AS A FOUNDATION, UH, IN THE BLACK CHAMBER TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ANGELA RAVEN ANDERSON, TO BE FOLLOWED BY BISHOP JAMES DIXON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM REVEREND DR. ANGELA RAVEN ANDERSON, AND I GIVE LEADERSHIP TO THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY OF WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. I STAND TODAY TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF OUR CONGREGATION, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE THIRD WARD COMMUNITY AND IS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NATA. THEN DR. MARCUS D COSBY. I ALSO STAND HERE REPRESENTING, UH, OUR FAITH LEADERS ACROSS HOUSTON AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN BAPTIST MINISTERS CONFERENCE LED BY DR. SAMUEL GILBERT II. AND I ALSO STAND [01:05:01] REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A BLACK WOMAN WHO OWNS A BUSINESS IN THIS CITY. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND MAYOR PRO TIM. AND ALSO, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE OPO DIRECTOR LENCIA WARD, WHO SUPPORT WORKING TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR NWBE PROGRAM. WE KNOW THAT IT HAS NOT WORKED PERFECTLY AND CLEARLY. THE DISPARITY STUDY DOES SHOW, AS WAS JUST MENTIONED, THAT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES OWNED BY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND AG, AND AGAIN, NATIVE AMERICAN, UH, OWNED BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR, ARE LAGGING BEHIND. HOWEVER, FOR US TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM, WE MUST LET OUR DECISIONS BE DATA DRIVEN AS OPPOSED TO MAKING WIDE SWAT CHANGES, UH, JUST BASED ON, UM, UH, PRESSURE BY ONE GROUP OVER ANOTHER GROUP. THE IDEA OF THE PROGRAM WAS THAT ALL OF OUR GROUPS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING DISPARITY WOULD SOME POINT REACH THE ABILITY TO HAVE FAIR REPRESENTATION AND BE, UH, FAIR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED WITH OUR CITY AND DO BUSINESS WITH OUR CITY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL IN OUR STATEMENT THAT OUR CONGREGATION LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR CITY, WORKING WITH THE MEMBERS OF, UM, OUR OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS NAACP, WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF, UM, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP TO, UH, COME UP WITH PROGRAMS THAT OVERCOME THE BARRIERS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, ARE THE BACKBONE FOR MAIN STREET, AND, UH, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HELP THAT GROW AND WE INDEED SUPPORT THAT THIS ORDINANCE BE PASSED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. OH, I'M SO SORRY. I'M USED TO STANDING IN THE CENTER OF THE PULPIT. , UH, LET ME, UH, SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF US MAYOR TO OUR COUNCIL. UH, I AM HONORED TODAY TO, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON BREATH OF NACP. AND OF COURSE, I'M A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN BAPTIST MRS. CONFERENCE, OUR PRESIDENT, HE'S HERE AT DR. S SJ GILBERT II, UH, AS, AS WELL, UH, AND MANY OTHERS. LET ME, UH, SHARE A QUOTE BY FOUNDING FATHER JAMES MADISON, UH, WHO SAID, IF PEOPLE WERE ANGELS, GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. UH, UH, I I I THOUGHT WE'D SAY A MAN TO THAT, BUT THE REALITY IS WE DO NEED GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT JUST GOVERNMENT. WE NEED GOOD GOVERNMENT. AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING ON THIS VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE, UH, BECAUSE IT TAKES MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE FORWARD THINKING LEADERS TO ADDRESS CURRENT CHALLENGES WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS MVB, THE ORDINANCE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FOUNDERS OF IT, THOSE WHO CREATED AND CRAFTED IT. AND WE KNOW THAT IT WAS CRAFTED BECAUSE OF HISTORICAL AND SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION AND DISPARITY. BUT FORWARD THINKING LEADERS DON'T WORK BACKWARDS. THEY WORK FORWARD BECAUSE YOU CANNOT WIN LAST WEEK'S GAME. YOU HAVE TO WIN FOR THE NEXT SEASON. WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THIS ORDINANCE, AS IT'S BEING PRESENTED BY OUR OBO DIRECTOR, UH, IS TO BE COMMENDED. WE NEED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT SIMPLY THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN. I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS INSTANCE IS CRAFTED THE IDEA THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY, IT'S GONNA REQUIRE THE INPUT OF CITIZENS WHO INVEST IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE POLICY. AND IF CHANGE DOESN'T HAPPEN TO THE POSITIVE, IT LOOKS LIKE LEADERSHIP DID NOT MATTER. I WANNA COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING THESE CHALLENGES ON MAYOR PRO. TEM HAS DONE A STELLAR JOB. I'VE WORKED WITH, UH, UH, UH, CONSTABLE, TIFFANY, THOMAS AND SUCH PLUMBER, AND EACH OF YOU I BECAME ON OUR OWN NSAP BOARD MEMBER, OF COURSE DR. SHABAZZ. AND TO SEE THE INPUT THAT'S GOING TO THIS GIVES US A POSSIBILITY. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE [01:10:01] HISPANIC LATINO COMMUNITY. UH, IT'S ALSO WISE SAID ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND THAT IS GENUINE LEADERSHIP DOES NOT LOOK FOR CONSENSUS. IT BUILDS CONSENSUS. MM-HMM . AND WHAT WE'VE MANAGED TO DO IN THIS PROCESS IS HAVE REAL COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT BUILDING CONSENSUS. I LOVE THE CONCEPTS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD AFTER TOMORROW'S VOTE SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A MORE ROBUST PROGRAM THAT'S MORE INCLUSIVE, THAT DOES DESTROY THOSE BARRIERS THAT'S BEEN THERE HISTORICALLY. AND THAT ELEVATES BUSINESSES OPPORTUNITY FOR ACCESS. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT LEADERSHIP. WE COMMEND YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR VISION FOR THAT. AND WE DO WANNA DO THE WORK ROLLED UP. WE ROLLED UP SLEEVES TO MAKE SURE NO SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY GETS LEFT BEHIND. PEOPLE WHO PROSPER WELL SHOULD NOT BE IN THE LIGHTWEIGHT CATEGORY WHEN THERE ARE HEAVYWEIGHT POTENTIALS. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE END UP WITH PEOPLE COMPETING AGAINST THOSE THAT THEY COMPARE WITH AS OPPOSED TO PEOPLE THAT THEY CANNOT WIN WITH. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, BISHOP. UH, THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND, UH, I WANT EVERYONE THAT HAS, UH, TESTIFIED AND THOSE, UH, GUESTS THAT HAVE RECOGNIZED DIRECTOR HORDE. MM-HMM . UH, HER DAUGHTER GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE TOMORROW. SO I INSISTED THAT SHE GO BE WITH HER FAMILY. MM-HMM . AND THEY'RE HAVING A FAMILY GATHERING TODAY. BUT WHEN I NEEDED TO FIND A DIRECTOR, SHE WAS WORKING INSIDE OBO. WE MET, WE LOOKED AT OUR COMMON GOALS FOR THE CITY AND SHE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. IN FACT, UH, A REAL OUTSTANDING JOB. YEAH. SO, UH, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WE WOULD HAVE HER HERE TO HEAR THESE KIND WORDS, BUT SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT LEADERSHIP. SHE'S, SHE'S TRULY A PUBLIC SERVANT. EXCEPTIONAL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASICK STADIUM. TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, BISHOP DIXON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE CONSENSUS BUILDING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS SPOKEN, EVERYONE THAT HAS PARTICIPATED, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF REITERATE WHAT TOMORROW'S ACTUAL VOTE WILL BE ON. UM, WE ARE AMENDING OUR CHAPTER 15 ORDINANCE. AND BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO IS TO ADOPT THE DISPARITY STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY MGT CONSULTING DATA. UM, AND WE CAN UTILIZE THAT INFORMATION TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IN THE COURTS. AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TIME TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON POLICY FOR THE OBO OFFICE. UH, WE ARE ALSO VOTING TO EXPAND THE SBE PROGRAM FOR APPLICATION ACROSS ALL SPENDING CATEGORIES, WHICH EVERYONE AGREED WITH. WE ARE ALSO, UM, GOING TO ADD A CERTIFICATION FOR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS ENTITIES, WHICH WAS ALSO ASKED FOR BY OUR BUSINESS OWNERS. WE WILL BE, UM, ADDING WRAPAROUND PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO CONTRACTING WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO. UM, THESE ARE FOR OUR MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAYBE HAVE MADE LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS. WE'LL HAVE SOME WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP THEM TO COMPETE. UH, THEN WE ARE ALSO GOING TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT MBE AND WBE CATEGORIES. WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM HOUSTONIANS IS THOSE ARE THE TWO ISSUES THAT STOOD OUT THE MOST. MM-HMM . THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT HAD THE MOST CONTENTION. UM, AND WE HEARD THE MOST FEEDBACK ON THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US SOME TIME TO REALLY DELVE INTO THOSE TWO CATEGORIES TO CREATE A WIN-WIN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THEN ALSO OBO, UM, WILL HAVE TIME TO GET ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK THAT PEOPLE WANT TO OFFER. UM, MAYOR, YOU ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. DIRECTOR HORDE HAS, UH, BEEN STELLAR IN, I MEAN, NOT ONLY THE LAST 40 DAYS, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAST 40 DAYS MEETING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. UM, YOU KNOW, SHE'S UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, LATE AT NIGHT HOSTING ZOOMS HOSTING MEETINGS, GOING TO EVERYBODY'S EVENTS TO TALK ABOUT THE DISPARITY STUDY. UM, AND WE COULD NOT HAVE HAD A BETTER, UM, DIRECTOR TO LEAD US THROUGH, UH, THIS MWBE PROCESS AND THROUGH OUR VOTE ON TOMORROW. SO TO EVERYONE THAT'S PARTICIPATED, WE APPRECIATE IT. WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEMS, A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL HAVE THE SOLUTIONS. AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN THE CASE TO HELP US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. [01:15:01] SO WE APPRECIATE IT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR, OUR VOTE ON TOMORROW FOR HOUSTON MAYOR. PRESIDENT, ONE POINT OF CLARITY, WHEN YOU SAY CONTINUING THE PROGRAM AS IS, YOU'RE SAYING THAT EVERYONE STAYS IN THE PROGRAM WHILE THIS PROCESS GOES THROUGH IN TERMS OF WORKING ON THE POLICIES THAT'S GONNA AFFECT ITS ULTIMATE STATE LATER. AM I CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR BECAUSE EVEN AS OF THIS MORNING, I TALKED TO SOMEONE AND THEY WERE STILL, TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, THEY WERE STILL DEALING WITH THE MISINFORMATION, THINKING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OUT NOW, UH, AFTER THE VOTE TOMORROW. AND THAT'S NOT THE REALITY. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VERY MUCH, UH, VERY CLEAR. AND, AND, AND THEN FINALLY, I SAY, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WE ARE BUILDING CONSENSUS. UH, I'VE TALKED TO LEADER AFTER LEADER AFTER LEADER INDIVIDUALLY, AND WE TALKED COLLECTIVELY. UH, I, I DO WANNA THANK ROGER HARRIS. HE IS THE CHAIR OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE THERE AT THE, UH, NCP AND . EVERYBODY'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS, BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT TO, WHAT WE SAW LAST TUESDAY IS NOT WHAT WE ARE. UH, PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT TOGETHER WE WIN, DIVIDED WE LOSE. AND UH, IF ANY ONE TIRE STAYS FLAT ON THE CAR, THE CAR STILL CANNOT TRAVEL. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO AIR ALL TIRES THE SAME. AND, AND JAMES, ONE LAST THING, BISHOP, UH, EVERYONE KEEPS, HAS TO KEEP IN MIND WE'RE PREPARING FOR COURT. YES. IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS CONSENSUS GOING FORWARD AS WE GO TO COURT TO DEFEND THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, YES, IT WILL BE IN JEOPARDY. SO THAT WAS CERTAINLY A CONSIDERATION. GET READY FOR COURT. 'CAUSE WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN SOCIETY THAT WOULD END THE PROGRAM. TOTALLY. AND OBVIOUSLY WE CANNOT TOLERATE THAT. MAY I USE A, AN ANALOGY THAT MAY NOT BE, IS, MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORBID, BUT YOU GOTTA SAVE THE BODY BEFORE YOU CAN HEAL IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU REVEREND DIXON FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THANK YOU, UH, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. I DO WANT TO NOTE YOU MENTIONED, UH, CONSENSUS A LOT. UH, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, THIS MORNING I SPOKE WITH, UH, DR. LAUDA MURILLO WITH THE HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER, AND THEY ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH ACCEPTING THE DISPARITY STUDY. AND OTHERS HAVE, HAVE MADE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN TO ME, UH, TODAY AS WELL, THAT THEY ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH ACCEPTING THE STUDY. SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. AND WHEN I, WHEN I SAY WE'RE WORK, WORKING TO BUILD CONSENSUS, LEMME BE CLEAR. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT EVERYONE AGREES 100%. UH, THAT'S NOT MY SUGGESTION. UH, YOU KNOW, I PASTOR A CHURCH AND, UH, ON MY BEST SERMON, NOT EVERYBODY SAYS AMEN. UH, BUT THE SERMON STILL HAS TO GET PREACHED. WE SET TO RAISE THE OFFERING, PAY THE BILLS, AND MOVE FORWARD. AND I THINK THAT WHAT PEOPLE DO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT THE MAYOR JUST ARTICULATED. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO COURT WITHOUT, UH, UH, A CONSENSUS AT LEAST THAT WE GOTTA SAVE THE PROGRAM. AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WE ALL AS LEADERS WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS NO PERFECT PATHWAY TO WHERE WE'RE GOING, BUT WE CAN'T GET TO WHERE WE'RE GOING UNLESS WE ALL PUSH THE CAR FORWARD TOGETHER. AND, UH, I JUST HOPE THAT WE ARE SEEKING POSITIVE LIKE THAT IN OUR OWN CIRCLES AND SETTINGS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD DR. SJ GILBERT. I SECOND NEXT TO SPEAK ON THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA. I KIND OF PUTTING ON THE SPOT. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED ANY MOTION PASSES. REVEREND SJ GILBERT, I JUST WANT TO SAY FIRST TO THE COUNCIL AND ALL WHO GATHERED HERE. I JUST WANT TO SAY AMEN TO WHAT BISHOP DIXON HAS ALREADY SHARED. UM, BUT TO APPEAL TO OUR CONSCIOUS TO, UH, ACT JUSTLY. LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH OUR GOD. GOD BLESS YOU. UH, NEXT SPEAKING, PLEASE. EMILY MOORE. OH, MS. MOORE, CAN SHE BRING OUR GIRLFRIENDS UP HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LETTER READING KANI? PARDON? MS. MOORE, WHY DON'T YOU LET THE TROOP COME UP? I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE TOO, [01:20:01] TOO OUT OF ORDER. , I DARE I DARE SOMEBODY TO CALL IT. IS THAT WHO YOU BOUGHT YOUR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES? YEAH. YEAH. WILL YOU STEP IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE? SO I BOUGHT THREE BOXES OF MINTS AND THEY'RE STILL IN THE FREEZER AND I HAD A SWEET TOOTH THE LAST TWO NIGHTS. I GOTTA, I GOTTA DO SOMETHING. BUT THANK YOU LADIES FOR BEING HERE. WHERE, WHERE'S UH, YOU GONNA SPEAK FOR US? YEAH. UM, HI, MY NAME IS EMILY. I'M GONNA BE REPRESENTING THE SCOUT, MIKE SCOUTS. UM, UH, THIS IS MY TROOP. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. UM, WE'RE TROOP 1, 2 3 1 0 3. WE'VE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT GOVERNMENT FOR A WHILE NOW, AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL THAT YOU DO, THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS DO FOR US. AND, UM, YOU'RE HERE TODAY TO GET OUR GOVERNMENT TO GET OUR DEMOCRACY BADGE. WE'VE ALSO BEEN LEARNING ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR A WHILE. UM, WE GO TO LJ BAKER MONTESSORI, UM, AND OUR TRIP, WE LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT, LIKE WE, LIKE WE ALSO, UM, HAVE PASSED OUT STUFF TO THE HOMELESS BEFORE WE HAVE. OH MY GOSH. I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE DID THE, WE'VE DONE A FOOD DRIVE BEFORE. WE'VE DONE A, WE'VE BEEN TO THE FOOD BANK BEFORE. UM, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND HELPING OUR CITY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE JUST DYING TO SPEAK? YOU, YOU KEEP, YOU KEEP GIVING HER A LITTLE HELP. YOU WANNA SPEAK FOR A MOMENT? THE ONE IN THE YELLOW, THE YELLOW SHIRT. MA'AM. , PULL THAT MIC DOWN AND SAY SOMETHING. YOU WERE GIVEN GOOD HELP. WELL, WE WENT TO THE FOOD BANK, COME UP INTO THE MIC. WE WENT TO THE FOOD BANK AND WE HELPED US SORT THE FOOD. AND, UM, WE'RE JUST HERE TO REPRESENT OUR GIRL SCOUT TROOP FOR OUR SCHOOL. OKAY. THANK Y'ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UH, EMILY, YOU DID A TERRIFIC JOB. AND WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? SWEETHEART? EDEN. EDEN. UH, TO ALL OF YOU. ARE Y'ALL JUNIORS? YES. I WAS A JUNIOR ACTUALLY. PENELOPE. SHE, SHE'S IN, UM, SHE'S IN THIRD GRADE. SO YOU AND SHE'S A BROWNIE. UM, SO SHE'S A BROWNIE JUNIORS EXCEPT FOR PENELOPE. AND IS, IS THIS Y'ALL'S FIRST TIME TO CITY HALL? YES. WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK IT'S VERY COOL. YEAH. VERY BIG, BIG. UM, I THINK IT'S COOL THAT WE GET TO EXPERIENCE THIS AS WELL. WELL, I THINK IT'S VERY COOL THAT ALL OF YOU ARE HERE, UH, TO THE TROOP LEADER, THE PARENTS. THANK YOU ALL. I WAS JUST AT YOUR SCHOOL MEETING WITH THE PTAA FEW WEEKS AGO, UH, AND YOU HAVE A FABULOUS SCHOOL. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. IT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE. THANK YOU. OKAY LADIES. THANK YOU. I'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY. THANK YOU. READING KANI TIM SULLIVAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY LORI ROBINSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. NEVER HAD A PODIUM RAGE FOR ME. . UM, SO, UH, MY TOPIC TODAY IS ABOUT THE, UH, MONTICELLO SQUARE. IT'S A PROPERTY THAT WE'RE, WE AS A CITY ARE CONVERTING FROM, UM, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX, I BELIEVE THE CITY OWNED PREVIOUSLY. UM, AND IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. AND SINCE THAT TIME, UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME STOPPING BY MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP IT SECURED, UM, WHETHER KEEPING THE GATES LOCKED, WHATNOT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WE'VE HAD TWO FIRES [01:25:01] THAT WE'VE HAD TO CALL OUT HPD OR HFD, UM, AND THE BEL AIR FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO IT'S REALLY HAVING AN IMPACT ON ALL OUR BUSINESSES RIGHT THERE ACROSS THE STREET. WE'VE GOTTA HOLD THE BEL AIR PROFESSIONAL BUILDINGS ACROSS THE STREET. WE'VE GOT HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH DOWN THE STREET. UM, UM, BRIAN'S HAS, UH, ALL THE WORKFORCE STUFF OUT THERE, SO IT'S REALLY IMPACTING OUR AREA. UM, AND WE JUST, IF WE GET WHATEVER WE NEED TO DONE TO MAKE SURE IT'S SECURED. UM, THIS WEEK WE'VE STARTED, UM, THEY HAVE HAD SECURITY ONBOARD. UM, UM, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS, IT'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF BEL AIR ON FERRIS STREET, MAPLE RIDGE. UM, THE, UM, BAYLAND IS JUST UP THE CORNER. