* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:06] BEFORE I RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN ALCORN, I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR PROTI TO PLEASE PRESIDE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. I AM HONORED TO, I'M HONORED TO HONOR THE MOTHERHOOD CENTER, WHICH IS A, A GREAT PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE, ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY, ALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE JUST HAD A BABY, EVERYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH MOTHERHOOD, AND SHE HAS, IT HAS IT COVERED ALL KINDS OF SERVICES SHE OFFERS TO HOUSTONIANS, AND THIS IS THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY, SO YAY FOR THAT. I'LL GET STARTED READING THE P. WHEREAS MOTHERHOOD CENTER, A HOUSTON BASED ESTABLISHMENT HAS DEDICATED 25 YEARS TO SERVING NEW AND EXPECTING PARENTS WITH COMPREHENSIVE PREGNANCY, WELLNESS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. AND WHEREAS MOTHERHOOD CENTER HAS SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTED MORE THAN 55,000 FAMILIES THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE CHILDCARE SERVICES, SUCH AS BABY DOULAS, NANNIES, AND BABYSITTING SERVICES, WHILE FOSTERING STRONG FOUNDATIONS THROUGH EXPERTLY CURATED NEWBORN CARE, CHILDBIRTH, BREASTFEEDING, AND CPR CLASSES. AND WHEREAS MOTHERHOOD CENTER DEMONSTRATES ITS COMMITMENT TO MATERNAL WELLNESS BY PROVIDING A FULL SPECTRUM OF SERVICES FOR EXPECTING AND NEW MOTHERS, INCLUDING SPECIALIZED MASSAGE THERAPY, DIVERSE EXERCISE PROGRAMS, ENCOMPASSING PREGNANCY EXERCISE CLASSES, AND MOTHER BABY ACTIVITIES. AND WHEREAS MOTHERHOOD CENTERS MISSION TO PROVIDE PREMIUM CHILDCARE SERVICES WHILE BUILDING ROBUST FAMILY FOUNDATIONS THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED NON-JUDGMENTAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. AND WHEREAS MOTHERHOOD CENTER ACTIVELY NURTURES THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY THROUGH INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS, AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS, SUCH AS BABY BUMP SOCIALS, WHILE THAT SOUNDS FUN, TO CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS AMONG LOCAL FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS MOTHERHOOD CENTER HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN THE PREGNANCY AND CHILDCARE INDUSTRIES, DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF NUMEROUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES MOTHERHOOD CENTER AS A CHERISHED INSTITUTION AND CELEBRATES ITS HEARTFELT COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING HOUSTON FAMILIES, THE CITY EXTENDS ITS GRATITUDE FOR MOTHERHOOD CENTER'S, DECADES LONG SERVICE AND WISHES IT CONTINUED GROWTH, IMPACT, AND SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALOR. THANK YOU FOR THIS OCCASION TO RECOGNIZE THE MOTHERHOOD CENTER. AND IT'S ONE THING, IT DEFINITELY BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER. WE ALL HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEART FOR OUR MOTHERS, UH, THE MOTHER OF OUR CHILDREN, AND JUST EVERYONE THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO WATCH, OBSERVE AND APPRECIATE MOTHERHOOD. SO YOUR CENTER CERTAINLY, UH, IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT CITY. I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS CONDUCTED IN OTHER CITIES, BUT IT IS RIGHT HERE IN OUR GREAT CITY. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 15TH, 2025, HIS MOTHERHOOD CENTER DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. I HOLD IT FOR YOUR HONOR TO YOU. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE HONOR. AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT JUST ME, IT'S, UH, IT'S THE WHOLE TEAM OF, UH, EDUCATORS, CAREGIVERS, UH, INSTRUCTORS, EDUCATORS. SO WE APPRECIATE THE, THE HONOR AND, UH, I'M GOING TO SHARE THE, UH, WITH, WITH OUR TEAM AND REALLY WITH OUR CLIENTS AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY HUGE, UH, HUGE PART OF THE, THE, THE COMMITMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE. I TELL GABBY ALL THE TIME WHEN I'M DONE WITH THIS JOB, I'M GONNA GO WORK AT THE MOTHERHOOD CENTER 'CAUSE THERE'S ALL KINDS OF BABIES OVER THERE. WE DO HAVE SOME, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER NCE, WE DO HAVE, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THERE'S A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. COUNCIL MOTHER ON THE ALCORN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPOTLIGHTING THE MOTHERHOOD CENTER, WHICH IS VERY PROUDLY IN DISTRICT C. UH, I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL STORIES OF USING THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES OF THE MOTHERHOOD CENTER, UH, WHEN I HAD MY CHILD, AND ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHERE SO MANY MOTHERS ARE BEING LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND FIGURE THIS OUT. IT IS SUCH A COMFORT TO KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE THERE. SO MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO THE ENTIRE TEAM, UH, FOR WHAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. [00:05:28] YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE CHAIR NOW? RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHAVEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO EMILY ANDERSON ON BECOMING THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES BOARD OF DIRECTORS. OH MY GOSH, YOU'RE WELCOME. CERTAINLY THIS IS AN HONOR FOR ME, UH, EMILY ANDERSON, WHEREAS EMILY ANDERSON, P-E-P-E-N-G-P-M-P. HOW ABOUT THAT? WE'LL BEGIN OUR TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF TEXAS HOUSTON, CHAPTER A CEC, HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS A CEC HOUSTON EXEMPLIFIES THE POWER OF PUBLIC PRIVATE COLLABORATION AND PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY, SERVING AS A VALUED PARTNER TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN ADVANCING TRANSFORMATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTING ENGINEERING BEST PRACTICES, AND DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE AND COMMUNITY CENTERED PROJECTS THAT ENSURE HOUSTON REMAINS A NATIONAL MODEL OF INNOVATION, RESILIENCE, AND SMART GROWTH. ANN, WHEREAS EMILY ANDERSON CURRENTLY SERVES AS VICE PRESIDENT AND LEAD CLIENT ADVISOR OF HEALTH ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED IN HOUSTON, WHERE HER LEADERSHIP HAS DRIVEN SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS GUIDING MISSION CRITICAL INITIATIVES IN COLLABORATION WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER REGIONAL PARTNERS. AND WHEREAS HER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE INCLUDES APPOINTMENTS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY, GALVES, HARRIS, GALVESTON, EXCUSE ME, SUBSTANCE DISTRICT BOARD MENTORSHIP ROLES WITH THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND LEADERSHIP ACROSS NUMEROUS BOARDS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING ENGINEERING, EQUITY AND EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS MS. ANDERSON HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A 2024 ROLE MODEL BY THE GREATER HOUSTON WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN AMERICAN MARSHALL MEMORIAL FELLOW, AN ALUMNA OF LEADERSHIP HOUSTON, AND A RECIPIENT OF NUMEROUS HONORS REFLECTING HER ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTH THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS MS. ANDERSON HAS DEDICATED OVER 23 YEARS TO LEADING COMPLEX ENGINEERING PROJECTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY, INCLUDING IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA, IRAQ, LIBYA, AND THE WEST BANK, EARNING A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, AND UNWAVERING PUBLIC SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS ITS CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY ANDERSON AS SHE ASSUMES THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT OF A CEC HOUSTON AND CELEBRATES HER CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE ORGANIZATION'S ROLE AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO THE CITY, EXPAND ITS INFLUENCE IN POLICY AND INNOVATION, AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERING LEADERS. AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF MY TEACHERS THAT TAUGHT ME HOW TO READ. 'CAUSE THIS SURE WAS A LOT, BUT YOU ARE SO ACCOMPLISHED. . THERE YOU GO. . WELL, THEY KEPT ME IN THE FIRST GRADE TWO YEARS, SO, SO MY PARENTS, MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE LET YOU JOIN ME. WELL, MY MOM WAS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER, RIGHT? . ANYWAY, THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE. TO , WE'RE HERE. EMILY, I FEEL LIKE I CAN CALL YOU BY YOUR FIRST NAME. UH, I HAD NO IDEA, I GUESS WHEN I SWORE IN FRIDAY THAT I WOULD HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING YOU TODAY AT CITY COUNCIL. AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'VE WATCHED YOU PROGRESS THROUGH THE YEARS, UH, IN YOUR PROFESSION. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE THE RESPECT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, MANY ARE HERE TODAY, BUT ON A PERSONAL NOTE, AS A FATHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS, THANK YOU FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, THAT IF YOU PREPARE YOURSELF AND, UH, TIME TAKES CARE OF A LOT OF THINGS, UH, SOMETIME TOO LONG. BUT WHAT [00:10:01] A SPECIAL OCCASION FOR YOU TO BE HERE AND RECOGNIZED BY THIS CITY. SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 20TH, 2025 IS EMILY ANDERSON DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. WE YIELD TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO SERVE AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN PRESIDENT OF THE A CEC HOUSTON BOARD. WOO. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I COME FROM A SMALL VILLAGE IN LIBERIA WHERE THE LACK OF SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE INSPIRED ME TO BECOME AN ENGINEER. AS SUCH, MAKING AN IMPACT IN THIS ROLE IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME. I'M PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED DURING NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK AND WANT TO CONGRATULATE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ON THEIR WELL-DESERVED ACCOLADES. TODAY, A CEC HOUSTON IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO ADVANCE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR ESTEEMED PARTNERSHIP IS INSTRUMENTAL IN DRIVING TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVES THAT BENEFIT THE ENTIRE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. I ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION WITH DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE TRAILBLAZING WOMEN WHO PAVED THE WAY. PAM PUCKETT, OUR FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT, AND MONICA SILVER, WHO'S HERE TODAY, UH, CEO OF COBB FINLEY, OUR SECOND WOMAN PRESIDENT. I MAY BE THE THIRD, BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE LAST BECAUSE THE ENGINEERS AND THE FIRMS REPRESENTED BY A CEC HOUSTON REFLECT, REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR GREAT CITY. I ALSO WANNA THANK MY COMPANY HALF AND ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT, WHO SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP HAVE MADE MY LEADERSHIP POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE JOINING ME TODAY. THANK YOU ALL. FINALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DAVID HAE, OUR MANAGER OF MEMBER SERVICES, MONICA GMO, AND CURRENT PRESIDENT RODNEY, HE, ALL OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY, THEIR LEADERSHIP, ALONG WITH THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF OUR BOARD AND OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS, DRIVE OUR SUCCESS AND STRENGTHEN OUR IMPACT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TRUST IN ME, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT WE WILL ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER TO IMPROVE HOUSTON'S INFRASTRUCTURE. AND MAYOR, AS YOU SAY, LET'S GET TO WORK. I'M READY. MAYOR, WE DO, WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. IT IS GONNA TAKE A MINUTE. EVERYBODY'S IN THE QUEUE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY TODAY. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEMP, UH, MADAM PRESIDENT . UH, IT'S GOOD, GOOD TO SAY THAT. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE WITH A CEC. UM, AND, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMEONE THAT I RECOGNIZE THAT SEVERAL EVENTS OUTSIDE, RIGHT OUTSIDE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S, IT'S YOU. UH, YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, HOLISTICALLY. AND SO, UH, SPEAKING TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BE CONTINUE TO BE GREAT PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. EMILY, CONGRATULATIONS. UM, YOU KNOW, AND BEST, BEST AS YET TO COME FOR YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, EMILY. I'M SO SORRY WE COULDN'T MAKE THE RECEPTION EARLIER. UH, WE WERE ALL THERE IN SPIRIT, BUT OUR BUDGET MEETINGS WENT OVER. BUT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU MAKE, NOT JUST IN THIS LEADERSHIP POSITION, BUT EVERY DAY. OUR ENGINEERS ARE WHAT MAKE OUR CITY WORK, UH, AND THE WORK OF A CEC, THE WORK OF EVERY ENGINEERING FIRM. WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU ALL, UH, TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM. UH, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT OUR PAST PRESIDENTS HAVE DONE AS WELL, BUT IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE YOU HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, PRESIDENT ANDERSON, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS WONDERFUL HONOR THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED. IT SHOWS HOW RESPECTED, UH, YOU ARE WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK A CEC FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT ENGINEERS ARE IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME. NEVER MORE THAN EVER LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND A CEC, UH, IN GETTING THE CITY MOVING FORWARD. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK THE COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IT ALL TO ALL OF THAT'S BEEN EXPRESSED. AND AFTER GETTING TO MEET YOU IN OUR PANEL PRESENTATION AND THE TIME WE SPEND AND SEE YOU EVERYWHERE, UH, IT'S WELL DESERVED. AND I KNOW WE ALL GONNA BE EXCITED, UH, IN THE FUTURE FOR YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, ONCE AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, I DID NOT KNOW YOUR STORY AS AN IMMIGRANT, AND THAT JUST MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE POWERFUL. SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI, AND CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT ANDERSON. I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I KNOW IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD SOMETIMES TO, TO HAVE PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGE HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE, AND I'M GLAD THAT A CEC HAS DONE THAT. [00:15:01] UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SEE PHYSICALLY SEE, UM, IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT WHAT'S UNDERGROUND AND THE PLANNING THAT GOES ALONG WITH BUILDING STRUCTURES AND DOING WHAT WE NEED IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, STATE OF USE IS, IS REALLY NECESSARY. AND YOU'RE A BIG PART OF THAT. SO THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH, AND, UM, AND WELCOME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UH, EMILY, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, UM, YOU'VE BEEN LEADING EVEN BEFORE THIS POSITION. UH, WE'VE SEEN YOU OUT AND ABOUT ALL MY TIME ON COUNCIL. UH, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FACE OF, UH, A CEC IN THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY. UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. I WANNA THANK EAST AC EC FOR THIS, UH, UH, FOR THIS VOTE, AND TO PUT YOU IN INTO THIS POSITION. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING, UH, YOU WORK IN THIS ROLE. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. A PREMIER ORGANIZATION LIKE A CEC DESERVES A STELLAR LEADER, AND THEY HAVE THAT IN YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. UM, YOU DEFINITELY ARE FAN FAVORITE TODAY. SO, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU. BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL RAIN AS PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU CAYMAN, FOR A PROCLAMATION TO AXELRAD FOR THEIR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, WHO YOU WANT TO, AND, AND I'LL INVITE, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, IF SHE'D LIKE TO JOIN ME, UH, AS THE AXELRAD TEAM. AS YOU CAN TELL BY THEIR, THEIR SHIRTS, THE TEAM, UH, MANY OF US VISIT AXLE RADS, UH, AND WE ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. UH, WE'RE A FEW WEEKS BELATED MAYOR. WE CELEBRATED WITH THEM WITH A VERY SPECIAL SHOW A FEW WEEKS AGO. UM, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING, UH, THE TEAM HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY DO SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY. UH, THEY'RE NOT JUST A MUSIC VENUE, UH, PROVIDING GREAT VIBES AND COMMUN A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. UH, THESE GUYS, AND I'LL INTRODUCE THEM IN A SECOND, ARE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER IS, WHETHER IT'S SUPPORTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD DURING TIMES OF DISASTER, WHETHER DURING THE PANDEMIC, MAKING SURE THAT ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES WERE TAKEN CARE OF AND HOW TO PAYCHECK, UH, THE FUNDRAISERS THEY DO, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. SO I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. BUT I'M HERE WITH ADAM BRACKMAN, ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS, ALONG WITH HIS MOTHER, DIANA , UH, AND OF COURSE, NATALIE, HIS PARTNER, UH, MONTY, UH, YOU AND YOUR WIFE AND YOUR WE, WE HUNG OUT TOGETHER, DIDN'T WE? YOU HELPED ME LAST TIME. WE DID THIS. AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS, JEFF KAPLAN, ANOTHER CO-FOUNDER. UH, WE HAVE MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES AS WELL, WHICH I'LL LET Y'ALL INTRODUCE IN JUST A MOMENT. UH, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON JOINS DISTRICT C AND RECOGNIZING AXELRAD AS IT CELEBRATES. ITS [00:20:01] 10TH YEAR AS A NEIGHBORHOOD LANDMARK AND COMMUNITY STAPLE ON APRIL 20TH, 2025. IN 2015, ADAM BRACKMAN, MONTY LARGE, AND JEFF KAPLAN, AND A COMMUNITY OF INVESTORS PARTNERED, UH, INVESTMENT PARTNERS OPENED AXELRAD AT THE CORNER OF ALABAMA STREET IN ALAMEDA ROAD IN THE HISTORIC THIRD WARD IN DISTRICT D, DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION WHAT WHAT WAS ONCE AN ABANDONED A HUNDRED YEAR OLD BUILDING WAS THOUGHTFULLY RESTORED INTO A VIBRANT CULTURAL DESTINATION FOR ALL. AXEL. ROD HAS STOOD AS A MODEL OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS, TRANSFORMING INTO A DONATION HUB DURING HARVEY, PROVIDING POWER, SHELTER, AND WATER TO NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED FOLLOWING THE DERECHO IN 24. THEY'RE ROOTED IN COMMUNITY. AXELRAD HAS HOSTED A FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED AND FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED OVER 1000 NONPROFIT AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS BECOMING A TRUSTED PLATFORM FOR CREATIVITY, ACTIVISM, AND CIVIC DIALOGUE. THEIR STAGE HAS WELCOMED MORE THAN 2000 MUSICIANS OFFERING FREE PERFORMANCES TO THE PUBLIC IN SHOWCASING BOTH LOCAL TALENT AND GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTISTS ENRICHING OUR VIBRANT LIVE MUSIC SCENE FROM SUPPORTING STAFF DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THROUGH CONTINUED PAYROLL, DURING CLOSURES TO HOSTING SAFE DRIVE-IN CONCERTS, INCLUDING ON ROOFTOPS AND DONATING A PORTION OF PROCEEDS TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, AXELROD HAS REMAINED A STEADFAST, UH, COMMITTED PARTNER IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS. AXELRAD HAS NOT ONLY PRESERVED A PIECE OF HOUSTON'S ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY, BUT ALSO HAS BECOME A CORNERSTONE OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND CIVIC GENEROSITY. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CONGRATULATES AXELRAD ON A DECADE OF SERVICE AND THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, WISH EVERYONE ON THE TEAM CONTINUED SUCCESS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. UM, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ALLOWS US TO HAVE GOOD TIMES, BUT YOU'RE SUCH A ROLE MODEL FOR INCLUSION AND THE COLLABORATION THAT WE LOOK FOR ACROSS HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ATTENTION TO SOME REALLY SPECIAL, UH, EMPLOYEES AND TEAM MEMBERS. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 20TH, 2025 IS OD DAY IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. I TOO WANNA THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO. AND SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS I GO AND GET PIZZA, AND THEN I GO AND I SHAKE A LITTLE TAIL FEATHER AND RAD. AND SO I'M JUST GONNA LET Y'ALL KNOW ONE NIGHT I'M GONNA SING AND I'M GONNA INVITE Y'ALL TO COME. RIGHT? JUST GIMME A GOOD BAND. THAT'S REAL LOUD, RIGHT? BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. OH YEAH, MON OH, THANK YOU. SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND ESTEEM MEMBERS, CITY COUNCIL, UH, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBERS ABBY CAYMAN AND CAROLYN ERBA. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT RAD, THANK YOU DEEPLY FOR THIS INCREDIBLE RECOGNITION. WE ARE HONORED AND HUMBLED BY THIS PROCLAMATION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AC RAD HAS BEEN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY THAN PROFIT. WE'VE WORKED HARD TO CREATE A SPACE IN THE THIRD WARD AND FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY TO GATHER, CONNECT, AND CELEBRATE DAY AFTER DAY, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT WITH FREE LIVE MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, LOCAL VENDORS, ARTISTS, ET CETERA. THIS YEAR MARKS OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY AS MENTIONED, UM, AND ALSO THE HUNDREDTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR BUILDING, UH, WHICH WE PAINSTAKINGLY RESTORED WITH LOVE AND CARE FROM A VACANT FLEA IN INFESTED, UH, HAUNTED HOUSE TO A LOCAL GYM IN THE THIRD WARD. IN HONOR OF BOTH MILESTONES, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FUN TO PRESS A VINYL RECORD OF SOME OF OUR, UH, FAVORITE JAZZ PERFORMANCES. AND WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A COPY FOR EVERYBODY ON CITY COUNCIL HERE, SO WE HAVE A BOX RIGHT HERE, BUT, UM, AND WHERE DO THEY BUY THEM? OH, , YOU CAN BUY THEM AT RAD OR ON OUR WEBSITE, UH, RAD HOUSTON.COM. BUT THEY'RE FREE FOR ALL OF YOU TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, BUT THIS WAS INSPIRED BY MY FATHER, BILL LARGE, WHO'S OVER THERE. UH, HE'S, HE THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE A LIVE AT RAD, SIMILAR TO THE, UH, LIVE AT VILLAGE VANGUARD BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE MUSIC THAT WE HAVE ON STAGE. UM, AND TO MARK THE BUILDINGS CENTENNIAL, WE EVEN CREATED A REPLICA BASEBALL JERSEY, UH, CELEBRATING THE POSSIBLY FICTIONAL 1925, UM, RAD CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE ACT, THE ALAMEDA CHAMPIONSHIP. SO WE'RE ALL WEARING THOSE TODAY. UM, WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR WONDERFUL PATRONS. WE LOVE THIRD WARD IN MIDTOWN AND BEING, UH, LOCATED RIGHT ON THE AUSTIN STREET BIKE LANE. MANY [00:25:01] OF OUR GUESTS WALK, BIKE, OR RUN TO RAD. WE HAVE A, A RUN CLUB ON TUESDAYS, KEEPS US FIT. PLEASE CONTINUE INVESTING IN PROTECTED BIKE LANES. THEY ARE VITAL TO BUSINESSES LIKE OURS AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO WHITNEY GRANT, OUR PHENOMENAL MANAGER AND TRUE LEADER OF THE RAD TEAM AND JEFF KAPLAN WHOSE VISION HELPED BRING THIS TO PLACE TO LIFE. AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS NILA, FAR RIGHT HERE, AND NINA, WHO'S BACK THERE, UM, FOR KEEPING ME ON MY TOES AND MY WIFE AND ME FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGH ALL THIS. THANK YOU AGAIN. WE LOVE HOUSTON AND ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF ITS STORY. THANK YOU, MON. UM, I'M JUST GONNA SHARE REAL QUICK. WHEN MONTY, JEFF AND I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR RAD, WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR IT TO BE A SHIPPING CONTAINER BAR AND TO ACTIVATE A PART OF MIDTOWN THAT LACKED ENERGY. AND THE PLAN WAS THAT ONE DAY WHEN THE PROPERTY WOULD SELL FOR A DENSER DEVELOPMENT, WE WOULD MOVE THE CONTAINER AND THE CONCEPT TO ANOTHER UNDERSERVED AREA AND KEEP THAT CYCLE GOING. FORTUNATELY, IT EVOLVED IN SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER. WE ENDED UP IN THE A HUNDRED YEAR OLD HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT BY A MAN NAMED MAX AX RED, AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO STAY FOR ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS. . SO AX RED HAS BECOME A COMMUNITY HUB THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND TOUGH ONES. DURING COVID, WHEN PEOPLE WERE DESPERATE FOR CONNECTION AND LIVE MUSIC, WE HOSTED ROOFTOP CONCERTS WHERE THE BAND LITERALLY PLAYED FROM THE ROOF. PEOPLE WOULD PARK THEIR CARS ACROSS THE STREET AND TUNE INTO A RADIO STATION, BROADCASTING THE SHOW. WE STILL GET LEAKS ON THE ROOF FROM TIME TO TIME THANKS TO THE LEAD SINGER WEARING HEELS THAT WAS DANCING A LITTLE BIT TOO HARD UP THERE, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. WHEN THE CITY FLOODS, WHEN POWER GOES OUT, WE FIRE UP THE GENERATOR, OPEN OUR DOORS EARLY, AND LET PEOPLE CHARGE THE PHONES AND GET OUTTA THE HOUSE FOR A BIT. UH, WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE PROGRAMMING WE'VE BUILT. WE HAVE MOVIE NIGHTS ON MONDAYS, OPEN MIC ON TUESDAYS, JAZZ WEDNESDAYS PAIRED WITH THE STEAK NIGHT AND LOCAL VENDORS WE LOVE COLLABORATING WITH STARTUPS AND HOSTING POPUPS. MANY CHEFS HAVE STARTED RAD AND GONE ON TO OPEN UP THEIR OWN RESTAURANTS LIKE CHEF EVELYN WHO OPENED UP JUNE AND RAD IS A PLACE THAT SPARKED SOME PRETTY SPECIAL CONNECTIONS. I SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER RECENTLY WHO MET HIS FUTURE WIFE AT RAD, AND NOW THEY HAVE A SON NAMED AXEL . AND I FEEL BAD FOR THE NEXT KID WHO'S PROBABLY ENDED UP BEING NAMED RAD . UH, A BIG THANKS TO MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY MOM, WHO, UH, ALWAYS WANTED ME TO BE A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER. WELL, MOM, I'M STANDING UP HERE NOW BEING RECOGNIZED BY CITY COUNCIL, SO I HOPE THIS MAKES YOU PROUD , AND I WANT TO THANK MY WORK WIFE WHITNEY HERE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE AXED RUNS A TRUE HOSPITALITY. SHE'S BEEN WITH US SO LONG THAT SHE AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S BEEN THERE 10 YEARS GOT AXED TATTOOS. THERE IT IS. LOOK AT THAT LITTLE PIZZA. AND I WANNA EXTEND THE INVITATION TO ANY OF Y'ALL TO COME BY AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A FREE TATTOO. , UM, BIG THANKS. OUR AMAZING STAFF LIKE CARLOS AND AMELIA AND STEVEN ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. WORK FAMILY IS A TERM COMMONLY THROWN AROUND ABOUT COWORKERS, BUT OUR TEAM REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE FAMILY AND THAT ENERGY IS SOMETHING OUR GUESTS FEEL WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH THE DOOR. AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, ABBY CAYMAN AND CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ FOR MAKING TODAY HAPPEN. IT'S INCREDIBLE HONOR, AND WE'LL SEE Y'ALL AGAIN, SAME TIME, SAME PLACE IN 10 MORE YEARS, . SO I'M JUST, I'M GONNA BE REALLY BRIEF. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND THE ENTIRE CITY FOR THIS HONOR. IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO BE HERE CELEBRATING A SPACE THAT'S MEANT SO MUCH TO SO MANY PEOPLE. AXELRAD WAS FOUNDED WITH A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL IDEA TO CREATE HOUSTON'S MOST INCLUSIVE THIRD PLACE THAT BROUGHT OUR CITY TOGETHER. WE WEREN'T REALLY BAR PEOPLE, WE WERE FOCUSED ON CREATING A PLACE THAT BUILT COMMUNITY THROUGH CREATIVITY, DESIGN, AND SURPRISING RELATIONSHIPS. AND I HAVEN'T BEEN A PART OF THE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR, FOR MANY YEARS, AND I WANT TO, BUT I WANT TO THANK TO JUST SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF ADAM, MONTY AND WHITNEY AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. THEY'VE STAYED TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL VALUES, CARRYING THIS VISION FORWARD EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THEY'VE KEPT THE TEAM TOGETHER. THERE ARE SO FEW PLACES THAT HAVE STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 10 YEARS, AND THAT SAYS SO MUCH ABOUT THE VALUES AND THE DEDICATION TO THE MISSION OF, OF XED. UM, AND I WANNA SAY THAT RAD REMAINS THE PROJECT THAT I'M MOST PROUD TO HAVE EVER BEEN A PART OF, BECAUSE IT SHAPED MY CAREER AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS CAREERS AND, AND DEEPEN OUR, OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING THIRD PLACES AND THIRD PLACE COMMUNITIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. WE'RE, WE'RE LIVING IN THIS MOMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE MORE ISOLATED AND DIVIDED AND LONELY THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN. AND AXWELL PROVES THAT WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN YOU CREATE A SPACE, IT BRINGS DIVERSE GROUPS TOGETHER IN SURPRISING WAYS, JOYFUL, JOYFUL AND SURPRISING WAYS IT UNIFIES OUR CITY. THESE KINDS OF PLACES THAT ARE PUBLICLY LOVED AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN ARE ESSENTIAL TO A THRIVING CITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING, RECOGNIZING THE WORK AND HEART BEHIND RED. THIS SPACE BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. [00:31:41] THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMEMORATION OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK 2025. WOW, THAT'S CRAZY. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO READ ALL OF THAT. MEMBERS ALL PROCLAMATIONS ARE SPECIAL, BUT THE ONE RECOGNIZING OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES DURING THIS WEEK OF NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS ACROSS OUR NATION IS REALLY A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION. AND I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY, AS I'M SURE YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING A PUBLIC WORKER AND EMPLOYEES. UH, WE LITERALLY COULDN'T OPERATE THE CITY WITHOUT YOU, RANDY. IT STARTS AT THE TOP. LIKE ANY ORGANIZATION SINCE YOUR APPOINTMENT, UH, YOU'VE REALLY BEEN THE MODEL FOR OTHER DIRECTORS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO COUNCIL HOUSTONIANS REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AND, AND FIRST OF ALL, I PROUD MYSELF IN MY APPOINTMENTS, BUT I THINK YOU'RE A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE LOOKS LIKE. SO THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I REGULARLY REFER TO PUBLIC WORK EMPLOYEES AS FIRST RESPONDERS. I'VE WATCHED YOUR EMPLOYEES DURING VERY TROUBLING TIMES, OUR CRISIS. I'VE WATCHED THEM SLEEP ON THE FLOOR. YOU GO TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER, THEY'RE BRINGING IN THEIR SLEEPING BAGS, THEY SAVE LIVES, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FAMILIES AT HOME, THEIR OWN HOUSES BEING DAMAGED, BUT IT'S JUST THE PASSION AND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITMENT THAT THEY DEMONSTRATE ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO THANK YOU. I DO KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. RANDY TOLD ME A COUPLE DAYS AGO, WE HAD 1900 BROKEN WATER MAINS FOUR MONTHS AGO. WE'RE DOWN TO A THOUSAND. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE WHAT YOU DID WHEN I GOT HERE WITH THE WATER BILLING, REPLACING A HUNDRED THOUSAND SENSORS IN LESS THAN A YEAR. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE WHAT MAKES THIS A GREAT CITY. SO I'M VERY EXCITED I CAN READ THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, IT SAYS PRETTY MUCH WHAT I JUST SAID FROM MY HEART, THAT Y'ALL ARE SPECIAL PUBLIC WORKS. EMPLOYEES ACROSS OUR NATION ARE SPECIAL, BUT I THINK HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IS THE BEST. WITH THAT SAID, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 18TH THROUGH MAY 24TH, 2025, IS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RANDY. I YIELD TO YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, I WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT [00:35:01] WE DID NOT DO THIS PROCLAMATION LAST YEAR, AND THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT. YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE WEEK RIGHT BEFORE NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK LAST YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED THE DERECHO AND, AND OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM, INCLUDING THOSE FOLKS SITTING WITH US HERE TODAY, WHICH REPRESENTS A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF THE LARGEST ACCREDITED PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY. WE'RE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS HELPING TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE, MAKE IT SO THAT OUR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS COULD GET TO WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO. MAYOR, I, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE WAY YOU RECOGNIZE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES AS FIRST RESPONDERS. YOU KNOW, THIS ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO 2003. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH WAS THE FIRST TO DO IT. HE CODIFIED IT IN IN PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE NUMBER EIGHT, RECOGNIZING PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES AS FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE OF THE CENTRAL AND ESSENTIAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN ENSURING THAT SERVICES CAN BE DELIVERED TO, TO COMMUNITIES EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING PAVING THE WAY FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE TO GET THERE AND PERFORM THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DO. WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES AND THE TREES ARE ON THE GROUND, IT'S PUBLIC WORKS, IT'S THERE THAT'S CLEARING IT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE WATER IS EVERYWHERE, IT'S PUBLIC WORKS. IT'S OUT THERE TRYING TO CLEAR IT, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE SANITARY SEWER BACKUPS EVERYWHERE THEY GO SO THAT, UH, WE CAN HAVE FAIR AND ACCURATE BILLS FOR THE WATER THAT THEY USE. AND SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND, AND I THANK OUR TEAM. I REALLY THANK OUR TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. UM, YOUR WORDS TO ME, MAYOR, ARE VERY FLATTERING, BUT I'M ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WITHOUT THE, THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEHIND US HERE TODAY AND ALL ACROSS THE CITY RIGHT NOW DOING THIS WORK BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND ABOUT TO BE OUT THERE IN THE HEAT FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US. SO THANK YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD AND APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, RANDY, AND TO THE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN HERE AS WELL. UH, YOU TRULY ARE FIRST RESPONDERS. UM, I THINK RIGHT BEHIND OR MAYBE EVEN PARALLEL TO PUBLIC, TO PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE IS A TOP CAUSE THAT WE GET. UM, AND SO KNOWING THAT WE'VE BEEN DEFERRING MAINTENANCE FOR TOO LONG DECADES, UM, IT IS A HEAVY TASK. UH, BUT I, I REALLY FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE LEADERSHIP THAT THE MAYOR'S PUT INTO PLACE. UM, AND OF COURSE WITH OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AS WELL AT PUBLIC WORKS. UH, SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP KEEP GETTING THE WORK DONE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEAK, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THIS, UM, PROCLAMATION. AND I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE THAT, UM, YOUR APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR MACKAY HAS BEEN JUST SO AMAZING. WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES AT PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU, UM, FOR THE CARE THAT YOU TAKE, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT A ON ALL OF THE PROJECTS, ALL OF THE, UM, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. RANDY, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I GOT A CALL FROM A CONSTITUENT SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND YOU KNOW, WE GET AHOLD OF Y'ALL AND I'M THINKING, OH, GREAT. SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THIS ISN'T GONNA BE RESOLVED TILL MONDAY. GET CONTACT A COUPLE HOURS LATER. IT'S TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU. AND I JUST AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE JOB YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. LOOK, EVERYWHERE'S GOT ITS CHALLENGES. YOU'RE MAKING THINGS BETTER AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN ASK FOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, I'LL TAKE YOUR SUNDAY. AND RANDY KNOWS I'M NOW FAMOUS FOR THIS. WE'LL GET CONSTITUENT REQUESTS RIGHT AT 4:00 PM ON A FRIDAY. AND RANDY, YOU ALWAYS PICK UP YOUR TEAM. IS THERE, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AND HOPEFULLY AT THE END WE CAN ASK THEM TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. UM, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO NATURAL DISASTERS, RIGHT? WE THINK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEY ARE, BUT RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THEM ARE OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM DOES, AGAIN, THE LARGEST PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, UH, WITH THE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING CONSTRAINTS THAT WE ARE FACED WITH, Y'ALL CONTINUE, UH, TO WORK AS HARD AS EVER FOR OUR CITY. AND FOR THAT, WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO YOU, UH, AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TEM MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION TO RANDY AND TO PUBLIC WORKS. WHEN I CAME ON THE CITY COUNCIL, THE FIRST GROUP THAT I TOURED, THE FIRST PLACE THAT I GOT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, AND WHAT THEY DO WAS PUBLIC WORKS. AND I EXPRESSED TO THE MAYOR SOME OF MY, YOU KNOW, INTEREST AND CONCERN. AND I TOLD HIM, AND LET ME JUST SAY EVEN IN THE PRESENTATION TOO, UH, MS. ANDERSON, WHO WE CERTAINLY, UH, CONGRATULATE HER, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THE A CEC SUPPORTED THE APPOINTMENT OF YOU TO THIS POSITION IN TERMS OF WHAT THE MAYOR'S DOING. AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND [00:40:01] BECAUSE I'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE CALLED AND YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE. AND YOU JUMPED RIGHT ON IT. YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IS, IS EXCELLENT. AND TO ALL OF THOSE WHO WORK IN PUBLIC WORKS, I SEE WHAT THESE PEOPLE DO. AND, UH, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU TODAY 'CAUSE IT IS CERTAINLY WELL DESERVED. WE ARE GRATEFUL IN HOUSTON TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU, YOU REALLY DESERVE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, AND CONGRATULATIONS. I ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU, AND EVERYONE'S SAYING THE SAME THING. YOU ALWAYS ANSWER OUR CALL AND, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ANSWER THE CALL, BUT THEN THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU, THE TEAM BEHIND YOU, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THE CALL HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AND ACKNOWLEDGING, UM, PUBLIC WORKS FOR WHAT THEY DO. I MEAN, YOU LITERALLY, ALL OF YOU LITERALLY KEEPS HOUSTON MOVING. SO THANKS SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, I COULDN'T BE LEFT OUT SAYING CONGRATULATIONS, , AND THANK YOU GUYS. 'CAUSE Y'ALL KNOW Y'ALL SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN DISTRICT B AND WHENEVER WE CALL YOU ANSWER, SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU ALL. OUR CITY IS BETTER BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, RANDY. YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS, , COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. RANDY, YOU'RE THE FACE OF, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. WE KNOW WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU DO, BUT I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT, UH, SOME OF THE UNSUNG HEROES WITH YOU. I'VE HAD SOME GREAT EXPERIENCES OVER THE LAST YEAR HAVING THEM RESPOND VERY QUICKLY. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS A WATER LEAK ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON OR AFTER THE DICHO PICKING UP SOME WATER AND GETTING IT DELIVERED TO THE DENVER HARBOR COMMUNITY CENTER SO THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE, UH, BOTTLED WATER, YOU KNOW, IN THAT HEAT FOLLOWING THAT DISASTER. SO JUST APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO IN PUBLIC WORKS, SO IMPORTANT TO ENJOYING LIFE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, RANDY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC WORKS. WE APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU GET A CALL FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW IT'S AN EMERGENCY, EVERYTHING IS AN EMERGENCY, AND YOU REALLY KEEP YOUR COOL ABOUT IT AND YOU GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. WE APPRECIATE YOU. [00:45:40] THANK YOU, RANDY. THANK YOU. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU. UH, CY ALLEN IS A PASSIONATE, SELFLESS DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR AND PASTOR WITH AN UNYIELDING COMMITMENT AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO BE THEIR BEST. HE'S THE PASTOR OF LIFE 100 CHURCH AND DISTRICT G. HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF BOTH THE FORT BEND PASTORS ASSOCIATION AND THE FORT BEND COUNTY MINISTER MINISTERS AGAINST CRIME. AND WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. GLAD TO BE HERE. UH, JUST BEFORE I, UM, PRAY, I DO WANT TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, ALL OF YOUR COUNSEL IN THE MAYOR. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR HEARING MY BROTHER, UH, BABY BROTHER LAST TUESDAY, BRIAN ALLEN, CONCERNING WRONG WAY DRIVING, AND, UM, AND SO WE DO THANK YOU GUYS, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AMEN. AND LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER TODAY WITH THE LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS BELOVED CITY, WE CALL HOUSTON, TEXAS. WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, ACKNOWLEDGING THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE BEFORE US. WE SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM. WE'LL BE UP ON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL AS THEY DELIBERATE ON MATTERS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS. HELP EACH OF THEM BE FOUND PLEASING IN THY SIGHT. LORD, WE PRAY FOR SAFETY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES. MAY OUR PROTECTIVE HAND, YOUR PROTECTIVE HAND SHIELD OUR FAMILIES FROM CRIME AND VIOLENCE, FOSTERING A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL CAN FEEL SECURE. WE PRAY YOUR LIGHT ARISES WITHIN THE PEOPLE AND DARKNESS AND EVIL. BE DRIVEN OUT. TURN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE TOWARDS YOU. GRANT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COURAGE AND DISCERNMENT AS THEY SERVE AND PROTECT US. I ASK YOU TO PLACE A HEDGE OF PROTECTION ALL AROUND THEM. LORD, PLEASE BLESS OUR FAMILIES, MARRIAGES, AND CHILDREN. STRENGTHEN THE BONDS THAT HOLD US TOGETHER AND INSPIRE US TO NURTURE OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, EMPOWERING THEM TO BE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. MAY THEY FIND PURPOSE AND DIRECTION AND SUPPORT AS THEY NAVIGATE THEIR JOURNEYS. WE ALSO PRAY FOR THE PROSPERITY OF HEALTH AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. LORD, WE BELIEVE IN THE SAND. A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS. WE PRAY FOR BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS TO PROSPER AND FOR THE BIRTHING OF NEW BUSINESSES HERE AND FOR OTHER COMPANIES TO RELOCATE HERE TO HELP INFUSE NEW IDEAS, NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND FOR NEW MONIES TO FLOW INTO THIS CITY. THEN LORD, WE LIFT YOU UP THE ISSUES TO YOU SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS IN THIS CITY. WE PRAY FOR COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING. MAY WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE SHELTER RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND STRUGGLING. LET OUR HEARTS BE OPEN TO THE PLIGHT OF OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THAT YOU GUIDE US IN OUR EFFORTS TO FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. WE PRAY FOR THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR CITY. LORD, GRANT THESE LEADERS WISDOM IN BUDGETING AND HOW AND WHERE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES. HELP EACH OF THEM BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE FUNDS ENTRUSTED TO THEM ON BEHALF OF ALL THEIR CONSTITUENTS, WHILE ENSURING THAT EVERY DOLLAR SPENT CONTRIBUTES TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. MAY OUR DECISIONS REFLECT A COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING OF EVERY CITIZEN. LORD, WE PRAY THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THIS COUNCIL EMBODY A SPIRIT OF UNITY AND TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY FOR THE GREATER GOOD. HELP EACH OF THEM LISTEN TO AND UNDERSTAND, AND TO ACT WITH LOVE AND INTEGRITY. AND THEN, LORD, AS WE APPROACH THE STORMY STORM AND HURRICANE SEASON, WE RECOGNIZE THE REALITIES OF NATURAL DISASTERS. WE ASK FOR YOUR MERCY AND GRACE. HELP ALL OF US BE DILIGENT IN OUR PREPARATIONS AND RESPONSIVE, UH, RESPONSE TO, UH, RELIEF EFFORTS. WE PRAY THE FIRST RESPONDERS, CITY BUSINESS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS WILL COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY, AND THAT THE DECISIONS MADE WILL HELP MITIGATE LOSS. MAY WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF NEED, ENSURING THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND. FINALLY, WE ASK THAT YOUR SPIRIT REIGN HERE AT [00:50:01] CITY HALL ON EVERY FLOOR, IN EVERY HALL, IN EVERY ROOM. WE SUBMIT ALL CITY PERSONNEL TO YOU. WE PLACE EACH OF THEM IN YOUR CARE. IT IS OUR PRAYER THAT EACH PERSON WILL SEEK TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE TO HELP SERVE THIS CITY IN WAYS THEY'VE NEVER IMAGINED BEFORE. SO, LORD, WE ASK YOU TO HAVE YOUR WAY AND WE PRAY THIS PRAYER IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. PLEDGE TO FLAG FLAG FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH ESTATE ONE NATION, UNDER INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OH LORDY, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MR. SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. HERE. VERY WELL. UH, COUNCIL SIR. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF MAY 6TH AND SEVEN CAST? SAY A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ROBIN HOLZER TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST TO BE FOLLOWED BY HEATHER RAKI. AND I'M SO SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME. THANK YOU. NEED A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SAMUEL SMITH, UM, TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST BEHIND HEATHER. SECOND. THANK YOU. MOTION IS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S I. SHABASH. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD PASO AMI AFTER SAMUEL SMITH, UH, AT THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND. THANK YOU. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? IF NOT, UH, BEFORE WE, AS WE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, I'M GONNA ASK MAYOR PROTE TO PLEASE PRESIDE. I OFFERED THE PUBLIC WORKS TO HOLD A LITTLE MEET AND GREET FORM UPSTAIRS IN MY OFFICE. SO, UH, I'M GONNA GO THANK 'EM FOR THEIR WORK. WE'RE READY FOR THE FIRST SPEAKER, JEFF REESE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHELBY STEWART. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE HERE TO JUST BRING ATTENTION TO, UH, RACIAL PROFILING. IT'S, UH, BEEN HERE AS LONG AS POLICE HAVE BEEN HERE. I WAS A, UH, SERGEANT FOR 26 YEARS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND, UH, IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND IT'S STILL HERE. SO SOME FRIENDS AND I GOT TOGETHER AND WE'RE GONNA COME UP HERE AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE, UM, THE CITY CAN LEAD THE WAY IN, UH, FINDING A WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM, FROM HAPPENING AND STILL HAPPENING. UM, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE? I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CUT MY TIME DOWN AND I'LL LET THE NEXT ONE COME UP HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. YES. WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? WELL, THERE'S, THERE'S QUITE A BIT. I WAS AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, NOT FOR THE CITY, BUT THE CITY SETS THE, THE RATE FOR THE NATION, BASICALLY THE CITY GOES, THE COUNTY GOES THE STATE, AND THEN THE NATION, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZED AND, UH, ADMIRABLE DEPARTMENTS IN, IN THE NATION. AND SO A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO, IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T DO WHEN YOU HAVE, MOST OF THESE ARE MINOR TRAFFIC STOPS. SOME, SOME CITIES HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THEIR OFFICERS STOP ENFORCING THE MINOR TRAFFIC, UH, OFFENSES BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE USUALLY WHERE YOU GET INTO THESE, UH, UH, ACCIDENTS, IT'S SOMETHING CALLED, UH, A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY. AND A LOT OF THE OFFICERS ARE TAUGHT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU JUST RECEIVED IN THE ACADEMY, JUST FORGET ABOUT IT. THIS IS HOW WE REALLY DO IT ON THE STREET. AND SO EVERYONE OUT THERE IS LOOKING FOR THIS BIG BUST. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THIS BIG ARREST, [00:55:01] AND THEY'RE PROFILING ON HOW THEY CAN DO IT. AND THIS IS HOW SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS STILL HERE FOR AS MANY YEARS AS IT'S BEEN HERE, THE SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY, BECAUSE IT'S TAUGHT FROM THE RANK ON DOWN TO THE SERGEANTS, INTO THE THE MA TO THE, THE RANK AND FILE. UM, BASICALLY YOU JUST TREAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU WANNA BE TREATED. IF YOU PULL YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBER OVER, YOU'RE NOT GONNA WIND UP BEATING THEM TO A, A PULP. AND SO SOMEHOW IT HAPPENS. AND, UH, THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO PREVENT IT, BUT THE BASIC WAY IS TO, TO NOT DO IT. AND SO BASICALLY YOU COULD WEIGH, IS IT WORTH GIVING SOMEBODY A TICKET FOR ROLLING A STOP SIGN AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING VERSUS SOMEBODY GETTING BEATEN TO DEATH OR INJURED, AND THEN THE CITY HAS TO FACE THE, THE LITIGATION THAT GOES WITH IT. IT WOULD BE CHEAPER AND, AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO LET SOME OF THESE MINOR OFFENSES GO AND CONCENTRATE ON, ON THE, UH, MORE EXTREME CRIME. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING FORWARD. YOU SAY YOU SERVED FOR 20 PLUS YEARS IN, IN YOUR TIME IN OFFICE. WHAT HAVE YOU PERSONALLY SEEN THAT THAT WOULD BE REGARDED AS RACIAL PROFILING? MOST OF MY TIME WAS SPENT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT AND IN THE JAIL. I, UH, I HELPED FORM THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT AND THAT'S WHERE I CONCENTRATED ON, I WAS A SUPERVISOR FOR NINE YEARS. UH, I WAS ONLY IN PAROLE, A COUPLE OF SHORT STINTS THROUGHOUT MY CAREER. AND, UM, KNOWING THE PEOPLE I'M WORKING WITH THEM, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A MINDSET THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE. AND WHEN YOU'RE AN OFFICER, YOU, YOU, YOU ARE FULL OF YOUR OWN POWER. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE SOMEONE'S FREEDOM AWAY FROM THEM JUST FOR MAKING YOU MAD. AND THAT'S, THAT'S VERY POWERFUL. IT, IT IS VERY HEADY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LET IT GO TO THEIR HEADS. AND MOST OF THESE INSTANCES WHERE YOU FIND THIS, UH, UM, USE OF FORCE EXCEEDING WHAT SHOULD, SHOULD HAVE BEEN IS BECAUSE THE OFFICER TAKES SOMETHING PERSONAL THAT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE OR HE GETS ANGRY WITH THIS PERSON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. SHELBY STEWART. HELLO, MR. STEWART. HELLO, MA'AM. WE ARE HERE TODAY IN REGARDS TO THESE NUMBERS OF USE OF FORCE AND, AND HAVING SO MANY TRAFFIC STOPS WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE STOPPED. WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR ACRES HOME SOUTH PARK, SUNNYSIDE, THIRD WARD, FIFTH WARD, ACRES, HOMES, DENVER HARBOR, MAGNOLIA, AND SECOND WARD. WE ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE 2003 NUMBERS HAVE OVER 50% AFRICAN AMERICANS BEING STOPPED RIGHT BEHIND THEM OR HISPANICS. AND SO THERE'S A LARGE POPULATION IN THIS CITY THAT THE POLICE DON'T SEEM TO BE WATCHING. IF YOU HAVE AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN PUT TOGETHER AND THEY MAKE OVER 50% AND A 22% OF THE POPULATION, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MR. STEWART. UM, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY. I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION. YOU'RE REFERENCING NUMBERS. I'M, I'M CURIOUS, WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS YOU'RE REFERENCING? YOU SAID 2003 AND I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED AND WANNA MAKE SURE I'M TRACKING WHAT YOU'RE TRACKING. TWO TH I'M SORRY. 2023. OKAY. AND ARE THOSE HHPD STOPS? HPD STOPS? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION VERY MUCH. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROAM, UM, THE, YEAH, THESE STATS CAME OUT, UH, AND WERE MADE PUBLIC A COUPLE YEARS AGO. I KNOW A STATUTE YOU'RE REFERENCING, AND, UH, A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I, SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THESE STATISTICS AND WORKING WITH SOME ADVOCACY GROUPS ON, UH, THOSE NUMBERS. UM, THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THEM. UH, WHAT CAN BE DO, WHAT CAN BE, UH, DONE TO, UM, IMPACT THOSE NUMBERS IN A POSITIVE MANNER. UH, WE HAVE, UH, WORK WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION AND HAVING IN DEPTH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NOT ONLY THOSE NUMBERS, BUT POSSIBLE PATHWAYS FORWARD, UH, SOME DRIVEN BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THEMSELVES AND SOME DRIVEN BY THE COMMUNITY. SO I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING. UH, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE, UM, AWARE OF [01:00:01] AND WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE. I DO, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS MORE THAN OPEN, UH, TO WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON FINDING PATHWAYS FORWARD. UH, THEY'VE SHOWN THAT. UH, AND SO I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, YOUR CONVERSATIONS ARE NOT JUST BEING HELD WITHIN YOUR, UH, WITH, WITH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES, BUT THEY'RE HAPPENING HERE AT THE CITY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP. WERE YOU PART OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY? YES, MA'AM. OKAY, BECAUSE I SAW THE EMAIL THAT CAME THROUGH THIS MORNING THAT HAD THE STATISTICS AND TALKED ABOUT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WAS BEING, BEING HELD TODAY. AND YOU INCLUDED THE, THE RACIAL PROFILING STATISTICS. SO, UM, I DID JUST HAVE A CHANCE TO, TO READ OVER THOSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. NOW, I JUST HAD ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION AS WE TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS, AND I APPRECIATE SOME COLLEAGUES THAT ARE REALLY LEADING THE WAY ON PUTTING FORWARD SOME, SOME PROPOSALS. UH, DO YOU HAVE A POSITION ON WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PREVIOUSLY DID THAT WE HAD WORKED ON RELATED TO SITE AND RELEASE? SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. YEAH, FOR THE POLICY CALLED SITE AND RELEASE, WHERE RATHER THAN ARRESTING FOR MINOR MISDEMEANORS, UH, AND, AND TRAFFIC STOPS, IT, IT'S A CITATION AND A RELEASE TO PREVENT. THAT WAS A WHILE BACK, WASN'T IT? IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. OKAY. WELL, I SPENT 28 YEARS AT HPD AND RETIRED IN 2009. RIGHT. BUT THAT, OKAY, SO YOU DON'T I'M NO PROBLEM. I JUST WAS ASKING IF YOU HAD A POSITION ON, ON WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY PUT FORWARD. THANK YOU. I I I, I AGREE WITH THAT THOUGH. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. STEWART. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBIN HOLZER. ROBIN HOLZER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS ROBIN HOLZER, AND AS OF YESTERDAY, I AM THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LINK HOUSTON. AS I HOPE EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS, LINK BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR NINE YEARS NOW. LINK IS BRINGING DATA AND STORIES TO HELP LOCAL DECISION MAKERS AT THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND METRO CREATE A MORE ROBUST AND MORE EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. WANT MORE OPTIONS LIKE SAFE CONNECTED SIDEWALKS, LIKE PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND BUSES THAT COME WHEN YOU NEED THEM AND TAKE YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO. THIS SPRING, OUR TEAM SURVEYED MORE THAN 300 DAILY BUS AND RAIL RIDERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WORKING WELL AND WHAT CAN BE BETTER THINGS THAT WE NEED MORE OF, LIKE FREQUENT BUS SERVICE. WE'LL BRING YOU THEIR STORIES NEXT MONTH WITH THE RELEASE OF OUR SIXTH EQUITY AND TRANSIT REPORT. IN THE PAST, WE'VE ENJOYED THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING THOSE FINDINGS RIGHT HERE AT THE HORSESHOE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANNUAL UPDATES FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE'LL GET TO DO THAT AGAIN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. IN THE MEANTIME, I INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER US AS A USEFUL RESOURCE, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND I'D LOVE TO HELP CONNECT YOU TO OUR FOLKS IN YOUR PLACES. SO MY NEW EMAIL ADDRESS IS ROBIN@LINKHOUSTON.ORG. THANKS FOR HAVING US. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. NO, THANK YOU. I WAS LITERALLY JUST GONNA ASK ROBIN, HOW CAN WE GET AHOLD OF YOU, BUT YOU COVERED THAT AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS SO MUCH. YEP. ROBIN, AT LINK HOUSTON.ORG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, HEATHER MUIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SAMUEL SMITH. HELLO, HEATHER. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS HEATHER RAKI. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN TIMBER GROVE, WHICH IS A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR THE HEIGHTS INSIDE THE SIX 10 LOOP. UM, AFTER MANY YEARS OF HARD WORK FROM OUR TEAM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR TO ME, UM, STARTED CONSTRUCTION OVER TWO YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS BEEN A LONG AND ARDUOUS PROCESS. UM, OUR LATEST SNAG IS WE ARE AT THE END OF THE PROCESS NOW AND WE ARE TRYING TO TIE INTO THE STORM DRAIN. UH, WE HIRED JIMERSON UNDERGROUND AND THEY DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND DUG, UM, A SPOT IN WEST 18TH STREET, UM, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK, [01:05:01] AND THE STORM DRAIN WAS NOT THERE. UM, THE GYMS MAP, THE, THE OFFICIAL HOUSTON'S GYMS MAP SAYS IT'S THERE. UM, PUBLIC WORKS SAYS IT'S THERE. UM, THE CITY WORKERS SAY IT'S THERE. THERE ARE TWO MANHOLES AT THE END OF THE BLOCK AT EACH END WITH PIPES LEADING TO EACH OTHER INDICATING THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED, UH, BUT THEY'RE NOT. UM, AFTER STALLING OUT WITH OUR, UM, PERSON AT PUBLIC WORKS ON ADVICE, WE REACHED OUT TO RUDY MORENO AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE DID HIS DUE DILIGENCE AND THEN HE HAD A MEETING WITH THE CITY ENGINEER, MR. MC FOY, AND THE HEAD OF STORM DRAINAGE, MS. CLARK. HE ADVOCATED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHEET DRAIN AS WE'VE DONE FOR 60 PLUS YEARS, UH, WITHOUT ISSUE. AND THEY DENIED IT. THEY SAID WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE PIPE WASN'T THERE. WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT THE GYM'S MAP. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT PUBLIC WORKS, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY ENGINEERS DIDN'T KNOW. WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT, AND THAT WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIGGING UP 60 PLUS FEET OF WEST 18TH STREET AT MY EXPENSE, ESTIMATED AT CLOSE TO, UM, $250,000. THIS IS A PIPE THAT IRONICALLY, WE HAD SIX MONTHS OF DELAYS TO THE PROJECT BECAUSE WE WERE MEETING WITH PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE THEY WERE SAYING THAT WE COULDN'T TIE INTO THIS PIPE BECAUSE IT WAS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN WHAT THE NEW REGULATIONS WERE. UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT A NINE MONTH PROJECT HAS NOW GONE OVER TWO YEARS, AND I AM, UH, INCREDIBLY OVER BUDGET AND I NEED SOMEONE TO SEE REASON THAT I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ERROR IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THIS COUNTRY, IN ONE OF THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THIS CITY. I SHOULD NOT MEMBER KAMAN. I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. HEATHER, THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS MATTER, UM, YOU AND ANOTHER RESIDENT BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, UH, JUST THIS PAST WEEK. SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK THINGS ON OUR END. I KNOW YOU DID WANNA COME TODAY JUST TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WHAT IS GOING ON. ABSOLUTELY. UM, AND I, I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR TIME IN COMING. I HEAR RIGHTFULLY SO, THE FRUSTRATION IN TERMS OF DELAYS AND THE COST TO YOU. UM, I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ANSWER FOR YOU AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO ESCALATE AND TRY TO COME TO SOME UNDERSTANDING. I KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH JUST SHEET FLOW, BUT AGAIN, UH, I LIVE IN THE AREA. I KNOW HOW OLD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS. UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THE DEPARTMENT FOR SOME TYPE OF SOLUTION AND COMPROMISE THAT DOESN'T. AND I KNOW YOU WOULD NEVER WANT TO. UH, YOU ARE SUCH A RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY PARTNER. UH, EVERYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWS WHO YOU ARE AND, AND THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU DO. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND I KNOW YOU DON'T WANNA DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD, UM, CREATE ADDITIONAL FLOOD RISK. AND AT THE SAME TIMELY, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY, UH, TO MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY, BUT I KNOW YOU ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE, THE REST OF COUNCIL, UH, JUST TO SHARE WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE DO HAVE A MESSAGE FROM PUBLIC WORKS THAT THEY ARE SCHEDULING A FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH THE PROJECT ENGINEERS, UM, TO DISCUSS THIS, UH, WITH YOU AS WELL. UM, IT'S THE MEMO THEY SENT TO THE MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL CONTINUE TO STAY IN TOUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU. SAMUEL SMITH. SAMUEL SMITH TO BE FOLLOWED BY PASO. AMI. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO, MRS. SMITH. UH, I'VE BEEN BADGING QUITE A BIT ABOUT HAVING MS CAP ON, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, BUT THAT WAS DURING THE TIME THAT THE OTHER MALE WAS HERE. AND, UH, IF ANYBODY'S OFFENDED BY ME, YOU KNOW, KEEPING MY CAP ON, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY. UH, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT I WAS, UH, I WAS ATTACKED AND THE PERSON THAT ATTACKED ME TOOK MY HAT, MY MONEY, MY WIFE'S MONEY. AND WE ARE TRYING TO THE BEST WE [01:10:01] CAN TO FIND OUT WHO THAT PERSON WAS AND, AND HOW CAN YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE AMENDS FOR WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE DID. YOU KNOW? UH, I DON'T GO AROUND, YOU KNOW, ANTAGONIZING PEOPLE OR, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING FUN OF PEOPLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE A LIVING FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE. YOU KNOW, MY WIFE IS IN HER, HER, UH, S I'M IN MY SEVENTIES, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME, YOU KNOW, UH, MAINTAINING. BUT, UH, IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO RECOUP WHAT WE'VE LOST, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED IF WE GET SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO LOOK AT THIS, WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW? RIGHT. AND RIGHT NOW IT IS JUST IN LIMBO. YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUR MONEY BACK. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY, UH, UH, EFFORTS FROM THE DOCTORS OR, OR ANY OF THAT. YOU KNOW, I'VE, UH, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, BUT IT WASN'T THAT, ABOUT THAT, THAT ISSUE. I WAS HERE WHEN THE OTHER MAYOR WAS HERE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ABOUT GETTING WORK AND ALL OF THAT AT THAT TIME. SO WAS THERE, WAS THERE A POLICE REPORT FILED MR. SMITH? YES. THERE, WHEN HAPPENED? THERE WAS, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UM, SERGEANT CARR AND, AND LET HIM LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO? MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU MR. SMITH. WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. THANK YOU. CAN YOU, OH, COUNCIL, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON DOES WANNA SPEAK WITH YOU. THANK, THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, MR. SMITH, I'M SORRY. IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE ROBBED, RIGHT? MM-HMM . YEAH. SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, BUT AFTER YOU TALKED WITH, UM, MR. CARR, UH, OFFICER CARR OVER THERE, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UM, OR ONE OF MY CONSTITUENT SERVICE REPS WILL GET WITH YOU AND WE'LL TRY TO CONNECT YOU TO SOME RESOURCES, UM, TO HELP YOU SOUND LIKE YOU NEED SOME HELP RIGHT NOW? YEAH, WE DO. UM, SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE, CAN ASSIST YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANKS. BEST WISHES TO YOU. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT? YES. UH, OFFICER CARR IS RIGHT THERE. HE CAN HELP YOU. ALRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER. A PASO AMI TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL CALLAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS GAN AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF, UH, TEXAS AFRICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND ALSO, UH, THE CHAIRMAN OF, UH, THE HOUSTON AFRICA DAY HOST COMMITTEE FOR 20, UH, 25. I'M JOINED BY OUR HOST COMMITTEE HERE. UH, IT'S TRULY AN HONOR, UH, TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS AFRICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR OP FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FEW WORDS. UM, AT THIS IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR OUR CITY, UH, EXPANDING INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT, ALLOW ME TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING OUR SENSOR GRATITUDE TO MARRIAGE ON WITTMEYER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION. UM, WE ARE ESPECIALLY THANKFUL FOR HIS WARM WELCOME, UH, DURING OUR RECENT MEETING AT HIS OFFICE, UM, WHERE HE WELCOME AND ALSO MORE IMPORTANT, UH, ON MAY 1ST, 2025. UH, HE HAS DECLARED A PROM, UH, TEXAS AFRICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, THIS GESTURE MEAN A GREAT DEAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SPEAK VOLUME ABOUT, UH, YOUR ADMINISTRATION'S, UH, OPENNESS TO GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP. A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO, UH, AS WELL TO MAYOR PRO TEM MARTA, UH, CASTEK TTO FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND FOR GRASSLY PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION TO US. ON BEHALF OF MAYOR JOHN WITTMEYER, UH, WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO SHARE A STRONG AND PRODUCTIVE, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH MANY OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TODAY. UH, WHOSE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN DEEPLY VALUED. UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, HOUSTON, UH, IS PROUDLY HOME TO A THRIVING AFRICAN DIASPORA, MORE THAN 300,000 STRONG. UH, WE CONTINUE MEANINGFUL EVERY DAY, UH, TO THIS CITY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INNOVATION, CULTURAL, UH, RICHNESS AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP, UH, FROM MEDICINE TO TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, UH, FROM, UH, THE AFRICAN COMMUNITIES, UH, IS IN ESSENTIAL TRADE, UH, IN THE FABRIC OF HOUSTON. CONTINUED GROWTH, UH, AND SUCCESS AS PRESIDENT OF TEXAS AFRICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. UH, I HAVE THE HONOR OF LEADING THE STATE PREMIER PLATFORM, UH, FOR FOSTERING TRADE INVESTMENTS AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA. AND THROUGH OUR, OUR SHARE COLLECTIVE, OUR [01:15:01] COLLECTIVE EFFORTS, UH, HOUSTON HAS PROBABLY WELCOME, UH, MORE THAN FIVE AFRICAN HEAD OF STATES, 50 AFRICAN MINISTERS AND AMBASSADORS HERE IN HOUSTON, AND MANY OF WHOM WERE VISITING THIS CITY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. UH, THESE VISITS HAVE NOT ONLY STRENGTHENED, UH, DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC TIES, THEY HAVE ELEVATED HOUSTON, UH, PROFILE AS A GLOBAL GETAWAY, UH, TO THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, UH, WITH THE D SPIRIT OF CONNECTIONS AND COLLABORATION. I'M DELIGHTED TO EXTEND A WARM, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR HOST COMMITTEE TO EXTEND A WARM INVITATION TO MAYOR JOHN MEYER AND EACH AND EVERY, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE TODAY TO, UH, CELEBRATE, UH, OUR EIGHTH ANNUAL HOUSTON AFRICA DAY, UH, WHICH WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON MAY 30TH AT THE NRG CENTER COUNCIL. ARE YOU, ARE YOU FINISHED? NO, YOU GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. SURE. UH, WE'RE EXPECTING OVER 500 ATTENDEES, UH, MANY AFRICAN, UH, AMBASSADORS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, ENTREPRENEURS, AFRICAN DIASPORA WILL BE, UH, ATTENDING. AND WE HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU GUYS IN CLOSING, I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP. TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE CONNECTED AND GLOBALLY ENGAGED HOUSTON ONE THAT PROUDLY EMBRACE, UH, ITS DIVE DIVERSITY AND POSITION ITSELF AS A LEADER ON THE WORLD STAGE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOME EACH OF YOU ON ME 30TH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TIM AND POSO, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. I ALSO WANNA JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, FOR THE MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER, AND ENSURING THAT THIS COUNCIL, UM, HAS AN INTRODUCTION AND ALWAYS A PATHWAY INTO UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES WITHIN THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME COLLEAGUES WITH YOU TODAY IF YOU WANTED TO RECOGNIZE WHO THEY WERE AS WELL. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU. UH, CONSTANT MEMBER, I HAVE, UM, DR. TJ IS PART OF OUR HOST COMMITTEE. UM, I HAVE OLYMPIO AND FRANCINE, THEY'RE PART OF OUR, UH, AFRICA DAY HOST COMMITTEE, 2025. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR THE INVITATION TO ATTEND. WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RANDALL CALLANAN, TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAROL GILL. KYLE, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. UM, I HAVE SENT, UH, TO THE MICROPHONE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR, UH, HAVING ME HERE. AND, UH, TODAY WE ARE COME HERE TALKING ABOUT A RACIAL, UH, PROFILING. AND DESPITE, UM, MANY ACTIVITIES TO DECREASE RACIAL PROFILING, THE STATISTICS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON EVEN TODAY, SHOW THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN, UH, A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THIS AREA. AND AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING THE GREATEST HISPANICS DO AS WELL. BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S VERY SURPRISING THE LEVEL OF, OF, UM, OF, UH, PROFILING AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, TRAFFIC STOPS. ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT, THE REAL MINOR ONES WHERE YOUR REGISTRATION IS OUT BY ONE DAY OR THERE'S A CRACK IN YOUR, UM, BACK TAILLIGHT. AFRICAN AMERICANS GET STOPPED WAY MORE, AND THEN THE PERCENTAGES EVEN INCREASE WHEN IT COMES TO SEARCHING OF THE VEHICLES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, AS WELL AS, UH, THE USE OF FORCE USED UPON AFRICAN AMERICANS. AND SO WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH MEMBER, UH, WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THERE WERE, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO SHOW UP OR THEY WERE, UH, AND TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, THEY, UM, THEY MISSED THE DEADLINE 'CAUSE Y'ALL GOT A DEADLINE THAT THEY'RE NOT USED TO. BUT, UH, SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING, UH, ABOUT THIS BECAUSE TO, UH, HAVE ONE SEGMENT OF HOUSTON, 22%, UH, TREATED, UM, NOT FAIRLY AND EQUALLY THAT, UH, SHINES UPON ALL OF US. AND SO IN THE, UH, PRESS RELEASE THAT I, I SENT Y'ALL TO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE MAYOR, UH, WE LISTED, UM, SIX DIFFERENT ITEMS, WHICH ARE PARTS OF RACIAL PROFILING, UM, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE THIS, ONE OF WHICH WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY. AND THAT'S RAISE AWARENESS AND CONCERN BECAUSE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE AND WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING CONCERNED, THINGS DON'T HAPPEN. SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY, IS TO COME TO YOU AND LOOKING TO, UH, GET SOME PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. UH, IMPLICIT BIAS, BIAS TESTING, THAT'S ONE CHANGE THAT COULD BE MADE IF YOU NEED A, A [01:20:01] CONCRETE ACTION, UH, FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, ANOTHER ONE IS THE DATA. 'CAUSE YOU ALL GET THE DATA OF THE, UH, RACIAL PROFILING. AND IF THAT, I THINK THAT, UM, A LOT OF EXPERTS THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MUCH QUICKER AND CLOSER, RATHER THAN WAITING TILL THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN DO A REVIEW OF THE WHOLE YEAR, IF THERE COULD BE MORE OF A, A QUICKER REVIEW OF THAT DATA TO SEE LIKE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, UH, WHAT EXACTLY, UH, IS HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S GETTING BETTER OR WORSE. AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, NOBODY LIKES TO BE MICROMANAGED, BUT IF THERE SEEMS TO BE INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS WHO ARE FOR SOME REASON HAVE A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS OR HISPANICS BEING STOPPED, UH, FOR, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WE, WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT. AND WE'RE NOT HERE TO CALL ANYBODY A RACIST, BUT WE'RE HERE TO GET SOME SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. UM, I KNOW YOU, YOU'VE MENTIONED, UM, SOME OF THE, UM, BULLET POINTS THAT YOU BELIEVE, UH, WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF. AND WHAT WAS AWARENESS IF, IF YOU COULD PICK THE TOP THREE FOR US TO, TO FOCUS ON, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? WELL, UH, I THINK THIS IMPLICIT BIAS TESTING, UH, WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. UM, HAVING MAYBE SUPERVISORS OR SERGEANTS LOOKING AT THE RACIAL PROFILING DATA ON A MONTHLY OR WEEKLY BASIS TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME OFFICERS FOR WHATEVER REASON, UH, TEND TO BE, UM, GIVING AFRICAN-AMERICANS OR HISPANICS MORE, YOU KNOW, MORE STOPS THAN ARE, THAN THEIR PO THE POPULATION IN THEIR PACIFIC AREA. UM, AND WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? WHO ARE YOU REPRESENTING? UH, PEOPLE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. . OKAY. I, UH, I'M A LAWYER. I'M A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER, BUT I'M, I'M HERE TODAY AS AN ACTIVIST, AND I NOTICED THESE STATS, AND I BET I USED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON A-C-L-U-A LONG TIME AGO. AND, UH, NOW I'M A MEMBER OF THE GREATER HOUSTON COALITION FOR JUSTICE. AND, UH, I'VE COME TODAY WITH, UH, THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HERE TO JUST TRY TO PUT, UM, YOU KNOW, CHANGE THIS AND GET, GET IT MORE FAIR. YEAH, I MEAN, I, I APPRECIATE IT. UM, I READ A ARTICLE IN THE CHRONICLE, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO THAT HAD THESE STATS AND I WAS PRETTY, UH, ALARMED BY IT AS WELL. AND THAT'S WHY WE STARTED THESE CONVERSATIONS, UH, UH, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THIS. I THINK THIS WILL BE A TOPIC THAT WILL CONTINUE TO COME UP UNTIL, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE SOME CHANGES THERE. BUT I DO APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME FORWARD AND, UH, PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US WITH INFORMATION. WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU. UM, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. CAROL GILL. KYLES I BACK HOUSE, BACK UP HERE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, UH, I SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES AND SOME NEW FACES IN HERE. YEAH, I'M HERE. I'M HERE AGAIN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN, UH, BEEN TARGETED, BEEN TARGETED FOR SOME TIME. NOW, I'M, I MEAN, BY TARGETING, I MEAN POLICE, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, UH, ANY, WELL, ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE YOU CAN THINK OF. I'VE BEEN PUT IN JAIL A LOT ON PUT IN JAIL, STOLE FROM, I'M HOMELESS. I'M JOBLESS, I'M CARLESS. BEEN DRIVING TRUCKS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. CAN'T GET A JOB DRIVING A TRUCK. SEE THE, UH, TRUCK WITH A, WITH A QUICK CARD. EVERYBODY'S DEAD FOR BEING TARGETED. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG I GOT LEFT HERE. LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS NOVEMBER 28TH, 23. MAYOR TURNER WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE. I SPOKE ABOUT MY UNCLES, ONE OF MY UNCLES. SOON, THE ONE OF MY UNCLES, I TOLD THERE WASN'T EATING. I HAD ONE, ONE DOING CHEMO AND ONE WASN'T EATING. ONE WASN'T EATING, JUST PASSED. AND I WASN'T ABLE TO GO TO THE FUNERAL BECAUSE I WAS KICKED OUTTA THE HOUSE BECAUSE I, I WAS KICKED OUTTA MY HOUSE. 45, 35 DEAD. I WAS PUT IN JAIL FOR SIX MONTHS. THEY WANTED TO GIMME SIX MONTHS OR SOMETHING. I DIDN'T DO. EVERY TIME I GO TO JAIL FOR SOMETHING, WE, IT'S, IT'S FOR THEM, NOT FOR NOTHING THAT I'VE DONE. 'CAUSE I'M NOT THAT TYPE OF PERSON TO GO TO JAIL. THAT'S HOW I WASN'T RAISED LIKE THAT. I'M NOT A CONVICTED FELON. I DON'T GET IN TROUBLE. I TEND IN MY BUSINESS AND STICK TO MY OWN. BUT FOR SOME REASON, I'VE BEEN TARGETED, PUT IN JAIL FOR NOTHING. SIX MONTHS FOR JAIL, FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO. AND THEN THEY TAKE IT OFF FOR, FOR WE GET THREE MONTHS. FOR WHAT? I DIDN'T DO NOTHING. OKAY, SO SPEAK ONE COUNTY. YOU DO, YOU DO WHAT? ONE MONTH AND YOU HOME. OKAY? I DIDN'T DO NOTHING TO, UH, TO DESERVE THIS ANYWAY. THREE TIMES I BE PUT IN JAIL FOR NO REASON. I CALLED THE POLICE, SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING TO ME. I CALLED THE POLICE. POLICE COME TO ME. POLICE AIN'T EVEN COME NO MORE. WHEN THEY WAS COMING, THEY WOULD PUT ME ON THE CAR, TAKE MY, TAKE MY DRIVER LICENSE FROM ME AND HARASS ME. AND THEN THEY SAY, WELL, [01:25:01] WHY YOU DON'T CALL THE POLICE? WELL, WHY WOULD I CALL Y'ALL? Y'ALL NOT WORKING FOR ME. TAX, TAX PAYING CITIZEN. WORKED ALL MY LIFE, BEEN WORKING ALL MY LIFE, BEEN DRIVING TRUCK, LIKE I SAID, DRIVING TRUCKS SINCE NINE, NINE. AND THIS IS HOW I GET PAID. I'M NOT A CRIMINAL MAN. WHY ME? WHY ME? COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. PROTO. UM, I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF, UM, DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES, AND I I DON'T THINK ANY OF US CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION WHY YOU, UH, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT SOME OF THESE MATTERS PRIVATELY, UH, WE COULD SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO EITHER ASSIST, PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES, OR AT LEAST OPEN UP SOME LINES OF COMMUNICATION TO GET YOU SOME ANSWERS. I, I DON'T KNOW WHY, WHY SOME OF THE THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING TO YOU. UH, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE DO HEAR YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD. AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TALK OFFLINE TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO ASSIST YOU. OKAY? MAN, THIS IS THE CITY I CALL HOME. I LOVE THIS CITY. YEAH. BUT THIS CITY HAS, IT REALLY WRONGED ME, MAN. HAS WRONGED ME IN A BIG WAY. OKAY? AND MR. MR. KYLES, IF YOU DO HAVE TIME, UM, SERGEANT CARR IS HERE. UM, AND HE CAN HELP YOU WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, TO TRY TO ELIMINATE YOU BEING TARGETED, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. SERGEANT CARR IS HERE. OKAY? THAT'S IT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. CLEMENTE MATHIS. CLEMENTE MATHIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY TERRY CHEN. HELLO, MR. MATHIS. OFFICERS, UH, CITY COUNCIL. OFFICER OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, I'M HERE TO BASICALLY SPEAK, UM, OFF BEHALF OF A DA, WHICH I STARTED VERY YOUNG AND, UH, AND GREW UP IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A NATIVE, UM, TO SAY AT THE BEGINNING. AND, AND, UH, AND CONTINUING AND, AND, UH, AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN VERY EXTREMELY, UH, UH, WHOLESOME AND, AND EXUBERANT IN, IN WAYS OF DISCOVERING AND, AND ENLIGHTENING IN MY, IN MY PRESENCE OF BEING AS, AS A, AS A, AS A FELLOW HOUSTONIAN AND, AND, AND, UH, AND PERSON OF A DISABILITY, AND A, AND A PERSON OF, OF AN ABILITY. I'M A MUSICIAN, A CHURCH MUSICIAN, AND AS WELL AS A, UH, A, A PERSON OF, OF LAUREL RESPECT, OF INDIVIDUALS, OF ALL CREED AND COLOR. I'VE, UM, I'VE KNOWN AND BEING ABLE TO, TO GROW WITH EACH OTHER WHEN ONE ANOTHER AND, AND RESPECT OF EACH OTHER. OF COURSE. UH, WE HAVE OUR ITIES AND WE HAVE OUR, OUR ABILITIES TO GROW AND, AND, AND, AND LOVE AND RESPECT EACH OTHER AS CHRISTIANS. I, UM, I LOVE THE CITY AND I LOVE BEING A PART OF GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I SERVED. THEY'VE GROWN TREMENDOUSLY SINCE I'VE, AND, UH, AND EACH DAY HAS BECOME AND, AND ALWAYS WILL BE COMING ENLIGHTENING AS I BEGIN TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND SEE A BRAND NEW HORIZON. YOU KNOW, I RESPECT FOR ANYBODY ELSE TO SEE THAT AS WELL WHEN THEY GET UP. WELL, IF THEY DON'T, WE ALL HAVE TO COMMUNICATE A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFECTIVELY. COMMUNICATION IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING. UM, NETWORKING IS, IS, IS GROWN. WOW. IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ASTOUNDING HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO LEARN TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND, AND BEING ABLE TO BE QUIET AND DO IT. JUST LISTEN. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO REALLY, UH, GIVE EACH OTHER A HUG EVEN THOUGH WE, WE DON'T, UH, FEEL LIKE WE ARE WORTHY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK. THANK YOU. MR. MATHIS, ARE YOU IN? NEXT SPEAKER? TERRY CHEN. TERRY CHEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. [01:30:01] MY NAME IS TERRY CHEN. I'M A DISTRICT H RESIDENT AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH WOODY JUNTOS SERVING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN SPRING BRANCH. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAG THIS BUDGET, AND I HAVE THREE POINTS TO MAKE. POINT ONE, THE COST OF THESE RAISES IS CRIPPLING THE CITY OF HOUSTON BUDGET. LONG TERM, THE RAISES ARE ESTIMATED TO COST 832 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF THE AGREEMENT, AND AT LEAST 76 MILLION THIS YEAR ALONE. THIS CITY IS ALREADY FACING A PROJECTED 220 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL, STEPPING IN, APART FROM LAST YEAR'S 1.5 BILLION CONTRACT AND BACK PAY SETTLEMENT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION. THIS IS A GROSS FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT AND IS SPENDING MONEY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE. THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND BALANCING THE BUDGET IS A ZERO SUM GAME TO MAKE WAY FOR INCREASES TO HPDS ALREADY OVER $1 BILLION BUDGET. THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL HAVE TO CUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT HOUSTONIANS RELY ON 'CAUSE OF THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE. REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN HP'S BUDGET WILL BE CHALLENGING. THIS WILL HAMSTRING THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FINANCES FOR YEARS TO COME. AND AS CLIMATE DISASTERS EXACERBATES WEATHER DISASTERS IN HOUSTON, WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN MAKING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MORE CLIMATE RESILIENT. POINT TWO IS TRANSPARENCY. HOW CAN THE MAYOR WITH NO PUBLIC INPUT NEGOTIATE FOR A CITY OF OVER 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE DURING THE LAST HBOU CONTRACT CYCLE? THERE ARE PROMISES TO MAKE THIS PROCESS MUCH MORE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THAT DID NOT OCCUR. OTHER CITIES HAVE OPEN PROCESSES THAT ALLOW FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. POINT THREE IS IT REWARDS BAD BEHAVIOR LIKE EVERYBODY HAS TALKED ABOUT TODAY. THE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS ARE TRENDING UP YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR HPD, AND WE'RE REWARDING THEM WITH A BIGGER BUDGET. THESE ARE LARGE, THEY'RE LARGE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS AS BLACK DRIVERS, WHERE THE VICTIMS OF 56% OF THE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS AFTER TRAFFIC STOP, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ONLY 22% OF THE HOUSTON'S POPULATION. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A JOB WELL DONE TO YOU? THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD, WHICH WAS REVAMPED AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, HAS DONE LITTLE TO HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE. A REPORT BY THE CHRONICLE FOUND THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE SINGLE INCIDENT WHERE THE OVERSIGHT BOARD REVIEW OF AN INCIDENT ACTUALLY LED TO A MORE SEVERE DISCIPLINE FOR AN OFFICER. THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD IS LARGELY TOOTHLESS BECAUSE HPD CAN REJECT THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS IF THEY DISAGREE. THE CITY CONTROLLER JUST SAID TO THE CHRONICLE THAT HE WILL NOT CERTIFY THE BUDGET AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR OBLIGATION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS CALLS ON YOU TO TAG THE VOTE FOR A NEW POLICE CONTRACT. WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT. WE CANNOT VOTE ON THE POLICE CONTRACT BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS DRAINAGE CASE. IT PUTS THE ENTIRE BUDGET AT RISK DUE TO THESE CONCERNS. WE ASK YOU TO TAG THIS BUDGET UNTIL BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR'S STAFF ARE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH IMMIGRANT AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES TO EXPLAIN THE IMPACTS AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. I THINK SHE HAS A PROCEDURE. NEXT SPEAKER, DAMMAR GONZALEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AMAD GONZALEZ. I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. I'M HERE TODAY TO UPLIFT THE CONCERNS OF MY COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY WHO'S LIVING IN FEAR. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH ICE, UM, CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEPARATION OF HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES. SO YOU WILL ALL UNDERSTAND MY CONCERN WHEN I HEARD THAT HOUSTON MAYOR WITH MEYER IS TRYING TO ALLOCATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON MORE POLICING WHILE COMMUNITIES OF LOW INCOME CONTINUE TO FACE THE CHALLENGES AND HARDSHIPS AFTER THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY HURRICANE BUR LAST YEAR. CLIMATE CHANGE IS A REAL THING, AND WE ARE DAYS AWAY FROM ENTERING AND TO A VERY ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON THIS YEAR. SO I WANT TO URGE ALL OF YOU TODAY TO PUT OUT THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SO THAT, SO THAT OUR FAMILIES CAN GET SOME RELIEF. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR SAFER CITIES WHILE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING DEFUNDED. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR OBLIGATION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, CALLS ON YOU TO TAG THE VOTE FOR THE NEW POLICE POLICE CONTRACT, WHICH WILL CLOSE THE CITY, 75 MILLIONS THIS YEAR. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GIVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT A RAISE. WE INVITE YOU ALL TO MEET WITH US SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT THIS BUDGET WILL LEAVE IN OUR CITY IF IT'S PASSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ELLIS STAFFORD, UH, AS THE NEXT SPEAKER. ELLIS STAFFORD. ELLIS. STAFFORD. SECOND. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND . ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES? NO. ELLA STAFFORD. THANK YOU. ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. [01:35:01] UH, LIKE SHE SAID, MY NAME IS ELLA STAFFORD. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NOBLE ON BEHALF OF OUR PRESIDENT, OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENT, JEFFREY GLOVER, DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THE LOCAL CHAPTER, I BID YOU GREETINGS. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT NOBLE STANDS FOR, IT IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES. IT'S NOT A NEW ORGANIZATION. I WAS ASKED AT THE OTHER DAY, NOBLE'S BEEN HERE SINCE LEE P. BROWN, WHO WAS ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL FOUNDERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TROY THINNER, WHO IS STILL A NOBLE MEMBER. VERA BUMPERS IS A NOBLE MEMBER. WE'VE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME DOING THE WORK SIMILAR TO OUR FRATERNITIES AND OUR SORORITIES. WE'VE BEEN DOING IT JUST OUTSIDE THE LIGHT, JUST OUTSIDE THE LIMELIGHT. UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS. WE'VE BEEN CLEANING UP ELDER, ELDERLY LOTS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE PRECEPTS TO WHAT, UH, NOBLE STANDS FOR. AS A NEW PRESIDENT, I DECIDED TO MOVE US FURTHER AND CLOSER INTO THE LIGHT. I COME TO YOU TODAY, NOT WITH MY HANDOUT, UH, BUT WITH MY HAND EXTENDED TO OFFER OUR HELP AND OUR RESOURCES TO THIS BODY AND TO THIS CITY. NOBLE ALONE IN OUR 50 MEMBERS HAS OVER A MILLENNIUM, A MILLENNIUM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE. LIKE I SAID, OUR, OUR VOTEES IS IN OUR NAME. OUR MEMBERS RUN ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THAT MENTAL ACUMEN TO THIS BODY. I HEARD MANY COMMENTS ABOUT RACIAL PROFILING, HEARD MANY COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT THAT ISSUE. WE KNOW THE THINGS THAT YOU, THAT CAN BE DONE. THE THING ABOUT NOBLE IS WE SIT IN A, WE SIT, WE OCCUPY, WE OCCUPY A SPACE IN THE ECOSYSTEM THAT'S UNLIKE ANYONE ELSE. WE DON'T OWE A RELATIONSHIP TO A GOVERNMENT ENTITY. WE CAN GIVE YOU THE UNBRIDLED AND UNVARNISHED TRUTH OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN FACT, I WOULD OFFER OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE AS THE ONE STOP SHOP, UH, YOUR ALL INCLUSIVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT. UH, WE ARE YOUR COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INDUSTRY. WE DON'T OWE ANYBODY ANYTHING. WE HAVE A SIMILAR CONSTITUENCY. THE COMMUNITY, UH, OUR MEMBERS CAN'T COME FORWARD AND, AND OFFER OUR OUR TRUTHS TO YOU. UH, WE KNOW WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED. WE KNOW HOW TO LOOK AT POLICE NUMBERS. WE KNOW HOW TO INTERPRET DATA. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DONE. THAT'S WHAT WE DID, AND THAT'S WHAT SOME OF OUR MEMBERS STILL DO. SO I JUST WANTED TO COME TODAY AND OFFER NOBLE TO YOU AS A RESOURCE. WE DON'T WANT ANY, ANY FUNDING OR ANYTHING. UH, EVERYTHING FROM HOW TO REDUCE CRIME, HOW TO REDUCE RACIAL PROFILING, HOW TO RECRUIT. WE CAN HELP YOU USHER IN NEW OFFICERS FROM VEINS OF RECRUITING THAT PROBABLY HAVE BEEN PROBABLY BEEN OVERLOOKED, BUT NOBLE HAS HELPED HERE TO HELP YOU DO THAT. UH, I KNOW I HAD 180 SECONDS. I PROBABLY TOOK ABOUT 120. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. STAFFORD. ARE, ARE YOU BASED IN HOUSTON? NO, I ACT, I LIVE IN THE, THE CHAPTER IS, YES, THE CHAPTER IS BASED IN HOUSTON. MOST OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IS, IS IN HOUSTON. HOUSTON NOBLE IS THE LARGEST OF THE THREE CHAPTERS IN TEXAS. UH, THERE'S A NORTHERN CHAPTER, UH, NORTH DALLAS CHAPTER, AND THERE'S A CHAPTER TO THE WEST, BUT WE'RE THE LARGEST OF THE THREE CHAPTERS IN THE STATE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND EXTENDING YOUR, UM, WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US AS WE WORK THROUGH THOSE TYPES OF CHALLENGES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. UH, WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND AND AND WHAT, WHAT AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT, UH, DO YOU WORK WITH? OR DID YOU WORK WITH LIKE A LOT? I AM A TRANSPLANT TO HOUSTON. I RETIRED FROM THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF, UH, STATE POLICE AS ONE OF ITS EXECUTIVES. I HAD UNDER ME HUNDREDS OF TROOPERS, DEPUTIES, AGENTS, AND OFFICERS THAT WORKED UNDER ME. UH, I'VE, AFTER I LEFT THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE, I WORKED FOR THE DETROIT CRIME COMMISSION, WHERE I STILL WAS THE PRESIDENT OF NOBLE DETROIT. NOW I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NOBLE, UH, HOUSTON. UH, AND THERE ARE SOME, UH, THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD IN DETROIT. NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE ME. UH, TODD BENISON IS THE CHIEF OF THE DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAYOR MICHAEL DUGGAN IS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. WE BROUGHT FORWARD PROGRAMS THAT HAVE HELPED THEM REDUCE CRIME IN THEIR CITY. AND NOT ALL PROGRAMS REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. WE KNOW THAT, UH, AS A, AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE, THIS IS NO, NO, UH, NO DISRESPECT TO ANY OF MY B BROTHERN AND SISTER, AND THEY'RE STILL IN THE INDUSTRY, BUT I, I KNOW CHIEFS, WE LIKE TO HAVE MORE, MORE OFFICERS AND MORE STUFF ON OUR P PEG BOARDS. UH, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER. WE WANT TO HELP YOU FIND THOSE ANSWERS. THIS IS NO COST TO YOU. WE JUST WANT TO HELP. IF YOU COULD, UH, EMAIL ALL OF OUR OFFICERS, YOUR, I MEAN ALL OF OUR OFFICES, YOUR, YOUR CONTACT INFO, AND HOW WE CAN BE ENGAGED WITH THE, UH, ORGANIZATION, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. I CAN DO THAT. AND I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU SHOULD, SHOULD ALREADY RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM MY PREDECESSOR, SHEA ROGERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I BELIEVE YOU REACHED OUT ALREADY AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS HAS ALREADY REACHED OUT. BUT I WILL DO JUST THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JULIO MCCALL. PERLA GARCIA. PERLA GARCIA. NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS [01:40:02] TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRACY HAMLIN. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. HOW ARE YOU? UH, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. I WANNA READ A QUOTE REAL QUICK. UH, WE ARE ANXIOUS FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO BE AND INSIST UPON BEING CONSIDERED A PART OF OUR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, NOT SOMETHING APART FROM IT. WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT OUR INTERESTS ARE TO OFTEN NEGLECTED, IGNORE, OR SCUTTLED. UNLESS WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION AND FORMATIVE STAGES OF THESE PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS, WE ARE INSIST MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE. OKAY, SO, HELLO EVERYONE. UH, WELL, I THOUGHT THE MAYORS GONNA BE HERE. CITY COUNCIL, EVERYONE ATTEND IN ATTENDANCE. I'M A NATIVE STONE FOR MAKERS HOME. UH, I WAS BORN AND RAISED THE ACRES HOME. UH, I SPENT ABOUT FIVE YEARS OVER THERE IN DISTRICT J AND NOW I'M IN SOVIET UNION FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AND SO I'M A, I'M A PART OF EVERYWHERE. MY DAD FROM CASH MEAL GARDEN, UH, MY WHOLE FAMILY'S FROM ACRES HOME. UH, SO WITH THAT SAID, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER JACOBS. AGAIN, I'M A CEO AND, UH, FOUNDER OF FEED HOOD ORGANIZATION, HAW PUBLIC WORKS. UH, MANY OF YOU GUYS KNOW ME AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE CITY, UH, BUDGET, WHICH HAVE MANY ISSUES WITH HPD. AND SO FROM MY EXPERIENCE BEING IN THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED PROGRAM AT TECH PREP, WHICH I LEARNED DOS IN 1988. AND UP UNTIL THIS POINT, I HAVEN'T BUILT A WEBSITE DATABASE AND SERVER OVER 10 YEARS. NO BOTTLENECKS, NO BREACHES, NO HACKS. NONE OF THAT HAD HAD TO CONFIGURE ANYTHING, AND THEY WORKED JUST FINE. SO FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, I KNOW NO ONE HAD CONTINGENCY PLAN. LACK OF RETENTION, PRE COVID. IT WILL ALWAYS BE A BUDGET SHORTFALL IF DEPARTMENTS DON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. IF ONE FAILED, THE WHOLE BUDGET IS OUT. THIS IS NO LONGER A BUDGET, MEANING THAT THE SYSTEM OR THE PROJECT IS BEING OVERRUN. AND THAT IS ABUSE. EVERY DEPARTMENT IS IMPORTANT DURING THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT. BUT UP TO DATE, HP D'S AGENCY HAS A HISTORY OF FALSIFYING DOCUMENTS, ILLEGAL OPERATIONS, ILLEGAL SEIZURES, TURNING OUT BODY CAMERAS TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC PLAYING DRUGS IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED, THEY, THEY SUPPOSED TO SERVE RACIAL PROFILING, JAIL OVERCROWDING, UTILIZING ICE TO COVER, COVER UP NEGLIGENCE, BLAMING ON IMMIGRANTS, LACK OF ENFORCEMENT ON CITIES BEING ABUSED BY HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ENFORCED LABOR, ABUSE OF PROTECTED CLASSES, ISSUES WITH THE CRIME LAB, LAB AND PROPERTY ROOM. CREATING A BACK LONG, AS LONG AS I CAN AT PLENTY OF RISK AVOIDANCE, CREATING MENTAL STRESS AND MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, CREATING A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT, BUILDING UP TO THE POLICE SAFETY ISSUES WHERE THE PROGRAMS THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CITY FOR REHABILITATION, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION TO ELIMINATE OR ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE ISSUES. THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE WAITING ON ORDERS. RUSHING AND JUDGMENTS WILL LEADS TO POOR DECISION MAKING, RESULTING IN INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS, WHICH COULD ALSO LEAD IN DEPTH CAUSING HINDRANCE TO BE, BE INNOVATIVE OR PROACTIVE IN THEIR APPROACH TO THE SITUATION OR PROBLEM SOLVING. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OR CALLABILITY AND OVERSIGHT WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT. I, MYSELF HAD TO GO TO, TO A HIGH COURT TO PROVE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DO ABUSE THE AUTHORITY AND PROVE MY CASE. THEY PROVE THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. SINCE OVERSIGHT HAS KICKED IN, WHICH THE STATE HAS GOT GOTTEN INTO MANY PEOPLE'S BUSINESS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, UH, THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. THEREFORE, THEY GET CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED AND REACT LIKE THIS. THE SENATE, THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALL, HAS BEEN FAILING THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL. ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO WEAPONIZE ASSISTANCE TO OPPRESS THE CITIZENS OF THE CITIZEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT SOC CODES THAT REPRESENT THE STATE. THE STANDARD OF WAGES. THIS IS A STANDARD THAT TEXAS, IN TERMS OF WAGES HAVE A CONSEQUENCE OF. OUR CITY SUFFERS TOO LONG FOR ABOUT THIS ONCE WE HAD A SENATOR THAT SAID MITIGATION WAS THE ANSWER. BUT HOW CAN YOU MITIGATE A SYSTEM, RIGHT? IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE CORRECT DATA, RIGHT? MANY POLICE GONNA SHOW UP AT THE WRONG HOUSE. SOMEONE MIGHT NOT GET THEIR MEDICATION. SOMEBODY GONNA END UP DYING. THEY NEED TO ASK THE STATE FOR THE MONEY BECAUSE LEADERSHIP AT FOP IS INEFFECTIVE. ALL THEY DO IS ASK FOR MONEY. MR. NEVER COME UP, UP WITH INNOVATIVE OR CREATIVE WAY. MR. JENKINS TO BUILD UP. GO AHEAD AND GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. OKAY. I'VE BEEN UNION SINCE 98. THEY DON'T STAND WITH US. FOP DON'T STAND WITH US FIREFIGHTERS, SCHOOL TEACHERS, PLUMBERS, PIPE FILLERS, CEMENT MASON AND BRICK MASONS, ES CUSTODIANS, COMMUNICATION WORKERS AND ELECTRICIANS. WHEN WE STAND A FILE RIGHTS, THEY TRY TO LOCK US UP. TELL WE AIN'T GOT NO RIGHTS. THAT'S HOW END UP GOING TO A HIGH COURT. 'CAUSE THEY SAY, HAD NO RIGHTS, RIGHT? ME, THAT, THAT'S ALL THEY KNOW. BUT I CHARGED THEM. CAN WE TAKE THIS TO THE BALLOT? THANK YOU MR. JENKINS. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, TRACY HAM. TRACY HAMLIN, TRACY HAM HAMLIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY COURTNEY REBELS. HI. THIS WAS ORIGINALLY DORIS BROWN'S SPEECH, BUT SHE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE SHE WAS PULLED OVER BY HPD AND DETAINED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER AN HOUR. [01:45:01] SO I'M GONNA READ IT. MY NAME IS TRACY HAMLIN. I'M A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT I IN THE IDLE WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. I'LL PUT THIS VERY CLEARLY. THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS IN VIOLATION OF MULTIPLE COURT ORDERS AND THE CITY CHARTER, WHAT THE MAYOR IS CALLING A SETTLEMENT FOR THE VALOREM DRAINAGE CASE IS ACTUALLY A BACKROOM DEAL WITH TWO MEN WHO DO NOT REPRESENT HOUSTON, A CITY OF 2.3 MILLION PEOPLE. IN EXCHANGE FOR SETTLING THE CASE, THE CITY PAID THESE TWO MEN $500,000 IN LEGAL FEES. BUT BECAUSE THIS DEAL IS NOT ACTUALLY A SETTLEMENT, IT HAS NO LEGAL STANDING. SO THE COURT RULING STILL STANDS. THE CITY IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO TRANSFER THE TRANSFER THE FULL $100 MILLION INTO D-D-S-R-F. THIS IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET. AND THE CITY CONTROLLER HAS JUST SAID TO THE CHRONICLE THAT HE WILL NOT CERTIFY THE BUDGET AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE AN $84 MILLION PROBLEM. CITY COUNSELORS, YOUR OBLIGATION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO THE CITY, CALLS ON YOU TO TAG THE VOTE FOR THE NEW POLICE CONTRACT, WHICH WOULD COST THE CITY $75 MILLION THIS YEAR. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GIVE THIS RAISE TO POLICE. WE CANNOT VOTE ON THE POLICE CONTRACT BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS DRAINAGE CASE. IT PUTS THE ENTIRE BUDGET AT RISK. I AM ASKING FOR JUST ONE COUNSELOR TO STAND UP AND TAG AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 36 FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION THIS WEEK. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, COURTNEY S COURTNEY REVELS. COURTNEY REVELS, NEXT SPEAKER. RENEE KENNEDY. RENEE KENNEDY. RENEE KENNEDY. NEXT SPEAKER, SHARON YASSEN. SHARON YASSEN. SHARON YASSEN. NEXT SPEAKER. JAMA MULBAR. JAMA MULBAR I UP. ARE YOU ANA? YES. YES, MA'AM. HI, I AM ANA MULBAR, A MEMBER OF THE DAUDI BORA COMMUNITY. AND, UH, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE MAYOR, UH, DURING THE HOUSTON IFTAR PROGRAM DURING THE MONTH OF AMAZON. I'M ON THE, UH, PLANNING COMMITTEE. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERFAITH ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, NETWORK OF HOUSTON. AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT ON AN ISSUE THAT IS DEVASTATING OUR ENVIRONMENT. AND SLOWLY, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH HARRIS COUNTY PRODUCES THE MOST POLLUTION FROM LAWN EQUIPMENT IN THE US. A STUDY FOUND THAT IN ONE YEAR, GAS POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY PRODUCES AS MUCH POLLUTION AS 3.8 MILLION CARS. JUST RUNNING A COMMERCIAL LAWNMOWER FOR ONE HOUR PUTS OUT ABOUT AS MUCH MOG FORMING POLLUTION AS DRIVING ABOUT 300 MILES. THE LEAF BLOWER THAT WE USE IS WORSE. RUNNING A LEAF BLOWER FOR AN HOUR IS LIKE DRIVING 1100 MILES. THE COMMERCIAL MODELS OF GAS POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT HAVE RELATIVELY INEFFICIENT TWO STROKE ENGINES, WHICH ALLOW UN BUSTED GASOLINE TO ESCAPE AS EXHAUST. THEY ALSO RELEASE CARCINOGENIC TOXINS SUCH AS BENZIN AND FORMALDEHYDE. A REPORT PUBLISHED BY THREE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ANALYZED THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY DATA FROM 2020 AND FOUND EQUIPMENT IN THE HOUSTON AREA COUNTY RELEASED 358 TONS OF PARTICLES, THE EQUIVALENT OF ALMOST 4 MILLION CARS ON THE ROAD A YEAR. THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT ARE REGISTERED IN HARRIS COUNTY IS 3.4 MILLION. SO OUR POLLUTION IS MORE THAN THE 3.4 MILLION POLLUTION THAT WE, WE ALREADY, SO ENVIRONMENTALLY WE DOUBLE THE POLLUTION IN HARRIS COUNTY ITSELF. SADLY, IN 2023, TEXAS PASSED SENATE BILL 1 0 1 7, WHICH PROHIBITS CITIES AND OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES FROM BANNING OR LIMITING THE USE OR SALE OR LEASE OF ENGINES BASED ON THEIR FUEL SOURCE. THIS EFFECTIVELY BLOCKED ALL TEXAS CITIES FROM IMPLEMENTING PROPOSED BANS ON GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT. THE BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT IN MAY, 2023. DALLAS AND AUSTIN WERE ALL ON THE VERGE OF BANNING THIS EQUIPMENT. [01:50:01] BUT, UH, BECAUSE OF THIS LAW, THEY COULD NOT, THEY COULD, COULD NOT ENACT. OTHER SIXTIES IN TEXAS ARE PLANNING TO APPEAL TO CITY GOVERNMENTS TO REDUCE THEIR USE OF GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS. SLOWLY REDUCE ONE ITEM AT A TIME, NOT NOT GET RID OF ALL THE EQUIPMENT, BUT AT LEAST START WITH LEAF BLOWERS. AND ENCOURAGE OUR VENDORS AND SELLERS TO PROVIDE AN OPTION OF SALE ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE BLOWERS TO THE PUBLIC PLEADING AND APPEALING TO RESPECTED MAYOR AND ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE MINIMIZE CITY EQUIPMENT AND REDUCE OUR RECORD OF BEING A COUNTY THAT PRODUCES MOST POLLUTION. ONE OF THE, UH, SOLUTIONS IS, UH, DALLAS HAS STARTED USING, UM, AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR, UH, 277 ACRE KEYS PARK IN, UH, OAK CLIFF, TEXAS. THEY HAVE STARTED USING ELECTRICAL REMOTE CONTROLLED LAWNMOWERS AND LEAF BLOWERS. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. SO THAT'S ONE SOLUTION THAT WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU, UH, CLEANING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE FOLLOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP PECK. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I KNOW THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DID TRY TO REACH OUT TO YOU EARLIER TODAY. UM, THEY WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, THE GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT. UM, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE USING IT BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST PRACTICAL AND RELIABLE OPTION AT THE MOMENT, BUT THEY'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR IT TO SEE, UM, AS NEW TECHNOLOGY COMES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY CAN MAKE CHANGES. SO IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, UM, OR WANNA TALK ABOUT IT MORE, WE CAN CONNECT YOU WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS THAT. TO WHOM? TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. SEAN HENRY. SEAN HENRY, SEAN HENRY. NEXT SPEAKER. DUKE GONZI. DUKE GONZI. DUKE ZI. NEXT SPEAKER. EDDIE VAN. D EDDIE VAN DECK. EDDIE VANECK. NEXT SPEAKER. KATIE GUNTER. KATIE GUNTER. KATHY. OH, I'M SORRY. IT SAYS KATIE HERE. HEY, KATHY, HOW ARE YOU? HI, . HELLO, MS. GUNTHER. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'M HERE TODAY TO PROPOSE A, UM, I GUESS A, A, A ROUTE CHANGE. WE HAVE, UM, NORTHEAST SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NEAR OUR AREA. AND IT'S TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO KINGWOOD FIRST, PASS US UP AND THEN COME BACK AND TRY TO PICK UP THAT HEAVY WASTE. SO WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THEY NEVER GET TO US. AND WHAT HAPPENS, THEY PUT ON, THEY ON THE WEBSITE THAT THEY ALREADY BEHIND FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. AND SO WHEN I CALL, OF COURSE THEY COME OUT AND DO THAT, THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE. WE ARE ONLY GETTING PICKED UP ABOUT THREE TIMES A YEAR IN HOUSTON, TRINITY GARDEN. AND SO THAT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR ILLEGAL DUMPING. MM-HMM . I THINK IT'S A SOLUTION THAT PROBABLY COULD BE EASILY FIXED IF THEY JUST TRY TO SIT DOWN. I THINK THEY DID SAY THEY MIGHT BE TRYING TO, UH, REORGANIZE THE DEPARTMENT. THAT MAY BE SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. BUT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP TO, UM, NOT PASS US UP. JUST GO AHEAD AND PICK US UP. WE HAVE THE MOST TRASH. WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE MANY D RESTRICTIONS AND WE DON'T HAVE HOAS LIKE THEY DO IN KINGWOOD. SO I WAS HOPING THAT WE CAN GET PICKED UP FIRST AND THEN GET ON BACK, AND THEN THEY CAN GO OUT THERE DAY. THE OTHER THING IS 6,001 HOMESTEAD, WHICH IS TEXAS CONCRETE. TEXAS CONCRETE IS, UM, DROPPING SO MUCH CONCRETE ON THE ROAD. AND, UM, I, I'M A CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT AND I'M GETTING ALL THESE CALLS. I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AT WORK WITH THE CITY TO AT LEAST MAKE THEM COMPLY WITH THE CITY ORDINANCE. THEY HAVE ABOUT 50 OR 60 INOPERABLE VEHICLES THAT'S STUCK IN CONCRETE. SO IT OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY, UH, CAN DO TO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM A VISIT, DO SOMETHING. IT'S HORRIBLE. SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMPANY? TEXAS CONCRETE 6,001 HOMESTEAD. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. HI, MS. GUNTER. HELLO. YOU'RE SPOT ON. DURING THE SOLID WASTE BUDGET HEARING, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR MENTIONED, UM, REEVALUATING THOSE ROUTES TO YOUR VERY POINT. AND I THINK CURRENTLY WE HAVE QUADRANTS AND [01:55:01] SAME THING HAPPENS ON THE WEST SIDE. THEY KIND OF PASS US UP TO GO FAR WEST, THEN THEY COME BACK UP TO LIKE A LEAVE AND WEST CHASE. SO THEY ARE REEVALUATING THAT. SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. UM, AND I THINK THEY, UM, REALIZE THAT TOO IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY. MM-HMM. AND SO THEY CAN GET TO, TO CLEAR THAT WAY. SO I, I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO ROLL OUT AN UPDATE OF THAT SOON, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT IT AT SOLID WAY. SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, FIND THE, GO BACK AND FIND THE DISCUSSION, YOU HEAR THAT? MM-HMM. YEAH, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO SEND THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL. AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON, ON YOUR BEHALF AS WELL, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, KEN, FOR SURE. ABSOLUTELY. MM-HMM . ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GONNA OFFER TO KIND OF THE SAME THING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, BUT UM, ALSO TO DANELLE IN THE BACK, BACK THERE. CAN, WE WILL GET YOUR INFORMATION AND HELP YOU. WE KINDA HELP OUT AND BE A, A BIT AS FAR AS THE CONCRETE, UH, COMPANY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARRY. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. HELLO, KATHY. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? UM, HAVE, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, ABOUT THIS ISSUE? UM, UH, YES. OKAY. YES. I, WELL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT SHE REACHES OUT TO YOU. OKAY. UH, TO SEE IF SHE CAN ASSIST AS WELL. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. OKAY. SHE'S IN THE BACK IN A BRIEFING. UH, BUT CERTAINLY I WILL LET HER KNOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. BEST WISHES TO YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. BRENDA SCOTT. BRENDA SCOTT. BRENDA SCOTT. NEXT SPEAKER MALIK SMITH. MALIK SMITH. MALIK SMITH. NEXT SPEAKER. TAMANI. ANI TAMANI. ANI TAMANI. DID WE PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME RIGHT? NO, YOU GOT THE FIRST PART RIGHT? THE LAST NAME IS M ANI MNY. YES, MA'AM. MNY. IT'S LITTLE DIFFERENT. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT. I HAVE HANDOUTS. HOW DO I GIVE THIS TO YOU? YOU CAN GIVE IT TO JAMES. SO I ACTUALLY EMAILED THAT DOCUMENT TO YOU GUYS. UH, MY NAME IS TAMANI ANI. I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE GO. WOULD YOU SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE MICROPHONE HERE? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MICROPHONE CHECKER. UM, I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE GOER CARE ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT'S DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER, UM, ALL OF THE GOOD THAT GOES ON IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND, AND BE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE GOOD THAT HAPPENS AND THOSE THAT NEED IT MOST. UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THERE SHOULD BE ACTUALLY YOUTH SAFETY AS OPPOSED TO SCHOOL SAFETY. UM, THE ISSUE I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS, UH, A GENTLEMAN THAT EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS BECAUSE HE'S BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES. UH, I'M HERE AS A, A FATHER, UNCLE GODFATHER, UH, UH, A HUSBAND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. SINCE I MOVED HERE IN 1992, I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY, PRIMARILY DISTRICT D, BUT I WORK ALL OVER THE CITY. AND THIS IS, UM, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CAME TO ME LAST APRIL. UM, I WAS APPROACHED BY SISTER THAT I WORKED WITH IN THE COMMUNITY. SOMEONE APPROACHED HER, GAVE HER SOME INFORMATION. I KNOW RIGHT? GAVE HER SOME INFORMATION THAT SAID, UM, THIS BROTHER WAS REMOVED FROM THE WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS. HANDCUFFED, ESCORTED OFF CAMPUS, UM, FOR A, FOR ATTEMPTING TO HAVE SEX WITH A STUDENT. UM, AT THAT TIME LAST APRIL, I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, LLOYD FORD IN A NUMBER OF CAPACITIES. UH, WENT TO THE GOOGLE, RESEARCHED IT, FOUND NOTHING, THOUGHT IT WAS A RUMOR. SO I, YOU KNOW, COULDN'T FIND NOTHING, LET IT GO. UH, BY THE WEEK AND A HALF LATER, I GOT ANOTHER CALL FROM SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW. THE FIRST SISTER SAID THE SAME THING. THEN I GOT A CALL FROM A BROTHER WHO'S BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR, HE'S FROM HOUSTON, AND HE, HE WAS GETTING CALLS AND HE WAS GETTING APPROACHED WHEN HE WAS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN HE CALLED ME, I'M LIKE, LIKE, OKAY, WELL THERE'S TOO MUCH HERE FOR THERE TO BE NOTHING HERE. SO FROM LAST APRIL TO NOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY AN ISSUE. AND FINALLY, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A REPORTER. I I, I SENT INFORMATION TO EVERY MAJOR NEWS OUTLET IN THE CITY. IF A NEWS CHANNEL HAD AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING TEAM, I SEND IT TO THEM, UM, INDEPENDENT MEDIA. I, I I, I SCOURED THE WHOLE CITY WITH ANYBODY WHO I THOUGHT COULD HELP US DO THIS WORK. BUT FORTUNATELY, WE FOUND A, A YOUNG WRITER FROM HOUSTON LANDING, AND, AND HE WROTE THIS ARTICLE AND HE KILLED IT. 65% OF THE EVIDENCE IN THIS ARTICLE CAME FROM US. AND IT DID NOT COME FROM THOSE PERSONS IN AUTHORITY WHOM YOU THINK WOULD STEP UP, STEP UP AND GIVE US THAT EVIDENCE. IT CAME FROM US DOING DUE DILIGENCE IN GETTING TO THE TRUTH. NOW, MY ISSUE IS THAT, UM, AND I'M, I'M GONNA NAME THE NAMES BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY OUT THERE. LLOYD FORD IS STILL IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING WITH A LOT OF KIDS. THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND IT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS FREEDOM OF INFORMATION, THAT ACT DOCUMENT THAT WE FILED TO GET TO THE TRUTH, BECAUSE NOBODY WILL GIVE US THE TRUTH, STATES THIS. ON APRIL 12TH, 2024, THE INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A TITLE IX INCIDENT REPORT FROM ALEXANDRIA, UH, GREGORY, I THINK THAT'S HER NAME, [02:00:01] THE PRINCIPAL OF WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT MR. FORD SENT A VIDEO OF HIMSELF MASTURBATING ON SNAPCHAT AND SOLICITED HER FOR SEX. WOW. THE INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION THAT FOUND THE FOLLOWING BOTTOM LINE. IT'S TRUE. I EMAILED YOU GUYS THE ARTICLE BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR AND IT'S TRUE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR . ARE ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE? I'M SORRY? ARE YOU, ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE? I AM. OH, OKAY. NO, I'M JUST SAYING I COULDN'T GET IT HARD. I FAST ENOUGH. OKAY. I, I SAW MY NAME IN HERE. AND, AND LET ME JUST DISPEL YOUR VERY FIRST COMMENT. UH, I HAVE NO INTEREST IN SHIELDING ANYONE THAT IS CERTAINLY ACCUSED YES. ALLEGEDLY OF DOING ANYTHING WITH THE STUDENT. I, I, I WORKED AT WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL MYSELF. MM-HMM . UH, I DO KNOW, UH, LLOYD FORD. YEP. I HAD HEARD A RUMOR AND AT ONE POINT I WAS DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS WITH HIM. YES MA'AM. AND I WAS ADVISED AT THAT POINT BECAUSE I, I DO NOT WANNA BE AFFILIATED OR AS ASSOCIATED WITH AMEN WITH ANYONE THAT ALLEGEDLY I'M WITH YOU HAS PARTICIPATED IN ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY SUCH AS THAT. YEP. NOW YOU SAY WE SIR, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO WE CONSIST OF. UH, WE MUCH, WE HAVE A, UM, WE GOT A, A COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WHO, LIKE YOU HAVE HEARD THINGS AND, AND, AND AGAIN, LET ME SAY THAT, THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH HERE FOR, THERE, FOR THERE TO BE NOTHING HERE. UM, IT'S NOT A RUMOR. . WELL, LET ME, LET ME JUST FINISH. YES, MA'AM. FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THINGS ARE POLITICAL MM-HMM . UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IF THERE IS EVIDENCE TO, TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT YEAH. THAT IS A POLICE MATTER. THAT IS NOT A MATTER FOR THIS COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO ADJUDICATE. SURE. AND SO I WOULD THINK THAT I, I DID READ THE ARTICLE. SOMEBODY SENT IT TO ME, ACTUALLY. GOOD, GOOD. I THINK LAST WEEK. OKAY. AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, IT CAME OUT LAST WEDNESDAY, SO YEAH. WELL, NO. YEAH. LAST WEDNESDAY SO POSSIBLE. I I GOT IT THE OTHER DAY. I, IT MAY HAVE BEEN LAST WEDNESDAY. OKAY. AND SO, CERTAINLY, I MEAN, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A POSITION TO INVESTIGATE IT. OKAY. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE THERE, UH, THAT IS ALLUDED TO REGARDING THE A NO HIRE AND ALL OF THAT ON THE TEA WEBSITE AND ALL THAT. RIGHT. WE DO NOT HIRE REGISTRY. YES, MA'AM. AND, AND I DO, UH, SOMEONE ELSE TOLD ME THAT OF COURSE, THAT, THAT THERE'S A DENIAL OF THESE ACTIVITIES. OF COURSE. AND OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE SO, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS A POLICE MATTER. MM-HMM . AND I, IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD TRY TO PURSUE IT IN THAT MANNER. SURE. CAN I ADDRESS THAT? 'CAUSE IT IS NOT, BUT BE, BE ASSURED. SURE. CAN I ADDRESS THAT? THAT THIS COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT HERE, UHHUH IS NOT IN, UH, AGREEMENT WITH ANYONE. THAT IS NOT, UH, ACTING APPROPRIATELY YES, MA'AM. WITH STUDENTS AT ANY POINT IN TIME. OKAY. AND SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THAT FIRST QUESTION CAN BE REMOVED. OKAY. 'CAUSE I AM NOT SHIELDING ANYONE. GOOD TO KNOW THAT MUSTS BE VERY, VERY CLEAR. SO IF YOU GUYS LOOK AT THE SECOND ONE, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AND I'M GLAD YOU YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, UH, MS. CHAZ. BECAUSE IF, IF YOU GUYS READ THE ARTICLE, AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU DO, UM, EITHER A LOT OF PEOPLE DROP THE BALL OR A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK THE OTHER WAY OR SOMEBODY TRIED TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG, OR THERE IS PROTECTION. THAT'S THE NUMBER. THE SECOND THING THAT WOULD WANNA HAPPEN IS PER THIS FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT, AND IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE, IT'S THERE, HPD WAS NOTIFIED. HE WAS FIRED, WHICH SAYS IN THIS DOCUMENT, AND THE INFORMATION THAT I PROVIDED TO YOU GUYS, HE WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF THIS ALLEGATION. BECAUSE THEY SUBSTANTIATED IT, WHICH MEANS THEY FOUND IT TO BE TRUE. SO THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT AN ASSUMPTION THIS HAPPENED. THE, THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT DOCUMENT SAYS THAT HPD WAS NOTIFIED. BUT WHAT, BUT, BUT MR. UM, AND WANDA, BUT, BUT WHAT, BUT WHEN WE APPROACH HD DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION. YES MA'AM. WE, WE DO KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH ANOTHER, UM, ENTITY. OH. WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO US. OKAY. UM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND RAISING THE ISSUE. OKAY. UM, BUT IT WILL BE HANDLED BY ANOTHER BODY. WE ARE AWARE OF IT. OKAY. UM, REST ASSURED THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS ADDRESSED THAT SHE, YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT INVOLVED. GOOD. UH, NONE. NONE OF US WANT TO, UM, BE INVOLVED, BUT WE DO HAVE THE INFORMATION. OKAY. WE WILL READ IT. UM, AND I'M SURE THAT THE, UM, PRESIDING, UH, FOLKS WHO NEED TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. WHO IS THAT BODY THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? THE POLICE. OH, WELL, SIR. AMEN. OKAY. . ALRIGHT. WE, WE GOOD. COOL. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CHIARA DELOACH. [02:05:01] CHIARA DELO TO BE FOLLOWED BY NIA COLBERT. FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WAS HERE IN MARCH STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS. AND IT BEEN FOUR MONTHS. I THINK I FELL APART WHEN I GOT THIS FAR. TRYING TO SLEEP ON THE STREETS FOR SIX, FOR FOUR MONTHS. THAT'S NOT THE THING TO DO WHEN YOU'RE A SENIOR CITIZEN. I RECEIVED, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU. I RECEIVED ALL THE PRINTOUTS, UH, SUGGESTING DIFFERENT PLACES, DIFFERENT ENTITIES TO CHECK INTO. BUT IT SEEMS THESE PLACES HAVE A PROGRAM, PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAS, UH, A SHADY BACKGROUND GETS MORE HELP AND MORE ASSISTANCE WITH THESE PLACES. I GUESS I'M THE NEW REPRESENTATIVE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO DON'T HAVE STAYED IN THE BACKGROUND. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE GOING THROUGH THE BIG BOOK. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PUT IN DETOX. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO, UH, BE RESTRICTED. BUT THE PROGRAM, THAT'S WHAT THE PROGRAM IS. NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT THE PROGRAM. IT JUST SAY IT'S A PROGRAM. AND YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO LONG TERM TO THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO JUST GET SHELTERED. THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE OF MY STA AND STATUS, NO RACIAL, NOTHING THAT, UH, SENIOR CITIZENS NEW TO THE SENIOR CITIZEN JOURNEY. NOBODY TOLD ME IT WAS GONNA BE THIS HARD. THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE THE LIFESTYLE THAT WE HAVE BUILT FOR OURSELF OVER THE YEARS OF LIFE. WORKING RETIREMENT. UH, MY SITUATION IS MEDICAL, UH, MEDICAL MISHAP AND HOUSING. I KNOW HOUSING GOING THROUGH THEIR OWN CHANGES. BUT DID ANYBODY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE? UM, HOW ARE WE GONNA RESOLVE THIS ISSUE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS THAT'S STRUGGLING WITH, WITH, UH, SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? CAN'T AFFORD THE HIGH RENT, THE UTILITY BILLS. UH, I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD CALL THE NAME, BUT I WILL. 'CAUSE I'M NOT HERE TO BASH HIM. STAR HOPE. STAR HOPE IS ACCEPTED ME IN APRIL 10TH AFTER I MADE MY DEBUT HERE. UH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. IT'S NO LONGER CONSIDER THEMSELVES A HOMELESS FACILITY. THEY'RE CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND THAT'S TO HELP PEOPLE WITH, UH, ISSUES IN THEIR BACKGROUND TO TRY TO ACCLIMATE 'EM BACK INTO SOCIETY AND ALL OF THIS. TRAIN THEM FOR JOBS AND ALL OF THAT. AND JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THAT. I DON'T QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THAT. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A VERBAL WARNING BECAUSE I AM A SENIOR AT RETURN BACK TO EDUCATION, CONTINUING EDUCATION. THAT IF I'M GONNA CONTINUE GOING TO SCHOOL, I HAVE TO LEAVE THE FACILITY. SO I'M BACK AT ROUND ONE HOMELESS. IT'S HARD TO DO HOMEWORK FROM THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE SET UP. AND ALL THE ADDRESSES YOU ALL GAVE ME THE PRINTOUTS AND ALL OF THIS FOLLOW THE SAME RESTRICTIONS AND PROGRAM. SO I'M GONNA BE BACK ON THE STREET COME JUNE BECAUSE I'M SCHEDULED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN JUNE, SUMMER SCHOOL. AND I PASSED. HEY, SPRING. I PASSED THE LAST SEMESTER. SO, UH, WITH ANY MORE SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO FIND HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO DON'T HAVE SHADY BACKGROUNDS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. MA'AM. THANK YOU. UM, I, IF YOU WOULD, YES, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU. I THINK I HAVE A COUPLE PLACES THAT, UM, HAVE JUST COME UP AND, UH, THAT WILL, I, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS IF YOU'RE NOT SOMEONE THAT HAD A HORRIBLE BACK RECORD. SO I THINK I HAVE A PLACE THAT I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU. UH, DEFINITELY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. BECAUSE JUNE IS IN WHAT A WEEK. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR HELPING YOU. UM, AND THEN ALSO I WANT YOU TO, UM, GET REBECCA'S CONTACT BECAUSE SHE MAY ALSO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. UM, THAT MAY HELP. I WASN'T AWARE THAT YOU COULD NOT GO TO SCHOOL IN ORDER TO STAY AT THE STAR HOPE. THAT'S IT'S THE PROGRAM. YEAH, IT'S THE PROGRAM AND ALL THE ADDRESSES THAT YOU ALL GAVE ME. GO THE PROGRAM. YOU HAVE TO COMMIT YOURSELF TO LOAN. [02:10:01] RIGHT. SO I KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAMS, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A STIPULATION THAT YOU COULDN'T BE IN SCHOOL. WELL, YOU CAN'T MEET THEIR PROGRAM. IF I'M BEING CLASSES. I CAN'T MEET THEIR PROGRAM. SO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE FACILITY. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN REBECCA, IF YOU CAN GIVE HER YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. BEST WISHES TO YOU MR. LOES. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. NEIL COLBERT. NIA COLBERT. SHE'S NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. CLS GENAU. CLEVEN. JANELLE. OH, GOOD AFTERNOON. EVERY MORNING. GO AHEAD. UH, I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY. IF NOT TODAY, MAYBE THE NEXT DAY AND EVERY DAY AFTER THAT. I WISH THAT FOR Y'ALL. UM, WELL, I'M HERE TO KIND OF SPEAK TO MY EXPERIENCE MOVING TO THE CITY. UH, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE MONTHS NOW. UH, I JUST WANTED TO BASICALLY JUST GIVE MY, UH, BASICALLY MY STORY AND IT HASN'T BEEN TOO, TOO GOOD. UH, UM, WELL, BEFORE COMING HERE, I THOUGHT I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH EDUCATION IN THE CITY SECURITY AND LIKE BUSINESSES AND, YOU KNOW, AND, BUT READING THAT SIGN TODAY, UM, THAT SAYS BASICALLY THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. UM, I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE WHERE REALLY I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY. WELL, MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT WOULD'VE TO BE, UH, WELL, WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW, UM, LIKE THE EAST, WEST, EAST, EAST WEST, UH, SIDE OF THE CITY. UH, JUST 'CAUSE MY, UM, MY EXPERIENCE IN, IN MY EXPERIENCE OVER THERE HASN'T BEEN WAY, UM, TOO WELL, UH, JUST 'CAUSE OF REALLY, UM, WELL, WHAT I SAID, THE PEOPLE HASN'T BEEN TOO, TOO KIND TO ME. UH, UH, I'VE BEEN, WELL, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOT OF, UM, INJUSTICE OUT HERE. UH, I'VE BEEN GETTING ROBBED LEFT AND RIGHT. UM, KIND OF FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE TRACKING ME JUST A LITTLE BIT. BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT COULD JUST BE MY PARANOIA SPEAKING TO ME, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M GONNA GETTING ROBBED LEFT AND RIGHT. UH, AND WELL, I SHOULD TRACK BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT. UM, AND I DON'T REMEMBER INTRODUCING MYSELF. UM, I'M CLEVELAND, AS YOU KNOW. UH, I KIND OF MOVED THREE MONTHS, UM, FROM MASSACHUSETTS, UM, HERE. UH, BASICALLY, UH, I KIND, I, I KIND OF GOT KICKED OUT JUST FROM SPEAKING OUT OF, UM, JUST THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING AROUND. UM, MY, UH, MY, MY HOME, MY HOUSE. UH, WELL, HOPEFULLY ME SPEAKING OUT HERE TODAY WON'T GET ME. WHO KNOWS? UH, YOU KNOW, UH, I WOULD HOPE IT'S NOT THAT BAD IN THE CITY THAT, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OUT WON'T BE, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HELP RESOLVE THE SITUATION. NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, GET ME IN A WORSE SITUATION. UH, SO WHAT IS IT THAT I REALLY WANTED TO SAY? UH, MR. CLS, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU GOT, YOU WERE ROBBED AT YOUR APARTMENT COMPLEX, OR, UH, NO, NOT, YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN ROBBED. NO, NOT NECESSARILY. UM, NO. I'M APARTMENT COMPLEX RIGHT NOW. I'M, YOU, YOU'RE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME. YOU'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON THREE MONTHS. YEAH. RIGHT NOW I'M LIVING, NOT REALLY ON THE STREETS, BUT LIKE, UM, I'M PRETTY MUCH HOMELESS. OKAY. UH, UH, JUST MY EXPERIENCES WITH LIKE, UH, BUSINESSES AND THE COPS, WELL JUST, UH, JUST A COUPLE WEEKS BACK. UH, THEY KINDA, I DON'T KNOW, THE ALTERCATION THAT I HAD WITH THEM, THEY WERE JUST NOT TOO FRIENDLY. LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. I KNOW YOU'RE NEW TO HOUSTON, BUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS. CHAZ IS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I KNOW HER STAFF MEMBER IS HERE. MAYBE THEY CAN RALLY AROUND AND HELP YOU WITH SOME RESOURCES, UM, AS YOU ARE A NEW MEMBER TO HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. [02:15:01] DID YOU WANNA ADDRESS MR. CLINTON? I, I JUST WANT TO TELL HIM THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND THE LADY AT THE DOOR, MAKE SURE YOU, YOU GET WITH HER AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU. AH, YES. AND I'M, I'M COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU THE OST AREA. I'M SORRY, WHAT? YOU'RE IN THE DISTRICT? DISTRICT D DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THAT'S MY DISTRICT. OH, OKAY. HE JUST GOT IT. AND SO THE LADY OVER THERE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. YOU DON'T CARE WHAT DESTINATION AT THIS POINT. I GET IT. BUT IF YOU'LL, SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH SOME RESOURCES. ALRIGHT. YEAH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MS. MR. VINS. UM, INGRAM CAN HELP YOU, SIR. UH, AND, AND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE YOU LIVE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, DISTRICT D AND THAT'S YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. AND WE DO WANT TO BE HERE TO HELP YOU TO, UM, GET ACCLIMATED TO OUR CITY. OKAY? UH, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. YEAH. WELL, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I'M SORRY. I HOPE YOU, I HOPE YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, UH OH WELL, UM, TALKING MIND, BODY AND POCKET FILL OF MONEY, YOU'RE GONNA NEED IT FOR THIS CITY. IT'S A BIG CITY. IT IS A BIG CITY. UH, YOU KNOW, HELP. WELL, WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO TRY HELP YOU GET ACCLIMATED. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BEST WISHES TO YOU NEXT SPEAKER. LSA . LSA. YES. COME ON, MR. ELLISAY. TELL US HOW TO PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME. HI, CITY COUNCIL. IT'S MERAN. . OKAY. YEAH. MY NAME IS, WE WERE CLOSE. . OKAY. WE'LL DO BETTER. SORRY ABOUT THAT. UM, THE REASON WHY I'M STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU GUYS IS, UM, I, WELL, SORRY ABOUT THAT. UM, THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VIOLATED MY RIGHTS. UM, I STAND HERE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, BEFORE JOHN WHITMEYER ARRIVED HERE, UM, TO DISCUSS A CLAIM I FILED AGAINST THE CITY. I WAS ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED ON MAY 3RD, 2025, WHERE I HAD SOMEBODY TO STAY IN, IN A HOTEL. I WAS BEING PUT IN THE BACK OF A POLICE CAR FOR NO REASON. OF COURSE, THEY SEARCHED ME. UM, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS UNLAWFUL DETENTION. AND WHEN I CALLED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, SOUTHEAST DIVISION, UM, I CALLED THE SERGEANT. YOU KNOW, THE, THE POLICE OFFICER DID NOT DO NOTHING. 'CAUSE, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, HE HAD A WARRANT. THE FRIEND THAT I WAS STAYING WITH THAT I WAS HOPING, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH AN EMOTIONAL DISTRESS THAT I'VE BEEN IN. RIGHT? AND I WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO, UM, RECOGNIZE, TO TAKE LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN VIOLATING MY RIGHTS EVERYWHERE I'VE BEEN IN THIS CITY. THIS CITY HAS BEEN CORRUPT TO ME AND AFFECTED MY PSYCHOLOGICAL, UM, DISABILITY AND ANY, ANYWAY, ANY TYPE OF, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, POLICE, POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN, HOPEFULLY, I'M, I'M WILLING TO STAND OVER HERE TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT BECAUSE THIS IS, HAS BEEN AFFECT EVERYDAY LIFE. YEAH. BECAUSE I'M VERY SCARED THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN. THEIR ACTIONS WERE UNLAWFUL AND I OBSERVE CRYING, BUT I OBSERVE THE PAIN OUT OF THESE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE HAVING THEIR LIVES AT RISK, BUT KNOW HOW TO VIOLATE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, UNLAWFUL SEIZURE, AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT PROPER. UM, I WANT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE CITY EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WERE INVOLVED IN MY CASES. UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU GUYS PLACED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT PEOPLE, BUT IT HAS BEEN EFFECT ON ME. AND, YOU KNOW, WALKING EVERY DAY AND SEEING OTHER PEOPLE BEING TREATED THE SAME AS ME. I SEE THIS EVERY DAY. THIS IS AN IMPACT IN THE CITY THAT I'VE SEEN. UM, THIS IS A VIOLATION OF MY RIGHTS THERE. I KNOW THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN DO THAT. MR. ELLIS A I I'M SORRY THAT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOU, BUT YOUR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. MR. MORIA. UM, FIRST, UH, UH, SIMILAR TO THE , I'M SORRY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOU. UM, I HAVE SOMEBODY FROM MY OFFICE THAT'S HERE. UH, I BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL ALREADY HAD A CONVERSATION AND HE'S REACHED OUT TO YOU. SO I DON'T THINK HE WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH YOU. I WASN'T SPEAKING WITH JIMMY WAITMAN. NO, NO. UM, SOMEBODY FROM MY OFFICE THAT YOU'VE, UH, [02:20:01] YEAH. YOU'VE CONNECTED WITH. UH, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE, UH, JUAN PAOLO, WHO'S HERE IN THE, IN THE CHAMBERS THAT WHO WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU WITH SOME UPDATES. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M JUST REALLY, I'M WILLINGLY MORE THAN TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT, WHATEVER IT'S POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I, I, THAT'S WHAT I'M SENDING OVER HERE. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS 17 DAYS AGO. AND I'M SCARED THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN. I NEED THESE OFFICERS NOT ONLY TO BE DISCIPLINED, BUT SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION FROM WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO ME. AND I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. MR. , WE WON'T, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW, BUT LET'S HAVE SOMEONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S OFFICE TO WORK WITH YOU TO WORK THROUGH THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU. BEST WISHES TO YOU. WE GOOD? VERY HAPPY TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON. SO TAKE CARE FURTHER CON, YOU KNOW, IN YES, SIR. UM, FURTHER PROBLEMS WON'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. ABSOLUTELY. I'M VERY SCARED. OKAY. THIS, THIS IS AN IMPACT THAT BEEN FOR A WHOLE YEAR IMPACTING ME. WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING ANY FURTHER. I'M SORRY GUYS. NO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY . I ENDED UP CRYING BECAUSE IT'S UNRESOLVED CASES ALSO. ABSOLUTELY. THAT THE BILL'S OFFICE THAT, THAT THE POLICE IS NOT EVEN ONE TO HANDLE. UM, LET'S, LET'S TALK TO JUAN PABLO ABOUT IT AND, AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT FOR YOU. OKAY. I'M SORRY GUYS. NO, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY FINE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES, THANK YOU. AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. YES. UH, NEXT SPEAKER. YES. COMPLETE THE [RECESS] LIST OF SPEAKERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW AT 9:00 AM [1.  9:00 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING on City Budgets for time period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 ] THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PHYSICAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. AND I RECOGNIZE, UH, MR. SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST ITEM. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON CITY BUDGETS FOR TIME PERIOD. JULY 1ST, 2020 20 20 25 THROUGH JUNE THIRTY, TWENTY, TWENTY SIX. PUBLIC SPEAKERS. CALL THE FIRST ONE, PLEASE. JOHN NICKS. MR. NICKS, ARE YOU PRESENT? YES. GOOD MORNING. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. LOUIE. YOU WANT TO ASSIST MR. NICKS? THERE YOU GO. SORRY. NO PROBLEM. HOW HOWDY, MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL. COUNCIL LEMON CAYMAN. MY NAME IS JOHN Y AND FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOHN NICKS. I LIVE OVER IN THE HEIGHTS AND CITY OVER IN DISTRICT C. AND I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES. I LIKE TO, TO SEE THE BOARD Y'ALL DO WITH THIS BUDGET. THE FIRST ONE IS REPLACE THIS CARPET. IT IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF IN WHEELCHAIRS TO GET AROUND. SECOND THING, I BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO REVISIT HERO THAT HAD THIS BIG ISSUE BACK IN 2015. IT WASN'T, IT'S NOT ABOUT BATHROOMS. IT'S TO ALSO INCLUDED ALSO TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WITH, YOU KNOW, DISCRIMINATED, YOU KNOW, PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATION, YOU KNOW, TO HELP, YOU KNOW, GIVE THE CITY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE, AS A WAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, 'CAUSE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF FACE DISCRIMINATION ALMOST EVERY DAY. AND THIS, WE NEED, YOU KNOW, CITY TO COME IN AND STEP FRONT ON IT AS WELL. AND ANOTHER TOPIC I LIKE TO SEE ON IT IS THE EMS BE SEPARATED FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S RIDICULOUS WHEN YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, EVEN HERE, DOWNTOWN. AND THE CLOSEST UNIT AVAILABLE IS ALL THE WAY IN ACRES HOMES OR ANOTHER INCIDENT IS AT YOUR APARTMENT. AND THE HEIGHTS AND THE CLOSEST UNIT IS ALL THE WAY NEAR GREENS POINT. AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR SERVICES OR ANOTHER TIME THAT IN A BLS UNIT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS A BLS UNIT. OH. AND THEN BLS UNIT SAYS YOU NEED AN A LS UNIT, THEN YOU GOTTA WAIT FOR A WHOLE NOTHER DEPARTMENT TO ARRIVE. SO I BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR A MUCH OVERHAUL OF THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING SEPARATING THE EMS, MAKE ITS OWN GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. STILL USE, YOU KNOW, BREAK OUTTA THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LIKE MY 15 OR 31, THEN I'M NEARBY AND MAKE IT MUCH EASIER TO WE ON AND A BOND ELECTION FOR MORE AMBULANCES SO WE DON'T HAVE TOO WAIT ALONG AND HAVE MORE STAFF FOR IT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, FOR, TO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE SO LONG FOR AN AMBULANCE [02:25:01] AND BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR IT. THOSE ARE KIND OF MY THREE TOPICS THAT I WANTED TO ASK Y'ALL. WITH THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, FOR REPLACING THE CARPET, YOU KNOW, BRING BACK THE HERO, LIKE A HERO 2.0 WITH THE EQUAL RIGHTS ORDINANCES. DO YOU KNOW, TO PROTECT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION FOR WE ALL HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS. WHERE'S THE CARPET THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED? RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE. OH, OUR CARPET HERE ON HERE IN THE CITY CON. 