* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:05] CHAIR [INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS MORNING I'VE INVITED, UH, PASTOR T LEON PRESTON, THE SECOND TO COME AND, AND PRAY FOR US. AND IF YOU'D COME UP, PASTOR. UM, PASTOR PRESTON IS A NATIVE OF HOUSTON AND A PRODUCT OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. HE WAS CALLED TO PREACH AT AN EARLY AGE, LICENSED IN 1978, AND HAS DEVOTED FOUR DECADES OF HIS LIFE TO MINISTRY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE. HE'S CURRENTLY THE SENIOR PASTOR OF THE YALE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE HIS COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO UPLIFT AND INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH. PASTOR PRESTON IS INVOLVED IN CIVIC SERVICE. HE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAIN FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, AND SERVES ON THE METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHERE HE CHAMPIONS PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT IS SAFE, RELIABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. HE HAS SERVED AS BOARD CHAIR OF THE DISASTER HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AND OFFERED LEADERSHIP IN DISASTER RECOVERY AND CRISIS RESPONSE. HE HAS BEEN A COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR THE REGION SIX, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE, AND SERVES AS A PRECINCT CHAIR AS WELL. HE IS KNOWN AS A PEOPLE'S PASTOR AND A COMMITTED ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL HUMAN RIGHTS, CHILDREN'S WELFARE AND JUSTICE FOR UNSERVED UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND HE'S A PROUD AND LOVING FATHER. PLEASE WELCOME PASTOR TEA LEON PRESTON II. THANK YOU, PASTOR PRESTON, DO YOU WANT TO DISCLOSE BEFORE OR AFTER YOU PRAYER THAT YOU'RE MY PASTOR? ? WE'LL, WE'LL DISCLOSE IT NOW. , THAT I GIVE PASTOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU, SIR. COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO THE, UM, TO MAYOR WHITMEYER, THE TO ALL WHO ARE SIMPLE. WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER, ALMIGHT AND ETERNAL GOD, WE WELCOME YOU TODAY, ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR SOVEREIGNTY AND YOUR GRACE AND LORD AS THIS COUNCIL GATHERS TO DELIBERATE THE AFFAIRS OF OUR GREAT CITY, GRANT THEM THE WISDOM THAT DESCENDS FROM ABOVE PURE PEACEABLE AND FULL OF MERCY. AND MAY UNITY NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR NON-UNIFORMITY, BUT LET THERE BE SPACE TO AGREE AND TO DISAGREE WITH CIVILITY AND PURPOSE. LET EVERY VOICE BE HEARD, EVERY MOTIVE BE WEIGHED, AND EVERY DECISION BE ROOTED IN THE WELLBEING OF THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. GUIDE THEIR HANDS AND HEARTS AS THEY REVIEW THE MATTERS BEFORE THEM ON TODAY. LET NO ACT BE DRIVEN BY SELF INTEREST, BUT BY DEEP AND ABIDING CONCERN FOR JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND SERVICE TODAY. GOD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM COURAGE TO LEAVE, TO LEAD AND GIVE THEM PATIENCE TO LISTEN AND GRACE TO COLLABORATE. AND WE LIFT UP THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO, WHOSE DAILY RISK IS TO PRESENT THEIR LIVES, TO SAFEGUARD HOURS. BLESS EVERY CITY, DEPARTMENT, AND THOSE WHO LABOR IN UNSEEN WAYS FOR SAFETY, HEALTH, AND PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, LORD, ORDER THIS MEETING BY YOUR WILL AND LET YOUR GRACE REST HERE. IT'S IN THE NAME OF THY SON THAT WE OFFER THESE PRAYERS AND WE SAY, AMEN. THANK YOU, SIR. WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL ON LIBERTY. [9:00 AM - ROLL CALL] MR. SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. HERE [ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING] NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF MAY 13 AND 14. P MOVE. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [00:05:02] ITEM CALL FOR A MOTION TO TAKE THEM OUT OF ORDER? YES. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE THESE APPOINTMENTS OUT OF ORDER? ACT MOVES ONE AND 10. MOTION ITEMS ONE AND 10. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [MISCELLANEOUS] MS. SECRETARY ITEM ONE. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION. MOVE VICE. MAYOR PROTI MAKES A MOTION. IS SECOND ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSAGE. OKAY, NEXT. ITEM [ORDINANCES] 10 IS AN ORDINANCE JUST ME TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE THOSE FOLKS HERE. WE HAVE TWO FROM THE LAND BANK AND JUDGE OUR, OUR, UH, NEW JUDGE AND OUR LAND BANK APPOINTMENT. SHOULD YOU PLEASE RISE AND LET US THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, JUDGE. MS. KAIA, HOW ARE YOU? AND I SEE Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. THE MAYOR'S [MAYOR'S REPORT] REPORT IS TO MOURN THE LOSS OF OUR ANCHOR GRIGNON. JOSE HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY LEADER FOR, FOR YEARS. HE PASSED MONDAY FROM LONG-TERM BATTLE WITH CANCER, UH, DIED AT 72. IT'S A TREMENDOUS LOSS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY. UH, HE WAS AN ANCHOR AT FOX 26 FOR 30 YEARS, COVERING THOUSANDS OF BREAKING STORIES. WELLLIKE RESPECTED, HE WOULD MC COMMUNITY EVENTS ON A ROUTINE BASIS. HE WAS MARRIED TO OUR FRIEND KATHY GRIFFIN, WELL KNOWN FOR HER WORK IN FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND WORKS AT PRECINCT ONE. SO I'D ASK YOU FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND KEEP HIS FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS. AMEN. UH, COUNCILOR RAM MAYORS MAYOR, I [9:30 AM - PUBLIC SPEAKERS] HAVE PROCEDURAL MOTION, UH, FOR THE LIST OF PUBLIC COMMENT. ARE WE INTO THAT NOW? YES. PROCEDURAL MOTION. MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SARAH RAYMOND, SARAH RESA, VANESSA TORO, BARRAGAN, AND AJA NEWMAN TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. CAN YOU DO THAT? SECOND JOSE? THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, MS. SANTOS. OKAY. MOTION MADE. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA MOTION PASSES. ONE MINUTE. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHERS. ANY OTHER MOTIONS? MS. SECRETARY, DO YOU WANNA CALL OUR FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER? HOW MANY, HOW MANY MINUTES DO I HAVE? CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. SARAH RAYMOND. OKAY, SIR. RASA. VANESSA TORRO BARRAGAN. GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. UM, THANK YOU FOR ADDING ME TO THE LIST TODAY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU. UH, MY NAME IS VANESSA TOGAN. I AM A HOMEOWNER AND A RESIDENT OF THE EAST END. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET BECAUSE [00:10:01] THIS BUDGET THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED BY YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, IS AN AUSTERITY PLAN AND IT'S DANGEROUS AND IT TURNS ITS BACK ON THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. I GREW UP HERE IN HOUSTON AND MY FAMILY WAS AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY, A WORKING CLASS FAMILY THAT DEPENDED AND USED PUBLIC SERVICES LIKE LIBRARIES, FREE PARKS, UM, AND HEALTH CLINICS. AND ACTUALLY, WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG, UM, MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT AND WE CALLED THE POLICE THINKING THAT IT WOULD KEEP US SAFE. AND INSTEAD IT ACTUALLY LED TO MY FATHER BEING DETAINED AND PUT IN AN IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITY FOR A MONTH. THAT MEANT MY MOM WAS NOW A SINGLE MOM OF THREE CHILDREN TAKING CARE OF THEM, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FUTURE OF OUR FAMILY WOULD BE. AND WE RELIED NOT ON THE POLICE TO KEEP US SAFE, BUT ON OUR RESOURCES, THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RESOURCES, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE PARKS, THE SCHOOLS, THE CHURCHES, OUR NEIGHBORS, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE, ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE THRIVING, ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, ABLE TO PAY THE MORTGAGE. UM, AND SO I URGE YOU TO TODAY TO NOT CUT BACK ON THOSE SERVICES AND LEAVE THE CHILDREN OF HOUSTON WITHOUT RESOURCES, WITHOUT RECOURSE. AND I URGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY THE LAW AND ACTUALLY INVEST THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE BEEN PAYING IN TAXES FOR DRAINAGE, INFRASTRUCTURE ON DRAINAGE AND NOT ON POLICE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT ALAYA NEWMAN. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS FOR ALLOWING, ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. MY NAME ISIA NEWMAN. I'M HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH NORTH NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND WEST STREET RECOVERY. I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M DISAPPOINTED. I THINK THAT, UH, IT'S REALLY SAD THAT WE KNOW THAT THE WAY YOU GUYS ARE ALLOCATING THE BUDGET IS JUST NOT WHAT IN LINE WITH WHAT HOUSTONIANS WANT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RETIREMENT INCENTIVE GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES, WHICH WAS REALLY JUST A SCARE TACTIC IN ORDER TO HAVE PEOPLE RETIRE SO THAT YOU CAN CONTRACT THEIR JOBS OUTWARDS AND WITH MORE EXPENSIVE CONTRACTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE CUTTING FUNDING FROM PUBLIC PARKS, LIBRARIES, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS. WE'RE NOT STUPID, OKAY? HOUSTONIANS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. WE SEE YOU AND WE WILL BE VOTING AGAIN SOMETIME. SO I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LISTEN TO US AND THAT YOU CARE ABOUT US. WE ELECTED YOU FOR A REASON. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND YOU'RE NOT ACTING AS SUCH. ADDITIONALLY, NOBODY THAT I KNOW LOVES THE POLICE AS MUCH AS YOU. OKAY? WE ARE AFRAID OF THEM. WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THEM. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I THINK I'M URGING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS BUDGET AND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF WHAT HOUSTONIANS REALLY WANT. NEXT, DEB RIO. MARTIN. VICKY, WORTHY. GOOD MORNING MAYOR, COUNSELORS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS VICKI, WORTHY RESIDENT OF AKERS HOME AND THE MY CHURCH OF 22 YEARS. I APOLOGIZE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS VICKI WORTHY. I'M THE RESIDENT IN AKERS HOME. I'VE BEEN TO CHURCH IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON NOW FOR 22 YEARS, AND I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WHAT'S GOING ON. I, UH, AM HERE TO STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THIS PROPOSAL. WE ARE HOUSTONIANS IN 2010 FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE CITY TO INVEST OUR TAX DOLLARS AND HELPING OUR FOOT ISSUES INSTEAD OF THE CITY HAS TAKEN THAT MONEY INVESTED ELSEWHERE. THIS IS BREAKING THE LAW IN EVERY COUNCIL IS IN THIS ROOM SINCE BACK IN WATCHING THIS HAPPEN. SINCE IT IS SHAMEFUL, WE DO NOT VOTE ON BUDGET AND PRIORITIES LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WE NEED THE, UH, NOT CUT BACK ON THE LIBRARY PARKS AND MILLION OF DOLLARS. WE DO NOT VOTE FOR THE MARINES OFFICE TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT ON THE ADD VARI DRAINAGE TAXES IS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. WHAT MY COMMUNITY NEED IS REAL INVESTMENT TO UPGRADING THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. I'M ASKING ALL OF MY CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND THEIR STAFF TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. JOSEPH PANZA, ISHA ROGERS, CHLOE COOK, [00:15:01] KARTHIK SOURA. HELLO Y'ALL. MY NAME IS KARTHIK SURAH AND I LIVE IN COTTAGE GROVE WEST. MY NEIGHBORHOOD, LIKE SO MANY ACROSS HOUSTON, FLOODS CONSTANTLY. EVERY TIME AT THUNDERS. LIKE TODAY, WE BRACE OURSELVES, BUT I'M NOT JUST HERE TODAY FOR MY BLOCK. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS TO SPEAK UP FOR WORKING CLASS HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND BY THIS AUSTERITY BUDGET. IN 2010 AND 2018, HOUSTONIANS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO DEDICATE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO DRAINAGE IN STREETS. THAT IS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE HONORED INSTEAD, THIS SETTLEMENT GIVES US JUST $16 MILLION THIS YEAR FOR FLOODING WHEN WE WERE PROMISED A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. WE WON'T SEE THE FULL AMOUNT UNTIL 2028 WHEN MANY OF YOU ON THIS DIOCESE ARE NOT GONNA NECESSARILY BE THERE. IT'S POLITICAL PROCRASTINATION THAT DOESN'T EVEN FACTOR IN DOUBLE DIGIT CUMULATIVE INFLATION OVER THE LAST YEARS, WHICH MAKES THESE FUNDS EVEN SMALLER IN REAL TERMS, IT DOESN'T FACTOR IN THE FUND THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHORTCHANGE DRAINAGE FUNDING FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS BY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WHERE THE FACTS THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS LOST 249 EMPLOYEES THIS YEAR ALONE, ON TOP OF 800 EXISTING VACANCIES. THAT'S FEWER WORKERS, LESS MONEY, MORE FLOODING. AND WE HAVE MEDICAID AND SNAP CUTS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND YOU GET A CITY THAT'S PUSHING WORKING CLASS HOUSTONIANS TO THE BRINK. AS A SOCIETY, WE ALWAYS FIND MONEY FOR BILLIONAIRE TAX BREAKS, BUT NOT FOR THE BASICS OF LIFE, FOR HOUSING, FOR HEALTHCARE, FOR FOOD PRICES, FOR PROTECTING HOMES FROM FLOODING. HOUSTONIANS ARE DROWNING NOT JUST IN FLOOD WATER, BUT IN FOOD COSTS, HOUSING COSTS, MEDICAL DEBT. YOU ARE ELECTED TO SERVE THEM. SO PLEASE DO, DO NOT KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN. FUND DRAINAGE, FUND HOUSTONIANS FUND THE WORKING CLASS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, EMMANUEL COHEN. DAVID ESPINO ESPINOZA. CESAR ESPOSA. JOY DAVIS. COULD I JUST, SORRY. BUT, UM, THE PUBLIC NOTICE SAYS THAT SPEAKERS START AT NINE 30 AND SO THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF THE PUBLIC NOTICE. SO COULD WE ACTUALLY START AT NINE 30 TO GIVE SPEAKERS A CHANCE TO GET HERE? OH, THANK YOU. IS THAT A YES? WE'RE GONNA GIVE PETE SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT JOY DAVIS. ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE REFUSE TO GO UP UNTIL WE GET TO THAT NINE 30. YOU CAN'T JUST RUSH THE AGENDA BEFORE PEOPLE START LEAVING COMMENTS. RIGHT. AND JUST MISSING. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER, CHANGE YOURSELF. GOOD MORNING. UH, MY NAME IS JOY DAVIS AND I'M AN ORGANIZER OF PURE JUSTICE. I'M PART OF THE GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY? GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOY DAVIS AND I'M AN ORGANIZER OF PURE JUSTICE AND PART OF THE RISE COALITION. TODAY I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS FAR TOO OFTEN IN THIS COUNTRY. PEOPLE BARELY GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT. AND THOSE ARE NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, NOT THE STOPS FOR TINTED WINDOWS, EXPIRED TAGS, A BROKEN TAILLIGHT, OR EVEN JUST AN OFFICER'S HUNCH. TO SOME THESE MAY SEEM LIKE ROUTINE ENCOUNTERS, BUT FOR THE REST OF US, THEY'RE NOT. NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS ARE ALSO ABOUT SURVEILLANCE CONTROL AND INTIMIDATION. FOR FOLKS ALREADY KNOWN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE OF THEIR ADVOCACY, THEIR ORGANIZING AND THEIR REFUSAL TO STAY SILENT, THESE STOPS BECOME TOOLS OF HARASSMENT, TOOLS OF RETALIATION. SANDRA BLAND, WHO WAS A VOCAL CRITIC OF POLICE BRUTALITY, LOST HER LIFE. SHE WAS INITIALLY PULLED OVER FOR FAILING TO SIGNAL A LANE CHANGE. THAT STOP SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. PHILANDO CASTILE PULLED OVER DURING THE TRAFFIC STOP WAS ULTIMATELY SHOT AND KILLED IN FRONT OF HIS PARTNER AND YOUNG CHILD. HE WORKED IN THE SCHOOL, HE FED CHILDREN AND HE CARED DEEPLY FOR HIS COMMUNITY. THESE AREN'T ISOLATED INCIDENTS. THERE ARE PATTERNS. THESE STOPS AREN'T JUST INCONVENIENT. THEY'RE DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS WHERE SPEECH, RACE, AND RESISTANCE CAN GET YOU KILLED. WHEN AN OFFICER REPEATEDLY PULLS OVER A BLACK ACTIVIST FOR A MINOR INFRACTION, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE INFRACTION AT ALL, BUT ABOUT SENDING A MESSAGE, A MESSAGE THAT SAYS, WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE. WE'RE WATCHING, WE CAN SILENCE YOU AT ANY TIME. I HAD AN OFFICER QUESTION ME. HE ASKED ME, WHAT DO YOU WANNA BE? DO YOU WANNA BE AFRICAN OR DO YOU WANNA BE AMERICAN? AS I WAS PULLED OVER LEAVING AN ESTABLISHMENT WHILE MY MOTHER LISTENED ON THE PHONE, HE NEVER WROTE ME A TICKET. HER RESPONSE, THAT OFFICER IS DANGEROUS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY KEEP PULLING YOU OVER. JUST MAKE IT TO MY HOUSE. AND HOW MANY MORE NAMES WOULD WE SAY BEFORE TOTAL TRANSFORMATION IN HOW WE DEFINE [00:20:01] PUBLIC SAFETY HAPPENS. REAL SAFETY DOESN'T COME FROM INTIMIDATION. IT COMES FROM INVESTMENT IN HOUSING, EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS TIME WE END NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS AND NO ONE SHOULD DIE DURING THE TRAFFIC STOP. I STAND WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE NEAC AND WEST STREET RECOVERY. THANK YOU. JUST A SECOND. YOU NEED TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE HER MY TIME IF SHE DIDN'T COMPLETE HER STATEMENT, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE DO WANNA CUT DOWN ON ANY UNNECESSARY ENGAGEMENT, SO I SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. SPEAK. UH, NEXT. TANYA PIO. CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. OOH, IT'S RAINING OUT THERE. ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. I WORK WITH THE TEXTILE RIGHTS PROJECT. I'M A MEMBER OF THE RICE HOUSTON ORGANIZATION AND RESIDE IN DISTRICT H. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 43 IN ORDER ORDINANCE THAT RESTRICTS HPD FROM HAVING ILLEGAL TRAFFIC. SOUTH DAKOTAS TRAFFIC SOUTH DAKOTAS ARE ILLEGAL IN THE STATE, UH, UNDER SECTION 720.002 OF THE TRAFFIC, UH, TEXAS TRAFFIC TRANSPORTATION CODE. THIS, UH, THIS TYPE OF QUOTAS ARE PROHIBITED. NOT ONLY TRAFFIC STOPS, QUOTAS ARE ILLEGAL, BUT CONDUCTING TRAFFIC STOPS, UH, CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND POLICE OFFICERS. UM, IN 2022, HPD STOPPED OVER 250,000 DRIVERS FOR TRAFFIC STOPS. IN THIS SAME YEAR, HPD OFFICERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO CONDUCT MORE TRAFFIC STOPS. BY 2023 A YEAR AFTER THE POLICE GENERAL ORDER TOOK EFFECT, TRAFFIC STOPS SOARED TO OVER 339,000, AN INCREASE OF 27%. WHAT IS PARTICULARLY ALARMING IS INCREASE IN NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS OR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS LIKE BUSTED TAIL LIGHTS OR DARK AND WINDOWS. THESE STOPS INCREASED BY 49% AMOUNTING TO OVER 126,000 STOPS. NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS MAKE UP ONE THIRD OF TRAFFIC AND STOP TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. THESE TYPES OF STOPS ARE NOT ONLY VERY COMMON, BUT ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. FOR HOUSTON DRIVERS. TRAFFIC STOPS CAN ESCALATE FROM ROUTINE TO VERY DANGEROUS FOR BLACK, BROWN, AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS. UM, WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES OF THESE TYPES OF STOPS, WE KNOW THAT BLACK DRIVERS WERE SEARCHED, STOPPED, ARRESTED, AND EXPERIENCED USE OF FORCE AT HIGHER RATES COMPARED TO OTHER RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, BLACK DRIVERS REPRESENT 52% OF USE OF FORCE CASES, BUT ARE ONLY 22% OF THE POPULATION. POLICING FOR TRAFFIC STOPS CAN RESULT IN ASSAULT OF THE OFFICE OF THE DRIVER, AND IN SOME INSTANCES CAN LEAD TO DEATH. IN 2020 FOUR, A HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED DURING A TRAFFIC STOP. IN AMERICA, NOT ONLY ARE TRAFFIC STOPS DANGEROUS AND HAVE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THEIR ENFORCEMENT, BUT THEY ALSO TEAR FAMILIES APART. SINCE 2002, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 2,600 IMMIGRANT DRIVERS WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEIR CAR HAD A BUSTED TAILLIGHT OR EXPIRED REGISTRATION. WE'RE SEEING MORE COLLABORATION WITH ICE AND OFTENTIMES HBD IS FACILITATING DEPORTATIONS THROUGH NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS. ENDING ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC STOP CODES IN HOUSTON WILL MAKE OUR ROADS SAFER. BUT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP. WITH ADDITIONAL, WITH THIS ADDITIONAL TIME, OFFICERS CAN FOCUS ON SPEEDING, RUNNING RED LIGHTS OR OTHER VIOLATIONS TIED TO ROAD FATALITIES AND INJURIES. THE CITY CAN FOCUS ON IMPROVING, UH, STREET CONDITIONS AND INVESTING IN ROUNDABOUTS AND OTHER ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE KNOWN TO LOWER INJURIES AND DEATHS. THE CITY CAN WORK WITH HPD TO IMPLEMENT A TRAFFIC PROGRAM THAT GIVES VOUCHERS TO, TO DRIVERS TO FIX THEIR BUSTED TAILLIGHTS. INSTEAD OF ISSUING CITATIONS AND ARRESTS, WE CAN GO FURTHER BY MAKING NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS A SECONDARY VIOLATION, WHICH AND THE RACIAL DISPARITIES COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH TRAFFIC PATROL. I SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 43, ENDING TRAFFIC STOP QUOTAS. THIS IS A GOOD START, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY CHANGES THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR. RIVERA. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALSO MS. DAVIS, UM, FOR WITH PEER JUSTICE. UH, REALLY IT'S Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP THAT BROUGHT THIS ORDINANCE, UH, TO THE TABLE AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW, UH, COMMUNITY AND CITY INSTITUTIONS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AGAIN. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS IS JUST A STEP, UM, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE I THINK THE CHRONICLE, UM, HAD POSTED A WEEK AGO OR SO A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT POLICE REFORMS AND HOW THE CITY IS UNABLE TO MEASURE ITS IMPACT. AND I THINK THIS IS A START OF REALLY MEASURING IMPACT. WE CAN GO TO THE NUMBERS CORRECT. SO I THANK YOU. I THANK YOU FOR BEING STUDIED AND [00:25:01] PREPARED AND, UM, PROVIDING COUNCILMAN REP POLLARD AND MYSELF IN OUR OFFICES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF INFORMATION AND ALSO THE WILLINGNESS TO BE AT THE TABLE WITH HPOU, UM, AND TO HAVE THOSE RIGOROUS CONVERSATIONS. I KNOW THEY, THEY WERE, THEY WERE TENSE, BUT THEY WERE SO NECESSARY. AND SO, YES, UM, APPRECIATE OF THE LEADERSHIP. THIS IS WHAT PUBLIC POLICY IS ABOUT, WHEN THE PUBLIC IS INVOLVED WITH SHAPING HOW WE, UH, LIVE OUR LIVES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. NEXT RAIN EMAN. HEY THERE. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN ROGERS. I WAS JUST CALLED THREE NAMES AGO. I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET BACK IN ORDER. HUH? UM, WE'LL CALL YOUR NAME IN A MINUTE. HUH? WE'LL CALL YOUR NAME IN A FEW MINUTE. YEAH. LET THE LADY WE JUST CALLED IN. YEAH, I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET THAT. YOU'RE GOOD. YEAH. WE'LL SEE YOU IN A MINUTE. YES. IS IT POSSIBLE IF I COULD SWITCH MY PLACE WITH CARISSA ROGERS? OKAY, GO. YOU'RE READY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, CITY COUNCIL REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 43. UM, THIS, UH, IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS A MUCH NEEDED AND BIGGER REFORM OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IN TEXAS. I WANNA SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO HOW TRAFFIC STOPS ALLOW POLICE TO FURTHER ENDANGER IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, HOUSTON IS A COMMUTER CITY AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO MOST PLACES WITHOUT A VEHICLE OR SOME FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH MEANS UNDOCUMENTED HOUSTONIANS DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE OR TAKE BUS, TAKE BUSES EVERY TIME THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, THEY ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK OF BEING STOPPED AND POSSIBLY DEPORTED BECAUSE HPDS COLLABORATION WITH ICE SINCE 20 2002, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 2,600 DEPORTATIONS INITIATED DURING A NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOP. AND THESE NUMBERS ARE GROWING AS HPD CONTINUES TO WORK WITH ICE MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS CLAIMED THAT HPD DOES NOT WANT TO GET HOUSTONIANS SUPPORTED, BUT IT IS EVERY NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOP IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIAL DEPORTATION. ACCORDING TO THE STUDY OF THE OF 3D HS FIELD OFFICES COVERING BORDER REGIONS ACROSS SEVEN STATES, AS MANY AS 84.4% OF NON-CITIZEN CONTACT WITH BORDER PATROL BEGAN WITH A TRAFFIC STOP. IF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS SERIOUS ABOUT PRACTICE PROTECTING HOUSTONIANS FROM DEPORTATION, IT WILL END NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT. OH MA'AM. YES, WE'RE FINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ. ISHA ROGERS. HEY, WHICH MIC DO I TALKING TO THIS ONE? HEY, HOW YOU DOING? UH, MY NAME'S ALFRED DOMINGUEZ. I'VE MET SOME OF YOU. UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE RISE HOUSTON CAMPAIGN. RISE HOUSTON'S, UH, A ORGANIZATION THAT STARTED, BUT UM, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT ESSENTIALLY WANTS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT CRITICALLY LIKE WHAT POLICE POWER IS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND ASK QUESTIONS AND REALLY HAVE A DETAILED CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT POLICING IS AS ACTUAL PUBLIC POLICY AND LIKE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR AND HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER SERVE HOUSTONIANS. UM, AND THE THING WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS AGENDA MINE. IN 43, WE HAVE WORKED WITH ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, TO REALLY THINK THROUGH WHAT AND HOW TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE AND SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE CITY. AND ON OUR PERSONAL ESTIMATION, THAT MEANS GETTING POLICE OUT OF NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS. AND WHAT A NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOP IS, AS I'M SURE I'M REITERATING POINTS THAT I'VE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED. BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY A TRAFFIC STOP THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL ROAD SAFETY. MEANING NOT HAVING TO DO ANYTHING TO DO WITH SPEEDING OR DWIS OR RECKLESS DRIVING. NOT HAVING TO DO WITH GETTING THESE DANGEROUS DRIVERS OFF THE ROAD, BUT INSTEAD IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT FOLLOWING CITY CODE. LIKE NOT HAVING YOUR REGISTRATION, NOT HAVING YOUR BACK TAIL LIGHT FIXED. NOT HAVING ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE OFTEN ISSUES OF POVERTY AND NOT ACTUAL ISSUES OF SAFETY. AND SO INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN PULLING PEOPLE OVER INSTEAD OF, AND CREATING INTO KIND OF PROGRAMS TO DEAL WITH THESE THINGS, WE'RE PUNISHING PEOPLE FURTHER BY CREATING FINES AND FEE SYSTEM THAT ENRICHES THE CITY AS OPPOSED TO ENRICHES RESIDENTS. RIGHT? AND SO THE ENDING OF TRAFFIC STOP QUOTAS IS JUST LIKE A FIRST STEP IN THIS PART OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL TRAFFIC STOP DATA FROM 2021, WHEN WE HAD 48,000, AROUND 48,000 NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS BY 2023, THAT NUMBER WAS 126,000 JUST IN HPD, RIGHT? WE ALMOST SAW A TRIPLING IN THE AMOUNT OF NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS WITH NOT A TRIPLING IN POPULATION, NOT A TRIPLING IN, IN DEPARTMENT SIZE WITHIN THOSE THREE YEARS. AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN, OR THESE KIND OF THINGS CAN ONLY HAPPEN BECAUSE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS ALLOWED TO BE DICTATED BY HPD POLICE CHIEFS AND ALLOWED TO HPD [00:30:01] POLICE CHIEF ARE ABOUT ESSENTIALLY ALLOWED TO SAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC STOPS EVERY DAY. AND WITHOUT KURT HAING THAT BEHAVIOR THROUGH AN ORDINANCE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT STOPS THAT KIND OF DISCRETION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. EVEN IF A POLICE CHIEF DISAGREES NOW, EVEN IF THE POLICE CHIEF THAT'S CURRENTLY IN SAYS, OH, I DON'T WANT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, WHICH STOPS THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF FROM SAYING, I DO WANT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND I WANT IT HAPPENING REGULARLY AND OFTEN. AND WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF BAROMETER AND CHANGE AT THE CITY LEVEL TO ENSURE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE JUST GAVE A 36% RAISE TO OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS GONNA COST THE CITY AROUND 820 MILLION THAT WE'RE HOLDING THAT POLICING AGENCY ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE KIND OF RAISES. THE SAME WAY ANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT THAT GOT THAT LEVEL OF RAISE WOULD BE HELD TO EXTREME LEVELS OF SCRUTINY AND EXTREME LEVELS, UH, OF DETAIL WOULD BE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RAISES WERE JUSTIFIED AND THOSE RAISES WERE PUTTING THE CITY'S MONEY AND PUTTING HARDWORKING HOUSTONIANS MONEY TO GOOD USE. AND WE NEED TO CONTINUALLY THINK ABOUT HOW THESE SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RISE OF DEPORTATIONS AND THE RISE OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN POLICING AGENCIES AND ICE, HOW NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS ARE CONTINUALLY ENDANGERING OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. CARISSA ROGERS. ALL RIGHT. WHICH ONE WORKS OKAY? . ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, AND ESPECIALLY MY COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, I JUST WANNA CALL, UM, CALL UP AND BRING ATTENTION TO THE CITY'S BUDGET AND DEFINITELY STRESS THAT WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AGAIN AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO OTHER CENTRAL RESOURCES IN OUR CITY WHILE POLICE AND FIRE IS A THING. WE ALSO HAVE SO MANY THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT D, THAT WE NEED SO MUCH MORE SUPPORT ON. SO I'M VERY IMPLORING YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO PLEASE, UM, LOOK OVER THIS BUDGET AND PLEASE MAKE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR DISTRICT'S BEING TAKEN CARE OF. UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED, OUR DRAINAGE, OUR, UH, STREETS, LIGHTS. 'CAUSE I HAVE MANY PLENTY OF LIGHTS IN OUR STREET THAT IN THE DISTRICT, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. UM, WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE MONEY TO PROTECT THOSE INFRASTRUCTURES AS WELL. IT'S JUST THERE IS JUST GENERAL, UM, , SORRY. THERE ARE JUST GENERAL, UM, OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE IN OUR CITY THAT WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO, ESPECIALLY WITH HURRICANE SEASON COMING UP. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR DRAINAGE AND THE WAY, UM, OUR WATER SYSTEM WORKS BECAUSE OUR WATER, UH, DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO BEEN IN, UH, INTERESTING SPACE. SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT THIS FUNDING, THE BUDGET FOR FUNDING. IT'S JUST NOT JUST THE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS. WE NEED BUDGETS TO THE REST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECAUSE IT'S VERY CRITICAL. WHILE IT MAY HELP THEM NOW, IT'S GONNA CAUSE A LOT MORE PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE BECAUSE NOW EVERYTHING IN THE CITY'S GOING TO CRA AND NOW THE PRIDE DEPARTMENT IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT HAS TO RESPOND TO A BUNCH MORE CALLS BECAUSE OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS FAILING. THANKS, COUNCIL. MAYOR EVAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU ISHA FOR COMING DOWN. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE AS WELL AS AT SEVERAL DISTRICT EVENTS AND YOU WERE SAYING SUCH NIGHT THINGS. I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU MORE TIME, BUT THAT'S OKAY. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. NO PROBLEM. ALL NEXT. JOSEPH PANZA. IS THIS ON? GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS, UH, JOSEPH PANZA. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE FOURTH WARD, JUST AROUND THE CORNER HERE, ACTUALLY. UH, I WANNA START OFF BY, UH, GIVING A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALCORN AND CASTILLO HERE. THE BUDGET TOWN HALLS YOU'VE BEEN GIVING AROUND TOWN, UH, IN THE TRANSPARENCY IN WHICH YOU'RE BRINGING TOWARDS THESE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS ARE REMARKABLE AND, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I ALSO WANNA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT TO MY DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER IVY CAYMAN, JUST FOR DOING THE LORD'S WORK, HONESTLY. UM, BUT WHY I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE THE BUDGET BEING PROPOSED DOESN'T REFLECT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. CUTTING HEALTH PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE FUNDING POLICE RAISES AND DELAYING TRANSIT IS NOT A GOOD INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE. HOUSTON, YOU WANT TO SEE, I IMAGINE IT'S ONE WITH FULL PARKS SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOT JUST POLICE. PLEASE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. AGAIN, VOTE NO ON THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN KAMAN. GOOD MORNING. UH, JOE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UH, AND GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT REAL QUICK. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, JOE HAS BEEN WORKING IN, UH, THE FOURTH WARD, UH, FRIEDMANS TOWN COMMUNITY TO REVIVE THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD THERE. UH, AND THE, IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE COMING TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS AT ROSE OF SHARON. UH, BUT I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AND THE OTHER RESIDENTS FOR REALLY COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN, CAN REALLY USE THEIR VOICE. THANK YOU, NICKS. THANK YOU, SARAH. RAYMOND, [00:35:01] GOOD MORNING. I'M SARAH. I'M A TEACHER AND I AM HERE TO ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO THINK HOW DOES THIS BUDGET NOURISH A VIBRANT HOUSTON AND HOW WHEN YOU ARE FANNING THE FLAMES OF MASS INCARCERATION, PRACTICALLY A BILLION DOLLARS TO HBD, IF WE CAN PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS KEY DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS, LIBRARIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SHELTERS, PARKS, HEALTHCARE, METRO. NEXT, THIS IS A STEP, NOT THE FINAL STEP, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO OF BRINGING HOUSTON TO ITS FULL VIBRANCE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT WITH A CITY COUNCIL THAT CARES ABOUT COMMUNITY, NOT CAGES. THANK YOU. NEXT PLUMBER. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD DESTINY WASHINGTON TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. DESTINY, WASHINGTON TO THE BOTTOM. I'M SORRY, BOTTOM OF THE THREE. BOTTOM OF THREE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAIDEN. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT CAES, CAESAR ESPINOSA. UH, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SESAR ESPINOSA AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FI, UH, AS YOU KNOW. UM, EXCUSE ME. OH, THIS WAY. OKAY. UH, MY NAME IS SESAR ESPINOZA AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YEL. UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M NO STRANGER TO CITY COUNCIL. UM, AND, UM, WE, TODAY WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, ITEM NUMBER 43, WHICH IS THE, UH, ADDITION OF MORE, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY TO OUR, OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT OR TO OUR APARTMENT DWELLER IN, IN THE AREAS SUCH AS HOUSTON, WHERE OUR LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE, UH, ARE PUSHED TO LIVE IN APARTMENTS BECAUSE OF LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UM, WE FIND IT INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLE THAT, UH, WE HAVE NO TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVE REALLY NO OVERSIGHT. UM, AND THIS LEADS TO PEOPLE GETTING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. THIS LEADS TO, UH, UM, RIGHTS BEING VIOLATED. AND THIS LEADS TO MANY PEOPLE, UM, NOT REALLY BEING GIVEN THE RIGHTS, UH, TO HOUSING. YOU KNOW, I REALLY WISH THE MAYOR WOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF ON HIS PHONE. BUT, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN A CITY WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE SUFFER, YOU SHOULD BE REALLY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY, NOT TO THE DEVELOPERS AND TO THE APARTMENT OWNERS, MANY OF WHOM DO NOT LIVE HERE. ON ANOTHER NOTE, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, I, I ECHO WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE SAID BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN AN OVER POLICING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF OF TIMES THAT WE'VE BEEN OUT ON THE STREET. AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU'VE BEEN ABSENT THE LAST TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. AND I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION TO PEOPLE, TO ACTUALLY LOOK UP WHEN PEOPLE ARE HERE, TAKING THEIR TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO COME HERE AND ADDRESS YOU, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU STOP LYING TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND STOP LYING SAYING THAT YOU ARE NOT COLLABORATING WITH ICE. WE NEED A MEETING WITH YOU. I MEETING IT. I AM ASKING FOR IT PUBLICLY, SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN SIT DOWN AND TALK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST FOR HOUSTON. HAVING FUNDRAISERS FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND ATTENDING THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU REPRESENT IS NOT FRUITFUL TO CREATING AND CONTINUING THE RELATIONSHIP OF RESPECT AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST THAT WE HAVE BESTOWED AS CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SIT DOWN AND THAT WE TALK, AND THAT THE NEXT TIME THAT WE ARE HERE, THAT WE CAN COME TO A BETTER ADVANTAGE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON WHAT THEY REALLY NEED. NOT MORE ENFORCEMENT, NOT MORE POLICE, BUT RATHER THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY NEED. THIS IS NOT TALKING POINTS. THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES. COUNCIL . THANK YOU. SELENA. BRA, BULLS, NICOLE EARL. [00:40:07] GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC STOPS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES FOR RACIAL PROFILING, ESPECIALLY AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE A PERSONAL STORY AND TO GIVE A FEW STATISTICS FROM THE LATEST DATA GIVEN FACTS ABOUT TRAFFIC STOPS BEING DONE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I HAVE A 33-YEAR-OLD SON, AND WE HAVE A PARTICULAR PROTOCOL WHEN HE GETS PULLED OVER, UM, FOR DRIVING WHILE BLACK. UM, THE PROTOCOL IS FOR HIM TO PUT HIS HANDS ON, ON HIS DASHBOARD TO GIVE ME A CALL AND, UM, TO KEEP ME ON ON SPEAKER WHILE HE IS BEING, WHILE THE COPS ARE THERE. ONE PARTICULAR TIME IN HOUSTON, MY SON GOT PULLED OVER FOR WHAT WAS TOLD TO HIM THAT IT WAS FOR A, UM, NOT STOPPING A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN. SO MY SON GOT PULLED OVER, THE COPS CAME TO HIM AND IMMEDIATELY DEMANDED, UM, HIS LICENSE, HIS REGISTRATION, EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER. HE WAS VERY DEROGATORY TO MY SON. UM, HE WAS VERY VERBALLY ABUSIVE AND IT SEEMED AS THOUGH HE WAS TRYING TO PROVOKE MY SON SO THAT HE CAN HAVE, JUST CAUSE AS TO WHY HE WOULD EITHER APPREHEND HIM OR SOME FORM, UM, SOME FORM OF HARM WOULD ESCALATE. UM, THANK GOD THAT MY SON DID COMPLY. MY SON REPLIED WITH YES, SIR, IN EVERY STATEMENT AND EVERY QUESTION. UM, HE DID NOT GET ANY, UM, TICKET BECAUSE EVERYTHING WITH HIM WAS GOOD. HIS INSURANCE REGISTRATION, HE'S A VERY RESPONSIBLE PERSON. SO EVERYTHING WAS UPDATED AND IT WAS JUST, UM, VERY DISHEARTENING TO, TO LISTEN TO MY SON. HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT WITH A PERSON WHO, UM, IS HERE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. ANOTHER THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT ARE SOME, A FEW STATISTICS THAT I PULLED ABOUT, UM, TRAFFIC STOPS HERE IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. SO THE FIRST ONE IS RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS OF DRIVERS IN HOUSTON COUNTY. TRAFFIC STOPS. THIS IS DIVIDED AMONGST THE PRE THE, UM, THE CONSTABLES, THE CONSTABLE, THE, UM, HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES IN PRECINCT SEVEN. AND I CAN GO THROUGH EVERY ONE THROUGH EIGHT PRECINCT WHO THEY REPRESENT, UM, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME. BUT PRE PRECINCT SEVEN HAS A TOTAL OF 59.71% OF BLACKS BEING STOPPED IN THEIR PRECINCT WHILE 20 POINT 15% OF HISPANICS ARE BEING, UM, STOPPED AS WELL IN DISTRICT SEVEN. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED ALSO IS THAT, UM, I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT ON MY PAGE, IS THAT, UM, IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE'S A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE STATISTICS ARE, ARE VERY LOWER. UM, OKAY, ANOTHER STATISTIC I FOUND IS RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS OF DRIVERS AND TRAFFIC STOPS BY COUNTY. HARRIS COUNTY HAS, UM, 30.05% OF BLACKS THAT'S BEING, UM, STOPPED BY THE COUNTY. 33.39% OF WHITES BEING STOPPED BY THE COUNTY AND 31.38% OF HISPANICS BEING STOPPED BY THE COUNTY. ANOTHER ONE I HAVE IS RACIAL AND GENDER DEMOGRAPHICS OF DRIVERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. TRAFFIC STOPS FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I'M ONLY GONNA TELL ABOUT THE BLACK MALES AND THE HISPANIC MALES. THE PERCENTAGE IN PRECINCT SEVEN AGAIN IS 56.65% OF BLACKS AS WELL AS 22.29% OF HISPANICS IN PRECINCT SEVEN. RACIAL AND GENDER DI DEMOGRAPHICS OF DRIVERS AND TRAFFIC STOPS BY COUNTY. HARRIS COUNTY HAS 28 POINT 58% OF BLACKS, 33.25% OF WHITES, AND 32.83% OF HISPANICS. ANOTHER THING THAT I FOUND ONLINE LAST NIGHT IS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE BY THE, UM, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT IN HARRIS IN HOUSTON. THIS WAS DONE AFTER THE SANDRA BLAND INCIDENT. I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY, THAT THEY GAVE AS OPPOSED TO AFTER THEIR STUDY. ONE WAS PUBLIC EDUCATION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC MORE ABOUT TRAFFIC STOPS AND THEIR RIGHTS. ANOTHER ONE IS IMPROVING DATA SHARING AND COLLECT AND COLLECTIONS, MEANING THAT, [00:45:01] UM, EACH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE READY AVAILABLE STATISTICS THAT'S EASILY, READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE, UM, OF HA OF HOUSTON, WHO CAN ACCESS THAT MORE EASILY AND, AND KNOW WHAT THE STATISTICS ARE. AND, UM, FURTHER EXAMINATION IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO EXAMINE INCIDENTS WHERE THERE ARE OTHER DISPARITIES AND WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, PROBLEMATIC OCCURRENCES OF THE POSSIBLE OVER-RELIANCE OF FORCE AND DEVELOPED SOLUTIONS. THESE ARE STATISTICS THAT I FOUND FROM 2021. AS OF TODAY, 2025, I COULD NOT FIND STATISTICS ON TRAFFIC STOPS ON ANYTHING DEALING WITH, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT AS IT RELATES TO, UM, COMMUNITIES EITHER BY PRECINCT OR BY UM, AREA. SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE PUT FORTH BY THIS, UM, C COMMITTEE, THIS JUSTICE, I'M SORRY, THE, UM, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN MET AS OF 2025. AND THESE STATISTICS THAT I HAVE ARE FROM 2021. SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT THERE'S STILL, UM, A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AMONGST THE POLICE FORCE ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND THERE'S STILL A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR BEING PULLED OVER FOR TRAFFIC STOPS, BASICALLY, FOR NO REASONS AT ALL. THANK YOU. SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU ALL WILL, WILL TRY TO MAKE CHANGES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THIS SITUATION, UM, BECAUSE IT HARMS OUR COMMUNITY AND IT ALSO BRINGS FEAR AMONGST PEOPLE OF COLOR AND, UM, PEOPLE AS A WHOLE. UM, IN COMMUNITIES WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SONS, OUR GRANDSONS, OUR NEPHEWS, OUR YES MA'AM. KIDS. SO I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU ALL PLEASE, UM, TRY TO REHAN RE REHAN, WELL RESTRUCTURE WHAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK, THANK YOU. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR CONCERNS. I PASSED THE SANDRA BLAND ACT. YES. YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SPONSOR. THANK YOU. TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. YES. THAT WE ADDRESSED. YES. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO SAY HER NAME. BEG YOUR PARDON. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO SAY HER NAME. ABSOLUTELY. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TODAY, . YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS GOOD INFORMATION. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE COUNTIES AND THE CONSTABLES, AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND SHARE WITH THEM SOME OF THESE STATISTICS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SEPARATE FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES. UM, AND HPD IS ACTUALLY, UM, A MINORITY MAJORITY DEPARTMENT, MEANING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE OFFICERS ARE FROM MINORITY, RACIAL, OR ETHNIC GROUPS. UM, EVERY OFFICER WHEN THEY COME, WHEN THEY CONDUCT A TRAFFIC STOP AFTERWARDS, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO FILL OUT A RACIAL DEMOGRAPHIC TRACKING, UM, YOU KNOW, PROFILE MM-HMM . SO THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THINGS LIKE THIS MM-HMM . AND IT CAN COME TO, UH, THE ATTENTION OF, YOU KNOW, THE COMMAND STAFF AT HPD. MM-HMM. UM, IF THERE DOES LOOK LIKE THERE ARE BIG DISCREPANCIES MM-HMM . IN, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING PULLED OVER FROM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT RACES. SO THANK YOU. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COUNTY. MAY I RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENT? NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY. MAY I PLEASE? I'M SORRY. OKAY. THIS CITY COUNCIL, SOME CURRENT MEMBERS IN 2020 MM-HMM . UNDER THE PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEF, UNDER THE CURRENT POLICE CHIEF. IT HAS NOT BEEN THE PRACTICE. AND BECAUSE THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, IT WAS RESCINDED THIS MORNING. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE COUNTY NOR THE PRECINCTS, BUT I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT DATA BEFORE US. BUT IT'S NOT THE PRACTICE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON UNDER THIS CURRENT POLICE CHIEF OR MY ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS PASSED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, THE PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEF AND MEMBERS THAT ARE RAISING THE ISSUE TODAY. SO THANK YOU AS A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. I'VE GIVEN YOU A LOT OF TIME AND I WANT YOU TO FINISH, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY RESPOND TO ANY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I JUST WANNA RESPOND IN SAYING THAT THE PERSON WHO PULLED MY SON OVER WITH A STOP THAT I TOLD YOU HE WAS HISPANIC. YES, MA'AM. SO IT DOESN'T MATTER. AND WE'RE SORRY. MATTER. YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. SO LET'S ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO SPEAK NOW. SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I JUST WANNA MAKE THE RECORD CLEAR [00:50:01] THAT NO ONE ON CITY COUNCIL VOTED ON, UH, ANY QUOTA SYSTEM. UH, THAT WAS NOT A ORDINANCE THAT CAME BEFORE THIS BODY, UH, IN ANY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. UH, THERE, THERE, THERE WERE POLICIES THAT WERE SET FORTH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT NOTHING CAME BEFORE THIS BODY. WE NEVER VOTED ON THAT. SO I DO WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILLOR THOMAS? SURE. AND I, JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE RECORD, UM, THIS WAS, UM, AN INSTRUCTION DURING THE, THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. WE SAW A LOT OF CARS WITH PAPER TAGS IN THE CITY. AND A PART OF THE REQUEST BECAUSE WE WERE INTERFACING, UM, UM, WITH COMMUNITY FAITH LEADERS, CHURCHES, YOU NAME IT. IN THE, IN THE REQUEST WAS WE NEED MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET IN TERMS OF PATROL TO PROTECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS WAS THE REQUEST. RIGHT. SO THE, THE, UH, REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THIS MANDATORY WAS WITH THE INTENT THAT ONCE YOU'RE FINISHED WITH PURSUING WHATEVER CASELOAD YOU HAVE SPEND SOME TIME INTERRUPTING THESE PAPER TAGS, STOPPING THESE INDIVIDUALS. RIGHT. WELL, WE HAVE SEEN THAT BECAUSE PUBLIC POLICY ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. WE GET TO REVISIT AND INTERROGATE THE SYSTEMS AND THE POLICIES AND THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS AND CHANGE THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME. WE HAVE DONE THAT AND PROPOSE THAT WITH THE INFLUENCE OF PEER JUSTICE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND FRANKLY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE POLICE UNION. UM, SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE, UH, INTENT OF IT. THIS TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLL'S POINT THIS BO BODY DID NOT DO THAT. WHAT WE WERE DOING WERE, WAS ATTEMPTING THROUGH A PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN CITYWIDE THAT MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED TO, WAS TO ADDRESS REQUESTS OF CONSTITUENTS. NOW WE GET TO CHANGE THAT. RIGHT, OKAY. WITH DATA. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. OKAY. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT'S IN THE ROOM TODAY. UM, THAT'S SPEAKING TO, IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. AND I HOPE THIS ITEM DOES MOVE FORWARD. UM, AND THAT WE HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT BECAUSE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANXIETY THAT INDIVIDUALS MAY RISK. WE OFTEN SAY AT THIS HORSESHOE THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, UH, RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY. BUT NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT THE ANXIETY AND THE RISK THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT. YES. RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. WE, UH, SUPPORT PUBLIC LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO THE POINT THAT WE VALUE THEM WITH THEY PAY RAISE. THAT'S RIGHT. A MEANINGFUL PAY RAISE. BUT WE ALSO WANNA FOCUS THEIR TIME AND THEIR EFFORT ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER. PROPERTY CRIMES, VIOLENT CRIMES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU NAME IT. THOSE ARE THE SERIOUS ISSUES IN OUR CITY. YES. I HAVE A, A CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY CAR TODAY, AND EVERY TIME POLICE GETS BEHIND ME DRIVING A CAR, I STILL GET ANXIETY. RIGHT. THAT'S MY LIVED EXPERIENCE. SO I THINK FOR US TO SAY, OH, JUST BASED ON RACE, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. IF THERE'S A PERCEIVED CULTURE OR THERE'S AN INSTRUCTION FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WE ARE, WE ARE MITIGATING THAT TODAY. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. CORRECT. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARIN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL NEXT. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, ELIZABETH LUMIA. HELLO EVERYONE. CITY COUNCIL MAYOR. UM, MY NAME IS BETH LUMIA AND I WORK WITH WEST STREET RECOVERY AS A CO-DIRECTOR OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT C I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET FAILS, THE MOST BASIC PROMISE A CITY SHOULD MAKE TO HIS RESIDENTS TO KEEP THEM SAFE. ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE. LISTEN TO THEM. THIS BUDGET IS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP. IT CUTS $84 MILLION FROM DRAINAGE NEXT YEAR, AND NEARLY 100 MILLION OVER THE NEXT THREE BASED, ALL BASED ON A BACKROOM DEAL THAT VIOLATES FUNDING APPROVED BY, BY VOTERS TWICE. THAT DEAL HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY ANY COURT, AND THE CITY CONTROLLER WILL NOT CERTIFY IT. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE ENTERING AN ABOVE AVERAGE STORM SEASON. PUBLIC WORKS IS UNDERSTAFFED. THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM, WHICH THE NAC WORK TO ESTABLISH IS FALLING BEHIND IN THE RAINY DAY FUND AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN CONSISTENTLY POINTS OUT IS UNDERFUNDED. THIS IS NOT FISCALLY RES FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS RECKLESSNESS, MAYOR WHITMEYER. YOU SAY PUBLIC SAFETY IS YOUR PRIORITY, THEN FUND IT. FUND DRAINAGE FUND INFRASTRUCTURE, FUND THE SYSTEMS THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE. COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE NO ON THIS BUDGET [00:55:01] AND PLEASE STAND UP. THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON ARE ALL WATCHING AND WE WILL REMEMBER WHO STOOD WITH US. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I HAD ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TALKING ABOUT DRAINAGE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, RIGHT. AND ALL OF HOUSTON. 'CAUSE THAT IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE. MM-HMM . THAT'S LIFE SAFETY. YOU BROUGHT UP THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, WHICH IS OUR RAINY DAY FUND. IF THAT WAS FULLY FUNDED, UM, WOULD YOU FIND THAT SUFFICIENT IN THIS BUDGET? NO, IT STILL WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT. THANK YOU. UM, BECAUSE AS, AS YOU'VE POINTED OUT AND AS WE KNOW, UM, THE MONEY DOES NOT COME DOWN TO COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST. UM, IT, IT FUNDS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND, AND OTHER WHITE COMMUNITIES, UM, AND WEALTHY COMMUNITIES. UM, AND IT DOES NOT COME DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. UM, AND IF ANYTHING, WE CANNOT KEEP. I, AND I KNOW IN THIS BUDGET, UM, THERE IS MONEY THAT THAT HELPS TO GIVE 25% BACK, UM, TO THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SPENT ON BARREL. UM, AND BASICALLY TO REPAY FOR WHAT? FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE. UM, AND AGAIN, THAT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH. IF A HUNDRED, OR EXCUSE ME, IF 800,000 OR $800 MILLION CAN GO TO POLICE OVER FIVE YEARS, WE CAN PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DRAINAGE. CONTINUE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DRAINAGE. THAT'LL ACTUALLY COME DOWN TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT. YES. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, ARTURO. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME. WE CAN'T CLEAR UP ALL THE MIS YOU'RE FINE MA'AM. UH, ALL THE MISINFORMATION, BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE IF YOU WILL DISCUSS THE STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE JONES WATSON, UH, IN TERMS OF THE CONTROLLER SIGNED THE AGREEMENT, COUNSEL APPROVED IT, AND THE COURT WILL APPROVE IT. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING THE COURT. I PROCESS IT. SO YOU SPEAK TO THAT. YEAH. THE, THE AGREEMENT WAS, UH, APPROVED BY COUNSEL AND RECEIVED ALL THE SIGNATURES IN INCLUDING THE CONTROLLER CERTIFICATION. IT'S A BINDING AGREEMENT. WE EXPECT THE COURT TO APPROVE IT. UH, THE STANDARD IS CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES. IT'S CLEAR IN THE CASE LAW THAT A SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND THERE ARE JUST TWO PARTIES TO THIS LAWSUIT IS A CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCE. SO WE EXPECT WHEN THE COURT HAS THE TIME TO REVIEW THIS, THEY WILL SIGN OFF ON THE SETTLEMENT. WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE DECLARATION OR THE JUDGMENT. IT JUST CHANGES THE INJUNCTION. IT MODIFIES IT TO DELAY IT. AND ONE OF THE REASONS THE PLAINTIFFS ENTERED INTO THIS IS WE ADD ADDITIONAL MONIES FROM TURS AND FROM METRO THAT IN THE LONG RUN WILL, UH, IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE RELATIVE TO WHAT THE CHARTER LANGUAGE SAYS. THANK YOU. AND ALSO IN TERMS OF THE, UH, CONTROLLER CERTIFYING THE BUDGET, HE DOES NOT CERTIFY THE BUDGET. THAT THAT'S CORRECT. HE DOES HAVE A ROLE IN CERTIFYING THE CONTINUING APPROPRIATION. RIGHT. WHICH IS CLEARLY, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK TO PAY? RIGHT. IT'S THE EXPENDITURE OF MONIES OVER 50,000 THAT THE CONTROLLER CERTIFIES. UH, SO THAT'S THE APPROPRIATIONS, WHICH HE CERTIFIES THE BUDGET IS AN ESTIMATE, IT'S A PROJECTION. UH, HE'S NOT CERTIFYING THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE WILL RECEIVE IN PROPERTY TAXES OR SALES TAXES. UH, IT IS A PROJECTION. IT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATION. IT DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THE CONTROLLER'S CHARTER DUTIES. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAD BEEN ASKED PREVIOUSLY, UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A BINDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES PENDING COURT REVIEW. UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE JUDGE IS GOING TO TAKE THAT UP. DO WE KNOW THE TIMEFRAME OF WHEN THE JUDGE WILL TAKE THAT UP? HAS THAT BEEN SCHEDULED YET? UH, NO. IT WAS, UH, IT, IT WAS FILED BY SUBMISSION. SO THE COURT, IT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE COURT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT WE EXPECT, I THINK BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT IT WILL BE ADDRESSED VERY RELATIVELY SOON. VERY QUICKLY. THANK YOU MAYOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I, I BELIEVE IN, NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS DRAINAGE SITUATION, I BELIEVE, AND THIS IS A, A CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING OVER NOW TWO TERMS, RIGHT? IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHERE THE MONEY IS, IT'S WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC FACING DOCUMENT OF HOW WE'RE MAKING THE CHOICES OF WHERE WE'RE DOING THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS. AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW. I I, I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DIRECTOR IN PUBLIC WORKS. I KNOW THAT HE'S WORKING ON IT, BUT THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. UM, WE, WE CALLED IT WORSE FIRST. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT TERM WE USED. BUT ONE THING THAT NAC AND MANY OF ORGANIZATIONS, WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE SOME DOCUMENT THAT THEY CAN SEE OF HOW WE'RE MAKING THE CHOICES. I KNOW EVERY DISTRICT NEEDS IT. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION, [01:00:01] BUT THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT IS REALLY, REALLY BAD. AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF WORKING WITH FLOOD CONTROL ON THE COUNTY SIDE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS WE'RE WORKING ON OR KIND OF IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON TOO, SO WE'RE NOT DOUBLE, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD. SO I, I, I WOULD URGE, I WOULD URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO PLEASE, LET'S TRY TO FINALIZE THAT DOCUMENT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, LISA HUNT. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR. I'M LISA HUNT. I'M A RESIDENT OF EASTWOOD AND A MEMBER OF PEOPLE FOR POLK. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO VIEW THIS BUDGET AS A MORAL DOCUMENT. BUDGETS AREN'T ONLY ONLY ABOUT, UH, PROFITS AND LOSSES. THEY'RE ABOUT WHAT WE VALUE AND WHAT OUR VISION IS. UH, AS A FAMILY, AS A COMMUNITY, AS A STATE, SECURITY IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN POLICE. UM, IN FACT, POLICE WOULD JUST BE THE BOTTOM OF THE HIERARCHY OF NEEDS. IF YOU LOOK AT MASLOW'S, UH, HIERARCHY, AND I WOULD SAY AS A CITY, WE ARE BOLDER THAN JUST GETTING OUR BASIC NEEDS MET. MY DADDY, UH, WAS A CARPENTER AND HE WOULD SAY, IF YOU'RE BUILDING, YOU GOTTA MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT THIS BUDGET, UH, HAS NOT BEEN MEASURED EFFECTIVELY. I WANNA SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT'S IMPACTING MY COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS, UH, THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN AND THE MINIMIZATION OF OUR, UH, TRAFFIC ACCESSIBILITY AND THE FUNDING, UH, FOR THESE MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. I REALIZE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THE OPERATING BUDGET TODAY. UM, BUT THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMITTEE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE OF THE CITY IS WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED RIGHT NOW. WE'VE HAD ONE MAJOR RETIREMENT. THREE PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO GO WORK FOR HAC, AND WE HAVE ONLY ONE DEDICATED TRAFFIC PLANNER, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON RIGHT NOW. NOT ONLY ARE WE EXPANDING GEORGE R. BROWN, WE'RE ALSO GETTING READY TO EXPERIENCE THE EXPANSION OF 59 AND THE TOURS HAVE MANY PROJECTS ONLINE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN APPALLING TO ME IN THIS PROCESS IS HOW LITTLE COHESIVE THINKING THERE HAS BEEN, UM, IN INTEGRATING THE PLANS, BUT AS SIGNIFICANTLY THE COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THE UH, EFFECTS ARE GOING TO BE ON OUR COMMON LIFE, NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE EAST END, BUT ALL OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TODAY, UH, TO REEVALUATE THE MORALITY OF THIS BUDGET AND TO ADJUST YOUR VALUES SO THAT OUR CITY CAN BLOOM AND HAVE A VIBRANT URBAN FABRIC THAT IS, UM, LIVABLE AND ATTAINABLE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT, CAROLYN RIVERA. I'M IN PROGRESS. ARE WE MAKING MM-HMM . MARCY. HI, SINGER. I'M OLD AND I MOVE SLOW, BUT I MOVE AND SPECIAL LIVES. I AM CAROLYN RIVERA. I LIVE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON SET GAS AREA, ONE OF THE MOST NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. I HAVE LIVED IN THE AREA FOR 45 YEARS, SO I'VE SEEN, AND I'VE OBSERVED WHAT GOES ON. WE NEED POLICE AND FARMERS TO BE HAPPY, SAFE, BUT NOT PAID WITH FUNDS VOTED FOR TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY FROM FLOODING. CITY OF HOUSTON'S MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY. DRAINAGE AND STREETS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR MANY YEARS. SEVERE FLOODING HAVE TAKEN LIVES AND PROPERTY. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT IS IGNORED. THE FOUNDATION INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR STREET IS COLLAPSING, CAUSING OUR TRANSPORTATION TO BE DAMAGED. AVALOR FOREIGN FUNDS SHOULD BE BUDGETED AND SPIT ON WHAT VOTERS WERE [01:05:01] PROMISED THAT IS TO REPAIR DRAINAGE AND STREETS. WE TRUSTED YOU. CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT APPROVE AND CITY CONTROLLER SHOULD NOT CERTIFY THE 2026 BUDGET. MARCY INGER. GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MARCY INGER. I AM CURRENTLY PARTNER AT RED POLE REAL ESTATE, AND I WAS MAJORITY OWNER OF LANSING AND SKY IN MONTROSE FROM 2016 TO 2023. AS SUCH, LIKE YOU, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BALANCE A BUDGET, TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES AND TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP OUR CITY THRIVING. I'VE RECENTLY BEEN WORKING WITH PEOPLE FOR POLK. TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT. BUDGETING ISN'T JUST ABOUT CUTTING OR SPENDING, IT'S ALSO ABOUT DIRECTING RESOURCES. ON THAT NOTE, IT'S NOT IN MY PREPARED REMARKS, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY ABOUT THE DRAINAGE. UM, AS HOUSTON GROWS AND EXPANDS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE GRB AND THE UH, NORTHEASTERN HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BY TDOT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST END, ARE BEING DISRUPTED AND DESTABILIZED. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT EVEN WITH THESE HUGE PROJECTS UNDERWAY, YOUR PUBLIC WORKS, ENGAGED HOUSTON SITE HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT DOWNTIME. NOW, CITY STAFF IS GOING TO BE DECREASED, BUT THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY WILL NOT DECREASE. SO THIS NEEDS ATTENTION IN AN EVEN MORE URGENT BUDGET CONSIDERATION. WE ASK THAT ANY REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO HOUSTON, FIRST FOR THE GRB EXPANSION, NOT BE SWEPT INTO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND. INSTEAD, WE ASK YOU TO EARMARK THESE FUNDS FOR THE EAST END, THE VERY COMMUNITY BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS TRANSFORMATION. THESE ARE REAL FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS WHO DESERVE COMPENSATION IN THE FORM OF MEANINGFUL REINVESTMENT. THIS ISN'T JUST A FINANCIAL DECISION, IT'S A MORAL ONE. IF OUR CITY IS GOING TO PROSPER, THAT PROSPERITY MUST BE SHARED, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE WHO ARE HAVING TO MAKE WAY FOR IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR DAVID ESPINOZA. HELLO, COUNSEL. MAYOR, MY NAME IS DAVID ESPINOZA, UH, RESIDENT OF NORTHEAST HOUSTON, UM, MEMBER OF NAC AND THE CO-DIRECTOR AT WEST STREET RECOVERY. I, I, I GUESS I WANNA SAY I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED 'CAUSE I THOUGHT WE MADE IT CLEAR AND NOT JUST 'CAUSE WE'RE HERE ALL THE TIME. IT'S ALSO ON THE PAPER, ON TV, WE VOTED ON TO SECURE OUR, SECURE, OUR PEACE OF MIND, OUR PROPERTY, OUR FAMILIES WITH INVESTMENT IN FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE FEAR. THAT'S WHAT, UH, OUR COMMUNITY HA HAS THAT'S HAD THAT TRAUMA SINCE HARVEY. YOU KNOW, WE WERE LAST YEAR. WE WERE HOUSTON STRONG AND HOUSTON TIRED VERY QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED ON AND WE MADE IT CLEAR, EVEN THE STATE SUPREME, UH, SUPREME COURT MADE THAT CLEAR THAT THAT MONEY IS WHERE IT NEEDED TO GO. 'CAUSE THE POLICE CAN'T ARREST HIGH WINDS. THEY CAN'T SHOOT FLOODS. YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T LOCK UP, UM, HEAT, UH, SUMMER HEAT. YOU KNOW, WISH WE COULD WISH IT WAS THAT EASY, BUT IT'S NOT. SO THAT'S WHY WE ASKED YOU TO PUT THIS MONEY. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE EVERY SINGLE, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE WEEK BEFORE THIS BUDGET, UM, HEARING THAT WE NEED THIS MONEY OR WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO TO OUR COMMUNITIES TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED 'CAUSE I THOUGHT LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WERE LIFELONG HOUSTONIANS, WHO WERE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR, THEIR COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY. I FEEL LIKE SOME OF Y'ALL WERE ORGANIZED AT SOME POINT, OR AT LEAST PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. UH, YOU MAYBE YOU ALL VOLUNTEERED IN YOUR CHURCH, UH, AND SOME OF Y'ALL STILL DO, BUT I MEAN, THE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WHAT THE THINGS YOU SAY. AND I DON'T SEE ANY GOOD [01:10:01] ACTIONS COMING FROM YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU HANZA BRANCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY DANIELLE NEWTON. HELLO EVERYONE. MY, MY NAME IS HANZA BRANCH. I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. I AM HERE TO SAY THAT AS A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT B, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THE CURRENT BUDGET AS IT IS PROPOSED. WHEN DID IT MAKE SENSE TO REDUCE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF BY CLOSE TO 10% AND INCREASE THEIR BUDGET? MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WHEN WAS I, WHEN WAS WE ASKED IF IT MADE SENSE TO DELAY THE AT VALIUM DRAINAGE TAX SO THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH A GUN TO HAVE A STARTING SALARY THAT IS 30% HIGHER THAN THAT OF A TEACHER? I, WE GOT NO RECALLS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, MY COUNCILWOMAN, NOR ANY OF THE AT LARGE COUNCIL OFFICES. THIS IS NOT A PEOPLE'S BUDGET. THIS IS A BUDGET BUILT TO PUT THE CITY IN DEBT FOR YEARS TO COME. AND RAISING MY TAXES IS HOW THIS WILL GET PAID FOR. THIS CANNOT BE THE PATH FORWARD FOR MY CITY. SO I AM ASKING ALL ELECTED OFFIC OFFICIALS IN THIS ROOM TO VOTE NO ON THIS CURRENT BUDGET NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU, DANIELLE NEWTON. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DANIELLE NEWTON AND I'M HERE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH WEST STREET RECOVERY IN THE, IN THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT A AS A PART OF MY WORK AT BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER. I SUPPORT COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND UPLIFT AND UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GUIDE AND SECURE INVESTMENTS IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN HOUSTON. PROJECT PLANS AND BUDGETS ABOUT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE GUIDED BY TRANSPARENCY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. THAT MEANS CREATING CLEAR PATHWAYS FOR COMMUNITY INPUT AND INCORPORATING THEIR FEEDBACK AT THE BEGINNING, NOT AT THE END. MYSELF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM THE NAC MADE THIS REQUEST AS A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET WORKSHOP ON MAY 15TH. AND THAT WAS THE SAME MEETING THAT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TEAM WALKED OUT OF BEFORE THEY COULD HEAR OUR TESTIMONIES. JUST LAST WEEK, MAYOR WHITMEYER APPROVED THE POLICE BUDGET OF MORE THAN $800 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WHILE CUTTING THE BUDGETS OF OTHER CRITICAL DEPARTMENTS. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. DURING DISASTERS AND EVERYDAY HARDSHIP AND EVEN RAINY DAYS LIKE TODAY, OUR FIRST TRUE LINE OF DEFENSE IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES. A RELIABLE AND HEALTHY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM IS PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT MEANS DRAINAGE, THAT WORKS, RELIABLE PIPES IN AN ADEQUATE SEWAGE SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE INSIDE OF THEIR HOME AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY. WHEN POLICING IS PRIORITIZED OVER INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU IGNORE THE EVERYDAY NEEDS THAT PE THAT KEEP PEOPLE SAFE LONG BEFORE EMERGENCIES OCCUR. WE URGE THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS LIBRARIES AND PARKS. THOSE SERVICES KEEP US CONNECTED, THEY KEEP US HEALTHY, AND THEY KEEP US JUSTICE SAFE AS A POLICE MAN WOULD. BUDGET CUTS TO WATER SYSTEMS ARE DIRECT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY RISK BOIL WATER NOTICES. THEY'RE DELAYING FLOOD RESPONSE, AND IT'S LIMITING OUR ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT JUST A BASIC SERVICE, BUT IT ALSO PROTECTS US IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS TOO. THANK YOU, ELLI RAMOS. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. MY NAME IS ARACELI RAMOS AND I AM A, UM, MEMBER OF, UH, NORTHEAST COLLECTIVE FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS. UM, AND I'M, I COME HERE TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE IN HOUSTON. [01:15:04] WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK THAT HAVE, HAVE BEEN DONE. AND THIS IS, UM, I'M SORRY. I DON'T WANNA READ. I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO MY HEART. MAYOR, YOU ARE LIKE A HUSBAND IN, IN MY HOUSE. MY HUSBAND TAKES CARE OF MY CHILDREN, THE SAFETY. HE MAKES SURE THAT WE DRINK SAFETY WATER. HE MAKES SURE THAT WHEN WE DROWN IN THE FLOODS, HE TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE FIVE CHILDREN. JUST LIKE ANY SAFETY, YOU DON ONLY HAVE A POLICE APARTMENT. YOU DO HAVE EDUCATION, LIBRARIES, STREETS, DESTRUCTION. I WAS ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS TO GO IN THE ELECTIONS TO VOTE FOR YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN YOU. I HAVE FAITH IN YOU, AND I HAVE FAITH IN EVERY SINGLE MEMBER WHO'S SITTING RIGHT HERE. I BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL WILL TAKE CARE OF US AND THE FAMILIES IN NEED, NOT ONLY OUR SAFETY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FIRST TIME THAT WE DRAIN. THE FLOOD KEEPS CONTINUING. THIS LITTLE RAINS IS MAKING US FLOOD. AND I'M TIRED BECAUSE I'M A MOTHER THAT MY KIDS HAVE TRAUMA TO SAY, ARE WE GONNA FLOOD AGAIN? ARE WE GONNA FLOOD AGAIN? WHERE ARE WE GONNA GO? WHERE IS THERE'S ENOUGH SHELTERS? ARE WE SAFE NOW? WHAT ELSE TO COME? WHAT ARE WE SHOWING TO OUR NEW GENERATION BAD REPRESENTATION? OR ARE WE SHOWING THEM THOUGH? ARE WE TAKING BAD DECISIONS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING EQUALLY TO EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE LEAVING? A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT JOBS, THEY'RE NEVER GONNA BE REPLACED. OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING, AT LEAST MINE ARE, AND I HAVE FIVE OF THEM. I'M ASKING YOU, PLEASE RECONSIDER THE BUDGET. AND WE ARE WATCHING TO WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, AND WE ARE NOT GONNA STOP SHOWING OVER HERE. AND I'M NOT GONNA STOP SHOWING, COMING BACK REMINDING YOU WHY WE ELECT Y'ALL. I AM DISAPPOINTED. I AM SAD OF MY REPRESENTATION. DEAR MAYOR, YOU ARE HERE TO REPRESENT US. PLEASE MAKE ME PROUD OF WHO I WENT AND ASKED FOR YOU BOTH. THANK YOU, SIR. SARON RESO. YES. YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SAD RESA, AND I AM HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN THE ROOM, IN PARTICULAR NAC AND WEST STREET RECOVERY. I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY. PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES THE GROUNDS WE WALK ON, THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT MAKES OUR STREET SAFE AND THE WATER SYSTEM THAT KEEPS US ALIVE. AS MANY OF MY COMRADES IS STATED TODAY, THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL TO HOUSTONIANS. BUT TODAY I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND PUBLIC WORKS AS NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL, BUT AS LIFESAVING AS A LIFESAVING DEPARTMENT, AS A LIFESAVING INFRASTRUCTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN FOR YOUR VOTE TODAY? THIS MIGHT MEAN THAT HOUSTON'S VOTE AND POPULAR VOTE FOR INVESTING INTO PUBLIC WORKS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL ACTION. IT IS A POLITICAL CRY FOR HELP. HELP OUR ROADS ENDANGER OUR CARS, OUR AMBULANCES AND OUR FIRE TRUCKS HELP. WE NEED DRAINAGE OR ELSE OUR HOUSES WILL BE ENDANGERED. OUR CHILDREN WON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO. WE WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE STORM WITH NO REFUGE HELP. WE NEED TO HAVE CLEAN [01:20:01] WATER, OR OUR FOOD IS IN DANGER. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FEED OUR CHILDREN. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH ALREADY TAKES UP HUGE AMOUNTS OF THE CITY'S 3 1 1 COMPLAINTS HAS SEEN THE LARGEST CUT IN THE BUDGET PROPOSED RECENTLY IN THE MULTIMILLIONS 21, UH, 21.8 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES THE DEPARTMENTS THAT RESIDENTS RELY ON EVERY DAY FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES AND TO BUILD UP PUBLIC EFFICACY AND, UH, POL AND PEOPLE'S INVESTMENT INTO OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. WITHOUT THE KIND OF WORK THAT OUR ORGANIZERS DO EVERY DAY, WITHOUT THE KIND OF WORK THAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES EVERY DAY, WE WILL NOT ONLY HAVE ANOTHER DISASTER LIKE BURL, IT WILL MULTIPLY AND IT WILL MEAN THAT RATHER THAN ANSWERING THE CALL FOR HELP COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU WILL BE IGNORING AND SENTENCING US TO DEATH. THANK YOU. TANYA EO. MM-HMM . GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR. I AM CHANNEL PARTY, ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF POSITIVE WOMEN'S NETWORK, GREATER HOUSTON. I AM STANDING UP WITH PURE JUSTICE THIS MORNING, COMING TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF USING TAX DOLLARS TO PUNISH PEOPLE FOR HAVING BROKEN TAILLIGHTS OR EXPIRED REGISTRATION. THE CITY SHOULD USE FUNDS TO HELP COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF PUTTING MORE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING IN THIS CITY AS A HOUSTONIAN FOR 64 YEARS. THIS IS A DISGRACE TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO FAMILIES THAT WILL HAVE ANOTHER BURDEN PUT ON THEM BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED HERE TODAY. SO FOR ME, WHO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN, WHO HAVE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, IF THEIR PARENTS CANNOT PAY THESE FINES AND THEY GO TO JAIL, THEN THAT BURDEN FALLS ON SOMEONE LIKE ME. WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS FOR OUR KIDS IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET AND BE SAFE. OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING RUN OVER, GOING TO SCHOOL, COMING FROM SCHOOL. SO THINK ABOUT IF THIS WAS YOUR OWN CHILDREN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO ME AS A HOUSTONIAN TO SIT HERE AND HAVE TO STAND HERE TO FIGHT FOR EVERY HOUSTONIAN IN THIS CITY. BUT I WILL, I WILL AND I WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR A COMMUNITY THAT IS ALREADY BURDENED. WE'RE TRYING TO FEED OUR KIDS. WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS. WE ARE TRYING TO LIVE A QUALITY OF LIFE WE DESERVE WITHOUT ANY MORE FINANCIAL BURDEN. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, REMEMBER, YOU HAVE CHILDREN, YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN. THESE BURDENS ARE ON PEOPLE THAT ARE BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET IN THIS CITY. YES, DORIS BROWN, MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DORIS BROWN. I'M A CO-DIRECTOR AT WEST STREET RECOVERY. I'M ALSO A CO-FOUNDER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND I'M A 60 YEAR NORTHSIDE RESIDENT. APPARENTLY MAYOR, YOU AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE NO CONCEPT OF WHAT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE AROUND HOUSTON. FLOODING IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE AROUND HOUSTON. WE DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF FEELING SAFE EVEN IN OUR OWN HOMES. WE NEED OUR FUNDS TO BE SPENT ON DRAINAGE FOR ALMOST A DECAY. THE CITY HAS DECEIVED VOTERS AND DISRESPECTED [01:25:01] DEMOCRACY. DEMOCRACY BY REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE AVALOR TAX TWICE APPROVED BY VOTERS. APPARENTLY A BACKROOM DEAL BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE VALOREM CASE WAS APPROVED BY COUNSEL. BUT WE AS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS THOSE WHO FILED THE SUIT DO NOT AGREE. AND MANY OF US ARE HORRIFIED TO SEE THAT THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT CUT FROM DRAINAGE IS BEING PUT DIRECTLY TOWARDS ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR POLICE. YOUR DOGE STYLE EFFICIENCY PROGRAM HAS GUTTED OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND LEFT ALL OF US LESS SAFE AND LESS CARED FOR LDP PROJECTS. DITCH MAINTENANCE. PEOPLE AREN'T WORKING. YOU'VE COMMITTED TO NO HIRING FOR THE CITY. THE CITY CANNOT DO FUNCTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED. WE WANT OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY. PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE TIRED OF LIVING IN A FOOD DESERT AND ARTS AND PARK DESERT AND A TECHNOLOGY DESERT. YOU ARE SETTING UP OUR CITY TO BE TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE. THIS IS NOT DEMOCRACY. THIS IS THEFT OF DIGNITY, OPPORTUNITY, THEFT. AND NOW ALL WE HAVE IS PATROL CARS AND GUNS TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. YOU ARE INTENTIONALLY DENYING WE THE PEOPLE A SAFE AND SECURE QUALITY OF LIFE. SAFE FROM FLOODING, SAFE FROM DRIVING. YOU HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THE EXPERIENCED CITY WORKERS AND SERVICES THAT WERE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED BY PEOPLE AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING NOW. IT WILL BE WORSE. DANA? DANA JONES. COURTNEY REBELS. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS COURTNEY. I LIVE IN DISTRICT B. IT'S GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL AGAIN. UM, TODAY I COME HERE WITH A HEAVY HEART BECAUSE, UM, ONCE AGAIN, THE CITY IS SHOWING THAT IT WILL NOT STAND WITH TAXPAYERS AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO DIVERT THE FUNDS FROM THE AVALOR TAX DIVERSION. UM, AND WE KNOW THAT THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTING IN SOME LONG OVERDUE, UM, FLOOD MAINTENANCE. AND, UM, SO I URGE THE CITY TO VOTE, THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO, UM, FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET. UM, BUT LIKE WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY WITNESSING HERE IS LIKE A REALLY TROUBLING PATTERN. WE'RE SEEING IT GO ON IN HISD WITH MIKE MILES AND WE'RE SEEING IT HERE. UM, FIRING, FIRING AND FORCED RETIREMENT OF LIKE VALUABLE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND PEOPLE THAT CAN TRULY LIKE LEAD THIS CITY IN THEIR WORK. WE'RE ALSO SEEING LIKE, DEFUNDING OF THE LIBRARIES AND THE PARKS. IT SEEMS LIKE AN UGLY, UM, IT, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DONE INTENTIONALLY AND IT'S UGLY. AND PERSONALLY, IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THIS BOARD THAT ARE LIKE GOING, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OF THESE TERRIBLE DECISIONS. WE, WE KNOW THAT IT'S THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SEEING LESS INFRASTRUCTURE OF FUNDING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND, UM, THE AVALOR TAX DIVERSION IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO SEE IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SUPPORT IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. UM, AND YEAH, SO I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO VOTE. NO, BUT LIKE IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA, YOU KNOW, ASK TASHA JACKSON. YOU KNOW, UM, WE, I I WAS VERY DISHEARTENED AT THE AT TO HEAR YOU SPEAK, UM, AT THE LAST MEETING. YOU KNOW, YOU HAD SO MANY PEOPLE IN DISTRICT B ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER VOTING, UM, ON THAT BILL FOR THAT FOR THE POLICE. AND YOU KIND OF BASICALLY JUST GOT IN OUR FACE AND WAS LIKE, HEY Y'ALL. YEAH, WE BELIEVE IN WE, WE WANNA SEE MORE POLICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE PEOPLE SITTING HERE IN THE CROWD ARE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR THAT. AND THEN POLLARD, I DROVE PAST YOUR SIGN IN SET OF GAS TODAY. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU RUNNING FOR, BUT WHEN ARE YOU GONNA SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY? WE'VE COME UP HERE FOR YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY POSITIVE DIALOGUE FROM YOU. SO I WANNA SEE YOU STAND UP. I WANNA SEE YOU STAND UP. I WANNA SEE YOU STAND UP, PLUMBER. AND I WANNA SEE ALL OF Y'ALL VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GONNA KICK THIS FUNDING THING DOWN THE CAN. I DON'T WANT MY DAUGHTER, JUDITH, TO BE SITTING UP HERE AT COUNCIL HAVING TO MAKE UP FOR THIS MISTAKE. THANK Y'ALL. LETICIA [01:30:01] GUTIERREZ. GUTIERREZ. GOOD MORNING. IS IT THIS ONE? SORRY. GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. UH, MY NAME IS LETICIA AND I'M WITH AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON. I AM THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR AND AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROTECTS ALL HOUSTONIANS IN THE REGION TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR BECAUSE IT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE, BUT IT IS A HUMAN RIGHT. I STAND HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR PARTNERS AND ALSO OUR FRONTLINE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SPEAK OUT ON THE HARMFUL, SHORTSIGHTED, AND FRANKLY HEARTLESS DECISION BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AS IT PERTAINS TO THE BUDGET. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TODAY PROVIDING LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND HELPING US AT THE CAPITOL TO SUPPORT BILLS THAT CAN REIGN IN A LOT OF THE POLLUTERS THAT ARE MAKING US SICK. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND MY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT MAYOR, UH, THE PROPOSED BUDGET PRIORITIZES POLICING OVER PUBLIC HEALTH. AND IN DOING SO, YOU'RE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR CITY ARE EXPENDABLE. THAT OUR HEALTH IS ONCE AGAIN ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK BY CUTTING MILLIONS FROM THE HOUSTON'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THAT'S NOT JUST POOR POLICY, IT'S A MORAL FAILURE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU CLAIM YOU SERVE. LET ME BE CLEAR, CUTTING MILLIONS FROM THE HOUSTON'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISN'T IN OUR BEST INTEREST. THESE CUTS TARGET LIFE, LIFE-SAVING SERVICES, PROGRAMS THAT HELP CHILDREN BREATHE EASIER BY PREVENTING ASTHMA, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSPECTIONS, AIR MONITORING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. I APPRECIATE MY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UM, ALSO RAMIREZ AND PLUMBER, UM, THAT HAVE SUPPORTED AND HELPED, UH, THE HEALTHY PORTS COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO SIT DOWN WITH, UM, OUR NEW PORT COMMISSIONER GARCIA. BUT THESE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ASKING, LIKE THE NEED FOR THE INCREASED IN AIR MONITORING AND STRONGER ENFORCEMENT AGAINST POLLUTERS THAT ARE HARMING OUR HEALTH AREN'T, AREN'T BEING FULLY AS, UM, ADDRESSED, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE PROPOSED CUTS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT'S ONLY MAKING THINGS WORSE. UM, THESE EFFORTS NEED TO GO HAND IN HAND IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING COMMUNITIES AND NOT JUST HAVING SIT DOWN MEETINGS. UM, AND WE DO APPRECIATE THAT. I MEAN, IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED, BUT IT JUST FEELS THAT THE MINUTE THAT WE'RE INCHING JUST A LITTLE TINY BIT FORWARD, WE JUST GET PULLED BACK AND IT'S NOT OBVIOUSLY FRUITFUL. SO, BUT AGAIN, LET ME BE CLEAR. CUTTING MILLIONS FROM OUR HOUSTON'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS AN UNJUSTLY ALREADY HURTING COMMUNITY. LET'S NOT FORGET WHO PAYS THE PRICE. HERE IT IS. OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT YOU NEED PROMISES TO WHEN YOU CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT YOU. ALSO, IMMIGRANTS WORKING CLASS HOUSTONIANS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE FACING THE HIGHER RATES OF ASTHMA, CANCER CLUSTERS, THE RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, THE VERY PEOPLE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS CHOOSING TO FURTHER NEGLECT. MEANWHILE, YOU'RE PROPOSING TO EXPAND FUNDING ON POLICE WHERE FAMILIES, WHERE FAMILIES CAN'T BREATHE. WHAT KIND OF CITY ARE WE BECOMING? A CITY THAT FEARS ITS OWN PEOPLE, THAT SILENCES ITS PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND MILITARIZE ITS NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED TO BE HONEST. AND THIS ISN'T JUST A BUDGET FIGHT, IT'S A FIGHT OVER OUR, IT'S A FIGHT OVER VALUES OVER WHOSE LIVES THE CITY CONSIDERS WORTH PROTECTING. AND WE'RE TIRED OF BEING SILENT. WE'RE TIRED OF BEING RESPECTFUL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FEELING RESPECTED. THANK YOU. YEAH. NEXT GENESIS GRENADES COUNCIL MAYOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD CLIFFORD JACKSON TO THE SECOND TO WHERE WE CAN WE HAVE HIM. UM, NEXT, NEXT, IS THAT POSSIBLE GENESIS AFTER GENESIS AFTER GENESIS? YES. YOUR MOTION MADE IN SECOND ALL MOTION PASSED. HI, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GENESIS GRANADOS. I'M THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS MANAGER AT AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON. AS MY COLLEAGUE LETICIA MENTIONED, OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE OFTEN BLACK AND BROWN HAVE CLEAN AIR. BECAUSE WHEN YOU LIVE, WORK, PLAY AND LEARN SHOULDN'T DICTATE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE. I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING OUR ADVOCACY DAY. ON APRIL 10TH, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS VISIT OUR, OUR CAPITAL AND TALK TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITIES. I AM HERE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH WEST STREET RECOVERY, NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SPEAK A AGAINST A HARMFUL BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WILL DETRIMENTALLY IMPACT COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY FACE [01:35:01] ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES THAT IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES', INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTH. BY PASSING THIS BUDGET AND SLASHING PROGRAMS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES USE AS LIFE SAVING RESOURCES IS CRUEL, BUT ALSO SHOWS THAT OUR COUNCIL AND MAYOR DO NOT CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES FUNDS THAT COULD SUSTAIN PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS INFRASTRUCTURE AND RELIABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION ARE BEING USED TO FUND OVER POLICING AND OTHER THINGS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR COMMUNITIES ALREADY EXPERIENCED ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES AT THE HANDS OF UNREGULATED INDUSTRY THAT IS PERMITTED TO CAUSE HARM BY OUR RELUCTANT STATE REGULATOR, THE TCEQ, AND INSTEAD OF OUR COUNCIL FINDING WAYS TO HOLD INDUSTRY AND THE TCQ ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR LACK OF SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES. YOU ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE HARM YOU HAVE CONTINUOUSLY SHOWED THAT YOUR CAMPAIGN OF CHANGE, MR. MAYOR, WAS BUILT ON LIES AND PREDATORY PROMISES TO OUR COMMUNITIES DO BETTER. THANK YOU NICK CLIFFORD JACKSON. UH, GOOD MORNING. UH, CITY COUNCIL. UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. UM, CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YEAH, I'M HERE TO, UM, I HAD A REQUEST, UH, TO ADDRESS, UM, UM, ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON IN HOUSTON, IN THE HOUSTON AREA. UM, CITY COUNCIL, A MEMBER PLUMBER, UM, HAS PUT ON THE, UM, HAD BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THE PROPOSITION TO, UH, REFORM, THE APPROACH TO MAKING APARTMENT COMPLEX LANDLORDS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, PUTTING PROFIT BEFORE PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, A YEAR AGO, ALMOST A YEAR AGO, WE ALMOST, UH, LOST MY EIGHT MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND MY SISTER BECAME EXTREMELY ILL, UM, FROM A MOLD UH, EXPOSURE AT THE RESERVE AT WESTWOOD APARTMENT COMPLEX. THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX, UM, HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR HAVING MOLD ISSUES, UM, HAVE NUMEROUS REVIEWS, UH, WITH POOR TENANTS. BROWN AND HISPANIC TENANTS COMPLAINING ABOUT MOLD ISSUES. MANAGEMENT OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY IN LIEU OF THAT WOULD ACTUALLY GO AND WHEN THE COMPLAINT IS MADE, THEY'LL TELL THE TENANT THAT IT'S MILDEW, THIS MILDEW OR MOLD. IT'S ACTUALLY GROWING OUT OF, GROWING OUT OF THE AC VENTS. UM, MY SISTER WAS, HAD BEEN BABYSITTING ME AND MY FIANCE'S NEWBORN CHILD FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AND OF COURSE OF HER BABYSITTING. UM, MY SISTER WOULD MAKE COMPLAINTS TO MANAGEMENT THROUGH EMAIL AND THROUGH GOING INTO THE OFFICE AND TELLING THEM THAT, HEY, THERE'S MOLD GOING OUT. THE AC VENTS MANAGEMENT IN TURN WOULD SAY, WE'LL SEND SOMEBODY OUT THERE, GO AND CHECK IT OUT. AND INSTEAD OF TESTING IT FOR MOLD, THEY'LL SEND A MAINTENANCE TO JUST SPRAY BLEACH ON IT AND SAY THAT IT'S MILDEW. AND THE COURSE OF THAT, I CAME HOME FROM WORK, UM, ONE NIGHT AND MY DAUGHTER THAT WAS EIGHT MONTHS OLD WAS BARELY BREATHING. WE HAD TO RUSH TO THE ICU, UH, TEXAS CHILDREN AND SHE ENDED UP WITH DOUBLE AMMONIA. FAST FORWARD, UM, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX REFUSED TO GET THE APARTMENT TESTED. I HAD TO SHOW THEM A VIDEO OF MY DAUGHTER IN ICU IN ORDER TO MOTIVATE THEM TO TEST THE APARTMENT. SO THEY FINALLY TESTED THE APARTMENT CAME BACK THAT THE APARTMENT WAS, IT WAS EXTREMELY TOXIC. HAD AN INDEPENDENT TEST PERSON TO COME OUT AND TEST IT. THEY SAID THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WAS, THE APARTMENT WAS EXTREMELY TOXIC. UM, THEY RECOMMENDED NOT TAKING ANY OF THE FURNITURE OR ANYTHING FROM OUTTA THE APARTMENT. SO MY SISTER HAD TO LEAVE EVERYTHING SHE OWNED EXCEPT THE SHOES AND THE CLOTHES ON HER BACK. SHE HAD TO LEAVE THOSE THINGS IN THE APARTMENT AND CAME AND HAD TO COME AND STAY WITH ME AND MY FIANCE. FAST FORWARD, MY SISTER BECAME EXTREMELY ILL. UH, SHE HAD BEEN ILL FOR TWO YEARS AND DIDN'T KNOW WHY. UH, SHE ENDED UP HAVING TO GO INTO THE HOSPITAL. THEY DID A BIOPSY ON HER LUNGS IN THE SAME MOLD THAT WAS GROWING FROM OUT OF THE AIR CONDITION. VINCE WAS ACTUALLY GROWING ON OUR LUNGS. UM, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMET. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FORTH THE EFFORT TO, UH, GET THIS PROPOSITION PASSED. 'CAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO, UH, HOLD THESE APARTMENT COMPLEX ACCOUNTABLE. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY BEFORE PROFIT. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL CLIFFORD. MR. JACKSON, I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR COMING UP AND, AND TELLING YOUR STORY. HOW ARE, HOW IS YOUR DAUGHTER AND SISTER-IN-LAW? MY DAUGHTER'S FINE. MY [01:40:01] SISTER IS IS RIGHT THERE. OH, GOOD. UM, THAT STILL COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ISSUES. UH, DOCTORS SAY THAT THIS COULD BE A, A LIFELONG, UM, LIFELONG EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OF THEM. UM, BOTH OF 'EM ARE GOING TO HAVE SCARRING ON THEIR LUNGS AND POTENTIAL ASTHMATIC AND BRO BRONCHIAL ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES. MY DAUGHTER'S ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD NOW, AND, UH, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO WE FILED A LAWSUIT AND THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS IN CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, UM, WE REALLY NEED TO PUSH TO GET THIS, GET THIS DONE AND HELD, HOLD THESE DEPARTMENT COMPLEXES ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS. APPRECIATE IT. BECKY SMITH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT TODAY ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR OUR SHARED HOME CITY. I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT C GREETINGS TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. MY NAME IS BECKY SMITH. I'M THE TEXAS DIRECTOR OF CLEAN WATER ACTION, WHICH IS A NATIONAL GRASSROOTS MEMBER BASED ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1972 TO HELP PASS THE ORIGINAL CLEAN WATER ACT. OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC WELLBEING, AND COMMUNITY WAY OF LIFE. THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED, DOES NOT SERVE HOUSTONIANS. I'M HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, WEST STREET RECOVERY, AND OTHERS FROM FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES WHOM YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THIS. GET UP. I'VE GOT ON, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU. LEMME SEE THIS. LEMME SEE MY BOOTS. MY HUSBAND ASKED ME IF I WAS GONNA COME IN WITH SOME GORDON'S FROZEN FISH STICKS. AND AMONG SOME OTHER CHEEKY REPLIES THAT I'LL SPARE YOUR DELICATE EARS FROM, I TOLD HIM NO. I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TRYING TO GET OUR 10-YEAR-OLD TO PO ELEMENTARY AND THEN SLOSH MY WAY DOWNTOWN TO SPEAK WITH YOU. I WISH IT WERE POLITICAL THEATER, BUT THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE, WHAT WE DEALT WITH THIS MORNING. ALL JOKING ASIDE, DIVERTING A FUNDING, FUNDING AWAY FROM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, DRAINAGE IN PARTICULAR, AND HISTORICALLY UNDER INVESTED IN NEIGHBORHOODS ENDANGERS HOUSTONIANS LIVES, KEEPS LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN A BULLSEYE TARGET FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE AND EQUITABLE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF FLOODING AND THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF PROPERTY VALUE, SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY WAY OF LIFE. WE JOIN OTHERS IN URGING THIS BODY TO REJECT THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED. PLEASE USE YOUR TALENTED ADVISORS, THIS COUNCIL, YOUR WELL-TRAINED STAFF TO EXERCISE TRUE CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING IN PRIORITIZING TOUGH CHOICES THAT I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO MAKE. AND I KNOW THAT FOLKS SMARTER IN THIS ROOM AND THAT SERVE YOU CAN HELP YOU WITH. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ALL BEEN CALLED INTO THE LIFE OF VOCATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE. I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE BUDGET AT IS AS IT IS PROPOSED TODAY AND DO NOT PASS WITHOUT AMENDMENTS TO INCLUDE THE VOTER DIRECTED DRAINAGE AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. I BELIEVE WE CAN DO BETTER FOR HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. NORMA GONZALEZ MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD DOMINIQUE CHACON TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA. SECOND MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. YES, MA'AM. UM, GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS NORMA GONZALEZ AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT B IN ACRES HOMES. I CURRENTLY WORK WITH URI JUNTOS AND WE SERVE ELDERS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND DISASTER RELIEF. LAST YEAR, THE STORMS DEVASTATED MY OWN HOME CAUSING MAJOR ROOF DAMAGE, AND WE SPENT THOUSANDS TO FIX IT. AND I'M STILL UNCERTAIN ABOUT THIS YEAR'S, UM, FUTURE STORMS, AND I'M NOT ALONE. THERE WERE MANY FAMILIES, ELDERS AND CHILDRENS WHO ALSO SUFFERED GREATLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES DURING THESE STORMS FACING NOT ONLY DAMAGE TO THEIR HOMES, BUT ALSO LACK OF FOOD AVAILABILITY AND EXTREME HEAT DURING POWER OUTAGES. MANY OF THEM ARE STILL RECOVERING. UM, THEY STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THEIR HOMES FIXED. AND IT'S CLEAR THAT OUR CITY NEEDS TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT THEM. UM, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO RESIDENTS NEEDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE. LAST YEAR AND MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND BE HOUSTON STRONG. BUT WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE HOUSTON STRONG WITH US. I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET THAT [01:45:01] WILL MEET OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND SUPPORT THE WELLBEING OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT CITY FOR EVERYBODY. WE NEED A BUDGET THAT ACTUALLY REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITIES AND PRIORITIZES OUR PEOPLE INSTEAD OF CRIMINALIZING IT. I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND TAKE ACTION. I CAN'T SIT NEXT. WHAT AM I? MY KIDS CHLOE COOK. GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. UH, IS IT THIS MIC? OTHER ONE? I'M RIGHT. OKAY. UM, MY NAME IS CHLOE COOK. I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF THIS MORNING. UM, I'M A MUSEUM ADMINISTRATOR IN MY DAY JOB AND I'M EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT BUDGETING ON A SHOESTRING. UM, SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE CITY BUDGET AND URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE WAY IT'S SET UP RIGHT NOW. UM, IT'S A BIG THING RIGHT NOW TO BE SMALL GOVERNMENT. WE'RE WORKING A LOT ON EFFICIENCY. I HEARD DOGE MENTIONED. UM, BUT EVERYBODY IS SMALL GOVERNMENT AND EFFICIENCY WHEN IT COMES TO CUTTING THE SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS REALLY NEED. AND, UH, YOU'RE ALL CREATING THE BIGGEST GOVERNMENT IN HOUSTON HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO PUNISHING THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING AND SERVING. UM, SO AT EVERY TURN, HUGE CORPORATE MONEY AND LOBBY MONEY, THE ACTUAL SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT ARE RUNNING THIS CITY HAVE MADE HOUSTON LOOK FOOLISH, HAVE MADE HOUSTON LOOK REGRESSIVE. AND MOST OF ALL, WASTEFUL MAYOR I'M SPEAKING, IT IS WASTEFUL TO BUILD A FREEWAY THROUGH HOUSTON THAT WON'T FIX TRAFFIC. AS WE INVITE A GLOBAL AUDIENCE HERE FOR THE WORLD CUP. UH, PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE MAKE FUN OF HOUSTON BECAUSE OF OUR STATE LEADERSHIP. SO WHY IN THE WORLD ARE WE LEANING IN TO WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW? IT IS WASTEFUL TO RIP OUT, COMPLETED USABLE, SAFE BIKE LANES TO PAY CONTRACTORS AND TO BIG DOG RESIDENTS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND TO PROVING HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE. UH, IT'S REALLY WASTEFUL TO CUT HEALTHCARE, TO CUT LIBRARIES, TO CUT PARKS, TO CUT PUBLIC SERVICES, UH, THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SAFE. UM, TO PAY THE COPS TO SHOW UP AFTER A CRIME HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, HELP NOBODY AND THEN KILL PEDESTRIANS IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CAR CHASES. SO YOU REALLY CAN'T IGNORE THE WILL OF THE CITY, UH, THE WILL OF THE VOTERS JUST BECAUSE WE PASSED THOSE VOTES UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, UH, WHICH I KNOW IS A BIG STICKING POINT FOR YOU. UM, THE SAME VOTES THAT STARTED YOUR ADMINISTRATION IN MASS PEOPLE DID VOTE FOR YOU. THEY ALSO VOTED FOR PROP A. THEY ALSO VOTED FOR PROP B. THEY ALSO WANT BIKE LANES. AND WE DON'T NEED MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE. WE DON'T NEED HISTORIC POLICE INVESTMENT RIGHT NOW. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY, WE'RE HUNGRY, WE'RE FLOODING. PEOPLE CAN'T GET JOBS. PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THEIR HOMES. UM, YOU NEED TO BE RESTRUCTURING HVAC TPC PER THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. YOU NEED TO BE FUNDING LIBRARIES, PUBLIC WORKS, METRO NEXT PARKS, THE AVALOR TAX REDISTRIBUTION FOR DRAINAGE AND USE PROPOSITION A TO CHALLENGE WHAT THE MAYOR IS TRYING TO FORCE THROUGH THIS CITY BUDGET RIGHT NOW. UM, DO WHAT WE ELECTED YOU TO DO. UM, MAKE HOUSTON HEALTHIER. MAKE HOUSTON SAFER. WE JUST SENT AN ER NURSE TO THE TEXAS SENATE TO FILL THE SEAT THAT YOU USED TO BE IN. UH, DON'T PASS THIS BUDGET. THERE ARE SO MANY LAWSUITS THAT ARE RELATED TO ALL OF THE CONTENT THAT IS IN THIS. UM, SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS HAS ISSUED A RULING DOWN ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS FAILING TO DO WHAT IT HAS ALREADY PROMISED TO DO. THINGS THAT PEOPLE VOTED ON DO MATTER, AND YOU DO OWE IT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THOSE PROMISES. SO, THANK YOU NORM. COUNSEL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UH, JACQUELINE POTTER TO THE END OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. POTTER, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME, MOTION PASSES PRACTICES. NORMA GONZALEZ, [01:50:03] DESTINY WASHINGTON. DOMINIQUE CHACON. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS DOMINIC CHAON. UH, I'M WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. AND JUST THIS PAST YEAR WE CONDUCTED A STUDY, UH, TO EXPLORE HOW PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE GOING INTO THE HANDS OF PRIVATE INDUSTRIES, SPECIFICALLY POLLUTING INDUSTRIES. WE LOOKED ALL OVER HARRIS COUNTY. WE LOOKED AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GIVING AWAY OR LOSING AND NOT CLAIMING ABOUT $93 MILLION THROUGH A TAX CODE CALLED INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS. AND THESE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS ARE A TAX CODE THAT SPECIFICALLY IS GIVEN TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO INDUSTRIES SUCH AS CHEVRON AND SHELL, UH, TO THE TUNE OF $93 MILLION. AND SO THERE'S JUST THIS MONEY SITTING THERE WAITING TO BE CLAIMED TO FILL ALL THESE SUPPOSED BUDGET GAPS. RIGHT? BUT WHY IS THAT NOT HAPPENING? $93 MILLION COULD BE USED IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, RIGHT? AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD AND DEVELOP WITHOUT HAVING TO FOLLOW THE SAME LAWS, PERMITTING PROCESSES, UH, AS EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD. AND SO, WHILE WE'RE HEARING THESE BUDGET SHORTFALLS, IT'S SORT OF STRANGE TO ME THAT WE WOULD NOT BE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO BE BRINGING IN REVENUE, RIGHT? UM, ESPECIALLY FOR SUCH BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE FLOODING. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY, WE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REALLY DIVE INTO WHAT THAT MEANS. YOU CANNOT FIGHT FLOODING WITH POLICE OFFICERS. YOU CANNOT SHOOT THE FLOOD THAT'S COMING IN, RIGHT? WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR COMMUNITIES TO NOT ONLY DEAL WITH THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF A FLOOD, BUT THE RESIDUAL IMPACTS THE TIME IT TAKES TO JUST RECOVER FROM THESE STORMS. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT A MORE HOLISTIC WAY OF FUNDING OUR CITY GOVERNMENT INSTEAD OF ONLY JUST, UH, ALLOWING TAXES TO BE INCREASED. BUT THAT BRINGS US TO THE ISSUE TODAY. THE ADVIL ALARM TAXES, RIGHT? THIS IS, UH, A TAX THAT THE, THE CITIZENS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE ON TO FUND SUCH AN IMPORTANT, UH, SAFETY MEASURE. YET THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS RESISTANCE TO SIMPLY ACT ON THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE SINCE 2010, 2010, THAT'S 15 YEARS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AND ORGANIZING AND VOTING AND PRACTICING THE DEMOCRACY THAT I, I SUPPOSE THAT YOU ALL WANT TO HAPPEN, RIGHT? BUT THIS CONTINUOUS RESISTANCE IS CONTINUOUS, UH, DISMISSAL OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS ERODING THE TRUST THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN. UH, GRANTED, YOU ALL SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL AND TELLING YOU WHERE THEY WANT THE MONEY TO BE SPENT. BUT THERE'S THIS RESISTANCE THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHY WOULD IT TAKE ANY MORE THAN TWO VOTES ON THIS ISSUE TO SAY, OKAY, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, LET'S MOVE THE MONEY. AND YOU STILL WANT US TO ASSUME GOOD FAITH. YOU STILL WANT US TO COME HERE AND PRACTICE DECORUM AND BE RESPECTFUL WHILE 15 YEARS HAVE GONE BY? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO, UH, BE POLITE FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS? HOW, HOW IS THIS PROMOTING TRUST OR INCLUDING SAFETY? IT'S, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON YOU ALL TO DISPLAY SOME COURAGE TO, TO EXPRESS SOME CRITICAL THOUGHT AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, YOU ALL WANT TO CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. THERE ARE LAWSUITS THAT ARE COMING THAT'S GONNA BE MORE MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN. THAT'S GONNA BE MORE TIME SPENT. I'M BEGGING YOU ALL ACT ON THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, DO YOUR JOB AND, UH, PROTECT OUR STREETS AND OUR FLOODING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICKS. JACQUELINE POTTER. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE POTTER. HELLO, MR. MAYOR. HOW ARE YOU? I'M MORNING. UM, I AM A RETIRED HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER OF 30 YEARS, THREE MONTHS AND THREE DAYS. I CANNOT FORGET MY THREE DAYS. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT, UM, [01:55:02] ALLOCATING FUNDS TO RETAIN THE LAW AND COMMUNITY. A WIN-WIN PROGRAM THAT IS HOUSED, THAT HAS BEEN HOUSED UNDER THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT. UM, THE FUNDS WOULD RETRAIN, RETAIN THE PROGRAM MANAGER SLASH COORDINATOR. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE FOR POLICE YOUTH INTERACTION IN AN INTERACTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IN ORDER TO DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS, IT ELIMINATES OR TRIES TO ELIMINATE DEADLY ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOUTH AND CITIZENS IN HOUSTON. IT ENSURES THAT EVERYONE RETURNS HOME SAFE, BOTH OFFICERS AND THE YOUTH AFTER A POLICE INTERACTION OR TRAFFIC STOP. THIS IS CALLED THE COMMUNITY SAFETY ACT, SB 30. THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE STRONGLY, UM, TALK ABOUT IN, IN THIS, IN THE LAW AND THE COMMUNITY, A WIN-WIN PROGRAM. AND AS YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY SAFETY ACT CALLED SB 30 WAS SPONSORED BY THE HONORABLE ROYCE WEST AND THE HONORABLE JOHN WHITMEYER. IT WAS, AND I QUOTE, DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG TEXANS AND MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACT AND BUILD TRUST IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. IT THE PROGRAM ALSO BUILDS AND REBUILDS TRUST WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, DEVELOPS RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUTH WHILE REDUCING FEAR. A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN OUT THERE ON THE STREET IS BECAUSE YOUTH ARE AFRAID. YOU PULL UP ON THEM, THEY RUN WHY THEY'RE AFRAID. THIS POLICE INTERACTION THAT TAKES PLACE IN THESE, UH, IN THESE WORKSHOPS HELP TO ELIMINATE THAT PROBLEM. WE ALSO TEACH YOUTH TO STOP, LISTENED AND COMPLY HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT. AND MOST OF ALL, HOW TO COMMEND LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. THE PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION THAT WAS ELIMINATED THROUGH THE BUDGET CUTS. THAT PERSON SCHEDULES THE WIN-WIN WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. THAT PERSON ALSO CREATES AND PROVIDES POSITIVE POLICE INTERACTION OPPORTUNITIES. WE TAKE THE KIDS, WE HAVE TAKEN THE KIDS TO THE TEXANS GAME. WE'VE TAKEN TO THEM TO, UM, UH, THE BASEBALL GAME AND, UH, THE BASKETBALL GAMES. UM, IT ALSO CREATES A POSITIVE POLICE INTERACTION OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE POSITIVE POLICE INTERACTION OPPORTUNITY, BETTER KNOWN AS MENTORING. AND AS MOST OF US KNOW, MENTORING IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE FORM OF CRIME PREVENTION. UH, THIS PROGRAM MANAGER ALSO COLLECTS COALESCES ALL THE WIN-WIN LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. OUR PARTNERS ARE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION, NOBLE, A-O-H-P-D, AS WELL AS WORLD YOUTH FOUNDATION. WE GET ALL, WE ALL GET TOGETHER TO FORM THIS COLLABORATION. THIS PARTICULAR PERSON ALSO SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE INAUGURAL FUNDRAISER FOR THE PROGRAM. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO, UH, WIN-WIN. AND, UH, THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR DI DECEMBER 13TH, 2025. UH, RETIRED POLICE CHIEFS, TROY FINNER AND CHARLES MCCLELLAN ARE HONORARY CHAIRS OF THIS, UH, OF THIS, UH, FUNDRAISER. IT WAS SCHEDULED LAST YEAR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY HUSBAND AND I CAME DOWN WITH COVID AND PNEUMONIA AT THE SAME TIME. AND IT HAD TO BE RESCHEDULED FROM DECEMBER 7TH TO DECEMBER 13TH. WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED MONEY IN IT AND WE JUST CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS. SO, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AT THIS POINT. I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR Y'ALL TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS. I WASN'T REALLY, REALLY, REALLY PREPARED TO SPEAK. BUT ON THIS SUBJECT I AM, BECAUSE MY BLOOD IS BLUE. WE HAVE SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS IN MY FAMILY, ALL POLICE OFFICERS AND ONE CHIROPRACTOR. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY JACKIE, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. HOW ARE YOUTH INTERACT WITH POLICE? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, ABOUT A QUOTA SYSTEM. AND CERTAINLY, UM, ANY TOOLS THAT WE CAN GIVE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY MAKES IT HOME AT NIGHT IS VERY, VERY, UH, A GOOD PROJECT IN MY ESTIMATION. AND CERTAINLY IT MAY EVEN BE SOMETHING THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUES WOULD WANNA MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN, UH, TO KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD. UM, I THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE MAYBE ABOUT $5,000 IN TALKING TO YOU. $5,000 EACH. COUNCIL DISTRICT, YES, MA'AM. LY TO HELP THIS BECAUSE SHE DOES SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE WITH YOU FURTHER, CERTAINLY WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH DR. WILSON TO SEE HOW THIS PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED. AGAIN, $5,000 TO PERHAPS SAVE THE LIFE. OUR LIVES OF YOUTH AND THE POLICE OFFICERS I THINK IS A VERY WORTHY, UH, PROJECT. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. THANK YOU MUCH [02:00:01] FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. 'CAUSE WE NEVER KNOW HOW MANY LIVES WE'RE GONNA SAVE POLICE AND OUR YOUTH. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK NEXT. THEODORE CARRERO. HI. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, I GUESS, UH, NON AGENDA. IT'S ON HOMELESSNESS. WANTED TO, UH, I SPOKE WITH NICK ABELS YESTERDAY. YOUR LIAISON, UH, FOUND OUT YOU GUYS CAME UP WITH 35 OF THIS 70 MILLION THAT YOU, UH, PLANNED, UH, FOR HOMELESSNESS. I KIND OF WANTED TO SEE, UH, I, I HAVE, UH, ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES HANDING OUT MY REFERENCE LIST, MARKETING RESUME, MY BUSINESS CARD, AND, UH, UH, THE ADDRESS OF A, A HOMELESSNESS CANDIDATE FOR, UH, FOR, FOR YOUR HOME HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVE. UH, I KIND OF WANTED TO SPEAK AND SEE HOW THE CITY IS GONNA DIVVY UP THE 70 MILLION. YOU CAME UP WITH 35. I KIND OF WANTED TO SEE WHO NEEDS HELP IN TERMS OF DISTRICTS. UH, HOW DOES THE 70 MILLION, I KNOW IT'S, UH, NICK ABEL SAID YOUR FOCUS IS DOWNTOWN. WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS IN EVERY DISTRICT? AND SO BASICALLY I'M PUTTING MYSELF OUT THERE. I'M BEING VULNERABLE. YOU HAVE MY REFERENCE. I, I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRST WARD, SECOND WARD, THIRD WARD, FOURTH WARD ALE AND WESTCHASE DISTRICT. I'M FAMILIAR WITH, UH, MRS. JACKSON. I'VE, UH, DONE VOLUNTEERING AT ACRES HOMES. I'VE DONE THE, UH, ARMS OF HOPE IMPACT, HOUSTON, CHURCH OF CHRIST, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, CASA JUAN, DIEGO, ST. JOSEPH'S SOCIAL MINISTRY, ST SURREAL THANKSGIVING COMMITTEE. UH, SEEING MR. FLICKINGER AND YOURSELF AT THE CITYWIDE. I MEAN, WE NEED PEOPLE TO GO OUT, DO RESEARCH, FIGURE OUT WHERE THE HOMELESSNESS, HOW YOU COULD HELP. AND SO I'M PRETTY MUCH JUST, YOU KNOW, COMING UP HERE WANTING TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM DISTRICTS TO SEE HOW DOES YOUR $70 MILLION BUDGET GO TOWARDS THE DISTRICTS AND NOT JUST DOWNTOWN. ALSO OFFERING MY SERVICES. I HAVE MY, UH, I HAVE MY BACKGROUND CHECK AT TWO DIFFERENT MINISTRIES AT WHAM, WEST HOUSTON. ASSISTANT MINISTRIES AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES. MY LICENSE IS CLEAN, BACKGROUND IS CLEAN, AND I'M WILLING TO, UH, PROVIDE, UH, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU KNOW, HELP IF YOU NEED IT. OTHER THAN THAT, LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE IT TO SEE IF ANY OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD ANSWER TOWARDS HOW IS THAT MONEY GONNA BE ALLOCATED TO THE DISTRICTS, NOT JUST THE CITY. 'CAUSE UH, MR. ABEL SAID THAT YOUR INITIATIVE IS TO CURE THE HOMELESSNESS DOWNTOWN. WHO SAID THAT? MR. NICK ABELS. YOUR HOMELESSNESS LIAISON. NICHOLS. NICHOLS. YES. YEAH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS, BRIAN, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU HAVE MY EMAIL, MY ADDRESS. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE IT. RENEE KENNEDY, ADRIANA STORES STOWERS. BRENDA SCOTT, OBIE, GOME, LATOYA JONES, FLORENCE ELDRIDGE, JONATHAN YOUNG. VERONICA, ALDO. ALDO. SHE SAID GOOD MORNING. UM, HER NAME IS VERONICA AND SHE'S GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH AND I'M HER TRANSLATOR. SHE'S GONNA DO THE SPEECH IN SPANISH FIRST, AND THEN I WILL DO IT IN ENGLISH. SO WE'RE REQUESTING SOME ADDITIONAL TIME. SURE. THANK YOU. OKAY. [02:05:32] THE P-T-I-E-S GARCIA, THE CHILDREN ASSESSMENT CENTER. HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS VERONICA ALDO. I'M THE MOTHER OF RA ORTIZ, A 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO IS GIVEN TO HER BIOLOGICAL FATHER, MR. OSCAR ORTIZ KANO BY CPS INVESTIGATOR COLEMAN. BECAUSE OF NE NEGLIGENCE, THIS MAN HAS MORE THAN 12 COMPLAINTS TO HIS NAME, WHO ALSO HAS TWO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE PROCESS SINCE 2022 FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF MY DAUGHTER. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH I FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR INTERFERING WITH CUSTODY, THESE ARE PENDING DUE TO BEING PART OF THE PTA PROGRAM, THE PRETRIAL PROGRAM THAT HAS CONDITIONS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE OF 96 HOURS, ESL AND A COST OF $70 PER MONTH. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER REOPENING THE CASE AGAINST THE SUSPECT. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN AS A GUILTY PERSON WITHOUT HAVING BEEN FOUND GUILTY, I WAS NOT, AM NOT, AND WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECISIONS OF OTHERS. THE CASE NUMBER IS 0 8 0 8 8 6 5 DASH 22 WAS CLOSED BECAUSE OF DETECTIVE JASON GARCIA AND HE CONDUCTED AN INSUFFICIENT INVESTIGATION WITH INCORRECT AND SCANT EVIDENCE. HE PROVIDED AN INCORRECT FORENSIC INTERVIEW DATE AND PREVENTED THE DECEMBER 6TH, 2022 DATE. MY DAUGHTER, MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL FORENSIC INTERVIEW AT THE CAC FACILITY. HE LIED THAT PROSECUTOR NEVIN DAY WAS THE PROSECUTOR IN MY DAUGHTER'S CASE. NEVIN DAY WAS THE PROSECUTOR IN MY CASE. THE SUSPECT WAS NOT SUBPOENAED TO TESTIFY. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE DENIES RECEIVING THE CASE AND GOD AND IN YOU. I TRUST THAT MY DAUGHTER CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE A FREE LIFE WITHOUT A MAN WHO IS EMOTIONALLY ABUSING HER TO AVOID CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS HOSTILE ACTS AGAINST HER. SHE CONTINUES TO LIVE WITH HIM. SHE HAS NO MEDICAL CARE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO HER SPORADICALLY. SHE'S CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING TREATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WILL HAVE MY STAFF NETWORK WITH CPS. THIS IS TOTALLY A CPS DECISION. OKAY. UM, SHOULD WE TALK TO SOMEBODY NOW? BEG YOUR PARDON? SHOULD WE TALK TO SOMEBODY NOW? YEAH. REBECCA'S GONNA ASSIST AND GET [02:10:01] A SPANISH SPEAKING, UH, ASSISTANT. OKAY. BUT WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION NOW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF REFERRING IT TO CPS. YOU MIGHT ASK HER IS THERE A CASEWORKER OR NAME THAT WOULD ASSIST US? UM, AND THE OKAY. UM, YEAH. BUT REBECCA, GET, UH, SHOULD WE TAKE THIS OUTSIDE, ALEJANDRO OR SOMEONE TO COME VISIT? UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND TRANSLATE THAT FOR HER. UM, YEAH, GIVE RENEE, GET THE INFORMATION. YOU CAN FIND THE CASEWORKER AND ALLOW CPS TO KNOW THAT SHE'S HERE. THEY NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB. OKAY. AND SHE ALSO HAD A QUESTION, THE DETECTIVE THAT SHE MENTIONED. NEVIN DAY. OKAY, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IN ALL DUE RESPECT, OKAY? WE'RE GONNA DO BEST WE CAN, BUT THIS IS NOT A CITY MATTER. WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION. OKAY. OVER HER UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU NEED TO ENCOURAGE HER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CPS. OBVIOUSLY THE DA'S OFFICE HAS REVIEWED IT, SO THERE'S NOT MUCH IN OUR HANDS THAT WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON, BUT WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH HER IN REGARDS TO THE CPS MATTER. LET ME, LEMME GO AHEAD AND TRANSLATE THAT FOR HER REAL QUICK, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SURE. OR YOU CAN HAVE YEAH, GO AHEAD. HOWEVER YOU, HOWEVER YOU'D LIKE TO CHOOSE. AND THEN SHE DID HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, MAYOR, REGARDING THE DETECTIVE. THIS, I'M SORRY, WHAT? SHE DID HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU REGARDING THE DETECTIVE ON THE CASE THAT WAS MENTIONED. JASON GARCIA, WHO CONDUCTED AN INEFFICIENT OKAY, WELL WE'RE GONNA INCLUDE THAT IN THE CONVERSATION. OKAY. BUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE. MM-HMM . IT'S NOT A CITY MATTER. OKAY. IF IT INVOLVED HPD, WE CAN HAVE A REVIEW OF IT AND WE HAVE AN HPD OFFICER THAT'LL TAKE THAT INFORMATION. WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN. OKAY? UM, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MEET DIRECTLY WITH YOUR ASSISTANT. YES. BUT ONE THING SHE DID SAY IS CPS HAS OPENED THIS CASE 12 TIMES ALREADY AND HASN'T I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. AND THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE GONNA COMMUNICATE BACK WITH THEM. BUT I HAVE NO CONTROL. NONE OF US DO OVER CPS. OKAY. IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW TO EVEN PASS JUDGMENT ON OTHER OFFICIALS. JUDGMENT. MM-HMM . SO LET'S DO THE BEST WE CAN TO ALLOW HER TO COMMUNICATE WITH CPS. OKAY. IF THEY'VE LOOKED AT IT 12 TIMES AND NOT RULED THEY HAVE A FINAL SAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD LUCK. NEXT. BRIAN ET IAN EL KELLY VALORE. I DON'T DO WELL WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT I'M REALLY, UM, BENT ABOUT THIS, CORRECT? NO, WE'RE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. I'M COMING FROM CLEAR LAKE CITY. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I HAVE LIVED IN CLEAR LAKE SINCE 1972. I WILL WILL TELL YOU THAT I KNOW WHERE ALL THE SKELETONS LIVE AND THEY'RE HAUNTING US. I WILL TELL YOU IF THE PREVIOUS, UM, PEOPLE SHARING WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR WATER, WE HAVE OUR OWN WATER SYSTEM. AND THAT IN 2008 I COULD TASTE BLEACH IN MY WATER SYSTEM. I WILL TELL YOU JUST RECENTLY THAT I WAS, UM, HARMED WITH SULFUR. THERE WAS SULFUR IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX AND I LITERALLY BROKE OUT WITH WELTS AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED AT METHODIST. UM, I ALSO WITNESSED THE SULFUR IN OUR RAIN THE NEXT DAY. THE RESIDUAL WAS IN THE BAYOU AND ALSO IN CHAIRS OUTSIDE OF OUR AA OF THE STREET CLUB. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE. I WAS BLESSED TO GO TO CLEAR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE AN AMAZING EDUCATION. I WORKED FOR AG A IG WHEN THEY WERE IN BED TOGETHER, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY. AND THEN GOT THEIR BAIL OUT AT OUR FINANCIAL CRISIS. AND IT WAS A SCHOOLMATE OF MINE. WHO WAS THE ATTORNEY ON THAT TO TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN HOMELESS BY CHOICE. NINE YEARS AGO. I WALKED OUT OF A FORECLOSED HOME. I WALKED AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN, HPD HAULED OFF A CAR ILLEGALLY, WENT TO COURT, WON THAT, AND WE JUST LET IT GO AT THAT. THEY'VE GOT LIKE FOUR CARS ACROSS THE STATES WITH, WITH ME. UM, I HAVE CYBER STALKING WHILE WORKING FOR NASA, I, UH, RENTED A HOUSE ON THEIR INTRANET AFTER [02:15:01] NINE ONE ONE, AS I CALL IT, AND MANDATORY FEDERAL, UM, INVESTIGATION, BACKGROUND CHECKS OR WHATEVER TO BE ASKED. THANK GOD ALREADY IN RECOVERY, WHY MY DAUGHTER WASN'T SHOWERING IN HER BEDROOM. THAT WAS JANUARY OF 2006. I TOOK THAT TO THE HEAD OF SECURITY AT JSC WHO HAPPENED TO ALSO BE IN RECOVERY TO THEN GET MYSELF BROUGHT HERE WITH JAIL DIVERSION BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING THE WW SEXAHOLICS INTERNATIONALLY ZOOM MEETINGS FROM MY CLUB TO HAVE PEOPLE WHACK OFF IN FRONT OF ME THERE AND THEN TRACK MY ASS DOWN HERE. OH YEAH, IT'S GETTING DARK. SO I'VE BEEN HOMELESS OH YEAH. FOR THREE YEARS HERE. AND THAT STARTED BECAUSE MY SON ESCORTED ME ON HIS BIRTHDAY TO THE THEATER. AND I WENT UNDER THE BRIDGE AND WITNESSED THAT AND SAID, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN. HERE'S MY HOT ID GRANDMA. 61 WANTS TO BE HOT. ALL I NEEDED WAS MY DRIVER'S LICENSE TO GET MONEY OUTTA MY BANK. NICK'S NEO COLBERT. GOOD AFTERNOON, . UH, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TOUGH MAYOR . HE DOESN'T NEED MY HELP IN SAYING, UH, IN TERMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND WORLD EVENTS CHANGING. IF HE HAS TO TAKE A PHONE CALL, I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THAT PHONE CALL. UH, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY GRACIOUS TO US THIS MORNING. LET ME SAY, UM, THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE. HOUSING MY REQUEST TODAY, UH, REQUEST ARE THAT THE CITY CONSIDER IN ITS, AND I HAVE TO STUDY THIS MORE PLAN FOR CONSOLIDATE CONSOLIDATED PLAN IN RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDINGS. THAT WE LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF EVICTIONS AS BEING A BARRIER TO HOUSING. SO IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK WITH THIS CITY COUNCIL AND MADE SOME PROGRESS. I'M HOUSED NOW, SO WE GET MAYBE ONE PERSON AT A TIME OR AS MANY AS WE CAN AND MOVE FORWARD. PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN THEIR JOBS. AND I'VE BEEN TOUGH OVER THE YEARS ON CITY COUNCIL. I I'M OLD NOW AND MORE TOLERANT OF EVERYBODY AND I ASK FOR THAT SAME TOLERANCE. UH, WHEN I LEAVE HERE TODAY, I WOULD LIKE HELP IN SHORT OF A TERM LEGAL. I'M NOT A LAWYER. UM, TORTUROUS INTERFERENCE. I NEED HELP AT THE NATHANIEL APARTMENTS. WITH THE HELP OF YOUR SENIOR COMMUNITY, UH, ADVISOR, UH, MS. REBECCA WILLIAMS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THE CITY COUNCIL'S MEMBERS IN UNDERSTANDING THEIR DISTRICTS AND WORKING WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES AND APARTMENTS, IF WE CAN SOMETIMES FAST FORWARD VULNERABLE PEOPLE, FRAGILE FAMILIES, WITHOUT OVERSTEPPING ANY BOUNDARIES LEGALLY WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY. UH, DO ASK THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH MOLD, THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY INSPECTION. AND I DID SHARE THAT EMAIL WHERE I GET BLASTED AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR COMPLAINING AND I JUST TELL THEM, I'M GONNA KEEP ON COMPLAINING. I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A SURVEY FORM IN YOUR LOBBY. SO I DO NEED HELP WITH THAT. I DO NEED HELP IN TERMS OF THE STALKING AND THE GANG ACTIVITY. MAYOR LISTS SORT OUT HOMELESSNESS AND BEING UNHOUSED FROM PEOPLE PREYING ON CITIZENS ON THE STREET WITH SCAMMERS, SCAMMERS, APPS, UH, JUST LITERALLY USING THE METRO SYSTEM. AND METRO GRACIOUSLY WILL HAVE ME AT THEIR BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. UM, I'M NOT, WELL, I DO NEED TO, UH, FIND OUT HOW I CAN GET SOME HELP AND, UH, I'LL FOLLOW WITH RENEE OR SOME OF THE OTHERS. GOOD SEEING YOU. FREDERICK MATOYA. AMANDA LUNA. [02:20:01] SANDRA ALLEN. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU TODAY, MAYOR WHITMEYER. GOOD. SO I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, MS. REBECCA, UH, WILLIAMS AND ANNETTE V AND THOSE TWO LADIES, THEY, UH, INTRODUCED ME TO THE ATTORNEY FOR, UH, SHE'S AN ATTORNEY FOR HARRIS COUNTY BY THE NAME OF VALERIE HI DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY HER LAST NAME, BUT IT'S A H HER PHONE NUMBER IS (281) 433-6286. SO SHE HAS, I CALLED HER, SHE ASKED ME TO COME IN HER OFFICE AT 25 25 MUR WORTH. I WENT AND SHE GAVE ME A FRIVOLOUS DOCUMENT DEALING WITH MY SON ON KIDNAPPING. AND UH, I SAID, UH, I NEED YOU TO RELEASE MY SON. AND SHE SAID, WELL, HARRIS COUNTY, I'M AN ATTORNEY. HARRIS COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE JURISDICTION OR GUARDIANSHIP OVER YOUR SON. SO I SAID, I KNOW MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HPD POLICE OFFICERS KIDNAPPED ME, KIDNAPPED MY SON WHILE WE WERE WALKING INTO CY-FAIR. JUST GOT OFF THE METRO BUS GOING TO THE POST OFFICE ON CAREWAY TO GET OUR MAIL. THE FOUR HPD OFFICERS MET US AT CLAY ROAD AND HIGHWAY SIX. AND THEY KIDNAPPED MY SON FROM ME. AND I TOLD HIM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SHE SAID, I HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER THAT. UH, BUT WHAT WE CAN, WHAT WE, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE, WE CAN, UH, LOOK FOR A SAFE PLACE FOR YOU TO VISIT YOUR SON. NOW I'M A WIDOW. MY, I JUST BURIED MY HUSBAND FEBRUARY THE 28TH OF 2025. LAST TIME I SAW MY SON WAS FEBRUARY THE 27TH. WHEN I WENT OVER THERE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE HAD BEEN HAULED SINCE HE HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED AT THE, UH, UT DON BUILDING OVER THERE OFF OF 2 88. THEY TOLD ME THAT, UM, I CAN'T COME TO THAT LOCATION ANYMORE. BUT THESE THREE LADIES THAT I JUST MENTIONED, THEY KNOW WHERE MY SON IS. AND THEY TOLD ME THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE FOR ME TO VISIT MY SON. SO I'M ASKING YOU BRING MY SON HERE TO CITY HALL AND TAKE ME BACK UP TO MISS REBECCA OFFICE WHERE SHE CALLED ME AND I MET WITH HER ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM. I NEED TO SEE MY SON AND I NEED MY SON TO BE RELEASED. MY SON, HIS GRADUATING SENIOR THIS YEAR, HE HAS MISSED GRADUATION FROM A LEAF HASTING HIGH SCHOOL. HE HAS MISSED PROM, SENIOR PICTURE DAY. HE HAS ALSO MISSED HIS GRADUATION. HE HAS MISSED GETTING CLASS RING. HE HAS MISSED ALL THE AND VACATION WHERE WE VACATION EVERY YEAR IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. OKAY. THAT'S COMING UP IN JUNE. I NEED HIM OUT. I NEED MY SON OUT SO HE CAN GET HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. AND UM, THEY DO WHAT I WAS WRONG. I'M STILL GRIEVING MY HUSBAND'S DEATH AFTER BEING MARRIED 30 YEARS. OKAY. AND I JUST BURIED MY HUSBAND FEBRUARY THE 28TH, 2025. SAW MY SON FEBRUARY THE 27TH AND MS. EDITH TURNER REFUSED TO LET MY SON GO TO HIS DAD'S FUNERAL. I ASKED HER, CAN I PICK MY SON UP IN THE LIMO? AND SHE TOLD ME, NO, WE DON'T LET HIM OUT TO COME TO HIS DAD'S FUNERAL. I SAID, WELL, WHY NOT? AND SHE'S LIKE, WE JUST NOT GONNA LET HIM GO. SO HE DONE MISS HIS DAD'S FUNERAL, MISSED ALL HIS SENIOR YEAR. HE'S BEEN KIDNAPPED SINCE 19. HE'S NOW 20. HE HAD A BIRTHDAY FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH, 2025. HE'S NOW A 20-YEAR-OLD YOUNG ADULT. HE WAS A YOUNG ADULT AT 19 WHEN THEY KIDNAPPED HIM, THE HE AND I. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE SORRY ABOUT YOUR, I'M, I'M GRIEVING MY SON TOO. I UNDERSTAND. AND THERE'S REBECCA WILLIAMS RIGHT OVER THERE THAT'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR CASE. SO I'M GONNA REFER YOU TO HER SO WE CAN GET AN UPDATE. YES, I NEED TO, I NEED TO SEE MY SON. I'M GRIEVING MY HUSBAND. I UNDERSTAND. AND I'M GRIEVING MY SON. OKAY. PLEASE TALK TO MR. WILLIAMS. YES, SIR. LET ME END THIS ON THE NOTE. MAYOR WHITMEYER, IF YOU START YOUR DAY OFF EVERY MORNING READING EXODUS CHAPTER 20, VERSE ONE THROUGH 25. IT WILL BLESS YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S EXODUS CHAPTER 28. THANK YOU. 1, 2, 25. GREAT RECOMMENDATION. AND IT WILL, IT WILL, IT WILL BLESS YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEAR. IT MADE A DIFFERENCE TODAY. THANK YOU. I'M GONNA GET WITH THESE LADIES AGAIN AND I NEED MY SON OUT BECAUSE HE'S CALLING MAMA. I CAN HEAR MY SON CALLING MAMA AND THEY ALREADY TOLD ME THESE LADIES. YOUR SON MISSES YOU VERY MUCH. I KNOW HE DOES. ALRIGHT, THANK I'M A MOTHER. I'VE HAD MY SON FROM BERT UNTIL THEY KIDNAP HIM AT [02:25:01] 19 AND I NEED HIM HOME. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, SIR. YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY. YOU TOO. NEXT O MAYOR. I ED. HELLO, MY NAME IS OMER. I LIVE IN DISTRICT K. I ASK THAT YOU BETTER FUND DRAINAGE FOLLOWING THE COURT'S RULING TO CORRECTLY ACCOUNT IN THE A VALOR TAX AND VOTE NO ON THE CURRENT BUDGET UNTIL THIS ADJUSTMENT HAS BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT BUDGET ALLOTMENT IS OUTRIGHT, IMMORAL AND UNFOUNDED UNTIL IT FACTORS IN THAT VALOREM TAX CORRECTLY. I ASK THAT YOU STOP SACRIFICING OUR CITY WORKERS TO SCAVENGING, PRIVATIZED INDUSTRY. YOU ARE NOT SAVING THE CITY MONEY BY PIMPING OUT OUR ESSENTIAL CITY FUNCTIONS TO PROFIT DRIVEN PRIVATIZATION CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAVING YOUR POLITICAL CAPITAL FOR, BUT IT CANNOT BE WORTH OUR LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS. IT CANNOT BE WORTH DROWNING FOR. IT CANNOT BE WORTH THE CUTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS, DRAINAGE LIFE, OR LIBERTY CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT WHEN BALD MALFORMED GREMLIN FACED PEOPLE ABUSE THEIR POWER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO YIELD TOWARDS THEIR EGO MANIACAL POWER TRIPS. I ASK YOU TO CURE YOURSELF OF COWARDICE. MOST OF THE POWER HE HOLDS OVER YOU HAS BEEN YIELDED WITHOUT HIM EVEN HAVING TO ASK. NAIL YOUR COURAGE TO THE STICKING PLACE AND SUMMON A SPINE. YOU CAN BORROW MINE IF YOU NEED ONE. NEXT, STEPHANIE VALDEZ. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. MY NAME'S STEPHANIE VALDES AND I'M WITH SEER, THE COALITION OF THE ENVIRONMENT'S EQUITY AND RESILIENCE AND SOLIDARITY WITH NAC. FOR OVER THREE YEARS THROUGH THREE BUDGET CYCLES, WE'VE ASKED FOR BASIC INVESTMENTS IN FLOOD PROTECTION. UH, 25 MILLION FOR DRAINAGE, 20 MILLION FOR DITCH REESTABLISHMENT, AND A FAIR TRANSPARENT SYSTEM FOR PRIORITIZING THE WORST HIT AREAS. OVER 100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE COME TO SPEAK AND OVER, I THINK, LIKE 40 TODAY. THE CITY SAYS IT'S BROKE, BUT SOMEHOW FINDS 832 MILLION FOR POLICE, A 10% RAISE AND CONTINUES TO COOPERATE WITH ICE CRIMINALIZING THE SAME WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES WHO ARE BEGGING FOR BASIC SERVICES. MEANWHILE, NEARLY 900 CITY JOBS ARE BEING CUT. PUBLIC WORKS IS GUTTED AND OUR PARKS ARE LOSING 4 MILLION THREATENING GREEN SPACE THAT PROVIDE HEALTH, SAFETY AND RELIEF FROM EXTREME HEAT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY IS GIVING 92.9 MILLION IN TAX BREAKS TO POLLUTERS LIKE CHEVRON AND SHELL WHO ARE OFTEN Y'ALL'S BIGGEST, BIGGEST DONORS. HAVE A NICE DAY MAYOR. WE ARE NOT SAFER WHEN WE FUND ICE AND POLICE OVER PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE SAFER WHEN WE INVEST IN PEOPLE AND NOT POLLUTERS. WE'RE URGING COUNSEL TO STAND UP AND VOTE NO ON THIS CURRENT VERSION OF THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ALICE LOU. WE'RE ARE THREE DAYS AWAY FROM ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS WOEFULLY INEXCUSABLY AND CRIMINALLY UNPREPARED. HOUSTONIANS ARE BUYING WATER AND GENERATORS BECAUSE WE LIVE IN DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CAN'T COUNT ON TO PROTECT US DITCHES THAT FILL IN STREETS, THAT FLOOD A POWER GRID THAT WENT OUT FOR WEEKS WITH JUST A CATEGORY ONE STORM. WE'RE THREE DAYS AWAY FROM HURRICANE SEASON AND CITY LEADERSHIP HAS LEFT US TO DROWN, TO QUOTE THE WALLS OF THIS BUILDING. THERE IS NO MORE PERFECT ENDOWMENT IN MAN THAN POLITICAL VIRTUE, VIRTUE COURAGE AND INTEGRITY. CITY COUNSELORS REMEMBER THAT YOU WORK FOR US, NOT WHITMEYER. WE ELECTED YOU NOT WHITMEYER. OUR GOVERNMENT IS BEING STRIPPED OF EVERYTHING GOOD BY TRUMP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AT AT THE STATE, AND WHITMEYER IN THE CITY. AND THERE'S NO TIME, IF NOT NOW, TO FIND THE COURAGE TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE, NOT THE 1%. HERE'S ANOTHER QUOTE FROM THE LOBBY. AS WE BUILD OUR CITY, LET US THINK THAT WE ARE BUILDING FOREVER. THIS IS A BUDGET THAT DIGS US INTO A DEEPER FISCAL HOLE WITH IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING ON POLICE WHILE IGNORING THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO KEEP LIVING IN THE CITY WE KNOW AND LOVE. Y'ALL MAY BE LEAVING OFFICE IN TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, BUT WE WANT TO STAY HERE AND WE NEED TO GO FOR FOREVER. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. DAMANI M ANI. JACOB CLEMENT HERE. I'M HERE. I'M COME ON JACOB. SORRY THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER IS OUT OF HERE. BUT I WAS GONNA SAY I HAVEN'T BEEN [02:30:01] IN YOUR HAIR FOR SO LONG BECAUSE I WAS HARD OF WORK PAYING TAXES FOR YOUR BUDGET AT END ANYWAY. UH, I'M SORRY TO BE IN YOUR HAIR AGAIN, BUT I YOU CAN'T SAY THAT FOR MAYOR WHITMEYER. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL. THANK YOU. VICE. WHERE WERE Y'ALL? UM, UH, THREE YEARS AGO AND FOUR DAYS AGO. THREE YEARS AND FOUR DAYS AGO. WHERE WERE Y'ALL? I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I WAS. I WAS HERE WHEN THIS, I FOUND OUT FROM MAYOR TURNER THAT THAT WAS WHEN YOU, YOU VOTED HAPPENED AND THAT WASN'T ANY GOOD. AND SO I JUST WANT TO REMEMBER THOSE, UH, POOR LITTLE, UH, UM, KIDS THAT GOT MURDERED AND THE TWO TEACHERS STOOD ALSO GOT MURDERED AT. ANYWAY. UH, MR. POLLARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK ME ABOUT THE NATIVITY SCHOOL? YES. GOOD TO SEE YOU, JACOB. UH, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE NATIVITY SCHOOL? ENG? GOFTON. OH, OKAY. YES, I CAN. YES, SIR. UM, AT ANY RATE, UM, UH, DOMINIC VARNER AND THE PARTNER OF THE LAW FIRM, HUGHES WATERS AGENCY, UH, TOLD ME TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE, THAT NATIVITY SCHOOL IN THE GOLDEN AREA, WHICH IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. AND SO SHE ASKED ME TO ASK YOU TO VISIT IT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. I WILL DO THAT. JACOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, AND YOU READY WITH THE AGGIE JOKE? DO YOU HAVE A GOOD ONE, JACOB? OKAY. YOU KNOW, A AND M STANDS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND MINING. WHILE THIS SENIOR FROM STROKE, JESUIT NAMED NICHOLAS, UH, DECIDED TO MAJOR IN AGRICULTURE AND MINING, HE STARTED TO MINE AND STRUCK THE MOTHER LOAD. AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE DECIDED TO PLANT AROUND THE, THE, THE ANCIENTS TO THE MINE. A BUNCH OF CARROTS GET DIAMONDS CARROTS. GOLD CARROTS. THANKS, JACOB. THANK YOU, JACOB. NEXT SPEAKER. VINS. GENO. NOPE. LSA MARRON. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, Y'ALL. UM, I'M HERE STUDYING FOR, UM, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY AT HARRIS COUNTY. I FEEL LIKE THE VIOLENT, UH, THE, IT'S LIKE THE TEXAS CODE 1 0 1 0.101, THE TEXAS COURT, UM, CLAIM THE GOVERNMENTAL, UM, I STARTED WITH CONTUSION FROM METROBUS. I FILED A CLAIM. A CLAIM WAS DENIED UNPROFESSIONALLY. UM, I WANT THIS, UM, ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THEM DIRECTLY. UM, I'M ASKING THAT CITY EMPLOYEES TO, UM, THAT WERE ELECTED. WE ELECTED YOU GUYS TO HELP ME ADDRESS THESE, UM, PROBLEMS THAT I'VE BEEN FACING. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR FOUR MONTHS IN A ROW. THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WITH METROPOLITAN TERMS OF AUTHORITY HAVE VIOLATED THE TEXAS TO CLAIM AGAINST ME. AND I FEEL THAT I NEED THIS COMPENSATION FROM THEM IMMEDIATELY. UM, I, I NEED SOME, I I'M LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION MORE. AND, UM, ABOUT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS ALL WANTED TO SPEAK. I FEEL LIKE THIS HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE KICKING PEOPLE OUT OF THIS LIBRARY. THEY'RE SLEEPING IN THERE. THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. WE NEED FUNDING FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE. I'M, I'M HOMELESS, BUT I'M GETTING FUNDING, THANK GOD. BUT THIS NOT, THIS MUST END TODAY. IT'S GONNA PAUSE JUNE 1ST, THIS ISSUE. AND AFTER THE MAYOR, WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THAT. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. UM, SO WE CAN GET THIS ADDRESSED, UM, IMMEDIATELY. 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED FROM THE CITY EMPLOYEES FROM THE LIBRARY AND DISTANCE ADDRESS. UH, I DON'T KNOW. OKAY. IF YOU COULD PLEASE GO TALK TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RIGHT OVER HERE AND, UM, THEY'LL ASSIST YOU WITH THAT. I, WHO'S COMING MY CITY COUNCIL. I'M SORRY. AND SHOULD I GIVE MY CONTACT NUMBER? YEAH, IF YOU COULD GIVE IT OVER, UM, TO THE GENTLEMAN STANDING UP RIGHT THERE. AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. SO, UH, THANK YOU. I, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS AGAIN, BUT STILL, I'M STILL FIGHTING FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT THEY'RE DISGRACE COMPLETELY. THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU COULD GO TALK TO HIM. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE TOO. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER. YES. COMPLETE THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. [02:35:04] WE WILL MOVE ON [CONSENT AGENDA] TO THE, UM, CONSENT AGENDA. MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. NEED A MOTION. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UM, ALL IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED ITEMS. CARRY, I'M SORRY. UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABS, TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEMS 5, 6, 7, AND EIGHT. NEED A MOTION. HUFFMAN MOVES. OBJECTION. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY. ITEM NINE NEEDS A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES OR ITEM CARRIES UNDER, UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. MM-HMM . ITEMS 11, 14, 15, 16, AND 41 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 11, 14, 15, 16, AND 41. HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED. ITEM 18 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 12, 13, 19, 22, 32 AND 38 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 12, 13, 19, 22, 32, AND 38. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED, JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. ALL IS THE BUDGET. ONE MOMENT. HMM. 12 IS THE BUDGET. WE JUST NEED THE AMENDMENTS FROM EVERYONE. OKAY. LET'S LOOK AT THE AMENDMENT CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE SUBMITTED, UM, SEVEN BUDGET AMENDMENTS, 1.01 THROUGH 1.07. I MOVE AT THIS TIME TO AMEND 1.01. UM, THE ORIGINAL VERSION HAD 875,000 COMING OUT OF HUMAN RESOURCES. I MOVE TO AMEND TO HAVE THAT SAME AMOUNT COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE. ADDITIONALLY, MAYOR, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR NEXT, UH, AMENDMENT. 1.02 HAD 125,000 COMING OUT OF HUMAN RESOURCES. I MOVE TO AMEND THIS TO HAVE IT COME OUT OF GENERAL FUND BALANCE. OKAY. SO 1 0 1 AND 1 0 2 2. SO REMOVING HUMAN RESOURCE MAYOR, TAG CLIENT SERVICES AND TALENT TAG THE ITEM AND GENERAL FUND BALANCE. COUNCILMAN POLL TAG. OKAY. UM, BEFORE THE TECH POINT POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR, UH, ON, ON SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS. I KNOW EVEN ON MINE, I MEAN, I'M WAITING ON A COUPLE ANSWERS FOR THINGS. SO I KNOW I'M GONNA BE AMENDING SOME THINGS OVER THE NEXT WEEK. [02:40:01] BUT I THINK WHAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO IS ACCEPT WHAT'S, WHAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO MARTA AND WITH THE, WITH THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS MAY CHANGE A LITTLE BIT OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK. IF THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. IT'S ACCEPTABLE WITH ME. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD. TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN POLLARD. NOTHING FROM DAVIS CARTER. COUNCILMAN CARTER? A PLUMBER? SOMEBODY RAISE THEIR HAND? NO, NO COMMENTS. OKAY. NO COMMENTS. NO COMMENTS. NOTHING. WE HAVE, THEY'RE SUBMITTED IN WRITING, SO, YEAH. GOT IT. WE GOT IT. AND WE HAVE PECK. COUNCILMAN PECK. VERY GOOD. TAG. UH, THE PROPOSALS, THE ITEM IS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN ALCORN. YEP. VERY GOOD. NEXT ITEM. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 13. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. WE NEED THAT TAG TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN ALCORN. ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. RECLAIMER, AFTER. CAN I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE WE VOTE? YEAH. IS THAT OKAY? UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS. MAYOR, DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY FINANCIAL LITERACY A PART OF THIS? I'M SORRY, WHAT? DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY FINANCIAL LITERACY AS A PART OF THIS PROGRAM? I DO NOT KNOW. I'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER. I'LL FIND OUT AND LET HER KNOW. I'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER. OKAY. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE. MAKE SURE THAT'S A PART OF THIS. SURE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. OPPOSED? OPPOSED. NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. POLL. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM IS, UH, THE PROPOSITION. A PROPOSAL THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY MYSELF. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, I WANT TO FIRST START BY THANKING THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION, UH, THE ADVOCACY GROUPS. AND THIS MORNING WE RECEIVED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM, UH, THE CHIEF OF POLICE ON THIS AS WELL. UM, THIS IS REGARDING, UH, THE TRAFFIC STOP QUOTAS. UM, CURRENTLY UNDER STATE LAW, THERE'S A, THERE IS STATUTE THAT ALREADY BARS QUOTAS FOR TICKETING. UM, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT BARS, UH, QUOTAS FOR STOPS. AND WHAT WE FOUND IS IN THE PAST, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN POLICY WITHIN HPD, UH, THAT REQUIRED OFFICERS TO, UM, MAKE ONE, AT LEAST ONE STOP PER SHIFT. AND, UH, THAT HAS CAUSED A UPTICK AND POLICE STOPS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND WE'VE SEEN BY THE NUMBERS THAT THERE HAS BEEN DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN STOPPED. AND THERE HAS BEEN ALSO, UH, AN INCREASE IN OFFICER INVOLVED INCIDENTS. AND SO WE WANT TO BRING FORTH THIS PROPOSAL AS A WAY IN WHICH TO KEEP OUR OFFICERS SAFE, AS WELL AS ALSO TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE. UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE COMMUNITY AND POLICE BOTH SAT DOWN AT THE EXACT SAME TABLE, HAD SOME REALLY, UM, INSIGHTFUL DIALOGUE. AND BASED ON THAT DIALOGUE CAME TO, UH, SOME CONSENSUS THAT THIS POLICY, UH, SHOULD WE BE REVIEWED AND WE SHOULD BRING IT FORTH AS AN ORDINANCE, UH, SO THAT IT HAS, UH, A LOT OF WEIGHT TO IT. AND IT'S NOT JUST A POLICY THAT'S CHANGING, BUT AN ACTUAL ORDINANCE THROUGH OUR CODE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, ALL THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS ON BOTH SIDES. UH, THIS IS A WIN [02:45:01] FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I'M ASKING YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I TOO, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS, UM, ORDINANCE. UM, ALL, UM, THIS ISSUE IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME. UM, AND MARY, AND I KNOW I MIS MENTIONED TO YOU THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS 24 YEARS OLD, I WAS ARRESTED IN FRONT OF MY CHILD'S DAYCARE CENTER AT 11:00 PM FOR ALLEGEDLY STOPPING AND ROLLING THROUGH A STOP SIGN. UM, THE OFFICER WAS AGGRESSIVE. HE THREATENED ME, HE HANDCUFFED ME, AND HE TOOK ME TO JAIL. AND I WASN'T THREATENED. I WASN'T TREATED LIKE A HUMAN BEING. I WAS TREATED LIKE A NUMBER, A TARGET, AND A THREAT. AND THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO. AND STILL TODAY AT 54 YEARS OLD, I GET NERVOUS EVERY TIME A POLICE OFFICER CAR PULLS BEHIND ME. AND THAT'S NOT PARANORMAL. THAT IS EXPERIENCE LIVED. EXPERIENCE. POLICIES THAT PRESSURE OFFICERS TO MEET CITATION QUOTAS MAKE THESE KINDS OF INTERACTIONS MORE LIKELY. THEY CREATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PERFORMANCES IS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF TICKETS WRITTEN, NOT BY THE SAFETY OF OUR STREETS OR THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. RELATIONSHIPS. QUOTAS PUSH OFFICERS TO FOCUS ON VOLUME, NOT VALUE. THEY STRIP AWAY THE DISCRETION AND JUDGMENT THAT GOOD POLICING IS BUILT ON. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY DAMAGE THE PUBLIC TRUST. THAT'S IT. THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR REAL PUBLIC SAFETY. LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD PROTECT AND SERVE, NOT PERFORM AND PRODUCE. THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS OFFICERS TO FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST. STOPPING DANGEROUS DRIVERS SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY AND BUILDING RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. REMOVING THIS QUOTA WON'T JUST HELP OFFICERS. IT WOULD HELP ALL OF US FEEL SAFER, SEEN AND RESPECTED. I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT AND TAKE A STEP FORWARD MORE TO A MORE JUST COMPASSIONATE AND ACCOUNTABLE POLICING. THANK YOU. AND YOU AND I DISCUSSED THAT THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION OR THE CURRENT POLICE CHIEF. IT WAS THE PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEF AND PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT IN AN ORDINANCE FORM, BUT IT'S NOT BEEN THE PRACTICE OF HPD SINCE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW POLICE CHIEF. ALRIGHT, SO THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND I WANT TO CREDIT CHIEF DIAZ FOR RESCINDING THIS POLICY THAT WAS ENACTED UNDER A PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS TAUGHT HUNDREDS OF, UH, CADETS AT THE POLICE ACADEMY ON SEARCH AND SEIZURE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS KIND OF POLICY THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED THAT REQUIRES A MINIMUM NUMBER OF STOPS PER SHIFT, INVITES FOURTH AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS, AND CAN LEAD TO UNNECESSARY USES OF FORCE. SO I SUPPORT THIS, UM, ORDINANCE TO PREVENT, UH, POLICE CHIEFS IN THE FUTURE FROM ENACTING THIS KIND OF POLICY. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I, FIRST I WANNA APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUE EDWARD POLLARD. UM, WHEN WE SPOKE, I WAS GETTING SO MUCH MISINFORMATION REGARDING WHETHER QUOTAS EXISTED, BUT HE JUST MADE A CLEAR, CLEAR STATEMENT ABOUT THE STOPS. AND SO, UH, I CERTAINLY WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM, UH, BECAUSE, BUT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE CANNOT LEGISLATE RACIAL PROFILING. UH, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN GET PAST THAT, UH, BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS, I THINK TO JUST STOP PEOPLE JUST BASED ON THEIR RACE. AND SO I CERTAINLY WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE I WANT TO CUT DOWN ON UNNECESSARY INTERACTION. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT STEP AND AN OPPORTUNITY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE OTHERS THAT SIGNED ON THIS FOR THIS. THANK YOU, UH, VERY WELL. UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UM, THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA. UH, CAN I START WITH [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] JACKSON? START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. YOU POPOFF POPOFF FIRST. THANK YOU. UM, SO I WANNA INVITE, UM, CONSTITUENTS OUT TO OUR MONTHLY DISTRICT B UM, FBLA MEETING, WHICH IS OUR FAITH-BASED ALLIANCE. UH, MY FAITH-BASED ALLIANCE AND DISTRICT B HAVE BEEN MEETING FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. UM, EVERY MONDAY MORNING AT 8:00 AM WE HAVE A PRAYER LINE. AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. AND THEN ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH, UM, THE FAITH-BASED COME TOGETHER AND THEY LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT, UM, OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO THIS MEETING, UM, THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION ABOUT PUBLIC FINANCE FIRMS. UM, ACTUALLY, YEAH, IT A PRE PRESENTATION BY THE PUBLIC FINANCE FIRM AND COMPANY HOSTED BY CHERYL TURNER, UM, THE PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND FOUNDER OF ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION CONSULTING. [02:50:01] AND SHE WILL SPEAK WITH OUR, UM, BASE ABOUT WHAT FUNDERS LOOK FOR WHEN APPLYING FOR GRANTS, UM, COMET PITFALLS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM, AND HOW TO BUILD YOUR ORGANIZATION READINESS, PROFILE AND UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES IN DISASTER RECOVERY, FOOD ACCESS, HOUSING, AND MORE. AND SO THIS MEETING IS TAKING PLACE ON JUNE THE THIRD, MONDAY AT 3:00 PM TO 5:00 PM AND IT WOULD BE HELD AT, UM, DARREN LOOP CHURCH, LOCATED AT 70 14 DARREN STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 2 8. AND THEN ALSO ON THURSDAY, UM, TOMORROW CENTER POINT WILL BE HOLDING A, UM, GENERATION DONATION EVENT, UM, AT THE NORTHEAST MULTI SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 97 20 SPALDING. UM, THIS EVENT IS GONNA TAKE PLACE FROM 10 TO 10 30 WHERE THEY WILL BE DONATING, UM, THE GENERATOR TO THE NORTHEAST MULTI SERVICE CENTER. AND THEN LASTLY, UM, JUNETEENTH, UM, ACRES HOMES NEIGHBORHOOD, WELL, THEY HAVING A JUNETEENTH ACRES HOME NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, UM, WHICH IS GONNA BE HAPPENING AT SIX TO SEVEN 19 WEST MONTGOMERY. UM, SATURDAY, JUNE THE 14TH FROM 8:00 AM TO NOON. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT 8 3 2 8 4 0 7 1 3 8. AND I ENCOURAGE ALL IN CONSTITUENTS TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISTRICT B BUZZ. UM, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 OR E ME. EMAIL US AT DISTRICT B@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM. I JUST WANNA TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO, UH, TALK ABOUT ONE OF MY BUDGET AMENDMENTS. UM, SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH EFFICIENCY, UH, BUT ONE ADDRESSES, UH, THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. AND, UM, I WANT TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC THAT, UH, WHAT I PROPOSE TO DO IS TO BEEF UP THE CAPABILITY OF OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO INITIATE, UH, CASES TO, TO GO AFTER NUISANCES IN NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, THIS IS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND, UH, ONE, ONE OF MY PROPOSALS IS TO, UM, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT TWO ADDITIONAL ATTORNEYS TO HANDLE NUISANCE ACTIONS ALONG WITH ONE PARALEGAL. UM, I ALSO PROPOSED TO BEEF UP ENFORCEMENT IN THE, UH, A RA DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS. WE RECENTLY PASSED A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE ORDINANCE AFTER WORKING ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND A NUMBER OF US SAID THAT IF WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH AND ACTUALLY THE ORDINANCE, THEN IT WOULDN'T DO ANY GOOD. AND SO IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT AND OTHER ORDINANCES, UH, GET PROPERLY ENFORCED, I PROPOSE TO MOVE FUNDING $250,000 TO A RA TO FUND TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES TO HANDLE, UH, ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE ORDINANCES. ALSO, WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THINGS LIKE PROHIBITED YARD PARKING AND OTHER VIOLATIONS IN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO I PROPOSE TO MOVE FUNDING TO PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH WILL NOW HOUSE, UH, THE, THESE TYPE OF CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, EMPLOYEES SO THAT WE CAN BEEF UP THOSE, UM, THOSE RESOURCES AND DO A BETTER JOB. UM, ORIGINALLY I PROPOSED THAT THIS MONEY COME OUT OF, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES, WHICH, WHICH IS, UH, SEEKING AN INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGET. HOWEVER, I WAS ENCOURAGED BY, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE IT COME OUT OF GENERAL FUND BALANCE. AND SO THAT, THAT IS WHAT I'M PROPOSING TO DO AND I HOPE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL GET BEHIND THIS EFFORT NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROAM. UM, I'M GONNA, I WAS GONNA ASK THESE QUESTIONS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S, I'M HERE. OH, OKAY. A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL SUBMIT THESE AS WELL. UM, TODAY WE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, UM, AND JUST A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD PROBABLY ANSWER, BUT AGAIN, I'LL SUBMIT THESE TO THE ADMINISTRATION. UM, IS IS THE, IF THE CONTROLLER IS NOT CERTIFYING THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AT WHAT POINT DOES HE CERTIFY, OR WHAT IS HE CERTIFY ULTIMATELY? OH, HE, HE DOESN'T CERTIFY THE BUDGET, AND THAT'S HISTORICAL. UH, AND THE REASON IS IT IS NOT AN EXPENDITURE OF OVER 50,000. OKAY. IT'S AN ESTIMATE, IT'S A PROJECTION. WHAT HE WOULD CERTIFY ARE ANY APPROPRIATIONS. OKAY. INCLUDING LIKE THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FOR FY 26. SO ARE THERE ANY BUDGET RELATED ACTION ITEMS, UM, BEFORE, BEFORE SPENDING IS, IS REQUIRED THAT THE CONTROLLER NEEDS TO CERTIFY WITHIN HIS BUDGET? NO, THE, THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATION THAT HE NEEDS TO CERTIFY, HE, THE DUTY UNDER THE CHARTER IS WHERE, WHERE FROM, WHICH FUNDS ARE THEY COMING FROM, AND IS THERE SUFFICIENT MONEY FOR THAT APPROPRIATION, WHICH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS, HAS SAID THAT THERE IS, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A MORE OF A MINISTERIAL CALCULATION [02:55:01] THAN WHAT IT IS RATHER THAN A POLICY. IF YOU DECIDED TO NOT CERTIFY THE APPROPRIATIONS, ANY ESSENTIAL SERVICE, WOULD THEY BE IMPACTED IF THAT HAPPENS? UH, THEY, THEY COULD EVENTUALLY. IF, IF THE MONEY IS, DOESN'T FLOW. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE BEFORE SOMETHING IS IMPACTED WHEN IT COMES TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES? UH, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BY THE END OF THE, THE FISCAL YEAR. SO WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY MORNING AT 10. WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE DR 24 MONEY AND THE C-D-B-D-D-R 24 MONEY, AND WE WILL HAVE THE KINDER INSTITUTE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE, YOUR 2 CENTS BUDGET SURVEY. SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. WHO ADVISED ME UP PRO TIM. UH, LAST FRIDAY MY OFFICE PARTICIPATED IN THE HD 1 46 LEGISLATOR TOWN HALL, HOSTED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN SIMMONS AT THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. THE EVENT WAS A SUCCESS WITH STRONG COMMUNITY TURNOUT AND IMPORTANT DIALOGUE ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO OUR RESIDENTS. UH, WE WILL HAVE THREE MEANINGFUL EVENTS. WE HAVE MEANINGFUL EVENTS ALL THE TIME, BUT WE'LL HAVE MEANINGFUL EVENTS THIS WEEK, ESPECIALLY, UH, THE AT AND T DEVICE DISTRIBUTION, UH, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY, UH, DISTRICT D, THE YWCA HOUSTON, AND AT AND T IT WILL BE A LAPTOP DISTRIBUTION FOR DISTRICT D FAMILIES AND STUDENTS. IT WILL BE TODAY, UH, FROM FIVE TO 6:30 PM AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK AND CONSERVANCY 30 18 EMANCIPATION AVENUE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMPU DOT, AT AND T IS PROVIDING REFURBISHED LAPTOPS TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND OUR COMMUNITY. UH, STERLING HIGH SCHOOL AVIATION CLUB RECOGNITION CEREMONY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS, THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, HISD, AND ALSO MY OFFICE, UH, WILL BE A CEREMONY RECOGNIZING THE STERLING AVIATION CLUB STUDENTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH WILL BE THURSDAY THE 29TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 9:30 AM AT STERLING HIGH SCHOOL. 11 6 2 5 MARTINDALE ROAD. 7 7 0 4 8, UH, CELEBRATING STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN AVIATION FOCUS PROJECTS AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS THROUGH HAS AL. ALSO ON TOMORROW, UH, PORT HOUSTON, SAM HOUSTON BOAT TOUR, STUDENTS FROM, UH, JACK YATES STERLING AND EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION PARTNERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN AN EDUCATIONAL BOAT TOUR AT PORT HOUSTON ON TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM UH, AT THE SAM HOUSTON, UH, BOAT TOUR DOCK. AND IT'S ORGANIZED FOR 60 PLUS STUDENTS AND PARTNERS TO GAIN EXPOSURE TO MARITIME AND PORT OPERATIONS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ARE VERY GOOD HIGH PAYING JOBS. MY OFFICE IS SUPPORTING PARTICIPATION FROM OUR DISTRICT D CAMPUSES. AS ALWAYS, MY OFFICE REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE PRESENCE, PARTNERSHIP, AND PROGRESS IN DISTRICT D. THAT WAS A TONGUE TWISTER, UH, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MAYOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROTI. I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE DISTRICT H OFFICE IS GONNA BE PARTNERING WITH BARK FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JUNE, AND WE'RE GONNA BE SPONSORING PET ADOPTIONS, UM, WITH, FOR ALL THE, THE ANIMALS THAT WE HAVE THERE, DOGS, CATS, PUPPIES, KITTENS. WE'VE GOT SOME FANTASTIC ANIMALS AT BARK READY TO GO TO A LOVING HOME. AND, UM, I'M PROUD TO WORK WITH THEM ON THIS EFFORT SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM, UH, OUT OF THE SHELTER AND WITH A LOVING FAMILY. SO THIS, THIS ADOPTION FEE WILL BE COVERED, UH, THAT INCLUDES THE MICROCHIPPING AND PET LICENSING FEE FOR ONE YEAR. ALSO THE SPAY NEUTER, UM, SURGERY AS WELL. AND SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN GO TO BARK TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 12:00 PM TO 5:00 PM AND VISIT, UH, WITH ANY OF THE ANIMALS THERE AND, AND HOPEFULLY FIND ONE THAT IS A FIT FOR YOUR FAMILY. BUT WE, WE WANT TO GET AS MANY OF THEM INTO, INTO HOMES THIS SUMMER, UM, SO THAT WE CAN FREE UP SPACE FOR ANIMALS THAT ARE ON THE STREETS. AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS, ON THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU. THIS SUNDAY AT ONE O'CLOCK AT THE GREENWOOD PARK, WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING A POP-UP EVENT TO GET FEEDBACK ON IMPROVEMENTS TO GREENWOOD PARK WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. SO, LOVE IT FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS TO COME OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO, TO MAKE THAT PARK, UH, A BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I JUST WANT TO THANK HPD. [03:00:01] MY CAR WAS STOLEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND HPD ALREADY FOUND MY VEHICLE. THEY DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB. I CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO, UM, SAY SPECIAL THANKS TO CHIEF HARDIN, SERGEANT KING, CAPTAIN CHENEY, CAPTAIN WYNN, LIEUTENANT HARDING, OFFICER MIRANDA. ALSO THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS FOR LETTING ME BORROW THEIR CAR SO I COULD GET HERE TODAY. AND, UM, TO MY MOM FOR RECOVERING MY CAR WHILE I WAS HERE. SO, UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. HPD DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB. UM, AND THEN MY KIDS ARE WATCHING AT HOME, SO I MADE SURE THAT I WOULD SAY HI TO THEM. UM, HI ABIGAIL AND ANNABELL. UM, . THANKS. WE, UM, STAND ADJOURNED. UM, GOOD, GOOD NEWS FOR US. RIGHT? UM, ON THE OTHER LINE, I'LL JUST POINT OUT THAT THE ONLY REASON THE OTHER LINE IS LOWER IS THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE PUT INTEREST ON POOLED INVESTMENTS. AND IF YOU REMEMBER, THE FED WAS PROJECTED TO LOWER INTEREST RATES GOING INTO THIS YEAR AND INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THEY HAVEN'T GONE DOWN AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT. SO MAYBE WE'LL EXCEED THAT ONE, BUT THAT'S JUST BASED ON A PROJECTION OF THOSE INTEREST RATES. OKAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. JUST A GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF WHERE WE ARE AND THE TREND IN REVENUE. IT CONTINUES TO GO UPWARD. WE, WE EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE. WE'RE GONNA COVER SOME UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS AND UNEMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS LATER ON THAT SHOW THAT HOUSTON'S AIRPORT IS VIBRANT AND GROWING AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. NOW, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UH, THE EFFECTS OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE ON THE ECONOMY AND, AND, AND FLYING, BUT FLYING SEEMS TO BE A, A HIGHER PRIORITY NOW FOR THE NEXT GENERATION THAN IT WAS FOR SOME PRIOR GENERATIONS. SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN A LOT OF FLUCTUATION OUTSIDE OF SOME INTERNATIONAL INBOUND FROM CANADA. UM, BUT IT'S BEEN MOSTLY OFFSET BY INTERNATIONAL OUTBOUND FROM THE US SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE STAYING PRETTY SOLID ON OUR FLYING. IF WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CAVEAT. UH, WE ARE MAKING AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE IN HOW WE ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF OUR, UH, EXPENDITURES. AND THIS IS AN IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY. THERE WAS A CHANGE MADE A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE OUR SKYWAY MAINTENANCE CONTRACT AND OUR PARKING CONTRACT WAS MOVED INTO 80 11 FUND 80 11 AND PAID OUT OF 80 11. UM, I, I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID IT. I CAME IN AFTER THE FACT. IT'S NOT PHILOSOPHICALLY THE WAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MANAGE THAT. JIM WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH ME WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT BACK. IT LOOKS LIKE AN EXPENSE. IT SMELLS LIKE AN EXPENSE, AN OPERATING EXPENSE. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT BACK INTO OPERATING EXPENSE. SO YOU'LL SEE SOME FUNKINESS AS WE GO FORWARD BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT THE NUMBERS WILL ALL SQUARE UP IN, INSTEAD OF IT SHOWING UP AS A IF NOW, IT'S GONNA SHOW UP AS, YEAH, 8,001 O AND M. IT, IT'S O AND M FUNDING AND IT'S GONNA BE IN THE O AND M ACCOUNT. IT'S NOT GONNA BE HIDDEN, UM, IN ANOTHER ACCOUNT. SO, UM, AND, AND THIS IS THE WAY MOST AIRPORTS DO IT. SO I, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO BE ANOMALOUS. UM, AND ALSO EVERY TIME I HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH A RATING AGENCY OR, OR A A AN UNDERWRITER OR, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL FIRM, THEY, THEY ASK ME THE QUESTION AND, AND THEY KNOW THAT IT'S MOVED AND THAT THEY HAVE TO ADD IT BACK IN. AND RATHER THAN GO THROUGH THAT STEP EVERY TIME I DECIDED IT'S PROBABLY JUST BEST TO MOVE IT BACK UP. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT YOU'LL SEE IT LOOKS LIKE OUR EXPENSES ARE GOING UP DRAMATICALLY AND THEY'RE NOT. SO WE'LL COVER THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR 8,001, THEY'RE PROJECTED TO BE 738.7 MILLION, WHICH IS 4.8% OVER OUR 25 ESTIMATE. THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF DEBT SET SERVICE TRANSFERS, A IF EVERYTHING. OUR O AND M EXPENDITURES ARE BUDGETED TO BE 476 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 86.8 MILLION OR 22.3%, BUT 62.8 MILLION OF THAT ARE THOSE TWO ITEMS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. THE SKYWAY, UH, MAINTENANCE CONTRACT AND THE PARKING CONTRACT. OUR PERSONNEL BUDGET IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE BY $3 MILLION DUE TO RE RETIREMENTS AND VACANCY FACTOR. OUR SUPPLIES AND NON-CAPITAL EQUIPMENT ARE BUDGETED INCREASE VERY SLIGHTLY BY, UH, UH, 0.38 MILLION, 13.5% CONTRACTED SERVICES. THIS IS WHERE THE, THE MONEY'S SHOWING UP OUR BUDGET TO INCREASE 89.4 OR 40.1% PRIMARILY DUE TO THOSE SKYWAY AND [03:05:01] PARKING COUNTY CHANGES. AND THEN OUR, UH, 135.6 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND IS AN INCREASE OF 8.9 MILLION OR 7.1% OVER OUR FY 25 ESTIMATE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY. MOVING INTO THE DETAILS BY LINE ITEM, JUST SO IT'S A LITTLE CLEAR. PERSONNEL OVERALL IS GOING DOWN 2% VERSUS OUR ESTIMATES SUPPLIES ARE GOING DOWN, OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES AND CHARGES ARE GOING UP. AND I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAKDOWN ON THE NEXT PAGE TO SHOW YOU KIND OF THE DETAIL OF THOSE TWO PIECES THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. NON CAP IS GOING UP 13.9% AND THEN OUR DEBT SERVICE AND OTHER USES IS GOING DOWN BY 53 MILLION. THAT'S THE RECIPROCAL OF THOSE MONIES BEING MOVED OUTTA A IF BACK INTO O AND M. SO IT'S ACTUALLY GOING UP A LITTLE BIT IN TOTAL, BUT BECAUSE THE 62 MILLION MOVED UP INTO CONTRACTED SERVICES OF CHARGES, THERE'S AN OFFSET. UM, MOVING DOWN TO 80 12, WE'VE GOT A, WHAT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN 80 12 BUDGET OVER BUDGET. IT'S A SLIGHT INCREASE. IT'S JUST A FACTOR OF TIMING, DELAYS IN RECEIVING ROLLING STOCK, ET CETERA. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS, THIS SLIDE I'M JUST USING TO, TO EXPLAIN KIND OF WHERE WE WOULD BE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THESE ONE TIME ITEMS. AND, AND I PUT A COUPLE OF THINGS IN HERE JUST TO SHOW YOU. THE RECLASS OF THE SKYWAY IN PARKING IS THE 62.8 MILLION I MENTIONED BEFORE. THE HOPE INCREASE IS 4.4 MILLION FOR HAS AND THEN THE IMPACT OF THE NEW FACILITY. SO THE INCREMENTAL AD OF THE NEW INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL PROCESSOR AND THE D WESTS PIER ADDS ABOUT $3.2 MILLION WORTH OF EXPENSE. SO IT, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A BIGGER FACILITY. WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE CUSTODIANS, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE AGENTS TO COVER MORE SPACES, MORE SECURITY, ET CETERA. OKAY, NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS JUST THE GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF, OF THE MONEY. WE DID HIGHLIGHT IN THE FY 26, PROPOSED THE 62 POINT, UH, 8 MILLION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. JIM, YOU WANNA COVER THIS? I'LL COVER THE, THE, THE, YEAH, YOU CAN DO THAT. YEAH. UH, THE PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL. UH, OUR PERSONNEL BUDGET IS 150 MILLION. OUR NON-PERSONNEL BUDGET IS 326 MILLION. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE NON-PERSONNEL. WE'VE GOT INTER FUND OF 135 MILLION OTHER CONTRACTED SERVICES, UH, IS 124.8 MILLION INCLUSIVE OF THE, THE TWO THAT MOVE THE SKYWAY MAINTENANCE AND THE PARKING CONTRACT. OUR SUPPLIES COME IN AT JUST UNDER 10 MILLION. AND OUR NON-CAPITAL EXPENSE, UH, COMES IN AT 3.5 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 3.3 25.9. OKAY. ON OUR INNER FUND, THE RESTRICTED SERVICES FY 25 VERSUS FY 26 WE'RE INCREASING FROM 126 MILLION TO 135 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 7.1%. AND THERE'S A, A HOST OF THINGS IN THERE, FIRE RATE, POLICE RATE, ELECTRIC RATE, WATER RATE, UM, ALL AFFECTED, UH, THE INTER FUND CHARGES THIS YEAR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY. SO AGAIN, THAT'S KIND OF THE BUDGET SIDE OF THE HOUSE. SO WE WANT TO, AGAIN, TALK ABOUT FUTURE INITIATIVES AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA USE THE MONEY FOR. SO, NUMBER ONE, WE ALWAYS ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD AIR SERVICE FOR THE HOUSTON REGION. UM, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WE HAD 201 NON-STOP DESTINATIONS THAT WE OFFERED 129 DOMESTIC AND 70, UH, TWO INTERNATIONAL. AND AGAIN, WE'RE HITTING, UH, AGAIN, NON-STOP, UH, TO, TO MOST OF THE GLOBE. UH, AGAIN, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO GET OUR AFRICA FLIGHT BACK. UM, BUT BESIDES THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN GET YOU TO ASIA, WE CAN GET YOU TO EUROPE, UH, WE CAN GET YOU TO OCEANA, UH, AND LATIN AMERICA. WE ARE, AGAIN, THE PREMIER GATEWAY TO LATIN AMERICA, UH, FOR THE AMERICAN AIRPORTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UH, AGAIN, UM, AND THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU A, A LITTLE BIT OF WHY WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT ON CAPITAL, UM, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DEMANDS ON THE FACILITIES 'CAUSE WE HAVE GROWTH IN FRONT OF US. SO AGAIN, WITH 140,000 PEOPLE THAT MOVE TO HOUSTON EVERY YEAR ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, UM, OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, THE STRENGTH OF OUR MARKET, UM, THE, THE STRENGTH OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON, WE DO SEE LONG-TERM GROWTH GOING FORWARD. UH, IF WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, THE FORECAST FROM THE FAA THAT THEY PUT OUT FOR US, BASICALLY TRAFFIC THROUGH THE AIRPORTS HAVE TO DOUBLE. UH, AND THEN BY, BY 2050. SO, UH, AGAIN, A LOT OF DEMAND ON THE AIRFIELD AND, AND THE AIRPORT TO BE ABLE TO [03:10:01] EXPAND AND, AND GROW TO MEET THE DEMANDS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, WI WITH THAT, WE'LL BE, UH, AGAIN, TRYING TO WORK OUR BEST TO BE ABLE TO, UH, IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. AND SO FROM A TERMINAL PERSPECTIVE, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE US WORKING ON FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, UM, WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY STARTED NEW RESTROOM UPGRADES AT TERMINALS, UH, A AND D AT, UH, IAH AND THEN AT HOBBY, WE ARE DOING SOME RESTROOMS THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR THE MONEY. IT WAS $30 MILLION THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON RESTROOMS, UH, AT THE AIRPORTS. SO TERMINAL A, UM, IS, YOU KNOW, THOSE RESTROOMS ARE IN, IN DISREPAIR, UH, WE'LL USE THAT TERM. UM, AND SO WE HAVE CLOSED SOME AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DEMO ON THOSE. AND SO HOPING TO HAVE OUR FIRST SETS IN TERMINAL A OPEN SOMETIME TOWARDS THE LATE SUMMER. UM, SAME THING WITH TERMINAL D AND AT HOBBY, UH, ALSO WITH THE UNITED AIRLINES TERMINAL B DEAL THAT WE WORKED WITH THEM, UH, THAT INCLUDED US, THE CITY REQUIRING THEM TO REDO THE BATHROOMS IN THEIR TERMINALS THAT THEY CONTROL. UM, SO WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH UNITED. THEY HAVE REACHED THE PHASE WHERE THEY ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET THEIR CONTRACTOR NOW. AND SO WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT SOMETIME THIS FALL, THEY WILL CLOSE A SET OF RESTROOMS IN THE, UH, TERMINAL C TO BE ABLE TO START THEIR PROCESS OF REPLACING ALL THE RESTROOMS IN TERMINAL C AND TERMINAL E. SO WE'LL HAVE BRAND NEW RESTROOMS IN A BRAND NEW RESTROOMS AT D TERMINAL B COMES WITH ALL BRAND NEW RESTROOMS. AND THEN THE UNITED TERMINALS HAVE NEW RESTROOMS. SO GIVE US A YEAR, A COUPLE YEAR, YEAR OR TWO, THREE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ALL NEW RESTROOMS AT THE AIRPORT, AND IT'LL BE FANTASTIC. UM, YES, IT'S VERY NICE 'CAUSE AGAIN, THOSE, SOME OF THOSE RESTROOMS IN THERE ARE VERY DATED. UM, ALSO WE'RE UPPING FROM OUR TUR OUR, OUR CURB CLEANING AT THE AIRPORT. SO WE'VE GOT OUR OWN STAFF THAT'S OUT THERE WITH THE PRESSURE WASHING. BUT, UM, WE'VE RUN INTO A CHALLENGE. SO THE MAYOR IS VERY, VERY, UM, VOCAL ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GUM ON THE SIDEWALKS THERE. UM, AND SO, UH, SOME OF IT'S 60 YEARS OLD . UM, AND SO, UM, WE, WE'VE TRIED, UM, PRESSURE WASHING IT. WE'VE CHEMICALS, WE'VE DONE SAND BLASTING ESSENTIALLY AND EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD DO OUT THERE TO GET SOME OF THAT GUM OFF. WE CAN IMPROVE THINGS, BUT WE CAN NEVER REALLY GET RID OF IT. AND SO WE'VE, UH, IF YOU GO TO TERMINAL A RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL START TO SEE, WE'VE STARTED A PROJECT WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE BASICALLY PUTTING A, A COATING OVER THE SIDEWALKS THERE TO BASICALLY COVER OVER IT. 'CAUSE WE'VE, WE'VE, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'VE GOT IT. IT ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY NICE. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT KIND OF ROLLING OUT AROUND THE CAMPUS TO TRY AND KEEP THE, UH, THE CURBS CLEAN. UM, ADDITIONALLY, UM, WE'RE WORKING ON WORKING TO BE ABLE TO DO A FIFA FAN EXPERIENCE SOMEWHERE AT THE AIRPORT. SO WITH TERMINAL D, WHEN THE, THE INTERNATIONAL FLAG CARRIERS MOVE TO THE NEW FACILITY, THAT LEAVES THE ENTIRE TERMINAL D LOBBY, UH, AVAILABLE FOR US. AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING TO BASICALLY HAVE A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE FIFA FANS THAT ARE GONNA ARRIVE, UH, AT THE AIRPORT. UH, AS WE GROW, WE ALSO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GROW SUSTAINABLY. UM, SO WE'VE ACHIEVED OUR AIRPORT COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL CARBON ACCREDITATION LEVEL ONE AND TWO. AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF DOING LEVEL THREE. UH, LEVEL ONE AND TWO ARE A LITTLE EASIER BECAUSE IT'S ALL INTERNAL TO US. LEVEL THREE IS THE HARDER ONE BECAUSE THAT WE'RE, AND, AND BRINGING IN ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE AIRPORT TO KIND OF WORK ON THAT. UM, WE'RE ALSO, AGAIN, WORKING TO UPGRADE OUR AMENITIES, CONCESSIONS AND OVERALL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. SO YOU'LL SEE US COMPLETE, UM, THE TRANSITION OF THE, THE HOBBY, UM, FOOD PROGRAM. UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA REHAB THE FOOD COURT AND TERMINAL A, SO THE TERMINAL A FOOD COURTS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY DATED, UM, AS FAR AS THE TABLES AND CHAIRS AND THE, THE, UH, TRASH RECEPTACLES AND THAT. SO WE'RE GONNA REDO THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET A GOOD CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THERE. UM, WE'RE LOOKING, YOU KNOW, OUR SENSORY ROOMS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT, AT IAH AND WE'RE LOOKING TO ROLL THOSE OUT TO HOBBY. SO WE NEED TO, TO KIND OF GET THE SENSORY ROOM AT HOBBY SQUARED AWAY. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO IDENTIFYING A PATH FORWARD FOR OUR LOUNGE AT HOBBY AIRPORT. UM, SO WE'RE, AGAIN, HAVING DISCUSSIONS, UM, UH, WITH SOME CONTRACTORS AND, AND, AND AIRLINES THERE ABOUT WHAT A, A LOUNGE WOULD LOOK LIKE AT THE HOBBY AIRPORT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ALWAYS TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE LANDSIDE IMPROVEMENTS. SO IT'S GREAT THAT WE'VE GOT THE NEW CURBS OPEN. AND FROM A TRAFFIC PERSPECTIVE, THINGS ARE, ARE, ARE CALMING DOWN ON THE CDE CIRCUIT. UM, WE, AGAIN, WE DON'T SEE THE HEAVY TRAFFIC OR SEVERE TRAFFIC THAT WE HAD HISTORICALLY. UH, BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. SO ONE OF THAT IS TO, UH, REALLY COMMENCE A BIG, UH, EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT EXPANSION THERE. SO WE CAN PULL MORE EMPLOYEES OUTTA THE TERMINAL CORE. UH, AND THEN ALSO HAVE ROOM FOR GROWTH. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER. WE'RE GONNA, AGAIN, MOVE FROM THAT TERMINAL MANAGEMENT TO TERMINAL OPERATIONS, UH, FOCUS SO THAT AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME BETTER COORDINATION AND WE BREAK DOWN THE SILOS OF SOME OF THE WORK GROUPS. AND THEN PARTICULARLY FOR THE TRAFFIC FOLKS THAT ARE IN TRAFFIC ON A DAILY BASIS, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE REDESIGN THE ORGANIZATION, WE ALSO GIVE THEM A CAREER PATH, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN WORK THE CURB. AND THEN IT ALSO GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO KIND OF GET OFF THE CURB, UM, IN ADVANCE THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION. 'CAUSE THAT, THAT WORK IN THE, THE CURB IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO HOW THE AIRPORT FUNCTIONS. BUT YOU'RE ALSO SPENDING A LOT OF TIME OUT [03:15:01] IN THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY AND INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT, IT'S DRAINING. UM, AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE OFFER THOSE FOLKS A GOOD PATH FORWARD, UH, TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREER. UM, AND THEN ALSO WE'RE WORKING ON COMPLETING OUR MASTER PLAN, UH, AND IN THE MASTER PLAN COMES TRAFFIC ANALYSIS. SO WE'VE GOT COMPUTERIZED, UH, ANALYSIS OF THE TRAFFIC AT BOTH IAH AND HOBBY. AND THE THING ABOUT THAT THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT IS, IS THOSE TRAFFIC CAN KIND OF GO OUT TO THE ARTERIALS. AND SO THEN THAT WAY WE CAN IDENTIFY PROJECTS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH TXDOT AND THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TO IMPROVE WILL CLAYTON AND JFK AND THEN, UH, THE, THE ROADWAYS AROUND HOBBY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALTHOUGH THE AIRPORT IS GROWING, WE KIND OF ALSO CAN, UH, GROW THE ROADWAY SYSTEM SUPPORTING THE AIRPORT, UM, SYSTEM. FROM AN AIRFIELD PERSPECTIVE, OBVIOUSLY SAFETY'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY ON THE AIRFIELD, AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE DOING SOME PROJECTS THERE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN A VERY SAFE AIRFIELD. UM, WE'RE GONNA BE RE GROOVING SELECT RUNWAYS AT, AT, UM, IAH. AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, UM, YOUR AIRLINE TIRE, WHEN IT LANDS, IT'S BASICALLY A BALD TIRE. AND SO THE TREADING ON THAT IS THE, THE RUNWAY. AND SO WE'VE GOT GROOVES IN THE RUNWAY, AND AS THEY AGE, THEY KIND OF, UH, GET, GET COLLAPSED. AND SO WE'RE GONNA REGROOVE, UM, SOME OF THE RUNWAYS AT, UH, IAH ALSO AT HOBBY. WE'RE GONNA BE UPGRADING, UH, RUNWAY 4, 2, 2. UM, AND THAT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, DOING SOME ELECTRICAL WORK ON THAT RUNWAY AND SOME SHOULDER WORK TO GET IT UP. UM, AND IMPROVED. WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE IMPLEMENTING A SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, UH, AT THE AIR AT BOTH AIRPORTS. AND SO THAT'S A, A, A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS, UM, FOLKS TO, TO BASICALLY IDENTIFY SAFETY AND RISK HAZARDS AND THEN HAVE A, A METHODICAL METHOD OF HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CORRECT THAT. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE AT ELLINGTON EXTENDING, UH, WE'VE GOT CLEARWAYS, UM, AT THE ELLINGTON AIRPORT. AND THAT'S, IT'S A REALLY TECHNICAL, NERDY THING FROM A PILOT'S PERSPECTIVE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE RUNWAYS ARE ONLY SO LONG, UM, THERE'S A BUNCH OF GREEN GRASS AT THE RUNWAY AT THE END. AND SO WE'RE ALLOWING, UH, FROM A TECHNICAL CALCULATIONS PERSPECTIVE, UH, WE, WE HAVE TO RUN THROUGH SOME STEPS WITH THE FAA, BUT THAT WOULD GIVE THE AIRPLANES A LITTLE MORE TAKEOFF DISTANCE. UM, IT DOESN'T TECHNICALLY CHANGE THE RUNWAY, BUT MATHEMATICALLY IT CHANGES HOW THEY DO THEIR CALCULATIONS. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO DOING A TAXIWAY SIERRA ALPHA AND BRAVO REHABILITATION AT AT IAH. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE FOCUSED AGAIN ON SECURING ADDITIONAL AIR SERVICE. SO AGAIN, I'VE GOT SOME WINDS HERE ON THE LIST, UH, THAT YOU CAN SEE. SO, UH, AGAIN, WE RECEIVED A NEW AIRLINE THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WAS ZIP AIR RUNNING OUTTA TOKYO. UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, UH, TALKING TO OUR FOLKS THAT, THAT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL SERVICE RIGHT NOW, UM, AS FAR AS THE LOAD FACTORS THAT WE'RE SEEING. UM, AND WE'VE GOT NEW NONSTOP DESTINATIONS FROM EXISTING CARRIERS. SO WE ADDED, UH, MEINE, HARTFORD, UH, PORTO, PORTO ESCONDITO, UH, SALINA, UH, GULF SHORES, WILMINGTON, PORTLAND, UH, MAINE, AND EDMONTON. CALGARY IS, UH, I'M SORRY, ED CANADA IS STARTING BACK UP. SO AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT WE DO OUR PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO, TO GET THAT AIR SERVICE UP, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. NEXT SLIDE. UM, AGAIN, WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO ADVANCE OUR MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON. SO AT IH, WE'VE GOT TERMINAL B, UM, THAT'S ADVANCING VERY WELL. UH, THEY'RE VERY, UM, THEY'RE FROM A CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT, THEY, THEY'VE GOT THE CONCOURSES, YOU CAN, YOU CAN READILY SEE THEM. THE TERMINAL IS, HAS, UH, BEEN, UH, TOPPED OUT FROM A STEEL PERSPECTIVE, UH, AND, AND PROGRESSING NICELY THERE AT HOBBY. UH, AGAIN, CONTINUING THERE. SO WE, CONSTRUCTION WISE, WE'VE GOT THE, UH, BAGGAGE HALL, UH, THE ROOF AND THE CEILINGS ARE OUT OF THERE. AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO START TO DO THE BAGGAGE WORK THERE. WE'RE REDOING ALL THE RESTROOMS THAT ARE IN THAT BAGGAGE AREA AT HOBBY RIGHT NOW. UM, SO THE MEN'S RESTROOM SHOULD BE OPEN MIDSUMMER, AND THEN WE'LL SWITCH OVER AND GET THE NEW, UM, WOMEN'S RESTROOM, UH, REDONE AT THE HOBBY AIRPORT. AND THEN WE DO HAVE, UH, WHERE THE CONCOURSE ITSELF IS ACTUALLY GONNA SIT. THE COLUMNS HAVE BEEN PLACED, AND SO WE'RE ADVANCING FROM A HOBBY PERSPECTIVE. UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON OUR, UH, CENTRAL UTILITY PLANT UPGRADE, UM, AT IAH. AND SO THAT'S REPLACING ESSENTIALLY THE LARGE CHILLERS AND A LOT OF THE TRANSFORMERS THAT POWER THE, UM, THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEATING AT THE, AT THE AIRPORT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE FORMAL PART OF THE PRESENTATION, AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS READY AND EAGER TO ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICE CHAIR CASTILLO, THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE FANTASTIC JOB Y'ALL DO WITH OUR AIRPORT SYSTEMS. ON, UM, SLIDE SIX. YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, SOME REVENUES AND I WANTED TO ASK ON PARKING FOR THE GARAGE PARKING, IS THAT TREATED AS A FEE? IF THE PARKING COSTS WERE TO INCREASE, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A STUDY? SO THE WAY THAT IT WORKS FROM A PARKING PERSPECTIVE RIGHT NOW IS, IS THAT WE WENT TO CITY COUNCIL ORIGINALLY, UH, [03:20:01] FORGET IF, LET'S JUST SAY 10 YEARS AGO. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A HUNDRED, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT 10 YEARS AGO, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE. AND WE, WE ASKED FOR A RANGE, RIGHT? SO WE WOULD SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO THE PARKING TO BE ABLE TO, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE IN THIS RANGE. WE ARE, RIGHT NOW IN THE PROCESS, WE ARE COMING UP AGAINST THE TOP OF THE RANGE. UM, SO WE'VE, WE'VE MAXED OUT OUR RANGE ON THE GARAGES, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO SOME OF THE, THE REMOTE PARKING, BUT WE STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM ON SOME OF THE REMOTE PARKING SPOTS. UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE, WITH THE FOLKS. UM, ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THOUGH THAT WE WANT TO DO FROM A PARKING PERSPECTIVE IS, IS BEFORE WE WOULD COME AND ASK FOR A RATE INCREASE, WE HAD TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE THERE MM-HMM . AND SO THE EXPERIENCE FROM A PARKING PERSPECTIVE, UM, HAS NOT BEEN, YOU KNOW, BEST BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAD SOME OLD EQUIPMENT THERE AND THE EQUIPMENT WASN'T DOING THAT. THANKFULLY, WE'VE REPLACED THAT NOW FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CAMPUS, AND WE SEE THAT IN OUR SURVEYS. SO ANYBODY THAT PARKS IN OUR GARAGE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, DOES A RESERVATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WE WILL SEND THEM A POST PARKING SURVEY. AND SO ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, WE GET ROUGHLY FOR A TOTAL THING, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 50,000 RESPONSES. AND SO WE CAN DRILL INTO THAT PARKING DATA. AND TO LET YOU KNOW FOR THE CDE GARAGE, THE MAIN KIND OF GARAGE THAT MOST PEOPLE USE THERE, THAT USED TO HAVE A NEGATIVE, UM, UH, A NET PROMOTER SCORE. SO WE WOULD, WE HAD NEGATIVE 35. AND IF WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, UM, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE TRANSITION, I JUST GOT THE MOST RECENT DATA. WE ARE NOW A POSITIVE 35. WOW. YES. AND THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S TWOFOLD, RIGHT? SO NUMBER ONE, IT'S THE NEW EQUIPMENT. SO THE NEW EQUIPMENT IS MUCH MORE, UM, IT'S FRICTIONLESS IF YOU, IF YOU REGISTER THERE, SO YOU BASICALLY READ YOUR LICENSE PLATE, YOU COME IN, YOU PARK, IT READS YOUR LICENSE PLATE OUT YOU GO, IT BUILDS YOUR CREDIT CARD. UM, SO THAT NEW EQUIPMENT HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE, UH, THE, THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF PARKING AT THE AIRPORT. AND THEN FROM THE TRAFFIC PERSPECTIVE, WE DON'T HAVE THE BACKUPS THAT WE USED TO HAVE ON THE EXIT OF THE AIRPORT THAT WOULD BACK INTO THE GARAGE MM-HMM . AND SO SINCE THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE BEEN SOLVED, OUR TRAFFIC, UH, SATISFACTION FROM A CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE IS, IS GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY. GOT IT. AND ANY, ANY RATE CHANGES WOULD, WOULD BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL UNDER CHAPTER NINE. OKAY. YEAH. AND THEN IN TERMS OF, UM, RIDE SHARES AND, AND CABS, DOES THE AIRPORT MAKE ANY REVENUE OFF OF THE FARES THAT THEY'RE CHARGING CUSTOMERS? WELL, SO THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE A FEE PER, PER APPLICATION WHEN THEY SHOW UP HERE. SO WE DON'T GET A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY, THEY CHARGE, BUT IT'S PER, PER TRIP. SO AGAIN, OUR UBER AND LYFT FEE IS $3. AND SO EVERY TIME THAT THE UBER SHOWS UP, THEY HAVE TO PAY THE AIRPORT $3. OKAY. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THOSE WERE LOOKED AT OR ADJUSTED? WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, IT'S BEEN SOME TIME. AND WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS OTHER AIRPORTS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE MARKET AND TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT'S FAIR. I, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S ANOTHER COMPONENT TO THAT. YOU GUYS MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TOURO COMPONENT, WHICH IS A PEER TO PEER, UM, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A RIDE SHARE ULTIMATELY. WELL, IT'S A, IT'S A HYBRID BETWEEN A RIDE SHARE AND A, AND A CAR RENTAL THAT WAS HAPPENING ON AIRPORT. WE WEREN'T, IT WAS LIKE UNDER THE RADAR. WE HAVEN'T, WE WEREN'T RECEIVING ANYTHING. WE FINALLY SETTLED UP WITH TURO AND, AND GOT THAT GOING. SO WE'RE REASSESSING ALL OF THAT. MM-HMM . AND, AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE RIGHT. IT MAY BE TIME FOR AN ADJUSTMENT, SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'LL GO BACK. THANK YOU. GOOD POINT. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION ABOUT THE RIDE SHARE. UM, AND SO YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, $3 EVERY TIME THEY ENTER, UM, AND IS THAT FOR ALL RIDE SHARES IT COME THROUGH? SO WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE? UBER, LYFT? IT SAYS UBER, LYFT, UM, ALTO, YEAH, ALTO, ALTO WINGS. I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OF, BUT OUR, THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT'S UBER AND LYFT. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO, TIM, MARTHA, CASTEX TITLE, ARE WE LOOKING AT THE DRIVERLESS RIDE SHARES YET? SO WHAT I WOULD SAY ON THAT IS WE'VE GOT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, WHICH IS THE PHOENIX AIRPORT. SO THERE'S WAYMO'S THAT ARE IN AND OUTTA THE PHOENIX AIRPORT, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THREE PLUS YEARS AS OF RIGHT NOW. WE, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WAYMO OR WHOEVER WOULD COME INTO THE HOUSTON MARKET AND PROBABLY START DOWNTOWN. AND THEN ONCE THEY KIND OF GET THAT SQUARED AWAY, THEY WOULD WORK WITH THE AIRPORT STUFF. SO, SO WHEN, WHEN THEY START, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OPERATING IN THE DOWNTOWN MARKET, THEN WE'LL START TO, TO TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WOULD DO FOR THEM AT THE AIRPORT. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, WE DO HAVE A GOOD EXAMPLE IN THE PHOENIX MARKET AND HOW THEY DO IT. SO WE, WE ARE TAKING IT INTO CONSIDERATION IN OUR LONGER TERM PLANNING. YES. SO OUR PLANNING FOLKS ARE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE PROJECTING FIVE TO 10 YEARS OUT AND 10 YEARS AND BEYOND, UH, THEY'RE STARTING TO FACTOR THAT INTO, YOU KNOW, N NECESSITY FOR PARKING, CAPACITY, RIDE SHARE, UH, FACILITY CAPACITY, ALL THAT. SO I WENT TO A TECH CONFERENCE AND THEY DID A STUDY ON IF, UH, PEOPLE COMING FROM THE AIRPORT DID THEY PREFER [03:25:01] THE DRIVERLESS, UM, VEHICLES FOR RIDE SHARE ARE THE ONES WITH THE DRIVER AND THE DRIVERLESS ONE. SO I WAS IN, I WAS IN ONE IN PHOENIX, AND, AND MY PERSONAL OPINION, I HAD NO PROBLEM RIDING AROUND WITH THOSE IN, ON THE SIDE STREETS. YEAH. UH, HOUSTON DRIVERS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, . WELL, MY FIRST POSITION IS I'M NOT READY FOR IT, BUT, BUT I WILL ACCEPT TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES GOING INTO THE FUTURE. I'M HERE, I'M HERE FOR WAYMO. UH, MY OTHER QUESTION IS, EXPLAIN TO ME OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PARKING LOT OWNERS IN THE AIRPORT. SO THE OFF-AIRPORT PARKING LOT OWNERS. YEAH, SO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WHERE BASICALLY WE, WE, WE HAVE A, UM, A SYSTEM WHERE WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THEM REGARDING THEIR SHUTTLE BUSES AND HOW THEY OPERATE AT THE AIRPORT. UH, AND THEN ALSO WE DO HAVE A REVENUE PERCENTAGE THAT WE GET FROM THEM, UM, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY DO OPERATE AT THE AIRPORT. SO IS ARE THERE LIKE MEETINGS WITH THEM? DO Y'ALL TALK ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE FEE? HOW, HOW DOES, HOW DOES THAT WORK? W WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM. UM, WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES WHEN WE DO SURVEYS OF, OF PEER AIRPORTS AND OTHER AIRPORTS THAT WE'RE BELOW MARKET IN WHAT WE CHARGE IN TERMS OF REVENUE SHARE FOR THOSE FOLKS. UM, WE'RE AT 8%. AND, AND FOR INSTANCE, DFWS AT 12%. WHO'S AT 12? 12 DFW. WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL AIRPORTS. I, UH, I, I'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH A KIND OF A LIST OF PEER EVALUATIONS, ET CETERA. SO WE HAVE, UH, STARTED CONVERSATIONS AND IT'S, IT'S PART OF THE GREATER, UH, UH, CHAPTER NINE. JIM HAS ASKED, AND I'VE ASKED THAT WE GO BACK AND REVIEW ALL OF OUR, UH, CHAPTER NINE RATES AND, AND FEES JUST FOR JUSTIFICATION AND, AND, YOU KNOW, RETHINKING AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE APPROPRIATE, BOTH FROM A COMPETITIVE STANDPOINT AND, AND, UH, AND A FAIRNESS STANDPOINT FOR THE CITIZENS. SO WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE RECONSIDER ALL OF IT. YEAH. SO DO, DO AIRPORT EMPLOYEES PARK IN OFFSITE PARKING? ARE THEY PARK ON SITE? 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID YOU'RE INCREASING THE AIRPORT EMPLOYEES PARKING. SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION. UM, THERE'S, WHEN YOU, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AIRPORT EMPLOYEES, WE ALSO TALK ABOUT AIRLINE EMPLOYEES. OKAY. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH SEVERAL ENTITIES THAT ALLOW PARKING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES IN OUR CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA. AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, BECAUSE THAT'S PRECIOUS PARKING THAT, THAT OUR FLYERS REALLY LIKE, AND THEY REALLY WANT IT AVAILABLE, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DRIVE UP AND SEE, SEE A GARAGE CLOSED BECAUSE IT'S FULL. WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE, AND, AND BY THE WAY, WE RECEIVE A LOT MORE REVENUE FOR A, UH, FLYER PARKING THAN WE RECEIVE FOR AN EMPLOYEE PARKING UNDER CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP. SO WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE, UH, PARKING FOR A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE PARKING IN THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA AT A REMOTE LOCATION. NOW, UNITED HAS A BLEND. THE UNITED HAS A BLEND OF, UH, REMOTE PARKING THAT'S DOWN ON GREENS ROAD AND JFK, UM, AND THEN THEY HAVE SOME CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA. LOOKING FORWARD, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PULL AS MANY CONTRACT PARKERS OUT OF THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA TO FREE IT UP FOR THE CITIZENS TO FLY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU DIRECTORS FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT IN PLACEMENTS DOUBLING IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS. UM, HOW, HOW ARE WE GETTING READY FOR THAT IN TERMS OF CAPACITY? SO, AGAIN, YOU'RE SEEING, WE WE'RE JUST COMPLETING OUR INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL EXPANSION. UH, UNITED'S TERMINAL B IS GONNA BE A, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OUR CAPACITY TO, TO MOVE P PEOPLE THROUGH HERE, AS AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE, UM, SO THE ORIGINAL TERMINAL B WITH THEIR LITTLE FLIGHT STATIONS AND THEIR LITTLE 50 SEAT RJS, UM, THEY COULD DO PROBABLY 400, 400 PASSENGERS PER HOUR. UM, THE NEW TERMINAL ITSELF IS GONNA BE PER BANK AND NORTH OF 4,000. SO WE'RE GOING FROM 400 TO 4,000 MM-HMM . UM, PER BANK ON THAT. SO THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE, THE, THE PLAN TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT. OKAY. ON THE BIGGER PICTURE SCALE THING, WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING OUR MASTER PLAN FOR BOTH AIRPORTS. AND SO WITH HOBBY, WE'VE GOT THE SEVEN GATES THAT ARE COMING AND WE'RE WORKING ON A HOBBY EXPANSION, UM, WITH THOSE SEVEN GATES. BUT THEN FOR BUSH, WE'VE GOT 11,000 ACRES OVER THERE. SO WE DO HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM OVER THERE TO DO, TO BUILD ADDITIONAL TERMINALS AND RUNWAYS IF WE NEED 'EM. SO, OKAY. SO I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT RUNWAYS. SO WE'RE ADDING TERMINALS IN GATES AND ALL THAT, BUT DO WE HAVE THE RUNWAY SPACE TO DOUBLE IN PLACEMENTS IN WITHIN THE NEXT 25? SO, SO FROM A RUNWAY PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE MASTER PLAN IS, IS THERE IS ANOTHER RUNWAY IN THE EXISTING MASTER PLAN FOR THE AIRPORT. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE RE WE'RE RETWEAKING. WHAT WE THINK FROM AN AIRFIELD PERSPECTIVE IS WE MIGHT [03:30:01] BE ABLE TO KIND OF DEFER THAT. UM, AND THAT'S BY CHANGING OUR, OUR, OUR EXISTING RUNWAYS. SO THE EXAMPLE I'LL GIVE YOU IS, IS THAT WE'VE GOT TWO DEPARTURE RUNWAYS AND WE'VE GOT THREE ARRIVAL RUNWAYS. THE THREE ARRIVAL, THREE ARRIVAL RUNWAYS. WHEN WE LAND, UM, TO THE WEST, I CAN LAND THREE RUNWAYS, BUT WHEN I LAND TO THE EAST, I CAN ONLY LAND TWO OF THOSE RUNWAYS 'CAUSE IT FLIES OVER, UM, THE TWO DEPARTURE RUNWAYS. SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS POTENTIALLY JUST TWEAK IT. SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS EXTEND A LITTLE BIT THE TWO DEPARTURE RUNWAYS AND THEN PUT A, A MIDFIELD DEPARTURE THERE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO FLY OVER THEM WITHOUT INTERFERING. AND SO NOW WE WOULD, WOULD HAVE THREE RUNWAYS COMING IN AND THREE RUNWAYS GOING OUT MM-HMM . UM, SO WITH THAT, JUST THAT TWEAK, UH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FROM A RUNWAY PERSPECTIVE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. RIGHT. SO, SO HOUSTON HAS A BUNCH OF, OR THE AREA HAS A BUNCH OF SMALLER, UH, UH, AIRFIELDS THAT ARE, THAT ARE PRIVATE. HAVE YOU ALL GIVEN THOUGHT TO PURCHASING ONE OR MORE OF THOSE? SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE GOTTA DO AT OUR EXISTING AIRPORTS. UM, SO WE, WE DO HAVE COMBINATION OR CONVERSATIONS AND COORDINATIONS WITH 'EM. SO THE EXAMPLE WOULD BE IS, IS LIKE THE SUGARLAND AIRPORT SO THAT THERE'S THOSE EV TALLS THAT ARE COMING AT US SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE. AND SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE DO SEE TRAFFIC COMING BETWEEN THE TWO. UM, AND THEN WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE JUST, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE MASTER PLAN, WE DO ACCOUNT, UH, ACCOUNT FOR THE GROWTH IN THOSE OTHER AIRPORTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, THE FORECAST, THAT'S FOR OUR AIRPORTS, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE, THE GENERAL AVIATION TRAFFIC, YOUR BUSINESS JETS, YOUR LITTLE PLANES. UM, SO WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF WE BRING FORTUNE, MORE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, BE HERE AT, AT, AT AT HOBBY OR THEY COULD BE AT SUGAR LINDEN. WE TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST KIND OF MIX THAT THAT'S GONNA GO FORWARD FOR. I'LL GO BACK IN THE QUEUE. OKAY. THANK YOU. I DID MEAN TO EARLIER ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS HAS JOINED US AND ALSO STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB YOU GUYS ARE DOING OUT THERE. UH, IN FACT, I FLEW BACK IN FROM PHOENIX LAST WEEK, AND, UH, THE BATHROOMS OVER AT HOBBY WERE VERY NICE. AND IN FACT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ONE FAUCET THAT GIVES YOU WATER SOAP AND DRYER IS ALMOST BEYOND MY TECHNICAL CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH. SO I MAY HAVE TO CATER TO THE BOOMERS A LITTLE MORE. , UH, THE CHILLERS YOU'RE REPLACING, WHAT KINDA LIFE EXPECTANCY DO THEY HAVE? THE CHILLERS? YEAH. GENERALLY IT'S GONNA BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 20, 20 YEARS. OKAY. AND THE DECREASE IN THE LANDING FEES, IS THAT DUE TO THE LARGER PLANES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT? YEAH, IT'S, YES. THAT'S A, THAT'S A PORTION OF IT. PART OF THE, UH, ISSUE WITH THE LANDING FEES ALSO IS YOU AMORTIZE THE PROJECTS IN THE AIRFIELD COST CENTER OVER THE, UH, THE 25 OR 30 YEAR PERIOD, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT. AND SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE 25, 30 YEARS AGO HAVE FALLEN OFF THE AMORTIZATION. SO THE RATE'S GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT'S RESIDUAL. WE'RE JUST CAPTURING THE COST THAT WE SPEND IN THOSE COST CENTERS. YOU PROJECT THE AMOUNT, THE AMOUNT OF LANDED WEIGHT JUST DIVIDE AND COME UP WITH A RATE. OKAY. SO, SO THE LANDING FEES ARE A FACTOR OF WHAT OUR EXPENSES WERE IN ORDER TO YES. OKAY. I KIND OF ASSUMED IT WAS A FLAT. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. OKAY. YEAH. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TRY TO PREDICT WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AIRFIELD WORK COMING UP AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO PREDICT WHEN THE PROJECT'S GONNA START, WHEN IT'S GONNA END, AND WHEN WE'RE GONNA START THE AMORTIZATION. SO IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A, AN INTERESTING GAME, BUT OVER THE LONG RUN IT'S ALL RECONCILED BACK TO MATCH. OKAY. UM, YOU TOUCHED ON THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES MM-HMM . BUT WHAT TYPE OF PLANNING ARE WE DOING WITH THAT AND WHEN DO WE SEE THAT KIND OF ACTUALLY HAPPEN? SO THE FLYING ONES OR THE GROUND ONES? THE FLYING ONES. SO, I'M SORRY. YES. OH, BY THE WAY, I WAS IN PHOENIX. I SAW ALL THE, ALL THE WAYMO'S AND YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS THAT MANY OF 'EM OR YOU JUST REMEMBER IT 'CAUSE THERE'S NOBODY SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE A TON OF 'EM OUT THERE. YEAH. SO ON THE FLYING ONES, WHAT I WOULD ANTICIPATE, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF GETTING CERTIFIED BY THE FAA. ONCE THEY GET CERTIFIED BY THE FAA, I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME DEMONSTRATIONS. SO FROM A HOUSTON MARKET PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY START TO SEE THEM MAYBE AROUND FIFA. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE A FULL SCALE OPERATION DURING FIFA, BUT AT LEAST SOME DEMONSTRATION KIND OF FLIGHTS THAT WOULD BE TRYING TO, TO DO THE FIFA, JUST TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE MEDIA THAT'S GONNA BE HERE. THEY WERE GONNA TRY AND DO THAT WITH THE PARIS OLYMPICS LAST YEAR, BUT THE TIMING DIDN'T WORK OUT RIGHT. BUT I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE SOME FORM OF AN OPERATION TRYING TO SET UP FOR FIFA TIME. WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES WILL YOU FACE WITH THOSE? SO, UM, WE'VE GOT THREE AIRPORTS THAT WE'RE GONNA RUN, RIGHT? AND SO FROM A HOBBY PERS I'M SORRY, FROM AN ELLINGTON PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO DIFFICULT. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PAVEMENT AND GREEN GRASS OUT THERE WHERE WE CAN OPERATE THEM. UM, AND, AND FROM A HOBBY PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF THEM OPERATE ON THE EXISTING FBOS WHERE HELICOPTERS ARE AT. SO IT'S [03:35:01] GONNA BE VERY SIMILAR TO A HELICOPTER OPERATION AT HOBBY. FOR BUSH, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT'S GONNA BE MORE OF A NEXUS THERE. AND OUR, OUR CONCEPT FOR BUSH IS, IS DO NO HARM. RIGHT? AND SO WE, WE'VE GOT A BUSY AIRFIELD, UH, WE'VE GOT A BUSY AIRSPACE, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE GONNA OPERATE THEM AT IAH. AND SO WE HAVE, UH, WE'RE DOING A STUDY WITH ONE OF OUR CONTRACTORS THAT HAS A AIRSPACE SIMULATION COMPUTER PROGRAM. AND SO WE'RE GONNA PICK ABOUT FIVE LOCATIONS ON THE AIRPORT, LOCATE THEM, AND THEN LET THE COMPUTER TELL US WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PUT IT HERE OR A GOOD IDEA TO PUT IT THERE. UM, SO, SO SOUND LIKE THERE'S AT LEAST SOME CHALLENGES WITH IT. YEAH, I MEAN, SO, SO AGAIN, IF WE, WE, WE CAN LOOK TO THE, SO THE FAA HAS ALREADY MODELED, UM, THESE OPERATIONS IN LA AND IN, UM, IN ORLANDO AND SOMEPLACE. AND WE, WE ACTUALLY WENT OUT TO THE TECH CENTER AND, AND TO, TO WATCH THEIR LA MODEL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BRING THEM IN BETWEEN THE RUNWAYS AT LA SO IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH LA AS THEY'RE BASICALLY TWO PARALLEL OR FORT PARALLEL RUNWAYS, THEY'RE VERY TIGHTLY SPACED. AND SO THEY WERE TRYING TO GET 'EM INTO THE TERMINAL CORE, UH, BETWEEN THAT STREAM OF TRAFFIC AND IT WAS VERY CHALLENGING. SO WE, WE LEARNED OUR LESSON FROM THAT. AND SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LAND IT IN THE HEART OF THE AIRPORT, BUT WE'RE LOOKING ON THE PERIPHERY. UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MY, MY OPINION OF WHERE WE THINK IT MIGHT PROBABLY WORK BEST IS SOMEWHERE IN THAT CAR RENTAL, UM, CAMPUS IS, IS PROBABLY AN AREA WHERE IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE TERMINAL THAT YOU CAN GET THERE AND THEN IT DOESN'T REALLY INTERFERE WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC. BUT AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE EXISTING AIR TRAFFIC. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR THOSE ETEL THINGS. COME. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU. UH, GREAT INFORMATION. UH, JUST HAD ONE PARTICULAR DEFINITELY ASK, WHICH I GET ALL THE TIME, AND THAT IS THE CHARGES TO THE VETERANS FOR PARKING. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY GET A LOT OF THAT. WE HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING HERE JUST, UH, A FEW WEEKS BACK. THAT'S ONE OF THE, THE ASK FOR MANY VETERANS WHO GO TO THE AIRPORTS. BOTH AIRPORTS ON THE PARKING. AND I THINK THAT, WAS THERE A LIMITED THAT WAS A REDUCED, SO, SO THE, YEAH, SO THE CHALLENGE OR, OR, OR THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT WE'VE GOT FROM A VETERAN'S PARKING PERSPECTIVE IS, IS THAT WE, IF YOU ARE A VETERAN FROM A PARKING PERSPECTIVE, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO FREE PARKING AT THE AIRPORT, UM, IF YOU'RE GOING ON YOUR TRIP, RIGHT? AND SO FROM A VETERAN'S, UH, USING THE GARAGES, THERE'S A LIMIT ON THERE. I THINK IT'S FIVE, SEVEN DAYS. SEVEN DAYS, SEVEN DAYS. AND THEN FOR THE PARKING, UH, IF YOU GO INTO THE REMOTE LOTS, IT'S A LONGER, I THINK IT MAY BE A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM, BUT WHAT WE, WHAT WE, AND, AND, AND THAT'S, IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL. SO IF WE LOOK AT THE TRANSACTIONS ON OUR VETERAN PARKING LAST YEAR, UM, LAST YEAR WE, WE DID 114,000 VETERANS GOT TO PARK AT THE AIRPORT FOR, FOR FREE USING THAT PROGRAM. SO IT'S A PRETTY ROBUST PROGRAM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT OUR GARAGES ARE UNDER PRESSURE, YOU KNOW, THE CDE GARAGE CLOSES ON A REGULAR BASIS, AB WILL CLOSE. AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE SUMMER, UH, WE, WE HAVE TO KIND OF STRIKE THE BALANCE OF, OF THAT PARKING. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, IS THAT ALTHOUGH VETERANS THAT ARE TRAVELING ARE, ARE GETTING THE FREE PARKING AT THE AIRPORT, UM, IF YOU'RE A VETERAN THAT QUALIFIES OR DISABLED VETERAN OR YOU CAN'T PARK IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE THERE, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY, THEY KNOW HOW THE AIRPORT WORKS. WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO PARK IN THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOTS. AND SO THE, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE A VETERAN AND YOU HAVE THE LICENSE PLATE AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO THE AIRPORT TO, TO WORK, UM, THAT'S WHERE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU AS A VETERAN HAVE TO PARK IN THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR EMPLOYEE WORK STUFF. YEAH, I, I, YEAH, AND THAT MAKES SENSE. BUT I THINK MY CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, HOUSTON IS THE SECOND LARGEST VETERAN HOSPITAL, UH, FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY, SO WE GET A LOT OF VETERANS THAT COME IN AND OUT. WE GET A LOT OF VETERANS THAT COME FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE AREAS FLYING IN AND OUT AND OF FIVE DAYS. I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'D BE IN CHARGE. I MEAN THAT, THAT IN THE GARAGE, WE TALKING IN THE GARAGE, CORRECT? UH, YEAH. SEVEN DAYS FOR THE GARAGE, YES. OKAY. SEVEN DAYS. I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S AVE THAT, THAT'S ONLY, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF MINIATURE, I MEAN, I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT, LET ME, WHAT'S THE CONCERN? SO PARTICULARLY, SO IF WE TALK ABOUT DISABLED VETERANS, OUR CHALLENGE ULTIMATELY IS WE ONLY HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF, UM, OF, UH, DISABLED PARKING SPACES. AND THAT INCLUDES OUR, OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY AND OUR REGULAR COMMUNITY. SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF, UH, COMPETITION FOR THOSE SPOTS. AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE FOLKS COME IN THERE AND PARK THEIR VEHICLES FOR EXTENDED PERIODS BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS NO LIMIT. AND WHAT WE WOULD FIND IS PEOPLE WOULD COME IN THERE AND THEY WOULD PARK THEIR VEHICLES FOR MONTHS, UM, BECAUSE THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD GO FOR, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD GO, THEY, THEY THEIR SNOWBIRDS. SO THEY MIGHT GO SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN THE, IN THE SUMMERTIME THEY WOULD LEAVE AND THEY WOULD LEAVE THERE FOR MONTHS. AND SO IF WE THINK ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA LEAVE THEIR VEHICLE AT THE AIRPORT FOR MONTHS, IT REALLY HURTS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GO IN AND [03:40:01] OUT OF THE, THE FACILITY. UM, SO WE WANT TO TRY AND AGAIN, TAILOR IT TO THE PASSENGER WHO'S GONNA BE USING THE AIRPORT FROM A, FOR A PASSENGER EXPERIENCE, NOT NECESSARILY TO GET THE PEOPLE THERE THAT ARE GONNA BE PARKING THERE FOR MONTHS. WELL, I'M, I'M GONNA GET OUTTA THE QUEUE, BUT I, I JUST LIKE TO FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH YOU CONCERNING THAT BECAUSE I MEAN, I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF, I MEAN, IF THAT'S SOME NUMBERS TO, TO BACK THAT UP, I WOULD BE INED IN THOSE NUMBERS SO I CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH SOME OF OUR VETERAN AGENCIES AND SO FORTH, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KATE DENTLER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL OPERATE THEIR OWN FEDERAL JURISDICTION WITHIN THE AIRPORTS, HAS THE AIRPORT BEEN MADE AWARE OR GAINED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF FEDERAL AGENTS ARRESTING OR DETAINING INDIVIDUALS TRAVELING OUT OF OR ARRIVING AT OUR AIRPORTS? WE ARE HEARING REPORTS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING HERE AND NEWS SOURCES JUST RELEASED AN ARTICLE ABOUT LEGAL GREEN CARD HOLDER BEING TAKEN OFF A FLIGHT IN DALLAS AND HAS SINCE BEEN IN CUSTODY, NO ONE CAN REACH HIM. YEAH, SO, SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, UM, WE, WE HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT I WOULD CALL ANYTHING UNUSUAL. UM, SO AGAIN, IF WE THINK ABOUT DENIED ENTRIES, SO ON A DAILY BASIS IN THIS IS THIS ADMINISTRATION IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, WE WOULD GET PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME IN THAT ARE INADMISSIBLE AND THEY GET SENT BACK. UM, SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING PICKED UP, YOU KNOW, THERE, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING SPECIFIC OR TARGETED FOR FOLKS THAT ARE TRAVELING ON THE, UH, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO BUSH THAT, THAT WE'RE HAVING TARGETS. UM, YOU KNOW, OR ANY KIND OF ADVANCED, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, OR OR ENHANCED KIND OF SCREENING OVER THERE. UM, GENERALLY IF YOU'RE FLYING IN, YOU'VE GOT YOUR PASSPORT, YOU'VE GOT YOUR VISA, UM, YOU'RE GONNA GET, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY GET THE MANIFEST NINE HOURS PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. SO THEY, THEY KNOW WHO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR GENERALLY IF THEY'RE, YOU'RE GONNA COME IN. BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THERE'S ANYTHING UNUSUAL GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT, UM, I NOTICED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE WAS UP, UH, DRASTICALLY FROM 12 MILLION TO I THINK 59 MILLION. MAYBE YOU SPOKE TO IT, BUT CAN YOU, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? UH, I'M SORRY, I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE HEARING YOU. UH, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE, UH, PAGE 14 OF THE BIG BOOK, UH, UP I THINK FROM 12 MILLION TO 59 MILLION, IF I READ THAT CORRECTLY. OH, THAT, THAT, THAT'S THE PARKING CONTRACT. PARKING CONTRACT. THAT'S THE PARKING CONTRACT. OKAY. I SEE. ALRIGHT. UM, THE, THE PARKING CONTRACT IS MANAGED UNDER COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, ALL ROLLS UP TO O AND M, BUT IT'S IN THAT COST CENTER. SO THAT, THAT WAS A 50, A 50 MILLION PLUS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. DOLLAR TRANSFER. OKAY. UH, FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE GET, IS THAT INCLUDED? WHERE IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION? SO IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN, IN OUR O AND M BUDGET. SO WE HAVE, RIGHT NOW, WE, WE HAVE ABOUT $186 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED AND WITH A BALANCE OF ABOUT 169 TO 170 MILLION REMAINING TO BE SPENT. AND WHERE DOES THAT GO? UH, YEAH, THAT'S GONNA BE IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET. IT'S, IT'S IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET, BUT IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN. IS THAT RIGHT? THE, THE EXPENDITURE, THE, THE, THE COVERAGES FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET SPEND IS IN THIS BUDGET, BUT NO, WE, WE, WE DON'T SHOW THE OFFSET. WE DON'T SHOW THE IN AND THE OUT IN THIS BUDGET. OKAY. UM, I'D BE, I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A SUMMARY. IT'S 186 MILLION OF, UH, OF, OF GRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED UNDER SEVERAL, UH, PROGRAMS, A-I-P-A-I-G WITH 169 OR 170 MILLION 169.8 OR SOMETHING MILLION. OUTSTANDING. SO IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE 738 MILLION REVENUE? NO. FIGURE. IT'S NOT, NO. OKAY. BUT IT, OKAY. AND, AND I'D, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT BREAKDOWN, IF YOU DON'T MIND. YEAH, YEAH. WHERE, WHERE YOU'D NOTICE IT WOULD BE IS IS THAT BASICALLY FOR OUR DEBT SERVICE, SO WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WE'RE GONNA PUT OUTLAYS OUT FOR BUILDING A RUNWAY OR BUILDING A TAXIWAY, UH, AND THEN WHEN WE'RE, OUR GRANTS ARE REFUNDED, IT BASICALLY JUST BRINGS ON OUR DEBT SERVICE. OKAY. AND LAST TOPIC HERE, PAGE 20, MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. UH, TERMINAL B TRANSFORMATION AT IAH, UH, ONE OF THE BULLET POINTS WAS CREATING A MULTIMEDIA INTERACTIVE PARK WITH A COMFORT ZONE OR FOLKS NEEDING TO DECOMPRESS AND RELAX. WHAT, WHAT IS ENTAILED THERE AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? SO THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF UNITED SPECIFIC PROJECT COSTS. AND WHAT THAT ULTIMATELY IS, IS THAT WHEN, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE EXISTING TERMINAL BE THE WAY THAT NEW TERMINAL B IS GONNA FUNCTION IS, IS THAT, UM, IF THEY'RE BUILDING A NEW TICKETING HALL ON THE GROUND LEVEL, AND THEN THERE'S GONNA BE A NEW, UM, TSA SECURITY CHECKPOINT ON THE MEZZANINE, AND THEN ESCALATORS GONNA, ARE GONNA COME DOWN INTO THE EXISTING TERMINAL B WHEN YOU GET INTO THE EXISTING TERMINAL B. UM, THEY'VE GOT BASICALLY A, UH, SHOPPING COURT [03:45:01] IN THERE AND IN THE CENTER THEY'VE GOT SOME DIGITAL DESIGNS IN THERE. IT'S KIND OF LIKE DIGITAL ART. UM, AND SO THEY'LL HAVE THAT, UM, I DO HAVE LIKE A VIDEO THAT SHOWS THE FLY THROUGH OF WHAT TERMINAL B'S GONNA LOOK LIKE. SO WE CAN ATTACH THAT AND SEND IT OUT TO YOU SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT AND COST, UH, I'M NOT, YEAH, JUST, YEAH. JUST AS A REMINDER ON THAT PROJECT, THIS $2.5 BILLION PROJECT HAS ENABLING IS WE'RE COMMITTED UP TO 624 MILLION. SO THAT, AND IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC LIST OF PROJECTS THAT HAS IS, IS, UH, FUNDING. UM, AND THAT IS NOT ONE OF THE, THE PROJECTS. SO THAT'S A UNITED EXPENSE FOR A UNITED, UH, UH, BENEFIT IN IT. I CAN PROBABLY ASK THEM AND GET THE, UH, SPECIFIC COST FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA. THEY DO SHARE, UH, THOSE COST, THOSE CASH FLOWS WITH US. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEP. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, I HAD ONE LAST QUESTION ABOUT SPACEPORT. UH, YEP. QUITE A FEW COMPANIES LOOKING AT GOING IN THERE AND WITH THE WHOLE A AND M PROJECT AT NASA THE WHOLE BIT, WHAT KIND OF PLANS ARE WE MAKING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THEM AT, UH, SPACEPORT? SO THERE'S KIND OF THREE, THREE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON THERE. SO NUMBER ONE IS THE EXISTING TENANTS AND MEETING THEIR GROWTH NEEDS. SO MAKING SURE THAT AXIOM AND INTUITIVE MACHINES PARTICULARLY HAVE THEIR ABILITY TO GROW, UM, THEIR OPERATIONS. 'CAUSE THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY APPLICATIONS OUT THERE OR, OR PROPOSALS OUT THERE WITH THE FAA OR WITH THE, UH, NASA AND IF THEY GET THEM, THEY NEED TO GROW. UH, NUMBER TWO IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING, AGAIN, TRYING TO DO A MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING OUT THERE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEIR SUPPLIERS TO COME IN AND BE KIND OF CLOSE TO THEM. SO THAT'D BE A SMALLER BUILDING, YOU KNOW, BUILDING THAT'S GONNA ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET A 10,000, 20,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AND NOT HAVE TO DO THE BIG ONE. AND THEN WE'RE ALWAYS OUT FISHING FOR MORE WHALES. UM, SO LOOKING FOR THE BIG, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA COME IN TO KIND OF HELP THEM, UH, AND BE IN SIMILAR SIZE AND SCALE, UH, TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THAT AT THE SPACEPORT. THANK YOU. AND, AND WE'RE CONSIDERING DIFFERENT MODELS INCLUDING A DEVELOPER MODEL? WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE ANY FINANCIAL RISK OF THE NEW FACILITY. WE'LL JUST BENEFIT AS THEY, UH, AT THEIR OWN RISK SELL. OKAY. THANKS. JUST ALONG THOSE LINES, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SPACEPORT, AND I SUBMITTED SOME QUESTIONS ONLINE, BUT WHERE IS THE O AND M ACCOUNTING FOR THE SPACEPORT ACTIVITIES IN, IN THIS BUDGET? WHERE CAN I FIND, SO THERE'S A REVENUE FROM THE RENTALS OKAY. OF THE SPACEPORT THAT FLOW INTO OUR REVENUES INTO 8 0 0 1. YEAH, OKAY. 8,001. CORRECT. AND ARE THERE ANY O AND M EXPENSES? THERE ARE SOME MINOR, UH, O AND M EXPENSES THAT, THAT ARE MOSTLY RECOVERED THROUGH THOSE RENTS. OKAY. UM, MAINTENANCE OF THE, UH, UH, ESPLANADES AND THE OKAY. IN THE ENTRANCE THERE, THE, THE, THE SIGN AND, UM, UH, A FEW OTHER EXPENSES. OKAY. BUT, UH, THERE ARE SOME ALSO SOME, SOME PASS THROUGH EXPENSES JUST TO BE CANDID AND TRANSPARENT. FOR INSTANCE, UH, THE ELECTRICITY, UH, IS BILLED TO US THROUGH THE ENTER FUND AND THEN WE REBUILD THE, UH, TENANTS OUT THERE. GOT IT. AND, AND THEY PAY US, SO. GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU CHAIR. IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCIES, UM, ARE WE UTILIZING AI AT ALL AT THE AIRPORT SYSTEM? UH, SO WE ARE, UM, WE, WE JUST ACTUALLY TRANSITIONED TO A NEW, UM, WEBSITE. SO IT'S A MUCH CLEANER WEBSITE. IT'S MUCH MORE INTUITIVE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CLICK THROUGH SO MANY THINGS. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY USING AI TO RUN THE LITTLE CHAT BOT THAT'S ON THE, THE, UM, ON THERE. UM, WE'RE ALSO EXPERIMENTING WITH SOME EQUIPMENT NOW THAT THAT'S KIND OF, I WOULD, IT'S AI ISH. UM, SO WE'VE GOT SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LOOKING AT ROBOTIC FLOOR SCRUBBERS THAT WILL GO OUT THERE AND JUST SCRUBBING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A, A PERSON DOING THAT. UM, AND THEN WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT ULTIMATELY AT SOME POINT WE'D PROBABLY SEE THAT GOING INTO LIKE THE GRASS MOWING OPERATION WHERE YOU'D GET AUTONOMOUS GRASS MOWERS AT SOME POINT, UM, WHERE, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY MORE PROBABLY FIVE TO 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SO IN TERMS OF THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY GOALS AROUND WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED AT THE AIRPORTS WITH RESPECT TO AI? YEAH, SO AGAIN, WE WANT TO, AS THEY PROGRESS, WE LIKE TO USE, I MEAN, AGAIN, WE, WE USE IT ON OCCASION FOR OUR OWN JUST INTERNAL STUFF. SO WE'LL RUN SOMETHING THROUGH CHAT GPD, JUST SEE WHAT IT, IT DOES, UH, AND SAYS, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, UM, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SYSTEMS AT THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW THAT ARE STARTING TO ADD AI TO THEIR PRODUCT MIX. AND SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. SO WE HAVE A COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT DOES GATE MANAGEMENT, RIGHT? MM-HMM . SO THIS PLANE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BUT IT'S LATE AND NOW IT'S NOT LATE. AND IT'S LIKE, SO WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT, THAT MANAGE THAT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK THE VENDOR THAT, YOU KNOW, OPERATES THAT SYSTEM AS THEY BRING AI INTO THAT COMPUTER SYSTEM, IT MAY BENEFIT US BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT NOW OUR PEOPLE CAN, INSTEAD OF THEM TRYING TO USE ALL THEIR BRAIN POWER TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I'M GONNA PUT THIS PLANE NOW, THE COMPUTER MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE QUICKER OR AT LEAST [03:50:01] BE A, A ASSISTING THOSE FOLKS, UH, TO DO THEIR JOB AND MORE EFFICIENTLY. YES, THERE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FROM, FROM THAT TO SECURITY TO EVEN JUST MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS WHERE AIRPORTS HAVE STARTED TO, TO INCORPORATE IT. SO, YEAH. UM, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT, THAT Y'ALL ARE ALSO LOOKING AT IT AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO, TO BRING IT INTO OPERATIONS. YEAH. SO AGAIN, WE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP OUR EMPLOYEES, UM, WITH THEIR DAILY TASKS SO THAT THEY CAN DO THINGS, YOU KNOW, MORE EFFICIENTLY. UM, AND SO IT, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY A WAVE OF THE FUTURE AND OBVIOUSLY WE WE'RE NO, WE'RE NO, UM, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT OBJECTING TO STEALING GOOD IDEAS. SO WE, WE OBVIOUSLY FOLLOWED WHAT THE OTHER AIRPORTS ARE DOING. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SOME AIRPORTS FIGURED OUT SOME WAY TO USE AI OR USE AUTOMATION, WE ARE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO IT TOO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AGAIN. LAST THING I WANT TO ASK. I MEAN, ARE WE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ISSUES OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, ARE WE HAVING ANY TROUBLE IN REGARDING TO BOTH AIRPORTS WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OR EVEN TRAINING NEW ONES? IS THAT, ARE WE GOOD IN THAT AREA? SO I, I WILL SPEAK IN GENERALITIES ON THAT FOR THE HOUSTON MARKET. SO THAT'S OUR HOUSTON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWERS. YES. WE DO HAVE A CENTER HERE AND WE DO HAVE A TRACON HERE. IN GENERAL, NO, HIRING IS NOT A PROBLEM FROM A HOUSTON MARKET. GOOD. 'CAUSE IT'S THE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE, THE LOWER EXPENSES HERE IN HOUSTON. YES. GENERALLY THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO GET CONTROLLERS PRETTY EASILY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY IF YOU HEAR ABOUT THE NEWARK PROBLEMS, THEY HAD THE NEWARK TRACON UP THERE AND THEY COULDN'T GET PEOPLE TO WANNA LIVE UP IN THAT NECK OF THE WOODS. 'CAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IS NOT GOOD. SO OUR, OUR PERSPECTIVE IS, IS, AND WE, WE, WE WATCH, SO WHEN WE GET PUT INTO THE DELAY PROGRAM, UM, FROM THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, WE WATCH THE, THE RATIONALE. UM, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, OUR STUFF IS THUNDERSTORMS, RIGHT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE OTHER AIRPORTS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY'RE BEING DELAYED AND IT'LL SAY STAFFING. RIGHT. SO I CAN KIND OF IDENTIFY, I THINK I'VE SEEN A STAFFING ONE AT HOUSTON HERE ONCE IN THE LAST MM-HMM . MM-HMM . THREE YEARS. SO IT'S GENERALLY WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE. OKAY. GOOD. THAT'S A PLUS. THAT'S A PLUS FOR OUR CITY. YES. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE FROM COUNCIL IS, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS EITHER ONLINE OR IN THE CHAMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS US? ALRIGHT. SEEING NONE, I WILL SEE EVERYBODY TOMORROW AT 9:00 AM FOR A WHOLE OTHER ROUND OF BUDGET WORKSHOPS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. STEVENS AND EVERYBODY. STAFF MAY AND TODD THREE CHEERS FOR MAY AND TODD, THEY DO A GREAT JOB FOR THEIR COURT. I DID WANNA MAKE ONE MORE LITTLE MENTION. OH, SURE. YEAH. WE, UM, WE HAD ONE OF OUR BUDGET TEAM MEMBERS WHO TOOK THE, THE VER MEPO AND, AND RETIRED AND I WANTED TO GIVE HIM CREDIT. UNFORTUNATELY, HE PASSED AWAY THREE DAYS OR FOUR DAYS AFTER HE RETIRED. OH MY. SO I DIDN'T MO RIVERA. I DIDN'T WANNA RECOGNIZE HIM. WELL, WHAT'S HIS NAME? MO RIVERA. MO RIVERA. REST IN PEACE. GREAT. THAT IS THE SADDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD. GREAT. YEAH, HE WAS A GREAT GUY. I'M, YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US KNOW. THAT IS REALLY DEVASTATING NEWS. YES. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. * 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.