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WORK DID START THIS WEEK. SO BRIAN MCKENZIE, UM, A TEAM LEADER THAT I JUST RECENTLY GOT AHOLD OF, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN HELPING A LOT. BUT DIDN'T THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEPARTMENT YEAH. OUT THERE YESTERDAY? UH, I DIDN'T FIND ANYBODY THERE YESTERDAY. I FOUND THE WORK CREWS THERE. OKAY. UM, MONDAY MORNING HAD EIGHT HOUSING AND, AND DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS IS WORKING TO, UH, SECURE IT. YEAH. AND, AND TRANS YEAH. GO THROUGH TRANSFORMATION OF IT. YEAH. AND, AND ULTIMATELY I WOULD'VE, I ALMOST, WHEN I STARTED THIS, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, YEAH. UM, YOU KNOW, I I DIDN'T COME AND TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE I GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM. ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES GAVE ME GOOD INFORMATION, GAVE ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE SAID 180 DAYS. SO OCTOBER, UH, 17TH, I THINK WAS THE DATE THAT WE HAD. WELL, THEN OCTOBER 17TH CAME, AND WE NEVER SAW ANYTHING, NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, ME AND MY DOGS GO THERE EVERY MORNING TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE GATES ARE LOCKED. AND THE, THE NER TEAM DOWN THERE FROM HF OR HPD HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THERE TO PUT THE FIRES OUT. UM, SO JUST, I WANNA KEEP IT ON THE RADAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. MAYOR PROTI, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. MY NAME IS LORI ROBINSON AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE STAR OF HOPE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST, OR ONE OF THE LARGEST HOMELESS SHELTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. UM, I ALSO SIT ON THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD'S GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. THE STORE OF THE STAR OF HOPE OPENED ITS DOORS ON JULY 1ST, 1907. IT BEGAN IN ITS LIFE-CHANGING MISSION TO WORK WITH THE HOMELESS, HOMELESS MEN SPECIFICALLY. AND WE BRANCHED OUT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR MEN'S CENTER LOCATED ON RUIZ STREET, UM, IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. UM, BUT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR NEW LOCATION OR SEMI-NEW LOCATION THAT'S OFF OF REVE ROAD? UM, WE CALL IT, WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED STAR HOPE'S CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATIONAL CAMPUS AND SHELTER LOCATED OFF OF HIGHWAY 2 88 IN HOUSTON. I BELIEVE IT'S IN, UM, UM, YOUR OKAY. OKAY. WASN'T SURE. OKAY. UM, THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE LOVE OF CHRIST THROUGH NURTURING SAFE HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT THAT COMFORTS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT COMFORTS AND ENCOURAGES THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG THE HOMELESS. THE LOCATION HOUSE IS UP TO 150 FAMILIES AND 180 SINGLE WOMEN, WHICH STARTS THEM ON A PATH TO STABILITY. TODAY I COME TO REINTRODUCE THE STAR OF HOPE AND TO OUR NEWEST LOCATION AND INVITE YOU AGAIN TO ATTEND OUR HOUSTON ELECTED OFFICIALS COFFEE, TEA, AND TOUR THE MORNING OF THURSDAY, MAY 22ND, 2025. EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A DETAILED INVITATION IN YOUR CITY OF HOUSTON EMAIL, AGAIN AS THE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD. ON BEHALF OF MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, OUR OTHER 20 BOARD MEMBERS, AND OUR NEW PRESIDENT, AND CEO, DOUG MICHAEL, AND THE STAR OF HOPE STAFF, WE INVITE YOU TO COME SEE HOW WE ASSIST PEOPLE AND FAMILIES REENTER MAINSTREAM SOCIETY, FULLY EQUIPPED TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. AND WE DO THIS THROUGH MENTAL, PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ALONG WITH ONSITE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND A CONVENIENT PUBLIC TRACE TRANSPORTATION PROCESS, ALL ON A WALKABLE CAMPUS. I HOPE TO SEE EACH OF YOU THERE ON THURSDAY, [01:30:01] 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM FOR, UH, COFFEE, TEA, AND OUR TOUR. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. JUST A SECOND, LLOYD. UH, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU, AND SO I HOPE DOES COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, LAURA, GOOD TO SEE YOU. HI. HI. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO WORK. UM, IT'S, IT IS GREAT TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. UH, WE HAVE ALWAYS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS IN OUR CHURCH HAS SUPPORTED THE STAR HOLE MM-HMM . AND WHAT THE WORK THAT, THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO THERE. SO AT THIS NEW LOCATION, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TOUR. YEAH. LEMME JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE. GOOD. BUT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. CAN YOU JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF JUST A BRIEF EXPANDING ON WHAT ALL THAT, UH, THE HOMELESS AND THE OTHER PIECES OF THAT? SURE. UM, I, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOVE FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS. I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, UM, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND CHAIRED THIS COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST 2, 2, 2 YEARS OR SO. UM, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP PEOPLE GET BACK TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT AND OTHER NEEDS, SUCH AS DRUG COUNSELING, UM, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UM, PLACEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE ARE A CHRISTIAN BASE, BUT WE ACCEPT ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THERE. IT JUST DEPENDS ON IF PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM. UM, EACH QUARTER WE HAVE A GRADUATE CLASS FROM EITHER THE MEN'S CENTER OR OUR OTHER LOCATION TO WHERE PEOPLE GRADUATE FROM THEIR PROGRAMS, UM, NO MATTER WHAT THE PROGRAM IS. UM, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LIFE WORK FOR ME AND SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ALONG WITH MY OTHER 20 BOARD MEMBERS. AND, UM, I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO ALL SEE THAT IT'S THERE, ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS COMING UP. UM, FIFA IN 2026, UM, ACTUALLY I AM, AND MY COMPANY'S WORKING IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, COMING UP WITH, UM, NEW WAYS TO DO HOUSING BECAUSE THEY NOT ONLY HAVE FIFA IN 2026, THEY ALSO HAVE THE OLYMPICS, SUMMER OLYMPICS IN 2028. AND IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, YOU, YOU'LL SEE THAT LOS ANGELES HAS EVEN A DEEPER POPULATION, UM, OF HOMELESS. SO I'M TAKING ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM GOVERNING THAT, FROM OVERSEEING THAT COMMITTEE AND THAT CONSORTIUM TO, UH, BACK TO ANY WAY THAT WE CAN HELP. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COALITION FROM THE HOMELESS, UM, BUT WE HAVE, UM, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON BECAUSE WE ARE INTENT ON PROGRAMMING. GOOD. AND YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE. ARE YOU ON THE HOMELESS AND WHAT HE'S DOING IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE THAT WE ARE HAVING IN HOUSTON, THAT WE CAN BE OUT FRONT MORE THAN ANY OTHER CITY OF AMERICA, LA, SAN FRANCISCO YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, WITH THAT? ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT I AM NOT, I'VE BEEN IN LOS ANGELES FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WORKING WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY. OKAY. TO GET THEM. SO, I, I HAVEN'T BEEN READING THE PAPER. I FEEL EMBARRASSED THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT, BUT I'D LOVE TO FIND OUT MORE AND SEE IF WE CAN HELP. YEAH. THE ONE THAT THE MAYOR'S ROLLING OUT. OKAY. COOL. OKAY. WE WOULD DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND, AND, AND REINTRODUCING, THAT'S, UH, REED ROAD CAMPUS OPENED IN AUGUST OF 2017. I REMEMBER IT WELL. MM-HMM . MM-HMM . UH, CERTAINLY HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF WORK OVER THERE, AND HUGE FAN OF WHAT YOU DO. AND, UM, WE NEED MORE, JUST LIKE STAR OF HOPE, UH, THAT REED WROTE IN, UH, CONJUNCTION WITH NEW HOPE HOUSING IS A PERFECT MODEL. AND, UH, I HAVE JUST ALWAYS BEEN INSPIRED BY A STAR OF HOPE AND, AND HANK RAINS, AND SCOTT ARTHUR AND YEAH. ALL GREAT FRIENDS. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO, SERVING ON THE BOARD AND OF THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION. WE NEED ABOUT FOUR MORE LOCATIONS AROUND TOWN. IF Y'ALL CAN WORK ON THAT. DEFINITELY WORK ON THAT WOULD BE IN GOOD SHAPE. THANK YOU. WELL, WE'RE TAKING, WELL, I AM, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SITTING ON THE BOARD FOR, SINCE 2017. UM, TAKING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THERE AND TAKING THEM TO LOS ANGELES AND WORKING WITH THEM IN PREPARATION. 'CAUSE AS YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS IS NOT AN EASY, UH, ENDEAVOR TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THEIR RVS AND JUST PARKED THEM ON THE PUBLIC STREETS, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY LIVE. YEAH. LA HAS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE PROBLEM. YEAH. SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS COMING UP WITH VARIOUS PROGRAMS, AND THEY'VE USED STAR OF HOPE, UM, AS WHEN HANK WAS THE CEO, HE'S RETIRED NOW. THEY'VE USED THE STAR OF HOPE AS A ROADMAP FOR THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE'VE HAD. SO WE, WE HOPE TO FIND SUCCESS THERE, UM, AND CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. WELL, AND, AND SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE MAYOR'S SUPPORTING THE MAYOR'S EFFORTS, I CERTAINLY WILL REACH OUT. STAR OF HOPE CAME UP JUST LAST WEEK IN CONVERSATION, SO I'LL REACH OUT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU. ANYTHING WE CAN DO SUPPORT WE'LL TO VISIT WITH YOU. WE'LL DO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEMP . NO, LAURA, I JUST WANTED TO TELL [01:35:01] YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. JUST VERY QUICKLY, WHAT IS YOUR SUCCESS RATE OF THE FOLKS THAT KIND OF GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM? YEAH, SO, UM, ABOUT 90% NOW WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES ACROSS THE BOARD THAT KEEP THEM HOMELESS. SO THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME THERE COME THERE AS A LAST RESORT TO GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. UM, WE HAVE VERY STRICT PROGRAMMING, BUT 90% OF THE PEOPLE MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROGRAMMING OF IT, WHETHER IT'S DRUG ADDICTION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND WITH THE WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO HELP THEM WITH CHILDCARE. YOU'D BE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY SCHOOL BUSES FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACTUALLY PULL UP AND PICK KIDS UP. BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DISPLACE THE KIDS IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THEY THOUGH THEY ARE DISPLACED IN THEIR HOMES. SO OUR SUCCESS RATE HAS BEEN GOOD. AND NEXT TIME WE HAVE A GRADUATION, WHICH WOULD BE, UM, SOMETIME IN THE SUMMER, I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW. SO YOU COULD PROBABLY ATTEND THAT AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RENEE KENNEDY. RENEE KENNEDY. RENEE KENNEDY. NEXT SPEAKER. OLGA CHOCO. OLGA CHOCO, THANK TO BE FOLLOWED BY KARA BROOKS. TRYING TO NOT GO AHEAD. UM, I WOULD LIKE THE MAYOR HERE, MY SPEECH ALSO, HE, HE'S NOT AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT HE, HE'S WATCHING AND HE WILL GET YOUR MESSAGE, SO I HOPE SO. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UM, MY NAME IS OLGA CHIPKO. THIS IS MY HUSBAND, MICAL CHIPKO. UH, I'M SORRY I'M NOT USED TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKING. IT'S OKAY. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH US TODAY. WE COME BEFORE YOU, NOT JUST AS CONSERVED CITIZENS, BUT AS A FAMILY IN FEAR, SEEKING YOUR HELP AND YOUR PROTECTION. MAYBE WE ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO ANYMORE. AND WHO ASKED FOR HELP? WE ARE A FAMILY OF FIVE, MYSELF, MY HUSBAND, AND OUR THREE CHILDREN. ON JANUARY 1ST, JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT, OUR LIVES WERE NEARLY SHATTERED WHEN TWO BULLETS WERE FIRED INTO OUR HOME. ONE OF THOSE BULLETS PIERCED OUR BACKYARD FENCE, SHATTERED OUR LIVING ROOM WINDOW AND LODGED ITSELF IN OUR FRONT DOOR. THE OTHER STRUCK OUR BACKYARD PORCH. HERE, THE PHOTOS HOLD THEM. UH, WE BELIEVE THE SHOTS CAME FROM BELIEVE IN KINGWOOD. UH, WE BELIEVE THE SHOTS CAME FROM THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR HOUSE AT DUNHAM ROAD, WHICH IS TO OUR UNDERSTANDING, FALLS WITHIN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE POLICE IN KINGWOOD, BUT TO OUR SHOCK, THEY REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE. THEY CLAIM THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, EVEN WITH A SHATTERED WINDOW AND TWO BULLETS LODGED IN OUR HOME. WE HAVE LIVED IN OUR HOME FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, WE FREQUENTLY HEARD GUNFIRE FROM DEAD STREET, BUT WE NEVER IMAGINED OUR HOME AND CHILDREN WOULD COME UNDER DIRECT FIRE. ONE DAY, ONE OF THOSE BULLETS MISSED OUR SON'S HEAD BY JUST HALF AN INCH, HALF AN INCH. THAT'S HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO LOSING HIM. SINCE THEN, OUR CHILDREN HAD BEEN LIVING UPSTAIRS TOO AFRAID TO COME DOWN. AND FOR FOUR MONTHS NOW, WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE WITH THE FEAR THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME. THE SENSE OF SAFETY WE ONCE HAD IN OUR HOME IS GONE. WE HAVE TRIED EVERY PATH AVAILABLE TO US. WE FOLLOWED UP REPEATEDLY WITH HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO TOLD US THEY WERE OVERWHELMED WITH CASES. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY WILLIGN AN INVESTIGATOR FOR OUR CASE. AFTER WEEKS OF WAITING AT SOME NIGHT AROUND 10:00 PM WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TELLING US THE CASE WOULD BE CLOSED. DUE TO THE LACK OF EVIDENCE, WE REACHED OUT TO THE CHIEF OF THE POLICE, AND EVENTUALLY TWO DETECTIVES WERE SENT TO OUR HOME. BUT THEY FAILED TO PERFORM EVEN THE MOST BASIC, BASIC INVESTIGATIVE STEPS. THEY DIDN'T ANALYZE BULLET TRAJECTORY, THEY DIDN'T MEASURE THE CALIBER. THEY DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO RECONSTRUCT THE SCENE OR DETERMINE WHAT WEAPON WAS USED. INSTEAD, THE ONLY THING THEY OFFERED TO US WAS PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP. WE ALSO TRIED TO CONTACT, UH, MR. FLICKINGER, BUT IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AS WELL. UM, DUE TO, WITH ALL DUTY RESPECT, HOW THE CITIZENS SUPPOSED TO FEEL SAFE WHEN BULLETS ARE FLYING INTO THEIR HOMES. AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TELLS THEM THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT JUST ABOUT OUR FAMILY, THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. IF BULLETS CAN REACH OUR HOME, THEY CAN REACH OUR NEIGHBOR'S HOME TOO. THEY CAN STRIKE SOMEONE WALKING DOWN THE STREET. WE [01:40:01] STILL HEAR GUNSHOTS FROM THAT AREA AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. ASK FOR YOUR HELP. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT TAO DIRECT, THAT YOU DIRECT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REOPEN OUR CASE AND CONDUCT AN THOROUGH PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATION. WE ALSO ASK THAT YOUR OFFICE CONSIDER INSTALLING SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ON DUNDY ROAD TO HELP IDENTIFY THOSE RESPONSIBLE AND PREVENT FURTHER GUNSHOTS. THESE CAMERAS WOULD PROTECT NOT ONLY OUR FAMILY, BUT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF THERE'S OTHER ACTIONS YOUR OFFICE CAN TAKE, SUCH AS WHETHER THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, STRONGER ENFORCEMENT, OR FIREARM DISCHARGE LAWS, OR COORDINATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WILL DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE HERE NOT AS COMPLAINERS. WE ARE HERE AS CITIZENS, LAW ABIDING RESIDENTS WHO SIMPLY WANT TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR OWN HOME. WE BELIEVE IT'S THE CITY'S DUTY TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO HELP FULFILL THE DUTY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION FOR THIS URGENT MATTER. AND SINCE THE MAYOR WITH MA IS NOT HERE, WOULD I, CAN I, UM, PASS IT TO HIM PLEASE? THE, MY LETTER AND THE PICTURES? ABSOLUTELY. YOU CAN, UH, JAMES CAN TAKE THAT AND WE'LL MAKE SURE MAYOR WHITMEYER GETS IT. WE DO HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IN QUEUE TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. MS. OLGO? YES. UM, SO I LIVE IN KINGWOOD. I'M EX VERY FAMILIAR WITH DUNHAM ROAD. HAVE, HAVE YOU EVER, HAVE YOU ALL DRIVEN BACK THERE? YES. DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S, SO WE KNOW WHAT HOUSE THIS, SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY FROM THE RIVER, RIVER AVIATION. WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER OFFICE HAD REACHED OUT TO, TO MY OFFICE AS WELL, TO LET US KNOW OF DISCUSSIONS AND SORT OF THE BACKGROUND ON IT. I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU THAT AREA. UM, NO EXCUSE, BUT THEY'RE THE WILD HOGS. THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON BACK IN, ON DUNHAM ROAD. I MEAN, I'VE LIVED THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND THAT'S AN AREA THAT'S CONNECTED TO KINGWOOD, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT PART OF IT, AS YOU KNOW. UM, IT'S VERY, WHILE IT'S INCORPORATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT'S VERY, UH, RURAL, WE'LL SAY. BUT, UM, IF YOU'LL STEP OVER, I'LL COME OUT AND TALK TO YOU JUST A SECOND AND SEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SEE IF WE CAN HELP YOU AND WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. NEXT SPEAKER CAMERA BROOKS, KARA BROOKS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES CHAMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, RESPECTING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCIL STAFF. MY NAME IS KARA BROOKS. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. I HAVE LIVED IN THE NORTHEAST HOUSTON ALL MY LIFE. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A FEW TOPICS. FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT SEEMED LIKE THE 15 YEAR AVALOR NIGHTMARE HAD COME TO AN END WHEN THE SETTLEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED A FEW WEEKS AGO. HOWEVER, THAT IS ALL THAT IT WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT. WE AT THE NECK ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO FINAL DETAILS WRITTEN ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT. THIS FEELS AS IF IT COULD HAVE THE MAKING OF TWO PREVIOUS VOTES ON THE AVALARA TEXT ITSELF. AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE, BUT THE LETTER OF THE LAW WAS NOT FOLLOWED. WE NEED TO HAVE THIS SETTLEMENT WRITTEN IN WRITING. THE CITY NEEDS TO SPEND OUR MONEY THE WAY WE VOTED ON IT 15 YEARS AGO. I ALSO WANT TO USE THE TIME TO SAY, I THINK THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR LIKELY DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE LDP PROGRAM, NOR DID RE ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM. THE NAC HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR AN INCREASE TO THE LDP PROGRAM FOR OVER THREE YEARS NOW. AND STILL WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RESULTS. THE DEPARTMENT OF DRAINAGE HAS SHOWN US THAT THIS PROGRAM CAN BRING STRONG RELIEF TO VERY VULNERABLE AREAS, TO FLOODING. LIKE THE ROUTE I HAVE TO COMMUTE TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, HOMESTEAD BRADSHAW, TWELL TIME IS RUNNING OUT. HURRICANE SEASON IS ABOUT TO START. I WANT TO SEE THE CITY SHOW ME THAT THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PROTECT MYSELF, MY FAMILY, MY COMMUNITY FROM THE HEALTH AND ECONOMICS CALAMITIES THAT COME AS A RESULT OF FLOODING. SO I LOOK TO YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO ASK THESE TWO QUESTIONS. WHEN WILL THE, WHEN WILL THERE BE WRITTEN DETAILS ON THE AVALARA SETTLEMENT? WHEN WILL [01:45:01] Y'ALL ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT OUR DEMANDS FOR INCREASE FUNDING IN THE LDP PROGRAM? FOR THE 25 MILLION INCREASED FUNDING IN THE DITCH ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM BY 20 MILLION. SETTING UP A TRULY EQUITABLE FRAMEWORK FOR PROJECTS TO BE SELECTED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. UM, REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT, I DID WANT RESIDENTS TO BE AWARE THERE IS AN ITEM ON THIS WEEK'S AGENDA RELATED TO THIS SETTLEMENT. I HAVE NOT SEEN WHAT THAT SETTLEMENT ENTAILS YET. SO THAT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED TO COUNSEL, BUT TOMORROW THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT. WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO VIEW IT? DO YOU WANT TIME TO REVIEW IT? WHAT, WHAT ARE WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC ASK OF NAC RIGHT NOW? YES, WE NEED TO BE READING AND FOR IT ACTUALLY TO HAPPEN, WHAT IT'S WRITTEN BECAUSE MONEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED OUT, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN SPITING. IT HAS NOT BEEN SPENT LIKE IN OUR AREAS WHERE IT IS NEEDED. UNDERSTOOD. YES. NO, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM THAT YES, WE HAD AUTHORIZED YES. TO MOVE ON AND WE ARE WAITING ON UPDATES ON THAT AS WELL. UM, 'CAUSE I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT IS, BUT AS IT RELATES TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE NOT SEEN A COPY. I HAVEN'T EITHER OF, OF THE SETTLEMENT YET, BUT WE ARE SET TO VOTE ON IT TOMORROW. OKAY. UM, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE IT SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER JAMES CHAMBERS. JAMES CHAMBERS NEXT SPEAKER IN. NEXT SPEAKER. AKIA SIMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH OMO. AM OMAR. HELLO, MS. SIMS. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR PRO TIMM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M NIKIA HILLARY SIMS, OWNER OF HILLARY CONSULTING SERVICES. THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED. I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT ONE THING. I'M A UT LAW GRADUATE. I HEARD ABOUT THE, UH, DISPARITY STUDIES. ANYBODY THAT'S LOOKED AT GOLDMAN SACHS PU INSTITUTE RESEARCH, THERE IS A COMMON THEME AND WE CAN STUDY UPON STUDY UPON STUDY IT. IF YOU ARE A BLACK WOMAN, A LATINO WOMAN, AND THE HIGHER EDUCATED YOU ARE, MOST LIKELY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EXPERIENCES LIKE MYSELF OF FINDING OUT THAT WE DO NOT LIVE IN A MERITOCRACY IN OUR GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON PROGRAM. I HOPE THAT THAT PROGRAM WILL COME BACK. BUT I WOULD SAY TO OFFER THIS TO SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT, INDIVIDUALS HAVING LIVED MYSELF AFTER A HOUSE FIRE AT, UH, THE SALVATION ARMY, I HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE HAVING SET ON THE COC STEERING COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW THOSE DOLLARS AND THE GAPS IN SERVICES FOR THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. SO PROVIDING SHORING UP THE SECTION THREE PROGRAM AND GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS DOLLARS. THERE ARE OFTEN PROGRAMS ON TOP OF PROGRAMS. I FINISHED TURNER CONSTRUCTION AND I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN EDUCATION. BUT IT'S A MISNOMER THAT PEOPLE, THESE BUSINESSES WHO LACK CAPITAL, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. SO, LIKE I SAID, I CAME HERE ABOUT TOWING. SO IN 2016, THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN. CLICK TWO, HOUSTON FOUND OUT. AND I'M FROM DISTRICT B, SO I HAVE NOTIFIED THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER. I HAVE A BUS, A BUS THAT IS A BUSINESS. THERE ARE ABOUT 25 PEOPLE THAT WERE FORMERLY INCARCERATED. ONE GENTLEMAN, WHEN I FIRST SAW THE TATTOOS ON HIS FACE, THAT JUDGMENTAL PART OF ME WOULD'VE BEEN AFRAID. BUT HE IS AS SWEET AS POT AND HE IS READY TO WORK AND SUPPORT HIS FIVE CHILDREN. HOWEVER, NOT HAVING THIS BUS THAT WAS ILLEGALLY TOWED FROM MY FAMILY HOMESTEAD, I'VE PROVIDED THE NAME OF ALL NIGHT TOWING SERVICES. NOT EVERYBODY HAS A NAKIA, HILLARY SIMS THAT CAN ADVOCATE FOR THEM. NOT EVERYBODY HAS CAPACITY, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT RESEARCH, TAKING SOMEONE'S CAR ILLEGALLY TOWING, WHICH IS THEFT, WHICH SHOULD BE ACTIONABLE LIKE IT WAS DONE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2016, IT'S ILLEGAL. IT'S NOT A CIVIL MATTER. AND SO ALL NIGHT TOWING LOCATED AT LAURA COPY, THEY PICKED THE WRONG PERSON ON THE WRONG DAY. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME MY TOW TICKET AFTER I PROVIDED TOOK VIDEO OF THE $927 THAT MY CREW OF HARDWORKING CUSTODIANS, SOME OF THEM WHO ARE JUST ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS, AS YOU ALL HAVE DISCUSSED, PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER PROUDLY NOT ON SNAP BENEFITS. SO I ASKED DISTRICT B TO ASK HOUSTON POLICE TO LOOK AT THIS ILLEGAL TOWING AND TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AS WELL AS TO SHORE UP THE LIFT OFF HOUSTON AND PROVIDE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED SECOND CHANCES. AND I'M HERE TO HELP SHORE UP AND HELP THEM DEAL WITH PROVIDING PITCH COMPETITIONS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR [01:50:01] TIME AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE THAT WAITED SO LONG TO TO BE HEARD, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE, UM, IN HELPING FOLKS. AND I'M SURE THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH YOU TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU, WHAT HAPPENED. YES. MS. SIMS, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND MAKING THIS, YOU KNOW, MAKING US AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. IN FACT, I RECEIVED A CALL A FEW DAYS AGO ABOUT A SIMILAR, UM, SOMEONE'S CAR GOT TOWED AND THEY SAID IT WAS DONE ILLEGAL. SO, UM, WE WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH YOU JUST TO GET MORE DETAILS WE'LL GET WITH HPD AND JUST FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S NOT FAIR TO MAKE YOU SPEND UNNECESSARY MONEY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL AND YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO WE'LL FOLLOW WITH YOU. OKAY? ALL RIGHT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL MAKE TIME FOR SELF-CARE BECAUSE YOU'RE WORTH IT. OKAY, . I LIKE THAT. NEXT SPEAKER, JOSEPH OMO, O OMAR, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO HENDERSON. THANK, BUT PIGGYBACK ON THE, UH, THE STAR HOPE AND I MEAN HOMELESS SITUATION. I THINK, UH, MORE PUBLIC HOUSES SHOULD BE BUILT UP HOUSTON, TEXAS TOO. I NO MORE, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I GO TOWARD THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS MUST DISMANTLE, REPEALED AND TOTALLY CORRUPT POOL STYLE COMMUNISM WELFARE RATHER WORK IN APARTHEID AMERICA. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF NEGATIVE EFFECT, OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL SOCIETY. BECAUSE COMMUN STYLE SLAVERY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LIVE OR EXIST IN AMERICA. WE ALREADY FOUGHT THAT WAR AGAINST TYRA INTEGRITY. AND ONE MILITARY MARTIAL LAW IS TOO CORRUPTED. TWO, DYSFUNCTIONAL TO MANAGE THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ARE BUSINESS, FAMILY AND CHILDREN. MANY IMMIGRANTS CAME TO AMERICA TO ENJOY THE LIBERTY AND FREEDOM THE OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA WITHOUT THE BACKLASH OF THEIR OPPRESSED COMING GOVERNMENT, THEY FLED AND ESCAPED FROM, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THEM, US, THE MILITARY START GOVERNMENT UNDER OBAMA MILITARY MARTIAL LAW AS A ARRIVED IN AMERICA, HARASSING AND ATTEMPTING TO OPPRESS THEM, ME AND YOU TOO. AND WILL NOT STOP THIS CRIME AGAINST THE MAN IN OUR CHURCH. MY BLACK AMERICAN SIDE OF THE FAMILY WAS NOT LIKE DR. KING, NON POWER STYLE. MY DADDY WAS A WORLD WAR II VETERAN. MY BROTHER WAS A VIETNAM VETERAN ALONG WITH HIS FRIENDS THERE, GO GET A GUN AND SHOOT YOU. DURING THE CIVIL RIGHT ERA, WE DIDN'T HAVE HAVE ANY WHITE MEN KIDNAPPED BLACK AMERICAN GRANDMOTHERS AND BLACK AMERICAN CITIZENS STEALING THEIR PROPERTY, LAND AND MONEY AND THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. AND WHAT I LIKE TO SAY TO THE A BG COMMUNITY, I PREFER TO BE RAISED BY JAMES AND FLORIDA. EVERYTHING THE CHICAGO PROJECT IS, INSTEAD OF BEING RAISED BY THE NBA BASKETBALL STORE AND HIS WIFE IN THE MILLION DOLLAR MANSION. IF I HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL DRESSED LIKE GIRLS, I CAN SAY TO THE AKA BEMA, BE GENERATION LIKE THAT LEVEL, RESPECT THE GRANDMOTHER AND WANTED TO PROGRAM BLACK AMERICAN GIRLS TO GO TO SCHOOL, GET A GOOD COLLEGE EDUCATION, AND BECOME A BABY MAMA WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE. IF THAT'S KID, SAY LISTEN TO YOUR DADDY, BECAUSE PART THE BEST. BECAUSE NOTHING WRONG WITH BLACK AMERICAN GIRLS GOING TO COLLEGE, GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION, GETTING A WEDDING RING, A MARRIAGE LICENSE, AND A HUSBAND ALONG WITH THAT COLLEGE DEGREE. AND BABY, I ALSO SAY THAT THE BLACK AMERICAN GIRLS WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE AND A COLLEGE EDUCATION, MR. TERRY S LAW PUSHED OUT OF COMMUNISM, WELFARE OUTTA WORK. AND IDE MUST BE DISMANTLED, REPEALED, AND TOTALLY DESTROYED UNTIL IT NO LONGER EXISTS AS A PART OF AMERICAN CULTURE. SOCIETY AFTER DEMOCRACY AND CAPITALISM CREATED SO MANY MILLIONAIRES, MOST MILLIONAIRES, BILLIONAIRES BE OUT CORPORATION. YOU WANNA TELL BLACK AMERICAN PEOPLE, CITIZENS CEASE TO WANNA MAKE, COME TO THE STATE. WE SAY, NO WAY, BABY. MY WORK IS HOT THAN MICHAEL JORDAN. TENNIS SHOES. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN MY D AND TH DESIGN CONCEPT WITH A NIKE. THE D IS BRANDING. THAT'S ALL OVER HOUSTON. I SUED THEM FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, INTE PROPERTY THEFT. A WOMAN AWAIT THOSE FEDERAL JUDGE SIGNATURE THOSE ORDERS OF JUDGE TO SOLIDIFY MY COMPANY VICTORY. WHEN THEY SEE MY WORD, THAT RACIST SWITCH GOES OFF A HEAD. THEY ALL, WE ALL WANT THAT. MICHAEL JORDAN AND MICHAEL JACKSON DEAL. WE WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN AMERICA. I SUGGEST YOU WANNA DO BUSINESS WITH BLACK AMERICA, ESPECIALLY BLACK AMERICAN HIP HOP. YOU LEARN THE CLOSE DEAL LIKE WE ALWAYS DONE IN IN CORPORATE AMERICA, WHITE HOUSTON, AMERICA, BLACK HOUSTON, MEN, OTHER MULTI GROUPS HAVE ALWAYS PEACEFULLY COEXISTED AND ENJOYING EACH OTHER CULTURAL IDENTITY. BUT THEREFORE, MILITARY MARTIAL LAW ARRIVED IN AMERICA. THEY ALL THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE 30 MORE? CAN YOU STILL GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP? I BE, GO AHEAD. UH, THEY ALSO FOLLOWED ME TO MY, UH, MY HOME STATE OF FREEPORT, LOUISIANA TEND TO LEGALLY EVICT ME FROM MY FAMILY STATE. LIKE I SAID, IT'S A WHITE AMERICA, WHITE MEN, BLACK BOYS, ANYBODY. THE GOVERNMENT ON THE MILITARY MARTIAL LAW HAD PUT YOU IN JAIL SIX MONTHS WITHOUT A SEARCH WARRANT, ARREST WARRANT TWICE IN TWO DIFFERENT CITIES LEGALLY EVICT YOU WHEN YOU RENT WAS PAID WHEN YOU WANT, WOULD INSTALL YOUR M MS HIT WHERE YOU WANT TO WITHOUT INVESTIGATING YOUR MOTHER KIDNAPPING. WOULD YOU WANNA SUE THE GOVERNMENT TO THE POOL STYLE OF SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY OFFICERS OPERATIVES INSIDE AMERICA? UH, STEVE RESTOR STEALING ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING AMERICAN CITIZENS. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT SOLDIERS AT ALL. THESE ARE CRIMINAL. PRETEND ON SOME KIND OF MILITARY MISSION AS THEY STEAL YOUR MF. SIT THEY WON'T LISTEN TO ANYBODY. THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AS POLICE FORCES [01:55:01] DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE THE REST THERE FOR THE CRIME THEY COMMIT AGAINST BLACK AMERICAN CITIZENS. MILITARY MARTIAL ARTS CHAIN OF COMMAND MUST GO LIKE JIM CROW, WILL NOT GO. EXECUTIVE CHAIN OF COMMAND MUST RETURN TO AMERICA AND RETURN TO OUR CITY CIVILIAN COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN ENJOY FREEDOM, LIBERTY, RESPECT, AND PROSPERITY AND LOVE THAT WE OUGHT HAVE BEFORE IN AMERICA. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. NEXT SPEAKER. ANTONIO HENDERSON. ANTONIO HENDERSON. NEXT SPEAKER LOUIS DARLING. LOUIS DARLING. NEXT SPEAKER ALICIA PAZ. ALICIA PAZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY CLEMENT MATHIS, YOUR MAYOR HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF, ATTENDEES TALKING ABOUT INTERSECTION. MY NAME IS ALICIA AND AS ALICE IN WONDERLAND, I KNOW ABOUT DARK DEEP RABBIT HOLES BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE. I'M A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT LED ME TO SO MANY MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND HOMELESSNESS THAT I FELT THE ONLY WAY OUT WAS BY SUICIDE. I AM A SUICIDE ATTEMPT SURVIVOR AS WELL. MY LAST NAME IS, PASS THE SPANISH WORD FOR PEACE AS WHAT WE ALL NEED AND DESERVE. AND THIS IS WHAT WE TEACH. PASS FAST. HOW TO ENJOY PEACE FAST. I'M HERE TO INVITE YOU, LET'S EMPOWER HOUSTON. ONE SMILE AT A TIME WITH KINDNESS. PASS FAST IS THE MIND TECHNOLOGY THAT TEACHES US HOW TO SHIFT FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF TRAUMA TO PEACE. AND WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT HOUSTON HAS? CRIME AGGRESSIVE DRIVING THAT LEADS TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS AND HOMELESSNESS. AND THIS MAKE HOUSTON NOT TO BE APPEALING TO NEW BUSINESSES TO MOVE TO HOUSTON. WHAT ABOUT IF WE BUILD A KINDER HOUSTON MM-HMM . WHERE PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF HAVING AGGRESSIVE DRIVENESS, CAN DRIVE IN A KIND WAY. SO THAT'S OUR PROPOSAL TO MAKE HOUSTON MORE ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESSES AND TO BE KINDER FOR EVERY HOUSTONIAN. WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS WITH FAST, FAST BY INCORPORATING KINDNESS IN OUR DAILY PRACTICE. WHEN PEOPLE LEARN TO ENJOY PEACE, VIOLENCE DECREASES. AND WHAT DOES EVERY SINGLE CHALLENGE THAT HOUSTON HAS HAVE IN COMMON WITH THE OTHER ONES? EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS AN EXPRESSION OF VIOLENCE. AND VIOLENCE IS A CONSEQUENCE OF TRAUMA. SO OUR INVITATION IS TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO ENJOY PEACE. BECAUSE IN OUR OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE, WHEN PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO ENJOY PEACE, VIOLENCE DECREASES. SO LET'S PROMOTE KINDNESS IN A SCHOOL DISTRICTS AMONG THOSE GETTING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO WE LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IN A KIND WAY. LET'S TEACH THESE AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED A DRIVING WHILE, INTOXICATED TICKET TO PREVENT THEM TO REPEATING THAT. AND I'M ONLY HOMELESS TO INSPIRE THEM AND MOTIVATE THEM TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. ONE SMILE AT A TIME. SO THE INVITATION IS LET'S SAVE LIVES WITH PASS PASS. AND THERE IS A VERY SIMPLE TECHNIQUE THAT I WANT TO TEACH YOU. YOU CAN TELL THE PERSON WHO IS BY YOUR SIDE THANKS TO YOU. I SMILE FOR MY HEART. THAT EMPOWERS THEM AND THAT EMPOWERS YOU AS WELL. AND THAT'S A PRACTICE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO DO. SO INVITATION IS LET EMPOWER HOUSTON ONE SMILE AT A TIME WITH KINDNESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE? NO QUESTIONS. WE'RE GONNA SMILE AND WE'RE GONNA ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SMILE FROM THEIR HEART. AND, UH, ONE SMILE AT A TIME. AND WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER, SO WE APPRECIATE WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. CLEMENT MATHIS. [02:00:01] CLEMENT. HEY MATHIS. NEXT SPEAKER. LEE PERRY. LEE PERRY. LEE PERRY TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD GILMORE. HELLO, MR. PERRY. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS LEE PERRY. UH, SOME OF YOU ALL MIGHT KNOW ME. I'M A 74-YEAR-OLD SENIOR CITIZEN AND, UH, UH, VETERAN. BUT ANYWAY, I'M HERE TO FIND OUT IF WE STILL OPERATE THE FINANCIAL CRIMES NETWORK HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT, UH, INVESTIGATE WHITE COLLAR CRIME. I WAS SCAMMED A COUPLE YEARS AGO. I GOT MY POLICE REPORT RIGHT HERE. FIRST THING THEY SAY DO IS GO FILE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH I DID. AND, UH, THAT WAS LAST YEAR IN SEPTEMBER. NOW I GOT A CALL SAYING THAT WE GONNA WORK ON THIS, BUT, UH, I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ELSE. AND I GOT ANOTHER CALL SAYING THEY THINK, WELL, UH, WE GONNA WORK ON IT. I WENT BY YESTERDAY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NOBODY HAS EVEN BEEN ASSIGNED THE THE THING YET. SO MY QUESTION TO MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS, DO WE STILL HAVE A FINANCIAL CRIMES NETWORK? DONALD TRUMP DISSOLVED THE FEDERAL FINANCIAL CRIMES NETWORK. LIKE I ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL NOW ON THE STATE LEVEL AND THE CITY LEVEL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PART OF THAT NETWORK. NOW IT'S A CRIME FOR YOU TO PULL A SCAM ON A SENIOR CITIZEN. MM-HMM . IT'S A CRIME, FEDERAL, STATE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO PURCHASE REAL ESTATE WITH A COUNTERFEIT CHECK. IF THEY PAY FOR IT WITH A CHECK AND YOU TAKE THAT CHECK TO THE BANK AND THEY SAY IT IS WORTHLESS, SAID IT AIN'T WORTH ANYTHING THAT'S SAID CRY. NOW MY MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IF I FILE IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND YOU SAID, WELL, OKAY, WE GOING TO CHECK THIS OUT. IT DON'T TAKE A LOT TO CHECK THAT OUT. ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS GO TO THE BANK AND ASK THE BANK, IS THIS CHECK A WORDED CHECK? AND IF THE RESPONSE BACK IS THAT NO, IT IS WORTHLESS, THEN YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROBLEM. NOBODY HAS SAID ANYTHING. NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING. AND WHEN I WENT BY THERE, THEY SAID NOBODY HAS EVEN BEEN ASSIGNED MY CASE. AND THAT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR NOW. SO MY QUESTION IS, DO WE STILL HAVE THAT DEPARTMENT IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? LAST YEAR, THE FINANCIAL CRIMES NET WORTH RECOVERED OVER $12.8 BILLION FOR THE CONSUMER ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND THAT'S TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM WHITE COLLAR CRIME SCAMS. SO DO WE STILL HAVE IT GOING ON HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU MR. PERRY. WE DO STILL HAVE, UM, THE CRIME DEPARTMENT AND, UM, OFFICER CAR. I GOT A COPY OF IT RIGHT HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT. OKAY. NO, I DON'T NEED TO SEE IT. BUT OFFICER CARR IS HERE AND OFFICER CARR IS GOING TO HELP YOU. SO YOU CAN SHOW IT TO OFFICER CARR AND HE CAN HELP YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE, UM, GETS ASSIGNED TO YOUR CASE. GOOD. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO HEAR. OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, UH, ARE WE STILL GONNA TRY TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS HERE? YES, SIR. WE DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE WE PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. OKAY. GOT $12.8 BILLION FOR THE CITIZENS BACK YET LAST YEAR. THAT'S A GOOD DEPARTMENT AND I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD KEEP IT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY, THANKS. THANK YOU. OFFICER CARR, NEXT SPEAKER? MM-HMM . RICHARD GILMORE. RICHARD GILMORE. RICHARD GILMORE. NEXT SPEAKER, MA'AM. OKAY. ALFONSO SMITH. ALFONSO SMITH. HELLO, MR. SMITH. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL, THIS IS MY FULL TIME COMING DOWN. UH, I, I, I PROMISED JAMES THAT I'D COME DOWN HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT, ABOUT PUTTING A LITTLE, APPLYING A LITTLE PRESSURE TO THIS, UH, RECYCLE CONTAINER POLICY BECAUSE I HAVE THREE NEIGHBORS ON MY STREET NOW THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN JUST LEAVING THE CONTAINERS ON THE, ON THE STREET AFTER THEY'VE BEEN EMPTIED AND ALL THAT STUFF. I, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1 0 6. 