'CAUSE 'CAUSE ITS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE BY MYSELF UP. I DON'T CARE. THANK YOU. I MEAN, JUST TRY BE IN A, JUST TRY BE IN A WHEELCHAIR. WE'RE ON THE SAME PROGRAM. WHAT WAS THAT? I SAY WE'RE IN AGREEMENT AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO PURSUE YOUR GOALS, WHICH WILL BE OUR GOALS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M PROBLEM. I MEAN, TRY I'M WHEELCHAIR AND SEE HOW, HOW, HOW AWFUL THIS CITY HALL IS. I MEAN, I COULD GO ON ABOUT ISSUES WITH HOW IT IS AND THIS WHEELCHAIR FACING THANKS. BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR FACING AND BEING A HOUSTON CITY RESIDENT, MR. MR. NICKS. THAT'S THE REASON I RAN FOR MAYOR. MM-HMM . MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'VE LISTED, I'VE BEEN HERE 17 MONTHS, IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO GET IN THESE CONDITIONS. SO IF YOU'LL WORK WITH ME AND MY ADMINISTRATION, SURE. I MEAN, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT CITIES. OH, WE ALL COULD. WE ALL COULD. THAT'S THE REASON I RAN FOR MAYOR AND THE REASON YOU CAME DOWN TODAY. SO LISTEN, STAY IN CONTACT AND ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS ONE BY ONE. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO FUND MORE AND INVOLVED TOO FOR WHEELCHAIR VAN VEHICLES AND INVOLVED TOO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NO PROBLEM. HAVE A GREAT DAY. AND GOD BLESS TEXAS. YEEHAW. OH, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. MS. YES, I'M PROUD. I'M PROUD TO HAVE HER. I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN DISTRICT C ALL THE WAY. THANK YOU. PROUD TO LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS. THE BEST AREA OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU MR. NICKS, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. UH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO STAY ENGAGED INTO BEING A VOICE ON SO MANY ISSUES, NOT JUST ON DISABILITY RIGHTS SURE. BUT, AND A LOT OF, LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR THE CITY. UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE IN, IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET IS WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING TO CUT, I KNOW FUNDING FOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL DO, THOUGH, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THE ISSUE OF HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR SOMEBODY WITH, UH, A DISABILITY TO TRAVERSE IN THIS CHAMBER SPECIFICALLY. RIGHT. UH, WE WILL INQUIRE WITH THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO, UM, REPLACE THE CARPET OR MAKE, MAKE CERTAIN ACCOMMODATIONS. RIGHT. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES. LIKE I COULD GO ON LIKE THE INCLINE GETTING FROM THE ANNEX, LIKE FOR THE METRO LIFT STUFF INTO HERE IS A VERY STEEP INCLINE. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON. OH, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, MR. NICKS, YOU COME BACK IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I'VE, I'VE GOT A PRETTY FULL SCHEDULE FOR TWO WEEKS. MM-HMM . YOU COME DOWN AND WE WILL GET THE GENERAL SERVICES AND MY STAFF AND WE WILL TRAVEL ACROSS THE CITY HALL WITH YOU. YOU POINT OUT, WE'LL GET US SOME ORANGE PAINT, WE'LL PUT A A A A MARKER WHERE YOU THINK THERE COULD BE IMPROVEMENTS. SURE. YOU MEET ME AT THE METRO LIFT STOP BY THE ANNEX. YOU GOT IT. THAT WOULD BE MAYOR. THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS CARPET'S BEEN HERE. I KNOW IT'S BEEN HERE A LOT LONGER THAN ME. RIGHT? WELL, IT'S PROBABLY BEEN HERE AS OLD AS THIS BUILDING IS AN OLD BUILDING. SO WE'LL ADDRESS THAT AND SEE IF ANYBODY'S EVER BROUGHT THAT TO THE CITY'S ATTENTION. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB IN A SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TODAY. NO PROBLEM. IT'S JUST LIKE WE ALL NEED TO DO THAT AND WE NEED HERO BACK. IT'S NOT ABOUT BATHROOMS, IT'S ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR EVERYONE TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOT A PROBLEM. AND THEN HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOD BLESS TEXAS. AND Y'ALL OKAY? YOU BE CAREFUL. AND I'M A PROUD TEXAN. I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN THIS IN THE HEIGHTS. THANK YOU. YOU BE SAFE. NEXT. JACK BALINSKI. GOOD MORNING. I'M JACK VALINSKI. I'M PRESIDENT OF NEAR TOWN MONTROSE. SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, LONG TIME RESIDENT OF MONTROSE. UM, I GOT THIS YEAR BECAUSE I HAD MORE TIME TO REALLY WATCH AND PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET SESSION MEETINGS. IT WAS REALLY AN EYE-OPENER, EVEN THOUGH I'VE WATCHED IT BEFORE. UM, WE HAVE SOME TERRIFIC DIRECTORS IN THIS CITY. TINA PIUS THE HEAD OF IT PARKS DEPARTMENT. UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, STEVEN WILLIAMS IS FABULOUS. I, WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAVE SOME TOUGH, TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE. I KNOW WE SAY THAT THIS BUDGET IS BALANCED, BUT NOT WHEN YOU HAVE TO WITHDRAW, WITHDRAW A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS. NOT WHEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM LIBRARIES, WHICH ARE UNDERFUNDED FOR MANY, MANY [02:30:01] YEARS. YOU, YOU INHERITED A LOT OF THIS MAYOR. I KNOW THAT. BUT WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS SOLID WASTE. WE'RE GONNA DEFUND SOLID WASTE. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. WE NEED TO GET IT DONE. CERTAINLY EFFICIENCIES ARE GONNA HELP OUT A LOT, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, UH, GENERAL SERVICES AND WE'RE ONLY PUTTING $11 MILLION IN A $500 MILLION DEFICIT OF, OF OUR, OF, OF WHAT OUR BUILDINGS ARE. AND IN FIVE YEARS IT'S GONNA BE 1.5 BILLION. THAT'S NOT HELPING THE CITY OUT. LIBRARIES. I CAN, I CAN LIVE WITHOUT A LIBRARY CERTAINLY, BUT PEOPLE NEED THE LIBRARY WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER MEANS OF GETTING INFORMATION. AND REALLY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY GONNA DEFUND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB EVERY YEAR. I HEAR WE EITHER GOTTA CUT COST AND WE'RE CUTTING COST, BUT IT'S HURTING, OR WE GOTTA GET MORE REVENUE. I'VE NEVER HEARD ANY REAL PRACTICAL WAY OF TALKING ABOUT MORE REVENUE. YOU KNOW, MAYBE STARTING WITH THE SMALL TRASH FEE THAT MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE PUTTING ON THE BALLOT. AND I KNOW THIS WON'T BE AN EASY LIFT, UH, THAT WE EXEMPT THE CAP FROM, FROM SAFETY AND PUBLIC AND, AND SAFETY ISSUES. UH, MAYBE THAT WILL HELP OUT. BUT WE'RE NOT A WORLD CLASS CITY IF WE CAN'T FUND THESE, THESE, THESE AREAS OTHER THAN POLICE AND FIRE. AND I, I AGREE THAT POLICE AND FIRE NEED RAISES, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING IT AWAY FROM THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. PLEASE HELP US OUT. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE AT THESE MEETINGS. UH, SALLY ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR CHAIRING THEM. I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. YOU WERE HERE ALMOST EVERY TIME WHEN YOU WEREN'T HERE. YOU HAD YOUR STAFF WITH GOOD QUESTIONS. I KNOW THEY'RE YOUR QUESTIONS. UH, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE DO BETTER ON THIS BUDGET TO KEEP OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS GOING. THANK YOU JACK. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT. AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE CHAIRMAN ALCORN AND ALL THE MEMBERS THAT PARTICIPATED. IT WAS AS THOROUGH A DIALOGUE AND TRANSPARENCY ABOUT OUR BUDGET PROBABLY THAN EVER BEFORE. YES. I THINK YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A LOT OF OUR CHALLENGES, CERTAINLY GOING FORWARD. WE ALL RECOGNIZE THEM. BUT I THINK YOU'RE ALSO SPEAKING TO THE WAY CITY GOVERNMENT'S ALWAYS BEEN RUN IN YOUR, HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU HERE? I WAS HERE ABOUT 15 YEARS. OKAY. THAT'S THE OLD MODEL. YES. WE HAVE A NEW MODEL. YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FIRST? WE'RE MONITORING WASHINGTON'S GRANTS VERY CAREFULLY. BUT WE'RE ALSO MOVING TOWARDS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S, UH, BEEN A PROPOSAL THIS FOR YEARS. HARRIS HEALTH, SERVING THE SAME PEOPLE THAT HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT SERVICES COLLABORATE BETTER, GET BETTER SERVICES. WE HAVE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES THEY TREAT, WE PREVENT, BUT THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER. SO WE'RE REVIEWING THAT MODEL. LIBRARIES, WE CLOSED NO LIBRARIES. ALTHOUGH SOME ADVISE BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF LIBRARIES THAT MOST OF THE FOLKS ARE USING THE INTERNET AND NOT ACTUALLY SHOWING UP. NOT ON MY WATCH. WE WEREN'T GONNA CLOSE IT. WE MADE TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT IT WAS RESPONSIBLE AND IT WAS BALANCED. A YEAR AGO, CRITICS WERE SAYING, HOW DO YOU PAY FOR THIS? WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT WE WERE GONNA DO THE ERNST AND YOUNG REPORT THAT HAS SHOWED US HOW TO SAVE A HUNDRED MILLION. SO IT'S BALANCED THIS YEAR. TOUGH DECISIONS. MR. NICKS JUST POINTED OUT SOME OF THE LACK OF SERVICES. I HAD NO IDEA UNTIL I HEARD THIS MORNING THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE CARPETING IN THE CITY HALL. WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS HOUSTONIAN NEEDS. I'M FIRED UP. AND WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THIS COUNCIL, OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH SENATOR HUFFMAN. WE'RE GONNA GET SOME MONEY FOR SOLID WASTE WHEN IT GETS TO PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER TREATMENT. SO WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. CHALLENGES. YES, WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST WE CAN ELIMINATE WASTE, DUPLICATION, AND CORRUPTION. AND AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AFTER WE CAN STRAIGHT FACE, LOOK AT THE PUBLIC AND SAY, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN NOW WE GOTTA DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF CITY WE WANT TO LIVE IN. WE WILL MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PUBLIC. SO YOU'VE GIVEN US A ROADMAP. IT'S JUST NOW WE NEED TO GO FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, TOUGH, TOUGH CALLS. LET'S NOT FORGET PARKS. WE HAVE SOMEBODY OF COURSE PARKS AND, AND GOD BLESS OUR DIRECTOR THERE. YES, YES. HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB. HE'S GONNA WORK WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO HELP MOW THE ESPLANADES AND THE PARTS IN THEIR PRECINCTS. SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT SOLID WASTE. NEW DIRECTOR. YOU BRAGGED ON OUR DIRECTORS. IF, IF WE HAVE ONE YOU DON'T LIKE, LET ME KNOW THAT WE'LL WEIGH THEIR PERFORMANCE. BUT THE NEW SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR BEEN THERE A LITTLE OVER A MONTH. CAME TO MY OFFICE THAT DAY. HE SAID, YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT I'VE RUN ACROSS. [02:35:01] DO YOU KNOW SOLID WASTE HAS TAKEN OFF WEDNESDAY FOR AS LONG AS ANYONE OUT THERE CAN REMEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU WONDER WHY THE GARBAGE IS NOT BEING PICKED UP. WE'RE SHORT. WE'VE ALWAYS BOUGHT USED GARBAGE TRUCKS. THEY STAY IN THE SHOP. WE BOUGHT 32 WEEKS AGO AT THIS COUNCIL TABLE. WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT BELIEVE ME OR NOT, I'D HAVE HIM COME GIVE A REPORT. THE NEW SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR SAID EVERYBODY TAKES OFF ON WEDNESDAY. ALLEGED IT'S TO BUILD OVERTIME. BUT WHO IN THE HELL EVER THOUGHT OF CLOSING A BASIC CITY SERVICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK? I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. YOU KNOW, I KNEW THINGS WEREN'T GETTING DONE. IT WAS THE MODEL IN WHICH THEY USE IT. THEY DON'T, THEY CAN'T PICK UP THE FIRST GARBAGE BY CITY ORDINANCE TO SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING DUE TO NOISE DISRUPTION IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY LEAVE OUTTA THE YARD AT 6 45, BUT THEY SHOW UP AT SIX. WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY DO FROM SIX TO 6 45? THEY TAILGATE. FOLKS, WE GOTTA GET EFFICIENT. WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IN OUR DEPARTMENTS DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD RESPONSIBLE BUDGET. COULD IT BE BETTER? ALWAYS DO WE HAVE CHALLENGES WITH REVENUE IN THE FUTURE? CERTAINLY BEEN THAT WAY. BOB LANIER GOT 500 MILLION FROM METRO IN 1993 TO PAY POLICE OVERTIME. SO WE GOTTA BE SMART, TRANSPARENT AND TELL HOUSTONIANS WHAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD FOR YEARS. WE NEED THEIR COOPERATION AND WE'RE GONNA GET IT. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MAYOR SIR, THE PRESENTATION BY SOLID WASTE COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER. THE DIRECTOR DID NOT. OH, HE'S BEEN THERE. HOW MUCH IT COST TO PICK UP TRASH FROM A HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH? IT'S ABOUT $50. LEMME JUST TELL YOU, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH. PUBLIC WORKS WAS BEFORE US YESTERDAY. EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE IS SO VALUABLE. THEY WORK LONG HOURS IN BAD WEATHER IN THE HEAT THAT WE'RE FACING NOW. SO NO ONE LEAVE HERE THINKING THAT WE COULDN'T BE IN THE GOOD SHAPE WE'RE IN WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. AND OF COURSE, TODAY WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH FIRST RESPONDERS. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE'RE MAKING WITH POLICE. FIRE EMS RECRUITING IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH RESPONSE. OUR PHONES ARE BURNING UP THAT PEOPLE WANNA COME SERVE HOUSTONIANS. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT I REALLY AM FEELING WELL. AND PLEASE GET ENGAGED HOUSTON WEBSITE UP AGAIN SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE PROGRESS OF PUBLIC WORKS IS. I WILL. RANDY KNOWS ALL ABOUT GETTING THAT BACK ONLINE. IT WAS TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS NOT BEING KEPT CURRENT AND IT WAS ACTUALLY BEING USED BY SOME OF OUR CRITICS FOR MISINFORMATION. SO WHEN IT GETS ACCURATE AND ON TIME, UH, IT'LL BE UP THERE. 'CAUSE IT IS A GREAT TOOL. YOU'RE CORRECT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, JACK, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU AND SEVERAL RESIDENTS, UH, SPENT A LOT OF TIME HERE, UH, OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS LISTENING TO EVERY, UH, YOU KNOW, HEARING, ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS. UH, SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, I DID ALSO WANNA JUST MAKE SURE FOR THE RECORD, UM, AS THE MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT HOW HARDWORKING OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE, THAT OUR SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING SIX DAYS. YES. YES. A WEEK. SOMETIMES 11, 12 HOUR SHIFTS. SO I, I DO WANT TO COMMEND YES, OUR SOLID WASTE FRONTLINE WORKERS, UH, WHO GIVE EVERYTHING BASICALLY 24 7. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. CHRISTOPHER RIVERA, CAN YOU PLEASE? CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEE NO ONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THIS HEARING? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. I SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO. MOTION PASSES. [MAYOR'S REPORT] MEMBERS MAYOR'S REPORT. I THINK . I JUST DID A PRETTY GOOD ONE. BUT ANYWAY, UH, I'M GONNA ASK, UH, DOUG WITH HPOU, DOUG GRIFFITHS AND CHIEF, UH, NOEY, WE HAVE A MAJOR ITEM ON THE AGENDA THIS MORNING DEALING WITH THE NEW CONTRACT PROPOSAL. AND I'VE ASKED THESE TWO GENTLEMEN FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE WHAT IT MEANS TO HOUSTONIANS AND CERTAINLY OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. DOUG, IF YOU'LL LEAD, WHAT, UH, IMPACT IT'S HAD BY OFFICE IS ACTUALLY BEING CALLED FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, [02:40:01] UH, WANTING TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN DO IT LATERAL HIRE. UH, BUT I'LL LET THE CHIEF SPEAK TO THAT. BUT YOU SPEAK AS TO WHAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS AS PRESIDENT OF ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. YES, SIR. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS MORNING. AND I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS THAT I'VE ANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR. UH, WE HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE ALL LAST WEEK. I KNOW THEY HAD A COPY OF THE CONTRACT. UM, IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS, I I WAS HOPING SOMEONE WOULD REACH OUT. THERE'VE BEEN A COUPLE THAT HAVE, SO THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY THERE SHOULD BE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACT. IT'S VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND 114 PAGES. AND SO IF THERE WERE QUESTIONS, I WAS HOPING SOMEONE WOULD REACH OUT AND A FEW DID. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, AS FAR AS THE CONTRACT GOES FOR ITSELF, THE MEMBERS ARE EXCITED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN MORALE THIS HIGH IN THE LAST PROBABLY 15 YEARS. UH, THEY'RE EXCITED. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE APPRECIATED. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, THE NEW CHIEF AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE CITY AND SEEING THE CHANGES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, IT'S BEEN AMAZING. IT REALLY HAS. OUR OFFICERS ARE MOTIVATED. THEY'VE BEEN MOTIVATED. AND THE WHOLE REASON WE HAVE THIS CONTRACT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, HPOU OR ANYONE ELSE. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN THAT GO OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, HAVE BEEN DOING MORE WITH LESS FOR YEARS. WE'VE BEEN SHORTHANDED FOR WELL OVER 25 YEARS. AND TO SEE THEM GO OUT THERE AND STILL WORK HARD EVERY DAY FOR LOW PAY IS IMPRESSIVE. THEY DO IT. WE GO AROUND HERE, 2 MILLION CONTACTS A YEAR. WE HAVE LESS THAN 250 CITIZEN COMPLAINTS. THAT'S OUTSTANDING. A LOT OF IT, I BELIEVE HAS TO DO WITH OUR BODY CAMERAS. I LOVE OUR BODY CAMERAS. I DO. UH, THERE'S BETTER SYSTEMS OUT THERE. MAYBE WE'LL WORK ON THOSE LATER. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE, UH, WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS DEPARTMENT'S MOVING FORWARD. WE ARE GOING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS IS GONNA GO. AND I WANT TO THANK MY, MY GROUP THAT ARE HERE TODAY SUPPORTING THIS CONTRACT. AND IT'S SOME OF MY BOARD MEMBERS, MY EXECUTIVE BOARD AND THE BARGAINING TEAM ARE ALL HERE. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK. UH, DEIDRE NORRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. ARTURO MICHELLE, HIS GROUP, THEY WERE AMAZING. THE COMMAND STAFF, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT, UH, WORKING WITH US WITH THIS CONTRACT. AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS PASSED FOR OUR MEMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOUG. UH, CHIEF, WHAT IT MEANS TO THE DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY HOW IT TRANSLATES TO HOUSTONIANS IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY SURFACES, AND ALSO WHY YOU SPEAK TO THAT. WOULD YOU ADDRESS YOUR REORGANIZATION? THERE'S BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION LARGELY IN THE PRESS ABOUT THE LOSS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES. YES, SIR. WOULD YOU PLEASE ONCE AND FOR ALL, LET 'EM KNOW. THAT IS A PLAN REORGANIZATION TO TRANSLATE MANY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES THAT ARE DUPLICATIONS OF WHAT THE CITY PROVIDES, HUMAN RESOURCES, YOUR IT, ET CETERA. IT'S NOT THE LOSS OF OFFICERS. WE ARE GROWING IN OUR NUMBER OF OFFICERS, CERTAINLY UNDER THE NEW, NEW CONTRACT. BUT THE, THE NEWS ITEMS THAT HPD LOSES EMPLOYEES IS SO MISREPRESENTATIVE OF OUR FIGHT AGAINST PUBLIC, UH, FOR, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO ANYWAY, WHAT'S THE CONTRACT MEANING IN TERMS OF YOUR OPERATIONS, AND HOW DOES IT TRANSLATE TO HOUSTONIANS PUBLIC SAFETY? MAYOR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS ON BEHALF OF THE 5,200 DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH 128 CADETS THAT ARE AT THE ACADEMY NOW. MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. THANK YOU FOR LAYING THE FRAMEWORK FOR THIS TRANSFORMATIVE POLICE CONTRACT. IF APPROVED, THIS AGREEMENT WILL POSITION THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS BY PROVIDING A STRONG COMPETITIVE EDGE IN RECRUITING TOP TIER TALENT. THE CONTRACTS, UPDATED PAY STRUCTURE AND INCENTIVES ENHANCE AND APPEAL THE SUSTAINABILITY OF A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. WITH CLEAR PATHWAYS FOR ADVANCEMENT, AN EMPHASIS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS AGREEMENT WILL ATTRACT MOTIVATED SERVICE DRIVEN INDIVIDUALS. THAT'S ALWAYS OUR GOAL. WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BEING THE MOST DIVERSE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE NATION AND REMAIN DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR CITY WITH INTEGRITY AND COMPASSION. LOOKING AHEAD, THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL BE ESSENTIAL IN RETAINING OUR SEASONED OFFICERS WHILE ALSO GROWING OUR RANKS WITH NEW RECRUITS WHO SHARE OUR COMMUNITY FIRST MISSION. THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. AND I WANNA THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SELFLESSLY EVERY SINGLE NIGHT PUT THIS UNIFORM [02:45:01] ON WITH GREAT PRIDE TO DO THE VERY BEST FOR THIS COMMUNITY. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE ALMOST A YEAR AGO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ASKED ME ABOUT BUDGET STUFF. I, I WON'T FORGET IT. AND I GAVE HER MY WORD THAT I WOULD REDUCE THE WASTE IN OUR OFFICE BEFORE, BEFORE THE, UH, ERN AND YOUNG SURVEY. SO FOR ME, IT WAS DUPLICITY. WE HAD OUR OWN HR, WE HAD OUR OWN BUDGET AND FINANCE. UH, THAT, THAT WAS JUST TOO HEAVY. WE WERE, WE WERE PEOPLE HEAVY. AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WERE HARD TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME FANTASTIC STAFF. MOST OF THAT STAFF WILL GO TO BIG CITY FROM WHERE WE'RE AT, BUDGET AND FINANCE, OUR HR WILL ALL MOVE AS, AS, WHICH, WHICH CALL, WE CALL IT EMPLOYEE SERVICES. IT'LL MOVE TO BIG CITY. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE DUPLICITY OF WORK. SO IT WAS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE. UH, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED IN THE PAST THAT THIS OFFICE ISN'T KINGDOM BUILDING. THIS OFFICE IS BEING DISCIPLINED WITH THE RESOURCES THAT YOU GIVE US. UH, I VALUE EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, WHETHER IT PUBLIC WORKS OR IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? OR, OR, OR SOLID WASTE. THEY'RE JUST AS VALUABLE BECAUSE THEY KEEP THE WHEEL GOING. AND I AM DEDICATED. THIS OFFICE IS FOCUSED ON A COMMUNITY THAT'S FUNCTIONING IN EVERY ASPECT. UH, MAYOR, YOU'VE, YOU'VE MADE FUN OF ME BECAUSE I LIKE PICKING UP THE TRASH SOMETIMES BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T. UM, I, I JUST CAN'T DRIVE BY IT AND NOT FIX IT. RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD ALL BE DOING AS GOOD PUBLIC SERVANTS. AMEN. IN WHATEVER COMMUNITY, UH, THIS OFFICE IS FOCUSED ON EQUITY. SO IF YOU'RE ON THE WEST SIDE OR EAST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE, THIS OFFICE IS GONNA DELIVER EQUITY AND POLICE SERVICES AT THE SAME TIME. MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. UH, BECAUSE IT'S, WHAT'S THE, IT'S THE, IT'S EASY FOR US BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SO, UH, I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS. THIS IS GONNA CHANGE. IT'S A GAME CHANGER. IN 24 HOURS, WE HAVE HAD OVER 200 LOCAL, UH, AND SURROUNDING AREAS HIT A QR CODE THAT WE POSTED FOR INTEREST IN COMING TO WORK FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. UM, ALMOST 75 OF 'EM HAVE BEEN FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WILL YOU BE CONSIDERING A LATERAL HIRE, WHICH HASN'T BEEN USED IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS? WE HAVE, HISTORICALLY, THE LATERALS FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN VERY SMALL. 10 TO 15 PEOPLE. SOME OF THEM DIDN'T LIKE THE JOB BECAUSE THIS IS A REAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS, UH, 2030 CALLS HOLDING. THIS ISN'T, UH, A, A, A JOB WHERE YOU CAN JUST COME AND HANG OUT. YOU GOTTA BRING YOUR VERY BEST EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THOSE PEOPLE, ONCE THEY COME IN THROUGH THE RANKS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AN AGENCY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WE PUT IN THIS UNIFORM AND IN THESE PATROL CARS, BRING THEIR VERY BEST TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. AND, AND THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF WORK. UH, WE HAVE A VERY TALENTED ACADEMY THAT WILL, THAT WILL RESOURCE THROUGH EVERYBODY THAT APPLIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH FIT WHAT WE NEED. A COMMUNITY FIRST ATTITUDE, A COMMUNITY FACING POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO TO ANSWER TO THAT, UH, FRANKLY, UM, WE'RE READY TO GO. WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO HOPEFULLY TWO LATERALS, MAYBE ONE IN THIS EARLY FALL, AND THEN ONE IN THE EARLY SPRING. WE'RE HOPING TO GET 70, 75. UH, THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING. IF WE CAN DO THAT, THEN IT, IT, IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR, FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. NOT JUST FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR OUR LABOR PARTNERS, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. AMEN. RIGHT. EVERYWHERE THAT I GO, EVERY CIVIC EVENT, EVERY COMMUNITY EVENT, EVERY HOA EVENT THAT I GO TO THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME IS REALLY NOT THE POLICE SERVICES. IT'S OTHER CITY SERVICES. BUT WE'RE THERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WHEN WE CAN. BUT THE POLICE ARE THERE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IN EVERY ASPECT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE LISTENED TO. AND THEN WHERE WE CAN WE INFLUENCE OUR PARTNERS IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED. AND OBVIOUSLY WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES. 'CAUSE WE, WE DO RECOGNIZE WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED COMING INTO THIS, UH, CONTRACT, UH, AS WE COLLABORATE. AND YOU AND I HAVE BEEN AT SURGES WITH OTHER AGENCIES. CAN YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPLEMENT OUR STAFFING AT HPD WITH DPS CONSTABLES, TABC AND OTHERS? I KNOW YOU'VE SHUT DOWN FOUR CLUBS ON WASHINGTON THAT I'M AWARE OF. UH, EMANCIPATION. WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE LATE AT NIGHT. SO DOWNTOWN, UH, WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES. YES, SIR. CERTAINLY WE'LL DISCUSS SCOOTERS IN COMING WEEKS. UH, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE'VE GOTTA COLLABORATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES. IS THAT WORKING LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT? I KNOW WE ALSO NEED TO SEEK OUT RESOURCES FROM OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FOR YOUR POLICE CARS. YES. YOU TOLD ME YOU COULD PUT MORE PATROL [02:50:01] ON THE STREET IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DOUBLE UP. YES SIR. OFFICERS DUE TO A LACK OF CARS, WHICH WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS. SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT A FULL HEARING ON PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THIS IS NUMBER ONE ON EVERYONE'S MIND THIS MORNING. UH, MARY, HOW DO YOU INTEND TO DO THAT COLLABORATION? WE WORK AT IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT. UH, OUR PARTNERS AT DPS AREN'T SENDING THEIR TROOPERS TO THE BORDER. 'CAUSE FRANKLY, NO ONE'S CROSSING ANYMORE. SO AT THE MOMENT, THE 75 TO 80 TROOPERS THAT ARE IN THE GREATER HARRIS COUNTY AREA, UH, AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, UH, WE HAD A TWO DAY PLAN FOR THE SURGERY WE DID THIS WEEKEND. THEY SENT SEVEN OR EIGHT TROOPERS. AND, AND IT WORKS, RIGHT? THE COLLABORATION WORKS. SO WE, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH EACH CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA LEAVE ANYBODY OUT. WE WANT TO SHARE THE TALENTED STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND TEACH THAT AGENCY HOW WE DO IT. AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CLUBS HAVE BEEN SUPER COOPERATIVE. WE HAVE CLOSED A FEW THAT JUST WERE OPEN THAT DIDN'T HAVE LICENSING, DIDN'T HAVE FIRE, UH, REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE BUILDINGS. AND FOR US, IT'S A DANGER, RIGHT? SO WE DON'T WANT A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, A FIRE TO HAPPEN IN A NIGHTCLUB THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A CATASTROPHIC EVENT AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO. ONE LAST QUESTION. UH, DOUG, UH, YES SIR. THE CONTRACT PASSED BY YOUR MEMBERSHIP. AT WHAT PERCENT APPROVAL? HAS IT EVER BEEN AT THAT LEVEL BEFORE? NO, SIR. IT WAS THE HIGHEST EVER IS 97%. VERY GOOD. ONE LAST QUESTION FOR A YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES. UH, THERE'S SOME INTEREST GROUPS THAT SAY THEY'D LIKE TO HAVE SIT DOWNS WITH EACH OF YOUR, UH, ORGANIZATIONS. WOULD YOU COMMIT PUBLICLY THAT IF THEY'RE TRYING TO BE PRODUCTIVE, THAT YOU WOULD MEET AND CONFER WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS? AND I UNDERSTAND, SIR. I'LL MEET WITH ANYBODY AT ANY TIME. I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND. SOME DO I WANNA BE POSITIVE? ABSOLUTELY. BUT IF THEY ARE, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SIT AND AND MEET AND CONFER WITH THEM? OH, ABSOLUTELY. ANYTIME WE, WE, WE, EITHER ONE OF US WILL SPEAK AT ANY EVENT YOU CALL US ON. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. WE'LL, WE'LL FIT 'EM INTO OUR 70 HOUR SCHEDULE THERE, . EXACTLY. THEY COME OUT. WE WE'RE, WE'RE THERE TO SERVE. YEAH, I KNOW THEM. CATCH YOU AT THEY CAN CATCH YOU AT TWO, FOUR IN THE MORNING. FOUR IN THE MORNING. WE'RE UP. BUT NO, I'M SERIOUS ABOUT A SIT DOWN WITH THEM TO, UH, LISTEN TO, UH, COMMUNITY CONCERNS. CERTAINLY REPRESENTED BY DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS. RIGHT. WE'VE ALREADY MET WITH ONE GROUP, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD BROUGHT US A GROUP OVER. WE SAT AND MET WITH THEM AND SURE. AND WORKING WITH THEM. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WORKING WITH ANYONE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU. IN FACT, I'LL, I'LL COOPERATE WITH YOU TO MEET AND, AND LISTEN TO CONCERNS OF DIVERSE INTEREST GROUPS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. AGAIN, THE WHOLE REASON WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION IS BECAUSE OF OUR CONTRACT, SIR. OUR CONTRACT SUPERSEDES WHAT TOOK PLACE TO FOR CIVIL SERVICE. SO THEREFORE WE CAN HIRE WHOEVER WE WANT ANYTIME WE WANT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S A BENEFIT TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND CERTAINLY CHIEF AND DOUG, I KNOW THEY'RE NOT THE BARGAINING, UH, ORGANIZATION, BUT APO, OUR SPANISH SPEAKING OFFICERS MM-HMM . THE DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME OF YOUR, UH, DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND OTHER AGENCIES IN, IN, IN THEIR UNIQUE ROLE IN OUR DEPARTMENT. ABSOLUTELY. THE PRESIDENT OF APOL AND OSO, UH, BRANDON LOVE AND, AND GABRIEL GARCIA. I MEET WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY ACTUALLY COME AND SIT IN MY BOARD MEETINGS. I, I INVITE THEM THERE TO SIT IN OUR BOARD MEETINGS SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AS WELL. 'CAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. VERY GOOD. SAME THING FOR US. THEY HAVE ACCESS. SO WE'RE VERY GOOD. LET ME, UH, YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, NOBODY BECOMES A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE THEY WANNA MISS EVERY BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY OR HOLIDAY. THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT'S A PASSION. AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES REFLECT HOW MUCH WE VALUE OUR POLICE OFFICERS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT OFFICERS WHO WERE THINKING ABOUT GOING TO OTHER AGENCIES HAVE DECIDED TO STAY AND CONTINUE THEIR CAREERS WITH HPD BECAUSE OF THIS CONTRACT. AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT WENT INTO THIS. UM, AND YOU REALLY HAVE, Y'ALL HAVE THE GREATEST UNION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MA'AM. APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL, UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK BOTH OF YOU AND ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS. I'M EXCITED TO VOTE ON THIS CONTRACT TODAY. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S NEEDED AND IT'S WELL DESERVED. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN HOUSTON AND DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT. BUT THIS IS FINALLY DOING SOMETHING. SO THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CA. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER AND DOING ALL THE WORK AND THE SACRIFICE THAT HPD DOES. I KNOW THIS IS [02:55:01] NOT A, UM, A A CONTRACT QUESTION, BUT JUST BECAUSE I HAVE BOTH OF YOU HERE, IF YOU WOULD JUST ALLOW ME TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, UM, IN THE BUDGET. SO, AS Y'ALL KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, MAKING SURE THAT WE INTERACT WITH COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT THE GOAL, UM, THE MISSION IS THAT EVERY INTERACT THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE, WITH PEOPLE, THAT YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE IT'S A POSITIVE INTERACTION. YES, MA'AM. UM, BUT WITH SAYING THAT, WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PIECE IS FUNDED PROPERLY. RIGHT NOW I SEE THAT THE BUDGET CHANGE FROM 14 FIVE TO 13 SEVEN, THAT THAT DECREASE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNS ME. 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THAT, UM, THAT SECTION IN THE BUDGET FUNDED PROPERLY BECAUSE OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT, AND CHIEF, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE VERY MUCH OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD SOME RIDE ALONGS OF THE MAYOR, ET CETERA, BUT CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE, ARE VITAL AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO NOT INCENTIVIZE TO SUPPORT THAT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT HB D'S A FRIEND OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE GONNA DO OUR LEVEL BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP REMAINS. SURE. NOTHING SAYS COMMUNITY, RIGHT? LIKE, LIKE THE POLICE ENGAGEMENT. SO FOR ME, UH, OUR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DOES A FANTASTIC JOB. THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB. THEY'RE EVEN GONNA DO A BETTER JOB MOVING BACK INTO THE DISTRICT THAT THEY REPRESENT. SO NO LONGER WILL THEY BE BOXED INTO TRAVIS, THEY COULD, NOTHING SAYS COMMUNITY RELATIONS THAN HAVING SOMEONE IN A UNIFORM, IN A PATROL CAR, UH, BACK INTO A STATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY. SO, UH, A REDUCTION IN STAFF AT THE OFFICE, PUTTING PEOPLE BACK IN PATROL CARS, USING THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS AS COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PEOPLE BACK INTO RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS IS, IS A WIN FOR US, RIGHT? THEY, THEY CAN, UH, ANSWER A FEW CALLS, WORK A CRASH EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT THEY CAN ALSO, AS PART OF THEIR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN ENGAGE AND VISIT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WHO WE SERVE HOLISTICALLY. BECAUSE IT'S, THIS COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIALLY FIVE CITIES IN ONE BIG ONE. IT'S VERY DIVERSE. IT'S VERY DIFFERENT. SO HAVING THE REPRESENTATION AND THE TRAINING THAT THEY'VE ACQUIRED FROM A COMMUNITY RELATION ASPECT BACK INTO THE DISTRICTS IS GONNA HELP EXPONENTIALLY IN OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING, UH, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES. AND I TAKE PRIDE, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE HAD A REDUCTION OF ALMOST 40% INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMPLAINTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? SO WE'RE WORKING ON IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE HAVE JUST AN INCREDIBLE TEAM. I WANNA TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO RECOGNIZE, 'CAUSE I ALMOST FORGOT THE RETIREES THAT ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THEY, 30 OR 40 YEARS AGO, DIDN'T GET THE LUXURY OF SUCH A FORWARD THINKING COUNCIL, A FORWARD THINKING MAYOR. AND THEY, I'LL BE HONEST, THEY SUFFERED, RIGHT? THESE, THESE GUYS THAT CAME ON IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES AND NINETIES THAT ARE HERE SUPPORTING THIS CONTRACT, THEY, THEY GOT US HERE. SO WE'RE HERE WITH, WITH, WITH THAT RESPECT. THEN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WILL CONTINUE, UH, THE BUDGET DISCREPANCIES. SO, SO, SO, SO MINUSCULE THAT, UH, EVERYBODY WEARING A UNIFORM IS A, IS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THERE'S NO DIFFERENTIATING THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS WE MOVED GANG VI GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION INTO DAWN. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY, WHY, WHY THAT DECISION WAS MADE AND WHY DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT WAS A BENEFIT, UM, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO, TO MAKE THAT SHIFT? WELL, SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE SERVE MM-HMM . ARE SO COMPLEX, SO CLOSELY TIED TO EACH OTHER THAT THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS BETTER SUITED TO TAKE ON THOSE COMPLAINTS, WHATEVER, UH, THE TRASH GRAFFITI AND THOSE KINDS OF THING. SO HELPING, UH, WITH POLICE OFFICERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO HAVE FACE TO FACE CONTACT WITH THOSE YOUNG, YOUNG KIDS. UH, I'D RATHER HAVE THEM FACE TO FACE WITH A POLICE OFFICER AND VISITING AND, AND MAKING LIFELONG COMMUNICATIONS, LIFELONG CONTACT RATHER THAN BEING ON FACEBOOK OR ON A CELL PHONE. MM-HMM . RIGHT? SO OUR OFFICERS BEING ENGAGED IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, PARTNERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A WIN-WIN. SO WE CAN ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE OUR HANDS IN EVERY LITTLE DEPARTMENT, SO WHERE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE, THEN WE'LL MAKE THAT EFFORT. OKAY. NO, THAT'S GREAT. AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I'M A CRAZY PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO APARTMENT REFORM, RIGHT? . SO, UH, SPEAKING OF APARTMENTS AND THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN MULTIFAMILY, HIGH LEVELS OF CRIME, I AM SUCH A HUGE PROPONENT OF THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM. I KNOW THAT IT'S SHIFTED AND CHANGED A BIT. UM, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOME RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE LEVEL THAT IT WAS BEFORE. CAN YOU ASSURE ME THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM [03:00:01] AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT MULTIFAMILY AND HOW TO, UM, MITIGATE CRIME THAT HAPPENS IN THOSE AREAS. SO AGAIN, WE VISITED AT THE COKE STREET APARTMENT COMPLEX, RIGHT? MM-HMM . SO, UH, THEY'VE TURNED IT AROUND. I MEAN, IT IS FULL OF KIDS, IT'S A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, RIGHT? SO, UH, WE, WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT AND WE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CALL THE ACTUAL DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE THE TRAINED STAFF TO GO OUT THERE AND, AND, AND, AND CHECK AND HELP THEM TO GET THE COMPLEX BETTER, SAFER FOR THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO BE A BIT MORE PROACTIVE BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, THE MANAGEMENT DOESN'T REALLY DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE A LOT MORE PROACTIVE AND JUST KIND OF WHERE WE SEE AREAS WHERE THERE'S HIGH CRIME TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY WHEN WE MAKE OUR PRESENTATION ON APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM NEXT WEEK, WE CAN TALK A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING PROACTIVE IN BRINGING THAT FORWARD AND, AND SAYING, LISTEN, IF YOU WANT TO STAY OPEN AND YOU HAVE THIS MANY CALLS COMING OUT OF YOUR, UM, OR YOUR COMPLEX, IT IS MANDATORY THAT YOU GET THIS TRAINING, YOUR MANAGEMENT GETS THIS TRAINING SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD. COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE TRACK IT EVERY WEEK. OKAY? YEAH. YEAH. SO EACH UNIT, WHETHER IT HAS, HAS 3000 UNITS, 1500 UNITS, 1400 UNITS, IT'S, WE'RE ON TOP OF IT. AND THEN WE SLIDE RESOURCES INTO THAT AREA. WE SATURATE IT, UH, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE THE ONE OR TWO, ONE OR TWO BOYS, A COUPLE OF RUNAWAY BOYS OR GIRLS THAT, THAT ARE JUST CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS. AND IF WE CAN FIRST PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THAT YOUNG PERSON MAKING BAD DECISIONS, THAT'S OUR GOAL. AND THEN SECOND, UH, TO ENGAGE WITH THE APARTMENT MANAGEMENT TEAM TO SEE THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP THEM AND NOT BE IN A HINDRANCE. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE ARE NOT, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING FOR COOPERATION BEFORE COMPLIANCE ALWAYS, BECAUSE IT JUST BUILDS BETTER RELATIONSHIPS, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY FROM A POLICE DEPARTMENT ASPECT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I, I JUST WANNA ADD TO THIS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D LOVE TO DO, THOUGH IT'S NOT IN THE CONTRACT. THE, THIS CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE FOR MORE OFFICERS. WE, ONCE WE GET UP TO PROPER STAFFING, WE CAN DO THE THINGS LIKE IN THE NINETIES, I WAS A GANG OFFICER. I KNEW EVERY APARTMENT MANAGER, 74 0 2 CALHOUN, MS. GLENN, OVER ON BARBERRY. I KNEW ALL THESE FOLKS. I COULD GO IN THERE AND HAVE CONVERSATION WITH THEM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAD. WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE TO PULL RESOURCES FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT TO GO OVER THERE AND DEAL WITH THESE ITEMS. AND THE CHIEF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ABOUT PULLING THESE RESOURCES AND MOVING WHAT WE NEED TO DO. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, YOU CAN'T CONTINUOUSLY DO THAT. YOU'LL BURN YOUR PEOPLE OUT. YEP. SO WITH THIS CONTRACT, WE'RE HOPING TO GET MORE STAFFING SO WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND DAILY TO HANDLE THOSE ISSUES SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL FROM OTHER DISTRICTS. YEAH. SO WE'RE TRYING EVERYTHING. AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE, I HAVE A DASHBOARD IN MY OFFICE. I TRACK EVERY OVERTIME DOLLARS. SO WE'RE TRYING, WHEN WE GO OUT ON THE SURGE, WE MOVE PEOPLE INTO THE APPROPRIATE SHIFT. SO WE ARE NOT TAXING OUR BUDGET WITH OVERTIME DOLLARS. WE'RE JUST BEING SMARTER, BEING MORE EFFICIENT WITH THE WAY WE DO THE POLICE OR THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS. UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THIS OFFICE IS THE MOST EFFICIENT BECAUSE WE GET THE BIGGEST BUDGET. SO WE'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TREASURE THAT THE CITY GIVES US IN, IN ALL ASPECTS. SO, AND THAT MAY, MY STAFF AT TRAVIS IS REDUCED BY 50% IN, IN SEVEN MONTHS, RIGHT? SO WE ARE MOVING PEOPLE FROM TRAVIS BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WHERE I CAN FIX THAT, WHERE I CAN PUT A POLICE OFFICER SO I DON'T HAVE THE 30 OR 40 CALLS HOLDING. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES. COUNCILOR CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU CHIEF, AND THANK YOU, DOUG, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. YOU KNOW, THE CONSOLIDATIONS OF THE BACK OFFICE OPERATIONS BACK TO THE CITY, FINANCIAL AND HR, THAT GOOD BUSINESS SENSE AND, AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING. BUT THIS IS SUCH A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD IN BEING ABLE TO HIRE AND RE RETAIN, BUT ALSO TO THE IMPROVED MORALE OF THE OFFICERS IS OF HUGE BENEFIT TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO I AM CERTAINLY IN SUPPORT. I WORE MY BLUE FOR Y'ALL TODAY. THANK YOU. NO ACCIDENT. UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE OFFICERS WHO SERVE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE. NO DOUBT THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF BUSINESS WE WILL DEAL WITH TODAY. YES. AND LIKELY THIS YEAR. UM, AND THE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO SAY IS, HOUSTON DESERVES THIS. HPD DESERVES THIS. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. CHIEF DOUG. THANK YOU BOTH. LET ME SAY, UH, HOUSTON IS A FIRST CLASS CITY. AMEN. WE HAVE TO ACT LIKE WE'RE A FIRST CLASS CITY AND WE HAVE TO STEP UP LIKE A FIRST CLASS CITY. I AM ABSOLUTELY PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS. IT'S LONG COMING. YOU KNOW, DURING THE WHOLE PROCESS, I DID NUMBERS, I PULLED NUMBERS, I DID STATISTICS AND PULLED STATISTICS. ALL OF US AROUND HIS HEART, YOU ARE, ARE BLESSED TO LIVE IN A CITY [03:05:01] THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A STAR IN MOST PEOPLE'S EYES. WE HAVE THE HIGH, OUT OF THE FIVE TOP CITIES IN AMERICA, WE HAVE THE LARGEST, UH, NEW COMMUNISTS COMING TO A CITY IN AMERICA, THOUGH THAT LIKE GOOGLE PULL IT UP. WE, WE AVERAGING SOMEWHERE AROUND ABOUT 43,000 RESIDENTS. YOU GOTTA HAVE POLICE. WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM. NEW YORK, NEW YORK, LA, CHICAGO, NEW YORK GOT 36,000 POLICE. LA 8,000, CHICAGO, 12,000, HOUSTON 5,400. AND YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SALARIES, WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT TOO. BUT LET ME JUST SAY, I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR, WE HAD FIVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS. YOU'VE BEEN TO EVERY ONE. 10, 10 OF , BUT 10 OF THEM WERE, WELL, YOU FEEL LIKE IT WAS 10, BUT, BUT IT, BUT IT, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS FIVE. THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE. POLICING IS NOT PERFECT. NO. AMEN. BUT IT'S NEEDED. YES, SIR. I WON A UNIFORM TOO. AND WEARING THE UNIFORM IS NOT ALL PHYSICAL. IT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL NOW. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT COUNSELING AND WHATEVER. WE, WE, WE OFFERED TO DO THAT. SEE ONE THING ABOUT TALKING, BUT WHAT DO YOU OFFER? WE WORKING WITH APOL, WHICH IS, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP 'CAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT. AN INITIATIVE TO WHERE WE CAN GO INTO COMMUNITY. YES, SIR. IT WAS CALLED PPP. YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DIDN'T DO IT FOR FOLK TO LIKE IT OR BE FAVOR OF IT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING, RATHER THAN TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING, DOING SOMETHING, POLICE PASTORS AND PEOPLE, AND IT'S ALREADY IN MOVEMENT, ALREADY IN ACTION. WE HAVE TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I SPOKE TO THE POLICE OFFICERS. MORALE IS KEY. YEAH. IT'S VERY KEY. AND WHEN YOU GOTTA HIT THOSE STREETS LATE AT NIGHT, GOING TO THE DARK PLACES, AND LIKE I SAY, POLICE AIN'T PERFECT. THERE ARE ERRORS AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE ERRORS. BUT ONE THING, IF FOR CERTAIN WE ALL OUGHT TO SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEY LIVES ON THE LINE 24 HOURS A DAY. SO I'VE SUPPORTED THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF HPOU AND MAYOR FOR REACHING THIS AGREEMENT. MOST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RANK AND FILE WHO WILL BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THIS DEAL. UM, IT'S A FACT OF REALITY THAT, UH, POLICING IS EXPENSIVE AND IT'S, IT'S HARD TO ATTRACT FOLKS TO BECOME POLICE OFFICERS IN, IN THIS DAY AND AGE. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO PAY 'EM COMMENSURATE, UH, TO FILL THE RANKS. AND, UM, SO, SO TO THAT EXTENT, CONGRATULATIONS WITH THIS CONTRACT ARE GONNA COME EXPECTATIONS. YOU LIVE WITH EXPECTATIONS EVERY DAY. UM, THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD THE CODING SCANDAL. UH, AND I POINT OUT TO THEM THAT WAS THE COMMAND STEP. THAT WAS NOT THE RANK AND FILE. IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT. UH, SO DON'T HOLD IT AGAINST THEM. WE HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT, WELL, RESPONSE TIME IS NOT GOOD. WELL, PART OF THE, PART OF THE REASON RESPONSE TIME IS NOT GOOD IS 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS ON THE STREETS. SO, UM, I HOPE TO SEE PROGRESS, UH, IN, IN A VARIETY OF ERROR, UH, AREAS, UH, GIVEN, GIVEN THIS CONTRACT AND, AND THE MUCH BETTER PAY. BUT, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS CHIEF TO, UH, TRY TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW VERY EARLY ON WHEN YOU TOOK THE JOB, WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU LOOKED AROUND THE FLOOR AT 1200 TRAVIS, AND YOU SAW PEOPLE WHO REALLY, REALLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE THERE, REALLY NEEDED TO BE OUT ON THE STREET. AND SO YOU CUT, UH, SOME OF THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE, UH, WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND, AND WE NOW HAVE MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET. SO HOPE, HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT AND MAKE YOUR DEPARTMENT AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THESE ARE, ARE TRYING FINANCIAL TIMES. AND SO PLEASE KEEP, KEEP THAT UP. WE'LL BE LOOKING TO HELP YOU DO THAT. AND, UH, JUST AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK Y'ALL PUT IN. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILOR EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, LOVE IS AN ACTION WORD AND WHEN YOU'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP, YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE ALL DAY THAT YOU APPRECIATE THEM. AND SO THIS CONTRACT IS ACTION TO SHOW OUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE DO LOVE AND APPRECIATE THEM. AND I ALWAYS, WHEN I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO NEW RECRUITS, NEW HIRES, I ALWAYS TELL THEM THAT BEING A POLICE OFFICER IS A CALLING. IT'S NOT JUST A JOB. AND SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT IF YOU'RE JUST COMING TO GO TO WORK, THEN YOU NEED TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO GO. YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK YOU. OF COURSE, [03:10:01] YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH OUR CDSF FUNDS, WE DO CONTRIBUTE AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ATVS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT, UM, I REALLY WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TASK FORCE FOR THESE, UH, NOISE ORDINANCE. UH, WE HAVE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON THAT AND WE GET MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THOSE CLUBS. AND SO CERTAINLY FOR YOU ALL TO STEP UP AND IMPLEMENT A SPECIFIC TASK FORCE IS SO GREATLY APPRECIATED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MY EMAIL BOX AND SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INUNDATED WITH PEOPLE AS WELL. THEY SHOULD BECAUSE THEY ARE ENTITLED TO QUALITY OF LIFE AS WELL. AMEN. SO I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK THE MAYOR AND YOU AND THE ENTIRE FORCE FOR COMING FORWARD TO ACTUALLY SHOW US LOVE. AND SO, UM, JUST, JUST, THIS IS A GOOD DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY THAT I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER, IT WASN'T EASY 'CAUSE WE HAD TO MOVE STAFF, RIGHT? SO IT WAS ABOUT EFFICIENCY. SO WE, WE PLAN TO GROW IT. UH, AND WE'RE WORKING ON A LOT OF THINGS. UH, IT'S NOT JUST THAT ONE, RIGHT? THAT ONE THING. YOU KNOW, THE DESTIN THE DESTINATION AREA. THESE THE DESTINATION. SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO, IT'S THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, BUT IT'S THE DISTRICT. IT'S THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. BUT WE DON'T WANT, WANT THE CRIME AND THE NOISE TO MAKE ITS DESTINY. AND I HEAR THEIR CONCERNS. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO US. OH, WE GOT, WELL, I'VE WORKED HERE IN YOUR DISTRICT MY ENTIRE CAREER AND I'M BLESSED TO BE OUT THERE. 'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE IN SUN. UNREAL. GREAT PEOPLE. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I TOO WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON, UM, REACHING OR FINALIZING THIS CONTRACT. UM, FOR YEARS I'VE FOUGHT FOR GOOD JOBS WITH GOOD PAYING BENEFITS, AND I NEVER LIKE REALLY LOOKED AT HPD AND WHAT HPD WAS GETTING PAID. AND BUT WHEN YOU, THEY PUT THE SALARIES NEXT TO EACH OTHER, AND I'M LIKE, OH MY GOD. YES MA'AM. WE NEED TO PAY THE POLICE, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY. WE NEED, THEY NEED TO GET PAID BETTER. AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE REACHED AN AGREEMENT. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR, UH, ON THIS, THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE OFFICERS, YOU GUYS WILL GET PAID WHAT YOU DESERVE. AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU WILL SIT DOWN WITH, UM, ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY. I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS, THEY WANTED TO DELAY IT, BUT THE MAYOR'S LIKE, NO, NO. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. UM, THIS IS LONG OVERDUE. UM, I'M HAPPY THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A FAT PAYCHECK, . AND SO THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE HAPPY WHEN YOU'RE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN MY DISTRICT, . WE'RE ALWAYS, WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN WE'RE IN TRAINING. YEAH, I MEAN, WE JUST GOT A CALL YET, UM, LAST WEEK, UM, FROM HPD, UH, IT WAS A STRAY DOG. SOMEONE WAS BIT BY A DOG AMONG CADE. AND SO YOU GUYS ARE LIKE IN THE MIX, UM, EVERY DAY. AND SO, UM, JUST CONGRATULATIONS. UM, DESERVE, WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS MEMBER. THANK YOU. AND LET ME PUBLICLY THANK YOU COUNCILOR JACKSON. 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS RESPONDING TO SOME OF THE ADVOCACY GROUPS. UH, I DO THINK THIS IS THE RESPONSIBLE DECISION TO GO FORWARD, AND WE DO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO MEET WITH INTEREST GROUPS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE, UH, CONCERNS REPRESENTING THEIR INTEREST GROUPS. SO LET'S GO FORWARD. I, I KNOW HOUSTONIANS ARE READY FOR SOME ACTION. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING. UH, TO EVERYONE. UH, I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS THE OTHER NIGHT AND, UM, THERE WAS A STORY ABOUT, UH, SOME OFFICERS WHO SHOWED UP TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL AT A HOME. AND AS THE, AS THE, UH, OFFICERS ARRIVED, I THINK THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HE KIND OF TOOK OFF. HE HAD A GUN, AND, UH, I GUESS HE GOT ON HIS, HIS RADIO AND HE WAS ABLE TO GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF THE GENTLEMAN, THE CAR HE WAS IN. AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, ANOTHER PATROL CAR WAS ABLE TO, UM, APPREHEND THE SUSPECT. AND AS I WAS, AS I WAS WATCHING THAT NEWS STORY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YEP. THAT OUR OFFICERS HAVE TO RESPOND TO THESE TYPE OF CALLS, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE GONNA WORK OUT, UH, BUT THEY'RE DOING ALL THAT THEY CAN TO TRY TO PROTECT AND SERVE. AND THEN I CORRELATE THAT WITH, UH, THE COMPENSATION THAT THEY RECEIVE FOR THAT. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE NEEDS TO BE WELL COMPENSATED BECAUSE THEY DO, UH, A TREMENDOUS JOB, UH, REGARDLESS IF THEY'RE WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE LIBRARIES OR THE PARKS OR WHOEVER. YES, I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE TOP DOLLAR TO, UM, OUR CITY EMPLOYEES TODAY. WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UH, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO FIND WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES AS WELL. UM, WE HAVE LIMITED DOLLARS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, IT'S A BUSINESS AND [03:15:01] WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STRESS THOSE DOLLARS AS FAR AS THEY CAN. BUT FROM A PAY STANDPOINT, ALTHOUGH IT IS A HUGE INCREASE, UH, WHERE THE INCREASE IS LEADING TO IS STILL UNDER WHAT THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS DESERVE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE AS WELL. UH, CAN YOU ALL PLEASE TELL ME, UM, HOW LONG THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS TOOK PLACE? UH, WE LAST, IT LASTS ABOUT THREE MONTHS. WE STARTED IN, IN, UH, MID-FEBRUARY. UH, WE FINISHED ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THAT, I GUESS. UH, WE JUST FINISHED ON, UH, MAY 1ST. AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU, YOU GO BACK AND FORTH, YOU DON'T MEET CONTINUOUSLY DURING THAT TIME. YOU, YOU SCHEDULE EVENTS TO, TO SET UP AND, AND GO OVER DIFFERENT ARTICLES. AND IT INVOLVES OTHER GROUPS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REACH OUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER, UH, I GUESS YOU, THE STAFF, THE DIFFERENT STAFF AND DIFFERENT LEVELS TO FIND OUT, OKAY, WHAT, WHAT'S NOT WORKING OVER HERE? WHAT'S WORKING OVER HERE? WHAT DO WE NEED TO PUT INTO CONTRACT TO FIX THAT? LUCKILY THE CONTRACT'S PRETTY SOLID AS IT SITS. AGAIN, IT'S ONLY 114 PAGES EAST TO UNDERSTAND READ. AND THAT WAS, AND THAT WAS GONNA BE MY QUESTION FOR YOU, WERE OVER THE THREE MONTHS, WERE THERE CERTAIN THINGS, UM, THAT WERE STICKING POINTS OUTSIDE OF THE MONEY? UM, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE MONEY, BUT, UM, IN TERMS OF, OF DUTY, IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, IN TERMS OF PROMOTION, IN TERMS OF REALLOCATION OF, UH, MAYBE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, WERE THERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU ALL WANTED THAT YOU DID NOT GIVE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS, WAS PUSHING FORWARD, BUT THERE HAD TO BE A COMPROMISE THERE? OH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT, THAT IT'S A GIVE AND TAKE. THERE'S NO BINDING ARBITRATION LIKE OTHER, YOU KNOW, UP NORTH. THIS HAS TO, WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND AGREE TO THIS. AND THERE WERE FIGHTS BACK AND FORTH OVER DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE WERE SOME, REGARDING TIME OFF, THERE WAS SOME REGARDING DISCIPLINE PROCESS, THERE WAS SOME REGARDING HOW WE GET TO ARBITRATIONS. THERE'S A WHOLE NUANCE THAT GOES WITH THAT. AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ATTORNEYS. UH, DEIDRE ARTURO AND MY ATTORNEYS SAT DOWN. THEY HASHED OUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE REGARDING TIMELINES. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE CITY'S TIMELINES WERE CORRECT. OUR TIMELINES ARE CORRECT. NOBODY MISSES ANY DATES THAT REGARDING ANY TYPE OF ARBITRATION OR DISCIPLINARY PROCESS. WE WANT THE CHIEF TO HAVE THE PROPER TIME. HE NEEDS TO, TO PROPERLY ADMINISTER DISCIPLINE IF IT'S NEEDED. UH, THERE'S WAYS THAT, THAT WE ALSO BENEFIT THE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE FOUND THAT, UH, 90% OF COMPLAINTS THAT COME DOWN AS A ONE-OFF AN OFFICER MADE A MISTAKE ONE TIME IN HIS CAREER. AND WE HAVE WAYS THAT, THAT WE ADDRESS THAT, THAT COULD BE MORE CORRECTIVE ACTION VERSUS PUNITIVE. OKAY. UH, WELL, AGAIN, I WANNA, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SERVICE. I THINK AS A BODY, THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE WILL HAVE TO FACE NOW IS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT ONGOING? AND, UH, THAT, THAT WILL BE OUR CHALLENGE. UM, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY LEFT IN THE FUND BALANCE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRAW DOWN IN THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS. UH, BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY PAY US THE BIG BUCKS AS WELL TO SIT IN YOUR SEATS. UH, BUT, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO FIGURING THAT OUT AND, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, YOU MIGHT ALSO POINT OUT RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. AMEN. AMEN. YOU AND I IN THE DEPARTMENT, IN THE MEMBERSHIP, GO SO FAR BACK, ACTUALLY IN 1998, THE FIRST MEETING CONFER. YES, SIR. AS YOU'RE AWARE, I WAS ON HP U'S NEGOTIATING TEAM AS AN ATTORNEY. YES, SIR. SO BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS, HAVING A RELATIONSHIP AND EXPERIENCE CERTAINLY MATTERED IN THIS INSTANCE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE CHIEF, BUT YOU SAID ARTURO ADIRE, MELISSA, AMEN. PART OF OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM. AND OF COURSE, CHIEF HARDIN WAS OUTSTANDING REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT, CONCERNED ABOUT THE MEMBERS AND HOUSTONIANS, WE ALL WANTED TO KNOW HOW WE COULD BEST MAXIMIZE SERVICE TO HOUSTONIANS AND LET THEM GET THE MOST VALUE FOR THEIR TAX DOLLARS. SO YES, SIR. IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT PROCESS THAT HAS PRODUCED A GREAT PRODUCT. SO, AND, AND LET ME SAY MAYOR, THE, THE SENSE OF HOUSTON HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR ORGANIZATION. UH, THAT'S THE REASON WE DO THIS JOB EVERY DAY. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT CITY. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE. I'M NOT LEAVING. AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITIZENS FOR ENTRUSTING US TO DO THIS JOB. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT THANK THE UNION AND CITY LEGAL. OF COURSE. UM, BUT I KNOW HPOU YOU, YOU GOT A LOT OF MEMBERS HERE TODAY. SO I WANNA THANK Y'ALL, WE, UM, FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT, YOUR INVOLVEMENT, AND AS WELL AS JUST A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT. I MEAN, WE WENT THROUGH IN OUR, OUR, UH, TRIPLE COMMITTEE [03:20:01] HEARING OF JUST THE TERMS OF ALL OF THIS. AND, UH, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THE THOUGHT, THE EFFORT AND THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE CALIBER OF WHAT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THIS CONTRACT IS. THANK, I ALSO WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR RECOGNIZING A APRIL AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF THEM IN THEIR VOICE IN THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OF OUR APOL MEMBERS IN THE ROOM. I SEE ERIC OVER THERE. YOU'RE BEHIND THE CAMERA. SORRY. UM, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER FOR THIS. UH, I ALSO WANTED, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, IN CHIEF, YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE COORDINATED EFFORTS ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE. UH, EVEN IN SHADY ACRES, WE ARE SEEING A DIFFERENCE. AND JUST IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND CENTRAL PATROL WITH THE NEW STATION, THAT'S A BIG DEAL THAT WAS DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY NEEDED. AND THE CONDITIONS THAT OUR CENTRAL PATROL WAS WORKING IN BAD, UH, WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT RIGHT. OUR CITY FACILITIES, THAT INCLUDES OUR STATIONS. UM, I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS. I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN HOPING TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU CHIEF, UM, AND THE DEPARTMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVEN WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY, WE DON'T WANNA LOSE THE TRUST AND THE FAITH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WE NEED, UH, VICTIMS WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD AND TO FEEL COMFORTABLE. SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO SIT DOWN AND WORK THROUGH THAT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY REMAINS SAFE. UH, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THAT. ABSOLUTELY. UH, CHIEF, YOU HAD MENTIONED ONE THING WITH OUR OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND I, I MAY HAVE MISHEARD YOU. DID YOU SAY WE'RE CHANGING THAT? UM, I, I JUST, THE REASON I ASK IS, SO, SO THE COMPONENT NOW IS ABOUT 30 PEOPLE WITHIN TRAVIS. SO OUR, THE GOAL IS TO PUT THEM BACK OUT INTO THE OFFICE, INTO THE FIELD SO THEY CAN BE BETTER AT THEIR JOBS DOING THEIR JOB, AND COORDINATE BETTER WITH THE ACTUAL STATION IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. THAT'S THE GOAL HASN'T HAPPENED YET, BUT THAT'S, UH, A WAY FOR US TO GET ANOTHER 25 TO 30 POLICE OFFICERS BACK ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. UNDERSTOOD. AND THEY CAN DO IT FROM THE DISTRICT. I, I HEAR YOU. OUR, OUR LIAISONS DO A PHENOMENAL JOB. THEY DO. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LOSING THAT COMPONENT. UM, I'M WITH THEM IN OUR SCHOOLS WHEN WE DO FIREARM SAFETY TRAININGS WITH PARENTS, UH, IN THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AND, AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THIS SPECIFIC DIVISION IS IN. THEY'RE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LOSING THAT COMPONENT, UH, BECAUSE IT, THAT IS WHAT MAKES HOUSTON SO SPECIAL IN PART. SO IT'LL BE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE GRASSROOT LEVEL, DOOR TO DOOR BACK IN THE DISTRICT. OKAY. BUT WILL WE THEN NOT HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, LIAISONS WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE ABLE TO GO IN, UH, TO MEETINGS, TO COMMUNITY EVENTS. THEY'LL STILL DO ALL THAT. THEY'LL JUST BE ASSIGNED TO A DISTRICT. OKAY. WE'LL, WE'LL TALK MORE OFFLINE. BUT AGAIN, THE, WITH OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY, WITH OUR POLICE FORCE, THAT IS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. THAT'S ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO. TIM CASTEX, TATUM. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. EXCUSE . THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND HPD AND THE UNION ON COMING TO THIS AGREEMENT. UH, YOU KNOW, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THIS IS, UH, A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE, THE COMMENTS AROUND CONTINUED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UH, CHIEF, YOUR COMMITMENT TO, TO TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY. YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE ALWAYS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, ANYTIME IT'S NEEDED. AND IT COULD BE FOR A CIVIC CLUB, IT COULD BE FOR A PARADE, YOU KNOW, YOU NAME IT, Y'ALL ARE THERE. AND I HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE NEED FOR SAFETY IN THE DISTRICT, OBVIOUSLY. AND THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES SOME INCENTIVES TO HELP KEEP OUR PATROL OFFICERS ON PATROL, UH, WHICH, YOU KNOW, DOUG, YOU AND I VISITED ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT AS, AS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES, HAVING MORE OFFICERS ON PATROL TO, TO GET TO THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE POPPING UP IN COMMUNITIES. AND WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, SOME SERVICE THERE WITH TRYING TO KEEP OUR FOLKS, GIVING THEM THE INCENTIVE TO STAY PATROL OFFICERS, UH, BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE. SO, UH, I WANNA CONGRATULATE Y'ALL ON THIS AGREEMENT AND ON ALL THE HARD WORK AND THE SACRIFICE THAT THE, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE, UH, ARE HPDO OFFICERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CHIEF [03:25:01] AND DOUG. I, I WANTED TO, UM, JUST TAKE SOME TIME TO AMPLIFY WHAT I FOUND TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN DISTRICT A AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE BIG PROPONENTS OF OUR PIP MEETINGS. AND OUR PIP MEETINGS HAVE BEEN THE VEHICLE THAT HAVE, WE'VE USED TO SOLVE SO MANY OF OUR ISSUES WHERE RESIDENTS AND, UM, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN THE MOST CONCERNED. UM, MOST RECENTLY, THE FRIENDLY STORE OWNED, UM, HILLCROFT, WHICH WAS A, A BIG NUISANCE, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY, HAS BEEN CLOSED. IT TOOK SOME TIME, BUT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THOSE PIP MEETINGS, MET WITH THOSE DRT OFFICERS, AND STAYED CONSISTENT ABOUT REPORTING, UM, THAT ISSUE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT DIDN'T FALL OFF THE RADAR. AND THE POLICE OFFICERS IN AT THE SOUTHWEST AND NER STATIONS WERE, WERE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT ISSUE. UH, SIMILARLY, UM, THE OTHER CONVENIENCE STORE ISSUES THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE, THEY ATTEND THOSE PIP MEETINGS. AND WHAT I'VE NOTICED OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS IS THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ATTEND THOSE PIP MEETINGS AND TALK DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE PATROLLING THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY HAVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES GET RESULTS. YES. AND SO I WANTED TO AMPLIFY TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOW IMPORTANT THOSE MONTHLY PIP MEETINGS ARE SO THAT YOU ARE INTERACTING, UH, WITH THE COM WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE PATROLLING YOUR COMMUNITY. THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I HEAR, OR THE CONCERN I HEAR THE MOST IS WE NEVER SEE POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT THIS CONTRACT WILL HELP US MOVE INTO THE DIRECTION WHERE, UH, WE'RE NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THE ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THOSE THINGS, BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE OFFICERS THAT, UM, WHILE THEY ARE NOT ON THOSE IMPORTANT, UM, CALLS, THEY CAN PATROL COMMUNITIES IN BETWEEN THOSE CALLS. YES, MA'AM. I THINK THAT, UM, WHILE STATISTICS SHOW THAT CRIME IS GOING DOWN, UM, PERCEPTION IS REALITY. YES. IF RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY AREN'T SAFE, THAT IS GOING TO BE THEIR REALITY. AND IF THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT AT OUR PIP MEETINGS AND SEE RESULTS, THEY HAVE TO SEE THE RESULTS. AND, AND NOW THAT WE ARE, ARE SHOWING THOSE RESULTS, I THINK THAT, UM, WE START CHANGING THE, THE PERCEPTION. UM, I THINK WE ALL ARE VERY, UM, PLEASED WITH THE CONTRACT AND THAT WE CAN RECRUIT MORE OFFICERS, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, MAYOR, I, I THINK EVERYONE HAS HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TAKE UP ITEM 36. UH, NEXT. THANK, WELL, I CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE YOU THAT, BUT WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER. UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'LL BE, I'LL BE SHORT. JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT, THAT'S SHORT. . I LIKE THAT. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TIM. I, I WANNA ADDRESS ONE THING. THOSE PIT MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY ARE, AS A GANG OFFICER, T OFFICER, I WAS PROACTIVE. WE HAD UNITS THAT WENT OUT AND CHASED BAD YARDS EVERY DAY. ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS GO TO THOSE PITNEY'S. 'CAUSE EVERYONE IN THERE KNOWS WHERE THE CRIME IS AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND THEY'LL BE QUICK TO TELL YOU. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT POLICEMAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HOUSE IS BAD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S THE BEST INFORMATION YOU CAN GET. YEP. AND I THINK, COUNCILMAN, YOU AMPLIFIED THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND I THINK THAT'S THE CHIEF'S MODEL, THAT IT'S NOT JUST DESIGNATED OFFICERS, BUT EVERY OFFICER, EVERY OFFICER, EVERYBODY WILL BE IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THEY, UH, REPRESENT. SO IT'S A GREAT CONTRACT, AND I CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR MOTION TO TAKE IT OUT OF ORDER. IS MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION'S MADE. AND SECOND TO TAKE ITEM 36 OUT OF, UH, ORDER. UH, MR. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. CALL THE ITEM. ITEM. ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. YES. I'M SORRY. JUST NEED A VOTE. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? YES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATU. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? YES. RECALL. [03:30:01] AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. THANK YOU ALL, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING 17. YES. NO EYES. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK CAN HAVE ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS STAND. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. YEAH, GO TO WORK. GO TO WORK. , I'LL PICK YOU UP TONIGHT. GO TO WORK. GIVE US JUST ONE [CONSENT AGENDA] MEMBERS. NOW WE MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGREEMENT. MR. SECRETARY UN UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM TWO. NEEDS A MOTION. CAST. SECRETARY, MOVE. P. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEM SIX AND EIGHT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION ON THE BALANCE CASTEX TO MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEMS 24 AND 26 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 44, 45 AND 46 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN. 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 44, 45 AND 46. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALLOT? JUST A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE'VE ALREADY PASSED. 36. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE COLLEAGUES. WE HAVE THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, LYCEUM GROUP IN THE CROWD. Y'ALL WANNA STAND UP? THESE ARE, ARE LIKE THE, THE GREAT STARS, RISING STARS IN THE APARTMENT INDUSTRY. AND SO WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU AT CITY HALL, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY WILL BE AFTER THIS MEETING DOWN IN THE BASEMENT IN A CONFERENCE ROOM. UH, SO GO BY AND SAY HI AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING TODAY. SO YOU CAME TO AN EXCITING MEETING TODAY. WAY TO GO. . THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM SIX IS A MOTION. ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION CAST SIX. TM MOVE. MOTION MADE IN SEGMENT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. CAYMAN. NO. CAYMAN IS A NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. CAST MOVED. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS IN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS THAT, UH, ARE AFTER THIS. UH, THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT GRANTS FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LIFT UP THE WORK OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT WE'VE JUST HEARD THROUGH BUDGET HEARINGS, UM, ABOUT THE LOSS OF FUNDING, UH, IN CERTAIN TYPES OF FEDERAL GRANTS, AND THEREFORE [03:35:01] THE LOSS OF PERSONNEL. ITEM 23, UM, IS A HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN GRANT THAT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF, UH, WOMEN'S HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES. UH, NOT JUST PREGNANCY TESTING AND FAMILY PLANNING, BUT CANCER SCREENINGS, UH, EDUCATION AND TREATMENT FOR STIS. THE LIST GOES ON. I DID WANNA SHARE, UM, SOME STATISTICS THAT JUST CAME OUT. UH, PROPUBLICA REVIEWED OVER 5,000, UH, SECOND TRIMESTER PREGNANCY LOSS HOSPITALIZATIONS BETWEEN 21 AND 23 IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH. SEPSIS RATES ROSE 29% IN HOUSTON, SEPSIS RATES ROSE 63%. THAT MEANS HOUSTON WOMEN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP LIFE-THREATENING INFECTIONS WHILE MISCARRYING, AND THAT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY ARE IN TEXAS IN A HOSPITAL. OUR BIRTH RATE ROSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS. EXCUSE ME. TEEN BIRTH RATES ROSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS. AND A REPORT FROM HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH SHOWS, UH, SINCE FROM 2016 TO 2022, HIV AND OTHER STIS ARE RISING THROUGHOUT OUR AREA AT A FASTER RATE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN TEXAS. SO THE LIST GOES ON, AND I WANNA THANK OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING AND OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE DOING, UH, IN VERY, VERY CHALLENGING TIMES IN MAYOR. IT'S THESE TYPES OF GRANTS, UH, THAT ARE LIFESAVING AT THIS POINT, BUT WE NEED A LOT MORE. AND, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING A SPOTLIGHT ON, UH, THE NEED. THANK YOU. NEXT, DO WE THE QUESTION? WE JUST NEED A VOTE ON THAT. OH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM ITEM 25 IS IN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. A MOTION PASSES. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. COLLEAGUES. THIS ITEM TAG. OH, FOR DISCUSSION. OKAY. YOU AROUND DISCUSSION . UM, WELL, THIS ITEM IN THE NEXT ITEM 27 AND 28 ARE BOTH RELATED TO THE HISPANIC HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER, UH, WHICH IS COMING TO THE EAST END. UM, THE LAST YEAR I HOSTED A TOWN HALL WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND RAMIREZ ABOUT THIS FACILITY. AND WE HAD A, A NUMBER OF FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY COME OUT. THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT THIS FACILITY COMING TO FRUITION. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS CURRENTLY IN OUR SYSTEM, AND THESE TWO ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT. NEXT STEPS TO TAKE THIS FURTHER ALONG THE PROCESS. THIS IS A ARCHITECTURE CONTRACT, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT. AND, UH, I, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THESE ITEMS, UH, MOVING FORWARD. AND ONCE THIS HAPPENS, WE GET MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND WHAT'S TO COME HERE. UH, THAT'S SOMETHING I'M COMMITTED TO. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, RAMIREZ AND MARTINEZ ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO THAT AS WELL. AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING THIS MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? YES. JUST A SECOND. WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CASTILLO SAID, UH, THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT THERE WILL BE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE FRONT END, NOT AS, ALL TOO OFTEN HAPPENS AT THE BACK END, WHERE PLANS ARE ROLLED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE TOLD, HEY, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. HOPE YOU LIKE IT. UH, I'VE BEEN ASSURED BY, UH, GSD THAT THERE WILL BE SOME COMMUNITY INPUT AT THE BEGINNING IN THE DESIGN PROCESS. AND THAT HOPEFULLY WE WILL, WE'LL END UP WITH AN ARCHIVE CENTER THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL, UH, APPRECIATE AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND MARTINEZ. AS, AS WAS MENTIONED, WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL TOWN HALL LAST SPRING WHERE MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE CAME OUT AND WEIGHED IN, LET THEIR VIEWS, UH, BE KNOWN. AND SO JUST LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE GSD AND OUR LIBRARY LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS HERE ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'LL ECHO A FEW OF THIS. IT'S, UH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UH, THE RESEARCH CENTER THAT, THAT DIVISION OF THE, THE LIBRARY, UH, HAS SEVERAL OTHER ARCHIVES. AND THIS, THIS WILL REALLY HELP FULFILL THE ASPECT OF THE HISPANIC RESEARCH, UH, CENTER, UM, WHERE CURRENTLY A LOT OF, A LOT OF THE, UH, THE, UM, THE HISTORY IS AT JULIA IEN, IT'S OUTGROWN THAT AREA. UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS BEING IN THE EAST END, SPECIFICALLY IN THE SECOND WARD AREA AND IN CASTILLO'S DISTRICT. UM, AND AS MENTIONED, WE HAD, I WANNA SAY ALMOST 200 FOLKS SHOW UP TO THAT COMMUNITY MEETING. FOLKS ARE EXCITED, THE COMMUNITY'S EXCITED. UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE STRESSED THIS PLENTY OF TIMES. THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS A HUGE FABRIC, FABRIC OF [03:40:01] THE, OF HOUSTON. UM, AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN COME, UM, NOT JUST, UH, LEARN ABOUT SOME OF OUR HISTORY THAT SOMETIMES ISN'T, ISN'T MENTIONED IN, UH, IN, IN, UH, BOOKS IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO BRING HISTORY. UH, WE HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE FRAGAS, UH, THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN CASTILLO, WHO WAS, UH, SOMEBODY I WORKED FOR AS AN INTERN RIGHT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL. UH, LEO CASTILLO, THE FIRST HISPANIC CONTROLLER. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO HELP DOCUMENT THIS, UM, AND, AND TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THE, AND THE CITY TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION, I'M EXCITED. UM, AND, AND I THINK, UH, AS, AS COUNCILOR RAMIREZ MENTIONED, UH, THE, THE, ANOTHER GREAT ASPECT OF IT IS THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ENGAGED, CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS. UH, SO ONCE THIS HAS PASSED, UH, WITH OUR COLLEAGUE SUPPORT, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR GALL AND TO YOUR, YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK Y'ALL BEEN DOING. UM, I'VE BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UM, FORMERLY AS A STAFFER AND NOW AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS KIND OF FRUITION, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE MY COUNCILS MEMBERS' SUPPORT ON THIS. UM, AND DEFINITELY COME OUT TO THE NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING SO YOU CAN SEE THE EXCITEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M EXCITED TO VOTE ON THIS AS WELL. UM, I WILL DO A COMPARISON. WE HAVE THE GREGORY SCHOOL AND, OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. UM, WE'VE GOT THE GREGORY SCHOOL AND MANY OF THE EXHIBITS THAT HAPPEN, THE GREGORY SCHOOL ARE SO GOOD FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. UM, AND SO I'M EXCITED. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND THE HISTORY THAT'S NECESSARY. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT, IT DOES, UM, ALLOW THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY CAME FROM SO THAT IT INSPIRES THEM TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO, AND DO BIT MORE BIGGER THINGS WITHIN THEIR CULTURE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. I WAS GONNA SAY THE SAME THING. I, I WANTED TO SHARE MY EXCITEMENT AND SUPPORT. UM, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME COMING. I KNOW HOW EXCITED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS FOR THIS. UH, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF FREEDMAN'S TOWN, WE HAVE THE GREGORY SCHOOL, AND, UH, THE ARTIFACTS THAT ARE THERE ARE SO TRUE TO HOUSTON, BUT ALSO TO OUR NATIONAL HISTORY. UH, AND I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE GIVEN SOME FEEDBACK LIKE MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TYPE OF FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, UH, IN, IN THE HISPANIC ARCHIVES TO PROTECT THOSE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN, IN THE GREGORY SCHOOL. I, I DO WANNA THANK DIRECTOR GA AND JOHN'S HERE. UM, FOR Y'ALL'S WORK, I THINK THE PUSH BUTTONS AT GREGORY LINCOLN THAT WE FUNDED WERE JUST INSTALLED SO THAT THERE'S, THEY'RE A DA ACCESSIBLE AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK THERE, BUT TO BUILD UPON AND LIFT UP ALL OF OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITIES AND TO HAVE THIS NEW CENTER IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY HOUSTON. UH, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR VOICE. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN DAVIS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE, THIS PROJECT, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WHEN THEY DID THE OPENING, I WAS THERE. UM, OF COURSE, MANY KNOW THAT I DID A LOT OF MY TIME, OF COURSE, ON THE EAST END, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PLACES I, PART OF WHERE I GREW UP, AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW. AND SO I COMMEND THEM FOR THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE DO COME INTO FRUITION, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M GLAD I RELEASED MY TAG. UM, , UM, HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, UM, KNOWING WHERE WE COME FROM, THAT'S HOW WE KNOW HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. AND SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO, I GET WITH YOU AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT. UM, I SAW THE HEALTHY, UM, THE, WHAT, THE THIRD, WHAT WAS ON THIS ONE? IT WAS WHAT, 13 MILLION? HUH? IT'S 28. NO, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT 28 ITEMS TOGETHER, AND THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A LIBRARY JUST FIXED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I WAS LIKE, HOW CAN WE JUST PUT ALL THIS MONEY INTO A LIBRARY? AND WE HAVE LIBRARIES THAT NEED TO BE OPEN. AND SO, BUT KNOWING THAT THIS IS ABOUT HISTORY, UM, IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL. SO I WILL SUPPORT THIS, BUT I WILL, UM, FOLLOW UP WITH YOU GUYS TO GET MORE INFORMATION. I WANNA BE MORE INVOLVED. OKAY. THANK YOU. I BEEN REMOVED. UH, MARTINEZ? NO, JUST RELEASED FOR DISCUSSION. OH, DISCUSSION. SO IT'S STILL TAGGED? RELEASED. RELEASED, YES, MA'AM. MARTINEZ. YEAH. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR, FOR REMOVING THE TAG. UH, JUST SOME BACKGROUND. SO THIS WAS, UH, ALREADY BAKED INTO THE CIP, UH, YEARS BACK. UM, SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IT'S, UH, FOLKS HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING IT. UM, AS A STAFFER, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS, THIS ITEM FOR A WHILE. UH, SO IT WASN'T JUST MONEY THAT WAS JUST FOUND AND, AND PUT INTO IT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, MY, MY FORMER, UH, [03:45:01] PREDECESSOR WAS WORKING ON AS WELL. AND THEN OUR TEAM AS AN OFFICE WERE MAKING SURE THAT WE SAW, UH, THIS KIND OF FRUITION. AND THEN IT WAS JUST GREAT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW Y'ALL REMEMBER, UH, MY PREDECESSOR SPEAKING ABOUT BEING THE LONE WOLF ON THE, AROUND THE HORSE. SHE A LOT. AND SO IT WAS, IT WAS SUCH A, A RELIEF FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT'S GONNA BE IN DISTRICT AGE, SOMEBODY LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CASTILLO AND RAMIREZ. AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR DAVIS BEING THERE AT THAT, AT THAT, UH, MEETING. BUT IT, IT, IT SHOWED A, A GOOD STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY. UM, AND FOLKS WERE ABLE TO SEE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THEIR COUNCIL HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO, AGAIN, UH, IT, IT, THIS IS, THIS WAS BEEN, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE CIP FOR, FOR A FEW YEARS ALREADY, FIVE YEARS ALREADY. SO, THANK YOU. JUST NEED VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. VICE MAYOR. PRO VICE MAYOR, PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I AMS 29 AND 30 ARE FOR FIRE STATION RENOVATION PROJECTS, AND I, OF COURSE, SUPPORT THE PROJECTS, BUT I DID WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE ARE STILL SPENDING, UM, MONEY FOR CIVIC ART, UM, ON FIRE STATIONS. AND SO TOTAL, UM, FOR BOTH STATIONS, THAT'S $88,838. OF COURSE, ART IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I HAVE A FIRE STATION IN MY DISTRICT WHERE THE STOVE ISN'T WORKING. WE'RE PUTTING BAND-AIDS ON THINGS AT OUR FIRE STATIONS. AND THIS MONEY COULD REALLY GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS PAYING FOR SOME OF THOSE OTHER RENOVATIONS AND NECESSARY ITEMS. SO, JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT WE'RE STILL SPENDING MONEY ON THAT. BUT, UH, I OF COURSE, SUPPORT, UM, BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. VERY GOODMAN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO A CIVIC ART DEBATE RIGHT NOW, BUT IT DOES ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE BUILDING HAPPEN IN CERTAIN WAYS. UH, I DO WANNA THOUGH, MAYOR, THANK YOUR TEAM FOR THIS ITEM. THIS IS, UH, FOR STATION 16 IN DISTRICT C. UM, AND VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. OUR OFFICE HAS FUNDED FOR TWO OTHER STATIONS, THE PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL WORK. UH, BUT DISTRICT DOLLARS CAN'T STRETCH THAT FAR. AND SO TO GET NEW STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, AND SEE THESE RENOVATIONS HAPPENING IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES, AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES 30. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL IN CUSTODY. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS ITEM IS FIRE STATION IMPROVEMENTS, UM, FOR STATION 31. THAT WILL INCLUDE INSTALLATION OF A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, WHICH, UH, THIS STATION DOESN'T HAVE. SO IT'S, IT'S CRUCIAL, UH, THEY'RE GETTING, UM, IMPROVEMENTS AND, UH, IMPROVING A NUMBER OF OTHER, OTHER ITEMS AS WELL. SO, UH, HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS AND GLAD TO SEE THAT WE ARE, UH, WORKING TO GIVE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, UM, ADEQUATE CONDITIONS TO, TO WORK IN. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED ANY MOTION PASSES. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. MARTINEZ. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, CHRIS LARSON WITH DOWNTOWN PLUS, UH, HERE IN, IN THE CHAMBERS. UH, THIS, THIS PROJECT IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE A GAME CHANGER FOR DOWNTOWN, UH, DISTRICT. I IN INITIATED THIS, UH, PILOT PROGRAM YEARS BACK. ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO MY FORMER COLLEAGUE, DANIEL SANTA MARIA, WHO WAS OUT THERE WALKING THE STREETS, HOT SUMMERS. AND THIS PROJECT IS NOW GONNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME, SOME SHADE CANOPY AS WELL, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, IMPROVEMENTS FOR THOSE, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE ALONG MAIN, AND IT'LL STRETCH INTO DISTRICT AGE. UM, RIGHT BEFORE, WHAT ARE WE ON? SAY, WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU ON? , BUT, OH, I DON'T THINK, CHRIS. IM SUPER EXCITED. THEN, THING TO DO WITH 34. I'LL HOLD MY COMMENTS FOR NEXT. ITEM 35. I SAID, WELL, WHAT IS LINE GOING ON? YEAH, OKAY, I'LL HOLD IT UP. ACTUALLY, MY COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. SO WHEN I 35 COMES, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT. IT, IT JUST SHOWS ME WE'RE ALL PAYING ATTENTION. OKAY, LET'S GET BACK TO 34. VOTE ON 34. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. . NOW, NOW ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FA ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION [03:50:01] PASSES. ITEM ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANTED TO JUST COMMENT ON NUMBER 44 AND 45, LIKE THESE PROJECTS ARE THE PROJECTS, UM, ON UNDER THE EPA AND T-C-E-T-C-E-Q, UM, CONSENT DECREE. AND SO EXCITED THAT TO SEE THESE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. UM, THIS ONE IS IN OFF OF 100 JETTE STREET. UM, NUMBER 45 IS OFF OF CHARLES STREET AND DOLLY WRIGHT. AND SO WE WILL SEE MORE OF THESE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT OVER 30 MILLION. IT'S OVER 30 MILLION. IT WAS 30 MILLION. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. WE GOT WHAT, WHAT? LEMME SEE, 29 MILLION AND 2 MILLION. SO IT'S OVER 30 MILLION, UM, OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE FOR TO OUR WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. SO, THANK YOU. HUH? MAKE SURE THEY WANNA MAKE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE Y'ALL KNOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 46 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY KAMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, UH, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. JUST MAKING SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS $6 MILLION GOING TO DITCH REESTABLISHMENT WORK. UH, WE ARE SEEING CREWS IN DISTRICT C, BUT OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL. UM, I DID WANNA FLAG FOR THE DEPARTMENT. WE DID ASK FOR A LIST LAST WEEK. I TALKED ABOUT DE CONFLICTING AND WE MAY HAVE CAUGHT A FEW THAT HAD NOT BEEN DECONFLICTED WITH SWATS STORMWATER ACTION PROJECTS THAT OUR OFFICE HAD FUNDED. UM, SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT, BUT AGAIN, ON A HIGH NOTE, UH, A LOT OF MONEY GOING TOWARDS DITCH REESTABLISHMENT, WHICH WE REALLY APPRECIATE SEEING. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. IN FACT, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO STATE FOR, UH, ITEM 49 JUST NEEDS A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. COUNCILWOMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM. WE'RE AGAIN, SEEING THE ONGOING, UM, CHALLENGES IN PROCUREMENT WITH NOT, NOT FORMAL PROCUREMENT WITH JED, BUT I MEAN WITHIN FLEET. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO HYBRID VEHICLES AND WHEN I FOCUS ON HYBRID VEHICLES, THIS IS ABOUT FUEL EFFICIENCY. AND THE CARS THAT WE ARE BUYING, UH, ARE HUGE TRUCKS. IF ONE FIFTIES, WE NEED, SO NOT TRUCKS, BUT THE BIG SUVS. UM, WE ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING TO GO OUT AND GET FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES. AND WHAT I HAVE NOW HEARD IS THAT, UH, ARE MAINTENANCE WITHIN FLEET MAY NOT BE EQUIPPED TO, UH, MAINTAIN HYBRIDS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS. I THINK EVEN SINCE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHRISTIE WAS ON COUNCIL. SO IF THERE'S A PERSONNEL CHALLENGE, WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THAT AND MAKING SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED. BUT WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON VEHICLES THAT GET 16, 17 MILES PER GALLON IN A CITY OF 650 SQUARE MILES. SO I WILL BE VOTING NO VERY WELL. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED SHALL COUNCILMAN CAYMAN VOTING NO. MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. START WITH FLICKINGER [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GRANDSON JACKSON. HE'S, IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY TODAY. HE'S NINE YEARS OLD. UH, LAST FRIDAY HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE KINGWOOD SENIOR PROM, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS THE SENIOR CITIZEN PROM OR SENIOR PROM. UH, WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COMCAST WHO PUT THAT ON. UH, IN FACT, JESSICA BEAMER WAS OUT THERE, THE LONGTIME CHIEF OF STAFF FOR MY PREDECESSOR, GIVING OUT AWARDS FOR BEST DRESSED AND BEST DANCERS AND BEST COSTUME. IT, IT WAS, IT WAS QUITE THE EVENT. UM, ALSO IN THE, UH, SOUTH SECTOR IN CLEAR LAKE, UH, WE HAD, UH, CIGNA'S SUNDAY AT THE PARK AT SYLVAN RODRIGUEZ PARK, AND THEY REALLY HAD SOME TERRIFIC VENDORS AND OFFERINGS TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE. WE DIDN'T GET QUITE THE ATTENDANCE WE WOULD'VE LIKED OUT THERE. AND IN FACT, THEY TOLD ME ABOUT ONE IN, UH, COUNCIL, THE, OR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMS THAT THEY HAD 1200 PEOPLE AT WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE HAD THAT. AND HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME WE CAN GET A, A FEW MORE PEOPLE. UH, ALSO THIS, UH, PAST SATURDAY, I WENT OUT WITH CAPTAIN BELLAMY AND LIEUTENANT GOLDWATER, UH, TO THE HOME OF, UH, CONSTITUENT WHO'D HAD A BULLET GO THROUGH HER HOUSE, UH, WHILE THEY WERE SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM. UH, IN FACT, I WAS NOT HERE WHEN SHE SPOKE AT, UH, PUBLIC SESSION. I WAS OUTTA TOWN, COUNCILMAN TWILA CARTER. UH, I SPOKE WITH HIM AT THAT TIME. BUT, UH, EVEN THOUGH THIS HAPPENED ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND THIS CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE, THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT [03:55:01] IT HAD ON HIS FAMILY JUST KIND OF REMINDED ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO, TO DEAL WITH CRIME AND, AND THESE TYPE OF THINGS. UH, YOU KNOW, KINGWOOD SCENE IS THE LIVABLE FOREST. UM, SHE ACTUALLY BACKS UP TO AN AREA CALLED DUNHAM, WHICH IS, UH, UH, MUCH MORE KIND OF A RIVERFRONT, UH, WILD PLACE. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT PEOPLE REALIZE IN KINGWOOD. UH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, HER HOUSE BACKS UP TO THAT. THEY HAVE A LOT OF GUNFIRE LIKE THAT. THEY ALSO WILL OCCASIONALLY HUNT FERAL HOGS OUT THERE. SO, UH, THERE, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT COME FROM THERE AND, AND JUST WANTED TO, LIKE I SAID, MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO, TO MAKE SURE THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE, ARE REALLY TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I, I ALSO WANNA WELCOME THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. UH, WE HAVE SOME REALLY EXCITING PARTNERSHIPS, UH, WITH THE ORGANIZATION, BUT IT'S GREAT THAT Y'ALL ARE HERE, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THE CITY, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR VOICE. I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UM, AND VICE CHAIR CASTILLO AND Y'ALL'S STAFFS. UH, WE HAD A MARATHON SERIES OF BUDGET HEARINGS, AND IT TAKES A LOT TO PUT THOSE TOGETHER TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING ON TIME. THE SNACKS, THANK YOU. UH, BUT REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE COLLEGIALITY, BUT ALSO THE LEADERSHIP, UH, CHAIR THAT YOU PROVIDE AND VICE CHAIR THAT YOU PROVIDE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, I DO REMAIN CONCERNED WITHIN OUR BUDGET THAT WE HAVE NOT SET ASIDE ENOUGH, UM, IN THE STABILIZATION FUND, WHICH I REFER TO AS A RAINY DAY FUND, BECAUSE WE NEED THOSE DOLLARS WHEN DISASTER HITS. UH, AND WE ARE JUST ENTERING INTO HURRICANE SEASON. SO I'LL CONTINUE, UM, TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. BUT THAT REMAINS MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN RIGHT NOW, IS HAVING THE DOLLARS TO RESPOND, UH, TO A NATURAL DISASTER WHEN WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON FEDERAL FUNDING OR MATCHES FOR THAT. UH, IN LIGHT OF THAT, WE ARE HOSTING A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP ON JUNE 14TH FROM NINE TO NOON AT WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE TOOL BANK, UH, TEXAS, VAD, UM, SBP AND OTHERS. THERE'LL BE ON HAND TRAINING, BUT ALSO RESOURCES, UH, AND, UH, I THINK TAKE HOMES AS WELL FOR FOLKS. SO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND. UH, AND THERE'S TWO ANNIVERSARIES I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE OF AND COMMEMORATE. UH, THE FIRST IS, UH, THE FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD. UH, AND THE LIBRARIES ARE AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL, ARE HAVING OUR FOURTH ANNUAL GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL LECTURE, WHICH WILL BE TOMORROW. UM, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY FOR US TO STOP, UH, AND REFLECT ON AND COMMEMORATE, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD HAND IN HAND. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THIS SATURDAY, THE 24TH, UH, MARKS THE ANN ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHOOTING IN UVALDE. UH, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THIS TOWN THAT WAS NOT IMPACTED BY THAT AS WELL. UM, SO MY HEART CONTINUES TO BE WITH ALL OF THOSE, UH, AS THE COMMUNITY THERE CONTINUES TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, INTO THE FUTURE WHILE CONTINUING TO REMEMBER. UH, AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, YOU MENTIONED, UH, WITH GUN VIOLENCE, UH, WITH BULLETS GOING THROUGH HOMES, UH, FIREARM SAFETY, UH, AND TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE HEAD ON IS SUCH A CRITICAL NEXUS FOR SO MUCH AS IT PERTAINS TO CRIME, WHETHER IT'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, UM, WHETHER IT'S BREAK-INS. SO, UH, HOLDING ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN, UH, IN MY HEART THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT OF SHOUT OUT TO, UM, BARK. I WANNA THANK JARED AND HIS TEAM, UM, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, UM, IN DISTRICT B. WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO HEX HECTOR ESTELLA. UM, LAST WEEK WE HAD ANOTHER BITE, UM, ATTACK, UH, A DOG ATTACK IN THE DISTRICT. AND, UM, HE WAS HPD CALLED HECTOR. HECTOR, UM, GOT OUT THERE, UM, AND HE WAS ALMOST ATTACKED BY THE DOG, AND SO THANK GOD THAT HE'S OKAY. UM, BUT THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH ROUNDING UP, UM, THESE LOOSE DOGS IN DISTRICT B. UM, WE'VE GIVEN THEM ADDITIONAL $20,000 OUT OF OUR DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO COVER OVERTIME. AND SO SINCE WE, AND THAT, WE ACTUALLY DID THAT THE END OF APRIL. AND SO SINCE THEY HAVE COLLECTED A TOTAL OF 57 LOOSE DOGS, AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE, UM, JUST THE REGULAR, UM, SWEEP, THIS IS WITH THE OVERTIME DOLLARS THAT WE'VE GIVEN HIM. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR JUST EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING. EVENTUALLY, WE WILL, UM, ORGANIZE A OF SPAY AND N NEUTER EVENT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN, UM, SO DOG OWNERS AND CAT OWNERS CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR DOGS AND THEIR CATS, SO, UM, AND BE [04:00:01] RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU BARK, UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING. UM, WANNA GIVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? UM, COMMUNITY CENTER CLOSURES, UM, LINCOLN CITY COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE CLOSED, UM, DUE TO FACILITY UPDATES. UM, ALL PROGRAMMING IS CANCELED, UM, DUE TO THE RENOVATIONS. AND THE CENTER IS SCHEDULED TO REOPEN ON JUNE THE SEVENTH. UM, WE ALSO HAVE A LIBRARY CLOSURE CENIC WOODS REGIONAL LIBRARY. IT'S TEMPORARY CLOSED, UM, DUE TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. UM, IT WOULD, IS SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN ON THIS SATURDAY. AND SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF, UM, SIGN UP FOR OUR DISTRICT B BUS, UM, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9, OR EMAIL US AT DISTRICT B@HOUSTONTX.GOV TO SIGN UP FOR THE BUS. THANK YOU EVERYONE. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. I'LL PASS. I'LL PASS. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP AT THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. UM, THEY COMMISSIONED AN INVESTIGATION INTO, UH, SOME MISMANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTS UNDER THE PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP. AND, UH, YESTERDAY OR RECENTLY, THE BOARD VOTED TO RELEASE THE FINDINGS OF THAT REPORT. AND THEY'RE QUITE SHOCKING, UNFORTUNATELY. UM, FOR YEARS, CUNY HOMES HOUSING PROJECT HAS, UH, WELL, IT WAS CONSTRUCTED WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING. THE RESIDENTS HAVE LIVED THROUGH SWELTERING SUMMERS, AND SO THERE WAS A CONTRACT THAT WAS PUT OUT TO INSTALL AIR CONDITIONERS, HUNDREDS OF AIR CONDITIONERS IN EACH UNIT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE CONTRACTS WERE THE, WERE THE SUBJECT OF CRONYISM MISMANAGEMENT AND JUST, FRANKLY, OUTRIGHT CORRUPTION. UNDER PRIOR LEADERSHIP, UM, WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE $2.6 MILLION BALLOONED TO $5.4 MILLION, HUNDREDS OF AIR CONDITIONERS THAT WERE INSTALLED HAD TO BE UNINSTALLED AND THEN REINSTALLED, UH, A RELATED PROJECT ALONG THE, UM, UH, TRAIL NE NEXT TO THE, UH, PROJECT, UM, WORK WAS PAID FOR, MATERIALS WERE PAID FOR, UH, NEVER PROVIDED, UH, MATERIALS WERE NEVER, UH, PUT IN PLACE. AND, UH, THE CONTRACT WAS PAID OUT. UM, FRIENDS OF THE PRESIDENT WERE HIRED TO DO WORK, UH, NEVER GOT DONE. UM, $1 MILLION WAS PAID TO CONTRACTORS FOR DAYS WHERE THEY COULDN'T EVEN WORK BECAUSE IT RAINED OR MATERIALS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THIS WAS THE SORT OF THING THAT WAS GOING ON UNDER THE OLD LEADERSHIP. I'M GLAD TO SAY IT'S A NEW DAY OVER THERE. AND, UH, MAYOR, THANKS, UH, TO YOU FOR MAKING THE CHANGES AT THE BOARD LEVEL, WHICH LED TO A CHANGE AT THE PRESIDENT CEO LEVEL. AND THESE THINGS, FORTUNATELY, ARE NO LONGER GOING ON, BUT THIS IS WRITTEN UP IN A CHRONICLE ARTICLE THAT I WOULD INVITE, UH, RESIDENTS TO, TO READ ABOUT AND KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE GOVERNMENT, UH, MORE EFFICIENT AND TO ELIMINATE WASTE AND OUTRIGHT FRAUD WHERE WE FIND IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UH, I SAY THE WEST SIDE IS THE BEST SIDE FOR VARIOUS REASONS, AND I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, UM, HOW GOOD WE ARE. LAST WEEK, I, I SHARED WITH YOU A THREE ALARM FIRE ON WEST PARK AND SENATE. 25 UNITS, APARTMENT UNITS WERE DESTROYED, 18 FAMILIES WERE DISPLACED. DISPLACED. WE PUT OUT A CALL TO ACTION AND YOU RESPONDED AND MET OUR, THEIR NEEDS EXCEEDINGLY AND ABUNDANTLY. UH, THANK YOU TO THE RED CROSS. UH, THANK YOU TO NRG WITH YOUR $5,000 CONTRIBUTION. THANK YOU TO EVERY A LEAF ALUMNI SMALL BUSINESS, UH, THAT SWARMED A LEAF CRUMP STADIUM. UM, THEY ARE OVERWHELMED WITH SUPPLIES, SO MUCH SO THAT WE WERE, UM, ABLE TO SUPPORT FAMILY THAT WERE ON THE FRINGE, UH, TEACHERS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING, UH, UH, UH, EMPLOYMENT DISRUPTION IN THEIR HOME WITH THEIR SPOUSES OR CARETAKERS. AND SO, UM, YOUR GOOD WORKS ARE NOT UNNOTICED. I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE LATRELL FOR SPONSORING OF $150 GIFT CARDS FOR THE 18 FAMILIES. UH, OF COURSE, THE ROTARY CLUB LIONS CLUB, UH, AND A HOST OF OTHERS. THE DONATIONS ARE STILL COMING IN, AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES WITH OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO THANK, UM, THEM FOR THAT. AND I, AND IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRY, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR REACHING OUT, UH, FOR NOTICING THE CALL. I WILL TELL YOU, A SIMPLE FACEBOOK POST WAS SHARED OVER 200 TIMES, AND WE HAD PEOPLE ALL THROUGHOUT THE REGION REACHING OUT, UH, DONATING, UH, UH, UH, SUPPLIES TO FROM TWO BRUSHES TO SHOES, AND IT WAS GOOD QUALITY, UH, RESOURCES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, LAST WEEK I JOINED A CEC HOUSTON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT UPDATES AND PRIORITIES AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, I SHARED A LITTLE BIT [04:05:01] ABOUT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET, UH, HEARING IN, IN THE PROPOSED $8 BILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROPOSAL THAT SHOULD COME TO COUNCIL, UM, AFTER THE CITY BUDGET. AND I ALSO HIGHLIGHTED, UH, STORM WATER PROJECTS AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF LOCAL PRI UH, PRIORITIES IN DISTRICT F AND, AND HOW WE WERE SPENDING OUR LOCAL DISTRICT DOLLARS HAPPY TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT, UM, BUT MORE INS MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAPPY, HAPPY TO HAVE THE WORK OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE. YESTERDAY WE CELEBRATED THE 27TH ANNUAL DELTA DAY AT CITY HALL. UH, MEMBERS OF, UH, DELTA SIGMA THETA TURNED CITY HALL RED, AND FOR VERY GOOD REASON, UH, WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF, UH, DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH OUR DELTA DAY CELEBRATION. IT WAS MORE THAN COMING FOR A PROCLAMATION, BUT WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF CITY BUDGET HEARINGS. WE STARTED OUR DAY WITH REMARKS FROM HARRIS COUNTY CLERK, TANISHA HUDSPETH. AND THEN WE ENTERED INTO, UH, LISTENED TO CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLAND'S, UH, UH, FINANCIAL REPORT, HIS BUDGET HEARING THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, OBOO AND MORE. AND THERE WAS SO MUCH GOOD CON CONVERSATION THAT CAME FROM THAT. UH, THE MEMBERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AFTER HEARING, UH, POTENTIAL LIBRARY LOCATIONS BEING CONSIDERED FORECLOSURE, UH, AND THE WOMEN OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SAID NOT ON OUR WATCH. SO, LOOK, UH, MORE TO COME, UM, FOR THAT. AND WE APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR SUPPORT AND TURNING CITY HALL RED AND FOR EVERYONE, UM, WHO SUPPORTED US. AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE MEMBERS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR SUPPORT, AND FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME. UM, TONIGHT IN ALE, I'M HOSTING, UH, THE VERY FIRST IMMIGRATION ROUND TABLE WHERE WE'RE CENTERING AFRICAN VOICES. I HAVE ANNOUNCED THIS PERIODICALLY, AND I'M JUST ECSTATIC, ECSTATIC ABOUT THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE. I REPRESENT, UH, THE LARGEST WEST AFRICAN POPULATION OUTSIDE OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON. AND I, I AM EXCITED THAT AT 6:00 PM WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT IMMIGRATION, KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE INFORMED IT CAN PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE AFRICAN DIASPORA FROM, UM, ANGOLA, CONGO, BURKINA FASO, ALL THE WAY TO THE CARIBBEAN. SO JOIN US AT 6:00 PM AT THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. ALSO ON MAY 22ND, UM, ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY, UH, REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE ABOUT CONSTITUENT CONCERNS, ILLEGAL DUMPING WATER LEAKS, YOU HAVE IT A CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE ARE HOSTING A NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION FORM WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AT THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER ON THURSDAY AT 6:00 PM WE HAVE PROMOTED THIS EVENT. YOU CAN HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT CARE JUST AS MUCH AS ABOUT YOUR ISSUES IN NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE DO. SO, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT THERE, MEET US THERE ON THURSDAY, I MENTIONED UPCOMING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, I, I SHARED THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING SOME DELAYS AND I WANT TO THANK HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR FOLLOWING UP WITH MY COMMENTARY FROM LAST WEEK AND PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THOSE SPEED CUSHIONS TO KNOW THE STATUS OF THOSE PROJECTS. UM, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT IN ADDITION TO ASHTON VILLAGE, UM, UM, IN THE PROCESS OF BEING SCHEDULED FOR CONSTRUCTION, WE ARE COMPLETING A CONCRETE PLA PANEL REPLACEMENT HAP, UH, JOB THAT'S HAPPENING CURRENTLY. THEY ARE ECSTATIC AND OVERWHELMED. THE, THE WORK LOOKS GREAT AND MORE TO COME TO THAT BRAISE FOREST WEST PARK, ASFORD POINT, PARK RIDGE. YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. CHECK YOUR EMAIL, YOUR MAILBOX AND GET THOSE FORMS BACK TO US SO WE CAN GET YOU SCHEDULED IN THE, IN THE QUEUE. UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE, SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE ON THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE. WE ATTEMPT TO SEND VERY ROBUST NEWSLETTERS, UH, WITH VERY DETAILED, UH, UH, NARRATIVES ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS. UM, UNTIL ENGAGED HOUSTON IS UP AND FULLY ACTIVE, REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE, SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER, AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE UP UPDATES. CONTACT US AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 2 OR DISTRICT F AT HOUSTON, TX DO GOV. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CAS SIX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, I DO, WE TYPICALLY TALK ABOUT BIRTHDAYS AROUND THE HORSESHOE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE MARTA'S BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY. OH, NO. UM, SHE, SHE DEFINITELY NEVER WANTS US TO CELEBRATE HER, BUT HER BIRTHDAY IS ON SUNDAY, AND I KNOW SHE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE WORKING ON BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON SUNDAY ON HER BIRTHDAY, BUT I WANTED US TO JUST TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO, UH, CELEBRATE HER AND LET HER KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL THE GREAT WORK SHE DOES. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY, MARC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN I DO WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT OUR HPD SOUTHWEST PIP MEETING IS HAPPENING ON TUESDAY, MAY THE 27TH AT 7:00 PM UH, AND THIS PARTICULAR MEETING WE WILL BE, UM, FEATURING HPD CRIME [04:10:01] SUPPRESSION TEAM. AND SO I'M HOPING THAT OUR CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL BE THERE. IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT MEETING. IT'LL BE AT THE HARALD L PRESTON SOUTHWEST POLICE STATION ON NATA AGAIN. UH, THE HPD CRIME SUPPRESSION TEAM WILL BE THERE. AND THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP WITH THE CONCERNS OF, UH, DISTRICT A RESIDENTS. AND THEN ONE OF THE COMMUNITY FAN FAVORITES, THE WESTBURY COMMUNITY GARDEN NINTH ANNUAL TOMATO TASTING EVENT IS ON, MAN, I BET, THE TOMATO TASTING EVENT AT THE WESTBURY COMMUNITY GARDEN. SOME OF THE BEST TOMA MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO GROW TOMATOES, AND THEY GROW TOMATOES THERE, AND THEN IS SOME OF THE BEST TOMATOES YOU WOULD EVER, EVER TASTE. UM, BUT IT IS HAPPENING ON SATURDAY THE 24TH. UM, SAMPLE AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES. BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY FOR A DAY OF FUN GARDEN TOUR TOURS, GARDENING TIPS, FRESH PRODUCE AND PLANTS AND MORE. AND IT'S AT THE WESTBURY COMMUNITY GARDEN ON DUNLAP STREET. UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. VERY GOOD. VICE MAYOR, PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A FEW THANK YOUS THAT I WANNA SHARE TODAY. THE FIRST IS TO YOU MAYOR, UM, AND DIRECTOR MACKAY FOR MAKING THE CHANGES IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT. UM, IT USED TO BE SUCH A DIFFICULT SITUATION ANYTIME A CONSTITUENT CALL OR OFFICE ABOUT A WATER BILL ISSUE. UM, AND LATELY THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE NOW. SO, UM, WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD RECENTLY THAT I VISITED. THEY HAVE A SHARED, UM, METER, UM, FOR SOME OF THEIR LANDSCAPING. AND THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BILLING THAT THEY WERE CHARGED ABOUT $2,000 MORE THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. AND SO THEY, UM, WERE ABLE TO GET CREDITED FOR THAT, UM, MONEY, AND THEY REPLACED THE END POINT FOR THE METER. SO IT'S CHANGES LIKE THAT THAT JUST REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND EVERYONE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT FOR, FOR MAKING THOSE CHANGES. UM, AND NEXT I WANTED TO THANK, UM, HPD, DAWN AND BARK FOR THEIR HELP. WE HAD A HOUSE IN DISTRICT A, UM, WHERE THEY FOUND OVER A HUNDRED ANIMALS IN THIS HOUSE RECENTLY. UM, IT WAS, THE HOUSE WAS BEING RENTED, UM, AND WHEN THE RENTERS WERE LEAVING, THEY FOUND ABOUT A HUNDRED OVER A HUNDRED ANIMALS THERE. AND SO, AND THEN THERE WERE TRASH ISSUES OUTSIDE AS WELL. SO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS JUST REALLY, UM, GOT ON THAT VERY QUICKLY. AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SITUATION, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO, UM, GET IT UNDER CONTROL VERY QUICKLY. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. THANK YOU. WE DON'T HAVE TIME, BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE HUNDRED ANIMALS, WHAT, WHAT THE MAKEUP OF THE POPULATION WAS, BUT I'LL GET THAT ANOTHER TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN, UH, MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST WANNA START OFF BY, UH, WISHING MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, EDITH SANTA MARIA. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY. UH, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN A WEEK AND A HALF. WE, WE NEED YOU, UH, UH, SECONDLY, UH, THIS WEEKEND, UH, SATURDAY, MAY 24TH AT 10:00 AM IF, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, WE'RE HAVING A, A, A CLEANUP AT CLINTON PARK, 200 MISSISSIPPI. THE CIVIC CLUB OUT THERE IS GONNA BE LEADING THIS EFFORT. UH, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING. AND THEN LASTLY, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ENJOY THEIR WEEKEND AND WANNA MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR THOSE, UH, SERVICE MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES, UH, TO OUR COUNTRY. HAP HAPPY MEMORIAL AND SAFE, UH, HAPPY AND SAFE MEMORIAL WEEKEND. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I FIRST WANNA START OFF BY, UH, THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND VICE CHAIR CASTILLO FOR Y'ALL'S HARD WORK DURING THE, UH, BUDGET WORKSHOP COMMITTEE MEETINGS. UM, THOSE ARE CHALLENGING. UH, I REMEMBER IN MY FIRST TERM PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER, AND IT IS A LOT OF WORK. UM, AS, AS WE THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I, I THINK ABOUT MORE THAN JUST TODAY IN THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE, UH, LOOKING TO VOTE ON, UH, SOON, BUT MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE. I MEAN, THE FUTURE FOR ME, UM, IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANT. AND I, I SEE THAT DURING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS. UH, ALTHOUGH TODAY WE PASSED A PAY RAISE FOR THE POLICE, UH, WHICH WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO DO, WE LEARNED THAT MANY OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE GETTING CUT. UM, AND WE'RE, WE'RE USING MUCH OF THE FUND BALANCE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, BALANCE THIS BUDGET, UH, WHICH IS NOT A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET. AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA SUSTAIN? HOW ARE WE GONNA PAY FOR, YOU KNOW, THESE ITEMS? UH, AND THUS FAR WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF PLAN OR STRATEGY TO DO THIS. UM, [04:15:02] WE, WE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUE ON THE TREND THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ON, TO USE FUND BALANCE, UH, WHICH WAS AT ONE POINT IN TIME THE HIGHEST FUND BALANCE IN THE CITY'S HISTORY, UH, TO NOW BE FACED WITH, YOU KNOW, THE LARGEST BUDGET DEFICIT EVER, AND THEN GOING INTO THE SECOND LARGEST BUDGET DEFICIT EVER. UH, AND WE WERE GIVEN A FIVE YEAR FORECAST ABOUT WHERE WE MAY BE IN THE FUTURE WITH EVEN LARGER BUDGET DEFICITS. SO IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THINGS OR SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THINGS, BUT IN REALITY, HOW ARE WE GONNA PAY FOR THEM? AND I THINK THAT IS THE CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US AS WE SIT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE IS, IS NOT JUST TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN PAY FOR TODAY, BUT THESE ARE REOCCURRING COSTS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU WANT TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS, WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL BE A BENEFIT, YOU'RE ALSO PUTTING MORE REOCCURRING PAYROLL ON THE BOOKS, MORE PENSION ON THE BOOKS, MORE HEALTHCARE ON THE BOOKS, AND NOT JUST FOR THE TIME THAT THEY'RE HERE, BUT FOR WHEN THEY'RE RETIRED AS WELL, RIGHT? SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE MUST THINK ABOUT, UM, GOING FORWARD AND THEN THINKING ABOUT IT FOR THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. I, I DON'T SEE HOW WE DO THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO BACK TO THE TAXPAYER AND ASK THEM TO DO MORE. UM, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MORE CREATIVE WITH OUR APPROACH, UM, BEFORE DOING THAT. AND, UM, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE DAYS AHEAD. BUT, UM, THIS BUDGET IS, IS VERY TIGHT. UM, WE, AGAIN, ARE NOT FINDING ANY REAL NEW REVENUE, AND SO WE CONTINUE TO SPEND MORE THAN WE HAVE. AND EVENTUALLY THAT CREDIT CARD IS GONNA BECOME DUE, AND IT'S FUN TO HAVE THE CREDIT CARD AND TO, TO YOUR MOM OR DAD HAS TO GET THE BILL AND PAY FOR IT. AND SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO DO IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE POLICE CONTRACT. WE, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THAT BUDGET SURVEY OUT IN THE FIELD, GOT ABOUT 1200 RESPONSES, AND YOU HAVE 70% SAYING THEY WANT MORE SPEND ON POLICE PATROL, MORE SPEND ON POLICE INVESTIGATION. SO THIS IS DEFINITELY THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO, AND IT'S A GOOD CONTRACT. AND YOU, I I GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ALL OVER THIS TOWN, AND THERE'S NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T WANNA SEE MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S POINT, THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST DOES INDICATE A BIG OVER $200 MILLION BASELINE DEFICIT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THERE'S AN OPTIMISTIC SCENARIO WHERE THAT WOULD GO TO 200 AND 203 MILLION. ANOTHER OPTIMISTIC SCENARIO, 103 MILLION, AND THEN 3 MILLION. OBVIOUSLY IF WE BRING IN A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION MORE THAT GOES DOWN, IF YOU BRING IN A HUNDRED MILLION MORE THAT GOES DOWN. UM, SO THAT IS A DISCUSSION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE. 'CAUSE THESE ARE NOT ONE TIME EXPENDITURES. THE POLICE CONTRACTS, WHICH I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTED BEING A RECENT CRIME VICTIM, WHEN WE'RE GONNA FIND YOU PUBLIC STORAGE, WE, WE ACTUALLY ALREADY FOUND ONE. SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A 14 YEAR VETERAN OF INVESTIGATIONS, AND WE'VE ALREADY FOUND ONE OF THE PEOPLE, THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE POLICE ARE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU. UM, BUT, BUT THESE ARE ONGOING EXPENSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH. AND I THINK IT, UM, IN, IN LIGHT OF ALL THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS, AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, THAT WE HAD GREAT PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR, UH, SEEING THE CUTS AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA BE EXPERIENCING IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IT, IT IS A MATTER OF, OF MAYOR, AS YOU PUT IT, UH, ASKING RESIDENTS WHAT KIND OF CITY DO YOU WANNA LIVE IN? AND, AND WHAT, WHAT KIND OF SERVICES DO YOU NEED? UH, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT AT THE BUDGET. UM, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, I'LL REMIND EVERYONE WE'RE HAVING A BUDGET TOWN HALL COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND I, IT'S GONNA BE VIRTUAL THIS, WE HAD A IN-PERSON ONE LAST SATURDAY, THIS THURSDAY EVENING AT SIX O'CLOCK. THERE'LL BE A VIRTUAL ONE. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE BUDGET, AND, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. AND ONE LAST THING. I PROMISED JUNE DERICK, I WOULD TOUT THE, THE TOMMY TOON AWARDS ON NE A WEEK FROM FRIDAY. I'M GONNA BE GOING, I'VE NEVER BEEN. I'M EXCITED. IT'S A BIG DEAL. AND I HOPE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY GOT AN INVITATION. SO Y'ALL LOOK OUT FOR THAT. THANK YOU. HEY, THANK YOU. AND I'VE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT, WE HAVE CHALLENGES. I MEAN, WE WERE, WE HAD THE CHALLENGES FOR YEARS AND WE WILL ADDRESS THEM. UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE COMMUNITY'S HIGHEST PRIORITY. I'M PLEASED THAT WE PASSED THIS CONTRACT. I'M PLEASED WE'RE GONNA PASS A BALANCED BUDGET, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF US, AND WE WILL LET HOUSTONIANS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, KNOW THAT WE'VE WASTED, UH, WE'VE DONE AWAY [04:20:01] WITH AS MUCH WASTE AND DUPLICATION. I THINK COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ HIGHLIGHTED TODAY SOME HUGE AREAS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND OUTRIGHT CORRUPTION. WE HAVE TO RESTORE PEOPLE'S FAITH IN, IN THE CREDIBILITY OF CITY GOVERNMENT. AND WE'RE DOING THAT AND MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS. AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF CITY HOUSTONIANS WANNA LIVE IN. THEY'LL BE RECEPTIVE TO THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAID, WE, A YEAR AGO, WE COULDN'T, UH, SOME OF OUR CRITICS, WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DID TODAY, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THIS BUDGET. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF US. EVERYONE KNOWS IT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS LONGER THAN ME. SO IT WAS A CHALLENGE THEN. IT'S A CHALLENGE NOW. AND I RAN TO FIX HOUSTON, AND ONLY WE'RE GONNA DO THAT BY BEING TRANSPARENT AND NOT USE ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDING TO BALANCE A BUDGET. BUT GO FORWARD AND LET HOUSTONIANS KNOW WHAT OUR CHALLENGE IS. PEOPLE ARE BUYING INTO CITY GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE FAITH IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. WE HAVE DONE A GOOD SERVICE TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOUSTON'S FUTURE. WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, ALL MAJOR CITIES HAVE CHALLENGES, AND WE'RE MEETING THOSE CHALLENGES AND WE'LL BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT AND, UH, COLLABORATE WITH HOUSTONIANS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THE HEARINGS AND ALSO SOME OF YOUR PROPOSALS SUCH AS BETTER COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE'LL BE SEEING A REAL GOOD PARTNERSHIP GOING FORWARD, WHICH WILL IMPACT, UH, CITY SERVICES, IMPROVE THEM BUDGET ITEMS. SO LET'S GO FORWARD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, UH, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION CAME OUT OF THAT. AND IT'S SUPER GREAT TO SEE THE DEPARTMENTS REALLY LOOKING AT THE STUDY AND MAKING CHANGES ACCORDINGLY. AND I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT DEVELOPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND ALSO, MAYOR, I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THIS WEEK A FEW COLLEAGUES AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO SORT OF A CONSERVATIVE GROUP AROUND THE CITY, AND I GOT A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK ON THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT ALSO THE COUNCIL IN GENERAL WORKING TOGETHER. AND I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING CHANGE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT NOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY AT A TIME, ONE STEP AT A TIME. BUT I ALSO AGREE THAT AT A CERTAIN POINT, RELATIONSHIPS AT THE STATE LEVEL, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT ALSO TO, WE'RE GOING TO ASK, WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE HAVE TO ASK THE COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO GET WHAT YOU WANT? SO, YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT REALLY, I THINK, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THERE'S POSITIVE MOVING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOES WORK. THANK YOU. AND IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THE FIRST SHOW OF RECOGNIZING OUR CHALLENGE, AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ ALCORN, AND SO MANY OF YOU, COUNCILMAN KAMAN, IS ATTEND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS IF YOU DON'T ATTEND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS, UH, KIND OF CYNICAL TO STAND HERE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE WHEN YOU HAVEN'T ATTENDED HEARINGS ABOUT CURRENT BUSINESS. SO ANYWAY, DON'T GET ME STARTED BECAUSE THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN RESIDENTS AT THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY MEETING WHERE WE SHARED UPDATES ON THE FIRST COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WILL BE COMPLETED UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR DISTRICT D, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR MAKING THIS A PRIORITY. AND I WANNA EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR SHOWING UP AND STANDING WITH THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY ON SUNDAY. I WAS HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BOYTON CHAPEL HISTORICAL MARKER, UNVEILING A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION, RECOGNIZING THE LEGACY OF ONE OF OUR HISTORIC FAITH INSTITUTIONS. WAS ALSO DESIGNED BY JOHN CHASE, WHO WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHITECT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND ALSO THE ONLY BLACK ARCHITECT FOR 10 YEARS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY, VERY, UH, WORTHY OF COMMEMORATION. I WANNA THANK PASTOR LINDA DAVIS AND THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION FOR PRESERVING THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. AND THANK YOU REBECCA AND RICARDO WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I WANNA AGAIN, CONGRATULATE EMILY ANDERSON FOR BEING ELECTED AS THE INCOMING PRESIDENT OF A CEC, WHICH [04:25:01] AGAIN, SHE IS A FIRST AS WELL, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY. AND I WANNA THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ATTENDING THE HA MEETING IN DISTRICT D. YOU WERE CERTAINLY IN THE A HOT SEAT, BUT I, I FELT LIKE YOUR ANSWERS WERE TRANSPARENT. THEY WEREN'T ALL ALWAYS ACCEPTED BY EVERYBODY, BUT I, I FELT THAT YOU WERE BEING TRANSPARENT. AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING IS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT OUT THE RIGHT NARRATIVE REGARDING BAIL REFORM. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IN, IN LIGHT OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GETTING OUT AND COMMITTING MURDERS OR ON BOND OR WHATEVER. SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT MEETING. UM, WE HAVE TWO IMPORTANT EVENTS COMING UP THIS WEEK. UH, WE HAVE, UH, DISTRICT 1 46 LEGISLATIVE TOWN HALL WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAWRENCE SIMMONS, AND IT'S GONNA BE ON THE STATE AND LOCAL ISSUES IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT WILL BE THIS FRIDAY AT 6:00 PM AT THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, 44 10 REED ROAD. UH, AND PLEASE COME OUT. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE PARK AT PALM CENTER. DEDICATION WILL TAKE PLACE, UH, ON SATURDAY, MAY 25TH AT 10:00 AM AT THE PARK AT PALM CENTER, AND JOIN US FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. I AM ASKING AND ENCOURAGING ALL DISTRICT D AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET THE NEWS, UH, TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISTRICT D NEWSLETTER AT DISTRICT D@HOUSTONTX.GOV. I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND SAFE MEMORIAL DAY. THANK YOU. HEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE LAST NIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU THINK THAT'S A HOT SEAT, YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THE REAL HOT SEAT BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THAT WAS OF ANY REAL ISSUE WAS, I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I WORK ACROSS THE AISLE COUNCIL CARTER, AND THANK YOU FOR COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS COMING AS WELL. YEAH, YEAH, SHE WAS THERE CERTAINLY OF, UH, PARTICIPATING, BUT THE, THE WHOLE ISSUE WAS ME WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA FIX HOUSTON, IS TO COLLABORATE WITH EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUT POLITICS AND PARTISANSHIP ASIDE. THERE'S A TIME FOR THAT. AND I'VE GOT A LONG RECORD OF BEING INVOLVED IN PARTISAN POLITICS, BUT IN THIS JOB, I HAVE TO GO TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FROM HOUSTON, FROM TEXAS TO GET US NATIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. SO, YOU KNOW, IF I'M GONNA BE CRITICIZED BY PARTY ACTIVISTS, BECAUSE I WORK WITH COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER AND OTHERS, THAT JUST GOES WITH THE TERRITORY. SO I DIDN'T CONSIDER A PARTICULARLY HOT SEAT. MIGHT BE A LITTLE WARM A MOMENT OR TWO, BUT, UH, IN MY CAREER, THAT'S, UH, THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY. YEAH. BUT I REALLY THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE IN YOUR KIND WORDS. UH, JUDGE, UH, ADAMS WAS OUTSTANDING, BROUGHT US A COUPLE ISSUES THAT SHE SEES AS THE PEOPLE'S COURT. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ANY GROUP THAT WANTS TO IMPROVE HOUSTON. SO, AND, AND IN ALL TRANSPARENCY, I DID POINT OUT THAT WE DID HAVE A SHAKY BEGINNING, BUT I OH, YEAH. AM VERY, VERY APPRECIATE. WELL, SO DID MY WIFE AND I WHEN WE FIRST MET . OH, WELL, MY EX-WIFE, WE'RE NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT. THAT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENDING. MY EX-WIFE. ANYWAY, UH, NO, MAYBE IT WAS THE ENDING. IT WAS SHAKY ANYWAY, BUT I HAD TO POINT OUT THAT THE BENEFIT TO MY CONSTITUENTS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. REPRESEN IT, THE SAME PEOPLE. AND CERTAINLY I WILL, I WILL, YOU KNOW, AT ANY POINT WHERE WE ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH, OH, I DON'T DOUBT THAT FOR ALL WITH SAYING THAT. I WELCOME THAT TO YOU PERSONALLY AND PUBLICLY, BUT SO FAR SO GOOD, MAYOR AND I, I DO APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. LET'S GO. MOVING THINGS FORWARD IN S LUNCH. THAT'S WAY IT WORKS. MAYOR, DO I HAVE TO RECLAIM MY TIME? THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU. YOU HAVE SOME UNIQUE ISSUES IN YOUR DISTRICT, CERTAINLY AS IT COMES TO TSU AND WHERE THEY PARK FOR EVENTS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. AND YOU AND I ARE GONNA GO OUT THERE AND FIX THAT VERY SOON. OH LORD. WE'RE LISTENING TO THE CONSTITUENTS . SO THAT WAS ACTUALLY LAST NIGHT WAS, WAS A PLEASURE. MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR LEADING US THROUGH THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. UM, AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, 23 BUDGET WORKSHOPS THAT WE, WE DID OVER A FEW WEEKS SPAN. UH, HER AND HER TEAM DID A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THAT, AND SHE, UH, REALLY LED THE WAY AS WE GOT THROUGH ALL OF 'EM. AND, UH, I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK ALL THE, ALL THE PARTICIPATION FROM THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU KNOW, WE [04:30:01] HEARD FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT HOW THEY ARE BECOMING MORE EFFICIENT, UH, HOW SERVICE DELIVERY IS CHANGING WITH INSPECTORS GOING TO PUBLIC WORKS AND CALL TAKERS MOVING AND, AND HOW SERVICES ARE STILL GONNA BE DELIVERED. BUT, BUT IN A, IN A MORE EFFICIENT WAY WHERE COST SAVINGS WERE COMING FROM. WE GOT TO HEAR FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT ON HOW THEIR DEPARTMENTS ARE IMPACTED BY FEDERAL GRANTS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND ASKED THAT, OR HER STAFF OF EVERY, UH, DEPARTMENT THAT CAME THROUGH. SO THEY WERE VERY VALUABLE WORKSHOPS. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE LEARNED A LOT. WE GOT TO DIG DEEP AND IT, IT WAS A, A BIT OF A, A SLOG TO GET THROUGH 23, UH, BUT WE DID IT. AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER PARTICIPATION THERE. AND WE DO HAVE ONE MORE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP. IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THEM ON THURSDAY IN THE EVENING, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO, UH, DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV. WE CAN GET YOU THE INFORMATION TO RSVP. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE, WE HAVE TWO DISTRICT H HORIZONS INTERNS IN THE OFFICE. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE BRADLEY WHO GRADUATED THIS PAST FRIDAY, UH, FROM HCC WITH HIS ASSOCIATES OF ART AND BUSINESS. UH, HE'S BEEN A FANTASTIC ADDITION TO THE OFFICE, REALLY HAS JUST DOVE IN HEAD FIRST AND, UH, CONTRIBUTED IN, IN SOME SIGNIFICANT WAYS AROUND DATA ANALYTICS AND, AND HOW WE'RE TRACKING OUR ENGAGEMENT AND OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES. UM, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON, ON ACHIEVING THIS MILESTONE WHILE ALSO HOLDING DOWN A JOB AND ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE HORIZONS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. SO, UM, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A DISTRICT H HORIZONS INTERN, THE APPLICATIONS ARE STILL OPEN THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH. YOU NEED TO LIVE, WORK, OR STUDY IN THE DISTRICT TO, TO PARTICIPATE AND, AND COMMIT TO 20 HOURS A WEEK. BUT YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV FOR THE APPLICATION. AND FINALLY, I DO WANNA WISH EVERYONE A, A CELEBRATORY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND THANK ALL THOSE THAT HAVE SACRIFICED TO SERVE THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, UM, WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE BIRTHDAY, UH, OF MYRA ON MY STAFF. HER BIRTHDAY IS MAY 23RD, AND I WAS REMISS IN ANNOUNCING SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MYRA ON THE STAFF. SO IF YOU SWING BY THE DISTRICT F SUITE, MAKE SURE TO SEND HER GOOD GREETINGS AS WELL. THANK YOU. VERY NICE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. WELL, MAYOR, UM, JUST WANT TO, UM, THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING OUTSIDE INTO THESE RECORD BREAKING TEMPERATURES. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS COMMEND ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND AREAS OF PEOPLE WORKING IN, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO DO THE SAME AS ALL OF THE COLLEAGUES DO. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR PARKS ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE, I'VE BEEN TO MOW RIBBON CUTTINGS AND OPENING CELEBRATIONS, UH, AT PARKS OPENING. AND MAYOR PRO TEM WAS OUT, UH, ONE OF HER PARKS AND TRYING TO SHOOT BASKETBALL AND, UH, SHE, SHE, SHE WAS TRYING TO HOOP. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, WALTER TO THANK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. UM, WE, ON FRIDAY, I RECEIVED A CALL INFORMING ME THAT THE EMPLOYEES IN THE EAST DIVISION, UH, OF PARKS DEPARTMENT'S RUNNING LOW ON BOTTLED WATER. AND SO I WANTED TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO THEM. SO WE, WE BOUGHT A PALLET OF WATER FROM SAM'S CLUB, THAT'S ABOUT 48 CASES OF WATER AND DONATED TO THOSE EMPLOYEES. AND, UM, OUR HOT SUMMERS HAS STARTED EARLY. AND STAYING HYDRATED WHILE WORKING OUTSIDE IS VERY ESSENTIAL FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING. UH, I'M PLEDGING TO MAKE THIS, UH, A REGULAR MONTHLY THING TO GIVE THEM AT LEAST WATER. THEY RUN OUT OF IT. AND WE ALL KNOW WATER'S SUCH AN ESSENTIAL ITEM. SO I CHALLENGE THE, YOU KNOW, OTHER COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME IN YOUR PARKS, IN YOUR, IN, IN YOUR PARTICULAR DISTRICTS. UH, ALSO NEXT I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE JOSEPH HOUSE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER. YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE COME BEFORE COUNCIL, HOMELESS AND LOOKING FOR PLACES TO GO, UH, ACROSS ALL RACES AND ALL DENOMINATION. UH, THE JOSEPH HOUSE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER IS A NON-FOR-PROFIT IN OUR CITY THAT HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED. I LEARNED MORE ABOUT LAST WEEK, I WAS JOINED BY OUR COMMUNITY LEADER, UH, CLEO JOHNSON AND STATE REP JARVIS JOHNSON, UH, ON THE TOUR OF THE JOSEPH HOUSE FACILITY AT 42 21 NORTH FREEWAY. AND SINCE 2003, THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AND OUTREACH, HAVE BEEN ASSISTING THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, UH, A MONTH WITH THEIR FOOD NEEDS, AS WELL AS PARTNERING WITH CITY AND COUNTY ORGANIZATION ON [04:35:01] ADDRESSING FOOD, UH, IN SECURITY AND DISASTER RELIEF. THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. ALSO, THEY ARE CURRENTLY ASSISTING VETERANS AND, UH, WITH HOUSING IN THEIR FACILITIES. UH, AT THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, I LIKE TO THANK, UM, PASTOR RC STERNS, HIS STAFF AND THEIR PARTNERS FOR THEIR WORK, MY OFFICE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING THIS ORGANIZATION ON THAT MISSION TO ASSIST THOSE MOST IN NEED WHEN HOMELESS AND OTHER ISSUES ARE CRITICAL TO OUR CITY. BUT THIS IS A WAY TO ADDRESS IT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JOSEPH HOUSE. YOU CAN VISIT THEIR WEBSITE@JOSEPHHOUSEC.ORG, JOSEPH HOUSE C.ORG. NEXT, I WANTED TO CON CONGRATULATE THE SPRING BRANCH MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND HOUSE AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD ON THE GROUND OPENING AT THE LATEST PORTION OF THEIR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IN SPRING BRANCH. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY ON SATURDAY WITH VICE MAYOR PRO TEM AMY PEG. AND, UH, IT WAS QUITE AN OPPORTUNITY AND REALLY ENJOYED IT, UH, TO SEE HER DAUGHTER, ABIGAIL, UH, RAISE, START OFF TO BE A GREAT SPEAKER, AND MAYBE THE NEXT COUNCIL PERSON REPLACE HER MOTHER. BUT, UH, IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE OUR CITY HAVING MORE DEDICATED, WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE PLACES. LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR RECENTLY ATTENDING THE, UM, MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD. I TALKED ABOUT THIS COMING ON COUNCIL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I DIDN'T CREATE COUNCIL MEMBER ERNEST MCGOWAN, WHO BY RECORD, IS THE FIRST PASTOR COUNCILMAN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THIS COUNCIL. AND HE'S ALSO BEEN CREDITED FOR SO MANY HISTORICAL THINGS LIKE THE MBE, WHICH WAS CREATED BY HIM DURING THOSE YEARS. AND, UM, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE ALSO CREATED THE MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR, WHICH HE STARTED, WHICH WAS A COLLABORATION OF MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL PASTORS WHO GOT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF CITY GOVERNMENT. AND I THINK IT'S VITAL THAT ALL OF OUR CITIES, WE COMMEND PASTORS, WE INVITE 'EM UP HERE, WE HAVE 'EM IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WELL, THEY, THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A VOICE INVOLVING HOW WE MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING US TO RESURRECT IT. IT'S MULTIRACIAL, IT'S MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT. AND, UH, WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT, UH, CLOSE TO ALMOST 50, UH, IN ATTENDANCE, AND WE INTEND TO DO IT EACH MONTH. UH, HERE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES, THEY HAVE THE FACILITIES AND EXPERIENCE WITH DISASTER RELIEF. AND, UM, AND, AND AT THIS TIME WHEN WE HEAR ALL OF THAT, WE HEAR MUCH ABOUT IT. EVERYBODY'S CONCERNED ABOUT HURRICANES AND DISASTER RELIEF, WHERE ALL DOLLARS DON'T HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE CITY. THESE FACILITIES AND PASTORS ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND OFFER THEIR FACILITIES, AND WE OUGHT TO USE THEM. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR MANY THINGS THAT WE PLAN TO DO. UH, THE MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD INCLUDED SEVERAL PASTOR PASTOR FM WILLIAM II AND PASTOR GREG MOT AT HOUSTON. FIRST, UM, PASTOR KAHN WYNN, WHO LEADS THE VIETNAMESE CHURCH IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON, AS WELL AS PASTOR RICHARD VEGA. UH, HERNAN CASTANO, WHO CONGREGATIONS ARE PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC. UH, AND THE BOARD IS CHAIRED BY, UH, BROTHER DAVE WELCH, WHO FOUNDED DETECTIVE PASTOR COUNCIL. THESE PASTORS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A FORCE MULTIPLIER IN OUR CITY AND WHEN IT COMES TO DISASTER RELIEF, CRIME REDUCTION, AND HOMELESSNESS. SO OUR INTERVENTION. SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM AGAIN FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR CHAIR OF FINANCE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND THE BUDGET PROCESS. I GOT A CHANCE TO LEARN QUITE A BIT AND TO LEARN MORE OR LESS ABOUT WHERE WE DO, UH, GOING FORWARD AND MAKING OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE. AND SO, IN CLOSING, I ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE STAR OF HOPE TOUR, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE GOING ON, UH, THIS WEEKEND, I BELIEVE AT REED ROAD, UH, LOCATION. AND, UH, WE CERTAINLY, UH, BEEN EXTENDED. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THEY'RE HAVING IT AND THEY'RE INVITING EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT IT. SO, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? WE STAND, ADJOURN. [04:40:03] OH, WHY DIDN'T THAT CLOSES. * 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.