1, 2, 1, 1, 3 AND 1, 2, 1, 1 0. SO I, I, I, YOU KNOW, I TRY, I TRY TO GO BY THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. I DID MAKE, UH, REPORTS WITH [02:05:01] 3 1 1 AND I DON'T WANT LIKE TO CALL THEM. DO YOU NEED A TRASH CAN? ARE YOU, ARE YOU NO, NO. I NEED A RE THEY, THEY STILL LEAVING THEM ON THE STREET UP AND SEE AND SEE, RIGHT. AND SEE THIS STREET HERE, THE TRASH TRUCK HAS A BAG DOWN AND THE NEIGHBORS ARE NOT MOVING. RIGHT, RIGHT. I DUNNO WHAT THE POLICY IS. IS THIS IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION? , BUT THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD. YEAH, WELL, IT JUST STARTED MAY 12TH. I MEAN APRIL 12TH. I'M SORRY, APRIL 12TH. SO I DUNNO HOW LONG. SO YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS GOING TO WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR OF, UH, SOLID WASTE. OKAY. UM, BECAUSE AFTER PICKUP, UM, YOU SUPPO YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BRING YOUR, YOUR TRASH CAN IN WITHIN I AND I, I SPOKE WITH THE NEIGHBOR WHO'S, WHO'S THE TRASH CAN, WHO'S CONTAINING I THINK IT IS. AND, AND, AND SHE JUST REFUSED TO BRING HERS OUT THE STREET. SO I, I SAID, I TOLD JAMES, I'LL JUST COME DOWN HERE AND TALK TO Y'ALL. OKAY. WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND BRINGING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. AND HER AND HER TEAM CAN WORK WITH YOU TO TRY TO GET SOME RESOLUTION AND JUST HAVE, GO OUT THERE AND EDUCATE 'EM. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA. OKAY. Y'ALL DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. WE COUNCIL RESULTS. SHABA, APPRECIATE SEEING Y'ALL AGAIN. I DON'T LIKE TO COME DOWN THERE LIKE THIS, BUT HEY, HERE WHERE IT IS. I GET WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M, I'M A PERSON THAT'S IRRITATED WHEN PEOPLE DO THAT, WHEN ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS PULL YOUR CAN IN. SO I, I, I FEEL, MY GOODNESS, THERE WAS, UH, DID YOU SEE THIS LADY RIGHT HERE? SHE, UH, SHE'S MY CONSTITUENTS DIRECTOR AND WE'LL WORK ON THAT. AND MAYBE JUST A, MAYBE JUST A PHONE CALL. YEAH. SOMETHING OR SOMETHING TO THEM WOULD SAY, BUT WE, BUT, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THE POLICY AS EXACTLY WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, HONOR, NEIL COLBERT. NEIL COLBERT. NEXT SPEAKER, ALAN MCDONALD. ALAN MCDONALD. NEXT SPEAKER ALEXANDER. SPIKE ALEXANDER. SPIKE ALEXANDER SPIKE. NEXT SPEAKER, KYRIE MCCULLUM. KYRIE MCCULLUM TO BE FOLLOWED BY RO GOMEZ. HELLO, MR. MCCULLUM. HEY, HOW YOU DOING? HOW Y'ALL DOING? WELL, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AND SHED LIGHT ON THIS SERIOUS SITUATION THAT HAS AFFECTED NOT ONLY ME, BUT POTENTIALLY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M OFFICIALLY, I'M ORIGINALLY FROM WASHINGTON, DC AND I MOVED TO HOUSTON, TEXAS AT THE AGE OF 18 TO PURSUE MY EDUCATION AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I ALSO GIVING BACK THROUGH, UH, CHARITABLE WORK IN THE THIRD WARD COMMUNITY, INCLUDING FEEDING THE HOMELESS ALONGSIDE WITH PURE DIAMOND TAX FIRM. HOUSTON HAS HELPED SHAKE ME WHO I AM TODAY. I RETURNED LAST AUGUST AFTER THE SUDDEN PASSING OF MY FATHER WHOM DIED AND OF A HEART ATTACK IN FRONT OF ME. I PERFORMED CPR FOR 11 MINUTES DOING EVERYTHING I COULD DESPITE MY CONTRIBUTIONS I'M NOW FACING. I'M FA I'M NOW FACING, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'M NOW FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY DUE TO FALSE RETALIATE, RETALIATORY ALLEGATIONS BY MY LANDLORD. CLAIMS I'VE DISPROVEN WITH DOCUMENTATIONS AND A COURT DISMISSAL. SHE MADE THESE DOC, SHE MADE THESE ALLEGATIONS ONLY AFTER I REPORTED HER TO HOUSTON HOUSING FOR SUBMITTING FORGED LEASES. RETALIATION LIKE THIS IS AGAINST FAIR HOUSING LAW. EVEN SO, MY HOUSING VOUCHER WAS TERMINATED. MY LANDLORD THEN SET MY BELONGINGS OUTSIDE DESPITE A COURT ORDER, REMOVED MY SECURITY CAMERAS, AND WEEKS LATER, MY HOME WAS BROKEN INTO AND I WAS HELD AT GUNPOINT, ROBBED AND TRAUMATIZED IN WHICH I HAVE ALL GOTTEN IN A POLICE REPORT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU ALL REQUEST A CASE REVIEW WITH HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY LEADERSHIP ON MY BEHALF AND URGE THEM TO RECONSIDER THE TERMINATION OF MY VOUCHER BASED ON THE EVIDENCE. 'CAUSE NOW I AM HOMELESS IF THIS, IF THIS LANDLORD COULD DO THIS TO ME AND SHE COULD ALSO DO THIS TO OTHERS, PLEASE HELP BRING ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROTECTION TO VULNERABLE TENANTS LIKE MYSELF. AND THANK YOU. THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU FOR COMING SIR. AND I'M SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR FATHER AND FOR THE OTHER TROUBLES YOU'VE EXPERIENCED. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MY CARD AND WE'RE HAPPY TO, I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ON, ON YOUR BEHALF. OKAY. APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU. YOU SAID THIRD WARD? THIRD WARD. THAT'S WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL AT, BUT I WAS BUT N STREET IS IN DISTRICT B IS IT? NO, I'M, I'M STAYING WITH, UM, WELL FOR LIKE THE LAST COUPLE DAYS I'VE BEEN WITH A, A FRIEND OF MINE THAT WENT TO TEXAS SOUTHERN WITH ME, BUT THE ADDRESS I WAS LIVING AT WAS 68 26 LIVERPOOL. IT'S, I BELIEVE THAT'S LIKE SOUTH, OH, LIVERPOOL SOUTH PARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IS DISTRICT D? YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. UH, COULD YOU SEE THE LADY RIGHT THERE? [02:10:01] OKAY. UH, WE SEE IF WE CAN GET ASSIST YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. ALL BEST WISHES TO YOU, SIR. OKAY. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. RO GOMEZ. RO GOMEZ. NEXT SPEAKER. VERNA. TERRY. VERNA. TERRY. VERNA TERRY. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENTI JACOB'S NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. ROY HIRSCH. ROY HIRSCH. NEXT SPEAKER. CHERYL HENDERSON. CHERYL HENDERSON. YES. TO BE FOLLOWED BY FELIX KAPO. HELLO, MS. HENDERSON. HOW Y'ALL DOING? DOING WELL, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHERYL HENDERSON. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT DA PROUD MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS SINCE THE AVALARA TAX ON DRAINAGE WAS VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE OF HU UH, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THROAT DRY THE VOTE. THE VOTE. AND THE ADDITIONAL VOTES YEAR, YEARS LATER SHOW THAT THE HOUSTONIANS VALUE DRAINAGE AND THAT WE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT TODAY. I AM HERE TO TELL THE CITY ONCE AGAIN THAT WE NEED PROTECTION FROM FLOODING AND WE ARE, WE NEED IT FAST. I HAVE SAID IT ONCE AND I WILL SAY, I WILL CONTINUE TO REPEAT THIS. THE SCIENCE IS SIMPLE. A WARMING CLIMATE LEADS TO THE INCREASED RISK OF FLOODING AND WE, AND YOU CAN FINISH THE REST. THIS IS WHY THE TIME IS TO ACT NOW. WE NEED TO PREVENT OUR NEIGHBORS AND LOVED ONES FROM AN AWFUL IMPACT OF FLOODING THE CITY. RECENTLY, RECENT. WELL, I YOU I'LL STOP 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GO OVER. YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP? OKAY. YES MA'AM. IT REPORT SAYS THE CONTINUING OF THE LEADER OF THE CLIMATE AND RESILIENCE IS A PRIORITY. IT'S TIME TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. UH, WE ARE ASKING IS WE, WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS AND WHEN THE MONEY'S GONNA BE PUT, WHERE IT NEED TO BE TO GET ALL THIS TAKEN CARE OF. TO QUICK TO STOP THE FLOODING COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. UH, MS. HENDERSON, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN DOWN HERE BEFORE. I I COME ALL THE TIME. YEAH. UM, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED WHEN I SEE ROSEDALE BUT YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING OF THAT PARTICULAR AREA, YOU'RE JUST SPEAKING OF IN GENERAL. IN GENERAL. OKAY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T YEAH, BECAUSE I KNOW IT DOESN'T RAIN. I MEAN IT DOESN'T FLOOD ON. YES MA'AM. ROSEDALE NO MA'AM. IT, IT DON'T REALLY FLOOD ON THERE UNLESS WE HAVE A BAD HURRICANE OR SOMETHING. THAT'S WHEN THE FLOODING COME BECAUSE OF THE BAYOU AND EVERYTHING. BUT IN THIRD WARD, IN CERTAIN PARTS, THIRD WARD IT DO, IT FLOODS REAL BAD AND WE, THEY, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE IT, WE BE STUCK IN AND WE CAN'T GET OUT AND SAY, SAY PER SE, IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD FOR US AS WELL AS THE FIRST RESPONDERS TRYING TO GET TO US AND US TO GET OUT. RIGHT. YOU CERTAINLY HAVE TO MAINTAIN THOSE. UM, THE, THE, UH, WHAT IS IT, THE SEWER LINE? YES MA'AM. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. MM-HMM THANK Y'ALL FOR HEARING. OKAY. THAT'S WISHES TO YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. FELIX KAPO. FELIX KAPO, EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU. RESPECTED. WELL MAYOR'S NOT HERE, RESPECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. UH, MY NAME IS FELIX, REPRESENTATIVE OF WEST STREET RECOVERY AND THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. UH, WANNA JUST ECHO MY CO CO-ORGANIZERS KARA AND MS. CHERYL THAT UM, WE DO WANT THAT SETTLEMENT THAT WAS ANNOUNCED WITH THE AVALOR TAX IN WRITING. SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CA IN WHO'S ALSO NOT HERE, UH, WE WILL BE TUNING IN TOMORROW TO CITY HALL TO SEE, UM, HOW THAT AMENDMENT WILL BE SPELLED OUT AND RATIFIED. UH, AND REALLY NOT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH MORE OF Y'ALL'S TIME AS THIS IS A SHORT SESSION AND I'M SURE Y'ALL HAVE TONS TO DO. [02:15:01] I JUST WANTED TO LAY OUT THAT, UM, OUR DEMANDS FOR THIS BUDGET SEASON AND GOING FORWARD IS WE DO WANT TO SEE INCREASED FUNDING BY 20 MILLION INTO THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WILL ALLOW, UH, OTHER AREAS OF HOUSTON TO BE SERVED EVEN FASTER IF MORE MONEY IS PUT IN ALONG WITH A LIFT IN THE HIRING FREEZE FOR, UM, PARTICULARLY PUBLIC WORKS, BUT ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY. UM, MAY I FINISH? YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. THANK YOU. UH, THE SECOND IS WE WANNA SEE A $25 MILLION INCREASE IN THE LTP PROGRAM. UM, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THE BUDGET IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED LATER TODAY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE, UH, OR INSIGHT INTO THE LDP PROGRAM. ACTUALLY GET SEEING ANY INCREASE IN FUNDING EVEN THOUGH THERE'S AN INCREASE IN FUNDING IN THE AVALOR TAX, UH, REVENUE THAT'S NOW COME INTO THE D-D-S-R-F FUND. UM, SO WE WANNA SEE A $25 MILLION INCREASE IN THAT PROGRAM AND ALSO, UH, SETTING UP AN EQUITABLE FRAMEWORK FOR HOW PROJECTS ARE SELECTED WITH THAT NEW MONEY AND WITH EVERY PROGRAM GOING FORWARD. UM, AND I KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MANY COUNCIL PEOPLE ON THE HORSESHOE TOO. UM, I REST. THANK YOU PRO TIM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, IT'S COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE STAND [RECESS] IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM DEFENDANT AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF TWO SELF LOADER GRAPPLE TRUCKS. ITEM 13, RESOLUTION OF CITY COUNCIL SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING AT 9:00 AM ON MAY 21ST, 2025 ON CITY BUDGETS FOR TIME PERIOD JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026. ITEM 14, ORDINANCE ADOPTING DISPARITY STUDY PERFORMED BY MGT CONSULTING GROUP LLC AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 15 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 15 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION JOINED BY NHH WHEATLEY LLC ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3 MILLION AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND OSHKOSH AEROTECH LLC PREVIOUSLY JBT AEROTECH CORPORATION. ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ST. HARLEM CONSTRUCTION LLC AND AMERIFACTORS FINANCIAL GROUP LLC AND A SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND VNS CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZED AND COMPROMISE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JAMES ROBERT JONES AND ALLEN WATSON. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 1,000,598 $5,002 NO CENTS AWARD AND AWARD DESIGN BILL CONTRACT SPARK GLASS CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION ITEM 20 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 5 4 54 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALLIANCE HEALTH RESOURCES DIVISION ALLIANCE HEALTH RESOURCES MOBILE DIVISION LTD ITEM 21 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021 DASH 6 39 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT ON CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAXIM CRANE WORKS. LP ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025. GENERAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM ITEM 23 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 1200 BLOCK OF COURTLAND STREET BETWEEN EAST 12TH STREET AND EAST 13TH STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 24 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST SIDE OF THE 1200 BLOCK OF HARVARD STREET BETWEEN EAST 12TH STREET AND 13TH STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 25 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 18.399 ACRES OF LAND TO WATER CONTROLLED AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 10 ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,870,773 50 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZED AND PROFESSIONAL [02:20:01] ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BLACKLINE ENGINEERING LLC ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 NO CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RS AND H INC. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $312,086 45 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LIQUIDITY ENGINEERING LLC ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $402,701 25 CENTS AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HORNE INC. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT TO SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES INC. FOR FY 23 INSPECTION, CLEANING DATA OF STORM SEWERS ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,226,306 AWARD AND CONTRACT TO CFG INDUSTRIES LLC ITEM 33 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO CHING LOW DOING BUSINESS AS A URANUS SERVICE. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ACTION ROLL OFFS INC. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ASTRO WASTE INC. ITEM 36 ORDINANCE ORDINANCE GRANTING TO BAY AREA VACUUM SERVICES LLC ITEM 37 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DYNASTY ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC ITEM 38 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO EAGLE PRINCESS LLC ITEM 39 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO HAT SERVICES LLC ITEM 40, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO INTRA SERVICES INC. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO M MRS. SHINE POWER WASH INC. ITEM 42, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES INC. ITEM 43, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SPA GLASS CONSTRUCTION COURT. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM WAS OWED. ITEM 13 ON THE APRIL 16TH AGENDA. ITEM 44, RECOMMENDATION FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ON BEHALF OF A LEAF MONTESSORI COMMUNITY SCHOOL DECLINING THE ACCEPTANCE OF REJECTING AND REFUSING THE DEDICATION OF A 60 FOOT WIDE I STREET OF 60 FOOT WIDE. I STREET FROM SIXTH STREET NORTH TO ITS TERMINUS BETWEEN BLOCKS 56 AND 57 OF THE DAIRY SUBDIVISION. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WAS OLD ITEM 14 ON THE APRIL 16TH AGENDA. ITEM 45 RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING NOMINATION OF POWELL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, INC. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AND WAS OWED ITEM 36 ON THE APRIL 16TH AGENDA. ITEM 46, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AU AWARDING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RALPH TEIS FINANCIAL LLC. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND WAS ITEM OWED. ITEM 44 ON THE APRIL 16TH AGENDA. ITEM 47 ORDINANCE DEAR APPROPRIATING, $11,372,598 57 CENTS AND DE APPROPRIATING $10,700,000 NO CENTS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED UNDER ORDINANCE 2024 DASH 23 APPROPRIATING $12,402,282 NO CENTS AND APPROPRIATING $10,700,000 NO CENTS. AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO SPA GLASS CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM AND WAS OWED ITEM 50 ON THE APRIL 16TH AGENDA. THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE AGENDA. CAPTIONS FOR THE MEETING MAY SIX AND 7, 20 25. AGENDA STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT, I WISH EVERYONE A VERY BLESSED AND FTA HUMP DAY [RECONVENE] COUNSEL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER. OUR [HEARINGS] FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS ITEM ONE, PUBLIC HEARING. MAIN STREET PROMENADE. ITEM ONE, MS. SECTOR. WILL YOU CALL ITEM ONE? YES. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE BRIAN CRIMMINS [02:25:01] HERE. BRIAN? YEP. YES SIR, I RECOGNIZE YOU. GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M BRIAN CRIMMINS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. ITEM ONE IS THE MAIN STREET PROMENADE PUBLIC HEARING AND THIS WAS A MOTION APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH THIS AT THE 29TH, UH, MEETING OF APRIL. TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING FOCUSES ON MAIN STREET AND THE CLOSURE OF SPECIFIC NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND LANES AS PART OF THE MAIN STREET PROMENADE PROJECT. THE AREA HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN ON YOUR SCREEN EXTENDS FROM RUSK TO COMMERCE STREET AND STARTS ONE BLOCK NORTH OF THE EXISTING MAIN STREET PROMENADE SHOWN IN PURPLE. A HEARING IS REQUIRED UNDER CHAPTER THREE 11 OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE WHEN AN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT INVOLVES CLOSING A STREET TO MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC. CITY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED THE PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THIS PART OF MAIN STREET WITH THE MOORE SPACE MAIN STREET PROGRAM IN MARCH OF 2023. WHILE THE MOORE SPACE PRO PROGRAM AND THE MAIN STREET PROMENADE HAS SEVERAL SIMILARITIES, INCLUDING THE GENERAL BOUNDARY AND THE AIM TO EXPAND THE PEDESTRIAN AREA INTO THE ROADWAY, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES THAT REQUIRE A HEARING IN ORDER TO ENSURE FULL TRANSPARENCY OF THE CHANGES. I'LL TOUCH BASE ON THOSE CHANGES IN JUST A MOMENT. HOWEVER, ONE NOTABLE ITEM IS THAT THE PROMENADE STREET CLOSURE ORDINANCE WILL SPECIFICALLY KEEP THE SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC OPEN IN THE 200 BLOCK BETWEEN FRANKLIN AND CONGRESS STREETS, WHICH IS SHOWN AS A ON YOUR SCREEN IN YELLOW. THIS WILL PROVIDE VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE EXISTING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING LOT ON THAT BLOCK. THE CLOSURE OF PARTS OF MAIN STREET BEGAN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO GIVE RESTAURANTS MORE SPACE FOR OUTDOOR SEATING AND TO MEET SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS. DURING THIS TIME, PANDEMIC ERA WAIVERS AND EXCEPTIONS TO STATE LAW WERE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES THROUGH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE MORE SPACE PROGRAM. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE PILOT PROGRAM IN 2020, WHICH BECAME MORE SPACE 1.0. THIS PILOT PROJECT WAS EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR IN 2022 AND THEN MADE PERMANENT IN MARCH, 2023. SINCE MARCH OF 2023, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS HAS WORKED WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO IMPROVE MAIN STREET AND ADVANCE THESE PROGRAM GOALS. PROJECT UPDATES HAVE BEEN REGULARLY PROVIDED TO CITY COUNCIL WITH THE MOST RECENT PRESENTATION ON THE FINAL DESIGN. DURING THE MARCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT A FEW KEY CHALLENGES OF THE CURRENT MORE SPACE PROGRAM THAT LED TO THE MAIN STREET PROMENADE CONCEPT. THE EXAMPLE YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS THE 300 BLOCK SOUTHBOUND SIDE. EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM IS PERMANENT, IT STILL LARGELY LOOKS AND FEELS TEMPORARY TRAFFIC IS CONTROLLED BY CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS WITH OUR ARTWORK. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE FOREGROUND AND THE SEATING AREA, PLATFORMS ARE BUILT UP OVER THE CLOSED ROADWAY, WHICH IS NUMBER ONE ON THE SCREEN. THESE CONDITIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE BLOCK AND THE ENGAGEMENT FROM INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS HOURS. AND THE STREET LACKS A COHESIVE DESIGN TO ESTABLISH A CORRIDOR IDENTITY. MOVING DOWN THE SAME BLOCK, YOU'LL SEE THE MORE SPACE SEATING AREA AGAIN, NUMBER ONE ON YOUR SCREEN. AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THIS EXISTING SIDEWALK DIVIDES THE BUSINESS AREA SHOWN AS NUMBER TWO FROM THIS ADDITIONAL SEATING. IN ADDITION, THE CURB ALSO LIMITS A D, A ACCESSIBILITY ALONG THE ENTIRE PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR AND CREATES A POTENTIAL TRIPPING HAZARD, ESPECIALLY DURING ACTIVE NIGHTTIME PERIODS OF PEAK PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY. DURING THE MARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS PRESENTED A SUMMARY OF ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THESE AND OTHER CONCERNS. KEY AGENCIES WERE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDED THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE EMERGENCY ACCESS. HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH DRAINAGE AND OVERALL DESIGN CRITERIA AND METRO TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE RAIL OPERATIONS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. ADDITIONALLY, PROPERTY OWNERS, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THIS ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. DURING THE PROCESS, THERE WERE FOUR BIG SHIFTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED TO TRANSFORM THE MAIN STREET MORE SPACE PROGRAM TO THE PROMENADE. THE FIRST WAS MAINTENANCE. RATHER THAN HAVING INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES HANDLE MAINTENANCE AND CREATE INCONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR, THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WILL TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGING AND MAINTAINING THE NEW PUBLIC AREAS. THE SECOND IS ACCESSIBILITY. THERE WILL BE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT RAISING THE STREET ROADWAY AND CREATING A PROMENADE WITH A LEVEL SURFACE FOR THE PEDESTRIAN AREA. THE THIRD IS PLACEMAKING, WHERE IT'LL CREATE A CORRIDOR IDENTITY THAT IS FLEXIBLE AND COMFORTABLE IN THE PUBLIC SPACES. AND THEN FINALLY, ITS SHADE. AS WE ALL KNOW, HOUSTON IS HOT AND THE PROMENADE PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE CANOPY OF TREES AND SHADE STRUCTURES AND REDUCE AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ALONG THE STREET. HERE ARE A FEW [02:30:01] QUICK CONCEPT IMAGES OF WHAT MAIN STREET WILL LIKELY LOOK LIKE AFTER THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED. THIS FIRST VIEW IS AT THE INTERSECTION LOOKING SOUTH OF MAIN STREET AND COMMERCE STREETS NEAR ALLEN'S LANDING. THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION OFTEN CONFUSES DRIVERS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND AS THE RAIL LIGHT RAIL LINE GOES FROM RUNNING ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE CENTER AND IT CREATES A TRAFFIC SHIFT. THIS INTERSECTION, WE'LL SEE IMPROVEMENTS WITH OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY BECAUSE OF THIS CLOSURE. ON YOUR SCREEN NOW IS THE 300 BLOCK THAT WE LOOKED AT EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION. THIS IS CLEARLY A MORE PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S MORE AREA FOR PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES. AND HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CROSS STREETS WILL FLOW ACROSS THE PROMENADE. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NO CROSS STREETS WILL BE CLOSED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT. PLANTERS AND BOLLARDS WILL REPLACE THE CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS WITH ARTWORK. DRIVERS WILL BE ABLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TRAFFIC MOVES THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND THE OUTCOME OF THE, THE ENHANCEMENTS WILL RESEMBLE THE PART OF THE EXISTING MAIN STREET SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS FURTHER UP THE CORRIDOR. NOW, IN CLOSING, I WANNA GO BACK TO THE TIMELINE. THIS STRETCH OF MAIN STREET HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE ITS TEMPORARY CLOSURE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN STEP FIVE, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT READY TO START THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, WHICH WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH. PENDING COUNSEL'S APPROVAL OF THE MAIN STREET PROMENADE CLOSURE ORDINANCE FOLLOWING TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. THE CONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AND THE PROMENADE WILL BE READY TO GREET CUSTOMER OR GREET, UH, PARTICIPANTS OF THE WORLD CUP 2026. ONCE AGAIN, THE AREA IN FOCUS IS IN GREEN ON YOUR SCREEN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AREA A IN YELLOW. UH, CHRIS LARSON WITH DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS IS ALSO HERE AND SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, TO ANSWER ANY PROJECT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. AND WITH THAT, MAYOR, IT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, I JUST WANNA, UM, CONGRATULATE, UH, YOU, CHRIS LARSON, HIS TEAM FOR THIS, THIS PROJECT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, DATES BACK TO 21, UH, 22. AND SO I WANNA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO A FORMER COLLEAGUE, DANIEL SANTA MARIA, WHO WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS. UM, AND SINCE BEING IN OFFICE, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED, UH, SIMILAR FASHION, UH, TO SEE THAT COMMUNITY, UH, CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW IT CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH, WITH A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES THAT, UH, WILL HAVE THAT FRONTAGE, THAT EXTRA FRONTAGE. UM, THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD, UH, ASK OF YOU ALL IS, UM, CONTINUE TO DO, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I, I LIKE MAINSTREAM PROMENADE, BUT I THINK THERE'S A BETTER NAME THAT WE COULD PROBABLY IDENTIFY, UM, AND ASKING COMMUNITY AROUND THERE TO HELP, UM, HELP FIGURE THAT OUT WOULD BE, WOULD BE GREAT. UM, AND AGAIN, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING. MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU. BRIAN. IF, IF YOU'LL GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE 400 BLOCK, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STREETS THAT WERE GOING TO, UH, REMAIN OPEN, WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HELD ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY OR MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STREETS REMAIN OPEN? THERE WERE SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND METRO IN PARTICULAR, UH, TO FIND DESIGN TREATMENTS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING MAIN STREET SQUARE THAT MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT IS THE PEDESTRIAN AREA VERSUS WHAT IS AN AREA MEANT FOR CARS. UM, SO THOSE WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE SPECIFIC PROJECT DESIGNS OF THE CROSS SECTIONS. RIGHT NOW, IT'S SLIGHTLY CONFUSING BECAUSE OF THE TEMPORARY BARRIERS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S JUST A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT TIMES, RATHER THAN A COMPLETE PERMANENT ENCLOSURE. AND WHEN YOU TALK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, ARE THEY, UM, SEEING THAT THEY'VE HAD INCREASED TRAFFIC FROM WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS, UH, PROJECT BACK IN 2021? UM, AND THEY, AND THEY ARE ON BOARD LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS IMPROVEMENT. I WILL SAY THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE ON BOARD. UH, BUT I WOULD DEFER TO, TO CHRIS IN THE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS IS, THEY'RE MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT. NICE. I WAS ACTUALLY DOWNTOWN, A FRIEND OF MINE HAD A BIRTHDAY, UM, AND WE WENT DOWNTOWN AND I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY WALKING DOWNTOWN, PATRONIZING THE BUSINESSES, UH, DOWNTOWN. AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I, I FELT LIKE IT WAS SAFE AND PEOPLE WERE OUT HAVING A GOOD TIME, UH, AND ENJOYING OUR CITY. SO I'M, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROJECT. I, I, THE ONLY THING I WANNA MAKE SURE IS THAT WE AMPLIFY THAT THE STREETS WILL REMAIN OPEN. WE'VE HAD YES, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STREETS BEING CLOSED TO GET FOLKS IN AND OUTTA DOWNTOWN SO THAT THEY ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT'S OPEN AND HOW THE TRAFFIC WILL FLOW IN ADDITION TO [02:35:01] THE NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS THAT WILL BE DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU, SIR. WE HAVE, UH, ONE SPEAKER TWO NOW. YES. UH, DOMINIQUE. DOMINIQUE, YOU'RE FIRST, SIR. OKAY. I'LL SEND THE PHONE AROUND AFTER, AFTER I SPEAK. AS YOU WELL KNOW, I USED METRO, AND THIS MORNING I ACTUALLY WENT SMACK THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE PROMENADE ON THE RED LINE. AND MAYOR, YOU SAID SOMETHING AT THE METRO NOW, MEANING AT GRB, THAT WE NEED SPACES, NOT JUST FOR CONVENTIONEERS, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE CITY. THIS AREA HAS RESTAURANTS AND SO ON, THAT A PERSON WHO IS OF MORE MODEST INCOME CAN COME AND ENJOY HIS OR HERSELF OR, OR THE FAMILY. SO I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THAT. I DO KNOW, UH, REMEMBER FROM A METRO COMMITTEE BOARD MEETING COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, METRO IS PUTTING IN SOME, SOME EQUITY, SOME MONEY INTO THIS. THAT'S GOOD. MY, I ONLY HAVE REALLY TWO, ACTUALLY THREE. COULD THIS BE REPLICATED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY? I'M THINKING ALONG, ALONG, UH, HARRISBURG OR NAVIGATION. I THINK THOSE AREAS COULD YOU NEED SOME HELP WITH, WITH THAT. UH, SECONDLY, I TOLD THE GROUP THAT MET, YOU NEED TO WORK WITH METRO AND ADVERTISE THIS BECAUSE YOU DO NOT NEED A CAR TO GET TO HERE. OR YOU CAN GO TO LIKE, FINDING SOUTH AND, AND TAKE, TAKE TRANSIT INTO THE AREA. SO MY, AND SO LASTLY, I'M VERY, I, I USE THIS. SO I AM VERY PLEASED THAT THIS IS CONTINUING. OH, ONE LAST THING. THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAGNET FOR TWO THINGS. CYCLISTS, I KNOW NOW, SALLY, I KNOW YOU, YOU RIDE SAFELY. BUT THE CYCLISTS DOWNTOWN, THE, THE AGGRESSION, AGGRESSION HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THEY RIDE ON SIDEWALKS, THEY BREAK THE LAW. I ALMOST GOT HIT THREE TIMES JUST TRYING TO GET FROM THE RED LINE OVER TO FRANK'S PIZZA PARLOR ONE DAY. THAT NEEDS TO BE, AND I'VE TALKED TO THE CHIEF AT METRO ABOUT THAT ALSO. SO MAKE SOME COLLABORATION THERE. THAT IS ALSO BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE THING, AN AREA THAT'S GONNA BE A PANHANDLING MAG MAGNET. SO I WOULD SAY WORK WITH THE, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS, IT'S ALREADY A NO PANHANDLING ZONE. UH, THAT DOWNTOWN WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL, UH, CIVILITY AREAS. BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED A SAFE PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF TO GO AND ENJOY OURSELVES IN A CIVIL AND A REASONABLE COST MANNER. WITH THAT, I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALID POINTS AND WE'LL, UH, STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT. THANK YOU, CHRIS. NEXT, CHRIS LARSON. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE JUST SO EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO SHARE THIS PROJECT. UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, SUCCESS HAS MANY MOTHERS AND FATHERS. UM, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M LIFTING UP, UH, MANY OF THE PARTNER AGENCIES AND OTHERS THAT MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. UM, STARTING WITH, UH, TWO OF OUR BOARDS, UM, THAT, THAT WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF MANAGING, UH, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH FUNDED THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WHICH IS TOUR NUMBER THREE. AND I'M JOINED BY CURTIS FLOWERS, WHO IS THE CHAIR, UM, OF OUR DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD. UH, THEY HAVE BEEN LONGSTANDING SUPPORTERS OF THIS PROJECT AND HAVE HELPED, UH, FUND THE ENGINEERING TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UH, ALSO, I WOULD BE REMISS, UM, IF I DIDN'T, UM, REMIND US THAT, UH, THIS PROJECT STARTED WITH AN IDEA THAT CAME FROM CITY HALL. AND, AND BRIAN, WHO JUST PRESENTED, UM, WAS, WAS ONE OF THE, UM, THE, THE ORIGINATORS OF THAT CONCEPT OF, OF DOING SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT AND REALLY RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES THAT THE PANDEMIC PRESENTED. UH, THEY CAME TO US. THEY ASKED US TO CARRY THE TORCH FORWARD, UM, AND WE WERE HONORED TO DO SO TO EXPLORE THIS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. UH, BUT BRIAN WAS NOT ALONE. UH, HE WAS JOINED BY, UH, COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF CITY STAFF THAT ALSO MADE THIS POSSIBLE FOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UM, INCLUDING KIM MICKELSON, UH, ON THE LEGAL STAFF, UM, WHO HAS BEEN A VERY CREATIVE THINKER, UH, ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. UM, ALSO, ALL LIFE SAFETY AGENCIES HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED, UM, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO PRESENT THAT THROUGH THIS DESIGN AND THESE IMPROVEMENTS, ALL PERSPECTIVES ON LIFE AND SAFETY WILL BE IMPROVED, UH, THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION. UM, IN PARTICULAR, WANNA LIFT UP HPD FIRE, UH, METRO, AS WELL AS, UH, PLANNING DIRECTOR, UH, VRAN, WHO HAS BEEN, UH, A MAJOR SUPPORTER OF THIS EFFORT. COUNCIL MEMBERS CASTILLO AND MARTINEZ, UM, HAVE REQUESTED DETAILED UPDATES ON BEHALF OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. UH, WE FOUND THEM TO BE GREAT PARTNERS ALONG THE WAY, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ITSELF. AND THEN WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, BUSINESS, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UH, HAPPY [02:40:01] TO REPORT THAT 100% OF ALL OF THE BUSINESSES, UM, HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO AND OVER HALF HAVE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATIONS TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED, UM, IN THE DESIGN OF THIS PROCESS, INCLUDING THE INCORPORATION OF ADVISORY COUNCILS, UH, TO HELP TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION STAGES, UM, IN CONSTRUCTION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT ALSO IS MITIGATING THE IMPACTS. UH, RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, SOME OF THE LEGACY ON MAIN STREET HAS CREATED SOME CHALLENGES THAT WE STILL HEAR ABOUT TODAY. UH, AND SO WE HAVE, UH, IN EARNEST CREATED A MITIGATION STRATEGY TO HELP TO, UH, ENSURE THAT ALL BUSINESSES ARE VERY WELL COMMUNICATED WITH, UM, AND THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, TO MINIMIZE ANY DISRUPTION TO THEM. UM, ALSO ON MY TEAM, I'M JOINED BY, UH, BRETT DEBOARD, WHO WILL MANAGE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT. BRETT DEBOARD, UH, MOST RECENTLY MANAGED THE CONSTRUCTION OF BAGBY STREET, UM, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW WELL, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, TREBLE PARK. UM, AND SO HE'S A LONGSTANDING EMPLOYEE THAT KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT BUILDING, UM, IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, AS WELL AS CASSIE HOPER, WHO IS OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR. YOU CAN CONTINUE IF YOU'RE NOT TO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE MORE. UM, FINALLY WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALCORN, AS WELL AS EVAN SHABAZZ, UH, FOR THEIR SUPPORT, UM, ON HGAC AND THE TPC. UH, THIS PROJECT RECEIVED $12 MILLION OF FUNDING FROM HGAC TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, UM, AT NO LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AND SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THINK YOU MAY WITTMEYER FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT, YOUR VISION ABOUT DESTINATION BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN. UH, WE ARE JUST VERY, VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS GONNA BE, CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS BOTH MEMORABLE, UM, AND ICONIC FOR HOUSTON'S FUTURE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CHRIS, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR TAKING THIS IDEA AND GETTING IT UP UNTIL THIS POINT. UM, THE WAY THAT Y'ALL HAVE APPROACHED THIS PROJECT, FROM THE ENGAGEMENT TO THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS YOU'RE BRINGING TO MAIN STREET, UM, TO INCLUDE ART AND PLACEMAKING AND SHADE AND, AND THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT FACTORS, IT'S IMPRESSIVE. AND I THINK THE, THE RESULTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING AND, AND THAT THE EXCITEMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND THIS PROJECT SPEAKS TO HOW WELL Y'ALL HAVE EXECUTED IT. AND, AND I THINK OTHER PROJECTS COULD LEARN FROM, FROM HOW THIS WAS, UH, DESIGNED AND THOUGHT OUT AND, AND, AND IMPLEMENTED. SO, WANNA CONGRATULATE Y'ALL AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THE RIBBON CUTTING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER. VERY WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND PARTICULARLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESOURCES, . THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT TOOK, IT TOOK BOTH. THANK YOU. IS THERE MOTION TO ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? IF NOT HEARING IS CLOSE. IS SOMEBODY RAISED THEIR HAND? MAYOR, THERE'S, WHO RAISED YOUR HAND? YOU CAN COME DOWN FRONT. YOU MIGHT, UH, STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. THEODORE ELLOS. EITHER, EITHER. MIKE, GO AHEAD. THEODORE ELLOS WITH HOUSTON SIDE ACQUISITIONS. I'M A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER AND ALSO OWN A BUILDING ON THE 300 BLOCK OF MAIN STREET. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OKAY? NOW WE CAN. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. I, I CAME IN HERE AND LISTENED TO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WAS BEING SAID, AND I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT DOWNTOWN DISTRICT 2.0 HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF INCLUDING, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS, LANDLORDS, KEEPING THEM INFORMED, UM, ENCOURAGING THEM TO, UH, PARTICIPATE. AND I'VE BEEN REALLY PLEASED WITH, UH, WHAT THEY'VE DONE. I THINK THE, UH, MAIN STREET PROMENADE NAME IS REALLY GOOD FOR THE CITY. UM, HOUSTON'S A BIG CITY. IT CONTINUES TO GROW, AND I FIND THAT, UH, I'M A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, UH, DOWNTOWN AREA CAN BE KIND OF INTIMIDATING TO PEOPLE. IT'S HAS LOTS OF ONE WAY STREETS. UM, THEY COME DOWNTOWN, DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO, AND I THINK THIS MAIN STREET PROMENADE WITH IT. AND, AND WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH IS A REALLY EXCELLENT IDEA. IT HIGHLIGHTS MAIN STREET. UH, IT SAYS HOUSTON. UH, IT'S EASILY IDENTIFIABLE AND IT'S A LANDING PAD FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, HEAR PEOPLE SAY, I WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO START. AND IT'S JUST A GOOD LITTLE LANDING PAD AND THEY CAN GET OUT AND THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS AROUND, AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY GET LOST, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO IN TOWN. SO, VERY WELL. UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. COUNCILOR CASTILLO? NO, NO, THAT WAS FROM LAST TIME. THAT'S, THAT'S AN NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. STAY IN TOUCH. CASTEX TATUM MOVES TO CLOSE THE HEARING. MOTIONS MADE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME, MOTION PASSES. [02:45:01] THIS IS, THANK YOU, [CONSENT AGENDA] MR. SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY? ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND EIGHT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE? I'M SORRY, I NEED A MOTION ON ITEMS 2, 3, 6, AND SEVEN. CAST SIX TELL YOU TO MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY. NEED A MOTION ON ITEMS 9, 10, 11, AND 12 CAST. STATE A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY. NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 13? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEM 17, 17, AND 18 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED. AGAIN, THEY'LL BE RE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BY THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS 14, 27 AND 30 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR CONS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, I NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. I ITEM FOUR [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] IS A MOTION. I'M SORRY. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TAKE TO MOVE. TEN SECOND. MOTION. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN. I'M SORRY, SIR. SHABAZZ TAG AND POLLARD. POLLARD, UH, DO YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED OR JUST RECOGNIZED FOR THE TAG? NO, I JUST WANT TO TAG. OKAY. TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND EVAN SHABAZZ. NEXT, ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION TAG. CAN I TO MOVE? SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND I COUNCIL MEMBER TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND EVAN SHABA. EVAN SHABA POLLARD. SURE. NEXT, ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'M, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, THE RESIDENTS REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE SO FAR IN PHASE ONE, AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED WORK IN PHASE TWO. SO, THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST ME A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? MAYOR PROTO. MAYOR PROTE COUNCIL SIX STADIUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A WHILE. UM, WE'VE HAD STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS. THE DIRECTOR HAS, UM, PUT FORTH SOME SUGGESTIONS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD. UM, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO ADOPT THE DATA OF THE DISPARITY STUDY FROM 2023. UM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT MBE AND WBE CATEGORIES. WHAT WE FOUND OVER THE LAST 40 DAYS IS THAT'S WHERE WE'VE HAD, UH, MOST OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, UM, THE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS. SO WE ARE MAINTAINING THAT CURRENT, UH, MBE AND WBE CATEGORIES AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY. UH, WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING THE SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM, UH, FOR APPLICATION ACROSS ALL OF THE SPENDING CATEGORIES AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE WITHOUT A CAP, UH, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, GOODS AND OTHER SERVICES. UH, WE ARE ADDING A CERTIFICATION FOR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS ENTITIES. WE ARE INCLUDING WRAPAROUND PROGRAMS, WHICH IS SOME OF THE [02:50:01] FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVE FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW THE COMPLIANCE WORKS. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT DON'T TRADITIONALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CONTRACTING IN THE CITY. SO THERE WILL BE SOME WRAPAROUND SERVICES, UH, AVAILABLE FOR THOSE MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESSES. UM, AND THEN WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS, UM, PASSING THIS TODAY WILL ALLOW US TO GET THIS INFORMATION, UH, TO THE COURTS TO SEND TO OUR LAWSUIT. WE DID ASK THE JUDGE FOR AN EXTENSION FOR 30 DAYS. UH, WE'VE GONE OVER THAT 30 DAY PERIOD. WE, WE, YOU KNOW, ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXTENSION. UM, AT SOME POINT WE DO NEED TO GET THIS INFORMATION OVER, UH, TO THE JUDGE SO WE CAN DEAL WITH THE LAWSUIT AT HAND. UM, BUT WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO IS ALSO TO ALLOW THE OBO DIRECTOR ADDITIONAL TIME TO CONSIDER PUBLIC FEEDBACK, UM, TO MAKE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND GOAL CREDIT PARTICIPATION AND FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO HELP TO DEVELOP, UM, THESE MICRO PROGRAMS. AND AS MUCH AS WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONTRACTING HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. I THINK THIS IS THE MOST INCLUSIVE, UM, MWBE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, DIVIDED THE QUESTION PER SE. WE HAVE INCLUDED EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO BE INCLUDED. UM, AND AT THIS POINT, WE, WE DO NEED TO MOVE TO, UM, ACCEPT THE DATA AND ALSO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN CITY CONTRACTING, TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CITY CONTRACTING. VERY WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I, I ALSO WANTED TO JUST, UH, REITERATE A FEW OF THESE, UH, THESE ITEMS THAT MAYOR PRO TE UM, STRESS. I THINK THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT, UH, WE MAINTAIN EVERYBODY AS A CURRENT MBE AND WB. UM, AS WE START WORKING ON, ON, UH, THE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK, UH, THAT THE DIRECTOR WILL BE, UM, THEN PUTTING INTO RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THIS HAS BEEN A DEFINITELY A, A, UH, A HEAVY CONVERSATION FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF. BUT I WANT TO REASSURE OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, ALL COMMUNITIES THAT, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT YOU, UH, IN, IN HOW WE CAN HAVE A FAIR PLAYING FIELD FOR EVERYONE. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS DISPARITY STUDY HAS, HAS, HAS BROUGHT UP SEVERAL, SEVERAL QUESTIONS. UM, BUT I THINK MOVING FORWARD IN A, IN A WAY WHERE WE CAN BE COLLABORATIVE, UM, MAKING SURE FOLKS ARE AT THE TABLE, AND THE REAL WORK IS GONNA BE COMING OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS AS WE WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR TO IDENTIFY THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. UH, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, UH, REMAIN, UH, IN THE, IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AT THE TABLE. UH, I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL, UM, ALL SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENSURE THAT SOMEBODY THAT THEY ALL HAVE A OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY. UM, THE ONE THING THAT I, I DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, MAYOR, IS, UM, A DISPARITY STUDY, RIGHT? UM, THIS IS GONNA, THIS HAS TAKEN ALMOST 20 YEARS TO, TO PUT TOGETHER, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE WAITING 20 YEARS FOR THE NEXT DISPARITY STUDY. MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, SINCE THIS ONE WAS, WAS KICKED OFF IN 23 IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, WE, WE START LOOKING AT WHAT THAT DISPARITY STUDY LOOKS LIKE. UH, SO THAT WAY WE ENSURE THAT FOLKS MOVING INTO AN SBE PROGRAM, UH, AREN'T PUSHED INTO DISPARITY AS WELL. UM, AND SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, ALSO WITH, WITH THE ASSURANCES THAT, THAT WE ARE WORKING TO CONTINUE TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS AT THE TABLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LET ME JUST SAY I AGREE WITH YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, YES. ANOTHER ONE. WE SHOULDN'T WAIT 20 YEARS. AND I'M STILL, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS ON ONE PREVIOUSLY, AND NO ONE, NO ONE'S HAS SEEN IT. SO OBVIOUSLY I THINK IT, BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHARED, UM, AFTER SPENDING A MILLION DOLLARS, IT PUT THIS PROCESS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. SO LET'S NOT LET SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. I DO THINK IT'S, UH, IMPORTANT TO MENTION IF WE DO NOT SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE COURT, THE ENTIRE MWB PROGRAM IS IN JEOPARDY, WHICH WOULD SERVE NO ONE'S INTEREST, CERTAINLY NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT TO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, COMMEND, UM, OBO, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM KASS, TATUM, AND ALL PARTIES THAT WERE A PART OF THIS, THE COMMUNITY, THE STAKEHOLDERS. UH, [02:55:01] I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY SHOWING THAT WE'RE LISTENING, UM, AND THAT WE'RE ENGAGING. I, I WAS, I WAS ABLE TO SEND OUT A DISPARITIES KIND OF A, AN OUTLINE. UM, I SENT IT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS INTO THE TEAM, BASICALLY A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GENDER BASED DISPARITIES. UM, AND I THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH THAT THIS IS NOT OUR DATA, I, THE ONLY COMPARATIVE DATA I COULD FIND WAS NEW YORK IN TERMS OF KIND OF HOW WE FUNCTION, HOW WE WORK, AND THIS AND THIS. UM, AND WHAT WE NOTICED, AND THE SAME COMPANY, BY THE WAY, DID THIS STUDY. WHAT WE NOTICED IS THERE ARE BLIND SPOTS WHERE BLACK WOMEN OR GROUP OF BLACK MEN, HISPANIC WOMEN OR GROUP OF WITH HISPANIC MEN AND ASIAN WOMEN ARE A GROUP WITH, UM, WITH ASIAN MEN. SO, UM, WE ALL, WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE, AT THIS DATA THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DISAGGREGATE THE DATA BY GENDER AND RACIAL GROUPS. AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD. BUT I DO THINK THIS ORDINANCE TAKES THE RIGHT STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE VISIONS OF WHAT INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE, UM, EMBRACING BUSINESSES OWNED BY, BY PEOPLE WITH DISPAIR WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, LOCAL FIRMS, UM, WITH A MEANINGFUL PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND JUST REALLY SHOWING THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, AND THAT EVERYONE, UM, IS GOING TO BE INCLUDED. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO A REALLY ROBUST, UM, PROGRAM THAT I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I'M EXCITED TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY. AND, AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE DIRECTOR. MM-HMM . DIRECTOR HOR HAS, UH, WORKED LONG HOURS AND BEEN AVAILABLE FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. SO YEAH, SHE'LL CONTINUE TO LEAD US. ONE OF MY BETTER APPOINTMENTS, UH, SHE'S WITH HER FAMILY TODAY CELEBRATING HER DAUGHTER'S COLLEGE GRADUATION. SO LET'S WISH HER WELL. BUT WE'RE VERY, UH, FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND WHEN THIS ITEM CAME UP, UH, ORIGINALLY AND THE STUDY WAS PRESENTED, YOU KNOW, MY ISSUE WAS ALWAYS THE, THE LACK OF THE RESPONSES THAT WE GOT, THE, THE LOW ENGAGEMENT. WE HEARD A LOT OF FOLKS WHO CAME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO COUNCIL TO, TO SHARE THOSE THOUGHTS. AND TODAY, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO ADOPT THE DATA, BUT GO OUT AND DO MORE OF THAT ENGAGEMENT AND PRODUCE BETTER RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, WHICH IS WHAT WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PATH FORWARD. UM, THERE WON'T BE ANY RECLASSIFICATIONS IN THE INTERIM. UM, NO PERCENTAGES ARE GONNA BE CHANGING IN THE INTERIM. AND, AND ANY OF THOSE THINGS WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE COUNSEL ANYWAY. UH, SO THIS ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR COURT CASE. THIS ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THOSE BUSINESSES AND THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT SHOWED UP, UH, AND SAID THEY WANT TO BE HEARD AND, AND THEY WANNA PARTICIPATE, AND THEN COME BACK WITH A STRONGER SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAKES THE PROGRAM BETTER OVERALL. UH, SO I THINK WE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GET BEHIND AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON AND, UH, CONTINUE THE ENGAGEMENT AND CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION DOWN THE ROAD. I REALLY THINK YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS, YOUR WORDS ARE VERY VALUABLE IN CERTAINLY VERY ACCURATE. SO THANK YOU. YOU'LL BE INCLUDED IN ANYTHING THAT GOES FORWARD. YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYONE ON COUNCIL SHOULD PLAY A ROLE. UH, COUNCIL MAYOR, PRO TEM. COUNCIL TATUM. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. UH, OKAY. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, LET ME COMMEND, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEND, UM, OUR MAYOR, PRO TIM AND THE MAYOR AND THE TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER GOING FORWARD. UH, FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE VISION THAT WAS DONE IN 84, TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TOGETHER, UH, I THINK WAS GREAT LEADERSHIP AND VISION, UH, IN REGARDING HOUSTON. AND I THINK WE CAN'T DISREGARD THE PEOPLE WHO SACRIFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US WAS AT THE TABLE NO MATTER WHAT RACE, NO MATTER WHAT GENDER WAS AT THE TABLE. AND I WANT TO, WE CANNOT LAY THAT TO THE SIDE, BUT GOING FORWARD, UH, I AGREE WITH, WAS WANTED TO PIGGYBACK ON COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ STATEMENT. I WOULD HOPE GOING FORWARD, MAYOR, WHETHER MANY OF US PROBABLY WON'T BE HERE, BUT THIS DISPARITY STUDY, WE CANNOT DO THIS AGAIN. WE'VE GOTTA DO IT EVERY FIVE YEARS. I'M NOT TRYING TO PLAY BLAME ON THE PAST, BUT WE, WE ARE PICKING UP WHERE SOMEONE DROPPED THE BALL. AND OBVIOUSLY IT HAS COME TO THE POINT AND THE CITY IS ALWAYS GETTING THESE LAWSUITS. WE CAN'T KEEP MONEY FOR HAVING TO SPEND MONEY FOR LAWSUITS. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I THINK MOVING FORWARD WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WANT SEE DISPARITY AMONG ANYBODY. I KNOW, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, UH, AND SO OUR COMMUNITY IS MADE UP. WE ADVANCED. WE ARE AN INTERNATIONAL [03:00:01] CITY, BUT NOT JUST A, A STATE LARGE, A NATIONAL, WE ARE INTERNATIONAL, LARGE CITY, AND ALL PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AND BE FAIR. AND I THINK THIS IS A RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO. AND I JUST WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT WHATEVER THE OUTCOME IS, THAT EVERYBODY IS AT THE TABLE AND EVERYBODY'S REPRESENTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PASSES. UH, MAYOR PROTE STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF FINE TUNE A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE LAST DISPARITY STUDY WAS SEALED BY THE JUDGE. UM, SO IT WASN'T A PARTICULAR PERSON'S IDEA NOT TO SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE. THE JUDGE, UM, IN THE LAWSUIT SEALED THAT DISPARITY STUDY SO THAT, UM, THAT INFORMATION WOULD NOT BE USED IN THE LAWSUIT AGAINST US AS A CITY. SO I, I HOPE THAT WE WILL MOVE PAST THAT. THAT WAS IN 2016. THAT DATA WOULD HAVE BEEN SO OLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BEEN PER, HAVE BEEN PERTINENT TO OUR CONVERSATIONS TODAY. THIS STUDY WAS DONE IN 2023. IF WE ARE COMMITTING TO DOING A STUDY EVERY FIVE OR SO YEARS, WE ARE COMING UP ON ANOTHER STUDY HERE PRETTY SOON. SO WE GOTTA GET OUR ACT TOGETHER. UM, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DATA. UH, AND THEN THE OTHER THING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING TERMINOLOGY WHEN YOU SAY PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE'S ONLY TWO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY WITH. PEOPLE WERE HAPPY WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. SO I THINK THE, THE WORDS WE USE ARE IMPORTANT. UM, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY WITH IS WHERE WE LEFT THE SAME, TO USE MORE TIME TO CREATE SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN BE HAPPY WITH. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T SAY PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS CAME TO THE TABLE AND ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS. UM, AND I THINK THAT IT SHOWS, UM, KIND OF WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER SAID THAT WE ARE LISTENING, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT. WE ARE ALLOWING MORE TIME TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND DEVELOP A PROGRAM WHERE ALL PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CITY CONTRACTING. VERY WELL. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM INTACT. UH, BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT EVEN IF WE WERE TO HAVE A PROGRAM OR A STUDY EVERY FIVE YEARS, YOU GOTTA RESPECT THE OUTCOMES OF THE STUDY, RIGHT? THE STUDY IS GONNA COME BACK WITH CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON DATA THAT THE CITY PROVIDES. AND, UH, WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, THE THE NUMBERS ARE THE NUMBERS, OKAY? SO WE, WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS HAVE A, A, A STUDY EVERY FIVE YEARS, OR A STUDY HOWEVER MANY YEARS APART, AND THEN ARGUE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE MERITS OF THE STUDY. UH, BECAUSE THE MERITS OF THE STUDY, UM, HAVE TO BE JUSTIFIED, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE BE CREDIBLE IN, IN, IN ORDER TO USE THEM IN AN ARGUMENT, UH, WITH WHATEVER PENDING LITIGATION, UH, MAY BE BEFORE US. UM, THE ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE ENGAGEMENT DOESN'T CHANGE THE NUMBERS, OKAY? THE ENGAGEMENT IS FOR, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF A BETTER PROGRAM TO GET, TO GET INSIGHT FROM VENDORS ON WAYS IN WHICH TO IMPROVE. BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TOTAL SPEND. SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RESPECT THE NUMBERS AND THE STUDY WHEN IT COMES BACK, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T AND WE KEEP THINGS THE SAME, THEN THERE'S NO POINT TO WASTE MONEY ON THE STUDY IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO, UH, I'M GLAD THIS IS GOING FORWARD. I KNOW THAT THE MCGOWAN FAMILY IS HERE, UH, BISHOP JAMES DIXON AND OTHERS, UH, SERGIO O LIRA AND OTHERS. I, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. UH, THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. UH, MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO HELPED, UH, CREATE THIS PROGRAM WITH, UM, THE MCGOWAN FAMILY AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE, UH, MID EIGHTIES. AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO SMALL MINORITY BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE PIE. UH, SO THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND, AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE LEADERSHIP MAYOR AND YOUR TEAM, UH, AND FOR EVERYONE AROUND THIS BODY WHO HAS PUT FORTH AN EFFORT, UH, TO GET US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND IT'S TO THE MAYOR PROM'S POINT. YES. WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PEOPLE DISAGREED WITH, IT WASN'T ALL OF THEM, BUT IT WAS, IT [03:05:01] WAS CERTAIN ONES. THOSE WERE THE ONES I WAS REFERENCING. UM, AND SO GLAD TO CLARIFY THAT. UM, AS WE TALK ABOUT FUTURE STUDIES, UH, WE SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE ENGAGEMENT ON THE FRONT END AS WELL, UM, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE WE DO NEED BOTH SIDES. WE NEED THE DATA AND WE NEED THE, UH, EXPERIENCE FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE A PART OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL, TO GET THE COMPLETE PICTURE. AND SO, UH, AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT'S COMING IN THE FUTURE, THE NEXT STUDY, UM, WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT IS A PART OF IT FROM THE BEGINNING. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, MOVE TO CALL TO QUESTION. ROLL CALL VOTE. MR. SECRETARY, YOU CALL THE ROLE, PLEASE. MAYOR WHITMEYER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? YES. PASSES 12 TO THREE. 12 TO THREE. YES, SIR. MOTION PASSES. 12 TO THREE. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU. AND NOW THAT THAT IS DONE, THE WORK BEGINS. RIGHT? UM, AND ONE THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS, AND AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW STUDIES, IT'S OKAY TO DO A NEW STUDY. THAT'S, THAT'S FINE. BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE METRICS OF ALL THESE AMAZING PROJECTS AND NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING IN THIS. WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THOSE ARE IMPROVING THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE SUCCESS OF COMPANIES. AND IF WE'RE FINDING ALONG THE WAY THAT THEY'RE NOT WORKING, WE NEED TO ASK THE DEEPER QUESTIONS ON WHY AREN'T THEY WORKING? AND ONE THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BRING TO THE FOREFRONT IS BONDING. MAKING SURE THE CITY PAYS ON TIME, AND, AND ENSURING THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THE INSURANCE THAT THEY NEED AND THE FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES OPEN. THOSE ARE THE LARGEST CHALLENGES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE. SO, REALLY GONNA BE EAGER TO FINDING WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN ASSIST THESE SMALL BUSINESSES OF DOING THAT. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO THAT PART, THEN DOING ANOTHER STUDY IS WORTHLESS. 'CAUSE THE SAME SITUATIONS ARE GONNA HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHY MINORITY BUSINESSES DON'T DO WELL IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. EXCUSE ME. VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, WHO IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. VERY WELL. 27 TAG, UH, CAYMAN OR PECK ON BEHALF OF CAYMAN? ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 43 HAS A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. I DID WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT ONE. SORRY. UH, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX STADIUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COLLEAGUES. LAST WEEK I DID, UM, TAG THIS ITEM, UH, TO MY SURPRISE, THIS IS, UH, THE LIBRARY IN DISTRICT K. UM, AND WHEN I SAW THAT THE, UM, ITEM HAD AN UNSATISFACTORY RATING, I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I WAS THERE ON SITE. UM, THE PROJECT MANAGER ON THIS PROJECT IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE. UM, I WAS THERE, I SAW THE WORK HAPPENING. UM, SO I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH, UM, THE, WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SPA GLASS AND, UM, TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MWBE PARTICIPATION AND A PROJECT THAT IS, IS AN AWARD-WINNING PROJECT. UM, MIGHT I ADD THAT THIS LIBRARY HAS WON FOUR PRESTIGIOUS, UM, AWARDS? UM, [03:10:01] I WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THEY DID NOT MEET THEIR MWBE GOALS. AND SO I DID WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE ORGANIZATION TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. UM, I'M CONFIDENT, UM, THAT, UM, THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS PARTICULAR, UH, GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WORKED ON THIS PROJECT, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST PROJECT OF THIS TYPE IN THE CITY IN OVER 10 YEARS. AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEY MISCALCULATED THEIR MWBE PARTICIPATION. I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR OF OBO. I SPOKE TO SPA GLASS. UM, THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER UNSATISFACTORIES. UM, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'VE DONE GREAT WORK FOR OUR AIRPORTS. UM, AND THEY HAVE MET AND EXCEEDED THEIR MWBE GOALS. BUT, UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF OUR DISPARITY STUDY AND TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE, ARE DOING CITY WORK AND, UH, RECEIVING THESE CITY CONTRACTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE MEETING OUR MWBE GOALS. SO, UM, THEY DID, UH, NOT MEET THEIR GOAL CREDIT, HOWEVER, THEY DID, UM, PAY THE SUBCONTRACTORS, UH, UH, MORE MONEY. IT JUST DID NOT GET TO COUNT IN THEIR ACTUAL CALCULATIONS. SO THEY, THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY MADE A MISTAKE ON THEIR CALCULATIONS. THEY ARE DEFINITELY WILL, THEY WERE WILLING TO COME TO COUNCIL AND EXPLAIN HOW THAT HAPPENED. UM, AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY, THEY DO, THEY HAVE, UH, WON SOME ADDITIONAL AWARDS, UM, THAT HAPPENED BEFORE WE RECEIVE THE UNSATISFACTORY, UH, RATING. UH, SO I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 43 AFTER HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ORGANIZATION. OKAY. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 44 IS A MOTION. NEEDS A MOTION PASS. STATE A MOVE. MOTION I SECOND MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 45. ITEM 45 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, UH, THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS, THIS ITEM. UM, JUST AS, AS, UM, TO REITERATE, THIS IS A OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMPANY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A STATE INCENTIVE THROUGH, THROUGH THE STATE SALES TAX. AND SO THIS IS NOTHING THAT TAKES AWAY FROM OUR GENERAL FUND. UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THIS IS ONE, ONE AVENUE, ONE TOOL TO USE. SO I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT. VERY WELL. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, UH, COLLEAGUES. I TAGGED ITEM 46, UH, LAST WEEK BECAUSE THIS WAS RELATED TO OUR STUDY FOR OUR, UH, WATER RATE, UH, FOR ME. AND WE JUST COMPLETED A WATER RATE STUDY, BUT THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO. SO I HAD CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. UM, THIS IS A DIFFERENT VENDOR THAN WE USED WITH THE PREVIOUS ONE. AND IF YOU CAN RECALL, JUNE OF 21, WE ISSUED THE CONSENT DECREE. IT WAS EFFECTIVE, I BELIEVE, JANUARY 22. AND THEN WE ENTERED A RATE STUDY THAT CAME BACK AT ALMOST AN 8% HIKE. SO ANYTHING RELATED TO, UM, WATER FEES, METER CONSENT DECREE, MY EYES ARE ON AS MANY, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE DEALING WITH CONSTITUENT ISSUES WITH THE WATER BILLS. UM, BUT I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY, UM, UH, A LESSER RATE THAT MAY HOPEFULLY COME BACK. UH, BUT THAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION OF MY TAG. I SUPPORT THE ITEM. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THAT'S IT. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU FOR [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] POPOFF. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK THE FIREFIGHTERS OF STATION 27, THE LIONS DEN. THEY, UH, HAD ME OVER FOR LUNCH LAST WEEK, AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO VISIT AND TALK ABOUT, UM, A FEW OF THE THINGS THEY'RE DEALING WITH OVER IN THE, THE DENVER HARBOR AREA. [03:15:01] FIRE CHIEF JOINED US FOR A LITTLE BIT. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY MENTIONED WAS LATHROP ROAD AND THE CONDITION OF THAT ROAD AND, AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING THEIR APPARATUS. SO I'LL BE VISITING WITH, UH, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT IT, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE TIME TO GO OUT AND, UH, VISIT WITH THEM AND TO HAVE LUNCH. IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION. LOOK FORWARD TO, TO VISITING SOME MORE FIRE STATIONS IN DISTRICT H THIS PAST WEEKEND. I PARTICIPATED IN THE CINCO DE MAYO PARADE HERE DOWNTOWN, THE LULAC COUNCIL 60 PARADE. UM, IT WAS ANOTHER WONDERFUL CELEBRATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY YEAR AND, AND JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR PUTTING TOGETHER, UM, A PARADE THAT CELEBRATES CINCO DE MAYO. I ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, THE TEXANS TEEN CLUB, UH, IN DISTRICT H AND TAKE A TOUR, UM, AND GET TO KNOW SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS. UH, THEY ACTUALLY LED SOME OF THE TOUR, WHICH WAS, UH, WHICH WAS GREAT, AND ALL THE GOOD WORK. THE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB DOES. UM, THEY HELP YOUNG FOLKS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND, AND STAY FOCUSED AND GROW INTO STRONG LEADERS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THEM. UH, AND I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THE TIME AND GIVING ME A TOUR OF THEIR FACILITY. I WANNA REMIND FOLKS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I ARE HOSTING TWO BUDGET TOWN HALLS COMING UP NOW, WE'RE THAT, WE'RE IN MAY. UM, THE FIRST ONE IS ON MAY 17TH OVER AT THE FONDE COMMUNITY CENTER. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO HAVING A VIRTUAL BUDGET TOWN HALL ON MAY 22ND. UM, I WANNA ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU CAN'T MAKE OUR PUBLIC HEARING HERE AT CITY HALL. UH, THIS IS A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, SHARE YOUR INPUT, YOUR FEEDBACK, ASK QUESTIONS. UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING THESE TWO. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES. SO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ISN'T HERE TODAY, UM, BUT SHE'S AT, UH, THE AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE LUNCHEON. SHE'S ACTUALLY, UH, BEING HONORED AS THEIR AMBASSADOR OF ADVOCACY HONOREE. UM, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW PASSIONATE SHE IS, UM, ABOUT VICTIMS OF, UH, AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. AND, UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HER ON BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HER LEADERSHIP, UH, IN THIS ISSUE. AND, AND THAT'S WHERE SHE IS AT THE MOMENT. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, MY PARENTS. THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY YESTERDAY. UH, THERE'S A BIG MILESTONE FOR THEM. THEIR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER HAS, HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION, UH, TO ME. AND I KNOW THEY HAVE MANY YEARS OF HAPPINESS LEFT TOGETHER, SO I WANNA WISH THEM A VERY HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, TO ALL OUR COLLEAGUES. I, I WANT TO, UH, LAST WEEK I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO TOUR OUR CITY, UH, EAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT. AND I WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR ACCOMMODATING ME IN MY OFFICE. IT WAS SIMPLY AN EYE OPENING TOUR. THIS FACILITY, UH, THIS CRUCIAL PIECE OF OUR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IS OVER 70 YEARS OLD. IT AS OLD AS I AM. OKAY? AND THAT'S GETTING UP THERE, ALL RIGHT. AND IT SUPPLIES WATER TO THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITY. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE AS A COUNCIL MEMBERS LAST WEEK, WERE ABLE TO APPROVE OUR CITY'S APPLICATION FOR THE, THE 966 MILLION OF THE STATE SWIFT FUNDS. UM, WHICH WILL HELP TO KEEP, TO GO TOWARDS MUCH NEEDED, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT INTO THIS PLANT. IF NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN THIS, I, I, I WOULD BEG YOU ALL, YOU, YOU GOTTA GO LOOK AT THIS PLAN. IT OUGHT TO BE A REQUIREMENT. IT, IT, IT, SERIOUSLY, AND I'M, AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS AND GO, IT IS IN, I MEAN, THE CONDITIONS THAT IS FRAGILE. ABSOLUTELY. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP OF THE WATER GOING TO A HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND ALL OVER THE CITY, I MEAN, IT, IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE, THE, THE BACKUP GENERATORS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, IT GOES DOWN, WE WOULDN'T HAVE, WATER WOULD ONLY LAST US 48 HOURS. THAT'S IT. NO, WE WOULD RUN OUTTA WATER IN THE CITY. UM, AND SO I REALLY WISH TO HELP TO GO TOWARDS MUCH NEED, INVEST IN THIS PLANT. AND, UM, MAYOR, I PRAY THAT YOUR CONTINUAL ASK OF THE STATE TO STEP UP AND DEAL WITH THIS MATTER, THIS IS A, THIS IS A REALLY, UM, I, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY MORE WORDS I COULD ADD TO HOW BAD IT REALLY IS. SO, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE THAT KNOWN TO EVERYONE. UM, I WANT TO, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF MEMORIAL HERMANN NURSES THAT I HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE IN 100 YEARS OF THEIR WORK, TO ALL [03:20:01] OF US, TO THIS CITY, TO OUR NATION. NURSES ARE VERY VALUABLE PEOPLE. AND I WANT TO EXTEND A THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR NURSES, UH, OUT THERE FOR THEIR THANKLESS WORK. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, THE INVITE TO, UH, SPEAKING AT A TOWN HALL ON LAST NIGHT ABOUT CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY. UH, IT WAS REALLY EYE-OPENING. IT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WE ALL JUMP ON. CRIME IS AFFECTING ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS AND ALL OF OUR CITY. AND CERTAINLY THAT'S A VERY NEEDFUL IN, UH, TIME AND, UH, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE INITIATIVE OF THE PA UH, POLICE PASTORS AND PEOPLE. AND WE HOPE TO FURTHER THAT. BUT, UH, SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE A FEW SHOUTOUTS AND CERTAINLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA A GREAT TURNOUT. VERY GOOD INFORMATION CHIEF DIAZ PROVIDED ON LAST NIGHT. THANK YOU. AND LET ME THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE EAST SIDE WATER TREATMENT, UM, BUILT IN 1954 FURNISHES, 60% OF THE CITY'S WATER AND THE REFINERIES. SO WE'RE TALKING TO ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THE, UH, AUSTIN REQUEST IS VERY COMPETITIVE, UH, FUND, WHICH IS VERY COMPETITIVE WITH ALL THE NEEDS OF, OF MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS TEXAS. WE'RE OBVIOUSLY TALKING TO ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. UH, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. IT MAKES US VERY VULNERABLE. OUR, OUR SHEER, UH, VIABILITY IS AT STAKE. IT'S ACTUALLY A HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUE IN, IN REGARDS TO FURNISHING WATER FOR THE REFINERY. SO IT'S BEEN NEGLECTED FOR WAY TOO MANY YEARS, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO TALK TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT ITS ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT, THAT NEED A LOT OF QUICK ATTENTION. AND THEN I HAD TO, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR GOING, I REALLY THINK, YEAH. AND I HAD ONE OF THE BASES, IF YOU HAD A COUNCIL ORIENTATION YEAH. PERIOD. IT OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED ALONG WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES. BUT IT, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. AND, AND, AND THE, AND THE, AND OUR LINES THAT PROVIDE AND PUMP THE WATER IN, THAT'S IN DANGER. SO WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT REQUESTS AND, AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC WE'LL GET THOSE FUNDS FOR LIFT STATIONS COMING OUT OF THE, UH, TREATMENT PLANT ACROSS HOUSTON. THAT'S CORRECT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. NEXT, UH, COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. UM, JUST ONE UPDATE. UM, ON LAST WEEK, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND VISIT WITH MS. MCGOWAN, WANNA THANK HER FOR COMING IN AND GIVING COMMENT ABOUT, UM, THE, UM, DISPARITY STUDY. UM, BUT WHEN I VISITED WITH HER, SHE, UM, THERE'S, WELL, CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING OVER IN THE AREA WHERE WE ARE DOING SOME CIP PROJECTS. AND THE MAIN ROAD TIT WELL IS SHUT DOWN. AND SO THE TRAFFIC HAS BEEN REROUTED TO MS. MCGOWAN STREET, WHICH SHE HAS NO SIDEWALKS. IT IS A NARROW STREET. AND SO YOU HAVE 18 WHEELER, WAIT, 18 WHEELERS IN HIGH TRAFFIC GOING UP AND DOWN THAT STREET. AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT THERE AND WATCH THE TRAFFIC. AND SO I DID, UM, GET WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND I WANT TO ANNOUNCE TO MS. MCGOWAN THAT, UM, THEY ARE RE RECONFIGURING THE, UM, TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN. UM, SO WE'RE GONNA REOPEN, UM, TIDWELL EASTBOUND, UM, AND DIVERT TRAFFIC TO MESA ROAD. UM, ALSO THEY'RE GONNA, THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL THERE, THEY ACTUALLY PUT NO TRUCK SIGNS, BUT THEY ALSO GONNA PUT AN OFFICER THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IS GOING UP. UM, PARLET DRIVE, UM, ENFORCEMENT MEASURES. UM, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE FLAGGERS AS WELL, UM, OFF DO, UH, AGAIN, OFF DUTY DUTY POLICE OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC. AND WE JUST GONNA DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAFFIC IS NOT GOING UP AND DOWN THAT, UM, ROAD. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I WANNA THANK, UM, RANDY FOR, YOU KNOW, EXPEDITING A PLAN TO, UM, ADDRESS THE ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THE CIP, UM, BUT WE HAVE TO REDIRECT TRAFFIC AND WHY DO WE REDIRECT TRAFFIC? UM, AND DOWN THIS ROAD IS NOT SAFELY. SO, UM, THAT THAT PLAN IS MOVING. I WILL KEEP THE COMMUNITY INFORMED AND UPDATED AS WE, UM, CHANGE, AS THE PLAN CHANGE AND INCREASE, UM, UM, UM, AND TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, IS DIVERTED. SO I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED ON THAT. ALSO, TOMORROW WE'LL BE HAVING OUR JOB FAIR BE SUCCESSFUL JOB FAIR AT THE JUSTIN ROBINSON SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER. UM, IT STARTS AT 9:00 AM UM, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 47 EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO BE THERE, AND THESE EMPLOYERS ACTUALLY HIRE SECOND CHANCE INDIVIDUALS. AND SO WE ENCOURAGING, UM, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB, COME OUT, UM, AND, UM, COME TO THE JOB FAIR. THE LAST JOB FAIR, WE HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE, UM, JOB SEEKERS SHOW UP. AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THIS PARTICULAR JOB FAIR, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT IN PLEASANTVILLE. UM, BUT I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF, UM, PARTICIPATION, [03:25:01] ESPECIALLY WITH THE PORT OPPORTUNITIES AND SO FORTH. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, THAT'S IT. HAVE A BLESSED WEEK. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. LAST WEEK, UH, DISTRICT G WE HOSTED A COFFEE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE COPS. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO HPD FOR ALWAYS BEING SO SUPPORTIVE. THE RESIDENTS, UM, LOVE BEING ABLE TO INTERACT, UH, WITH HPD AT THESE EVENTS. WE HAVE SOME UPCOMING IN THE FUTURE, SO PLEASE, UM, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THAT INFORMATION. RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LAST WEEK TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AT THE REQUEST OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM MAYOR TO HELP OUT A LITTLE BIT AND TESTIFY ON A BILL, UM, THAT RELATES TO, UH, OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT REVENUE. AND THIS IS A REMINDER TO HOUSTONIANS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, THINGS GOING ON AT THE LEGISLATURE THAT WILL AFFECT OUR ABILITY, UH, AND OUR, OUR FINANCES, UH, OUR ABILITY TO, TO, UH, FUNCTION. WE'RE ABOUT TO START THE BUDGET SEASON. AND, UM, THERE WAS ONE BILL IN PARTICULAR THAT I TESTIFIED ON. IT WAS SENATE BILL 9 24 BEFORE THE HOUSE, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADBAND THAT WOULD, UH, PREVENT THE CITY FROM COLLECTING ABOUT $10 MILLION A YEAR IN FRANCHISE FEES. UH, AND IF, IF THAT BILL PASSES, IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR FINANCES. SO I TESTIFIED IN OPPOSITION TO IT AT THE REQUEST OF LEGISLATIVE TEAM. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM. UH, THEY WORK VERY HARD UP THERE. THEY ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND VERY ORGANIZED, AND, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL, THEY'LL, UH, BE EFFECTIVE. THERE'S ANOTHER BILL I THINK HOUSTONIANS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF ENFORCEMENT OF OUR NOISE ORDINANCE. AND THAT'S HOUSE BILL 1517, UM, AUTHORED BY, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HERNANDEZ. IT WOULD ALLOW CONSTABLES TO ENFORCE OUR CITY ORDINANCES, INCLUDING OUR NOISE ORDINANCE. SO IF THAT PASSES, IT WILL BE EASIER FOR US TO ENTER INTO IN AGREEMENTS WITH, UH, OUR CONSTABLES, UH, TO DOUBLE, PERHAPS EVEN TRIPLE OUR NOR NOISE ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY. SO IF YOU CARE ABOUT THAT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO REACH OUT TO YOUR LEGISLATORS AND TELL 'EM YOU SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 1517. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, RESIDENTS, HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE, AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR DISASTER, UH, PREPAREDNESS PLAN. YOU CAN VISIT READY HOUSTON TX.GOV. UM, FOR OUTLINE DETAILS. WE DO HAVE A PSA OUT ABOUT THAT, BUT I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISTRICT F NEWSLETTER AS WE SEND EMERGENCY ALERTS ROUTINELY. IN ADDITION, THE DISTRICT OF TRANSLATION TEAM, AS YOU KNOW, UM, OUR, WE HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE, UH, DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT THIS INFORMATION IS TRANSLATED IN, UH, THEIR LANGUAGE OF COMFORT. UM, SECOND, I WANNA JUST HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF THE A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 25. UH, THEY GALILEE RECEIVED A QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR GRANT, UM, TO SUPPORT THE WATERING OF TREES. AND UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE TRUMP CUTS OF THOSE, THAT QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS WAS, UH, UH, REJECTED. UM, AND THEY NO LONGER HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. SO I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE COMMUNITY LED WORK THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE, UM, AND WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, MY OFFICE HAS SUPPORTED, UM, THAT INITIATIVE FINANCIALLY THROUGH THE DAWN MATCHING GRANT. UH, UM, A LEAF AT PERIODS OF TIME IS 11 TO 13 DEGREES HOTTER THAN ANY PART OF THE, OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND SO AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO, THE A LEAF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PLANTED 1,004 TREES. SO JUST SHOUT OUT TO YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. A LEE VOTES OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP, OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR RESIDENTS, AND OUR FRIENDS. AND I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT SOLID WASTE IS STILL TWO WEEKS BEHIND. UH, MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED, UM, UH, UH, EMAILS ABOUT THE DELAY. WE ARE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO KEEP YOUR CONTAINERS ON THE CURB AS SOLID WASTE WORKS TO CLEAR THOSE SITES. UM, WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT AND GUIDANCE WILL BE SHARED IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER. UM, ALSO SAVE THE DAY TO THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ON MAY 13TH. UM, I WILL BE HOSTING THE FILIPINO COUNCIL GENERAL AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL NURSES WEEK HIGHLIGHTING, UH, THE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR FILIPINO NURSES, UM, AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT, UM, WITH ALL OF YOU IN CHAMBERS AND, AND ALL OF YOU IN COMMUNITY. ALSO, MAY 20TH, IT IS THE 27TH ANNUAL DELTA DAY AT CITY HALL. WE ARE TURNING CITY HALL RED. UM, SO MEMBERS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED, WHERE YOUR CRIMSON AND YOUR CREAM, AND LET'S GET READY TO WORK. WE WILL START OUT OUR DAY LISTENING TO CONTROLLER HOLLINS AS HE SHARES HIS CURRENT, UM, UH, BUDGET FISCAL YEAR TREND REPORT. WE WILL LISTEN TO THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM AROUND THEIR BUDGET AND THEN ALSO CONCLUDE WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. UM, AND THEN LASTLY, ON MAY 21ST, MY OFFICE AND A HOST OF OTHERS, WE ARE HOSTING AN IMMIGRATION ROUND TABLE. I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE SAID INSTITUTE, HOUSTON HAITIANS UNITED, THE NIGERIA [03:30:01] CENTER, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM JUDGE CLARE YATES, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN IMMIGRATION JUDGE, AND OUR ANG COUNCIL GENERAL. MORE TO COME ON THAT. IF MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY SUPPORT OR RESOURCE OR ADVOCACY ON YOUR BEHALF, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT DISTRICT F@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASICK STADIUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS ON, UH, TOMORROW THE CENTRAL AFRICA BUSINESS AND ENERGY FORUM IS HAPPENING. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ARE ALL INVITED IF YOU'D LIKE TO, UH, BE THERE. THE THEME IS BEYOND BORDERS, A NEW ERA OF ENERGY AND OPPORTUNITY. UH, THIS CONFERENCE IS BRINGING TOGETHER GRO GLOBAL ENERGY LEADERS, INVESTORS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO DISCUSS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UM, CENTRAL AFRICA. ALSO WANT TO GIVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE FOR OUR FORT BEND RESIDENTS. WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ALONG SOUTH POST OAK BETWEEN COURT ROAD AND ARD ROAD. UM, OUR PANEL REPLACEMENT PROJECT, I DID, UM, TAKE SOME TIME TO DRIVE DOWN SOUTH POST OAK, UM, TO SEE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. UM, IT IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS, UH, AND WE EXPECT THAT CONSTRUCTION TO WRAP UP EARLY JUNE. UM, DO WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS AND THE TEAM FOR KEEPING DISTRICT A, UM, PROJECTS, UH, MOVING FORWARD. AND THEN, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THAT WE DID HAVE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHUT DOWN ANOTHER NUISANCE BUSINESS IN DISTRICT A. UM, AFTER MONTHS OF CALLS, COMPLAINTS, COMMUNITY CONCERNS. IRONICALLY, THE NAME OF THE STORE IS THE FRIENDLY STORE, UH, ON, UH, HILLCROFT. IT WAS A VERY UNFRIENDLY STORE. UH, AND REALLY THIS WASN'T REALLY JUST ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT. THIS WAS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY FROM LOITERING, FIGHTS, DRUG ACTIVITY, UM, AN ENVIRONMENT THAT REALLY PUT THE COMMUNITY AT RISK. AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE PLAYED A PART IN CREATING THIS NUISANCE, UM, SO THAT WE COULD, UH, GET WITH THE OWNER TO GET THIS BUSINESS, UH, SHUT DOWN. HPD AND THE DRT FROM SOUTH GESNER AND THE SOUTHWEST COMMAND STATION. OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE VIGILANT WITH MAKING THOSE CALLS SO THAT WE COULD BUILD A CASE. UH, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS STELLAR IN HELPING US TO, UM, BUILD THIS CASE. AND, UH, WE JUST WANNA KEEP WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP DISTRICT K SAFE AND A WELCOMING PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK, AND THRIVE. SO, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND WORKING AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE, UM, CREATING HARM AND, AND DOING BAD IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, MAY 1ST THROUGH 31ST MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TIME FOR US TO RAISE A AWARENESS TO FIGHT THE STIGMA AND SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. UM, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A COMPASSIONATE, INFORMED COMMUNITY THAT PR PRIORITIZES MENTAL WELLBEING FOR ALL. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT TOMORROW AT 10:00 AM WE WILL HAVE A JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING. UM, IT WILL BE A JOINT MEETING BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS, AND THE LABOR COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS HPDS NEW CONTRACT. UM, WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY CHIEF HARDIN WITH HPD, DEIDRE NORRIS WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AND RHONDA SMITH, CFO FOR HPD. UM, AS WE ARE ABOUT TO, UM, ENTER INTO OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THAT SINCE IT'S PART OF THE BUDGET. SO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND TOMORROW. THANK YOU. MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANNA, UH, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE MOTHERS, FIRST AND FOREMOST AROUND THE HORSESHOE. UH, THIS SATURDAY IS Y MADRES AND SUNDAY'S MOTHER'S DAY. I WANT TO LIFT UP MY MOM, UH, WHO RAISED 12 KIDS, AND THEN OF COURSE, MY WIFE, UH, HELPED, YOU KNOW, ALSO RAISING FOUR KIDS. SO, UH, JUST FOR THE MOTHERS HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY THIS WEEKEND, ENJOY YOUR FAMILY. MM-HMM . UM, AND RECEIVE ALL THE LOVE THAT Y'ALL CAN GET. AND Y'ALL DESERVE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR, I'M GONNA THANK YOU TODAY. UH, WHAT, YEAH, I, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, UH, I HEARD FROM YOUR TEAM THIS MORNING THAT, UM, MANY OF MY CDSF PROPOSALS HAVE FINALLY BEEN APPROVED. AND, UM, SO THAT WILL BE OUR PREP PRIVATE HEAVY TRASH PROGRAM. UM, OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM WHO ASSISTS, UH, DISABLED VETERANS AND ELDERLY WITH MINOR HOME REPAIRS. THE JUNETEENTH BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT FOR THE [03:35:01] HISTORIC SLAVE CEMETERY, THE JUNETEENTH BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT ON KEEGAN'S BAYOU. UH, THE PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH THE ADVOCATES OF THE LATINO MUSEUM AND THE OVERTIME FOR HPD HAS BEEN APPROVED. SO, UH, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME WITH YOUR OFFICE. THEY ALL PASSED OR WENT THROUGH LEGAL AND WERE DEEMED PERMISSIBLE MONTHS AGO. UH, SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT DONE, AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THESE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES GOING, UH, IN JAY CITY. VERY GOOD. YOU'RE WELCOME. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I ENJOYED BEING AT YOUR BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY, AND, UH, COLLEAGUES WERE MEETING TODAY AT TWO O'CLOCK WHERE WE'LL BE STARTING TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS OF THE FY 26 BUDGET. UM, THIS BUDGET, THIS GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS ACTUALLY DOWN $74 MILLION. SO, UM, DUE TO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THAT FROM THE EY REPORT AND OTHER THINGS GOING ON, AND, UH, ANYWAY, LOOK FORWARD TO IT. TWO O'CLOCK TODAY. SEE EVERYBODY THERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY A COUPLE WEEKS TO GO, TO GO AND, AND VISIT WITH SOME FRIENDS OUT ON 11TH STREET ON THE BIKE LANES. UM, WE WALKED AWAY, NOT DIS, NOT TOTALLY DISAGREEING, BUT NOT TOTALLY AGREEING EITHER. UH, CERTAINLY WAS GLAD TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT. FAST FORWARD, UH, ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS WAS ON A SUNDAY MORNING MINDING HER OWN BUSINESS IN A COFFEE SHOP ON MONTROSE, AND SOMEONE RECOGNIZED HER AS A STAFF MEMBER OF MINE FROM A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, AND PROCEEDED TO HARASS HER OVER WHAT THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE REPORTED, WHICH MY OPINIONS OF THE BIKE LANES. AND SO, I'M HAPPY TO OWN MY THOUGHTS, MY OPINIONS, MY BELIEFS, BUT MY STAFF, AND NOR DOES ANYONE'S STAFF DESERVE TO BE HARASSED, NUMBER ONE EVER, BUT ON THEIR OWN TIME MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS, JUST PRIVATE CITIZEN, I GUESS YOU, YOU LOSE THAT WHEN YOU WORK, UH, FOR GOVERNMENT. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL AGREE TO DISAGREE AT TIMES, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TRY TO USE INTIMIDATING FACTORS AND, AND BULLYING TO TRY TO, TO GET OTHER PEOPLE TO, TO SWAY AND, AND BELIEVE OTHERWISE. SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO, UH, SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANYBODY, TALK TO ANYBODY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO HARASSING STAFF MEMBERS, THAT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. UM, NEXT, I HAD THE, JUST A GREAT TIME LAST NIGHT AT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK CHEF DINNER, WHICH IS WONDERFUL. LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THEIR NEW EXPANSION, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THEIR NEW OPENING, UH, UM, THEY'RE WORKING ON A, A NEW CAMPUS AT 2 49 AND ELLA, AND WE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, UH, SERVES A HUNDRED AND PROVIDES 140 MILLION MEALS ANNUALLY, THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. AND SO THEY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT NEW CAMPUS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S JUST GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL. AND ALSO TOO, YOU KNOW, THE NEED IS THERE AND, AND THEY KEEP STEPPING UP TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS. AND, AND, UH, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, THIS IS NATIONAL. UH, POLICE, WELL, IT'S HOUSTON POLICE WEEK THIS WEEK. NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IS NEXT WEEK. HAD THE, UH, PRIVILEGE TO ATTEND THE AWARDS LUNCHEON YESTERDAY. AND THANK, THANK OUR HPD EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE THERE'S SOME GREAT PEOPLE DOING GREAT WORK ALL THE TIME. UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR TOTAL STRANGERS. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE THEM ACKNOWLEDGED AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE SO HAPPY. AND THEN FRIDAY, UH, THIS FRIDAY, THE NIGHT THAT 7:00 PM IS THE, UM, THE ANNUAL, UH, MEMORIAL SERVICE, WHICH HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY. AND THAT'S AT 7:00 PM 2,400 MEMORIAL DRIVE AT THE HOUSTON POLICE MEMORIAL. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. I SO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE POLICE MEMORIAL SERVICE FRIDAY EVENING. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE THERE. UM, I'LL CERTAINLY BE THERE IN, UH, EARLIER BEFORE THE PROGRAM, THE FAMILIES, SO BE AT HBOU, UH, UNION HALL. SO THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO THINK AND RECOGNIZE THEIR, UH, LOVED ONES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUICK RESPONSE, UH, REGARDING THE WATER TURNOFFS WITHOUT ADEQUATE NOTICE AND SUNNYSIDE, I PRAY THAT THIS IS RESOLVED TO GIVE RESPECT AND NOTICE FOR THE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE TO THE CONSTITUENTS, BUT I DID SEE SOME VERY QUICK MOVEMENT IN REGARDS TO THAT, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. UM, LAST WEEK I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE HOUSTON PRAYER BREAKFAST IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, HOSTED RIGHT IN DISTRICT D AT THE HISTORIC EL DORADO BALLROOM. THANK YOU TO THE FAITH LEADERS COALITION FOR BRINGING TOGETHER SUCH A MEANINGFUL [03:40:01] INTERFAITH GATHERING AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO ALEX MORA, WHO COORDINATED THIS AWESOME SPIRIT FIELD EVENT OVER THE WEEKEND. I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE POSITIVE BLACK MALE ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON AS THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SCHOLARSHIP, GALA, AND DEBUTANTE BALL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EVENING CELEBRATING YOUTH LEADERSHIP, UH, BOTH MALES AND FEMALES, SCHOLARSHIP AND MENTORSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2025 DUKES AND DEBUTANTES, AND THIS YEAR'S DISTINGUISHED HONOREES. I WANT TO MAKE, UH, SPECIAL THANKS AND RECOGNITION TO DR. J ROB AND MR. MAX STEVENS, WHO HAPPEN TO BE JACK YATES GRADUATES, JACK YATES FOR LIFE AND THEIR CO-FOUNDERS OF THIS IMPACTFUL ORGANIZATION. AND JUST LAST NIGHT, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, WE HOSTED A COMMUNITY TOWN HALL ON CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN DISTRICT D, AND WE WERE JOINED BY HPD, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE HOUSTON, HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, HOUSTON SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND THE REPRESENTATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, OUR LARGE COUN TWO AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK, UH, CHIEF DIAZ, COMMANDER WYNN, DIRECTOR, HERBERT SIMS, AND ALL THOSE WHO HELPED TO MAKE THE EVENING IMPACTFUL FOR OUR RESIDENTS. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT CRIME, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE TALKED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITH THE SOUND ORDINANCE AND WHAT IS GOING ON, UH, WHERE PEOPLE'S, UH, SLEEP AND, UH, IS BEING GREATLY IMPACTED. AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT, UH, AND THAT WE NEED TO COORDINATE MORE, UH, BE WE NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURTS IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE, UM, CITATIONS. UH, WE WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT COMING UP TONIGHT. UH, AND CONSTABLE SMOKEY PHILLIPS WOULD'VE BEEN THERE LAST NIGHT, BUT HE HAD THE FLU. SO HOPEFULLY HE'S WELL TONIGHT BECAUSE HE HAS A TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, TONIGHT AT 7:00 PM UM, AT THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, 44 10 REED ROAD. AND THAT'S TONIGHT FROM SEVEN TO EIGHT 30. AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL COME OUT. AND THEN A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING WITH THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY MEETING, WHICH WILL BE WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND PUBLIC WORKS AND THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AN IN-PERSON COMMUNITY MEETING WITH UPDATES FOR RESIDENTS AND Q AND A. THIS WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH, FROM SIX TO 7:30 PM AT THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, 58 0 3 BELFORT AVENUE. AND CERTAINLY ANYONE, PARTICULARLY THE NEARBY RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL COME AND GET THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE LONG AWAITED. AND SO, THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. I, I STARTED OFF, OH, HE DID. HE STARTED, SAID, DO IT AGAIN. YOU WANT TO GO AROUND AGAIN? NO, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU EVERYONE. WE. * 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.